RTHK: Philippines' ex-president 'Noynoy' Aquino dies

Former Philippine president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, the reserved scion of one of Asia's most famous political families, died on Thursday. He was 61.

Aquino, who was in office from 2010 to 2016, was the only son of the late former president Corazon Aquino and her assassinated husband, senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, both revered for leading the struggle to restore democracy in the archipelago nation.

Aquino was rushed to the Capitol Medical Center in Manila early on Thursday, local media reported.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin tweeted his "grief over the death of a sea-green incorruptible".

He said Aquino was "brave under armed attack, wounded in crossfire, indifferent to power and its trappings, and ruled our country with a puzzling coldness but only because he hid his feelings so well it was thought he had none".

Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, who was Aquino's former peace adviser, expressed "profound sadness" over the former leader's death.

"I knew him to be a kind man, driven by his passion to serve our people, diligent in his duties, and with an avid and consuming curiosity about new knowledge and the world in general," Leonen said.

Aquino, who was succeeded by President Rodrigo Duterte, waged an anti-corruption campaign during a term that ushered in key economic reforms.

Unusually for the conservative Catholic country, Aquino remained a bachelor throughout his life, though had relationships with a number of women.

Aquino was born on February 8, 1960 to one of the country's wealthiest land-owning political families.

A latecomer to the presidential race in 2010, he declared his candidacy only after his mother's death from cancer the previous year had plunged the country into mourning, and demonstrated the power of the family name.

He made fighting corruption his mantra, capitalising on his family's clean reputation, and vowed to reduce the poverty afflicting a third of the population.

His administration delivered average annual economic growth of just over 6.0 percent, the highest since the 1970s, handing the country investment-grade status -- but poverty remained endemic.

Aquino, who earned an economics degree from the elite Ateneo de Manila University, was long mocked by opponents as a fortunately surnamed under-achiever with no administrative or business experience.

They also said he had little to show for the more-than a decade he spent as a congressman and senator.

But the chain-smoking Aquino blossomed during the election campaign into a confident public speaker and the nation's leading critic of his predecessor, Gloria Arroyo, who was arrested for corruption after she left office.

The Aquino family name was stamped into Philippine political history through tragedy.

Military personnel shot dead "Ninoy" Aquino at Manila airport in 1983 as he returned from US exile to lead the democracy movement against dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The event shocked the world and ignited the non-violent "People Power" movement that toppled Marcos. The martyred politician's widow, Corazon, led the revolution and succeeded Marcos as president in 1986.

Aquino had a bullet lodged in his neck -- one of five that struck him when rebel soldiers attacked the presidential palace in 1987 in a coup attempt against his mother that killed three of his bodyguards.

Unlike Duterte, Aquino put the Philippines' long-running dispute with China over competing claims to the South China Sea at the top of his foreign policy agenda.

He launched a landmark case with a UN-backed tribunal to challenge Beijing's claims to most of the sea, which ruled in favour of the Philippines.

But Beijing rejected the decision.

Aquino is survived by four sisters. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: Hundreds protest against government in Thailand

Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters rallied in Bangkok on Thursday to call for the government's resignation, defying warnings from authorities about the kingdom's soaring coronavirus cases.

The marches came on the 89th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution -- the uprising that transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

Bangkok was rocked by near-daily protests against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha's government in the second half of 2020, but the pro-democracy movement has lost steam after virus outbreaks and the jailing of student leaders.

Authorities have clamped down on public gatherings as the kingdom grapples with a third wave of infections, with its daily case toll hovering around the 3,000 mark.

Despite police warnings, hundreds gathered at Democracy Monument, a major intersection in Bangkok, and marched in the direction of Parliament House to protest against the rule of Prayut, the former military chief who came to power in a 2014 coup.

Early-bird protesters gathered at the intersection before dawn for a candlelight ceremony.

Som, a 16-year-old student protester, said she wasn't worried about the coronavirus risk.

"We have never had any real democracy," Som said.

"The country is not going anywhere."

Student leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak -- who is facing royal defamation charges and was released on bail last month -- marched to a drum beat wearing a plastic golden crown and carrying a flag.

One protester was dressed like the US Statue of Liberty and demonstrators burned a fake constitution -- the same week the Thai parliament debated changes to the country's charter.

"Our demands won't be lowered... The constitution must come from the people," Jatupat 'Pai' Boonpattararaksa said over a loudspeaker.

Some demonstrators carried signs that read "abolish 112," a reference to the kingdom's harsh royal defamation laws that carry a 15-year jail term for those convicted of insulting the monarchy.

There are also demonstrations planned across the country, from the tourist city of Chiang Mai in the north to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The Thai pro-democracy movement sent shockwaves through the country's establishment last year, particularly the protesters' most controversial demand -- a call to reform how the monarchy operates.

Some 150 people have been charged since the movement started, with key leaders hit with multiple counts under Thailand's tough royal defamation laws.

Many of them were released on bail under conditions that include not protesting.

The kingdom has recorded more than 228,500 total Covid cases and 1,744 deaths. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Cele, WC SAPS to meet over Gugulethu mass killing

Police Minister Bheki Cele is today expected to receive a briefing from the Western Cape SAPS management following Wednesdays shooting,which claimed eight lives in Gugulethu.

Accompanied by the provinces Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Thembisile Patekile, the Minister is also anticipated to visit the scene of the brutal attack.

The shooting is the latest in a series of fatal gun attacks that have claimed dozens of lives in the province in recent weeks.

Western Cape police have instituted the 72-hour Activation Plan for the mobilisation of resources in search of the gunmen, who shot and killed eight people in the townships NY 79 section.

According to provincial SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the victims were accosted while attending a traditional ceremony in the area.

Five of the victims died at the scene, while another two succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital.

On Thursday morning, police confirmed that another person had passed on overnight.

Potelwa in a statement urged any member of the public with information, which could assist the investigation, to contact the police on 08600 10111.

The identities and ages of the deceased persons will be released once their next of kin are informed, she said, adding that the motive for the shooting incident is yet to be determined.

Patekile in the statement said police teams are pursuing several leads.

The teams will work through the night conducting tracing operations, he said.

Last month, 13 people were shot dead in one day during two allegedly linked attacks in Khayelitsha. Eight people were subsequently arrested in relation to the shootings.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Edward Yau promotes HK's strengths

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau today updated the business community in Canada through a webinar on Hong Kong's latest developments and business advantages, which make the city an ideal gateway for businesses and investment in Mainland China and the Asia Pacific region for Canadian enterprises.

In his opening remarks, Mr Yau reassured participants that despite the disruption brought about by the COVID-19 epidemic, Hong Kong would rise again to the challenges with its unique advantages such as a free and open economy, the rule of law and judicial independence.

He cited the World Investment Report 2021 released by the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development, in which Hong Kong is ranked the third largest destination for foreign direct investment in 2020 globally, up from the fifth position in 2019 and logging US$119 billion of inward investments.

The results demonstrate that Hong Kong remains an attractive place for investment, he said.

The commerce chief also pointed out that the National People's Congress' decision on the national security legislation has put Hong Kong back on its right track and ensured its long-term stability and prosperity.

Additionally, there are ample development opportunities for Hong Kong with the support of the central government as stated in the 14th Five-Year Plan and illustrated during the past two years since the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Driven by a strong recovery in trade and the Government's continued investment, Hong Kong's economy in the first quarter rebounded strongly, recording a year-on-year real growth of 7.9% and an increase of 5.4% over the preceding quarter.

On Hong Kong's strategy in combating the COVID-19 epidemic, Mr Yau stressed that the Government has been sparing no effort in getting the local epidemic situation under control and promoting vaccination in the community.

Four rounds of relief measures have also been implemented to help businesses to stay afloat and keep workers in employment.

As the epidemic situation is easing in Hong Kong, he noted that it is now an opportune time for Canadian enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong or expand their existing business in the city.

Mr Yau also exchanged views with participants on topics including the Government's policies and support for the business sectors, as well as the city's anti-epidemic measures at the question-and-answer session.

The webinar was co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Toronto) and the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association as part of the 2021 Hong Kong Week programme.

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Firefighters hard at work to extinguish Eastern Cape fires

Efforts to suppress raging wildfires in the Coldstream and Koomansbos areas of Tsitsikamma, Eastern Cape where just over 2 400 hectares of commercial plantations and natural veld have been destroyed, are in full swing.

More than 150 firefighters from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environments Working on Fire teams, together with teams from governmental and non-governmental organisations have been battling the fires that reportedly started earlier this week.

In addition, two Working on Fire Huey helicopters and one fixed wing spotter plane have flown 31 hours, providing aerial firefighting services in support of ground crews at these fires.

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has expressed gratitude to the firefighter and different stakeholders participating in the battle.

A big thank you to all firefighters and local communities for the continued support. A special word of appreciation to businesses, particularly those retailers in Humansdorp which donated food parcels to the hero and heroines battling the fire, she said.

Minister Creecy emphasised the importance of cooperation and teamwork amongst all stakeholders participating in the firefighting efforts, which are coordinated under the Eastern Cape Umbrella Fire Protection Association and the Southern Cape Fire Protection.

The Eastern Cape has two fire seasons, a winter fire season, which affects the eastern part of the province from June to October, and a summer fire season, which affects the western part of the province from December to April.

In preparation for the winter fire season, close to 400 firefighters in the Eastern region underwent their annual yellow card training camps, which ensured that they are fully fit, and ready for the fire season.

However, Minister Creecy has urged communities and landowners to be extra vigilant during these cold winter months and not to start any unnecessary fires, which could lead to a disaster runaway fire.

Ensure that your properties do not have any waste material with a high fuel load and make sure that you do not have overhanging trees close to your properties, she said.

Property owners are also encouraged to clean their gutters and to have the telephone numbers of their local fire services at hand.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Law enforcement steps in at KZN illegal mining site

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has urged people involved in illegal mining in KwaHlathi, near Ladysmith, to immediately leave the site, warning that people found there on Thursday will face the full might of the law.

The call follows a report on the outcomes of investigations by a team of experts from the Geoscience Council, which revealed that the stones discovered in KwaHlathi are not diamonds but quartz crystals.

During its ordinary sitting on Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council expressed its concerns about reports that illegal mining is still continuing in the area.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala, who was chairing the meeting, said the Executive Council expressed its concerns that the crowds in KwaHlathi are in violation of the countrys mining laws and flouting COVID-19 regulations.

The Executive Council also expressed its concerns at the recent steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the UThukela District, probably due to the influx of people into the area.

Government is also concerned that school children are spending time at the illegal mine instead of being at school. There is concern over the long-term environmental degradation, which may lead to flooding in future.

The provincial government appeals to everyone still involved in illegal mining in KwaHlathi to vacate the site today [Wednesday]. From tomorrow, law enforcement will kick in and whoever remains will face the full might of the law, Zikalala said.

He said the site will remain cordoned off and inaccessible to members of the public and without permission.

The provincial government reaffirmed its commitment to work even harder to respond to the service delivery needs of KwaHlathi citizens.

The community of KwaHlathi has raised concerns regarding water, roads and other key service delivery needs.

Zikalala said the provincial government plans to visit the area in two weeks time to attend to the service delivery needs already identified, and to investigate further economic activities that may be undertaken in the area. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Department declines applications for powerships

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has declined three applications for the environmental authorisation for the development of gas to power via powerships.

In a statement released on Thursday, the department said it has reached a decision on three applications that were submitted in October 2020 by Karpowership SA (Pty) Ltd for an environmental authorisation for the development of gas to power via powerships.

The Competent Authority in the department has decided, after due consideration of all relevant information presented as part of the environmental impact assessment process for all three applications in question, to refuse the applications for the environmental authorisations.

The applicant had proposed to locate the three powership projects at the Ports of Richards Bay, Ngqura and Saldanha to generate electricity from natural gas to be evacuated through transmission lines to substations linking to the national grid.

The powerships were to be assembled off-site and be delivered fully equipped and functional to the different ports, the department said.

The applications came as a response to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energys requests for emergency power supply interventions linked to the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Procurement Programme.

The Competent Authority in the department adjudicated these applications in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and specific sections of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, the department said.

The final reports were submitted to the department for decision-making on 26 April 2021.

The Competent Authority had until 25 June 2021 to reach a decision, as the three projects were classified as Strategic Integrated Projects, which meant the 57-day timeframe, as gazetted in the National Infrastructure Act, applied.

Copies of the Records of Refusal are available directly from Triplo4 or the Competent Authority at EIAadmin@environment.gov.za.

Should any person wish to lodge an appeal against the decision, they must submit the appeal to the appeal administrator, the department said.  SAnews.gov.za

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Hong Kong: Inquiry letters sent to electors

The Registration & Electoral Office started sending inquiry letters yesterday to more than 20,000 registered functional constituency (FC) electors concerning their eligibility for registration in their original constituencies.

The letters are being sent for compilation of the 2021 functional constituencies provisional register.

Under the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021, the registration eligibility of certain functional constituencies has been deleted. Existing electors registered under such eligibility will be included in the inquiry process and receive inquiry letters.

The office said the letters are important and electors who receive the letters should open them and reply if applicable to them as soon as possible.

If a valid reply from the elector concerned is not received by July 5, their registered particulars will be included in the 2021 FCs omissions list to be published on or before September 26.

Electors included in the omissions list have to make a claim to the Revising Officer from September 26 to October 9, such that upon approval of the Revising Officer, their voter registration status may be reinstated and they may be included in the 2021 FCs final register and be able to vote in the Legislative Council General Election in December.

Under the ordinance, individual and corporate electors of functional constituencies who are no longer eligible to register in their original FC, or whose original FC has been deleted, and are eligible to register in another FC, may submit an application to register in any other FC for which they are eligible.

Click here for more information.

For enquiries, call 2891 1001.

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: SAHPRA vows to uphold vaccine standards

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says it will not grant approval to vaccines that do not meet stringent standards and protocols.

SAHPRA chief executive Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela reaffirmed this stance during the authoritys webinar on the process of vaccine approval on Thursday.

This comes on the eve of a planned march to the SAHPRA offices by the Economic Freedom Fighters, which accuses the authority of not approving the use of the Sputnik V and Sinovac vaccines.

Where products do comply, we will indeed authorise. We concern ourselves with only science and nothing else, she said.

She said SAHPRA protocols ensure that the authority takes into account all facts.

When we make a decision, we dont only consider data generated from South Africa. We are working with experts - international experts - and we continuously review the emerging data around these vaccines, Semete-Makokotlela said.

Regarding the march, she said it was the Constitutional right of every South African to protest.

We just hope and urge the [marchers] to comply with the COVID-19 safety protocols of wearing masks and social distancing.

Gauteng has high [infection] numbers and we really need to make sure that through non-pharmaceutical interventions, these are managed.

The regulators position, she said, is that decisions are made based on the science that is behind every single vaccine.

 The types of data we look at [are very] detailed, and the reviews that we go through. Our main concern is the science of these vaccines.

We are evaluating the Sinovac vaccine. We are also evaluating the Sputnik vaccine. This week, weve received an application for Sinopharm. We are really quite busy as an organisation and the only thing were going to concern ourselves with is science.

While the authority understands that this is a pandemic and understands that delays have been experienced, it is important to indicate that the safety of the public is paramount and needs to be safeguarded.

The safety of the public takes precedence. Wherever we are of the view that the regulatory requirements are not met, we will not issue an authorisation.

This is due to the SAHPRAs intent to ensure that when the public gets a vaccine, the authority is confident that the vaccine is safe, said Semete-Makokotlela.

It is a similar stance that was taken on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, of which two million doses had to be discarded due to manufacturing safety concerns raised in the United States.

That should actually give the public confidence that as a regulator, while we are cognisant of the pandemic and the pressures that we under, where we are of the view that the safety of the public will be compromised, we will ensure that we remain independent, and we make decisions based on science.

We will therefore not authorise what does not comply with these pillars, Semete-Makokotlela said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Bureau, works depts awarded

The Development Bureau today received the Client of the Year award from the New Engineering Contract (NEC) Users' Group of the UK, while several works departments also won awards.

The Drainage Services Department received the Water Project of the Year and Contract Innovation awards, and the Civil Engineering & Development Department was awarded the Transport Project of the Year.

Other works departments also received commendations under different award categories.

The NEC Awards is an annual event of the NEC Users' Group under the UK's Institution of the Civil Engineers to give recognition to projects and organisations around the world that have showcased excellence in project delivery through collaborative partnering.

This year's awards attracted more than 50 entries from across the world.

At the awards presentation ceremony, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Lam Sai-hung said that he was pleased to see the successful development of mutual trust and a co-operative culture within the public works sector through the adoption of the NEC.

The bureau piloted the use of the NEC form in public works projects in 2009 and expanded its application from 2015.

As of today, more than 300 NECs for public works have been awarded, amounting to over $160 billion.

The full list of the awardees will be available online.

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Call for business sector to comply with COVID-19 regulations

With South Africa experiencing the third wave of COVID-19, Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has called on the business sector to comply with the Alert Level 3 regulations as the country continues to fight the pandemic.

Taverns, shebeens, bars and alcohol establishments have become super spreaders themselves because [there is] no social distancing, we need to manage the number of people that go into these facilities, we can do better, Ntshavheni said on Thursday.

Addressing a media briefing following law enforcement operations to monitor compliance with COVID-19 regulations at Pretoria taxi ranks, the Minister urged the liquor industry to enforce the regulations at its establishments.

We understand that we need to balance saving lives and saving livelihoods. We need to try as a nation, business, government and society to [avoid going] back into a hard lockdown so that we can save jobs.

If we all play our part, we will defeat this pandemic, we will make sure that [the] economy remains open and we will all be safe. If government is given a choice to save livelihoods or to save lives, we will choose to save lives because livelihoods we can rebuilt and lives we cannot rebuilt, Ntshavheni said.

She commended the taxi industry for ensuring compliance with regulations.

During the ongoing operations to monitor compliance with government regulations and directions as the country remains under Level 3 lockdown of governments risk adjusted strategy, Ntshavheni was joined by Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Jacob Mamabolo and Gauteng MEC responsible for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi.

In playing our part towards halting the rapid spread of the pandemic, it is important that we strengthen compliance with health protocols. We have always made a commitment that we will not allow any mode of transport to be the enabler of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

We have put strong measures in the transport sector, which include capacity restrictions. While these have contained the spread of the pandemic through your taxis, we are under no illusion about the devastating impact these had in your business, Mbalula said.

Non-pharmaceutical measures that South Africans can comply with to prevent the virus include social distancing, wearing cloth masks to cover one's nose, mouth and chin, washing hands with soap for 20 seconds, and or using a 70% alcohol-based sanitiser.

Mbalula said government remains encouraged by the co-operation, support and innovative leadership shown by the taxi industry in ensuring the safety of the commuting public and adherence to the rules.

As a sector, we carry the burden of enabling economic activity whilst containing the spread of the virus. The 2020 National Travel Household Survey tells us that the market share of the taxi industry in transporting workers has increased from 67.6% in 2013 to 80.2% in 2020, he said. - SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Natural causes ruled out as cause of Table Mountain fire

The South African National Parks (SANParks) says an independent report on the wildfire that burned about 600 hectares of land within the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and some neighbouring properties has ruled out natural causes.

The report also ruled out rock falls or lightning strikes or an accidental/negligent incident, such as an abandoned camping/cooking fire as possible causes of the fire.

The latter, therefore, confirms the fact that the fire was not started by homeless persons, as was initially alleged.

SANParks Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Luthando Dziba, said various potential causes of the fire were thoroughly assessed by an independent investigator, Enviro Wildfire (Pty) Ltd.

Dziba said the investigation report provides compelling evidence suggesting that the fire may have been started as a malicious act.

This evidence is currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies.

The report states that according to CCTV footage and eyewitnesses, the fire started at approximately 8:40am under extreme weather conditions such as very warm temperatures (26C) and low relative humidity (19%).

Within a few hours, the temperature had increased to 34C and the relative humidity had decreased to 13%, with a prevailing north-westerly breeze of approximately 12km/h.

These conditions, in addition to dry vegetation, presented an ideal environment for the rapid spread of the fire due to the high fire danger index.

In turn, the increase in wind speed and a change in the wind direction caused embers to land outside of the burn area, where they ignited the surrounding veld.

According to Dziba, the situation could have been much worse if the strategic relationship between SANParks and various stakeholders, including the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, were not in place.

This provided for a well organised effort in suppressing the fire from the ground and air-support within reasonably good time, Dziba said.

The firefighting team consisted of SANParks, NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd, City of Cape Town, Working on Fire, Volunteer Wildfire Services and the South African National Defence Force.

A total of five fire-fighters were injured while fighting the fire.

These men and women acted in the best interest of the community, despite the extremely grim weather conditions and did so at risk to their own welfare and safety, Dziba said.

Extensive damage occurred to the Rhodes Memorial restaurant, University of Cape Town and the historic Mostert Mill, and various private properties as a result of windblown smouldering embers landing on dry, combustible materials such as thatch, exotic pines, palm trees, ivy and leaves in gutters.

Dziba thanked Cape Town residents and businesses for their generosity and donations of food, drinks and other necessities for the fire fighters, and extend his sincere thanks to the fire fighters for their bravery and dedication.

He thanked members of the public who assisted the investigation.

The independent fire report is available on the SANParks website on https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=58294.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Throwing shade: Measuring how much trees, buildings cool cities

COLUMBUS, Ohio - When the summer sun blazes on a hot city street, our first reaction is to flee to a shady spot protected by a building or tree.

A new study is the first to calculate exactly how much these shaded areas help lower the temperature and reduce the "urban heat island" effect.

Researchers created an intricate 3D digital model of a section of Columbus and determined what effect the shade of the buildings and trees in the area had on land surface temperatures over the course of one hour on one summer day.

"We can use the information from our model to formulate guidelines for community greening and tree planting efforts, and even where to locate buildings to maximize shading on other buildings and roadways," said Jean-Michel Guldmann, co-author of the study and professor emeritus of city and regional planning at The Ohio State University.

"This could have significant effects on temperatures at the street and neighborhood level."

For example, a simulation run by the researchers in one Columbus neighborhood found on a day with a high of 93.33 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature could have been 4.87 degrees lower if the young trees already in that area were fully grown and 20 more fully grown trees had been planted.

Guldmann conducted the study with Yujin Park, who did the work as a doctoral student at Ohio State and is now an assistant professor of city and regional planning at Chung-Ang University in South Korea, and Desheng Liu, a professor of geography at Ohio State.

Their work was published online recently in the journal Computers, Environment and Urban Systems.

Researchers have long known about the urban heat island effect, in which buildings and roadways absorb more heat from the sun than rural landscapes, releasing it and increasing temperatures in cities.

One recent study found that in 60 U.S. cities, urban summer temperatures were 2.4 degrees F higher than rural temperatures - and Columbus was one of the top 10 cities with the most intense summer urban heat islands.

For this new study, Guldmann and his colleagues selected a nearly 14-square-mile area of northern Columbus that had a wide range of land uses, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, commercial and business complexes, industrial areas, recreational parks and natural areas. More than 25,000 buildings were in the study area.

The researchers created a 3D model of the study area using 2D land cover maps of Columbus, as well as LiDAR data collected by the city of Columbus from an airplane. LiDAR is a laser sensor that detects the shape of objects. Combining this data resulted in a 3D model showing the exact heights and widths of buildings and trees.

They then turned to computer software that calculated the shadows cast by each of the buildings and trees in the study area over the course of a one-hour period - 11 a.m. to noon - on Sept. 14, 2015.

In addition, the researchers had data on land surface temperatures in the study area for the same date and time. That data came from a NASA satellite that uses Thermal Infrared Sensors to measure land surface temperatures at a resolution of 30 by 30 meters (about 98 by 98 feet). That resulted in surface temperatures for 39,715 points in the study area.

With that data in hand, the researchers conducted a statistical analysis to determine precisely how the shade cast by buildings and trees affected surface temperatures on that September day.

Results showed that, as expected, buildings turned up the heat in the area, but that the shadows cast by them also had a significant cooling effect on temperatures, particularly if they shaded the rooftops of adjacent buildings.

The statistical model could precisely calculate those effects, both positive and negative. For example, a 1% increase in the area of a building led to surface temperature increases between 2.6% and 3% on average.

But an increase of 1% in the area of a shaded rooftop led to temperature decreases between 0.13% and 0.31% on average.

Shade on roadways and parking lots also significantly decreased temperatures.

"We learned that greater heat-mitigation effects can be obtained by maximizing the shade on building rooftops and roadways," Guldmann said.

Results also showed the importance of green spaces and water for lowering temperatures. Grassy areas, both shaded and exposed, showed significant heat-reducing effects. However, the impact of shaded grass was stronger than that of grass exposed to direct sunlight.

The volume of tree canopies and the area of water bodies also had significant cooling effects.

In the simulation run in the Columbus neighborhood, the researchers calculated that if the current trees there were fully grown, the temperature on a 93.33-degree F day would be 3.48 degrees lower (89.85 degrees).

But that's not all. The simulation showed that if the neighborhood had 20 more full-grown trees, the temperature would be another 1.39 degrees lower.

"We've long known that the shade of trees and buildings can provide cooling," Guldmann said.

"But now we can more precisely measure exactly what that effect will be in specific instances, which can help us make better design choices and greening strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect."

###

Contact: Jean-Michel Guldmann, Guldmann.1@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu

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Better mental health supports for nurses needed, study finds

Working in the highly charged environment of COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the mental health of nurses, according to a new survey by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

The findings, described recently in the Annals of Epidemiology, is the first to compare Canadian nurses' mental health prior to and during the pandemic.

"Whether they worked in acute care settings, in community care or in long-term care homes, nurses experienced high rates of depression and anxiety as the pandemic accelerated," says lead researcher Dr. Farinaz Havaei, a professor of nursing at UBC who studies health systems and workplace psychological health and safety.

Prior to the pandemic, two out of 10 nurses reported that they felt depressed. By April 2020, this had increased, with three out of 10 nurses reporting they felt depressed.

And prior to the pandemic, three out of 10 nurses said they were feeling anxious, whereas during the COVID-19 outbreak, four out of 10 now reported they felt anxious.

"Heavy workloads, inadequate staffing and the mental and emotional stress of dealing with human suffering and death--these factors contributed to the decline in nurses' well-being," she added.

The survey was conducted in September 2019 and again in April and June the following year, drawing more than 10,000 respondents.

Long-term care nurses affected the most

While the pandemic affected many nurses, those in the long-term care (LTC) sector felt the greatest strain, with six out of 10 reporting anxiety in April, compared to four out of every 10 nurses in the acute care and community care sectors.

However, when surveyed two months later, LTC nurses reported their outlook had improved. In that survey, four out of 10 (37 per cent) reported they felt anxiety and three out of 10 (27 per cent) said they felt depressed.

Havaei says the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on LTC nurses isn't surprising given that COVID-19 hit the long-term care sector the hardest, adding that the apparent improvement in late spring could be related to some nurses leaving their jobs due to poor mental health.

"By the time we conducted the third survey round, many of the LTC nurses--likely burnt out by the strain of caring for ill patients--had quit their jobs, reducing the amount of reported mental health problems."

Mental health supports

Although the research draws on data from a single province--British Columbia--the findings highlight the need to critically examine the supports available for nurses across Canada, says study co-author Dr. Peter Smith, a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

"Healthcare workers have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 response," says Dr. Smith. "Studies have shown that, when workers feel protected through adequate and effective infection control practices and personal protective equipment, rates of anxiety and depression are lower."

Dr. Smith added: "We need to ensure for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for pandemics in the future, that we have adequate systems and resources to quickly and effectively protect workers on the frontline. We also need to understand the effect that the prolonged period of high anxiety and stress has already had on frontline workers who didn't feel protected."

Dr. Havaei explains, poor nurse mental health has devastating costs for healthcare organizations and patients through increased nurse absenteeism, "presenteeism"--and turnover.

"Preliminary analysis from our other research shows that poor nurse mental health decreases the quality and safety of patient care delivery by as much as 10-fold. There is an urgent need for better mental health supports and resources for nurses, especially those who work in long-term care," adds Dr. Havaei.

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This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Study examines 'red flag' gun laws and state efforts to block local legislation

"Red flag" gun laws--which allow law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from a person at risk of harming themselves or others--are gaining attention at the state and federal levels, but are under scrutiny by legislators who deem them unconstitutional. A new analysis by legal scholars at NYU School of Global Public Health describes the state-by-state landscape for red flag legislation and how it may be an effective tool to reduce gun violence, while simultaneously protecting individuals' constitutional rights.

Gun violence is a significant public health problem in the U.S., with more than 38,000 people killed by firearms each year. Following several mass shootings this spring, President Biden urged Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence, including a red flag law--also known as a "extreme risk protection order" law--at the federal level and legislation to incentivize states to pass their own. In June, the Department of Justice published model legislation to help states craft their own red flag laws.

"Research shows that prior to an attempted suicide or homicide, there are warning signs that a shooter intends to act," said Jennifer Pomeranz, assistant professor of public health policy and management at NYU School of Global Public Health and the lead author of the study, which was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. "Removing firearms during crisis situations allows for mental health intervention or law enforcement investigation, and can prevent tragedies from occurring."

In May 2020, Oklahoma passed the nation's first law preempting or blocking local governments from enacting their own red flag laws. The state's "anti-red flag" bill was one of several proposed across the country based on arguments that red flag laws are unconstitutional. Legal scholars have evaluated constitutional arguments supporting and opposing red flag laws, and while lower courts have upheld the laws, to date there is limited case law on their constitutionality.

To better understand the current landscape of red flag laws, the researchers gathered and analyzed all state red flag laws and related preemption bills and laws proposed or enacted as of July 1, 2020. They found that 19 states and the District of Columbia enacted a total of 43 red flag laws for both temporary and final orders; the majority were enacted between 2018 and 2020. They also identified five preemption bills in four states (Alaska, Georgia, Minnesota, and Kansas with two bills) and one that was signed into law (Oklahoma).

State legislators had a variety of rationales for wanting to stop local governments from passing red flag laws. The four most common concerns were based on constitutional law:

The First Amendment: State legislators argued that red flag laws violated the First Amendment, which protects against unwarranted government interference with expression; however, threats of violence, intimidation, harm, or death are not protected.

The Second Amendment: State legislators also argued that red flag laws violate the right to bear arms for self-defense. If a firearm is removed under a protection order, the respondent would temporarily not be able to exercise this right, but the Supreme Court has confirmed that some people may be "disqualified" from possessing firearms.

The Fourth Amendment: Two states introducing preemptive bills pointed to the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires probable cause to issue a warrant. All laws required probable cause (or higher) for a warrant; one law allowed for warrantless firearm removal, which the Supreme Court considers reasonable when a person is armed and presently dangerous.

The Fifth Amendment: State legislators argued that red flag laws violate the right to due process, which requires procedures that provide notice, an opportunity to be heard, and appeal. However, all existing red flag laws provide these due process protections, including requiring strict or heightened burden of proof standards for final orders removing firearms.

The researchers found that red flag laws are similar to other civil laws that protect people from harming themselves or others, including laws for involuntary commitment and removing children from unfit parents. Red flag laws provide the same or even more procedural due process than do some of these laws that confine or remove individuals--as opposed to their property--against their will.

"Without judicial determination that red flag gun laws are unconstitutional, it is premature for states to block the ability of local governments to temporarily remove firearms from people in crisis situations," said Gilberto Ochoa, a research intern at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study's coauthor.

"States have drafted red flag laws in an effort to allow authorities to restrict or remove firearms from people at risk to themselves or others, while simultaneously protecting their constitutional right. As such, there are strong arguments in favor of enacting these laws, rather than preempting them," Pomeranz concluded.

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About the NYU School of Global Public Health

At the NYU School of Global Public Health (NYU GPH), we are preparing the next generation of public health pioneers with the critical thinking skills, acumen, and entrepreneurial approaches necessary to reinvent the public health paradigm. Devoted to employing a nontraditional, interdisciplinary model, NYU GPH aims to improve health worldwide through a unique blend of global public health studies, research, and practice. The School is located in the heart of New York City and extends to NYU's global network on six continents. Innovation is at the core of our ambitious approach, thinking and teaching. For more, visit: http://publichealth. nyu. edu/

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: UK arrivals face tighter rules

The Government announced today that people arriving from the UK will be subject to tighter quarantine requirements from June 28, including a 21-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels.

The UK, currently a Group B specified place, will be specified as a very high-risk (Group A2) specified place with effect from June 28.

All people who have stayed in any Group A2 specified place on the day of boarding for Hong Kong or during the 21 days before that day have to present at boarding negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the aircraft's scheduled time of departure.

They should also present the confirmation of a room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong.

On arrival, they will be subject to the test-and-hold arrangement at the airport, and on confirmation of negative test results, they must board the designated transport arranged by the Government to proceed to the designated quarantine hotels for 21-day compulsory quarantine.

They will be subject to four tests to be conducted during the period, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong at any community testing centre.

The shortened quarantine period for fully vaccinated people is not applicable to those who have stayed in Group A2 specified places.

Currently, people who have stayed in any Group A1 specified place, Group A2 specified place, Group B specified place or Taiwan during the relevant period are required to present at boarding negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft.

From June 26, the Government will specify that the relevant test must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test.

Results of tests conducted using other testing platforms, such as reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) cannot be considered to have fulfilled the relevant specified boarding requirement.

The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation to effect the above measures.

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Tai Po generally virus-free

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Sewage samples taken from various locations in Tai Po, except the building where a confirmed COVID-19 patient lives, are virus-free.

Environmental Protection Department Deputy Director Samuel Chui made the remarks at a press briefing today, adding that the sample collection will continue despite the latest encouraging findings.

After a resident of Wan Hang House at Wan Tau Tong Estate tested preliminary positive for the virus yesterday, authorities began taking sewage samples from different locations in Tai Po.

Mr Chui said a sample collected from the sewage system near Yat Nga Court contained the L452R mutant strain.

We collected sewage samples from the downstream end of the sewer system, and in Tai Po we collected the samples around Yat Nga Court where (the samples we took were) positive.

Then we traced the sewage upstream. At the other place, Wan Hang House (in Wan Tau Tong Estate) which is the place where the (patient of) the confirmed (COVID-19) case was found - he lives there, we took samples and found (they were) positive. And this positive signal shows that it is an L452R spike protein (mutation).

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: US hits 5 Xinjiang companies with restrictions

The US government banned imports of solar panel materials from a Chinese company and placed trade restrictions on four others on Thursday for alleged use of forced labour in the Xinjiang region.

The White House said in a statement that Xinjiang-based Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. would not be able to sell its products in the United States due to "information reasonably indicating that Hoshine used forced labour to manufacture silica-based products."

In parallel the Commerce Department announced that Hoshine and four other Xinjiang firms would be subject to tight restrictions on their ability to acquire US commodities, software and technology due to their involvement in the use of forced labour.

"These actions demonstrate our commitment to imposing additional costs on the People's Republic of China (PRC) for engaging in cruel and inhumane forced labour practices," the White House said in a statement.

"The United States believes that state-sponsored forced labour in Xinjiang is both an affront to human dignity and an example of the PRC's unfair economic practices."

The White House said the use of forced labour was part of Beijing's systematic effort to repress millions of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in the far-west region, an effort which it said includes sexual violence and large-scale detentions in labour camps.

The four other companies include two producers of polysilicon materials for the solar panel industry, Xinjiang Daqo New Energy and Xinjiang GCL New Energy Material Technology, aluminum processor Xinjiang East Hope Nonferrous Metals, and state-owned Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, already hit with restrictions for its cotton-related business.

The actions hit producers from the regions that supplies close to half of the world's polysilicon used in solar panels.

An official from US Customs and Border Protection, which issued the block on Hoshine imports, estimated that the United States imported goods from the company worth US$150 million over the past 30 months.

Asked if the US trade actions could conflict with promoting solar energy, US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said stopping forced labour comes first.

"Our environmental goals will not be achieved on the backs of human beings in a forced labour environment," Mayorkas told reporters.

"We're going to root out forced labour wherever it exists and look for alternative products," he said.

The import ban on Hoshine adds to similar action against producers and users of cotton and tomato products and hair products like weaves from the region.

The United States also recently placed a ban on imports from a leading Chinese fishing company, Dalian Ocean, for its use of forced labour, unrelated to Xinjiang and the Uighurs. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Yang Xueliang, spokesman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, said Geely has never talked with Pony.ai about the development of an electric vehicle (EV) model based on its SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform.



Photo credit: Geely



A local media outlet revealed earlier this week that the autonomous driving startup Pony.ai was in talks with Geely to co-develop an SEA-based EV model. Mr. Yang said the media channel misread the companies' actions.

It was reported in mid-June that Pony.ai had tapped car making business and had already built in Shanghai a R&D group with over 10 members.

Citing persons with direct knowledge, the report said the startup would start its EV building business with passenger vehicles. However, whether the vehicles would be used for Robotaxi service or sold to consumers was still yet to be known.

With the rapid development of the autonomous driving industry, Pony. ai is vigorously boosting all of its businesses and proactively evaluating the prospect of each business unit, and is ready to adjust its business structure at any moment, said the company.

Pony.ai's Robotaxi fleet; photo credit: Pony.ai



On May 13, Pony.ai said it had expanded the scale of its Robotaxi service in Beijing with the autonomous cars armed with the latest autonomous driving system joining the fleet to serve local commuters.

Apart from Beijing, Pony.ai has also offered Robotaxi service in Guangzhou, Irvine and Fremont in California. The service will be opened to the public in Shanghai in the near future.
Vietnam prioritises partnership with the Republic of Korea

Vietnam considers the Republic of Korea (RoK) as an important, long-term partner and one of the top priority partners in its foreign policy, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue told Park Byung-seug, Speaker of the RoK National Assembly during their online talks on June 23.



Vietnam attaches great importance to and wishes to develop friendly cooperative relations with the Republic of Korea, Hue stressed.



He said Vietnam highly appreciates and believes that the RoKs New Southern Policy will create great opportunities for further strengthening the Vietnam-RoK Strategic Cooperation Partnership.



He welcomed the RoK sides proposal to lift bilateral relations to a level of the comprehensive strategic partnership to mark 30 years of their diplomacy in 2022.



Hue expressed his elation at the blossoming of the economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting given the current context RoK investors consider Vietnam as an attractive investment environment and are pouring investment into the nation.



Both leaders were aware that balancing bilateral trade is one of the important factors in the relationship between the two countries.





Speaker Park affirmed that Vietnam is one of the Roks important partners, saying about more than 8,000 Korean businesses are operating in Vietnam. According to Park, Samsung has developed a plan to build a research and development Center in Vietnam, and LG is also keen to do the same.













NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and other officials participating in the talks from Hanoi



NA Chairman Hue suggested that Vietnam and the RoK continue to strengthen connectivity between the two economies on the basis of the signed free trade agreements, while promoting trade in order to complement each others strengths.



He expressed hope that the RoK will create favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural products, to enter its market in an effort to balance bilateral trade and look forward to raising their trade to US$100 billion soon.



He welcomed Samsungs plan to invest in its research and development center in Hanoi to develop the supply chain of supporting industries in Vietnam, considering this a good direction for promoting bilateral trade.



The National Assembly and Government of Vietnam will create favourable conditions for RoK to overcome difficulties and operate efficiently in the country, Hue assured Park.



The Vietnamese legislator thanked the RoK for providing COVID-19 medical supplies, pushed for stronger vaccine cooperation under the COVAX Facility, and proposed piloting a vaccine passport scheme in tourism and other areas.



During the online talks, both sides stressed the need to increase cooperation between the two legislative bodies, especially in the area of legislation, through regular contacts and visit exchanges.



Vietnam always promotes its role as a responsible member of the international community and actively contributes to peace, stability and development globally, including maintaining peace on the Korean peninsula, Hue stressed.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 24, 2021

2021/06/24

Prensa Latina: Once again the international community said "no" to the US blockade against Cuba. I wonder if China has any comment about this call?

Zhao Lijian: For the 29th consecutive year, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba by the US, which urges states to abide by the UN Charter and the norms of international law, and revoke or rescind laws and regulations, the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other states, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation.

Regrettably, these resolutions have not been effectively implemented over the years, and the embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba is till in place and has been tightened in recent years. China always believes that we should respect the right of each country to independently choose its social system and development path, uphold the international order based on international law, safeguard international fairness and justice, and oppose unilateral coercive measures imposed on other countries by military, political, economic or other means.

China urges the US to immediately and fully lift its economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, which is the universal call of the international community. We hope that the US will develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations. This serves the common interests of the two peoples and contributes to peace and stability in the Americas as a whole.

CCTV: According to reports, the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation was held in Beijing yesterday. Could you offer more details and any outcomes of the meeting?

Zhao Lijian: On June 23, the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation was successfully held via videolink. President Xi Jinping delivered written remarks. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided over the meeting and delivered a keynote speech. The conference was themed on "Promoting Cooperation on Combating the Pandemic for Sustainable Recovery". It was attended by political leaders from 29 countries, such as Colombian President Ivan Duque, and representatives from six international organizations including the United Nations.

The meeting reached six-point consensus.

First, all participants spoke highly of the progress made in the international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. They hope to build closer partnership, form greater synergy between BRI and their development strategies and plans.

Second, the pandemic is the most pressing challenge at present, and the international community must work together to overcome the difficulties.

Third, all parties agreed to further strengthen international cooperation on vaccine and promote its equitable distribution as a global public good among all countries. All parties oppose vaccine nationalism and support the efforts made by the UN system in promoting global immunization and improving the accessibility and affordability of vaccines globally, especially in developing countries.

Fourth, the BRI cooperation should give priority to green development and building a green Silk Road, and create more highlights of cooperation in green infrastructure, green energy, green finance and other fields.

Fifth, all parties support cross-border flows of goods and people, and support countries in advancing trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

Sixth, all parties stressed the importance to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and support and practice multilateralism advocated by the UN.

Besides, two cooperation initiatives were launched during the meeting. The first is the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation, which calls for strengthening international cooperation in vaccine research and development, production and distribution, and improving the accessibility and affordability of vaccines globally, especially in developing countries. The second is the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development, which supports the building of a green Silk Road to step up cooperation in such areas as green infrastructure, green energy and green finance, and promote green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

Bloomberg: Australia will appeal to the World Trade Organization regarding China's imposition of anti-dumping duties in the country's wine. What's your response? Second question, the US is poised to bar some solar products made in Xinjiang over allegations of human rights abuses. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: On your first question, China has made clear its position on the relevant issue on many occasions. Please refer to competent authorities for details. I want to emphasize that China abides by the WTO rules and always acts in accordance with them.

On your second question, China strongly condemns the sanctions that the US imposes on Chinese companies based on lies and disinformation.

The allegations of so-called "forced labor" and "genocide" in Xinjiang are the biggest lies of the century. Based on lies, the US abuses its "Entity List" to suppress Xinjiang's photovoltaic industry. This not only violates international trade rules and the principles of the market economy, but also undermines the global industrial and supply chains. From cotton to PV, from agriculture to industry, the US side uses human rights as a disguise to do all it could to cripple the industrial development in Xinjiang. What it does is detrimental to Xinjiang people's rights to subsistence and development, and also exposes that what they are after is not facts, truth or Xinjiang people's well-being, but to create "forced unemployment" and "forced poverty" to mess up Xinjiang and contain China's development.

A reminder for the US: the real perpetrator of genocide and forced labor is no other than the US itself. US politicians should repent the country's history of genocide against American Indians and African Americans in Tulsa, and focus their energy on how to solve human rights problems such as racial conflicts and forced labor in the US. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

NHK: At a press conference today, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato voiced his deep concern about the closure of Apple Daily and called it "a huge setback for the freedoms of speech and the press" in Hong Kong. What's your response?

Zhao Lijian: The Japanese politician openly interferes with Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs. It is a serious breach of international law and basic norms governing international relations. We deplore and stand firmly against it and categorically reject the absurd remarks by the Japanese side.

Hong Kong upholds rule of law. It is not a safe haven beyond the law. Freedom of the press does not entail impunity for crimes. Anti-China, destablizing forces have no extrajudicial rights. The Hong Kong SAR government ensures that laws are strictly enforced and complied with and offences are prosecuted. This has been endorsed and supported widely by the public in Hong Kong. It will help consolidate and improve the One Country, Two Systems and promote Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.

AFP: Also related to Apple Daily. The UK government said yesterday that not only was the closure of Apple Daily a chilling blow to freedom of expression in Hong Kong, but also said that the Hong Kong national security law is being used to punish dissent rather than keep public order. Do you have any response to this particular comment?

Zhao Lijian: We deplore and reject the blatant interference in China's Hong Kong affairs time and again by some individuals in the UK.

The basis for the Chinese government's administration of Hong Kong is China's constitution and the Basic Law, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. No foreign country has the right to point fingers at or make irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong affairs or China's other internal affairs. Under the disguise of upholding "freedom of speech and the press", the UK is undermining the rule of law in Hong Kong. A word of advice for certain individuals on the British side: no matter how hard they try to whitewash their ploy of pressuring China by playing the "Hong Kong card", they will only end in failure.

We urge the UK to abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, grasp the reality that it has been 24 years since Hong Kong returned to China, get over its old colonial dream, reject double standards, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and other China's internal affairs in any way, and do more to contribute to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the development of China-UK relations.

Reuters: According to a report, the Pacific island of Nauru is negotiating for the construction of undersea communications cable that would connect to an Australian network after it earlier rejected the Chinese proposal due to security concerns. Do you have any comment on this report?

Zhao Lijian: I don't know if the situation you mentioned is true or not. Please refer to relevant authorities for that question.

I want to stress that, first, the Chinese government always encourages Chinese enterprises to follow market principles and international rules and abide by local laws while doing business overseas.

Second, Chinese companies have always maintained a good record in cyber security. The allegation of so-called China-related security concerns is groundless and China is wrongly targeted. The world is clear-eyed about who has engaged in espionage activities including spying and theft of secrets. Do I really need to repeat what is so clear?

Beijing Daily: Joschka Fischer, former foreign minister and vice chancellor of Germany, wrote in an article that it is "misleading" to compare the relationship between the West and China to that between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Given the "economic interdependencies" between China and the world economy, "the idea that China can be isolated is absurd". Do you have a comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: We agree with Mr. Fischer's objective and rational assessment.

It has been more than 30 years since the Cold War ended. Today, the political and economic landscape of the world is vastly different, with countries' interests deeply intertwined. Zero-sum game and Cold-War mentality are doomed to be discarded by history. Just as Mr. Fischer puts it, the global challenge of the 21st century will force the great powers to "embrace cooperation", regardless of who is "Number One".

Win-win cooperation is the trend of the times and people's shared aspiration. It is nothing but an illusion to believe that any country can be contained or isolated with the Cold-War modality. China is committed to the path of peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are common values of humanity. We are committed to promoting the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. We hope those who are still lost in the Cold-War delusion can wake up as soon as possible, pay more attention to the insights of visionary people, and do more things to boost mutual trust and cooperation between countries and advance the shared development interests of all mankind.
Chinese embassy donates to Sudan Acrobatic Troupe

Xinhua) 17:19, June 23, 2021

KHARTOUM, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Khartoum has offered a batch of aid materials to the Sudan Acrobatic Troupe.

At the handover ceremony held on Monday, Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin expressed his confidence in the two countries' friendship.

"Today, the donation made by the Chinese embassy in Sudan to the Sudan Acrobatic Troupe embodies China's best wishes to the troupe for a more flourishing future," Ma said.

"It also manifests our ardent expectation to pass on the bilateral friendship from generation to generation. We are convinced that with good care and great contribution from various circles in China and Sudan, the blossom of China-Sudan friendship is bound to endure," he said.

For his part, the second undersecretary of Sudan's Culture and Information Ministry Graham Abdel-Ghader hailed the bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Sudan Acrobatic Troupe has been popular since its establishment in 1971 and some acrobats were trained in China, Abdel-Ghader said. "The trainees received exercises in musical performance, acrobatic skills and Chinese language."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
America's biggest threat isn't China, but something homegrown: media

Xinhua) 17:23, June 23, 2021

Photo taken on May 28, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building behind traffic lights in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich called on his fellow Americans "not to demonize China" in a way that will create "a new paranoia" that further bends U.S. priorities, stirs up nativism and xenophobia, and leads to heavier military spendings rather than public investments in education, infrastructure, and basic research.

WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The greatest danger facing the United States today does not stem from China, but from its drifting toward what former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich called as "proto-fascism," said a recent article in The Guardian.

In an opinion published Sunday on the British daily newspaper, Reich called on his fellow Americans "not to demonize China" in a way that will create "a new paranoia" that further bends U.S. priorities, stirs up nativism and xenophobia, and leads to heavier military spendings rather than public investments in education, infrastructure, and basic research.

According to Reich, in the postwar period, America has a track record of blaming others for its own failure in addressing domestic crisis, one notable case of which was in the 1980s, when Japan, a world economic engine, was caught up in the U.S. blame game.

Countless congressional hearings were held on the Japanese "challenge" to America and "a tide of books" demonizing Japan were published during that time, he said.

Some of them had claimed that Japan imperiled the American way of life and "ultimately our freedoms," while others had asserted that "Japan's growing power put the United States at risk of falling prey to a hostile Japanese ... world order," even though there was no vicious plot from Japan, Reich noted.

Such popular, yet distorted image of Japan has made the United States overlook its systematic problems in financial, educational and infrastructure sectors, which would ultimately be detrimental to U.S. competitiveness, he noted.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
Brick wall collapse leaves 9 dead in east China

Xinhua) 17:27, June 23, 2021

FUZHOU, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were killed and seven others injured after a brick wall fell from the roof of a residential building in a village in east China's Fujian Province Tuesday, local authorities said.

The accident occurred around 11:40 a.m. when villagers in Nanyang Village were having a banquet in the aisle between two residential buildings.

Rescue work was launched immediately and the injured were sent to hospital.

Investigation is underway.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
Chinese president calls for building closer Belt and Road partnership

Xinhua) 08:10, June 24, 2021

Aerial photo shows a container vessel sailing into Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to work with all parties to build a closer Belt and Road partnership, President Xi Jinping said Wednesday in a written message to the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation.

Xi said the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that he proposed is aimed at carrying forward the spirit of the Silk Road, working together to build an open platform of cooperation, and providing new impetus for cooperation and development among countries.

Over the past eight years, 140 countries have signed cooperation agreements with China under the BRI, with more and more cooperative partners, according to Xi.

All parties have actively promoted policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure and facilities, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds, launched many practical cooperation projects that benefit the people, established a comprehensive and compound connectivity partnership, and created a new prospect for common development, Xi said.

"In the face of the sudden COVID-19 epidemic, we pulled through difficult times together with mutual assistance, and promoted the development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road projects, which conveyed confidence and strength to the international community and made important contributions to global anti-epidemic cooperation and economic recovery," Xi said.

He stressed that Belt and Road cooperation follows the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, adheres to the concept of openness, green development, integrity and cooperation, and is committed to the cooperation goals featuring high standards, benefiting the people and sustainable development.

China has entered a new development stage, acted on a new development concept, and has been fostering a new development paradigm, which provides more opportunities in the market, investment and growth for Belt and Road partners, Xi said.

He added that China stands ready to work with all parties to build a closer Belt and Road partnership, adhere to the path of unity, cooperation, interconnectivity, and common development, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Du Mingming)
China refutes human rights accusation by Western countries

Xinhua) 08:24, June 24, 2021

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday refuted the criticism by some Western countries on its policies involving Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, opposing interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights and urging the relevant countries to take concrete steps to address their serious human rights problems.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks during a press briefing in response to Canada, on behalf of some Western countries, criticizing China at the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

According to a press release issued by the ministry on Tuesday, Belarus delivered a joint speech on behalf of 65 countries, stressing that the affairs involving Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are China's internal matters, and the outside world should not interfere.

The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have sent a letter supporting China's position, and more than 20 countries are ready to support China by making statements in national capacity.

Noting that the above-mentioned 90-plus countries have voiced their appeal for justice at the Human Rights Council, Zhao said this reflects what the international community is supporting and exposes the hypocrisy of a few Western countries in interfering in internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of human rights.

"A handful of Western countries are eager to fabricate and peddle rumors about China and interfere in China's internal affairs in the name of human rights with the aim of suppressing and containing China and hindering its development process," said Zhao. "But, such attempts are doomed to fail."

He added that China is determined to promote and protect human rights at home and safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Pointing out appalling human rights violations by countries like Canada, the United States and Britain, Zhao advised them to take concrete measures to address their serious human rights problems, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, and do good deeds for the sound development of the international cause of human rights.

In response to the international community's concern about the human rights situation in the United States, Zhao said the United States has unscrupulously adopted double standards on human rights issues, and treated human rights as a tool to safeguard its hegemony and interfere in internal affairs of other countries.

Zhao added that instances of human rights abuse by the United States are too large to record, which include race massacre against indigenous peoples; prevalent, systemic and persistent racial discrimination; provoking wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and unilateral sanctions that violate the human rights of citizens of other countries.

The United States should respond to the voices of minorities and bring justice to history and the world, he said.

Zhao also expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab backing Canada's actions in tweet.

"This is a politically motivated accusation against China based on lies and false information, and it is a gross interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights," Zhao said.

Pointing out that the British army tortured and injured innocent local civilians during wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Zhao said the British side, however, blatantly justified the crimes perpetrated by its soldiers in legal form.

China urges the British side to seriously reflect on its gross human rights violations, and not attempt to distract attention and shirk responsibilities by attacking and smearing China, Zhao said.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Du Mingming)
China shows strength and sense of responsibility as major country in space exploration

09:02, June 24, 2021 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Chinas Long March-2F Y12 carrier rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest Chinas Gobi Desert, June 17. (Peoples Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

China recently launched the Shenzhou-12 manned spaceship, which docked with the countrys space station core module Tianhe and sent three Chinese astronauts into space, demonstrating the countrys strength in aerospace.

The international community has spoken highly of Chinas recent advances in space exploration and looks forward to cooperating with China in space science and technology.

This is a great moment, said Philippe Coue, a French space expert, commenting on Shenzhou-12 manned spaceships fast autonomous rendezvous and docking with the core module of Chinas space station. The Chinese missions provide an opportunity for international cooperation, according to Coue.

The launch and subsequent mission are another demonstration of Chinas growing confidence and capability in the space domain, pointed out a recent article published on the website of BBC.

Chinas new accomplishment in aerospace, as the countrys first crewed mission in the countrys space station construction phase, represents a milestone in its space exploration and a new height that China has reached in advancing space technologies, and is believed to create new opportunities for humanitys space exploration.

Foreign space experts commented that the Shenzhou-12 manned spaceflight mission bears the historic mission of mankind, and that Chinas success also contributes to enhancing humankinds understanding of the surrounding world, the universe and even humankind itself.

From the countrys first satellite Dongfanghong-1 to Shenzhou manned spacecraft series, from Change moon missions to Tiangong space station missions and the recent Tianwen-1 Mars mission, distant stars have witnessed Chinese peoples long-standing dream of exploring the universe as well as the countrys firm steps in pursuing scientific and technological innovation despite difficulties.

In 1992, China started the manned space program with a three-step strategy. The first step is to send astronauts into space and ensure their safe return; the second step is to test key technologies needed for a permanent space station, including extra-vehicular activity, orbital docking, and in-orbit propellant refueling; and the third step is to assemble and operate a permanently crewed space station.

Guided by the strategy, the country successfully launched its first manned spaceflight mission Shenzhou-5 in 2003. For the past half a year or so, China has brought back lunar samples with a moon mission, enabled a Mars rover to land on the surface of the red planet for exploration, and sent astronauts into its space station, making steady progress under its manned space program.

China is speeding up the building of its strength in aerospace in a way that amazes the international community.

The slogan pursuing progress through self-reliance and innovation at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest Chinas Gobi Desert, the launch site of the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft, is particularly eye-catching. It shows the spiritual strength behind Chinas manned spaceflight cause as well as the intrinsic logic in the countrys leapfrog development.

No difficulty or challenge can block Chinas way to securing breakthroughs in its manned spaceflight cause, its steps toward building itself into a world leader in science and technology and realizing sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels, or the Chinese peoples historic course of achieving modernization.

With the belief that the outer space is the common wealth of people all over the world and exploring the universe is the shared cause of all mankind, China has always embraced openness and cooperation for mutual benefits in its space exploration endeavor.

The country has carried out cooperation and exchanges with relevant countries and regions on the basis of peaceful utilization, equality and mutual benefit and common development, showing a sense of responsibility and friendliness.

Since it approved and implemented the manned space program, China has conducted extensive cooperation and exchanges with space agencies of Russia, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and other countries, as well as international space organizations including the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the European Space Agency.

It is pushing ahead bilateral cooperation and exchanges with France, Italy, Pakistan and other countries on performing space experiments in the space station.

The core module and lab capsules of Chinas space station have standardized load interfaces and are capable of supporting international cooperation in various scientific experiments, which will help turn Chinas space station into a space lab that benefits all mankind.

As a Russian expert pointed out, the construction and development of Chinas space station provide new opportunities for international space cooperation.

The year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It is believed that under the leadership of the CPC, China will continuously promote international cooperation in an open and inclusive manner for the well-being of all mankind, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of exploring the universe and promoting the peaceful development of human beings.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
E-commerce development in western China is moving onto fast track

By Wang Junling (People's Daily Overseas Edition) 09:12, June 24, 2021

Photo taken on May 19, 2021, shows two women hosting a live-streaming show to promote local specialties at the e-commerce service center of Awat county, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. (Peoples Daily Online/Yuan Huanhuan)

Thanks to rapid e-commerce development, special local products from western regions in China have witnessed amazing sales during this years June 18 online shopping festival in China.

During the online shopping spree, a succulent plant grower in southwest Chinas Yunnan province received more than 5,000 orders within three hours during a live-streaming promotion; a great number of trucks fully loaded with kiwifruit left Wugong county in northwest Chinas Shaanxi province; and a hotpot business in a mountainous area of southwest Chinas Chongqing municipality saw its daily sales volume exceed 100,000 yuan ($15,430).

Last year, the number of newly-added online shop owners from western regions of China on Taobao, a major online shopping platform run by Alibaba, surpassed that from the central and eastern regions of the country for the first time and led the whole country, according to a recent report jointly released by the digital economy research institute of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and Alibaba Group.

Besides, the average transportation time of parcels between the eastern and western regions of China has been reduced by 16 hours in two years, suggests the report on e-commerce development in Chinas western regions.

It also indicates that, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, three provinces in west China, made it into the top ten list of the country in terms of the number of live-streaming hosts who promote farm produce online.

In 2020, nine of the top ten provincial-level regions which witnessed the most year-on-year growth in the number of newly-added shop owners on Taobao were from west China, and the top five are all located in western China, including Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Yunnan province, Guizhou province, Qinghai province, and Gansu province, as shown by data from the report.

Owners of small and medium-sized Taobao stores from western China have seen a nearly 150-percent growth in the average amount of money spent through MYbank, a leading online private commercial bank under Ant Financial Services Group, compared with that in 2017, according to the report.

The gap between different regions natural endowments caused by geographic positions is an important reason for differences between their economic development, and digital economy is breaking the traditional regional gap, said Zuo Chenming, senior expert of Alibabas research arm AliResearch.

According to Zuo, the accelerated development of digital economy and application of digital technologies in western regions can be mainly attributed to the following reasons.

First, the infrastructure and logistics services in Chinas western regions are increasingly improved. With the implementation of the strategy for large-scale development in the western regions, especially the construction of e-commerce infrastructure facilities, high-quality agricultural products in remote mountainous areas of the countrys western regions can now be transported to the cities.

Meanwhile, various platform companies have actively shifted their strategic focus to rural areas. For instance, Alibabas logistics arm Cainiao Network teamed up with major courier companies to extend its logistics network to counties, townships, and villages by leveraging digital and smart technologies. So far, it has established 30,000 rural delivery stations across China, and plans to open about 1,000 fast lanes for the transportation of agricultural products this year.

Second, the country is seeing more talents return to rural areas. While returning to their hometowns to start businesses, young people have brought new technologies, ideas and ways of thinking to rural areas, injecting fresh vitality and dynamism into villages. In particular, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of rural workers who return to their hometowns to start businesses has grown faster than before.

Third, as Chinese consumers favor increasingly high-quality, healthy and fresh food, many quality products from mountainous areas in west China have embraced broader sales channels. In the meantime, the increasing popularity of the new business form of live-streaming and active efforts of government departments have made e-commerce an important platform for increasing the income of farmers in western China.

Driving the development of core industries through e-commerce is becoming an effective key to bridging the development gap between western China and the countrys central and eastern regions, said Pan Helin, executive director of the digital economy research institute of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.

At present, e-commerce has entered the stage featuring live-streaming, Pan said, adding that with the popularization of 5G applications, live-streaming videos with low latency and high definition have significantly improved the experience of both sellers and buyers and created brand new space for the development of e-commerce and even digital economy in west China.

E-commerce can expand the sales area of products, improve peoples consumption level, drive fixed-asset investment, and bring foreign trade to a new level, which is particularly valuable to western regions rural vitalization and efforts to avoid the phenomenon of hollow villages, where there are only the elderly and children as young people leave their hometowns to work in cities, Pan pointed out.

As more and more western regions in China actively promote the use of the Internet, digital economy and digital technologies in there will move onto a broader and faster track of development, Pan noted.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
Chinese defense minister attends Moscow Conference on International Security

Xinhua) 09:18, June 24, 2021

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China is committed to making greater contributions to world prosperity and development, making greater efforts for international fairness and justice, and playing a bigger role in promoting world common security, State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe said Wednesday.

China resolutely safeguards its core interests and strongly opposes acts that interfere in China's domestic affairs and damage China's interests, Wei said at the ninth Moscow Conference on International Security via video link.

The Chinese military is willing to join hands with foreign military forces to create a security environment built and shared by all, Wei said.

The conference is hosted by the Russian Defense Ministry from June 23 to 24 in Moscow.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Hongyu)
Justice inhabits peoples hearts, and lies will eventually be exposed

09:21, June 24, 2021 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

During the ongoing 47th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, 65 countries made a joint statement to express support for China amid a rampant anti-China campaign at the UNHRC started by some Western countries.

In the statement, they stressed that respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each sovereign state without interfering in its internal affairs is the requirement of the basic norms governing international relations, and that affairs concerning Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are Chinas domestic affairs and should not be interfered by external forces.

The statement also advocated abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respecting the right of people from all countries to independently choose the path of human rights development according to their own national conditions. Meanwhile, it opposed double standards or politicization of human rights issues, groundless accusations against China based on disinformation or political purposes, and making use of human rights as an excuse to interfere in Chinas domestic affairs.

Aside from the 65 countries, six countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council sent a message to support China, and more than 20 countries delivered separate speeches to support China.

The sonorous and forceful voices of justice made by a total of over 90 countries at the UNHRC have been spread across the globe and will be heard by people in every corner of the world.

In stark contrast, Canada, the U.S., the U.K, and some other Western countries have fabricated and disseminated false information to attack and smear China under the guise of human rights, and undermined international human rights dialogues and cooperation for the political purpose of suppressing and containing China.

As a vast number of developing countries have expressed firm support for China, the voices of these Western countries, which can neither represent human rights standard nor public opinion, seem particularly out of place and harsh.

Ironically, these Western countries that have acted as self-styled judges of human rights have a poor record of human rights issues, which were discussed and criticized by many countries at the UNHRC.

The remains of more than 200 indigenous children were recently discovered at a boarding school in Canada, which reminds people once again Canadas historical atrocities of killing the indigenous people and eradicating their culture. About 150,000 indigenous children in Canada were forcibly taken away from their parents and sent to boarding schools, where at least 4,000 children died of unnatural causes.

Systematic and institutional racial discrimination are becoming more intense in the U.K. One-third of the families with children under the age of 15 live in poverty, and the rights of a large number of refugees and immigrants have been seriously violated. Besides, British soldiers randomly torture and kill civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, and yet are free from punishments because of the protection of the government.

The U.S., the so-called beacon of human rights, seems to have always made irresponsible remarks about the human rights situation in other countries, but turned a blind eye to its own problems. Even after the tragedy of George Floyd, an African American who died in violent law enforcement, systematic racial discrimination and violence in law enforcement are still common in the U.S.

Data suggest that from January to November 2020, there were only 17 days when the U.S. didnt see any death caused by law enforcement personnel.

Since 2001, the U.S. has carried out the so-called counter-terrorism operations in more than 80 countries, causing the death of more than 800,000 people in direct war violence, including about 335,000 civilians, and displacing tens of millions of people.

Since it was founded 100 years ago, the CPC has made its mission striving for peoples human rights and freedom.

The CPC has always focused its efforts on helping people live a better life, and devoted itself to continuously protecting and improving human rights in the development process, trying to benefit all the Chinese people with the fruits of development. It is because of the efforts of the CPC that the New China has seen earth-shattering changes since its reform and opening-up and secured historic achievements and transformation with the cause of the CPC and the nation since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed that living a happy life is the primary human right.

No matter how times develop and how circumstances change, China has remained consistent in believing that human rights are the common pursuit of all mankind, rather than a patent of a few countries or be used as a tool to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and incite the subversion and overthrow of regimes.

China will continuously adhere to its people-centered approach in protecting human rights, uphold the universal values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and conduct constructive dialogues and cooperation with various parties on human rights protection on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

As China is about to comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society, the country will certainly bring its human rights cause to a higher level and make greater contributions to the healthy development of the worlds human rights cause.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
European Parliament member calls on EU to cooperate with China instead of confrontation

Xinhua) 09:31, June 24, 2021

A member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland called on the European Union (EU) to cooperate with China instead of being "led along by the nose by the Americans" into confrontation with China.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Bianji)
National aerospace scientists give lectures, meet students in Hong Kong

Xinhua) 09:31, June 24, 2021

Mainland aerospace scientists (From L to R) Zhang He, Xie Jun, Long Lehao, Qi Faren, Hu Hao and Sun Zezhou pose for a group photo before the lecture at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, south China, June 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

HONG KONG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Mainland aerospace scientists started on Wednesday to give lectures and meet students on Hong Kong campuses.

On their agenda is also to witness the inauguration of a lunar soil exhibition slated for Saturday here. The lunar soil was brought back to Earth by the Chang'e-5 lunar probe last December.

The six scientists, who joined major aerospace projects including Shenzhou spaceships, Long March rockets and Chang'e lunar probes, were scheduled to visit the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and six high schools.

Alfred Sit Wing-hang, secretary for innovation and technology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said Wednesday that the experts will share the national aerospace achievements with the Hong Kong audience and bring some lunar soil for public exhibition.

"I believe Hong Kong people, especially the younger generation, can have a better understanding of the space spirit and enhance their sense of pride and belonging to the country," he said.

In Wednesday's events, Hu Hao, the chief designer of the third stage of the national lunar exploration program, presented a national flag, which is the same as the one carried by the Chang'e-5 probe to the moon, to the HKU as a gift.

"The Chang'e-5 probe retrieved a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples from the moon and the figure is meaningful," Hu said when delivering a speech.

Hu explained that the country spent 17 years from launching its moon exploration program to collecting lunar samples and succeeded on the first attempt of the three missions of orbiting, landing and sample-return.

Hu stressed the passion for innovation, a steady faith, perseverance, a sense of responsibility and meticulosity as the key to the success of national aerospace projects when elaborating on the space spirit.

When addressing PolyU students, Qi Faren, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and former chief designer for Shenzhou spaceships, said he hopes young people will take the space spirit to heart and well understand the importance of self-reliance.

The lectures received rounds of thunderous applause by the audience.

The other four scientists coming to Hong Kong are Long Lehao, an academician with the CAE and chief designer of Long March rockets, Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe, Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and chief designer of the BDS-3 satellite system, and Zhang He, executive director of the Chang'e-4 probe project.

National aerospace scientists and taikonauts, or Chinese astronauts, have made multiple visits to Hong Kong since 2003. Analysts said Hong Kong scientists also made contribution to the national aerospace achievements.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
Trumped-up "lab-leak theory" exposes Washington's hypocrisy over human rights

Xinhua) 09:47, June 24, 2021

Staff members check the instruments for nucleic acid testing at a temporary laboratory in a stadium in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, June 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

This represented the "classic disinformation two-step," in which the White House first leaks a lie to a U.S. media outlet, and the latter publishes it as a startling expose; then, the White House conveniently masquerades behind the credibility of the media.

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- As more scientists are speaking out against politicizing the origin of COVID-19, it dawns on many that the "lab-leak hypothesis" is not only flawed but typical of U.S. hypocrisy over human rights.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released in March an origin-tracing study report of the China-WHO joint mission, drawing a clear conclusion that lab leak is extremely unlikely. The report, co-authored by more than 30 top global experts in various fields, is widely representative and highly professional.

However, passing through the U.S. government to corporate press, a sinister production line of misinformation has been rumbling recently to mislead the public and demonize China.

"For a leak to occur, the virus must be present in the laboratory already and there would have to be a breakdown of usual regulated laboratory procedures around sample collection and preparation," according to Dominic Dwyer, a member of the WHO team sent to China in January.

"For further spread, the infected worker must transmit the virus to close contacts and through them to the wider community. There is currently no clear evidence that any of these steps have happened," the expert wrote in his latest opinion for The Guardian.

Photo taken on March 30, 2021 shows an exterior view of the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

What Dwyer referred to were a series of wild speculations about the origin of COVID-19, a deadly pathogen which has so far infected about 179 million across the globe.

As noted by Ethan Siegel, a science writer who has won numerous awards since 2008 for his blog, as the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is in no way near an end, the world is witnessing a tremendous push largely among U.S. politicians to bring "an idea that is largely been circulating among conspiracy theorists, the idea of a lab leak origin for the virus, into the mainstream."

As a result, despite their strenuous efforts to understand and fight the unprecedented global health crisis, Chinese scientists found themselves thrown into the maelstrom of conspiracy theories that have emphatically alleged that the virus originated from a Chinese lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

In stark contrast to U.S. politicians' push to frame the origin of COVID-19 and smear China, scientific consensus has not shifted toward a lab origin, as noted by U.S. writer Mara Hvistendahl in her recent opinion for The Intercept.

"There is still no direct evidence to support a lab leak, and many scientists with no stake in the outcome still say that a natural origin is more likely," Hvistendahl wrote, adding that those are pundits "with the risky combination of a lack of expertise and an agenda" who have argued that a lab leak caused the pandemic.

In fact, the "lab-leak theory" was widely ridiculed last year as Washington scrambled to divert attention from its failure to address the health crisis by trumping up conspiracy theories against China.

People wander near the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, June 22, 2021.(Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The groundless theory only gained steam recently after Michael Gordon, who wrote either misleading or downright inaccurate articles about the fabricated Iraqi possession of weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the 2003 invasion, hinted a far-fetched connection between the "sick staff" of a Wuhan lab and the COVID-19 outbreak by quoting a so-called "previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report."

Three days after the publication, the White House announced an order for U.S. intelligence to draw "a definitive conclusion" on the virus' origin.

As U.S. reporters Amy Goodman and David Goodman said in 2004, this represented the "classic disinformation two-step," in which the White House first leaks a lie to a U.S. media outlet, and the latter publishes it as a startling expose; then, the White House conveniently masquerades behind the credibility of the media.

As noted by The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), till now, "the only evidence presented by the White House, the U.S. intelligence agencies, and the media to support the claim is that employees at the Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill in late 2019 with symptoms that a State Department report acknowledged are 'consistent with ... common seasonal illnesses.'"

"More than one year into the pandemic, these baseless theories are propounded throughout the corporate press as part of a coordinated international campaign to deflect the burden of blame for the pandemic from the ruling elites' disastrous response against the contagion and thrust it on to the heads of the Chinese government and Chinese scientists," the WSWS commented.

Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a hearing of Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 26, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via Xinhua)

In his latest interview with The New York Times, U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci also appeared to question the "strength" and "confidence" in the U.S. intelligence of connecting the origin of COVID-19 with sick lab staff in Wuhan.

"There is this so-called intelligence that three members of the lab were ill, requiring hospitalization. And I really wonder what the strength of that intelligence is, what the confidence in it is," Fauci said.

"I feel, as do the overwhelming majority of scientists who have knowledge of virology and knowledge of evolutionary biology, that the most likely explanation for this is a natural leap from an animal reservoir to a human," he said.

In the face of overwhelming supports for a natural origin of the virus, some proponents of the "lab-leak theory" then claimed that the evidence for both the natural origin and the "lab-leak" theory is weak and circumstantial.

But David Robertson, head of viral genomics and bioinformatics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, told The Guardian that the argument has set up a "false equivalence" between them, because a lot of evidence now points to a natural spillover event.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Hongyu)
UN chief calls on EU to fight for "enlightenment" against intolerance

Xinhua) 09:53, June 24, 2021

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) receives United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as the latter visits the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, June 23, 2021. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is visiting Brussels to meet the college of the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU. They will discuss topics such as peace and security, support for refugees, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the fight against climate change.

BRUSSELS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the European Union (EU) to fight for values of "enlightenment" against populism, racism and other intolerant ideas during his visit here on Wednesday.

"As a European, I'm particularly proud with the contribution that I consider the most important contribution of Europe to global civilization -- and that is in my opinion, the Enlightenment, the values of the Enlightenment. The primacy of reason, tolerance," Guterres said at a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a European intellectual movement that spread during the 17th and 18th centuries.

"This is particularly important when we see the risks of moving into a kind of post-Enlightenment era and where we see the multiplication of different forms of irrationality -- nationalism, populism, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred," said Guterres, former prime minister of Portugal.

Guterres added that the EU will be at the forefront of the good battle for the values of the Enlightenment, which were the very important contribution of Europe to global civilization.

The UN Secretary-General is visiting Brussels to meet the college of the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU. They will discuss topics such as peace and security, support for refugees, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the fight against climate change, according to von der Leyen.

On Thursday, Guterres is scheduled to deliver an address to the European Parliament.

Flags of the European Union fly outside the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, May 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Hongyu)
Demand increases for used chips in China amid global supply shortage

(Global Times) 10:59, June 24, 2021

More secondhand semiconductor chips are being traded in Chinese electronics markets amid a severe shortage, industry insiders said, but these chips have not turned up in products made by mainstream mobile phone companies in China.

The chips shortage could improve in the second half of 2021 or early next year as supplies return to normal, experts say.

Media reports said that a large number of "fake chips" have started to circulate in electronics markets amid a global supply shortage.

But industry insiders disagree as to whether these secondhand chips are "fake" or defective in quality.

Sun Zhenxiang, a Shenzhen-based chip trader, told the Global Times on Wednesday that so-called "fake chips" are actually secondhand products or defective chips that can still be used normally.

He said that some foreign countries have stricter requirements on electronic devices, and chips are supposed to be replaced after being used for three to five years, even though they still function well.

"These chips are imported into China in electronic waste, and they are removed and resold," said Sun. Also, some defective chips are directly sold into the markets, according to media reports.

Xiang Ligang, an independent tech analyst, said that few Chinese companies used secondhand chips in their products before 2019, when supplies were stable then. But the practice became more common this year amid a supply crunch.

According to Xiang, the secondhand chips are less stable than new ones, but since there's no firm standard for the functioning of chips, it's hard to measure them against completely new chips.

Sun said that those used chips have been around for a long time, but they only came to notice recently due to the global shortage of chips.

The Economic Observer cited a domestic chip dealer as saying that the market for secondhand or used chips has been disrupted by surging demand. For example, the price of secondhand chips used to be only half that of new chips, but now the price is almost equal. Some of those chips have also flowed into overseas supply chains, the report said.

According to Xiang, using secondhand chips can be a hidden risk for companies, as their reputations could be damaged if consumers find they are being "cheated".

Fu Liang, also a tech analyst, said that most of the chips are bought by sellers of small electronics products or assembled phone vendors, and have not flowed into supply chains for mainstream mobile phone brands.

"Mainstream mobile phone makers place orders in advance and often maintain partnerships with only two or three fixed suppliers, which are generally very strict about technical standards, supply chain management and parts changes," Fu said.

Both experts predicted that the trend of companies buying secondhand or used chips will slow down soon, as they see the country's chip shortage is peaking.

"If companies need to reduce the cost of their products, they have many ways to do so, such as by using cheaper mobile phone shells. Therefore, mobile phone companies use used or even flawed chips only because of a supply shortage," Fu told the Global Times.

Xiang anticipated that the use of secondhand or used chips would largely end no later than in 2022, when supplies are expected to return to a normal state.

Goldman Sachs economist Andrew Tilton also said in a recent interview that the bank's analysts believe the shortage is already peaking and the problem will likely ease in the second half of this year.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Hongyu)
China-donated COVID-19 vaccines handed over to PNG

Xinhua) 11:12, June 24, 2021

SYDNEY, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Wednesday.

A handover ceremony was held at the Jacksons International Airport, which was attended by Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua, PNG's Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Rainbo Paita, Deputy Controller of PNG's National Pandemic Response Dr. Daoni Esorom and other government representatives.

Zeng said the donation of COVID-19 vaccines shows that China is fulfilling its commitment to providing the vaccines as a global public good.

The Chinese ambassador said China and PNG have made joint efforts to fight the pandemic, which has also promoted the friendship between the two countries. He believed that the China-donated vaccines would help the PNG people win the fight against the coronavirus.

China will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with PNG in pandemic control and public health management, Zeng added.

Paita, on behalf of PNG's Prime Minister James Marape and the government, thanked the Chinese government and the people for donating the vaccines.

He said this once again demonstrated that China, as an important partner of PNG, has firmly supported the country in its fight against the pandemic. PNG has always attached great importance to developing ties with China and will continue to boost the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in all sectors including public health.

Esorom said that the Chinese vaccines will provide effective protection for the PNG people.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
China urges Canada to reflect on its own human rights abuses, stop hyping Xinjiang-related topics

(Global Times) 11:20, June 24, 2021

Children's shoes are placed on the staircase outside Vancouver Art Gallery during a memorial event for the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at a former Kamloops residential school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 29, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

By taking the lead to aggressively hype anti-China topics recently, especially by releasing a joint statement on China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Canada will benefit nothing but only further damage ties with China while exposing its own hypocrisy and double standards on human rights, analysts said.

There was quite a battle on the second dayof the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday. On behalf of a group of countries, China expressed concerns about serious human rights violations against indigenous people in Canadaand called for a thorough and impartial investigation into all cases where crimes were committed. Canada, on the other hand, released a joint statement hyping China's Xinjiang topics.

The finding of the remains of 215 indigenous children who were in a former residential school, the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, believed to have housed 500 indigenous Canadian children, has attracted international attention on Canada's crimes against indigenous people.

"We are deeply concerned about serious human rights violations against the indigenous people in Canada. Historically, Canada robbed the indigenous people of their land, killed them, and eradicated their culture. The entire world was shocked to learn recent discovery of the remains of over 200 indigenous children at a Canadian boarding school," Minister Jiang Duan from China's mission to the UN in Geneva said on Tuesday, on behalf of a group of countries.

Canada's Stained Human Rights Record. Graphic: Jin Jianyu

Between the 1830s and 1990s, over 150,000 indigenous children in Canada were reported to have been forcibly taken away from their parents and sent to boarding schools. They were subjected to malnutrition, and many fell victims to abuse and rape. At least 4,000 children died of diseases, neglect, accidents or abuse while at schools.

"We call for a thorough and impartial investigation into all cases where crimes were committed against the indigenous people, especially children, so as to bring those responsible to justice, and offer full remedy to victims," said Jiang.

Apart from these crimes from the past, Jiang also said, "We are deeply concerned about discrimination against migrants in Canada and inhumane treatment of them in Canadian detention centers. From 2006 to 2014 alone, tens of thousands of migrants were arbitrarily detained by Canada."

"We are also deeply concerned over the illegal killings of civilians by Canadian overseas military servicemen and systemic racial discrimination, xenophobia, and Islamophobia within Canada," Jiang said.

"We urge Canada to immediately stop violations of human rights, and call on the Human Rights Council, the OHCHR and relevant Special Procedures, to keep following the human rights issues in Canada."

Despite facts and data provided in China's joint statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quibbled in his response.

According to Reuters, the Canadian leader said a Canadian truth and reconciliation commission had worked from 2008 to 2015 to address the mistreatment of the indigenous population. Then he asked where China's truth and reconciliation commission was.

It seems that Trudeau has been cut to the quick by China's rare condemnation of Canada at the UN human Rights body, analysts said, noting that an investigation on crimes against the indigenous people, which seems to last forever, gives Canada no moral high ground to blatantly accuse others.

But speculation cannot replace evidence and lies cannot hide the truth, Zhu Ying, a professor on international laws from Southwest University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times

China didn't take the same path of development as these Western countries, and it won't make the mistakes they have made, Zhu said.

He suggested that Trudeau should carefully read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in order to get a better idea of the nature of human rights. Zhu also said Trudeau should learn how to deal with his own problems before he starts pointing fingers at other countries.

"Mr Trudeau needs to calm down. It is better to finally release the investigation results and admit Canada's own mistakes and make sincere repentance," Zhu said.

For a long time, Canada has self-claimed to be a "model student of human rights" and has been obsessed with lecturing and remarking on other countries' human rights conditions. Recently, China has been its main focus. For example, in March, Canada imposed sanction against Chinese officials and companies for "human rights violations" in China's Xinjiang.

Children's shoes, dolls, flowers with notes at the front of Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada, to commemorate the deaths of 215 Indigenous children whose remains were found in a former residential school in Kamloops city in the country, June 2, 2021. Photo:China News Service

Canada has acted aggressively in hyping anti-China topics recently as the US is ramping up efforts in rallying allies to ambush China, so the US needs Canada, a loyal henchman to the US, to take the lead to assist the US, Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

Another reason is that by hyping Xinjiang-related topics, Canada wants to pressure China to release the two Canadian nationals Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in custody in China for suspected crimes undermining China's national security, Li noted.

"It's more like a revenge to China, which is irrational and sick. Also, by playing so hard on containing China, Canada hopes the US will reward its good performance in helping pressure China. But aside from damaging bilateral ties with China, Canada will get nothing from doing this. As for the US, it won't reward Canada, maybe it will just pat on Canada's shoulder and say, 'cheer up,'" Li said.

In facing with the US-led anti-China campaign at the UN human rights body, Li said that it is right for China to take active moves to fight back - China should not be accused of crimes that it never committed. The US wants to destroy China's reputation and interfere with China's domestic affairs, but China will not make compromises.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Hongyu)
Xi's three Earth-space conversations with astronauts in orbit

Xinhua) 11:23, June 24, 2021

Combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holding a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (L) with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe (R), on June 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Peng, Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping talked with the three astronauts stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe on Wednesday morning, showing his consistent concern and support for Chinese pursuit of space dream.

The astronauts -- Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo -- were sent into space aboard the Shenzhou-12 spaceship on June 17 for in-orbit construction of China's space station. They will stay in space for three months.

"The construction of the space station is a milestone in China's space industry, which will make pioneering contributions to the peaceful use of space by humanity," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, during the video call.

This was the third time that Xi has held Earth-space conversations with astronauts in orbit.

He also made video calls with astronauts of the Shenzhou-10 and Shenzhou-11 missions in 2013 and 2016 respectively.

"The space dream is part of the dream to make China stronger. With the development of space programs, the Chinese people will take bigger strides to explore further into the space," said Xi during his conversation with the three Shenzhou-10 astronauts on June 24, 2013.

Expressing sincere greetings to the two Shenzhou-11 astronauts on Nov. 9, 2016, Xi spoke highly of their coordinated efforts in facing difficulties and hoped the two astronauts would keep up the good work through close cooperation and careful operation, so as to complete their mission.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
Commentary-Explainer: Strong CPC leadership behind China's mobilization power

Xinhua) 11:33, June 24, 2021

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- An important aspect of a country's governance level is its capacity to mobilize resources in the face of major challenges. The COVID-19 outbreak being one such challenge, the Communist Party of China has certainly done a good job in leading the fight against the epidemic.

Fighting a crisis of this magnitude, unseen in a century, was an arduous task. However, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the Chinese society gave full play to China's institutional advantages and quickly organized and mobilized forces from all walks of life.

State-owned enterprises and public hospitals bravely shouldered their responsibilities to help contain the epidemic. More than 4.6 million grassroots party organizations took the lead, leading millions of community workers on duty day in and day out in urban and rural communities.

Private companies, private hospitals, charities, nursing homes, welfare homes, as well as other institutions all actively contributed to fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. Millions of couriers delivered necessities and 1.8 million sanitation workers worked round the clock. Overall, it was a concerted effort from all corners.

Most recently, China has ramped up efforts to administer free COVID-19 vaccines to its entire eligible population. Starting late March when China launched its inoculation campaign, China had administered 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of June 19 at a speed that wowed the world.

All of these as well as numerous other accomplishments of the People's Republic of China can be attributed to the extraordinary mobilization power of the CPC.

The mobilization power stems from the strong leadership of the CPC. The Party leadership is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it comprehensively leads all aspects of work across the country.

China practices the system of unified central leadership, with specific responsibilities distributed among different local levels.

The mobilization power also comes from CPC officials. Only those with a good performance record make it to higher levels. Rather than wasting time and money campaigning for votes, they instead devote themselves to improving their knowledge and performance. The rigorous selection process at each level promotes cadres based on concrete results rather than hollow promises, fostering a time-tested team leading by example and fine deeds.

The CPC, having no particular self-interests, makes it its mission to represent not certain social strata, but the fundamental interests of the broadest possible majority of the Chinese people.

After a century of development, the number of CPC members has increased from over 50 to more than 90 million. Today, the CPC is an inextricable part of all aspects of Chinese society, with the presence of its party members playing leading roles in every field.

The grassroots Party organizations, which are deeply rooted in the country's 1.4 billion people, have acted like "neurons" in the overall "nervous system" of the country, forging a tightly bonded Party-people relationship.

Through these highly sensitive "neurons," the CPC learns about people's lives and needs, and addresses their concerns and challenges. By serving people whole-heartedly and bringing them good lives, the CPC has won deep trust and firm support of the Chinese people.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
Merkel's heir warns Biden not to start "new cold war with China:" media

Xinhua) 13:24, June 24, 2021

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden should not embark on "a new cold war with China," said Armin Laschet, a leading candidate to succeed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, reported by Washington Examiner, an American conservative news website based in Washington.

"I'm not sure the American president wants to create a new cold war with China," Laschet, leader of the German Christian Democratic Union party, said at a Federation of German Industries event.

"He has some very strong positions where he shows a competitive attitude where we as Europeans can be allies. But if somebody wants to start a new war, that would be the wrong answer," he said.

Biden's team has identified Germany, the European Union's largest economy, as a centerpiece of its effort to improve coordination with U.S. allies and coordinate an "alliance of democracies" to manage threats from China, the Examiner wrote.

Laschet affirmed his "support" for Merkel's strategy on China, a sign the next leader of the European power will be a big thorn in Washington's side, it added.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Hongyu)
Chinese envoy calls for removal of sanctions against Syria

Xinhua) 13:34, June 24, 2021

UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for the expansion of cross-line humanitarian assistance within Syria and the removal of unilateral sanctions against the country.

The humanitarian situation in Syria is facing multiple challenges, including a declining economy, sharp depreciation of the country's currency, severe food insecurity, rapid transmission of COVID-19, and oil shortages, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

To improve the humanitarian situation requires joint global efforts and a holistic approach, he said.

It is important to have the Syrian government fully play its leading role, and continue to scale up cross-line humanitarian relief operations, Zhang told the Security Council.

China appreciates various UN agencies' humanitarian assistance delivered to millions of people every month through cross-line operations. In April, the World Health Organization provided from within Syria 348,000 medical services to civilians in Northeast Syria, which fully proves the effectiveness and feasibility of cross-line assistance, and also points to room for further expansion, he noted.

"The United Nations should strengthen cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies and make every effort to open up the cross-line access from Damascus to Idlib in the Northwest," said Zhang, adding that when making decisions on humanitarian issues in Syria, the Security Council should put forward specific requirements for scaling up cross-line humanitarian assistance.

Years of illegal sanctions have severely damaged Syria's economic and social development, exacerbated its humanitarian crisis and weakened its ability to respond to COVID-19, he said, urging that unilateral sanctions and economic blockade be lifted immediately to help Syria restore normal order.

Zhang said that it is necessary to stick to dialogue and consultation to properly resolve differences on the renewal of the authorization for the cross-border mechanism.

China's consistent position is that the international community should deliver humanitarian assistance to Syria on the basis of respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhang said.

The Security Council should specify clear requirements for cross-border humanitarian assistance, monitor the whole process, ensure neutrality and transparency, and make sure that it is not used for other purposes, he stressed.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Hongyu)
87 pct of criminal cases handled with leniency after guilty plea: white paper

Xinhua) 14:43, June 24, 2021

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 87 percent of the criminal cases were treated with leniency after the accused pled guilty in China in 2020, according to a white paper released Thursday.

The white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China in respecting and protecting human rights was released by the State Council Information Office.

China has improved criminal proceedings and standardized the system of showing leniency to suspects and defendants who confess to their crimes, according to the white paper.

It has improved a fast-track sentencing procedure for criminal cases and further separated the handling of simple and complex cases to punish those found guilty promptly in accordance with the law and to protect human rights, the document said.

Full Text: The Communist Party of China and Human Rights Protection -- A 100-Year Quest

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Hongyu)
China has 529,000 lawyers: white paper

Xinhua) 15:03, June 24, 2021

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China encourages the development of the legal profession as a part of the efforts to improve its public legal services, said a white paper released Thursday.

The total number of lawyers throughout China has reached 529,000 as of April 2021, according to the white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China in respecting and protecting human rights issued by the State Council Information Office.

Full Text: The Communist Party of China and Human Rights Protection -- A 100-Year Quest

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Hongyu)
Commentary: West's human rights tactic against China will only fail

Xinhua) 15:19, June 24, 2021

Photo taken on Feb. 22, 2021 in Brussels, Belgium shows a screen displaying the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

It still remains in question whether those in the West truly care about China's human rights conditions, or they are just trying hard to avoid the true story.

In fact, more and more countries worldwide have now seen through the West's political machinations, and shared even broader consensus on China's sincerity and desire for human rights protection.

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Once again, Western countries staged another political farce at a key global platform to meddle in China's domestic affairs and smear its human rights records. And once again, they have voluntarily exposed their naked hubris and hypocrisy.

During the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Switzerland, some Western countries attacked China on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet on Tuesday, seeking to peddle their tired lies.

The willful act encountered a sharp rebuff. Belarus, on behalf of 65 countries, delivered a joint speech during the session in support of China's stance, urging observance of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and opposing the politicization of human rights issues, the application of double standards, and groundless accusations against China that are politically driven and based on disinformation.

That's not the first time that a large number of countries spoke out against Western manipulation. Earlier in March at the previous UNHRC session, dozens of countries came out to voice strong opposition to external interference in China's internal affairs and unequivocal support for China's policies in Xinjiang.

A teacher chats with students at Alimalik Village of Akto County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 12, 2021.(Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

In fact, more and more countries worldwide have now seen through the West's political machinations, and shared even broader consensus on China's sincerity and desire for human rights protection. Those Western countries' cheap tactics to contain China under the pretext of human rights will only fail.

Let's examine the facts. China's human rights development in recent years has been impressive, particularly in reducing poverty. China takes a people-oriented approach to human rights, and believes that subsistence and development are basic human rights of paramount importance.

Under such guidance, human rights in Xinjiang have witnessed exceptional improvement. In 2020, Xinjiang eradicated absolute poverty for the first time in its history after lifting more than 3 million residents out of poverty.

Furthermore, because of a series of effective security measures, there have been no terrorist attacks in Xinjiang in recent years. The fact that more than 200 million visits are made by tourists to Xinjiang every year testifies to Xinjiang's growing stability and attractiveness.

Seeing is believing. Xinjiang has kept its door open to those who remain skeptical of what is happening in the region. And as long as they are objective and open-minded, they can easily figure out that their findings in Xinjiang will be what China has all along been telling the wider world.

Foreign diplomats visit the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

China has on several occasions invited ambassadors from Western countries to visit Xinjiang and see with their own eyes the breathtaking changes happening on the ground. Yet they refused to go, raising doubts about their sincerity towards human rights. It still remains in question whether those in the West truly care about China's human rights conditions, or they are just trying hard to avoid the true story.

Those Western countries' hypocrisy on human rights is also reflected in the sharp contrast between their words and deeds. While some Western nations love to boast their commitment to human rights, their actual records are tarnished with appalling incidents.

The remains of indigenous children found in residential schools in Canada, George Floyd's choking cry of "I can't breathe" in the United States, and ethnic minorities subject to discrimination and injustice in Britain are merely the tip of the iceberg and the latest reminders to the world of just how sanctimonious those countries are on human rights.

And it seems that some politicians in those countries only share interests in throwing dirty water onto others, instead of improving the welfare of their own people, like tackling racism, gun violence and forced labor.

No matter how many times a lie is repeated, it is always a lie. Western hypocrisy on human rights has become all too familiar to the world, and the world has had enough. The West ought to understand that using human rights as a tool against China will simply fail.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu)
China "very cautious" about using death penalty: white paper

Xinhua) 15:21, June 24, 2021

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China has been very cautious about using the death penalty, according to a white paper released Thursday.

The white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China in respecting and protecting human rights was released by the State Council Information Office.

The number of crimes punishable by the death penalty has been reduced significantly in China, the white paper said.

Full Text: The Communist Party of China and Human Rights Protection -- A 100-Year Quest

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Hongyu)
Aerospace scientist's talk sparks inspiration

Chinadaily.com.cn) 15:26, June 24, 2021

Qi Faren, first chief designer of China's Shenzhou spaceship, delivers a speech during a lecture at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on June 23, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

For Hong Kong's students and young researchers, it was a day unlike any other as they listened, mesmerized, to first chief designer of China's Shenzhou spacecraft on Wednesday at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

They said they felt motivated and encouraged by Qi Faren's lecture, which was the first face-to-face talk given by the country's top aerospace scientists and engineers in the city.

For postdoctoral student Morgan Liu Wai-chung, the opportunity to attend the lecture was "a rare opportunity and experience" for a researcher.

Qi's sharing shed some light on the difficulties and perseverance that scientists encounter during their experiments, Liu said, adding that he is looking forward to more such sharing.

Liu was part of a 20-member team led by Wu Bo, professor at Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics of the PolyU, to assist the nation in its latest space exploration mission. They helped handpick a landing site on the Mars for the Tianwen 1 mission.

Another member of Wu's team, Bernard Chen Long, said it is inspiring to learn from the top experts. "I hope I can make contribution using my research ability in the construction of the (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Greater Bay Area as well as the nation's future development," he said.

Li Zhaojin, 24, who is also on Wu's team, said he felt honored to be able to listen to the insights of one of the best brains in the aerospace sector.

Coming to Hong Kong to give the talk at the PolyU is a recognition of the school's efforts and the team's work, she said.

Li felt Qi's words have renewed her passion and drive to pursue the path of research. "As a researcher, it is not an easy path. But I felt honored and satisfied to contribute what I have learned to develop the country."

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Hongyu)
National aerospace delegation meets students at PolyU

Chinadaily.com.cn) 15:29, June 24, 2021

Qi Faren, first chief designer of China's Shenzhou spaceship, delivers a speech at a lecture at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on June 23, 2021. [EDMOND TANG/CHINA DAILY]

HONG KONG  Qi Faren, first chief designer of the country's Shenzhou manned spacecraft, gave aerospace enthusiasts a face-to-face talk at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Wednesday.

Students, university faculty members and Hong Kong residents were among those who participated in the event.

On Tuesday, a delegation of the nation's top-level aerospace scientists and engineers arrived in the city. Qi's lecture is the first public event of the exchange visit.

Qi, who joined the national defense industry in 1957, recalled the hardship and bumpy roads for China to evolve into a prominent outer space power. It takes the efforts of many generations of scientists, who stick to their duties in the time of turmoil and peace, Qi said.

"In a time of peace, everyone can be patriotic. When we are diligently doing our work, we are expressing our love for the country. If every Chinese can do like this, China will definitely grow stronger," the famed scientist said.

He told Hong Kong young people that to catch up with and surpass other economies and strive for strong development, "We cannot rely on others but ourselves".

During the talk, the veteran aerospace expert extended his genuine welcome to young students and researchers from Hong Kong to participate in the aerospace area.

"We need young people from all places and areas to join the research and programs of aerospace," Qi said, noting there are several young scientists in the delegation who graduated from universities in Hong Kong.

Qi said Hong Kong youngsters can participate in national aerospace missions via jobs based on the Chinese mainland or in Hong Kong.

In future, Hong Kong youngsters can also weigh in by proposing ideas on science experiments to be carried out in China's space station, once it was established, he suggested.

Before the start of the event, the delegation took a group photo with Hong Kong scientists, including Prof Yung Kai-leung, chair professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of PolyU's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Qi held Yung's hand tightly during the photo session.

Yung and his team have been working with the national team for many deep-space projects for a long time and the university had been involved in many national aerospace missions over the past two decades.

Over the next three days, scientists will visit various universities and secondary schools in the city, deliver speeches and communicate with young people and aerospace fans.

The visit is the biggest of its kind in the past two years. It is also the most extensive cross-border exchange visit since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

(Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Hongyu)


Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holds a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe, on June 23, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

Space station's construction 'a milestone' for nation, he tells mission's 3-man crew

President Xi Jinping encouraged the astronauts on board the core module of China's space station to work closely to accomplish their tasks, as he spoke with the crew members on Wednesday morning via video link.

Speaking from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in a northwestern suburb of the capital, Xi said it was a delight to see that the three astronauts on board the moduleMajor General Nie Haisheng as mission commander, Major General Liu Boming and Senior Colonel Tang Hongbowere in good condition and the work was progressing well.

The president, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended greetings on behalf of the top authorities and the Chinese people. "We all care about you very much," Xi said.

"The construction of the space station is a milestone in China's space industry, which will make pioneering contributions to the peaceful use of space by humanity," the president told the astronauts. "You are the representatives of those who are striving and climbing in China's space industry in the new era. I hope you will work closely with each other and complete the upcoming tasks."

Xi added: "We wish you a successful mission and a comfortable journey. We will wait for your triumphant return to Beijing."

Nie, noting that this is his third space mission, told Xi that "the conditions are getting better and better" and Chinese astronauts now have "a permanent home operating in orbit".

"We, in distant space, are very proud of our great Party and motherland," the veteran astronaut said. "We will follow your instructions and honor our duties and commitments."

Liu, who is on his second space trip, said it is a great honor and responsibility to participate in this significant mission.

"Later, we will carry out a series of technological verification experiments, including two extravehicular activities and robotic arm operations. We will carry out the operations carefully to ensure the success of all tests," he added.

Tang, who is making his first spaceflight, told Xi that he has adapted to the weightless environment in space. "I eat, live and work well, and I can make video calls with my family. Our home in space is very cozy and comfortable, and we have full confidence in completing the upcoming tasks," he added.

Before the televised conversation, Xi and a host of high-ranking officials watched livestreams of Nie practicing operating a mechanical arm and Liu and Tang assembling a spacesuit designed for extravehicular activity.

A Chinese national flag and a Party flag are tied to the walls of the core module, which is named Tianhe, or Harmony of Heavens.

Pang Zhihao, a spaceflight researcher in Beijing with knowledge of China's manned space program, said the call took place as Tianhe flew over China as the result of careful arrangement to ensure the smooth transmission of video signals between the Beijing center and the module.

"There was a double-insurance mechanism that involved a relay satellite network and ground-based tracking stations, which was intended to make sure the signal transmission would be stable and reliable," he said. "Actually, our Tianlian-series relay satellites alone are capable of realizing such a ground-spacecraft video call."

The country now operates a space-based relay network consisting of four Tianlian satellites in geostationary orbit that are able to transmit signals between spacecraft and anywhere in the world, Pang said.

The three astronauts entered Tianhe on June 17 after their Shenzhou XII spacecraft docked with the module earlier in the day, becoming the first occupants of the module, the first and central component of the Chinese station, which is called Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace. They are scheduled to stay there for three months for a wide variety of tasks.

Their spaceship was launched on a Long March 2F carrier rocket that blasted off on June 17 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

Shenzhou XII, the nation's seventh manned space mission, is part of the Tiangong station program, which aims to complete a three-component station in a low-Earth orbit about 400 kilometers above the ground before the end of 2022.

In the near future, three manned missions and three robotic cargo flights will be conducted for the station's construction. Two large space labs will also be lifted to link up with the station.



Combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holding a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (L) with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe (R), on June 23, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
Editor's Note: Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has worked with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has boosted confidence and added impetus for development of Asia and the world. For the celebration of the 100th funding anniversary of the CPC, we are launching the CPC in eyes of foreign military students series, viewing China and CPC from the perspective of foreign soldiers.

By Bangladeshi Army Colonel Mohammed Hossain Patwary Monir

The Padma Bridge, known as the Bridge of Dream in Bangladesh, is located about 40km southwest of Dhaka, the capital of my home country Bangladesh. Straddling 7.7km across the Padma River, the bridge features a double-deck steel truss structure, with a four-lane highway on the upper deck and a one-lane railway on the lower deck.

The Padma Bridge (file photo)

As an active participant in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Bangladesh has cooperated with China on many major infrastructure projects in recent years, including the Padma Bridge.

Taking ferry has always been the traditional way for people living on both sides of the Padma River to get to the other side of the river, which usually takes 7 hours and would be subject to safety hazards due to weather and hydrological factors. After the Padma Bridge is completed and opens to traffic, it will take only a 10-minute drive to cross the river, largely facilitating peoples lives. The bridge, as an important transportation hub along the Belt and Road route, has a more far-reaching significance of promoting the interconnectivity and economic development of South Asia, apart from connecting nearly 30 million people in Bangladesh's southwest region to the rest of the country.

The Communist Party of China is a political party that strives for the welfare of the Chinese people as well as the progress of human society. In implementing the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China has put forward the Belt and Road Initiative to seek win-win cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road routes in pursuit of common, peaceful development.

The construction of the Padma Bridge benefits from Chinas proposal of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and manifests the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. It is a vision of global value with historical significance. The world today is still troubled by instability and uncertainties, and development holds the key to solving all problems. Only by unleashing the development potential of all countries, learning from each other and intensifying communication and cooperation can humankind better cope with our common challenges in the future.

If we respect and treasure other's culture/values, the world will be a harmonious one. Back in 2008, when I was an army officer with the military rank of major, I came to China to study at a military academy in China. During that period, I learned that the CPC-led China always upholds win-win cooperation. With continuous economic growth in recent years, China is now the worlds second-largest economy, and it is working to advance the worlds common progress while pursuing its own development.

In addition to the Padma Bridge, China and Bangladesh are also accelerating bilateral cooperation in infrastructure and other fields, including the construction of the multi-lane road tunnel under the River Karnaphuli and power stations. I believe that the two countries will work more closely together to jointly steer the ark of the human community of shared future into broader waters to create a better future for Asia and the world at large.

(This article is based on an interview by the PLA Daily with Bangladeshi Army Colonel Mohammed Hossain Patwary Monir, who had once studied at China's PLA Army Logistics University.)
BEIJING, June 24 -- Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affairs. China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges or military contacts between the US and Taiwan, said Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, on Tuesday.

Snr. Col. Ren made the remarks when commenting the recent military exchanges between the Washington and Taiwan. He pointed out that China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges or military contacts between the US and Taiwan, any attempt by the US to use Taiwan to contain China, and any effort of Taiwan to act on the US support and seek "Taiwan independence" with force.

Ren said that the complete reunification of China is a historical necessity and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is an unstoppable trend. The peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are the common aspiration of the people. Taiwan independence is a dead-end road, and seeking Taiwan independence means war.

He reminded the US to fully realize that Chinas development and growth cannot be stopped by anyone or any force. The US should abide by the one-China principle and three China-US joint communiques, and sever all military ties with Taiwan. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan must be soberly aware that the future of Taiwan lies in national reunification and the wellbeing of the Taiwan compatriots hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Any attempt to seek for independence by relying on the United States is doomed to failure, Ren stressed.

He added that, in recent days, the PLA has dispatched multi-type aircraft to conduct exercises in the Taiwan Strait, which is a necessary action in response to the current security situation across the Taiwan Strait and the need to safeguard national sovereignty. The PLA will resolutely perform the sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring national security.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is not considering any contact with the United States that would only waste time, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said on Wednesday.

"We are not considering even the possibility of any contact with the U.S., let alone having it, which would get us nowhere, only taking up precious time," Ri said in a statement carried on state media KCNA.

He made the remarks after the new U.S. envoy for the DPRK said in Seoul on Monday that he looked forward to a "positive response soon" on dialogue from Pyongyang.

The DPRK's nuclear weapons program has been an intractable problem for Washington for years and in trying to change that, President Joe Biden's new administration conducted a review of policy and said it would seek "calibrated and practical" ways to persuade Pyongyang to denuclearize.

On Tuesday, the sister of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said in a statement that the United States appeared to be interpreting signals from the DPRK in the "wrong way."

Kim Yo Jong, a senior official in the DPRK's ruling party, was responding to U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who on Sunday said he saw as an "interesting signal" a recent speech by Kim Jong Un on preparing for both confrontation and diplomacy with the United States.

The denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have been stalled since the second summit between DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump ended fruitless in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi in February 2019.

Source(s): Reuters
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (L) and Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush attend a joint press conference as part of the "Second Berlin Conference on Libya" in Berlin, Germany, June 23, 2021. /Reuters

Libya's foreign minister said on Wednesday international powers had made progress at talks in Berlin on the removal of foreign fighters from the country, although a final communique from the UN-backed conference specified no concrete new measures.

Wednesday's meeting in Berlin aimed to make progress on removing foreign fighters, mercenaries and other foreign forces from Libya, months after the ceasefire reached last October called for their withdrawal, as well as on steps towards securing a December election.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks in Berlin Wednesday and issued a joint statement, pledging to join hands to help Libya.

Libya has been wracked by conflict for nearly a decade, since the overthrow and killing of then head of state Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

It has since been dominated by armed groups and divided between two bitterly opposed administrations  the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in capital Tripoli, and a rival administration Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.

"Hopefully within coming days mercenaries (on) both sides will be withdrawn," Libya's Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush said without giving details.

Addressing the Berlin meeting, Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, who was appointed in March, called on his country's parliament to approve an election law to allow the December election to go ahead and to pass his government's budget.

A fighter fires a mortar on the outskirts of Tripoli, Libya, May 25, 2019. /Reuters

The gradual withdrawal of mercenaries

The UN estimates that 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries are still in Libya  a presence seen as a threat to the UN-recognized transition leading to the December election.

The two sides' October ceasefire called for the withdrawal of all foreign mercenaries by January. However, they remained in place and both sides argue over which group should leave first.

A senior official at the U.S. State Department said Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Libya, had reached an initial understanding to work towards a target of pulling out 300 Syrian mercenaries from each side of the conflict.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also said he believed there was an understanding between Russia and Turkey on a step-by-step withdrawal of their fighters. "This will not mean that everybody will take their mercenaries back overnight," Mass said.

"Foreign forces must leave the country in a gradual and uniform manner so that there won't be a sudden military imbalance that could be used by one side for a sudden offensive," Mass was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying.

(With input from agencies)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) addresses a joint press conference with the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas following talks at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off his Europe trip on Tuesday, less than two weeks after President Joe Biden ended his trip to the continent with an agenda concentrated on countering China.

Analysts predicted containing China will still top Blinken's visit, as they see the Secretary of State's visit is meant to further assuage concerns and pressure, as Europe showed reluctance to tie themselves to the US' anti-China agenda after Biden's visit.

Blinken left Washington on Tuesday afternoon for Berlin, then to Paris and Rome, meeting the European Union's two key power brokers, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as Vatican leaders, AFP reported.

The US has no better partner in the world than Germany, Blinken told reporters before meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Blinken's trip aims to negotiate with its European allies when some European leaders voiced concerns about going against China, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.

After the NATO summit issued a communique with a tough stance on China, Merkel said NATO's decision to name China as a threat "shouldn't be overstated" because Beijing, like Russia, is also a partner in some areas.

Similarly, France's President Emmanuel Macron urged the alliance not to let China distract it from what he saw as more pressing issues facing NATO, including the fight against terrorism and security issues related to Russia. "I think it is very important not to scatter our efforts and not to have biases in our relations with China," Macron said.

As Merkel's term ends in September, the attention is fixed on her successor, whether she or he will deviate from Merkel's policy and lean closer to Washington, and turn Germany, or Europe, more hostile toward China.

Germany's Christian Democratic Union on Monday revealed a manifesto describing China as posing "the greatest foreign and security policy challenge today." Yet its leader, Armin Laschet, a leading candidate to succeed Merkel, said recently that "I'm not sure the American president wants to create a new Cold War with China He has some very strong positions where he shows a competitive attitude [where] we as Europeans can be allies. But if somebody wants to start a new war, that would be the wrong answer."

The change in government will add uncertainty to Germany's relations with China, as well as its position of navigating US-China relations, said He Zhigao, a research fellow at the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Yet he noted that Germany has a stable political system, which keeps its policies stable and continuous, regardless of which party takes office.

The rise of Germany, and integration of Europe in recent years, is more inclined to enhance its strategic autonomy internationally, said analysts, noting that whichever party takes office, sustaining Germany's autonomy, as well as Europe's autonomy, is the ultimate principle.

Days after Biden concluded his trip to Europe, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held phone calls with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, during which the latter said that Italy hopes to promote the Belt and Road construction with China, strengthen cooperation in energy, industry and third-party markets.

This came after Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said at the G7 summit that its cooperation with China on the 'Belt and Road Initiative' will be assessed carefully.

The reverse attitude of Draghi and Di Maio shows Italy's challenging task of seeking a balance of achieving economic prosperity by cooperating with China economically, and reaffirming Italian alliance with Europe and NATO partners, Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told the Global Times.

"The two things are not really in conflict and Italy can successfully do both. The problem is that certain people are, instead, using the geopolitical alliance as an excuse to hurt the Chinese economy, said Geraci, noting that "a weak China will, primarily, hurt our Italian and European companies and, less known, also American companies, a lose-lose situation that we all need to work hard to avoid."

Analysts noted that Italy's dilemma reflected Europe's dilemma during Biden's visit, as they are squeamish about getting dragged by the US into a showdown with China, said Cui, noting that Blinken's visit shows how eager the US wants to rope Europe in and shore up unity against China. Yet such hope may be dashed by the continent seeking an independent diplomacy and its inclination of seeking greater economic cooperation with China.

Even if Germany and Europe have rejoiced in Biden taking office, they disagree on national defense budget sharing and the Nord Stream 2 gas line, not to mention their ties having been frayed during the Trump presidency, said experts.

"The US and Europe are like an estranged couple. Biden and Blinken are trying to fix the cracks, but whether they will succeed remains unknown. A honeymoon is far, far away," said He.
By Andrew Korybko

Editor's note: Andrew Korybko is a Moscow-based American political analyst. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

This year's Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) saw two of the most important Russian military officials warning about an Asian arms race provoked by the U.S. According to Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, America's deployment of intermediate-range missiles to the Asia-Pacific will prompt his country to bolster its offensive capabilities in defensive response.

Chief of Russian military-intelligence agency GRU, Igor Kostyukov, also raised the alarm about what he said is the 400,000-strong U.S. military force in that region. Both officials are concerned that these irresponsible developments could trigger an arms race that would in turn slow down the global economic recovery that the entire world needs so much at this very sensitive time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Moscow Conference on International Security via video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, June 23, 2021. /Reuters

The aforementioned moves conform to the contours of what many have taken to describing as a new cold war between the U.S. and China. To be clear, China itself doesn't consider there to be any new cold war, nor does it believe that this scenario is inevitable, but the U.S. is clearly operating according to that paradigm.

U.S. President Joe Biden hasn't just continued his predecessor Donald Trump's very aggressive anti-Chinese policies, but even expanded upon them, much to the surprise of many who hoped that he'd pragmatically improve bilateral relations in order to focus more on addressing America's urgent domestic crises. The resultant outcome is one in which America is unquestionably seeking to destabilize the Asia-Pacific in an attempt to "contain" China.

Of course, the Asia-Pacific concerns more than just those two great powers since it also involves Russia as well as ASEAN, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, among others. This means that the arms race that America is provoking could easily embroil all of them as well.

Not only that, but since some of them host U.S. military facilities and/or support provocative American naval moves through China's section of the South China Sea, they could also become direct participants in an increasingly larger regional destabilization scenario. This makes it incumbent upon them to behave pragmatically, including by reconsidering the wisdom of facilitating America's anti-Chinese aggression and at the very least privately voicing their concerns about this to their U.S. allies.

Regional security cannot be ensured by unilateral aggressive military moves, but by multilaterally beneficial economic cooperation. The first-mentioned vision was historically discredited by World War I while the second remains in force as one of the reasons why a major war has yet to break out in the Asia-Pacific.

Despite some security disagreements in the East and South China Seas, the Asia-Pacific countries are all closely connected through trade. In fact, China and the U.S. are also in a similar relationship of complex interdependence despite Washington's continued efforts to "decouple" their countries. The solution to ensuring regional security therefore rests in the economic realm, not the military one.

America's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) at the South China Sea. /VCG

With this in mind, the unconfirmed report from the Financial Times citing unnamed American officials might be a cause for cautious optimism. According to the outlet, the Biden administration is very interested in resuming high-level engagements between American and Chinese officials, including another phone call between their presidents.

If accurately reported, then this might signal that the U.S. is learning a lot from Biden's summit last week with his Russian counterpart in Geneva. Observers widely regarded their meeting as a positive move that indicated both sides' desire for a pragmatic de-escalation to focus on issues of mutual concern as well as their own domestic challenges during this difficult time in human history.

In the event that anything of the sort transpires between China and the U.S., America must demonstrate the will to roll back its counterproductive policy of militarily "containing" China in the Asia-Pacific. The Asian arms race that Russian military officials warned about this week is among the most pressing threats to global security.

It must therefore be thwarted at all costs lest it further destabilizes the region that's most responsible for the global economic recovery. The way forward is for America to step back from military confrontation with China and finally accept Beijing's repeated offers to expand their economic cooperation instead. By working more closely, these two can help the entire world, but only if Washington really wants to.
A soldier guards outside the Fort Detrick. Photo: AFP

Editor's Note:

The global fight against the COVID-19 is still going on. But the US "lab-leak fiasco" has once again emerged as Biden and US bi-partisan sickening subterfuge. Why are the US politicians and media obsessed with such conspiracy? What has contributed to the stark contrast between China and the US in terms of handling the pandemic? Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen talked to Kenneth Hammond (Hammond), professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University, over these issues. Hammond also works with the organization Pivot to Peace to push back against the aggressive words and actions of American politicians and media. He shared his views on the current China-US relations and the notion of the "community with shared future for mankind."

GT: The lab leak theory has been regarded as a conspiracy theory by US mainstream media in the past. But without any new evidence, it says this is the reason for the pandemic. Why is this?

Hammond: The new Biden administration has obviously decided that they're going to continue the policies and the posture of hostility toward China that was characteristic of the Trump administration; this really began back in 2011 with the Obama administration with what they call the pivot to Asia and repositioning of American defense policies or strategic policies toward containment of China. There was some hope when the Biden administration came in that they might move away from these confrontational policies. But clearly, that's not what's happening.

As the US is beginning to come out of this COVID-19 period, a lot of people are reflecting on the experience what we've gone through. There's one basic fact that people should be paying attention to, which is that China with 1.4 billion people had fewer than 5,000 deaths and controlled and contained this in 72 days, whereas the US, which has a much smaller population, has had almost 600,000 deaths, and it's gone on and on for almost a year and a half.

Why is there such a stark difference? Why has it been so terrible here when China was able to handle it so effectively? Obviously, the political leaders and the media don't want to answer that question. So instead of talking about that, they go back to this question of the origins. Because those are questions that probably can never be absolutely definitively answered in a way that satisfies every single possible question.

That's a way in which the American elites can deflect the responsibility that they hold for what happened here for all these deaths and deflect it away from themselves on to China, which has been their basic strategy.

GT: Some attributed the failure of the US handling of the pandemic to its systematic faults -namely democracy doesn't usually work in America anymore. What is your analysis?

Hammond: That's exactly right. I think that the contrast between the experience that China had and continues to have and the experience that we have had here in the US, most particularly, but in much of the West certainly in Europe as well, is based upon the fundamental differences in the social and political and economic systems of these societies. China has a system in which public health is considered a priority and a human right. In the United States and in the Western in general, health, medicine, medical science, medical technology, and drugs are commodities. These are things to be bought and sold in the market. The purpose of all that is to make profits for businesses.

We have a healthcare system that isn't designed to meet the needs of people; it is designed to make money for corporations, for businesses, for hospitals, for pharmaceutical companies, and for insurance companies. It's not geared up to mobilize the kind of social response that would have been necessary if we were gonna try to contain and control the virus in the same way that China did.

So the contrast between the systems is stark. And again, that's why the leaders here don't want to talk about that. They don't want to talk about the successes of China. They only want to focus on how they can blame China for something.

I'm not sure if democracy is to be blamed. I think at the heart is the economic system. Now, what we have as a political system - we like to call it democracy - but it's democracy that is worked by the same things. It's worked by money, the corporations, and wealthy people that dominate the elections. We don't have a pure, true democracy.

GT: You once said that to manage China relations, the US should understand what is taking place in China and the wider world, and this may not be possible under existing capitalist social and political arrangements. What prompted you to say so? Do you expect any changes to the existing capitalist social and political arrangements?

Hammond: Not in the short term. We're in a very interesting period here in the US. Politically, a lot of people are questioning, despite all the media and all the blame game, why this has been so bad and the economic effects of the pandemic. More people are starting to question some of the fundamental principles and ways in which our society has functioned. This isn't just as a result of the pandemic.

When back in 2016, the previous presidential election when and Bernie Sanders first ran for the democratic nomination. And again, in 2020. I don't entirely agree with Senator Sanders on all issues, but he did something very important, which is that he brought the word "socialism" back into the American political vocabulary. Many young people, especially in America now, are interested in social thinking about solutions and they want to learn about it. We're in a period where there's a greater possibility for conversation, discussion, new and different ideas that haven't been acceptable in the US for a long time.

I don't think that we're going to have significant, profound changes in our system right away and in the next few years. But I do think the long-term trends are building in that direction, and I certainly hope so. Because one of the basic problems in the United States, especially in our relationship with China, is that people here don't know what China is like. They don't know what life is like there.

That's something that those of us do, which is the need to educate people and talk to people about what the truth is and what the realities are, because that's certainly not what they hear in the media and from the mouths of politicians.

GT: You do research of Chinese history and contemporary China. What is your understanding of the China-proposed, "community with shared future for mankind"? What are the different political philosophies behind it and the "America First" doctrine that is actually being practiced now by the Biden administration? What role will it play in post-pandemic country-to-country relations?

Hammond: That's exactly the vision of the future that I think should be shared by both Chinese and American people. Why not look at the world and think about how can we work together to improve things for everybody? Unfortunately, the people who hold power in America, the American political elite and the economic elite and the media put this message out.

Their view is that China's rise, as they say, has to be a bad thing for America, and if China becomes more prosperous and plays a greater role in the world, that must mean the US is going to become less prosperous and lose its leadership. They have a very what we call a zero sum mentality. That's a very mistaken way to approach things.

The US has been the dominant power in the world for a long time. Some people, not most people, have become very secure in that. They fear a loss of that power and that dominance. They want to continue to run things, not just in America, but all over the world. They're anxious, and that's why they're so hostile and so aggressive toward China. They really want to try to stop the developments that are taking place in China. But that vision of a shared future, a sort of planetary community, seems to me just to be the natural trend of history.

When we look at the long, long centuries, it's better when the world is a community of different centers. The idea that there's only one center and we're gonna hold on to everything and control it is not a good thing and has never been.

China is more influential, and it doesn't mean the US cannot continue to pursue its own package and course. Europe, as the European Union grows, is going to play a role. I personally, and the political people I work with, would like to see world development. Why try to hang onto the past? Why not find a path in which Chinese people, American people and European people and those in Africa, India and Latin America all benefit through future development?
Organizers of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics have imposed restrictions on the few Japanese spectators who will be allowed inside the venues to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Under rules announced Wednesday, domestic spectators are forbidden from cheering or waving towels, approaching athletes for autographs, or talking with other spectators, and will be asked to go straight home when the event is over. Foreign spectators have been banned from attending the event. Alcohol sales have also been banned in the venues during the Games.

The restrictions follow Monday's decision to cap the number of spectators at 10,000 people, or 50 percent of a venue's capacity, despite advice from health experts that banning all spectators was the "least risky" option for holding the Games in light of a surge in new COVID-19 infections in the Japanese capital and across the country.

The decision to allow spectators dovetails with authorities changing Tokyo and eight other prefectures from a nearly two-month-long state of emergency to "quasi-emergency" measures that took effect Sunday. The looser restrictions would remain in place until July 11, 12 days before the start of the Olympic Games. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has warned he would not rule out banning all spectators from attending the Olympics if the COVID-19 situation worsens.

The initial state of emergency was declared in April and extended in late May. The surge prompted staunch public opposition to staging the Olympics, especially among a prominent group of medical professionals that urged Suga to call off the Games. The Tokyo Olympics are set to take place after a one-year postponement as the novel coronavirus pandemic began spreading across the globe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday slammed an anti-LGBT measure passed by Hungary's Parliament as "a shame" that goes against the fundamental values of the European Union.

The bill, approved last week by Hungary's right-wing ruling coalition in Parliament, would ban any educational programs, advertisements, books, movies or television programs depicting homosexuality or other gender minorities in a positive light. All except one right-wing opposition party boycotted the vote.

The ruling party defends the legislation, saying it is designed to prevent pedophilia. But human rights groups say it will be used to harass and stigmatize Hungarian citizens based on sexual orientation and gender identities.


John McAfee, creator of the McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his cell in a jail near Barcelona, a government official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Hours earlier, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the 75-year-old tycoon's extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges.

Security personnel at the Brians 2 penitentiary near the northeastern Spanish city tried to revive him, but the jail's medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

The statement didn't identify McAfee by name, but said he was a 75-year-old U.S. citizen awaiting extradition to his country. A Catalan government source familiar with the event who was not authorized to be named in media reports confirmed to the AP that the dead man was McAfee.


Mobile finance app Toss' corporate value has been assessed at W8.2 trillion (US$1=W1,137).

Viva Republica, which owns Toss, said Wednesday that the app has won a W460 billion investment from state-run Korea Development Bank and U.S. private equity funds Alkeon Capital Management and Altos Ventures.

The investors assessed Toss' corporate value at W8.2 trillion, up 2.6 times from August of last year.

Toss, which started with money transfer services, is set to open its own online-only bank and brokerage in September. "We will offer wholly customer-focused services," Toss CEO Lee Seung-gun said.


The ruling Minjoo Party has nominally expelled lawmakers Yoon Mee-hyang and Yang Yi Won-young on suspicion of illicit real estate transactions.

But they will keep their National Assembly seats, which they won through proportional representation, so their expulsion is really just a slap on the wrist and they are expected to redeem themselves by faithfully voting with the party. Yoon is by all accounts an out-and-out criminal of the worst sort who abused the trust of, and stole from, elderly victims of sex slavery at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army when she headed the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance. She also brought shame on her country when her dishonesty was revealed and set back the cause of the victims by decades. When Lee Yong-soo, a former sex slave who is in her 90s, revealed how Yoon abused her and the other victims, the government and ruling party's initial knee-jerk reaction was to accuse Lee of being senile, no matter that they too had scrawled the cause of the victims on their own banners.

Prosecutors dragged their heels for four months investigating Yoon before they finally indicted her on eight charges, including embezzlement, dereliction of duty and fraud. The charges were impossible to cover up any more. Yoon is also accused of illegally obtaining W300 million in state grants over seven years by using an ex-employee's name, but the most grievous offense is that she embezzled W100 million from a fund set up to help the former sex slaves and withdrew money from it no fewer than 217 times for her own use (US$1=W1,137). Late last year, the judge who was to have presided over the case suddenly died, which means she has still not stood trial for bringing her entire country into disrepute. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which is tasked with recovering the money Yoon stole, has suddenly changed tack and said it wants to wait until her trial is over. It looks very much like the government is trying to protect her.

Yoon lost her right to represent anyone the moment her crimes were revealed. A vast majority of Koreans at the time felt she should resign immediately. Her dodgy real estate dealings come as no surprise but are really the least of her offenses. That the ruling party and government are still protecting her and keeping her in a paid job as a Korean legislator is an absolute disgrace.


New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 59F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

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Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low around 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The American technology company Intel says it is working to address a shortage of semiconductor chips affecting the automotive industry. That same day, U.S. President Joe Biden convened CEOs for a virtual summit on the semiconductor supply chain. "We hop...
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A children's book written by The Duchess of Sussex as a school pupil has resurfaced.

The 39-year-old royal - who shares son Archie, two, and two-week-old daughter Lilibet with her husband Prince Harry  recently released 'The Bench', a picture book for children and her earlier writing efforts have been revealed by the US Library of Congress.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden revealed on Twitter that Meghan had submitted a book titled 'A Face Without Freckles... Is a Night Without Stars' to the US Copyright Office back in 1996

Hayden tweeted: "Did you know Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, wrote a book in 8th grade titled, 'A Face Without Freckles... Is a Night Without Stars'. She extols the wonder of freckles with drawings and verse. Meghan submitted it to the @CopyrightOffice in 1996."

Hayden included a brief extract from the book as well as introductory note about Meghan.

The extract read: "Some people think freckles are strange, while I happen to disagree.

"Because if I did not have freckles, then I would not truly be me!"

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Meanwhile, the 'about the author page' says: "Meghan Markle currently attends Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California and enjoys watching television, spending time with her friends, and participating in musical comedies.

"Meghan wrote this book in the eighth grade as a school project and now wishes to continue writing throughout high school."

Meanwhile, the former actress recently described 'The Bench' as a "love story".

Meghan explained: "It's a love story.

"It's really just about growing with someone and having this deep connection and this trust so that, be it good times or bad, you know that you had this person.

"I really hope that people can see this as a love story that transcends the story of my family."
On Memorial Day weekend, Henderson County Sheriff Deputy Ashley Reed was off duty with her kids when she jumped in without hesitation to ultimately save a woman, who was lying face down in the water at a Gun Barrel City park.

She jumped in using her instincts and quick thinking when she saw the woman having a seizure in the water at Tom Finley Park on May 29.

"I wasn't in police mode. I was more in mommy-mode just cause my kids were out there," Reed said. "Someone would have done it for me, and I would have done it for them. I was just the closest one to them. I just kind of did what I needed to do it to make everyone goes home."

Despite an on-the-job injury, Reed swam, wrapped her arms around the woman and pulled her to shore. While on land, water came out of the woman's mouth and she started breathing.

On Tuesday night, Reed, who has been in law enforcement at the sheriff's office for two years, was honored for her life-saving actions with a plaque from the sheriff's office, a life-saving pin from the Henderson County Fire Chiefs Association, and a certificate of accommodation from the Gun Barrel City Fire Department.

Deputy Reed has what this job demands  quick thinking, quick acting, and rightly putting a citizens needs above her own, Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said. A life was saved by a public servant willing to risk it all for a citizen."

Reed was shocked to learn others knew about her helping the drowning woman. This past Tuesday, she was asked to provide security at the fire chief's meeting, and that's when she received the awards.

"I don't know her name. I don't where she was from, who she was with. I didn't know anybody knew that I was there, honestly," Reed said. "I didn't know I was getting an award. I didn't know my sheriff knew. I didn't know the fire department was going to recognize me; I had no idea."

Reed said the woman slowly started becoming coherent and her family members were able to help her along with EMS and the Gun Barrel City Fire Department.

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"She was laying in my lap when they (EMS and fire) got there," she said.

She still doesn't think she did anything extraordinary that Saturday in the water. She's super appreciative for the recognition and honored for a doing good deed.

"That's just the way that I am; it's the way that I was raised. We always help each other out and we don't ever expect anything in return," she said. "I didn't expect anything like this to happen. I didn't expect to get recognized in any way. It's all just happened pretty quick. I'm grateful for showing the great side of law enforcement and what we do on pretty much a daily basis. Anyone in my department would have done something like that, not just me."

Helping people is the idea that got her interested in becoming a law enforcement officer about two and a half to three years ago.

Reed said she had a baby at 16 and dropped out of school. Later on, her 6-year-old daughter inspired her to finish high school  a task she completed attending night classes at Eustace High.

She was working for the city of Athens wastewater department when she wanted to do something different.

"Right when I got the diploma, I just woke up one morning and you know what I'm going to be a police officer," she said. "I had two weeks to get all my information in and get where I needed to be. It just kind of took off after that. I made the spilt decision that I wanted to help people. I've always wanted to be in uniform as a kid. I love helping people. I figured why not go and help as many people as I can and wear a badge while I'm doing it."

Reed called the sheriff's office and local fire departments her second and third families. In addition to being a deputy, she also volunteers at the Southside Volunteer Fire Department, located just outside of Athens.

"It's not uncommon for us to get a callout in the middle of the night to go help with a fire because some of us are on the departments," she said. "It's like having three families. I've got my home family, my sheriff's office family and then my fire department family. We just keep everybody close."
BATESVILLE, Ind., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillenbrand, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: HI) announced today that Inderpreet Sawhney, Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Infosys Ltd. (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services, has been elected to the Company's Board of Directors as an independent director. Prior to her election, the Board expanded its size from 10 to 11 directors. The resulting vacancy has been filled with Ms. Sawhney's election.

"We are pleased to welcome to the Board Inderpreet Sawhney, whose expertise will be integral to Hillenbrand's growth and ongoing transformation journey," said Joe Loughrey, Hillenbrand Board Chairperson. "Inderpreet brings a wealth of senior management experience from a career spanning over 25 years, including in her current position at Infosys, where she leads the legal function and oversees ethics and compliance for the company's over 250,000 employees spread across 46 countries. Her extensive global experience and deep skill set, including in the areas of technology and digital transformation, will be a tremendous asset to the Board and to Hillenbrand. We look forward to Inderpreet's many contributions and guidance as we continue to execute our profitable growth strategy and deliver shareholder value."

Prior to joining Infosys in 2017, Ms. Sawhney served six years as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Wipro Limited, a large global IT service company based in India, and 14 years in private legal practice in California. She earned a B.A. and LL.B degree from Delhi University and an LL.M from Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.

Ms. Sawhney serves on the National Advisory Council of the South Asian Bar Association of North America and was an Honoree at the 2017 Transformative Leadership Awards, recognizing General Counsel who have demonstrated commitment to advancing women in law.

"It is an honor to join the Board, especially at this stage of Hillenbrand's transformation. I look forward to supporting the Company's vision and continued growth, especially through innovation and technology, and its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion," said Sawhney.

Ms. Sawhney will serve on the Board's Audit and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees.

About Hillenbrand

Hillenbrand (www.Hillenbrand.com) is a global diversified industrial company with businesses that serve a wide variety of industries around the world. We pursue profitable growth and robust cash generation to drive increased value for our shareholders. Hillenbrand's portfolio includes industrial businesses such as Coperion, Milacron Injection Molding & Extrusion, and Mold-Masters, in addition to Batesville, a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America. Hillenbrand is publicly traded on the NYSE under "HI."

MEDIA CONTACTS

Investor Relations for Hillenbrand

812-931-3573

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investors@hillenbrand.com

Communications for Hillenbrand

Amy Hanna / Kelly Hoffman

Borshoff

317-631-6400

Paul Whitmore, Manager, Corporate Communications

812-931-5214

Paul.Whitmore@Hillenbrand.com

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SOURCE Hillenbrand, Inc.
WATCH NOW: Indiana Supreme Court hears arguments over assessed value of Southlake Mall

A long-running dispute over the assessed value of Southlake Mall may continue for years to come, keeping Lake County and the city of Hobart potentially on the hook to pay the mall more than $12 million in property tax refunds.

During oral arguments at the Indiana Supreme Court Wednesday, several justices appeared to agree with mall attorney David Suess that Indiana law indisputably requires the county assessor to definitively prove its assessment is correct when a property's value increases more than 5% compared to the prior year, otherwise the assessment automatically returns to the prior amount.

Records show the Indiana Board of Tax Review did not unequivocally deem the mall's 177% valuation increase for the 2011-14 period, as calculated by the Lake County assessor, to be correct in all respects.

WATCH NOW: Assistance available to help Hoosier renters pay landlord, utility costs

Instead, it mostly accepted the assessor's estimate of the mall's value and made some adjustments in consideration of the assessment prepared on behalf of the mall to craft a final, compromise valuation  an outcome largely affirmed in December by the Indiana Tax Court.

Suess insisted the board is not permitted by Indiana law to craft a compromise valuation. He said the Indiana Code requires the board to either find the assessor's valuation correct or else the valuation reverts to the prior year's assessment.

"In this case, they rejected central elements of the assessor's appraisal. It wasn't a minor correction or a minor error that they found," Suess said.

Chief Justice Loretta Rush, who lived in Munster as a child, said she doesn't see a way "around the textual requirements of the statute"  a sentiment that seemed to be shared by Justices Steven David, Mark Massa, and Geoffrey Slaughter, a Crown Point native.

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Brian Cusimano, attorney for the Lake County assessor, insisted property appraisals are never an exact science. He argued the board acted correctly in finding the best possible valuation for Southlake Mall.

"We produced evidence in support of the value that was assigned to the property," Cusimano said.

WATCH NOW: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops  Patrolling Lowell with Cpl. Aaron Crawford

In the end, Cusimano said if the state's high court has issues with how the mall's valuation was determined, it should return the case to the Board of Tax Review to do the work over in accordance with the statute.

Suess, meanwhile, urged the Supreme Court to definitively resolve the case after years of uncertainty by resetting the mall's valuation to the 2010 amount used for property tax purposes prior to Lake County's reassessment.

A Supreme Court ruling is expected before the end of the year, or in early 2022.

Southlake Indiana v. Lake County Assessor ruling of Indiana Tax Court

WATCH NOW: The Times Photos of the Week
Press Release

June 24, 2021 Villar bats for 2 more protected areas under NIPAS, tackles bills on arboretums Senator Cynthia A. Villar has vouched for 2 more protected areas (PAs) to be under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) so that ecologically rich, unique areas and biologically important public lands can be effectively managed by the government. At present, Villar, chair of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, said the country has a total of 107 total legislated protected areas. She noted that the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018 facilitated the legislation of 94 more PAs in addition to the 13 PAs legislated under the old NIPAS law. Villar filed separate bills to support ecological processes of the additional 2 more protected areas. They are Senate Bill No. 1713 or an Act Declaring Mount Arayat Protected Landscape, and Senate Bill 1712 or An Act Declaring Hinakpam Mystical Hills Natural Monument. Located in the municipalities of Magalang and Arayat in Pampanga, Mount Arayat is a key biodiverstiy area, considered a center of plant endemism with endemic tree species like the Arayat Pitogo and other rare flora like tibig, molave and tumbang. On the otherhand, the Hinakpam Mystical Hills Natural Monument in Negros OrientaL has a unique biological features like geologic formation of karstic conical hills, caves, sinkholes and valleys. It has ecotourism potential. Earlier, Villar filed 5 other bills to include additional protected areas under NIPAS. They are the following: -SB No. 2276 declaring a parcel of land in Naga and Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay a protected landscape to be called Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape. The initial assessment by DENR Region IX and Zamboanga Sibugay LGU in 2006 showed that its biological, physical and cultural resources are at risk and may face severe damage if current economic destructive activities will be unabated. -SB No. 2277 declaring 2 parcels of land within Sicogon Island, Carles, Iloilo, a wildlife sanctuary to be called Sicogon Island Wildlife Sanctuary. Its interesting biodiversity calls a need to declare the 282.867 hectares remaining forest land of the island a protected area. -SB No. 2278 declaring a parcel of lot in Balbalan, Kalinga, a protected landscape to be called Banao Protected Landscape. Dubbed as the "green heart" of the Cordillera, the park, known as the Balbasang-Babalan National Park, it is a rich biodiversity and landscape of the Cordillera mountain region with some of the most intact pine foress and rich endemic flora and fauna. -Senate Bill No. 2279 declaring a parcel of land in the municipalities of Gregorio del Pilar, Quirino, Sigay, Cervantes, and Suyo, Ilocos Sur a protecred landscape. The Tirad Pass Narional Park in Ilocos Sur is the only remaining mosh forest in the region, showcasing a rich terrestial ecosystem. -Senate Bill No. 2280 declaring a parcel of land in Kabayan, Bokod and Buguias, all in Benguet; Tinoci, Ifugao and Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, a protected landscape. Mt. Pulag National Park is the highest peak in Luzon and second highest mountain in the Philippines. Its wildlife includes threatened mammals such as the Philippine Brown Deed, Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat, the Luzon Pygmy Fruits bar. NIPAS was established by virtue of RA No. 7586, as amended by RA No. 11038, known as the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018. Villar said the NIPAS Act declared it is the policy of the State "to secure for the Filipino people of present and future generations the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals through the establishment of comprehensive system of integrated protected areas." The system, Villar noted, shall encompass ecologically rich, unique and biologically important areas that are habitats of threatened species of plants and animals, biographic zones and related ecosystem, whether terrestial, wetland or marine. Meanwhile, Villar is also pushing 3 bills establishing Aboretums or areas devoted to specimen planting and cultivation of woody plants which are either trees or shrubs for ecological, research, educational and recreation purpose. They are the following: SB No.1243- Act establishing the Mindanao State University- Lanao del Norte Agricultural College Arboretum, SB 1244- Act Establishing The Mighty Cave Park Arboretum in Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte and SB 1245- Act Establishing The Kolambugan,Lanao de Norte Arboretum.
DOH Leon Observes National HIV Testing Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 24, 2021

The Florida Department of Health in Leon County Observes National HIV Testing Day 2021

Tallahassee, FLNational HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is observed each year on June 27 to encourage people to be aware of their HIV status so that they can take control of their health. This years NHTD theme, My Test, My Way, highlights that there are many options available when it comes to HIV testing. The Florida Department of Health joins community partners around the state to help provide all Floridians access to the right tools for learning their HIV status and staying healthy.

In 2019, 4,584 people were diagnosed with HIV in Florida. At the end of that year, 116,689 Floridians were confirmed to be living with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an additional 18,200 Floridians were living with HIV but unaware of it.

Everyone ages 1364 should get tested at least once, and some people should get tested more often. Knowing your HIV status is only the beginning. What you do to stay healthy after that largely depends on your results. Earlier diagnosis of HIV leads to more successful treatment, so getting tested and learning your HIV status is crucial to your health.

Every time someone gets tested for HIV, we are one step closer to ending the AIDS epidemic, said DOH Leon Health Officer Claudia Blackburn. Learning your HIV status opens the door to powerful HIV prevention and treatment options that could save your life or the life of someone you love.

If you missed an opportunity to get tested for HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic, NHTD offers a good reminder to get caught up. HIV shares many symptoms with other viral infections, like COVID-19, so if you have felt ill at any point during the last year, it is important to talk to your health care provider.

Knowing your status is the first step toward effective HIV prevention. People living with HIV who take antiretroviral medication as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners. People without HIV should talk to a health care provider to determine appropriate prevention strategies, which might include taking PrEP, using condoms and/or getting retested regularly.

Observe NHTD with us!

The Florida Department of Health in Leon County will be hosting the following event:

Date: Saturday, June 26

Event Activities: HIV Testing/Health Screenings

Address: 519 W Brevard Street (Time Saver Convenience Store)

Time: 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Protect yourself. Get tested. Know your status. Learn whats next.

We have the power to both prevent and treat HIV. For more information, call 850-404-6240 or 1-800-FLA-AIDS or visit KnowYourHIVStatus.com.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit FloridaHealth.gov.

# # #

Submitted by:

Pamela Saulsby | Public Information Officer
The puppet show presenter delighted the children with Bucklebear, who taught them about buckling up correctly and sitting in the back seat, which is twice as safe as the front seat of the car.
Mubadala Investment Company, one of the investment vehicles of Abu Dhabi Emirates, has increased its shares in Russian energy company En+ Group to 2.8 per cent, up from 0.2 per cent, reports say.

The Emirati sovereign funds ordinary shares in the company now stand at 16,641,700.

En+ Group according to Faris Sohail Al Mazrui, Head of Mubadalas Russia & CIS Investment Program is a market leader in the clean energy and aluminium sectors.

The Moscow-based company is listed on the Moscow Stock Exchange, while its GDRs are tradeable on the London Stock Exchange.

The $243-billion funds has been on an investment spree. In May it injected $497 million into UK-headquartered IVC Evidensia, Europes largest veterinary care provider.

In April its oil company, Mubadala Petroleum, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Delek Drilling to acquire 22 per cent of the Israeli companys participation in Tamar natural gas field offshore in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The deal is valued at $1.1 billion.

The funds global portfolio spans six continents with interests in multiple sectors and asset classes, including significant investments in Masdar, a global leader in renewable energy, and Emirates Global Aluminium, a leading aluminium producer, Zawya notes.
The kingdom of the Saudi Arabia is mulling plans to build a second airport in capital Riyadh as part of the drive to lure tourists, Bloomberg reports citing people knowledgeable of the matter.

The future project in planning stage is line with the kingdoms sovereign wealth funds project to launch a second national carrier with the aim of increasing the number of arrivals.

Early this year, the fund, worth $430 billion, started talks with various entities including banks to raise capital for the new airline that will provide domestic and international flights.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is exploring the idea of investing billions in a new international airport in Riyadh, the people told Bloomberg.

The sources did reveal the size of the facility and timeline for its construction and added that the fund could decide not to move ahead with those plans, U.S-based media notes.

The Gulf country intends to attract 100 million tourists a year by 2030, a sixfold increase from 2019  in line with the countrys 2030 vision headed by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.

The kingdom has targeted tourism as an alternative to its oil-dominated economy, by opening up the country to visitors.
Vera Sidika has clarified her purported dislike for Huddah Monroe, saying there are no ill feelings between them.

The former video vixen was responding to a fan during a Q&A session on Instagram. The IG user had asked her: Do You hate Huddah Monroe?

In her response, Vera said Huddah was her friend in the past adding that she has never hated the petite socialite.

Never. Not even once we actually used to be friends in the past. When I was new in Nairobi 2009-2010.

During the session, Vera also addressed claims of aborting her ex-boyfriends child. She explained that she has never been pregnant before.

Yes, the first time in my life to ever get pregnant. I have heard rumours that an ex said I aborted.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho says the planned coalition between ODM and Jubilee is aimed at transforming the Handshake into a formal pact bringing together all like-minded leaders for a united country ahead of the 2022 elections.

In an interview with Daily Nation, Joho also spoke about his presidential ambitions, the BBI, Rutos invasion of the Coast region and more.

Here are the interview excerpts.

Whats ODM partys game plan for 2022?

ODM is seeking partnerships with like-minded leaders to achieve and respond to the desires and demands of the Kenyan people.

Just like any other party that is seeking partnerships with others, we also have a right to do the same.

Weve had stability in the country since the Handshake, and because we have seen its success, it is only fair that we concretise it going into the future.

That can only be achieved by way of a coalition that is concretised on pen and paper.

Is ODM-Jubilee coalition the best for the country?

Yes. If anything, we have partnered with Jubilee for the past three years and so we want to formalise what we have been doing.

So, those making noise should join the conversation if they really want to live the dream of an inclusive Kenya.

Lets stop the politics of its either me or nobody.

Has ODM reneged on a coalition agreement with the other Nasa parties as they allege?

This is not true. Our 2017 agreement was crystal clear that we would only back one of the Nasa parties if we won the elections. That was our arrangement. We did not capture power, and so we have to be realistic with the mood of the moment.

We cannot go on with an earlier arrangement when the dynamics have shifted. You dont go to every election with the same strategies.

To ensure peace and stability in the country, we agreed to support and work with one another on the MoU between Raila and Uhuru.

A presidential election is more than being endorsed. Its not like a wedding ceremony. Participating and winning are two different things.

You have declared your interest in the ODM presidential ticket, what happens if you fail to clinch it?

A: I have what it takes to fly the party flag in the coming election and I will be participating in the nominations.

However, whoever succeeds  we have all agreed  will be supported by all of us because we are committed to the cause of the party.

We dont run because of individual interests, but believe in the party ideology and manifesto.

Anyone of us has the ability to implement the manifesto and ideology of ODM.

For our party leader, he has the right to declare his interest any time he deems fit.

Theres been an invasion by Deputy President William Ruto on your ODM Coast bastion. What are your plans to maintain your grip of the area ahead of 2022?

I dont want to engage on that through the media, but there are things we are doing on the ground through ODM.

I assure you, Coast region shall remain in ODM come 2022. Watch this space.

Whats the status of the formation of the Coast regional party being advanced by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi?

I dont want to engage on that. Im a member of ODM and thats our party of choice. We shall continue to advance its ideologies.

Do you have a preferred successor in the Mombasa governors race?

Time will come for Mombasa politics on who to succeed me as governor.

It is not yet time for taking positions, and furthermore, the party has mechanisms of picking its candidates.

Whats your take on the status of BBI?

BBI is still alive. We cannot wish it away yet because it still has a chance at the Court of Appeal.

A pre-election coalition agreement details how the parties share the top posts, how will Jubilee-ODM address this concern with the uncertainty of BBI, which sought to expand the Executive to create extra leadership positions and accommodate more leaders in top posts?

As I said, BBI is still alive. We will only shift the conversation when BBI is completely dead. However, we must not deviate from the main agenda here, which is unity of the country. That is our major concern, and not leadership positions.

Which position is ODM eyeing in the planned coalition?

Each political party is formed for the purpose of capturing power. Of course we are eyeing the top seat, which is the president, but this is the work of the technical committee which has been formed to work on the finer details of the agreement. Lets not jump the gun.

Do you feel its time for Raila Odinga to back your presidential bid in 2022?

I have said it before that the presidency is not given to anybody. Kenyans have the ultimate power to elect a president. You cannot win by waiting for an endorsement, thats why I have decided to throw myself in the ring. I am confident that my party leader will back my bid should I clinch the ticket. Should he beat me, I have made it clear that I will also stand by him. We are looking at the bigger picture.

Does ODM support claims for the postponement of 2022 elections?

No. Postponing elections is not within our plans, but those advancing this are entitled to their opinions.
The member of parliament for Ruiru constituency, Simon Kingara, has called on authorities to crack down on a syndicate that he said is taking advantage of disabled children to beg in the streets.

Mr. Kingara observed that the number of disabled children begging in the city and towns has increased significantly in recent times.

According to the lawmaker, a powerful syndicate has been placing the children on the streets as early as 5 am to collect money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Its saddening to see that some greedy people who are after riches are leaving nothing to chance, even using the disabled to raise money. Society must rise against these crooked people and protect the disabled in the community, he said.

The MP asked DCI boss George Kinoti and inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to investigate the unlawful business and bring the cartels to book.

Kingara spoke in Ruiru town when he distributed tricycles to 50 beneficiaries through his Nganga Kingara Foundation in collaboration with Master Empowerment Center.

At the same time, the Ruiru MP urged parents not to hide their physically and mentally handicapped children.

Some people hide their children because of their physical deformities and forget that they have good brains and they too have wishes and plans for their lives that can be actualized by well-wishers who are willing to offer help, he said.
Raila Junior has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Office Of The Registrar Of Political Parties(ORPP) to rectify his membership status.

This after the son of ODM Party leader Raila Odinga was listed as a member of the Amani National Congress(ANC).

Following my recent inclusion on ANC Party, I have instructed my lawyer to write to seek clarity as to why I was there without my knowledge or consent. I understand there is a class of Kenyans who face a similar predicament, Raila Jnr said in a tweet on Wednesday, June 23.

Through his lawyers, Raila Junior said his listing as a member of ANC is false and injurious.

Our client remains a lifetime member of ODM. He protests the violation of his privacy and irregular and erroneous use of his personal data on your platform without his consent, Rachier and Amollo Advocates said.

Raila Junior said the Registrars office should delete his details from the ANC party membership list and list him as a member of ODM immediately.

We demand that your office rectifies your records by deleting our clients details from ANC party and properly listing him in ODM immediately and in any event within 24 hrs from receipt and thereafter confirm the rectification with those parties, he said.
Security authorities have advised motorists in Nairobi to avoid Uhuru Highway and Thika Road this morning to pave way for the Safari Rally flag off.

Nairobi Area Traffic Commander Joshua Omukata said the ceremonial flag-off will start at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) at 12.45 pm.

Motorists are advised to avoid the busy highways from 8.00 am to 12.00 pm, with traffic flow set to be disrupted.

From the KICC the WRC Safari Rally cars will pass through Parliament Road, Haile Selassie Avenue to Uhuru Highway. They will then use Wangari Mathai Road and then head to Kasarani via Thika Road.

Omukata said the drivers will then head back to Thika road through Muthaiga before heading to Naivasha.

From 8.00am when these vehicles are coming to the KICC, we are not going to close the roads, but traffic will just be interrupted until 12.00pm. We shall be regulating traffic flow, he said.

It is better for motorists to avoid inconveniences of being held for some time before the road opens, it is better to find another option and by extension, we will be looking at the safety of the spectators, Omukata explained.
According to information published by Tass on June 24, 2021, the first serial Project 955A Borei-A class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Knyaz Oleg will go to sea no less than six times during shipbuilders and state trials, a source in the shipbuilding industry told.

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Project 955A Borei-A submarine Knyaz Oleg (Picture source: Oleg Kuleshov)

It was reported on June 17 that the submarine had gone to the White Sea for the first time. Now, the Knyaz Oleg is at sea again.

A source told that the submarine will be delivered to the customer at the end of 2021 if the sea trials are successful.

According to the source, the Knyaz Oleg is planned to go to sea up to four times during its shipbuilders sea trials and twice during its state tests. During the state trials, a launch of a Bulava (SS-NX-32) intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled for November 2021.

As of today, the Navy operates four Project 955 and 955A submarines. Apart from the Knyaz Oleg, another three Project 955A submarines are at various stages of their construction at the Sevmash Shipyard. Each submarine carries 16 Bulava missiles.

Knyaz Oleg is a Borei-class (Project 955A) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine developed by the Rubin Design Bureau and constructed by the Sevmash for the Russian Navy. The submarine is named after Oleg of Novgorod.

Knyaz Oleg submarine is approximately 170 metres (560 ft) long, 13 meters (43 ft) in diameter.

The RSM-56 Bulava is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed for the Russian Navy and deployed in 2013 on the new Borei class of ballistic missile nuclear submarines. It is intended as the future cornerstone of Russia's nuclear triad and is the most expensive weapons project in the country.
Emory College alumna Lisa Cooper has become a global expert in understanding health disparities. She will discuss her latest book during a virtual Emory Alumni event July 22 at 7 p.m. Photo: Johns Hopkins University.

Book discussion with Emory alumna Lisa Cooper Why Are Health Disparities Everyones Problems? Thursday, July 22 7 p.m. Register or get more information. Zoom link will be sent after registering.

Lisa Cooper  a 1984 graduate of Emory College and 2007 MacArthur Foundation Genius  will discuss her new book on health care disparities in a virtual Emory Alumni Association event Thursday, July 22, at 7 p.m.

One of the first scientists to document disparities in the quality of relationships between physicians and patients from underrepresented groups, Cooper is now an internationally-recognized researcher and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Her book, Why Are Health Disparities Everyones Problem?, which releases June 29, examines the importance of protecting everyones health in order to strengthen the health care system and health care in general.

Cooper, a Liberian-born general internist and social epidemiologist, also will discuss the impact the current epidemic has had on marginalized communities worldwide and how systems can be improved to care for them.

Adaobi Okocha, 2015C and 2017PH who is about to start her final year of medical school at Meharry Medical College, will moderate. The event begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 22.

Those interested in buying Coopers book have until July 31 to receive a 35% discount by visiting https://bit.ly/2RRoTCS and using the discount code HEAB.

The virtual event is free, but registration is required. Register or get more information here.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a sizeable issue in the United States military, affecting approximately 20 percent of all Veterans. Among women, the primary cause of PTSD is sexual abuse or harassment by colleagues while on active serviceand it is common. Research suggests as many as one in four servicewomen experiences sexual assault, while more than half are victims of sexual harassment.



For these women, the post-service outlook may be grim since PTSD can lead to avoidance issues, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Physically, symptoms range from chronic pain to obesity to cardio-vascular disorders.



Until now, the standard treatment for female Veterans with PTSD has been cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a science-based approach that teaches patients practical tactics to help challenge or neutralize negative thoughts tied to their trauma. Seen as the gold standard, in PTSD treatment by the Department of Defense and the Veterans Heath Administration, CPT has its merits, but also flaws. Researchers find more than half of female Veterans enrolled in government-backed CPT programs drop out of treatment. Half of those who complete treatment report continued PTSD symptoms.

But an alternative approach has emerged.



Yoga, specifically Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), targets the effects of stress on the bodys nervous system. Pioneered by David Emerson, co-director of the Center for Trauma & Embodiment (CFTE) at the Justice Resource Institute, trauma-sensitive yoga is believed to alleviate PTSD by creating connections between the body and mind and restoring a sense of ownership (or agency) over emotions. The center also offers Trauma Informed Weight Lifting, another research-based adjunctive treatment for complex trauma and PTSD.

However, doubts have lingered about its effectiveness. A ground-breaking study led by Emory Universitys Ursula Kelly is set to shift thinking on the use of TCTSY.



Kelly, an Associate Professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, recently published the interim results of a large-scale, five-year investigation into the effects of cognitive processing therapy compared to trauma-sensitive yoga.

The early results tell a clear story. Working with colleagues from Emory University and the Atlanta Veteran Associate Health Care System, Kelly has found empirical evidence yoga can be just as effective as CPT in the treatment of PTSD.



Not only that, the study shows TCTSY delivers positive results considerably faster than cognitive therapy; and that more than 60 percent of patients are seeing the treatment through to completion compared to just 34 percent of those in cognitive therapy programs.



Kellys study, which will be published in full later this year, analyzed outcomes in the use of CPT and TCTSY across 152 female Veterans diagnosed with PTSD between 2016 and 2021. Using clinical measuring tools, she and her colleagues have tracked the impact of 10 sets of weekly, 60-minute yoga sessions against a control group of 12 weekly CPT sessions, each lasting 90 minutes and led by a clinician.



The researchers find that while PTSD is successfully reduced by both treatments, patients in the TCTSY group were starting to see improvement mid-intervention. This compares favorably to the CPT group, who reported feeling better only two weeks after the treatment had concluded.

Kelly has been selected to address the Independent Review Commission established by President Biden, which is examining how the Department of Defense manages sexual trauma in the military, later this year.

With quick results and low dropout rate among yoga participants, Kelly is quick to call it a game-changer for women Veterans in the United States.



"Our study is the first of its kind to apply evidence-based research methods to truly understand the potential of trauma-sensitive yoga in treating this hugely problematic and difficult-to-treat problem," Kelly said.



"These results are hugely exciting as they point to an alternative to the standard approach that is not only just as effective, but potentially quicker, cheaper and easier for women to access and to stick to, while offering the additional advantage of scalability. The results are a major development and a possible game changer in clinical care for our veterans."
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An esteemed group of nearly 50 military officers from approximately 50 countries attended presentations from Auburn University leaders and toured the campus on Wednesday morning as part of a collaboration between the university and Maxwell Air Force Base.

The group learned about the university thanks to a panel of speakers that included Provost Bill Hardgrave; Chief Operating Officer Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess; College of Architecture, Design and Construction, or CADC, Dean Vini Nathan; and CADC professors Richard Burt and Eric Wetzel. The group consisted of officers in the International Officer School, or IOS, Field Studies program organized by Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery as part of a seven-week college preparatory course.

Wednesday marked the first time the IOS program incorporated Auburn into its itinerary, and the officers will go on to take a 10-month course known as Air War College, or AWC, after completing the seven-week prep course. The IOSwhich has educated more than 11,000 international military students since 1954is the lead-up course to prepare all international officers for attending AWC and operates to enable the educational mission of the schools and the programs it supports.

Speaking in a Mell Classroom Building lecture hall adjacent to Ralph Brown Draughon Library, Hardgrave gave the international officers an overview of Auburns history, including how it became a land grant institution, information about fundraising, the student body, research and the future of higher education in the United States. He answered several questions ranging from scholarships and tuition to the universitys international student population and was excited about the chance to educate the group about Auburn.

Its such a pleasure for us to welcome these international officers as part of the Air War College from Maxwell Air Force Base, and we are honored and privileged to be part of this program, Hardgrave said. This gives us the opportunity to speak about higher education in the U.S. and, in doing so, highlight Auburn University.

We were very purposeful several years ago to increase our undergraduate and graduate international students and to have a campus increasingly reflective of the world. Events such as this are indicators of a global campus.

Burgesswho rose to the rank of lieutenant general during a 38-year U.S. Army careercongratulated the group for being selected to participate in the IOS program, stressed the importance of building and cultivating relationships in the armed services and described his leadership role at the university.

You wouldnt be here if your country and your military didnt think you had exhibited and demonstrated the potential to serve at a higher grade, so youre here so you can learn more about us and we can learn more about you, said Burgess, the former U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency director who attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in 1995. You will build lifelong relationships you will be able to use personally and professionally, and I urge you to take advantage of that. You cant build that anywhere else, and thats why this type of seminar and this education is so important.

Nathan detailed CADCs vast array of programs, disciplines and educational opportunities for students and talked about the colleges impact both domestically and abroad.

A detailed look at the College of Architecture, Design and Construction provides clear examples of Auburns tripartite mission of teaching, research and service, Nathan said. Opportunities like these visits, where institutions share experiences, are the foundational blocks for promoting mission awareness and appreciation, as well as understanding and mutual cooperation.

Burt, head of the McWhorter School of Building Science, outlined the schools programs and projects, as well as described the facultys history of service to the public and local community.

Wetzel gave the group a quiz featuring Auburn trivia before they took the short walk to tour Jordan-Hare Stadium. From there, the group visited the Robins and Morton Construction Field Lab, where they interacted with various design and construction technology utilized by the college and even had the chance to meet Mac, the McWhorter Schools prized robotic dog that is involved in a multitude of field projects and research.

This is a wonderful opportunity for us to demonstrate the significant and serious outreach efforts at Auburn University, said Wetzel, who helped organize the groups itinerary and hosted the IOS on behalf of Auburn. Between this cohort and the one arriving in July, we will interact with more than 130 military officers from approximately 80 countries. These officers were selected by their countries to attend the program at Maxwell Air Force Base, and we get to share Auburn University with them and, in particular, the teaching, research and service taking place in CADC and the McWhorter School of Building Science.

For the visitors and Maxwell Air Force Base organizers, their trip to the Plains was a chance to allow students to experience an American college atmosphere and learn about higher education and CADCs programs while improving their communications skills and exposing them to new technologies they may not encounter in their home countries.

We were really excited to meet with the team here at Auburn and have just been thrilled with the support weve received in getting our students the experience of touring the campus, said Maj. Tamara Merritt, chief of International Programs at Maxwell Air Force Base. This program traditionally has gone to Washington, D.C., or New York City, but with COVID, things changed, and a lot of opportunities presented themselves here in Alabama. Being able to listen to school leadership, understand what higher education looks like in the United States, hear about the opportunities that are provided to citizens and see a little bit of college life and even tour the stadium was great for them.

Its been a fantastic opportunity, and I know the students enjoyed it.

Wednesdays visit was the first of two such collaborations scheduled between Auburn and Maxwell Air Force Base, with an even larger group of IOS Field Studies students coming to campus on July 14.
Mukesh Ambani-helmed Reliance Industries' 44th Annual General Meeting will be held today from 2 pm onwards. The RIL AGM has been a closely watched event historically. This year, because of restrictions due to COVID-19, the AGM will be held through video conferencing and other audio visual means.

Chairman Mukesh Ambani is expected to make some major announcements including the country's first 5G phone, JioMart's grocery venture with WhatsApp, low-cost affordable laptop JioBook and its $15 billion deal with Saudi Aramco.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Jio Phone 5G: Perhaps the most anticipated announcement in the Reliance AGM revolves around the affordable 5G phone. Reliance Jio is also likely to address its roadmap for 5G rollout in India.

The low-cost 5G Android device is touted to be affordable enough to bring millions of 2G feature phone users to take the next leap. The company joined hands with Google to develop the software for the 5G phone. The tech giant bought 7.7 per cent stake in Reliance Jio for Rs 33,737 crore last year in a deal that involved developing an affordable 5G smartphone.

However, certain reports have stated that the production of the phone has been impacted by supply constraints. Nevertheless, the 5G phone's development will be closely watched.

JioBook: Reliance Jio is reportedly planning to enter the laptop segment with a product called JioBook. The device is expected to be powered by Qualcomm's 11-nm Snapdragon 665 chipset with 4G connectivity.

Saudi Aramco deal: Saudi Aramco Chairman and Governor of the Kingdom's wealth fund Public Investment Fund Yasir Al-Rumayyan reportedly may be inducted on board of Reliance Industries in the run-up to the $15 billion oil-to-chemicals deal. The deal was set to conclude by March 2020 but has been delayed for unknown reasons. However, talks revived this year. The Aramco deal will be one of the most keenly followed developments in the RIL AGM.

WHERE TO WATCH

You can watch the event on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

Facebook: You can follow the event on Reliance Industries Limited page or on the Jio page.

Twitter: You can follow the updates or watch it live on the handles Flame of Truth or Reliance Jio.

YouTube: The Flame of Truth and Reliance Jio channels will also telecast the RIL AGM event.

WhatsApp: You can also get updates via the chatbot on WhatsApp number +91-79771-11111.

Also read: Likely Saudi Aramco seat on Reliance board triggers buzz over $15 billion deal

Also read: Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries working on cheaper COVID-19 drug, affordable test kits
A nationwide survey conducted among self employed, micro and small businesses (SMBs) during June 10-15 indicates that 88 per cent of the respondents have not yet availed the benefits of any of the stimulus packages announced by the government.

Conducted by Chennai based Consortium of Indian Associations (CIA) and its 40 partner SMB associations, the survey found that 73 per cent of the SMB respondents did not make any profit during 2020-21. Over 81,000 SMBs participated in the survey. The respondents included manufacturers (49 per cent), service providers (15 per cent), self-employed (14 per cent), and consultants, start-ups, traders, food and hospitality and others. The organisers said the respondents represent 63 million micro, small enterprises (MSEs) and 40 million self-employed individuals in the country.

The survey indicated major job losses among the segment as 59 per cent of the respondents had either reduced, sacked or removed their staff since COVID-19 triggered lockdowns and economic disruptions. Indicating that the situation is far from normal, 42 per cent said they are still unable to decide on retention of employees.

The survey had also sought suggestions from the stakeholders. CIA has compiled a list of long term and short-term measures to be taken by the central and state governments to beat the impact of the lockdown on the SMBs. It has called for a moratorium without interest for all loans up to Rs 2 crore including term loan, working capital loans, credit card liabilities, and personal, vehicle and housing loans of SMBs till the end of the current financial year. The industry body sought additional ECGLS loans upto 40 per cent of the outstanding as on March 31, 2021 for loans less than Rs 5 crore, without insistence on being a standard account as on that date. They want the government to exempt from capital gains any sale of property up to the value of Rs 5 crore, belonging to SMBs, in the company or in promoter name, sold for the purpose of settling the existing loans and/or plough back into business and/or starting a new business venture and/or settling vendors and dues. They also want the tenure of the loan availed through the credit guarantee fund trust for micro and small businesses set by Ministry of MSME, to be increased to 10 years from the current 5 years. Exemption of all Micro Businesses from GST for up to Rs 5 crore turnover was another demand.

A string of suggestions pertaining to pending payment collections, extensions, and relaxations, NPA classifications, refinancing options, opening fair price shops for raw material supplies, ban on exports of steel and cement for six months, fixation of Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products urgently and refund to exporters dues since January 2021, etc have been made.

"Over the past year, CIA has provided vital suggestions and modifications required on several initiatives taken by the central and state governments for the benefit of MSMEs. As a result, we realised that a data-backed survey would help consolidate the feedback from this sector, to bring out the pain points and provide solutions and a way forward to revive the sector," KE Raghunathan, convenor of CIA and former national president of All India Manufacturers' Organisation, said.

CIA will submit the findings of the survey to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of MSME Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and to all state chief ministers, Raghunathan added.

Also read: COVID-19 impact: India's economy likely to contract 12% in Q1 FY22

Also read: COVID-19 impact: 59% small biz likely to scale down, shut shop
Alphabet and Google CEO Sunder Pichai said the goal of the Google-Jio partnership is to make technology accessible and affordable for everyone in his address at the Reliance Industries Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2021. He added that the JioPhone is a step in this direction.

"Our vision was to bring affordable access to information for Indians in their own language, to build new products and services for India's unique needs, and empower businesses with technology," Pichai said while speaking on the JioPhone.

The JioPhone, developed by Google and Reliance Jio, is a smartphone that supports various applications. "I am pleased to announce that Google and Jio have jointly developed a truly breakthrough smartphone- JIOPHONE NEXT. It is a fully-featured supporting the entire suite of applications from both Google and Jio," Ambani said at the recent Reliance AGM.

The RIL chairperson added this upcoming Jio smartphone is powered by Android OS developed by Google and Jio and will be available from Ganesh Chaturthi (September 10).

The Google CEO also mentioned a 5G partnership between Google Cloud and Jio to ensure faster internet for over a billion Indians and support businesses in digital transformation. "We are proud to play a part in India's next wave of technological innovation. Helping to connect 1.3 billion Indians to the opportunities the internet creates is meaningful to us at Google-- and certainly to me personally," he further noted.

Edited by Mehak Agarwal

Also read: RIL AGM Live: Jio is not only making India '2G-mukt', but also '5G-yukt', says Mukesh Ambani

Also read: Mukesh Ambani announces smartphone in partnership with Google - Jio Phone Next
S&P Global Ratings on Thursday cut India's growth forecast for FY22 to 9.5 per cent from 11 per cent earlier. The agency also warned of risk to the outlook from further waves of COVID-19. S&P said that the severe second wave that led to local lockdowns in April and May sharply contacted economic activity. "We forecast growth of 9.5 per cent this fiscal year from our March forecast of 11 per cent," it said.

S&P said that permanent damage to private and public sector balance sheets will constrain growth over the next couple of years. For the next fiscal ending March 31, 2023, the agency projected India's growth at 7.8 per cent.

"Further pandemic waves are a risk to the outlook given that only about 15 per cent of the population has received at least one vaccine dose so far, although vaccine supplies are expected to ramp up," S&P said.

The agency said that households are running down saving buffers to support consumption and a desire to rebuild savings could hold back spending even as the economy reopens. "Monetary and fiscal policies will remain accommodative but new stimulus will not be forthcoming," it added.

As the country battled the first wave in FY21, Indian economy contracted by 7.3 per cent against a growth of 4 per cent in FY20.

GDP growth in the current fiscal was estimated to be in double digits initially, but a severe second wave has led various agencies to cut growth projections. RBI, too, cut India's growth forecast to 9.5 per cent for this fiscal from 10.5 per cent estimated earlier.

Also read: India's GDP contracts 7.3% in FY21; grows at 1.6% in Q4

Also read: ICRA projects India's FY22 GDP growth at 8.5%
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P. Thiaga Rajan's speech at the 43rd meeting of the GST Council on May 28 could not have been music to Centre's ears. Referring to delay in payment of GST compensation to states, unilateral decisions such as imposition of cesses (whose proceeds go to only the Centre) and the overall distrust between central and state governments, the former Wall Street veteran said "rancour in the relationship" has set in. Finance ministers of Kerala, Punjab and Maharashtra pitched in and questioned Centre's plan to raise more debt in FY22 to compensate states for revenue loss due to GST implementation despite expectations of revenue buoyancy. The "rancour" even prevented an agreement on an issue as important as taxing Covid-19 vaccines. The matter had to be referred to a group of ministers (GoM).

Is the council, which has held 44 meetings since 2016 and has a record of ensuring that all its decisions except one have been unanimous, losing its federal character amid the financial stress being faced by both Centre and states due to the Covid-19 outbreak? The biggest source of discontentment among states, after all, has been pending compensation for FY21. The central government had promised to make good any loss suffered by states due to implementation of GST. Several states say they have been paid much less than what was their due.

Five years after giving up their freedom to tax goods and services in favour of the GST Council, states are coming around to a view that they have been short-changed and their voices muzzled. GST Council decisions require a three-fourth majority. Centre has a one-third vote and states the remaining two-third. The former also has a veto on decisions.

States Rise Up

The build-up to the 43rd GST Council meeting on May 28 was ominous. It all began with a letter by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding reduction of GST on Covid-19 vaccines. In response, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took to social media to explain in a series of tweets the technical problems in exempting vaccines from GST. Three days later, on May 12, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra wrote to Sitharaman raising the issue of pending GST compensation to states and urging her to call a meeting of the GST Council as it had not met since October last year.

Four days before the meeting, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal wrote to Sitharaman terming the agenda of the GST Council "mundane" and not addressing any of the "substantive issues." He raised the issue of pending compensation for FY21 and reduction of GST on Covid essentials. Two days before the meeting, finance ministers of non-BJP ruled states deliberated upon issues to be raised in the GST Council. Though their biggest concern was pending compensation for FY21, the issue of reduction in GST on Covid vaccines and essentials such as PPE kits, sanitisers, ventilators and medical oxygen was also taken up. The stage was set for a showdown.

Compensation Conundrum

The biggest reason states agreed to give up their autonomy to tax goods and services was an assurance by the central government that it would compensate them for any revenue loss from subsuming of indirect taxes such as sales tax/VAT into GST. The GST (Compensation to States) Act, enacted in 2017, guarantees states 14 per cent annual growth in GST revenue over base year FY16 for five years between July 2017 and June 2022. While this worked well till FY19, problems cropped up in FY20 when Centre started finding it tough to pay states as economic slowdown affected its revenues. The Covid-19 outbreak aggravated the problem by putting huge pressure on both Centre and states. As per the Ministry of Finance data, states are yet to be paid Rs 63,000 crore GST compensation for FY21 despite disbursement of Rs 1,10,000 crore loans raised by Centre to meet states' GST shortfall. As per the finance ministry, Rs 70,000 crore had been released as of March 31 this year, over and above the funds raised through loans. An additional Rs 14,000 crore had been paid as part of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax settlement.

The GST compensation cess statement for FY21 reveals that against the pending amount of Rs 63,000 crore, the closing balance is Rs 3,940 crore. This is the lowest since the launch of GST. This came as a surprise to state finance ministers. Even before the pandemic, India's Gross Domestic Product growth had slumped to 4.2 per cent in FY20 from 6.1 per cent in FY19. The closing balance was as high as Rs 55,737 crore in FY20. This diminishing pool and lack of clarity on payment of FY21 dues was one of the main triggers for what happened in the GST Council meeting. The clarity that state governments wanted remained elusive.

States' Shortfall

As against Centres accounts stating a closing balance of Rs 3,940 crore, just the state of Punjab is owned a lot more than that. Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal told BT that after all adjustments, the Centre owed his state Rs 5,000 crore. "It is a huge amount for the state. The Congress party raised the issue in the GST Council," he says.

"Kerala needs to be paid more than Rs 4,000 crore on this account. The amount is much bigger for several other states," says Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopalan. Chhattisgarh Finance Minister T.S. Singh Deo says states are not even getting the protected revenue. "In lieu of the right to taxation that state governments have surrendered, they are bound to be paid an assured increase of 14 per cent in GST revenue over the base year. From that point of view, we lost Rs 1,300 crore in the previous financial year."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray raised the issue during a meeting with the prime minister on June 8. "Maharashtra was expected to get approximately Rs 46,000 crore as GST compensation but has received only Rs 22,000 crore," state Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, who accompanied Thackeray, told mediapersons after the meeting.

This does not mean that all states have been denied their dues. "There is no pendency. We have received Rs 7,229 crore as GST compensation and Rs 6,009 crore as part of the debt raised to meet the deficit," says Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna.

While the GST Council deliberated on debt to be raised to meet the FY22 shortfall, the Centre did not seem to have a clear plan on previous financial year's dues, a key demand of states. It is pinning hope on expected buoyancy in GST revenues in the current financial year to pay its dues for FY21, a delay that the states are finding un-appetising. "On compensation for the current financial year, we have proposed to the council that if we take the same methodology and formulae that we adopted the last time, the gap is around Rs 1,58,000 crore. Unlike last year, the economy has not suffered as much this year. So, last year, deficit was more than the back-to-back borrowing that took place. This year, even if we are able to collect average monthly GST revenue of Rs 1,10,000, our deficit will be Rs 1,50,000 crore while we will be doing a back-to-back borrowing of Rs 1,58,000 crore," Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said after the meeting. This means states can be compensated by Rs 8,000-10,000 crore for previous year's shortfall. "If we are able to collect an average monthly GST revenue of Rs 1,15,000 crore for the 12-month period, the deficit comes to Rs 1,25,000 crore, and if we borrow Rs 1,58,000 crore, this will compensate for another Rs 33,000 crore," he added. States, however, are not convinced, as even this amount is way short of the Rs 63,000 crore that they are owed. The only commitment they have got from the Union finance minister is that there will be further deliberations and a dedicated meeting on extending the compensation cess period beyond June next year.

The Cess Question

The finance minister denies that the GST Council is losing the essence of co-operative federalism. "When finance ministers of states, some of them who are chief ministers, meet, there will be discussions, there will be rebuttals, arguments, but that's what the forum is meant for. Is that immediately tussle or dent in federalism?," she said in an exclusive interaction with BT. However, Chhattisgarh Finance Minister Deo says the moment the Centre fails to pay committed revenue to states, the concept of federal unanimity comes under question. "If central compensation is delayed for whatever reasons, the very basis of GST and the council is compromised. Also, it does not serve the interests of states, particularly the manufacturing states, to forgo their rights to taxation. It is the consuming states that are benefiting at the expense of the producing states," he adds.

P. Thiaga Rajan is more direct and blames Centre's "less than compassionate position" towards states. "The reluctance of the Union to settle the dues in a timely manner has introduced justifiable rancour in the relationship," he said in his speech at the council meeting.

Experts say this was expected. "Over the last two years, the level of co-operation visible after GST rollout has been missing. This was bound to happen as the law evolves," says Rajat Bose, Partner at law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas. Bose says states, which had a key role in the beginning, are realising that issues specific to their needs have to be addressed. "Once regional issues come in, it is difficult to arrive at a consensus, like it happened in case of Kerala lottery or gaming industry in Maharashtra," he says.

Ranjeet Mahtani, Partner, Dhruva Advisers LLP, says Centre will have to play the role of a referee. "In the context of the federal character of the council, the decisions have to be with consensus. Till 2019, the decisions were with consensus. The central government has to take a statesman-like position and become a referee in effect so that the federal character remains intact," he says. He, however, maintains that on matters of state revenue, ideals like federal unity take a backseat. "The binding glue on which states came together for GST was compensation for revenue losses on account of subsuming of state taxes. When the five-year period is over, resources for running government machinery will become a major issue."

Tiff Over Cess

States are also becoming vocal on tax unilateralism - raising revenue via cess - by the central government, leading to shrinking of the divisible pool. Cess revenue is not shared with states. Kerala and Tamil Nadu finance ministers raised the issue in the GST Council. "Close to 18 per cent of central government revenue is being raised from cess and not distributed (among states). Total control of finances is with the central government. It needs to be discussed and reviewed," said Balagopalan. "As Centre gets more financial control, state finances suffer. For India to prosper, a harmonious Centre-state relationship is a must." Rajan said increase in states' devolution from the divisible pool of taxes to 42 per cent has largely been offset by increase in collection from cesses to Rs 2.55 lakh crore in FY20, 80 per cent more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore in FY14. According to Budget documents, share of cesses in gross tax revenue has grown from 6.9 per cent in FY15 to almost 9 per cent in FY20 after peaking at 10 per cent in FY17. This does not include GST compensation cess. Rajan said the gradual shift of petrol and diesel taxation from excise to cesses has led to revenue loss for states. "A shift of over Rs 50,000 crore relative to FY14 ratios of excise and cess, away from the pool of divisible taxes, has led to reduction of Rs 20,000 crore (41 per cent of Rs 50,000 crore) in states payment as share from the divisible pool," he said.

Political Divide

Another disturbing trend is vertical split on party lines on key issues. Take the proposal for curtailing GST on Covid vaccines and equipment. "Both Gujarat and Odisha were in favour of zero tax on the vaccine along with states like West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. But if the matter was put to vote, Gujarat would have sided with Centre due to political alignment. The proposal would not have passed muster," said a source present in the meeting.

The finance minister has already told the West Bengal Chief Minister that reduction in GST on vaccines will increase prices as manufacturers will not be able to offset taxes with taxes paid on inputs. She also says there is no political divide in the GST Council. "When we decided that a GoM would decide on waiver of tax for Covid treatment items, is that an amicable way of arriving at a solution or do you think this is adversarial? So, avoid this assumption that it (GST Council) is a place for quarrel, fight and bickering. I must say to the credit of every member of the GST Council that they are being absolutely statesmanlike like in their behaviour," she said.

The GoM finally recommended status quo. The council met again on June 12 to discuss the recommendations of the GoM and decided to keep GST on Covid vaccines unchanged. A few days prior to this, the prime minister had announced a new policy according to which Centre would procure 75 per cent of the vaccines and supply to states free of cost. After the meeting, Sitharaman said in the press conference that since the Centre would procure the vaccines, there won't be any tax burden on any state.

Still, consensus proved to be short-lived. In an ugly turn of events, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, in a tweet, blamed the Centre for muzzling his voice. Mitra, who wanted to register his dissent on the vaccine issue, said, "Since my voice ignored, I have recorded my dissent by letter. Unprecedented. Slow death of the only body of cooperative federalism." In a letter to the finance minister, he pointed out that he repeatedly tried to voice his objections but his voice was muzzled and the secretary cut off the virtual link."

After this, Minister of State (Finance) Anurag Thakur took to Twitter claiming that Mitra remained silent when the Union finance minister asked for comments from the members. "The finance minister has never stifled dissent in the GST Council. It is unbecoming of a senior member of the council to suggest that this has happened. The GST Council embodies the collective spirit of all states towards debate in a healthy manner," he said.

While GST on vaccine remained unchanged, the council waived tax on black fungus medicine, and reduced tax on Remdesivir, along with a slew of other Covid equipment. These were demands of some states, though it will take more than this to bring peace at the GST Council.

@ashutoshkumar
Indian market opened higher today tracking mixed Asian bourses. Sensex rose 212 points to 52,518 and Nifty gained 48 points to 15,738. On Wednesday, Sensex settled 282.63 points or 0.54% lower at 52,306.08 amid profit booking. Nifty 50 declined 85.80 points or 0.54% to end at 15,686.95.

Here's a look at stocks that are likely to remain in news today.

Reliance Industries: The Mukesh Ambani-led firm will hold its 44th AGM today. Ambani is expected to make some major announcements including launch of 5G phone, JioMart's grocery venture with WhatsApp, low-cost affordable laptop JioBook and its $15 billion deal with Saudi Aramco.

Tata Motors: The firm has confirmed that Guenter Butschek will step down from his role as chief executive and managing director from June 30. The auto giant has appointed Girish Wagh, president-commercial vehicles, as the executive director to the board of Tata Motors from July 1.

Jaiprakash Associates: Financial creditors and homebuyers on Wednesday approved Mumbai-based Suraksha group's proposal to take over debt-laden Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL). With this development, the hopes of homebuyers, who have been waiting to get possession of their flats for years, have been raised.

Adani Ports: The Adani Group firm has said it'll abandon its project in Myanmar and write-down its investments in full if the country is classified as a sanctioned country by the US.

PNB Housing Finance: The firm said it would disclose the outcome of shareholders' meeting held a day earlier-on Rs 4,000 crore capital infusion led by Carlyle Group-in accordance with the order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal next month.

Infosys: The IT firm will start its up to Rs 9,200 crore share buyback from June 25. It aims to buy back shares at a maximum price of Rs 1,750. The Board approval for the buyback was granted on April 14, 2021, and the shareholders' nod was received on June 19, 2021, at the company's 40th annual general meeting.

Hindustan Construction: The construction firm reported a 49.48 decline in net profit at Rs 157.28 crore in Q4 against profit of Rs 311.38 crore in the year-ago period.

Apollo Hospitals: It reported a 169.9 crore net profit in Q4FY21, registering a decline of 19 percent year-on-year (YoY).

The company reported Rs 209.6 crore net profit in the corresponding period of previous year.

Dabur India: The FMCG firm has commenced construction of its largest manufacturing facility near Indore in Madhya Pradesh.Being set up with a phased investment of around Rs 550 crore, this new unit would manufacture a range of Dabur's food products, ayurvedic medicines, and health supplements.

Cipla: The firm said it has received final approval from the US health regulator for Arformoterol Tartrate Inhalation Solution, used to treat conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in the US market. The approved product is a generic version of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc's Brovana.

Shyam Metalics, Sona Comstar: The companies will make their market debut today. The IPO of both firms was open for subscription between June 14-16.
Indian benchmark indices opened higher ahead of the 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries (RIL). At 09:20 hours, the 30-share BSE index was trading 170.5 points or 0.33 per cent higher at 52,476.62, and the broader NSE Nifty was up 42 points or 0.27 per cent to 15,729.35.

Infosys and TCS were the top gainers in the Sensex pack, advancing over 1 per cent, followed by L&T, Tech Mahindra, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank, and Tata Steel.

On the other hand, Bajaj Auto and Asian Paints were among the losers.

On Wednesday, the equity benchmark Sensex settled 282.63 points or 0.54% lower at 52,306.08 amid profit booking. The Nifty 50 declined 85.80 points or 0.54% to end at 15,686.95.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) emerged as net buyers as they bought Rs 3,156.53 shares worth crore on June 23, as per provisional data available on the NSE.
HDFC Bank MD and CEO Sashi Jagdishan has apologised to the bank's stakeholders and customers after facing flak for repeated tech outages in the last couple of years and being barred by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from selling any new credit cards or launching new digital products.

Admitting the glitch, Jagdishan said, "In the last couple of years our technological capability has been questioned, justifiably."

He added that in the last 28 months, the bank has been in spotlight "for the wrong reasons" when it comes to technology.

Also Read: RBI's third-party audit of IT system over; awaiting decision: HDFC Bank's Jagdishan

Jagdishan, in a note in the bank's annual report for 2020-21, also acknowledged deficiencies in compliance, coupled with technology problems that led to regulatory actions.

The latest technology downtime led to the RBI banning HDFC Bank from issuing new credit cards as well as putting on hold new launches under the Digital 2.0 initiative, he said, adding that a third-party audit of bank's IT system, ordered by the central bank, is over and the bank is now awaiting a decision from the RBI.

Offering a detailed apology on the recent outages, Jagdishan said, "As a bank we are certainly sorry for what has happened. And have taken this as an opportunity to improve and redouble our efforts to fix this problem for good."

Talking about deficiencies in compliance regarding the sale of GPS products, he stated that there has been some discussion around the same.

"For many years we had been bundling the financing of FPS systems and cars. The teams believed this was a routine lending activity. Also, a particular vendor had entered into an arrangement with us directly," Jagdishan noted. He further stated that these products were never sold on a standalone basis and were only bundled along with the purchase of cars.

On RBI's penalty of Rs 10 crore on the bank for deficiencies in regulatory compliances with regard to its auto loan portfolio, Jagdishan said, "We accept this verdict and will comply with the directives."

Also Read: HFDC Bank to hire 500 people as part of efforts to improve IT infra

Following the above-mentioned incidents, he said, impelled the bank to reiterate the importance of culture, and redefine business objectives with three Cs in mind - Culture, Conscience and Customers.

"Customers are at the heart of everything we do. But every individual has to ask himself: Am I doing the right thing for the customer? Am I doing the right thing for the organisation? Does my conscience permit this?" Jagdishan noted.

"As a bank we have always taken pride in our integrity. However, the unscrupulous practices of a few people have made all of us resolve for far greater process controls to address this. I am personally determined to fix this," he added.

HDFC Bank reported an increase of 18.5 per cent in its net profit for the financial year 2020-21 at Rs 31,116.5 crore.
Highlights Launch date for Jio 5G could be announced tommorow

Trials for Jio 5G have already begun

Jio 5G achieved 1Gbps speed in the trials

The 44th Reliance AGM will take place on Thursday. We expect to see a couple of big announcements from the telecom giant at the event. The most important of all being the timeline for the rollout of 5G services in the country. A few telecom players, including Jio, have got permission from DoT (Department of Telecommunications) to test 5G in India.

Jio has launched a new phone but it doesn't seem to have 5G. JioPhone Next is the company's first smartphone.

Recently, Jio opened its 5G field testing in Mumbai. Reports suggest that hardware being used for Mumbai trials is developed in-house. The trials will soon expand to other cities, making us believe that the announcement will likely happen tomorrow.

Moreover, Intel also opened up about its partnership with Jio to develop 5G networking technology. It will be interesting to see how this collaboration benefits the rollout of 5G services in India. For now, let's talk about Jio 5G in detail.

Jio 5G: What we know so far

--Jio has been the pioneer of 4G services in India. And we wouldn't be surprised if the brand takes the lead even with the country's rollout of 5G services. In December, Reliance head revealed that 5G services would roll out mid-2021, which perfectly coincides with Reliance AGM 2021.

--In addition to that, Jio has also begun 5G trials in Mumbai. A report published by Qualcomm says that Jio 5G was able to achieve a speed of 1Gbps during the trials using indigenous technology. Now that's similar to what Airtel achieved in its 5G test conducted in the Cyber Hub area in Gurgaon.

Jio 5G representation in the 43rd AGM 2020

--Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allowed telecom operators to use 700MHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz spectrums for the 5G trials. Jio used a mix of mid (sub-6GHz) and mmWave trial spectrum for the field test in Mumbai.

--The telecom giant mentioned that it created a complete 5G solution in-house from scratch. Also, it is committed to relying on home-grown hardware and solutions for this purpose solely.

--From what we have learnt, Reliance will also be deploying sub-6Hz and mmWave networks in India. Both of which have their benefits, While the sub-6GHz network offers a longer range, the mmWave provides faster internet speeds at the cost of a shorter range.

--Reliance Jio is also tipped to test 5Gi in India, a technology that is developed co-jointly by IIT Madras and IIT Hyderabad. Besides this, the brand has been developing Virtualised Radio Access Network (RAN) in collaboration with Qualcomm to improve the pace of the 5G rollout in India.

--Jio rolled out the 4G service at really affordable pricing in the country, which is also one of the reasons for its widespread reach in India. Now that the announcement of Jio 5G is on the cards, we expect the telecom giant to follow the same suit. That said, it will not be as cheap as the 4G service, considering the hardware and infrastructure required for it.

--While Airtel has also been testing 5G services in India, It's Jio that has been tipped to roll out 5G services first in the country. Along with Jio 5G, the telecom operator is expected to launch the affordable Jio Phone 5G and JioBook during the event tomorrow.

--Folks interested in watching the event live can tune in to the Jio YouTube channel at 2 PM IST.
Highlights John McAfee, who created the anti-virus software McAfee, was found dead in a Barcelona cell on Wednesday.

The justice department confirmed that 75-year McAfee died by hanging inside the prison.

McAfee had expressed his anguish over spending the rest of his life in prison if he were to be convicted in the United States.

John McAfee, who created the anti-virus software McAfee, was found dead in a Barcelona cell on Wednesday. The justice department confirmed that 75-year McAfee died by hanging inside the prison. The news of his death surfaced hours after the Spanish court allowed his extradition to the United States, where he was wanted for tax evasion. During one of his last hearings, McAfee had expressed his anguish over spending the rest of his life in prison if he were to be convicted in the United States.

McAfee who founded the McAfee associates in 1987 was a programmer at NASA's Institute for Space Studies in New York City from 1968 to 1970. The anti-virus software which was created by him was quite popular in the 1980s and the 1990s. However, in 2010, he sold McAfee to Intel. The company had announced that the McAfee products will be sold as Intel security. McAfee had thanked Intel for changing the name of his product and said, "I am now everlastingly grateful to Intel for freeing me from this terrible association with the worst software on the planet."

Soon McAfee shifted his focus to cryptocurrency from software and took over as the CEO of Luxcore,a cryptocurrency company focused on enterprise solutions. This was his last stint as a Chief Executive Officer of a company, post which he left the United States and spent his days on his mega-yacht with his wife, dogs and staff until he was arrested in 2020. So here is what led to his arrest and eventually his death.

 Just a few days before McAfee was found hanging in his prison cell, a tweet was posted from his official Twitter handle, which talked about his life in jail. He had said, "There is much sorrow in prison, disguised as hostility. The sorrow is plainly visible even in the angry faces. I am old and content with food and a bed but for the young prison is a horror- a reflection of the minds of the those who conceived them." McAfee had posted the tweet on June 10, 2021."

 McAfee's lawyer Javier Villalba said that the anti-virus software died by hanging because he could not stand more time in Jail. "This is the result of a cruel system that had no reason to keep this man in jail for so long," Villalba was quoted saying by Reuters.

 Hours after the reports of McAfee's death surfaced on the Internet, his tweet from 2019 went viral on Twitter. He had posted a picture of his tattoo and written, "Getting subtle messages from US officials saying, in effect: "We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself". got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whacked. Check my right arm."

 Soon after his death, a plain image of the letter "Q" was posted from the Instagram account belonging to McAfee. It is being said that the Q could be a reference to the "Qanon" conspiracy theory. But nothing much has been said about it. The authorities have said that his death appeared to be a suicide.

 McAfee was arrested in October last year because he did not pay taxes between 2014 and 2015.McAfee avoided paying the taxes by not taking his income in his bank account. He allegedly got his money paid in the other bank account and cryptocurrency accounts. In 2019, he said that his ideological reasons did not permit him to do so.
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Appeals instance upholds sentence of ex-Inter RAO board member for espionage

 Moskva city news agency, Alexander Avilov

10:22 24/06/2021

MOSCOW, June 24 (RAPSI)  The First Appeals Court of General Jurisdiction has upheld sentence passed upon ex-board member of Inter RAO energy holding Karina Tsurkan for espionage, RAPSI has learnt from the courts press service.

In December 2020, the Moscow City Court found Tsurkan guilty of espionage and sentenced her to 15 years in penal colony. The court also forfeited 656 million rubles ($9 million) seized from Tsurkan to the state.

Prosecutors demanded an 18-year jail sentence for Tsurkan.

Investigators claimed that in August 2004 Tsurkan became an agent involved in confidential and unofficial cooperation with a Moldovan secret service.

In April 2015, while staying in Moscow she received a digital version of a document on project prepared by the Ministry of Energy. The project was allegedly related to the actions of Russian energy companies in the sphere of international cooperation. In September of the same year, she transferred the document to a secret service, according to case papers.

The woman denied wrongdoing and claimed that she did not know representatives of foreign secret services and did not see the document in question.




Convicted actor Efremov seeks to reduce sentence in fatal car crash case

 Moskva city news agency, Denis Voronin

17:54 24/06/2021

MOSCOW, June 24 (RAPSI)  Actor Mikhail Efremov and his defense in the filed cassation appeal seek to mitigate sentence in a fatal crash case, the victims representative Alexander Dobrovinsky has told RAPSI.

According to Dobrovinsky, the convict insists that driver Sergey Zakharov, who had died in the crash involving the actor, was not buckled up.

Efremov also asks court to mitigate his sentence to reasonable limits as he is sure not to outlive these 7.5 years in custody.

In October 2020, the Moscow City Court reduced jail sentence of Efremov by 6 months, from 8 to 7.5 years. The actor was found guilty of driving under influence (DUI) resulting in vehicular homicide.

As established by the court, on the evening of June 8, Efremov driving his car crossed into the oncoming lane in central Moscow and collided with a delivery service vehicle. He was arrested on the scene. Alcohol and drugs were reportedly found in his blood. Victim Sergey Zakharov was taken to hospital where he died early in the morning of June 9.

Efremov admitted his guilt.




Christine F. Hisington 68 of LaPlata, MD. Passed away on Saturday June 19, 2021 in Washington, DC.



She was born on May 27, 1953 in Pittsburg, PA to her mother Barbara Paulis.



She is survived by her daughters, Kimberly Hisington and Stephanie Simm; grandchildren Tyler Simm and Megan Simm and a great granddaughter Ameillia.



Christine joined the U.S. Navy at time when women where not welcomed aboard ships as they are today. She was not only a Pioneer becoming the first Signal Woman aboard a ship, she was an inspiration to the women who followed in her footsteps, breaking down the gender barriers of her time. Her time under way was served aboard the USS Sanctuary from 1971 to 1973. After separating from the Navy, she severed another 20 years as a Procurement Officer in the Federal Government in Spain, Italy, Great Lakes, Virginia and Pax River Naval Air Station. During her retirement years she shifted her attention to serving her Lord joining the Monastery of the Visitation where she became a novitiate until she no longer had the strength to carry out her duties. She was a valued member of the Secular Order at Mt. Carmel in La Plata as well.



Christine may have come from humble beginnings born in Western PA, but she saw the world in a way few Americans have ever had the chance to. Her steadfast determination to prove that a woman could serve aboard a USS Sailing Ship has left an indelible mark on the history of the Navy. Today few may know her story, but as the movement she was part of has grown over the past 50 years the question will be asked, "Who was the first female signalmen on a ship?" and the answer to that question will be, "A Pioneer named Christine Paulis, from Esplen PA."



The family will receive friends on Friday June 25, 2021 from 10 to Mass time at 11 AM at the Mount Carmel Monastery (5678 Mount Carmel Rd. LaPlata, MD 20646). Interment to follow at the Monastery Cemetery. A repast will be held afterwards in the monasteries' parlor.



Online condolences may be shared with the family at arehartechols.com
The RCW 49 galactic nebula pictured above is one of the brightest star-forming regions in the Milky Way. By analyzing the movement of carbon atoms in an expanding bubble of gas surrounding the Westerlund 2 star cluster within RCW 49, a UMD-led team of researchers have created the clearest image to date of a stellar-wind driven bubble where stars are born. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltec/E.Churchwell (University of Wisconsin).

University of Maryland researchers created the first high-resolution image of an expanding bubble of hot plasma and ionized gas where stars are born.

Previous low-resolution images did not clearly show the bubble or reveal how it expanded into the surrounding gas.

The researchers used data collected by the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) telescope to analyze one of the brightest, most massive star-forming regions in the Milky Way galaxy. Their analysis showed that a single, expanding bubble of warm gas surrounds the Westerlund 2 star cluster and disproved earlier studies suggesting there may be two bubbles surrounding Westerlund 2. The researchers also identified the source of the bubble and the energy driving its expansion. Their results were published in The Astrophysical Journal on June 23, 2021.

"When massive stars form, they blow off much stronger ejections of protons, electrons and atoms of heavy metal, compared to our sun," said Maitraiyee Tiwari, a postdoctoral associate in the UMD Department of Astronomy and lead author of the study. "These ejections are called stellar winds, and extreme stellar winds are capable of blowing and shaping bubbles in the surrounding clouds of cold, dense gas. We observed just such a bubble centered around the brightest cluster of stars in this region of the galaxy, and we were able to measure its radius, mass and the speed at which it is expanding."

The surfaces of these expanding bubbles are made of a dense gas of ionized carbon, and they form a kind of outer shell around the bubbles. New stars are believed to form within these shells. But like soup in a boiling cauldron, the bubbles enclosing these star clusters overlap and intermingle with clouds of surrounding gas, making it hard to distinguish the surfaces of individual bubbles.

Tiwari and her colleagues created a clearer picture of the bubble surrounding Westerlund 2 by measuring the radiation emitted from the cluster across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from high-energy X-rays to low-energy radio waves. Previous studies, which only radio and submillimeter wavelength data, had produced low-resolution images and did not show the bubble. Among the most important measurements was a far-infrared wavelength emitted by a specific ion of carbon in the shell.

"We can use spectroscopy to actually tell how fast this carbon is moving either towards or away from us," said Ramsey Karim (M.S. '19, astronomy), a Ph.D. student in astronomy at UMD and a co-author of the study. "This technique uses the Doppler effect, the same effect that causes a train's horn to change pitch as it passes you. In our case, the color changes slightly depending on the velocity of the carbon ions."

By determining whether the carbon ions were moving toward or away from Earth and combining that information with measurements from the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum, Tiwari and Karim were able to create a 3D view of the expanding stellar-wind bubble surrounding Westerlund 2.

In addition to finding a single, stellar wind-driven bubble around Westerlund 2, they found evidence of new stars forming in the shell region of this bubble. Their analysis also suggests that as the bubble expanded, it broke open on one side, releasing hot plasma and slowing expansion of the shell roughly a million years ago. But then, about 200,000 or 300,000 years ago, another bright star in Westerlund 2 evolved, and its energy re-invigorated the expansion of the Westerlund 2 shell.

"We saw that the expansion of the bubble surrounding Westerlund 2 was reaccelerated by winds from another very massive star, and that started the process of expansion and star formation all over again," Tiwari said. "This suggests stars will continue to be born in this shell for a long time, but as this process goes on, the new stars will become less and less massive."

Tiwari and her colleagues will now apply their method to other bright star clusters and warm gas bubbles to better understand these star-forming regions of the galaxy. The work is part of a multi-year NASA-supported program called FEEDBACK.

###

Additional co-authors of the research paper from UMD's Department of Astronomy include Research Scientists Marc Pound and Mark Wolfire and Adjunct Professor Alexander Tielens. This work was supported by the NASA-funded FEEDBACK project (Award No. SOF070077). The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views of this organization.

The research paper, "SOFIA FEEDBACK Survey: Exploring the Dynamics of the Stellar-wind-driven Shell of RCW 49" and the author list is: Tiwari, M., Karim, R., Pound, M. W., Wolfire, M., Jacob, A., Buchbender, C., Gusten, R., Guevara, C., Higgins, R. D., Kabanovic, S., Pabst, C., Ricken, O., Schneider, N., Simon, R., Stutzki, J., Tielens, A. G. G. M., was published on June 23, 2021, in The Astrophysical Journal.



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Using data for more than 500 young stars observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), scientists have uncovered a direct link between protoplanetary disk structures--the planet-forming disks that surround stars--and planet demographics.

The survey proves that higher mass stars are more likely to be surrounded by disks with "gaps" in them and that these gaps directly correlate to the high occurrence of observed giant exoplanets around such stars. These results provide scientists with a window back through time, allowing them to predict what exoplanetary systems looked like through each stage of their formation.

"We found a strong correlation between gaps in protoplanetary disks and stellar mass, which can be linked to the presence of large, gaseous exoplanets," said Nienke van der Marel, a Banting fellow in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, and the primary author on the research. "Higher mass stars have relatively more disks with gaps than lower mass stars, consistent with the already known correlations in exoplanets, where higher mass stars more often host gas-giant exoplanets. These correlations directly tell us that gaps in planet-forming disks are most likely caused by giant planets of Neptune mass and above."

Gaps in protoplanetary disks have long been considered as overall evidence of planet formation. However, there has been some skepticism due to the observed orbital distance between exoplanets and their stars. "One of the primary reasons that scientists have been skeptical about the link between gaps and planets before is that exoplanets at wide orbits of tens of astronomical units are rare. However, exoplanets at smaller orbits, between one and ten astronomical units, are much more common," said Gijs Mulders, assistant professor of astronomy at Universidad Adolfo Ibanez in Santiago, Chile, and co-author on the research. "We believe that planets that clear the gaps will migrate inwards later on."

The new study is the first to show that the number of gapped disks in these regions matches the number of giant exoplanets in a star system. "Previous studies indicated that there were many more gapped disks than detected giant exoplanets," said Mulders. "Our study shows that there are enough exoplanets to explain the observed frequency of the gapped disks at different stellar masses."

The correlation also applies to star systems with low-mass stars, where scientists are more likely to find massive rocky exoplanets, also known as Super-Earths. Van der Marel, who will become an assistant professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands beginning September 2021 said, "Lower mass stars have more rocky Super-Earths--between an Earth mass and a Neptune mass. Disks without gaps, which are more compact, lead to the formation of Super-Earths."

This link between stellar mass and planetary demographics could help scientists identify which stars to target in the search for rocky planets throughout the Milky Way. "This new understanding of stellar mass dependencies will help to guide the search for small, rocky planets like Earth in the solar neighborhood," said Mulders, who is also a part of the NASA-funded Alien Earths team. "We can use the stellar mass to connect the planet-forming disks around young stars to exoplanets around mature stars. When an exoplanet is detected, the planet-forming material is usually gone. So the stellar mass is a 'tag' that tells us what the planet-forming environment might have looked like for these exoplanets."

And what it all comes down to is dust. "An important element of planet formation is the influence of dust evolution," said van der Marel. "Without giant planets, dust will always drift inwards, creating the optimal conditions for the formation of smaller, rocky planets close to the star."

The current research was conducted using data for more than 500 objects observed in prior studies using ALMA's high-resolution Band 6 and Band 7 antennas. At present, ALMA is the only telescope that can image the distribution of millimeter-dust at high enough angular resolution to resolve the dust disks and reveal its substructure, or lack thereof. "Over the past five years, ALMA has produced many snapshot surveys of nearby star-forming regions resulting in hundreds of measurements of disk dust mass, size, and morphology," said van der Marel. "The large number of observed disk properties has allowed us to make a statistical comparison of protoplanetary disks to the thousands of discovered exoplanets. This is the first time that a stellar mass dependency of gapped disks and compact disks has been successfully demonstrated using the ALMA telescope."

"Our new findings link the beautiful gap structures in disks observed with ALMA directly to the properties of the thousands of exoplanets detected by the NASA Kepler mission and other exoplanet surveys," said Mulders. "Exoplanets and their formation help us place the origins of the Earth and the Solar System in the context of what we see happening around other stars."

Resource

"A stellar mass dependence of structured disks: A possible link with exoplanet demographics," N. van der Marel and G. Mulders, ApJ, DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/ac0255, preview [https://arxiv.org/pdf/2104.06838.pdf]

About ALMA

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international astronomy facility, is a partnership of the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA is funded by ESO on behalf of its Member States, by NSF in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and by NINS in cooperation with the Academia Sinica (AS) in Taiwan and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).

ALMA construction and operations are led by ESO on behalf of its Member States; by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), on behalf of North America; and by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on behalf of East Asia. The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) provides the unified leadership and management of the construction, commissioning and operation of ALMA.



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The International Space Station has a new solar array that was installed during Sunday's spacewalk by Expedition 65 astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet. The duo will conduct a third spacewalk on Friday to install a second solar array.

The first ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) was successfully installed and deployed during a spacewalk on Sunday and is performing well. Ground teams will continue to collect data on its performance and compare it to last year's information, calculating the total power gained.

Kimbrough and Pesquet completed the solar array installation work and began configuring a second iROSA during Sunday's six-hour and 28-minute spacewalk. The duo now turns its attention to Friday's excursion to install the second iROSA on the opposite side of the Port-6 truss structure where the first solar array is installed. NASA TV, on the agency's website, and the NASA app, will start its live coverage at 6:30 a.m. with the spacewalk set to begin at 8 a.m. when the veteran spacewalkers set their U.S. spacesuits to battery power.

The spacewalking duo joined NASA Flight Engineers Megan McArthur and Mark Vande Hei for a conference with ground specialists. Then Kimbrough and Pesquet serviced some spacesuit components and organized tools for Friday's upcoming spacewalk. McArthur and Vande Hei will once again assist the pair in and out of their spacesuits and provide robotics support on Friday.

Research still continued aboard the orbital lab today as the crew explored pharmaceuticals, protein crystals and the human eye.

Commander Akihiko Hoshide serviced samples inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox for a study that explores freeze-drying as a way to preserve medicines for long periods of time. Kimbrough peered through a microscope looking at samples for the Real-Time Protein Crystal Growth experiment which could lead to new disease therapies on Earth.

Vande Hei took on the crew medical officer role today and scanned the eyes of McArthur using medical imaging hardware. The eye exams take place regularly on the station since astronauts have reported vision issues after living in space for months.

The two Roscosmos flight engineers, cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov, split their day between science and maintenance activities. Novitskiy explored plasma crystals first then photographed the condition of the Pirs docking compartment ahead of its departure later this summer. Dubrov checked communications gear and worked Russian life support hardware.

On-Orbit Status Report

United States On-orbit Segment (USOS) Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #75 - ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) 2B Install 2: EV1 (Thomas Pesquet) and EV2 (Shane Kimbrough) performed a 6 hour and 28 minute EVA on Sunday, June 20th and completed the following tasks in support of the IROSA 2B Install 2 EVA:

Complete install of IROSA on Port 6 (P6) 2B Mast Canister

Connect IROSA Electrical Connectors

Deploy P6 2B IROSA

Prepare the 4B IROSA for release from the Flight Support Equipment (FSE) [Partially Completed]

Following the EVA, ground teams confirmed the P6 2B IROSA is performing nominally. The IROSA 4B Install EVA is planned for Friday, June 25th.

Payloads

Asian Herbs in Space: The crew took some photos of Asian Herb Seed packages. Microgravity affects the growth of plants and understanding the nature of these changes is important for future missions that will rely on plants for food. Asian Herbs in Space studies fast-growing plants used for traditional medicine and flavoring food, examining differences in their aroma that may result from microgravity-related cellular changes. This investigation benefits future plant growth efforts in space, and provides new information on the formation of aroma compounds in common herbs.

Confocal Space Microscopy: The crew took photos of the confocal microscope cables, removed the temperature logger and recorded readings. The Confocal Space Microscope (Confocal Microscope) is a JAXA facility that provides fluorescence images of biological samples aboard the ISS. Confocal Microscope uses spatial filtering techniques to eliminate out-of-focus light or glare in specimens whose thickness exceeds the immediate plane of focus. With the Confocal Microscope, data can be obtained on the fundamental nature of cellular and tissue structure and functions in real-time.

Lyophilization-2: The crew removed the processed sample tray S/N 11 from the sample chamber and stowed it for return to the ground and then inserted a new sample tray S/N 13. Lyophilization-2 in Microgravity (Lyophilization-2) examines gravity's effects on freeze-dried materials. Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, is a common method for formulating pharmaceuticals with improved chemical and physical stability. On Earth, the process leads to formation of layers with structural differences, but if such stratification is due to gravity, it may not occur in microgravity. This investigation, which follows up on previous work, could result in improved freeze-drying processes for the pharmaceutical and other industries.

OBIS (Oral Biofilms in Space): The crew hydrated the OBiS Assembly session Packs 11-15 with Fluid Bag 2 into the Fluid Chamber and then packs 11, 13 and 14 were restowed into the MERLIN for incubation. Packs 12 and 15 were lost due to leakage and were trashed. Fluid Bag 2 is a fluid medium containing chemicals designed to promote bacterial growth along with oral care bioactives within the Fluid Chamber. Effect of Environmental Stressors on Oral Biofilm Growth and Treatment (Oral Biofilms in Space) studies the effect of gravity on the behavior of oral bacteria, including the structure of the bacterial community, and changes in bacterial response to common oral care agents. The findings could support development of novel treatments to fight oral diseases such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The investigation also could provide insights into how microgravity affects the microbiome of other mucosal surfaces in the body.

Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4): The crew connected the PK-4 chamber to the Neon Gas Supply by opening valves and reported the pressure to ground. PK-4 is a scientific collaboration between ESA and Roscosmos performing research in the field of "Complex Plasmas". Complex Plasmas are low temperature gaseous mixtures composed of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles. The micro-particles become highly charged in the plasma and interact strongly with each other, which can lead to a self-organized structure of the micro-particles, so-called plasma crystals. Experiments in the facility aim to study transport properties, thermodynamics, kinetics and statistical physics, non-linear waves, and instabilities in Complex Plasmas.

Phase II Real-Time Protein Crystal Growth-2 (RTPCG-2): The crew set up the appropriate microscope hardware, observed and took photos of the crystal growth screening plate S/N C1C7 and then loaded plate 1C17. RTPCG-2 demonstrates new methods for producing high-quality protein crystals in microgravity. Previous work has shown that microgravity can sometimes produce high-quality protein crystals that can be analyzed to identify possible targets for drugs to treat disease. RTPCG-2 tests high-quality proteins crystals for detailed analysis back on Earth.

Systems

EVA Recovery Activities: The crew completed several activities in order to recover from the IROSA 2B Install 2 EVA and prepare for the IROSA 4B Install EVA. The crew performed Contingency Water Containers-Iodine (CWC-I) degas, Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) water recharge, Metal Oxide (METOX) cartridge regeneration, battery charging, and tool configuration activities. Finally, the IROSA 2B EV crew participated in an EVA debrief conference with the ground.

JPM Intermodular Ventilation (IMV) Mesh Cover Remove & Replace (R&R) and Flow Measure: The crew completed an R&R of the JPM Starboard-Aft inlet IMV mesh cover and then used a Velocicalc tool to measure the amount of airflow through the inlet. After completing the measurements, the crew verified the JEM Wireless Instrumentation System (WIS) Remote Sensor Unit (RSU) B4 and connected air flow sensors at the inlet were in a good configuration.

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Eye Exams: The crew completed routine eye exams using an ultrasound device. Eye exams are performed regularly onboard in order to monitor each crewmember's optical health. Eyesight is one of many aspects of the human body affected by long-duration stays in a microgravity environment.

Completed Task List Activities:

None

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Recycle Drain Support Commanding

EMU Water Recharge Support Commanding

SDMS Activation

Security Patch Deploy

Lab CDRA Activation for 4 Half-cycles

Look Ahead Plan

Tuesday, June 22 (GMT 173)

Payloads:

NanoRacks Mod-9 Ops 3 (NASA)

OBiS Bag3 Initiation (NASA)

LYO-2 Tray Hardware Stow

Systems:

Cygnus Cargo Operations

EVA Tool Configurations

EVA DOUG & Procedure Review

EMU Loop Scrubs

Eye Exam

Max CEVIS

Wednesday, June 23 (GMT 174)

Payloads:

PK4 Run2 (Joint)

Systems:

ROBoT OBT

EVA Cuff Print

ROBO Procedure Review & Conference

EVA Procedure Conference

Thursday, June 24 (GMT 175)

Payloads:

RTPCG-2 Plate Load 2C1 (NASA)

Food Acceptability (NASA)

Standard Measures Pre-Sleep (NASA)

MSL SCA 3A CETSOL3 #2 (ESA)

AC Touch (NASA)

OBiS Bag1 (17-20) Initiation and Activate (NASA)

AWP HRF1 Setup (NASA)

PK4 HD Exchange (Joint)

OBiS Bag1 Initiation and Activate (NASA)

Systems:

Equipment Lock Preparations

EVA Tool Configurations & Audit

EVA Procedure Review & Conference

EMU HECA Install

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Microgravity Science Glovebox Activation

Asian Herbs in Space Photo Taking

Confocal Space Microscopy Temp Logger Removal 2 & Data Read 2

Contingency Water Container - Iodinated Gather & Degas

Lyophilization Sample Tray Swap

JPM IMV Stbd Aft Mesh Cover R&R & IMV Flow Measure

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain

Antimicrobial Coatings Touch

EMU Long Life Battery (LLB)/METOX Installation

OBiS Assemblies Removal, Flow Reconfiguration, Biofilms Session Pack Insertion

Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Installation

EVA Debrief

EMU Water Recharge

Handhold Exp Platform Adapter Relocation

EVA Battery Operations Terminal Charge Init

RPCG-2 Microscopy Plate S/N C1, Row C, Day 7

EVA Tool Configuring

Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap

High Definition EMU Camera Assembly Terminate

RPCG-2 Microscopy Plate S/N 1C1, Day 7

Charging EVA Camera D4 Battery

Gathering CWC-Is in prep for RS water transfers

HMS OCT2 Exams - Subject

METOX Regeneration Initiation



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The Expedition 65 crew continued its space research activities today while two astronauts prepared for their third spacewalk in less than two weeks.

The International Space Station will also see a U.S. cargo craft depart and a Russian one launch on the same day next week.

NASA Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei strapped himself to an exercise cycle and attached sensors to himself on Tuesday morning for a workout study measuring aerobic capacity in space. NASA Flight Engineer Megan McArthur explored how bacteria is affected by microgravity and ways to counteract harmful changes.

Eye checks were back on the schedule for four astronauts on Tuesday afternoon. Commander Akihiko Hoshide and Vande Hei took turns operating medical imaging gear and scanned the eyes of astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet. A variety of eye exams take place on the station helping researchers understand how weightlessness impacts an astronaut's vision.

Kimbrough and Pesquet are also getting ready for more solar array installation work on the outside of the orbiting lab. The duo reviewed procedures today for installing a second roll out solar array on the station's Port-6 truss structure. The veteran spacewalkers will set their spacesuits to battery power at 8 a.m. EDT on Friday signifying the official start of their third excursion in 9 days. Live coverage on NASA TV starts at 6:30 a.m. on the agency's website and the NASA app.

Hoshide and Vande Hei spent some time Tuesday morning loading Northrop Grumman's Cygnus space freighter ahead of its departure scheduled for July 29 at 12:25 p.m. Russia's ISS Progress 78 resupply ship will launch the same day at 7:27 p.m. and dock to the station two days later at 9:02 p.m.

Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy packed the ISS Progress 77 resupply ship readying the vehicle for its undocking in late July. The veteran cosmonaut also trapped clouds of particles using both neon and argon gas for a plasma crystal experiment. Russian Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov had an exercise test on a treadmill today then serviced a variety of communications and life support hardware.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads

Lyophilization-2: The crew removed the sample tray from the sample chamber and then removed and stowed the hardware from the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), completing the investigation Lyophilization-2 in Microgravity (Lyophilization-2) examines gravity's effects on freeze-dried materials. Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, is a common method for formulating pharmaceuticals with improved chemical and physical stability. On Earth, the process leads to formation of layers with structural differences, but if such stratification is due to gravity, it may not occur in microgravity. This investigation, which follows up on previous work, could result in improved freeze-drying processes for the pharmaceutical and other industries.

NanoRacks Module-09: The crew performed Module-09 Operations 3 by performing activation, deactivation and/or shakes designated for each Mixture Tubes. NanoRacks Module-09 is a combination of 35 experiments provided by school students from 5 different countries. The experiments are housed within a NanoRacks Module container and is a combination of static biological experiments and some experiments that require crew interaction to mix materials to activate. The experiments within the module are returned to the ground for analysis.

OBiS (Oral Biofilms in Space): The crew hydrated the OBiS assembly session Pack 11 with Fluid Bag 3 into the Fluid Chamber and then restowed them for incubation for 30 minutes. Fluid Bag 3 is a fixative fluid medium, containing chemicals designed to arrest and preserve bacteriological growth within the Fluid Chamber. Packs 13 and 14 showed signs of leakage and were considered lost and disposed. Effect of Environmental Stressors on Oral Biofilm Growth and Treatment (Oral Biofilms in Space) studies the effect of gravity on the behavior of oral bacteria, including the structure of the bacterial community, and changes in bacterial response to common oral care agents. The findings could support development of novel treatments to fight oral diseases such as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The investigation also could provide insights into how microgravity affects the microbiome of other mucosal surfaces in the body.

Plasma Krystall-4 (PK-4): The crew executed two Run 1 operations by catching clouds of particles inside the PK-4 chamber using the PK-4 HCI software on the European Physiology Module (EPM) laptop. PK-4 is a scientific collaboration between ESA and Roscosmos performing research in the field of "Complex Plasmas". Complex Plasmas are low temperature gaseous mixtures composed of ionized gas, neutral gas, and micron-sized particles. The micro-particles become highly charged in the plasma and interact strongly with each other, which can lead to a self-organized structure of the micro-particles, so-called plasma crystals. Experiments in the facility aim to study transport properties, thermodynamics, kinetics and statistical physics, non-linear waves, and instabilities in Complex Plasmas.

Systems

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: The crew completed several activities in preparation for the ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) 4B Install EVA. The crew configured EVA tools, performed a post-EVA Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) loop scrub on EMU 3006, charged batteries for EVA equipment, and installed Long Life Batteries (LLBs) and Metal Oxide (METOX) cartridges in EMUs 3009 and 3015. Finally, the crew performed a visual review of the IROSA 4B Install EVA using the Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphic (DOUG) software, reviewed EVA procedures, and participated in a conference with the ground. The IROSA 4B Install EVA is planned for Friday, June 25th.

Cygnus Cargo Operations: The crew completed the final cargo loading for Cygnus Northrup Grumman-15 (NG-15). NG-15 is scheduled for unberth and release from the ISS on Tuesday, June 29th.

Max Cycle Ergometer with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization (CEVIS): The crew completed Max CEVIS today which is used by the medical community to evaluate astronauts' aerobic fitness. The test is performed every 90 days and upon the crew's arrival and departure from the ISS.

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Eye Exams: The crew completed routine eye exams using the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) device. OCT is an imaging technique analogous to ultrasound imaging that uses light instead of sound to capture micrometer-resolution, two- and three-dimensional images of tissue. In this case, the objects of interest are the crewmember's eyes. Eye exams are performed regularly onboard in order to monitor each crewmember's optical health. Eyesight is one of many aspects of the human body affected by long-duration stays in a microgravity environment.

Completed Task List Activities:

None

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

SDMS Activation for BD2 Exercise

EVA Procedure Conference

RS Water Transfer Support

Look Ahead Plan

Wednesday, June 23 (GMT 174)

Payloads:

PK-4 Run2 (Joint)

Systems:

ROBoT OBT

EVA Cuff Print

ROBO Procedure Review & Conference

EVA Procedure Conference

Thursday, June 24 (GMT 175)

Payloads:

RTPCG-2 Plate Load 2C1 (NASA)

Food Acceptability (NASA)

Standard Measures Pre-Sleep (NASA)

MSL SCA 3A CETSOL3 #2 (ESA)

AC Touch (NASA)

OBiS Bag1 (17-20) Initiation and Activate (NASA)

AWP HRF1 Setup (NASA)

PK-4 HD Exchange (Joint)

Systems:

Equipment Lock Preparations

EVA Tool Configurations & Audit

ROBO Procedure Review & Conference

EVA Procedure Review & Conference

EMU HECA Install

Friday, June 25 (GMT 176)

Payloads:

Confocal Cable Reconnect and Check (JAXA)

OBiS Bag2 Initiation (NASA)

Standard Measures Post-Sleep (NASA)

Food Acceptability (NASA)

SAMS Wireless Sensor for KERMIT Support (NASA)

Systems:

IROSA 4B Install EVA

WHC UR/IF R&R

SpX-22 Cargo Operations

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Photo TV Battery Charge

Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations

JEM Fire Indicator Illumination Function Checkout

OBiS Session Pack 11 Run

EMU Swap

ISS Portable Glove Bag (IPGB) Setup

Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis and Waste Water Bag (WWB) Changeout

EVA Procedure Review

Polar Desiccant Swap

JEMRMS Small Satellite Deployment Observation

EMU Cooling Loop Maintenance Scrub Initiation & Iodination

EVA Tool Configuring

Lyophilization Sample Tray Removal

Nanoracks Module-9 Ops Session 3

EVA Procedure Conference

Portable Onboard Computers (POC) DOUG Software Review

Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Fill Part 3

HMS OCT2 Exams

Countermeasures System (CMS) Max CEVIS Portable PFS Conclude

METOX Regeneration Termination & Initiation

EMU LLB/METOX Installation

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To protect astronauts from cancer-causing radiation in space, NASA should proceed with proposals to set a universal career-long radiation dose limit of ~600 millisieverts (mSv), says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

This dose limit should apply to all astronauts, regardless of gender and age, which would help promote equal opportunity for mission assignment and for participation in longer spaceflights. The report also recommends that NASA improve its systems for communicating cancer risk to astronauts.



Report: Space Radiation and Astronaut Health Managing and Communicating Cancer Risks

Space travel exposes the body to higher levels of ionizing radiation than those typically experienced on Earth. At high doses, exposure to ionizing radiation can lead to long-term health effects including cancer, heart problems, and cataracts. Now that NASA is preparing for the Artemis lunar missions, as well as longer missions to the moon and Mars, it is reconsidering the approaches behind the development of the space radiation health standard for the permissible levels of radiation exposure for astronauts.



"NASA should continuously strive to base its standards on the best available science as it embarks on this new phase of space travel and exploration," said Hedvig Hricak, chair of the department of radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and chair of the committee that wrote the report. "As science on radiation-related cancer risks is constantly evolving, NASA has an important opportunity to revisit its space radiation health standard. We hope this report will guide NASA in protecting the health of astronauts throughout their careers."



The report recommends that NASA proceed with its proposed single standard dose limit for all astronauts, which is based on "risk of exposure-induced death" (REID) calculations for a 35-year-old female (who is considered most susceptible to radiation-induced cancer risk). Currently, men and women astronauts have different allowable doses of radiation, based on their reported relative susceptibilities to different radiation-induced cancers. This means that women astronauts currently cannot fly as many days in space because they would reach the radiation limit sooner.



Applying the same dose limits to all astronauts would create equality of opportunity, but the agency should also consider the trade-offs. A single standard for men and women would mean some astronauts, primarily women, would be subject to greater risk by the time they reach the exposure limit. The single standard may also limit others -- mainly older male astronauts -- if the standard is below otherwise acceptable doses.



The report also recommends that NASA conduct an independent analysis of the validity of the acceptable risk limit. NASA currently uses a 3 percent REID to set the limit. However, the occupational hazards that initially informed the selection of this metric are relatively outdated. Upcoming planned missions into deep space present an important, near-term opportunity for NASA to reassess whether 3 percent REID is the most appropriate metric to use in setting the dose-based space radiation health standard.



"The risks of space travel are borne by a small group of astronauts, but all of society benefits -- from the technological advances, new scientific knowledge, and the national and international pride and collaboration," said R. Julian Preston, committee vice chair and special government employee in the Radiation Protection Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "But as missions go deeper into space, we need to communicate why astronauts are being asked to take on that risk, and offer explicit ethical justifications. This report offers a framework for accomplishing that."



Communicating to Astronauts About Radiation-Induced Cancer Risks

To convey radiation-induced cancer risks to astronauts, NASA uses a "traffic light" color-coded system. However, this color-coded system may be misleading and inaccurately represent radiation risk, the report concludes. It says empirical evidence is needed to determine if the traffic light system is an effective tool for communicating risk. If NASA continues to use the traffic light system, the committee proposed several modifications.



The report also recommends that NASA provide all astronauts with an individual radiation risk assessment based on their age and sex. NASA should communicate a comprehensive picture of an astronaut's own cancer risk, including an explanation of the uncertainty associated with the risk calculation. NASA should continue to discuss any changes in radiation risks as part of routine health briefings. Astronauts should also get access to an up-to-date resource on radiation risks that they can view outside of formal meetings with NASA's Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer.



To improve the agency's radiation risk communication processes, the report recommends that NASA develop a risk communication research agenda to better understand what information astronauts want, how astronauts process information about risk, and who/what are the most effective sources of information.



Communicating NASA's Waiver Process

Astronauts who travel on long-duration spaceflight missions, such as missions to Mars, are likely to be exposed to radiation levels that significantly exceed the proposed new standard. Unless technological advancements and engineering controls provide improved protections to astronauts for missions into deeper space, NASA would need to seek waivers to the radiation health standard to pursue these missions. While NASA may need this flexibility to pursue waivers, there is also a need for an explicit and public framework for how the agency will consider both mission and individual waivers.



The study -- undertaken by the Committee on Assessment of Strategies for Managing Cancer Risk Associated with Radiation Exposure During Crewed Space Missions -- was sponsored by NASA.



The National Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.

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Ahundreddollarbill has been 100 per cent perfect this season, getting his campaign off to a 3-for-3 start, and will attempt to continue his unbeaten ways Friday (June 25) in the first of two $40,000 eliminations for the MGM Yonkers Trot at Yonkers Raceway.

The top four finishers from each elimination advance to the $500,000 Yonkers Trot final July 2 at The Hilltop. The race, for three-year-old trotters, is the first leg of this years Trotting Triple Crown, followed by the Hambletonian on Aug. 7 and Kentucky Futurity on Oct. 10.

Ahundreddollarbill heads to his elimination off a 1:53.2 Empire Breeders Classic win over a sloppy track at Vernon Downs on June 18. He starts Friday from post four with Andy McCarthy driving for trainer Tony Alagna, and is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the field of six.

Hes done everything right so far, everything weve asked of him, so Im looking forward to Friday night, McCarthy said. There are some nice ones out there, but with the post position and the way hes been, I think he should be the one to beat.

Ahundreddollarbill, by Chapter Seven out of Swinging Royalty, won two of six races last season for trainer Dan Daley. Both victories came on the New York Sire Stakes circuit. In the fall, the gelding joined Alagnas stable. He is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and James Crawford IV.

This year, Ahundreddollarbill opened with a win in a conditioned race before capturing a division of the NYSS in a career-best 1:52.2 at Vernon followed by his EBC triumph. The victory pushed his lifetime earnings to $206,307.

Ive put him on the front a lot because I think hes the best and its the safest option, but he can come first-over, he can sit in a hole; Tony has done a great job with him, McCarthy said. A couple months ago, maybe Id have been worried about sitting in a hole, but now he drives terrific and steers great.

They worked on equipment changes to make him happy and comfortable. Hes set now where hes very quiet and comfortable and can do whatever I ask him to do.

Ahundreddollarbill is not eligible to the Hambletonian, which McCarthy won last year with Alagna-trained filly Ramona Hill. Supplemental entries are not accepted for the Hambletonian.

Its disappointing because I think hes that calibre of horse, McCarthy said. Im not saying he would be favoured for it, but thats kind of what I think his potential is. I think hes a top colt. Hes just so versatile, and so strong and fast, hes got all the tools there.

Hambletonian-eligible horses in the first Yonkers Trot elimination are Ethan T Hanover, Mon Amour and On A Streak, who won last years Breeders Crown for two-year-old male trotters. Dexter Cup winner Incommunicado, trained by Ake Svanstedt, is the 5-2 morning line second choice behind Ahundreddollarbill.

Svanstedt has the favoured entry in the second elimination, with Ambassador Hanover and Johan Palema at 8-5. Ambassador Hanover, who finished second in the Empire Breeders Classic, and Johan Palema are among five Hambletonian-eligible horses in the field, joined by Arnold N Dicky, In Range and Jula Muscle Pack.

In addition to the Yonkers Trot eliminations, Yonkers hosts eliminations for the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes for three-year-old pacers, Park MGM Pace for three-year-old female pacers, and New York-New York Mile for three-year-old female trotters. All finals are July 2.

The Messenger is the first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, followed by the Cane Pace on Aug. 7 and the Little Brown Jug on Sept. 23.

Ron Burke-trained Heart Of Chewbacca is the 3-1 morning line favourite in the first of two $40,000 Messenger eliminations. The Alagna entry of Abuckabett Hanover and Exploit is the 4-5 favourite in the second elim. The top four finishers from each elimination advance to the $500,000 final.

There are two $25,000 eliminations for the Park MGM Pace, with Linda Toscanos Heart Of Mine the 9-5 favourite in the first and Brett Pellings Test Of Faith the 2-1 favourite in the second. The top four finishers go to the $150,000 final.

Mazzarati, trained by Lucas Wallin, is the 2-1 favourite in the sole $25,000 elimination for the New York-New York Mile. The top six finishers join bye recipients Iteration and Sweeping Rainbow in the $150,000 final.

Racing begins at 7:15 p.m. (EDT) Friday at Yonkers.

(USTA)
Nokia announced launch of its latest range of industry-leading AirScale 5G products covering baseband, remote radio heads, and massive MIMO active antennas with digital beamforming. The innovative solutions are powered by the latest generation of Nokias ReefShark System-on-Chip (SoC) chipsets and deliver the highest capacity and network performance while enabling efficient deployments and operation. The rollout of the new products is already underway.

Nokia introduces its new generation of ReefShark-powered AirScale massive MIMO antennas with both 32TRX and 64TRX products, as well as 8T8R remote radio head solutions. The 32TRX is the industrys lightest, at 17kg, simplifying and speeding up site deployments. Notably, this low weight is achieved at the same time as supporting high radio frequency bandwidth (200 MHz occupied bandwidth and 400 MHz instantaneous bandwidth) and delivering high radio frequency power output, without compromise. Both the new 32TRX and the new 64TRX massive MIMO antennas support both fragmented spectrum and network sharing cases.

Nokia also introduces its new SoC-based baseband plug-in cards to boost the capacity of the AirScale System Module. The new ReefShark-powered plug-in cards deliver up to eight times more throughput and serve up to eight times more cells compared to previous generations. They are easily installed and simplify the upgrade and extended operation of all AirScale deployments. Nokias baseband module can support 90,000 connected users simultaneously and has 84 Gbps throughput. The highly efficient ReefShark powered plug-in cards also reduce power consumption by up to 75 percent. Nokias modular AirScale baseband enables mobile operators to scale capacity flexibly and efficiently and as their 5G business evolves.

Nokia Single RAN software now includes 5G, accelerating 5G rollouts and cutting overall radio access network TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), by unlocking network efficiencies with common transport, common operability, common software delivery, and increased hardware sharing. The combination of Nokias Single RAN software and the new baseband plug-in cards offer multi-mode (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) and multi-band and supports the latest fronthaul interfaces (eCPRI) on a single baseband platform, simplifying the network and lowering costs.

Nokias AirScale baseband architecture is designed to be future-proof and support the increasing demands for wireless traffic. By keeping the L1 and L2 (Layer 1 and Layer 2) computing separate from L3 (Layer 3) and Transport baseband plug-in units, capacity can be added when and where it is needed in the network. Network modernization can be simply achieved either by software upgrade or by adding new plug-in units into the existing baseband.

Nokias ReefShark chipsets will also play a critical role in future Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities. Nokia has already introduced AI/ML features in areas such as predictive load balancing, anomaly detection, and intelligent traffic steering. All Nokia ReefShark platforms are AI/ML ready and Nokia is carrying out proof of concepts with customers this year in innovative areas such as Massive MIMO beam pattern optimization, energy-saving, advanced traffic steering, advanced packet scheduling, and alarm pattern discovery.

Patrick Filkins, Senior Research Analyst, IoT and Mobile Network Infrastructure, IDC, said, 5G networks are absolutely critical for improving network capacity and performance, particularly when higher bandwidth is in demand. Nokias new portfolio addresses these concerns by enabling mobile operators to flexibly scale capacity while helping to smoothly transition to 5G from existing technologies easily and cost-effectively. The integration of Nokias ReefShark SoCs across both radio and baseband boosts performance and capacity and the new massive MIMO antennas set a new benchmark for low weight without compromising on performance. These solutions will help mobile operators to address the increasingly dynamic mobile services space that urgently requires more capacity.

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks, Nokia, said, Our new generation of ReefShark-powered AirScale radio and baseband products is evidence of the successful transformation of our business and ability to deliver market-leading products to our global customers. Nokias new portfolio enables communication service providers to offer both consumer and enterprise customers with cutting-edge 5G experiences with premium speeds, capacity, and connectivity underpinned by seamless, simple, and efficient plug-in deployment. Our new AirScale products are O-RAN ready. They consume less energy and highlight our commitment to climate change. Were excited to see our customers deploying these products and see the transformative impact of 5G technology.
Tweeq, an emerging FinTech platform based out of Saudi Arabia, has announced the closure of a seven-figure investment round today, co-led by STV and Raed Ventures.

Founded in early 2020 by a team of seasoned banking and tech professionals, Tweeq will allow its users to open a feature-rich spending account in a matter of seconds through their mobile app  where they can immediately start receiving and making payments, set monthly budgets and long-term financial goals, as well as monitor and manage personal spending automatically across different categories.

The funding round, which follows on the heels of the companys exclusive partnership with Mastercard and Paymentology, looks to further bolster the product development for its launch in Saudi Arabia, followed by the wider MENA region. Users can join the waiting list today by downloading Tweeq through the app stores of Apple and Google Play.

Saeed Albuhairi, Co-Founder and CEO at Tweeq, says: Tweeq is aiming to provide an unparalleled customer experience and a better modern alternative to the traditional banking account. We are working hard to obtain the necessary licenses and approvals to conduct our business under the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)s supervision to achieve the Kingdom's ambition of developing a diversified and effective financial sector. Tweeq is looking forward to continue being part of, and contributing to, this flourishing ecosystem.

Lagging quality of digital experiences and customer service is driving customers in Saudi Arabia away from traditional financial institutions and towards consumer-first FinTech startups, according to the Boston Consulting Group. 89% of Saudis are willing to open an account with a FinTech startup that does not have any brick-and-mortar branches, while a McKinsey report shows that over 80% of urban consumers in Saudi Arabia prefer to deal with financial institutions digitally.

This appetite is especially high among the younger population, who represent a significant share of the population  66% are under the age of 29. These dynamics highlight the sizable opportunity to digitise this multi-billion dollar market.

Ahmad AlNaimi, Partner at STV, highlights: Our investment in Tweeq excites us deeply; we are confident in their ability to become a FinTech leader that will transform and grow the financial sector in Saudi Arabia and beyond. As financial regulators open the doors to challengers and innovators, the region is destined to witness the same shift that swept the financial sectors in the United States, Europe, China, and India. We believe that Mena will witness an even bigger shift, fueled by a younger population and increasingly progressive regulators.

Omar Almajdouie, Co-Founder and CEO at Raed Ventures, echoes the sentiment: Saeed, Mohammed, Abdulaziz and Abdullah, the founders of Tweeq, each have distinguished capabilities in the field of banking. But this wasnt the only reason for choosing Tweeq over their peers. The most important qualities that make them an outstanding team is their vision for transforming banking services and their ability to lead this transformation.-- TradeArabia News Service
Beko, Europes leading home appliance brand, held a virtual showcase of its eco-friendly appliances.

Arceliks CEO Hakan Bulgurlu, CMO Zeynep Yalm Uzun and CCO Ragp Balcoglu and with a special guest from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Brendan Edgerton, Circular Economy Director took part.

Though public concern about global climate change has been slow to take root across the Gulf States, mounting government and corporate initiatives, and wider access to information, now appear to be making an impact.

A number of actions taken by the GCC nations in recent years have improved awareness of climate change and made environmental sustainability a higher priority.

A Boston Consulting Groups study of consumers in the six member states found more than 80% of those surveyed saying they would be willing to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Depending on the country, 80% to 95% of respondents said they are willing to start or are already taking action in response to climate change. Consumers in the Gulf region are often willing to try eco-friendly products but are hindered by a scarcity of providers and insufficient choices.

In the launch, Beko unveiled seven sustainable products* including a washing machine/washer dryer, oven, tumble dryer, refrigerator, espresso coffee maker and dishwasher to help consumers reduce their impact on the environment.

Bulgurlu of Arcelik, Bekos parent company, said, Our goals in sustainability and our leading efforts in innovation are two great parts of the same whole. Their evolution depends on each other. It is up to us to find better, more environmentally conscious ways of conducting our lives. With a series of eco-friendly Beko appliances, customers can now fully equip a sustainable home.

Arceliks CMO, Zeynep Yalm Uzun added: Bekos brand purpose is empowering future generations to live healthier lives, which is only possible by living more sustainably and working towards a healthier planet. All of our actions and every product we use has an impact on nature. So, beyond this seven-product portfolio, we are eager to adapt our existing technologies to make all our appliances more environmentally friendly too. For Beko, this is only the beginning.

BCGs research confirmed that there is considerable untapped demand across the GCC for sustainable goods and services. Indeed, it found that most consumers are willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly options. Nonetheless, around 30% of respondents cited lack of options as an obstacle. Whats more, 47% of respondents said they would be more likely to adopt sustainable products if a wider variety of options were available or if they were of a higher quality.

At Beko, we are passionate about democratising technology, making it affordable and ensuring that as many people as possible have access to it. By making sustainability a business model and integrating it into everything we do, we strive to reduce human environmental damage through developing high-performance, durable, affordable home appliances that are also eco-friendly said Arceliks CCO Ragp Balcoglu.

Oral Bozkurt, Country Manager of Beko Gulf, Arceliks subsidiary for the Gulf states said, We hear our consumers and strive to be a positive force for change in the region in line with the shift in consumer demand. At Arcelik, we have been focusing on environmentally friendly living for a number of years, raising awareness and developing products that make eco-living possible, affordable and convenient. These products are the first of many to come. -- TradeArabia News Service
The technology group Wartsila has signed support agreements for LNG carriers owned by Qatar-based Nakilat, owner of the worlds largest LNG carrier fleet.

The agreements were signed in April this year and are valid for five years, Wartsila said in a statement. Wartsila is the supplier of the LNG reliquefaction systems onboard all of the QFlex vessels covered by the agreements.

Under the contract terms, Wartsila will provide 24/7 technical remote support for the vessels onboard gas process plants. The customer has direct access to Wartsilas dedicated team of LNG technical experts for specialized technical advice and remote troubleshooting, thereby reducing potential equipment downtime, and when possible, avoid time consuming and costly onboard visits by service engineers. Furthermore, following each cargo loading, selected operational data from the running reliquefaction systems is analysed by Wartsilas LNG technical experts to ensure the operability and readiness of the system. This also creates a traceable operational data history.

As the global leader in energy transportation, the efficiency and reliability of our reliquefaction systems is a key element to efficient cargo-handling operations and vessels serviceability to the customer. Such support agreements are intended to give the assurance that the reliquefaction systems are operated safely and optimally within plant design parameters, thereby ensuring the integrity of our global operations, said Samir Bailouni, Nakilat Chief Operating Officer, Nakilat.

Lifecycle support to our customers installations is a central pillar in the strategy of Wartsila Gas Solutions. Agreements such as these are the best way for ensuring that the products, systems and solutions that we deliver are properly maintained, and that their reliability and performance are at the optimal level, commented Rene Christian Olsen, Director Services, Gas Solutions.

Wartsila has a long-standing relationship with Nakilat and has supplied multiple products for their fleet, the statement added.TradeArabia News Service
German biotechnology company BioNTech SE and Siemens intend to expand their strategic cooperation for the rapid expansion and creation of production capacity for the Covid-19 vaccine.



BioNTech has expressed its aim of establishing new production sites for Covid-19 vaccine production worldwide based on the Marburg plant and its technology, starting with a production facility in Singapore. In Marburg, BioNTech has converted an existing plant into a vaccine production facility with support from Siemens in just five months.



Within this cooperation, Siemens will provide the latest automation and digitalization technologies for BioNTech production sites, such as design, simulation, and engineering software as well as process control technology.



Siemens and BioNTech have worked together successfully for years. BioNTech was one of the first companies together with Pfizer to bring a new mRNA vaccine to market, said Cedrik Neike, Member of the Board of Siemens AG and CEO Digital Industries.



Our technologies and long-standing expertise have helped them to convert their production facility in just five months rather than a year. We now want to transfer this success to other production sites in order to make Covid-19 vaccines available as quickly as possible worldwide.  TradeArabia News Service
Arkan Building Materials Company, a leading construction and building materials company in the UAE, today (June 24) announced that its board of directors has agreed to proceed with a strategic transaction to acquire Emirates Steel Industries, the leading integrated steel manufacturer in the Middle East region.

Arkan is 51% owned by Senaat, an entity wholly-owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi to promote sustainable industrial activity in the emirate with the remaining 49% of the shares are held publicly and traded in Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange.

The board resolved to recommend to Arkan shareholders that they approve the offer received from General Holding Corporation (Senaat) last month to acquire its wholly-owned subsidiary Emirates Steel based in Abu Dhabi.

The key terms of Senaats offer are to transfer Emirates Steel to Arkan in consideration for the issuance by Arkan to Senaat of a convertible instrument.

Upon closing of the transaction, the convertible instrument would automatically convert into 5.1 billion ordinary shares in Arkan at a fixed price of AED0.798 per share.

Following the conversion, Senaat would own 87.5% of the entire issued share capital of Arkan.

Chairman Engineer Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri said: "Arkan is poised to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the construction and building materials sectors, as the world begins to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic."

"This transaction with Emirates Steel will accelerate our ambitions by combining two sector leaders in the UAE, thereby expanding our product portfolio and order book significantly," he noted.

According to him, the deal has substantial value-enhancing potential, and we expect it to be accretive for Arkans shareholders.

"It will strengthen Arkans balance sheet and financial performance, deliver greater international scale, and position Arkan to become an entry point for investing in a key regional sector while playing a key role in the UAEs Industrial Strategy Operation 300 Billon," he added.

The proposed transaction would create a listed national champion in the building materials and construction sectors, with strong potential for growth in the UAE and internationally.

The combined entity will be optimally positioned to benefit from the post-Covid recovery anticipated in the UAEs and the regions construction sectors, thanks to an expected acceleration in infrastructure projects as a result of various governmental stimulus programmes locally and regionally.-TradeArabia News Service
The technology group Wartsila has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global Energy Ventures (GEV) of Australia, a company specialised in delivering compressed shipping solutions for transporting energy to regional markets.

The two companies will cooperate on the inclusion of Wartsila propulsion systems in GEVs compressed hydrogen (C-H2) ships. The MOU was signed in Sydney, Australia.

The cooperation aims at advancing GEVs Approval in Principle (AiP) application for its new 430-tonne C-H2 vessel. It is also intended to demonstrate the availability of a highly efficient, low-emissions propulsion system for the vessel.

We look forward to working closely with Wartsila on this project. We have shown that C-H2 shipping is ideally suited for exporting green hydrogen with a lower delivered cost and having a technology leader such as Wartsila with us, we can deliver a shipping solution that is completely sustainable, said Martin Carolan, CEO, GEV.

This project is an important steppingstone along the journey towards a decarbonised maritime industry, something that Wartsila is fully committed to supporting. We are actively developing propulsion alternatives that can utilise future carbon-neutral fuels, raise efficiency levels, and which significantly improve environmental performance. This agreement with GEV is fully in line with our own ambitions, said Petteri Saares, Sales Director, Wartsila Marine Power.

According to Wartsila, compression delivers a proven, simple, and efficient method for transporting green hydrogen. It is a preferred solution for marine hydrogen transport but is often overlooked due to its lower volumetric energy density. The parties to the agreement believe that the C-H2 project will eliminate the technical barriers and deliver a solution which is superior to other transport alternatives.--TradeArabia News Service
BFC Group Holdings (BFC), a leading money transfer and currency exchange provider in Bahrain, said it has signed up multicloud technology solutions company Rackspace Technology to help shift its core application and supporting systems to Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The migration creates a robust platform for BFC Group to focus on delivering seamless financial services to customers without the complexity of managing and maintaining a vast data centre, said a statement from Rackspace Technology.

Since installing its first servers 40 years ago, BFC Group had leveraged technology to maintain its competitive edge in the regional remittance and foreign exchange markets.

Over the years, those servers multiplied into fully-fledged, mission-critical data centres supporting the companys expansion to 46,000 pay-out agents in over 30 countries worldwide and - more recently - its growing online operations.

But anticipating the shift away from brick-and-mortar branches towards greater digitisation, BFC Group embarked on a redevelopment of its core business application, and roped in Rackspace Technology for the job.

"With the continued evolution of smartphones and computers, our business is evolving from the traditional brick and mortar to a digital model," stated Ebrahim Nonoo, the Managing Director and CEO of BFC Group Holding Company.

"Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, our goal is to cross over more decisively into the digital space by modernising our core application to better support both a digital and physical presence. This will help accelerate our digital innovation," he added

We selected Rackspace Technology because they are the best at providing robust technology foundation to companies like ours to achieve our business goals, Nonoo added.

"The company helped us migrate its core application and supporting systems to the AWS public cloud while providing ongoing management and consultancy services," he added.

Rackspace Technology General Manager (MEA) George Pawlyszyn said: "Digital transformation is a business imperative for the modern enterprise. By leveraging our global expertise and technology, BFC Group has maintained its position as the leading money transfer service in the region while improving the customer experience."

"The scalability of public cloud means BFC Group can easily expand across boundaries with a consistent level of service no matter the country," he added.

Before completing the migration, BFC Group saw an immediate uplift in critical performance measures, such as transactions processed per second (TPS) and customer experience. Resiliency in the system has improved, and uptime has increased to 99.99% compared to 99.95% with its on-premises environment," he added.

According to BFC, the strategic migration has also eliminated the hassle and expense of managing in-house data centres, thus enabling the group to invest more resources into innovation and service improvements.

"As we redeveloped our application, our on-premises environment struggled to provide the performance required," remarked Ali Fakhreddine, CIO at BFC Group.

"We didnt want to invest in refreshing the infrastructure and all what that entails because we know that is not where the future lies. So, we brought forward our plans to move to the cloud," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Nokia has announced the global launch of its latest range of industry-leading AirScale 5G products covering baseband, remote radio heads, and massive MIMO active antennas with digital beamforming.

The innovative solutions are powered by the latest generation of Nokias ReefShark System-on-Chip (SoC) chipsets and deliver the highest capacity and network performance while enabling efficient deployments and operation. The rollout of the new products is already underway.

Nokia introduces its new generation of ReefShark-powered AirScale massive MIMO antennas with both 32TRX and 64TRX products, as well as 8T8R remote radio head solutions. The 32TRX is the industrys lightest, at 17kg, simplifying and speeding up site deployments.

Notably, this low weight is achieved at the same time as supporting high radio frequency bandwidth (200 MHz occupied bandwidth and 400 MHz instantaneous bandwidth) and delivering high radio frequency power output, without compromise. Both the new 32TRX and the new 64TRX massive MIMO antennas support both fragmented spectrum and network sharing cases.

Nokia also introduces its new SoC-based baseband plug-in cards to boost the capacity of the AirScale System Module. The new ReefShark-powered plug-in cards deliver up to eight times more throughput and serve up to eight times more cells compared to previous generations.

They are easily installed and simplify the upgrade and extended operation of all AirScale deployments. Nokias baseband module can support 90,000 connected users simultaneously and has 84 Gbps throughput. The highly efficient ReefShark powered plug-in cards also reduce power consumption by up to 75%.

Nokias modular AirScale baseband enables mobile operators to scale capacity flexibly and efficiently and as their 5G business evolves.

Nokia Single RAN software now includes 5G, accelerating 5G rollouts and cutting overall radio access network TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), by unlocking network efficiencies with common transport, common operability, common software delivery, and increased hardware sharing. The combination of Nokias Single RAN software and the new baseband plug-in cards offer multi-mode (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) and multi-band and supports the latest fronthaul interfaces (eCPRI) on a single baseband platform, simplifying the network and lowering costs.

Nokias AirScale baseband architecture is designed to be future-proof and support the increasing demands for wireless traffic. By keeping the L1 and L2 (Layer 1 and Layer 2) computing separate from L3 (Layer 3) and Transport baseband plug-in units, capacity can be added when and where it is needed in the network. Network modernization can be simply achieved either by software upgrade or by adding new plug-in units into the existing baseband.

Nokias ReefShark chipsets will also play a critical role in future Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities. Nokia has already introduced AI/ML features in areas such as predictive load balancing, anomaly detection, and intelligent traffic steering. All Nokia ReefShark platforms are AI/ML ready and Nokia is carrying out proof of concepts with customers this year in innovative areas such as Massive MIMO beam pattern optimization, energy-saving, advanced traffic steering, advanced packet scheduling, and alarm pattern discovery.

Patrick Filkins, Senior Research Analyst, IoT and Mobile Network Infrastructure, IDC, commented: 5G networks are absolutely critical for improving network capacity and performance, particularly when higher bandwidth is in demand. Nokias new portfolio addresses these concerns by enabling mobile operators to flexibly scale capacity while helping to smoothly transition to 5G from existing technologies easily and cost-effectively. The integration of Nokias ReefShark SoCs across both radio and baseband boosts performance and capacity and the new massive MIMO antennas set a new benchmark for low weight without compromising on performance. These solutions will help mobile operators to address the increasingly dynamic mobile services space that urgently requires more capacity.

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks, Nokia, said: Our new generation of ReefShark-powered AirScale radio and baseband products is evidence of the successful transformation of our business and ability to deliver market-leading products to our global customers. Nokias new portfolio enables communication service providers to offer both consumer and enterprise customers with cutting-edge 5G experiences with premium speeds, capacity, and connectivity underpinned by seamless, simple, and efficient plug-in deployment. Our new AirScale products are O-RAN ready. They consume less energy and highlight our commitment to climate change. Were excited to see our customers deploying these products and see the transformative impact of 5G technology.-- TradeArabia News Service
Hitachi ABB Power Grids has joined the 450 MHz Alliance which brings together carriers; spectrum owners; and equipment, terminal and solution vendors to drive development of mobile networks in the 450 MHz frequency band.

As natural disasters and cyber threats increase, wireless communication solutions on 450 MHz will play a vital role in ensuring reliable connectivity for customers mission-critical applications.

As a leading provider of power grid and mission-critical industrial solutions, Hitachi ABB Power Grids wants to support the ecosystem and help promote its use in industrial and utility communications.

Global utilities and industrial players need more resilient and flexible communication networks as they transition to a decentralized, digitalized and decarbonized operating model. The 450 MHz frequency helps address this critical connectivity need by providing wider reach at a reasonable cost. This is particularly important in emergencies or disasters, where reliable connectivity can provide first responders with the data necessary to protect lives and property. Alongside cellular technology such as long-term evolution (LTE) and 5G, the 450MHz frequency band and the applications in the eco-system will drive the next wave of industrial communications.

Regulators are acknowledging the urgent need for reliable communications supporting critical infrastructure, said Dr Mostafa AlGuezeri, Managing Director of Hitachi ABB Power Grids in the UAE, Gulf, Near East and Pakistan. The 450MHz spectrum is fundamental to meeting the communication requirements of the digital grid and industrial operations. Hitachi ABB Power Grids is committed to working alongside our ecosystem partners and the 450MHz Alliance, bringing our long-standing industry expertise to ensure that our customers can access this vital resource with maximum reliability and cybersecurity."

We are very pleased to welcome Hitachi ABB Power Grids to the 450 MHz Alliance. Hitachi ABB Power Grids expertise and experience will further expand the 450 MHz ecosystem by bringing top-of-the-line solutions, as more countries allocate the 400 MHz spectrum for mission critical communication, said Igor Virker, managing director of 450 MHz Alliance.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids operates across the entire power value chain within industrial and utility operations, from transmission, distribution, substations and instrumentation equipment, to communications and applications. Hitachi ABB Power Grids participation in the 450MHz Alliance brings expertise, built over a century of technology and market leadership in the electricity and industrial sectors.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids TRO600 wireless portfolio offers the optimal combination of industrial wireless technologies to suit multiple industrial use cases. Customers can reap the benefits of digitalisation, increased safety, operational efficiency, and reduced operating cost. The company places great focus on highly reliable, mission-critical communications to ensure "always-on" operations for its customers. -- TradeArabia News Service
Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) has announced that it has appointed Stray Kids, the famous K-pop band, as the Ambassador of the Korea Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Stray Kids is one of the most popular K-pop bands, with 34 million social networking followers globally. The band recently won the boy band competition TV series in Korea Kingdom-Legendary War (2021).

The Korea Pavilion will be located in the Mobility District of Expo 2020 Dubai with theme Smart Korea, Moving The World To You. The president of KOTRA, Jeong-yeol Yoo, said that alongside Stray Kids, the Korea Pavilion looks forwards to welcoming visitors from October 1. -- TradeArabia News Service
Qatar's Hamad International Airport (HIA), in partnership with Smiths Detection, has installed an innovative screening technology at its security checkpoint that will deliver unprecedented levels of security, customer service and efficiency.

The new screening lane, which has been installed at HIAs transfers hall, is a part of HIAs Smart Security Programme, which aims to deploy advanced screening technological solutions across the wider airport campus and as part of HIAs airport expansion.

The new ground-breaking technology does not require passengers to remove either liquids or larger electronic items from their bags and will allow for faster passenger processing by providing the possibility for up to six passengers to load their items into trays at the same time.

It also incorporates passenger boarding pass scanners prior to screening that enable a range of benefits, one of which is to electronically tag each passengers belongings to their boarding card to ensure the belongings are tracked.

Once passengers remove their possessions from the tray, the system scans the tray to ensure no items are left behind. In the unlikely event a passenger loses an item, a swift and efficient investigation can then be conducted on their behalf.

The technology further advances passenger security and customer service as it incorporates a shoe screening capability conducted in only a few seconds without the need for passengers to remove their footwear.

The passenger experience is also enhanced by a remote screening management system for cabin baggage that aims to continually keep the system belt moving, even during the image evaluation process. The system also provides a high detection and low false-alarm rate, which contributes to fewer random checks.

The scanner is also fitted with UV-C modules to disinfect each and every tray before passenger use. This system in particular is being fast tracked at HIA, and the airport will be one of the first global airports to roll it out across all of its departures and transfers passenger screening lanes later this year.

Saeed Yousef Al-Sulaiti, Vice President of Security at HIA, said: "With the passenger experience at the core of HIA operations, we are always searching for ways to elevate the passenger journey."

"The introduction of this advanced technology is born out of our growing partnership with the leading technology expert, Smiths Detection, and represents our shared dedication to creating and trialling technological solutions for the delivery of a seamless and secure experience at important checkpoints throughout the terminal," he stated.

Al Sulaiti said: "We are proud to have harnessed the power of technology to enhance our operational excellence and passenger experience. We realise the potential of such an efficient security screening technology and look forward to delivering a truly secure and convenient screening process for all."

HIA, he stated, was the first airport in the region to install Smiths Detections Hi-Scan 6040 CTiX, which offers advanced screening of carry-on baggage at security checkpoints using Computed Tomography (CT).

The Hi-Scan 6040 CTiX adheres to the highest levels of security outlined by international regulations and optimises checkpoint performance.

Al Sulaiti said Qatars airport was renowned for advancing various technological solutions to improve its passenger experience and operational efficiency.

"In the past year, HIA installed C2 technology, the latest security screening system which allows transferring passengers to move through security checkpoints without removing electronic devices from their bags," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africas largest carrier, has started operating flights with fully vaccinated crew to keep travellers safe in light of the pandemic.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said: We are pleased to operate flights with a fully vaccinated crew  a significant step in protecting our employees and customers health and safety. We are encouraged by the increasing number of passengers travelling for business, VFR and tourism supported by the confidence of vaccination across the world. We have been squarely focused on working very hard to ensure the safety of our staff and passengers since the pandemic broke out and this is another testament to our continued commitment. We have bought and imported more than 37,000 vaccine shots for our employees and stakeholders.

Ethiopian has been rigorously implementing Covid-19 precautionary measures including the launch of its own testing and isolation center and digitisation of its operation among others. It has been at the forefront in the fight against the pandemic carrying essential medical supplies and vaccines across the globe as well as repatriating stranded people back to their home. - TradeArabia News Service
Global air transport IT provider SITA has released its annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, which reveals that, despite the pandemic, the company remains set to become a certified carbon neutral organization by or before 2022.

This achievement is well ahead of common airline industry milestones, such as 2030 and 2050, or those of the Paris Agreement.

SITAs objective to reduce its contribution to climate change is being realised through the companys Planet+ program. The program aims to define emissions, measure them working with independent environmental consultants RSK Group, and consistently reduce the environmental impacts of operations and business travel year-on-year while complementing those actions with offsetting initiatives.

Through Planet+, SITA reduced overall emissions by 48 per cent in 2020, equaling some 11,423 CO2 tons. This has been achieved through several initiatives such as switching to renewable or partially renewable energy, opting for green energy providers, optimising office floor footprint, reducing electricity consumption with more energy-efficient devices, and reducing business travel for internal meetings through the use of collaborative online tools.

In 2020, SITA also offset 100 per cent of its emissions for the first time. SITAs carbon offset program is managed through Natural Capital Partners, a leading global provider of sustainable environmental offset emission programs. The 2020 offset program was not applied purely to business travel emissions as in previous years but was extended to include all operational emissions reported and audited in Scope 1 (direct and controlled emissions), Scope 2 (electricity), and Scope 3 (upstream and downstream emissions, including those generated by SITA employees working from home).

Dr Edna Ayme-Yahil, Vice President Head of Communications, Brand & Sustainability, said: As part of our overall commitment to reduce carbon emissions across the air transport industry, we were keen to lead by example by taking real, concrete steps to reduce our impact on the environment. This is paying off and SITA is well on track to meeting our goal of becoming a certified carbon neutral company by or before 2022.

SITAs carbon neutrality program

In 2019, SITA announced its commitment to becoming a certified Carbon Neutral Company by 2022, under the CarbonNeutral Protocol. This protocol requires organisations to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by defining emissions related to operations, measuring them, reducing them, and then offsetting the remaining ones that have not been reduced or removed through verified carbon offset projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Supporting the global air transport industry

With around 2,500 customers, SITAs solutions drive efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports, and facilitate secure and seamless border crossings for over 60 governments, while delivering the benefits of connected aircraft to customers of 18,000 aircraft globally.

As well as managing its own economic, environmental, and social impacts, SITAs CSR report cites an immediate shift in early 2020 to support its air transport industry customers through the pandemic, ensuring business continuity and maintaining normal service levels.

SITA pivoted to meet urgent industry demands for a healthy, safe, and frictionless passenger experience  to reassure passengers and enable COVID-compliant journeys. In addition, the company responded to requirements from airlines, airports, and governments for agility, resilience, efficiencies, and cost containment  modifying and adapting their solutions to areas vital to recovery and survival.

Soon to achieve its ambition to be carbon neutral, SITA continues to also drive the industry to be more sustainable with solutions that aim to reduce carbon emissions.

For example, a partnership with Safety Line to offer the OptiFlight solution  which reduces fuel consumption and limits aircraft CO2 emissions at key flight stages  delivers estimated savings on fuel and carbon emissions of 234kg per climb for a B777, with 214 CO2 tons reduction a year per aircraft tail.

Global frameworks and initiatives

SITAs commitment to be a responsible and sustainable business is reflected through participation and adherence to several leading global frameworks. Since 2011, SITA has formally reported its economic, environmental, and social performance using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) disclosures framework. As a signatory of the UN Global Compact, SITA communicates its commitments to implementing sustainability practices and principles supporting UN goals through these CSR Reports.

Since 2014, SITA has achieved and maintained ISO14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems  EMS) certification  a milestone for organizations committed to sustainable operations  in seven of its main office locations. - TradeArabia News Service
Dubai International today (June 24) opened the doors of Terminal 1 and Concourse D to travellers after being awakened from their 15-month long hibernation triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The facilities were closed on March 25, 2020 following the partial suspension of operations at DXB as part of the measures to control the spread of the virus, said the statement from Dubai International.

The Terminal 1 and Concourse D welcomed the first passengers who arrived on flynas flight XY201 from Saudi capital of Riyadh.

Linked to Terminal 1 by an airport train, the Concourse D had opened in 2016 as the home terminal of DXB's 65 plus international carriers, it stated.

Dubai International said the reopening of the facility will see the phased return of these carriers over the next few days from Terminals 2 and 3, as the hub prepares for an anticipated increase in traffic during the summer holidays and beyond.

The facility can cater to more than 18 million passengers annually, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
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The News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA) took the action based on complaints filed by the Campaign Against Hate Speech (CAHS), which a group of civil society members concerned about the growing hate fueled by fake news and misinformation against communities during the rise of Covid-19 in India. The NBSA fined News18 Kannada Rs 1 lakh and Suvarna News Rs 50,000.

TCN Staff Reporter

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The News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA) has taken action against three news channels in a case of objectionable reporting on Tablighi Jamaat congregation during the early days of the Covid-19 crisis last year. NBSA has imposed Rs. 1 lakh fine on News18 Kannada and Rs. 50,000 on Suvarna News for their reporting of the Tablighi Jamaat incident of March 2020. The NBSA has also censured the English news channel Times Now for the same. NBSA has also directed them to apologize.

Notably, when the country was going through a mounting health crisis last year due to the outbreak of Covid-19, a religious organization Tablighi Jamaat was unfairly accused of spreading the coronavirus by many of the national and vernacular news channels, including these three.

A certain section of the media had targeted the Tablighi Jamaats Markaz in New Delhi, holding people, who had attended the congregation, responsible for spreading the coronavirus.

Pertinently, Times Now aired a program mischievously titled, Is Tablighi Jamaat deliberately sabotaging India with a panel discussion.

The Muslim community was targeted by various news channels through biased coverage and hate was spread against the Muslim community by doing such programs against Tablighi Jamaat.

The various media houses blamed the Tablighi Jamaat for the pandemic, calling them super spreaders and greater viruses among many other things. Many media channels had even called it Corona Jihad, and therefore blame the Muslim community. People associated with Tablighi Jamaat were arrested en masse, although everyone was later acquitted by the court.

In its order, the NBSA Chairman, Retired Justice AK Sikri said that, the programs presented were highly objectionable and baseless and added that the news reports circulated were based on conjecture.

NBSA chairman condemned telecasting such programs and also called them out for creating communal differences between the two communities.

Justice AK Sikri in his order said that the anchor of the program had made certain objectionable statements related to Tablighi Jamaat, which could disrupt the communal harmony.

In its order, NBSA has asked all the web portals to remove the related misleading videos. The accused news channels have been instructed to deposit the fine within seven days.

The NBSA took the action based on complaints filed by the Campaign Against Hate Speech (CAHS), which a group of civil society members concerned about the growing hate fueled by fake news and misinformation against communities during the rise of Covid-19 in India.

The Bengaluru based Campaign Against Hate Speech had earlier objected to these programs run on Tablighi Jamaat and filed a complaint with the News Broadcasting Standard Authority (NBSA) regarding the event. In the complaint filed with NBSA, the CAHS had spoken of inciting communal differences between the two communities and spreading hatred against Muslims in the society.

NBSA in its order stated that the language of the program broadcast by news channels on Tablighi Jamaat was indecent.

The language of the news channels was provocative and tried to disregard religious sentiments and break the structure of social harmony. News channels tried to incite social rifts with these programs, the order said.
On June 24, 1942, the first production Vought-Sikorsky F4U-1 Corsair, Bu. No. 02155, made its first flight at Stratford, Connecticut (some sources indicate June 25, 1942). The Corsair was designed by Rex Buren Beisel, and is best known for its distinctive inverted gull wing, which allowed sufficient ground clearance for its 13 foot, 4 inch (4.064 meter) diameter propeller, without using excessively long landing gear struts. The prototype XF4U-1, Bu. No. 1443, had first flown 29 May 1940, with test pilot Lyman A. Bullard in the cockpit.

Voughts own production began slowly, partially due to the number of changes implemented before the program began: the cockpit was moved 3 feet aft to accommodate more fuel and the engine bay was redesigned to accommodate the up-dated R-2800-8 engine, providing 2,000 horsepower on take-off. The first production Corsair was flown June 25, 1942. The Navy accepted its first two production Corsairs in July 1942, with nine following in August. During 1943 the production rate saw a steady increase, exceeding 200 units by November 1943. The total monthly Corsair production rate peaked in May 1944 when the Navy accepted 254 F4Us (Vought), 220 FGs (Goodyear) and 122 F3As (Brewster), for a total of 596 aircraft.

A very noticeable change was introduced in November 1942 when the fifth production aircraft was modified to raise the pilots seat. This development brought about the frameless, clear-vision, Bubble canopy. This change became standard in all F4Us. Other design changes included a new, improved landing gear oleo, a new tail-hook installation to prevent skipping on carrier landings, and a modified/redesigned tail hook.

In all, seven major changes were made to the F4U over a span of a year and a half. Each change necessitated considerable research, engineering and testing. One noticeable change was the addition of a small spoiler on the edge of the starboard wing to reduce the accelerated stalls and ensure stall warnings. The clipped wing version for use on the British carriers was designated the F4U-1A.

By the end of 1944, Chance Vought was turning out 300 Corsairs a month, or one complete airplane every 82 minutes. Vought built 2,814 of the F4U-1s. ( source www.vought.org)

One of the most recognizable airplanes in history owing to its unique inverted gull wing design, the F4U remained in continual production from 1942 until 1952, with more than 12,500 examples of the aircraft delivered. One of the Navy and Marine Corps finest fighters, Corsairs shot down 2,140 Japanese aircraft during World War II and in the Korean War a Marine pilot became the first to down a MiG-15 jet while flying a propeller-driven aircraft.
While it has been a while since our last update on progress with The Fighter Collections (TFC) ultra-rare Fiat CR.42 Falco restoration, we have learned of a marvelous collaboration behind the scenes to help return this charismatic biplane fighter to flying condition. Although she looks externally complete and has been on static display at TFCs base at Duxford in the UK since 2018, the Falco (more properly known as a J 11 due to its prior service life with the Swedish Air Force) still requires internal fittings and the installation of other parts.

With that in mind, well known Swedish pilot and engineer Mikael Carlsson (who has himself built and displayed a number of classic aircraft) has gained permission from the Flygvapenmuseum (Swedish Air Force Museum) to access the fully-refurbished J 11 in their collection, so he can take accurate measurements of components on the aircraft which require replicating for TFCs example. Carlsson will use these data to remanufacture the necessary items for TFC, which is further testament to the great international effort involved in bringing this wonderful biplane another step closer to flying!

As most will recall, the Fiat CR.42 Falco was one of the very last biplane fighter designs to see combat, if not the last. At a time when most aircraft designers were creating sleek, monoplane fighters, Celestino Rosatelli  who was behind some of Italys successful Schneider Trophy racers  was still convinced that the bi-plane fighter could be a champion given the right engine and aerodynamics. Rosatellis vision resulted in the Falco, which first flew on May 23, 1938 at Torino Caselle airfield, near Turin. The type enjoyed a relatively successful production run, with just over 1,800 airframes rolling off the assembly line between 1939 and 1944 (more than any other WWII Italian fighter aircraft design). The Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) operated the bulk of these aircraft, but Germany, Sweden, Spain, Croatia, Belgium and Hungary all fielded the type for periods as well. Interestingly, a Fiat CR.42 may well have been the last biplane to claim a combat victory, as a Luftwaffe-operated example reportedly shot down a 14th FG P-38 Lightning over Croatia on February, 8th, 1945!

Just four complete examples remain today, and none are currently flying although that is set to change before too long.

FIAT CR.42 Falco SURVIVORS:

MM5701  Combat veteran  RAF Museum, Hendon, England.

Fv.2543  Combat veteran  Swedish Air Force Museum, near Linkping

MM4653  Italian Air Force Museum, Vigna di Valle (Composite with parts from three aircraft from Sweden, Italy & France)

Fv.2542  Combat veteran  The Fighter Collection, Duxford, UK

As already intimated, The Fighter Collections Falco is actually a former Swedish, 72 of the type having served in the Swedish Air Force, designated as J 11. This particular aircraft crashed in bad weather on a hillside near Tarnatjakko in April, 1942, sadly taking the life of her pilot Bertil Klintman. The wreck lay largely undisturbed where it fell for the next forty years before a salvage team recovered the remains by helicopter in 1983. A Swedish group did work on her restoration for a while, but The Fighter Collection bought the fighter in 1995 and transported her to the UK.

TFC sent much of the wreck to Italy, where the well-known Italian restoration groups AREA (Associazione Restauro Aeronautico) and GAVS (Gruppo Amici Velivoli Storici) rebuilt the fuselage to airworthy condition, while at the same time restoring the Italian Air Force Museums example. The fuselage returned to Duxford in the mid-2000s, but the project then seemed to go dormant. However, by the summer of 2010 the Falco was standing on her own undercarriage, with an engine installed and freshly reconstructed wings stacked neatly alongside in Hangar 2.S at Duxford. By 2012, the biplane was ready for fitting out, however TFC decided to out-source the job and moved the airframe to Vintage Fabrics at Audley End in Suffolk, a perfect choice since th company had prior experience completing the Italian Air Forces CR.42 in 2004. Vintage Fabrics addressed the electrical systems, flying surface controls and the engine.

Because this Falco is being restored to airworthy condition, the restoration obviously has to comply with all Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements both in the quality and traceability of materials used, the manuals, documentation and drawings for the aircraft type, not to mention compliance with modern safety requirements. The mods raised to cover these design changes have all had to be processed, including where modern materials have been substituted for those detailed on the original drawings. GAVS have greatly assisted with the translation of original drawings and manuals, many of them written in old technical Italian.

According to internet sources, the team at Audley End acquired, or remanufactured numerous parts and components for the project. These include a pressure reducer and filter for the main undercarriage, along with the associated gauges. The fuel system required lots of new parts, including a hand pump and barrel for the fuel vent cap. They then needed to source an oil tank and radiator, pneumatic injectors, various gaskets, and blower controls. Vintage Fabrics has also obtained air pressure gauges from the original manufacturer, and an air bottle from an ex-Afghan IMAM Ro-37 Lince has provided enough information for the restorers to make the patterns to manufacture a new example. They also acquired and fitted newly-manufactured oil coolers, as well as new flying control cables made by Bruntons of Musselburgh, UK. They removed the previously-fitted Fiat A.74 engine, after test-fitting the cowlings and engine controls, and sent it for overhaul to Vintage Engine Technology Ltd (Vintech) at Little Gransden.

Regardless, it is indeed a great international effort from all involved and another step closer to seeing this wonderful biplane in the air!
Dafford Murals Drive-Up & Walk-Up Book Signing

PADUCAH - Muralists Robert Dafford and Herb Roe will be signing the new Paducah Wall to Wall Floodwall mural books Friday evening 5-8 in front of the 1873 Birdseye View mural..on Water Street across from the downtown parking lot.The Muralists are in from Lafayette, LA for a couple more weeks restoring Dafford Murals on Paducahs downtown riverfront. They have been in town since early May working on Floodwall images most in need of repair.Books are $10 each and every cent goes toward future mural maintenance. The all-volunteer Wall to Wall board will be at the tent to sell books as cars drive up or walkers come by to have their already purchased books or new ones autographed.Other mural merchandise will also be available.For more info call/text 270-519-1321 or email rom4915@gmail.com
Purchase District Health Helps Provide Naloxone

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - The Purchase District Health Department and McCracken County Public Library have partnered to provide Naloxone to members of the public with the installation of a Naloxbox. Naloxbox was provided by McCracken County ASAP as a Community Narcan Hub.Naloxone is a safe, effective and nonaddictive opioid antagonist that is meant to reverse opioid overdoses. It has no other side effects and is easy to use in the form of Narcan Nasal Spray. Even if someone is administered Narcan when it is not needed, there are no adverse effects.The McCracken County Public Library will serve as where people can be directed to a training video on how to administer Narcan Nasal Spray and then be able to receive Narcan to take home with them.Data show that educating and providing naloxone to people at risk of witnessing or experiencing an overdose is associated with a 30% to 45% decrease in opioid overdose death rates, a reduction in heroin consumption, and reductions in opioid-related emergency department visits.Public libraries have long partnered with other public agencies to share information and increase access to all kinds of resources to improve the health and well-being of communities," said Interim Library Director Sarah McGowan. "We see this as an extension of those efforts and are honored to work with the Purchase District Health Department to provide this lifesaving intervention.Library patrons will be able to partake in this service starting July 1.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The case of two Muslims arrested in Uttar Pradesh on charges of converting 1,000 people to Islam has reignited controversy in India. The Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, which brings together 13 major Hindu religious groups, announces a summit. It also wants a law prohibiting couples from having more than two children. The bishop of Lucknor Msgr. Mathias: "Fundamental rights that cannot be questioned".

Lucknow (AsiaNews) - The issue of conversions is once again inflaming India. The Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (Abap), a body that brings together the 13 akharas, the Hindu brotherhoods, has announced its intention to soon convene its own summit to decide "the initiatives to be taken against conversions" in the country. The announcement came after the news of the arrest by the Uttar Pradesh police of two Muslims from Delhi, accused of having "organized a racket that converted more than 1,000 people to Islam".

"We have to find a solution to stop these incidents," commented Abap president Narendra Giri. He returned to invoke measures, but he also recognized that it is "those who are treated as outcasts who seek refuge in other religions". "We will ask the Hindus - said the mahant Giri - to overcome the considerations of caste and to relate to everyone with dignity and respect to avoid these circumstances". He added, however, that at the meeting of 13 akharas they will also talk about the "steps to be taken to bring home those who have changed religion".

On June 22, the ABAP expressed itself in favor of the adoption of laws to control population growth. Giri himself writes in a statement that Hindu sages have always maintained that population growth should be controlled. Adding that a law should stipulate that couples, regardless of their religion, cannot have more than two children. In this sense, the legislators of Uttar Pradesh are already preparing a bill for the local government that would limit access to public subsidies to families with no more than two children.

The bishop of Lucknow Gerald J. Mathias expressed concern to AsiaNews about both of these positions: The Catholic Church has always condemned forced conversions or those obtained by deception. However, we support religious freedom; everyone must be free to profess, practice and testify to their religion. It is a fundamental right which is also recognized by the Indian Constitution. Any law that wants to ban conversions is unacceptable and violates human rights .

As for the decision on the number of children - continues Msgr. Mathias - this is a sacred right of every couple. Nobody, not even a government can interfere by imposing laws that go against this right. Only totalitarian regimes do this. The population explosion is a myth. As Mahathma Gandhi rightly said: on this earth there is enough for everyone's needs, but not for everyone's greed .
Today is the anniversary of the Siamese Revolution of 24 June 1932 that ended Thailands absolute monarchy. Protesters are calling for constitutional reforms, the removal of the 250 military-appointed parliamentarians, and the prime ministers ouster. In addition to the capital, rallies were planned in Chiang Mai and the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Hundreds of Thais took advantage of the anniversary of the Siamese Revolution of 24 June 1932, a peaceful uprising that ended the countrys absolute monarchy in favour of a constitutional regime, to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The rally took place this morning under the watchful eye of the police in riot gear, ready to intervene in case of unrest or gatherings.

Protesters marched through the streets of Bangkok, the Thai capital, shouting three demands: constitutional reforms, the removal of 250 military-appointed Members of Parliament (the militarys insurance card), and the resignation of the prime minister, a former senior army officer.

Prayuth, get out! was one of the most popular slogans among the demonstrators, who waved white and red flags, symbol of the peaceful revolution of 1932.

A year ago tens of thousands of people marched, shaking up the kingdom's establishment, especially with their call to limit the monarchy's powers.

However, in the following months the movement lost momentum, especially this year, as the number of COVID-19 cases rose, reaching almost 230,000 with 1,744 deaths.

In order to contain the protest, the authorities made dozens of arrests and indicted the movements leaders on multiple charges, including defamation and lese-majeste.

The constitution must come from the people, protest leader, Jatupat Pai Daodin Boonpattararaksa, told the crowd in Bangkok. In 89 years since the end of absolutism we have not got anywhere, he added.

Thai police yesterday warned protesters against joining the gatherings due to the coronavirus surge. Anyone who violates the laws during protests will have legal actions taken against them, said Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pakapong Pongpetra.

Prayuth is blamed for the governments poor handling of the worsening economic crisis and its failure to tackle the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the failure to revive the democratic process after the military coup that brought him to power in 2014.

A pro-military constitution and a parliament appointed by the Armed Forces allowed the prime minister to remain in office following disputed elections two years ago.

In addition to Bangkok, protests were planned in the northern tourist resort town of Chiang Mai and the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

For Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University and director of the Institute of Security and International Studies, public pressure is palpable, mounting, and people want answers. Yet, he added, with the military and monarchy still behind Prayuth, it is difficult to see how he could be removed.
In the audience with participants to the ROACO meeting, Francis talked about the difficult situation of a region torn by war and violence. I ask you to pray, and invite others to pray, for our meeting on 1 July with the Heads of the Christian Churches in Lebanon, that the Holy Spirit will enlighten and guide us, he said.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis met participants attending the plenary session of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO).

In his address, the pontiff spoke about Syria, but also Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Eritrea, countries touched by violence, where it is necessary to rebuild homes and cathedrals but even more the living stones who have been wounded and dispersed.

The audience provided the pontiff with the opportunity to express his concerns for a region whose fate is close to his heart and to reiterate his solidarity with the Churches that operate in places connected to Jesus earthly life. Francis also mentioned his trip to Iraq, about which he spoke for the first time during the ROACO meeting of 2019.

Despite the pandemic, you have had additional meetings over the past year to face the situation of Eritrea, but also to follow that of Lebanon following the terrible Beirut port explosion of 4 August last. In this regard, I thank you for your efforts to support Lebanon in this grave crisis, and I ask you to pray, and invite others to pray, for our meeting on 1 July with the Heads of the Christian Churches in Lebanon, that the Holy Spirit will enlighten and guide us.

The Pope also expressed his concern for the Holy Land, for Israel and Palestine, peoples who we hope and pray will see the bow of peace that God showed to Noah as a sign of the covenant between heaven and earth, and of peace among peoples. For all too often, even lately, those skies have been darkened by missiles bringing destruction, death and fear!

The pleas for help rising from Syria are never far from Gods heart, yet do not seem to have touched the hearts of leaders in a position to affect the destiny of peoples. We think of the continuing scandal of ten years of conflict, millions of internally and externally displaced persons, the victims and the need for reconstruction, all held hostage to partisan thinking and the lack of courageous decisions for the good of that war-torn nation.

Speaking about places affected by violence, the pontiff said that he was following with apprehension the situation arising from the conflict in the Tigray region in Ethiopia, knowing that it is also affecting nearby Eritrea. Beyond religious and confessional differences, we come to see the essential importance of the message of Fratelli Tutti, whenever differences between ethnic groups and the resulting struggles for power become systemic.

I would also like, through you, to extend my gratitude to all those who support and make possible your projects: ordinary members of the faithful, families, parishes and volunteers who understand what it means to be brothers and sisters all and who devote a portion of their time and resources to assisting you in the services you provide. I have been told that the income from the 2020 collection for the Holy Land was only about half of that received in previous years.

Certainly, this was due in part to the long months when attendance at church services was reduced, but also to the economic crisis generated by the pandemic. While the crisis may have encouraged us to focus on what is essential, we cannot remain indifferent when we think of the deserted streets of Jerusalem and the loss of those pilgrims who go there to strengthen their faith, but also to express concrete solidarity with the local Churches and their people.

Once again, I ask everyone to appreciate the significance of this form of charity, which Saint Paul refers to in his letters, and Saint Paul VI restructured in his 1974 Apostolic Letter Nobis in Animo, whose continued timeliness and validity I reaffirm."

Francis ended with a thought for the Caucasus. At the conclusion of my Apostolic Journey in Armenia in 2016, Catholicos Karekin II and I released doves into the sky as a sign of hope for peace in the entire Caucasus region. Sadly, in recent months that hope has once more been disappointed. For this reason, I am grateful for the concern you have shown for the situation in Georgia and Armenia, in order to enable the Catholic community to continue to be a sign and leaven of evangelical life.
About 45 per cent of the polysilicon used in the world comes from Xinjiang. A US ban also targets three other Chinese companies and a paramilitary firm. At the UN Human Rights Council, more than 40 countries condemn China's repressive policies against Uyghurs, Hong Kong democrats and Tibetan Buddhists, sparking a reaction from Beijing.

WASHINGTON (AsiaNews)  The Biden administration imposed a ban yesterday US imports of solar panel material from Chinese-based Hoshine Silicon Industry Co, which US authorities accuse of using forced labour.

The ban mainly concerns polysilicon, a key material in the production of solar panel production. According to Reuters, 45 per cent of polysilicon used worldwide in solar module production comes from Xinjiang, with another 35 per cent produced in other parts of China.

For the same reason, the US Department of Commerce banned sales of US products to Hoshine, three other Chinese companies operating in Xinjiang, and paramilitary Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

According to experts and humanitarian organisations, backed by the United Nations, China holds or has held more than a million Turkic-speaking Muslim Uyghurs, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz in Xinjiang concentration camps.

Media reports have highlighted the existence of the regions labour camps, with hundreds of thousands of people forcibly employed, especially picking cotton.

Some scholars also claim that the Chinese government is conducting a campaign of forced sterilisations to control the growth of the Uyghur population.

China has denied such accusations, claiming that the camps in Xinjiang are vocational centres, part of a number of projects designed to reduce poverty and fight terrorism and separatism.

On Tuesday, the second day of the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council, more than 40 countries signed a resolution condemning Beijing's repressive policies in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet.

Presented by Canada, the resolution was backed, among others, by Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Israel, Japan and Australia.

The signatories of the document call on the Chinese government to put an end to the use of arbitrary detention in Xinjiang and allow an independent UN investigation in the region.

The Chinese responded with a statement accusing Ottawa of committing human rights violations against Canada's Indigenous population.

Countries such as Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria and Venezuela have supported Chinas initiative.

In another motion, 65 states expressed support for Beijing by saying that Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet are China's internal affairs.

Yesterday, the Chinese delegation to the UN Human Rights Committee also attacked the US, Australia and Britain for their inhumane treatment of migrants and refugees.
Party-throwing tenants and their landlords who violate the law would be on the hook should they be reported for unruly noise. On a first violation, landlords and tenants could receive a written warning or $500 civil penalty. If theres a second violation within two years of the first offense, theyre hit with at least a $500 fine. If the issue persists, offenders may be ordered to pay $1,000 and landlords risk losing their rental license.
While the owning of enslaved people was legal in the colony and the state of Maryland during both Pacas and Carrolls lives, there were many, even among the slaveholding elite, who had begun to express doubts about the morality of slaveholding during that era, Schatzel wrote.
Park said that presentation was crucial in outreach, letting the community know the project was on the way. He also said it was important in fact-checking some of the preconceived notions about the project, like the rumor that the signs would arch across Route 40.
Thursdays moon will reach peak illumination at 2:40 p.m. EST, but it wont be visible until it rises over the horizon. If youre in Baltimore City, look out for the moonrise at 8:58 p.m. EST. The moon will rise at around the same time across Maryland, but you can check out the Almanacs Moonrise and Moonset Calculator for your specific area. Moonrise is typically 20 minutes after sunset, according to NASA.
Theres a lot more to tell  more than I can cover today  about the central part of Pigtown: $260,000 in state and city grants went for facade improvements in the 700 and 800 blocks of Washington Boulevard; Miss Maryland Crab just moved into 813 and hopes to open for carryout service in July; the local branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library is about to be redeveloped through a public-private partnership; Malik Mehboob just opened a cigar shop; in the 900 block, Milk & Honey Market occupies a cool space next to the old public bathhouse-turned-apartments. Then theres Sparc, the womens health clinic, Suspended Brewing Co. and, across the street, Mobtown Ballroom endures, with the adjoining alley blocked off for outdoor gatherings under strings of lights. Down at the corner stands the brand new Groundwork Kitchen, a culinary training center and restaurant developed by the Pauls Place nonprofit.
Echoing President Biden, Mayor Scott stated his job would be easier if the U.S. Senate would approve legislation banning assault weapons and closing loopholes in required background checks on people buying firearms. Placing blame on the Senate takes some of the heat off the mayor and police commissioner. Mr. Scott in an emboldened plea stated: Listen, this is a public health crisis. We need them to wake up and get out of the way. We need them to do what the president is asking. So what about all the illegal guns that are in the city? How do we take care of that problem? The criminal element does really not worry about gun laws.
Baltimore has not made significant cuts to its police budget but has suffered more than 300 homicides annually for the last six consecutive year. So far in 2021, the city has experienced 162 homicides  10 more than this time last year. Another 329 non-fatal shootings have been investigated, compared to 280 at this time last year, according to the police department.
The stories we have heard from people who have not received a dime  a dime  over the past year are beyond harrowing, Summerfield said at a press conference in Baltimore before heading into the courthouse to file the lawsuit. People who worked for decades now cannot afford to put food on the table. This is a disgrace.
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Campus News

UBEOC students are making their mark

By CHARLES ANZALONE

Obstacles were blocking my path. The EOC was my stepping stone and guided me past them.  Mandy Ferrini, UBEOC Class of 2009 and recipient Distinguished Alumni Award

A determined entrepreneur who saved and then re-invented a neighborhood landmark restaurant and an immigrant who now helps a leading hospital celebrate diverse cultures are the most recent alumni honorees at the UB Educational Opportunity Centers annual commencement. Recognized at this years virtual commencement on May 19 were Mandy Ferrini, Class of 2009, who overcame multiple obstacles to rally to a better life. She won the EOCs Distinguished Alumni Award. Receiving the EOCs Arthur O. Eve Education and Community Service Award was Bernarda Arias, Class of 2014, who came to Buffalo from the Dominican Republic and re-invented herself as a human resource professional with over 15 years experience with leading companies in Western New York. This has been another challenging year for our students as they continued to work remotely and entertain a new normal, says Julius Gregg Adams, UBEOC executive director. We continue to be proud of their accomplishments, their ability to persevere and their commitment to excellence. Although commencement was virtual, it did not diminish our desire to acknowledge their incredible accomplishments. Ferrini and Arias are the newest headliners in the EOCs legacy of transforming lives. Here are their stories.

Mandy Ferrini A single parent, Ferrini delayed her own reconstructive surgery following a serious work injury because her son needed open-heart surgery. A survivor of domestic violence, she would lose her business due to arson. Through it all, Ms. Ferrini not only persevered, she thrived, according to Margot Barrett Keysor, EOCs alumni affairs administrator. Ferrini enrolled in the EOCs dental assistant program when she was vulnerable and unsure of her next steps, according to the EOCs commencement program. She earned her certification as a dental assistant, and accepted positions at Baker Victory Dental and WNY Dental. Her desire to continue to grow led to her to enroll at DYouville College, where she earned a BA in sociology in 2014 and received the Older and Wiser Learner Award in recognition of her achievements as a non-traditional student. Ferrini earned a masters degree in mental health counseling from Medaille College and was inducted into the American Counseling Association Honor Society. Upon graduation, she accepted a marketing specialist position at United HealthCare, where she worked until she was laid off early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Ferrinis tenaciousness once again overshadowed this obstacle, UBEOC administrators say. She and a partner reopened Pizza Bella & More, an iconic restaurant in Buffalos Riverside neighborhood. Ferrini supplied lunches to students from the Charter School for Applied Technology who were learning remotely, and purchased personal protective equipment for neighborhood residents. A fire in July 2020 closed Pizza Bella & More. But Ferrini and her business partner forged ahead, reopening the restaurant and renaming it Bellas Parkside Tavern in November 2020. My life has a theme, Ferrini says. Every time I accomplish something from adversity, I need to accomplish more. Obstacles were blocking my path. The EOC was my stepping stone and guided me past them.
Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.


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The midshipman was flying the plane as part of the academys Powered Flight Program, which gives midshipmen interested in a career as naval aviators the ability to learn to fly before attending the Naval Flight School, according to the release. Midshipmen undergo intensive training and instructor-led flight before they can fly solo, if they qualify.
He is being held without bail and is awaiting a bail review hearing, the department said in a news release Wednesday. No attorney is listed for him online, according to court records.
Its quite rewarding to best the bureaucracy and get an important law passed when its the right thing to do, she said. The times when a strong back and willing mind were enough for the job market are gone. Education is becoming increasingly important. There arent too many places for people without computer knowledge.
The truck, which was heavily damaged, is called a roll off truck, and operates somewhat like a dump truck but with a flat, narrow bed for hauling containers. When the bed is lifted, part of it rises higher than the cab. Authorities said they were trying to determine whether the bed accidentally rose and struck the bridge while the truck was moving.
Army readiness is the primary mission of those who work at APG, according to Kilgo, who said maintaining readiness ensures that every troop at the tip of the spear has exactly what they need when they need it, and it allows us to be the dominant force that we are.
The goal is to shuttle people in and out of the core and the people who are inside the core to walk  which will benefit the small businesses, restaurants, the shops, the retailers and thats what its exactly going to do, she said. Its going to encourage them to stay.
Criteria for transferring a call to the Grassroots line include eliminating that the person presents any immediate harm to themselves or others, gives any indication they possess or have immediate access to a weapon or other means of immediate harm, indicates the presence of a plan, is under 18 years of age, or indicates any use of drugs or alcohol.
Here we have a rare instance where the law is grappling with the technology prior to its widespread deployment, he said. Calling this a virtual time machine is not an exaggeration. I think it was extraordinarily important that we were able to get the courts to grapple with this at the outset.
Getting most troops out by early July had been in doubt because of complications including an outbreak of COVID-19 at the U.S. Embassy and the push to get Afghan interpreters and others who helped the U.S. out of the country. Officials said U.S. commanders and NATO allies in Afghanistan have been able to overcome logistical hurdles that might have prolonged the withdrawal process. But they also warned that plans in place for the final stages of the U.S. military withdrawal could change if airport security agreements fall through or there are other major, unforeseen developments.
Restoring oyster populations in the Severn River is an example of a true partnership  the City of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the federal government, all working together with businesses like title sponsor Smyth Jewelers, community organizations, local residents, and nonprofits like the Severn River Association and the Oyster Recovery Partnership. We are proud to be a part of this campaign. We encourage everyone living in or near the Severn River watershed to join us in supporting the Build-a-Reef campaign. We believe all of us should be responsible stewards of this treasure. Support this important effort by visiting www.buildareef.org today.
Locklair graduated from the University of Delaware and moved to Annapolis to serve as top staff aide for Republican Del. Michael Smigiel. She now resides in Edgewater. Politics have always been of interest to her as she ran for office for her class when she was younger.
Many septuagenarians of Lalitpur were on Wednesday administered their final shot of Covishield after a long gap due to a shortage of vaccine doses in Nepal.

Sneha Shakya took her 100-year-old grandmother to a local vaccination centre for her second dose of Covishield vaccine in Lalitpur.

Earlier this year, her grandmother was administered the first dose of the anti-COVID vaccine, and by the time she got her second dose, the country had witnessed two earthquakes and major political turmoil.

"Early in the morning when we informed her that she would be getting her final dose of anti-COVID vaccine she was hesitant fearing the pain from the injection. But she was happy after getting vaccinated. Granny is now happy because she now can now walk around inside the house, which was earlier restricted as she was in a high-risk category," Sneha told ANI.

Sneha's grandmother was one of the 1.4 million senior citizens who got the jabs on high-risk assessment. Even though they had to wait for about 12 weeks to get the final dose, most elderly people had not lost hope.

"We convinced our granny to get the final COVID-19 dose telling her that she would be much safer with the vaccination. Now she feels better and she can walk around the house. She is happy and feels more secure now," Sneha added.

Since the start of the inoculation drive earlier in 2021, only 8.5 per cent of Nepal's nearly 30 million population has received its first dose while 2.4 per cent have got both shots.

On Wednesday, Lalitpur Municipality inoculated people above 77 years with second doses from a leftover stock at various vaccination centres.

Rajan Khanal brought his 83-year-old mother to the vaccination centre set up at the municipality office for her second dose.

"My mom is very happy now, she got her final and second dose and feels safer. The first dose of her jab was administered some three months before, she indeed had to wait a long time for her second dose but we are happy at least she got it," Khanal said.

It' is not certain when the rest of Nepal's population would be able to get the jabs due to the prevailing political situation in the country. Since the outbreak of coronavirus in early 2020 Nepal already has seen three new health ministers, and final decisions about the purchase of vaccines have to be made.

Out of 2.7 million COVID-19 vaccines that have been used in Nepal, most of them has been provided as aid by its neighbours. Nepal was able to procure only one million vaccines from India on a commercial basis, the rest have been donated by India, China and Covax, a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization.

The first country to donate vaccines to Nepal was India, which donated one million Covishield vaccines on January 21. Soon after that, Nepal started to hold talks with the Pune-based Serum Institute, the company that produces the Covishield AstraZeneca vaccines in India, to procure two million vaccines. Nepal even paid an advance to the company.

Out of the two million, Serum provided Nepal with one million vaccines on time. Apart from this, India also provided an additional 100,000 vaccines for the Nepal Army.

Though Nepal's government plans to vaccinate 72 per cent of the population, it needs to spend at least Rs 48 billion whereas the government has 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 USD 10 per vaccine.

The Prime Minister during each of his address has been appealing to International donors for more support, and Nepal is hoping to get more aid.

(ANI)
After China demanded an investigation into the discovery of the remains of indigenous children in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lashed out at Beijing, stressing that there was a difference between the matter and the communist country's systemic abuse against ethnic minorities including Uyghurs.

According to Canadian state broadcaster CTV News, Trudeau on Tuesday said that Canada knows its relationship with indigenous people is broken but it has a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is working to try and address the issues. On the other hand, China is not even willing to admit that there is a problem over the numerous human rights abuses against Uyghurs.

"Where is China's Truth and Reconciliation Commission? Where is their truth? Where is the openness that Canada has always shown, and the responsibility that Canada has taken for the terrible mistakes of the past, and indeed, many of which continue into the present?" Trudeau asked at a news conference outside his Ottawa home Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the mass burial place of 215 children, aged from three years, was found at the site of a school, closed in 1978, near the Canadian town of Kamloops, Sputnik reported. Following the discovery of graves, a probe has been opened into the circumstances and the accountability of these fatalities.

The remarks came after Chinese diplomat Jiang Duan demanded an investigation during a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Washington Post reported.

"We are deeply concerned about the human rights violations against the Indigenous people in Canada," said Jiang, a senior official at China's mission to the UN in Geneva.

Jiang said China and its allies sought a "thorough and impartial investigation," not just of the discovery but of broader Canadian crimes against indigenous people. China's allies include Belarus, North Korea and Syria, all of whom are accused of human rights abuses.

Jiang's demand came before Canadian officials read a statement that called on China to allow the UN human rights chief access to the Xinjiang region to investigate more than one million Uyghurs who have been unlawfully detained there.

The statement also mentioned a continuing clampdown in Hong Kong under Chinese auspices and ongoing reports of repression in Tibet, according to Washington Post.

"We call on Chinese authorities to abide by their human rights obligations," said Leslie E Norton, Canada's ambassador to the UN in Geneva. The dueling demands represented a deep geopolitical and ideological divide at the top UN human rights body.

Meanwhile, in its strongest rebuke of China, the Group of Seven (G7) countries had urged China to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms" in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

The group called on China "to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms and a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law".

Meanwhile, China dismissed these remarks saying that the days when a "small" group of countries decided the fate of the world were long gone.

(ANI)

Also Read: SCO countries pledge to cooperate against terrorism, radicalism in NSA meeting
In a bizarre case, half of the law enforcement in the Kasur district of Pakistan's Punjab were found positive for drug use during drug tests of police officials.

The drug tests of police officials are being conducted on the orders of the prime minister to bring reforms in the police department, according to Dawn.

The Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) had issued directives to conduct the drug tests of officials ranging from constables to the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) officers.

The samples of 48 officials, including constables and assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), were collected in the district a couple of days back for the drug test, out of which 24 tested positive.

As per sources, a majority of the policemen found using drugs were constables.

A police official told Dawn that the process of drug tests was similar to that used for declaring common suspects as addicts during the course of the investigation at the police station level.

He said as most of the policemen start using drugs when they get these free of cost, so a strict system of check and balance should be in place, where drugs recovered from criminals were stored before being produced in the court for conviction of the suspects.

One of the policemen declared an addict after the test demanded that officials in the higher ranks should also be picked for the test to implement the IGP's order in letter and spirit.

(ANI)

Also Read: US expert says It is dangerous to be an Ahmadi in Pakistan
During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in Dushanbe on Wednesday, National Security Advisors of member countries pledged cooperation in the joint fight against international terrorism, extremism and separatism.

The NSAs of the SCO countries discussed cooperation against religious radicalism and the risks of increasing transnational organised crime, including arms and drug trafficking, as per exclusive details of the meeting.

It was also stressed that the regional anti-terrorism structure of the SCO can play an important role in ensuring regional security and strengthening ties between member states in combating threats and challenges of the modern world.

The meeting also discussed cooperation between member states in ensuring reliable information security, the joint fight against cybercrime and the issues of biological security and food security in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting was addressed by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon. Indian NSA Ajit Doval was also one of the participants of the meeting.

Pakistani NSA Moeed Yusuf also attended this meeting. He had earlier said that there is no possibility of a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart on the sidelines of the SCO meet.

Last year in September, Ajit Doval had stormed out of the SCO's virtual meeting of national security advisors after Pakistan showed a "fictitious" map violating the agenda of the gathering. However, in recent months, Pakistani political and army leadership seems to have toned down rhetoric against India.

Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said in April that a stable relationship between India and Pakistan is key to unlocking the potential of South and Central Asia by ensuring connectivity.

In February, India and Pakistan agreed to strictly observe the 2003 ceasefire agreement.

(ANI)

Also Read: US withdrawal from Afghanistan raises risk of jihadist attacks in China
China's Afghan policy after the 9/11 attacks has been focused on 'curtailing the growth of terrorists and ensuring stability to expand its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to Afghanistan'. However, the abrupt change following the US withdrawal is likely to increase jihadist attacks in China.

Abdul Basit writes for South China Morning Post (SCMP) that the strategic vacuum after the US departure may allow China to expand its influence in the region. However, the ongoing unrest in Afghanistan may spill into to Xinjiang, crossing geographical borders.

Furthermore, the revival of the Taliban's self-styled theocratic rule could deal a blow to Beijing's policy of fighting the 'three evil forces' of separatism, religious extremism and terrorism.

China has remained critical of US policies such as drone strikes in Afghanistan, considering them a threat to its regional interests and national security. However, the presence of the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has benefited China in many ways.

The US and NATO being in Afghanistan have allowed China to spread the reach of its BRI project to Pakistan's Balochistan province and Central Asia without having to worry about Afghanistan. This might no longer be the case after the US leaves.

Additionally, the US presence in Afghanistan did not expose China directly to the jihadist threat.

"Jihadist warnings to China over its oppressive policies against Xinjiang's Uyghur community have remained rhetorical. With the US exit from Afghanistan, this dynamic will change," Basit wrote.

SCMP reported that the Baloch and Sindhi separatist groups in Pakistan are already attacking Chinese nationals and investments for exploiting their resources through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This was noted when the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) targeted a hotel in a suicide attack, where the Chinese ambassador was staying.

TTP-affiliated influential jihadist ideologue and propagandist Abu Zar al-Burmi has been a vocal critic of China. He has drawn attention to China as the next significant threat to target after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Basit further wrote that jihadist groups need a big enemy to justify their extremist narratives and violence. With the US exit from Afghanistan, China might just become that enemy.

A recent UN report asserted that Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, the Turkestan Islamic Party's leader, is trying to create a channel to move Uyghurs in Syria's Idlib province to Afghanistan. That would be a major blow to China with potentially serious consequences for Xinjiang.

If things go poorly in Afghanistan, knowing the fate of Russian and American interventions, China is unlikely to put boots on the ground, according to Basit. Multilateral mechanisms like the United Nations (UN) or the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will also hamper China's ability to secure its interests in Afghanistan.

"The two-decade-long "war on terror" and six years of US negotiations have failed to convince the Taliban to give up on their demands of an Islamic government. Hence, the Chinese-led regional approach to Afghanistan will be better served to find ways of moderating the Taliban's behaviour and improving border security management to minimise the coming blowback," wrote Basit for SCMP.

Fifty out of Afghanistan's 370 districts have fallen to Taliban terrorists since May, informed the United Nations' special envoy on Afghanistan Deborah Lyons on Tuesday, as the US continues its military withdrawal from the country.

In April, US President Joe Biden formally announced his decision to end America's 'forever war', deeming the prolonged and intractable conflict in Afghanistan no longer in alignment with American priorities. Biden said he would withdraw US troops from Afghanistan before September 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the US.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah are set to visit the United States next week to meet President Joe Biden.

(ANI)

Also Read: China will face 'international isolation' if it doesn't cooperate on COVID-19 origins: Jake Sullivan
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
The Tribal Council elections are coming up and Char-Koosta News has new election logos. We can't decide which is the best. That's where you come in. Check out the logo options below and then vote. Which logo do you prefer? Answer below!

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When asked about staffing concerns, Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha Jr. said in an interview with the Tribune Thursday, Cook County Health like every other hospital in the country is always working diligently to try to recruit and retain and attract the best nursing talent anywhere in the country and we definitely are working and making good strides to try to bring more nurses onto our system.
Googles decision to move its Chicago offices from River North in late 2015 and create an expanded Midwest operation there is seen as one of the biggest factors in property values that soared in the years to follow. Google now leases about 386,000 square feet in the building and about 500,000 square feet total in Fulton Market. The company has more than 1,300 employees in Chicago.
McAfee founded his eponymous company in 1987. At the time, Morgan said, he was operating a BBS, a bulletin board system that served as a precursor to the World Wide Web and working with his brother-in-law. When the first major computer virus, called Brain, hit in 1986, John instantly dialed up a programmer he knew and said, theres a big opportunity. We need to do something. You know, we want to write some code to combat this virus, Morgan said. He called the program VirusScan and the company McAfee Associates.
It proposed that there were laws in the United States, antebellum laws, prior to the Civil War, that led to a power differential with African Americans that were  of a human being when this country was formed. And then we had a Civil War and an Emancipation Proclamation to change it. And then we brought it up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it took another hundred years to change that. So look, I do want to know.  It matters to our military, and the discipline and cohesion of this military.
How many more waves do we need before we realize that there is no end to this pandemic, before we get the world to vaccinate itself? Steiner said. We are in the midst of this nightmare right now and we actually can act faster.
We want to make sure when we tell our story that were not trying to make numbers sound bigger than they are, Delorme said. I like to say over 600, just to be assured.
This country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and of our current president, Joseph R. Biden, the committee wrote. The hallmark of our democracy is predicated on free and fair elections. False statements intended to foment a loss of confidence in our elections and resulting loss of confidence in government generally damage the proper functioning of a free society.
Clippard appeared visibly angry, got out of the car and fired multiple shots at Crockett, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, the prosecutor said. Crockett then attempted to flee the car but fell as Clippard climbed across the front seat. He then held a handgun to Crocketts head and shot her multiple times, according to the prosecutor.
A 29-year-old man was shot in the face and shoulder and he was taken in serious condition to Stroger Hospital, according to police. A 34-year-old man, shot in the leg and arm, also was taken to Stroger in fair condition.
Two people got out of the car and fired multiple shots with a handgun and an assault weapon, striking the 17-year-old nine times, as Burns drove away, the prosecutor said. He was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital, according to police.
Chicago police describe the man, who they said may be homeless, as aman in his 30s, 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-11 with either dread-styled hair or wearing a bandanna that may look like dreads, according to the alert sent Thursday morning. In two of the attacks, he approached the victim from behind and hit them with an unknown object.
As a cooperative, the vendors can take catering clients or other orders on a larger scale, such as grocery stores or festivals, and share profits. For the last two months, some of the members have been cooking meals for groups that feed hundreds in communities most affected by the pandemic as part of the grant that helped to subsidize the purchase.
I hope these findings can start to prompt thought on the level of groups that are offering lessons, and help them realize they have an opportunity here to meet a need in groups that perhaps have not in the past been able to access these lifesaving skills, said study co-author Dr. Michelle Macy, an associate professor of pediatrics at Lurie.
You know what else is here to stay? Thousands of unnecessary, duplicative, wasteful units of government in Illinois, from townships to cemetery districts. With nearly 9,000 of them, according to a count by the Civic Federation, we lead the nation in this category. The distinction is hard to defend, given that every other state manages to function without so many agencies. Florida, which has more people than Illinois, has just 1,380 units of government, reports Governing magazine. But getting rid of the excess here is like trying to level the Rocky Mountains with a pickax.
But if we cant get it to the floor, if what its going to take for us to get it to the floor is, with the mayor saying OK, this is what Im going to allow on the floor, this is what I will support, then thats where the compromise came in.
The optimistic prediction is partly because of revenues climbing back up after more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions as well as an influx of federal funding under Democratic President Joe Biden. And because the end of the current fiscal year is expected to even lead to a budget surplus, the county will stand to recoup most of the rainy day funds used to plug this years $410 million deficit. It also will be in a strong position to hire new employees following layoffs and vacant job cuts for the 2021 fiscal year, Preckwinkle said.
Still, he said, steadier rain is best for getting out of a drought, as opposed to heavy rain like the kind expected this weekend. The metro areas drought had been steadily getting worse since April until last week, he said, when the area started experiencing some improvement with precipitation. Areas closer to the Wisconsin border are experiencing an extreme drought, while the southern part of the metro area is not experiencing a drought, he said.
Paleontologists have found an ancient fossil bed during a field trip to the Qaidam Basin in northwest China.

The fossil groups are about 550 million years old. They are the oldest fossil groups ever discovered on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said.

The fossil bed lies in the Quanjishan area on the northern edge of the Qaidam Basin. It contains fossils of living things believed to have existed in the late Ediacaran Period. This period came before the Cambrian Explosion, but a variety of complex mollusk types already existed in ancient oceans, said Pang Ke, with the institute.

The discovery also indicates that the Qaidam Plate and the North China Plate were "close neighbors," according to the research project team headed by Pang.

"During the long period of tectonic evolution, various plates connected and broke off," Pang said. "About 550 million years ago, the Qaidam Plate, mainly formed by the Qaidam Basin, was not connected with the North China Plate, which includes swaths of northern China."

"The Quanjishan area, which is more than 3,000 meters above sea level now, was an ocean at that time," Pang added.

The team's research results have been published in the international journal Geology.
The high-profile COVID-19 blockbuster "Chinese Doctors" has finally set its opening date. It will hit Chinese theaters on July 9, paying tribute to the nation's coronavirus frontline fighters and joining the celebrations to mark the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

"Chinese Doctors", by "Infernal Affairs" director Andrew Lau and starring Zhang Hanyu, Yuan Quan, Li Chen, Zhu Yawen and Jackson Yee, tells stories of how China's medical workers fought against the COVID-19 epidemic from last year. It is mainly set in the hospitals of Wuhan, former epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

Based on true events during China's battle with the virus, as well as the prevention and control measures during Wuhan's 76-day lockdown, preparation and filming for the movie took eight months. The creative team entered Wuhan soon after the city's lockdown ended in early April 2020.

They met hundreds of frontline workers, collecting a large amount of valuable first-hand information and conducting in-depth interviews with the medical team from Guangdong province led by China's top epidemiologist Dr. Zhong Nanshan.

Yu Dong, chairman of Bona Film Group and producer of the film, said he was inspired by a photo of Dr. Zhong, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, the highest state honor, for his outstanding contribution to fighting COVID-19 epidemic, on his way from Guangzhou to Wuhan in early 2020.

"The scenes of medical teams from all across China going to aid Wuhan, and Wuhan's local medical workers fighting on the front line, impressed us a lot, and we wanted to create a film for them," he said.

After collecting voluminous materials and interviews, the creative team decided to set the main action in Wuhan's designated coronavirus-treating Jinyintan Hospital as the stories emerging from it touched everyone's hearts.

Actor Zhang Hanyu's role is based on Zhang Dingyu, head of Wuhan's Jinyintan Hospital, also an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient and a recipient of the honorary title of "People's Hero" who treated and saved more than 2,800 coronavirus patients with his colleagues.

"Chinese Doctors" is the first from China's leading film company Bona Film Group's grand plan of "China's Victory Trilogy" with a theme celebrating China's great triumphs in history. The other two are the war epic "The Battle at Lake Changjin" and spy action film "The Unknown." The trilogy of the films will all be released within this year according to plan.
The door has opened for a China-Nepal joint venture to develop three separate hydropower projects simultaneously on the Marsyangdi river in western Manang and Lamjung districts after the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) on Tuesday approved proposed investment for the last project.

A board meeting of the IBN chaired by Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli approved the proposed investment of 33.41 billion Nepali rupees (280 million U.S. dollars) to develop Lower Manang Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project with a capacity of 139.2 MW, according to a press statement issued by the agency.

Sichuan Provincial Investment Group Co. Ltd, Chengdu Xingcheng Investment Group Co. Ltd and Sichuan Qing Yuan Engineering Consulting Co. Ltd have joined hands with Nepal's Butwal Power Company to develop three hydropower projects under a cascade development model on the Marsyangdi river.

The SCIG International Nepal Hydro Joint Development Co. Pvt. Ltd, the joint venture of the Chinese and Nepali companies, is also preparing to develop Manang Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project (135 MW) and Upper Marsyangdi-2 Hydropower Project (327 MW) on the same river.

"The IBN has already approved our planned investments in Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project and Upper Marsyangdi-2 Hydropower Project and the latest approval to our planned investment for the third project has paved the way for us to work on all three projects simultaneously," Prateek Man Singh Pradhan, vice president of the Butwal Power Company, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"After the approval of the investment proposal, we can now bring money from China to carry out pre-construction preparations at project sites and regulatory processes at the government offices," said Pradhan.

According to IBN spokesman Bhupal Baral, the approval of the planned investment would help the investors generate resources, including from the banks, to develop the project.

Among the three projects, the preparatory works have reached an advanced stage for the Manang Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project which lies upstream of all the projects, according to the Butwal Power Company.

"We have set up a camp for the contractor to work and constructed a bridge for the movement of people and transportation of construction materials," said Pradhan. "We may be able to start construction of this project by the end of this year."

In March, the Nepal Electricity Authority, the sole buyer of electricity in the South Asian country, guaranteed the market for the power to be produced by this project by signing a power purchase agreement with the developer.

Before starting the construction, the joint venture company needs to sign with the IBN a project development agreement (PDA) which determines the roles and responsibilities of the investors and the Nepali government.

"The negotiations are under way for PDA in the case of Manang Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project and Upper Marsyangdi-2 Hydropower Project," said Pradhan.

The Chinese and Nepali investors plan to invest 1.2 billion U.S. dollars for the three projects, according to Pradhan.

Meanwhile, the IBN endorsed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the proposed China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park located in the eastern Jhapa district.

"The board meeting instructed the office of IBN to move ahead preparations to sign PDA with the investor," the IBN statement said.

Baral said the construction work could begin once the PDA is signed between the IBN and the developers.

Damak Clean Industrial Park, a Nepali partner for the joint venture, is working on the project along with Lhasa Economic & Technological Development Zone Investment & Development Co. Ltd and Jing Ping Joint Creation Construction Project Development Co. Ltd from China.

In February, Prime Minister Oli laid the foundation stone for the development of the industrial park, which shall host producers of white goods, transportation equipment, textiles, garments and food, among others.
The third World Congress on Marxism will be held at Peking University in Beijing from July 17 to 18, the organizers said Wednesday.

More than 200 Marxist scholars from home and abroad have signed up to attend the congress. It is regarded as an important platform to promote international research on Marxism and boost academic exchanges in the field since its inauguration in 2015.

This year's conference will take place online and offline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A series of forums and seminars will take place under the theme "Marxism and Modernization," according to Yu Wenli, vice president of the School of Marxism of Peking University.

Yang Haifeng, the school's president, said the congress, to be held as the Communist Party of China celebrates its centenary this year, will contribute to research on the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context.

The first two editions of the congress took place in 2015 and 2018, respectively.
Mainland aerospace scientists started on Wednesday to give lectures and meet students on Hong Kong campuses.

On their agenda is also to witness the inauguration of a lunar soil exhibition slated for Saturday here. The lunar soil was brought back to Earth by the Chang'e-5 lunar probe last December.

The six scientists, who joined major aerospace projects including Shenzhou spaceships, Long March rockets and Chang'e lunar probes, were scheduled to visit the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and six high schools.

Alfred Sit Wing-hang, secretary for innovation and technology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said Wednesday that the experts will share the national aerospace achievements with the Hong Kong audience and bring some lunar soil for public exhibition.

"I believe Hong Kong people, especially the younger generation, can have a better understanding of the space spirit and enhance their sense of pride and belonging to the country," he said.

In Wednesday's events, Hu Hao, the chief designer of the third stage of the national lunar exploration program, presented a national flag, which is the same as the one carried by the Chang'e-5 probe to the moon, to the HKU as a gift.

"The Chang'e-5 probe retrieved a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples from the moon and the figure is meaningful," Hu said when delivering a speech.

Hu explained that the country spent 17 years from launching its moon exploration program to collecting lunar samples and succeeded on the first attempt of the three missions of orbiting, landing and sample-return.

Hu stressed the passion for innovation, a steady faith, perseverance, a sense of responsibility and meticulosity as the key to the success of national aerospace projects when elaborating on the space spirit.

When addressing PolyU students, Qi Faren, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and former chief designer for Shenzhou spaceships, said he hopes young people will take the space spirit to heart and well understand the importance of self-reliance.

The lectures received rounds of thunderous applause by the audience.

The other four scientists coming to Hong Kong are Long Lehao, an academician with the CAE and chief designer of Long March rockets, Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe, Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and chief designer of the BDS-3 satellite system, and Zhang He, executive director of the Chang'e-4 probe project.

National aerospace scientists and taikonauts, or Chinese astronauts, have made multiple visits to Hong Kong since 2003. Analysts said Hong Kong scientists also made contribution to the national aerospace achievements.
You are here: China

China will improve its public cultural service system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to a plan recently released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The plan underlines improving rural public cultural services to help boost rural vitalization, calling for efforts to leverage the strengths of cultural facilities and resources in counties, townships and villages.

It highlights the necessity of advancing online public cultural services to meet the needs of the people, especially of special groups.

The public cultural service system should be enhanced with digital technology and intelligent features and integrated with other public service platforms to bring greater convenience to the people, it added.
Qi Faren, first chief designer of the country's Shenzhou manned spacecraft, gave aerospace enthusiasts a face-to-face talk at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Wednesday.





Students, university faculty members and Hong Kong residents were among those who participated in the event.





On Tuesday, a delegation of the nation's top-level aerospace scientists and engineers arrived in the city. Qi's lecture is the first public event of the exchange visit.





Qi, who joined the national defense industry in 1957, recalled the hardship and bumpy roads for China to evolve into a prominent outer space power. It takes the efforts of many generations of scientists, who stick to their duties in the time of turmoil and peace, Qi said.





"In a time of peace, everyone can be patriotic. When we are diligently doing our work, we are expressing our love for the country. If every Chinese can do like this, China will definitely grow stronger," the famed scientist said.





He told Hong Kong young people that to catch up with and surpass other economies and strive for strong development, "We cannot rely on others but ourselves".





During the talk, the veteran aerospace expert extended his genuine welcome to young students and researchers from Hong Kong to participate in the aerospace area.





"We need young people from all places and areas to join the research and programs of aerospace," Qi said, noting there are several young scientists in the delegation who graduated from universities in Hong Kong.





Qi said Hong Kong youngsters can participate in national aerospace missions via jobs based on the Chinese mainland or in Hong Kong.





In future, Hong Kong youngsters can also weigh in by proposing ideas on science experiments to be carried out in China's space station, once it was established, he suggested.





Before the start of the event, the delegation took a group photo with Hong Kong scientists, including Prof Yung Kai-leung, chair professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of PolyU's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Qi held Yung's hand tightly during the photo session.





Yung and his team have been working with the national team for many deep-space projects for a long time and the university had been involved in many national aerospace missions over the past two decades.





Over the next three days, scientists will visit various universities and secondary schools in the city, deliver speeches and communicate with young people and aerospace fans.





The visit is the biggest of its kind in the past two years. It is also the most extensive cross-border exchange visit since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
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China on Wednesday refuted the criticism by some Western countries on its policies involving Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, opposing interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights and urging the relevant countries to take concrete steps to address their serious human rights problems.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks during a press briefing in response to Canada, on behalf of some Western countries, criticizing China at the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

According to a press release issued by the ministry on Tuesday, Belarus delivered a joint speech on behalf of 65 countries, stressing that the affairs involving Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are China's internal matters, and the outside world should not interfere.

The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have sent a letter supporting China's position, and more than 20 countries are ready to support China by making statements in national capacity.

Noting that the above-mentioned 90-plus countries have voiced their appeal for justice at the Human Rights Council, Zhao said this reflects what the international community is supporting and exposes the hypocrisy of a few Western countries in interfering in internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of human rights.

"A handful of Western countries are eager to fabricate and peddle rumors about China and interfere in China's internal affairs in the name of human rights with the aim of suppressing and containing China and hindering its development process," said Zhao. "But, such attempts are doomed to fail."

He added that China is determined to promote and protect human rights at home and safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Pointing out appalling human rights violations by countries like Canada, the United States and Britain, Zhao advised them to take concrete measures to address their serious human rights problems, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, and do good deeds for the sound development of the international cause of human rights.

In response to the international community's concern about the human rights situation in the United States, Zhao said the United States has unscrupulously adopted double standards on human rights issues, and treated human rights as a tool to safeguard its hegemony and interfere in internal affairs of other countries.

Zhao added that instances of human rights abuse by the United States are too large to record, which include race massacre against indigenous peoples; prevalent, systemic and persistent racial discrimination; provoking wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and unilateral sanctions that violate the human rights of citizens of other countries.

The United States should respond to the voices of minorities and bring justice to history and the world, he said.

Zhao also expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab backing Canada's actions in tweet.

"This is a politically motivated accusation against China based on lies and false information, and it is a gross interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights," Zhao said.

Pointing out that the British army tortured and injured innocent local civilians during wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Zhao said the British side, however, blatantly justified the crimes perpetrated by its soldiers in legal form.

China urges the British side to seriously reflect on its gross human rights violations, and not attempt to distract attention and shirk responsibilities by attacking and smearing China, Zhao said.
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U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, is stepping down, multiple media reported Wednesday.

Scott said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that he had received a directed reassignment letter, which provides recipients the option to relocate, resign or retire, and shared he would remain in his current position for about 60 days.

Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz is expected to succeed Scott on an acting basis, said media reports, citing sources within the White House.

Scott, who began his career with U.S. Border Patrol in 1992, assumed the post as chief in February 2020.

As U.S. Border Patrol chief, Scott is in charge of U.S. law enforcement who apprehend and process migrants crossing illegally between ports of entry on the U.S. border.

The U.S.-Mexico border is experiencing a 20-year high in border crossings.
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Cambodia and Britain on Wednesday pledged to forge deeper bilateral ties and cooperation on economy, trade, education, mine clearance, health, and environment, said a Cambodia's foreign ministry statement.

The vow was made here during a meeting between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and visiting British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

Raab arrived in Cambodia late on Tuesday on a three-nation tour, which already took him to Vietnam and Singapore.
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China has again urged the United States to open Fort Detrick as soon as possible, let international experts access relevant information, and publish research results of the more than 200 U.S. bio-labs all over the world, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks during a press briefing while commenting on a query that U.S. Republican from Wisconsin Mike Gallagher on Monday said China was engaged in a systematic "cover-up" designed to avoid culpability for its "mishandling" of the pandemic.

Since the outbreak, China has been open and transparent, sharing its experience in prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment with other countries without reservation. The country has received WHO experts to China twice and released the research report of the joint WHO-China study, making positive contributions to global COVID-19 origin tracing and gaining worldwide recognition, Zhao noted.

"I would like to ask the congressman you mentioned whether he paid enough attention to the outbreak of large-scale EVALI in Wisconsin in July 2019? The world has yet to see a clear conclusion about the disease. Does he think this is a systematic 'cover-up' by the United States?" Zhao asked, adding that if the congressman wants to reach a conclusion, he might as well drive to Fort Detrick, which is only an hour's drive from Wisconsin. It may be helpful to know the truth there.

In June 2019, Fort Detrick was ordered to stop research work after failing to follow procedure, as well as due to mechanical failure and leakage problems. Almost at the same time, EVALI broke out in Wisconsin, the spokesperson said.

Zhao noted that Fort Detrick's hidden peril and leakage accidents have become notorious, and its so-called research and poison gas experiments, which are unethical, are shocking.

Zhao said faced with widespread doubts and international concern, the United States is silent and evasive. "What are they really afraid of? The real systematic cover-up is from no one but the United States. Is there a more awful truth?"
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Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China is ready to continue providing vaccines and other support for Fiji's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.





In a phone conversation with Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Xi said China will set up a China-Pacific Island Countries reserve of emergency supplies, and help Fiji and other island countries improve their ability to cope with major public health incidents and natural disasters.





Pointing out that Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with New China, Xi said since the establishment of ties 46 years ago, the China-Fiji relations have developed tremendously, an important experience from which is that the two sides have always been supporting each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns.





China respects Fiji's independent exploration of a development path that suits its national conditions, and is ready to work with Fiji to push the China-Fiji comprehensive strategic partnership continuously to new levels, so as to better benefit the two peoples and jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he said.





Xi emphasized that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Fiji have worked together through thick and thin to fight the pandemic, and their friendship and cooperation have continued deepening.





China stands ready to strengthen strategic alignment with Fiji, jointly build the Belt and Road, deepen cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, transportation and communication, tourism, and other fields, and continue to implement projects including Juncao and agricultural technology cooperation to help Fiji's economic and social development, Xi said.





China will continue supporting Fiji in improving its ability to cope with climate change, he said.





In his message, Bainimarama expressed warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, saying that with Xi's foresight and sagacity and under his strong leadership, China has scored great achievements in development and played an important leading role in the world.





He thanked China for providing invaluable support for Fiji's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Fiji firmly adheres to the one-China policy, takes an objective and fair stand on issues involving Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and will not do things that harm China's interests.





Fiji is ready to strengthen exchanges with China, deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs, he said.





The joint construction of the Belt and Road has a broad prospect and will bring important opportunities for the Fiji-China cooperation, the Fijian prime minister said, adding that Fiji will continue taking an active part in it.
Family Research Council Welcomes Jennifer Bauwens as Director of the Center for Family Studies, Releases New Publication on Ethical Principles for the Helping Profession



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Family Research Council

June 23, 2021



WASHINGTON, June 23, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Family Research Council is pleased to announce Dr. Jennifer Bauwens has joined the FRC team as Director of the Center for Family Studies. Jennifer has a Ph.D. from New York University and has taught on psychological trauma and research methods in several graduate programs, including Rutgers University and Princeton Seminary. She has worked extensively as a clinician providing trauma-focused treatment to children in foster-care and behavioral health settings and to adults who've experienced interpersonal traumas, such as sexual abuse and assault. Jennifer has also created programs to mitigate the effects of traumatic events for survivors of domestic violence and abuse, and she is trained on violence prevention for youth and adults in both national and international contexts. In her role at Family Research Council, she researches and advocates for policies that will best serve the health and well-being of families and communities.



Family Research Council also released a new publication, titled "Protecting the Vulnerable: A Call to Uphold Ethical Standards in Treating Gender Confusion," authored by Jennifer Bauwens, which outlines the current ethical problems in human services and work with children. The publication states: "Right now, in the United States, there are an estimated 13,000 people who started a pharmaceutical treatment as minors to block the natural maturation process of their biological sex. To date, there have been 11,000 gender reassignment surgeries performed in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The surgical market is predicted to grow from the year 2020 value of 304.8 million to a forecasted 781.8 million in 2027. That is roughly a 14 percent growth rate over the next seven years. As demands are placed on this market, we can expect minors to be increasingly targeted for these lucrative interventions. We should be greatly alarmed by the fact that minors can access medical interventions to radically alter their physiology in an effort to 'fix' gender dysphoria. This disturbing fact should garner our full attention and prompt us to act." Family Research Council President Tony Perkins stated: "We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Jennifer Bauwens to the FRC team to direct our Center for Family Studies. In addition to her policy research experience, her extensive educational and clinical background in helping victims of trauma gives her a perspective on how to help people struggling with difficult personal circumstances. We look forward to seeing God use her in her new role at FRC to research and proactively set forth ways to support the well-being of families." Jennifer Bauwens, Director of the Center for Family Studies at Family Research Council, added: "I'm delighted to join FRC at this critical time in history. I look forward to working with the policy team to identify solutions to the social and psychological problems that have plagued our communities and families. Our society has a great need for healing. I'm confident, by God's grace and wisdom, that we will have the answers that will cause our world to hope again." To read the full publication, visit: www.frc.org/researchethics.



SOURCE Family Research Council



CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Joshua Arnold, (866) FRC-NEWS or (866)-372-6397



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Market Scenario

Baby Car Seat Market is expected to reach US$6,250 million at a CAGR of 5 % during forecast year. Baby car seat provides the solution over baby safety concern which helps to protect baby from the injury caused by accident.

Increase parents awareness about their baby safety, strict government laws and availability of baby seat with the ability to carry the baby at anywhere are the key factors, which grew the demand for baby car seat and that turns to increase the baby car seat market. Lack of awareness about baby car safety and no strict regulation about baby car safety by undeveloped countries are hamper the growth in baby car seat market.

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Baby Car Seat Market

Baby car seat market is segmented by product type, distribution channel and region. Based on the product type, the baby car seat market is distributed into booster seats,rear-facing baby seat, convertible seats and forward facing baby seat. The Rear facing baby car seats hold the growth in baby car seat market owing to it offer comfort sitting arrangement for new born baby and supports to the head, neck and spine of the born babies. Furthermore, forward facing car baby seat is expected to grow at the high rate of CAGR in baby car seat market. Forward facing car seat provides impact protection and impact cushions and properly fitted seat belt.

By distribution channel, Baby car seat market is divided into hypermarkets & supermarket, specialty stores, baby boutique stores, and online retail. The online retail is estimated to witness high growth in baby car seat market. Online platform become popular owing to that it provide the delivery to the doorstep by order of products. With an online platform, the consumer can compare the price of a car seat on different websites. Online platforms provides the home delivery and free shipping and Exchange & return offer turns to increase the baby car seat market. Baby car seat have to be purchase by consumer owing to these seats are not pre-installed in the car.

In terms of region, North America hold the lager market share in baby car seat market owing to strict government regulations concerning baby safety seat. The government of the nation California established the law for baby safety. Followed by North America, Europe is expected to dominate the growth in baby car seat market owing to increasing concern with baby safety and strict regulation in Europeans countries . Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness grow in baby car seat market by rapid birth rate from developing economies such as India and China.

Key profiled and analyzed in the report

Clek Inc, Britax Group Ltd, BREVI SRL, Artsana Group.,Newell Brands Inc., Mothercare plc, KiwiBaby, InfaSecure, Jane Group, Goodbaby International Holdings Ltd, Dorel Industries Inc, Cosatto Ltd, UPPAbaby, Renolux France Industries, RECARO Holding GmbH,Diono INc.,Graco childrens products Inc., RECARO GmbH & Co. KG and Combi.

Scope of a report for the baby car seat market:

By product type

 Booster seat

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 Rear-facing baby car seat

 Convertible seats

 Forward facing car sea

By distribution channel

 Hypermarkets & Supermarket

 Specialty Stores

 Baby Boutique Stores

 Online Retail

By region

 North America

 Europe

 Asia-Pacific

 Middle East Africa

 Latin America

Key players in Baby Car Seat Market

 Clek Inc

 Britax Group Ltd

 BREVI SRL

 Artsana Group.

 Newell Brands Inc.

 Mothercare plc

 KiwiBaby

 InfaSecure

 Jane Group

 Goodbaby International Holdings Ltd

 Dorel Industries Inc

 Cosatto Ltd

 UPPAbaby

 Renolux France Industries

 RECARO Holding GmbH

 Diono INc.

 Graco childerens products Inc.

 RECARO GmbH & Co. KG and combi.

 Orbit Baby

 Bebe Confort

 Nuna

 Recaro

 Chicco

Cargo Shipping Market

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"Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Market published by Trends market research (TMR), forecasts that the global market is expected to garner $XX Million by 2025, registering a CAGR of XX% during the period 2018- 2025.The industrial machinery sector is expected to dominate the global CNC market during the assessment period. Europe is expected to be the leading contributor to the global revenue during the forecast period.

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Evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning technology has led to development of applications that notify the status of a machine to operators/supervisors on their PCs or smartphones. Various government initiatives, for instance, Make in India by the Indian government and Made in China 2025 by the Chinese government, support the establishment of manufacturing units in their respective nations.

Automation Boosts Markets Growth

Rising concerns about reducing operational costs are being witnessed in several industrial sectors, consequently demanding large-scale automation. Such demands for automating various industrial processes is primarily driving the global computer numerical controls (CNC) market. This mainly because of reduction in overall manufacturing time and decreasing chances or human error to occur by using the CNC machines, consequently making them highly preferred.

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Rising environmental concerns regarding reduction of industrial carbon footprint has led towards computer numerical controllers being increasingly used in place of manually operating machines. Doing this has resulted into improved efficiency being achieved by businesses working in the industrial domain, thereby being beneficial to the global computer controls (CNC) market.

CNC machines are used in automotive, aerospace and defense, power and energy, construction equipment, industrial, and several other sectors. Increasing efforts to cut down on expenses incurred in employing operators for individual machinery are expected to augment the CNC machines market over the forecast period.

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Major Key Players

Several market key players are adopting different strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations for technologies and new product development. For instance, in 2016, Fanuc Corporation collaborated with Cisco (a player in the digitization market), Rockwell Automation (a player in the industrial automation market), and Preferred Networks (a player in the artificial intelligence solutions market) for the development and deployment of the FIELD system."
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Decorative Laminates Market is accounted for $6.99 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $10.22 billion by growing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. Key factors driving the decorative laminates market include upcoming cultural and fashion trends in interior designing, increase in demand from the flooring industry, cabinets, and rise in demand from the rebounding housing markets. However, High cost of high pressure decorative laminates acts as a restraint to market growth.

Decorative laminates are laminated products used as furniture surface materials or wall panelling. They are commonly used as an overlay over wooden furniture. Decorative laminates are an essential part of interior surfacing solution. Use of decorative laminates on wooden furniture surface provides a unique and stylish look to furniture in residential and non-residential buildings. They enhance the lifespan of surfaces and give them an attractive finish.

Based on types covered, the general purpose segment is expected to lead the decorative laminates market during the forecast period. General purpose decorative laminates are known for their excellent properties such as impact resistance, ease of cleaning, hygiene, scratch resistance, and heat resistance. By Geography, North America is anticipated to account for significant share of the decorative laminates market during the forecast period.

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Some of the key players profiled in the Decorative Laminates market include Abet Laminati S.P.A, Archidply Industries Ltd, Fletcher Building Limited, Fundermax GmbH, Greenlam Industries Ltd, Merino Group, Omnova Solutions Inc, Panolam Industries International, Inc, Stylam Industries Ltd, Wilsonart International Inc, Advanced Technology, Armstrong World Industries, Formica, Kingboard Holdings, Kronospan Holdings, Ronotex, Timber Products and Woodcraft Industries. .

Production Techniques Covered:

 Melamine Resin Soaking

 Phenolic Resin Soaking

Types Covered:

 Backer

 General Purpose

 Postforming

 Special Products

Sources Covered:

 Brown Paper

 Decorative Paper

 Overlay Translucent Sheet

Properties Covered:

 Anti-Bacterial

 Fire-Retardant

 Magnetic

Build Types Covered:

 Non-Core

 Unicore

Raw Materials Covered:

 Adhesives

 Overlays

 Plastic Resins

 Wood Substrate

Finishings Covered:

 Matt

 Polished

 Smooth

 Textured

 Other Finishings

Applications Covered:

 Cabinets

 Counter Top

 Flooring

 Furniture

 Table Top

 Wall Panels

End Users Covered:

 Residential

 Non-Residential

 Transportation

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Automotive Paints & Coatings Market is accounted for $19,112.56 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $28,159.40 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. The major driving factors of automotive paints & coatings market are constant improvement in their property and functionality, increase the durability, presentation, and performance of end-products. However, difficulty in sourcing the raw material and volatile prices of raw material are restraining the automotive paints & coatings market.

Global Automotive Paints & Coatings play an important role in the automotive industry. They are not only used to enhance the appearance for the purpose of beautification of vehicles but also used as a preventive measure or protection layer for vehicles. It can protect the vehicles from corrosion, UV radiations, chemicals and many other damages. There is a constant increase in demand for special coatings used in fuel-efficient automotive and also growing demand from the automotive industry.

Based on technology, the water-based technology segment accounted for more share, in terms of volume. It find applications in automotive, interiors of coal cars, fly ash hoppers, plastic pellet hoppers, and the architectural sector, as they offer advantages such as less flammability, low emissions, and stable viscosity during printing. By Geography, Asia-Pacific is the largest market which is mainly backed by the expansion of the regions increasing household activities. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing paints & coatings market with most of the large manufacturers establishing their facilities in this region.

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Some of the key players profiled in the Automotive Paints & Coatings market include Akzonobel N.V, Asian Paints Limited, Axalta Coating System LLC, Beckers Group, Berger Paints India Limited, Dunn-Edwards Corporation, Hempel A/S, Jotun A/S, Kansai Paints Co., Ltd, Masco Corporation, Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd, PPG Industries, RPM International Inc, S K Kaken Co., Ltd, Shalimar Paints, Sherwin-Williams Company, Tikkurila OYJ and Valspar Corporation. .

Technologies Covered:

 Ultraviolet (UV) Cured

 Powder Coating

 Solvent-Based Technology

 Water-Based Technology

 Other Technologies

Layers Covered:

 Base Coat

 Clear Coat

 E-Coat

 Primer

Resins Covered:

 Acrylic

 Alkyd

 Epoxy Resin

 Polyester

 Polyurethane

Textures Covered:

 Matte

 Metallic

 Solid

Vehicles Covered:

 Heavy Commercial Vehicles

 Light Commercial Vehicles

 Passenger Cars

Distribution Channels Covered:

 Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

 Aftermarket

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Medical Robotic System Market is accounted for $6,078.31 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $33,652.34 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 20.9% during the forecast period. Factors such as technological advancements in medical robotic system, increase in funding for medical robots research and issuance of IPOS by medical robot companies are fuelling the market growth. However, the safety concerns over robotic surgery devices are hampering the market.

Medical robots are specially designed robots which can tackle various tasks associated with medical sciences. This refers that ranging from their usage in surgeries, to usage OD few robots as a receptionist in various hospitals around the world. Medical robotic systems are used in various medical applications and differ depending on its usage. These include surgical robotic systems, spine robotic systems, laparoscopic robotic systems, and rehabilitation robotic system.

Among Application, The neurosurgery segment has considerable growth during the forecast period owing to the increasing precision and improved quality of medical robots which have encouraged the use of robots in neurosurgery.

By Geography, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the significant market share during the forecast period due to the increasing geriatric population, growing adoption of medical robots, and robot-assisted training initiatives for surgeons.

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Some of the key players in global Medical Robotic System market are Roche Holdings, Abbot Diagnostics, Omnicell Technologies, Intuitive Surgical, Accuray Incorporated, Stryker Corporation, Mckesson Corporation, Siemens Healthineers, Mazor Robotics, Titan Medical Inc., Medrobotics Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Inc, iRobot Corporation, Hansen Medical, Inc. and Renishaw Plc.

Components Covered:

 Locomotion Systems

 Visualization System

 Safety Systems

 Software Platform

 User Interface

 Power Sources

Products Covered:

 Hospital & Pharmacy Robotic Systems

 Emergency Response Robotic Systems

 Disinfection Robot

 Surgical Robotic Systems

 Rehabilitation Robotic Systems

 Noninvasive Radiosurgery Robotic Systems

Applications Covered:

 Orthopedic Surgery

 Neurosurgery

 Laparoscopy

 Oncology Application

 Special Education

 Cardiology Application

 Urology Application

 Other Applications

End Users Covered:

 Rehabilitation Center

 Pharmacy

 Home Care Setting

 Hospital

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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Market Scenario

Multifactor Authentication Market was valued US$6.93 Bn by 2017 and is estimated to reach US$24.82 Bn by 2026 at a CAGR of about 15.23% during a forecast period.

Multi-factor authentication utilizes many-fold methods of authentication to verify a users identity. Authenticating user identity ensures security during online transactions and accessing corporate resources. Multi-factor authentication utilized for Credentials breach of data that enterprise in order to administer an extra security layer that makes users authenticate via knowledge, possession, and inherence factors to gain access to corporate and social networks. A large number of countries have introduced countermeasures to implement the regulations such as HIPAA, Basel II, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), PCI DSS, and SOX.

Multifactor Authentication Market

Based on the Model type, Multifactor Authentication market can be fragmented into Two-factor, Three-factor, Four-factor and Five factor. Authentication model of five-factor is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. As five-factor authentication model provides a high level of security to top secret information, which is of high importance. Provide many good solutions for government applications such as security services, homeland access to top-secret national data/files, safeguarding data, and technology in national research centers.

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Based on application Multifactor Authentication market is sectionized into BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Retail, and Telecom & IT. Increasing online traction and the growth of e-commerce are the major factors for growth. Many regulatory bodies have moved to regulation for the use of multifactor authentication technology in this application. Thus BFSI is accounted for the largest share in multifactor authentication market.

In terms of geography Multifactor Authentication market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America is expected to dominate the Multifactor Authentication market over the forecast period. Many companies of this market are significantly focusing on strategic mergers and acquisitions for deeper geographical penetration. The growth of the North American region is majorly followed by countries such as the United States and Canada. According to 2017, multi-factor authentication market revenue in North America is around 2327.5 Mn.

Key Players Profiled and Analyzed in the Report

CA Technologies, RSA Security, SecureAuth Corporation, Gemalto, Microsoft Corporation, HID Global Corporation/ASSA ABLOY AB, Symantec Corporation, Vasco Data Security International Inc., Safran, Okta Inc., NEC Corporation, Ping Identity, Fujits, Entrust Datacard Corporation and HID Global Corporation, 3M, VASCO Data Security International Inc., RSA Security LLC , Suprema HQ Inc. , and Crossmatch

Scope of the Multifactor Authentication Market

Multifactor Authentication Market by Model Type:

 Two-factor

 Three-factor

 Four-factor

 Five-Factor

Multifactor Authentication Market by Application Type:

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 BFSI

 Government

 Healthcare

 Retail

 Telecom & IT

Multifactor Authentication Market by Region:

 Asia Pacific

 Europe

 North America

 Middle East & Africa

 Latin America

Key Players in the Multifactor Authentication Market:

1. CA Technologies

2. RSA Security

3. SecureAuth Corporation

4. Gemalto

5. Microsoft Corporation

6. HID Global Corporation/ASSA ABLOY AB

7. Symantec Corporation

8. Vasco Data Security International Inc.

9. Safran

10. Okta Inc.

11. NEC Corporation

12. Ping Identity

13. Fujits

14. Entrust Datacard Corporation

15. HID Global Corporation

16. 3M

17. VASCO Data Security International Inc.

18. RSA Security LLC

19. Suprema HQ Inc.

20. Crossmatch

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Report Description and Structure

The Future Market Insights report studies the tower crane global market for the decade from 2017 to 2027. The main objective of this informative report is to gain insights into tower cranes, taking an in-depth look at the marketing efforts and delivering information on the opportunities that exist in the tower crane global market. The report focuses on strategies devised by tower crane manufacturing companies that have had an outsized impact on the tower crane global market. The report estimates, forecasts, and analyses the tower crane global market from the supply perspective in terms of millions of US$. The report highlights the various drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends in different regions of the tower crane market.

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To gauge the opportunities in the tower crane market, the report has conducted a regional market analysis for North America, Latin America, APAC, MEA, and Europe with a competitive landscape. The latter includes the market share analysis, competition dashboard, company profiles, and brand share analysis. The report assesses the global tower crane market in terms of market value as well as volume. The tower crane market report begins with the executive summary that consists of the introduction and taxonomy of the tower crane market. The introduction provides the perfect first-glance at the tower crane market in the form of important figures and a birds-eye overview of the tower crane market. Other chapters of the tower crane market report highlight the opportunities in the tower crane market. An impact analysis of relevant drivers and restraints taking into account the weighted average model is provided in the tower crane market report to arm and equip readers with decision making insights.

Robust Research Methodology

To assess the market size, the report considers a number of aspects with a basis of secondary research. In addition, data points such as regional and market split on the basis of the taxonomy from the respondents have been considered to arrive at required market numbers. The forecast presented in the report gauges the total revenue in the tower crane market. To arrive at the market forecast, the current market is sized up to form the crux of anticipating how the tower crane market should shape up in the future. Given the characteristics of the tower crane market, the data is triangulated with the dynamics, demand, and supply side of related markets.

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The forecast is conducted not only in terms of CAGR but also on key parameters such as absolute dollar opportunity and Y-o-Y growth to assess the predictability of the tower crane market and pinpoint opportunities as and when they arise. A critical component of the tower crane market report is an in-depth analysis of the tower crane market by region and the revenue in terms of absolute and incremental dollar opportunity. The absolute dollar opportunity is often overlooked while forecasting the market but is essential to assess provider opportunity level and resources from a sales perspective in the tower crane market. Furthermore, to understand important segments in terms of growth and performance in the tower crane market, Future Market Insights has devised a market attractiveness index that assists key stakeholders in tapping present and future market opportunities in the tower crane market.

About FMI

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMIs latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

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The global biofertilizers market size is estimated to be valued at USD 2.6 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach a value of USD 4.5 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 11.9% in terms of value during the forecast period. Factors such as adoption of precision farming and protected agriculture along with increase in the environmental concerns are some of the factors driving the growth of the biofertilizers market.





COVID-19 Impact on the Biofertilizers Market:

The global market has witnessed a relatively stable market growth post-COVID-19 pandemic, with a similar trend of high demand in 2020. Biofertilizers can be developed easily, and therefore, are run by domestic manufacturers. As the produce can be manufactured by local companies, the supply chain has not been affected much due to the crisis. Therefore, local manufacturers are projected to dominate the market in most of the countries. There has been a significant increase in food crop production, such as soybean, in South America, fruits & vegetables in European countries, rice in Asian countries. In addition, there is repetitive cultivation due to the increased need in each country to step up domestic food production. Hence, biofertilizer is an effective tool, which helps in replenishing soil nutrition and has gained a high demand in the market. In addition, due to the ban on harmful chemical pesticides, the growth of the market for biofertilizers has not dropped significantly. With the relaxation of restrictions by the government, the market for biofertilizers is projected to grow significantly in the future.

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Restraint: Environmental and technological constraints

Biofertilizer products have a limited shelf-life and run a high risk of contamination. The microorganisms used as biofertilizers become non-viable when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, it is very important to store them in a cool and dry place. The major problem in the agricultural inoculation technology is the survival of microorganisms during storage; other challenges revolve around several parameters such as culture medium, physiological state of the microorganisms when harvested, dehydration process, rate of drying, temperature maintenance during storage, and water activity of inoculants. These challenges influence the shelf-life of microbes. The market also has less availability of research & development and testing labs, which is hindering the growth of the biofertilizers market. There is also a need for a quality management system to provide better microbial products to farmers.

North America is the fastest-growing market during the forecast period in the global market

The North American market is projected to dominate the market due to the rising demand for organic products, increasing acceptance of biofertilizers among rural farmers, and high adoption of advanced irrigation systems such as drip & sprinkler irrigation for fertigation. A stringent regulatory environment in addition to a growing preference for the usage of biofertilizer products has led to the favorable growth of the market. Industrialization, mining, and urbanization have led to a decrease in arable land in North America.

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Key players in this market include Novozymes A/S (Denmark), Vegalab SA (Switzerland), UPL Limited (India), Chr. Hansen Holding A/S (Denmark), Kiwa Bio-Tech (China), Lallemand Inc. (US), Rizobacter Argentina S.A. (Argentina), T. Stanes & Company Limited (India), IPL Biologicals Limited (India), Nutramax Laboratories Inc. (US), Symborg (Spain), Kan Biosys (India), Mapleton Agri Biotech Pty Ltd (Australia), Seipasa (Spain), AgriLife (India), Manidharma Biotech Pvt Ltd (India), Biomax Naturals (India), Jaipur Bio Fertilizers (India), Valent BioSciences (US), Aumgene Biosciences (India), Agrinos (US), Criyagen (India), LKB BioFertilizer (Malaysia), Varsha Bioscience and Technology India Pvt Ltd. (India), and Valagro (Italy).
The Middle East finished lubricants market size is projected to reach USD 2.14 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period, as per a new research report published by Polaris Market Research. The report Middle East Middle East finished lubricants Market Share, Size, Trends, & Industry Analysis Report, [By Type (Metal Working Fluids, Transformer, Gear, Hydraulic & Engine Oils), By Base Oil Source, By Grade, by Application, By End-Use: Segment Forecast, 2018  2026 offers a wide analysis of different types of lubricants in Middle East along with insights related to current and future trends in the market.

Growing demand from end-use industries for several wide range of lubricant types for different functionality is the primary factor driving the market. Metal working fluids have experienced the highest demand in the past two years in the region apart from increasing demand for automotive lubricants.

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Metalworking fluids demand constituted for a substantial share of the industry sales. The metalworking facilities uses lubricants for several different applications, including grinding, stamping and machining. These products also serve as lubricants or coolants, which depends on the application functionality requirement.

Middle East is a lucrative market space for the lubricant suppliers. However, due to the market dominance of the leading industry participants in the country it makes it a highly competitive environment for the new and small-scale players in the industry. Strategic distribution and supply systems play the most crucial part for customer retention and also increasing penetration of target markets.

The worldwide supply chains have been facing rising product portfolio and customer complexity lately. Heightening and demand for variety of finished lubricants type from several developing industries in the region have forced the industry participants to focus at unique ways to transform the existing ways to drive efficiencies. And also, to offer lower cost products, quality customer service and overall whilst lowering inventory and working capital.

Shell Oman Oil Marketing Company has been the leading lubricant brand selling a wide range of finished lubricants in the region in 2017 and till July 2018 as well. The companys demand driven planning helped it remain ahead of the competition not only in the Middle East but also in the global lubricant market. The company revealed that in order to overcome the increasing complexity in consumer demand, it makes use of inventory buffers in order to break the bullwhip effect in the supply chain.

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As per the cross-industry survey from Terra Technologies (E2open), it showed that as the number of finished lubricants sold upsurges, the overall amount sold remains pretty flat in most industries. Hence, as the sales volume of every product goes down, it can be anticipated that forecasting of SKU levels gets more tougher the wider the product portfolio is.

Finished lubricants manufacturers in the region have been very much focused on the base oil grades that are used for formulation of lubricants as industrial consumers have been very specific to their demands for their product characteristics. Grade 2 segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2018 to 2026 in terms of revenue generated and account for around 36% of expected demand by 2026. Grade 1 lubricants segment is expected to experience a moderate growth over the forecast period.

Middle East finished lubricants market is dominated with sales from the multinational players. To name some of them would include Shell Oman Marketing Company, Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Co. S.A.O.C, TOTAL Lubricants, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Middle East & Africa FZE, Oman Oil Marketing Company (Omanoil), ExxonMobil, British Petroleum, and Castrol.

Middle East Finished Lubricants Market Size and Forecast by Country

Middle East Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar Morocco Egypt Kuwait Oman Bahrain Rest of Middle East



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About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.

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San Francisco, 24 June 2021: The Report U.S. Faucet Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By End User (Residential, Commercial), By Application (Kitchen, Bathroom), By Distribution Channel (E-commerce, Multi-brand Retailers), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The U.S. faucet market size is anticipated to reach USD 4.7 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2028. Rising demand for home furnishings and fittings is driving the market. According to the Leading Indicator for Remodeling Activity (LIRA), home improvement spending grew at 6.0% annually in 2019.

The growing construction of smart homes and smart bathrooms can be attributed to an increasing number of consumers showing a preference for a spa-like experience at home. Digital faucets that operate on sensors serve as a means of conserving water and energy through different features such as reduced tap flow, digital temperature control settings, touchless technology, infrared tap technology, and timed settings.

The U.S. EPA WaterSense label on sink faucets and accessories indicates that they use a maximum of 1.5 gallons of water per minute, which reduces a sinks water flow by 30.0% compared to a standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute. Thus, rising consciousness among consumers to save water is driving the demand for smart bathroom fittings and digital taps.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken every sector across the globe, and the hotel industry is among the hardest hit. The market in the commercial sector has been impacted on account of travel bans and lockdowns. The overall travel business has witnessed a considerable decline as a result of continued health concerns from the prolonged pandemic and a weakened economy, which hits many small companies. As the disease prevails and economic uncertainty remains, there is a significant reduction in business travel (in terms of both trips and expenditure) as compared to pre-COVID-19 times. Reduced travels have affected the travel and hospitality industry immensely, thereby affecting the market.

The commercial segment is estimated to be the largest and fastest-growing segment in the coming years. Many players are offering premium and luxury taps, specially designed for the commercial sector. Moen Incorporated offers a wide variety of taps for the commercial sector and some of the latest innovations include M-Power, M-Dura, M-Press, and M-Bition. Similarly, Delta Faucet Company offers innovative commercial faucets for the hospitality sector.

The kitchen segment is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment. The increasing adoption of high-tech faucets is supporting the growth of the segment. According to Houzz, 57.0% of the homeowners had updated kitchen taps as part of a completed, current, or planned 2018-19 kitchen renovation. Out of these, 30.0% opted for water-efficient faucets, 24.0% opted for no fingerprint coatings faucets, and 22.0% preferred touch-only taps. The growing adoption of pull-out and pull-down faucets in order to achieve maximum reach and increase flexibility drives the demand for kitchen taps among millennials.

Companies such as Franke Kitchen Systems provide faucets that are outfitted and can be switched between the needle and full water spray, and swivel 360 degrees. The Franke 3-in-1 faucet is created to provide cold, hot, and distilled water for ensuring the use of pure and suitable temperature water in the kitchen.

Multi-brand retailers are the largest shareholder in the distribution channel segment. Corporate firms, government organizations, and large builders prefer direct association with faucet manufacturers. For this purpose, annual contracts and tenders are released for a continuous supply of taps. As these B2B sales require proper interaction for a better understanding of minute details, offline sales for commercial applications have been dominating the market.

Access Research Report of U.S. Faucet Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-faucet-market

U.S. Faucet Market Report Highlights

The commercial segment accounted for a revenue share of 67.1% in 2020 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.0% over the forecast period

The kitchen segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 5.6% from 2021 to 2028 and will be valued at USD 1,551.7 million by 2028

The multi-brand retailer segment was the largest segment in 2020 and was valued at USD 1,871.9 million, ascending with a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecast period

The west region of the U.S. was valued at USD 776.7 million in 2020, ascending with a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period, thereby expected to be valued at USD 1,193.5 million by 2028

List of Key Players of U.S. Faucet Market

Kohler Co

Kraus, USA

American Standard Brands

GROHE America Inc.

Pfister

Delta Faucet Company

Moen Incorporated

AquaSource Faucet

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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, 06/24/2021 - SANDSIV, a leading provider of customer experience management solutions in the EMEA region, has won the Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Product Leadership Award 2021 in the European Voice of the Customer sector. The award follows the recognition of SANDSIV's flagship sandsiv + platform by both Gartner and Forrester Research as the VoC market leader, marking the arrival of SANDSIV as a global leader in the CX / VoC space.

SANDSIV's market leadership extends beyond Europe. From its headquarters in Switzerland, SANDSIV provides CX solutions to clients in 16 countries, including telecommunications multinationals A1 Group and MTN Group.

The Frost & Sullivan Award recognizes SANDSIV's leadership in three key aspects of the CXM industry: business innovation, technology disruption, and measurable benefits to client companies. Thirteen CXM vendors were considered for the award.

Frost & Sullivan were particularly impressed with the SANDSIV + combination of power and flexibility. SANDSIV has consistently led the field in applying new zero-touch technologies to capture feedback, making practical sense of customer data with AI-powered analytics and providing richly augmented views of that analytics. Its K8s-based automated deployment system helps SANDSIV tailor the platform to each customer's exact needs and allows sandsiv + to seamlessly integrate with the most complex and advanced IT infrastructures.

"We are proud to lead the European VoC space", says Federico Cesconi, CEO of SANDSIV. "As a Swiss company, located in the heart of Europe, we feel a special obligation to maintain the highest standards of quality, reliability and safety. We are delighted that Gartner, Forrester and now Frost & Sullivan are in agreement."

Frost & Sullivan, a global business growth consulting firm with a 60-year history, was impressed with both the raw capabilities and proven reliability of sandsiv +, as well as its proven ability to measurably improve business performance.

"SANDSIV offers a superior solution," notes the Frost & Sullivan award announcement, "which is powered by state-of-the-art AI, with advanced analytics and visualization capabilities, and a full range of capabilities that enable businesses to capture VoC through more channels, improve customer services and differentiate yourself from competitors. "

This sentiment is echoed by the same analysts who rated SANDSIV against the competition.

"sandsiv + takes customer business intelligence to a whole new level," notes Frost & Sullivan research analyst Federico Teveles, "providing customers with insight into what is happening behind the scenes and delivering exceptional value to end-user organizations. .

"SANDSIV supports its success through its strong commitment to customer-centered product design," he continues. "The modular architecture of SANDSIV + increases the agility of the platform and allows customers to use the functional modules they need so they can adapt the solution to their context."

Download the full report (PDF) by clicking here: https://mautic.sandsiv.com/sandsiv-e-stata-reconosciuta-da-frost--sullivan-come-leader-del-prodotto-voice-of-the-customer -in-the-European-market

To find out more about how SANDSIV helps companies consider their customers' voices in everything they do, contact us at info@sandsiv.com or sales@sandsiv.com.
Market Research Future Has Published a Cooked Research Report on the Global Master Alloys Market.

Market Analysis:

Various factors are propelling the master alloys market growth. These factors, as stated by the MRFR report, include burgeoning demand for master alloys from the titanium industry, and growing demand in the automotive sector. Additional factors pushing market growth include growing demand for superalloys that can withstand extreme temperatures and collaboration between consumers and manufacturers.

Master Alloys Market Size is predicted to touch USD 441.2 million at a 6.51% CAGR over the forecast period (2018-2024), as per the latest Market Research Future (MRFR) report. A master alloy, simply put, is a base metal including nickel, copper or aluminium with a comparatively percentage of one or two other elements. These alloys are made in various shapes such as rod in coils, waffle plate, and ingot. They are mostly found in plants where metals are melted, alloyed with different elements as well as cast into shapes. It can be steel, iron, aluminium or precious metals such as gold. Master alloys are also known as a modifier, grain refiner, and hardener resting on its application.

On the contrary, declining profit margins, coupled with the dull growth of the steel industry are factors that may impede the master alloys market growth over the forecast period.

Key Players:

Leading players profiled in the Master Alloys Industry include KBM Affilips (Netherlands), Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (Netherlands), Asturiana de Aleaciones SA (Spain), Reading Alloys (AMETEK Inc.) (US), and Milward Alloys Inc. (US), among others.

July 2019: UK-based LCM (Less Common Metals), the sole rare earth alloy producer based outside Japan and China has begun the production of metal. LCM produces samarium cobalt alloys and neodymium-iron-boron, and high purity earth metals for the permanent magnet industry in Southern England. Besides, they also make other rare earth alloys such as master alloys (lanthanum nickel and yttrium aluminum) and hydrogen storage.

Market Segmentation

The Market Research Future report provides a wide segmental analysis of the Master Alloys Market Size based on application and type.

Based on type, the master alloys market is segmented into copper-based master alloys, chromium alloys, vanadium alloys, molybdenum alloys, aluminium-based master alloys, and others. Of these, the aluminium-based master alloys segment will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period. This is owing to the fact that aluminium is lightweight, highly compatible with other base materials, and works as a hardening agent.

By application, the master alloys market is segmented into the aluminium industry, metal anhydride alloys, iron, titanium production, powder metallurgical, stainless steel, superalloys, and others. Of these, the titanium production segment will dominate the market over the forecast period. This is owing to its wide use in aircraft engines as well as components. The titanium production segment will be followed by the superalloys segment.

Regional Analysis

Based on the region, the Master Alloys Industry covers growth opportunities and the latest trends across North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Of these, the APAC region will remain the frontrunner in the market over the forecast period. It is predicted to grow at an 8.3% CAGR. This is owing to the burgeoning demand from various end industries such as aluminum, consumer goods, automotive, and aircraft components. The presence of automotive giants such as Mitsubishi and Toyota are investing largely in production facilities, especially in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia are also boosting the market growth in this region.

The master alloys market in North America is predicted to have the second-largest share in the market during the forecast period and is predicted to touch USD 91.4 million. This is owing to the growth in the aerospace industry and the presence of leading aircraft manufacturers in the region.

The master alloys market in Europe is predicted to have moderate growth over the forecast period. Germany is the key contributor in this region owing to the growing demand for titanium alloys in the automotive as well as aerospace industries.

Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/master-alloys-market-6229
USA, 24 June 2021 Are you struggling with chronic pain, stress, anxiety, irregular sleep, and several other health problems? If your answer is yes, then dont get worried because several most effective solutions are available in the healthcare world that can help you to get rid of all these health problems effectively. It has been seen that the demand for CBD products is increasing day by day because some health experts stated that CBD products can help to heal the body effectively. There are several medicines in which CBD plays a vital role because CBD is loaded with several beneficial properties. Numerous companies in the health care world are providing various products, but CBD oil is the primary choice of almost every individual. CBD oil is considered the best as compared to other products because of several reasons. The primary reason is that cbd oils are easy to use and start working at a rapid pace.



Individuals will experience instant results after using cbd oils and get a healthier lifestyle. In the healthcare world, you should be alert because some companies dont provide the best cbd oils. The main purpose of this best cbd oils review is to provide complete information about the best cbd oil supplements to every individual. You can conveniently choose the best cbd supplements with the help of this review. There are numerous best cbd oil companies available that provide the best oils, for example, Charlottes Web, Joy Organics, Populum, Medterra, Five CBD, Rya Organics, Aspen Green, Sol CBD, and much more. With the help of the best cbd hemp oils, individuals can experience several health benefits in a short while. Individuals instantly get rid of chronic pain and inflammation by using cbd oils because these are the best cbd oil pain relief formulas that are loaded with anti-inflammatory properties. Individuals with expectations to know about the best cbd oil in 2021 and other details can feel free to visit this site.



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LONDON, June. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) ordered four state-owned banks and the country's leading mobile payment app Alipay to cut off all transactions linked to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The statement urged banks and payment firms to thoroughly check client accounts, identify those involved in cryptocurrency transactions and promptly cut their payment channels. Beijing's hard line on crypto, paired with the rollout of the digital yuan, which allows the PBOC to keep near real-time transaction data of all individuals and entities using the digital currency, has long been a concern for many investors, entrepreneurs and businesspeople. The World Wealth Report noted China as the largest exporter of wealthy migrants, with around 16,000 Chinese millionairesA leaving the country in 2019 alone. According to UK-based investment migration firm CS Global Partners, the trend is forecasted to continue increasing. Wealthy Chinese individuals understand the importance of safeguarding their financial privacy and assets, says Micha Emmett, the CEO of CS Global Partners. "Investing in second citizenship remains a highly sought-after commodity to provide safety and a valid exit strategy and also allow wealth preservation and financial privacy. In a country like China, that's embroiled in a long trade war with the US a where economic stability is being threatened, and the government is pushing for even more monetary access a second citizenship feels like a necessity." According to Emmett, a popular option for Chinese HNWIs looking to diversify their wealth and secure financial privacy is an investment in an economic citizenship programme like that of St Kitts and Nevis. St Kitts and Nevis'A Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme is recognised internationally as a 'Platinum Standard' brand and has been hailed by the annual CBI Index as offering the world's fastest citizenship timeline. Applicants who pass vetting procedures can obtain citizenship and thus apply for a passport within three months. UntilA the end of 2021, a family of up to four can receiveA St Kitts and NevisA citizenship with a contribution ofA $150,000A to a government fund instead of the previous $195,000. In exchange, investors are awarded citizenship which grants them rights to live, work and study on the dual island. Economic citizens also become eligible to travel to nearly 160 countries and territories. Contact:A pr@csglobalpartners.com

www.csglobalpartners.com
At the Sharp Coronado Hospital Volunteer Appreciation event, CEO Susan Stone, left, thanked Sue Gillingham, Executive Director of the Coronado Chamber of Commerce, and Robin MacCartee, President of the Rotary Club of Coronado, for their significant contributions to the clinics success. Also pictured on the right is Ana Ramirez, Volunteer Coordinator. The Rotary Club was the largest financial supporter of the Chambers lunch program for volunteers.
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Pastors Steven Mather (left) and Eric Smith, of the Coronado Community Church. Since 2005, Pastor Steve Mather has been in residence at CCC, replacing the Pastor Tom Warmer. Now, after 16 years, Mather is retiring. In his place will be Pastor Eric Smith, another old Coronado soul.
At some point during the assault, the victim was able to bite Jones arm or hand, she said, which caused him to jump up and let her up for some reason but continued choking her as he pushed her head against a car.
When Miller walked into Alyodawis apartment with other officers, the fire was out. Miller said he instantly recognized from his training that the Sudafed and cold packs were two pretty big giveaways that its a meth lab, he said. It was the first time Miller saw a meth lab in his 14-year career.
Once UHart students receive either one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, they will have to upload an image of their CDC vaccination card to their Student Health Portal account, as well as provide the dates they received the doses. For international students, the university will accept vaccines authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization.
There is no question that for some of the younger age group, theres [a thought] that COVID isnt going to be as serious for me as for others, said Dr. Jim Cardon, chief clinical integration officer at Hartford HealthCare. They just dont have the same respect for the virus in terms of the illness that it can cause.
The new vaccine mandate comes as young people in Connecticut are significantly less likely to have been vaccinated as older residents. As of last week, 60% of Connecticut residents age 25-34 had received at least one vaccine dose, along with 55% of those 18-24, 62% of those 16-17 and only 41% of those 12-15. By comparison, 94% of those 65 and older had been vaccinated, along with 84% of those age 55-64.
Well want to look at how other jurisdictions and states have handled this, and lessons learned, he said. Im operating from the premise that the council will want to allow this in some fashion, so what would be the best set of rules and parameters for our community?
Because we have been in business 11 years and we fostered a lot of relationships and customers in the region, we just wanted them to know that weve never condoned or fostered any kind of sexism or racism or any kind of hate, Penny OConnor said.
A lot of people will follow a writer for a long time and then inevitably they will turn out a book that is not as good as the others, Hilderbrand told The Associated Press in an interview last month. "Ive always said to myself, I will not do that. I will make each book better and better or different in some way. I feel myself coming to my natural end of my material.
Built into the system  if not immediately visible on the big screens Ferreira was monitoring  are analytic computer programs that the MOC team uses to predict which aircraft are going to need which part or maintenance task and when, as well as tools to help the team set priorities when any particular part is in short supply.
In this case the evidence showed that she was traveling at an excessive speed prior to the impact and she was driving the wrong direction on the interstate, he wrote in an email Friday. So the evidence dictated the charge, not the victims widow.
Lyndon German Staff writer

Lyndon German is a Virginia native born in Mechanicsville. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016, he went on to work for the Hopewell News, the Progress Index, the Richmond Free Press and Virginia Public Media. He has a passion for news, radio, podcasts and the NBA.
In some cases, a team of folks goes out in a mobile van and actually uses the vehicle as the vaccination site, but in many cases, its just a small team of people who can show up and sit under a tent or sit at a table, he said. So much of vaccination work right now is this smaller scale, five, 10 people at a time, pop-up vaccinations at community events. And thats what its going to look like for the next few months.
My three kids are 5, 10 and 11, and they love it, she reports. If theyre not by the stage dancing, then they can be on the playground running. I think its even better for kids this year, since so many have had virtual school and not really been able to see other kids.
She is also a U.S. Army veteran and was known for her work in supporting military veterans and their families. Williams started at Intel Cooperation in 1997, where she served as the executive sponsor for American Veterans and represented the company in meetings about veterans issues and immigration with several government agencies. Williams most recently served as Intels vice president of human resources enterprise services. A member of the White Houses Joining Forces Initiative industry working team and the Presidents Job Council working team, she has accumulated multiple accolades such as the Seven Seals Award from the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
I figured itd be a good way for these kids to earn their community service hours and its also a good way to build their resume if they continue their art careers. And its also just cool for them to put their name on something that will stand for at least 20 years, Day said.
The NCSC has issued a notice to the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Bhongir district. (Photo: Representational)

New Delhi: Taking strong note of a Dalit woman's death in police custody allegedly due to torture, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has sent a notice to Telangana chief secretary and DGP seeking facts and information about action initiated in the matter.

The commission has also asked the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Telangana's Bhongir district to submit their action-taken report within a week.

According to information available with NCSC, the woman who was working as a cook, was arrested along with her son following a complaint of theft by the house owner. She died in the lockup of Addagudur police station in Bhongir district due to alleged police torture, it said.

The woman was allegedly beaten by the police in the presence of her daughter despite repeated requests, the commission said citing reports.

The NCSC has issued a notice to the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Bhongir district, and also the chief secretary and the police chief of Telangana asking them to submit the facts and information on action taken in the matter within seven days.

NCSC Chairman Vijay Sampla, on whose orders the notice was sent, has cautioned the officers that if the action-taken report is not received within the stipulated time, the panel would exercise its powers of the civil courts conferred on it under article 338 of the Constitution and issue a summons for personal appearance before the commission in Delhi.

"As Chairman I am duty-bound to secure the rights of the Scheduled Castes and ensure that they get justice in all respects," Sampla said in a statement.
New Delhi: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhiryal 'Nishank' will interact with students through social media on Friday and answer queries related to class 10 and 12 board exams, which were cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nishank, who is in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) undergoing treatment for post-Covid complications, said students have been sending him messages with their queries and apprehensions.

"Dear students, I am constantly receiving a lot of your messages and information. Also, you have expressed concern about my health. For this, I would like to express my thanks to all of you and say that I am feeling healthy now.

"Some of your apprehensions have also been expressed in your messages. But was unable to communicate with you due to this ongoing treatment in the hospital. If you have any other query related to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exams then you can send me on Twitter, Facebook, or also by mail," he said in a series of tweets.

The Union minister informed that he will answer the queries of students on June 25 at 4 pm through social media.

The exams for both class 10 and 12 were cancelled by the CBSE in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The board has announced its alternative assessment policy for both the classes. While schools have been asked to submit class 10 marks till June 30, the deadline for schools to compile class 12 marks is July 15.

According to the policy for class 12 results, decided by a 13-member panel set up by the board, the theory paper evaluation formula of 30 per cent weightage will be given to class 10 marks, 30 per cent to class 11 marks and 40 per cent weightage to class 12 marks obtained in unit test/mid-term/pre-board examinations.

The CBSE scheme further elaborated that for class 10, the 30 per cent marks based on average theory component of best three performing subjects out of main five subjects will be taken.

According to the evaluation criteria announced for class 10 students, while 20 marks for each subject will be for internal assessment as every year, 80 marks will be calculated on basis of the students' performance in various tests or exams throughout the year.
Students wait to receive a dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the International Health Vaccination Centre in Hyderabad. (Photo: PTI/File)

Hyderabad: As Telangana lifts COVID-19 restrictions and reopens classes for educational institutes, universities in Hyderabad have stepped up the vaccination of students, non-teaching staff and faculty.

Colleges are gearing up to welcome students back to classrooms after several months of online classes and vaccination drives have been initiated to sure the safest environment for all those present on campuses.

In order to ensure that health is not compromised, colleges have also extended this service to family members and people who are not associated with the colleges.

Earlier on Saturday, the Telangana Cabinet completely lifted the COVID lockdown restrictions. The state cabinet decided to reopen schools and other educational institutions from July 1 so that students can attend physical classes.

With the combined efforts of the NSS (National Service Scheme) and a private hospital, this special vaccination drive has been opened at Arora's Degree and PG College as well as in the Methodist College, Hyderabad.

Both aim to vaccinate around 150 to 200 people every day.

"We had seen in the papers that vaccines are available in the state but are not being administered to the people promptly. Our principal supported the NCC's initiative and gave us the push we needed for this drive," said Suwarna Lakshmi, Senior Assistant Professor at Arora's Degree and PG College.

She added that the drive was being implemented in association with the TX hospital.

Doses of Covishield are being administered in this drive and beneficiaries are being charged as per the government's guideline with both online and walk-in registrations.

Students have lauded the college's initiative and believe that this will go a long way in keeping them and their families safe from the infection.

"Its a really good thing that the college has started this vaccination drive so that students can stay safe and the spread of COVID-19 can be controlled. Now that the government has said that offline classes should start, this is a must," said Gayatri, a student at Arora's Degree and PG College, after being administered her first dose.
Hyderabad: Telangana state, as on Thursday, had no cases of Covid-19 caused by the Delta plus variant of the Coronavirus, health officials have said. The mutated version of the Coronavirus has been dubbed as a variant of concern by the Centre. The assurance came even as Madhya Pradesh on Thursday reported what it said was the first death of a Covid-19 patient who was infected by the Delta plus variant.

As of Thursday morning, the Centre reported some 40-odd cases of infection by the Delta plus variant in the country, with many coming from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala. This variant is believed by scientists to be extremely infectious, taking very brief period of exposure, as little as a few seconds, to jump from person to person.

Director of Health Services Dr G. Srinivasa Rao, speaking with newspersons, said Telangana state had not found any Delta plus variant cases. He said that the state government was ramping up vaccinations and has included teachers, and anyone over 30 years into the eligible groups of people who can be vaccinated.

The finding of which variant of the Coronavirus is prevalent among those getting infected  on Thursday, the health department said 1,088 fresh Covid-19 cases were discovered in the state depends on the number of samples the health department sends to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), one of the labs in the country identified for sequencing the genomes.

Meanwhile, some private hospitals in the city have been admitting Covid-19 patients from Nanded district of Maharashtra, with doctors suspecting that some of the patients could be infected by the Delta plus variant. However, private hospitals cannot request genome sequencing and will have to route their requests to the state health department to send samples to the CCMB. Some private hospitals are learnt to have sought permission and sent samples for genome sequencing.

It is not difficult for the Delta plus variant in Maharashtra to enter Telangana state through patients from that state who seek treatment in the city. With Mumbai, Nagpur and Solapur located at a distance far for these patients from the districts near the Telangana state border, these Maharashtra patients prefer to come to Hyderabad for treatment.
The GHMC area is seeing ups and downs in cases, as also in the adjoining Ranga Reddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts. (Representational Image/DC)

Hyderabad: Four days after unlocking, there has been a slight increase in the number of people with mild Covid-19 symptoms reporting at city hospitals.

Experts state that these patients appear to have picked up the infection during the relaxation period when the lockdown was in place, and were coming to the hospitals now.

Dr C.R.K. Prasad, a senior doctor, explained, Small hospitals have started seeing cases of those who had symptoms on June 20. They have now been tested and identified as Covid-19 positive. With the movement of people without following proper safety protocols there will be spikes of Covid-19 cases noted from time to time."

The GHMC area is seeing ups and downs in cases, as also in the adjoining Ranga Reddy and Medchal Malkajgiri districts.

Dr Mohan Gupta, senior member of the Indian Medical Association, said, There was a slight increase noted in the last two days but overall the number of Covid-19 cases was found to be coming down. These sudden bursts are due to activities like marriages, weekend parties, small gatherings."

In the districts too, Khammam, Nalgonda and Suryapet are a matter of concern as there are slight increases noted every three days after a small decline.

Experts state that these sporadic cases will be noted from time to time. With neighbouring states relaxing lockdown, being alert during interstate movement is most important.



Fresh cases: 1,088

Deaths: 9

Tests done: 1,19,466

Active cases: 16,030

Total cases: 6,17,776

Total deaths: 3,607



Most new cases

1. GHMC: 137

2. Khammam: 86

3. Nalgonda: 68

4. Ranga Reddy: 65

5. Karimnagar and Suryapet: 64

Fewest new cases:

1. Adilabad and Kamareddy: 2

2. Nirmal: 4

3. Jogulamba Gadwal: 6

4. Komarambheem Asifabad, Narayanpet and Nizamabad: 7

5. Jangaon: 10
The Muslim family had warned the youth against the love affair but he did not heed. (Representational Image)

Vijayapura: In a suspected case of honour killing, a Muslim family bludgeoned their daughter and a Dalit youth to death in Vijayapura district as they were in love against their wishes, a police official said.

Four people, including the girl's father and her brother, have been arrested while one person is absconding, Vijayapura Superintendent of Police Anupam Agrawal told PTI.

According to information received, the incident happened on Tuesday in Saladahalli village in Devara Hipparagi Taluk of Vijayapura when 19-year old Basavaraju and the 16- year old Davalabi who were in love were attacked.

The Muslim family had warned the youth against the love affair but he did not heed.

On Tuesday afternoon, the couple was in the field when Davalabi's father and brother reached the spot along with three others and attacked the boy and the girl with stones and sticks and fled the place after killing them, police said.

Soon after receiving information, police personnel reached the spot and sent the bodies for autopsy.

While two were arrested on Wednesday, two others were caught on Thursday, police said.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will undertake the second leg of his district tours from July 1. There will be surprise visits to towns and villages to inspect implementation of Palle Pragathi and Pattana Pragathi programmes which will be launched on July 1 across the state.

On the first leg of his district tours, the CM visited Warangal, Siddipet, Kamareddy and Bhongir districts and launched development programmes. The CM would undertake mass contact programmes throughout July.

Official sources said the CM obtained feedback on his recent whirlwind tour of districts from government and party sources. He was told that it helped put the state administration on high alert besides taking the administration closer to the people.

It also helped the TRS as the elected representatives, the ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs down to sarpanches at the grassroots level, got involved with the people by taking up extensive tours after reports came that the Chief Minister would undertake surprise inspection of any area in any district.

Party circles say the CM's tours helped to divert people's attention from the sacking of health minister Etela Rajendar that has been hogging limelight since May first week.

With Huzurabad bypoll round the corner, the CM wants to maintain this tempo by frequently visiting districts, interacting with people to review the delivery of the TRS government's welfare schemes and development programmes at the grassroots level.

The CM will hold a conference with his ministers, collectors and additional collectors of all districts on June 26 at Pragathi Bhavan and list out his priorities during his upcoming district tours.

Later, the CM will participate in the concluding ceremony of the year-long birth centenary celebrations of late former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao being held on behalf of the state government, on June 28 at P.V. Narasimha Rao Marg (formerly Necklace Road) in Hyderabad. He will then embark on district tours.
Margani Bharat, YSRC Parliamentary Party Chief Whip, who is on the civil aviation parliamentary standing committee, opposed the Bill in the Airport Economic Regulatory Committee meeting at New Delhi. (Photo:Facebook @MarganiBharat)

KAKINADA: The state government has strongly opposed some amendments in the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill 2021 as they would lead to monopolisation in the civil aviation sector.

Margani Bharat, YSRC Parliamentary Party Chief Whip, who is on the civil aviation parliamentary standing committee, opposed the Bill in the Airport Economic Regulatory Committee meeting at New Delhi on Thursday and raised several issues that he said would prove harmful to airports and passengers.

He clarified that the state was not opposing privatization, but would oppose monopoly in privatisation. He said that the amendment of Section 2(i) of the parent Act has a very deep meaning and the repercussions would be terrible.

He said that the intention behind the proposed amendment was to privatise airports under AAI and the Centre would bundle or pair some airports and impose development charges and other tariffs on passengers to benefit the concessionaire.

He said that the foundation for the bill was in 2019 as the then AAI chairman made a statement in 2019 that Vijayawada and Tirupati airports would be privatised. Bharat said that he had opposed the statement at that time. The MP said that Rs 750 crore was allocated for the expansion and modernisation of Vijayawada and Rs 200 crore for the Tirupati airport.

He questioned how AAI and ministry of civil aviation were justifying the move for privatisation after investing nearly Rs 1,000 crore for their expansion and modernisation. He said that there are six airports in Andhra Pradesh and three of them are international airports. Kurnool airport started its operations in March and cant assess its viability while Rajamahendravaram airport is incurring losses Rs 32.84 crore.

Now once this Bill becomes an Act, the ministry will hand over all these airports to private players either through bunching or pairing and the private players would fleece passengers.

Bharat said that the civil aviation ministry has decided to sell its residuary stake in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports and the government has given these airports on PPP mode and concessioners are allowed to operate for 25 to 30 years. If GOI stakes are sold, there will not be any control on airports.

Infographics:

- Margani Bharat says India is the fastest-growing aviation sector between 2014-15 and 2019-20 at nearly 15 per cent.

- In Andhra Pradesh, the growth has gone up from 28 lakh to 55 lakh, much higher than the national average.

- AAIs vision till 2026 is to be the pre-eminent air navigation service provider with global recognition, thereby acting as a catalyst for economic growth in the areas they serve.
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Sterling, VA (20165)

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Fort Hood, TX (76544)

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Isolated thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

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Isolated thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Photo by David Dickstein

Fundraising nonprofits hope to make green out of red, white and blue, starting as early as June 28 in Galt.
This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Alexia Morales, left, and Yael Tadeo in a scene from "I Carry You With Me." AP-Yonhap



Director Heidi Ewing makes a powerful narrative debut with '' I Carry You with Me,'' a dreamy and tender, decades-spanning story about love, sacrifice, memory and immigration.



The central character is Ivan (Armando Espitia), an aspiring chef who we meet in Mexico as he's struggling to get a spot in a kitchen and to make enough money to support his son. His boss, who has him washing dishes and fixing toilets, tells him to be patient. Ivan's culinary school degree and talent are of no interest to the boss, who fills an open kitchen position with a relative in need.



Then one night Ivan meets the handsome Gerardo (Christian Vazquez), a teacher who, unlike him, is out as a gay man. They begin a passionate affair that Ivan tries to keep secret from everyone. He fears that his son's mother won't let Ivan see him if he's outed and his own mother won't understand. When it looks like he's about to be exposed, he makes the decision to cross over into America with his best friend, Sandra (a heartbreakingly good Michelle Rodriguez), and to just leave it all behind for the hope of better opportunities in the U.S. The way the characters living in Mexico talk about those who've made ''the crossing,'' it sounds akin to disappearing forever.



New York is hardly a promised land for Ivan at first either, who is still not able to get a break in a kitchen and ends up working as a janitor and deliveryman. He's also achingly lonely and isolated, with only Gerardo as a lifeline.



The film cuts back and forth between past and present freely, with some devastating flashbacks to both Ivan and Gerardo's childhoods and their fraught relationships with their own fathers.



Because of the structure, we know early that Ivan achieves his dream and makes it as a chef in New York. But it also becomes abundantly clear that his promises to return to his son have not been fulfilled. There are too many complications with being undocumented and the threat of deportation looms always. It's a gut punch to realize on one of their facetime conversations that the little boy he left in Mexico is now a grown man.



Ewing, who has previously co-directed documentaries, co-wrote the screenplay with Alan Page Arriaga. They based it on the real story of an acclaimed New York chef. The project even started out as documentary before evolving into a hybrid of sorts, with actors portraying the younger versions of Ivan and Gerardo. The way the non-linear elements come together sometimes disrupts the overall flow and poignancy of key moments, but the film is always engaging and emotionally authentic.



Mexican cinematographer Juan Pablo Ramirez does wonders with the camera, too, capturing the very different energies of Mexico and New York. Mexico also exists mainly as a nostalgic idea for Ivan and is given an even dreamier quality.



''I Carry You with Me'' couldn't be any more specific about the trials of an undocumented gay couple trying to carve out a place for themselves, but it's that specificity that makes its themes and emotions all the more universal. By the end, Ivan's losses, triumphs and memories good and bad start to feel like your own.



''I Carry You with Me,'' a Sony Pictures Classics release in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for ''language and brief nudity.'' Running time: 111 minutes. Three stars out of four. (AP)


Actress Scarlett Johansson, top, and director Cate Shortland attend an online press conference with Korean reporters, Thursday. Courtesy of Walt Disney Co. Korea





By Kwak Yeon-soo







Actress Scarlett Johansson said she is proud of how her character Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, evolved over time since her first appearance in 2010's "Iron Man 2."







"When we see her in Iron Man 2 she's a caricature of the person, reacting to all the male characters. She's a leader and complicated when we see her in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). In Avengers: End Game (2019), she's a fully formed person. It's been progressive and I'm proud of that," she told Korean reporters during an online press conference, Thursday.







Recalling her experience portraying Natasha as "a very unique experience," the acclaimed actress expressed excitement about presenting the "Black Widow" standalone film after over a decade in the role.







On what she looks for when selecting projects she wants to work on, Johansson said she usually looks for opportunities to collaborate with directors she admires.







"Sometimes I'll find a great script and then bring it to a director. But it always ends up being about that collaboration. That's my greatest joy. I love working for directors and helping to make their vision a reality. That relationship is everything to me. It brings me great satisfaction," the actress said.







Director Cate Shortland described "Black Widow" as an action movie with a lot of heart, adding that Natasha's psychological journey is at the center of the story.







"It's an action movie that's driven by the desire to make the audience feel uplifted. Rather than being a black-and-white character, there's ambiguity in Natasha. I think that's what's beautiful about this film and it's about being true to her," she explained.







Shortland added, "What we tried to do was to make sure each action sequence moves the narrative forward. The character would discover something more about herself or other relationships. If that wasn't happening, the action sequence wasn't working. The psychological journey that she was going on had to be part of the action sequences."







Scarlett Johansson in a scene from "Black Widow" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Co. Korea





In the upcoming film "Black Widow," Natasha reunites with figures from her past  Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), and Red Guardian (David Harbor)  to destroy the perilous Red Room, a top-secret facility that trains young girls to become deadly weapons.







The film was supposed to hit local theaters in April last year, but its release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.







According to Johansson, what really separates Natasha from the other Avengers is that "her strength is in her vulnerability."







"Some of the other Avengers probably are not as comfortable about their vulnerabilities. It may be a male ego thing, I'm not surebut she embraces that. I think that's one of the qualities that makes her so endearing," the actress said.







Meanwhile, the director said they used humor to deliver the film's message and were careful in portraying the characters as survivors, not victims.







"I think it's an important film. It's about people who have a lack of control over their life and what they do to get that back and to feel loved and heard. I think women in the world have been going through that since the beginning of time," Shortland said.







"It wouldn't have been made without MCU's preceding works such as Black Panther (2018) or DC's Wonder Woman (2020) because they made studios believe there is an audience outside white men. I think that was also important. So I hope we're opening the door for other filmmakers or actors to step through," she added.







Scarlett Johansson, right, and Florence Pugh in a scene from "Black Widow" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Co. Korea





For Johansson, "Black Widow" has a special meaning because she not only starred in the film, but also produced it.







"It's a movie we made because we wanted to, not because we had to. Everybody bonded together to tell the story about a character that I feel so much love and compassion for," she said.







"As a producer, I participated in the whole process and I really felt like I was heard throughout the process. I think I work best in situations where I'm able to collaborate with people that are at the top of their game, and we all challenge one another to think big and the best idea rises to the top. I think a producer's job is to make it a safe place for that to happen and make sure that everyone is heard. I function well in that position so that was a revelation for me."







The actress also encouraged everyone to see the film in theaters. "This year has been an opportunity to reflect on our priorities, so I think the film coming out at just the right time when people can come together in theaters and celebrate the family that we choose," Johansson said.







"Black Widow" will hit local theaters on July 7.






Seen is the Korea Exchange (KRX) building in Seoul. Courtesy of KRX



By Park Jae-hyuk



Amid growing interest in environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and sustainability among participants in the Korean capital market, the Korea Exchange (KRX) said it has made various efforts to provide investors with useful information about ESG to offer them better opportunities.



"We will do our best to create an environment for ESG investments which have become a core paradigm in the capital market," KRX Chairman Sohn Byung-doo said in a press conference in March.



The Seoul bourse operator organized an ESG advisory committee including outside experts last November to establish policies and systems for ESG investments.



Given that all companies listed on the benchmark KOSPI market will be obliged to disclose their governance structures starting 2026, the KRX also plans to establish an ESG information portal and open lectures on ESG for listed firms, so as to raise awareness about the necessity of disclosures regarding ESG standards.



In January, a guidance on ESG disclosure was announced to induce listed companies to disclose information regarding their sustainability standards more actively. This was also intended to introduce best practices to domestic firms that are not familiar with them.



In order to draw up the guidance, the KRX formed a working group comprised of listed companies, securities firms, asset management companies and ESG advisory firms, conducting a five-month study on the best practices used overseas.



It has also been announcing ESG-related indices, since coming up with its Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index in 2009. Including the KRX ESG Social Responsible Management, KOSPI 200 ESG and KRX/S&P Carbon Efficient Green New Deal indices, the institution has come up with seven ESG-related indices.



The KRX is also considering developing additional ESG-related indices for the low-carbon economy.



Based on those indices, several types of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are listed on the market to satisfy the demand for ESG investments. The KRX has sought to introduce various ESG-related investment products, including the FOCUS ESG Leaders ETF, KB KRX ESG Eco ETN and Carbon Efficient Green New Deal ETF.



In June last year, the bourse operator opened a website providing all information on SRI bonds in both Korean and English.



An SRI bond means a bond in which issuing proceeds are used for projects that are eco-friendly or generate social benefits. Issuers of such bonds must establish a bond management framework and be reviewed by external institutions to verify their compliance with the principles established by international organizations including the International Capital Market Association and the Climate Bonds Initiative.



In the past, Korea lacked an appropriate institution providing information and statistics on SRI bonds. Because each bond issuer disclosed their information separately, it has been difficult for investors to gather all needed information.



The KRX said it decided to open a public information portal regarding SRI bonds in order to provide transparent information on the bonds and to help investors save time and money. An English portal is also available for foreign investors.


Kakao Pay logo



Kakao Pay seems to be streamlining business structure to focus on launching Kakao Insurance



By Anna J. Park



After the Financial Services Commission (FSC) granted preliminary approval for Kakao Pay's digital insurance business earlier this month, noting that the company met all the necessary requirements to operate the business here, market watchers are closely monitoring the company's moves to get Kakao Insurance, its online non-life insurance affiliate, off the ground.



According to industry sources, Kakao Pay recently met with other major insurers here to discuss the possible sale of KP Insurance Service, one of its insurance subsidiaries, in order to streamline its business structure prior to the official launch of Kakao Insurance, possibly later this year.



Kakao Pay acquired KP Insurance Service in July 2017. KP Insurance Service was Korea's first "insurtech" firm that introduced the use of technological innovations designed to maximize savings and efficiency compared to the prevalent insurance industry model. It also brought in crowd-sourcing by allowing customers to freely form a group to receive the same level of insurance benefits. The company's service platform allows customer groups to negotiate with various insurers to select the best plan for them.





gettyimagesbank
Managaha Island that can be reached in 10 minutes by boat from Garapan, the downtown of Saipan, is a small and precious resting place. Courtesy of Marianas Visitors Authority



By Jun Ji-hye



With Saipan being cited as one of the candidates that could potentially sign a "travel bubble" agreement with Korea, domestic air carriers are moving to resume their international flights there.



Asiana Airlines will resume operating flights between Incheon and Saipan on July 24, 16 months after they were suspended due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, while T'way Air is ready to operate flights there from July 29.



Travel bubbles refers to a partnership between two or more cities or countries that have managed to curtail COVID-19 infections to allow quarantine-free air travel in both directions.



Saipan, one of the three inhabited islands in the Marianas that consists of 14 islands, has a population density of about 378 people per square kilometer, which is 43 times lower than the population density of Seoul, which means one person could hypothetically enjoy a space alone up to 43 times larger than in Seoul.



Marianas Visitors Authority has three suggestions for travelers who wish to experience a tranquil break from the ordinary this summer in Saipan.



Currently, the government of Saipan exempts people from mandatory isolation following their arrival if they have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen or AstraZeneca vaccine.



Relaxing at Managaha Island



Managaha Island, the paradise that can be reached in 10 minutes by boat from Garapan, the city center of Saipan, is a small and delightful resting place. The circumference of the entire island can be walked around in under 15 minutes.



You can dive directly into the water to appreciate the color of Saipan's sea, or sit on the sandy beach and just take it in with your eyes.



Enjoying a book while basking in the sounds of the sea and the radiant warmth of the sun's rays is another way to fully appreciate the beauty of Managaha Island.



Take a romantic sunset cruise





Tourists can watch a romantic Saipan sunset on a sunset cruise. Courtesy of Marianas Visitors Authority
Fr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, poses during an interview with The Korea Times at the university in western Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Park Ji-won



Fr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, recently translated a book into Korean to help bridge the gap between religious people and sexual minorities. The book, titled "Building a Bridge," introduces actual tips like helpful Bible lines for both religious people and sexual minorities to communicate more effectively with each other. The original English-language book was written by Fr. James Martin in 2017 under the title "Building a Bridge: How the Catholic church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity." It is known as the first book in Korean by the Catholic ministry on sexual minorities.



The Korean edition came out in April, at a time when the Protestant church has been engaged in fierce resistance against LGBT people's rights and acceptance in society. While the Catholic Church has been comparably quiet in on the subject, many bishops, priests and nuns have found themselves at a loss for words when they had to offer counseling to LGBT churchgoers and their families.



The Vatican has been conservative about the concept of same-sex unions. The Catholic Church made it clear in its Catechism that it cannot offer a blessing to same-sex unions, while stressing God "cannot bless sin." The rulebook even wrote that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered" claiming they go against the natural law and homosexuals are asked to practice celibacy.



He made it clear that he is not supporting same-sex marriage or homosexual acts, but decided to translate the book after meeting a lot of sexual minorities suffering from the ignorance and discrimination of society.





Fr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, poses during an interview with The Korea Times at the university in western Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul





Fr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, holds a copy of his Korean translation of the book "Building a Bridge," during an interview with The Korea Times at the university in western Seoul, Friday. The book, which he translated from "Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity" by Fr. James Martin, is known as the first book in Korean by the Catholic ministry on sexual minorities. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



"I've met a lot of homosexual people and their families in the course of giving lectures and counseling to churchgoers. They feel pain having difficulties without coming out in society. I also feel sorry due to the pain they had. One day, I found out about Fr. James Martin's book in a magazine and read it right away. I found it was very easy to read. So I carried its ebook around in my phone and introduced it to others so that they could get some help in ministry. But one of my fellow nuns, who was impressed by the book, persuaded the head of its publishing company, who was cautious about doing so, to publish the book if I translate. First I declined the offer saying I was busy, but I decided to do so as they kept asking," Fr. Sim said during an interview with The Korea Times in his office at Sogang University's Seoul campus, Friday.



The book largely focuses on introducing episodes and helpful prayers when confronting denial from the community. In the introduction of the book, it offers to provide helpful tips so that community members can welcome sexual minorities with a warm heart and build a bridge between the church and the socially vulnerable.



It took some months for Fr. Sim to translate. He said he focused on translating with the proper terms about homosexuality. During the process, he found some translation errors and suggested some new terms in the Catechism.



"The Korean church translated the original Catechism's line 'respect, compassion and sensitivity,' which is an important guideline in building a relationship with sexual minority groups, into 'respect, pity and kindness.' I made a correction to that part in the book. I assume the Korean Catechism apparently didn't take into consideration the existence of the minority group when it first translated the rule."



It appears that the mistranslation of the term is somewhat related to a lack of the Catholic Church's understanding of homosexuality in the past. "I assume many would be uncomfortable with the 'disordered' tendency and that's why the original translation had some (random) words like 'pity' and 'kindness' instead of 'compassion' and' respect.'"



He highlighted that, while many would think that homosexuality is sinful in the Catholic Church, its Catechism doesn't necessarily consider the individual's existence as sinful, but views homosexual acts  as well as any sexual acts outside of marriage  as a sin.



"Many misunderstand that the Catholic Church considers that homosexuality itself a sin. But it is not. The Catechism makes it clear that same-sex attraction and sexual acts are different. It finds homosexuals and (unmarried heterosexuals) sinful when they perform sex acts."





Fr. Sim Jong-hyeok, a Jesuit priest and president of Sogang University, poses during an interview with The Korea Times at the university in western Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



He also pointed out that the rulebook has remained unchanged for years without reflecting changes in people's thoughts on sex and homosexuality.



"The Catechism can be very anachronistic as people have different thoughts on love nowadays. It has been teaching that the primary reason for sex acts is procreation. But now people think differently that sex acts between a husband and wife are an expression of love. Also, there are many people who have homosexual feelings around us. I heard two out of 10 are LGBT. The church also admits that there is not negligible number of people showing homosexual tendencies, but it still states it is a 'disorder,' making those people sad and God make a mistake."



"In many cases, people with homosexuality tendencies are physically and medically born that way. It is not a disease and thus not something that needs to be cured. If people with homosexual tendencies is a mistake, it is actually blaming God for creating a wrong existence."



Based on his understanding, he didn't specify the details, but claimed that Catechism needs to be revised in a way to reduce discrimination, embrace diversity in the Catholic community and reflect on the current understanding of humanity.



"The Catechism can be fixed as we deepen our understanding of humanity. Allowing only men to become priests is an issue now in the community, for example. The Catholic system is built on the medieval Catechism which is based on the philosophical and theological grounds that women are made to be inferior to men, which is funny for people living in the 21st century. It may take some time to allow women to become priests, but there is definitely room for this change in the rulebook. Likewise, in the future, there should be another expression on homosexuality instead of saying 'intrinsic disorder.' It is a matter of time."



In addition to the modification to the Catechism, he applied input from sexual minority groups. For example, the book's cover originally included the seven colors of the rainbow, but this was changed to six, the symbol of the LGBT community.



After the book's release, he said he was largely welcomed by many of his colleagues while receiving many emails from sexual minorities and their families thanking him. "One said that they didn't fully understand the official stance of the church and didn't know what to do. But the book became a good guideline for what to do when meeting homosexual people during a ministry."



But the translation didn't come overnight. Considering himself an open-minded person, he said his education in the United States also helped him to realize that Korean society and the church are very closed in terms of diversity and inclusivity in minority issues. He had studied theology at Weston School of Theology and Pontifical Gregorian University.



"Of course, basically I think I am less prejudiced on any occasions than others. But studying in the U.S. which had a more open-minded atmosphere than Korea, helped me to build knowledge about homosexuality. I was surprised by the fact that people in the U.S., four out of 10, were left-handed. I never saw that in Korean society. I concluded that in Korean culture, there is a certain aspect that we think any kind of minority is abnormal. As society forces the left-handed person to use the 'right' hand in society, I assumed a similar thing was applied to homosexuality."





Lawmakers speak during a press conference held to urge the National Assembly to legislate an anti-discrimination law at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 31. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un speaks during the third plenary session of the eighth Central Committee of the country's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, June 17, the third day of the five-day meeting held last week in Pyongyang, in this photo released by the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the following day. Talking about the country's foreign policy on the third day of the meeting, the North Korean leader said the country needs to prepare for both dialogue and confrontation, which U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called an "interesting signal." KCNA-Yonhap



Pyongyang will not come to negotiating table without more US enticements



By Jung Da-min



North Korea is unlikely to return to dialogue with the United States unless Washington makes more concessions despite its hopes that Pyongyang will respond positively to its overtures, according to Pyongyang watchers, Thursday.



This assessment was based on a series of recent messages from the reclusive regime that said it was not considering any dialogue with the U.S.



"We are not considering even the possibility of any contact with the U.S., let alone having it, which would get us nowhere, only taking up precious time," North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon said in a statement carried by its state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday night.



Ri also said the North Korean foreign ministry welcomed another statement by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong, which was delivered one day earlier.



She said the U.S. government was misinterpreting her brother's recent "dialogue and confrontation" message, adding the U.S.'s hope for dialogue will only end up in "greater disappointment." At a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) held last week, the North Korean leader said the country needs to prepare for both dialogue and confrontation, which U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called an "interesting signal."



Many North Korea watchers said that Pyongyang is not closing the door for dialogue but rather issuing constant messages that Washington should first make a concession, such as sanctions relief.



"North Korea has been watching how the situation develops after issuing a rather ambiguous message. Seeing that the statements from Pyongyang have been short and vague compared to its previous messages which were long, specific and more hostile, there seems to be room for other interpretations," said Park Won-gon, a professor with the Ewha Womans University's Department of North Korean Studies.



"It seems that Pyongyang is saying that it is not considering a dialogue with the U.S. at this moment when it cannot gain any tangible outcomes. But at the same time, the recent statements have not directly said that Pyongyang wants the U.S. to withdraw what the reclusive regime calls hostile policies against it, and Pyongyang seems to be considering various scenarios."



Moon Sung-mook, a senior researcher at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said he doubts any U.S.-North Korea dialogue will be held in the near future considering the differences between their stances.



Since the Joe Biden administration completed a review of its North Korea policy in late April, Washington has been seeking what it calls a "calibrated, practical approach" to North Korea, saying it is open to diplomacy with North Korea. The Biden administration's new Special Representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ambassador Sung Kim said Monday during his visit to Seoul that "Hopefully Chairman Kim's reference to dialogue indicates that it will be the positive," referring to Kim's remarks at the WPK meeting held last week.



"While Washington's stance is that North Korea should come to the negotiating table without any conditions, Pyongyang's stance is that it would not do so, unless the U.S. meets the condition of making a concession first," Moon said.



"Pyongyang's message is that it would not close the door for dialogue but would not open it either unless the U.S. meets the conditions it has set."






South Korea and Canada agreed Thursday to expedite efforts to discover and identify Canadian troops who went missing during the 1950-53 Korean War, the defense ministry said.







Under a memorandum of understanding, South Korea said it will establish a system to better manage the discovery of the remains and storage of their DNA information, while Canada said it will cooperate to provide DNA information of the bereaved families required for the identification, according to the ministry.







Canada sent a total of 26,791 service members to South Korea for the three-year conflict. Of them, 16 remain missing.







Many of the missing soldiers are believed to have been buried inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating South and North Korea, where excavation work is currently under way, the ministry said.







"We will have visible achievements as we expand our excavation work inside the DMZ down the road," the ministry said in a release, vowing utmost efforts to return the fallen heroes back to their home as soon as possible.







During the war, 16 countries sent troops, and six nations extended medical support to South Korea. Of around 2 million international service members, 600 remain missing, according to government data. (Yonhap)


Air Force Headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province / Yonhap



Military prosecutors have launched an investigation into why the Air Force police left out a sexual abuse case suffered by a female noncommissioned officer when reporting her suicide to the defense ministry, officials said Thursday.



The female master sergeant was found dead in May, around three months after being sexually abused by a colleague of the same rank. Her death sparked a public uproar after her family alleged that military authorities attempted to cover up the sexual abuse case rather than trying to protect her.



Ministry officials said the Air Force police reported her death to the defense ministry's Criminal Investigation Command without specifying the fact that she was a victim of the sexual violence case. The command oversees the military police.



"The chief of the police corps and his subordinates offered different accounts on why they omitted the fact in the report. As there are limits in clarifying the matter only through auditing, we've decided to seek a prosecution investigation," an official of the audit office told reporters.



"We've learned that the chief called his subordinates four times over the course of making the report. Whether he intentionally omitted the key part could be revealed through the prosecution probe," the official added.



So far, 13 service members have been officially under investigation, including the suspect in the sexual abuse case, surnamed Jang, as well as a military prosecutor and a public defender accused of failing to provide appropriate help to the victim.



But none of the military police were among them.



"We need a further review to press any criminal charges against them, even though some problems were found," an official said.



According to the investigation command, the sexual abuse suspect sent the victim text messages threatening to take his own life unless she forgave him. But Air Force investigators determined that the messages were a gesture of apology.



Air Force police also allegedly decided not to detain the suspect on grounds that he's unlikely to flee or destroy evidence and failed to check video footage from a dashboard camera inside a vehicle where the sexual harassment occurred, though the suspect denied some of the allegations against him.



"We are closely looking into diverse materials we've secured. We will also listen to opinions of the investigation review committee," another command official said. (Yonhap)


Activists request allowing conscientious objectors to replace their mandatory military service with other public services without trial at the Supreme Court in Seocho District, Seoul, June 24. Yonhap



The top court on Thursday confirmed a not-guilty verdict for a conscientious objector who avoided his mandatory military service due to personal beliefs, in the first case of its kind.



The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court's acquittal of the man, a self-identifying "queer feminist," indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act for refusing to follow his conscription in 2017.



The ruling marks the first time the country's highest court acquitted a person who has dodged his military draft due to reasons other than that of being a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.



By law, all able-bodied South Korean men must carry out compulsory military service for about 18 months in a country that faces North Korea across a heavily fortified border.



"The defendant's personal and religious beliefs have been formed and deeply rooted inside of him, showing that he objected enlistment based on his genuine conscience," Supreme Court Justice Kim Seon-soo said, delivering the ruling.



During court hearings, the defendant claimed he felt antipathy toward the structure of uniform education and peer culture enforcing masculinity among male students during his high school years.



He has also participated in anti-war demonstrations, which he claimed were in line with the spirit of peace and love emphasized by Christianity. The person also declined to accept what he described as the "discriminatory and hierarchical military system that destroys diversity," as well as the state power that defines identity based on one's biological sex.



South Korea's military does not allow the enlistment of transgender people and criminalizes same-sex relations within troops by military law.



In 2018, the person was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison on draft dodging charges, but an appellate court reversed the ruling last year, citing that he followed his beliefs at the risk of criminal punishment and that he expressed his willingness to carry out an alternative service at a correctional facility instead of at the military.



South Korea began to allow conscientious objectors to replace their mandatory military service with other public services at the acknowledgment of a screening committee of the Military Manpower Administration from October last year. (Yonhap)






About 130 civic groups in South Korea on Thursday called for stopping all discussions on a pardon of Lee Jae-yong, the imprisoned de facto leader of Samsung Group.







The civic groups, including Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, held a joint press conference in Seoul to oppose any move to release Lee on parole or pardon.







Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by the Seoul High Court on Jan. 18 in a retrial of a bribery case involving former President Park Geun-hye. Local business circles have petitioned for a pardon of Lee and some politicians have floated an idea of the Samsung heir being set free in time for the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.







But the civic groups raised objection to Lee's release, saying it will undermine democracy and the rule of law in South Korea.







"A release of Lee Jae-yong will damage common sense, democracy and the rule of law, all of which call for anybody who commits crimes to be properly punished regardless of status or wealth," the groups said.







They noted that Lee was found guilty of offering bribes to Park and her confidante Choi Soon-sil and is still on trial on numerous criminal charges.







They also argued that Lee's possible release will run counter to the Moon Jae-in government's promises to limit the president's pardon power and enforce a zero tolerance policy for serious economic crimes by conglomerates. (Yonhap)


Senior citizens wait to board a subway at Seoul Station in this Dec. 4, 2017 photo. Korea Times file



Subway deficits, free rides for senior citizens causing controversy



By Bahk Eun-ji



The long-standing generational conflict over free subway rides for senior citizens has resurfaced, as a private subway operator has said recently that it is considering abolishing the benefit.



Senior citizens complain that the free ride policy is an important welfare benefit for them, as they are not able to participate fully in the labor market, but younger people complain it increases their burden, as they have to pay taxes to cover this expense.



Early this month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Shinbundang Railroad announced that they would discuss the issue of free subway rides for those aged 65 and over, such as whether to keep the program, abolish it or make small changes.



Shinbundang Railroad, the company in charge of operating the Shinbundang Line between Gangnam Station in southern Seoul and Gwanggyo Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, has been suffering from a decrease in passengers due to the impact of COVID-19. It posted an operating loss of 13.4 billion won ($11.9 million) and a net loss of 50.32 billion won last year.



Although Shinbundang Railroad is a private company, its decision could influence Seoul Metro, the public operator of Seoul's subway lines 1-8 and part of line 9, which have also been suffering from financial difficulties.



Seoul Metro is expected to see a 1.6 trillion won deficit this year, its biggest deficit ever. Last month, the company announced a plan to cut the number of workers by 1,539, or about 10 percent of the total workforce.



Controversy over free subway rides for the elderly has emerged several times during the last decade. In 2010, when then-Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said, "Giving free subway tickets to the elderly over the age of 65 is excessive welfare," the controversy intensified over whether the subway operators' deficits stemmed from the free rides.



Last year, the transport ministry's suggestion to raise the age requirement from 65 to 70  supposedly to cope with the operators' growing deficits amid a growing population of senior citizens in Korea's aging society  provoked strong opposition from the elderly, as the subway is the only public transportation that they are able to use for free.



They say that a free ride system for the elderly is part of a necessary universal welfare system that exists in part to ensure everyone's freedom of movement.



In addition, the free ride system also enables employment opportunities for the elderly, such as delivery services for which they use the subway, introduced by some district offices in an effort to create jobs for the elderly.





A senior citizen delivers packages via the subway in this Sept. 27, 2012 photo. Korea Time file




Five-term lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo was admitted back to the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday via a unanimous decision by the party's leadership.







The PPP's supreme council made the decision to return the party membership to Hong, a former floor leader of the biggest conservative party who ran for the presidency in 2017 on its ticket.







Hong defected from the main opposition party, then named the United Future Party, in March last year in protest against its decision to disqualify him from running for the 2020 parliamentary election on the party's ticket.







Hong left the party and won a parliamentary seat representing a constituency in Daegu as an independent.







PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok later said the party's supreme council gave its unanimous consent to Hong's return to the party.







Welcoming the party decision, Hong said in a press conference he will devote himself to helping the conservative party reclaim the presidency, hinting at his interest in running in the upcoming presidential election in March.







"Upholding justice, freedom, ordinary people and communication as my banners, I will serve as a seed for a change of power," Hong noted. (Yonhap)






President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that his government will treat war veterans and other patriots with the highest level of respect.







He was holding a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae with representatives from relevant civic groups on the eve of the anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War.







"The government will have the highest level of respect till the very end for the patriots' sacrifice and devotion to the country," he stated during the annual event, which was not held last year due to COVID-19.







June is a month of appreciation, remembrance and public recognition of patriots and veterans here.







The president spoke about "West Sea heroes," who lost their lives in recent decades while defending the disputed western sea border with North Korea, using another name for the Yellow Sea.







"We should not forget, even for a moment, that protecting the safety and peace of the people is the only way to repay the sacrifice of heroes in the West Sea," he said.







The government will also further solidify the Seoul-Washington alliance in commemoration of the "lofty" spirit of Korean War veterans, he added.







He then bestowed medals in person on four figures for their longtime contributions to the nation and society. They included Korean and Vietnam war veterans. The medals are usually awarded in an annual ceremony hosted by the prime minister.







Cheong Wa Dae limited the number of participants in the luncheon to 50 in consideration of the coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)


The National Assembly's move to pass a bill to expand the substitute holiday system is being welcomed by most workers, but employees of workplaces with five or fewer staff are complaining, since the bill excludes them from the benefit. gettyimagesbank



By Jun Ji-hye



The National Assembly's move to pass a bill to expand the substitute holiday system is facing complaints from workers at businesses that employ five or fewer employees, because they will be excluded from it.



Those workers and the country's two largest umbrella unions are criticizing the bill, accusing it of exacerbating polarization between employees at small workplaces and those at larger ones



On Wednesday, the Assembly Interior and Safety Committee passed the bill aimed at providing extra days off if public holidays fall on a weekend.



If the bill is ratified during a plenary session, four more holidays will be guaranteed this year. Liberation Day on Aug. 15, National Foundation Day on Oct. 3, Hangeul Day on Oct. 9 and Christmas on Dec. 25 fall on either a Saturday or Sunday this year.



The country's current substitute holiday system guarantees an extra day off only when the two biggest holidays of Seollal and Chuseok  Lunar New Year and Korean Thanksgiving  fall on Sundays, or if Children's Day falls on a weekend.



While most workers welcomed the Assembly's move to expand the substitute holiday system, those at workplaces with five or fewer employees are complaining, because they will not be able to enjoy the benefit.



"I feel bad because I think I am being discriminated against," said a man in his 30s who works at a small restaurant in Seoul.



A woman in her 40s who works for a small company said, "We have not been guaranteed annual paid holidays. And we will be excluded from substitute holidays. This is very regrettable."



The government and ruling Democratic Party of Korea said the exclusion was meant to avoid conflict with the Labor Standards Act, which stipulates that paid leave does not apply to businesses with five or fewer employees.



The ruling party noted that the exclusion was also aimed at easing the burden on small business owners who have already had a hard time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Earlier, the Korea Federation of SMEs raised concerns that granting more holidays could result in a drop in productivity and an increase in expenses.



Seats for lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party are empty after they walked out in protest against the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's decision to pass a bill to expand the substitute holiday system, which excluded businesses with five or fewer employees, during a meeting of the National Assembly Interior and Safety Committee, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Kim Ae-ran







A person full of smiles is always beautiful, friendly, and touching. As Solomon in the Old Testament says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22), and, "A glad heart means a happy face; where the heart is sad the spirit is broken" (Proverbs 15:13), a person full of smiles expresses delight, sociability, happiness, friendliness and joy. I think smiling is the best means of communication and the greatest happiness in our life without paying any cost.



It is said that a Korean adult laughs about seven to eight times a day, while people in other countries laugh about 15 times a day in general. And babies laugh over 300 to 500 times a day.



There are 43 facial muscles in the face, and among them, 17 muscles move to laugh. Almost as a panacea or the best medicine, laughing brings about various good hormones like dopamine and endorphins. Laughing also releases depression, cancer and other diseases.



Pope Francis once said: "We have to laugh well. Laughter is good for health. Laughter reduces stress, unrest, and arteriosclerosis. It increases positive cholesterol and spiritual health as well. After laughing, we feel refreshed. Surely, laughter is a clear way of expressing joy. I love laughter. Laughter lets me feel. The essence of laughter is immunity. God wants us to be happy and to laugh. God also laughs. Like love, laugher is a gift from God."



Recently, Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik in the diocese of Daejeon was appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Holy See. Naturally, he became an archbishop and thus he will be ordained a cardinal sooner or later.



After Filipino Cardinal Jose Tomas Sanchez, Bishop Lazarus is the first South Korean to assume the position of "prefect" taking care of more than 400,000 priests around the world.



Originally belonging to the diocese of Daejeon, I was always conscious of his presence and observed that he has an extraordinary competence for friendly smiles, organization, and administration.



Since he has been a bosom friend of my second sister, I always appreciated his full smiles. His wholehearted laughter is so unique, spontaneous, and pure that he attracted various people beyond religion and ideology.



Smiles are God's gift as Job says that God fills "our mouth with laughter and our lips with rejoicing" (Job 8:21). Because the Lord has done great things for us, "our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy" (Psalms 126:2-3).



I think his smiles come from his simplicity, innocence, and freedom. He has no bank account; he is free to live with a spirit of poverty and entrustment to providence. At the same time, he is trying his best to be a good shepherd with his pastoral motto of "Lux Mundi" (I am the light). Without a distinction between Christian or non-Christian, he is willing to welcomes others. Without a sense of authority, he is good at harmonizing with other religions and making friendly relationships with others according to their level.



Furthermore, he is totally united with the Roman Catholic Church. When Pope Francis invited us to care for the poor countries alienated from getting the COVID-19 vaccine, he immediately accepted his offer and supported the church with generous sharing.





The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (fsp.pauline.or.kr.) living and giving the Good News to the world by means of social communication.


By Carl Bildt





STOCKHOLM  America is back. That was the key message U.S. President Joe Biden sought to convey during his first trip abroad since taking office in January. But while Biden himself has rejoined the mix of global leaders  having served as vice president in Barack Obama's two administrations  past U.S. policies might not get the same opportunity for a comeback.



We live in a different world today than we did just a few years ago. Geopolitical tensions are on the rise, and cooperation on shared challenges is more urgent than ever. China's emergence as a global power, in particular, has sparked deep, almost existential, fears in the United States, driving a reassessment of policies across the board.



A comparison between the Biden administration's Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, released in March, and the 2015 National Security Strategy, issued when Biden was vice president, provides a glimpse into the logic of that reassessment. The 2015 strategy paid considerable attention to China, noting, for example, that the U.S. would "closely monitor" the country's "military modernization and expanding presence in Asia."



But the latest guidance puts America's "growing rivalry" with an "increasingly assertive" China front and center  and proposes a strategy to pursue it. "Taken together," the document reads, "this agenda will strengthen our enduring advantages, and allow us to prevail in strategic competition with China or any other nation."



The Biden administration is right to work to bolster America's economic competitiveness and strengthen its physical infrastructure and human capital. This is in the entire world's interests. But, if the U.S. wants to compete effectively with China, it will need to look well beyond its borders  and far into the future.



As it stands, the U.S.-China competition is playing out primarily in the economic domain, as China's GDP continues to grow and its leaders move decisively to forge ever-deeper trade and investment ties with countries and regions worldwide. Already, China is a trading superpower, with more than 100 countries trading at least twice as much with it as they do with the U.S.



The extent to which China expands and entrenches its trade dominance will go a long way toward determining the scale of the country's political influence. And if the Biden administration's recent guidance is any indication, China will face relatively few barriers to achieving its goals.



In 2015, the U.S. had a forward-looking trade policy, which sought to shape the global trading system of the future. The National Security Strategy recognized, for example, that initiatives like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would enable the U.S. to set "the world's highest standards for labor rights and environmental protection," remove barriers to U.S. exports, and put the U.S. "at the center of a free-trade zone covering two-thirds of the global economy."



Today, neither the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) nor the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is in place  at least not with the U.S. as a member. The Obama administration's vision for the global trading system was shot to pieces by Donald Trump's administration, with its mercantilist trade philosophy.



But the real disappointment is that Biden does not seem eager to revive it. Instead, his administration seems to be taking a defensive and backward-looking approach to trade  one that looks a lot more like Trump's than Obama's.



Yes, on his trip to Europe, Biden and European Union leaders agreed to a five-year truce in their 17-year-old trade dispute over subsidies for aircraft manufacturers. But he did not remove Trump's tariffs on European steel and aluminum. He and his European counterparts say they are "working toward" a deal, but even if they reach one, it will reflect nothing like the vision and ambition that animated the two sides during TTIP negotiations in 2015.



So, when it comes to trade, the U.S. isn't "back" at all. And China is wasting no time in taking advantage of this situation to raise its trading profile even further. Already, it has been instrumental in forging the world's largest free-trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which includes 15 Asian-Pacific countries.



China has also declared its intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which was forged by 11 countries after the U.S. walked away from the TPP. Earlier this month, the CPTPP members agreed to start accession negotiations with the United Kingdom. The EU  which has been pursuing trade deals with these countries  should consider joining the pact as well.



What will come of China's ongoing trade efforts remains to be seen. But it is clear that Chinese leaders understand the critical importance of their country's trade linkages to its global clout. America's leaders need to relearn that lesson  for the benefit of Americans and Europeans alike.





Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


All related industries should speed up 'de-coaling' process



Four nonlife insurance companies  DB, Hana, Hanwha General, and Hyundai Marine & Fire  have decided to stop providing insurance for the construction and operation of new coal-fired power plants. The decision is in response to a request by Korea Beyond Coal, an alliance of domestic climatic and environmental organizations, to 11 nonlife insurers. This is the first time that underwriters have decided to discontinue insurance provisions for the building and running of new coal plants. Two of the 11 will cease to underwrite only the construction of new coal plants.





The insurance firms' primary target is Samcheok Thermal Power Plant, one of the seven coal-fired plants under construction and with a completion rate of 40 percent, the last one scheduled to be finished. The Moon Jae-in administration has refused to stop its construction, raising doubts about its determination to attain carbon neutrality. The insurance industry accounts for about one-third of domestic coal financing, meaning that the four underwriters' declarations will have a considerable impact.?



Last month, the National Pension Service, the biggest investor in coal-fired power generation, also approved a plan to limit investment in businesses tied to coal-fired power plants. At stake now is not whether but how fast the nation should phase out fossil fuels. It was regretful in this regard that NH Investment and Securities has set about to float Samcheok Thermal Power Plant's corporate bonds, decelerating the nation's decarbonization process. Five foot-dragging nonlife insurers will have to shoulder far heavier risks. This is the cost for turning a blind eye to environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) management that has emerged as a global standard. They must join in before it is too late.



Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, Korea presented a plan to reduce carbon emissions by 24.4 percent by 2030 from 2017 levels. The Moon administration has now promised to raise its reduction target. Leading countries in preventing the climate crisis have already committed to ramp up their targets by up to 50 percent by 2030. That is the minimum the world should do to avert a climate catastrophe. Korea cannot be an exception. All related sectors  the government, industry, finance and the public  should speed up decarbonization efforts. There are only eight years left.??






Speed up vaccination against COVID-19



The health authorities are on alert over the Delta variant of COVID-19 which has spread rapidly to more than 90 countries. The new strain of the coronavirus, found to have originated in India, is much more contagious and expected to become dominant globally.



South Korea has yet to report any mass infections of the Delta variant. However, there is a growing fear that it could hit the country hard anytime soon, just as it is doing in Britain and other European countries as well as the U.S.



The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 610 new infections, including 576 local cases, Thursday, with the total caseload reaching 153,155. The agency said 2,225 cases in Korea have so far been linked to COVID-19 variants, and of these, 1,886 people were infected with the Alpha variant believed to have originated in Britain. Infections caused by the Delta variant were estimated at 190.



As KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said, the Delta variant is in its initial stages of spreading in South Korea. This means the country might have to tighten its quarantine network to nip the new strain in the bud. Particularly, more efforts are needed to block imported cases of the variant as well as to avoid outbreaks in local communities.



First of all, the health authorities should make concerted efforts to speed up the vaccination process to better protect people from the coronavirus, particularly the Delta variant. The Moon Jae-in government has promised to achieve herd immunity in November by fully vaccinating 70 percent of the country's 51 million population. Now is the time to keep this promise as early as possible.



Around 30 percent of the population has received at least one shot of a coronavirus vaccine, while 8.5 percent have been fully vaccinated. The government's vaccination program calls for 36 million to be given at least one vaccine dose by September. Given the potential risk of the variant, the authorities must try to rapidly increase the inoculation rate.



Another problem is the government's plan to ease social distancing rules starting next month. Some experts have already pointed out that it is still too early to relax COVID-19 restrictions because the pandemic is showing no signs of abating amid the still low rate of inoculation. Policymakers should pay more heed to concerns about the early relaxation of quarantine guidelines.



If necessary, the government should postpone softening its social distancing rules. There are growing concerns that the pandemic could be resurgent this summer when a large number of people are expected to go on vacation. We should not lower our guard until the virus is defeated.




By Andrew Hammond





This week marks the fifth anniversary of the United Kingdom's landmark EU referendum with the nation's relationship with Europe still in flux and likely to remain so for years to come in what has been called "Brexiternity."







Seen from the vantage point of mid-2021, it is clear that the EU referendum was a seminal moment in the U.K.'s and indeed wider European post-war history. Yet far from being a single, isolated event, Brexit should be seen as a process made up of multiple negotiations (a catch-all term used here for formal diplomatic discussions and wider debates), including within the U.K.; between the EU and the U.K.; and within the EU about its future.







Much attention, since 2016, has focused on intra-U.K. debates about Brexit and it is already clear that the referendum was a trigger for a series of profound changes to the nation's unity, constitution, identity, political economy, and place in the world. However, the vote has also begun a series of negotiations elsewhere in the EU given the challenge, and also opportunity, that the U.K.'s departure has meant for the Brussels-based club.







While there has been much change in the last half decade, including last December's EU-U.K. trade and cooperation deal, the Brexit saga is by no means at an end. This is illustrated vividly, for instance, with the troubles surrounding the Northern Ireland protocol which are seeing tensions increasing between the U.K. and EU-27.







So as much as December's U.K.-EU deal was a milestone, the new relationship between London, Brussels and the 27 member states will continue to evolve well into the 2020s, and potentially beyond too. For the EU-U.K. trade deal is only a "thin" agreement compared to the much more comprehensive one that had been promised by many Brexiteers in the 2016 referendum.







It is therefore likely that the rest of this decade and potentially beyond will see a series of further U.K.-EU bilateral deals to fashion the new institutional relationship, potentially including reform of the Northern Ireland protocol.







Far from getting "Brexit done" in 2019 and 2020, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson frequently asserts, this points to U.K.-EU negotiations and internal political wrangling continuing for years in a manner that the U.K.'s former Europe minister Denis MacShane has called "Brexiternity."







This is one of the great ironies of the U.K.'s vote to leave the EU in 2016. That is, despite the referendum that saw around 52 percent of the population apparently voting for cutting ties with the EU, London has since had to devote huge attention to Europe since then as it negotiated exit terms, more so that perhaps almost all previous post-war administrations did before the Brexit vote, and this is likely to continue.







More than five years after the Brexit referendum, the country's future relationship with the EU is still far from being completely defined, despite the massive efforts in recent years to do so. Moreover, views on the relationship (or "model") the nation wishes to have with the Brussels-based club could well change significantly over time, in a more or less integrationist direction, as political and public opinion evolves.







In practice, there are a wide range of different models that could be followed in the future, with one caveat. The one option that is probably not open to the U.K. at this stage is returning in the future as a full EU member with the uniquely favorable position it once had with all the benefits of the European Single Market, but not being part of the Eurozone, and a big budgetary rebate. Should London ever seek to return to the fold in the future, those terms are unlikely not be offered up again by Brussels and the EU-27.







Beyond this, the stark reality is that the nature of existing agreements with the EU vary widely from Norway to Switzerland and Canada and Turkey. All have a mix of advantages and disadvantages, including the fact that none of them provide full access to services which accounts for around 80 percent of the U.K. economy, while those with access to (let alone membership of) the Single Market without EU membership pay a significant price.







Take the example of Norway, proposed by many after 2016 as the best "model" for the United Kingdom to adopt, which sees Oslo have considerable access to the Single Market. In exchange, Norway is required to adhere to EU rules without having a vote on them as EU members do; accept free movement of people; make contributions to EU programs and budgets; and still is required to do customs checks on goods crossing into the EU.







Taken together, all of this is why London may, ironically, now need to devote at least as much of its attention toward the Brussels-based club in coming years than pre-2016 when it was a member. This is compounded by the fact that, despite all of this effort, the relationship that the United Kingdom now has may not be better for its national interest than the one previously offered in 2016 of continued membership of a potentially reformed EU.









Andrew Hammond (

) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.






The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday decided to approve anti-dumping tariffs on car tires imported from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.







The final decision comes about a month after the U.S. Department of Commerce said it will impose anti-dumping tariffs of between 14.72 percent and 27.05 percent on passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the four countries.







The ITC said it has determined "that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of passenger vehicle and light truck tires from Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand."







As a result of its decision, the Commerce Department will "issue antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, and a countervailing duty order on imports of these products from Vietnam," it added.







The ITC noted there existed about 14 U.S. manufacturers of such products while imports make up nearly half of its estimated $20.1 billion market.







Imports from the four countries amounted to about $4.4 billion in 2020, and South Korea is the second-largest supplier of passenger vehicle and light truck tires to the U.S. after Taiwan by volume, according to the ITC. (Yonhap)






By Baek Byung-yeul







Hyundai Mobis is maintaining pole position in the lucrative vehicle infotainment market by developing a new vehicle information system that combines a digital cluster with a head-up display (HUD), the auto parts-making affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday.







The company said its "clusterless HUD" will become mainstream in future vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs), showing diverse information about vehicle operation on a simplified and integrated screen.







"For the first time in the automotive industry, we have developed a clusterless HUD that combines a digital cluster with a head-up display," the company said.







EVs do not have engines or transmissions, so they can offer far more interior space compared to combustion-engine vehicles. Hyundai Mobis said it decided to develop the product to meet future market demand.







"While space utilization inside vehicles has become important in the EV era, Hyundai Mobis has preemptively introduced new concept display technologies optimized for autonomous driving and vehicle electrification," the company said.







The company added that its clusterless HUD is designed to minimize distractions for drivers.







The display consists of four areas. The upper area displays speed, engine RPMs and information related to directions and advanced driver assistance systems, while the bottom shows shifting mode, cooling-water temperature, mileage, turn signals and warning signs.







Compared to current products, the screen size is also expanded to 15 inches. Also, the frame of the display is sloped toward the driver to increase visibility.







Mobis also expects the new display to help reduce the vehicle's weight and increase maximum driving distance.







Hyundai Mobis has completed patent registration for the clusterless HUD in major countries including Korea, the United States, China and Germany, as it is seeking to win global orders through active promotions for domestic and foreign car brands.







"The combination of clusters and HUDs is expected to play a major role in safe operation by not only securing space but also securing drivers' forward vision by bringing driving information together on a single screen," said Han Young-hoon, head of the company's information display sector.







Hyundai Mobis has been leading four essential parts of the vehicle information business: HUD, full-digital cluster, surround view monitor and AVNT (audio, video, navigation and telematics). By accelerating the development of an integrated infotainment platform, the company also aims to grow into an information and communications technology company for future cars.


Jeep's Wrangler 4xe / Courtesy of Jeep Korea



By Kim Bo-eun



Jeep is enjoying popularity in the local market, with sales figures set to reach 6,000 vehicles in the first half of this year.



The popularity of the SUV brand's models is attributed to the rise of secluded leisure activities such as car camping amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent growth of the local market for SUVs and pickup trucks.



Jeep saw sales reach a record-high 1,557 vehicles in March. In fact, Jeep's sales surpassed 1,000 vehicles for three-consecutive months from March, giving rise to forecasts of sales reaching 6,000 in the first six months of this year. This will bring Jeep closer to its goal of selling 10,000 vehicles this year.



According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, Jeep sold 4,793 vehicles in the first five months of this year, up 69.7 percent year-on-year.



"We attribute the growth in sales to greater preference for SUVs and pickup trucks as people increasingly opt for secluded outdoor activities such as camping and sleeping in cars," a Jeep Korea official said.



"We also believe the release of limited-edition models marking our 80th anniversary and various events enabling customers to experience our vehicles boosted Jeep's brand awareness."



Over 3,000 participants took part in Jeep's drive-through event held in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, in March, marking the brand's 80th anniversary. The Jeep Camp 2021 held in Yangyang in Gangwon Province in May attracted around 1,000 participants. Jeep said such on-site events helped the growth of Jeep's customer community, which was launched early this year.



Jeep's marketing strategies incorporating big-name and rising artists also appear to be working. Jeep recently promoted the All New Jeep Wrangler model and the All New Jeep Gladiator through an advertising campaign featuring K-pop star Rain. The latter model was also featured in the rising indie artist Wilcox's "Drive Thru" music video. A total of six Gladiator and Wrangler models appeared in the title track music video of girl group Brave Girls' latest album "Summer Queen".



Riding on this momentum, Jeep plans to launch new models in the second half of this year. Among its lineup is its first plug-in hybrid model, Wrangler 4xe, as well as a new Grand Cherokee L model set to hit the large premium SUV market soon.



Jeep is a brand under Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest automaker with brands including Chrysler, Fiat, Maserati and Peugeot.


By Baek Byung-yeul





POSCO Chairman Choi Jeong-woo / Courtesy of POSCO




A young male customer looks at a luxury bag at Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong, Seoul, on April 11. Korea time file
Yogiyo's corporate image / Korea Times file



EBay Korea bid affects Yogiyo deal



By Kim Jae-heun



Yogiyo's acquisition deal has been put off for the second time. Its operator Delivery Hero delivered the message through its underwriter Morgan Stanley that it has requested to defer the final biding to next month.



It is unknown when the Berlin-based Delivery Hero will run the tender of its food delivery player, but it must be sold before Aug. 3 as designated by Korea's top antitrust watchdog.



The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said the German firm must give up Yogiyo to take over Baedal Minjok (Baemin), the largest food delivery service here currently operated by Woowa Brothers.



The Yogiyo sale is being affected by the eBay Korea deal, for which Shinsegae is solely in talks with the U.S. e-commerce firm currently. Shinsegae is also included in the bidding shortlist for Yogiyo, and if it takes over eBay Korea, the retail giant is likely to withdraw its Yogiyo bid.



The sale prices of eBay Korea and Yogiyo are said to be 4 trillion won and 2 trillion won, respectively, which means Shinsegae would need 6 trillion won to acquire both firms simultaneously.



"It is too much of a financial burden for Shinsegae to handle the two deals in the trillion won range at the same time. It is very unlikely that the retailer will take over both eBay Korea and Yogiyo," an industry source said.





Fair Trade Commission Chairperson Joh Sung-wook leaves the press room at the Government Complex building in Sejong City, last year, after speaking on the government's decision to approve Delivery Hero's takeover of Woowa Brothers only after the German firm sells off Yogiyo. Yonhap
Former Filipino president Benigno Aquino III speaks to media as he joins a demonstration to mark the 31st anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines, in this 2017 February file photo. EPA-Yonhap



Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino, the son of two of the Southeast Asian country's democracy icons, died on Thursday after being hospitalized in Manila.



The 61-year-old was president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016.



"It is with profound sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of former Pres. Benigno Aquino," Supreme Court justice Marvic Leonen, who was appointed by Aquino in 2012, said in a statement.



"It was an honor to have served with him. He will be missed," the statement said.



Known popularly as Noynoy, he rode a wave of public support to the presidency after the 2009 death of his mother, the revered "People Power" leader Corazon Aquino, who was herself president from 1986 until 1992.



His namesake father, a senator who staunchly opposed the rule of strongman Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated when he returned home from political exile in 1983.



The killing shocked the nation and helped propel Marcos out of office in the 1986 People Power revolution and ushered in his mother's presidency.



Aquino was an only son and worked in the family sugar business before launching his political career in 1998.



He was a three-term member of the House of Representatives between 1998 and 2007, representing the sugar-growing Tarlac province north of Manila.



He still carried a bullet wound from a 1987 attempted military coup against his mother's administration, during which he was shot five times and three of his bodyguards were killed.



Aquino's six-year term as president was not free from crisis, including in his fifth year in office when 44 commandos were killed in a botched operation to capture a wanted Malaysian militant.



In November 2013, Aquino was also forced to deal with the devastation left by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded. The super typhoon that ravaged towns and villages in the central Philippines, killed more than 6,000 people.



Despite some gains in tackling corruption, his Mr Clean image was tainted by scandals over the lawmakers' misuse of public funds that same year. (Reuters)


In this June 10 photo, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin appears at a Senate Armed Services budget hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. AP-Yonhap





The United States will continue to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula by reducing threats from North Korea through diplomacy, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, amid a U.S. overture to the North for dialogue.



The defense secretary also said his country will continue to remain focused on North Korea, despite China posing a "pacing threat," or systemic challenge, to the U.S.





"Leading with diplomacy, the United States will continue to work to mitigate North Korea's destabilizing and provocative behavior and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Austin said in a written statement to the House Armed Services Committee for a hearing on the administration's fiscal year 2022 defense budget request.



Austin noted that China and Russia constitute a larger-scale and more immediate threat to the United States. However, North Korea too poses a serious threat to the U.S. and its allies as while it is trying to develop its ballistic missile capabilities.



"We also face challenges from North Korea, a country with the ambition to be capable of striking the U.S. homeland," said the defense secretary.



He argued that the proposed $715 billion defense budget will help counter threats posed by the North and others.



"With its emphasis on space, missile defense and more sophisticated sensors, our budget will also help us counter the increasing ballistic-missile capabilities of nations like North Korea and Iran," Austin said in his opening remarks at the hearing.



His remarks come after North Korean officials spoke strongly against the possibility of the country returning to the dialogue table with the U.S. in the near future despite repeated overtures by Washington.



Sung Kim, U.S. special envoy for North Korea, said this week that Washington is ready to meet with Pyongyang "anywhere, anytime without preconditions."



Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, said Tuesday (KST) that the U.S.'s hope for dialogue will lead to greater disappointment. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon said Wednesday (KST) that his country is not "considering even the possibility of any contact with the U.S." (Yonhap)


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Workers at a New Hampshire restaurant said they were stunned when a customer left a $16,000 tip on his $37.93 bill.



Michelle McCudden, a bartender at Stumble Inn Bar Grill in Londonderry, said the customer, who is not a regular, had ordered a couple hot dogs, some cocktails and fried pickles before asking for his bill.



"He's kind of a mystery man," McCudden told WBTS-TV.



McCudden was shocked when she looked at the man's receipt and saw the $16,000 tip.



"It was on the credit card statement, they put it down next to the register and he said three times, 'Don't spend it all in one place.' That's what made her flip it over and look, and she's like, 'Oh my god, are you serious?' And he said, 'I want you to have it, you guys work hard,'" owner Mike Zarella told WMUR-TV.



Employees called Zarella to tell him about the unusual tip.



"I thought it was a mistake, it could have been maybe a $160 tip and he added extra zeros," Zarella said. "The bar manager talked to the gentleman and he said, 'No, it's $16,000.'"



The restaurant pools tips, so the money will be split among the eight servers on duty that night  with some set aside for the cooks.



"We went up and we thanked him," McCudden said. "It's just been a really rough year for all of us. For someone to do something like that really restored my faith in humanity. He just said that we work really hard and he wanted to do something nice and he just really wanted us to have it." (UPI)


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Stray Kids poses at the 'Expo 2020 Dubai Korea Pavilion' as publicity ambassador during their appointment ceremony, held at the KOTRA International Conference Center in Seoul on June 23.
Members of UJUNG and ATINY around the world are set for a busy weekend as their favorite idols, WJSN and ATEEZ, are set to have their back-to-back fan meet events on UNIVERSE.

NCSoft and Klap, developers of the UNIVERSE platform, announced two events: Cosmic Girls' "Welcome to UZZU Family" on July 10 (Saturday) to be followed by ATEEZ "Chillin' Sunday" on July 11 (Sunday).

WJSN Welcomes Everyone to the UZZU Family

The WJSN fan meet event on UNIVERSE is set on Saturday, July 10, 4 PM KST, at the Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul, South Korea. NCSoft and Klap announced that 350 lucky fans will be invited to participate on the site of the fan meet event, each receiving their own goodie bags filled with various WJSN merch such as photo cards and posters exclusively from the UNIVERSE platform.

Fans interested to join the fan meet event can do so by registering in the UNIVERSE app, with the registrations opening last June 21 and will last until June 27 (Sunday).

ALSO READ: WJSN's Comeback Success Summarized by Fans in Three Points

ATEEZ to Have a "Chillin' Sunday"

The ATEEZ fan meet event, "Chillin' Sunday," will take place the following day, Sunday, July 11, at 2 PM KST. It will be done through the UNIVERSE Live Call, the platform's one-on-one video calling format where ATEEZ members can have a video call with 30 lucky fans.

Those interested to join the "Chillin' Sunday" event can also register through the app, with the registrations running for the same period of June 21 to June 27. From all registrations, 210 fans will be given a chance to participate in the fan meet event,

Additionally, tickets used to join the contests will require "Klap tickets," the in-app currency acquired by joining various fandom activities and is used for various exclusive content within the platform.

RELATED ARTICLE: ATEEZ Launches Their UNIVERSE Original 'Pirate Reboot: The Five Treasures'
Rapper Loco and actress Lee Sung Kyung are currently wrapped up in dating rumors. According to a news outlet, the two are not in a romantic relationship - but they, in fact, are up to something new.

Continue reading to know what the media outlet found out.

Are Loco and Lee Sung Kyung Dating? News Outlet says it's Not True

On June 23, Loco and Lee Sung Kyung both uploaded a photo to their respective Instagram accounts. These pictures instantly caused rumors of a romantic relationship between the two as the location where they were taken appeared to be the same.

However, according to Wikitree, Loco and Lee Sung Kyung are not dating.

According to the news outlet's exclusive report on June 24, they clarified whether the rumors about the two are real or not.

And as a result, they confirmed that it is not true that Loco is dating Lee Sung Kyung.

While the two celebrities seem to have had a special time in the same location, Wikitree revealed that Loco and Lee Sung Kyung actually filmed a video.

The media outlet added that the photos of the two Korean stars that were posted on Instagram were taken at the filming site. Hence, the images have the same background.

Following Wikitree's report, Dingo Music announced that Loco and Lee Sung Kyung will release a collaboration song, "Duet Mate."

The track will be released on July 4 at 6 p.m. KST, and a video will be uploaded to Dingo Music's YouTube channel at the same time.

The video that Loco and Lee Sung Kyung recently filmed might have something to do with their upcoming song "Duet Mate."

What are you thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments!

Rapper Loco's Recent Releases

Loco is currently an artist under Jay Park's self-established label, AOMG. He gained popularity after taking victory on the first season of Mnet's rap competition show, "Show Me the Money," back in 2012.

In the same year, Loco made his debut as a solo rapper.

Some of his hit songs include "Don't" featuring MAMAMOO Hwasa, "Still" featuring Crush, and "It Takes Time" featuring Colde.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Show Me The Money: Where Are The Winners Now?

In February 2019, Loco enlisted in the military and was officially discharged in September 2020. The South Korean rapper later released his fourth mini-album after a month.

Titled "Some Time," Loco's latest mini-album consists of four songs, one of which is the title track, "Can't Sleep," featuring Heize.

Loco and Heize wrote the lyrics for the song and also co-composed it with CODE KUNST and Jongkwon Park. "Can't Sleep" peaked at No. 36 on the Gaon Chart.

Loco's "Can't Sleep" with Heize is a hip-hop song with elements of R&B. The lyrics for the track talk about being unable to sleep because one is focused on the thoughts of someone special.

On April 9, Loco released his first collaboration track with his fellow AOMG artist Simon Dominic, titled "At Night." This song was launched in partnership with the mobile game MAFIA42.

This past May, Loco teamed up with former WANNA ONE member Kang Daniel for a new song with the latest fandom platform, UNIVERSE.

Titled "Outerspace," the track was dropped on May 13 and the full music video can be viewed on the UNIVERSE app. The song peaked at No. 80 on the Gaon Chart.

For more news updates about other K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open here at Kpopstarz.

Owned by Kpopstarz.

Written by Mhaliya Scott
More than three million pieces of chicken nuggets were sold thanks to the "BTS Meal"!

On June 23, an official from McDonald's Philippines revealed that thanks to the "BTS Meal" in collaboration with K-Pop superstars, BTS, they sold nearly 3.5 million pieces of chicken nuggets on the day of the Meal's launch alone. The "BTS Meal" launched in the Philippines back on June 18.

Keep on reading to know more.

McDonald's Philippines Sells Over 3 Million Chicken Nuggets on the Day of "BTS Meal" Launch

Each "BTS Meal" comes with a 10-piece chicken McNuggets, which means nearly a whopping 350,000 "BTS Meal" units were sold on its launch day!

According to Margot Torres, the managing director of McDonald's Philippines, the number of chicken nuggets sold was 1000 percent higher as compared to their average daily nuggets sales prior to the "BTS Meal."

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: This Artist Upcycled BTS Meal Set Packaging Into Custom Sneakers - The Result Will Amaze You

Since its launch on June 18, nearly a million "BTS Meal" units were sold in total. The managing director added that they were so surprised and that it was phenomenal. "We really painted the town purple," said Margot Torres.

Margot Torres also noted that the packaging was critical in the mega fast food chain's increase in sales, aside from the meal inclusions such as the 10-piece chicken McNuggets, medium coke, medium fries, and the two Korean-inspired dipping sauces - Cajun and Spicy Chili.

The staff of McDonald's Philippines was revealed to have been given special instructions when it came to the packaging. According to the managing director, they were also instructed not to fold the "BTS Meal" paper bag but preserve it, as it is known that ARMY - BTS' fandom - would like to add it to their collection of BTS merchandise.

BTS is known to boost sales of numerous brands they collaborate with, so it is no surprise that McDonald's Philippines also saw immense success. Previously, it was reported that McDonald's in South Korea had surpassed 1.2 million "BTS Meal" units sold.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'BTS Meal' Surpasses 1.2 Million Units Sold in South Korea

Congratulations to McDonald's and BTS!

BTS Jungkook's "Euphoria" Maintains Place in Billboard Chart in its 70th Week

Jungkook continues to show his charting power as a solo artist!

According to the latest Billboard's World Digital Songs Sales chart for the week of June 26, Jungkook's solo song "Euphoria" from the BTS "Love Yourself: Answer" album that was released in 2018, took the No.7 spot, marking the song's 70th week on the chart as well as becoming the longest-charting solo song by a Korean idol.

In addition to "Euphoria," Jungkook's other solo song, "My Time," also topped the World Digital Songs Sales chart at No.11 in its 66th week, making it the second longest-charting solo song by a Korean idol in history.

Meanwhile, as of June 23, "Euphoria" has surpassed 246 million streams on the world's largest music platform, Spotify, making it the first solo song by a Korean male idol to do so as well.

Congratulations to Jungkook!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Korean Government Reveals That They Would Delay BTS' Mandatory Military Enlistment

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Robyn Joan


Counselor Bellingham Technical College invites applications for a full-time, 10 month Counselor position. Start date is September 14, 2021.



The counselor in this position is a non-teaching faculty member responsible for providing short-term personal/mental health counseling and crisis intervention for a diverse student population. The counselor will also provide consultation to faculty and staff in their efforts to help students succeed. This position is located within the Admissions & Advising Office and collaborates closely with other Student Services programs. The primary responsibility of this position is to provide direct services and referrals to enhance student success and retention. There is an emphasis on short-term counseling of students regarding issues that impact academic progress, career exploration, academic advising, and crisis intervention in a campus climate that promotes cultural diversity and multicultural understanding. The position serves as a resource to faculty regarding classroom behaviors. The position includes conducting workshops and may include classroom instruction. The successful candidate will be expected to establish a successful and supportive learning environment for a diverse college student population with a wide-range of backgrounds and experiences.



Required qualifications include: Master's degree in Education, Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, or related field from an accredited institution; National or state licensed mental health counselor or psychologist or social worker; Minimum two years of equivalent full-time work experience in counseling individuals regarding personal, mental health, academic and career issues. Apply by 5pm July 21, 2021 for priority consideration. AA/EOE

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Welder

Shift: 5:00am-3:30pm Monday-Thursday

Overtime may be required

KEITH Walking Floor Systems provide horizontal loading/unloading solutions for bulk materials, pallets, bales and rolls. The companys state of the art production facility in Madras, Oregon operates using Lean Manufacturing practices. We are seeking high performance team members with a commitment to quality work with a positive attitude.

Responsibilities include setting up and operating manual or semiautomatic welding machines. Weld together parts of fabricated metal products, as specified by layouts and welding procedures. Perform machine maintenance. Operate forklift, crane or other related machinery. Maintain 6S in area. Communicate with team leaders regarding setup, controls, and operating sequences.

Minimum Qualifications : Minimum of 18 years of age. Mig welding experience required. Pass employer performance tests. Proficient in layout, positioning and securing parts to be welded. Understand proper quality weld standards (including slag removal). Proficient in reading a tape measure, pressure gauge, precision measurement tools. Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment focusing on quality and attention to detail.

Physical requirements include ability to sit or stand for 8 to 10 hours at a time. Lift 25 lbs. repetitively. Production facility exposed to continual machine noise.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: DOE

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Pharmacy Health Plan. Short Term Disability and Life Insurance.

Paid Vacation Time. Paid Holidays. 401K Retirement Plan with employer contribution.

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This is an opportunity to grow and become an important member of our communitys commitment to high-quality care provided close to home. Duties: In this position, the right candidate will perform daily radiologic procedures, image critiquing, office and patient scheduling duties, maintenance of radiographic equipment and various other duties as assigned.

T he radiologic technologist is directly responsible to the X-Ray Coordinator. We are looking for a courteous, friendly and helpful attitude as you work with staff members, patients/residents, family, and visitors and make a difference in our overall patient experience. Schedule: 3rd shift Radiology Technologist, 72 hours per pay period. -This would be T-F and every other M.

Also looking for FT days Radiologic Technologist, CT experience preferred but will training. Position will include 1-2 nights of call per pay period. Position is at VGH Requirements: Must be ARRT registered and have a current Iowa Department of Public Health Permit to Practice Radiology license.

IDPH Permit to Practice required and CT experience a plus but will train. Benefits: Competitive Benefits Package Included About Us: Virginia Gay Hospital is the communitys largest employer and provides a wide array of services, diagnostic testing, and clinical expertise (Acute Care (inpatient), Emergency Medicine, Home Health, Imaging Services, Laboratory, Nursing and Rehabilitation, Respiratory Therapy, Sleep Studies, Surgical Services and Therapy Services. As a leader in rural healthcare and specializing in family medicine Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics serve families in the greater Benton County, Iowa with family medical clinics in Atkins (SE Benton Co.), Van Horne (SW Benton Co.), Urbana (NE Benton Co.) and in Vinton. Founded with a gift from Virginia Walcutt-Gay in 1914, the hospital has been able to maintain independence because of the generous support from the community.

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Aldie Counseling Center in Langhorne has an immediate openingfor self-motivated Full-Time Nurse (RN OR LPN) to assist with daily dosing of medication for an opiate dependent population. Four weekdays from 5 am to 1 pm then every other weekend from 6 am to 11 am. The candidate should have experience in a hospital or behavioral health setting, have basic computer skills, be able to multitask, show initiative to problem solve, work with a team of nurses, and demonstrate compassion with our patients.

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Information Technology Administrator

THE POSITION

The Bainbridge Island Fire Department is seeking to fill the new position of Information Technology Administrator. This is a full time, temporary position (24 months), designed to evaluate the work load and technical requirements for a permanent IT position. Major duties include end-user support and technical assistance on the use of computer systems and software applications for the Fire Department, which includes approximately 25 workstations throughout three fire stations and technology deployed for use during response operations, as well as network management. This is a full time, represented position that works a flexible 40-hour per week schedule. Salary of $6,900 per month for 2021. The minimum qualifications for the position are listed in the approved job description that accompanies this announcement. THE DEPARTMENT

The Department provides fire suppression, BLS and ALS emergency medical services, and a variety of specialty services including technical rescue, marine firefighting and wildland response to the 24,000 residents of Bainbridge Island. The 50 full time personnel and 30 volunteers work from three stations to provide coverage to the 28 square miles of the district. Technology permeates all facets of daily operations including emergency medical calls, fire response, fleet management and administrative duties. Please refer to the BIFD Information Technology Plan posted on the Department website for a complete picture of the Department's IT strategic direction. APPLICATIONS Cover letter and resumes will be accepted until the position is filled. If you need special accommodations please send an email to applications@bifd.org using Special Accommodation Request in the subject line and include your contact information in the body of the email. A thorough background check will be completed prior to a final hiring decision. Please submit cover letters and resumes only! DONOT include certificates, letters of recommendation, etc. at this time. Applications that are mailed to the Department or dropped off in person will not be considered.

TO APPLY: Email your resume to applications@bifd.org. Questions can be directed to applications@bifd.org. Please include ITA Question in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The BIFD website can be found at: http://www.bifd.org

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Location: Philadelphia - Pennsylvania

Job Description Rockwell Account Managers' sell the company's products and/or services to existing named accounts within a geographic territory. They maintain relationships with existing named accounts and may have their own accounts or work on a team. Account Managers work collaboratively with RA, RA Distributor and Named Partners to achieve the business development goals listed below. Responsibilities: Driving Accelerated Growth: Achieve the territory's growth expectations for your assigned accounts.

Achieve the territory's growth expectations for your assigned accounts. Partner Ecosystem Delivery Planning: Take ownership of completing a Partner Delivery Strategy plan for each of your territories of responsibility. Through discussions with assigned partners, distributors and SI Account Manager counterparts, develop a partner delivery strategy that details the following strengths and competencies for partners leveraged in your territories. Industry & Application Expertise Expertise and certifications in Process/DCS, Information Software, IIoT, Network Infrastructure & Security, Machine Safety, Process Safety, etc.

Take ownership of completing a Partner Delivery Strategy plan for each of your territories of responsibility. Through discussions with assigned partners, distributors and SI Account Manager counterparts, develop a partner delivery strategy that details the following strengths and competencies for partners leveraged in your territories. Partner Market Access & Development Planning: Identify the areas of partnership and certification that each organization has interest and capability in, and complete an engagement and development strategy for each partner as appropriate. Integrate this plan into quarterly success planning discussions with your partners.

Identify the areas of partnership and certification that each organization has interest and capability in, and complete an engagement and development strategy for each partner as appropriate. Integrate this plan into quarterly success planning discussions with your partners. Partner Program Management: Manage and leverage all aspects of our Partner Program to drive tighter collaboration and accelerated growth with your assigned accounts. Complete and document all required Success Planning meetings with your partners by the established due date. Establish regular cadence meeting schedule (at least quarterly) with each assigned partner. Leverage SI & PB Conversion program to identify and close opportunities for growth. Work with your TSMs and BLs to drive execution with distributor partners. Identify partners for Scalable OEE (and future scalable IS solutions) and incorporate into plans. Identify partners for PlantPAX 5.0 acceleration and incorporate into plans. Manage Partner RAU access and utilization.

Manage and leverage all aspects of our Partner Program to drive tighter collaboration and accelerated growth with your assigned accounts. Future Market Access:Document the 2 or 3 most critical areas for growth (Industries, Applications, Technologies, Growth Initiatives, etc.) in your territories and incorporate into your Partner Ecosystem Delivery Plan. Detail current state gaps and opportunities and what future state success would look like. Work with TSM, OEM/Industry Sales Managers, Business Leaders & Distributor Sales Managers to identify potential new partners, and partner development requirements to achieve success. Examples of Potential Focus: Process Acceleration

IIoT, Network Infrastructure & Cyber Security

Information Software Solutions, Digital Tread / Digital Twin

Motion & Independent Cart Technology

Safety

Packaged Power

Vertical Industry Access & Expertise

Application Expertise Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Valid driver's license.

Ability to travel LOCALLY greater than 50% of time.

Legal authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. Preferred Qualifications: Software industry experience

Bachelor of Science degree in an Engineering discipline or Operations Management. Additional business-related degree/experience preferred.

Prior experience in technical sales, industrial distribution, manufacturing operations, systems integration or an engineering firm, or graduate of the Rockwell Automation Sales Training Program:

Experience working with all levels of an industrial automation plant (customer) including VPs, plant engineers and System Integrators. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact our services team at +1 (see application details).




JOB OVERVIEW: This position will provide excellent customer service and support to our packaging customers, sales representatives and distributors for our products. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Processing of daily orders accurately with great attention to detail.

Processing of return authorizations (RMAs) and credit memos.

Research any customer discrepancies (order amount, shipping issues etc.) and provides a resolution and response in a timely and accurate manner.

Work closely with accounting for new account set up and collections.

Match daily paperwork related to orders and invoicing. Pull copies as requested.

Cross-train and provide coverage for other Customer Service Representatives.

Other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS/MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: High school diploma or G.E.D, college degree preferred.

2-3 years previous experience working in customer service is highly recommended.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in a fast-paced environment.

Ability to assess and solve technical problems.

Organized with a strong attention to detail.

Strong knowledge of logistics and shipping processes to assist customers with shipping products globally.

Ability to work independently or as a team.

Able to deliver excellent customer service, externally and internally.

Proficient with Microsoft Office products.

Ability to operate general office equipment such as telephone, copier, fax, computer, etc.

Ability to take direction from multiple co-workers and managers. WORKING CONDITIONS: Use of skills requiring motor coordination with finger dexterity (e.g. keyboarding, machine operation, etc.) during most of a normal workday.

Required to exert physical effort in handling objects less than 30 pounds. COMPANY OVERVIEW: Located in Brooklyn Park, MN, Engage Technologies is the parent company of Squid Ink, Eastey, AFM, and Cogent. Squid Ink is a manufacturer of coding and marking systems and fluids for product identification and traceability. Eastey is a manufacturer of heavy-duty shrink-packaging equipment. AFM is a manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty shrink sleeve labeling equipment, shrink tunnels, and shrink sleeve consumables. Cogent 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.

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The Clean Energy Compound That Could Change The World

An exciting new green energy opportunity is beginning to unfold...yet it remains completely beneath the radar of most investors.

With a massive global shift underway towards greener, more sustainable energy solutions, one game-changing energy source could be on the verge of transforming green energy forever.

And one company in particular  an early leader in the space, being guided by a Hall of Fame-caliber leadership team  offers investors a unique opportunity to invest in the early stages of what could be the next major green energy source.

In fact, one massive industry has already begun to turn to this new energy source for its energy needs, triggering a significant opportunity that the mainstream press has almost completely ignored.

This high-upside new green energy opportunity is happening with ammonia.

Thats right  ammonia. The very same substance that most people think of for its use as a fertilizer and in many household cleaning products.

But the way we think about ammonia is about to change...in a huge way.

Thats because green ammonia has extraordinary potential as a clean energy source, and certainly now has the attention of global energy behemoths who are collectively betting on this space to make mankinds dream of carbon-free energy a reality.

Now heres where the early-stage investment opportunity comes into play:

One company has quietly emerged as a significant early mover in this space.

Its a company that has already taken significant steps to capitalize on the low-hanging fruit in the ammonia space...and its being led by a forward-thinking CEO with experience at Ford Motor Company, Magna International, and NASA.

This company is AmmPower Corp.(CSE:AMMP; OTC:AMMPF)  and it could offer investors significant upside potential as ammonia production becomes critical to fueling our green energy needs.

AmmPower is now developing proprietary technology that aims to produce cleaner ammonia  more efficiently  and in a much more scalable way.

Here are 5 reasons investors should consider AmmPower immediately for its high upside potential:

Reason #1: Ammonia Offers Significant Potential as an Efficient Fuel Source

Ammonia, also known as NH3, is a colorless gas that is composed of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. It is produced naturally in the human body and in nature  in water, soil, and air...even in tiny bacteria molecules.

Of course, its use as a fertilizer is what ammonia is best known for, as half the worlds food production depends on it for increasing crop yield.

But its ammonias future as a clean energy source that offers explosive upside potential.

Thats because ammonia has been shown to possess nine times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries...and 1.8 times the energy density of liquid hydrogen.

This higher energy capacity is what gives ammonia its potential as a significant carbon-free energy carrier.

Ammonia is also less flammable, easier to transport, and more cost-effective than hydrogen.

While many companies and innovators are looking to hydrogen as a potential source to meet their green energy needs, the fact of the matter is there is greater potential  and less competition  with ammonia.

At the moment, ammonia is the second most commonly produced chemical in the world, but existing processes for production produce a significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

AmmPower CSE:AMMP; OTC:AMMPF) is working to change the process of how ammonia is made by developing a proprietary process and chemicals to produce green ammonia with minimal by-products and residual contaminants.

Some of the worlds smartest minds are now predicting that using ammonia as a fuel source will play a massive role in the global war against climate change.

In fact, industry trade publication Chemical & Engineering News reports that ammonia could come to the (climate change) rescue by capturing, storing, and shipping hydrogen for use in emission-free fuel cells and turbines. Efforts are also underway to combust ammonia directly in power plants and ship engines.

Of course, among the smart minds who are predicting that ammonia could play a significant role as a green energy source is AmmPowers excellent management team...

Reason #2: AmmPower CSE:AMMP; OTC:AMMPF) is Led by a Team with a Long Track Record of Success

One of the most critical aspects when evaluating the potential for any company is the quality of its management.

In the case of AmmPower investors who examine this opportunity will find a team of successful professionals -- from large corporations  who have come together to help take advantage of a unique opportunity in the green energy space.

When such an impressive lineup of proven business leaders assembles to run a small company...its not because they think its a longshot. Its because they likely believe in the companys outsized growth potential.

Leading the group is Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Benninger, who recently stepped down from his position at Magna International Inc., a $40 billion USD automotive parts supplier, third-largest in the world.

At Magna, he held key management positions including Executive Vice President of Engineering and R&D for the Corporation and Division General Manager where he launched the automotive interior trim business and initiated the development of new technologies resulting in over $1 billion USD in sales.

Dr. Benninger also held key management positions outside Magna as the Chief Operating Officer of the North American Operations of the Becker Group, a $1.5 billion privately held automotive interior systems supplier where Gary managed fourteen manufacturing plants and as the Chief Executive Officer of the publicly traded Amerityre Corporation, a polyurethane tire developer and manufacturer.

Prior to joining Magna, he worked for Ford Motor Company as a product engineering manager, where he was awarded the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Society of the Plastics Industry Grand Awards and for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a research scientist in the Energy Conversion and Materials Science Division of the Glenn Research Center.

Company President Rene Bharti began his career working in the mining industry, culminating in his role with start-up Avion Gold Corp., a West African gold company that was eventually sold for $300 million to Endeavour Mining.

Subsequently, Mr. Bharti founded ARHT Media, a technology company currently trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and Future Fertility Inc., an Artificial Intelligence company in the biotech space. Mr. Bharti has been responsible for helping raise over $500 million for various ventures over the past two decades, often serving as a consultant with fundraising and subsequent IPO processes.

Vice President of Technology & Government Relations Dr. Luisa Moreno has almost two decades of experience in Finance, Business Development, and Technical Research, with a focus on Technology, and Mining and Metals industries.

In addition, the companys research and development team is led by a true innovator with a long track record of building successful R&D projects...

Reason #3: The Companys Innovative Research & Development

AMMPowers (CSE:AMMP; OTC:AMMPF) research and development team is headed by Dr. V.I. Lucky Lakshmanan, Ph.D., FCAE, MIMM, FCIM. The R& D team headed by Dr. Lakshmanan is responsible for over 69 patents filed and research publications in over 150 scientific publications to date.

The team is working to develop a proprietary ammonia production process by incorporating innovative catalysts and refining processing conditions to more efficiently produce ammonia & cheaper economic prices.

The company is targeting intellectual property and patents in the following areas:

AmmPower Green Ammonia units

Retro-fit technology

Optimized chemical production process of green ammonia

The companys research and development was further enhanced by the recent announcement of an R&D agreement with Process Research Ortech, Inc.

As part of this agreement, AmmPower will work with Ortech to improve the efficiency of the ammonia synthesis process by incorporating new additives and catalysts to the production process and testing different methodologies to improve ammonia formation conditions.

In doing so, AmmPower hopes to develop a cleaner and more economically efficient ammonia production process.

The AmmPower team is focused on a process that can break water into its constituent hydrogen and oxygen atoms, and then add nitrogen from the atmosphere to create ammonia.

The company is committed to utilizing carbon-free energy sources to ensure an end-to-end clean, green ammonia production system that is efficient, mobile, and modularly scalable. To top things off, the company is finalizing technology to be able to efffeciently crack hydrogen from ammonia. Ammonia is the perfect carrying vessel for ammonia, as it is not only safer to move hydrogen as ammonia, but is also cheaper, as it allows more hydrogen to be moved as ammonia, then as hydrogen alone. Indeed, the business of cracking Hydrogen is large enough to be an industry in itself, if one believes in the green hydrogen economy.

This means Ammonia production and Hydrogen cracking could be located closer to the end-user in an integrated process designed to grow with the customers needs.

Reason #4: AmmPower Corp.(CSE:AMMP; OTC:AMMPF) Enjoys a Significant First Mover Advantage

While experts agree that there is massive potential in the green ammonia space, the fact of the matter is there arent many other companies currently looking to do what AmmPower is doing.

This means theres very little competition in the marketplace as the company seeks to establish an early leadership position.

There are no other commercially available modular ammonia units, so if they are able to effectively commence construction of modular ammonia-producing units they will enjoy a significant first-to-market advantage.

Their ammonia-producing units are planned to be flexible to fit a wide array of customers from individual organizations, large marine ports, and distribution hubs.

The company is aiming to become a world leader in scalable proprietary production of green ammonia thanks to its...

Commitment to secure a dedicated manufacturing facility near Detroit, Michigan...

Potential of large manufacturing capabilities and large power capacity for on-site ammonia production and experimentation...

And the potential for physical expansion of the facility into larger manufacturing space as required by customer demand and scientific success.

Reason #5: AMMPower Has a Strong Path to Revenue and is Targeting Low-Hanging Fruit

AmmPower Corp. (CSE: AMMP) (OTCQB: AMMPF) is focusing its initial efforts to bring green ammonia capacity to those industries in need of immediate solutions.

The global marine industry is a large, readily available market that has already begun turning to ammonia to help meet its energy needs. In, fact, AmmPower recently announced the creation of AMC  AmmPower Marine Corp., that is solely focused on opportunities in shipping and the worlds oceans.

Ship owners and industry analysts alike say they expect ammonia to play a pivotal role in the de-carbonization of cargo ships, which must reduce emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.

Over 120 ports are already equipped with ammonia trading facilities...

MAN Energy and Samsung Heavy Industries are part of an initiative to develop the first ammonia-fueled oil tanker by 2024...

Viking Energy expects to become the first vessel propelled by ammonia fuel cells...

And according to one consultancy report, ammonia could make up 25 percent of the maritime fuel mix by midcentury, with nearly all newly built ships running on ammonia beginning as soon as 2044.

The future of energy for the global shipping industry seems clear  and it looks to be heavily dependent upon ammonia.



By: Lisa Potts

** IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER -- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! **

PAID ADVERTISEMENT . This article is a paid advertisement. GlobalInvestmentDaily.com and its owners, managers, employees, and assigns (collectively the Publisher) is often paid by one or more of the profiled companies or a third party to disseminate these types of communications. In this case, the Publisher has been compensated by AmmPower Corp. (AmmPower or AMMP) to conduct investor awareness advertising and marketing. AmmPower paid the Publisher to produce and disseminate five similar articles and additional banner ads at a rate of ninety thousand US dollars per article. This compensation should be viewed as a major conflict with our ability to be unbiased.

Readers should beware that third parties, profiled companies, and/or their affiliates may liquidate shares of the profiled companies at any time, including at or near the time you receive this communication, which has the potential to hurt share prices. Frequently companies profiled in our articles experience a large increase in volume and share price during the course of investor awareness marketing, which often ends as soon as the investor awareness marketing ceases. The investor awareness marketing may be as brief as one day, after which a large decrease in volume and share price may likely occur.

This communication is not, and should not be construed to be, an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Neither this communication nor the Publisher purport to provide a complete analysis of any company or its financial position. The Publisher is not, and does not purport to be, a broker-dealer or registered investment adviser. This communication is not, and should not be construed to be, personalized investment advice directed to or appropriate for any particular investor. Any investment should be made only after consulting a professional investment advisor and only after reviewing the financial statements and other pertinent corporate information about the company. Further, readers are advised to read and carefully consider the Risk Factors identified and discussed in the advertised companys SEC, SEDAR and/or other government filings. Investing in securities, particularly microcap securities, is speculative and carries a high degree of risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This communication is based on information generally available to the public and on interviews with company management, and does not (to the Publishers knowledge, as confirmed by AmmPower) contain any material, non-public information. The information on which it is based is believed to be reliable. Nevertheless, the Publisher cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information.

SHARE OWNERSHIP. The Publisher owns shares in the featured company and therefore has an additional incentive to see the featured companys stock perform well. The Publisher does not undertake any obligation to notify the market when it decides to buy or sell shares of the issuer in the market. The Publisher will be buying and selling shares of the featured company for its own profit. This is why we stress that you conduct extensive due diligence as well as seek the advice of your financial advisor or a registered broker-dealer before investing in any securities.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. This publication contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected continual growth of the featured companies and/or industry. The Publisher notes that statements contained herein that look forward in time, which include everything other than historical information, involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the companies actual results of operations. Forward looking statements in this publication include that the global demand for ammonia and hydrogen as commodities will continue to increase; that the research and development in the energy sector will lead to adoption of hydrogen and ammonia as commercially viable fuel sources for the automotive, aircraft, marine, industrial or other sectors in the future; that governments will continue to implement initiatives supporting reduced carbon emissions and that ammonia and hydrogen will gain traction and commercial viability as potential carbon-free or low carbon fuel alternatives; that AMMP will be able to develop an efficient process and proprietary intellectual property for the production of green ammonia and that AMMPs process, if developed, will be adopted commercially to allow use of green ammonia and/or hydrogen as viable fuel sources; that AMMP will meet its proposed development program and funding milestones to develop its technology process and produce the proposed AMMP power units; that AMMP will be able to complete and establish its proposed manufacturing facility and produce ammonia power units which will be sold as commercially viable fuel alternatives; that investors will continue to seek opportunities for investment in green technologies and that hydrogen and ammonia will be considered as viable investment opportunities in the future; and that AMMP can carry out its business plans. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include the global demand for ammonia and hydrogen may not actually continue to increase if other energy alternatives such as solar, wind or hydroelectric are favored over ammonia and hydrogen; that the research and development in the energy sector may lead to rejection of hydrogen and ammonia as commercially viable fuel sources for the automotive, aircraft, marine, industrial or other sectors in the future, and that research may find that other fuels or energy sources provide safer, more cost efficient and/or more viable fuel alternatives; that governments may not implement the anticipated funding and initiatives to support reduced carbon emissions sufficient for ammonia and hydrogen to gain necessary traction or commercial viability as fuel alternatives; that AMMP may be unable to develop an efficient process or any unique proprietary intellectual property for the production of green ammonia or, even if developed, may ultimately fail to be adopted as commercially viable for any reason; that AMMP may be unable meet its proposed development timeline and funding milestones to develop its technology process and produce the proposed AMMP power units; that AMMP may be unable to establish its proposed manufacturing facility and produce ammonia power units, or if such units are developed, that they may not be sold as commercially viable fuel alternatives; that investors favor other clean energy opportunities than hydrogen and ammonia or that other fuel alternatives such as solar, wind and hydroelectric may be considered more commercially viable; and that AMMP may, for any number of reasons, fail to carry out its intended business plans. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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La State And Other Employees Federation a presente lors dune conference de presse le 23 juin 2021 un document sur le  Work From Home  dans le service public.

Work from home

Review of PSC Regulations2

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Coca-Cola Bottling was founded as a franchise in 1917 on 10th Avenue in Bethlehem. By 1941, the company moved to West Broad Street and was renamed Quaker State Coca-Cola Bottling Co. After an acquisition in the 1960s, the new owners moved Coca-Cola from the Broad Street location to LVIP. The company, which eventually became Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the Lehigh Valley, stopped producing soda in 2017 at LVIP.
This transformation was phased in over six months, went live in April and cost the network $100,000. It included replacing the copper wire coming into the network with high-speed fiber optic cable and upgrading the existing CAREpoint communications stations with the most up-to-date software and security features. Now calls in and outbound are of the highest quality, whether they involve the regional 911 communication centers, calls from the EMTs and/or paramedics in the field, or from one hospital ER to another.
P4P is a peer-support program that assists physicians, residents, pharmacists and medical students who are experiencing stress, especially those brought on by their professional roles. It is believed that colleagues who have been there can best relate to situations and concerns encountered in the workplace by their peers. The volunteer mentors are trained by Marraccini and Lamparella to provide emotional first aid and connect colleagues with supportive resources.
Mack Defense is in the midst of a major contract with the Army, which was announced in May 2018. The deal is valued at up to $296.4 million and runs through through May 2025. While defense budgets can be unpredictable, the contract allows for a maximum of 683 armor-capable or armored dump trucks.
Theres some companies that let people work remote [and] people got used to it, she said. They love it, for all the reasons you can imagine, and they dont want to give that up. And companies, if they can at all work to accommodate that, because they did accommodate it for the year, theyre going to be better served, perhaps.
Employing more than 600 people in the Lehigh Valley, the chain launched its first U.S. store in Iowa in 1976. Since then, Aldi has gone on to open more than 1,700 stores across 25 states. The chain also boasts more than 5,600 stores worldwide.
Walking into our gorgeous building in Allentown, you know youre in a Fortune 500 company, but the support you get from management and the relationships you build with your team feels more mom and pop to me, account executive Stephanie Tully said. I love my job. I love helping my clients navigate the often-overwhelming terrain of running a business, but the company, my co-workers, and the community we have here is what really keeps me fulfilled. It truly feels like a family.
My team of technicians made me feel like I was one of the guys, he said. My service advisers felt like my peers. They never made me feel when I was asking for help that I was impeding them from doing something. The last six to eight months, I have been the one that the new people have come to for training. They text me for assistance. Its come full circle. Its a great feeling.
In the Lehigh Valley, a physical rehabilitation center called Robbins Rehabilitation West has taken the principle of the balancer  although it doesnt call it that  and applied it to the workplace, creating an environment in which caring about each other yields a content staff, top patient care and profitability. That commitment to balance placed Robbins West No. 1 among employers with 124 or fewer employees in 2021s Top Workplaces  its third consecutive year on the list.
The Ford Ranger midsize pickup, assembled in Wayne, Michigan, was No. 1 last year, but has fallen out of the top 10 in part because of a fairly steep reduction in content under the American Automobile Labeling Act, which relates to whether parts are considered domestic or foreign, according to Kelsey Mays, assistant managing editor for Cars.com and lead researcher for the index.
While the CDC data shows that Vermont has the nations the lowest case rate, it also shows that it has the highest vaccination rate, with 83% of its 12-and-older population having received at least their first dose of a vaccine. Hawaii is the only other state to top 80%, with Massachusetts, which has the second-lowest case rate, ranking the third-highest vaccination rate, 79.6%.
During her recent mayoral campaign, Gerlach repeatedly said Allentown needs to do more to help residents find jobs within city limits. About 4 in 5 residents need to leave the city to find work, and about the same share of city jobs are held by nonresidents. According to a Brookings Institute report, the Lehigh Valley has experienced from 2009-19 faster-growing wage and poverty gaps between white people and people of color than most large metropolitan areas.
Asked why, Republican Rep. Gary Day of Lehigh County said, Legislators have done the work to address the concerns about election security. If the governor can put aside his political operatives in the administration and negotiate with House Bill 1300, he can make all Pennsylvanians feel elections are accessible and fair.
Bethlehem police received multiple calls for a shooting at the 7-Eleven store and found Guridy wounded on the sidewalk in front of the store, his arm bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. Police say a 33-year-old woman was standing next to him, crying. She told authorities that she had a protection from abuse order against Guridy and was friends with Vadillo, who had been arguing with Guridy prior to the shooting.
That leaves school districts to raise most of the rest of their money through local taxes, another inequitable process. Districts such as Allentown with a poor tax base just cant raise enough. And much of what they raise has to be forfeited to charter schools, many of which are overpaid and provide substandard education.
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International

30 Myanmar troops killed in Sagaing clashes

Anti-coup protest in Monywa of Sagaing region.

Kolkata, Jun 24 ( IANS) | Publish Date: 6/24/2021 1:25:51 PM IST

At least 30 Myanmar troops were reportedly killed during two fierce encounters with civilian resistance fighters in Kani and Yinmabin townships in the Sagaing region bordering northeast India.

On Tuesday, around 1,000 civilian resistance fighters using homemade hunting rifles attacked about 60 junta troops deployed at the Tayaw Kyin village beside the Monywa-Kalaywa Highway, local residents told IANS.

The village, located on the border of the two townships, was raided by the Myanmar troops in search for hidden weapons.

During the six-hour shoot-out, about 10 troops were killed, commander of a local resistance force, Aung Gyi told IANS.

On Wednesday evening, 60 soldiers sent to reinforce the original raiding party was ambushed as the detachment headed out of Monywa towards the village.

The reinforcements hit five locally made landmines on the Monywa-Kalaywa highway.

About 20 junta troops were killed in the explosions and the gunfire from resistance fighters, according to Aung Gyi. He told IANS that angry soldiers burned down eight houses near Bant Bway in retaliation.

Aung Gyi said about 100 troops were now combing the forests around the sites of the encounters.

They are searching all houses along the highway and the adjoining forests. They are opening fire indiscriminately, the commander said, adding he anticipated much civilian casualties in these random firings.

Armed clashes between the junta troops and resistance fighters started in the area on April 2.

Several thousand villagers in Kani township have fled their homes.

Meanwhile, two police officers were reportedly killed by the civilian resistance Zero Guerilla Force during a raid on a security outpost in Mandalay regions Nagzon township on Tuesday night.

Zero Force commander U Lwin told IANS that 25 fighters raided the Min Nay Gon outpost.

During the 20-minute firefight, two officers, including a police captain, were killed and the resistance fighters managed to retreat without casualties, U Lwin said.

Fifteen police officers were left unharmed.

Zero Guerilla Force has attacked junta forces in Myingyan township, Mandalay, on several occasions.

On June 18, it shot dead a traffic police officer.

An army major and captain were shot dead by the group in the town on May 27 and June 3.

We fight injustice. We will never accept the military regime. We have vowed to fight everything junta-related, said Lwin .

Nine civilians, including a family of six, were detained by junta forces during a house raid in Monywa township, Sagaing, on Monday.

After being accused of supplying the Peoples Defense Forces (PDF), tutor U Tin Myint Soe and his five family members, including a six-year-old girl, were detained along with three house guests by the junta forces during the Aye Tharyar Ward raid.

On Tuesday, the girl was reportedly released but the whereabouts of the other eight are unknown.

The PDF had attacked an off-take station at Mandalay on the Rakhine-Yunnan pipeline connecting China to the Myanmar coast last month and one of their hideout was raided by security forces this week.

Two resistance fighters died in the shootout and six were arrested.

Resistance groups armed with hunting Rifles, bows-arrows, catapults and machetes are confronting the Burmese army Tatmadaw since the February 1 military takeover in an increasing number of urban locations in a dramatic escalation to the crisis in the Pagoda Nation.
International

Spain opens probe into John McAfees death inside prison

Madrid, Jun 24 (AGENCIES/AP) | Publish Date: 6/24/2021 1:28:20 PM IST

The body of the 75-year-old founder of the anti-virus pioneer was discovered around 7 pm on Wednesday in his cell in the Brians 2 penitentiary near Barcelona.

The body of the 75-year-old founder of the anti-virus McAfee software was discovered at around 7 pm on Wednesday in his cell in the Brians 2 penitentiary near Barcelona in what a prison service spokeswoman said was a death apparently from suicide.

Spanish investigators Thursday probed the death of John McAfee who was found in his prison cell after an apparent suicide following a court decision approving his extradition to the US on tax evasion charges.

Catalan legal officials confirmed it was McAfee, who had been held at the facility since his arrest in early October 2020 as he was about to board a flight to Istanbul.

His body was taken away by judicial officials who opened an investigation to determine the cause of death, a spokeswoman for Catalonias justice ministry told AFP on Thursday.

There was a death which suggested suicide but confirmation must come through the autopsy, she told AFP, saying it could be a matter of days before a post-mortem would be carried out.

According to an indictment filed in a US court, McAfee was alleged to have deliberately failed to file tax returns between 2014 and 2018, despite earning millions from consulting work, cryptocurrencies and selling the rights to his life story.

If convicted, he could have faced up to 30 years in prison.

McAfee was found dead just hours after a Spanish court said it had approved his extradition to the United States in a decision that could have been appealed.

According to the US extradition request filed in November and quoted in the ruling, McAfee earned more than 10 million euros ($12 million) in 2014-18, but never filed a tax return.

To conceal his income and assets from the Internal Revenue Service... the defendant ordered part of his income to be paid to straw men and placed the property in their names, it said.

Since making a fortune in the 1980s with the antivirus software that still bears his name, McAfee had become a self-styled cryptocurrency guru, claiming to make $2,000 a day.

McAfee in 1987 founded the computer security software company and ran it for seven years before resigning.

His life after that became a headline-grabbing mix of controversies involving drugs, weapons and even murder.

McAfee had more than one million followers on Twitter, where he described himself as a lover of women, adventure and mystery.

In a tweet on 16 June, he said the US authorities believed he had hidden crypto.

I wish I did, he added. My remaining assets are all seized. My friends evaporated through fear of association. I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing.

Since his arrest, his wife Janice has complained that he was not doing well in jail and had faced delays in getting proper medical care.

The US authorities are determined to have John die in prison, she tweeted on Sunday, adding, There is no hope for him ever having a fair trial in America.
There aren't so many animals of legend out there that truly exist. The Loch Ness Monster sometimes turns out to be a fish. A shocking number of sea monster spottings can be explained by whale penises. Generally, samples of "yeti" hairs turn out to be from bears, though at times - just at times - it's a dog.

Gustave

Then there's Gustave, an animal that has gotten itself a renowned status in Burundi. Though myths have grown all over Gustave - some say he's 12 meters (40 feet) in length, others believe the croc is yellow or red in color, or with grass growing out of its head - there is a basis of fact to the more grounded tales.

Footage disclosing a large crocodile has been captured, and also photographs.The reptile is possibly the largest crocodile in Africa at an estimated 20 feet ( 6 meters) and 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms), but the crocodile has gotten notoriety for far worse reasons than being a chonky boi: rumor has it that it may have killed more than 300 people.

Locals to Lake Tanganyika are afraid of the croc, who is reported to journey large swathes of the lake shores, consuming "fishermen and bathers on the way," according to Patrice Faye, a herpetologist who studied the animal and reports of the killings for many years.

Also Read: Revenge of the Wildlife: Nile Crocodiles Devour Man Who Kills Wild Animals for 'Trophy'

An Attempt to Capture the Crocodile

Faye told the BBC: "He can consume 10, 15, or 20 humans along the bank. One year, I took the path he followed on one of his forays and 17 people had been consumed between Kanyosha and Minago, and Kabezi and Magara."

In 2004, a wrangler - filmed by a documentary crew the entire time - made an attempt to capture the crocodile so as to relocate it for the safety of the residents close to Lake Tanganyika. The team, headed by Faye, made efforts to lure the crocodile into a 9 meter (30 foot) trap, but they failed. One last attempt saw them place a goat into a springloaded trap, in a scene right out of Jurassic Park.

The Failed Plan

After some nights of just short looks of what could have been Gustave, the team started speculating that "Gustave is smarter than we think." Finally, on what became the last night for the crew, the night vision camera cut out when it was raining heavily.

The next morning, the crew returned and discovered that the cage tipped into the water. The goat was nowhere to be found.

Recently, there have been opinions that Gustave might still be wandering the lake - though, like everything around Gustave, this is probably because the legend that has sprung up around him.

Related article: After 150 Years, Mysterious Extinction of Horned Crocodiles Finally Solved!

For more news, updates about crocodile and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
The West hasn't completely cooled off, but it has gotten a break from the scorching heat that has dried out reservoirs, local hydropower and wreaked havoc on the megadrought-ravaged area. All good(ish) things must, unfortunately, come to an end.

Record Breaking and Dangerous Heatwave

According to the National Weather Service, a "Record-Breaking and Dangerous Heatwave" is expected to arrive this weekend and early next week. Weather models are also converging on the topic of scorching heat. We're not just talking about a few daily records collapsing here and there if the projections come true. We're talking about a historic heat wave that threatens to shatter all-time records from Washington to California, as well as sections of Canada.

High pressure is forecast to come in and park itself over the region in the coming days, in what is becoming an all-too-familiar pattern for residents in the western half of the United States. This will usher in a brighter sky and allow the heat to build up. Temperatures might be substantially above normal from the Yukon to Southern California by Sunday. The Pacific Northwest will be the hotspot, with temperatures perhaps reaching 40 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) above average.

Related Article: Despite Temperature Spikes, American Northeast May Experience Some Cooling Due to Stormy Weather



Forecast Models

The Euro and GFS weather models, which are essentially the gold standards for forecasters, concur that the size of this storm will be huge. While there may be minor variations of a few degrees up or down, the overall alignment is usually a warning that something extremely uncommon and terrible will happen. Portland breaking 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), a temperature the city has never achieved, is one of the most alarming statistics coming out of the models.

Models, on the other hand, are simply one tool in the toolkit of weather forecasters. Local weather trends and other factors that aren't reflected in models might assist in fine-tuning the prediction. Despite those changes, the National Weather Service is still predicting a flurry of new records, including Portland's all-time high of 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius). "Oppressive heat," according to the Portland office. Meanwhile, the Seattle office is already tweeting visuals of current and forecasted heat records, which you can use as a sad extreme heat bingo board. Because weather doesn't stop at the border, British Columbia's record-breaking heat will continue. Forecasters predict that the province of British Columbia will see its hottest June on record.

Temperature Spikes

Overnight temperatures will continue to rise over the area, and all-time high low temperatures may be surpassed. This is especially concerning because the evening normally provides a respite. The relentlessness of the heat, combined with a shortage of cooling choices, may unleash a wave of heat-related diseases in an area where air conditioning isn't as ubiquitous as, say, Southern California.

In an ironic twist, smoke from wildfires triggered by the scorching temperatures presently ravaging the West is obscuring the sun, potentially preventing records from being broken. Fires are already blazing across the region, and a significant section of the West is under a red flag warning due to thunderstorms and gusts of up to 60 miles per hour (97 kph). Smoke may be just as hazardous to public (and planetary) health as heat, so I'm not sure I'd call it a meteorological triumph.

Heat Wave and Climate Catastrophe

The heat wave is a sign of the climate catastrophe, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of extremes like this. It also demonstrates how the climate catastrophe exacerbates existing issues. The West is experiencing a devastating megadrought, which has been exacerbated by the unrelenting heat. The drought has prompted Lake Mead to reach record lows, farmers to rip out water-intensive crops, and construction in at least one community to be slowed.

"We have human-caused climate change, which is turning a mild drought into a super megadrought," Stewart Cohen, a retired climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada who worked for 35 years, told the CBC. "Gasoline emissions have resulted in a warmer environment. Droughts are becoming worse, the weather is getting dryer, and heat waves are getting harsher."

But this is merely the beginning. Heat and megadrought are projected to become more common as a result of climate change this century. The records set this weekend and early next week will very certainly not be the last. But, if what we're witnessing in the West is any indicator, we still have a long way to go to guarantee that our water systems, towns, and forests are prepared for what's next.

Also Read: New Pandemic in Slow Motion: UN Reports Severe Drought Might be the Next Global Crisis

For more climate and weather updates, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Laura Gaither and her family enjoyed their summer vacation three years ago at Panama City Beach, Florida. The 35-year-old Alabama resident felt something stinging her legs and spotted small black bugs on her skin while washing sand off her feet one day.

Gaither shook them off, and when she informed locals about the bites, they told her she had most certainly been attacked by sand flies.

Mysterious Insect Bites

Gaither's five children had also been bitten, but she was unconcerned. The markings on their legs and arms resembled those left by ant or mosquito bites, which can cause burning and itching but normally go away within a week.

Gaither returned home two weeks later to see that the bites had turned into tiny open sores. They became worse over the next few weeks, but when Gaither took her kids to the doctor, "he simply chalked it up to eczema," she said.

Gaither eventually took her little daughter, who had the most serious illness, to Children's of Alabama's emergency department, where she was examined for fungal and bacterial infections. The results were negative, and the doctors' suggested antifungal and steroid topical treatments were unsuccessful. In the meantime, the ulcers grew bigger and more painful.

Gaither began her own study and discovered cutaneous leishmaniasis, a flesh-eating illness (pronounced leash-ma-NYE-a-sis). More than 20 types of Leishmania parasites cause this skin condition.

It may be transferred to people by biting certain sandflies after the flies have been infected by animals whose blood the insects feed on, typically rodents in the United States. Sand flies flourish on hot sandy beaches and in rural regions, and Gaither was told that they were particularly numerous in Florida in 2018.

Related Article: After Rapid Advancements in Covid Vaccine, Malaria Vaccine Follows Suit



Leishmania

Leishmania is a parasitic infection that feeds on the flesh of the afflicted host. According to the US National Institutes of Health, it causes the disease Leishmaniasis, endemic to 92 countries worldwide and generates around two million new cases each year, with 70,000 people dying.

As a result of climate change and human disturbance of these parasites' natural environment, researchers now fear that the disease might spread to North American locations as well. In tropical areas, the illness is already present. Kala azar is the Indian name for the illness (Visceral leishmaniasis).

If bitten by infected sand flies, a human can get infected with the Leishmania parasites. The parasites infect sandflies when they feed on the blood of afflicted rats, according to experts. Leishmaniasis is a disease with many different forms due to the many parasites that cause it. Lesions to ulcers on the visible areas of the body, such as the arms, legs, and face, are common symptoms.

Another type of the disease can produce fevers that come and go, weight loss, enlarged spleen and liver, and severe anemia. Some forms of the condition can be treated gently, but treating it as a bacterial infection can worsen. Occasionally, the illness will heal on its own.

Reaching the US Because of Climate Change

According to a 2010 research, the disease-causing parasite was projected to reach several states in the United States by 2020. According to the experts, approximately 27 million North Americans will be in danger of illness by 2080.

The parasites are now prevalent in Texas and Oklahoma, but new research suggests they may also be found in other states, including Florida. While the number of cases of leishmaniasis contracted in the United States is presently small, it is expected to grow shortly: As climate change shifts rodent and sand fly habitat northward, experts warn that more people in the United States will be exposed to various types of flesh-eating parasites in the future.

"Climate change has a significant correlation with the spread of zoonotic illness," said research author and ecology professor Victor Sanchez-Cordero of Mexico's National Autonomous University. "It's possible that instances of human leishmaniasis will emerge in the United States where none previously existed." As far north as North Dakota, at least one instance has already been documented.

Also Read: Scientists Double Effort to Find Possible Next Pandemic, Caused by Other Zoonotic Diseases

For more health and medicine related news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Berlin Reporter Hassan discusses broadband access with local leaders

by Tara Giles

Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter write the author REGION  Last week, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan held a virtual roundtable with New Hampshire broadband providers, health care and education leaders, and federal officials to discuss the importance of expanding broadband access across the state. Hassan was joined by representatives from New Hampshire Electric Cooperative in Plymouth, Granite State Communications in Weare, Concord School District, Coos County Family Health Services, and officials from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).



Hassan has been working with a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues to move forward an infrastructure package that includes critical Granite State priorities, including funding to expand broadband access in New Hampshire and across the country. She has been successful in including $7 billion in funding through the E-Rate program as part of the American Rescue Plan. This will direct funds to aid schools with Wi-Fi hotspots, routers, modems, as well as internet service to students in their own homes.



The Senator recently introduced the bipartisan Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021in order to expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to safely connect with their doctors.



More importantly for the North Country, Hassan recently reintroduced the bipartisan Rural Broadband Financing Flexibility Act, which would permit state and local governments to issue tax-exempt bonds to finance rural broadband projects, including public private partnerships, as well as allow the federal government to assist state and local governments in bond payments.



Hassan began, "What we know is that unfortunately, too many people in our state still don't have the kind of broadband access they need either because reliable high speed broadband infrastructure isn't available in their area, or because they can't afford it. So we need to build up our broadband infrastructure, especially in rural New Hampshire, and ensure that all granite staters can get an afford a reliable broadband connection."



Hassan has been working with members of both political parties to negotiate a bipartisan infrastructure package that includes priorities that she hears about from people all across the state. As negotiations move forward, Hassan will keep prioritizing broadband access.



Ken Gordon, CEO, Coos County Family Health Services addressed the table next, commenting "Broadband was important to us before the pandemic. We were using it to access specialty services, particularly pediatric specialty services for families up this way. It was saving folks having to drive, you know, two plus hours each way to Dartmouth Hitchcock."



Gordon added, "Community health centers around the state used broadband to stay connected with their patients and to provide care, with everything from regular primary care to behavioral health services, to medication assisted treatment services, to dentistry."



Moving forward, Gordon says he hopes to continue to offer all forms of care just mentioned and more. He relayed that consumers like it and that it's efficient.



Gordon mentioned one hurdle living in a rural area is transportation, "One of the problems with public transportation that makes it so difficult for many of our patients to be able to get to the clinics. Secondly, we know that increasingly older adults are choosing to stay home using long term care services and supports. We see technology as a partial solution to helping people remain independent at home." REGION  Last week, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan held a virtual roundtable with New Hampshire broadband providers, health care and education leaders, and federal officials to discuss the importance of expanding broadband access across the state. Hassan was joined by representatives from New Hampshire Electric Cooperative in Plymouth, Granite State Communications in Weare, Concord School District, Coos County Family Health Services, and officials from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).Hassan has been working with a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues to move forward an infrastructure package that includes critical Granite State priorities, including funding to expand broadband access in New Hampshire and across the country. She has been successful in including $7 billion in funding through the E-Rate program as part of the American Rescue Plan. This will direct funds to aid schools with Wi-Fi hotspots, routers, modems, as well as internet service to students in their own homes.The Senator recently introduced the bipartisan Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021in order to expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to safely connect with their doctors.More importantly for the North Country, Hassan recently reintroduced the bipartisan Rural Broadband Financing Flexibility Act, which would permit state and local governments to issue tax-exempt bonds to finance rural broadband projects, including public private partnerships, as well as allow the federal government to assist state and local governments in bond payments.Hassan began, "What we know is that unfortunately, too many people in our state still don't have the kind of broadband access they need either because reliable high speed broadband infrastructure isn't available in their area, or because they can't afford it. So we need to build up our broadband infrastructure, especially in rural New Hampshire, and ensure that all granite staters can get an afford a reliable broadband connection."Hassan has been working with members of both political parties to negotiate a bipartisan infrastructure package that includes priorities that she hears about from people all across the state. As negotiations move forward, Hassan will keep prioritizing broadband access.Ken Gordon, CEO, Coos County Family Health Services addressed the table next, commenting "Broadband was important to us before the pandemic. We were using it to access specialty services, particularly pediatric specialty services for families up this way. It was saving folks having to drive, you know, two plus hours each way to Dartmouth Hitchcock."Gordon added, "Community health centers around the state used broadband to stay connected with their patients and to provide care, with everything from regular primary care to behavioral health services, to medication assisted treatment services, to dentistry."Moving forward, Gordon says he hopes to continue to offer all forms of care just mentioned and more. He relayed that consumers like it and that it's efficient.Gordon mentioned one hurdle living in a rural area is transportation, "One of the problems with public transportation that makes it so difficult for many of our patients to be able to get to the clinics. Secondly, we know that increasingly older adults are choosing to stay home using long term care services and supports. We see technology as a partial solution to helping people remain independent at home."

Berlin Reporter BMHS recognizes college-bound graduates Exciting things are happening at Berlin Public Library! Recent Tara Giles Whitefield Common discussed at latest selectmens meeting

2021-Jun-24 City Council discusses spending request

2021-Jun-10 City Council discusses abatement applications

2021-Jun-03 More than 100 locals vaccinated at Lancaster Fairgrounds

2021-Jun-03 Friedman takes Division III pole vault title

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Plymouth Record Enterprise Mid-State Health Center awarded $300,000 in CDFA tax credits



The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) has awarded Mid-State Health Center $300,000 in support of their Children's Learning Center Expansion project. (Courtesy Photo) (click for larger version) PLYMOUTH  The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) has awarded Mid-State Health Center $300,000 in support of their Children's Learning Center Expansion project. The award will help fund Mid-State's new facility for their existing childcare program that will become the learning home for more than 60 children in the fall.



"Organizations awarded Tax Credit resources have demonstrated a strong commitment to their communities  in the midst of uncertainty and significant challenges  that speaks to the resiliency and vibrancy of the Granite State," commented Katy Easterly Martey, Executive Director, CDFA. "These community builders are driving positive, long-lasting change within our communities."



"We are extremely grateful for the funding from the CDFA and their support to help ensure a successful future for this project. Every dollar counts and adds up to fund our Children's Learning Center expansion," says Mid-State's Director of Marketing, Communication, and Philanthropy, Audrey Goudie.



The new Mid-State Children's Learning Center will be easily accessible, located on Tenney Mountain Highway, and will ensure families have a place for their children to learn, grow, and play. The building itself will serve as a learning model to children, and the community, with features such as solar panels, as well as both indoor and outdoor play areas. To learn more about the project and how to contribute, visit https://www.midstatehealth.org/childrens-learning-center/.



CDFA Tax Credit awards are made to organizations in the form of tax equity. New Hampshire businesses support the selected projects by purchasing the tax credits, resulting in the nonprofit receiving a donation and the company receiving a 75 percent New Hampshire state tax credit against that contribution. The credit can be applied against the Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax, or Insurance Premium. To learn more about CDFA's Tax Credit Program, visit: https://nhcdfa.org/investing-in-nh-communities/tax-credit-program/. PLYMOUTH  The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) has awarded Mid-State Health Center $300,000 in support of their Children's Learning Center Expansion project. The award will help fund Mid-State's new facility for their existing childcare program that will become the learning home for more than 60 children in the fall."Organizations awarded Tax Credit resources have demonstrated a strong commitment to their communities  in the midst of uncertainty and significant challenges  that speaks to the resiliency and vibrancy of the Granite State," commented Katy Easterly Martey, Executive Director, CDFA. "These community builders are driving positive, long-lasting change within our communities.""We are extremely grateful for the funding from the CDFA and their support to help ensure a successful future for this project. Every dollar counts and adds up to fund our Children's Learning Center expansion," says Mid-State's Director of Marketing, Communication, and Philanthropy, Audrey Goudie.The new Mid-State Children's Learning Center will be easily accessible, located on Tenney Mountain Highway, and will ensure families have a place for their children to learn, grow, and play. The building itself will serve as a learning model to children, and the community, with features such as solar panels, as well as both indoor and outdoor play areas. To learn more about the project and how to contribute, visit https://www.midstatehealth.org/childrens-learning-center/.CDFA Tax Credit awards are made to organizations in the form of tax equity. New Hampshire businesses support the selected projects by purchasing the tax credits, resulting in the nonprofit receiving a donation and the company receiving a 75 percent New Hampshire state tax credit against that contribution. The credit can be applied against the Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax, or Insurance Premium. To learn more about CDFA's Tax Credit Program, visit: https://nhcdfa.org/investing-in-nh-communities/tax-credit-program/.

Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
CHINA has proven to be an irreplaceable partner to Zimbabwe amid difficult challenges, including the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and poverty, Sadc parliamentarians heard yesterday.

Speaking at a virtual seminar for the National Peoples of China (NPC) and the Parliaments of four African countries: Zimbabwe, Liberia, Namibia and South Africa, Gokwe-North legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena said Zimbabwe had ensured farm workers were among the first to be vaccinated, thanks to vaccines from China, as they play a key role in poverty alleviation.

Among our highest national priorities as African countries are poverty alleviation and development, with a view of achieving the type of social and economic prosperity that is enjoyed in The Peoples Republic of China, and so, we are grateful to the NPC for sharing their experience and knowledge with us, Wadyajena, who is the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, said.

He (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) regards China as one of Zimbabwes most important and closest partners and often cites Chinas non-interference policy and unparalleled progress as something to applaud and emulate.

The meeting was attended by Chen Xiwen, chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the NPC among several other representatives and parliamentarians from Liberia, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe was among the first African governments to adopt the Look East policy over 20 years ago after relations with the West soured over Harares alleged human rights abuses and electoral theft by the ruling Zanu PF party. Newsday
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwas ruling Zanu PF party yesterday said it would continue banking on the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) for political survival because the two are tied together by the liberation struggle.

Zanu PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa told journalists at a Press conference in Harare yesterday that the army was duty-bound to protect the countrys sovereignty and that there was an unbreakable continuity between the ruling party and its military wings during the liberation struggle.

The liberation wings, Zanla and Zipra, Chinamasa said, remain at the heart of the ZNA.

Always be mindful that there is this unbreakable continuity between the liberation struggle and Zanu PF, between the armies of liberation Zipra and Zanla and the national army of independence, he said.

Any notion which seeks to break this bond should be rejected outright.

The military played a major role in settling internal power struggles in Zanu PF by leading a coup in November 2017, which led to the ouster of long-time ruler, the late former President Robert Mugabe and ushered in Mnangagwas rule.

The military, together with veterans of the liberation struggle, have also led repeated violent electoral campaigns on behalf of Zanu PF.

Chinamasa said the composition of the ZNA leadership also told a story of the link between the ruling party and the military.

It speaks for itself who are the commanders of the army, who is the CDF [Commander Defence Forces], Cde Valerio Sibanda. Who was he? He was a leading general in Zipra. Who is the commander of the national army, Cde Edzayi Chimonyo? Who was he? He was a leading commander in Zanla. That culture of defending the sovereignty of this country will continue, he said.

Chinamasa, who was flanked by former Zanu PF political commissars Victor Matemadanda, Webster Shamu and Engelbert Rugeje, was in a war mode, accusing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of leading a regime change agenda.

I cannot conclude this presser without denouncing the consented and orchestrated state of government via sponsored interventions which have become a menace, funding by foreign intelligence services of opposition political parties, non-governmental organisations which are anything, but civil, he charged.

As you know, Zimbabwe has a record. We have something like 3 500 NGOs in this country. None of them, very few of them are helping towards the economic development of the country.

All of them are basically employed to achieve regime change in Zimbabwe and we condemn it. They are clearly calculated to undermine the orderly evolution of our political, economic and judicial systems and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

He said NGOs could not be allowed to threaten the independence of the country.

We are at the moment just understanding what they are doing and if we clearly see that they are on a regime change agenda, ours will be to request their deregistration, Chinamasa said.

Clearly, that is our responsibility as a country. We cannot allow, as a country, international organisations which we register under our legislation to subvert the sovereignty and integrity of Zimbabwe.

He also blasted the Voice of America, a United States-based international broadcaster, saying it was being used to fight the Mnangagwa-led regime.

To make reference to the specifically targeted propaganda against Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans in Sadc via hostile broadcasts like the Voice of Americas Studio 7, Zanu PF views this hostile broadcast in the same light as illegal sanctions, he said.

It is an illegitimate and unwarranted interference in our countrys domestic affairs. We take this hostile broadcast as part of the illegal arsenal for regime change. We will resist these machinations as we have done, he said.

Chinamasa said Mnangagwa had been endorsed as the candidate for the 2023 general elections and was poised to dump all opposition forces in the annals of history. Newsday
The charge, which was included in the airlines total promoted fare versus an add-on fee, was meant to provide transparency and delineate what portion of the fare was going toward Covid-related business recovery, including repayment of a CARES Act loan from the U.S. government,' spokesman Zach Kramer told USA Today. However, to avoid misinterpretation, the airline will discontinue the practice of breaking out this category within its overall promoted fares.'
The CDC first implemented the ban last September, with health officials arguing that it would help prevent the spread of COVID in crowded settings like homeless shelters, where evicted tenants might wind up.
Thats been something thats been really nice about being on The Good Fight during this very strange and surreal time; the five years Ive been doing this show have been the strangest years of my life as far as whats going on in the country and the world. Being on a show that is taking that in and kind of writing to it is really interesting and Im grateful that Ive gotten to be on a show through all of this craziness that is meeting the moment.
I told Mr. Manafort that we had someone in the queue, Scaramucci testified  meaning that someone else was already lined up for the job. The best he could do, Scaramucci said, was line up an interview for Calk to become undersecretary of the Army.
As it became clear that Donald Trump would win the election, Calk saw his chance, Rothman said, adding that Calk texted Manafort as Trump was on the cusp of the presidency to tell him the $9.5 million loan would be wrapped the next day.
The three public library systems  the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library  will open all of their remaining available branch locations in July and begin serving readers and researchers like they did before the lockdown.
Hamill died at age 85 last August after a storied career that saw him work at five local newspapers and rise to top editor at both the Daily News and the New York Post. He returned to Brooklyn in 2016 to spend his final years in the borough of his youth.
Gottlieb, assigned to the 30th Precinct in Harlem, pilfered the booze, which was vouchered as evidence after an arrest, a police source said. The pricey potable can cost more than $200 a bottle.
That is the exact same thing that happened last year and they brutally attacked scores of our marchers over someone writing three initials on the back of a squad car that should never have been parked across the street for a march against police and for black lives, Walker said, adding that SRG was initially created to combat terrorism. This is another example of the NYPD treating the activist community of New York City like terrorists.
New York City also has several resources, including NYC Well  the citys free and confidential hotline  that offers mental or substance-abuse help 24 hours a day over the phone, through its online chat or via text.
The guy who was driving the pickup truck got out of the car, and he saw the woman lying on the floor. And the baby was lying on the floor, but baby got up and was looking around.
Kotopka told police that his wife had been diagnosed two years ago and needed constant attention, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Recently, Janet had reportedly become combative with him and other caregivers he had brought in to help.
Most of us are just starting to live at 26 years old, Young said. This particular cop, knowing him, if he were to pull through this, this cop would do everything in his power to get back on the job and continue serving the community. He would do so with zero hatred or malice in his heart.
The deadly collapse of an oceanfront apartment building in Surfside, Fla., just outside Miami on June 24 could end up being one of the worst such disasters in U.S. history. Here are other fatal incidents:
The judge said he would consider an upward departure from the states sentencing guidelines because Chauvin treated Floyd with cruelty when he killed the handcuffed man slowly by preventing his ability to breathe, abused his position of authority by using unreasonable force, killed the victim in front of four children and committed the crime as a part of a group  with the help of three other officers.
Steven Griffin, 36, communicated with an undercover wildlife agent for more than two years to negotiate the sale and purchase of endangered and threatened animals. He even drove to Texas once to buy two Southern White rhino horns, four elephant ivory tusks, one African lion skull and three leopard skulls  all of which he illegally transported to Palm Harbor, Fla., according to prosecutors.
There are very few words that could give anybody consolation because you are dealing with an unimaginable, horrific tragedy that struck in the middle of the night, Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar of The Shul in Surfside told Local 10 News.
A relative was able to ping the location on Maggies phone a day after the mother and son were found dead and investigators tracked it outside the property, a source told The State Wednesday. Police are reportedly trying to test any DNA, although evidence may have been washed away by rain that night.
There are some wholl continue to fight to gut the Second Amendment, but Id be willing to bet that many of you will be among those who stand up and prevent them from succeeding, he says.
McCurdy had reportedly been caring for the dogs that lived at the residence while house sitting for a friend. The Osage County Sheriffs Office says evidence indicates Rebecca was the victim of a dog attack.
The pup, Zena, was left in the back of the car while her handler was taking a training class at the Criminal Justice Center at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, police said.
At least five members of President Mario Abdo Benitezs family were believed to be in the 12-story condo when a huge part of the structure came down overnight, Paraguays minister of foreign relations, Euclides Acevedo, said in a radio interview. He identified them as Sophia Lopez Moreira, who is a sister of First Lady Silvana Lopez Moreira, Sophias husband and the couples three children.
There was no word on a possible cause for the tragedy. The mayor said work was being done on the roof of the tower, but he said the repairs did not appear to be linked to the collapse.
Each and every New Yorker should be recognized for who they are by their government, Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) said. But today, it remains incredibly hard for many New Yorkers to get the identification documents they require for travel, to get a job, and even to go to school. This bill will change that, making it easier for gender nonconforming, transgender, nonbinary, and intersex New Yorkers  including minors  to get IDs that accurately reflect their identity.
The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, the Eliot Ness of his generation, one of the greatest crime fighters our Country has ever known, and this is what the Radical Left does to him, Trump, whos himself under criminal investigation by the Manhattan district attorney, said in a statement. All of New York is out of control.
The governor  he has his views. Hes the governor. Im not running for governor, Adams said. What I think he got 100% right, he said that, you know, Eric has some good ideas and, you know, like other New Yorkers, I like Eric.
Money will also be raised through sales of 5G telecommunication networks and other assets, with additional revenue expected from taxes on economic activity spurred by the infrastructure investments, the fact-sheet says. The White House document does not provide a full breakdown of all the expected costs, however, signaling Bidens team and the Republicans still have to tie up some loose ends before voting on the proposed legislation.
Why was the messaging in his state so unclear that he didnt understand the importance of the vaccine? He was a very bright guy, his sister said. I wish hed gotten the vaccine, and Im sad he didnt understand how it could prevent him from getting COVID.
I recently visited 3 European countries on holiday with my friend, Latifa said through the lawyers statement, according to the Guardian. I asked her to post a few photos online to prove to campaigners that I can travel where I want. I hope now that I can live my life in peace without further media scrutiny. And I thank everyone for their kind wishes.
The agency this week signed an agreement with the European Union that will see the 27-nation bloc deepen ties with and increase its funding for the space agency. As part of the deal, the EU will invest almost 9 billion euros ($10.8 billion) between now and 2027 for ESA programs aimed at boosting economic growth, digitalization and environmental protection.
The newspaper, known for its outspoken criticisms of Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party, was founded by Jimmy Lai in 1995, two years before Britain gave Hong Kong back to China. At the time of its inception, the paper was mainly publishing tabloid-style gossip pieces but Lai intended for Apple Daily to shine a light on snakes, insects, mice, and ants in the dark.
We are sorry about the loss of any human life, said, local police chief, Jaromir Knize. Under the current circumstances I stand behind the officers but of course, Im sorry about the death of the person, thats for sure. Nobody wishes anything like that to happen.
Social workers reached out to Sithole to help her care for the reported children, but became concerned for her health, the government said. She was admitted to a hospital June 18, and her stay has been extended until at least June 28.
Mistry had previously trimmed the tree to allow the neighbors vehicle to fit under it, the Guardian reported. He said he hoped it could now be altered to prevent a total cut-down.
If you happen to see a candidate who ran for office, you should thank them  and, perhaps, encourage them to take a break and then try again. The hundreds of our neighbors who just spent a big chunk of their lives fundraising, doorknocking and debating were pleading for a chance to help improve the city. That is a valuable service that should be encouraged.
A new report from the Human Services Council and leaders of the citys nonprofit, philanthropy and business sectors lays out the devastation. The city delayed an average of more than $8 million in payments to organizations and what it did pay was insufficient. Nonprofits paid for their own protective equipment  averaging more than half a million dollars in expenses  and only 38% of the cost was reimbursed by the government. On average, the revenue of nonprofits declined by nearly $9.1 million in 2020, which meant that 62% of organizations had to either permanently or temporarily lay off or furlough staff and New York could see as many as 1,829 nonprofits close their doors.
Since not everyone else is wearing masks, my wife is on her own. While everyone else is moving into the world, she and many others continue to mask up. Before the easing, when everyone else was wearing masks, she was okay. If we reach herd immunity or a new booster or new testing that shows she has immunity, she can return to normal. And because there is a chance (however small) that I or our children could transmit it to her, even though we are fully vaccinated, we too have to think about when we wear masks. We are still doing the risk analysis while most everyone else stopped. So, while we are in a much better place, far better and far more quickly than we might have expected, some of us are not yet home-free.
The product referenced in the complaint is not sold by Walmart, but rather by third party Marketplace sellers, a company spokesperson said. We take allegations like this seriously and are reviewing the claim. We will respond in court as appropriate after we have been served with the complaint.
At 72, Jackson is showing no signs of slowing down. With an ever-evolving presence on television as a pitchman for Capitol One credit cards, the Morehouse College alum has an extensive stage and screen career. His film roles include Spike Lees School Daze and Jungle Fever, the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and Django Unchained, and dozens of others. Films he appeared in have collectively grossed more than $27 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.
According to Collider, the two-time Academy Award-nominated actress is attached to produce Tower of Terror, based on the Disney theme park thrill ride of the same name.
When probed about which celebrity he smoked cannabis with who just couldnt keep up the pace, the hip hop legend admitted he couldnt even front when revealing the answer, recalling the hilarious time he had with the Saturday Night Live star.
Beta, first detected in South Africa. This strain surfaced in Florida at least two months ago. The CDC says it spreads more easily spread than earlier versions but Beta remains one of the least represented variants in the state. In a Qatar study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found Pfizers shot was between 72% and 75% effective at preventing infection caused by Beta at least two weeks after the second dose. Moderna found its vaccine was slightly less potent against this variant than the original strain although above levels that are expected to be protective. Johnson & Johnson said a phase 3 study found there was 64% overall efficacy and 82% efficacy against severe disease in South Africa, where the Beta variant was first discovered.
Aerospace engineering rising senior Jillian Gloria said the show is true to its word when it bills itself as the first-ever obstacle course for the mind. The competition tests the mental agility of contestants with questions as well as the physical limits, as they are strapped into a high-speed capsule that whips across the set and rotates 360 degrees. But Gloria was up for the adventure, viewing it as preparation for her future career as an astronaut.
If he pulls through this, this cop will do everything in his power to return to full duty and he will continue serving this community without an ounce of malice or hate in his heart for what happened to him because thats just the type of person that he is, he said.
The Orlando Police family keeps the officer, loved ones, and our brothers and sisters at [Daytona Beach Police Department] in our prayers, Rolon said. We also pray for the safety of all law enforcement officers who are now risking their lives as they search for the person who committed this heinous crime.
Five people, including a Capitol police officer, were dead in the aftermath of the insurrection. About two weeks later, the FBI received its first tip that Jim Cusick was inside the Capitol during the riot, according to an arrest affidavit.
She is already showing high drive and motivation which is what we look for in a patrol dog, he said in a statement. She will be a great asset not only for officer protection, but for the overall safety of our community. The citizens of Cocoa are fortunate to have her on the team.
An internal affairs investigation found Hilliker was justified in kicking Bristol, but the officer was given an eight-hour suspension for grabbing Bristols dreadlocks and pulling him across the floor after the suspect was already handcuffed. Hilliker claimed he did so to prevent the dog from biting Bristol again.
He said he did not apply pressure or attempt to choke him, but eventually moved his arm from around Bronsons neck because he thought it may not look well to bystanders, the report said. Deputies are only allowed to use a neck restraint tactic in scenarios in which deadly force is justified, per OCSO policy.
I think it was brilliant, said Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was among the 17 people murdered at Stoneman Douglas. He said the one creative stroke exposed the hypocrisy of the the gun lobby telling kids who should have been graduating this year, like my daughter, telling my daughter in the grave she should have big dreams.
My old man is in there somewhere, said April Benton of Cocoa, who had been waiting in a nearby restaurant for her boyfriend. Hes trapped inside and I just dont know what happened. It was just a huge cloud of dust. The whole building was gone. It was there one minute and gone the next. U.S. Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan dispatched a top aide to Cocoa Beach to inspect the site and make a personal evaluation of the situation, the Labor Department announced.
Youre not going to have those answers immediately, but I know they are diligently going to be working to be able to do that, he said. Its a tragic day. Some of those folks who were able to go from safety, we thank the fire and rescue for what they did to be able to put themselves on the line to help other folks.
School and town officials have made various attempts over the years to secure a buyer for the land that once housed Robert Hungerford Preparatory School, an academy for Black students established during the segregation era. The school shut down in 2009 and was demolished last year.
Most authorities expect legal challenges to the moratoriums extension, though those would likely take longer to resolve than the additional month that the moratorium offers. Currently, the federal government is appealing a ruling from U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich in Washington D.C. who said the CDC overstepped its authority when it halted evictions. The New York Times previously reported that there was some concern from the White House that if it loses the appeal while the moratorium is still in effect, that could expose the order to a ruling that could affect executive actions during future crises.
Right now, America faces a battle that begins with the GOP. Not only will the party need to retain 20 Senate seats in 2022, but it must retake the majority in Congress. From what I see on the ground and what America will see coming out of last weeks conference, conservatives and voters of faith are up to the challenge. Its time for GOP political leaders to formulate the kind of clear and compelling agenda that will speak to American values, uphold American interests and put faith front and center. They can do it, but theyll need to take their cues from the voters themselves.
While it is a comfort to know that its highly unlikely that Ill die from COVID-19, my plan is to continue masking when among strangers. Since I first donned a mask back in March of 2020, I havent a head cold or sore throat. Wearing a mask has given me an extra layer of protection against other viruses. Personally, I enjoy being healthy. So, judge me if you like, but for the foreseeable future, Ill continue wearing a mask.
The visit follows the administrations acknowledgment this week that the nation would fall short of its goal of vaccinating 70% of U.S. adults with at least one dose by July 4. Florida, while outperforming its southern neighbors, also will fall short. About 66% of U.S. adults so far are inoculated, and about 63% of those 12 and older have at least one dose.
The Central Square American Legion Fuller-Taylor Post 915 members are hosting a celebration of the posts centennial anniversary on July 10. The event will include music, food, and displays of military artifacts, and will inform the community about the posts history and noteworthy collections, such as their historic Korean-era Sabre jet, pictured while being delivered in the summer of 1961.
In this file photo, Mexicos Chrissy Mason speaks with U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi during an anti-hate rally in Pulaski on Sunday, Oct. 25.
In this photo provided by his office, U.S. Rep. John Katko is pictured during a previous visit to the southern border.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Participants at the Berlin II Conference Wednesday evening called for the need to move forward with the organization of national presidential and legislative elections scheduled for 24 December, 2021
New York, US (PANA) - Defence forces, soldiers from nearby countries and other security personnel have been fighting an asymmetric war against armed groups, sparking an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Four months since the first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility, the global initiative to ensure the vaccines equitable distribution, the UN Refugee Agency is calling on States to expedite the roll-out of vaccination campaigns and remove barriers that limit access to vaccines for the worlds 82
Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - About 53 cases of rape of under-age girls were recorded between January and June 2021 in the special zone of the Guinean capital and referred to the children's court, the Special Brigade for the Protection of Vulnerable Persons (BSPPV) said Tuesday in a report obtained by PANA
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
After completing the uranium program, the company will move the rig to its rare earth targets at Milenje for initial follow up to positive results returned from reconnaissance trench sampling.

The reverse circulation drill rig arrives at the Kayelekera Project in Malawi.

Ltd ( ) (OTCMKTS:LTSRF) is set to begin a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program of around 5,000 metres within days at the Kayelekera Uranium Project in Malawi.

This will be the first uranium exploration drilling program at the project in more than 15 years with the company planning to test a number of airborne radiometric anomalies within 3 kilometres of the existing processing facility.

The exploration program is aimed to test these near mine targets with the ultimate objective of increasing the current 14-year mine life.

Project has 14-year mine life

Lotus managing director Keith Bowes said: As demonstrated in the scoping study, the Kayelekera Project already has a 14-year mine life.

While exploration success is seen as beneficial in increasing mine life, it is not required for a recommencement of operations.

Following the uranium exploration drill program, the company will move the drill rig to our rare earth targets at Milenje, for the initial follow up to the positive results that were returned from the reconnaissance trench sampling program completed last year.

An update on the rare earths projects is expected to be released later this year.

Regional exploration assessment

The company also has a regional uranium exploration assessment underway that includes a more detailed review of the historical data available on the four most prospective exploration licences together with mapping, radiometric prospecting and sampling.

Its 5,000-metre drilling program will test three of the individual anomalies and a smaller infill drill program on the western edge of the resource outside the current mine plan has been included in the program.

The company has identified five radiometric anomalies in the south of the existing pit, which cover areas of outcrop and have similar signatures to the Kayelekera anomaly.

Lotus is also advancing numerous technical studies, including ore sorting test-work and power assessments.

The initial success of the ore sorting program provided confidence that the grades of any potential resources could be reduced from the original higher grades knowing that ore sorting provides a simple and cost-effective method of increasing grades of the plant feed.

Milenje rare earths discovery

After completing initial uranium exploration program, the company plans to undertake a focused drill program at the Milenje rare earths discovery to gauge the depth profile of the mineralisation.

Before starting this program, additional fieldwork including ground magnetic surveys and modified trenching will be undertaken to help define drill collar locations and drill orientation.

To support the evaluation of the Milenje rare earth potential, samples collected from the drilling and trenching program will be used in a bench-scale metallurgical test-work program.

If results from the uranium drill program are positive, then the opportunity to conduct a Phase 2 uranium drill program will be considered.

This program would look at extending the known mineral resources in the step-out area and undertaking a mineral resource estimate for mineralisation at the satellite pits.
A look at the major movers on the London market on Thursday

( ) has seen its shares spin higher after a deal with Barcelona-based commercial laundry equipment group Girbau.

Xeros has developed products to help reduce water and chemistry in dyeing or laundering garments and fabrics. It also has technology to prevent microfibres generated during washing cycles - including microplastic - from being released into rivers and oceans.

Under the terms of the ten year deal, Girbau will licence the company's XFiltra product - the microfibre preventer - and use it in a range of filters for the commercial laundry market. These rights are exclusive in a number of territories including Europe and North America with non-exclusive rights granted for certain other territories. Royalties are payable at a fixed amount for each device sold, with minimum sales levels also included in the terms of the agreement. First sales are planned in 2021.

Girbau's XFiltra product, developed in partnership with Xeros, captures more than 90% of all microfibres released during laundry cycles.

Xeros chief executive Mark Nichols said: "This is major step by Xeros and Girbau, one of the world's most respected commercial laundry equipment manufacturers, towards helping the world wear better and reduce environmental harm.

"Commercial and domestic laundry processes generate hundreds of thousands of tonnes of microfibre pollution every year, with microfibres now found everywhere on our planet and within the entire trophic range. Our announcement today signals the start of a significant step to cut this form of pollution...

"Moving from development stage to commercial agreement with Girbau in roughly 15 months is a fantastic achievement and evidences, we believe, the strength of the IP within XFiltra and we plan to begin trials of our domestic version with major appliance manufacturers later this year."

Xeros' shares are 3.9% better at 240p.

2.50pm: Hospitality group sees strong trading since re-opening

( ), which owns the Coppa Club clubhouses and Tavolino restaurants, has celebrated the end of lockdown.

In the first half of its financial year the company - formed in 2014 when entrepreneur Hugh Osmond bought the distressed Strada brand - saw revenues fall from 11.2mln to 3.3mln but nonethess it broke even before tax.

Its sites were of course closed during most of the period because of lockdown, but there was a positive performance from its Coppa Club sites outside London during their only month of trading in October 2020.

The company also received a business interruption insurance interim payment of 2.5m in December 2020.

Since re-opening it has seen strong trading, helped by having large outdoor spaces. Revenues at Coppa Club were better than expected - up 11.3% in the five weeks to 16 May compared to 2019 and up 28.3% in the subsequent five weeks when they could serve customers indoors.

It has new sites of Coppa Club planned in Bristol and Putney and is negotiating for further properties.

Executive chairman Andy Bassadone said: "After prolonged periods of closures and disruption, it is heartening to see the public returning so enthusiastically to eating and drinking out. It is still early days but the response to our re-openings has been good and trading has been ramping up as we have moved through the government's roadmap."

The company's shares have climbed 4.77% to 97.44p.

11.59am: Wood Group sees revenues and earnings drop as pandemic hits projects division

Wood Group PLC ( ) has lost ground after unveiling the effect of COVID-19 on its business.

The engineering and consultancy group said half year revenues were expected to drop 21% to US$3.2bn, with earnings down 12% to US$255mln to $265mln.

It said strong consulting activity and relative resilience in perations partly offset lower activity in projects.

It expects lower activity overall for the full year, but is seeing improving activity levels which should see a stronger second half.

Stuart Lamont, investment manager at , said: It has been a relatively slow start to the year for Wood, with revenues down around one-fifth on the same period in 2020. The companys projects division, which represents 40% of sales, has been particularly affected by the pandemic and has seen revenues drop by around 40%.

"With that, debt has stayed above the $1 billion mark, after Wood had previously managed to make significant reductions. Nevertheless, the management team appears to remain confident in the outlook and order book momentum at its operations and consulting divisions looks positive, suggesting the company can get back on track in the second half of the year."

Meanwhile the shares are down 9.3p or 4.06% at 219.7p.

10.49am: Tristel receives approval for three key products

( ), which makes infection prevention products, is on the way up after receiving three significant regulatory approvals.

Its foam-based disinfectant for surfaces has received updated approval from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, expanding the product's efficacy claims to include mycobacteria.

It has appointed Parker Laboratories as its US manufacturing partner and will sell the product through Parker's nationwide network of distributors on a non-exclusive basis, staring in 2023. Other distribution channels will be put in place ahead of the US launch.

Its Duo OPH disinfectant - used on ophthalmic instruments including ultrasound devices and lenses that contact the cornea- has been approved by Health Canada.

Finally the South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved its Tristel Duo ULT product as a high-level disinfectant for ultrasound devices.

It is now seeking approval for Duo ULT from the US FDA. Worldwide sales of all Duo branded products for medical device disinfection, including Duo ULT and Duo OPH, will exceed 4.3mln in 2021.

Chief executive Paul Swinney said: "Every regulatory approval we achieve represents an important milestone in our progress, and these three approvals are very significant."

Tristel shares are up 3.96% or 23.74p at 623.74p.

9.27am: First Property Group falls sharply after hefty losses

( ) has seen its shares subside after a "perfect storm" sent it plunging into the red.

The property fund manager made a pretax loss of 5.09mln in 2020 compared to a 5.52mln profit.

The value ot its directly owned property fell from 56.3mln to 41.57mln.

Unsurprisingly it is not paying a final dividend.

Chief executive Ben Habib said the property business required "real physical activity" and this had been non-existent during the pandemic.

He said the situation was worse than the 2008 credit crunch.

He said: "Real businesses could perhaps have taken the first full lockdown but we have had varying degrees of lockdown virtually for the entire financial year.

"Consequences of this have been manifold. Many tenants have refused to pay rent and our ability to enforce collection, even from those that could afford to pay, has been substantially neutered by government. Some tenants have gone bankrupt. Rents have fallen across virtually all office and retail sub-sectors. Replacing tenants has been extremely demanding in all cases and impossible in some. As a consequence asset values have dropped.

"In short it has been a perfect storm."

It has cash in the bank after the 17mln sale of CH8 last year, but the outlook is still uncertain.

He added: "Quantitative Easing will no doubt begin to buoy asset values soon; there are signs of it now, even with income under pressure. But the gravitational pull of economic adversity is going to continue for some time yet.

"We have a number of interesting developments and investments afoot but it will take at least a year, possibly two, for the benefits of these to come through in the numbers."

The company's shares are down 21.43% or 7.5p at 27.5p.

8.33am: PLC soars after positive snapshot of orders and profits

PLC ( ) has broadcast a good share price rise after saying profits would be better than expected.

In an unscheduled update the company, which supplies products ranging from camera systems to mobile power to the likes of broadcasters and gamers, said it ended May with a record order book.

So half year profits are forecast to be not less than 19mln. This compares to 23.5mln in 2019 - pre-pandemic - although that figure included 5.8mln of insurance income.

And despite uncertainty around the impact of electronic component and raw material shortages, it now believes full year profits will be materially above current market expectations of 35.6mln.

There had already been material upgrades following the company's annual meeting in May, said analyst Tom Fraine at Shore Capital.

He said: "We expect to upgrade our 2021 adjusted pretax profit by around 10% to 39.5mln. We see scope for further upgrades given that the company expects to report at least 19m adjusted pretax profit for the six months ending 30 June 2021, which has been much more heavily impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions than we would expect for the second half...

"We believe there is a good chance this upgrade momentum will continue given that our expected new adjusted [foreast] is still significantly below the 48mln achieved in 2019...

"We believe investing in Vitec represents a good opportunity to benefit from the trend of increasing independent video content creation, which is being driven by TikTok, , YouTube, Instagram, Disney, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Facebook. We expect significant increases in funding for independent production companies (e.g. from Great Point, which has been planning to float a 200mln+ film & TV production investment trust) to the benefit of Vitec through sales of premium videographic equipment.

"In the medium-term, we believe Vitec has opportunities to grow earnings through value-enhancing M&A, operational efficiencies and the 4K replacement cycle."

Its shares are up 13.41% or 165p to 1395p.

Also on the way up is ( ).

Shares in the security and surveillance systems specialist are 3.8% or 0.48p better at 12.98p after a key client took up an option to extend an existing contract.

The extension, won by Petards' subsidiary RTS Solutions, is worth more than 0.5mln with annual revenues in excess of 0.25mln.

Chairman Raschid Abdullah said: "This award, together with the 3-year renewal of licensing and support agreements for WMS software announced in May, adds to RTS's order book and provides it with a strong core of recurring revenues for the current and following years."
FTSE 100 opened in the green ahead of the rates decision and expected changes to the UKs travel restrictions. Londons leading index added 17 points to 7,091 in early trading.

All eyes will be on the greenlist today with UK ministers expected to announce more countries will be added and potentially even the US. The travel industry has pleaded for fully vaccinated Britons to be exempt from quarantine when they return from foreign countries, a change that also might be announced later.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett has donated US$4bn to charity, saying he has no use for the money. The sum corresponds to half of his shares in holding company , of which he is chairman and chief executive.

has confirmed its plans to pursue a direct listing in London, expected to occur in early July. The payments group is forecast to have a value of 7bn, with bullish forecasts going as high as 9bn.

( ) subsidiary Pharm 2 Farm has signed a deal with an Indian firm to distribute anti-viral face masks. The AIM-listed firm said India-based VKE has placed an initial order for 350,000 masks.

( ) said growth accelerated in the second quarter and full-year results will be ahead of expectations. For the three-month period to 30 April 2021, the marketing groups total revenues were up by roughly 21%.

( ) is ready to roll out its Microtox PD water contamination system to enable early detection of coronavirus hotspots. Field trials have been completed and an agreement signed with a third-party installer.
Union was not given leave to appeal the ruling sending Deliveroo shares up nearly 9%

( ) investors enjoyed a rare piece of good news today as the Court of Appeal threw out an attempt to have its delivery riders classified as workers.

The IWGB union lost an appeal against past judgements that classed the delivery app's couriers as self-employed.

Deliveroo added that it is the fourth court judgement in the UK that has determined its riders work for themselves.

The case dated back to 2017 when IWGB argued that workers had the right to unionise under European Law.

As part of this latest ruling, the court found that Deliveroo riders enjoyed a virtually unlimited right to substitution with other riders, which Lord Justice Underhill said was a key determinant in his judgment.

Deliveroo riders could therefore offer any work to other riders without penalty, he said, which meant there was no relationship with the company.

This also made it different from ride-hailing app Uber that earlier this year had lost a case about whether its drivers were self-employed.

The IWGB Union cannot appeal the decision again to the Supreme Court, Lord Underhill also ruled.

Concern over the status of its workforce was one of the reasons behind the companys disastrous flotation in April.

If the riders are classified as workers and not self-employed, they will be eligible for standard workplace benefits such as paid holidays, sick leave and a pension, the costs of which might completely upend Deliveroos business model argued its critics.

The company has always maintained that its riders choose to be self-employed because of the freedom that status gives them to do other jobs, for instance.

As well as the UK, Deliveroo is facing legal action in places such as Spain and Italy but the UK is one of its main markets and this was seen as a critical win for the business.

In a statement, it said: Deliveroos model offers the genuine flexibility that is only compatible with self-employment, providing riders with the work they tell us they value. "

Priced at 390p in the IPO, the shares rose 8.7% today to 273.5p.

-- adds detail, share price --
's ( ) new CEO Ben Turney joins Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam after taking over from Michael Foster who has decided to step down as CEO after 40 years in the mineral exploration industry but remains on the board as a non-executive director.

Turney was instrumental in securing the strategic partnership with Spectral Geophysics and the terms of the deal with Mindea Exploration and Drilling Services/Equity Drilling Limited.
HANetf S&P Global Clean Energy Select HANzero UCITS ETF will track an index of 30 global clean energy companies and also offer a unique offsetting mechanism

Carbon emissions will be offset via climate-positive projects, including rainforest conservation in Papua New Guinea

A new exchange-traded fund is listing in London that will be the first in Europe to offset any carbon emissions from the index it is tracking.

The HANetf S&P Global Clean Energy Select HANzero UCITS ETF ( ) is being launched by HANetf and and will track the S&P Global Clean Energy Select index, which measures the performance of 30 of the largest companies in global clean energy related businesses.

On top of this, the ETF will incorporate carbon offsetting so that any carbon emissions linked to the underlying securities will be compensated by buying carbon credits from certificated climate-positive offset projects selected by South Pole, a Zurich-based offsetting specialist.

Using the monthly carbon to value invested data for the index published by S&P DJI, HANetf said it will calculate a daily accrual which will then be offset with offset credits.

It added that the projects selected by South Pole are upheld to the standards set by the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA) and are subject to full screening, third party auditing and in house due diligence.

The ETFs total expense ratio (TER) will be 0.55%, with associated costs of the offsetting taken from the TER and so will not impact performance, HANetf said.

HANetf said that due to the uniqueness of this offering it is trademarking the process as HANzero, which it now also intends to apply to future ETF launches.

Under the HANzero programme, HANetf said it will initially make contributions to two projects: the conservation of the Topaiyo rainforest in Papua New Guinea and the Musi River hydro plant on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

The ETF is due to start trading in London before the end of June and will be passported across Europe, scheduled Article 6 under the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

Environmentally conscious investors can now target capital growth with the HANetf S&P Global Clean Energy Select HANzero UCITS ETF, ZERO, safe in the knowledge that any carbon emissions linked to their investment will be offset in some exciting global climate positive projects, said Nik Bienkowski, co-founder and co-CEO of HANetf.

He added that is was the first ETF in Europe with the ability to offset carbon and that HANzero is maybe our most impactful innovation to date.

Som Seif, founder and CEO of , said with the election of President Biden increasing optimism about green policies and the global consensus solidifying behind the fight against climate change, the ETF not only delivers access to the most exciting pure-play clean energy companies but it offers an article 6 product under SFDR and the opportunity to remove an investors carbon footprint.
's ( ) Euan Fraser joins Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam to talk through their financial results for the year just ended (to March 31).

Fraser highlights that fee income which rose 10.2% to 98.0mln from 88.9mln and revenue increased by 7.9% to 98.1mln from 90.9mln the year before.

Fraser says despite it being a tough year they've made real progress across the business, with growth across all key regions, especially North America which is 'rapidly growing'.
Four speakers will present for 12 minutes each during the online event followed by a five-minute Q&A session.

Proactive will host a Gold Webinar on Tuesday, June 29, featuring presentations from four ASX-listed gold companies  ( ), ( ), Resources Ltd ( ) and ( ).

Each company will present for 12 minutes, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session which will be live-streamed on the Proactive YouTube channel to be viewed at any time following the event. Click here to register.

Questions for the speakers can be submitted before and during the online presentations by email to John Phillips at john.phillips@proactiveinvestors.com or by text to 0431 597 771.

Latitude Consolidated

First to address investors will be Latitude Consolidated's chief executive officer Tim Davidson.

The junior exploration company has a clear path to growth through exploration at its Murchison Gold Project in Western Australia, which comprises a resource of 1.1 million ounces with 65% in the measured and indicated categories.

Its phase-1 drilling continues to systematically test several exploration targets across the project, with a view to prioritising the most prospective of these ahead of phase-2 drilling later in the year.

Great Boulder Resources

Second in line will be Great Boulder Resources' managing director Andrew Paterson.

After identifying a large intrusion-related gold system at its Side Well Gold Project in Western Australia, the company has the confidence to plan further definition drilling in its next program.

The latest results at Side Well support the interpretation of two parallel quartz sulphide lodes in the central Mulga Bill prospect and suggests Mulga Bill is part of a large intrusion-related vein system.

Resources

Next up will be Resources managing director Tim Withers, who will discuss the companys position in the heart of Australias gold and nickel mining district.

The companys Wattle Dam Gold Mine near Kamblada in Western Australia has a 1,500-metre RC program underway to support a mineral resource estimate.

After a review by Maximus of legacy drilling data, a near-mine opportunity immediately north of Wattle Dam was identified as an untested area, along strike from the mined-out Wattle Dam high-grade shoot.

Maximus is also planning RC drilling of 800 metres, across four holes, to adequately test for Wattle Dam size targets.

Platina Resources

To conclude the webinar, Platina Resources' managing director Corey Nolan will outline its new gold strategy in Western Australia.

The company recently executed a binding purchase agreement and commencement of tenement transfers with Edge Pty Ltd and Coolabah Resources Pty Ltd at the Xanadu Gold Project.

Its exploration strategy will comprise low-cost geophysics and geochemistry aimed at increasing geological knowledge.

Event details

When: Tuesday, June 29

Time: From 12 noon (AEST)

Register: Click here to register
Horizon Minerals Ltd (ASX:HRZ) continues to progress its strategy of building a standalone gold business in one of Australia's premier gold regions around the WA Goldfields mining centre of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

The company has updated the market on activity across its gold exploration assets with a fresh investor presentation.

Currently, the gold explorer is carrying out a 50,000-metre drilling campaign in order to test new targets, extend and better understand the gold resource at its regional Goldfields tenements.

Horizon has notched up more than one million ounces worth of gold mineral resource across six key exploration assets in WA  all of which remain open along strike and at depth.

As it works towards becoming the ASXs next standalone gold producer, Horizon Minerals is executing an aggressive exploration strategy in 2021.

Map outlines Horizon's tenements and applications within WA's Goldfields.

Boorara Project

Horizons efforts are centred on the Boorara Project, ust 15 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie, adjacent to Northern Star Resources Ltds (ASX:NST) (OTCMKTS:NESRF) Super Pit gold operation.

To date, trial mining, toll milling and pit mapping have been completed in the area to test its grade uplift potential and metallurgical performance ahead of a larger-scale development.

At present, the mineralisation extends over 1.5 kilometres of strike with the Regal, Crown Jewel and Royal deposits nestled within the wider Boorara gold asset.

The three deposits within the Boorara Project.

The deposits updated independent mineral resource now stands at 11 million tonnes, grading at 1.26 g/t gold for 448,000 ounces of contained gold at a 0.5 g/t lower grade cut-off.

Currently, mine optimisation, design, approvals and economic analysis are underway in a bid to reach maiden ore reserve generation in 2021s September quarter.

To further explore Booraras potential, Horizon has planned up to 13,000 metres of drilling at its wholly-owned asset in 2021.

Ultimately, this campaign will target resource extension, test previously unexplored gold occurrences and follow up shallow historical drilling.

Rose Hill Gold Deposit

Horizon acquired the Rose Hill Gold Deposit during a swap with Northern Star in 2019.

The asset is east of Coolgardie and just 45 kilometres from the potential Boorara mill site.

Some of the best intersections from the deposit include:

11 metres at 8.8 g/t gold from 43 metres;

10 metres at 6.3 g/t from 28 metres;

7 metres at 7.3 g/t from 27 metres and;

3.4 metres at 17.9 g/t from 79 metres.

Rose Hills updated mineral resource comprises 93,000 ounces of gold, grading 3.65 g/t. A maiden ore reserve for the deposit is slated for release in the coming quarter.

Essentially, Horizon believes Rose Hill offers near-term production potential within easy trucking distance of the Boorara gold play.

Binduli Project area

The Binduli asset, an emerging gold camp with multiple resource and new targets, is just 20 kilometres from Boorara, west of Kalgoorlie.

Within the broader project area, Horizon has established a mineral resource for the Crake target, comprising 74,000 ounces of gold at 1.8 g/t.

Activities-wise, the company has conducted extensional and reverse circulation drilling at the Crake and Coote deposits.

Highlights from drilling within the Binduli area include:

24 metres at 4.92 g/t gold from 32 metres;

23 metres at 4.16 g/t from 61 metres;

28 metres at 3.4 g/t from 36 metres and;

12 metres at 6.70 g/t from 6 metres.

Looking ahead, the ASX lister plans to release an updated resource at Crake and a maiden resource at Coote during the current quarter.

Beyond that, Horizon intends to work on mine optimisation, design, approvals and economic analysis in the September quarter.

Teal Gold Camp

Meanwhile, Horizons Teal Gold Camp is 20 kilometres northwest of Boorara.

The camp is estimated to hold 289,000 ounces of mineralisation, grading 2.1 g/t gold.

Promisingly, Horizon believes up to four parallel mineralised structures, open along strike and at depth, lie within the Teal Gold Camp.

The asset isnt new to development: back in 2018, mining took place at Teals open-cut zone, generating $7 million in cash.

So far, reverse circulation and diamond drilling have taken place at Teal, with updated resource modelling underway.

Some of the best intersections from the gold camps Jacques Find and Peyes targets include:

19.2 metres at 12.53 g/t gold from 42 metres;

8 metres at 12.10 g/t from 60 metres;

12 metres at 4.70 g/t from 60 metres and;

4 metres at 18.17 g/t from 79 metres.

Kalpini Gold Deposit

Even further northeast of Boorara lies Horizons Kalpini Gold Deposit, a new acquisition with significant resource and growth potential.

The gold explorer snapped up the asset last year for $2.75 million in cash, with a historical JORC 2004 mineral resource indicating the deposit contains 255,600 gold ounces, grading at 1.7 g/t.

In order to update the mineral resource and bring it up to current JORC standards, Horizon intends to target extensions along strike and at depth and infill some areas at the deposit.

An initial phase of reverse circulation and diamond drilling has taken place, with a mineral resource update slated for the current quarter.

Theres also potential for both open-pit and underground development at Kalpini, with mine optimisation and design for ore reserve generation expected next quarter.

Cannon Gold Deposit

Finally, to Booraras east is the Cannon Gold Deposit, the companys newest acquisition.

Horizon secured the deposit last month for a $5 million cash payment, absorbing a near-term development asset as part of its gold exploration portfolio.

Interestingly, Cannons open pit was mined in 2017 for 56,000 ounces of gold, grading at 5.2 g/t.

Since then, a feasibility study was completed in 2019 for underground development, establishing a JORC 2012 ore reserve comprising 20,000 ounces of gold.

Exploration drilling at the deposit is slated for the coming quarter, with an update of mine optimisation and economic analysis currently underway.

Next steps

As it continues to progress its 50,000-metre exploratory drilling campaign, Horizon is also focused on a near-term production facility at its high-grade Pennys Find joint venture (JV).

An underground ore reserve and development decision is expected for the JV asset in 2021s September quarter,

Overall, Horizon hopes to use the remainder of 2021 to rapidly progress its priority resources into mine-ready reserves and complete a feasibility study, targeting first gold production in 2022.

The company also has $17 million in cash and investments available to support its growth strategy.
The company believes that the wide and near-surface intercepts of relatively high-grade mineralisation will go a long way to expanding its mining envelope and pit inventory of the combined South Pit areas.

The drill program is targeting the under-explored region on the tenement boundary.

( ) has received strong assay results from an exploration and resource extension drilling program underway at its 100%-owned Pilgangoora Lithium Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The program is targeting the under-explored region on the tenement boundary adjacent to the former Altura Lithium Operation with the intention of optimising and growing the future pit inventory.

Highly encouraging assays have been received for the first 32 reverse circulation holes of the 62-hole program that has further defined zones of high-grade pegmatite mineralisation, with results including:

20 metres at 1.83% lithium oxide (Li2O) and 36 parts per million (ppm) tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) from 28 metres;

12 metres at 1.84% Li2O and 67 ppm Ta2O5 from 5 metres;

21 metres at 1.28% Li2O and 62 ppm Ta2O5 from 25 metres;

32 metres at 1.44% Li2O and 79 ppm Ta2O5 from 159 metres; and

44 metres at 1.49% Li2O and 76 ppm Ta2O5 from 146 metres.

A new near-surface pegmatite domain has been identified, suggesting a lower strip ratio within the potential mine pit inventory of the combined South Pit, which is outside the previously identified mineral resource.

Expanding mining envelope

Pilbara Minerals managing director and CEO Ken Brinsden said the ongoing results would go a long way to realising the full potential that the company saw in the area adjacent to the old tenement boundary, which was a key influencer of the recent acquisition.

He said: The wide and near-surface intercepts of relatively high-grade mineralisation will go a long way to expanding our mining envelope and pit inventory of the combined South Pit areas.

As we work towards a restart at the Ngungaju Plant, the success of this exploration and drill program and the efforts of our team to further integrate both assets mean we can be confident in a bright future for the greater Pilgangoora Operation.

Geological modelling is underway and on track for the delivery of an updated Pilgangoora project mineral resource in the September quarter of 2021.
The company has successfully applied for co-funding through the NT Governments Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program to complete initial diamond drill testing of Far East.

Cores major focus is on the development of the Finniss Lithium Project.

( ) (OTCMKTS:CXOXF) has extended the Far East gold trend at Bynoe Project in the Northern Territory to 2,500 metres in length after locating quartz veins at Toolebuc prospect of simillar style to those that host gold to the north of the trend.

Most encouragingly, gold nuggets and samples containing visible coarse gold have been located at Toolebuc, suggesting the new veins are auriferous.

Mapping, rock chip sampling and systematic soil sampling are underway at Toolebuc, with assaying of the geochemical samples in progress.

The gold potential of this region was initially identified by reassaying Cores lithium-focused geochemical samples for gold in 2020.

A second gold re-assay program to analyse a further 3,000 historical samples is now underway.

Dedicated gold effort warranted

Managing director Stephen Biggins said: While Core is maintaining a clear focus on the main game of expanding the lithium resource inventory and subsequent development of our first lithium mining operations at Finniss, we believe a dedicated gold effort is warranted following the outstanding results achieved in 2020 by the companys exploration team.

We await assay results from our recent rock chip and soil sampling programs at Toolebuc where the mapping of 'Far East Style' quartz veins and the detection of gold grains and nuggets are early promising signs that we may have materially expanded the broader target zone from 1,600 metres to 2,500 metres.

Our successful application for significant NT Government co-funding to assist with our first diamond drilling at Far East, and the establishment of a dedicated team to explore the numerous gold targets at Bynoe, further confirms our commitment to Core shareholders to pursue additional value opportunities on our tenements over and above that delivered through our prime lithium assets.

NT Government co-funding secured

CXO has also secured its application for co-funding through Round 14 of the Northern Territorys Governments Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program, a core element of its Resourcing the Territory initiative.

The application was made in regard to completing the first diamond drill tests at the Far East Gold target.

Core has been awarded a grant of $134,810 which will cover 50% of allowable costs associated with drilling two 350-metre-deep diamond core holes.

Gold team established

To assist Core in its focus on the gold opportunity, the company has established a dedicated exploration team on top of having engaged geological consultant Chris Drown to lead the Bynoe Gold Project.

Drown has worked in the Australian resources industry for more than 35 years, including roles with Western Mining Corp, Aberfoyle Resources Limited and Andromeda Metals ( ) (formerly Adelaide Resources Limited) where for 11 years he was managing director.

He has explored a range of commodities and has worked extensively in the Northern Territory and across Australia.

Looking ahead

In addition to progressing exploration and drill testing of the immediate opportunities presented at Far East-Toolebuc, the gold goal in 2021 is to establish a pipeline of additional targets and drill test those that show potential to represent deposits that can materially add to the markets valuation of Core.

The 2020 gold program has already presented numerous gold anomalies for follow-up, while the continuation of the successful geochemical sample gold re-assay program, together with planned on-ground prospecting and additional geochemistry, is expected to delineate new areas of focus.

Shares have been almost 5.6% higher intra-day to A$0.2375 while CXO's market cap pre-open was approximately $264.2 million.
The substantial fundraise will prime Arafura to conduct crucial design studies at its Nolans Project as it prepares to supply a spike in demand for magnet rare earths.

Arafura is tapping institutional and retail investors for up to $45 million in fresh capital.

Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX:ARU) is chasing a $45 million cash injection to fund front end engineering and design (FEED) activities at its Nolans neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) oxide project in the Northern Territory.

The rare earths explorer will set out to raise $40 million from institutional investors via a two-tranche placement, followed by a share purchase plan (SPP) to raise up to $5 million.

Arafuras institutional offer garnered strong support from domestic and international investors, with firm commitments to raise the full $40 million at 12 cents per share.

Meanwhile, the ASX-listers share purchase plan will take place at the same price as the placement, representing a 29.4% discount to the last closing price of ARU shares and a 29.1% discount to the five-day volume-weighted average price.

Neither the placement nor the share purchase plan is underwritten.

Funding Australias only new shovel-ready NdPr oxide project

Arafura managing director Gavin Lockyer said: We are delighted with the support for the placement, and welcome a number of Australian and offshore institutional investors to the register.

On behalf of the board, I would also like to thank our shareholders for their ongoing support. The Nolans Project is the only new shovel ready NdPr oxide project in Australia capable of delivering advanced materials into the critical minerals supply chain.

The company welcomes the support of new and existing shareholders and looks forward to applying their funds towards advancing the Nolans Project.

Nolans has the potential to diversify rare earth supply chains whilst seeding new industry in Australia, one of the worlds safest and most secure jurisdictions.

Nolans Project in the Northern Territory.

Placement

Under the placement, Arafura intends to issue more than 333 million shares over two tranches and raise $40 million.

The rare earths explorer will first issue more than 175 million shares at 12 cents each to raise around $21 million under its existing placement capacity.

However, tranche two, which aims to issue nearly 158 million additional shares at the same price and raise almost $19 million, requires shareholder approval.

To gather stakeholder support, Arafura intends to hold a meeting in early August.

Arafura hopes to issue tranche one shares on or around July 2, followed by a proposed tranche two issue on August 13.

Share purchase plan

All eligible Australia and New Zealand-based shareholders can participate in Arafuras SPP and subscribe for up to $30,000 worth of new shares.

The plan opens on July 5 and closes more than a month later on August 23, giving investors plenty of time to apply for new shares.

Results will be announced one week later on August 30, with shares slated for issue on that same date. New ARU stock will commence trade the following day.

Ultimately, the plan gives investors the chance to increase their ARU holding without incurring brokerage or transaction fees.

Where does the money go?

Funds procured via Arafuras latest equity raise will support the development of its flagship rare earths asset, which is on a mission to eventually supply between 5 and 10% of global demand for NdPr oxide.

The Nolans Project has an estimated 38-year mine life and is described by Arafura as a world-class, shovel ready rare earths play.

Nolans has an estimated $1.4 billion net present value, with life of mine cash costs calculated at US$24.76 per kilogram.

Demand for NdPr oxide is predicted to spike over the next decade, expected to double from 47,000 tonnes in 2020 to 98,000 tonnes in 2030 according to data from researcher CRU.

When it comes into production, the Nolans Project is set to be Australias first vertically integrated source of separated rare earths oxides and the worlds second-largest scale non-Chinese source of rare earths.

Arafura wants to reach a final investment decision for the asset in 2022s second half, which is when the NdPr market is poised to enter a deficit thanks to underinvestment in the rare earth oxides supply chain.

Accelerated demand for the material will likely follow growth in the electric vehicle and renewable energy markets.
Both companies believe C-H2 shipping is ideally suited for exporting green hydrogen at a low cost and they can deliver a shipping solution that is completely sustainable.

( ) (OTCMKTS:GBBLF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wartsila Australia Pty Ltd to develop the C-H2 Ship propulsion system.

The main objective of the MOU is for GEV and Wartsila to review the various low emission propulsion solutions, including the use of alternate fuels, for application in GEVs proposed and proprietary hydrogen marine transportation vessels (C-H2 Ship).

Both companies will also cooperate on the potential inclusion of Wartsilas propulsion systems in GEVs C-H2 Ships, with the near-term objective to advance GEVs Approval in Principle application with the American Bureau of Shipping for the 430 tonnes C-H2 Ship.

They will also cooperate to demonstrate the availability and outlook for highly efficient and low emission propulsion systems for C-H2 Ships, including the integration of fuel cell applications to be provided by Ballard Power Systems.

Sustainable shipping solution

GEV managing director and CEO Martin Carolan said: We look forward to working closely with Wartsila on this project.

We have shown that C-H2 shipping is ideally suited for exporting green hydrogen with a lower delivered cost and having a technology leader such as Wartsila with us, we can deliver a shipping solution that is completely sustainable.

Credible technical development partner

Wartsila Oyj Abp (HEL:WRT1V) adds to the list of highly credible technical development partners working on advancing ABS approvals, and ultimately the construction and operation of GEVs C-H2 shipping solution.

It is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets.

By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency, and data analytics, Wartsila maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.

In 2020, Wartsila's net sales totalled 4.6 billion with about 18,000 employees.
Having forced its way to getting three seats on the Exxon board, the firm said the ETF will invest in 500 of the largest US companies in an effort to instigate positive change for employees, customers, communities, and the environment

Engine No. 1, the activist investment firm that managed to get three of its directors onto Exxon Mobil Corp's board despite holding just 0.02% of the oil giant, is launching a US$100mln exchange traded fund (ETF).

The new ETF - The Transform 500 ETF  will have the ticker VOTE.

The fund, whose motto is you have to engage to effect change, will invest in 500 of the largest US companies and track the Morningstar US Large Cap Select Index, in an effort to instigate positive change for employees, customers, communities, and the environment.

Engine No. 1, which launched last December, is looking to tap into retail investors frustration that their main stock portfolios often dont address ESG concerns, Reuters reported.

The activist investment firm describes itself as "purpose-built to create long-term value by harnessing the power of capitalism"..."we believe that over time the interests of Main Street and Wall Street align, and we can engage as active owners to create value by focusing on this alignment".

Earlier this month the environmental activist fund saw its third nominee appointed to Exxons 12-member board.

While it holds only a small number of Exxon shares it has proved influential with the largest US oil company's pension fund shareholders, including which holds a 6.6% stake.

Engine No.1 is trying to force the hydrocarbons behemoth to move away from fossil fuels.
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Afghanistan is a notoriously difficult country to govern. Empire after empire, nation after nation have failed to pacify what is today the modern territory of Afghanistan, giving the region the nickname Graveyard of Empires,  even if sometimes those empires won some initial battles and made inroads into the region. If the United States and its allies decide to leave Afghanistan, they would only the latest in a long series of nations to do so. As the British learned in their 1839-1842 war in Afghanistan, it is often easier to do business with a local ruler with popular support than to support a leader backed by foreign powers; the costs of propping up such a leader eventually add up. The closest most historical empires have come to controlling Afghanistan was by adopting a light-handed approach, as the Mughals did. They managed to loosely control the area by paying off various tribes, or granting them autonomy. Attempts at anything resembling centralized control, even by native Afghan governments, have largely failed.

Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published a Federal Register notice governing the use of $2 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds for electric power system enhancements and improvements for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The notice is the latest in a series of HUD actions under the Biden-Harris administration to support recovery and renewal in the two U.S. territories.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Espanola, NM (87532)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Espanola, NM (87532)

Today

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has sought President Ram Nath Kovind's intervention to 'Save Agriculture and Save Democracy' on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Emergency and the completion of seven months of the ongoing farmers' agitation, a top farmer leader said here on Thursday.

"We are sending a memorandum from all over India to the President, expressing our deep anguish and indignation, and appeal to him to protect both our agriculture and democracy," said All India Kisan Sabha President and SKM leader Dr. Ashok Dhawale.

The Indian society calls farmers as 'annadaatas' and in the past 74 years since Independence, they fulfilled that responsibility.

"When India became Independent, we used to feed 33-crore citizens, today in the same extent of land, we manage to feed around 140-crore Indians. During the coronavirus pandemic, while the other sectors in the economy decelerated and slumped, we achieved record production in agriculture, ensured that our granaries were overflowing and risked our lives," said the memorandum to the President.

However, in return for this service to the entire country, "the Government of India has thrust the 3 anti-farmer black laws" which will destroy our farming as well as our future generations, snatch agriculture from our hands and hand it over to big corporations, it said.

There are other swords hanging on the farmers' heads -- penalties or jail for stubble burning in a new Ordinance related to Delhi's air pollution and subsidy withdrawal through the Electricity Amendments Bill, 2020, said Dr. Dhawale.

The memorandum -- which would be sent to the President through various state Governors and other channels -- terms the three Central farm laws as 'undemocratic', created without consultations with the farmers, thrust in the form of Ordinances, tabled in Parliament before sending to Committees for further study or debates, and while pushing the Bills voting by division was not allowed in Rajya Sabha, etc.

Dr. Dhawale added that as the first guardian of our Constitution created by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and others, the farmers had hoped that the President would refuse to give assent to such unconstitutional and undemocratic anti-farmer laws, but he (President) did not.

Seeking justice in the form of remunerative returns for their hard work and toil, the memo said that the farmers are in debt, farming has become an unviable profession and over 4-lakh peasants were compelled to commit suicide in the past 30 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held an interaction with the participants of Toycathon 2021, where he said that traditional and technology are the greatest strengths of India.

"Students, teachers, startups have enthusiastically participated in Toycathon 2021. The participation of over 1,500 teams during the first grand finale of the event indicates a bright future. The event also strengthens the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign," Modi said and lauded the participants from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana etc which presented their digital toy ideas based on India's history, mythology and the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic among others.

Modi also reiterated his previous comments where he made an appeal to the country's youth with regard to self reliance and local solutions in the world of toys and digital gaming.

Toycathon 2021 was jointly launched by the Education ministry, Women and child development, Textile ministry, Department for promotion of textile and internal trade, Information and broadcasting ministry, MSME ministry and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on January 5 this year to crowd-source innovative toys and game ideas.

Over 120,000 people across the country participated in this event and over 17,000 ideas were submitted of which 1,567 were shorlisted for the final event which is being held from June 22-24. Amid the prevailing coronavirus pandemic, the final will have teams with digital toy ideas and a separate offline event take place for non-digital toy ideas.

"India's domestic market as well as the global toy market offers a huge opportunity to our manufacturing sector. Toycathon-2021 is aimed at boosting the Toy Industry in India to help it capture a wider share of the toy market," the Centre said in a statement.
Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2021 -- In partnership with European firms such as Skai Energies & Nilsson Energy, Hydrogen Fuels Australia is commencing work on creating Australia's first modular hydrogen production and integrated fuel cell electric vehicle refuelling plant. Once operational, the plant will be capable of generating 60-90kg of green hydrogen from its 750kw solar array. This is one example of the exciting endeavours within the Australian environmental engineering sector. Get in touch with a member of the LVI Associates team to explore the wealth of opportunities across Asia Pacific.



LVI Associates, a renowned recruiter for the water and environmental engineering industry in Australia, was founded in 2012 and since then have gone on to foster an impressive network of over one million industry professionals who advise the team on market trends and incoming risk factors. The firm has worked with organisations and professionals throughout Asia Pacific to yield connections and cultivate cooperation whilst creating a new way to conduct recruiting within the industry. An integral part of the success of LVI Associates has been the way the firm has been proactive in supporting a diverse range of organisations, from nimble start-ups to globally recognised names in the water and environmental engineering sector. LVI Associates in Asia Pacific possess expertise across the infrastructure industry, with specialised consultants recruiting for engineering jobs, renewable energy jobs, transportation jobs and construction jobs. Consultants obtain a comprehensive understanding of the local markets and receive continuous in-depth training on how to navigate the industry using best-in-class recruitment strategies and cutting-edge technologies.



LVI Associates has supported organisations across Asia Pacific in their quest to harness the best talent to elevate their teams. The firm's all-encompassing knowledge of the Asia Pacific market is reinforced by its affiliation with the Phaidon International Group, the chosen water and environmental engineering recruiter for hundreds of global enterprises. Furthermore, the company has designed strategies to ensure streamlined hiring processes irrespective of the aftermath of the pandemic, reassuring their clients that their talent searches are in safe, expert hands. Today, there are many career-defining roles available via LVI Associates across Asia Pacific, including: Associate Traffic Engineer, Geotechnical  Civil Design Lead, Associate Director, Senior Traffic & Transport Engineer, Senior Project Manager  Water Treatment, Principal Water Resources Engineer  Urban Stormwater, Business Development Manager & Executive, and Head of Supply Chain and Logistics. The team at LVI Associates Asia Pacific opens the door to a plethora of opportunities throughout the water and environmental engineering sector, from individuals wanting to take the next step in their careers, to organisations looking to hire for resilience, innovation, and development.



"2020 was a year of challenge for many organisations in the recruitment industry. From ongoing uncertainty to the need to adapt to a more virtual environment for securing and retaining talent, there has been a lot to consider," commented Andrew McNeilis, Managing Director at LVI Associates. He went on to say," now that we are into the second quarter of 2021 there is space to reflect on the remarkable agility shown by our team in adapting to changing conditions and continuing to support all our clients to secure business-critical talent worldwide."



To find out more information about Water and Environmental Engineering in Australia visit https://www.lviassociates.sg/



For any media enquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital  020 7100 0726.



For all other enquiries please contact LVI Associates Singapore: +65 3165 1400.



For more information about LVI Associates Singapore services, please go to https://www.lviassociates.sg.



About LVI Associates Singapore

LVI Associates Singapore is the leading specialist recruitment agency for the water and environmental sector. Reimagining recruitment for this fast moving and innovative industry has enabled the firm to bring together the brightest talent and key enterprises to help continue to drive the sector forward.
Selangor, Malaysia -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2021 -- Baby Goods 24 x 7 has given a shot in the arm to parents as they can now browse through a comprehensive range of childrens products including Safety Gear conveniently, and pick top quality options at affordable rates.



New parents have their hands full with responsibilities when their little angel comes home. However they are also aware that nothing but the best would do for their babies. They could be look for items for Baby Activity And Gear or toys to keep them engaged; they can now find it all without any hassle at Baby Goods 24 x 7.



The online store aims to provide inspiration and motivation to parents to find trendy options when it comes to baby and childrens products. Moreover, Baby Goods 24 x 7 offers valuable information about the latest products it stocks for parents so that they can make the best buying decisions for their little ones.



In fact, Baby Goods 24 x 7 understands the importance of superior quality for parents. Hence it takes all the effort to ensure that each of its products meets the safety and quality requirements. Right from safety products to Toys And Gifts, shoppers can know more about each item to choose the best for their babies.



The store has also grown in reputation amongst parents due to its speedy delivery of products and impeccable customer support. Its versatile collection of ever growing products is an added advantage. Some of the exciting baby and childrens products available at Baby Goods 24 x 7 include:



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Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2021 -- Stay up-to-date and exploit latest trends of School Administration Software Market with latest edition released by AMA.



School Administration Software Market Comprehensive Study is an expert and top to bottom investigation on the momentum condition of the worldwide School Administration Software industry with an attention on the Global market. The report gives key insights available status of the School Administration Software producers and is an important wellspring of direction and course for organizations and people keen on the business. By and large, the report gives an inside and out understanding of 2021-2026 worldwide School Administration Software Market covering extremely significant parameters.



Key Players in This Report Include,

Rediker Software (United States),ThinkWave (United States),PowerVista RollCall (United States),Fedena (India),ParentLocker (United States),FreshSchools (United States),Knewton (United States),Instructure, Inc. (United States),Schoology (United States),Blackboard Inc. (United States)



Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/15902-global-school-administration-software-market



Brief Summary of School Administration Software:

A school Administration Software is a solution with a set of computer-based instructions developed for the management of day to day operations in the school in the administrative department. It helps in digitally monitoring the school's daily activities, information, resources in a single platform. The system is widely used by the administrators of schools for the daily information requirements. This maintains the admission, fee payment, attendance, and other administrative work in the one platform providing efficiency in school administration.



Market Trends:

- The Emerging Online Operation Related to Fee Collection, Admission, etc Through School Administration Software



Market Drivers:

- Rising Number of School Facilities Around the World

- Demand for the Automation in Managing the School Administration Operation



Market Opportunities:

- Growing Spending and Advancement in the Education Industry

- Pandemic Causing Change in Whole Scenarios of School Activities will Boost the School Administration Software Market



The Global School Administration Software Market segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

by Application (Midsized School, Large School), Deployment Mode (Cloud-based, Web-based), Services (Professional Services, Managed Services)



This research report represents a 360-degree overview of the competitive landscape of the Global School Administration Software Market. Furthermore, it offers massive data relating to recent trends, technological, advancements, tools, and methodologies. The research report analyzes the Global School Administration Software Market in a detailed and concise manner for better insights into the businesses.



Regions Covered in the School Administration Software Market:

- The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.)

- North America (United States, Mexico & Canada)

- South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.)

- Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)

- Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia).



Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/15902-global-school-administration-software-market



The research study has taken the help of graphical presentation techniques such as infographics, charts, tables, and pictures. It provides guidelines for both established players and new entrants in the Global School Administration Software Market.



The detailed elaboration of the Global School Administration Software Market has been provided by applying industry analysis techniques such as SWOT and Porter's five-technique. Collectively, this research report offers a reliable evaluation of the global market to present the overall framework of businesses.



Attractions of the School Administration Software Market Report:

- The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2015-2020) and forecast (2021-2026)

- The report covers in-detail insights about the competitor's overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies

- The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market

- The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and start-up's details that are actively working in the market

- The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario



Get 10% - 25% Discount on The Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/15902-global-school-administration-software-market



Key Points Covered in the Table of Content:

Chapter 1 to explain Introduction, market review, market risk and opportunities, market driving force, product scope of School Administration Software Market;

Chapter 2 to inspect the leading manufacturers (Cost Structure, Raw Material) with sales Analysis, revenue Analysis, and price Analysis of School Administration Software Market;

Chapter 3 to show the focused circumstance among the best producers, with deals, income, and School Administration Software market share 2020;

Chapter 4 to display the regional analysis of Global School Administration Software Market with revenue and sales of an industry, from 2020 to 2022;

Chapter 5, 6, 7 to analyze the key countries (United States, China, Europe, Japan, Korea & Taiwan), with sales, revenue and market share in key regions;

Chapter 8 and 9 to exhibit International and Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis, Trade Type Analysis;

Chapter 10 and 11 to analyze the market by product type and application/end users (industry sales, share, and growth rate) from 2020 to 2026

Chapter 12 to show School Administration Software Market forecast by regions, forecast by type and forecast by application with revenue and sales, from 2020 to 2025;

Chapter 13, 14 & 15 to specify Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source of School Administration Software market buyers, merchants, dealers, sales channel.



Browse for Full Report at @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/15902-global-school-administration-software-market



School Administration Software Market research provides answers to the following key questions:

? What is the expected growth rate of the School Administration Software Market?

? What will be the School Administration Software Market size for the forecast period, 2021  2026?

? What are the main driving forces responsible for changing the School Administration Software Market trajectory?

? Who are the big suppliers that dominate the School Administration Software Market across different regions? Which are their wins to stay ahead in the competition?

? What are the School Administration Software Market trends business owners can rely upon in the coming years?

? What are the threats and challenges expected to restrict the progress of the School Administration Software Market across different countries?



Contact US:

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AMA Research & Media LLP

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sales@advancemarketanalytics.com
A team of astronomers from the United Kingdom and the United States has examined six of the most distant galaxies currently known and found that the distance of these galaxies away from Earth corresponded to a look back time of more than 13 billion years ago, when the Universe was only 550 million years old. Using data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, NASAs Spitzer Space Telescope, and several ground-based observatories, they have calculated the age of these galaxies as ranging from 200 to 300 million years, allowing an estimate of when their stars first formed.

Theorists speculate that the Universe was a dark place for the first few hundred million years, before the first stars and galaxies formed, said studys lead author Dr. Nicolas Laporte, an astronomer in the Kavli Institute for Cosmology and the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.

Witnessing the moment when the Universe was first bathed in starlight is a major quest in astronomy.

Our observations indicate that cosmic dawn occurred between 250 and 350 million years after the beginning of the Universe, and, at the time of their formation, galaxies such as the ones we studied would have been sufficiently luminous to be seen with the James Webb Space Telescope.

Dr. Laporte and his colleagues analyzed starlight from the galaxies as recorded by the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, examining a marker in their energy distribution indicative of the presence of atomic hydrogen in their stellar atmospheres. This provides an estimate of the age of the stars they contain.

This hydrogen signature increases in strength as the stellar population ages but diminishes when the galaxy is older than a billion years.

The age-dependence arises because the more massive stars that contribute to this signal burn their nuclear fuel more rapidly and therefore die first.

This age indicator is used to date stars in our own neighborhood in the Milky Way but it can also be used to date extremely remote galaxies, seen at a very early period of the Universe, said studys co-author Dr. Romain Meyer, an astronomer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy.

Using this indicator we can infer that, even at these early times, our galaxies are between 200 and 300 million years old.

In analyzing the Hubble and Spitzer data, the astronomers needed to estimate the redshift of each galaxy which indicates their cosmological distance and hence the look-back time at which they are being observed.

To achieve this, they undertook spectroscopic measurements using several powerful ground-based telescopes: ALMA, ESOs Very Large Telescope, the twin Keck telescopes, and Gemini-South telescope.

These measurements enabled the researchers to confirm that looking at these galaxies corresponded to looking back to a time when the Universe was 550 million years old.

Over the last decade, astronomers have pushed back the frontiers of what we can observe to a time when the Universe was only 4% of its present age, said studys co-author Professor Richard Ellis, an astronomer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London.

However, due to the limited transparency of Earths atmosphere and the capabilities of the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, we have reached our limit.

We now eagerly await the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which we believe has the capability to directly witness cosmic dawn.

The quest to see this important moment in the Universes history has been a holy grail in astronomy for decades.

Since we are made of material processed in stars, this is in some sense the search for our own origins.

The findings were published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

_____

N. Laporte et al. 2021. Probing cosmic dawn: Ages and star formation histories of candidate z  9 galaxies. MNRAS 505 (3): 3336-3346; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stab1239
Page Content

This year Emancipation Day on July 1st, will mark the 158th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Abolishment of Slavery on Sint Maarten. The Minister of Culture Youth & Sport, Honorable drs. Rodolphe Samuel will be hosting the celebration event, which will take place on July 1st, starting at 7:30 am starting with an Ecumenical Church Service at the St. Martin of Tours Church in Philipsburg.





A Cultural Manifestation will follow the church service, consisting of performances and speeches by dignitaries with the theme no more auction block at the The Watkins House on Frontstreet #113 that was once a slave depot.





Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sport, the Honorable Rodolphe E. Samuel is asking the public to come out, observe and celebrate in the church service and cultural manifestation. All persons attending are reminded to consider their safety and others by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing as they gather during this public event.





Emancipation Day, was the first public holiday established by the Parliament of Sint Maarten since becoming a Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as such the Government of Sint Maarten would like the community to take a moment to reflect on our past triumphs and tribulations as a people. Many believed the road to our freedom on the Southern side of the island was easy and granted to us by the European powers. Contrary to popular belief, our ancestors fought for their freedom.





The strong and resilient Sint Maarteners of that era were a people that were aware that the former enslaved persons on the Northern part of the island were freemen as of 1848 and many of them ran away from the deplorable conditions that they were forced into. These actions by the enslaved persons seeking their freedom culminated in the Proclamation of the Abolishment of Slavery as the European powers knew that slave labor system could not continue as it did for so many years. Freedom for the enslaved ancestors was inevitable. There are many accounts of rebellion and resistance towards the oppressive slave system such as the Diamond 26 escape and the expressions of the Ponum Song and dance.





On the evening of Emancipation Day at 4:00 pm, filmmaker and artist, Jonathon van Arneman & the National Institute of Arts (NIA) will be premiering the film Atlantis Rebirth at the Caribbean Cinemas in Cole Bay. The Ministry of Education Culture Youth & Sport, via the Department of Culture is supporting the premiere of this local creative film as such, Minister drs. Rodolphe E. Samuel is encouraging the public to come out and view this local production. The film will be featured at the cinema from July 1st until July 4th and tickets for the film Atlantis Rebirth will be on sale at NIA and at Caribbean Cinemas.





Emancipation Day is a day to celebrate and come together as a people to foster the strength of our ancestors as we navigate through the present day challenges post COVID-19. We must continue to work collectively as one nation to regain economic momentum, by redefining the strengths of our legacy in order to pay homage to the ancestors that fought for their human rights to be a free people and to rectify the social injustices that were made against them, as we are called to build on those sacrifices made.





File Photo - Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sport, the Honorable Rodolphe E. Samuel laying wreath at Emancipation Day 2020 at the Freedom Fighter Roundabout.
When Americans, British and Canadians landed at Normandy in June, 1944, they met German forces that had been shattered on the Eastern Front and bled white. Understrength German units had almost no gasoline and were low on ammunition, tanks and artillery.

by Eric S. Margolis

Column originally posted May 9, 2015

Historic events are facts that should not be manipulated according to the latest political fashions. Being angry at Moscow for mucking about in Ukraine does not in any way lessen the glory, admiration and thanks owed to the Russian people for their heroism during World War II.

Americans and Canadians like to believe they won the war in Europe and give insufficient recognition to the decisive Soviet role. Most Europeans would rather not think about the matter. By contrast, Russians know that it was their soldiers who really won the war. They remain angry that their military achievements are ignored by American triumphalists and myth-makers.

Not only did Stalins Soviet Union play the key role in crushing Nazi Germany, its huge sacrifices saved the lives of countless American, British and Canadian soldiers. Were it not for the USSRs victory, Nazi Germany might be alive and well today.

Lets do the numbers. The Soviet armed forces destroyed 507 German division and 100 allied Axis divisions (according to Soviet figures). These latter included the pan-European Waffen SS whose largest numbers came from Belgium, Holland and Scandinavia, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Finland and a division from Spain.

Soviet military historians claim their forces destroyed 77,000 enemy planes, 48,000 enemy tanks and armored vehicles. The Red Army accounted for 75-80% of Axis casualties in World War II.

In the process, 1,710 Russian cities, 70,000 towns and villages, 31,850 factories or and 1,974 collective farms were destroyed. Add 84,000 schools, 43,000 libraries and 65,000 km of railway.

The leading Russian military historian Dimitri Volkogonov revealed during the Gorbachev years that Russias total losses from 1941-1945 were 26.6 to 27 million dead. Ten million of them were Soviet soldiers dead or missing. Compare this to total US dead in the European theater of 139,000.

No one likes to admit it was Stalin who defeated Nazi Germany. Stalin killed far more people than Adolf Hitler, including 6 million Ukrainians liquidated in the early 1930s and four million Muslims during the war. The Soviet gulag was grinding up victims well into the 1950s.

Today, seven decades later, we are barraged with films and reports about Germanys concentration camps while Stalins far more extensive and lethal gulag is ignored. Roosevelt spoke warmly of Stalin as Uncle Joe. Churchill kept silent.

When Americans, British and Canadians landed at Normandy in June, 1944, they met German forces that had been shattered on the Eastern Front and bled white. Understrength German units had almost no gasoline and were low on ammunition, tanks and artillery.

Equally important, the Allies had absolute air superiority over the Western European battlefields. Understrength German units could only move at night  when they could find fuel. By 1944, both Germany and Japan were crippled by a calamitous lack of fuel. Planes could not fly, tanks and trucks could not be moved, and warships were forced to stay in port.

The reason Germany had no air cover at Normandy was because most of the once potent Luftwaffe had been destroyed on the Eastern Front, its best pilots killed, and aviation fuel scarce. Germanys advanced ME262 jet fighter that should have swept the skies was grounded because of fuel shortages.

Had Germanys Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe not been largely destroyed in Russia, the Normandy D-Day invasion would likely have been pushed into the Channel. Britain may have been invaded well before June, 1944. Hitlers foolish notion that Germany and the British Empire should be allies saved the beaten British Army in France in 1940, allowing it to escape across the Channel while leaving its French allies in the lurch.

By the time the Allies established themselves in France, they outnumbered degraded German forces by 2:1. At least 67,000 German soldiers died in the Normandy operation. In a heartbreaking but little-known statistic of war, 6.7 million German horses were killed on both fronts.

Soviet Ukraine bore the brunt of the war, losing some 5 million soldiers and 6 million civilians  roughly half of total Soviet losses.

By April, 1944, Germany still maintained 214 divisions on the East Front facing the advancing Soviet and just 60 divisions (mostly understrength, many only brigades in reality) on the Western Front.

At that time, both Roosevelt and Churchill lavished praise and thanks on the Soviet Union, admitting its gigantic effort in defeating Hitlers Germany. Today, however, we have chosen to forget who really won the war in Europe.

Just as much, we have totally ignored the huge Soviet contribution to the war in the Pacific Theater. The US Navy swept the seas of the Imperial Japanese Navy in a series of brilliant actions that rate among the greatest feats in naval history, but Japan still held large parts of China and Manchuria.

On 9 Aug, 1945, the Soviets unleashed one of the wars largest campaigns. Some 1.57 million Red Army troops in 89 divisions, backed by 27,000 guns, 5,500 tanks, and 3721 warplanes stormed south in a giant, 2,500-km long arc from Outer Mongolia to Korea. Soviet tank armies raced across desert, mountain ranges and forests in a giant pincer movement that enveloped Japans Manchurian-based 600,000-man, 25 division Kwantung Army.

In only eleven days of blitzkrieg, the once-feared Kwantung Army  Japans largest  was crushed. Soviet forces reached Port Arthur in northern China, much of Manchuria and right up to Koreas 38th parallel. Five years later, a proxy war between the US and Soviet Union would begin over divided Korea.

The shattering of the Kwantung army is believed by some historians to have contributed to Japans surrender. Other historians suggest that Americas use of two nuclear weapons against Japan was a hasty effort to make it surrender before the Red Army landed in Japan.

While making it plain that the western democracies have no kudos for Soviet leader Stalin, and disapprove of Vladimir Putins machination in Ukraine and Crimea, it should still have been possible to acknowledge the mighty Soviet contribution to our victory in World War II. At the very least, Russias valiant soldiers deserve a sharp salute from us. They defeated Nazi Germany and saved many of our men from death.

Copyright Eric S. Margolis
Wickremesinghe's ugly criticism against the Army Commander who is also serving as the Chief of Defence Staff was not only aimed at achieving narrow goals, but also at fulfilling the needs of those who worked to bring him to Parliament.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was ousted by the people after serving as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka the most number of times, brought back to Parliament from the backdoor. Thanks to the much-abused national list introduced in the Parliamentary system in Sri Lanka to bring back criminals and losers to Parliament. A National List seat held by the party, which had been vacant for months, eventually fell victim to his hypocritical politics. Wickremesinghe came to Parliament, not for the good of the country. Wickramasinghe is one of the lowest politicians in Sri Lankan politics who have tarnished the image of democracy.

As soon as Wickremesinghe came to Parliament, his target was the current Army Commander, a man bigger than his life. Wickremesinghe's ugly criticism against the Army Commander who is also serving as the Chief of Defence Staff was not only aimed at achieving narrow goals, but also at fulfilling the needs of those who worked to bring him to Parliament. Wickremesinghe has resorted to this in an attempt to somehow save the country's crumbling traditional political clique. It is a matter that goes beyond party politics. That deal is between the families he represents and his friends, not between political theories or parties. To them, countries or their peoples are mere subjects. In other words, this is the most shameless moment in the history of democracy in Sri Lanka. Some may think that Wickremasinghe's new play will help save the so-called "elite", which is nothing but a farce not only in the eyes of the country but also in the eyes of the world.

- Editorial








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234 kHz - the last French long wave

After Radio France, Europe 1 and RMC stopped their broadcasts on long wave , RTL has been the only broadcaster since 2020 that still uses this frequency range for France.

The operators of the channel in Luxembourg are optimistic that they will be able to continue in the foreseeable future

See article here:

https://www.radioeins.de/programm/sendungen/medienmagazin/radio_news/beitraege/2020/luxemburg.html
Geneva, June 23, 2021 (SPS) - The Geneva Group is organizing a high-level conference on Wednesday on the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and the root causes of the failure of the United Nations organization to implement its plan settlement of the Western Sahara conflict.

Under the theme "the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination", this conference will be an opportunity for the panelists to address the root causes of the failure of the United Nations to definitively resolve the Saharawi question so as to allow the Saharawis to dispose of themselves and to discuss the way forward in order to relaunch the process of negotiations, which has stopped since 2019.

Will take part in this conference, in particular the permanent representative of Timor-Leste to the UN and the international organizations in Geneva, Mr. Francisco Dionisio Fernandes, and the permanent representative of South Africa in Geneva, Mr. Mxolisi Nkosi.

The list of participants also included the lawyer, member of the UN Commission responsible for identification for the referendum in Western Sahara, Ms. Katlyn Tomas, the former head of political affairs at the United Nations, Carmen Johns and the former head of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso), Francesco Bastagli.

The representative of the Frente POLISARIO in Europe and to the European Union (EU), Oubi Bouchraya Bachir will also participate in this meeting.

Registered since 1966 on the list of non-self-governing territories, and therefore eligible for the application of UN General Assembly resolution 1514 on the declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples, Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa, occupied since 1975 by Morocco, supported by France. SPS

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Geneva (Switzerland), June 24, 2021 (SPS) - South Africa reaffirmed the principle of the inviolability of the borders inherited after independence in Africa and the right of the peoples of the former colonial lands to self-determination and independence, reiterating its position of principle on the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

In the words of his Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Mr. Emcholoski Nkosi, during the high-level virtual conference, Mr. Nkosi stated that support for the self-determination of the Saharawi people is based on the principles of pluralism, legitimacy and the search for a just and lasting political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, asking the African Union and the United Nations General Assembly to set a date for the referendum to be held according to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of the October 16, 1975 .

The South African diplomat also expressed the unequivocal and firm support of his government for the mandate and mission of MINURSO and urged the United Nations Security Council to assume its responsibility and guarantee the application of a neutral and balanced approach that would help the parties to move towards an agreement . SPS

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Given the heightened U.S. pressure on China, however, there is plenty of evidence that the U.S. is not unhappy with the possibility of instability that will come to the heart of Asia after the summer of 2021.

by Vijay Prashad

The United States, which has prosecuted a war against Afghanistan since October 2001, has promised to withdraw its combat troops by September 11, 2021. This war has failed to attain any of the gains that were promised after 20 years of fighting: neither has it resulted in the actual fragmentation of terrorist groups nor has it led to the destruction of the Taliban. The great suffering and great waste of social wealth caused due to the war will finally end with the Talibans return to power, and with terrorist groups, which are entrenched in parts of Central Asia, seizing this prospect to make a full return to Afghanistan.

Civil War

There are two forms of war that exist in Afghanistan.

First, there is the war prosecuted by the United Statesand the North Atlantic Treaty Organizationagainst their adversaries in Afghanistan. The U.S. and NATO have allied with a range of political projects, which certainly includes the government of the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. This is the war that the U.S. and NATO have indicated will now be ending.

Second, there is the ongoing civil war between the Ashraf Ghani government, backed by the West, and the forces around the Taliban. This is a war among Afghans, which has roots that go back several decades. As the first form of the war ends, the civil war will continue. The two principal forces in Afghanistanthe government of Ashraf Ghani and the Talibanare unwilling to form a government of national unity or to create a mechanism to end the civil war.

Failure of peace talks between the various stakeholders in Afghanistanincluding the United Statesin Doha, Qatar, suggests the continuation of the civil war. The United States, since 2001, has not drawn up any serious political road map for a withdrawal. The U.S. will leave as it came, with the U.S. troops taking off as abruptly as they arrived.

Already, the Afghan National Army is weakened, much of the Afghan territory outside its full control. In recent months, the Taliban has been keeping its powder dry, waiting for the U.S. to withdraw before it steps up its attack against the government in Kabul. A report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which was submitted to the United Nations Security Council on June 1, suggests that Al Qaeda and the Haqqani network prepare to strike as soon as the opportunity arises. Al Qaeda is such an organic or essential part of the insurgency that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to separate it from its Taliban allies, the report noted.

A Pakistani intelligence official, who is well-informed about the situation in Afghanistan, told me that the countryside will gradually slip further out of Kabuls control, with the Taliban and its alliesincluding Al Qaeda and other regional terrorist groupsconfident of victory by the end of the summer in 2022.

There is no appetite either in the United States or in Central Asia for the continuation of the U.S. military presence. Nothing good has come of it, and it does not promise any advantage in the future.

Regional Possibility

On June 3, 2021, Afghanistans Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Chinas Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, and Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held their fourth trilateral dialogue. This was the first high-level meeting held since September 2019. There was no direct reference to the withdrawal of the U.S. forces, but it set the context for the two most important outcomes of the meeting.

First, China pledged to play a constructive role to improve the long-fraught relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have become more heated up because of the regional conflict between India and Pakistan. China has close ties with the governments in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) requiring peace in Central Asia for the success of the massive infrastructure and trade project, which runs from Chinas Pacific coast to the Indian Ocean and to the Mediterranean Sea. Chinas leverage over these countries is considerable. Even if China can create a modus vivendi between President Ghani and Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan, it does not settle the deeper problems, such as the military weakness of Ghanis government.

Second, based on these governments cooperation in the counterterrorism process, the foreign ministers agreed to jointly tackle terrorist outfits that operate in Afghanistan and in its neighboring countries: such as the Turkistan Islamic Party or East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), ISIS, and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistans government is troubled by the operations of the TTP, which operates along the borderlines of the two countries but is based in Afghanistans Paktika province. China, meanwhile, is very concerned about the ETIM, which operates in Afghanistan and Tajikistan and has been trying to destabilize the Chinese province of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The ETIM has close ties with the Taliban, whichwhile it has held discussions with the Chineseunderstands that its use of the ETIM gives it leverage against China. Whether or not these three governments will actually be able to weaken these terrorist groups, incubated by the Taliban, is unclear.

Tangled Web

It now seems impossible for the United States to formally remain in Afghanistan. There is simply no political will for the troops to remain in the country, even as the U.S. will keep paramilitary and mercenary forces in Afghanistan.

Given the heightened U.S. pressure on China, however, there is plenty of evidence that the U.S. is not unhappy with the possibility of instability that will come to the heart of Asia after the summer of 2021. In 2003, the U.S. designated the ETIM as a terrorist group, but it removed it from that list in 2020. This is clear evidence of the U.S. motives to destabilize Chinas Xinjiang province.

The Pakistani intelligence official suggests that if the Taliban takes Kabul, groups such as the TTP and the ETIM will be emboldened to conduct attacks in Pakistan and China respectively. These groups, he tells me, will fight alongside the Taliban to weaken Kabuls hold and to use the countryside to launch these attacks; there is no necessity for the Taliban to actually take control of Kabul.

The question that remains is whether or not the Taliban can be divided. The Taliban is a tangle of Afghan nationalism and patriotism as well as various forms of political Islam. There are elements in the Taliban that are far more nationalistic and patriotic than they are committed to the Islamist currents. Attempts to peel the moderates away from the more hardcore sections have largely failed, which has been evident since at least former U.S. President Barack Obamas failed plea to the moderate Taliban in 2009.

There is simply not sufficient strength in Afghanistans society to resist the spread of the Taliban. Nor is there an organized capacity of Afghan citizens present yet to build a new bloc against both the failed U.S.-backed governments (from Hamid Karzai to Ghani) and the Taliban. But if Afghanistans neighbors cut off their support to the Taliban, and if they are able to deepen an economic project (such as the BRI), then there is the possibility for this new bloc to eventually emerge. That is why the dialogue between Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan is central. It might, in fact, be more important in the long run than the conversations with the Taliban.

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is the chief editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma.
The problem is that not everyone is a doctor and not everyone has a doctors income. Some have disposable incomes and some are heavily dependent on daily wage. Lock them down (or lock them out, as is the case) and you have a problem of households struggling to get meals on the table

by Malinda Seneviratne

Dr. Diyanath Samarasinghe, speaking on How the [medical] profession can help us balance work and life issues, at an event organised by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), made a very interesting observation on science and the scientific approach. The example he took to illustrate his point, ironically, alluded to an SLMA statement regarding what measures the Government should take to reduce Covid transmission.

Dr. Diyanath Samarasinghe

This is what he said:

Ive been having a running battle with some members of my profession who are, at this moment, recommending further and further orders for people to stay at home to reduce Covid transmission. Now we think this is a science based thing. Thats just the technological or superficial component of this business  applying the known facts. The scientist has to use these facts and make predictions; and say, if in two weeks these indicators do not change at all, I have to go back and see if my theory is right. You cant say that at the end of two weeks and sayno we need two more weeks. If you keep extending like that, of course it will come down, and you can say our recommendations work. We have to give criteria by which we shall be found fault with if we fail. That is science. That is the science based approach. Not forever to go on in faith that what we are saying is absolutely right, we know, and then explaining away any observations that do not accord with what should have transpired had our plan actually worked.

Dr. Samarasinghe spoke on June 15. The SLMA had already written to the President urging that the lockdown be extended at least until June 28. This was on June 11, four days before Dr. Samarasinghe made the above observations. And four days later, on June 19, the SLMA wrote to the President again, expressing dismay at the decision to partially lift restrictions from June 21 to the 23.

Now, as I have written on several occasions, Covid -19 has spawned, among other things, countless epidemiologists and an equal number of experts on practical measures to curb the spread, not to mention quite a few who have come up with miracle cures. We must also mention that the pharmaceutical industry is making a killing. Ironic, that word, but lets leave it at that for now. The SLMA is made of people in the medical profession. They are not lay persons who are clueless about diseases and remedies. Naturally, what they have to say has more credence than out-of-the-woodwork pundits. We trust them. We have been taught to trust them. The trust is misplaced in certain cases, but even the mistrusting will, if needed, go to a hospital, see a doctor and take prescribed medicines.

Dr. Samarasinghe has theories about the relevant politics and indeed the relevant political economy, but hes not discussing any of that here. Hes talking about the science. Hes commenting about the scientific approach.

The generous view would be that the SLMA statement was backed by relevant research. Its not evident in the letter sent to the President, which, for reasons best known to the SLMA, was released to the media even before the intended recipient had a chance to read and respond, if of course he believed response was warranted.

It is clear that there are certain strategies that have been adopted. Restriction is one. The vaccination programme is another. Then theres treatment. All this amid safety protocols which no citizen can claim to be unaware of, not just with regard to personal safety but response to evidence of symptoms. All this, moreover in a context where managing the situation, has to be balanced with the need to keep economic activity going.

There are no fool-proof strategies. As the SLMA has pointed out, there is also the issue of mutation and resultant variants. Whether vaccines can cover existent variants and those yet to emerge is a moot point. Let us also not forget that knowledge of the virus is still in its infancy. For this reason, this is a problem that is akin to a game where goalposts are constantly moved and often without warning. One exit can take us to another field where the strategies which got us there will just not work.

It is a national problem and therefore has to be addressed by one and all. The one and all can include those who gave themselves degrees related to epidemics. Thats not surprising. All the more reason for outfits, such as the SLMA is to be on the ball. And, all the more reasons for such organisations to base statements on evidence and indeed state the evidence. The SLMA has promised to make public an exit strategy. One hopes that such a strategy takes into account the other compelling needs of the country, i.e. things which are impacted by the pandemic but cannot be wished away. Indeed, the SLMA, one hopes, would consult those who have been working tirelessly to enforce risk-mitigation strategies (and not all of them are doctors), those who have to facilitate economic activity and those who have to design and implement strategies to make sure no one goes without food.

The numbers are important. The easy way is to take the aggregates (inflate them too, as is often done, perniciously), average and extrapolate. You can come up with multiple dooms day scenarios that way, all the more easier when you are not called to verify the numbers. The problem is that not everyone is a doctor and not everyone has a doctors income. Some have disposable income and some are heavily dependent on daily wage. Lock them down (or lock them out, as is the case) and you have a problem of households struggling to get meals on the table. Also, if we dont break down the numbers we might be aghast at the vaccinating rates. However, if we take into account the age categories most vulnerable (based on deaths, say) and which age categories are getting jabbed, we will get a better picture, subject of course to the cautionary note regarding variants mentioned above.

Make no mistake; we need organisations such as the SLMA to play a role. The SLMA obviously knows that this is not a case of a government operating without any advise whatsoever from relevant experts, especially those in the medical community. There are officials and experts tasked to come up with strategies. They may not get it all right, always, but theres nothing to say that a team from the SLMA, GMOA or the PHIs Union would necessarily do a better job. Indeed, if they were in it, they might very well conclude that things are more complex than they assumed.

Most importantly, given the SLMAs statements alluded to above, the relevant doctors (and anyone else who deigns to offer solutions, whether they are experts or not) could take a cue from

Dr. Samarasinghe. In short, challenge themselves to include in solutions criteria by which they shall be found fault with, if they fail.

Dr. Samarasinghe, in this segment of his talk, had this pertinent line about scientists which we can all learn from: A scientist is able to change their mind when the evidence shows that they are wrong. The SLMA knows Dr Samarasinghe. The SLMA invited him to speak after the first June missive to the President. The SLMA is clearly open to criticism. The SLMA needs to be commended. The SLMA could do better though. We could too, all of us.

The writer is a journalist based in Colombo a regular columnist for Daily Mirror, where this piece first appeared
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Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Ending the assistance too abruptly, they said, would disproportionately hurt some of the minority communities that were hit so hard by the virus, which has killed more than 600,000 people in the United States. They also echoed many housing advocates by calling for the moratoriums protections to be made automatic, requiring no special steps from the tenant to gain its protections.
Another 911 caller said she saw the victim falling right in front of a car after he was shot. She said that Darrigo approached a car sitting at the intersection just before he was gunned down.
Lawana Johnson, 51, had just walked outside her home in Lauderhills Habitat II Condominiums at 5929 NW 21st St. to play with her cat. She had taken a seat by the canal when she saw the body of Destiny Hogan near the grassy embankment of the canal.
The names went viral on private chats pleading for prayers. Chani Lipskar, the wife of the rabbi at the Shul of Bal Harbour, which is about eight blocks away, said thousands of people worldwide were reciting prayers for not only the missing Jewish people, but everyone else as well.
Lilly may be able to file its application for approval in the next two or three months since the drugmaker appears to have all the data it needs, said Dr. Vamil Divan, an analyst who covers the company for Mizhuho Securities USA.
Wounded patients being treated at Ayder hospital in the regional capital, Mekele, told doctors and a nurse that a plane dropped a bomb on Togogas marketplace. The patients included a 2-year-old child with abdominal trauma and a 6-year-old, the nurse said. An ambulance carrying a wounded baby to Mekele, almost 60 kilometers (37 miles) away by road, was blocked for two hours and the baby died on the way, the nurse added, speaking on condition of anonymity because of concerns about retaliation.
Danny was preceded by Tropical Storm Claudette, which formed June 19 over the Gulf of Mexico and pummeled the U.S. Gulf Coast, causing 13 deaths in Alabama. Claudette was preceded by Tropical Storm Bill in early June and Tropical Storm Ana in May, neither of which impacted the U.S. mainland.
Our Justice Department, finally rescued from the insidious Bill Barr, seems reluctant to go after and prosecute those who did Trumps bidding. Maybe well find a way to regain control and restore logic, truth and sanity to a country besieged by lies and disinformation. For now, things appear bleak. Democracy is fragile. We must not take it for granted, or it will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Four people were injured in a head-on smash between two cars on Wednesday afternoon (23 June) in the Malaga town of Alhaurin el Grande, according to reports from the emergency services.

The accident happened at around 3.15pm at kilometre 2 of the A-7053, the old road from Coin to Alhaurin el Grande.

Coin firefighters had to cut one of the trapped occupants of one of the wrecked vehicles free. Mijas firefighters also attended the incident.

Four people were injured in the crash, a 77-year-old man who was taken by air ambulance to Malagas Regional Hospital; a 70-year-old woman was also rushed to the same hospital and later transferred to the Guadalhorce Valley hospital. Another woman and a 40-year-old man also needed hospital treatment.
The Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdes, summed it up precisely: "The decision is not ours." That was the answer he offered on Wednesday (23 June), during a working visit to Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol, when he was asked about the revision of the so-called coronavirus health traffic light system that the UK implemented to assess the safety of its citizens when travelling abroad.

In other words, the tourism sector on the Costa del Sol will have to wait in suspense to see if the coast and other Spanish destinations will go from amber to green, which would translate into the lifting of the obligation to carry out 10-day quarantine and take PCR tests, once the British tourists return home.

The hope of it happening, however, has been dwindling in recent days. The messages from London concerning the advance of the Delta variant, reduces the chances of a substantial change being made. The British Government has already delayed the easing of some restrictions related to the coronavirus, that were originally scheduled for the last week of June. And, this Thursday (24 June), it will revise its so-called health traffic light system for foreign travel again.

The tourism sector of the Costa del Sol has counted on the arrival of British tourists in July. Many hotels that rely on the UK market have decided not to open until the travellers return.

We have done what we can. We are on a path to control the pandemic and that is the best tourism policy we can offer to our main markets," said Valdes, who hopes that "British tourists will be able to arrive throughout the summer.

However, faced with the uncertain situation, the Secretary of State for Tourism stressed that it will be key to "extend the high season into the month of September."
Joan Hunt OBE, founder and honorary president of cancer hospice foundation Cudeca, has died aged 92.

The pioneer in bringing palliative care to patients in the final stages of a terminal illness has passed away at the organisation's hospice in Benalmadena.

Joan is known across the province of Malaga and beyond as a hardworking, selfless woman who broke down barriers - from language to bureaucracy - to give the area something it needed: a palliative care centre to help patients of terminal illnesses in the final days of their lives.

Her eternal smile, always accompanied by a sunflower, is recognised throughout the Costa del Sol and beyond. But it was the determination behind that smile, fuelled by her own personal tragedy, that has over the years helped thousands of patients and their families throughout Malaga province.

Joans husband Fred died of cancer just a few years after the couple retired to the Costa del Sol in 1984. It was that experience that made her aware of the need for palliative care in the area and ignited her unwavering resolve to fill that gap.

[Freds illness] awoke a positive, caring energy in her that became the driving force of something as wonderful as her vocation to help others at the end of their lives. Against all odds, at the age of 65, this Englishwoman who knew few people in Malaga, who did not speak the language and had few resources decided to create the incredible project called Cudeca, wrote Cudecas medical director, Dr Marisa Martin, in a tribute to Joan to mark her 90th birthday two years ago.

Joan was born on 5 January 1929 in Liverpool, the eighth of nine siblings. A childhood illness that left her with a limp for life and the death of her mother when she was just 16, marked her early years.

By then, though, Joan was already on course for her successful career in business after her mother had paid for private secretarial classes when she was 14.

Those skills, plus her own personal efficiency and determination, took her up the professional ladder, until by 1974 she was head of personnel for a multinational firm with 14,000 employees.

So, after Freds death, Joan dusted off those organisational skills and set about achieving what most would have deemed impossible.

She found valuable help from like-minded people, however, in the form of Marisa Martin, the doctor who had helped to care for Joans husband when he was ill with cancer; and current Cudeca president Ricardo Urdiales, a lawyer who was Joan and Freds neighbour.

Cudeca (which stands for Cuidados del Cancer - Cancer Care) was legally established as a charity in 1992 and began by providing care and support for the terminally ill and their families in their own homes.

Joans dream of setting up a hospice came closer when the day care centre in Arroyo de la Miel opened in 2001, and was fully realised in 2005 when the in-patient unit was opened.

One of the secrets of the success of Cudeca was Joans ability to unite the Spanish and international community on the Costa del Sol. Without the support of the foreign community, the very British model of a hospice funded by charity shops and fundraising events would not have survived.

Joan received numerous awards over the years. Among them were the 1st Annual Award from SUR in English (1996), European Woman of the Year Award (1997), the OBE presented to her by the UKs Prince Charles (2002), the Malaga Woman of the Year Award in 2005 given by the Recreational and Cultural Association (ARC) El Porton, the Professional Achievement Award 2005 by the Spanish Federation of Women Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs (FEDEPE), the Award Huella Social by the Rotary Club of Malaga in 2011, and the Premio del Dia de Andalucia from the Junta de Andalucia in 2015.

In 2013 Benalmadena town hall named the roundabout next to the hospice after Joan. The mayor, Paloma Garcia Galvez, spoke of the towns gratitude to and admiration for Joan Hunt and said that the president of Cudeca is a role model and a great example of dedication, generosity and humility.

Joan officially retired as president of Cudeca in 2014, handing over the reins to Ricardo Urdiales, and took on the title of honorary president. Her presence at the hospice, however, continued to brighten the lives of patients, staff and volunteers
The coronavirus pandemic has turned many things upside down. In 2020 the death rate skyrocketed, there were fewer births and weddings than ever, and there was an escape of people from the big cities in search of places where they could better cope with the health crisis.

And among those places, Malaga stood out in a special way. The arrival of people - both of working age and retired - from other Spanish regions and countries resulted in the province leading the population growth nationwide, adding 12,747 residents in the year of Covid-19 and it sets a new record with 1,696,252 inhabitants.

The population growth of Malaga in 2020 was exclusively due to migration, understood broadly as the arrival of people from other regions and countries, either for work reasons or in search of a place of retirement.

This is revealed by the provisional population figures as of 1 January, 2021, published on Thursday (23 June) by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Alicante, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Tarragona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Gerona were the provinces that followed Malaga with the highest population increases in 2020. They all share the same characteristics: coastal regions with a high level of residential tourism.

The natural growth of the population was negative for the first time in the province, since records began in 1941 as there were more deaths than births. If the province had not attracted anyone from outside, it would have lost 1,635 inhabitants. But instead, it had a positive migratory balance of 11,112 people.

The main ingredient in this population increase was foreigners. Of the nearly 13,000 inhabitants that Malaga added in 2020, 7,430 had non-Spanish nationality. Among all the international migratory flows (which totalled 24,000), the British stand out above all others: some 5,050 citizens of the United Kingdom settled in the province in 2020, according to the Migration Statistics updated by the INE. Morocco, Italy, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela generated important migratory flows towards Malaga. And the number of Spaniards who returned from abroad in 2020 to settle on the Costa del Sol is not negligible with some 1,831.

Malaga was also a magnet for people from other provinces. The main source was Madrid, which 'sent' 2,811 new residents.

The statistics do not specify whether these new residents who arrived in Malaga are workers or retired. However, it is known from the information held by real estate sector and local authorities that Malaga has become one of the most desired destinations for teleworkers from all over the world. This new migration profile joins the traditional ones: retired European citizens and people who emigrate for economic reasons from Africa, South America and Asia.
Britains minister for Transport, Grant Shapps, announced on Thursday evening that the UK was adding the Balearic Islands (Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza) to its green list of quarantine-free return travel. Other places including Malta and Madeira were added. The changes come into effect on Wednesday, 30 June.

For the moment other parts of Spain, including the Costa del Sol, are not included, with a review expected in three weeks.

Also on Thursday, Shapps said in a Twitter message, Thanks to our successful vaccination programme, our intention is that later in the summer UK residents who are fully vaccinated will not have to isolate when travelling from amber list countries. He added, Well set out further details next month.

Earlier in the day, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed speculation that people with two vaccines would soon be able to travel freely back into Britain from many more countries.

Johnson said there was a real opportunity to open up travel through the double jab, although he also stressed that this would not be a normal summer for foreign travel.

While there was jubilation among tourism bosses on the Balearics, the Spanish Tourism minister, Fernando Valdes, appeared to anticipate the disappointment in other pats of Spain on a visit to Torremolinos on Wednesday. The decision is not ours,he said.

The British government has already delayed the easing of some restrictions related to coronavirus which were originally scheduled for the last week of June. The tourism sector of the Costa del Sol has counted on the arrival of British tourists in July.

We have done what we can. We are on a path to control the pandemic and that is the best tourism policy we can offer to our main markets, said Valdes, who hopes that British tourists will be able to arrive throughout the summer.
The nine Catalan separatist leaders who were formally pardoned by central government this week walked free from jail on Wednesday.

Three and a half years after the seven men and two women, including campaign leaders and politicians, headed up the illegal independence referendum in Catalonia in October 2017 they were able to go home, but not before launching a defiant message that their fight for independence will go on.

On Tuesday the Cabinet had approved the highly controversial partial pardons as had been expected and these were then ratified by the Supreme Court.

The prison sentences they all were serving have been cancelled but they remain banned from public office for many years; in the case of Oriol Junqueras, still leader of the left-wing republican ERC party, until 2031.

All nine have vowed to campaign for a full amnesty for their offences, the return of self-exiled colleagues who have yet to stand trial - including former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont who lives in Brussels, and to continue the process towards independence.

Restore understanding

Their declarations contrasted with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs explanation for granting the pardons. He said the aim was to restore common understanding and a spirit of cooperation.

Oriol Junqueras explained he wanted to put back into politics all that should never have left politics, interpreted as his willingness to negotiate.

Another of the freed detainees, Jordi Sanchez, leader of separatist campaign group ANC, said, Were coming out with our heads held high and with our hearts set on winning what we couldnt win through the October 2017 referendum.

Amid fears in the separatist movement that the pardons may dampen support for their cause, another freed prisoner, Jordi Cuixart, leader of Omnium Cultural campaigning group, said, There is no pardon that will keep the Catalan people quiet. We will never be kept quiet.

Controversial decision

The decision to grant partial pardons has caused division within the PMs PSOESocialist party nationally, with some senior members openly against the idea.

Pedro Sanchez announced the decision to pardon at a meeting with leaders of Catalan society in Barcelonas ornate Liceu theatre on Monday. He explained that commuting the sentences was beneficial and that he wasnt just taking nine people out of prison but helping millions to start living in harmony again.

Opposition parties pointed out that before coming to power Sanchez had been strongly against issuing pardons.

The conservative PPs Pablo Casado said that the pardons would only serve to shield those involved and they would offend again once freed.

A spokesperson for far-right Vox said, Pedro Sanchez once again has got on his knees in front of those who incite coups, secessionism and barbarism.

Legal issues all round

Spanish courts were reported to be sceptical about the pardons. The parliamentary arm of the Council of Europe supported partial pardons but asked Spain to consider reforming legislation on rebellion and sedition that is viewed as having led to overly severe prison sentences for the illegal referendum.

The decision to pardon had been based on lawyers reports and a study of each prisoners behaviour in jail. Among the recommendations was the complete removal of the custodial sentences still left to serve, principally for the offences of sedition and embezzlement.

Those freed had spent three and a half years in jail, less than half the sentences of any of them. Prison is a possibility again if they reoffend.
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DP World, a leading provider of integrated logistics solutions, and Somaliland, today (June 24) inaugurated the new container terminal at Berbera Port, following completion of the first phase of the port expansion project in line with its development plan for the Horn of Africa region.

The new terminal was officially opened by Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem at a special event attended by over 200 guests, including a government delegation from Ethiopia, led by Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance and Dagmawit Moges, Minister of Transport.

The event also included a symbolic ground-breaking for the new Berbera Economic Zone, the first phase of which is under construction.

The new container terminal with a deep draft of 17m, a quay of 400m and three ship to shore (STS) gantry cranes, can handle the largest container vessels in operation today, and increases the port's container capacity from current 150,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) to 500,000 TEUs annually.

The terminal also includes a modern container yard with eight rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs). A new port One Stop Service Centre is also currently being built and will be ready in quarter three this year, it stated.

DP World has committed to investing up to $442 million to develop and expand Berbera Port, and with the first phase now complete, Bin Sulayem also announced that work is already underway to further expand the port in a second phase.

This includes extending the new quay from 400 to 1,000 metres, and installing a further seven STS gantry cranes, increasing the total from three to 10, enabling the port to handle up to two million TEUs a year, and multiple large container vessels at the same time.

Part of the overall Berbera plan and modelled on DP World's Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, the economic zone is linked to the port and strategically located along the Berbera to Wajaale road (Berbera Corridor).

The economic zone will serve as a centre of trade with the aim to attract investment and create jobs, and will target a range of industries, including warehousing, logistics, traders, manufacturers, and other related sectors. It will allow producers, suppliers, and customers to operate in a conducive and competitive environment for investment and trade.

The Berbera Corridor road upgrade project, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), and the Hargeisa Bypass Road funded by UK Aid, is set for completion in quarter four, 2021 and quarter three 2022, respectively.

The road will link to the existing modern highway on the Ethiopian side and position Berbera as a direct, fast, and efficient trade route for Ethiopian transit cargo.

Addressing the gathering, Bihi Abdi said: "This is a proud and historic moment for Somaliland and its people, as the completion of the first phase has made our vision of establishing Berbera with its strategic location into a major trade hub in the region a reality."

"With the new terminal, along with the second phase of expansion and economic zone along the Berbera corridor, we are now firmly positioned to further develop and grow our economy through increased trade, attracting foreign direct investment and creating jobs," he noted.

Bin Sulayem said: "Our further expansion of the port in a second phase, and its integration with the special economic zone we are developing along the Berbera Corridor, reflects our confidence in Berbera and intent to develop it into a significant, world-class centre of trade."

"It will be a viable, efficient and competitive option for trade in the region, especially for Ethiopian transit cargo," he added.

DP World had last month signed a MoU with the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport for developing the Ethiopian side of the road linking Addis Ababa to Berbera, into one of the major trade and logistics corridors of the country's international trade routes.
Bahrains Labour Fund Tamkeen, has announced a 3-month extension of its Business Continuity Support Programme for institutions affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The extension will run from June until August 2021.

This announcement implements His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas Royal Directives and it is part of the Crown Prince and Prime Ministers implementation plan of the Royal Directives and for the provision of solutions and support to sectors mostly affected by the pandemic. The extension of this financial and economic stimulus package shall reduce the economic impact of the pandemic whilst maintaining the sustainable economic development.

Support for the following sectors has been announced; childrens play and leisure centres, day care centres, cinemas, gyms and fitness studios, salons and spas, cafes and restaurants (that are reliant on dine-in services), wedding halls, retail shops (non-food items), travel and tourism agencies and events planning companies. The package will also cover the salaries of taxicab drivers, bus drivers and driving instructors for an additional 3-months. More details on the sectors supported is available on Tamkeens website.

Applications are open to all enterprises within these sectors, regardless of their previous application status. Enterprises can apply through Tamkeens portal from June 27 until July 11. Applications will be evaluated, and the level of support awarded will be determined by the degree to which the enterprise has been affected by restrictions or closure.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa - the Chairman of Tamkeen - praised the Royal Directives and His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince and Prime Ministers ongoing efforts to reduce the economic impact of the pandemic. His Excellency has encouraged enterprises to continue their business activities, generate growth and development, and contribute towards the national economy.

Moreover, Hussain Mohammed Rajab - the Chief Executive of Tamkeen - highlighted the national efforts of Team Bahrain in response to the pandemic. He also stressed the importance of continuity within private sector enterprises and praised the manner in which they are meeting current market challenges through creativity, innovation and sustainability.

The Business Continuity Support Programme was launched last in March 2020, in line with the Royal Directives, to support the private sector through an economic and financial stimulus package to mitigate the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme supports SMEs by providing financial grants to help them continue to meet their operational costs. The programme is a government initiative to support individuals and enterprises during the pandemic.

The support available under the Programme has been extended on four previous occasions for those sectors most affected by the pandemic. To date, Tamkeen has provided BD56 million ($148.57 million) in support to more than 16,000 SMEs across the kingdom. -- TradeArabia News Service
Pixcom Group of Companies said it has installed over 100 LED digital signages across new metro stations enroute the Expo 2020 venue, at strategic and user-friendly locations, thus enabling maximum visibility for the visitors.

The digital LED screens have been installed in such a way by Pixcom that it will contribute to a green environment with its energy efficient, superior quality and enhanced designs, thus catering to the expected 25 million visits at the Expo 2020, said a statement from the company.

Pixcoms portfolio includes challenging projects that have innumerable signages with different pixel screens, custom-made screens, unique resolution, and flexible modules.

The signages have enhanced lighting and higher durability all of which constitutes to lower maintenance, it stated.

These stations have ample capacity and can serve 29,000 riders per hour during peak times and around 522,000 riders per day.

The Dubai Investment Park Station is an underground station. The station is vast and spans over a 27,000 sq m area and is 226 m in length. This station can serve 13,899 riders per hour during peak times and 250,000 riders per day, said the statement.

Keeping in line with the current and upcoming technology trends, Pixcom has taken it a step further with its new digital signages that have futuristic designs, energy-efficient screens, more brightness, and lesser power consumption, it noted.

"The signages will add value by providing information to visitors," said a company spokesman. "Pixcom LED signages serve as information boards with its dynamic content in multiple languages. Marketing opportunities are available with various types of advertising options," he noted.

Besides marketing opportunities, the LED signages also support educational and informative videos at the local areas, he stated.

All these signages which have been installed are as per the requirements and specifications of Expo 2020 tender requirements that help make the journey exciting for travelers with higher engagement on information and brands, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Omans Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the International Energy Agency (IEA) will organise a Ministerial Dialogue on September 9 to explore ways to leverage clean energy transitions to ensure broader economic resilience.



The Ministerial Dialogue  which will be co-hosted by Omans Minister of Energy and Minerals Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Rumhi and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol  will address the particular challenges that energy transitions present for economies in the Mena region, as well as the tangible opportunities for those countries to increase economic resilience and prosperity for the region and its people.



Not only is the Mena region warming at a significantly faster rate than the global average, but the regions exports are uniquely vulnerable to energy market shifts resulting from global efforts to mitigate climate change.



If oil and gas demand were to decline as much as implied in the IEAs Global Roadmap to net-zero emissions by 2050, then producer economies net incomes from oil and gas could fall to just one-fifth of their current levels in the next three decades. The loss of these revenues would pose substantial risks for undiversified economies.



However, economies in the region are well placed to leverage their existing capacities and competitive advantages in clean energy technologies. This could help satisfy their own growing energy demand and potentially open new export opportunities for emerging low-carbon energy sectors, such as hydrogen. Countries in the region have some of the best solar resources in the world, and recent prices obtained at auction attest to significant further potential.



Meanwhile, growing energy demand in the region could be mitigated through increased investment in energy efficiency, which would have the added benefit of creating high-value private-sector jobs, a crucial consideration in a region where high unemployment is a serious issue.



The Ministerial Dialogue will address these and other key themes for the region, an IEA statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
The future of travel is increasingly shifting to focus on experiences that positively impact ones overall wellness. The trend of travellers looks like embarking on wellness retreats that allow them to reconnect with nature, indulge in curated wellness menus and rejuvenate their body and mind.

According to the Global Wellness Summit, this year , 2021 onwards, all travel will become wellness travel. Taiwan, also called as the Hot Spring Kingdom has numerous natural advantages when it comes to offering hot spring resorts, spas, and relaxing experiences.

Below are suggestions to disconnect with the world, and connect within when in Taiwan.

Calm your senses in Taiwans Hot Springs

Taiwan is ranked among the world's top 15 hot spring sites, boasting a great variety of springs, including hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, and seabed hot springs. From popular high-end spring resorts in Yangmingshan to hidden hot springs in the countryside, there are plenty of locations where you can de-stress and relax like Beitou Hot Springs, Wulai Hot Springs, Wenshan Hot Spring, Tangweigou Hot Spring and Jiaosi Hot Springs and Zhaori Saltwater Hot Springs. We are all racing time, this experience will make you forget time.

Detox in the Luxury Spas

Everything from massages, spa, facials, detox, and collagen treatments can be found in the smallest yet most luxurious of spas. Treatments can be booked from anywhere between thirty minutes to two hours focussing on combining unique Taiwanese cultural elements, encouraging a whole experience to relax.

Taiwan offers traditional as well as contemporary spa experiences in hotels like W Taipei, Mandarin Oriental, Villa 32, The Gaia Hotel, Silks Place Taroko. This country offers perfect options to feel refreshed.

Connect with nature and tap within  Forest Bathing

In Taiwan, forest bathing means simply spending time relaxing among trees. Breathing in the forest air feels like breathing in new life. Wellness surveys and reports have showed that when people spent two hours in a forest setting, their pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower, indicating physiological benefits that help in reducing stress levels. Being out in nature, surrounded by nothing but greenery and watching the beautiful sunrise of Alishan, has had a way of making people feel at peace. The clean crisp air, the fresh green leaves, and the scent of the forest can really help restore our mood and leave us feeling refreshed.

Its also a natural form of aromatherapy, since many forest plants give off fragrant molecules called terpenes, which have been shown to have health benefits.

NAMASTAY in Taiwan!

Taiwan offers local experiences of Yoga and Wellness Retreats like Origin Yoga and The One Nanyuan. These wellness retreats offers tours of the area, local food experiences prepared in-house as well as signature kombucha. These places provide a calm place surrounded by water and greenery for yoga, meditation, and relaxing experiences for travellers. This pandemic surely taught us that sometimes we need to just take things slow and accept the present moment. This world is a beautiful place and Taiwan boasts variety of nature for visitors from all around the globe.

Taiwan, known for handling the Covid virus efficiently, is applauded for its efforts in bringing awareness about the destination to travellers so it remains front of mind when borders reopen to visitors. Cases in Taiwan maybe increasing recently, however being the front runners in managing this virus, they are managing it well as the situation is still under control following all protocols. Hopefully, life in Taiwan will be back to normal soon to welcome tourists to this beautiful country in North East Asia. - TradeArabia News Service
UWs IMPACT 307 to Host Business Webinar June 28-29

IMPACT 307, a University of Wyoming program, will host START 307, a two-day business tutorial webinar event, Monday, June 28, and Tuesday, June 29, from 4-6 p.m. David Bohling, director of IMPACT Laramie, will present the webinar.

Attendees will receive an introductory understanding of business information strategies, including the proven 10-step approach Wyoming businesses have used to secure more than $1 million in seed funding. Based on Lean Launchpad methodology, this approach is a structured yet flexible process of defining key elements of a business idea. With knowledge gained from the webinar, entrepreneurs have the power to translate innovative products or services into fundable, high-growth businesses.

IMPACT 307, with locations in Casper, Laramie and Sheridan, is a statewide network of innovation-driven business incubators committed to growing and strengthening Wyomings entrepreneurial community by providing resources and support for founders to thrive.

To register for the webinar, go to www.IMPACT307.org/start-307.

For additional information on IMPACT 307s services, call (307) 766-6395 or go to www.IMPACT307.org.
National Theatre Project

Her Majestys Government of Gibraltar has revealed plans for a new National Theatre and Cultural Hub at the John Mackintosh Hall complex.

Government have said this project is a milestone for the cultural fraternity who had been promised a new theatre since the late 1990s.

The aim of this ambitious project is to develop new cultural facilities that will include the creation of a 900 to 1000 seater National Theatre, a new national lending library and a multi-purpose performing arts studio. New visual art spaces as well as ancillary spaces that will cater for broadcasting and live programming and will include other multi-purpose areas, are also part of the vision.

The proposed redesign, construction and expansion of this site supports the Governments strategic plan for Culture and the Arts. However, given the profound and lasting effect of Covid-19 in the community, the Government says it cannot at this time commit the amount of funding that this project requires to achieve the standards that Gibraltar will expect. Therefore, as it believes in the importance of this project, it has spearheaded the creation of a Gibraltar National Theatre Foundation, as an avenue for raising the funds necessary to make this a reality.

The Gibraltar National Theatre Foundation will have of a Board of Trustees, chaired by the Minister for Culture, whose purpose will be the raising of funds to make this project a reality. HE the Governor, Sir David Steele KBE, has agreed to be Patron of the Trust. The Foundation will seek support from philanthropists, companies and businesses, cultural entities and trusts, from Gibraltar and abroad.

The Trustees are Peter Montegriffo, Kishin Alwani, Nyreen Llamas, Charles Sacarello, Keri Scott, Dale Cruz and Maxi Torres.

The Minister for Culture, The Hon Prof Dr John Cortes MP said:

"I am very excited about this project. Gibraltar has a rich tradition in the arts since the early 1800s and today thousands of people take to the performing arts. We have world champions, professional performers in the West End, professional artists, actors and musicians abroad and they as well as Gibraltar, deserve this project that will have ramifications throughout the community.

We need a new cultural hub to achieve the revolution in Culture that the community deserves. Grand, majestic, and modern. A cultural hub that will be a lasting tribute to the thousands of Gibraltarian performers and artists and a major contribution to Gibraltars social and cultural evolution."

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The WCO has published the 95th edition of WCO News, the Organizations magazine aimed at the global Customs community, providing a selection of informative articles that bring the international Customs and trade world to life.

This editions Dossier focuses on People, and includes several articles discussing experiences, tools and practices related to Human Resource management and development. We hope this will inspire readers to take action and contribute to creating a work environment which enables people to continue growing professionally and to learn new skills that will benefit their organization, their country and the global community.

In the Panorama section, Algeria Customs introduces its advance ruling system for the classification of goods, Belarus Customs explains how its role in border management has developed, and a private company gives an overview of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System launched in Mozambique.

Given that the WCO Secretariat organized the second edition of its Global Origin Conference in March 2021, we decided to dedicate the Focus section of the magazine to rules of origin. It opens with an article highlighting the key points made by the Conference speakers and continues with articles on advance rulings, problems associated with non-preferential rules and the joint proposal for the review of Specific Annex K to the Revised Kyoto Convention.

Lastly, in the Point of View section, Argentina Customs explains how it has increased its participation in WCO committees and working groups following the move to online meetings, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations presents some of the challenges facing freight forwarders, and a software engineer shares his views on data analytics tools and how to make them work for all.

To discover the full content of this edition please visit the magazine website.
From 7 to 11 June experts from the WCO Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) and WCO-Sida Programmes delivered a virtual Workshop to officials from key areas within Mozambique Autoridade Tributaria (AT) on conducting successful stakeholder consultations. The Workshop is part of a comprehensive approach focused on anti-corruption and integrity promotion, based on the ten key factors of the Revised Arusha Declaration. In particular, it aimed at the Relationship with Private Sector key factor, increasing mutual trust and collaboration, as one of the priority outcomes for WCO A-CIP support to AT of Mozambique.

The improvement of public and private credibility is critical to support the balance between control and facilitation. The Deputy Director General of AT for Internal Control recognized the contribution of the workshop to strengthen their capacities in the implementation of the ATs Strategy of Integrity Promotion. This initiative will also help build transparency and predictability for traders, contributing to the trade facilitation objectives of the Sida Programme in the country.

The methodology utilized in the training reflects lessons from successful virtual capacity building delivered under the WCO A-CIP Programme and included a blend of theoretical studies and homework assignments followed by plenary discussions to promote the new ways of thinking about stakeholder engagement. Participants gave a very positive feedback regarding the practical exercises in particular, recognizing their usefulness to perform daily duties and have indicated they are already applying the new knowledge acquired to make changes in the way they engage with internal and external stakeholders.

For more information, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
On Tuesday, 22nd June, the WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Trevino Chapa welcomed the new Director General of the National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE), Ms. Andrea Paola Colombo Cordero, in a virtual meeting to discuss the WCOs support to the administration. The discussion covered, in particular, Ecuadors participation in the WCO Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion (A-CIP) Programme for Customs as part of the Programmes expansion to the Americas this year, with support from Canada. The National Customs Service of Ecuador has indicated their commitment to building integrity through the establishment of its Office of Strengthening Institutional Ethics and Fighting Against Corruption (OFIELC) which will work together with the WCO A-CIP Programme Team to develop and implement a plan of action in line with the WCOs Revised Arusha Declaration. These activities will help build transparency and predictability within the institution that will, in turn, support the countrys trade facilitation objectives and complement parallel activities taking place through the countrys participation in the WCO Mercator Programme for trade facilitation.
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Baptist Health Offers Babysitting Classes

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Baptist Health Paducah is offering Safe Sitter babysitting classes next month for boys and girls who are in sixth through eighth grade.The class includes safety skills to prevent unsafe situations, childcare skills with tips to manage behavioral issues, and life and business skills, such as how to discuss fees and how to greet employers.Registered nurses, who are Certified Safe Sitter instructors, will teach the class with fun games and role playing exercises.The one-day classes will take place at the hospital from 8 am until noon July 13, and noon to 4 pm on July 26 and 27. Class size is limited, so pre-registration is required. The fee is $30. For more information and to register, phone 270-575-8444 or email Rhonda.Brooks@bhsi.com.
the Rotary Club of Paducah presented a check for $20,000 in support of the Community Scholarship Program at West Kentucky Community and Technical College to Lee Emmons (center), vice president of advancement and foundation executive director, and Dr. Lisa Stephenson, director of K-12 partnerships and the Community Scholarship Program (CSP). PHOTO:WKCTC

Paducah Rotary Club Presents $20,000 to WKCTC

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The Rotary Club of Paducah recently presented a $20,000 gift to West Kentucky Community and Technical College to support the Community Scholarship Program.Any Paducah or McCracken County high school students who enroll by October 1 of their freshman year and meet the necessary performance guidelines are eligible to receive the scholarship.The Community Scholarship Program provides scholarship funding for up to 60 credit hours toward a technical certification or an associate degree.The program is a collaboration between the Rotary, the City of Paducah, McCracken County Fiscal Court, partnering high schools, and WKCTC.
Elmdale Rd. Murder Suspect Turns Himself In

By West Kentucky Star Staff





PADUCAH - The suspect in a murder investigation from earlier this month is now in custody.The Paducah Police Department says 20-year-old Khalil A. Griffin of Murray turned himself in at the police department just after 11 am on Friday. He was arrested on a warrant charging him with murder, stemming from an incident on June 10.Police responded to the intersection of Elmdale Road and Jameswood Drive and found 28-year-old Thomas Willett, who died later that day at Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital. Police say Griffin shot Willett and then fled the scene.Another man, 25-year-old Justin C. Wells, of Lone Oak, was arrested shortly after the shooting and faces charges of complicity to murder and tampering with physical evidence.Previous Story (Thursday, June 24):The Paducah Police Department is still requesting the public's help in locating a man charged with murder, and West Kentucky Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information.Detectives obtained a warrant on June 11, charging 20-year-old Khalil A. Griffin of Murray with the murder of 28-year-old Thomas Willett.Willett was shot June 10 near the intersection of Elmdale Road and Jameswood Drive. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital.The police investigation shows that Griffin shot Willett and then fled the scene.Another man, 25-year-old Justin C. Wells, of Lone Oak, was arrested shortly after the shooting and is charged with complicity to murder and tampering with physical evidence.Anyone with information on Griffin's whereabouts is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550. Information also may be provided anonymously through West Kentucky Crime Stoppers.The reward is offered to anyone providing information leading to the arrest of Griffin.
Theft Investigation Leads to Boaz Man's Arrest

By West Kentucky Star Staff





FREMONT - A Boaz man was arrested Wednesday after he was allegedly caught trying to sell stolen items online.The McCracken County Sheriff's Department said someone reported on June 7 that numerous items had been stolen from property on Old Mayfield Road near Fremont. Detectives were notified on Monday that the victim had seen some of his property for sale on Facebook Marketplace.Detectives contacted the seller and arranged to buy an item. Detectives met 57-year-old Terry Sullenger of Boaz, and recovered the property that was for sale, along with other property found during a search of the home. Detectives arrested Sullenger without incident on Wednesday.He was charged with receiving stolen property valued under $10,000, which is a class D felony. Sullenger was taken to McCracken County Jail.
The poster of Redneck Rave in Edmonson County, KY. Dozens of people face criminal charges or suffered injuries during the five-day party PHOTO:Blue Holler Offroad Park

Dozens of Injuries, Arrests at 'Redneck Rave'

By The Associated Press

MAMMOTH CAVE - Dozens of people face criminal charges or suffered injuries during a five-day party in south central Kentucky billed as a Redneck Rave."The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Blue Holler Off-road Park in Edmonson County hosted the event last week that drew thousands.Edmonson County Sheriff Shane Doyle told the newspaper 14 people were arrested and another 34 were cited on criminal charges that ranged from assault to drug possession.Court records show those arrested came from Kentucky and several other states including Michigan, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee.Doyle said others who attended reported injuries, including one person who was impaled.The off-road park is just north of Mammoth Cave National Park.
Fugitive Caught During Mayfield Drug Bust

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MAYFIELD - A drug investigation in Mayfield led to the arrest of two people, including one man who was wanted on outstanding warrants.The Sheriffs office said they had been receiving reports about illegal drug sales, and heavy drug activity around several small children at a home on North 15th Street.Detectives learned that 38-year-old Dean OReilly, who was wanted on outstanding warrants from Graves and Christian County, was living at the home.Deputies went there on Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to locate and arrest OReilly. Once they arrived they say OReilly ran through the house and down an HVAC vent into the crawlspace under the home. Deputies found and arrested him.During their search of the home, deputies found a considerable amount of liquid Methamphetamine loaded syringes, used syringes containing suspected Methamphetamine residue, sets of electronic scales containing Methamphetamine residue, Methamphetamine smoking pipes, and other related items.Many of these items were said to by lying in plain view and within easy access to small children who were there and live at the home.OReilly was charged with possession of a 1st Degree controlled substance (Meth), fleeing or evading police, possession of drug paraphernalia, wanton endangerment 1st Degree (Drugs in plain view and accessible of children), and two outstanding arrest warrants.Deputies also arrested 29-year-old Jennifer McAlpin and charged her with wanton endangerment 1st Degree, and possession of Methamphetamine.
Murray Man Arrested on Child Porn Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - State Police have charged a Murray man with child pornography offenses.The Kentucky State Police says investigators arrested 73-year-old Gary Roger White Wednesday on charges related to child sexual abuse material.White was arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after allegedly discovering White sharing images of child sexual exploitation online.The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a home in Murray on Wednesday. Evidence was seized and taken to KSP's forensic laboratory for examination.White is charged with ten counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance and two counts of possession of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance. The charges are Class-D felonies, punishable by one to five years in prison.White was booked into the Calloway County Detention Center.
PJ Clark Lumber to Locate New Operation in Cadiz

By West Kentucky Star Staff

TRIGG COUNTY - A Trigg County native is bringing his Texas-based company home. PJ Clark Lumber plans to locate in an existing facility in Trigg County, creating 35 full-time jobs with a $5 million investment.Jacob Wadlington's company is headquartered in Coppell, Texas, where it produces lumber for the multifamily and single-family construction market. A portion of the company's green lumber is sourced from the TW Lumber sawmill in Cadiz, which the Wadlington family has owned and operated for over 25 years.PJ Clark will occupy the former Little River Dry Kiln facility on Cerulean Road in Trigg County. The operation includes 11 dry kilns, a planner/grading facility and a warehouse on 23 acres.The Cadiz operation will begin with production of kiln-dried softwood and hardwood lumber. PJ Clark will source lumber from local partners in Kentucky.Company leaders expect to create 13 full-time jobs during the first year of operation, ramping up to a staff of at least 35 by 2023."As a Trigg County native, I've always known that there is tremendous value in the Western Kentucky community, and as I advanced in my career as a construction executive in Texas, I've sought ways to connect the two markets," said Wadlington.The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority on Thursday approved a preliminary 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $750,000 in tax incentives based on the company's investment of $5 million and annual targets that include the creation and maintenance of 35 full-time jobs across 15 years and paying an average hourly wage of $23 including benefits across those jobs.By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates.
Smith Creek Bridge Repairs Underway

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARSHALL COUNTY - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is planning to close a section of Wadesboro Road in Marshall County beginning this week for repair work on the Smith Creek Bridge.The road will be closed daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.A 3-ton load limit was recently established on the Smith Creek Bridge after parts of the bridge were found to be deteriorating.On the Net:
Auditor Reviews How KY Spent Virus Relief Funds

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Kentucky's auditor says the state spent $1.4 billion of its share of federal pandemic aid passed in early 2020.Auditor Mike Harmon says the state had $150 million left unspent through March of this year. Harmons report on Wednesday focused on Kentuckys use of CARES Act funding.He says nearly 30% of the amount spent by Kentucky through March was in a category referred to as qualified government expenditures. Harmon says those expenditures will be examined by auditors.State budget director John Hicks says Gov. Andy Beshears administration has been fully transparent about how federal coronavirus relief funds were spent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holds a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe, on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday morning spoke with the three astronauts stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), held the conversation from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, speaking with Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo. The three astronauts were sent into space aboard the Shenzhou-12 spaceship on June 17.

Xi warmly greeted the astronauts on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, the CMC, and people of all ethnic groups in the country.

"You are the first astronauts stationed in the core module Tianhe and will stay in space for three months," Xi said during the video call. "We all care about you very much."

In response to Xi's inquiries about their health, living conditions and work, Nie, commander of the crew, said they were in good health and their work was going well.

"This is my third space mission. I work and live in Tianhe, and the conditions are getting better and better. Now we have a permanent home operating in orbit, and we are proud of our great Party and motherland," said Nie.

Liu told the president that this was his second space mission and that he felt it to be a great honor and responsibility.

"Later we will carry out a series of technological verification experiments, including two extravehicular activities (EVAs) and robotic arm operations. We will carry out the operations carefully to ensure the success of all tests," said Liu.

Tang, who is on his first space mission, said he had adapted to the weightless environment.

"I eat, live and work well, and I can make video calls with my family. Our home in space is very cozy and comfortable, and we have full confidence in completing the upcoming tasks," said Tang.

Xi said he was delighted to learn that the astronauts were in good condition and their work was progressing smoothly.

"The construction of the space station is a milestone in China's space industry, which will make pioneering contributions to the peaceful use of space by humanity," said Xi.

"You are the representatives of those who are striving and climbing in China's space industry in the new era. I hope you will work closely with each other and complete the upcoming tasks," said Xi.

He expressed his hope that the three astronauts would work and live well in space. "We are waiting for your triumphant return in Beijing."

Prior to the conversation, Xi watched both the operations of the in-orbit complex including the core module and Shenzhou-12, and the astronauts' work in orbit via a large screen in the center's command hall.

The screen showed Nie, Liu and Tang conducting in-orbit training with a robotic arm, and inspecting and setting the status of the extravehicular spacesuit in preparation for EVAs.

China launched its space station core module Tianhe on April 29.

Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, participated in Wednesday's event.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holds a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe, on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holds a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe, on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

Combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holding a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (L) with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe (R), on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi, Yue Yuewei]

Combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holding a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (L) with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe (R), on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi, Yue Yuewei]

Combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holding a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (L) with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe (R), on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Ju Peng, Yue Yuewei]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, greets staff members after holding a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe, on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Yan Yan]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holds a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe, on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Yue Yuewei]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, holds a conversation at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with three astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo stationed in the country's space station core module Tianhe, on June 23, 2021. [Xinhua/Yue Yuewei]
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:10:27|Editor: huaxia

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URUMQI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Some residents in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Wednesday denounced the accusation of "forced labor" in the region, saying the accusation is groundless.

A number of ethnic residents said at a press conference that their jobs are guarantees of their happy lives, and they urged certain people overseas who smear Xinjiang to face the truth.

One of the residents is Mehmut Tursun, who formed a rural cooperative with local villagers in Kumhoyla Village of Aksu, where they grow cotton in standardized and mechanized ways.

"During busy farming seasons in the past, my wife and I would have to spend all day in the cotton field," Mehmut Tursun said. After forming the cooperative, however, he and 52 other families started standard management over the cotton plantation and used machines to grow cotton after they have signed contracts with rural machine service cooperatives.

"You only need to make a phone call, and big machines will be at the field to do farm work," he said. "During this year's seeding period, it only took us two days to plant more than 20 hectares of cotton."

In Xinjiang, residents can grow whatever they want to grow. Also, with machines to help with the cotton plantation, the "forced labor" accusation is simply groundless, he said.

In Taxsay Village of Ruoqiang County, locals used to walk several kilometers to fetch their parcels. Meanwhile, local specialties such as red dates and Qamgur, a type of vegetable, were sold randomly at low prices.

In 2019, Nyersjan Ugyarag opened an e-commerce store in the village.

Since the opening, he managed to help locals sell 30 tonnes of Qamgur and 5 tonnes of red dates. He also bought a 7-seater bus and obtained an operating permit to run the bus from the village to the county seat.

"I like my job. It guarantees our happy lives," he said. "The certain overseas people who smear Xinjiang should face the truth."

Xinjiang has guaranteed the various rights of local workers by implementing 26 international labor conventions and is against forced labor, said Iljan Anagyit, spokesperson for the information office of the regional government.

Religious beliefs, ethnic cultures and languages of workers from various ethnic groups, who are in or outside Xinjiang, are respected and guaranteed in accordance with the law, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:31:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China will improve its public cultural service system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to a plan recently released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The plan underlines improving rural public cultural services to help boost rural vitalization, calling for efforts to leverage the strengths of cultural facilities and resources in counties, townships and villages.

It highlights the necessity of advancing online public cultural services to meet the needs of the people, especially of special groups.

The public cultural service system should be enhanced with digital technology and intelligent features and integrated with other public service platforms to bring greater convenience to the people, it added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:44:44|Editor: huaxia

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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 the closing meeting of the 17th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Wednesday called on political advisors nationwide to improve their capabilities of consultation on implementing the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).

Wang, 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, made the remarks when presiding over the closing meeting of a Standing Committee session of the CPPCC National Committee.

Commending the consultation work carried out by members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee during the session, Wang emphasized more prospective research, in-depth consultation and constructive advice on major programs concerning economic and social development over the next five years.

Political advisors should also carry out democratic oversight of the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, he said.

Attendees at the meeting voted on personnel matters.

A lecture on the history of the Party was held ahead of the meeting. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:50:45|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China is committed to making greater contributions to world prosperity and development, making greater efforts for international fairness and justice, and playing a bigger role in promoting world common security, State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe said Wednesday.

China resolutely safeguards its core interests and strongly opposes acts that interfere in China's domestic affairs and damage China's interests, Wei said at the ninth Moscow Conference on International Security via video link.

The Chinese military is willing to join hands with foreign military forces to create a security environment built and shared by all, Wei said.

The conference is hosted by the Russian Defense Ministry from June 23 to 24 in Moscow. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 00:05:12|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Black Sea Fleet and Federal Security Service have expelled a British warship that violated the country's territorial waters, the Russian Defense Ministry's Zvezda broadcasting service reported on Wednesday.

The British destroyer HMS Defender crossed Russia's border in the northwestern part of the Black Sea at 11:52 a.m. Moscow time (0852 GMT) after going 3 km beyond the sea border in the area of Cape Fiolent, it said.

The British vessel ignored warnings on the possible use of weapons from the Russian side, causing a Russian border patrol ship to fire warning shots, it added.

At 12:19 p.m. Moscow time (0919 GMT), Russia's Black Sea Fleet Su-24M aircraft dropped bombs along the destroyer's path as a warning.

The British warship left the Russian territorial waters at 12:23 p.m. local time (0923 GMT).

Later on Wednesday, the British Defense Ministry reportedly denied "the claim" that warning shots were fired against a British Navy ship in the Black Sea, and it believed that Russia was conducting gunnery exercises there. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 00:49:52|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Political parties, political leaders and people from all walks of life in other countries are extending warm congratulations on the upcoming 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

In messages addressed to General Secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC Central Committee or to the CPC Central Committee, they spoke highly of the achievements the CPC has made during the past century as well as its contributions to the world.

The following is an edited summary of some of these messages.

On behalf of the State of Palestine and its people, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also chairman of the Fatah party, extended his congratulations to General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Chinese people.

Abbas, who is also chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, said that under Xi's leadership, China has made remarkable achievements in developing its economy and advanced technology.

In particular, the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Xi has brought mutual benefits and win-win results to all sides involved, Abbas said, adding that China has also successfully brought the COVID-19 pandemic at home under control, and provided precious vaccines and medical assistance for the Palestinian people and many others around the world.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, on behalf of the Belarusian people, extended sincere congratulations to General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Lukashenko said the CPC has combined communism with the practice of the Chinese revolution, and effectively carried out socialist reforms, making the People's Republic of China a prosperous and strong country.

On the global stage, thanks to the wise and fair decision-making of the CPC, China has been viewed as a security guarantee for safeguarding interests of the countries under oppression, he added.

Leader of the FijiFirst party Voreqe Bainimarama, who is also the Fijian prime minister, extended his congratulations to General Secretary Xi Jinping.

China's development model and achievements have fully proven the greatness of the CPC, he said, adding that with the increasingly close communication and exchanges between the two parties and in other fields, the bilateral relationship as well as practical cooperation between the two countries will surely reach a higher level.

Bainimarama said he wishes the CPC, under Xi's leadership, will continue to make new achievements.

Zoran Zaev, leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia and prime minister of North Macedonia, said that under the leadership of the CPC, China has successfully withstood the crisis caused by COVID-19, during which humanitarian spirit has been highlighted.

Noting that the exchanges between his party and the CPC have strongly promoted friendly relations between the two countries, Zaev said he looks forward to the continuous and smooth progress of bilateral cooperation and wishes the CPC greater success.

Ivica Dacic, president of the Socialist Party of Serbia and speaker of the National Assembly, said that under the leadership of the CPC, China has recorded remarkable achievements in various fields and played an important role in resolving international and regional issues.

Dacic added that his party will continue to make every effort to deepen the iron-clad Serbia-China friendship and strengthen the friendly cooperation with the CPC. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 01:48:53|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- In 2013, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aiming to build a trade and infrastructure network together with countries worldwide. Ever since then, Chinese President Xi Jinping has on various occasions called for jointly promoting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, 140 countries and 32 international organizations have so far joined in the initiative, achieving fruitful cooperation results in various fields.

June 23, 2021

In a written message to the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation, Xi said the joint building of the BRI is aimed at carrying forward the spirit of the Silk Road, working together to build an open platform of cooperation, and providing new impetus for cooperation and development among countries.

"In the face of the sudden COVID-19 epidemic, we pulled through difficult times together with mutual assistance, and promoted the development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road projects, which conveyed confidence and strength to the international community and made important contributions to global anti-epidemic cooperation and economic recovery," Xi said.

He added that China stands ready to work with all parties to build a closer Belt and Road partnership, adhere to the path of unity, cooperation, interconnectivity, and common development, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

April 20, 2021

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 via video, Xi said that the BRI is a public road open to all, and all interested countries are welcome aboard to take part in the cooperation and share in its benefits.

Going forward, China will continue to work with other parties in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said Xi, adding that efforts will be made to build a closer partnership for health cooperation, connectivity, green development, and openness and inclusiveness.

China will work with all sides to promote "hard connectivity" of infrastructure and "soft connectivity" of rules and standards, ensure unimpeded channels for trade and investment cooperation, and actively develop Silk Road e-commerce, Xi said.

June 18, 2020

In a written message sent to the High-level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation, Xi said China will work with its partners to develop the Belt and Road into a model of cooperation for meeting challenges through unity.

The Belt and Road will also be a model of health for protecting people's safety and well-being, a model of recovery for restoring economic and social activity, and a model of growth for unlocking development potential, Xi said.

"Be it in taming the virus or in achieving economic recovery, we cannot succeed without solidarity, cooperation and multilateralism. The right approach to tackling global crises and realizing long-term development is through greater connectivity, openness and inclusiveness," he said.

"This is where Belt and Road international cooperation can make a big difference," he said.

April 27, 2019

At the leaders' roundtable meeting of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Xi called for joint efforts of all parties to promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

He called on all parties to jointly push forward intensive and meticulous implementation, advance the joint building of the Belt and Road, and deliver greater benefits to the people of all countries.

Xi also stressed joint efforts to strengthen cooperation mechanisms and forge partnership on connectivity, calling for encouraging the full participation of more countries and businesses in expanding common interests.

Nov. 17, 2018

In a speech titled "Harnessing Opportunities of Our Times To Jointly Pursue Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific" at the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, Xi said thanks to five years of joint efforts, cooperation under the BRI has entered a new phase of full implementation.

China will work with all countries involved under the principle of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits to pursue the BRI against high standards so that it will deliver quality outcomes and create even greater development opportunities for the people in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, he said.

May 15, 2017

At the Leaders Roundtable of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Xi called on global leaders to push for win-win outcomes, enhance policy coordination and deepen practical cooperation in the implementation of the BRI.

Xi called on countries to build partnerships, stay open in cooperation and resolve differences through dialogue.

"Geese can fly through wind and rain for a long time because they fly in flocks," Xi said, driving home the point of forging partnerships against all odds. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 03:03:22|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A Hamas senior official said on Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority's decision to postpone the Palestinian elections in May has hindered the efforts to end the internal Palestinian split.

Saleh Arouri, the Hamas' deputy chief who is in charge of the reconciliation issue, said in a press statement that the failure to achieve a breakthrough in the previous rounds of dialogue was a result of postponing the elections.

The decision not to hold the elections "was made without consultations with the partners or the guarantors," Arouri added.

On April 29, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the postponement of the 2021 Palestinian legislative elections, which had been scheduled for May 22 in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas' announcement came after Israel refused to allow the Palestinian elections to be held in East Jerusalem.

Reaffirming that East Jerusalem as "a red line," Abbas said the general elections could not be held if Palestinians in East Jerusalem can't participate.

The Palestinian leadership insists on holding the general elections in occupied East Jerusalem, just like the two previous legislative elections in 1996 and 2006 and the 2005 presidential elections.

In January, Abbas announced that the 2021 general elections would include the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the elections of the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on Aug. 31.

Abbas chaired a meeting for his ruling Fatah party's revolutionary council on Monday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, calling on the Palestinian factions to launch a serious dialogue to end the internal split.

The internal Palestinian split began when Hamas routed the security forces of Abbas and forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. All efforts to end the split have so far failed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 03:42:15|Editor: huaxia

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Israeli high school students wearing face masks are seen during a lesson in central Israeli city of Modiin on June 24, 2021. The number of active coronavirus cases in Israel has more than tripled in the past two weeks, the state's ministry of health said Wednesday. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of active coronavirus cases in Israel has more than tripled in the past two weeks, the state's ministry of health said Wednesday.

The number of active cases in Israel has reached 606, compared with 477 reported on Tuesday and 186 on June 9.

A total of 146 new coronavirus cases were reported on Wennesday, raising the total caseload in the country to 840,225.

The death toll from the virus remained unchanged at 6,428, and the number of patients in serious condition remained 26, out of 50 hospitalized patients.

The total recoveries in Israel rose to 833,191 after 17 newly recovered cases were added.

The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Israel reached nearly 5.51 million, or 59.1 percent of its total population.

Earlier in the day, Israel announced the postponement of the planned entry of individual tourists for at least a month until Aug. 1 after the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Israel began reopening its borders in May to groups of vaccinated tourists and planned to begin reopening to individual tourists on July 1.

Groups of vaccinated tourists will still be allowed to arrive in Israel, according to a statement by the Israeli prime minister's office. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 03:59:55|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 cases in Chile declined 20 percent in the last week, thanks to restrictive measures and the vaccination process underway in the South American country, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry reported 2,768 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, one of the lowest figures since last March, and 56 more deaths, bringing the total caseload to 1,528,409 and the death toll to 31,746.

COVID-19 infections decreased over the last week in 15 of Chile's 16 regions, with only the Arica and Parinacota region registering an increase in cases.

The southern region of Aysen had the highest incidence rate in the country per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the regions of Los Rios, Atacama, and Arica and Parinacota.

For weeks, Chile has been facing an increase in infections, with a rise in hospitalizations that has collapsed the hospital system for critical care patients, leading to the resumption of lockdowns in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and other areas of the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 05:55:03|Editor: huaxia

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French President Emmanuel Macron attends a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris June 23, 2021. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday ended the first leg of her visit to 12 EU members that had their national recovery plans approved. In Paris, Ursula von der Leyen announced that France will receive 39.4 billion euros in grants. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

by Matthew Xuereb, Li Jizhi

BRUSSELS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday concluded her first leg of visits to the capital cities of 12 member states of the European Union (EU) that had their national recovery plans approved.

Since last Wednesday, von der Leyen visited Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Latvia, Germany, France and Belgium. She was touring the capital cities with the European Commission's verdict on their national post-COVID-19 national recovery and resilience plan.

In each country, von der Leyen announced the amount that was being allocated to each member state from the NextGenerationEU, the bloc's historic 750-billion-euro (894 billion U.S. dollars) recovery instrument over the period 2021-2026.

According to the Commission, Italy will receive 191.5 billion euros from the EU, including 68.9 billion euros in grants and 122.6 billion euros in loans. It is the largest package so far.

"It is a generational opportunity, indeed, to invest in Italy's strength to make Italy an engine for growth in Europe," von der Leyen said in Rome on Tuesday.

The European Commission found that Italy's plan devotes 37 percent of expenditure on projects that support climate objectives, including a large-scale renovation program to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. A quarter of the money will go to digital investments.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility, the bulk of the NextGenerationEU, will make loans and grants available to support reforms and investments undertaken by EU states. The aim is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.

The first country von der Leyen visited was Portugal, to which she endorsed a 16.6-billion-euro recovery and resilience plan, where the EU will disburse 13.9 billion euros in grants and 2.7 billion euros in loans.

In Spain, she announced the acceptance of Spain's plan for 69.5 billion euros in grants, which will play a key role in enabling Spain to emerge stronger from the pandemic.

Denmark will receive 1.5 billion euros in grants, Luxembourg received the green light for 93 million euros while Greece will have a total of 30.5 billion euros. Austria will receive 3.5 billion euros, Slovakia 6.3 billion euros, Latvia 1.8 billion euros, while Germany will receive 25.6 billion euros.

In Paris, von der Leyen announced that France will receive 39.4 billion euros in grants, while back to Belgium, she announced that the EU will disburse 5.9 billion euros in grants.

For all approved plans, the Council of the EU has four weeks to adopt the Commission's proposal. The Council's approval of the plan would allow for the disbursement of a percentage in pre-financing, with the rest disbursed according to the satisfactory fulfillment of the milestones and targets. (1 euro = 1.19 U.S. dollars) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 10:27:49|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Five years after Britain decided to leave the European Union (EU) in a referendum, Brexit remained a vexing headache for the country, though politicians said Brexit has been done.

Brexit has dominated British politics and divided the nation for years. On June 23, 2016, Britain voted to leave the EU by 52 percent to 48 percent.

After two general elections, intensive negotiations with the bloc and parliamentary wrangling at home, the country finally completed the divorce with the EU in January 2020 and secured a post-Brexit trade deal before Christmas that year.

On Jan. 1, 2021, Britain left the European single market and the EU customs union. Under the post-Brexit trade agreement, trade in goods will continue to be tariff-free and quota-free.

While the deal has averted large increases in trade costs, there are also new problems facing trade flows in the short term, such as increased checks, paperwork and delays.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed total trade in goods between Britain and the EU decreased 23.1 percent in the first quarter, compared with the same period in 2018.

The Food and Drink Federation said British exports of food and drink to the EU dropped by almost half in the first three months of 2021 from a year earlier. Sales to Ireland, Germany, Spain and Italy all declined by at least half, with milk and cream exports plummeting 90 percent.

Compared with trade in goods, financial services are largely left out by the post-Brexit trade deal, analysts said.

Britain's financial services will have much narrower access to the EU single market after losing the passporting right and will have to function through the so-called "equivalence" system, a policy that the EU can unilaterally revoke.

Rajneesh Narula, a professor of International Business at the University of Reading, told Xinhua there are difficult months ahead and it means banking, finance and insurance, and telecoms will have to be negotiated in the new saga.

As Brexit ends the free movement of people between Britain and the EU, there are concerns about the shortage of EU workers in Britain. The pandemic dealt another blow to the dwindling EU workforce in Britain.

British media reports said since the end of 2019, about 1.3 million foreign workers have returned to their country of birth to see out the pandemic.

Searches for work in Britain by EU-based jobseekers were down 36 percent in May from the average levels in 2019, particularly for low-wage sectors such as catering, care and warehousing, according to Indeed, a job-searching website.

Meanwhile, advertisements for jobs related to Britain's food industry have exploded since February when the government announced its road map for lifting restrictions.

Restaurants and other non-essential retailers that reopened in April have had trouble of recruiting because of a shortage of overseas workers. Some businesses said they had to raise wages to attract British workers to fill the vacancies the EU migrants left.

Business leaders believe a lack of overseas workers would hamper the country's economic recovery, as companies are forced to pay higher wages to attract staff, potentially leading to higher prices for goods and services.

In Northern Ireland, the impact of Brexit is even more acute. Northern Ireland is at the center of the post-Brexit trade dispute with the EU.

The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland shared the same EU rules on trade, so there were no checks on goods travelling between the two sides. Yet following Brexit, the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could become an external EU border.

As part of the Brexit deal, the Northern Ireland Protocol stipulates Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market and customs union to avoid a hard border between the region and the Republic of Ireland.

However, this leads to a new "regulatory" border between Britain and Northern Ireland, which exacerbates the conflict between pro-Britain and pro-independence groups in Northern Ireland.

Protests and riots raged for days in April in Northern Ireland. Edwin Poots, chief of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, was forced to resign after only three weeks in the post.

Earlier this month, British Brexit Minister David Frost said that talks with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol produced no breakthroughs. Stakes are high for both sides to find solutions.

In addition, Britain will continue to face the risks of Scottish independence after Brexit. With close economic ties to the EU, a majority of Scots voted for staying in the 2016 referendum.

In May, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted another referendum on Scottish independence following her pro-independence party's fourth consecutive victory in the Scottish Parliament election.

Observers warned that other old tensions including fishing rights could resurface after Brexit. The fishing dispute between Britain and France flared up in Jersey's waters in May, resulting in both countries sending their navy vessels to monitor the situation. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 11:41:47|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 16 imported COVID-19 cases but no new locally transmitted cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Thursday.

Among the imported cases, eight were reported in Guangdong, three each in Sichuan and Yunnan, and one each in Liaoning and Fujian.

One new suspected case arriving from outside the mainland was reported in Shanghai and no new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday.

A total of 6,477 imported cases had been reported on the mainland by the end of Wednesday. Among them, 6,096 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 381 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 91,669 by Wednesday, including 492 patients still receiving treatment, 15 of whom were in severe condition.

A total of 86,541 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

There were two suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Wednesday.

A total of 18 asymptomatic cases were newly reported, all from outside the mainland. There were 463 asymptomatic cases, including 443 arriving from outside the mainland, under medical observation by Wednesday.

By the end of Wednesday, 11,898 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 210 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), while 53 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 14,260 cases, including 599 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 11,619 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, while 51 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 9,041 had been discharged in Taiwan. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 11:54:03|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for the expansion of cross-line humanitarian assistance within Syria and the removal of unilateral sanctions against the country.

The humanitarian situation in Syria is facing multiple challenges, including a declining economy, sharp depreciation of the country's currency, severe food insecurity, rapid transmission of COVID-19, and oil shortages, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

To improve the humanitarian situation requires joint global efforts and a holistic approach, he said.

It is important to have the Syrian government fully play its leading role, and continue to scale up cross-line humanitarian relief operations, Zhang told the Security Council.

China appreciates various UN agencies' humanitarian assistance delivered to millions of people every month through cross-line operations. In April, the World Health Organization provided from within Syria 348,000 medical services to civilians in Northeast Syria, which fully proves the effectiveness and feasibility of cross-line assistance, and also points to room for further expansion, he noted.

"The United Nations should strengthen cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies and make every effort to open up the cross-line access from Damascus to Idlib in the Northwest," said Zhang, adding that when making decisions on humanitarian issues in Syria, the Security Council should put forward specific requirements for scaling up cross-line humanitarian assistance.

Years of illegal sanctions have severely damaged Syria's economic and social development, exacerbated its humanitarian crisis and weakened its ability to respond to COVID-19, he said, urging that unilateral sanctions and economic blockade be lifted immediately to help Syria restore normal order.

Zhang said that it is necessary to stick to dialogue and consultation to properly resolve differences on the renewal of the authorization for the cross-border mechanism.

China's consistent position is that the international community should deliver humanitarian assistance to Syria on the basis of respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhang said.

The Security Council should specify clear requirements for cross-border humanitarian assistance, monitor the whole process, ensure neutrality and transparency, and make sure that it is not used for other purposes, he stressed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 13:06:16|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday launched a new crime prevention strategy amid soaring gun violence across the country, focusing on illegal sale of firearms, law-breaking gun dealers and better community support.

"Crime historically rises during the summer and as we emerge from this pandemic, with the country opening back up again, the traditional summer spike may even be more pronounced than it traditionally would be," Biden said in a speech from the White House.

"Folks, this (gun violence) shouldn't be a red or blue issue," Biden said. "It's an American issue."

The president said that cities and states can use their portions of 350 billion U.S. dollars in direct aid from the COVID-19 rescue plan, which was approved by Congress in March, to enhance public safety, including hiring more police officers and other law enforcement officials.

Public schools can also use their share of 122 billion dollars in rescue money in community violence intervention programs and other public safety strategies, Biden said.

"This is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement or our communities," said the president, distancing himself from progressive calls for "defunding the police."

Under the plan, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will revoke federal licenses of gun dealers the first time they violate the federal law. Violations could include selling firearms to a prohibited buyer, failing to run required background checks and falsifying firearm transaction forms or other records.

The Justice Department plans to create multi-jurisdictional "firearms trafficking strike forces" to reduce the illegal flow of firearms to high-crime areas like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and the Bay Area.

"So legal guns sold from the backdoor of a gun shop in Virginia don't end up in a murder scene in Baltimore," Biden said.

The Biden administration is collaborating with 15 jurisdictions that have seen high rates of gun crime to bolster community violence intervention programs. Among the partner locales are Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Detroit and St. Louis.

The strategy also includes Labor Department programs to expand summer employment and programs for youth and to help formerly imprisoned people enter the workforce.

"We know that summer jobs, training and recreation for young people work," Biden said. "They help make sure young people pick up a paycheck instead of a pistol."

The president again urged Congress to pass sweeping gun control legislations, including an expansion of background checks for firearm purchases and a federal ban on assault weapons, though little progress on those policies has been made in the evenly split Senate.

Ahead of Biden's speech, Attorney General Merrick Garland met with a group of local law enforcement officials and community leaders in the White House.

The murder rate in the country rose from five murders per 100,000 people in 2019 to roughly 6.2 per 100,000 in 2020, though still well below the rates of previous decades, showed preliminary data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A sample of 37 U.S. cities with data for the first three months of this year saw an 18 percent spike in murders compared with the same time period in 2020, according to a New York Times report.

Through the first 172 days of 2021, gun violence killed 9,420 Americans, an average of 55 people a day, data collected by the Gun Violence Archive showed. The figures include homicides and accidental gun deaths but not suicides.

Many experts fear gun violence will get even worse this summer, when it historically goes up with the arrival of warm weather. Furthermore, most states have relaxed COVID-19 restrictions after months of shutdowns.

The hike of crime and violence is a potential trouble for Biden and Democratic lawmakers ahead of the 2022 mid-term elections as Republicans are trying to brand Democrats as weak on crime. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 13:15:09|Editor: huaxia

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by Patrick Ekstrand

STOCKHOLM, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Delta COVID-19 variant could cause nearly all new COVID-19 infections in Europe within weeks, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) cautioned on Wednesday.

The Stockholm-based agency under the European Union (EU) also warned that the number of daily cases, as well as hospitalizations and deaths, could increase to the same levels as in autumn 2020 should measures such as social distancing, the use of face masks, and travel restrictions -- which the ECDC calls "non-pharmaceutical measures" -- be less strictly adhered to.

The ECDC also urged the rollout of mass vaccination be accelerated, and that the second dose be administered as early as possible to minimize the impact of the Delta variant.

FASTER TRANSMISSION

The Delta variant, first identified in India, is 40-60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha, first detected in Britain.

Labelled a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization on May 11, Delta is projected to become the most prevalent strain in Europe within weeks.

After being reported in Britain in mid-March, the Delta variant became the predominant variant by mid-April, and as of June 14, accounted for 91 percent of sequenced cases, the ECDC said in a Threat Assessment Brief on Wednesday.

Now, it is only a matter of weeks before Delta becomes the dominating strain all over Europe.

"Based on available scientific evidence, the Delta variant is more transmissible than other circulating variants and we estimate that by the end of August it will represent 90 percent of all SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating in the European Union," ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said.

What is also worrying, the ECDC said Wednesday, is that the Delta variant may be associated with a higher risk of hospitalization.

There is also evidence that those who have only received the first dose of a two-dose vaccination course are less protected against Delta than other variants regardless of the vaccine type.

RELAXING RESTRICTIONS

With all factors included, the ECDC is concerned that the Delta variant could soon worsen the pandemic in European countries.

"Modelling scenarios indicate that any relaxation over the summer months of the stringency of non-pharmaceutical measures that were in place in the EU/EEA (EU/European Economic Area) in early June could lead to a fast and significant increase in daily cases in all age groups, with an associated increase in hospitalizations, and deaths, potentially reaching the same levels of the autumn of 2020 if no additional measure is taken," the ECDC said in the assessment report.

Ammon, therefore, called for continued vigilance, saying: "Until most of the vulnerable individuals are protected, we need to keep the circulation of the Delta virus low by strictly adhering to public health measures, which worked for controlling the impact of other variants."

The warning came when many European countries were reopening their borders for foreign tourists with the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which will function from July 1 in the bloc, the EU said on its website.

"It is very likely that the Delta variant will circulate extensively during the summer, particularly among younger individuals that are not targeted for vaccination. This could cause a risk for the more vulnerable individuals to be infected and experience severe illness and death if they are not fully vaccinated," Ammon said.

VACCINES WORK

"The good news is that having received two doses of any of the currently available vaccines provides high protection against this variant and its consequences," Ammon said, urging member states to accelerate the rollout of vaccination.

"However, about 30 percent of individuals older than 80 years and about 40 percent of individuals older than 60 years have not yet received a full vaccination course in the European Union," she said.

"It is very important to progress with the vaccine rollout at a very high pace. At this stage it becomes crucial that the second vaccination dose is administered within the minimum authorized interval from the first dose, to speed up the rate at which vulnerable individuals become protected," Ammon said.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) lists four vaccines as authorized for use in the European Union, namely the vaccines made by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Another four vaccines -- including one manufactured by China's Sinovac -- are under rolling review by the EMA. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 14:42:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China has sent more than 40,000 military personnel to participate in about 30 UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Lebanon, Cambodia, Libya, and other countries and regions, according to a white paper released Thursday.

China began to participate in UN peacekeeping operations in 1990, and dispatched peacekeeping police for the first time in 2000, said the white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China in respecting and protecting human rights issued by the State Council Information Office.

China now ranks first among the permanent members of the UN Security Council in terms of the number of peacekeepers dispatched, and is the second largest fund contributor to the UN's peacekeeping actions, it added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 14:54:27|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China has actively engaged in international human rights undertakings, according to a white paper released Thursday.

The white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China in respecting and protecting human rights was released by the State Council Information Office.

China has signed 26 international human rights instruments, including six core UN conventions, the white paper showed, adding that China fulfills its obligations prescribed in these human rights conventions, ensures that the formulation, legislation, and any amendments of its laws and policies are consistent with these conventions.

China also submits periodic reports to give feedback on the progress made and any difficulties and problems encountered in implementing the conventions, according to the white paper.

Since China recovered its legitimate seat in the UN in 1971, it has played an active role in international human rights issues, said the document.

China maintains constructive contacts with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), receiving eight visits by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to China, and inviting many of the OHCHR officials to visit China. By April 2021, China has invited 11 visits by nine UN representatives and groups.

China also contributes to international human rights standards, and supports the reform of international human rights organizations in a fair, rational and inclusive direction, according to the white paper. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 15:02:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council Information Office will issue a white paper on the country's political party system at 10 a.m. Friday.

The office will hold a press conference on the document, which is titled "China's Political Party System: Cooperation and Consultation." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 15:20:25|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) is committed to bringing peace and progress to the whole of humanity, said a white paper released Thursday.

Achievements by the CPC prove that it is a peace-loving political party committed to progress, justice and human rights in the world, said the white paper on the practice of the CPC in respecting and protecting human rights.

China has sent more than 40,000 military personnel to participate in about 30 UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Lebanon, Cambodia, Libya, and other countries and regions, said the white paper released by the State Council Information Office.

China actively participates in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, opposes arms races, and safeguards global strategic balance and stability, the document said.

As a contributor to international human rights standards, the country has attended the meetings of the drafting groups of important documents on human rights protection, including the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to the white paper.

While supporting the reform of international human rights organizations in a fair, rational and inclusive direction, the CPC has made the Belt and Road Initiative an initiative for common development and also for protecting human rights, according to the document.

China has made great efforts to support international epidemic prevention and control, it said. By April 2021, the country had already provided or was offering assistance to 151 countries and 14 international organizations, the white paper said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 16:09:43|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, June 24 (Xinhua) --Joe Biden's decision to choose Europe as the destination of his first overseas visit since taking office to lead the alliance to counter China and Russia has been questioned by a member of the European Parliament.





Mick Wallace, a former Irish property developer who is now an independent member of the European Parliament, holds the view that the so-called "China threat" has been fabricated by the U.S. for its own interests.





In a speech to the European Parliament, Wallace said that the U.S. sees China as a threat to American security, and that China is a challenge "to America's financial supremacy, not to its security."



Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 17:55:45|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL -- An officer of Afghan army's Special Operations Forces was killed and his driver wounded when gunmen spread bullets on his vehicle in Kabul on Thursday morning, the latest in a string of targeted killings in the country, local media reported.

The shooting occurred in Deh Araban, an area in suburban district of Paghman in the morning when the targeted officer was heading from his home to the army base, reported Tolo News TV. (Afghanistan-Kabul-Shooting)

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TEHRAN -- At least five people were killed when a passenger bus overturned in Iran's central Yazd Province on Thursday, local media reported.

In addition, 28 others were injured in the incident, which took place in Dehshir village of Taft county in Yazd Province early in the morning, said the report released by the IranOnline news website. (Iran-Accident)

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CAPE TOWN -- The death toll from a shooting incident on Wednesday afternoon in Cape Town, legislative capital of South Africa, has risen to eight, South African Ministry of Police said Thursday.

Five people were shot dead by unknown gunmen who later fled the scene in a vehicle in NY 79 road, Gugulethu area, just 4 km southwest of Cape Town International Airport, and two people who were wounded died after they were rushed to a medical facility for treatment, South African Police Service said Wednesday. (South Africa-Cape Town-Shooting)

- - - -

NAIROBI -- Kenya's military said its aircraft on a training mission crash-landed in Kajiado County, southeast of Nairobi early Thursday.

Zipporah Kioko, Kenya Defence Forces spokesperson, said the Mi-171E AirForce helicopter crashed at the Ol Tepesi area in Ngong at around 9:00 a.m. local time. (Kenya-Plane crash) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 17:57:18|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL -- South Korea's top central banker said Thursday that an orderly normalization of monetary policy will be needed within this year, indicating a rate hike later this year.

Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol told reporters that there will be a need to normalize the monetary policy in an orderly manner "within this year."

Lee said earlier this month that the central bank will be required to normalize the accommodative monetary policy at an appropriate time in an orderly manner, heralding a tightened monetary stance. (South Korea-Bank of Korea-Rate Hike)

- - - -

RABAT -- The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted Morocco 37.5 million euros (45 million U.S. dollars) to help the North African country improve its drinking water supply, official RIM radio reported Wednesday.

The loan agreement was signed earlier in the day in Casablanca, the economic hub of Morocco, by Director General of Morocco's National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water Abderrahim El Hafidi and EIB's representative in Morocco Anna Barone. (Morocco-EIB-Grant)

- - - -

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission on Wednesday approved Belgium's 5.9-billion-euro (7 billion U.S. dollars) plan to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to boost green transition.

"An ambitious plan focused on a transition towards a more sustainable, more digital and more united society," Thomas Dermine, Belgium's secretary of state for recovery and strategic investments, commented on Twitter. "The symbol of a successful collaboration between the different entities of the country that I have had the privilege of leading." (European Commission-Belgium-Recovery)

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- Global credit rating agency Moody's on Wednesday cut down India's growth forecast for 2021 to 9.6 percent from the earlier projection of 13.9 percent, after the second COVID-19 wave battered the country's economy in April-May this year.

In one of its latest reports, it said that faster vaccination would be paramount in restricting economic losses to the April-June quarter. (India-Moody's-Growth Forecast) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 18:07:22|Editor: huaxia

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A municipal employee wearing a protective suit disinfects a railway station in Moscow, Russia, on June 24, 2021. Russia logged 20,182 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the highest daily increase since Jan. 24, taking the nationwide tally to 5,388,695, the official monitoring and response center said Thursday. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)

MOSCOW, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia logged 20,182 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, the highest daily increase since Jan. 24, taking the nationwide tally to 5,388,695, the official monitoring and response center said Thursday.

The national death toll rose by 568 to 131,463 in the past day, while the number of recoveries grew by 13,505 to 4,915,615.

Moscow, Russia's worst-hit region, reported 8,598 new cases, taking the city's total to 1,315,841.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said Wednesday that the vaccination rate in the country was rising as more than 16 million people had been fully vaccinated and around 20 million others had received one dose.

According to Golikova, there were no cases of the "Delta plus" variant in Russia. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 18:28:37|Editor: huaxia

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by Nguon Sovan, Mao Pengfei

PHNOM PENH, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said on Thursday he has no doubt that the Sino-Cambodian ties will be closer and stronger in the future thanks to the greater cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the recently-signed Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade pact.

"I'm proud to say that despite the impact of the COVID-19, many bilateral cooperation projects under the BRI such as the first Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the new national stadium, the 700-megawatt power plant in Sihanoukville, among others, have progressed steadily," he said.

"These projects bring us tremendous benefits, helping us boost the economy and reduce poverty during and after the COVID-19 era," he said.

Siphan said the BRI is becoming the new engine of global economic growth, and that since its inception in 2013, it has importantly contributed to boosting regional and global cooperation in terms of hard and soft infrastructures, economy, trades, investment opportunities, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connectivity.

"At the time of this economic downturn, the BRI remains as a driving force to continue expanding cooperation among countries in the region and the world for the cause of peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development," he said.

Cambodia highly commends China on the joint fight against COVID-19, Siphan said, and the Southeast Asian nation greatly values China's assistance. He said that the cooperation between the two countries should be a role model for international cooperation.

"For Cambodia, China is our key COVID-19 vaccine provider."

He added that the kingdom began an inoculation drive on Feb. 10 and to date, more than 3.5 million out of the 10 million targeted adult population have been vaccinated.

"As Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has said, we're going to inoculate 10 million targeted adult population by the end of this year or early next year, so thank you very much China for donating and selling vaccines to us. Without you, we would not have enough vaccines to vaccinate our people," Siphan said.

He said the Cambodia-China joint COVID-19 fight will undoubtedly contribute to building a community of shared future between the two countries.

Siphan also urged not to politicize the COVID-19 pandemic but do their best to safeguard their own people's lives, as some countries are playing the blame game over it.

"The COVID-19 is a global health crisis, so we don't need to point the finger at each other, but it's time for all of us to stand together to fight against the pandemic," he said. "Some countries have wasted time to blame this or that country. This is an irresponsible act for their own citizens." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 18:39:56|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran's deputy ambassador to the United Nations Zahra Ershadi urged the removal of "the unilateral and unlawful" sanctions against Syria, Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

Lifting of sanctions must be a substantive element of any discussion on the humanitarian aspect of the Syrian conflict, Ershadi was quoted as saying.

Ershadi made the remarks at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria on Wednesday.

"The immoral sanctions on Syria only prolong the sufferings of people, delay the return of refugees and displaced persons and hamper reconstruction efforts," she noted.

Iran has been a major regional ally of the Syrian government in its fight against the armed rebels since 2011. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 19:42:24|Editor: huaxia

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A worker disinfects a fresh market in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

-- Thailand reports 4,108 new cases, highest daily tally in June;

-- New Zealand reports no new cases after massive tests;

-- Pakistan reports 1,097 new cases, 951,865 in total;

-- Australia to phase out AstraZeneca vaccine from October.

HONG KONG, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries on Thursday:

BANGKOK -- Thailand reported 4,108 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily tally of this month, and 31 more deaths, according to official data.

The new cases raised the country's total case tally to 232,647, with more than 85 percent of these infections reported since early April when the third wave of the outbreak began, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

People walk past closed shops in Thamel, a tourism hotspot in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, June 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Sulav Shrestha)

KATHMANDU -- Online classes amid a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic has been boosting the import of mobile phones to Nepal, according to data released by the country's Department of Customs on Wednesday.

A man receives the COVID-19 vaccine in Herat province, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2021. (Photo by Elaha Sahel/Xinhua)

KABUL -- Sixty-three people have died due to COVID-19-related complications in Afghanistan within the last 24 hours, increasing the national toll to 4,519, the country's Ministry of Public Health reported.

The ministry also recorded 1,967 new cases during the period, bringing the number of infected people across the country to 111,592, including 39,682 active cases, the ministry said in a graph providing daily COVID-19 figures.

Airport workers transport packages of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 19, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia registered 655 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 45,366, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement.

The new infections included 583 local cases and 72 imported cases, the ministry said.

A cargo containing the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines is seen upon arrival in Manila, the Philippines, June 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,043 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,378,260. The death toll climbed to 24,036 after 108 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

China delivered an additional batch of Sinovac CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines.

"The new shipment is the fourth batch of Sinovac vaccines delivered this month," Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of the government's measures to combat COVID-19, said in a statement.

Photo taken on June 19, 2021 shows a blocked area with COVID-19 cases in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE -- The Lao Ministry of Health has planned to inoculate 80 percent of the population in the Lao capital Vientiane against COVID-19 by the end of this year in order to create herd immunity and break the chain of the coronavirus infection.

Nationwide, the ministry aims to vaccinate 50 percent of the country's total population during the same period.

A medical worker takes a nasal swab sample from a woman for COVID-19 test in Nagaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, June 22, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

NEW DELHI -- India's top health research bodies, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), are set to conduct a study to examine the efficacy of the Indian vaccines against the Delta Plus variant of the COVID-19 virus, local media reports said.

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 30,082,778 on Thursday, with 54,069 new cases registered during the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry. The death toll rose to 391,981 as 1,321 deaths were recorded since Wednesday morning.

Staff members work at a COVID-19 testing center at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on June 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

SYDNEY/CANBERRA -- Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) continued to brush off calls for a lockdown despite an increase in locally acquired COVID-19 cases.

The number of cases linked to a cluster in a suburb in Sydney's east rose to 36, the state's health department said.

The Australian government will phase out the use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine from October.

COVID-19 Task Force commander Lieutenant General John Frewen on Wednesday night released Department of Health projections detailing the vaccine doses each state and territory will be allocated every week for the rest of the year.

The Museum Te Papa Tongarewa, or the National Museum of New Zealand, is seen closed in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported no new COVID-19 cases after massive tests following raised alert level in the Wellington region.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the situation is "reassuring."

A man receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan, on May 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan recorded 1,097 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising the total tally to 951,865, official data showed.

According to the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the country's nerve center in fighting against the pandemic, 38 patients died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 22,108.

People wearing masks walk on a street in Seoul, South Korea, June 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)

SEOUL -- South Korea reported 610 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Wednesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 153,155.

The daily caseload was down from 645 in the prior day, staying above 600 for two days. The daily average caseload for the past week was 489.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 19:49:57|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said on Thursday he has no doubt that the Sino-Cambodian ties will be closer and stronger in the future thanks to the greater cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the recently-signed Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade pact.

"I'm proud to say that despite the impact of the COVID-19, many bilateral cooperation projects under the BRI such as the first Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the new national stadium, the 700-megawatt power plant in Sihanoukville, among others, have progressed steadily," he said.

"These projects bring us tremendous benefits, helping us boost the economy and reduce poverty during and after the COVID-19 era," he said.

- - - -

UNITED NATIONS -- Acting UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ramesh Rajasingham was deeply disturbed by reports of Tuesday's bombing that killed and wounded civilians in a market in Togoga, Tigray.

"I am equally alarmed by reports of armed forces blocking roads and preventing ambulances from evacuating the wounded for medical treatment. I extend my sincere condolences to the victims' families and community," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

- - - -

ANKARA -- Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Wednesday that Turkey will not send additional troops to Afghanistan as part of a plan to secure Kabul's airport since it already has soldiers in the country.

"At the moment, we're not in any situation to send (new) soldiers. It is out of the question for us to send any soldiers there in any way now," Akar told reporters at the parliament. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:06:57|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Thailand reported 4,108 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily tally of this month, and 31 more deaths in the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries on Thursday.

The new cases raised the country's total case tally to 232,647, with more than 85 percent of these infections reported since early April when the third wave of the outbreak began, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

New Zealand reported no new COVID-19 cases after massive tests following raised alert level in the Wellington region. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the situation is "reassuring."

In Nepal, online classes amid a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic have been boosting the import of mobile phones to the country, according to data released by the country's Department of Customs on Wednesday.

Sixty-three people have died due to COVID-19-related complications in Afghanistan within the last 24 hours, increasing the national toll to 4,519, the country's Ministry of Public Health reported.

The ministry also recorded 1,967 new cases during the period, bringing the number of infected people across the country to 111,592, including 39,682 active cases, the ministry said in a graph providing daily COVID-19 figures.

Cambodia registered 655 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 45,366, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement. The new infections included 583 local cases and 72 imported cases, the ministry said.

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,043 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,378,260. The death toll climbed to 24,036 after 108 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

China delivered an additional batch of Sinovac CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines. "The new shipment is the fourth batch of Sinovac vaccines delivered this month," Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of the government's measures to combat COVID-19, said in a statement.

The Lao Ministry of Health has planned to inoculate 80 percent of the population in the Lao capital Vientiane against COVID-19 by the end of this year in order to create herd immunity and break the chain of the coronavirus infection.

Nationwide, the ministry aims to vaccinate 50 percent of the country's total population during the same period.

India's top health research bodies, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), are set to conduct a study to examine the efficacy of the Indian vaccines against the Delta Plus variant of the COVID-19 virus, local media reports said.

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 30,082,778 on Thursday, with 54,069 new cases registered during the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry. The death toll rose to 391,981 as 1,321 deaths were recorded since Wednesday morning.

Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) continued to brush off calls for a lockdown despite an increase in locally acquired COVID-19 cases. The number of cases linked to a cluster in a suburb in Sydney's east rose to 36, the state's health department said.

The Australian government will phase out the use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine from October.

COVID-19 Task Force commander Lieutenant General John Frewen on Wednesday night released Department of Health projections detailing the vaccine doses each state and territory will be allocated every week for the rest of the year.

Pakistan recorded 1,097 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising the total tally to 951,865, official data showed.

According to the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the country's nerve center in fighting against the pandemic, 38 patients died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 22,108.

South Korea reported 610 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Wednesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 153,155. The daily caseload was down from 645 in the prior day, staying above 600 for two days. The daily average caseload for the past week was 489. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:11:55|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have pledged to enhance cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines and green development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by forging a closer partnership.

The move came as relevant initiatives were launched by 29 countries, including China, Colombia, Indonesia and Pakistan, at the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation held Wednesday via video link.

The conference was held to forge new consensus among countries in the Asia-Pacific region on jointly fighting the pandemic and promoting sustainable economic recovery, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

STRENGTHENING VACCINE COOPERATION

As of Wednesday, more than 178 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally with over 3.88 million deaths, while the coronavirus variants continue to pose threats.

Concerning cooperation on coronavirus vaccines, a powerful weapon for defeating the pandemic, the Asia-Pacific countries have called for providing more vaccines to the World Health Organization's COVAX initiative, supporting governments and enterprises to donate or export vaccines at an affordable price to developing countries, as well as transferring relevant technologies, as put forth in the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation.

"Dealing with the havoc in the region and the world caused by COVID-19 is not the responsibility of any single country," Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, told Xinhua, adding that the initiative's focus on developing countries is to address the vaccination gap, a key part of ensuring the final success in global anti-pandemic efforts.

China has been engaged in extensive vaccine cooperation with many countries, and has donated and exported more than 400 million doses of finished and bulk vaccines to more than 90 countries, most of which are BRI partners, according to Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the conference.

The relevant initiative means concrete actions, and it offers practical solutions to battle against the pandemic, Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, told Xinhua. Following China's footsteps in pandemic response, more countries are demonstrating the will to forge unity through shared political commitments and shared responsibility to tackle this global health crisis, he added.

ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY

Trade in goods between China and BRI partners last year registered a record 1.35 trillion U.S. dollars, making a significant contribution to the COVID-19 response, economic stability and people's livelihood in relevant countries, said Wang Yi.

To spur post-pandemic recovery, the Asia-Pacific countries have urged support for green and low-carbon development, putting in place environment-friendly and risk-resistant infrastructure, and promoting clean energy development and utilization, in their Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development.

The initiative aims to inject new impetus into building the green Silk Road, Wang said, adding "We are ready to step up cooperation in such areas as green infrastructure, green energy and green finance, and develop more environment-friendly projects with a high standard and high quality."

"An increasing number of countries are working for pledged carbon neutrality goals, and green development has become a development priority. However, they lack the necessary technologies, finance and experience, hence the need for further cooperation," Chen Gang, assistant director of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, told Xinhua.

The green development initiative has accommodated the need for environmental conservation and development, a pragmatic and timely move to contribute to global recovery and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said Sun Jingxin, an associate research fellow with the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:19:29|Editor: huaxia

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XI'AN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Wearing a long gown with loose sleeves and elaborate embroidery while touring the ancient city wall of Xi'an, Wei Fangbing could easily pass for someone from the ancient times were it not for her smartphone.

Hailing from northeast China's Liaoning Province, Wei is a devotee of hanfu, a type of traditional garment of the Han ethnic group. The early 20-something bought the eye-catching outfit well before her trip to Xi'an, a historical city in northwest China best known for the Terracotta Warriors.

"On social media, I saw many people visited Xi'an wearing hanfu. They look very gorgeous," she said. "The outfit's retro style goes particularly well with Xi'an."

Wei is among a growing number of young hanfu fans in China who have been charmed by the traditional attire's unique design and the rich culture behind it.

According to a report by Chinese consulting agency iiMedia Research, the number of hanfu enthusiasts in the country will have surged from 2.04 million in 2018 to 6.89 million by the end of this year, with over 70 percent of the fans being Generation Z-ers aged between 16 and 24.

The ongoing hanfu craze is certainly palpable. If you walk into parks and tourist spots in cities like Xi'an, Hangzhou and Nanjing, chances are you will come across people dressed in hanfu taking selfies.

To tap into the fad, some tourist attractions have held hanfu-themed events and offered discounts and waivers for admission tickets to visitors wearing hanfu.

Last year, the ancient town of Xitang in east China's Zhejiang Province attracted some 187,000 tourists during its hanfu cultural week, including more than 86,000 visitors dressed in the traditional garment.

Zhu Keli, a researcher on new economy with the Development Research Center of the State Council, said the growing popularity of hanfu among Chinese young people arises from their increasing appreciation for traditional culture and their need to express their individuality.

The new economy and e-commerce platforms have further spurred the development of the niche market, Zhu said.

The report by iiMedia Research predicted the sales volume of China's hanfu market to exceed 10 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) this year.

The booming market has been attracting an increasing number of young, hanfu-loving entrepreneurs.

Wu Qiuqiao, 27, owns a shop on Taobao, China's major online shopping platform, which mainly sells specially-designed hanfu for pet cats. Wu opened the shop in 2019 after quitting her previous job in Beijing to pursue her real interests -- hanfu and cats.

"I was trying to do something different, and the idea of hanfu for cats is so original and combines my top two interests," she said.

The novel idea has turned out a big success. To date, Wu's shop has garnered over 16,000 followers on Taobao, with the highest monthly sales topping 70,000 yuan.

Wu said her main concerns when designing hanfu for cats are how to make the clothing more comfortable for the animals and how to retain the original flavor of hanfu.

"I'm happy that the special hanfu can win the hearts of so many cat owners," she said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:36:09|Editor: huaxia

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NICOSIA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Five new cases related to the COVID-19 Delta variant have been detected in Cyprus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Thursday.

The cases' samples, out of 170 samples submitted to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), were taken from May 20 to June 11, said the ministry in a statement.

"The fact that the Delta variant exists within the community has already begun impacting the epidemiological indicators of our country, with an increase in cases and hospitalizations, primarily in people under the age of 40," the statement said.

As the data are more than two weeks old, experts warned that a sharp increase in coronavirus cases from two-digit to three-digit numbers over the past three days is due to the Delta variant, which is more aggressive than the prevailing mutation first detected in Britain.

Haris Armeftis, a contagious-diseases expert, forecasted larger numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the coming days following the relaxation of restrictions and the arrival of more tourists.

Cyprus' Cabinet decided on Thursday that the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) will be accepted as of July 1.

The Transport Ministry said in a statement that travelers must upload their EUDCC on the Cyprus Flight Pass online platform, and all persons holding a valid EUDCC will be allowed to enter Cyprus. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:04:27|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China has started building a monitoring station as part of a network to study space weather, according to China's National Space Science Center (NSSC).

The NSSC, which is affiliated to Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the station is being built in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Spread over 400 mu (about 26.67 hectares), it is expected to be completed in 2023.

The station will use large-scale high-frequency radar array as the main detection equipment, and integrate various detection means such as radio radar, active and passive optics, cosmic rays and geomagnetic field.

It will provide real-time monitoring capability for ionosphere, middle and upper atmosphere, cosmic rays and geomagnetic field disturbance in north China, the NSSC added.

The station belongs to Ground-based Space Environment Monitoring Network, which will deepen scientists' understanding of the formation of space weather events, and provide scientific and data support for reducing the impact of disastrous space weather events.

Space weather includes changes in the space environment such as solar flares, magnetic storms and auroral activities. It affects the operation of aerospace, communication and navigation systems. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:05:18|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday urged the United States to immediately and completely lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at a press briefing following the UN General Assembly's adoption on Wednesday by an overwhelming majority, and for the 29th time, of a resolution titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba."

The resolution urged all states to abide by the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of international law, and to rescind or abolish any form of extraterritorial effect, laws and measures affecting the sovereignty of other states and the legitimate rights and interests of entities and individuals under their jurisdiction, as well as the freedom of trade and navigation.

"Regrettably, these resolutions have not been effectively implemented for many years," Zhao said, adding that the blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba has not stopped yet, and has shown a trend of strengthening in recent years.

Zhao said that China has always advocated respecting the right of each country to have its own social system and development path, upholding the international order based on international law, safeguarding international fairness and justice, and opposing unilateral sanctions against other countries by military, political, economic or other means.

"China urges the United States to immediately and completely lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. This is the universal call of the international community," said the spokesperson.

"It is hoped that the United States will develop normal state-to-state relations with Cuba in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, which is in line with the interests of the two peoples and conducive to the peace and stability of the entire Americas region," he added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:37:22|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China is ready to continue providing vaccines and other support for Fiji's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a phone conversation with Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Xi said China will set up a China-Pacific Island Countries reserve of emergency supplies, and help Fiji and other island countries improve their ability to cope with major public health incidents and natural disasters.

Pointing out that Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with New China, Xi said since the establishment of ties 46 years ago, the China-Fiji relations have developed tremendously, an important experience from which is that the two sides have always been supporting each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns.

China respects Fiji's independent exploration of a development path that suits its national conditions, and is ready to work with Fiji to push the China-Fiji comprehensive strategic partnership continuously to new levels, so as to better benefit the two peoples and jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he said.

Xi emphasized that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Fiji have worked together through thick and thin to fight the pandemic, and their friendship and cooperation have continued deepening.

China stands ready to strengthen strategic alignment with Fiji, jointly build the Belt and Road, deepen cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, transportation and communication, tourism, and other fields, and continue to implement projects including Juncao and agricultural technology cooperation to help Fiji's economic and social development, Xi said.

China will continue supporting Fiji in improving its ability to cope with climate change, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:37:54|Editor: huaxia

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-- A silver lining brought by China-Europe freight trains has boosted fragile supply chains in Eurasian countries and saved businesses in both China and Europe.

-- Though its prices are a little higher than seaborne shipping, the train service provided by China Railway Express has the advantage of a relatively stable schedule, which takes as short as 12 days to get to Europe from China hinging on specific departures and destinations.

-- Notably, life-saving medical supplies and raw materials were also transported to Europe by freight trains, when countries along the route were synergizing efforts to combat the coronavirus.

-- Since the first China-Europe freight train departed from Chongqing in March 2011, the service has reached more than 160 cities in 22 European countries.

BERLIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Though the outbreak of COVID-19 had grounded Europeans for months and impacted the economy as a whole, some sectors such as electronics businesses have spotted niches with surging demands for laptops and other gadgets at home.

Lu Hong, a local brand director of laptop manufacturer ASUS in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, found such a niche and witnessed a business boom in 2020. However, before long, shortage of sea freighters, price hikes and unpredictable shipping time pushed him to the verge of breaking contracts.

A silver lining brought by China-Europe freight trains has boosted fragile supply chains in Eurasian countries and saved businesses in both China and Europe.





SOLUTION TO SUPPLY DISRUPTION

Lu's company last year hired some 1,000 containers to deliver computers through China-Europe freight train services across the Eurasian continent.

Though its prices are a little higher than seaborne shipping, the train service provided by China Railway Express (CRE) has the advantage of a relatively stable schedule, which takes as short as 12 days to get to Europe from China hinging on specific departures and destinations.

A China-Europe freight train bound for Duisburg of Germany prepares for departure at Tuanjiecun Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

"Due to the pandemic containment measures, there are many disruptions of sea transportation ... Now it's very hard to get enough containers and the prices are skyrocketing," said Lu.

The past year was tough for many business operators like Lu, since volatile air and ocean freight capacities had resulted in soaring shipping prices.

Similarly, Chinese car manufacturer Changan Ford Automobile also turned to the train route, though in a reverse direction, to tackle its supply problems caused by the pandemic.

Upon the outbreak of COVID-19, Changan's assembly line was nearly suspended, due to the delay and disruption of the shipping of auto supplies from Spain.

The company urgently rerouted the transportation of supplies with cargo trains passing by Germany's Duisburg City, which took some 20 days to reach Chongqing, said Zhuang Changbo, logistics supervisor at Changan Ford Automobile, adding, "It saved some 50 days compared to sea transportation."





ANTI-PANDEMIC "GREEN PASSAGE"

Traffic through the CRE surged 75 percent year-on-year to 3,398 trains in January-March, after topping the annual record in 2020 with 12,406 trains, according to the China State Railway Group.

Besides auto parts, clothes, toys and electronics, some overstocked airmails from China to Europe are also diverted to CRE trains departing from Chinese cities including Chongqing, Yiwu and Guangzhou.

Notably, life-saving medical supplies and raw materials were also transported to Europe by freight trains, when countries along the route were synergizing efforts to combat the coronavirus.

Representatives pose for a photo after the arrival of a China-Europe cargo train loaded with medical materials in Paris, France, June 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Yongchun)

Official data showed that around 94,000 tonnes of anti-pandemic supplies were sent through the route, with special trains carrying surgical masks, medical gloves, water-soluble bags, contactless gel dispensers and other supplies to Poland's Malaszewicze, Germany's Duisburg, Spain's Madrid and France's Paris.

Volker Tschapke, honorary president of Germany's Prussian Society, called the train route an anti-pandemic "Green Passage," noting that "Europe was rather desperately encountering the first wave of COVID if you remember. (Medical) shortages were seen everywhere. The train routes were vital and they save lives."





PAVING WAY FOR FUTURE

According to official data released on Sunday, the China-Europe freight-train service has recorded more than 40,000 trips, with the transported goods valued at over 200 billion U.S. dollars.

Since the first China-Europe freight train departed from Chongqing in March 2011, the service has reached more than 160 cities in 22 European countries.

A China-Europe freight train carrying anti-epidemic supplies prepares to head for Belgrade, Serbia, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, May 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Countries along the international freight route have shown growing interests in cooperation on upgrading logistics chains to speed up post-pandemic recovery.

Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari said that railway freight -- featuring much lower carbon emissions -- has a clear sustainability advantage compared to other means of transport.

"For the companies, it is important to be able to diversify their logistical chains, add value with speed and have alternative means of transport. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, the logistical chain risk is definitely something that many companies are more aware of," said Skinnari.

Earlier this month, a subsidiary of the Polish State Railways (PKP), in a bid to extend its transport connections, started a program connecting Wroclaw, a major city in southwestern Poland, via Malaszewicze, the gateway of railway connection in Poland and Europe, with several Chinese cities including Chongqing.

Aerial photo shows a China-Europe freight train bound for Duisburg of Germany departing from Tuanjiecun Station in southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

Ivan Ruzbacky, president of PKP Cargo Connect, said that the new connection between Wroclaw and Chinese cities is a further step to enhance connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The project offers "a unique opportunity to fit into global supply chains," he said, adding, "This in turn translates into a positive perception by international customers and related development and expansion opportunities." (Video reporters: Zhang Haizhou, Zhao Xiaoshuai, Zhang Zhang and Li Xiaopeng; video editor: Liu Xiaorui)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:44:04|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Thursday that with the support of the motherland, Hong Kong will usher in a better future in different aspects by integrating into the overall development of the country.

Lam said at the Caixin Summer Summit 2021 that Hong Kong's financial system has remained stable in the turbulent environment over the past two years. On the existing solid foundation, the HKSAR government will make every effort to implement the content of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan on enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international finance center.

She said that the HKSAR government will continue to push forward with the interconnection of financial markets between Hong Kong and the mainland, and to explore with the industry and the mainland ways to expand the two-way flow of cross-border Renminbi (RMB) funds to promote the internationalization of RMB.

The HKSAR government will also promote the development of asset management, including the introduction of new fund structures, so that Hong Kong can have more channels to attract overseas funds, said Lam.

In terms of risk management, the HKSAR government is adopting a series of measures to promote the development of new insurance business and optimize the regulatory system so as to promote the interconnection between the insurance markets in Hong Kong and the mainland, she said.

Lam said that as long as Hong Kong fully implements "one country, two systems," makes good use of the support from the central government, and actively integrates into the overall development of the country through the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong will surely overcome challenges, create new heights, and continue to serve the needs of the country with its own strengths.

At the same meeting, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan said that the country has always provided the utmost support for Hong Kong's economic development.

By leveraging on its unique advantages under "one country, two systems," Hong Kong will have a promising future in various aspects including financial services, digital transformation, technological innovation, international trade and green development, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:45:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China strongly condemns the United States imposing sanctions on Chinese companies based on lies and disinformation, according to a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry Thursday.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian also said that China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Zhao made the remarks at a press briefing when responding to a query that the United States would impose import restrictions on products of companies in Xinjiang's photovoltaic industry.

"China strongly condemns the United States imposing sanctions on Chinese companies based on lies and false information," Zhao said. "The so-called 'forced labor' and 'genocide' in Xinjiang are the biggest lie of the century. The United States abused its "entity list" to suppress Xinjiang's photovoltaic industry, based on fabrications. Such actions not only violate international trade rules and the principles of the market economy, but also undermine the global industrial and supply chains," he said.

From cotton to the photovoltaic industry, and from agriculture to industry, the United States uses human rights as a disguise to do all it could to cripple the industrial development in Xinjiang, Zhao said.

"What the United States does is detrimental to Xinjiang people's rights to subsistence and development, and also exposes that what they are after is not facts, truth or Xinjiang people's well-being, but to create 'forced unemployment' and 'forced poverty' to mess up Xinjiang and contain China's development," Zhao said.

"We also remind the United States that it is the United States itself which is the real perpetrator of genocide and forced labor," the spokesperson said.

Zhao said U.S. politicians should reflect more on the country's history of genocide against Native Americans and African Americans in Tulsa, and think more about how to solve human rights problems such as racial conflicts and forced labor in the United States. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 22:06:42|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it has approved 43.86 billion shillings (about 407 million U.S. dollars) to Kenya for budget support.

The fund, which is the second part of Kenya's 2.34-billion-dollar, three-year facility, marks the end of the first reviews of IMF's arrangements with Kenya under the extended fund facility (EFF) and the extended credit facility (ECF)

"The program remains subject to notable risks, including from uncertainty about the path of the pandemic and potential pressures from the upcoming political calendar," Antoinette Sayeh, deputy managing director of the IMF, said in a statement issued Wednesday night.

Saleh, however, said Kenya's medium-term prospects remain positive since the government's strong commitment to its economic program supported by the IMF has catalyzed financing on favorable terms.

The IMF in April approved a three-year loan of 2.34 billion dollars, which will be released in tranches, and the first consisting of 307.5 million dollars was immediately released for budget support.

The latest flows take Kenya's total disbursements from the program to 714.5 million dollars.

The IMF said its arrangements are aimed at supporting Kenya's program to address debt vulnerabilities, support the response to the COVID-19 crisis and enhance governance.

It said Kenya is staging an economic recovery despite a recent third wave of COVID-19 infections.

Growth is now estimated to pick up to 6.3 percent in 2021, the IMF predicted, warning that uncertainty and pandemic-related pressures will persist until COVID-19 vaccinations become widely available.

Saleh said the recent publication of comprehensive audits of COVID-19 spending, along with the forthcoming disclosure of beneficial ownership information of companies that are awarded procurement contracts, are important steps to strengthen fiscal transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.

While noting effective follow-up by the appropriate institutions on the findings of the audits will be essential in the future, Saleh said that Kenya's economic program aims to reduce debt vulnerabilities through a multi-year fiscal consolidation effort centered on raising tax revenues and tightly controlling spending, and safeguarding resources to protect vulnerable groups. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 22:08:35|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China stands ready to work with Serbia to make their friendly relations even stronger with the passing of time.

In a telephone conversation with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, Xi noted that as both China and Serbia are facing new opportunities and challenges at present, the two countries need to view and develop their relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.

Noting that the Serbian people attach great importance to friendship, Xi said the iron-clad China-Serbia friendship is most valuable and deserves to be firmly upheld and carried forward from generation to generation.

Xi stressed that the two countries should firmly support each other while making respective efforts to safeguard their national sovereignty and security.

China supports the development path chosen by the Serbian people based on their national conditions, Xi said.

The two sides should speed up high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, foster new growth areas of cooperation, share opportunities and seek common development, Xi said.

The two sides need to work together to tackle global challenges such as COVID-19, economic recovery and climate change, Xi said, adding that China is ready to offer further assistance to Serbia in fighting the epidemic as needed.

China and Serbia should also strengthen coordination in multilateral affairs, firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, defend international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and practice true multilateralism, Xi said.

Xi added that both sides must fully implement the consensus and outcomes of the Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) and push for constant new progress in China-CEEC cooperation.

For his part, Vucic expressed warm congratulations on 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Under the leadership of the CPC, Vucic noted, China has made great achievements that have attracted worldwide attention, achieved national prosperity and become an important force in promoting world peace and development.

Vucic said he firmly believes that the CPC will continue leading the Chinese people to stride forward along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

China is a great friend of Serbia and the Serbia-China relations are at their best in history, said Vucic, adding that the Serbian side is very proud of the iron-clad friendship between Serbia and China.

China has provided invaluable assistance for Serbia in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, deepened and consolidated traditional friendship, said the Serbian president, voicing hope that the two sides will continue strengthening cooperation in vaccines and other fields.

Serbia is ready to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road and expand practical cooperation in various fields, Vucic said, noting that his country firmly supports and will continue actively promoting China-CEEC cooperation.

Vucic wished a long-lasting friendship between Serbia and China. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 22:28:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China is ready to continue providing vaccines and other support for Fiji's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a phone conversation with Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Xi said China will set up a China-Pacific Island Countries reserve of emergency supplies, and help Fiji and other island countries improve their ability to cope with major public health incidents and natural disasters.

Pointing out that Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with New China, Xi said since the establishment of ties 46 years ago, the China-Fiji relations have developed tremendously, an important experience from which is that the two sides have always been supporting each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns.

China respects Fiji's independent exploration of a development path that suits its national conditions, and is ready to work with Fiji to push the China-Fiji comprehensive strategic partnership continuously to new levels, so as to better benefit the two peoples and jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he said.

Xi emphasized that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Fiji have worked together through thick and thin to fight the pandemic, and their friendship and cooperation have continued deepening.

China stands ready to strengthen strategic alignment with Fiji, jointly build the Belt and Road, deepen cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, transportation and communication, tourism, and other fields, and continue to implement projects including Juncao and agricultural technology cooperation to help Fiji's economic and social development, Xi said.

China will continue supporting Fiji in improving its ability to cope with climate change, he said.

In his message, Bainimarama expressed warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, saying that with Xi's foresight and sagacity and under his strong leadership, China has scored great achievements in development and played an important leading role in the world.

He thanked China for providing invaluable support for Fiji's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Fiji firmly adheres to the one-China policy, takes an objective and fair stand on issues involving Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and will not do things that harm China's interests.

Fiji is ready to strengthen exchanges with China, deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs, he said.

The joint construction of the Belt and Road has a broad prospect and will bring important opportunities for the Fiji-China cooperation, the Fijian prime minister said, adding that Fiji will continue taking an active part in it. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 22:30:43|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council Information Office on Thursday issued a white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in respecting and protecting human rights.

The year 2021 marks the centenary of the CPC. Over the past century, the CPC has invested a huge effort in human rights protection, adding significantly to global human rights progress, said the white paper.

For a hundred years, the CPC has always put people first, applying the principle of universality of human rights in the context of the national conditions. It regards the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights, and believes that living a life of contentment is the ultimate human right, said the white paper.

The CPC promotes the well-rounded development of the individual, and strives to give every person a stronger sense of gain, happiness and security. Its success in pioneering human rights in a socialist country is unique and readily apparent, said the white paper.

The life expectancy of Chinese citizens rose to 77.3 years in 2019, compared with 35 years in 1949, according to the white paper.

The CPC ensures the right to subsistence, said the document, noting that China has engaged in a huge program of poverty reduction focusing on development-driven poverty alleviation in rural areas.

At the end of 2020, China achieved the goal of eliminating absolute poverty as scheduled.

Living standards of the Chinese people have improved, the white paper said. In 2020, China's GDP reached 101.6 trillion yuan (about 15.7 trillion U.S. dollars), and per capita GDP was 72,000 yuan, more than the threshold of 10,000 U.S. dollars for the second year.

The CPC has also integrated law-based governance with human rights protection, according to the white paper.

Under the leadership of the CPC and based on the Constitution, a Chinese socialist system of laws has taken shape, providing a relatively complete legal system to protect human rights, said the white paper.

As of April 2021, there were 277 laws in force in China, including the Constitution and related laws, civil and commercial law, administrative law, economic law, social law, criminal law and procedural law related to litigation and non-litigation, it added.

Human rights progress in China, guided by a people-centered philosophy, has gone beyond the development of Western views on human rights and its practice in protecting human rights, said Lu Guangjin, secretary-general of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, at a press conference Thursday on the white paper.

For a hundred years, the CPC has committed itself to peaceful development and common progress. China is firm in its international stance -- to safeguard world peace and seek progress through cooperation, ensuring human rights with the benefits deriving from development, according to the white paper.

China has been an active participant in matters of international human rights, providing a Chinese contribution to global human rights governance and progress, and working with other countries to forge a global community of shared future, according to the white paper.

China has sent more than 40,000 military personnel to participate in about 30 UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Lebanon, Cambodia, Libya, and other countries and regions, said the white paper.

The country now ranks first among the permanent members of the UN Security Council in terms of the number of peacekeepers dispatched, and is the second largest fund contributor to the UN's peacekeeping actions, it added.

China has signed 26 international human rights instruments, including six core UN conventions, the white paper showed, adding that China fulfills its obligations prescribed in these human rights conventions, ensures that the formulation, legislation, and any amendments of its laws and policies are consistent with these conventions.

The CPC is leading the people towards the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and the second centenary goal -- to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the centenary of the People's Republic of China.

At that time, all rights of the Chinese people will be safeguarded at a higher level, and they will have a better sense of dignity, freedom and happiness. China will make a greater contribution to the protection of human rights, enabling the world to develop better and become more prosperous, said the white paper. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 23:00:24|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 8, 2021 shows packages of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines arriving at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

--China has been engaged in extensive vaccine cooperation with many countries, and has donated and exported more than 400 million doses of finished and bulk vaccines to more than 90 countries, most of which are BRI partners.



--Following China's footsteps in pandemic response, more countries are demonstrating the will to forge unity through shared political commitments and shared responsibility to tackle the global health crisis of COVID-19.

--The green development initiative has accommodated the need for environmental conservation and development, a pragmatic and timely move to contribute to global recovery and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have pledged to enhance cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines and green development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by forging a closer partnership.

The move came as relevant initiatives were launched by 29 countries, including China, Colombia, Indonesia and Pakistan, at the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation held Wednesday via video link.

The conference was held to forge new consensus among countries in the Asia-Pacific region on jointly fighting the pandemic and promoting sustainable economic recovery, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

STRENGTHENING VACCINE COOPERATION

As of Wednesday, more than 178 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally with over 3.88 million deaths, while the coronavirus variants continue to pose threats.

Concerning cooperation on coronavirus vaccines, a powerful weapon for defeating the pandemic, the Asia-Pacific countries have called for providing more vaccines to the World Health Organization's COVAX initiative, supporting governments and enterprises to donate or export vaccines at an affordable price to developing countries, as well as transferring relevant technologies, as put forth in the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation.

Photo taken on June 1, 2021 shows vials of Sinopharm vaccines in Beijing, capital of China. The first batch of Chinese vaccines supplied to COVAX on June 1 officially rolled off the production line. (Xinhua)

"Dealing with the havoc in the region and the world caused by COVID-19 is not the responsibility of any single country," Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, told Xinhua, adding that the initiative's focus on developing countries is to address the vaccination gap, a key part of ensuring the final success in global anti-pandemic efforts.

China has been engaged in extensive vaccine cooperation with many countries, and has donated and exported more than 400 million doses of finished and bulk vaccines to more than 90 countries, most of which are BRI partners, according to Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the conference.



The relevant initiative means concrete actions, and it offers practical solutions to battle against the pandemic, Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center, told Xinhua. Following China's footsteps in pandemic response, more countries are demonstrating the will to forge unity through shared political commitments and shared responsibility to tackle this global health crisis, he added.

ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY

Trade in goods between China and BRI partners last year registered a record 1.35 trillion U.S. dollars, making a significant contribution to the COVID-19 response, economic stability and people's livelihood in relevant countries, said Wang Yi.

To spur post-pandemic recovery, the Asia-Pacific countries have urged support for green and low-carbon development, putting in place environment-friendly and risk-resistant infrastructure, and promoting clean energy development and utilization, in their Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development.

Aerial photo taken on July 24, 2020 shows the China-Laos Railway's Ban Ladhan Mekong River Super Major Bridge in Laos. (Photo by Pan Longzhu/Xinhua)

The initiative aims to inject new impetus into building the green Silk Road, Wang said, adding "We are ready to step up cooperation in such areas as green infrastructure, green energy and green finance, and develop more environment-friendly projects with a high standard and high quality."

"An increasing number of countries are working for pledged carbon neutrality goals, and green development has become a development priority. However, they lack the necessary technologies, finance and experience, hence the need for further cooperation," Chen Gang, assistant director of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, told Xinhua.

A train for the Orange Line arrives at a subway station in Lahore, Pakistan, Oct. 26, 2020. The Orange Line was constructed by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. and China North Industries Corporation and was operated by Guangzhou Metro Group, Norinco International and Daewoo Pakistan Express Bus Service. (Xinhua/Liu Tian)

The green development initiative has accommodated the need for environmental conservation and development, a pragmatic and timely move to contribute to global recovery and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said Sun Jingxin, an associate research fellow with the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 23:46:51|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan urged all parties involved in the conflict in neighboring Afghanistan to refrain from the use of force and prevent civilian casualties, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

"On June 23, 2021, 53 soldiers of the Afghan border troops and local militiamen with weapons crossed into the territory of Uzbekistan in the area of Shurtepa district of Afghanistan," it said in a statement.

After carrying out necessary procedures of inquiry and investigative actions, these Afghan citizens were returned to their homeland, it said, adding that "any attempts to illegally enter the Uzbek territory will be strictly suppressed, and the most stringent measures will be taken against violators of the state border."

Uzbekistan is closely following the development of the situation in Afghanistan, including in the bordering northern Afghan provinces, the statement said, adding that the increase in violence in the neighboring country is of utmost concern for Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek side, the statement said, firmly declares its commitment to maintaining traditionally friendly and good-neighborly relations with Afghanistan, maintaining neutrality and non-interference in the internal affairs of the neighboring country.

"Uzbekistan will continue to provide all-round economic and humanitarian support to the brotherly Afghan people," it added, "including through the implementation of major energy, transport and communication projects in the country, the implementation of which will contribute to the establishment of a lasting and comprehensive peace in Afghanistan." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 00:11:24|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Africa has surged at an unprecedented pace as the continent grapples with a third wave that has posed a dire threat to public health infrastructure, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said Thursday.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the continent is grappling with a surge in COVID-19 infection fuelled by the easing of containment measures, cold weather and the presence of new variants.

"The third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, hitting harder. With rapidly rising case numbers and increasing reports of serious illness, the latest surge threatens to be Africa's worst yet," Moeti said in a statement.

She said the continent can avert the worst outcomes as it struggles with the third COVID-19 wave of infections, subject to strict adherence to public health protocols combined with speedy vaccine roll-out.

Statistics from Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicate the continent had 5,288,323 COVID-19 cases and 139,226 fatalities as of Thursday.

Five countries including South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia accounted for 62 percent of all cases reported in the continent as three major variants drive the uptick.

Moeti said that COVID-19 infections have been on an upward trajectory in Africa in the last five weeks since the onset of the third wave on May 3 adding that a 21 percent increase could delay flattening the curve.

She said the pandemic was on resurgence in 12 countries citing unrestricted social interactions and the presence of mutated versions for powering the virus's spread.

According to Moeti, the delta variant that was initially reported in India has been detected in 14 African countries and in the last one month, it has been identified in the majority of samples sequenced in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

She said WHO has deployed experts to some of the countries experiencing unprecedented surges including Uganda and Zambia to boost mitigation measures including timely diagnosis and treatment.

Moeti said boosting the capacity of the continent's laboratories to monitor and sequence variants of concern has been prioritized in a bid to reduce the intensity of the third wave. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 00:16:19|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Thursday it has completed training of 50 police personnel from Jubaland State on prevention and countering violent extremism and radicalization.

The AU mission said the training of the police officers drawn from various police stations across Jubaland aimed to enable them to identify and combat extremism, especially ahead of the national elections.

"We are using the community policing approach to identify and fight terrorism. We expect the trainees to return to their stations and train their colleagues," Daniel Chuks, AMISOM community policing adviser said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

Chuks said the training took participants through the necessary skills to collaborate with the local communities to combat crime to safeguard lives and property.

He said the Somali Police Force will lead the National Election Security Taskforce responsible for securing the electoral process while AMISOM Police will provide them with the needed support.

The AU mission said the training also provided the Somali police officers with skills to counter the terrorists' use of social media platforms to misinform, gather intelligence, and recruit violent extremists.

Ibrahim Sini, communication information technology services advisor to the AMISOM Police, said terror groups are using these technologies to train, recruit, and radicalize the youth who spend time on social media. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 00:31:34|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has announced an initiative to assist African countries to craft national African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement implementation strategies in line with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

The assistance to African countries will be underpinned by an assessment of the environmental impacts that could result from increased economic and trade activities under the AfCFTA in order to devise mitigation actions, the UNECA said in a statement.

As part of the initiative, the UNCEA's African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) on Wednesday launched a complementary research project in partnership with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET).

The joint research initiative is expected to determine how climate change-related risks could alter comparative advantages and trade patterns or affect infrastructure, and identify adverse effects on particular sectors such as agriculture and tourism, a UNECA statement quoted David Luke, coordinator of ATPC, as saying.

The research, with a focus on the role of the AfCFTA in promoting resilient recovery in Africa, is expected to guide how the Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) of African Union (AU) can be better aligned with the AfCFTA negotiations and implementation to put Africa on a more sustainable and resilient economic recovery path.

The research outcome is expected to be tabled at the World Trade Organization (WTO) public forum in September and on the sidelines of COP26 in November, where the UNECA and its partners will review and discuss how the findings and recommendations can be taken forward.

Trading under the AfCFTA started on Jan. 1, 2021.

On Wednesday, Algeria submitted its instrument of ratification of the AfCFTA agreement to the AU Commission, making it the 37th African country to have done so.

The AfCFTA is set to create the largest free trade area in the world, with a market of more than 12 billion people and a combined gross domestic product of 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, according to the UNECA. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 01:02:27|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Thursday received a 113.2-million-U.S.-dollar grant from the World Bank to support local farmers to boost production to mitigate food insecurity in the country.

Josephine Joseph Lagu, minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the money under the Resilient and Livelihoods Project and Emergency Locust Response Project will boost the capacity of farmers to efficiently manage their farms and adopt new technology to improve their yields.

"The two projects were crafted to help increase agricultural production to restore rural livelihood and contribute to ending food and nutrition insecurity," Lagu told journalists in Juba.

Ousmane Dione, World Bank Country Director for South Sudan, said that the projects will provide direct income to the most vulnerable households to enable them to produce more food.

"South Sudanese deserve to be able to produce enough food, they deserve to be able to eat enough and they deserve to stock enough harvest," said Dione.

He revealed that successful implementation of the projects will help restore hope and confidence to South Sudan's development partners to avail more support to the country.

The recent Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said that the deficit in South Sudan's cereal production is estimated at an all-time high of 465,600 metric tons in 2021.

The report said cereal production in 2020 rose by 7 percent on a yearly basis to around 874,400 metric tons in South Sudan.

The UN agencies estimate that 7.2 million people, about 60 percent of South Sudan's population, are projected to face acute food shortage this year and about 1.4 million children under five years old are at risk of acute malnutrition. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 03:06:05|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Liberia signed on Thursday in Rabat an agreement on exploration of hydrocarbons, as well as a cooperation roadmap for the period 2021-2023, official news agency MAP reported.

The agreements were signed by Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, and his Liberian counterpart, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, following their talks.

The first agreement aims at establishing the general framework of cooperation in oil exploration activities in both countries, and the exchange of experience and capacity building in this area.

The second agreement defines the framework of cooperation in the economic, social, and cultural fields, as well as students exchange and human resources training. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 04:10:38|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for international efforts to put an end to colonialism and expounded China's position on the Malvinas Islands.

The question of the Malvinas Islands, also known as the Falklands, is essentially a legacy of colonialism, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

Colonialism has brought great suffering to the world and left an extremely disgraceful page in human history. Today in the 21st century, long gone are the days when Western colonialists had free rein. However, in international relations, colonial thinking, power politics, and bullying, which share the origin with colonialism, are still manifested in various forms, seriously impacting the normal international order and severely undermining the sovereignty, security, and development rights of countries concerned, as well as their political, economic, and social stability, he said.

"The international community must remain highly vigilant about this," he told a session of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization.

This year marks the first year of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. The international community should continue to take necessary measures to uphold fairness and justice, ensure that all forms and manifestations of colonialism are genuinely put to an end and promote the decolonization process of the 17 UN non-self-governing territories, including the Malvinas Islands, said Geng.

Britain and other administering powers should earnestly fulfill their international obligations in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and protect the legitimate rights of the people of the non-self-governing territories, he said.

China's position on the question of the Malvinas Islands has been consistent. It firmly supports Argentina's sovereignty claim on the Malvinas Islands, he said. "China has always maintained that territorial disputes between countries should be resolved through peaceful negotiations in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We hope Britain will actively respond to Argentina's request, start dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible with a view to finding a peaceful, just and lasting solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 04:54:17|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 24, 2021 shows the scene after a 12-story residential building partially collapses in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the United States. (Photo credit: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue)

So far at least 35 people trapped in the building and two others from beneath the rubble have been rescued, according to local authorities. Surfside officials said they couldn't confirm any number of missing people, but the situation looked dire.

WASHINGTON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were dead, and 12 others injured, while 99 people were possibly missing after a 12-story residential building partially collapsed early Thursday in Miami-Dade County in the southeastern U.S. state Florida, local media reported.

The ABC News and local newspaper Miami Herald put the number of people who were missing at 99.

At least 12 people were injured in the incident, two of them in critical condition, according to the reports.

It's unclear exactly how many residents were in the building when the incident happened. Surfside officials said they couldn't confirm any number of missing people, but the situation looked dire.

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue received a call at around 1:30 a.m. local time about the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in the beachside town of Surfside, about 6 miles north of Miami Beach.

So far at least 35 people trapped in the building and two others from beneath the rubble have been rescued, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Raide Jadallah.

Photo taken on June 24, 2021 shows the scene after a 12-story residential building partially collapses in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the United States. (Photo credit: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue)

Video footage from the scene showed a large section of the building, collapsed into a pile of rubble, and a young boy was pulled alive from the rubble.

"It's the unimaginable," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "It's a terrible, terrible nightmare that we have here on Surfside."

The oceanfront condominium, built in 1981, has 136 units, and approximately 55 of them collapsed on the northeast corridor, according to Jadallah. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 05:05:10|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Cuba on Thursday reported 16 deaths from COVID-19 in the past day, its second-worst daily death toll, which raised the total number of fatalities since the onset of the pandemic on the island in March 2020 to 1,209, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

The highest number of deaths in a day from COVID was reported on April 29, when health authorities said 18 people died of the disease.

In the same 24 hours, tests detected 1,880 new cases of COVID-19 infection, pushing the total number of confirmed cases to 174,789.

"These are figures that reflect the complexity of the epidemiological situation we are facing," the ministry's director of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Francisco Duran, said during his daily report on the progress of the pandemic on the island.

Authorities hope to control the spread of the virus in Havana by vaccinating residents, about 2.2 million people, by the end of July. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 05:19:57|Editor: huaxia

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A Kenyan representative watches a screen showing the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland (on the screen) briefing a Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 24, 2021. Tor Wennesland warned Thursday that the cessation of hostilities reached last month between Israel and Hamas remains very fragile. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, warned Thursday that the cessation of hostilities reached last month between Israel and Hamas remains very fragile.

In this regard, the United Nations is working closely with all concerned parties and partners, including Egypt, to solidify the cease-fire, allow the entry of urgent humanitarian assistance and stabilize the situation in Gaza, he told the Security Council in a briefing.

"I urge all sides to refrain from unilateral steps and provocations, take steps to reduce tensions, and allow these efforts to succeed. Everyone must do their part to facilitate ongoing discussions to stabilize the situation on the ground and avoid another devastating escalation in Gaza," he said.

Despite the cease-fire, violent incidents have continued on a daily basis throughout the occupied Palestinian territory in the past two weeks, said Wennesland.

Clashes have repeatedly broken out in Beita village near Nablus in the West Bank, in the context of protests against the construction of a new Israeli settlement outpost. On June 11, Israeli security forces shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian. On June 17, another 16-year-old Palestinian succumbed to his wounds from shots sustained by Israeli security forces the previous night. Since May 3, five Palestinians have been killed and some 100 Palestinians have been injured by live ammunition in and around this area, he said.

On June 15, several thousand right-wing Israeli activists, including members of Knesset, marched through Jerusalem's Old City, with many participants chanting racist slogans against Arabs and Muslims. In protests and clashes that occurred in the context of the march, in East Jerusalem as well as other parts of the West Bank, 66 Palestinians, including 12 children, were injured by rubber bullets, sound grenades and physical assaults, he said.

On the same day, rallies were organized throughout the Gaza Strip by national and Islamic forces. Protests erupted at the perimeter fence and militants in Gaza released incendiary balloons toward Israel, starting dozens of fires. In response to these incendiary balloons, Israel Defense Forces targeted what it said were five Hamas facilities in Gaza, causing damage but no injuries.

On Wednesday, Palestinian activist and parliamentary candidate Nizar Banat was pronounced dead, hours after being arrested by Palestinian security forces at a house in Hebron. According to the victim's family, the victim was aggressively beaten and physically assaulted during the arrest, said Wennesland.

"I would like to again highlight the significant risks we face over the coming period as we confront the prospect of a renewed escalation," he said.

While immediate international efforts are rightly focused on solidifying the cessation of hostilities, providing humanitarian assistance and beginning the process of Gaza reconstruction, recent events have also highlighted the urgent need to re-establish a political horizon and restore hope to Palestinians and Israelis, he said.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting the parties to resolve the conflict and end the occupation in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements, he said. "Even as we focus on the pressing challenges in Gaza, I reiterate our determination to work with Israelis and Palestinians, fellow members of the Middle East Quartet and key regional and international partners to lay the groundwork for a return to meaningful negotiations toward a viable two-state solution." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 05:29:48|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday asked for restraint in Gaza and called on Israel to stop illegal settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territory.

Less than a month after the Security Council welcomed a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli government approved a flag march through Jerusalem's Old City, a move that escalated tensions, and Israel once again conducted airstrikes in Gaza. These acts have cast a shadow over the already fragile cease-fire, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

"China urges all parties, Israel in particular, to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any provocations, violence targeting civilians, or any acts that might intensify frictions," he told the Security Council.

Israel must uphold and respect the historic significance and current status of the Holy City and sincerely respect and protect the religious rights of Muslims, he added.

Israel's illegal settlement activities in the occupied territory constitute an obstacle to peace between Palestine and Israel, and to the prospects for a two-state solution. The settlement activities are in severe contravention to international law and are serious violations of the right to self-determination and sovereignty of the Palestinian people. As such, they constitute one of the triggers of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in May, he said.

China urges Israel to observe Security Council Resolution 2334, immediately cease its settlement activities in the occupied territory, stop its demolition of Palestinian houses and its eviction of the Palestinian people, and effectively contain the increasing violence by settlers, he said.

The protracted turmoil in the Palestinian-Israeli situation in recent years is largely caused by the fact that the Middle East peace process has been derailed, that relevant UN resolutions have not been implemented, and that Palestine's right to independent statehood has been violated repeatedly. The international community must take an objective and impartial stand and make vigorous efforts to relaunch the peace process, he said.

The Security Council must deliver its mandate of maintaining international peace by promoting efforts to alleviate the situation, rebuild trust, and seek a political settlement. Countries that have significant influence in the region must take an objective and impartial stand and refrain from favoring one side and refrain from practicing double standards, said Zhang.

China supports the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, as well as Egypt and Qatar and other countries in their continued efforts to promote peace talks and strengthen international coordination so as to form greater synergy for peace, he said.

China will continue to lend unwavering support to the just cause of the Palestinian people in achieving their national rights. China supports the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with full sovereignty, and with East Jerusalem as its capital on the basis of the 1967 borders, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-25 05:50:43|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chile confirmed the first case of the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the country on Thursday, after analyzing the test results from a Chilean patient who came from the United States, authorities said.

"We have officially confirmed the presence of a patient with the Delta variant, who came from the United States and entered through the Santiago airport," Chilean Minister of Health Enrique Paris said during a speech before the Chamber of Deputies.

The 43-year-old woman has been in quarantine since her arrival in the country, and the Delta variant "is much more contagious than others we have had so far," Paris explained.

The Chilean Congress will vote Thursday on a request to extend the constitutional state of exception for another 90 days, starting on June 30, which allows the regulation of people's liberties, including a night curfew currently in effect.

The detection of the Delta variant in the South American country came amid high levels of COVID-19 infections and hospital demand, despite the progress of mass vaccination against the virus, according to specialists.

Chile had accumulated 1,531,872 COVID-19 cases and 31,797 deaths as of Thursday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:37:37|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Wednesday resumed the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Kennedy Malama, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health in charge of Technical Services, who launched the resumption of the program, urged all those eligible to get vaccinated.

He said the second phase will initially target people who participated in the first phase for their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine before involving those who did not participate in the first phase.

He assured that the government will secure more vaccines to ensure that all those eligible get the vaccine.

The first phase was launched on April 14. Zambia is targeting to vaccinate 8.4 million people above the age of 18 years.

Meanwhile, the country recorded 3,367 new cases in the last 24 hours. The cases were picked from 12,952 tests bringing the cumulative cases to 137,026.

And 50 people died during the same period, bringing the total deaths to 1,794. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:40:34|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's Minister of Women's Empowerment and Family Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa said on Wednesday that deaths through armed conflict have contributed to a significant rise in the number of widows in the Central African nation.

A separatist conflict in the Anglophone regions of the country and insurgency by the terror group Boko Haram in the Far North region has increased the number of widows from an estimated 600,000 in 2018 to 1.5 million, according to government statistics.

The widows were suffering from crushing poverty and persecution, said the minister at a media briefing to launch week-long activities to mark International Widows' Day.

"It is important that all stakeholders come together to mobilize the community to defend the rights of widows. The ministry will continue to sensitize widows on their rights, build income-generating activities for them and help them survive legally and psychologically," she added.

United Nations International Widows' Day commemorated annually on June 23, aims to draw attention toward the voices of widows. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:48:31|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Wednesday signed a 19.9-million-U.S.-dollar project to boost food security, productivity and resilience of small-scale farmers faced with climate change.

The South Sudan Livelihoods Resilience Project (SSLRP) will bring much-needed help to 38,800 rural households facing the impacts of poverty, food insecurity and climate change, the two sides said in a joint statement.

IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency based in Rome, Italy.

The financing agreement, which was signed virtually by Gilbert F. Houngbo, IFAD president, and Athian Ding Athian, South Sudan minister for Finance and Planning, will empower rural people to boost productivity, food security and nutrition, and resilience.

To implement SSLRP, IFAD is providing a 1.9-million-dollar loan, 7.9 million-dollar grant and 4.0 million-dollar IFAD climate finance.

South Sudan will be providing 1.6 million dollars, plus 5.6 million dollars from the African Development Bank as parallel co-financing and 0.8 million dollars from the beneficiaries.

In the meantime, Netherlands will provide an 8-million-dollar grant as additional co-financing for SSLRP to support rural feeder roads for agriculture production and access to markets.

IFAD said SSLRP will target the most vulnerable, food insecure and small-scale producers engaged in fishing, cropping and livestock production at a time when the COVID-19 crisis and climate change could further push the 85 percent of South Sudanese who live in rural areas into deeper poverty.

In SSLRP, 70 percent of beneficiaries will be youth and 60 percent will be women, including returnees, women-headed households and persons with disabilities, who will receive particular attention to facilitate their integration into agricultural production and rural economy activities, said IFAD. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-23 23:56:06|Editor: huaxia

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by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian government aims at boosting and activating the economy in an accelerated manner by enforcing the 2021-2022 budget, local economic experts said.

The parliament on June 14 approved a 2.46 trillion Egyptian pound (nearly 157 billion U.S. dollars) budget for the financial year beginning on July 1.

The country is targeting a budget deficit of 6.6 percent in the fiscal year 2021-2022 and to cut public debts from 89.5 percent of GDP in June 2022 to less than 70 percent in the coming years.

"Tending to increase the state budget is a strategic approach that has been adopted by Egypt since the beginning of the economic reform program in 2016 for promoting the rise of the economy volume in a way that suits the economic aspirations of the government," said Aly Mansour, professor of economy in Cairo University.

Though the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget is "the largest in the country's history," it is not risky, Mansour told Xinhua.

He explained that the new budget seeks to revive the economy swiftly by targeting a 5.4 percent growth rate and maintaining a reasonable deficit of 6.6 percent.

Increasing the public expenditures in the new budget was also accompanied by raising the revenues amid the persistence of achieving initial surplus that maintains the continuous reduction of the public debt compared to the GDP rate, he explained.

The economic expert said the government aims to stimulate the economy through increasing government investments and cash subsidy allocations, which would create more work fields for investors and provide purchasing power for income earners.

"That is an incentive for investors to further expand their activities," he said.

He reiterated that the targeted growth rate of 5.4 percent is possible and matches expectations of international institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that predicted 5.2 percent.

"Egypt in the past few years has achieved economic results higher than the IMF expectations thanks to the ongoing economic reform and the interaction between the private sector with the country's provided incentives," he noted.

In April, Egypt launched the second phase of its economic reform program that was initiated in 2016, targeting structural reforms in industry, agricultural, communication and information technology sectors.

Mohamed Attwah, dean of commerce faculty of Mansourah University, said the new budget works on four approaches: increasing investments for completing the infrastructure networks, boosting the social solidarity plans, raising the wages and reducing the domestic borrowing volume.

He said each one Egyptian pound in investment will lead to five pounds increase in income, noting that increasing the state budget is normal during periods of crisis because the government seeks investments to boost the private sector and increase the growth rates.

However, the economic expert said the COVID-19 pandemic, either related to the virus continuity or mutation, poses challenges at the international level and for the economic decision-makers who seek to enhance social care protection when drafting the new budget.

The new socio-economic development plan 2021-2022 aims to inject greater investments into the sectors of education and health.

The new budget and socio-economic development plan were rejected by four political parties: the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, the Modern Egypt Party, the Tagammu Party and the Al-Adl (Justice) Party.

Sayed Abdel-Aal, president of Tagammu Party, warned against the continuous dependence on borrowing from abroad, demanding of putting a ceil for borrowing, and restructuring the wages.

According to the Central Bank of Egypt, Egypt's foreign debt registered 129.195 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2020, compared to 112.67 billion dollars at the end of December 2019. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 00:55:12|Editor: huaxia

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MOMBASA, Kenya, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's anti-terrorism police shot dead a terror suspect in the coastal Kwale County on Wednesday evening.

Coast Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) commandant Washington Njiru said the suspect, whose identity is yet to be released, was killed at his hideout following intelligence information in the Matuga area.

Njiru said two other suspects escaped the dragnet with gunshot wounds, noting that the deceased had been on the radar for some time.

"We had trailed his movements with some of his colleagues and today we narrowed down on them," he told Xinhua on the phone.

He said the terror suspect was planning to attack a security establishment and steal weaponry in the area.

Njiru said one AK47 rifle was recovered as well as several rounds of ammunition.

He said 25 rounds of super slug special, one laptop, nine mobile phones, 100 grams of magnesium metal powder and a note listing targeted areas were seized from the slain suspect.

The police believe many al-Shabab returnees are believed to be holed in the coastal region and have since changed tactics and resorted to using improvised explosive devices to carry out attacks in parts of the coastal and northeastern regions. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 02:48:56|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The South African woman who has claimed she gave birth to 10 babies was not pregnant in the past months, said the Gauteng provincial government on Wednesday.

Gosiame Sithole, 37, claimed that she gave birth to 10 babies on June 7 in a local hospital in Gauteng Province, according to local media.

"The Gauteng provincial government conducted a thorough check with all hospitals in the province to establish the veracity or otherwise of reports," said the government in a statement. "None of the hospitals in the province, public and private, had any records of such birth at their facilities."

Sithole was taken to hospital on June 18 where several examinations were conducted.

"It has now been established by medical practitioners that Ms. Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times. It is also been established that she was not pregnant in recent times," said Gauteng Provincial Government spokesperson Thabo Masebe.

He said the government will continue providing medical, psychological and social support to the woman. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 19:17:29|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday declared June 25 as a public holiday for COVID-19 national prayers as a virulent second wave of the pandemic continues to devastate the east African country.

Museveni, in a State House statement, said Friday will be observed as a public holiday and the fourth national session for interdenominational prayers as the country battles a rise in the novel coronavirus infections.

The national prayers will be held virtually at State House Entebbe, about 40 kilometers south of the capital, Kampala. The leaders of various religious denominations will lead the prayers.

Museveni last week imposed a nationwide total lockdown for 42 days to combat and control the spread of the virus.

As of Wednesday, Uganda had registered 74,260 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 50,085 recoveries and 752 deaths since the first case was reported in March last year, according to the official figures. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:12:37|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines has started operating flights with fully vaccinated crew against the COVID-19 virus, it said in a statement issued late Wednesday.

Operating flights with fully vaccinated crew is a vital move to keep travelers and its crew safe in light of the ongoing pandemic that strongly affected the aviation sector, it said.

"We are pleased to operate flights with fully vaccinated crew, a significant step in protecting our employees' and customers' health safety," said Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of the Ethiopian Airlines.

The airline emphasized the positive implication of the recently increasing number of passengers traveling for business and tourism supported by the confidence of vaccination across the world.

"We have been squarely focused on working very hard to ensure the safety of our staff and passengers since the pandemic broke out and this is another testament to our continued commitment," it said.

According to the airlines, it has so far bought and imported more than 37,000 vaccine shots for its employees and stakeholders.

Ethiopian Airlines has been rigorously implementing COVID-19 precautionary measures including the launch of its own testing and isolation center and digitization of its operation among others.

The Ethiopian national carrier has been at the forefront in the fight against the pandemic carrying essential medical supplies and vaccines across the globe as well as repatriating stranded people back to their home.

The airline had recently launched a high-end COVID-19 testing lab at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to facilitate COVID-19 testing for passengers departing or transiting via the airport. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:22:04|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is banking on speedy administration of second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to tame the virus spread amid surges in western parts of the country that have exerted strain on public health infrastructure, a senior health official said on Thursday.

Willis Akhwale, chair of COVID-19 vaccine taskforce said the government has intensified procurement of additional doses from bilateral partners to ensure that COVID-19 booster shots are administered on time.

Akhwale who spoke during a live interview on a local television, said Kenyans who received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will get the second one before the expiry of 12 weeks as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"The government is committed to ensuring that second COVID-19 vaccine doses are administered to all eligible persons within a shorter time frame as additional stockpiles arrive in the country," said Akhwale.

Kenyan on Monday received 358,000 AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Denmark to boost ongoing administration of second doses targeting high-risk groups like health workers, the elderly and terminally ill.

Akhwale said the vaccine doses had already been deployed to nine regional centers countrywide while eligible persons will be informed via short message service (SMS) when their turn for inoculation was due.

He said the government had invested in training of health workers and establishment of cold chain facilities to facilitate seamless roll-out of the second phase of immunization against COVID-19.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that 203,905 Kenyans had received their second dose as of Wednesday while healthcare workers led the pack followed by people aged 58 years, teachers and security officers.

Nearly one million Kenyans have already received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as the government races against time to ensure they do not miss on the second one amid supply crunch.

Akhwale said that vaccine uptake has been encouraging, adding that the government was confident of acquiring additional doses from diverse sources to ensure booster shots were available from July.

"Once the additional doses arrive, we will alert citizens who received the first dose to visit inoculation sites within their vicinity to receive the booster shots," said Akhwale.

He said the Ministry of Health will also publish names of all vaccination sites while embarking on public education to boost uptake of second doses among the eligible citizens.

Akhwale said that western Kenyan counties that are the new COVID-19 hotspots will be prioritized in the second phase of vaccination to minimize pressure on health facilities.

Kenya commenced roll-out of the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination late May after receiving donations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.

The east African nation had planned to complete administration of second doses of AstraZeneca vaccine by July but global supply crunch occasioned by the crisis in India stalled the process.

Akhwale said that replenishment of COVAX facilities by several wealthy nations will boost Kenya's quest to administer second doses to all citizens who received the first one between March to May.

Susan Mochache, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health said that Kenya is among African countries that had registered optimal vaccine uptake, adding that ongoing discussion with multilateral bodies will help tackle supply bottlenecks.

According to Mochache, the government had set aside adequate funds to purchase a diverse range of COVID-19 vaccines to hasten realization of a 10 percent coverage by September.

Health experts said that Kenya should leverage aggressive vaccine roll-out, revamping of critical care facilities and enforcement of public health protocols to reduce infections and deaths arising from the coronavirus.

Andrew Were, president of Kenya Medical Association (KMA), said the government should channel additional resources to ensure that a critical mass of the population is fully immunized against the virus. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:26:03|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government doesn't target civilians in the ongoing war in the country's northern Tigray regional state, an Ethiopian official said on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists, Dina Mufti, Spokesman for Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), said the government doesn't target any civilians nor does it have any civilian targets in Tigray.

The remarks came after reports of casualties following a military airstrike on Tuesday in Togoga village, about 30 km west of Tigray's regional capital, Mekelle. The airstrike allegedly left dozens of people dead and injured many others, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources.

The MoFA spokesman said the government is continuing its pursuit of fugitive TPLF leaders. "There is a hunt for unlawful elements in the northern part of Ethiopia," said Mufti, adding the military is flushing them out from where they are hiding.

Months of fighting in Tigray between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which used to rule the Tigray region until last November, and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces backed by allied forces have reportedly left thousands of people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 22:26:16|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has frozen public sector wage hikes for the next two financial years beginning in July due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country's tax collections.

The east African nation's public sector wage bill has been accounting for a bigger percentage of tax revenue than stipulated under the public finance management act which set a target of 35 percent.

The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which is the state agency mandated to set the level of wages for public sector workers, has been undertaking four-year review cycles for benefits of government employees since 2013.

So far it has conducted two remuneration review cycles for the public sector.

Each of these reviews has resulted in an annual rise of wages for civil servants as the economy has performed well in the past decade.

However, the situation has changed drastically largely due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which has reduced fiscal space in government coffers.

Data from SRC indicates that for the 2019/2020 financial year, the total wage bill was 51.7 percent of ordinary revenue raised.

In addition, the wage bill to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio reached 8.3 percent in the 2019/2020 financial year which is above the set target of 7.5 percent.

SRC said that in order to catalyze economic growth, more tax resources must be channeled towards priority areas.

In order to release the resources, austerity measures must include budgetary cuts on the wages of government employees.

According to SRC, the review of remuneration and benefits in the third review cycle is informed by outcomes of job evaluation and grading as well as labor market salary surveys.

Lynn Mengich, chairperson of SRC said that cognizant of the government's financial constraints, there will be no upward review of salaries for the public sector in the next two years.

Mengich said that the move will save the country resources which can be redirected to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Edward Kusewa, an economist, told Xinhua in Nairobi on Thursday that the country's public sector wage bill has been increasing for the past decade after the promulgation of the 2010 constitution.

Kusewa added that the new constitution created 47 county governments which drastically expanded the number of employees in the public sector.

"The government was a step in the right direction in terms of devolving resources closer to the people but it has the unintended effect of expanding the wage bill," said Kusewa.

He said that a freeze in pay for civil servants is inevitable as the country grapples with reduced tax revenues for the foreseeable period.

Kusewa said that reducing the public wage bill is one of the avenues available for the country to manage the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Kusewa, the job stability and the relatively high wages paid by the public sector as compared to the private sector have attracted more people to join the government.

Eliud Lekolal, who works for the government, told Xinhua that he was attracted to join the public sector amid a guarantee for job security.

The 34-year-old father of three completed his business management degree in a public university in 2013.

"I now have to cope with a freeze on salary for this year, "said Lekolal.

Experts say the push to join the government has also led to a bulging public wage bill which has now become a burden as the COVID-19 pandemic reduces tax revenues. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 22:33:28|Editor: huaxia

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A worker harvests grapes at a grape farm in Sadat city of Menoufia province, Egypt, June 14, 2021. At a vast grape farm in Sadat City of Menoufia province, north of Cairo, dozens of well-trained workers carefully harvested clusters of grapes dangling beneath the green leaves. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

MENOUFIA, Egypt, June 24 (Xinhua) -- At a vast grape farm in Sadat City of Menoufia province, north of Cairo, dozens of well-trained workers carefully harvested clusters of grapes dangling beneath the green leaves.

In Egypt, grape harvest season begins in May and ends in September. Grapes are one of the most widely grown fruit crops across the country, second only to citrus.

Egypt's grape cultivation is spread geographically from Alexandria in the north to Aswan in the south, which enables the prolonged availability of fresh table grapes, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Egypt has in recent years witnessed a notable increase in growing and exporting table grapes as the global demand for its high quality fruit has been rising remarkably.

"We have punctually and reliably exported to Europe certified table grapes since 2002," Mohammed Mostafa, technical manager of a family owned company specializing in growing and exporting fruits and vegetables.

He noted that his company exports 3,000-3,500 tons of table grapes to Europe annually, pointing out the produce is increasing notably in recent years.

The grape-growing area in Egypt is about 200,000 feddans (840 square kilometers), with total production of about 1.7 million tons per year, according to official data.

Despite the coronavirus-caused crisis, Egypt's grape exports during 2020 amounted to 139,059 tons.

Grape exports in Egypt hit 18,106 tons from January to the end of May this year, compared to 16,187 tons during the corresponding period of last year, an increase of over 10 percent, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, Mostafa added that his company is one of the first exporters who took the lead of producing grapes in the south of Egypt, where the best varieties of grapes are currently grown.

"We have an organic approach towards all our production ... our farms are located in diverse places in Egypt to guarantee the best climate and continuous supply to our clients and European partners," Mostafa told Xinhua.

He added that the government has been aiding grape growers in an attempt to encourage them and others to increase their crops for exports.

Mostafa revealed that the company has been in talks with a Chinese firm to export fruits, mainly strawberry, pointing out that a deal may be reached within a few months.

"China is an important partner for many Egyptian companies and we are keen to open a market for our products in China," he said.

The increase of grape farms in Egypt is not only a grace for business owners, but also a source of a stable income for hundreds of workers who mainly live in nearby villages.

"I have been working here for more than four years ... this farm has helped hundreds of the residents of my village earn a living," Hamy Fathy, a 46-year-old farmer, told Xinhua as he supervised the harvest process at the farm.

The father of six said that he has been in this kind of business for 20 years, adding that he inherited his experience in grape growing and harvesting from his father.

"This farm hires over 40 people from my village ... the farmers and workers are the breadwinners of hundreds of children," he said, adding that the village had suffered from poverty before growing grapes in the farm. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 23:08:06|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A Zimbabwean lawmaker on Thursday thanked the National People's Congress of China for organizing a two-day virtual seminar for African parliamentarians to share knowledge on poverty reduction and development.

On behalf of Zimbabwean parliamentarians, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, chairperson of the parliamentary committee on lands, agriculture, water, fisheries and rural resettlement, extended his gratitude to the Chinese organizers for coordinating the informative seminar this week.

The seminar was attended by legislators from Liberia, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

"On behalf of Zimbabwe's National Assembly, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the National People's Congress of China for putting together this extremely illuminating webinar examining poverty reduction and development," Wadyajena said in a statement.

He said Zimbabwean parliamentarians learned a lot about the role that they play in overseeing national development strategies, particularly Vision 2030 which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income country in the next 9 years.

Wadyajena said legislators will apply what they learned, and borrow from China's experience and expertise to help advance the role of Zimbabwe's parliament in promoting national development and prosperity. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 15:32:02|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) continued to brush-off calls for a lockdown despite an increase in locally acquired COVID-19 cases.

The state recorded 18 locally acquired cases in the 24 hours as of 8 p.m. Wednesday, with a further six new cases announced overnight which will be included in Friday's numbers. The number of cases linked to a cluster in a suburb in Sydney's east rose to 36, the state's health department said on Thursday.

Testing continued to ramp up with 48,402 tests reported as of 8:00 p.m. last night, compared with the previous day's total of 44,640, as more and more areas throughout Sydney were declared hotspots including trains and buses routes.

Among the new positive cases was NSW Agricultural Minister Adam Marshall, which implicated a number of government officials as close contacts, including NSW Health Minister Brad Hazard who is now isolating at home.

Despite increasing local cases, the authorities continued to dismiss the need for a lockdown in Sydney.

"I don't believe that we will go into a lockdown. I've made that point...I think we actually need to take health advice. And the health advice is that the new orders that came into play yesterday afternoon are proportionate to our risk," said Hazard.

He stressed that people need to be "extremely cautious" and follow orders due to the increased virility of this variant of the virus.

At the same time, the neighbouring state of Victoria has declared Greater Sydney and Wollongong as red zones from 1:00 a.m. Friday facing the growing outbreak in NSW, which means high COVID-19 transmission risks and non-Victorian residents from these areas are not allowed to enter the state without an exception.

A man in his 60s in Victoria tested positive after returning from Sydney on Sunday night.

Some other states and territories also have tightened their border restrictions to Sydney. Western Australia and South Australia have restrictions in place for the entire state, while Queensland and Victoria have blocked travel from large parts of Sydney. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 15:32:13|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- China delivered on Thursday an additional batch of Sinovac CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines.

"The new shipment is the fourth batch of Sinovac vaccines delivered this month," Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of the government's measures to combat COVID-19, said in a statement.

Galvez and Health Secretary Francisco Duque received the vaccines at the airport in the capital.

China was the first to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines. It donated the first batch of CoronaVac to the Philippines on Feb. 28, allowing the Southeast Asian country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1.

The Department of Health has administered more than 8.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, primarily to frontline healthcare workers, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions.

Over 2.1 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated so far. The country aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people this year, depending on the supply.

The Philippines has reported 1,372,232 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday, including 23,928 deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 17:30:07|Editor: huaxia

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An Afghan security force member inspects the weapons handed over by Taliban militants in Herat, Afghanistan, June 24, 2021. A total of 130 Taliban militants surrendered to the Afghan government in western Afghan province of Herat on Thursday, a local government spokesperson said. (Photo by Elaha Sahel/Xinhua)

HERAT, Afghanistan, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 130 Taliban militants surrendered to the Afghan government in western Afghan province of Herat on Thursday, a local government spokesperson confirmed.

The former militants surrendered to the personnel of provincial directorate of National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's national intelligence agency, spokesperson Jilani Farhad told Xinhua.

They also brought 85 AK-47 guns, five PK guns, five rounds of rocket propelled grenade launchers together with amount of ammunition, he said.

With the former insurgents' surrender, peace and stability would be further strengthened in Herat, the official said.

The Taliban militant group hasn't commented on the report yet. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 19:17:50|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Online classes amid a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic has been boosting the import of mobile phones to Nepal, according to data released by the country's Department of Customs on Wednesday.

Panini School in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu does not allow students to carry mobile phones in normal times, now its online classes for around 400 students have been making such gadgets part of their daily life.

The Kathmandu Valley has been put under a lockdown since late April in response to a revisit of the coronavirus, under which schools are shut down to help control the spread of the virus.

"Most of our students are now taking online classes," said Karna Bahadur Shahi, founding principal of the Panini Education Network which runs the school.

"In the past, we had to advise the students not to overuse mobile phones and other gadgets but such a gadget has been indispensable for their study due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

As teaching goes online, demand for smartphones has grown substantially in the Himalayan country, leading to a growing import of mobile phones during the first 11 months of the current 2020-21 fiscal year which ends in mid-July.

According to the latest data by the Department of Customs, Nepal imported mobile phones worth 34.14 billion Nepali rupees (around 287 million U.S. dollars) during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, in contrast with 15.74 billion Nepali rupees over the same period of last fiscal year.

As to the number of mobile phones, 6.55 million sets of mobile phones were imported during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, as against 4.07 million sets for the same period of last fiscal year.

"Soaring demand for smartphones for education purposes is the main reason behind a massive growth in import of mobile phones," said Sanjaya Agrawal, chief executive officer of Tele Direct, an authorized distributor of Xiaomi mobile phones in Nepal.

"Another reason is that border control measures taken to control the spread of coronavirus have also discouraged the entry of smuggled and counterfeit mobile phones," he told Xinhua.

Agrawal saw a growth of 30-40 percent in sales of Xiaomi mobiles in Nepal in the last year, as Nepal imported over 60 percent of mobile phones from China, although India is emerging as a big exporter of mobile phones to its neighbor since smartphone makers are assembling their gadgets in India too.

According to customs data, Nepal imported from China mobile phones worth 20.76 billion Nepali rupees (174 million U.S. dollars) during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, which accounted for some 61 percent of the total value, while mobile phones valued at 11.83 billion Nepali rupees (99 million U.S. dollars) were brought in from India during the same period.

"We import Xiaomi mobile phones both from China and India," said Agrawal. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:00:25|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police had arrested 16 drug traffickers, authorities said on Thursday.

"The Counter-Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) and detective security organizations arrested 16 suspects, including two women linked to 11 cases of trafficking and hiding narcotics in different provinces within the past seven days," the Counter Narcotics Justice Centre of Afghanistan (CNJC) said in a statement.

The CNPA also seized an amount of narcotics from the suspects, said the statement.

After initial investigations, the CNPA handed over the cases to the Central Narcotics Tribunal or CNT, a special court for jurisdiction of major drug cases in Afghanistan, according to the statement.

Further investigation is underway. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 20:40:37|Editor: huaxia

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A man receives a dose of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, June 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

by Misbah Saba Malik

ISLAMABAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Ghazanfar Malik, his wife and mother recently got immunization certificates after receiving their two jabs of the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, and besides feeling protected, they felt particularly sad over Malik's father losing his life to the pandemic ahead of his vaccination date three months ago.

"I had mixed feelings when I got my certificate. I kept on thinking that if my father had himself administered the vaccine, he would have been with us today," said Malik.

"He was 70 years old and was the last in his friends' circle to register for the vaccine. Other old men who received Sinopharm shots in time remained safe from the coronavirus, but my old man fell prey to the disease," Malik told Xinhua.

Malik has urged everyone of his friends and acquaintances to get the vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones from the deadly virus. He believes that vaccination is the most effective tool against the coronavirus epidemic.

Pakistan has recently recovered from a serious third wave of infections and eased anti-epidemic restrictions nationwide after the COVID-19 positivity rate fell below 3 percent. Experts believe speeding up vaccine rollout and making sure people comply with health guidelines have helped the government succeed in curbing the spread of the virus.

The Asian country started its vaccination drive in February this year after receiving vaccines donated by China. With more donations from China as well as the Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino vaccines it purchased from China, Pakistan has been immunizing its population from the pandemic.

Asad Umar, head of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) against COVID-19, said China came for Pakistan's rescue as a true friend when it was in dire need of the vaccine to immunize its public.

"We were facing a serious challenge and were looking for a friend to come to our rescue, and like always China helped us to overcome the crisis, enabling us to kick off our vaccination drive," said Umar.

Apart from helping Pakistan with vaccine donations, China also enabled Pakistan to roll out locally produced CanSino vaccine through technology transfer, and to be self-sufficient of the vaccine in the future, Umar said.

With the technological support from the CanSino Biologics Inc., the National Institute of Health of Pakistan recently filled and packed the single-dose CanSino vaccine using the bulk vaccine purchased from China. It was the first COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pakistan.

Addressing the launching ceremony for the locally produced CanSino vaccine earlier this month, Umar shared results of a local survey, saying that Chinese vaccines are the preferred vaccines due to their superior quality and efficacy.

The vaccine is really a boon for people who have wide interaction with the public on a daily basis, and whose work or business was badly affected by the pandemic, such as transporters, teachers and traders.

Rana Mukhtar, a fruit vendor at a major fruit market located in the capital Islamabad, told Xinhua that his business had suffered six months of market closure and restrictions, including sharp decrease in visitors amid the pandemic, partly as a result of the declining purchasing power of people.

"Things gradually got back to normal when administration of Chinese vaccines started. Many people including myself got a jab. The hustle and bustle of the market has returned and prices of fruit and vegetables at the stalls also dropped, resulting in an increase in the number of customers," Mukhtar said.

M. Ali Kemal, an economic policy advisor at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, said that the timely vaccination process supported by Chinese vaccines has helped in Pakistan's economic recovery and boosted the government's confidence in easing restrictions following a continuous drop in new cases.

He said that with the momentum in vaccination drive, the socio-economic activities in Pakistan will get a boost.

According to the NCOC, 100 million people out of Pakistan's total population of over 220 million is eligible for vaccination, and the country aims to inoculate them by mid-2022. So far, there have been over 3.5 million fully vaccinated while over 7.2 million partially vaccinated.

Experts and officials believe that China's vaccine donation and uninterrupted vaccine exports have greatly helped Pakistan and many other countries in their combating COVID-19.

In a conversation with Xinhua, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan said that the vaccination drive in Pakistan centers around the Chinese vaccines.

He added that China's help in the form of vaccine donations and supplies to countries in need especially the developing countries "underscores the philosophy which the Chinese government put forth, which is that China is doing it for a global good." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 03:43:47|Editor: huaxia

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Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela attends a press conference in Valletta, Malta, on June 23, 2021. Robert Abela said on Wednesday that the country will be fighting back the "unjust" and "undeserved" grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

VALLETTA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Wednesday that the country will be fighting back the "unjust" and "undeserved" grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

He made the remarks hours after the FATF voted to add Malta to its grey list on Wednesday. The decision could severely hurt Malta's fast-growing financial and gaming sectors. Abela vowed to forge ahead with financial reforms to help tackle money laundering and prevent the funding of international terrorism.

Addressing a news conference, Abela said: "I feel that Malta did not deserve such a result. While I feel that the decision was unjust, I bow my head to it and we will use it as an opportunity to double our efforts to overcome challenges. Malta will continue building on the reforms it has implemented so far."

He said that entities involved in the fight against money laundering defended Malta's case. He added that the recent report by the Council of Europe's expert group, Moneyval, was a positive one and showed that Malta was among the most compliant countries. "There was no instance where Malta was found to be non-compliant or semi-compliant," he said.

Notwithstanding the decision, the country will continue bringing about positive change where it is needed. "We will continue working to attract foreign investment," he said.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said he was not anticipating any "shocks" on the country's finances, and Malta is expected to reach its GDP targets. He said the government will mitigate the effects of the FATF verdict "in the best possible way."

Maltese media quoted some studies as reporting that financial grey-listing could seriously harm Malta's economy. Foreign direct investment, money transactions, and even banking activity could also be impacted. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 12:59:06|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden should not embark on "a new cold war with China," said Armin Laschet, a leading candidate to succeed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, reported by Washington Examiner, an American conservative news website based in Washington.

"I'm not sure the American president wants to create a new cold war with China," Laschet, leader of the German Christian Democratic Union party, said at a Federation of German Industries event.

"He has some very strong positions where he shows a competitive attitude where we as Europeans can be allies. But if somebody wants to start a new war, that would be the wrong answer," he said.

Biden's team has identified Germany, the European Union's largest economy, as a centerpiece of its effort to improve coordination with U.S. allies and coordinate an "alliance of democracies" to manage threats from China, the Examiner wrote.

Laschet affirmed his "support" for Merkel's strategy on China, a sign the next leader of the European power will be a big thorn in Washington's side, it added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 19:46:21|Editor: huaxia

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SOFIA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian authorities on Thursday retrieved the black box of the MiG-29 fighter jet which crashed in the Black Sea during a military drill on June 9, the country's Defense Minister Georgi Panayotov said.

The black box was found at a depth of more than 70 meters, and later on Thursday it will be delivered to Graf Ignatievo Air Base, the permanent deployment site on Bulgaria's MiG-29 squadron, the minister said at a press conference.

"The report is that the outer shell of the box is broken, but we have reason to believe that the inner shell of the box, which actually contains the information, is not damaged," Panayotov said.

"This gives us hope that the information can be extracted today," he said.

"If the data in the black box is not damaged, it will be read here in Bulgaria," Panayotov said, adding that the data will be provided to the investigating authorities.

The aircraft lost radio communication and disappeared from radars at 00:45 local time on June 9 when performing a training task during the tactical live-fire exercise Shabla 21.

On June 10, after finding "biological material" which was sent for DNA examination, the Defense Ministry established that the pilot, 47-year-old Major Valentin Terziev, has died. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-24 21:21:25|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Weekly COVID-19 cases across Finland have dropped to about one-third of the first week of May, while the proportion of new infections acquired abroad has increased, the health authority said on Thursday.

Last week, a total of 514 new cases were registered, of which 33 percent had been acquired abroad, compared to 19 percent in the previous week, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) said in a press release.

Infections from abroad have become the most common source of infection in the capital area, according to the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

Pasi Pohjola, a director at STM, told a press conference on Thursday that the home travel by dual citizens and the arrival of seasonal workers were among the causes for COVID-19 importation.

The testing system at Finnish borders functions well, said Otto Helve, director of the department for contagious diseases and vaccinations at THL, urging for voluntary reduction of contacts until a second COVID-19 test.

Almost 3.2 million people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Finland, accounting for about 57 percent of the population. Enditem
Xi Jinping Sends Message of Condolence to Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on the Death of Former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda

2021/06/23

On June 23, 2021, President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on the death of former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.

Xi Jinping pointed out in his message that Mr. Kenneth Kaunda was an internationally renowned leader of the African independence movement, politician, social activist, and the founder of China-Zambia relations. He played an active role in promoting China-Zambia friendly cooperation in all fields, and established a profound friendship with the Chinese leadership. Chinese people will always remember his outstanding contribution to the development of China-Zambia relations. I will continue to work with President Lungu to strengthen the traditional China-Zambia friendship, expand friendly cooperation in all fields, and carry forward China-Zambia friendship to benefit both countries and their people.
Former Navy Secretary and Virginia Sen. John Warner was memorialized at Washington's National Cathedral on Wednesday and laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on a hill near his parents' graves.

Warner, who died May 25 at age 94, was remembered by President Joe Biden, who served alongside him in the Senate, and Virginia's two senators as a "class act" who played a pivotal role in military affairs and was a consensus builder in Congress.

"He understood that democracy is more than a form of government. He understood that democracy was a way of being and ... that empathy is the fuel of democracy, the willingness to see each other as opponents, not as enemies, and above all to each other as Americans, even when we disagree," Biden said in his eulogy.

Read Next: White House Will Evacuate Afghans Who Helped US to Third Country for Visa Processing

Warner was born in Washington, D.C., where he was raised by his parents, John William Warner, a surgeon who served in the Army Medical Corps in France in World War I, and Martha Stuart Warner, who served in the Red Cross during the war.

He enlisted in the Navy in January 1945, reaching the rank of petty officer third class. After leaving the service, he attended Washington and Lee University, graduating in 1949, and then entered law school at the University of Virginia. But he left his studies to join the Marine Corps at the start of the Korean War in 1950 and served as a ground maintenance officer in Korea.

He reached the rank of captain in the Marine Corps Reserve and finished his law studies in 1953, becoming an assistant U.S. attorney in 1956, followed by private practice.

Warner became under secretary of the Navy in 1969; three years later, he was named the 61st secretary of the Navy. During that time, he participated in the Law of the Sea Talks and negotiated an agreement with the Soviet Union to reduce maritime incidents between the U.S. and the USSR.

He was elected to the Senate in 1978, where he served for more than 30 years, chairing the Senate Armed Services Committee twice and the Senate Rules Committee.

"He earned the deepest respect from across the political spectrum for his honesty, tenacity, independent thinking, and strong adherence to Constitutional ideals," Commandant Gen. David Berger said in a Marine Corps-wide message Tuesday. "He spent a lifetime serving others, working tirelessly to make our nation better, and giving back to the country and community he held dear."

While serving as chair of the Armed Services committee, Warner supported the Iraq War, rebuffing calls for the withdrawal of U.S. service members in 2007. But later, he opposed the surge of additional troops, saying he believed the country had met its commitment to Iraq.

He had three children by his first wife, Catherine Mellon; they divorced in 1973. Later, Warner was famously married to actress Elizabeth Taylor for nearly six years. The couple was known to throw lavish parties and fox hunts at their farm near Middleburg, Virginia, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He married Jeanne Vander Myde in 2003 and left the Senate in 2009 at age 81.

"There isn't a sailor, soldier, airman or Marine in Virginia or anywhere in the country who doesn't owe a debt of gratitude to Sen. Warner," said Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat who is no relation but earned the elder Warner's political support despite belonging to different parties.

Warner was buried at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Section 4 of Arlington National Cemetery, in a location not far from the Coast Guard Memorial, a spot in close proximity to Joint Base Fort Myer-Henderson Hall, the Air Force Memorial and the Pentagon.

Mark Warner said that when he faces tough decisions, he often asks himself, "What would John Warner do?"

"That's who John was, a class act," he said. "He was a leader of substance in the Senate and the country. ... May this American hero rest in peace."

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Korean War POW Will Finally Be Buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Senior Court Reporter

A South African national, Sheila Khumalo, was found guilty of smuggling cocaine worth $7,8 million into Zimbabwe from Brazil.

Khumalo (50), was arrested on May 10 at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while travelling from Brazil.

She is expected to be sentenced on Friday.

Giving evidence yesterday, Dr Clancy Nyamukure narrated how cocaine affects people's health systems and its impact on society.

Dr Nyamukure said cocaine has physical, mental and economic problems. It damages brains, causes stroke, fits, seizures and hallucinations, delusions and it causes euphoria and irritability.

It could also cause involuntary movement of jaws, sore throats, chest pains and heart attack.

It causes abnormal function of the heart muscle, and damaging kidneys and leading to vomiting, itchy skin, early aging, and high or low blood pressure.

It was addictive and so difficult to stop taking the drug.

"Cocaine is found in higher social classes and is peddled through cartels," said Dr Nyamukure.

"There is an association between cocaine, terrorism and money laundering," he said.

Dealers do not usually give pure drugs, but mix it with other impurities to come up with larger quantities when it is sold on the streets.

Substances like flour, heroin and methamphetamine are usually added to cocaine to attain bigger quantities.

Experts say the cocaine that gets to end users is more dangerous because of the impurities added.

Dr Nyamukure said cocaine is a poison that is classified under schedule two of the United Nations conventions on controlled drugs.
At least, two persons have been confirmed dead while 13 vehicles were reportedly burnt when a petrol-laden tanker exploded at the Ogere-Remo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the early hours of yesterday.

The tanker explosion, which occurred at the proposed new Kara Market in Ogere Remo at the Ogun State corridor of the expressway, resulted in heavy gridlock, compelling traffic management authorities to divert vehicular movements.

THISDAY investigations revealed that a long truck had earlier, around 4 a.m., fallen on the expressway, causing gridlock.

Few hours later, a fuel-laden trailer, which was trapped along with other vehicles in the ensuing traffic, suddenly burst into flames.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, who spoke to journalists in Abeokuta, said a 33, 000 litre petrol-laden tanker, held up in traffic suddenly burst into flames, which later consumed 12 other vehicles.

The state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, yesterday led a government delegation to the area for an on-the-spot assessment of the incident.

While extending the state government condolences to families of those who lost their lives in the incident, Salako-Oyedele noted that the impact of the losses was terrible.

She thanked the officials of relevant agencies, including the FRSC, Police, Fire Service and the TRACE, who responded promptly to the emergency, thereby helping to reduce casualties.
Police remains worried over an increase in murder and hit and run cases countrywide as they continue to urge members of the public to respect the sanctity of human life.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were in progress on a number of such cases.

"The ZRP expresses concern over the rise of cases of murder and culpable homicide," he said.

"On June 21, 2021 in Gwanda a suspect aged 58 stabbed to death his 30-year-old nephew who was drunk and misbehaving with an okapi knife on the chest and abdomen."

On June 20, a 45-year-old Centenary woman died upon arrival at hospital after sustaining a swollen forehead, bloody eyes and a missing tooth after being attacked by an unknown person.

A wooden log was found in the room she was occupying.

"On June 22, 2021 at about 0230hrs along a road connecting Mbudzi Roundabout to Hopley in Harare, a body of an unknown man suspected to have been overrun by a motor vehicle was also found," said Asst Comm Nyathi.

"Members of the public are called upon to respect the sanctity of human life."

Last week, an 80-year-old man was killed by his nephew who first poisoned his food before striking him on the forehead with a knobkerrie in unclear circumstances in Guyu area, Matabeleland South province.

The nephew, aged 35, has since been arrested and is assisting with investigations.

Police in Nyanga have also arrested a suspect who allegedly struck a 70-year-old man with stones several times on the head accusing him of possessing goblins and bewitching him.
Covid-19 provided a pressing backdrop to the meetings, which were held virtually for the second consecutive year. Noting the meetings' theme, Ghanaian president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said: "Today's annual meetings have an appropriate focus, 'building resilient economies in post Covid-19 Africa', which is an unavoidable imperative if our continent is to recover from the effects of the pandemic."

President Akufo-Addo recounted the pandemic's toll in human lives, as well as in economic damage - massive loss of jobs and revenue, economic contraction, and rising deficits.

He urged continued concerted action, saying the surest path towards stability is to abandon half-hearted partnerships and develop new approaches that support self-sustaining economic growth and development. He praised the Bank's rapid response to the pandemic and called for more support for the continent's foremost development institution. "We need to resource the African Development Bank and position it as the catalyst for our economic advancement," he said.

Other participants in the African Development Bank Group annual meetings opening ceremony also said the Bank would be critical to build back more resilient economies in the post-pandemic period.

The Chairman of the Bank's Board of Governors, Ghana's Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, referred to an African financial stability mechanism - recently proposed by the African Development Bank president - modeled on a European one, and an African liquidity and sustainability mechanism. "The African stability mechanism will be a permanent firewall for Africa to provide instant emergency access to financial assistance to countries in difficulty, he said.

Citing a Ghanaian proverb, Ofori-Atta underscored the need for action: "This has to be said, who will say it? The work has to be done, who will do it?"

Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat commended the African Development Bank as a partner and lauded its support to the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Today, more than ever before, Africa needs to build up its health infrastructure and the manufacture of vaccines," Faki said.

"Africa is starting to move forward, again, said African Development Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina. "Vaccines are becoming available gradually. Businesses are reopening."

The Bank, he said, was taking steps to tackle the most pressing issues. "We have launched a Debt Action Plan and a new Strategy for Economic Governance in Africa. Both will support countries to tackle debt, and to embark on bolder economic governance reforms to forestall a debt crisis."

Adesina cited the Bank's commitment to domestic manufacture of medicines across Africa. He said the African Development Bank will support Africa to produce vaccines, as part of the Vaccines Plan of the African Union.

The opening ceremony of the meetings also included a statement by the African Development Bank's Secretary General Vincent Nhemielle, and informational videos of Bank flagship initiatives and projects.

The meetings will provide a platform for its governors to share their countries' experience in addressing the pandemic and the policy measures they are employing to rebuild economies and livelihoods.

The 2021 annual meetings will run through June 25.

Contact:

Olufemi Terry | Communication and External Relations Department | African Development Bank | email: o.terry@afdb.org
analysis

North central Nigeria, known as the Middle Belt, is home to the country's capital city Abuja and six other states - Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Kwara.

The region is volatile, and highly susceptible to militia attacks and sectarian crises. There are also frequent clashes between pastoralists and sedentary farmers.

Data presented in my doctoral research show that in the last decade there were 1,412 incidents of conflict reported in the region and 7,399 deaths across the north central states.

North central is the fourth largest geo-political zone in Nigeria. It is home to 14.5% of the country's population and consists predominantly of Christians, but has a sizeable Muslim population. The north central is a convergence of several minority ethnic groups who are mostly farmers. It is the third poorest zone in Nigeria with an average poverty headcount rate of 42.7%.

Over the years, the government has taken several measures to try and deal with the various conflicts. The most pronounced has been the deployment of the army to improve the security situation. But this has not managed to stem the various sources of conflict. In fact, there is some evidence that the conduct of soldiers tends to worsen the security situation. This in turn strains civil-military relations. For instance, in 2001, the military killed over 200 people in Benue state. They were supposed to be on a peace restoration mission in the state.

In my recently published PhD dissertation, I looked at the social, cultural and economic characteristics of residents living in the region. I examined the causes, trends and impact of violent conflict.

I particularly sought to identify what communities were doing to manage living amid so much violence and what factors influenced their resilience strategies. My aim was to provide information that could be useful to policy makers trying to manage conflict regions.

In chapter eight of my PhD, I looked at how social actors were engaging and responding to violent conflict in rural and urban areas. They included religious leaders, traditional institutions and community policing groups.

Community resilience

I did both qualitative and quantitative research. Primary data was obtained from residents through questionnaires and in depth interviews of 555 households.

My aim was to try and identify how communities were engaging with various institutions to foster peace and security. Institutions included religious bodies, civil society organisations, traditional justice system and community policing groups.

I also sought to identify what initiatives were being taken to cultivate peaceful coexistence. I spoke to people across different religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

Residents I spoke to had established and maintained mechanisms to promote peace, tolerance, solidarity and respect for each another. For instance, in Benue and Plateau States, communities partnered with state-based civil society organisations. These partnerships led to the establishment of an accountability forum for fostering dialogue among pastoralists and farmers.

At the core of the indigenous conflicts management methods were: mediation, support through dispute resolution, community truth and reconciliation groups, inter-religious dialogues. And at the helm of this structure were traditional institutions of justice. These were supported by chiefdoms, lesser chieftaincies and district heads across the towns, cities and peri-urban neighborhoods.

The use of traditional justice systems and community policing were also very much in evidence.

In Jos, which is at the centre of the Middle Belt, disparate indigenous communities were well organised and enjoyed high levels of solidarity among themselves. These included inter religious dialogues where conflicts had been identified and resolved amicably. It was clear that people disagreed with one another. But community had managed to ensure that little conflict arose in the city.

By identifying indigenous leaders and strengthening traditional justice systems, communities were able to build bridges between diverse warring groups.

One example was the community resilience forum in Benue state. Another was the youth and peaceful coexistence in community initiative in Plateau state. These initiatives provided community leaders, women and young people the opportunity to peacefully express grievances with the aim of healing.

Communities also worked with various actors. These included state actors like the Nigeria police, civil society organisations like CLEEN Foundation, and international nongovernmental organisations such as Mercy Corps.

The partnership between the state and non state actors also supported community policing. This approach ensured the security needs of all segments of the population were taken into account.

It encompassed activities aimed at: preventing the outbreak, escalation, and recurrence of violent attacks and assisting parties to end - or resist - impending attacks from criminal aggressors. It also involved addressing root causes such as the state's inability to protect most citizens against violent crime and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

I found that people felt that the forum helped prevent conflicts in the communities. It did this by fostering cooperation between the people, vigilante groups and the formal policing system.

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Some communities also took on civic education. This involved using media campaigns about training residents in conflict management and peacebuilding. There were also concerted efforts to include peace education in schools, religious institutions and through public dialogue.

I concluded that civic education had become a stabilising factor in most communities.

Way forward

Numerous programmes and activities by non-governmental agencies are attempting to provide support efforts geared towards building community resilience. But there's scant evidence of a truly supportive political effort to assist these efforts. The only exception is the Plateau Peace Building Agency. The agency is established by law to respond to the challenges of peace and security in Plateau state. It operates through strategic partnerships with state and non-state actors, and coordinates peace building interventions.

The absence of - or inadequate - support from government leaves communities to determine independently how to move forward, what works, and what is sustainable.

In my view, government collaboration with communities would be extremely effective. This would be particularly true when efforts are designed at the community level with ties to specific government agencies for additional support, expertise and enabling environment.

Oluwole Ojewale, PhD candidate, Obafemi Awolowo University
Governor Zulum says IDPs need to return to their communities to farm and resume their businesses.

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, says he is sending displaced persons back to their communities so that they can farm and help tackle rising food insecurity in the state.

Mr Zulum spoke on Thursday in an interview with BBC Hausa Service.

The governor said over 100,000 refugees from Damasak, who fled the farming community in Borno State to Niger Republic have returned home.

He said residents have to return home and farm.

"Thousands of women and children were displaced. While returning them, some were abducted by the insurgents. I am visiting the troubled communities to motivate others to return to their communities.

"We have returned IDPs to Baga, Dikwa and several other communities hitherto deserted due to Boko Haram attacks.

"No insecurity is worse than food insecurity. Without food to eat terrible things can happen. We have reached a situation that if people are not allowed to farm they can kill themselves and eat," Mr Zulum said.

"Borno is now experiencing food insecurity. We cannot wait for things to get perfect for people to go to farm, we need to be resilient against Boko Haram attacks. We cannot accept a situation where five or 10 gunmen can dislodge a town with over ten thousand dwellers."

Mr Zulum said people have to return to their communities to farm and resume their businesses.

"We're returning the displaced persons after comprehensive security reports that their communities are safe and we did that through careful analysis of the areas before returning them and we will continue to do that.

"The IDPs are returning to occupy existing houses. The federal government is building 10,000 housing units and the Borno State Government has built thousands of houses and is now empowering the returnees with building materials and some tokens to build mud houses for the meantime," Mr Zulum said.

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Mr Zulum said he avoided using aircraft when visiting the troubled communities, to demonstrate that road travels are safe.

"Why should we be afraid to travel by road? We only have one life to live and only God can decide when to take your life. That gave me the motivation to visit the troubled areas," he said.

Conflict in the North-East

Nigeria's North-east region has been enmeshed in a bloody insurgency for over a decade, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and mass displacement of residents in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.

Over 23,000 persons, mostly children, have been reported missing in eight years of the conflicts in the region, according to a report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Nigeria has the highest number of missing people registered, at about 23,000, the report said, adding that more than 20,000 missing persons were in the Northeast where Boko Haram has continued to unleash terror on defenceless residents since 2009.

President Muhammadu Buhari came into office in 2015, with a promise to tackle the northeast insecurity in six months. However, six years later, attacks on civilians have continued in the region.

In June last year, Boko Haram, in one its deadliest attacks, killed 81 people in Gubio, a Borno farming community. The UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, while commenting on the killings, bemoaned the insecurity in the Northeast.
Blog

Yimitu is a low-income community on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigeria's capital city. A significant part of its population is made up of people displaced from Northeast Nigeria by the Lake Chad conflict. An estimated three thousand people live there, but no census has been carried out in the community. They are predominantly farmers, small business owners and unskilled workers. Despite its proximity to the nation's capital, Yimitu is a community that lacks basic infrastructure. There is no electricity except what is privately generated. Water is scarce, and a significant number of residents live in houses without toilets.

According to Alayayi Dauda, acting chief of Yimitu Community, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) provided boreholes in the past, but some have gone bad and now, they rely on privately owned boreholes. There are conflicting reports about whether there are 3, 4 or 5 working boreholes in the community. However, they all agree that water is scarce.

This scarcity is caused by several factors. In addition to the inadequate number of boreholes, most of the residents can't afford to buy water. A 25kg gallon of water costs about 25 naira and Rebecca, a stay-at-home mom who spends 100 naira on water daily, said, "As na raining season, we dey put our rubber for outside when rain dey fall. If no be so, na to go buy before we get water." Bulus Useni, a farmer who has lived in the community for 10 years has a family of nine and said he spends about 500 naira on water daily.

The lack of access to water can have far-reaching and ill-fated consequences. Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is a key contributing factor to protecting the health, security, and economic potential of individuals and communities around the world. There are many communities in Nigeria that lack access to adequate WASH services. The second edition of the Water, Sanitation, Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping 2019 (WASH NORM) report, an annual survey of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) that provides regular pointers for measuring progress in the WASH sector, revealed that the overall status of the WASH sector in Nigeria is low as only 9% of the population has access to complete basic WASH services.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, pointed out that, "Safe water, sanitation and hygiene at home should not be a privilege of only those who are rich or live in urban centers. These are some of the most basic requirements for human health, and all countries have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can access them."

Resources are scarce and needs infinite, and in situations where there are conflicting needs, people tend to shed what they consider to be extra baggage to provide for what they consider as more important. Sadly, one extra baggage in scarcity is menstruation. Women in Yimitu understand the importance of menstrual hygiene but there is a huge disparity between what they know and what they practice. One reason is, when you are a low-income earner who spends 500 naira daily on water which must meet the regular needs of a family of 8, cleaning yourself as often as is required when you are menstruating might be seen as a luxury. This ought not to be as WASH plays a critical role in ensuring women worldwide can practice safe and dignified menstruation.

The residents of Yimitu Community are looking to the government for help. It is every government's responsibility to ensure that citizens have access to basic infrastructure. So, the collective cry is, "Make government help us make we get water." Although the government is not to be absolved of its responsibility, the question of who else can help in addition to the government becomes imperative.

Leveraging the Private Sector and Non-Profit "Villages" for Development

Two groups come to mind; the private sector and non-governmental organisations. Private sector companies often engage in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that are meant to support communities by contributing charitable funds to several causes. This is a practice that is growing, as evidenced by the increase in Foundations such as the MTN Foundation and Dangote Foundation. We have seen targeted projects by organisations, including Shell Nigeria and its JV Partners Vision First Initiative and the National Breweries Plc involvement in bringing one meal a day to school children in partnership with PACIEH, an NGO.

There are examples of smaller companies taking initiative to solve problems. In 2019, Prince Ebeano Supermarket constructed a 3.2-kilometer road in Lokogoma-Gudu, Abuja, providing motorists in the Lokogoma area with a much-needed alternative route. Soon however, a new problem arose. There was constant traffic build-up at the traffic light, which caused traffic jams daily. To ease this build-up, Energy Services Limited, a new gas company in the area, stepped in and as part of a 'Traffic Decongestion Route project' constructed access roads. This shows that private companies have the power to make direct impact on the development of communities.

The other group that can be leveraged for development are Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), many of whom are already in place to provide support to communities. In 2019, Nigeria Health Watch's Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr Ifeanyi Nsofor, conceived the Health Equity for FCT indigenes project as a Fellow of the 2019 Atlantic Fellowship for Health Equity at The George Washington University, USA. The project was designed to bring attention to the challenges faced by Abuja's indigene communities. Its aim was to bring these issues to the attention of non-governmental and community-based organisations already working in the FCT to adopt and address.

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During the project, he and his team visited Sauka, a community in Waru District in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the FCT, which is quite like Yimitu. The community members were dealing with a lot, including water scarcity. He tweeted about his experience in the community and this tweet yielded results as two organisations, Centre for Family Health Initiative and Vaccine Network for Disease Control, partnered with the FCT public health department to sensitise the community on the danger of using contaminated water and how best to treat water before use. They also made plans to curtail waterborne diseases and treat people affected. Later, an international organisation, Riders for Health, decided to drill boreholes for the community, helping to alleviate the water scarcity they faced.

The WASH NORM report reveals that the constraints associated with the WASH enabling environment include weak governance, coordination, technical capacities, policy and institutional arrangements, and budgeting and financial allocations to the WASH sector. These must be overcome for any meaningful impact to be made.

From the examples above, if private sector, non-governmental and community-based organisations already working in the FCT partner with the government and with each other to address constraints associated with creating a WASH enabling environment, considerable progress will be made in expanding access to water and sanitation services in the nation's capital, and across Nigeria.
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A bomb blast killed dozens of people Tuesday at a market in Ethiopia's Tigray region, as new fighting flared up in areas outside the regional capital, Mekelle.

The bomb went off in the town of Togoga west of Mekelle at about 1 p.m. local time. There were conflicting reports on whether the blast was the result of a plane dropping a bomb or artillery shells hitting the market.

Local medical officials that at least 43 people were killed, with dozens of others wounded.

Berhan Ghebrehiwet, who sells coffee for a living, said her hand was wounded during the attack.

"First they bombed the market and later they continue bombing the houses. My hand was injured from the bombing. I am suffering a lot and it is causing me great pain," she told a reporter for VOA's Horn of Africa Service at Hyder Hospital in Mekelle.

Health workers said Ethiopian soldiers blocked ambulances from reaching the scene of the attack.

Negasi Berhane, a Mekelle resident who suffered leg injuries in the attack, said he saw three people die in front of him, with many others left to suffer.

Ambulance driver Kahsu Tsegay told VOA he unsuccessfully tried five times to transport injured civilians to the hospital. The driver said he was barred from transporting wounded people on the grounds they had tried to help Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters.

Reuters news agency says an Ethiopian military spokesman, Colonel Getnet Adane, denied the military was blocking ambulances.

Later Wednesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it helped the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and other parties evacuate wounded people from Togoga and transport them to a hospital in Mekelle.

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"We cannot stress enough how vital it is for the medical mission to be respected and protected at all times," ICRC official Nicolas von Arx said in a statement.

The U.S. State Department released a statement Wednesday, saying, "We strongly condemn this reprehensible act." It said it was "gravely concerned" by the reports of the airstrike on the market.

State Department spokesman Ned Price urged Ethiopian authorities to "ensure full and unhindered medical access to the victims immediately."

Ethiopian defense forces commander General Berhanu Jula denied the military attacked the market. The general said the attack was targeting an armed group, not civilians.

Asked if he saw armed people during the bombing, Mekelle resident Negasi said he only saw civilians.

On Tuesday, residents said new fighting had erupted elsewhere in Tigray. Residents said TPLF fighters had entered towns north of the capital, only to withdraw within hours.

Tigray has been embroiled in conflict since November, when the Ethiopian military launched an offensive to oust the ruling TPLF. Eritrea's military has been helping Ethiopian troops battle the TPLF in the ongoing dispute.

Thousands of people have been killed and some 2 million others have fled their homes to escape the violence since fighting erupted.

Mulugeta Atsbeha of VOA's Horn of Africa Service contributed to this report.
Abuja  The federal government has said Nigeria currently ranks highest in rate of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in the whole world ahead of Democratic Republic of Congo and India.

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said the country has an estimated 25 percent of her adult population being carriers of defective S-gene.

Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic (hereditary) disorder that occurs when an individual has inherited two mutant (abnormal) haemoglobin (Hb) genes from both parents, at least one of which is HbS and the resulting symptoms and signs are due to abnormality in the shape of red blood cells.

In sickle cell disease, red blood cells are deformed (taken the shape of "sickle"), rigid and fragile and by reason of this being unable to sufficiently carry out their normal functions, notably oxygen delivery.

Ehanire said that available record showed that Sickle Cell Disease affects nearly 100 million people in the world and is also responsible for over 50 per cent of deaths in those with the most severe form of the disease (Hb SS).

The Minister said that Sickle Cell is the most prevalent genetic disease in the WHO African region, adding that in many African countries including Nigeria, 10per cent-40 per cent of the population carries the sickle-cell gene resulting in estimated Sickle Cell Disease prevalence of at least two per cent.

In a statement to commemorate the 2021 World Sickle Cell Day, Ehanire said estimated 150,000 affected children are born every year in Nigeria.

"Nigeria currently has the highest burden of Sickle Cell Disease in the whole World ahead of Democratic Republic of Congo and India, with an estimated 25 per cent of her adult population being carriers of defective S-gene.

"WHO in 2015 estimated that two per cent of new-borns in Nigeria are affected by sickle cell anaemia, giving a total of about 150,000 affected children born every year. About 50 per cent-80 per cent of the estimated 150,000 infants born yearly with SCD in Nigeria die before the age of five years and those that manage to survive suffer end-organs damage which shortens their lifespan including stroke," he said.

According to Ehanire, "the situation in the region also indicates that national policies and plans are inadequate; appropriate facilities and trained personnel are scarce; adequate diagnostic tools and treatment are insufficient for the prevention and control of the disease".

The minister noted that Sickle Cell Disease is among the top five non-communicable diseases (NCDs) significantly contributing to maternal, neonatal, infant and child disability, morbidity and mortality which may negatively undermine the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 3 and 4.

Ehanire said the commemoration of the day provided a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the increasing burden of the disease and to eliminate the negative notion associated with it as well as building synergy with civil society organisations, international institutions and development partners towards the prevention, control and management SCD in Nigeria.

In recognition of the huge burden of SCD

in Nigeria, the minister said government has instituted several strategic Interventions to address the challenges of the disease through the Federal Ministry of Health.

He said some of the strategic interventions included: six centres of excellence for the control and management of SCD were established across Nigeria one in each geo-political zones with each equipped with necessary facilities and staff to serve as a hub for newborn screening.

National guidelines for the prevention, control and management of Sickle Cell Disease.

Other government Interventions include; the establishment of the Multi-sectorial Action Program (MSAP) Technical Committee involving different MDAs in addressing the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nigeria, advocacy and mass mobilisation for awareness creation on SCD and the importance of genetic counselling.

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"The Federal Ministry of Health ongoing validation study for the use of Point of Care Screening Test (POCT) kit for early identification and diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease in of new-born, children and adult at all levels of care in Nigeria.

"Harmonisation of the various Sickle Cell Disease Bills pending at the National Assembly to increase Government attention for the prevention, control and management of SCD in the country within the framework of Non-Communicable Diseases control programme as part of UN-WHO strategy for the prevention, control and management of SCD.

"Government current plan for the immediate future includes the revitalisation and re-positioning of the six zonal Sickle Cell Disease centres for improved Sickle Cell Disease service delivery and access to care for those living with the disease."
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said he will take a position in July on whether he would contest for the presidency in 2023 or not.

The governor, who stated this Wednesday when members of a political pressure group, Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), asked him to declare for the presidency, said in three weeks' time, he would make his position known.

Mohammed, who was elected governor of Bauchi State in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), told the youths that he would use the three weeks to consult across political divides in the country before taking a final position on the matter.

"I will not categorically give you an answer. I will have to make consultations across all political divides in the country after which I will come out with my position. I rely on the guidance of Allah and my political constituency. Just give me between two and three weeks, and I will get back to you with a definite answer," he said.

On his political sojourn, the governor, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said he was a fulfilled politician.

"I am a fulfilled politician who rose from a humble background both in public service and the political scene.

"I am the most hunted and humiliated politician in the country since 2007 when I defeated an outgoing governor to emerge the senator representing Bauchi South to the time I raised the motion on 'doctrine of necessity' and eventually appointed as minister of the FCT, I have continued to face stiff opposition and political intimidation," he said.

Earlier in his remarks, National President of NYLF, Elliot Afiyo, said based on their findings Bala Mohammed remained the best presidential material for 2023.

The group threatened to work against the aspirations of the Bauchi governor if he declined to contest for the presidency.

"Let me tell you that, if you decline our request, we will work against your political aspirations in the future, even from your local government area," he added
The Federal Government says its Community Social Development Project has benefited 11 million people directly and 25 million others indirectly across in 29 states so far.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, said this in Abuja at the close out ceremony of the project.

She said the project became effective in 2009 and it had had two additional financings, all totaling $415m.

She said 16,166 micro-projects had been completed in 5,664 communities.

According to her, the micro-projects cut across eight sectors of intervention namely education, health, water, transportation, electrification, socio-economic, environment and community housing.

In another event, the minister said persons living with disabilities were not able to access assistive devices.

She was speaking also in Abuja at a stakeholders' validation meeting on the draft national roadmap for local producers of assistive devices for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari has nothing to do with the ongoing attempt by the House of Representatives to amend the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Act and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act.

The Newspapers Proprietor Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Guild of Editor and other media stakeholders had spoken against the proposed amendments seen as an attempt to muzzle the press.

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, while fielding questions from State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting yesterday, said only the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, could speak on the matter.

When asked to comment on the issue, Adesina said: "That's not strictly a Presidency thing because the president has nothing to do with that. It's a government thing and it's the Minister that can talk about it. So, thank you."

On the recent development over the action taken on the popular social media platform and the verdict of the sub-regional court, Adesina said the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, was studying the ruling issued by the ECOWAS Court to the effect that Twitter users cannot be arrested or prosecuted following the suspension of the activities of the microblogging site in the country.

Adesina, who said the AGF would advise the federal government on the next step to take, the committee made up of ministers to engage with Twitter has begun to meet.
La fiesta del sol brilla en todo el mundo! ??



Sigue la ceremonia del Inti Raymi del Bicentenario, en vivo y en directo desde la explanada de Sacsayhuaman. ????



?? Envia tus saludos y comentarios con el HT #IntiRaymixTVPeru https://t.co/hYilJA6xoF




In this sense, the Minam stated that, among other interventions to guarantee the conservation of biodiversity, the Action Plan updated from the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2021 has been prepared to contribute to the closure of gaps related to the conservation of threatened species.





Moreover, it mentioned that the contest "Entrepreneurs by Nature" was launched with a prize fund of S/718,000 (about US$180,356), through the Program for Conservation and Sustainable Development (Procodes) of the State-run National Service for Protected Natural Areas (Sernanp) a body attached to the Minam.





The ministry explained that the aim is to promote and implement undertakings for the sustainable use of natural resources in protected natural areas, which contribute to their conservation and generate local economic development.





Environmental protection and indigenous peoples





Regarding Bill No. 06486-2020, which was approved by a Congress plenary session and declares the Pucallpa-Cruzeiro do Sul highway of public interest, the Minam remarked that this type of initiatives based on the development of this road project would have an impact on the Sierra del Divisor National Park and the Territorial Reserve of Isonahua.





In this sense, the Law on National Protected Areas (No. 26834) and the Law for the Protection of Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact (No. 28736) imposes a series of restrictions and bans on the implementation of this type of road projects in said territories.





Such prohibitions are due to the impact that these projects generate on ecosystems and their conservation goals, as well as the real risk to the physical integrity of indigenous peoples in a situation of isolation and initial contact living in the Isconahua Indigenous Reserve.





On the basis of the above, the implementation of the aforementioned project could contravene the legislation on protected natural areas and indigenous peoples, which is why the Minam will take the necessary steps until Congress reconsiders its decision, so that legislative initiatives can incorporate standards and safeguards to avoid risks to the country's natural and cultural heritage.





(END) NDP/JCB/MAO/RMB





The conservation of protected natural areas is one of the priorities of the Government, the Ministry of Environment (Minam) said, noting that for this reason various actions are being promoted and implemented to that end.Published: 6/24/2021
Presidente @FSagasti: La historia nos concede una nueva oportunidad en el Bicentenario. Solo reconciliandonos, unidos y en confraternidad, en dialogo abierto y sincero, con #ConfianzaYEsperanza en nuestro futuro, podremos hacer uso creativo y fructifero de nuestras diferencias. pic.twitter.com/ZxJjoxmYac
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. The Council of French-Armenians congratulated Armenias caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Civil Contract partys victory in the June 20 snap parliamentary elections.

International observers have recorded that the voting has taken place in the conditions of healthy democracy. The Council of French-Armenians hopes that after the end of the war and the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and the beginning of 2021 dedicated to the election campaign, the country will restore its normal course and will be able to ensure a prosperous future, built on political governance based on the values of freedom and republican democracy. The Council, developing in a country which has fundamental republican values and spreads them in many countries of the world, will be happy to participate in the spread of these values, as well as to the economic, educational and cultural development in Armenia, the statement says.

Armenia held snap parliamentary elections on June 20.

21 political parties and 4 blocs were running for parliament.

Accordingly, the Civil Contract party led by caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received 53.92% of the votes, the Armenia bloc led by 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan  21.04%, I Have the Honor bloc  5.23%, CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan said at the Committees extraordinary session.

1 million 282 thousand 411 citizens or 49.4% of the voters cast their ballot in the early elections.

4682 ballots were declared invalid.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received caretaker Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan and Executive Director of the Foundation of Armenian Science and Technologies (FAST) Armen Orujyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The meeting participants discussed the development potential and prospects of scientific-technical and technology sectors in Armenia.

The guests introduced the President on the ongoing projects and activities in the field of high technologies.

The possibilities and ways of implementing joint programs within the framework of the presidential initiative ATOM (Advanced Tomorrow) were discussed during the meeting. The officials highlighted developing the partnership between the local companies and the leading international high-tech organizations which cooperate with ATOM.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has registered a new figure in the number of workplaces, Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting today.

Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Edvard Hovhannisyan informed that the number of jobs with high income above zero comprised 635,000. This is an unprecedented figure and passed the highest number registered in September 2020 which was 632,000. This is more from the figures of 2018-2020. In particular, it is more by 34,000 from the figure of May 2020, and by 37,000 from May 2019, and by 87,000 from 2018, he said.

Pashinyan stated that the number of jobs increased by 15% or 86,962 in May compared to May 2018. The wage fund increased by 38 billion drams or 39% compared to May 2018. Average wage per capita increased by 35,714 drams or 20.2%, he said.

Pashinyan noted that there is an economic growth in construction sector, which led to the increase in the number of jobs. We also have a slow, but a steady increase in tourism sector. The next biggest segment is in the catering sector where we have a growth in workplaces, Nikol Pashinyan said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government approved a decision to include Artek Power Systems LLC in the Alliance Free Economic Zone.

The company will produce and export unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

The operation of beneficiaries in Alliance FEZ will enable to attract investments, boost the export of production in high and innovation technologies, contribute to the spread of an Armenian bran in that area.

The project will be implemented within five years (2021-2025). The investments will comprise about 4.25 billion drams.

85 and more new jobs with 450,000 average monthly salary (in the first year), which will rise up to 550,000 drams later, will be created within the frames of the project.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenias caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited today the Educational Complex of the Police ahead of the upcoming launch of the new patrol service, Pashinyans Office told Armenpress.

The caretaker PM was accompanied by caretaker deputy PM Mher Grigoryan, chief of staff at the PMs Office Arsen Torosyan, the leaderships of Police and the justice ministry, etc.

During the visit to the Complex, Pashinyan was introduced on the organization process of the training course for the candidates to the patrol service, the works done so far.

Dear servicemen of the Patrol Police,

I firstly want to congratulate you on graduating your studies and congratulate all of us because we enter into a very important stage of police reforms in Armenia. Very soon a new service  Patrol Police, will be established in Armenia, which, I am sure, must bring new word to the Republic of Armenia with its quality, working style and efficiency, as well as to the protection of legal order and human rights in our country. I want to thank you for responding to this reform process of the Armenian government and want to hope that each of you came here with a sense of mission in order to fully implement it at a high level. Thank you, Pashinyan said.

Thereafter, he chaired a consultation over the works done for the launch of the new patrol service.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Reporters Without Borders has made a statement on Twitter, informing that a team of Spanish journalists were threatened with death by Azerbaijani forces while reporting on their position, close to the border with Azerbaijan in Armenias Gegharkunik province.

The international organization condemned this unacceptable act towards journalists.
YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. The United Nations Refugee Agency, welcomes the recent contribution from the Government of the United States of America (USA) to provide essential humanitarian assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers in Armenia, the UNHR Office in Armenia told Armenpress.

With the continued support from of the U.S. Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), UNHCR has been able to deliver vital emergency assistance to persons in a refugee-like situation affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as to refugees and asylum-seekers residing in Armenia whose livelihoods have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. funding towards UNHCRs programme will also contribute to providing and achieving solutions for the most vulnerable refugee families and children, including in protection, education, and strengthened community empowerment.

We are pleased to work with UNHCR Armenia as it executes its critical mission of supporting those in need. The challenges of the past year remind us anew of the great importance of UNHCRs work, said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy. The United States is proud to partner with the UNHCR and our Armenian counterparts to help improve the lives of those negatively affected by the intensive fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh and the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United States support in the form of flexible funding is critical to UNHCR as it enables the organization to determine how best to protect and assist those who are in the greatest need or at the greatest risk quickly and effectively.

UNHCR would like to thank the people and the Government of the United States for their enduring commitment and support for vulnerable and displaced populations in Armenia said Anna-Carin Ost, UNHCR Representative in Yerevan. This contribution is crucial as with it we are able to help refugees and people living in a refugee-like situation in Armenia, including those displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. With US support, UNHCR has been able to respond to the needs of vulnerable displaced people, providing winter clothes to families amid freezing winter conditions, hygiene kits, bedding sets, and household items; and repairing collective shelters.

UNHCR is grateful for the generous and long-standing support of the United States, which allows UNHCR to continue to provide protection, legal support, and pursue durable solutions for refugees, stateless persons, and those living in a refugee-like situation throughout the country.
YEREVAN, 24 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 24 June, USD exchange rate down by 4.11 drams to 507.90 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 4.70 drams to 606.64 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 7.03 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 5.59 drams to 709.23 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 35.70 drams to 29255.69 drams. Silver price down by 3.84 drams to 423.67 drams. Platinum price up by 399.20 drams to 17799.01 drams.
The MRM claimed that it had conducted a special signature campaign against Article 370 and 35A and collected over 8.5 lakh signs of Muslims

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti had said the Centre should hold dialogue with everyone including Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. (PTI Photo)

Hyderabad: The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) in Telangana on Thursday condemned the comments of PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti that India should initiate dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue, saying it was against the 'national integrity' and 'unity'.

Referring to Mufti's remarks, MRM's Telangana convener M A Sattar said, "She (Mehbooba Mufti) said that the special status was snatched away from them and it was a mistake and it was an illegal and unconstitutional act. Peace shall not return to J&K unless Article 370 is restored."

"She also brought in the issue of involving Pakistan in resolution of the Kashmir issue." Other parties of the Gupkar Alliance like the National Conference, CPM and the Congress have seconded the views expressed by Mehbooba Mufti on Article 370, MRM, the Muslim wing of RSS, claimed in a release.

"The MRM is of the view that the statements of the leaders of these parties are in direct contravention to the national integrity and unity," it said. Terming as 'temporary' the special status granted to J&K through Article 370 and 35A, the organisation said the Modi government had taken a right step in abrogating the divisive and temporary provision.

The MRM also urged the Centre not to entertain such suggestions and demands from any political party. The MRM claimed that it had conducted a special signature campaign against Article 370 and 35 A and collected over 8.5 lakh signatures of Muslims, including over 70,000 from Kashmir, and submitted a memorandum to then President late Pranab Mukherjee demanding abrogation of the said articles.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's all-party meet, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had on Tuesday said peace in the region cannot be restored without undoing the "illegal" and "unconstitutional" act of revocation of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing reporters at the end of a huddle of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), she said during the meeting with the PM on Thursday, she would press for the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was "snatched away from us".

Mufti had said the Centre should hold dialogue with everyone including Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Most dying patients in Australian hospitals don't receive any palliative care, denying them a more peaceful journey towards death.

A national study which tracked 1693 dying patients at nine hospitals across the country found only 41 per cent of them saw a member of the palliative care team.

A majority of patients weren't recognised as being in terminal stages untill late in their hospital stay and only 12 per cent had an advanced care plan, which outlines their wishes for when they die.

"At least 60 per cent of people who die in Australia will die in a hospital setting and are at risk of not receiving appropriate end-of-life care," the study's lead author, Imogen Mitchell from the Australian National University, said.

The intensive care specialist at Canberra Hospital says patients should be given the chance to experience a more peaceful journey towards death.

"No one wants to think about dying, but we all need to because it will happen to all of us," Professor Mitchell said.

"Frequently when I review imminently dying patients in the ward environment, it feels as if it is the first time they are being told they are dying."

Decisions to involve palliative care or initiate a comfort care pathway were often left very late, often in the last 48 hours of life.

The researchers found many factors contributed to suboptimal end-of-life care, including failure to identify patients in their last months of life, poor communication with patients and families and a failure to link medical teams.

Patients often experienced inadequate palliative interventions such as delayed pain relief as well as inappropriate and futile investigations and treatments.

"Engaging the right end-of-life care allows for the best patient experience," Professor Mitchell said.

"No one would like to die in a busy and noisy emergency room with other patients when you could have had a much more peaceful dying journey if planned in advance."

Story continues

The researchers say it can be challenging for hospitals to co-ordinate appropriate end-of-life care.

Professor Mitchell said a gold standard of end of life care was outlined in a consensus statement by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

"By following these standards our dying patients and their families and carers will have a better experience."

The paper is published in Australian Health Review.
Terminally-ill people wishing to end their lives will be able to access voluntary euthanasia after the South Australian parliament passed historic legislation.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was put to a conscience vote, passing parliament on its 17th attempt in 25 years about 11am on Thursday.

It includes 68 safeguards and a provision that people wishing to die must be SA residents for at least 12 months.

It will next go to the Governor for assent before the legislation comes into effect in about 18 months.

When it does, SA will be the fourth state in the country to legalise voluntary euthanasia.

"Voluntary Assisted Dying. It's all done in Parliament. Every last bit," jubilant SA Labor MP Kyam Maher tweeted.

A terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of less than six months, or 12 months for a person with a neurodegenerative disease, must be confirmed for a patient to access the procedure.

The bill also requires patients show they have decision-making capacity and are capable of informed consent, and that they undergo an assessment by two independent medical practitioners.

They must have their request verified by two independent witnesses and must be experiencing intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved.

The SA bill is based on Victoria's legislation and system for voluntary assisted dying.

Mr Maher co-sponsored the bill in 2020 after watching his mother's suffering.

Western Australia recently passed similar laws that come into force later this year, while legislation has also passed in the Tasmanian parliament
WARNING  GRAPHIC CONTENT: Two young children now face life without their mum and dad after the couple were killed during a horrific attack following a very minor car accident.

The tragic incident occurred as Yasmin Perez, 23, and her partner Gyovanny Arzuaga, 24, were leaving a Puerto Rican Day parade in Chicagos Humboldt Park neighbourhood on Saturday night (local time).

Graphic CCTV footage shows a group of several men drag Ms Perez out of the drivers seat of her car before beating and shooting her.

Mr Arzuaga can be seen crawling on top of the mother of his children in an effort to shield her before being shot and killed by a gunman in a white tank top.

The tragic incident occurred as Yasmin Perez, 23, and her partner Gyovanny Arzuaga, 24, were leaving a Puerto Rican Day parade in Chicagos Humboldt Park neighbourhood. Source: CBS 2

Mr Arzuaga died soon after but Yasmin was rushed to hospital, where she died on Tuesday (local time).

Brendan Deenihan, chief of detectives of the Chicago Police Department, said this week the incident stemmed from a very minor traffic accident, the Chicago Tribune reported.

When the group confronted the couple, they are seen hitting and beating the woman, who was the driver of the vehicle and then eventually dragging her out, Mr Deenihan said.

What the video doesnt show is there was a shot discharged at some point. You cant see it in the video. And that appears when the female gets struck [by gunfire], Deehihan said.

And then you see [a] suspect clearly just holding the gun, shooting him in the head almost execution-style, he added.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot urged for anyone involved to turn themselves into police, the publication reported.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot urged for anyone involved to turn themselves into police. Source: CBS 2

Theres one person who dealt the fatal shot, but there were others who were standing by, who dragged that poor woman out of the car, the man who was killed literally used his body as a shield and he paid for that with his life, she said, adding that the couples families are in deep pain.

Story continues

Mr Arzuagas heartbroken aunt, Vickie Ponciano, wept as she told local publications on Tuesday that the pair had left their babies behind.

They are parents to a young boy and girl, family members said in a GoFundMe created to help pay for funeral costs.

We are all heartbroken and devastated beyond belief, the fundraiser reads.

Mr Arzuaga and Ms Perez were among eight people fatally shot in Chicago from 6 pm Friday to late Sunday night (local time).

An investigation is ongoing.

With AP

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.
U.S. Rep. John Katko split with his party to help pass legislation he cosponsored that aims to crack down on age discrimination in workplaces.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act by a 247-178 vote. Katko, R-Camillus, was one of 29 Republicans who joined 218 Democrats to support the measure.

Katko is one of 112 cosponsors of the bill. He was one of 13 members of Congress who originally signed on in support of the bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat.

The purpose of the bill is to reinstate protections that were affected by a 2009 Supreme Court decision in the case of Gross vs. FBL Financial Services. The plaintiff, Jack Gross, believed he was demoted from a position because of his age. He filed a lawsuit accusing his employer of violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

After a U.S. District Court sided with Gross, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed the decision. The case was heard by the Supreme Court, which ruled that a plaintiff must prove that age was the sole factor for the employer's actions.
Sally Heyman, of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, said that 51 people who were thought to be in the building at the time of the collapse were unaccounted for by mid-morning  but there was a possibility that some weren't at home. The tower has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents, and while the building keeps a log of guests staying, it does not keep track of when owners are in residence, Burkett said.

Earlier, Burkett said two people were brought to the hospital, one of whom died. He added that 15 families walked out of the building on their own.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said officials were "bracing for some bad news just given the destruction that we're seeing."

The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and left a number of homes in the still-standing part of the building exposed in what looked like a giant dollhouse. Television footage showed bunk beds, tables and chairs still left inside. Air conditioner units hung from some parts of the building, where wires now dangled.

Piles of rubble and debris surrounded the area, and cars up to two blocks away were coated with with a light layer of dust from the debris.
Today is Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Let's get caught up.

Here's what you should know today: President Biden announcing new efforts to target rising violent crime across the U.S.; Eric Adams holds a fragile lead in NYC mayoral primary; and Britney Spears will address her conservatorship judge today.

Keep scrolling for today's top stories, this date in history and celebrity birthdays.

TOP STORIES

Biden anti-crime effort takes on law-breaking gun dealers

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden is announcing new efforts to stem a rising national tide of violent crime as administration officials brace for what could be a turbulent summer, focusing on attacking gun violence, providing money to cities that need more police and offering community support.

The worry over crime is real: It has created economic hardship, displacement and anxiety. But there are also tricky politics at play. The spike in crime has become a Republican talking point and has been a frequent topic of conversation on conservative media.
In a report issued this week, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control projected that the delta variant would account for 90% of all coronavirus infections across the continent by the end of August. The Stockholm-based agency said people who had only received one shot of vaccine were still vulnerable to the delta variant and that about 40% of people over 60 have yet to receive both vaccine doses.

The ECDC said its modelling scenarios estimate that any relaxation of the COVID-19 protocols currently in place could lead to a fast and significant increase in daily cases in all age groups, potentially reaching a similar peak to the surge last fall.

In their conclusions on COVID-19, EU leaders insisted on the need to continue vaccination efforts and to be vigilant and coordinated with regard to developments, particularly the emergence and spread of variants."

Germany has pressed for EU countries to form a joint position on quarantines for travelers from areas where named variants are particularly prevalent. This includes England, where the delta variant  first detected in India  already makes up a majority of cases.

EU leaders also praised the adoption of COVID-19 certificates ahead of the summer holiday season, with many calling for its coherent implementation across the bloc.
Not much details about the fire incident are available. But, the Hyundai Kona EV was parked and not charging when the fire erupted.

The local police put out a message on Twitter after the incident. The tweet reads that the emergency services are on-site in connection with a report of a fire in an electric car. "There is control on-site and it is not burning now. Some smoke still from the car. No danger of spreading. Unknown cause of fire," the tweet further added.

This was not the first time an electric car caught fire. Several fire incidents across the world have been reported involving electric vehicles. battery fires have been a concern for th4e consumers for quite a long time. However, it is not only electric cars, as internal combustion vehicles too experience fires and at higher rates.

For Hyundai as well, the fire incident in Oslo is not the only one involving a Kona EV. Another Hyundai Kona EV caught fire in South Korea while it was parked, reported segye.com.

Hyundai Kona EV is one of the bestselling electric cars from the South Korean brand across the world. It gets power from LG Energy Solution cells. Hyundai has introduced this electric SUV in India as well. It competes with MG ZS EV, Tata Nexon EV in the Indian market.
Tata Motors on Wednesday said Guenter Butschek will step down as its MD and CEO with effect from June 30.

He will, however, continue as a consultant to the company till the end of this fiscal year.

The auto major also said it has elevated Girish Wagh as executive director with effect from July 1, 2021.

Wagh currently heads the company's commercial vehicle operations.

In a late night statement, the auto major noted that Butschek, who had informed about his desire to relocate to Germany at the end of the contract for personal reasons, will therefore be stepping down from his role as CEO and MD from June 30, 2021.

(Also Read: Tata Motors takes major step to go carbon neutral, launches solar carport)

"I would like to thank Guenter for leading Tata Motors successfully over the last five years and creating a strong foundation for the future. I look forward to his continued inputs as a consultant to the company," Tata Motors Chairman N Chandrasekaran said.

Butschek, the former Airbus chief operating officer, had joined Tata Motors as managing director and chief executive of local operations in 2016, filling up the positions left vacant after the death of Karl Slym in January 2014.

Since then, he has been on a mission to turn around the bleeding domestic business of the home-grown auto major.

Currently, Tata Motors' domestic business has successfully transitioned to a business unit structure, with the commercial vehicles division headed by Wagh and the passenger vehicle division headed by Shailesh Chandra.

(Also Read: Hyundai Alcazar vs Tata Safari vs MG Hector Plus: Specs comparison)

Wagh, President - Commercial Vehicles, Chandra, President - Passenger Vehicles and Thierry Bollore, CEO - Jaguar Land Rover will continue to work closely with Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Tata Motors said.

In February this year, Tata Motors had announced the appointment of Marc Llistosella as its chief executive officer and managing director with effect from July 1.

However, a month later, the company announced that he will not be joining as its CEO and MD.

Tata Motors is a USD 35 billion organisation. The Mumbai-headquartered firm produces cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses.

Part of the USD 113 billion Tata group, the company is India's largest auto maker with operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia through a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 10 associate companies, 3 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2020.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
Petrol and diesel prices on Thursday again taking the fuel prices to a new high. After a day of pause on Wednesday, the oil marketing companies increased the price of motor fuels today. Petrol price has been increased by 26 paise per litre, while diesel price became pricier by 7 paise.

(Also Read: Increasing vehicle price and high fuel costs. Double whammy for vehicle buyers)

With the latest price hike, several new cities are ready to join the list of cities and towns in the country where fuel rates have breached the psychological mark of 100 per litre.

Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan near the India-Pakistan border was the first place in India to witness petrol hitting 100 a litre mark in mid-February. Earlier this month diesel too hit the century mark there.

Petrol prices in several state capitals have already hit the century mark. In Mumbai, petrol is currently selling at 103.89 a litre. Diesel in the business capital of the country is selling at 95.79 per litre.

(Also Read: Petrol, diesel price skyrocketing. Oil minister blames previous UPA government)

Mumbai was the first metro city to hit the milestone of 100 for a litre of petrol on May 29. Among other state capitals, Bhopal, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Bengaluru too have crossed the 100 mark for petrol price. Patna, Thiruvananthapuram are about to join the list of these cities soon.

With the latest price hike on Thursday, per litre petrol and diesel in Delhi are selling at 97.76 and 88.30 respectively.

In Chennai, petrol and diesel prices are 98.88 per litre and 92.89 per litre respectively. In Kolkata, a litre of petrol and diesel now costs 97.63 and 91.15 respectively.

The petrol and diesel prices vary from state to state depending on the varied VAT amount levied by state governments over and above the central government imposed excise duty and freight charges. Rajasthan currently levies the highest VAT on petrol and diesel in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
DAR re-dedications of the plaque have occurred through the years with a centennial celebration in 2015 hosted by the DAR Coconino Chapter based in Flagstaff (formed in 1927). It was at this time that the monument was moved from the visitors center back to its original location by the rangers cabin.

Vabre was found dead in his home after he failed to arrive for morning Mass on Feb. 15, 1924. Heart failure was the probable cause. He was laid to rest at Flagstaffs Calvary Cemetery following a funeral in the over-flowing church. He was eulogized by local and religious officials who recounted Vabres importance in bringing the National Old Trails Road and Park-to-Park Highway through Flagstaff. His efforts enabled Flagstaff to become more established as a growing community.

Susan Deaver Olberding is a Flagstaff historian and member of the Coconino Chapter DAR.

The NPS/USFS Roving Rangers volunteer through a unique agreement between the Flagstaff Area National Monuments and the Coconino National Forest to provide interpretive ranger walks and talks in the Flagstaff area each summer.

Submit questions for the Ask a Ranger weekly column to askaranger@gmail.com.
Interior Department officials said aside from trying to shed more light on the loss of life at the boarding schools, they will be working to protect burial sites associated with the schools and will consult with tribes on how best to do that while respecting families and communities.

As part of the initiative, a final report from agency staff is due by April 1, 2022.

Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, which had about 80 boarding schools, called the announcement encouraging and said anything that can be done to address those troubling chapters of history is a positive thing.

I hope we dont discover gruesome incidents like were discovered in Canada. I just think its good in this country to have conversations about what happened to Native American children, Hoskin said.

Navajo Nation President Nez also offered his support for the initiative, noting discrimination against Native Americans continues today on many fronts  from voter suppression to high numbers of missing and murdered people.
While the majority of Canadians exhibit tolerance and promote diversity, others remain dead set on rejection and repulsion. Examples of both attitudes are juxtaposed regularly.

Despite multicultural, integrative, and liberal indicators that render Canada a great country, Islamophobia and hate crimes rear their heads every so often, and, in the process, destroy the impartial doctrine enshrined in the Canadian constitution: Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

On June 6, a vicious racial attack on a Muslim family left a nine-year-old boy in hospital, his 15-year-old sister, both parents, and grandmother dead in London, Ontario, Canada, and left the community in total devastation. In a deliberate hit and run, the driver mounted the sidewalk only to strike the family head-on. The five victims, targeted for being Muslims, were simply having an evening walk.

The attack shook Canada. It was a day of grief and outrage as condolences poured in, not only from the Canadian Muslim society but from Canada at large. Islamophobia is real; Their lives were taken in a brutal, cowardly and brazen act of violence, The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said. This killing was no accident. This was a terrorist attack, motivated by hatred. In this thought exists some solace. That the prime minister considered it an act of terrorism is a valued acknowledgement though Canadian authorities have yet to identify it as such; they considered it A horrific act of Islamophobia.

As London, Ontario, mourned the lost lives, a vigil was held for the family and was attended by many dignitaries including the prime minister, mayors, premiers, and party leaders. Outside the mosque where the vigil was held, thousands of Canadian Muslims and Non-Muslims gathered in solidarity.

It was an extraordinary and poignant scene, which the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcast in its entirety including interviews with grieving Muslims, moving speeches from officials and Muslim elders, and more importantly, the prayers and the azan, a first if I may add.

Canadas multiculturalism policy was adopted in 1971 by Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government and father of the current prime minister. It accepts all immigrants on equal basis; yet, despite all efforts and good intentions, a deep trenched divide exists between those who are willing to accept others and the far right extremists.

Statistics tell us that since the Quebec City mosque shooting, when a gunman killed six Muslims in 2017, hate crimes against Muslims have climbed significantly with a 207 percent increase since the previous year. Even that alarming hike in attacks on Muslims is not accurate since approximately two-thirds of hate crimes go unreported. Muslim women, highly visible because of their hijabs, have been threatened and have had their hijabs ripped off them. Muslim women and men experience other forms of racism, too, such as race slurs, aggressive comments, harassment, intimidation, and assaults. At the vigil for the slain Muslim family, Trudeau said, This is unfortunately not an isolated event, Trudeau said. So many other people across the country faced insults, threats and violence.

While the majority of Canadians exhibit tolerance and promote diversity, others remain dead set on rejection and repulsion. Examples of both attitudes are juxtaposed regularly. Ginella Asaan, a beautiful, intelligent Muslim, appears on prime time television every night in the program Canada Tonight. She is the first hijab-wearing television reporter and is genuinely accepted by peers and viewers. Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2017 is a practicing Sikh and wears a turban. In fact, since the 80s, observant Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sikhs wear a turban with their uniform.

And yet, Quebecs Bill 21 passed in 2019, and it bans public workers in positions of authority such as teachers, police officers, and lawyers from wearing religious symbolshijabs, Sikh turbans, and Jewish kippahsspecifically while they are on duty. Undoubtedly, the law disproportionately stigmatizes Muslim women. Though the law drew, and still does, wide criticism as a violation of religious freedom, only 59 percent of Canadians were against it, while 64 percent of Quebeckers approved it.

A Multi-Faith March to end hatred took place in London, Ontario, in honour of the attacked victims. The march was organized by the Anglican Church and gathered a variety of faith leaders who walked from the site of the attack to the London Muslim Mosque. Thousands attended in a show of solidarity.

In glaring contrast, several videos surfaced after the attack calling on more of the same. One video ridiculed a group of walking Muslim women; another interrupted a virtual vigil with racist messages.

Canada Post ahead of Ramadan 2017, commemorated Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha with a special stamp that had an explanation on the ten-stamp booklet:

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are two of the most important festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fast. Eid al-Adha commemorates Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God and marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Both celebrations can include special ritual prayers, lavish meals, visits with friends and family, gift-giving and acts of charity.

Feeling safe, a Syrian refugee wears a hijab in Downtown Vancouver. Hijabbed Iranian students are treated similarly to others at universities and lead ordinary lives on Canadian campuses.

Still, in 2015, a Quebec judge refused to hear the case of a Muslim woman unless she removed her hijab. The judge compared the hijab to a hat and sunglasses, which are not allowed in court.

Food for thought: will the non-acceptance of others ever end? Will the hate in some humans diminish? I doubt it. Ethnocentrism, believing that ones own ways and culture are superior, is natural, until it allows the demonization of those who dont follow the same route and who have a different set of values. Then it leads to discrimination, apartheid, hate crimes, and many violent conflicts across the world.
Fuad Ahmed/Gabe Grey attends the Beeba Boys premiere during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

August, 2006.

My name is Fuad Ahmed. I work in the laboratory supply sales industry while trying to act on the side. I take a long lunch at my office job in Mississauga and trek into downtown Toronto for an audition. The AC in my 1996 Ford Taurus station wagon has decided to quit. I fight traffic the whole way. It's hot. I'm sweaty. I arrive at the audition, sign in and collect myself in the waiting room.

The casting assistant walks in. "Fod Akhmed?" she asks.

I smile, cringing internally. "Uh, it's Fu-Ad ... F, U  "

"Right this way. Just down the hall."

Fuad Ahmed's headshot, 2006. (Anne de Haas)

I walk into the casting room. The director and producer are sitting at a table across from a black backdrop. The assistant introduces me to the director and producer and hands them my headshot. "This is Few-ad."

Close enough.

"Hello! Thanks for seeing me." I smile at them.

They stare at me. They look at my headshot. They look at my name on my headshot. Silence. Awkward silence. They look at each other, toss my headshot to the side and start a conversation with each other. The assistant watches this happen. She smiles at me and tries to run the session. The director and producer talk over me. Their backs are turned the whole time. The assistant notices. How could anyone not notice? I want to throw up. I smile. She smiles back at me.

"Thank you for coming in," she says.

I smile. I try to thank the producer and director. They ignore me. I leave.

I sit in my car. I'm shaking. I look at the time. I have to fight rush hour traffic heading back to Mississauga. I'll be late getting back to the office. HR will ask why I was away for so long.

What am I doing with my life? I've been at this for two years and risking my job at the same time. I want to act. I don't want my name to be an issue. I just want to walk into an audition room and act.

I change my name.

Fuad Ahmed/Gabe Grey (left) in Bomb Girls. (Global)

August, 2014.

My name is Gabe Grey. I am a successful, full-time actor, working regularly in film and TV.

When I walk into an audition room, no one asks me where I am from. No one asks me how to pronounce my name. I am allowed to audition without explaining my existence first. In interviews, I'm asked why I changed my name. I'm very cavalier about the whole thing. "This is show business. I'm a product and I need to sell myself." I have zero regrets.

Then, the work dwindles and eventually stops. I get close on big projects, but I don't book. My LA manager tells me to be clean-shaven for auditions because I look "terroristy" with facial hair. He tells me to not play things so leading, so dominant, so alpha. When I see breakdowns for romantic leads, I ask if I can audition for them, but he tells me those roles are "going white" and casting wants to see me for the supporting best friend instead.

"Do it with an accent," he says. "It'll be funny." I do it. I hate myself. I don't book. He drops me.

Something doesn't feel right in my gut. I ignore it. My Canadian agent, Shari Quallenberg at AMI, supports me through this dry spell. "I'm with you for the long haul," she says. I'm frustrated. I start doing theatre.

My first major theatre gig is in the Pulitzer-winning play Disgraced by Pakistani-American playwright Ayad Akhtar. I play the role of Hussein Malik, an immigrant of Pakistani heritage who changes his name to Abe Jensen to hide his Muslim heritage and fit into American culture.

June, 2021.

My name is Gabe Grey. My acting career has rebooted and I have been working consistently since the fall of 2019. I am playing leading men, romantic leads, and characters outside of "charming doctor." Something still doesn't feel right in my gut.

Earlier this month, a Muslim family was killed in London, Ontario, because of their faith. In May, defending the idea that Palestinians are deserving of equal human rights was equated with support for Hamas. Since 9/11, I have been subject to different rules, written and unwritten, in how I am allowed to go about my daily life. I have spent my life being told I am less than, not equal to, and different.

"You're ugly. Look at your skin. What are you?" - a middle school classmate in Atlanta.

"You're Muslim? But you're so ... normal." - a coworker.

"I thought you might be Pakistani, but you're not like one of them." - a woman at a bar, after relentlessly asking me where I was originally from.

"That's not a name, that's a noise." - a friend's mother, upon meeting me for the first time.

My skin, my faith, my nationality, my name  a sin.

Fuad Ahmed/Gabe Grey in the upcoming feature film Stealing Vows. (Bobby Singh Brown)

On June 10, 2021, I wake up and upload several audition tapes. The files keep crashing and seeing the name  Gabe Grey, Gabe Grey, GabeGreyGabeGreyGabeGrey  feels empty. I feel empty.

Mahershala Ali won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 and 2018.

Riz Ahmed was nominated for Best Actor in 2020.

Ramy Youssef won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy in 2020.

Hamza Haq won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Actor in 2021.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been thinking about going back to my real name for a while now. But I always stopped myself. I built a career around this name. 15 years is a long time. Everyone knows me this way.

But today, I don't care anymore. It's not a big emotional moment. I am taking my name back. I'm walking back into my own home.

My name is Fuad Ahmed. My name is Fuad Ahmed. It's pronounced Fu-'Ad. It is an Arabic name meaning "heart," or more specifically, "The place in your heart where God resides." My name is Fuad Ahmed.
Note: this article was written before the discovery of 751 unmarked graves in Saskatchewan near a former residential school. This is absolute horror. (Link: Saskatchewan First Nation announces discovery of 751 unmarked graves near former residential school)

Despite the multicultural, integrative, and liberal indicators that render Canada a great country, racism, Islamophobia, and hate crime rear their head every so often, and in the process destroy the egalitarian doctrine enshrined in the Canadian constitution: Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

A vicious racial attack on a Muslim family left a nine-year-old boy in hospital, his 15-year-old sister, both parents, and grandmother dead in London, Ontario, Canada, and left the community in mourning. In a deliberate hit and run, the driver mounted the sidewalk only to strike the family head-on. The victims were targeted for being Muslims.

The attack shook Canada as a whole. It was a day of grief and outrage as condolences poured in, not only from the Canadian Muslim society but from Canada at large. In this exists some solace; Islamophobia is real, Prime Minister Trudeau said, adding that the whole Canadian community mourns with the Muslim community. Their lives were taken in a brutal, cowardly and brazen act of violence, Trudeau said. This killing was no accident. This was a terrorist attack, motivated by hatred in the heart of one of our communities.

As London, Ontario, mourned the lost lives, a vigil was held for the family and was attended by many dignitaries including Prime Minister Trudeau, mayors, premiers, and party leaders. Outside the mosque where the vigil was held, thousands of Canadian Muslims and Non-Muslims gathered in solidarity.

It was an extraordinary and poignant scene, which the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcast in its entirety including interviews with grieving Muslims, moving speeches, and more importantly, the prayers and the azan, a first if I may add. That the prime minister considered it an act of terrorism is a valued acknowledgement, too, though Canadian authorities have yet to identify it as such; they considered it A horrific act of Islamophobia.

Food for thought: will the hatred ever end? I doubt it. Hatred is part of human nature, and the demonization of those who stand out, dont follow the ways of the masses, dont look similar to them, and have a different set of values are often looked upon with disdain. Ethnocentrism is a normal attribute; its when a person acts on his own beliefs and attacks the innocent minorities that racism rears its ugly head.

Statistics tell us that since the Quebec City mosque shooting, when a gunman killed six people in 2017, hate crime against Muslims has climbed significantly with a 207 percent increase since the previous year. In all fairness, this hike in attack numbers does not reflect the exact numbers since approximately two-thirds of hate crimes go unreported.

Muslim women, highly visible because of their hijabs, have been attacked and threatened and had their hijabs ripped off them. Other forms of racism such as race slurs, aggressive comments, harassment, intimidation, and threats have been experienced by Muslim men and women.. At the vigil for the slain Muslim family, Trudeau sad, This is unfortunately not an isolated event, Trudeau said. So many other people across the country faced insults, threats and violence. They were all targeted because of their Muslim faith. This is happening here in Canada and it has to stop.

Canadas multiculturalism policy was adopted in 1971 by Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government and father of the current prime minister. Still, Canadians despite all efforts and good intentions by Canada to accept all immigrants as one, a deep trenched divide exists between those who are willing to accept others and the far right extremist.

Many examples exist. Ginella Asaan, a beautiful and intelligent Muslim, appears on prime time television every night in the program Canada Tonight. She is Canadas first hijab-wearing television reporter. Jagmeet Singh has been the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2017. It is the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons with 24 seats. Jagmeet Singh is a practicing Sikh and wears a turban. In fact, since the 80s, observant Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sikhs to wear a turban with their uniform.

And yet, Quebecs Bill 21 passed in 2019, and it bans public workers in positions of authority such as teachers, police officers, and lawyers from wearing religious symbols, specifically while they are on dutyhijabs, Sikh turbans, and Jewish kippahsbut it disproportionately stigmatized Muslim women. Though the law drew, and still does, wide criticism as a violation of religious freedom, with 59 percent of Canadians against the law, 64 percent of Quebeckers approve it.

A multi-faith march took place in London, Ontario. Thousands took to the streets of London, Ont., on Friday for a show of unity

Canadians from all walks of life and all backgrounds paid their respects to the fallen family, and yet several copycat videos surfaced after the massacre calling on more of the same. Exhibiting diversity, tolerance, and diversity, Canada Post Ahead of Ramadan 2017, commemorated Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha with a special stamp that had an explanation on the ten-stamp booklet:

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are two of the most important festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fast. Eid al-Adha commemorates Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God and marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Both celebrations can include special ritual prayers, lavish meals, visits with friends and family, gift-giving and acts of charity.

Feeling safe, a Syrian refugee wears a headscarf in Downtown Vancouver despite the odd first glance by onlookers. Veiled students are treated similarly to others at universities. Muslim Iranian students, veiled and not, lead ordinary lives on Canadian campuses. In March, 2015, a Quebec judge refused to hear the case of a Muslim woman unless she removed her hijab. The judge compared the hijab to a hat and sunglasses, which are not allowed in court.
The self-proclaimed star ice cream brand Zhong Xue Gao issued an apology last Friday, constituting a sharp contrast to the previous arrogant remarks by its founder defending the products' high prices.

In the public apology made on social platforms, the ice cream maker said past mistakes can be corrected but not erased and two administrative punishments in the early stage of entrepreneurship constantly remind the company to communicate with clients more carefully, accurately and responsibly.

The apology came just hours before June 18, the 618 shopping festival in China.

Perhaps it is time for celebrity brands to reflect the essence in building a trusted brand: the hearts of consumers are won through quality rather than pricing, fame, livestreaming, capital or marketing.

Dubbed the "Hermes of ice cream", Zhong Xue Gao has been popular since its establishment in early 2018 due to its premium market position and Chinese origins.

Zhong Xue Gao framed itself with the Chinese elements. With its name sounding like "Chinese style of ice cream" in Chinese, its ice cream comes in the shape of traditional Chinese roof tile and the character hui, meaning to return.

Yet it is the most expensive Chinese ice cream to date. For example, the most expensive product the company has sold is Ecuador Pink - made of pink cocoa powder extracted from a plant growing in the South American country and Japanese shaddock juice. The Ecuador Pink was sold at 66 yuan ($10.30).

Even the company's more standard range of ice creams is usually sold at a price range of 15 to 20 yuan, four to five times the price of most local competitors. In a recent interview, the company founder Lin Sheng defended the high price by saying "This is its price. Take it or leave it."

However, Zhong Xue Gao's high price does not seem to purely come from its self-claimed cost of authentic making process. The company was fined twice by the Shanghai market supervision authority in 2019 for false advertising.

One item the supervision body said, among other false advertising, was that the ad for its milk-flavored ice creams boasting it did not contain a single drop of water contradicted the product ingredient label which listed water.

The gimmick of "high-end ice cream" promoted by popular internet celebrities did bring enough attention in this era of livestreaming. In a sense, Zhong Xue Gao's popularity is based on crazy marketing.

If the cost comes from frenzy publicity instead of the raw materials production and labor, then consumers deserve to know the truth before making their choice to buy it or not.

Celebrity brands should not fool consumers. To stay popular for long and go far, company must treat consumers sincerely and provide products with reasonable price and value for money. False publicity through marketing can only bring short-term profits, but will eventually be rejected and resented by the consumers.
While Native Americans living in Montana make up only about 7% of the states population, they are four times more likely to go missing, according to data gathered by the state DOJ. Men and women are reported missing at almost an equal rate, and about 80% of those reported missing from 2017 to 2019 were under the age of 18.

We need to train our young people to be aware  I believe we need to start looking out for one another again, said Stewart Peregoy, who has served in the Montana Legislature for about 13 years and is also a member of the Tribal Relations Committee.

Four students from Ronan High School also participated in Wednesdays conference, which was open to the public via Zoom. In some instances, they said, their children run away from home to escape a toxic environment.

They just need someone to confide in, said Brett Myers, 16.
One neat aspect of the technology that I'm talking about is, it doesn't generate acid. In fact, it does the opposite. And so, it's an environmentally benign way, or at least more benign than oxidative leaching, Boyd said. Now, scaling this up will be a challenge, that will be a challenge. And that'll be something that we'll have to engage engineers and mining technology experts with and I should just mention, we are partnering with, we have mine partners currently on this project that are very excited about it. Scaling it up and the cost of scaling this up, you know, that will really depend on exactly what we find as we're digging into these cells and figuring them out, and figuring out how these cells are actually doing this process.
The Literacy Walk is funded by a $5,000 Faculty Excellence Grant from MSU and a matching grant from the city of Bozeman, Orendorff said. The first copies of The Rainbow Fish were donated by MSUs health enhancement major. Orendorff hopes local businesses will donate future books.

As a former health enhancement teacher, Orendorff had long thought an activity like the Bozeman Pond Literacy Walk would be beneficial for kids.

As an educator, I 100% believe in literacy, she said. Reading  and hopefully a love of reading  is one of the most important skills that our children can have. I really believe that reading is the key to any success in education.

Orendorff noted that numerous research studies have shown that students who are more active retain more information. Studies also show that active students have fewer behavioral problems and better school attendance and that physical activity helps promote brain stimulation.

In addition, Orendorff said, the Literacy Walks kickoff event is also a great opportunity for MSU students who plan to pursue careers as teachers to gain a meaningful experience with kids.

For my (MSU) students this is an opportunity for them to interact with kids, she said. It gives them more hands-on time with students, which is what preservice teachers need.

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An assessment of the land was conducted by an FWP biologist last year, but with turnover in the Fish and Wildlife Commission and a new governor, prospects for the lands acquisition are uncertain. FWP did not respond to requests for information on the status of the land buy in time for this story.

The BLM is helping fund the Wilderness Institute to complete the Twin Coulee study.

"There are potential opportunities for hunting, hiking, and camping, but it is limited due to super dense forest cover, and steep slopes," said Jennifer Alexander, outdoor recreation planner for the BLM in Billings. "We don't have any concrete recreational use statistics, however we are hoping to gather some of that information through the cooperative study the BLM is doing with the Wilderness Institute."

Conservation groups such as the Montana Wildlife Federation have pushed for the acquisition, noting it would protect wildlife habitat, provide public access to an area that is difficult to reach, while also connecting to the larger parcels of public lands in the Big Snowy Mountains.

Data
"With that said, if drought conditions persist and well-above-average temperatures occur, the new-season grasses could cure early and quickly, leading to an earlier-than-average second fire season," the agency said. "In addition, some of last year's grasses that were not pushed down by snow cover continue to stand. This would add to the fuel load, combining with the cured new-season grasses."

The weather service outlook through the Fourth of July indicates continued warm and dry conditions across North Dakota.

More information

Burgum in April declared a statewide disaster. The State Water Commission reactivated the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program, and the State Water Commission has approved $4.1 million in funding. The program provides 50% cost share assistance of up to $4,500 per project. For more information, go to www.swc.nd.gov or call the Water Commission at 701-328-4989.
North Dakota health officials have documented a new version of the coronavirus in the state.

The delta variant was confirmed in an adult who was not hospitalized, the state Health Department reported Thursday. Officials did not offer any other details, including where the person lives.

This variant is more easily transmitted from person to person and early data is indicating that this variant can cause serious disease, especially in those who are not vaccinated, said Kirby Kruger, head of the department's disease control division and forensic pathology section.

The delta variant has been found in more than 80 countries since it was first detected in India last December, according to The Associated Press. Experts say the variant spreads more easily because of mutations that make it better at latching onto cells in the body. It's now responsible for 90% of all new infections in the United Kingdom. In the U.S. it represents 20% of infections, and health officials say it could become the countrys dominant type.

"Early evidence from a laboratory setting is showing that previous infection with COVID-19 may not protect against this variant, Kruger said.
Something boring: Me. I get very excited about my niche book interests. I will tell everyone at the farmers market about my finds. I will tell the girl at the Dairy Queen window. I will tell every dog on every lawn.

Something normal: I was the only one around the campfire to get any mosquito bites.

Something unexpected: It wasnt as many mosquito bites as usual, given its a dry year. It wasnt a campfire either. We sat in a circle around the place where the fire should be (its a dry year), but instead of fire, my dad just hung up some lights that look like bobbers. It still fulfilled the ancient urge to stare into the light and share stories and drink warmish beer.

Something borrowed: A few bucks from my little sister every time I go to a farmers market because I always forget to bring some with me. I return the favor by agreeing to go get ice cream any time she asks. She has not realized that I too want the ice cream.

Something blue: Not my shoulders. My shoulders are red because I missed a spot with the sunscreen. I am single, so there is no one to make sure that I havent missed a spot. Ive never seen a sunburned bride. I cant really think of anything blue in my life at the moment, but considering everything else on this list (shoulders aside) I think Im covered. If you have enough somethings, you might have everything you need.

Kayla Schmidt is a freelance writer and creative collaborator with The Good Kids. She's a North Dakota boomerang: originally from Minot, she took a detour to study in England before settling in Bismarck.

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Singapore Security Insights Report

In this VMware report, 64% said attack volumes had increased in the past 12 months. 82% of those who had a cyberattack said attacks increased due to more people working from home.

This report was conducted to identify trends in hacking and malicious attacks, and the financial and reputational impact breaches had in this unprecedented year.

The frequency of attacks is high, their sophistication continues to grow, and breaches are the inevitable result. Read this report to discover how Singapore organizations plans for securing new technology, adopting a cloud-first security strategy, and dealing with the complexity of the current cybersecurity management environment.
Snoopy the beagle, who apparently didn't know that the U.S.-Canada border is closed, left his Niagara Falls home last weekend and left the country.

The international incident triggered a train of events that led to the surrender of 14 beagles Wednesday.

Snoopy, who lives on North Avenue, walked over the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge to Canada, according to Amy L. Lewis, executive director of the SPCA of Niagara County. Canadian authorities trapped the animal and called the Niagara Falls Police Department.

Officer David Bower, the department's veteran dog control specialist, retrieved Snoopy and took him home, Lewis said.

While at the North Avenue home, he observed conditions that worried him, Lewis said. Among other things, there were 16 dogs in the house.

Bower told the SPCA he intended to obtain a search warrant for the residence, and that was executed Wednesday by Bower and other officers with the SPCA's help.

The owners agreed to sign over 14 beagles to the SPCA, Lewis said.

Their home was condemned by the city Code Enforcement Department.
New York State owes eight small city school districts, including Niagara Falls and Jamestown, a total of $1.1 billion for state aid it withheld during and after the great recession, a state appellate court ruled.

The Appellate Division, Third Department, ruled that the state failed to meet its constitutional obligations to provide a basic education to its students in the eight districts.

The appellate court sent the matter back to Supreme Court, maintaining that it had no authority to direct the nature of the remedy or how it is implemented. The state has until Monday to decide whether to appeal. The state attorney general's office did not reply to an email asking if the state would appeal the decision.

Parents in the school districts, all with large numbers of high needs students, first petitioned state Supreme Court in 2008 to require New York to comply with the state Constitution, which requires the state to provide a "sound, basic education."

They argued that New York State did not adequately fund foundation aid, the aid category that funds most school operations, and that the state cut aid in the wake of the recession. The school districts said they were due a total of $1.1 billion in state aid that was withheld from from 2010 through 2015.
"Niagara has been gentrified with younger and far more progressive voters," Masiello said, noting poorer areas also produced Walton votes. "These want change and are not happy with the status quo."

Election results also show Brown receiving fewer votes Tuesday than in any of his four prior Democratic mayoral primaries. His 9,625 votes was more than 4,000 fewer than 2017 and more than 16,000 fewer than 2009. Brown also attracted fewer votes in seven of the nine Common Council districts in 2021 compared to his four previous primary races.

And his home district of Masten, where his career started as a Council member, produced only a 55% to 41% victory compared to much higher victories in the past.

Others note the complacency with which the mayor faced Walton. Ignoring her and fellow challenger Le'Candice M. Durham throughout the campaign, he refused to debate and sought votes by simply acting as mayor. His television ads were also deemed generally positive, apparently oblivious to the threat Walton was mounting.

Speed-zone cameras, teachers union played a role

Some also pointed to community ire over his program to fine speeders caught on cameras outside school zones, which Walton also obliquely cited in a Wednesday interview with The Buffalo News.
More than 10,000 users have interacted with GRYT a collective 1.3 million times, she said.

A family member told Pohrte about GRYT last fall. She has since pored over hundreds of patient stories and participated in chats and monthly online meetups with fellow survivors nationwide.

Everyone, including the staff, can understand and connect, she said.

Pohrte was able to work from home as an IT analyst for a regional health company during the first few months of the pandemic but has slowly been recovering from her hospital stay since last July.

I was not getting the transplant up until the day that I went into the hospital, she said. It was that scary for me. But if I wanted any chance of being here, I had to have it done.

She made the decision during the second pandemic peak last November to stay at her home with her youngest son, Alex, 12, who was learning remotely, while her husband, Dave, and their oldest son, Michael, 17, stayed in a nearby apartment because they needed to interact with others at least some of the time.
After the riot, Lloyd described Jan. 6 on Facebook as the best day ever."

On Wednesday, she apologized to the court, her family and the American people, saying she went to Washington that day to peacefully show her support for Trump.

Im ashamed that it became a savage display of violence that day. And I would have never been there if I had a clue it was going to turn out that way, Lloyd told the judge. It was never my intent to be a part of anything thats so disgraceful to our American people.

In seeking probation for Lloyd, prosecutors noted that she was not involved in any violence and destruction or preplanning and coordination of the Capitol breach. Lloyd was invited by her hairdresser to drive to Washington to hear Trump speak, her attorney wrote in court documents.

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth said he was giving her a break, but didnt want others to think that probation  and not a stiffer sentence  would be the norm.

Legally, I could give you the six months, but is that really what we want our judiciary to do? the judge asked.
It is long past the time the Guantanamo Bay prison be closed. Based on our countrys values it should never have been opened. The 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, all relatives of victims who died in 9/11, said it is incomprehensible to them that it still exists 20 years after it was opened and is an embarrassment to our country.

A letter to former President Barack Obama from 49 generals and admirals said, Closing Guantanamo will make Americans more secure and remind the world that we are prepared to live by the rule of law and values we cherish. Lincoln, in his Gettysburg address, asked us to dedicate ourselves to these values in order to maintain an example for the world that a nation based on democracy and freedom,   shall not perish from the earth.

Washington and Lincoln opposed torture. It is a violation of the UN Convention Against Torture, a treaty the U.S. ratified in 1994. It is also a violation of U.S. law.
It wasnt a good election for the party bosses in Erie County. Not only did their candidates get wiped out in the only two big races  Buffalo mayor and Erie County sheriff  but the Republicans, clinging to their quadrennial manipulation, squandered a golden opportunity to produce a Republican mayor for the city.

Had Republicans fielded a candidate for mayor, that individual would have been in a strong position to make that case that solidly Democratic Buffalo would be better off with an experienced Republican mayor than with the Democrats winning candidate  India Walton, a self-described socialist and a political neophyte.

But, as usual, the Republicans fielded no candidate. For them its always been about strategy rather than democracy. By forgoing the mayors race, they can depress the citys Democratic turnout in November, making it easier for them to win countywide races, including for sheriff and comptroller.

Its been an effective, if cynical, strategy. Its not the only reason that Republicans have held the sheriffs office for more than 20 years, but its likely helped.
In 2002, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops developed the Charter and Essential Norms to establish binding procedures for responding to allegations of sexual abuse of minors. The Diocese of Buffalos own internal policies and procedures were revised to incorporate the Charter and Essential Norms. One aspect of these norms was to have a system in place to monitor the pedophile priests. Now in 2021, 19 years later, we are setting up a plan, after the attorney general is forcing the issue. How many Buffalo bishops have stated they were following procedures and being transparent since 2002?

It is not clear to me why the pedophile priests are still priests, they may have been removed from ministry (though not always successfully) but why are they still priests?! They committed heinous crimes that have also bankrupted our diocese. Why are we still supporting and protecting them? Forgiveness is part of our faith and I can understand that, I can let God alone judge them; they likely had some painful backgrounds that led to their crimes. But forgiveness does not mean paying them. Every action has a consequence. Their consequences are due to their own actions and should include being removed from the priesthood (as stated in the Charter and Norms).
On one of those western walks, traffic stopped at a busy intersection, many motorcycle police officers appeared, then a long motorcade followed, and, in a limousine somewhere in the middle was President Bill Clinton waving to us as he passed by while we all stood at the busy intersection watching. It was the first and only time I was ever near a president. Quite a thrill for a Buffalo guy and a political junkie. The visceral feelings of those walks in the most powerful place in the entire world remain with me still.

Now that I am retired and living in the Southtowns I am up very early doing my workout, catching up on the morning news stories and, of course, heading out on my walks. Its a time when our unsung heroes during Covid 19  our food delivery employees and police officers  are doing their jobs and early shift workers are heading to work. The streets are relatively quiet and only a jogger or two are out and about.
The downing of flight PS752 in January 2020 took the lives of all 176 people on board, including 138 people with ties to Canada

A Canadian government report on the downing of a Ukrainian jet has found no evidence it was "premeditated", but said Iran was "fully responsible".

Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was hit by two missiles after taking off from Tehran on 8 January 2020. All 176 people on board died.

Iran - which was accused of hampering independent inquiries - has said it mistook the aircraft for a US missile.

Some 138 of those on board the doomed plane had ties to Canada.

Citizens or residents of four other countries - Ukraine, the UK, Afghanistan and Sweden - were also killed.

Canada said on Thursday that the blame lay with Iran's "civilian and military authorities".

While acknowledging that an air defence unit operator "likely acted on his own in making the decision to launch the missiles", an eight-month forensic investigation concluded that it would not have happened if not for the "incompetence, recklessness, and wanton disregard for human life" of Iranian officials.

"Iran does not get off the hook in any way whatsoever," said Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau at a news conference on Thursday. "It is totally responsible for what happened."

The probe found that Iranian anti-aircraft missiles were on high alert, yet authorities did not close its airspace or notify airlines in operation at the time.

Mr Garneau said that a missile operator made "a series of extremely flawed decisions that could have and should have been avoided".

He added that Iranian military command and control have been too slow both in addressing the failures and taking measures to prevent future tragedy.

Officials called for "a comprehensive and honest explanation from the Iranian regime" as the report acknowledges a lack of access to the evidence, crash site, and witnesses.

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Iranian authorities initially denied responsibility for the crash and allowed the crash site to be both bulldozed and looted.

But as evidence mounted, the Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force said an air defence unit had mistaken the Boeing 737-800 for a US missile.

Iran's air defences had been on high alert at the time because the country had just fired ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases hosting US forces in retaliation for the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad five days earlier.

A final report from the Civil Aviation Organisation of Iran this March concluded an operator "misidentified" the plane and fired the missiles without authorisation from a commander.

On Wednesday, Mr Garneau said the Iranian report had "gaping holes" and "places all of the blame on people lower down in the structure".

But he admitted that his government's forensic team relied upon the report and was unable to draw conclusions that differed from Iran's formal "human error" explanation.

In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "Iran's official account of events is disingenuous, misleading and superficial, and intentionally ignores key factors".

"Senior regime officials made the decisions that led to this tragedy, and the world must not allow them to hide with impunity behind a handful of low-ranking scapegoats," he said.

Mr Trudeau's administration is seeking reparations from Iran in order to compensate victims' families.

It has also indicated interest in pursuing sanctions or going before the International Criminal Court over the incident.
MONTREAL and EBENE, Mauritius, June 23, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Members of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have signed a fintech co-operation agreement with the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius (FSC Mauritius). The members are the securities regulatory authorities in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

The agreement extends the work of the CSA Regulatory Sandbox Initiative and the efforts made by FSC Mauritius with innovative financial players. Notably, it includes a referral mechanism for innovative businesses, and enhances and clearly defines information-sharing between these jurisdictions.

"This agreement with FSC Mauritius will provide a solid framework for co-operation and referrals between our jurisdictions," said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorite des marches financiers. "As the fintech industry evolves rapidly, we must ensure that we put in place a regulatory framework that gives businesses the flexibility to grow while maintaining investor protection."

"The FSC Mauritius is proud to partner with the CSA through this Fintech cooperation agreement and to work together to support current and future innovation in our respective financial jurisdictions," according to the Chief Executive of the FSC Mauritius, Dhanesswurnath Thakoor. "We have signed bilateral MOUs on Fintech with regulatory counterparts in several key jurisdictions including France and also joined the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN). These MOUs, together with this latest cooperation agreement with the CSA, will ease the ability of Fintech entrepreneurs and innovators to receive regulatory guidance and thrive in terms of cross-border innovation from Mauritius to other continents."

About the Canadian Securities Administrators

The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories, co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.

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Among other initiatives, it has put in place the CSA Regulatory Sandbox to support fintech businesses seeking to offer innovative products, services and applications in Canada. The sandbox allows firms to register and/or obtain exemptive relief from securities laws requirements, under a faster and more flexible process than through a standard application, in order to test their products, services and applications throughout the Canadian market on a time limited basis.

About the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius

The FSC is the integrated regulator for the non-banking financial services sector and global business.

The vision of the FSC is to be an internationally recognised Financial Supervisor committed to the sustained development of Mauritius as a sound and competitive Financial Services Centre.

In carrying out its mission, the FSC aims to promote the development, fairness, efficiency and transparency of financial institutions and capital markets in Mauritius; suppress crime and malpractices so as to provide protection to members of the public investing in non-banking financial products; and ensure the soundness and stability of the financial system in Mauritius.

For media inquiries:

Pascale Bijoux

Canadian Securities Administrators

media@acvm-csa.ca

Asha Gopee-Ramjuttun

Financial Services Commission, Mauritius

fscmauritius@intnet.mu; communications@fscmauritius.org

For Investor inquiries, please refer to your respective securities regulator. You can contact them here.

SOURCE Autorite des marches financiers

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2021/23/c7298.html
Nino Munoz

Where does a wild and complicated flight attendant travel on her days off? Kaley Cuoco opened up to PEOPLE about her big summer travel plans - and the places still on her bucket list.

The Flight Attendant star and producer is excited about filming the upcoming second season, particularly because it involves a change of scenery - in Iceland! In the comedic thriller series based on the novel by Chris Bohjalian, Cuoco, 35, portrays Cassie, a flight attendant who tries to get her act together as she investigates the death of her one-night stand in a Bangkok, Thailand hotel room.

The actress, who spent 12 seasons (2007-2019) on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, is also a spokesperson for priceline.com. She talks to PEOPLE about her love for globe-trotting (and occasionally staying home), plus a few sneak peeks about The Flight Attendant season two.

RELATED: Kate Hudson on Magic of Childhood Trips with Mom Goldie Hawn: 'I Don't Want to Lose That'

PEOPLE: What is your favorite vacation destination?

Kaley Cuoco: Am I allowed to say my backyard?! I guess if I had to pick one it would be HawaiiI love the beaches and the pineapplesit's paradise there!

Shutterstock/ Priceline

P: Where are you traveling for your next vacation?

KC: Iceland! We are actually going to shoot season two of The Flight Attendant thereI have never been there so I am so excited to explore.

P: What are your must-have travel essentials?

KC: Eye drops, iPad, earbuds, Kashwere blankets, and a Rollga foam roller. I can't leave home without those for my every day away.

P: What destination is at the top of your bucket list to visit?

KC: A safari in South Africa. As an animal lover, I think it would be incredible to interact with some of the most amazing animals.

WATCH THIS: Kaley Cuoco Says Reese Witherspoon Inspired Her to Buy the Rights for The Flight Attendant

P: You're a spokesperson for Priceline. Any advice on how to plan your next great adventure?

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KC: Priceline is my go-to, it's a little like having my own travel assistant! Sometimes the hardest part for me is just narrowing down the places I want to go, so I give my husband [Karl Cook] a few choices and make him pick. Then to book, I just go to Priceline, check off my top picks and they pop up the best deals for me.

P: Can you share a funny travel disaster story?

KC: Traveling with my dog Dumpy is always hilarious and crazy! One time I took him into the lavatory to see if he would go to the bathroom. It didn't work.

P: Do you have any summer travel plans?

KC: We have some amazing upcoming international travel planned for The Flight Attendant Season 2 and I can't wait! The entire experience of bringing this book to life has been one that I will cherish always, and I can't wait to share Cassie's next adventures with an audience.
Soon after the first lockdowns started, newspaper articles were ripe with speculation and reports about the effect of the pandemic on crime around the globe. Many reports suggested there would be a rapid fall in street crime, while others indicated a possible rise in lootings, burglaries of commercial properties and domestic violence.

When we discussed the potential implications of lockdowns in an initial working paper, we assumed that crime in public spaces would go down, but that it might increase in the long term as the effects of unemployment and the pandemics financial strains are felt.

This led us to the idea of examining and comparing crime patterns in cities around the world. In particular, we thought that the lockdown was a unique opportunity to test the validity of routine activity theory, which is rooted in the idea that crime feeds on opportunities embedded in the routines of daily life.

So, we looked at the daily number of six types of police-recorded crimes  burglary, theft, assault, robbery, vehicle theft and homicide  across a number of cities around the world. For most cities, the time we looked at stretched from the beginning of 2018 or 2019 through to mid-2020.

We attempted to select cities that would maximise the geographical coverage of our study as well as capture the influence of a range of different policy responses aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. We also wanted to make sure that we covered cities in developing countries. In many cases, however, daily crime data was simply not available or we didnt get a response to our requests. The final sample included 27 cities across 23 countries.

Nivette et al. A global analysis of the impact of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions on crime. Nat Hum Behav (2021). doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01139-z , CC BY

Our findings showed that the number of daily crimes declined in the weeks following lockdowns being introduced. On average, the overall reduction in daily crime was -37% across the cities in the sample. However, there were differences across crime types and cities. Street crimes like theft (-47%) and robbery (-46%) declined most, while the drop in the number of murders was substantially smaller (-14%) and not statistically significant.

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The lack of a significant decline in murder was a surprise. Especially in high-crime cities such as Rio de Janeiro, murders are often linked to gang activities and conflicts between young men. Despite restrictions limiting interactions for many people, the findings suggest that lockdowns seemed to do little to change the behaviour of those involved in serious violence.

In cities with more stringent stay-at-home orders, we saw larger declines in street crime compared to cities with fewer constraints on public life. For example, in Stockholm, Sweden, where there were little to no stay-at-home restrictions, on average daily crime declined by 13%. By contrast, in Lima, Peru, which experienced some of the most stringent stay-at-home restrictions in the sample, the daily number of street crimes declined on average 78% in the weeks following lockdown.

In other words, the combination of stay-at-home orders, shops and schools closing, restrictions on public transport and the disappearance of tourism meant that many opportunities for urban crime simply no longer existed.

With people staying at home, it also became harder to break into empty flats or houses. And with streets and public transport empty, offenders may have been concerned about an increased risk of being stopped simply for breaking lockdown orders. Our findings suggest that this change in routine activities and decline in opportunities for crime is the most plausible explanation for the fall in offences recorded, at least in the short term.

How long did it last?

This hibernation of crime in public spaces was relatively short lived. Across the world, crime levels started to creep up again a few weeks after lockdowns began. We are currently gathering more data to examine the long-term effects of lockdown measures in the second half of 2020 and into 2021. In particular, were interested in whether there was a boomerang effect, with crime (at least temporarily) overshooting pre-pandemic levels after having fallen.

Its important to mention as well that there are indications that in some countries violence at home increased following lockdowns, and also that cybercrime may have increased. However, the data we used doesnt cover these important problems, so we are not able to determine whether crime opportunities merely shifted from offline to online environments.

Our findings may also help us to better understand long-term crime trends. Lockdowns are obviously not a way to reduce crime, but our findings suggest that a change in opportunities can lead to a decline in crime. This may be a useful insight when designing strategies to reduce crime in the future.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Amy Nivette receives funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The research discussed in this piece was funded by the Utrecht University Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences COVID-19 Fund.

Manuel Eisner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
GARDEN VALLEY, Texas, June 24, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mercy Ships, the global healthcare charity that provides free medical services to the worlds least advantaged peoples through a fleet of first-class hospital ships, announced today that it has appointed Gert van de Weerdhof as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to replace current Mercy Ships CEO, Tom Stogner, who retires June 25, 2021.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210623005976/en/

Gert van de Weerdhof (Photo: Business Wire)

Originally from the Netherlands, Mr. Van de Weerdhof has extensive experience in management, including 30 years in various industries and businesses around the globe. He has served on numerous boards and currently serves on the Mercy Ships Netherlands board. Mr. Van de Weerdhof will be based out of the Mercy Ships International Support Center in the USA during this appointment and will focus on the ongoing work of Mercy Ships in Africa. Mercy Ships aims to see both the Africa Mercy redeployed and new Global Mercy in full deployment during 2022.

"As a subcommittee of the Mercy Ships International Board, we took appointment of an interim CEO very seriously. Mr. van de Weerdhof was one of many qualified candidates. We felt his experience both in the continental US and internationally positioned him to dive into the mission of serving the forgotten poor in Africa. We are grateful to have him onboard," stated Kristine Davis, Vice Chair of the Mercy Ships International Board.

Tom Stogner came to Mercy Ships in 2017 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and became CEO in 2019.

"Tom has led the organization through an incredible season. Tom leaves Mercy Ships with a healthy culture and in a strong financial position despite the challenges of the past year. He has guided Mercy Ships through the COVID-19 shutdown, stewarded preparations for the Africa Mercys return to service in Senegal as soon as practically possible and can point to a successful delivery of the Global Mercy before he leaves office. We will miss his leadership, sense of humor, wisdom in difficult times, and his heart for the Lord," stated Ruben Martin, Chairman of the Mercy Ships International board.

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The Mercy Ships International Board has appointed a CEO Search Committee for a new Mercy Ships CEO. The committee has the aim to have a permanent CEO in place by Q4, 2021. Candidate applications are being handled by executive search firm Odgers Berndtson.

ABOUT MERCY SHIPS:

Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people. Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an average of over 1200 volunteers each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills. With 16 national offices and an Africa Bureau, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations. For more information click on www.mercyships.org

Hi-res photos and general Mercy Ships B-Roll video footage are available upon request.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210623005976/en/

Contacts

Laura Rebouche

U.S. National Media Relations Director Mercy Ships

Office: +1 903.939.7000

Direct: +1 903.939.7137

Email: laura.rebouche@mercyships.org

www.mercyships.org
From cryptojacking to COVID research hacking, North Korea is establishing a cybercrime blueprint that could help other rogue states to circumvent sanctions

SALT LAKE CITY, June 24, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--North Korea is successfully pioneering a new model of state-sponsored cybercrime that could create a dangerous blueprint for other rogue states to follow, researchers from Venafi, the inventor and leading provider of machine identity management, warned today. Venafis threat intelligence specialists analyzed publicly available information on North Korean-sponsored cybercriminal groups  such as Lazarus and APT38  and their methods over the past four years to gain insights into how these groups operate  noting the differences between the actions of threat actors from a rogue state and those that are somewhat confined by international law.

Venafi researchers have concluded that cybercrime has become a primary means of revenue generation for North Korea, helping the state to work outside international sanctions. Some estimates suggest that cybercrime profits for North Korea may amount to as much as $1 billion each year. According to the UN Security Council as much $2 billion is already making its way directly into the nations weapons programme. In addition, funds generated by cybercrime support the North Korean economy, countering the impact of economic sanctions. As such, cybercrime is essential to the ongoing survival of the Kim Jong Un dictatorship  a regime that has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and nuclear proliferation, threatening others in the region and the wider global community.

The cybercrime model of North Korea could create a blueprint for other nations to develop similar programs. Without international action, Venafi warns that this could result in escalating cyber guerrilla warfare, putting all nations at significant risk.

"The world needs to start taking this threat more seriously," said Yana Blachman, threat intelligence specialist at Venafi. "North Korean attacks are often more brazen and reckless than those sponsored by other states because they are not afraid of getting caught  this makes them particularly dangerous. North Korea gives the cybercriminals it sponsors free reign to engage in highly destructive, global attacks, such as the 2017 attacks on Windows users worldwide that used the WannaCry ransomware, which affected more than 200,000 users across at least 150 countries. North Korea is setting an example that other rogue states can follow; states such as Belarus and even Myanmar can see that cybercrime offers them a way of countering the worst effects of sanctions, while making themselves more of a threat to the wider community."

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North Korea sponsors criminal groups such as Lazarus and APT38 through its military-affiliated Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB). These groups are known to target business and governments worldwide via methods such as ATM cashout schemes, cryptomining and cryptocurrency theft, and even cyber bank heists. For example, the $101 million heist of the Bangladesh Bank via the SWIFT banking system was carried out by North Korea. Several of these attacks are characterised by their use of code signing certificates, which serve as machine identities making it possible for businesses to trust the software they use.

"North Koreas use of code signing machine identities makes its attacks particularly hard to defend against," continued Blachman. "Stealing code-signing machine identities equips North Korean cybercriminals with the ability to pass off their own malicious software as legitimate software from a genuine developer. It also enables them to execute devastating supply chain attacks. The problem is that theres currently not enough awareness and security around the importance of machine identities. This lack of focus allows North Korean cybercriminals to take advantage of a serious blindspot in software supply chain attacks. Without more co-ordination and collaboration among businesses and governments to address the tactics used by North Korean cybercriminals, these threats will only get worse, and other global pariahs will sense their own opportunities."

For more information, please visit:

https://www.venafi.com/blog/north-korean-cyberattacks-can-inspire-other-rogue-nations

About Venafi

Venafi is the cybersecurity market leader in machine identity management, securing machine-to-machine connections and communications. Venafi protects machine identity types by orchestrating cryptographic keys and digital certificates for SSL/TLS, SSH, code signing, mobile and IoT. Venafi provides global visibility of machine identities and the risks associated with them for the extended enterpriseon premises, mobile, virtual, cloud and IoTat machine speed and scale. Venafi puts this intelligence into action with automated remediation that reduces the security and availability risks connected with weak or compromised machine identities while safeguarding the flow of information to trusted machines and preventing communication with machines that are not trusted.

With more than 30 patents, Venafi delivers innovative solutions for the world's most demanding, security-conscious Global 5000 organizations and government agencies, including the top five U.S. health insurers; the top five U.S. airlines; the top four credit card issuers; three out of the top four accounting and consulting firms; four of the top five U.S. retailers; and the top four banks in each of the following countries: the U.S., the U.K., Australia and South Africa.

For more information, visit: www.venafi.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005081/en/

Contacts

Shelley Boose

shelley.boose@venafi.com

408.398.6987
MADISON  A La Crosse man accused of brandishing a firearm and threatening to shoot children last June was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to six years in prison for felon in possession of a firearm.

Almondo Baker, 40, was arrested by La Crosse police who responded to a report that Baker had made the threats and brandished a firearm while driving on Liberty Street, according to police.

Police located Baker near 1100 Rose St. and his car in Copeland Park. A loaded pistol and drugs were recovered during a search of the car.

Baker was released on bond but his case was referred to the U.S. Attorney, resulting in Baker being indicted in federal court in August.

He pleaded guilty in March to the felon in possession charge.

On Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Corey requested an eight-year sentence, saying it was warranted by the Bakers 11 prior felony convictions.

Those convictions include a conviction in La Crosse County Circuit Court for possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, substantial battery in Monroe County and felon in possession of a firearm.

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He also has convictions in Illinois and Florida.
"He told me his father never showed him an ounce of affection, Morgan said, adding that recounting his fathers death was the only time during their long meeting that McAfee cried.

While McAfees tech legacy may have been overshadowed in recent years by his tumultuous life, Morgan said he sees his most lasting impact as a software and security pioneer.

I think thats how ultimately he really most like to be remembered. I think a lot of people will remember him as a very troubled soul. Some people will remember him as a criminal. It depends on your age and your exposure to him, Morgan said.

McAfee founded his eponymous company in 1987. At the time, Morgan said, he was operating a BBS, a bulletin board system that served as a precursor to the World Wide Web and working with his brother-in-law. When the first major computer virus, called Brain, hit in 1986, John instantly dialed up a programmer he knew and said, theres a big opportunity. We need to do something. You know, we want to write some code to combat this virus, Morgan said. He called the program VirusScan and the company McAfee Associates.

He was a true pioneer, not just as a security technologist but as one of the first companies to distribute software over the internet, Morgan said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23)  Following the success and international debut of anime series "Hayop Ka!", director Avid Liongoren said they are now working on the next installment of the series called "Hayop Ka Din!"

"Yes, it's called 'Hayop Ka Din!' that will star Jerry the frog. Yes, it's in the works," Liongoren told CNN Philippines' The Final Word, referring to one of the existing characters in the first part of the series.

However, fans will have to wait for another four years before they are able to watch the new film, he said.

Both Liongoren and writer and producer Manny Angeles also expressed their excitement on the big screen debut of "Hayop Ka!" in France.

"We worked with a small team of animators... that is why it kind of takes a while as well, but we are happy that we've gone this far," Angeles said.

Great future for the PH animation industry

With the recent international recognition of several Filipino animations, Angeles said this is a perfect opportunity for local creators to present the works they have had in their brains and computers and to finally show it to people from the bigger studios.

Liongoren also noted that there are still a lot of Filipino comics waiting to be adapted and be shown to the rest of the world.

"We are on the right track, and it's looking good for the next five years," Angeles said.

On hiring celebrities as voice actors, both noted the contribution these people give to Filipino animation, given that the industry is only at its beginning stage in the domestic market.

"They bring in something very new and at the same time they bring in experience from doing their previous filmmaking," Angeles said.

"Animation in the Philippines is really at the beginning stage, so we need the help of familiar names to get people interested in the work," Liongoren noted.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Get into the Pride Month Spirit as the worlds largest social network app for gays, BLUED puts the spotlight on diverse queer personalities with its campaign Live Your Gay Life.

In the Philippines, BLUED tapped funny content creators Pork Neilaga (Neil Esteban), Sassa Gurl (Felix Petate), and Pipay Kipay, DJ Mike Lavarez, film critic and HIV awareness advocate Wanggo Gallaga, and fellow HIV activist Benedict Bernabe to encourage fellow gays to #liveyourpride.

Each influencer will share their stories, vulnerabilities, and wins as gay people and connect with others via social posts and livestreams on the BLUED app. BLUED hopes that gays will find the app an inclusive safe space where all types of gays should feel visible. From muscular to chubs, manly to effems, straight-acting to woman-presenting; BLUED believes that every gay should feel welcomed, celebrated, and well-represented online and even in real life.

This campaign will also feature photos of these notable gay personalities in the Philippines who will show how they live their gay life amidst the pandemic. The shots will be more candid and raw, offering glimpses into their daily lives that aim to engage more gays in the Philippines to do their own versions of the post.

During Pride 2021, Blued will also launch special campaigns across different countries and regions that are tailored to the local community. Check out the global ad for the campaign below.

Our main objective is to empower all types of gays to feel visible and well-represented online and even in real life and ultimately drive home that Blued is a safe space for gay men where you can freely Live Your Gay Life, Blued said in an official statement.

This June, Blued also features a special rainbow UI (user interface) to commemorate Pride Month. The iconic Pride rainbow will be displayed prominently on Blueds many app store pages, as well as in different locations within the in-app UI.

As todays world reduces us to creatures of instant gratification, reduced to the number of likes on a selfie, reduced to a single idea of who we should beskinny, fit, and conventionally attractive, in BLUED, there is space for the real you a space for real conversations, for real relationships, for real people. BLUED is a community where you can live your gay life.

Mobile app BLUED is a location-based social networking service that allows the LGBTQ community to conveniently and safely connect with each other and express themselves, integrating live streaming services with customizable social news feeds, video and voice calls, as well as access to professional health-related services in select markets. Download BLUED on App Store or Google Play.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) - The country logged 4,353 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, raising the nationwide tally to 1,372,232, the Department of Healths latest bulletin showed.

Of the total, 49,862 are active cases or currently sick people. The last time the country recorded COVID-19 active cases below 50,000 was on May 27, when 48,109 were ill.

Among the active cases, at least 90.4% are experiencing mild symptoms, 4.5% are asymptomatic, 1.5% are in critical condition, 2.1% are severe, and 1.49% have moderate symptoms.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 23,928 after 119 more patients died of the highly-infectious disease.

The recovery count also climbed to 1,298,442 with 7,139 new COVID-19 survivors.

The DOH said that 15 duplicates were removed from the nationwide tally, of which, 12 are recoveries.

It added that 74 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

The DOH said all laboratories were operational on June 21, while six laboratories failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System. Based on data in the last 14 days, the six non-reporting laboratories contribute, on average, 3.2% of samples tested and 4.5% of positive cases.

The daily positivity rate or percentage of people that tested positive stood at 11.4% based on 33,413 tests done on June 21. The World Health Organization recommended that positivity rates be below 5% as higher numbers may mean high transmission.

The OCTA Research earlier reported that the number of new cases in Metro Manila continued to decrease to an average of 700 per day - a 15% drop from the previous week. Meanwhile, Davao City, Bacolod, Iloilo City, Cagayan De Oro, and Tacloban were tagged as areas of concern.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) - The country on Thursday received two million more doses of the CoronaVac vaccine, the fourth batch from Chinas Sinovac Biotech to arrive this month.

Of the delivery, 1.6 million doses were procured by the national government, while 400,000 were bought by the city government of Manila, according to the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

The plane carrying the vaccines landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was welcomed by Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Vice Mayor Honeylet Lacuna.

This brought to 5.5 million the total number of CoronaVac doses delivered to the Philippines this June.

Some 2.2 million doses from American firm Pfizer and another 100,000 from Russia's Sputnik V also arrived this month.

The country still expects 250,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine on June 27.

To date, over 1.37 million people have contracted the coronavirus, with active cases standing at 49,862.

As of June 20, official data show some 8.4 million vaccine doses have been administered to 6.2 million people nationwide, around 2.1 million of whom have completed their second dose.

The government targets to inoculate some 50 to 70 million Filipinos by yearend.
Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, June 25)  Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado has urged the national government to bring in more assistance in his city's fight against the spread of coronavirus.

In a letter dated June 23 and addressed to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Mercado requested that his city be prioritized in the allocation of vaccine doses.

We humbly request to be prioritized in the giving of vaccine doses thus allowing an increase of COVID-19 allocation to serve the demand of our beloved constituents who are in dire need of protection, Mercado wrote.

The mayor said infections spiked to 140, with an average daily attack rate of 15.30 per 100,000 population in the past two weeks.

A total of 3,205 doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines have been received so far by the city.

Mercado also asked Duque to help in the release of their PhilHealth reimbursement to their health facilities. He also requested to be given additional provision for medical equipment like ventilators, high flow oxygen, personal protective equipment, N95 mask, as well as RT-PCR test kits, antigen test kits, and medications like remdesivir.

We are hoping for a quick reply since lives are at stake every day and resources and manpower are overwhelmed," he emphasized.

"Our active cases in Maasin City continue to go up, a lot are already suffering especially our frontliners and we are hoping that this will be given action as soon as possible, he also said.
(CNN)  A British warship became embroiled in a confrontation with Russian forces off the coast of the disputed territory of Crimea on Wednesday.

Russia says one of its warplanes dropped bombs and a patrol boat fired warning shots to turn back a British destroyer it claims entered into its territorial waters in the Black Sea.

The UK Defense Ministry denied Moscow's accusation, saying that the vessel, HMS Defender, was making a legal and innocent passage.

A BBC reporter on the ship said he witnessed Russian warplanes and naval vessels buzzing the destroyer.

Russia said the ship went three kilometers (1.9 miles) inside Russian territory off Cape Fiolent in Crimea just before noon local time on Wednesday. A nation's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometers) from its coastline. Any foreign warship going past that limit would need permission of the country to do so with a few exceptions.

Shortly after the British ship crossed the territorial boundary, an Su-24M attack jet dropped bombs and a coastal patrol ship fired warning shots in front of the British destroyer, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a report from Russian state media TASS.

British officials pushed back on the Russian allegations.

"This morning, HMS Defender carried out a routine transit from Odesa towards Georgia across the Black Sea. As is normal for this route, she entered an internationally recognised traffic separation corridor. She exited that corridor safely at 0945 BST. As is routine, Russian vessels shadowed her passage and she was made aware of training exercises in her wider vicinity," British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a tweet.

The UK Ministry of Defence also said no warning shots were fired at its destroyer Wednesday, contrary to what the Russian Defense Ministry claimed, as cited by TASS.

"No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender. The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law. We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior warning of their activity," the UK Defence Ministry Press Office said in a statement.

"No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path," the statement added.

BBC journalist Jonathan Beale was on board the vessel during the incident, and reported that it had been harassed by Russian military. Aircraft could be heard overhead during his audio report.

"Increasingly hostile warnings were issued over the radio -- including one that said 'if you don't change course I'll fire'," Beale wrote on the BBC website. "We did hear some firing in the distance but they were believed to be well out of range."

TASS reported the Russian Defence Ministry told journalists the Russian Black Sea Fleet, together with the Federal Security Service Border Control, "stopped a violation of the Russian border" by the ship.

The department said in a statement that it has "called on the British side to conduct a thorough investigation of the actions of the crew of the destroyer 'Defender' to prevent similar incidents in the future."

Its statement also said the British Defense Attache at the UK Embassy in Moscow has been summoned to the Defense Ministry to discuss the incident. Later, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the British ambassador would be summoned to the ministry, according to TASS.

The ministry told Russian state media that the British destroyer left Russian territorial waters at 12:23 p.m. local time.

The Russian accusations on Wednesday follow a report from the US Naval Institute News (USNI) on Monday that open source intelligence data on the positions of the British destroyer and a Dutch frigate had been faked on June 18-19 to show them steaming to within two nautical miles of a Russian naval base in Sevastopol, Crimea.

The track was shown from an automatic identification system (AIS) signal, which transmits position details of ships to improve maritime safety, according to the USNI report. But live webcams from the port in Odessa showed the two warships there at the time the AIS signal showed them near Sevastopol, USNI reported.

A tweet on Tuesday from the account of the British warship said defense officials from Ukraine and the UK signed an agreement aboard the Defender for Ukraine to "enhance its naval capabilities" with the help of the British defense contractor Babcock.

That's a move that would likely draw the ire of Moscow, which annexed Crimea from Ukraine after a military intervention in the region in 2014. The international community opposed that annexation, and considers Crimea as Ukrainian territory.

Relations between Russia and NATO allies have been tense in the Black Sea since the annexation.

Russian warplanes have buzzed US destroyers on routine operations in the Black Sea and US reconnaissance aircraft conduct regular patrols above it.

HMS Defender has been operating as part of the UK's Carrier Strike Group 21, which the UK Defense Ministry calls "the largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave the UK in a generation." The flotilla is led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and US and Dutch warships are also deployed with the group.

A tweet from the HMS Defender account on Tuesday said it was leaving the Ukrainian port of Odessa, accompanied by the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Russian forces confront British warship in Black Sea military encounter."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  The Philippine Air Force on Thursday said no survivors were found after a newly acquired S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopter crashed during a night flight training near Capas, Tarlac.

The chopper was carrying three pilots and three crew members before it took off around 8 p.m., according to PAF spokesperson Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano.

"So far, no survivors have been found. The identities of the aircrew members will be provided as soon as the members of their families are properly notified. We grieve for the loss," PAF said in a statement.

The Polish-made aircraft was earlier reported to be late from the estimated time of return to its station at Clark Air Base, Pampanga, prompting the eventual search.

Mariano said the downed combat utility helicopter came from the first batch that was delivered in December 2020.

All other newly acquired Black Hawk helicopters will not be flown pending completion of the investigation.

The government entered into a deal with a Polish company in March 2019 to produce the helicopters so all Huey choppers can be decommissioned following a helicopter crash in Bukidnon in January. The Duterte administration spent 12.1 billion to acquire 16 Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.

RELATED: Duterte orders purchase of Black Hawk helicopters to decommission all Hueys
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) Former President Benigno Aquino III has died at age 61, his family confirmed on Thursday.

Pinky Aquino-Abellada said her brother "died peacefully in his sleep" at 6:30 a.m. from renal disease, secondary to diabetes.

"No words can express how broken our hearts are, and how long it will take for us to accept the reality that he is gone," Aquino-Abellada said in a statement.

"Mission accomplished ka Noy. Be happy now with dad and mom," she added. "We love you and we are so blessed to have had the privilege to have had you as our brother. We will miss you forever."

FULL TEXT: Message from the Aquino family on the passing of former President Benigno Aquino III

Aquino's remains were brought to Heritage Park in Taguig Thursday afternoon, where his body was cremated later in the day. A mass will also be held on Friday at the Ateneo de Manila University, his alma mater.

Former Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced on social media that there will be a one-day public viewing of Aquino's urn at the Church of the Gesu inside the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will also be live streaming of the public viewing through the Radyo Katipunan 87.9 FM Facebook page, she added.

Kris Aquino said her brother will be buried beside their parents on Saturday at the Manila Memorial Park.

"Ganoon kasimple lang. Sana maintindihan ninyo na (It's that simple. I hope you understand that) we did not think it would happen this soon, and we are just trying our best na hindi magkaroon ng (that there will be no) superspreader event," the actress-host told the media.

'In and out of the hospital'

Aquino-Abellada said her brother  even before the COVID-19 pandemic  was already regularly visiting the hospital.

The family also thanked the doctors and the whole medical team who took care of the former president.

"Naramdaman namin bilang mga kapatid niya (We felt as his siblings) that they did everything to make him comfortable. They became compassionate friends who gave him true respect by valuing and protecting his privacy," Aquino-Abellada said.

Former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson also shared to CNN Philippines his last conversation with the man he fondly called "boss." He said at that time, Aquino was preparing for a transplant procedure.

"Kinumusta ko kasi siya, may binanggit siya na naghihintay siya ng donor. Kasi nga alam kong nagda-dialysis siya...so sabi nya pinaghahandaan niya na 'yung transplant," Singson said.

[Translation: I was asking him how he was. He said he was waiting for a donor. I know he has been undergoing dialysis...he said he's preparing for the transplant.]

READ MORE: Tributes, condolences pour in for ex-president Aquino

Aquino's political career

The former leader, known to the public as "Noynoy" or "Pnoy," served as the nation's 15th president from 2010 to 2016.

He was the scion of a famed political family; he was the third of the five children of democracy icons former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino and assassinated opposition Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. His father's assassination in 1983 at Manila's airport tarmac sparked huge demonstrations against the strongman rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos. Pro-democracy protests culminated in the EDSA "people power" revolt in 1986, where his mother played a key role. The military-backed but bloodless uprising ousted Marcos, who was flown to exile in the United States, and swept Cory Aquino into power.

Aquino had a long political career before he became the top leader of the Philippines. He served in the House of Representatives as the congressman of Tarlac for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007 as a member of the Liberal Party. He made a successful bid in the Senate in 2007.

Following his mother's death in August 2009, the public clamored for him to join the presidential elections, which he eventually clinched with a wide lead in May 2010.

Aquino's legacy

During his six-year presidency, he championed economic reforms and worked to curb corruption, with the aim to end poverty in the country. He was known for espousing governance that follows "Daang Matuwid" or the righteous path.

The Philippines was hailed as the fastest-growing economy in Asia during his last year in office. During his term, the country's economy grew by an average of 6.2%  the fastest streak since 1978, officials said.

In his inaugural address in June 2010, he uttered his now-famous line, "Kayo ang boss ko [You're my boss]," assuring Filipinos he will lead a government that serves the people. To clamp down on an attitude of entitlement, he strictly enforced a "no wang wang" rule against VIPs' use of sirens in their vehicles amid traffic jams.

His administration filed a case challenging China's nine-dash line maritime claims in the South China Sea in January 2013 before an international tribunal in The Hague. The landmark decision on the case, which invalidated Beijing's sweeping claim to almost the entire South China Sea, came weeks after his successor, President Rodrigo Duterte, took office in 2016.

During Aquino's term, government officials and Muslim rebel leaders signed a landmark peace deal. The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, aimed at ending a long-running insurgency in Mindanao, paved the way for greater autonomy for the Bangsamoro people.

But Aquino's time in office was also marred by criticisms, such as alleged negligence during the Manila hostage crisis that led to the deaths of eight tourists from Hong Kong, his administration's purportedly slow response in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda that killed at least 6,000 people, and for supposedly evading responsibility for the deaths of 44 Special Action Forces in the Mamasapano massacre.

Aquino-Abellada said after his term, her brother faced investigations and accusations at the Sandiganbayan, Senate, and House of Representatives "because when you enter public service, when you serve with honesty and dignity, and you know you have committed no crimes against the people, hindi ka matatakot magsabi ng totoo (you will not be afraid to tell the truth)."

Aquino had kept a low profile since stepping down. He remained a bachelor and had lived in his parent's home in Quezon City. A known chain-smoker, his health had been a point of concern even after his term.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Philippine flags in several institutions and local governments are flying at half-staff while the nation mourns the death of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Thursday.

The Senate and House of Representatives, where he previously served as senator and congressman, have lowered their flags to honor the 61-year-old leader. Davao City, Albay, Quezon City, and Manila City also followed suit.

At around 2 p.m., Malacanang finally started to put the flags inside the compound at half-staff.

Aquino, who served as the country's 15th president from 2010 to 2016, was rushed to Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City, where died this morning.

His former deputy presidential spokesperson, Abigail Valte, said the bereaved family will issue an official statement "later."

Multiple sources and people close to the Aquino clan have confirmed that he has died.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) Social media lit up with tributes on Thursday as several government officials, personalities, and netizens mourned the death of former president Benigno Noynoy Aquino III.

Vice President Leni Robredo said she was heartbroken after learning about the death of Aquino, whom she described as a good friend, an upright president, and a man of integrity who always put the welfare of the people above all else.

"He was courageous in facing down the systemic ills of society, in dismantling long-entrenched systems of corruption, in standing up for the country in the international stage," she added.

READ: VP Robredo remembers ex-President Aquino

The Liberal Party also mourned Aquinos demise, saying the country lost one of the finest examples of what a President should be.

Malacanang also expressed its condolences to the loved ones of the former chief executive.

Senate President Tito Sotto said Aquinos death diminishes us all.

No matter what political side you're on, when a former president passes away, the country mourns, he said.

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that aside from his achievements, Aquino will be remembered as part of the family that contributed three important people to the history of our nation.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Final Word, Cesar Purisima - who served as Finance chief during the Aquino administration - said the late president really cared about the country and was clear about what he wanted to achieve for the nation. Purisima highlighted the confidence that consumers and investors developed with the policy reforms that the previous administration worked on, which then translated to the growth of the Philippine economy.

"We promised to deliver and we told them that it was not going to be a journey, but when we started delivering on the various pieces of the puzzle then we started gaining the support of the financial markets, investors, and even the consumers," he noted.

For then-Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Aquino was "the perfect boss," being a leader who "would allow you to vision with him and allow you to do work that will really benefit the people," he said in another interview.

As a non-political person, Luistro also said what helped him during his government stint was Aquino's attitude of not politicizing services to the people. For instance, Luistro said he would never allow pressure from politicians to change the qualifications that the Education Department has set for its appointees.

He also called Aquino, who pushed for the K-12 program, the "Philippine education president."

Edwin Lacierda, who served as Aquinos spokesperson during his tenure, admitted he was shocked upon hearing the news.

Lacierda shared to CNN Philippines what it was like to work under the Aquino administration, and reminisced about the legacy the latter would be leaving behind.

He tried his very best to attain all the objectives that he promised from the beginning, Lacierda said. Marami siyang legacy in terms of governance.

Former Senator Bongbong Marcos also joined in the nation's mourning following Aquino's death.

Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano also remembered Aquino as a "friend and colleague" in Congress.

"We worked on many reforms together, and while we may not have always agreed on certain issues, we always knew he was doing his best and had the country's best interests in mind," Cayetano said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, meanwhile, put a spotlight on the measures Aquino had passed during his presidency, including the Reproductive Health Law.

[He] put aside partisanship when he endorsed and approved the foregoing laws notwithstanding the fact that I was their principal author representing the opposition, Lagman said.

Netizens and even celebrities also took to social media to pay their respects to Aquino  who served as the nation's 15th president from 2010 to 2016.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  After experiencing spikes in coronavirus infections, some cities in the Visayas and Mindanao saw a decline in case numbers, according to OCTA Research.

These are the cities of Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, and Butuan, OCTA fellow Guido David said on Thursday.

OCTA earlier tagged these localities as "areas of concern."

"We are happy to report na sa ngayon, nakikita natin bumababa na rin iyong cases sa mga lugar na ito," David said in a media briefing.

[Translation: We are happy to report that we are seeing a decline in infections in these areas.]

"Nababawasan na rin iyong concern natin sa kanila and we are happy na nami-mitigate iyong surge dito sa mga areas na ito using good pandemic management ng local government," he added.

[Translation: Our concern for them has lessened, and we are happy the surge in these areas has been mitigated by local governments using good pandemic management.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  An OCTA Research fellow on Thursday warned of a devastating impact on the country's medical system if the more transmissible Delta variant spreads locally.

"Sakaling pumasok siya, dudurugin niya ho talaga yung ating healthcare system po...Biglang tataas yung number of new cases ho kasi napaka-infectious niya," OCTA Research fellow Ranjit Rye said in a media briefing, referring to the Delta variant first detected in India.

[Translation: In case this enters our border, it will crush our healthcare system. Our new cases will suddenly soar because it is extremely infectious.]

This is why there is no room for complacency, Rye stressed.

He said there is a need to accelerate the pace of COVID-19 vaccination and continue enforcing strict border controls as well as strengthen testing, contact tracing, and isolation strategies to prevent the transmission of this variant. In anticipation of possible spikes in case counts due to Delta, COVID-19 treatment facilities should be "upgraded," he said.

He also urged people, even vaccinated individuals, to follow the minimum health standards.

He added company owners must ensure safe workplaces.

The Delta variant is around 60% more contagious than the Alpha variant first detected in the United Kingdom, according to a British study.

Alpha carries the N501Y mutation, which appears to make the coronavirus easier to spread than the original SARS-CoV-2 first found in Wuhan, China.

The Delta variant may also escape from weak neutralizing antibodies, Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, executive director of the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health earlier said.

More people are likely to be hospitalized due to this variant, based on preliminary studies, she added.

The country has so far recorded 17 Delta variant cases.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque dismissed claims the face shield mandate has become a money-making scheme.

"Wala akong alam sa raket na tinatawag. Naiintindihan ko naman na napakahirap nang [mayroong] face shield... pero kailangan paniwalaan natin ang sinasabi ng syensya," he said in a virtual briefing Friday.

[Translation: I have no idea about that supposed scheme. I understand it's really difficult to wear face shields... but we have to believe what science says.]

Roque reiterated the use of face shields along with face masks can reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus.

This week, some senators reacted to the confusing decision of the Palace on the use of face shields. On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered that wearing face shields is required anew both indoors and outdoors.

READ: Palace says nothing wrong with 'flip-flopping' on COVID-19 policies

On Wednesday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a resolution seeking a probe on the efficacy of face shields.

Senators Francis Pangilinan and Panfilo Lacson also floated the idea that there may be a group or individuals profiting from the face shield policy.

"I wouldn't be surprised as was established with the overpriced testing kits, PPEs (personal protective equipment), and testing equipment involving the DOH (Department of Health) exposed in Senate hearings last year," Pangilinan said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Vice President Leni Robredo mourned the death of former President Benigno Aquino III, who helped her during the 2016 national elections.

She said on Thursday she is heartbroken after learning about Aquino's passing, whom she treats as a friend. She also underscored how he pursued his reforms even if they weren't a popular choice with the public.

"Mabuti siyang kaibigan at tapat na pangulo (He was a good friend and a loyal president)," Robredo said in a tweet. "He tried to do what was right, even when it was not popular."

"Tahimik at walang pagod siyang nagtrabaho para makatulong sa marami (He worked for the Filipinos quietly and tirelessly to be able to help more people)," she also said. "He will be missed."

The Vice President also reminisced how Aquino offered solace when the plane carrying her husband, Aquino's late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, crashed in 2012.

She shared that he continued to show his care to her family years later.

"PNoy was just there, standing a few steps behind, not saying anything and just letting me be," Robredo shared in a separate post.

"Since then, he had always looked after me and the children," she also said. "He would always ask how each of the three was doing.

She added: "Even after he stepped down, he would send over food that he thought the girls would enjoy,"

Aquino attended several campaign rallies of Robredo, with Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas.

The former president, who kept a low profile after his term in 2016, was one of those who defended Robredo when she was removed by President Rodrigo Duterte as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara on Wednesday asked the national government to supply the province more COVID-19 vaccines to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.

Ang problema namin, kukonti ang bakunang dumarating, he said during a briefing.

[Translation: Our problem is we receive few vaccines.]

The governor explained that they are aiming to vaccinate 46,000 individuals from the A1 to A4 categories, but so far only 6,000 doses have reached their province.

Yes (we need more vaccines), dahil nagkakaroon ng local transmission lalo na iyong mga government personnel at saka iyong mga sa mga bangko, iyong mga tellers, iyong cashier, iyong mga essential workers, Bichara said. Definitely, kailangan para huwag nang kumalat (ang virus).

[Translation: There is local transmission especially among government personnel and also among bank workers, tellers, cashiers, the essential workers. Definitely we need more to control the spread of the virus]

According to him, Albay currently has 1,958 active COVID-19 cases and is under less restrictive general community quarantine.

However, medical experts earlier warned of possible India-like surge in the area due to localized transmission. They asked the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon be placed under the strictest enhanced community quarantine.

In response, Bichara said such claim is exaggerated. Despite the rising number of cases, he said the COVID-19 situation in Albay is not serious enough to require the need to shift to strict community restrictions.
(CNN)  Millions of children around the world have grown up memorizing basic facts about geography: there are seven continents and four oceans.

Until now.

National Geographic, one of the world's pre-eminent and most visible mapmaking groups, has officially decreed the existence of a fifth ocean. Called the Southern Ocean, it's the body of water that surrounds Antarctica.

This confluence of the southernmost stretches of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans has always been an interesting -- and sometimes contentious -- spot for oceanographers.

The decision to announce the new ocean coincides with the launch of Planet Possible, National Geographic's new initiative to inform, inspire and empower people to live more lightly on the planet.

What's in a name?

Usually, changes to world maps are the result of political changes -- for example, Czechoslovakia splitting into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, or Swaziland voting to change its name to Eswatini.

But instead of reflecting a change in the world, the Fifth Ocean is a rare example of a mapmaker making an effort to alter the planet.

National Geographic geographer Alex Tait explains why naming conventions can be so important.

"Part of mapping the world is using place names and features that are in common use among people who are describing the world, and this gets into some other things other than geopolitical naming," he tells CNN Travel.

"The oceans are one of those things, so we want to keep track of how scientists, travelers, writers, people are using place names."

Tait is quick to add that although National Geographic's prominence in the mapping world gives its official decree more weight, others have been using the term Southern Ocean already.

"Oceanographers will probably rejoice that (the Southern Ocean) will be on Nat Geo maps," says CNN's climate editor Angela Fritz. She adds: "I can't think of any earth scientists who disagree (with the designation)."

How to make an ocean

When it comes to understanding oceans, you need to start with the basics, says Tait.

"There's one world ocean and it's all interconnected," he notes.

"We're really talking about ocean regions, and there's traditionally been the four: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic. But for many, many years, scientists and others have been using the term Southern Ocean to describe the physical region of the ocean around Antarctica."

So then, what makes the Southern Ocean different?

Tait breaks it down.

"You go from warmer waters in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans to very cold waters around Antarctica. And then the salinity goes down. There's a distinct fauna there, so minke whales, certain kinds of seals, penguins, fish and bird life are abundant in the Southern Ocean based on those environmental factors."

Part of the motivation behind National Geographic's decision to name a fifth ocean, which was announced on World Oceans Day (June 8), was that giving a place a name can also give it status.

Ocean conservation is a huge project, and it's easier to raise awareness about the Southern Ocean than it is to do the same about "that one area of water."

Although many countries and organizations around the world recognize the Southern Ocean, not everyone is on the same page about exactly where it is.

National Geographic officially uses the 60 degree south latitude to draw the water border. However, Australia considers everything south of its country the Southern Ocean.

In addition, climate change plays a role in trying to determine where its borders could be.

Going there

French explorer and environmentalist Jean-Louis Etienne recently announced that he had invented a floating lab specifically designed for studying the Southern Ocean.

His creation, nicknamed the Polar Pod, doesn't have a motor and will float in the water at a slow speed in order to "orbit" Antarctica and gather data.

Etienne is aiming to complete and then deploy the Polar Pod by 2024. But the Southern Ocean's waters aren't empty for the time being.

The Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling (SOCCOM) project, which is run by Princeton University, has sent some 200 robotic floats into the ocean, all fitted with sensors that measure salinity, oxygen levels, chlorophyll and other environmental data.

That said, it's going to be hard for regular travelers to add the Southern Ocean to their bucket lists. Travel here is difficult, but not impossible -- basically, you'll need to join a ship going to Antarctica.

And be sure to pack your anti-nausea pills, because the water is notoriously choppy.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'National Geographic says the world has a fifth ocean'
(CNN)  US President Joe Biden said Thursday he has agreed to a deal on infrastructure with a bipartisan group of senators after White House officials and the senators had a massive breakthrough the night before in their infrastructure negotiations.

Both Republican and Democratic senators said Wednesday evening there was an agreement reached with White House officials and 10 senators on a bipartisan infrastructure deal. And on Thursday afternoon, Biden said he had signed off on the agreement.

"To answer your direct question, we have a deal," he said.

Though hurdles remain -- it's unclear if the proposal will have enough support from GOP senators or progressive lawmakers to end up as law -- the announced agreement is a significant development that could pave the way for passage of a chunk of Biden's domestic agenda.

"We all agree that none of us got all we wanted. I clearly didn't get all I wanted, they gave more than I think maybe what they were planning to give in the first place," Biden said. "But this reminds me of the days when we used to get an awful lot done up in the United States Congress."

The President said: "Bipartisan deals mean compromise."

Biden said later in the day that he would not sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill unless the investments he has proposed in his American Families Plan, which Democratic leadership plans on passing through the budget reconciliation process, also end up on his desk.

"If this is the only thing that comes to me, I'm not signing it. It's in tandem," Biden said.

The President said: "The bipartisan bill from the very beginning was understood there's going to have to be the second part of it. I'm not just signing the bipartisan bill and forgetting about the rest that I proposed. I proposed a significant piece of legislation in three parts. And all, all three parts are equally important."

"For me, investment in our physical and human infrastructure (are) inextricably intertwined. Both make us better off and stronger," Biden said.

White House officials worked to carefully choreograph Thursday in an effort to secure maximum impact -- and momentum -- for the bipartisan agreement.

Even before Biden went into his meeting with senators he'd made clear he was going to support the agreement, according to multiple sources. Presidential remarks were likely. A tweet announcing the deal was prepared. And Biden himself chose to join senators at their planned White House stakeout to announce the deal himself.

There's a strategy behind the day on the messaging side -- securing a bipartisan deal is a win for a President who promised he could deliver on what many said was aspirational in the current climate. But the public moves on Thursday can also be viewed through the legislative lens: White House officials are keenly aware that they have a long road ahead to lock in support for the agreement.

They are confident they will get there, officials say. But working to amp up momentum ahead of the process ahead was seen as a valuable asset.

The meeting itself did include a rundown of provisions, but Biden left little doubt where he stood from the moment he entered. Instead, the meeting was more focused on the President and senators discussing the importance of a bipartisan deal given where things stand with the country, in the Senate and with dilapidated American infrastructure.

Biden said Republicans and the bipartisan group of senators did not support the issues outlined in his American Families Plan, which calls for an additional $1.8 trillion federal spending on education, childcare and other priorities. The Families Plan is the second part of the President's proposal to revitalize the nation and ensure a more equitable recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

"We'll see what happens in the reconciliation bill, the budget process, and if we can get some compromise there -- and if we can't, see if I can attract all the Democrats to a position that is there, but we're going to move on a dual track," Biden said.

The President praised the deal that the group had agreed to on Thursday and said the investments the proposal would make were "long overdue," and said the US was in a race with China and other countries that are making large-scale investments in their own infrastructures.

The President said: "One of the underlying questions is: Can democracies compete with autocratic enterprises in the 21st century? And this is a big move forward that, being able to complete. We have to move and we have to move fast."

"We've devoted far too much energy to competing with one another and not nearly enough energy competing with the rest of the world to win the 21st century," Biden said.

The President thanked each senator in the bipartisan group, which included Democratic Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mark Warner of Virginia, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana and Republican Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

Portman told reporters after the meeting: "I appreciate the fact that the President came out today to express what we all believe, which is we didn't get everything we wanted, but we came up with a good compromise that's going to help the American people."

Simena said after the meeting: "There are many who say that bipartisanship is dead in Washington, DC, and across this country. But this historic agreement today between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and with the President of the United States shows that when a group of people who are committed with shared values to solving the problems and challenges our country faces we can use bipartisanship to solve these challenges."

Collins told reporters an agreement had been reached on the price tag of the proposal, the scope and how to pay for it.

"It was not easy to get agreement on all three, but it was essential," Collins said.

As Biden spoke to reporters with the senators after the meeting, his top negotiating team -- Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and Louisa Terrell, Biden's legislative affairs chief, stood with Vice President Kamala Harris about 20 feet away near the entrance to the West Wing with wide smiles on their faces.

Before Thursday's Oval Office meeting, the President had been briefed by his team on the framework and had a "positive" view of what had been put together so far, according to a source familiar with the matter. Biden's top aides signed off on where things landed on Wednesday night and that was viewed as a tacit acknowledgment he would be in the same place. Biden officially getting behind the measure marked a key milestone and lays the groundwork for the next steps.

A lot of work remains on the policy and drafting side of the proposal. But Biden and his team have grown increasingly bullish on the pathway a bipartisan agreement lays out for moving the full scope of the President's $4 trillion economic agenda.

Many details of the plan remain unclear. But the total cost of the plan is $1.2 trillion over eight years, with $559 billion in new spending, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.

This proposal is significantly less than what Biden had initially proposed. The President initially put forward a $2.25 trillion plan to rebuild the nation's infrastructure and shift to greener energy over the next eight years.

But after their late-night meeting on Wednesday with White House officials, Democratic leaders said they planned to move forward with a much larger Democratic-only approach to dramatically expand the social safety plan in addition to the bipartisan infrastructure plan.

Romney and Manchin said the bipartisan proposal is fully paid for and offsets the new spending. How to pay for the proposal has been a major point of contention during the negotiations.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Biden: 'We have a deal' on infrastructure with bipartisan group of senators."
McMahon invited Butler County Sheriff Tom Dion to the BVCA office in David City on June 4 to draw the winning raffle tickets.

"As he drew that last ticket out and I put the number on it, it was so much relief," McMahon said. "I enjoyed doing it but it was a lot of work."

Now, McMahon said, the only thing left to do is to write thank-yous.

More thank-yous may be in order for the Nebraska Title Company -- a real estate title and development company -- which also recently boosted the BVCA food pantry in Butler County.

According to a May 13 post on the Nebraska Title Company Facebook page, the company's David City office collected 470 pounds of donations during its Pack the Pantry event. Pack the Pantry was a statewide food drive organized by the Nebraska Title Company. People were able to drop off donations at any of the Nebraska Title Company's 13 locations for four hours on May 4.

According to the Nebraska Title Company's May 13 Facebook post, the items donated at its David City office, 402 N. Fifth St., were designated to benefit the BVCA food pantry in Butler County.
Around that same time, the City was informed Prairie Catalytic was in receivership, meaning a trustee is legally chosen to act as a custodian of a companys assets or business operations.

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Since then, Vasicek said during Monday's meeting, the City has worked with Viridis Chemical, helping clean up the Prairie Catalytic site before the former company purchased it.

Theyve been very easy to work with, Vasicek said.  Its gone very well.

She added Viridis Chemical has been working with the State of Nebraska to become a useful production site.

Mayor Jim Bulkley said he met with the Viridis Chemical officials last year before they bought the site, discussing the history of the facility.

We are very straightforward with them, Bulkley said.  So theres never been anything hidden from them. Theyve been upfront with our staff.

He added the company appears to be wanting to do things properly and in the right manner. Thats all we can ask.
Firefighters got help Wednesday with cooler weather and the hope of rain, however short-lived it might be with a warming trend in the forecast later this week. Still, they were on alert for thunderstorms that could produce lightning and touch off more blazes.

The Coconino and Kaibab national forests in northern Arizona closed Wednesday. Apache-Sitgreaves, Prescott and Tonto were set to close later this week. Tonto near Phoenix will leave most of its lakes open for recreation.

A previous, full closure of the Coconino forest 2006 lasted nine days. A 2002 shutdown lasted nine weeks, encompassing the Memorial Day and July 4 holidays.

There's no telling when the latest closures, which don't affect state or national parks, will be rescinded.

We know the public wants to get outside," said Tiffany Davila, spokeswoman for the state Department of Forestry and Fire Management. But it comes down to public and firefighter safety and making sure we can get people to the next incident, if and when it occurs."

Coconino forest employees were scattered throughout the forest Wednesday, letting campers, hikers and locals know about the closure, posting signs and providing information on social services to people who regularly camp in the forest.
Little wonder. He was in the hospital at the worst possible time for an exuberant kid  when coronavirus protocols essentially kept all but his mom and dad away.

It was awful not being able to see him and him not be able to see us, Lyons said.

Then there was the painstaking process of relearning how to walk. As tubes snaked through his bedridden body, James at one point looked up at his mom and asked her: Why did God choose me?

God doesnt give you obstacles you cant handle, Hudson told her son.

On June 17, 2020, more than two months after the wreck, he rose out of his wheelchair, standing on his own for the first time. A video Mom took shows James in an Avengers T-shirt, looking around and dancing a little jig.

Twelve months later, the now-10-year-olds left side still lags a bit, Hudson said. His flag football coach has called, saying the team needs him back flying around the field. Hudson is cautious for now, concerned about how well he will keep up and worried about hitting his head again.

Hudson and Lyons said theyre thankful for the doctors and nurses at Nebraska Medicine and Madonna.
Arrivals from Brazil, South Africa and India are banned at the moment because of high infection rates there, and non-vaccinated Americans and many other non-EU nationalities cannot come to Spain for tourism for now.

But there are exemptions for countries considered at low risk, such as citizens from Britain, who can arrive without any health documents at all. EU citizens need to provide proof of vaccination, a certificate showing they recently recovered from COVID-19, or a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival.

BRITAIN

There are few, if any, American tourists in the U.K. at present. Britain has a traffic-light system for assessing countries by risk, and the U.S. along with most European nations is on the "amber" list, meaning everyone arriving has to self-isolate at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days.

People arriving from "red list" countries including India and Brazil must quarantine in a government-approved hotel.

Airlines and airport operators are pushing for European tourism destinations to be added to Britain's short "green list" of quarantine-free destinations, and to open a U.K.-U.S. travel corridor, but the British government is being cautious amid the spread of the more contagious delta variant of the virus.
An FBI agent applied for a federal warrant in 2018 to seize a cache of gold that he said had been stolen during the Civil War while en route to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, and was now concealed in an underground cave in northwestern Pennsylvania, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.

The newly unsealed affidavit confirms previous reporting by the Associated Press that the federal government had been looking for a legendary cache of gold at the site, which the agency had long refused to confirm. In any case, the agency said, the dig came up empty.

The AP and the Philadelphia Inquirer petitioned a federal judge to unseal the case. Federal prosecutors did not oppose the request, and the judge agreed, paving the way for Thursdays release of documents.

I have probable cause to believe that a significant cache of gold is secreted in the underground cave in Dents Run, holding one or more tons belonging to the U.S. government, wrote Jacob Archer of the FBIs art crime team in Philadelphia.

Archer told the judge he needed a seizure warrant because he feared that if the federal government sought permission from the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources to excavate the site, the state would claim the gold for itself.
Not much.

The vast majority of Pennsylvanias $240 million-per-year horse racing subsidies provide cash payments to horse owners. According to the state Independent Fiscal Office, at least half of the owners are from out of state  people who race horses as a hobby or invest in a horse syndicate as a tax shelter.

This cash infusion is defended as an agricultural subsidy, but little of the money makes it to farmers. Racehorse owners jet in on private planes or pull their trailers to the racetracks and then leave, taking Pennsylvanians dollars with them.

The justification in 2004 was that subsidies would increase interest in racing, increase wagering, and build the fan base. It turned out to be a bad bet. The amount bet on horses has plummeted and attendance at the states six tracks is so low that the racing commission no longer reports it.

In reality, horse racing is on its last legs, propped up by infusions of cash from taxpayers and weighed down by the terrible cost to the horses.
Eckoff was taken to Washington County Memorial Hospital by Washington County Ambulance. The report says he was wearing a seat belt.

The vehicle damage was listed as "total."

As on early Wednesday morning, an Ironton 15 year old was moderately injured in an accident on Highway 32 in Iron County, a MSHP report said.

At 3:30 a.m., 2013 Honda Civic was being driven by the juvenile eastbound on Highway 32, one mile east of Banner Road, when it ran off the right side of the road and struck multiple trees.

The juvenile, who was listed as wearing a seat belt, was taken by ambulance to Parkland Health Center in Farmington.

Damage to the vehicle was listed as "total."

On Tuesday afternoon in Ste. Genevieve County, a Charleston man was seriously injured in an accident where his car caught on fire on Interstate 55.

The highway patrol report said 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Jeremy A. Simpkins, 33, was traveling northbound on Interstate 55, south of mile marker 147, at 2:23 p.m. when it struck the rear of a 2016 Freightliner Conventional driven by Jason Weaver, 37, of St. Louis. After impact, the SUV caught on fire and traveled off the left side of the road.
The Bonne Terre City Council, at its meeting last Wednesday, approved several measures and heard updates on various city projects, including the Community Development Block Grant-funded bridge project that is wrapping up on Oak and Buchanan streets. The project also fixed two bridges on Allen Street.

City Administrator Shawn Kay said work on the Dover Street project is moving along, as well. What had started as a road project was expanded into an overhaul of the water lines below it.

Also in the realm of city water, Kay informed the council that Bonne Terre had completed its obligation to carry out a risk and resilience assessment as required by the American Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. The act made several regulatory upgrades to the Safe Drinking Water Act and its 1996 amendments and governs the nations water systems.

Kay said the risk and resilience assessment gauges the towns risk in regard to natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms or fires.

Now we have to do an emergency operation plan and submit it to the EPA, he said. It looked at every aspect of the operation -- wells, enclosures, financial infrastructure in case operations were affected, it asks what the risk is. (It asks) how does the water system operate despite any disaster.
Lawmakers also have proposed banning Medicaid coverage for any drug or device approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration that may cause the destruction of or prevent the implantation of, an unborn child.

Fighting over amendments by abortion opponents derailed the bill that would have extended the medical providers tax during the legislative session that ended May 14. Without an extension, the tax will expire Sept. 30.

Parson is calling on lawmakers to renew the tax for three more years, staving off another fight over it while he's governor.

His call gives lawmakers the opportunity to block Medicaid payment for abortion medications, including intrauterine devices and the morning-after pill when those are used to induce an abortion. Those forms of birth control can prevent pregnancy by stopping a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

Lawmakers also could pass a bill that would exclude facilities that provide abortions from being covered under the state's family planning services for low-income women.
Second Secretary and Education Attache for Vanuatu High Commission in Fiji says they will be seeking repatriation for students who have completed their studies. Photo: Supplied.
This is happening to shut me up," he added. "They want Giuliani quiet.

The court held that Giuliani, as a lawyer for Trump, communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large.

Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and U.S. attorney in Manhattan, claimed the investigation violated his First Amendment right to free speech and that he did not knowingly make false statements.

The court rejected those arguments, noting that in Pennsylvania, Giuliani failed to provide a scintilla of evidence for any of the varying and wildly inconsistent numbers of dead people he factually represented voted in Philadelphia during the 2020 presidential election.

False statements intended to foment a loss of confidence in our elections and resulting loss of confidence in government generally damage the proper functioning of a free society," the court wrote.

Interim suspensions are often a precursor to disbarment but are typically reserved for lawyers convicted of a crime, said Bruce Green, a former federal prosecutor who directs the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics at the Fordham University School of Law. Its rarely done in cases involving lying lawyers.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Wednesday mourned his former Senate colleague, Virginia's John Warner, as a man of conscience, character and honor" who was deeply committed to God and country.

At a time in America's political history when some lawmakers are seen as reaching decisions based on partisan or personal interests, Biden said Warner was the opposite.

Johns decisions were always guided by his values, by his convictions and never by personal political consequences the president said in remarks before a masked audience at Washington National Cathedral that included Warner's immediate family and members of Congress.

It was always guided by his obligation to all those he represented, even those who did not vote for him, said Biden, who met privately beforehand with Warner's family.

Warner died of heart failure at his Alexandria, Virginia, home on May 26. He was 94.
At bottom, the factual allegations in Fairfaxs amended complaint fall considerably short of plausibly alleging that CBS broadcast its April 1 and 2 CBS This Morning programs despite entertaining serious doubts as to the truth of those broadcasts, added Rushing.

The opinion noted that, Fairfax vigorously disputes the accusations made by Tyson and Watson, and we express no opinion on the truth or falsity of their claims. But even accepting Fairfaxs version of events, he has alleged nothing to suggest that CBS reported the womens stories with knowledge or reckless disregard of their falsity.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said, This is not surprising because the U.S. Supreme Court has imposed the actual malice requirement in this context, which is a difficult standard for a plaintiff to meet.

Tobias said Fairfax has two ways to appeals Wednesdays ruling: by asking for the full court of appeals to reconsider the case or appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Both avenues would be long shots, he said. The 4th Circuit only agrees to rehear five or six cases a year and the U.S. Supreme Court only takes roughly 100 of the 7,000 to 8,000 cases it is asked to consider.
The state also stepped in. The Virginia Tourism Corporation promoted local oyster companies, while the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helped market Virginia oysters to Wegmans stores, said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring.

Not all of the outcomes were ideal. Many growers, faced with a 2020 crop of oysters that had reached the sweet spot for size and were taking up valuable reef space, were forced to sell their shellfish for reduced prices or to shucking houses where they would be canned for sale.

Others just kind of sat on them and did the best they could in moving them wherever they could, said Oesterling. What they didnt do is buy new seed, buy new gear, buy new equipment. It kind of put a hold on the whole supply chain.

Still, few businesses shuttered completely, whether because their owners managed to pivot or because many maintained second jobs on which they could rely during lean months.

I think the people in Virginia are hanging on. I havent heard of many established businesses like myself that have closed their doors, said Leggett.

Conditions are improving. On May 28, Northam lifted all restrictions on restaurants, and several growers reported rising demand.
The court's ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelonas international airport and had been in jail since then awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings. The arrest followed charges the same month in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based attorney defending him on those cases, said by phone that McAfee will always be remembered as a fighter.

He tried to love this country but the U.S. government made his existence impossible, Sanan said. They tried to erase him, but they failed.

The lawyer said Spanish authorities have not given his legal team a cause of death, and he wants to know if there were video cameras in McAfees cell or in the prison.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Memphis declined to comment.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not say whether he had personally approved the Defenders voyage but suggested the Royal Navy was making a point by taking that route.

The important point is that we dont recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea, this is part of a sovereign Ukrainian territory, Johnson told reporters Thursday during a visit to an army barracks in England. It was entirely right that we should vindicate the law and pursue freedom of navigation in the way that we did, take the shortest route between two points, and thats what we did.

He denied that U.K.-Russia relations were at a historic low, noting that I can remember times in my own lifetime when things have been far worse."

On Thursday, British Ambassador Deborah Bronnert visited the Russian Foreign Ministry, which lodged a formal protest.

It was particularly emphasized that if such provocations are repeated, the British side will bear full responsibility for their possible consequences, the ministry said.

The Russian navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said Thursday that the British destroyer's move was clearly provocative, noting that it ignored the warnings in a bid to test Russia's resolve.
Yes. I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home.

No. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage.

I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it.

Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time.

Vote

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Telangana: Talasani to hold meeting with fishermen communities on July 8

June 24,2021 | Source: Telangana Today

Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav will convene a meeting with representatives of Gangaputra and Mudiraj communities in Hyderabad on July 8 to discuss and solve pending issues. Besides providing membership to youngsters from the fishermen community aged above 18 in the fishermen co-operative societies, the meeting will also discuss proposals for the welfare of the community in the State. In a review meeting held at his chambers in Masab Tank here on Tuesday, the Fisheries Minister said in view of the formation of new districts and new gram panchayats, necessary steps would be taken to set up new fisheries co-operative societies. He stated that funds to be paid under the insurance scheme at the rate of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the 116 fishermen who died would be released soon. The livelihood of the fishermen has greatly improved with the availability of water resources on a large scale across the State and also with the government distributing fish seedlings free of cost, he said.



Srinivas Yadav responded positively to the leasing of village tanks and other issues raised by Rajya Sabha MP Banda Prakash and assured him of taking up the issues with Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao for a speedy solution. He directed the officials to formulate new guidelines to provide Rs 6 lakh insurance to the bereaved families of the deceased fishermen as assured by the Chief Minister. Secretary for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Anitha Rajendra, Fisheries Commissioner Latchiram Bhukya and other officials were present.
Five lawmakers from both parties took part in a group seeking ways to ease the payroll tax burden on businesses yet maintain the solvency of the state unemployment trust fund. They got technical help from David Gerstenfeld, the department's acting director for almost a year, and agency staff.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

The bill is expected to result in a savings of $2.4 billion to Oregon businesses over the next nine years, while it rebuilds the trust fund to $4.8 billion by the end of the 2023-25 state budget cycle.

The bill does these things:

 Businesses can defer payment of up to one-third of their 2021 payroll taxes until June 2022 if their tax rate went up by half a percentage point.

 If the tax rate went up between 1 and 1.5 percentage point, a business could be eligible for forgiveness of 50% of the deferred amount, and if the rate went up between 1.5 and 2 percentage points, forgiveness of 75% of the deferred amount. But businesses would be eligible for partial forgiveness only if they filed wage reports and paid the rest of their taxes on time in 2021, and are current on their accounts with the Employment Department.
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Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by some light rain after midnight. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by some light rain after midnight. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Following a number of announcements from other parts of West Africa, Senegal is the latest country in the region to make headlines in the data centre world with the official announcement of plans to migrate all government data and applications to a new government data centre.

The new government data centre is being built in Senegal with the stated aim of guaranteeing Senegalese digital sovereignty.

The countrys president, Macky Sall, this week commissioned the National Data Centre, to which the Senegalese government has been instructed to migrate all state data and platforms, something the president evidently regards as a matter of urgency. We have to rapidly repatriate all national data hosted out of the country, he was quoted as saying at the launch of the new facility.

As well as government agencies, state-owned businesses such as national electricity company Senelec will also be expected to move their data to the centre.

The data centre is located at the Digital Technology Park in the city of Diamniadio. It has a hosting capacity of 500 sqm and will be managed by Senegals state IT firm, the State Informatics Agency.

According to the website Data Centre Dynamics, the 46 billion CFA francs ($18.2 million) data centre was financed with a Chinese loan. Huawei provided equipment and technical support. The first phase of the new facility will be open in around six months' time and offer hosting services to enterprises and other public bodies.

Until now, the website reports, the majority of Senegalese data has been stored outside the country, mainly in the United States and Asia.
The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei that will see African countries and organizations build capacity for ICT transformation.

Under the agreement, Huawei will provide training on skills development, including reskilling and upskilling for ATU members. The MoU will also see the two organisations collaborate to support local innovation, share information on latest trends, challenges and solutions in Africa and globally, and expand the digital economy as well as rural connectivity in the continent through furthering research.

A 2019 report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on digital economies established that Africa and Latin America together account for less than 5% of the worlds data centres. If left unaddressed, the report concluded, divides will worsen existing income inequalities. This, coupled with the fact that in least developed countries (LDCs), only one in five people use the Internet as compared with four out of five in developed countries, is part of the motivation for the Huawei-ATU partnership.

The MoU was signed at the ATUs headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. At the signing ceremony, ATU Secretary-General John Omo said: Huawei has transformed connectivity and made a major contribution to the continent through its investments in digital infrastructure, ICT skills, environmentally-friendly connectivity solutions, and cutting-edge technologies for rural areas.

The document we are signing today aims at strengthening this partnership Africa has a tremendous opportunity to fully grasp the potential from new technologies, concluded Omo.

The two organisations have a long history of working together and this new agreement will support African countries, regulators, and citizens benefit from the transition to a digital economy, adopt new technologies, promote secure and resilient networks, and gain the digital skills necessary to drive their economies forward.

Samuel Chen, Vice President at Huawei Southern Africa region said: The ATU is playing a critical role in the region, supporting member countries with their policies and strategies, sharing best practices, building capacity and driving innovation. We have connected hundreds of millions of Africans to secure, high-speed broadband and cloud solutions in the last two decades.

According to the MoU, the partners will also start offering cutting-edge trainings to ATU members, access to global experts to discuss the latest technologies and trends, and collaboration on research to help progress the continents digitisation.
6/23/2021

Page Content

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) today announced that West Virginia residents who did not receive SNAP and who lived or worked in Cabell, Kanawha, Mingo, and Wayne counties and were impacted by flooding that occurred February 27 through March 4, 2021 may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits. Approved by DHHR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), D-SNAP benefits can be used to purchase food, but cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or non-food items.





Our appreciation is extended to Governor Jim Justice for requesting this aid from the federal government, said Linda Watts, Commissioner of DHHRs Bureau for Children and Families. Because of this, residents who are not normally eligible for SNAP may qualify for D-SNAP as a result of the major disaster declaration. We estimate that more than 1,500 West Virginia households may be eligible for this federal assistance.





Eligibility will be based on the households net income, which is determined by adding available income, cash on hand and accessible bank accounts, then subtracting unreimbursed disaster-related expenses, like food loss or damage to property. Assets such as homes and automobiles are not included in the net income eligibility determination.





Residents of the four approved counties may apply for D-SNAP benefits at the following locations from Monday, June 28, 2021 through Friday, July 2, 2021:





County Site Location Site Address D-SNAP Hours of Operation Cabell Cabell DHHR 2699 Park Ave. Suite 100 Huntington, WV 25704 Monday -Friday 8:30 am  7:00 pm Kanawha Kanawha DHHR 4190 W. Washington St. Charleston, WV 25313 Monday  Friday 8:30 am  7:00 pm Mingo Mingo DHHR 203 East Third Ave. Williamson, WV 25661 Monday - Friday 8:30 am  7:00 pm Wayne Wayne DHHR 26452 E Lynn Rd. Wayne, WV 25570 Monday - Friday 8:30 am  7:00 pm


Even as we return to in-person dealings with the world, some of the realities that emerged in the last two years may be here to stay. Not least because we may want them to, including having greater control over schedules previously shackled by a corporate world order that regulated how and
Citizens of Alabama cannot rely on just previous infection alone to be a protection against this Delta variant, said Goepfert, who is board-certified in Medicine and Infectious Diseases. I think if youre vaccinated, you should be happy these vaccines are still working. If youre not vaccinated, thats another story.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are about 90% effective against the Delta variant, which now comprises about 90% of COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom.

People who have been infected with COVID-19 have natural immunity, Goepfert said, but that offers less protection against some of the variants than being vaccinated. He said real-world data shows that the variants currently pose little reduction, if any, in the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Goepfert said all strains have some susceptibility to the COVID-19 vaccine. Many of the variants arose outside the U.S., where there was little or no vaccine.
Clothing giveaway: Old Mt. Silla Baptist Church will hold a clothing giveaway on Saturday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1636 Bud Gary Road in Clayton. All items are free. Social distancing guidelines and the wearing of masks or face coverings will be required.Annual Independence Day BBQ: VFW Post 5850 will host its annual Independence Day BBQ on Saturday, July 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are available for pre-sale or purchase the day of the event at the door. For $9, patrons will receive a plate of pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, bread, dessert and tea. VFW Post 5850 is located at 1556 N. Eufaula Avenue in Eufaula.

Quail and Turkey Management Tour: The Barbour County Quail and Turkey Management Tour will be held on Friday, July 16 at the Barbour County Management Area located at 164 Christa Drive in Midway. Lunch will be provided, and door prizes will be given away. To RSVP, contact Allie Logan at 334-687-5688 or corcoja@aces.edu.
ABBEVILLE  Though Samuel Money may be leaving the Wiregrass to pursue a college degree out of state, hes looking forward to building his career back in this area.

As I head to the University of Mississippi in the fall, I plan on obtaining a dual degree in Real Estate and Finance in order to return home to open my own business, Money said.

Hell have help achieving his dreams now that hes been selected to receive a Jimmy Rane Foundation scholarship. Money, a resident of Dothan, is one of 48 students from 14 states selected to receive a scholarship from the foundation this year.

I am extremely honored to have been selected for this award and will forever be grateful to the donors for this opportunity to pursue my dreams, Money said. His goal is to open his own real estate brokerage in order to sell and develop homes, eventually expanding from the Wiregrass to the Florida panhandle. Hell also invest his talents in his hometown of Abbeville. My largest goal is to be in the position to give back to my community, which has given back to me, he said.
ABBEVILLE  Lydia Smith has a goal of one day working as a speech-language pathologist in a school system. I dream of getting to work with children from all backgrounds and create an environment that they all feel comfortable in, Smith said. The Dothan student will have help pursuing this dream now that shes been selected as a Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar.

A 2021 graduate of Northside Methodist Academy, Smith is one of 48 students from 14 states selected to receive a scholarship from the foundation this year. I am truly honored to have been chosen as a recipient of the Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship award, she said. Smith will attend Auburn University in the fall and will major in communications disorders.

Smith excelled as a student in high school, earning a 4.3 weighted GPA. She was named to the A Honor Roll over numerous years and was also inducted into the National Honor Society. She served as vice president of the Student Government Association and was a member of the Key Club and Civitan Club. Honors include receiving the Houston County Distinguished Young Woman Scholastic Award, Talent Award and Self-Expression Award. She also was recognized as Alabama Youth Theater Experience Best Actress.
ABBEVILLE  Shorterville student Halle Poole said that she was beyond ecstatic when she got the news that she would be receiving a scholarship from the Jimmy Rane Foundation.

Scholarship money is essential for my college future, Poole said. Growing up I knew I would have to find external sources in order to pay for college. This chance gets me one step closer to my dream.

A 2021 graduate of Eufaula High School, Poole is one of 48 students from 14 states selected to receive a scholarship from the foundation this year. I am incredibly thankful for the chance that the scholarship committee has given me, and I plan on working super hard for the next four years to ensure that I make the absolute most of it, she said. Poole will attend Auburn University this fall and will major in mechanical engineering.
ABBEVILLE  Madison Sutton is taking her first step toward her goal of becoming a dentist when she begins her coursework this fall at George C. Wallace Community College-Dothan.

In order for me to become a general dentist, I will have to complete eight years of school, she said. Now that the Eufaula student has been selected as a Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar, shell have help with the expenses of achieving this goal.

I am beyond thankful that I was chosen to have this scholarship and thankful that with this money my parents will not have to stress as much about sending me to college, Sutton said. A 2021 graduate of Abbeville Christian Academy, Sutton is one of 48 students from 14 states selected to receive a scholarship from the foundation this year.

Shes got her goals in sight. Once I finish all the classes I can take at Wallace, I am transferring to Auburn University to major in biomedical science under the pre-dental program, Sutton said. When I graduate from Auburn with a degree in biomedical science, I will then apply to UAB School of Dentistry. And when this work is complete, shes also looking ahead to what comes next. My ultimate goal is to become a dentist and return back to my hometown of Eufaula, Alabama, to open my own dental practice, Sutton said.
ABBEVILLE  When Suzanna (Anna) Claire Sowell returns to The University of Alabama for her sophomore year, shell be doing so as a new Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar.

A 2020 graduate of Headland High School, Sowell is one of 48 students from 14 states selected to receive a scholarship from the foundation this year. I am so grateful that I was chosen to receive this scholarship, she said.

Sowell is currently pursuing a degree in nursing and has a goal of attending medical school and eventually becoming an anesthesiologist. The money will help pay for the books, lab fees, and materials I need for my courses, she said.

Sowell was an active student at Headland High School, where she was captain of the cheerleading team, vice president of Future Business Leaders of America, and vice president of the National Honor Society.

She was also a member of the yearbook staff, an ambassador with the Headland Area Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer with Southeast Medical Center.

As she looks to her future, she expressed gratitude for the support shes receiving. I will forever be thankful for the Jimmy Rane Foundation and the people that make this organization possible, she said. It means the world to me that I was chosen, she added.
ABBEVILLE  Mary Jensen Bailey of Eufaula will have help pursuing her dreams as a student at The University of Alabama this fall, thanks to her selection as a Jimmy Rane Foundation scholar. A 2021 graduate of The Lakeside School, Bailey is among 48 students from 14 states being awarded scholarships from the foundation this year. She will major in biology/health care prerequisites.

Bailey expressed appreciation for the financial support and has plans of becoming a physicians assistant. I was elated to find that I have been named a 2021 recipient of the prestigious Jimmy Rane Scholarship, she said. Setting new goals for the next phase of life is exciting! she added.

Bailey was an active student at The Lakeside School, where she earned a weighted GPA of 4.2. Among her activities, she was a member of the Drama Team, Student Government Association, Health Occupations Students of America and Homecoming Committee. She served as co-captain of Varsity Cheerleaders and as a Big Chief/Little Chief Mentor. She also held offices in the Spanish Club and Senior Beta Club and was a member of Mu Alpha Theta math honorary.

The Jimmy Rane Foundation is dedicated to providing college scholarships for deserving students and strengthening communities through education projects and grants.
The Jimmy Rane Foundation is dedicated to providing college scholarships for deserving students and strengthening communities through education projects and grants.

The foundation has awarded 510 college scholarships since it was established in 2000, for a total of value of over $5.2 million. These scholarships are for eight semesters, not just for one year, which makes them even more critical to the success of recipients. Foundation scholars are attending universities all over the nation, and many have now graduated and become engineers, teachers, nurses, accountants, and several students are currently in medical school and law school.

Jimmy Rane, founder of Abbeville, AL-based Great Southern Wood Preserving, Incorporated, traditionally hosts an annual golf tournament as the single fund-raising event for the foundation drawing both corporate and individual sponsors. For the second year, precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic led the foundation to the decision to not host its annual Jimmy Rane Charity Golf Tournament and awards banquet. However, the generous support of sponsors made it possible for the foundation, now in its 21st year, to award the highest number of scholarships to date  eclipsing the forty given in 2020 which, at that time, was the highest awarded to date.

For more information about the foundation and to apply for the scholarship in future years, visit www.jimmyranefoundation.org. The foundations Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/jimmyranefoundation.

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The enterprises are required to perform Covid-19 tests for at least 20 percent of their employees each week.

The northern province has also allowed enterprises to pick up workers from other localities and take them to Bac Ninh, including from Covid-19 epicenter Bac Giang. Workers allowed to work in Bac Ninh cannot be those who have to be quarantined over Covid-19 links. They should also not come from localities where social distancing measures are still in force.

Workers who come to Bac Ninh to work must test negative for the coronavirus.

Upon arriving in Bac Ninh, the workers will be taken to separate accommodation areas and isolated from local workers for three days. After three days, they will be tested for the novel coronavirus again, and if the result is negative, they will be allowed to resume work.

The provincial authority has requested enterprises not to fire employees under any circumstance while the province is implementing social distancing measures.

Bac Ninh has 10 industrial zones and 26 industrial clusters with over 1,100 enterprises employing a total of 450,000 workers who come from 21 cities and localities nationwide.

The fourth wave of Covid-19 starting from April 27 had forced 309 businesses in the province to suspend operations, over 184,000 employees to temporarily stop working and 16,000 to take unpaid leave. Around 10,000 people lost their jobs.

The province has so far recorded 1,554 Covid-19 cases in the fourth outbreak.
"Young Saigon Woman" by photographer John Thomson is one of the first photos taken in Vietnam, around 1867-1868.

In the photo, the woman wears a ao nam than (five-part dress). It is said that the four parts represented the parents of married couples and the fifth symbolizes the wearer. The outfit always had five buttons, representing Five Constant Virtues in Confucianism: Kindness, Decorum, Uprightness, Wisdom and Faithfulness.

The photo is introduced in the book by Terry Bennett that was published in Vietnam earlier this month.
People in HCMC's Binh Tan District stand in line to wait for their turn to take coronavirus tests on June 22, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

The infection tally of Vietnam's new Covid-19 wave rose to 10,694 on Thursday morning with 37 new cases added.

The new patients were recorded in HCMC (26), northern province of Thai Binh and Bac Giang (three each), southern provinces of Tay Ninh and Long An (two each), and central province of Khanh Hoa (one).

Of the cases in HCMC, 24 are associated with previously confirmed Covid-19 patients and the authorities are still looking into the transmission source for the other two.

In Bac Giang, three cases are linked to clusters at its industrial parks.

Thai Binh registered three cases whose sources of transmission are yet to be determined.

Tay Ninh got two cases, including one returning from central Da Nang City and one with unclear source of infection.

Long An reported two cases related a cluster at Dinsen Co. Ltd in Ben Luc District.

Khanh Hoa got one case in the beach town of Nha Trang that is linked to a patient in HCMC.

The new update marks the first community case in Khanh Hoa in the new wave, and the return of local infections for Tay Ninh and Thai Binh after more than 20 clean days.

Since the new wave started on April 27, local infections have been recorded in 45 cities and provinces, led by Bac Giang with 5,502 cases and HCMC with 2,100.

More than 5.92 million of the nation's 96 population have been tested since April 29.
"All activities that violate the sovereignty and other relevant rights of Vietnam on its Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) are illegal and hold no value. In the current regional and international context, Vietnam requests that parties refrain from actions that further complicate the situation and instead contribute positively to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at a press meet.

She was responding to inquiries regarding Chinas recent deployment of military vessels and aircraft to the Fiery Cross Reef on Vietnam's Spratly Islands.

Satellite images taken June 9 by space and intelligence firm Maxar showed a Chinese surveillance vessel operating near an illegal, artificial island created by China on the Fiery Cross Reef. They also showed a patrol aircraft and an early warning aircraft parked on a runway on the artificial island.

The appearance of Chinese vessels and aircraft was taking place amid rising tensions in the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, after numerous illegal activities by China, including the recent deployment of hundreds of fishing vessels at the Whitsun Reef area and 16 military aircraft flying next to Malaysian airspace.

Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Spratly islands in accordance with international law, Hang reaffirmed.

The Fiery Cross Reef, part of Vietnam's Spratly Islands, has been illegally occupied and militarized by China.

China has deployed vessels to survey for oil and gas at the South China Sea multiple times, despite their violation of countries' Exclusive Economic Zones under international law.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested Vietnam and South Korea boost cooperation in Covid-19 vaccine research and production when meeting his counterpart Wednesday.

In his talk with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong in Hanoi, Vietnams minister Bui Thanh Son suggested South Korea jointly promote research and production cooperation and assist Vietnam in accessing Covid-19 vaccines to soon repel the pandemic, restore the economy and bring people-to-people exchanges back to normal, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Son also suggested South Korea create favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods to access the South Korean market, improve investment quality, as well as continue to promote and expand the two nations cooperation in labor, science and technology.

The two sides agreed to continue working closely through multilateral mechanisms like the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Mekong nations, to maintain peace and stability in the region, and to settle disputes, including those in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, and continue to contribute to promoting dialogue and cooperation on the Korean peninsula.

Chung, who was on an official visit to Vietnam from June 21 to 23, affirmed South Korea always attaches importance to and wishes to deeply develop relations with Vietnam, emphasizing his nation will be a close partner of Vietnam in the process of realizing its socio-economic development goals.

South Korea is Vietnam's second largest trading partner. The country is also the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) provider in Vietnam with total accumulated capital of nearly $70 billion and more than 8,000 projects in many localities, according to 2020 figures.

South Korea in May reached an agreement with American pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Novavax to produce Covid-19 vaccines in the country.
People walk past self check-in machines at Changi Airport in Singapore, October 12, 2020. Photo by Reuters.

Singapore has reduced the stay-home period by a week to 14 days for travelers arriving from higher-risk countries and regions, including Vietnam.

The decision, which took effect on Thursday, "is based on updated evidence gathered over the past month," The Straits Times newspaper reported citing a source from the Ministry of Health.

Since the 21-day stay-home notice period was implemented over fears of new virus strains on May 8 the country had logged 270 imported cases as of Tuesday, the ministry said.

"All of them had incubation periods well within 14 days.

"We have since reviewed the international evidence and local case data and found no evidence - from both overseas and local data - that these variants come with longer incubation periods."

The stay-home notice requires travelers to remain in their place of residence or dedicated facility for the stipulated period.

They are required to test themselves regularly using self-administered antigen rapid test kits during the stay-home period in addition to polymerase chain reaction tests.

Singapore had over 62,000 cases and 35 deaths as of Thursday.

At a meeting in Hanoi on Monday Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, agreed to speed up the establishment of a working group for mutual vaccine certificate recognition so that their two countries could soon resume air travel.

Around 12,000 Vietnamese citizens live in Singapore.

Vietnam closed its borders and canceled all international flights in March last year, and allows in only certain categories of visitors with Covid-19 quarantine requirements. It recently increased the centralized quarantine period to 21 days following a more widespread outbreak triggered by new strains of the coronavirus.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on his first official visit to the Middle East, travelled to Israel just days after a truce ended 11 days of fighting between Hamas and Israel. The violence caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and killed more than 250 people, most of them Palestinians.

During a visit to Ramallah, Secretary Blinken announced that the United States is in the process of providing over $110 million in assistance to the Palestinian people, for a total of over $360 million in aid announced since March of this year.

We know that to prevent a return to violence, we have to use the space created to address a larger set of underlying issues and challenges. And that begins with tackling the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza and starting to rebuild, he said.

The announcement includes $38 million in new assistance to support humanitarian efforts in the West Bank and Gaza. Nearly $33 million of these funds will go to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, in support of its West Bank and Gaza operations. An additional $5.5 million will go to other humanitarian partners in Gaza.

Working with the U.S. Congress, the U.S. State Department and USAID will provide $75 million in the coming year in development and economic assistance to support relief and recovery in the West Bank and Gaza.This funding is an addition to the $75 million announced on April 7.

All of these funds will be administered in a way that benefits the Palestinian people  not Hamas, which has only brought misery and despair to Gaza, said Secretary Blinken.

U.S. foreign assistance for the Palestinian people serves important U.S. interests and values. It provides critical relief to those in great need, fosters economic development, and supports Israeli-Palestinian understanding, security coordination, and stability. It also aligns with the values and interests of our allies and partners, he said.

The United States will continue to encourage other donors to support humanitarian and recovery efforts in the West Bank and Gaza, and programs and activities that work toward a common goal of stability and progress for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Press freedom in Hong Kong received another devastating blow when authorities stormed the offices of the popular newspaper Apple Daily and arrested two senior executives and three top editors.

Dozens of hard drives were seized in the raid and the papers financial accounts were frozen. Apple Daily was founded by pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who is currently serving multiple jail sentences because of his participation in anti-government protests that swept Hong Kong in 2019.

The raid occurred on June 17 under the auspices of a broad national security law that was imposed last year by Beijing. Authorities said the charges being investigated include collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

Exchanging views with foreigners in journalism should never be a crime.



The United States strongly condemned the arrests. At a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, We are deeply concerned by Hong Kong authorities selective use of the national security law to arbitrarily target independent media organizations. The chargesappear to be entirely politically motivated. We deplore the reported assertion by a Hong Kong police official that articles published in Apple Daily are evidence of what they call the, quote, conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. As we all know, exchanging views with foreigners in journalism should never be a crime.

Spokesperson Price said the U.S. is concerned over increased efforts by authorities to wield the national security law as a tool to suppress independent media, to silence dissenting views, and to stifle freedom of expression. These actions undermine Beijings obligations, their own obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which is a binding international agreement, to uphold Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy and protected rights and freedoms.

We call on authorities to stop targeting the independent and free media, declared Mr. Price. Efforts to stifle media freedom and to restrict the free flow of information not only undermine Hong Kongs democratic institutions but they also hurt Hong Kongs credibility and viability as an international hub.
When the 70% goal was first announced by Biden seven weeks ago, more than 800,000 Americans on average were getting their first vaccine dose each day  down from a high of nearly 2 million per day in early April. Now that figure is below 300,000.

Paradoxically, officials believe the strong response to the early vaccination campaign has served to reduce motivation to get a shot for some. One of the most potent motivators was the high rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Now that those figures have dropped to levels not seen since the onset of the pandemic, officials say its become harder to convince Americans of the urgency to get a shot  particularly for younger populations that already knew they were at low risk of serious complications from the virus.

Separately, two officials involved in the crafting of the 70% goal said that officials knew 65% would have been a safer bet, but that the White House wanted to reach for a figure closer to experts projections of what would be needed for herd immunity to bring down cases and deaths. Aiming for the higher target, the officials said, was seen as adding to the urgency of the campaign and probably increased the vaccination rate above where it would have been with a more modest goal.
John McAfee founder of McAfee Associates, famous for selling virus protection software was found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona, Spain on 23 June. The businesses man had been indicted on tax evasion charges and his extradition to the United States had been approved just before he committed suicide.

Why had he been arrested?

McAfee was arrested in Spain in October 2020 at the request of the US Department of Justice who was pursuing a case against the multimillionaire. The charges filed at the time of his arrest said that over a four-year period McAfee had earned millions of dollars and paid no income tax.

The arrest came after the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against McAfee on 5 October 2020. The complaint alleged that the tech entrepreneur had leveraged his fame to make more than $23.1 million U.S. Dollars (USD) in undisclosed compensation by recommending at least seven initial coin offerings or ICOs to his Twitter followers. The SEC argues that his participation was illegal because The ICOs at issue involved the offer and sale of digital asset securities and McAfees recommendations were materially false and misleading for several reasons.

In many ways, these charges come down to false advertising in that the SEC believed that his followers would believe that he had vetted the companies and believed in the product. In reality, investigators found that he was being paid to promote security -- the ICO -- without disclosing his personal income gains, which is illegal in the United States.

In March 2021, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York brought forward a formal indictment and the process of extradition began.

McAfee was found dead in his cell after committing suicide, hours after his extradition to the United States had been approved by the Spanish government. The Catalan government, the province where McAfee was being held, put out a statement saying that the evidence indicates that he took his own life.
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), many foreign officials have spoken highly of the great strides the CPC has made in the development of China and the world at large.

During recent interviews with Xinhua, they said the CPC in the past century has contributed its wisdom and strength to promoting world peace and development and advancing the well-being of humanity. They view the party's successful experience in state governance as a source of inspiration for countries across the world.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO MARXISM

History has proven that the CPC has successfully integrated Marxism into the building of the Chinese society, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist) Dilip Barua has noted.

In their talks with Xinhua, many foreign officials said that the CPC has adapted Marxism to the Chinese context and made valuable contributions to the development of the theory through practices.

The CPC has enriched the Marxist theory by achieving China's development over the 100 years since its founding, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka D.E.W. Gunasekera has said.

For former Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Katrougalos, the CPC has sent a valid message 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.

In the eyes of overseas observers, the CPC has always kept pace with the times and continued to promote theoretical innovation through practice.

Under the CPC's leadership, China has established a socialist market economy and made outstanding achievements, Juha-Pekka Vaisanen, chairperson of the Communist Party of Finland, has said, adding that this signifies a great deepening and exploration of Marxism.

PATHS TO PROSPERITY

The 100th anniversary of the CPC coincides with the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. It is also the year when China embarks on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country. The party's experience in leading the Chinese people to making a great success has received attention worldwide.

During an interview, Slimane El Omrani, deputy secretary general of Morocco's Justice and Development Party, said the most noticeable aspect of the Chinese model is the "people-centered" ruling philosophy, adding that such qualities as good governance and anti-corruption also contribute to the CPC's success.

Omrani, also first deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said "the CPC has achieved great success in many fields such as political and social affairs."

Nalinee Taveesin, chairperson of foreign affairs of the Pheu Thai Party and advisor to the party chief, has said that the CPC, with its 100 years of history, has brought great inspiration to political parties of other countries.

She highlighted the CPC as a positive example which shows "political parties must keep in touch with communities, serve the people, strengthen good governance and distribute wealth more fairly."

In the view of Sofia Carvajal, secretary of international affairs of Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party, the CPC has always kept pace with the times and innovated continuously.

She said that her party can learn from the CPC to continuously innovate, develop, and adjust itself to people's changing needs, so as to gain public support.

PLANS FOR BETTER FUTURE

China, under the CPC's leadership, has steadily moved toward the center of the global stage and enjoyed increasingly close exchanges with other parts of the world.

As regards the CPC's international contribution, China's proposals to safeguard world peace, support multilateralism, bolster global development and improve global governance are among the mostly mentioned by foreign officials.

China, led by the CPC, has gained more and more support in the world, as the country is actively participating in international affairs, safeguarding multilateralism, and promoting world peace and development, said Vojtech Filip, chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia.

Abdullah Juma Sadala, a senior official of Tanzania's ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has said that in international affairs, China advocates seeking common ground while shelving differences with other nations, and contributes to maintaining world peace and global environmental governance through global cooperation.

Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a former parliament speaker in Iran, praised the international image of the CPC and China, saying that "its most important characteristic is not interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries."

Under the leadership of the CPC, China, instead of seeking to dominate or control other countries in international relations, has been carrying out exchanges and cooperation with other countries, he added.

Romulus Ioan Budura, Romania's former ambassador to China, said that China, which calls for building a community with a shared future for mankind, has contributed its wisdom to responding to various challenges facing mankind, and pointed out the direction of the world's future development.




Photo taken on May 21, 2021 shows the building at 76 Xingye Road in east China's Shanghai, which is the site of the first national congress of the Communist Party of China. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The two-story brick-and-wood house at 76 Xingye Road in Shanghai looks no different from other buildings in the vicinity. However, a secret meeting held inside the building 100 years ago changed the fate of the world's most populous country.

On July 23, 1921, the first national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was convened in the house. The meeting marked the founding of the CPC -- an epochal event in China's history.

Starting from there, the Party's leadership had moved across China strategically before settling in Beijing in 1949. Today the CPC has grown into the largest political party in the world with over 91 million members, and the country under its leadership has become the world's second-largest economy.

VANGUARD IN OPENING-UP

Located at the estuary of the Yangtze River, Shanghai has been China's commercial center and a base of the country's working class since modern times, featuring openness, diversity and innovation.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, the city remained the country's economic powerhouse and has become a window of China's proactive integration into the international community.

Since the start of reform and opening-up in late 1970s, many foreign investors have chosen Shanghai as a testing ground in the Chinese mainland. They have been the participants and beneficiaries of the groundbreaking policy and experienced an ever-opening China in the CPC's birthplace.

Asia Pulp &Paper (APP), a subsidiary of Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas Group, entered China in 1992. Headquartered in Shanghai, the company has benefited from China's favorable trade policies and a continuously improving business environment in recent years, said Zhai Jingli, vice president of APP China.

"The implementation of the Foreign Investment Law, including the further shortening of the negative list on foreign investment, has indeed brought more benefits to foreign investors and provided more long-term development opportunities," she added.

Aerial photo taken on June 21, 2018 shows the morning view of the Lujiazui area in Pudong, east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Ren Long)

During the past ten years, Shanghai further stepped up its opening-up efforts. It established China's first pilot free trade zone in 2013 and has hosted the China International Import Expo for three years, the first dedicated import exhibition in the world.

In 2020, FDI in Shanghai hit a record high, topping 20.2 billion U.S. dollars, up 6.2 percent year on year.

FAREWELL TO POVERTY

After spending its early years in a metropolis, the CPC headquarters moved to rural, mountainous regions across China. During the rough journey, revolutionaries endured untold hardships and swept from victory to victory.

In November 1931, the CPC declared the establishment of the Provisional Central Government of the Soviet Republic of China in Ruijin, east China's Jiangxi Province.

After the epic military maneuver of the Red Army -- the Long March, Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Xibaipo in north China's Hebei Province, served as headquarters of the CPC successively.

Rooted in a glorious past, however, Ruijin, Yan'an and Xibaipo had all been stricken by chronic poverty due to harsh natural conditions and inaccessible locations.

Under the leadership of the CPC, people in these areas have all shaken off absolute poverty during the country's poverty alleviation campaign.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 10, 2019 shows the scenery at Ansai District of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Tao Ming)

Yan'an, located on China's Loess Plateau, was marred by long-standing drought and soil erosion. American journalist Edgar Snow wrote in his 1937 book "Red Star over China" that the northern part of Shaanxi province, where Yan'an is located, was one of the poorest parts of China he had seen.

In 1941, CPC troops initiated a large-scale production campaign in Nanniwan Township about 40 km south of Yan'an. The move created a land of abundance and realized self-sufficiency amid military and economic sieges by the Kuomintang forces.

The miraculous achievement came through hard work and self-reliance, which constitute an important part of the Yan'an Spirit. Inheriting the spirit, impoverished locals had engaged in apple plantation, e-commerce and other businesses to combat poverty and won the battle in 2019, when Yan'an was removed from the poverty list.

By 2020, the city had over 266,800 hectares of apple orchards, the largest among China's prefecture-level cities, and its total output of apples accounted for one-twentieth of the global output, according to local authorities.

"About half of the per capita disposable income of farmers in Yan'an comes from growing apples," said Lu Shuguo, head of the Yan'an fruit industry center, adding that Yan'an apples have been exported to more than 30 countries and regions including Russia, Canada, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

"Whether in the revolutionary years or in the era of modern development, the Yan'an spirit encourages generations of Chinese people to forge ahead and step into a new realm of development," said Tan Huwa, dean of the School of Marxism at Yan'an University.

A villager picks apples at an orchard in Taiquan Village of Yichuan County, Yan'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

CAPITAL OF FUTURE INDUSTRIES

In March 1949, the CPC Central Committee made the Fragrant Hills in suburban Beijing its headquarters and stayed there for half a year, where the Party led the Chinese People's War of Liberation to a countrywide victory.

The city that had been the capital during the reign of several dynasties in Chinese history was once again granted the title of capital when the PRC was founded in October that same year.

In addition to performing its functions as the country's political center, the historical city has also developed into a mega-metropolis with more than 20 million residents.

In August 2008, Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics scheduled for February, the city is slated to become the first to host both Summer and Winter Olympics.

The capital is rich in academic and innovative resources, with more than 90 universities, over 1,000 research institutions, and nearly 30,000 national-level high-tech enterprises. Zhongguancun in Beijing's Haidian District is deemed "China's Silicon Valley" where high-tech industries are located.

Photo taken on Sept. 17, 2020 shows a coffee maker robot at the main venue of the 2020 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

According to plans, the city's creativity, competitiveness and influence in innovation are expected to reach the top level globally as of 2035.

Beijing will be further integrated into the global innovation network through setting up global scientific research funds and strengthening joint research on global issues including climate change, energy, public health and artificial intelligence governance, according to Li Meng, vice minister of science and technology.

As the blueprint rolls out, the capital of the world's largest socialist country, riding the waves of innovation, is set to lead China into a more remarkable future.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
Mainland aerospace scientists (From L to R) Zhang He, Xie Jun, Long Lehao, Qi Faren, Hu Hao and Sun Zezhou pose for a group photo before the lecture at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, south China, June 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

HONG KONG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Mainland aerospace scientists started on Wednesday to give lectures and meet students on Hong Kong campuses.

On their agenda is also to witness the inauguration of a lunar soil exhibition slated for Saturday here. The lunar soil was brought back to Earth by the Chang'e-5 lunar probe last December.

The six scientists, who joined major aerospace projects including Shenzhou spaceships, Long March rockets and Chang'e lunar probes, were scheduled to visit the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and six high schools.

Alfred Sit Wing-hang, secretary for innovation and technology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said Wednesday that the experts will share the national aerospace achievements with the Hong Kong audience and bring some lunar soil for public exhibition.

"I believe Hong Kong people, especially the younger generation, can have a better understanding of the space spirit and enhance their sense of pride and belonging to the country," he said.

In Wednesday's events, Hu Hao, the chief designer of the third stage of the national lunar exploration program, presented a national flag, which is the same as the one carried by the Chang'e-5 probe to the moon, to the HKU as a gift.

"The Chang'e-5 probe retrieved a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples from the moon and the figure is meaningful," Hu said when delivering a speech.

Hu explained that the country spent 17 years from launching its moon exploration program to collecting lunar samples and succeeded on the first attempt of the three missions of orbiting, landing and sample-return.

Hu stressed the passion for innovation, a steady faith, perseverance, a sense of responsibility and meticulosity as the key to the success of national aerospace projects when elaborating on the space spirit.

When addressing PolyU students, Qi Faren, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and former chief designer for Shenzhou spaceships, said he hopes young people will take the space spirit to heart and well understand the importance of self-reliance.

The lectures received rounds of thunderous applause by the audience.

The other four scientists coming to Hong Kong are Long Lehao, an academician with the CAE and chief designer of Long March rockets, Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe, Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and chief designer of the BDS-3 satellite system, and Zhang He, executive director of the Chang'e-4 probe project.

National aerospace scientists and taikonauts, or Chinese astronauts, have made multiple visits to Hong Kong since 2003. Analysts said Hong Kong scientists also made contribution to the national aerospace achievements. Enditem

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[ Editor: GSY ]
Photo taken on June 22, 2021 shows people visiting the exhibition of fish skin art by Hezhe ethnic group at the Harbin Workers Movement History Exhibition Hall in Harbin City, north China's Heilongjiang Province. More than 200 fish skin artworks are on display this time, reflecting the local life, production, folklore and culture. The Hezhe fish skin paintings are made with natural materials of carp skin and salmon skin, and are traditionally handcrafted. They have been identified as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. (Wu Hutu/Guangming Picture)
Completion of construction of Nord Stream 2 does not mean that pipeline will work  Naftogaz head

The technical completion of the construction of Nord Stream 2 does not mean that the pipeline will start working, NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Yuriy Vitrenko has said.

"Even if the construction is completed, then this gas pipeline shall be certified, without this it cannot work. There are appropriate certification sanctions. Accordingly, the United States can make sure that this certification does not take place," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

According to Vitrenko, even the receipt of the certification by the operator of the Nord Stream 2 AG project as an independent operator does not mean that the pipeline will start working.

"For this gas pipeline to work, a lot more is needed: there must be companies that reserve capacities, so that someone buys gas that goes through this pipeline. And all this can also be subject to appropriate sanctions from the United States," Vitrenko added.

The Naftogaz CEO said that during his recent visit to the United States, he discussed the possibilities of stopping the project with congressmen, since the White House has not yet applied the most effective sanctions.

"Therefore, the issue that we are discussing with congressmen is additional legislation, which will nevertheless make the president's office impose these sanctions. On the other hand, we are negotiating with the president's office so that they change their decision and impose these effective sanctions," he said.

Vitrenko also said that most of the sanctions can be applied not to the gas pipeline itself, but to the companies working with it and operating cash flows.

"What is the point of any sanctions? The United States says: if you want to deal with this company or this person, then we will not deal with you. You cannot use our banking system, work with our American companies," the head of the company said.
Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone conversation with U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

"The interlocutors discussed the details of the upcoming visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden," the President's Office said.

In turn, Nuland assured Yermak of Washington's unwavering support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as for the implementation of the Minsk agreements to resolve the situation in Donbas.

Yermak also informed the U.S. partners about the implementation of reforms in Ukraine and spoke about the steps to implement the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the state.

"The U.S. Under Secretary of State noted the importance of continuing the initiated reforms to strengthen Ukraine, in particular, reforms in corporate governance and the fight against corruption, and assured of the U.S. support for these efforts," the office said.
The Government Office for Coordination on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration has said that the overall progress in the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement is 54%.

"According to the results of the reporting period, this is five years. The Pulse of the Agreement online monitoring system calculated the overall percentage of progress, which is 54%. This is a very good indicator. Since this is about more than half of the fulfillment of obligations to date," acting Deputy Director General of the Government Office for Coordination on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Maryna Nelina said at the conference entitled "Results of Six Years of Implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement" held on Thursday in Kyiv.

The greatest progress since the implementation of the Agreement has been achieved in the following areas: entrepreneurship (81%), government procurement (83%), humanitarian policy (84%), technical barriers to trade (85%), justice, freedom, security, human rights (85%) and political dialog, national security and defense (89%).

Among all 24 areas, the least progress was made in the areas of: financial cooperation and combating fraud (24%), transport, transport infrastructure, postal and courier services (35%) and the financial sector (36%).

As for the implementation of the Agreement within six years, in 2015 Ukraine completed 95% of the necessary measures, in 2016  81%, in 2017  68%, in 2018  65%, in 2019  48% and in 2020  only 34% of measures.

The central executive bodies completed 54% of all the activities assigned to them, the Verkhovna Rada completed 43% of the tasks, and other authorities  37%.
Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova hope that the format of the Associated Trio will strengthen cooperation with the EU in the security and defense sectors as well as help find new tools for deepening economic integration, according to a joint statement by Foreign Ministers of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba; Georgia David Zalkaliani and Moldova Aureliu Ciocoi eleased by the Euractiv publication.

"Seven years ago, on June 27, 2014, out counties  Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine  took a historic and decisive step towards their European future as they signed the Association Agreements with the European Union [...] Since then, the Associated Partners have been gradually and steadily implementing the agreements. We have reached tangible progress reforming public administration, liberalizing trade, transforming transport and energy, developing people-to-people contacts through visa liberalization, promoting environmental agenda, enhancing security," the FMs said in the joint statement.

The ministers said that strengthening democracies and the rule of law, fighting corruption and improving the judicial system remain essential priorities, and the three states are firmly committed to their commitments.

According to the statement, countries continue to confront challenges. In particular, due to the illegal occupation of the territories of Georgia and Ukraine and the unresolved conflict in Transnistrian region of Moldova, which have seriously threatened the sovereignty and undermined the territorial integrity of our counties.

"These violations of international law have significantly destabilized European and regional security and undermined the rules-based international order. We look forward to working together with the EU to promote peace and security in the region," the foreign ministers said.

Also in the statement, the ministers said that setting the Associated Trio reflects the aspirations of become members of the European Union, affirms the commitment to further progress in implementing Association Agreements with the EU and explores a new momentum for the strategic development of the EaP with regard to ambitions and progress of partners.

"Beyond the overarching goal to achieve membership in the European Union, the Association Trio will work on expanding, in addition to DCFTA-related issues, the agenda of dialogues between European Commission and partners to new thematic areas such as transport, energy, digital transformation, green economy, education, justice and home affairs, strategic communications, healthcare, culture etc.," the FMs said.

In addition, the Foreign Ministers said that an important element of the Trio's joint activity will be to enhance security and defense cooperation with the EU, including on countering hybrid threats, strengthening cyber resilience, developing cooperation platforms with the relevant EU agencies and services.

"On 24 June we visit Brussels for the first time as the Association Trio. We intend to make this cooperation as practical and result-oriented as possible, and also forward-looking and open to new benchmarks," the ministers said.

Thus, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are striving, as noted in the statement, to engage actively with the EU on political, expert and civil society levels to promote the European perspective of the states.

"Effective implementation of our Association Agreements is a priority. At the same time, let us work together and see where our joint dialogue with the EU can bring added value, speed up integration and develop further opportunities," the ministers said.

The Foreign Ministers also want to convey a message to the Associated Trio that the Eastern Partnership requires a new political impetus. "We shall work together on bringing the EaP framework closer to the needs and aspirations of its participants," the ministers said.

"The Associated Trio is a manifestation of our strong determination and sovereign choice of our nations to pursue the path of European integration. We are at a new juncture of our journey and we hope that our friends and partners will stand by our side along the way of our European integration," the Foreign Ministers said.
Special Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, said that the deteriorating security situation in Donbas does not allow the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to effectively fulfill its mandate.

"In recent weeks, the OSCE SMM has observed a deteriorating security situation in the areas of disengagement of forces and equipment. The Mission also continues to record the use of heavy weapons deployed in violation of the disengagement line. Also, there are still systematic restrictions and obstacles to the free movement of the OSCE SMM, as well as attacks on its unmanned aerial vehicles. This prevents the SMM from effectively fulfilling its mandate," Grau said following the next TCG meeting at the level of heads of delegations.

The security working group and TCG focused on ceasefire violations.

"Unfortunately, it was not possible to agree on specific measures that could improve the security situation," the OSCE SMM website says.

An attempt to advance the discussion on demining was unsuccessful as well.

It was noted that the work of the political group has long failed to find a constructive approach and fulfill the TCG's instructions to develop an Action Plan for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

Participants of the humanitarian working group held a detailed discussion of the exchange of persons held in connection with the conflict and the opening of new checkpoints in the area of the settlements of Zolote and Schastia of Luhansk region.

Discussions in the Economic Working Group focused on water supply, pension benefits, property rights and the environment.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has appointed MP Oleksiy Honcharenko (from the European Solidarity faction) as a rapporteur on the state of human rights observance in migration and asylum issues.

"The report will deal with a new EU pact on this issue. For almost a year there have been fierce discussions around it in Europe. In general, the pact offers a compromise between the tough migration policies that some European countries have and the desire to offer more efficient migration and asylum systems. This, first of all, concerns the vulnerability of the state of migrant children, family reunification and detention of migrants," Honcharenko wrote on his Telegram channel.

He said this issue is one of the most important and sensitive for Europe.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the idea of resuming EU-Russia summits without progress on the part of Russia is a dangerous deviation from the EU sanctions policy.

"Resuming EU-Russia summits without seeing progress from Russia would be a dangerous deviation from EU sanctions policy. It could only disrupt the non-recognition policy, undermine the effectiveness of sanctions and more gravely, discourage Russia from implementing Minsk agreements," Kuleba said on Twitter, being in Brussels within the meeting of the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia with High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU needs to achieve a direct dialogue with the leadership of Russia, but at the same time develop a unified approach to "provocations" by Moscow. It is also necessary to learn how to resist Russia's "hybrid offensive," she said.

The day before, the Financial Times said, citing diplomatic sources, that Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron consider it necessary to consider the possibility of organizing an EU summit at the level of heads of state and government with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the future.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of June 18, which extends personal and economic sanctions against 312 individuals and 103 legal entities, the list of which was provided by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Corresponding document No. 265/2021 was published on the president's website on Thursday.

Together with it, a complete list of persons against whom sanctions from the NSDC are imposed was published. Among others, it includes director general of the Russian First Channel Konstantin Ernst, editor-in-chief of the Russia Today TV channel Margarita Simonyan, as well as a number of other Russian journalists and political figures who openly support the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula and ORDLO.

The list of legal entities against which the NSDC sanctions are imposed includes the Russian media, in particular, OJSC the First Channel. World Network, RTR-Planeta TV channels, the Russia-24 information channel, which are part of the structure of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, and OJSC NTV Television Company.

The NSDC sanctions were also extended in relation to a number of military-industrial state enterprises of the Russian Federation, enterprises located on the territory of Crimea temporarily occupied by Russia, as well as a number of other organizations, in particular, the St. Basil the Great Charitable Foundation, the non-profit organization Foundation for the Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living abroad and others.
Main Friday of the country: viewers once again choose NASH TV channel

Thanks to viewers, already traditionally, the "NASH" TV channel has once again become an absolute leader among information TV channels in Ukraine on Friday, June 18. Rating indicators: Rat - 0.42%, Shr - 1.67% * (TA: 18+ All Ukraine)

The talk show "Friday. Evening" with Angelina Pichik, Max Nazarov, Vladimir Poluev and Anna Stepanets has become the most popular show among all the information TV channels' programs of this day. You can watch the video recording on NASH YouTube channel.

The audience over eighteen years old chooses NASH TV channel. According to the rating indicators, we are again in first place: Rat - 0.57%, Shr - 2.08% *

(TA: 18+ (50K +). Kyiv also prefers NASH, that is confirmed by TV viewing data: rat - 0.72%, shr - 2.95% (TA Kyiv 18+).

Thanks to our viewers for their support and choice!

The results of the TV-audience study indicated in the article refer to CTI; researcher - Nielsen; monitoring - Communication Alliance. Data provided by NASH TV channel for June 18, 2021 Overnight is provided by indicators rat%, shr%.
Community activist India Walton poses as she campaigns to replace four-term Mayor Byron Brown, in Buffalo, New York, U.S. (Photo : REUTERS/Lindsay DeDario/File Photo)

India Walton, a left-leaning political novice, appears to have unseated the four-term mayor of Buffalo, New York state's second largest city, in an upset that she said was only a first step in overhauling the politics of the upstate region.



Also in western New York, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren was defeated handily by city council member Malik Evans. Warren was under fire for her administration's handling of the death of a Black man in police custody last year.



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With mail-in and absentee ballots yet to be counted in the Buffalo race, Walton led Mayor Byron Brown by 52% to 45% in a Democratic primary that drew an unofficial total turnout of fewer than 22,000 voters. A third candidate drew 3%.



"We set out to not only change Buffalo, but to change the way progressive politics are viewed in upstate New York," Walton, 38, a school nurse, told cheering supporters late on Tuesday.



Brown, whose 16 years as Buffalo's mayor culminated a long career as a Democratic party stalwart, refused to concede.



"Things are very tight now," Brown, 62, told supporters. "They are too tight to call, and we're going to make sure that each and every vote - that every single vote is counted."



The Erie County Board of Elections said it would report the official election results within 25 days. The Buffalo News reported that 1,536 absentee ballots, barely more than Walton's roughly 1,500-vote margin over Brown, were returned by Tuesday.



The winner of the Democratic primary is favored to prevail in the November election. Only one other candidate, an independent, has filed to run for mayor in the general election, and his petitions are currently being challenged, the News reported.



Walton has called for ending a police role in mental health calls, while Evans campaigned on an anti-crime platform in Rochester, as did Eric Adams, who was leading the voting in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary.



Walton, who received campaign support from the progressive Working Families Party, vowed to make her campaign the start of a left-leaning movement in the region.



"This is about building the infrastructure to challenge every damn seat," she said. "All that we are doing in this moment is claiming what is rightfully ours."



In Rochester, Evans' victory all but assures that he will become mayor of New York's third-largest city, which heavily leans Democratic.



Warren faced growing calls for her resignation amid sometimes violent protests last summer following release of body-camera footage showing Daniel Prude's encounter with police in March 2020.



Prude, who appeared to be suffering from mental distress, died from asphyxiation after he was restrained against the ground and a mesh hood was placed over his head. It took months to release the footage, sparking allegations of a cover-up and prompting the city's police chief to step down.



Warren's candidacy was further challenged by her indictment on felony campaign finance charges and the arrest of her husband on drugs and weapons charges last month.



Rochester's rising murder rate was also an important issue in the race. Evans has proposed appointing a gun czar to work with federal and state officials to curb the flow of illegal guns thought to be a factor in the city's homicide spike.


Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump climb on walls at the U.S. Capitol during a protest against the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, in Washington, U.S., (Photo : REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo)

A member of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia group pleaded guilty on Wednesday to criminal charges including conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.



The man, Graydon Young, is one of 14 members of the Oath Keepers group charged with taking part in the assault on Congress, which left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer.



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Young, a 54-year-old resident of Englewood, Florida, told U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta he was pleading guilty to one charge of conspiracy and one of obstructing an official proceeding. Young is the brother of Laura Steele, 52, of Thomasville, North Carolina, who also faces charges in the case.



He agreed to cooperate with investigators as part of his plea deal. Questioned by the judge about the extent of his possible cooperation, Young agreed to give grand jury testimony and to be interviewed by law enforcement investigators without his lawyers being present.



The judge did not impose a sentence at Wednesday's hearing and allowed Young to remain on bail pending a further hearing later this summer.



More than 480 people have been arrested and charged with taking part in the unrest, which saw rioters smash windows, battle police inside and outside the Capitol and sent lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence into hiding.



Another defendant, Robert Reeder, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.



A judge on Wednesday is also scheduled to hand down the first criminal sentence to one of the Capitol rioters. Anna Morgan-Lloyd, 49, of Bloomfield, Indiana, agreed last month to plead guilty to a single charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Federal prosecutors have recommended three years of probation, a $500 fine, and 40 hours of community service.



The riot followed a fiery speech in which Trump repeated his false claims that his election defeat was the result of widespread fraud and disrupted the formal count by Congress of electoral votes in the race.



Federal prosecutors said in court papers that Young on Dec. 22 made plans to fly from Florida to North Carolina on Jan. 4, with a return trip on Jan. 8. On Dec. 26, prosecutors said, he wrote to a Florida company engaged in firearms and combat training: "I have joined Oath Keepers. I recommended your training to the team. To that effect, four of us would like to train with you."



The indictment says Young and eight other indicted Oath Keepers pushed their way in a "stack" up the steps on the east side of the Capitol building.



The Oath Keepers are a loosely organized group of activists who believe that the federal government is encroaching on their rights, and "explicitly focus" on recruiting current and former police, emergency services and military members.



Reeder, a 55-year-old Maryland resident, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. He faces a maximum of six months in prison.



During a court hearing, Reeder's attorney stressed that his client "didn't touch anything" or "destroy anything" or "physically engage in any kind of resistance" while he was inside the Capitol.



He is due to be sentenced on Aug. 18.



Also on Wednesday, Eduard Florea, a supporter of the Proud Boys movement who was accused of keeping a large weapons cache and making social media threats related to the attack, was denied bail, despite evidence of what his lawyer said were signs of chronic kidney disease. Florea was not in Washington on Jan. 6.


Eduard Florea appears during a virtual hearing on weapons charges in a New York (Photo : REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg/File Photo)

A Proud Boys supporter accused of keeping a large weapons cache and making social media threats tied to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was denied bail on Wednesday, despite evidence of what his lawyer said were signs of chronic kidney disease.



U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom in Brooklyn said Eduard Florea "presents a significant danger to the community," and should not be released into confinement at his mother's Bronx, New York home on $100,000 bond as his lawyer requested.



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Florea, a 40-year-old married father of two, has been detained in a Brooklyn jail since January, when he pleaded not guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition and making online threats.



Prosecutors said an FBI search of his home in the Middle Village section of Queens found more than 900 rounds of ammunition, 72 military-style combat knives, two hatchets and two swords.



They also said Florea used the conservative platform Parler to make threats before and during the riot, including by appearing to call Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock a "dead" man and writing: "It's time to unleash some violence."



Florea was not in Washington on Jan. 6. The Proud Boys are a far-right group that has supported violence and had endorsed former U.S. President Donald Trump.



Bloom directed that a specialist see Florea within one week about his kidney problems, after his lawyers said Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center was providing "insufficient" medical care limited to blood and urine tests.



"Putting this off is endangering him, and he is still presumed innocent even if I'm not releasing him on bond," Bloom said.

More than 480 people have been charged in connection with the riot, where Trump supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying Democratic President Joe Biden's election win. Trump falsely claimed that Biden's win resulted from widespread fraud.


The Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, U.S. (Photo : REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger/File Photo)

Police do not have unlimited authority to enter a home without a warrant when pursuing a person suspected of a minor crime, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday in a case involving a California motorist chased home by an officer for honking his horn while listening to music.



By declining to endorse a broad interpretation of police power, the justices handed a victory to the driver, Arthur Lange, who is challenging his conviction of driving under the influence after the California highway patrol officer entered his garage without a warrant and performed a sobriety test.



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The court, in a 9-0 decision authored by liberal Justice Elena Kagan, sent the case back to the California Court of Appeals. The justices rejected the lower court's finding that warrants are not required in any situation in which police are in pursuit, even if the suspected crime is minor.



"The flight of a suspected misdemeanant does not always justify a warrantless entry into a home," Kagan wrote.



"An officer must consider all the circumstances in a pursuit case to determine whether there is a law enforcement emergency," Kagan added.



Although the justices were unanimous in tossing out the lower court decision, there was some disagreement among them on the law. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in a separate opinion joined by fellow conservative Justice Samuel Alito that police should be able to complete an arrest when they are in pursuit of someone, even if the suspect enters a home.



"The Constitution does not demand this absurd and dangerous result. We should not impose it," Roberts wrote



Lange was confronted inside his garage by officer Aaron Weikert in 2016. The ruling did not definitively resolve whether the sobriety test evidence can be used against Lange, who argued that it was obtained in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.



The ruling was issued at a time of heightened scrutiny of police powers and use of force in the United States after several high-profile incidents in recent years involving the actions of law enforcement. Protests erupted in many cities last year against police brutality and racism.



After observing Lange driving and honking his horn, Weikert began following him and intended to stop him for violating local noise restrictions, a minor infraction that carries small fines, but did not immediately turn on the police vehicle's emergency lights, according to filings in the case.



Lange was already in his driveway when the officer caught up with him and activated his emergency lights. Weikert pulled into the driveway as Lange was driving his car into his garage. Lange later said he did not know the officer had been following him.



The garage door was just about to close when Weikert stuck his foot under the door, preventing it from shutting.



Weikert said he smelled alcohol and ordered Lange to take a sobriety test. Lange was found to be more than three times over the legal limit and was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and a noise infraction.



Lower courts ruled against Lange, deeming the incident a "hot pursuit" that allowed a warrantless entry.



Lange pleaded no contest to the DUI offense and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years of probation.



The California Court of Appeals in 2019 upheld Lange's conviction. Lange then asked the Supreme Court to rule that police officers cannot evade the warrant requirement when chasing someone to their home when the underlying conduct constitutes a misdemeanor offense.



Under Supreme Court precedent, officers can enter a home without a warrant when they are in pursuit of a suspected felon.


Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has expressed Egypt's keenness to secure the rollout of coronavirus vaccines across Africa, whether via its current efforts to locally produce vaccines or by participating in the African Union initiative to jointly manufacture vaccines.

Addressing the African Union (AU) Bureau meeting on Thursday on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Madboly said Egypt has reached a deal to produce COVID-19 vaccines locally and seeks to share the benefits of this deal with African countries.

Egypt is currently manufacturing 2 million doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine through the production lines of the country's drugmaker VACSERA as part of a wider deal with the Chinese company to produce a total of 40 million doses in Egypt by the end of 2021.

Egypt is also in talks to locally manufacture the British AstraZeneca vaccine, as it seeks to become a manufacturing vaccine hub for Africa after meeting local needs.

Madbouly praised the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing initiative launched by the AU in April, saying Egypt's infrastructure and medical capabilities are ready to support the initiative.

The initiative, which was launched in April, comes as the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines across Africa is facing delays.

Less than 2 percent of the 690 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered globally have been in Africa, where most countries received vaccines only five weeks ago and in small quantities, according to a report released by the World Health Organization in April.

Many African countries are relying on the global vaccine sharing scheme COVAX, which provides free shots to developing nations, but there have been growing concerns that the rollout of vaccination programmes could be delayed over supply shortages.

The PM highlighted the significance of international support for African efforts to recover from the economic ramifications of the pandemic.

He hailed the international initiatives aimed at mitigating the economic repercussions of the pandemic, including the Debt Service Suspension Initiative issued by the G20.

He also praised the International Monetary Funds initiatives to enhance global liquidity, including the new issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).

Madbouly demanded that the share of SDRs for African countries should be increased to create financing mechanisms that enable middle and low-income countries to restore growth rates.

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Egypt's Ambassador in London Tarek Adel managed to restore three artefacts dating back to the Pharaonic and Greek eras before being sold at an auction hall in London, read a statement by the foreign ministry on Thursday.

The move is part of Egypt's tireless efforts to restore precious artefacts that were smuggled out of the country.

The statement highlighted the efforts of the foreign ministry in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to preserve Egypt's heritage and bring back all smuggled artefacts.

The ambassador lauded the fruitful cooperation between the Egyptian government and the British Museum to stop the sale of these priceless pieces.

No information is yet available on the owners of the artefacts or how they were smuggled out of Egypt.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said on Thursday efforts are underway to bring home as soon as possible the three artefacts.

Adel received the three pieces after coordinating with the British Museum, the tourism ministry stated.

The restored pieces include an alabaster statue without the head and feet that dates back to the Graeco-Roman era and a part of a wooden sarcophagus that may date back to the late era, supervisor of the Retrieved Antiquities Department at the ministry Shaaban Abdel-Gawad said.

The third piece is likely to be part of a sarcophagus, he added.

He stressed that the three pieces are not listed among the possessions of museums and archaeological warehouses affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, but that they were probably the result of illegal excavation.

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The International Organisation for Migration in Egypt (IOM) and the European Union Delegation to Egypt inaugurated on Thursday the latest addition to the Watan Medical Centre in the city of 6 October to serve Egyptians and migrants.

The centre, run by Watan for Cultural and Social Development is one of the IOMs chosen partners in Egypt that works to provide socio-economic, educational, and medical services to migrants, refugees, and Egyptian host communities across Greater Cairo.

It was an honour to officially open Watan clinic that provides medical services for Egyptians and migrants in 6 October city. I am amazed by the Syrian community's support to offer health services for migrants and host communities. 20,746 patients have already received health support from Watan, said Laurent de Boeck, IOM chief of mission to Egypt, at the inauguration.

The IOM has previously supported Watan in establishing a dental clinic and laboratory through the refurbishment and provision of medical devices.

Under this latest collaboration, the IOM, with funding from the European Union through Regional Development and Protection Programme for North Africa Phase II, provided the financial and in-kind support to establish the gynaecology and obstetrics wing.

The wing offers delivery services (both natural birth and caesarean) and is equipped with two rooms for post-delivery accommodation.

Following the addition of the wing, Watan decided to consolidate all clinics in one centre in 6 October city.

The centre now boasts dental, gynaecology, obesity, cardiac, endocrinology, dermatology, urology, physiotherapy and otolaryngology clinics, according to the IOM.

Watan NGO currently serves an estimated 450 individuals a month and 5,400 a year, charging affordable fees for those who can pay, and free-of-charge services for vulnerable cases.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed on Thursday the need for the preservation, development and good management of Awqaf (charitable endowments) funds, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

All documented transactions should be issued by the Secured Documents Center and done in accordance to the fair market value, the president said during a meeting in Cairo with Minister of Religious Endowments Mokhtar Gomaa.

Among the duties of the Religious Endowments Ministry in Egypt is the administration of charitable endowments based on the Waqf, or the Islamic version of the trust law.

In May 2021, the Egyptian House of Representatives passed the law establishing Awqaf funds, which will be allocated for education and health institutions.

The minister reviewed his ministry's efforts in managing the Awqaf Authority funds, noting that the highest annual revenues in its history were achieved in fiscal 2020/2021, namely around EGP 1.8 billion.

The meeting also covered the Ministry's efforts to develop the Awqaf Authority and train imams, as well as step up activities in the field of writing, translating and publishing religious Islamic books, presidency spokesman Bassam Radi said.

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Egypts Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati discussed on Thursday the latest developments regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with South Sudanese officials in Juba, the Egyptian irrigation ministry announced.

According to the Egyptian irrigation ministry, Abdel-Ati discussed the latest developments concerning the GERD and stressed that Egypt is keen to reach to a legally binding agreement that meets the development needs of all countries involved.

The Egyptian irrigation minister, South Sudanese Vice President James Wani and Minister of Presidential Affairs Barnaba Marial also discussed boosting cooperation between Egypt and South Sudan in water management.

Minister Abdel-Ati arrived in Juba with a delegation from the irrigation ministry.

Talks between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the operation of the GERD and the filling of its reservoir reached a deadlock in April, with Addis Ababa insisting on moving forward with the second filling next month with or without an agreement.

Sudan has said that if Ethiopia goes ahead with the second filling unilaterally, the lives and safety of millions of Sudanese citizens will be in danger.

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At least 64 people were killed and 180 injured in an Ethiopian air strike on a market in the war-torn Tigray region, a local health officer told AFP Thursday.

"The air strike was in the market area, so many, many people were injured," said Mulu Atsbaha, an advisor to the Tigray regional administration on maternal and child health.

The strike on Tuesday in Togoga town also left 180 injured, Mulu added.

He said the toll had been gathered from residents of Togoga town, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north-west of the regional capital Mekele, and "confirmed with local leaders".

Ethiopia's army spokesman said Thursday that the military carried out the attack on Togoga, but said rebel fighters were the target.

"We do not accept that this operation targeted civilians," Colonel Getnet Adane told AFP, insisting that those injured or killed were fighters "in civilian clothes".

But survivors and health workers described aerial explosions striking a busy market at the peak of trading, killing and injuring dozens, including children.

The United Nations has called for an urgent investigation into the strike.

The attack came as vote counting was underway following Monday's national elections in Ethiopia. However, the conflict in Tigray meant no vote was held there, and the region has seen an upsurge in fighting in recent days.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to Tigray in November to oust the dissident regional leadership, promising a swift victory.

But nearly eight months later, fighting continues, which has triggered a humanitarian crisis with the UN warning 350,000 people are on the brink of famine.

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A 12-year-old conflict in northeast Nigeria has caused the deaths of some 324,000 children under five, mostly from disease and hunger, the UN warned Thursday.

Previous data showed that Boko Haram militants, who launched an insurgency in 2009 that has since spread to neighbouring countries, have killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million from their homes.

But in a new report titled "Assessing the impact of conflict on development in northeast Nigeria", the UN Development Programme said "the full human cost of war is much greater."

"We estimate that more than 90 percent of conflict-attributable deaths through 2020, about 324,000, are of children younger than five," it said.

Of nearly 350,000 deaths, it estimated 314,000 to have resulted from indirect causes.

Insecurity has led to declines in agricultural production and trade, reducing access to food and threatening the many households that depend on agriculture for their livelihood, it said.

Thousands of displaced people lack access to food, health facilities, shelter and clean water, with children more vulnerable, the report added.

"With another decade of conflict, that could grow to more than 1.1 million," it said.

Nigeria's Boko Haram group split into two in 2016 with its rival Islamic State-allied faction ISWAP becoming the dominant threat.

Despite ongoing military operations, the groups have continued to launch attacks, spreading violence to parts of neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

In the Lake Chad region, the UN said "over 3.2 million individuals are displaced, with 5.3 million food-insecure people at crisis and emergency levels."

The situation is worse in Nigeria's northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, it said.

"In northeast Nigeria alone, 13.1 million people live in areas affected by conflict, out of whom 8.7 million are in need of immediate assistance," it said.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired general, is under pressure to end the jihadist violence.

But the security forces appear overwhelmed as they battle other security challenges, including herder-farmer clashes in the centre of the country, kidnapping and banditry in the northwest and separatist agitations in the south.

In the northeast, jihadists have kidnapped dozens of aid workers, of whom many have been killed.

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As at least 64 people die in an airstrike on a busy market in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, this is a timeline of the ongoing crisis in Africa's second most populous country.

Troops Enter

Fighting begins on November 4, 2020 when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed orders a military response to what he calls a "traitorous" attack on federal army camps in Tigray.

He blames the attack on the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominated Ethiopian national politics for nearly three decades before Abiy took office in 2018.

The TPLF denies responsibility and says the reported attack is a pretext for an "invasion".

Two days later, with fighting intensifying, Abiy sacks the head of the military, whose top brass includes many battle-hardened Tigrayans.

On November 9 Ethiopia carries out more air strikes in Tigray with Abiy saying the operation will be over "soon".

Fleeing to Sudan

Tens of thousands of refugees flee to neighbouring Sudan as the African Union follows the United Nations in demanding an end to the fighting.

As the refugee flow swells tensions mount between the two countries, whose frontier is disputed.

'War Crimes'

After 10 days' fighting, the UN warns of possible war crimes in Tigray.

Neighbouring Eritrea -- with which Abiy signed a peace deal in 2018 that helped him win him the Nobel Prize Prize -- sends troops into Tigray to help Abiy although their presence is denied by Addis Ababa.

Capital Falls

Two weeks later, having rejected peace talks, Abiy says government tanks are advancing on Tigray's capital Mekele.

The city comes under heavy shelling on November 28 before Abiy announces that military operations in Tigray are "completed".

'Ethnic Cleansing'

In February 2021 Amnesty International says Eritrean soldiers killed "hundreds of civilians" in November in the holy city of Axum in Tigray.

The following month AFP documents another massacre by the troops in Dengolat.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken later urges Eritrea to withdraw and describes violence in western Tigray as "ethnic cleansing".

Atrocities Admitted

For months Ethiopia and Eritrea flatly deny the involvement of Eritrean forces in the conflict.

But on March 23 Abiy admits that Eritrean troops had crossed the border into Tigray.

He also suggests they may have been involved in atrocities against civilians.

The next day the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission says Eritrean soldiers massacred over 100 civilians in Axum in November.

Withdrawal?

After admitting Eritrea's role, Abiy flies to its capital Asmara to meet with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

During the visit Abiy says Eritrea has agreed to pull its forces out.

Just over a week later Ethiopia says Eritrean troops have "started to evacuate" Tigray but on April 15 the UN says there is no evidence of withdrawal.

'Humanitarian Disaster'

As international outrage mounts, AFP obtains government documents showing that Eritrean troops are looting and blocking food aid.

US President Joe Biden in late May calls for a ceasefire and declares that human rights abuses "must end".

In June the World Food Programme says four million people face a food crisis in Tigray, including 350,000 risking famine.

UN 'Deeply Disturbed'

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet says on June 21 she is "deeply disturbed" by reports of "serious violations" in Tigray and says she has "credible reports" that Eritrean soldiers are still operating in the region.

Elections are held across much of Ethiopia that day but there are no polls in Tigray because of the conflict.

Bloody Market Airstrike

At least 64 people are killed on Tuesday and 180 injured in an Ethiopian airstrike on a market in Togoga, according to a toll released on Thursday.

The attack was aimed at rebel fighters, Ethiopia's military insist.

The UN calls for an urgent investigation.

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Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed they brought down two U.S.-made drones this week over central Marib province, the scene of heavy fighting between the Iran-backed rebels and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government.

The U.S. military said it wasn't aware of any lost drones in the Mideast and added that it did not operate any aircraft above Marib.

On Wednesday, the Houthis' media arm released a video claiming to show the two drones after being shot down. The rebels identified the wreckage as showing ScanEagle drones.

One of the drones appeared less damaged than the other. The video at one point shows a sticker that correctly bears the Commercial and Government Entity, or CAGE, number for Insitu, the Bingen, Washington, company that builds the drone. Insitu is a subsidiary of Boeing Co.

Boeing said the drone wreckage shown did not belong to a ScanEagle, but declined to comment further.

Lt. Col. Karen Roxberry, a U.S. military Central Command spokeswoman, said Wednesday there were ``no downed CENTCOM assets'' in the region. ``We are not flying over Marib,'' she said.

The ScanEagle is an unmanned reconnaissance drone made by Boeing that is launched by a catapult, costs over $3 million and can fly for more than 20 hours, according to the U.S. Air Force. Multiple American military services fly the aircraft, as do other countries.

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's exiled government since 2015 isn't immediately known to fly the drone, though there are many copycat systems like it.

Other drones operating in the region include the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.

Since February, the Houthis have sought to capture energy-rich Marib to try to gain full control over northern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition, government forces and others allied to them have held the area.

Yemen has been convulsed by a civil war since 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital of Sanaa and much of the northern part of the country. That forced the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia.

Despite a relentless air campaign and ground fighting, the war has morphed into a regional conflict that has deteriorated into a stalemate, killing some 130,000 people and spawning the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The Biden administration had withdrawn its backing for the coalition earlier this year but said the U.S. would continue to offer support to Saudi Arabia as it defends itself against Houthi attacks.

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The owners of private generators that provide a vital backup to Lebanon's decrepit power grid warned Wednesday of their own cuts due to lack of fuel as the country's economic crisis deepens.

The national network run by Electricite du Liban is prone to blackouts and in some areas only manages to provide power for two hours a day.

That forces many Lebanese to pay a separate bill for a backup from neighbourhood generators run by private firms.

With the Lebanese economy facing its worst crisis in a generation and the currency in freefall, private suppliers have warned they are struggling to secure enough fuel to keep running.

The crisis is so acute that on Wednesday the lights went out in a building belonging to the foreign ministry, forcing employees to stop work, Lebanese media reported.

"Generator owners in several regions started telling customers on Wednesday that they would not be able to provide electricity for lack of mazout," a widely used petrol derivative, said Abdu Saadeh, head of a syndicate for generator owners.

"We had warned late last week that the stocks would start running dry... and so far we haven't found a solution."

Lebanon has been roiled since autumn 2019 by an economic crisis the World Bank says is likely to rank among the world's worst financial crises since the mid-19th century.

The collapse has sparked outrage at Lebanon's political class, seen as woefully corrupt and unable to tackle the country's many difficulties.

Officials have blamed the current fuel shortages on stockpiling by traders and a surge of fuel smuggling into Syria.

Several people have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling in recent weeks, according to the police.

The central bank has set up a mechanism to subsidise fuels by up to 85 percent, but fuel importers have accused it of failing to implement the programme.

The head of public internet provider Ogero has warned that electricity cuts could also threaten Lebanon's access to the web.

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Honduras on Thursday opened its embassy in contested Jerusalem, becoming the fourth country to follow the U.S. move under former President Donald Trump to relocate its chief diplomatic mission in Israel from Tel Aviv.

To mark the occasion, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and Israel's new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett signed several bilateral cooperation agreements in Jerusalem on Thursday.

The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

This step follows Israel's 11-day military campaign on Gaza Strip and crackdown on Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, which took place in May.

The U.S. inaugurated its embassy in the city in 2018, and Guatemala, Kosovo and Honduras followed suit. Paraguay opened its embassy in Jerusalem in 2018, but then reversed course months later.

Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv.

Bennett said that the opening of the Honduran Embassy in Jerusalem, and the planned reopening of the Israeli Embassy in Tegucigalpa, was ``another demonstration of the deep friendship and deep connection'' between the two countries. Israel previously had an embassy in Honduras until the 1990s.

Hernandez, who visited the holy city in 2019, had pledged to move his country's embassy to Jerusalem. Israel's then-Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in turn pledged to reopen the Tegucigalpa embassy.

Jerusalem is home to Israel's parliament, Supreme Court, and many government offices. Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza, in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed that part of the city. East Jerusalem is home to the Old City, with holy sites sacred to Muslims.

The Trump administration's decision to fulfill a longstanding U.S. promise and move the embassy to Jerusalem, following Washington's recognition that the city was Israel's capital, flew in the face of international consensus and enraged the Palestinians.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Iran's deputy ambassador to the United Nations Zahra Ershadi urged the removal of "the unilateral and unlawful" sanctions against Syria, Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

Lifting of sanctions must be a substantive element of any discussion on the humanitarian aspect of the Syrian conflict, Ershadi was quoted as saying.

Ershadi made the remarks at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria on Wednesday.

"The immoral sanctions on Syria only prolong the sufferings of people, delay the return of refugees and displaced persons and hamper reconstruction efforts," she noted.

Iran has been a major regional ally of the Syrian government in its fight against the armed rebels since 2011.

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A Hamas senior official said on Wednesday night that the Palestinian Authority's decision to postpone the Palestinian elections in May has hindered the efforts to end the internal Palestinian split.

Saleh Arouri, the Hamas' deputy chief who is in charge of the reconciliation issue, said in a press statement that the failure to achieve a breakthrough in the previous rounds of dialogue was a result of postponing the elections.

The decision not to hold the elections "was made without consultations with the partners or the guarantors," Arouri added.

On April 29, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the postponement of the 2021 Palestinian legislative elections, which had been scheduled for May 22 in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas' announcement came after Israel refused to allow the Palestinian elections to be held in East Jerusalem.

Reaffirming that East Jerusalem as "a red line," Abbas said the general elections could not be held if Palestinians in East Jerusalem can't participate.

The Palestinian leadership insists on holding the general elections in occupied East Jerusalem, just like the two previous legislative elections in 1996 and 2006 and the 2005 presidential elections.

In January, Abbas announced that the 2021 general elections would include the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the elections of the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on Aug. 31.

Abbas chaired a meeting for his ruling Fatah party's revolutionary council on Monday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, calling on the Palestinian factions to launch a serious dialogue to end the internal split.

The internal Palestinian split began when Hamas routed the security forces of Abbas and forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. All efforts to end the split have so far failed.

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Tunisia authorities on Thursday rescued 267 migrants, most of them Bangladeshis, who tried to sail from neighbouring Libya to Europe across the Mediterranean, the International Organization for Migration said.

Tunisia's coastguard said the migrants, who also included three Egyptians, had been stranded at sea after their boat broke down.

The navy helped bring the migrants to shore at the Ben Guerdane port in southern Tunisia, near the border with Libya, and they were handed over to the IOM and the Red Crescent, the coastguard said.

The migrants were placed in quarantine at a hotel on the Tunisian island of Djerba, the IOM said.

According to IOM figures, more than 1,000 migrants hoping to reach Europe had set off from Libya and ended up in Tunisia since January, and the number of departures is rising.

There have been 11,000 departures from January to April 2021 from Libya, over 70 percent more than in the same period last year, according to UN refugee agency UNHCR.

The agency said the "deteriorating" conditions of migrants in Libya and Tunisia are pushing many to make the dangerous crossing from the North African coast to Europe.

Red Crescent official Mongi Slim said centres set up to house migrants in Tunisia are full.

According to the UN, at least 760 people have died making the Mediterranean crossing between January 1 and May 31, compared with 1,400 last year.

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Ukraine's foreign minister blasted a proposal from Germany and France for the EU to consider restarting summits with Russia, ahead of a debate on the issue by the bloc's leaders.

"Initiatives to resume EU summits with Russia without seeing any progress from the Russian side will be a dangerous deviation from EU sanctions policy," Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting the EU's foreign policy chief in Brussels.

"The decision to freeze summits between the EU and Russia was taken in 2014 against the background of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Unfortunately, Russia has not demonstrated any will to change its policy, neither towards Ukraine, nor towards the EU, and we believe that the resumption of summits is groundless."

Berlin and Paris on Wednesday put forward a last minute proposal ahead of a meeting in Brussels of EU leaders for the bloc to contemplate a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the wake of US President Joe Biden's sit-down with him in Geneva last week.

But there remains resistance from numerous EU members states -- especially in eastern Europe -- who were blindsided by the push and remain deeply wary of talking to the Kremlin.

EU ambassadors failed to thrash out a common position on the proposal late Wednesday and left it for the leaders to hammer out the details.

The 27-nation bloc is looking to revamp its strategy on keeping its vast eastern neighbour in check as Brussels admits that relations with the Kremlin look set to deteriorate further despite having already reached their "lowest level".

The German-French plan insists the EU has to stand firm and united on Moscow, but should look to engage with the Kremlin on issues of mutual interest such as climate change, health, the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

Proposed draft conclusions put forward by Berlin and Paris for the EU summit say the bloc "will review the existing formats of dialogue with Russia, including at Leaders' level".

But they also lay out that leaders will ask the European Commission "to present options for additional restrictive measures, including economic sanctions" to push back against "any further malign, illegal and disruptive activity by Russia".

- Premature -

The EU gathering on Thursday is set to be the last for German Chancellor Angela Merkel before an election to decide her successor in September.

Merkel has taken the lead among leaders in the bloc in dealing with Putin as ties have unravelled over the past seven years.

"In my opinion, we as the European Union must also seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president," she told the German parliament on Thursday.

"It is not enough for the American president to talk to the Russian president," she said, stressing that the European Union too "must also create different formats for talks".

One European diplomat argued that "the EU must stand firm and establish a counterbalance against Russia. It must also put itself in a position to resist, in particular, cyberattacks. And it must be able to engage in dialogue with Russia on the subjects for which it has interests."

Another countered that it was "premature" to talk about a meeting with the Russian leader.

"Why have a summit with Putin if there is nothing positive to discuss," the diplomat said.

Details on the exact format for any potential meeting with Putin are still unclear -- and it remains to be seen if it would involve all 27 national leaders or the heads of the European Commission and Council.

The last summit between EU chiefs in Brussels and Putin took place in early 2014, with the Kremlin strongman preferring to deal bilaterally with individual nations since then.

Ties between the EU and Russia have been in the doldrums since the Kremlin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014.

The bloc has slapped waves of sanctions on Moscow, and Russia has responded with its own counter-measures.

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More than 4,000 asylum seekers have been relocated from Greece to other EU countries since April 2020, United Nations agencies said Thursday.

Forty-three asylum-seekers flew from Greece to France during the day, said a statement from the UN Refugees agency, the International Organization for Migration and UNICEF children's fund.

"We are proud to mark the relocation of 4,000 people from Greece during trying times and are confident that we can do more together with Greece, our partners and governments across Europe", said IOM chief of mission Gianluca Rocco.

Since the start of the EU-funded initiative in April last year, 1,628 refugees, 1,531 asylum-seekers and 849 unaccompanied children have moved from Greece to other EU countries.

Athens said last month the number of asylum-seekers on its islands had fallen below 10,000 for the first time since Europe's migration crisis began in 2015 -- down from nearly 20,000 people in November 2018.

"European states demonstrate vital solidarity with Greece's communities through the relocation of refugees and vulnerable asylum seekers, and such efforts should become the norm and be expanded", said Mireille Girard, UNHCR representative in Greece.

Germany, France, Portugal, Finland, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg have taken in those relocated, the statement said.

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Egypt announced the success of the fourth round of the free trade agreement negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) that concluded in Moscow on Thursday, according to Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea.

Gamea said that Egypt is expected to host the fifth round of the negotiations in November.

Gamea made her statements during the extended discussions held on Thursday, which gathered Minister Gamea with the EAEUs Trade Minister, Andrey Slepnev.

The EAEU is an international integrational economic association which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

Gamea said that Egypt is willing to accelerate the pace of these negotiations soon, adding that the free trade agreement with the EAEU is expected to enhance and advance economic, commercial, and venture relations between Egypt and the unions members.

She also added that the agreement is expected to boost regional and intra-trade between Egypt and both central and north Asia and Europe through the unions countries, on one side, while backing the EAEUs trade flow into Arab and African markets across Egypt.

The negotiations launched in 2016 with the objective of establishing a free trade zone with the signed countries, including Egypt.

On 11 June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that tens of countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia are interested in the establishment of a Free Trade Area with the EAEU.

Trade exchange between Egypt and the EAEU recorded $4.6 billion in 2020.

In November 2018, Egypt inked a framework document with the EAEU for negotiations on the free trade agreement between the two sides.

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The Egyptian pharmaceutical company Pharco will begin production of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V before the end of the year. Egypt is also due to begin manufacturing the Chinese Sinovac vaccine locally and is in talks to manufacture the British AstraZeneca vaccine. Research is also ongoing to develop an Egyptian vaccine.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Health and Population, three million vaccine doses will be manufactured daily in a new complex owned by the Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA). Established at a total cost of around $33 million, the complex, the largest plant for vaccine production in the Middle East and Africa, includes eight laboratories and the capacity to store 150 million doses at optimum temperatures.

Ministry of Health Spokesman Khaled Megahed says the VACSERA complex is expected to produce 40 million doses of the Chinese vaccine this year, with the first two million expected to be available within a month.

Around two million people have been vaccinated since February, and a further 3.5 million have registered for the jab. The number of vaccine centres has been increased to 400 nationwide to cater for the increased demand for vaccination.

Megahed said Egypt is first aiming for self-sufficiency in vaccine production, after which it will begin to export vaccines to Arab and African countries.

We do not want to depend on a single source to supply us with vaccines, and we intend to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the population as soon as possible, said Megahed.

Chest diseases consultant and member of the Egyptian Society of Allergy and Immunology Magdy Badran says importing vaccines is an expensive process, and in some cases may be subject to political whims, thus threatening the availability of the required quantities.

Providing large quantities of them in Egypt will reduce the spread of the virus gradually, until we reach the stage of herd immunity, and this could happen within the coming few months.

Vaccines stimulate the immune response to the COVID-19 virus, providing vaccinated individuals with protection from severe complications and reducing the possibility of transmission.

All the vaccines recognised by the WHO so far are effective in protecting against critical conditions in case of COVID-19 infection, says Badran. It is possible that we will need to vaccinate citizens annually with booster doses if COVID-19 turns into a seasonal, endemic, or changeable virus.

Badran advises people to continue to apply precautionary measures even when vaccinated.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Egypts House of Representatives is expected next week to discuss new controversial amendments to the law regulating the performance of the Supreme Constitutional Court (48/1979).

Ibrahim Al-Heneidi, head of parliaments Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, told reporters he had received a message from the general assembly of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) saying it supported two government-drafted amendments to Law 48/1979.

The amendments will allow the SCC to revise international rulings and foreign agreements which might affect Egypts economic security and state whether any of these rulings or agreements violate the constitution. The changes are necessary in order to give the SCC authority over international arbitration rulings and foreign agreements that impact Egypts economy, Al-Heneidi said.

Said Marei, head of the SCC, said in an interview that the SCCs support of the amendments came after careful study and that the changes aim to safeguard Egypts strategic economic interests.

Ali Badr, a member of parliaments Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, explained that the two amendments would expand the SCCs jurisdiction which is currently limited to local laws and decrees. The two amendments extend the SCCs authority to include rulings issued by international institutions and allow it a say on international agreements. If the prime minister thinks that an international ruling or a foreign agreement could impact Egypts national economic security, said Badr, he could ask SCC to review the ruling or agreement in constitutional terms.

Atef Al-Meghawri, head of the Tagammu Partys parliamentary group, told reporters many Legislative and Constitutional Committee members were worried the amendments could discourage foreign businesses from investing in Egypt. Foreign investors always look at how commercial and investment disputes are settled in the country before they invest, Al-Meghawri said. They are unlikely to invest in countries where they think international rulings on investment disputes could be ignored by the government on constitutional grounds.

Al-Meghawri recommended that the Ministry of Investment and Cairos International Arbitration Centre conduct a careful review of the two amendments and inform parliament whether they will harm the investment climate in Egypt.

MPs Suleiman Wahdan and Diaaeddin Dawoud argued during the meeting that the committee should invite the minister of Investment and international arbitration experts to give their views on the proposed changes.

Dawoud said Article 192 of the constitution is clear that SCCs jurisdiction is limited to local laws and decrees. Besides, I think that parliaments approval of the two amendments could cause negative implications in international investment circles, Dawoud said.

MP Nasser Othman defended the draft changes. The amendments come after a number of international arbitration rulings were issued against Egypt, costing the country millions of dollars, said Othman, indicating that in 2009, for example, the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) ruled that businessman Waguih Siag should receive $134 million in compensation for land he bought from the government to develop as a tourist resort in Sinai. Siag bought the land in 2007 to develop it as a tourist destination, but the government decided in 2008 to expropriate the land for public use, and as a result Siag decided to take the resort to international arbitration. Othman added that according to the new amendments, the government could ask SCC to revise ICSIDs ruling in constitutional terms, and if the court said the ruling contravenes internal Egyptian laws or decrees or the constitution, this would be an excuse for the government to ignore.

Othman also argued that many in government circles believe these rulings were politicised. The proposed changes will give the SCC the power to review such rulings and ensure they do not contravene the constitution and will not harm Egypts economic security.

A semi-official report in 2018 shows that the number of compensation claims made against Egypt before ICSID increased sharply after 2011. As many as 19 cases were filed against the Egyptian government in just five years, or from 2011 to 2016, and most sought financial compensation for measures taken by the Egyptian government or for verdicts issued by Egypts Supreme Administrative Court, the report said, revealing that Egypt was forced to pay $224.2 million in compensation for three cases settled in favour of investors between 2011 and 2016.

Othman indicated that the government opted in the last three years to reach bilateral settlements with investors instead of resorting to international arbitration centres. In 2018, for example, ICSID ruled that Egypt should pay the Spanish Company Union Fenosa $2 billion as a result of the governments failure to provide gas to the company after 2011, but the government was able to reach a settlement with the company after 2014, when the country recovered its stability and was able to resume gas supplies to the company, Othman said.

Egypt also faced a fine of up $2 billion in another case with Israels electricity company but the government was able to reach a settlement with the company, allowing it to pay only $470 million.

Ashraf Rashad, spokesperson of the Mostaqbal Watan Party, echoed Othmans concerns. Many rulings issued by international arbitration courts are politicised. The amendments are necessary to safeguard us against any harmful effects from these rulings, Rashad said.

Rashad also said that contrary to what some MPs believe, the two amendments will improve the investment climate in Egypt because they make clear to foreign investors the mechanism used in settling commercial disputes.

Deputy Minister of Justice Haitham Al-Baqli explained that the new amendments do not provide the government with a tool to ignore foreign agreements or international arbitration rulings.

The changes will allow the government to refer foreign agreements and international arbitration rulings to the SCC to decide whether they are constitutional. The prime minister will send a request to the SCC, saying that he believes that a certain ruling violates a certain article in the constitution, and ask the court to meet to give a final say, Al-Baqli said.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A few days ago the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the Biden administration was sharply reducing the number of US antimissile systems in the Middle East in a major realignment of its military footprint there. Gulf and US officials downplayed the report, though no official announcements were made.

Such silence is understandable: the numbers and positions of the missiles are to be kept secret if the enemy is not to take advantage of the information in some possible manoeuvre. Military experts say that troop and arms movements and withdrawals need to be contextualised; and such reports can sometimes be used to test reactions and see what comes next.

The WSJ report called the move a major realignment of the US military footprint, quoting an unnamed source in the US military, though, it is just moving eight Patriot batteries from Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. An informed Gulf source told Al-Ahram Weekly that there was no drawdown as such and any possible movement of American troops or arms in the region will not affect the defence capabilities of Gulf countries. He added, There are also the THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defence] batteries, which are even better than Patriot. The American defence company Raytheon, which produces Patriot, has a production issue  not announced of course  so these redeployments could be to make up for this issue temporarily.

The WSJ report on the other hand quoted a Pentagon source saying that the missile batteries were withdrawn for maintenance purposes. The report also noted that two out of three flight tests, which aimed to integrate the Patriot and THAAD missile systems, failed because of software problems, according to a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report published in April.

The withdrawal of missile batteries coincides with the Biden administration quickly withdrawing its military from Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region, and a lot of anticipation was raised by the WSJ report. Saudi commentator Abdul-Aziz Alkhames told Al-Ahram Weekly, I think it is a sort of geopolitical pressure, which is a stupid attitude on the part of the Democrats. Actually this provides justification for the Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia to diversify its military procurement. Riyadh can go to China, Russia or elsewhere. But I think it is just a test balloon and not a significant drawback in American military support.

Alkhames actually perceives a positive angle. In fact, if true, this could be a positive thing consolidating the desire for regional cooperation in domestic defence industries, especially between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This can go along with partnerships  not necessarily American only but also with Russia, China and others  to develop local production, he said. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have developed strong relationships with South Korea and France and are working on cooperative Research & Development (R&D) that can help domestic defence industries in both Gulf countries.

The news also comes at a time of heightened tension with the surge in Iran-backed Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi Arabia from Yemen. Despite the fact that Patriot missiles are not used to combat drones, they do help stop missiles coming across the border. That is why the Houthis have recently increasing drone attacks. But Saudi air defences are already effective in shooting down whatever comes from the south.

Military purchases by Gulf countries in recent years have helped fortify defences in a way that makes the Gulf capable of protecting itself to a greater extent. That is why, even if the news is true it might not have very much significance. Andrew Hammond of Oxford University does not expect the move to surprise Gulf countries. He told Al-Ahram Weekly that the extra systems were only placed in Saudi Arabia as a political move to cover up for the fact that Trump was not going to take more military action against Iran after the Aramco and tanker attacks and the Suleimani assassination. He was referring to the surge of military assistance by the Trump administration to Saudi Arabia after the drone and missile attack on oil facilities in the east of the kingdom in September 2019. He notes, what is worrying is the indication that the United States is thinking of its rivalry with China in increasingly military terms.

Whether or not the decision to leak the news to WSJ has anything to do with an American rapprochement to Iran, Hammond downplays the link. It is outside the calculations of Iranian pressure. If they were necessary for Iranian pressure, they would be placed in Saudi before 2019. But it was purely political, he suggests. Rather than indicate that a nuclear deal is coming - which is probably the case anyway - it suggests that the US does not see the region as in a conflict situation right now. It reckons Saudi-Iran will solve their problems, or keep them manageable.

One significant point is that the Gulf media, which is sometimes used to reflect governments views without the need for official announcements, completely overlooked the news.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Egypt has updated the anti-coronavirus safety measures for all arrivals from abroad, including those coming from countries struggling with new COVID-19 variants, according to a statement released by EgyptAir, the national flagship carrier, on Wednesday night.

The measures are based on new directives issued by the countrys Ministry of Health, EgyptAir added.

All passengers traveling to Egypt from anywhere should provide a negative PCR test performed 72 hours before departure, but based on the new measures, vaccination certificates could be provided instead of the nasal swab test.

The following is a list of helpful questions and answers that spell out the new rules for entering the country:

Q: Which countries has Egypt specified as affected by the new variants of the virus?

The health ministry said the new rules are applied to all travellers coming from countries that are affected directly or indirectly by the new variants.

The list includes India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Latin America.The list includes India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Latin America.

Q: Can travelers coming from countries affected by the new coronavirus variants travel to Egypt?

Yes, they are allowed. They must provide a negative PCR test performed 72 hours before departure, or they can provide an accredited COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated 14 days before arrival.

Q: What does an accredited vaccination certificate mean?

The certificate must be recognised by the health authorities at their countries of origin and include a QR Code. Certificates must not include deletion, alteration, or addition otherwise they will not be accepted.

Q: Are travelers subject to other measures?

Yes, they will be subject to a 15-minute molecular test, known as ID NOW. If the result comes back positive, a PCR will be performed at the arrival airport.

Q: What if anyone tests positive?

If the passenger is Egyptian, he/she will be transferred to a Fever Hospital or a designated hospital for coronavirus patients where the treatment protocol can be applied. In the event the passenger is not Egyptian and the ID NOW TEST and the PCR test are positive, the passenger will be deported.

Q: What about foreigners coming from other countries?

They must provide a negative PCR test performed 72 hours before departure, or an accredited COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated 14 days before arrival

The certificate must be recognised by the health authorities at their countries of origin and include a QR Code, with no deletion, alteration, or addition in it.

Q: Will they be subject to a rapid test or a nasal swab at arrival airports?

No, they wont.

Q: Do the aforementioned rules apply to all coronavirus vaccines?

The rules apply to vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation and the Egyptian Drug Authority.

Q: When can vaccinated travellers enter Egypt?

At least 14 days after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, or Sputnik vaccines, or 14 days after receiving a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnsons Janssen vaccine.

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According to Konstantinos Vlasis, the Greek deputy minister of foreign affairs for Greek Diaspora, Egypt and Greece share a common vision for the eastern Mediterranean region. The recent agreement on the partial delimitation of their exclusive economic zones, as well as our common views on the future of the state of Libya and the Cyprus issue, constitute some representative examples of their enhanced cooperation and synergies. Egypt and Greece are strong allies in hard, as well as in soft policy areas.

Ahram Online: Can you tell us about your career before becoming the deputy foreign minister for Greek Diaspora?

Konstantinos Vlasis: I was elected as an MP representing the prefecture of Arcadia in the parliamentary elections of January and September 2015 and I was re-elected in 2019. During my parliamentary terms, I have served as an alternate secretary of the New Democracy Parliamentary Group.

On 9 July 2019, I was appointed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as the deputy minister of foreign affairs responsible for the Greek Diaspora. In 2020, I was also elected as professor of medicine at the School of Medicine of the University of Athens.

AO: Egypt and Greece have great cooperation in many fields. How can they further boost cooperation?

KV: Our countries share a common vision for eastern Mediterranean region; a shared vision of peaceful co-existence, cooperation, and stability, which has been repeatedly confirmed by our countries leaders and ministers on several occasions during the last years.

The recent visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Egypt reaffirmed the converging positions of our countries on a number of regional issues. The recent agreement on the partial delimitation of our exclusive economic zones, as well as our common views on the future of the state of Libya and the Cyprus issue, constitute some representative examples of our enhanced cooperation and synergies, and how we look at the world in the same way.

We also work closely in trilateral formats with other countries of our region, such as the Republic of Cyprus, for instance. These expanded partnerships contribute further to maintaining excellent relations between our countries and ensure that our neighbourhood remains a safe and stable area.

AO: What are the outcomes of the trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus in various fields? How can this cooperation benefit from the NOSTOS initiative? Are there any upcoming meetings regarding this initiative?

KV: In the field of diaspora, we have focused on promoting a positive agenda which will bring our diaspora, especially the youth, closer, through people-to-people contacts. There is no doubt that the NOSTOS programme has been the most successful deliverable of this cooperation, and we are proud of it.

In April, the three countries agreed in Cyprus to organise another trilateral Youth Initiative. This summer, 15 young people from Greek, Egyptian, and Cypriot Diasporas will visit the three countries and will get to know each other to build a strong people-to-people relationship and to raise their awareness about the challenges our countries are facing. I always say that young people are the future of our communities, and we should focus on building bridges of communication and contact among them.

AO: What are your priorities and roles now concerning your position as the deputy foreign minister for Greek Diaspora?

KV: Given the fact that the Greek Diaspora consists of three major categories, which are diversified in terms of quantity and special characteristics, since the beginning of our administration, we were called to draw and implement a diaspora policy targeting all three groups: A) national minorities and historic communities. B) groups of expatriates of second, third, or even fourth generations; and C) Greeks belonging to the last decades brain drain phenomenon.

However, despite the differences, the Greek diaspora demands thorough study and implementation of effective policies which will succeed in strengthening the bonds between Greeks abroad and Greece. This is a great responsibility for me and my team.

Furthermore, creating opportunities for those who wish to return to their homeland and bringing them closer to their roots constitute separate challenges. This is actually my vision and my inspiration.

AO: Despite of the Coronavirus pandemic, the government succeeded in facing many challenges, how do you evaluate the pandemics management, how hard was the effect of the pandemic on the economy, tourism, and health system?

KV: Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented crisis for our generation. In Greece, since its outbreak in March 2020, we managed to take immediate and targeted measures to contain the virus. This effort was collective, as the authorities worked side by side with the Greek population; their response to the measures should be highly recognised.

Our health system, as well as our economy, faced a serious challenge that we have managed to tackle, given the conditions. Since December 2020 we have been also implementing the vaccination operation named Eleftheria, which means Freedom, and we are very satisfied that more than 3 million people have been fully vaccinated at the moment. I should admit that we drew strength from the difficulties that now lie behind us, as we walk these last steps that separate us from freedom with discipline, looking forward to the end of the pandemic.

AO: There is strong cooperation between the Egyptian Ministry of Immigration and Greece, what are their future projects?

KV: Last June, we had the opportunity to meet with Egyptian Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram and Photis Photiou, our Cypriot counterpart, in Cyprus and discuss our future joint projects.

As I have already mentioned, another round of the NOSTOS programme is about to kick-off with a joint visit by five young people from each country to Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt. It is a matter of common interest for our countries to have strong advocates and future opinion-makers on our side. I strongly believe that this solid synergy will grow and expand in many other fields of cooperation.

Our countries are strong allies in hard, as well as in soft policy areas. However, I would like to touch upon another project which I am currently processing with my counterparts from Egypt and Cyprus and for which I am really happy. In collaboration with the Hellenic and the Cypriot Communities in Egypt, we are going to organise a special event dedicated to the 200 years from the outbreak of the 1821 Greek Revolution.

As this year we are celebrating our bicentennial anniversary, we are particularly satisfied to see Egypt hosting this celebration honouring Greece. This initiative enhances further our historical and cultural bonds.

AO: How can Greeks abroad contribute actively in the promotion of Greek interest on various levels?

Over the course of our history, Greeks abroad have always rushed to defend and promote Greeces interests by every possible means. Especially when it comes to foreign policy issues and national issues. Our diaspora has exerted serious efforts, at every possible level, to defend their homelands rightful positions.

Furthermore, pushing the national economy is also in the core of Greek interests. The Hellenic government, despite the pandemic crisis, has set a comprehensive and ambitious agenda to facilitate foreign direct investments in the country and boost exports. Simplified procedures, less red tape, a stable fiscal framework for foreign investments, as well as the implementation of policies that favour entrepreneurship in the field of research and innovation are the main pillars of our policy.

Brain drain has almost stopped. Young people who have studied abroad, professionals, and entrepreneurs are willing to return and try a new beginning. We provide a lower taxation policy in order to make their business ideas grow. In this context, the Greek diaspora can play a decisive role. Greeks abroad have become a part of a global network through their dynamic presence in their host countries. They are our ambassadors, and they can play an important role in promoting a new image for Greece: a dynamic confident country which is a pillar of peace and stability in the wider region of the eastern Mediterranean.

AO: What are the recent steps taken so that Greeks abroad can vote?

KV: We consider Greeks abroad as a vital part of our nation and we want them to be politically aware and actively involved in the voting procedure. Their vote is equal to any other vote cast in Greece. For this reason, bill 4648/2019 passed with an overwhelming majority after a long parliamentary debate.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, put a special online registration platform (Online Electoral Registry for Greeks Abroad) into operation, through which citizens are able to fill out their application and upload the necessary documentation in order to register as voters abroad. The next national elections will be the first in which Greeks abroad will participate, this is a success.

I am absolutely confident that sooner or later there will be an improved version of the respective legislation in order to further facilitate the electoral procedure.

AO: Egypt and Greece have unique and historical relations, how can the Greek community in Egypt play a role in further cooperation between the two countries? How many Greeks are in Egypt?

KV: In your previous question, I referred to historic Greek communities abroad. The Greek community in Egypt, was one of these large and very active communities. However, it began to decline in size in the early 1950s and nowadays, only a few thousand Greeks remain in the country. The largest communities are those in Cairo and Alexandria, followed by the Greek populations of Ismailiya, Port Said, and Kafr Al-Zayiat.

An important number of Greek associations and clubs, as well as schools and cultural centres, are still in place. A further major focus of Greek interest is the Patriarchate of Alexandria, with spiritual activities extending across the entire African continent.

The Patriarchates relations with the Egyptian Coptic Church and the Egyptian state are excellent. Besides, Saint Catherines Monastery in Sinai, a major Greek-Orthodox pilgrimage dating back to the 6th century, is also an important focus of Greeces interest. Religious and cultural institutions are bridges of friendship between our nations. Their initiatives and projects always pushed forward our bilateral relations and cultivated trust between our peoples.

AO: How do you see the important role of the Greek culture centre in Cairo in promoting the Greek language and cultural activities?

KV: Today, approximately 2000 Greeks reside in Cairo. The Hellenic Association of the city was founded in 1904 and the main body of its activities is the Hellenic Culture Centre, which is known for its important charitable, social, and cultural work. The Greek Hospital in Cairo and the six community churches, as well as the Achillopoulios Primary School and the Ambetios High School are part of a significant hive of Greek culture and philanthropy.

I usually say that Greek language is the thread which connects modern Greeks with their brilliant ancestors, we work hard for this thread not to be interrupted. We want Greek people to continue to grow in Egypt and, specifically, in Cairo. And I am glad to see that Egypt spares no efforts to provide Greeks with all the necessary tools in order for them to develop and continue their traditions and culture. Respect between our historic civilisations is a matter of honour, and I would like to thank the Egyptian government for its efforts and stance.

AO: What is your opinion on the importance of the digital platform for learning Greek language?

KV: Given the fact that the Greek language is a powerful tool that contributes to the maintenance of Greek identity among the youngest members of our diaspora, we want to breathe new life into its learning abroad. There is a wide network of Greek schools all over the world and we put all our efforts to support their significant work.

During the pandemic, we decided to take advantage of the huge potential technology offers today and to set up a new digital platform called Staellinika, which means In Greek, with the kind contribution of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the SNF Centre For Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU).

This platform aims to make the Greek language more accessible and easier to learn by young Greeks who live abroad, and they have no other points of reference in their daily routine. We are really glad to see that every month thousands of eager learners make use of the platforms potential.

AO: What are your future plans, initiatives, and activities concerning the Greek Diaspora?

KV: As far as my duties are concerned, I have set three targets. To preserve and promote the Greek language and culture, to further digitise the services provided by our consulates abroad and to strengthen the bonds between Greeks abroad and the motherland. I am also looking forward to working closely with other Diasporas with which we have already developed a strong partnership, like Egyptians and the Cypriots. I remain absolutely focused on fostering our projects and bringing our peoples closer.

AO: What are the steps taken for having a celebration day of the Greek Diaspora?

KV: 2021 is a milestone year for Greece. We celebrate 200 years of the outbreak of the Greek War for Independence, to the success of which, the Greek Diaspora contributed with all its forces.

On the occasion of this historic year, we have decided to establish the celebration of Diaspora Day. At this stage, we have asked from all communities and organisations to contribute with their ideas on the type of celebration and the most proper date to be celebrated. We have received several proposals so far, which means, once again, Greeks can boast about having creative ideas.

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Six months into his first term in office, US President Joe Biden flew to Europe in early June to attend four summit meetings with the aim of reclaiming Americas leadership in the world and reaffirming Americas commitment to its allies in NATO and the European Union.

In other words, he put the transatlantic alliance back at the centre of US foreign policy after four critical years under former president Donald Trump that had tested US relations and treaty commitments with its allies like no other time since the establishment of NATO in 1949.

It was Bidens maiden foreign trip after entering the White House, and the world was watching how the new US president would handle the myriad challenges facing not only the West but also the world as a whole as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and the USs poor relations with Russia and China.

Our part of the world had not expected much from the June summit meetings, knowing that the Indo-Pacific region has now become the new centre of international rivalry between the West and China. One basic US objective is to form an alliance of democracies against autocracies in general and China in particular.

The G7 summit was hosted by post-Brexit Britain in Cornwall. Because of the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, the G7 meeting did not take place last year. The White House made clear on 12 June that the US would be rallying democracies around the world to meet the great challenges facing it and to reaffirm shared values among the G7 groups member countries.

According to the White House statement, Biden also discussed with the G7 leaders, in addition to the leaders of South Africa, South Korea and India, countries that were invited to the summit meeting as guests, strategic competition with China. The G7 then launched a new initiative to counter the Belt and Road Project pursued by China in the shape of the Build Back Better World Project, or B3W, that will extend from Latin America through the Caribbean to Africa and the Indo-Pacific region benefitting 100 of the worlds poorest countries and some middle-income countries as well.

The G7 also pledged to provide one billion anti-Covid-19 vaccine doses worldwide, with the US providing 500 million Pfizer vaccine doses.

The second summit meeting attended by the US president was a NATO summit on 14 June in Brussels, where he met the leaders of the 30 countries in the alliance. Last February, Biden said the transatlantic alliance was the bedrock of the collective security of the countries in NATO. He added that the partnership between the US and Europe was the cornerstone of what the alliance needs to accomplish in the 21st century.

The NATO countries agreed to work on a new Strategic Concept for the alliance to be submitted to the next summit meeting in 2022. The proposed changes will take into consideration the new strategic environment in the light of aggressive actions by Russia and the challenges posed by China in terms of Western security, prosperity and values. This is in addition to transnational threats such as terrorism, climate change and cyber-warfare.

From the US point of view, the fact that NATO has tackled China for the first time since 1949 is a great achievement from the standpoint of Western strategy in the years to come.

The US-EU summit meeting, the third of the four important meetings, released a statement on 15 June about a renewed transatlantic partnership. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of transatlantic relations, and Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, warmly welcomed Biden by saying that America is back on the world scene, adding that this was great news for the world. Biden said that the US was reasserting the fact that it is overwhelmingly in the interest of the United States to have a great relationship with NATO and with the European Union.

The Americans and Europeans agreed to end trade differences over the aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus and to set up a Trade and Technology Council that will aim to counter China in the field of technology and unfair trade practices.

On 16 June, the first US-Russian summit under the Biden administration took place in Geneva. Over the past six months, relations between Washington and Moscow have become very tense after Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a killer in an interview. Expectations concerning this summit meeting between the US and Russian presidents were low.

No one expected breakthroughs in bilateral relations or in the two countries ability to work together to solve crises such as those in Ukraine, Syria or Libya. However, there have been other areas where the two superpowers can cooperate, like in Afghanistan after the pullout of American and NATO forces scheduled before next 11 September (some press reports have raised the possibility that the withdrawal could be complete by next month) or in the ongoing talks in Vienna regarding the US rejoining the Iranian nuclear deal and Iran reversing its violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name of the nuclear deal from which the Trump administration withdrew in May 2018.

Maybe Biden had this in mind when he told reporters before his summit meeting with his Russian counterpart that Putin and I share a unique responsibility to manage the relationship between two powerful and proud countries  a relationship that has to be stable and predictable.

The meeting lasted almost three-and-a-half hours and ended with a US-Russian Statement on Strategic Stability in which the two sides stressed that they have demonstrated in the past that they are able to make progress on our shared goals of ensuring predictability in the strategic sphere and reducing the risks of armed conflicts and the threats of nuclear war. They committed themselves to embarking on an integrated bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue that will seek to lay the groundwork for future arms control and risk-reduction measures.

Taken together, the four summits could be described as foundational in the sense that they have laid down parameters in strategic and non-strategic fields that can guide relations between the US-led West and its adversaries, mainly Russia and China, the latter likely being target number one for decades to come. However, the world is not reverting to a second Cold War. The areas of convergence between the US, the West, Russia and China are so many that managing their complex relations properly will benefit them all, even if they are in fierce and peaceful competition about who owns the future of Planet Earth.

For Jake Sullivan, the US National Security adviser, the bottom line of the first foreign trip made by Biden since he became president is that he has confidently and skillfully donned the mantle of the leader of the free world.

Multilateralism and international diplomacy were the great beneficiaries of the four June summits. It is up to the Third World countries, including Egypt, to decide how best to navigate and benefit from the new parameters in great-power competition without getting entangled in fleeting alliances that could backfire and harm their national interests.

*The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Egypt this week is another confirmation of the excellent bilateral relations between Egypt and Greece. Cooperation between Egypt and Greece has gradually evolved to become a model partnership that extends over many fields and is based on mutual respect and identical national interests.

The Greek prime minister met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi after an official invitation extended by Egypt. The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest and ways to enhance ties between the two countries. In November 2020, President Al-Sisi also visited Athens, highlighting the excellent level of cooperation on common challenges. During his visit to Egypt this week, the Greek prime minister also met with Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli, Coptic Pope Tawadros II and members of the historical Greek community of Egypt residing in Cairo and Alexandria.

The partnership between Egypt and Greece is not a conventional one. The two countries have steadily and decisively created a real power bloc in the Eastern Mediterranean based on diplomatic, military, financial and cultural ties. Two characteristic events of this cooperation have been the signing in August 2020 of the partial maritime demarcation deal establishing Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in the region and the creation of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) at the initiative of Egypt and the participation of many other countries including France.

The two sides have repeatedly emphasised the need to cooperate with respect to the principles of international law, including the Law of the Sea and the principles of good neighbourhood. Egypt and Greece can now effectively move forward and introduce a new level to their partnership.

The EEZ Agreement signed in August between Egypt and Greece is a partial demarcation agreement, and it needs to be completed by full agreement by a new Egyptian-Greek agreement. This could coincide with an EEZ agreement between Greece and Cyprus, so that all three states will have cooperated in the delimitation of EEZs in the region. It is in the interest of Egypt to share sea borders with two member states of the European Union rather than with an unstable Turkey that does not fulfil its promises.

Greece supports Egypt on the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project, where unilateral actions by Ethiopia have led to considerable regional tension. Greece could help to adopt a diplomatic initiative in the context of the European Union to promote inter-state dialogue for a legally binding agreement on the water of the Nile. Concerning Libya, Greece fully accepts the framework for the future of Libya set by Egyptian diplomacy and agrees with Egypt on the immediate need for the removal of all foreign mercenaries and fighters from Libyan territory. Stability is essential for the rebuilding of the war-torn country and also for the greater stability of the region.

Egypt and Greece are indispensable allies in the Mediterranean, and their national interests coincide in many fields: EEZs and economic partnership, the internal situation in Libya, energy cooperation, the creation of a more stable geopolitical environment and EU external cooperation. The ties between Egypt and Greece are deep and ancient. Today, the two nations are moving ever closer together in the spirit of a true and model partnership controlling the strategic area of the Mediterranean.

The writer is a lecturer in geopolitics at the University of Athens in Greece.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 June, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Egypt's irrigation minister discusses GERD developments with South Sudan officials



Ahram Online , Thursday 24 Jun 2021



Abdel-Ati discussed the latest developments concerning the GERD and stressed that Egypt is keen to reach to a legally binding agreement



Egypts Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati discussed on Thursday the latest developments regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with South Sudanese officials in Juba, the Egyptian irrigation ministry announced.



According to the Egyptian irrigation ministry, Abdel-Ati discussed the latest developments concerning the GERD and stressed that Egypt is keen to reach to a legally binding agreement that meets the development needs of all countries involved.



The Egyptian irrigation minister, South Sudanese Vice President James Wani and Minister of Presidential Affairs Barnaba Marial also discussed boosting cooperation between Egypt and South Sudan in water management.



Minister Abdel-Ati arrived in Juba with a delegation from the irrigation ministry.



Talks between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the operation of the GERD and the filling of its reservoir reached a deadlock in April, with Addis Ababa insisting on moving forward with the second filling next month with or without an agreement.



Sudan has said that if Ethiopia goes ahead with the second filling unilaterally, the lives and safety of millions of Sudanese citizens will be in danger.



https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/414974.aspx
KYODO NEWS - Jun 24, 2021 - 22:15 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan reached its target of administering 1 million coronavirus vaccine doses per day ahead of plan, the top government spokesman said Thursday.

Facing criticism for a slow inoculation rollout, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had pledged 1 million doses a day to be administered nationwide by the middle of this month.

The goal was actually reached on June 9, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference.

A total of 8.7 percent of the country's population of 125 million have received two shots, while 19.5 percent have received one shot, Kato said.

But with the start of the Tokyo Olympics a month away, the figures still lag behind other developed nations. The government aims to finish vaccinating all eligible people in Japan who wish to receive shots by November.

According to a government tally, 51.1 percent of those aged 65 or older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of Wednesday, with 17.5 percent finishing two shots, more than two months after inoculations for the age bracket started.

Nearly 80 percent of those in the age group are expected to be fully vaccinated by July 31 if the current pace keeps up, but the government aims to complete them by that time.

The inoculation program was launched in February for front-line health workers, expanded to those 65 and older in April and more recently to those under 65.

The vaccine rollout received a boost after state-run mass vaccination centers opened in May and the pace picked up further with the start this month of on-site vaccinations at workplaces and university campuses.

It remains unclear, however, whether the pace can be maintained. The government said Wednesday it is temporarily halting company applications for inoculations at workplaces due to concerns it will be unable to distribute doses quickly enough.

Applications for large-scale vaccination sites set up by prefectures will also stop immediately, Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the inoculation effort, told a press conference.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 24, 2021 - 19:30 | World, All

Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino, whose mother was former President Corazon Aquino and whose father Benigno Aquino was assassinated upon his return from exile in 1983, died Thursday, local media said. He was 61.

Family members of Aquino said the cause of death was kidney disease and he had been suffering from diabetes.

Aquino was taken to a hospital in Manila in the morning, according to the media. He had been undergoing dialysis and recently had a heart operation.

With Aquino serving as president from 2010 to 2016, the Southeast Asian country's economy grew substantially under his administration.

Aquino also paved the way for a peace agreement between the government and a Muslim secessionist group that had been fighting on the southern island of Mindanao.

In 2013, Aquino, popularly known as "Noynoy" or "PNoy," was named Time magazine's one of the "100 most influential people in the world."

He was succeeded by current President Rodrigo Duterte.

His father Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino was a known political foe of former President Ferdinand Marcos, a dictator who ruled the Philippines for two decades from the 1960s.

The former senator was assassinated at Manila international airport in 1983 upon returning from exile in the United States.

His mother Corazon Aquino swept to power after the People Power Revolution of 1986, which led to Marcos's ouster and exile. She served as president from 1986 to 1992.

Born on Feb. 8, 1960, to the couple who later became known as the Philippines' democracy icons, the younger Aquino served as a member of the House of Representatives for three terms before switching to the Senate in 2007.

Shortly after his mother's death in 2009, Aquino announced his bid for the presidency. He won the election resoundingly the following year, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In 2014, after 17 years of negotiations, his government forged a comprehensive peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which waged a war initially to seek independence from the Philippine government but later settled for expanded autonomy.

On the diplomatic front, the Philippines under Aquino saw rising tensions with China over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea.

In 2013, the Philippines filed an arbitration case against China with an international court under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, following Beijing's aggressive assertion of its claims in the South China Sea.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague subsequently ruled in favor of the Philippines by invalidating China's claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, but the ruling came only in July 2016, after his term as president had just ended.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 25, 2021 - 04:08 | All, World

Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily folded under pressure from Chinese and Hong Kong authorities after publishing its final print edition Thursday, ending its 26-year run.

The outspoken paper, which has long been a target for the authorities with its liberal stances, was seen as a beacon of press freedom in Hong Kong as its existence showed that diversity was tolerated, if not embraced, under the city's semiautonomous status within China.

Before shuttering, the paper had its assets frozen and its senior editors and executives arrested under a sweeping national security law. Its management said Wednesday that Thursday's edition would be its last due to strains on manpower and staff safety concerns.

The case of Apple Daily exemplifies how the national security law imposed last year by mainland China in the territory is used for arbitrary crackdowns on organizations that Beijing considers problematic, according to observers.

U.S. President Joe Biden criticized China in a statement released Thursday, saying, "Intensifying repression by Beijing has reached such a level that Apple Daily, a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong, has now ceased publishing."

"Beijing must stop targeting the independent press and release the journalists and media executives that have been detained. The act of journalism is not a crime," Biden added.

The newspaper printed a record 1 million copies for its last edition, up from its usual daily circulation of 70,000 to 100,000 copies.

With headline "Hong Kong people in painful farewell in the rain: 'We back Apple,'" copies of the last edition were snapped up eagerly by scores of readers who arrived at newsstands shortly after midnight and formed long lines.

One of the readers bemoaning the paper's closing and the diminishing of free speech in the former British colony was a self-employed man who said the government used ugly tactics to effectively sign the paper's death warrant.

"(Apple) dares to speak out," the 21-year-old said. "I respect people's views on different media, but we shouldn't agree with the authorities or anyone in power in depriving the fourth estate's right to speak."

A 36-year-old reader who works in banking said, "This day was destined to come. Because July 1 is the 100th birthday of the (Chinese) Communist Party, the government would want to offer a big birthday gift and Apple is that big gift," adding he wanted to buy 10 copies but was limited to two.

On Wednesday, the paper instructed its reporters not to return to the head office to avoid further arrests among staff, and continued work with a minimum number of editors. Dozens of supporters gathered outside, chanting, "Long live Hong Kongers, long live freedom."

Apple Daily was established in 1995 -- two years before Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule -- by business tycoon Jimmy Lai, who started building a media empire in the territory following the pro-democracy student movement in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Lai, founder of Apple Daily's publisher, Next Digital Ltd., has been charged with colluding with foreign forces, a crime punishable by life imprisonment under the national security law. He is serving a prison sentence for taking part in unauthorized assemblies in 2019.

Police arrested Apple Daily's editor in chief and four others last week for alleged conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, saying the paper published more than 30 articles advocating foreign sanctions be imposed on Hong Kong and China.

In Tokyo, Japan's top government spokesman called the paper's closure a "major setback" for freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Hong Kong and voiced "increasingly grave concerns" over the situation.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a press conference that Japan will continue to work closely with the international community to strongly urge China to respect these rights.

In response to criticism from Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China supports Hong Kong authorities' measures on Apple Daily as the special administrative region government must abide by laws, prosecute violations of laws, and strictly enforce laws.

"Japanese politicians have blatantly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, seriously violating international law and the basic norms of international relations," Zhao told reporters. "We express our strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition, and we will never accept Japan's fallacies."

Zhao also rebutted Britain's criticism and urged the country to grasp the reality that it has been 24 years since Hong Kong returned to China's control and to stop interfering.

Concerns over the harsh crackdowns on the freedom of press and the closure of the popular paper have also been voiced by academics.

Toru Kurata, a professor of Rikkyo University in Tokyo and a Hong Kong politics expert, said he was shocked by the enormity of the national security law that forced the closure of Apple Daily, a symbol of Hong Kong's freedom.

"The arrests of the paper's editor in chief and other executives due to its coverage were blatant suppression of free speech," Kurata said, adding that other Hong Kong newspapers have come under government influence but Apple Daily maintained its anti-government stance, and many of its readers have said they would not read local newspapers without it.

"The bastion of freedom of speech, in which columnists critical of the government can write, will be lost. It is a serious blow to the press" in Hong Kong, he said.

Kurata added he is concerned that stricter censorship would be imposed on internet media opposing the government, while writers and academics who contributed to Apple Daily could be arrested, leading to self-censorship in journalism.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen expressed regret at Apple Daily's closure, saying it served as a beachhead for the Hong Kong people's fearless craving for democracy and freedom.

"A free Taiwan will always back Hong Kong's freedom. And (I) hope, the urge for freedom and democracy deeply embedded in Hong Kong people's hearts will one day brighten the Pearl of the Orient once again," she said on her Facebook page.

Related coverage:

Hong Kong's Apple Daily to publish last paper Thurs., shut down

Hong Kong's Apple Daily could shutter in days: report

Apple Daily ups daily circulation over fivefold after execs' arrests
New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Election Commission (EC) to state the factual aspects behind its decision to disqualify the 20 AAP MLAs for holding office of profit by filing an affidavit.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar asked the poll panel to file the affidavit after the EC said it wanted to respond to some of the allegations made in the MLAs' pleas challenging their disqualification from the Delhi Assembly.

The Commission also told the court that it would rely upon its opinion given to the President to disqualify the 20 AAP MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries.

After the brief proceedings, the court listed the matter for further hearing on February 7 by when the MLAs have to file their responses to the EC affidavit.

The court also extended till then the January 24 interim order of the single judge restraining the EC from issuing any notification announcing bye-elections to fill the vacancies of the 20 assembly seats whose legislators have been disqualified.

Also Read: AAP govt to move SC seeking temporary ban on sealing drive in Delhi

The matter was transferred to a division bench yesterday after advocate Prashant Patel, on whose plea the EC had recommended the MLAs disqualification which received the presidential nod, moved an application for transfer of the matter to a division bench.

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Jabalpur :

For the first time, armies of India and Vietnam today began a six day-long military exercise in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, reflecting growing defence ties between the two countries.

It is the first military exercise between the two countries, a senior army official said here. The exercise, christened VINBAX will continue for six days.

India and Vietnam have been exploring ways to strengthen defence cooperation.

Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was here last week to participate in the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit and attend the Republic Day celebrations.

The issue of bolstering defence and security cooperation figured prominently during the bilateral talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with his Vietnamese counterpart.

Defence ties between India and Vietnam have been on an upswing with the primary focus being cooperation in the maritime domain.

India and Vietnam had signed a protocol on defence cooperation in 1994. The partnership was thereafter elevated to strategic level in 2007 and a pact on boosting bilateral defence cooperation was signed in 2009.

The strategic partnership was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016.

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Beijing:

China on Monday said it is ready to hold talks with India to resolve differences over the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, days after Indias envoy here said the issue should not be swept under the carpet.

India has objected to the CPEC - which is the biggest project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has become a contentious issue in India-China relations.

Asked about Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawales interview to state-run Global Times in which he had said that differences over CPEC should not be brushed aside, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China is willing to hold talks with India in this regard.

In his interview last week, Bambawale had said CPEC passes through Indian-claimed territory and hence violates our territorial integrity. This is a major problem for us. We need to talk about it, not push it under the carpet.

I believe, the more we talk to each other, the easier it will become to resolve problems, he said.

Reacting to the envoys comments, Hua said China is willing to hold talks with India on the issue.

I the noted relevant report. Regarding the CPEC, China has repeatedly reiterated its position. As to the differences between China and India, China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests. This best serves the interests of the two countries, she said.

China in the past also evinced interest to resolve it through talks and even its envoy in New Delhi has said Beijing is willing to change the projects name to make it more acceptable to India.

Also Read: As US ups the ante on terror, China comes to Pakistan's rescue

Hua also praised Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasis remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos where he said BRI is much more than just an infrastructure partnership and would go a long way in creating a shared future in a fractured world.

The BRI in the past five years has been built in a smooth way providing a large number of job opportunities and improved space and room for development, which is why it was welcomed by people in the region, Hua said.

Beijing has also been clarifying that the project, which provides a strategic connection from its Xinjiang province to Pakistans Gwadar port in Balochistan province on the Arabian Sea opposite Indias west coast, will not alter its stand on Kashmir which it said should be resolved bilaterally by India and Pakistan through talks.

Hua said any differences between India and China can be resolved with sincerity and mutual respect.

The parties can seek the proper solution for management of the differences, she said.

We should not ask one party alone to solve this problem. We are willing to work with India to work with dialogue and communication for a better solution, she said.

CPEC is merely an economic cooperation project. It has not targeted any third party. We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side, she said.

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Bengaluru:

Kormangala Police of South-east Zone Bengaluru have arrested a 34-year-old drug peddler Rachappa from his house at Kannakpura Road and seized 37 kg of marijuana and Rs 5 lakh in cash.

During interrogation, Rachappa revealed that he has filed Rs 40 lakh IT return for the year 2017-18 and he also received a notice from IT department to prove the source of money which he provided with fake documents.

Dr Boralingiaiah, DCP South-east Zone Bengaluru said, We have received the inputs and conducted the raid and recovered 37 kg marijuana and 5 lakh cash from his house. During investigations, he revealed about the notice of IT department. He has intentionally filed IT return to turn his black money into white which he has earned through drug peddling."

Rachappa has come to Bengaluru 10 years back and started working as a construction labourer. During this time only he started selling marijuana to his friends but after sometime, he realised that he can earn more money by selling narcotic drugs. So he left the labour work and formed his own network of peddlers and started selling marijuana on a big scale.

"Rachappa had made a big network and earned a lot of money through this and owns a couple of houses in Bengaluru now. We have sent our team to Chamrajnagar from where he used to get the marijuana," said Boralingaiah.

T Suneel Kumar, after taking the charge of Commissioner of Bengaluru Police last year, had instructed his officers to start a massive crackdown on drug peddling and peddlers in the city. In the last one year, Bengaluru Police has registered more than 500 cases of drug peddling.
Bengaluru:

A horrific incident of rape and murder has come to light from Kosam village of Bidar district of Karnataka where a 22-year-old man raped and murdered a 19-year-old girl on Sunday after she repeatedly spurned his overtures.

Shamsuddin lured Puja, a second-year BA student to a forest in Kosam village, sexually assaulted and murdered her by slitting her throat.

After committing the crime, Shamsuddin informed Pujas family about it and later went to a police station and confessed his crime.

Police have arrested Shamsuddin and recovered Pujas body.

Shamsuddin and Puja were neighbours in Kosam and Shamsuddin was wooing her for two years.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other political leaders on Tuesday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 70th death anniversary by recalling sacrifices made by martyrs who laid down their lives for the country.

"Remembering Bapu on his Punya Tithi,"PM Modi said in a tweet.

"We bow to all those martyrs who have sacrificed themselves in service of our nation. We will always remember their courage as well as dedication towards the nation", the PM said.

Here are the Live updates:

# President Ram Nath Kovind

# Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu paid tribute

# Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, General Bipin Rawat, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba & Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa also present.

# Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid tribute

# Sonia Gandhi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

# Congress President Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Smriti on his 70th death anniversary

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Dumka:

After gut-wrenching visuals of Dana Manjhi carrying his wife on shoulder for around 10-kilometers had raised anger and indignation across India in 2016. Then the country stood together to raise voice to treat the dead with dignity and respect.

Hardly 16 months have passed, now a video from Jharkhands Dumka district is making rounds on the social media, where one can see a road accident victim belonging from a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) or Primitive Tribal Groups (PTG) wrapped in a health department promotional poster which states, Nayi Laher, Nayi Vishwas instead of a shroud.

According to police, Basant Dehri, a Pahariya youth, had sustained multiple injuries in a road accident. He was rushed to Sadar Hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to reports, The hospital staff wrapped Dehris body in a government banner of National Health Mission instead of a proper shroud and sent it for post mortem on a trolley stretcher.

The deceaseds brother claimed, I dont know why they did not provide me with a shroud.

According to another family member, they were not provided with a shroud as they failed to pay Rs 300 to a hospital staff.

Dumka district hospital deputy superintendent Dilip Kesri told the media that he learnt about the incident after media persons reported him about the development.

We will probe the matter and departmental actions will be taken against the culprits, said Kesri.

Also read| DWC arrests doctor for mentally, physically torturing tribal household helper from Jharkhand



The deputy superintendent also asserted that they ensure that proper transportation service is provided for carrying of dead back home. Shrouds are provided by the administration and not hospital, he added.

However, the Jharkhand Government in its official statement claimed that the hospital had provided proper transportation and shroud to the road victim and the poster on the deceaseds body was placed by the family members, not government officials.

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Lucknow:

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh was left red-faced on Tuesday as one of its cabinet ministers, Om Prakash Rajbhar, claimed that corruption had increased under the current government.

A BJP spokesperson, however, rubbished the minister's claim as an attempt to "garner cheap publicity" adding that if Mr Rajbhar had any grievances, he should air them at an appropriate forum.

"There is more corruption prevailing under the BJP regime as compared to the previous SP and the BSP regimes. Though I am a part of this government, this is not my government...We have an alliance with the BJP," Mr Rajbhar told Press Trust of India over the phone.

Mr Rajbhar, who leads BJP ally Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), also said that his party was not getting the due respect under the present government.

"I have talked to the chief minister on these issues," he said.

Asked whether his party would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with the BJP, Mr Rajbhar said it depended on the BJP.

"It depends on the BJP whether it wants an alliance with us or not. Like local body polls, if the BJP does not forge an alliance with us, we will contest the Lok Sabha polls alone," he said.

On the violence in Kasganj, Mr Rajbhar said the incident was unfortunate and claimed some officers were defaming the government.

Reacting to the charges about corruption levelled by Mr Rajbhar, state BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said that it was not the tradition of his party to break pre-poll alliances.

"The statement by Om Prakash Rajbhar, who is a Cabinet minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, is simply to garner some cheap publicity," Mr Tripathi said.

Mr Rajbhar is a responsible minister and if has some grievances with the government, then he should air them at an appropriate forum, and not publicly declare them, he said.

"It seems that he is behaving as an Opposition leader. And, if he has some serious problems with the BJP, then he can leave the government," Mr Tripathi said.

The SBSP, which has four MLAs in the 403-member UP Assembly, had contested the Uttar Pradesh civic polls separately. It had even contested a few seats in the Gujarat Assembly elections on its own, asserting that its alliance with the BJP was not at the national level.

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New Delhi:

A horrifying video of a Bengaluru man beating his 10-year-old son for lying has gone viral on the social media. Police has arrested the accused man.

The accused has been identified as Mahendra, employee of an IT company and a resident of Kengeri area of Bengaluru.

In a video making rounds on the social media, Mahendra can be seen beating his son with some cable and then lifting him in the air and throwing him down.

Child can be heard crying and making repeated requests to his father that he will not lie.

MN Anuchet, DCP west zone Bengaluru said, We have received a complaint from an NGO BOSCO regarding the incident. We have registered a case under JJ Act 82 and IPC Sections 323 & 506. After investigation, we have arrested the father."

The video was recorded in December 2017 but came into light after the childs mother gave her mobile for repair to a service shop. After watching the video, the shop owner informed few people about the incident, who later alerted the NGO.

Police said, Mahendra was angry with his son for lying. He had his wife to record the video and show it to the child the next time when he lies.

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New Delhi:

A group of 15 children from Kashmir was treated for congenital heart defects (CHD) for free at a private hospital in Gurgaon with the help of two philanthropic bodies, the facility said on Monday.

According to 'Congenital Heart Disease in India: A Status Report', CHD accounts for 10 per cent of infant mortality in India, the Fortis Group said in a statement.

The children were treated at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) in Gurgaon recently as part of Fortis Foundation's 'Umeed Dhadkan' initiative, and the free surgeries were also supported by Rotary Club of Delhi East End, Have A Heart Foundation along with Fortis Foundation.

A CHD can be defined as a structural or functional abnormality in the heart, which presents itself at the time of birth.

"It poses a great threat to the life of the newborn and can result in death. It has an incidence rate of 2.25 to 5.2 per 1000 live births and accounts for two-thirds of all major birth defects," the Fortis Group said in the statement.
New Delhi:

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said his government will move the Supreme Court seeking a temporary ban on the sealing drive even as a meeting between Delhi BJP leaders and the chief minister on the issue could not materialise with both sides blaming each other.

A BJP delegation led by Delhi unit president Manoj Tiwari walked out of the chief ministers residence ahead of the meeting, alleging that the AAP government wanted to divert the issue.

Kejriwal said he was sad that the BJP did not participate in the meeting and announced that the Delhi government will approach the Supreme Court for a temporary ban on the ongoing sealing drive.

I am sad that this meeting could not take place. We will go to the Supreme Court for a temporary ban on sealing, he said.

Tiwari said the BJP delegation walked out of the meeting since Kejriwal had converted it into a public rally.

We sensed their dangerous mood and felt that he was not interested in finding a solution to the problem, he charged.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta alleged misbehaviour by AAP leaders and workers. AAP workers also entered into a scuffle with BJP workers, Gupta charged and added that he has filed a police complaint against AAP MLAs and others over the incident.

Kejriwal said he will visit markets hit by the sealing drive later in the day to meet the affected traders.

The sealing drive is being carried out by municipal corporations since last month against properties violating civic norms.

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New Delhi:

Attorney General K K Venugopal advised the government on Tuesday that the CBI should not file a special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court in a case related to the Bofors gun payoff as it is likely to be dismissed.

In a recent letter to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Venugopal said the CBI should present its stand in a similar case pending before the apex court in which the agency is also a party.

The CBI said it wanted to file an SLP challenging the Delhi High Court order of May 31, 2005, quashing all charges against Europe-based Hinduja brothers in the Bofors case.

The CBI had on January 22, 1990, registered an FIR for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and sections of Prevention of Corruption Act against Martin Ardbo, the then President of AB Bofors, alleged middleman Win Chadha and the Europe-based industrialists, the Hindujas.

DoPT had sought legal opinion from the attorney general on the CBI's request that it be allowed to file the SLP, sources said.

In a letter to the DoPT secretary, Venugopal said, "Now, more than 12 years have elapsed. Any SLP filed before the Supreme Court at this stage, in my view, is likely to be dismissed by the Court on account of the long delay itself."

He said the record does not reveal any significant events or special circumstances which could be said to constitute sufficient cause for not approaching the Supreme Court within the 90 days permitted by law, or at any time thereafter in the last so many years.

"It is worth noting that the present government has been in position for more than three years now. In the circumstances, the long delay in approaching the court will be difficult to satisfactorily explain to the court," he added in the letter accessed by PTI.

Venugopal said the CBI is a respondent in the criminal appeals pending before the Supreme Court. These were filed by private persons (Ajay Kumar Aggarwal and Raj Kumar Pandey) challenging the same high court judgment.

"Thus the matter is still live, and the opportunity for the CBI to present its case before the Supreme Court is not entirely lost. It would be advisable for the CBI to canvass its stand as a respondent in the pending matters, rather than take the risk of filing its own SLP at this highly belated stage," Venugopal said.

The dismissal of its SLP could prejudice its stand even as a respondent in the appeals already pending in the apex court, he added.

The CBI has shared a copy of the attorney general's opinion with the Public Accounts Committee's six-member sub- committee on defence headed by BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, which is looking into the non-compliance of certain aspects of a 1986 CAG report on the Bofors Howitzer gun deal.

During a meeting, the panel had asked the CBI why it had not approached the apex court after the Delhi court dismissed proceedings in the case in 2005.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey along with its chairman Mahtab had stressed that the CBI should move the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's 2005 order, a panel member said.

The parliamentary panel is scheduled to meet tomorrow and will be briefed by the CBI director and the DoPT secretary on the Bofors case.

The Delhi High Court had in February 2005 quashed the charges against the three Hinduja brothers under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Advocate Ajay Agarwal has moved the Supreme Court seeking a reopening of the case.

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New Delhi:

A youth in Patna has allegedly shot himself during a video call with his girlfriend. The incident took place on Monday, when the 19-year-old youth shot himself in the head while chatting with his girlfriend on a video call, inside his residence.

The boy is recognized as Bunty a.k.a. Akash Kumar, who lives in Saichak under Beur police station.

According to reports, the boy had failed an exam and was being pressured by family members to end relation with the girl.

The kin of Akash has lodged an FIR against his girlfriend and her family, accusing them of his death.

The police have begun the investigation into the matter.

A boy shot himself during a video call with his girlfriend. It is a case of suicide. Investigation in the incident is underway: Manu Maharaj, SSP, Patna over incident of a boy shooting himself during a video call in Patna  ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2018

Also Read: Class 1 student allegedly burnt by mid-day meal serving staff in Madhya Pradesh
New Delhi: India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval joined the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital. He also held a more than two-hour-long meeting with Russian NSA. On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Ajit Doval held a more than 2-hour-long meeting with Russian NSA Nikolai Patrushev.

During the meeting, the two discussed bilateral, regional and global importance. In addition, NSA Ajit Doval also signed a joint protocol at the SCO meeting. Apart from India, NSA from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also participated in the meeting. Tell us that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, that is, the SCO, has eight member countries.

This includes Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. SCO has been trying to enhance socio-economic cooperation between its member countries. Its role came into existence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. India became a full-time member of the organization in 2017. Earlier his role was as observer country.

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Lawmakers spar over paid family and medical leave for feds

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) chairs a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform

Democrats and Republicans sparred over a bill that would provide feds with paid family and medical leave during a Thursday hearing held by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

The bill, championed by committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), would give feds 12 weeks of paid leave for needs related to medical issues, family caregiving and military deployments. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced a companion bill in April.

The effort is part of Democrats' broader push for nationwide paid family and medical leave, a goal included in Biden's proposed American Families Plan.

"The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act is one piece of the vision the administration has laid out," Maloney said during the hearing. "It will strengthen the federal workforce over the long term, and it is a roadmap of the federal government to lead by example in creating a fair and safe work place for American families."

During the hearing, Republican committee members expressed skepticism with expanding the federal benefits package. They also pointed to the lack of a cost estimate for the bill from the Congressional Budget Office.

"We've already dramatically expanded paid leave for the federal workforce," said ranking member of the committee, James Comer (R-Ky.). "We need to put the American people first, not the special interests of federal bureaucrats."

Other Democrats and witnesses at the hearing said that paid family and medical leave would help the agencies with recruitment and retention and pointed to the positive impact the change could have on individual feds.

Although some paid leave benefits were included for federal employees in COVID-19 relief packages, Maloney's bill would be the biggest expansion of federal employee benefits since feds received 12 weeks of paid parental leave in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

"I have heard countless stories from [American Federation of Government Employees] members who have had to make the impossible choice between a paycheck or taking care of a loved one or themselves before they are ready to return to work," said national AFGE president Everett Kelley. "Paid family leave will undoubtedly improve recruitment and retention of talented workers who might leave for other jobs that provide such leave."

Democrats also pushed back against reticence on the part of Republicans to expand the federal employee benefits package, saying that the provision of paid family and medical leave is an overdue necessity.

Having a child "is not a 'perk,'" Maloney said. "If your child is sick, what's wrong with giving them paid leave to be there to be with them?"

Federal pay

In other pay and benefits news, the House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2022 funding bill for financial services and general government funding.

The bill is silent on federal pay raises. This suggests that the committee is backing President Joe Biden's proposed 2.7% raise for feds. It is unclear how that will affect locality pay and base pay for feds specifically.

It is lower than the 3.2% raise proposed repeatedly by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Schatz.

In a statement about the bill, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union, Tony Reardon, said that the proposal for a 2.7% raise is a "welcome start to debate over what federal employees deserve next year," but "there is plenty of time for the administration and Congress to reconsider."

The House Appropriations bill also outlines $300 million for the electric vehicle fund backed by Biden to move the federal vehicle fleet to electric and zero emission vehicles.

It also provides a $42 million increase for the Office of Personnel Management over FY 2021 enacted levels. That will help OPM "manage and provide guidance on Federal human resources and administer Federal retirement and health benefit programs," according to the committee's bill summary.
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ROME, June 23 (Reuters) - Labor ministers from many of the world's biggest economies in the Group of 20 said on Wednesday they will pursue tougher rules to protect 'gig economy' workers.

In a statement following a meeting in Sicily, the ministers said they wanted to avoid any misclassification of the employment status for such gig workers that "might prevent them from accessing the same protections and rights of employees".

The G20 meeting comes as the European Union is set to propose an EU-wide regulatory framework by year-end, and courts and regulators have sought to address perceived shortcomings in the gig economy.

Trade unions blame outsourcing and the use of workforce management algorithms on international digital platforms for an erosion of rights and wages.

The G20 ministers committed also to promote employment for women beyond the goal of reducing labor market participation gaps by 25% by 2025, as set in Brisbane in 2014 by G20 leaders.

"The new commitment is simply to promote employment for women, with particular attention to job quality and remuneration and tackling the gender pay gap," said the Italian labor minister Andrea Orlando who chaired the meeting.

The labor ministers also discussed shifting work practices in the wake of the new coronavirus pandemic.

"Smart working offers workers the possibility to better reconcile work and private life, but they must be guaranteed the same protection and opportunities as in-office workers, and especially the so-called right to disconnect," the G20 ministers said in the joint statement. (Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Crispian Balmer)
Of all the controversial plays on Wall Street, penny stocks take the cake. The risk-tolerant flock to these names as the potential for share prices to grow from pocket change to more than a few dollars is too tempting to ignore.

That said, these tickers arent without their pitfalls. Some investors avoid them entirely, arguing that the bargain price tags are too good to be true. Rather, the fact that shares are trading at such low levels could reflect problems lying beneath the surface, whether it be poor fundamentals or overpowering headwinds.

So, how are investors supposed to distinguish between the long-term winners and those set to come up short? One strategy is to follow the analysts advice.

Using TipRanks database, we pinpointed two compelling penny stocks, as determined by Wall Street pros. Each has earned a Strong Buy consensus rating from the analyst community and brings massive growth prospects to the table. Were talking about triple-digit upside potential here.

Synchronoss Technologies (SNCR)

We'll start with Synchronoss, a small-cap e-commerce company whose main products  software and cloud networked synchronization platforms  allow online vendors to connect and sync their communications, activations, backups, and customer contacts across service providers and devices. The system allows for greater coordination, lower costs, and streamlined networking. According to Synchronoss, the companys vendor customers can find new revenue, improve their own site visitor engagement, and improve the overall buyer experience, all leading toward more business.

The company reported signing two important new contracts in Southeast Asia during the first quarter, including one with the Indonesian data center company Telkomsigma. This contract will deliver Synchronoss product to 25 universities, for use by profs, students, and school groups. Synchronoss also renewed its messaging contract with Telecom Italia Mobile, and added security functions to the services.

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Synchronoss also continues its major partnership with AT&T. The telecom giant uses Synchronoss products to power its Personal Cloud, and arrangement that has worked well for both companies.

In its recent financial report for Q1, the company posted revenues of $65.5 million, slightly above consensus estimates of $63.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA of $5.5 million well exceeded analyst predictions of $2.5 million, and was driven primarily by recurring revenue sources. As a result, the company raised its EBITDA guidance for FY21 to between $32 million and $37 million (from $30-$35 million).

As each share is currently going for $2.44, Synchronoss' price tag could present investors with an attractive entry point, according to Canaccord 5-star analyst Michael Walkley.

"We view the valuation as a compelling opportunity as management executes on its turnaround plans, implements additional cost savings, announces new customer wins, and increases its recurring revenue mix. In the event management continues to execute and margins expand consistent with our 2021/2022 estimates, we believe the multiple could expand closer to peer multiples at ~3x EV/revenue. Even if the multiple expands to 2x EV/ revenue on our 2022 estimate and reaches our $8 price target, this would generate meaningful upside to the current share price... With several Cloud deals anticipated to contribute to growth in 2021 and beyond, sustained growth potential at Verizon, which renewed its White-Label Personal Cloud Platform for 5 years, and strong annual RCS revenue contributions anticipated from US carriers and Japanese deals, we believe there are several strong building blocks to support our estimates," Walkley opined.

In line with his upbeat outlook, Walkley rates SNCR a Buy, and his $8 price target implies a robust upside of 230% on the one-year time frame. (To watch Walkleys track record, click here)

Walkley is not the only analyst bullish on this stock; Synchronoss consensus rating is a unanimous Strong Buy, based on 4 recent positive reviews. At $7.73, the average price target suggests gains of ~219% on the 12-month horizon. (See SNCR stock analysis on TipRanks)

ContraFect (CFRX)

Next up, ContraFect, is a clinical stage biotech firm working on new anti-infective medications and technologies. Drug-resistant infection is a major issue for hospital and healthcare workers, bordering on crisis proportions. In the US alone, resistant infection causes 2 million illnesses annually, and globally is responsible for over 700,000 deaths. By 2050, resistant infections may cost the healthcare economy upwards of $100 trillion accumulated damages.

ContraFect works to counter this. The company is working to develop direct lytic agents (DLAs), including lysins and amurin peptides, to aid inn the treatment of lethal, resistant infections agents. Two of the main targets of ContraFects pipeline are methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) and Gram-negative pathogens like multi-drug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The companys leading product, drug candidate exebacase, is a recombinantly-produced lysin targeting Staph aureus, a potentially lethal bacteria. In early testing, exebacase has shown potent anti-bacterial activity, killing the targeted bacterial cells. Exebacase is now undergoing the Phase 3 DISRUPT study, a clinical trial with patients enrolled in a 2:1 ratio of exebacase versus placebo. Interim data is expected in 2H21. On a positive note, the US governments Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, has awarded a contract to ContraFect for development of exebacase, worth up to $86.8 million.

Targeting P. aeruginosa, the companys second leading drug candidate, CF-370, has also shown potent activity in early-stage testing. So far, the promising data has come from animal models, but further studies, including human trials, are planned. Funding is supported by the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X), which awarded a grant to ContraFect for this program, to the amount of $18.9 million.

Among the bulls is Mizuho analyst Vamil Divan who takes a bullish stance on CFRX shares.

"We remain bullish on CFRX shares ahead of Phase 3 data from the DISRUPT trial for exebacase. We maintain our 70% probability of success for DISRUPT at the final analysis given the strength of the Phase 2 exebacase data. As a reminder, in Phase 2 patients with methicillin-resistant Staph aureus bacteremia, including patients with rightsided endocarditis, showed an 82.6% response rate on exebacase + standard of care vs. a 33.3% response rate for patients on standard of care alone. We assume positive Phase 3 data in mid-2022 and a commercial launch in 2023," Divan wrote.

Overall, Divan likes what he sees here, as evidenced by his Buy rating on the stock. His $10 price target suggests it has a ~156% upside for the next 12 months. (To watch Divans track record, click here.)

What does the rest of the Street have to say? 3 recent Buys add up to a Strong Buy consensus rating. Given the $10.17 average price target, shares could climb 160% in the year ahead. (See CFRX stock analysis on TipRanks)

To find good ideas for penny stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
Dallas, TX, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa, the industrys largest community management company, has earmarked funds to assist displaced residents of the Champlain Towers South Condo in the aftermath of the buildings collapse. The assistance will be offered through Associas national non-profit organization, Associa Cares.



The 12-story oceanside property in Surfside, FL, partially collapsed early Thursday morning, resulting in a critical search-and-rescue effort led by more than a dozen first responders. Reports indicate that the collapse destroyed and damaged more than 70 units in the building.



The Champlain Towers collapse is devastating to witness, said Andrew Fortin, Associa Cares president. Associa Cares is committed to serving those facing disaster, and the situation at Champlain Towers needs critical attention. These funds will help provide much-needed assistance to those directly impacted by the tragedy. Our thoughts are with the residents and their families, as well as the brave rescue crews.



Associa Cares funds are distributed to families of Associa-managed and non-Associa-managed communities. To donate to Associa Cares or apply for assistance, please visit our website at http://www.associacares.org/.



Associa Cares is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to assist families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters. Through donations raised from Associa employees and at fundraising events across the country, Associa Cares is able to provide necessary goods and services to the families affected by these types of tragedies

With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.



Stay Connected:

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa

Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa

Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa

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CONTACT: Ashley Cantwell Associa 214-272-4107 acantwell@associaonline.com




OTTAWA, ON, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why the Government of Canada is partnering with the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCH) to make a major investment in housing in Ottawa.

Government of Canada Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), alongside the Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for OttawaVanier and Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced a $165.6 million financial commitment from the federal government, $65.4 million of which is a forgivable loan, for capital repairs, which will occur over nine years. The portfolio project will upgrade and extend the lifespan of the over 11,000 units, while improving tenant health, safety, comfort, and overall quality of life.

The federal representatives were joined by Laura Dudas, Deputy Mayor of Ottawa, on behalf of Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, Mathieu Fleury, Councillor for Rideau-Vanier and Chair of the OCH Board of Directors, and Stephane Giguere, CEO of the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation for the announcement.

The Ottawa Community Housing Corporation is the largest social and affordable housing provider in Ottawa, the fourth largest in Canada, managing two-thirds of the City's social and affordable housing portfolio, and providing social and affordable housing for some of Ottawa's most vulnerable populations.

The federal funding is being delivered through CMHC's National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF), which supports new and revitalization construction of mixed-income, mixed-tenure, and mixed-use affordable housing. The NHCF is a key pillar of the Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS).

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Quotes:

"Today's announcement is not only about ensuring Ottawans have a roof over their heads, it's about making sure they have a home. Thanks to this investment through the National Housing Strategy, we are better able to support vulnerable populations with an affordable place that meets their needs. These types of projects in our communities help create new jobs and stimulate the economy, while providing access to safe, affordable homes, and improving the quality of life of Canadians".  The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

"Current events remind us that nothing is more important than a home. Residents of Ottawa-Vanier, and all Canadians, deserve a safe and affordable place to call home where they can thrive and spend more time with their loved ones. This investment will ensure that the existing affordable housing supply operated by Ottawa Community Housing is in good repair and will improve the quality of life for its residents for years to come."  The Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for OttawaVanier and Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance

"Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This investment of $165.6 million in affordable housing in Ottawa will improve and extend the lifespan of 11,000 community housing units, positively impacting 22,000 tenants through energy efficient retrofits, upgraded kitchens, floors and more accessible units. This incredible partnership between the federal government, the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing will help address critical housing needs in the City. An excellent example of the National Housing Co-Investment Fund at work!"  The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"The City of Ottawa works with Ottawa Community Housing and other local partners to develop and maintain safe and affordable housing for vulnerable populations in Ottawa. This significant financial commitment from the federal government will provide upgrades that improve tenant health, safety, comfort, and overall quality of life. This is another important step in our strategy to ensure access to affordable housing in Ottawa and our commitment to meet the most pressing housing needs of our residents."  His Worship Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa

"Ottawa Community Housing continues to innovate while providing quality homes for tenants. This investment is critical to provide predictability for capital repairs, ensuring that our communities are modernized, more sustainable and greener. OCH is proud to work with the Federal Government and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to bring value and coordination to these much-needed investments over the next nine years."   Councillor and Chair of the OCH Board of Directors, Mathieu Fleury

"These significant investments by the Government of Canada through CMHC, the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing Corporation will breathe new life into OCH homes, fully supporting OCH's strategy to meet housing needs and provide quality homes to tenants.With an aging portfolio and ongoing needs for capital repairs, establishing a sustained funding mechanism is the key to the long-term sustainability of our homes. The NHCF Repairs and Renewal Stream along with the support of the City of Ottawa, our Service Manager, are critical to OCH. It will improve accessibility and energy efficiency and modernize building stock with nineyears of sustained and secure funding. This partnership will provide tremendous social outcome for the 32,000 tenants living with us now and in the future."  Stephane Giguere, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation

Quick facts:

Total cost for the capital repairs portfolio project is estimated to be $301 million.

This level of funding has its economic impact within the City of Ottawa:

Improvement categories include accessibility, energy efficiency, fire life safety renewal, access and security, building envelope (Cladding Renewal Program), Structural Repair Program, Elevator Modernization Program, building systems, unit interiors, and other infrastructures.

The portfolio project will exceed CMHC affordability requirements with at least 50% of the units rented below 50% of the median market rent (MMR) for the City of Ottawa.

The portfolio will meet CMHC accessibility requirements with a minimum of 20% units meeting internal accessibility criteria, including program flexibility provisions relating to repair projects.

The portfolio project aims to achieve at least 25% improvement in energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

Through the NHCF, the Government of Canada will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes and repair up to 240,000 existing affordable and community homes over the next 10 years.

Investments are also planned in the NHCF to create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence and create at least 7,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and 2,400 new affordable housing units for people with developmental disabilities.

Under the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

Associated links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

CMHC Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2021/24/c6265.html
Speakers and attendees in this highly interactive event will also explore use cases for advanced technologies that can move the needle for the business

Register for HMG Strategy's 2021 HMG Live! Financial Services CIO Executive Leadership Summit

Join the top CIOs and business technology executives from the financial services industry as we explore opportunities for technology leaders to partner with the CEO and line-of-business leaders on identifying and executing on new business opportunities and go-to-market strategies.

Join the top CIOs and business technology executives from the financial services industry as we explore opportunities for technology leaders to partner with the CEO and line-of-business leaders on identifying and executing on new business opportunities and go-to-market strategies.

WESTPORT, Conn., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMG Strategy, the Worlds #1 digital platform for enabling technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world, is excited to be hosting its 2021 HMG Live! Financial Services CIO Executive Leadership Summit on June 30. HMG Strategys highly interactive digital events bring together the worlds most distinguished and innovative business technology leaders to discuss the most pressing leadership, strategic, cultural, technology and career challenges and opportunities that technology executives face today  and into the future.



The 2021 HMG Live! Financial Services CIO Executive Leadership Summit will focus on the role of the CIO and technology leaders in fostering a high-performing culture that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion as well as the CIOs role in working with the CEO and the executive team in identifying and executing on new business opportunities in core, parallel and new markets.

CEOs lean on CIOs and technology executives to identify new ways to grow the business, leverage technologies to drive innovation and create new waves of value for the enterprise, said Hunter Muller, President and CEO at HMG Strategy.

World-class executives speaking at 2021 HMG Live! Financial Services CIO Executive Leadership Summit will include:

Selim Aissi , SVP & CISO, ICE Mortgage Company

Marianne Bachynski , CIO, Investments, AIG

Sandeep Bose , Unit CIO, Credit & Fraud Risk, American Express

Stefanie Causey , Associate Partner, Salesforce Innovation Unit - Financial Services Sector, IBM Global Business Services

Ariel Evans , CEO, Cyber Innovative Technologies

Cindy Finkelman , Former CIO, FactSet Research Systems

Jameeka Green Aaron , CISO, Auth0

Vipin Gupta , CIO, Toyota Financial Services

Loren Hudizak , Chrome Customer Engineer, Google Chrome Enterprise

Michael Katz , Principal Security Specialist, Infoblox

Beni Lopez , Managing Director, Industrial and U.S. Market, Softtek

David Mahon , Global CISO, Deloitte

Praful Mainker , Exec Director, Data Science, Consumer and Community Bank Compliance, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Raj Marwah , SVP, Strategy and Business Innovation, Wells Fargo

Manav Misra , Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Regions Financial Corporation

Sean ODowd , Senior Global Industry Solutions Marketing Manager  Financial Services, Nutanix

Christopher Parkin , Head of Industry Marketing, Adobe Document Cloud, Adobe

Mel Reyes , Global Head of IT and Security, Getaround

Roland Selby , Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, NPower

Atul Varde , Chief Information and Payments Officer, Servus Credit Union

Sangy Vatsa , EVP, Global Chief Technology and Digital Officer, FIS Global

Anthony Vigilante, Managing Director, Chief Security Officer, MacKay Shields

Valued Partners for the 2021 HMG Live! Financial Services CIO Executive Leadership Summit on June 30 include Adobe, Akamai, Auth0, BetterCloud, Darktrace, Forescout Technologies, Genesys Works, Google Chrome Enterprise, Globant, Horizon3.ai, Infoblox, Illumio, Nutanix, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SIM New York Metro, Skybox Security, Softtek and Zscaler.

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To learn more about the 2021 HMG Live! Financial Services CIO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, please click here.

HMG Strategy will also be hosting its first-ever 2021 HMG Live! Global CISO Executive Leadership Summit on July 22. Timely topics to be explored by CISOs, CIOs and other security leaders will include recommendations for CISOs to educate the board on cybersecurity, advice for accelerating their career ascent, recommendations for transforming cybersecurity strategies in the evolving threat landscape as well as new skills that are needed to protect the enterprise on a go-forward basis.

World-class CISOs and security leaders speaking at the 2021 HMG Live! Global CISO Executive Leadership Summit on July 22 will include:

Mike Coogan , Director of Information Security and CISO, Waste Management

Arun DeSouza , Chief Information Security & Privacy Officer, Nexteer Automotive Corporation

Meredith Harper , VP, CISO, Eli Lilly and Company

Chris Jacquet , VP and CISO, Enterprise Security, Hitachi Vantara

Shamla Naidoo , Independent Director, QBE North America

Michael Piacente , Co-Founder and Managing Director, Hitch Partners

Tim Rohrbaugh , CISO, JetBlue Airways

Anahi Santiago , CISO, ChristianaCare

David Sheidlower , VP & Chief Information Security & Privacy Officer, Turner Construction Company

Gary Sorrentino , Global Deputy CIO and Chairman, Zoom CISO Council, Zoom

Clif Triplett, Executive Director, KEARNEY



Valued Partners for the 2021 HMG Live! Global CISO Executive Leadership Summit on July 22 include Akamai, Auth0, BetterCloud, Darktrace, Forescout Technologies, Globant, Horizon3.ai, Illumio, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, Skybox Security and Zscaler.

To learn more about the 2021 HMG Live! Global CISO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here.

To learn about HMG Strategys upcoming CIO and CISO Summits, click here.

HMG STRATEGYS 2021 GLOBAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AWARDS

The HMG Strategy 2021 Global Leadership Institute Awards honor exemplary technology leaders and leadership teams who are delivering exceptional value to their organizations. This award recognizes those who have reimagined and reinvented themselves to place their organizations on the fast track to groundbreaking transformation in dynamic times. Technology executives and their teams who receive these awards are being recognized for accomplishments in the following areas: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Leading into the C-suite; Creating New Go-to-Market Business Models; Modernizing Enterprise Architecture; and Building a Culture of Trust.

World-class technology executives who were recognized for their contributions to their companies and to the industry at the 2021 HMG Live! Toronto CIO Executive Leadership Summit on June 21 include:

Roman Coba , VP, Technology and CIO, Federated Co-operatives Ltd.

Raymond Gilbert , Managing Partner, Causal Effects Inc.

Naveen Kumar , VP, Consulting Services, Info-Tech Research Group

Kin Lee-Yow, CIO, CAA Club Group of Companies

To learn more about HMG Strategys 2021 Global Leadership Institute Awards and to nominate a deserving executive, click here.

About HMG Strategy

HMG Strategy is the world's leading digital platform for connecting technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. Our regional and virtual CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven research from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent. HMG Strategy offers a range of peer-driven research services such as its CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Alliance (CELA) program which bring together the worlds top CIOs, CISOs and technology executives to brainstorm on the top opportunities and challenges facing them in their roles.

HMG Strategy also produces the HMG Security Innovation Accelerator Panel, a new webinar series thats designed to connect enterprise CISOs and security leaders with the most innovative cybersecurity companies from across the world.

The HMG Strategy global network consists of over 400,000 senior IT executives, industry experts and world-class thought leaders.

To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy's unique business model, click here.

Contact: Tom Hoffman, Senior Research Director, HMG Strategy: tomhoffman@hmgstrategy.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/45c79e75-002b-4026-8c51-498776b56142




The community has come together following the June 28, 2020, flood that closed Norwood Hospital to seek an urgent re-opening of the hospital

NORWOOD, Mass., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coalition to Rebuild Norwood Hospital  a group of community advocates, faith leaders, nurses and healthcare professionals, union members and local officials  is holding a rally on Sunday, June 27 as part of the coalition's call for all entities public and private to swiftly re-build and re-open Norwood Hospital as a full-service hospital as quickly as possible.

The Coalition to Rebuild Norwood Hospital logo

Flooding from a storm caused massive damage at Norwood Hospital on June 28, 2020. No patients or staff were injured but the hospital was closed. Owner Steward Health Care announced on June 22 its intentions to rebuild the hospital at its current location, with additional details to follow.

Rebuild Norwood Hospital Rally Details

Date: Sunday, June 27, 2021

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Triangular park area down the street from the hospital bordered by Washington St., Central St. and Guild St.

Details: Attendees will follow all applicable public health standards. Speakers will include Norwood Firefighters Local 1631 President Paul Ronco, Norwood Hospital MNA Co-Chairs and RNs Joan Ballantyne and Kathy Reardon, Norwood Board of Selectmen Member Matthew Lane, Rev. Michele Bagby Allan, Pastor, First Congregational Church in Norwood

"As a nurse I am concerned about the ability of patients to access local, high-quality care and as a community member I am concerned with the future of healthcare in the greater Norwood Area," said Joan Ballantyne, a registered nurse, and Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association Bargaining Unit at Norwood Hospital. "Our community suffered a terrible loss resulting from the flood that closed Norwood Hospital nearly a year ago. We have come together to urge that Norwood Hospital be rebuilt without delay and re-open with all prior services."

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"This has been an unprecedented and incredibly difficult year for the families and businesses of Norwood," said Matthew Lane, member of the coalition and the Norwood Board of Selectmen. "In the midst of a global pandemic, in which all families were already struggling to remain healthy, a sudden and unexpected flood severely damaged hundreds of homes and businesses, including Norwood Hospital. The subsequent closure of this community institution could not have come at a worse time. Not only were many left without access to their healthcare professionals, our first responders had to reroute all emergency medical calls to other hospitals outside of the region. In a matter of days, hundreds of essential hospital jobs that supported local families and our community were eliminated or transferred.

"The hospital has been shuttered for a year now, and while signs erected around the hospital property would lead one to believe that a reopening is just around the corner, actions speak louder than the promises written on those signs," Lane said. "We respectfully ask Steward to provide transparent information on when the hospital will be rebuilt and what services will be provided upon reopening. Our community needs a full-service hospital rebuilt and re-opened as quickly as possible."

"Norwood and neighboring communities have keenly felt the absence of Norwood Hospital since the June 2020 flood," said Rev. Michele Bagby Allan, member of the coalition and Pastor, First Congregational Church in Norwood. "The impact to the lives of the employees who have relied on the hospital for their livelihoods and on citizens who have counted on the hospital for excellent local emergency care and ongoing compassionate medical care is immeasurable. We are eager to encourage and support Steward Health Care in the rebuild Norwood Hospital. As a community, we have counted on them as good stewards of our health and well-being and hope and trust that the rebuild will happen without delay."

The coalition's website is www.rebuildnorwoodhospital.com and it is on Facebook at "The Coalition to Rebuild Norwood Hospital."

Norwood Hospital remaining closed has put a burden on emergency responders and patients who require emergency transports, Norwood Firefighters Local 1631 President Paul Ronco told Boston 25 News. The extra miles emergency responders have to travel not only puts a strain on Norwood paramedics and EMTS, but nearby towns like Walpole and Westwood, Ronco said.

"The problem with all these delays in turnaround times, we are relying heavily on our neighboring towns to come in and fill-in with their ambulances. Just last week, I think we had seven out of town ambulances in on the same day," Ronco told Boston 25.

"In my opinion, I don't think this is sustainable the way we're running right now," Ronco said.

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SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association
ATLANTA, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, today announced the extension of its distribution relationship with Azelis in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. CP Kelco's product range is a significant addition to Azelis' portfolio and the new distribution agreement marks an important milestone in the strong and continuously developing collaboration between both companies globally.

Azelis' local sales coverage, proven growth track record and industry-dedicated laboratory network, all steered by regionally based teams, position Azelis as a distributor of choice for CP Kelco to enhance business activities in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Azelis will distribute the complete range of CP Kelco's products, including GENU Pectin, KELCOGEL Gellan Gum, GENU Carrageenan, KELTROL Xanthan Gum, CELLULON Fermentation-Derived Cellulose and, the newest addition, NUTRAVA Citrus Fiber. Effective July 11th, in India, Azelis will cover the market of Food; in Malaysia, Food and Consumer & Industrial (C&I) ; and in Indonesia, C&I, in addition to the existing Food appointment. Effective August 1st, Azelis will cover C&I application segments in Thailand.

James Schkade, Senior Vice President, Global Commercial at CP Kelco cited, "CP Kelco sees tremendous opportunity around the world to create alliances that can build exceptional customer experiences. We are continuously looking at ways to collaborate with companies that not only support our culture of customer success, but also our ambitious growth goals. Expanding our alliance with Azelis in these countries is an exciting step forward."

Laurent Nataf, President and CEO of Asia Pacific at Azelis, added, "We are thrilled about this expansion of our appointment as a great recognition of the trust and confidence our valued principal CP Kelco puts into us. Our goal is to deliver from the start the very best service to existing and new customers while reducing complexity for CP Kelco."

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CP Kelco will continue distributing its products in other market segments through the continuing relationships with the following companies.

In India, Signet Corporation will continue servicing CP Kelco products in the Pharmaceutical and Excipient markets, and Burzin & Leons will continue distributing the products in the Consumer and Industrial segments of the market.

In Thailand, Winner Group will also continue representing CP Kelco in the Food and Nutrition segments.

About CP Kelco

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage and consumer products manufacturers worldwide. We unlock nature-powered success by applying ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights and meet manufacturers' goals to address consumer needs and preferences. What sets us apart:

Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.

Technical Excellence . Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.

Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.

Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Key product lines include gellan gum, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, fermentation-derived cellulose and our latest innovation, NUTRAVA Citrus Fiber. Learn more at www.cpkelco.com.

About Azelis

Azelis is a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemical and food ingredients industry present in over 50 countries across the globe with around 2,500 employees. Our knowledgeable teams of industry, market and technical experts are each dedicated to a specific market within Life Sciences and Industrial Chemicals. We offer a lateral value chain of complementary products to more than 45,000 customers, supported by ~2,200 principal relationships, creating a turnover of 2.22 billion (2020).

Across our extensive network of more than 60 application laboratories, our award-winning staff help develop formulations and provide technical guidance throughout the customers' product development process. We combine a global market reach with a local footprint to offer a reliable, integrated and unique digital service to local customers and attractive business opportunities to principals. EcoVadis Gold rated since 2018, Azelis is a leader in sustainability. We believe in building and nurturing solid, honest and transparent relationships with our people and partners.

Impact through ideas. Innovation through formulation.

www.azelis.com

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SOURCE CP Kelco
Creates a team of more than 100 technology-focused intellectual property lawyers and scientific professionals with new offices in Chicago and Indianapolis

CHICAGO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowell & Moring and Chicago-based Brinks Gilson & Lione announced today that they plan to join forces in July. The deal brings together the practice of the premier 100-year old IP firm, recognized for its deep technical experience and scientific savvy, with Crowell & Moring's intellectual property, technology, brand protection, and digital transformation capabilities. Brinks Gilson & Lione is renowned for assisting clients to maximize the value of cutting-edge technologies and advancing the interests of intellectual property owners.

Crowell & Moring and Brinks Gilson & Lione to Join Forces (Pictured from left to right: Phil Inglima, Gus Siller, Cheryl Falvey, Laura Lydigsen)

With a proven track record in high-stakes intellectual property litigation, helping inventors tackle the unique challenges they face, and working with companies to protect their brands, Brinks has developed enduring client relationships, which range from large multinationals with sophisticated IP portfolios to emerging companies advancing business-forward innovations. Gustavo Siller, president of Brinks Gilson & Lione, will co-chair the firm's Technology & Intellectual Property Department with Cheryl A. Falvey, one of the principal architects of Crowell & Moring's digital transformation and technology practice and former general counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Crowell & Moring has a long-established global regulatory, litigation, transactional, and public policy platform that provides guidance to clients ranging from Fortune 500 enterprises to start-up companies across the broad spectrum of issues that accompany digital transformation and other advancements at the intersection of business and technology. The firm's cross-disciplinary approach helps leading companies and entrepreneurs protect, commercialize, and bring new innovations to market, compete in the increasingly data-driven economy, mitigate risk, resolve disputes, and navigate a dynamic regulatory environment. With the addition of the Brinks team, Crowell & Moring becomes among the most active technology protection firms in the nation, as measured by patent activity tracked by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Brinks team also brings experience helping clients with IP issues in international jurisdictions. They will deepen and extend Crowell & Moring's global IP practice, which includes a team in the Brussels office that is consistently recognized for the sophisticated work they do for clients.

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Joining Crowell & Moring are 61 lawyers, including 27 partners, 11 senior counsel, 23 counsel and associates, 5 registered patent agents, and 2 scientific advisors. This outstanding team of lawyers and professionals possesses more than 60 technical degrees. Their deep scientific knowledge strengthens the firm's ability to support clients seeking to pursue technology and innovation-driven opportunities and enhances the firm's marquee trial, litigation, and arbitration practices, both before the PTO and ITC, and across U.S. and international court venues.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to expand our reach with one of the most highly respected IP firms in the nation. We are particularly excited about enhancing and extending our collective ability to advise clients on the rapidly-evolving areas of their businesses that are affected  and increasingly transformed  by technology and innovation," said Philip T. Inglima, chair of Crowell & Moring. "Brinks Gilson & Lione has earned a reputation for protecting well-known corporate brands and complex intellectual property assets in the U.S. and across the globe. The firm provides exceptional value to clients because of their deep experience in cutting-edge technology and the sciences, and their ability to deliver practical solutions to the most complex IP challenges."

One of the nation's top-tier intellectual property law firms, Brinks Gilson & Lione advises clients in a wide variety of industries, including medical devices, industrial manufacturing, electronics, software, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, consumer goods and services, and transportation. The firm has helped clients develop and protect cutting-edge innovations in the areas of AI, autonomous vehicles, software, wireless/5G, and blockchain. The firm has been ranked by Chambers USA as one of the top firms in Illinois for intellectual property for 18 consecutive years. In recognizing Brinks Gilson & Lione with its Gold Band for Illinois, World Trademark Review 1000 described the firm as "the preferred protector for a host of A-list companies with famous and valuable brands."

"We recognized the significant benefit to our clients and to our practice of joining forces with Crowell & Moring -- a firm with shared values and a commitment to exceptional client service," Siller said. "We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues to offer clients strategic capabilities that align with their complex legal needs at a time of such rapid business change and innovation. With a collective team of more than 100 intellectual property and technology lawyers and scientific professionals, we are well-positioned to handle the widest array of clients' IP protection, commercialization, litigation, trial, and counseling matters."

This move builds on Crowell & Moring's strategic growth in the United States and around the globe, and represents the firm's first presence in the Midwest. Over the past three years, the firm has added close to 90 lateral partners and 21 senior counsel. In April, 24 lawyers from the storied Wall Street boutique, Kibbe & Orbe joined the firm's New York, London, and Washington, D.C. offices, including 13 partners. In addition, last year, the firm established an office in Doha with the addition of an infrastructure development and controversy team, opened an office in Shanghai, and through C&M International, its global government relations, public policy, and public affairs affiliate, launched an office in Singapore.

As the result of joining forces with Brinks Gilson & Lione, Crowell & Moring will have more than 625 lawyers in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. The firm will immediately add offices in Chicago and Indianapolis. In addition, Crowell & Moring has initiated the process with the Chinese government to open an office in Shenzhen, widely regarded as "China's Silicon Valley," with Brinks Gilson & Lione's Shenzhen-based professionals. Brinks Gilson & Lione's Shenzhen office was established in 2017.

"By joining forces, we create a powerful network of talent that will strengthen our combined technology practices," Falvey said. "With doctorates in life sciences, computer science, and electrical engineering, Brinks lawyers know the science inside and out. They will be an exceptional resource for clients when it comes to the technical side of litigation, but they also bring exceptional peoplelawyers and professionalswho are as committed to delivering superior client service and developing a diverse culture as we are."

Consistent with the firm's continued implementation of its strategic growth plan, Crowell & Moring will focus on adding talent in Chicago in areas that speak to client needs in this dynamic and opportunistic business environment, including corporate and transactional, technology, litigation, white collar and regulatory investigations, advertising and media, health care, and environmental.

"Both Crowell & Moring and Brinks Gilson & Lione have invested heavily in expanding their technology-oriented practices," said Laura Lydigsen, a member of Brinks Gilson & Lione's executive committee. "Clients will benefit from the strong synergies between Brinks' technology depth and Crowell's broad regulatory, litigation, and transactional experience in numerous technology sectors."

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia that represents clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional and corporate matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and government-facing matters, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Contact:

Rebecca Carr

Director of Communications

+1 202.508.8835

Email: prteam@crowell.com

Crowell & Moring LLP (PRNewsFoto/Crowell & Moring LLP)

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SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP
Shape strategic responses through the phases of industry recovery

Accenture Plc, ALTEN Group and Capgemini SE will emerge as major engineering services outsourcing market in the US participants during 2021-2025

NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The engineering services outsourcing market in the US is expected to grow by USD 60.76 billion during 2021-2025, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the engineering services outsourcing market in the US in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Engineering Services Outsourcing Market in US by End-user - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Technavio offer in-depth market insights that assist global businesses to obtain growth opportunities.

Download FREE Sample Report

With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renew phases. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase in 2021 as compared to 2020.

This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to:

Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in.

Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines.

Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations.

Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds

Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates

Major Three Engineering Services Outsourcing Market In the US Participants:

Accenture Plc

Accenture Plc offers services such as application modernization, Data management, Program, project and service management, and other related engineering services.

ALTEN Group

ALTEN Group offers engineering and R and D outsourcing services such as Innovation and Digital Transformation, Product design and development Outsourced R and D, Manufacturing engineering, Supply chain and Quality, Customer Services and Training, and Project Management and Change Management.

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Capgemini SE

Capgemini SE offers IT systems for applications and infrastructures of a client or a group of clients and their associated business processes such as Business Process Outsourcing.

Engineering Services Outsourcing Market In the US 2021-2025: Segmentation

Engineering services outsourcing market in the US is segmented as below:

End-user

Sourcing

The engineering services outsourcing market in the US is driven by factors such as its cost-efficiency. In addition, the demand for a short product lifecycle causing stress on capacity is expected to trigger the engineering services outsourcing market in the US toward witnessing a CAGR of almost 23% during the forecast period.

Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of engineering services outsourcing market in the US, Request Free Sample @

https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR70628

Related Report on Information Technology Include:

Global Big Data Market- The big data market is segmented by type (services and software), deployment (on-premise, cloud-based, and hybrid), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).

Download FREE Sample Report

Global Application Management Services Market- The application management services (AMS) market is segmented by type (discrete AMS and embedded AMS) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America).

Download FREE Sample Report

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Report Page: https://www.technavio.com/report/engineering-services-outsourcing-market-industry-in-us-analysis

Technavio (PRNewsfoto/Technavio)

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Treya Partners to provide cross portfolio procurement value creation for Heartwood Partners

Treya Partners will be providing cross portfolio procurement value creation for Heartwood Partners.

Treya Partners will be providing cross portfolio procurement value creation for Heartwood Partners.

San Francisco, CA, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heartwood Partners has selected Treya Partners as the preferred provider for procurement value creation and cost reduction services. Heartwood Partners is a private equity firm with a focus on working with family and management-owned businesses to help build and grow their companies by providing their strategic resources with a conservative capital structure. Heartwood is partnering with Treya Partners to roll out Treyas Managed Portfolio Procurement (MPP) program to drive cost reduction for their portfolio companies through strategic sourcing projects, monitoring of savings & compliance, managing volume leveraged vendor contracts, and moderating procurement best practices roundtables.

Established in 2006, Treya Partners is one of North Americas leading procurement consulting firms for private equity. Treya Partners has worked with over 45 private equity firms on various procurement value creation initiatives including due diligence support, cross portfolio GPO & direct contract management, and pre-exit spend optimization. Treyas MPP program was launched in 2019 in response to their private equity firm clients requests for a holistic managed program. The MPP program is a 5-prong approach to procurement value creation - Spend Analytics/Spend Cube, GPO contract implementation, PE-level direct contract implementation, CFO/CPO roundtables, and Strategic sourcing.

Shaun Chambers, Treyas Managing Director, stated, Heartwood has been a valued partner and client of Treya for many years. The Treya team is very excited to expand and formalize the partnership as a preferred service provider. The team at Heartwood Partners has established a tremendous reputation in the industry by establishing strong partnerships with management teams to help grow the business. We are elated to be providing additional expertise and force multiplier to existing efforts and launching new procurement and supply chain initiatives to increase profitability and drive EBITDA improvements.

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Jason Phillips, Heartwood Partners Senior VP of Portfolio Operations, commented, Treya Partners brings the experience and expertise to ensure we are maximizing value in key spend categories for our portfolio companies. Treyas MPP program is an end-to-end solution that will provide additional value creation levers for our investments.

About Treya Partners

Treya Partners is a management consulting firm specializing in procurement value creation, strategic sourcing, and spend management advisory services for Private Equity. Treya was established in 2006 by a seasoned group of supply management professionals and has served hundreds of PE-owed companies across a broad range of industry sectors including manufacturing, distribution, retail, financial services, life sciences, healthcare, and technology. Treya delivers meaningful EBITDA improvements from indirect (SG&A) and CoGS categories in addition to implementing transformative procurement projects. For further information, visit Treya Partners online at https://www.treyapartners.com.

About Heartwood Partners

Heartwood Partners is focused on partnering with family and management-owners. Their approach combines strategic execution with conservative capital structures to support long-term growth, including organic and acquisition-driven expansion into new products, services, and end markets. Please visit the Heartwood Partners website at www.heartwoodpartners.com to review their approach and investment portfolio.

Attachment

CONTACT: Shaun Chambers Treya Partners 1-703-731-6495 shaun.chambers@treyapartners.com




By Takashi Umekawa and Kaori Kaneko

TOKYO (Reuters) -A senior member of Japan's ruling party on Thursday accused activist investors in Toshiba Corp of focusing only on short-term profits and called for better monitoring of such investors to protect economic security.

Once a crown jewel of corporate Japan, Toshiba has been battered by accounting scandals stretching back to 2015 and massive writedowns for its U.S. nuclear business as well as the sale of its semiconductor unit, leaving it a shadow of its former self.

The comments from Akira Amari, a former economy minister and an influential lawmaker in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, are some of the sharpest yet after an investigation commissioned by Toshiba shareholders revealed this month that Toshiba's management colluded with the government to put pressure on foreign activist investors to support the management.

"There should be strict monitoring. We need to watch carefully so that Japan's security is not threatened," Amari told Reuters in an interview.

He said it was "not right" that Toshiba was reliant on activist investors who were only interested in short-term profits and did not understand the importance of the conglomerate to Japan's "economic intelligence".

"Activist investors only think about selling high," he said.

His comments are likely to deepen concern among foreign investors about Japan's openness to their investment.

Japan introduced new foreign ownership rules in 2020 aimed at protecting industries critical to national security but the investigation commissioned by shareholders found that the company and the government deviated from the purpose of the rules.

But Amari stressed there was no problem with the government's response to the company's troubles.

After the investigation was published, Toshiba said it would change its board director nominees, with two audit committee members stepping down.

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The committee has come under scrutiny as the investigation alleged it failed to take action even when it became aware of Toshiba's attempt to prevent shareholders from exercising their rights.

Toshiba's management has been under pressure from activist funds since it sold 600 billion yen ($5.4 billion) of stock to dozens of foreign hedge funds during a crisis stemming from the bankruptcy of its U.S. nuclear power unit in 2017.

Singapore-based Effissimo Capital Management, 3D Investment Partners and U.S. hedge fund Farallon Capital Management together own more than 20% of Toshiba.

Amari said Japanese investors, not foreign activists, should have invested in Toshiba to save the company.

Toshiba is due to hold a shareholder meeting on Friday when its board chairman, Osamu Nagayama, is expected to face a vote over his reappointment.

($1 = 110.8600 yen)

(Reporting by Takashi Umekawa and Kaori Kaneko; editing by David Dolan and Mark Potter)
Move to LaSalle St. Investment Advisors Enables Retirement Planning Specialists to Simplify Operations, Enhance Focus on Clients as Investment Advisor Representatives, Rather than Running Standalone RIA

Four-Advisor Firm Brings $200 Million in Client Assets to LaSalle St.'s RIA Platform

CHICAGO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LaSalle St., a family of wealth management firms encompassing independent broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) platforms, today announced the recruitment of Retirement Planning Specialists, an investment advisory practice in the Philadelphia area with $200 million in total client assets that is joining LaSalle St.'s corporate RIA platform, LaSalle St. Investment Advisors.

Led by CEO and Founder Joe Sarappo and based in Willow Grove, Pa., Retirement Planning Specialists focuses on helping individual investors and families save for retirement, as well as providing estate, tax and life insurance planning services. The practice was an independent SEC-registered RIA before Mr. Sarappo, a 33-year veteran of the financial advice space, and his three fellow investment advisors at Retirement Planning Specialists decided to join LaSalle St. as investment adviser representatives (IARs.)

Mark Contey, LaSalle St.'s Chief Business Development Officer, said, "LaSalle St. is truly gratified that Joe Sarappo, Christopher Sacco, James Cuorato and Kyle Jennings have taken this strategic step to join our RIA platform. Our team has considerable expertise in helping firms that previously operated their own RIAs or even broker-dealers to streamline their operations and get back to what they love about the business: Serving clients. As part of the LaSalle St. platform, Retirement Planning Specialists now has access to resources, technologies and platforms that will enable them to scale up their efficiency and focus on adding even greater value for their clients. We look forward to working shoulder-to-shoulder with Joe and his team for years to come."

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As part of the transition, Retirement Planning Specialists has withdrawn its SEC registration, but it will maintain its brand and independence. The firm's client accounts will continue to be custodied with Fidelity through LaSalle St.'s existing relationship with that firm. In order to continue to serve the small number of brokerage accounts in their book, Mr. Sarappo and Mr. Sacco have also affiliated with LaSalle St.'s broker-dealer platform.

Mr. Sarappo said, "Since I started Retirement Planning Specialists in 2011, my attention has centered squarely on building trust with my clients and helping them live the lives they aspire to in retirement through solid preparation and planning. Over the years, however, as the economic and regulatory dynamics around operating an RIA have grown more complex, I have found myself devoting more hours in the day to running the business, rather than serving our clients. LaSalle St. and its RIA platform, LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, offer scale and resources that will lift significant administrative burdens off our shoulders, allowing our team to enhance our client focus again. Moreover, the LaSalle St. team is committed to collaborating closely with us to further elevate the client experience we offer and accelerate our growth trajectory. We could not be more excited to join the team."

Mr. Contey concluded, "Though the economics of running an independent RIA remain generally favorable, many firms are realizing that they can better achieve their full potential while maintaining their independence if they 'tuck in' as IARs under a larger corporate RIA platform. LaSalle St. stands ready to collaborate with such firms that are contemplating the next step in their growth strategy, and we are eager to get to work with Retirement Planning Specialists to support them in achieving their goals for the future."

About LaSalle St.

LaSalle St. is a family of firms comprising LaSalle St. Securities, an independent broker-dealer; LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, a SEC-registered investment adviser; and LaSalle St. Insurance Services, a provider of annuity and insurance products. It has a singular mission of supporting the growth and success of independent financial advisors across the country. Founded in 1974 and based in Chicago, Illinois, LaSalle St. supports more than 300 financial advisors, has over $12 billion in total client assets and is registered in all 50 states. The LaSalle St. companies offer a wide range of services, including brokerage, advisory, investment and insurance. The firm clears primarily through National Financial Services, with custodial services through NFS parent Fidelity Investments. For more information, visit https://www.lasallest.com/

Media Inquiries

Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens

Haven Tower Group

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854

jkuo@haventower.com or cclemens@haventower.com

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SOURCE LaSalle St.
LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Aterian, Inc. f/k/a Mohawk Group Holdings, Inc. ("Aterian" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ATER), (NASDAQ: MWK) securities between December 1, 2020 and May 3, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Aterian investors have until July 12, 2021 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

(PRNewsfoto/The Law Offices of Frank R. Cru)

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

On May 4, 2021, Culper Research published a report titled "Aterian (ATER): Bought from Felons & Fraudsters, Sold to You," alleging that Aterian has "ties to convicted criminals" and is "promoting what we believe is an overhyped 'AI' narrative and a string of garbage acquisitions to mask the failure of its already ill-conceived core business." Culper also alleges that "[o]ver 25% of Aterian shares now belong to two felons and two alleged scam artists, all of whom will be free to dump their stock by August." The report alleged that the Company "has been largely unsuccessful in convincing other Amazon sellers to pay for its 'AIMEE' AI platform, and at least 5 former employees and a former customer have expressed doubts regarding AIMEE's legitimacy."

On this news, Aterian's stock price fell $4.94 per share, or 24%, over two trading sessions to close at $15.72 per share on May 5, 2021, thereby injuring investors.

The complaint filed alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company's organic growth is plummeting; (2) the Company's recent, self-lauded acquisitions were overpayments for flawed assets from questionable sources; (3) Aterian's purported artificial intelligence software is a flawed product that lacks customer interest; (4) Aterian uses rebate programs and paid or artificial reviews to pump up their product offerings; and (5) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

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Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased Aterian securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than July 12, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. To be a member of the Class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the Class. If you purchased Aterian securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

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SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
New hires bring extensive experience and subject matter expertise to health focused investment firm

VAIL, Colo., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Manna Tree, a Vail, CO-based investment firm committed to improving human health, is pleased to announce it has doubled in size, announcing several additions to its management, investor relations and operations teams. Most notably, Sylvio Petto Neto will join as Director, and Shannon Flahive and Ben Tabah as Vice Presidents.

"Manna Tree is experiencing meaningful deal flow and overall firm growth. To continue making high-quality, impactful investments in human health, we need to further build on the strong foundation our existing team has created. We believe we have the right people in the right places supporting our portfolio companies and overall operations in every corner of the organization," said Brent Drever, President and Co-Founder, Manna Tree Partners. "The new team additions will help fuel us as we source new deals and also build off of the momentum we have observed, in particular, in the functional beverage and nutrient dense foods spaces."

The new management team members are:

Sylvio Petto Neto, DirectorSylvio brings over 25 years of international experience in the food and agriculture sectors. His career experience includes operational and business development roles with Cargill, Syngenta, portfolio management with the Wheatsheaf Group and his own consulting company, Green Prairie Consulting. Leveraging his consulting and industry skillset, Sylvio will lead Manna Tree's efforts to support and manage its portfolio companies, including tracking growth initiatives, connecting appropriate service providers and advisors and more.

Shannon Flahive, Vice PresidentShannon comes to Manna Tree with more than a decade of strategy consulting and investing experience. Her career included time as a consultant with various firms including Cambridge Associates, Boston Consulting Group, Treacy & Company and Egg Strategy. Most recently, she was with Blackhorn Ventures where she supported impact investment deal flow with financial modeling and business model and market analysis. At Manna Tree, she is working with the investment team to systematize and lead deal sourcing efforts, as well as continuing to build the network of service-providers and subject-matter experts who can support Manna Tree's portfolio companies.

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Ben Tabah, Vice PresidentBen joins Manna Tree's investment team to lead deal due diligence, supporting the investment process from initial conversations to close. He began his career doing sell-side M&A advisory with Macquarie Capital in New York City. He then joined Wellspring Capital where he was a member of the investment team and engaged in the evaluation, execution and oversight of leveraged buyout transactions totaling over $1 billion in enterprise value.

Manna Tree has also made a number of internal promotions and further additions to its operations and investor relations teams.

Allyson Patterson has been promoted to Managing Director. Allyson heads the firm's legal and compliance, manages fund operations and communications, and oversees the management company's operations.

Charlotte Forfang has joined the investor relations team as an Analyst to support fundraising and investor relationships.

Associate Lindsay Nistler has joined to lead investor services, including management of new partner onboarding, drawdowns and distributions, and investor reporting.

Makayla Brown has joined as Executive Assistant supporting Co-Founders Brent Drever and Ross Iverson, as well as overseeing office administration.

For additional information on Manna Tree, please visit www.mannatreepartners.com.

About Manna Tree

Manna Tree is a Vail, Colorado-based investment firm committed to improving human health through nutrition. The firm invests in and actively partners with growth-stage companies. We believe the future of health, well-being and longevity is attainable through innovation in food. Manna Tree has made six investments to date: Evolve Biosystems, Vital Farms, Verde Farms, MycoTechnology, Nutriati, and Gotham Greens. www.mannatreepartners.com.

CONTACT: Lisa Aldape

JConnelly

973 525 6550

laldape@jconnelly.com

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SOURCE Manna Tree
C$ unless otherwise stated

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

TORONTO, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Manulife has been notified of an unsolicited mini-tender offer made by Obatan LLC (Obatan) to purchase up to 500,000 Manulife common shares, or approximately 0.026% of the common shares outstanding, at a price of USD$12.00 per share.

Manulife is in no way associated with Obatan and does not recommend or endorse acceptance of this unsolicited offer.

Manulife cautions shareholders that the mini-tender offer has been made at a price below the current market price for Manulife shares. The offer represents a discount of 38.11% and 38.02%, respectively, below the closing prices of Manulife common shares on the TSX and NYSE on June 18, 2021, the last trading day before the mini-tender offer was commenced, and a discount of 38.07% and 37.98%, respectively, below the closing prices on the TSX and NYSE on June 23, 2021.

Mini-tender offers are designed to seek less than 5% of a company's outstanding shares, avoiding disclosure and procedural requirements applicable to most bids under Canadian and U.S. securities regulations. The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have expressed serious concerns about mini-tender offers, including the possibility that investors might tender to such offers without understanding the offer price relative to the actual market price of their securities.

The SEC states that "bidders make mini-tender offers at below-market prices, hoping that they will catch investors off guard if the investors do not compare the offer price to the current market price."

According to Obatan's offer documents, there is no right to withdraw a tender of shares once it is received by the depositary.

Shareholders should carefully review the Obatan offer documents and current market price for Manulife shares, and consult their investment advisors regarding any offer they may receive and review with their advisors all options for their investment in Manulife shares.

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Manulife has stock transfer agents providing shareholder services in Canada, the United States, Hong Kong and the Philippines. These local agents provide services directly to our registered shareholders and can provide information on share account management, direct deposit of dividends, dividend reinvestment and share purchase plans. Please email manulifeinquiries@astfinancial.com for more information.

Manulife requests that a copy of this news release be included in any distribution of materials relating to Obatan's mini-tender offer for Manulife common shares.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across our offices in Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We provide financial advice, insurance, and our global wealth and asset management segment, Manulife Investment Management, serves individuals, institutions and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2020, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 118,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 30 million customers. As of March 31, 2021, we had CAD$1.3 trillion (US$1.0 trillion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made $31.3 billion in payments to our customers. Our principal operations are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served customers for more than 155 years. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong.

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SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation

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LUNENBURG, NS, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South ShoreSt. Margarets, will make an announcement about support for small businesses.

Date: Friday, June 25, 2021



Time: 12:00 p.m. (ADT)



Notes: Media representatives are asked to register for the online event with Alice Hansen and log on no later than 12:00 p.m. (ADT) on Friday, June 25.

Stay connected

For business-related news, follow @CanadaBusiness on Twitter and Facebook and download the Canada Business app.



SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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(Reuters) -Mercedes-Benz USA said on Thursday sensitive personal information of nearly 1,000 customers and interested buyers was inadvertently made accessible on a cloud storage platform.

No Mercedes-Benz system was compromised and no files were maliciously misused, the company added.

The data accidentally made accessible comprised self-reported credit scores, driver license and social security numbers and credit card information which was entered by customers and interested buyers on dealer and company websites between January 2014 and June 2017.

Mercedes said any individual who had credit card information, a driver's license number or a social security number included in the data will be offered a complimentary two-year subscription to a credit monitoring service.

(Reporting by Shreyasee Raj;Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
Middlefield Canadian Income PCC Net Asset Value

Middlefield Canadian Income PCC

Middlefield Canadian Income - GBP PC

(a protected cell company incorporated in Jersey with registration number 93546)

Legal Entity Identifier: 2138007ENW3JEJXC8658

Net Asset Value

As at the close of business on 23 June 2021 the estimated unaudited Net Asset Value per share was 126.95 pence (including accrued income).

Investments in the Companys portfolio have been valued on a closing price basis.

Enquiries:

JTC Fund Solutions (Jersey) Limited

01534 700 000




Panasonic will update both its Lumix S1 and S5 full-frame cameras with Blackmagic RAW 5.9K 12-bit 30 fps external video recording capability on July 12th, the company announced. Both cameras will be able to output that resolution (5,888 x 3,312) at up to 30 fps over HDMI to Blackmagic Design's Video Assist 12G HDR recorder, joining the S1H with that capability.

Both the S1 and S5 could already record 5.9K 12-bit ProRes RAW video to Atomos Ninja V recorders. However, ProRes RAW is not supported in Davinci Resolve 17, so Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) recording is a must for that increasingly popular editing software. BRAW also offers more RAW compression options, though both formats have their strong and weak points.

On top of full-frame 5.9K video, both cameras will be able to capture APS-C C4K (17:9) video at up to 4,128 x 2,176 60 fps, or APS-C 3.5K anamorphic. Panasonic will also introduce an HLG photo plug-in for Adobe Photoshop for all S-series cameras, making it easier to deal with that HDR format.

The new updates are part of a welcome trend in the camera industry of adding substantial utility to older cameras. 5.9K video is particularly useful for certain types of shooting, as it allows the editor to substantially reframe shots for 4K or HD videos with no loss of detail. As mentioned, the new update will arrive on July 12th at Panasonic's customer support website here.
QIONGLAI, China, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Qionglai city in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) online with Tajimi, a city in the south of Gifu prefecture, Japan, to establish cooperative ties on June 22.

Qionglai city signs a memorandum of understanding online with Tajimi on June 22.

A business cooperation framework agreement was also signed between business organizations from the two cities.

Qionglai started official friendly exchanges with Tajimi in 2018, when the two cities were recommended to each other by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

The friendship between the two cities has strengthened in recent years as they went through a series of major events together, including ceramic culture exchanges, COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control efforts, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Tajimi city, and the Chengdu Tianfu Land Art Season.

Wang Dezhang, mayor of Qionglai, said there is much potential for friendly exchanges between Qionglai and Tajimi, as Chengdu is actively promoting a demonstration project for opening-up and cooperation in the urban construction and modern service industries jointly initiated by China and Japan, and implementing the spirit of the eighth China-Japan-ROK leaders' meeting held in Chengdu in 2019.

"I believe that the signing of the MOU will help promote cooperation in multiple fields between the two cities and will benefit the people of Qionglai and Tajimi, helping them create a happier and better life," Wang said.

Furugawa Masanori, mayor of Tajimi, expressed his gratitude to Qionglai for its generous donation of masks during the COVID-19 epidemic, and his expectation for the establishment of a Sino-Japanese painted porcelain exhibition hall in the Qionglai Museum.

He said the establishment of friendly cooperative ties has laid solid foundation for the two cities to deepen exchange in various fields such as culture, trade, and education.

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Zhu Dan, director of the cultural exchange department of CPAFFC, said the signing of the MOU will not only promote comprehensive and multi-field exchange and cooperation between the two cities, but will also play a positive role in exchange and mutual learning between the Chinese and Japanese civilizations.

Liu Xiaojun, consul general of China in Nagoya, said he hopes that the two cities will actively expand the breadth and depth of bilateral exchange and cooperation to benefit the people of the two places while contributing to friendly exchange between China and Japan.

SOURCE Qionglai Municipal Government
OTTAWA, ON, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marc Garneau, and the Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, today issued the following statement on the release of the Government of Canada's report entitled "The Downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752: Factual Analysis:"

"Today, the Government of Canada released a report that confirms that Iranian civilian and military authorities, through their decisions, actions, and omissions, are fully responsible for the downing of Flight PS752, which tragically took the lives of 176 innocent people, including 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents, and many more with ties to Canada. The report highlights the Iranian authorities' recklessness, incompetence, and wanton disregard for human life. It also concludes that Iran's official account of events is disingenuous, misleading, and superficial, and deliberately ignores key factors. This confirms Canada's view that Iran's actions and omissions in relation to Flight PS752 amount to violations of its obligations under international law.

"The report was produced by the Canadian Forensic Examination and Assessment Team, led by former CSIS Deputy Director Jeff Yaworski. The Government established the Forensic Team in October 2020 and mandated it to compile and analyze all available information about Flight PS752. This work is part of Canada's broader efforts to uncover the truth about what happened and hold the perpetrators to account.

"According to the report, Iranian authorities positioned anti-aircraft systems on high alert near a civilian airport, without implementing basic protections like closing the airspace over Tehran or notifying airlines. All planes flying into or out of Tehran's airport that night were at risk, including four civilian flights that took off immediately before Flight PS752 with hundreds of passengers on board going to major international hubs. In fact, the totality of available information leads the Forensic Team to conclude that Iran tracked multiple targets, but could not differentiate between passenger aircraft and legitimate threats.

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"The families and loved ones of the victims deserve a full explanation of Iran's dangerous and deliberate choice to keep its airspace open, and a full accounting of the Iranian military's training and command and control procedures for anti-aircraft operations. Iran has not addressed the numerous deficiencies the Forensic Team has identified.

"Iran must also account for the cover-up that followed the downing of Flight PS752, including bulldozing the crash site before investigators arrived. Iran still owes these answers to the victims' loved ones so they can have a measure of closure. And Iran owes these answers to the world, because without them, no country, airline, or passenger can have confidence in the safety of Iranian airspace.

"Canada will vigorously pursue full reparations for the downing and the harm that Iran has caused to the victims and their families. This includes, but is not limited to, seeking a full accounting of the events that took place, complete transparency regarding the ongoing criminal prosecutions, and concrete guarantees by Iran that measures have been taken to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. Canada also will be taking action to demand accountability from Iran in international forums.

"In addition, we will continue working with international partners to improve investigative protocols for shoot-down situations, and to advance the Safer Skies Initiative to better protect passengers from the risk of flying in or near conflict zones.

"To the families and loved ones of the victims: we will never walk away from our commitment to get you the answers you deserve, and we will take every measure necessary to ensure justice is served. As a country, we are here to support you through this heartbreak and sadness, and we will continue to honour the memory of those who were lost."

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Associated Links

This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca/

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

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DUBLIN, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBPH) ("Theravance Biopharma"), a diversified biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of organ-selective medicines, announced today that it intends to offer its ordinary shares in an underwritten public offering. Theravance Biopharma also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the number of ordinary shares in the offering. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

Theravance Biopharma Logo (PRNewsfoto/Theravance Biopharma, Inc.)

Theravance Biopharma intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including further development of (1) its norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, ampreloxetine, which is in a Phase 3 clinical program for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and (2) its gut-selective pan-Janus kinase inhibitor izencitinib, which is in a Phase 2b/3 clinical program for ulcerative colitis and Phase 2 clinical program for Crohn's disease. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for the advancement of its other clinical and preclinical product candidates, working capital, and acquisitions of technology or drug candidates.

SVB Leerink, Evercore ISI, and Credit Suisse are acting as bookrunners for the offering.

A shelf registration statement relating to the offered shares was filed with the SEC and is effective. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website located at http://www.sec.gov . Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from SVB Leerink LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, or by telephone at 1-800-808-7525 ext. 6105, or by email at syndicate@svbleerink.com; Evercore Group L.L.C., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 55 East 52nd Street, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10055, or by telephone at (888) 474 0200, or by email at ecm.prospectus@evercore.com; or Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 6933 Louis Stephens Drive, Raleigh, NC 27560, or by phone: 1-800-221-1037, or by e-mail at usa.prospectus@credit-suisse.com.

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This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This announcement contains "forward-looking statements" such as those, among others, relating to Theravance Biopharma's expectations regarding the completion, timing and size of the proposed public offering. These statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties; actual results could differ materially from those projected and Theravance Biopharma cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to whether or not Theravance Biopharma will be able to raise capital through the offering, the final terms of the proposed public offering, market and other conditions, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the proposed public offering. There can be no assurance that Theravance Biopharma will be able to complete the public offering on the anticipated terms, or at all. Risks and uncertainties relating to Theravance Biopharma and its business can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of Theravance Biopharma's Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2021, in Theravance Biopharma's other filings with the SEC and in the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the proposed offering to be filed with the SEC on June 24, 2021. Theravance Biopharma undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in Theravance Biopharma's expectations.

Contact: Gail Cohen

Corporate Communications

917-214-6603

investor.relations@theravance.com

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SOURCE Theravance Biopharma, Inc.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will attend the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Venice, Italy, on July 9-10 to press U.S. policy priorities on taxes, climate change and an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Treasury said on Thursday.

Yellen will meet with G20 counterparts and attend the Venice International Conference on Climate with G20 counterparts on July 11. She will then travel to Brussels to meet with European Union counterparts and the Eurogroup "to discuss U.S. policy priorities and respective efforts to support the economic recovery," the Treasury said.

Yellen said on Wednesday that she is seeking to win G20 finance ministers' endorsement of the "core principles" of U.S. proposals to revamp international taxation, including a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15%.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that a draft communique being circulated ahead of the G20 meeting indicated the finance leaders would endorse a global minimum tax, although it made no reference to a specific rate.

"While in Venice, Secretary Yellen will continue to reinforce the U.S. commitment to multilateralism and advance U.S. policy priorities on global tax policy, climate change, an inclusive economic recovery, and global health," the Treasury said.

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Scotiabank will use Visa's new Visa Installments solution to meet Canadians' increasing demand for flexible payments

TORONTO, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Visa Canada today announced it is bringing greater payment flexibility to Canadians with the launch of Visa Installments  a new option to convert purchases already made into smaller, equal payments over a defined period of time.

Visa Canada (CNW Group/Visa Canada)

Scotiabank is the first Canadian issuer to announce it will leverage Visa's Installments capability to offer its Visa credit card customers more choice in how they pay for purchases made on their credit cards, and ultimately more control over their budget. Eligible Canadian Scotiabank Visa credit cardholders will be among the first customers globally to enjoy the flexibility Visa Installments will provide, using their existing Scotiabank credit card accounts.

With the rollout, which is scheduled to begin in August 2021, any eligible Scotiabank Visa credit card customer who chooses to take advantage of the new payment installment option called Scotia SelectPay1 can split qualifying purchases they have already made on their card.

Later this year, Visa is also planning to launch Visa Installments with Canadian issuers at participating merchants during the checkout process. This will provide those issuers' customers making a qualifying purchase with their credit cards the choice to pay in installments during their transaction.

Installments currently represents a significant segment of the payment system globally, accounting for over $1.7 trillion CAD of global payment volume.2 In Canada, adoption has increased 30 per cent in the last year alone and the in-country payment opportunity is expected to be about $50 billion annually.3 The increased traction around installments across Canada and around the globe is being driven by rising consumer demand for more flexibility in payment options, and strong merchant interest in finding new ways to compete in the market and bring shoppers more ways to pay.

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"We've been watching this trend grow for years, and we've developed a solution that is tailor-made for Canadian consumers and merchants. We're excited to help Scotiabank make it happen," said Brian Weiner, VP and Head of Product and Digital, Visa Canada. "The consumer can receive an installment offering that works within the confines of their existing credit card. No new loans to track, no new forms to fill out. It gives customers the choice, flexibility and transparency that they want and need in the modern marketplace."

"We're proud to work with Visa to bring this innovative feature to our Visa credit card customers later this summer. Scotiabank SelectPay provides our credit card customers with more flexibility and convenience by enabling them to select eligible purchases and pay for those purchases over time," said Brett Mooney, Senior Vice-President, Credit Cards and Unsecured Lending at Scotiabank." It's a fast, easy, convenient way for our customers to manage their finances, and when using SelectPay our customers continue to benefit from all the other features on our award-winning cards including rewards and insurance benefits. We're excited to bring this valuable feature to our customers over the coming weeks."

Visa Installments: A solution built for scale

Visa Installments aims to provide an innovative, differentiated solution that will help the payments ecosystem meet the increasing demand for buy now, pay later alternatives.

Consumer Benefits: Eligible cardholders will have expanded purchasing options, empowering them to decide how and when they may pay for items with the cards already in their wallets/digital wallets. Shoppers can leverage existing credit with their banks, without submitting new loan applications, credit checks, or downloading a new app.

Merchant Benefits: Offering installments at checkout has been proven to increase the average purchase total and shopping cart conversion rate. 4 With a single integration, merchants may enable installment offers for eligible cardholders from participating issuers, without customers needing to sign up for a new service.

Issuer and Acquirer Benefits: With Visa Installments, issuers can offer their cardholders the added benefit of flexibility with the cards they already have. Acquirers will be able to offer new value-added services as part of their seller offering.

For more information on Visa Installments, visit: http://www.visa.ca/installments

___________________ 1 Terms and conditions apply. Only available on eligible Scotiabank credit cards. Not available to Quebec residents. Visit Scotiabank.com/selectpay to learn more. 2 Euromonitor International January 2020 Installment Sizing Report for Visa Inc. 3 Euromonitor Consulting Data Compilation for Visa Inc. ($CDN) 4 Source: Euromonitor research, Interbank Cards Center of Turkey

About Visa

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. Our relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit visa.ca, visa.com/blog and @VisaCA.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 90,000 employees and assets of approximately $1.1 trillion (as at April 30, 2021), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews. Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia.





SOURCE Visa Canada

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One of the most iconic images of the Fredericksburg regionthe billowing smokestack at the Birchwood Power Plant in King George Countycrashed to the ground Thursday morning with such controlled precision that somebody should have yelled timber.

The 402-foot stack, as its called by employees there, was brought down by a demolition company as part of plans to repurpose the former coal-fired plant into a solar facility. Crews eventually will dismantle and haul away components of the entire 14-story operation, which cost $250 million to build when it opened in 1996.

But at 7 on the dot Thursday morning, the focus was on the smokestack. It didnt implode and crumble to the ground the way demolitions of old buildings are sometimes shown on TV. Instead, there was a gigantic boom and smoke rolled out of the base of the tower as if it were a rocket being launched.

Instead of going up, the smokestack fell down, all in one piece, and hit the ground with a thud. One image of the falling stack showed the top of the tower, aimed toward State Route 3. At that split second, it looked more like one of the old cannons from the nearby Navy base at Dahlgren than industrial equipment.

Jennifer and Tony Gallahan of Stafford County found a spot off the highway to watch the demolition.
The man said Danon gave him cash, marijuana and Xanax and continued to pay him so he wouldn't talk about the alleged abuse, which he said continued through high school.

The man said he had met with Danon at a credit union near 144th and F streets in July 2020 to cash a $2,000 check from Danon. Detectives confirmed the check receipt from Danon to the man and found credit union surveillance video of the two together.

The man said he told only his therapist and his brother about the alleged abuse.

A third man, also 27, spoke to an Omaha police sergeant in August about the investigation into Danon's alleged behavior.

In a follow-up interview last month, the man told police that he had not told the sergeant what Danon had done to him because he "was embarrassed and felt demasculinized," the affidavit said.

He then said it had been a year since the first man died of an overdose and he felt that disclosing the abuse to the police "was the right thing to do."

The man said Danon masturbated and performed oral sex on him in middle school. The two other boys were Danon's "main victims," the man told police, and the abuse against him stopped in high school.
NEW YORK (AP)  Warren Buffett resigned Wednesday as trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which says it will announce plans in July to answer questions raised about its leadership structure as it deals with the divorce of its two founders.

The announcement from Buffett comes weeks after Bill and Melinda Gates revealed that they were divorcing after 27 years of marriage but would continue to jointly run one of the largest charitable foundations in the world. Buffett was one of three members of the foundations board  the other two are Bill and Melinda Gates.

For years I have been a trustee  an inactive trustee at that  of only one recipient of my funds, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMG). I am now resigning from that post, just as I have done at all corporate boards other than Berkshires, Buffett said in a prepared statement Wednesday. The CEO of BMG is Mark Suzman, an outstanding recent selection who has my full support. My goals are 100% in sync with those of the foundation, and my physical participation is in no way needed to achieve these goals.
U.S. government officials are set to discuss the future of Kabul's international airport in Ankara this week after Turkey committed to providing security for the strategic site following the planned pullout of international forces from Afghanistan later this year.



Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar is expected on June 24 to discuss the situation with a U.S. delegation that will include officials from the U.S. Defense and State Departments.



The Ankara talks come as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is set to arrive in Washington on June 24 for a visit that the White House has said will "highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues."



The Taliban have wrested control of dozens of districts from government forces in recent weeks, raising concerns that the Western-backed government in Kabul and the battered Afghan security forces may collapse after the planned U.S.-led withdrawal of allied troops by September 11.

The security of Hamid Karzai International Airport is considered to be crucial for the operation of diplomatic missions out of Afghanistan once Western forces withdraw from the war-torn country.



NATO member Turkey has offered to guard and run the facility, and has been holding talks with Washington on logistic and financial support for the mission.



Speaking to reporters in parliament on June 23, Akar said that details of the plan to secure the Kabul airport were still being discussed, but he insisted that Ankara will not send additional troops to Afghanistan as part of that mission.



Turkey had a military presence in Afghanistan working under NATO's Resolute Support Mission to guard the airport for six years, according to the Turkish minister.



"At the moment, we already have a presence there and it is out of the question for us to send any soldiers there in any way now," he said, referring to some 500 Turkish troops taking part in the NATO mission.



Last week, U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan welcomed Turkey's "clear commitment" to take a lead role in securing Kabul's airport.



Meeting on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a "detailed discussion" about the fate of the airport, Sullivan told reporters on June 17.



After the NATO summit, Erdogan told a press conference his country would need "diplomatic, logistic, and financial support" from the United States to protect the facility.



In Washington, Biden is scheduled to meet with Ghani and Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on June 25.



The White House statement on June 20 said the United States continues to support the peace process and encourages all Afghan parties" to participate meaningfully in negotiations to bring an end to the conflict."

The already-slowing intra-Afghan peace talks launched in Qatar in September 2020 largely broke off when Biden announced the pullout of U.S. forces later this year following a May 1 deadline the previous U.S. administration had agreed with the Taliban.



The White House also said that the United States is committed to supporting the Afghan people by providing diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian assistance, and reiterated a pledge to remain engaged with Afghan government "to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups who pose a threat to the U.S. homeland."



Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department announced more than $266 million in new humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, bringing to nearly $3.9 billion the amount of U.S. humanitarian aid sent there since 2002.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and Anadolu
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani begins a visit to Washington even as Taliban militants advance steadily across the country, prompting fears that government forces will be swiftly overrun once the U.S.-led international forces complete their withdrawal by September 11 at the latest.

U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, on June 25 as part of a visit that the White House said would "highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues."

The Taliban's stark advances have prompted the U.S. intelligence community to revise its outlook for how long the Western-backed government in Kabul can hold out after the departure of foreign forces, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Citing officials with knowledge of the new assessment, the newspaper reported on June 23 that U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last week that the Afghan government could collapse as soon as six months after the pullout is completed.



The WSJ noted that previous analyses said that Afghanistan's government could stand for as long as two years after the troops leave.



The Taliban has taken control of dozens of districts from government forces in recent weeks as U.S.-led international forces withdraw from Afghanistan ahead of a self-imposed September 11 deadline.

Earlier this week, the insurgents seized Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan, and pressed an offensive on the northern cities of Kunduz and Mazar-e Sharif.



The U.S. military says it has already withdrawn more than half of its 3,500 troops from the region and its equipment.



According to the WSJ, White House officials are now encouraging the military to slow the pace of the troop pullout.



Earlier this week, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the Pentagon could slow down its withdrawal in light of recent battlefield victories by the Taliban.



But he reiterated the department's plans to withdraw all troops other than the ones left to "protect the diplomatic presence" by the September deadline.

Meanwhile, Turkish and U.S. military officials met in Ankara on June 24 to discuss plans for Turkish troops to continue securing the Kabul airport -- the main gateway into Afghanistan -- after the withdrawal of the international forces.

Turkey, NATO's only majority-Muslim member, has offered to protect and run the Hamid Karzai International Airport after the alliance pulls out of the country. However, Turkey is seeking U.S. and other allies' support for the mission.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a NATO summit that Turkey was looking for "diplomatic, logistic, and financial assistance" from the United States to protect and operate the airport.

Ankara has around 500 noncombat troops in Afghanistan.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said a technical delegation from the United States had arrived for talks.

"We will continue to take on the responsibility of operating the Hamid Karzai International Airport, which we have been doing for the past six years, if the necessary conditions are met," Akar said June 24.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Cathy D'Agostino waited more than 90 minutes for an Uber ride Friday after returning from a trip to Green Bay, Wis., for a family gathering, arriving at her Colorado Springs home at midnight.

She wasn't alone  two flights arrived at the same time and she and her husband Tom D'Agostino were among the first to get a ride with dozens of others waiting even longer, she said. Similar logjams happened May 20 and Sunday, and are happening across the nation as transportation companies Lyft and Uber and taxi providers struggle to recall or hire enough drivers to meet surging demand for airport ground transportation.

"As soon as our flight arrived at 9:30 p.m., my husband turned on his cell and requested an Uber and couldn't book one. He even downloaded the Lyft app and tried to book through them. We ended up waiting an hour and a half for a ride and there were still people after us waiting for a vehicle," Cathy D'Agostino said. "I could have driven and parked there. The only reason I didn't was that they (the Colorado Springs Airport) don't have covered parking and I was worried about hail."

Brett Miller, the city's assistant aviation director, said the problem started to develop in April and typically happens on holiday weekends when travel is heavy. He is working with Uber, Lyft, and taxi providers zTrip and Pikes Peak Cab, as well as others for solutions to ensure passengers aren't stranded at the airport with no way to get home or to a hotel. Those include reserving a taxi through zTrip's Super Shuttle Express affiliate or driving to and parking at the airport. To encourage more travelers to drive and park, the airport has extended its half-price promotion for long-term parking to July 6.

"Uber, Lyft and the taxi providers were all mostly shut down during the pandemic due to lack of demand. They have tried to call back drivers that left during the pandemic, but many are unwilling to return until after the additional federal unemployment compensation expires in September," Miller said. "We recommend if there are no taxis waiting in line outside the terminal, passengers pick up a white paging phone and the communications center will get a taxi for them. We also have pushed out the flight information display system to the taxi drivers so they know when flights and passengers are arriving."

The driver shortage is not unique to Colorado Springs  reports of long waits and soaring prices for Lyft and Uber rides have been reported in Dallas, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla., New York and Phoenix. Both Lyft and Uber report that demand for rides is growing faster than the number of drivers available, and both companies are offering incentives to recruit drivers nationwide. Renting a vehicle isn't a good alternative either  rental car prices have surged amid a shortage of vehicles triggered by manufacturing delays related to a lack of semiconductors. A spokesperson for Denver International Airport didn't return a call seeking comment.

Greg Phillips, aviation director for the city of Colorado Springs, found out how widespread the driver shortage was Tuesday when he ended up waiting an hour for a taxi in Orlando and sharing it with three other people when his flight from Denver was diverted and then arrived late. He ended up at his hotel after 1 a.m. He is in Orlando for the Routes America conference where airport officials meet with airline executives to discuss possible air service expansions.

Dwight Kines, a regional vice president for zTrip parent company WHC Worldwide, said the provider of taxi and other transportation services is coping with a labor shortage just like restaurants, hotels and even airlines. He doesn't see the driver shortage getting much better for most of the rest of the year and recommends booking transportation as far in advance as possible.

"Everybody in the hospitality industry can't find enough labor to keep up with demand. Uber, Lyft, us and everyone else is short drivers. We have seen a tremendous increase in demand and have expanded our fleet by 20-25%, but we don't have enough drivers," Kines said. "We have assigned an employee in every market full time to recruit drivers. Between the extra unemployment (benefits), child care issues and school not being in session, there is a huge amount of people sitting on the sidelines."

Mark Grigo, communications manager for Pikes Peak Cab, said the company had 26 drivers before the pandemic, which declined to five and has only increased to 10. He said the shortage of drivers was made worse by two local taxi companies shutting down during the pandemic, leaving the area with too few drivers to meet demand for rides that now exceeds levels reached before the pandemic.

"At this point, we are just trying to take care of people who need to go to doctor's appointments or the airport. It is hard to accommodate everybody who needs a ride. That's just the way it is," Grigo said.
Arvada Police investigators called John Johnny Hurley a Samaritan and hero without providing details why, but his co-worker for many years was not surprised he intervened in a shooting Monday that left a police officer, the suspect and Hurley dead.

She used words such as humble and super respectful to describe Hurley, a 40-year-old Golden resident.

Witnesses said Hurley emerged from the Army Navy Surplus store in Olde Town Square Monday, pulled a concealed-carry gun and fired at the suspected gunman, 59-year-old Ronald Troyke  who was killed. Also slain was veteran Arvada Police Department Officer Gordon Beesley of Boulder.

Arvada Police did not provide any additional details Wednesday, saying only: "We understand there are still several unanswered questions surrounding the incident on Monday. We want to be as transparent as possible. We have not completed all of the witness interviews and we are waiting on forensic evidence. We hope in the next few days to have all of this information and we promise to provide that to our citizens."

For the past several years, Hurley worked at the Rocky Mountain Commissary, a shared kitchen facility in the 5600 block of Kendall Court in Arvada. Food trucks, catering companies and others use the Commissary in constant rotation. His co-worker Myra Molina described Hurley as an excellent chef and hard worker.

He loved speaking Spanish, and he was always trying to learn and asking me how to pronounce things correctly, Molina said Wednesday. He made this a better place for everyone.

Hurley had worked for a catering company up until it closed during the pandemic in 2020.

He was always here, and he was a very good chef, she said. Im still in shock  I cant believe hes gone.

Molina said that while she was working on a dough-cutting machine Tuesday, she thought she heard Hurleys voice calling Myra Myra  but there was no one there. Later, she said, it might have been a premonition.

Molina said Hurley wasn't married. She described him as an activist and remembers him being involved in several environmental issues.

She described his love for Mexico and Mexican people, and told about the time he visited Mexico  shunning the tourist traps for the heart of Mexico.

He loved the Mexican people and the culture and their accents, she said.

Hurley also loved Colorado  hiking, biking, fishing, the mountains, playing music. Molina remembered fondly how Hurley escorted her niece, visiting the state for the first time, and took her hiking and to attractions including Red Rocks.

He was super respectful, Molina said. She cried this morning when I told her about the shooting.

Hurley took great pride in his work, Molina said, remembering him always owning up to mistakes and wanting to learn to do better. After the catering company he worked for closed last year, Molina said Hurley still came to work at the Commissary doing odd jobs such as installing cameras, fixing HVAC ducts, installing ceiling tiles and helping where he could.

He always wanted to earn his money honestly," she said. "The last company he worked for, he made a lot of money because they had high-priced food."

Molina smiled and teared up a bit when remembering the last time they talked last week: He liked to dance to music. So my last memory was him dancing with me here.

Two sources said Hurley spent much of his childhood in Colorado Springs, attending Foothills Elementary, Eagleview Middle School and Air Academy High School.

Molina said she never remembers seeing Hurley with a gun, but his Facebook posts show he opposed gun control, with him writing March 22: Most of the people who support gun control hated cops last summer, now I see them posting blue line pics. What happened?

The shooting happened in front of the Army Navy Surplus store in Arvada on Monday. The store posted the following description on its Facebook page Wednesday. Owner Steven Cohen confirmed Wednesday the statements are accurate, from employee witnesses in the store that day:

The story we wanted to tell is of John Hurley from Golden. Currently he is identified as the Samaritan or citizen that died in the Olde Town shooting. We want to let people and his family know what a hero he was.

"While we did not personally know John, we did recognize him as a regular customer. John pulled into our parking lot around 1:30 and was contemplatively smoking a cigarette near his car. When he finished his cigarette, he slowly walked into our store. Within under a minute upon John entering the store, 10-15 shots of what sounded like a rifle or tactical shotgun were fired in the square 50 yards away. Upon hearing these shots, John and another unknown customer unrelated to John went out of the open door toward the square with clear intent to eliminate the threat. While the unknown customer turned left to assess the situation without pulling out a weapon, John ran quickly without hesitation straight toward the shooter."

"We want to thank and recognize John as we believe that his actions saved more lives from being taken," the post continues. "He needs to be recognized by Arvada and all the citizens of Colorado for his brave and selfless actions."

The Arvada Police Department refused The Gazettes request under the Colorado Open Records Act to release the 911 tapes of the shooting, saying its an ongoing investigation.

A Go Fund Me page has raised more than $16,000 for Hurley's family less than 24 hours. Organizer Brian Romero said Hurley's family authorized the account. "I work with his sister Erin and am putting this together on her and her family's behalf," Romero said, but did not respond to multiple inquiries by The Gazette to verify the account.

Hurleys sister, Erin Hurley, declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press, but said her family planned to issue a statement at some point.

She wrote on Facebook: Johnny acted without hesitation and possibly saved many lives while sacrificing his own.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT

How agencies can leverage social media to build trust with constituents

Social media was once seen as a way to give a human face to government agencies. In the wake of the pandemic, engagement with constituents has become less about edgy social media posts designed to boost follower numbers and, instead, more focused about competent communication of news and information in trying times. Emphasis on follower growth has been replaced by overall messaging impact and reach, as government agencies pivot to social media to establish themselves as credible sources of information.

To some, this may appear to be a big step back from previous social strategies regarding citizen engagement where agencies celebrated viral social media posts even if that meant relaxing an agencys media messaging playbook and standards. The impact of a global pandemic, and the collective shock to constituents, was a black swan for citizen engagement strategies. Although it became clear through 2020 and 2021 that citizens still want to engage with government agencies on social media, the content they expect has changed.

Here are a few tips to help agencies pivot their social media messaging and build trust with constituents:

Provide reliable updates on a consistent basis. The pandemic demonstrated that the public needed sober, dependable and reliable information. Agencies should use their official status to continue to combat disinformation and provide ongoing updates regarding the pandemic, whether they address vaccines, testing rates, reopening updates or other items. To help instill more trust with constituents, they should lean into their role as experts, focusing less on a sleek, highly visual presentation and more on a straight demonstration and reading of the facts.

Dont fully abandon a sense of humor. If humor is already part of an agencys social tone of voice, they shouldnt be afraid to bring it back when it makes sense. Previously, social media messaging advice suggested creating humorous and light-hearted posts, using engagement rates as a barometer of success. At the height of the pandemic, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot continued to use humor to encourage her constituents to stay home and save lives.

These days, we still recommend agencies find opportunities to insert lightheartedness into their social posts, but they should do so carefully, and not in reference to any of the negative aspects of the pandemic -- constituents arent quite ready to have their government jest about it. A humorous take on reopening can be acceptable, if its in mostly a celebratory mood. Constituents are excited about the activities they can now return to, and government agencies should take pride in reopenings, even show that they are having fun getting back to a semblance of normalcy. The NYC mayors office, for example, is generating anticipation as part of #SummerOfNYC while New Jersey recently incentivized its residents to get their first vaccination in May by giving away free beer.

Evolve as the crisis grows. Agencies social media communications strategy should always be evolving. Sentiment analysis and survey/research tools can help them understand how the public feels about recent and local events. As concern fades around the pandemic, agencies should calibrate how they will focus less on the somber, sober updates and return to more humorous communications. These changes, however, this should be done in a measured approach.

Encourage questions. Providing reliable answers to citizens, in real-time, has proved to be a timeless strategy. When confusion and misinformation is at an all-time high, its important agencies help alleviate citizens concerns by providing real, verifiable answers on their response to COVID-19.

Show empathy. COVID-19 has impacted both daily operations and the personal lives of not just citizens but every government employee. Agencies should ensure that their communication and social media teams are also getting the support they need. They are answering more questions than ever before.

For inspiration, agencies might look to one of the many social media accounts associated with the New York City Health and Hospitals system. Since the onset of the pandemic these accounts have been providing accurate and reliable information on COVID-19 testing, vaccines, when to see a doctor and other mission critical information. As the crisis evolved, so has their tone and style of messaging. The accounts provided mission critical information early on and today serve as an advocate to achieving public health goals. Their posts receive high share rates, and theyve continued to boost positive sentiment for the public hospital system.

Government agencies have a unique power and authority to inform the public and alleviate citizens concerns. By adapting to todays new normal, and engaging authentically and meaningfully with constituents, agencies can vastly improve trust and strengthen constituent relationships with social media.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Britney Spears asked a judge Wednesday to end court conservatorship that has controlled her life and money since 2008.

The dramatic request at a Los Angeles hearing came with her first words in open court in the conservatorship in its 13-year existence.

Spears called the conservatorship abusive, and condemned her father and the others who have controlled it.

I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated, Spears said in a long, emotional and sometimes profane speech, in which she condemned the legal arrangement and her father, who has controlled it for most of its existence.

This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good, she said. I deserve to have a life.

Spears said she wants to marry her boyfriend and have a baby, but the conservatorship wont allow her to.

About 100 fans from the so called #FreeBritney movement gathered outside the courthouse before the hearing, holding signs that read Free Britney now! and Get out of Britney's life!

Jennifer Preston, 33, crossed the country from Richmond, Virginia, to be outside the hearing because, she says, Im a mom and Im a fan.
The priest was dismissed from state employment in 1991 because of allegations of indecent contact, the report states. The priest denied the charges. After a series of hearings, an administrative law judge ruled that the charges were undetermined. Because the allegations were made to the state institution, and not the Archdiocese, the Archdiocese accepted the investigation and findings of the judge.

The archdiocese received two more allegations against the same priest, but the people did not want to pursue investigations, the report states. The Attorney General reported this priest is retired but has duties in the diocese.

While citing a history of abuse by priests and a cover-up by officials, the Attorney Generals Office noted in a news release that the Dioceses of the Catholic Church in Iowa have enacted many reforms over the last two decades, have become more responsive to victims of clergy abuse and each now reports all accusations to law enforcement.

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Miller began to focus on clergy sex abuse in Iowa after the release in 2018 by the Pennsylvania Attorney General of a grand jury report that revealed over 300 Catholic priests across that state sexually abused children for 70 years.
The report describes the arrangement between the two as unusual and appears to violate the Iowa Constitution.

Although the Citys Code of Ordinances allows for this arrangement, an ordinance does not take precedence over the Iowa Constitution, the report stated. The activity of all the Fire Departments funds should be subject to City Council review and approval and should be included in the Citys budget process.

The report states that the city of Manly has not been receiving reports of the transactions and resulting balances from the city fire department required under the Code of Iowa. The two accounts maintained by the fire department totaling $46,380 are kept separate from the city of Manlys accounting records.

For better accountability, financial and budgetary control, the financial activity and balances of all City accounts should be included in the Citys accounting records and annual budget and should be reported to the City Council monthly, the report said.

Manly Police Chief Bob Rush said that this was the first time his department was reported, but that he was already taking steps to make sure it would be the last.

"We've been through a lot of audits  this is the first time anything has come up," Rush said.
Bill was a tinkerer and enjoyed working on and collecting radios and electronics. This led him to a job at Decker Audio Visual. Eventually he worked at NIACC and finished his working career fixing typewriters and copiers with Mason City Business Systems and Fiala Office Products.

Bill delivered newspapers for the Globe Gazette as a kid and later had Mike and Tom start their own newspaper routes. Bill and Renee helped with their kid's routes and eventually took over the routes. All in all, Bill and Renee delivered newspapers for over 20 years.

Bill's biggest passion in life was bowling. He enjoyed bowling league every week and eventually became league president and joined the Mason City Bowling Association. He always talked about his 275 high game and 659 high series. He passed this passion onto his boys, and they continue bowling today.

Sunday nights you would find Bill at the Mason City speedway. The speedway was a setting for many wild nights which included smuggling in their own beers and Bill's nephews sneaking drinks from under the bleachers. Bill always said that you are not having fun at the races unless you have dirt in your beer.

Bill will be missed by everyone. He always had a good story to tell and a laugh that could fill a room.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  An Iowa man has been charged with making and placing a pipe bomb that was recently found by a young girl in a Des Moines suburb, but investigators do not believe hes linked to a bomb that was left at a nearby polling place in March.

Agents looking into the explosive devices discovered in Ankeny, a fast-growing city of about 70,000, have found no connection between the two, said John Ham, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

At this point, there is nothing to indicate that the two are related, Ham said.

On Friday, ATF agents arrested 46-year-old husband and father Chad Allen Williams after searching his home in the neighboring suburb of Johnston. Around a workbench in his garage, they found materials used to construct the bomb found in the middle of an Ankeny residential road June 9, including fireworks, a spool of fuse, a bottle of vehicle lubricant, zip ties, screws, nuts and metal wall anchors, according to charging documents.
It is anticipated that approximately 25 to 30 sworn members of the Department will travel to Texas in support of this request, said a statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The deployment is expected to last approximately two weeks.

Currently, the Iowa State Patrol has 360 sworn staff with 267 solely assigned to road duty, according to the department.

Neither the department not the governors office responded to questions after the announcement Thursday of whether the border duties would require any special training or what powers Iowa troopers have outside the state.

For officer safety purposes, the Iowa State Patrol does not provide specific operational details of missions, said Debbie McClung, a spokeswoman for the Public Safety Department.

A department email obtained by WHO-TV said that the state will be soliciting officers to travel to Texas to support this request. We anticipate the travel dates will be July 8-23, 2021.

Under the interstate pact, the states requesting the aid must reimburse other states that provide it for the cost.
BarateGites wrote:

Hi there, currently preparing for Quant with . Ive focused mainly on Quant as I have a pretty solid basis for RC and CR. The thing is I am now at 58% progress at , and after that I plan giving 3-4 weeks for and CATs . The thing is Ive noticed I am fairly weak on SC, so I am analyzing on how to improve, I read the Manhattan and but I am not sure why but those approaches havent worked for me. I was considering , what do you think of those guys? Is it a good resource if I plan to use it mainly for SC? My other issue is is very time consuming, and I work long hours, so it may be kind of tough for me to complement the study of two very time consuming programs.



I have also read positive reviews of a book, Sentence Correction Nirvana, but I havent been able to find a digital version of the book and I am from Chile, so its kind of tough to order it.



Any inputs would be highly appreciated.

Posted from my mobile device
The agency received about 120 calls in Pittsylvania County 2020, he said. The crew, which also serves part of neighboring Franklin County, answered about 90 calls there last year, Adams said.

Though the reduction wont affect the agencys ability to respond to calls, Adams said budget cuts will have to be made at the squad. That could mean sending fewer firefighters away to training conferences and symposiums and delaying replacement of equipment, he said.

The squad received $41,924 in funding from the county in 2020-21. With the reduction, $25,000 will come from the county in the 2021-22 fiscal year, which starts July 1.

Were going to serve the community the best we can, Adams said.

According to the countys 2021-22 agency funding plan, Mount Hermon Fire and Rescue, Cascade Fire and Rescue, and Brosville Fire and Rescue will see the largest increases in funding, with $24,801, $18,580 and $14,541 more for each respective department.

Those with the biggest cuts in funding include Cool Branch Rescue, followed by Laurel Grove Fire Department ($12,639) and Cool Branch Fire Department ($9,144). Mount Cross Fire Department will lose $8,815.
Coopers office didnt immediately respond to an emailed request late Wednesday for comment on the bill. But one Democrat, Rep. Wesley Harris of Mecklenburg County, said during floor debate that he anticipated Cooper would veto it. The bill would direct the state to stop administering payments within about 30 days of the measure becoming law.

Edwards had previously pitched a proposal to keep benefits in place through the summer, but combined it with a program to create bonuses of up to $1,500 for people who returned to work within 60 days. This bonus idea, which would have required federal approval, was left out of the final product.

The final measure did retain a House provision that would spend $250 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid on eliminating the individual waiting list for government subsidies for child care. Paying for day care is considered a major stumbling block for mothers to return to work. And there are more work-search requirements, which if not followed could result in the denial of benefits.

But that wasnt enough of a sweetener for Democrats, who pointed out that eliminating weekly payments will harm people still struggling in a post-pandemic economy. The $300 benefit equates to at least $60 million entering the states economy each week.
From May to early June, the latest data available, cases of the delta variant increased nationwide from 2.8% to 9.5%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the four weeks before June 22, the latest available data, just 0.7% of cases in North Carolina were the delta variant, but state health officials expect that rate to increase in the coming weeks.
When seeing an animal trapped in a hot car  and they can heat up like an oven  it may be tempting to take immediate action by breaking a window. A better course would be to call local law enforcement agencies. Police officers, firefighters and rescue workers are authorized to break into cars if its deemed necessary.

Owners should also remember that their pets paws can be very sensitive to heat. If its too hot for a human to walk barefoot on a concrete sidewalk, its too hot for a dog, too. Best to do walkies in the morning or evening rather than at noontime. And a grassy patch or dog park is more suitable any time of day.

Last year, as we began sequestering at home, many saw the wisdom in adopting or fostering pets. Across the country, there was a significant uptick in the number of pets taken home, where they eased the isolation felt by their new owners and members of their families.

Local organizations took thorough steps to facilitate adoptions and fostering while minimizing risky personal contact.

Unfortunately, some places are now seeing an uptick in people dropping their pets off at animal shelters. They include Guilford County.
Cuba imports 16 times more chicken from the U.S. than from the second supplier, Brazil. Cubas government buys chicken from the U.S. for $1 and sells it to its people for $7! And yet the writers blame the embargo for the Cuban peoples misery. Cubans are miserable because of the tyranny of the communist government.

Yes, I was born in Cuba and Im very grateful and fortunate that my family sent me to the U.S. in 1960 when I was 13 years old.

Jorge A. Mata

High Point

Is it the needles?

Im concerned by lack of vaccinations among some of our citizens and dont understand why protecting themselves and their families from this deadly disease isnt first on their list of important things to do.

We at Abbotswood have had our shots for months now and feel very good about it. They take good care of us here. Who is taking care of you?

I have had both shots but cringe every time I have to see a needle entering an arm on TV. What if they stopped showing us these painful and frightening things? Would participation increase? Its worth a try.
From the China Alley Preservation Societys very first Moon Festival to the last Festival celebrated forty years later, in 2019, the Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo Chinese Student Associations Lion Dance Team has participated in our celebrations, performing their intricate Lion Dance.

Lions play an important role in Chinese culture, symbolizing power, wisdom and superiority. Lion dancing originated during the Tang dynasty (618-906 AD). This dance is presented on special occasions, such as Chinese New Year and other traditional and cultural festivals,

Lion dances are accompanied by the music of vigorous beating drums, cymbals, and gongs that are synchronized to the lion dance movements. The lion dance performance is said to bring luck and to dispel evil spirits.

Several years ago, the Lion Dancers retired two of their lion costumes and generously donated them to the Preservation Society. We proudly displayed our lions in the alcove on the bottom floor of the Temple Museum, where they watched over the Museums gift shop.

During the Temples heartbreaking fire on May 12, the ceiling above the lions began to singe as the blaze continued to grow on the second floor. It was then as though the true spirit of the Chinese lion had vitalized our lions as they worked furiously to drive the evil fire away from rear of the bottom floor. Three exhibit rooms were saved. Although they need much conservation because of the smoke, the rooms honoring the restaurants, the herbalists, and the gambling rooms that once dotted China Alley remain whole and intact.

Our lions were not so lucky. They are badly damaged, most likely beyond repair. But I will always remember these mighty lions, how in their fullness they strutted and floated up and down China Alley, fiery in their own right, protective even then as they brought blessings to the Temple and entertained us all. I am haunted by the fierceness of their joy then, the fierceness of their loss now.

In an early column I wrote that in many Chinese household kitchens, a pile of tangerine peels may be found drying on the kitchen counter. Used as a seasoning ingredient, the dried peels add a special depth of flavor to many recipes. I use dried tangerine peel in soups, stews and braised dishes, its essence suffuses the entire dish.

This week Im sharing a braised chicken wing recipe that calls for a piece of dried tangerine peel. If you dont have any dried peel, its still a tasty recipe without it. Should you wish to make your own dried peel, it is easy to do. Wash and dry the fruit. Carefully peel the skin off the fruit. With a sharp knife, remove any thick or stringy pieces of pith. Dry the peel in a warm place until it is hard. This usually takes a few days and up to a week. Store in an airtight jar and the peels will keep indefinitely.
Habitat for Humanity of Tulare/Kings Counties ReStore in Hanford is located at 415 W. Lacey Blvd.
These are just some of the issues laid out in the near 40-page complaint. Others include lack of signage noting accessible routes and inadequate removal of snow and ice during the winter months. The complaint never sought any monetary gain but rather for Carroll to correct these issues. When asked what DRM seeks via the complaint, Brenneman said, "An inclusive campus for students, staff, faculty and members of the public who have disabilities."

"During our investigation, we learned that students did not know how to ask for reasonable accommodations so they could fully participate in classes and other programs provided by the college," Brenneman said. "Some dropped classes that were in inaccessible buildings, others had to miss class when accessible parking spots were not cleared for snow and they couldn't physically get to class. Others had issues where classes included mandatory field trips to locations where people with mobility impairments could not go."

Erik Rose, director of institutional and integration with Carroll, who works as liaison with the OCR, said he was not aware of students who were asked or forced to drop classes because of accessibility.

Cech said the college will accommodate students with accessibility issues.
And he said such a hearing could result in Weiners favor.

If the hearing panel makes a recommendation which favors Weiner and does not recommend an adverse action report, then no report will be made, Menahan said.

And he said if there is an adverse finding, St. Peters would have to ask the court to lift the preliminary injunction.

St. Peters terminated Weiner, its only oncologist on Nov. 17, saying he had incorrectly treated a patient for lung cancer for 11 years before it was determined the person did not have the disease at the time of death. The hospitals legal counsel also said that it learned of alarming narcotic prescribing practices by Weiner.

Weiner had been with the hospital for nearly 25 years. He sued St. Peters Health, its chief executive officer and several of its physicians for damages, saying suspending his clinical privileges violated due process, was done without good cause and damaged his reputation. He said he was a dedicated physician who saw 60 or more cancer patients daily.
For more detailed and the most up-to-date information, visit https://www.bigskypride.com/2021-events

Site also includes ticket links and maps

Thought Out: Queer Letters, Colors & Life

Now and throughout Pride Week, The Myrna Loy Jailhouse Gallery, 15 N. Ewing St., hosts Thought Out: Queer Letters, Colors & Life.

This art show runs now through Aug.13.

Works by 16 LGBTQ artists from different backgrounds and ethnicities, with a range of gender and ages, reveal the raw nature of finding identity and passion in life.

Its an exciting reveal of the expressive power of Montanas LGBTQ+ community.

An artist reception will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 15, featuring some of the artists and the team of curators for this show.

All works are for sale. On view now, noon-9 p.m. weekdays, and 1-6 Saturdays.

Drag Brunch at Maisons

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11,

$15 p.p. reservation, (food and alcohol not included)
Veterans, their families and caregivers can receive a free COVID-19 vaccine Friday from Montana VA Health Care System at the American Legion of Montanas Department Convention in Helena.

I encourage all attendees and their families to take advantage of the MTVAHCS vaccine clinic this Friday, said American Legion Department of Montana Cmdr. Jeff Nelson.

All veterans (enrolled and unenrolled), their spouses, their caregivers, and dependents who are age 18 or over can receive a free walk-in COVID-19 vaccine 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday at the Delta Hotels Helena Colonial, 2301 Colonial Drive. No appointments are necessary.

This pandemic has impacted every Montanan and taken the lives of 1,657 loved ones. The COVID-19 vaccines are our path to ending this pandemic, said MTVAHCS Executive Director, Dr. Judy Hayman.

She thanked Nelson and the American Legion for hosting the clinic.

Nelson encouraged people to bring a veteran friend who has not yet received their vaccine.

"We all need to help protect each other to end this pandemic, he said.
A 55-year-old man from Bridger who admitted spilling and igniting gasoline while repairing a dirt bike on U.S. Forest Service land has been charged with causing the Robertson Draw fire, which has burned 29,601 acres south of Red Lodge.

John Lightburn was arrested on a warrant issued by Carbon County Attorney Alex Nixon, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office announced in a press release Thursday.

According to an affidavit filed in Carbon County District Court on Wednesday, Lightburn had been riding a dirt bike off trail near the base of Mount Maurice at 10 a.m. on June 13. The path, on U.S. Forest Service land, was closed to motorized vehicles.

He coasted the bike downhill after the engine appeared to be flooding. Lightburn then stopped the bike to repair it, and in the process spilled gasoline "all over," he told Forest Service officials.

He then checked his spark plug, which sparked and ignited the gasoline and surrounding vegetation. Lightburn admitted to officials he did not make an effort to stop the fire, and instead took off his shoes and fled the scene.
"The point is, there is were a total of four copies that we know of of this video. We couldn't find the first three and we didn't know the fourth existed until somebody by happenstance said 'Hey let me check in this specific location,' and they found it," Haffeman said. "We can go back and say, gee, maybe you should have looked at that location, maybe not, and complain about whether we should have found it earlier. But the fact of the matter is, we found it. Voila."

At trial, because the missing video wouldn't be showed, Seeley's sanctions include an instruction to the jury that it would have been unfavorable to MHP's arguments.

Haffeman argued Burgess' attorney was only trying to keep the sanctions in place so the video wouldn't be shown to the jury. Attorneys for the highway patrol have argued the incident couldn't have produced the injuries Burgess claims in his lawsuit, which include a concussion and spinal injuries.

"Let's criticize this and let's criticize that," Haffeman said. "Well this is a shell game that's intended to avoid letting the jury know what the facts are and having the jury decide the case on the merits."

Part of MHP's explanation was that the video was lost in the sprawling agency's bureaucratic cracks.
This paper recently ran an opinion piece by politicians Galt, Vinson and Knudsen that cannot go unchallenged.

No matter how hard they try to spin the facts, the last legislative session hurt Montanas resident hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts more than any in memory. While they correctly note that Montana would not be Montana without the ability to live, work and play outside, their own legislative agenda took dangerous steps toward making this impossible.

Providing landowners with big game tags to do with as they please and drastically increasing the number of tags reserved for outfitters and their wealthy out-of-state clients is but the first step in the move toward the complete Texas style commercialization of our wildlife resources, which properly belong to everyone.

Im not sure who the environmental groups making these allegedly false claims are (probably the same ones whose finances Galt and company sought to investigate) but the people I know who were left dismayed by this agenda are hard-working Montanans of ordinary means who are tired of seeing their outdoor heritage wrested away and sold to the highest bidder. We dont need shooting ranges and fish cleaning stations. We need reasonable public access to public lands and waters in accordance with the Montana Constitution.
Every day, 30 babies are born in Montana.

That is an entire classroom of future fourth graders born per day. By fourth grade, only 11 of these kids will read proficiently and be on track for future academic success. The other 19 will struggle to read at grade level and may fall behind in school. How these children spend their early years matters.

Supportive early learning environments help children develop the social, emotional and literacy skills they need to succeed in school and life. Children experience rapid brain development when they are young. They learn an entire language and can recognize 10,000 words by age 5. By playing with other children, they learn social and emotional skills. Early learning has more than just short-term benefits though. Research shows that children who attend early education programs are less likely to need special education and more likely to graduate from high school.

This week KIDS COUNT released its 32nd annual data book comparing all 50 states in child well-being. The latest rankings show that Montana is 26th in education. Unfortunately, two-thirds of Montana fourth graders do not read proficiently, and this number has not changed in a decade, showing that reading progress stalled.
This new process for the sale of surplus licenses began in 2020 in response to issues in years past. The old process was vulnerable to long lag times, confusion and a perception of inequity for those unable to use the first-come, first-served online option starting at 5 a.m.

Hunters can sign up for leftover licenses and permits that were not distributed by the drawing on the FWP website. Hunters at the top of the list will be contacted via email with instructions to finalize their purchase within a specified time.

To be placed on the Surplus License List, resident and nonresident hunters can sign up through the MyFWP portal: https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpExtPortal/login/login.jsp. Payment is not required to sign up on the Surplus License List. Obtaining a license from this list has no effect on your existing preference points.

Hunters must finalize the purchase of the license/permit within the timeframe specified in the email, otherwise, your opportunity will be offered to the next hunter on the list. FWP may offer opportunities that have not sold out to over-the-counter customers at license sale providers.

The timeframes to sign up for the various lists are:
NIANTIC  For Aissa Norris, 61, the journey from showing symptoms to receiving a diagnosis was anything but a straight shot.

In 2015, Norris was principal at Pershing Early Learning Center in Decatur  a job of managing 700 kids and 70 staff that, when coupled with her and her husband's business of running an event venue in Niantic, meant she "was on the go all of the time."

"An 80- to 100-hour week was not unusual for me," Norris said.

While she enjoyed her work, the principal position was stressful  and that stress is initially what she blamed when strange symptoms began to bother her, she said.

"I just noticed my hands weren't working. I had severe pain that would keep me up, severe fatigue and I started having a big variety of symptoms of tightness in my skin and more of an arthritic condition, hurting everywhere and not being able to get out of that," she said.

Ultimately, she stepped down from being principal, hoping an easing of stress would relieve the symptoms. Instead, they got worse.

"It was to the point that I could no longer brush my teeth, couldn't get my hand to my mouth. I wasn't capable of bathing myself. It turned to where the knob on a light switch  it hurt terribly to even have my fingers touch it," she said. "Something definitely was not right."

While her symptoms worsened and left her more confused, Norris estimates she saw six doctors, but still didn't have a definitive answer for what her body was doing. While they wondered, Norris lost her ability to walk.

"I was finally sent by my general practitioner to occupational therapy to try to help me maintain what mobility I had," she said. "I worked for about six months with an occupational therapist and she said, 'You know, I think you might have a disease called scleroderma.'"

When the therapist mentioned scleroderma to her, Norris recognized the disease from her own research, remembering it as a rare illness that hardens and tightens the skin and other, connective tissues, according to Johns Hopkins University. An autoimmune disorder, the disease prompts the body to produce collagen as if there was an injury that needs repair. But the cells don't turn off, produce too much collagen in tissues, and can "prevent the body's organs from functioning normally."

For some, the experience is limited only to the skin. For others, harm extends to internal organs or the digestive tract. For all who receive the diagnosis, the disease is chronic, though the severity of the illness can vary from person to person.

It cannot be cured, but diagnosed properly, it can be treated.

Getting the diagnosis, as Norris learned, can be one of the more challenging aspects of managing the disease.

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After hearing from her occupational therapist, Norris went back to her doctor, who said it was possible and planned to send her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

"That was like in November and I couldn't get there until February and every day was getting worse," she said. "From what I knew about scleroderma, if it wasn't treated rapidly, it is terminal in some forms. There are many kinds of scleroderma, but from the symptoms I was having, it was possible I had a pretty bad case."

Norris went back online, where she found the national Scleroderma Foundation, which then led to her to a Chicago-based chapter of the advocacy group. From there, Norris learned she could see a doctor who specialized in the autoimmune disorder and rheumatology disease at Northwestern University.

"I walked in and the rheumatologist looked at me and said, 'Well, you're a classic case of scleroderma.' I froze in my spot," she said. "'I said, 'Just give me one minute, I have to cry for a second  I'm scared to death but I'm so thankful that after searching, somebody can just look at me and say, ''This is what you have.''"

Through the Scleroderma Foundation Greater Chicago Chapter, Norris learned of support groups and clinical trials she could attend as a result of her diagnosis.

"As I talked to people on the phone, I found out there were shortcuts and things," she said. "Just for someone to talk to you one the phone was unbelievable  to say, 'God, I understand that. I know how that feels.'"

Stephanie Somers Gresh, executive director of the Chicago chapter, said that's exactly why the group exists. More than a decade ago, her own mother was diagnosed with scleroderma, but like Norris, neither her mother nor anyone in her family had heard of the disease.

"We found the foundation and decided that we wanted to do something about it," Gresh saud. "We just thought there is not enough awareness of this."

Gresh started as a volunteer 13 years ago and for the past eight has been the chapter's executive director.

"I just found the work very important and meaningful," she said. "I want to continue to help and shed light on this cause. (Getting a diagnosis) is definitely part of the issue."

The foundation aims to allow opportunities for access to clinical research trials, advanced education for medical professionals so they can better diagnose the disease when they see it and run support groups so people don't have to find all of their information online.

Norris said the knowledge and the support of others has changed her life.

Her disease remains a chronic condition  for those who have it, there is no true cure that eradicates scleroderma. But she's been part of trials, learned to live with it, and began leading a support group to share her story with others, something she plans to do for as long as she can so that fewer people have to live with the uncertainty that she did.

"You still have to travel the path  you don't get to skip the path, but you're not walking alone," she said. "I think that is a big help and finding, getting people to things quickly is so important for any chronic condition or terminal condition.

"We're all dying. We're all going to die. But you can be empowered and live today, for today, in a much happier fashion than being afraid. I think that's very important for people."

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ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA  Mattoon native and Eastern Illinois University alumnus Ed Ward was shot to death Sunday morning in his doorway in what police are calling a random incident.

The Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported that authorities say a 45-year-old Duluth, Minnesota, man is facing felony charges for shooting Ward, 68, after crashing a stolen vehicle in the St. Cloud man's front yard.

Mattoon resident Chris Hutton said Ward was the son of Roy and Faye Ward of Mattoon and grew up in the 3000 block of Marion Avenue. She said Ward became friends with her husband, Chuck Hutton, when they were children; graduated with him from Mattoon High School together in 1971; and had stayed connected with him ever since then.

"He was the nicest guy you would ever want to know. He was always jovial and laughing," Hutton said. She noted that Ward and his wife adopted two children, who are now grown.

Ward obtained his bachelor's and master's from Eastern Illinois University and his doctorate from the University of Nebraska. He was a professor in the management and entrepreneurship department at St. Cloud State University and had taught at the school for more than three decades.

Hutton said she and her husband have been moved by the messages that Ward's former students have posted on his online memorial wall.

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"He cared about his students. He would go out of his way to help his students," Hutton said, adding that Ward felt the same way about his family and friends. "It's just unbelievable that this happened."

The Star Tribune reported that the alleged shooter, Jason R. Beckman, reportedly told investigators that he got lost while driving and crashed, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Stearns County District Court. Beckman said he then knocked on the house's front door and thought the man who answered, Ward, was a man who had pointed a rifle at him earlier at a store, according to court documents.

As Ward tried to slam the door, Beckman shot him twice before fleeing on foot, the complaint states. Beckman told investigators he was not sure if the man with the rifle was real, as he had been previously diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and manic depressive disorder, the complaint states.

Beckman was charged with theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, and second-degree murder. He has two previous felony convictions for assault, which prohibit him from possessing a handgun.

St. Cloud police were dispatched to the shooting at about 6:16 a.m. At about 7:11 a.m., Beckman was arrested on foot about 1.5 miles from the scene. He was found in possession of a stolen .45 caliber handgun and cartridges consistent with items recovered from the scene, court documents state. Officers found a .45 caliber magazine and suspected drugs in the stolen vehicle left at the scene.

After Ward was shot, he was able to provide authorities with a description of the suspect before he was sedated. He was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m.

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DECATUR  The Decatur School District is planning to return to normal school days in August, with five days a week of in-person learning and regular school hours.

In doing so, officials said during Tuesday's school board meeting that the district will follow the Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines in place at that time,. Currently, those guidelines would still require masks and social distancing as much as possible.

The district spent nearly all of the past school year offering classes remotely.

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Students in fragile medical conditions must request remote learning through the Student Services office, 217-362-3060.

COVID-19 vaccines for ages 12 and older will be offered 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, July 6 and July 8, in cooperation with the Macon County Health Department. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Superintendent Paul Fregeau said districts have asked the Illinois State Board of Education for specific guidance and have not yet received it. It's difficult to make concrete plans without that, he said.

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CHICAGO  Two men who said they were sexually molested decades ago by a notorious Catholic priest who was imprisoned for molesting other boys have agreed to a settlement of $880,000 from the Archdiocese of Chicago, attorneys announced Wednesday.

The men alleged Norbert Maday sexually abused them repeatedly starting when they were as young as 10 years old while they were alter boys and students at St. Bede the Venerable Elementary School on the citys South Side, attorneys Jason Friedl and Martin Gould said.

Based on lawsuits, court cases and documents, the two were among at least 14 boys whom Maday molested at the six parishes where he was assigned from 1967 to 1986, the attorneys said, adding that they believe Maday died in recent years.

Archdiocese spokesman Manny Gonzalez declined to comment on the settlement.

Friedl and Gould said the agreement was reached before a lawsuit was even filed, representing a significant shift for an archdiocese that has a history of protecting sexually abusive priests.

This is a sharp departure from prior responses and it is a good sign (because) the church itself is recognizing what has happened in the past, said Friedl. This is an indication of a new culture of protection, healing and accountability.

Maday figured prominently in reports about the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church in the United States and around the world, as it played out in Chicago. He has been named in lawsuits and in 2014, documents related to Maday appeared among thousands of pages that showed senior Chicago Archdiocese leaders had helped hide the abuse of children.

Those documents revealed that then-Cardinal Francis George had tried to get Maday released early from a Wisconsin prison, where he was detained after a 1994 conviction for molesting two boys.

It would be a great fulfillment of the millennium spirit to see your captive heart set free, George wrote to Maday in 2000.

But two years later, George heard from another man who alleged he was sexually abused by Maday.

Where was the church for the victims of this sick, demented, twisted pedophile? the man wrote.

George subsequently changed course, writing in 2007 to the Parole Commission of Wisconsin  just before Madays scheduled release  that he had formally removed Maday from the priesthood and was severing all ties with him. George died in 2015.

My first reason is the protection of the vulnerable, George explained, adding, "It would be a cause of scandal ... if he were to return to the Chicago metropolitan area and remain a priest.

Maday was released in 2007, according to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections' website and in 2014, the state's sex offender registry gave his address in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

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BELLVILLE  A southern Illinois congresswoman will host a private fundraising event in Effingham next month with another U.S. representative who holds similar far-right views.

Republican U.S. Reps. Mary Miller and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia will hold a reception and dinner on Thursday, July 8, at the Effingham Performing Arts Center in the downstate Illinois city about an hour from Miller's hometown of Oakland.

The event marks the beginnings of Miller's campaign for possible reelection in 2022. Illinois' primary was moved from March 15 to June 28 to accommodate for delays in 2020 U.S. Census results.

Miller replaced retired Congressman John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, in Illinois' 15th Congressional District. Political experts see the sprawling, mostly rural district as likely to be redrawn by Illinois Democrats following the Census.

Inviting Greene to speak at the event underlines Miller's far-right positions and support for former President Donald Trump.

Both first-term representatives continue to vocally support Trump, and have also both been criticized for alluding to Nazi Germany in separate statements this year. Miller said "Hitler was right" about youth indoctrination the day before the Jan. 6 riot in Washington, D.C., and Greene compared mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the Holocaust.

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Both later apologized for their comments.

The evening is billed as a "patriot reception" and "private dinner for freedom and liberty sponsors." Attendees must submit their names prior to the event with their purchase of a $75 ticket per person. Sponsorships ranging from $500 to $5,800 are also available.

Miller has aligned herself with Greene, most recently joining her at a press conference promoting a bill that would "fire" the nation's leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. The bill would reduce Fauci's salary to zero, but as a civil servant he can't be fired directly by either Congress or the president. Miller and Greene also voted against a bill honoring police who protected the U.S. Capitol during the riot and were both cited for not wearing masks on the House floor in May.

Both women have become targets among Democrats and even centrist voters in their own party, but their dedication to Trump has won them popularity and plenty of campaign cash. In addition to sizable donations from Republican establishment political action committees, Miller collected more than $435,000 from 340 individual donors, only half of them from Illinois, leading up to the 2020 primary.

Miller raised $39,324 from January through March this year, with 42% coming from political action committees and 53% from individuals. The remaining contributions were refunds or reimbursements from campaign vendors.

Miller's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

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But Soderbergh did walk away from the experience  a satisfying and unique one, he says  with a gnawing sense of a larger existential crisis for movies. Ratings, like they have for most pandemic award shows, plummeted.

I just look at it as a larger issue than the specifics of what our show looked like, and that is: How do we make people care about the movies the way they used to?" Soderbergh says. To me, this is the real question that needs to be confronted.

But the conditions, and the opportunities of streaming, are also ripe for a protean, fast-working filmmaker like Soderbergh. He recently shot his third film for HBO Max, KIMI," a pandemic-set thriller with Zoe Kravitz. No Sudden Move, a period crime film for adults, is very much the kind of movie that before the streaming flood gates opened would have been unlikely to get made.
Milton, who has cooked at some of the countrys most prestigious restaurants, credits his family with the impact local cuisine has had on him.

I was learning some really, really cool stuff thats still invaluable to this day in how I cook and the things that I can do, but I really started thinking about the food I grew up with because theres so much heart and soul and love to it, Milton said. I really, really set out to do a restaurant thats rooted in Appalachian heritage, Appalachian varietals.

As construction on Hickory continues, Milton cooks at Taste, Wood-Fired Kitchen, an operational restaurant on the property. The open-air restaurant resembling a barn features such menu items as tuna noodle casserole with a twist and Kool-Ade pickles.

One of Miltons goals is to have a commissary kitchen, a commercial kitchen where cooks can prepare and store food, at the inn when it opens.

In creating his dishes, Milton takes inspiration from the farm.

My menus change quite often, Milton said, depending on the produce grown on the farm. Down here [at the inn], itll change almost daily based off of what weve got.
A recent report by ThinkTennessee compares the redistricting process in our state with others. It points out that Tennessee citizens have had less access to draft district maps than those in most other states.

Citizens in 33 other states are allowed to view draft maps, with many of those states inviting public comment about the maps. Leaders in 32 states hold public meetings to gather community input before maps are drawn.

A growing number of states, 15 to date, have created commissions, to handle redistricting. Some of them are independent.

Can and should state leaders up their game on transparency and open the door for more public discussion?

Yes, they can and they should.

We are in a fractious political environment in which high stakes are regularly attached to decisions and events. In Tennessee, Democrats fear that Republicans could try to take away a congressional seat by slicing up Davidson County, a solidly blue dot in an otherwise sea of red voters in the state. Republicans want to take back the U.S. House after a contentious and challenged presidential election, and Tennessee could help.

Some think engineering districts to be too red or too blue further deepens the political divisions.
" " This painting by Luigi Russolo is titled "Nietzsche and Madness." Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images/HowStuffWorks

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (who was famous for the quote "God is dead") was the son and grandson of Lutheran ministers. He was expected to follow their path, but the precocious young Nietzsche had his own ideas. And these were enormously influential in the 20th century.

Born in 1844 in a small town near Leipzig, Germany, Nietzsche excelled in school, played and composed music and was a fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays. His papers on philology (the structure and development of languages) were so impressive that young Nietzsche was called to be the chair of philology at the University of Basel (Switzerland) before he even finished his doctoral dissertation at the University of Leipzig (Germany). He was only 24.

The Nietzsche we know, however, isn't the brilliant student of his early years, but rather the iconoclastic, mustachioed philosopher at the height of his intellectual and creative power. The author of books and essays with wickedly provocative titles like "The Anti-Christ" and "Beyond Good and Evil," Nietzsche said that the purpose of his work was to "overthrow idols" and "ideals." He had no patience for religious or philosophical views that looked beyond the earthly, human experience, and gleefully attacked conventional ways of thinking (including classical philosophy) with dagger-like strokes of his pen.

That said, Nietzsche isn't for everybody. His prose is playful and musical, but his meaning is often opaque. For example, Nietzsche loved to write aphorisms  short, pithy truisms that would fit nicely on a bumper sticker. But the aphorisms, while clever, often present more questions than answers. Here are a few from the opening chapter of "Twilight of the Idols":

Even the bravest of us only rarely have the bravery for what we actually know...



All truth is simple."  Isn't that doubly a lie?



What? Is humanity just God's mistake? Or God just a mistake of humanity?

Reading Nietzsche, it's clear that you're in the presence of a rare genius, but unraveling the meaning of his grand pronouncements has kept scholars arguing for more than a century.

To help us make sense of Nietzsche's unconventional mind, we reached out to Dale Wilkerson, a professor of philosophy at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and author of the excellent entry on Friedrich Nietzsche in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Here are five quotes from Nietzsche, starting with the most famous (and infamous) of them all.

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1. "God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him."

These notoriously controversial lines from "The Gay Science" (1882) are spoken as part of a strange, allegorical tale. In aphorism 125 of the book, Nietzsche writes of a "madman" who wanders into the town market crying, "I seek God! I seek God!" The crowd of unbelievers mock and laugh at the madman, who turns on them and responds, "Whither is God? I will tell you. We have killed him  you and I. All of us are his murderers."

To a person of faith, Nietzsche's claim that "God is dead" sounds like an atheist philosopher claiming the victory of humanism over religion, or reason over superstition. But Wilkerson argues that Nietzsche isn't saying that humanism or Nietzsche himself has "killed" God.

"There's nothing triumphal about what Nietzsche is saying here," says Wilkerson. "What he's pointing to is what he thinks is a historical fact  European society is no longer as dependent upon religion as it once was."

" " A portrait of Nietzche. ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images

The second half of the 19th century was a time of tremendous social, economic and political upheaval. Railroads moved people, goods and ideas like never before. Old kingdoms gave way to the rise of the nation state. And Darwin challenged the traditional religious basis of creation with his earth-shattering theories of evolution.

When Nietzsche says that "God is dead," he's not just saying that the authority of the Church has been nullified (though he believed that), but rather, there is no such thing anymore as an "absolute." No philosophical absolutes, no logical absolutes, no absolutes in nature, and certainly no religious absolutes like absolute "good" or absolute "evil."

"All of that has been disrupted by the 19th century," says Wilkerson.

Does that mean that in the absence of absolutes, Nietzsche advocated for strict utilitarianism (actions are "right" if they promote happiness for the most people) or wanton hedonism (the pursuit of pleasure is the highest good)? Absolutely not.

"Nietzsche believes that God is dead, therefore we have to challenge ourselves to become 'noble' and it's up to each of us to figure out how to do that," says Wilkerson. "We don't do that by purely seeking pleasure, though."

Bonus quote: "After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands."

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2. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

You might be surprised to learn that Nietzsche came up with that line, too, sometimes written as "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." But what exactly did Nietzsche mean by this statement, which sounds like a coffee mug cliche about resilience or puts you in mind of a certain Kelly Clarkson song?

First of all, it's "objectively not true," says Wilkerson. There are plenty of things that might not kill you, but can leave you weaker (physically, mentally or emotionally) than before they came around. Nietzsche himself was reduced to a "mental vegetable" for the last 11 years of his life, says Wilkerson, after suffering a breakdown and two strokes probably caused by syphilis. The disease didn't kill him immediately, but it didn't make him stronger, either.

Instead, Wilkerson sees Nietzsche's statement as a continuation of the themes introduced with the "death of God." Nietzsche is often accused of being a nihilist, which is someone who rejects conventional morality and religiosity under the belief that life, at its core, is meaningless.

"Nietzsche admits that his work raises some difficult issues," says Wilkerson. "His work could be considered nihilistic, but Nietzsche says that he's confronting nihilism head on. Losing the idea of God could be depressing and some would consider that to be nihilistic, but Nietzsche insists that it's not."

To Nietzsche, the death of God and other "absolutes" doesn't make life meaningless. It frees us to create new values and paradigms for finding meaning. Out of the ashes of religion and conventional morality, Nietzsche foretells the rise of the Ubermensch or "overman" (sometimes translated as "superman") who will be "stronger" psychologically and physically than what came before.

Bonus quote: "He who cannot obey himself will be commanded. That is the nature of living creatures."

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3. "It is only as an aesthetic phenomenon that existence and the world are eternally justified."

If God is "dead," then what do we raise up in place of his absolute authority? As a late-19th century philosopher, you might expect Nietzsche to land on the side of reason and logic. But cold reason and pure logic were just as empty and meaningless for Nietzsche as religion. Explaining why something is logically "true" doesn't necessarily imbue it with meaning.

For Nietzsche, the highest expression of the human spirit was art. Nietzsche was a musician and poet and was once very close friends with the German composer Richard Wagner. Before they had a falling out over Wagner's nationalism and anti-Semitism, Nietzsche was enthralled by the composer's sweeping artistic vision. The above quote comes from a book called "The Birth of Tragedy" (1872), which Nietzsche wrote when he was still very much under Wagner's spell.

So, what does Nietzsche mean when he says that existence is only "justified" as an "aesthetic" phenomenon"?

"Human beings are unique in that we create a world for ourselves," says Wilkerson. "We create whole systems of beliefs. We create gods, we create rituals, we create social/moral norms. All of that is an aesthetic phenomenon, but that's everything for Nietzsche. We wouldn't be who we are without that kind of creativity."

Art, for Nietzsche, isn't just a creative exercise or outlet, but a way of accessing a deeper sense of understanding beyond mere logic and reason. He was a huge fan of Greek tragedies and identified with the "Dionysian" spirit of unbridled passions and a sense of wonder rather than the cool rationality of Western philosophy.

Bonus quote: "Without music, life would be a mistake."

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4. "The world is the will to power and nothing more, and you yourself are also this will to power and nothing more."

Now we're getting into the really deep (and confusing) stuff. Scholars agree that one of Nietzsche's key doctrines is something called "will to power," but that's about all they agree upon. Nietzsche doesn't lay out his arguments in the traditional philosophical fashion, and often prefers questions over answers, so it's rare that he says something is unequivocally "good" or "bad." But in a late book called "The Anti-Christ" (written in 1888, published in 1895), he writes:

What is good? Everything that heightens the feeling of power in man, the will to power, power itself.

What is bad? Everything that is born of weakness.

What is happiness? The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome.

As a philosophy, that sounds kind of brutal  power is good and weakness is bad. It's no wonder that Adolph Hitler latched onto (and misinterpreted) Nietzsche as his favorite German philosopher. But Wilkerson sees "will to power" in a different light, as Nietzsche's way of trying to explain how values change over time. Since nothing is absolute, including values or morality, then what is underlying the force that causes them to shift?

In his notebooks, Nietzsche explains "will to power" as a primordial force that governs all interactions, on both a cosmic and human level:

"My idea is that every specific body strives to become master over all space and to extend its force (its will to power) and to thrust back all that resists its extension. But it continually encounters similar efforts on the part of other bodies and ends by coming to an arrangement ("union") with those of them that are sufficiently related to it: thus they then conspire together for power. And the process goes on."

Wilkerson interprets this to mean that human beings have a twofold drive: the first is to preserve themselves, but the second (and perhaps more important) is to enhance themselves. That's what Nietzsche means by "extending" the will to power. And there's a constant game of tug-of-war between those two drives. Sometimes enhancement comes at the risk of preservation and sometimes preservation hinders enhancement.

How does this connect back to values?

"Values change over the course of time, and if you investigate the nature of any specific value, they reveal an ancient will to power," says Wilkerson. "They reveal how people try to enhance themselves and preserve themselves at the same time."

Bonus quote: "Your will and your values you set upon the river of becoming. What the people believe to be good and evil reveals to me an ancient will to power."

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5. "And this secret life itself spoke to me: 'Behold,' it said, 'I am that which must always overcome itself.'"

That quote is from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" (1883), a philosophical novel in which Nietzsche uses the ancient Persian prophet Zarathustra as a mouthpiece for his philosophies. One of the themes of the novel hearkens back to the "death of God" conundrum. Mankind has arrived at a philosophical crisis that requires a thorough questioning not only of religious morality, but of the entire Western philosophical tradition.

Nietzsche took up this theme again in "Beyond Good and Evil" (1886) and concluded that the growing dissatisfaction with religion has created a "magnificent tension of the spirit... the likes of which the earth has never known: with such a tension in our bow we can now shoot at the furthest goals."

That "furthest goal" is the Ubermensch ("overman"), the next evolution of mankind that "overcomes" our current selves. Hitler equated the Ubermensch with the Aryan physical ideal of tall, blond and blue-eyed. But Nietzsche's Ubermensch is a psychological hero who is brave enough to forge his own moral paradigm through rigorous self-examination and honesty in order to (in modern lingo) "live his best life."

The secret revealed to Zarathustra (by life itself) is that life is all about "overcoming" oneself to become something greater. The problem, says Nietzsche, is that our psychological strength is always being sapped by the polar opposite of the Ubermensch, the enemy of self-actualization that Nietzsche calls "the last man." The last man only seeks pleasure and comfort, not the hard work that it takes to overcome ourselves.

"We have to plumb the depths of our psyche and ask ourselves tough questions and be prepared to deal with whatever honest answers that we can formulate," says Wilkerson. "In 'Beyond Good and Evil,' Nietzsche extols the virtue of honesty. It's one of the most recent virtues and perhaps the most important."

Bonus quote: "Have I made myself understood?...'Absolutely not, sir!' So let's start at the beginning."

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Now That's Cool Nietzsche didn't lack for self-confidence and delighted in his controversial persona. "I know my fate," he wrote. "One day there will be associated with my name the recollection of something frightful  of a crisis like no other before on earth, of the profoundest collision of conscience, of a decision evoked against everything that until then had been believed in, demanded, sanctified. I am not a man. I am dynamite."
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) Co-Chief Executive Officers Donn DeVelder and Sheryl Meshke have been recognized by the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) for excellence in effectively integrating communication into their leadership style.

The leaders of the New Ulm, Minn., dairy cooperative were honored tonight at CCAs annual institute in Milwaukee. They are the 25th honorees to receive the award which recognizes leaders of a broad spectrum of cooperative businesses.



In his nomination, AMPI Chairman of the Board Steve Schlangen, a dairy farmer from Albany, Minn., said in their shared leadership role DeVelder and Meshke are completely selfless and fully focused on making the decisions that set the co-op up for success.





They are excellent communicators with their management team and employees, and the board of directors and all of our members, Schlangen said. They use these skills to establish priorities across the organization and get things done. Their experience in their previous roles at AMPI allows them to seamlessly focus on communication with members and employees.





DeVelder and Meshke assumed their roles as co-CEOs in 2014. Schlangen noted that while a co-leadership structure was not common in business, the board knew the two were the right team and exemplified the cooperative principle we are better when we work together.



Meshke, in accepting the award on their behalf, told CCA members that CEOs spend most of their time communicating, both formally and informally, which makes the support of a strong, strategic communication team critical.





DeVelder was raised on a dairy farm near Corsica, S.D. His father was manager of their local creamery, which merged with the newly formed AMPI in the early 1970s. He joined AMPI in 1985 as a field representative, working directly with members which allowed him to develop a deep understanding of their business and the role their co-op plays in helping them achieve success. He later served as executive senior vice president responsible for fluid marketing, human resources and member services.





Meshke grew up on a diversified livestock farm near Good Thunder, Minn. She joined AMPI in 1991 and during her tenure she led communications, public affairs, human resources and strategic planning. Before becoming co-CEO, she was the executive senior vice president leading strategic initiatives to strengthen the cooperatives performance and value. She was active in CCA for many years, previously earning its Michael Graznak Award for achievements by an early career communicator and its H.E. Klinefelter Award recognizing long-term excellence in cooperative communication.



About AMPI:

AMPI is headquartered in New Ulm, Minn., and owned by dairy farm families from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The cooperatives award-winning cheese, butter and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. The co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise in 2019, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled dairy craftsmen to make great-tasting, award-winning products. AMPI members annually market about 4.8 billion pounds of milk generating $1.8 billion in sales.





About CCA:

The Cooperative Communicators Association is an organization of 350 professionals who communicate for cooperatives. The organization is unique in both its mission and membership. CCA works toward helping members excel in communications  from writing, photography, and editing to video, layout, and design. Just as important, CCA emphasizes ideas and strategies aimed at making communications more successful for cooperatives. CCA understands that cooperatives have a slightly different story to tell and appreciates the role communications plays in contributing to the success of the cooperative.
The GameStop phenomenon may have claimed its first victim. Image: Shutterstock

White Square Capital, a British hedge fund that held short positions against US video game retailer GameStop, has been forced to close after suffering heavy losses earlier this year.

The firm said it was going to shut its main investment fund and return money to investors after a year of poor returns that included what the Financial Times described as double-digit per cent losses during GameStops unprecedented bull run in January.

GameStop was the centre of a mass financial movement popularised on the WallStreetBets subreddit last year when members of the forum began driving its share price up to thumb their noses at mainstream financial institutions who expected the stock to collapse.

Recognising that GameStop was being heavily shorted, the subreddits thousands of retail investors tried to orchestrate a short squeeze and successfully drove the price to its peak of nearly US$350 in late January  GameStops share price started the month at less than US$20.

Head of White Square Capital, Florian Konawitter, did not directly blame GameStop for the funds closure, instead pointing to market forces that have undermined its investment model.

The decision to close down is related to thinking the equity long-short model is challenged, Konawitter said in a statement seen by Financial Times.

There are way too many fish in the pond with the same strategy of long-short. The traditional edge is being arbed away, theres an oversupply of capital.

White Square is one of the first major casualities of WallStreetBets concerted effort against hedge funds, but it isnt the only one hurting.

Melvin Capital has reportedly lost around 44.7 per cent of its hedge funds value this year thanks to the record run from meme stocks.

Risky business

Adam Smith, CEO of Saxo Markets Australia, said short selling always contained risk for retail and institutional investors alike.

Whether or not GameStop losses were the sole force behind White Squares demise is being debated across the media, but the losses themselves were not insignificant having been reported to have reached double-digit percentages, he said.

As the dust settles it may emerge as a cautionary tale of unmitigated risk and a lack of portfolio diversity, as you never want a singular investment to be able to topple you.

Retail investors looking on should take note of this and shed any illusions that short-selling stocks like GameStop is an easy way to make money.

WallStreetBets challenge to the status quo led to members of the subreddit appearing in front of a US Congressional committee investigating the share price frenzy cooked up on social media.

The rapid rise of GameStops share price led to retail trading app Robinhood controversially pausing trading of the equity which led to attempted lawsuits.

GameStop  which largely runs brick-and-mortar video game stores  was largely perceived as an outdated business as the pandemic accelerated ecommerce and a shift away from physical retailers.

Just prior to its price surge, GameStop-owned Australian business EB Games announced it would close 20 unprofitable stores as it was coming up against an ever-changing retail landscape.

But some people persisted with GameStop and have created a self-fulfilling prophecy as the company switches its focus with new leadership.

Im as bullish as Ive ever been on a potential turnaround, said Keith Gill, one of the original posters who had penned multiple analysis posts about GameStops value.

In short, I like the stock. And whats stunning is that, as far as I can tell, the market remains oblivious to GameStops unique opportunity within the gaming industry.

In the months since it took off as an internet sensation, GameStop has reshuffled its management, announcing former Amazon Australia head Matt Furlong as CEO and former Amazon executive Mike Recupero as CFO earlier this month.

The company said in its announcement of the new positions that its board has a new focus on building a technology company and investing in growth.
John McAfee (Credit: Reuters)

Madrid [Spain], June 24 (ANI): John McAfee, the British-American antivirus entrepreneur and founder of McAfee Associates, was found dead in a Spanish prison, as he was awaiting extradition after being charged with tax evasion in the United States last year. He was 75.

According to CNN, McAfee was found dead in his cell in a prison near Barcelona on Wednesday around 1 pm ET, according to a spokesperson for the Superior Court of Catalonia.

The Catalonia regional government Justice Department said that prison medical personnel and guards attempted to perform life-saving procedures after finding McAfee, but were unsuccessful. The statement said "everything indicates" that McAfee could have died by suicide.

Earlier that day, a three-judge panel at Spain's National Court in Madrid ruled that McAfee could be extradited to the United States to face charges there, a National Court spokesman told CNN.

McAfee was arrested in Spain in October last year after he was indicted in the US for tax evasion months ago. He allegedly failed to file taxes for four years despite earning millions in income between 2014 and 2018 from promoting cryptocurrencies, consulting work, speaking engagements, and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary, according to court documents.

McAfee was also in March on separate fraud and money laundering charges. He was accused by the US State Department of participating with a business partner in a scheme that earned more than USD 13 million by falsely promoting cryptocurrencies to unwitting investors.

CNN reported that in 2012, McAfee briefly vanished after fleeing his home in Belize because local police tried to question him on the death of his neighbor. However, he has denied involvement in the death and claimed he fled because he feared for his life.

He ran for US president in 2016 as a Libertarian, and launched a new security product, calling it a 'game changer'. (ANI)
Ex-Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles (Credit: Reuters)

Sao Paulo [Brazil], June 24 (ANI): Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles resigned Wednesday, weeks after he was targeted by federal police as part of an investigation into alleged illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Salles, who has been widely criticised by environmental activists around the world over rising deforestation under his watch, will be replaced by Joaquim Alvaro Pereira Leite, an official previously in charge of monitoring the Amazon.

The outgoing minister had led efforts to try to persuade the U.S. to pay the South American country USD 1 billion to help it combat deforestation and finance sustainable development in the region.

Last month, federal police raided properties linked to Salles as part of a wide-ranging probe into alleged illegal chopping of trees for export. The Brazilian Supreme Court also green-lit a criminal investigation. Salles maintained that the accusations against him are unfounded.

"The departure of Ricardo Salles is a victory for society, but it is still a partial victory; we know that he was the operator of Bolsonaro's nefarious and anti-environmental policy. We continue in the fight," said Marina Silva, a former Brazilian presidential candidate and environmental activist

About 224 square miles of trees in the world's biggest rainforest were lost in April, the highest level for that month since Brazil's space research agency, Inpe, created the Terra Brasilis platform in 2015 to track the data, according to WSJ.

Meanwhile, environmental activists raised concerns that the Leite's appointment would do little to change the direction of President Jair Bolsonaro's government. Typically, ranchers and soybean farmers operating illegally are blamed for much of the deforestation of the Amazon.

Since Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, his government has been criticised by European governments and activists because of his vocal support for development in the Amazon and policies that trimmed funds for environmental protection. (ANI)
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah (file pic/ANI).

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 24 (ANI): National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah left his residence in Srinagar to participate in the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

This is the first high-level interaction between the Centre and political leadership mainly from Kashmir since August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the state was bifurcated into two union territories.

Among the leaders who are scheduled to participate in the meeting are Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand and GA Mir; National Conference's Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah; PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, J-K Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari; BJP's Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta; CPI(M)'s M Y Tarigami; National Panthers Party's Prof Bheem Singh; and Peoples Conference's Sajad Gani Lone.

Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Home Secretary are also likely to attend the meeting.

Political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti and BJP leaders Ravinder Raina and Kavinder Gupta arrived in New Delhi to attend the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is learnt from reliable sources that no fixed agenda has been set for the meeting and a freewheeling discussion is expected on June 24.

However, delimitation, statehood and assembly elections are expected to remain key issues for discussion at the all-party meeting.

Although the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has agreed to attend the meeting, its leaders especially the Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said that they will ask New Delhi to restore Article 370 and 35 A.

Meanwhile, a day before the all-party meeting called by the Prime Minister, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday held virtual discussions with its representatives in Jammu and Kashmir and deputy commissioners regarding the delimitation of the 90 Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 was notified by the government on August 9, 2019, which paved the way for the creation of two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature and Ladakh, without it.

The Act provides that the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114, and delimitation of the constituencies will be determined by the Election Commission. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a two-day bilateral visit to Greece on Friday to hold talks with his Greek counterpart, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Following Greece, Jaishankar will travel to Italy to attend the G20 Ministerial meeting, MEA spokesperson Arnidam Bagchi said during a weekly briefing.

"EAM Jaishankar will be leaving tomorrow for the visit to Greece and to Italy. In Greece, he is making a bilateral visit on June 25-26 to hold talks with Greece counterpart along with other engagement," Bagchi said

This is the first EAM-level visit to Greece in about 18 years, the one being in 2003, said the spokesperson.

"After Greece, EAM will travel to Italy to attend the G20 ministerial meetings. These related to ministerial meetings at foreign ministerial level as well as development ministerial level," he added.

The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union.

Since December 2020, Italy holds the Presidency of the G20. The Foreign Affairs Ministers' Meeting is one of the ministerial meetings organized as part of the G20 Leaders Summit 2021. (ANI)
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev

Dushanbe [Tajikistan], June 24 (ANI): National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and discussed developments of bilateral, regional and global significance.

The two sides also exchanged their opinions on the situation in Afghanistan and the Asia-Pacific region, Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday.

Ajit Doval was in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of national security chiefs.

Doval and Patrushev had over two-hour-long meeting. The two officials discussed in detail "further plans of the Russia-India interaction in the security sphere, cooperation among the security and law-enforcement agencies," TASS reported citing a statement.

SCO is an intergovernmental organisation founded in Shanghai.

The SCO currently comprises eight member states -- China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, four Observer States interested in acceding to full membership -- Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia -- and six "Dialogue Partners" -- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.

India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. (ANI)
Moscow, Jun 24 (PTI) National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has met his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on the sidelines of the SCO meeting in Tajikistan during which they discussed plans for the Russia-India interaction in the security sphere and cooperation among the security and law-enforcement agencies, according to a media report.

The two leaders also exchanged their opinions on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and the Asia-Pacific region during the meeting, Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday.

Doval is in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of national security chiefs.

Patrushev, the Secretary of Russias Security Council, and Doval discussed in detail 'further plans of the Russia-India interaction in the security sphere, cooperation among the security and law-enforcement agencies,' the report quoted Patrushev's office as saying.

Tajikistan, the current president of the SCO, is hosting the meeting of the top national security officials of the eight-nation grouping on June 23 and 24.

According to the press service of the Russian Security Councils office, the annual meeting of secretaries of SCO on Wednesday focused on the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath.

'It was stressed that the social and economic consequences of the novel coronavirus infection pandemic may catalyse the spread of threats of terrorism, extremism, drug trade and organised crime,' the press service said in a statement.

The Beijing-based SCO is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China and the four Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. PTI NSA AKJ NSA NSA
Pakistan mills stop flour supply in protest against tax hike (Credit: Reuters)

Karachi [Pakistan], June 24 (ANI): The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has announced that all flour mills of the country have stopped supply of the commodity from Wednesday and will close operation from June 30 in protest against the proposed increase in three taxes related to the flour milling industry. The move is likely to exacerbate a flour crisis in the country.

"We will stop supplying flour from tomorrow and will stop operation from June 30. We have to resort to this protest due to unconcerned attitude of the government," said PFMA Sindh Zone Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Yousuf on Tuesday, reported The Express Tribune.

This comes after the federal government, in the recently passed Federal Budget 2020-21, proposed to abolish one per cent rebate on annual sales of flour mills; increase the sales tax on bran by 10 per cent and the sales tax on import of machinery used for making flour by 7 per cent.

The increase in turnover tax is expected to increase the price of a 20 kg bag by Rs 30 while the increase in sales tax on bran is expected to increase the price of each 20 kg bag of flour by Rs 67. The implementation of the taxes is likely to increase the price of a 20 kg bag of flour by Rs 97.

In a letter to Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin, PFMA Chairman Asim Raza last week described the tax hike as an error by the Federal Bureau of Revenue and requested him to maintain the current rate of taxes.

Raza told The Express Tribune that the current sales tax concession rate on import of machinery used in flour making is 10 per cent which is being increased to 17 per cent in the next financial year.

An increase in taxes will significantly increase the cost of imported machines by millions of rupees. At present, 65 per cent of the total cost of setting up mills consists of the purchase and import of modern machinery.

Moreover, an increase in the sales tax on bran to 17 per cent is expected to increase price of a 20 kg bag of flour by Rs 60 to Rs 67.

Story continues

The PFMA Sindh chairman said there is a need to import 3 to 4 million tons of flour in August in order to meet the local need. He said the country consumes 30 million tons of flour annually.

The federal budget passed by the Imran Khan-led government has been criticised by many people in Pakistan, with some arguing that it provides no relief for the common man, there are no incentives, no scope for job creation and revenue generation.

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin was greeted by jeers from the Opposition benches, with members shouting slogans and taunting the finance minister by laughing loudly as he praised PM Imran Khan's economic initiatives while presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2021-22. (ANI)
Representative image

Islamabad [Pakistan], June 24 (ANI): As Pakistan is expected to be the main point of discussion during Afghan leaders' visit at the White House this week, Pakistan has reached out to the Afghan government conveying it in clear terms that the upcoming visit must not be used to blame Islamabad, officials told The Express Tribune.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah are set to visit the United States this week to meet US President Joe Biden.

Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul met Afghan leaders from across party lines and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also interacted with Dr Abdullah as well as his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar at the sidelines of the recent Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

Officials have said that Pakistan fears that 'spoilers' within the Afghan setup may use the upcoming visit of President Ghani and Dr Abdullah to blame Islamabad for the failure of peace talks in the conflict-torn country.

At the recent Afghan Track-11 dialogue, Qureshi stressed that Ghani might use the upcoming visit to the White House to blame Pakistan. "If the objective [President Ghani's visit] is to start a new blame game and hold Pakistan responsible for all the ills, I think it will not help. It's a shared responsibility and no one is going to buy this anymore. We will not take any responsibility. We have been accused enough," he said.

On Sunday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said: "President Biden looks forward to welcoming Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, to the White House on June 25, 2021."

The Taliban, meanwhile, reacted to the visit and termed it "useless".

"They [Ghani and Abdullah] will talk with the US officials for preservation of their power and personal interest. It won't benefit Afghanistan," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Story continues

Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib and vice president Amrullah Saleh in particular in recent weeks issued scathing statements against Pakistan, according to The Express Tribune.

Mohib accused Islamabad of enabling a violent 'proxy war' by the terror group in Afghanistan. Pakistan, furious over the Afghan NSA's diatribe, has decided to sever all official links with him.

Islamabad has been accused of aiding the Taliban and using them as proxies for its own benefit.

As the Taliban resumes attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians, Pakistan recently extended support to the terrorist group, saying it would be an "exaggeration" to hold them responsible for violence in Afghanistan.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi defended the Taliban for increase in violence in Afghanistan and shifted the blame on Daesh, another word for ISIS (another word for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

Meanwhile, the Afghan diaspora in the Netherlands blamed Pakistan 'Strategic Depth Policy' for the unbearable suffering of Afghans along both sides of the Durand Line.

"The Pakistani military chiefs have officially admitted supporting groups such as Taliban. They call this interference strategic depth. This policy still continues and has been causing unbearable suffering among Afghans on both sides of the Durand line," said the statement of the Afghan diaspora, reported Pajhwok Afghan News. (ANI)
By April of this year, the deal had changed. In the end, North Carolina offered the company a jobs grant worth $845.8 million over 39 years. For that, Apple agreed to invest $1 billion in North Carolina over 10 years, including $552 million to establish a campus in RTP where it will create at least 3,000 jobs. The company says it will spend another $448 million expanding its data center in Catawba County but not create new jobs there.

The average wage climbed to $187,000, as the jobs became more focused on research and development.

2. Apple had its eyes on RTP before 2018The earliest contact between Apple representatives and members of the states recruitment force is dated to Jan. 10, 2018, according to the documents released.

That was when Bruce Thompson, a Raleigh lawyer for the firm Parker Poe, reached out to EDPNC about the potential project, which came to be called Project Bear.

Thompson at that time said Apple had already been doing site reviews in the Triangle.
ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA  Mattoon native and Eastern Illinois University alumnus Ed Ward was shot to death Sunday morning in his doorway in what police are calling a random incident.

The Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported that authorities say a 45-year-old Duluth, Minnesota, man is facing felony charges for shooting Ward, 68, after crashing a stolen vehicle in the St. Cloud man's front yard.

Mattoon resident Chris Hutton said Ward was the son of Roy and Faye Ward of Mattoon and grew up in the 3000 block of Marion Avenue. She said Ward became friends with her husband, Chuck Hutton, when they were children; graduated with him from Mattoon High School together in 1971; and had stayed connected with him ever since then.

"He was the nicest guy you would ever want to know. He was always jovial and laughing," Hutton said. She noted that Ward and his wife adopted two children, who are now grown.

Ward obtained his bachelor's and master's from Eastern Illinois University and his doctorate from the University of Nebraska. He was a professor in the management and entrepreneurship department at St. Cloud State University and had taught at the school for more than three decades.

Hutton said she and her husband have been moved by the messages that Ward's former students have posted on his online memorial wall.

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"He cared about his students. He would go out of his way to help his students," Hutton said, adding that Ward felt the same way about his family and friends. "It's just unbelievable that this happened."

The Star Tribune reported that the alleged shooter, Jason R. Beckman, reportedly told investigators that he got lost while driving and crashed, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Stearns County District Court. Beckman said he then knocked on the house's front door and thought the man who answered, Ward, was a man who had pointed a rifle at him earlier at a store, according to court documents.

As Ward tried to slam the door, Beckman shot him twice before fleeing on foot, the complaint states. Beckman told investigators he was not sure if the man with the rifle was real, as he had been previously diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and manic depressive disorder, the complaint states.

Beckman was charged with theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, and second-degree murder. He has two previous felony convictions for assault, which prohibit him from possessing a handgun.

St. Cloud police were dispatched to the shooting at about 6:16 a.m. At about 7:11 a.m., Beckman was arrested on foot about 1.5 miles from the scene. He was found in possession of a stolen .45 caliber handgun and cartridges consistent with items recovered from the scene, court documents state. Officers found a .45 caliber magazine and suspected drugs in the stolen vehicle left at the scene.

After Ward was shot, he was able to provide authorities with a description of the suspect before he was sedated. He was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m.

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K&W had 18 restaurants open at the time of the bankruptcy filing, including three in Winston-Salem and 14 in North Carolina.

It now has 14 locations, including those on Healy Drive and on Hanes Mill Road in Winston-Salem. It has closed the South Park location off Peters Creek Parkway.

K&W said it had 1,035 employees when it entered bankruptcy, but was down to 834 employees as of the Dec. 23 filing.

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Plan details

The initial bankruptcy filing listed K&W with assets of more than $30 million.

The company has liabilities of more than $22 million. The restaurant chain has between 100 and 199 creditors.

Kahns approval was expected after K&W and Truist reached an agreement on how the bank would be reimbursed.

The bank could not be reached for comment Wednesday on the judges approval. It said on March 31 that we dont comment on client relationships.

The K&W debt owed to Truist includes a $6.73 million Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan and a $10.95 million lien claim on accounts, inventory, equipment, parts and general intangibles.
Forsyth County reported 72 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, a high for the month, and two additional COIVD-19 deaths, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Seventy-two was the highest number of cases reported since 74 on May 25.

Forsyth has had 420 COVID-19 related deaths, including 31 in June.

In the last 14 days, the county has averaged 14 new cases per day with just one reported Wednesday.

DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so people may have been infected or may have died days before their cases were counted.

We do not test every COVID-19 case to determine its genetic sequence or variant lineage, Dr. Christopher Ohl, an infectious diseases expert with Wake Forest Baptist Health, said Thursday.

Based on regional surveillance data from the CDC, currently 6%-10% of COVID-19 cases would be expected to be a Delta variant.

Joshua Swift, the countys health director, has said that some of the deaths reported this month happened earlier, but are only now being reported.
About 100 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Nelson L. Malloy Jr. Park, which is named in honor of Nelson Malloy Jr., who served 20 years representing the North Ward on the citys Board of Alderman, now known as Winston-Salem City Council.

The park, designed for people with disabilities, has been open for more than a year, but its completion wasnt celebrated in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malloy, 74, said that its a humbling experience to have a park named after him.

A park is a place of refuge  an oasis where you revitalize yourself and revitalize the human soul and the human spirit, Malloy said. A park allows one person or a group of people to come together and be one with nature and with their creator  to enjoy the sunshine on your face .. and to enjoy the fresh air.

Many of Malloys family members and his former associates with the citys chapter of the Black Panther Party attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park. Malloy has been in a wheelchair since a near-fatal shooting in 1977, which was related to his activity with the Black Panthers. The shooting left his legs paralyzed.
Arrivals from Brazil, South Africa and India are banned at the moment because of high infection rates there, and non-vaccinated Americans and many other non-EU nationalities cannot come to Spain for tourism for now.

But there are exemptions for countries considered at low risk, such as citizens from Britain, who can arrive without any health documents at all. EU citizens need to provide proof of vaccination, a certificate showing they recently recovered from COVID-19, or a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival.

BRITAIN

There are few, if any, American tourists in the U.K. at present. Britain has a traffic-light system for assessing countries by risk, and the U.S. along with most European nations is on the amber list, meaning everyone arriving has to self-isolate at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days.

People arriving from red list countries including India and Brazil must quarantine in a government-approved hotel.

Airlines and airport operators are pushing for European tourism destinations to be added to Britains short green list of quarantine-free destinations, and to open a U.K.-U.S. travel corridor, but the British government is being cautious amid the spread of the more contagious delta variant of the virus.
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The data is clear. The harm that were doing to our children from a mental health perspective is overwhelming, Rep. David Willis, R-Union, said during the House floor debate.

Its time to give them the opportunity to take off the masks, to return to class as normal, and to get into a position where they can start to rebuild the confidence and the camaraderie that theyve had with their friends, with their classmates, and with their teachers, and to rebuild those relationships, to overcome the obstacles that we have put on them over the past year, Willis said.

Rep. Susan Fisher, D-Buncombe, cited concerns that bill sponsors may be minimizing the current statewide presence of COVID-19, including in school settings.

Of course, we are concerned about the mental health of our students, Fisher said.

Fisher suggested the best way to help students is for the legislature to provide funding for more school nurses and counselors.

Current status

Coopers Executive Order No. 215 lifted most mask restrictions, although individuals also still have to mask up in certain indoor health-care settings, such as schools, hospitals and in prisons.
Cooper spokesman Ford Porter said that "unemployment continues to decline as more North Carolinians get vaccinated and back to work."

"This legislation falls far short on helping remove barriers like affordable child care, while hurting people who are looking for jobs and removing money from our economy which is being used for things like buying groceries and paying rent."

Claimants currently eligible to draw up to 16 weeks of regular state UI benefits are getting on average about $235 a week, along with the $300 federal benefit. The number of regular state UI benefit weeks drops back to 13 on July 3.

For most claimants who have exhausted their regular state UI benefits, the federal benefit may be their only source of income.

House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said June 3 that the perceived worker shortage in North Carolina is probably one of the more critical issues that we are now dealing with.

This bill is the way to restore strength in our economy, and finally move forward, to put this pandemic in the rear-view mirror.

Besides ending the program early, the bill compromise removed return-to-work incentives from the Senate version that would have been provided to UI claimants.
Lowe said bill sponsors reviewed legislation from some of the 36 states that have approved some form of medical marijuana.

We realized that for some states, it has worked out well, while for others it was just a recreational product, Lowe said. Thats not the goal with this particular bill on our state.

Rabon said SB711 will be the tightest medical marijuana bill in the country, and would not serve as a gateway to recreation marijuana use.

Rabon, a cancer survivor, said that to some people, it is a contentious issue, and to some people it is not.

I happen to be one who it is not. I know how rough it is to go through chemo and how bad it is to wake up every day and think it may be your last day on Earth.

There is nothing less compassionate on this Earth than to watch a person you love suffer when there is something that can ameliorate that suffering.

Rabon said that legalizing medical marijuana isnt guaranteeing that those who could use it will live a day longer.

But I can say that every day they are alive, they will live better.

Can it help?

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The capability and capacity of the nation's reserve medical force is critical to both humanitarian disaster relief and in supporting combat operations. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic showcases the remarkable versatility of the nation's reserve medical forces. In addition to projected rotational combat deployments, Army Reserve and National Guard medical units were deployed throughout the nation to fight the pandemic. The most visible display of this agility was the deployment of reserve physician assistants (PAs) to the Javits Center in New York City, where National Guard members imbedded with active duty forces to provide overflow care of COVID patients.

Nearly 70% of the nation's military PAs are assigned within reserve units (Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Army National Guard, and Air Guard). PAs serve at the forefront of humanitarian and combat operations and are frequently the first line of care for military members and civilians. PAs are a critical component of this force, providing medical care in battalions, brigades, or equivalent, and others within medical units. In most cases, the services' National Guard components (Army and Air) are very similar in mission profiles to their Army Reserve and Air Reserve counterparts. The major difference is related to the authorities or level of government control. In this issue, Hooker and colleagues examine an area of dual employment of PAs: those who serve as medical officers in one of the five military reserve components and are subject to call-up during times of domestic or international conflict or disasters.

The Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard Reserves fall under control of the federal government and National Guard components under state governments, unless activated for federal service. This dual role of National Guard medical units makes them more agile when responding to a governor's request to support national disasters or federal activation to support international disasters or combat operations. Army and Air Force Reserve units fall within control of the federal government, leading to less flexibility when deploying in support of stateside humanitarian missions. However, these forces are more accessible for deployment in support of combat operations. Reserve PAs have been integral in support of the global war on terrorism.

As an integral component of Department of Defense medicine, the reserve component PA brings a diverse set of skills from civilian employment to respective defense missions. Throughout the spectrum of operations, PAs instill confidence in the war fighter and provide efficient, quality medical care at home and abroad. Now and in the foreseeable future, defense medical missions will be supported and augmented by this incredibly talented and diverse group of medical professionals.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of two people after they swindled a near-stranger out of thousands of dollars, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Lancaster County Court.

Robert J. Owen and Valerie J. Candiff are wanted on suspicion of theft after befriending a man who lived in the hotel room next to theirs and ultimately took up to $38,000 from him, according to court records.

Lincoln Police Department Investigator Michael Wambold wrote in the affidavit that the pair was living at the Oak Park Motel in March and April, where they met Michael Jensby. He told police that Owen, Candiff and him had developed plans over several months to open a medical marijuana dispensary together in another state.

To finance their future business, Jensby took out close to $55,000 from a savings account he had and handed all of the cash over to Candiff, who said she would serve as the group's accountant, according to the affidavit.

Jensby told police that Owen, 25, and Candiff, 42, used some of the money over the next few days, buying a car and jewelry and renting a U-Haul truck and a storage unit. Jensby guessed that they'd spent close to $20,000, Wambold wrote.
Trial testimony painted a picture of the crime scene where brothers Damon and Dante Williams went from room to room zip-tying Brandon's children, a friend and the girls' grandmother and taping their mouths shut before Patterson fired off 13 rounds into the stairwell, where Brandon, 36, suffered a fatal gunshot wound.

It was all a failed plot to steal marijuana and money from Robertson, who hid the drugs and money while Brandon's daughters called 911 and tried to save her.

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In court Thursday, Brandon's mother, Molly Goodyear, said her daughter's children meant everything to her, and they had plans.

"Now, the kids have no mom," she said, adding that she wanted her daughter to have some justice. "This shouldn't have happened. There's no reason she should be gone."

Brandon's daughter, Kyana, and son, Trenton, both called Patterson a coward for coming into a home where he knew there would be children.

"I just hope that he lives the rest of his life in prison. He just has to live with that guilt, knowing what he did to my family," Kyana told the judge.

In the end, Chief U.S. District Judge John Gerrard told Patterson and Williams in separate hearings: "Crime doesn't get any worse than this one."
The administrator who oversaw the state prisons' mental health and substance abuse services and sex offender program is suing her former employer alleging, among other things, that the prison was manipulating housing statistics by moving inmates who weren't mentally ill into the mental health unit.

In a lawsuit filed in Lancaster County District Court, Alice Mitwaruciu alleged that Dawn-Renee Smith, deputy director of the Department of Correctional Services since 2018, made clinical decisions affecting the mental health care and treatment of inmates, regardless of a lack of medical or mental health training.

Mitwaruciu, a Black woman from Kenya, also is alleging she faced racial discrimination while working for the prisons. She said prison leaders treated her in an overtly aggressive and disrespectful way and interfered with her ability to do her job by keeping her out of meetings that involved matters she oversaw.

The case comes on the heels of lawmakers last month approving a $100,000 payment to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed against the prison by Razak Aljanabi, a former corporal at the Nebraska State Penitentiary who is from Iraq and a practicing Shia Muslim.
Lancaster County's new DUI Court kicked off with a ceremony this week.

"I know we're all excited that this day has arrived," District Court Judge Darla Ideus said.

She said the mission of the Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol Court in Lincoln is to increase public safety, facilitate public access to treatment and intensive case management and reduce recidivism.

"And that is what we intend to do," Ideus said at the inaugural ceremony.

She and retired District Judge John Colborn will serve as presiding judges of the first-of-its-kind DUI court in the state.

Appearing by video, Gov. Pete Ricketts, who in 2016 signed a bill into law broadening problem-solving courts to include veterans courts and DUI courts, said he has seen how impactful problem-solving courts can be, particularly drug courts.

"I look forward to seeing how these problem-solving courts will continue to be able to impact the lives of Nebraskans and really be an added step that will help us make sure we're keeping the public safe but also allowing folks who maybe made a misstep to recover," Ricketts said.
Would-be burglars broke into Elder Jewelry early Thursday morning and nearly made off with its safe, according to Lincoln police.

Officer Luke Bonkiewicz said police responded to an alarm at the O Street jeweler around 4:15 a.m., when they found a shattered front window and a safe that had been dragged out of the business.

Bonkiewicz said an investigation into the attempted burglary is in the early stages and there are no suspects. It's still unclear whether any jewelry was actually taken.

The shattered window cost about $600.

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Decades ago, Pawnee Indian scouts patrolled the Plains, guarding against warring parties seeking to invade the Pawnee villages along the Platte and Loup rivers.

Earlier this month, a portion of Nebraska 22, between Genoa and Fullerton, was designated to commemorate the work of the Native American warriors.

Two signs were dedicated June 12 marking the roadway as the "Pawnee Scouts Memorial Highway."

The signs commemorate the scouts who protected Pawnee villages that were located in that area and later worked as scouts for Union Pacific Railroad crews and the U.S. Army.

The designation was promoted by the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation and supported by the Pawnee Nation, the City of Genoa and the Nance County Board. The Nebraska Highway Commission approved the designation unanimously in December.

"This is truly a part of our history that should not be forgotten but remembered," State Highway Commissioner James Kindig said at the dedication in Genoa. "What better location but this beautiful valley where the site of the Pawnee Reservation Village was from 1857 to 1875."
That effort has led to the identification of 343 of those men  with more to follow in the coming weeks and months pending results from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware, said Kelly McKeague, the accounting agencys director.

The effort, he said, exceeded expectations.

Most of these 343 sailors and Marines cannot be found in history books or documentaries, but their own acts of heroism are not lost to history, McKeague said.

He cited the story of Leo and Rudolph Blitz of Lincoln, one of six sets of brothers (and the only identical twins) who died aboard the Oklahoma.

McKeague said Rudolph Blitz was on the deck of the battleship soon after it was struck by as many as eight Japanese torpedoes in the opening minutes of the attack.

Instead of abandoning ship, Rudolph told a shipmate he was going below decks to find his twin, who was on duty running one of the ships generators.

The Oklahoma sank within minutes. Neither of the Blitz brothers was ever heard from again.

They were identified based on a DNA match with their 93-year-old sister, Betty Pitsch, and buried in Lincoln in 2019.
A corporal with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services was arrested on Wednesday after having unauthorized communication with a prisoner, according to the department.

Ashley Bratic, an employee at the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility in Omaha, was arrested by the Nebraska State Patrol and resigned from her position with the department, a Corrections news release said. She had worked at the facility since June 2020.

The release did not detail the nature of Bratic's unauthorized communication, but the 24-year-old could face Class 4 felony charges in Douglas County.

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Precious McKesson of Omaha, who chairs the Black Caucus of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said she was "definitely disappointed" by some of the choices.

"There's people on the commission who do not represent the values of the African American community," she said. "I think the governor is just pushing his agenda."

State Sen. Terrell McKinney, who represents historically Black North Omaha, called it a problem that the governor did not create partisan balance on the commission.

He also raised concerns about the number of African immigrants on the commission, noting that they would not have the same experiences as people who grow up Black in the United States. Three of the 14 members are immigrants who originally hailed from Kenya, Nigeria and Togo.

But Ricketts' spokesman Taylor Gage said party registration was not a factor in selecting commission members, nor were applicants asked about hot-button political issues.

In fact, Gage said the governor was surprised to learn that no Democrats were in the group. He noted that the legislation creating the commission does not set any requirements regarding partisan affiliation. The only requirement is that members be African American.
Popular with the college crowd were downtown bars like the Downtown Bar & Grill and the colorful Hob Nob, with its high ceilings and red wallpaper. Lebsack Bros. offered lunch with the owners serving soup and sandwiches personally.

Students on a limited budget could patronize the Acme Chili Parlor at 14th and O streets or the Tastee Inn at 14th and Q streets. For a little nicer fare, you could drive in or dine in at Kings at 19th and O streets. If you wanted to impress a date, you took her to a movie and finished off at the Pow Wow Room at the old Cornhusker Hotel.

At this time, Lincoln still had beat cops. As a shift changed, officers would march in formation from LPD headquarters at 10th and R streets, and peel off to relieve those on duty. There were red call boxes located on poles downtown. If dispatch needed to contact a beat officer, they would press a button for the phone on his beat, and a light would come on. As the officer came by, he would notice the light and call in.

If you wanted sporting goods, Lawlors on O Street had it all. Nearby Latschs had everything you would need for office supplies. Stores were open late on Thursday evenings. Lincoln City Lines buses operated late into the evenings and were heavily used by shoppers on Thursday evening trips downtown. Todays StarTran has yet to equal that service.
Tornado warnings were issued for several areas of Southeast Nebraska on Thursday evening as thunderstorms moved through the region.

At about 6:40 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Salem, moving northeast at 20 mph. A second area of rotation capable of producing a tornado was located 7 miles southwest of Salem. The storm prompted a tornado warning in Richardson County, the second tornado warning of the night after a warning was issued earlier in Otoe County.

The weather service has also issued a tornado watch for nine counties in southeast Nebraska, including Gage and Otoe counties, until 10 p.m. The watch also covers more than a dozen counties in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Lancaster County is not included in the tornado watch, but a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for a western portion of the county at about 6 p.m.

The weather service said tornadoes are most likely to develop south of a line stretching from Fairbury to Lincoln to Red Oak, Iowa.

In addition to the threat of tornadoes, the weather service said hail as large as apples and wind gusts exceeding 75 mph are possible in some areas.
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ARABELLA APARTMENTS AT HORLICK SITE

Watch Now: New Arabella apartments complete at former Horlick Manufacturing site

RachelKubik / RACHEL KUBIK rachel.kubik@journaltimes.com Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Josh Jeffers, president & CEO of J. Jeffers & Co., get ready to snip the ribbon during a ceremony and press conference Tuesday that celebrated the first finished apartment building in the Belle City Square development. To the left, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development CEO Joaquin Altoro looks on.

RACINE  After construction that lasted almost a year, the first new building at the former Horlick Malted Milk Co.s site is finally complete.

RachelKubik / RACHEL KUBIK rachel.kubik@journaltimes.com Pictured is a brick walkway outside of the Belle City Square development along Northwestern Avenue. Brent McClure, vice president of development for J. Jeffers & Co., said the bricks came from the former driveway of the Horlick Manufacturing site.

City of Racine leaders, representatives from J. Jeffers & Co., Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan (LSS) and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development (WHEDA) celebrated the opening of Belle City Square development with a ribbon-cutting Tuesday at the first finished apartment building, Arabella.

The certificate of occupancy came May 31, officially allowing residents to live in the building at 2100 Northwestern Ave. However, Arabella didnt officially open until Tuesday. Residents can move in as early as Wednesday, but the majority of those who have already signed leases will move in July 1.

Belle City Square, inspired by Racines nickname, is the 16-acre site that was formerly home of Horlick Manufacturing. The site is to include 13 buildings, for mixed uses.

The Arabella, named after William Horlicks wife, is located on the south end of the former manufacturing site and features 60 apartment homes. Arabella began construction in July 2020 and is at 62% occupancy  and residents havent even moved in yet.

Lets not step by the fact of that this building is 62% pre-leased, WHEDA CEO Joaquin Altoro said at the ceremony. I mean, that is impressive, but it also speaks to the need within Racine and within the State of Wisconsin.

History

RachelKubik / RACHEL KUBIK rachel.kubik@journaltimes.com Pictured is an extra room in a two-bedroom apartment, as a result of a former elevator space, in the Arabella.

The Horlick Malted Milk Co. operated in Racine from 1873 to 1975. The property fell into disrepair until it was purchased in 2018 by Milwaukee-based real estate company J. Jeffers & Co. to be redeveloped. All historical buildings on the former industrial complex are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Josh Jeffers, president and CEO of J. Jeffers & Co., said the buildings had roofs and floors falling in, and were full of hazardous materials.

This entire site was environmentally contaminated. And there were trees, not little trees, but literally big trees growing in through the cream city brick walls, Jeffers said. I can honestly say, without any hesitation, that this was the most dilapidated building that our company has ever taken on.

Partnerships

RachelKubik / RACHEL KUBIK rachel.kubik@journaltimes.com Pictured is an open area in an apartment in the newly-finished Arabella building as a part of the Belle City Square development.

Belle City Square partners include LSS and the City of Racine, in the form of a developer-funded tax incremental district, and other loan and grant incentives. WHEDA is providing affordable housing tax credits.

The entire project is projected to support hundreds of local and regional construction jobs over its phases. The Arabella project achieved 27.5% disadvantaged business participation, achieved 48% minority participation, and supported 20 new Racine Works hires.

Watch now: Only woman working in construction at Horlick complex in Racine shares her journey There are some things that have not changed for Charnele Evans, including her manis and pedis every two weeks. I want my daughters to know this is not mans work ... I didnt have to change anything about me, the mother said. Nothing about me has changed since I have been on this job  besides me being happy.

This is really a great example of showing something that can be accomplished when people work together, Racine Mayor Cory Mason said. And really, my hats off to J. Jeffers for their willingness to take this journey with us as a community to do something really remarkable.

Mason recognized several people who made the project happen, including the aldermen who voted for the project, the workers who built it, the partners and the future residents.

I just cant tell you how proud I am as a mayor to be standing here today, Mason said. I was telling Josh (Jeffers), Man, it feels a little bit like graduation day. And given everything that weve gone through, weve had to learn together and accomplish together, to be here, feels a little bit like graduation day.

Features

RachelKubik / RACHEL KUBIK rachel.kubik@journaltimes.com Pictured is a space for socializing or relaxing in the newly-finished Arabella building as a part of the Belle City Square development. Brent McClure, vice president of development for J. Jeffers & Co., said the space could be used when people want space from their individual units while working from home.

The Arabella offers urban-designed housing with architectural features and modern amenities for low- and fixed-income residents. All units, each unique and ranging from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom units, feature an industrial style with exposed brick and high ceilings.

What an exciting project, said Jen Davel, vice president and Midwest regional director of Heritage Consulting Group, which is consulting on the project. Converting this former industrial building to residential units is a win-win. And I know as a preservation architect, Im a little biased, but living in historic buildings is the way to go.

All three-bedroom units have two bathrooms; most two-bedroom units have two bathrooms, but not all of them. All one-bedroom units and studios have one bathroom.

Each unit has thermostat-controlled individual heating and air conditioning. The Arabella and neighboring buildings also utilize clean energy via rooftop solar panels, which have helped the projects achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold standard.

All three-bedroom units have a washer and dryer in their apartment, and occupants in units with less than three bedrooms are to use the laundry room on the first floor. The front lobby of the building includes a fitness center.

Brent McClure, vice president of development for J. Jeffers & Co., said the developer had to replace 90% of the roof and 75% of the floor decking in the building.

The cream city brick is basically the only thing left thats original, McClure said. The transformation has been pretty remarkable.

McClure did not have an estimation for rent pricing.

RachelKubik / RACHEL KUBIK rachel.kubik@journaltimes.com Pictured is a kitchen and an open area in an apartment in the newly-finished Arabella building as a part of the Belle City Square development.

Plans

In addition to the Arabella apartments, the 16-acre, $100 million Belle City Square development plan blends historic buildings with new construction townhouses and common spaces to create a neighborhood of housing, commerce, retail, recreation and education elements.

Currently under construction at Belle City Square and expected to be completed by April 2022, is an 86-unit, historically renovated apartment building also offering market rate rents. The building is to be named The William, after William Horlick, and began construction in April.

Two more apartment buildings featuring a total of 166 units are expected to begin construction in the fourth quarter this year.
This story was updated Wednesday morning to add details of the video released by the Racine County Sheriffs Office.

RACINE  The Racine County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday night released what Sheriff Christopher Schmaling called a short piece of video pertaining to the death of Malcolm James, one of two men to die in the Racine County Jail in a four-day period four weeks ago.

The clips show James hitting his head, which is covered in a blanket, against the concrete walls of his County Jail cell prior to his June 1 death as jail staff members try to talk to him. James, in the video, is heard muttering to himself during what has been characterized as a mental health crisis.

James family and their attorney have been demanding the full video be released, including other angles from inside the jail. The clips released by the Sheriffs Office on Wednesday show less than 5 minutes of James time in the jail. The video is not dated or timestamped, so it remains undisclosed when exactly the incident occurred.

Taser used

Prior to this video being taken, Mr. James had been seen by multiple medical and mental health professionals, including two visits to the hospital, Schmaling said.

In this video, you will see Mr. James violently hitting his head on a concrete wall. Youll also hear my staff professionally and compassionately communicating with Mr. James, Schmaling continued. Meanwhile, the sheriff added, jail staff was assembling to safely remove James from his cell and provide him medical attention.

Once the team entered the cell, Mr. James violently fought with jail staff and they had to use some use of physical force to secure him from medical treatment, Schmaling said. While it is true, a Taser was used, the statements made about Tasers causing death are completely false. Medical experts have insisted and supported this fact.

Schmaling said the reason the video is being released is the continued advancement of serious misinformation.

He warned: This video is tragic, traumatic and very difficult to watch.

Choosing to release

Initially, the Sheriffs Office had said it would not be releasing information relating to the investigation until after the Kenosha County Sheriffs Departments investigation of the death was complete. That investigation isnt expected to be concluded until at least mid-July.

I request the publics patience, and commitment to peace, while these investigations come to their logical conclusions, Schmaling said.

Attorney makes allegations

The attorney representing the families of both James and Ronquale Ditello-Scott Jr., who died May 29 in the jail, is alleging that James death is not related to him hitting his head against the wall.

On Wednesday afternoon, hours before the release of the video, attorney Kevin OConnor released part of the results of an independent autopsy for James. OConnor alleges that James suffered no head wound, but had multiple Taser wounds that the family believes caused James death.

The video released by the Sheriffs Office on Wednesday does not show jail staff interacting physically with James, only him hitting his head and jail personnel talking to him through the door.

The Sheriffs Office initially said that James violently smashed his head against a wall on May 29 and then again on June 1 before he suffered a medical event.

OConnor declined to share the full autopsy report or the name of who conducted it, other than saying it was a preliminary report conducted by, in his words, a female Milwaukee pathologist.

During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, OConnor displayed a diagram showing areas on the body where, he alleges, James had suffered injuries.

OConnor displayed a body diagram which he said detailed the following injuries to James:

Three areas of lacerations.

Six areas of puncture/burn wounds allegedly caused by a Taser.

Three areas of abrasions, all to James left arm.

No head wounds.

OConnor said a full report will be released once he acquires James toxicology report. Law enforcement officials say that they, too, are waiting for the toxicology reports from James and Ditello-Scott Jr.s deaths; those reports often take 6 to 8 weeks to be complete.

No reports of an autopsy for Ditello-Scott have been released.

Claims

The most important thing is they claim that a head injury, if you look at his head, is what caused him to injure or harm himself, OConnor said. There were no evidence of any head injuries that would have been anywhere related to anything that would have sustained the injuries. So their claims that he smashed his own head or did something to his own head are completely and utterly false.

When asked if he believed the use of a Taser contributed to James death, OConnor replied: One hundred percent.

The only reason for somebody to die in this situation ... is if you have multiple Tasers, because they dry stun, which is using the actual gun on you, or they use the prongs. And he had evidence of both, OConnor said. When you do that multiple times on people, nine times out of 10, the heart is going to stop.

The family and OConnor called again on Wednesday for the federal Department of Justice to get involved. OConnor alleged the Kenosha and Racine sheriffs departments work too closely with each other and that there must be involvement from an independent party.

There is no way that this should have been going on this many weeks with these obvious signs of what went on without Kenosha County doing something to at least arrest or charge somebody related to this death, OConnor said.

On Wednesday, OConnor addressed the events described in the Sheriffs Office report: Where is the head abrasions that caused it? ... We know that theyre lying ... This cant continue on.

OConnor said, before the video was released, that he didnt think James was having a mental health crisis at the time of his death.

I dont think any of that was going on, he said. I think this is a made-up story to try and cover for what happened after.

Family responds

James family members, friends and loved ones rallied at the courthouse steps during the news conference. Many of them wore shirts and held signs in support of him which read Say his name or I love you, Malcolm.

Marlo Harmon, James aunt who said she was like a mother to him, said: Black lives matter, whether its at the hands of the police officer, or at the neglect of a police officer. He has a right to be safe in the hands of a police officer, sheriff or anyone else.

Growing up, Harmon regarded police officers as friendly community members, even calling them Officer Friendly, she said.

But today and how things are going today, I wonder what type of friend an officer really would be when they are doing this to my son, Harmon said, referring to James. If they can do it to my son, they can do it to your son, too. We want justice.

Scott Jr.s family and friends also were at the rally in solidarity. Tammy Bush, Scott Jr.s cousin, said his mom passed away and she has raised him since he was a little kid. She said she currently has custody of his siblings.

Im just trying to lay him to rest for them, Bush said of fundraisers she is holding to help pay for Scott Jr.s funeral costs. The family is holding a fundraiser from 3-8 p.m. Friday at 3728 S. 43rd St., Milwaukee. For $15, donors will receive wings, loaded fries, dessert and a drink.

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Sometime in March, cement barriers were placed in front of the Erickson Truck-n-Parts' entrance on Frontage Road, blocking the only way the owners could get in and out. The village is mum about what's going on, even after one of the Ericksons was cited for trespassing on his own property.

An attorney representing the Ericksons wrote in a letter to a Mount Pleasant official: "In Catch-22 fashion, my client has been directed to clean up its property, but its owners and employees are not allowed on the premises."
The court rejected those arguments, noting that in Pennsylvania, Giuliani failed to "provide a scintilla of evidence for any of the varying and wildly inconsistent numbers of dead people he factually represented voted in Philadelphia during the 2020 presidential election."

Giuliani was the primary mouthpiece for Trump's lies after the 2020 election, standing at a press conference in front of Four Seasons Total Landscaping outside Philadelphia on the day the race was called for Biden and saying they would challenge what he claimed was a vast conspiracy by Democrats.

The lies around the 2020 election helped push an angry mob of pro-Trump rioters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in a shocking effort to stop the certification of President Biden's victory. And since that time, Republicans have used that lie to push stricter voting laws nationwide.

The suspension comes as Giuliani is under scrutiny by federal prosecutors over his interactions with figures in Ukraine while he was trying to get that country to launch an investigation of Biden's son.

Federal agents raided Giuliani's home and office in April, taking electronic devices including phones and computers.
1. Yes. Its a serious public health issue; unvaccinated workers put others at risk.

2. Yes. Some colleges and school districts are mandating it. Its a necessary step.

3. No. Employees should have the option of getting vaccinated or not. Its up to them.

4. No. Some people have serious side-effects. Geting jabbed should be optional.

5. Unsure. Getting people vaccinated is important, but so is having a choice.

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KEARNEY  A driving simulator from Alabama will be used to provide hands-on training to Nebraska transit drivers next week.

The Nebraska Safety Center, located at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, is funding University of Alabama in Huntsvilles RIDE (Real-Time Instruction for Driver Education) Simulator and Pro Customer Care courses through grant monies.

Sessions are slated for Tuesday in Scottsbluff, June 30 in Kearney and July 1 in Lincoln.

During the RIDE Simulator training, attendees will experience different driving scenarios where they must make critical decisions.

It gives them opportunities to get into situations that wouldnt be safe to test in an actual vehicle, said Mitchell Locken, Nebraska Safety Center rural transit lead trainer.

Drivers also will learn to recognize their vehicles dimensions and limitations in confined quarters and practice proper operation of their vehicle.

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In the Pro Customer Care course, attendees will learn how to identify and communicate customer care concerns to management.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration has extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help tenants who are unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but it said this is expected to be the last time it does so.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium until July 31. It had been scheduled to end June 30. The CDC said Thursday that "this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium."

The White House had acknowledged Wednesday that the emergency pandemic protection will have to end at some point. The trick is devising the right sort of off-ramp to make the transition without massive social upheaval.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separate bans on evictions for renters and mortgage holders were "always intended to be temporary."

This week, dozens of members of Congress wrote to Biden and Walensky calling for the moratorium to be not only extended but also strengthened in some ways.
The De Soto Public Library is not just a place to get a book. It is also needed by the community as a pre-school, computer lab, movie theater, copy shop, and homework help destination to name just a few of the provided services. Unfortunately in the past year the library has only been able to offer curbside service for patrons to pick up or deliver books that were ordered by phone or online.

That is about to change. In the next few weeks the library plans to reopen and provide all of its usual services, with a new librarian at the helm. This will be great news for the 1,100 residents the library serves in the communities surrounding the village of De Soto.

In the meantime, patrons can still order books for curbside service pick-up, by calling 608-648-3593, or by e-mail, desotopl@wrlsweb.org The De Soto Public Library catalog can be visited on-line at https://rmwebopac.com

The De Soto Public Library being closed, as it was for the past year, has suffered a loss of its traditional funding for this year. To provide the best possible services and programs, the library is needing to update and upgrade materials and supplies. In order to meet the discrepancy of funds, the library board decided to sponsor a raffle.
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It has epidemiologists concerned, says Dr. Joseph Poterucha of Mayo Clinic Health System. We know that it is more transmissible and people are more likely to be hospitalized and have burden of illness. They also get worse more quickly. Were learning more every day about it.

Delta seems to be less responsive to monoclonal antibody treatments, and a single vaccine dose offers less protection against the variant than with other strains. Per the Public Health England study, one shot of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine offers only 33% protection against Delta, compared with 50% for Alpha. However, completing the series raises efficacy against Delta to 88%, compared with 93% for Alpha.

Those at most risk at this point in the pandemic are those who arent vaccinated. So now is the time to get the vaccine. The vaccine is your best protection against the COVID variants, Poterucha says. This would be an opportunity for those who have been on the fence, those who have been waiting for safety data. We have good safety data.

Having been previously infected with COVID, Poterucha cautions, will not protect you from the Delta variant. Its a different breed, the antibodies that might provide some natural immunity are different. You can get COVID again with this Delta variant and you can get quite sick.
Gov. Tony Evers has announced his appointment of Emily Hynek to serve as Jackson County district attorney, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Daniel S. Diehn. Hynek will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term that ends January 2025.

Hynek has been the assistant district attorney in Jackson County since 2018 and was previously an assistant district attorney in La Crosse County for six years.

She presently prosecutes cases involving sensitive crimes, including sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as controlled substances and financial crimes. She is also the treatment court prosecutor, and previously worked with the drug court in La Crosse County.

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Emily Hynek is a great fit for the job. She is a skilled prosecutor who has great experience working in western Wisconsin. She cares deeply about justice and fairness for the people of Jackson County. With both her dedication and empathy, I am confident she will be an excellent district attorney, said Evers.
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When: Lancaster City Council meeting, June 22, held in Council Chambers for the first time since the pandemic began. The meeting was also streamed on the citys YouTube channel.

What happened: Council was briefed on Mayors Neighborhood Week, happening now. Neighborhood meetings have been being held daily this week from 4 to 6 p.m. in various city parks.

On tap: Buchanan Park is on the schedule for Thursday. Mayor Danene Sorace and the citys leadership have been discussing city projects and plans and seeking feedback from community members. A handful of events hosted by Lancaster city departments also include a public works bike tour, a pop-up pedestrian and traffic safety event on North Street, and Coffee with a Cop in Penn Square. City staff and neighborhood leaders are conducting walking audits in each neighborhood.

Celebrate Lancaster: The week culminates in Celebrate Lancaster on Friday, which will feature food trucks and live music around the city from 5 to 7 p.m. and two fireworks displays at Jackson Middle School and Buchanan Park. Find more information online: Cityoflancasterpa.com/neighborhood-week and Celebrate Lancaster - Visit Lancaster City.

COVID questions: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital doctors are setting up information tables at some of the events and are providing referrals for vaccinations. A vaccination clinic will be held at McCaskey High School from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sorace said.

Quotable: It is a welcome breath of fresh air to see and talk to people in person to see neighbors that we havent seen in over a year. And just to connect again as a community, Sorace said. Im really excited about this summer, which really feels like a miracle to me because we are seeing the rates of deaths dropping so precipitously across the country  and I feel very grateful to be an American.

In other business: Council passed resolutions recognizing June as National Health Homes Month and as Pride Month. A Pride flag will be flown above City Hall.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  An influential firebrand cleric was sentenced to another four years in prison in Indonesia on Thursday for concealing information about his coronavirus test result.

The three-judge panel at East Jakarta District Court, which was under heavy police and military guard, ruled that Rizieq Shihab had lied about his COVID-19 test result, which made contact tracing more difficult.

Shihab has been detained since Dec. 13. The judges ordered the time he has already served to be deducted from his sentence.

Authorities blocked streets leading to the court as thousands of Shihabs supporters tried to stage a rally to demand his release. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse hard-core followers who tried to approach the court. Hundreds who refused to leave were detained.

Shihab has been facing a series of criminal trials since returning from a three-year exile in Saudi Arabia last November.

Judges at the same court on May 27 sentenced him to eight months in prison for violating health protocols by holding a religious gathering and the wedding of his daughter, both attended by thousands of supporters during the coronavirus outbreak. He was also fined 20 million rupiah ($1,400) for a mass gathering in West Java.

After the gatherings, he was treated at Ummi Hospital in Bogor, a city just outside the capital, Jakarta, for COVID-19, but hospital officials kept his condition secret.

The indictment said Shihab's false statement that he was healthy, which was aired by several news networks and widely spread on social media, put the community at risk, considering that he had attended several events involving thousands of people.

Shihab, 55, was the leader and grand imam of the now-banned Islam Defenders Front, widely known by the Indonesian acronym FPI, which was once on the political fringes. It has a long record of vandalizing nightspots, hurling stones at Western embassies and attacking rival religious groups, and wants Islamic Shariah law to apply to Indonesias 230 million Muslims.

Shihabs presence at gatherings attracted large crowds, with many ignoring physical distancing and failing to wear masks.

Judges also sentenced Shihabs son-in-law, Hanif Alatas, to two years imprisonment for being an accessory in the crime. Prosecutors had sought a six-year prison term for Shihab and a two-year sentence for Alatas. Ummi Hospital director Andi Tatat is being tried separately.

Shihab said he rejected Thursday's verdict and would appeal. During the trial, he said he was worried that revealing he was ill would be politicized by his opponents.

He said he was the victim of political persecution because of his strong opposition to the former Christian governor of Jakarta, an ally of President Joko Widodo, who was imprisoned on charges of blasphemy.

The movement against the governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, brought fringe Islamic groups into the political mainstream and rattled the government in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation and third-largest democracy.

Shihab was sentenced to seven months in prison in 2003 after his group vandalized bars in Jakarta. Five years later, he again was convicted and sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison for an attack on a religious freedom event.

Shihab left Indonesia in 2017 for a pilgrimage to Mecca shortly after police charged him in a pornography case and with insulting the official state ideology. Police dropped both charges a year later.

He has called for a moral revolution since arriving back home, fueling tensions with Widodos administration.

The government banned FPI in December, saying it had no legal grounds to operate as a civil organization and that its activities often violated the law and caused public disorder.
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I had the privilege of doing a ride-along with Manheim Township Police Department Officer Alyse Gallagher last month, on the final day of National Police Week.

It was eye-opening and inspiring. Our local police officers have many duties during a shift, with the extra challenge being the unknown of what they might face.

Five hours of observation in a police car  watching Gallagher stay connected to all the different tools and protocols, while also paying close attention to the road  was exhausting. But Gallagher, who started with the Manheim Township Police Department in January 2020, says she loves it.

I listen and pick up radio dispatches in or near my precinct, she explained. I also help out when something is going on close by or if backup is needed.

All calls are assigned through the Lancaster County-Wide Communications dispatch, and officers listen for assignments through radios inside their cruisers or through the mobile radio hooked to their uniform. Its loud and confusing. You have to listen carefully and follow to stay up to date with unfolding calls. Each municipal police force also has its own radio channel for communications.

Gallagher, one of Manheim Townships three women police officers on patrol, glances at her laptop computer, which is mounted between the two front seats and is high enough for her to type and read the screen.

She has access to the Pennsylvania Crimes Code and Vehicle Law Handbook, as well as the Manheim Township ordinances. She also has an app that reads license plates of vehicles near her. She hears the pings and then an alarm when the plate is expired. She puts on her lights and takes off after a car.

When the driver of the vehicle pulls to the side, she pulls up behind, lights flashing. She parks and double-checks her information on the computer to get ready to talk to the driver.

Each time before she exits the car, Gallagher checks in with dispatch. She makes sure her dashboard camera and her audio recorder, attached to her shoulder, are both on.

She approaches the driver of a vehicle on the shoulder of Route 30. She walks to the passenger side, being careful to observe traffic near her.

The speed of the passing cars rattles the police cruiser, a Ford Explorer. Gallagher tells me about the states new Move Over Law, which requires motorists to pull into a different lane or slow down when they see a police or emergency vehicle on the side of the road. She hopes motorists pay more attention and said its very dangerous to stand on the shoulder of the road.

I ask if she is concerned about what she might find when she approaches a vehicle.

No, Im not thinking that Ill see anything bad, she says. But Im prepared if they do.

Gallagher wears a belt with all her tools, which weighs about 25 pounds. It includes her pistol, a spare magazine, handcuff case with two pairs, flashlight, pepper spray, retractable baton, disposable gloves and a tourniquet.

You need to be in good physical condition to spend 12 hours wearing this belt, said Gallagher, who works out regularly and lifts weights. She has to return to the station for bathroom breaks, because its not safe to take off the belt in a public place. Police officers often develop back problems after spending years wearing heavy equipment.

Gallaghers route to becoming a police officer was anything but traditional. She graduated with a fine arts degree from West Chester University and lived in Ireland for three years before returning to West Chester, where she worked for the county courts.

She decided to become a police officer and put herself through the Delaware County Police Academy. She went to school each weeknight after her full-time job, from 6-10 p.m., and then spent 10 weekends in vehicle and firearm training.

Like all police officers on duty, shes careful about driving alone in a marked police car. Gallagher is aware of her surroundings at all times and backs into all parking spaces, makes sure she can see behind her, keeps doors locked and is ready to evacuate if needed.

Be prepared. Thats why training is so important, Gallagher. said

Another stop on the shoulder of Route 30 was to check on two young men who appeared stranded with a trailer and a large mower.

Gallagher greeted them with a smile and asked why they were on the side of the road. They explained that their truck had a flat tire, and the driver left to repair it and would pick them back up. She waved to leave, and said shed check back later to be sure theyre OK.

I want people to know were friendly and want to help. I dont want people to only see us on calls, she said. We treat people like people.

Another rewarding part of the job, said Gallagher, is the chance to see dogs. I love dogs, she said, as she showed me photos of her new dog. When Im not busy, Ill stop and ask if I can pet dogs out for a walk.

Her least favorite part of the job is emotional or psychiatric calls. She supports adding social workers to the force, if they could come along with an officer to help out with situations involving mental health issues.

I went on a recent call to see a woman who wouldnt stop screaming in her mother's house, Gallagher said. We talked for a bit and then I explained how important it was for her to take her meds. She said she was feeling better, took her meds, and seemed to calm down by the time I left. She said she was finished screaming.

A day earlier, she had started her shift with a call about a person who was defiant and refused to leave a location despite several requests. He became increasingly agitated and later resisted arrest. Gallagher spent most of that day taking him into the station, transporting him and writing up reports.

Calls like these leave long-term impressions.

Every time I pass this one house, I remember that it was my first DOA (dead on arrival), she said.

Some days are tough, others are easier. Before her shift ends, Gallagher needs to gas up her vehicle so its ready for the next officer. Its time for her to go home, rest up and get ready to do it all again the next day.

Carol Gifford is a member of the Manheim Township Board of Commissioners.
This article appears in the June 25, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

Gandhis Vision for a New Paradigm in International Relations, a World Health System, and Direct Non-Violent Action In Times of Social Breakdown

[Print version of this article]

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Studio of Elliot & Fry Mohandas K. Gandhi, 1931.

Zepp-LaRouche presented this paper to the two-day online International Conference of the Association of Asian Scholars on Revisiting Gandhi: Peace, Justice and Development, October 30-31, 2020, for the celebration of the 150th birthday of Mohandas K. Gandhi. She also delivered an abbreviated, ten-minute version of the paper and participated in the discussion session.

International Relations

As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the globe, all the many unacceptable problems of systemic injustice previously plaguing the world, the poverty and underdevelopment that has existed in the entire post World War II period, have suddenly exploded and torn away the thin veil, which had masked the fragility of the present global system the whole time.

As of now, the pandemic has killed more than one million people, and according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), it threatens to kill at least another million before a vaccine can be applied to the whole world population, and it even may be worse than that. According to the UN International Labor Organization (ILO), this year 500 million jobs will be lost, and if the prognosis of the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, turns out to be right, we could face a famine of biblical dimensions soon, killing up to 300,000 human beings a day.

The financial system that has dominated the world since 1945, and which has become increasingly deregulated since President Richard Nixon dismantled in August 1971 the original Bretton Woods system by introducing floating exchange ratesa process which accelerated after the collapse of the Soviet Unionalready was at the point of systemic collapse in 2008. All the Quantitative Easing by the central banks since has only enlarged the financial bubble, to the advantage of the rich becoming richer, the middle class shrinking, and the poor becoming poorer. These same central banks, according to the intention stated by former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, now want a regime change, whereby they want to replace governments in defining financial and fiscal policy.

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UN

Just to touch upon it briefly: as a result of the sharpening of the trans-Atlantic financial crisis, the various hotspots have also heated up to a very dangerous point of escalation, in several areas even to the point of actual war, as between Azerbaijan and Armenia; in other areas, as ongoing regime-change operations, like Belarus; and in still other areas as potential hot conflicts such as the South China Sea or around Taiwan. In all of these crisis areas one can trace the geopolitical manipulation of the modern form of the British Empire, an empire which continues to exist in the form of the financial system of central banks, investment banks, hedge funds, insurance and reinsurance companies, etc. The most visible manifestation of this empire is the City of London and Wall Street, which historically developed as the junior partner of the City.

So the question is: Can the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi still show a roadmap for the establishment of a new world order, in light of a world which seems in many ways completely out of control and where coercion and bullying seem to have replaced diplomacy and dialogue? It is a fair assumption that Gandhi would approach this question with the same inner direction and determination to free all of humanity from the yoke of imperial repression as he approached the question of freeing India from colonial subjugation in his time.

As we commemorate this year the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Charter, it is more urgent than ever before that we renew the principles upon which the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) were built. It is important to remind the world that Gandhis philosophy of non-violence and the practical example of his victory over the British Empire, were the most important of the influences that shaped the formulation of these groundbreaking documents. He had been the greatest inspiration for the fight against colonialism and the intense debates around the Indian constitution.

The Indian representatives who had taken part in the different aspects of the drafting of the UDHR, Begum Hamid Ali, Hansa Mehta, Lakshmi N. Menon, and M.R. Masani, were all influenced by the ideas of Gandhi. Hansa Mehta was in the group of Eleanor Roosevelt at the UN Commission on Human Rights, which formulated the UDHR.

The principles of Gandhis conception of non-violence continued to influence later the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Panchsheel, as it was expressed for the first time formally in the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet region and India on April 29, 1954. In the preamble, these principles were spelled out: (1) Mutual respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the other; (2) Mutual non-aggression; (3) Mutual non-interference into the inner affairs of the other; (4) Equality and cooperation for the mutual benefit; and (5) Peaceful coexistence.

This same philosophy persisted in the first conference of the independent Asian and African states in Bandung, and under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, these principles were enlarged into the Ten Principles of Bandung. They also constituted the core according to international law of the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade in 1961.

It underlines both the humbleness and integrity of Nehru, that in a 1960 interview with the editor of the Blitz tabloid, R.K. Karanjia, he answered the journalist, who had referred in a question to the Nehru era, which he suggested would have begun after 1947 very explicitly, said:

Your usage of words like Nehru era and Nehruvian policy is wrong. I would like to call my time as authentic Gandhian period, and the policies and philosophy we are trying to implement are the policies and philosophy taught by Gandhiji.

Further along in the interview, Karanjia stated his assumption that Nehru would have gone beyond the principle of non-violence by creating the principle of Panchsheel and peaceful coexistence in response to the impending menace of the atom bomb.

Nehrus answer again gave the credit to Gandhi by answering:

All this was inherent in Gandhian philosophy. In fact, the path of Panchsheel, peace and tolerance, the sentiment of live and let live has been fundamental to Indian thought since ages and you will find it in all the religions. Kings like Ashoka practiced it and Gandhiji integrated it in the practical philosophy of Karma which we have inherited.

Nehru elaborated further:

His [Gandhis] thoughts, methods, and solutions have helped to bridge the gap between the industrial revolution and the atomic era  after all, the only possible answer to the atom bomb is non-violence, isnt it?

In the meantime, the National Archives in Washington have published historical documents which reveal that the use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II was militarily completely unnecessary. The war was practically over, Japan was cut off from its supply lines through the American sea blockade and the Russian occupation of Korea and Northern China. Trumans decision, which was completely backed by Churchill, to drop the bomb, was at this point only a demonstration of the principle of Schrecklichkeit [terror] in respect to future Anglo-American policy against the Soviet Union and as a test of its effect on the civilian population.

Behind this was the entire strategy that had been published by Bertrand Russell in an article in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, The Atomic Bomb and the Prevention of War in 1946, and which had been emphasized by H.G. Wells before World War II, that the issue was to make the experience of war so horrible, that any enemy could be forced to give up its sovereignty and submit to de facto world government.

More than 200,000 people lost their lives and many more had lasting effects on their health as a result.

At the recent 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned about a change in U.S. military doctrine, which regards nuclear weapons as deployable, which is obviously based on the idea that a limited nuclear war is winnable. This seems to be a reference to the W76-2 low-yield warhead now deployed on Ohio-class submarines. Serious nuclear weapons experts such as MIT professor Theodore Postol, however, have argued convincingly, that it is the nature of nuclear weapons, that if it comes to the use of one, that they all will be deployed. In the age of thermonuclear weapons this would obviously mean the annihilation of the human species.

To return to the question posed earlier: Is the philosophy of non-violence of Gandhi still applicable in light of this existential question for all of humanity? The answer is Yes, but it requires the same kind of fearless commitment to throw off the yoke of empire that guided his actions. In Gandhis name, there must therefore begin in all countries a campaign about the threat posed to the existence of humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination. This goal is in accordance with the principles of the UN from the very beginning, since Resolution 1 of the General Assembly in 1946, there has been the demand of global nuclear disarmament. Since then there have been numerous diplomatic efforts spearheaded by the UN, aiming at the elimination of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction.

Today there exist more than 13,000 nuclear weapons, which are in the possession of eight countries. This arsenal, if it ever would come to be used, would be enough to eliminate the world population many times over. But with the withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, the INF Treaty, the Open Sky Treaty and the immediate danger that the last nuclear arms control treaty, New START, will expire in February 2021, there will be the danger that, for the first time since the 1970s, the worlds two largest strategic nuclear arsenalsthose of the U.S. and Russiawill be unconstrained.

In the absence of previously existing arms control regimes, many experts have expressed the concern that the present situation is more dangerous than even at the height of the Cold War, when even in the Cuban missile crisis, the communication between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev did function.

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EIRNS/Stuart Lewis

While the reconstruction of arms control is urgent to constrain the danger of an out-of-control arms race, the actual goal to eliminate nuclear weapons for good probably can only be accomplished if they can be made obsolete through new technologies based on new physical principles, and that these new technologies be implemented by all nuclear powers in cooperation, as proposed by the American statesman Lyndon LaRouche to the Reagan administration and the Soviet Union, which then became the Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI.

In its Resolution 68/32, adopted December 5, 2013, the UN General Assembly designated September 26 as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and observed that day every year ever since. But in light of the imminent danger resulting from an increasing geopolitical confrontation between NATO and the U.S., on the one side, and Russia and China on the other, the campaign for the elimination of nuclear weapons can not be reduced to one day, but must become an ongoing accelerated campaign for every day, in every country, and on all levels of society.

Gandhi always believed that the youth of every country have the power to move mountains, and that they are responsible to uplift and develop their countries. It was his firm conviction that it was specifically leadership from the upcoming generation which could bring together all layers of society. In light of the danger of nuclear war, it is therefore of the utmost urgency to remind the youth of the world of the message of peace and non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi, and the great gift of Ahimsa that Gandhiji gave to humanity. The renaissance of Ahimsa will also be the way for young people to learn from Gandhijis idea of spirituality and self-purification, as a way to rid themselves from the yoke of mind-control through all kind of addictions, be it drugs, alcohol, or excessive internet use.

In light of all these dangers, it is very clear that Mankind is being put to the final test: Do we, as the only creative species known in the universe so far, have the capability to give ourselves an order, which guarantees the longtime survivability of humanity? We therefore urgently need an international debate about the necessity to return to the principle of the Panchsheel as the foundation of the international order. These principles need to be deepened, as their ontological connection to the cosmic order can be demonstrated. In all great cultures and religions there are references to the substance of these principles, even if the language used to express them varies.

On that basis we have to establish a new paradigm in the relations among nations, where the interest of the other is the interest of each. The common good of humanity as a whole must be the guiding principle against which no national interest must be in contradiction. Once all nations concentrate in this way on the common aims of Mankind, a new era of human civilization will be reached.

A World Health System

The coronavirus pandemic, which is now raging across the globe has pulled off the veil from the present world system and has revealed how dramatically underdeveloped many countries are. COVID-19 has already cost more than a million human lives and, according to the WHO, it will in all likelihood cost another million lives before a vaccine has been developed and administered in every corner of the world.

But it is not only the people who have died of COVID-19 or have long-term medical damage from it. The other major category of victims are those two billion people, who according to the ILO are working in the so-called informal economy, including subsistence agriculture with its horribly low productivity, who are now threatened with the sudden loss of income as a result of lockdowns or interruptions in the supply line of production.

According to the ILO, 500 million people will have lost their jobs by the end of the year. In Africa, the real unemployment rate is 65%, in Latin America 42% when we count not just the official unemployment statistics, but also the great number of people who daily scramble for money so that they and their families can eat from one day to the next, but who dont actually produce anything. The youth of the world are particularly affected by this informal economy, better called the shadow economy. In the 15-24 age bracket, 77% of all jobs are informal.

The pandemic also has severely hurt agricultural production in many parts of the world, be it because of COVID-19 hitting the workforce in meatpacking plants, forcing farmers to cull their herds, or because farmers themselves were hit by the sickness in poor countries. As a result, the world is also threatened with a hunger catastrophe which, according to David Beasley of the WFP could soon reach biblical dimensions of up to 300,000 people dying of hunger per day.

It was Gandhis principle of Sarvodaya that influenced the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 and its idea of Leave No One Behind, as well as to endeavor to reach the furthest behind first. The extraordinary gravity of the COVID-19 crisis requires that the timetable to reach these goals must be accelerated. The implementation of Sarvodaya means that the most urgent first step must be the construction of a world health system, without which this pandemic and the threat of future pandemics cannot be conquered. Gandhi said that poverty was the worst form of violence and that the progress of society should be determined by the state of the most vulnerable and the weakest. For the case of the pandemic this is obvious: It will not be over until it is defeated in every single country.

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CGTN/China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co.

There is one important lesson to be learned from the present crisis: The coronavirus would not have become a pandemic if every country had a modern health system. After the outbreak in Wuhan and Hebei province, the Chinese health system was capable of being geared up, rapidly building new hospitals in a few weeks, and mobilizing health professionals from around the country. After two months, China had the pandemic essentially under control and has been able to prevent a new outbreak ever since. If every other country would have had the same capability, it would not have become an out-of-control pandemic.

The reasons for the pandemic are not primarily medical but economic. In 1973 Lyndon LaRouche initiated a biological taskforce with the task of investigating the effect of IMF conditionalities on the developing countries. That taskforce came to the conclusion that by preventing the so-called Third World from investing in infrastructure programs, health, and education systems, and instead favoring debt repayment, the result would be the emergence of old and new diseases and pandemics. The lowering of the immune systems of entire generations in several continents caused by hunger, lack of clean water, lack of medical facilities, etc., would necessarily lead to a biological holocaust.

If the many programs for industrialization for Africa, Latin America, Asia, and even the poor regions of Europe and the United States, which LaRouche and his movement have worked out since the seventies, would have been implemented, every single human being on this planet would enjoy a decent life today.

To apply Gandhis principle of Sarvodaya today, there must be a coordinated international effort to build a modern health system in every country on the basis of the same standards that the American health system used when the Hill-Burton standard was applied, the same standards of the German and French health systems before privatization replaced the principle of the common good with greed and profit in the 1970s. The Wuhan medical system is another good reference point. The building of such health systems then must be the starting point for the building of the new world economic order that the Non-Aligned Movement has been fighting for since the 1950s.

The motivation for the industrialized countries to participate in building this world health system will be their own self-interest: This pandemic, and future pandemics of which virologists and epidemiologists are now warning, will surely come and will not be able to be contained unless the needs of all, especially the poorest countries, are equipped to deal with the threat.

Naturally, one cannot build hospitals unless there is clean water, sanitation, electricity, transport infrastructure, communications, etc. Today more than two billion people lack access to clean water, adequate sanitation, or both.

So the urgent need for a health system, consisting of modern clinics which can be virtually connected to the best professional care in clinics in advanced countries, comprehensive medical supply stations in rural areas, and medical research centers, will be the catalyst for the kind of real development programs that should have been realized many decades ago. The effect of not doing this is that 800,000 children under five years of age are dying from diarrhea every year. Proper disposal of sewage and the purification of water sources is an absolutely indispensable precondition to save billions of peoples lives. Temporary sanitation facilities can be mass produced and distributed in the developing countries as a stop-gap measure, until durable infrastructure has been built up. The building of this infrastructure will provide meaningful employment for many millions of people in all countries involved.

The world has currently an inventory of 18.6 million hospital beds, which represents a huge deficit. The Hill-Burton standard in the U.S. requires 4.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Current levels are 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people, 0.7 for South Asia, and 0.5 for Nigeria. To meet the standard of 4.5 per 1,000 people, one would have to increase the number of hospital beds to 35 million, nearly double the current number. This will require the construction of 35,200 new modern hospitals, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Other concrete aspects that must be targeted include testing capacity which must be brought up to several millions a day, depending on the size of the population, first through emergency import, then as quickly as possible through the building up of manufacturing capacities. And we need contact tracers who must be trained and hired, and masks and more sophisticated personal protective equipment (PPE) which must be made available to allow a dramatically increased number of health care workers to perform their jobs safely. Ventilators must be made available in sufficient quantities. Research for treatments and vaccines must be funded.

All of these measures, as such, are not enough to save lives; to do that we need a vastly increased number of medical staff, doctors, nurses, and health workers. About this, more in the following section. But as we have seen, the principle of Sarvodaya is not only noble, it is indispensable for the survival of the human species.

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Kanu Gandhi The Mahatma, Mohandas K. Gandhi.

Direct Civil Action Today

There are a great number of political leaders and movements around the world who have been or are now inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. But maybe the most consequential of them so far were the famous civil rights leaders in the United States, Martin Luther King Jr., Amelia Boynton Robinson, and James Bevel, who adopted the principle of nonviolence in their fight against the remnants of slavery, racism, and segregation, which accomplished the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

What inspired them was Gandhis conception of nonviolence as satyagraha, the idea that one has to consciously cultivate the power of truth-seeking and love within oneself, so that it becomes impossible to participate in any evil because one has completely freed ones mind and soul from the potential danger of being corrupted, by purifying oneself. King first applied the method of nonviolent action in 1955 in the Montgomery bus boycott, about which King wrote: While the Montgomery boycott was going on, Indias Gandhi was the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change. And later he would say: I came to see for the first time that the Christian doctrine of love, operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence, was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.

In 1959 King and his wife Loretta travelled for five weeks to India in order to get a deeper grasp of Gandhis thought. Many people in India were absolutely aware of the Montgomery bus boycott. King met numerous members of Gandhis family, Indian activists, and officials, including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. That trip had a big role in the subsequent development of the civil rights movement in the U.S. and in King becoming sort of the moral conscience of the U.S. He was on the way to becoming the righteous President of the U.S. when he was assassinated.

King, Malcom X, J.F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy were killed, and the real background of their murder was essentially covered up. Both the murder and the coverup of these four personalitieswho stood for a tremendous cultural optimism, a firm belief in the creative powers of human beings, freedom and justicehad a major impact in the paradigm change that has occurred in the value system in the U.S. ever since, and the transformation from a basic optimism about what man can accomplish in shaping a better future for humanity, to the present social mayhem.

A great number of civil rights leaders who had worked with King, have over the years given an elaborated picture to this writer about the reality of the existence of two Americasa black America, which is completely aware of the white America, which is the only one the white population perceives. The black America in some areas looks more like enclaves of the third world in terms of living standard, access to food, quality of housing and health care, etc.

Recently, after a whole series of police killings of black citizens on top of a high crime rate and black-on-black shootings, the eight-minute-long horrific murder of the Afro-American George Floyd by a policeman, filmed with brutal clarity with a smartphone and spread through the internet around the world, has set off a wave of protest in many American cities. Initially most of the protesters were genuinely upset about the manifestation of racism, which no black person in the U.S. denies exists, unless he or she has been corrupted and belongs to that relatively small upper crust of media-public relations-academic-intelligentsia section, who have made it and therefore think like the establishment.

But very quickly these protests were kidnapped by violent groupings of different stripes. The larger context for the outbreak of the riots is the relentless war first against the presidential candidate and then President Donald Trump, which the neoliberal establishment of the U.S. and Great Britain and their intelligence servicesoften just called the Deep Statehave conducted. His election victory in 2016 upset their control of the U.S., and with it the special relationship between Great Britain and the U.S., upon which the present form of the British Empire and its conception of a unipolar world order rests. Trump had dared to promise to bring the relation with Russia into order, end the endless wars, and give a voice to the forgotten man, who Hillary Clinton had called disdainfully the deplorables.

The riots that broke out in several U.S. cities were instrumentalized to be part of various scenarios to actually overturn the American Constitution. Interest groups, such as Transition Integrity Project (TIP) and related organizations, have put out game plans which give cause for the assumption that the various violence-prone street forces, such as Antifa, Black Lives Matter, etc., could actually have a role in providing the pretext for what some retired military officers, such as Col. Richard Black, former chief of the Army Criminal Law Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General at the Pentagon, are warning could lead to a military coup in the context of the U.S. election.

This has led to the strange situation, where proponents of one side of the political aisle call these riots peaceful protests, while the vast majority of Afro-Americans and citizens of the violence-affected cities completely reject the violence, which has included vandalism against statues of American historical figures and even figures who were heroes in the fight against slavery.

Most of the ideology of these protest groups is derived from the Frankfurt School, which was a CIA-sponsored cultural warfare project in the postwar period after World War II, which targeted values such as hard work, rational thinking, the nuclear family, morality, belief in God as characteristics of an authoritarian personality, which therefore had to be fought against. The latest result of a long chain of such changes in values is the LGTB culture and so-called identity politics, which separates the different sociological groups according to their sexual preferences, or cultural, ethnic, or political likings. The net result of these changes in outlook is a new segregation and the complete opposite of what Martin Luther King had been fighting for, namely, that human beings should not be judged by their color, but by the content of their character.

It is for these reasonsdespite the fact that there are social tensions and political polarization in the U.S. that threaten any cohesion of society and actually the foundations of the U.S. as a constitutional republicthat the incredibly rich heritage of King and the Civil Rights Movement are not mentioned up to now. But it should be obvious, that while the historic predicates are very different, that the essential roots of the conflict are located in the same de facto insurmountable conflicts in both Gandhis and Kings fights. The issue in all of these cases is the same: the effect of an imperial order, which denies the basic human rights to large sections of the population, and there is a point where these injustices become unbearable, as is mentioned in the American Declaration of Independence.

There is a very specific way that the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi and the tradition of Martin Luther King can show the way to a constructive approach in respect to the violent demonstrations in the United States, or France, or any country where they are taking place. The principle of Sarvodaya can be the spark for a nonviolent strategy to address the problem. Since it is the young people of this world whose future is the most threatened by the combination of the pandemic and the economic crisis, there needs to be a perspective that addresses the problem of the pandemic, and simultaneously gives them a concrete way for productive tasks.

As was discussed in the second section of this article, the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics can only be dealt with if every single country on the planet has a modern health system, and that requires a much larger cadre of trained medical personnel than presently available.

There is presently an effort underway to set up a Committee in the U.S., Europe, and Africa to organize partnerships between universities, clinics, hospitals, and medical facilities. The task of these partnerships is to train unemployed youth, to first become medical auxiliaries and then medical personnel, on the model of Roosevelts Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

In poorer segments of the population, the necessary health measures to combat the pandemic are not necessarily familiar, so the first step will be to train young people and deploy them into the communities or villages to teach the population what to do. In Tuskegee (Alabama), Tennessee, and St. Louis (Missouri) there is the beginning of such activities involving retired doctors, healthcare workers, and local police in confidence-building measures such as home visits. This is crucial given the general confusion in the population as a result of the spread of conspiracy theories against masks, vaccines, etc., and ignorance about how infection spreads. At the same time, one can initiate more in-depth medical training of these youth to become doctors, nurses, and health workers.

The aim is further to rapidly start work in African partnership projects for the joint training and deployment of American, European, and African youth, which can be built up with the help of medical personnel, churches, and disaster-control organizations to provide the same services to the populations there. Because of the famine, the distribution of foodstuffs must be added, and this work will be quickly expanded to include training in infrastructure building, farming, and industrial projects. There are many farmers, young and old, in various countries who have been responsive and would regard it as an honor to help out in a crisis moment like this. The call for the creation of this committee says:

As soon as these projects take on a concrete form, they will spark the kind of enthusiasm that all great pioneer projects can generate, despite the seriousness of the situation, and they will give future prospects to many young people who would otherwise be dragged into social revolts and violent activities.

As mentioned, such a private initiative (direct civil action) in the tradition of the non-violent actions of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, cannot, by itself, solve the gigantic challenge before us. But it can provide a practical example of how people of good will can intervene in an otherwise desperate situation and point to the required solution. These concre create, through a new credit system, the framework to permanently overcome underdevelopment in the developing countries.

This multifaceted initiative will accomplish many things at once: It will support people against the pandemic, it will create a future for youth, and it will help to overcome poverty by initiating real economic development.

These three examples: the paradigm shift in international relations, the need for a world health system, and the direct social action for the youth, show the eminent importance and the absolute relevance of the philosophy of Gandhi for an approach to the greatest challenges of our time. His idea of self-ennoblement can also be the basis for a dialogue of cultures among those philosophers and poets who also have an elevated image of man. Such a dialogue will help to catalyze a cultural renaissance, which is so urgently needed to save the world from the present civilizational crisis we are in. But most important, is to kindle within people the love for which Gandhiji stands, so that more people can become great souls.
This article appears in the June 25, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this article]

NEW YORK SYMPOSIUM

Independent Candidate Confronts Lies

Behind Schumer-Cuomo Drug Legalization

After New York Governor Andrew Cuomo used a required annual budget bill to ram through recreational marijuana legalization at the end of March (proudly weeding the state letterhead, as shown below), Independent Senate candidate and LaRouche representative Diane Sare held her weekly informational symposium May 14 on the impact of legalizing drugs on society and the economy. She is opposing Sen. Chuck Schumer, who sponsors The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act to legalize drugs on the Federal level, which ultimately controls many drug policies. Schumer spoke on the Senate floor for making April 20, Marijuana Day, a national holiday.

Diane Sares panelists were:

Susan Salomone, Executive Director of Drug Crisis in Our Back Yard, New York;

Bishop Jethro C. James, Jr., Pastor of Paradise Baptist Church, Newark, New Jersey, President of the Black Ministers Association in Newark, and New Jersey Director of Social Action for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. Bishop James is also Senior Advisor to the state chapter of R.A.M.P. (Responsible Approaches to Marijuana Policy), a national organization;

Dr. Robert Bennett, Professor at Montana State University and author of Pill;

Ernest Schapiro, MD, retired psychiatrist, researcher and organizer for the Schiller Institute;

Joseph Lin [Jiang F. Lin], electrical engineer and real estate investor, a Chinese-American community leader in New York City.

This transcript is excerpted and edited. The full Symposium can be viewed here

Diane Sare: Im Diane Sare, LaRouche Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in New York, and this is the New York Symposium with Diane Sare. We are going to have a really packed discussion this evening with a panel of experts on the question of marijuana, opioids, and the effect of the drug legalization, starting with marijuana legalization around the country. The bill that has just been passed in the state of New York, and what Senator Chuck Schumer is proposing to be passed throughout the whole United States, is called the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act. And if you have seen my press release on this, youll see that Im considering it basically the Slavery and Oppression Act. 

If you dont support the creativity of the human mind, then you are going to destroy yourself economically.

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Courtesy of Diane Sare

Now, theres a big difference between physical economy and money. And what weve been doing since the Crash of 2008 is printing a huge amount of money, which has caused the massive increase in the cost of living for most people, which is not commensurate with the income that most people are getting. But we have not increased productivity. We have not increased humanthe human ability to transform nature, at least certainly not in the trans-Atlantic world.

Something different is going on that China is leading, in various kinds of infrastructure and development. But here, what weve created is the gigantic bubble. And, in a kind of addiction of its own, the bubble needs to find more and more and more income streams to stay afloat. When the mortgage bubble burst, there was student debt, there was credit card debt, there were derivatives. Now theres going to be carbon swaps. And all of this is simply to prop up something.

And it is a problem of physics as well. I dont think theres any bubble in history that ever did not pop. And this one is going to, and there are certain measures that can be taken, which LaRouche outlined, like what FDR did: reinstate the Glass-Steagall separation of banks, invest in those things that actually create mass employment and become more productive.

If people are addicted to drugs and then if those people are operating heavy equipment; if people are brain surgeons; if theyre running a nuclear power plant, you can imagine that being mentally impaired is something that is going to cause a problem in that kind of work.

The second aspect of this drug trade is emotional. The point of educating our emotions is that our emotions become a strength, and knowing how to act in a time of crisis. It is no accident that almost every freedom movement in the world, in human history, has had music and singing associated with it. Because there is a certain power in that, and we are being removed from that. And I think there is a value to human beings having emotions that may not be comfortable, or may not be happy, but nonetheless compel us to do what is necessary for the good of mankind.

Before we begin, Id like to say that the presence of the people on the panel, who Im just going to introduce very briefly and then well hear from them one by one, does not constitute endorsement of my campaign or my candidacy for office. We are doing this in an effort to educate the public and to have a debate of issues that are very important for the American people to understand.

That being said, our first guest was pre-recorded. Her name is Susan Salomone. Shes the founder of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard; we will be seeing a video from her. She will be followed by Bishop Jethro James from Paradise Baptist Church in Newark; and he will be followed by a video clip; and then Dr. Robert Bennett, the author of the book Pill (Object Lessons). Then we will have Dr. Ernest Shapiro, a retired psychiatrist, whos done a great deal of research on the history of marijuana and its effects. And finally, Joseph Lin, an electrical engineer, realtor, and an important activist in the Chinese American community in New York. So, without further ado, perhaps we can go to the video from Susan.

Its a Gateway Drug

Susan Salomone: [video] My name is Susan Salomone, Im the Executive Director of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. This organization was started in June of 2012 after the death of my son, Justin, to a heroin overdose. Justin was my oldest of four boys, and he was twenty-nine when he passed away, so my youngest son, Dylan, was 19. We lived with his addiction for 10 yearshe was addicted to heroin from age twenty-five.

Justin started his foray into drugs at age 16 with marijuana. Thats what started him off. And its very possible that he was dealing with anxiety and some mental health issues, but nothing that was really far from the norm. But once he started smoking pot, it seemed to make him more sociable. He made more friends. He was able to take more risks. And for a couple of years, he did all right with just marijuana.

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Drug Crisis in our Backyard website Susan Salomone

But once he got into college, he started to use stronger drugs. And at age twenty-three, just about the same time that the pill market was going crazy and they were dumping opiates, Percocet, Vicodin all over the streets, he started taking Percocet and he got addicted to Percocet, and at age twenty-five he started doing heroin because you cant continue to have an addiction to the pills unless you have a lot, a lot of money. So, from age twenty-five to twenty-nine, my son struggled, battled for his life.

He went to rehab. He was in a research study with Columbia University for Naltrexone. He was on Vivitrol, which is the 30-day shot of naltrexone, a medication-assisted treatment for opiate disorder. He so wanted to be clean. But in the end, he did lose his battle to addiction. And that was on May 29, 2012.

Shortly after that, I wrote an article to our local paper in Putnam County called Saving Justin, and I got a call on June 14th from Lou Christiansen, who picked up the phone and said to me, I buried my son Erik this morningtwenty-eight years old, a New York City narcotics detective.

We got together, Lou, Carol, my husband Steve, and I, and started Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. We had our first event on August 14, 2012. That was like two months after our children had died. And we had two hundred people show up at the Mahopac Library, because nobody was talking about this. Up until COVID, we were presenting in Westchester and Putnam Counties. I know a lot of people in [New York] City. Im involved with groups in the city. Our mission is to provide services to help families struggling with addiction, and help those at risk.

Sare: I have a question already. People are going to say, But were just talking about marijuana. What would your response be?

Salomone: I cannot even wrap my head around the fact that they legalize marijuana anywhere, because marijuana isnot everyones going to get addicted to itbut there are people who are going to get addicted to it. And [considering] the co-morbidity of mental health and substance use, with marijuana being legalized, we really are in trouble now. My son started with marijuana. I work with a lot of parents, I work with families every single day, and they all tell meMy sonand its mostly sons, sometimes its a daughter, but its mostly boysstarted with marijuana. ... Its a gateway drug, as is tobacco.

Sare: Let me ask you another question: People are going to say, What about tobacco?

Salomone: Im against tobacco, too. Just because its legal doesnt mean that its good. It is legal already. But for them to legalize marijuana, another addictive substance, when youve already got tobacco and now you have vaping, which is crazy and wild in the middle schools and the high schools, and now youre going to bring marijuana on the scene. Just because theres tobacco there already and alcohol there already, it doesnt mean that marijuana is OK. Because thats what the kids think. Right now. The kids think, well, its legal; and I mean the young kids.

Sare: Teachers and others who work with children were saying if you make it legal, that sends the message that its safe. Do you agree with that?

Salomone: Absolutely. It goes right back to the pills. The doctors were prescribing these opiates for people. And my girlfriend, Carol,  when she tells her story, she says, My son Erik came to me and said, I got this prescription from the doctor. I think Im addicted to these pills. And my girlfriend said, But the doctor gave them to you. OK, so it doesnt mean theyre safe. And we know now theyre not safe. The opiate settlement that is currently in place from McKinsey, Purdue Pharma, J&J [Johnson and Johnson ed.], they are paying a price for legalizing those opiates. Theres no question that they have opened a Pandoras box. So just because the kids are saying they think its safe, it isnt safemarijuana nor opiates.

Sare: Would you hazard a guess, or have you looked at other states where they have legalized marijuana, in terms of how much legalizing will increase the use of it among young people?

Salomone: I dont have any statistics, I dont have my paperwork with me. So Im not a statistician. Im really about, you know, the bigger picture. And I know that in Colorado youth use has skyrocketed and along with that, mental health issues. And so Im familiar with, or I have worked with, Dr. Kevin Sabet, who is [co-founder, in Denver, of] Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

But I know from my Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, which is a fairly small organization, but we work with a lot of other nonprofits like mine that got started for the same reason mine got started. And they will tell you over and over and over again that once this is legalized, the younger people are going to start using. Theres going to be more mental health issues, and more substance abuse problems because of it, and more substance abuse disorder problems because of it. And you know whats amazing about the whole thing, Diane? The state is spending unbelievable amounts of money to get this opiate epidemic under control and then they turn around and legalize marijuana.

The Black Market Is Already Booming

Sare: Thank you. Ill go ahead now to Bishop Jethro James, who I think has a few things to say also about what were being told in the marijuana legislation, why we have to do this for social justice, and things like that. Bishop James?

Bishop Jethro James: Thank you so much for having me, first of all, and Im Bishop Jethro James, senior pastor of the Paradise Baptist Church. I am Director of Social Action for Full Gospel Baptist churches in the State of New Jersey, as well as President of the Newark, New Jersey Committee of Black Churchmen.

When our Governor was running for office, he talked about legalization of marijuana. Once he got elected, he attended an event at my church on MLK [Martin Luther King] Day. And I called him out publicly to warn him of the devastation of putting more drugs in communities of color.

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Bishop Jethro C. James, Jr.

Senator Ronald Rice, President of the New Jersey Black Caucus took the battle to the legislature. [They were never able to get the legislation passed ed.] However, it eventually passed on the ballot [as a referendum ed.] this year. One of the biggest lies ever told was that this was done for social justice.

Number One: They made promises that folks that were arrested for possession of marijuana would be able to have their records expunged. That did not happen in this state. When applying for expungement, all criminal acts are considered. For example, if you take a plea bargain, I got caught with the marijuana and a knife, when you go for expungement, the knife comes back in, and therefore youre not eligible. Anyone who was arrested under the federal marijuana laws would not be eligible for expungement because they have to get a pardon from the President, or from some federal source.

Here is another untruth. What we have seen is the promise of African Americans, Latinos and other people of color owning a marijuana distribution business, and having wealth coming back into our community. Well, in the State of New Jersey, not one African American owns anything dealing with marijuana. You cannot go to the bank and say, I want to become a legal marijuana dealer, grower, manufacturer, and I need a million dollars for startup money. The capital is not there. And to have U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Senator [Chuck] Schumer talk about legalizationits insane. Because its all about the money. I would question any politician who would want to legalize marijuana how much money did that business, that industry, give to their campaign?

When we look at what has happened in New Jersey, the black market is already booming. But in New Jersey, the story of how much illegal marijuana is sold or seized doesnt hit the front page of the newspapers. We recently had law enforcement seize 10 duffel bags of marijuana coming to the inner city of Newark, going to a local hookah shop. Of course, with that much marijuana, the bust was made by the federal government and local law enforcement, and it hasnt hit our streets. The black market will function.

In addition, one of the challenges that we face here in New Jersey is that every woman who gives birth, she and her baby are tested for federally-banned substances. If the mother or the child tests positive, it becomes a child welfare case which could lead to the charge of endangering the welfare of a child and possible loss of custody of the child.

Just recently, a young lady who was a schoolteacher had a baby. The baby was suffering from THC [Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana ed.] addiction. Of course, if you have a child welfare case against you, you must notify the employer, especially if you work around children. Well, she wasnt a tenured teacher. They notified the school board, and as a result she was fired. You cant work around children if you test positive for marijuana. She has filed a lawsuit. Theres nothing she can do about it. But heres the tragedy: This baby has been taken out of the custody of the parents because they smoked legally in their home. The grandmother now has custody of the child.

Were also looking at the development of children. We know that the brain of a child is not fully developed until he or she is well into their mid-20s. We know that smoking of tobacco products is prohibited in many areas because of the adverse effects of secondhand smoke. The THC in marijuana has a more devastating effect, especially with children. We have seen babies as young as four or five who are suffering with schizophrenia. Thats real. I cant understand these promises. They talk about things that they wont do.

Weve seen the edibles. Weve unfortunately had an incident in the State of New Jersey, where a three-year old who ate a few of the marijuana gummy bears has been in a coma for weeks now, fighting for his very life. When we look at what folks are trying to do, the promises that have been made to my community, its never going to happen. This is another way of devastating the community.

Were spending billions of dollars now around this nation saying, Stop smoking tobacco products, stop chewing tobacco products. However, its amazing to me that the medical societies of this country have already identified the health hazard of smoking marijuana, but there are very few speaking against it. The New England Journal of Medicine published an issue that said that if you constantly smoke marijuana, you will probably have your first heart attack or stroke before youre thirty-five years old. For young men who start smoking at an early age around 16 or 17, by the time youre 25, its a good possibility you will never be able to father a child because of what the THC does to your reproductive organs. Were not having these conversations. Were not talking about health and safety issues.

Dealing with marijuana in New Jersey, by the way, we have one of the highest insurance rates in the country. In the State of New Jersey your insurance rates are determined by your zip code, so if you live in an urban area, the insurance is much higher. I talked to some of the executives who work for insurance carriers, and theyve said to me, Bishop, if you live in an urban area where marijuana is sold, were going to ask for a minimum of 10-15% increase in your auto insurance.

Weve seen something that happened in the medical field in New Jersey. Talk about cheating the government! There was a doctor in the city of Trenton who prescribed medical marijuana. Were not against medical marijuana. Unfortunately, this physician wrote prescriptions in the amount of one million dollars in one month, which sent up a flag, and of course he was arrested. This abuse is a concern.

What Im saying is that we shouldnt confuse fighting for justice when we enable behaviors that lead to the destruction of individuals and families. Thank you.

Sare: Thank you very much. That was very clear. Were now going to go to an excerpt from the film, Aldous Huxley and Brave New World: The Dark Side of Pleasure, shown with permission of the Academy of Ideas.

Film Narrator: How, one may ask, can pleasure be used to deprive people of their freedom? To answer this question, we must discuss operant conditioning, which is a method of modifying an organisms behavior.

In the 20th century, the Harvard psychologist, B.F. Skinner, performed a famous set of experiments in which he tested different methods of introducing new behaviors in rats. These experiments brought to light how the powers that be can condition humans to love their servitude.

In one set of experiments, Skinner attempted to cultivate new behaviors via positive reinforcement. He provided the rat with food any time it performed the desirable behavior. In another set of experiments, he attempted to weaken or eliminate certain behaviors via punishment. He triggered a painful stimulus when the rat performed the behavior Skinner wished to eliminate.

Skinner discovered that punishment temporarily put an end to undesirable behaviors. But it did not remove the animals motivation to engage in such behaviors in the future. Punished behavior writes Skinner, is likely to reappear after the punitive consequences are withdrawn. Behaviors that were conditioned via positive reinforcement, on the other hand, were more enduring and led to long term changes in the animals behavioral patterns.

[Aldous] Huxley was familiar with Skinners experiments and understood their sociopolitical ramifications. In Brave New World and his subsequent works, Huxley predicted the emergence of a controlling oligarchy who would conduct similar experiments on human beings to condition docility and minimize the potential for civil unrest.

The following passage from Skinners book Walden Two however, reveals that such mass conditioning would in reality make possible a pernicious form of tyranny, one in which the masses would be enslaved, yet feel themselves to be free:

Now that we know how positive reinforcement works, and why negative doesnt, [writes Skinner,] we can be more deliberate and hence more successful in our cultural design. We can achieve a sort of control under which the controlled nevertheless feel free. They are doing what they want to do, not what they are forced to do. Thats the source of the tremendous power of positive reinforcement. Theres no restraint and no revolt, by a careful design. We control not the final behavior, but the inclination to behave, the motives, the desires, the wishes. The curious thing is that in that case, the question of freedom never arises.

In Brave New World, the main reward used to condition subservience via positive reinforcement was a super-drug called Soma. The World Controllers, writes y, encouraged the systematic drugging of their own citizens for the benefit of the state.

Soma was ingested daily by the citizens of Brave New World as it offered what Huxley called a holiday from reality. Depending on the dosage, it stimulated feelings of euphoria, pleasant hallucinations or acted as a powerful sleep aid. It also served to heighten suggestibility, thus increasing the effectiveness of the propaganda which the citizens were continuously subjected to:

In Brave New World, the Soma habit was not a private vice, it was a political institution, [writes Huxley]. The daily Soma ration was an insurance against personal maladjustment, social unrest and the spread of subversive ideas.

Is Our Society Determined by Chemicals?

Sare: Dr. Bennett, if youd like to go ahead.

Dr. Robert Bennett: Im going to talk about my book, Pill which is part of Bloomsbury Publishings Object Lessons, a series of rather short books about different objects.

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Courtesy of Robert Bennett Professor Robert Bennett

In each of these books, the author focuses on a particular object and explores it in depth. In my book, Im looking at pills and specifically psychiatric medications that have been widespread in the field of psychiatry over the last 50 years or so. And in some ways, this is a continuation of what Huxley prophesied, that we would use chemicals to manipulate our minds.

Now, obviously, in these cases, many times people have serious mental illnesses that need to be controlled by pills. But often times, we also use pills to control a wide variety of, sort of, everyday situations, as simple as being afraid on an airplane or being nervous at a cocktail party. A central thesis is that medications from the smallest to the most significant constitute a profoundly significant aspect of life in the modern world. And so, we need to think about them a little bit more deeply than we have and we often do.

And the first thing that I point out is the ubiquity of psychotropic pills, and I argue that theres nothing that alters the human mind on a global scale as profoundly, pervasively as the psychotropic medications found in common everyday pills. We also see that recreational drugs such as marijuana are similarly ubiquitous with the legalization in so many states and so much money being put into, invested in them. In 2010, the global market for pharmaceuticals was more than the government bailout of the U.S. economy.

Aside from treatments for cancer, the bestsellers are psychiatric medications. One out of every five U.S. adults uses at least one drug for a mental health problem. Many people are put on cocktails of four or more drugs, and 10 drugs or more is fast becoming the norm for the elderly, especially in the United States. So, we can see this is really a ubiquitous problem and its spreading very rapidly.

The second thing I want to talk about is the complexity of this medicationthat we often think of medication as sort of the Coke machine. You put in the pill and out comes a cure. Its much more complicated than that. Our pharmacological solutions are far from simple or straightforward. We just dont understand this neuro-circuitry of the brain very well, and this plays out with marijuana as well. We dont understand, really, all of the implications it has on our brain chemistry. And this is where we see that psychiatric medications, opioids, marijuanaall of these thingsare sort of intermingled. They all come down to dealing with complexity of the brain and how we try to modify it using chemicals.

My final point is that I want to point out the profundity of pills and other chemicals that transform our minds: that these chemicals radically transform, modify, design, manipulate, mold, bend, twist, manufacture and engineer our very identities. That they act on us at the level of our most basic molecular neurochemistry, and redefine the human subject to relocate the center of the self in the brain, and the ways that we modify it with chemicals. That human identities are only bounded by, and increasingly determined by, the ever-expanding powers of simple pills.

And if we want to put this in the context of marijuana and other recreational drugs, we can see that our society is becoming very determined by chemicals and how they shape our identities.

Ill conclude with the fundamental existential quandary of our age: What does it even mean to be a human self in a biochemically engineered age, [with] ubiquitous psychiatric pills and other chemicals that alter our minds? Who are we really? Are we ourselves, or are we the chemicals that we ingest?

Sare: Thank you. I think thats a good question and I think its also a good introduction to what Dr. Shapiro may have to tell us from his work on this.

Historical Examples of Forced Legalization

Dr. Earnest Shapiro: You have to raise the question, What kind of environment is the person in, who is exposed to the marijuana, and how does that affect their response? And also, What are the vulnerabilities of the population that is now living in an environment of legalized marijuana?

I want to take up two examples.

Its not generally known that in the beginning of the 20th Century there were international conferences to deal with the opium traffic, which had been run by the British Empire with great devastating impact in different parts of the world, especially China. But the problem was even then knownopiates were considered a problem all over the world, except by the British. And it so happened that at these conferences, the leaders of countries like Turkey and Egypt said they were much concerned about hashisha very concentrated extract of cannabis sativa, the marijuana plant. And they said this had been devastating to their nations for many centuries, and must be banned.

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EIRNS/Scialdone Ernest Shapiro, MD

And so, it became part of the international convention that Egypt and Turkey, for example, had insisted on, and it was recognized finally in the United States. We had Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger, who was very much attuned to this idea, and he fought for it. He fought against allowing any access to marijuana. And there really wasnt a problem in those daysthat was back in the 30s, that he was Commissioner. It was really only after World War II that we had it here.

But the important thing I want to bring out concerning the Islamic world is that there was a time when Baghdad was a center of civilization in terms of culture and science. And what happened was that, particularly starting in the 12th Century, there was a move toward a widespread use of hashish, first in the eastern part of the Islamic world, in Persia, and then Syria, then it got into Egypt, all the way to Morocco. And it became a fundamental part of the society.

These countries underwent decadence. They were ruled by basically oligarchs. Basically, they were people who were very oppressed. Particularly the poor people, laborers, would regularly use hashish. There were hundreds of words in the vocabulary having to do with hashish. It was a fundamental part of the society. A number of times the rulers, you know, either the Turks or the Mamelukes, tried to eliminate it, to restrict it, because they saw more and more people were becoming dysfunctional in this society; they really didnt have a workforce. But they could not, as they were not able to eradicate it. And this went on until modern times. I will quote from a medieval scholar, az-Karkashi, who wrote this about hashish:

Hashish produces narcosis, laziness, stupor, weakening sense perception, foul breath, ruination of color and complexion. Hashish is mind-changing and personality-changing, causing insanity in a habitual user, changes in the mind, making it absent from reality. [quoted in: The Herb: Hashish Versus Medieval Muslim Society, by Franz Rosenthal, 1971.]

He also spoke about addiction and the loss of willingness to work. So thats the first case.

The second case is here in the United States.

Some people may know the work of the two sociologists at Princeton, Dr. [Anne] Case and her colleague Dr. Angus Deaton. And what they perceptively observed, about six years ago, was that, lo and behold, there was a rising mortality among white people who did not have a college degree. They found that there was actually increasing life expectancy among whites with a college degree, but also blacks.

One of the things that they stressed was the huge cost of employee-employer health programs, medical programs, so that they will no longer hire people unless they are very specialized employees. They would rather have someone take a gig job. If they need a janitor, hell have a gig job rather than actually being under regular employ. So the point is that the workforce is undergoing a catastrophic change. Somebody said that now a college degree is a minimum requirement for dignity. So it was that a few decades ago a person without a college degree could get a productive, well-paid factory job. Of course, the factories have also moved out, which is another factor. But still, this is a vulnerability that has to be taken into account. And we may consider that when you legalize marijuana, you are exposing this kind of suffering, anguished population to this added effect.

Sare: OK, I have many questions, including some of the medical effects of this, which Bishop James was alluding to, but before we go to that, we have our final speaker, Joseph Lin, who I think has some things to say about what happened in China [during the 19th century Opium Wars], when the British Empire foisted opium onto the Chinese population, resulting in mass addiction and what the Chinese to this day call their period of the great humiliation. Joe Lin (Jiang F. Lin) is an electrical engineer who has lived in the United States for forty years, and is a leader in the Chinese-American community in New York City.

China Learned from Humiliation by Drugs

Joseph Lin: Before I begin my talk, I will tell you about a story. My grandfather died of cancer. But right before the last stage, he was in a lot of pain. So, that was back in 1937. My dad was like, 7 years old. And they wanted to get my grandfather the opiate. But, because he had seen a lot of people who, addicted to opium, had destroyed their family, he would not take the opiates. In China at that time you could sell your wife for money. So many people, because they were addicted to opium, and they couldnt afford it, so they would sell their wives and their kids. So, opiates. Thats why when I tell my kids, I say, There are two things you will never, ever do. One is gambling, the other one is drugs. Because once you are addicted to them, you will become a different kind of person. Once youre addicted to drugs or youre addicted to the gambling, youll become a very different kind of person. Youll come home begging, lying, for the money, to support the addiction.

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Courtesy of Joseph Lin Joseph Lin

Now, China was a very rich country before 1850, which was when the Westerners were coming with ships and guns to open China. It was because China produced a lot of china, silk, tea, which were exported to the Western countries, and they made a lot of moneybut not in U.S. dollars. They were paid in silver.

So everybody wanted the goods from China, and they had to pay silver. At the end of that, China had a lot of surplus in the trade. So, the West saw that, when they actually started importing opium to China, actually back in 1750, which was almost 100 years earlier. But because the West owed so much money to China, every time they went to trade, they had to bring a lot of silver.

And so then, the Chinese loved the drug. At the beginning it was mostly for the rich people. And then by 1856 it started the tipping point where China actually had a deficit in import and export; and not only that, but as a result of the first Opium War, 1850, China lost Hong Kong. Thats when they gave Hong Kong to the British. And then, by the 1860, they had the Second War. And at that time, in the Second War, China lost a lot more land. Basically, the whole country toppled because of that. The Westerners went to Peking, and they burned the palace, they robbed all the antiquities.

But youve got to understand, that at the beginning, China didnt see that the drug was the problem. They think, Oh, its just a recreation, just for rich people. It has a medical use. When I look at pictures, people, rich families, they are using it. But later, in a later stage, you will see a lot of people who were so poor, and they got addicted to it. And it is interesting: The population in China at the time was around 400 million, but most of the people lived in the country. The people in the cities were probably only like 10%, so we are looking at about 40 million. But 10 million people are using it, so you literally had a lot of poor people in the city who are using the drug and they cant afford it.

Now, people say, Oh, because they legalize the drug, that way you dont have to pay a lot. That actually is worse for the country, because now the poor people are using it, and they are the labor for the city, and they cannot work. And the drug that you use for recreation at beginning, once you get addicted, you need more and more and more.

We Are Getting Weaker

Now, you can see the story: China was a very strong country, but because of opium, it became a weaker country. Now, you look at the U.S.a strong country, all right, but now, we are getting weakerbecause our infrastructure is falling apart; we have a lot of deficit; our education system  and We want to compete with China.

A lot of times when you look inside the USA, you feel like, well, we have freedom, we have freedom of everything, including drugs. But we are getting weaker. We are competing not just with ourselves. We are competing with the world, were competing with China. The country doesnt allow a single drug. I had a friend who was caught having drugs in China. He was executed. Zero tolerance. Thats what I mean. Now we are competing with a country that has free drugs on every level, and we are competing with a country that has no drugs at all. And we are competing with a country that can build a bridge within 72 hours. And we build the same bridge within five years and $873 million dollars. How are we going to compete?

OK, we have $621 billion [the Biden proposal for roads and bridges in Bidens $2 trillion package ed.]; 15 years, you divide that, youve got $41 billion per year, you divide it by 50 states, each one gets 800 million. For New York City, just one project, the Kosciusko Bridge, took five years and $873 million dollars to build. What kind of infrastructure money would we have? The politicians are basically lying.

You have to be watching out for your own kids. Before marijuana was legalized, my kids were in junior high, and they saw their friends using drugs right in the schoolbefore it was legalized. It meant that a lot of people were getting paid a lot of money, and the kids still had access to the drugs. Now we talk about legalizing it on a federal level. Basically, this is telling the kids: OK. You can use the drugs.

Everybody knows the kid whos 17 years old, up to 21, their brain is not fully developed, and the drug has a consequence for them. One in every five kids has a mental issue already. We would be adding this to the children. You will see a lot more mental illness. You know how much money we spend on the mental illness on adults?$225 billion a year. We are basically spending more money on the mental care than on our infrastructure.

Theres no point in this, theres no gain for us. A lot of people say cheaper. Yes, its cheaper, but an economy doesnt go around it, because when you create a problem, and you spend money to go to solve the problem, you are wasting the money.

So, the warning is this: We dont have the money for the military, we dont have enough money to go abroad to compete with China building infrastructure. We dont have the money to build our own infrastructure. Meanwhile, as a parent, we say to the kids, OK to use drugs. What kind of country do we want our country to be? Its a wake-up call for everybody. We need to get off drugs, a.s.a.p. Thank you.

Sare: Thank you very much.

And I just want to share that I direct a chorus, and many of our musicians, the pianists who play with our chorus, are from China. I asked one of them, Do you have a drug problem in China? And he looked at me like I was crazy and said, No. And its not the punishment. I mean, its not just that its illegal. He said if anyone in Chinaand he said it has happened, a rock star or some big business stargoes over to the West and they get photographed with a joint or a bong or something in hand, when they come back, they are completely ostracized. No one even wants to be seen with them. Its such a matter of pride because people have a memory of the humiliation of the country being destroyed from outside.

Also, Ill just say I read a report from another one of my colleagues, Dr. Ned Rosinsky, who said in Colorado, apparently, theres a 250% increase of THC in [the blood of] young people who have committed suicide. So there clearly is a real relationship between marijuana, marijuana addiction, and suicide. And also from Kevin Sabet: Apparently, its the case that marijuana users who start over the age of 18, one out of 10 becomes addicted. But in users who begin under the age of 18, its one in six. And with people who get addicted to the opioids and other drugs later, 98% of them started on marijuana first.

From the Question-and-Answer Session

Sare: Now one of our audiovisual people, Jose Vega, has a question that he wants to ask.

Jose Vega: My question is: During the 1960s, R.D. Laing had compared the effects of using psychedelics to schizophrenia. He also advocated for the liberation of mental patients through the use of psychedelics and other drugs. John C. Lilly used psychedelics in a flotation tank and wrote a book titled, Programming and Metaprogramming in the Human Bio-Computer. What is the relationship between these persons, [B.F.] Skinner, and the situation we have today with the mass distribution of these drugs? When I say, mass distribution, I was told that in New York Citythis is just an example of this mass distributionthat if you had gotten your vaccination card, you got your vaccine, you could go get a joint, somewhere. And this was broadcasted on WNYC. This was broadcasted on Public Radio. So thats my question.

Dr. Bennett: I think we have this kind of techno-scientific mindset, where we feel like we can control our lives through chemicals. But the chemicals that we use end up controlling us. And thats where its sort of, the complexity of our minds. We dont fully understand the complexity of our minds. We think that were in control of this process of chemical manipulation, but because of addiction, because of the complexity of the neurochemistry of our minds and various other factors, were really not; were not able to control once weve gone down this path of chemical manipulation, we are not really able to control where it leads, and the chemicals end up controlling us.

Bishop James: Allow me, if you will, just thinking about chattel slavery in this country, what would be the tool to keep you enslaved? First and foremost, your thought process. If Im not free in my mind, Im certainly not free. COVID did something that identified health care disparities. What are we going to do with the mental health of these babies that are being born in Colorado and California? Weve seen a 70% increase in pediatric poisoning.

And then lastly, New York has had decriminalization for a long time. New Jersey just got it. And so no one has to be arrested for a joint. But what does the joint do? I repeat what I said, as I sat at the Governors table to debate the legalization project, I said to them, Whos going to enforce and keep this out of the hands of our babies, the edibles and what-not? And they said to me, Well, Bishop, I guess thats going to be the job of the community. For those of us that have worked with, seeing the poverty, seeing what it has done to our community, we are still saying Why put this in our community? To promise this is going to set you free has never worked.

What are you going to do in the neighborhood when 50-60% are going to be unemployed because they cant pass a simple test? And then when it comes to this whole expungement thing, Diane, in the State of New Jersey, again, Im a retiree, a former executive from Public Service Electric & Gas Company. One of the things on the application is, have you ever been arrested? It doesnt say have you ever been arrested and was it expunged? If you have an expungement and say No, they have you for falsifying official records. This is a perfect way to keep you enslaved, to keep you in poverty. And your mind cant even be free because its doped up.

Sare:  I hadnt thought in this way of how absurd it would appear to someone in China for the United States to say, We have to compete with China, we have to compete with China. And, the first thing were going to do, is legalize drugs! After China went through the Opium Wars, saw the total destruction from that, knows what it means, and then to hear someone who cant hear what they themselves are saying. I think the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway has been under construction for thirty-five years now, and then some. To say, Oh, yeah, were really going to compete. 

Lin: If you were worried about the black community, I work in many communities as a realtor. When I go to the black community, they are the hardest hit. I see them using marijuana. This country keeps saying about race injustice. But they only say, they dont do nothing for the black community. Whats most important? Most important is the education. We put a lot of money into fighting wars outside our country, but we dont put enough money into the black community.

Bishop James: Amen. Politics is a pile of poli-tricks. Ive been to Washington a few times, and Ive talked to some of the elected officials there. One of the things they were telling me is that they have what I call marijuana trucks. They go to events in the black community, and they openly sell the edibles, the drinks now, to folks that are young, without asking for identification. Its amazing that when you think about the United Negro College Fund slogan, a mind is a terrible thing to waste, and our childrens minds will be wasted by smoking marijuana.

I thank Mr. Lin for what he said. And I say this to my community: If black lives really matter, then theyve got to matter from the cradle to the grave. Weve got to make sure that our children do not become addicted to drugs in their own homes. We need to make sure that our children are not inhaling, not just secondhand cigarette smoke, but secondhand marijuana smoke. Weve got to make sure that no other child takes an edible and is now fighting for his or her life, because they ate a substance that their body could not handle.

Weve got to make sure that what were seeing in California and Colorado will not happen in New Jersey. They are seeing pediatric accidental poisoning increase by 70% since the legalization of marijuana. I thank Brother Lin for being totally honest. I grew up poor. But thanks be unto God, I had parents who had morals. They had convictions, and they understood that education was so important, but also that manners will take you further than money, and that you must have a moral value.

Sare: I really want to thank everybody who has participated here. It just shows that actually this is a very complex matter, but its not unclear. And I would say that I think its really urgent. Ive said this many times before, but theres a phrase that keeps going through my mind in terms of what I encounter on the campaign trail with the people that I meet, which is selling your birthright for a bowl of pottage, that people have decided that they cannot get what is actually due them, due us as human beings created in the image of the Creator. That there is no reason in this day and age, 2021, for any single person on this planet to not have clean drinking water, not have electricity, not speak more than one language, not learn classical music, not be conducting cold fusion experiments in a basement, or that the conditions of life for every human being should not be those reflective of the dignity of man.

And not only that, but that each generation can have a growing population. But if you dont develop your mind and you dont make scientific discoveries about using the resources that we have more and more efficiently and discovering new resources, then you succumb to the belief that all we can do is get smaller and smaller and consume less and less, and that each generation is going to have a harder time and live worse than the generation before, and that there are certain problems that we really cant solve. And I would say that is a very un-American approach.

Diane Sare states that appearance in her Symposium does not represent endorsement of her campaign, but is for the purpose of education and a needed dialogue for voters and candidates alike.
This article appears in the June 25, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

Putin-Biden Step Back from the Abyss,

In Sober View of Nuclear War Threat

[Print version of this article]

An earlier version of this article has been posted on the blog of the Russian International Affairs Council.

June 18Significant importance of the June 16 summit between U.S. and Russian Presidents Biden and Putin comes from an action by these leaders which was unexpected by geopoliticians and pundits beforehand, and has been widely ignored in U.S. and European media coverage of that summit since. That action was the re-adoption by the two Presidents in their own names in the summit communique, of the exact language renouncing nuclear warit cannot be won, and must never be foughtof President Ronald Reagan and Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev in their 1985 summit, also held in Geneva, Switzerland. Schiller Institute President Helga Zepp-LaRouche had called for this urgent step back from a military confrontation, which appeared to be reaching a peak around Ukraine in April. Also calling for such a step back were the American Committee for a U.S.-Russia Accord, and the Euro-Atlantic Leadership Group.

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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Given the harsh words and shrill tone from the Biden team preceding his meeting with Russian President Putin on June 16, it seemed realistic that both sides were lowering expectations in pre-summit pronouncements. In the days before the summit, Biden met with G7 leaders and NATO officials to create an impression of a united front against the threats posed by Russia and China. His spokesmen repeatedly painted a picture of an Alliance of Democratic States prepared to confront autocratic regimes, in defense of an arbitrary rules-based order (RBO) unified by adherence to western valuesvalues which are under attack due to the malign intent allegedly demonstrated by Russia and China.

Following the NATO summit in Brussels, Biden said, Russia and China are both seeking to drive a wedge in our transatlantic solidarity ... but NATO is rock solid and unshakeable. In the final communique, Russia is repeatedly identified as an aggressor and China as presenting a systemic challenge, both posing a threat to the RBO. In the face of this threat, it states, NATO stands by its international commitments, especially regarding Russia, which was accused of continuing to breach the values, principles, trust and commitment outlined in the documents defining the Russia-NATO relationship.

The U.S. is back, Biden enthused time and again, and the others agreed, referring to the fact that the G7, in the past, had been able to shape the global agenda, based on U.S. military and economic power. The apparent unity achieved in these two summits would allow him to confidently draw red lines in his meeting with Putin. [Box: U.S.: Biden and Xi Will Confer Soon]

Yet, cutting through all the platitudes in the flood of words served up by participants at the G7 and NATO summits was a simple statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in London: The days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone. This comment in particular shreds one of the conceits bandied about by members of the G7 Club, that this summit marked a return to multilateralism, highlighted by the presence of the United States after the Trump interregnum. To put things in perspective, when the G7 was founded, in 1975, the member countries represented 80% of the worlds GDP; but today, it is just over 30%, according to Statista.com. In terms of population, the seven countries account for less than 10% of the worlds total. Thus, while the seven dwarfs (as Lyndon LaRouche called them) made a show of unity in Cornwall, England, there were legitimate concerns over their ability to impose their will on the world, and underneath the surface disagreements emerged, especially on how tough to be against China, exemplified by a push-back from Germany, France and Italy.

The demand that nations nonetheless submit to this new order discredits their claim of commitment to multilateralism. The proceedings of the G7 summit were shaped not in accordance with principles of international law, but by the arbitrary design of the financial, intelligence, security and diplomatic communities of London and Washington, in tandem with the think-tanks and non-governmental organizations financed by the same military-industrial complex making strategic decisions. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced months ago that the G7 would be the coming-out party for Global Britain, a thinly disguised new imperial order at the center of the RBO. The Biden team was not only fully in step, but has been claiming ownership of this concept.

Resounding No to Nuclear War

Given this background, it was perhaps a shock to the Russophobes that a Presidential Joint Statement on Strategic Stability, issued after the summit, included the exact language of a previous U.S.-Russia summit, between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in November 1985, which is credited by many as providing the basis for the peaceful resolution of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Putin-Biden statement states, Today, we reaffirm the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Included in the statement is an agreement to establish a bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue to address security issues facing both nations.

Other positive developments from the summit include the return of ambassadors to each nation, after they had been recalled at the height of the recent crisis over Ukraine; Bidens reference to the Minsk Protocol, indicating the prospect of a revival of diplomacy to resolve tensions regarding Ukraine, based on an agreement which continues to be sabotaged by Ukraine; and an agreement to begin consultations on cybersecurity. The latter is a concession by Biden following Putins denial that Russia is responsible for repeated cyber-attacks on U.S. infrastructure. The Biden Administration has repeatedly used talking points accusing Russia of sponsoring and protecting cyber-terrorists engaged in such attacksfrom election interference in 2016 and 2020, to ransomware attacks on U.S. and allied corporationsall charges having been made without evidence.

In separate press conferences, both leaders offered cautious assessments of their engagement. Putin said, Our meeting took place in a constructive spirit, adding that ... both sides expressed their intention to understand each other and to seek common ground. Biden said, The tone of the entire meeting was good and positive, and that he recognizes that Putin does not want a Cold War.

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DoS/Ron Przysucha

This outcome was shaped by a series of events that preceded the week of summits, which represented a flank against the standard line of imperial geopolitical attacks. These included a two-hour May 19 meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, described as productive and cordial, in finalizing the plans for the June 16 summit; and the announcement that day by Blinken, of the waiver of sanctions against the lead company involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and its CEO, Matthias Warnig. Though it was much condemned by U.S. media and war hawks in both U.S. political parties, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov described the Nord Stream 2 decision as a glimmer of normalcy in American politics, creating the prospect of a normalization of our bilateral ties. On May 25, a meeting occurred between Nikolai Patrushev, the Secretary of Russias Security Council, and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, which was reported favorably by both parties.

In addition, there were interventions by associations representing leading officials from U.S., NATO, and Russian diplomatic, political and military circles, which explicitly called attention to the danger of nuclear war. Most important was the June 6 statement from the Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group. It begins, Today, there is a growing risk ofand a potentially catastrophic inattention toa security crisis involving an escalation or miscalculation leading to nuclear use. This statement, and a similar one from the American Committee for U.S.-Russian Accord, both call for reasserting the pledge from the Reagan-Gorbachev summit that a nuclear war must never be fought. This theme was also the focus of several major conferences sponsored by the Schiller Institute, which included participants from the U.S., Russia, China and Europe.

The Empire Strikes Back!

The response of the unified war party represented by the U.S. and British mainstream media to these developments, demonstrates their intent to undermine the fragile progress achieved. They badgered Biden over what they considered to be his softness in response to Putin, reminiscent of the hammering they gave President Trump following his summit with Putin in Helsinki in July 2018. Typical is the coverage by Washington Post scribbler E.J. Dionne, who wrote that the summit enhanced Putins profile and threatened to overshadow Bidens participation in summits with allies, which he characterized as a broadly successful effort to refurbish the United States alliances with its longtime friends in Europe. In an editorial, the same newspaper concluded that theres no reason to believe the outcome will vary from previous U.S. attempts at cooperation with Mr. Putin.

More chilling was The Economists summary, speaking on behalf of the City of London neo-liberals. Putin needs a form of detente with America, it charged, so he can focus on the more urgent business of repressing dissent and rebuilding his empire. It described Putin as the leader of a kleptocratic regime dominated by violent security services, ... [one] that cares more about wealth than ideology, and is preoccupied with its own survival rather than a global contest with America, let alone the interests of the Russian people. Putins regime thrives on disorder, it concluded, accusing Russia of having invaded neighboring countries, poisoned its opponents, and waged cyber- and information-warfare against the West. So, The Economist warned, the danger is that Mr. Bidens tough-sounding rhetoric will be a substitute for tough action rather than a precursor of it.

Likely in response to this pushback, Biden presented a less optimistic assessment on the plane ride home, pivoting to the theme of some of the war hawks: playing off Russia against China. He asserted that Russia is in a very, very difficult spot right now. They are being squeezed by China. They want desperately to remain a great power.... Youre in a situation where your economy is struggling, you need to move it in a more aggressive way. Though acknowledging that Putin does not want a Cold War with America, Biden demeaned Russia in language echoing that of his former boss, Barack Obama, by saying they desperately want to be relevant.

The LaRouche Doctrine

The baby-step achieved in the Geneva summit will go nowhere without a radical break from the paradigm shaped by the tradition of British geopolitics and the imposition of neo-liberal economics. The pledge to reject nuclear war, useful though it is, is meaningless if those who shaped the G7 and NATO summits as a confrontation between The Alliance of Democratic States and autocratic regimes continue to control the agenda. Looking back at the 1985 summit between Reagan and Gorbachev which originated that pledge, one cannot help but reflect on the opportunity presented by the collapse of the Soviet Union to achieve a lasting peace, which was lost, as the geopolitical divisions which created the Cold War persisted, concretized by the assertions of the George Bush, Sr. regime that a new world order was coming into being, premised on the unilateral agenda imposed by U.S. military power.

In a prescient effort to counter the efforts of the geopoliticians to sustain their failed paradigm, Lyndon LaRouche in March 1984 drafted The LaRouche Doctrine: Draft Memorandum of Agreement Between the U.S. and the USSR. Written one year after Reagans adoption of LaRouches formulation for the joint deployment by the United States and USSR of an anti-missile defense system, and a year before the Reagan-Gorbachev pledge to reject nuclear war, LaRouches proposal for building on a fragile basis is highly relevant now following the Putin-Biden summit. He wrote,

The political foundation for durable peace must be: a) the unconditional sovereignty of each and all nation-states, and b) cooperation among sovereign nation-states to the effect of promoting unlimited opportunities to participate in the benefits of technological progress, to the mutual benefit of each and all.
Putin Warns Geopolitical Processes Are Eroding Security and International Law, at Moscow Security Conference

June 23 , 2021 (EIRNS)Welcoming participants via a video message to the Fourth Moscow Conference on International Security, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced geopolitical approaches as responsible for the worsening security situation and erosion of international law.

However, unfortunately, geopolitical processes are becoming increasingly turbulent despite isolated positive signals. The erosion of international law continues as well. The attempts to use force to push through ones own interests and to strengthen ones own security at the expense of the security of others continue unabated, Putin said according to the transcript posted on the Kremlin website.

Regional armed conflicts, the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the activity of cross-border criminal groups, drug trafficking and cybercriminals are causing us serious concern. International terrorism continues to pose a particular threat. To reiterate, the scale and the global nature of the above challenges require that all states join their efforts. Of course, this collective work must be based on international law and the UN Charter goals and principles. Any new rules should be formulated under the auspices of the UN. All other avenues will lead to chaos and unpredictability.

He further explained,

I would like to remind you in this connection that earlier Russia suggested developing a new security equation. It should take into account all the factors influencing strategic stability in their interconnection. We are confident that political will and readiness to compromise can produce a positive effect. Clear evidence of this is Russia and the United States extending the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty until 2026. Naturally, we cannot but be concerned over the continuous build-up of NATO military potentials and infrastructure in the vicinity of Russian borders, as well as over the fact that the Alliance is refusing to consider in a constructive manner our proposals on de-escalating the tension and reducing the risk of unpredictable incidents. We really do hope that common sense together with the desire to promote constructive relations with Russia will eventually prevail.

Stressing Russias efforts in the settlement of regional conflicts, Putin said: Our military aid helped to liberate the greater part of Syrian territory from international terrorists and to prevent the disintegration of the Syrian state. The political and diplomatic work within the Astana format that is pursued jointly with Turkey and Iran has made it possible to start the process of Syrian settlement under the UN aegis.

In the Caucasus conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the President described: The Russian peacekeepers reliably guarantee peace and security in the region.... Russia never forgets its responsibility for the security and prosperity of neighboring countries, with which we are brought together by inextricable historical, cultural and human ties and continue promoting the de-escalation of regional conflicts and strengthening peace and stability on our common continent.
Russian Military Fires Warning Shots at British Ship in Federation Waters in Black Sea

June 23 , 2021 (EIRNS)The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement this morning announcing that a Russian warship fired warning shots at the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender, which it said had violated Russias maritime border around Crimea in the Black Sea. At 11:52 am on 23 June, the HMS Defender of the British Royal Navy, operating in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, violated the border and entered 3 km into Russian territorial waters in the region of Cape Fiolent, the ministry statement said, reported Sputnik International. The statement further said that warnings had been issued to the British ship but were ignored.

At 12:06 and 12:08, a border patrol vessel carried out warning shots. At 12:19 a Su-24M carried out a warning bombing run using 4 OFAB-250 [high-explosive fragmentation] bombs at the HMS Defenders path of movement, the statement added. At 12:23 the combined actions of the Black Sea Fleet and the Border Forces of the FSB forced the HMS Defender to leave the territorial waters of the Russian Federation.

The British Ministry of Defense not only denied that there were any warning shots fired at the HMS Defender but denied that there was any incident at all. We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity, the MOD press office said on Twitter. No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognize the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.

The MOD insisted that The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law, on its way from Odessa to Georgia. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons official spokesman elaborated: As you know, the U.K. does not recognize Russias claim to Crimea.

Sputnik reported that the Defenders automatic identification system signal showed the ship to be situated about 40 km off Crimea as of 14:15 local time on June 23, and to be sailing southeast. The Russian Defense Ministry has summoned the attache on Defense Matters from the British Embassy in Moscow over the incident.

Not mentioned in the press coverage, is that a U.S. Air Force RC-135V reconnaissance aircraft was flying over the Black Sea and was off the west coast of Crimea at the time the Russians report they were firing warning shots at the HMS Defender. The U.S. aircraft was visible on flight tracking websites such as Flightradar24. Its presence raises the question of whether the Defender was engaged in deliberate provocation so that the RC-135 could collect signals intelligence generated by the Russian response to the Defenders presence.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed in a Twitter posting that the incident is proof of the threat that Russia supposedly poses to Ukraine. Russias aggressive and provocative actions in the Black and Azov Seas, its occupation & militarization of Crimea pose a lasting threat to Ukraine and allies, he said. We need a new quality of cooperation between Ukraine & NATO allies in the Black Sea.

The incident followed by one day the signing of an agreementon the deck of the HMS Defender in Odessabetween the U.K. and Ukraine for a $1.7 billion sale of eight Barzan-class fast-attack missile boats to the Ukrainian Navy.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021

Evidence of Lunacy and the Need for Strategic Sanity

June 23 , 2021 (EIRNS)In a press conference immediately following his June 16 summit discussion with President Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked about the future of U.S.-Russian relations.

As for sanctions and economic restrictions, I have already pointed out that we are not aware of the domestic political mood and the line-up of forces [in the U.S.], or rather we know, but we cannot fully understand the developments. Some forces are against improving relations with Russia, and others support this. I cannot say which of them will win.

The LaRouche Organization and the Schiller Institute have been the most consistent and clearest voices for strategic sanity, uniquely presenting Lyndon LaRouches policies for constructing a durable peace based on the bankruptcy reorganization of the global financial system, and providing for the accelerated development of the impoverished developing sector, in particular.

The most consistent and clearest voice for strategic lunacy, and driving the world to the brink of nuclear war in order to defend that same bankrupt financial system, has been that of the British Empire.

Today, the Royal Navys guided missile destroyer HMS Defender, operating in the Black Sea, intentionally crossed 3 km over into Russian territorial waters off the coast of Crimea, and only departed 30 minutes later after a Russian border guard patrol ship twice fired warning shots across its bow, followed by a fighter jet dropping four bombs in front of the HMS Defenders path.

As former British Ambassador Craig Murray commented: There are those who see this activity as evidence of the U.K.s continued great power status. I see it as evidence of lunacy.

Indeed. All the more so since Putin and other Russian government officials have this week presented the U.S. with concrete initiatives to get the security dialogue underway, and reiterated their governments willingness to put Russias hypersonic and other advanced weapon systems on the negotiating table, so long as serious overall talks occur.

And all the more so since the Chinese government has similarly presented the West with an honorable exit from their dead-end economic policies which have unleashed a deadly pandemic which threatens the entire planet, offering instead agreements for economic cooperation that can begin with the establishment of a worldwide system of advanced health-care systems to address the current, and likely future, pandemics.

A week ago, Putin stated I cannot say which of them will win, referring to the policy battle in the U.S. and the West in general over cooperation or confrontation to address the global crises. The answer to that question, in significant measure, will be provided by those participating in the ongoing process of policy discussion at the Schiller Institutes international conferences, including the upcoming one to be held this weekend on June 26-27.
Activist Lora King Campaigns Against Racism

The fight against racism gained another ally in the person of Lora King, the daughter of motorist Rodney King whose vicious beating by Los Angeles police officers in 1991 highlighted law enforcements treatment of African Americans and led to massive reform in policing across the nation.

On the anniversary of her fathers passing in 2012, King marked the occasion by announcing her support in battling conduct and conversation that denigrates Blacks, immigrants and people of color. Most important, she said, was the new registered trademark logo against racism that she and other activists unveiled at a press conference on June 17.

I am very excited about a federal government registered trademark logo to stop racism with a goal of donating money to childrens organizations, colleges and childrens hospitals across the U.S., said King, who was only seven-years-old when her father was beaten.

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Its time to stop racism. God created us all equal and we need to unite and support each other. This logo is not racial as it covers people of all skin colors. We all belong to one race  the human race, she added.

King is lending her endorsement to a campaign initiated by Errol Segal, a Los Angeles resident who launched stopracismapparel.com to change negative viewpoints people assume about others. The centerpiece of his public education crusade is the t-shirt logo emblazoned with the statement, People of color make up the world population. We are all the same color on the inside. Lets respect each other.

Explaining that he designed the logo to reflect similarities between ethnicities and genders, Segal said, We all have brains, hearts and everything else is the same regardless of ones skin color, religious belief, or sexual orientation. There is no difference between Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White people  they are only skin colors.

Segal noted that the public could assist with ending racism by obtaining and wearing the t-shirt with the logo. The product is available at stopracismapparel.com on Google, Facebook, In

stagram, Tik Tok, Twitter and YouTube.

Donning the t-shirt logo is one positive way, said Segal, to reduce racial tension and bring about unity and respect within our communities.
Anatomy of Resurgent Racism: Some Sources of Its Savagery

The latest outbreak and resurgence of raw and even rabid racism, culminating in the violent insurrectionist attack on the Capitol, has sent the country into doldrums of conditional self-doubt, semi-traumatic disbelief and televised and twittered questions of how did we come to this and will we ever get beyond this monster side of America, the-would-be-beautiful? After all, it has lasted so long against all reason, religious and moral appeals and educational attainment. Moreover, it seems that for every form of racism we restrain, it regenerates itself in multiple other forms.

These conversations about resurgent racism bring to mind the Greek mythological many-headed snake-like monster that, if you cut off one of its heads, would grow back two more in its place. And only the god-like superhero, Hercules, could kill it. But racism is real, not a myth, in spite of fervent and faithful denials by its most devout, delusional and passionate practitioners. And there is no mythical hero, Hercules, to destroy it. Indeed, it is only the people themselves, who freed from myths and mystifications, must and will take their salvation and liberation in their own hands and exorcise the racist monster which is among and within them. For only in this way can they self-consciously and collectively achieve the just, good and democratic society we all deserve and must demand.

As A. Philip Randolph taught us, the condition of freedom, equality and democracy is not the gift of gods. It is the task of men, yes men, brave men, honest men, determined men. That is to say, men and women, brave, honest and determined men and women. It is these women and men who know that they must make the miracles they hope and wish for, must model and mirror the values and vision they stand for, and must build the good world they long and struggle for as a lived experience and enduring legacy.

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To defeat racism and destroy it at its roots, we must study and know its social anatomy, its structure and functioning, its historical evolution and current forms. For the hydra-heads of racism appear in various forms: open, raw, rapacious and unrepentant or closeted and cloaked under the color and camouflage of law, education, civil social exchange, national interests, and blind justice which miraculously gains its sight and applies its selective morality in matters of race.

It is important here to note that the current outbreak of viral strains of resurgent racism is not to be understood simply as a backlash. To talk of resurgent racism is to speak of racism rising again into promise. It is a current restoring to prominence attitudes, activity and acceptance of things racist formerly cloaked, closeted and camouflaged, but still existent. In a word, we speak here of a racist revival, not a new thing. This brings to mind the religious revival and indeed, this resurgent racism has a religious dimension to it. For not only the Trump supporting evangelicals offer evidence of this, but also the cult-like religious commitment and views of Trump and of his mission by his most devoted followers.

What we have here, then, is not a new phenomenon, but evidence of the endemic systemic character of racism rooted in foundational thought and practice. So, its not simply a case of backlash, a violent or negative reaction to something they, the racists, experienced from us, but something clearly within them and the system. To say backlash implies we did something to them and that they are somehow justified in doing something back to us. But we did not do anything to them, and the question becomes why are they doing these unjust, evil and oppressive things to us? And the answer is that its because racism is systemic and was/is always there, waiting for an opportunity and excuse to reappear. Thus, there is not really a backlash, but rather a continuous racist frontlash, retreating and resurging at various historical junctures.

Racism expresses itself in three basic ways: as imposition, ideology and institutional arrangement. Racism is first of all a violent imposition. Indeed, violence is its first, most fundamental and defining feature of it. Whether it is the founding of the country through genocide, enslavement, dispossession, colonialism, occupation and conquest, or massacre, lynching and state and societal sanctioned police and vigilante violence, violence is its signature feature. Also, racism expresses itself as ideological justification for its violence. It may use biological and cultural claims of superiority and inferiority or religious claims, getting their god to underwrite their diabolical designs on and destruction of the lives and lands of the racialized other. And finally, racism expresses itself as institutional arrangements, i.e., institutions, organizations, structures and processes which reinforce, promote and preserve the imposition and ideology at every level and in every area of social life.

The key and overarching issue in this current resurgence of racism is the struggle around the color, character and course of the country. In other words, it is a question of how do we conceive society? Is U.S. society a White finished product or an ongoing multicultural, multiracial unfinished project? A product is finished, but a project, as used here, is open-ended and ongoing. And if we are to move beyond the conceptual imprisonment of open, closeted, cloaked and even unconscious racists, then, we must dare to radically reconceive and reconstruct the kind of country and society we want and deserve.

The sources of systemic racism and its savagery are varied and interrelated. It carries within it a psychology, politics, economics and culture rooted in domination, deprivation and degradation. Racism is a psychology, indeed, a pathology of oppression. It is a disorder of hatred, hostility and the will to be superior, the will to dominate and degrade others different and vulnerable. It is delusional and imagines evil, threats and insults from those different. It is a state of insecurity that requires degrading others to allow its adherents to feel at ease in their inadequacies.

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The politics of racism is a zero-sum politics that prefers domination to democracy, suppression of the vote rather than encouraging it, and a monopoly of power over, rather than a sharing of power with. It makes laws that are essentially the will of the ruling race/class and morality a selective concern and practice that empowers and privileges the dominant race and over polices others. Likewise, the economics of racism is one of deprivation, disparity and disadvantage. It is the practice of a racialized capitalism that sees nothing wrong in the proliferation of poverty in the midst of unconscionably obscene wealth disparities and resists providing morally imperative reparations for the Holocaust of enslavement and subsequent savage oppression. In a word, racism supports and sustains a level of exploitation and deprivation which denies its targeted victims a life of dignity, decency and security.

The cultural dimension of racism seeks not only to deculturize the dominated and oppressed and impose a dehumanizing definition of reality of them, but also to discredit and degrade them. In educational institutions, there is the savaging of our minds and the breaking of our spirits at an early age, undermining our love of learning, diminishing our commitment and capacity to develop a life of the mind. And the media distorts and criminalizes our image and aspirations and of late, post artificial portraits of interracial couples as a psychological and cinematic substitute for real sharing of wealth, power and status. And as always in this context of the pathology of racist oppression, there is no reliable remedy except resistance, no viable strategy except struggle, and no promising way forward except on the battlefield for African and human good and the well-being of the world.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org.
Cal/OSHA Modifies Safety Regulations, Public Health Continues to Urge Everyone to Get Vaccinated

As of Monday, June 21, the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health confirmed 3 new deaths and 124 new cases of COVID-19. There were 213 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with 17% of nearly 6,960,000 individuals testing positive with symptoms.

Los Angeles County continues to navigate a reality closer to normal as it celebrated the now federal holiday, Juneteenth. Cal/OSHA has modified COVID-19 regulations for the workplace and unvaccinated employees must take certain precautions. L.A. County continues to make vaccines available to the public through multiple sources.

Currently, this is a pandemic of unvaccinated people, who are at increasing risk for unknowingly incubating Delta variants and other variants of concern, said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect workers and other people you have contact with in your daily life.

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She continued, When youre vaccinated, youre a lot less likely to catch COVID-19 to begin with  and even if you do, youre a lot less likely to have enough virus in your system that you can spread it easily to others. Vaccination remains the key to protecting everyone in our community.

Last week, Cal/OSHA modified safety regulations temporarily for workplaces and eliminates everyday physical distancing requirements. Face masks are required for all unvaccinated employees when indoors or in shared vehicles. Fully vaccinated employees are not required to wear masks indoors at most workplaces. Employers must request document vaccination status of employees to allow a workplace with no masks. Public Health requires masks to be worn by vaccinated and unvaccinated on public transit, transportation hubs; K-12 schools, childcare, camps and other youth settings. Masks are still required for healthcare settings, including long term care facilities; in state and local correctional facilities and detention centers as well as homeless shelters, emergency shelters, and cooling centers and mega-events with more than 5,000 attendees.

As of earlier this week, there were 767 sites offering vaccinations including pharmacies, clinics, community sites, and hospitals. Also, there were 247 sites where mobile teams are offering vaccinations. The public can obtain vaccines at County-run sites, L.A. City run sites, almost all mobile sites and many of the community sites without an appointment. Many sites are open on weekends and have evening hours.

Public Health identified 1,247,742 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,444 deaths. Cases across the Southland: Los Angeles County shows 1,182,899 cases, Long Beach with 53,525 cases and Pasadena with 11,318 cases.

According to race and ethnicity, COVID-19 statistics show: American Indian/Alaska Native with 2,011; Asian with 56,783; Black with 47,349; Hispanic/Latino with 634,259; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander with 4,244; White with 131,038; those of other race and ethnicity with 98,842 and 208,373 under investigation.

For more detailed information on COVID-19 vaccination plans in L.A. County and to sign up for a vaccination newsletter, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com

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For more information and statistics on COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, please visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/

For more information, visit COVID19.ca.gov/vax-for-the-win. To schedule an appointment to be vaccinated, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call the CA COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255.
Carson Capitalizes on States $65 Billion Housing Program for its Middle-Income Professionals

The California Statewide Community Development Authority (CSCDA) has issued more than $65 billion in bonds for over 1,700 public benefit financings, including creating or preserving Workforce Housing for middle-income professionals. The City of Carson, under the leadership of its first African American Mayor, Lula Davis-Holmes, is taking advantage of this program to attract employers who provide high-wage jobs and to help Carsons professionals find affordable luxury housing in the city.

As part of her Covid-19 recovery effort, the mayor is also working with the local South Bay Workforce Investment Board (WIB) to help her residents find high-wage jobs.

Its Executive Director, Jan Vogel, said, This initiative increases disposable income for local Carson residents, stimulates the Carson economy, and encourages Sheriffs, Firefighters, Nurses and other professionals to live in the communities they serve.

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Mayor Davis-Holmes timing is perfect considering on May 5, 2021 a federal judge vacated a nationwide COVID-19 eviction moratorium, and the States foreclosure and eviction moratorium will end on June 30, 2021. Although the federal ruling does not affect Californias moratorium or the one enacted by the City of Carson, people remain concerned about access to affordable housing in California.

In the current Southern California rental market, middle-income families have difficulty affording rent and other necessities such as food, clothing, and medical care, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rents and home prices have soared, with rents often consuming up to 50% of a familys income. We also saw a shift to more people working from home and employers wanting to relocate to communities with accessible home prices.

To help address the problem of affordability in the Southern California housing market, Standard Communities has partnered with the City of Carson and the California Statewide Community Development Authority (CSCDA). Working together, they are bringing broader affordability to the Union South Bay Apartments and its 357 units with premium finishes and a host of work-from-home lifestyle amenities include a fitness center, rooftop deck, and a resort-style swimming pool.

This effort to preserve housing for local professionals aligns with my COVID-19 recovery plan to attract middle-income employers and the jobs they create. Mayor Lula Davis Holmes said, Our children should be able to work, live and play in the communities they grew up in!

Under a state program, the rent levels for these units will be lowered to 35% of household income at 80% to 120% Area Median Income (AMI) levels making the units accessible to working professionals.

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In addition, the rent levels will be annually capped and will always stay within this range of incomes for approximately 35 years. Under the regulatory agreement, rent growth is directly tied to income growth, with increases not to exceed 4% annually.

Located at 615 East Carson Street in Carson, the Union South Bay Apartments were completed in 2020 and is comprised of two five-story buildings on an approximately five-acre site. In addition to the apartment units and amenities, the mixed-use community features over 28,000 square feet of commercial space.

Carson has provided 593 affordable housing units for low-income tenants. The city is also providing rental assistance grants, up to a maximum of $10,000, to help households that fall at or below 80% of the area median income. Mayor Davis-Holmes also said, The applicants must have been economically impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic through job loss, layoffs or deduction in hours or pay. More information is available through the Citys website.

[https://ci.carson.ca.us/content/files/pdfs/housing/rental/Emergency%20Rental%20Assistance%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf]

Based in New York and Los Angeles, Standard Companies has a national portfolio of over 15,000 apartment units, including approximately 11,000 affordable units, and has completed more than $2.8 billion of affordable housing acquisitions and rehabilitation nationwide. The affordable housing division of the company is Standard Communities, which strives to cultivate long-term public and private partnerships to produce and preserve high-quality, affordable, and environmentally sustainable housing.
Fund For Guaranteed Incomes Compton Pledge Initiative Selected as La2050 Finalist

The My LA2050 Grants Challenge has recognized the Compton Pledge as one of the top ideas to transform LA. The Compton Pledge is thrilled to be one of 5 nonprofit finalists in the category CREATE: foster entrepreneurship, cultural diversity, and inclusivity. The LA2050 Grant challenge is sponsored by philanthropic partners such as the Goldhirsh Foundation and Annenberg Foundation.

Winning the top $100,000 prize in the CREATE category would help the landmark guaranteed income initiative to establish a path towards economic justice and reparations. Simply put, no one should live in poverty when we CREATE a justice system that refuses to criminalize cyclical poverty and instead prioritizes community and care. An income floor below which nobody should fall is just the beginning.

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Angelenos can cast their votes to determine how a total of $1,000,000 will be awarded among twenty-five organizations to implement their transformative proposals. Between now and June 28 at 5 pm PST, Angelenos and advocates for making the Greater LA region a better community can head to LA2050.org to vote.

By providing recurring income support to 1,770 residents regardless of their legal or employment status, we are starting the path towards a true safety net. We are showing what is possible, what is next and we hope you join us  Nika Soon-Shiong, Executive Director, F4GI and Co-Director, Compton Pledge.

By taking a few minutes to vote for the Compton Pledge, you are supporting the human dignity of a community with limitless potential. Our guaranteed income program is catalytic and a source of hope in our great city, Aja Brown, Mayor of Compton.

Compton Pledge community members and supporters can head to challenge.la2050.org to vote now or visit our digital toolkit to support us on social media @TheComptonPledge
Loaded With Comeback Support, Lawmakers Approve Californias $267 Billion Budget

The California legislature approved Gov. Gavin Newsoms $267 billion state budget for fiscal year 2021-22. It is packed with support for programs and policy initiatives intended to drive Californias economy out of the downturn caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Cash that will be pumped into the general fund accounts for the major share of the budget, with a total of $96 billion directed to K-12 education and community colleges. That amount is based on minimum funding requirements set by Proposition 98, a ballot initiative that voters approved in 1998.

Although California lawmakers approved the budget in time for the state reopening, And while we proudly embrace the California comeback, this last year reminds us that we need to plan for the unexpected, said Gov. Newsom.

We must maintain a strong fiscal foundation that does not overcommit the state to long-term spending it cannot afford, which could lead to future cuts, he said.

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Gov. Newsom first proposed the budget in January this year and added some revisions in May, including funding to address issues affecting Black and Brown communities. Although lawmakers say they aim to prioritize long-term issues such as childcare and public health, Gov. Newsom says he wants to focus on reviving the job market by supporting the tourism industry and small businesses to amend Californias economic crisis.

Newsom announced the full reopening of the state on June 15 at Universal Studios Hollywood as nearly half of Californias population is fully vaccinated. The state also lifted COVID-19 restrictions, including social distancing, mask requirements, and county tiers in most public settings statewide. The state continues to offer cash prizes to newly vaccinated residents as part of the its Vax for the Win incentive program which started in June this year.

The states fiscal year starts, With the largest surplus in California history; were using this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create an economic recovery that will leave nobody behind  with money going directly back to Californians, the nations largest small business relief programs, and unprecedented investments to address Californias most persistent challenges such as homelessness, climate change and equity in our education system, said Gov. Newsom.

Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), who is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, shared the governors optimism about the newly approved budget. He highlighted the economic inequality accelerated by COVID-19 and its impact on low-income families in California. Holden expressed confidence that the budget makes investments in priorities that will address the states most important issues.

This time last year, we feared the pandemic would destroy our economy and leave the state in a deep hole, said Holden referring to the legislatures decision.

Even though the outlook for beating the virus is in sight, we know families continue to struggle in this pandemic, he said.

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However, since the legislature approved the budget, we are in a much better position than we ever thought given the circumstances. We are making robust investments for priority issues including our economic recovery, education, and homelessness while contributing at a record level to our reserves, said Holden.

Most Democratic lawmakers gave the budget a thumbs up, but some Republicans remained hesitant about the certainty of Californias economic recovery based on the newly approved budget.

Republican lawmakers claim that the states budget is a placeholder budget used by legislators to take advantage of loopholes in Californias constitution.

Californias constitution mandates that the legislature pass the budget by midnight each year on June 15  or lawmakers forfeit their salaries.

The day before the states reopening, Republican Sen. James Nielsen was vocal about his opposition to the newly approved budget in a Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee meeting.

This is a fake budget. Its a feel-good budget. Its a let us get paid budget. But, what were voting on is not going to be the [real] budget, said Nielsen.

We already know what theyre voting on today; its kind of a fraud on the people to make them think, Oh, look at all these wonderful things were getting, said Nielsen.

The pushback from Republican lawmakers raised questions about the states final budget as Gov. Newsom and California legislators negotiate and modify how funds will be allocated. This process has to be completed by July 1, when the budget goes into effect.

Last week, Gov. Newsom also eliminated executive orders he implemented at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. New executive orders he signed lifted the stay-at-home order and the county tier system following the approval of the budget and the reopening of the state.

The California Department of Public Health also released a new order that removed restrictions in public spaces, including at schools and during major events.

As of June 15, people in California are no longer required to wear masks or social distance. But state officials recommend that non-vaccinated people still protect themselves in public places to prevent infection.

California Black Medias coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.
Michelle Avan  New Role with Bank of America

Michelle A. Avan is a trailblazer and one of the most highly respected business women across multiple local and national groups serving the larger community.

Michelles career in the financial services industry spans over 25 years. In her current role, Michelle is part of the Global Diversity & Inclusion Organization leadership team as Head of Global Womens and Under-represented Talent Strategy. In this role, Michelle will be responsible for the comprehensive strategy and enterprise efforts to attract, hire, retain, develop and advance female and under-represented talent across the company.

In her previous role at Merrill, Michelle was a Managing Director, Division Supervision Executive overseeing regulatory, financial and reputational risk to ensure that 2,500 Financial Advisors in 98 offices across nine states and Guam adhered to regulatory and company policy compliance for Merrill in the west.

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Michelle began her financial services career in 1994 with Morgan Stanley in Delaware, quickly rising in the ranks to an account executive at their New Orleans office. She joined Merrill Lynch in 1998 at New Orleans as a registered client associate, becoming a vice president when she arrived in Los Angeles in 2000. She has been the West Division Supervision Executive since 2011.

In addition to her community contributions and board involvement, Michelle also contributes in multiple ways to her employer and colleagues, starting with being a member of the companys Black Executive Leadership Council to provide insights and recommendations to better serve Black employees, customers, and business owners. Among her accomplishments, Michelle was a recipient of Bank of Americas Global Diversity & Inclusion award as well as a co-chair of the companys Black Executive Leadership Council business initiative.

In 2019, Michelle was selected as one of Los Angeles Powerful & Influential Black Woman Leaders by the Los Angeles Sentinel, and has been recognized as one of Black Enterprise Most Powerful Women in Business  an exclusive listing of the highest-ranking and most influential African American female executives. She was also featured in ESSENCE magazine as well as a speaker at ESSENCE Festival Path 2 Power.

She has received numerous distinct acknowledgements to include the Regalettes, Inc., Presidents award, Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, as well as being a We See YouAwards honoree from the International Black Womens Public Policy Institute in addition to selection in the Los Angeles Business Journal 40 In Their 40s List.

Michelle earned a bachelors of Arts in Business, with a concentration in management, from the University of Phoenix. She also is studying at the Securities Industry Institute at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Michelle is committed not only to helping clients grow their wealth and giving back to the community, but also to empower young people, particularly Black women and girls. Her passion is working with youth to help them realize their full potential through financial acumen, higher education, determination and drive.
Ordinary People Owning Homes at the Heart of Economic Recovery

Homeownership is a foundation for economic progress and equity, it is in fact the greatest factor to building generational wealth. But in California the path to owning a home has hit a major roadblock and is increasingly unattainable for many. This became even more evident as the country withstood a global pandemic, bringing to light the millions of people who lacked stable, affordable housing. To respond to the housing crisis, we must create more opportunities for ordinary Californians  increasingly people of color  to become homeowners by fostering the production of quality, affordable homes to meet the housing demand.

As it stands, the odds are working against even middle-income Californians at every step towards homeownership. People of color have been systematically excluded from wealth-building opportunities for generations through redlining and ineligibility for VA loans. Further compounding the issue, the state has not built enough housing, and prices of construction and the cost of buying a home continue to increase. Nearly 1,300,000 low-income California renters do not have access to an affordable home. With Californians, and particularly people of color, facing unprecedented rent burden, saving for a down payment is no small feat, often years in the making. Most people of color in California do not realize homeownership in their lifetime.

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With housing supply at a critically low point, Wall Street investors like Invitation Homes have publicly admitted to bidding up housing in areas where community members oppose new construction, capitalizing on NIMBYism and increasing the cost of rent in the process. Currently, over 500,000 housing properties in California are owned by corporations  250,000 are owned by entities that own 10 or more properties. While there is certainly an important role that corporate landlords can play in solving our housing crisis, it is critical that corporations and pension funds are not blocking Californians from homeownership by buying out inventory, sometimes entire new neighborhoods, as part of a professed profit strategy that is sweeping across the nation.

The lack of housing supply gives corporations and institutional investors a hall-pass to purchase single-family homes, thus decreasing access to ordinary buyers, and forcing low- and middle-income individuals to rent at ever increasing prices; ultimately eliminating the possibility of saving for a down payment, and harming people of color disproportionately. Less than a fifth of Black Californians can afford to buy a median-priced home in the state, while white Californians are twice as likely to be able to afford a median-priced home. California needs to do more to make homeownership accessible for everyone, and one way is to impose an excise tax on large corporations purchasing single-family homes and creating loan programs and pools to help first-time homebuyers.

Our communities deserve a fair playing field  an honest approach to development  where ordinary families who plan to move into the homes they buy have a fighting chance to build wealth. This includes building accessible homes in high opportunity neighborhoods and allowing subdivision of land, reeling in the wild west speculation of big, institutional investors, and incentivizing homeownership for all Californians. Policies like these will put people first, giving first-time buyers and other working families a fighting chance for homeownership.

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Mike A. Gipson is a Democrat representing Carson in the state assembly.
PRIDE  LA PRIDE 2021 WE COME TO SLAY!

LGBTQ+ history is the history, of the world. No shade  just facts.

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To be Afro-American, Afro-Latino and Queer is a double dose of challenges and therefore the most fertile ground for reinvention and creation.

Pride began with a series of riots and demonstrations led by queer African-American trailblazers such as Marsha P. Johnson (https://bit.ly/2QIZRFA) and Storme DeLarverie in response to a police raid at The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.

The year was 1969 and in the wee hours of the morning, on June 28,

police raided the gay bar, The Stonewall Inn, in Manhattan. The police claimed they were raiding the bar for serving alcohol without a liquor license, but law enforcement was known for making trouble for the LGBTQ community.

2021, and as protests against the systemic criminalization and destruction of African-American lives continue across this broken country, its important to remember LGBTQ+ that we owe the birth of the modern movement to the African, African-American, and brown trans and queer people who stood up for themselves and us all.

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For those that live the LGBTQ+ 360 days a week  here are a few suggestions to make your 2021 Pride a bit more colorful and hopefully, gather even more knowledge to step into the world  head held high representing the beauty and fierceness that is you.

GIFTS

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Available at GoPro.com

BOOKS

The Deep, by Rivers Solomon. A novelization inspired by and in collaboration with the Hugo-nominated song of the same name by the hip hop group clipping. develops mythology for the children of the pregnant African women thrown overboard from slave ships.

N.K. Jemisins writing most recent hit The City We Became, about the living avatars of New York City and its boroughs, includes multiple queer characters fighting hard to save the city they love.

Roxane Gay is a literary icon. Her debut collection, Ayiti, explores the Haitian diaspora through fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Her short story collectionDifficult Womenand nonfictionlike Bad Feminist and Hungerare pretty much mandatory reading at this point.

Kacen Callender is a powerhouse of todays queer fiction, writing books spanning from middle grade and YA to adult. Their newest book, Felix Ever After, is a story about a queer, black, trans teen looking for his own happily ever. Other books include Hurricane Child, This is Kind of an Epic Love Story, King, and the Dragonflies; all explore heartfelt stories of identity and belonging.

Akwaeke Emezi has a voice like no other writer today. Freshwater is the surreal story of a Nigerian woman living with fractured selves and was nominated for the Lambda Literary Award. Pet explores the realities of a society striving for peace to the point of willfully ignoring the monsters in their midst, all from the perspective of a young trans girl. And their upcoming novel, The Death of Vivek Oji, comes out later this year.

James Baldwin. One of the most influential writers to have ever lived.

A deeply passionate and outspoken man. His observations on discrimination against gay and lesbian people as an openly African-American gay man himself are still as relevant as they were when he was alive, and writing in the 50s and 60s. (https://amzn.to/3wwrmBk)

From the semi-autobiographical Go Tell It on the Mountain to essay collections like The Fire Next Time, Baldwin is an incisive voice in both Black and queer American history. His other novels include Another Country and Giovannis Room.

One of the best love stories, that Ive ever read is Baldwins Giovannis Room.

Giovannis Room is set in the 1950s Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, a young man finds himself caught between desire and conventional morality. With a sharp, probing imagination, James Baldwins now-classic narrative delves into the mystery of loving and creates a moving, highly controversial story of death and passion that reveals the unspoken complexities of the human heart.

Samuel R. Delaney is another classic author of African-American queer SFF. Babel-17 explores the power of language against the backdrop of an intergalactic war. Dhalgren takes place after a strange disaster begins affecting a Midwestern city, with the marginalized left behind to deal with the aftereffects. And Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand explores gender and sexuality in interstellar politics.

Nicky Draydens The Prey of Gods, a cast of characters, both queer and not, live with the fallout of a technologically advanced society whose ancient connections to the gods have been reawakened. Her other books, Escaping Exodus and Temper, are similarly full of queer SFF excellence.

Black. Queer. Southern. Women.: An Oral History by E. Patrick Johnson

Drawn from the life narratives of more than seventy African American queer women who were born, raised, and continue to reside in the American South, this book powerfully reveals the way these women experience and express racial, sexual, gender, and class identities all linked by a place where such identities have generally placed them on the margins of society.

A Garden for Black Boys by WJ Lofton

A Garden for Black Boys invites the reader into a world where tough questions are unpacked and answers are presented raw, extremely intimate, and containing a breath of their own. Each poem applauds the humanity of Black people, which is often overlooked in America. Inspired by tragedy, the continual shootings of unarmed African-American women and men, the author labors out a rallying cry that not only wreaks grief but determined hope; a possibility to see a better tomorrow.

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

In this charged collection of fifteen essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and class, and propounds social difference as a vehicle for action and change. Her prose is incisive, unflinching, and lyrical, reflecting struggle but ultimately offering messages of hope.

To learn more about Pride 2021 in Los Angeles check out,

https://stayhappening.com/e/reunionla-a-pride-2021-day-party-for-black-queer-andamp-trans-people-E3LUSCXJFB0X

Los Angeles LGBT Center https://lalgbtcenter.org
Senate Republicans Block Sweeping Voting Rights Bill

With Republican-backed voter suppression bills sweeping the country, the Democrat-majority in the U.S. Senate has quickly lost its grip on protecting voters of color and others who are marginalized at the polls.

On Tuesday, a procedural vote on the House-passed For the People Act proved dead on arrival after falling well short of the 60-votes needed.

Donald Trump, with his despicable lies, has lit a fire under Republican state legislatures, and they have launched the most sweeping effort at voter suppression in 80 years, declared Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York).

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The GOP doesnt even want to debate, Schumer asserted.

Democrats hold the tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided Senate.

However, all its members had to vote favorably for the measure, and at least 10 Republicans would have to join.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) had preemptively broken ranks with the party and said he would vote against the For the People Act.

Party leaders spent considerable time negotiating a compromise with Sen. Manchin on amendments he proposed. I think we put out an awful lot of good changes, I think, hopefully, the country would agree, Sen. Manchin said ahead of the vote. He said the changes makes a lot of sense for a lot of voters.

Before Democrats accepted Sen. Manchins amendments, he expressed a reticence to vote for the legislation.

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Some in my party have argued that now is the time to discard such bipartisan voting reforms and embrace election reforms and policies solely supported by one party. Respectfully, I do not agree, a defiant Sen. Machin wrote in an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette-Mail newspaper in West Virginia.

Ironically, Republicans used the filibuster to torpedo the For the People Act, but Sen. Manchin steadfastly has ignored cries to eliminate or modify the rule.

I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster, the moderate Senator wrote.

With voter suppression bills passing in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and other GOP-led states, many Democrats in the Senate and President Joe Biden had hoped the For the People Act would override restrictive legislation.

The bill addresses voter access, election integrity, election security, political spending, and ethics for the three branches of government.

It would expand voter registration and voting access and limit removing voters from voter rolls.

Among other provisions, the bill provides for states to establish independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions.

It sets provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials, protecting the safety of the voter rolls, and supporting states in securing their election systems.

The For the People Act develops a national strategy to protect the security and integrity of U.S. democratic institutions, establishes in the legislative branch the National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, and other provisions to improve the cybersecurity of election systems.

Even former President Barack Obama jumped into the fray this week to criticize opponents of the For the People Act.

Think about this: In the aftermath of an insurrection, with our democracy on the line and many of the same Republican senators going along with the notion that somehow there were irregularities and problems with legitimacy in our most recent election, theyre suddenly afraid to even talk about these issues and figure out a solution on the floor of the Senate, Obama said during a tele-town hall with former Attorney General Eric Holder and grassroots activists about the bill.

Thats not acceptable.

The 44th president continued:

Whatever else we may argue about, the one thing we should agree on the bedrock idea that we as Americans have been taught to take pride in, this is the fact that were a democracy.

The issue of voting rights might not set off alarms for most of us. The violence that occurred in the U.S. Capitol on January 6 should remind us we cant take our democracy for granted.

Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock insisted that his colleagues on both sides of the aisle should protect democracy.

Protecting the sacred right to vote doesnt just help secure our democracy. It helps ensure a future in which Americans can come together to solve our nations challenges, Sen. Warnock stated.

Congress cannot stand idly by as efforts to suppress voters voices are being enacted.
Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare

In a significant victory for the Biden-Harris administration and Americans who depend on affordable health care, the Supreme Court rejected the latest challenge to President Obamas signature legislation.

The challenge stemmed from whether the individual mandate could be cut from the rest of the law or whether the justices should strike down the entire law.

Former President Trump made it his mission to get rid of the law, which has provided millions of Americans with access to affordable health care, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

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The court ruled 7-2, with Justice Stephen Breyer writing for the majority, striking down a lower court ruling and determining that the plaintiffs  Texas and 17 other GOP-led states  did not show that they have the standing to bring the initial suits.

We conclude that the plaintiffs in this suit failed to show a concrete, particularized injury fairly traceable to the defendants conduct in enforcing the specific statutory provision they attack as unconstitutional, wrote Justice Breyer.

They have failed to show that they have the standing to attack as unconstitutional the Acts minimum essential coverage provision. Therefore, we reverse the Fifth Circuits judgment in respect to standing, vacate the judgment, and remand the case with instructions to dismiss, the Justice continued.

We do not reach these questions of the Acts validity  for Texas and the other plaintiffs in this suit lack the standing necessary to raise them.

Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

Reportedly, 31 million Americans have health coverage connected to the Affordable Care Act  also known as Obamacare.

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Also, a guarantee of access to continuous insurance coverage is protected for more than 54 million people with preexisting conditions because of the health care laws provisions that prevent insurance companies from canceling or refusing to establish policies because of pre-existing conditions.
The Black Press: Our Trusted Messenger

Sometimes its necessary to be reminded who we are and who our friends are. Its also important to remember from whence we have come. Such is the case this week with the Black Press. Our Black newspapers are now celebrating 194 years of being the keeper of the flame of liberty and the source of information in our struggle for freedom and equality.

With the advent of the recent pandemic and the visible disparity of Blacks dying at greater numbers than others, getting fewer vaccines, working the most high risk occupations and death at the hands of law enforcement, our need for a trusted source of information is greater than social media which has become an alternative for many. At the same time, the interest in reaching our communities has increased on all levels. The question has become who is in touch with the Black community as injustice, murder and social disparity continues to grow among Blacks. The NAACP and the Urban League gave the impression that they were in touch with the Black community. But the reality is neither organization has ever been in touch with the Black community without the Black Press. It is Black newspapers and not CNN, ABC, NBC or CBS that carries the articles and commentaries of these organizations to the Black community. Yet, neither of these ever mention the Black Press when taking both credit and dollars for outreach to the Black community.

The African American and Black communities of America should not be duped into believing that social media has become a substitute for the Black Press. The Black Press is now both print and electronic, its a newswire service as provided by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), providing coverage of both news here in America and around the world. It is the Black Press that has been the Trusted Messenger to our communities for 194 years and that says a lot. Our newspapers are the rear guard, the battle ground against the efforts to resegregate America and return Jim Crow racism.

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Waters Joins Vice President Kamala Harris on the Initial Release of Funds for Minority Banks and Community Based Lenders

This week, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, gave the following statement at the White House, where she was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), and Opportunity Finance Network President and CEO Lisa Mensah, on the initial release of funds secured by Congresswoman Waters as part of the December stimulus package.

Good afternoon. Thank you for having me today. Before I begin, I would like to thank Vice President Harris, Treasury Secretary Yellen, Senator Warner, and Ms. Mensah for their unwavering support and efforts to strengthen our minority depository institutions (MDIs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs). These diverse and mission-driven institutions have been instrumental in ensuring that critical aid reaches small businesses, vulnerable communities, and those in dire need during the pandemic.

Over the past year, Senator Warner and I have teamed up to pass historical legislation directing the Federal Government to make capital investments, grants, deposits in our nations MDIs and CDFIs. Because communities of color have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, I worked with Senator Warner to include key provisions of my bill, the Promoting and Advancing Communities of Color Through Inclusive Lending Act, in last Decembers COVID-19 stimulus package. Im pleased that this issue is not only bicameral but also bipartisan as I was also able to work with Senators Crapo and Brown, Representative Meeks, and my Committees Ranking Member, Mr. McHenry, to secure an unprecedented $12 billion in capital investments and grants to strengthen MDIs and CDFIs.

Supporting our nations CDFIs and MDIs has long been a priority for me. Over 40 years ago, I began working with CDFIs in my home state of California and was a founding director of the CDFI, Pacific Coast Regional Corporation. The lessons I learned back then are just as relevant today: CDFIs are critical lenders for our communities of color, and infusions of capital like the one being announced today I am so proud that this is a game changing operation. So, I am pleased to be here today for the initial release of $1.25 billion in CDFI and MDI. and applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for keeping their promises of an equitable recovery to vulnerable communities. So, under my leadership my Committee will continue to look at these issues. CDFIs are high on our agenda and we are continuing to strengthen them and make them more accessible to our communities.

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While this is a historic investment, our work does not end here. According to one news report, between sixty six and seventy nine percent of minority business owners said that their firms financial conditions were fair or poor during the pandemic, whereas only fifty four percent of White business owners endorsed their firms being in one of these conditions. I see this investment as a down payment on what we need to restore our MDIs and to support our CDFIs.

Earlier this month, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre that destroyed Black owned businesses and killed hundreds of Black men, women, and children. So, as we approach the commemoration of the end of slavery in America on Juneteenth, we must acknowledge that we carry the responsibility on our shoulders to make sure that progress is made, that Black and Latinx small businesses remain open and not boarded up, that pandemic relief reaches every family and every community, and that our recovery is equitable across the country.

So, I thank you once again for inviting me and I look forward to continuing our work on behalf of CDFIs and MDIs. Now, I would like to introduce someone who has been a long time advocate for CDFIs and MDIs, and someone who I have worked closely on this issue with, my colleague Senator Mark Warner.
Thursday, June 24, 2021

This UCTV production sheds some light on the realities of life in Central America:

"Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador (The Northern Triangle) are experiencing a historic Diaspora to the US southern border. The precipitants of this migration are an unprecedented economic contraction occurring after back-to-back major hurricanes compounded by a pandemic and further complicated by heightened crime, violence and corruption.

Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the Congressional Central America Caucus and a native of Guatemala, shares her perspective on the importance of addressing corruption and promoting good governance as key preconditions of future direct foreign assistance by the United States.

Then, Congress members Juan Vargas (CA-51) and Scott Peters (CA-52) discuss the Biden Administration's proposed four-year, $4 billion regional strategy for the Northern Triangle region to address security and economic factors driving migration from Central America to the US."

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2021/06/uctv-challenges-opportunities-in-central-americas-northern-triangle-region.html
Hong Kongs only remaining pro-democracy newspaper, the Apple Daily, will publish its final edition Thursday.

The Hong Kong and Chinese governments have increased pressure on the Apple Daily in recent years for its reporting.

The publication was forced to shut down after five editors and business officials were arrested. Police froze millions of dollars of the companys assets. The move was part of Chinas increasing battle against the pro-democracy movement in the semi-autonomous city.

The board of directors of Next Media, which owns the Apple Daily, said in a statement Wednesday that the print and online newspapers will no longer publish because of circumstances in Hong Kong.

The closure is the latest sign of Chinas efforts to control the city. Hong Kong experienced huge anti-government protests in 2019 that worried the government in Beijing. Since then, China has put into effect national security laws that were used to arrest the newspapers employees. China has also changed Hong Kongs election laws to keep opposition members out of the legislature.

Apple Daily was founded by Hong Kong citizen Jimmy Lai in 1995. That was two years before Britain returned Hong Kong to China. At first, the newspaper gained little attention. It was mostly known for covering famous people.

Lai changed the newspaper, and it became a voice for defending Hong Kongs freedoms. In recent years, it criticized the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for limiting those freedoms. China had promised to protect Hong Kongs laws when the city was returned to China in 1997.

On Instagram, the paper thanked its readers.

We need to continue living and keep the determination we have shared with Hong Kong people that has remained unchanged over 26 years, Apple Daily wrote.

The decision to close the newspaper was expected after the arrests and asset seizure. The company could not pay its employees and was also worried about their safety.

The editors and executives were detained on suspicion of plotting with foreigners to endanger national security. Police said more than 30 stories published by the newspaper were evidence of a plot to get foreign nations to place sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinas leaders. It was the first time the national security law had been used against reporters for something they had published.

Lai is facing charges under the national security law for plotting with foreigners. He is now serving a prison sentence for his involvement in the 2019 protests.

Also, the trial of Tong Ying-kit began on Wednesday. He is the first person to stand trial under the new national security law. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism and inciting secession during the 2019 protests.

A court ruled last month that Tong will stand trial without a jury and will face a group of three judges. That move is a change from Hong Kongs common law tradition. It was made by the new national security law.

The United States, European Union and Britain have criticized the moves against the Apple Daily.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

asset  n. something of value such as money or property

semi-autonomous  adj. partly independent; having the right to party govern oneself

circumstance  n. conditions that exist at a certain time and place

determination n. the quality of trying and continuing to attempt to do or gain something difficult to get

sanctions  n.(pl.) actions taken to force a country or it leaders to obey international law by limiting or stopping trade, services or cutting economic aid

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Online services that use computers to interview job seekers were increasingly used by companies during the coronavirus health crisis. But the technology raises questions about whether a machine can correctly or fairly judge a persons personality and reactions in front of a camera.

Dana Anthony is one job seeker who has experienced such interviews. One was for a part-time job at Target last year. The day after the interview, she got an email informing her that she was not chosen.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Anthony said she did not know why she was removed from consideration so quickly. She had no sense of how the interview had gone. She said this is because she received no human feedback during the process.

Her rejection email from Target stated: Were unable to provide specific feedback regarding your candidacy. Anthony was rejected for another job in December after completing another online interview.

One interview system is run by a business called HireVue, one of the leading companies in the field. In the past, the Utah-based HireVue used artificial intelligence (AI) methods to judge a job-seekers personality and job skills. It did this by observing the expressions on a persons face during the interview.

But after facing intense criticism about the scientific effectiveness of its claims and the possibility of unfairness, HireVue announced earlier this year that it would stop using that method. However, the companys AI-based system still considers speech and word choices when rating a candidates personality and skills.

HireVue helped create a market for on-demand video interviews. Companies using the services include stores Target and Ikea, technology companies like Amazon, and banks like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Companies in the oil and travel industries, and even school systems, have used them.

The Associated Press (AP) spoke to several employers which use the technology, but most did not want to discuss it.

HireVue chief Kevin Parker told the AP that his company makes sure its technology will not discriminate based on things like race, gender or a persons speaking accents. He said its systems, which turn speech into text to make decisions about job skills, can perform better than human interviewers.

What were trying to replace is peoples gut instinct, Parker said during a video interview.

HireVue said it interviewed more than 5.6 million people around the world in 2020. Supermarket companies used it to make decisions about thousands of job-seekers every day as demand for workers rose during the pandemic.

Other services such as Modern Hire and Outmatch have started offering their own video interviews and AI tools. On its website, Outmatch says it aims to measure "the must-have soft skills your candidates and employees need to succeed.

HireVue noted that most of the companies it works with do not actually use the company's AI-based recommendations. Atlanta's school district, for example, has used HireVue since 2014, but says it depends on 50 human recruiters to rate recorded interviews.

Target said the pandemic led it to replace in-person interviews with HireVue interviews. But it told the AP that it uses its own employees  not HireVue's AI methods  to watch and make decisions about recorded videos.

But none of that was clear to Anthony when she sat down in front of her computer to complete the interviews. I understand companies or organizations trying to be more mindful of the time and the finances they spend when it comes to recruitment, she said.

But Anthony, who holds a master's degree in communications, said the interviews left her uneasy about who, or what, was judging her.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on 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.

Quiz - More Job Seekers Have Interviews with Computers Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

___________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

interview  n. a meeting in which someone asks you questions to see if you are suitable for a job or course

personality  n. the set of emotional qualities, ways of behaving, etc., that makes a person different from other people

artificial intelligence  n. an area of computer science that deals with giving machines the ability to seem like they have human intelligence

feedback n. helpful information or criticism that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance or product

accent  n. the way in which someone pronounces words, influenced by the country of area they come from

gender n. the state of being male or female

gut instinct  n. a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is not learned

recruiter  n. a person who persuades people to work for a company or become new members of an organization
Less than a month removed from their final appearances in Lewis-Clark State baseball uniforms, two of the Warriors brightest professional prospects have found new homes.
When Shiloh Delgadillo hit a telephone pole while driving under the influence on June 5, the crash triggered a notification to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which initiated an investigation known as TRACE, or target responsibility for alcohol-connected emergencies.

The investigation will dig into how and where Delgadillo, 18, obtained the alcohol, according to Brandon Shotwell, supervising agent in charge.

Theyre some of the most sensitive investigations because they involve death or serious injury against minors, Shotwell said.

Delgadillo, of Nipomo, sustained major injuries after stepping on a live power line downed in the crash, which occurred near Highway 166 and Bull Canyon Road. He died 12 days later, on June 17, at Marian Regional Medical Center.

The TRACE program was initially prompted by the death of Casey Goodwin, a 20-year-old Cuesta College student and Exeter native who was killed March 12, 2003, after a speeding driver collided with her vehicle along Highway 41 near Kettleman City.

Investigators determined that the other driver, 18-year-old Fernando Ochoa, had been drinking shortly before the collision and he received the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter, according to The Sun-Gazette.

Goodwins mother, Lynne, approached state officials about why investigators hadnt pursued the people who provided the alcohol to Ochoa.

In 2004, several law enforcement agencies came together and received grant funding to create TRACE. Shotwell has been with the program since the beginning.

Two years later the program added a dedicated unit run by Shotwell, whose agents are specifically tasked to investigate alcohol-related incidents. The unit is composed of five agents, including Shotwell, who cover the entire state.

TRACE includes a protocol that requires first responders to notify the ABC when an emergency situation includes several criteria, such as involving alcohol, a person under the age of 21 and whether it resulted in great bodily injury or death.

In 2020, the program was updated to include anyone charged with gross vehicular manslaughter in the incident and who was under the influence of alcohol at the time, regardless of their age, according to Shotwell. There's also a TRACE app that allows police officials to quickly relay information to the ABC.

Once the investigation begins, agents move quickly to preserve evidence, including receipts, alcoholic beverage containers, bags that might contain business logos and multiple interviews.

Any clues that we obtain, including going to hospitals to conduct interviews with people who can lead us back to the furnisher of the alcohol, is what were looking for, Shotwell said, adding that sources could include a business such as a bar, or even a house party.

Investigation outcomes could lead to administrative penalties against business owners, including fines, loss of alcohol licenses or criminal charges.

Under Government Code Sec. 1714(b)(1), a person hosting a party could be held civilly liable if a guest under 21 consumes alcohol and then causes death or injury to another person.

18-year-old from Nipomo shocked by live wire after vehicle collision on Hwy 166 An 18-year-old Nipomo man sustained major injuries Saturday after he was shocked by electricity following a vehicle collision with a power pole near Highway 166 and Bull Canyon Road.

If the ABC recommends criminal charges as a result of an investigation, the recommendation will be filed with the local district attorney's office, which ultimately makes the determination to pursue charges, according to Shotwell.

The ABC has conducted at least 60 TRACE investigations in the last three years, although that number has risen sharply, Shotwell said, adding that agents have initiated at least 41 TRACE investigations in 2021 as of June 18.

Shotwell's unit is small, but can rely on other ABC agents to assist with investigations.

Additionally, the ABC provides TRACE-related training for up to 200 law enforcement agencies across the state via grant funding each year, according to Shotwell.

Programs similar to TRACE have spread to other states, whose law enforcement agencies have reached out to Shotwell for help.

"Ideally it would be nice to have every state have a similar program in place," Shotwell said, adding that members of the public could also file reports with the ABC. "If you see anything that doesn't look right that involves public safety issues surrounding alcohol misuse, feel free to contact us and local law enforcement."
Soldiers with the Mission and Installation Contracting Command join their Air Force counterparts June 21-25 to conduct the virtual 2021 Joint Forces Contracting Exercise. The exercise is designed to help build a trained and ready joint force capable of delivering contracting support and contingency contracting effects during large-scale combat operations in a multi-domain environment.
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Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth says, The Assange prosecution threatens these basic elements of modern journalism and democratic accountability.

When Assange was indicted during Trumps presidency, Ben Wizner, the director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, warned: For the first time in the history of our country, the government has brought criminal charges against a publisher for the publication of truthful information. This is an extraordinary escalation of the Trump administration's attacks on journalism, and a direct assault on the First Amendment. It establishes a dangerous precedent that can be used to target all news organizations that hold the government accountable by publishing its secrets. And it is equally dangerous for U.S. journalists who uncover the secrets of other nations. If the U.S. can prosecute a foreign publisher for violating our secrecy laws, theres nothing preventing China, or Russia, from doing the same.

Trump is out of office, and so is former Attorney General William Barr. But their influence on the Department of Justice lingers. That influence will threaten press freedom for so long as the department maintains its dangerous interpretation of the Espionage Act as a tool to punish whistleblowers and those who tell the American people what is being done in their name but without their informed consent.

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.
Dear Editor: Howard Marklein is playing games with our children's future. He is increasing school funding in name only according to John Forester, executive director of the School Administrators Alliance. The Joint Finance Committee, co-chaired by Sen. Howard Marklein, voted to put over $400 million into the education fund. However, not one dime of their investment will actually make it into a school budget. The money goes directly to property tax relief, cleverly disguised as education funding but not funding any childs education.

Technically, the JFC has met the requirements of the federal APRA program, which requires a maintenance of effort, or continuing the funding in the same proportions as in 2019. Wisconsins public schools were underfunded even in 2019. The Wisconsin Policy Forum shows that our once outstanding education system is now below average for per-pupil spending in the United States. We have also fallen behind in K-12 spending increases for over a decade.

COVID-19 has laid bare the inequities of our school funding system that have been there for decades, with a few districts doing well while the majority of schools fall farther and farther behind. Our legislators have the opportunity to help equalize some of the inequities in that system.
Dear Editor: Fred Prehn is an outspoken critic of wolves in Wisconsin, calling for the killing of 600 of the state's 900 or so wolves. He is also chair of the Natural Resources Board and plays a central role in setting wolf policy in this state.

This is the same board that allowed a hunt of wolves, using packs of dogs, just after they were removed from the list of "endangered" species, with 200 wolves slaughtered in a two-day killing spree.

His term expired on May 1, 2021, but he refuses to vacate his seat. Gov. Tony Evers has appointed a successor.

All Wisconsin citizens should be outraged at Prehn's refusal to vacate his seat.

Prehn does not represent the values of the majority of Wisconsinites who do not want to see wolves hounded to exhaustion and gunned down for the sake of trophies and bragging rights.

Another outrageous fact: Wisconsin is the only state in this country that allows hunters to use unleashed packs of their own dogs to hunt wolves and receive payment if their dog is injured or killed. Wisconsin has paid well over $500,000 to these so-called hunters having their own dogs do the hunting for them. This needs to end as well.
The statement stops short of indicating whether they believe Blake would proceed further with the municipal claim.

Officers cleared

Following more than four months of investigation and review of Blakes shooting, officers involved  including Sheskey  were cleared in January of criminal wrongdoing by Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley. Graveley also did not file criminal charges against Blake.

The federal suit filed by Blakes attorneys on March 25 alleges Sheskey put the health of onlookers and of Blakes children, who were inside the SUV he was getting into, at risk. It also alleges that the officer acted with excessive force and reckless indifference by firing at him seven times.

Both the federal suit and police account have agreed upon facts, including that Blake was walking away from officers while carrying a knife and trying to get into the car while two officers, Sheskey among them, followed with guns drawn. Police have said that Blake did not follow orders and was climbing into the drivers seat of the SUV and had quickly twisted toward them while holding a knife. The lawsuit, however, claims that Blake never threatened the officers.
Angelina Jolie has struggled to get accurate medical advice for her children because they are "of different backgrounds".

The 46-year-old actress - who has Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, and 12-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with her ex-husband Brad Pitt - admits that having children of different backgrounds posed a significant problem when they all suffered the same rash.

Angelina - who adopted three of her children internationally - explained: "I have children from different backgrounds, and I know when there was a rash that everybody got, it looked drastically different depending on their skin color. But whenever I looked at medical charts, the reference point was always white skin."

Angelina expressed her concern during a conversation with medical student Malone Mukwende for Time magazine.

The Hollywood star spoke to Malone in her capacity as the magazine's contributing editor, and Angelina also revealed that Zahara recently underwent surgery.

She shared: "Recently my daughter Zahara, whom I adopted from Ethiopia, had surgery, and afterward a nurse told me to call them if her skin 'turned pink'."
In 2005, when I first discovered Jordans Big 10 Pub and reviewed its fish, my friend decided to try it and fell hard for the Cajun walleye and potato pancakes.

Now every time we eat out, he compares all kinds of food to that fish. As in, This ___ is good, but it cant touch the Cajun walleye at the Big 10 Pub.

This has been happening for years, so I finally decided to go back to the popular Regent Street sports bar and have it again. I wont be measuring other food against it, but the large grilled filet ($16) was moist and flaky. The Cajun spice was perfect and added a welcome kick. It can also come seasoned with lemon pepper.

The perch ($14) was also a big portion, with three large pieces in a light and light-colored, non-greasy breading. Its a neutral breading that doesnt take over the flavor, my companion said.

In my old review, I called the perch a little skimpy and said it could have done with less breading. Thats certainly not the case now.

They know what theyre doing, said my companion. You can tell theyve been doing it a long time.
In March, King pleaded guilty to homicide by drunken driving and second-degree reckless endangerment. McNamara sentenced him to eight years in prison and four years of extended supervision for the homicide conviction, and a concurrent three years in prison for the reckless endangerment.

McNamara gave King credit for bringing the case to a rapid conclusion and not taking the case to a trial in which the evidence against him would have been strong.

But he called the circumstances that led to Rancks death so senseless.

The homicide sentence, McNamara said, was the first he had issued since the state Legislature in 2019 implemented a five-year presumptive minimum sentence for OWI homicide. While its not a mandatory minimum, the law requires a judge to explain why a compelling reason exists to sentence someone below the five-year threshold.

For Kings former wife, Sarah Simmons-King, the crash was the end of a terrible roller coaster for herself and her children, as Kings addictions took hold of his life and led to incessant lying and erratic behavior. Before, she said, he had been a humble, hard-working man, putting himself through college in his 20s, then working his way to a management position at work and a masters degree.
President Joe Biden will be traveling to southwest Wisconsin next Tuesday.

Biden will be accompanied by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to talk about growing agriculture and rural economies, according to information provided by the White House. Additional details regarding the president's visit were not immediately available.

Biden made his first official trip to the state as president in February to participate in a TV town hall in Milwaukee.

Following three visits to the state during his 2020 campaign, including in late October days before the election, Biden flipped Wisconsin from red to blue, beating former President Donald Trump by about 20,000 votes here.

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The community testing and vaccination clinic at the Alliant Energy Center that has served tens of thousands of people during the COVID-19 pandemic will close on Saturday, city officials announced Thursday.

Public Health Madison and Dane County said it has done about 425,000 COVID-19 tests and administered 83,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine at the Alliant Center.

The agency said it will continue to provide testing and vaccination services at its offices at 2230 S. Park St. and 2705 E. Washington Ave., in addition to hosting mobile vaccination clinics throughout Dane County.

Testing is by appointment only at the South Park Street office, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays and from noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays.

Vaccination is by appointment or drop-in at the South Park Street office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, and at the East Washington Avenue office from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays.

Public Health is holding mobile first- and second-dose vaccination clinics on a continuing basis, with schedules posted on its website.

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The citys ordinance has been in place since before he became fire marshal six years ago. County commissioners passed a similar ordinance about three years ago, Lauda said.

Despite this, the city receives numerous calls of illegal firework use every year. Throughout his 20 years with the city, Lauda has seen the usage of fireworks, both legal and illegal, lead to car and house fires, as well as wildland blazes.

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The city of Jerome deals with similar issues despite also having an ordinance in place prohibiting the sale of aerial fireworks within the city.

Its easily and accessible, Jerome Fire Chief Mike Harrison said. And when they light them off in the city theres always a risk of fire, especially with this year and the drought conditions.

During a meeting in late May, the Twin Falls City Council briefly discussed the merits of sending a letter to nearby elected officials encouraging them to not allow the sale of aerial fireworks in their jurisdictions.

The conversation started after two residents requested the council take action to limit the number of aerial fireworks set off throughout the city around the Fourth of July.
TWIN FALLS  A man was arraigned Wednesday in Twin Falls County Court on charges he possessed nine videos showing sexual abuse of children.

Domingo M. Zapata, 27, was charged with possession of child pornography following an investigation and a tip from the FBI, court records said.

On June 9, local police received a case file from the Federal Bureau of Investigations Boise ofce that said a person used an online file storage service to upload videos of child abuse between Dec. 1 and Dec. 4.

Police subpoenaed the storage service and email provider and were able to get a phone number for the person who created the account. From there, police sent a subpoena to the cellphone carrier, which then gave police an address for the phone user.

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May crime report: School shooting, murder trial, sex offender lawsuit and more Did you miss any crime and court news from last month? Here's a collection of the crime reports, notable arrests and important court hearings 

On June 10, police went to the address and spoke with Zapata, who was named as a person of interest by the FBI because he was a registered sex offender who lived at the suspected address. Court records show Zapata pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual abuse of a child younger than 16 in 2012 when he was 18 years old.

Court records say Zapata gave police his phone number, and it matched the one they previously discovered connected to the videos.
In Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey has signed off on $100 million in emergency funding after wildfires ravaged rural Arizona this month, the Arizona Mirror said.

In Montana, the Robertson Draw Fire and other blazes already are kicking off what could be a devastating fire season, the Daily Montanan reported.

The last few days weve seen droughts and wildfire in the West, Biden said, according to the pool report. Weve seen tornadoes in Illinois, flooding in the South and Mid-Atlantic. Extreme weather doesnt confine itself, as you all know, to state lines. These crises require pro-active federal response. Its just not just the states.

Biden at the event was flanked by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, the pool report said.

Were going to bring every resource to bear to be prepared, to respond and to help people recover, Biden said. Its a big challenge, and were making sure FEMA and other front-line agencies have what they need to continue getting the job done. And I insist on being ready for whatever comes our way. Thats what this is all about.

He added: The drought in the West is just astounding.  Fires have already started. Flooding. So, were in for a tough season but I think weve got to be prepared, (have) every resource available.

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According to the news release, Trump saw McGeachins earlier appearance with Fox News Tucker Carlson and called her to praise her performance. Trump is known to watch Fox News, and Carlson was a fervent defender of Trump throughout his presidency.

Claims of indoctrination and critical race theory in schools have been a central issue for Idaho legislators and public officials in recent months. During the legislative session, state lawmakers passed a bill that took aim at certain discussions about race in classrooms and cut millions in funding to universities in an attempt to target social justice programs.

McGeachins indoctrination task force was formed earlier this year and held its first meeting last month.

The task force is scheduled to meet for the second time Thursday, and will meet two more times over the summer. The task force is expected to examine K-12 education and higher education, and then make recommendations.

So far, the task force has not cited any specific examples to support their claims of indoctrination of students.

Earlier this month, Rep. Priscilla Giddings, who co-chairs the task force, submitted a public records request to the Boise School District asking for a number of materials, including those related to English Learners and AVID programs, as well as any materials, books, curriculum or assignments using Nikole Hannah Jones 1619 project or the 1776 project.

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The only official army survivor of the Battle of the Little Bighorn is listed as Comanche, a soldiers severely wounded horse found two days later in the carnage also known as Custers Last Stand.

Later, several men came forward claiming to have lived through the battle.

But one man, the father of Idaho Rep. Ben Finkel, was likely the only white man who escaped death at the June 25, 1876, battle in Montana. At least two noted historians have concluded Frank Finkel, who, in 1872, enlisted using the name August Finckle, slipped past Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse during the battle.

But 2nd Sgt. Finkel didnt escape out of cowardice that day, 145 years ago Friday.

A bullet struck the butt of his rifle and slammed the barrel into his forehead, knocking him out. His panicked horse, with Finkel slumped over its neck, bolted through the warriors and fled the battle. The 22-year-old man came to sometime during the night to discover hed been shot twice  once in the leg and once in the side.
TWIN FALLS  The public librarys board of trustees voted Wednesday to leave the buildings display for Pride Month in place following opposition from a small number of community numbers.

The library set up two displays showcasing books representing members of the LGBTQ community at the beginning of June. There is a larger display on the main floor of the library and a smaller display of five books near the staircase leading down to the childrens section of the building.

Library Director Tara Bartley told the Times-News that the library has set up these displays every year for at least the last five years in recognition of Pride Month. The library sets up similar displays for other holidays and events throughout the year.

However this year, a few residents initiated a formal process requesting the library relocate or take down the small display near the childrens section. After Bartley decided to leave the display in place, the residents appealed this decision, bringing it to the board of trustees.

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The board heard nearly an hour and a half of public comment, a majority of which came from people in favor of the display, including members of the LGBTQ community who said the representation is important and meaningful for children seeking support and inclusion.
BLAINE COUNTY  Two Twin Falls teenagers and a child were injured Tuesday in a crash at Timmerman Junction.

Police said that about noon Tuesday, Samson O. Akwenuke, 18, was driving a 2004 gold Honda Pilot northbound on Idaho Highway 75 with Andrew J. Shaw, 18, and a male juvenile backseat passenger. Police did not release his name or age.

As the vehicle descended Timmerman Hill, it went off the northbound side of the roadway for an unknown reason, a Blaine County Sheriffs Office statement said. The driver over-corrected, causing the car to cross both lanes of travel and roll multiple times off the southside of the roadway.

The juvenile passenger in the backseat was thrown from the SUV and flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls in critical condition, the sheriffs office said.

Akwenuke was taken by ambulance to St. Lukes Wood River Medical Center and later released with non-life-threatening injuries.

Shaw was flown to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise with serious injuries.
Winston Boogie Smith Jr., a 32-year-old Black man, was fatally shot in a Minneapolis parking ramp by members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force. Authorities said they were trying to arrest Smith on a weapons violation and that he showed a handgun. The state investigative agency said evidence shows Smith fired the gun. A woman with Smith said through attorneys that she never saw a gun on Smith or in his vehicle . The two sheriff's deputies who shot Smith weren't wearing body cameras, saying the Marshals Service told them they could not. The lack of video in the city where George Floyd died contributed to anger over Smith's death, sparking several days of protests.

Prude, a 41-year-old Black man, died in Rochester, New York, in March 2020, several days after encountering police after he was released from a hospital following a mental health arrest. He ran naked from his brother's home and was seen breaking store windows; his brother Joe testified that he warned an officer who came to his home not to kill his brother. His death drew new attention six months later when his family released body camera video obtained through a public records request that showed Prude handcuffed and naked with a spit hood over his head as one officer pushed his face against the ground and another pressed a knee to his back. The officers held Prude down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing. A gran d jury declined to indict any officers in February. An internal investigation may still result in disciplinary charges.
Servicers are expecting borrower demand for help to increase and may have trouble keeping up. The repayment system has never been turned off before, so no one is sure what restarting it simultaneously for 42.9 million people will look like.

We dont have any guidance from the department (of Education) about what a resumption strategy would look like, says Buchanan. We are in the time frame where those plans need to be communicated; it cannot wait.

Richard Cordray, the newly appointed head of the Education Departments federal student aid office, told The Washington Post for a story on June 11 that restarting payments was a very complex situation and said the office planned to provide more information to servicers soon. He also said the department planned to hold the servicers accountable by setting rigorous performance benchmarks.

Despite the uncertainty, if youre worried about your ability to make payments, theres no downside to contacting your servicer now to beat the rush, says Buchanan. Ask about your best options to manage payments, depending on your situation.
The timing felt right to give this option to our students and families who may need a virtual environment due to family schedules, health issues, and other factors, said McDowell County Superintendent Mark Garrett, as well as for those students who have thrived under the remote model that we had in place this past school year. We do want students and parents to make an informed choice and not just simply sign up for the virtual experience because it seems easier or because they think it lets them sleep in every morning, as this will not be the case.
Our customers like our meads and tell us frequently that they are the best they have tasted, but its nice to get the judges opinion that have the knowledge and experience tasting and rating meads, said Myers to The McDowell News. We have medaled with every mead we have ever entered in contests. We hope we will fare as well when we enter more national competitions,

The goal of the North Carolina Mead-Cider-Fruit Wine Competition is to increase awareness of its participating commercially licensed producers.

JenNis Beverage Marketing co-owner Dennis Turner stated, The N.C. Fine Wines Competition promotes the states vinifera and hybrid wines, the North Carolina Muscadine Association promotes the states muscadine wine producers. We wanted to create an event to promote and raise awareness of North Carolina commercially produced meads, ciders, and fruit wines.

The event was sponsored by the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council, custom chauffeured wine and beer tour company Van in Black, North Carolina beverage attorneys Beer Law Group based in Raleigh, and local wine blog WineryEscapades.Com., according to the news release.
Teachers are able to request funding for their classroom projects by visiting DonorsChoose.org/teachers.

While funds last, UScellular will provide a 1:1 funding match for classroom projects that are within the regions that UScellular serves, $1,000 or less and have a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) focus.

To provide better accessibility and equity to STEM learning, classrooms that receive UScellular funding will be in communities where 90% or more of the students are from low-income households.

The $100,000 donation from UScellular will take place this summer to help teachers prepare for the return of students to classrooms in the fall, with 10% of the funding going toward projects that directly address summer school needs. According to a recent DonorsChoose survey, technology materials are in highest demand for both in-person and remote instruction.

Our company cares passionately about our local communities, continued Waddell. Its through organizations like DonorsChoose that were able to build better communities and support educators who are critical to the success of youth across the country.

UScellular has a longstanding commitment to supporting its local communities through donations and volunteerism.

Since 2009, the company has donated more than $20.7 million along with countless experiences and technology items to nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information about UScellulars corporate social responsibility initiatives, go to https://www.uscellular.com/get-to-know-us/community-outreach.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The state of Alaska is trying to dispose of a 58-year-old ferry, and even has offered to give it free to the government of the Philippines.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy offered to give the Malaspina ferry away in a letter last month to the Philippines consul general in San Francisco, CoastAlaska reported.

This vessel is surplus to our fleet, is in need of some repairs, but does have some service life left, according to Dunleavys letter dated May 20 and obtained by the Alaska Public Media in a routine public records request for the governors correspondence.

We would be willing to provide the vessel to the Philippine government or to a private ferry company in the Philippines free of charge, the letter states.

The Malaspina, built in 1963, last sailed in 2019. Instead of paying at least $16 million in needed steel work, the state put the ferry into cold storage.

The state Department of Transportation has estimated it would cost up to $45 million to overhaul the ferry, including installing new engines.

The state is paying about $450,000 a year to keep it in storage, prompting the Dunleavy administration to dispose of it.
In this Tuesday, June 22, 2021 file photo, healthcare workers prepare to test patients for COVID-19 at the Lancet Laboratories in Johannesburg. Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday June 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File

Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday.

"The third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, hitting harder," Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said Thursday

"With rapidly rising case numbers and increasing reports of serious illness, the latest surge threatens to be Africa's worst yet," she said in a weekly briefing. "Africa can still blunt the impact of these fast-rising infections, but the window of opportunity is closing. Everyone everywhere can do their bit by taking precautions to prevent transmission."

New cases have been rising since the beginning of May and the resurgence will surpass previous waves by early July, according to WHO Africa.

Decreased observance of public health measures, increased social interactions without masks and new variants have contributed to more cases. Moeti encouraged governments to do more to provide populations with easier access to masks and hygiene facilities.

The delta variant that has devastated India has been detected in at least 14 African countries including Congo, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda.

In this Tuesday, June 22, 2021 file photo, healthcare workers prepare to test patients for COVID-19 at the Lancet Laboratories in Johannesburg. Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday June 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File

The delta variant "may have played a very significant role," in the "very devastating" third wave of COVID-19 in at least 20 countries across Africa, the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, said Thursday.

"The third wave is extremely brutal," he said, adding that more and more health centers are saying they are overwhelmed. African countries urgently need vaccines to help battle the disease, he said.

"We are completely lagging behind, we just don't have vaccines," Nkengasong said.

Africa has more than 5.2 million confirmed virus cases including more than 139,000 deaths, according to the Africa CDC.

Critically, only 1% of the continent's 1.3 billion people have been vaccinated, according to WHO and the CDC. Globally, around 2.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered, of which less than 1.5% have been given in the continent, according to WHO Africa.

In this Tuesday, June 22, 2021 file photo, a healthcare worker prepares to test patients for COVID-19 at the Lancet Laboratories in Johannesburg. Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday June 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File

People queue in the Windhoek, Namibia centre, to be tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday June 15, 2021. Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday June 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Dirk Heinrich

People queue in Windhoek, Namibia centre, to be tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday June 15, 2021. Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday June 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Dirk Heinrich

The U.N.-backed COVAX initiative to provide vaccines to low- and middle-income countries, has not met its goals of equal access, said officials.

More than 80% of COVAX vaccine supplies have been used by just 18 African countries, with eight running out of stocks.

"Our work in COVAX has been hugely challenged by the vaccine availabilities," Moeti said, adding that WHO is willing to consider all available vaccines and will do everything possible to ensure that the vaccines become available at the global level.

"Our objective is really to get the vaccines out there and reduce the inequity that is the situation at present," she said.

She criticized restrictions that may also exacerbate the inequities, arguing that Africans should not also face more travel restrictions because they are unable to access the same vaccines available elsewhere.

"Let's not add injury to injustice," she said. "Vaccine shortages are already prolonging the pain of COVID-19 in Africa."

Explore further Virus cases surge in Africa as third wave gains pace: WHO

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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The Research Group on the Evolution of Cancer Genome of the Universitat Jaume I has conducted an international study, The effect of age on the acquisition and selection of cancer-driving mutations in normal sun-exposed skin. The main conclusion of this work is that age is the factor that explains most of the genetic mutations associated with the appearance and development of different cancerous tumors that affect the skin. The authors have published an article on the research in Annals of Oncology.

The team led by Professor Conrado Martinez-Cadenas has worked on this research together with Dr. Gerard Pitarch and Dr. Laura Mahiques of the Dermatology Service of the General University Hospital of Castellon, and Dr. Francisca Valcuende of the Department of Dermatology of the University Hospital of la Plana, in addition to the Cancer Institute of University College London (center of excellence for cancer in the United Kingdom) and the National Center for Genomic AnalysisCenter for Genomic Regulation (CNAG-CRG) in Barcelona. On behalf of the Department of Medicine of the UJI, the researcher Barbara Hernando also led the work.

According to Martinez-Cadenas, this research has started from the sequencing of 46 genes in biopsies of normal skin from 123 healthy individuals, to compare all the mutations that appear "and find out the causes, observing both age and phototype or sun exposure, among many other factors." The samples were collected in 2019 and their analysis was carried out in 2020. According to the result, indicates the director of the research, "age explains 55.16% of the mutations," while the skin phototypeif it is lighter or darker, with up to six degrees identifiedis behind 17.92% of mutations. According to the study's conclusions, "aging is not only associated with an exponential increase in the number of accumulated somatic genetic mutations in the normal epidermis, but also with the selection and expansion of cancer-associated mutations."

Martinez-Cadenas highlights that in other types of cancerous diseases, age was already identified as an important factor "but we initially thought that in the skin, due to being exposed to the sun, the phototype and the history of chronic exposure to the sun would have more weight in mutations, and it is not true," says Martinez-Cadenas. The rest of the factors have an irrelevant incidence together with the first two. The difference between mutations in areas chronically exposed to the sun and those that are only exposed intermittently is not even significant.

In addition, the incidence of age is not linear in time, since according to the study, the trend for the appearance of mutations worsens after 60 years. Martinez-Cadenas says, "From a certain age, whatever you have done, the mutations related to the predisposition to having cancer increase." The explanation for this fact is that "the human DNA repair systems have start to work much worse than in youth and early middle age." On the other hand, smokers also present more mutations of this type in different tissues, "even if these mutations have nothing to do with lungs."

To illustrate the importance of the research results, Martinez wants to recall that the specific causes of somatic mutations that lead to other types of cancer remain unknown in approximately 70% of cases.

Explore further Researchers discover genetic causes of higher melanoma risk in men

More information: B. Hernando et al, The effect of age on the acquisition and selection of cancer driver mutations in sun-exposed normal skin, Annals of Oncology (2020). Journal information: Annals of Oncology B. Hernando et al, The effect of age on the acquisition and selection of cancer driver mutations in sun-exposed normal skin,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.11.023
Anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapies boost the body's cancer-fighting T cells, but in many patients, suppressive Tfr cells bring that progress to a grinding halt. Credit: La Jolla Institute for Immunology

New research led by scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and the University of Liverpool may explain why many cancer patients do not respond to anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapiesalso called checkpoint inhibitors.

The team reports that these patients may have tumors with high numbers of T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells.

In a healthy person, Tfr cells do the important job of stopping haywire T cells and autoantibodies from attacking the body's own tissues. But in a cancer patient, Tfr cells dramatically dial back the body's ability to kill cancer cells.

Anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapies boost the body's cancer-fighting T cells, but in many patients, suppressive Tfr cells bring that progress to a grinding halt.

With this new understanding of what's going on inside tumors, the researchers believe that first treating these patients with drugs to deplete Tfr cells may prime the body to respond to subsequent anti-PD-1 therapies and increase overall survival.

"Our data begin to point the way towards how we might be able to improve cancer treatments," says study co-leader Christian H. Ottensmeier, M.D., Ph.D., FRCP, a professor at the University of Liverpool and adjunct professor at LJI.

The study was published on June 24, 2021. in the journal Nature Immunology.

Why Tfr cells are important

Anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapies work by boosting the body's ability to make more cancer-targeting T cells. LJI Professor Pandurangan Vijayanand, M.D., Ph.D., who served as co-senior author of the new study compares anti-PD-1 therapies to putting a foot on the accelerator of the body's immune response.

Unfortunately, not all patients respond to these immunotherapies, and scientists have found that anti-PD-1 treatment can actually lead to worse outcomes in a small group of people. The new study suggests that Tfr cells may be to blame when anti-PD-1 therapies fail in some patients.

Tfr cells were only described by scientists about 10 years ago. In that time, researchers found that these cells help control the strength of the body's B cell responses. Nothing was known regarding their role in cancers.

For the new study, the researchers looked at human tumor samples from six different cancer types: liver cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer and breast cancer. The team utilized single-cell RNA sequencing technology to detect the presence of Tfr cells in these tumors.

The researchers found that tumors resistant to anti-PD-1 therapies also have high numbers of Tfr cells. "Tfr cells are way more suppressive than normal T regulatory cells, and they stick around longer in tumor tissues," says LJI Instructor Simon Eschweiler, Ph.D., who served as first author of the study.

To make matters worse, Tfr cells are actually activated by anti-PD-1 therapies.

"When you have a lot of these suppressor cells, anti-PD-1 therapy can be detrimental," Vijayanand says. The immune system isn't getting the boost it is supposed to get from the treatment. "The brake is onyou aren't going to go anywhere."

Luckily, scientists have the tools to counteract Tfr cells. Cancer immunotherapies called anti-CTLA-4 treatments can deplete the body's Tfr reserve. The new research suggests that patients with high Tfr numbers may benefit from sequential treatmentswhere doctors start with anti-CTLA-4 therapy and then move on to anti-PD-1 therapy. However, this approach needs to be validated in clinical trials.

Bringing this discovery to the clinic

A closer look at melanoma cases added further evidence that selective, sequential immunotherapy treatments may be the best way to help patients with higher numbers of Tfr cells in their tumors.

In a retrospective study of 271 melanoma patients, the researchers found that treating patients with anti-CTLA-4 therapy, followed by anti-PD-1 is associated with significantly increased overall survival of these patients, compared with treating patients with either anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4or using the two treatments simultaneously.

Ottensmeier explains that this type of retrospective study can be biased due to patient histories and the drugs available at the time, but the findings are an important sign that the researchers are on the right track toward a better way to help patients.

The researchers next plan to set up a randomized clinical trial where they can deplete Tfr cells in cancer patients before giving PD-1 therapy. The researchers caution that depopulating these cells could lead to side effects if other types of regulatory T cells are also depleted.

"If you take these cells out everywhere, you might remove the immune blockade that's really necessary for our wellbeing," says Ottensmeier.

"We're thinking of other ways to deplete this population, outside of anti-CTLA-4 therapies, and we're collaborating with Cancer Research UK to develop therapeutics that target these cell types," says Vijayanand.

The researchers are also working on developing a biomarker that can work like a test to tell doctors how many of these Tfr cells are present in a given tumor.

Explore further Targeting drug-resistant breast cancer with estrogen

More information: Intratumoral follicular regulatory T cells curtail anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy, Nature Immunology (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41590-021-00958-6 Journal information: Nature Immunology Intratumoral follicular regulatory T cells curtail anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-021-00958-6
Karen McKnight stands in her backyard on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Sammamish, Wash., holding two books written by her brother Ross Bagne of Cheyenne, Wyo. Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the United States now are in people who weren't vaccinated like Bagne, a staggering demonstration of how effective the vaccines have been Credit: AP Photo/John Froschauer

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

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that "breakthrough" infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 107,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. That's about 1.1%.

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

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

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

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

Earlier this month, Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, suggested that 98% to 99% of the Americans dying of the coronavirus are unvaccinated.

And CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday that the vaccine is so effective that "nearly every death, especially among adults, due to COVID-19, is, at this point, entirely preventable." She called such deaths "particularly tragic."

Deaths in the U.S. have plummeted from a peak of more than 3,400 day on average in mid-January, one month into the vaccination drive.

About 63% of all vaccine-eligible Americansthose 12 and olderhave received at least one dose, and 53% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. While vaccine remains scarce in much of the world, the U.S. supply is so abundant and demand has slumped so dramatically that shots sit unused.

Ross Bagne, a 68-year-old small-business owner in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was eligible for the vaccine in early February but didn't get it. He died June 4, infected and unvaccinated, after spending more than three weeks in the hospital, his lungs filling with fluid. He was unable to swallow because of a stroke.

"He never went out, so he didn't think he would catch it," said his grieving sister, Karen McKnight. She wondered: "Why take the risk of not getting vaccinated?"

The preventable deaths will continue, experts predict, with unvaccinated pockets of the nation experiencing outbreaks in the fall and winter. Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said modeling suggests the nation will hit 1,000 deaths per day again next year.

Karen McKnight stands in her backyard on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Sammamish, Wash., holding two books written by her brother Ross Bagne of Cheyenne, Wyo. Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the United States now are in people who weren't vaccinated like Bagne, a staggering demonstration of how effective the vaccines have been Credit: AP Photo/John Froschauer

In Arkansas, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation, with only about 33% of the population fully protected, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are rising.

"It is sad to see someone go to the hospital or die when it can be prevented," Gov. Asa Hutchinson tweeted as he urged people to get their shots.

In Seattle's King County, the public health department found only three deaths during a recent 60-day period in people who were fully vaccinated. The rest, some 95% of 62 deaths, had had no vaccine or just one shot.

"Those are all somebody's parents, grandparents, siblings and friends," said Dr. Mark Del Beccaro, who helps lead a vaccination outreach program in King County. "It's still a lot of deaths, and they're preventable deaths."

In the St. Louis area, more than 90% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated, said Dr. Alex Garza, a hospital administrator who directs a metropolitan-area task force on the outbreak.

"The majority of them express some regret for not being vaccinated," Garza said. "That's a pretty common refrain that we're hearing from patients with COVID."

The stories of unvaccinated people dying may convince some people they should get the shots, but young adultsthe group least likely to be vaccinatedmay be motivated more by a desire to protect their loved ones, said David Michaels, an epidemiologist at George Washington University's school of public health in the nation's capital.

Others need paid time off to get the shots and deal with any side effects, Michaels said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration this month began requiring health care employers, including hospitals and nursing homes, to provide such time off. But Michaels, who headed OSHA under President Barack Obama, said the agency should have gone further and applied the rule to meat and poultry plants and other food operations as well as other places with workers at risk.

Bagne, who lived alone, ran a business helping people incorporate their companies in Wyoming for the tax advantages. He was winding down the business, planning to retire, when he got sick, emailing his sister in April about an illness that had left him dizzy and disoriented.

"Whatever it was. That bug took a LOT out of me," he wrote.

As his health deteriorated, a neighbor finally persuaded him to go to the hospital.

"Why was the messaging in his state so unclear that he didn't understand the importance of the vaccine? He was a very bright guy," his sister said. "I wish he'd gotten the vaccine, and I'm sad he didn't understand how it could prevent him from getting COVID."

Explore further US hits encouraging milestones on virus deaths and shots

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Many long COVID patients are experiencing extreme fatigue, a situation which has reignited the polarisation in approaches to treatment and rehabilitation of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to a special report today.

The BMJ reports on examples where doctors have been challenged for speaking out in the media after talking about the role of exercise in rehabilitation.

But it also finds that beyond the controversy, some clinicians see an opportunity for long COVID to progress the understanding of post viral syndromes and to acknowledge they are a very real condition.

CFS, also known as ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), is a complex long-term illness often triggered by an acute infection with a wide range of symptoms that can have a significant effect on daily activities, the most common being extreme fatigue.

In 2011, the PACE trial found that both cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) led to greater improvements in some participants than medical care alone. But the results led to controversy as some CFS/ME advocates object to suggestions that their illness has a psychological element.

And tensions have now resurfaced with the advent of the pandemic and long COVID.

Around 376,000 people in the UK report symptoms more than a year after COVID-19 including extreme fatigue and other symptoms similar to post-viral fatigue syndromes and ME/CFS.

Freelance journalist Melanie Newman spoke to clinicians and academics involved in ME/CFS and long COVID research, and found that what advice is given, what research is conducted, and how it is communicated has become a highly sensitive issue.

Some have been challenged for speaking out. For example, Michael Sharpe, a professor of psychological medicine, was castigated for suggesting the disease is "all in the mind" or created by the media, while an activist asked for Trish Greenhalgh, professor of primary care at Oxford University, to be removed from a conference because she had previously commented on exercise and PACE in a public webinar.

Professor Paul Garner at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who had recovered from long COVID, says some advocates actively oppose research on exercise. "They believe the disease lasts for life," he says. "They reject any research that examines psychological approaches to treatment or that evaluates the role of progressive physical activity in recovery in ME/CFS, and I would assume by extension to long COVID."

Charles Shepherd, medical advisor at the ME Association told the BMJ: "We are not against exercise. Our view is that graded exercise can be harmful."

Ben Marsh, an NHS consultant paediatrician who contracted viral pericarditis in 2017, thinks physical therapy should be treated like medication or surgery, with patients told about possible side effects and what to look out for.

Newman spoke to other doctors and healthcare professionals helping long COVID patients and found them to be very aware of these concerns and quietly working out how best to treat each patient without causing them harm.

Results arepredictably, given the early stage of the researchmixed, she writes, but CFS/ME specialist Rachael Rogers at the Oxford long COVID clinic, says the key is careful screening, assessment and individualised treatments.

Respiratory consultant Paul Whitaker, who set up the first long COVID clinic in Yorkshire, says: "For my longstanding patients with long COVID who fulfil the criteria for CFS they do seem to get worse with strenuous aerobic exercise. However, long COVID is a very diverse group and there are many others who do need an exercise based regimen." Defining which groups will benefit from exercise remains a challenge, he adds.

In a linked commentary, Carolyn Chew-Graham, GP and professor of general practice research and colleagues argue that patients with long COVID are still struggling to get their voices heard above doctors. They believe that this is a form of "structural iatrogenesis," where patients are harmed by power imbalances in the bureaucratic and cultural systems within medicine.

People with long COVID describe feeling "gaslighted" because the opinions of a few have tended to dominate the evolution of treatment, investigation, and a growing knowledge base, they write.

Explore further Long COVID symptoms likely caused by Epstein-Barr virus reactivation

More information: Chronic fatigue syndrome and long covid: moving beyond the controversy, The BMJ, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n1559 , www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1559 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Chronic fatigue syndrome and long covid: moving beyond the controversy,
A year on, nearly all patients in a French study who lost their sense of smell after a bout of COVID-19 did regain that ability, researchers report.

"Persistent COVID-19-related anosmia [loss of smell] has an excellent prognosis, with nearly complete recovery at one year," according to a team led by Dr. Marion Renaud, an otorhinolaryngologist at the University Hospitals of Strasbourg.

Early in the pandemic, doctors treating people infected with SARS-CoV-2 began to realize that a sudden loss of smell was a hallmark of the illness. It's thought that COVID-linked "peripheral inflammation" of nerves crucial to olfactory function is to blame in these cases.

But as months went by, and many patients failed to recover their sense of smell, some began to worry that the damage could be permanent.

The new study should ease those fears.

In their research, the French team tracked the sense of smell of 97 patients (67 women, 30 men) averaging about 39 years of age. All had lost their sense of smell after contracting COVID-19.

The patients were asked about any improvements in their smelling ability at four months, eight months and then a full year after the loss of smell began. About half were also given specialized testing to gauge their ability to smell.

By the four-month mark, objective testing of 51 of the patients showed that about 84% (43) had already regained a sense of smell, while six of the remaining eight patients had done so by the eight-month mark. Only two out of the 51 patients who'd been analyzed using the specialized tests had some impaired sense of smell one year after their initial diagnosis, the findings showed.

Overall, 96% of the patients objectively recovered by 12 months, Renaud's team reported. The study was published online June 24 in JAMA Network Open.

Dr. Theodore Strange is interim chair of medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, in New York City. He wasn't involved in the new study, but called the findings "very encouraging."

"The good news is that the loss of smell is not a permanent sequelae of COVID disease," Strange said.

That sentiment was echoed by Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, N.Y. He said the findings, although very welcome, should remind everyoneespecially the youngthat a SARS-CoV-2 infection can do a lot of long-term harm.

"It's important that while the public is scrutinizing the vaccine, some to determine whether the 'risk is worth the benefit,' that we take into account not only hospitalization and death but these 'long haul' symptoms, which can affect people months and years after recovery from the virus itself," Cioe-Pena noted.

"The most important thing to take away from this study," he said, "is to get vaccinated and prevent exposure to long haul symptoms in the first place."

Explore further Loss of sense of smell and taste may last up to 5 months after COVID-19

More information: To learn more about COVID-19's effect on smell, head to Journal information: JAMA Network Open To learn more about COVID-19's effect on smell, head to Harvard Medical School.

 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers her specs ahed of a EU summit at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

Europe is "on thin ice" in its battle against COVID-19, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday as EU leaders agreed that vaccinations should be sped up to fight the highly contagious delta variant.

A stronger response to the pandemic was a main topic of discussion among European Union heads of state and government leaders at a meeting in Brussels, where they also acknowledged that the bloc's borders should be reopened in a cautious way.

In what might have been her last government declaration to the German parliament, Merkel noted that the number of COVID-19 cases in the 27-nation bloc continues to decline, while vaccination rates climb.

"But even though there is reason to be hopeful, the pandemic isn't over, in particular in the world's poor countries," she said. "But in Germany and Europe, we're also still moving on thin ice."

"We need to remain vigilant," Merkel added. "In particular, the newly arising variants, especially now the delta variant, are a warning for us to continue to be careful."

Upon his arrival in Belgian capital, French President Emmanuel Macron also urged European countries to remain "vigilant" in order to properly tackle the delta variant, and to adopt a coordinated approach when reopening their borders to third countries.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers her specs ahed of a EU summit at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

In a report issued this week, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control projected that the delta variant would account for 90% of all coronavirus infections across the continent by the end of August. The Stockholm-based agency said people who had only received one shot of vaccine were still vulnerable to the delta variant and that about 40% of people over 60 have yet to receive both vaccine doses.

The ECDC said its modelling scenarios estimate that any relaxation of the COVID-19 protocols currently in place "could lead to a fast and significant increase in daily cases in all age groups," potentially reaching a similar peak to the surge last fall.

In their conclusions on COVID-19, EU leaders insisted on "the need to continue vaccination efforts and to be vigilant and coordinated with regard to developments, particularly the emergence and spread of variants."

Germany has pressed for EU countries to form a joint position on quarantines for travelers from areas where named variants are particularly prevalent. This includes England, where the delta variantfirst detected in Indiaalready makes up a majority of cases.

EU leaders also praised the adoption of COVID-19 certificates ahead of the summer holiday season, with many calling for its coherent implementation across the bloc.

The EU has devised a joint digital travel certificate for people who are fully vaccinated, freshly tested, or recently recovered from the coronavirus. The free certificates allow people to move between European countries without having to quarantine or undergo extra coronavirus tests upon arrival.

Several EU countries are already using the system, including Belgium, Spain, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Poland. The rest are expected to start using it July 1.

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Minority groups in the US are more vulnerable to memory loss, confusion and their consequences earlier in life, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health.

A researcher at Delaware State University, U.S., investigated levels of subjective cognitive decline in US adults, who were over 45 years old. Subjective cognitive decline is the experience of frequent confusion and memory loss, which has been identified as a potential early sign of Alzheimer's disease. The author used data on 179,852 US adults aged 45 and over, collected as part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey from 2015 to 2018 during which respondents answered six questions designed to self-assess memory loss and cognitive ability.

Overall, 10.8% (19,276) of adults aged 45 or over self-reported subjective cognitive decline. 10.7% of those who were white experienced subjective cognitive decline compared to 12.3% of those who were Black and 9.9% of those who were Hispanic.

Black and Hispanic individuals with subjective cognitive decline were more likely to be younger (45-54 years) compared to white individuals with subjective cognitive decline (most of whom were 65 or over). In the Black and Hispanic groups, those with subjective cognitive decline were more likely to be less educated, to have a lower income and to have functioning difficulties (struggling to complete household chores).

Less than half of those who were Black (46.8%) or Hispanic (44.5%) with subjective cognitive decline had discussed their issues with a healthcare provider, but this did not significantly differ from those who were white.

However, the author found a significantly higher burden of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure among the Black and Hispanic groups with subjective cognitive decline. Nearly 80% of people who identified themselves as Black and reported subjective cognitive decline symptoms, reported at least one chronic condition, compared to around 64% in white and Hispanic groups. The author suggests there may be a higher burden of chronic conditions as Black and Hispanic groups were found to be more likely in the lower income category and experience more functioning difficulties.

The author emphasises that by 2060, the percentage increase in total population in the US is estimated to be 172% for African Americans, and 391% for Hispanics compared to 75% non-Hispanic whites. They suggest it may mean higher numbers in Black and Hispanic groups experiencing cognitive difficulties.

Sangeeta Gupta, the author said: "It is concerning that we found Black and Hispanic groups self-report cognitive symptoms at an earlier age especially considering the projected rise in minority populations in the U.S by 2060. Looking to the future, as we see more younger Black and Hispanic individuals developing cognitive decline symptoms, this may mean we have higher numbers in those groups not only struggling to be independent but also possibly progressing towards Alzheimer's disease and related dementia."

The author cautions that the survey may not have captured individuals with more severe cognitive issues, as these individuals are likely to live in residential care homes which were not included in the study. Additionally, comprehending questions and answering accurately requires some level of memory, and those who are more affected may not have been able to answer.

Explore further Self-reported declines in cognition may be linked to changes in brain connectivity

More information: Racial and ethnic disparities in subjective cognitive decline: a closer look, United States, 2015-2018, BMC Public Health (2021). Journal information: BMC Public Health Racial and ethnic disparities in subjective cognitive decline: a closer look, United States, 2015-2018,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11068-1
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The number of doctors taking early retirement from the NHS has more than tripled over the past 13 years, official figures show.

Figures provided to The BMJ by the NHS Business Services Authority under a freedom of information request show that the number of GPs and hospital doctors in England and Wales who took voluntary early retirement or retired because of ill health rose from 401 in 2007-08 to 1358 in 2020-21.

Overall, the total number of doctors retiring rose by 21% over this period, from 2431 in 2007-08 to 2952 in 2020-21.

The figures also show that, as the number of doctors retiring early has risen, the number retiring on the basis of age has fallenfrom 2030 in 2007-08 to 1594 in 2020-21. The average age at which doctors are retiring has also fallen over this period, from 61 years old in 2007-08 to 59 years old in 2020-21.

The British Medical Association (BMA) says that changes to tax regulation is one of main reasons prompting doctors to retire.

Vishal Sharma, chair of the BMA pensions committee, said that the current pension taxation system was "punitive" and left "senior doctors with little option but to consider early retirement."

Sharma said the situation had been made worse by the government's decision to freeze the lifetime allowance for pensions taxation for next five years, which will increase the amount of tax that many doctors have to pay on their pensions.

"A BMA survey demonstrated that 72% of doctors would consider retiring even earlier as a result of these changes," he added. "The combination of an exhausted workforce coupled with the freezing of the lifetime allowance being imposed at the same time will potentially result in a mass exodus of highly experienced doctors, at a time when patients need them the most."

He said that a "simple but effective" change that the government could make would be to implement a tax unregistered pension scheme in the NHS.

"The Government has already implemented such a scheme for the judiciary to address similar recruitment and retention issues," he explained. "A comparable solution within the NHS will allow our most experienced doctors to remain working in the NHS and consequently avert this workforce crisis."

Explore further More hospital doctors are opting to retire early

More information: Doctors' early retirement has trebled since 2008, Doctors' early retirement has trebled since 2008, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n1594
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Over the past decade, the news has largely been good for older Americans: More people are able to meet their daily care needs without assistance and women seem to be thriving the most.

Findings are from a recently released series of online dashboards and chartbooks that tracks nationwide trends for adults ages 70 and older from 2011 through 2020.

According to the report, over the past 10 years, older adults have experienced improvements in physical functioning, vision and hearing, and, through 2019, lower rates of dementia. As a result, fewer are living in nursing homes and assisted living settings, and fewer of those in the community are receiving help. More are using assistive devices in their daily activities and the percentage going online for activities has also increased dramatically.

"This study suggests the daily lives of older adults are changing and, on balance, trends are encouraging, especially for older women," said University of Michigan researcher Vicki Freedman, who initiated the project using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, with funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

But not everyone has benefited, according to Freedman, a research professor in the Survey Research Center at the Institute for Social Research and director of the Michigan Center on the Demography of Aging.

Women had improvements across the board, whereas men experienced fewer gains. Black Americans and those of Hispanic ethnicity began the decade with a disability disadvantage and continue to lag behind.

"Women have always been more likely than men to experience disability in later life," said Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researcher Judith Kasper, who co-leads the National Health and Aging Trends Study with Freedman and collaborated on the project. "It's especially encouraging to see their gains were not cut short by the pandemic."

Kasper, a professor of health policy and management, noted that although the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the daily lives of older adults in many respects, most findings in 2020 were continuations of trends that began in prior years. However, in 2020. sharp declines in participation in social activitiessuch as visiting friends and familywere widely experienced.

The researchers also note that concerning gaps remained for older Blacks and Hispanics in 2020. Older people of color were:

Less likely to successfully accommodate self-care and mobility limitations with assistive devices

More likely to receive assistance with self-care and mobility and with household activities related to their health and functioning

More likely to experience unmet needs related to self-care and mobility and household activities

More likely to have low physical capacity, poor vision and, in 2019, dementia; Hispanics were more likely to have poor hearing as well

Less likely to have bathing-related home modifications; Hispanics were less likely to have toileting-related home modifications

Less likely to communicate by email or texting and to go online for social networking, household activities, and health-related activities.

"The findings reported in the dashboards and chartbook demonstrate the importance of collecting representative longitudinal data on disability and function among older Americans," said John W. R. Phillips, chief of the NIA Population and Social Processes Branch. "While there are some encouraging trends in function for older Americans as a whole, there are also disparities in function that can be addressed with accommodations. This data can inform the public and policymakers on remedies to both maintain positive trends and reduce measured disparities."

Begun in 2011, The National Health and Aging Trends study fosters research to reduce disability, maximize independent functioning, and enhance quality of life at older ages. The study, funded by the NIA (grant number U01AG032947), gathers annual information on disability and functioning from a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older.

Explore further Proportion of older adults owning, using hearing aids increasing

More information: The National Health and Aging Trends Study: The National Health and Aging Trends Study: www.nhats.org/researcher NHATS Trends Dashboards: micda.isr.umich.edu/research/n  s-trends-dashboards/
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian prepares to address a press conference in Sydney, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Berejiklian says Sydney is going through one the "scariest" times of the pandemic as a cluster of the highly-contagious Delta variant continues to spread. Credit: Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP

Sydney was going through one the "scariest" times of the pandemic as a cluster of the highly contagious delta variant infects more people, an Australian state leader said on Thursday.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she tested negative for the coronavirus after her Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive Thursday. Health Minister Brad Hazzard is self-isolating as a close contact of a suspected COVID-19 case in Parliament House.

Sydney tightened pandemic restrictions on Wednesday, but Berejiklian said Australia's largest city did not yet need to lock down further.

"Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through," Berejiklian told reporters.

"It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings," she added.

Authorities say the cluster spread from a Sydney airport limousine driver who tested positive last week. He was not vaccinated, reportedly did not wear a mask and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew. The cluster had grown to 36 cases by Thursday.

Police were considering charging the driver and his employer with a range of offenses, Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said.

Medical staff test people in their car at a COVID-19 testing station in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, June 24, 2021. After enjoying nearly four months without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealanders were on edge Wednesday after health authorities said an infectious traveler from Australia had visited over the weekend. Credit: Mark Mitchell/NZ Herald via AP

Marshall tested positive after dining with three government colleagues on Monday at a Sydney restaurant after an infected diner.

All four lawmakers had been attending Parliament as recently as Tuesday.

Several government ministers, lawmakers and staff were told to get tested and isolate until July 6 after a positive case attended a political party dinner in Sydney on Tuesday. Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also attended the dinner, but was allowed to attend Parliament in the national capital Canberra on Thursday after taking medical advice.

Australian states have closed their borders to travelers either from parts of Sydney or from anywhere in New South Wales. And New Zealand has stopped quarantine-free travel from New South Wales for at least three days.

Victoria state said it would continue to ease pandemic restrictions in its capital Melbourne following a fourth lockdown despite a Melbourne resident testing positive after returning from Sydney on Sunday.

People queue outside a COVID-19 testing station in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, June 24, 2021. After enjoying nearly four months without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealanders were on edge Wednesday after health authorities said an infectious traveler from Australia had visited over the weekend. Credit: Mark Mitchell/NZ Herald via AP

Medical staff test people in their car at a COVID-19 testing station in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, June 24, 2021. After enjoying nearly four months without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealanders were on edge Wednesday after health authorities said an infectious traveler from Australia had visited over the weekend. Credit: Mark Mitchell/NZ Herald via AP

A nurse prepares to test people at a COVID-19 testing station in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, June 24, 2021. After enjoying nearly four months without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealanders were on edge Wednesday after health authorities said an infectious traveler from Australia had visited over the weekend. Credit: Mark Mitchell/NZ Herald via AP

Australia has been relatively successful in containing coronavirus clusters, although the delta variant first detected in India is proving more challenging.

The pandemic has claimed 910 deaths in Australia, which has a population of 26 million. The only COVID-19 death since October was an 80-year-old man who became infected overseas and was diagnosed in hotel quarantine.

Explore further Australia struggles to quash persistent coronavirus outbreaks

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In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, an emergency room doctor and three Yale SOM experts in organizational behavior launched a study to look for ways to protect the well-being of overwhelmed healthcare workers. They found that feeling like part of a team reduced reported stress and burnoutan insight with implications for how any kind of organization can weather a crisis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have been subjected to an extraordinary level of sustained stress. A Yale study conducted at the height of the pandemic identified one factor that can help ease stress and the longer-term burnout that can result: a strong sense of identification with a team.

The study began, like much COVID-era research, as an effort to grapple with a pressing problem: the well-being of technicians, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers facing a crisis with no end in sight. In the first weeks of the pandemic, Dr. Rohit Sangal, an emergency department doctor and a member of Yale SOM's MBA for Executives Class of 2021, contacted three of his professors: Amy Wrzesniewski, Julia DiBenigno, and Marissa King, who are experts in organizational behavior.

"When the pandemic was first declared, we had so many unknowns about COVID," Sangal says. "It became very clear that uncertainty was going to be a stressor on staff. I reached out to Marissa, Julia, and Amy and they helped put together a framework of how we could go about studying this, getting real-time feedback to optimize our operations to help support staff."

Sangal, Wrzesniewski, DiBenigno, and King assembled a larger team including Yale SOM doctoral students Alexandra Bray, Elisabeth Yang, and Eunice Eun as well as Eleanor Reid, Andrew Ulrich, Arjun Venkatesh, and Beth Liebhardt of the Yale School of Medicine. Based on previous research, the researchers hypothesized that workers who felt that they were part of a team might be more resilient during a crisis like COVID. Over two months from April to June 2020, they surveyed emergency department workers in a large health system, sending regular text messages asking about their levels of stress, their level of team identification, and, later in the process, about burnout.

They found that respondents who agreed more with the statement "I feel part of a team where I work" reported lower levels of stress and burnout. For lower-status workers, including nurses, residents, and technicians, team identification provided even stronger protection against burnout. One nurse wrote, "Look[ing] around, everyone is overwhelmed, exhausted, and stressed. With that said, I have never felt more like a teameveryone has really stepped up and is working together better."

Credit: Yale University

For Wrzesniewski, an expert in how people experience work, the results were not surprising, but it was "really meaningful that something as seemingly simple as the degree to which you feel like you're a part of the team, that you're a member of something bigger than just your own role, ended up being highly impactful of people's experiences of this time."

The results are also heartening, she added, in that they give healthcare organizations a path for helping to protect their workers. "It points to a lot of things that organizations can do to try to feed a sense of belonging to a team or being part of something bigger, particularly given that it helps to shield people from some of the negative effects of an event like this."

The authors write that healthcare organizations will benefit from taking concrete action to bolster team identificationfor example, gathering team members for a huddle at the beginning of each shift to create a shared understanding of the situation. In addition, they suggest, organizations should promote a sense of inclusivity on teams, by asking lower-status or new team members for input. They may also need to adjust their staffing practices to help keep teams more stable during a crisis.

"One of our recommendations was around the extent to which leaders can keep teams intact so that people can develop that familiarity and comfort working with one another, to go through a journey together supporting one another," says DiBenigno. "People who are assigned to one another as buddies, to be checking in on one another's mental healththings like that can create a sense of cohesion and identification with the people that you're working with."

A larger takeaway, says King, is that making mental-health resources available to individual workers isn't a sufficient response to a crisis like COVID. Mental health needs to be addressed on the organizational level as well.

"If you think about what it means to weather a crisis and how people think about stress and burnout," she says, "far too often the responsibility is put with the individual. While it's certainly helpful to have meditation, it's helpful to have counseling, one of the things that we wanted to highlight in our work is that there are many important things that organizations can do that don't necessarily rely on asking more of the individual."

Explore further Team identification supports health care worker wellness during COVID-19 pandemic

More information: Work team identification associated with less stress and burnout among front-line emergency department staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Leader 2021;5:51-54. Work team identification associated with less stress and burnout among front-line emergency department staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic.2021;5:51-54. bmjleader.bmj.com/content/5/1/51
AT LEAST seven Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights between Manila and Hong Kong and the Middle East scheduled for June 6-8 were canceled, the ...
McGinty said the report will help determine what type of building they need and how to best design it to fit the needs of clients and staff.

Now, she needs the communitys help in finding a piece of land near a major corridor in Missoula and along a bus route where they can build or remodel their new headquarters.

Were looking for site selection right now, she said. Commercial and residential options in Missoula right now are not super great."

If anyone has ideas, she's all ears.

"So we are really just trying to put our feelers out to the community if theres any sites that people have in mind, whether that is a piece of land or whether that is an existing structure somewhere, that we can have for a permanent home for our patients," she said.

Theyre looking for anything between three-quarters of an acre up to six acres.

That would give us the optimal amount for our clinic space, for parking and all of our traditional plants that we want to have out front, McGinty said.

The entire mission, McGinty declared, is to expand the centers reach and help more people.

Were getting a lot of our funding pieces together in our grants initiatives, so right now our main focus is trying to just bring more people into the fold, into the conversation," she said.

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"Missoula's going to be overrun if we like it or not and it's going to be climate refugees," he said. "The only question is if it's only going to be rich climate refugees or are we going to be open to all climate refugees."

Council members are paid $1,249 per month  around $14,990 per year  and serve a four-year term. Six council seats are open this year.

Hunt is an inactive member of the bar and in the past worked as a defense attorney, including some work with those on death row. He plans to become an active member of the bar again in the future, he said.

Hunt was raised in Missoula, graduated from Hellgate High and went to the University of Montana. He describes himself as a libertarian socialist, but says many issues, especially housing, affect all parts of the political spectrum.

If elected, he said he would bring a strong voice to council in favor of those he feels have not been adequately represented.

"We have a city council that's like the cowardly lion, they need some courage. That's what they're missing. Courage to vote no, courage to disapprove of what the mayor wants, courage to try new ideas," Hunt said. "Where's the courage?"

The Missoulian is profiling candidates in this year's contested City Council races.

Jordan Hansen covers news and local government for the Missoulian. Shout at him on Twitter @jordyhansen or send him an email at Jordan.Hansen@Missoulian.com

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Ownership of the National Bison Range west of St. Ignatius officially moved from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Bureau of Indian Affairs on Wednesday.

Todays announcement marks the ocial return of the Bison Range lands and resources to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director Martha Williams said in an email statement.

The CSKT is a leader in conservation of natural resources throughout Montana, and the Service looks forward to continuing to work together to conserve wildlife and wild places throughout the state.

The 18,800-acre wildlife preserve sits in the middle of the Flathead Indian Reservation and helped preserve some of North Americas last wild bison after they were nearly eradicated at the end of the 19th century. President Theodore Roosevelt established it in 1908 with the purchase of the remnants of a herd established by reservation residents Michel Pablo and Charles Allard. Most of those animals were sold to Canadian wildlife managers due to delays in U.S. congressional attempts to acquire the herd after the Dawes Act opened the reservation to white homesteading in 1906.
When Deena Mansour first started working at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, she never anticipated she would become its executive director, let alone win a Fulbright Scholarship.

But now shes accomplished both.

In March 2022, shell embark on a two-week trip to Taiwan to meet with at least eight universities to create connections with UM as a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. International Education Administrator Scholarship.

I feel fortunate to run the Mansfield Center, but the Fulbright honor goes to the Mansfield Center and its relationship and its importance in our state and in our country, Mansour said.

Mansour intends to study topics that are important to Montanans and university students such as Indigenous issues, natural resources, trade and security during the trip. It was originally slated for this spring, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, her goal is to help generate a better understanding of relations between the United States and Asia. U.S.-Asia relations are important to view through the lens of Taiwan due to the countrys handling of public health and management of the pandemic, as well as its efforts in security and trade, she said.
Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Merkel intentionally opted for the initial AstraZeneca shot at a time when there were concerns about possible serious side effects.

And so she can now perhaps take away the fears of people...who were or are worried about this so-called cross-vaccination, he said.



BOISE, Idaho  Just over half of Idaho adults have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine  about two months after the 50% mark was reached nationwide.

Idaho Public Health Administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch said during a press conference Tuesday that the state is unlikely to meet the national goal of at least 70% of adults with at least one vaccine dose by July 4.

Still, she said the state continues to make slow gains in vaccination rates. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Idaho has the eighth lowest adult partial COVID-19 vaccination rate in the U.S.



ANKARA, Turkey  Turkeys health minister says anyone 18 years old and older will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines as of Friday, as the country ramps up its vaccination campaign.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, one of 10 lawmakers negotiating a compromise $973 billion infrastructure bill, said the investment will have a significant impact on Montana.

The Montana Democrat said the package announced would complete funding for multiple rural water projects, constrained by spending limitations over the past 20 years. Internet, airports, road and bridge projects would all benefit.

It will provide significant investments in Montana's roads, bridges, airports, and water infrastructure. It will also make badly needed investments in broadband, which is particularly important for folks in rural Montana, who lag far behind the rest of the country when it comes to internet connectivity, Tester said. Most importantly, it will help create good paying jobs across the entire state.

President Joe Biden announced the agreement at the White House flanked by the lawmakers credited for the negotiating the compromise over the past several weeks. The proposal is $1 trillion less than what the president preferred, but is more likely to secure the 10 Republican votes needed to pass.
HONG KONG (AP)  The final edition of Hong Kong's last remaining pro-democracy paper sold out in hours Thursday, as readers scooped up all 1 million copies of the Apple Daily, whose closure was yet another sign of China's tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city.

Across the densely populated metropolis, people lined up early in the morning to buy the paper, which in recent years has become an increasingly outspoken critic of Chinese and Hong Kong authorities' efforts to limit the freedoms found here but not in mainland China. The paper was gone from newsstands by 8:30 a.m.

The newspaper said it was forced to cease operations after police froze $2.3 million of its assets, searched its office and arrested five top editors and executives last week, accusing them of foreign collusion to endanger national security.

This is our last day, and last edition, does this reflect the reality that Hong Kong has started to lose its press freedom and freedom of speech? an Apple Daily graphic designer, Dickson Ng, asked in comments to The Associated Press. Why does it have to end up like this?
The North Carolina School for the Deaf will be hosting NC State University intern, Hannah Houk, during its summer camp activities. Reid Ledbetter, the Agricultural Education teacher and FFA advisor at the school, will be her mentor during her five-week internship.

Houk is a Freedom High School graduate and she was an active member in the Freedom FFA chapter. She was given the opportunity to volunteer with Ledbetter for the past two years at NCSD. Houk did this while taking high school classes and courses at Western Piedmont Community College for American Sign Language and interpreting. Houk said she fell in love with the students and staff while helping out at NCSD over these years.

I was accepted as one of the two summer Warfield Fellows, Houk said. I knew exactly where I wanted to intern.

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Warfield Fellows is an internship program in honor and memory of past NC State Student, Chantel Warfield. The internship provides support to students within the College of Education to serve as interns in high needs communities in a school or organization that supports or promotes education.
The board said Lyons went to her office at the Mission the day after she was fired and was alone there for 90 minutes.

At some time after she was terminated, files were deleted off the computers, documents were shredded and BRM (Butte Rescue Mission) property was withheld and eventually returned after being factory reset, the charging document says.

A review of bank statements from 2018 and 2019 revealed questionable charges on a Mission debit card and written checks, it says, including for hotel and airline purchases made when the board didnt even know Lyons was out of town.

The board hired an accountant from Newland and Co. to do an audit and it revealed at least 25 questionable transactions, prosecutors said.

An office manager said she was once reconciling banks statements with Lyons and Lyons had blackened out certain transactions, saying they had already been entered into an accounting software system.

The manager figured the blacked out items were checks that had already been entered but she never could tell for certain and was never told, the document says. Once given a chance to see the bank statements, (the manager) advised there were many charges she didnt recognize, especially casino or bar charges.
Abbott and Ducey's letter criticizes the Biden administration as "unwilling or unable" to enforce federal immigration laws and says that cartels are transporting drugs and human trafficking victims into the U.S.

"Given the staggering number of violations now occurring in Texas and Arizona, additional manpower is needed from any state that can spare it," Abbott and Ducey wrote.

In the letter, the governors say there's a "surge of illegal border crossings, with the accompanying threats to private property and to the safety of our citizens." They say that in the Arizona Border Strike Force has intercepted 284 pounds of fentanyl since it was created in 2015.

In May the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency had just over 180,000 enforcement encounters along the southern border, a record high for a single month.

Past CBP data shows the number of encounters changes dramatically from year to year. In the 2018 fiscal year, for example, there were 521,090, but there were 977,509 the following year and 458,088 in 2020, a year marked by the pandemic. From October to May, three have been 929,868 encounters.
MUSCATINE  With the COVID-19 pandemic stopping most of his catering business, A Guy and a Grill owner John Morford decided it was time for the restaurant at 1033 Hershey Ave. to come into its own.

On Thursday, June 17, the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the newly remodeled dining room and the expanded menu. Gone was any trace the building the restaurant occupied was the old Maid Rite building. It is now totally A Guy and A Grill.

During the Iowa shutdown, Morford had often posted signs on the outside of the building encouraging people to hang tough because the area was going to get through the problems. Now, in 2021, the restaurant is an example of Muscatine bouncing back from the shutdown.

Prior to the pandemic, Morford said the majority of the business was catering and the restaurant was secondary. He remembers March 12, 13, and 14, 2020, when he started receiving phone calls cancelling catering jobs. On March 15, 2020, Illinois was shut down due to COVID-19

I saw the writing on the wall, Morford said. I had no catering business and things were closing. I figured Iowa would follow suit. On March 16, I went ahead and closed the business and laid everyone off.
Walker said any redesign would be substantial enough that the city would likely need to resubmit it to state agencies for approval.

He said that could cause a project delay, which would mean the city could be forced to seek an extension of any DNR deadlines.

In the meantime, Walker also suggested the city not reject the five bids already submitted. He said those bids are good for 90 days and could be a fall back if the new design runs into any problems.

In other action, the council approved a $42,814 change order for a sewer improvement project on Oakview Driver and Crestwood Drive. The change order follows approval by the Federal Emergency Management Administration to increase the scope of a repair project.

FEMA had initially approved $48,781 in repairs to damage from a 2019 landslide but agreed earlier to reconsider that amount if more damage was discovered.

The council also agreed to move forward with repairs to a portion of a retaining wall on 2nd Street. The work, which will cost around $14,000, will involve the top portion of the wall and not extend down the hill to Highway 92.
MUSCATINE  While summer showers can be a nice break from the heat, the amount of rain has forced many construction crews to slow down or stop work.

With a thunderstorm-filled week expected, the city announced that the intersection of Grandview Avenue, Oregon Street and Warren Street is closed to traffic until Friday, July 9, two weeks longer than planned.

The intersection first closed Monday, June 21, to install two sections of new dual force mains, which will run from Musser Park to Muscatine Pollution Control plant at the Water and Resource Recovery facility. It will comply with Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agencys dual use redundant force main mandate.

This week, as the project's contractor began removing pavement and digging trenches, rain quickly filled what the crews dug out. Although they pumped the water out and continued, the next few days of rain are expected to slow progress even more.

According to Public Works officials, the contractor will attempt to complete underground work in the intersection before reopening to traffic. This extended work is expected to help the Grandview Avenue Reconstruction project stay on schedule for its first year.
Cities across the country are experiencing a historic spike in homicides, violence that is greatest in racially segregated, high-poverty neighborhoods, the statement said. Black men make up 6% of the population but over 50% of gun homicide victims. Black women, Latinos, and Native Americans are also disproportionately impacted.

Historically, the bulk of government funding aimed at reducing gun violence has gone to law enforcement organizations.

It has to be well-rounded, said Paul Carrillo, director of the Community Violence Initiative at the Giffords Law Center. If youre going to hire more police, OK, it should be something to the effect where  whatever your police budget is, X% should also be toward this violence intervention work.

In the first three months of 2021, there were 983 homicides in 24 U.S. cities monitored by researchers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for reports prepared for the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice. The number was 193 higher than in the first quarter of last year and 324 higher than in the first quarter of 2019. Last years increase in homicides was likely due to the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest and other factors, according to a research report by criminal justice professor Richard Rosenfeld and graduate research assistant Ernesto Lopez Jr.
We have to deal with Russia, but being very cautious about the real intentions of Putins regime, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters at an EU summit in Brussels. So far, we dont see any radical change in the pattern of behavior of Russia.

If, without any positive changes in the behavior of Russia, we start to engage, it will send very uncertain and bad signals, Nauseda said. It seems to me like we try to engage a bear to keep a pot of honey safe.

The other two Baltic states, Estonia and Latvia, are also deeply concerned about reaching out to Moscow when the Minsk agreements meant to bring peace to Ukraine, whose Crimean Peninsula Russia annexed in 2014, are still not being respected. Conflict still simmers in eastern Ukraine with Russia-backed separatists.

Right now, if it pans out the way its proposed, Russia annexes Crimea, Russia wages war in Donbass, and Europe shrugs its shoulders and continues to try to speak a dialogue. The Kremlin does not understand this kind of politics, said Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.

His Estonian counterpart, Kaja Kallas, said that what our intelligence (service) tells us is that sanctions work and the European Union has to be more patient.
Vax N Win grand prize winner Jose G. Unpingco, left, stands next to his new 2021 Nissan Versa SR with Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio at the governors complex in Adelup Wednesday afternoon.
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Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His three books are available on amazon.com
John F Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States of America. He faced several foreign crises especially with Cuba and Berlin. He managed to deal with the crisis in a harmonious way. He was killed while on a trip to Dallas. An individual Lee Harvey Oswald is said to have shot him from the sixth floor of a nearby building. Kennedy was seriously injured by the bullet and was pronounced dead 30 minutes after the incident. The news of his death came as a shock to Americans. It is rare for a president to be killed in such a manner. Majority of Americans did not buy the idea that the assassination involved only one individual. They believed there must have been a conspiracy to perpetrate the crime.

The president who assumed power after Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson also believed that there was more than met the eye. He did not want to rush into any conclusion however. For this reason, he appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances under which Kennedy died. After what they referred to as extensive inquiry, the Warren commission concluded that that the assassination was done by one individual and that there was no conspiracy involved. Despite this, most of Americans still believe that there was a conspiracy involved.

Deep state refers to a situation where a small group of individuals determine the direction that a country will head with or without the will of the people. This group of people is so powerful that it can shape serious economic dimensions of a country. The theory of deep state appears to have played a role in the death of John F Kennedy. While it may happen, it is very rare that a person would decide to kill the president without any reason or without the involvement of others. Almost every aspect of how the assassination occurred suggests that there was a conspiracy involved.

Some CIA officers were not happy with the president and his directives. For instance, the president had not supported the Bay of Pigs. The Bay of Pigs was an attack organized by the US against Cuba which failed miserably. The president also very peace loving and did preferred peaceful ways of dealing with issues rather than wars. The CIA officials who were not happy with the presidents way of doing things may have collaborated with the killer of the president.

It is also thought that the attack was organized by Cuba and Russia. Before the attack, the Lee Harvey had had several communications with Russia. He also had several communications with the embassy of Cuba in the United States. He had also gone to Russia and embraced the ideas of Karl Marx. It was also said that the US had tried several times to assassinate Cuba. Some argue that Cuba and Russia might have retaliated through the assassination. The above discussion clearly indicates the great role that deep state may theory may have played in the assassination.
The replacement of St. Helenas downtown sidewalks and street trees has been postponed again to 2023 while the city deals with right-of-way issues and rising construction costs.

The City Council on Tuesday approved staffs recommendation to delay the project by one year. Construction was previously postponed from 2021 to 2022.

Sections of the existing sidewalk were recently discovered to be outside of the public right-of-way, which complicates the citys efforts to obtain Right-of-Way Clearance through Caltrans.

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The right-of-way was thought to run from the front of one building to the front of the building across the street, but it turns out to be more complicated.

There are also discrepancies between old deeds and more recent Caltrans right-of-way records.

Confusing is an understatement, Interim City Engineer John Wanger told the council.

Title reports will be necessary to clear up the matter, and the city will probably have to obtain temporary construction easements for sections of the sidewalk that are outside the right-of-way.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Thursday extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help millions of tenants unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but said this is the last time it plans to do so.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium from June 30 until July 31. The CDC said this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.

A Biden administration official said the last month would be used for an all hands on deck multiagency campaign to prevent a wave of evictions. One of the reasons the moratorium was put in place was to prevent further spread of COVID-19 by people put out on the streets and into shelters.

By the end of March, 6.4 million American households were behind on their rent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As of June 7, roughly 3.2 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey.

The news brought a sense of relief to tenants on the verge of being evicted and whose only lifeline was the CDC moratorium.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  A Maryland judge carefully focused on asking potential jurors Wednesday whether they believed they could be fair and impartial in weighing the plea of guilty but not criminally responsible by a man who killed five people at the Capital Gazette newspaper nearly three years ago.

Judge Michael Wachs said his goal was to have a jury empaneled on Friday in the high-profile case that traumatized the community in Maryland's state capital.

The judge emphasized that Jarrod Ramos already pleaded guilty to all 23 counts against him in 2019, but he has pleaded not criminally responsible due to his mental health.

Jurors in the second phase of his trial will be asked to determine whether Ramos lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct in a case that will be based largely on testimony from mental health experts.

After delays in a case that will be three years old next week, an initial pool of 300 potential jurors was chosen for consideration to fill 12 seats on the jury and several alternates. About 50 of them were already dismissed, based on their responses to a questionnaire.
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  A beachfront condo building partially collapsed Thursday outside Miami, killing at least one person and trapping others in the tower that resembled a giant fractured dollhouse, with one side sheared away. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers kept up a desperate search for more.

A wing of the 12-story building in the community of Surfside came down with a roar around 1:30 a.m. By late afternoon, nearly 100 people were still unaccounted for, authorities said, raising fears that the death toll could climb sharply. Officials did not know how many were in the tower when it fell.

The building is literally pancaked, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. That is heartbreaking because it doesnt mean, to me, that we are going to be as successful as we wanted to be in finding people alive.

Hours after the collapse, searchers were trying to reach a trapped child whose parents were believed to be dead. In another case, rescuers saved a mother and child, but the womans leg had to be amputated to remove her from the rubble, Frank Rollason, director of Miami-Dade emergency management, told the Miami Herald.
PICO RIVERA, Calif. (AP)  Forty cows escaped a slaughterhouse and ended up in a Los Angeles suburb where one was killed after charging a family, authorities said Wednesday.

The cows were reported running loose on the streets of Pico Rivera around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after a gate at a meat packing facility was accidentally left open, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

The herd made its way to a neighborhood about a mile (1.6 kilometers) away and one cow charged at four members of a family, knocking them to the ground. They suffered minor injuries.

A sheriff's deputy shot and killed the cow to protect the family from further injury, the sheriff's department said. The family members were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Pico Rivera City Manager Steve Carmona told KTLA-TV that at one point he had to jump onto a car to get out of the way of the herd.

It was a pretty scary ordeal, he said.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Asian Americans, veterans and civilians in the U.S. and the Philippines are campaigning to name a Navy warship for a Filipino sailor who bravely rescued two crew members when their ship caught fire more than a century ago, earning him a prestigious and rare Medal of Honor.

Supporters say naming a ship for Telesforo Trinidad would honor not just the only Asian American in the U.S. Navy granted the nation's highest award for valor, but the tens of thousands of Filipinos and Americans of Filipino descent who have served in the U.S. Navy since 1901, when the Philippines was a United States territory.

I dont believe it's a long shot at all; it may be a long timeline, but were hoping its not," said retired Navy Capt. Ron Ravelo and chair of the campaign. We're going to be making Navy ships into the foreseeable future, and theres no reason one of those can't bear the name of Telesforo Trinidad.
Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine said the government needs to find a creative approach to helping Afghans who worked with the U.S. military. That could include sending more people from the State Department or the military to process visas in Afghanistan or evacuating people to a safe place to be vetted.

Its not only a moral issue, its a national security issue, said King, who sits on both the Intelligence and Armed Services committees, adding that we also have a practical responsibility, in terms of do we want people to help us in the future?

More than 300 interpreters have been killed in Afghanistan since 2016, according to No One Left Behind, an organization that advocates on their behalf.

Former Army Maj. Matt Zeller said a military evacuation is the only viable option for thousands of Afghans facing threats who have been protected by the presence of U.S. troops.

Im only alive because my Afghan, Muslim translator saved my life by killing two Taliban fighters who were about to kill me in a battle," said Zeller, whose interpreter waited three years for a visa.

The U.S. government should have learned from what happened in Vietnam, said Jim Jones, a Vietnam veteran and former Idaho Supreme Court chief justice.
Hikmet Hajiyev's slip of the tongue - "Zangezur corridor" in exchange of a land route for Armenia towards Russia

Bloomberg: US asks Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to accept refugees from Afghanistan

Armenian bailiffs killed in Sochi posthumously awarded Order of Courage by Putin

Armenian court to continue examination of appeal against arrest of doctor Armen Charchyan on July 6

Turkey reaches no agreement on Kabul airport issue

French military neutralizes several ISIS leaders in Sahel

Putin, Macron discuss Nagorno-Karabakh

Baku court sentences 2 Armenian POWs to 4 years in prison, 12 captives to 6 months in prison

Bishkek offers Baku to create Council in "5+3" format at level of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan

Ambassador: US ready to provide support to peaceful normalization and reconciliation of Azerbaijan and Armenia

Man detained in Afghanistan for carrying explosives in musical instrument

Armenia government sets up inter-agency commission to eliminate consequences of drought or water scarcity

Armenia Shirak Province deputy governor sacked

Cyprus authorities change rules of entry for tourists

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of another Armenian soldier found in Fizuli region

'Armenia' bloc representative: Many police officers from Yerevan voted in Shurnukh and other villages of Syunik Province

'I Have Honor' bloc also applies to Armenia Constitutional Court regarding results of snap parliamentary elections

Mitsubishi Electric president resigns amid document forgery scandal

'Armenia' bloc representative: Petition submitted to Constitutional Court for impossibility of judge's participation

Erdogan: Turkey will maintain its presence in Azerbaijan and take what belongs to it

French government denies concealment of radiation levels in Pacific Ocean after nuclear tests

Boeing 737 cargo crew rescued after falling into water

Digest: EU commissioner to visit Armenia; Armenians discover 97kg heroin, Turkey citizen detained

Old school in Geghhovit village of Armenia's Gegharkunik Province being renovated

Yerevan Police solve loan office robbery case

India confirms 400,000 deaths from COVID-19

Russia FM says there is significant progress in talks over Iran's nuclear deal

Boeing 737 cargo crashes near Honolulu

Sham trial continues in Baku, prosecutor demands sentencing 12 Armenian POWs to 2 years in prison

Armenia acting PM dismisses Vayots Dzor Province deputy governor

Armenian analyst: Armenia needs to understand what it can offer China through One Belt One Road project

Over 100 organizations urges Biden to stop using drones

Armenia Constitutional Court registers Zartonk party petition to invalidate snap parliamentary election results

Attorney: The two grounds for keeping Armenian doctor Armen Charchyan under arrest no longer exist

Dollar still dropping in Armenia

Lawyer Aram Vardevanyan to represent Armenia bloc at Constitutional Court

Armenia acting Deputy PM visits construction sites in Yerevan

YouTube deletes video about hate speech against Armenians posted by Turkey President's spokesperson

Armenia acting justice minister receives Kazakhstan Ambassador

European Commissioner plans visits to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia

Four new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

IMF sharply raises its forecast for US economic growth to 7%

Fan Yong: We work to draw Chinese investors to Armenia

Body implementing proceedings completes case of Armenian doctor Armen Charchyan, sends it to court

Macron warns of American-style culture dangers

Armenia Shirak Province village veterinarian commits suicide

Facebook to start warning some users that they may have seen extremist content

July in Armenia will be as hot as in June, says chief meteorologist

China ambassador to Armenia: We are waiting with pain in our hearts for return of captives

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are included in Belt and Road Initiative, says China ambassador to Yerevan

China envoy to Armenia refutes Azerbaijan media report

US worries China is building over 100 new ICBM silos

Armenia State Revenue Committee discovers 97kg heroin, Turkey citizen detained

Armenian captives 'trials' continue in Azerbaijan

Chief meteorologist: June heat in Armenia is absolute record-breaking in meteorological monitoring history

Ombudsman informs CoE Commissioner for Human Rights on urgency of Armenian captives return from Azerbaijan

Australia announces drastic reduction in number of people who will be allowed to enter country

Armenia Seismic Protection Department activities terminated

Outgoing MP attends OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session, speaks about Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan

118 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia bloc petition already at Constitutional Court

Seven villagers with symptoms of anthrax are hospitalized in Gyumri

Yerevan hosting international conference on 100th anniversary of Communist Party of China

Armenia President visits US ambassador

130 countries support introduction of global minimum tax for multinational corporations

New Zealand to ban most single-use plastics by 2025

Al Pacinos rental home in Beverly Hills to be demolished?

Newspaper: Armenia Investigative Committee dismissals have interesting backstory

Newspaper: Why Armenia ex-President Sargsyan calls 7 "I Have Honor" bloc MP candidates to him?

World Bank pledges $20bn in funding coronavirus vaccine purchases, deployment

Newspaper: Why is coronavirus-related reality in Armenia being kept secret?

Armenia Ombudsman calls on Artsakh-Armenians to remove or block phone numbers, personal data on social networks

Armenia acting minister: Two new electric trains to transport passengers to and from Yerevan and Gyumri soon

Body of 33-year-old man found hanged in Armenia's Lori Province

Karabakh State Minister: I also have questions regarding loss of Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages

Armenia Ambassador to Ukraine hands copies of credentials to Ukrainian MFA leadership

Erdogan defends Turkey's withdrawal from Istanbul Convention

Parliament of Morocco recognizes 'third sex'

11 apprehended during opening ceremony of Tbilisi Pride Week

Armenian analyst: Opposition could have won the elections, if it used the right technologies

Adam Schiff: We have been able to secure more than $52,000,000 in funding for Armenia and Artsakh

Court declares head of Armenia's Odzun village as victim under criminal case, there is no accused

Direct flights to and from Kazakhstan and Armenia restored

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of 2 more soldiers found in Hadrut, Varanda and Jrakan

Karabakh Security Council Secretary discusses issues related to water supply and power supply

Armenian analyst: Turkey wants to do everything possible to absorb Azerbaijani army, turn it into subdivision

'Armenia' bloc to apply to Constitutional Court with demand to annul results of elections in coming days

Catholicos Aram I meets with Pope Francis at Vatican

Independent MP sues Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker Lena Nazaryan for calling her 'an idiot'

Digest: US House calls for at least $50m aid to Armenia, New Jersey recognizes Artsakh independence

Did China's Ambassador to Azerbaijan talk about the "Zangezur corridor"?

Armenia 3rd President sends congratulatory message to China's Jinping

FM: Armenian statehood will become geopolitically disabled without Artsakh

Armenia fuel company owner Barsegh Beglaryan says he won't plead guilty and didn't incite anyone

Armenia 1st Military Unit participants in recent Artsakh war are solemnly demobilized (PHOTOS)

Armenia Environment Ministry: 1,650 structures being dismantled in lakeside zone of Lake Sevan

Armenia acting PM's ex-chief of staff to serve as Member of Parliament

Karabakh President makes new appointment

Karabakh: Searches for remains of servicemen continue in southern direction not under Artsakh's control

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan on criminal charge against him: The accusation is completely false
Lithuania is against direct dialogue between the EU and Russian President Vladimir Putin as long as Moscow does not change its behavior, Reuters reported.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who arrived at the EU leaders' summit, was skeptical of Paris and Berlin's proposal to consider holding an EU summit with Putin after US President Joe Biden held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart.

The idea, he said, was like trying to attract a bear to keep the honey pot safe.

"We should be extremely cautious, this is not like the relationship of Russia with the United States."

"We have to deal with Russia but being very cautious about real intentions of the Putin regime," Nauseda told reporters. "So far, we don't see any real change in the pattern of behaviour of Russia."

"Without any positive changes in Russia's behaviour, if we start to engage, it'll send a very bad signal to our partners," he said in referring to countries like Ukraine and Georgia, former Soviet republics with extremely fraught ties with Moscow.
The Turkish and US military discussed plans to continue guarding the Kabul airport by the Turkish Armed Forces after the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, AP reported.

Turkey has offered to guard and operate Hamid Karzai International Airport, the main gateway to Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the alliance's troops. Ankara, which has about 500 troops in Afghanistan, counts on the support of the United States and other allies in this mission.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden that Turkey expects the United States to provide diplomatic, logistical, and financial assistance to protect and operate the airport.

According to him, Turkey also wanted Pakistan and Hungary to be involved in the mission.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that a technical delegation from the United States had arrived for the talks.

Critics view Turkey's proposal to operate the airport as part of the Erdogan government's efforts to mend relations with the United States, which have deteriorated due to many differences.
Prosperous Armenia Party has commented on the news about acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyans initiative in regard to extra-parliamentary forces. During a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am, secretary of the political partys parliamentary faction Arman Abovyan clarified and said the following: Prosperous Armenia Partys stance on the evaluations of the authorities actions remains unchanged.

Earlier, Prosperous Armenia Party had criticized the authorities actions several times and had declared that it rules out the possibility of forming a coalition with Nikol Pashinyans political party.

As is known, after the end of the snap parliamentary elections, the acting premier is actively holding meetings with the political forces that failed to cross the electoral threshold. Asked if leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan plans to meet with Pashinyan, Abovyan said he doesnt have any information about this. The presses had reported that the acting premier has offered to set up a body comprising the extra-parliamentary forces that failed to win seats in parliament.

In response to Armenian News-NEWS.ams request to comment on this, Abovyan said the following: I dont know and dont understand what Pashinyan wants. As far as the calls for certain leaders of communities to resign from office since they supported the opposition during the snap parliamentary elections, Abovyan criticized such approaches and added that any repression on the part of the authorities is unacceptable.
We support the exploitation of any corridor via any route, without change of borders between states. Seyed Abbas MusaviAmbassador of Iran to Azerbaijansaid this in an interview with Turan when asked if Iran is discontent with the prospect for exploitation of the Zangezur corridor which isnt in Irans interests.

The Ambassador recalled that the statement by the Supreme Leader of Iran clearly states that Iran is against change of borders, not the opening of the corridor. I dont think anyone in the region supports forceful change of borders. We support the exploitation of any corridor via any route, without change of borders between states. The opening of this corridor concerns Azerbaijan and Armenia. The forceful change of borders through the military will violate stability in the region.

President Aliyevs proposal to restore routes in the region will help restore ties and cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan and will be beneficial for the whole region. Thus, the countries of the South Caucasus, as well as Russia, Turkey and Iran need to do everything possible to stimulate the opening of railway, automobile and other means of communication, the diplomat said.

Asked how the Zangezur corridor can be built, if Iran has built the Khudaferini and Giz Galasi reservoirs on Araks River which have flooded the sector of the railway between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan by a few kilometers, the Ambassador stated that the Iranian minister of road construction and urban development recently visited those sites with the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and a task force has been set up to deal with the matter.
John McAfee found dead in Barcelona prison

The anti-virus software pioneer died by hanging as his nine months in prison brought him to despair. Photo: AFP

British-born US technology entrepreneur John McAfee died on Wednesday by suicide in a Barcelona prison after the Spanish high court authorised his extradition to the United States on tax evasion charges, his lawyer told Reuters.



McAfee's lawyer, Javier Villalba, said the anti-virus software pioneer died by hanging as his nine months in prison brought him to despair.



During a court hearing last month, McAfee, 75, said that given his age, he would spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted in the United States. "I am hoping that the Spanish court will see the injustice of this," he said, adding "the United States wants to use me as an example."



McAfee had lived for years on the run from US authorities, some of that time aboard a megayacht. He was indicted in Tennessee on tax evasion charges and was charged in a cryptocurrency fraud case in New York.



The colourful tech founder was detained on Oct. 3 at the Barcelona airport as he was about to board a flight to Istanbul with a British passport, a Spanish police source said at the time.



McAfee worked for NASA, Xerox and Lockheed Martin before launching the world's first commercial anti-virus in 1987. He sold his software company to Intel in 2011 and no longer had any involvement in the business. The program still carries his name and has 500 million users worldwide.



Spain's high court said on Wednesday it agreed to extradite McAfee to the United States. The regional justice department confirmed that a US man aged 75 awaiting extradition was found dead in his cell on Wednesday. Prison authorities were investigating the cause of death.



McAfee still had opportunities to appeal his conviction but could not stand more time in jail, Villalba said.



"This is the result of a cruel system that had no reason to keep this man in jail for so long," Villalba said. U.S. prosecutors will likely ask the judge overseeing the tax evasion case to dismiss charges because of McAfee's death.



McAfee said in 2019 that he had not paid US income taxes for eight years for ideological reasons. That year, he left the United States to avoid trial, largely living on a megayacht with his wife, four large dogs, two security guards and seven staff.



He offered to help Cuba avoid a US trade embargo using cryptocurrency and sought to run for US president for the Libertarian Party.



McAfee, who said in 2018 that he had fathered at least 47 children, lived in Belize for several years. He fled after police sought him for questioning in the 2012 murder of a neighbour. They ultimately said he was not a suspect.



He met his wife, Janice McAfee, when she solicited him as a prostitute while he was on the run, he said.



Janice McAfee said in a post on Twitter on Sunday, "Now the US authorities are determined to have John die in prison to make an example of him for speaking out against the corruption within their government agencies... There is no hope of him ever having a fair trial in America."



McAfee was a prolific user of Twitter, where he had 1 million followers, and other social media.



He posted a profanity-laced video on YouTube in 2013 that mocked the difficulty of removing the software that bore his name from computers.



A number of cryptocurrency backers around the world on Wednesday posted tweets of condolence. In his last public tweet on June 18, McAfee wrote: "All power corrupts. Take care which powers you allow a democracy to wield." (Reuters)
Apple Daily closure is 'political oppression': Taiwan

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said this "unfortunate incident" had sounded the death knell for freedom of press and speech in Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock

Authorities in Taiwan condemned the closure of Hong Kong's most vocal pro-democracy newspaper the Apple Daily on Thursday as "political oppression" of the SAR's media, saying it sounded the death knell for freedom of speech and the media.



The paper printed its last edition on Thursday after a stormy year in which its tycoon owner and other staff were arrested under a Beijing-imposed new national security law in Hong Kong, and its assets frozen.



Taipei's Mainland Affairs Council, in a statement on the Apple Daily's closure, said it felt "extreme regret and solemnly condemned" the fact that Hong Kong media has been unable to operate due to "political oppression" brought about by the national security law.



"This unfortunate incident has not only sounded the death knell for freedom of press, publication, and speech in Hong Kong, but has also allowed the international community to see for themselves the Communist Party regime's totalitarianism and autocracy," it said on Thursday.



"The human pursuit of freedom and democracy and other universal values will not be ended by history, but history will always record the ugly face of those in power suppressing freedom."



Hong Kong has become another source of tension between Taipei and Beijing, especially after Taiwan lambasted the new security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong and began welcoming Hong Kong people to settle on the democratic island. (Reuters)
Hundreds protest against government in Thailand

Hundreds protest against government in Thailand

Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters rallied in Bangkok on Thursday to call for the government's resignation, defying warnings from authorities about the kingdom's soaring coronavirus cases.



The marches came on the 89th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution -- the uprising that transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.



Bangkok was rocked by near-daily protests against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha's government in the second half of 2020, but the pro-democracy movement has lost steam after virus outbreaks and the jailing of student leaders.



Authorities have clamped down on public gatherings as the kingdom grapples with a third wave of infections, with its daily case toll hovering around the 3,000 mark.



Despite police warnings, hundreds gathered at Democracy Monument, a major intersection in Bangkok, and marched in the direction of Parliament House to protest against the rule of Prayut, the former military chief who came to power in a 2014 coup.



Early-bird protesters gathered at the intersection before dawn for a candlelight ceremony.



Som, a 16-year-old student protester, said she wasn't worried about the coronavirus risk.



"We have never had any real democracy," Som said.



"The country is not going anywhere."



Student leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak -- who is facing royal defamation charges and was released on bail last month -- marched to a drum beat wearing a plastic golden crown and carrying a flag.



One protester was dressed like the US Statue of Liberty and demonstrators burned a fake constitution -- the same week the Thai parliament debated changes to the country's charter.



"Our demands won't be lowered... The constitution must come from the people," Jatupat 'Pai' Boonpattararaksa said over a loudspeaker.



Some demonstrators carried signs that read "abolish 112," a reference to the kingdom's harsh royal defamation laws that carry a 15-year jail term for those convicted of insulting the monarchy.



There are also demonstrations planned across the country, from the tourist city of Chiang Mai in the north to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.



The Thai pro-democracy movement sent shockwaves through the country's establishment last year, particularly the protesters' most controversial demand -- a call to reform how the monarchy operates.



Some 150 people have been charged since the movement started, with key leaders hit with multiple counts under Thailand's tough royal defamation laws.



Many of them were released on bail under conditions that include not protesting.



The kingdom has recorded more than 228,500 total Covid cases and 1,744 deaths. (AFP)
Beijing slaps 'faces of hegemony' over Apple Daily

Beijing's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong says the authority of the national security law cannot be challlenged. File photo: AP

Beijing's Foreign Ministry office in Hong Kong on Thursday accused "a small amount of American and Western politicians" of using press freedom as an excuse to continuously attack the SAR's national security law.



Western governments, rights groups and media organisations have spent the past week raising concerns over press freedom in Hong Kong, following the arrest and prosecution of Apple Daily executives under the national security law.



US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was deeply concerned by "selective" and "politically motivated" use of the legislation, while British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the security law was being used as a tool to curtail freedoms and punish dissent, rather than keep public order.



In a statement, the Foreign Ministry office said it is strongly against "the politicians' faces of hegemony".



It said no person or organisation can endanger national security in the name of press freedom, and this legal principle is commonplace internationally.



"There is no press freedom in this world that overrides the law," the office said.



It declared that the authority of the national security law cannot be challenged, and said "Western politicians who are anti-China" should realise what the reality is and stop interfering in China's internal affairs.



"Any attempts to suppress China's development and damage the SAR's stability are doomed to fail," it warned.



At a news conference in Singapore on Thursday, Raab again took aim at Beijing over the Apple Daily saga.



Hours after the newspaper's final edition came out, he called on China to respect the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and its commitments to ensuring a free media in the SAR.



In Canada, Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said the forced closure of Apple Daily was a significant blow to freedom of press and speech in Hong Kong.
'Taiwan must be aware future lies in reunification'

Beijing says military flights near Taiwan are a 'necessary action for the current security situation across the Taiwan Strait and safeguarding national sovereignty'. Image: Shutterstock

Taiwan needs to be clearly aware that its future lies in "reunification" with the mainland and that it cannot rely on the United States, Beijing said on Thursday, responding to questions on a massed incursion by PLA warplanes last week.



Twenty-eight Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) last Tuesday, the largest number to date reported by Taipei.



The incident came shortly after Group of Seven leaders issued a joint statement scolding China for a series of issues and underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments China condemned as "slander".



Asked about the number of aircraft involved last week, Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said what he termed exercises were "a necessary action for the current security situation across the Taiwan Strait and safeguarding national sovereignty".



Taiwan independence means war, he added, reiterating the sharper language the ministry began using in January.



"The United States should fully understand that China's development and growth cannot be stopped by any force," Ren said.



"The Democratic Progressive Party authorities must be soberly aware that the future of Taiwan lies in national reunification," he added, referring to Taiwan's ruling party.



"Any attempt to 'rely on the United States for independence' is doomed to failure."



The United States is Taiwan's strongest backer on the international stage and main arms supplier, despite the lack of official diplomatic recognition, to Beijing's anger. (Reuters)
Veteran SIU Student Health Services psychologist and administrator will now serve as its director

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Jaime Clark has already devoted 16 years of her career to Southern Illinois University Carbondales Student Health Services, and beginning July 1, she will become the permanent director.

I am truly honored to be selected to lead such a wonderful team of professionals, who strive each day to provide quality care for our SIU students, Clark said.

Previously the director of SIU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Clark has been the acting director for Student Health Services since mid-April as a national search was conducted to fill the position.

She came to SIU in 2005 as a volunteer at the Counseling Center, fulfilling a requirement for advanced practicum students, and the next year served a postdoctoral internship there. By 2007, she was on staff as the outreach coordinator and interim practicum coordinator, and a couple of years later, was promoted to assistant director and director of training with CAPS.

Clark already has goals and plans for Student Health Services.

I think the biggest thing I want to highlight is that my top mission will be to provide inclusive health care at SIU by addressing health care disparities and closing gaps in health care for underserved student populations, Clark said. During the pandemic we partnered with the Black Affairs Council and Undergraduate Student Government to provide free counseling services to students who couldnt afford the door fee, and we plan to continue to do that. We have also increased access to mental health care by providing in-person services and telehealth services at our main location in the Student Health Center and in our satellite offices in University Housing and the Student Services Building. We also have a full-time clinician now working in partnership with the Student Multicultural Resource Center and the First Saluki Center.

Clarks experience, expertise and goals for moving Student Health Services into the future made her the obvious selection as its leader, according to Jennifer Jones-Hall, interim vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students.

Dr. Clark clearly demonstrated that she is prepared to assume the position of director of Student Health Services, Jones-Hall said. Her level of expertise providing integrated health care to students in a culturally competent and inclusive environment was evident throughout the interview process. Her ability to bring vision and long-range planning processes to the Student Health Center will make her an invaluable member of the Student Affairs team as well as the greater university community. Dr. Clark has a solid plan to address health care inequities among our students that will directly affect the recruitment and retention of our students. Dr. Clark was the clear choice as the new director.

Clark said she will also look for ways to maximize efficiencies within the medical clinic in order to provide more comprehensive support structures and culturally responsive programming. In the meantime, she and her staff will maintain a focus on an effective COVID-19 response, leading the way with vaccinations, testing and other responses to maintain student wellness.

Clarks advocacy for students, her commitment to students and her innovative approach earned her a 2020 Women of Distinction Award at SIU.

Clark holds a bachelors degree in psychology from Colorado State University and completed her masters degree and doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of Denver.
SIU researchers study ways to prevent nurses burnout

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  A cross-disciplinary group of researchers from Southern Illinois University Carbondale set out to examine what takes the joy out of the workplace for nurses and how to keep that from happening.

About the time the research survey for Emotional Exhaustion as a Predictor for Burnout among Nurses hit the inboxes of registered nurses across the nation, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, adding another layer of challenges for health care workers and another element to the research as well.

As the SIU team analyzed the survey results, they determined implementing a few relatively simple techniques can reduce or eliminate burnout, according to Sandra Collins, professor and program director of health care management.

Building health care culture surrounding employee wellness is an important facet in retention, said Kelli Whittington, director of SIUs nursing program and lead of the research team. Assisting nurse managers in identifying the signs of emotional exhaustion and understanding their role in minimizing these effects can constructively impact the development of that positive, nurturing culture in a way that benefits the nurse employee, and by extension, the patient for whom they provide care.

In recent years, the American Nurses Association and the National Academy of Medicine have begun to promote workplace wellness for health care providers because studies have shown that when employees are happy the benefits are numerous: employee retention, shortened patient stays in the hospital, improved facility financial stability and more.

Multiple tools used for evaluation

Richard McKinnies, interim director of the School of Health Sciences and associate professor of radiologic sciences, Thomas Shaw, associate professor of health care management, Whittington and Collins collaborated on the project.

They used two widely accepted tools. The first is the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for Medical Personnel, which addresses three predominant factors:

Emotional exhaustion, which can result in people feeling very tired, calling in absent from work and other problems.

Depersonalization, which can lead to apathy, callousness, uncaring thoughts or feelings, or in extreme cases, hostility.

Diminished sense of personal accomplishment, which can cause lack of motivation, poor performance and other workplace problems.

The team also used the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS), which evaluates professional aspects of life:

Workload.

Control.

Reward.

Community.

Fairness.

Values.

Emotional exhaustion prevalent

Respondents reported experiencing emotional exhaustion once to several times a month, on average.

Based on MBI scoring, burnout is indicated when the exhaustion score is equal to or exceeds 27. Almost half, 47.3% of the participants, demonstrated a total score of 27 or higher, the researchers said.

Whittington, McKinnies, Shaw and Collins went on to analyze the related factors as well, and noted that an increase in workload is associated with an increase in emotional exhaustion. Likewise, as people perceive a loss of control in a situation or as they sense a loss of community affiliation, emotional exhaustion climbs.

What can be done to help

The researchers said they learned that while the workload may not always be flexible, employers should take steps to foster their employees perception of their workload to mitigate the stressfulness of it. Assuring employees get breaks, distributing the workload as equitably as possible and keeping work from becoming all-encompassing or encroaching too much into personal lives all help, they said.

Employers can enhance employees perception of control by, within reason, allowing nurses to prioritize their assignments and provide input on the workflow.

The nurses participating in the survey also said it is important that they get along with their colleagues, work cooperatively, engage in open dialogue and that they are able to trust fellow employees to fulfill their obligations. This is vital to helping cultivate a sense of pride and belonging not only to the organization but to their community within the organization.

It was interesting to note the relationship between community and emotional exhaustion, Shaw said. Having an understanding that employees who perceive a greater sense of community within the workplace might deter or slow emotional exhaustion reinforces the need for health care organizations to foster or promote a cooperative, open and trusting work environment.

The researchers said that understanding the impact of having this community culture in place before a crisis such as the current pandemic is especially vital to mitigating its impact.

Happy employees help assure organizational viability

The researchers suggest the key takeaways from their study are:

Determining ways to enhance and promote personal accomplishments can minimize burnout.

The perception of reward, a sense of control, fairness and community development can increase personal accomplishment.

Development of nurses as life-long learners can positively impact patient satisfaction and outcomes.

The health and wellness of employees is worth the effort when examining the positive impact employee health has on employee retention and patient satisfaction.

Nursing Management journal published the research earlier this year.

Students benefit from research

Collins said exposing current students to recent, valuable research is also important.

The information we learn from studies like this provides our current health care students with a unique perspective on the issues they will be helping to find solutions for in their future professional roles within the health care industry, Collins said.
A Chinese Canadian family has lived in fear for nearly a month since a group of teenagers began following them and targeting their home in Oakville, Ontario.



What happened: Charles Wu says it all started on June 4, when he and his wife went for an after-dinner stroll and came across a group of teens. When they got back, one of their children  who was in the house  saw someone following them and called their attention.



I turned around and I found that one of these guys was following us. I asked him what he was doing, and he ran away, Wu told the Oakville Beaver.

The next incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. on June 11, when a group of teens stayed in front of their home for almost half an hour, making noises. Someone also stole a sign that Wu put up on their lawn to celebrate his sons high school graduation.

The third incident occurred on the evening of June 18. This time, six or seven teens attacked the familys home with eggs and juice bottles.

The kids were using hate-words targeting the Chinese community, Wu told Oakville News. My children could not sleep the whole night.

The following night, two teens reportedly showed up in front of their house. One of Wus children yelled at the pair, who then retaliated with some very bad words about Chinese people.





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Investigation underway: Wu reported the incidents to Oakville police each time they happened.



On Monday, Wu took to Twitter to share his familys plight and called for action from authorities. He also mentioned hearing about other Asian homes that have been subjected to the same kind of harassment in the past couple of months. It has not been confirmed if these were the same individuals who attacked Wu and his family.

Investigation into the case is now a top priority, Constable Ryan Anderson of the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) said. He also confirmed having evidence that the incidents may be motivated in whole or in part by hate and/or bias.

HRPS takes these incidents extremely seriously. I can also confirm that HRPS officers attended the complainants street and neighbourhood to investigate each time we were contacted, Anderson told reporters.

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton also reached out to Wu on Twitter. We will follow up and are here to help you and your family in any way we can, he wrote.

Wu reportedly urged others who have faced similar incidents to speak up. He also wrote in response to Burton, "I just hope our government, together with our community, would stop this hate crime, protect our kids and make our lovely Oakville, our community, safe and peaceful!"



Anyone with information regarding the incidents is asked to contact Halton police at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).



Featured Images via Charles Wu (@Charleswcqca)

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Immediately after the bombshell announcement that Justin Marks had purchased Chip Ganassi's NASCAR team, the outgoing owner took the soon-to-be new boss back to the shop to address a room full of anxious employees. The work begins next week for the co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, who struggled to find a charter for the team's first year of competition and balked at paying the escalating costs of NASCAR's equivalent of a franchise. Kaulig Racing last month bought a pair of charters for what the industry believes to be at least $10 million apiece, and after crunching the numbers, Marks just couldn't justify the spend.
(Reuters) -IT consulting firm Accenture Plc raised its full-year revenue forecast on Thursday, betting on strong demand for its digital, cloud and security services from businesses looking to strengthen their operations as they shift to hybrid working models.

The company, which has clients across industries including health and financial services, has announced 39 acquisitions for the fiscal year to date to ramp up its digital offerings and cater to businesses that were scrambling to switch to the cloud during the pandemic.

Analysts say that the demand for IT consulting services is at a 20-year high and is likely to stay elevated, as businesses across sectors depend on companies such as Accenture and its peers to adapt to a new hybrid work model.

Shares rose about 4% to $297 in premarket trading after the Dublin, Ireland-based company forecast full-year revenue growth in the range of 10%-11%, from its previous outlook range of 6.5%-8.5%. Analysts on average expected full-year revenue to be $49.17 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Total new bookings in the third quarter ended May 31 rose 39% to $15.4 billion.

Revenue rose to $13.3 billion from $11 billion a year earlier. Analysts on average had estimated revenues of $12.8 billion.

Quarterly net income rose to $1.55 billion or $2.40 per share from $1.23 billion or $1.90 per share a year earlier.

(Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
As Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was making his way to Washington to meet with President Biden, the Wall Street Journal revealed that the U.S. intelligence community believes his government may be toppled within six months of America's withdrawal.

Why it matters: As the Taliban gains territory and the U.S. pulls its remaining forces out, hopes of a potential peace deal in Afghanistan are giving way to fears of a rapid Taliban capture of Kabul.

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Driving the news: Ghani will arrive at the White House Friday seeking assurances that the U.S. will keep up its diplomatic push for a peace deal and financial support for the beleaguered Afghan military, says Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center.

The atmosphere leading up to his trip could hardly be more foreboding, with a stream of reports describing checkpoints, towns and U.S.-provided military equipment falling into Taliban hands.

"The combination of large amounts of territory seized, the capture of a border post with Tajikistan and all of these surrenders coming in  it's sort of like a perfect storm of successes for the Taliban" that has the makings of an "unprecedented assault," Kugelman says, though he notes that Afghan security forces have recaptured some ground.

"It's just a matter of how far the Taliban is willing to go and to what degree certain mitigating factors  like continued financial assistance to the Afghan military  prevent it from doing what many fear it'll be able to do in just a matter of months," he adds.

The big picture: When Biden announced that all U.S. forces would depart by Sept. 11, he never claimed to be leaving behind a stable Afghanistan. But now he has to contemplate a scenario akin to the fall of Saigon in 1975.

It emerged Thursday that the administration is planning to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked with the U.S. military and could now be targeted by the Taliban, but no detailed plan has been released.

The administration has warned that the Taliban won't receive international aid or recognition if it attempts to take Kabul by force, and argued that the group should thus seek a power-sharing deal.

But the Taliban says it won't talk until all foreign troops are out, and offered little indication that international legitimacy is a primary concern. In the meantime, it's strengthening its position by the day.

What to watch: Ghani arrived in Washington along with Abdullah Abdullah, his top political rival and also the government's representative for intra-Afghan peace talks.

They will aim to convey a "unity of purpose to try to ease concerns in Washington that you've got a disunited, dysfunctional Afghan government," Kugelman says.

Even with the Taliban gains, though, the White House has remained committed to a full withdrawal by September.

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DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday.

The third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, hitting harder," Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said Thursday

"With rapidly rising case numbers and increasing reports of serious illness, the latest surge threatens to be Africas worst yet, she said in a weekly briefing. Africa can still blunt the impact of these fast-rising infections, but the window of opportunity is closing. Everyone everywhere can do their bit by taking precautions to prevent transmission.

New cases have been rising since the beginning of May and the resurgence will surpass previous waves by early July, according to WHO Africa.

Decreased observance of public health measures, increased social interactions without masks and new variants have contributed to more cases. Moeti encouraged governments to do more to provide populations with easier access to masks and hygiene facilities.

The delta variant that has devastated India has been detected in at least 14 African countries including Congo, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda.

The delta variant may have played a very significant role, in the very devastating third wave of COVID-19 in at least 20 countries across Africa, the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, said Thursday.

The third wave is extremely brutal, he said, adding that more and more health centers are saying they are overwhelmed. African countries urgently need vaccines to help battle the disease, he said.

We are completely lagging behind, we just dont have vaccines, Nkengasong said.

Africa has more than 5.2 million confirmed virus cases including more than 139,000 deaths, according to the Africa CDC.

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Critically, only 1% of the continents 1.3 billion people have been vaccinated, according to WHO and the CDC. Globally, around 2.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered, of which less than 1.5% have been given in the continent, according to WHO Africa.

The U.N.-backed COVAX initiative to provide vaccines to low- and middle-income countries, has not met its goals of equal access, said officials.

More than 80% of COVAX vaccine supplies have been used by just 18 African countries, with eight running out of stocks.

Our work in COVAX has been hugely challenged by the vaccine availabilities, Moeti said, adding that WHO is willing to consider all available vaccines and will do everything possible to ensure that the vaccines become available at the global level.

Our objective is really to get the vaccines out there and reduce the inequity that is the situation at present, she said.

She criticized restrictions that may also exacerbate the inequities, arguing that Africans should not also face more travel restrictions because they are unable to access the same vaccines available elsewhere.

Lets not add injury to injustice, she said. Vaccine shortages are already prolonging the pain of COVID-19 in Africa.
The Hong Kong-based airline said it was struggling with staff rotas due to the need to separate crew who have been vaccinated from those who have not. Photo: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Cathay Pacific (0293.HK) has told its aircrew that they must get a COVID vaccine before 31 August or risk losing their jobs.

The Hong Kong-based airline admitted to struggling with staff rotas due to the need to separate crew who have been vaccinated from those who have not. The policy, which was first reported by the South China Morning Post, relates to both pilots and flight attendants.

"After very careful consideration, we have now made the decision that all Hong Kong-based crew members must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by 31 August 2021, said Cathay in a statement.

The airline said that it was "becoming clear that only fully vaccinated aircrew will be able to return without quarantine from most places, adding that vaccination was a critical component for the recovery of the global airline industry.

However, Cathay said that for now it would accommodate workers who are not able to take the jab.

We will review the future employment of those who are unable to become vaccinated and assess whether they can continue to be employed as aircrew with Cathay Pacific, it said.

Read more: UK travel companies plot 'day of action' as pressure mounts to ease COVID rules

Cathay has experienced difficulty with Hong Kongs strict quarantine rules on return, as well as requirements that only fully vaccinated crews can operate to certain high-risk destinations and on quarantine-free "bubble" flights.

Around 90% of the airline's pilots have been vaccinated so far, or have appointments to receive the injection, as well as 65% of its cabin crew.

The news follows similar moves across the aviation sector. On Tuesday, United Airlines Holdings (UAL) said that it would mandate full vaccination for crew members flying to countries with high COVID-19 cases at the beginning of August.

The rule would apply for flights to India, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Argentina, the company said.

The list may extend to China and Taiwan based on potential accommodations received from local governments, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters at the time.

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Meanwhile last month Delta Air Lines (DAL) said all new employees are required to be vaccinated.

Watch: Should I book a holiday in 2021?
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during an event outside Union Station June 16, 2021 in Washington, DC. Ocasio-Cortez, joined by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), called for increased federal funding for high-speed rail in the infrastructure package being discussed on Capitol Hill. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the bipartisan group of lawmakers who negotiated an infrastructure deal.

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that the group reached a deal.

The New York lawmaker called out the group for its lack of diversity.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday criticized an all-white group of senators who reached a bipartisan deal on infrastructure legislation, pointing out the group's lack of diversity and arguing it excluded marginalized communities.

"The diversity of this 'bipartisan coalition' pretty perfectly conveys which communities get centered and which get left behind when leaders prioritize bipartisan dealmaking over inclusive lawmaking (which prioritizes delivering the most impact possible for the most people)," the New York Democrat tweeted alongside a photo of the group of lawmakers with President Joe Biden outside the White House on Thursday.

"This is why a bipartisan [package] alone isn't acceptable," Ocasio-Cortez went on to say. "The exclusion & denial of our communities is what DC bipartisan deals require. That's how you get GOP on board: don't do much/any for the working class & low income, or women, or poc communities, or unions, etc. We must do more."

The progressive firebrand has repeatedly cautioned in the past that communities of color and other marginalized groups get left behind in the pursuit of bipartisanship.

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Ocasio-Cortez's comments came shortly after Biden had a meeting with a bipartisan group of 10 senators and announced that they struck an agreement on a $1 trillion infrastructure package. The framework includes $579 billion in new spending dedicated to physical infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, broadband access, and public transit. Yet it leaves out funding for other measures like childcare, paid family leave, and free community college that Biden had proposed.

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The lawmakers who led the negotiations include five Republicans and five Democrats. The GOP senators are Mitt Romney of Utah, Rob Portman of Ohio, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. The Democrats are Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana, Mark Warner of Virginia, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

Biden and the senators hailed the bipartisan dealmaking.

"Let me say this: when we can find common ground though, working across party lines, that is what I will seek to do," Biden, who campaigned on his willingness to negotiate with Republicans, said in a speech afterward.

"America works. The Senate works. And we can work together," Romney told reporters at the White House.

Many congressional Democrats have scoffed at the package, criticizing its smaller size and pushing for a larger, second bill that addresses Biden's additional spending priorities. Senate Democrats aim to bring forth the legislation through a process called reconciliation, which allows the bill to pass on a straight party-line vote.

"There ain't going to be an infrastructure bill unless we have the reconciliation bill passed by the United States Senate," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday.

Biden also threw his support behind the two-track legislative strategy, mentioning in his speech that he wants to see the spending bills move "in tandem."

Read the original article on Business Insider
At least 1,933 Venezuelan migrants were killed in Colombia between 2015 and 2020, and another 836 are "considered missing," a Colombian NGO said Wednesday.

"While the national murder rate has been decreasing steadily... the murder rate of the Venezuelan population has grown and is 2.8 times higher," said Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES) in a report.

In a report on the situation based on official figures and complaints collected by the organization, the NGO said that "the irregular situation of a significant part of the population...has led them to face discrimination, xenophobia or stigmatization."

Nearly six million people have fled Venezuela, which has been in recession for eight years, and thecountry plunged into political crisis in January 2019 when opposition leader Juan Guaido, who was parliamentary speaker at the time, declared himself acting president after Nicolas Maduro claimed a re-election victory widely condemned internationally as fraudulent.

Some 1.8 million of those Venezuelan refugees are in Colombia, which began granting official residency to almost a million of them in March.

The government hopes to deliver a document by the end of the year that gives undocumented migrants a period of 10 years to acquire a resident visa.

Colombia and Venezuela have no diplomatic relations and share a porous border of about 1,400 miles (2,200 kilometers).

The NGO also warned about the sexual violence being perpetrated against the migrant population: 2,319 Venezuelans, mostly underage girls, suffered sexual attacks between 2015 and 2020.

jss/lda/jh/caw
Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg/Getty

Usually you have to win to leave a legacy. But the rules have never applied to Andrew Yang.

Yangs cannonball run for New York City mayor flew fast and high, before plummeting to an earthly fourth place on Tuesday. As Yang rides off toward his next shiny object, it shouldnt be lost on us how his trajectory was even possible.

The justification for Yangs candidacy was celebrity, built on a charming presidential run and a boatload of charisma. He doesnt wear a tie. He doesnt vote. He doesnt look or sound like others. He had no political baggage, scores to settle, or chits to honor. Yang saw a rulebook early on that wasnt written for him and ignored it.

In his mayoral campaign, he was the first to slip Zoom and hit the streets. Reporters and opponents chased after, as Yang sucked up the races early oxygen to become the candidate of movement and energy. He isnt normal, but he looked like pre-pandemic normalcy as the only 3-D figure in a flat fielda push he kept up even after he had to isolate when an aide caught the virus, and then again when he did.

As others plodded carefully curated media plans, Yang hogged the cameras and chatted with anyone who would listen. As others leaned into the en vogue language of the online left, Yang spoke like someone youd actually want to talk tovulnerabilities and all. While his campaign lived on Twitter, Yang never mistook its heartbeat for real life.

Andrew Yang Lists His Favorite Racial Stereotypes in Self-Owning Ziwe Interview

Yangs social media platform was, itself, something of a policy platform. The medium is often Yangs messageand reporters heard it. While the internet idea of Andrew Yang has always dwarfed the man, he leveraged extremely online reporters to make that hologram possible.

Where others would triangulate and obfuscate, Yang seemed comfortable admitting to the great many things he doesnt know. When hed slip, hed move colorfully across the city to change the story. Its hard to pin down politicians who never dig in.

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Yang knew he needed to make the race a popularity contest. He danced, he cheered, he made sure it wasnt a chore to be a part of it all. When his people heard him say he was winning, they felt like they were, too.

As opponents wasted time perfecting tomes, Yangs policy book was a business card: cash relief, open schools, safer streets. He seemed the only one who knew our tired city didnt have the energy to parse the particulars.

When it came to the teachers union, police reform, and mentally ill homeless, he shared popular views many progressives would only admit privately.

Yang seemed to know exactly where there was daylight between New York City politics of 2021 and opponents schooled in the past.

And they never quite knew what to do with him.

The field foolishly ignored him before foolishly obsessing over him. They went after his Hudson Valley house and no-show voting until remembering just how many voters they were criticizing in the process. They clumsily muddled fair critiques of his New York know-how with more loaded suggestions of carpetbagging.

None of the attacks stuck. In the end, it was Yang himself who flopped.

In a race with little big thinking, Yang didnt cough up the lead because he couldnt deliver something larger than his warmed-up and trimmed-down basic income proposal. It was the small stuff that did him in.

As voters tuned in, Yang badly botched basic questions on the MTA, he proposed things that already existed, like homeless shelters for victims of domestic abuse, and he showed scant understanding of the citys finances. Yang even wanted us to believe his buddy Chris Cuomo would help him navigate his governor brother in Albany.

The difference between staying out of the weeds and not knowing the basics became clear as the race sobered. Moments of refreshing policy curiosity became flirtations with civic anti-intellectualism. Once a maverick willing to touch third rails, Yang was made to sweat too easily by small questions for someone auditioning for the second-hardest job in American politics.

As his path got muddier, Yang fell hard off his high horse. He complained about media coverage, without admitting how central the overexposure had been to his legitimacy. He attacked other candidates and he couldnt handle a few protesters. The cheerleading anti-politician all of a sudden seemed like a candidate wed seen many times before. The wholesome bit that originally felt authentic quickly seemed like more of an act.

Though I suppose it may always have been.

Eric Adams, Maya Wiley and Kathryn Garcia arent natural charmers. They didnt sell themselves so much as they sold tested models of leadership. Theyre accomplished representatives of schools of thought. The rationale for Yang was always, well, Yang.

In Yangs rise and fall, these are lessons.

The crusty nature of our citys politics is ripe for a shakeup. The Yang campaign exposed the need for fresh thinking. The media and public rewarded Yang for breaking some rules, saying what others tiptoe around, and baiting reporters with joy where they live online.

Not all press is good press. But most of it is. Yang flooded the zone, pared down his message to real language, and controlled the conversation. It gave him easier exits from early stumbles, even if he couldnt ultimately survive under the bright lights he turned on.

No campaignand Yangs was excellentcan paper over a candidate who hasnt done his homework. Celebrity helps, but that you can win shouldnt be the rationale for it. For a guy who ran a test prep company, Yang didnt cram enough to make up for his breezy resume.

We should be wary of cult candidates. Yang went from in on the joke to the butt of it partly because he couldnt muster charm when he started losing. You cant put on a show and then be upset when people come to see it.

His gang of supposedly data-minded disrupters didnt help. They proved mostly to be government-skeptical disenchants and millennial libertarians who speak fluent internet. Like any cult, the closing days saw many mirror Yangs devolution from happy warrior to sore loser.

But attributing Yangs early success to his celebrity alone ignores the counter conventions that stymied his more experienced opponents for most of this race. Like many in the citys political firmament are bound to do, it will be foolish to dismiss the campaigns approach just because its candidate lost.

Yangs fall wasnt the result of campaign miscalculation or an opponent with a breakout performance. As the race matured, Yang just didnt know what he was talking about. Had he done even a little more homework, his campaigns read of the field and the moment could have made him mayor.

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Angela Merkel arriving for the European Council meeting at the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin (REUTERS)

A Cabinet minister has slammed Angela Merkels call for all Britons to have to quarantine on arrival if they go on holiday to the EU as not justified.

Environment Secretary George Eustice criticised the move by the German Chancellor, which she has advocated given the high level of the Delta variant in the UK. Cases of the Delta variant rose by 79 per cent week-on week to a total of 75,953, according to Public Health England data.

In our country, if you come from Great Britain, you have to go into quarantine - and thats not the case in every European country, and thats what I would like to see, the Chancellor told the Bundestag lower house of Parliament.

Mr Eustice told LBC Radio: Each country is taking their own decisions on this so it will be for them to judge what approach they want to take.

Im not sure that such an approach would be justified given the highly advanced stage we are currently at now in terms of vaccination, with 80 per cent having had one jab and now 60 per cent having had the second jab.

So, I dont think such a move would be justified but obviously its for individual countries to make these judgements.

He also said the Government would, if possible, add more countries on Thursday to the green list which does not require people to quarantine on their return to England.

The Balearics, Malta and the Portuguese island of Madeira have been mooted as among the holiday destinations most likely to move from amber to green.

Mr Eustice explained the Governments careful approach to foreign travel given the concerns of importing another variant from abroad.

Thats why we have been taking quite a cautious approach, he said.

But equally we do want to be able to start supporting peoples return to travel so, if we can add some additional countries, we will.

Transport minister Grant Shapps will publish an update on Thursday showing whether any other countries have been added to Englands green list.

Currently there are just 11 green destinations where people can go without having to quarantine on their return, effectively ensuring the travel industry stays shut despite the national easing of lockdown.

Story continues

Read More

PM declares real opportunity to ease travel restrictions for the double jabbed

Analysts predict Malta, Balearics and Madeira may be added to green travel list

What the papers say  June 24
James Turbitt was denied an exemption on compassionate grounds to see his sick mother before she died

An Australian man whose mother died while he was in a hotel quarantine has gone on hunger strike to draw attention to the impossible situations facing people who seek exemptions from Covid restrictions on compassionate grounds.

James Turbitt, who lives in Belgium, made an emergency dash home last week after he learned his 62-year-old mother was in hospital in Perth, Western Australia.

But the only flight available was to Melbourne, on the other side of the country. So he asked authorities if he could break the mandatory 14-day quarantine in order to fly onwards to Perth to see her in hospital before she died.

He said he had already returned multiple negative tests but his request was denied.

This is probably the most compelling reason for a compassionate exemption," Mr Turbitt told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

I would have done anything, anything, to spend even half an hour with my mum before she passed away. I'm heartbroken and I'm devastated. I just hope that it doesn't happen to anyone again, he said.

When it became clear his mother only had about 12 hours to live, a doctor at the hospital wrote a letter in support of Mr Turbitts appeal, but to no avail.

Australia has some of the strictest Covid prevention measures in the world - RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

This is one of the issues when you live overseas, you may not be able to get back for these sorts of things so thats a risk that unfortunately some people take, said Western Australian premier Premier Mark McGowan

He told ABC Perth: "We have been through this system for 18 months where weve had very strict arrangements in place and its kept us safe."

Australia has had very strict systems  at times its resulted in a great deal of distress for people.

Mr Turbitt is now fighting to make it back to Western Australia in time for his mothers funeral and his using his hunger strike to draw attention to his case and those of others.

Last week, another Australian man, Mark Kilian, and his wife Anneli Gericke, were initially refused permission from Queensland Health to break their quarantine to travel to New South Wales to see Mr Killians father, who has terminal cancer, after they arrived from the US.

Mr Kilian has given a number of interviews challenging the decision, which he feared could prevent him from saying goodbye to his father.

Late on Wednesday, Queensland Health said an exemption had been granted, subject to New South Wales finalising arrangements for the couple's transfer to Queensland.
By Allison Lampert and Alexander Cornwell

(Reuters) - Bahrain is ready to work on Qatar's ambition to gain control of its own airspace, a government spokesperson said, in a sign of a rapprochement between the two estranged states.

Bahrain, which says it manages the airspace under an agreement with Qatar, and three other Arab states cut political, trade and transport ties with Doha in 2017.

While all states agreed in January to renormalize relations, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE all restoring ties with Qatar to varying levels, there has been no apparent progress with Bahrain.

Members of a U.N. aviation body this week supported Qatar's efforts to gain control over its airspace, two sources familiar with the private talks said.

Members of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) council said Qatar, Bahrain and other Gulf states should discuss and agree on "technical arrangements" to create a Doha flight information region (FIR), one said.

"The ICAO Council has invited Bahrain and Qatar, as well as interested regional countries, to conduct further work jointly, drawing upon a proposal by Qatar to amend the existing airspace arrangements," a Bahrain government spokesperson told Reuters.

"Bahrain is committed to the process for discussing appropriate arrangements under the auspices of the ICAO President. It will closely cooperate with the Presidents office, the ICAO and neighbouring states, including Qatar, to reach an agreed solution."

Qatar's government communication's office did not respond to several requests for comment.

An ICAO spokesman said he could not provide details about a specific council decision until it is final.

ICAO cannot impose rules on states, but regulators from its 193-member countries almost always adopt and enforce its international aviation standards.

Bahrain's foreign ministry this week said Qatar had not responded to two invitations to hold bilateral talks to settle outstanding issues between the states.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Alexander Cornwell in Dubai: Additional reporting by Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai; Editing by Alexander Smith)
By Noor Zainab Hussain and Carolyn Cohn

(Reuters) - Launching one of the richest individuals on earth into orbit has proved a leap too far for insurers, who are not ready to price the risk of losing Jeff Bezos or his fellow space travelers.

Amazon CEO Bezos, a lifelong space enthusiast, has been vying with Elon Musk and Richard Branson to become the first billionaire to fly beyond the earth's atmosphere.

And while insurers are well known for offering cover for even the most outlandish of risks, at a price, potential accidents in space are not yet among them.

"Space tourism involves significant risk, but is not an issue life insurers specifically ask about as yet because it is so rare for anyone to travel into space," Insurance Information Institute (III) spokesperson Michael Barry said.

There is a nearly $500 million market to insure satellites, rockets and unmanned space flight, but no legal requirement for an operator such as Blue Origin, which Bezos founded, to insure passengers for injury or death or for space tourists to have life cover, brokers and insurers said.

"We're not aware of a case where anybody is insured against passenger liability," Neil Stevens, senior vice president, aviation and space at Marsh, the world's biggest insurance broker, told Reuters.

Assuming they lift-off as planned next month, Bezos and the other wannabe astronauts on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft will not only spend several minutes 62 miles (100 km) above the earth in a truck-sized capsule, they also have to get back.

The only group that has regularly flown humans sub-orbitally since the 1960s is Branson's Virgin Galactic. All have been tests, with one failure in 2014 resulting in a death. Blue Origin has flown 15 unmanned sub-orbital flights with no failures, Seradata SpaceTrak data showed on June 10.

Bezos, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters on their insurance plans and flight records.

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'DIFFERENT RISK PROFILES'

Being uninsured in space is nothing new.

NASA and the U.S., in general, do not buy liability cover, with government launches basically insured by taxpayers, Richard Parker of Assure Space, a unit of insurer AmTrust Financial that provides space insurance, said.

NASA astronauts are eligible for government life insurance programs, a NASA spokesperson said in an emailed response.

Charles Wetton, underwriting manager for space policies at insurer Global Aerospace, said astronauts on government-funded missions are carefully selected for their knowledge, skills and fitness and train for several years before blast off.

"They and their families understand the risks of the work they do, Wetton said.

But commercial space cadets may only get a few days of training for a sub-orbital flight or a few months for a ride to the International Space Station (ISS), Wetton said, adding: "These represent two very different risk profiles that insurers will take into account".

Blue Origin on its website says the spaceflight passenger will receive training the day before the launch, including mission and vehicle overviews, safety briefings, mission simulation and instruction on in-flight activities.

Virgin Galactic said participants will get three days of training and preparation before the launch.

Insurers expect iron clad waivers and contracts from commercial space travel firms, stating they will bear no burden if a passenger dies during a flight.

NASA has called for responses from the industry for its plans for a liability framework for privately-funded astronaut missions to the ISS. NASA's plans include requiring private astronauts to buy life insurance.

It is still early days, but cover for space tourists may be the next step, said Tim Rush, senior vice president, U.S. space, at insurance broker Gallagher, adding that the life insurance market currently provides individual cover of $2-5 million for private astronauts.

The only mandatory insurance in place for commercial space operators is third-party liability, mainly to cover property damage on earth or to a flying aircraft, said Akiko Hama, client executive, space and aerospace underwriting at Global Aerospace.

Blue Origin plans for its six-seater spacecraft to take off on July 20 and fly for four minutes beyond the boundary between the earth's atmosphere and outer space, where passengers will experience total weightlessness.

Safety record of orbital human space flights https://graphics.reuters.com/SPACE-EXPLORATION/INSURANCE/xklpyawokpg/chart.png

MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION

A key question for how the sector develops is whether risks related to tourism fall under space or aviation insurance lines, insurers and brokers told Reuters.

The U.N. Outer Space Treaty and the Liability Convention of 1972 governs all activities in space and very few countries have a legal framework for commercial human spaceflight, they said.

The first-ever aviation insurance policy was written by Lloyd's of London in 1911. A few years later the market insured Charles Lindbergh and his single-engine plane for $18,000 on its non-stop flight from the United States to Europe.

Space trips are different, said Marsh's Stevens, because the passengers are returning to the same place as they left, making it technically a domestic trip to which international aviation insurance cannot be applied, meaning there will also be no limitation to liability.

"The aviation, aircraft insurance market, and the like, are less keen to take on risks that involve spacecraft," he said, adding that whether space tourism trips fall under aviation or space insurance is a "million dollar question".

While air travel is governed by rules that establish airline liability in the case of death of passengers, Stevens said he was unaware of plans for similar rules for space tourism.

However, Wetton said Global Aerospace had started to receive enquiries from companies for sub-orbital missions.

"In 10 years' time, maybe the two lines, aviation and spaceflight will look very similar," said Assure Space's Parker.

"Some legislative somewhere will say, look, we're now having average Joes flying on these launch vehicles and need to protect them," Parker added.

(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru and Carolyn Cohn in London; Graphic by Manojna Maddipatla; Editing Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Alexander Smith)
By Gopal Sharma and Rupam Jain

KATHMANDU/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Bhutan's Prime Minister on Thursday said he "has no problem" in mixing-and-matching COVID-19 vaccine doses to immunize a population of about 700,000 people in the tiny Himalayan nation.

Bhutan, nestled between India and China, has one of the world's lowest COVID-19 fatality counts, with just one person dying from the infectious disease since the pandemic began.

Prime Minister Lotay Tshering - who is also a practicing urologist - said over 90% of the country's eligible population had received a first dose of AstraZeneca's COVID-19vaccine and that the deadline to administer the second dose after a gap of 12 weeks was scheduled to end this month.

"Knowing immunology, knowing how our body reacts to vaccines, I am comfortable to secure a second dose of any vaccine that is, of course, approved by the WHO."

Earlier this year India provided 550,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Bhutan. But New Delhi has no surplus now to give to any nation as India exits the worst of a deadly wave of the coronavirus that doubled its death toll in two months.

Tshering said he has reached out to 17 other nations to secure fresh vaccine supplies and delays in procuring the second batch of AstraZeneca vaccine have made Bhutan's political leader consider mixing doses.

Several countries, including Canada and Spain, have alreadyapproved mixing doses, mainly due to concerns about rare andpotentially fatal blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

A Spanish study found that giving a dose of the Pfizer shot to people who had already received the AstraZeneca vaccine is highly safe and effective, according to preliminary results.

Tshering, 53, said preventing more deaths requires ongoing vigilance since Bhutan shares a porous border with India, which continues to report a high number of daily COVID-19 cases.

"I have no problem in giving Moderna or Pfizer for the second dose ... We have reached out to those companies," he told Reuters during a virtual interview from his hotel room in the capital city of Thimphu.

Story continues

"There are no countries that don't face vaccine problems ... I will have to be frank with my people," he said, speaking about mixing doses and the shortage of supplies.

Tshering, who has been quarantining after his trip with the king to remote parts of the mountain nation to meet frontline workers, said he would be "the happiest person" to take a second dose of any vaccine.

On Wednesday, Bhutan reported seven new cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total to 1,970 COVID-19 cases.

(Reporting by Gopal Sharma and Rupam Jain; Editing by Tom Hogue)
U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2006. John Moore/Getty Images

As the United States enters the final phase of withdrawing the military from Afghanistan, the Biden administration says it will evacuate Afghans who worked with U.S. troops.

"Those who helped us are not going to be left behind," President Biden told reporters on Thursday. Afghans who worked as interpreters and contractors have shared their concerns that once the U.S. is out of Afghanistan, they might be hurt or killed by the Taliban. There is a special immigration visa program for these Afghans, but it moves slowly  some applicants have been waiting for years  and lawmakers and veterans of the Afghanistan war have voiced their worries over how long the process can take.

Biden, who will meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the White House on Friday, told reporters he does not know where the Afghans will be relocated to, but the U.S. has "already begun the process" of offering assistance.

Many advocates say the Afghans should be able to settle in the U.S. territory of Guam as they wait for their applications to be processed, and Guam's governor has said they would be welcome on the island. "This is America's responsibility, we don't need to outsource to another country," Chris Purdy, project manager of the Veterans for Americans Ideals program at Human Rights First, told NBC News.

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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration agreed to relocate thousands of Afghans who worked with the U.S. military as interpreters and translators while their visa applications are vetted, according to a senior administration official.

"Those who helped us are not going to be left behind," President Joe Biden told reporters on Thurday when asked about the plan.

The decision comes amid growing pressure from lawmakers in both parties, who fear Afghans who served alongside American troops will be killed by the Taliban as the United States completes its military withdrawal.

The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, declined to say exactly how many Afghans would be relocated or where they would go while their visas are processed. The United States could fly them to a third country or a U.S. territory. The relocation plan was first reported by The New York Times.

Thousands of Afghans are desperately seeking to leave their homeland as the Biden administration withdraws the last American troops in the coming months. These Afghans fear that once U.S. forces are gone, the Taliban will sweep back into power and target them as traitors.

"You will see the dead bodies in every street," Omid Mahmoodi, who worked as an interpreter and cultural adviser with the U.S. military for three years, told USA TODAY in a phone interview last month. They will slaughter us."

Omid Mahmoodi says Afghans who worked with the U.S. military are seen as "infidels," and he fears they will be killed when American troops leave.

Mahmoodi said the Taliban considers them infidels and spies.

"If the U.S. forces leave Afghanistan ... I cannot guarantee for one minute what's going to happen with me, with my family, he said.

'They will slaughter us': Afghans who worked with US beg for visas as troop withdrawal looms

Because of such dangers, Congress created a special visa program in 2006 for Afghans and Iraqis who worked alongside American troops in those two conflicts.

The program is backlogged and limited. It takes an average of nearly three years for Afghans' applications to be processed, in part because of the rigorous vetting involved, according to the State Department.

Story continues

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that about 18,000 Afghans have expressed interest in the special visa program; about 9,000 have filled out the necessary paperwork and the other 9,000 are at the beginning of the process, Blinken said.

President Joe Biden set Sept. 11 as the deadline for a full U.S. withdrawal, and the Pentagon began drawing down forces in May. As the American military footprint shrinks, the security situation in Afghanistan has become increasingly dangerous  and the pleas from Afghans such as Mahmoodi have become more urgent.

Blood and treasure: US counterterrorism ops touched 85 countries in the past 3 years

The State Department increased staffing for the visa program, and lawmakers have ramped up pressure on the White House to evacuate Afghans who risked their lives to work with American forces.

How many future Afghan families, how many great American contributions will we not have if President Biden does not act and act now, Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a former Green Beret who served multiple tours in Afghanistan, said at a news conference Wednesday with Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.

If he does not act and does not get these people out, blood will be on his hands and his administrations hands, Waltz said.

The official said that initially, the United States will move only Afghans whose visas are in the pipeline. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul will process the special Afghan visas even after the drawdown is complete, but the White House may approve another relocation operation if necessary, the official said.

"We are planning for all contingencies, so that we are prepared for all scenarios," the official said. "Should it become necessary, we will consider additional relocation or evacuation options."

Biden is scheduled to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, head of the countrys High Council for National Reconciliation, at the White House on Friday.

U.S.-backed peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have stalled as the militant Islamic group attacks Afghan forces and gains territory.

In announcing Friday's meeting, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the Biden administration remains committed to working with the Afghan government "to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups who pose a threat to the U.S. homeland."

Psaki said the United States will continue to press "all Afghan parties to participate" in the peace negotiations, which supporters said could lead to a power-sharing agreement between Ghani's government and the Taliban. Many experts fear the Taliban will topple the Afghan government once U.S. forces have fully withdrawn.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden administration to relocate Afghans who helped US troops
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday called the closure of Hong Kong's Apple Daily tabloid a "sad day for media freedom" and said it signaled "intensifying repression by Beijing."

In a statement following the news outlet's closure earlier on Thursday, Biden called on China to stop targeting the independent press and release detained journalists and media executives.

"People in Hong Kong have the right to freedom of the press. Instead, Beijing is denying basic liberties and assaulting Hong Kongs autonomy and democratic institutions and processes, inconsistent with its international obligations," he said.

Apple Daily, Hong Kong's most vocal pro-democracy newspaper, was forced to end a 26-year run amid a national security crackdown that froze the company's funds. Its closure prompted snaking queues of hundreds of loyal readers at news stands across the city.

"It is a sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world," Biden said, adding that the publication had been "a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong."

"Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views," he said.

Biden vowed that the United States "will not waver in our support of people in Hong Kong and all those who stand up for the basic freedoms all people deserve."

(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Lisa Lambert, Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Chris Reese and Paul Simao)
President Joe Biden has nominated Cindy McCain, the widow of former Republican Senator John McCain, to serve as the U.S. representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.

Bidens move to recruit McCain comes after she, disillusioned with the Trump administration and its negative treatment of her husband, endorsed Biden as a presidential candidate. During his term, former President Donald Trump repeatedly ridiculed Senator McCain as a moderate member of the GOP, and for his military service in Vietnam.

The Maricopa County Republicans in Arizona, following the senators death, took issue with McCains condemnation of the president. For her criticism of Trump and for defecting to support Biden and other progressive causes, the Maricopa County GOP moved to censure McCain in January following the Capitol Riot.

In an official resolution, the Maricopa GOP listed a number of grievances with the wife. It concluded that the Republican Party in the State of Arizona agrees to dissolve in perpetuity any connections whatsoever to Cindy McCain and any of her family members who have supported her views and actions.

More from National Review
The Biden administration's selection to lead the Border Patrol is the second-in-command at the department, a Hispanic agent who was featured as a guest at former President Donald Trump's final State of the Union.

"Today, I am pleased to announce the promotion of Raul Ortiz as the 25th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)," acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller wrote in a statement.

HARRIS EL PASO VISIT 800 MILES FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION 'EPICENTER,' BORDER DEMOCRAT SAYS

Ortiz is a 29-year Border Patrol agent with broad experience working at several regional offices nationwide, the Washington headquarters, and on a border management task force during stints in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the 2010s. He was brought up to national headquarters from Del Rio, Texas, last year to work as deputy chief under Rodney Scott, who was ousted Wednesday.

Ortiz made news in February 2020 when he was selected by the Trump White House to be a guest at the president's annual speech. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security described the move as an attempt by the Trump administration to showcase a nonwhite agency representative given that Scott, then chief, was white. The choice was meant to help Trump make the case that his border and immigration policies, including his efforts to limit illegal immigration, were not race-based.

Four current and former U.S. border officials told the Washington Examiner in conversations Wednesday and Thursday that Ortiz is highly respected by the 19,000 agents. Ortiz and Scott joined the Border Patrol around the same time in the early 1990s, both working out of the San Diego, California, region at a time when more people were running through ports of entry and unfenced areas than any other time in the state's history.

"It was like a war zone every night. Those guys were out in the middle of it," said one current official in a phone call Thursday. "He's not looked at as a 'yes' man or political guy. Overall, he's seen as somebody that takes care of agents. He's definitely capable."

Story continues

Ortiz had announced plans to retire earlier this spring, two officials said, but he will no longer pursue that route. Instead, he will work with CBP leadership to select his deputy chief. Top contenders, according to those who spoke with the Washington Examiner, are San Diego Chief Aaron Heitke, Rio Grande Valley Chief Brian Hastings, and El Paso Chief Gloria Chavez.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Heitke graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law, making him a standout among other regional Border Patrol leaders, many of whom have not attended college. Hastings heads operations in the busiest part of the border, southeastern Texas, which has been at the epicenter of the migration surge. Chavez improved conditions that migrants were held in after moving there in 2019, though she could face a challenge taking over following allegations that she helped her husband, a high-profile Border Patrol official, evade immediate termination after he was charged with kidnapping and raping a female Border Patrol agent in May 2019.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Immigration, Border Patrol, Border

Original Author: Anna Giaritelli

Original Location: Biden promoting Trump State of the Union guest to oversee Border Patrol
President Biden and a bipartisan group of senators agreed on a nearly $1-trillion infrastructure plan Thursday, the culmination of months of negotiation over a proposal to fortify the nations roads, bridges and broadband internet access.

We have a deal, Biden said, standing with the 10 senators in the West Wing driveway after their 30-minute Oval Office meeting. Theyve given me their word, he said of the group, five senators from each party's caucus. Where I come from thats good enough for me.

Its a big step forward, and validation for the Senate negotiators and a president determined to show that working across the political aisle is still possible in such a partisan era. But, given the deep divide in Washington and Democrats thin congressional majorities, securing the votes to pass a bipartisan package wont be easy.

The meeting came after the group of senators reached a tentative agreement with White House aides Wednesday evening following two days of meetings on Capitol Hill.

We made serious compromises on both ends, Biden said, acknowledging that Republicans werent going to back the investments in human infrastructure hes called for.

He said he would push those in a separate package that would require support from every Democratic senator. Well see what happens in the reconciliation bill and the budget process, he said.

The plan calls for nearly $600 billion in new spending, with the rest of the funds coming from existing pots of money.

The deal, if enacted, would mark the first major bipartisan legislative accomplishment for Biden, who campaigned on his ability to work across the aisle with Republicans.

This agreement would cover only a fraction of what Biden originally called for in his $4-trillion proposal to invest in hard infrastructure of roads and bridges, alongside human infrastructure, such as child care and elder care programs.

The plan calls for $109 billion for road and bridge projects, $7.5 billion to build a new network of electric vehicle-charging stations, $55 billion to replace all lead pipes and upgrade water infrastructure and $66 billion in rail line expansion.

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Calling the investments long overdue, Biden framed the breakthrough as a strong signal to the rest of the world that in the global economic competition with autocracies such as China, democracies can deliver.

This agreement signals to the world that we can function, deliver and do significant things, he said.

But in an aside at the outset of his remarks, Biden acknowledged the tenuous nature of the agreement and its legislative prospects, ad-libbing that the negotiations were settled only for the moment.

On Capitol Hill, senators who were not involved in the negotiations were reluctant to commit to supporting the plan without seeing full details. But in a positive sign, neither progressives nor conservatives ruled out supporting it.

Significant hurdles remain, however, and the clock is ticking. Progressive Democrats long ago grew tired of the protracted negotiations, warning the White House that Republicans were merely trying to eat up precious legislative time.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) threw down the gauntlet Thursday morning before the particulars of the Senate compromise were known, indicating that the House wouldnt vote on it until the Senate passes the more progressive proposal that is likely to address issues such as immigration, climate change and healthcare.

We will not take up a bill in the House until the Senate passes the bipartisan bill and the reconciliation bill, said Pelosi, who called bipartisan legislation important for symbolic reasons while asserting that legislation focused mainly on traditional infrastructure doesnt meet the needs of the moment.

There aint going to be an infrastructure bill unless we have the reconciliation bill passed by the United States Senate, she said.

Several other progressives echoed the requirement that the two bills would have to run together.

The bipartisan plan by itself is not enough, it doesnt meet the moment, said Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

But he left the door open to supporting it if the partisan reconciliation bill comes along. These two tracks have to move together in parallel, he said.

The second bill would have to be approved through the reconciliation process, which circumvents the Senate filibuster and would require the backing of all 48 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them in the evenly divided chamber. If the vote comes to a 50-50 split, Vice President Kamala Harris would cast the tiebreaking vote.

Pelosis pledge addresses the concern held by progressive Democrats that their partys key moderates  Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona  could opt to not support the larger, more progressive bill after helping negotiate the smaller, bipartisan infrastructure package.

Manchin didnt rule out supporting a partisan bill but wouldnt commit until the details were fleshed out. Im open to everything. You cant go in with a closed mind, he said.

The challenge facing Biden now will be gathering enough Republican and Democratic support to get the deal through the Senate, where he is starting with about two dozen votes.

Pressed by reporters in the East Room on the political inside straight hes attempting to pull off, Biden acknowledged he cant guarantee either legislative effort will be successful.

In an effort to keep progressives in the fold, he said he agrees with Pelosis demand that both bills arrive in the House before either gets a vote and pointed to his $1.9-trillion coronavirus relief package enacted in March as proof hes willing to go big.

My partys divided, but my partys also rational, Biden said, promising that in the event the bipartisan bill were to get to his desk alone, Im not signing it.

Bidens pledge buoyed progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is already at work writing the partisan bill.

Hes absolutely right. So our job right now is to continue working on a major bill which addresses the crises of working families, Sanders said.

But linking the two plans together could make it harder to get Republican support. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called Bidens promise to not move the bipartisan plan without the reconciliation package a veto threat of his own deal. But he didnt rule out supporting it. I hope our colleagues can recover and get their good-faith efforts back on track, he said.

Republicans not involved in the negotiations wouldnt commit to supporting the plan without the full legislative text, but many have been broadly supportive of infrastructure investments, even if the proposal comes with the risk that Democrats would follow up with a partisan measure.

The most critical point in the negotiations centered on how to pay for the plan. Each side has said recently that the others proposed funding plans crossed a red line.

Republicans refused to consider Bidens proposal to raise the corporate tax rate, which the GOP lowered from 35% to 21% in 2017.

And the White House has hammered Republicans for suggesting new infrastructure investments be funded by raising the gas tax and imposing new fees on drivers of electric vehicles, even dubbing it a Ford F-150 tax in reference to the companys new heavy-duty truck model that runs on electric power.

According to the White House fact sheet outlining the agreement, the new spending would be paid for by stricter tax enforcement by the Internal Revenue Service, unused unemployment and emergency funds, sales from the strategic petroleum reserve and public-private partnerships.

White House officials and congressional Democratic leaders will have a short time frame to gather support for the agreement and get it enacted, especially if they try to advance both bills simultaneously.

Were all on the same page: Both tracks, the bipartisan track and the budget reconciliation track, are proceeding at pace, and we hope to have votes on both of them in the House  in the Senate and the House in July, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said late Wednesday after a meeting with Pelosi and White House officials.

The dual tracks will require some heavy legislative maneuvering, but it has been done before. In 2010, House Democrats made a similar demand of Senate Democrats as they enacted the Affordable Care Act through two pieces of legislation  one approved in normal legislative procedure and a second bill enacted through the reconciliation process.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
With the issue of crime not going away, the White House is intent on reminding everyone that it still doesnt understand the problem and still doesnt have a solution.

President Joe Biden is still trying to paint the crime surge as a gun issue in order to redirect it toward gun control. He used his speech on Wednesday to focus far less on crime than on regurgitating the same tired gun-control talking points that he and every other Democrat has trotted out for years. You would hardly be able to tell from Biden's speech that homicides have spiked in the last 15 months.

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There are a few problems here. First, national gun sales do not correlate with a rising homicide rate. For example, between 2009 and 2013, gun sales doubled while homicides and violent crimes fell. The guns were mostly there in 2018  so why has the crime gotten so much worse in 2021?

For Biden, this is just a pretext to try and finally gain traction for Democrats gun-control plans. If crime were the real issue, Biden would not be constantly pushing an assault weapons ban, when rifles of all types account for less than 4% of all gun homicides. Biden also apparently has nothing to offer when it comes to the nationwide surge in carjackings. Biden doesnt want to address the real issue at hand  his partys nonchalant attitude toward crime.

This is an issue of Democrat-run cities not being willing to get tough on crime, not guns. Take New York City, which just dismissed most riot and looting cases from last year. Or the defund the police movements that took hold in cities such as Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis. These cities cut police budgets and excused or shrugged off the riots that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They also saw a substantial increase in homicides.

Democrat-run cities have signaled that there are few consequences for violent crimes and that police, not criminals, are the targets of their mayors and city councils. This isnt just true at the city level: Vice President Kamala Harris, then a senator, helped promote the bail fund to let Minneapolis rioters out of jail. Perhaps that fact strikes a little too close to home for Biden right now.

Story continues

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Biden has no plan to fight violent crime. He doesnt even care enough about the issue to address it head-on. Its just another excuse to push gun control under the flawed thinking that the surge in gun sales that followed the start of the pandemic and the death of Floyd were the cause of, rather than a response to, the surge in homicides that was going on at the same time.

Some Democrats have run into reality. Portland disbanded units that investigate gun violence, only to request emergency funding when homicides soared. Minneapolis went from promising to abolish its police department to trying desperately to bring in more officers after resignations led to an officer shortage, one that has been seen in other cities. And Democrat Eric Adams, a former police officer, is currently the favorite to win the party primary in the New York City mayoral race, as even Democratic voters are fed up with the crime surge.

This is not a gun problem. It is an enforcement problem. Democrat-run cities have shrugged off their duty to protect their residents as they rushed to embrace an anti-police ideology. People who actually care about the crime surge, such as Adams, understand this. Biden rejects it because addressing violent crime isnt as important as pushing one of the long-failing agenda items of the Democratic Party.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: Beltway Confidential, Joe Biden, White House, Crime, Gun Violence, Democratic Party, Riots, New York City, Kamala Harris

Original Author: Zachary Faria

Original Location: Biden is showing that he still doesn't care about violent crime
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Wednesday night said she is "optimistic" that a bipartisan group of senators and White House aides have had "a breakthrough" on infrastructure negotiations.

The senators  five Republicans and five Democrats  will meet with President Biden on Thursday to brief him on the framework for an infrastructure package. "We came to an agreement on the plan that we have, and it's just a matter of trying to wrap it up tomorrow," Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said.

Lawmakers involved in the negotiations told Politico the agreement is similar to an earlier $579 billion plan and focuses on physical infrastructure. There are still several details that need to be finalized, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said, adding, "We haven't written this down yet, and in terms of legislation, there's going to be a lot that happens down the road. But we've agreed on a framework and we're going to head to the White House."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden invited the senators to the White House to discuss "progress towards an outline of a potential agreement." Before this current group of lawmakers came together, Biden was negotiating an infrastructure deal with other senators, led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), but the talks fell apart after several weeks.

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By Ross Kerber

(Reuters) - BlackRock Inc Chief Executive Larry Fink said on Thursday the company would create new support channels for employees and start evaluating the conduct of senior leaders, including himself, after a legal review of intolerant behavior at the world's top asset manager.

Fink described the steps in an all-hands memo following a review by the law firm of Paul, Weiss that was led by partner Loretta Lynch, a former U.S. Attorney General.

The review came after employees complained about racial and sexual harassment, and the conduct of executives, in a series of reports this spring.

In a Feb. 1 Medium post, for instance, a former BlackRock analyst described being sexually harassed and discriminated against as an Arab-American Muslim woman, including being taunted for not wearing a Christmas holiday sweater. Little happened after she complained to human resources, she wrote.

With some $9 trillion under management, BlackRock is an influential voice pushing for more boardroom diversity and minority representation at portfolio companies.

BlackRock's changes were reported earlier on Thursday by Bloomberg News.

The law firm's review "highlighted things I wasnt happy about. These included instances where people at BlackRock had experiences that did not meet what we all should expect of BlackRock," Fink said in his memo, provided by a BlackRock spokesman.

BlackRock declined to discuss individual cases, citing privacy.

Fink said BlackRock would make changes including "expanding options for employees to engage on issues that do not warrant a formal complaint" and investing in its human resources team.

To reinforce the message, Fink also said he and another top 25 or so executives going forward will undergo reviews from peers "to ensure we have a clear picture of how the conduct of each of our senior leaders impacts everyone we work with."

(Reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -The last time a U.S. secretary of state visited the Vatican, the diplomatic sparks flew and Pope Francis declined to receive Mike Pompeo.

When Antony Blinken meets the pope and top Vatican officials on Monday, the new secretary of state's visit will put relations between Washington and Holy See on a new footing.

It will also set the scene for a visit to the pope by Joe Biden, only the second Catholic U.S. president, expected for October.

The visit follows a conference at which U.S. Roman Catholic bishops voted to draft a statement on Communion that may admonish Catholic politicians, including Biden, who support abortion rights despite opposing the practice personally.

Pompeo's visit last September was widely seen as a diplomatic blunder.

He irked the Vatican before arriving, saying on Twitter and in an editorial that it was "endangering its moral authority" by continuing a bilateral deal with China over the appointment of bishops there.

Pompeo published the editorial in a conservative Catholic journal that has been highly critical of Pope Francis and whose editor in 2019 wrote a long critique titled "A Failing Papacy".

One Vatican official rebuked Pompeo for violating "one of the rules of diplomacy" by making public demands. Another said his request for an audience with the pope was denied because it was too close to the U.S. presidential election and the Vatican did not want it used for domestic political purposes.

"Pompeo did an own goal on China. The way he broached it in such a brusque, arrogant way made it easier for the Vatican to justify the renewal of the deal," said Massimo Franco, a columnist for Italy's Corriere della Sera who has written extensively on U.S.-Vatican relations.

"The Biden administration will be much more subtle in reminding the Vatican about freedom of religion in China," Franco told Reuters.

After NATO took a tough line on China at Biden's debut summit, Washington could press the Vatican to be more outspoken on human rights in China and Hong Kong, said Alberto Melloni, an Italian Church historian and advisor to the European Commission.

Story continues

"The question is 'will the U.S. let the Vatican be exempt from criticising China just because of its deal on the bishops'?" he told Reuters.

CLIMATE CHANGE

One of the main points of contention between the Vatican and the White House while Donald Trump was U.S. president was climate change. Trump was dismissive of the problem as he dismantled climate policies and regulations on fossil fuels.

The pope criticised Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris accord to limit global warming. The Vatican welcomed Biden's return to the accord.

Francis, who in May received Biden's climate envoy, Roman Catholic John Kerry, has urged nations to work together to save the planet.

"We see working together (with the Vatican) as an opportunity to raise countries' collective ambition and to address the climate crisis by raising and implementing national emissions reduction targets, for instance," said Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.

The Vatican will host world religious leaders and scientists before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November in Britain, which many expect the pope to attend.

In another scratchy moment, the pope criticised Trump's pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border as "not Christian". Trump said it was "disgraceful" for the pope to question his faith but later called him "a wonderful guy". They met at the Vatican in 2017.

Blinken and Vatican officials are also expected to discuss ways to combat human trafficking and encouraging debt relief for poor countries.

(Additional reporting by Humeyra PamukEditing by Timothy Heritage)
Jill Biden addressed a crowd in Nashville about their states low rate of vaccination (Twitter/Breaking911)

Dr Jill Biden was booed in Tennessee after she told a rally the state needed to improve its rate of vaccination against Covid-19.

Well, you know this state has a little bit of a way to go. Only three in 10 Tennesseans are vaccinated, the first lady said, while on a tour to promote vaccine uptake in areas with low rates of inoculation against Covid-19.

Responding, she told the Nashville crowd, Well, youre booing yourselves!

Guests on the Tennessee leg of the tour have included country star Brad Paisley and local political figures, such as the Mayor of Nashville John Cooper and his brother Democratic Representative Jim Cooper.

Tennessee is currently experiencing a vaccination uptake dip of 75 per cent from April, as weekly only 50,000 people are getting their first dose.

Tennessee governor Bill Lee has done little to increase vaccination numbers. He has gone on record stating vaccination is a personal choice, and not a public health measure, opting not join in the trend of vaccine lotteries.

We have seen as our primary objective to make the vaccine available to everyone in every corner of this state, and thats the part that we believe is the states obligation, he said according to The Tennessean.

Lotteries sprang up in some states with low rates of vaccination, and provided residents with opportunities to win large prizes. The price of entry was merely getting at least one or more doses of a Covid-19 vaccination.

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The fad was started by Ohios governor Mike DeWine, who offered a month of weekly draws of $1 million, and the tactic spread to other states such as West Virginia, Washington and Maryland, which offered similar but not identical schemes.

The problems in Tennessee mirror the problems across the region, as according the CDC, southern states have much lower rates of vaccine uptake. For example, the CDC stated that only 32 per cent of Mississippi residents and 29 per cent of Alabama residents are fully vaccinated.

Story continues

Reasons contributing to low vaccine uptake range from misinformation about the vaccine, religious beliefs and practical barricades to getting to vaccination sites, including a lack of public transportation and people not being able to fit getting the vaccine into their busy working day.

Medical professionals have concluded that tackling vaccine hesitancy will need hard work, creativity and out of the box thinking. They agree it is essential because it will prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Everyones goal, I hope, is that all of us are safe as possible, Dr. Zanthia Wiley of Atlantas Emory University Hospital told Stateline. So, if it takes extra work, more one-on-one conversations, boots-on-the-ground work to get the word out about COVID vaccinations, then thats what we have to do  one person at a time.

Dr Bidens husband, President Joe Biden, has set himself the task to get 70 per cent of the American population vaccinated on 4 July. He has admitted this will not be possible, despite making it a key pledge of his early days in the White House.

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Jill Biden touts vaccine in poorly inoculated Mississippi
Some Democrats representing border districts want President Biden to vaccinate migrants crossing into the U.S.  especially if he lifts public health restrictions that have prevented them from claiming asylum on American soil.

Why it matters: Inoculating migrants treads a fine line of protecting the U.S. population while possibly incentivizing more migration with the offer of free COVID-19 vaccines. Republicans are likely to pounce on that.

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It would be silly not to give the migrants access to the vaccines," said Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Tex.), who represents the Brownsville area. It would protect the migrants, and our communities, against the virus."

I have been pushing to vaccinate kids, older kids, who have the ability to give consent, on the American side of the border, said Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Tex.), who represents the El Paso area. Its in our interest.

"The answer is not, as Biden and [Vice President Kamala] Harris want, to let everybody in and then let everybody go," said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). "The answer is not open borders; the answer is to secure the border and enforce our laws."

Decisions about how to distribute the vaccines have largely been left to the states, an administration official noted.

The big picture: Biden retained a policy enacted by President Trump that prevented migrant adults and families from seeking asylum in the U.S. under a so-called Title 42 public health restriction aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

From Oct. 1 to the end of May, Border Patrol agents used that rule to expel about 650,000 migrant families, children and adults.

Biden is looking to end the use of Title 42 as soon as mid-July, Axios has reported.

That would allow migrants to seek asylum after crossing into the U.S.  rather than being immediately expelled to Mexico when reaching the border. Many would be released into the U.S. while awaiting hearings.

Vaccines currently are available to anyone in the U.S., regardless of their immigration status.

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Vela broached the idea of vaccinating migrants, as well as nonessential visitors, during an interview with Axios.

He previously announced he will not seek re-election next year.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) agreed with Vela's idea. "Yes, they should be vaccinated. Why wouldn't they? I don't understand who would advocate that they should not be."

Driving the news: Harris plans to visit the El Paso region Friday.

Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott also told colleagues Wednesday hell step aside in about 60 days so the administration can place the person they want in the position.

Scott was a Trump administration holdover.

Go deeper: The White House announced in March it would send 2.5 million vaccine doses to Mexico, with plans to distribute millions more throughout Central America through the COVAX international distribution system.

This week, El Paso city officials started to vaccinate some Mexican truckers who make frequent border crossings.

Vela also wants to use excess vaccines  specifically, the single-dose Johnson & Johnson variant  for anyone from Mexico who crosses the border for nonessential travel, once that fully resumes.

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(Bloomberg) -- Kazuma Ieiri was bullied at school, too poor to go to university, and spent years in his bedroom as a recluse. More than 20 years later, hes aiming to take his startup public at a valuation of more than $1 billion.

Campfire Inc., which helps individuals and small groups raise funds online, is seeking to list shares this year at a valuation of as much as 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion), Ieiri said in an interview. Its a long-anticipated IPO for the popular crowdfunding operator, the biggest such business in Japan.

Ieiri, 42, is one of a growing number of chief executive officers who fell off the typical path to success in Japan but are now making their fortunes in its tech startup scene. Campfire, the third company founded by the Buddhist monk and onetime candidate for Tokyo governor, has funded more than 50,000 projects since it started in 2011.

Its a remarkable turnaround for a man who learned to code in his bedroom during the years he spent there as a teenager with social anxiety issues.

I was saved by the internet, Ieiri said at the companys headquarters in Tokyo. I was able to make my voice heard through it.

The pandemic increased the need for sites like Campfire as cafes, restaurants and small businesses facing downturns in customers used it as a way to supplement revenue. People who found themselves jobless also tapped it to get new ventures off the ground. The companys gross merchandise volume more than tripled in 2020 from the year earlier to 20 billion yen ($180 million), Campfire said.

Ieiri also helped set up Base Inc., the e-commerce platform operator that was founded by one of his former interns. Base went public just before the pandemic started, and its shares have since surged more than 500%.

Ieiris success in building ventures -- he is the top shareholder of Campfire and has a stake in Base -- means his days of poverty are behind him, but the serial entrepreneur says hes not in it for the money. He said growing up poor shaped his desire to help others who are in financial need.

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Ieiri was bullied as a child and quit school in his teens. He retired to his bedroom, becoming whats called in Japan a hikikomori, a young person who shuns society. There he found consolation chatting on online bulletin boards, connecting with others going through the same experience.

He received his high school diploma remotely, and worked as a paperboy to support himself while preparing for university exams, intending to study art. But he failed to get into his desired school, while a family illness meant he needed to become the breadwinner.

Ieiri got jobs at several companies, but he soon found life as an employee wasnt for him. He either quit or was fired, and eventually decided to start his own business -- one that didnt require him to interact with other people.

It occurred to me I could do something using the internet, he said. Thats where it all started.

Ieiri founded his first company in 2001 at 22, later naming it Paperboy & Co. after his days delivering newspapers. It initially rented out internet servers to individuals. In 2004, he sold it to GMO Internet Inc., the Tokyo-based firm founded by entrepreneur Masatoshi Kumagai. It still exists today as one of GMOs many units, GMO Pepabo Inc.

Ieiri invested the proceeds in other startups while mulling his next business before founding Campfire. He chose to help others raise funds because of the days he spent alone, devoid of resources, he said.

Everyones born into different situations -- whether they have money or not, whether they have someone to support them or not, and that opens up gaps between them, he said. But maybe we can use the democratizing technology of the internet to solve that.

The market for crowdfunding is expanding in Japan, which bodes well for companies like Campfire, according to Tomoichiro Kubota, a senior market analyst at Matsui Securities in Tokyo.

Theres lots of people who are interested in putting a little into something they believe in, agrees Tim Morse of Asymmetric Advisors. I think crowdfunding could really take off in Japan.

However Morse cautioned that the barriers for entry are low, meaning it doesnt have a moat of competitive advantage, while Kubota said some may question the sustainability of the business model.

Ieiri said one of the reasons hes targeting an IPO is he wants to make the company bigger and be able to lower the commission fees.

Its our duty to be able to hand over even just one more yen to these people, and to do that gross merchandise volume has to be much, much bigger, Ieiri said. An IPO is something thats on our way to getting there.

(Updates quote in 17th paragraph)

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Hamilton Place Strategies, which was founded by Bush 43 alumni and became one of D.C.'s most innovative public-affairs firms, has sold a majority stake to a private-equity firm in Charlotte, sources tell me.

Why it matters: Hamilton Place shook up the Washington model by pioneering "analytical public affairs"  think The Upshot or FiveThirtyEight for reputation management.

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The founders  Tony Fratto, Matt McDonald and Stuart Siciliano  worked together in President George W. Bush's White House, and since have added Democrats, including partner Stacy Kerr.

Named for the street next to the Treasury Department, Hamilton Place specialized in the financial sector when it opened in 2009.

In case you missed it: The firm's media-monitoring arm  Flag Media Analytics  professionalized and productized the rapid-response and war-room tactics of the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign.

HPS, with 50+ employees, sold to the PE firm Falfurrias Capital Partners.

HPS will now offer services in partnership with an earlier FCP acquisition in Washington  Ballast Research, formerly part of National Journal.

FCP senior adviser Beth Comstock will sit on the new entity's board.

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Flames surround Lake Berryessa during the August 2020 wildfires. (AFP via Getty Images)

California governor Gavin Newsom vastly overpromised on how ready the state was for this summers upcoming fire season, a new investigation from CapRadio and NPR has found, overstating the number of acres prepared under one program by 690 per cent. Its grim news for a state already gripped by drought, about to face what could be its worst fire season ever, and only a year after 2020 broke previous records.

When he took office, Mr Newsom, said on his first day that everybody has had enough and promised dramatic investments in programs to mitigate wildfires, such as clearing out built-up brush, digging fire breaks, and allowing for controlled burns, all of which reduce the ability of fires to burn available vegetation fuel and spread.

According to the investigation, the governor said that his efforts to tackle 35 different priority projects to protect communities vulnerable to fire had covered 90,000 acres, when state data revealed the total was just shy of 12,000 acres. It also found that the pace of wild fire prep has dropped over time, falling from 64,000 total acres prepared in 2019, to 32,000 in 2020.

The governor, who is already under fire facing a nearly unprecedented recall vote, also slashed $150 million from the budget of Cal Fire, the states fire management agency.

Thom Porter, chief of Cal Fire, told CapRadio his agency takes the blame, saying it hadnt done our job in educating the public, nor the governors office. He also promised to speed up fuel reduction in the future.

Its not something that Im comfortable with, he added. It is something that Im working to reconcile and to correct for the future.

Michael Wara, the director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford Universitys Wood Institute for the Environment, told CapRadio that the state needed to be treating a million acres a year.

This year, Mr Newsom has proposed a $1.2bn wildfire resiliency fund to be added to the states upcoming budget.

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Mr Wara said the move could help mitigate much of the danger facing the state over time, but that California is currently in a deep hole in terms of preparedness and will need to engage in many years of sustained effort to get out.

The news follows an apocalyptic 2020 fire season in California, where a record-breaking 4.3 acres burned, doubling the previous record from 2018.

On top of that, most of the state is gripped with extreme to exceptional levels of drought, as the climate crisis and a record heat wave pound California. That has major utilities providers like PG&E warning that the states upcoming wildfire season could be its wort, and could start weeks earlier than normal.

Mr Newsom hopes to spend nearly $2 billion in the coming years on fire prevention, including buying new helicopters, improving forest management and hiring roughly 1,400 new seasonal firefighters.

Even if the state was meeting its own stated targets, scientists say it is still behind where it needs to be to head off more horrible wildfires.

We need to be doing a million acres a year, for a long time, Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford Universitys Woods Institute for the Environment, told the radio stationm, adding, We are in a deep hole, and it is going to take us many years of sustained effort to get out.

Read More

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The Iranian missile fire that shot down a Ukrainian Boeing airliner last year stemmed from a mixture of recklessness, incompetence and disregard for human life on the part of Tehran, an official report by Canadian experts released Thursday said, though it found no evidence the strike was premeditated.

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS752, from Tehran to Kiev, crashed on January 8, 2020 shortly after takeoff with 176 people on board, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. Three days later, the Iranian armed forces admitted having shot down the aircraft "by mistake."

The report acknowledged that the forensic investigators, who examined all the evidence that was available to them, "found no evidence that the downing of Flight PS752 was premeditated."

"Having said that, Iran does not get off the hook in any way whatsoever," Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said at a press briefing.

"It is totally responsible for what happened due to a combination of incompetence, lack of accountability, a total failure of their command and control system, a total failure to properly assess the risk, a total failure to close the airspace and not even bothering to inform the aircraft taking off, that they were in a risk environment because missile batteries had been set up in the vicinity of the airport."

On the night of the tragedy, Iran's air defenses were on high alert, since Iran had just attacked a base used by the US military in Iraq in response to the US drone strike five days earlier in Baghdad that had killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran's regional strategy.

"The report highlights authorities' recklessness, incompetence and wanton disregard for human life," Garneau said, adding that Iran tried to cover up its actions by bulldozing the crash site and "providing only a misleading and superficial account of events."

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"The facts are clear, Iran is responsible for the deaths of 176 innocent people," he said.

In its final report released in March, the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization exonerated the Islamic Republic's armed forces.

Ukraine slammed those findings as a "cynical attempt to hide the real causes" and Ottawa denounced the "incomplete" report without "hard evidence".

et/jh/dw
Doug Jensen was caught on video confronting Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman during the 6 January attack (Igor Bobic)

The lawyer for an accused Capitol rioter has blamed the news media and crowd hysteria for his clients actions.

He got taken! an attorney for Doug Jensen, 41, told a judge on Thursday, according to NBC4s Scott MacFarlane .

Mr Jensen, 41, was arrested by the FBI in January after photos and videos emerged of him at the attack on the Capitol. Dramatic footage showed him chasing Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman up a flight of stairs, leading a mob dangerously close to the Senate chamber before Mr Goodman lured them in a different direction.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow
Three Chicago drivers are suing Chicago Parking Meters, alleging the private companys exclusive contract to operate street parking represents a 75-year monopoly granted by the city.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Chicago federal court, seeks class-action status on behalf of drivers who have fed the ubiquitous ParkChicago machines lining city streets, alleging the 75-year agreement has led to higher parking rates, too many meters and restrictions on alternative transportation such as bicycles and ride-sharing.

The city of Chicago granted CPM, a private party, monopoly control over the citys parking meter system for an astonishing 75-year-long period, without regard for the changes in technology and innovations in transportation taking place now and for the rest of the century, the lawsuit alleges.

The 2009 deal to privatize Chicago street parking was struck by then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, awarding an exclusive 75-year contract to Chicago Parking Meters for an upfront cash payment of $1.16 billion. The unpopular lease agreement was revised in 2013 under then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel to allow for free Sunday parking in much of the city, adjusted hours of operation and the ability to pay with smartphones.

With 36,000 metered parking spaces, Chicago Parking Meters operates the third-largest street parking system in the U.S., according to the companys website. Investors in the privately held company include Morgan Stanley, Allianz Capital Partners and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

A Chicago Parking Meters spokesman declined to comment Thursday.

The city of Chicago, which was not named as a defendant, also declined to comment.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Chicago residents Micah Uetricht, Marianela DAprile and John Kaderbek, alleges the agreement bars both active regulation by the city over the rates charged by Chicago Parking Meters, as well as competitive bidding for other vendors to provide the service more efficiently, in violation of federal antitrust laws.

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In addition, the lawsuit alleges the agreement imposed special restrictions on competing forms of transportation such as bicycles, ride-sharing, public transit and the potentially imminent arrival of driverless cars.

By the end of 2019, Chicago Parking Meters had already earned $500 million more than the $1.16 billion it paid the city 10 years earlier through increased parking rates, the lawsuit alleges.

Most city parking rates average $2.25 per hour, but rise to $7 per hour in the Loop. Sunday parking is free outside of Chicagos central business district, and is free nightly from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in most areas of the city, according to the parking firms website.

Over the 75-year life of the agreement, having already profited by $500 million, CPM has achieved and will have achieved an extraordinary rate of return on its original $1.16 billion investment, at the expense of consumers ... who prefer other uses of the transportation grid on which this windfall profit depends, the lawsuit alleges.

Thomas Geoghegan, a Chicago attorney representing the drivers, declined to comment.

The lawsuit alleges the parking agreement violates federal antitrust laws, as well as the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act. In addition to class-action status, the lawsuit is seeking a reimbursement of legal fees, undisclosed monetary damages and other relief.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
China said on Thursday it had filed a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization challenging Australia's anti-dumping measures on a range of goods, marking further escalation in tensions between the two countries.

The suit -- regarding Chinese exports of train wheels, wind turbines and stainless steel sinks -- comes a week after Canberra challenged Beijing's crippling tariffs on Australian wine exports.

It aims to "safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies", Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a regular briefing Thursday.

"We hope that Australia will take concrete actions to correct its wrong practices, avoid distortions in the trade of related products, and bring such trade back to the normal track as soon as possible."

Australia has imposed tariffs on Chinese-built train wheels and wind turbines since 2019.

China in November announced tariffs of up to 218 percent on Australian wines, which it said were being "dumped" into the Chinese market at subsidised prices.

The crackdown virtually closed what had been Australia's biggest overseas wine market, with sales falling from Aus$1.1 billion (US$ 840 million) to just Aus$20 million, according to official figures.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned that his government would respond forcefully to countries trying to use "economic coercion" against Australia.

prw/rox/dan
(Bloomberg) -- Chinas campaign to cut leverage and instill corporate discipline is reshaping the nations $12 trillion credit market.

One of Chinas most prolific debt issuers hasnt sold a single dollar bond in 17 months, the longest dry spell since 2013. An investment grade-rated conglomerate mostly owned by the government is facing a cash crunch in a test of state support. Analysts at UBS Group AG and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now say the notion of too big to fail no longer applies in China as defaults this year exceed $23 billion, a record pace.

Beijing is taking advantage of a strengthening economy and stable financial markets to toughen up its corporate sector. The result is a repricing of risk that should discourage the kind of reckless debt-fueled expansion that inflated some companies to a dangerous size. The spawning of such bloated empires created a threat to the financial system as well as a challenge to President Xi Jinpings grip on power.

The danger for Xi is that smashing investor faith in government guarantees triggers precisely the kind of crisis hes trying to avoid. Its a dilemma that has frustrated Chinese leaders for decades: Ending moral hazard for indebted giants like China Huarong Asset Management Co. and China Evergrande Group would make the financial system more resilient over the long run, but a major default would cause significant short-term pain.

The government has grown more comfortable with defaults, even important regional state firms, but Huarong and Evergrande present much bigger and more systemic challenges, said Jeffrey Chwieroth, a professor of international political economy at the London School of Economics and co-investigator at the Systemic Risk Centre. Deleveraging and eliminating the prevalence of government guarantees may induce undesirable consequences and market panic.

For the Communist Party, which celebrates its centenary next week, inaction is no longer an option. Officials are repeatedly warning of bubble risks after last years monetary and fiscal stimulus pushed economic leverage to a record. The shift was visible in Mays credit data, which showed net corporate bond issuance contracting by the most in four years.

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Issues stemming from over-leveraged conglomerates are mounting. HNA Group Co., a little-known airline operator that grew into a sprawling giant before collapsing, faces some 1.2 trillion yuan ($185 billion) in claims from creditors, Bloomberg News reported this month. The group spent more than $40 billion on acquisitions across six continents from 2016.

One of Chinas biggest defaulters last year was Tsinghua Unigroup Co., which had aspirations to be the nations first giant in the global semiconductor industry and once planned a $23 billion bid for U.S. memory-chip giant Micron Technology Inc.

These firms were in many ways emblematic of the way China grew in the years after the global financial crisis. Authorities unleashed a stimulus blitz that fueled a heady economic expansion through binging on credit. Concern over the scale of Chinas resulting debt mountain and the possibility of a Minsky moment prompted Xi to launch a deleveraging campaign in 2017, before shelving it during the trade war with the U.S.

With Xi renewing his drive to cut debt, the real estate sector has become a major target. The government in August said it had drafted new financing rules for the industry, which accounts for about 29% of economic output.

Evergrande has pledged to meet at least one of those borrowing limits, known as the three red lines, by the end of this month. The firm is ramping up asset sales as it seeks to reduce its $100 billion burden. Evergrande hasnt sold dollar bonds since January 2020 and was this week cut further into junk by Fitch Ratings. On Thursday, the developer said it arranged for funds to repay a bond maturing Monday, as well as interest payments.

Another focus has been the bad-debt management industry, tasked with cleaning up Chinas soured loans. A key player is Huarong, which became embroiled in financial scandal under its former chairman before his arrest in 2018. After Lai Xiaomin was executed this year on bribery charges, concern over the companys future intensified when it failed to release its 2020 earnings in March.

Beijings silence over its plans for Huarong have left some of the firms longer-dated bonds trading at stressed levels. Huarong and its affiliates have $39.8 billion of debt outstanding.

Companies are under more scrutiny than ever as Xi enters a crucial period in his rule. Chinas leader has in the past year doubled down on perceived threats to the Communist Party ahead of a 2022 leadership shuffle that could see him hold on to the presidency for a third term. Beijing has increased regulation of corporate giants like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd., and forced high-profile entrepreneurs like Jack Ma and Meituans Wang Xing to lay low.

State-owned enterprises arent immune. SOEs and other non-private corporates accounted for 54% of the value of onshore defaults in the first four months of the year, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Evidence of broader market contagion has been relatively limited. Investment-grade dollar bond spreads over respective government bonds have tightened since blowing up to a nine-month high in the wake of Huarongs missed earnings report.

But the stakes are high: a surprise default or painful restructuring risks triggering widespread panic. While Beijing will likely intervene to avoid a credit crisis should that happen, theres considerable uncertainty over the timeliness and extent of such support, wrote Goldman Sachs analysts in a note earlier this month. UBS analysts agreed, warning investors to prepare for fading government support for state-owned enterprises.

The problem with too big to fail is that it can quickly turn into too big to save, said Michael Pettis, a Beijing-based professor of finance at Peking University. China has since the financial crisis maintained stability by repressing risks. It cant do that forever.

Note: The size of Chinas onshore credit market is based on April data from the Peoples Bank of China. Bloombergs total calculation adds what the central bank calls financial bonds and corporate debenture bonds, as well as the outstanding dollar debt issued by Chinese firms.

(Updates to add Evergrandes bond payment plans in second paragraph after tout box.)

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(Bloomberg) -- Chinas central bank increased its short-term cash injection for the first time since March as it moved to soothe market concerns about liquidity conditions ahead of the quarter-end.

The injection of 30 billion yuan ($4.6 billion) marked an end to the Peoples Bank of Chinas practice of adding 10 billion yuan each trading day for the past three months. The move bodes well for liquidity prospects in the second half, as some 4.15 trillion yuan of medium-term policy loans will mature by December.

The market now believes that they know the PBOCs cards -- it will keep liquidity reasonable for the remainder of the year, said Wan Kelin, an analyst at Topsperity Securities. Even though there may be some fluctuations throughout that course, the theme is the same.

Chinas overnight borrowing costs posted the largest one-day decline in almost three months as PBOCs injection eased money-market jitters fueled by quarter-end regulatory checks on banks and the issuance of local government bonds. The move also suggested that policy makers are matching action with rhetoric after a central-backed editorial recently criticized what it said are baseless predictions about a tightening in liquidity.

The overnight repurchase rate, a gauge of interbank funding costs, dropped 35 basis points to 1.83%, the largest one-day decline since April 2. The rate has traded in a 50-basis point range this month. The most actively-traded contract of one-year debt dropped four basis points to 2.39%. Chinas benchmark equity CSI 300 Index rose 0.2%.

Fears of a government bond rout have grown of late, with regional authorities expected to sell some 660 billion yuan of debt this month in a move that could drain interbank liquidity, according to Citic Securities Co. Chinese banks may also become less willing to lend toward the end of June as they prepare for regular liquidity checks by the authorities, reducing cash levels in the system which could be used to buy bonds.

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Investors will be watching to see if the central bank injects more cash into the system in the coming months with a swathe of loans set to fall due by December. The maturity of medium-term policy loans in the second half will be more than three times the size seen in the first six months, data compiled by Bloomberg shows.

Short-term funding costs were not excessively high before the operation, and banks were willing to lend out overnight cash after the PBOC injected liquidity, according to a trader. Seven-day funding remains expensive as it covers the quarter-end period, said the trader, who asked not to be named as hes not allowed to comment on the rates market publicly.

For Becky Liu, head of China macro strategy at Standard Chartered Plc, the injection could be aimed at keeping markets stable ahead of nationwide celebrations for the Chinese Communist Partys 100-year anniversary on July 1.

Its more of a pre-cautionary measure to make sure theres no liquidity stress in the coming half year-end, even when interbank liquidity conditions arent tight, Liu said. The PBOC will be proactively managing interbank liquidity conditions to meet the policy stance of being reasonably accommodative.

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Uyghur teacher Qelbinur Sidik speaks at a hearing in London in June on China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims. Tolga Akmen / AFP via Getty Images

Workers linked to a US company were interrogated by Chinese officials in April, sources told Axios.

The workers were linked to nonprofit Verite, which investigates labor abuses in global supply chains.

The State Department said it was "deeply concerned" by the reports.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

At least seven people working in partnership with a US labor-rights company were interrogated for several days by Chinese officials, Axios reported.

Chinese authorities questioned people working on behalf of Verite in April, Axios reported, citing several unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Verite is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that investigates possible labor abuses in supply chains.

The US State Department was "deeply concerned by reports that supply-chain auditors have been detained, threatened, harassed and subjected to constant surveillance while conducting their vital work in China," a spokesperson told Axios.

It is not clear whether the people were Verite employees or contractors, or which company's supply chain they were investigating.

Since 2016, China has detained about 1 million Uyghurs in their homeland of Xinjiang in hundreds of prison camps. It claims they are a terror threat. The US government has criticized China for its suspected use of forced labor of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, and human-rights groups accuse China of committing "crimes against humanity." The Chinese government has denied that it uses forced labor in Xinjiang.

Chinese consumers threatened to boycott major clothing brands, including H&M and Nike, after the companies said they would not use cotton produced in Xinjiang.

It is not clear whether the workers were investigating Xinjiang-linked supply chains.

Verite aims to "empower workers to advocate for their rights," according to its website. It lists Nestle, Asos, and Disney among its partners and clients.

Verite did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jun. 24When Alejandro Christopher joined the Amsterdam High School football team prior to the 2019 season, after transferring into the school from just down the road at Broadalbin-Perth, he had a choice to make  chase individual glory or sacrifice for team success.

Christopher came up as a skill position player on offense  primarily tight end  but the Rams had a hole to fill on the offensive line.

Relatively undersized for the position at the time  as a junior, Christopher stood 5-foot-11 and weighed 180 pounds  he stepped up and became an anchor in the trenches for the Rugged Rams while also leading the way on the other side of the ball as a linebacker.

"He'd do anything for anybody," Amsterdam football coach John Homich said. "He puts the team first before himself."

Homich praised Christopher for his discipline, work ethic and commitment, all of which he said will make Christopher a perfect fit for his next stop  the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.

Enrolling at a service academy had been a long-held ambition for Christopher as his next step after high school.

"I was really drawn to the opportunity to get to serve my country," Christopher said. "I've always had that will to serve and protect our freedoms."

In addition to the Coast Guard Academy, he applied to West Point and the Naval Academy. Around January, Christopher zeroed in on the Coast Guard as his preferred destination after a conversation with USCGA football coach C.C. Grant, who offered him the chance to play inside linebacker for the Bears.

"I ultimately wanted to play football," he said. "The Coast Guard gave me the opportunity to play football."

More Class of 2021: Profiles of region's top graduates

The Coast Guard Academy is the smallest, and is among the most selective, of the five U.S. service academies, traditionally offering appointments to around 400 incoming cadets. This year, the incoming class will be just 285.

Story continues

While the USCGA, unlike the other four service academies, does not require a congressional nomination as part of the admissions process, the academic and physical requirements are still stringent.

The toughest part of the process for Christopher was the preparation for the academy's Physical Fitness Exam, where candidates have to reach a passing cumulative score in a test that consists of push-ups, sit-ups and a 1.5-mile run.

"You have to pass that to even be considered for the application process," Christopher said.

Christopher threw himself headfirst into his physical preparation, training at several local gyms both to get himself ready for the PFE and improve his conditioning for football. Between his junior and senior football seasons, Christopher added around 30 pounds of muscle to his frame while enlisting several local fitness facilities  Perth Ultimate Fitness, Black Lotus Fitness in Amsterdam and Schenectady Youth Boxing  to help him get in peak condition.

"Him and I, we were keeping tabs on things as he was progressing and getting ready for that," Homich said. "He is such a hard worker. Sometimes, he's the first one in the gym and the last one to come out. When he has a task to do, he's going to do it until it's completed."

Christopher will head to the academy having already achieved a college degree. A student in the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (PTECH) program, he'll graduate high school with a 98.94 average while also receiving an associate's degree in electrical technology from Fulton-Montgomery Community College with a 3.96 grade point average.

"Balancing high school and college at the same time was a lot of work," he said, "but I got it done."

When Christopher  who plans to study electrical engineering at the Coast Guard Academy  officially signed his appointment letter earlier this month in front of family, teachers, coaches and classmates, it represented a culmination of a difficult, but rewarding process.

"It meant everything in the world to me," he said. "It meant that all the hard work and dedication that I've put into the past couple years have finally paid off."

More Class of 2021: Profiles of region's top graduates
The heaving hysteria over critical race theory, showing up now in state legislatures and school board meetings across the country, can be disturbing to witness, particularly when you know its a bunch of ginned-up nonsense aimed at scaring white people into voting for Republicans.

But right when you think the loud liars might hornswoggle half the country, a sensible, serious person steps in and pulls the curtain back on the Wizards of Dumb. That happened Wednesday, when Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the House Armed Services Committee and demonstrated what happens when an intellectually inept force meets an immovable object.

Several Republican lawmakers busted out their new talking point  CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BAD AND SCARY AND ITS DESTROYING AMERICA AND OUR MILITARY!!!  and waved it around at Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, hoping, I assume, the military leaders would hop on the bandwagon.

Milley did no such thing. In fact, he took aim at the topic and shot it to pieces, revealing how quickly the fearmongering blah-blah bubbling up like noxious gases from the right-wing fever swamps gets blown away by intelligence and common sense.

After Republican lawmakers complained that ideas relating to critical race theory and white rage were being taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Milley said this, which Ill quote extensively because every word is worth your time:

I do think its important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and to be widely read. And the United States Military Academy is a university, and it is important that we train and we understand. And I want to understand white rage. Im white, and I want to understand it. What is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America. What caused that? I want to find that out.

I want to maintain an open mind here and I do want to analyze it. Its important that we understand that, because our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardians, they come from the American people. So its important that the leaders now and in the future do understand it.

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Ive read Mao Zedong. Ive read Karl Marx. Ive read Lenin. That doesnt make me a communist. So what is wrong with understanding, having some situational understanding of the country, which we are here to defend?

And I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military, our general officers, our commissioned and noncommissioned officers, of being woke or something else because were studying some theory that is out there that was started in Harvard Law School years ago.

It proposed that there were laws in the United States, antebellum laws, prior to the Civil War, that led to a power differential with African Americans that were  of a human being when this country was formed. And then we had a Civil War and an Emancipation Proclamation to change it. And then we brought it up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it took another hundred years to change that. So look, I do want to know.  It matters to our military, and the discipline and cohesion of this military.

To quote a sound often made by the military: BOOM!

Fox News babblers and willfully ignorant lawmakers are having a ball giving white Americans hooked on feeling aggrieved a chance to believe THEY are the real victims of racism.

But serious, sensible Americans like Milley can swat that nonsense away like a gnat on his chest full of medals.

Critical race theory is a previously obscure academic movement that views racism as pervasive and woven into American laws, a framework thats hard to argue against when large groups of white people keep showing up at school board meetings hollering about how students shouldnt be taught about how pervasively racist this country has been.

The key problem with this uninformed uproar is that critical race theory isnt really being taught in any school systems anywhere. There are currently more pending bills banning the teaching of critical race theory than there is evidence that critical race theory is being taught.

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd last summer, there have been much-needed conversations on how children are taught about race and racism in America. But those conversations and any changes to curricula have little if anything to do with the broad, complex ideas behind critical race theory, and they have nothing to do with, as the loud ones like to cry, teaching white children to feel guilty.

Its all a bunch of hysterical nonsense, and the ease with which Milley eloquently unloaded on the whole thing revealed the rights new cause to be a paper tiger atop a hill of lies.

Such public displays of debunking are becoming commonplace.

Claims of fraud and finagling in the 2020 presidential election are met by facts and legal rulings that support nothing of the sort. On Wednesday, the Republican-led Michigan Senate Oversight Committee  allow me to stress Republican-led  released a report that found no evidence of widespread or systemic fraud in Michigans prosecution of the 2020 election.

The report read: Our clear finding is that citizens should be confident the results represent the true results of the ballots cast by the people of Michigan. The Committee strongly recommends citizens use a critical eye and ear toward those who have pushed demonstrably false theories for their own personal gain.

Recommendations like that, coupled with the strong words of smart, serious people like Milley, might just save us from ourselves.

rhuppke@chicagotribune.com
The University of California Board of Regents on Wednesday tightened UC's rules on affiliations with hospitals that impose religious restrictions on care.

The policy approved almost unanimously by the board places greater limits than before on interference by religious authorities with the medical judgments of UC physicians practicing at sectarian hospitals.

We know that transfers are not always in the patient's interest.

UC Regents Chair John A. Perez

The policy states that UC physicians practicing at a sectarian hospital must be permitted to provide any treatment at that location to a patient who cant be safely transferred to another facility  even if the treatment would violate religious restrictions. Affiliated hospitals will have until Dec. 31, 2023, to comply with the policy, or the affiliation agreement must be canceled.

"We know that transfers are not always in the patient's interest," board Chair John A. Perez, who crafted the key language approved by the board, said after the board's meeting, conducted remotely Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday's vote capped two years of debate at UC about its practice of forging partnerships with hospital chains that impose "policy-based" restrictions on healthcare on their premises. In practice, the term applies to Catholic hospitals, which generally adhere to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, a product of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The ERDs, as they're known, label abortions, euthanasia, assisted suicide and direct sterilization intrinsically evil and prohibit them at Catholic facilities. They also bar such gender-affirming procedures as hysterectomies for transgender patients.

The issue of affiliations with institutions that restrict care on religious grounds broke into the open in early 2019, when UC San Francisco sought to expand its professional affiliation with four hospitals owned by the Catholic chain Dignity Health. Thanks to an uproar by UCSF personnel, the proposal was abandoned.

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It soon became clear that other affiliation contracts bound personnel connected to almost every UC medical center to limitations on care when they were working at locations that had restrictive policies, chiefly Catholic hospitals. (The arrangements didn't affect UC personnel's practices at UC medical centers or at hospitals that didn't impose religious restrictions.)

Many in the UC community considered any such restriction to be an infringement on "the universitys commitment to provide treatment based on the best scientific information available, as the UC Academic Senate observed in a May 11 letter to UC President Michael V. Drake, a physician. It goes against the universitys obligation ... not to discriminate against any individuals," the letter said.

Drake, addressing his fellow regents Wednesday, acknowledged that "past affiliation contracts did not reflect UC values. That was wrong and it was unacceptable." He said that amendments made to those contracts over the last two years removed the offending language.

Drake's recommendation for UC policy going forward, however, still left a major loophole in the rights of UC professionals to practice medicine at Catholic hospitals without religious interference.

Although it stated that affiliate hospitals could not prevent UC providers from advising or counseling patients at those hospitals or prescribing treatments as they wished, it did not ensure that the doctors could perform those treatments. Instead, it allowed for patients needing those treatments to be transferred elsewhere.

Until just before the board met Wednesday to debate and vote on Drake's recommendation, it appeared likely to pass, leaving large blocs of the UC community discontented with what appeared to be a capitulation to Catholic authorities.

At that point, Perez, who has been a steadfast critic of past affiliations with institutions imposing religious restrictions, offered a sheaf of amendments that addressed fundamental objections to the recommendation.

Among Perez's amendments was one that required hospitals that offer any given medical procedure or service to provide it to all patients without discrimination.

This arose from a case in which a Dignity Health hospital refused a hysterectomy to a patient when it discovered the patient was transgender. A lawsuit brought by the patient, Evan Minton, alleging illegal discrimination by Dignity, is pending in federal court.

Perez also attacked the transfer loophole.

Medical professionals say that transfers can often jeopardize the health of patients, especially those facing extreme circumstances. Perez's amendment aims to ensure that in such cases, the patient could be treated at the original hospital without interference from religious authorities.

Drake and other university administrators were given 60 days to codify the general principles in Perez's amendments and bring them back to the regents for final review. But Perez said after the meeting that he was satisfied that they wouldn't be watered down in the process.

"The policy is the policy," he said.

Perez, who will move next month from chairman of the board to chairman of its health services committee, indicated that he was hoping to move the regents away from seeing the affiliation issue in yes-or-no terms  does UC continue to allow partners to impose religious restrictions on care at their locations by UC physicians, or "flip the switch on all affiliations" by shunning those imposing those restrictions?

"There are benefits to affiliations," Perez acknowledged, including services provided to some 35,000 patients a year who receive treatment by UC personnel at sectarian hospital systems.

Many board members seemed to jump at Perez's proposals as if clutching at a lifeline.

The amendments also won praise from critics of UC's relationship with Catholic hospitals. Among them was state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who has introduced legislation barring partnerships between UC and institutions imposing discriminatory restrictions on healthcare.

During the regents meeting, Wiener had warned that Drake's original recommendation "does not solve the problem" of such partnerships. "I ask you to make my bill moot" by rejecting the affiliations, he said. After the regents meeting, he called the vote on Perez's amendments "a positive step forward" that would ensure that "UC physicians can exercise their own professional judgment in providing care."

The most important endorsement came from Drake, who said during the meeting of the board, of which he is an ex-officio member, that he would support the amendments. He did question a ban on any exceptions to the rules, however, arguing that unexpected events akin to the COVID-19 pandemic might require exceptions in the future.

It isn't clear that the policy approved by the regents will satisfy everyone involved in the affiliation controversy. Many members of the UC community feel that the ERDs by their nature discriminate against LGBTQ patients and infringe on women's rights to obtain the full spectrum of reproductive health services, including abortion and contraceptives.

Those provisions, they say, run counter to UC values, which say that medical judgment, not religious policy, must be paramount in the treatment of all patients.

Among those expressing skepticism about Perez's amendments was Carrie Byington, the head of UC Health, the university division that oversees the systems six health centers and 20 health professional schools.

Byington, who has been among the most assertive promoters of expanded affiliation arrangements, questioned who would decide whether a transfer would be detrimental to a patient's health.

"There needs to be some significant clarification on what it means to be 'detrimental,'" she told the board. "Is inconvenience 'detrimental'?"

Drake responded that the determination would be made by the UC doctor.

Byington also questioned how religious affiliates would respond to that provision and others. She said she would need time to discuss with affiliates "to understand ... their interpretation of what we have proposed." Affiliated systems may "see things in a different way than we see things."

That's an indication that Byington is concerned that religious systems may not find the UC policy acceptable, especially if it provides for disallowed treatments to be performed on their premises.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Joining other colleges in the state, including Yale, the University of Hartford and UConn, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system will require all students to be vaccinated for the fall semester.

The vaccines that are currently authorized in the United States are safe, effective, and critical to resuming normal operations at our campuses this fall, said Dr. Jane Gates, interim president of CSCU, in a statement released Thursday. Now is the time for students planning on attending college this fall to get vaccinated. With more infectious, more severe variants becoming more and more prevalent, getting your shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and our communities.

The Board of Regents for Higher Education approved the mandate Thursday morning. The new policy does not require all employees to be vaccinated, but it gives the CSCU president authority to impose one if necessary.

The CSCU decision comes after UHart acted earlier this week, joining UConn, Wesleyan University and Yale University. As the state and the nation push to reach President Joe Bidens vaccination goal of 70% of all adults with at least one dose by July 4, younger people have been harder to convince. About 70% of Americans age 30 and above have received at least one shot.

Having a fully vaccinated student body will a give us the best chance to return to a more typical college experience, with in-person services and activities, and fewer restrictions in the residential neighborhoods and in the classroom, UHart said in a statement this week.

Interim UConn President Andrew Agwunobi has called vaccinations the single most important step in ensuring a safe return to campus.

A committee of students and staff from the CSCU system has been studying the vaccine mandate since May.

With more infectious, more severe variants becoming more and more prevalent, getting your shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and our communities,' Gates said.
A Rhode Island beach club, which counts Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse as a member, disputed allegations Wednesday that its members are all white after the lawmaker faced backlash.

The media's characterization of Bailey's Beach Club is "inaccurate and false," the club said.

"Recent characterizations in the press and in other commentary about Baileys Beach Club are inaccurate and false," a spokesperson for the club said. "Over many years, Club members and their families have included people of many racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds from around the world who come to Newport every summer. Our membership comes from all over the globe to our small club, and we welcome the diversity of view and background they bring to our community."

Whitehouse defended his decadeslong membership at the club, which at the time had faced criticism over a lack of diversity in its membership.

BLACK LIVES MATTER CRITICIZES DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FOR DEFENDING MEMBERSHIP TO ALLEGED ALL-WHITE BEACH CLUB

It's a long tradition in Rhode Island, and there are many of them, and I think we just need to work our way through the issues, thank you," he said.

The club reportedly had admitted no minorities, and Whitehouse appeared to concede that people of color have not entered the club since.

I think the people who are running the place are still working on that, and Im sorry it hasn't happened yet, Whitehouse said.

The Democratic senator and his wife have been members at Bailey's for decades, though he apparently transferred his shares in the club to his wife years ago, making her one of the largest stakeholders.

Whitehouse's comments drew the attention of Gary Dantzler, the executive director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, who lambasted the "good ole boy mentality."

"I am ashamed of Senator Whitehouse and his affiliation with this racist club," Dantzler said Tuesday. "Him coming out and speaking about ending systemic racism while belonging to a whites only private club is hypocrisy as it worst."

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Both black members of the GOP's House caucus, Reps. Burgess Owens and Byron Donalds, criticized Whitehouse and likened his participation in the club to Jim Crow.

"Voter ID is Jim Crow, but all-white beach clubs are just 'tradition' ... Seem backwards to anyone else?" Owens tweeted Tuesday morning.

Donalds called on President Joe Biden to recognize Whitehouse's club membership as "Jim Crow 2.0."

"You see, the Democrats like to use racially charged language like Jim Crow to divide the country and to distract you from the real racists in their party," he continued.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

On Monday, Whitehouse reneged his comments, saying he "got the facts wrong." The group has "diversity of membership" after speaking with a liaison from Bailey's, he said.

The club, founded in the 1890s, boasts membership from around 500 families, including the Vanderbilts and the Astors.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island, Race and Diversity, Racism, Congress, Black Lives Matter

Original Author: Jake Dima

Original Location: Democratic Rhode Island senator's beach club disputes allegations of being white-only after backlash
Wise and Howery, who appear alongside Kevin Hart in the Netflix movie, discuss which stereotypes they believe Fatherhood successfully debunks about Black fathers

DeWanda Wise and Lil Rel Howery are opening up about breaking down stereotypes in the new Netflix film Fatherhood, which they appear in alongside Kevin Hart.

The movie is based on the 2011 book Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love, which is the true story of Matthew Logelin, who unexpectedly lost his wife shortly after she gave birth.

Hart plays the lead role and Melody Hurd (Them) is playing his daughter. What makes the movie even more unique than the color-blind casting is the commitment to ensuring the Black father is depicted in a positive way.

DeWanda Wise attends the The Apollo screening on April 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

Wise and Howery sat down with theGrios Chris Witherspoon to discuss which stereotypes they believe Fatherhood successfully debunks about Black fathers. Wise said the film allows the Black father to be vulnerable, which she believes is something that isnt regularly shown in a Black male lead.

Describing Hart and his role as Matthew Logelin in the movie, Wise said, I would just say that, I feel like so much of it in the process of being like look, no, Im not perfect. I do not have it all figured out, but Im going to in a way thats out loud and present and not trying to be this kind of stringent construct of what it means to be a strong father for my kid. I think its so important to see that.

theGrios DShonda Brown spoke with Wise in February and learned more about the great importance behind her role.

She explained, My character, Swan, is a light. She represents healing, what it means to not just move through grief and tragedy but to be present in the process of it.

The Shes Gotta Have It actress revealed that playing the character also meant something to her personally.

That kind of healing energy and Black folk joy is just part of what I desperately need to see and feel right now. Usually, I gravitate towards things that Im hungry for. I just assumed that other people are too, but really it just comes from saying, I wanna see that, so let me help bring it to life.

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As for Howery, he believed the film did well with showing Black men express their emotions. The 41-year-old plays Jordan, who is Logelins best friend in the film. He says getting the opportunity to be emotional is what made him love his character more.

He said, the friendship that Jordan and Matt have, is [one] we dont see a lot of times. Especially a Black man on screen like this showing emotion. Emotionally, being there for each other.

Actor/comedian Lil Rel Howery attends the screening of HBOs Lil Rel Howery: Live In Crenshaw on Nov. 21, 2019. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images)

The Get Out actor went on to praise the movie for representing Black fathers that truly actually exist that people dont know exist. and we dont just do that on screen. And it was such a beautiful piece.

Crediting his co-star, he said, Kevin brought it up, he really did.

Despite being known best for his comic roles, Howery, surprisingly, prefers to be in drama films rather than comedy. Why? Because according to him, he enjoys breaking the tension.

He went on to give props to Fatherhood director Paul Weitz for allowing the cast to improvise.

Because some of the stuff, we was kind of just playing around with it, Howery said.

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The post DeWanda Wise and Lil Rel Howery on the importance of Fatherhood appeared first on TheGrio.
The conspiracy theory that Donald Trump will be reinstated as president in August has sparked concerns at the Department of Homeland Security, a top official there told members of Congress on Wednesday.

The exchange came in a members-only briefing that John Cohen, the departments top counterterrorism official, gave to the House Committee on Homeland Security. Three people familiar with the briefing described it to POLITICO. They requested anonymity to discuss the private conversation.

In the briefing, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) asked Cohen how DHS is following the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories, as well as the way that discourse can fuel violence. She specifically brought up the conspiracy theory claiming Trump will be reinstated as president in August  a theory Trump himself has reportedly promoted.

Cohen replied that DHS is not aware of any specific, credible threats of violence linked to the conspiracy theory about Trump being reinstated. But he added that DHS is following discussion of the topic online among extremist communities. And he said department officials are highly concerned about it because it fuels the false narrative that the election was rigged  a narrative that may trigger a violent response from extremists.

The briefings topic was domestic terrorism. But Cohen also fielded a significant number of questions from members about violent crime, which has surged in 2020 and 2021. Cohen said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has directed officials there to look at factors fueling the violence that fall in the departments mission. And earlier this week, the Biden administration rolled out a strategy to combat violent crime.

Conspiracy theorists  notably including Mike Lindell, the pillow magnate who appears frequently in commercials on Fox News  have claimed in recent months that Trump will be reinstated as president in August, The New York Times Maggie Haberman and National Review reported earlier this month that Trump himself has told acquaintances he expects to be reinstated as president by the end of the summer. Lindell told The Daily Beast that Trump probably reached that conclusion because he has been promoting it. Commentator Charlie Sykes wrote for MSNBC that the August date is based on guesswork and conspiratorial theories tied to nonexistent election fraud in Arizona and a delusional hope that the Supreme Court will invalidate the election.

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If Trump is saying August, that is probably because he heard me say it publicly, Lindell said.

A DHS spokesperson sent POLITICO a statement after this story published highlighting the department's emphasis on disinformation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is focused on the nexus between violence and extremist ideologies, as well as hateful and false narratives," the spokesperson said. "DHS is enhancing its ability to prevent acts of violence inspired by disinformation, conspiracy theories, and extremist narratives spread through social media and other online platforms.

And Sidney Powell, who did legal work for Trump as he tried to overturn the 2020 election results, told a QAnon conference earlier this year that he can simply be reinstated.

A Morning Consult/POLITICO survey from earlier this month showed that almost one-third of Republican voters have bought into the conspiracy theory. It traffics in the same themes of election-rigging that fueled the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Republican members of Congress blocked an effort to establish a 9/11-style commission to investigate that attack. So this morning, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she will set up a select committee to probe the event.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has made combating domestic terrorism a priority. The White House released a strategy document earlier this month detailing their approach to the problem. And the Department of Homeland Security has set up a dedicated team of intelligence analysts focused exclusively on the topic. But the work has generated concerns among civil liberties advocates, who say they worry about expanded government surveillance of activity the First Amendment protects  along with potential disparate impacts on marginalized communities.
President Biden's education secretary got into a testy exchange with a Republican congresswoman as the Cabinet official refused to say how many genders there are.

During a House Education and Labor Committee hearing on the priorities of the Department of Education, Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., asked Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about an educational material disseminated to students and their families entitled "Confronting Anti-LGBTQI+ Harassment in Schools."

Miller highlighted one of the examples of harassment listed on the material, which depicted a teacher telling a student who "identifies as nonbinary" that there are only two genders.

"Before we start penalizing teachers for stating a genetic and biological fact about genders, can you please clarify for the committee how many genders there are?" the congresswoman asked.

RAND PAUL, IN TENSE EXCHANGE, PRESSES BIDENS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NOMINEE ON TRANSGENDER STUDENT ATHLETES

"So, I know what you're asking, but I'm going to get to the root of what you're asking," Cardona responded, dodging the question. "I feel very strongly, that as educators, it's our responsibility to protect all students."

Miller pressed Cardona again to quantify the number of genders that exist, though he again refused.

"That is an example under your leadership that you are putting out to people," the Illinois Republican said, referring to the document. "How many genders are there?"

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Cardona quickly deflected, asking how Miller would "respond to a student who is nonbinary in your classroom," but was pressed again by the congresswoman on the number of genders that exist.

"I won't be answering your question," Cardona fired back. "You can continue your line of questioning."

President Biden was asked the same question during a 2019 campaign stop. Unlike Cardona, Biden provided an answer.

"There are at least three," Biden said, before telling the conservative activist who asked him the question: "Don't play games with me, kid."
As promised, a consortium of environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against public officials and a private owner they blame for the Piney Point disaster that saw 215 million gallons of polluted water pumped into Tampa Bay.

The lawsuit asks a federal judge to oversee the clean-up, closure and investigation of the old Piney Point fertilizer plant site in Manatee County and ensure the phosphogypsum stacks and wastewater are properly disposed of before an uncontrolled release of hazardous and radioactive pollution.

The lawsuit names Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Shawn Hamilton (who took over earlier this month), the Manatee County Port Authority and the propertys owner, HRK Holdings, LLC.

It blames the April wastewater discharge on past and present handling, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid and hazardous waste at Piney Point.

The phosphogypsum and wastewater there remains an imminent and substantial endangerment to health and the environment, according to the lawsuit filed in the Middle District of Florida by the Center for Biological Diversity, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, ManaSota-88 and the Our Childrens Earth Foundation.

The Piney Point disaster is Exhibit A in a long list of Floridas failures to protect our water and wildlife from the harms of phosphogypsum, said a statement from Jaclyn Lopez, the Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

The lawsuit asks a court to ensure Piney Point is cleaned up in accordance with the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a 1976 law that governs how hazardous waste is disposed of in the U.S., and to end the threat to people and animals, including species such as manatees and sea turtles.

The Manatee County Port Authority said Thursday it does not comment on pending litigation. The Department of Environmental Protection did not offer comment and the governors office did not respond to a request for comment. The owner of HRK Holdings did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

When the environmental groups announced their plans to sue in May, Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson Alexandra Kuchta told the Tampa Bay Times that the agency intends to close Piney Point and hold HRK Holdings responsible.

While we cannot comment on pending litigation, she said, what I can tell you is the department is committed to holding HRK Holdings Inc. and all involved parties accountable for this event, as well as ensuring the closure of this site once and for all so that this is the final chapter of Piney Point.
By Ayenat Mersie and Dawit Endeshaw

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The number of civilians killed in an air strike in Ethiopia's Tigray region has risen to 51 with 33 people still unaccounted for, a health official involved in the response said, disputing the army's account that the victims were combatants.

The official, who asked not to be identified, spoke on Thursday as medical workers and aid agencies were still scrambling to evacuate dozens of seriously injured patients from the town of Togoga to the regional capital Mekelle, about 25 km to the southeast, two days after the bombing.

He said at least 68 patients had reached hospitals in Mekelle but the total number injured was likely more than 100.

Nathalia Estevam Fraga, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Mekelle, said getting wounded patients to a surgical theatre "was a matter of life and death" for some of them.

The attack was one of the deadliest reported incidents in months in a region where the government had said most major fighting ended last year. Residents have reported increased clashes this week in towns north of regional capital Mekelle.

In the military's first account of the incident, Colonel Getnet Adane, Ethiopia's military spokesman, said only combatants, not civilians, had been hit. He said the full death toll was still being gathered.

Getnet told Reuters that the combatants had been dressed in civilian clothes and had gathered in the town to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing of another town in Tigray, Hawzen, in 1988. That attack, by Ethiopia's then-ruling Communist leaders, killed hundreds of people and is widely commemorated in Tigray.

However, the health official involved in the response said it was clear the victims were not combatants: "Based on eye witnesses and the health teams we sent, the dead are civilians," the official said. "It was in the middle of town and on market day."

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A resident of the town told Reuters on Wednesday that the strike hit a market at around 1 p.m. That resident also said that her 2-year-old daughter had been injured in the attack.

The military has been battling forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the region's former ruling party, since November. Fighting has displaced 2 million people, and the United Nations has warned of famine conditions in parts of the region.

The air strike took place as Ethiopian officials counted ballots from national and regional parliamentary elections held this week in seven of the nation's 10 regions.

No voting was held in Tigray, and security concerns and problems with ballot papers also delayed voting in two other regions.

Asked about children injured in Tuesday's attack, Getnet said the TPLF uses propaganda and is known for faking injuries. He also said that doctors quoted by the media are not "real doctors".

A TPLF spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Previously, Getnet had declined to confirm or deny the incident, saying air strikes were a common military tactic and that government forces do not target civilians.

(Writing by Maggie Fick and Duncan Miriri; Editing by Peter Graff)
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union slapped economic sanctions on Belarus Thursday in response to what the EU called the escalation of serious human rights violations including the detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich.

The sanctions target the economy but are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.

Pratasevich, a dissident journalist, was arrested May 23 after Belarusian flight controllers ordered a Ryanair jet traveling from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk.

The sanctions agreed Thursday target industries including potash  a common fertilizer ingredient  tobacco industry exports and petroleum products.

Trade in petroleum products, potassium chloride (potash), and goods used for the production or manufacturing of tobacco products is restricted, the EU said in a statement. The sanctions also include a ban on sales to Belarus of equipment and software that can be used to monitor the internet and phone calls.

The EU has gradually ratcheted up sanctions since Lukashenko  dubbed the last dictator in Europe  won a sixth term last August in elections the bloc called fraudulent.

The 27-nation bloc has taken a tougher line since the Ryanair incident, and over the countrys alleged use of migrants to pressure neighboring Lithuania, which has provided a safe haven to Belarusian opposition figures and is one of Lukashenkos most vocal critics.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A former soldier fired gunshots in a coronavirus field hospital in Thailand on Thursday, killing a 54-year-old patient after earlier shooting dead a convenience store employee, police said.

The suspect, 23, believed that the patients in the hospital in Pathum Thani near Bangkok were drug addicts and that he hated drug addicts, regional police chief Amphol Buarabporn told Reuters, after an initial investigation.

The field hospital was once a drug rehabilitation centre and was reorganised to treat COVID-19 patients.

Closed-circuit camera footage that circulated online showed the a man walking into a hospital in combat uniform and red beret brandishing a firearm.

Hours earlier, the suspect shot and killed a convenience store employee in Bangkok over a dispute, Amphol said.

The suspect was later arrested.

Pictures of the scene at the field hospital showed broken glass in front of an area where patients were sat in their beds.

In February last year, a soldier killed 29 people in a rare shooting spree at a Thai shopping mall while, which drew attention to treatment of junior military staff in Thailand.

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)
By Jonathan Barrett

SYDNEY (Reuters) -The Pacific island of Nauru is negotiating for the construction of an undersea communications cable that would connect to an Australian network, two sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, after the earlier rejection of a Chinese proposal.

The United States and its Pacific allies have concerns that cables laid by China could compromise regional security. Beijing has denied any intent to use commercial optic fibre cables, which have far greater data capacity than satellites, for spying.

Nauru, which has strong ties to U.S. ally Australia, helped scupper a World Bank-led cable tender earlier this year over concerns the contract would be awarded to the former Huawei Marine, now called HMN Tech, after the Chinese firm lodged a bid priced at more than 20% below rivals.

The tiny Pacific nation of just over 12,000 people has now approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help fund an alternative, the development agency told Reuters.

"ADB is involved in very early discussions with the government of Nauru to explore possible options to help fund an undersea cable to deliver low-cost, high quality internet service," the ADB said in a statement to Reuters.

"The details of the connection arrangement and funding sources will be determined in due course."

The two sources said the new plan would involve laying a cable from Nauru to the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara, located about 1,250 kilometres (776.7 miles) apart.

The new line would then tap into the Coral Sea Cable system, a 4,700km network that connects Australia to the Solomons and Papua New Guinea. That line, majority funded by Australia and built by Sydney-headquartered Vocus Group, was completed in 2019 to shut out a competing offer from Huawei Marine, then owned by Huawei Technologies.

The former Huawei Marine is now majority owned by Shanghai-listed Hengtong Optic-Electric Co Ltd after Huawei Technologies sold the submarine cable business last year.

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Nauru's plan needs Australia and the Solomons to be on board, the sources said. It is unclear if Nauru has requested financial assistance from Australia or whether it only needs Canberra's permission to join the Coral Sea Cable system.

One source, who has direct knowledge of the planned cable route, described the talks as "early stage negotiations".

The second source provided information about discussions between Nauru officials and the ADB, Australia and the Solomons. The source said Nauru was in the process of "doing a deal".

The governments of Nauru, Australia and the Solomons did not respond to requests for comment. The World Bank said it was not involved in discussions around cables connecting with Nauru.

Nauru was the first to raise concerns over a bid lodged by China's HMN Tech during the World Bank tender process last year to build subsea cables for Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati, sources told Reuters in December. The United States followed up by warning the Pacific island nations that the HMN Tech bid posed a regional security threat.

The project then unravelled after the island governments heeded the U.S. warnings and declined to award a contract.

"The Chinese government has always encouraged Chinese enterprises to carry out investment cooperation in various fields in accordance with market principles and international rules and on the basis of abiding by local laws," said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry.

"Chinese enterprises have always maintained a good record in network security, and the so-called Chinese espionage activities are groundless," Zhao told a regular press conference on Thursday, when asked about the undersea cable plan.

Australia has ramped up its presence in the Pacific through the creation of a A$2 billion ($1.5 billion)infrastructure financing facility and via its membership of the new "Quad" group, together with the United States, India and Japan, to counter China's expanding interests in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia is also part of a trilateral partnership with the United States and Japan that was formed to finance an undersea optic fibre cable for Palau, another Pacific nation.

Washington has pressed governments around the world to squeeze Huawei and other Chinese companies out of supplying sensitive communications equipment, alleging the company could hand over data to the Chinese government for spying, a charge denied by Beijing and Chinese telcos.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters last week that Chinese companies had an excellent record in cyber security and that they needed to be able to participate in a non-discriminatory business environment.

Nauru, located in the central Pacific, has retained diplomatic ties to Taiwan, creating tension with China, which regards Taiwan as its own territory. Hosting a major Pacific forum in 2018, Nauru's then president, Baron Waqa, described a Chinese envoy as "very insolent" and a "bully" after an angry exchange between officials.

($1 = 1.3259 Australian dollars)

(Additional reporting by Gabriel Crossley in Beijing; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
An aerial view of the Florida condo building that partially collapsed early Thursday. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

One person is dead, and at least 99 are unaccounted for after a building partially collapsed in Surfside, Florida.

A section of the building crumbled after 1 a.m. on Thursday.

Photos below show the sheer devastation as rescue efforts are ongoing.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A view of the Champlain Towers South, located on Collins Avenue in Surfside, Florida, after the collapse around 1 a.m. on Thursday.

A partially collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. A partial building collapse in Miami caused a massive response early Thursday from Miami Dade Fire Rescue, according to a tweet from the department's account. Miami Dade Fire Rescue is conducting search and rescue. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

The way the building collapsed is making it difficult for rescue teams to locate survivors, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said on Thursday.

A zoomed-in shot after the collapse shows tattered units and belongings.

Joe Raedle/ Getty Images

"The problem is the building has literally pancaked," Burkett said. "It's heartbreaking because it doesn't mean, to me, that we're going to be successful, as successful as we want to be, to find people alive."

Firefighters helping a man evacuate his unit early Thursday morning.

Chandan Khanna/ Getty Images

As of Thursday evening just before 5:00 p.m., 102 have been accounted for and at least 99 people remain unaccounted for, officials said.

An aerial view of the building collapse on Thursday.

Aerial view of the collapse. Joe Raedle/ Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a press conference on Thursday that Florida is "bracing for some bad news given the destruction that we're seeing."

Since early Thursday morning, rescue crews have been on the scene.

Joe Raedle/ Getty Images

"It looks like a bomb went off, but we are pretty sure a bomb didn't go off," Mayor Burkett said Thursday.

On Thursday evening, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Ray Jadallah called the search "slow and methodical," said that they were using sonar and canine teams. Jadallah noted that there is a parking garage that's beneath the building and rescues are attempting to tunneling to different floors.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference on Thursday in Tampa, Florida.

Joe Raedle/ Getty Images

"It's a really, really tragic situation, so we'll hope for the best in terms of additional recoveries," DeSantis said on Thursday.

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Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel continue search and rescue operations in the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. It is unknown at this time how many people were injured as search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. According to reports, almost 100 people are still unaccounted for. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

According to officials, 37 in total were pulled from the site  35 victims from the structure, and two victims from the rubble. Eleven patients were being treated, and four were transported to a hospital. One person is confirmed dead.

"Every time we start breaching parts of the structure we do get debris falling on us," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Ray Jadallah said on Thursday evening.

Residents look on at the damage after authorities cordon off the area.

AP photo/Wilfredo Lee

NBC Miami footage on Thursday morning showed a 10-year-old boy being pulled from the rubble.

A family reunification center was set up at the Surfside Community center.

Chandan Khanna/Getty Images

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said that more than 80 rescue units were helping at the scene of the collapse.

Survivors and family members from the Champlain Towers South at the Surfside Community Center.

Chandan Khanna/ Getty Images

Family members and residents of the Champlain Towers South greet each other outside the Town of Surfside Community Center in Surfside, north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. - The 12-story oceanfront apartment block in Florida partially collapsed early on June 24, killing at least one person and sparking a major emergency response with dozens of rescuers combing the rubble for survivors. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Bunkbeds from an apartment unit destroyed in the collapse.

Rubble hangs from a partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. - The multi-story apartment block in Florida partially collapsed early June 24, sparking a major emergency response. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

The land around the Florida condo that collapsed was showing signs of sinking, according to a 2020 study.

Video captured the building collapsing.

Read the original article on Insider
A manhunt for a suspect was underway in Florida on Wednesday night after a police officer was shot in the head while on duty, according to reports.

The wounded Daytona Beach officer was rushed into surgery in critical condition, reports said.

Police searched for the suspect, identified as Othal Wallace, 29, who was considered "armed & dangerous," the Volusia County Sheriffs Department said in a release.

The officer was found on the ground with a gunshot wound after hed stopped responding to his radio while investigating a suspicious incident in the area, WKMG-TV of Orlando reported.

Daytona Police Chief Jakari Young called the suspect a "coward" in a late-night press briefing and said the suspect shot at the officer after he started speaking with him.

"At some point, the suspect turns and shoots my officer one time in the head," Young told reporters. He said the officer is in "grave" condition.

He added that more than 500 officers have responded and the county is on lockdown until we "track this coward down."

"No change in the status of my hero who was shot in the line of duty last night," Young tweeted in an update early Thursday. "Hes fighting while all of us are praying. The manhunt continues for the coward responsible for this....."

MICHIGAN COP BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS AFTER KILLING WOMAN WHO SHOT AT HIM DURING JUNETEENTH PARADE

Footage from the officer's body camera released by authorities showed the officer approach the suspect who was sitting in his car, asking him if he lives near where was parked. The officer asks the suspect to sit back in the car as he starts to get out.

"Come on man, don't do this. Why are you asking me if I live here?" the suspect asks. The suspect struggles with the officer who can be heard shouting, "Stop! Stop, man!" before a shot rings out.

"Please keep the @DaytonaBchPDofficer and family in your prayers," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood tweeted along with a photo of the suspect driving away in a Honda HRV.

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A $100,000 reward was being offered for information leading to Wallaces capture and parts of Interstates 4 and 95 were shut down to prevent his escape, according to WKMG.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The wounded officer has not been identified.
Floridas prisons have returned to normal, non-emergency operations  including dropping face mask requirements  citing the availability of vaccines and a lack of any new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks at state facilities, officials confirmed Wednesday.

Florida Department of Corrections spokesperson Molly Best said facial coverings are now optional for staff, visitors and people incarcerated in state prisons. The change is contrary to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says people in prisons should continue to wear masks.

Normal programs and group activities have resumed, vaccinations are encouraged but not required to participate, Best said in a statement. FDC continues to COVID test all newly committed inmates upon intake and follow our enhanced cleaning protocol. Additionally, general information related to infectious disease mitigation is posted for staff, inmates, and visitors.

Best could not immediately provide the number of incarcerated people fully vaccinated, but said more than 33,000 had received at least one dose as of June 2  almost 40% of the total number of people currently imprisoned.

Best said there are currently no active COVID-19 cases and confirmed that the agency has halted its weekly reports on cases and deaths among staff and incarcerated people, as of June 2.

Best said that data was no longer operationally necessary because there hadnt been any active cases in weeks. But as of May 19, about a month ago, three new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported among people in prison.

Its not clear how often incarcerated people have been tested in recent weeks because the agency stopped publicly providing that data months ago. The Sentinel requested the latest testing numbers, broken down by facility, but Best did not provide that data Wednesday.

It was also unclear whether or how the agency would report a future outbreak. Best said any in-custody deaths would continue to be reported by the agency, but without distinguishing if COVID-19 was a suspected factor.

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FDC Secretary Mark Inch had previously said that once vaccines were distributed to everyone in state prisons, he expected to shed masking requirements because everyone had the opportunity to get the vaccine.

As of June 1, the CDC said that detained persons and correctional and detention facility staff should still wear a well-fitted mask that covers the nose and mouth.

The guidelines recommended masking in these settings because of their close quarters and high turnover, which can result in a higher risk of transmission, but said the CDC will continue to monitor new data as it comes in, including vaccine coverage in these settings, and review the science to inform our guidance and decision making.

gtoohey@orlandosentinel.com
A gun violence prevention group has released videos in which they trick famous pro-gun figures into addressing a sea of empty chairs, representing children and teenagers who were shot and killed before they could graduate from high school.

Change the Ref, a gun safety organization founded by Patricia and Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin was murdered in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, released the videos Wednesday.

As drone videos show sweeps of thousands of empty white seats, overlaid audio from 911 calls brings in the terrified voices of students trapped in schools while bullets are flying.

Speaking to the empty chairs in the first video is NRA board member David Keene, who was the pro-gun group's president from 2011 to 2013.

David Keene, President of the National Rifle Association, speaks at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) March 16, 2013 in National Harbor, Md. (Pete Marovich / Getty Images file)

Keene invokes the Virginian founding father, namesake of the fake James Madison Academy he thinks he's addressing, to ask that the graduating students uphold the second amendment that Madison is credited with authoring.

A woman who answered the phone at Keene's home declined to comment.

Video: Court ruling could mean the beginning of the end of the NRA

In a statement, Change the Ref said, "This campaign is not about tricking a couple of NRA members, its about showing how thousands of empty chairs during graduations, have become a normal American tradition."

In one of the videos, Patricia said her organization released the video "to make a change to regulations on gun violence."

Manuel and Patricia Oliver, parents of Parkland high school shooting victim Joaquin Oliver, speak to the media in Miami on June 5, 2018. (Brynn Anderson / AP file)

"We are here representing every single kid that is not able to finish high school," Manuel added. "We have to be louder, and that means reaching more and more people."

In the second video, John Lott Jr., author of "More Guns, Less Crime," denounces universal background checks.

Lott tells the empty chairs about his time working for the Department of Justice during the Trump administration, and describes people whose gun purchases were foiled by background checks as "three-and-a-half million law-abiding citizens who wanted to get a gun."

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In a statement, Lott said his remarks in the video were taken out of context and called the clips deceptive and selectively edited," adding that he spoke for about 15 minutes  much longer than the one minute included in the video.

Lott called on Change the Ref to release his full speech.

In follow-up remarks over the phone, Lott said he drove 1,000 miles from Montana to deliver the remarks: I thought I was trying to help out a school there, he told NBC News.

Its just outrageous that somebody would do that, he added.

Asked if his video was deceptively edited, Manuel Oliver told NBC News: it wasnt."

"We have back up to the quote: universal background checks would not have stopped a single mass shooting this century. Sometimes theres no need for editing and this is one of those cases. Actual words, real space, absolute arrogance, and 3044 empty chairs.

Jay W. Walker, a New York City organizer with Gays Against Guns, which produces colorful gun violence protest-actions that often attract news coverage, called Change the Ref's video protest campaign "brilliant."

"Hats off to Change The Ref for doing this!!" Walker said.
By Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales

MANILA (Reuters) -Former Philippines President Benigno Aquino, the son of two of the Southeast Asian country's democracy icons, died in a Manila hospital on Thursday of renal failure as a result of diabetes, his family said.

Aquino, 61, who was president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016, had been hospitalised earlier on Thursday.

"It is with profound grief that on behalf of our family, I am confirming that our brother, Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III, died peacefully in his sleep," the family said in a statement read by Pinky Aquino Abellada, one of four surviving sisters.

"His death certificate pronounced his death at 6:30 a.m. due to renal disease secondary to diabetes."

President Rodrigo Duterte declared June 24 to July 3 as period of national mourning, with the national flag to be flown at half-mast on all government buildings.

"I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Aquino family," Duterte said in a speech. "Please accept the love and the prayers of a grateful nation."

Vice President Leni Robredo, who ran under the then Aquino-led ruling party when elected in 2016, said it was "heart-breaking" to hear of his death.

"He tried to do what was right, even when it was not popular," she said in a statement. "He worked quietly and tirelessly for the good of everyone. He will be missed."

Known popularly as Noynoy, Aquino rode a wave of public support to the presidency after the 2009 death of his mother, the revered "People Power" leader Corazon Aquino, who was herself president from 1986 until 1992.

His namesake father, a senator who staunchly opposed the rule of strongman Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated when he returned home from political exile in 1983.

The killing shocked the nation and helped propel Marcos out of office in the 1986 People Power revolution and ushered in his mother's presidency.

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In a statement, Senator Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator, paid tribute to Aquino for his "kind and simple soul" and said he would be deeply missed.

Aquino still carried a bullet wound from an attempted military coup in 1987 against his mothers administration, during which he was shot five times and three of his bodyguards were killed.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema; additional reporting by Enrico Dela CruzWrting by Kay Johnson, Ed DaviesEditing by Michael Perry and Mark Heinrich)
File Image: Britney Spears at a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony at The LINQ Promenade in 2015 (Getty Images)

Britney Spears addressed a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday (23 June) about the conservatorship which has controlled her money and affairs since 2008.

It was the 39-year-old popstars first appearance in open court in 13 years of the conservatorship.

Spears took part in the hearing remotely and spoke to Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny for 24 minutes. Among the claims made were the allegation that she was forced to consume medications after declining to work, and that she wished to have another child but wasnt permitted to by her team.

The testimony was live-streamed to the media by the court.

The following is Spears testimony in full, with minor edits made for clarity.

Britney Spears: I just got a new phone, and I have a lot to say, so bear with me. Basically, a lot has happened since two years ago, the last time  I wrote all this down  the last time I was in court.

I will be honest with you. I havent been back to court in a long time, because I dont think I was heard on any level when I came to court the last time. I brought four sheets of paper in my hands and wrote in length what I had been through the last four months before I came there. The people who did that to me should not be able to walk away so easily. Ill recap. I was on tour in 2018. I was forced to do My management said if I dont do this tour, I will have to find an attorney 

Judge Brenda Penny: I hate to interrupt you, but my court reporter is asking, you have to speak a little more slowly.

Britney Spears: Oh, of course. Yes. Okay. The people who did this to me should not be able to walk away so easily. To recap: I was on tour in 2018. I was forced to do My management said if I dont do this tour, I will have to find an attorney, and by contract, my own management could sue me if I didnt follow through with the tour. He handed me a sheet of paper as I got off the stage in Vegas and said I had to sign it. It was very threatening and scary. And with the conservatorship, I couldnt even get my own attorney. So out of fear, I went ahead and did the tour.

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When I came off that tour, a new show in Las Vegas was supposed to take place. I started rehearsing early, but it was hard because Id been doing Vegas for four years and I needed a break in between. But no, I was told this is the timeline and this is how its going to go. I rehearsed four days a week. Half of the time in the studio and half of the other time in a Westlake studio. I was basically directing most of the show. I actually did most of the choreography, meaning I taught my dancers my new choreography myself. I take everything I do very seriously. Theres tons of video with me at rehearsals. I wasnt good  I was great. I led a room of 16 new dancers in rehearsals.

Its funny to hear my managers side of the story. They all said I wasnt participating in rehearsals and I never agreed to take my medication  which my medication is only taken in the mornings, never at rehearsal. They dont even see me. So why are they even claiming that? When I said no to one dance move into rehearsals, it was as if I planted a huge bomb somewhere. And I said no, I dont want to do it this way.

After that, my management, my dancers, and my assistant of the new people that were supposed to do the new show all went into a room, shut the door, and didnt come out for at least 45 minutes. Maam, Im not here to be anyones slave. I can say no to a dance move. I was told by my at the time therapist, Dr Benson  who [has since] died  that my manager called him and then that moment and told him I wasnt cooperating or following the guidelines in rehearsals. And he also said I wasnt taking my medication, which is so dumb because Ive had the same lady every morning for the past eight years give me my same medication. And Im nowhere near these stupid people. It made no sense at all.

There was a week period where they were nice to me, and I told them I dont want to do the  They were nice to me, they said if I dont want to do the new Vegas show, I dont have to because I was getting really nervous. It was like lifting literally 200 pounds off of me when they said I dont have to do the show anymore because it was really really hard on myself and it was too much. I couldnt take it anymore.

So I remember telling my assistant, I feel weird if I say no. I feel like theyre gonna come back and be mean to me or punish me or something. Three days later, after I said no to Vegas, my therapist sat me down in a room and said he had a million phone calls about how I was not cooperating in rehearsals and I havent been taking my medication. All this was false  he immediately, the next day, put me on lithium out of nowhere. He took me off my normal meds Ive been on for five years. And lithium is a very, very strong and completely different medication compared to what I was used to. You can go mentally impaired if you take too much if you stay on it longer than five months. But he put me on that and I felt drunk. I couldnt even have a conversation with my mom or dad really about anything. I told him I was scared and my doctor had me on six different nurses with this new medication come to my home, stay with me to monitor me on this new medication, which I never wanted to be on, to begin with. There were six different nurses in my home and they wouldnt let me get in my car to go anywhere for a month.

Not only did my family not do a goddamn thing, but my dad was also all for it. Anything that happened to me had to be approved by my dad. And my dad acted like he didnt know that I was told I had to be tested over the Christmas holidays before they sent me away when my kids went home to Louisiana. He was the one who approved all of it. My whole family did nothing.

Over the two-week holiday, a lady came into my home for four hours a day, sat me down, and did a psych test on me. It took forever. But I was told I had to. Then, I got a phone call from my dad, basically saying Id failed the test or whatever, whatever. Im sorry, Britney, you have to listen to your doctors. Theyre planning to send you to a small home in Beverly Hills to do a small rehab program that were going to make up for you. Youre going to pay $60,000 a month for this. I cried on the phone for an hour and he loved every minute of it.

The control he had over someone as powerful as me, he loved the control to hurt his own daughter, 100,000 per cent. He loved it. I packed my bags and went to that place. I worked seven days a week, no days off, which in California, the only similar thing to this is called sex trafficking. Making anyone work against their will, taking all their possessions away  credit card, cash, phone passport  and placing them in a home where they work with the people who live with them. They all lived in the house with me, the nurses, the 24/7 security. There was one chef that came there and cooked for me daily, during the weekdays. They watched me change every day  morning, noon, and night. I had no privacy, I get eight gallons of blood a week.

If I didnt do any of my meetings and work from 8 to 6 at night, which is 10 hours a day, seven days a week, no days off, I wouldnt be able to see my kids or my boyfriend. I never had a say in my schedule. They always told me I had to do this. And Maam, I will tell you, sitting in a chair 10 hours a day, seven days a week, in a fog  and especially when you cant walk out the front door.

And thats why Im telling you this again two years later after Ive lied and told the whole world Im OK and Im happy. Its a lie. I thought I just maybe if I said that enough maybe I might become happy because Ive been in denial. Ive been in shock. I am traumatized. You know, fake it till you make it. But now Im telling you the truth, OK? Im not happy. I cant sleep. Im so angry its insane. And Im depressed. I cry every day.

And the reason Im telling you this is that I dont think how the state of California can have all this written in the court documents from the time I showed up and do absolutely nothing  just hired, with my money, another person to keep my dad on board. Maam, my dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a key role in punishing me  maam, they should be in jail. Theyre working for Miley Cyrus as she smokes joints onstage at the VMAs nothing has ever been done to this generation for doing wrong things.

But my precious body, who has worked for my dad for the past 13 years, trying to be so good and pretty. So perfectly. He works me so hard. When I do everything, Ive told in the state of California allowed my father  ignorant father  to take his own daughter, who only has a role with me if I work with him, theyve set back the whole course and allowed him to do that, to me, thats given these people Ive worked for way too much control. They also threaten me and said, If I dont go, then I have to go to court.

I was advised for my image, I need to go ahead and just go and get it over with. They said that to me. I dont, I dont even drink alcohol  I should, I should drink alcohol, considering what they put my heart through. Also, the Bridges facility they sent me to, none of the kids that I was doing this program with for four months  none of the kids there did the program. They never showed up for any of them.

You didnt have to do anything if you didnt want to. How come they always made me go? How come I was always threatened by my dad and anybody that participated in this conservatorship? If I dont do this, what they tell me to enslave me to do, theyre gonna punish me.

The last time I spoke to you by just keeping the conservatorship going, and also keeping my dad in the loop, made me feel like I was dead  like I didnt matter like nothing had been done to me like you thought I was lying or something. Im telling you again because Im not lying. I want to feel heard. And Im telling you this again, so maybe you can understand the depth and the degree and the damage that they did to me back then.

I want changes going forward. I deserve changes. I was told I have to sit down and be evaluated. Again. If I want to in the conservatorship, Maam, I didnt know I could (contest) the conservatorship. Im sorry for my ignorance, but I honestly didnt know that. But honestly, but I dont think I owe anyone to be evaluated. Ive done more than enough. I dont feel like I should even be in a room with anyone to offend me by trying to question my capacity of intelligence, whether I need to be in this stupid conservatorship or not. Ive done more than enough.

I dont owe these people anything  especially me, the one that has roofed and fed tons of people on tour on the road. Its embarrassing and demoralizing what Ive been through. And thats the main reason Ive never said it openly. And mainly, I didnt want to say it openly, because I honestly dont think anyone would believe me. To be honest with you, the Paris Hilton story on what they did to her to that school, I didnt believe any of it. Im sorry. Im an outsider, and Ill just be honest. I didnt believe it.

And maybe Im wrong, and thats why I didnt want to say any of this to anybody, to the public, because I thought people would make fun of me or laugh at me and say, Shes lying, shes got everything, shes Britney Spears.

Im not lying. I just want my life back. And its been 13 years. And its enough. Its been a long time since Ive owned my money. And its my wish and my dream for all of this to end without being tested. Again, it makes no sense whatsoever for the state of California to sit back and literally watch me with their own two eyes, make a living for so many people, and pay so many people, trucks, and buses on the road with me and be told, Im not good enough. But Im great at what I do. And I allow these people to control what I do, maam. And its enough. It makes no sense at all.

Now, going forward, Im not willing to meet or see anyone. Ive met with enough people against my will. Im done. All I want is to own my money, for this to end, and my boyfriend to drive me in his f**ing car.

And I would honestly like to sue my family, to be totally honest with you. I also would like to be able to share my story with the world, and what they did to me, instead of it being a hush-hush secret to benefit all of them. I want to be able to be heard on what they did to me by making me keep this in for so long, which is not good for my heart. Ive been so angry and I cry every day, it concerns me, Im told Im not allowed to expose the people who did this to me.

For my sanity, I need you to the judge to approve me to do an interview where I can be heard, what they did to me, and actually, I have the right to use my voice and take out for myself. My attorney says I cant. Its not good. I cant let the public know anything they did to me and by not saying anything, is saying its okay.

Actually, I dont want an interview  Id much rather just have an open call to you for the press to hear, which I didnt know today were doing, so thank you. Instead of having an interview, honestly, I need that to get it off my heart, the anger, and all of thats been happening.

Theyre telling me lies about me openly. Even my family, they do interviews to anyone they want on news stations, my own family doing interviews, and talking about the situation and making me feel so stupid. And I cant say one thing.

Its been two years, I want a recorded call to you actually, were doing this now, which I didnt know that were doing. My lawyer, Sam, has been very scared for me to go forward because hes saying if I speak up, Im being over overworked, in that facility of that rehab place was me. He told me I should keep it to myself. I would personally like to  actually, I know Ive had grown with a personal relationship with Sam, my lawyer, Ive been talking to him like three times a week now. Weve kind of built a relationship but I havent really had the opportunity by my own self to actually handpick my own lawyer by myself. And I would like to be able to do that.

The main reason why Im here is that I want to end the conservatorship without having to be evaluated. Ive done a lot of research, maam. And theres a lot of judges who do end conservatorships for people without them having to be evaluated all the time. The only times they dont is if a concerned family member says somethings wrong with this person.

And considering my family has lived off my conservatorship for 13 years, I wont be surprised if one of them has something to say going forward, and say, We dont think this should end, we have to help her. Especially if I get my fair turn exposing what they did to me.

Also, I want to speak to you about my obligations, which, I personally dont think at the very moment I owe anybody anything. I have three meetings a week I have to attend no matter what. I just dont like feeling like I work for the people whom I pay. I dont like being told I have to, no matter what, even if Im sick. Jodi the conservator says I have to see my Coach Ken even when Im sick. I would like to do one meeting a week with a therapist. Ive never before, even before they sent me to that place, had two therapy sessions. I had a doctor and then a therapy person. What Ive been forced to do illegal in my life. I shouldnt be told I have to be available three times a week to these people I dont know.

Im talking to you today because I feel again, yes, even [acting conservator Jodi Montgomery] is starting to kind of take it too far with me. They have me going to therapy twice a week and a psychiatrist. Ive never in the past  wait, they had me going, yeah, twice a week and Dr Gold, so thats three times a week. Ive never in the past had to see a therapist more than once a week. It takes too much out of me going to this man I dont know.

Number one, Im scared of people. I dont trust people with what Ive been through. And the clever setup of being in Westlake, one of the most exposed places in Westlake, which, yesterday, paparazzi showed me coming out of the place literally crying in therapy. Its embarrassing, and its demoralizing. I deserve privacy when I go and have therapy, either at my home as Ive done for eight years. Theyve always come to my home. Or when Dr Benson  the man that died  I went to a place similar to what I went to in Westlake which was very exposed and really bad. Okay, so where was I? It was like, it was identical to Dr Benson, who illegally, yes 100 per cent abused me by the treatment he gave me, to be totally honest with you, I was so 

Judge Brenda Penny: Ms. Spears, excuse me for interrupting you, but my reporter says if you could just slow it down a little bit because shes trying to make sure she gets everything that youre saying.

Britney Spears: OK, cool And to be totally honest with you, when (Dr Benson) passed away, I got on my knees and thanked God. In other words, my team is pushing it with me again. I have trapped phobias being in small rooms because of the trauma, locking me up for four months in that place. Its not okay for them to send me  sorry, Im going fast  to that small room like that twice a week with another new therapist that I pay that I never even approved. I dont like it. I dont want to do that. And I havent done anything wrong to deserve this treatment.

Its not okay to force me to do anything I dont want to do. By law, Jodi and this so-called team should honestly  I should be able to sue them for threatening me and saying if I dont go and do these meetings twice a week, we cant let you have your money and go to Maui on your vacations.

You have to do what youre told for this program and then you will be able to go, but it was a very clever thing. One of the most exposed places in Westlake, knowing I have the hot topic of the conservatorship, that over five paparazzi are going to show up and (photograph) me coming out of that place. I begged them to make sure that they did this at my home, so I would have privacy.

The conservatorship, from the beginning, whoever it is in the conservatorship, making money, (Im) making them money and myself money and working. That whole statement right there, the conservatorship should end. I shouldnt be in a conservatorship. If I can work and provide money and work for myself and pay other people, it makes no sense. The laws need to change. What state allows people to own another persons money and account and threaten them and saying, You cant spend your money unless you do what we want you to do? And Im paying them.

Maam, Ive worked since I was 17 years old. You have to understand how thin that is for me every morning I get up to know I cant go somewhere unless I meet people I dont know every week in an office identical to the one where the therapist was very abusive to me. I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive, and that we can sit here all day and say oh, conservatorships are here to help people. But maam, there are a thousand conservatorships that are abusive as well.

I dont feel like I can live a full life. I dont owe them to go see a man I dont know and share my problems. I dont even believe in therapy. I always think you take it to God. I want to end the conservatorship without being evaluated. In the meantime, I want this therapist once a week. I just want him to come to my home. Im not willing to go to Westlake and be embarrassed by all these scummy paparazzi laughing at my face while Im crying, coming out and taking my pictures as all these white nice dinners, where people drinking wine at restaurants, watching these places. They set me up by sending me to the most exposed places, and I told them I didnt want to go there because I knew paparazzi would show up there.

They only gave me two options for therapists. And Im not sure how you make your decisions, maam. But this is the only chance for me to talk to you for a while. I need your help, so if you can just kind of let me know where your head is. I dont really honestly know what to say but my requests are just to end the conservatorship without being evaluated. I want to petition basically to end the conservatorship. But I dont want to be evaluated, and be sat in a room with people four hours a day as they did me before. And they made it even worse for me after that happened.

Im honestly new with this. And Im doing research on all these things. I do know common sense and the method that things can end for people, it has ended without them being evaluated.

So, I just want you to take that into consideration. It also took a year, during Covid, to get me any self-care methods. She said there were no services available. Shes lying, maam. My mom went to the spot twice in Louisiana during Covid. For a year, I didnt have my nails done  no hairstyling and no massages, no acupuncture  nothing for a year. I saw the maids in my home each week with their nails done differently each time. She made me feel like my dad does, very similar, her behavior and my dad, but just a different dynamic team wants me to work and stay home instead of having longer vacations.

They are used to a nice sort of doing a weekly routine for them. And Im over it. I dont feel like I owe them anything at this point. They need to be reminded they actually work for me.

I was supposed to be able to, I have a friend that I used to do meetings with. I did for two years, I did three meetings a week, Ive met a bunch of women there. And Im not able to see my friends that live eight minutes away from me, which I find extremely strange.

I feel like theyre making me feel like I live in a rehab program. This is my home. Id like for my boyfriend to be able to drive me in his car. And I want to meet with a therapist once a week, not twice a week. And I want him to come to my home. Because I actually know I do need a little therapy.

I would like to progressively move forward and I want to have the real deal, I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I was told right now in the conservatorship, Im not able to get married or have a baby, I have an IUD inside of myself right now so I dont get pregnant. I wanted to take the (IUD) out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team wont let me go to the doctor to take it out because they dont want me to have children  any more children. So basically, this conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good.

I deserve to have a life. Ive worked my whole life. I deserve to have a two to three-year break and just, you know, do what I want to do. But I do feel like there is a crutch here. And I feel open and Im okay to talk to you today about it. But I wish I could stay with you on the phone forever, because when I get off the phone with you, all of a sudden all I hear all these nos  no, no, no. And then all of a sudden I get I feel ganged up on and I feel bullied and I feel left out and alone. And Im tired of feeling alone. I deserve to have the same rights as anybody does, by having a child, a family, any of those things, and more so.

And thats all I wanted to say to you. Thank you so much for letting me speak to you today.

Judge Brenda Penny: Youre quite welcome. And also, I just want to tell you that I certainly am sensitive to everything that you said and how youre feeling and I know that it took a lot of courage for you to say everything you have to say today, and I want to let you know that the court does appreciate your coming on the line and sharing what youre feeling.

Updates on this case can be found in our live blog here.

Read More

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Jun. 24BOSTON  A Georgetown woman was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Boston for embezzling over $419,000 from her employer, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Michelle Higson, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 27 months in prison, five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay over $419,000 in restitution. In September 2019, Higson pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud.

Higson was also sentenced separately for violating her supervised release, which was imposed in a prior case following her September 2017 conviction for a fraudulent scheme. U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper sentenced Higson to an additional six months in prison for the supervised release violation.

In 2013, Higson began working as a part-time bookkeeper for a Wilmington company, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release. Earlier news coverage had said the company was based in Rowley, although federal officials did not name the company.

From 2015 until her termination in 2018, Higson stole a series of the company's checks, made them payable to herself or to her husband, and forged her employer's signatures. Higson cashed and deposited the checks for her own personal use, according to the release. To conceal her criminal conduct and avoid detection by the company, Higson falsified entries in the company's books to make it appear as if the stolen checks had been issued to satisfy payment to actual vendors. Higson also inflated her pay rate and falsified the number of hours she worked, on several occasions, which let her collect more money than what she actually earned. In total, Higson embezzled more than $419,000.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joshua McCallister, acting inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement Thursday in a press release.
Tropical Storm Claudette

GoFundMe

Tropical Storm Claudette left a deadly trail of destruction along the Gulf Coast last week, injuring residents and damaging homes.

The storm, which brought dangerous driving conditions to Alabama, is being blamed for at least 13 deaths, including the 10 people (nine of them children) who lost their lives in a vehicle crash on Interstate 65 near Greenville. Claudette also spurred tornadoes and flash-floods that destroyed dozens of homes.

Given the scope of the disaster and the outpouring of support from the community, GoFundMe has launched a centralized hub featuring fundraisers specifically for those impacted by Claudette. The fundraisers have all been verified and are backed by the GoFundMe Guarantee, ensuring all funds on the page will go to those directly affected by the storm.

Among the verified fundraisers is one in honor of the eight children who were killed when the van they were traveling in was involved in the fiery multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 65. The GoFundMe is raising money to help with funeral related expenses, medical costs for the injured, and counseling for the others involved.

WATCH: Quaker Chewy Partners With American Camp Association to Send Hundreds of Kids in Need to Summer Camp

The van, containing children ages 4 to 17, belonged to the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch, a youth home for abused and neglected kids, operated by the Alabama Sheriffs Association. The van was heading back to the ranch near after a week at the beach in Gulf Shores. Ranch director Candice Gulley, the van's only survivor, was pulled from the flames by a bystander.

"This is the worst tragedy I've been a part of in my life," Michael Smith, the youth ranches CEO, told the Associated Press.

Two of the dead in the van were Gulley's children, ages 3 and 16, and two were her nephews, ages 12 and 8.

At time of publication, the fundraiser for Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch had exceeded its $500,000 goal by more than $13,000.

More fundraisers will be added to the hub as they are created.
Google has signed agreements with eight publishers in Canada for its News Showcase program, including major publishers like The Globe and Mail. The deal will allow Google to license content and pay news organizations for high-quality journalism and curation of stories, as it has done in France, the UK and other countries. Users in turn will be able to access certain paywalled stories for free.

The publishers signing on to the agreement are Black Press Media, Glacier Media, The Globe and Mail, Metro Media, Narcity Media, SaltWire Network, Village Media and Winnipeg Free Press. All told, they represent over 70 national, regional and community news groups in both French and English. So far, Google has signed up nearly 800 news publications worldwide.

Google also said that it would expand its investment in Canadian journalism via the Google News Initiative, offering digital programs for small and medium-sized news organizations. It aims to train 5,000 Canadian journalists and journalism students over the next three years, a five-fold increase over the current number. "I am pleased to see that Google will also be assisting the small, independent newspapers and websites adapt to an increasing digital world," said Black Press Media CEO Rick O'Connor.

Google's News Showcase initiatives have come after numerous battles with news organizations in the UK, France and elsewhere over payments for the use of "snippets" and other types of news content. At one point, Google threatened to disable search in Australia if it was forced to pay for news. However, it later relented and agreed to pay Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for its content.
Could this be the end of the office tea round? (Getty Images)

The traditional office tea round could soon be a thing of the past, as employees have revealed the habits they want banned from the workplace post-COVID, as they now consider them "gross".

Yep, the coronavirus pandemic may well have put an end to the morning stand-off, waiting to see which of your colleagues will crack first and stick the kettle on for the bumper group round.

And that's not the only change workers want to see in the post-COVID world.

Failing to wash hands after a visit to the bathroom, heading into work with a cough or cold, and air kissing your co-worker are other workplace habits that UK employees want to see banned, according to a poll by instantprint.

The survey revealed that workers are particularly anxious about office activities relating to food and drink, with the sharing of snacks (16%) the communal tea-round (16%) and storing food in the workplace fridge overnight (16%) all habits some are keen to bid farewell to.

Read more: You're more likely to get pregnant if your work colleagues already are

Hugging is on the office no, no list. (Getty Images)

It seems the pandemic has made us question other workplace behaviours too, with 28% claiming they no longer want to hug their colleagues.

While lunchtime trips to the gym could soon return, workers are keen to ensure grubby gym kits are kept well away from the office with 27% claiming this is a no-no in terms of office etiquette.

Understandably, tolerance is at an all-time low and any bad habits we may have turned a blind eye to in the past - such as pen chewing (25%) and sitting on co-workers desks (19%) - featured on the list of new workplace no-nos.

Whilst hugs and air kisses between colleagues may have been considered somewhat risky even pre-COVID, the survey highlighted that (high-five 23%), fist bumps (18%) and handshakes (17%) are also now off the cards too.

Watch: Can the self-employed teach us lessons about remote work?

With strict hygiene and social distancing guidance still in place in the UK, it isn't surprising that four in 10 (41%) people stated theyd now be quick to call out colleagues on the workplace habits they deemed to be gross.

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Men were found to be the least tolerant, with 45% claiming theyd be likely to pull someone up on their bad habits, compared with just 37% of women.

Interestingly, however, women (39%) were more likely than men (33%) to have found bad habits unsavoury prior to the pandemic.

It seems lockdown has provided something of a wake-up call for male workers, with 13% more (46%) admitting they are now more aware of the gross behaviour of their colleagues, compared to an increase of just 6% amongst their female colleagues (45%).

A previous poll, by Umovis Lab, uncovered some other unsavoury office behaviours workers expected to be outlawed post-COVID, including hot-desking, preparing lunch in the communal kitchen and no longer signing birthday cards which are passed around the office.

Read more: 5 products to make working from home more comfortable

Workers are particularly keen for their colleagues to wash their hands. (Getty Images)

Read more: Starting the day with chocolate helps post-menopausal women burn fat

While we might not be happy about our colleagues' unsavoury office behaviours, actually calling them out on it can be tricky.

Sean Kachmarski, in-house trainer at instantprint, has put together some top tips for challenging particularly unpleasant habits in the workplace.

Be upbeat

When you address an issue with a colleague, you should always keep it positive. "Instead of demanding that Steve goes and washes his hands after hes been to the toilet, ask whether hed like to get washed up in the kitchen together before lunch, or offer him some hand sanitiser  which is often the next best thing," Kachmarski suggests.

Take control of your own space

Even if you cant influence what your colleagues are doing, you can have a say about whats happening in your space (AKA your desk). "That includes being able to frequently wipe down your keyboard and mouse with antibacterial wipes and using hand sanitiser," Kachmarski says.

Talk to your boss

If your colleagues behaviour is getting really out of control, it might be worth having your boss support you. "Theyll have either been trained or have experience in setting boundaries for their team, meaning it might be more appropriate to go to the manager rather than tackling this off your own back," Kachmarski adds.

Additional reporting SWNS.

Watch: How to get your coffee fix while working from home.
A huge hailstone that fell during an April thunderstorm is officially the largest in Texas history, officials say.

But did an even bigger hailstone end up in an icy alcoholic beverage?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday that a 1.26-pound hailstone retrieved April 28 near Hondo, west of San Antonio, is the biggest recorded in the state.

It measured 19.7 inches in circumference and 6.4 inches in diameter with a volume of 40.2 cubic inches. In comparison, a softball has a 12-inch circumference and is 3.82 inches in diameter.

The storm that whipped up this beastly hailstone began as two supercells that converged as they pushed through the area and produced a tornado, weather officials say. The storm caused serious damage along U.S. Highway 90.

The first gargantuan hailstone reported to the National Weather Service and local media dropped south of the highway. But experts never got a chance to officially measure this hailstone because it was ultimately used for margaritas, a NOAA report says.

Analyzing a photo of the hailstone from before it was consumed, Penn State University meteorology professor Matt Kumjian used photogrammetry to estimate the diameter was between 6.27 and 6.57 inches.

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If the stone was on higher end of this range, it wouldve been larger in diameter than the record-holder.

Nevertheless, well never know.

The National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety sent employees to the home of the person who found the record-breaking hailstone, where it had been stored in a freezer.

There, the experts conducted a formal weighing, calipers measurement, 3D analysis, and visual examination of the hailstone.

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Until now, Texas didnt have an official hail record. But the largest reported hailstones in the state by diameter are the following:

 8 inches, Washington County in December 1892

 7-8 inches, Winkler County in May 1960

 6 inches, Moore County in June 2010

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 6 inches, Ward County in May 1991

The largest hailstone recorded in the U.S. fell in Vivian, South Dakota, in July 2010. It was 8 inches in diameter and weighed 1.9 pounds.

Gorilla hail pounded parts of Texas. See photos and video from the powerful storm

Huge ice ball crashes into home, nearly hits Wisconsin man. Its origin is a mystery
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong will ban passenger flights from Indonesia from Friday, deeming the country's arrivals "extremely high risk" for the coronavirus.

The Hong Kong government said late on Wednesday it was suspending flights after the number of imported COVID-19 cases from Indonesia crossed thresholds set by the global financial hub.

Hong Kong has already banned arrivals from India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines, using a flight suspension rule triggered when there are five or more passengers who test positive for one of the variant COVID-19 cases on arrival, or 10 or more passengers found to have any strain of the disease while in quarantine.

The Chinese special administrative region has recorded over 11,800 cases and 210 deaths due to the coronavirus. Most of the city's recent cases over the past month have been imported.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Hong Kong's ban was "temporary" and that migrant workers affected by the new regulation should contact their employers and agents.

Hong Kong employs thousands of migrant workers from countries including Indonesia and the Philippines.

(Reporting by Farah Master in Hong Kong and Angie Teo in Jakarta; editing by Jane Wardell)
By Luis Felipe Castilleja

VALLS, Spain (Reuters) - Catalonia's traditional festival of human towers returned to the medieval city of Valls in a scaled-down form on Thursday after a 15-month hiatus caused by COVID-19.

Towers were limited to 50 people, a far cry from the 500-strong constructions of past "castells" events. The tallest reached as high as town hall's first-floor balcony, just over half the usual height.

"This means a lot, although its very different from previous years, to feel again this emotion of castells," said 20-year-old Eleonor Boada, one of the competitors.

The participants had to show a negative coronavirus test during the rehearsals and before Thursday's performance, which coincided with St. John's Day.

Spain has been loosening its restrictions as vaccinations gather steam and the infection rates fall.

"We've had great security ... we are really very proud and happy with how well everything has been done," said Yolanda Gonzalez, 46.

The human towers are a deep-rooted part of Catalan culture, sometimes associated with the separatist movement.

Jordi Turull, one of the nine Catalan leaders jailed after the region's failed 2017 independence bid, came to the festival on Thursday a day after his release from prison following a government pardon.

He thanked the castellers from Valls who had built human towers outside the prison in support of him and his fellow inmates.

"We decided that one of the first things we would do when we left prison would be to come and thank these people," he said. "That was a very emotional moment."

(Writing by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian court jailed hardline Islamic cleric Rizieq Shihab on Thursday for four years for spreading false information in a video saying he was healthy despite having tested positive for COVID-19.

The verdict comes after an eight-month jail term handed last month to Rizieq, the spiritual leader of the outlawed Islamic Defender's Front (FPI), for breaching coronavirus curbs over several mass events, including his daughter's wedding, which was attended by thousands.

Prosecutors had called for a six-year sentence in the latest case after Rizieq was charged over the video, posted on the YouTube channel of the hospital where he was being treated for the coronavirus.

In a streamed broadcast, Judge Khadwanto said Rizieq was guilty of "announcing false information and purposefully causing confusion for the public."

Indonesia passed the 2 million mark in coronavirus cases on Monday, as authorities announced a tightening of restrictions to contain the spread in the world's fourth most populous country. Deaths from COVID-19 now total 55,594.

Hundreds of Rizieq's supporters had gathered outside the East Jakarta court amid heavy guard by police and video footage showed some scuffles.

Shortly after being sentenced, Rizieq told the court he rejected its ruling and would contest it.

Rizieq's supporters and legal team have said the cases are politically motivated efforts to silence the cleric, who has a large and vocal following in the world's biggest Muslim-majority country.

He returned last year from self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia, where he had fled while facing charges of pornography and insulting the state ideology, both later dropped.

The FPI had become politically influential in recent years, and was among several Islamic groups that staged rallies in 2016 to bring down Jakarta's then governor, a Christian, on charges of blasphemy.

The mass protests stirred deep anxiety within the government of President Joko Widodo about a perceived Islamist threat.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Ed Davies and Michael Perry)
Making more semiconductors in the U.S. is an urgent matter of both economic and national security, commerce secretary Gina Raimondo told Axios on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The U.S., which once accounted for more than a third of global chip production, now makes just 12%.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

The big picture: It's not just that the U.S. doesn't make as many chips as it used to. The most advanced chips are manufactured abroad, nearly all in Taiwan or South Korea, Raimondo said. "Were very vulnerable if we have such a higher percentage of chips being made in Taiwan," Raimondo said. "Right now we dont make any leading edge chips in America  zero percent."

Between the lines: While Raimondo said she was heartened to see $52 billion in funding for the industry pass the Senate and is hopeful the House will also approve the money, she said that will need to be matched two-to-one by private investment for the U.S. to regain its edge.

"$52 billion is not nearly enough," Raimondo said.

It's also unlikely that the U.S. can catch up quickly just by backing American companies. Many have suggested the fastest way to boost domestic production of leading edge chips is to get current leaders Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to make more chips here.

Raimondo declined to name specific targets, but agreed that getting overseas companies to make chips in the U.S. could be part of the answer. "As long as they are companies from allied countries that share our values, I do think it makes sense."

Yes, but: All of this investment will do little to ease the most pressing issue in the chip business: a global shortage that has hobbled the auto industry and slowed the production of other goods.

While there is little to be done to immediately boost supply, Raimondo said that the industry can operate more efficiently with more transparency between customers and suppliers, something her department is working to improve.

"We're doing everything we can and I think it's having some impact," Raimondo said.

Go deeper:

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Chad Allen Williams, 46, is charged with placing a pipe bomb in a Des Moines suburb which was discovered by a young girl (Polk County Jail)

An Iowa man was has been charged with placing a pipe bomb in a suburb of Des Moines that was discovered by a young girl, though investigators fear that another bomber may still be at large.

The Associated Press reported that Chad Allen Williams, 46, was arrested by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on Friday after searching his home.

Mr Williams is accused of placing a pipe bomb in a Des Moines suburb, which was discovered by an 8-year-old girl who was playing outside. The bomb was disarmed by the Iowa Fire Marshal's Office without incident.

Investigators found Mr Williams' workbench in his garage along with fireworks, a spool of fuse, a bottle of vehicle lubricant, zip ties, screws, nuts and metal wall anchors, according to court documents.

Mr Williams told investigators that he made the bombs by filling the vehicle additive bottle with BBs and metal items like nuts and bolts, and taping it to two firework shells. He said he lit the fuse and dropped it off but did not hear the bomb go off.

He has been charged with making and possessing an unregistered explosive device and is being held in a jail in Polk County until his hearing next week.

Another pipe bomb was found on 1 March outside a polling place in nearby Ankeny, only two miles from where Mr Williams' bomb was found.

However, investigators do not believe that Mr Williams built that device.

The discovery of that device by a couple walking their dog sparked a temporary evacuation of the polling place, which was later re-opened.

That bomb was also disarmed by the fire marshal's office, which said it could have caused major damage had it been detonated.

Residents in Ankeny also reported hearing explosions on 2 April, 12 May and 7 June. Mr Williams has not been implicated in any of those incidents.
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel said on Thursday it would ease restrictions on trade and fisheries in the Gaza Strip that had been tightened during 11 days of fighting with the Palestinian enclave's Hamas rulers last month.

Israel keeps tight controls over Gaza's borders, with support from neighbouring Egypt, citing threats from Hamas. The Israeli restrictions were intensified during the May fighting - halting Gaza exports, restricting imports of raw materials and limiting the area that Palestinians are permitted to fish.

With an Egyptian-mediated truce largely holding, Israel on Monday allowed a limited resumption of commercial exports from Gaza. But Hamas demanded a wider easing of curbs and held out the possibility of resuming hostilities.

Starting from Friday, Israel will "expand the fishing zone in the Gaza Strip from six to nine nautical miles, and (approve) the import of raw materials for essential civilian factories," COGAT, a branch of Israel's defence ministry, said.

The new measures are "conditional upon the preservation of security stability", COGAT said in a statement.

At least one factory in the Strip, Pepsi Gaza, had shut down due to Israeli restrictions on raw materials imports, including carbon dioxide gas. COGAT did not say which raw materials would be allowed in.

Egypt and the United Nations stepped up mediation last week after incendiary balloons launched from Gaza drew retaliatory Israeli air strikes on Hamas sites, challenging the fragile ceasefire.

At least 250 Palestinians and 13 in Israel were killed in the May fighting, which saw Gaza militants fire rockets towards Israeli cities and Israel carry out air strikes across the coastal enclave.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Giles Elgood)
A former Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center employee has filed a race discrimination lawsuit.

At a news conference Thursday morning outside the U.S. District Court in downtown Kansas City, Grecian Gill said she wants justice.

The sign she held read, Stop racism at the VA.

The lawsuit was filed this month in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri and names VA Secretary Denis McDonough and the United States as defendants. It accuses the VA of race discrimination, sex discrimination, creating a hostile work environment, and retaliation.

A Kansas City VA spokesman said the VA does not comment on pending litigation.

Gill worked in the radiology department as a medical support assistant and received two successful performance evaluations during her probationary one-year period.

The lawsuit points to two incidents in which Gill argues she was discriminated against.

First, in January 2020, she arrived on time at the MRI door, but it was locked, the lawsuit reads. Gill called the VA police to open the door. When no one answered the door, she had to limp to an emergency entrance and asked to talk to a supervisor about the door. She had recently had foot surgery making the trip difficult, the lawsuit says. Gill told them about her recent surgery and said she would be grateful if the door was opened in a timely manner.

An officer became aggressive with Gill, the lawsuit states, demanding her identification badge and he followed her to her desk where he invaded her personal space and berated her about the time the door had to be opened, as she called a colleague.

Gill filed a harassment complaint against the officer later that day.

In the second incident, on an extremely snowy day in January 2020, Gill followed the practice of the department to submit a leave slip so she could get home before the roads got too dangerous, as per policy, according to the lawsuit. All of the other radiology employees had already left for the day and there were no additional patients, the lawsuit alleges.

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The suit says that she texted her supervisor multiple times after submitting her slip to leave, but received no response.

The next week, she was charged with AWOL. No other workers who left that day, the suit says, were charged with AWOL.

The lawsuit alleges that the VA routinely falsely charges African American workers with AWOL as a pattern or practice of discrimination and disparate treatment.

Gills employment was terminated on Feb. 4, 2020. The lawsuit says it was due to racial discrimination.

It asks for a jury trial.

I just want my voice to be heard, Gill said Thursday. At the end of the day, I want to be treated fairly. And I want to see justice. Thats why Im here today.

She said the alleged discrimination impacts everyone, from other employees to patients. She wants to see change happen in management.

If you are in my situation and you have been treated (unjustly) I would say come forward, let your voice be heard, Gill said.

The lawsuit follows a line of racial discrimination cases filed against the Kansas City VA.

Maritas Tess Lustado-Lybarger, a Filipina single mother and former Kansas City VA employee, in July last year filed a lawsuit alleging the VA discriminated against her based on her race, color, sex, and disability, and that she was retaliated against.

Lustado-Lybarger was continually degraded and humiliated, according to that lawsuit, when her supervisors talked to her disrespectfully, yelled at her in front of her coworkers, called her slow, and made fun of her national origin and size. She is under 5 feet tall.

Its hard, but I have to do this for the employees of VA and VA military people and my son, she said during Thursdays press conference. Its for the future. Please be equal to your employees.

Last June, Charmayne Charlie Brown went public alleging she had experienced racial discrimination at the Kansas City VA.

She had been called Aunt Jemima, repeatedly passed over for promotions, and filed 18 complaints of racial discrimination during her 17 years working there.

Other current and former VA employees have shared their stories with many asking their names not be used for fear of retaliation. They described systemic discrimination against Black employees.

Civil rights organizations have called for change at the hospital.
Kansas Citys City Council on Thursday passed a resolution urging Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to pardon Kevin Strickland, who prosecutors say has spent more than 40 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit.

The resolution expressed support for Stricklands release and noted that Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker called for Stricklands exoneration and freedom 45 days ago.

It is incumbent upon us as a council to try to right some wrongs that have been made, said Councilman Lee Barnes, 5th District at-large.

Barnes said it was pressed upon his heart to call for Stricklands release. He noted that two men who admitted guilt in the murders from the beginning said Strickland, then 18, was not involved.

Councilwoman Heather Hall, 1st District, was not present to vote on the measure. Every other council member voted to pass it.

The resolution was introduced by four council members, including Mayor Quinton Lucas, a day after Parson told 41 Action News that he did not know if Strickland, now 62, is innocent or not in the 1978 triple murder at 6934 S. Benton Ave.

I am not convinced that Im willing to put other people at risk if youre not right, the Republican governor and former Polk County sheriff said Wednesday. No one has been proven innocent here in a court of law, is the bottom line.

Councilwoman Katheryn Shields, 4th District at-large, noted Thursday that Strickland has served far longer than the two men who admitted guilt. Because of that, Shields said, Stricklands conviction is even more of an injustice.

The actual murderers of those three individuals have been out for years, Shields said, adding that the case truly is an outrage.

The men who admitted guilt, Kilm Adkins and Vincent Bell, spent about 10 years in prison for the murders before they were released in 1989 and 1990, respectively.

The governors office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about the City Councils resolution.

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Earlier this month, 13 state lawmakers, including the Republican chair of the Missouri House committee that oversees the states prison system, also called on Parson to pardon Strickland.

On May 10, Baker announced her office had concluded Strickland is factually innocent in the murders. Federal prosecutors in western Missouri, Jackson Countys presiding judge and other officials agreed that Strickland deserves to be exonerated.

In September, The Star reported that the two men who pleaded guilty for decades swore Strickland was not with them and two other accomplices during the shooting. A third suspect, who was never charged, in 2019 also told an investigator that he knew there couldnt be a more innocent person than Strickland.

The lone eyewitness also recanted and wanted nothing more than to see Strickland freed, her relatives said.

The Stars Kevin Hardy contributed to this report.
Fire crews worked to extinguish a substantial fire at an abandoned school Thursday morning in Kansas City.

First responders were called early in the morning to a fire at the former St. Martin de Porres Schoolat 5840 Swope Parkway, said Jason Spreitzer, a spokesman with the Kansas City Fire Department.

An automatic alarm first alerted firefighters, who responded to the structure fire in the abandoned building, he said. When crews arrived at the site, they reported seeing flames coming from the second floor up to the third floor. No injuries were reported.

As of 7:45 a.m., firefighters were actively in defense mode, Spreitzer said, adding that firefighters continued pouring large amounts of water onto the building from above using ladder trucks.

When I heard about the fire this morning, it was kind of heartbreaking to see a wonderful building like that go up in smoke, said Michael King, owner and operator of Manhattan Cleaners & Hat Works, which has been on the corner across the street from the school since 1966.

Because his business has been there so long, he remembers when the building was home to the school. It later became a treatment center. Its been vacant for at least five years and was up for sale, he said.

Every day, I would hope that someone would come along and put in the monies necessary to bring it back to life, King said.

The school was built by the St. Louis, King of France Parish, a new parish founded in the Swope Park area in 1919. The church was dedicated in 1920 and over the next five years, St. Louis School was built and a convent for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, who would teach at the school, was purchased, according to a story in the Catholic Key about the parishs centennial celebration.

The schools name later was changed to Saint Martin de Porres School when it consolidated with Blessed Sacrament School. The School closed at the end of the 1989 school year, according to The Stars story in 2014 about a 60-year reunion of some of the school students.

The diocese sold the property to Renaissance West in 1990, which ran a womens residential addiction-rehabilitation center there.
Michael McCloud was overwhelmed with joy when he learned he wouldnt have to return to prison for the rest of his life.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday she would commute or pardon the sentences of McCloud and seven others based on an exhaustive review of more than 200 applicants for clemency.

This is a very strange feeling, McCloud said. Tomorrows the first day of the rest of my life. The depression can be gone. Youre free to do what you want to do. You dont have this hanging over you anymore.

Kelly said she was making good on a campaign promise to review the criminal justice system and identify people who shouldnt be incarcerated.

Her use of clemency appears to be unprecedented in recent Kansas history. The past four governors combined took advantage of this rarely used power just nine times, mostly as they prepared to leave office.

There is some political risk in doing this, the governor said. Your opponent, given the opportunity, can and will use it against you if somebody you pardon does something wrong. So I think governors tend to weigh the political risk pretty heavily, because there is a downside.

Still, she said, we have to realize that were dealing with human beings here.

McClouds story popped out, the governor said, as she reviewed candidates for clemency.

The Wichita resident has enjoyed a peaceful life since 2018, when he was released after 27 years in prison for a series of armed robberies that netted him a total of about $6,000. At the state prison in Lansing, he was a model inmate  never disciplined, working a minimum wage job to pay back his victims, portraying Santa Claus when families visited at Christmas, and organizing donations for a local womens shelter.

Still, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe asked the district court to send him back to prison, arguing that a judge mistakenly reduced his sentence. Howe eventually supported McClouds request for clemency, but the 67-year-old still faced an additional 21 years behind bars before a chance at parole.

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He was going to be put back in prison on a technicality, not on anything he had done, Kelly said. That seemed wrong, completely unnecessary, not fair to him, and not in the states best interest.

Staff with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas applauded the governors announcement. The organization at the start of the pandemic began working to help incarcerated Kansans navigate the cumbersome application process, and eventually helped 108 clients file for clemency. The governor granted three of their requests.

Were grateful that the governors office is actually taking a close look at these applications, said ACLU legal director Sharon Brett. And obviously, we hope this is just the beginning of additional releases that will come through the executive clemency power. We think many more people are deserving.

Kansas correctional institutions currently house more than 8,600 people.

Criteria for release

Kimberly Caldwell, a pastor in Houston, cant wait to wrap her arms around her son, thank God for his release, and remind him of the work he needs to finish.

Ive kept the faith the entire time, Caldwell said. My son has always been a good kid. My encouragement has always been to him, Youre not a felon. You fell off. 

Joseph Jones was involved in a bar fight he didnt instigate when he was 21. While on felony bond release, he was charged with distributing Xanax.

In prison, he utilized an online university program to earn a business degree. He also worked for a furniture manufacturer. He was supposed to be released in March 2022.

The governors legal team determined Jones met their criteria for release: A non-violent drug crime, demonstration of rehabilitation, minimal disciplinary issues, and strong indicators of success upon release.

For Jones, that includes strong family support.

My next prayer is for God to open up these doors, my son to get a good job, and there will be somebody out there who will see him and see his drive and passion, Caldwell said.

The governor commuted the sentences of Jones and McCloud, as well as three others. Joseph Agrillo, Dominic Holder and Loren Thibodo were all convicted of crimes involving marijuana.

Three others received a pardon.

Xuan Hiep Le, a refugee from Vietnam, served a prison sentence for being the getaway driver in an aggravated robbery. He now owns Le Construction Inc. and, after living in the United States for 40 years, wanted a pardon so he could apply for citizenship.

Chivonda Halls convictions for DUI and her involvement in a bar fight were both expunged, but her criminal record still shows up on background checks. She asked for a pardon so she could become a licensed nurse.

Joshua Townsend served six months of probation after he was found with drug paraphernalia during a 2013 traffic stop. Now a sheriffs deputy in Nebraska, he asked for a pardon so that he could further his career in law enforcement.

Kelly said her administration began reviewing candidates for clemency before the pandemic began, a thorough and time-consuming process. By letting someone out of prison early, she said, she is effectively re-sentencing them.

We wanted to make sure we knew why this one deserved to overturn that original judges decision to sentence someone for a certain period of time, Kelly said. We wanted to be very careful about how we went about this, and not second-guess people.

Clemency system

Nadine Johnson, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, said governors should use their power of clemency as tool for correcting problems with the criminal justice system.

It shouldnt be about situational courage where someone is on their way out of office, and they can grant pardons to a number of different people based on perhaps the connection, Johnson said. It really should be about where can we bring that measure of justice.

The threat of COVID-19 to vulnerable prison populations brought the value of clemency into focus. As of June 21, state officials had documented thousands of infections in state prisons. The virus killed 16 inmates.

In April 2020, the ACLU under former legal director Lauren Bonds took legal action to secure the release of vulnerable inmates with low-level crimes. The courts rejected the challenge, so the ACLU pivoted strategy.

The organization worked with University of Kansas Law School students to help inmates apply for clemency, a cumbersome and time-consuming process, and eventually expanded its scope beyond those who were most at risk for COVID-19.

In Kansas, applications for clemency are handled by the Prisoner Review Board, a three-person panel appointed by the corrections secretary. The process is shrouded in secrecy. The board considers statements from victims, prosecutors and judges and weighs their comments against a written plea from the criminal who seeks mercy. All of the documents and decisions are excluded from Kansas open records law.

The board delivers its recommendation  rarely, if ever, has the board authorized an early release  to the Department of Administration. That agency conducts another secret review before turning the application over to the governors office. The governor is not required to act on the requests for clemency. Traditionally, they are ignored.

Gov. Jeff Colyer issued two pardons and one commutation during his year in office. Gov. Sam Brownback issued a pardon shortly before he resigned. Gov. Mark Parkinson pardoned four people during his short term, and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius issued one pardon shortly before she resigned.

The ACLU strategy included proactively collecting victim statements for the Prisoner Review Board and working with the governors legal team to answer questions on behalf of their clients. The organization stopped filing applications in December, but now provides an online toolkit to aid the process.

Kelly said her administration will continue to search for clemency candidates for as a long as she is governor. She expects news of her pardons and commutations could lead to many more applications.

The team is fully expecting an onslaught, she said.

Infectious Joy

Brett, the ACLU legal director, worked with Jones, Holder and McCloud on their applications. On Wednesday, she met with her clients by Zoom to deliver the news.

It was a beautiful moment.

You could feel just the sort of infectious joy from each of them, Brett said. They wanted to sort of reach through the camera and hug all of us and hug the governor herself. Its a really special thing. Its giving people the gift of time back with their loved ones.

She said the governors commutation is a recognition of accomplishments and hard work from each of the three men.

They really want to be a model for why clemency is a risk that the governor should take and the good that it can do, Brett said.

McCloud said his mind and heart were committed to making amends. The robberies were driven by anger and depression over a divorce. He became addicted to the adrenaline rush of pointing a gun at someone and demanding their money. His victims couldnt know he had no intention of hurting them, and would have walked away if they declined.

You cant take back the fear, he said. You cant take back the terrorism that you caused someone. You cannot take back the memory of it, and how they live with it. You cant take that back. You can apologize, but to someone theyre probably just hollow, shallow words.

When he went to prison, it felt like God put him in timeout. Now, he feels blessed to be able to sit under a shade tree, petting his cat and sipping iced tea.

His advice to young hellions today: Get that education. Its the most important thing in your life right now. Learn everything. Study. Listen to your teachers.

This story was produced by the Kansas Reflector, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization covering state government, politics and policy.
An aerial view of the Florida condo building that partially collapsed early Thursday. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A 2020 study showed that the land around the collapsed Florida condo showed signs of sinking.

FIU professor Shimon Wdowinski said that the ground movement alone is not likely to be the cause of the accident.

At least 99 people are still unaccounted for, authorities said.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Land around the Florida condominium that collapsed early Thursday morning in Surfside, Florida, showed signs of sinking in the 90s, according to a 2020 study.

The study, published in the journal Ocean and Coastal Management and conducted by Florida International University professor Shimon Wdowinski, identified the Champlain Towers South building as an area showing signs of land subsidence - when land settles or sinks.

Wdowinski told FIU News that while the research shows that the ground around the building had moved, it wouldn't be the sole cause of the collapse.

"When we measure subsidence or when we see movement of the buildings, it's worth checking why it happens," Wdowinski said. "We cannot say what is the reason for that from the satellite images but we can say there was movement here."

Wdowinski found that land that was subsiding was more likely to experience more serious effects of sea-level rise due to the climate crisis.

The Champlain Towers South condominium, located at 8777 Collins Ave., was constructed in 1981 out of reinforced concrete. The building passed a roof inspection one day prior to its collapse, Vice Mayor of Surfside Tina Paul confirmed to Insider.

At least 99 people who lived in the condominium are still unaccounted for, according to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levina Cava.

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said in a press conference Thursday morning that the building collapsed in a way that makes it even more difficult for rescue workers to locate survivors.

"The problem is the building has literally pancaked," Burkett said. "It's heartbreaking because it doesn't mean, to me, that we're going to be successful, as successful as we want to be, to find people alive."

Additional reporting by Natalie Musumeci

Read the original article on Insider
The head of Congress' largest conservative caucus is encouraging Republicans to embrace anti-critical race theory rhetoric, as the GOP looks to lean into the nations culture wars ahead of the looming battle for the House.

In a memo sent to members of the Republican Study Committee, its chair Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana said the backlash against Critical Race Theory is real." Banks framed the GOP's opposition to the ideology as an effort to renew American patriotism and rebuild our country.

Critical race theory refers to the concept that racism has been systematically ingrained in American society and institutions. It's sparked a Republican revolt over the ideology's presence in schools, arguing that it teaches children to believe that the country is racist.

We believe that individuals should be judged based on the contents of their character, not their skin. And we believe that Americas institutions should be colorblind, just as our Constitution is colorblind, states the memo, obtained by POLITICO. This is the same vision shared by civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.

And if it wasnt crystal clear, the memo  titled Lean into the culture war  goes on to say: We are in a culture war  we are winning.

The memo is just the latest sign that the right is hoping to capitalize on the grassroots angst over critical race theory and excite its base voters in next year's midterms. Former President Donald Trump has called for a ban on critical race theory at both the local school level and in the federal government. And several states have already approved bans on teaching critical race theory in schools or anything that can be packaged as such.

Under Banks watch, the Republican Study Committee has taken on a larger messaging role inside the House GOP conference. Members of the conservative group were presented polling during their weekly lunch on Wednesday that shows 79 percent of respondents in swing districts do not believe children should be taught that their destiny and inherent value depends on their skin color  the definition the GOP has adopted for critical race theory.

In fact, the concept of critical race theory is relatively new and its definition is vague. Thats why Democrats doubt that the anti-critical race theory rhetoric will actually break through with the average voter. They also point out that teaching critical race theory does not imply white students should feel guilty about past infringement on Black Americans' civil rights and that the ideology is not taught in many of the schools where lawmakers are seeking to ban it.

Meanwhile, not everyone in the GOP agrees that Republicans should lean too heavily into the culture wars. During a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library last month, former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said: As the left gets more woke, the rest of America is getting weary. Its exhausting. And we conservatives have to be careful not to get caught up in every little cultural battle. 
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Lithuania warned the European Union on Thursday against engaging in direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin for as long as Moscow does not change its behaviour.

Gitanas Nauseda, arriving to a summit of the bloc's 27 national leaders, voiced scepticism about a proposal by Paris and Berlin to consider holding an EU summit with Putin after the new U.S. President Joe Biden held his own bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart.

Nauseda said the idea was like "trying to engage the bear to keep a pot of honey safe."

"We should be extremely cautious, this is not like the relationship of Russia with the United States."

"We have to deal with Russia but being very cautious about real intentions of the Putin regime," Nauseda told reporters. "So far, we don't see any real change in the pattern of behaviour of Russia."

"Without any positive changes in Russia's behaviour, if we start to engage, it'll send a very bad signal to our partners," he said in referring to countries like Ukraine and Georgia, former Soviet republics with extremely fraught ties with Moscow.

(Reporting by Marine Strauss, Gabriela Baczynska)
The crowd assembled Tuesday night at George Floyd Square in south Minneapolis was an unlikely alliance of some 50 older Catholic priests, a dozen young African American men, and a Baptist preacher who led them all in prayer.

The key link among them was the Rev. Harry Bury, a 91-year-old global peace activist who had organized the gathering to deepen his colleagues' understanding of a community at the heart of the nation's racial reckoning.

For more than a half century, Bury has devoted his life to global peace activism, from volunteering as a human shield in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians  and subsequently being held hostage at gunpoint  to protesting the Vietnam War and projects with Mother Teresa.

He now is taking aim at another mammoth challenge: introducing nonviolent solutions to stem unrest in the Twin Cities.

"I've wanted to live what I preach," said Bury, of St. Paul. "This [peace activism] is my philosophy of life and this is my life lived."

For his decades of work in the nonviolence movement, Bury received an award Wednesday from the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests as a model of living his Catholic faith. The association, meeting in the Twin Cities this week, is an independent group of clergy whose priorities include fighting racism, promoting nonviolence and halting climate change.

"This is a guy who stepped out of a normal, expected role of a Catholic priest and became a tireless pursuer of peace and justice," said the Rev. John Malone, a retired pastor and University of St. Thomas professor who introduced Bury at the awards ceremony. "And he put everything he had into it."

Will Wallace, youth programs director at Emerge Community Development in north Minneapolis, was among the men talking with Bury near the Floyd memorial. An employment counselor and mentor to young men on the North Side, he's collaborated with Bury on projects to keep the streets safe and train young men in nonviolent responses.

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The two have developed a close relationship, said Wallace, who accompanied Bury to Lake Street during the height of George Floyd protests last year.

"Here's an older guy, out there in the middle of chaos, talking about peace to protesters!" Wallace recalled. "His ideas needs to be taught not just in the Twin Cities, but around the world."

Unique priest path

Bury, who grew up in north Minneapolis, never set forth to lead a life of global activism and education. Ordained a priest in 1955, he was assigned to the University of Minnesota's Newman Center by the 1960s. Many students opposed the Vietnam War, and over time he became convinced the war was "not only immoral, but a mistake."

Bury eventually traveled to Vietnam to learn more about the conflict. In 1971 he was among four people who chained themselves to the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon to protest U.S. involvement. Over the years he made more than a dozen visits to Vietnam, including one in 1972 when he was part of a delegation that escorted back to the U.S. three American pilots who had been held hostages.

It was the beginning of decades of activism and education that took Bury to Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India and the Philippines. His most perilous journey was when he was invited to be part of a "human shield" delegation in 2005 on the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory. He was taken from his hotel room, hooded, and held hostage for several hours by Palestinian gunman before being released.

Bury's 2018 biography, entitled "Maverick Priest," reveals the twists and turns of a life journey. Chapter heads include "Mass at the Pentagon," "My Second Arrest," "Stranger in Saigon," "Abducted!"

Bury was a good friend of Mother Teresa, now known in the Catholic Church as St. Teresa of Calcutta. Bury was among 44 clergy invited in 2004 to co-celebrate her beatification with Pope John Paul II on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

"Thirty-three years earlier, in 1971, the Swiss Guard had arrested me for saying a protest Mass on those very same steps," Bury wrote in his book. "Who can predict the strange ways of God?"

Bury, who holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior, taught at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, from 1979 until 2015. He moved back to the Twin Cities in 2015.

Sitting in the library of his St. Paul apartment building last week, Bury held out a brochure on his most recent project  Twin Cities Nonviolent. It's one chapter in a national network that promotes peaceful conflict resolution, teaches nonviolent problem-solving strategies and offers resources to do it.

Bury still supports Mother Teresa's religious order, the Missionaries of Charities. On this particular morning, he celebrated Mass for the order's Minneapolis-based nuns.

And he remains active in the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests, an organization not always in lock step with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Harry is a humble man who sees problems in the world and looks for peaceful methods to resolve them," said the Rev. Kevin Clinton a retired priest from New Prague and a leader in the priests' association.

Bury's focus on peaceful conflict resolution is particularly relevant today, he said.

"Right now, [conflict] seems to be all about who can shout the loudest," said Clinton. "If those methods had worked in history, we wouldn't be where we are today."

Jean Hopfensperger  612-673-4511
The Telegraph

A statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, unveiled by her two sons this afternoon, is based on the final period of her life as she "gained confidence" in her humanitarian role. A joint statement was issued on behalf of both the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex at the short but poignant ceremony in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, the princess's former home, on what would have been her 60th birthday. The statue was designed to reflect the late Princesss "warmth, elegance and energy" a
Jun. 24Chris Soto, the former state representative in New London, director of legislative affairs for Gov. Ned Lamont, and director of innovation and partnerships with the state Department of Education, is now moving to Washington, D.C., to work for the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who left his position as Connecticut's secretary of education after he was appointed by President Joe Biden, is bringing Soto into the fold as member of his senior leadership team. The two worked closely on Connecticut's schools reopening plan.

"I was humbled when he asked. I had no expectations," Soto said. "I just bring it back to New London. My education career started here at the grassroots level, working student by student, family by family, and so to go from that and now be a member of the secretary's senior leadership team... It's humbling."

Soto is the founder and former executive director of Higher Edge, a New London-based nonprofit that guides low-income and first-generation students into and through college. He was elected to two terms as a state representative for the 39th district before moving on to work in Lamont's office and later the state Department of Education. As a state representative, Soto served as the House vice-chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He has a bachelor's degree in operations research from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a master's degree in Public Affairs from Brown University.

In an interview with The Day on Wednesday, Soto repeatedly brought the conversation back to New London, saying he was grateful to the city for having "a community vision for education," specifically "having community-based organizations involved with student outcomes. That's what we did at Higher Edge."

"I could never have told you that when we started Higher Edge in 2011 that 10 years later I'd be working at the federal level," Soto said. "That's a good message for young people, that it doesn't stop when you're 18 or 22. I think that if you stay committed to your passion opportunities open up."

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Soto, who started in his new role last week, said his responsibilities are currently geared toward helping students in Puerto Rico get back to school this fall, one of Cardona's priorities.

"They've had hurricanes and earthquakes and COVID, so I'm laser-focused on supporting the education system in Puerto Rico and helping them do whatever they need to do to get students back in school," Soto said. "There's a myriad of issues that are not just educational issues. We have infrastructure issues, that's one of the biggest things. What I've really been impressed with is the resilience and everyone's collective energy to get it right, number one, and number two, the positive response that Puerto Rico has had from the administration and the secretary. I think it was a very different tone in the past."

Soto said he thrives in a project-based environment where he has an objective and is charged with meeting that objective.

State Rep. Anthony Nolan, D-New London, congratulated Soto on Facebook.

"I want to give a big congratulations to the new member of the White House Staff," Nolan said. "Chris Soto is now moving on up as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona. I am so happy to see my friend and brother take on his new role in Washington D.C. Thank you Chris for all you continue to do to make New London and the state of Connecticut shine."

Soto called his move to Washington "bittersweet."

"Even when I started working in Hartford and I joined the Lamont administration, I had no desire to move up there. This one is inevitable," he said. "My last two and a half years were invaluable to being able to now navigate this job. Having governor's office experience, having the state education agency experience, which is who the U.S. Department of Education interfaces with, is so valuable."

s.spinella@theday.com
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin faces decades in prison when he is sentenced Friday in George Floyd's death.

A teenage bystander filmed Chauvin pinning Floyd to the street for about 9 1/2 minutes on Memorial Day 2020 as Floyd's I can't breathe cries faded to silence. A jury needed only parts of two days in April to return guilty verdicts on murder and manslaughter charges after three weeks of testimony.

Legal experts have said 30 years is likely the most Chauvin, 45, could get without the judge in the case risking being overturned on appeal. And most of those experts thought 20 to 25 was more likely for the former officer.

It has been rare to charge police with crimes in the death of civilians, and rarer still for them to be convicted. Heres a look at other high-profile killings by police and the outcome of the case:

ERIC GARNER

Eric Garner, 43, died in July 2014 in New York City after a white officer placed him in a chokehold when Garner refused to be handcuffed for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. A Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in December of that year. The Justice Department said in 2019 that it wouldn't file civil rights charges after a yearslong investigation.

MICHAEL BROWN

Michael Brown, 18, was fatally shot by a white officer, Darren Wilson, in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri, touching off weeks of sometimes violent protests. A St. Louis County grand jury declined later that year to indict Wilson in the unarmed Black teen's death, and the U.S. Department of Justice later also declined to charge him. Wesley Bell, the current St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, conducted a five-month review of witness statements, forensic reports and other evidence and announced in July that he would not charge Wilson.

LAQUAN MCDONALD

Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke shot 16 times at Laquan McDonald, killing the Black 17-year-old as he walked away from officers in October 2014. Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder the same day the city released the shocking dashcam video of the shooting. Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder in 2018 and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison.

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TAMIR RICE

Tamir Rice, 12, was fatally shot by a white Cleveland police officer in November 2014 after officers responded to a 911 call from a man drinking beer and waiting for a bus who said a guy was pointing a gun at people. Tamir, who was Black, had a pellet gun tucked in his waistband and was shot after the officers cruiser skidded to a stop just feet away. A grand jury in December 2015 declined to indict patrolman Timothy Loehmann, who fired the fatal shot, and training officer Frank Garmback. The U.S. Justice Department announced last year that it would not bring federal criminal charges, saying the quality of video of the shooting was too poor for prosecutors to establish what had happened.

WALTER SCOTT

Michael Slager, a white South Carolina police officer, shot Walter Scott in the back as the unarmed 50-year-old Black man fled following a 2015 traffic stop. In 2016, a mistrial was declared after the jury deadlocked over a verdict in Slager's murder trial. The next year, Slager pleaded guilty in federal court to violating Scotts civil rights and prosecutors dropped state murder charges. Slager was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

FREDDIE GRAY

Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man, died in 2015 after he suffered a spinal injury while handcuffed and shackled in a Baltimore police van, sparking weeks of unrest across the city. Three officers were acquitted and prosecutors dropped the remaining state cases in 2016. The U.S. Department of Justice announced in 2017 that it wouldn't bring federal charges against the six officers involved in the arrest, saying it did not find enough evidence to prove the officers willfully violated Gray's civil rights.

PHILANDO CASTILE

Philando Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker, was shot five times by a St. Anthony, Minnesota police officer during a 2016 traffic stop after Castile informed the officer he was armed. The shooting gained widespread attention after Castiles girlfriend, who was in the car with her then-4-year-old daughter, livestreamed its gruesome aftermath on Facebook. Officer Jeronimo Yanez testified that Castile was pulling his gun out of his pocket. Yanez was acquitted of manslaughter.

JUSTINE RUSZCZYK DAMOND

Justine Ruszczyk Damond, an unarmed white dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia, was fatally shot in 2017 by Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor when she approached his squad car in the alley behind her home minutes after calling 911 to report a possible rape. Noor testified at trial that a loud bang on the squad car startled him and his partner and that he fired to protect his partners life. He was convicted of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and sentenced in 2019 to 12 1/2 years in prison.

JORDAN EDWARDS

Roy Oliver, a white Texas police officer, fired at a car full of teenagers as it drove away from a large house party in April 2017, fatally shooting 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Police initially said the vehicle backed up toward officers in an aggressive manner, but later admitted that bodycam video showed the vehicle was moving forward as officers approached. Oliver was convicted of murder in 2018 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

BREONNA TAYLOR

Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Louisville emergency medical worker studying to become a nurse, was shot several times in her hallway after three plainclothes narcotics detectives busted down the door of her apartment in the middle of the night in March 2020. A grand jury brought no charges against officers in her death, although one was indicted for shooting into a neighboring home that had people inside. Prosecutors said two officers who fired at Taylor were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend.

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Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Wednesday defended his move to dispatch deputies into a busy Los Angeles neighborhood while asking local leaders to declare a state of emergency to combat the region's homeless crisis.

In a news conference, Villanueva asked the county Board of Supervisors to issue the declaration as the homeless issue, specifically in Los Angeles' Venice Beach neighborhood, continues to worsen. With a declaration, the county would be able to apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Homeless outreach teams with the sheriff's department were recently dispatched to Venice to address an influx of homeless encampments along the area's famous boardwalk near the beach. The area is under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department.

RESIDENTS IN LOS ANGELES' VENICE NEIGHBORHOOD FRUSTRATED OVER LARGE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT, SHOOTINGS, STABBINGS

Videos uploaded daily to social media show homeless people along the beach fighting, harassing passersby and, in some cases, setting fires and committing violent crimes. Residents and business owners have complained of unsanitary conditions and a dangerous environment as encampments continued to expand amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Do I want to be in Venice? Of course not," Villanueva said. "Do I have to be there? Yes because the system, the way it's set up, and the architects of this failed plan are forcing us to take a different approach."

Bob Carlson, who owns a skateboard and snowboard business in Venice, has lived in the area for three decades.

A security guard at the shop was brutally attacked and stabbed with a bottle two weeks ago when he told a homeless man he couldn't drink in the business parking lot, Carlson said Wednesday. The assault was so vicious, he almost bled to death, authorities said.

It took the LAPD almost an hour to respond to the scene, he said.

In addition, Carlson said his store has been broken into multiple times and he has been attacked, he said.

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"Today in Venice we are completely on our own," he said. "You don't realize how much you need the police until theyre not there. Until theyre prevented from doing their job. Thank God the sheriff is willing to intervene."

Villanueva blasted Los Mayor Eric Garcetti and all five county supervisors, whom he called the "architects of failure," for hampering the LAPD in preventing people from camping on the beach and sidewalk.

"Whats the number one failure of local government, at the county and city level? he asked. "Why every measure fails? We see the problem get bigger and bigger every year, because the city and county decided they will not regulate public space. When you dont regulate public space, it will be occupied by somebody from somewhere."

Los Angeles City Councilmen Mike Bonin, whose district includes Venice Beach, said Tuesday that he was committed to removing homeless encampments from the boardwalk by August. Beginning Monday, housing services will be offered in an effort to relocate up to 200 people, he said.

"Sheriff Villanueva and I are very different. I believe in treating people humanely and with dignity, whether they are housed or unhoused," he said in response to the sheriff's remarks Wednesday. "I believe everyone have [sic] a right to housing, food, and health care, and I applaud those who provide it.

He added that the best and least expensive way to end homelessness "is with housing, not with handcuffs."

In 2020, a homeless count showed a 12.7% rise in homelessness despite an increase in the number of people being housed, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Villanueva also defended his decision to move his deputies into Los Angeles, saying his responsibility is to "preserve peace" while political forces have "handcuffed the LAPD."

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In a previous statement to Fox News, the LAPD said it was "committed to working with all of our public safety partner agencies and elected officials to improve the safety of our communities, including efforts to increase outreach and provide needed housing and supportive services in the Venice Beach community and elsewhere."

Fox News reached out to the Los Angeles County mayor's office, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department but did not hear back.
Malta - Moment RF

Ministers were coming under intense pressure on Thursday to lift quarantine for holidaymakers returning from "safe" destinations including Malta and the Balearic Islands.

They were due to meet on Thursday afternoon to consider advice from scientific advisers that the two popular holiday destinations were safe enough to be added to the Governments quarantine-free "green" list.

Travel industry chiefs and MPs believe the decision on the Balearic islands of Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca will be a critical test of the Governments appetite for opening up foreign travel this summer.

The current green list is limited to just 11 countries of which only Iceland, Gibraltar and Israel are viable holiday destinations after the sudden removal of Portugal.

By contrast, the Balearics are among the most popular Spanish destinations attracting five million British tourists a year before the Covid pandemic struck.

Henry Smith, Tory chair of the Future of Aviation all party parliamentary group, who is leading a Westminster Hall debate on Thursday on the issue, said: "Looking at the data, which is what ministers encourage us to do, I would expect the Balearics and Malta to be on an updated green list at the very least.

"I would hope it would be wider still, not just including popular holiday destinations to support the UK travel industry but also opening up the vital transatlantic route to the US.

"The efficacy of the vaccine against new variants does seem to have been confirmed and we now have 60 per cent of UK adults fully vaccinated.

"The safety of travel is something we can be much more confident in and it is about trying to salvage as much of this summer period as possible to save as many aviation and travel sector jobs as possible."

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: "A limited green list will be another wasted opportunity, given where we are with the vaccination programme and its proven effectiveness against variants.

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"The sector desperately needs a proper reopening - its now or never if we are to have any sort of summer season and the data shows this can be done safely and proportionately with many more countries being added to the list.

"Data - not politics - must win out. The future of our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports depends on it."

The Balearics Covid infection rate is currently on a par with Portugals when it briefly went on the green list at 43 cases per 100,000 of the population, although the Balearics 29 per cent of adults fully vaccinated is half the UKs rate.

Malta was recommended by scientists from the Governments Joint Biosecurity Centre as safe three weeks ago for the green list but was rejected when Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, led a lobby against its inclusion amid concerns over Covid variants entering the UK.

Maltas double vaccination rate for adults is the same as the UKs at 60 per cent, and its infection rate of eight cases per 100,000 of the population is well below the UKs.

Speaking on Sky News on Thursday morning, George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, said the Government wanted to "get to a position to support people who want to travel".

But he warned: "The biggest threat to our progress on the pandemic is that there will be another variant somewhere that may not have been detected properly in another country and that variant will be resistant to the vaccine."

The decision on whether to add countries to the green list is based on their Covid infection rates, the prevalence of variants, the countries vaccination rate and their capability to genome sequence the virus.

There has been speculation that the Portuguese island of Madeira with an infection rate of 35 cases per 100,000 and 34 per cent fully vaccinated could also be added to the green list, along with a number of Caribbean islands.

Turkey is expected to remain on the red list, and countries including The Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uganda could be added to it.

Ministers are also due to consider whether to go ahead with allowing fully-vaccinated Britons to travel to amber list countries without having to quarantine on their return.

On Wednesday, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, demanded that EU countries impose quarantine on Britons travelling to them because of the surge in the Delta - or Indian - variant.
A man in Virginia suspected of murdering his girlfriend and her two children before jumping to his death was a convicted MS-13 gang member who had been living in the U.S. illegally, according to a report.

Records obtained by Fox 5 DC show that 37-year-old Jose Iraheta Palacios  nicknamed "Little Crazy"  pleaded guilty in Fairfax County Circuit Court in 2015 to human trafficking, gang recruitment of a juvenile and three counts of gang participation and was sentenced to nine years.

That sentence would have kept him behind bars until 2024  but a judge suspended seven years. Iraheta Palacios served two years in state prison and was deported  though later made it back into the U.S.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FELON OUT ON SUPERVISED RELEASE ON WEAPONS CHARGE SHOOTS BOSTON FATHER IN FRONT OF KIDS: POLICE

Officers next encountered Iraheta Palacios around 6 a.m. Saturday sitting on top of a parking garage on Democracy Drive in Reston Town Center in Herndon, Va., and threatening to jump. An affidavit and police radio transmission revealed he told officers he killed his girlfriend, Claudia Menjivar, and her children after arguing over infidelity.

Officers attempted to talk Iraheta Palacios off the ledge for nearly an hour before he ultimately jumped and died from the fall.

Police then raced to Menjivars apartment on Florida Avenue to find her and the children all had been killed.

Fairfax County Police had initially received reports about a man experiencing a mental health crisis. Herndon Police also responded to the incident and said autopsies have been completed for the woman and two children, confirming all three deaths classified as homicides.

Authorities have not disclosed any cause of death but did say there were no reports about gunshots.

"I dont know why they let him out," the biological father of the two children, who did not want his name published, told Fox 5 of the alleged killer.

He said his son was 9 and his daughter would have celebrated her 10th birthday the same day she was found dead. The man said he did not know his childrens suspected killer.

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Multiple sources told Fox 5 that Iraheta Palacios had been living in the country illegally.

In 2015, Manassas police  who said at the time that Iraheta Palacios was known by the nickname "Little Crazy"  revealed that he and three others were arrested after "a nearly three-month-long investigation into an incident involving the assault of a fifteen-year-old female of Manassas, Va. by members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) street gang during a gang initiation ritual on November 14, 2014."

Records show he was facing multiple charges, including human trafficking, nine counts of gang participation, two counts of gang recruitment, three counts of conspiracy to cause a juvenile to assist in the distribution of marijuana, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

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He was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aiding illicit sexual intercourse, use of a vehicle to promote unlawful sexual intercourse, threatening force to encourage gang participation and obstruction of justice, according to the station.
WASHINGTON  Mayor Brandon Scott emerged from a White House meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday and said the city hopes to intensify  perhaps with more federal help  its efforts to address gun trafficking and the root causes of violent crime.

Standing outside the White House, Scott described a closed session with the Democratic president, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and other local officials that included an exchange of ideas about how Baltimore and other cities can curb escalating violence heading into the summer months.

Scott, a Democrat, said the ideas amounted to not being soft or tough on crime. Its being smarter. They included a collaboration announced Wednesday in which Baltimore and more than a dozen other cities will trade information on community intervention programs.

Echoing Bidens sentiment from earlier in the day, the mayor said his task would be easier if the Democratic-led U.S. Senate would approve legislation banning assault weapons and closing loopholes in required background checks on people buying firearms.

Listen, this is a public health crisis, Scott told reporters. We need them to wake up and get out of the way. We need them to do what the president is asking. These gun laws that were talking about are common sense, simple things  not taking guns away from people.

Republicans have argued that previously announced executive actions, such as asking the Justice Department to draft model red flag laws to allow family and friends to petition a court to temporarily bar someone from accessing a gun, are unconstitutional. Republicans have also argued the increase in crime is a result of Democratic efforts to cut police department budgets.

Baltimore, which has suffered more than 300 homicides annually for the last six consecutive years, has experienced 162 homicides so far in 2021  10 more than this time last year. Another 329 non-fatal shootings have been investigated, compared to 280 at this time last year, according to the police department. Baltimore has not made significant cuts to its police budget.

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In remarks before Scott was interviewed, Biden said the mayor told him that more than 80% of guns in Baltimore come from outside the city.

Scott repeated that statistic to reporters, and said the city needs more Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents on the ground to better address gun trafficking.

Were very hopeful, Scott said. ATF is a great partner for us. Were very hopeful that were going to get not just more agents but were going to beef up that wonderful partnership that we have.

Scott said he also talked to Biden about community-level intervention and about the importance of putting people back to work, especially those who are returning home from prison

Scotts appearance came as Biden announced a series of initiatives to try to combat gun violence.

The White House said its strategy includes cracking down with a zero tolerance policy on gun dealers who run afoul of federal law.

In remarks after the closed-door meeting with state and local elected officials, Biden called gun traffickers merchants of death and said a relatively small number of dealers account for a disproportionate share of trafficking.

Well find you, the president promised.

He said gun violence shouldnt be a red or blue issue. Its an American issue.

Baltimore figured prominently in one of the initiatives unveiled by the White House.

The city is among 14 cities or counties being targeted by the administration to participate in community violence intervention programs.

The programs aim to use trusted community messengers to link people to various social and economic services to reduce the likelihood of violence as an answer to conflict, according to a White House fact sheet.

Funding for the locally-based programs is available through the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion bill approved by Congress in March that was tied to COVID-19 relief. The legislation contained $122 billion in K-12 schools funding that the administration says can be used for violence prevention.

Baltimore and the 13 other jurisdictions are to form a collaborative whose representatives will meet to assess strategies that reduce gun violence and strengthen community-based infrastructure to enhance public safety for children, families, and communities, and to advance equity, the fact sheet said.

It said that while the meetings will occur over the next 18 months, an immediate goal is to anticipate and respond to the potential rise in violence this summer, according to the White House materials.

Among those partnering with Baltimore will be Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, Detroit, Atlanta and other urban centers struggling to contain violent crime.

The community effort is also to be supported by charities, foundations and other organizations, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore.

Others participating with Biden at the White House meeting were mayors Steve Alexander of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Danielle Levine Cava of Miami-Dade County; New Jersey attorney general Gurbir Grewal; and police chief Murphy Paul Jr., of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Also attending were DeVone Boggan and Eddie Bocanegra, who oversee programs in northern California and Chicago, respectively, to try to curb gun violence.

Since March, Baltimore has been partnering with the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety to develop the Gun Trafficking Intelligence Platform, a program that integrates data from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives e-Trace system into local policing. The system allows participating law enforcement agencies to submit firearm traces and ballistic evidence to a national database to compare to the police departments own data on crime and the citys ShotSpotter gunshot detection network.

Sun reporter Emily Opilo contributed to this article
Jun. 24The Frederick Police Department is welcoming its newest member to the force  comfort dog Nevada.

The 2-year-old black lab will serve on FPD's Special Operations Division with her handler, Sgt. Rebecca Carrado. Nevada will be sent out to help victims of violent crimes, provide comfort for officers and their families following a traumatic event and attend youth events.

Carrado is also a school resource officer and will be taking Nevada to Lincoln Elementary School to assist with her outreach to students. Nevada will have plenty of responsibilities there, such as being a judgment-free companion for students to read to or a calm presence if a student is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Nevada is not a part of the FPD's K-9 unit and won't be used for investigative work in or outside schools, according to an FPD news release.

Hero Dogs, an organization that aims to improve quality of life for U.S. military veterans and first responders by raising, training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, donated Nevada to the police department.

Additionally, a partnership between the Frederick County Humane Society and The Virginia-Maryland-Washington Dog Magazine called The Unsung K9 Hero Project donated supplies to FPD for Nevada's ongoing costs and maintenance in honor of the late Brunswick Police Chief Milt Frech, who worked at FPD from 1989 to 1993.

"We are confident that Sgt. Carrado and Nevada will benefit students in a positive manner. We are happy to be a part of this," said Connie Graft, director of the Frederick County Humane Society.

Follow Clara Niel on Twitter: @clarasniel
MEXICO CITY (AP)  It hasnt been a good week for Mexicos colonial-era architecture.

The government said Thursday that a truck driver with an over-sized load had bashed through part of an archway of a centuries-old colonial aqueduct south of Mexico City. And last Friday, heavy rains caused part of the facade of a centuries-old church to collapse in the Yucatan peninsula.

All of that comes three weeks after Mexico had to send in the National Guard and police to finally stop months of private construction work that probably trashed pre-Hispanic archaeological sites in Teotihuacan.

The incident late Wednesday happened when a flat-bed truck carrying what appeared to be several giant sections of concrete storm drain tried to fit under the arches of a colonial-era aqueduct in the town of Yautepec, south of Mexico City.

The arches of San Carlos, as the stretch of aqueduct are known, stretch across a section of a heavily-used road, and traffic is supposed to slow down, check the clearance and go under them.

That didn't happen Wednesday, and the drain pipe sections hit one part of the archway, sending part the massive stone and brick structure tumbling to the ground. The aqueduct was built during the colonial era to bring water to sugar mills that flourished there during the 1600s and 1700s.

On Friday, the National Institute of Anthropology and History reported that part of the facade of a colonial stone church on the Yucatan peninsula had partly collapsed after four days of heavy rain.

The chapel of the Baby Jesus in the Maya town of Tihosuco, west of the coastal resort of Tulum, had been partially roofless for years; it was damaged during fighting in the last Maya insurrection, known as the War of the Castes, between 1847 and 1901.

Built starting in the 1500s, the church wasn't finished in its present form until 1839. Tihosuco was an important Mayan town, and was the scene of fighting between Mayas angered by excessive taxation and exploitation, and government troops that brutally put down the rebellion.

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Like most modern societies, Mexico has a hard time co-exiting with its wealth of historical architecture.

On May 31, Mexico sent in 250 National Guard troops and 60 police officers to seize land next to the pre-Hispanic ruins of Teotihuacan where authorities have said bulldozers were destroying outlying parts of the archeological site.

Mexican archaeological officials had been trying since March to halt the private construction project, but work continued on what local media says were plans to build some sort of amusement park.

The Culture Department estimated at least 25 ancient structures on the site were threatened, and said it has filed a criminal complaint against those responsible.

Apparently, owners of farm plots are trying to turn the land into a recreation area. The area is just outside and across a road from the sites famous boulevard and pyramid complex.

The U.N. international council on monuments and sites said bulldozers threatened to raze as many as 15 acres (7 hectares) at the site, which is a protected area. The council also said looting of artifacts had been detected.

Teotihuacan is best known for its twin Temples of the Sun and Moon, but it was actually a large city that housed over 100,000 inhabitants and covered around 8 square miles (20 sq. kilometers).

The still mysterious city was one of the largest in the world at its apex between 100 B.C. and A.D. 750. But it was abandoned before the rise of the Aztecs in the 14th century.
A New Mexico mom wants her 23-year-old son to remain behind bars instead of constantly being released and reoffending, according to a report.

"He has basically continued on a path of destruction," Jade Gordon of Albuquerque told KRQE-TV about her son Shane Ward, who she said began having problems at a young age.

As a minor, he was diagnosed with conduct disorder, which is marked by antisocial behavior and could lead to psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies, according to KRQE.

"When he turned 18, we actually pushed him out of the home," Gordon told the station. "We would no longer allow him in the home. Specifically, because we have younger children in the home and we did not want our younger children to be subjected to his actions or the things he would state in the home."

Ward has been arrested in recent years after accusations of battery of a household member, making death threats to the family of ex-romantic partners and false imprisonment related to the alleged strangling of another man.

41 CALIFORNIA DAS OPPOSE EARLY RELEASE ELIGIBILITY OF 76,000 INMATES

He allegedly wrote texts to family members of his exes that read: "Your family will be massacred," "Im on the way to your house now" and said he might "chop (your) childrens heads off," the station reported.

Just this month, Gordon told the station, Ward attacked her 13-year-old son.

"Even with him striking our 13-year-old just recently, Ive been looking online and theres nothing indicating they have a new file charged against him for it," she said. "My husband and I said we do want charges pressed and we do want him to learn from his mistakes."

Last week, a warrant was reportedly put out for Wards arrest after he allegedly cut off his ankle bracelet for the second time and fled.

Gordon claimed the system had "failed" her son by releasing him after each offense on probation and with an ankle bracelet.

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She said she doesnt want him or anyone else to get hurt.

"I believe deep down in my heart, that somebody at some point could end up dead," she said. "I just pray that he sees this and he gives up."

She said police officers are fighting to get criminals off the street  only to see their efforts undermined in the courts.

"As theyre pulling them in, the judges are slapping, putting a slap on the wrist and throwing them right back out," Gordon said.

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Ward has reportedly had three parole violations since his release on the battery arrest. He took a plea and got a delayed sentence.

The Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office told KRQE two out of three motions filed by the office to have Wards parole denied have been rejected. The third motion is pending.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cavas first White House visit coincided with a push from President Joe Biden to counteract an uptick in violent crime and a Republican attack line that Democrats favor defunding the police.

Levine Cava and a group of mayors met with Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday afternoon as the White House released a plan to increase enforcement by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms of illicit gun purchases and trafficking and highlighted that $350 billion in state and local funds doled out as part of a massive COVID relief bill can be used to hire additional police officers.

The meeting and new initiatives from the White House come as violent crime is increasing across the country  and has become a talking point for Republicans.

In remarks following the meeting, Biden said the recently passed $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill gives local officials the option to spend money on additional police officers and technology to fight crime. Miami-Dade County and its 34 municipalities received $1 billion from the federal government earlier this year, a windfall for state and local governments across the country that Republicans argued was too broad and too expensive. Miami-Dade County government will get about half of that amount, around $530 million.

Levine Cava said the county is preparing a draft spending proposal of federal funds earmarked for violence prevention though the money will be spent more broadly than just on law enforcement. She said the proposal will likely be released next month, though she was unable to provide a dollar amount and noted that the plan will need additional county and federal approval.

We are committed to providing the resources for policing, so were looking at a variety of strategies for intervention and prevention, Levine Cava said.

She also said Miami-Dade County on Wednesday was added to a previously released list of 15 metropolitan areas committed to using a portion of their COVID relief funds for community violence intervention programs in anticipation of increased violence this summer. The metro areas, including cities like Atlanta and Detroit, will work together to share information and best practices about gun violence prevention strategies that are effective.

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Well be part of that cohort working across the country with these other jurisdictions, Levine Cava said.

Biden also called on Congress to pass big-ticket gun control items like a ban on assault weapons, background checks on all gun purchases and a ban of high-capacity magazines. None of those measures are likely to become law on their own as they face varying degrees of GOP opposition in the U.S. Senate, including from Florida Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio.

Mayors have the power to help shape and enforce the laws in their cities, but they cant control the laws in neighboring cities, Biden said during remarks at the White House. Were not changing the Constitution, were enforcing it, being reasonable.

In Florida, crime overall was down last year during the pandemic but violent crime increased, according to statistics released this week by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Murders were up 15% across the state and 80% of them involved a gun. But robberies, burglaries and larcenies were down between 17% and 18%, as many workers stayed home.

In South Florida, a recent wave of high-profile shootings, including mass shootings at a graduation party and concert, have made headlines and prompted calls for action.

Levine Cava said the county has already committed $7.8 million for the Peace and Prosperity plan over the next two years to help young people find jobs and is in the midst of Operation Summer Heat to better coordinate law enforcement resources.

We know that the lions share of violent crime reduction work is shouldered by local...law enforcement partners, Garland said. Community-led efforts are vital to preventing violence before it occurs.

But Levine Cava, who also met with Department of Transportation officials on Wednesday, acknowledged that local leaders can only do so much. Additional federal resources and attention are crucial to fight both the causes and symptoms of violent crime.

The most important thing that I learned is that the president is very serious about this and its deeply personal for him given his work on justice issues and the fact that his son was attorney general in Delaware, Levine Cava said. Were hopeful that between the enforcement and prevention side we can really turn things around. We want to break the cycle of gun violence.
Storyful

Drone footage recorded on June 30 shows rescue and recovery efforts at the site of the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo, a day before operations were halted in Surfside over worries that additional portions could fall over.Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said on Thursday morning that the pause, which began overnight, was due to structural concerns. Levine Cava and other local and state politicians including Gov Ron DeSantis met with President Biden after he arrived in Miami on Thursday.According to authorities, 18 people are confirmed to have died in the collapse, which occurred early in the morning on June 24. An additional 145 are reported as unaccounted for. Credit: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue via Storyful
HAMILTON, Mont. (AP)  A western Montana couple were able to save a horse from drowning in the Bitterroot River on Father's Day, and may have made a new friend in the process.

Matthew and Christina Eickholt of Hamilton were floating down the river on Sunday with Matthew's parents at a spot called Bell Crossing north of Victor when they noticed some splashing near the shore.

They soon realized it was a horse that was fighting the current as it tried to get out of the river near a steep bank in a spot where the water was about 10 feet (3 meters) deep.

He was breathing super heavy, Matthew Eickholt told the Ravalli Republic. Its eyes were all bugged out. At times, all we could see was its teeth above water. It was snorting. I think it may have been 30 seconds to a minute from going under.

The Eickholts pulled to shore at a shallower spot in the river just downstream from the horse.

We started clapping and yelling, Matthew Eickholt said. We were able to coax him to come downstream. When he saw us, I think he knew we were there to help him. Once he got to us, he was able to pull himself out of there.

He was a super nice horse, he said. We were all so happy that it turned out the way it did."

Two days later, the couple was floating the same stretch of river with Christina's parents when they spotted the horse and pulled over to say hello.

The horse remembered us and came running up to us with his two friends, Christina Eickholt said.

The Eickholts haven't yet learned who the horses belong to.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday evening Christina wrote: Hoping to visit the horse every time we float our favorite route!
A man was arrested last week in the Central Valley on suspicion of grand theft after 42,000 pounds of pistachios were reported stolen from a processing plant. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

While completing orders and going over inventory, employees at a San Joaquin Valley pistachio company realized something didn't add up.

They seemed to be missing some nuts  and more than just a few.

An audit launched earlier this month revealed that roughly 42,000 pounds of pistachios had vanished.

Touchstone Pistachio Co. reported the missing merchandise to law enforcement on June 17, officials with the Tulare County Sheriffs Office said.

It didn't take authorities long to crack the case.

A day later, deputies found a cargo container filled with about 21 tons of nuts in Delano, near the border of Tulare and Kern counties, said Sgt. Joseph England, who leads the Tulare County sheriff's Agricultural Crimes Unit.

Deputies arrested Alberto Montemayor, 34, on suspicion of grand theft in connection with the stolen nuts, which were valued at more than $170,000, England said.

It appeared the pistachios were in the process of being repackaged to be sold, with the nuts being moved from 2,000-pound sacks into smaller bags, sheriff's officials said. About 40,000 pounds of the nuts were recovered and returned to Touchstone Pistachio. Investigators said there was evidence the rest had already been sold.

With truckloads of nuts potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, authorities in the Central Valley say nut theft is more common than you might think.

David Alavezos, an assistant district attorney in Tulare County, said stealing nuts is a really common crime in the region.

About 99% of the country's pistachios are grown in California, and roughly 97% of that is grown in the San Joaquin Valley, according to Richard Matoian, president of the American Pistachio Growers, a Fresno-based trade organization.

Pistachios can sell for $8 to $9 a pound, a pretty penny for farmers  and thieves.

"The higher price point makes the opportunity [of theft] more attractive," relative to other crops, Matoian said.

Tulare County employs a full-time prosecutor and an investigator dedicated to agricultural crimes, which range from cattle rustling to stealing expensive tractors.

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But unlike livestock and farm equipment, which can be individually marked, nuts are harder to track. They also are nonperishable, so they don't need to be immediately offloaded or refrigerated when they are taken.

Pistachios are the biggest-ticket item in local agricultural theft, England said, noting there are typically one or two significant heists a year.

Last year, the Sheriff's Office arrested a man on suspicion of stealing about $295,000 worth of stolen pistachios.

Nut thefts run the gamut in complexity, experts say  from sophisticated hacking jobs to grab-and-run crimes that fluctuate with the growing season.

More complex schemes might involve someone on the inside altering invoices or intentionally not reporting missing inventory. Fraudsters may claim a delivery is not up to par and decline payment beyond an initial investment. Some thieves even play a long game, paying for truckloads of nuts until they earn a grower's trust. Then they skip out on a large order.

After the nuts are harvested, they're often left in truck trailers on the side of the road to be taken to a processing plant. It's "relatively easy" for someone to hook up the trailer and drive off, Matoian said.

And every year, would-be thieves follow harvesting equipment designed to shake nuts from the trees, loading up gunny sacks with the fallen fruits. Though these are lower-value thefts, they can add up, England said.

Its not that much if its just a sack here or a sack there. But they'll be throwing that into a truck, and it's kind of death by a thousand cuts for a lot of farmers.

Pistachio theft peaked about four to six years ago, Matoian said.

That's when hackers began purloining information about specific orders from online portal systems used by companies bidding to transport products. Once details are obtained, the thief typically shows up at a facility with all the right information  order number, quantity expected, brand name  and may even give the name of the trucker slated to arrive.

Tim Ward, Tulare County's district attorney, said savvy tech crimes have ticked up.

"What we have seen recently is a very sophisticated kind of a white-collar crime  digital crime  that's occurring within the industry," he said.

Montemayor works for a family-owned trucking company that contracts with Touchstone Pistachio Co. Among other things, investigators tracked the missing Touchstone Pistachio nuts by reviewing video from several outlets, including the processing plant, and checking inventory paperwork, England said.

According to Matoian, the nuts were a relatively finished product, meaning they had already been processed, which can include sorting and sometimes roasting and salting. Nuts that havent been processed can be harder to sell.

Stealing a finished product "requires a lot more sophistication to pull off.

Times staff writer Leila Miller contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Sydney-based Chilean woman accused of Pinochet-era crimes lost a court appeal Thursday against extradition to Chile to face seven counts of aggravated kidnapping.

Adriana Elcira Rivas Gonzalez, now aged in her late 60s, has been fighting extradition since being arrested by Australian authorities in February 2019.

She is alleged to have been a member of dictator Augusto Pinochet's feared secret police in the 1970s and is wanted in connection with the 1976 disappearance of senior Communist Party official Victor Manuel Diaz Lopez.

US-backed Pinochet, who died in 2006, toppled the democratically elected socialist government of President Salvador Allende and presided over thousands of murders, tortures and forced disappearances as Latin America was ravaged by Cold War-fuelled violence.

Australia's Federal Court on Thursday dismissed an application by Rivas to review a lower court judge's 2020 decision that she should be sent to Chile to face the kidnapping charges.

"The applicant is eligible for surrender... in relation to the seven counts of aggravated kidnapping... for which her extradition is sought," Justice Wendy Abraham said in a judgement.

Rivas, who was also ordered to pay the state's legal costs, may yet appeal the decision.

Chile formally requested her extradition in 2018 from Sydney, where she had been working as a nanny and a cleaner in the city's Bondi area.

Rivas has lived in Australia for three decades and was previously arrested while visiting Chile in 2007, but later fled to Australia while on bail.

According to Chilean human rights archive Memoria Viva, "La Chani" -- as Rivas was known -- was once a personal secretary to notorious secret police boss Manuel Contreras and was later linked to the infamous Lautaro Brigade death squad.

In a 2013 interview with Australian broadcaster SBS, Rivas claimed she was innocent, but defended the use of torture in Chile at the time.

"They had to break the people - it has happened all over the world, not only in Chile," she said.

Allende and more than 3,000 others were killed or went missing during and after Pinochet's coup against the socialist government, according to researchers at Chile's Diego Portales University. Nearly 40,000 were tortured.

hr/dm/axn
Barack Obama greets Natoma Canfield. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Natoma Canfield, the Ohio woman whose letter to former President Barack Obama about her struggles to pay insurance premiums inspired him to fight for the Affordable Care Act, has died. She was 61.

Canfield, a resident of Medina Township, died on June 18. In late 2009, she wrote a letter to Obama, telling him that she was a cancer survivor and because her premiums kept skyrocketing every year, she could no longer afford to pay for health insurance. Canfield shared with Obama that she was worried about becoming sick again, as well as losing her home. Her letter moved Obama, and he read it to insurance executives during a meeting at the White House.

Canfield soon found herself the face of the Affordable Care Act, with Obama using her story to illustrate how hard it could be for people to afford health insurance, especially those who were sick. "I carried Natoma's story with me every day of the fight to pass the law," Obama said in 2012. "It reminded me of all the Americans, all across the country, who have had to worry not only about getting sick, but about the cost of getting well."

She was in the hosptial when Obama signed the ACA into law, but Canfield's sister Connie attended the event in her place. Obama framed Canfield's letter and placed it in the Oval Office, and she was eventually able to visit Washington to see it in person. Obama tweeted on Wednesday that by telling her story, Canfield "helped us pass the Affordable Care Act. She was an inspiration to me and so many others, which is why her letter still hangs in my office. Michelle and I send our condolences to Natoma's family."

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The popular idea in our culture right now, driven by the newly trendy but toxic racialist ideologies such as critical race theory, is that white supremacy is ubiquitous.

You dont need any physical evidence or individual racists as evidence for this claim. White supremacy is just out there, an invisible force surrounding us and influencing every aspect of our lives.

The Views Sunny Hostin has embraced this idea, recently citing white supremacy as the reason for the surge in black people buying guns.

If you listen to the FBIs statistics, we had FBI Director [Christopher] Wray testify that the greatest threat in the United States is white supremacy, and who are the victims of white supremacy? Hostin asked. Generally, they are African Americans, and so I really believe that that is why you are seeing African Americans now buying guns and arming themselves and protecting themselves.

Of course, if you listen to FBI statistics, you would know that most black people murdered in the U.S. are killed by other black people. Likewise, most white people who are murdered are killed by white people. Using the FBIs 2019 data (the most recent available), 2,574 of the 2,906 black homicide victims (or 88%) were killed by black perpetrators; 246 were killed by white perpetrators, which is around 8%. (Just over 78% of white victims were killed by white perpetrators, and 17% were killed by black perpetrators.)

As it happens, Wray made the remarks that Hostin was misquoting in 2019. He told Congress that the FBI considered white supremacist terrorists to be a persistent, pervasive threat. He also said that the FBIs big concern in this regard was lone-offender attacks. His appearance before Congress came after deadly mass shootings at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, both perpetrated by white nationalist extremists and both (as it happens) against nonblack targets.

We will not have national data covering the 2020 homicide surge for a few months yet, let alone current numbers. But there is absolutely no indication that there is a sudden surge in white-on-black homicides. Hostins assertion is based only on Wrays comments made two years ago, and note that she swapped a concern about terrorism with a concern about "white supremacy." Wray wasn't referencing typical homicides but a small handful of lethal "lone wolf" terrorist attacks.

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The View has never been a bastion of rigorous political analysis, but Hostins view that white supremacy is as faceless and omnipresent as the air we breathe is not exclusive to her. This is the view of anti-racists across the country, including media outlets trying to assert that racism is more pervasive than it really is and Democratic mayors trying to brush off criticism of their shoddy, soft-on-crime records as violent criminals victimize their constituents.

Its a Democratic talking point, designed to push their agenda further and, in this case, excuse the failures that are Democrat-run cities. Black people arent buying guns because of white supremacy. They are buying them because Democrats are running and ruining the cities they live in.

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Tags: Beltway Confidential, Crime, The View, Sunny Hostin, Firearms, Democrats, White supremacists

Original Author: Zachary Faria

Original Location: No, black people aren't buying guns to protect themselves from 'white supremacy'
An off-duty Border Patrol agent encountered a group of armed smugglers while he fished with his family in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday.

The unnamed law enforcement official was with relatives along the banks of a river near Lago del Rio when three individuals, who identified themselves as Federales, pointed firearms at him and his family before returning to Mexico, Customs and Border Protection announced Wednesday. Neither the agent nor his relatives were injured during the incident.

The unidentified Border Patrol agent was wearing plain clothes and did not disclose his role in law enforcement.

The trio of smugglers were carrying "small backpacks," which likely contained "hard narcotics," said Carl Landrum, deputy chief patrol agent.

LAREDO BORDER PATROL REPORTS OVER 1,000% UPTICK IN ARRESTS OF CRIMINAL MIGRANTS

(U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Border Security is National Security," Landrum said in a statement. "Yesterday, an off-duty Border Patrol agent and his family were fishing along the Rio Grande River. They were encountered by three armed individuals dressed in camouflage who illegally entered the United States. They were carrying small backpacks, which we presume were hard narcotics. The armed men were surprised and brandished their firearms as they returned to Mexico. Mexican authorities were notified."

Earlier in June, the Laredo sector reported an over 1,200% uptick in the arrests of criminal migrants since the start of fiscal year 2021. Seven-hundred-sixty criminal migrants have been brought into custody, compared to 60 who were arrested over the same time period in 2020.

A gang member who was residing in a stash house in South Laredo was arrested Tuesday. Fidel Alexis Lopez-Mendoza, 20, a Mexican national and a member of the Sureno Gang, previously faced charges of robbery, battery, interference with emergency communication, and theft of property.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

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"These arrests continue to highlight the dangers that illegal immigration poses to our country," Border Patrol said in a statement at the time. "Dangerous criminals such as these endanger our communities by showing a lack of regard for our countrys laws. The agents of the Laredo Sector are committed to their duties of protecting the American people, safeguarding our borders, and enhancing the Nations economic prosperity."

President Joe Biden has faced bipartisan criticism for his handling of a surge at the southern border as conservatives fault many of his executive orders early on in the presidency for emboldening both smugglers and asylum-seekers.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday announced she and a team will be visiting the U.S.-Mexico Border for the first time since she assumed office on Jan. 20. Harris, who was appointed immigration czar, has been criticized for failing to make the trek earlier.

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Tags: News, Border Patrol, Texas, Crime, Drugs, Border Crisis, Border, Migrants

Original Author: Jake Dima

Original Location: Off-duty Border Patrol agent encounters armed smugglers while fishing with family
DUBAI (Reuters) - Oman's foreign minister told his Israeli counterpart he hopes Israel's new government will take concrete steps towards creating an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, Omani state media said on Thursday.

Oman's Badr al-Busaidi spoke by phone to Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, according to ONA, the state news agency of Oman, which has a longstanding policy of neutrality in the turbulent region and often acts as a mediator.

In February, Busaidi said Oman was satisfied with its current relationship with Israel even after fellow Gulf States the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalised ties with Israel last year under U.S.-brokered accords.

Lapid will travel to the UAE next week in the first official visit by an Israeli minister to the Gulf state since they established diplomatic relations. He will inaugurate the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Israel in Dubai.

(Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Pravin Char)
Last June, protests across the U.S., including in Los Angeles, caused corporations to pledge changes in hiring, compensation and advancement of people of color. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

Last summer, when Black Lives Matter protests rolled through nearly 550 towns and cities across the U.S., the business community reacted swiftly.

Two weeks after the senseless killing of George Floyd, American corporations pledged more than $1.7 billion to address racism and injustice. At the same time, company leaders publicly promised to make their organizations more diverse by improving anti-discriminatory hiring practices, pay parity and equitable access to advancement for people of color.

Business has the transformative power to change and contribute to a more open, diverse and inclusive society. We can only accomplish this by starting from within our organizations, wrote Vijay Eswaran, executive chairman of the multinational conglomerate QI Group.

One year later, it seems appropriate to ask what has become of this outpouring of good will. How many Black people have been hired or promoted? How many are at pay equity with their white peers? What are the results of the systems put in place to promote Black employees retention and career advancement?

History makes it clear how crucial accountability is for social justice. Although diversity and inclusion initiatives trace back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the chasm that separate promises  and even good faith efforts  from results remains stubbornly wide.

A February 2021 McKinsey report on race in the workplace describes Black employees as being 41% less likely to believe promotions are fair and 39% less likely to believe their companys diversity, equity and inclusion programs are effective than white employees in the same company. Racial discrimination suits, among the most-filed complaints at the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, result in relief only 15% of the time.

And of course, corporate support of social justice initiatives is not altogether altruistic. By speaking up for Black Lives Matter, companies position themselves to reap capitalistic benefits and avoid cancellation. According to a June 2020 survey, a majority of Americans of all generations 60% of the U.S. population  say that how a brand responds to racial justice protests will influence whether they buy or boycott the brand in the future.

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Nonetheless  and not surprisingly  its not hard to find examples of companies publicly voicing solidarity with Black workers but not backing it up in their hiring practices and policies.

A study published in May looked at diversity in the technology industry and found that companies that made statements of support with Black Lives Matter had 20% fewer Black employees on average than those that didnt.

As the protests were peaking in 2020, Amazon announced a $10-million donation to organizations supporting the fight against systemic racism and injustice, a figure that grew as the company matched employee donations. Since then, however, at its various businesses, it has racked up allegations of systemic bias against people of color, including retaliating against employees who wore Black Lives Matter paraphernalia, paying low wages to a disproportionately Black and Latino warehouse workforce and discriminating against them when it comes to promotions.

During this years proxy season, Amazon shareholders considered a proposal asking the board for an independent audit to assess the companys equity policies. Although the proposal had backing at the May 26 shareholder meeting, it was voted down.

On the other hand, Starbucks, with social justice initiatives that stem from a much-publicized 2018 in-store racial profiling incident, recently released an independently produced report on its progress on civil rights concerns. The report includes metrics on racial/gender pay equity and its workforce demographics, as well as strategies for reassessing policies previously put in place and updates on how they are tracking to their long-range diversity goals.

Additionally, in April, BlackRock, the worlds largest asset management firm, announced that it too would get an independent audit of its racial equity and inclusion. This puts pressure on smaller firms to do the same.

A companys dedication to the timely disclosure of complete equity data is the only way the public can assess whether its activism is performative or a real attempt at change. According to As You Sow, a shareholder advocacy organization, approximately two-thirds of companies in the S&P 500 made statements in support of racial justice in 2020, but tracking their progress toward goals they set was hampered because of a serious lack of data and transparency at the companies.

The tragedy of such lost accountability is best illustrated by Harvard University English professor and public intellectual Henry Louis Gates Jr., looking back at the "40 acres and a mule" promise to newly freed slaves  the first systemic attempt to mitigate racism: Try to imagine how profoundly different the history of race relations in the United States would have been had this policy been implemented and enforced; had the former slaves actually had access to the ownership of land, of property; if they had had a chance to be self-sufficient economically, to build, accrue and pass on wealth."

In 100 years, no one should have to imagine what might have been if the promises of equity and inclusion in 2020 were kept. Companies can be kept honest. Customers and consumers can demand that businesses promote the outcomes of their diversity programs, their process and even their struggles in the same way they promoted their aspirations a year ago.

The pledges made by American business last summer need not become the thoughts and prayers of the racial justice movement. Too much is at stake.

Ralinda Harvey Smith is a marketing and business strategy consultant and a freelance writer in Santa Monica. @ralinda

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Vaccinated Panera customers will be able to get one free bagel per day for a limited time in early July as part of the White House's National Month of Action.

The bakery-cafe chain announced the promotion, which will run from July 2 to July 4, on Wednesday.

According to a press release, vaccinated guests will be able to get one free bagel each day in that time window.

"Panera bagels are baked fresh every night, and there is a flavor for everyone, from Plain, Sesame and Everything to Chocolate Chip and Cinnamon Swirl," the company said in the release. "Whether you like your bagel bread-sliced or cut through the middle, or prefer savory Asiago Cheese or sweet Cinnamon Crunch, if you are vaccinated the choice is yours for one free bagel daily during the promotion, while supplies last."

Related: Check out the chains giving away the goods to reward those who got their vaccine.

The release notes that spreads are not included and the promotion only applies to bagels ordered in-store, not those ordered online or through third-party sites.

"During the past year, we have focused on uniting and serving our entire Panera family; our guests, associates, and communities. Today, we are proud to continue our work through support of the 'We Can Do This' campaign," said Niren Chaudhary, the CEO of Panera Bread, in the release. "We have come through one of our nation's greatest crises by supporting one another, and now, together, we can all take a simple act that will help our communities overcome this pandemic."

The chain said it is "proud" to "support the White House's efforts to vaccinate Americans." The administration of President Joe Biden initially had a goal of having at least 70% of Americans over the age of 18 receive their first dose of vaccine by July 4, but recently, the White House acknowledged that it was likely not going to hit that target.

Related: The fast food chain is partnering with the White House and encouraging its customers to get vaccinated.

Panera isn't the only brand that's offered incentives to those who get vaccinated. Krispy Kreme promised free doughnuts for most of 2021 to guests who show proof of vaccination, while Taco Bell offered vaccinated Californians free tacos earlier in June. Other companies, like McDonald's, are sharing information about vaccines on their packaging.

Related:
A scramble by Parisians for homes in France's picturesque southwestern Basque region is fanning a nationalist backlash in a region with a troubled past.

In recent months, several properties with for-sale signs and estate agents in the region bordering Spain have been defaced with graffiti declaring "Euskal Herria ez da salgai", (the Basque country is not for sale).

Some of the slogans have taken aim at holiday-home owners from the capital, who decamped to the coast during successive Covid-19 lockdowns.

"Parisians, go home, you are the virus of the Basque country," giant posters pasted on the walls of houses in the village of Urrugne in March read.

But the anger is also directed at families cashing in their apartments in Paris and other French cities for a bigger home in a region that boasts some of Europe's top surfing beaches, with the Pyrenees mountains looming in the distance.

- Fast train from Paris -

After playing second fiddle for decades to the Cote d'Azur in the glamour stakes, the Basque country is having a moment.

"It's not necessarily rich people we see arriving, they're not Russian oligarchs with 14 million euros in a suitcase," David Buchoou of La Rochefoucauld estate agency in Anglet told AFP.

He described them instead as people with "big corporate jobs, for example" who spend a few days a week in the city and the rest with their families in the Basque country.

The floodgates opened with the launch of a new high-speed train line from Paris to the mid-way station of Bordeaux in 2017, which brought Biarritz within nearly four hours of the capital.

A massive shift to home-working since the start of the coronavirus pandemic facilitated the move, causing house prices -- and tempers -- in the Basque region to flare.

In Guethary, a fishing village of 1,300 inhabitants where every second house is a holiday home, several estate agents and homes with for-sale signs have been vandalised.

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The village's mayor Marie-Pierre Burre-Cassou blames the tensions on spiralling property prices, which average 7,400 euros ($8,816) per square metre, compared with 6,670 euros in the greater Paris region.

With apartments in resorts like Biarritz now often commanding seven-figure sums, the demand for holiday homes is creeping inland to rural villages and farming communities.

An activist with the group Baiona Angelu Miarritze (Basque for the cities of Bayonne, Anglet and Biarritz), which campaigns for affordable housing, warned of growing despair among young people unable to get a foot on the property ladder.

"And when it begins to mobilise people that despair can become dangerous," warned the activist, who asked to remain anonymous.

- 'Good old ETA days' -

France's Basque country was largely spared the bloodshed seen in Spain during the four-decade quest by separatist group ETA for an independent Basque state between 1968 and 2010, in which 853 people died.

But nationalists on the French side of the border have also used violence in the past to draw attention to their aims.

Estate agents and tourism industry operators accused of "folklorising" the region were targeted in several bomb attacks in 2007 and 2008.

No-one was injured in the explosions, several of which were claimed by French Basque separatist group Irrintzi, under the slogan "the Basque country is not for sale".

Jean-Daniel Elichiry, a member of the Bake Bidea movement, which campaigned for a peaceful resolution to the Basque conflict, is among several officials warning of a risk of a return to violence.

Pointing to posts on social media expressing nostalgia for "the good old days of ETA", he said: "There's something very worrying about that."

In Biarritz, where several cars with license plates from other French regions were vandalised in May, mayor Maider Arosteguy also fears that the growing chasm between new residents and local "have nots" could endanger the fragile Basque peace process.

"The risk is that a big part of Basque youth could become radicalised," she said.

Between 2007 and 2017 the number of second homes in the French Basque country increased by 19 percent, according to the regional authority.

The figures show 54,000 homes lying empty, of which 42,000 are second homes.

Resentment over the newcomers from Paris and other French cities has been matched by frustration over a shortage of rental properties, with Airbnb blamed for shrinking supply of long-term rentals in favour of holiday lets.

To draw attention to what he calls the "speculative" nature of the rental market, a former Biarritz councillor, Eric Bonnamy, filmed himself using a grinder to dislodge boxes used to store keys for Airbnb clients on the street.

For Biarritz mayor Arosteguy such actions are "almost terrorist".

In an interview with French television she suggested introducing tax breaks for property owners who offer year-round rentals.

The activist from Baiona Angelu Miarritze urged politicians to act fast against what he described as the threat to peace from unbridled capitalism.

"We've got to a point where we have to say stop," he said.

cas/cb/sjw/lth
A fine has been issued four months after officials said a man punched a Southwest Airlines worker as he was being kicked off his flight over a face mask.

The man, whom the Federal Aviation Administration did not name, was fined $21,000 following the alleged assault at a Dallas airport.

The FAA said the man refused to wear his face mask before and after boarding the Southwest plane on Feb. 22. The flight was from Dallas to Albuquerque.

Flight attendants and the captain repeatedly told the man he needed to wear a mask. He put a bandanna over his face, but kept removing it, according to the FAA. He also allegedly removed a sealed mask given to him by a Southwest supervisor.

The captain returned the plane from the runway back to the gate to escort the passenger off the flight, the FAA said.

A customer service supervisor boarded the aircraft for a second time to escort him off, according to the FAA. The passenger threw the mask at the supervisor, hit him in his jaw, and still refused to wear the mask while exiting the aircraft.

The man was detained and issued a citation for assault, federal officials said.

Federal law requires everyone 2-years-old and older to wear a mask at all during their flight.

He was one of eight passengers the FAA announced fines for Tuesday due to their unruly and dangerous behavior on flights. In total, the FAA has proposed $563,800 in fines against unruly passengers in 2021.

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Pennsylvania Capitol Police detained more than a dozen protesters Wednesday afternoon, including Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym, who were demanding additional funding for schools.

According to reports, the protesters were part of POWER, an interfaith group, and were detained after knocking on the door of the state Senate chamber and trying to enter the public gallery. In a Facebook post, Gym said the group planned to demand [lawmakers] spend the $10 billion budget surplus and fund our public schools.

Senate leadership refused to speak with us, Gym said in the post. On behalf of our kids, we will never back down. They deserve the best we can give them, and the least we can do is fairly fund their schools.

According to an announcement posted to Twitter, the group planned to engage in civil disobedience in an effort to disrupt business as usual in the General Assembly to make sure lawmakers in the Capitol hear this call for justice.

According to a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the group of activists blocked the entrance to the Senate chamber, prompting a Capitol police officer to declare the groups assembly unlawful. The officer ordered the group to disperse, and officers handcuffed about a dozen people after they refused.

Before that, the group went to the offices of Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny.

Troy Thompson, a spokesperson for the state Department of General Services, which oversees Capitol Police, told the Capital-Star that 15 people, including Gym, were issued defiant trespass citations.

I feel that this is a disgrace that faith leaders who are fighting for the lives and education of Pennsylvanias children were arrested at the state Capitol, the Capital-Star quoted the Rev. Yvette Davis, a member of POWER, as saying.

According to the Commonwealth Foundation, citing state and federal numbers, the Keystone State ranks eighth in the nation for funding. Inclusive of local, state and federal funding, the state spends at least $19,000 per student, above the national average of about $14,000, the group said.

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According to reports, Gym was elected to the City Council in 2015 and is considered a contender for mayor in 2023.

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Tags: States, News, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Police

Original Author: Todd DeFeo, The Center Square

Original Location: Pennsylvania Capitol Police detain protesters, including Philadelphia council member, outside Senate chamber
A female linguist who worked for the Pentagon in Iraq was sentenced to 23 years behind bars for giving classified information to a Hezbollah-tied foreign national.

Mariam Taha Thompson was charged in May 2020 in federal court with transmitting highly sensitive classified national defense information to a foreign national," who she believed would provide the information to Lebanese-based Hezbollah, a foreign terrorist organization tied to Iran.

Court records show Thompson signed an extensive statement of facts in late January admitting to the covert plot, and she pleaded guilty in March. Thompson faced a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment.

The Justice Department said Thompson admitted in her guilty plea hearing that "beginning in 2017, she started communicating with her unindicted co-conspirator using a video-chat feature on a secure text and voice messaging application and that she developed a romantic interest in her co-conspirator.

Thompson, according to the Justice Department, learned that the unindicted co-conspirator had a family member who was in the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior, and that the unindicted co-conspirator claimed to have received a ring from Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Lebanese Hizballah.

A 12-page FBI affidavit by Special Agent Danielle Ray said the information Thompson passed along included classified national defense information regarding active human assets and that by compromising the identities of these human assets, Thompson placed the lives of both the human assets and U.S. military members in grave danger.

After a U.S. airstrike killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in early 2020, the unindicted co-conspirator started asking Thompson to provide them information about the human assets who helped the United States to target the Iranian spy chief.

Thompson admitted she understood them to be Lebanese Hezbollah, including a high-ranking terrorist military commander, according to the Justice Department.

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Thompsons sentence reflects the seriousness of her violation of the trust of the American people, of the human sources she jeopardized and of the troops who worked at her side as friends and colleagues, said John Demers, assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments National Security Division, on Wednesday.

Thompson worked at a Special Operations Task Force facility in Iraq as a contract linguist with a top-secret government security clearance. The Justice Department said before Thompson's February 2020 arrest, she used her access to classified national defense information to provide her co-conspirator with the identities of at least 10 clandestine human assets.

That included their true names and photographs, as well as cables showing the intelligence these assets provided to the U.S. and at least 20 U.S. targets. Prosecutors said Thompson intended and had reason to believe that this classified national defense information would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of Lebanese Hizballah.

The audit of Thompsons computer logs showed a notable shift in her network activity just one day after the U.S. launched airstrikes against Iranian-backed forces in Iraq. On the same day, Iranian-backed protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy, revealing repeated access to classified information she had no need to access.

The violent storming of the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, in early January followed the Iraqi governments condemnation of U.S. airstrikes targeting Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia in the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces guided by Soleimani and his adviser Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were subsequently both killed in a U.S. airstrike. The U.S. blamed Kata'ib Hezbollah for attacks on its bases in Iraq in December 2019 that resulted in the death of a U.S. contractor.

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Hezbollah was founded in the 1980s in Lebanon but now operates on multiple continents on behalf of Iran, from which it receives the bulk of its funding. However, money from Hezbollahs operations makes its way back to Irans coffers. Hezbollah has been tied to a spate of terrorist attacks against the U.S., including the 1983 Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 U.S. service members in Beirut.

Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds Force, guided many of Hezbollahs operations.

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Tags: News, Justice Department, Iraq, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Pentagon

Original Author: Jerry Dunleavy

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Pentagon linguist who passed secrets to Hezbollah sentenced to 23 years in prison
Former Philippine president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, the reserved 61-year-old bachelor from one of Asia's most famous political families, died Thursday, the country's foreign minister and several officials said.

Aquino, who ruled the archipelago nation from 2010 to 2016, was the only son of the late former president Corazon Aquino and her assassinated husband, senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, both revered for leading the struggle to restore democracy in the archipelago nation.

Aquino was rushed to the Capitol Medical Center in Manila early Thursday, local media reported.

His family was expected to issue a statement.

"I'm out of Twitter from grief over the death of a sea-green incorruptible," Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin tweeted.

He said Aquino was "brave under armed attack, wounded in crossfire, indifferent to power and its trappings, and ruled our country with a puzzling coldness but only because he hid his feelings so well it was thought he had none".

Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, who was Aquino's former peace adviser, expressed his "profound sadness" over the former leader's death.

"I knew him to be a kind man, driven by his passion to serve our people, diligent in his duties, and with an avid and consuming curiosity about new knowledge and the world in general," Leonen said.

Aquino, who was succeeded by President Rodrigo Duterte, waged an anti-corruption agenda during his term and ushered in key economic reforms.

mff/amj/jah
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan at the end of June, President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday, bringing its two-decade presence in the country to an end.

NATO allies agreed in April that foreign troops under NATO command will withdraw from Afghanistan in coordination with a U.S. pull-out by Sept. 11.

"At the end of June, after 20 years, we are ending our military involvement in the largest NATO operation in history," Duda wrote on Twitter, adding that the first troops would return to Poland on Thursday night.

After withdrawing, the United States and NATO aim to rely on Afghan military and police forces, which they have developed with billions of dollars in funding, to maintain security.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz, Editing by William Maclean)
The Daily Beast

FBIA former cop accused of taking part in the Capitol riot was granted a pre-trial release in the weeks after his arrest, on the condition that he not own any guns.But in the months since, he has secretly bought at least 34 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunitionincluding armor-penetrating roundsand tried to disguise some of the payments as being for wedding photos, according to an FBI search warrant affidavit filed Friday.Now prosecutors are asking a judge to revoke Thomas Robertson
The lawyer for the Lexington police union says it was not a conflict of interest or inappropriate for him to ask the Fayette County Republican Party to vote on a resolution opposing a local ban on no-knock warrants.

On Monday, the Fayette County Republican Party passed a resolution supporting the stance of the Fraternal Order of Police Bluegrass Lodge 4, which has opposed the ban on no-knock warrants. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council will take its final vote on Thursday night.

First, there is no conflict of interest; my legal contract is with the FOP, not the council or the city, said Scott Crosbie, who took the resolution to the GOP executive committee on Monday. The FOP, the Fayette County Republican Partys interests are aligned ... Every citizen has a First Amendment Right to express their opinion.

Crosbie also is negotiating the current FOP contract for officers and sergeants with city officials. Negotiations are ongoing.

Barry Saturday, a Fayette Republican Party executive committee member, said he was one of the Republicans who was uncomfortable passing the resolution. Attempts to set it aside or delay a vote to give members more time to read the resolution were swiftly put down, he said.

I dont remember hearing the option of voting nay, Saturday said.

Saturday said hes not opposed to the local party weighing in on local matters. Lexingtons local elections are nonpartisan.

Not everyone in the Kentucky Republican Party opposes a ban on no-knock warrants, he said. For example, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul has sponsored legislation to ban no-knock warrants on the federal level.

There is some division within the party on this issue, even from Kentuckys junior senator, Saturday said. I dont feel like it is improper for the party to weigh in on something affecting the city; any political party can do that. It was the matter in which it was done and who it was presented by. In my opinion, our party is being used by the FOP to propagate their agenda. I have an issue with that. I think a more fulsome discussion would have been merited.

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Fran Anderson, the chairman of the Fayette County Republican Party, said there was plenty of discussion and debate on the resolution during Mondays meeting.

Mr. Saturdays statements unfortunately misrepresent the RPFCs consideration of the resolution opposing no-knock warrants, Anderson said. Committee members were given the opportunity to hear perspectives from law enforcement officers, criminal defense attorneys, and other members with differing viewpoints.

Debate lasted over an hour, Anderson said. Multiple amendments to the original motion were approved.

The FOP and police have increased pressure on the Lexington council to oppose the ban over the past four weeks. After the council voted 9-6 vote to move the issue to the councils meeting agenda on June 8, the FOP posted Facebook messages blasting the nine council members who voted to move the ban forward and posted photos of individual council members.

Meanwhile, area Black faith leaders and groups associated with the Lexington Police Department Accountability organization have also spoken before the council, held rallies and conducted press conferences urging the council to ban no-knock warrants.

Three council members who voted to approve the ban during a council committee meeting in late May have since switched their votes. Those council members who have switched votes from yes to no are Amanda Bledsoe, Whitney Elliott Baxter and Preston Worley.

The three have said they voted for the ban in committee in order to bring it to the full council for a vote.

Its not clear how the council will vote on Thursday night.
LONDON (Reuters) - A new exhibition opening in Windsor Castle on Thursday commemorates the life and legacy of Britain's Prince Philip, including many fabulous items gifted him over decades of official duties and overseas visits.

Titled 'Prince Philip: A Celebration', the display features over 100 objects from the Duke of Edinburgh's life.

Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth and a leading figure https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/obituary-prince-philip-was-gruff-figure-heart-britains-monarchy-2021-04-09 in the British royal family for almost seven decades, died on April 9, aged 99.

The exhibition had been planned as part of the 100th birthday celebrations for Philip, who would have turned 100 on June 10, curator Sally Goodsir told Reuters. "But following his death in April, we have delayed its opening just by a couple of weeks and are still holding it," she said.

Philip was aware of the exhibition and its contents, Goodsir said.

Among the highlights of the display are the coronation robes and coronet worn by Philip to the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and his chair of estate which normally stands beside the queen's at Buckingham Palace and is displayed at Windsor Castle for the first time.

Going on public display for the first time is a portrait of the prince painted in 2017, the year of his retirement. The painting by Ralph Heimans features Philip wearing the blue and red Windsor uniform, standing in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle.

The items range from the personal - such as Queen Victoria's journal recording the birth of Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice, at Windsor Castle in 1885, to the eccentric - a human-sized grasshopper wine cooler presented by former French President Georges Pompidou during his visit to the UK in 1972.

Other items include: a Faberge frame with photographs of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth that was a wedding gift; a chess set presented by Nelson Mandela during his 1996 visit to the UK; and a pair of cowboy boots with the words Prince and Philip inscribed in gold, gifted to the prince during a visit to Houston, Texas, in 1991.

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Above the boots, the exhibit displays a First Nations feather headdress, a 1973 gift from the Head Chief of the Blood Reserve, Jim Shot Both Sides.

Also on show are the remains of Windsor Castle's St George's Hall clock and a fragment of a burnt beam, salvaged by Philip from the debris following a fire that swept through the castle in 1992.

"I think without people being able to gather for the funeral, as they might ordinarily have done, I hope they might be able to come to the castle and learn a little bit more about him," said Goodsir.

The exhibition will be open to the public until Sept. 20.

(Reporting by Hanna Rantala, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
A Northern Kentucky Republican lawmaker has prefiled a bill for the 2022 General Assembly that would prohibit government employers, private businesses and postsecondary schools from requiring immunizations.

The bill also expands the grounds on which K-12 public students can decline immunizations.

Kentuckians have the ability to make good decisions for themselves and their families when choosing whether or not to receive a vaccine. BR 106 upholds a citizens right to privacy in making this decision, state Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, told the Herald-Leader Wednesday.

Public entities could not require that employees disclose immunization status, which covers teachers in K-12 education, Maddox said.

Parents and guardians of K-12 students will have the ability to decline a vaccine through a written, sworn statement on the basis of conscientiously held beliefs, she said.

Maddox said a public schools ability to require current and future vaccinations is unaffected by the bill, although parents and guardians would be able to decline with a sworn, written statement of conscientiously held belief according to BR 106. Currently, vaccines can only be declined on the basis of medical/religious exemption, she said.

The bill prohibits public entity employers from requiring employees and applicants from disclosing their immunization status; prohibits postsecondary schools from requiring a student, staff, or faculty member to disclose his or her immunization status; and includes the discrimination on the basis of immunization status as an unlawful practice.

It prohibits a business from requiring customers to disclose their immunization status as a condition for service or entry and prohibits a public entity from creating standardized documentation with the purpose of certifying vaccination status. The bill prohibits a private employer from requiring a vaccination if the employee is opposed to it.

The legislation allows objections to immunization on the basis of conscientiously held beliefs.

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In a social media post, Maddox said, As a citizen and as a legislator, I am very troubled by the concept of a vaccine passport. For this reason, I have pre-filed BR 106 for #KYGA22. This legislation would disallow any potential requirement of vaccine passports or mandatory vaccination in KY.

An employer who violated the law could be subject to fines of up to $1,000 per day per violation.

Likewise, postsecondary institutions that required students or staff to disclose their immunization status could be denied state grants or contracts and the state could deny the school authorization to operate.

Supervisors and managers already have been instructed not to ask anyone about their vaccination status. At the same time, we also have no plans to mandate vaccines,  University of Kentucky spokesman Jay Blanton said Wednesday in response to the legislation.

The Washington Post has recently reported that many colleges are split on requiring shots this fall.

The Kentucky Department of Education is not requiring COVID 19 vaccinations for employees and is not aware of any school districts requiring vaccination or vaccination status, said department spokeswoman Toni Konz Tatman.

Thus, we are not aware of any need for this legislation in K-12 schools and do not believe it would have any impact, if enacted, Tatman said.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass is recommending that everyone get vaccinated to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as soon as their age group is approved, Tatman said.

State Rep. Kelly Flood, D-Lexington, said she opposes Maddoxs legislation.

She said a myriad of environments call for different standards of care, including private businesses and schools. Floods son is attending a college in another state that is requiring vaccinations, she said.

You have to allow a lot of breathing room for wise public health, said Flood . That legislation by Rep. Maddox denies that ability.
Jun. 24In response to the alleged killing of more than 30 suspects by police since 2010, about 40-50 protesters marched on Honolulu police headquarters Wednesday and demanded independent investigations into the deaths.

The protesters also asked the police commission to create a citizen advisory committee to help with the search for the city's 12th police chief.

Hawaii also needs an independent, statewide police standards board that has the power to investigate and confer charges against officers who commit offenses during the line of duty, the advocates wrote.

Interim Chief Rade K. Vanic did not reply to questions about the call for independent investigations into suspects' deaths since 2010 or the creation of a community advisory committee to help with the police chief search. Prosecuting Attorney Steven S. Alm also declined comment.

The protest organizers said that the Honolulu Police Department "has established a culture of impunity within the force. As a result, more than 30 people have been killed by HPD since 2010."

The recent shooting deaths of unarmed 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap and 29-year-old Lindani Sanele Myeni cannot be indepen dently investigated by Prosecuting Attorney Steven S. Alm given his political support from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and his office's reliance on police to investigate, testify and supply evidence to support criminal charges, " the protesters wrote.

"We ask that our Honolulu leaders demand independent investigations into ALL HPD killings. For at least 30 years, the HPD has investigated its own officer-involved killings. This is colleagues investigating colleaguesa far cry from objective impartiality, " wrote the organizers. "Through this route, all officer-involved killings have been justified. Given Prosecutor Alm's close ties to SHOPO, he is also unable to act without favoritism. To combat this, we must call for outside sources who have no ties to the force to lead investigations."

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The march on HPD was organized by the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, @RefuseFascismHawaii, @JusticeForLindaniHi, @Af3irmHawaii, @EsserForJustice, among others.

The group was scheduled to gather at the state Capitol and march to HPD headquarters before continuing on to Thomas Square Park for a rally.

Police Commissioners met Wednesday and discussed the creation of a citizens advisory committee but questioned whether the city charter would allow it.

Vanic told police commissioners that HPD's Professional Standards Office's investigation into the Sykap shooting is nearing completion and that officers sent a list of charges to prosecutors for the occupants of Sykap's vehicle on April 5.

Sykap, the driver of a stolen vehicle, was shot and killed by officers on April 5 following a high-speed chase from East Honolulu to Kalakaua Avenue.

Vanic and Alm, through spokespeople, declined to comment on the charges or detail what crimes the occupants of the stolen car Sykap was driving are accused of.

Public testimony submitted to the commission called for more transparency and the creation of a Community Advisory Committee to integrate the perspective, voices, concerns, and considerations of community members into the police chief hiring process.

"I'd like to express my support for the establishment of a Community Advisory Committee (CAC ) to help advise the Honolulu Police Commission on its selection of HPD's next Chief. It's clear from widespread public sentiment over recent police shooting deaths ; HPD's handling of these cases ; and the heightened scrutiny of recent nominees to this Commission, the public has lost its confidence in the integrity of HPD, " said Rebecca "Becky " Gardner, a Honolulu attorney, who testified as an individual before the police commission Wednesday.

Briana Kawata said she appreciates the police commission's commitment to ensuring community involvement in the search for the next police chief.

"I am writing to support the recommendation to create a Community Advisory Committee. I am a proponent of transparency and open community dialogue with our police department and believe that including the CAC in the hiring process will ensure the new police chief is willing to uphold these values during their HPD tenure. The CAC would add fresh ideas and ensure community considerations are represented. HPC has indicated their commitment to understand and integrate the concerns and considerations of our diverse community, " said Kawata, a Kapolei resident.

Nicholas Schlapak, SHOPO Honolulu Chapter chairman and a patrol officer, testified on a different transparency issue when he asked commissioner Doug Chin to stop commenting publicly and offering opinions to news media about police shootings because it represents a conflict of interest.

"Mr. Chin has provided public comments on recent Officer involved incidentsincidents that have not been fully adjudicated, either criminally by the justice system or administratively by HPD. For an active commissioner to make such public comments calls into question the sincerity and motivation for that person to do the job of commissioner, and casts doubt on the ability of the commissioner to fairly and impartially make decisions about the future of officers' careers, " said Schlapak, testifying before the committee. "Mr. Chin has publicly displayed a glaring conflict of interest on his part. It has now become extremely difficult for me, as the Honolulu Chapter Chairman, to convince officers that the police commission can conduct a fair review into an officer complaint. Also concerning is that I cannot justify to Officers why there has been no attempt by the remaining members of the commission to address this issue of conflict of interest by Mr. Chin."

Commission Chairwoman Shannon L. Alivado declined comment on SHOPO's request. Commissioner Chin said his boundary up to now has been to not comment on matters before the commission.

"The officer-involved shootings of Iremamber Sykap have never been brought before the Commission for disciplinary action. Since they are being criminally prosecuted, I doubt they ever will. If it ever does come up, out of respect for today's testimony, I will recuse myself, " he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
John McAfee answers questions from journalists in Guatemala City on December 4, 2012. JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Antivirus software company founder John McAfee reportedly died by suicide in prison on Wednesday.

QAnon believers quickly began suggesting conspiracy theories about his death.

QAnon notably spread a similar theory when Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Just minutes after the news broke that John McAfee reportedly died by suicide in a Spanish prison, QAnon conspiracy theorists baselessly suggested that the antivirus software pioneer died by other means.

Several top QAnon influencers on Telegram, some of whom have hundreds of thousands of followers on the far-right-favorite messaging platform, shared posts on Wednesday afternoon including the word "suicide" in quotes.

"Word on the street, only time will tell if this report was true or not," an account with 61,000 subscribers shared on the app. Conspiracies alleging that McAfee had a "dead man's switch," or a device that activates when its owner dies, were also being shared online.

McAfee was imprisoned in Spain pending extradition on tax evasion charges before his death was reported on Wednesday.

A 2019 tweet from the antivirus software mogul's verified Twitter account appeared to be emboldening some of these claims: "If I suicide myself, I didn't," the tweet said.

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QAnon, a wide-ranging, far-right conspiracy theory based on the false notion that former President Donald Trump had attempted to take down a "deep state" cabal of human traffickers and pedophiles, notably spread a similar theory when disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019: "Epstein didn't kill himself" eventually became a major online meme.

Hours after McAfee's death, a similar phrase became a popular hashtag on Twitter.

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Online discourse over the McAfee Associates software company founder also focused on an Instagram post from McAfee's verified account on Wednesday afternoon - hours after his death was reported by Reuters - that showed the letter "Q."

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It was not immediately clear who had control of McAfee's Instagram account. Instagram told Insider it was "looking into" the situation.

McAfee was an American software engineer who founded the anti-virus software company McAfee Associates and ran it until he resigned in 1994.

In 2012, Belize police considered him a "person of interest" in the murder of Gregory Viant Faull, a neighbor of his while he lived on the island. McAfee denied he was involved in the death and fled Belize.

McAfee also ran for president in the US as a libertarian in 2016 and 2020.

In March 2021, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York indicted McAfee on charges of fraud and money laundering for running what they said was a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Federal prosecutors Tennessee later charged him with tax evasion.

QAnon leaders weighing in on McAfee's death comes as no surprise, as the conspiracy theorists frequently repackage news stories to promote their own beliefs. When a rare winter storm hit Texas this year, QAnon influencers claimed that Bill Gates was behind the inclement weather; QAnon hotshots were infuriated Lil Nas X made headlines for grinding with the devil in a music video and selling shoes that reportedly contained a drop of human blood.

Connor Perrett contributed reporting.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Gilles Guillaume

PARIS (Reuters) - The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance is set to scrap a role overseeing ties with Daimler in favour of individual relations with the German group, three sources told Reuters, as they try to better manage a partnership that has not met initial hopes.

The shift comes as alliance-level executive Jacques Verdonck, who was in charge of the cooperation with Daimler, retires at the end of the month, the sources familiar with the matter said.

France's Renault will instead rely on its head of partnerships, Sandra Gomez, while Nissan will do the same with Catherine Perez.

Mitsubishi will also have a person in charge of partnerships, the sources said, adding the bilateral approach was in line with the new "leader-follower" strategy of the alliance. That involves leaning on the strengths of each carmaker in certain areas.

Renault and Daimler declined to comment, while Nissan could not immediately be reached for comment.

The plan marks another shift following the end of the Carlos Ghosn era at the alliance. The architect of the Franco-Japanese partnership, who also extended the collaboration to Daimler, was arrested on financial misconduct charges in Japan in late 2018, before fleeing to Lebanon in 2019. He denies any wrongdoing.

His exit strained already difficult relations between Nissan and Renault, which are now working to get back on track with cost-saving joint production projects among other steps.

The partnership with Daimler - which owns high-end brand Mercedes-Benz, contrasting with the more accessible models produced by the others - has also looked in danger of losing steam. Nissan and Renault, both hit by losses, recently sold down their stakes in the German group.

Collaborations on Renault's compact Twingo car and Daimler's Smart model are set to end, and some targets for industrial cooperation have been downgraded over the years.

But Daimler still has a factory in Mexico with Nissan, and has been exploring the possibility of jointly developing at least one large van model with Renault.

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An industry shift towards electric vehicles could yet yield other opportunities, one of the sources said.

"The collaboration with Daimler is at present made up of Renault-Daimler projects, Nissan-Daimler ones and some between the three," another of the sources said, with yet another saying that the changes reflected a more pragmatic approach.

(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume Writing by Sarah White; Editing by Mark Potter)
UPDATE: Authorities have arrested a rideshare driver accused in a gas station shooting in Atlanta.

The shooter, identified as 36-year-old Nigel Nembhard, was charged Wednesday with felony murder and aggravated assault, according to Atlanta police.

He remains held at the Fulton County jail.

ORIGINAL:

A fight that erupted inside a rideshare vehicle ended in gunfire early Wednesday, leaving one person dead and another critically injured, Georgia authorities said.

The shooting unfolded just before 5 a.m. outside a Chevron gas station in Atlanta, according to a police news release. Officers arrived to find two men with gunshot wounds.

The men, police said, were using a rideshare service and began arguing with the driver. The war of words ended at the Chevron station, where the driver opened fire on two passengers, police said.

The man killed has been identified as 34-year-old Kevin Leonard Fulton, WXIA reported, citing the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office.

The injured passenger was taken to a nearby hospital, while a third passenger got away on foot, authorities said.

Atlanta police said they couldnt confirm which rideshare service the driver worked for, citing the ongoing investigation, but said he is cooperating.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was facing a growing backlash Thursday after he blamed victims of rape for wearing "very few clothes".

Former playboy cricketer Khan told television show Axios that how women dress affects men's behaviour, outraging activists in the deeply conservative Islamic country.

"If a woman is wearing very few clothes it will have an impact on the man unless they are robots. It's common sense," he said in English when asked about the epidemic of sexual violence and rape in Pakistan.

He did not elaborate on what he meant by "few clothes", in a country where the vast majority of women wear conservative national dress.

More than a dozen women's rights groups including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan released a statement on Thursday demanding an apology.

"This is dangerously simplistic and only reinforces the common public perception that women are 'knowing' victims and men 'helpless' aggressors," they said.

"It gives impunity to the culprits of rape, sodomy and molesters," Karamat Ali, head of the Pakistan Institute for Labour Education and Research -- which signed the statement -- told AFP.

Weekend protests have been organised in the megacities of Karachi and Lahore.

Earlier this year the PM was accused of "baffling ignorance" by one of the country's top rights groups after he advised women to cover up to prevent rape.

His media team later insisted the comments in the national language of Urdu had been misinterpreted.

Victims of sexual abuse are often viewed with suspicion and criminal complaints are rarely seriously investigated in Pakistan.

Much of the country lives under an "honour" code where women who bring "shame" on their families can be subjected to violence or murder.

It regularly ranks among the worst places in the world for gender equality.

"Makes my heart shudder to think how many rapists feel validated today with the Prime Minister backing their crime," tweeted Kanwal Ahmed, a campaigner for women's rights, after the comments aired.

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Nationwide protests erupted last year when a police chief admonished a gang-rape victim for driving at night without a male companion.

The French-Pakistani mother was assaulted in front of her children on the side of a motorway after her car ran out of fuel.

ak-zz/ecl/oho
Armed forces of Egypt and Sudan complete a joint military exercise in southern Kardavan province, Sudan on May 31, 2021

Egypt is trying to strengthen its diplomatic and military clout in Africa amid an escalating dispute with Ethiopia over the building of a huge dam on a tributary of the River Nile, writes Egypt analyst Magdi Abdelhadi.

The Egyptian Geographic Society, established in 1875, houses some valuable manuscripts that reflect Egypt's long-standing interest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Among them is a historic map that shows the southern borders of Egypt at Lake Victoria in East Africa.

The society was established at the height of Egypt's short-lived imperial ambition, which had brought Sudan under Egyptian control and sought to conquer Ethiopia in a disastrous military expedition from 1874 to 1876. It ended in a humiliating defeat.

Some 70 years later, Egypt atoned for its imperial misadventures when it became the standard bearer of anti-colonial struggles in Africa and beyond.

But as it got sucked into the Arab-Israeli wars, its engagement with sub-Saharan Africa dwindled.

The past few years, however, has seen a dramatic re-engagement, in particular with the Nile Basin countries.

Egypt has signed a string of military and economic agreements with Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Djibouti in recent months.

Cairo already has substantial integration agreements with Sudan, where it recently conducted joint military exercises involving warplanes and special forces.

Ethiopia says the dam will provide power to 65 million of its citizens

Egypt has linked its power grid to Sudan's and plans are under way to connect the railway networks too, with a grand vision to run a train service from Alexandria to Cape Town.

The keyword behind this foreign policy change is the controversial dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd).

"Egypt has long relied on diplomacy to solve its differences with Ethiopia over the Gerd. But the track of negotiations seems to have been exhausted, or nearly so," says Nael Shama, an expert on Egyptian foreign policy.

Fears of drought

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Tanzania is another example, where Egypt is investing heavily in the massive Julius Nyerere hydroelectric dam on the Rufiji River. Cairo clearly wants to highlight the project as an example of its willingness to help development in the Nile Basin countries.

And this is precisely the kind of message Egypt - which has no other major sources of water for drinking and agriculture than the Nile - has been trying to relay to global opinion.

The River Nile is a major tourist attraction in Egypt

It is not opposed to the Ethiopian dam per se, but it is extremely wary of its likely impact on the flow of the Nile waters if Ethiopia refuses to sign up to a legally binding agreement on how to manage its operations.

It is feared the dam could decimate Egyptian agriculture and lay waste to large swathes of its arable land, triggering massive drought and unemployment. Ethiopia, on the other hand, sees the Gerd as vital to its development needs, and the supply of electricity to its population.

Trade links, not military muscle

Egypt's change of direction and focus of foreign policy towards sub-Saharan Africa is therefore long overdue, but, some Egyptians say, it is too little too late.

"Clout in modern politics is not just guns and cannons," argues Walaa Bakry, an academic at the UK's University of Westminster and a business consultant.

"Security agreements with some of the Nile Basin countries such as Burundi, Rwanda or Uganda is a good thing, but will not give Egypt the clout it wants," he writes.

Strong trade links can achieve far more than military muscle, he argues, pointing to the minuscule trade Egypt has with all nine Nile Basin countries.

"No-one is saying that Egypt should buy anything it doesn't need from these countries. But for example, the Nile Basin countries produce huge amounts of high-quality coffee - Egypt imports coffee for well over $95.5m annually, 95% of that is from outside Africa."

Ethiopia is a major producer of coffee

Meanwhile, the mood in Egypt has grown increasingly bellicose. The Egyptian regime, in fact the president himself, is under enormous pressure to get tough with Ethiopia.

Even supporters of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have started to mutter the unthinkable - that failure to protect Egypt's water rights would mean he would no longer have the right to rule.

Egypt apparently hopes that building a ring of allies around Ethiopia would pay off in some form if a showdown with Ethiopia becomes inevitable.

More about the mega dam:

Egypt and Sudan have taken the dispute over the dam to the UN Security Council, as they consider it could potentially threaten peace and stability in the region.

The issue has been before the Security Council before, which referred it to the African Union, which failed to resolve it.

Both Cairo and Khartoum blame Ethiopia for that, while Addis Ababa accuses Egypt of using the negotiations as a ploy to re-assert its effective monopoly of the Nile waters - a reference to Egypt's lions' share of the water.

"If all diplomacy fails, there is little doubt that public opinion in Egypt will back military action if need be"", Source: Magdi Abdelhadi, Source description: Egypt analyst, Image: Helicopter

The joint military exercise conducted recently in Sudan was clearly intended to send a warning not just to Ethiopia but to the wider world - that the two countries will not shy away from using their military muscle if need be in a matter of life and death such as water.

Egypt's agreements of military cooperation with Uganda, Kenya and Burundi appear to reinforce that message, although it is hard to imagine these countries agreeing to be sucked into a regional war where their key national interests are not at stake.

If all diplomacy fails, there is little doubt that public opinion in Egypt will back military action if need be.

Less so in Sudan, where there is a certain degree of ambivalence, not least because, unlike Egypt, Sudan stands to benefit from the dam, which will reduce destructive flooding and give it cheap electricity.

But there is broad consensus among observers that, assuming that Egypt and Sudan have the political will and the military hardware and skill, a strike of some kind targeting the ongoing construction of the dam to set it back by a few years will not solve the problem.

Instead, it will increase mistrust and re-fuel the discourse of ancient grievances, nationalist pride and revenge.
Jun. 24RICE LAKE  A Rice Lake man who authorities say crashed into an Amish buggy, killing a teen, while driving drunk has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges.

Anthony R. Anderson, 40, entered the plea Wednesday in Barron County Court for felony counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and causing injury by operating while intoxicated.

A three-day jury trial, starting Jan. 26, was set for Anderson.

According to the criminal complaint:

Barron County sheriff's deputies were sent to a vehicle and Amish buggy crash at 6:42 p.m. Feb. 18 on Highway M, just south of 30th Avenue, in the Barron County town of Oak Grove.

The first deputy arrived to find the buggy on the east side of the road and ditch with a lot of debris in the road. A large horse, which was deceased, was on the east side of the roadway.

In the west ditch, the deputy found a blinking strobe light that was still flashing. Two kerosene-powered lanterns were also found in the ditch.

Authorities found a 17-year-old male, who was unconscious, in the middle of the road. He was ejected from the buggy. The teen was flown by helicopter to Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, where he died from his injuries on Feb. 24.

A 16-year-old male, who was also riding in the buggy, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital.

The younger teen told authorities they were heading home and that both the blinking strobe light and kerosene lanterns were working.

Deputies interviewed bartenders from an area tavern who stated that Anderson was drinking alcoholic beverages there in the two hours before the crash.

Anderson's blood alcohol level was 0.085, according to tests of a sample drawn after the crash. That's just above the legal limit to drive in Wisconsin.

A re-creation of conditions leading up to the crash showed deputies that a flashing strobe light, kerosene lanterns and reflective tape on the buggy would all be visible to a driver from a far distance on the stretch of Highway M where the crash occurred.

This is the second case against Anderson for drunken driving. He was convicted of first-offense drunken driving in 2019 in Barron County and paid an $888 fine for that, according to Wisconsin's online court system.

If convicted of both charges, Anderson could be sentenced to up to 28 years in prison.
BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union countries bordering Russia rejected a Franco-German plan to resume official meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with one leader likening the move to an attempt to talk a bear out of stealing honey.

In a statement in the early hours of Friday morning, EU leaders said only that they will explore formats and conditionalities of dialogue with Russia. There was no mention of any high-level meetings or plans for a summit with Putin.

The European Union is deeply divided in its approach to Moscow. Russia is the EUs biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in a series of international conflicts and issues linked to Europe's strategic interests, including the Iran nuclear deal, and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

European heavyweight Germany has strong economic interests there, notably the NordStream 2 undersea pipeline project, and a number of countries, including France, are reluctant to continue waging a sanctions battle with Russia, including over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The EU is concerned that Putin is turning increasingly authoritarian and wants to distance himself from the West. Both the 27-nation trading bloc and the NATO military alliance are struggling to bring Russia to the table. U.S. President Joe Bidens meeting with Putin this month was a rare exception.

We have to deal with Russia, but being very cautious about the real intentions of Putins regime, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters at an EU summit in Brussels. So far, we dont see any radical change in the pattern of behavior of Russia.

If, without any positive changes in the behavior of Russia, we start to engage, it will send very uncertain and bad signals, Nauseda said. It seems to me like we try to engage a bear to keep a pot of honey safe.

The other two Baltic states, Estonia and Latvia, are also deeply concerned about reaching out to Moscow when the Minsk agreements meant to bring peace to Ukraine, whose Crimean Peninsula Russia annexed in 2014, are still not being respected. Conflict still simmers in eastern Ukraine with Russia-backed separatists.

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Right now, if it pans out the way its proposed, Russia annexes Crimea, Russia wages war in Donbass, and Europe shrugs its shoulders and continues to try to speak a dialogue. The Kremlin does not understand this kind of politics, said Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.

His Estonian counterpart, Kaja Kallas, said that what our intelligence (service) tells us is that sanctions work and the European Union has to be more patient.

But French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe cannot simply tackle its problems with Russia on a case-by-case basis, by continually imposing sanctions or other measures.

We cannot continue without dialogue. We have to talk, including about our disagreements. Its the only way to resolve them, Macron said. Its a dialogue thats necessary for the stability of the European continent, but demanding because we will not give up our interests and values.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers that the events of recent months  not just in Germany  have clearly shown that its not enough if we react to the multitude of Russian provocations in an uncoordinated way.

Instead, we have to create mechanisms to respond in a common and unified way to provocations to what she described as hybrid attacks by Russia. That includes outreach to countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and the western Balkans, but also engaging Russia and Putin directly.

The plan was welcomed in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin supports the idea to restore the mechanism of direct contacts between Brussels and Moscow.

Putin has spoken about it many times, Peskov said. Both Brussels and Moscow really need this dialogue.

Ukraine, in contrast, was not so keen about the EU outreach.

Initiatives to resume EU summits with Russia without seeing any progress from the Russian side will be a dangerous deviation from EU sanctions policy, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in Brussels.

In the end, the leaders agreed to underline the need for a firm and coordinated response by the EU and its member states to any further malign, illegal and disruptive activity by Russia, making full use of all instruments at the EUs disposal.

Despite the Franco-German push for talks, they invited the EU's executive branch and top diplomat to present options for additional restrictive measures, including economic sanctions.

___

Sylvain Plazy in Brussels, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report.
Russia is threatening to begin bombing Western warships that sail too close to Crimea, while complaining that naval drills in the Black Sea could lead to "a real conflict" with NATO powers.

We can bomb not only in the direction [of the ships], but also on target, if our colleagues do not understand, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday. I warn everyone violating the state borders of the Russian Federation under the slogan of free navigation, from such provocative steps, because the security of our country comes first.

The United Kingdoms HMS Defender is in the Black Sea ahead of major naval exercises co-hosted by the United States and Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO but has drawn support from the trans-Atlantic bloc since Russias invasion of eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russian officials, irritated by the impending exercises, claimed to drop bombs in front of the British ship when the vessel was sailing near Crimea, but the British side denies any such thing happened.

"We don't recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea  it was illegal, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters on Thursday. These are Ukrainian waters, and it was entirely right to use them to get from A to B.

US AND NATO WARN RUSSIA NOT TO BLOCKADE UKRAINIAN PORTS

In the British telling, Russian coast guard vessels notified ships in the area of an impending gunnery exercise and then carried it out as expected, only to claim thereafter that they had fired warning shots and dropped bombs near the British ship. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace dismissed that as disinformation, although the U.K. acknowledged that the ship was harried by almost two dozen Russian fighters.

We should recognize this is a dangerous game, British lawmaker Tobias Ellwood, who leads the defense committee, told British radio. Su-24 Russian jets buzzing ships, theres huge scope for an accident to occur, misinterpretation leading to an actual kinetic engagement, and it could be a bit of time before someone grabs that red phone and calms things down. And the same applies with China.

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The uproar comes just days after the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine announced the details of annual naval drills in the Black Sea, which this year features 32 ships from as many countries, that will drill together from June 28 to July 10.

"The United States is proud to partner with Ukraine in co-hosting the multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze, which will help enhance interoperability and capabilities among participating nations, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Kristina Kvien, the top American diplomat at the embassy in Kyiv, said Monday. We are committed to maintaining the safety and security of the Black Sea.

Another Russian diplomat cited those exercises and the controversy around the Defender incident as a potential source for a real conflict between Russia and NATO powers.

"This situation is explosive, even if all parties remain prudent. Unintentional incidents, which can result in a real conflict, are not ruled out, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the Moscow Conference on International Security on Thursday. We cannot but be concerned that NATO is consistently building up its military presence along our borders, increasing the volume of air patrols, the number of drills, with its warships entering the Black, Baltic, and even the Barents Sea.

Six NATO member-states border the Baltic Sea, and three have Black Sea coasts.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Russian officials summoned British Ambassador Deborah Bronnert to the Foreign Ministry for a "protest" on Thursday, but former British naval chief Alan West derided the Russian posture as mere preening. Putin wants to play to his home audience. He wants to tell them, Arent I tough? Look at that. Ive made Britain go away, and thats why I think they lied about firing warning shots at the defender, which they didnt do, he said.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Foreign Policy, National Security, Russia, Black Sea, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, NATO, United Kingdom

Original Author: Joel Gehrke

Original Location: Russia warns of 'a real conflict' with NATO over Black Sea naval exercises
SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics and four affiliates have been fined 234.9 billion won ($207 million) for giving affiliate Samsung Welstory in-house cafeteria contracts since 2013 and ensuring a high profit margin, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) watchdog said on Thursday.

Samsung Electronics said in a statement that there was no unfair support, the company strove to provide quality meals for its staff, and that it plans to show that the contracts were normal transactions by disputing the KFTC's decision in administrative litigation after review.

Samsung Welstory, a meal provider for cafeterias, is wholly owned by Samsung C&T, of which Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee held a 18.1% stake as of May.

KFTC said in a statement that Samsung Electronics and affiliates unfairly supported Samsung Welstory by entering into private contracts with it since 2013, without opening up the cafeteria operations to competition from other providers and on terms favouring Welstory.

The terms included guaranteeing Welstory's margins on food material costs, payment of fees, and automatic reflection of inflation and wage increase rates, the KFTC said.

($1 = 1,134.1700 won)

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; editing by Jason Neely)
Welcome to your weekly South Carolina politics briefing, a newsletter curated by The States politics and government team.

The Legislatures work is slowing down as we head into the summer. But the General Assembly still had some work this week as it has passed a $10.8 billion spending plan for the 2021-22 fiscal year which begins in July.

A lot is happening outside the state house. The extra federal unemployment benefits those out of work have been receiving come to an end this weekend, so the governors message this week is how the economy is bouncing back from the pandemic. And MUSC is getting ready to expand its footprint in the state.

Budget sent to the governor

With the House and Senate agreeing on a $10.8 billion spending plan, its now in the governors hands to make a decision to sign it, veto it, or cut some spending out.

Under the spending plan, teachers are getting raises, each school in the state will have a nurse and a school resource officer. And college students wont see an increase in their tuition rates.

Money was included to complete to finish broadband projects started with CARES Act money and to set up an office to handle future broadband investments.

State employees are in line to get 2.5% pay raises, and state law enforcement are in line to receive pay increases to help the state retain those employees.

And earmarks were included for the Greenville Cultural Arts Center, the Sumter Opera House, Spartanburgs downtown infrastructure and the Columbia Convention Center.

But the size of the earmark for the Columbia Convention Center expansion was a sour spot for Mayor Steve Benajmin. The Senate initially proposed a $19 million earmark for the project. But no one in the House signed on and budget writers only included $1 for the project.

Involvement of Sen. Dick Harpootlian early on irked some lawmakers, as Harpootlian has been critical of the level of transparency in the earmark process. But also, state Rep. Kirkman Finlay was critical of the level lobbying efforts carried out by the city for the project.

Story continues

This weeks Buzz newsletter photo is of Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, courtesy of APs Jeffrey Collins.

Unemployment benefits coming to an end

As a reminder, South Carolinas participation in the federal unemployment assistance program ends this weekend, and people who have been receiving the additional $300 a week benefit will see that extra financial end.

Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette traveled the state this week touting the states economic health coming out of the pandemic including South Carolinas 4.6% unemployment rate.

Evette was in Myrtle Beach this week to speak to the chamber of commerce to encourage people to head back to the workplace and to tout efforts to help people find jobs including referral programs and job training access.

We are being as proactive as we can to get people back to work and if theyre not willing to go back to work then were not willing to pay them, Evette told the local chambers board of directors

McMaster also made a trip to a job fair and held a ceremonial bill signing on a COVID-19 business liability bill that provides protections for businesses that follow public health guidance.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signs a bill preventing people from suing businesses over COVID-19 on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at Cafe Strudel in West Columbia, South Carolina. The bill signing was ceremonial after the General Assembly passed the legislation in April. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

MUSC to grow its footprint

The Medical University of South Carolina board is scheduled to vote on a proposal to buy LifePoints hospitals in South Carolina including Providence Hospital in Columbia.

If the MUSCs board approves the purchase, the State Fiscal Accountability Authority will then have it on its agenda for approval on Tuesday. Prisma Health had previously sought to purchase Providence, but the deal fell through.

But lawmakers were happy to hear MUSC would make the purchase.

I think Prisma has been viewing Columbia perhaps a bit too monopolistically, said state Rep. Kirkman Finlay R-Richland. MUSC has great relations with the state government, and I look forward to working with them.

Buzz Bites

 A SC Senate panel this week held its first of likely several hearings on legislation that would undo Columbias ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy for minors, or any similar bans that local governments might pass. Columbia was the first, and specifically conservative Republican senators say the ban goes too far and tramples on First Amendment rights. Conversion therapy has been largely debunked and dismissed but courts have intervened in some cases, siding with plaintiffs who use the free speech argument.

 Activist John Tyler, of the One Common Cause Community Control Initiative, said he intends to seek the citywide seat. Columbias city elections are Nov. 2, with runoffs on Nov. 16, if necessary. Filing opens in August.

 Gov. McMaster signed a letter with 14 other Republican governors to Bidens commerce secretary, urging the release of 2020 Census redistricting data. That data is not slated to be released until about mid-August, and its unlikely the Biden administration will budget.

 State lawmakers are putting limits on the amount of flounder fishermen can catch.

 Dr. Anthony Fauci met virtually with a handful of mayors with the national US Conference of Mayors, including Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin.

 Gov. McMasters schedule for last week showed he spoke by phone with Mike Pompeo on June 16. Pompeo has recently launched a PAC, which could be a resource for McMasters reelection campaign.

 Santee Coopers two top executives are getting bonuses totaling $402,000.

 State Sen. Greg Hembree said he plans to reintroduce a shield law bill to help the Department of Corrections obtain drugs needed for lethal injection.

 Palmetto Promise Institute launched the Artis Ware Center for Education Opportunity, named after Sen. Tim Scotts grandfather. The center will focus on education finance, education choice and prioritizing the voices and needs of students and families, a news release said.

 The six Republican members of South Carolinas US House delegation signed onto a letter to Clemson University and the University of South Carolina objecting to curriculum that includes critical race theory.

Mark your calendar

June 25

Gov. McMaster will speak at the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolinas Youth Experience

Gov. McMaster expected to issue budget vetoes

June 27

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette will join the 34th annual Celebration of Liberty at First Baptist Church in Columbia, so will Gov. McMaster and first lady Peggy McMaster.

June 28

Sen. Tim Scott will officially launch his reelection campaign at 9 a.m. in North Charleston.

State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee meets at 11 a.m. to question Peter McCoy, Gov. McMasters nominee to chair the Santee Cooper board

June 29

The State Fiscal Accountability Authority meets at 10 a.m.

Full Senate Judiciary Committee meets at 10:30 a.m. on Peter McCoys nomination

SC House, Senate return to take up Gov. McMasters budget vetoes

Aug. 16

US Census starts to release district-level redistricting data

Before we adjourn

If a beer with a (vaccine) shot, or a free Krispy Kreme doughnut isnt enough to motivate you to take a COVID-19 vaccine, how about a chance at two airline tickets?

American Airlines is offering a chance to win two round trip tickets for people who get vaccinated in a partnership with the city.

Columbia is setting up vaccination sites where anyone who gets a shot will be entered into a lottery to win two tickets provided by American Airlines. The first vaccination site to sign up where you can enter the drawing is Saturday at Soda City.

This is an incentive to motivate folks to get vaccinated and overcome vaccination hesitancy, said Tracy Montross, the American Airlines regional director of Government Affairs.

I know its been said many times before, getting as many people vaccinated will help us put the pandemic behind us. Even though legislative efforts to create incentives have not been successful, the private sector is trying to entice people. I just hope people arent holding out for a certain incentive before taking the vaccine.

Who pulled together this weeks newsletter?

This week it was reporter Joseph Bustos, who is part of the State House team. Keep up with him on Twitter @JoeBReporter or send him story tips at jbustos@thestate.com.

Make sure to sign up for our weekly politics newsletter that will come straight to your inbox each week. Tell your friends to do the same. For even more South Carolina-focused political news, you can chat with us on Facebook at the Buzz on South Carolina Politics, email us tips at thebuzz [at] thestate [dot] com and follow our stories at scpolitics.com.
John Lott, a pro-Second Amendment activist, lashed out after being duped into speaking at a fake high school graduation in a ploy by a little-known gun control group.

On Wednesday, Change the Ref, an organization aiming to raise awareness about mass shootings, released a video titled "The Lost Class," which showed Lott speaking to a chorus of empty chairs on June 4, an event he thought was a rehearsal for a prominent institution's graduation commencement. The footage featured clips of Lott talking about gun background checks as the group panned over the empty chairs and insisted thousands of high school students die from firearm violence annually, a number Change the Ref says would be improved by more laws regulating gun sales.

The Change the Ref ploy also included a speech from former National Rifle Association President David Keene, who now serves as the editor-at-large for the Washington Times. Keene may have been subject to the same misinformation from the organization.

BIDEN ATF NOMINEE SAYS SOME LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS MAY COMMIT 'VIOLENT CRIMES'

"If they feel that they have a strong argument, why is it necessary to take video and take things so completely out of context?" Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, told the Washington Examiner in a phone interview on Wednesday. "I mean, why is it necessary to do that?"

"If they had confidence in their claims, they wouldn't have to do stuff like this, they wouldn't have to lie, [and] they wouldn't have to go and take things out of context," he added. "I'm disappointed and upset."

He also blasted the footage for being "very selectively edited" and "out of context." As a result, he said, it missed his main arguments that background checks are subject to large numbers of "false positives" and have adverse effects on minority males.

On May 14, Lott said he was contacted by a man claiming to be Jordan Simon, the board chairman of a fictional school called the James Madison Academy, to be its keynote speaker. At the time, the unidentified person who worked for Change the Ref, crafted a fake website for the institution, JamesMadisonAcademy.net, which no longer displays on a web browser.

Story continues

The man claiming to be Simon told Lott he would receive the "Keeper of the Constitution Award" for showing "exceptional dedication to preserving the 2nd Amendment," according to emails provided to the Washington Examiner.

"It was a pleasure speaking to you on the phone earlier. As I mentioned, I am the Board Chairman with James Madison Academy, a private, online high school in Las Vegas," the May 14 email read in part.

It continued: "On Saturday, June 5th, we will be holding a special in-person graduation ceremony in Las Vegas. We'd be thrilled to have you accept the award at the ceremony and give a 5-10 minute speech addressing the graduating class, focusing on the importance of the individual liberties given to us in our 'Bill of Rights'  especially the 2nd Amendment."

At first, Lott, who said it was "a bit of an honor to go and give a talk to such a large group of high school students," was reluctant to bring politics into a high school commencement. He voiced these concerns to the fake school, though they insisted he talked about background checks. He eventually agreed.

"I said, 'Look, you know, it seems inappropriate to me to give a political discussion at a high school commencement,'" Lott said in his interview. "I wanted to go and give them basically the talk that I give my kids, and that is, 'If you're going to work hard, work hard in the beginning of your life. You try to pick a job that's not a job because if it's something you really enjoy, you'll be a lot more successful.'"

The Second Amendment activist said he was promised $1,000, which he received in cash, and $496 for travel, though he has yet to recoup that portion of the pay. On June 3, Lott began the 1,000-mile trek from his home state of Montana to Las Vegas by car after he was instructed to arrive one day early for a "practice" session in front of empty chairs.

Lott, who gave a talk somewhere else on June 3, was inconvenienced by the news and offered to give the "practice" session by phone, though the man claiming to be Simon insisted he arrive as soon as possible, according to text messages obtained by the Washington Examiner.

"If I can give the practice talk on the phone, it would really make my life a lot easier," Lott told the unnamed man. "I have given lots of talks to large audiences. I guess that it would really make life much easier."

To which "Simon" responded, "Unfortunately, my hands are tied. Everyone participating will have to be there on Friday for rehearsal."

Lott then rushed through the night to Vegas and was subsequently stopped and ticketed by a police officer at around 1 a.m., texts between the pair showed.

"I drove until 1 AM last night," Lott wrote. "Was doing better on time until the police pulled me over."

The man claiming to be Simons responded, "Oh no! Did you get a ticket?"

"Yes," Lott answered.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

When June 5 arrived, Lott was told the "live-version" of the commencement was canceled due to "threats of violence," and organizers claimed the police were generating leads on the supposed perpetrators. He was sent on his way without performing the "actual" ceremony.

When he tried to contact the man posing as Simons to follow up on what he thought was a disturbing development, the phone number was disconnected.

Neither Keene nor Change the Ref immediately responded to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Second Amendment, Gun Control, Las Vegas, Schools, Firearms, Background Checks, National Rifle Association

Original Author: Jake Dima

Original Location:



Second Amendment activist 'disappointed and upset' after gun control group dupes him into speaking at fake graduation
WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of senators said they have reached an agreement in principle with the White House on a roughly $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, breaking a weeks-long logjam on a sweeping deal to modernize America's deteriorating transportation systems such as rail, bridges and waterways.

The agreement was hammered out behind closed doors in the U.S. Capitol with top White House aides in negotiations that lasted into Wednesday evening. Some details, generally described as workable, still need to be ironed out, but comments from several senators and the White House indicate an agreement is at hand.

"Weve agreed on a framework and were headed to the White House tomorrow," Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, told reporters while departing the Capitol after two meetings that lasted several hours.

It's expected to win approval from lawmakers in both chambers eager not only to address the country's crumbling physical condition but also to show that both sides can still forge bipartisan consensus in a Congress that's become increasingly partisan.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., another of the negotiators, confirmed to reporters that the agreed-upon framework is about the same size as the $1.25 trillion package crafted by 21 centrist senators  11 Republicans and 10 Democrats  who have been trying to reach a compromise since President Joe Biden first unveiled his American Jobs Plan in April.

The relatively large size of the group suggests the deal can survive attempts from far-right and far-left senators to filibuster it.

Included in the package is more than $550 billion in new money, Manchin said  less than the $1 trillion Biden had initially demanded but far more than initial proposals from GOP senators.

Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Mitt Romney, R-Utah,, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., take a break from a meeting on infrastructure for going to a vote at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki described the meetings Wednesday with senators as "productive," saying the group made progress towards an outline of a potential agreement. She said Biden invited the group to come to the White House Thursday to continue talks.

Story continues

The sticking point has been how to pay for what would be  by far  the largest transportation infrastructure package ever approved by Congress. While Manchin noted there was a "long list" of ways to pay for it, most of those details have yet to be released and may still need to be worked out.

Republicans had pushed to use unspent COVID-19 relief money while Democrats had floated other fees, including the possibility of raising the federal 18.4-cent per gallon gas tax by indexing it to inflation.

More: $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal gaining steam on Capitol Hill

Manchin told reporters that any increase in the gas tax was not part of this plan.

"They made it very clear that the president was not going to be acceptable to that," he said.

The White House has called indexing the gas tax to inflation  as pushed by some Republican senators in the group  a non-starter, noting it would break Bidens pledge to not increase taxes on Americans earning less than $400,000. Biden also opposes proposals to repurpose already-approved COVID-19 relief funds to pay for infrastructure and surcharges for electric vehicles.

We are not for a Ford F-150 tax, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. I'm not sure why others are.

Even with the agreement in principle, Democrats are proceeding on a separate measure that includes elements of Biden's agenda not supported by Republicans.

That not only would include elements of Biden's American Jobs Plan left out of the bipartisan deal but also bring in pillars of his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan that includes "human infrastructure" such as free community college tuition, universal preschool and child care.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has begun meeting with Democrats to move that separate bill using "budget reconciliation," a parliamentary maneuver that would bypass the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster and pass the bill only with Democrats in the 50-50 Senate.

More: Democrats prepared to move forward alone while moving ahead with 'two-track' infrastructure plan

"The second track is something we must support, even if it doesn't get any Republican support," Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

Some progressives have said they're willing to support a transportation-only bill on the condition that climate legislation is advanced as well.

"We're saying that there absolutely has to be a guaranteed deal that climate is built into these infrastructure bills and that it matches the problem that has to be solved," said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal. "We can't have dessert before the main course."

Contributing; Joey Garrison

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senators: White House agrees on bipartisan $1.2T infrastructure plan
An EPA review of the safety of Seresto pet collars could take years.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched a review into the bestselling Seresto flea and tick collar this spring after media reports about injuries and deaths linked to the product spurred a congressional inquiry, class-action lawsuits and a formal complaint.

The collars, which release small amounts of pesticide onto the fur of cats and dogs for months at a time, were the subject of 75,000 EPA incident reports, including at least 1,698 pet deaths, since their introduction to the market nine years ago.

Any determination by the EPA about the products safety is likely to take years  a decade or more  based on the agencys history of foot dragging over complaints about other potentially dangerous pet products.

Since 2006, the EPA has received three public petitions asking it to ban pesticides in pet products over concerns about human health risks. One of them, filed this year, involves Seresto and is ongoing. The other two took an average of 10 years for the EPA to resolve, even as some of the products it ultimately deemed dangerous remained on the shelves.

One of those other cases bears a striking similarity to Seresto's.

More than a decade ago, the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the EPA to ban the use of a pesticide called tetrachlorvinphos in pet products such as flea and tick collars. The organization cited studies showing that the chemical, a possible carcinogen, had been linked to brain and nerve damage in children.

What followed was 12 years of delayed action, lawsuits, bureaucratic red tape and a new EPA assessment of the pesticide that confirmed some of the nonprofit groups concerns about its use in pet collars. Despite that, tetrachlorvinphos, also called TCVP, is still used in some flea and tick collars.

The long battle over TCVP shows how hard it can be to remove a chemical from pet products, even when governmental scientists, experts and federal appeals judges say its harmful to children.

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In sum, the EPAs years-long delay on this critical matter of public health has been nothing short of egregious, Ronald Gould, a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judge, wrote in April 2020 in a decision mandating a response by the EPA to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

For more than a decade, Gould wrote, the EPA has frustrated NRDCs ability to seek judicial review by withholding final agency action, all the while endangering the wellbeing of millions of children and ignoring its core mission of protecting human health and the environment.

The EPA canceled some uses of TCVP in pet products but allowed others to be sold.

EPA spokesman Kenneth Labbe said in an email that the agency found pet products containing TCVP, including the popular Hartz UltraGuard collar, met registration requirements under federal pesticide laws. In other words, he said, the risk level is acceptable.

In an emailed statement, Hartz said its flea and tick collars present no risk to humans or pets when used as directed.

Also defending its products was Elanco, which sells the Seresto flea and tick collars. The nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the EPA in April to ban Seresto collars because of the risks associated with its two pesticides  imidacloprid and flumethrin.

Seresto collars were the subject of more than 75,000 reported incidents of pet harm and nearly 1,000 incidents of human harm in the past nine years. Elanco statements said the majority of incidents involved minor skin irritation at the site of the collar. The company said it investigated each report of pet death and found no link to the collars.

Elanco said its collars are safe and the overall incident rate was 0.3%, meaning one in 300 pets had a reported issue. There is no medical or scientific basis to discontinue their use, the company said.

The EPAs pesticide office generally assumes a chemical is safe until it is proved otherwise, rather than taking a precautionary approach, said Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician, epidemiologist and founding director of the Global Health Initiative at Boston College.

This is a systemic problem within EPA, and I hope the new administrator confronts it, Landrigan said. In my mind as a pediatrician, there's every reason to think tetrachlorvinphos on dog collars is dangerous to children.

From nerve gas to pet collars

TCVP belongs to a family of chemicals called organophosphates, which were used as nerve agents during World War II. Among the most well-known is sarin gas.

After the war, U.S. companies marketed the compounds as insecticides. They became the most widely used class of such products available.

TCVP was first registered in the USA in 1966 and approved for killing and preventing insects on crops, as well as on livestock and pets in the form of powders, liquids and collars.

Five years after TCVP was registered for use, Hartz bragged in a television commercial that it had sold more than 20 million flea and tick collars containing the chemical.

TCVP belongs to a family of chemicals called organophosphates, which were used as nerve agents during World War II. Among the most well-known is sarin gas. After the war, U.S. companies began marketing the compounds as insecticides.

"It would take all of the dogs and cats registered in New York City, Los Angeles, Tampa, Boston, San Diego, Puerto Rico, Chicago and then some to wear all the Hartz 90 Day collars we've sold so far," the ad said. "Over 20 million Hartz 90-day collars. Now, look at your pet, shouldn't he be wearing the collar that conquered the flea?

It wasnt until 1993, when a groundbreaking study from the National Academy of Sciences showed how pesticides harmed children, that the EPA cracked down on organophosphates.

That study, led by Landrigan, prompted the passage of the Food Quality Protection Act in 1996 and the ban a few years later of nearly all organophosphates from in-home use.

Organophosphate pesticides are still used on crops, and they remain one of the leading causes of brain development issues in children in the USA, according to a peer-reviewed study in 2020, which estimated that from 2001 and 2016, there were at least 111,000 cases of intellectual disability and 26 million IQ point losses.

The one exception to the EPAs ban on indoor organophosphates: TCVP.

Years of delays

There are two main ways a pesticide can be banned: The EPA can cancel its registration after determining an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment; or the company thats registered to use the pesticide can voluntarily relinquish it.

A court can ban a pesticide, as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals did with dicamba in June 2020 after finding the EPA underestimated and ignored the risks it posed.

That kind of court action is infrequent.

Under federal law, anyone can petition the EPA to ban a pesticide, and the agency must respond.

The Natural Resources Defense Council asked the EPA in 2009 to cancel the use of TCVP in pet products.

As part of its petition, it cited an EPA-funded study in 2008 that found evidence of TCVP in the urine of children who played with pets wearing the flea and tick collars.

It also cited its own study in 2009, which found that after three days of wearing a collar, at least half of the pets had enough TCVP residue on their fur to cause brain damage to children.

The EPA waited more than five years to respond  and did so only after the council sued for an answer.

Such delays have been common.

From 2004 to 2015, the EPA received 40 petitions to revoke, cancel or suspend pesticides used for a variety of reasons. Nine of those petitions resulted in unreasonable delay lawsuits because of the agencys lack of policies and procedures to manage public pesticide petitions in a transparent and efficient manner, according to an Office of Inspector General report in 2015.

The Natural Resources Defense Council was behind seven of those lawsuits, including a complaint in February 2014 to the D.C. Circuit Court asking it to force a response by the EPA on a petition to ban TCVP.

During that five-year delay, Hartz continued to sell millions of its flea and tick collars throughout the USA, where the low-cost product dominates the market.

Although shampoos, topical spot treatments and oral medications represent more than 90% flea-and-tick prevention products sold, collars are still a big business with nearly $100 million in U.S. sales in 2016 alone, according to the EPA.

Collars containing other pesticides, such as Seresto, sell for as much as $60. Hartz UltraGuard costs less than $5.

Although shampoos, topical spot treatments and oral medications represent more than 90% of flea-and-tick prevention products sold, collars are a big business with nearly $100 million in U.S. sales in 2016, according to the EPA.

TCVP collars represented more than half of that share.

Seven months after getting sued, the EPA responded to the petition: It was denied. The agency said its risk assessment found the levels of TCVP in the products to be below the threshold of concern.

Like many risk assessments conducted by the EPA, much of the information comes from the same companies that stand to profit from the continued use of the pesticides. Critics have long blasted the agency for this practice, saying it favors profits over safety.

A glaring error in the assessment

The EPA didnt know it, but its latest risk assessment contained a glaring error.

It had categorized the pesticide in the collars as a liquid formulation instead of a dust/solid formulation, which is more potent and harmful to human health.

TCVP collars contain both.

Hartz UltraGuard Flea & Tick Collars label says, As the collar begins to work, a fine white powder will appear on the surface.

That prompted a lawsuit in January 2015 arguing that the EPA unlawfully denied the petition based on inaccurate science. The EPA agreed and promised to conduct a new risk assessment.

Donald Trump entered office in January 2017, during the 90-day timeline for the EPA to respond.

More than seven years after the original petition was filed, in December 2016, the EPA released that assessment.

It found that children are exposed to TCVP at such high levels in the collars that they are at risk of delayed mental development, lowered IQ scores and increased chances of autism and attention disorders in children.

The agency, which was under the last days of President Barack Obamas administration, pledged to take action within 90 days.

It didnt.

Instead, under President Donald Trumps new administration, the EPA sent a letter to the Natural Resources Defense Council in March 2017 that said it would make a decision between July and September while conducting a wide-ranging assessment of TCVP.

September 2017 came and went. So did all of 2018.

In May 2019, a decade after the first petition was submitted, the council asked the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to force the EPA to respond.

It took nearly a year for the court to act. When it did in April 2020, a three-judge panel scolded the agency.

"Repeatedly, the EPA has kicked the can down the road and betrayed its prior assurances of timely action, even as it has acknowledged that the pesticide poses widespread, serious risks to the neurodevelopmental health of children," the opinion said.

The court ordered the EPA to respond within 90 days.

On the 90th day, in July, the EPA issued an assessment that the risks from most collars to humans were acceptable.

The EPA reached an agreement with Hartz that one of the seven collar types would be canceled and the rest would undergo minor changes to the design and labels that describe how to use the collars.

In September, the Natural Resources Defense Council again challenged the approval of TCVP.

In an executive order on his first day in office, President Joe Biden pledged to revamp the EPA to limit exposure to dangerous chemicals and pesticides.

Joe Biden took office in January.

But the Biden administration defended the Trump administrations actions on TCVP.

While EPA acknowledges that it took longer than anticipated to respond to NRDCs cancelation petition, the Agencys petition denial was informed by more precise data than had ever before been available to evaluate the risks of TCVP pet collar products, the agency wrote in a court filing.

The council said the lack of a significant change is disappointing.

There was an opportunity for the Biden administration to shift course here and put children's health first, and we're not seeing that yet, said Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, a senior scientist at the NRDC.

A cumbersome process

The EPA acknowledged that the process of trying to ban, or cancel, a pesticide is long and cumbersome and that its easier to work with the companies that sell it rather than outright cancel its use.

In the document explaining why it denied the NRDCs petition, the agency said any attempt to ban a pesticide triggers an administrative trial before a judge with documents and witnesses. Interested parties, such as trade organizations, can seek to intervene alongside the pesticide registrant, which is often a multibillion-dollar company. Together, they can keep the case tied up in court for years while the chemical stays on the market.

The last time the agency began cancellation proceedings was in 2013, but the EPA eventually entered into a voluntary cancellation agreement with product makers, according to the document.

This process takes much less time and fewer resources, the agency wrote, therefore the agency uses it much more frequently.

Even voluntary cancellations often take years.

The banning of a pesticide called propoxur that also was used in pet collars took nearly seven years after the NRDC filed a petition and three years after EPA scientists first expressed concern.

In March 2014, the agency and the companies using propoxur reached a voluntary agreement to stop selling pet collars containing the chemical because of its link to brain development issues in children and its likelihood to cause cancer.

Even so, the agency allowed the collars to be sold for two years after the cancellation agreement was reached.

As a result of the agencys unwillingness to take action, the USA lags many other countries in banning a wide array of pesticides.

EPA process not consistent with public health

When making a determination about whether a pesticide should be used, the EPA must make a cost-benefit analysis, weigh those costs and benefits and make a determination on whether the pesticide should be registered.

One of TCVPs closest relatives, chlorpyrifos, has also been the subject of years of court battles and agency delays. It was banned for indoor use in 2001 because of its risks to children but continued to be used as an agricultural pesticide.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the EPA to ban or seriously restrict use of chlorpyrifos.

Landrigan said chlorpyrifos and TCVP are so closely related that there is little doubt they both harm children. He said the EPA should make the pesticide industry prove that TCVP doesnt cause harm, rather than make the public prove it does.

The EPA takes a one-by-one approach to pesticides.

Its not consistent with public health and protecting Americas children, Landrigan said.

According to EPA data, at least 163 people and 3,803 incidents have been reported involving TCVP collars, including 388 pet deaths. However, it is possible that not all human incidents were reported, Labbe, the EPA spokesman, said.

This is 20 times fewer overall incidents reported on Seresto and four times fewer pet death incidents.

These incidents are almost certainly an underestimate, said Bettina Francis, an environmental toxicologist and emeritus professor at the University of Illinois, because of how difficult it is to tell when a child suffers from these effects.

Landrigan and Francis said they would apply the precautionary principle when it comes to pesticide assessments, but TCVP is too dangerous of a chemical to use when there are good alternatives.

You shouldn't be exposing a child to a neurotoxin, Francis said. Its insane.

This story is a collaboration between USA TODAY and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering agribusiness, Big Ag and related issues. USA TODAY funds a fellowship at the center for expanded coverage of agribusiness and its impact on communities.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seresto pet collars under EPA review. Don't expect a quick decision.
Israel has been trying to influence the Biden administration's approach to the Iran nuclear deal in a series of high-level meetings with U.S. officials, Israeli officials tell me.

Why it matters: Under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel didn't engage with the Biden administration over the deal except to vehemently oppose it and stress that Israel wouldn't be constrained by it. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his new government also oppose the deal, but are trying to engage with the U.S. on the issue.

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Bennett and Lapid dont agree with the Biden administration on the nuclear deal. But unlike Netanyahu, who just rejected it out of hand and refused to engage, the new government wants to try and influence the result and argue in private with the Biden administration about the details."

Senior Israeli official, to Axios.

Flashback: Netanyahu ordered all Israeli officials to decline to discuss the details of the deal and the negotiations around it with their U.S. counterparts.

Many Israeli officials have argued that policy and Netanyahu's public criticism of the Obama and Biden administrations over the deal only isolated Israel and left it with no influence on the negotiations.

State of play: The new Israeli approach comes at a critical time. After six rounds of indirect talks with Iran, the Biden administration hopes a return to the deal is just weeks away.

Driving the news: The Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Aviv Kohavi, met Wednesday at the White House with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Both sides said the meeting centered on Iran, and an IDF spokesman said Kohavi focused on the flaws of the deal and what could be done to mitigate them.

Kohavi also raised ways to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and respond to Irans regional activity with Sullivan and in meetings with CIA director Bill Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.

What's next: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is expected to hold his first meeting with Secretary of State Tony Blinken in Rome on Sunday.

Story continues

Israeli officials say Lapid is expected to stress Israel's reservations about a U.S. return to the deal and to highlight several conditions Israel thinks the U.S. must demand from Iran as part of a return to the deal.

On Monday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will meet President Biden at the White House. Rivlin met on Wednesday with Bennett and Lapid to coordinate the message to the U.S. on Iran.

Worth noting: Bennett is every bit as hawkish as Netanyahu on Iran, but Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed that Bennett is not strong enough to stand up to Biden over the nuclear deal.

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An electronic road sign on the Dolphin Expressway in Miami-Dade County went beyond traffic warnings this week. Way beyond.

Drivers on State Road 836 saw this flashing message: Arrest Fauci.

The sign also shared messages of misinformation including COVID-19 was a hoax and vaccines kill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA say the shots are safe. NBC6 has video of the 836 sign showing the messages near the exit to Northwest 27th Avenue.

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Miami-Dades Expressway Authority said the electronic sign was hacked early Tuesday, and directed other questions to the Florida Department of Transportation, the agency running the sign because of nearby construction.

Spokeswoman Tish Burgher told the Miami Herald on Wednesday that FDOTs I-395/SR 836/I-95 Project Team went to inspect the vandalized sign, but that when workers arrived, the sign was no longer displaying the rogue messages. She said the contractor now has new ways to prevent further vandalism of the signs, which provide real-time traffic updates to passing drivers.

FDOT did not respond to a question on whether the hacking was done from outside or inside the agency.

The arrest message referred to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the countrys top infectious disease expert. Hes been the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and is the White House chief medical advisor. Hes served under seven presidents, including former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

Fauci has his own bobblehead and last year during quarantine, Miami Herald news partner CBS4 anchor Frances Wang created a video explaining Faucis background to the tune of Prince Ali from Disneys Aladdin. The pandemic made Fauci a household name, but not everyone is a fan. He has his share of haters.

Fauci had to get bodyguards in April 2020 and has faced criticism and hate mail, which reportedly intensified after a trove of his emails were released to national outlets, including BuzzFeed and The Washington Post.
A local education official in New Jersey apologized Wednesday after calling Vice President Kamala Harris a "street walker" in a Facebook comment.

She is right off the wingnut streets of San Francisco what do you expect from a street walker who has no clue about America, Gregory A. Martucci, a member of the Linden Board of Education, wrote earlier this month in response to a post about the vice president.

Martucci apologized in text messages to multiple media outlets this week.

This was an offensive comment which does not reflect who I am in both my private and public lives, he wrote to NBC New York. I assure you that I will continue to support all women and all cultures. I would ask each of you to be receptive of my public apology and sincere regret for this injurious comment.

Linden school board member Gregory R. Martucci has apologized after he labelled Vice-President Harris a

Martuccis remarks on Harris appeared in a public Facebook group called I grew up in Linden NJ, under a post by pro-Trump comedian Terrence K. Williams that called the vice president a hypocrite for her position on immigration.

The original comment was posted June 9 and was still up as of Thursday. It was edited twice, each time adding more intense phrasing.

Some community leaders responded to Martuccis post with anger.

I will do everything humanly possible to make sure that we dont have people who think that way on our boards who represent our children and represent the city, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead said, according to NBC New York.

Linden Schools Superintendent Marnie Hazelton also responded Wednesday in an emailed statement to NJ Advance Media.

The Linden Board of Education is currently reviewing and addressing this matter, Hazelton said. At this time, we do not have any additional comments related to this matter.
Sri Lanka's president Thursday pardoned 16 minority Tamils imprisoned for over a decade, as the country faces renewed United Nations pressure over detentions without charge under draconian anti-terrorism laws.

The amnesty is a first for people linked to the Tamil Tigers since Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a member of the majority Sinhalese community, came to power in 2019 on a nationalist agenda.

The men were convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that gives security forces sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects.

A total of 78 other convicts, including a murderer closely linked to Sri Lanka's ruling Rajapaksa family, were also released under an amnesty to mark a Buddhist holiday.

The UN rights body as well as the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz, criticised the release of Duminda Silva, a former ruling party legislator facing a death sentence for a 2011 murder.

"Presidential pardon... is another example of selective, arbitrary granting of pardons that weakens rule of law and undermines accountability," the UN Human Rights Council said on Twitter.

Ambassador Teplitz said the US welcomed the early release of PTA prisoners, but "the pardon of Silva, whose conviction the Supreme Court upheld in 2018, undermines rule of law."

Silva worked for the defence ministry when current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was president from 2005 to 2015.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka and the main opposition party SJB also slammed his release.

- Protecting criminals -

"Today, those found guilty of the most serious crimes in our law enjoy presidential protection while the judges and police officers who brought them to justice have targets on their backs," SJB legislator Thalatha Athukorale, a former justice minister, said.

The US has been pressing Sri Lanka to ensure accountability for war-time atrocities by both government forces and Tamil rebels during a 37-year separatist war that ended in 2009.

Story continues

A prison official said the 16 Tamil prisoners freed Thursday were due to complete their sentences soon.

"The 16 Tamil detainees are among 94 prisoners who received a presidential pardon," prison superintendent Chandana Ekanayake said.

Government officials said the release was the first phase of a plan to free all those held or charged under the PTA.

Another 78 people arrested under the law on suspicion of supporting the separatist Tamil Tigers have been in custody for decades, political sources from the Tamil community told AFP.

Lawmaker Namal Rajapaksa, the president's nephew and son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, told parliament this week that some of those detained had been in jail since before he was born in 1986.

He added that his government is working to free them.

The Human Rights Council last week urged the government to either charge or release those detained under the PTA, including human rights activists who were recently arrested.

Critics warn the law is being used as a weapon targeting dissidents and minorities in the fractured country.

aj/bfm
Police documents in the newly reopened investigation of a Hampton teenagers 2015 death show that investigators were at odds over how the 19-year-old was actually killed.

The unsolved case of Stephen Smith, who was found dead in the middle of a rural road on July 8, 2015 near Hampton, has come into renewed focus after the S.C. Law Enforcement Division reopened the case Tuesday.

SLED did so because of information gathered during the investigation into the double homicide of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh on June 7, a spokesperson confirmed.

Since the Murdaughs murders, speculation has grown about whether the family was involved in Smiths death.

The same rumors have been around since 2015, but investigators never officially linked members of the family to his death, though the Murdaugh name appears nine times in the S.C. Highway Patrol case notes.

The death was originally thought to be a hit-and-run. But the Highway Patrols investigative notes show authorities argued with one another over whether Smith was the victim of homicide.

A photo of a photo of Stephen Smith in the 2014 Hampton Wade High School A Devil In Every Crowd yearbook.

How did Stephen Smith die?

In the early morning hours of July 8, 2015, a 911 caller said he was driving on Sandy Run Road on his way to work when he spotted someone lying in the road.

The person was later identified as Hampton County teenager Stephen Smith.

To Hampton County Sheriffs Office deputies and the county coroner, the cause of death was immediately apparent: homicide.

The teenager had a head wound consistent with being shot in the head, the coroner explained, according to one report. He also had a defensive wound on his hand.

The Highway Patrol investigator was cleared from the scene, and SLED came in to take over.

What began as a seemingly clear-cut homicide investigation became jumbled after Smiths autopsy.

Two weeks after Smith was found dead, SCHP investigator Todd Proctor went to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston to speak with a medical examiner about Smith.

The medical examiner, Dr. Erin Presnell, had written in a report that Smiths cause of death was actually being struck in the head by a car mirror.

Story continues

He said he came to speak with Presnell to get some clarification.

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Proctor wrote in a report that Presnell stated first she was too busy to talk, then that he needed the coroners permission to speak to her about the Smith case.

Proctor told her he already had his permission and then asked about the change in Smiths cause of death.

I asked her why she stated that in the report and her answer was because he was found in the road, Proctor wrote. She had no evidence other than that for the statement being put in the report.

Proctor writes there was no evidence of Smith being struck by a car.

As I was leaving she stated that the report was preliminary, according to Proctor. And it was my job to figure out what it was [that] struck him, not hers.

A few weeks later, Proctor detailed how he spoke with former Hampton County Coroner Ernie Washington. They both disagreed with the conclusions from Presnells report.

A different report states that Presnell said no evidence of a bullet was found in an X-ray of the body.

But no glass or debris from a car was found, either  not on the body or the area where Smith was found, the report states.

A screenshot of an article in the Hampton County Guardian about Stephen Smiths death in 2015.

Whats next for Smiths case?

The case went cold. Investigators did not find any suspects, according to the case notes.

Paul Murdaughs brother, Buster, was mentioned throughout the report, but no connection was ever established.

Other names were mentioned throughout, including a man who says he was in a relationship with Smith at the time of his death.

There would never be justice for Stephen in Hampton County, Sandy Smith, Stephens mother, told The State Media Co. in 2019.

Several attempts to reach Sandy Smith have been unsuccessful, but she told a Charleston-area TV station Tuesday:

Weve been waiting on this forever. ... Stephens always been put on the backburner. ... Stephens had no justice.
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan is in talks with international bodies about COVID-19 vaccine passports, the head of its Centres for Disease Control said on Thursday, which could help ease long-standing travel restrictions.

Taiwan has previously considered such a scheme, but has been extremely cautious about opening its largely-closed borders lest it lets in more infections, and is currently on high alert to stop the highly contagious Delta variant.

Taiwan Centres for Disease Control Director-General Chou Jih-haw told reporters they have already begun talks with other governments and international organisations about vaccine passports.

"We hope we can quickly get into step with the international community," he said, without giving details.

The government is trying to speed a vaccination programme hobbled by supply delays, with around 7% of a population of 23.5 million having received at least one of the required two doses.

Chou said getting vaccines was still very difficult due to global shortages, but that they were working hard and he had no concrete timetable for when more might arrive.

Taiwan's government said last week it would allow Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Apple Inc supplier Foxconn, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd to negotiate on its behalf for vaccines from Germany's BioNTech SE.

Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng told the same news conference there was an "opportunity" for this plan to succeed.

"I want to emphasise that it is an opportunity, because there is almost no international use of this procurement method," he said.

Taiwan is dealing with a cluster of domestic infections, almost all the previously globally dominant Alpha variant, though numbers are stabilising and the outbreak has been comparatively small.

Still, the cases have unnerved the government, which has enacted curbs on public gatherings and closed entertainment venues.

Taiwan has only reported five infections of the Delta variant to date, Chou said, all imported and who were identified while undergoing the strict two weeks quarantine overseas arrivals are subject to.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Editing by Michael Perry)
Kabul could be captured by the Taliban within a year as US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, but its fall is not inevitable and will depend on a much better-run Afghan defense force, US experts say.

As worries mount that the insurgents could retake power in the war-torn country, experts with years of experience in Afghanistan warned that poor leadership, corruption and ethnic divisions in the Afghan security forces offer the Taliban advantages, and that much depends on whether President Ashraf Ghani's troubled government can hold.

The Islamist rebels have taken control of dozens of Afghanistan's 400 districts since the September deadline for withdrawal was set by Washington, where Ghani is set to meet with US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that a new US intelligence report estimates that the Taliban could win control of the country's capital within six to 12 months of the US pullout.

- Taliban not unstoppable -

"There's really no denying the size and the speed of the kind of territorial losses the government has suffered," Andrew Watkins of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

But "the fall of Kabul is not imminent. The Taliban is not an unstoppable military juggernaut," he said.

Most of the districts the insurgents have claimed are "out in rural areas of the country that have little strategic or military value. There's no military need for either actor to be out there."

Yet some are on transport routes and around provincial capitals.

"The Taliban are strengthening their chokeholds around major cities. They're not necessarily in the near-term future going to try and take those cities," Watkins said.

Afghan security forces have lost the support of US air strikes on the Taliban in the past year, and their own air force could be weakened if thousands of US civilian contractors, who keep Afghan aircraft flying, depart by September.

Story continues

Carter Malkasian, a former Pentagon official and now an Afghanistan security expert at the CNA consultancy, said it is only "remotely possible" that the Taliban sweep into Kabul in the near term.

However, he said, such an outcome is conceivable within a year, as regional capitals are not currently under threat.

"If you see the losses of big cities like Kandahar city or Mazar-i-Sharif, then I would start worrying about Kabul falling," said Malkasian.

- Aim to demoralize -

James Dobbins, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan and now an expert at Rand Corporation, said he expects fighting to escalate.

Right now, he said, "the Taliban have certain advantages. But their advantages generally apply in the countryside where their supporters are."

The cities are more of a challenge for the group than when they gained power in 1996: the country is more populous, urbanized, better educated, better connected and more complicated to manage.

"They don't have many supporters in the cities where all the infrastructure is," he said.

"Kabul is now a city of five million people. It's not what it was the last time the Taliban captured it. And I think they'd have a hard time controlling it."

Watkins said the Afghan military is doing what it needs to do, shrinking its footprint to focus on defending population centers and major supply arteries.

And a recent shakeup of the leadership could improve its operations.

"The Afghan military has to demonstrate a strength and a resilience that makes the Taliban reconsider trying to take over the country by force," he said.

However, he added, "The territorial losses the Afghan government has suffered are going to wind up having political impact. There is a potential of freaking out everyone, from rank and file Afghan soldiers and policemen . . . all the way up to the highest political level," Watkins said.

- Gaining the upper hand -

Malkasian said that the Taliban are focused as much on eroding public morale and confidence in the government as they are on gaining the upper hand in negotiations on a future government.

"Ultimately what they want to do is not to have to fight their way tooth and nail to Kabul or to conquer the rest of the country," he said.

"What they would like to see is for the Afghan government to fall apart, so that they can step into a vacuum."

Malkasian insisted that peace talks are important to the insurgents, to lend them credibility if they do end up assuming power.

"The Taliban do care about international recognition. They do care about receiving future assistance," he noted.

sl-pmh/caw
(AP)

One the nations largest labour unions has passed a resolution committing to supply all resources necessary to help unionise workers at Amazon, soon to be the nations largest retailer, as a top priority.

At its 30th international convention, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters approved a historic resolution for its Amazon Project, as the companys workers continue a nationwide organising effort following a high-profile union vote in Bessemer, Alabama.

Randy Korgan, national director of the unions recently created Amazon Division, said in a statement that Amazon poses an existential threat to the rights and standards our members have fought for and won.

But it also poses a tremendous opportunity for us to engage our members, build large volunteer organizing committees, build even stronger community labor alliances, more deeply integrate racial and other social justice struggles into our work and more, he said.

The resolution from Teamsters, which has roughly 1.6 million members, follows Amazons anti-union campaign at its Alabama warehouse, where fewer than 30 per cent of workers agreed to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in April.

RWDSU has reported more than 1,000 workers who contacted the union about organising their own workplaces, while recently launched grassroots campaigns and advocacy groups have also supported Amazon workers in their union efforts, demanding workplace safety protections, higher and more secure wages, hazard pay provisions and an end to the companys practice of near-constant worker surveillance, among other measures workers have sought through collective bargaining agreements.

In its resolution, the union argues that Amazon has single-handedly changed the nature of work among members industries, while displacing thousands of jobs and exploiting employees as the company builds enormous profits,

Teamsters have been building power in the logistics industry since before meaningful labor law was enacted in this country, the resolution says.

Story continues

Building genuine worker power at Amazon will require shop-floor militancy by Amazon workers in addition to unquestioned solidarity from warehousing and delivery Teamsters, it reads. Building worker power at Amazon and helping those workers achieve a union contract is a top priority.

The Independent has requested comment from Amazon.

Read More

How Amazon busted a historic union effort in Alabama

Amazon vote: Organisers vow fight isnt over as Alabama warehouse votes down landmark bid to unionise

If you succeed here, it will spread: Bernie Sanders rallies Amazon workers in Alabama ahead of historic union vote

No place seemed safe: Amazon worker testifies to Senate committee about anti-union campaign

Amazon to overtake Walmart as Americas biggest retailer in 2022
Texas has joined another multistate coalition defending Second Amendment rights, this time asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to strike down Californias assault weapons ban in the case of Miller v. Bonta.

California is appealing a recent decision by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, who ruled that the states 1989 ban violates the Second Amendment. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the ruling was a direct threat to public safety and innocent Californians.

But in his 94-page ruling, Benitez wrote that the California law bans an entire class of very popular hardware  firearms that are lawful under federal law and under the laws of most states and that are commonly held by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes.

Building modern rifles is standard practice for law-abiding gun owners in 45 states, the coalition of states led by Arizona, argues. Calling these rifles assault weapons is a misnomer, they add, because they are most often used for personal protection and target and sport shooting.

There is nothing sinister about citizens keeping or bearing a modern rifle, the coalitions brief states. Law-abiding citizens keeping and bearing modern rifles benefit public safety, counter-balance the threat of illegal gun violence, and help make our homes and streets safer.

Attorney General Paxton said, States do not have the right to dictate what is necessary or unnecessary when it comes to constitutional rights, and demonizing certain rifles that are widely used nationwide is an infringement on the Second Amendment."

The multistate coalition includes Arizona, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

In 2019, California resident James Miller, who has a concealed carry permit, sued California over the ban. His complaint states that he seeks to use his lawfully acquired large-capacity magazine(s) in his California-compliant, fixed magazine rifle.

Story continues

This is an average case about average guns used in average ways for average purposes, Benitez ruled. One is to be forgiven if one is persuaded by news media and others that the nation is awash with murderous AR-15 assault rifles. The facts, however, do not support this hyperbole, and facts matter.

In California, murder by knife occurs seven times more often than murder by rifle.

According to California data, 185,569 assault weapons are registered in the state despite the ban.

Six other states have enacted assault rifle bans. A 1994 federal ban expired in 2004, which President Joe Biden has pledged to reinstate.

The case is likely to head to the U.S. Supreme Court regardless of how the Ninth Circuit rules.

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Tags: States, News, Texas, California, Assault Weapons, Firearms, Gun Control

Original Author: Bethany Blankley, The Center Square

Original Location: Texas joins multistate coalition challenging Californias assault weapons ban
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas have the same suggestion for Vice President Kamala Harris, who plans to visit El Paso: Go to the Rio Grande Valley instead.

Where the crisis is most acute is in the Rio Grande Valley, which is 800 miles away from El Paso. To put that in perspective, Chicago, Illinois, is closer to Washington than McAllen is to El Paso, Cruz, a Texas Republican, told the Star-Telegram.

John Cornyn, also a Texas Republican, had similar advice.

My recommendation is that she go to the, to ground zero, which is the Rio Grande Valley. El Paso is a much different situation than the Valley. This Valley is really at the eye of the storm, Cornyn said.

However, in the past Republicans have used El Paso as an example of the border crisis.

In March, KDBC TV in El Paso reported that House Republicans toured immigration facilities there and at the nearby border, and called for President Joe Biden to visit the area to see the humanitarian crisis.

Harris plans to visit El Paso on Friday with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This move came after Harris faced sharp criticism from Republicans who claimed she was neglecting her duties as Bidens border diplomat by not visiting the border.

Harris and her team countered the criticism by pointing to her visits to Mexico and Guatemala, saying she was more focused on addressing the causes of southern border migration than appearing at the border.

Shes made a number of announcements about how to address root causes that she was going to assess with the Department of Homeland Security and with the administration when it was the appropriate time to go, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday. And I will note that were at this point, in part, because weve made a great deal of progress,

Now that she is going, Cruz and Cornyn took issue with her choice of destination.

Well, its a good start but obviously the purpose is not for a photo op its to actually listen and learn from the people who live there and work there, Cornyn said.

The Rio Grande Valley and El Paso are some of the busiest spots for border crossing. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports there were 271,927 land border encounters in the Rio Grande Valley region from October 2020 through May and 113,824 in the El Paso region, which covers New Mexico.
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of Thai pro-democracy protesters took to the streets on Thursday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and constitutional changes that would curb the influence of the country's powerful monarchy.

The rally, which defied a ban on public gatherings due to the pandemic, comes as Prayuth's government faces public criticism over its handling of coronavirus outbreaks, a slow economic recovery and a vaccine policy that involves a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

"The constitution must come from the people," protest leader, Jatupat "Pai Daodin" Boonpattararaksa, told the crowd in the capital Bangkok.

Youth-led demonstrations last year attracted hundreds of thousands of people across the country, but they stalled after security forces began cracking down on rallies, detaining protest leaders and after new waves of COVID-19 infections broke out.

Protesters had broken traditional taboos by criticising the king, risking prosecution under a strict lese majeste law that makes insulting or defaming the king, queen, heir and regent punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Most of the protest leaders have been released on bail.

In March, several dozen were injured when police fired water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a protest.

Thursday's rally, which also included some former Prayuth supporters, marks the day when Thailand declared an end to absolute monarchy on June 24, 1932.

"In 89 years since the end of absolutism we have not got anywhere," Jatupat said.

About 2,500 police officers had been deployed to maintain order, said the deputy head of Bangkok police, Piya Tavichai.

"A gathering at this time in not appropriate because it could lead to further spread of the virus."

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Ed Davies)
Steve Bannon and Donald Trump (AFP via Getty Images)

Former advisers to Donald Trump are hoping that uproar over the teaching of critical race theory will help the Republican party regain control of Congress in 2022.

Steve Bannon, the former presidents chief strategist, is among the high-profile names fighting the introduction of critical theory in classrooms, and disagrees that racism is systemic.

Talking to Politico, Mr Bannon referred to the Tea Party movement from 2010, in which fringe candidates on the conservative right campaigned for free markets and fiscal responsibility, and retook the House.

This is the Tea Party to the 10th power, said Mr Bannon of the uproar over critical race theory, and its introduction into American classrooms. This isnt Q[Anon], this is mainstream suburban mums  and a lot of these people arent Trump voters.

Issues of racism and segregation, critical race theory alleges, have been tied to law making and law enforcement since the era of slavery and Jim Crow laws in the south  and are relevant today, in the wake of George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police.

Republicans  looking for a way to take back Congress  allegedly see concerns about teaching critical race theory in schools as a way of furthering the partys appeal to white voters.

A poll by Morning Consultant on Wednesday revealed that among Republican voters, 48 per cent viewed critical race theory negatively. For Democrats, 12 per cent held the same view, with 32 per cent finding it favourable.

On 18 March, the day Florida governor Ron DeSantis called for it to be banned from classrooms, internet searches for critical race theory spiked, according to Politico.

And at a Republican conference in North Carolina, Mr Trump was recently applauded for calling for a ban on the teaching of critical race theory in schools, the federal government, and US armed forces.

Mr Bannon said of the reaction to Republican uproar on race theory: I look at this and say, Hey, this is how we are going to win. I see 50 [House Republican] seats in 2022. Keep this up.

Story continues

I think youre going to see a lot more emphasis from Trump on it and DeSantis and others, he added. People who are serious in 2024 and beyond are going to focus on it.

Two former budget advisers are also working to further the uproar around race theory, reported Politico, which includes funding and help with campaigning.

President Joe Biden, on his first day in office in January, signed an order revoking Mr Trumps 1776 project, which was a Republican response to a New York Times initiative, framed around ideas of patriotism.

Democrats have been calling for critical race theory to be taught in classrooms and workplaces as a way of addressing issues of everyday racism after a year of Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

It includes backing The New York Times 1619 project, which caused outrage among Republicans last year for recognising the 400th anniversary of slavery in the US, and the contribution of Black Americans to society.

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ANTALYA, Turkey (AP)  At the Ananas Hotel on Turkeys Mediterranean coast, the rooms were cleaned, the pool filled and the sun loungers distanced, as staff prepared to welcome back Russian tourists after nearly 20 months of pandemic-induced closure.

Hotels in Turkeys popular Antalya region are ready to reopen after Moscow announced it was lifting flight restrictions to Turkey. Tourism representatives are hoping that their sector  a key component of the Turkish economy  can now recover some of its losses.

We have been closed for about 20 months. We were quite pleased by the lifting of the flight restrictions by Russia, said Murat Ozbalat, general manager of the Ananas Hotel in the resort town of Alanya. Russians make up about 80% of his guests, he said. The additional gradual lifting of restrictions from Europe gives us hope for the remainder of the 2021 season.

While many Turkish businesses suffered during the pandemic, tourism has been clobbered: In 2019, it brought in $34.5 billion and nearly 52 million visitors. In 2020, visitors dropped 69% and revenues fell to about $12 billion, according to the tourism ministry.

We are talking about a ... sector that has been sitting idle for a year, said Hamit Kuk of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies. There is a loss of more than $20 billion.

Turkey relies on tourism revenues for its foreign currency needs, at a time when it's been hit by double-digit inflation and a sinking currency, exacerbated by the pandemic.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said this years season is crucial.

We will ensure that tourism professionals can utilize at least the second half of the 2021 season, he said Saturday, inaugurating a hotel in Antalya. We aim to get a much bigger share of the tourism cake along with recouping losses.

German Renata Malzahn, vacationing in the Side resort, known for its ancient ruins overlooking the beach, said she was well aware Turkey needs visitors.

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I think the easing of travel restrictions to Turkey was well overdue, she said after getting a traditional scrub and bath at her hotels Turkish hammam. If you ease (travel) restrictions with regard to other countries ... you should not exclude Turkey, because the people here also urgently need visitors like us, otherwise the country collapses.

A spring COVID-19 spike in Turkey, when daily infections hit a record high of 63,000, drew travel warnings. The U.K. and France put Turkey on their red lists requiring returning tourists to quarantine, and Russia suspended flights in April.

The fear of another missed season prompted the government to exclude tourists from what they called a full lockdown for Turks.

Tourism workers got priority in vaccinations and the tourism ministry shared a promotional video of mask-wearing staff that said Enjoy, Im vaccinated. The video was taken down after a public outcry on social media, with some people saying it presented Turks as subservient to foreign visitors.

With daily infections down to a 7-day average of 5,645, some countries reassessed their travel warnings this month. France and Germany have removed Turkey from the high-risk list and on Tuesday Russia resumed flights  with Turkish TV stations providing live coverage of the first Russians landing.

The industry is hoping that Britain, Turkey's third-largest tourism market, will also remove the country from its red list.

Turkeys civil aviation updated its requirements on June 21, saying a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival would be required for travelers who have not been fully vaccinated or cannot show proof of recovery from COVID-19.

Jens Brauer, another German tourist, said he feels safe in Turkey. They are doing a lot (in terms of safety measures) in the hotel, notably keeping safe distances, wearing masks," he said.

But Turkeys push for foreign tourists could engender risks for the local population. Though hospitalizations and deaths have decreased and vaccinations have gained momentum, only 17% of the population has been fully vaccinated. Tourists from countries where a more contagious variant is spreading could affect Turkey. In Russia, daily infections have soared and vaccination numbers are low.

__

Zeynep Bilginsoy reported from Istanbul. Robert Badendieck in Istanbul and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, contributed.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish and U.S. military officials met in Turkeys capital on Thursday to discuss plans for Turkish troops to continue securing Kabuls airport after the withdrawal of the U.S. and other NATO troops from Afghanistan.

Turkey, NATOs only majority-Muslim member, has offered to protect and run the Hamid Karzai International airport  the main gateway into Afghanistan  after the alliance pulls out of the country. The country, which has around 500 non-combat troops in Afghanistan, is however, seeking U.S. and other allies support for the mission.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a NATO summit, that Turkey was looking for diplomatic, logistic and financial assistance from the United States to protect and operate the airport. Turkey also wanted Pakistan and Hungary to be involved in the mission, he said.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said a technical delegation from the United States had arrived for talks.

We will continue to take on the responsibility of operating the Hamid Karzai International Airport, which we have been doing for the past six years, if the necessary conditions are met, Akar said Thursday. Discussions on this matter are continuing. No decisions have been reached for now.

Akar said: We want to achieve the best result for the interests of our country and for those of Afghanistan. Thats what we are working for. Our aim is to continue working for the security, peace and welfare of our Afghan brothers.

Critics see Turkeys offer to operate the airport as being part of an effort by Erdogans government to mend ties with the United States which have deteriorated over an array of disagreements. Those have centered on Turkeys purchase of Russian weapons and U.S. support to Syrian Kurdish fighters which Ankara says are linked to a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey. They question the safety of the Turkish non-combat forces there.

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Mr. Erdogan, let whoever brought Afghanistan to this situation, pick up the pieces, Meral Aksener, leader of the opposition, nationalist Good Party, said in parliament Wednesday.

Dont be so eager to sacrifice your own soldier to save the life of an American soldier, she said.

Around 2,300-3,500 remaining U.S. troops and roughly 7,000 allied NATO forces are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by Sept. 11, ending nearly 20 years of military engagement. There are concerns that the Afghan government and its security forces may be ill-prepared for the withdrawal and that the country may descend into chaos.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan until ousted by a U.S.-led coalition after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in America. In recent weeks Taliban fighters have overrun several districts in southern and northern Afghanistan, convincing government security forces to surrender and seizing their weapons and military vehicles.
Royce Wood, the man accused of shooting a Rhome police officer June 13, was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Service in Batesville, Arkansas, early Thursday morning, according to the Wise County Sheriffs Office.

Wood and his girlfriend, Tiffany Caswell, were arrested together for separate charges against them in Wise County.

Caswell and Wood are believed to have been involved in a home invasion robbery on Coyote Trail on June 12, Akin told the Wise County Messenger. That incident led to Rhome officers trying to stop Wood the next day near Farm Road 407 and Farm Road 2264.

Police said Wood shot an officer after he was pulled over while driving his motorcycle in New Fairview.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said U.S. Marshals and local police were acting on a tip when they arrested Wood and Caswell outside a Batesville motel.

Akin said Wood is facing charges of aggravated assault on a public servant for shooting the Rhome police officer and aggravated robbery for the home invasion. He said Caswell is being charged with aggravated robbery for her role in that same home invasion.

Akin told the Wise County Messenger that Caswell was not the female passenger who was riding with Wood at the time of the shooting. That woman was detained and later released.

Police said Wood fired several rounds at the officer, hitting him in the leg.

The officer is expected to make a full recovery and be back on duty in the not too distant future, according to Akin.

The shooting triggered a Texas Blue Alert, a measure taken when a law enforcement officer is killed or seriously wounded and the attacker is not immediately apprehended.

The incident led to a state-wide manhunt, with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers joining in the search. The Wise County Sheriffs Office did not say at which point the U.S. Marshals became involved.

Wood was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in November 2013 after he was convicted of second-degree burglary and robbery, a sentence he began in 2014. He was released in 2019.

Caswell was arrested on a drug possession charge on June 14 and released from the Wise County Jail the next day after posting bond, the Messenger reported.
REGINA, Saskatchewan (AP)  A First Nation in southern Saskatchewan said Wednesday that it has discovered hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of another former residential school for Indigenous children.

A statement from the Cowessess First Nation and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous First Nations, which represents Saskatchewans First Nations, said that the number of unmarked graves will be the most significantly substantial to date in Canada.

Last month the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, were found buried on the site of what was once Canadas largest Indigenous residential school near Kamloops, British Columbia.

Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme and Chief Bobby Cameron of the federation planned to hold a news conference Thursday to provide more details about the new find at the Marieval Indian Residential School, which operated from 1899 to 1997 where Cowessess is now located, about 87 miles east of Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan.

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 recall 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.
US Rep Deb Haaland (D-NM) speaks during a news conference with members of the Democratic Womens Caucus prior to State of the Union at the U.S. Capitol on 4 February, 2020 in Washington, DC. Ms Haaland announced plans for the US to investigate the unspoken traumas of Native American boarding schools. (Getty Images)

The Biden administration is launching an unprecedented probe into the US governments past oversight of Native Americanboarding schools in a bid to uncover the truth about the loss of human life and lasting consequences of policies that, for decades, saw hundreds of thousands of Native American children separated from their families.

US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the initiative on Tuesday, asserting that to address the intergenerational impact of Indian boarding schools and to promote spiritual and emotional healing in our communities, we must shed light on the unspoken traumas of the past, no matter how hard it will be.

Ms Haaland, who is Native American and a member of Laguna Pueblo, said the investigation would seek to identify past boarding schools as well as possible burial sites at or near those schools.

The investigation comes in the wake of the discovery of childrens remains at former Indigenous residential schools in Canada.

News in late May of the remains of 215 Indigenous children being found at what was once Canadas largest residential school sent shockwaves across the country and around the world, sparking widespread calls for answers and action.

Hundreds more unmarked graves have now also been discovered at the site of another former residential school in Saskatchewan, with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations asserting in a statement that the number of unmarked graves will be the most significantly substantial to date in Canada.

In Canada, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend Christian schools in an effort to assimilate them into society, with the children forced to convert to Christianity and barred from speaking their native languages.

Thousands of children are believed to have died at the residential schools, where children also suffered physical and verbal abuse.

In the wake of the discoveries, Ms Haaland shared her own familys experience in a piece published by The Washington Post, reminding Americans that the US also has a history of taking Native children from their families in an effort to eradicate our culture and erase us as a people.

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It is a history that we must learn from if our country is to heal from this tragic era, she said.

In her announcement, Ms Haaland said statistics from the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition showed that by 1926, more than 80 per cent of Indigenous children of school age were attending boarding schools run by either the government or religious organisations.

In addition to identifying schools and potential grave sites in the US, the governments investigation will also seek to identify the names and tribal affiliations of the students forced to live at the boarding schools.

Chuck Hoskin Jr, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, welcomed the investigation, asserting that any effort to address the troubling chapters of history is a positive step, according to the Associated Press.

I hope we dont discover gruesome incidents like were discovered in Canada. I just think its good in this country to have conversations about what happened to Native American children, he said.

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US to move Afghan translators who aided troops to secure location as Taliban threatens takeover
The US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan -- ordered by President Joe Biden in April after nearly two decades in the country -- is marching ahead despite the growing threat by Taliban rebels to seize power.

Biden set a deadline for the final drawdown of troops and civilians of September 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the United States by Afghanistan-based Taliban-backed Al-Qaeda.

While the Pentagon says the pullout is over halfway completed, pressures are mounting to slow the operation, to help push back the Taliban advance and to evacuate thousands of Afghans who have helped US forces.

- Steady drawdown -

There were officially about 2,500 US troops and 16,000 civilian contractors in the country when the pullout was announced by Biden, who is set to welcome Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to the White House on Friday.

Since then, the Pentagon has shipped home the equivalent of 763 giant C-17 cargo aircraft loaded with equipment and supplies.

Five bases used by the US, including the large air base at Kandahar, have been handed over to Afghan forces.

But the number of troops and contractors who still remain is secret, for security reasons, the Defense Department says.

- Worries about Taliban gains -

Taliban insurgents meanwhile have taken advantage of the drawdown to step up attacks in the Afghan countryside, claiming dozens of districts since May and sparking fears that they could be poised to seize power in Kabul, just as they did in 1996.

"For the Taliban to continue this intensive military campaign would be a tragic course of action," Deborah Lyons, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, told the UN Security Council Tuesday.

She said the group is positioning itself to seize regional capitals "once foreign forces are fully withdrawn."

"All of the major trends -- politics, security, the peace process, the economy, the humanitarian emergency and Covid -- all of these trends are negative or stagnant," she added.

Story continues

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the Taliban's activity could result in a slowdown of the withdrawal -- while sticking to the September deadline.

"The situation in Afghanistan changes as the Taliban continue to conduct these attacks and to raid district centers -- as well as the violence, which is still too high," he said.

However, he warned, as the drawdown progresses, the US ability to help Afghan forces on the ground "will wane and will no longer be available."

- Fate of the interpreters -

A key worry is the fate of some 18,000 Afghans who have worked for US and coalition troops and agencies as interpreters, intelligence collectors and in other jobs. Many worry they and their families could be killed if the Taliban take power, and they want to migrate to the United States or elsewhere.

Washington says it is committed to them, but processing their visa applications takes time. Many could still be in the country come September, when US forces depart.

Members of Congress are pushing Biden to evacuate the interpreters as soon as possible to the US Pacific territory of Guam while their travel documents are processed.

The Pentagon has been quietly preparing an evacuation for weeks. On Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the first evacuations could begin "soon."

- Securing the airport -

Another key challenge has been ensuring that Kabul's international airport remains open and secure, especially for diplomats, international officials, humanitarian workers and other foreigners who remain in the city.

Some fear the Taliban could take control and close the hub after the US pullout.

Turkey is in talks to take over security of the airport, and wants financial, diplomatic and logistical support from the Americans.

If Turkey does not take on the job, the US military is looking at other options, including recruiting private security companies to handle the task.

sl/pmh/caw
Valve still isn't fond of people who shop in other countries to get the best game prices, and it just made life considerably more difficult for those "tourists." Steam Database noted that Valve now limits you to changing your Steam account's country to once every three months. You can't just flip back and forth to get the best deals, in other words.

The move comes nearly a year after a related change that required gamers to make a purchase in a given country when they switch to it. That approach made it harder to use VPNs for buying games in other countries, but didn't stop people who were willing to switch accounts for deals. Those switchers will now have to either scale back their purchases or accept that they won't always get the lowest prices.

This does create complications. While the three-month interval will likely be enough for most people, it could lead to headaches if you really do hop from country to country more frequently.

It's also unclear how the European Union will respond to the move. Regulators recently fined Valve 7.8 million (about $9.4 million) for restricting access to games between EU countries. Those officials may not be enthusiastic about limiting account mobility, even if it's only for short periods.
Tiffany McGee said her family had settled in for a Friday movie night when they heard car horns blaring and a man shouting. When she looked outside, McGee found her car engulfed in flames.

I see a man out of his car, jumping up and down waving his arms and pointing, McGee said. I look over towards my car, which is to the left, and I just start screaming because my car is on fire.

The flames spread to McGees husbands car before enveloping their Norfolk home. The family of four escaped without injuries, but the fire destroyed the couples cars and rendered their home unlivable.

The blaze, which happened June 11, was the latest in a series of suspicious fires that have occurred over a 16-month period at a typically quiet residential intersection in West Ghent.

The Norfolk Fire Department wont offer any details on the cluster of fires at Claremont and Redgate avenues, including how many there have been and whether its the work of a serial arsonist.

We are working in conjunction with (the Norfolk Police Department) and our Fire Marshal Office to find some answers, said Stephanie Ramsey, a fire department spokesperson.

Fire Marshal Nicholas Nelson said the investigation into the fires is his offices number one priority, while one resident says he heard nothing from fire investigators for months before being informed recently that the case had been reopened.

James Jones, who rents out his apartment building at 1122 Redgate Avenue, said three of the fires happened on his property in a three-month span in 2020  two of which involved the building, and the other an automobile.

The first was the car fire, which happened on Feb. 10, 2020, and incinerated one of his tenants vehicles.

The next blaze came two months later. Jones said fire investigators discovered that a trash can stuffed with flammable materials  among them, remnants of a rocking chair and board game  had been set ablaze near the buildings gas meters.

The fire caused the gas meters to explode, engulfing the building in flames.

Story continues

There was like a 20-foot blow torch ... blowing up the side of the building above the roof, Jones said. The building had four occupants at the time, including a small young child. ... Everybody got out safely, but the building was burned pretty severely, and it was shut down of course.

His tenants evacuated the now-uninhabitable building before it again went up in flames May 31.

That day, a potential suspect was caught on video by a neighbors security camera, Jones said.

The footage, a clip of which was later posted on the Norfolk Fire Departments Facebook page, depicts a man, with his sweatshirts hood drawn tightly around his face, carrying what Jones said appears to be a bottle of accelerant before heading off screen, toward Jones building.

He disappears off camera, going over to the 1122 building, and some period of time later, he reemerges, Jones said. Within about 20 minutes after he disappeared, the building was in flames.

After Jones building was torched for the second time, the suspicious fires seemed to quiet.

Investigators background checked Jones past tenants to identify potential suspects and canvassed neighborhood residents, but, to Jones knowledge, a perpetrator in the string of fires was never identified.

Jones said the fire department put up a camera in a neighbors yard after the May 2020 fire, but it was later taken down.

[The camera] probably stayed up for two or three months, but then it just disappeared, Jones said. I never heard a thing.

His communication with the fire department eventually fizzled out, too. Jones said he never received a follow-up report about the fire investigators findings.

Some of my attempts to communicate back with them were hit with some pretty firm rejection, Jones said. I actually communicated with the chief of the fire department, and he even asked me to no longer communicate with any of his staff, and that if I had any questions to go directly to him.

Jones later installed his own camera at his Redgate Avenue property in July 2020. Many other residents in the area have since done the same.

Nearly a year later, in the early-morning hours of June 2, Jones camera captured another car fire across the street.

The footage shows a flash of fire accompanied by a popping noise.

Just over a week after the fire at the McGees home, Jones said, the fire department alerted him that they reopened their investigation into the incidents in West Ghent. He plans to meet with a fire investigator for an interview Thursday.

The McGee family chose to share their story publicly to make the West Ghent residents aware of what they believe to be an arsonist attacking the neighborhood.

Were not trying to create panic, said McGees husband, Patrick. Were trying to create awareness for our friends and loved ones in that neighborhood.

By the time the McGees home and cars caught fire, blazes at the West Ghent intersection had become normal, Tiffany McGee said.

Some people are like, Oh this happens all the time right here, McGee said. No one should ever have to say that.

Ali Sullivan, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United States, Britain and France accused Russian mercenaries on Wednesday of operating alongside Central African Republic forces and committing human rights violations against civilians and obstructing U.N. peacekeeping -- charges immediately denied by Russia which denounced the Western nations for engaging in an anti-Russia political hit job.

The exchanges took place at a U.N. Security Council meeting after the U.N. special representative for the conflict-wracked Central African Republic, Mankeur Ndiaye, expressed serious concern at the military counter-offensive by the countrys security forces and bilateral forces and other security forces against a coalition of rebel groups which supports CARs former president Francois Bozize.

Ndiaye called the situation in CAR among the most dangerous in the world, saying violations of human rights and international law allegedly committed by CAR forces and bilateral and other personnel ...have never equaled those recently committed and detailed by MINUSCA, the 15,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in the country.

As one example, he said, the number of sexual violence-related incidents in the first quarter of 2021 was five times higher than the number reported in the last quarter of 2020.

While Ndiaye didnt identify the bilateral forces and other security forces, Russia has troops in CAR training its military at the invitation of the government.

A recent report to the council by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticized CARs security forces and bilateral forces for an unprecedented increase in hostile threats and incidents targeting U.N. peacekeepers and alleged human rights abuses. He said people in the country continue to face an unacceptably high level of violence.

The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013. A peace deal between the government and 14 rebel groups was signed in February 2019, but violence blamed on former president Bozize and his allies threatens to nullify the agreement.

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It erupted after the constitutional court rejected Bozizes candidacy to run for president in December. Faustin Archange Touadera won a second term with 53% of the vote, but he continues to face opposition from rebel forces linked to Bozize.

U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills noted secretary-general Guterres report of a 28% increase in incidents of human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law over the past four months. He said the United States is deeply concerned at the increased targeting of Muslims, and the alarmingly sharp increase in abuses committed by national and bilateral personnel.

I think we need to be clear about these bilateral personnel -- the individuals committing what many are now referring to as atrocities are not independent actors -- they are operating as extension of Russias Ministry of Defense, he said.

Mills said the Biden administration is deeply disturbed that Russia has failed to prevent its mercenaries from impeding MINUSCAs freedom of movement on a daily basis. He condemned an appalling incident in which these bilateral Russian actors threatened MINUSCAs deputy special representative and a U.N. delegation on a humanitarian mission to Bang, , which is close to CARs border with Chad and Cameroon, on May 28.

Frances U.N. Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere called the situation in CAR dramatic, pointing to extrajudicial executions, gang rapes, torture, occupation of schools and violence particularly targeting Muslim communities, as shown by the murder of a traditional chief a few days ago.

Let us be clear: Central African armed groups are no longer the only threat to the Central African population, De Riviere said.

He said reports by the secretary-general and U.N. experts monitoring sanctions against CAR point to the responsibility of a new actor, who is operating alongside the Central African armed forces and whose status is a mystery.

Some will try to deny the presence of the Wagner company, De Riviere said, calling on MINUSCA to provide details of who the men are fighting in CAR and who they are accountable to for their actions. The Wagner Group is a Kremlin-backed security company that was implicated in the conflict in Libya.

Britains deputy ambassador James Roscoe said the armed groups are fomenting instability, frankly, in order to line their own pockets.

And now, a new factor of instability: Russian private military companies acting in concert with the national armed forces to obstruct MINUSCA and to violate the rights of the civilians and citizens of the Central African Republic, he said.

Roscoe said human rights violations, including acts of sexual violence, are not only being committed by armed groups but also by members of the national armed forces and the Russian private military personnel accompanying them.

He said the Russians will deny this, but the evidence is increasing and overwhelming, and I hope they will reflect on the role they want to play in the Central African Republic and their responsibilities as a permanent member of this council.

Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Anna Evstigneeva countered that Russian instructors are successfully enhancing the professional expertise of the Central African security forces without taking part in military actions against illegal armed groups.

She said there are constant dubious attempts to discredit them without any evidence, especially in the U.S. and French media which use anonymous sources.

This looks more like an anti-Russian political hit job, Evstigneeva said.

As for the unfounded allegations coming from the US, theyre not done by chance, she said. Our colleagues seem to see Russian instructors or mercenaries everywhere."
The White House and a bipartisan group of senators struck a tentative deal on Wednesday for the framework of a roughly $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, Senate aides familiar with the negotiations told Axios.

What's next: The Senate group will brief President Biden at the White House on Thursday, though some details still need to be ironed out, the aides said.

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The tentative agreement comes after a series of meetings on Capitol Hill this week between the Senate group and White House Counselor Steve Ricchetti, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and Legislative Affairs Director Louisa Terrell.

By the numbers:

$1.2 trillion over eight years, or $974 billion over five years

$559 billion in new spending

Package is fully paid-for

What they're saying: White House senior staff had two productive meetings today with the bipartisan group of senators who have been negotiating about infrastructure, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The group made progress toward an outline of a potential agreement, and the president has invited the group to come to the White House (Thursday) to discuss this in-person.

" Theres a framework of agreement on a bipartisan infrastructure package, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters as she left the meeting Wednesday night.

"Republicans and Democrats have come together along with the White House, weve agreed on the framework and we're going to be heading to the White tomorrow," Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told CNN's Manu Raju.

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A French amateur codebreaker claims to have done what police and other investigators could not: Solve the remaining Zodiac Killer ciphers, including one that supposedly reveals the California killers identity  but the internet has rejected his proposed solutions.

Faycal Ziraoui, 38, a French-Morrocan business consultant, said he spent two weeks on the puzzles, after which he believed he had solved them. He shared his findings with the Reddit sub-thread devoted to the quest of solving the ciphers, according to reports.

Moderators of the 50,000-member subreddit removed the post in question because it was "too short" and the puzzle "is not solvable at all without more information from the author."

"Basically, any proposed solution to the Z13 amounts to straight up guesswork, with no way to confirm it at all," an explanation posted to the subreddit said.

Someone on zodiackillersite.com denounced the solution, citing the length of time as reason enough to doubt Ziraoui, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Ziraoui took up code-breaking as a hobby during the pandemic and after an article was published in a French magazine in December 2020 that sparked his interest in the killers puzzles.

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The puzzle has captured the public imagination since the initial killings in California in the late '60s: The first cipher was solved shortly after police received it in 1969, but some of the later puzzles took years  even decades  to solve, if anyone solved them at all.

Ziraoui used the same key used to solve a 340-character cipher last year and applied it to the remaining puzzles. His approach opened up an opportunity for more creative approaches in the following stages.

He quickly grew obsessed with solving the puzzle.

NEW MEXICO SUSPECT ACCUSED OF DECAPITATING VICTIM AFTER RECENT RELEASE FROM JAIL: THEY LET A MONSTER OUT

Story continues

"I was obsessed with it, 24 hours a day, thats all I could think about," Ziraoui told The New York Times.

He deciphered the longer puzzle of 32 characters, which claimed to hold the location of a bomb in a school set to detonate in 1970, as "LABOR DAY FIND 45.069 NORT 58.719 WEST," coordinates that use the magnetic field rather than geographic locators.

Ziraoui then applied his work to the final cipher, which he said he solved in an hour. He found the name "KAYR," which he thought resembled the last name of Lawrence Kaye, a suspect in the case who lived in South Lake Tahoe.

TELEVANGELIST JIM BAKKER TO PAY $156,000 IN RESTITUTION FOR FAKE COVID-19 CURE

The coordinates locate a school in South Lake Tahoe, as well.

Ziraoui found that the typo was common to the killers other messages, and he thought the results were too much to be coincidence.

Other codebreakers remain divided over Ziraouis work: David Naccache, a professor at Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris and a cryptographer, believes that Ziraouis solution is sound, while Remi Geraud, also from the Ecole Normale Superieure, argued that the Ziraoui made arbitrary choices.

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As Kaye died in 2010, it is impossible to confirm whether Ziraouis work is correct until other codebreakers attempt his solution, but five months after posting the solution, Ziraoui retreated from the online community that rejected him.
Support an elected school board

There are two things people prefer not to speak about in pleasant company, religion and politics. However these two topics  your relationship with Jesus Christ, and the way you are governed  are perhaps the two most important aspects of any persons life. Both reflect your world view.

In their letters to the editor dated June 4 and June 22, Samantha Citty & Bev Jordan suggested that we keep politics out of schools. However, politics (world views) are already being taught in schools. Regardless of what you believe, issues like critical race theory, school resource officers, LGBT rights, masks, immunizations, and many more social issues are currently being taught and addressed in the school system.

It is the parents, and communities, responsibility to ensure that the way these issues are taught and addressed align with the beliefs of the communities. Under the current process of an appointed school board, there is no accountability for any school board member  thus removing the ability to meet that responsibility. Under an elected school board, the community is introduced to potential school board candidates, their views can be shared openly, debated, discussed, voted on, and ultimately the community can hold their elected representative accountable.
NHK has learned that Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his family are expected to move into the residence at the Imperial Palace as early as mid-September.

Refurbishment work on the Imperial residence is underway after the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita moved out of it into a temporary residence in March last year. The move is a step toward swapping residences following the Imperial succession.

Sources have told NHK that notice on bidding for the moving work for the Emperor and his family was given in the government's gazette on Wednesday. The refurbishment work will be completed at the end of this month.

The sources say a contractor will be chosen as early as mid-August, and the moving work will start after the Tokyo Paralympic Games end on September 5.

It will be carried out while the Imperial family are staying at a villa outside Tokyo, and will take about 10 days.

It will be the first time in a year and half that the Imperial family will be living at the Palace.

Renovation work will start on the current residence of the Emperor and his family on Akasaka Estate after they leave, with more barrier-free structures such as elevators to be installed. The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita will move in after the work is completed in four or five months.

The Akasaka residence is where the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita spent about 30 years after their marriage.
Police in Fukuoka city have arrested a 20-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of attempted murder after he stabbed five family members at their home.

According to police, Jukiya Iwasaki went on a stabbing rampage after a family dispute at their municipal apartment complex in Hakata Ward at around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Fuji TV reported. A neighbor heard screams and called 110.

Iwasakis 42-year-old mother was the most seriously injured after being slashed in the head. Police said Iwasakis teenage sister, grandmother, 64, uncle, 35, and a female relative, 40, also sustained knife wounds. The victims were all taken to hospital but their wounds are not life-threatening.

Following the attack, police found Iwasaki near the crime scene with visible injuries on both arms. After his arrest, he was quoted by police as saying he doesnt remember what happened.
Hokkaido Prefectural Police have arrested a 20-year-old woman for allegedly abusing confining 2-year-old son in a closet before he died, reports Nippon News Network

Over a roughly 30-minute period starting at 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Aika Matsuba allegedly shut the boy, Reia, into the closet inside their residence in Sapporo Citys Kita Ward.

The boy was later rushed to a hospital in a state of cardiac arrest. His vital signs returned temporarily, but he was confirmed dead on Wednesday, police said.

Aika Matsuba (Twitter)

Police later arrested Matsuba on suspicion of confinement. I did it for discipline, she told police before her arrest.

An examination of the body of the boy showed no signs of injuries.

In addition to using the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death, police will investigate whether the boy was regularly abused.
He insisted that the two items would be done in tandem and that he would not sign the bipartisan deal without the other, bigger piece. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and progressive members of Congress declared they would hold to the same approach.

There aint going to be a bipartisan bill without a reconciliation bill, Pelosi said.

Claiming a major victory five months into his presidency, Biden said, This reminds me of the days when we used to get an awful lot done up in the United States Congress." Biden, a former Delaware senator, said that as he put his hand on the shoulder of a stoic-looking Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio as the president made a surprise appearance with a bipartisan group of senators to announce the deal outside the White House.

But the next steps are not likely to be nearly so smooth.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell complained that Biden was caving to Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers plan to hold the bipartisan agreement hostage for the presidents bigger package of what he called wasteful spending.

Thats not the way to show youre serious about getting a bipartisan outcome, McConnell said.
The State of Iowa will invest $7 million in a Childcare and Early Learning Exploratory Project administered by Council Bluffs Community School District, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced during a press conference Wednesday morning.

Workforce readiness is widely agreed to be a key issue right now in Iowa, Reynolds said. But long before students can learn job skills, they must be ready to start kindergarten and succeed in school. The Council Bluffs childcare and early learning program can help with that.

It will prepare them to approach their education with confidence, she said.

We are so fortunate to have the confidence of Governor Reynolds as we prepare to partner with our Iowa Department of Education to expand preschool opportunities, including in-school childcare for infants and toddlers, in the Council Bluffs Community School District, Superintendent Vickie Murillo said during the governors press conference.

Part of the money will go toward construction of a $15 million Early Learning Center at North Eighth Street and Avenue G on the site of the former Tinley School building, which most recently housed Kanesville Alternative Learning Center. The building was vacated in January 2017 because of a faulty boiler and other mechanical problems and torn down in September 2020.
DES MOINES  Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she is confident in her decision to appeal a recent court ruling that struck down a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have an abortion, despite myriad recent state court rulings that have nullified similar legislation.

An Iowa judge this week blocked a state law that would have imposed the 24-hour waiting period. Reynolds appeal puts the case on track for the Iowa Supreme Court.

I absolutely dont agree with the decision and thats what the process is for, Reynolds said Wednesday during a news conference at the Iowa Capitol. Certainly well be appealing that decision and were pretty confident that we can get the outcome that were looking for.

The Iowa Supreme Court in recent years has struck down multiple abortion restriction laws, including a 2018 ruling that struck down a 72-hour waiting period.

Since that ruling, Reynolds has appointed four justices to the Iowa Supreme Court.
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Short of votes to adopt a U.S. House-passed version, U.S. Senate Democrats had accepted changes that would have eliminated provisions dealing with public campaign financing and state voter identification laws but would have preserved other parts expanding early voting, making it easier to vote by mail, designating Election Day as a federal holiday, toughening ethics rules and ending partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts. Despite those changes, the effort stalled under Senate filibuster rules.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she opposed the election bill because it showed Democrats were ignoring the needs of families by pushing legislation that put the priority on Washington politicians by attempting to centralize power, politicize the Federal Elections Commission, mandate unlimited ballot harvesting and force taxpayers to fund campaigns. She said her experience as a county commissioner of elections reinforced her trust in state and local officials more than the federal government.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, issued a statement calling the Democrats measure more about sending power to Washington than stopping voter suppression.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that a Guatemalan mother who fled her home country and Nebraska to escape abusive men can keep her children.
Larsen-Dockray is an animation and media artist, educator and occasionally an adjunct faculty member at her alma mater, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Although she graduated from graduate from CalArts, she attended UNL for two years and grew up in Nebraska.

For me, I have a personal connection to it (the class) because I was the little girl in Scottsbluff in the middle of nowhere and wanted to be an artist but had no idea necessarily what that looked like, Larsen-Dockray said. I think thats why I do this is for kids who maybe were like me and were interested in this, but just dont know anybody or know where to start.

She hopes to provide students not just information, but exposure to the practice, meeting people who do animation. She hopes that they gain connections to people they can email with questions, which she wouldve appreciated while she was in school.

Larsen-Dockray co-founded Calibraska Arts Initiative in 2013. The summer program brings classes to anyone interested in learning about animation, focusing on California and Nebraska, but branching out to people from any state.

This weeks classes have students Zooming in from Los Angeles, Alabama and Virginia.
Agriculture producers and company representatives came together at the West Central Research and Extension Center Thursday for a Summer Field Day Event.

The purpose of the event was to give Testing Ag Performance Solutions program participants an opportunity to learn more about sensors, crop diagnostic analysis and marketing insights. The event also featured Agronomic Olympics that tested producers on their knowledge and ability to identify various weeds, as well as other subjects.

Daran Rudnick, irrigation/water management specialist, said the workshop is an informative and fun event.

Its an event where we have our sponsors, our partners, our growers, all coming together, Rudnick said. Todays event, we really wanted to highlight technology that they could use in managing, both here as part of the competition, as well as their own operation.

The TAPS program is a farm management competition where the growers are able to compete and make different agronomic decisions as well as marketing decisions.

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To make it a little bit fun, were blending in Ag Olympics, Rudnick said. Basically, what were doing here is weed identification and each grower has to identify the weeds (on display).
After his ouster, Morgan became a familiar face on cable television, fiercely defending Trump's border policies and getting back in the president's good graces before Trump brought him back to the administration. As acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Morgan appointed Scott to lead the Border Patrol.

The head of the Border Patrol leads an agency of nearly 20,000 agents, is appointed by the CBP commissioner and not subject to Senate confirmation. In April, Biden nominated Chris Magnus, the police chief of Tucson, Arizona, to lead the Border Patrol's parent agency.

Scott, who spent much of his career in San Diego, became an agent in 1992 when San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona, where thousands have died in the heat.

San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scotts belief that barriers work.

It wasnt, Do it in San Diego and stop, he told The Associated Press in a 2019 interview. It was, 'Lets prove what works and then lets copy it on the southwest border so we can improve security for the whole United States.
Harris will arrive in the area just days before former President Donald Trump is to visit the border with a group of House Republicans and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Trump is certain to use the opportunity to drive Republican attacks on Democrats as soft on immigration.

The border issue shadowed Harris first foreign trip earlier this month, to Guatemala and Mexico, where she met with both nations presidents and local officials to discuss economic and humanitarian solutions to the significant outmigration from both countries.

During that trip, she sat for an interview with NBC News in which she dismissed a question about why she hadn't made a trip to the border by responding, I've never been to Europe, and adding, I don't understand the point you're making. Harris and White House aides were subsequently forced to parry repeated questions about the decision and her remarks.

Harris said she was focused on tangible results as opposed to grand gestures," but she also said she might visit in the near future.

She has noted that as a senator from California, she has visited the border in the past, and she has asserted that unless the root causes of migration are addressed the situation there will never be fixed.
The Legislature wisely spent most of the excess tax dollars for one-time transfers instead of increasing annual programs that must be sustained: $396 million was transferred to the Legislatures cash reserve fund, bringing the total to $808 million. We increased funds to the property tax relief fund by $63 million, a total of $313 million by 2023. Revenue growth was decreased by $467 million from the expected impact of the newly created property tax credit. We transferred $115 million to address prison overcrowding.

We passed income tax cuts of $95 million, which are estimated to increase by $284 million over the next budget cycle. I supported the two largest cuts: elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits and on military retirement benefits. I did not support the future $26 million reduction in corporate income taxes. I was not given a good reason why a state with the second lowest unemployment rate needed to cut corporate taxes. Some entity or person must pay taxes to pay for needed public services. When we are collecting excess revenues, I prefer to cut taxes on individuals as the better economic policy. At the moment we are not in need of more urban jobs, but we do need to increase workforce participants to fill existing jobs. There is no better way to encourage people to live and work in Nebraska than to offer them a lower tax burden.
Writer Beer & Society

There is nothing that cannot be discussed and worked out over a beer. Join me as I explore local beer, breweries and how they can civilize us.
A makeshift COVID facility at a sports stadium in New Delhi, where the Delta variant ran rampant. Photo: Getty Images

The COVID picture in America has vastly improved from where it was a short time ago. But there are two troubling trends to reckon with: a marked slowdown in vaccinations and the rise of the Delta variant. I spoke with New York editor-at-large David Wallace-Wells about what to expect in the near future.

Ben: The Delta variant of COVID-19 that swamped India is picking up steam in the U.S., as predicted: It accounts for about one in five cases now, could be the dominant strain in a matter of two or three weeks. And experts have said that it is significantly more transmissible than previous variants. With about two-thirds of American adults having received at least one vaccine shot  but with new vaccinations slowing  how much havoc do you think this could wreak in the coming months?

David: Certainly some. But in two profound ways, the variant, while scary, isnt quite the nightmare development it may sound like. The first is that vaccines  especially the two-dose mRNA vaccines  remain very effective against it, essentially as effective as they are against the earliest strains of the disease. And the second is that, while Delta does appear significantly more transmissible, it is much less clear that it is any more dangerous to those who do get infected. The picture there is a bit murky, since some studies have shown perhaps a doubling of hospitalization risk, but hospitalization rates are complicated by other factors (availability of beds, for instance).

But the crudest metric of severity, case-fatality rate, appears notably lower than for earlier variants  at least in the U.K., where Delta is now not just the dominant strain but has in fact crowded out all the others, accounting for 99 percent of new cases. The low fatality rate there may reflect the countrys vaccination patterns, where the older and more vulnerable are much likelier to have been vaccinated, but it is nevertheless modestly reassuring.

Ben: So basically, for vaccinated people, theres no real reason to worry at this juncture? (I myself got the Johnson & Johnson vaxx and have been wondering whether I might need a second mRNA dose to protect me from Delta.)

David: The single-shot vaccines do appear to be somewhat less effective against Delta than the other variants, but still pretty effective by conventional standards. Much more worrying are those who havent been vaccinated at all  of whom there are still really quite a lot, probably 40 percent or more of American adults.

Ben: Isnt it at 66 percent?

David: Different databases count in different ways, but according to the CDC, 56 percent of Americans over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated; 66 percent have had one shot.

And the differences between those categories are real. According to the U.K. data we have, a single shot is only 31 percent effective against symptomatic disease from Delta (compared with 49 percent effective against other variants). A second shot elevates that effectiveness to 80 percent (against other strains, two shots offer 88 percent protection against symptomatic disease).

In terms of hospitalizations, a single shot offers 75 percent protection (versus 78 percent against other strains), and two shots offer 94 percent protection (actually higher than the 92 percent estimated for other strains).

Ben: I was just looking at this AP story out of Missouri, which notes that hospitals are seeing a notably younger cohort in intensive-care units than in previous COVID surges. This was a common observation in India, too. Does that tell us anything much about the virulence of Delta, or is it more a function of the simple fact that fewer older people are being hospitalized because theyre more likely to be vaccinated?

David: I think much more the second. Youre seeing a similar pattern in parts of the country (and the world) where Delta hasnt really taken hold, but vaccines have  leading to a fair number of alarming headlines about hospitalization rates rising among the young, when what is really meant is that hospitalization ratios are rising.

Ben: Most of the rest of the world is not nearly as vaccinated as the United States. Is Delta the biggest threat facing, say, African countries that are now seeing the beginning of the kind of surges people have been fearing?

David: Its the most transmissible strain weve seen so far, for sure, which means any place without large-scale immunity, from either infection or vaccination, should absolutely worry. At the moment, though, the biggest outbreaks are concentrated not in Africa but in South America, it seems, where the pandemic has been raging for almost the full year.

Just in Colombia, for instance, 50 percent more people have died in the last week than in all of Africa. To some degree, that may be a reflection of data collection, testing, and measurement. But its hard to believe those account for all the difference, or even close to it.

Ben: How worried are you that the sluggish pace of vaccination in many countries where the pandemic is still raging leaves time and space for the pandemic to mutate into variants that may be better at evading the vaccines we have? Is there any kind of scientific consensus on the likelihood of that happening?

David: My own sense is that hardly anyone feels comfortable putting anything like real numbers on that risk. Most experts believe it is possible, and obviously a concern, and a strong argument for a faster vaccine rollout  perhaps, most especially, for extending much more support from countries like the U.S. to those much earlier on in their rollouts. But most seem much more worried about the humanitarian toll in unvaccinated places from current variants, at least for the time being. And personally, Ive been encouraged at how well the vaccines have worked against the variants so far. Its not something you want to have to count on, but things are holding up pretty well so far.
Progressives may pine for Bill de Blasio soon enough. Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux

For the left, primary night delivered the definition of a mixed verdict. Eric Adams, a former police captain, dominated the Democratic mayoral field on a law-and-order message, unabashedly rejecting the defund the police movement and embracing various progressive bogeymen, such as real-estate developers and charter-school patrons. The next city comptroller is likely to be Brad Lander, who prominently featured his Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsement in TV ads. Joining Lander will be Jumaane Williams, who breezed to re-election as public advocate. Bringing up the rear is a City Council that will be shifted hard to the left.

So if Adams is able to win through subsequent ranked-choice rounds, then New York City could be entering its most politically volatile period in decades.

On Election Night, he spoke about his affinity for David Dinkins, New Yorks first Black mayor  Adams is on track to be our second  but he campaigned more like a revanchist Rudy Giuliani, maligning one rival as a fraud and a liar and warning, without evidence or logic, that his opponents were engaging in voter suppression. As mayor, Adams would be able to wield his coalition of big real estate and organized labor against progressive activists and politicians the way Andrew Cuomo has. He will possess a reliable base of working-class Black and Latino voters. Unafraid of leaping into scrums and settling scores, he will, like Cuomo, emerge as an opponent the left dreads: powerful, cunning, and relentless. He is the kind of man who will, as promised, carry a gun on him when he walks through City Hall.

But it is not all gloom and doom for the ascendant left, whether its the Working Families Party, the Democratic Socialists of America, or the attendant activist groups. If the results hold, New Yorks Democrats will be riven as never before (at least in recent history), with the moderate Adams pitted against politicians who do take their cues from AOC. Lander is an old ally of the WFP and seemed to easily best Corey Johnson, the more moderate City Council speaker, in a primary that saw Johnson consolidate the endorsements of organized labor to little effect.

Williams ran a DSA- and WFP-backed campaign for lieutenant governor in 2018 and might be the broader lefts most popular elected official outside of AOC. Like Adams, he is Black and has a political base in Flatbush, not far from Adamss Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights. He is one of the few politicians in New York (or anywhere) who has managed to unite white progressives and Black moderates; if he runs for mayor one day, he will be formidable.

It is easy to see both Lander and Williams, press-savvy pols with large social-media followings and proudly left-wing politics, emerging as able foils in the Adams era, teaming up for policy reports and outflanking the new mayor in the newspapers, on TV, and online. They will probably not be alone: City Council, where nearly 40 new members will take office next year, is expected to feature at least two DSA members and many Democrats with views that are at minimum DSA-adjacent. There will be a faction of furious, outer-borough moderates too  NIMBY demagogues like Bob Holden and Tony Avella should make plenty of noise  and this council might be the most fractious and unwieldy New York has ever seen.

All of this makes for a dynamic radically different from the last time there was such turnover in the five boroughs: 2013. Back then, Bill de Blasio rode to power as a popular progressive with a biracial family and was fawned over as an antidote to Michael Bloombergs 12 years of oligarch-like rule. De Blasio, of course, would become deeply disliked across swaths of the city, especially in white neighborhoods, but it is easy to forget how compelling his victory once was and how his mandate was perceived within government. De Blasio was able, in effect, to pick the speaker of the City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito, and enjoy a brief period of comity with the other citywide elected officials of the time, such as Comptroller Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia James. All of them were center-left Democrats who did not differ much in ideology. James even sang de Blasios name, literally, at one campaign stop.

That era is long gone  Jumaane Williams will never sing for Adams. AOC has the Twitter perch to flay the new mayor as much as anyone, if she so chooses. In 2013, the idea of admitted socialists winning office was laughable. Now they are serving in city, state, and federal offices. Adams can argue he is speaking for the true New York, the blue-collar outer boroughs. While he once told me he would be a mayor for everyone, socialists and communists, deep down Adams knows he has a base to tend to and that everyone else will only mean so much.

All of this could lead to open warfare. Adams is emboldened, rightfully so. He will interpret his win as a mandate and act accordingly. The left, in its own down-ballot triumphs, will find every reason to fight back and frustrate whatever it is Adams has planned, such as expanding charter schools or boosting stop and frisk.

The question looming over all of this is what kind of mayor will Adams be. His proposed agenda, so far, is quite thin, and he spent most of the election railing against rising crime. That is one part of being mayor but not all of it. As he enthusiastically fundraised from the powerful industry, Adams once said he was real estate. If he pursues development in the style of Bloomberg  luxury towers in working-class neighborhoods, downzoning in leafy enclaves  and attempts aggressive rent hikes on stabilized apartments, he will meet far more opposition than Bloomberg ever did. The last Republican mayor had his billions to muzzle or outright ignore the unruly masses. Adams will not be so lucky.

These ideological tensions are inevitable in a one-party town but will come to a head soon. In the 1990s, the left was demoralized, as the old liberal labor unions sold out to Giuliani, who once seemed invincible. Bloombergs 2000s neutered the left and turned enough Democrats into acolytes of his top-down technocracy. De Blasios 2010s swung the city leftward, but by todays standards, his brand is rather tepid: Hes the kind of liberal who will speak at AIPAC conferences and flack for the NYPD as it beats down Black Lives Matters protesters.

The 2020s will offer something new: a clarifying struggle between two factions with distinctly different ideas about how to govern Americas largest city. The likely next mayor will not be shy about picking sides.
5 items in this article 1 item on sale! Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photo: Yudai Kanayama

Everyone knows that person who spends weeks sniffing around travel blogs, going deep down into TripAdvisor rabbit holes, collecting Google docs from friends of friends, and creating A Beautiful Mindstyle spreadsheets to come up with the best vacations and itineraries possible. In this recurring series, we find those people whove done all the work for you, and have them walk us through a particularly wonderful, especially well-thought-out vacation they took, that you can actually steal.

In 2017, I was doing fashion stuff on the side of the restaurant business  basically finding whats new and trendy in New York and reporting that information to this Japanese fashion brand called BEAMS. At Makers Market, a flea market in Greenpoint, I met Bryan Norris, who is a local in Lancaster, Pennsylvania , and makes beautiful leather goods with the Amish people. I didnt know anything about the Amish, but fell in love with what they made. Bryan liked my passion, and invited me to the town. I went to visit the week after. And after that, I began to go often  sometimes twice a month, always for two nights and three days. The Amish have to have a slow life, which means they can focus on making beautiful things that last forever. After a few months [of visiting], I collected enough items to have an exhibition in Osaka in 2019 to introduce people to what theyre doing, their way of life. It was called Plain Peoples Meeting: Unfashion Week. Plain is a word thats really important to me, and Amish people. They always say, You look plain. It sounds very negative in our world, because it means you look boring. But to them, its one of the best ways you could praise people, and I agree.

Day 1 Book a hotel, or stay with Bryan I always stay with Bryan when I go, and he says he will host people and give them a tour of all the places the Amish make their crafts (contact via @foragerco, on Instagram.) His apartment is beautiful  really simple and sophisticated. I love his aesthetic so much. He must be heavily inspired by Amish. Lancaster Arts Hotel Price Varies at Booking.com Buy 8 a.m.: Stop for antiques on the way We always rent a car on Friday and drive, its a four-and-a-half-hour drive , and any type of car is fine. Me and my wife love antiques and vintage stuff, we used to sell at a Brooklyn flea market. On the way to Lancaster, we stop in Adamstown, in Pennsylvania, which has a lot of antique stores on and off North Reading Street. Mad Hatter Antique Mall (61 Willow St.) is one. But really just go inside any antique store in Adamstown  its known as the antique capital. The design period is mostly really old stuff, late 1800s, early 1900s, and you can find a lot of quilts, because the Amish make a lot of quilts. We like textiles, and always try to find these beautiful Amish quilts made in the late 1800s and early 1900s. 12 p.m.: Grab a slice at the Fridge My friend takes me to restaurants in town, always the same places. Theres a pizza restaurant thats delicious called The Fridge (534 N. Mulberry St.). I think the food there is better than a lot of places in New York City  they serve lots of local craft beers and delicious thin-crust pizza.

Day 2 7 a.m.: Get Amish-made jam and goat-milk soap at the farmers market The first time I went, Bryan took me to one of the oldest farmers markets in the country, Central Lancaster Market (23 N. Market St.), which is open on Fridays and Saturdays. The Amish vendors come on buggies. They make the most delicious jam Ive ever tried, and they sell beautiful soap made out of goat milk. Now, every time I go, the farmers market in Lancaster is where I start my Saturday morning, usually with yogurt and jam. 9 a.m.: Pick up an espresso nearby I always go to Passenger Coffee (131 N. Plum St.), which is near the farmers market. Its not Amish, but it is obviously Amish-inspired: beautiful, sophisticated, simple, and they make delicious coffee. 12 p.m.: Book a tour of Intercourse The Amish community lives in a town called Intercourse. You can drive around the farm, but theres no light, the GPS doesnt always work, and the roads all look similar, so you can easily get lost. You dont want to drive around after 5 p.m. But they start early, by 6 a.m., theyre outside cleaning, cleaning, cleaning with the brooms that they make. You can also take a guided tour through the farmland on a buggy (AAA Buggy Rides, $18 per person). 2 p.m.: Buy a leather flyswatter in town On Main Street they make the harnesses for the horses and buggies. And they also have a leather shop called the Village Harness Shop (3578 Newport Rd.), where they sell beautiful bags. This is the place I always go. My favorite item I ever found here was a leather flyswatter for about five bucks. It is beautiful, and the top part thats made out of leather bends well  it lets me kill flies in the air. And its just so simple and sophisticated. 6 p.m.: Order the potato soup at Katies Katies Kitchen (200 Hartman Bridge Rd.), just outside Lancaster, has delicious potato soup ($3)  an Amish thing  and a big menu. Its a 1970s-era restaurant thats now Amish-operated and serves classic Pennsylvania Dutch food like ham loaf served with pineapple glaze ($10), and a pork-and-sauerkraut dinner platter with applesauce ($10). The staff is very friendly.

Day 3 10 a.m.: Shop for quilts and heavy machinery at a mud sale My very favorite experience is to go to a mud sale. Theyre auctions that take place in a field, and happen almost every weekend from March to August  in different locations, but always on mud. You can find everything from a tractor trailer to a beautiful Amish-made quilt. You can arrive at any time of the day and join in from there, because they go on all day long. 2 p.m.: Watch the sport of ekball The Amish have a traditional sport called ekball, where 200 kids watch four players in the center, who are throwing a very hard leather ball that they made at each other. They have these acrobatic movements where they try not to get hit, they spin and make all these sounds, beautiful screaming. It was fascinating. You dont understand how anyone can play on such a muddy field, but theyre playing morning to night at the farm, switching players  once you get hit, I guess, you go to the outside. 5 p.m.: Leave town around sundown We leave on Sunday night when the farm gets dark, and do some antique treasure hunting on the way back. Especially the Renningers Antique Market (2500 N. Reading Rd.), which happens on Sundays. At this point, you should be a master of finding minimal and simple and sophisticated plain goods. Then get home late, around 11 p.m. Going to the Amish community, seeing how they live, then coming back to New York City again, I open the door of my house and think, What should I throw away in my house? Always, you come back plain: sophisticated, simple, and beautiful.

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(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden headed to North Carolina to encourage more Americans to get vaccinated as the delta coronavirus variant spreads across the world. In the U.S., Colorado officials blamed the variant, first detected in India, for an outbreak in the western part of the state.

The leaders of Germany and France criticized Greece and other tourism-dependent nations for freely accepting visitors who got Chinese and Russian vaccines, giving them access to travel across European Union national borders.

Israel, an early pioneer in vaccination, is delaying its reopening for tourists and is poised to reverse an easing of mask rules after a surge in cases linked to delta.

Key Developments:

Global Tracker: Cases exceed 179.7 million; deaths pass 3.89 millionVaccine Tracker: More than 2.71 billion doses administeredTamiflu-like drugs face long odds against Covid runaway trainTop U.S. health officials tout vaccines after reports of heart risksSouth African town cuts itself off as residents agree to isolateCan I be required to get vaccinated against Covid-19?: QuickTake

Kentucky Tries $1,500 Back-to-Work Bonus (4:30 p.m. NY)

Kentucky will offer 15,000 unemployed workers $1,500 bonuses for taking full-time jobs in a back-to-work gambit presented by Governor Andy Beshear on Thursday.

The bonuses would be first-come, first-served for workers who get jobs between June 24 and July 30 and complete at least 120 hours of work in their first four weeks on the job. The program will cost the state $22.5 million.

Biden in North Carolina to Promote Vaccination (4 p.m. NY)

President Joe Biden traveled to North Carolina to encourage vaccinations, which are falling short of his goal of getting 70% of U.S. adults a first Covid-19 shot by the July 4 holiday.

Biden plans to visit a mobile vaccination unit in Raleigh, North Carolina, and deliver remarks on the importance of getting vaccinated.

Across the U.S., 65.7% of adults have received at least one vaccine dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It will take a few more weeks past Bidens target date for 70% to get at least one shot, Jeffrey Zients, Bidens Covid-19 coordinator, said Tuesday.

Story continues

Merkel, Macron Scold Greece for Lax Rules (3:13 p.m. NY)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Greece and other tourism-dependent countries for freely accepting visitors inoculated with less-effective Chinese and Russian vaccines, signaling the possibility of curbs on travel ahead of the peak tourist season.

During a closed-door meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels, Merkel said Thursday that EU countries such as Greece welcome travelers who got the Sputnik shot, even though it hasnt been approved by the EU regulators and its unclear whether it works against the more dangerous delta variant. These visitors can then freely move within the EUs free-travel zone, Merkel told her colleagues, according to officials familiar with the conversation.

Its another sign of alarm in Berlin and other EU capitals over the spread of more-contagious virus mutations as some EU nations rush to restart tourism.

U.K.s Limited Quarantine Easing Draws Criticism (3:10 p.m. NY)

The U.K. added Spains Balearic islands and Malta to its quarantine-free travel list and said rules will be relaxed for more countries in the summer for people who are fully vaccinated.

The shift is a boost for airlines and travel industry ahead of the school holidays which begin in July. Bermuda, Madeira, and a number of Caribbean destinations were also added to the list.

EasyJet Plc criticized the relaxation as too cautious, saying this is still not the safe and sustainable reopening of travel that Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government promised. This limited reopening is not justified by the data, the airline said in a statement.

Brazil Gets 3 Million Doses From U.S. (2:30 p.m. NY)

Brazil will receive 3 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines promised by the U.S. on Friday morning, State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter told reporters.

The shipment is part of 88 million doses the U.S. has said it will send abroad, she said.

Brazil has recorded more than 18 million cases and some 507,000 deaths, the second-biggest toll after the U.S.

Venezuela Receives Cuban-Made Vaccine (2 p.m. NY)

Venezuelan received its first doses of Cubas Abdala vaccine, according to state television.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was among officials welcoming the shipment at the Caracas international airport. Venezuela expects to receive 12 million doses of the Cuban vaccine over the next few months, he said.

Romania to Destroy Doses as Interest Wanes (11:45 a.m. NY)

Romania will have to destroy about 35,000 doses of AstraZenecas vaccine that expire on June 30 because of little interest from citizens to get the shot. The country has vaccinated about 25% of its population.

Authorities also decided to close 45 vaccination centers because of low interest, though they are also trying to boost the number of mobile centers so they can reach rural residents, according to Valeriu Gheorghita, who runs the governments vaccination task force.

Delta Variant Rages in Colorado (11:35 a.m. NY)

The delta variant first identified in India is raging in rural western Colorado, which was largely spared in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, a state official said. The proportion of Colorado cases due to the delta variant is estimated to be greater than 50%, Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, said in a statement issued by the state emergency operations center.

We are taking extra precautions and turning to the CDC for additional support to make sure we know how and why the delta variant is spreading, Herlihy said.

Masks Back in Israel, Off in Hungary (5:42 p.m. HK)

Israelis can expect to start donning masks again and the country has put off the reopening of its borders to foreign tourists, after its bid to return to a post-Covid normal was hobbled by a surge in infections linked to the highly transmissible delta variant.

New cases were down to the single digits in mid-June, but this week topped 100 for three days straight. Most of the new cases have been unvaccinated children and people returning from abroad. Some of the sick had been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Hungary, another country which was a vaccination front-runner earlier, is going in the opposite direction. Authorities in the eastern European country will end a requirement to wear masks indoors once 5.5 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, Cabinet Minister Gergely Gulyas said. People will no longer be required to show vaccination certificates in restaurants, hotels and public baths, Gulyas said at a briefing in Budapest. He said Hungary will reach 5.5 million vaccinated by next week.

Spaniards wont need to wear masks outdoors from Saturday.

Singapore to Accelerate Vaccination (5:17 p.m. HK)

Singapore said it plans to give a first Covid-19 vaccine shot to most of its population by July after securing more supplies, flagging the prospect of looser travel and social-distancing rules for inoculated residents.

The government will accelerate vaccinations from June 26 as deliveries have been brought forward, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health on Thursday. The city-state will also open vaccinations to permanent residents and long-term pass holders age 39 years and younger from July 2, and is extending a priority window for Singaporeans in the same age group by an additional week.

Tokyo Cases Creep Up Before Games (4:18 p.m. HK)

Coronavirus cases in Tokyo are creeping up with less than a month to go to the Olympics. The capital found 570 new cases on Thursday versus 452 cases the same time last week. Tokyo came out of a state of emergency to control the virus on Sunday, but still has some restrictions in place, mainly on restaurants and bars.

Delta Prevalence Rises in Italy (4:09 p.m. HK)

The Covid-19 delta variant may account for a quarter of new cases in some parts of Italy, a startlingly rapid rise for the virus mutation, according to a study.

The variant, first detected in India, has led some countries to rethink plans to reopen their economies. As much as 25% of all cases in some Italian regions are linked to the variant, up from just 1% on May 18, daily Corriere della Sera reported Thursday, citing Pietro Forestieri, president of Ceinge-Biotecnologie Avanzate institute in Naples.

Germany Expects Delta to Be Dominant (3:27 p.m. HK)

The more-contagious delta variant will be dominant in Germany within weeks, making it more urgent for people to get vaccinated, Helge Braun, Chancellor Angela Merkels chief of staff, told ARD television.

We want the highest possible level of immunity in the population because that will dictate what our autumn will be like, Braun said. Those who are inoculated wont be subjected to lockdown, but people who choose not to will have to get themselves tested regularly.

Germany has fully vaccinated 33.5% of residents, and more than 52% have received at least one Covid-19 shot, Health Minister Jens Spahn said in a tweet.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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On the subject of Hughes hiring his three children to work for his office for $10 per hour, Ventiere testified that, at the time, she assumed Hughes paid them from his personal account, but later found out that they were being paid with public funds, which Ventiere said was illegal.

Concerning the search warrant for the truck in Chambers County, Ventiere testified that she recalled Hughes returning from the trip to the county very excited, like hed been on an adventure.

[Hughes] was bragging about squealing tires and throwing gravel. There was some comment about someone offering to get him a chicken strip lunch, and they said no, they had to get out of there because the cops were on the way, Ventiere said.

Ventiere testified that former assistant district attorney Taylor-Lee Stokes was hired by Hughes in October 2017, and by January 2018 things began to get different after a training conference in Birmingham several members of the DAs office attended.

I was very concerned just based on observations, interactions I had had with other people in the office that an inappropriate relationship had formed between Taylor-Lee Stokes and Mr. Hughes, Ventiere said. It was a growing problem and an ongoing distraction in the office, and I thought [Hughes] needed to be talked to about it.




"While filming a Star Wars movie seven years ago" Seven years ago?!?!?

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I'm literally having an existential crisis right now 

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That line kicked me and punched me all over and told me to fuck off in 37 languages

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ot: is the ontd layout gone for anyone else?

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not really...

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https://imgur.com/U711CFj this is what I see...

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lol @ Hollywood trying to force a 78 year-old as an action hero. The standards for men are beyond.

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right? this poster boy for geriatry is still hired for action film yet charlize theron is considered too old to reprise her role as furiosa. such bs.

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Lol and meanwhile women are cast as moms of teens as soon as they reach their thirties.



Edited at 2021-06-24 12:45 pm (UTC)

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Meanwhile Charlize can't play Furiosa anymore nor can we actually get an elderly badass the exception being Helen Mirren in the Red franchise?.....



He shouldn't be doing action scenes. But also we should all be thankful Crisp Rat didn't get the role.

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to be fair, they did try to replace him with a younger ver. but it was trashed

Your point still stand though

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Maybe the 78 year old man shouldnt be in action movies in this way anymore??? And for Indiana Jones??? We got it you did it before.

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Isn't it time for him to rest with his millions?

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And the fight he was having?

Trying to put his leather jacket on.

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god. just let him rest

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Disney's really trying to draw blood from every IP stone they have, huh

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how much money did they offer to get him to come back for this, harrison ford always gives off this long-suffering tired grandpa vibes why does he do this to himself



...just occurred to me there could be elder abuse going on if he's not of sound mind anymore. :[

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Girl, this ain't a The Father situation, he's Harrison fucking Ford surrounded by people pretending he can still do shit like Indy. He most likely just overworked his 78 year-old ass, mother time is an unforgiving bitch.

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not gonna argue about the mental state of someone i don't know, it's just something that gives me pause, it happens more often than most people think.

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He loves Indy and its his baby out of his roles. Hes not forced. Hes just sadly getting old.



I kinda dig his no fucks given attitude and the fact hes said more than once over the years that he took a role for a check instead of acting like its all high art.

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A farewell tour where he performs literal character assassination, simultaneously making bank and crushing peoples childhood dreams sounds pretty peak Harrison Ford to me.

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Why are you making a grandpa work so hard?

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I heard that he, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, each got $10 million a movie for the last three Star Wars movies. After he said he didn't want to do them.

I think he really really likes money.

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But why is 78 year old Harrison Ford doing fight scenes???

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But.....Queen Latifah is too old to be doing fight scenes on The Equalizer!

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This is literally like my Nana trying to do an action scene.

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OP, can you fix the link in source 3? I think you meant to link to the variety article. Thanks!

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I hope his mental health is okay :(

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this is a case for the FBI.gif

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I mean not too long ago everyone seemed to be championing him with no ending in sight and now theres all of these ???s



Stan ya man, support ya man, where he at!?!!



*saves Attack The Block in the movies to watch again queue*

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also afaik, he didnt delete any tweets, he just hasnt tweeted this year. i waited for him to post something about the brit crew getting oscar noms and wins this year and nothing on twitter, but always active and celebrating for them on insta



Boyega hasnt been active on Twitter since November 2020. He didnt delete any tweets.



Every time John posted on Twitter, especially regarding Star Wars or BLM, he would face some form of harassment or even death threats



Like many of the new cast, probably enough was enough https://t.co/zfPX0zYc1h  Okiro (@TheFirstOkiro) June 24, 2021



Edited at 2021-06-24 04:17 pm (UTC) leave him tf alone (not directed at op)also afaik, he didnt delete any tweets, he just hasnt tweeted this year. i waited for him to post something about the brit crew getting oscar noms and wins this year and nothing on twitter, but always active and celebrating for them on insta

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Yeah, I really miss him on Twitter. :( he hasn't posted in forever



Edited at 2021-06-24 04:38 pm (UTC)

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same here, at least he was still active on insta until recently. i can understand if he needs space or has been too busy to post anything, i do find it weird his blue tick has been removed, i know twitter has new bs rules where if youre inactive you get it removed so that made me think all the inactive ones on twitter log in every now and again and hes probably deleted the app

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He was pretty vocal about wanting to leave Twitter because he dealt with a lot of abuse from Reylos and SW stans in general, so I think thatd explain his absence. And I cant blame him, Twitter is a really toxic place.

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Hope he's okay. Sounds like he could be going through something.

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hope he's doing okay 

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I was going to use my ONTD Psychology degree to diagnose him but I rather just scroll down wishing him the best and that all these are just rumors.



God bless.

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It doesn't sound suspicious, it sounds concerning :(

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Yeah that's what I was thinking.

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Exactly. Considering how active he was on Insta/Twitter and how he constantly used his platform to uplift others, it sounds like some shite is going down and considering that his parents are not young my first thought was, 'his parents are not okay' or he's taking a break for his own mental health not, 'Oh he's being sus.' Ugh.

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yeah, especially with the family stuff - whatever is going on he absolutely should be doing what's best for himself and his fam rn.

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same, everything i read about this makes me feel like whatever is going on is absolutely none of my business. i hope he's okay

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Considering his history of having a great work ethic, despite shitty scripts and directors, I would assume something is up with his family and people need to leave him alone.

It's amazing how white actors pull unprofessional shite ALL THE TIME: Christian Bale, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, come to mind and people don't feel the need to go 'what's up with xyz?' Ugh.

Your bias is showing.

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I know. Johnny Depp is an entire piece of shit but people will go to the ends of the Earth to defend his stupid ass.

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All day every day. For a piece of human garbage who's never done anything for anyone but himself.

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I just walked passed a store window and couldnt believe companies are still hiring him for perfume ads like wtf



Edited at 2021-06-24 04:47 pm (UTC)

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I think were obligated to refer to him as Wife Beater Johnny Depp, just FYI. No need to let a perfectly good court ruling go to waste

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I mean the "whats up with John" sounds like actual concern because he's an otherwise been a easy going guy?



Christian Bale threw a tantrum and apologized for it, Tom Cruise rides on the fear of Scientology litigation and every (sane) person has commented on Depp's extensive alcohol/drug dependency.

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If that your bias is showing is directed at me, I posted this because everyone has only said good things about working with him and this story seemed weird so I was giving the background.



You wont find me caping for any actors that act like assholes with no contrition. Ive said multiple times I wish Johnny Depp would fall off a cliff lol.

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Tom is a piece of shit but Hollywood will continue to reward him because of a cult

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you ain't wrong sis :(



and neither here nor there i had a nightmare last night that Tom wanted me to be his scientology bride/wife/thing/robot and I was literally running all over a mall trying to escape him and Xenu.

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John definitely has enemies in Hollywood because he's so outspoken. I wouldn't be surprised that folks are intentionally lying on him on subreddit's to discredit his name.



...like trashing the place he lives? He parties, but he doesn't drink and seems like he has good head on his shoulder's, especially coming from a traditional Nigerian family.



People are allowed to dip from the spotlight when they need to.



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These aren't even believable lies.

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Every clip hems posted of his home or wherever hes staying has been immaculate. He doesnt strike me as the type that would trash his living space.

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I'm just worried about him :(

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"the filmmakers only discovered when they looked for him at his hotel and found that he had checked out"



"he trashed the gorgeous house he was living in"



so was he staying in a house or hotel, hmm? All this reads like bs to me.



His tweets weren't deleted, either, and considering the harassment he got, maybe he's just done with twitter.



Maybe what he is going on with him is that he doesn't want to tweet anymore and didn't want to participate in a film he thought was trash while also having family issues (maybe family stuff made it easier to walk away rather than bear it out). And all this is to shift blame onto him.

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Him trashing the house was anonymous gossip on reddit, him leaving the hotel was reported to the Hollywood Reporter. The latter's probably true, the former not so much.

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Yeah the hotel vs house discrepancy has me calling bullshit on any deuxmoi or reddit rumors.

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I feel bad for the people who got let go, and I can easily see a situation where he's going through a tough time and just couldn't do it anymore and had to leave for his own mental health. I hope he's doing better, if that's the case. It's been a really stressful year, and we don't know what's actually happening in his life. It doesn't seem like there's enough details right now to really know what's going on.



But I also feel like the defenses can get a little parasocial relationship-y. You can (and should) criticize the way that people are quick to jump on a Black celebrity "misbehaving" and also not assume you know a random stranger because they were in Star Wars and you watched some interviews, y'know?

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Fair. I can sympathize with the cast or crew who may be angry they're not being paid because he left, but from what we (vaguely, admittedly) know about him, the other poor behavior doesn't seem like him.



Edited at 2021-06-24 04:29 pm (UTC)

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Weve witnessed him be abused by millions of Star Wars fans and right wingers, watched him breakdown (right along side us) during the BLM protests, witnessed him get shafted (like lots of black actors are) by tptb for cheap diversity points at Disney. I dont have to know anything about him beyond those points to see thats hes had a rough time lately. And so I wish him well. If thats para social relationship-y, then so be it.

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He went through so much shit from racist Star Wars fans, I wouldn't be shocked if he was having some kind of breakdown or something. People are brutal to him and he stopped posting to Twitter because people were fucking vile.

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It sucks people are out of a job but the project should have insurance to cover and most should be used to the transitory work of the industry. Especially when its not a series which is steadier but still comes with no guarantees if renewal is up.



To me, I wish when someone acted contrary to how they normally would that instead of deciding they have to be a dick, we went wait are they ok? No matter who they are. Actor or fucking gas station worker.



And this is the only place outside of one SW poster on Twitter that I have seen showing concern over jumping to blame. There are others Im sure. But I could show you a lot of people who are dragging him for filth. i suppose in general people can be extreme with parasocial but I find it tends to happen more with not believing someone is an abuser despite evidence. I havent seen big evidence yet of society giving anyone kindness when someone needs it most. (Waves to Britney)



so, I appreciate those going is he ok? In general or especially after Chadwick.



Cause I remember the Chadwick is on drugs stories.

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exactly! I feel bad for both..

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I love that everyone is thinking of the crew... but I will say this industry is the busiest I've ever seen it.



No one worth their salt is hurting for work and those of us in hiring positions are scrambling to find qualified people to fill positions. Here's hoping this crew gets snapped up quickly.





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yeah its weird to see people - here or elsewhere - confidentially say stuff about how celebrities are good people or hard workers or faithful spouses or whatever.



like how would you know?

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Iran is without doubt one of the wealthiest countries in terms of energy production. Not only does the Middle Eastern country possess the worlds 2nd largest natural gas reserves and 4th largest oil reserves, but its renewables potential is also truly remarkable. As Iran is facing an energy shortage of epic proportions, the government is tapping into its solar and wind potential instead of fossil fuels or nuclear energy. Although there is significant potential, most initiatives have yet to materialize.

Irans renewables capacity is already 12.92 GW according to IRENA. This is mostly hydropower from the countrys extended network of dams in the mountainous and rainy north. Climate change and an extended period of drought, however, have reduced the flow of water into rivers, which has reduced the countrys power production capacity by 50 percent. Hence, the government has been aiming for an additional source of electricity production.

Although Iran possesses some of the worlds largest fossil fuel reserves, rampant air pollution in primarily urban areas has become a serious problem over the years. As numerous other issues regularly stir up the population, the Islamic regime has wisely decided that it doesnt, proverbially, want to add oil to the fire. Therefore, expanding power production with fossil fuels is not a preferred option.

Tehran set itself the goal in its latest five-year plan to develop 5 GW of renewables by 2022. The countrys energy sector hasnt been able to develop most large-scale projects, falling short 80 percent of its goal. There have been successes though. Notably, the installation of small-scale rooftop solar by households and businesses has taken off supported by an established feed-in tariff regime that rewards local production in the sun-scorched country. Politics, however, are the primary culprit for Tehran's failure in its energy goals.

The expansion of the renewables sector is one of the few topics that virtually all Iranian politicians agree on, regardless of religious or political ideology. The recent election of Ebrahim Raisi won't derail the country's ambitions to become a green energy powerhouse. The next government will likely support the renewables sector in its next five-year plan. Especially as the tide could be changing in favor of Irans energy sector.

Although some projects have materialized, such as Merat International Groups 416 MW initiative in Fars province, Irans potential is much larger. The spoiler that derailed Tehrans plan was Trumps unilateral withdrawal of the JCPOA, or Iran nuclear deal, that was followed by reimposition of sanctions. Western companies quickly put their investment plans on hold in fear of being shut out from the U.S. market.

Unexpectedly to the intentions of the previous U.S. administration, Irans energy sector has had some successes. Due to the sanctions, Iranian companies were forced to develop their technology. The local industrial conglomerate Mapna, for example, has become a manufacturer of certain components. It remains to be seen what Tehran intends to do when (potentially) the sanctions are lifted: allow competition or protect its market through tariffs and risk increasing economic costs.

Although the waxing and weaning of sanctions have scared western investors, not all international partners are absent from the Iranian market. Chinese companies are notorious for ignoring U.S. sanctions as Beijing is powerful and single-minded enough to thwart Washington. More recently, China and Iran signed an agreement that could change the balance of power in the Middle East.

After five years of negotiations, which started before Trump became president, Iran and China signed an agreement for strategy and economic partnership for the next 25 years and worth an estimated $400 billion. It includes investments in the renewables sector and energy infrastructure which could become a major boon for the Middle Eastern country.

Tehran, however, prefers a balanced economic relationship to prevent becoming over-reliant on China. Iran prefers to balance its relationship with the Chinese by doing business with the Europeans. Therefore, a lot depends on the ongoing negotiations in Vienna and the willingness of the U.S. to lift sanctions in exchange for Iran curbing its nuclear ambitions.

Regardless of the outcome, expect the Iranian government to pursue its ambitions in the renewables sector. The countrys potential concerning both wind and solar is simply overwhelming to ignore.

By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com

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The U.S. State Department has refuted a statement made by a senior Iranian official that the country had agreed to lift all sanctions on Iran's oil and shipping industry.

"During negotiations of this complexity, negotiators try to draft text that capture the main issues, but again, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed," a State Department spokesman told Reuters.

The statement, made on condition of anonymity, came in response to another one, made by the chief of staff of Iran's President earlier this week.

"An agreement has been reached to remove all insurance, oil and shipping sanctions that were imposed by (former U.S. President Donald) Trump," Mahmoud Vaezi said, as carried by Iranian state media and then quoted by Reuters.

"About 1,040 Trump-era sanctions will be lifted under the agreement. It was also agreed to lift some sanctions on individuals and members of the supreme leader's inner circle," the official added.

Reports of the statement made sure to note that the Western nations participating in the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations were a lot more guarded in their opinions of the talks, noting that there was no final agreement yet.

"We are making progress but there are still some nuts to crack," Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told media this week as the negotiations are on pause for a while.

"Difficult decisions will need to be made in the coming days or weeks if these negotiations were not to move forward," French Junior Foreign Minister Franck Riester said, as quoted by Reuters.

Oil prices have remained relatively unchanged amid this series of contradictory signals about the nuclear deal, possibly reflecting a guarded sentiment among traders, too. While the benchmarks jumped soon after Vaezi's statement, they quickly retreated, even though the EIA served markets another crude oil inventory dropand a sizeable one at that.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Australia has a chance to boost its economy by US$5.6 billion (AUS$7.4 billion) and become a leading player in battery chemistry and technology if it expands its raw materials-focused industry into a diversified sector encompassing the entire battery cell value chain, a new report showed on Thursday.

If Australia, a major provider of critical energy transition metals, builds on its currently mining-focused industry to include raw materials processing and battery manufacturing, it could nearly double the value of the battery industry for its economy and job creation, according to the report prepared by Accenture for the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC).

Currently, Australias battery industry, mainly focused on mining raw materials, is contributing US$985 million (AUS$1.3 billion) to its economy and supports 6,000 jobs. Should Australia stay focused on mining raw materials only, the gross value added for the economy could reach US$3.1 billion (AUS$4.1 billion) in 2030. But if the country diversifies into the downstream battery business, the contribution to the economy would rise to US$5.6 billion at the end of this decade, the report found.

Currently, Australia is the dominant player in the mining of battery materials  with around half the global lithium market and a leading role in other key metals. Beyond this point, China overshadows at almost every point along the chain, according to Accenture.

Global battery demand is expected to grow at least nine times over the next decade, and material for these batteries is already in tight supply even today. And much of the supply currently comes from China. Australia, then, has the opportunity to become the answer to the concerns of Western nations that the battery technology supporting the roll-out of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable electricity generation is predominantly in the hands of China, the report noted.

We are shining a light on the different segments of an industry in which Australia can be a leader, and there is substantial economic value to gain if we capture the opportunity, said Stedman Ellis, CEO of the Future Battery Industries CRC.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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New Mexico has become the first major oil-producing state to see its production rate rebound to pre-pandemic levels, but according to legislative analysts cited by the AP, the situation remains volatile.

The report cited a briefing by the states Legislative Finance Committee, in which the committee reported that oil and gas production in New Mexico had hit a record high in March, at 36 million barrels of oil and 188 trillion cu ft of natural gas.

In further good news for the industry, a consulting company present at the briefing said President Bidens moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands will not have an adverse impact on New Mexicos oil and gas production. The reason is that most of the federal lands previously open to oil and gas leasing are already leased out and producing.

The White House paused new oil and gas leases on federal lands in January, saying it would review the margin for potential changes in the existing regulation for the issuance of oil and gas leases. The news was initially worrying for New Mexico, where most oil and gas production comes from wells on federal lands.

Recently, however, the moratorium was blocked by a Lousiana federal judge with a preliminary injunction. Thirteen states sued the federal government for the ban, including Louisiana, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. On their case, Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court in Monroe ruled earlier this month that the White House had no right to stop leasing federal lands for oil and gas drilling without approval from Congress.

Meanwhile, New Mexico is enjoying some of the lowest breakeven prices for oil in the country, at $26 per barrel of oil for existing wells, the briefing also revealed. This would normally motivate more oil and gas leasing, but the uncertainty hanging over the U.S. oil industry could discourage drillers this time.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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A new optimism is entering the market, with oil prices ending higher on Thursday at what is a nearly 3-year high.

WTI was trading at $73.30, up $0.21 (0.29%) on the day. Brent was trading at $75.55, up $0.36 (+0.48%) on the day at 4:22 p.m. EDT.

The higher prices are welcomed news for the oil markets, and can largely be attributed to falling U.S. inventories, a rosier oil demand outlook, and a statement made by the U.S. government contradicting Irans earlier statement that the U.S. had agreed to lift all sanctions related to Iranian crude oil.

For U.S. shale drillers that have suffered a year-long coronavirus battle that sank oil prices, this is welcome news.

For oil-rich Alberta, too, the higher priceseven if they turn out to be just temporarycould be the lifeline that it needs.

For Alberta, this sharp rise in oil prices can make its budget. In fact, every day that oil prices stay at this level means another $10 million - $15 million to Albertas budget.

We receive a lot of revenues from royalties on oil and gas sales, and when prices are high, that means revenues of oil producers are high and the royalty payments that they make are high, economist Trevor Tombe told the Global News today.

Each dollar change to the price of oil this year is worth $230 million to Albertas bottom line, Tombe added. Alverta has budgeted on $46 oil this year and $56 oil in 2023 and 2024.

Even with the possibility of OPEC easing its production quotas a likely one, oil prices have continued to rise.

Continentals Harold Hamm on Thursday said that $100 sure was possible.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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A man was taken to an Omaha hospital in critical condition Thursday after a shooting in North Omaha.

Omaha police went to 38th Street and Fowler Avenue just before noon Thursday to investigate a shooting. When they arrived, they found 28-year-old Lynell Noble Jr. with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center in critical condition, but police said his injuries were not considered life-threatening.
CABOT, Arkansas (AP)  An Arkansas sheriffs deputy shot and killed a 17-year-old male during a traffic stop early Wednesday, but authorities arent saying what led to the fatal shooting.

The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office said it has turned the investigation of the shooting that occurred at about 3 a.m. over to Arkansas State Police. State police say the circumstances of the traffic stop and what led to the deputy to fire his gun at Hunter Brittain "will be documented in the investigation.

Brittain was driving the truck that was stopped by the deputy, state police said.

The shooting occurred outside an auto repair shop along Arkansas Highway 89 south of Cabot, state police said. Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people, is located about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.

State police said Brittain was from McRae, a city of about 700 located about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) northeast of Cabot.

Later Wednesday, the sheriff's office identified the deputy as Sgt. Michael Davis, who has been with the sheriff's office since 2013.

The sheriff's office says Davis will be on administrative leave pending the outcome of the state police's investigation.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP)  The University of Rhode Island decided not to revoke an honorary degree bestowed upon Michael Flynn, an alumnus who briefly served as President Donald Trumps national security adviser and who has remained an ardent supporter of the former president since his election loss.

URI President David Dooley will not forward a recommendation to the Board of Trustees regarding Flynns honorary degree, a school spokesperson told The Providence Journal.

Dooley had asked the school's honorary degree committee to discuss Flynns honor, bestowed in 2014. The committee sent a recommendation to Dooley for his consideration. That recommendation will not be made public, school spokesperson Linda Acciardo told the newspaper.

The Board supports the presidents decision and no action will be taken at this time, Acciardo said in a statement at the time. He is not forwarding a recommendation to the trustees. The degree stands.

The spokesperson later said June 28 that the board took no position or vote on the honorary degree.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators have reached an agreement to significantly boost infrastructure spending, though considerable hurdles remain before the blueprint unveiled Thursday becomes reality.

The White House says the agreement calls for about $579 billion in new spending over the next five years for roads, bridges, public transit and other public works. Add on what the federal government is currently projected to spend on those items, and the total comes to about $973 billion over five years.

Heres a look at where those dollars would go and what changes lawmakers would make to pay for the new spending.

THE BIGGEST EXPENSES:

The agreement calls for a $109 billion boost for roads and bridges. Its the biggest line item in the plan, but to put that in perspective, the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that the country has a $786 billion backlog of road and bridge capital needs.
The health conditions would include cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Crohn's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and multiple sclerosis, including for those suffering nausea related to hospice care. Doctors would declare in writing that the potential health benefits of cannabis use for a patient outweigh the risks. Recreational use of pot would remain illegal.

Qualifying patients could obtain medical cannabis products for smoking or other uses through 10 suppliers licensed by a new state commission. Each supplier would control production from seedlings to sale, with up to eight medical cannabis centers from which to sell to the public. Suppliers would have to pay 10% of gross revenues monthly to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The measure contains safeguards, such as an online system for cannabis centers and police to check patient registrations. And suppliers would still be subject to cannabis prosecution if found to be driving while high or delivering cannabis to people who aren't registered.

Thirty-six states currently permit cannabis products for medical use, while 18 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation regulate adult use of cannabis, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Come July 1 in Virginia, adult residents can legally possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana for use.
President Joe Biden vowed on Thursday that Afghans who helped the U.S. military are not going to be left behind" as his administration stepped up planning to evacuate thousands of Afghan interpreters while their applications for U.S. entry are processed.

A senior administration official said planning has accelerated in recent days to relocate the Afghans and their families to other countries or U.S. territories while their visa applications are sorted. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the unannounced plans.

The administration intends to carry out the evacuation later this summer, likely in August, before its September deadline to withdraw U.S. forces, according to a second official familiar with the deliberations but not authorized to discuss them publicly.

Both officials added that the administration has not settled on a country or countries for the planned temporary relocation. Evacuating Afghans to a U.S. territory is seen as complicated because it could lead to the visa applicants having greater legal rights as they are vetted. Asked if he had determined where Afghans would be relocated as they await U.S. visas, Biden said he did not know.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Songwriter Diane Warren stepped in Thursday to save the life of cow that eluded capture for more than a day after a herd escaped from a Southern California slaughterhouse and stampeded through a suburb.

The Grammy-winning artist contacted the city of Pico Rivera to arrange to have the cow sent to the Farm Sanctuary north of Los Angeles, Warren and City Manager Steve Carmona said.

Carmona said the City Council had already authorized him to open a dialogue about the cow with the owner of the slaughterhouse when Warren stepped in. He said the transfer was dependent on a state agriculture health check.

Cows are very smart, empathetic animals. I mean, they knew there was a door open, said Warren, who has been a vegetarian for 23 years. "This morning, I woke up and I saw there was one cow that hadnt been caught yet  and theyre trying to catch her and getting close to her. I saw her crying out and I couldnt unsee that.

Warren, who wrote the LeAnn Rimes hit How Do I Live and won a Grammy for Because You Loved Me" from the 1996 film Up Close and Personal, said she has a farm animal rescue in Malibu and felt compelled to act.
Defense attorneys for Mark Redwine said the photos have no connection to Dyland Redwine's death and suggested the the boy ran away from home. His remains were found a few miles from his fathers house in 2013.

Mark Redwine and his two sons were on a road trip in 2011 when Dylan Redwine found the photos on his fathers computer, Cory Redwine said. While their father slept, the siblings looked at the photos in a locked bathroom and Cory took his own photos to save on his phone.

Cory Redwine told the court his younger brother was pretty disgusted and said he wanted to use the photos as leverage in an argument with his dad a year later.

Hey send me those poop pics of Papa because he gave me a speech about you guys being a bad example and I want to show him who he really is, said Dylan Redwine in a text to his older brother in August 2012, according to court documents.

Cory Redwine said he did not send the pictures and it was unclear from his testimony if his brother had confronted his father regarding the photos.
That effort has led to the identification of 343 of those men  with more to follow in the coming weeks and months pending results from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware, said Kelly McKeague, the accounting agencys director.

The effort, he said, exceeded expectations.

Most of these 343 sailors and Marines cannot be found in history books or documentaries, but their own acts of heroism are not lost to history, McKeague said.

He cited the story of Leo and Rudolph Blitz, of Lincoln, one of six sets of brothers (and the only identical twins) who died aboard the Oklahoma.

McKeague said Rudolph Blitz was on the deck of the battleship soon after it was struck by as many as eight Japanese torpedoes in the opening minutes of the attack.

Instead of abandoning ship, Rudolph told a shipmate he was going below decks to find his twin, who was on duty running one of the ships generators.

The Oklahoma sank within minutes. Neither of the Blitz brothers was ever heard from again.

They were identified based on a DNA match with their 93-year-old sister, Betty Pitsch, and buried in Lincoln in 2019.
A Nebraska state senator is making another run at getting answers for residents who live near pesticide contamination from the AltEn ethanol plant at Mead.

The ethanol plant discarded pesticide-laced byproduct on area fields, describing it as a soil amendment. Area residents have linked the compost to their pets stumbling about in a stupor, dead wildlife and their own bloody noses, headaches and respiratory problems. Those residents also have expressed frustration in getting answers from Nebraska officials.

The contamination has led to voluntary cleanup by major seed companies.

Sen. Carol Blood, who will be hosting AltEn-related information sessions, has sent a lengthy list of questions to the Nebraska Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Energy and Natural Resources.

Every single one of those questions came from the residents, she said.

In the letter, Blood asks about the cleanup process, liability issues, history of the site, and seeks reassurances that information about AltEn will be made public.
Precious McKesson of Omaha, who chairs the Black Caucus of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said she was definitely disappointed by some of the choices.

Theres people on the commission who do not represent the values of the African American community, she said. I think the governor is just pushing his agenda.

State Sen. Terrell McKinney, who represents historically Black North Omaha, called it a problem that the governor did not create partisan balance on the commission.

He also raised concerns about the number of African immigrants on the commission, noting that they would not have the same experiences as people who grow up Black in the United States. Three of the 14 members, or 21%, are immigrants who originally hailed from Kenya, Nigeria and Togo.

But Ricketts press secretary Taylor Gage said party registration was not a factor in selecting commission members, nor were applicants asked about hot-button political issues.

In fact, Gage said the governor was surprised to learn that no Democrats were in the group. He noted that the legislation creating the commission does not set any requirements regarding partisan affiliation. The only requirement is that members be African American.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  A Dutch consumer group is launching a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) claim against TikTok over what it alleges is unlawful harvesting of personal data from users of the popular video sharing platform.

The Consumentenbond and a foundation called Take Back Your Privacy demanded Thursday that TikTok pay damages to 1.2 million to 1.6 million Dutch children who use the app.

The conduct of TikTok is pure exploitation, Consumentenbond director Sandra Molenaar said in a statement. The company earns hundreds of millions per year on the backs of children. And that while privacy law prescribes that children should receive additional protection.

TikTok is hugely popular with teenagers and young adults, who use it to post and watch short-form videos.

The consumer organization and privacy foundation are demanding that TikTok pay damages to Dutch children and delete what they call unlawfully collected personal data. They say if TikTok does not comply, they will take the company to court.

TikTok responded in an emailed statement saying the company is committed to engage with external experts and organisations to make sure were doing what we can to keep people on TikTok safe.
The Nebraska Department of Education is currently drafting new health and sex education standards for potential adoption into Nebraska Public School curriculum. While some people have questioned content included in the standards, when we put personal considerations aside and look strictly at 30 years of evidence found in academic literature, it is unmistakable: Nebraska public schools need a comprehensive sex education curriculum that includes information about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Such an approach is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics through both policy statements and its Bright Futures program.

Even in children grades K-2, by providing developmentally appropriate information  including anatomical body parts, safe versus unsafe touching and sexual abuse reporting  children will be better able to protect themselves, understand they are not at fault, and be more willing to disclose abuse to an adult. As children get older, quality sex education programs have been shown to reduce frequency of sexual activity and number of sexual partners and increase contraception/condom use. Providing accurate information also leads to fewer unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, resulting in physically and emotionally healthier youth. High school sex education can even decrease risk of sexual assault in college.
Each of the past two years, Ive appealed my valuation, only to be denied. Both times, the response was Well, thats what you paid for it, so thats where we set the market value. That might seem fair, but so many units in the building are assessed at somewhat below, or a lot below, the purchase prices of those units.

Two good examples  a neighbor bought his unit nearly a year before I bought mine, but his assessed value has just now been raised to about what he paid for it, and another was bought by an investment company shortly after I bought mine, but that unit is still assessed at only about 70% of the purchase price! Each time Ive appealed to the county, Ive pointed out those disparities, and others, and neither time have I received a good explanation of the inequitable treatment of my unit.

So, Ill appeal to the county yet again and, if necessary, will appeal to the state yet again. Hopefully, Ill receive better explanations this year for the inequities in the building.

Errol Waits, Omaha

Facts on taxes
KGL Group, a wholly-owned Ghanaian group of subsidiaries, lent support to host the maiden edition of the Ghana Diaspora Investment Summit 2021 organized by the Ghana Investments Promotions (GIPC).



The event held under the theme 'The New Normal: Leveraging Diaspora Investments To Build Back Better sought to highlight diasporan collaborative investments as an integral lever to spur rebound growth in the fall out of the global pandemic.



The summit brought together policymakers, corporate entities, private sector business and investors, both local and across the diaspora, to engage, identify entry barriers and propose viable solutions to create an enabling environment to foster direct local investments.



The two-day event was held on June 23rd and 24th at the Kempinski Hotel, and as part of the keynote addresses, Mr Yoofi Grant (CEO, GIPC) and Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta (Minister of Finance) provided an overview of the collaborative effort between Government and the GIPC to minimize entry barriers to investments and provide a sustainable environment conducive to business growth.



Mr. Alex Dadey, Executive Chairman of KGL Group, speaking from his perspective as a diasporan entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience working across multiple industries, highlighted the need for multilateral collaboration and diaspora socio-economic inclusion.



Recounting from his experience working in the UK and Ghana across different sectors, Agriculture, Fintech, Trade Finance, Technology and his most recent venture into technology service delivery partnerships with public sector institutions such as the NLA, Mr. Dadey broke down inward investments into four distinct categories: Remittances, Direct, Portfolio and Philanthropic investments.



In his submission at the event, Mr. Dadey also identified a two-prong approach of a deliberate policy on the part of Government to drive local and diaspora collaboration combined with promoting the revenue generation success stories of diasporans, as levers to make direct investments attractive and guide prospective investors across the diaspora to navigate the boundless local investment opportunities in Ghana.



The two-day event also provided a business development platform for participants to engage across different sectors: Agriculture, Real Estate, Technology, Fin-Tech and FMCG under a series of structured business to business sessions.



Mr. Dadey has been a strong advocate for diasporan collaboration, and instrumental in initiating the recent edition of the Diasporan Homecoming Summit in 2017 and the Ghana Investment and Opportunities Summit in the UK, platforms which collectively roped in significant investments to leverage Ghanas burgeoning opportunities.



The event climaxed with Mr. Alex Dadey reaffirming KGL Group's commitment to fostering local and diaspora socio economic inclusion as sponsors for the maiden Diaspora Investment Summit event.

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Featured Video
An aspiring presidential candidate of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, has appealed to members of the Association to elect a presidential candidate who would work to reposition the GJA and the media landscape in Ghana.



He said the many years of experience garnered in the media landscape as an employee, employer, and an executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has thought him so many lessons.



These useful, and eye-opening lessons, he underscored, would be applied to assist him adopt the right leadership approach as President of the GJA, if he emerges the winner of the impending GJA national elections.



Addressing members of GJA at TV3, a member of Media General group, on Monday, as part of his campaign activities, the aspiring presidential candidate, justified the negative impact of lack of resources in hampering activities of the Association.



He, therefore, urged members to consider his vast experience, professional acumen, and entrepreneurship qualities during the polls.



These unique qualities possessed, he emphasized, would be used judiciously to secure opportunities for journalists.



Again, he said the same qualities would be applied appropriately to galvanize the resources required to position the group.



According to him, the Association in its current state, form, and structure, requires serious resource mobilization to carry out effectively all its activities.



Consequently, he said anybody vying to lead the organization, must be prepared to bring something to the table and not take from the table since the GJA was a voluntary organization.



For effective management of the Association and its activities, he suggested that members must consider candidates with entrepreneurship backgrounds to work with them for the sake of securing funding opportunities activities of the GJA.



As part of his determination to revive the fortunes of the GJA, he said, he would lead the group to secure funding opportunities, sponsorship packages, and other obvious benefits that would accrue to improve the structure of the Association and the general welfare of members.



In line with this, Albert Dwumfuor promised to roll out an insurance package for all members of GJA including retirees.



The pilot phase of the insurance package, he announced, had already been activated during the last general elections.



Consequently, he assured that it would subsequently be rolled out nationwide when he emerges the winner of the GJA elections.



The Star General, as many of his admirers call him, said he would partner banks, and other relevant financial institutions to offer all regional branches of GJA operational vehicles.



These vehicles, he explained, would be branded with GJA and sponsors images to promote activities and ultimately the mutual interest of the organizations at the local and national levels.



The batter trade deal, he revealed, has already been secured and awaiting implementation when he takes office.



He said as part of the broader implementation of attractive social policies to enhance the welfare of members, he would introduce scholarship packages for journalists intending to continue their education to do so with ease.



According to Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, his administration would also focus on building the capacity of members in various sectors of interest



The capacity building, he said, would assist journalists to develop an interest in specialization and professionalism.



Aside that, he said he would foster unity among journalists through an effective public-private partnership program to create synergy in the media landscape while leveraging on the strengths of both sectors for the benefit of members of the Association.



In addition, he would create bonding between retirees, senior Journalists who are well established in the system and young ones doing very well to close the gap between the three fringes of the inky fraternity.



The Assignment Editor of TV3, Rowland Walker and members of staff of the company, who are GJA members in good standing, enumerated a number of challenges they would like the GJA to address.



These included membership drive, opportunities for all, rebranding and repositioning of the GJA as the main vehicle for development of the country's media landscape.



In response, Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, an organizing secretary of the GJA, then assured them of his commitment to work with Tom Dick and Harry.



He would also endeavor to deliver all his campaign promises as contained in this message.



In doing so, he said he would reach out to members for these concerns raised to be received and factored into the holistic approach required to achieve results in the development of the Association.

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Featured Video
The government is working hard to find a lasting solution to the power cuts being experienced in parts of the country, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.



He explained that the recent power outages were as a result of ongoing maintenance works on some of the power systems to ensure stable power supply, and not that "Ghana has gone back to the days of dumsor".



President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance at a durbar of the chiefs and the people of the Mamprugu/Moaduri District in the North East Region held at Yagba yesterday as part of activities of his two-day tour of the region.



"Most of the equipment of our electricity system is very old and weak and so we are replacing all of them now, so that we can have a very robust electricity system, he said.



Consolidation of policies



The President told the gathering that in his second term, it was his intention to consolidate all the policies he implemented in the first term, so that they become a permanent feature of the governance of the country.



He said it was evident that all the policies were transforming lives, hence the need to consolidate them to ensure utmost benefits for all.



"I am happy with the testimonies the people are giving about policies such as the Planting for Food and Jobs and the free senior high school and I will do everything possible to safeguard them," the President noted.



The Chief of Yagba, Naa Sugru Mumuni, in a speech read on his behalf, said the chiefs and the people of the area were convinced that the government was committed to ensuring that they received their share of the national cake.



As a district noted for agriculture, he intimated, "your Planting for Food and Jobs programme has contributed significantly to ensure food security and improvement in the lives of the people".



The President also inspected ongoing work on the Regional Agriculture Department at Yagba to round off his tour.



Background



For some time now, Ghana has been experiencing intermittent power outages, which the authorities attribute to ongoing works to fix system challenges.



The people have had to bear the brunt, with businesses hard hit.



While some of the technical challenges led to localised outages, a couple of them plunged almost the entire country into darkness.



For instance, at 11:06 p.m. on April 3, this year, a conductor on the Tema-Accra East transmission line fell at Trasacco, leading to power outages in major parts of the Greater Accra Region.



Again, on Sunday, March 7, this year, a challenge with the power system led to a total system shutdown about 2:10 p.m., leading to interruption in power supply to all parts of the country.



In April this year, the Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, appealed to Ghanaians to remain calm while steps were taken to address the intermittent power outages in some parts of the country.



We are working feverishly to resolve the challenges which have arisen as a result of technical difficulties with our transmission lines and it is our hope that that issue will be resolved by the end of the year, he said.



Time table



To ensure that the affected customers were not unduly overburdened by the power cuts, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) had come out with scheduled power outages, mainly in parts of Accra.



The ECG announced the third phase yesterday, to begin on Monday, June 28 and last for 22 days, ending on July 19.



In a press statement, the ECG said the latest outage schedule, which would be done in collaboration with the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), was to help facilitate the work of contractors as part of projects to improve power supply reliability and system voltages.

As a result of that, the load to the Trasacco Bulk Supply Point (BSP) will be managed to enable the construction of towers at the Volta, Accra East and Achimota substations.









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.

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Work on a watermelon juice factory in Walewale in the North East Region is about 90 per cent complete.

The project, which is part of the One-district One-factory (1D1F) initiative of the government, is expected to be completed in March 2022.



Already, equipment and machinery are on site, ready for installation.



It is expected to produce about 10 metric tonnes of various juices and beverages per hour when operations commence.



The factory, which is a subsidiary of Champion Foods and Beverages Limited, a wholly Ghanaian owned beverage manufacturing, distribution and marketing company, is being funded with a GHc36-million facility from the Ghana EXIM Bank.



The project will create direct employment for 300 people, while about 2,000 people, including farmers and aggregators who will engage in an out-grower scheme, will also benefit.



Last Tuesday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo inspected work on the project as part of his two-day working visit to the region.



Tamanaa company



The President also visited Tamanaa company Ltd., a rice farming and processing company located at Nasia, near Walewale, which is also a beneficiary of the IDIF initiative.



As a result of the support received from the government, the company has been able to expand its operations by adding a facility that is able to mill 250 metric tonnes of rice per day, bringing the total to 290 metric tonnes per day.



So far, some 148 workers have been employed. The company also generates a turnover of some $1.5 million annually, while it markets 60 per cent of its parboiled rice under the brand name: Nasia Star Rice.



Tamanaa company currently engages over 4,000 rice farmers and aggregators in the West Mamprusi, East Mamprusi, Savelugu, Nanton and Mamprugu-Moagduri districts.



Satisfaction



President Akufo-Addo expressed satisfaction with progress of work so far on the projects.



He said the benefits of the factories to the local economy were enormous in terms of job creation and improvement in the incomes of farmers, farm hands and drivers along the value chain.



The President said they would also go a long way to reduce the phenomenon of rural-urban migration and revitalise the nations industrial base.



While commending the investors for the projects, he urged farmers to take advantage of the factories to scale up the cultivation of watermelon and rice to boost their income.



Appreciation



The Chief Executive Officer of the Tamanaa Rice company, Alhaji Saibu Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to the President and the government for the visit and the support extended to the company.



He said apart from generating employment opportunities for the people, the company had also helped to improve on the welfare of farmers through the purchase of their produce.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Former Power Minister, Dr Kwabena Donkor, has called the bluff of Attorney General Godfred Dame, to investigate him for his role in a Power Purchase Agreement with energy company Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC).

The state is paying a $170 million judgment debt as a result of cancellation of the agreement.



The judge in the London arbitration also ruled that the basis of the decision to terminate the agreement did not reflect the facts.



According to Godfred Dame, a report by a committee constituted in September 2016 revealed that the agreement was not properly made, resulting in excessive power supply.



But speaking on JoyNews Upfront, Dr Donkor said he is ready to face the investigative bodies over the contract he entered into with GPGC.



I am a law-abiding Ghanaian. If the CID says they want to investigate something, what do I have to hide? he quizzed.



He further stated that I will go to the CID. This is not the first time I have been called to the CID.



Dr Donkor also questioned the basis under which the agreement was cancelled by government.



Kwabena Donkor questions basis for the termination of GCPC agreement



First of all, when I saw a couple of the termination letter, the basis of termination, the operating phrase was that they had not obtained an energy commission license. In the agreement, government was obliged to assist them to obtain all licenses and permits so if we have that obligation on our path, we dont turn round and use that as an excuse a reason to terminate.



The agreement between the government and GPGC, an independent power producer, was terminated in 2018.



According to Godfred Dame, a report presented by a committee constituted in September 2016 advised on the abrogation of the contract.



GPGC judgment debt: Attorney General looking for a scapegoat to hang



The committee set up by the NDC in 2016  against the background of a recognition that there were so many PPAs entered into by the NDC administration, and, therefore, those agreements were going to result in excessive capacity development, as it was termed  came to a conclusion that this agreement had to be terminated. The committee singled out this particular agreement for termination.



But Dr Kwabena Donkor believes the Attorney General is hunting for a scapegoat for what sees as wrongful termination of the contract.



Other than that, we dont expect the Attorney General to sit on radio threatening and intimidating. You dont expect that, he told Winston Amoah.



He wants the government to reassess the issue and address concerns raised by the court in London.



The former Minister added that since the recent development ensued, nobody even asked me for a second that what was the basis for this agreement, why this you sign this or what informed this agreement. Nobody.



Background



In February 2015, the GPGC entered into negotiations with the Government of Ghana for the provision of a fast-track power generation solution.



This was to see the relocation of the GPGC Equipment from Italy to Ghana, to alleviate Ghanas then-ongoing power shortage crisis. In June 2015, Government and GPGC signed the power agreement.



In April 2017, a committee set up by the Ministry of Energy at the direction of the Presidents Office issued a final draft report. The committee set forth for consideration the option of termination of the agreement at an estimated cost of $18 million rather than the payment of an excess capacity charge of $24.9 million per annum over the contract period of 4 years.



In its Summary of Proposed Modification to PPAs of Committed Projects, the Committee noted that the GPGC Project was an:



Emergency Plant with a 5-year PPA used plant (not new) and high tariff. Major equipment has arrived at the Tema port awaiting tax exemption to clear.



The report noted that based on the 2018-2020 demand-supply capacity balance and the tariff rank of this project, the full capacity of this project will be excess and result in an estimated total cost of $115.48 Million within the duration of the PPA. It, therefore, recommended that the actual development cost of the project to date should be verified and used as a guide in negotiations for termination.



In August 2017, Attorney General Gloria Akuffo issued an opinion on the agreement in response to a cabinet directive. She noted



 It has become necessary to review the implementation of the PPAs; because should all of them be implemented as originally scheduled, it would result in the production of excess energy with its attendant cost, which would worsen the financial situation of the power sector. A review would therefore help to cut back on losses that would be incurred.



The Attorney-General noted, too, that the GPGC Project would result in costs of $115,480,000, if implemented, with its attendant high tariff. Based on her understanding of the position, the Attorney-General considered that GPGCs failure to obtain a licence from the Energy Commission left it with no capacity to enter into a PPA.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, has appealed to Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ghanaians in general to depoliticise discussions bordering on the ongoing 2021 population and housing census (PHC).



He said the politicisation of the process had long-term implications due to the risk of eroding public confidence in the exercise and the data, which in turn would affect acceptability and uptake of the data.



The aim of the census is to produce relevant and accurate data for research, policy and planning and as such, it is important that there is trust in the data that is produced from all groups within the country, he said.



Boundary disputes



Briefing the House on the GH521 million ($90 million) PHC, progress made and challenges confronting the exercise in Parliament last Tuesday, Prof. Annim further urged politicians to refrain from politicising discussions on boundary disputes across all regions.



According to him, boundary disputes were preventing enumerators from working, a reason the GSS was engaging with administrative, political and traditional leaders in those areas for the census exercise to be conducted unimpeded.



The implication of not being able to collect data from areas under dispute is the inability to have complete coverage. As such, the intervention of MPs to help resolve the remaining stand-offs in their constituencies is greatly needed, he said.



Political interference



Prof. Annim recounted the insistence of some political leaders--regional ministers, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives as well as regional/district party chairpersons--that persons who had not applied for the recruitment and had not been interviewed and/or had not been selected after interviewing be added to the training.



He also said the addition of trainees who had not been invited at the insistence of political leaders at some training centres led to increased costs in the form of additional persons to be fed and paid training allowances.



Despite the directive from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) headquarters that no such persons were to be admitted, monitors discovered that some training centre leads were obliged to add such persons to the training so that there could be peace to continue the training, he said.



Request



He requested MPs to support the public education campaign by sensitising their constituents to the census process.



Members of Parliament are also humbly requested to avail themselves to be enumerated and allow the media to capture part of the interview so that the media reporting can be used for advocacy to encourage all constituents to endeavour to be counted, he appealed.









Source: graphiconline.com









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John McAfee, the founder of antivirus company McAfee, has been found dead in a Spanish prison near Barcelona after the Spanish high court authorised his extradition to the United States



The technology entrepreneur reportedly commited suicide by hanging on Wednesday afternoon June 23, in a prison cell, just hours after a preliminary ruling for his extradition to the United States on charges of tax evasion.



The Catalan justice department confirmed in a statement that the likely cause of death is suicide, Reuters reported.



Employees at the Brians 2 penitentiary tried to revive the 75-year-old Mr McAfee but were unsuccessful, according to a statement cited by Spanish newspaper El Mundo and reporting by the Associated Press.



According to the newspaper El Pais, the software entrepreneur was arrested in October and was awaiting extradition to the US when he was found dead.



The paper added that police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.



Mr. McAfee had been charged with several federal financial crimes in two US districts. In the Western District of Tennessee, Mr McAfee was indicted in October on ten counts of allegedly evading taxes on millions of dollars of income.



In a Manhattan federal court in March, he was charged for a scheme involving cryptocurrency, which he was pushing on social media.



The charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.



A statement from the regional Catalan government didnt identify the American tycoon by name but said he was a 75-year-old US citizen awaiting extradition to the country.









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Parts of the Greater Accra Region will from Monday (28 June ) experience power cuts, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced.



The planned blackouts, according to the ECG, is to enable the completion of construction works by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) on some bulk supply points and transmission cables in Accra.



A statement signed by the power distributor listed the affected areas as Airport Residential Area, Adjiriganor, Teshie Bush Road, Accra Mall, Trasaaco Estate and East Legon.



The areas are expected to experience a six-hour daily power cut between 6 pm and 12 midnight each day.



Meanwhile the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has rendered an unqualified apology to consumers in the Ashanti Region for the recent incessant power cuts.



The ECG, however, said the situation has improved considerably over the past weeks despite the public uproar.



Speaking on Asaase FM Wednesday 16 June in Kumasi, the public relations officer of ECG, Erasmus Baidoo, said his unfit is unable to furnish consumers with a definite timetable.



Sometimes we have most areas going off and another time we have quite a number going off and that has been the situation, but as I said over the past few weeks, we have seen some level of improvement, Baidoo said.



He added: And we are hoping that it will keep improving until we are over it. So we apologise sincerely for the inability to come out with a timetable.



Baidoo also assured that most of the projects being carried out to improve power supply in the region are near completion stage.



Background

Residents in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi have in the past few months expressed their anger at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over frequent power outages.



According to the residents, their power goes off most evenings without any notice.



A resident who believes the development means a return to power rationing was unhappy about the frequency of the power cuts.



I cant say its dumsor as they say, but the rate at which the power outage is going on is alarming. So, in fact, if there is any problem, the electricity company should let us know. And if even there could be a schedule [to warn] that there will be power outage at this time, so that people will prepare, she said weeks ago.



But the rate at which the power is going off unexpectedly and coming back, it is destroying peoples items and all that. And if we are not careful it is going to create a lot of problems for people.



Another Kumasi resident said: I dont think dumsor is back again. I believe they said they had a problem at Tema East, so the other day the whole of Ghana went off and there were no lights anywhere.



So, I think ECG should be up and doing, because during the COVID we were able to use the light for free [but] now the government has said those things we used, they will add it to the tariff. So we are paying double.



I believe they should give us some quality light so that people can use it to work and earn money and pay their light bill, he said.





Kindly take note pic.twitter.com/Vfo18le6vY

 Electricity Company of Ghana Ltd (@ECGghOfficial) June 23, 2021

Source: twitter/asaaseradio.com









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Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of 12-year-old Cornelius Negble at Nornyikpo in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region.



The suspects included Hunor Kofi Koko, 30, a spiritualist, 30, Kwamevi Kagbeto, 37, Anani Koko, 23, Senanu Ashitor Atsikpo, 28, Louis Etse, 25 and Fianyo Sandema 39 and Kudzo Akpatsu, 49 and father of suspect Morris, who is at large.



According to the Police, five of the suspects admitted to playing various roles in the abduction and killing of the deceased for ritual purposes and narrated how the murder was orchestrated and executed.



The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Edward Oduro Kwateng, said one of the suspects, Mr Ashitor Atsikpo who deals in human parts, told them he was aided by two assigns of Mr Hunor Kofi, Mr Anani Koko, and Mr Morris to kill the boy.



This was after they succeed in luring him into a nearby forest.





The corpse was delivered to the shrine of Mr Hunor Kofi in Nudowukorpe in fulfilment of a promise by Mr Ashitor Atsikpo to make available human parts to use in performing sacrifices in building a new deity.



Sargeant Prince Dogbatse detailed that preliminary investigations revealed Mr Senanus involvement in the murder of the little boy for ritual purposes.

He explained a second visit to Mr Hunor Kofis shrine led to the exhumation of the 12-year-old boys head while his maggot-infested headless body was kept in a sack. His kidney, heart and penis were removed.



The body has since been removed and sent to the Police Hospital in Accra for preservation and autopsy, he said. He explained it took a collaborative effort with their counterparts in Togo to arrest Hunor Kofi, who fled to the neighbouring country upon sensing danger.

All seven suspects have been remanded into Police Custody by Samuel Essel Walker after they were arraigned before the Kpetoe District Magistrate Court and would reappear on July 5, 2021.



He, therefore, urged the public to timely inform the police on suspected criminal acts to avert the unfortunate from hapoening.





Source: myjoyonline.com









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Test results, often required to fly across borders, can be easily manipulated. Airlines are battling a scourge of passengers traveling with falsified Covid-19 health certificates.



The documents are often the Covid-19 test results required by many countries on arrival. The International Air Transport Association industry body says it has tracked fake certificates in multiple countries, from France to Brazil, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Border control authorities and police forces have also reported arrests of people selling documents in the U.K., Spain, Indonesia and Zimbabwe, among others.



The problem is hitting international flights more than domestic ones, which typically dont require certification at the moment. Airlines that are more dependent on cross-border travel, particularly those operating in Europe, are growing increasingly alarmed as they look to the summer, when they still hope demand will start to return.



The proliferation of fake health certificates is exposing a logistical blind spot, as airlines rush to navigate post-pandemic travel standards and retool their systems to ease complianceand spur demand. Airlines say their staff arent equipped to handle and police all the new health certifications needed and worry the problem will be exacerbated when some countries also start to ask for vaccination certificates.



At Brussels Airlines, staff have shared certificates that they have come across  including one from an incident last week  to stay abreast of the techniques fraudsters are using.







Source: The Wall Street Journal









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Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has taken a swipe at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their press conference regarding a petition by the Chief Justice, Justice Anin-Yeboah to the General Legal Council (GLC) for investigations into some statements made by former Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine against the Judiciary.



Petition To GLC



Dr. Dominic Ayine, a former deputy Attorney General under the erstwhile Mahama administration, was reprimanded by the Supreme Court during the 2020 Presidential election petition trial after he was cited for contempt of court.



He had made some statements challenging the independence of the Judiciary and accused the Judges who sat on the election petition as having predetermined agenda to rule against the petitioner, former President John Dramani Mahama.



Dr. Ayine was asked to retract and apologize which he did.



But, in a fresh petition against him, he is said to have tarnished the reputation of the Supreme Court at a public forum.



On Tuesday, May 25 2021, the Chief Justice dragged Dr Ayine to the Disciplinary Committee of the GLC, the body that regulates the legal profession in Ghana.



The GLC has reportedly summoned Dr Ayine for allegedly scandalizing the judiciary with his recent comments when delivering a speech on "Presidential Election Petitions and their Impact on Africas Democracy" at a forum organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).



His Lordship the Chief Justice therefore finds his alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate the matter, the CJ's petition read.



Dr. Ayine's Reply



Dr. Ayine, in reply, says his comments were made in good faith.



As I have stated in this response, as a lawyer, I have a special responsibility to engage in criticism of the work of the judiciary. By reason of my training and experience, I am better placed than most of my fellow citizens to point out deficiencies in judgments and in the performance by the judiciary of its core constitutional mandate", he insisted.



NDC Scolds CJ



The NDC, in a press conference, has impressed upon the CJ to withdraw his petition.



The party accused Justice Anin-Yeboah of presiding over a judiciary tyranny with an aim to gag lawyers affiliated with the opposition party.



The party's General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, referencing the invitation to the NDC MP for Bolgatanga East, Dr. Dominic Ayine to appear before the GLC, said ''we hereby state categorically that they will not succeed! We will not be intimidated. We, as a party, will continue to defend the cause of freedom and of right in this country.



National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, in an interview on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show on Tuesday, 22nd June 2021, also said, "Ghana is a democratic country and so the 1992 Constitution which is being used to govern the country allows everybody to express their opinion or the freedom of expression. In view of this, anybody can express their opinion or views after a judgment has been given on a case."



The opinion may not favour the Chief Justice, or it may not base on law, and it may be wrong, but that is the opinion of someone and the person is entitled to it and the law says that the person cannot be persecuted or harassed for expressing their opinion.



Lawyers from both NPP and NDC expressed their opinions; while the NPP lawyers supported the ruling of the Supreme Court on the 2020 election petition, the NDC lawyer, Dr Ayine disagreed with the ruling of the Supreme Court and that has angered Justice Anin-Yeboah to write to the General Legal Council to punish Dr Ayine.



NDC's Mischief



Kwamena Duncan believes the NDC is up to mischief, hence their press conference on the CJ's petition.



He wondered why the NDC would hold a press conference to defend Dr. Ayine when he can do it himself.



Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, the former Regional Minsiter asserted that the NDC, "just to throw mud at the Chief Justice" but warned "if the Judiciary is not there, there will be no difference between the country and the jungle where animals prey on themselves freely. If the Judiciary is not there, it is chaos . . . Our very democracy, the foundation which is the rule of law . . . is majorly based on the Judiciary".







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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.

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Social Commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has challenged Dr. Dominic Ayine to face the General Legal Council (GLC), regulatory body of the legal profession in Ghana.



Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah has dragged Dr. Dominic Ayine to the GLC over allegations that the latter has scandalized the Judiciary in some comments he passed during a public forum organized by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).



His Lordship the Chief Justice therefore finds his alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate the matter, the CJ's petition read.



But the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rebuked the CJ over his petition and asked him to withdraw it.



NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia defended Dr. Ayine saying his comment "does not violate any rule or professional conduct rules for lawyers.



He added, "Neither Dr Ayine, nor we in the NDC can be compelled to increase our confidence in the independence of the Judiciary even when the Court has not given us any basis or reason to do so.



National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, in an interview with Okay FM, also held that, "Ghana is a democratic country and so the 1992 Constitution which is being used to govern the country allows everybody to express their opinion or the freedom of expression. In view of this, anybody can express their opinion or views after a judgment has been given on a case".



The opinion may not favour the Chief Justice, or it may not base on law, and it may be wrong, but that is the opinion of someone and the person is entitled to it and the law says that the person cannot be persecuted or harassed for expressing their opinion.



Lawyers from both NPP and NDC expressed their opinions; while the NPP lawyers supported the ruling of the Supreme Court on the 2020 election petition, the NDC lawyer, Dr Ayine disagreed with the ruling of the Supreme Court and that has angered Justice Anin-Yeboah to write to the General Legal Council to punish Dr Ayine, he further stated.



Addressing the issues on Peace FM's flagship programme ''Kokrokoo'', Allotey Jacobs was of a strong opinion that Dr. Ayine doesn't need any defence from the NDC.



According to him, ''he's (Dr. Ayine) capable. He can defend himself. He's been the Deputy Attorney General before. He's highly respected within the legal profession. He should go and defend himself. He should go, express his conviction and defend himself . . . it's as simple as ABCD''.



Allotey Jacobs registered his utter displeasure with the NDC statements on the CJ's petition warning the party that, "a country without justice and Judiciary, it is no country. It becomes a jungle country where everybody does whatever he likes. If we set our eyes on the Judiciary, law and order will break down''.



To him, ''if you look at the press conference, it's like creating a mob to bastardize the Judiciary''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr. has rubbished accusations by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the Chief Justice that he is trying to gag lawyers of the party.



The Chief Justice has petitioned the General Legal Council to summon Dr. Dominic Ayine over some alleged scandalous comments made by the latter.



His Lordship the Chief Justice therefore finds his alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate the matter, the CJ said in his petition.



Dr. Ayine is said to have undermined the independence of the Judiciary during a public forum but he has refuted the claims, insisting he made his comments in good faith.



As I have stated in this response, as a lawyer, I have a special responsibility to engage in criticism of the work of the judiciary. By reason of my training and experience, I am better placed than most of my fellow citizens to point out deficiencies in judgments and in the performance by the judiciary of its core constitutional mandate," he asserted.



NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, in a press conference organized by the party on the petition, accused the CJ of suprevising a "judiciary tyranny".



Dissecting the issue during a panel discussion on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kweku Baako rebuked the NDC for creating an impression that members of the party who are lawyers are facing intimidation by the CJ.



Mr. Baako wondered why anybody would think the NDC affiliated lawyers are being intimidated seemingly to say it is untrue.



He disclosed that the lawyers have already confessed and apologized before the GLC, therefore questioned the logic of the NDC presser.



"The problem I have is that you have these lawyers, good lawyers, experienced lawyers members of a party; that is not the material point. The material point is that we are now being told by their party that these lawyers affiliated to them appear to have been singled out and are being intimidated into submission of some sort. Now, these lawyers, they're lawyers; not people like us. They go before the Committee, a Committee which is part of their own profession, all this thing is captured in the Legal Professional Conduct And Etiquette Rules 2020 (LI 24/23) . . . They submit themselves to this; I don't know maybe at a gunpoint and yet we have their party . . . there soliciting some sympathy . . . on their behalf that they're being intimidated," he stated.



"Don't they have their own senses? Aren't they trained minds? Aren't they learned people? Aren't they members of the learned profession? When they go to the Committee, what animal is that Committee?'', he lashed out at the NDC.







He called on the lawyers to ''stand up and fight'' for themselves if they think they haven't offended the law.''If they know they have done anything wrong or violated their own (ethics of their profession)...why do you allow yourself to be intimidated into submission. I don't want to buy that...I am not prepared to accept that that they're so docile.''

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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.

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Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako has slammed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their press conference on Chief Justice, Anin-Yeboah's petition against Dr. Dominic Yeboah, Bolgatanga East MP and a former Attorney General.



The CJ has dragged Dr. Dominic Ayine before the General Legal Council, the regulatory body of the legal profession in Ghana, claiming the latter has made some scandalous statements against the Judiciary.



Dr. Ayine is accused of undermining the independence of the Judiciary during a public forum organized by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).



His Lordship the Chief Justice therefore finds his alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate the matter, the CJ stated in his petition.



But Dr. Ayine has refuted the claims saying as I have stated in this response, as a lawyer, I have a special responsibility to engage in criticism of the work of the judiciary. By reason of my training and experience, I am better placed than most of my fellow citizens to point out deficiencies in judgments and in the performance by the judiciary of its core constitutional mandate".



The NDC has admonished the CJ to withdraw his petition.



According to the party's General Secretary, the NDC supports Dr. Ayine insisting he didn't violate any rule or professional conduct rules for lawyersNeither Dr Ayine, nor we in the NDC can be compelled to increase our confidence in the independence of the Judiciary even when the Court has not given us any basis or reason to do so.



He accused the CJ of suprevising a ''judiciary tyranny'' aimed at gagging lawyers of the NDC.



But to Kweku Baako, nobody is intimidating NDC lawyers.



''...we are now being told by their party that these lawyers affiliated to them appear to have been singled out and are being intimidated into submission of some sort. Now, these lawyers, they're lawyers; not people like us. They go before the Committee, a Committee which is part of their own profession, all this thing is captured in the Legal Professional Conduct And Etiquette Rules 2020 (LI 24/23)...They submit themselves to this; I don't know maybe at a gunpoint and yet we have their party...there soliciting some sympathy...on their behalf that they're being intimidated'', he stated, asking ''don't they have their own senses? Aren't they trained minds? Aren't they learned people? Aren't they members of the learned profession? When they go to the Committee, what animal is that Committee?''



He stressed; ''The political intrusion by the NDC was needless and it distorts and pollutes the environment.''



To him, the NDC is behaving like an ''unchained octopus on rampage''.



''Telling us that they're threatening us (their lawyers). They're intimidating us. They're persecuting. They're forcing a culture of silence on us and so we need your help. I'm not prepared to agree to that'', he stressed.



He spoke on Peace FM's morning show ''Kokrokoo''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, a former Energy Minister has called for calm as the government prepares to investigate circumstances leading to the award of a judgment debt against the Government of Ghana in connection with its power purchase agreement with the Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC).



His comment comes on the back of the rejection by the commercial court in London of a late appeal from Ghana against a judgment debt award of US$134 million in favour of the power contractor, Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC).



The former Energy Minister said he is completely heartbroken that attempts by the erstwhile NDC administration to solve the power crisis during its tenure have resulted in a judgement debt.



As a former Deputy Energy Minister and former Energy and Petroleum Minister, I am completely heartbroken that all our hard work and singular focus to address our power challenges and ensure a stable electricity supply is being marred by a decision for a US$170 million judgement debt, which was imposed by a London commercial tribunal on behalf of Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC) for wrongful termination of the contract, he posted on Facebook.



Armah-Kofi Buah added, How did this come about? The GPGC emergency power agreement was signed in July 2015, it had a cabinet and parliamentary approval. The termination of the agreement leading to the tribunal award took place in 2018 under the current government. This was after Ghanas failure to properly defend the case in court.



Tread cautiously

The Ellembele MP however wants the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to tread cautiously in resolving the matter to help the country learn lessons from the development.



I have heard the Attorney Generals hasty threats of investigation and prosecution. It is important to fairly study the events leading to the termination and how as a country we defended this case in court. This will allow us as a country to lay the responsibility where it belongs and learn clear lessons from this.



Background

The International Court of Arbitration in January 2021 awarded costs of US$134 million and interest of US$30 million against the Government of Ghana over its cancellation of an emergency power agreement with GPGC Ltd.



The contract was cancelled during the tenure of the former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, one of several deals scrapped by the new NPP government on the basis that the country did not need these power agreements.



The ruling by the International Court of Arbitration ordered the Government to Ghana to pay to GPGC the full value of the early termination payment, together with mobilisation, demobilisation and preservation and maintenance costs in the amount of US$134,348,661, together also with interest thereon from 12 November 2018 until the date of payment, accruing daily and compounded monthly, at the rate of LIBOR for six-month US dollar deposits plus 6%.



The Government of Ghana was also ordered to pay GPGC, in total, US$ 309,877.74 in respect of the costs of the arbitration, together with US$3,000,000 in respect of GPGCs legal representation and the fees and expenses of its expert witness, together with interest on the aggregate amount of US$3,309,877.74 at the rate of LIBOR for three-month US dollar deposits, compounded quarterly.





Source: asaaseradio.com









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A member of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini has asked the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to order a re-vetting of the four deputy ministerial nominees who were screened at the time the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers were not available.



He explained that the NDC legislators had complied with an order by the Speaker to join the Green Ghana Planting Project on Friday, June 11. They travelled to the various constituencies across the country to take part in the project and therefore didnt expect the committee to sit during that period to vet the nominees, he said.



To that end, he added, the vetting of the four persons amounted to disrespect to the Speaker.



The four deputy ministerial nominees are Techiman South MP Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, for Local Government and Rural Development, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, for Gender, Children and Special Protection, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, for Sanitation and Water Resources, and Diana Asonaba Dapaah, for the Justice.



This is disrespect not just to us, disrespect to even the Speaker of Parliament and we hope that the Speaker will request the Committee to re-vet these nominees if possible, the Tamale North MP said.



The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday June 23 staged a walkout over a debate to approve or not four deputy ministerial nominees of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



The caucus had hinted of boycotting debate on the approval of the four because its members were not present during their vetting by the Appointments Committee.





Source: 3news.com









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Isaac Adongo, has advised the government to resist any temptation to request for additional funds to spend at the upcoming mid-year budget review.



He said the current economic situation required that the government reduce its expenditure to avoid crashing the economy and burdening the citizens with more debts and taxes.

Mr Adongo, who is also the Deputy Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, was speaking at a public lecture organised by the Coalition of Restoration (CFR), a political pressure group, in Accra yesterday.



He spoke on the theme: Ghana's economy: A victim of COVID-19 or pre-existing conditions?



The dialogue series has been initiated to stimulate discourse on critical national issues.



Implications



Mr Adongo, a chartered accountant and financial management specialist, said the government's inability to control expenditure had led to more borrowing, which had worsened the plight of the populace and the economy.



He noted that there were some worrying developments in the country's expenditure front, with debt service alone taking about 75 per cent of tax revenue, leaving behind just 25 per cent of tax revenue for critical spending.



Mr Adongo said the implications of the government's increased appetite for borrowing started manifesting in 2019 when debt servicing (interest and amortisation) expressed as a percentage of tax revenue exceeded 70 per cent.



Against that backdrop, he said, the trajectory would be maintained even in the medium term.



Citing projections by the government, Mr Adongo said the country's debt servicing risked hitting 91.6 per cent by 2024.



COVID-19 not responsible



Describing Ghana's debt servicing as the singular most important element of fiscal and public debt risk, the Bolgatanga Central legislator said it had deteriorated by 17 per cent (from 55.8 per cent of tax revenue in 2018 to 72.5 per cent in 2019).



As a matter of fact, although debt service experienced elevated levels of vulnerability in 2020 (86 per cent) with lower levels of revenue and increased borrowing, the situation of the deterioration in 2019, and flowing from the trajectory, it is clear that Ghana is in an unsustainable debt service quagmire, he said.

Mr Adongo posited that the deterioration in 2020 of about 11 per cent was far better than the 17 per cent suffered in 2019.



That, he said, was an indication that the country's current debt level was not as a result of COVID-19.



Debt accumulation



Mr Adongo said another issue of grave concern was the ability of the economy to pay for debt accumulated.



Ghana's debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio shows that while our public debt is growing at a faster rate, the economy is growing at a slower pace, and that is unable to anchor debt sustainability.



In other words, we are not growing the income-earning opportunities of Ghanaians enough, such that Ghana can generate the pool of income necessary to ensure that we can generate significant resources from the economy to pay for and service these debts, he explained.



The debt-to-GDP ratio, Mr Adongo said, improved slightly from 56 per cent in 2016 to 55 per cent in 2017, consistent with the improvement in the economy from the seeds sowed by the previous administration.



However, from 2018, the debt-to-GDP began to worsen to 57 per cent above the 2016 levels and increased further to 62 per cent in 2019. Clearly, Ghana's economy and the trajectory of debt accumulation had long gotten worse by 2019 and could only get worse in 2020.



No wonder, then, that the end-year 2020 debt-to-GDP ratio crossed the dreaded 70 per cent mark to 72 per cent, he said.



The MP for Bolgatanga Central said what was even more worrying was that the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections showed that Ghana's debt-to-GDP in the medium-term would hit 86 per cent by the end of 2024.



Arrears



Mr Adongo, who is a Minority spokesperson on finance and the economy, said the accumulation of arrears due contractors was affecting the flow of liquidity within the financial system, as contractors could not repay their loans, which had created a cycle that resulted in a liquidity crunch.



I may be right if I attribute the supposed banking crises to the failure of the government to pay contractors who were owed in excess of GH5.7 billion. As of the end of 2020, both road and non-road arrears were estimated at some staggering GH8.2 billion, he posited.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Dormaa East Legislator, Paul Apraku Twum Barimah, has filed an urgent question in parliament regarding the cost of former President John Dramani Mahamas travels when he was the sitting President.



Mr Twum Barimah said the question has become necessary in order to resolve issues surrounding the cost of travels of Presidents of Ghana.



It is, therefore, important that as a country we look at collectively how we can come together to resolve all these issues.



I have filed the question to also understand how much it cost this country between 2013 to 2017 when our president [former President Mahama] was on series of travels using chartered flights, he told Joy News.

JUNE 19, 2021



This comes at a time North Tongu lawmaker Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also filed a question on the cost of the recent trip of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Mr Ablakwa had said The decision to travel particularly to long and multiple destinations such as the president travelling to France, Belgium, South African and back to Ghana especially during this covid time will always require a larger capacity aircraft such as a DBKJ or an aircraft ATJ 319 even when the Falcon is air ready, the Bimbila lawmaker told Parliament on Wednesday June 16.



Mr Ablakwa accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of engaging in extravagant travels.



He alleged that Mr Akufo-Addo spent an amount of GHS 2.8 million on his recent travels to only South Africa and France using the services of a private jet.



The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT, is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets.



It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately 15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it, he alleged in a post on Facebook.







Source: 3news.com









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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.
Menyingkap Rahsia Tentera Elit Briged Izzuddin Al- Qassam: Generasi Muda Perindu Syahid book (SCREENSHOT: Goodreads)

SINGAPORE  The Singapore government will on Friday (25 June) ban a book promoting armed jihad and extremist views.

The Malay book is titled Menyingkap Rahsia Tentera Elit Briged Izzuddin Al- Qassam: Generasi Muda Perindu Syahid (Uncovering the secrets of the Izz Ad-Din Al Qassam Brigades Elite Force: The Young Generation of Seekers of Martyrdom).

The book is authored by Abdul Aziz Abu Bakar and Adnan M. El Halabi, and was first printed by Malaysian company Hijjaz Records Publishing in 2015.

The Izz Ad-Din Al Qassam Brigades is the military wing of Palestinian organisation Hamas. The latter has been classified as a terrorist group by a number of countries.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MCI) said the book has been gazetted as a prohibited publication under the Undesirable Publications Act. The prohibition will take effect from Friday and those who are in possession of the book should hand them to the police.

"The publication came to the governments notice in the course of investigations into 20-year-old Amirull bin Ali, who was detained under the Internal Security Act in March 2021," said the ministry.

"Amirull had purchased the publication overseas in 2015. Investigations determined that reading the publication was one of the factors that led to Amirulls radicalisation," it added.

According to MCI, the book promotes armed jihad and contains extremist views promoting enmity among different religious communities.

"Such teachings and ideologies are detrimental to Singapores racial and religious harmony and relations," the ministry said.

It added that the government has zero tolerance for people or publications which aim to incite hostility or violence among different religious groups.

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Man shined laser pointer at another driver to force him to give way

No cases of COVID-19 Delta plus variant found in Singapore: MOH

Singapore targets two-thirds of population to be fully vaccinated by National Day
(LightRocket via Getty Images file photo)

SINGAPORE  Singapore had signed an advance purchase agreement for the Novavax vaccine in January, and is awaiting the American biotechnology company's application for regulatory approval, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Thursday (24 June).

However, Ong added that the vaccine is still undergoing phase-three clinical trials in the US, and shipment will not be ready so soon.

The vaccine, jointly developed by Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, is produced by creating an engineered baculovirus containing a gene for a modified spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

It is thus made differently from the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which are the two vaccines currently used in Singapore's national vaccination programme.

Separately, 24 healthcare institutions had been licensed by the Ministry of Health to provide the Sinovac vaccine to those who wish to take it.

"Recently there have been some encouraging results of Novavax clinical trials published in the papers," said Ong during a COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce virtual press conference on Thursday.

"We are working closely with Novavax and awaiting their application for regulatory approval. We hope the vaccine suppliers can arrive before the end of the year, for those who want to take (a vaccine) that is non-mRNA.

"In the meantime, please continue to consider mRNA vaccines, they work very well. Please consider them unless you are medically not eligible to take them, such as if you're allergic to the first dose."

This comes as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Wednesday said it will add a warning about rare cases of heart inflammation in adolescents and young adults to fact sheets for the two mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Ong also noted that over 5 million doses of vaccines have been administered in Singapore as of Wednesday.

Story continues

Over 3 million in Singapore  or around 53 per cent of the local population  have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while about 36 per cent have been fully vaccinated with two doses.

Singapore now aims to fully vaccinate two-thirds of the population against COVID-19 by National Day and will accelerate its vaccination plan from this Saturday, Ong added.

Trial studies have shown that Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines proved to be effective at least six and three months, respectively. Immunity from Moderna's vaccine should last at least a year, said the company a month after the study results were released in December last year.

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No cases of COVID-19 Delta plus variant found in Singapore: MOH

All 5 cases in ICU unvaccinated; 'long COVID' in Singapore being studied

Singapore targets two-thirds of population to be fully vaccinated by National Day
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When the summer sun blazes on a hot city street, our first reaction is to flee to a shady spot protected by a building or tree.

A new study is the first to calculate exactly how much these shaded areas help lower the temperature and reduce the "urban heat island" effect.

Researchers created an intricate 3D digital model of a section of Columbus and determined what effect the shade of the buildings and trees in the area had on land surface temperatures over the course of one hour on one summer day.

"We can use the information from our model to formulate guidelines for community greening and tree planting efforts, and even where to locate buildings to maximize shading on other buildings and roadways," said Jean-Michel Guldmann, co-author of the study and professor emeritus of city and regional planning at The Ohio State University.

"This could have significant effects on temperatures at the street and neighborhood level."

For example, a simulation run by the researchers in one Columbus neighborhood found on a day with a high of 93.33 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature could have been 4.87 degrees lower if the young trees already in that area were fully grown and 20 more fully grown trees had been planted.

Guldmann conducted the study with Yujin Park, who did the work as a doctoral student at Ohio State and is now an assistant professor of city and regional planning at Chung-Ang University in South Korea, and Desheng Liu, a professor of geography at Ohio State.

Their work was published online recently in the journal Computers, Environment and Urban Systems.

Researchers have long known about the urban heat island effect, in which buildings and roadways absorb more heat from the sun than rural landscapes, releasing it and increasing temperatures in cities.

One recent study found that in 60 U.S. cities, urban summer temperatures were 2.4 degrees F higher than rural temperaturesand Columbus was one of the top 10 cities with the most intense summer urban heat islands.

For this new study, Guldmann and his colleagues selected a nearly 14-square-mile area of northern Columbus that had a wide range of land uses, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, commercial and business complexes, industrial areas, recreational parks and natural areas. More than 25,000 buildings were in the study area.

The researchers created a 3D model of the study area using 2D land cover maps of Columbus, as well as LiDAR data collected by the city of Columbus from an airplane. LiDAR is a laser sensor that detects the shape of objects. Combining this data resulted in a 3D model showing the exact heights and widths of buildings and trees.

They then turned to computer software that calculated the shadows cast by each of the buildings and trees in the study area over the course of a one-hour period11 a.m. to noonon Sept. 14, 2015.

In addition, the researchers had data on land surface temperatures in the study area for the same date and time. That data came from a NASA satellite that uses Thermal Infrared Sensors to measure land surface temperatures at a resolution of 30 by 30 meters (about 98 by 98 feet). That resulted in surface temperatures for 39,715 points in the study area.

With that data in hand, the researchers conducted a statistical analysis to determine precisely how the shade cast by buildings and trees affected surface temperatures on that September day.

Results showed that, as expected, buildings turned up the heat in the area, but that the shadows cast by them also had a significant cooling effect on temperatures, particularly if they shaded the rooftops of adjacent buildings.

The statistical model could precisely calculate those effects, both positive and negative. For example, a 1% increase in the area of a building led to surface temperature increases between 2.6% and 3% on average.

But an increase of 1% in the area of a shaded rooftop led to temperature decreases between 0.13% and 0.31% on average.

Shade on roadways and parking lots also significantly decreased temperatures.

"We learned that greater heat-mitigation effects can be obtained by maximizing the shade on building rooftops and roadways," Guldmann said.

Results also showed the importance of green spaces and water for lowering temperatures. Grassy areas, both shaded and exposed, showed significant heat-reducing effects. However, the impact of shaded grass was stronger than that of grass exposed to direct sunlight.

The volume of tree canopies and the area of water bodies also had significant cooling effects.

In the simulation run in the Columbus neighborhood, the researchers calculated that if the current trees there were fully grown, the temperature on a 93.33-degree F day would be 3.48 degrees lower (89.85 degrees).

But that's not all. The simulation showed that if the neighborhood had 20 more full-grown trees, the temperature would be another 1.39 degrees lower.

"We've long known that the shade of trees and buildings can provide cooling," Guldmann said.

"But now we can more precisely measure exactly what that effect will be in specific instances, which can help us make better design choices and greening strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect."

Explore further Urban heat islands affect tree canopy temperatures and health, study says

More information: Yujin Park et al, Impacts of tree and building shades on the urban heat island: Combining remote sensing, 3D digital city and spatial regression approaches, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems (2021). Yujin Park et al, Impacts of tree and building shades on the urban heat island: Combining remote sensing, 3D digital city and spatial regression approaches,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2021.101655
In June 2020, file photo, a television screen provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy shows damage to anchor support EP-17-1 on the east leg of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline within the Straits of Mackinac in Mich. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday, June 23, 2021, plans to conduct an extensive review of a proposed tunnel to house a replacement for a portion of Enbridge's Line 5, which could significantly delay the project. Credit: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy via AP, File

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday it would conduct an extensive review of Enbridge Energy's plan to build an oil pipeline tunnel beneath a Great Lakes channel in Michigan, which could significantly delay the project.

The tunnel would house a replacement for a portion of Enbridge's Line 5 that crosses the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, a roughly 4-mile-long (6.4-kilometers-long) waterway connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has issued a permit for the $500 million tunnel, but approval from the Army Corps also is needed. The federal agency would consider potential effects on the straits and adjacent wetlands.

The Corps could have settled for a narrowly tailored examination of needs and purposes for the tunnel before making its ruling. But it opted for an environmental impact statement, which involves a more comprehensive study, including consideration of reasonable alternatives.

"I have concluded that an EIS is the most appropriate level of review because of the potential for impacts significantly affecting the quality of the human environment," said Jaime A. Pinkham, acting assistant secretary of the Army for civil works.

Thousands of comments from the public and indigenous tribes justified the deeper investigation, Pinkham said, adding that navigation in the busy shipping channel also was also a consideration.

Enbridge had pledged to complete the tunnel by 2024 but is "evaluating the timeline" in view of the government's decision, which will hold up construction, spokesman Ryan Duffy said.

"Placing a pipeline in a new Great Lakes tunnel will provide extra layers of safety and environmental protection and make what is currently a safe pipeline even safer, while creating Michigan jobs and securing the needed energy for consumers in Michigan and the region," Enbridge said.

The Canadian company, based in Calgary, Alberta, reached a deal in 2018 with former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder to construct the tunnel. It came amid pressure from area tribes, tourist businesses and environmental groups to shut down Line 5, which carries oil and natural gas liquids between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario.

Critics contend the underwater sectiontwo parallel pipes laid in 1953is vulnerable to a spill that could pollute hundreds of miles of waters and shorelines. Enbridge, backed by industry and labor groups, says it is in good condition and has never leaked.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Line 5's underwater pipes closed by mid-May, a deadline the company ignored. A lawsuit is pending in federal court. Canada, which has described continued operation of the pipeline as "non-negotiable," is pushing the Biden administration to intervene.

The proposed tunnel is a separate regulatory matter. In addition to the Army Corps, Enbridge also awaits approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission.

"We are encouraged to see that the Army Corps of Engineers heeded our call to undertake a more rigorous analysis" of the project, said Whitney Gravelle, chairwoman of the Bay Mills Indian Community. The tribe, which has treaty-guaranteed fishing rights in the straits, "is very concerned that the pipeline threatens our way of life," she said.

Drilling through bedrock and soils beneath the straits would violate numerous environmental protection laws, said David Holtz of Oil and Water Don't Mix, an anti-Line 5 coalition.

"It is difficult to imagine how Enbridge's tunnel project can survive the kind of thorough, independent evaluation that is now possible with today's Army Corps decision," Holtz said.

Enbridge said it would continue working with the Corps on its review of company's application "and towards a successful conclusion to this process."

Explore further Agency readies decision on underwater oil pipeline supports

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Generating oxygen from sunlight, water and semiconducting polymers. Credit: LIMNO / EPFL

EPFL scientists are generating oxygen from sunlight, water and semiconducting polymers. They present a promising way towards economical and scalable solar fuel production.

Natural photosynthesis evolved to covert water and sunlight into oxygen (O 2 ) and stored chemical energy. In plants this process is not very efficient, however the possibility to convert sunlight into chemical fuel in an economical and globally scalable manner is a very attractive method for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. As such, scientists have been searching for routes toward efficient and inexpensive mimics of natural photosynthesis for decades. It turns out that the O 2 production step is quite tricky and remains a major challenge toward artificial photosynthesis.

Now, in a recent report published in Nature Catalysis, Prof. Kevin Sivula and his co-workers in the Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Optoelectronic Nanomaterials (LIMNO) at EPFL describe a mixture of semiconducting polymers, commonly known as plastic electronics, that demonstrates highly efficient solar-driven water oxidation (H 2 O  O 2 ).

Compared to previously-reported systems, which employ inorganic materials such as metal oxides or silicon and have not met the performance and cost requirements for industrialization, the polymeric materials reported in this new work have molecularly tunable properties, and are solution-processable at low temperature, allowing large scale device fabrication at low manufacturing cost.

The EPFL team's breakthrough was realized by tuning the properties of the polymers to match the requirements of the water oxidation reaction and by assembling them into what is called "a bulk heterojunction" (BHJ) blend that further improves the efficiency of the solar-driven catalytic reaction. By also optimizing the conduction of the electronic charges in the device by using carefully engineered interfaces, they realized the first demonstration of a water oxidizing "photo-anode" based on a BHJ polymer blend that exhibits a benchmark performance to dateperforming two orders of magnitude better than previous organic-based devices. Moreover, the team identified key factors that influence the robust performance of O 2 production, which will help define paths forward to further improve the performance.

By virtue of the potential of this approach, the system developed by Prof. Kevin Sivula and colleagues could substantially contribute to advancing the field of polymer-based electronics and establishing a promising route towards economical, efficient, and scalable solar fuel production by artificial photosynthesis.

More information: Han-Hee Cho et al, A semiconducting polymer bulk heterojunction photoanode for solar water oxidation, Nature Catalysis (2021). Journal information: Nature Catalysis Han-Hee Cho et al, A semiconducting polymer bulk heterojunction photoanode for solar water oxidation,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41929-021-00617-x
Yellowhammer: Once a widespread breeding bird of the agricultural landscape, the species' breeding population has declined by more than ten percent between 2015 and 2020 alone. Credit: B. Schmidt / Pixabay

Along with climate change, species extinction is one of the greatest threats to life on earth. For about 50 years, researchers have been documenting the population trends of different animal and plant groups in so-called Red Lists. The new Red List of Breeding Birds in Germany shows that the decline of birds in Germany continues unabated. More than half of the 259 permanently breeding bird species are endangered. Fourteen species have become extinct in Germany so far, and six more will probably have to be listed as extinct in the next Red List of breeding birds. This means that breeding bird species are threatened with extinction on an unprecedented scale. Birds of the agricultural landscape as well as insectivores and migratory birds are most threatened. Birds living in forests or residential areas, on the other hand, are on the increase. Success stories for white storks, white-tailed eagles and cranes show that conservation measures can halt the decline of birds. The authors of the Red List therefore call for a national bird rescue program in which effective bird conservation measures are developed and implemented. In addition, the causes of the declines of the various species should be investigated through dedicated research.

In the future, the Red Lists will be published every six years. The Red List of Breeding Birds of Germany is a joint effort of the scientific ornithologists as well as national scientific institutions active in bird monitoring and bird conservation. The published Red List of Breeding Birds covers the period from 2011 to 2016.

The Slavonian Grebe, Golden Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Woodchat Shrike and Aquatic Warbleranyone who wants to admire these birds in Germany is probably too late. The last breeding pairs were sighted in this country between 2009 and 2014. On the next Red List of Breeding Birds, these species are expected to be listed as extinct in Germany, in addition to the 14 species that are already extinct or missing. "This will be the highest increase of extinct breeding bird species ever recorded in Germany," says Hans-Gunther Bauer of the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Radolfzell, one of the authors of the current Red List of Breeding Birds.

Almost half of the species are endangered

In the reporting period of the new Red List, 33 bird species in Germany are threatened with extinction, and populations are continuing to decline in almost all of them. At 43 percent, almost half of the species that regularly breed in Germany are endangered. Another eight percent are still comparatively common, but their numbers are also declining sharply. "The new Red List shows that species extinction in Germany continues unabated. It has even accelerated in recent years," says Bauer.

In addition, the Red List's threat categories do not reflect the decline of previously non-threatened and common species. Even huge losses of individuals can go unnoticed for a long time in the Red List for species such as starlings or house sparrows, if the species as such are still non-threatened. For example, a study from the Lake Constance region found that the area has lost 120,000 breeding pairs over the past 30 years. Germany-wide, the loss probably amounts to several million individuals.

According to the current Red List, species of the agricultural landscape are particularly threatened: 83 percent of these "open land" species show such high population declines that they are listed as endangered or on the early warning stage. Forty to 50 percent of insectivorous species are disproportionately affected by declines. Migratory birds are by far the hardest hit group, with over 50 percent of species listed as endangered or declining sharply. In contrast, many forest and urban species have increased in recent yearsbut whether this trend continues remains to be seen.

Sharp declines in open lands

The causes of the sharp decline in open-land species, insectivores, and migratory birds can be linked to intensive land use-especially agriculture-and overuse of pesticides, as well as hazards and habitat loss on migratory routes. For many species, however, the reasons are complex and sometimes poorly understood. "There's a lot of research that needs to be done. We want to fill some of these knowledge gaps with our new animal monitoring system Icarus. With it, we can literally look over the shoulders of birds in their natural environment and thus find out what threatens them," explains Martin Wikelski, director at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, who is studying the migratory behavior of blackbirds, cuckoos and storks, and other birds.

In addition to the sharp declines in most bird species, there are also individual bright spots: Where species and their habitat have been specifically protected, populations have recovered. Charismatic birds such as white-tailed eagles, ospreys, cranes and white storks, whose declines had clear and relatively easy-to-mitigate causes, have thus been saved from disappearing. "These examples show that measures to protect species and their habitats and thus protect biodiversity can be successful. What we need now is a national bird rescue program whose measures are actually implemented. Otherwise, we will have to say goodbye to many other bird species in Germany as well," Bauer warns.

Explore further What factors put Philippine birds at risk of extinction?

More information: T. Ryslavy, H.-G. Bauer, B. Gerlach, O. Huppop, J. Stahmer, P. Sudbeck & C. Sudfeldt

Die Rote Liste der Brutvogel Deutschlands, 6. Fassung

Berichte zum Vogelschutz 57 (2020): 13  112
The illustration depicts a two-headed Hydra in which the HAS-7 activity was experimentally blocked. Credit: Berenice Ziegler (COS)

In the animal kingdom, specific growth factors control body axis development. These signaling molecules are produced by a small group of cells at one end of the embryo to be distributed in a graded fashion toward the opposite pole. Through this process, discrete spatial patterns arise that determine the correct formation of the head-foot axis. A research team at the Center for Organismal Studies (COS) at Heidelberg University recently discovered an enzyme in the freshwater polyp Hydra that critically shapes this process by limiting the activity of certain growth factors.

In particular, the proteins of the so-called Wnt signaling pathway play an important role in the pattern formation of the primary body axis. Wnt proteins, which arose early during evolution, are considered to be universal developmental factors. "Misregulation of Wnt factors can cause serious malformations during embryonic development and give rise to diseases such as cancer," explains Prof. Dr. Ozbek, a member of the "Molecular Evolution and Genomics" department led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Holstein at the COS.

Now, the researchers have discovered an enzyme in the freshwater polyp Hydra that can break down Wnt proteins, thereby deactivating them. Hydra is a basal multicellular organism of the phylum Cnidaria that has long been used as a model organism to study the Spemann-Mangold organizer, an embryonic signaling center in charge of forming the body's longitudinal axis. The Wnt proteins responsible for this process are continually produced in the mouth region of the adult polyp to maintain the body axis.

The researchers determined that the newly discovered HAS-7 enzyme develops in a ring-shaped zone below Hydra's tentacle wreath. This region separates the head from the body. If HAS-7 production is experimentally interrupted by suppressing the gene expression, a fully formed second head and a second body axis spontaneously develop. According to Prof. Ozbek, something similar occurs when Wnt proteins are artificially produced in the animal's entire body.

In cooperation with Prof. Dr. Walter Stocker's group at Mainz University, the Heidelberg researchers were able to show that the HAS-7 enzyme is capable of specifically cleaving the Wnt protein to suppress its activity beyond the head. Without this inhibitory mechanism, the Wnt emanating from the head floods the body, creating a two-headed animal. The HAS-7 enzyme is a member of the astacin family of proteases, which were first identified in crayfish. "Members of the astacin protease family are also found in higher vertebrates. It is therefore likely that we have found a mechanism here that may play a role in humans as well," states Prof. Holstein.

In a follow-up project within the Collaborative Research Center 1324 "Mechanisms and Functions of Wnt Signaling," the researchers will collaborate with Prof. Dr. Irmgard Sinning of the Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center to study the molecular mechanism of Wnt cleavage by astacin. "We hope to be able to find clues on the precise point of attack in the Wnt protein," states Prof. Ozbek.

In addition to the Heidelberg researchers from the COS and the Institute for Applied Mathematics, scientists from the German Cancer Research Center, Mainz University, the University of Innsbruck (Austria), the Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands), and the University of Manitoba (Canada) also contributed to the study. Funding was provided by the German Research Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, among others. The results of the research were published in BMC Biology.

Explore further Insect evolution was more complex than previously assumed

More information: Berenice Ziegler et al, The Wnt-specific astacin proteinase HAS-7 restricts head organizer formation in Hydra, BMC Biology (2021). Journal information: BMC Biology Berenice Ziegler et al, The Wnt-specific astacin proteinase HAS-7 restricts head organizer formation in Hydra,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01046-9
A tree in the Court of North Carolina, tagged with a QR code, allows people to answer questions for a citizen science project as part of a College of Natural Resources research project. Credit: North Carolina State University

Scientists need to focus on tangible efforts to boost equity, diversity and inclusion in citizen science, researchers from North Carolina State University argued in a new perspective.

Published in the journal Science, the perspective is a response to a debate about rebranding "citizen science," the movement to use crowdsourced data collection, analysis or design in research. Researchers said that while the motivation for rebranding is in response to a real concern, there will be a cost to it, and efforts to make projects more inclusive should go deeper than that. Their recommendations speak to a broader discussion about how to ensure science is responsive to the needs of a diverse audience.

"At its heart, citizen science is a system of knowledge production that doesn't block entry based on credentials," said first author Caren Cooper, associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State. "Those of us in citizen science have been saying 'science is for everyone, you don't need a degree or special training.' But, the sad irony is that it hasn't been for everyone. The overwhelming majority of participants resemble their academic counterparts, who are often white, affluent and have advanced degrees. We want to take the good intentions that are driving rebranding, and commit to long-term, sustained efforts to reimagine an inclusive citizen science."

The term "citizen science" was coined in the 1990s, researchers said, to describe science led by institutions that use volunteers to collect data. It has evolved to encompass many types of projects with public involvement in design, leadership or data collection and analysis. As a "citizen science campus," there are projects underway at NC State in which undergraduates, faculty, staff and the general public can help collect data. Examples include projects that rely on volunteers to help figure out the microbial content of sourdough bread or detect the presence of lead pipes in homes around the state.

In an effort to resolve concerns that the term is exclusionary to people who do not have citizenship status in a given nation, some organizations have moved toward using the term "community science," among other names. But researchers said community science is a distinct and existing research movement led and designed by communities, rather than institutions, to address environmental or social justice problems.

"It's a huge diss to community science to flippantly change the name like it isn't already being utilized, and could be considered disrespectful to people who are doing this work and have been for many years," said co-author Zakiya Leggett, assistant professor of forestry and environmental resources. "If you have a citizen science project, but you advertise it as 'community science,' it does a disservice to both practices."

In addition, there is a cost to losing the term "citizen science," they said, since the term has gained momentum globally. In the United States, the term is used in a federal law authorizing the government to include volunteers in scientific research irrespective of their credentials and citizenship status.

"There is a lot of work that has gone toward incorporating 'citizen science' as a part of policy, as well as being accepted into mainstream science," said co-author Madhusudan Katti, associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State. "The name has been caught up in politicization of citizenship and nationalist politics, and rebranding is a little bit reactive. The concern is genuine, but the fix is not deep enough. Renaming something doesn't make it different from what it's been all along."

The researchers argued for strategic planning to advance accessibility, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in citizen science.

"One approach that could work for citizen science is 'centering in the margins.' That can include centering research agendas based on the areas that are underserved by science," Cooper said.

Other tactics could involve ensuring there are diverse perspectives in project leadership, or overcoming economic barriers to participation. They also said there is a need for funding to support science that addresses interests, concerns and needs of people who have historically or are currently underserved by science.

They said rebranding, if needed, should only happen if it is called for as part of a broader strategic plan. They also said rebranding efforts should refrain from co-opting existing terminology, avoid exporting issues in the United States to the rest of the world, and identify terminology to help further clarify distinctions for different types of projects.

"We wanted the fact that diversity and inclusion in citizen science remains elusive to serve as a canary in the coal mine to the rest of the scientific communityit takes far more than words and good intentions to be inclusive," Cooper said. "We can learn from community science without co-opting it. We need to figure this out without expecting quick-fix solutions, because those can do more harm than good."

Explore further Hakuna my data: New tools to increase reliability of citizen science

More information: "Inclusion in citizen science: The conundrum of rebranding" Science (2021). Journal information: Science "Inclusion in citizen science: The conundrum of rebranding"(2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.abi6487
Still of a video showing the formation and evolution of the first stars and galaxies in a virtual universe similar to our own. Credit: Dr Harley Katz, Beecroft Fellow, Department of Physics, University of Oxford

Cosmic dawn, when stars formed for the first time, occurred 250 million to 350 million years after the beginning of the universe, according to a new study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge.

The study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, suggests that the NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scheduled to launch in November, will be sensitive enough to observe the birth of galaxies directly.

The UK-led research team examined six of the most distant galaxies currently known, whose light has taken most of the universe's lifetime to reach us. They found that the distance of these galaxies away from Earth corresponded to a "look back" time of more than 13 billion years ago, when the universe was only 550 million years old.

Analyzing images from the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes, the researchers calculated the age of these galaxies as ranging from 200 to 300 million years, allowing an estimate of when their stars first formed.

Lead author Dr. Nicolas Laporte (University of Cambridge), who started the project while at UCL, said: "Theorists speculate that the universe was a dark place for the first few hundred million years, before the first stars and galaxies formed.

"Witnessing the moment when the universe was first bathed in starlight is a major quest in astronomy.

The video shows the formation and evolution of the first stars and galaxies in a virtual universe similar to our own. The simulation begins just before cosmic dawn, when the universe is devoid of starlight, and runs to the epoch 550 million years after the Big Bang when the six galaxies analyzed by Dr Laporte and colleagues are being observed. The age of the universe in millions of years is shown in the upper left. The inset focuses on the evolution of a galaxy similar to those in the recent observational study. Purple regions display the filamentary distribution of gas, composed mostly of hydrogen. White regions represent starlight and the yellow regions depict energetic radiation from the most massive stars which is capable of ionizing the surrounding hydrogen gas. As massive stars rapidly reach the end of their lifetime, they erupt in violent supernova explosions which expel the surrounding gas enabling the escape of this energetic radiation. Galaxies such as the one shown continually accrete material from nearby smaller systems and quickly assemble to form the more substantial galaxies observed by the Hubble Space Telescope at later times. Credit: Dr Harley Katz, Beecroft Fellow, Department of Physics, University of Oxford

"Our observations indicate that cosmic dawn occurred between 250 and 350 million years after the beginning of the universe, and, at the time of their formation, galaxies such as the ones we studied would have been sufficiently luminous to be seen with the James Webb Space Telescope."

The researchers analyzed starlight from the galaxies as recorded by the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes, examining a marker in their energy distribution indicative of the presence of atomic hydrogen in their stellar atmospheres. This provides an estimate of the age of the stars they contain.

This hydrogen signature increases in strength as the stellar population ages but diminishes when the galaxy is older than a billion years. The age-dependence arises because the more massive stars that contribute to this signal burn their nuclear fuel more rapidly and therefore die first.

Co-author Dr. Romain Meyer (UCL Physics & Astronomy and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany) said: "This age indicator is used to date stars in our own neighborhood in the Milky Way but it can also be used to date extremely remote galaxies, seen at a very early period of the universe.

"Using this indicator we can infer that, even at these early times, our galaxies are between 200 and 300 million years old."

In analyzing the data from Hubble and Spitzer, the researchers needed to estimate the "redshift" of each galaxy which indicates their cosmological distance and hence the look-back time at which they are being observed. To achieve this, they undertook spectroscopic measurements using the full armory of powerful ground-based telescopesthe Chilean Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA), the European Very Large Telescope, the twin Keck telescopes in Hawaii, and Gemini-South telescope.

Color image of the galaxy cluster used to detect one of the six galaxies, MACS0416-JD, examined in a study led by researchers at University College London and the University of Cambridge. This galaxy has an estimated age of 351 million years, which means that this galaxy was formed 178 million years after the Big Bang. The stellar mass of this galaxy is one billion times the mass of the Sun. This object is currently the most distant galaxy detected with ALMA. Credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA, HST Frontier Fields

These measurements enabled the team to confirm that looking at these galaxies corresponded to looking back to a time when the universe was 550 million years old.

Co-author Professor Richard Ellis (UCL Physics & Astronomy), who has tracked ever more distant galaxies over his career, said: "Over the last decade, astronomers have pushed back the frontiers of what we can observe to a time when the universe was only 4% of its present age. However, due to the limited transparency of Earth's atmosphere and the capabilities of the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes, we have reached our limit.

"We now eagerly await the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which we believe has the capability to directly witness cosmic dawn.

"The quest to see this important moment in the universe's history has been a holy grail in astronomy for decades. Since we are made of material processed in stars, this is in some sense the search for our own origins."

The new study involved astronomers at the University of California-Santa Cruz, the University of California, and the University of Texas.

The NASA-led James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble observatory, is scheduled to be launched into space in November. It will be the premier observatory over the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It consists of an infrared observatory, an immense mirror 6.5 meters wide, and a diamond-shaped sunshield. UCL scientists at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory have built and tested key hardware components for the NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph), one of the telescope's four instruments.

Explore further Hubble makes surprising find in the early universe

More information: N Laporte et al, Probing cosmic dawn: Ages and star formation histories of candidate z  9 galaxies, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2021). Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society N Laporte et al, Probing cosmic dawn: Ages and star formation histories of candidate z  9 galaxies,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab1239
The development of a fish cell line assay for the determination of acute fish toxicity. Credit: aQuaTox-Solutions/Eawag

A large number of chemicals are used in everyday products, in agriculture or in industry. At some point, many of these end up in the environment. In order for these substances to be authorized for the market, manufacturers must be able to prove in advance that they are harmless to humans and nature. This is done with toxicity tests in which living creatures are exposed to the effects of the chemicals. Thousands of fish die every year because they are used to test the effect on aquatic vertebrates.

Thanks to a test procedure developed in recent years by the aquatic research institute Eawag, this should soon be a thing of the past. This assay, based on rainbow trout gill cells, has now been approved by the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as the latest guideline in the field of environmental toxicology. This paves the way for animal-free approval procedures.

The fish cell line assay is the world's first alternative to experiments with live fish. The new OECD guideline allows companies to use fish cell line testing for product development and as part of the dossiers for chemical approval. "There is great interest on the part of industry in non-animal tests," confirms Professor Kristin Schirmer, Head of Department at Eawag, who together with Melanie Fischer (also at Eawag), has taken the lead in driving this pioneering work forwards. Because on the one hand, the demands on environmental risk assessment are growing, and on the other hand, the number of new chemicals and products that need to be tested is constantly increasing. In addition, the fish cell line assay also conserves resources. The miniaturization through the use of cells allows chemicals, water and time to be saved.

Kristin Schirmer assumes that the regulatory authorities, such as the ECHA in Helsinki or the US EPA in the U.S., will increasingly accept the fish cell line assay as an equivalent substitute to the regular fish test: "The OECD recommendation was the last important step from our side, after our method had already been certified by ISO two years ago. This should mean that nothing more stands in the way of an animal-free approval procedure."

In this way, Eawag contributes to the further development of toxicology and makes a significant contribution to the reduction of animal testing. This is because in 2019, tests were carried out on almost 8,000 fish in Switzerland alone for ecotoxicological tests.

This concludes a long and intensive period that required perseverance and a supportive environment. Schirmer already had the idea for this test procedure during her doctoral thesis in the mid-1990s. At the University of Waterloo (CAN), she then worked with exactly the same cell line on which the method is still based today. The cell line goes back to Schirmer's doctoral supervisor Niels C. Bols, who isolated the cells from the gills of the rainbow trout for the first time and cultivated them in such a way that they can be multiplied as often as desired.

"We chose gill cells because it is the gills that first come into contact with chemicals due to their large surface area in the fish," explains Schirmer. If the chemicals damage the gill cells, this means that vital processes, such as oxygen supply, no longer function for the fish. "So by observing how the gill cells are damaged by a chemical, we can predict how that chemical would affect a living fish," says Schirmer.

The award of a project proposal, which Schirmer received from the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) in 2006, marked the actual staring signal for the development of the now validated fish cell line assay. Schirmer continued her research first as Head of Department at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research in Leipzig and from 2008 as Head of Department at Eawag. In 2009, engineer and laboratory technician Melanie Fischer joined the team.

"In a first step, we developed and optimized our method and compared the results with regular tests on fish," says Schirmer. A study published in 2013 was thus able to prove for the first time that the new fish cell line assay arrives at the same toxicity values for over 30 chemicals as the conventional fish test. "After that, we had to show that the method also works in other laboratories," says Schirmer. Six laboratories from industry and universities took part in the international ring study conducted for this purpose in 2013-2014. Their results, obtained using the Eawag method, proved to be repeatable and comparable.

The study data laid the foundation for ISO certification in 2019 and the OECD guideline 2021. "Certification by internationally supported organizations is very important, as it is the only way to ensure that the tests are carried out in a standardized manner worldwide and that the results are thus also recognized," says Schirmer. From the submission to the OECD to the validation that has now taken place, a record short time of only two years passed, during which the method was once again revised in an elaborate process in order to harmonize the proposals and opinions of experts from many different representative countries and organizations. The team was supported by the national representatives of Switzerland (Petra Kunz, Federal Office of the Environment FOEN) and Norway (Sjur Andersen, Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency and Adam Lillicrap, NIVA). Eszter Simon (also at FOEN) supported the work as an expert.

Schirmer attributes the fact that the guideline could be adopted in such a short time to the interest and great support of all those involved: "It was an active discussion with OECD countries, industry, NGOs and regulatory authorities." This is also confirmed by Leon van der Wal of the OECD: "The commitment of OECD countries to aid the reduction of animal testing is reflected in the swift adoption of this first in vitro method for ecotoxicity testing. This is also due to the well-organized and transparent manner in which the lead countries communicated, as well as the hard work of the method developers and the OECD experts reviewing the method." Looking back, Kristin Schirmer comments: "Our learning curve was very steep. But the investment of time and energy was worth it. This success for non-animal testing alternatives in ecotoxicology is great and is something that will stay."

More information: Melanie Fischer et al, Repeatability and Reproducibility of the RTgill-W1 Cell Line Assay for Predicting Fish Acute Toxicity, Toxicological Sciences (2019). Journal information: Toxicological Sciences Melanie Fischer et al, Repeatability and Reproducibility of the RTgill-W1 Cell Line Assay for Predicting Fish Acute Toxicity,(2019). DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz057

Provided by Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Genomic evidence reveals the Chinese mountain cat as a wildcat subspecies with introgression to local domestic cats on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Credit:  Song Dazhao/CFCA

A team of researchers from China, Malaysia, the U.S. and Russia has found via genetic study that the Chinese mountain cat is not an ancestor of modern domesticated housecats. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the researchers describe their genetic study of a wide variety of cats.

For several years, the taxonomic status of the Chinese mountain cat has remained controversial due to the limited amount of study to date. Some have wondered if the cats were a true species or a wildcat of some sort. Some have also suggested that they may have been one of the ancestors of modern housecats. In this new effort, the researchers undertook the largest genetic study of the Chinese mountain cat conducted to date and compared what they found with Asiatic wildcats and domestic housecats.

The researchers note that most of the samples taken of the Chinese mountain cat were secondhandthey searched the area where they live (on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau) and found feces, skin tissue, dry pelts, blood and skeletons. They did the same for the Asiatic wild catssamples from domestic cats were obtained from cheek swabs, blood samples or skin tissue. Data for African wildcats was already readily available. Each of the samples underwent DNA analysis in which genome sequences were generated. The team then compared the sequenced data of the four types of cats to see how they were related.

Genomic evidence reveals the Chinese mountain cat as a wildcat subspecies with introgression to local domestic cats on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Credit:  Song Dazhao/CFCA

The data showed that modern house cats evolved solely from African wildcats. It also showed that Chinese mountain cats are a wildcat subspeciesand that in modern times, Chinese mountain cats have been mixing with Asiatic wildcats, possibly putting one or both subspecies in danger of losing some of their traits that help them survive in their individual environments. Prior research has shown this is not just a theoryEuropean wildcat numbers have been falling as they have mixed with other species, lessening their ability to survive in the wild. Interestingly, the researchers were not able to find any evidence of modern domestic cats breeding with Chinese mountain cats, despite large populations of them living in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Explore further Ancient DNA reveals role of Near East and Egypt in cat domestication

More information: He Yu et al, Genomic evidence for the Chinese mountain cat as a wildcat conspecific (Felis silvestris bieti) and its introgression to domestic cats, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances He Yu et al, Genomic evidence for the Chinese mountain cat as a wildcat conspecific (Felis silvestris bieti) and its introgression to domestic cats,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg0221

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Ideally, to prevent its spread, treatments should target the early stages of infection before the virus penetrates cells. A joint investigation by INRAE and Heidelberg University, Germany, has revealed the mechanisms by which the virus enters host cells. The results, published in EMBO Journal on 23rd June, show that SARS-CoV-2 uses two entry pathways: a fast route in cells expressing a specific protease (TMPRSS2) on their surface and a slow route in cells devoid of this protease. These findings offer new perspectives for the development of antiviral strategies that would target both cell entry pathways adopted by SARS-CoV-2.

Since early 2020, SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, has infected more than 179 million people worldwide and caused at least 3.8 million deaths. Apart from vaccination, the most effective strategy to limit the spread of the disease would involve drug treatments that target the early stages of infection and prevent the virus from penetrating cells. To this end, it is essential to understand how the virus achieves this entry. Inspired by studies of MERS-CoV, another coronavirus identified in 2012 and which caused Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, the research team focused on the cell entry pathway(s) used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect different cell types.

Fast and slow pathways

The scientists infected cell models mimicking different types of tissuessuch as lung, colon, or kidneyand infected them with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the course of their work, it became clear that certain cells were infected very rapidly (within 10 minutes) and others more slowly, about 50 minutes after binding of the virus to the cell surface. The team was able to demonstrate that the fast entry route correlates with the presence of a proteaseTMPRSS2at the surface of infected cells. In this scenario, SARS-CoV-2 exclusively used the TMPRSS2 pathway to penetrate cells. TMPRSS2 was notably found in the lungs and intestine, two organs where high levels of the virus are detected. When the TMPRSS2 protease was absent, the virus followed another route through the endolysosomal pathway that was slower, most probably because of the many complex cell mechanisms involved. Indeed, to follow this pathway, the virus notably requires a low pH (or an acid environment) to enable functioning of the endolysosomal proteases necessary for its activation. Other mechanisms are also involved, such as intracellular endolysosomal trafficking, and might represent interesting alternative targets for drug development or repurposing.

These findings show that the virus has developed the ability to utilize several cell entry mechanisms to infect as many cell types as possible, which may explain its high proliferative potential in the body and its rapid spread throughout the population. They also shed new light on the inefficiency of some treatments that target only one of the two entry routes. This study lays the foundations for the development of new antiviral strategies against SARS-CoV-2 infection involving more effective treatments that simultaneously target both viral entry pathways into cells.

Explore further Targeting cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 holds promise as new way to fight infection

More information: Jana Koch et al, TMPRSS2 expression dictates the entry route used by SARSCoV2 to infect host cells, The EMBO Journal (2021). Journal information: EMBO Journal Jana Koch et al, TMPRSS2 expression dictates the entry route used by SARSCoV2 to infect host cells,(2021). DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021107821

Provided by INRAE
Credit: CMU Department of Chemical Engineering

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities worldwide have been forced to reduce in-person interactions, altering how we connect and work with one another. The transition to a "virtual world" has been eye-opening, proving to many that research and innovation can continue, even in a remote setting.

For Kris Dahl, professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), the pandemic has in part created both international and interdisciplinary research opportunities. In conjunction with the CMU Portugal Program, Dahl teamed up with Joao Sanches, associate professor at the Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR), to co-advise Portuguese master's student Maria Teresa Parreira on the analysis of data obtained during a study considering cellular monolayers of epithelium.

Epithelial layers line most of the exposed regions in our bodies, such as the lungs, digestive tract, genital tract, and to some degree, even our skin. When cells in the epithelial layer stiffen, it is often a sign that they have become cancerous or fibrotic. In a lab at CMU, Dahl and her group stiffened single cells within epithelial monolayers and examined the morphology and motion of surrounding cells. The data was collected in the form of images, then sent to Sanches and Parreira, who conducted morphometric analysis and temporal tracking to determine the results.

In a previous study where Dahl softened cells within epithelial monolayers, surrounding cells appeared unfazed. However, in the current study, drastic changes were recorded in cells radially outward from the stiffened cell. Credit: CMU Department of Chemical Engineering

"We've always analyzed our data with respect to standard analysis techniques, but Joao and his team were able to show us brand-new techniques that we hadn't used before," said Dahl. "Everything was automated, and they had some very clever ideas on how to analyze the shape of these cells over time."

Predictably, the stiffened cell was significantly altered; however, Dahl was surprised to find drastic changes in the cells radially outward from the stiff cell. The study revealed that cells are highly sensitive to the presence of mechanically impaired neighbors, leading to a generalized loss of coordination in collective cell migration. Normal cells within the monolayer appear to be dependent on the distance to the impaired cells, pointing to compensatory behavior in response to force transmission imbalances in the monolayer. The results suggest long-range impacts of single-cell defects related to tissue dysfunction and provide insight into how fibrosis can start and become so devastating in different body tissues.

"Many areas of the body have the ability to regenerate, but these areas lose that ability once they become fibrotic," said Dahl. "By understanding how fibrosis is initiated, we can work on developing ways to interrupt that process."

Dahl will present the team's research at the upcoming European Society for Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, International Society of Clinical Hemorheology, and International Society of Biorheology Joint Meeting on July 4-7, 2021.

In the future, Dahl hopes to build upon this research by collaborating with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to understand how cells react to stents placed in the body. When a patient experiences coronary artery issues, physicians perform a procedure called angioplasty to open narrow or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Immediately following the surgery, a stiff metal mesh tube known as a stent is placed inside the blood vessel to keep it open, allowing blood to continue flowing. Due to a stent's stiff properties, there is reason to believe they may significantly impact surrounding cells.

This paper was published in Cytoskeleton in 2021. Other authors include Kirill Lavrenyuk, a doctoral student in Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh's joint Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Program.

Explore further Calcium helps build strong cells

More information: Maria Teresa Parreira et al, A single stiffened nucleus alters cell dynamics and coherence in a monolayer, Cytoskeleton (2021). Maria Teresa Parreira et al, A single stiffened nucleus alters cell dynamics and coherence in a monolayer,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/cm.21660
McMaster University researcher Richa Pandey displays new technology that can analyze a medical sample and return an accurate, definitive result in minutes. Credit: McMaster University

The idea of visiting the doctor's office with symptoms of an illness and leaving with a scientifically confirmed diagnosis is much closer to reality because of new technology developed by researchers at McMaster University.

Engineering, biochemistry and medical researchers from across campus have combined their skills to create a hand-held rapid test for bacterial infections that can produce accurate, reliable results in less than an hour, eliminating the need to send samples to a lab.

Their proof-of-concept research, published today in the journal Nature Chemistry, specifically describes the test's effectiveness in diagnosing urinary tract infections from real clinical samples. The researchers are adapting the test to detect other forms of bacteria and for the rapid diagnosis of viruses, including COVID-19. They also plan to test its viability for detecting markers of cancer.

"It's going to mean that patients can get better treatment, faster results and avoid serious complications. It can also avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics, which is something that can buy us time in the battle against antimicrobial resistance," says Leyla Soleymani, the paper's co-corresponding author and an associate professor of engineering physics.

"This will give doctors the science to support what they already suspect based on their skills and experience," says co-corresponding author Yingfu Li, a professor of biochemistry and biomedical sciences.

The new DNA-based technology uses a handheld device similar to a blood-glucose monitor. A microchip analyzes a droplet of bodily fluid such as blood, urine or saliva, using molecules that can detect the specific protein signature of an infection. The device, about the size of a USB stick, plugs into a smartphone, which displays the result.

The invention combines electrochemical engineering technology developed by Soleymani and her team with biochemical technology developed by Li and his colleague Dingran Chang. They worked with infectious disease clinician Marek Smeija, a professor of medicine who provided samples from real patients, and with Todd Hoare, a professor of chemical engineering.

"As scientists, we want to enable things," says Li, "We are knowledgeable in different scientific and engineering principles, and when you put them together to help people, that's a special feeling. Having the chance to impact society is the reason we all do this work."

Existing practice typically requires sending samples to laboratories to be cultured, a process that can take days. Providing immediate results to patients can reduce the spread of infection, improve patients' quality of life and simplify the work of busy clinicians.

The new technology can distinguish strains of the same bacteria that can be treated with antibiotics from others that are resistant to antibiotics, a critical distinction that can help battle the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR.

"Clinicians identified testing delays as a problem that needed to be resolved," says Soleymani, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices. "We wanted to build a system that could give as much information as possible to the physician during the patient's first visit."

The researchers are in the midst of testing an adaptation of the same technology for the virus that causes COVID-19, using samples from a Hamilton clinic.

"This technology is very versatile and we're getting very close to using the same technology for COVID-19 testing," says Li, who is also a member of McMaster's Michael Groote Institute for Infectious Disease Research.

The researchers are exploring regulatory approvals and industry partnerships to get the technology into wide use as quickly as possible, not only in Canada, but around the world, especially where access to lab testing is limited or non-existent.

"I think this technology is a step toward democratizing disease diagnosis and management," says lead author Richa Pandey, a post-doctoral research fellow in Soleymani's lab. "This is technology that can go anywhere in the world where testing is needed."

Explore further Hand-held device reads levels of cancer biomarker

More information: Integrating programmable DNAzymes with electrical readout for rapid and culture-free bacterial detection using a handheld platform, Nature Chemistry (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41557-021-00718-x Journal information: Nature Chemistry Integrating programmable DNAzymes with electrical readout for rapid and culture-free bacterial detection using a handheld platform,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00718-x
Credit: Albert Gonzalez Farran, UNAMID

Girls' loss of schooling as a result of COVID-19 threatens to set back development, a report warns.

About one million girls in Sub-Saharan Africa may never return to school after getting pregnant due to COVID-19 school closures, a development that could derail Africa's growth, a report says.

The Ibrahim Forum Report highlights the COVID-19-related challenges facing Africa, including an increase in sexual and gender-based violence, strain on already weak health services, rising instability and economic hardship.

The report released this month warns that school closures negatively impact girls' socialization, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and safe spaces. It says they become vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation, female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and early pregnancies.

"The Ibrahim Forum Report shows how school closures risk widening existing learning inequalities," says Camilla Rocca, head of research, Mo Ibrahim Foundation. "Already in 2019, there was a 3.9 percentage points gap between the rate of out-of-school girls and boys in Sub-Saharan Africa."

The analysis, Rocca explains, is based on data such as education enrolment and adolescent pregnancy rates.

Stay-at-home orders during the pandemic have triggered an increase in violence against women and girls across the world, notes Rocca, adding: "This is happening at a time when access to support and emergency services to curb SGBV [sexual and gender-based violence] have declined due to the pandemic and its related restrictions."

Rocca tells SciDev.Net that in a survey of 1,056 women across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal almost 41 percent of respondents reported incidents of domestic violence before the pandemic, while this rose to more than 52 percent during COVID-19.

The report outlines a roadmap to a sustainable COVID-19 recovery for Africa, including strengthening collaboration, prioritizing young people, and championing good governance.

Tijani Salami, a physician advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Nigeria, says that women are bearing the brunt of socio-economic fallout from COVID-19.

"Child marriage is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa," explains Salami, an Aspen New Voices fellow. "About 43 percent of girls in Nigeria marry before the age of 18. The impacts of COVID-19 could worsen this practice with consequences on the health of girls,"

The New Voices Fellowship at the Aspen Institute is a year-long, non-residential program that provides intensive media and advocacy training for frontline development experts.

Tammary Esho, a director at Amref Health Africa's Center of Excellence to End Female Genital Mutilation, says that the pandemic has exacerbated the harmful practices of deliberately cutting or injuring female genitals in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Uganda.

"Women and girls make up a huge human capital and this will have a negative impact on Africa losing up to a decade of developmental progress if GBV [gender-based violence] is not addressed," she says.

The pandemic calls for innovative approaches to strengthen and support social, economic, health and justice systems for public emergency prevention and response preparedness, Esho adds.

Elizabeth Anne Bukusi, senior principal clinical research scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, says that COVID-19 has demonstrated the lack of attention to promotive and prevention health services which are key to mitigating the pandemic.

Recovery will require access to COVID-19 vaccines in which Africa is at the back of the queue, and a framework to help increase the region's capacity to navigate future crises, according to Bukusi.

"Africa also needs to rethink priorities and investment in the healthcare of its citizenry [and] in research for health [to] achieve health and wellbeing for its citizens," Bukusi adds.

Explore further Child marriage and domestic violence: What we found in 16 African countries

Provided by SciDev.Net
The Nesher Ramla human mandible (left) and parietal bone (right). Credit: Avi Levin and Ilan Theiler, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Analysis of recently discovered fossils found in Israel suggest that interactions between different human species were more complex than previously believed, according to a team of researchers including Binghamton University anthropology professor Rolf Quam.

The research team, led by Israel Hershkovitz from Tel Aviv University, published their findings in Science, describing recently discovered fossils from the site of Nesher Ramla in Israel. The Nesher Ramla site dates to about 120,000-140,000 years ago, towards the very end of the Middle Pleistocene time period.

The human fossils were found by Dr. Zaidner of the Hebrew University during salvage excavations at the Nesher Ramla prehistoric site, near the city of Ramla. Digging down about 8 meters, the excavators found large quantities of animal bones, including horses, fallow deer and aurochs, as well as stone tools and human bones. The human fossils consist of a partial cranial vault and a mandible. Researchers made virtual reconstructions of the fossils to analyze them using sophisticated computer software programs and to compare them with other fossils from Europe, Africa and Asia. The results suggest that the Nesher Ramla fossils represent late survivors of a population of humans who lived in the Middle East during the Middle Pleistocene period.

Transparent view of the mandibular body and tooth roots in the Nesher Ramla mandible. Credit: Ariel Pokhojaev, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

"The oldest fossils that show Neandertal features are found in Wesern Europe, so researchers generally believe the Neandertals originated there," said Quam. "However, migrations of different species from the Middle East into Europe may have provided genetic contributions to the Neandertal gene pool during the course of their evolution."

The finds from Nesher Ramla are noteworthy because they sample a time period in the Middle East with few fossils, so they are important additions to the growing fossil record from the region. Other fossils from this approximate time period are difficult to classify taxonomically since they seem to show a combination of features seen in both Neandertals and modern humans. The Nesher Ramla fossils seem more Neandertal-like in the mandible and less Neandertal-like in the cranial vault, but are clearly distinct from modern humans. This pattern matches what has been suggested for both Neandertals and modern humans, where the diagnostic skeletal features of each species appear first in the facial region and later on the cranial vault.

Virtual reconstruction of the Nesher Ramla mandible. Credit: Ariel Pokhojaev, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Describing the significance of the find, Dr. Hershkovitz said: "It enables us to make new sense of previously found human fossils, add another piece to the puzzle of human evolution, and understand the migrations of humans in the old world. Even though they lived so long ago, in the late middle Pleistocene, the Nesher Ramla people can tell us a fascinating tale, revealing a great deal about their descendants' evolution and way of life."

Shape analysis protocol of the Nesher Ramla skull fragment. Credit: Ariel Pokhojaev, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

The researchers were careful not to attribute the Nesher Ramla fossils to a new species. Rather, they grouped them together with earlier fossils from several sites in the Middle East that have been difficult to classify and considered all of them to represent a local population of humans that occupied the region between about 420,000-120,000. Given the fact that the Middle East sits at the crossroads of three continents, it is likely that different human groups moved into and out of the region regularly, exchanging genes with the local inhabitants. This scenario might explain the variable anatomical features in these fossils, with the Nesher Ramla fossils representing the latest known survivors of this localized Middle Pleistocene population.

Virtual reconstruction of the Nesher Ramla tooth Credit: Ariel Pokhojaev, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Researchers explaining about the Nesher Ramla Homo type. Credit: Tel Aviv University

"This is a complicated story, but what we are learning is that the interactions between different human species in the past were much more convoluted than we had previously appreciated," said Quam.

Virtual reconstruction of the Nesher Ramla mandible and molar. Credit: Ariel Pokhojaev, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Static skull & mandible & parietal orthographic. Credit: Tel Aviv University

The study, "A Middle Pleistocene Homo from Nesher Ramla, Israel," was published in Science, along with a companion paper discussing the culture, way of life, and behavior of the Nesher Ramla Homo.

Explore further Scientists discover oldest known modern human fossil outside of Africa
Matt Quade, Ph.D., associate professor of management, led the study and is an adoptive parent. Credit: Robert Rogers, Baylor University

When an organization supports its employees who choose to adopt children, the employees, their families, the adopted children and the organization itself experience positive benefits and outcomes, according to new research from Baylor University.

The study, "It Takes a Village: How Organizational Support for Adoption Positively Affects Employees and Their Families," is published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. Researchers from Baylor's Hankamer School of Business include Matthew J. Quade, Ph.D., associate professor of management; Kaylee J. Hackney, Ph.D., assistant professor of management; and Dawn S. Carlson, Ph.D., professor of management.

"This research provides empirical evidence of specific outcomes for something that organizations have been doing with increasing frequency in recent years," said Quade, who led the study and is an adoptive parent. "Such support has primarily come via financial reimbursement or leave policies. Our research provides evidence of specific ways that employees and their families benefit from such support."

The study included surveys of 592 married couples (1,184 total surveyed participants) who had adopted a child within the past two years. The results show:

Commitment to the organization for adoptive employees as well as their spouse is greater when their organization supports their adoption of a child.

Adoptive employees who work in organizations that support their adoption of a child have positive effects spill over into their family such as increased family functioning and reduced relationship tension.

Spouses experience greater levels of family functioning and lower levels of relationship tension when the other spouse's employing organization supports their adoption of a child.

Adopted children benefit indirectly from their parents' organization if the organization supported their adoption. This benefit comes in the form of a stronger attachment to the adoptive parents.

"A child's attachment to the adoptive parent(s) is obviously a key metric in the adoption community," Quade said, "and we found this to be positively impacted as a result of organizational support for adoption."

Percentage of U.S. employers offering adoption assistance grows

The United States historically accounts for nearly half of all adoptions that take place worldwide each year. In 2014, more than 110,000 children were adopted by parents in the U.S., according to the study.

"With each adoption, there is presumably one working parent, and in many cases, there are two working parents who must navigate balancing work demands alongside an extremely complex, new and unique family-life demandthe adoption of a child," researchers wrote. "Organizations have identified that they can play a role in supporting employees who are adopting a child and they have increasingly responded."

The study points to an annual survey by the Society for Human Resource Management that shows the percentage of U.S. employers offering adoption assistance had risen from 7% in 2015 to 10% in 2019.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which is referenced in the study, produces a list of the 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces. The foundation measures adoption assistance through activities such as financial reimbursement for adoption-related expenses, paid or unpaid leave, flexible work arrangements or managerial support for employees during and after the adoption process.

The researchers define this support as "the intentional effort on the part of an organization, through financial, environmental or procedural means, to support an employee who is in the process of adopting or has recently adopted a child."

The organization's commitment to assist with adoption can result in reciprocal feelings from the employees who've been helped, as well as spouses. Quade said that commitment to the organization could range from a sense of belonging or emotional attachment to the organization to a desire to spend the rest of one's career with that organization.

"Alternative form of corporate social responsibility"

The researchers found that adoption-friendly benefits offered by organizations are a worthwhile investment for employees and their families.

"Support for employees who are adopting a child can be strengthened when everyone within the organization is supportive," Quade said. "More specifically, direct supervisors and coworkers of those employees who are adopting a child can stand to contribute a great deal to the level of support an employee feels when going through an adoption process."

Quade said, based on this study, more organizations should consider enacting policies that support employees who are using an alternative, untraditional way of building a family (i.e., adoption).

"Organizational support for adoption can be an alternative form of corporate social responsibility as its offering could have indirect effects on the communities in which they operate and around the world by helping reduce the number of children needing to be adopted," he said.

Explore further Children can benefit when adoptive and biological parents share adoption stories

More information: Matthew J. Quade et al, It takes a village: How organizational support for adoption positively affects employees and their families, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (2021). Matthew J. Quade et al, It takes a village: How organizational support for adoption positively affects employees and their families,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/joop.12358
This July 23, 2020, file photo shows the view of the Space Needle, in Seattle. Record-high heat is forecast in the Pacific Northwest this weekend, raising concerns about wildfires and the health of people in a region where many don't have air conditioning. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch and predicted "dangerously hot" conditions Friday, June 25, 2021, through at least Tuesday. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File

Record-high heat is forecast in the normally mild-weathered Pacific Northwest this weekend, raising concerns about wildfires and the health of people in a region where many people don't have air conditioning.

City officials in Seattle were opening libraries as cooling centers and crews were being sent to places in Oregon where the risk of wildfires was high.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch and predicted "dangerously hot" conditions Friday through at least Tuesday. The heat wave will cover portions of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, with temperatures rising to 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) in places, the agency said.

"This will likely be an historic heat wave," the agency said. "Chances are good that many long standing records will be broken."

Among those might be the record high temperature for Spokane, Washington, of 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius), set in 1921 and 1968, the Weather Service said.

AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno warned that the heat wave is arriving in an area where many people do not have air conditioning. That's especially true west of the Cascade Range, where cities such as Seattle and Portland, Oregon, typically enjoy more moderate weather.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Housing Survey of 2015, only one-third of households in Seattle had air conditioning, as the average high temperature in June is 71 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Celsius). Nationally, 89% of households have air conditioning.

In Oregon, forecasters predicted record-setting weekend temperatures between 102 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit (38 and 41 degrees Celsius)and possibly higherin the Portland metropolitan area. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Portland was 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius), in 1965 and 1981. Cooling centers will open in the Portland area on Friday.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin this week issued guidance outlining ways for residents to stay cool as temperatures are forecast to top 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius).

"We're reopening many city facilities for individuals to stay cool, but many of our city's indoor spaces remain closed or at reduced capacity," because of COVID-19, Durkan said in a statement.

She also urged residents to drink water, reduce strenuous activities and check on neighbors.

Thirteen branches of the Seattle Public Library with air conditioning will be open at some point this week, Durkan's office said. The branches are still restricted to 50% capacity and masks are still required.

Communities scrambled to initiate burn bans in the Portland area and fire crews were pre-positioned in high-risk wildfire areas. The heat could exacerbate efforts to fight several fires already burning in central and southern parts of the state.

The Bonneville Power Administration, the federal agency responsible for electrical supply in the Northwest, did not expect the heat to produce rolling blackouts like those that have happened in other parts of the country during heat waves.

"We're in pretty good shape," said Doug Johnson, spokesman for the Portland-based agency.

He noted the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant is back on line after a spring refueling outage. There is also plenty of water behind hydroelectric dams, such as the giant Grand Coulee Dam, to turn electric turbines, the agency said. Hydropower is a major electricity source in the Northwest.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross warned of increased wildfire risks, because of high temperatures coupled with severe drought conditions.

"After back-to-back years of record-breaking wildfires, this year it's more critical than ever to get ready now," said Alex Dieffenbach, head of the Northwest Region of the Red Cross. "Wildfires are dangerous and can spread quickly, giving you only minutes to evacuate."

The Red Cross suggested people create an evacuation plan, build an emergency kit with food and water and plan for dealing with their pets.

"Because of the pandemic, include a mask for everyone in your household," the Red Cross said.

Explore further Western US braced for record heat wave

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
An artist's conception illustrates one of the most primitive supermassive black holes known (central black dot) at the core of a young, star-rich galaxy. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

One of the most cherished laws of physicsthe conservation of chargehas come under fire in "startling" research by physicists.

The paper by Dr. Jonathan Gratus from Lancaster University and Dr. Paul Kinsler and Professor Martin McCall from Imperial College London demonstrates how the laws of physics break down in a black hole or "singularity."

"As the place where physics 'breaks down' in a black-hole, we have the sense that anything might happen at a singularity. Although perhaps most useful as a plot device for science fiction stories, should we as concerned physicists nevertheless check what conservation laws might no longer hold?"

The physicists investigated the behavior of charge conservation which is the principle that the total electric charge in an isolated system never changes.

To their surprise, they found that they could overturn this "usually sacrosanct principle of standard electromagnetism."

Dr. Kinsler said: "By dropping an 'axion-bomb' into a temporary singularity, such as an evaporating black hole, we can create or destroy electrical charge."

Axions are a hypothesized particle that are a candidate for dark matter, although their exact properties are still debated, and they have not yet been detected.

Professor Martin McCall said: "This so-called axion-bomb is a mathematical construct that combines electromagnetic fields and axion particle fields in the correct way.'"

Dr. Jonathan Gratus said: "The construction shrinks and disappears into the singularity, taking electrical charge with it. And it is the combination of a temporary singularity and a newly proposed type of axion field that is crucial to its success."

Dr. Kinsler added: "Although people often like to say that physics 'breaks down," here, we show that although exotic phenomena might occur, what actually happens is nevertheless constrained by the still-working laws of physics around the singularity."

The researchers said: "Our conclusion appears to be at once startling and undeniable: global charge conservation cannot be guaranteed in the presence of axionic electromagnetic interaction."

Explore further New portal to unveil the dark sector of the Universe

More information: Jonathan Gratus et al, Temporary Singularities and Axions: An Analytic Solution that Challenges Charge Conservation, Annalen der Physik (2021). Jonathan Gratus et al, Temporary Singularities and Axions: An Analytic Solution that Challenges Charge Conservation,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/andp.202000565
A Croatian wolf culling quota was established in 2005, but ministers then reintroduced a complete ban in 2013 to protect dwindling numbers.

The wolf corpse hanging from a road sign outside a small Croatian town warned that farmers had been pushed too farattacks on their livestock were driving them to desperation.

Nobody knows who strung up the wolf, but the incident in April came just days after a local farmer saw roughly 90 of his sheep slaughtered by wolves.

Images of bloodied sheep carcasses were splashed across the newspapers and social media, shocking many and prompting increasingly strident calls from farmers for a cull on the predators.

"It's simply a plague," says Ivan Tesija, a cattleman.

"Wolves are everywhere, they are fearless, and people don't know how to defend themselves."

The animals have been protected by law since 1995 when they were on the verge of disappearing.

Although a culling quota was allowed from 2005, ministers reintroduced the complete ban in 2013 to protect dwindling numbers.

The prohibition is strongly backed by animal protection groups.

"We are the ones who created this mess, so we should be the ones to solve it and not make wolves pay for our mistakes," says Luka Oman, head of the Animal Friends NGO.

- Wolf-dog threatAlmost 3,000 domestic and farm animalsprimarily sheepwere killed or injured by wolves last year, slightly above average, according to official figures.

"We are the ones who created this mess, so we should be the ones to solve it and not make wolves pay for our mistakes," says Luka Oman, head of the Animal Friends NGO.

About 160 wolves roam sparsely populated areas from the Adriatic coast hinterland to the mountains on the borders with Slovenia and Bosnia, the economy ministry estimates.

But farmers and hunters say the real figure is around 300. Too many, they say, for the habitat of 25,000 square kilometres (9,652 square miles).

The situation is complicated further by the presence of wolf-dog hybridsestimated by scientists at some 10 percent of the current population.

"Hybrids are a huge problemthey are fearless, lack natural hunting instinct and go for easier prey," says veterinarian and hunter Boris Katic.

This means cattle or sheep rather than boars or deer, he explains.

Katic says some locals bred the animals as a hobby in the time of Croatia's 1990s independence war and its aftermath.

Josip Kusak from Zagreb University points out, though, that hybrid populations explode when male wolves are being killed, forcing females to mate with stray dogs.

Experts and animal protection groups say farmers can thwart attacks with better electric fencing, herding their animals at night and monitoring them during the day.

But, they agree that wolf-dogs are bad news for the wolf genome.

Katic says all hybrids, that according to him could make up around a quarter of the current wolf population, should be killed and then a culling quota be reintroduced.

But the economy ministry said the number of wolves had "significantly decreased" when the quota was allowed before 2013, and culling did nothing to reduce attacks on livestock.

Experts and animal protection groups say farmers can thwart attacks with better electric fencing, herding their animals at night and monitoring them during the day.

The number of attacks "does not reflect the number of wolves but rather how many poorly kept cattle there are", says Kusak.

- Unendurable tormentsThe issue is not only scientific. It has strong emotional and economic elements.

The farmers feel that their livelihoods are on the line.

Kosa Galovic used her phone to record images of three sheep and five lambs that were killed by wolves in May.

"These are torments no one can endure," Kosa Galovic tells AFP, recounting how six wolves killed three of her sheep and five lambs last month, imperilling her finances.

Ivan Tesija says roughly 100 of his cows have been slaughtered over the past 12 years, and showed a picture of a calf that died in a recent attack.

The government offers compensation ranging from about 80 euros ($95) for a sheep or a goat carcass to 10 times that amount for a pregnant cowamounts dismissed as paltry by Tesija.

Animal protection groups, though, see it as a wider issue of humanity's relations with nature.

"The co-existence of humans and wolves is not only possible, it is necessary," says Luka Oman.

"If we want to preserve a genuine natural environment, it must contain wild animals too."

He argues that hunting could make the situation worse for farmers because killing a dominant male or female can destabilise the pack and lead to more attacksa view shared by the ministry.

No one knows who strung up the wolf, but it happened just days after a local farmer saw about 90 of his sheep slaughtered in April.

But his appeals are unlikely to sway beleaguered farmers.

"You never know what the night will bring, people feel terrorised," Josip Subaric says, telling AFP that two of his calves were killed by wolves last month despite electric fencing.

"In our business, the wolf is the master of life and death."

Explore further Germany relaxes rules on wolf culls

 2021 AFP
The polarisation plane of a wave is the plane in which a vector (for example, the electric field vector) oscillates and changes. In the figure, the oscillations of the electric vector are in blue; the polarisation plane is in red. Credit: SPbU

Researchers from St. Petersburg University have analyzed data from optical telescopes covering more than eight years and managed to explain the mechanism of polarization plane rotations in blazars.

Dmitry Blinov is a co-author of the article and Senior Research Associate in the Department of Astrophysics, St. Petersburg University. He notes that researchers have been studying the optical polarization from active galactic nuclei for more than 50 years. Some of the first academic papers on this topic were published back in the 1960s by Vladimir Hagen-Thorn, Professor in the Department of Astrophysics, St Petersburg University, and Viktor Dombrovskiy, Associate Professor in the Department of Astrophysics, Leningrad State University.

In the universe, the main material is concentrated in galaxies with hundreds of billions of stars; there are about 200-400 of them in the Milky Way. At the center of galaxies there are supermassive black holes, whose mass ranges from millions to billions of those of the Sun. Around black holes there is a large number of stars, gas and dust, which, being too close to the black hole, "fall" into it. However, a black hole cannot ingest these completely and throws out part of the matter into intergalactic space in the form of extremely fast plasma jets.

The best objects for studying this phenomenon are blazars. They are active galactic nuclei with very high luminosity, whose plasma flow (jet) is directed towards the Earth at an angle of no more than 15 degrees. Such objects are the main sources of cosmic gamma rays, the nature and properties of which are understudied. Additionally, blazars puzzle astronomers by producing other phenomena, including the rotation of polarization plane.

Repeated pattern of flares in the gamma-ray emission of the blazar 3C 279. Credit: SPbU

The polarization plane of a wave is the plane in which a vector (for example, the electric field vector) oscillates and changes. In the pictured figure, the oscillations of the electric vector are in blue; the polarization plane is in red.

The light that we see in nature, as a rule, consists of many such waves directed in different directions. In this case, the orientation of polarization is random (in the image below in the figure on the left). Fully polarized light (in the figure on the right) propagates with the oscillations of the electric vector in only one plane. Such a phenomenon can be observed in some lasers. However, physical processes mainly create partially polarized light, while electromagnetic waves in a light beam often oscillate along one of the directions. For example, the figure in the middle shows electromagnetic waves in a beam of partially polarized light directed towards the reader. It is this kind of light that scientists observe when studying blazars. For this purpose, they study active galactic nuclei through a telescope with a special polarizing filter, similar to sunglasses, which transmits oscillations only in one plane.

Decades of observations have testified that the polarization plane of visible light in blazars sometimes rotates. Scientists have put forward several hypotheses that could describe the mechanism of such rotations, but none of them have had sufficient evidence. The research group from the Laboratory of Observational Astrophysics at St. Petersburg University drew attention to one of the theoretical models. It was proposed back in 2010 in an academic paper. Researchers from St. Petersburg University also took part in that study. It considered a rotation of the polarization plane and predicted that such rotations should coincide with repeated gamma ray bursts.

The research group from St. Petersburg University tested this hypothesis in collaboration with scientists from the Boston University Institute for Astrophysical Research, the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy; and other research institutions. They analyzed publicly available data from: the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which had observed one of the most active blazars 3C 279; the St. Petersburg University Observatory; the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory; the Perkins telescope; and others.

Polarization states. Credit: SPbU

"We have compared the results of numerous observations of the polarization of optical emission from blazar 3C 279 with open data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. It has been regularly scanning the entire sky since 2008 and showing gamma-ray flux distribution. We have managed to find a pattern of bursts in this blazar, which has repeated at least three times along with the rotations of the optical polarization. This confirms the previously proposed model explaining rotations of polarization," says Dmitry Blinov.

Additionally, based on the data obtained, the researchers have managed to describe the structure of the inner part of the jets. It is found that the fast spine, the center of the jet, is surrounded by a slower sheath, which consists of ring condensations. When a plasmoid moves along the spine of the jet at high speed, it scatters low-energy photons from the sheath to energies of the gamma-ray band. This causes the bursts that the scientists have observed. Since the ring-shaped structures of the sheath have been stable over the years of observations, such bursts have repeated several times.

The research findings have become the basis for 3D animation, which gives an idea of the processes taking place in the inner parts of active galactic nuclei. According to Dmitry Blinov, in the future, similar patterns of bursts in the gamma band might help clarify other issues. For example, according to one of the hypotheses, it is jets with fast spines and a slow sheaths that can produce fundamental cosmic particlesneutrinos. Repeating patterns of bursts might indicate blazars that emit cosmic neutrinos.

More information: D Blinov et al, Repeated pattern of gamma-ray flares in the light curve of the blazar 3C 279, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2021). Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society D Blinov et al, Repeated pattern of gamma-ray flares in the light curve of the blazar 3C 279,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab1484
Figure 1. Study area. Sampling sites are identified by red dots. The location of the wells and boreholes used in this study are represented with green triangles, while the location of the Minor river sampling site is shown with a yellow triangle. These data are obtained from Ibanhez et al. (2019). Orthophoto (taken in 2018) and the mapping of local fluvial courses were obtained from the Instituto Geografico Nacional (www.ign.es). BH denotes borehole.

Pioneering research, led by a team from Trinity and the Marine Research Institute of the Spanish Research Council (IIM-CSIC) in Vigo (Galicia, Spain), suggests "subterranean estuaries" may be critical in managing sustainable fishing and aquaculturetwo growing industries of strategic importance to Ireland.

Subterranean estuaries are analogous to surface water estuaries, where freshwater flowing out to sea mixes with seawater, but are instead located underground, invisible to the naked eye.

Yet the newly published research shows these hidden features are very important in the ecology of coastal systems and in filtering pollutantssome of which have been slowly traveling to sea for decades having leached from agricultural soils.

The research, just published open access in Frontiers in Marine Science (see here) and Limnology and Oceanography (see here), uncovered subterranean estuaries in the Ria de Vigo in Galicia (one of the most productive coastal ecosystems in Europe and leader in bivalve production for human consumption) and assessed their importance to the coastal environment.

By employing a selection of natural environmental tracers that carry the chemical fingerprints of groundwater sources on land out to sea, the team estimated that almost 25% of the continental freshwater discharged to the Ria de Vigo comes from this invisible source.

The Biogeochemistry Research Group of Trinity's School of Natural Sciences led the study (Project SUBACID). Explaining the significance of the work, and its wider implications for Irish waters, Carlos Rocha, Professor in Environmental Change, said:

"Bivalve aquaculture is a strategic, expanding sector in Irish sustainable development and features highly in the national plans to diversify food production. While our work was conducted in the Ria de Vigo, this area was carefully selected because of its capability to support aquaculture and its biogeographic similarity to parts of the Irish coastline.

"These subterranean estuaries have a high capability to filter out pollutants, like fertilizers, from freshwater. Given the extent to which they supply large ecosystems with incoming freshwater, they have a much more important role to play than many would have believed."

Juan Severino Pino Ibanhez, researcher from the Marine Research Institute-CSIC (Spain), added:

"We will now focus in more detail on which specific ecosystem services these invisible structures provide, and how they might affect, for example, the ongoing threat to this industry posed by ocean acidification caused by anthropogenic CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere.

"We are currently strengthening the collaborative network established with the Marine Research Institute of Vigo to elucidate the functioning of these hidden ecosystems and their role in coastal health and resilience. Lessons learnt in Vigo together with ongoing research made by our group in Irish coastal ecosystems will help to understand the future of Irish coastal ecosystem services and food production."

Explore further Fresh groundwater flow important for coastal ecosystems

More information: Elisa Calvo-Martin et al, Reactive Solute Transport Through Two Contrasting Subterranean Estuary Exit Sites in the Ria de Vigo (NW Iberian Peninsula), Frontiers in Marine Science (2021). Elisa Calvo-Martin et al, Reactive Solute Transport Through Two Contrasting Subterranean Estuary Exit Sites in the Ria de Vigo (NW Iberian Peninsula),(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.626813 J. Severino P. Ibanhez et al, Fresh and saline submarine groundwater discharge in a large coastal inlet affected by seasonal upwelling, Limnology and Oceanography (2021). DOI: 10.1002/lno.11733 Journal information: Frontiers in Marine Science
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new tool to help conserve one of the UK's most threatened mammals has been released today, with the publication of the first high-quality reference genome for the European water vole. The genome was generated by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in collaboration with animal conservation charity the Wildwood Trust, as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.

The genome, published today through Wellcome Open Research, is openly available as a reference for researchers seeking to assess water vole population genetics, better understand how the species has evolved and to manage reintroduction efforts.

The European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) is a small semi-aquatic mammal that lives on the banks of freshwater habitats and in wetlands. The species is native to Europe, west Asia, Russia and Kazakhstan. While the water vole's conservation status is 'least concern' worldwide, populations in the United Kingdom have declined to such an extent that the species is considered nationally endangered. Habitat loss and predation by the American mink, an invasive alien species, have reduced the UK population from 7.3 million in 1990 to an estimated 132,000 in 2018.

Water voles gained full legal protection in the UK in 2008. There have been a number of conservation projects in the UK aimed at supporting water vole populations, including efforts at habitat restoration and to control the population of American mink. There are also efforts to reintroduce the water vole in a number of restored urban and wild habitats, as well as mitigate the impact of new development.

European water voles returned to Britain from ice-free refuges in Iberia and Eastern Europe after the last ice age, with these two clades contributing to genetic diversity in UK populations. This diversity may be apparent in certain traits, such as the black fur of Scottish water voles, which is distinct from those in England that tend to have brown fur. But the full wealth of genetic diversity cannot be estimated by appearance alone. It is also unknown how much diversity has been lost as a result of the recent population crash.

Hazel Ryan, Senior Conservation Officer at the Wildwood Trust, said: "Water voles are amazing animals and we don't fully understand what ecosystems lose without them. They are industrious habitat managers, almost like miniature beavers in the way they fell stems, make burrows and alter the landscape. We suspect that some water vole populations have become inbred in recent decades owing to shrinking numbers and the fragmentation of populations through habitat loss. The reference genome offers us a way to better understand genetic diversity for reintroductions and consider mixing individuals to ensure populations have the best chance to thrive."

To sequence the European water vole reference genome, a blood sample was taken from a live male A. amphibius individual that was part of the captive breeding population of the Wildwood Trust in Kent, UK. DNA was extracted from this sample and sequenced by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute on Pacific Biosciences SEQUEL I and Illumina HiSeq X instruments.

Professor Rob Ogden, Director of Conservation Science at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of water vole populations is an important aspect of their conservation in the UK, and is central to international guidelines on the movement of wildlife for conservation management. The release of the water vole genome provides a comprehensive set of genetic tools to support the future sustainability of the species in the UK."

The water vole genome is published as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project, which will see partner organisations sequence and assemble the genomes of 70,000 animal, plant, fungal and protist species across Britain and Ireland.

Professor Mark Blaxter, Programme Lead for the Darwin Tree of Life project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "The European water vole is a prime example of a British species whose genetic diversity we're in danger of losing before we've had chance to fully record it. This high-quality Arvicola amphibius reference genome will allow us to do that, as well as support ongoing conservation efforts to preserve existing populations and reintroduce new ones in a way that ensures these populations are genetically robust."

Explore further One-quarter of native mammals now at risk of extinction in Britain

More information: Angus I. Carpenter, Michelle Smith and Craig Corton. (2021). The genome sequence of the European water vole, Arvicola amphibius Linnaeus 1758. Wellcome Open Research. DOI: Angus I. Carpenter, Michelle Smith and Craig Corton. (2021). The genome sequence of the European water vole, Arvicola amphibius Linnaeus 1758.. DOI: doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16753.1
A cicada is seen on the tarmac near Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on June 9, 2021 as President Joe Biden prepared to leave for Europe.

They 've been everywhere, crawling up trees and flitting about clumsily in search of a mate, droning loudly, causing auto accidents and even daring to land on the neck of the US president.

Now the curtain is coming down for the latest brood of cicadas, the disquieting insects that appear briefly in their trillions in the US every 17 years. These huge swarms that have been spawning headlinesand headaches, in some casesfor Americans are dying off.

The infestation began in April and May in some eastern and midwest US states such as Maryland and Ohio, and the capital Washington.

For weeks these harmless thumb-sized bugs with striking red eyes and translucent wings did what cicadas are supposed to do: emerge from the ground as babies, molt, mate, lay eggs and die.

'It got me'

The "periodical" cicada waits underground as a nymph for almost its entire 17-year life cycle, making the journey to the surface when the soil reaches a perfect 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 C).

As they always do, the Class of 2021 made a bit of a nuisance of itself. They do not fly well, constantly bumping into windows, cars and people, making an angry hissing sound as if the collision were not their fault.

The brood had its most prominent 15 minutes of fame on June 9 when President Joe Biden swatted one from his neck as he waited to board Air Force One for his first trip abroad.

President Joe Biden touches his neck after a cicada crawled up it on June 9, 2021.

"Watch out for the cicadas. I just got oneit got me," Biden said with a smile as he approached a group of reporters.

There were so many cicadas in the Washington area they would actually show up on weather radar screens.

The night before the Biden incident, a swarm of the insects clogged the engines of a press plane due to accompany the president to Europe, delaying those journalists for hours until another aircraft was found.

And while cicadas do not bite or sting people, they do cause trouble, as happened in Cincinnati, Ohio.

"Historically each time they emerge, there have been several car crashes attributed to their presence. This year is no different," Cincinnati police wrote on Facebook.

The police went on to explain that a young man happened to drive through a swarm of cicadas with his window open and one of them hit him in the face, temporarily stunning him.

Cicadas do not bite or sting people, but they fly clumsily and often bump into cars, windows and people.

"He then crashed into a utility pole," police said. The driver was not seriously injured.

"Remember to keep your windows rolled up until our little red eyed friends are gone."

'Every 13 years?

Now, as the bugs die off, the drone of the cicadas has fallen silent in some regions that had been infested and the dried up, crunchy bodies of dead insects litter sidewalks.

For the rest, it is just a matter of time.

And for entomologists it is time to evaluate the latest chapter of this very rare event.

"In some places, they appear to have expanded their range, while in other places, their range has shrunk. It's going to take time to sort through the data," said John Cooley of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of the University of Connecticut in Hartford. He launched a project to map the cicadas.

Chef Bun Lai and some friends collect cicadas in Fort Totten Park in Washington on May 23, 2021 for the purpose of cooking them.

Entomologist Zoe Getman-Pickering examines cicadas at the foot of a tree on May 20, 2021 in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

"Where trees have been removed and surfaces built, cicadas are gone for good. However, where agricultural lands have reverted to parks or residential properties and trees have been planted, there are more cicadas," said Michael Raupp of the entomology department at the University of Maryland.

As for climate change, it will affect these bugs but it is not yet clear exactly how, said Cooley.

"That's why our detailed mapping project is so important. We are making baseline maps to look at in the future," he said.

Raupp said global warming will allow cicadas to expand their range northward and emerge earlier in the year.

Another hypothesis, he said, is that some cicadas could emerge every 13 years instead of 17.

 2021 AFP
As of this month, an estimated 31 million Americans have health insurance either through ACA marketplaces or the laws Medicaid expansion, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data.

Just as significantly, the national rate of the uninsured dropped for much of the last decade. That has been true not just in states like New York where the ACA has been embraced but in Red States that have only grudgingly accepted ACA perks such as broader Medicaid eligibility or the requirement that insurers cant refuse coverage because of a preexisting health condition.

Yet too many Americans still lack health insurance, during the Trump administration, uninsured rates for the nonelderly inched up from 10% in 2016 to nearly 11% by 2019.

The victory in California v. Texas is great, but building on the success of the Affordable Care Act would be better. Many millions of Americans have medical needs that still arent being met.

To his credit, President Joe Biden added a special enrollment period in February, while funds from the American Rescue Plan are making ACA coverage more affordable this year.

Yet additional steps are needed, starting with GOP leaders dropping their misplaced antagonism toward the law.
The county will continue to livestream its meetings on YouTube, but individuals can now attend meetings in-person. Those who would like to address the Board of Supervisors are asked to show up at the Municipal Center in Queensbury.

The county will now shift its attention to vaccinating residents, according to Ginelle Jones, director of Warren County Health Services.

As we transition to this next phase, I would like to thank the community for the continued trust, cooperation and efforts as we work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic, she said in a statement.

Vaccination clinics

Health Services will host a series of vaccination clinics throughout the county next week in a bid to vaccinate those who have been unable to travel to clinics in Queensbury.

Health Services will be administering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines during six clinics on Monday and Tuesday in towns located in the northern and western portions of the county.

The clinics are open to those 12 and over who live, work or study at a college in New York.
This month, Brown announced additional prizes including travel packages to destinations around Oregon and more than 1,500 gift cards, worth $100, that were being distributed at vaccine sites during the weekend of June 12  an incentive that officials said brought a noticeable increase of people to sites.

In Colorado, vaccinations have slowed since its lottery was rolled out by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis last month, with about 589,000 fewer doses given out in the month since Polis announcement, compared to the same amount of time a month before the contest began.

The state is offering five residents the chance to win $1 million each in weekly lottery drawings from June 4 until July 7.

In Ohio, about 5.5 million people have received at least one shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as of Wednesday, or about 47% of the population. About 5 million people, or 43% of the population, have completed the process.

While the incentives success was short-lived, it got Ohioans who were either straddling the line or those who had not plans to get the vaccine to get vaccinated, Ohio's governor said.
BANGKOK (AP)  British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab met with business leaders and officials in Singapore on Thursday as he wrapped up a three-nation trip to Southeast Asia aimed at strengthening his country's ties to the region.

Raab's trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore is part of a policy tilt toward the Indo-Pacific region recommended by a recent British government review of defense and foreign policy in response to Chinas growing influence on the world stage.

While in the region he officially launched Britain's bid to join a trans-Pacific trade bloc, known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and lobbied for dialogue partnership status with the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

In Singapore, he met with his counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, to discuss both of those initiatives, Raab said on Twitter.

The two also talked about a shared approach towards addressing regional priorities such as climate change, Myanmar, travel and recovery from COVID-19, he wrote.
Connor Bond of Mays Landing earned an Associate in Arts Degree in Communication with Honors.

Olivia Sarah Clarke of Mays Landing earned an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing with Honors.

April M. Ernst of Mays Landing earned an Associate in Science Degree in Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Addictions Counseling with Honors.

Jenna R. Kleshick of Egg Harbor City earned an Associate in Science Degree in General Studies with Honors.

Jessica Ashley Klingel of Egg Harbor earned an Associate in Fine Arts Degree in Fine Arts Studies with Honors.

Melanie Ann Le Masters of Egg Harbor City earned an Associate in Arts Degree in Liberal Arts/Secondary Education Option with Honors.

Louise N. Ramos of Mays Landing earned an Associate in Arts Degree in Psychology with Honors.

Emma E. Sarraf of Egg Harbor City earned an Associate in Science Degree in Health Science with Honors.

Chelsea M. Tuthill of Mays Landing earned an Associate in Fine Arts Degree in Fine Arts Studies with Honors.

Jennifer Weber of Egg Harbor City earned an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing with Honors.
The Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District Board of Education recently was honored for receiving the Carole E. Larsen Master Board Certification under the New Jersey School Boards Associations Board Member Academy.

The award recognizes high-performing school boards that have undergone additional training that is designed to give school board members a firm foundation in the governance skills needed to carry out their elected responsibilities.

The Board of Education received its award at the May 12 virtual meeting of the Atlantic County School Boards Association and Jane Kershner, New Jersey School Boards Association director of field services, was present at the Boards June 7 meeting to give an in-person presentation.

The Carole E. Larsen Master Board Certification is the NJSBA Board Member Academys highest honor. To earn this award, a currently certified or recertified board must complete at least 10 hours of additional training. The board attends the training along with its superintendent, and the board must provide evidence to demonstrate an emphasis on student achievement in their board actions.
The Atlantic County Prosecutors Office on Thursday honored William McIntyre, a retired detective who died June 7 at 73.

McIntyre was a sergeant for Chief of County Detectives Bruce DeShields when he was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit in June 1995. His career in law enforcement began as a patrolman in Somers Point and Northfield. With the Prosecutors Office, he served in the trial unit, Major Crimes Unit and Violent Crime Unit. McIntyre completed his career as a detective sergeant in the Major Crimes Units Homicide Division, and earned a consulting position with the FBI as a contract agent working on the development of the Combined DNA Index System. He was a police firearms instructor at the Atlantic County Pistol Range when he retired.

Mac had a larger-than-life personality, DeShields said in a news release. When you caught a homicide, he would stay on top of you by challenging you. He taught me to think of investigations like a chess game. Study what you see and what you dont see. Plan out your moves, always think at least three moves ahead. If you hit a dead end, move onto another angle.

But what I respected the most about Mac was his passion for the job. He had a fiery temper, and he knew how to motivate. You did not want to be on the end of one of those speeches.
WHAT IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s.

It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation's institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society.

The architects of the theory argue that the United States was founded on the theft of land and labor and that federal law has preserved the unequal treatment of people on the basis of race. Proponents also believe race is culturally invented, not biological.

Kimberle Crenshaw, executive director of the African American Policy Forum, a social justice think tank based in New York City, was one of the early proponents. Initially, she says, it was simply about telling a more complete story of who we are.

IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS?
While stimulus checks werent taxed, income tax collections were also up.

The state is also flush with more than $6 billion in cash from the federal American Rescue Plan. Of that, $500 million would go to help tenants facing eviction, $250 million will go toward utility relief, $180 million for ventilation in schools and $100 million for expanded childcare.

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The budget also uses federal funds to provide $600 million over three years to give an additional year of special education for 22-year-olds with disabilities.

The budget calls for a $6.9 billion pension payment, up about 44% over last year. Legislators upped the amount from the governors request of $6.4 billion earlier this year because of the positive tax collections.

Its the first time since 1996 the state will make a full pension payment  the amount actuaries have determined the state must pay to meet its share. Despite the full payment, New Jersey will carry an unfunded liability of about $51 billion.

Hamilton Township passes budget with 1.4-cent tax rate increase HAMILTON TOWNSHIP  The Township Committee on Monday passed a 2021 municipal budget that res
Newsom contends that the AR-15 is nothing more than a weapon of war. If so, it presumably wouldnt be constitutionally protected for private use.

Benitez himself referred to a modern rifle as a potential military weapon, writing it can also be useful for war. In fact, it is an ideal firearm for militia service.

The AR-15, when equipped with a high-capacity magazine, is a military-style weapon. But it doesnt quite rise to the Armys M16 killing capabilities.

The civilian rifle is semiautomatic, requiring a new squeeze of the trigger for each bullet fired. The military rifle is capable of automatic fire  commonly three-round bursts with one trigger squeeze.

UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky believes that the Supreme Court should only protect firearms that were common when the 2nd Amendment was adopted in 1791.

In a recent Times opinion piece, Chemerinsky quoted the Heller ruling as stating that this constitutional limitation is supported by the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons.
June 24, 2021 in Software (E)

[prMac.com] San Francisco, California - Smile, the developer of productivity applications, has released PDFpen and PDFpenPro 13.1, an update to its all-purpose PDF editing tool for Mac. Version 13.1 adds new features to improve the user experience through better performance and security, including: faster document scrolling and drawing, additional default sidebar options, an updated OCR engine with Apple Silicon/ M1 support, and for Pro users, offline PowerPoint and PDF/A Export.



Priorities for this release include faster document scrolling and drawing on larger PDF documents to enhance the reading and annotating experience. Whether you are reviewing essays or working with executive reports, smoother scrolling helps you find and provide feedback to students or colleagues much more quickly.



Additional improvements in this update include default sidebar modes such as Attachments and Form Fields, providing more options to customize PDFpen's views and better accommodate your PDF editing needs. Updates to the OCR engine, OmniPage Capture SDK 21 with Apple Silicon/ M1 support, helps you convert scanned documents to searchable, editable documents with greater accuracy faster.



PDFpenPro 13.1 also delivers some new features in the latest update, including offline export to Microsoft(R) PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF Archive (PDF/A-1b) formats (must be a licensed user). Offline export to PowerPoint and PDF/A provides an additional layer of security to ensure that confidential company and client information or court filings remain ultra private and secure.



"For our customers, performance and security are critical to their experience," said Philip Goward, Smile founder. "PDFpen13.1 addresses performance, with smoother scrolling and faster drawing for large documents as well as updating the OCR engine. With PDFpenPro, we've listened to security concerns and introduced the ability to export to PowerPoint and PDF/A formats offline, providing additional security and the resulting peace of mind."



PDFpen and PDFpenPro 13.1 work with PDFpen for iPad & iPhone, bringing seamless editing across devices with cloud services such as iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.



PDFpen and PDFpenPro 13.1 require macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later. For macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or earlier, see our website for compatible PDFpen versions. Demo versions are available on our site. Full versions of PDFpen and PDFpenPro are available for purchase on Apple's Mac App Store. PDFpen is also available via subscription from Setapp.



New in PDFpen 13.1:

* Faster document scrolling and drawing

* Adds additional Sidebar modes to Preferences

* Updates OCR engine to CSDK 21 with Apple Silicon/ M1 support

* Offline PPTX & PDF/A export (PDFpenPro Advanced Feature)

* Other fixes and improvements



Features Specific to PDFpenPro:

* Export to Microsoft(R) Excel (.xlsx), Microsoft(R) PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF Archive (PDF/A) formats (must be a licensed user)

* Create cross-platform fillable PDF forms including interactive signature fields and email or web submission buttons

* Create and edit Table of Contents

* Convert websites into PDFs

* OCR multiple documents in batch

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* Automatic form creation makes existing PDF forms fillable

* Gather submitted form data via backend integration

* Add and delete file attachments and annotations

* Create Portfolio documents, combining related files

* Correct typos in OCR text layer

* OCR horizontal Chinese, Japanese & Korean

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* Add text, images and signatures to PDFs

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* Redact or erase text, including OCR text

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* Export in Microsoft(R) Word format, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, and flat PDF

* Scan directly from Image Capture and Mac compatible scanners

* Perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on scanned documents

* View OCR layer for proofing OCR text from scanned pages, or remove OCR layer

* Edit original images, including adjusting resolution, color depth and contrast, skew, and size of an image or scanned document

* Sign PDF forms via drawing, interactive signature fields, or AATL or self-signed certificates

* Insert and remove pages; reorder pages in a PDF with drag & drop; combine PDFs maintaining Table of Contents entries

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* Save frequently-used images, signatures, objects and text in the Library; sync Library items with PDFpen for iPad & iPhone via iCloud

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* Automate PDF manipulations with AppleScript and JavaScript

* Available in English, Japanese, German, French, Italian, and Spanish



System Requirements:

* macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later



Pricing and Availability:

PDFpen retails for $79.95, PDFpenPro for $129.95 (USD). Office Pack licenses start at $249.95 for PDFpen (5 users) and $374.95 for PDFpenPro (5 users). Upgrades from earlier single-user versions of either application are $35, and free for users who purchased on or after January 1, 2021. Upgrades from any previous single-user version of PDFpen to PDFpenPro 13.1 are $50 (USD). Site licenses for PDFpenPro are $1699.95 (USD). A single contact for support; single physical address or company with fewer than 1,000 employees. Upgrade pricing for Office Packs is available in our web store.

Smile makes clever software for efficient people, including TextExpander, the typing shortcut tool for Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone and iPad; PDFpen, the all-purpose Mac PDF editor; and PDFpen for iPad and iPhone, the mobile PDF editor. Copyright (C) 2021 SmileOnMyMac, LLC dba Smile. All Rights Reserved. PDFpen, PDFpenPro, TextExpander, and the Smile logo are registered trademarks of SmileOnMyMac, LLC dba Smile. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

###

Greg Scown

Founder

United States


"We were able to talk about ways that we can help facilitate, coordinate with them (Davenport officials) to address some of the increase in crime that they're seeing in Davenport. So, whether it's technology or whether it's more troopers on the ground, there's a lot of different things that we're working on that can help supplement their team to address some of the uptick that they're seeing," Reynolds said of the meeting. "It's a great collaboration, and I look forward to hopefully seeing some good results from it."
Figge Director of Collections and Exhibitions Andrew Wallace said "POP Power" was curated by the Taubman Museum in Roanoke, Va. The exhibition has something for everyone, with its fun and lively atmosphere.

"We hope that our visitors gain an appreciation for how contemporary artists have used popular culture to express new artistic ideas in interesting and provocative ways," Wallace said in an email. "As with Warhols soup cans, one can also appreciate the work of the designers who created the labels for these iconic grocery items which in turn inspired Warhol."

Chief Curator Emeritus of National Portrait Gallery to give virtual presentation Thursday As part of the Figge Art Museums exhibit For America: 200 Years of Painting from the National Academy of Design, a presentation on the impo

Schnitzer darted through the fourth floor gallery, explaining the history of different pieces and his thoughts on their themes. Much of Pop Art and Neo-Pop reflect the times they come from and shake them up.

Damien Herst's "Methamphetamine" is a series of dots of different colors set against a white background, evenly placed apart. Schnitzer said it reminds him of computer technology.

"The work I like the most is the one that has really strong themes that grab you and shake you up like that, because it takes me away from all the daily thoughts I have," he said. "We all need a break from our daily issues."
No touch policy for anyone younger than 24 years old except for exchanging the sign of peace with handshake or offering blessing during public celebration of the sacraments.

All one-to-one ministry with individuals up to 24 years of age, including the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), or other academic support is to be in an accessible space visible to the public.

No individual meeting in a rectory, parish, academic or other setting is permitted when no else is present in the building or natural space (park, outdoor campus setting, etc.).

Any offsite ministry, course-related or social gatherings with individuals up to 24 years of age must have an adult older than age 24 present.

Fr. Grant's suspension from teaching at the university was lifted beginning in the Spring 2021 semester. He is required to abide by the restrictions imposed by the Diocese of Des Moines while with St. Ambrose University students and employees.

The attorney general's report said the Davenport Diocese added the Rev. John Ryan to the list of credible allegations against priests, brothers and lay employees in 2021.



"Ryan, who died in 1992, had been accused of sexually abusing three male minors. The abuse occurred dating back to 1946, and information was provided to the Diocese in 2008 and 2016," the report said.

Deacon David Montgomery, Chancellor of the Diocese of Davenport, said in a press release that the diocese has not had a founded report of child sexual abuse that occurred in the last 33 years.



"I apologize for abuse by clergy that occurred in the past," Montgomery said in the release. "Our efforts are inspired by the teachings of Jesus and his Church: that it is right and good to respond to the sin and crime of clergy sexual abuse with sorrow, repentance, amendment of life, justice, and efforts to repair the harm done."
The defendant eventually called 911, following the advice of her boyfriend's mother. Moss admitted she and her boyfriend had been the only caretakers for the child since March.

During the investigation, doctors determined the child suffered a perforated bowel. Because of the severity of the injury, a 30-centimeter section of the bowel was removed. Investigators said the injury was caused by high-energy bursting forces or direct blows to the abdomen.

Police said there might have been multiple instances of abuse.

The child had new rib fractures to the 7th and 8th ribs when he was taken to Genesis Hospital. He also had partially healed rib fractures to the 10th and 11th ribs on the right side and partially healed rib fractures on the 9th, 10th and 11th on the left side.
One week after announcing his candidacy for governor, Democratic Iowa State Rep. Ras Smith came to Davenport Wednesday as part of a 10-day statewide tour to meet Iowans.

The 33-year-old lawmaker toured flood-affected areas of the city with State Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf; State Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport; and Scott County Supervisor Ken Croken to discuss the importance of infrastructure and his plans if elected governor.

Smith, who was elected to his first term in the state legislature in 2016, will challenge incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in the Nov. 8, 2022 general election. Smith is a Waterloo native and graduate of University of Northern Iowa. He is the only Democratic candidate in the gubernatorial race so far.

We need to make sure we are protecting our communities across our state from the impact of climate change, Smith said. Weve seen the impact of flooding; these 100-year floods seem to be happening almost annually. My goal is to get a firsthand view of what that looks like and how I can support (flood prevention).

Smith said he was inspired to run for governor because he is seeing a diversion from the history and heritage of our state with a decline in the values of public education, public health and diversity.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Rapper McKinley Mac Phipps has been released from prison after being granted parole in the case of a 2001 shooting at a south Louisiana nightclub.

The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported that Phipps was released late Tuesday, hours after parole was granted by the state parole board.

Phipps was serving a 30-year sentence after a St. Tammany Parish jury found him guilty in 2001 of manslaughter in the shooting death of a man at a nightclub in Slidell. At the time of the shooting, he was a 22-year-old rapper with a new record deal with the No Limit label.

Phipps has always maintained that he was wrongfully convicted. Witnesses told The Huffington Post in 2015 that their testimony was coerced, bringing new attention to his case.

Phipps, meanwhile, was drawing praise for mentoring young inmates. Board members noted that he had no disciplinary infractions in the last 18 years and that he would be eligible for early release for good behavior in 2024.
Millers office opened a hotline and encouraged victims of abuse to come forward, and 50 people made accusations against dozens of Catholic priests concerning abuse that took place from the 1930s to 1997. Seventeen victims said they had never previously reported the abuse, and three allegations involved active priests.

Millers office said all of the allegations against Catholic clergy fell outside the statute of limitations for criminal charges. One prompted an investigation by church officials of St. Ambrose University professor and Davenport priest, the Rev. Robert Bud Grant, which concluded that his misconduct did not amount to sexual abuse of a minor but led to restrictions on his activities with students.

Millers investigation focused on how church officials had investigated prior allegations that they determined werent credible. He sent a letter in 2019 requesting internal records, which the dioceses agreed to turn over, and investigators later asked for more information on specific cases.
DES MOINES  Danny Homan, the leader of Iowas largest public employee union who has been an outspoken critic of the state restricting collective bargaining rights and leaving his unions prison employees in jeopardy from understaffing, announced Wednesday he plans to end his 16-year run as president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61 next month.

In a statement, Homan, 68, an AFSCME employee for over 33 years and president since 2005, said he plans to retire at the end of his term and a new president will be elected at the unions upcoming convention July 24.

I am proud to have had the trust and support of the members of this council for the last 16 years, Homan said in his announcement. Working here has been the honor of my life. Every day I knew thousands of people were counting on me and this council to have their back, and I am proud to say that we did.

AFSCME Council 61 represents more than 55,000 members in over 230 bargaining units across Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.
"We encourage all blood donor types to donate if they are feeling healthy enough to roll up their sleeves," Brown said.

Brown said in the last three months, the Red Cross has distributed 75,000 more blood products than expected.

The severity of the shortage varies by area, but is widespread nationally.

Blood banks consider themselves prepared when they have about three days' worth of the normal blood supply, according to Claudia Cohn, chief medical officer for the American Association of Blood Banks.

"This is the worst shortage I've experienced since I've been in this line of work," Cohn said.

A task force from the association says the blood supply in the United States has dropped to "red" level, meaning most of the nation's blood bank inventories have less that a one-day supply.

Because blood is perishable, it cannot be stockpiled, so it must be continuously replenished by donors.

According to the Red Cross, those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 can donate blood in most cases, but the manufacturer of the vaccine received is important to determine eligibility.

Donors are urged to make an appointments to give blood or platelets now.
Wilson said four different environmental cleanup agencies are on site.

The Fourth of July weekend is less than two weeks away, a time when the Rock River is populated with a lot of boating enthusiasts.

"It will reopen as soon as all of the personnel and equipment are removed from the area," said DNR Capt. Laura Petreikis. "Hopefully, it won't take that long, but I don't have a definitive time frame."

"We're just asking our residents to be patient," Wilson said. "As soon as it is open, we will make everyone aware of it."

'Forever chemical' contained at Chemtool site

Polyfluorinated alkyl substances, a fire suppressant foam known as PFAS, is known as a "forever chemical" because it fails to break down and can accumulate over time, leading to adverse effects on human health.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, some studies in humans suggest that certain PFAS may be associated with fertility issues, increased cholesterol, liver damage, changes in the immune system and an increased risk of certain cancers such as testicular and kidney cancer.
LONDON (AP)  Buckingham Palace has for the first time released figures on the ethnic makeup of its staff, following the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs allegations of racism in the royal family.

The Royal Household said Thursday that 8.5% of its staff come from ethnic minorities, compared with a target of 10% by next year. The latest census data shows that ethnic minorities account for about 13% of the U.K. population. The staffing figures were released as part of an annual report on royal finances.

A senior palace source said publishing the figures was an effort to ensure greater accountability because there would be no place to hide if diversity goals arent met. The source acknowledged that much more needed to be done.

We are not where we would like to be despite our efforts, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as is customary for royal officials. It is not that we have not been progressing diversity and inclusion initiatives during this period, it is that simply the results have not been what we would like.
I reached out to DLeau to hear more. It seems like every two or three episodes theres an error message, and its not just one show, that happens for a lot of shows, he said. If you rewind by 10 seconds, it has a total meltdown. Sometimes thats when itll crash. Or itll jump all the way back to the beginning. Or if I want to turn off closed captions, I have to turn them on in order to turn them off. Its a new issue every week and its like, cmon. I used to think it was a problem with my internet, but when I use Netflix its fine. Has he ever called customer service to unravel the mystery behind these issues? You know, its funny: The day I tweeted about this, HBO Max tweeted back and said, DM us and tell us the problem, and I told them everything and nothing ever came of it.
LeBeau-Hein said addiction is a symptom of something more significant and is a way of coping with some of the traumatic events that happened in peoples lives, like sexual assault, abuse, neglect, low self-esteem and more.

She said the removal of ceremonial practices and assimilation resulted in significant, deep trauma for Native American tribes. When the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 was passed, the damage had already been done, she said.

Our people were dealing with various levels of trauma, sexual abuse happening by the government agents, and by priests and nuns in the boarding schools, LeBeau-Hein said. The men, their role as providers and protectors for our people, that was taken away when we were put on reservations. They were no longer able to go out and hunt, to provide for our people. Everything was brought in and they lost their way, some of our men lost their way.

She said when alcohol was introduced to them many people became alcoholics and it was used to cope with some of the events.
The nuns were very mean to us, she said. We had to learn how to be Roman Catholic. We couldnt say our own little blessings.

Nuns at the school were condemning about our people and the pain inflicted continues generations later, Sparvier said.

We learned how to not like who we were, she said. That has gone on and its still going on.''

Last month the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, were found buried on the site of what was once Canadas largest Indigenous residential school near Kamloops, British Columbia.

Following that discovery, Pope Francis expressed his pain over the discovery and pressed religious and political authorities to shed light on this sad affair. But he didnt offer the apology sought by First Nations and by the Canadian government.

An apology is one stage in the way of a healing journey, Delorme said.

This was a crime against humanity, an assault on First Nations, said Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous First Nations in Saskatchewan. He said he expects more graves will be found on residential school grounds across Canada.
" " Congee is a rice porridge eaten with chicken, fish or a century egg, served throughout Asia and India. South China Morning Post/Getty Images

Most of us are accustomed to the usual range of comfortable, delicious, beige breakfast foods that can be found at any diner almost anywhere in the world. Pancakes, waffles, eggs and coffee  the standards. It's not too often you find dishes like boiled lamb, congealed blood pudding and foot soup at your local IHOP. Here are 10 breakfast foods you may not have heard of that people are happily rolling out of bed and noshing on all over the world.

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1. Congee (China)

Beloved in China, congee is a porridge that's boiled for an extended amount of time until it reaches a gooey consistency. Eaten with chicken, fish or a century egg (chicken or duck eggs aged for months in a mixture of salt and ash), congee is eaten throughout Asia and India.

2. Chanasan Makh (Mongolia)

Lamb? For breakfast? Heck yeah. Ubiquitous amongst Mongolian nomads, Chanasan Makh is a simple cut of meat (often mutton) boiled in salt water served with either vegetables or ketchup. Traditionally eaten with your hands, Chanasan Makh is considered a "mandatory breakfast" for travelers aiming to build up their strength before departing on a journey.

3. Black Pudding (United Kingdom)

An integral part of the full English breakfast, black pudding sounds a bit more harmless than the reality of this U.K. breakfast food. It's pig blood along with oatmeal, barley, oat groats, herbs and fat, packed into a sausage casing and grilled to perfection.

" " Freshly-made traditional black pudding at a butcher shop in Lancashire, England. Black pudding is a savory sausage made from animal blood, oatmeal, onions, fat, barley and spices. Colin McPherson/Corbis/Getty Images

4. Filmjolk (Sweden)

Leave it to the Nordic countries to find an innovative new way to consume dairy. Popular in Sweden, this fermented milk product is made by allowing bacteria to break down the lactic acid in yogurt at room temperature, procuring a sweeter, more buttery flavor. Swedes often pair filmjolk with an assortment of cereals, crispy bread and fruit.

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5. Menudo (Mexico)

Nope, it isn't the most excellent Puerto Rican boy band (starring a young Ricky Martin) but rather a Mexican American comfort soup made with tripe (the lining of a ruminant's stomach). Popularized by migrant workers in cities like San Antonio and Los Angeles, menudo slowly morphed into a hair of the dog breakfast food for those needing a little extra kick of spice in the morning.

" " Menudo is a spicy soup made with tripe  perfect for a liitle kick in the morning. ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

6. Devilled Kidneys (England)

Popular in the United Kingdom, this popular breakfast meat is made by dredging lambs' kidneys in flour, tomato paste, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, and simmering them in a pan. Typically eaten on toast with butter and parsley, this Victorian breakfast gained momentum in the 19th century and is still eaten with vigor today.

7. Huitlacoche (Mexico)

Technically, those who eat this delicious Mexican breakfast are consuming corn that's been infected by a pathogenic fungus called Ustilago maydi. Also known as "corn mushroom" or "corn smut", the fungus actually breaks down the kernels in corn and leaves in its path a smokey, earthy flavor similar to mushrooms. Sometimes sold for more money than corn unaffected by the plant disease, huitlacoche can be enjoyed in stews, soups, corn patties or tamales.

" " Huitlacoche is a black mushroom that grows on corn and can be eaten by itself or spooned into tortillas and served as a quesadilla de huitlacoche. OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images

8. Haggis (Scotland)

There's nothing too out-of-the-ordinary about eating oatmeal for breakfast. It's when that oatmeal is mixed with minced sheep heart, liver and lungs, onions, suet, spices and stuffed in a sheep's stomach casing that things get a little exciting. Eaten for hundreds of years by brave Scots, some of the first mentions of haggis go back to a 15th-century English cookbook.

9. Chawanmushi (Japan)

Think of chawanmushi as a savory breakfast custard; a silky smooth soup made from egg, soy sauce and mirin. Typically topped with mushrooms, shrimp, and a mixture of cured white fish and starch called kamaboko, chawanmushi is one of the few dishes in Japan eaten solely with a spoon as opposed to chopsticks.

" " A savory bowl of chawanmushi will start the day off right in Japan and other parts of Asia. South China Morning Post/Getty Images

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10. Paya (India)

You'd have a hard time finding anything made with the principal ingredients of paya at any local greasy spoon diner. Translating to "legs" in Hindi, paya is composed of trotters  the hooves of cow, goat, buffalo and sheep. Served in a soup base of sauteed onions and garlic, plus spices, paya is typically set to boil the night before and served during cold winter months along with naan bread.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, if youre struggling with metabolism issues and weight, consider a breakfast of water, tea or coffee and then eat a healthy lunch and a smaller dinner. Try not to eat close to bedtime and stretch out the hours between meals to give your body an opportunity to burn fat.
A startup company that makes indoor, hydroponic farming systems has opened its new headquarters and production site in the Scotts Addition area of Richmond.

The opening of the Babylon Micro-Farms Inc. office comes after the company received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation with the potential for $750,000 in follow-on funding to continue development of BabylonIQ, its technology platform designed to operate decentralized, automated micro-farms.

The grant will help the company move further into commercialization. The company had been awarded a $225,000 Phase 1 grant in 2019 to conduct scientific trials of its technology.

Babylon Micro-Farms also completed a $3 million investment round in the first quarter of this year. Investors include Virginias Center for Innovative Technology, Hull Street Capital, Venture South, and the CAV Angels Group.

The capital raised helped us move here [to Richmond] and build our team, Alexander Oleson, the companys CEO who co-founded the business with Graham Smith, said Thursday as Babylon Micro-Farms hosted an open house at the headquarters.

A lot of it is about switching from an R&D organization to a sales organization, Oleson said. We have a backlog of orders to fill.
What a ride its been for the The Fast and the Furious franchise. Now spanning 20 years and nine films, this soap opera of motor fuel and melodrama has defied logic, physics and death again and again while weaving an intricate tapestry of a cinematic text thats filled with callbacks, cameos and a deep-rooted lore that always returns to the intertwining values of family and vintage American muscle cars.

Director Justin Lin, who also helmed the third, fourth, fifth and sixth films in the series, and evolved the franchise from minor street racing thrillers into outlandish displays of car ballet, is back behind the camera for F9: The Fast Saga (he also co-wrote the screenplay with Daniel Casey). Lin ups his own ante with the outrageous vehicular stunts in F9, and its hard to imagine any future installments exceeding the automobile acrobatics Lin and Casey have concocted. To describe the stunts and set pieces would be to ruin the fun of discovery for audiences; suffice to say, there will be moments where youll say, They wont. But rest assured: They will, and how.
The subtitle of the excellent documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It is an expression of which the EGOT-winning actor is fond; we see her, late in the film, attending an awards ceremony wearing the phrase on a glittery T-shirt. But its very lightheartedness sets up the viewer for a surprise.

This film, directed by Mariem Perez Riera, isnt a fluffy, sunshine-bright tribute to a beloved star, but something much deeper and more interesting: Moreno, now in her late 80s, thoughtfully walks us through a life that encompassed both enormous success and constant struggle.

Born in Puerto Rico in 1931, Moreno came to New York at the age of 5 with her divorced mother, leaving behind a younger brother whom she never saw again. A girl who loved to dress up and dance, she was eventually spotted as a teen by an MGM talent scout (for the meeting with studio head Louis B. Mayer, Moreno styled herself to look like Elizabeth Taylor). Soon, 16-year-old Rosita  quickly rechristened in honor of Rita Hayworth, as her real name was deemed too ethnic by her first agent  and her mother were on a train to Hollywood.
The bill has also received a lot of pushback from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, who have called it an effort to discourage free speech and the right to protest.

LaRae said previously that the intent of the bill is not to infringe upon those rights but, violence is not a protected right and should not be tolerated.

Beyond Ohio, a number of states, most notably Florida, have decided to respond to the last year filled with racial injustice protests over police brutality by clamping down on protesters and providing police with more power and authority.

The Ohio bill would make failure to follow an officer's order as well as diverting their attention a second-degree misdemeanor unless it creates the risk of physical harm to any person, in which case it would be a fifth-degree felony.

Many opponents of the bill also said the bill language was too vague and broad in its definition and could in turn be used to punish protesters or bystanders who take photos or videos of a police encounter or taunt an officer.
Roughly 100 wild horses live on an 11-mile stretch of the Outer Banks north of Corolla. The horses divide themselves into harems of mares and foals led by a stallion. Each harem roams an area with loosely defined boundaries.

Stallions typically fight over territory and occasionally over a mare, Puckett said. About half the horses are male, so the competition is stiff to lead a group, she said.

Fighting can get unpredictable and dangerous to people nearby. Puckett recommends people keep at least 50 feet away.

Horse fight using different tactics.

They typically take on an adversary by striking with their front hoofs, biting their opponents neck or kicking with their back legs. Most stallions have scars on their bodies from brawls. Some are missing the tips of their ears, Puckett said.

Its amazing the scars they have, she said. It can get rough.

At times, a young stallion challenges a veteran without a fight, Puckett said. Its a form of psychological warfare.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner had just met with President Joe Biden and nine other senators to seal a bipartisan deal with $579 billion in new spending on public infrastructure  highways and bridges, rail and public transit, broadband telecommunications, the electric power grid and electric vehicle charging stations, and protection for flood-prone coastal communities.

Outside the White House on Thursday, Warner took a moment to praise the late Sen. John Warner, a Virginia Republican whom he had eulogized at the Washington Cathedral the day before, as an example of bipartisanship leadership for Congress to get important things done for the country.

My hope is when this framework [for an infrastructure bill] becomes law, that we do it in the spirit of John Warner, and I would hope to convince my colleagues that we should name this legislation after him, he said, flanked by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., among the 10 senators who had met with Biden to reach the agreement.

We all commended his ability to work with people across party lines and the fact that he always put country first, Warner said, and I think my colleagues have demonstrated that again.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  A closed trial for the husband of Belarus opposition leader began Thursday at a jail in the city of Gomel. Siarhei Tsikhanouski faces a sentence of up to 15 years on charges that include organizing mass unrest and inciting hatred.

Tsikhanouski, a prominent video blogger and activist, aimed to run against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in the August 2020 election. He was widely known for the anti-Lukashenko slogan Kill the cockroach. He was arrested two days after he declared his candidacy that May.

His wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, ran in his stead. She fled the country to Lithuania a day after the election as police cracked down on post-election protests.

Official results said Lukashenko won a sixth term in office, continuing his repressive rule that began in 1994, but protesters said the results were fradulent. Large protests continued for months and police responded harshly, detaining 30,000 people and beating many of them.

State media showed a tired-looking Tsikhanouski being led into the closed hearing, along with other defendants who include Mikola Statkevich, who ran against Lukashenko in 2010 and was sentenced to six years in prison after demonstrations broke out following that election. Statkevich was arrested again in May 2020.
After a long year of reading endless news stories about a global pandemic, monitoring our family members for signs of illness, and complying with ever-changing school and work requirements, now new legislation going into effect July 1 is asking us again to consider how infectious diseases can impact those whom we care for. I believe all parents, caregivers, health care providers and community leaders should welcome these new changes as Virginias school vaccination requirements finally will come into line with the recommended Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) schedule.

There was a time when I might have considered changing vaccine requirements to be a burden. However, in February 2012, my then-3-month-old baby had to be hospitalized for a serious infection. While my sons illness was not vaccine-preventable, the whole ordeal caused him to fall behind on recommended vaccines at a time when his body already was weak from fighting a serious infection. The experience of my son relying on the protection provided by the immunity of others converted me from a parent who hardly thought about vaccines to a parent who advocates for vaccines at every opportunity.
The electric utility industry is in the midst of an unprecedented transition, he told SCC hearing examiner Ann Berkebile, referring to a 2020 state law that requires Appalachian to use all carbon-free electricity by 2050.

At the end of the day, no one knows what the next 20 or 30 years will hold, he said.

Appalachian says that making improvements to the Amos and Mountaineer plants, and thus extending their lifespans to 2040, will provide flexibility as the utility navigates the challenges of acquiring enough solar and wind resources to serve its approximately 524,000 customers in Virginia.

For example, Summerlin said, the solar panels needed by the company could require up to 66 square miles, which amounts to an area about the size of Richmond.

While those details will take years to work out, Appalachian is seeking rate adjustment clauses to cover about $250 million it needs to spend on upgrades to unlined coal ash ponds at the two West Virginia plants.

If the retrofits are not made, federal environmental laws would force the plants to close by 2028. Half of the costs are being sought through a rate increase request that is pending before regulators in West Virginia, where Appalachian has about 458,000 customers.
The courts ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelonas international airport and had been in jail since then awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings. The arrest followed charges the same month in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based attorney defending him on those cases, said by phone that McAfee will always be remembered as a fighter.

He tried to love this country but the U.S. government made his existence impossible, Sanan said. They tried to erase him, but they failed.

The lawyer said Spanish authorities have not given his legal team a cause of death, and he wants to know if there were video cameras in McAfees cell or in the prison.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Memphis declined to comment.
But in the flyer youre asking people to bring unloaded AR15s, I noted.

Thats also a function of the militia, Falls replied. Were a multifaceted organization.

I asked him which civilian authority the militia answered to. Thats a relevant question, considering Article I, Section 13 of Virginias constitution. Here is that in its entirety:

A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

Fall replied: We dont really answer to a civilian authority  Were rebuilding an institution [the militia] that should never have fallen out of existence in the United States.

Im not sure Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring looks at it that way, however. When I asked his spokeswoman, Charlotte Gomer, about the legality of the Bedford Militia, she replied:
Red Sulphur Springs had one or more hotels, but none still exist, Law said.

The buildings under study for demolition are in hazardous condition, according to Law, who has seen evidence of people going inside where its unsafe. We feel there is no future use justifying the expense to renovate, he said.

Only after a review by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and a grant of funding from the General Assembly would buildings be demolished, Law said. It is possible that one or more could collapse on their own before then, however, officials said.

Blanton said the foundation accepts that preservation falls outside of the primary mission and budget of the state hospital. Preservationists say they want the state to do more to protect historic properties, however. Ideally, a government agency with historic properties it doesnt need could partner with third parties to find uses for such structures. As long as you have a use for it, youre probably going to maintain it, she said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A timeline of key events that began with George Floyd's arrest on May 25, 2020, by four police officers in Minneapolis:

May 25, 2020  Minneapolis police officers respond to a call shortly after 8 p.m. about a possible counterfeit $20 bill being used at a corner grocery and encounter a Black man, later identified as George Floyd, who struggles and ends up handcuffed and face down on the ground. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. Bystander video shows Floyd crying I can't breathe multiple times before going limp. He's pronounced dead at a hospital.

May 26  Police issue a statement saying Floyd died after a medical incident, and that he physically resisted and appeared to be in medical distress. Minutes later, bystander video is posted online. Police release another statement saying the FBI will help investigate. Chauvin and three other officers  Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao  are fired. Protests begin.
At bottom, the factual allegations in Fairfaxs amended complaint fall considerably short of plausibly alleging that CBS broadcast its April 1 and 2 CBS This Morning programs despite entertaining serious doubts as to the truth of those broadcasts, Rushing added.

The opinion noted, Fairfax vigorously disputes the accusations made by Tyson and Watson, and we express no opinion on the truth or falsity of their claims. But even accepting Fairfaxs version of events, he has alleged nothing to suggest that CBS reported the womens stories with knowledge or reckless disregard of their falsity.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said, This is not surprising because the U.S. Supreme Court has imposed the actual malice requirement in this context, which is a difficult standard for a plaintiff to meet.

Tobias said that Fairfax has two ways to appeals Wednesdays ruling: by asking for the full appeals court to reconsider the case or appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Both avenues would be long shots, he said. The 4th Circuit agrees to rehear five or six cases a year and the U.S. Supreme Court takes roughly 100 of the 7,000 to 8,000 cases it is asked to consider.
At bottom, the factual allegations in Fairfaxs amended complaint fall considerably short of plausibly alleging that CBS broadcast its April 1 and 2 CBS This Morning programs despite entertaining serious doubts as to the truth of those broadcasts, Rushing added.

The opinion noted, Fairfax vigorously disputes the accusations made by Tyson and Watson, and we express no opinion on the truth or falsity of their claims. But even accepting Fairfaxs version of events, he has alleged nothing to suggest that CBS reported the womens stories with knowledge or reckless disregard of their falsity.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said this result is not surprising because the U.S. Supreme Court has imposed the actual malice requirement in this context, which is a difficult standard for a plaintiff to meet.

Tobias said that Fairfax has two ways to appeal Wednesdays ruling: by asking for the full appeals court to reconsider the case or appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Both avenues would be long shots, he said. The 4th Circuit agrees to rehear five or six cases a year and the U.S. Supreme Court takes roughly 100 of the 7,000 to 8,000 cases it is asked to consider.
An investigation by the Office of the State Inspector General has led to the arrest of a retired compliance supervisor for the Virginia Department of Taxation who is accused of embezzling nearly $1.3 million in public funds.

Steve Hardie Anderson of Halifax County was indicted May 19 by a Richmond grand jury on charges of embezzling public funds and computer trespass. Both are felony offenses.

The Inspector Generals Office conducted a yearslong investigation after the Department of Taxation finished an internal probe and notified OSIG about allegations that involved Anderson, the agency said in a release.

The allegations centered on two taxation employees who allegedly gave Anderson access to the departments computer systems and confidential taxpayer accounts, OSIG said. Specifics about how the funds were misappropriated were not disclosed. The offense date listed in electronic court records is March 1, 2013.

Anderson has repaid Virginia about $250,000 of the stolen funds, OSIG said.
The Supreme Court (despite being stacked by Trump, exitus acta probat, right?) rejected this argument. Every state legislature began the election period saying electors would be assigned based on the winner of the general election, and every state ended the process by picking electors based on the winner of the general election.

The legislatures method was not usurped when the authorized election officials implemented new rules for how the general election itself would be held; it demonstrated the separation of powers at work. The legislative branch selected the method, and the executive branch carried it out. The method of choosing electors never changed, only the means by which they were chosen. The FCA, which upholds the election results as true, rejects the election because it was not carried out solely by the legislature, which is an absurdity.

The FCA allows Ben to pretend he is standing with former President Trump who complained the election was stolen without Bens having to say the election was stolen; Ben challenged the election, right? But why? Trump alleges several states engaged in a conspiracy not to punish those who had committed massive voter fraud by changing, hiding, or simply manufacturing votes.
Of the forty million, 71% are female; women or girls who are often forced into sexual exploitation. One in four victims of modern slavery are children. Of those pressed into forced labor, domestic workers (again predominantly female) are the most common category. Construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and fishing are other common categories where slaves toil across the globe. Oftenactually in about half of all casesthey are held in bondage by debt, which is used to coerce their labor.

Oh sure, we think, these are problems of the Third World. Weve overcome that sort of things in the developed nations. Think again. For one thing, especially when it comes to sex trafficking, the western world has an insatiable appetite. Its a global issue, but pay attention to the news and youll soon discover its right here in our own backyard. And its not only immigrants being exploitedAmerican citizens are routinely victimized as well.
The political class, which Harp knew intimately, having worked it assiduously since landing at the state Capitol two decades earlier as a newly minted lawyer, was outraged.

The Democrats who controlled the legislature viewed the dismissal as a partisan affront. Even Republicans were alarmed, believing it sent the wrong signal to a state work force long defined by stability.

A side gig in the attorney generals office as counsel to the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission quickly became full time. And for the next 20 years, until his retirement in 1997, Harp would investigate complaints about judges, quietly telling some to straighten up and others to get out.

The commission, to the annoyance of the public and the press, operated in legally protected secrecy. And Harp was known to bristle when reporters  because it was their job  pried into the commissions proceedings, which  because it was his job  he cloaked in mystery.

Mabry joined VDOT when it wasnt as much led as ruled by the legendary Douglas Fugate, who believed there was little that a lot of asphalt couldnt fix. Fugate also transformed the department into a graduate program, of sorts, for Virginia Military Institute (VMI). As an alumnus, Fugate favored those with VMI degrees  Mabry, among them.
You dont have to believe in gravity, but if you decide to jump off a roof, the ground comes racing up awfully fast.

While reality is subjective to some extent, there are indisputable facts. Its dangerous to get caught up in illusions.

As a magician I discovered that, despite the props and trickery, the best way to fool people was through misdirection.

Magician Harry Blackstone Jr. made an elephant magically appear onstage. There was actually no trick to it. While he directed the audiences attention to activity on one side of the stage, assistants simply walked the elephant on from the other side. 99% of the audience never noticed and were stupefied by the miraculous appearance.

The proverbial elephant in the room today is how our media consumption impacts our reality. With 24-hour news its easy to get caught up in illusions  or delusions.

If we obtain news from limited sources, our thoughts can be manipulated and misled. If we choose a wide range of sources, well discover a balanced analysis and be better equipped to separate the reality from illusion.
Recently Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment which satisfies the requirements that 3/4 of states approve it for it to become the 28th amendment following Congress' approval in 1972. A recent AP poll revealed that 3 out of 4 Americans support the gender equality amendment.

In 2015, all military combat jobs opened to women. In 2016, President Obama supported female draft registration, but the House Republicans objected to this per a Roanoke Times article dated May 18, 2016. Now with the Democrats in control of all (3) branches of government, it is time to require that all women 18-25 to register for the draft. Equal rights means equal responsibility.

A recent USA Today Special Edition article pointed out that 71% of our nation's youth are unfit for military service due to weight, health, crime, drug or education problems.

It is not fair or equal for only young men ages 18-25 to be required to register for the draft and to go to war to protect our freedoms. A young man should not be subject to the draft and a young woman be given a free pass!
The auction opened the Vietnamese Lychee Week held by the Vietnamese Trade Office in Australia.

The auctioned lychees were chosen from the first batch of 17 tonnes of fresh lychees in the 2021 crop that recently arrived in Australia.

The auction, which took place in MCQ supermarket on June 16, drew a large number of visitors who praised the outstanding quality of Vietnamese lychees.

Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office in Australia Nguyen Phu Hoa said that along with the high quality, this year, importers and distributors have paid a lot of attention to packaging.

The auction aimed to show the value of Vietnamese lychee and support the promotion of the fruit's trademark, he said, adding that all the money from lychee selling at the event will be sent home to support children in lychee-growing regions.

Prior to the harvest season in Viet Nam, the office launched a trademark-building programme to promote the consumption of Vietnamese lychees in Australia.

Vietnamese Lychee Week featured a series of activities to advertise the Vietnamese lychee trademark.

The leading importer of Vietnamese farm produce in Australia, 4wayfresh, said that this week, an additional batch of lychees will arrive in West Australia as part of its plan to import 100 tonnes of lychees from this crop. In other areas such as Victoria and South Australia, importers are importing fresh lychees from Viet Nam to meet market demand.

Vietnamese lychee was first sold in Australia in 2015. Last year, 80 tonnes of fruit were sold.

Ly Hoang Duy, Director of 4wayfresh, said Vietnamese lychee has an outstanding taste and quality thanks to improved storage and transport technology. The majority of consumers in Australia agree it is the best of its kind in the market.

This year, Australian importers plan to bring in 300-500 tonnes of Vietnamese lychee.
" " Two Russian tortoises beat the first humans, NASA astronauts Frank Borman, William A. Anders and James A. Lovell, Jr., in the race to orbit the moon. HowStuffWorks

Here's the story of how a pair of central Asian reptiles made spacefaring history.

On May 25, 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy took the podium at a joint session of Congress and said, "I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth."

Bold rhetoric for its time.

The world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched in the fall of 1957  less than four years before JFK gave his "man on the moon" ultimatum.

About the size of a beach ball, Sputnik 1 was created by the Soviet Union. Its elliptical journey around Earth gave birth to the Space Race, a period in which the U.S. and the USSR challenged each other for superiority in the new frontier of space exploration.

Kennedy didn't live to see his ambitious goal realized; he was assassinated in 1963. But the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA for short) beat the former president's deadline with a few months to spare.

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The Race Is On

During NASA's Apollo 11 mission, in the summer of 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin took mankind's first, triumphant steps across the moon's crater-pocked surface. Four days later, they  along with crewmate Michael Collins  splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. All three men returned home safe and sound.

Apollo 8 was another feather in NASA's cap. Launched Dec. 21, 1968, that mission is remembered and celebrated for making astronauts Frank Borman, William A. Anders and James A. Lovell, Jr. the first human beings to ever orbit the moon.

Yet their trip wasn't entirely without precedent. Two small-bodied tortoises had beaten them to the punch.

After the Sputnik 1 launch, the Soviets built an impressive Space Race resume. Extraterrestrial human travel is something the USSR originally pioneered; Russian-born cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made it to space one month before the first American astronaut did.

Anyway, back to those tortoises.

" " Russias Zond 5 spacecraft, carrying an extensive biological payload including two Russian tortoises, was the first successful mission to circumnavigate the moon and return to Earth. The tortoises survived landing in the Indian Ocean and were returned to Moscow. S.P.Korolev RSC Energia/NASA

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An Ark in the Cosmos

Zond 5 was a Soviet spacecraft built to ferry living organisms around the moon and then back to Earth. Such a feat had never been accomplished before.

Launched September 14, 1968, this 11,850-pound (or 5,375-kilogram) contraption began its epic journey while NASA was still making preparations for Apollo 7. And Apollo 8 was several months away.

Hundreds of fruit fly eggs made the trip aboard Zond 5. The craft's payload also included a bacteria culture, a flowering plant, algae strains and the air-dried cells of such salad bar staples as tomatoes, peas and carrots.

But by far, the two most complex organisms who boarded Zond 5 were a couple of Testudo horsfieldii tortoises.

" " Russian tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii), like the two who flew to the moon and back on Zond 5 (not pictured here), are herbivores native to Asia. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY SA 3.0)

Native to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other parts of Central Asia, these shelled creatures are often sold in American pet stores. Reptile hobbyists usually call them "Russian tortoises," even though they don't naturally occur in Russia. Adults get about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) long.

The two "Russian" torts chosen for Zond 5 were around 6 or 7 years old, according to NASA's website.

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Turtle Power

You've really got to feel for these animals. Beginning Sept. 2, 1968, the tortoises spent 12 days living inside the Zond 5 spacecraft  right up until it launched Sept. 14.

All the while, they were purposefully deprived of food. Soviet scientists worried that if the reptiles were allowed to eat before launch time, it could taint important data they hoped to collect on spaceflight's physical side-effects.

Four days into the mission, the tortoises and their travel companions circled the moon. Just as the Soviets intended, they became the first living things ever to do so.

Zond 5 looped around the moon's far side took some wonderful photographs. Its long journey came to an end Sept. 21, 1968, when the vessel splashed down in the Indian Ocean.

Both tortoises survived the trek. Although each one lost about 10 percent of its body weight, they were found to be in good health overall. Caretakers also reported that the adventure didn't hurt their appetites; the creatures enjoyed some nutritious dinners after coming home.

Now That's Interesting If you decide to buy a pet Russian tortoise, prepare yourself for a long commitment. This species can live for over 40 years in captivity.
" " If you (or Donald Trump) gets spirited away by aliens, isn't it good to know your family is covered? CSA-Images/St. Lawrence Insurance 2015 HowStuffWorks

About an hour into the 1997 sci-fi movie "Contact," President Clinton gives a press conference announcing that a team of scientists, led by Jodie Foster's fiery astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway, has received a mysterious encoded message from the distant star system Vega.

America, needless to say, goes nuts.

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Swarms of tinfoil-wearing alien believers, religious zealots and ordinary crazy people gather in the New Mexico desert outside of the Very Large Array, a collection of supersized radio telescopes used to detect the interstellar email message.

Driving through the crowd in her white SUV, Foster takes in the chaotic scene  an Elvis impersonator playing Viva la Vega, a fire-and-brimstone preacher denouncing science and a large banner attached to the side of a van reading UFO Abduction Insurance: Courtesy of the St. Lawrence Agency.

While 99 percent of the script for "Contact" is pure science fiction  the movie was based on a novel by the late Carl Sagan  that banner is 100 percent real.

Meet Mike St. Lawrence, a Florida businessman who started selling alien abduction insurance policies back in 1987. The policy, which can be purchased online for $19.95 (or $9.95 for a digital copy) pays out $10 million (at a rate of $1 a year for life) to anyone who can prove they've been snatched by aliens.

The ["Contact"] producers called me six months before the movie came out, St. Lawrence says. They were going to use one of my policies with Bill Clinton as policyholder and Hillary as the beneficiary, but they decided to use the banner.

The free publicity was good for business. St. Lawrence won't disclose exactly how many policies he's sold over the decades, but admits it's been enough to put my dog through obedience school.

If it isn't clear by now, St. Lawrence is not a fully licensed and bonded insurance agent, and his abduction policy is meant to be a gold-embossed novelty item for an avid "X-Files" fan, not a sound financial investment. The terms and conditions of St. Lawrence's UFO abduction policy include the Texas IQ Test:

Do you have a sense of humor?

Do you take this coverage seriously?

Were your parents related before they were married?

(If you answer yes more than once, you do not qualify.)

Even if he's a prankster, St. Lawrence is a man of his word. He has paid out at least one claim, made to a New York man who produced proof of his abduction, an implant confirmed by an MIT scientist to be not made from any earthly substance. (St. Lawrence says he talked to the scientist.) The man received an annual Christmas card stuffed with a dollar bill until St. Lawrence lost track of his address.

A London brokerage firm made headlines in 1997 when it was revealed that it had sold $1,000-worth of alien abduction policies to the 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult. Those were the unfortunate folks who committed mass suicide in an attempt to be beamed up to a spaceship purportedly traveling in the wake of the Hale-Bopp comet.

The British company, called Goodfellow Rebecca Ingrams Pearson (or GRIP), also carried other unconventional policies, including protections against virgin birth, transformation into a werewolf, and Bobbitting (it was the '90s ... you had to be there).

Now Thats an Idea With the holidays approaching, plus the much-anticipated return of "The X-Files" in January 2016, it might be time to purchase a policy for the believer in your life.
Jordan also said that caution was needed regarding consolidation because of the pride people feel about their communities. He used the example of Timmonsville, saying that the residents of the town consider themselves to be proud Whirlwinds.

He said the 2021-22 state budget includes $100 million for educational capital improvements to help areas like Williamsburg County that dont have the tax base to be able to fund upgrades to there school system.

Jordan spoke extensively about redistricting.

He said that the 2021 redistricting will be his first in the General Assembly.

Jordan was elected in a 2015 special election to fill the remainder of the term of Kristopher Crawford, who resigned from the General Assembly.

Jordan said that the General Assembly would take the number of people that the census says live in South Carolina and divides that number by the number of members of the House of Representatives, 124.

A similar process is used in the South Carolina Senate, only the number of senators is 46.

Jordan said that number of people in each district needs to be roughly the same. He added that after the 2010 census each district in the House had populations between 34,000 and 38,000.
Greitens was indicted on felony invasion of privacy in February 2018 for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman during a 2015 extramarital affair, before he was governor, and threatening to use it as blackmail if she ever spoke of their relationship. The charge was dropped in the midst of jury selection, but Greitens resigned in June 2018.

Greitens admitted to the affair but denied criminal wrongdoing. Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner hired Tisaby to investigate Greitens. Her handling of the case and Tisaby's investigation drew condemnation from the former governor's attorneys and prompted the investigation.

The seven-count indictment accused Tisaby of lying during a deposition. It alleged that Tisaby denied taking notes during his interview of the woman who was involved with Greitens, although a recording of the interview showed him doing so. The indictment also said that while Tisaby claimed he didnt receive notes from the prosecutors office before interviewing the woman, a document uncovered during grand jury proceedings shows Gardner provided Tisaby her notes.
 Lovely lengthy account of "Restoring Justice" | Main | Terrific CCRC review of new RAND report on presidential pardons 

In this post back in January, I reported on the new Ohio statute precluding the death penalty for those with "serious mentally illness." Today I can report, with the help of this local article, that this law has now moved one person off Ohio's death row: "A Columbus man sentenced to death in 1999 for the murder of his ex-girlfriend and her father has become the first inmate in Ohio removed from death row under a new state law that bans the execution of the seriously mentally ill." Here are more interesting details:

The death sentence of David L. Braden, 61, was vacated last week by a Franklin County judge, who resentenced him to life without parole.

The county prosecutor's office and the state public defender's office agreed that Braden, at the time of his crime, met the criteria for serious mental illness under the new Ohio law, which went into effect April 12. Both sides prepared an order that was signed by Common Pleas Judge Colleen O'Donnell.

Ohio was the first state to create such a law, thus Braden is also the first death-row inmate in the nation "to be removed from death row because of a statutory prohibition against executing people with a serious mental illness," said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.

The Virginia legislature was close to approving a similar law late last year, Dunham said, but instead banned the death penalty in March, becoming the 23rd state to do so.

The Ohio law, House Bill 136, was overwhelmingly approved by the state House in June of last year and by the state Senate in December. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the measure in January and it became law 90 days later.

The law designates certain mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as qualifying disorders if the condition "significantly impaired the person's capacity to exercise rational judgment in relation to his or her conduct" or "to appreciate the nature, consequences or wrongfulness" of the conduct. The law applies not only to current and future capital cases, but provides the possibility of postconviction relief for those already on death row who can establish that they qualified as seriously mentally ill at the time of their offense.

While prosecutors have the option to oppose such petitions and request a hearing before a judge, Janet Grubb, Franklin County first assistant prosecuting attorney, said a careful review of information from Braden's appellate attorneys made such a challenge unnecessary. "We saw enough during the exchange of information to conclude that a reasonable fact-finder in our court would determine that this individual qualified under the statute," said Grubb, who signed the order on behalf of Prosecutor Gary Tyack's office.

Tyack, who was elected in November, had no involvement in the decision, Grubb said. Because Tyack served on the 10th District Court of Appeals for one of Braden's appeals, he had a conflict of interest that required Grubb to serve as prosecutor on the matter. "Gary was completely walled off" from discussions about Braden's petition, Grubb said.

Braden was 39 when he was convicted by a Franklin County jury in May 1999 of fatally shooting Denise Roberts, 44, and Ralph "Bud" Heimlich, 83, at the home they shared on Barthel Avenue on the East Side on Aug. 3, 1998. Testimony established that Braden and Roberts were seen arguing in a parking lot outside her workplace earlier in the day. A man matching his description was seen fleeing the victims' home after neighbors heard gunshots.

All of Braden's appeals over the years, including one heard by the Ohio Supreme Court, have been rejected, although a case in federal court was still pending. Kathryn Sandford, an assistant state public defender who has handled Braden's appeals since his conviction, said the federal case will be dismissed as a result of the agreed order signed by O'Donnell.

Sandford and Steve Brown, a fellow assistant state public defender, filed the petition outlining Braden's qualifications for the serious-mental-illness designation. They included the findings of a psychologist who determined that Braden suffered from "paranoid schizophrenia with delusions" before committing the murders.

Since the early to mid-1990s, they wrote, a brother and sister-in-law testified that Braden had made statements about being a prophet of God, while friends attested to his paranoia and alarming personality changes. Since the beginning of his incarceration, Braden has been treated with anti-psychotic medication to control his psychotic symptoms, according to his attorneys.

A psychologist testified during the sentencing phase of Braden's trial that he was mentally ill, but the jury recommended a death sentence, which was imposed by then-Common Pleas Judge Michael H. Watson....

As part of the prosecutor's office review of Braden's petition, it was required by a separate state law to contact the family of the victims to inform them of the request, Grubb said. "The survivor we met with understood the position we were in," she said. "I think she reluctantly accepted that this was something that made sense on multiple levels."
A government health expert has said she is "not convinced" the Delta variant has new COVID symptoms. (Getty)

A government health expert has said she is "not convinced" the Delta variant has new COVID-19 symptoms despite researchers claiming it was presenting different signs of infection.

At the moment, the NHS lists "a new continuous cough, a high temperature, loss of or change in smell or taste" as main COVID-19 symptoms.

But research from the Zoe COVID Symptom study suggested symptoms for the virus may be changing due to the Delta variant, which was first identified in India.

According to the data, headaches, sore throats and a runny nose were now the most reported symptoms from people infected with coronavirus.

But on Wednesday, during a Downing Street press conference, PHEs head of immunisation Dr Mary Ramsay told reporters she was not convinced yet the Delta strain was causing different signs of infection.

She said: "I don't think any evidence that we are missing cases."

Watch: Nadhim Zahawi celebrates milestone of three-fifths (60%) of UK adults being fully vaccinated

Professor Tim Spector, who is in charge of Zoe COVID Symptom study, told the BBC: Since the start of May, we have been looking at the top symptoms in the app users  and they are not the same as they were.

He added: People might think theyve just got some sort of seasonal cold and they still go out to parties and they might spread it around to six other people.

We think this is fuelling a lot of the problem.

The Imperial College London React study also showed other symptoms linked to COVID-19, including muscle aches, chills, headache and loss of appetite.

It comes as vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi celebrated the milestone of three-fifths (60%) of UK adults having received both vaccine doses.

On Wednesday, he said more than 14,000 lives have now been saved by vaccines, while 44,500 hospital admissions had also been averted in England, including 2,500 in the past two weeks.

Zahawi added he is confident the government will meet its target of double vaccinating two-thirds (66%) of adults by 19 July.

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The government is planning to scrap several restrictions for double-vaccinated people.

The plans, first reported by The Times on Saturday, could see fully vaccinated people who come into contact with a COVID-19 carrier being spared the 10-day isolation requirement when contacted by the test and trace system.

Instead, the paper reported, people will be offered the chance to take a test every morning for a week.

Some restrictions will be eased for people who are fully vaccinated. (Getty Images)

Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the government will scrap the isolation period for double-jabbed people on Monday.

He told BBC Breakfast a pilot had been launched to check that that will be effective, but it is something that were working on.

Hancock added: Were not ready to be able to take that step yet, but its something that I want to see and we will introduce, subject to clinical advice, as soon as its reasonable to do so.

Boris Johnson also hinted on Thursday the UK was close to permitting unrestricted travel abroad for fully vaccinated people, in what would be a huge boost for airlines and holiday companies brought to their knees by COVID-19.

Johnson said he was not ruling out going abroad for his summer holiday and said there would be an announcement later on Thursday.

"I think that the whole double jab process is offering the real prospect of opening up to travel, and we'll be setting out a bit more later on," he told reporters.
Maya Wiley addresses supporters at an evening gathering on Tuesday. The progressive favorite outperformed expectations and has a path to victory thanks to ranked-choice voting. (Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

NEW YORK  Maya Wiley, the progressive favorite in the New York Citys Democratic mayoral primary, thanked supporters in Brooklyns Flatbush neighborhood on Wednesday, expressing optimism that she has a path to victory in New York Citys ranked-choice voting system.

Weve known all along that we have strong support in the top rankings, said Wiley, a civil rights attorney who served as counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio. Were excited about the possibility here. We know we can win.

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With as many as 207,500 absentee ballots still outstanding, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams leads Wiley 31.7% to 22.2% in first-preference votes in the Democratic mayoral primary. (Given the citys Democratic slant, the partys nominee is all but assured of victory in the general election.)

In the ranked-choice voting system that New York City voters adopted in a 2019 referendum, voters have the chance to submit their top five choices for a municipal office.

The votes are then counted in five rounds. In each round, the worst-performing candidate is eliminated, and that candidates voters are redistributed to those voters next-ranked choice. The winning candidate is the first person to reach a majority of votes through this multi-round elimination system.

It is highly unusual for a candidate to overcome a deficit in first-choice votes to win in subsequent rounds  let alone a lead as large as the one Adams currently holds over Wiley.

Since 2004, just 15 of 398 ranked-choice voting elections with single-candidate winners have resulted in a candidate who trailed in first-choice votes winning the election, according to data assembled by FairVote, a nonprofit that promotes the ranked-choice voting system.

And as FiveThirtyEight notes, just three of those 15 come-from-behind candidates overcame first-round deficits of more than 6.2 percentage points.

But there are a few factors that might increase the likelihood of an upset in this contest.

First, there are still many first-choice votes that have yet to be counted. New York Citys election rules allow for absentee ballots to be submitted up to a week after Election Day. Voters have until July 9 to cure  or correct  any mistakes that would lead their absentee ballot to be disqualified and thrown out.

Story continues

Thus far, 207,500 Democrats in the city have requested absentee ballots and 86,920 of those voters have returned their completed absentee ballots.

The citys Board of Elections is not expected to announce an official winner in the race until the week of July 12.

In addition, there are some political dynamics at play that might make Wiley and former sanitation commissioner Kathryn Garcia, who received 19.5% of the in-person vote and is currently in third place, more competitive in subsequent rounds.

For one thing, Adams did not conduct his campaign in a way that aimed to broaden his appeal to supporters of other candidates, suggesting that he might have a lower ceiling than an ordinary front-runner.

Instead, Adams employed a slash-and-burn approach in the final weeks of his campaign. He accused Wiley of hypocrisy for living in an upscale neighborhood with a private security patrol car while calling for $1 billion in funding cuts to the New York Police Department.

He ran a TV ad blaming former sanitation commissioner Garcia for problems plaguing New York Citys public housing that predated her brief tenure as head of the citys housing authority.

And most infamously, he claimed that Garcia and former presidential candidate Andrew Yangs quasi-alliance was racist.

Wiley condemned Adams remarks.

This partnership is not racist and we should not be using this term so loosely against other candidates, she said in a statement. At a time when this country is seeing real voter suppression laws being enacted, using racism charges to undermine confidence in ranked-choice voting is cynical, self-interested and dangerous.

In a race where a number of candidates flamed out  or lashed out  in embarrassing ways, Wiley steered clear of major mistakes and controversies.

Wileys allies believe that her respectful campaigning style maximized her appeal with upscale white liberals, Black voters and staunch progressives.

As a result, they believe, she is likely to be the second-choice favorite of voters whose first-choice candidates get eliminated  including left-wing former nonprofit executive Dianne Morales and NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. (Stringer got 5% of the in-person, first-choice vote; Morales received 2.8%.)

We were outspent, but we were not out-supported.Maya Wiley, New York City mayoral candidate

At the same time, many of Yangs Orthodox Jewish supporters ranked Adams second, suggesting that a significant chunk of his support could go toward Adams.

Adams has deep roots in Black and Latino communities in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx that might withstand his polarizing tactics.

Leroy Johnson, a Flatbush store owner and activist with New York Communities for Change, came over to hug Wiley on Wednesday outside the Parkside subway station.

Johnson told HuffPost that he ranked Wiley first because, among other things, he had confidence in her commitment to fighting for affordable housing. He was disappointed in Adams as a state senator for failing to help a group of tenants locked in a dispute with their landlord.

But Johnson nonetheless ranked Adams third on his ranked-choice ballot.

Mr. Adams is good in his own way, said Johnson, who approves of Adams emphasis on improving public safety.

Regardless of the final outcome of the mayoral election, Wileys strong performance defied the vast majority of public polls before Election Day.

She thanked her supporters for sticking with her, even when pundits in the city had written off her race.

When we started this journey in October  October 9th  no one thought that this city would elect a Black woman who had never run for public office before, she said. We were outspent, but we were not out-supported.

Indeed, Wiley surged in support in the final weeks of the campaign after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed her earlier this month, consolidating progressive voters behind Wileys bid.

Overall, while many analysts predicted a disappointing election cycle for the citys rising left wing, progressive candidates were on track for a number of major victories in city elections. In the city comptrollers primary, City Councilman Brad Lander, the progressive favorite, leads in first-choice votes cast in person by nearly 9 percentage points.

Several of the six city council candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America are ahead in their races. And Alvin Bragg, a reform-minded federal prosecutor, has a modest lead in in-person votes cast in the Democratic primary for Manhattan district attorney, which has not adopted ranked-choice voting.

On the other side of New York state, democratic socialist India Walton defeated Buffalos four-term Mayor Byron Brown in an upset primary win.

Reports of the death of the progressive movement are greatly exaggerated, said George Albro, who is active in the New York Progressive Action Network, an affiliate of Our Revolution that endorsed Wiley.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
With flashing lasers, honking horns and choking smoke from burning tyres, the latest tactics used by Palestinian protesters are dusk till dawn rallies to make life unbearable for Israeli settlers.

"They will not stay on our land," said one protester, a scarf wrapped around his face to conceal his identity from Israeli troops, near the small Palestinian town of Beita in the occupied West Bank.

Across the valley is the newly built Israeli settlers' outpost of Eviatar.

Some 50 families arrived last month, erecting huts and tents and bringing in trailer caravans in defiance of international law and even Israeli restrictions.

"When they set up their base... we thought they would stay a day or two," said Raad, a young man from Beita with a thick black beard, who declined to give his second name for fear of arrest.

But in less than 48 hours, "they put in place more than 20 caravans -- which means that they intend to stay," he added.

Palestinians hold regular protests on Fridays, the weekly day of rest, against Israel's occupation of the West Bank, which stretches back to the Six-Day War of 1967.

But in recent days, the residents of Beita -- a town of some 17,00 people south of Nablus -- have switched tactics.

Instead of mobilising during the day, they hold nighttime protests to keep the settlers awake.

- 'Carcinogenic smoke' -

Jewish settlers arrived on the hill outside Beita in early May.

Soon after, daily protests began, which repeatedly ended in clashes with Israeli troops.

Four Palestinians including a teenager have been killed, and more than 300 injured, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.

According to villagers, five people have been arrested since the night rallies began.

When the evening light slants through the olive trees, trucks arrive piled with tyres, and young men drag them onto roaring pyres.

The sky turns dark, and the air unbreathable, the wind blowing it towards the outpost.

Later, protesters start small fires and wave burning torches, lighting the hillside opposite the settlement with a terrifying wall of flames.

Story continues

Some direct intense green laser beams towards the settlement, dancing the light at the windows.

Others set off fireworks, the explosions echoing above.

Tsvi Succot, one of the outpost's founders, called the protests "simply crazy", in a post on Twitter.

"We're living in a cloud of carcinogenic smoke... Kids are coughing and getting sick," Succot said.

"They're talking about evicting us, destroying our community. This can't go on. It's their village that should be destroyed."

- Test for new government -

Under international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank -- where some 650,000 Israelis now live -- are illegal.

But Eviatar, named after a settler stabbed to death near Beita by a Palestinian in 2013, also breaches all Israeli restrictions too.

The first settlers arrived after a young settler was shot dead by a Palestinian nearby.

Soon after, daily protests began.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz ordered the settlement be removed, but the decision was frozen by Benjamin Netanyahu, then prime minister.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu was ousted by right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennett.

But while Bennett himself once led a settler organisation, he is now the prime minister of an ideologically disparate coalition government with sharply divided opinions.

The settlement could pose a major political test. It is "bad for the possibility of future peace", Israeli anti-occupation group Peace Now said in a statement.

"A small group of people is creating facts on the ground that affect dramatically Israel's security and its foreign policy without any authority," Peace Now added. "The new government must not accept that."

- 'Guardians of the Mountain' -

The protesters are convinced their tactic will work.

"They will leave," said Ghaleb Abu Zaitoun, 77, contemplating the thick smoke, a white keffiyah scarf around his face.

"This peaceful action will force them to leave," he added. "It is better than a physical confrontation, because we do not lose our young people."

Many of the men -- generally considerably younger than Zaitoun -- wear scarves around their faces, and shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Guardians of the Mountain" on their backs.

One young man, his face masked and clothes smeared in soot, rolled another tyre into the flames.

"We have weapons, we could use them," he said, but he added that the strength of the protest was that it was carried out by local residents, not militia forces.

"We will continue to do this until the smoke from the rubber hits their rooms," he said.

When the Palestinians come too close to the outpost, Israeli soldiers fire tear gas to drive them back.

Then as dawn breaks, everyone goes home to catch some sleep, ready to start once again at dusk.

he/cgo/pjm/dwo
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Ricketts pointed to an increase in unauthorized southern border crossings over the last year. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 180,000 encounters on the Mexican border in May, the most since March 2000. But the numbers were boosted by a pandemic-related ban on seeking asylum, which encouraged repeated attempts to cross the border because getting caught carried no legal consequences.

Critics questioned the need to send Nebraska law enforcement agents to the border.

Rose Godinez, a legal and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, said federal officials have more than enough resources to patrol the border.

We see this as an effort by Gov. Ricketts to politicize this issue, Godinez said.

She said the border crossings are a symptom of the federal government's failure for years to pass broader changes to the U.S. immigration system.

It adds to the question of why the state patrol is needed down there, she said. This is not the best use of their time.
When DeJong took soil borings across the region on April 15, soil moisture measured 5-10 inches deep. Crops have been able to subsist on rainfall received in April and May, but will soon begin tapping into those soil reserves soon, if they haven't already.

"We're kind of at risk at this point," DeJong said. "We don't have the soil reserve we've had in the past."

From now to Sept. 15, the area needs at least 9-10 inches of rain, spread out over July and August, DeJong said. Little to no rain in the next few weeks could result in significant crop loss. It didn't help matters Tuesday night, when rain finally fell, but was accompanied by hail that destroyed crops in some Plymouth County fields.

The current conditions are curious, given that a year ago Iowa was coming out of the wettest two-year period since record keeping began in 1872. That was followed by the 17th driest summer on record, and it hasn't gotten much better.

Glisan said a high-pressure system settled over the region in June, locking in hot air and blocking out much-needed rainfall. The dry soil, especially in Northwest Iowa, gives little fuel to the atmosphere for thunderstorm development. The area needs storm activity soon to supply soil moisture that can lead to more favorable conditions for thunderstorms the rest of the summer.
LE MARS, Iowa -- A recent mental health evaluation has been unable to provide clarity on the future of a Merrill, Iowa, man's murder trial.

After a psychiatric examination at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center, Thomas Knapp was found mentally incompetent to stand trial for the May 11, 2020, shooting death of Kevin Juzek. However, the evaluation report mentioned the possibility of having Knapp undergo an MRI or other brain scan.

No such scan was done during the examination, leading a judge and lawyers on Thursday to ponder the next step in the case, which is currently scheduled to go to trial Aug. 24 in Plymouth County District Court.

"If he has scans, it could tell us whether changes in his brain prevent restoration (of mental competency)," said Knapp's attorney, Wendy Samuelson, of the Iowa State Public Defender's Special Defense Unit.

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The situation is complicated by Knapp's hearing loss, which has made it hard for him to communicate with Samuelson and follow along with court proceedings. Knapp, 83, has been fitted with hearing aids while in custody, but his hearing has continued to be a problem. Samuelson said an audiologist has said Knapp's hearing, with the aids, is about as good as it's going to get.
SIOUX CITY  Woodbury County officials have been working for the last year to create a more comprehensive wind energy ordinance.

During the Tuesday night Board of Supervisors meeting, a public hearing was held to discuss just such a proposed ordinance.

The current zoning ordinance allows wind energy in agricultural preservation and general industrial zones, said David Gleiser, director of rural economic development.

Within the current ordinance, those interested in constructing a wind turbine on a piece of property would fill out a proposal and pay $250. An abstract of the project is sent to property owners within 500 feet as a public notice and the proposal is reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The last step is that a recommendation is sent to the Board of Adjustment.

"The board of adjustment ultimately has the decision," Gleiser said.

The proposed stand-alone ordinance adds additional regulations to commercial windfarms.

Gleiser said the current zoning ordinance does not provide protections and assurances for private and public property.

Some of the vulnerabilities in the current ordinance include:
Another idea is to try to engineer a rules change by August to set up another vote on the election bill right before the summer recess, and force Republican opponents to stay in town if they want to filibuster it. But that may be a long shot in the slow-moving Senate.

The filibuster was never intended as part of the original Senate design and has been changed before. McConnell engineered a 51-vote threshold to confirm President Donald Trump's three Supreme Court nominees, expanding on the change his predecessor, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, put in place to confirm executive branch and lower court nominees. Much earlier, a significant change in the 1970s lowered the 67-vote threshold to 60.

Manchin and Sinema, D-Ariz., are among those who argue that preserving the filibuster fosters bipartisanship, rather than allowing majority passage like the House. While they are the most vocal holdouts against abolishing the filibuster, they have not ruled out supporting any changes to the rules.

Sinema signaled what many viewed as a possible road map of ideas in an op-ed released the night before the vote. It is time for the Senate to debate the legislative filibuster, she wrote.
With a severe labor shortage, now is no time to pay people extra money not to work, Sen. Chuck Edwards, a Henderson County Republican, said in a news release. "The pandemic is largely behind us, and our state shouldnt be stuck in mid-pandemic policies.

Coopers office didnt immediately respond to an emailed request late Wednesday for comment on the bill. But one Democrat, Rep. Wesley Harris of Mecklenburg County, said during floor debate that he anticipated Cooper would veto it. The bill would direct the state to stop administering payments within about 30 days of the measure becoming law.

Edwards had previously pitched a proposal to keep benefits in place through the summer, but combined it with a program to create bonuses of up to $1,500 who returned to work within 60 days. This bonus idea, which would have required federal approval, was left out of the final product.

The final measure did retain a House provision that would spend $250 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid on eliminating the individual waiting list for government subsidies for child care. Paying for day care is considered a major stumbling block for mothers to return to work. And there are more work-search requirements, which if not followed could result in the denial of benefits.
Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin's sentencing Friday in George Floyd's death will hardly be the last word in the case, with federal civil rights charges still pending, appeals expected and three more officers facing trial.
With many employers desperate to hire, some states are starting to cut off pandemic-related unemployment aid programs in response to business complaints that the assistance is making it harder for them to find workers. Starting this month, 26 states will end an extra $300 weekly federal unemployment payment and 22 of those states will also cut off all jobless assistance to self-employed, gig workers, and those out of work more than six months. The extra $300 ends nationwide on Sept. 6.

Economists at Bank of America have estimated that those who earned less than $32,000 a year at their previous jobs can receive more in jobless aid with the extra $300. At the same time, the federal government last year set up two unemployment benefit programs that covered millions of self-employed and contract workers for the first time.

Four states  Alaska, Iowa, Mississippi, and Missouri  stopped providing the $300 payment last week. All but Alaska also cut off the two programs that covered the self-employed and the long-term jobless.

In Iowa, Mississippi, and Missouri, about 163,000 people are no longer receiving jobless aid because of the cutoff.
Calling Jessica Brandon an inspiration to mothers, a federal prosecutor Thursday called on the judge to sentence Tawhyne Patterson Sr. and Damon Williams to life in prison for the home-invasion robbery that left them emptyhanded and the 36-year-old Lincoln woman dead.

"I think it's important for her children to know that I believe the facts show she died trying to protect them," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods said.

She said early July 31, 2018, when Brandon heard three intruders breaking into their Belmont home, she headed up to the main floor, where two of her kids and their grandmother were in their bedrooms.

"Being a mom, she heard that door crack, and her babies were in that house. And she went first," Woods said. "But for that choice, maybe someone else dies that night."

Before Brandon could get to the girls, one of the would-be robbers, Patterson, unloaded his gun down the dark stairwell that headed to Brandon and Michael Robertson's basement bedroom, hitting Brandon, who Woods said "stood no chance."
The priest was dismissed from state employment in 1991 because of allegations of indecent contact, the report states. The priest denied the charges. After a series of hearings, an administrative law judge ruled that the charges were undetermined. Because the allegations were made to the state institution, and not the Archdiocese, the Archdiocese accepted the investigation and findings of the judge.

The archdiocese received two more allegations against the same priest, but the people did not want to pursue investigations, the report states. The Attorney General reported this priest is retired but has duties in the diocese.

While citing a history of abuse by priests and a cover-up by officials, the Attorney Generals Office noted in a news release that the Dioceses of the Catholic Church in Iowa have enacted many reforms over the last two decades, have become more responsive to victims of clergy abuse and each now reports all accusations to law enforcement.

Miller began to focus on clergy sex abuse in Iowa after the release in 2018 by the Pennsylvania Attorney General of a grand jury report that revealed over 300 Catholic priests across that state sexually abused children for 70 years.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A blaze that badly damaged a former City Hall building in Iowa and destroyed a makeshift Black children's memorial was being investigated as suspicious, according to fire officials.

The fire early Wednesday in Des Moines destroyed a memorial created last summer by the Des Moines Black Liberation Movement. It honored Black Iowa youth who have died in recent years.

Lt. Rick Thomas of the Des Moines Fire Department told the Des Moines Register that the fire is still under investigation and its cause has not yet been determined, but investigators believe the cause is suspicious. Investigators were reviewing video of the fire, which was reported around 5 a.m. Wednesday.

The memorial was at the entrance to the 132-year-old former North Des Moines City Hall, which has been unoccupied for many years. North Des Moines was once its own city, but now is part of Des Moines.
DES MOINES  The Waterloo and Council Bluffs school districts will conduct separate early education pilot programs in partnership with the state education department and funded by federal pandemic relief dollars, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday.

Council Bluffs will receive $7 million that will enable the district to offer an early childhood program that provides childcare and early learning activities that will prepare young children for preschool and kindergarten.

Waterloo will receive $3 million for a program that will aim to close the achievement gap in literacy and math among young students, particularly minorities.

Both districts will be working with national experts and evaluating ways that we can expand their programs potentially again across the entire state, Reynolds said Wednesday during a news conference at the Iowa Capitol.

The Council Bluffs early childhood program will expand childcare access and preschool programming for nearly 200 children ages 0 to 3, said Council Bluffs superintendent Vickie Murillo. A portion of the $7 million will go toward the construction of an early learning center on the district campus, which should be open by the fall of 2023, Murillo said. The district also will work to raise private funds for the project.
He said the EU imposed the sanctions despite fears the measures could push Belarus towards Russia and make Lukashenko easy prey for the Kremlin.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said earlier that the economic sanctions would take aim at "economic areas that are of particular significance for Belarus and for the regimes income.

That provoked an angry reaction from Belarus, with the country's foreign ministry saying they would hurt ordinary people and border on the declaration of an economic war. The ministry warned the that the country would be forced to take retaliatory measures that would hurt Western companies.

Belarus has been shaken by months of protests fueled by Lukashenkos re-election. The authorities responded with a massive crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police. Most opposition leaders have been jailed or forced to leave the country.

Since he was pulled off the Ryanair flight in Minsk, Pratasevich has been paraded on state TV, tearfully apologizing for his actions and praising Lukashenko. His parents, members of the opposition and others in the West believe he spoke under duress, with some saying there were signs he had been beaten.



Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Pope Francis will be pressed as to whether the U.S. bishops are wrong to insist that U.S. Catholic leaders who defy Catholic doctrine on one of the great moral issues of the age should not be treated as devout Catholics.

If the bishops produce a teaching document that is consistent with traditional Catholic doctrine, what will it say?

Abortion is the killing of an unborn child, a grave moral crime and sin. No Catholic may be a party to it. Political leaders who endorse abortion rights and vote to fund abortions contribute to a systemic moral evil and a scandalizing of the faithful. And they should neither receive nor be given Holy Communion. To do so is to give moral sanction to their misconduct.

The major argument raised against a denial of Communion to pro-abortion Catholics is the deeper division in the church it could create.

"The choice before us at this moment," said Washington, D.C., Cardinal Wilton Gregory at the bishops' gathering, "is either we pursue a path of strengthening unity among ourselves or settle for creating a document that will not bring unity but may very well further damage it."

But is episcopal collegiality a higher cause than standing up for the right to life of millions of unborn who are about to be done to death?
Miller said reforms implemented since 2002 are working. His report praised the automatic reporting of all allegations by church officials to local law enforcement authorities, decisions by the states four Catholic dioceses to post online lists of credibly accused priests, and the improved treatment of victims.

Of the five priests accused of misconduct since 2002, only one has been added to the credibly accused list: a former Davenport priest who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. The others involved allegations of improper touching, possession of pornography and invasion of privacy, but they either werent substantiated or didnt meet the definition of sexual abuse.

The Catholic bishops of Iowa issued statement regarding the release of a report from the state Attorney General.
Manifest, the NBC supernatural mystery that was canceled earlier this month after three seasons, has not been picked up by Netflix, even though its been at the top of the services Top 10 for more than a week. There will be no fourth, fifth, and sixth seasonssupposedly already plotted out by Manifests creator, Jeff Raketo explain why a plane flying from Jamaica to New York City vanished in 2013 and reappeared in 2018, with its unaged passengers gifted with mysterious new psychic powers they dub callings.

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What is this show, which premiered with high ratings that steadily fell as time went on? And why do Netflix watchers like it so much, even if Netflix money people do not? Redditors debating dropping the show partway through the first season complained about the mixed-genre nature of the show, calling it a bait and switch: I was hoping for something intriguing like Lost but wound up getting cornball prime time soap that thinks its a procedural about a supernatural mystery. But I think this oddness is actually why I found myself binging a bunch of Manifest this past week, just as, in real time, we found out the mystery would end prematurely in Season 3.

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The odd qualities of Manifest go far to explain why a sprawling conspiracy theory jibed with so many people (formerly) in the mainstream.

The shows main charactersthe Stone family, half of whom were passengers on Flight 828are aggressively bland. Ben Stone (Josh Dallas) is a boringly beautiful white dad who loves his family and will do anything to protect them. Hes the equivalent of Losts Jack, in that he becomes the passengers de facto leader, as he tries to solve the mystery of their disappearance and reappearance, while keeping them safe from the forces that put them in danger, but without any of Jacks dark edge. He is supposed to be some kind of a numbers guyhe figures out how to save his wifes business, which is in peril after the insurance company asks for his life insurance payout back, with only a couple of hours of Big Brain Ben thoughtsbut Dallas is just a little bit too slight and uncompelling for me to believe that anyone would follow him into the abyss. Bens sister Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) is a boringly beautiful white NYPD detective, who uses (and sometimes abuses) all of her cop powers to investigate the central mystery. I liked her boyfriend, Jared (J.R. Ramirez), until the show made him into Jealous, Controlling Cop Ex, when the inevitable love triangle developed.

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Manifest premiered in 2018, long before the existence of QAnon began to register on any non-involved persons radar. But the odd qualities of this show go far to explain why that sprawling conspiracy theory jibed with so many people (formerly) in the mainstream. In Manifests story, as in the Q world, weve got a group of normal, everyday people who start experiencing callings, sent by an apparent higher power. (The first episode even starts with Michaela and Ben following a calling to free a pair of kidnapped girls from captivity, before they can be traffickedclassic Q- and Q-adjacent fantasy!) These callings alienate the passengers from others, but they must stay true to the mystery despite their families resistance, and the worlds doubt. Shadowy agents hidden in the ranks of the government are helping them along, while others are working against them.

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Theres also spiritualitysometimes overtly Christian spiritualityall over the place. Michaelas and Bens moms favorite Bible verseRomans 8:28 (get it? 828, like the plane)is a motivating force in the plot. The verse promises that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. This is straight-up Q: the idea that there are some people out there who are on the manifest, and if they align themselves with his purpose, they will prevail. (Or, perhapsdouble meaning!they will manifest his will.) I havent arrived at the third season yetNetflix only has twobut apparently, it involves the appearance of a piece of Noahs Ark, adding to the explicit Christianity of it all.

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In this soup of bland network family drama and conspiracy plot, mad bits constantly bob to the surface. It may have begun as a generic, joyless cop show, but as you watch on, its flatness is interrupted increasingly often by bizarre interludes. A man who was drowned and then resurrected is about to go on national television to reveal that the passengers are having callings, but starts spewing epic amounts of water before dropping dead. Another manZeke (Matt Long), the other side of the MichaelaJared love triangle, and, honestly, a cutiespends several episodes with his flesh slowly deteriorating due to frostbite. A group of catatonic passengers, linked by [insert the shows neuroscience mumbo-jumbo here], jerk simultaneously, controlled from afar by electrical impulses. A passenger convinced a baby is her guardian angel sets a room on fire while testing to see if the baby will save her. (She gets interrupted by the babys meddling mom before she can prove her theory.)

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As for Bens teenage son Cal (Jack Messina) constantly walks on the razor edge between heartbreaking and creepy. This character is a driving force in the show, because when he takes off on Flight 828 he has incurable cancer, and when he lands, research (done by a doctor who was also on the flight!) has advanced to the point that he can be treated. Also, his callings are stronger than the others. With his big eyes and solemn demeanor, Cal is supposed to tug at the heartstrings, but theres something ineradicably uncanny about him. Hes a twin, and when he and his sister Olive are reunited after Flight 828 lands, she has gone through puberty, while hes remained a little shrimp. Its supposed to be heartwarming to see them together again, but it just gives me the deep and profound creeps. It doesnt help that Cal, of course, is in the habit of making drawings that come true. And hes always running away, led by one calling or another, leaving his poor mom staring at open windows, curtains wafting. This tween worries about other kids calling him a freakbut maybe, just suppose, he is one?

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This whole thing sounds like a mess, and it isor, I guess, it was. But there was something about its unevenness that I found appealing. As Dustin Rowles writes for UpRoxx, explaining why he continued to watch the show, even though its not objectively good: It is absolutely bonkers, and yet every character on the show confronts its ridiculous plot turns with complete dead-faced seriousness. Manifest has a mix of tones you dont find anywhere else.

Would all of its unevenness and loose ends have come together in the shows last seasons? Netflix, which has paid for final seasons of canceled network shows like Designated Survivor in order to be able to give viewers a definitive ending, chose in this case not to give us the satisfaction. Like Q true believers who saw all their predictions fizzle into nothing as 2020 moved into 2021, were left without a resolution. For this odd show, its a fitting end.
John McAfee, who made a name and fortune for himself through his eponymous antivirus software, died of an apparent suicide in a Barcelona prison Wednesday at the age of 75. The brash software pioneer had cashed out of his company in the mid-1990s, embarking on a life of lawlessness and hedonism, courting legal trouble as he bounced around the world. McAfee was ultimately arrested in October 2020 after arriving in Spain and had been held ever since in connection to tax charges in the U.S. McAfee was also indicted in the U.S. earlier this year on separate fraud and money laundering charges. McAfees death comes just hours after a Spanish court agreed to extradite him to the U.S. to face the tax charges that could have meant living out the rest of his life behind bars.

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McAfee spent much of the last decade of his life on the run from the law. After decamping to Belize, in 2012 he was wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of his neighbor with whom he had had a dispute. The neighbor died shortly after poisoning McAfees dogs. McAfee was named as a suspect but never charged with a crime in Belize. In 2019, he was ordered by a Florida court to pay $25 million wrongful death claim to the murdered neighbors estate. The troubled tech entrepreneurs legal troubles continued: He was deported from Guatemala for entering the country illegally and later arrested in the Dominican Republic on suspicion of carrying high-caliber weapons, ammunition and military-style gear on a yacht. McAfee spent time in Montreal, Canada working on a documentary about his life that included two longshot third party bids for U.S. president.

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I have not filed a tax return for 8 years. Why? 1: taxation is illegal. 2: I paid tens of millions already and received Jack Shit in services. 3. I'm done making money. I live off of cash from McAfee Inc. My net income is negative. But i am a prime target for the IRS. Here I am.  John McAfee (@officialmcafee) January 3, 2019

McAfee courted mayhem and madness, unrepentantly swerving between scandal and swindle until the very end. [T]he Securities and Exchange Commission sued McAfee for a pump and dump scheme in which he allegedly made $23 million in undisclosed compensation by pushing cryptocurrencies on his Twitter page, NPR notes. McAfee took pride in outwitting authorities. He once boasted about eluding police by dressing as a German tourist in a Speedo and another time as an angry homeless man.

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This is again the U.S. government trying to erase John McAfee. And thats what its always going to be, a lawyer for McAfee said of the SEC charges. This man was a fighter. And in the minds of everyone who knew him, he will always be a fighter.
In 2016, a group of wealthy investors hatched a lawsuit to dislodge $124 billion from the United States treasury and transfer a chunk of the money to their own pockets. The investors attacked the Federal Housing Finance Agency, a powerful executive agency that regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Their plan was to force a settlement that would enrich shareholders by transferring billions of dollars back to the mortgage giants and release them from government control.

It is difficult to overstate how badly this scheme backfired. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court affirmed the investors constitutional theorythen rejected their effort to claw back billions while deregulating the mortgage industry. In the process, they allowed President Joe Biden to appoint a new head of the FHFA, a progressive who will keep Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac funneling money to the government (instead of shareholders) indefinitely. The plaintiffs, in other words, did not just lose this case. They inadvertently defeated their ultimate objective, entrenching the very system they tried to topple.

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The roots of Wednesdays decision in Collins v. Yellen go back to the Great Recession. In 2008, as the U.S. housing market collapsed, Congress created the FHFA to regulate the mortgage industry. The agency placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a conservatorship. Under this arrangement, the government gave Fannie and Freddie billions in federal fundsbasically, a bailoutand received some money in return. Specifically, under a 2012 deal with the FHFA, Fannie and Freddie sent quarterly payments consisting of nearly their entire net worth to the U.S. treasury.

Predictably, Fannie and Freddies investors were displeased with this deal. It forced the companies to hand the government about $124 billion more than they would have under previous arrangements. And it left nothing for the companies private shareholders, who sued to recoup the money that, in their view, shouldve gone to them in the first place. The shareholders alleged that the FHFA had an unconstitutional structure because it was led by a single director whom the president cannot fire without cause. This structure, they asserted, violates the constitutional separation of powers by depriving the president of control over the executive branch. And, they reasoned, the solution is to invalidate the agencys actionsnamely, the 2012 deal that sent $124 billion to the U.S. treasury.

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Biden swiftly took advantage of the Supreme Courts decision.

This step wouldve set off a bomb in the housing market, throwing the mortgage industry into chaos while forcing the government to somehow unravel years of transactions amounting to billions of dollars. It may also have spurred the Biden administration to settle with the plaintiffs to stave off this disaster. The shareholders appeared eager to leverage a decision in their favor to end Fannie and Freddies conservatorship once and for all.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court went in a very different direction. By a 72 vote, the court agreed that the FHFA directors job protections violate the Constitution. This outcome was no surprise: Just last year, the court ruled that the president must be able to fire the head of a single-director federal agency; that decision dictated the result here. By an 81 vote, though, the court rejected the plaintiffs theory that the directors actions are void because he is unconstitutionally shielded from removal. (Only Justice Neil Gorsuch sided with plaintiffs on this question.)

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As Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion, the argument for a sweeping remedy is neither logical nor supported by precedent. The FHFA director was properly appointed, so there is no basis for concluding that he lacked the authority to carry out the functions of the office. As a result, the courts have no power to set aside his decisions, including the 2012 deal at issue in Collins. Put simply, the treasury does not have to return the moneyand so, by extension, the shareholders get nothing. (Technically, Alito left open the possibility of some limited compensation if the plaintiffs could prove that the president tried and failed to remove the FHFA director. But no president did any such thing, and as Justices Elena Kagan and Clarence Thomas explained in separate opinions, such a claim will fail.)

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Here, in short, is where the Supreme Court left things: The FHFA stands. Fannie and Freddie remain in a conservatorship, still on the governments tight leash, and the treasury can keep the billions it collected from them. Meanwhile, the shareholders, who pursued this case for five years, get nothing. Nothing, that is, except the satisfaction of the Supreme Court granting the president authority to fire the FHFA director.

But this result will not satisfy the shareholders at all, because it leaves them worse off than they were before. From 2019 until this week, the FHFA was led by Mark Calabria, a libertarian Donald Trump nominee whose term was set to stretch into 2024. Calabria intended to release Fannie and Freddie from the conservatorshipfreeing the companies from strict government control, ending their transfer of money to the treasury, and allowing them to begin lining investors pockets once again. This goal angered Democrats, as the conservatorship furthers many progressive aims, including affordable housing and racial equity. Because of his protection against removal, Calabria was set to stay in office for three more years and wind down the conservatorship by the end of his tenure.

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Thanks to Collins, however, Calabria lost that protection. And Biden swiftly took advantage of the Supreme Courts decision: He requested and received Calabrias resignation within hours, then replaced him with a new acting director, Sandra L. Thompson, a liberal who joined the FHFA under President Barack Obama. (She is the first woman to lead the agency.) Thompson promptly announced her intention to continue regulating Fannie and Freddie, and to focus on affordable housing and access to credit, especially in communities of color. Its clear that she has no intention of freeing the companies from the conservatorship, and its a safe bet that Bidens eventual nominee to replace her will not either.

If Fannie and Freddies investors hadnt filed suit, they might have secured their end goal: Calabria likely would have remained in office until 2024, dismantled the conservatorship, and restored the flow of funds to shareholders. (For better or worse, Biden seems unwilling to fire Trump holdovers with job protections until a court allows him to.) Instead, these investors are in the worst possible position. They wont recoup a penny of the $124 billion theyre chasing, and Fannie and Freddie will remain in a conservatorship for the foreseeable future. Their ally, Calabria, is out, replaced by a Biden-picked progressive who will pursue policies they hate. The Collins plaintiffs did not just lose: They accidentally handed Democrats a major victory that no Democrat was even trying for.
Remember Shyne? If youre a fan of the glamour era of 1990s2000s rap, or followed turn-of-millennium celebrity scandals, the name likely rings a bell. He is, most notoriously, known as a key figure in the 1999 nightclub shooting involving Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend, then known as Puff Daddy. The controversial Brooklyn rapper, who at the time was one of the Bad Boy CEOs proteges, ended up taking the fall for the incident and languishing behind bars for 10 years.

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Perhaps now, as the memories of that bizarre night come back, you might be wondering: Just where is Shyne now? Luckily, Im here to tell you: As of this week, hes the official leader of Belizes conservative opposition party, having ascended to that prominent post after serving for less than a year in the countrys House of Representatives. While thats a lot to process on its own, whats even odder about the situation is that it can be attributed to a domino effect starting right with that notorious shooting, and accelerated by Shynes long-standing family ties to Belizean politics.

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Lets head back to the very start. Shyne was born Jamal Michael Barrow in Belize City in 1978, just three years before the Central American nation gained full independence from the United Kingdom. By the mid-80s, Shynes father, Dean Barrow, was serving on the Belize City Council, while Shyne moved to Brooklyn and got absorbed into the boroughs burgeoning rap scene. 1998 would be a pivotal year for both father and son: Dean would become the Belize House of Representatives opposition leader, taking charge of the weak conservative coalition known as the United Democratic Party, while Shyne would be introduced to Puff Daddy and offered a generous label deal.

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Things went sour for Shyne just the following year. On the night of Dec. 27, 1999, he was celebrating the impending release of his self-titled debut at Club New York when Puffy accidentally bumped into streetwise Brooklynite Matthew Scar Allen and spilled his drink. J. Lo and Shyne stood nearby as Puffy and Scar got into a heated argument that ended with a wad of cash being thrown in the formers face. Shots rang out, and three clubgoers were injured in the ensuing chaos; J. Lo, Puff, and his bodyguard quickly fled the scene before getting pulled over for running a red light and arrested for storing a gun in their getaway car. Both Shyne and Puff Daddy were tried as perpetrators of the shootingbut the latter, who had celebrity lawyer Johnnie Cochran on his legal team, was cleared of all charges.

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Shyne, on the other hand, was done in by a few factors: prominent witnesses alleging that he was carrying a gun that night, with his defense attorney admitting to it as well; multiple accounts told of Scar threatening Shyne specifically, and of Shyne firing his gun in retaliation; and the rappers own self-admitted refusal to snitch on any other suspected gunmen. (Years after, Shyne would admit to brandishing his firearm in self-defense that night and claim that Diddy later told him the mogul had been under a lot of pressure from the lawyers to throw me under the bus. Diddy settled a lawsuit with the three individual survivors of the shooting in 2011.)

The ordeal changed the lives of everyone involved. J. Lo and Puff Daddy split in the midst of the trial, and the latter soon changed his moniker to P. Diddy in order to dissociate himself from the situation. Shyne, whose 2000 debut went platinum, was condemned to a full decade of imprisonment. Hed continue releasing music while incarceratedbut with Def Jam, not the floundering Bad Boy, whose CEO he subtly dissed in multiple lyrics. After he was finally released in 2009, Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him for an immigration law violation and deported him to Belize as a nonU.S. citizen felon.

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By then, Belizes politics had massively shifted. Shynes father, Dean Barrow, led his United Democratic Party to a resounding victory in the 2008 elections, becoming the countrys first Black prime minister. Shynes uncle Michael Finnegan also had a significant position, as a founding member of the UDP and a Belize House representative for the UDP-favoring Mesopotamia constituency, which encompasses Belize City, since 1993. In April 2010, Shyne was appointed by his father as the countrys musical goodwill ambassador, which allowed him to eventually visit the U.S. again. He had a mixed tenure on that job. In 2014, a group of Belizean artists demanded that Shyne be removed as ambassador, arguing that neither he nor the countrys National Institute of Culture and History were supporting musicians in any substantial way. But in subsequent years, Shyne would organize events for the benefit of artists and establish new music institutions stocked with instruments he himself donated.

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Over the past decade, Shyne has spent some time in Israel, where he lived as a practicing Orthodox Jew under the name Moses Levi. He also bounced between American record labels from afar, collaborated with artists from Lil Wayne to Orthodox rocker Matisyahu, reconciled with Diddy in Paris (only to diss him again after he promised to procure a U.S. visa for Shyne and never followed through), endorsed presidential candidate Mitt Romney in retaliation for his deportation by the Obama administration, and released a popular new mixtape. In 2016, he joined a Bad Boy reunion show in Brooklyn from Belize, by means of a livestream broadcast on a big screen at the Barclays Center, earning him praise from local media for bring[ing] even more attention to Belize.

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Shyne also made no secret of higher political ambitions, dropping hints of his intent to eventually succeed his uncle Michael Finnegan for the Mesopotamia House seatwith Finnegans supportand then run for prime minister. But public doubt surrounded Shyne, especially when news emerged of his legal battles with artists and donors who claimed he never accounted for the money he owed to them or that they had given to his operations. Yet his own prime minister father was quick to defend him, stating that from the little I see, I get the impression that he has been doing an excellent job as musical ambassador.

Shyne kicked off his House campaign in 2018 and attracted an unusual amount of international attention. Rapper Fat Joe told Shyne he would come to Belize to support him, and even Diddy publicly endorsed his old labelmates run. In November 2020, Shyne won the Mesopotamia seat with 53 percent of the vote. But the election cycle was otherwise catastrophic for his party: Only four other party members besides Shyne were elected to the House, including his aunt Denise Sista B Barrow.

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After entering office, Shyne escalated a feud with his partys leader, Patrick Faber, that had started several years back, when Faber was Dean Barrows culture minister. On May 31, a video was leaked that appeared to show Faber aggressively raging against the mother of his 2-year-old daughter. He apologized, and the UDP backed him upexcept for Shyne. About a week after the videos release, Shyne called for an emergency UDP meeting to address the issue. (Its worth noting that Shyne himself previously faced a domestic dispute allegation that was later retracted.) Then, on Monday, he sent a letter to Belizes governor-general, co-signed by two other House UDP members, stating that he had the confidence of the majority of the partys members, making him constitutionally eligible to take charge. By Wednesday, Shyne had assumed presumptive leadership of the opposition and was formally recognized by the prime minister.

And just like that, the former Brooklyn musician who once took the rap for the Vote or Die guy became one of the Caribbeans most prominent politicians.
How does the election of Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner among hardliners, as Irans next president affect the prospects for reviving the Iran nuclear deal? Some say Raisis election makes a return to the deal less likely, others say more likely. In fact, nobody knows. Both predictions are mere guesses based on premises. So, to know where we stand, its worthwhile to examine those premises.

The optimists cite President Richard Nixons trip to China. Only a lifelong anti-Communist like Nixon could have opened relations with Mao Zedongs China without inciting rebellion from fellow Republicans. Similarly, they argue, Raisithe head of the Islamic Republics judiciary, who ordered mass executions of political prisoners, spurring the U.S. to sanction him personally for human-rights abusescould do the same for restoring the nuclear deal.

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This assumes, however, that Raisi wants to restore the deal, even if it means sacrificing other political goals. No one on the outside really knows if thats true. Raisi did say, earlier this month, We will be committed to the [nuclear deal] as an agreement that was approved by the supreme leader. And We believe that oppressive sanctions must be lifted, and no effort should be spared in that regard. The bestright now, the onlyway to lift sanctions is to restore the deal, which required Iran to dismantle most of its nuclear infrastructure, in exchange for which the U.S. and other countries would lift most economic sanctions.

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All sides were complying with the terms of the deal, which President Barack Obama and six other world leaders signed in 2015until President Trump scuttled it three years later. Iran sought some way around Trumps re-imposed sanctions for more than a year, trying to cut separate financial arrangements with the European Union or China, to no avail. Finally, to regain leverage, Iran broke the deal as well, exceeding its limits on enriching uranium. As a result, Iran is now closer to building an A-bomb than it was before the deal was signed.

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Joe Biden came into office, determined to go back to the deal, but the two countries got locked into a squabble over who would go firstwould the U.S. lift sanctions, then Iran cut enrichment, or the other way around? For reasons still mysterious, the impasse has persisted.

Finally, in April, the U.S. and Iran began holding talks in Viennatheyve gone six rounds since, all of them indirect, conducted through European intermediaries (the American and Iranian negotiators havent communicated with each other). At the moment, all sides agree that returning to the deal is a good idea.

But several differences remain unresolved, including the standstill on who goes first. The Iranians also want compensation for lost revenues during the Trump sanctions. They also want a guarantee that a renewed deal will last beyond the Biden term, to ward off another reversal by a returning Trump or someone like him. Compensation is a political non-starter. A guarantee is reasonable, but unenforceable, since the deal is an executive agreement, not a formal treatya deliberate maneuver by Obama, since it takes two-thirds of the Senate to ratify a treaty, and that wasnt going to happen. Biden officials are also demanding that Irans ballistic missile program and support of regional terrorists be put on the agenda for follow-on talks as a condition for restoring the deal. Not even Irans current president, Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate who pushed for the deal in the face of much domestic opposition, would agree to that condition. Raisi has seconded the objection and declared it non-negotiable.

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Are some of these demands, made by one side or both, absolute or merely bargaining points? If theyre the latter, what concessions and trade-offs might induce each side to drop them? The answer (which, again, nobody knows) will determine whether or not the Iran nuclear deal has a future.

Two broader points are worth noting. First, Nixons trip to Chinaoften invoked in obstacle-strewn diplomatic featsisnt always an apt analogy. Nixon had a larger, strategic reason for going to China: he wanted to exploit the triangular geopolitics of the U.S., China, and the Soviet Unionto form an alliance with Beijing as leverage against Moscow, both to strengthen Washingtons hand in the contest between the two superpowers and to help bring a victorious end to the Vietnam War. (He succeeded somewhat on the first goal, not at all on the second.)

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Raisi wants to lift sanctionsthe only feasible way to recover from Irans economic doldrumsbut it isnt clear what other aims he might fulfill by reviving the accord. If there arent any, is sanctions-relief alone enough of an inducement? The Revolutionary Guard Corps, Irans elite military unit and a major economic force, has always been deeply suspicious of diplomacy with the West, especially diplomacy that imposes restraints on their nuclear development. Can Raisi overcome or coopt their resistance?

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Henry Rome, senior analyst for Iran at the Eurasia Group, thinks Iran will make a deal, either before Raisi assumes office in Augustso that he can take the credit for the economic boom while Rouhani can take the blame if Washington scuttles it again down the roador very soon after coming to power. In the long run, Rome told me, Raisi believes in a resistance economyhes not interested in access to U.S. dollars or investment by U.S. companiesbut the quick economic benefits of sanctions-relief would allow him to start his term on a high note.

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Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, agrees, calling Raisi expedient and pragmatic on issues such as the nuclear dealvital for boosting Irans economywhile still pursuing the regimes regional politics. The question is whether he can do both.

Finally, intense musing about the transition between Rouhani and Raisi neglects, or at least underplays, the overwhelming fact that Irans real decision-maker is the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Not for nothing is his title supreme leader.) Hes the one who allowed only the hardest-line candidates to run for president this year, disqualifying anyone even somewhat moderate. He did allow Rouhani and Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif enormous leeway to negotiate the original nuclear dealon the promise that it would bring Iran economic relief. When the relief vanished, when Trump replaced Obama and scuttled the promise, Khameneis trust subsided too, and its an open question whether hes willing to give the American devils a second try. (He has never met an American official. Raisi says he will not meet with Biden. Then again, Rouhani never met with Obama either, though they did exchange well wishes on the phone.)

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When Obama signed the deal, he resigned himself to the fact that it would restrict only Irans nuclear programnot its ballistic missiles or its support of terrorists. Still, he reasoned, better that Iran deal with those other things without nuclear weapons than with them. (He also hoped that the regimes inclusion into the world economy might moderate its politics, but he saw that as a possible side effect, not at all the central issue.)

The question is whether Biden, given his political struggles on other issues that he sees as more important for the American economy and democracy, can settle with the same compromiseand whether Irans supreme leader is interested in moving an inch to let him try.

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It is worth remembering that for 34 years, between the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the Obama-Rouhani phone call in 2013, the U.S. and Iran had almost no diplomatic contact at all. It is remarkable that, in just another two years, the two nations, along with five others (Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany), drafted a 159-page accord that cut off all roads to an Iranian bomb with the most intrusive inspection protocols in the modern history of arms control. It is worrisome, but should be no surprise, that, three years after Donald Trump threw it all away, the nations are having a hard and slow time putting it back together again.
On Tuesday, the culture war over critical race theory reached a new low point. During a school board meeting in Loudoun County, Virginia, to discuss a draft policy on transgender student rights, an unruly group of protesters calling themselves Parents Against CRT disrupted proceedings and forced officials to shut down public comment. A former Virginia state senator accused the school board of bigotry and depravity, causing protesters to erupt, officials to abruptly end the meeting, and law enforcement to declare an unlawful assembly and arrest two protesters. This was just the latest firestorm over an academic theory that has caused conservative backlash all over the country.

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Denouncing critical race theory for teaching kids to hate our country and to hate each other, Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this month signed a new law that made Florida the latest state to ban not just the teaching of CRT, but also to prohibit structural approaches to teaching about racism. These types of laws represent a form of patriotic education that depicts America as a shining city on a hill and deems many present-day criticisms as anti-American. At bottom, this view of patriotism makes two claims: First, love of country requires accepting certain ennobling truths about America; and second, that criticism of the past will erode a shared affection that is a pillar of political community. As disputes over CRT become more heatedas they did in Loudoun Countyadvocates for educational models that acknowledge the role systemic racism has long played in American society may need to consider a new approach. It is, of course, possible to love the place of ones birth or adopted home and to see its history in clear-eyed fashion. The surest way of doing so is to practice reflective patriotism, an approach to teaching the past that combines appreciating the vitality and resilience of this nations ideals and reckoning candidly with its failure to live up to them.

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Reflective patriotism is a model of civic education proposed by a new group called Educating for American Democracy, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and reflecting a collaboration of leading and ideologically diverse experts in civic education, history, and constitutional studies. Instead of viewing current social movements ominously as aiming to destroy the Constitution, as anti-CRT ideologues have claimed, EAD sees evidence of such mobilization as warning signs for a political order that has fallen short of stated ideals. Recognizing that the U.S. stands at a crossroads of peril and possibility, it calls for a reflective patriotism that unites love of country with clear-eyed wisdom about our successes and failures in order to chart our path forward. It aims to educate young Americans to participate in and sustain our constitutional democracy, andechoing the Constitutions preambleto make our union more perfect. It emphasizes that the constitutional order has become more democratic over time due to efforts by social movementsfor example, the efforts of suffragists and civil rights activists to expand the right to vote.

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In EADs road map for teachers of core themes and basic framing questions, it does not use the term systemic racism, likely because of its objective to produce guidelines that could be widely adopted despite our polarized times. However, it includes critiques of those structural issues in all but name. For example, the road map calls for engaging with hard histories of inclusion and exclusion, dynamics of oppression and power. It demands an unflinching examination of the unequal, and often brutal, consequences of private violence as well as state-sanctioned wrongs against vulnerable populations.

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EAD recommends that students engage with texts like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutionnot merely to internalize abstract values, but rather to build the capacity for collective self-criticism. Students should consider how and why the Constitution did not afford key segments of the population equality. Rather than reifying 1776 or 1787, reflective patriotism addresses questions about who was denied full rights in the polity. It asks students about the degree of liberty and equality in 1619, 1620, 1776, and 1789, and how the relationship between these concepts changed over time.

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The road map proposes teaching how individuals and groups used agency in the face of oppression to expand rights; it aims to prepare students to be agents in present-day challenges. It helps students explore the connections between hard histories and contemporary debates and how they and their allies can seek to avoid historical mistakes.

In our view, this approach makes the most sense if we want to revitalize our constitutional democracy without getting bogged down in distracting sideshows, like what happened on Tuesday in Loudoun County. Instead of demanding veneration of past achievements, it empowers people to use fundamental texts to try to solve societys most pressing problems. When young people are not taught to think about the design of the Constitution and instances of past constitutional change, they cant imagine a better way of doing things together. When they see history as simply a collection of facts and events, they become detached from past generations and believe that past problems of justice have been solved. But when they are taught that constitutional history has been made, and continues to be made, through a series of refoundings, then the skills necessary for democracys continuation are hardwired into the learning of history. Questions of justice can then be broached with maturity and understanding, but less of the high-stakes drama.

To us, developing critical faculties is not merely consistent with American constitutionalism, it is essential to its survival. After all, civic education isnt about turning the page on the past. Its about learning how to live together in a more perfect union.
Back in November, four top scholars on legal ethics argued in Slate that it was time for courts and state bar organizations to start disciplining lawyers who were pushing Donald Trumps big lie that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.

A little more than seven months later, a committee of five judges from the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, First Judicial Department, has unanimously suspended Rudy Giulianis legal license pending a disciplinary hearing for false claims he made about election fraud as part of his representation of Trump.

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Thursdays ruling is unsparing, with the five judges concluding

there is uncontroverted evidence that [Giuliani] communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trumps failed effort at reelection in 2020.

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Normally such an interim ruling wouldnt result in immediate suspension prior to a full disciplinary hearing, but the judges further concluded that Giulianis continued practice of law was a threat to the public interest. Giulianis attorneys John Leventhal and Barry Kamins responded to the news by saying they would file a response, due within 20 days, and seek a full disciplinary hearing.

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While the punishment is severe and the proceedings are serious, reading the meticulous 33-page chronicling and refutation of just a handful of Giulianis most blatant and nefarious election lies is actually kind of hilarious. The filing reads as though the five-judge committee went out of its way to show how ludicrous Giulianisand by extension Trumpsclaims of election fraud are.

In cataloging Giulianis transgressions, the filing reads as a bemused and indignant greatest hits of Trump 2020 election lies, along with point-by-point refutations and comically timed footnotes. With every other sentence, the judges are almost shouting at the reader, Get a load of the nerve on this guy!

Here are some of the most ridiculous of Giulianis suspension-worthy antics, as documented by the five-judge committee:

Rudy Falsely Claimed Pennsylvania Had Hundreds of Thousands of Extra Mail-In Ballots Cast

The judges write:

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Respondent repeatedly stated that in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania more absentee ballots came in during the election than were sent out before the election.

Giuliani didnt actually contest that the statement was false, as the judges note, but said he didnt make the false statements knowingly. The judges dismantle this defense:

Respondent claims that he relied on some unidentified member of his team who inadvertently took the information from the Pennsylvania website, which had the information mistakenly listed (Giuliani affidavit 49) There is simply no proof to support this explanation. For instance, there is no affidavit from this supposed team member who is not identified by name or otherwise, nor is there any copy of the web page that purportedly listed the allegedly incorrect data.

During a Hearing in One Pennsylvania Lawsuit, Rudy Falsely Said the Case Was About Fraud

As I noted in November, Giuliani put forth the most absurd possible arguments during his one court appearance as part of Trumps 2020 legal team, including spending nearly 30 minutes claiming that fraud had occurred in Philadelphia and throughout the country and then correcting himself when the judge pointed out that the case at hand did not allege any actual fraud. As the disciplinary committee wrote of this episode:

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Respondents mischaracterization of the case was not simply a passing mistake or inadvertent reference. Fraud was the crown of his personal argument before the court that day. In his opening remarks, respondent claimed that the allegations in the complaint concerned widespread, nationwide voter fraud of which this is a part. He persisted in making wide ranging conclusory claims of fraud in Pennsylvania elections and other jurisdictions allegedly occurring over a period of many years. Respondent argued that the plaintiffs fraud arguments pertained to the canvassing claim, notwithstanding that there was neither a fraud nor a canvassing claim before the court. Respondents fraud argument spanned pages 12 to 31 of the transcript.

Indeed, the judges appeared to have a good time making use of the page numbers in that transcript to point out just how full of crap Rudy is:

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Respondent argues that there was no misconduct because he truthfully told the court that day that there were no fraud claims. This defense rings hollow.  Respondents so-called admission of the true status of the case did not occur until he was pressed by the court to concede the point at page 118 of the transcript.

Rudy Claimed That Thousands of Dead People, Including Joe Frazier, Voted in the Election

The judges rightfullyand as required by the Rules of Professional Conducthit Giuliani for lies told out of the courtroom, including some of those at an infamous press conference in front of Four Seasons Total Landscaping. One of those statements was the claim that 8,021 or 30,000 dead people voted in Philadelphia, including legendary boxer Joe Frazier. The judges wrote:

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As for respondents argument that his misstatements were unknowing, respondent fails to provide a scintilla of evidence for any of the varying and wildly inconsistent numbers of dead people he factually represented voted in Philadelphia during the 2020 presidential election. Although respondent assured the public that he was investigating this claim, respondent has not provided this tribunal with any report or the results of any investigation which supports his statements about how many dead voters he claims voted in Philadelphia in the 2020 presidential election.

The judges also dismantled the absurd logic Giulianis defense in this proceeding put forth that because dead voters are sporadically removed from the rollsand were in 2021that means dead people voted in 2020:

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Respondent claims his statements were justified because the state of Pennsylvania subsequently agreed to purge 21,000 dead voters from its rolls in 2021. This fact, even if true, is beside the point. This statistic concerns the whole state. Purging voter rolls does not prove that the purged voters actually voted in 2020 and per force it does not prove they voted in Philadelphia. It does not even prove that they were dead in November 2020. Moreover, the number of statewide purged voters (21,000) bears no correlation to the numbers of dead voters respondent factually asserted voted in Philadelphia alone (either 8,000 or 30,000). Clearly any statewide purging of voters from the voting rolls in 2021 could not have provided a basis for statements made by respondent in 2020, because the information did not exist.

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Finally, the judges took pains to debunk the lie about Joe Frazier:

Regarding Mr. Frazier, respondent claims he reasonably relied on the reporting of a blogger. The blog article provided on this motion, however, never claims that Mr. Frazier voted in the 2020 election. Nor could it, because the claims made in the article (in which respondent was quoted) are based upon an alleged review of public records from 2017 and 2018.

Rudy Said Tens of Thousands of Underage People Voted in Georgia

From the ruling:

At various times, respondent claimed that 65,000 or 66,000 or 165,00 underage voters illegally voted in the Georgia 2020 election. The Georgia Office of the Secretary of State undertook an investigation of this claim.  While a small number of voters (four) had requested a ballot prior to turning 18, they all turned 18 by the time the election was held in November 2020.

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The judges repeatedly pointed out their skepticism in Giulianis sourcing, but the response to the underage voting claim is particularly cutting:

Respondent does not expressly deny the truth of this information. Instead respondent claims that he reasonably relied on expert affidavits, including one by Bryan Geels, in believing the facts he stated were true. None of these affidavits were provided to the Court. Respondent claims that Mr. Geels opined that there were more than 65,000 individuals who voted had registered to vote prior to their 17th birthday (Giuliani affidavit 62). At a bare minimum, the statement attributed to Mr. Geels does not support respondents claim that the number of underage teenage voters was 165,000. But respondents statement about what was said to him is insufficient as to all of respondents statements on underage voters for other reasons. We do not have the affidavit that respondent claims Mr. Geels prepared and he relied on. We do not know when the affidavit was provided to respondent. We do not know what data or source information Mr. Geels relied on in reaching his conclusion, nor do we know what methodology Mr. Geels used for his analysis. Other than respondent calling him an expert, we do not know Mr. Geels actual area of expertise or what qualifies him as such.

Rudy Said Tens of Thousands of Undocumented Immigrants Voted in Arizona

At various points, Giuliani said 10,000, 32,000, or 250,000 undocumented immigrants voted in Arizona in the 2020 election. From the ruling:

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On their face, these numerical claims are so wildly divergent and irreconcilable, that they all cannot be true at the same time. Some of the wild divergences were even stated by respondent in the very same sentence.

Rudy Cited a Confidential Informant and Anonymous Sources in His Defense

In one particularly bruising footnote, the judges dismantle Giulianis sourcing:

He also relies on a confidential informant (Giuliani affidavit 82). We do not understand, nor does respondent explain why, as a private attorney seemingly unconnected to law enforcement he would have access to a confidential informant that we cannot also have access to. At yet another point respondent claims he relies on a Trump attorney who chooses not to be identified (Giuliani affidavit 43). Respondent also refers to hundreds of witnesses, experts, and investigative reports, none of which have been provided or identified (Giuliani affidavit 14) and an Excel spreadsheet, also not provided, purportedly listing the names of thousands of deceased voters who allegedly cast ballots in Michigan (Giuliani affidavit 51).

Rudys Behavior Continued Even After He Was Threatened With the Loss of His Law License

Giulianis lone defense is that he did not knowingly make all of these false statements, as knowledge that he was lying is a required element to prove misconduct. The judges were largely able to brush this aside by pointing out all of the evidence that contradicted Giulianis statements that was available at the time he made them and his own lack of proof. More pointedly, though, they repeatedly noted that Giuliani kept lying even after he had been charged with lying. From the ruling:

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Despite the unequivocal evidence provided in this very motion, that Mr. Frazier is not on the Pennsylvania voting rolls, respondent continued to endorse this fictionalized account in the March 4, March 11 and March 14, 2021 episodes of his broadcast radio show Chat with the Mayor, all of which aired after this motion was brought.  Respondent made statements regarding underage voters in Georgia on his radio show, Chat with the Mayor, at least on January 5, January 7, and January 22, 2021. He then repeated this statement on the April 27th episode of his radio show, after this motion for interim suspension was brought.  On the April 7, 2021 episode of his radio show Chat with the Mayor, respondent challenged the Georgia Secretary of States finding that only potentially two votes were cast in the name of dead voters, despite having no evidence to refute the facts developed after investigation of public records. The April 7th false statement was made after this motion for interim suspension was brought.

Rudy Promises That, From Now On, Hell Behave

Finally, the judges are completely incredulous at Giulianis claim that hes done telling these lies:

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Respondent argues that there is no immediate threat of future harm, because he has and will continue to exercise personal discipline to forbear from discussing these matters in public anymore.  Notwithstanding respondents claim that he has exercised self-restraint by not publicly commenting on the election, there are numerous instances demonstrating the opposite.  The risk that respondent will continue to engage in future misconduct while this disciplinary proceeding is pending is further borne out by his past, persistent and pervasive dissemination of these false statements in the media. This is not a situation where the uncontroverted misconduct consisted of only a few isolated incidents. Rather, each of the false statements identified and analyzed herein were made multiple times on multiple platforms, reaching countless members of the public. They continued after this motion was brought, and despite respondent facing imminent suspension from the practice of law.

As the judges took pains to noteand in spite of their maybe inadvertently hilarious presentationthis is actually no laughing matter. In their conclusion, they pointed to audits that arise from the narrative of a stolen election going on around the country and laws proposed to restrict the vote based on that narrative as major ongoing harm that Giuliani and his cohort continue to cause.

One only has to look at the ongoing present public discord over the 2020 election, which erupted into violence, insurrection and death on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol, to understand the extent of the damage that can be done when the public is misled by false information about the elections, the judges wrote.

Its a good thing that some institutions, at least, are finally asserting the authority they have to protect this country from the damage wrought by Trumps and Giulianis big lie.
When ransomware hit Colonial Pipelines networks in May, the whole world knew about it within days. Similarly, when meatpacking company JBS suffered a ransomware attack later that month, the news was made public almost immediately. Its hard to hide cyberattacks that shut down fuel pipelines or meatpacking plants, but neither company had any legal obligation to report the intrusions as quickly or publicly as they did. In fact, in the United States, many cybersecurity incidents dont have to be reported at all unless they involve the breach of personal information.

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A new cybersecurity bill being prepared by Sens. Mark Warner, Marco Rubio, and Susan Collins aims to change that. It would reportedly require U.S. government agencies, federal contractors, and critical infrastructure companies to report cybersecurity breaches to the government within 24 hours of detecting them. Its a remarkably tight timelineslightly longer than the 12-hour deadline recently imposed on critical pipeline operators by the Transportation Security Administration, but notably shorter than the 72-hour reporting window mandated by the European General Data Protection Regulation. And when the GDPR was passed, even that 72-hour timeline seemed very quick in comparison to the requirements that preceded it!

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If this new bill passes, it could vastly expand the variety of cybersecurity incidents that companies are required to report to the government. It could also completely transform the timeline for that reporting and provide some much-needed clarity across the jumble of different, existing requirements. Most of those requirements only apply to breaches of personal informationand many of them are incredibly vague about the timeline for that reporting. For instance, the California data breach notification law mandates that companies report breaches of unencrypted personal information in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay. In Massachusetts, the requirement is for companies to report a breach as soon as practicable and without unreasonable delay. (Other states offer more concrete deadlines, like Colorados requirement that breaches be reported within 30 days of being detected, or Texass requirement that breaches be reported within 60 days of their occurrencebut these are all significantly longer than the 24-hour window proposed in the forthcoming draft bill).

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Theres some logic to leaving the timeline a little vague since different types of security incidents may warrant different responses and require different amounts of investigation. A company might want to respond to a long-term cyberespionage campaign differently than they would a breach of credit card numbers or a ransomware attack. But of those different types of attacks, only the credit card breach would always have to be reported under existing laws. So theres no good reason to leave the mandatory reporting timelines quite as fuzzy as they areor to exempt so many cybersecurity incidents from mandatory reporting in the first place.

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To understand how companies have avoided having to report so many types of cybersecurity incidents for as long as they have, its helpful to understand a little bit of the history of cybersecurity regulation and how the existing breach reporting requirements were developed in the early 2000s. State data breach notification laws were designed primarily as tools for consumer protectionif your information was stolen, state legislators reasoned, you should be informed so you would have an opportunity to take measures to prevent your identity from being stolen, or double check your credit card bill, or even, in some cases, sue the company that had failed to protect your data. Because that was the primary motivation for these state laws, the exact timeline for when people were notified didnt matter as much. And since many of those laws require companies to notify every individual affected by the breach, it made sense that that notification process might take a while, as companies figured out whose data had been stolen and how to contact thousands (or even millions) of people.

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Unsurprisingly, many companies were very resistant to state breach notification laws when they were first rolled out, intimating that if they were required to report breaches then they might not try very hard to detect them in the first place. Fears that mandatory reporting would discourage breach detection efforts were part of the reason that these requirements spread slowly and it took more than a decade for every state to implement a breach notification law. Still today, there is no federal data breach notification law in the United States. But its clearer now than it was 20 years ago that opting out of breach detection isnt really a viable option for organizations, and that if they fail to detect and remediate their own cybersecurity breaches, then other organizations will.

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Another thing thats changed since the advent of state breach notification laws is our understanding of the variety of different cybersecurity threats we face. Because they were designed to protect consumers, our existing notification laws only apply to breaches of personal information and not other types of cybersecurity incidents, including ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, or economic espionage. Since those types of incidents are unlikely to directly affect individuals risk of identity theft or payment card fraud, they werent seen as a priority for public notification. (One exception is ransomware attacks in which the perpetrators threaten to release stolen information if they are not paidthese sometimes blur the line between data breaches and extortion and might, in some cases, be subject to existing breach notification requirements.)

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In fact, many incidents that dont involve the theft of personal information probably dont need to be disclosed publicly like breaches, so long as they are reported to and aggregated by a government office that can track general trends and disseminate that information. But because most of our breach reporting requirements are rooted in ideas about consumer protection, there is no comprehensive regime or system for tracking those statistics about anything other than breaches of personal data.

That leaves us largely in the dark about many other types of online threatshow often they occur, who is affected, how much damage they cause, or what types of security controls do and dont work to protect against them. For instance, the FBIs 2020 Internet Crime Report says it received complaints about a total of 2,474 ransomware incidents last year. Presumably, manyindeed, mostransomware victims simply did not bother to report their experience to law enforcement and thats why that number is so low. But we dont really know anything about how much of an underestimate that figure is. (One commonly cited number from the firm Statista estimates that there were 304 million ransomware attacks worldwide in 2020, but its hard to trace the origins of that number, too.)

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So requiring businesses to report a broader range of cybersecurity incidentsincluding threats like ransomwareis important if only because it gives us a better handle on how serious the different cybersecurity threats we face are, how many different organizations each one is affecting, and where we should be investing our resources. The 24-hour timeline in the new draft bill is ambitious, but its not unrealistic or unfair, especially given that the disclosure doesnt need to be made publiclyonly to the government. And it could be a significant corrective to a decades-long gap in our data collection about cybersecurity incidents that has allowed us to learn a lot about data breaches and very little about anything else.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
You may have heard that the delta variant of the coronavirus is more transmissible than other strains, that its responsible for the catastrophic outbreak in India, that its spreading so fast in the U.S. it will soon become the dominant strain here. But Dr. Monica Gandhi wants you to rethink all that. COVID numbers are much better now, in her hospital and across the country. Deaths dipped below 300 a day nationwide, hospitalizations are plummeting, and the national infection rate is creeping ever closer to 10,000 per daythe benchmark Anthony Fauci set for when hed begin to consider the virus under control. So why all the doom and gloom in the media? On Thursdays episode of What Next, I spoke to Gandhi, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco specializing in infectious disease, about why the current messaging around COVID reminds her of the early days of HIV and how scientists and journalists should be talking about the risks now. This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Monica Gandhi: At the very beginning of the HIV epidemic, everything seemed scary. Any possible risk of getting HIV seemed scary. So it was why the words stay away from each other and dont have sex was used instead of actually, oral sex is really safe, and lets do that or let me show you how to stay safe with other types of sex. And those lessons were learned later. So actually, the way that scientists are talking now was how scientists were talking at the beginning of the HIV epidemic. It took some time, and everyone was scared and screaming, just like we are now, at the beginning of the HIV epidemic.

And it led to distrust. Because the public knew, just from experience, that this type of sex was more risky to get HIV than this type of sex. They just knew it, they saw what was happening. And that led to distrust of public health officials and politicians who said everything was scary, and who used doom and gloom to message. And actually it led to a paradoxical rise in infections. And what harm reduction means is youre trying to decrease infections, by taking into account the totality of everyones experience, what they need out of their life, intimacy needs, being around people. In the case of COVID, wanting to see other people and not being socially isolated. You take the totality of experience, and you try to decrease infections that way.

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Mary Harris: It led to a rise in infections because people just threw all the advice out the window?

Yes. Because people distrust if you blanket, when its quite obvious that not every exposure was as risky as other exposures. And then people distrust the public health official, and then that can lead to covert activity that leads to an increase in infections. A good example is Christmas holidays in the winter in the United States, where there was so much with COVID. Saying that the only way is just stay at home, lock your door, do not go outside, that led to distrust, and then people went inside, and there were rises of infection.

That kind of alarmist tone was present back in March, during a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention press conference with Director Rochelle Walensky. She was clearly worried. Of course, we did not see the surge that she feared. I wonder if you as a doctor have seen patients talk about moments like that and use them as ammunition for I just cant trust anything.

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Yes. I think that kind of messaging is to go back to lets scare people so theyll stay with their restrictions. Someone said to me, If my doctor said that to me, and I had cancer, and they said, Theres nothing you can do, its just all doom, Im so scared, I would throw that doctor out the window. Thats what my patient said, because what my patient was trying to say is inspire confidence, inspire faith in the science.

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Everything changed once we got vaccines. Were gonna have bumps and ups and downs, and weve had a few ups and downs. But actually, steadily, since we started rolling out vaccines, its been pretty smooth. And Im so grateful for that. And so, as a public health messenger, as a scientist, I would have messaged the effectiveness of the vaccines. Its actually why on May 13, when Dr. Walensky and Dr. Fauci and everyone talked about taking off your mask when youre vaccinated, it seemed completely out of the bluebecause there hadnt been a consistent messaging up to that point that the vaccines are really effective and that the vaccines will work against the variants. That wouldnt have seemed out of the blue and so startling to people if there had been a steady, calm messaging of optimism the entire time.

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You seem really confident in the fact that youre just not worried about these variants. But I talked to plenty of researchers and reporters back in the winter who were really concerned, and their concern was not necessarily about the individual variants but the buildup of variants and the fact that the more the virus mutates, the less effective a vaccine might be. So why dont you have that fear?

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Because of immunology. So, very early on, in January, there was a paper from the U.K. that showed that as B.1.1.7, or alpha variant, was rising in the U.K., anyone who had had the infection before couldnt get B.1.1.7, and they did a deep dive on T cells. It was a preprint that showed that T cells go across the entire spike protein so that you cant evade T cell immunity from the variants. And then I knew something else from HIV, which is that a virus cant keep on mutating forever. HIV, the virus, mutates a lot to evade our antiretroviral medications, and it becomes less fit by mutating, theres actually a fitness cost. It compromises itself to mutate to become more transmissible. So I knew it couldnt become more transmissible, more virulent, and evade the vaccines at the same time.

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Theres one other thing I want to add. Not just T cells, but theres something called memory B cellswhen you get infected or you get a vaccine, you produce memory B cells, and they go into these hidden places like your lymph nodes and bone marrow. Weve seen them, and there was a paper just last week that showed us that these memory B cells, if they see a variant in the future, theyll make the perfect antibody for that variant. Theyre not going to make an old antibody for an old type of strain they saw. They adapt their antibodies to that variant.

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And this is because its familiar with the entire spike protein, so little changes on the spike protein they can adapt to? Its formed a response to the whole thing?

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Yes, exactly. The memory B cells are sitting in your bone marrow ready to fight if they see that virus again. And this paper just from last week showed us that if you see a variant, those memory B cells are going to make antibodies that are perfectly adapted for that variant, because thats what memory B cells do: They come out with antibodies to fight the virus that they see, not the virus that they remember.

Ill see headlines that say things like the delta variant could create two Americas, or Anthony Fauci is declaring the delta variant the greatest threat to the nations efforts to eliminate COVID. But then when you read the reporting in full, the storys a little bit more nuanced, and it really focuses on vaccination. It basically shows that the delta variant is spreading and potentially causing surges in undervaccinated areas of the country. Thats an editorial choice, to say the variant is the problem versus the lack of adequate vaccination. I wonder what you think about that.

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Yes. I think what you just said is a brilliant way to explain it. I think theyre using more scary terminology because theyre trying to motivate vaccination. But actually vaccinations still going well. So the concern is places where we have distrust of vaccinations. And I keep on thinking, Whats a better way to increase trust?

I would be more trustful if I saw a headline that said something less scary. Like, Let me tell you about this effectiveness that is going to work against the delta variant. Actually, its going to work really well. And let me explain to you why I think you should get vaccinated and let me make it easy for you. And actually that is reporting. Maybe that isnt scientists. Maybe thats just how its reported. And then that would have to go back to you all in the media, and whats going on on that end.

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I know youre pushing back against the fear-based messaging, but the way I see it is you need both at different times. Like, to get people to take the virus seriously in the beginning, we needed that phone call where Nancy Messonnier from the CDC said our lives are going to change, because that gets your attention. But then, as we go, we need to modify. And the question is really just how quickly we move from one kind of messaging to another.

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Yeah, I think thats really fair, and maybe injecting more fear in it than I have is appropriate at times. And maybe we need someone like me, whos often very optimistic, and then we need someone on the other end, whos very fearful, and then you put it together and thats the right thing. Im not gonna say I know the best answer to that. But all I can say is that I will never get over that we created a vaccine to this this fast, and all I want is for everyone in the world who need it to get this vaccine. And it makes me so happy that we dont have to go through what we went through with the 1918 influenza pandemic, where 50 million people died, as opposed to 4 million right now and counting. And if we could get everyone the vaccine, we wouldnt be in any situation where anyone had to die.

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We might have listeners who are trying to figure out what to do with themselves in the world with this variant out there. Like, should I send my kid to camp this summer? Should I go on a trip, especially to a place where maybe theres not as much vaccination? What would you say to folks about how they need to be thinking through their summer given the emergence of the delta variant?

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I would say that if theyre vaccinated and their children are unvaccinated because they cant yet get the vaccine, children are not more susceptible to the delta variant, theyre threefold less likely to get any infection with any variant with any ancestral strain, and theyre half as likely to spread it. And they can mask on the plane, as they should. You yourself are completely protected against the delta variant, and you should go and enjoy your summer. Its been a hard time, and people should have their summer. Delta variant, delta shmariant.

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This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a piece of legislation that could wreak havoc on the freedom of speech and academic freedom of Floridas institutes of higher education. The law would require all public colleges and universities to survey students, professors, and staff on their political beliefs in what DeSantis said is an attempt to promote intellectual diversity.

At stake for these schoolswhich DeSantis insists are fueling indoctrinationis a potential loss of funding, which the governor has threatened but is not explicitly outlined in the legislation. Going into effect on July 1, the new law also demands that university students be shown diverse ideas and opinions, including those that they may disagree with or find uncomfortable, according to the Florida Department of Education.

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The law follows a string of moves by Florida Republicans to dictate what schools can or cannot teach their students. Last week, DeSantis banned Florida schools from teaching students about racism through critical race theory or The 1619 Projectneither of which any Florida school district was actually teaching prior to the ban. And on the same day that DeSantis signed the intellectual diversity law, he also signed another law requiring schools teach their students that communism is evil.

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As part of the anticritical race theory law, the state also banned culturally responsive teaching, which is the idea that encourages teachers to connect with students by helping them connect their backgrounds and life experiences to what they learn in school. [The legislators] are trying to block teachers from really being able to better understand the students theyre teaching, so they can relate to them, so they can connect to them, so they can better teach them, says Andrew Spar, the president of the Florida Educators Association.

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Florida isnt alone. The states changes are the latest in a wave of conservative fear-mongering and censorship of left-wing ideologies in education, including other public universitiessuch as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones was denied tenure after backlash from conservatives and top donors.

Despite being passed, the legality of the law is still questionable, according to Howard Wasserman, a professor of law at Florida International University. For the government to say, You have to do this or [this survey] is something you have to respond to as a condition of being a student in this school? I think that that would violate the students First Amendment rights, he said. If they surveyed faculty members, same thing. According to Wasserman, it could also open the doors for schools to dictate who is or isnt granted admission based on their political beliefs, which would violate a constitutional protection against discrimination based on viewpoints.

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Still, the intellectual diversity legislation has the potential to pose big risks to educators as long as it is in effect. Spar notes that one major concern is the complete lack of clarity on how the data will be collected and used. Similarly unknown is what would be on the survey, how it would be conducted, and how it would be enforced.

Spar also worries that the law could also continue to drive teachers and staff away from public education, worsening the states years-long teacher shortage. To add to the problem, Florida schools are also suffering from severe underfunding: Despite having the U.S.s fourth-largest economy, Florida is 45th in the country when it comes to education funding.

Floridas conservative legislators have unsuccessfully attempted to pass similar intellectual diversity bills in the past and credit the states increasingly right-wing politics as a reason why it was easier to get through the Legislature this year, according to state Sen. Ray Rodrigues, the bills sponsor. But Spar sees a parallel reason. I think we have a governor who wants to run for president, and clearly is making this part of a political attempt to divide people, Spar says. But the reality of it is, we should know our history.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
In April 2018, Sacramento Countys district attorney announced that after more than 40 years, investigators had found the Golden State Killer. And theyd done it by putting his DNA profile on genetic genealogy websites.

Joseph James DeAngelo was arrested, pleaded guilty, and is serving 26 life sentences. His case marked a seismic shift in how investigators use DNA in cold cases. And yet, lurking in the background were concerns over the lack of regulation regarding police use of genetic genealogy. When cops want to peek inside your family tree, should anything stop them?

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On Fridays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Nila Bala, a senior attorney at the Policing Project at NYU Law School, about law enforcement and genetic genealogy technologyand whats being done to regulate it. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Lizzie OLeary: Genetic genealogy might sound complicated, but its not all that different from building a basic family tree. You just do it by comparing DNA instead of last names or a common great-grandparent. And then when you add in the crime piece, what happens?

Nila Bala: Theres a lot of cold cases in this country, right? Theres DNA thats sitting, that theyve tried to use the government databases to see if they could find a match, but they have been unsuccessful. And what law enforcement is doing is theyre sending in this sample that they have, that they havent identified, into these open source databases and uploading that information and seeing if it pings off of anybody whos in the system already.

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I think people who have maybe watched CSI or listened to a true crime podcast might have this idea that a DNA profile is infallible and complete. One of the things that I find interesting about genetic genealogy is that it takes DNA that is not a perfect match. Can you explain that difference a bit?

The way genetic genealogy works is, lets say you get that raw DNA file from 23andMe or Ancestry.com. Its going to look at quite a significant part of your genome that determines things like hair color, or if youre going to get a certain disease, which is, I should mention, different from the government databases that use noncoding portions of your DNA. So theres a lot more information encapsulated in a 23andMe-type DNA test. Its not looking for a perfect match, but its going to search and see if there are certain segments that match. And even small partial matches are going to be generated by that search. And then its really up to the individual to do the work of figuring out if that match means anything.

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We started out by talking about the Golden State Killer, and he was located by using the site GEDmatch. I wonder if you could explain what makes GEDmatch different from Ancestry.com, 23andMe, other kind of direct-to-consumer genealogy sites.

GEDmatch is different because its open sourceor you could even say crowdsourced. The idea is that individual users can take their raw fileno matter where they initially got that saliva sample processedand upload it. GEDmatch was started as a hobby, really, in 2010. It only became this crime-solving tool a couple of years ago, around the time of the Golden State Killer case. And its very rapidly become used for that as one of its main features.

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How and when did law enforcement get interested in using this open-source DNA technology?

Right around 2018. And then from then we saw a rapid growth. Now I would say, were talking 150, probably 200 cases that have been solved using this technology. So I think police officers realized that the databases the governments keep are fairly limited. In many states, you have to be convicted of a felony before youre in that database, versus these open source databases.

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A couple of years ago, a research paper in Science estimated that 60 percent of white Americans could be identified. And now its probably upwards of 90 percent, given how many more people have taken tests and uploaded their DNA since that paper was published.

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So its possible that someone like meIve never put my DNA into a consumer-facing database, but I know I have relatives who were genealogy hobbyiststhat I could be identified in some way by familial DNA in one of these databases?

Yeah. Its not only possible, but its likely.

Whoa.

Thats the shocking privacy piece to it, right? Thats why I think everybody should be concerned or be thinking about this issue even if you personally havent spit into a tube and sent in your saliva sample and gotten your DNA.

There might be somebody in your family who has and thats enough to build out a family tree and track you down.

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In Centerville, Utah, in 2019, an elderly woman was alone in a locked church, playing an organ and someone broke in and assaulted her, choking her nearly to death. Investigators working on the case wanted to use GEDmatchs database to test some blood found at the crime scene. But they couldnt.

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The terms of service were very clear that GEDmatch would only be used by law enforcement for murder and rape. But the law enforcement officers in this case approached the head of GEDmatch, asked if he would make an exception and allow them to process the DNA in this unsolved assault. And he agreed. And of course, like one side we might say, Hey, great. They found the person involved in this really bad assault. But the other piece

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A little old lady was assaulted in church!

Right. Its like, you cant think of a case that might be more compelling to bend the rules on, right? But the other issue is, well, I suppose two-fold. One is it went against the terms and conditions that users expected, which meant that in a way their DNA was being used in a way they hadnt consented to. But the other thing that this case highlights is that one manCurtis Rogerswas able to change the way that law enforcement were using DNA technology, rather than a democratic process determining when this technology should be used.

There was actually an outcry after this Centerville case, because people felt dismayed that their privacy hadnt really been regarded by this company and that they hadnt had warning about what was going to happen.



Its such a unique issue where its not just your privacy, its this other distant cousins privacy. In some ways we call it like the fourth-party issue, because theres this other person out there who hasnt even put their DNA into the system and they could be implicated as well. Because even if me, as a user, I know that my information is going in GEDmatch. I click the box and say, yes, law enforcement can use my information. That feels above board. But what about my third cousin? Do they know that their information essentially is out there as well, because my DNA and their DNA are linked?

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And, as we mentioned earlier, cops can often search genetic genealogy databases without court approval. Just last month, two states passed laws pushing back on that: Montana and Maryland. In Maryland, this is a democratic sponsored law. In Montana, its Republican.

I find it particularly interesting that there does not seem to be one clear partisan position on this issue.

Yeah, I think thats right. I think its a bipartisan measure because I think people across both parties want that democratic transparency, their privacy being protected. The instinct that our DNA is sacred and private and we want it protected is a universal one. As is the tendency to want to solve crimes. Like we all want that as well, and we want to be safe, so these laws strike a nice balance. Because they dont ban the technology. They just make clear how it should be used.

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Right now under the Supreme Court Fourth Amendment doctrine, [collecting DNA] is not considered a search or seizure. And so there is, right now, no Fourth Amendment protection for that piece. But under Marylands law, a law enforcement officer would have to go to a judge or magistrate and actually say, I want to collect DNA from this person. And essentially get a warrant for that.Additionally, the Maryland law says that the DNA data and the file that you create needs to be essentially managed and destroyed once the crime has been solved, which makes a lot of sense.

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So it cant hang out there on the database for years.

Exactly. And that was one of the things I was really concerned about too, because we know that DNA isnt like your credit card. You cant just change it if you get hacked or if you have identity theft. Your DNAs integral to who you are. So its definitely really important to make sure this information is secure and that its not in the hands of the wrong people.

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I think a lot of people might listen to this and say, Well, Ive never committed a crime. Im not lurking in peoples windows. Whats wrong with saying, Yeah, sure, law enforcement can use my information?

I think thats the same argument people make generally about the criminal justice system.

Like, Im innocent. I have no problem with surveillance. I have no problem with the police doing pretty much anything because Im innocent. But privacy goes deeper than that. The idea of privacy and being able to lead a flourishing, thriving human life is that there are sectors of your life that the government cant see into where you can develop yourself as a human being and as a person. But more than that, you may never have done anything wrong. And yet, knowing what I know about the criminal justice system, you could still be arrested, you could still be prosecuted, and things could still happen to you because humans make mistakes.

People think DNA is infallible just because its DNA, but human beings are involved at every step of the process, from collecting DNA to processing it. And of course, identifying whose DNA to process in the first place. Those are human decisions. And I am hopeful that this kind of framework, the framework that Maryland and Montana used in creating this law could actually be a useful framework for a lot of different technology, not just genetic genealogy.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

Since Tuesday, visitors to Presstv.com, the website of Irans state-owned global broadcaster, have been met with the following message:

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PressTV was the best known of 33 websites whose domains were seized by U.S. authorities on Tuesday.

According to the Justice Departments statement, 30 of these sites were controlled by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union, which is under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful military force that exudes significant control over Irans foreign policy and economy. Others sites seized included Al-Masirah, the news service of the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement; and Palestine Today, a pro-Hamas news outlet.

The U.S. also seized three websites linked to Kataib Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite militia group that has been blamed for attacking U.S. troops in Iraq.

The legal basis for the IRTVU seizures came from a 2018 Donald Trump executive order, which authorizes sanctions against foreign entities involved in interference in U.S. elections. The U.S. has seized Iranian sites accused of spreading disinformation before, but none as prominent as PressTV, the countrys flagship international broadcaster launched in 2007. Like its counterparts, Russias RT and Chinas CGTN, PressTV bills itself as an alternative as an alternative to the Western-centric perspective of other global English-language news outlets. Its also acquired a well-earned reputation for trafficking in outlandish conspiracy theories and antisemitism. PressTV has had access to its YouTube account taken away by Google several times, and its main Facebook page was temporarily deleted earlier this year.

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However, while the Justice Departments statement is a bit vague, it does not appear that this seizure was the result of any content on PressTV itself. The issue, rather, is its links to the IRTVU and the Revolutionary Guards, which were sanctioned by the Treasury Department shortly before the election last year for attempting to influence elections in the United States.

According to a recent National Intelligence Council report partially declassified in March, Iran carried out an influence campaign during the 2020 US election season intended to undercut the reelection prospects of former President Trump and to further its longstanding objectives of exacerbating divisions in the US, creating confusion, and undermining the legitimacy of US elections and institutions.

In one of the best known examples of this campaign, Iranian cyber actors sent fake emails to Democratic voters in several U.S. states, purportedly from the Proud Boys, threatening them with violence if they didnt vote for Trump. In another, just after the election, Iran allegedly circulated a hit list of U.S. government officials who had refuted Trumps election fraud claims.

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This is a very different sort of influence operation from PressTVs content, which, inaccurate and inflammatory as it may be, is not pretending its anything its not. Emerson Brooking, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who studies online disinformation, notes that while Iran typically gears its online influence operations toward spreading and promoting its own official propaganda, some of its actions during the 2020 election were more following the Russian playbook, to be trying to foment violence or discord in the U.S. He sees the U.S. governments enforcement action this week as a way to send a message the Iranian interference actions were unacceptable.

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Its a very interesting time to be sending that message. On Friday, Iran held elections in which Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner cleric close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, trounced a weak opposition field handpicked by the countrys clerical establishment in the race to succeed current President Hassan Rouhani, the moderate who negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal which Trump withdrew from in 2018. The conventional wisdom in Washington right now is that next six weeks, Rouhanis lame duck period, are critical for the fitful negotiations to revive the deal: If the agreement is in place before Raisi takes office, hell benefit from the economic benefits of sanctions relief but can blame his predecessor if, say, President Tom Cotton pulls the U.S. out again four years from now.

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While Iran has condemned the seizure of the websites, it doesnt have many means to retaliate. This may have been a way of signaling to Iran that there are consequences for election interference, and signaling to U.S. voters that the Biden administration takes this issue more seriously than its predecessor, while doing so in such a way that it wont jeopardize the nuclear talk and doing it before the two sides sign an agreement that will include (unrelated) sanctions relief for Iran.

The incident also highlights the extraordinary power the U.S. still enjoys in cyberspace. The American government was able to do this because the sites addresses were registered with U.S. companies. The site is currently back up at a .ir domain. Its bigger headache may be that thousands of its article links are now broken.

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Dealing with state-sponsored sites is a tricky policy issue for the U.S. Sites like PressTV do spread misinformation and propaganda. Reporters for other state-run outlets, like China CGTN, have been credibly accused of acting as spies. But the Biden administration also must draw a clear distinction between its own policies and those of governments like Iran, which blocks foreign social media sites, censors critical foreign outlets, and jails reporters. It also shouldnt follow the example of the previous administration, which placed restrictions on Chinese reporters in the U.S. only to see Beijing retaliate against U.S. reporters in China.

Disinformation and election interference are serious problems, but a world in which governments all reserve the right to tightly control the information that can reach their citizens from outside their borders is exactly the sort of world that governments like Russia, China, and Iran want to create.
Overturning not-guilty verdicts, especially in cases as emotive as the Kuciak murder trial, is a very bad idea.

Marian Kocner and his lawyer at the Supreme Court (Source: TASR)

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Our American friends have a name for this. They call it a mulligan.

Its what you get after youve made such an embarrassing balls-up of something that everyone agrees to pretend it didnt happen. Then you get another go.

On 15 June, a senate of the Slovak Supreme Court decided to overturn the not-guilty verdicts returned in September last year by the Specialised Criminal Court in the trial of Marian Kocner and Alena Zsuzsova.

The pair had been accused of masterminding the murders of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova in February 2018, an event that rocked Slovakia and attracted global attention.

Prosecutors secured the convictions of the hitman, his driver and an intermediary, but they failed to convince the court that Kocner and Zsuzsova were behind the murders.

Now the Supreme Court has decided that they should get a mulligan. This was not quite how they phrased it, of course. Rather, Peter Paluda, the Supreme Court senate chair, stated that the Specialised Criminal Court didnt deal with all the circumstances, hasnt justified a comprehensible verdict and failed to take all evidence into consideration, the TASR newswire reported.

Bewilderingly, the Supreme Court then ruled that exactly the same judges who apparently failed to consider all the evidence  there are no juries in Slovak trials, so this was their main job  should hear the retrial.

24. Jun 2021 at 14:00 | James Thomson
How to change people's minds about vaccination? Experts hesitant that money is the answer

The state fears a third wave may hit hard in poorly vaccinated districts. The state should try whatever could work, researcher claims.

A man waits outside a mobile Covid-19 vaccination centre outside Bolton Town Hall, England, where case numbers of the Delta variant have been relatively high. (Source: TASR/AP)

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With the first confirmed case of the Delta variant in Slovakia, the issue of the low vaccination uptake in Slovakia is becoming ever more pressing.

Experience from the UK suggests that only the fully vaccinated are protected against the virus, in most cases meaning both doses of the vaccine are required. In Slovakia, 1.4 million people have completed their Covid vaccination as of June 24, while another half a million are awaiting their second jab.

On June 26 Slovakia will mark half a year since the vaccination roll-out and with interest in the vaccines on the decline, the state is pondering ways to motivate people who have not signed up for a vaccination yet.

We need to prevent the virus from spreading to the most vulnerable groups, not like last year, Martin Suster, a researcher with the National Bank of Slovakia, told The Slovak Spectator.

Experts agree that the current vaccination rate is not going to save Slovakia from the spread of the third wave of the epidemic, expected to arrive in the autumn or, according to some experts, even during the summer. They view the vaccination rate among older age groups as particularly worrying. The priority should now be to slow down the spread of the Delta variant and use the time gained through mitigation measures to increase the vaccine uptake among at-risk groups.

What would persuade people

24. Jun 2021 at 17:42 | Nina Hrabovska Francelova
Three other Delta variant cases confirmed in Slovakia. Travelling within the EU should be easier thanks to Green Passes. People in tourism optimistic about the upcoming season.

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Good evening. Check out our Thursday, June 24 edition of Today in Slovakia to catch up on the main news of the day in less than five minutes. We wish you a pleasant read.

Green Passes will be ready to use on Saturday

Illustrative stock photo (Source: Sme)

An app called GreenPass that will make travelling across the EU easier should be launched in Slovakia on June 26.

Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky believes that everyone will be able to access GreenPass within several days if they need it. User should be able to download vaccination certificates, confirmation of recovery from Covid and PCR test results on the app.

Lengvarsky asked people not to sign up for the app during the first hours after it is launched if it is not necessary.

If two million people sign up on the first day and check whether it works, it will not work, he told the media.

People in tourism optimistic about summer season

Illustrative stock photo (Source: dovolenka.sme.sk)

Tourism in Slovakia has experienced some of its hardest times. The data of the Statistics Office confirms that travel agencies in Slovakia lost 88 percent of their clients due to the pandemic last year.

Some holidaymakers purchased holidays in the winter, though in the first quarter of the year, the second wave of the pandemic was peaking in Slovakia and severe restrictions were in place.

We have seen an increased interest in foreign destinations since the beginning of April, said Katarina Suchterova from the Pelikan travel agency. Popular destinations include Spain, which makes up almost one-fifth of the sales of the travel agency, and Italy.

Greece and Malta are also popular and travel agencies are focusing on green countries.

Coronavirus and vaccination news

Three other cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in Slovakia. These people have not been vaccinated. They were asymptomatic and arrived in the country from outside the EU. After arrival, they went into home quarantine. A total of four cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in Slovakia .

have been confirmed in Slovakia. These people have not been vaccinated. They were asymptomatic and arrived in the country from outside the EU. After arrival, they went into home quarantine. A total of . Hungary cancelled controls on its inner Schengen borders. It is possible to enter Hungary from Slovakia without limits with the exception of those arriving via plane. Learn the latest travel restrictions in other countries here.

on its inner Schengen borders. It is possible to enter Hungary with the exception of those arriving via plane. Learn the latest travel restrictions in other countries here. 64 doctors signed up for vaccination in their outpatients departments on the first day. If someone wants to get vaccinated at their GPs office, they can register directly via their GP. Vaccination at GP offices should start on July 1. It will be possible to sign up from the first dose only, so those who have received the first vaccine dose in a vaccination centre should get the second dose there too.

on the first day. If someone wants to get vaccinated at their GPs office, they can register directly via their GP. Vaccination It will be possible to sign up from the first dose only, so those who have received the first vaccine dose in a vaccination centre should get the second dose there too. About 100 mobile testing sites should operate from July 1. Most of the currently operating testing sites will close due to the expiration of their contract.

Photo of the day

(Source: TASR)

People are not the only ones that suffer in hot weather. Inhabitants of Bratislava Zoo got a refreshing shower and juicy fruit to help them cool down.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription . Thank you.

Opinion for today

Our American friends have a name for this. They call it a mulligan.

Its what you get after youve made such an embarrassing balls-up of something that everyone agrees to pretend it didnt happen. Then you get another go.

Now the Supreme Court has decided that they should get a mulligan, writes James Thomson about last week's verdict in the Kuciak murder trial.

The wrong way to do right Read more

In other news

The state will pay the European Commission a fine of 56 million for a cartel made up of six construction companies in a highway tender 15 years ago. Doprastav, a company led by the people of Miroslav Vyboh, and the Strabag company of the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who paid a very small fine and still earned money on state contracts, will come out the proven fraud without a scratch.

in a highway tender 15 years ago. Doprastav, a company led by the people of Miroslav Vyboh, and the Strabag company of the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who paid a very small fine and still earned money on state contracts, will come out the proven fraud without a scratch. Slovakia will receive 33 million in aid after Brexit . The European Parliament and the Council of the EU allocated more money to Slovakia; the Commission originally proposed 24 million. Some of the funds will be available this year and may also focus on the reintegration of Slovaks who had to leave Great Britain. (Euractiv)

. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU allocated more money to Slovakia; the Commission originally proposed 24 million. Some of the funds will be available this year and may also focus on the reintegration of Slovaks who had to leave Great Britain. (Euractiv) The worldwide shortage of semiconductors will once again interrupt the production of SUV models in Volkswagen, Bratislava. The production will not run from Monday, June 28, to Wednesday, June 30. The production of small city vehicles will not be affected and will run according to the production plan.

will once again Bratislava. The production will not run from Monday, June 28, to Wednesday, June 30. The production of small city vehicles will not be affected and will run according to the production plan. Zilina's Kia will stop production on Friday . "The interruption of production at the Kia Slovakia plant was proposed due to the ever-changing restrictions related to COVID-19 in other countries, which have an impact on the cabling supply chain in Tunisia," the spokesman explained.

. "The interruption of production at the Kia Slovakia plant was proposed due to the ever-changing restrictions related to COVID-19 in other countries, which have an impact on the cabling supply chain in Tunisia," the spokesman explained. Significantly more men than women committed suicide last year . One-third of these cases were influenced by alcohol or other addictive substances. The number of people who attempted suicide did not grow last year.

. One-third of these cases were influenced by alcohol or other addictive substances. The number of people who attempted suicide did not grow last year. Drivers should count on the entire closure of the D1 highway near Triblavina for several nights. It will be closed from 23:00 to 6:00 from June 25 to June 27 as well as from July 2 to July 4.

for several nights. It will be closed from 23:00 to 6:00 from June 25 to June 27 as well as from July 2 to July 4. The largest relocation in the history of office real estate is being prepared in Slovakia. IBM is moving from four buildings to a completely new property, Nove Apollo in Bratislava. The building will be completed in 2022, and the relocation itself is planned for the first half of 2023. (SITA)

Do not miss on Spectator.sk today

Q&A: How to stay safe around bears Read more

Roads from Zahorie to Bratislava are congested. What are some alternative routes? Read more

Bratislava to host multi-day festival on last weekend of June Read more

Pensions of former communist officials to be slashed Read more

Largest Slovak theatre with seven floors and more than 2,000 rooms Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

24. Jun 2021 at 17:21 | Nina Hrabovska Francelova
Harness racing returns to Manitoba this Saturday (June 26), as the province's annual fair circuit consisting of a 10-week stand in Miami, an 80-minute drive southwest from Winnipeg, commences.

The Manitoba season begins with 51 horses drawn for a nine-race card over the Miami half-mile track, led by a $2,450 Open slotted as the third race.

The featured event represents a homecoming for 2-1 early favourite Baylor Out, who returns to Manitoba after beginning his career on the provincial circuit and then widely traversing the western half of the continent through the last five years. After amassing 19 wins in his career and taking a mark of 1:52.2 at Cal-Expo, the eight-year-old Armbro Baylor gelding prepared for his 2021 debut with a six-length qualifying win on June 13. Marc Fillion, who owns, trains and bred Baylor Out, will also handle the driving duties from post three in the field of five.

Only one of his foes has competed thus far in 2021: Dont Rock The Boat, whom owner-trainer Kevin Hildebrandt acquired this month. The five-year-old Riverboat King gelding last competed at Century Downs in May, and last won on April 16 at Fraser Downs as part of the Jim Marino stable in a $6,000 claiming event. Hildebrandt will also drive the eight-time winner from post four.

Lisplaced (Glenn LeDrew, post one), Senga Savannah (Tyler Grundy, post two) and Pure Addition (Don Howlett, post five) complete the Open field.

The Circuit will host racing in Miami every Saturday afternoon through Aug. 28, with post time consistently slated for 3 p.m. CT. In the event inclement weather forces a card to be abandoned, Sept. 4 is reserved as a make-up day.

To view Saturday's entries and program pages (courtesy TrackIT), click the following links: Entries | Program Pages.
The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.

This Week: MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, MGM Yonkers Trot, Park MGM Pace and New York New York Mile eliminations, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y. and Currier & Ives filly trot, The Meadows, Washington, Pa.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit heads to Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (June 25) with eliminations for the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes and the MGM Yonkers Trot, the first legs of the Pacing and Trotting Triple Crowns. Fifteen three-year-old pacing colts and geldings entered the MGM Grand Messenger, and 13 of their trotting counterparts dropped in the box for the MGM Yonkers Trot, meaning there will be a pair of $40,000 eliminations for each race. The top four from each contest will advance to next Friday (July 2) nights finals.

Three-year-old fillies of both gaits will also be in action on Friday night at Yonkers as the Park MGM Pace for pacers has a couple of $25,000 eliminations, and the New York New York Mile for trotters has a single $25,000 elimination.

Also on Friday, The Meadows will host the $60,470 Currier & Ives for three-year-old filly trotters.

Last Time: Three divisions of the final leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-olds were contested this past Saturday at The Meadowlands and standing out as the most impressive performer was Ruthless Hanover (Andrew McCarthy), who made it three wins in four Graduate tries, scoring in a lifetime-best 1:47.2 in the lone leg four division for pacers.

In a bulky 12-horse field, McCarthy had Ruthless Hanover where he likes it, on the front end. The gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere and Rockaroundthetrack brushed to command before the half and tripped the beam at that station in :53.4. The Tom Cancelliere student then hit three-quarters in 1:20.4 as Allywag Hanover (Todd McCarthy), the only horse to defeat Ruthless Hanover this year (on June 5), came calling on the outside.

But Ruthless Hanover shrugged off that challenger and held on determinedly for a head win over a fast-closing, pocket-sitting Cattlewash. Favourite Captain Barbossa was right there at the wire to get third, with Allywag Hanover settling for fourth.

Ruthless Hanover returned $10.80 to win as the third choice in the wagering, and now has nine wins from just 16 career starts and a bank account of $166,875.

I was just trying to figure out how to play it, said McCarthy. There wasnt much speed, so I pushed off the gate. I think the horse might have been a touch sharper tonight (than in his win two back). I think I went too slow in his last race (in the Allywag Hanover defeat). I wanted to go a little bit bigger numbers tonight and play catch me if you can. The one good thing about this horse, hes watching those horses on the outside and he does enough to make sure he stays in front. He knows what his job is.

Taking the leg three Graduate splits for trotters were Its Academic, in 1:51.3 for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras, and the speedy Beads, who scored in 1:51 for Per Engblom and David Miller.

The Graduate Series finals, one on the pace and one on the trot, will each have $250,000 (est.) dashes on July 10, which is Meadowlands Pace eliminations night.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2021, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2021 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on June 19):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras  245; 2. Dexter Dunn  148; 3. Tim Tetrick  145; 4. Andrew McCarthy  121; 5. Todd McCarthy  115.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke  320; 2. Nancy Takter  99; 3. Marcus Melander  72; 4. Tony Alagna  67; 5. Noel Daley  62.

Owners: 1. Brad Grant  71.3; 2 (tie). Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi  69.4; 4. Black Horse Racing  51.7; 5. Renee Bercury  50.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Yonkers Raceway, Goshen Historic Track, The Meadowlands and Hoosier Park. Yonkers will feature the finals for the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, MGM Yonkers Trot, Park MGM Pace and New York New York Mile; Historic Track will host eight Landmark Stakes events for two- and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits; The Meadowlands has four stakes for older pacers and trotters in the Artiscape, Crawford Farms Trot, Joie De Vie and Roll With Joe; and Hoosier has the Nadia Lobell for three-year-old filly pacers.

(Grand Circuit)
Some see the controversial flag as a symbol of solidarity with police, but the UW-Madison police chief has banned its use because of the flag's connection to white supremacy.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as it calls itself, is not a republic, but it is Islamic.

Cal Thomas Cal Thomas, a columnist with Tribune Content Agency. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.

Here are two definitions to make the point before moving on to a larger point.

A Republic is defined by dictionary.com as a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them. Irans elections put supreme power in religious leaders, not the people. In previous elections when there were public demonstrations in opposition to the government, the people were jailed, or murdered by the regime.

Radical Islam is a system of beliefs founded on interpretations of the Koran made by political leadership that seeks to impose those beliefs on its citizens and the rest of the world, by force if necessary. At least thats my definition, based on sermons from hardline mullahs in Iran and elsewhere, along with personal observations about how those beliefs are put into practice.

Obviously not all Muslims agree on everything, especially when it comes to politics. Neither do Christians and Jews for that matter, but Christians and Jews are not known for wanting to eliminate nations they dont like or for forcibly imposing their will on others.
Civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt (pictured, center) denounced a Grand Jury decision as a failure of prosecutors that is reflective of a trend in Texas of undervaluing the lives of African Americans suffering mental health crisis for indictments.
North Carolinas First Lady Kristin Cooper got a close-up look at history Thursday as she visited Fort Dobbs as part of the First Ladys 100 County Tour.

Coopers tour of the state was put on hold at 83 counties when the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, but she was glad to make it to Iredell County for the 84th stop.

It was a goal of mine that we wanted to get to all 100 counties. We were at 83 when we had to shut down for a while. It feels good to be back, Cooper said. She joked she was getting used to the formal aspects of her role as North Carolinas First Lady after the long wait, but was glad to be out publicly after a long hiatus. Its great to be out seeing the state again.

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site played host as Site Manager Scott Douglas and Historic Interpreter Jason Melius guided Cooper through the reconstructed fort in Statesville. The First Lady seemed to enjoy the up-close look at history and talked with the sites employees and her staff about the pre-Revolutionary War living conditions and lifestyles. She also playfully kept her escorts from the North Carolina Highway Patrol on their toes as Douglas showed her some of the weaponry that was used to defend the fort over the years.
Whitehouse, who was first elected in 2006, has faced criticism for years for being a member of the exclusive club as the scion of a wealthy family.

The latest flare up came after a local website, GoLocalProv, asked him recently whether the club was all-white. Whitehouse said the club was still working on diversifying membership and that he was sorry it hasnt happened yet.

He's since stressed the club does include non-white members and that the website's original assertion that it's all-white was incorrect.

Whitehouse has also said hes not officially a member, though his wife, Sandra, is a prominent member of the institution, which dates to the 1800s and whose members over the years have included royalty and Gilded Age families like the Vanderbilts and Astors.

On Wednesday, the senator also disclosed he belongs to a sailing club in Newport which doesnt have a diverse membership. He apologized for not pushing that organization, which he didn't name, to do more to address it.

I commit to working with the club and the community to build a more inclusive membership and to better connect with the local community, Whitehouse said, according to the Journal.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
FLOYD  Heather Blake, former Floyd High School student, will receive the Sandra Smith High Honors Music Scholarship from Virginias Blue Ridge Music Festival at its Floyd EcoVillage Concert at 3 p.m. on June 27.

Blake entered the University of North Carolina School for the Arts High School Program as a junior in 2019 and will continue her undergraduate studies there beginning in fall 2021, the festival stated in a release. She is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Winston-Salem Symphonys first prize in the Peter Perret Competition.

The Sandra Smith High Honors Music Scholarship both recognizes Blakes outstanding accomplishments and honors Sandra Smiths 50 years of service to children and to music in Floyd County.

Blake plays an important role in VBRMFs Blue Ridge Strings program, which, in collaboration with the June Bug Center, funds and organizes violin and cello lessons for young students in Floyd County. She will also perform the finale of Bruchs Concerto in G minor at VBRMFs 6:30 p.m. concert on June 28.
HAMILTON, Mont. (AP)  A western Montana couple were able to save a horse from drowning in the Bitterroot River on Father's Day, and may have made a new friend in the process.

Matthew and Christina Eickholt of Hamilton were floating down the river on Sunday with Matthew's parents at a spot called Bell Crossing north of Victor when they noticed some splashing near the shore.

They soon realized it was a horse that was fighting the current as it tried to get out of the river near a steep bank in a spot where the water was about 10 feet (3 meters) deep.

He was breathing super heavy, Matthew Eickholt told the Ravalli Republic. Its eyes were all bugged out. At times, all we could see was its teeth above water. It was snorting. I think it may have been 30 seconds to a minute from going under.

The Eickholts pulled to shore at a shallower spot in the river just downstream from the horse.
But the doctor who reached the scene said most of the patients we found were mothers, children and elderly fathers. There were few young men.

The airstrike wounded more than 100 people, half of them seriously, a regional health official said. Health workers said Ethiopian forces blocked medical teams from responding and shot at a Red Cross ambulance trying to reach the scene.

Bodies were still being pulled from the rubble and dozens of survivors were still arriving at regional hospitals with shrapnel and blunt trauma wounds two days after the airstrike, said a doctor in the regional capital, Mekele. The International Committee of the Red Cross called the transport of seriously injured to Mekele a matter of life and death.

Even on Thursday, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the U.N. still hasnt been able to reach the scene. Between the fighting and different groups on the ground we need clearance to go and weve just not been able to get it, he said.

The airstrike, one of the worst massacres of the war, came amid some of the fiercest fighting in Tigray since the conflict began in November as Ethiopian forces, supported by neighboring Eritrea, pursue Tigrays former leaders.
One member of the group, Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, said it was time for the group to do outreach to get more senators on board with their plan.

In good faith, we tried to get there. We didnt agree on everything, but we were able to get there, Portman told reporters on Capitol Hill as he left an evening meeting with the other senators and White House team.

Biden has sought $1.7 trillion in his American Jobs Plan, part of nearly $4 trillion in broad infrastructure spending on roads, bridges and broadband internet but also the so-called care economy of child care centers, hospitals and elder care.

With Republicans opposed to Bidens proposed corporate tax rate increase, from 21% to 28%, the group has looked at other ways to raise revenue. Biden rejected their idea to allow gas taxes paid at the pump to rise with inflation, viewing it as a financial burden on American drivers.

Psaki said the senior staff to the president had two productive meetings with the bipartisan group at the Capitol. The White House team was huddled late into the evening with the Democratic leaders.

The White House said Pelosi and Schumer and the top administration aides agreed on Biden's goal of infrastructure investments without raising taxes on anyone who makes under $400,000.
Lawmakers clashed Wednesday over whether Microsoft would be included in a package of House antitrust bills aimed at big tech companies, even as the software giants valuation hovers around $2 trillion.

Republicans questioned why the criteria for covered platforms in the legislation appeared tailored to exempt Microsoft. Republican Jim Jordan and other GOP lawmakers said they want to ensure the software giant doesnt get special treatment.

Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington state initially said that while Microsoft exceeds the $600 billion market capitalization threshold laid out in four of the six bills before the Judiciary panel, another criterion about whether the Redmond, Washington-based company is considered a critical trading partner might let it off the hook.

Jayapal said later in the hearing that she thinks Microsoft would count as a critical trading partner because of its cloud platform.

The assumption that Microsoft is not covered is incorrect, Jayapal said after several lawmakers questioned why the definition in the bills appeared tailored to exclude Microsoft.

A company has to meet all of the criteria in the four tech-focused bills to be covered, including that it have a market capitalization of at least $600 billion.

Biggest Offenders

During the hearing, Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky challenged his colleagues on the committee to explain why Microsoft wouldnt fall under the measures.

Im trying to figure out why one of the biggest offenders, of Big Tech, has mysteriously avoided the scrutiny of this committee and this broad swath of bills that seek to radically rewrite our antitrust law, Massie said, waving a draft of the bill that he said was shared with Microsoft before it was public. Im talking about Microsoft.

Democrat David Cicilline of Rhode Island, the chair of the antitrust subcommittee that drafted the bills, denied during the hearing that any company has been granted an exception. He said that the bill in question was based on previous legislation introduced in the Senate, so it wouldnt have been hard to find draft text.

There are no exemptions in these bills, Cicilline said. No company is exempted, period.

A final determination about which companies would be covered by the bills will be made by the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, Cicilline said. Each of these bills is broadly applicable to firms that meet the definition of a covered platform, Cicilline said, without saying whether Microsoft would be among them.

Read More: Microsoft Windows Event 2021: How to watch the livestream, what to expect

The bills before the Judiciary Committee came out of last years investigation of the allegedly anti-competitive practices of Facebook Inc., Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google. Microsoft, which offers products including Windows, LinkedIn, Office and Teams, wasnt a target of that investigation.

The six bills are likely to be approved by the Judiciary Committee, but its unclear if they have enough support to pass the House. Their fate is even more uncertain in the Senate, where legislation needs at least 10 Republicans to pass, making it difficult for them to become law as written.

A proposed amendment offered by Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, to narrow the definition of online platform for the four tech-focused bills to mobile operating system, was undone by another amendment to strike the word mobile.

The draft of the bill Massie displayed during the hearing, which was reviewed by Bloomberg News, didnt mention operating systems at all in that definition. A Microsoft spokesman said the company didnt request the change.

Asked during a break earlier in the hearing whether Microsoft -- which built its success through its Windows operating system for computers -- would be in scope of the bills, Nadler said he would think so.

Antitrust Scrutiny

Jordan of Ohio, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, earlier this week objected to what he saw as special treatment of Microsoft in the bipartisan House bills. He sent a scathing letter to Microsoft President Brad Smith on Monday, saying Democrats have excluded Microsoft from antitrust scrutiny, and demanded a clear answer to whether the company believes it would fall under the House proposals.

Thats what we have here. Bills that supposedly go after Big Tech, being written by Big Tech, Jordan said during Wednesdays hearing.

Read More: Microsoft Windows 11: Heres what we know so far

Last week, Smith said in a Bloomberg TV interview that there are aspects of the legislation that was introduced in the house last week that absolutely applies to Microsoft and many other companies. That, however, could have referred to the two bills before the committee that offer modest measures to support antitrust enforcers and arent focused on the tech industry.

Smith went on to say that he sees U.S. antitrust action focusing on services that arent Microsofts core business.

I think in many ways where this is going is a particular focus on technology platforms that serve as gatekeepers, Smith said. In other words, they not only serve as a platform like an operating system, but people need to go through them to sell their commerce, whether its a product thats on Amazon or an app, say, in the Apple App Store or through a service like Google search.

Smith has cultivated strong relationships with lawmakers, including with the top Democrats and Republicans on the antitrust subcommittee. He testified in March in favor of Cicillines bill to help newspapers negotiate with online platforms.

He was also in the same class at Princeton University as Colorado Republican Ken Buck, who played a key role in drafting the House bills and in last years investigation of Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Google.

Covered Platform

One of the bills is Cicillines proposal to outlaw any practice that advantages the covered platform operators own products, services, or lines of business over those of another business user. That could limit how Apple presents its own music and messaging products on iPhones because competitors including Spotify and Facebooks WhatsApp depend on mobile phones to reach consumers.

Read More: With next version on the horizon, Microsoft to drop Windows 10 support by 2025

The bill from Jayapal, whose district includes the outskirts of Seattle, could force the divestiture of entire lines of business. That could be devastating to Amazon, which is based in Seattle.

The other two measures, including one sponsored by Buck, would limit acquisitions by the covered platforms and would make it easier for users to move their data, like contacts and photos, from one service to another.
Image from Gizchina

When it comes to mobile devices, most brands aren't all that interested in tablets. Surprisingly, vivo does have plans to enter this market and will be launching a vivo Pad this year. However, sources believe that the launch won't be anytime soon.

Earliers this week, sources found that vivo registered a trademark for its vivo Pad in Europe. Normally, this means that a product would be coming fairly soon. But that doesn't seem to be the case this time. According to ITHome (via TechRadar), vivo's first Android tablet is expected to launch in Q4 2021 instead.

Allegedly, the company could also be working on a device called the NEX Book, which sounds like it could be an ultra-portable laptop. This move into the tablet and laptop space doesn't seem to be restricted to vivo. The company's sub-brand, iQOO, also has plans to launch an iQOO Pad and iQOO Book.

Leaving the vivo Pad aside, there's no evidence to prove that the other devices are real. While we do think it's possible, take the rumour with a grain of salt. Having said that, what do you think Android tablets need to stand out in 2021? Share your thoughts below, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this.
Crypto-mining requires huge amounts of processing power, as is seen at this bitcoin mining data centre in Canada.

When a prefecture in northwestern China's Xinjiang region ordered a halt on cryptocurrency mining projects this month, Chris Zhu scrambled to move clients' machines southward, spending over a week to reassemble in Sichuan.

But after the shift, he received another noticeauthorities in southwestern Sichuan were also putting a stop to the industry, in a turbulent year that has lost his company millions.

"We're thinking of ways to go abroad," said Zhu, whose company handles the maintenance of mining machines.

He is among businessmen and miners now planning to seek their fortunes overseasin countries ranging from the United States to Kazakhstanas Beijing tightens the screws on the industry.

Crypto-mining is the process by which computers generate a series of complicated hexadecimal number sequences needed to mint new virtual currency and validate financial transactionsa task that requires massive amounts of processing power.

Chinese mines power nearly 80 percent of the global trade in cryptocurrencies despite a domestic trading ban since 2017, relying on the competitive advantage of cheap access to power and hardware.

But several provinces have recently ordered the closure of mines.

Mountainous Sichuan was China's second-biggest bitcoin mining province, according to data compiled by Cambridge University that tracked the world's largest digital currency.

Authorities have also ordered shutdowns in the coal- and hydropower-rich regions of Inner Mongolia and Qinghai, with citizens encouraged to report illegal operations.

More than 90 percent of the country's bitcoin mining capacity has now been shut down, according to estimates published by state media tabloid Global Times.

Major relocation

Zhu estimates that 10 to 20 percent of miners in China have started their move abroad.

"We spent around 10 days getting to Sichuan, only for operations to stop there too," he told AFP. "It's going to be tough to continue here."

Zhu's company INBTC handled a 260-megawatt site in Xinjiang before being forced to pull the plug.

"With the hit on Sichuan, we had nothing left," he said.

On Monday, US-listed Chinese firm BIT Mining announced it had delivered its first batch of 320 mining machines to Kazakhstan, after Sichuan authorities ordered power companies to stop supplying electricity to crypto-miners.

It will also ship its remaining mining machines abroad.

Nic Carter, general partner at Boston-based venture fund Castle Island Ventures, considers the situation "an effective terminal shutdown on mining in the country".

He said that 50 to 60 percent of the bitcoin hashratea measure of the overall computing power used in the bitcoin networkcould be relocated out of China.

"Everyone I've talked to, in China as a miner, is looking for hosting outside of the country," said Carter.

Broadening horizons

Industry players say Central Asia and North America are popular destinations Chinese miners are considering.

"When you could mine in China, many people were not willing to go abroad," said a Chinese miner surnamed Li, who has three mines in Kazakhstan.

He said he moved his operations out in 2018 for cheaper electricity, and is now helping friends export "several thousand" bitcoin mining machines.

But Alan Dorjiyev, president of the Association of Blockchain and Data Center Industry of Kazakhstan, said that while interest is growing, Canada and the United States are more likely destinations.

He cited "stronger cultural ties" through local Chinese communities, but said that Kazakhstan had a "less attractive" tax regime and jurisdiction.

Carter said upstate New York is another popular destination, while Texas is often cited as a mining location. The southern state's governor also has an accommodating stance to mining.

"Historically, the biggest risk to (miners) is not power prices... it's political risk," he said.

For now, industry players say many are still looking for suitable destinations.

Energy, financial concerns

Analysts have pointed to financial risks and energy goals as reasons behind China's crypto clampdown.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies cannot be traced by a country's central bank, making them difficult to regulate.

Beijing is also believed to fear the proliferation of illicit investments and fundraising, with crypto transactions threatening controls.

On Monday, China's central bank said it told five major banks and payment giant Alipay to halt crypto-related transactions.

Another factor is energy consumption in mining, as Beijing forges ahead with plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

Although miners in Sichuan often use hydropower to power their equipment, with some moving operations there in the rainy summer to tap these resources, China also relies on a particularly polluting type of coal to power some of its mining.

Crypto-mining is expected to use 0.6 percent of the world's total electricity production in 2021, according to Cambridge University data.

With relocation underway, Carter of Castle Island Ventures said: "Transactions will clear more slowly, for a period of months probably."

Explore further Bitcoin dives as China widens crackdown on crypto mining

 2021 AFP
This Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, shows the icon for TikTok in New York. A Dutch consumer organization is launching a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) claim against TikTok over what it alleges is unlawful harvesting of personal data of users of the popular video sharing platform. The Consumentenbond and a foundation called Take Back Your Privacy demanded Thursday, June 24, 2021 that TikTok pay damages to 1.2-1.6 million Dutch children who use the app. Credit: AP Photo/File

A Dutch consumer group is launching a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) claim against TikTok over what it alleges is unlawful harvesting of personal data from users of the popular video sharing platform.

The Consumentenbond and a foundation called Take Back Your Privacy demanded Thursday that TikTok pay damages to 1.2 million to 1.6 million Dutch children who use the app.

"The conduct of TikTok is pure exploitation," Consumentenbond director Sandra Molenaar said in a statement. "The company earns hundreds of millions per year on the backs of children. And that while privacy law prescribes that children should receive additional protection."

TikTok is hugely popular with teenagers and young adults, who use it to post and watch short-form videos.

The consumer organization and privacy foundation are demanding that TikTok pay damages to Dutch children and delete what they call unlawfully collected personal data. They say if TikTok does not comply, they will take the company to court.

TikTok responded in an emailed statement saying the company is "committed to engage with external experts and organisations to make sure we're doing what we can to keep people on TikTok safe."

It added that "privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users, and our teenage users in particular."

In February, TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance, agreed to pay $92 million in a settlement to U.S. users who are part of a class-action lawsuit alleging that the video-sharing app failed to get their consent to collect data in violation of a strict Illinois privacy law.

The social media app also is facing complaints in the European Union.

Late last month, the EU's executive, the European Commission, gave TikTok one month to answer complaints from a European consumer group over its commercial practices. The Commission said some contractual terms in TikTok's policies could be considered misleading and confusing for consumers, adding that concerns relating to issues including hidden marketing and advertising strategies targeting children were raised.

Explore further EU gives TikTok a month to respond to consumer complaints

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
If successful, solar geoengineering would would reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earths surface and warms the planet. Credit: Shutterstock

The Swedish Space Corporation recently canceled a field test of a high altitude balloon, intended to better understand solar geoengineering techniques that might be used to cool the Earth.

The proposed experiment, led by researchers at Harvard University and opposed by the Saami Council (an Indigenous organization) and Swedish environmental groups, was benign in terms of its potential impacts. Rather the opposition was over a more general concern about solar geoengineering itself, the implications of its deployment and the moral hazard that it presents by detracting from global efforts to address climate change through emissions reduction.

This leaves solar geoengineering research in a kind of limbo. There are concerns over its potential environmental and socio-political impacts, but there's also hostility towards resolving some of these uncertainties through scientific research.

Aware of the need to find a way through this morass, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences released a report in March that recommended the U.S. government invest up to $200 million over five years into solar geoengineering research to understand its risks and benefits. This report is significant not only because it signals a mainstreaming of the debate on solar geoengineering research, but also because of its thoughtful and balanced approach to a subject that has been fraught with controversies, such as the cancellation of the SCoPEx experiment.

Canadian climate policy has yet to address solar geoengineering, but the government acknowledges the need to understand the implications of these hypothesized technologies. In developing its own approach to solar geoengineering research, the Canadian government would do well to heed the key takeaways from the National Academies of Sciences report.

The reality beyond pop-culture

Solar geoengineering covers a variety of Earth-cooling strategies, such as adding reflective particles to the upper atmosphere or manipulating clouds in the lower atmosphere. If successful, these techniques would reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface and warms the planet.

Solar geoengineering raises profoundly difficult governance issues due to its potential to impact large-scale human support systems such water availability, agriculture and energy on global scales. That said, solar geoengineering is unlikely to resemble its dystopian portrayal in movies and television.

Solar geoengineering is at best a complement to, not a substitute for, emissions reduction. This is not a political statement, but reflects the inability of solar geoengineering to address key climate impacts, such as ocean acidification, caused by the ocean's increased absorption of carbon dioxide.

Solar geoengineering may temporarily lower or moderate the Earth's temperature, but it's unable to return the Earth's climate to some prior state. Limiting changes in temperature and precipitation patterns requires limiting carbon dioxide emissions, and likely removing past emissions from the atmosphere.

Despite its limitations, solar geoengineering could help moderate the most extreme temperature changes and provide governments, private enterprise, and civil society more time to mitigate emissions, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and adapt to new climatic conditions. Yet the report points out that we simply do not know enough to determine whether solar geoengineering would be safe, effective and acceptable. A focused and co-ordinated program of research would address these uncertainties.

A quarter of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean, which makes the seawater more acidic. Coral skeletons are made from a type of calcium carbonate, which cant form when ocean acidity surpasses a certain level. Solar geoengineering wont address ocean acidification. Credit: Shutterstock

Addressing the moral hazard

Conducting research on solar geoengineering is neither neutral nor risk free. There are well-founded concerns that research could divert attention, resources and political will away from mitigation efforts. It could create political momentum and powerful constituencies that favor its deployment. But failing to do research also brings the risk of making uninformed decisions in the future.

Research on solar geoengineering should not be undertaken at the expense of decarbonization efforts and should include clear "exit ramps"predetermined criteria, such as low efficacy or unacceptable risksfor terminating research activities. Although those risks remain unclear, some research has suggested weather patterns might change, which could have impacts on things ranging from agriculture to biodiversity. Research activities should be directed towards addressing knowledge gaps, but should not be directed towards developing or deploying solar geoengineering.

Because the decision-making environment surrounding solar geoengineering research is characterized by deep divisions (conspiracy theories abound in this field) within both expert and lay communities, considerable attention must be paid to governance of research. The research must ensure transparencyof research funding, methods and outcomesbe subject to robust oversight by governments, scientific institutions and scientists themselves, and proactively inform and engage the public.

Public trust in the motivations of scientists and credibility of outcomes will be crucial to ensuring that future debates on solar geoengineering proceed on the basis of publicly accepted science. Failure to address these issues could result in a unilateral deployment where one nation state or even possibly a private company could deploy geoengineering technologies. Without global involvement and collaborative governance, possible negative side effects might be ignored or intentionally distributed to benefit those who initiate it.

Understanding the full implications of solar geoengineering requires research be directed to scientific and technical matters, but also to the social dimensions of solar geoengineering. Solar geoengineering raises profoundly difficult questions respecting ethics, justice and the political and security aspects of a technology that intervenes in the climate at a global scale.

This requires a research program that engages social scientists and humanists, as well as natural scientists. As intervening in the climate would have global implications, questions of consent and unequal impacts (economic, environmental and social) are raised not just in Canada, but internationally.

A just path forward

Canada can, and should, bring important perspectives to research on solar geoengineering. As a middle power, with a credible emissions reduction plan and a long-standing commitment to international scientific cooperation, Canada is well positioned to be an honest broker in international debates on solar geoengineering research and its potential role in addressing climate change.

Given its global nature, solar geoengineering requires international governance. Canada, which has always supported multilateralism over American exceptionalism, can play a crucial role in steering this discussion towards key international institutions.

As the SCoPEx controversy illustrates, bringing Indigenous voices and traditional knowledge systems to bear on solar geoengineering research questions is a moral and legal imperative that Canada can lead, on given the constitutional requirements for consultation in Canada, as well as Canada's embrace, albeit hesitant, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Recognizing the need to research solar geoengineering is an acknowledgement of a broader policy failure to address climate change. A clear-eyed response to this failure requires Canada to redouble its efforts to reduce emissions, and not place false hope in unproven technological fixes. But the urgency of the current climate emergency also necessitates the responsible exploration of all options that may contribute to a more liveable planet.

Explore further Solar geoengineering may be effective in alleviating impacts of global warming on crops

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The report dismissed various allegations  that many dead people voted, that hundreds of thousands of unsolicited absentee ballots were mailed to Michigan voters, that absentee ballots were counted multiple times, that tens of thousands of fraudulent absentee ballots were dumped at Detroit's counting center after the polls closed. Those ballots had been submitted throughout Election Day in drop boxes, in the mail and at clerk's offices.

The panel's Republicans recommended that drop boxes not be used or be closed sooner than 8 p.m. on election night so that processing and tabulating the ballots they contain do not extend long into the night. Democrats have said the move would disenfranchise some voters.

The committees report goes into considerable detail ... and I hope the public is reassured by the security and protections already in place, motivated to support necessary reforms to make it better and grateful for our fellow citizens who do the hard work of conducting our elections, said Sen. Ed McBroom, a Vulcan Republican who chairs the panel. Other recommendations include uniform signature-verification standards, the authorization of counting to begin before Election Day and the prohibition of unsolicited mailings of absentee ballot applications by the secretary of state.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  One person was shot to death by city police officers in downtown Santa Fe on Wednesday after authorities responded to reports of a fight and gunfire at a public park, the Santa Fe Police Department said.

The Santa Fe Police Department said its officers responded to a call about a fight in progress at De Vargas Park and reports from emergency dispatchers that one person had been shot, with the shooter running away.

Officers searched the area, and they confronted and shot an armed person, police said in a news release. No other injuries were reported.

In the aftermath, a body lay on the ground behind temporary police barricades in front of a private chapel that is a popular tourist destination and located a few blocks from Santa Fes central plaza.

A tourist from Texas said she was exiting a nearby shopping arcade when she saw police chasing a man with a gun in his right hand and yelling stop.

I just came out from the arcade and I saw the guy running and I hid, said Kaori Fukushima of Houston.

Then she heard more than one gunshot.

New Mexico state police are investigating the shooting by city officers, following standard protocols.
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 77F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 77F. Winds light and variable.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as it calls itself, is not a republic, but it is Islamic.

Here are two definitions to make the point before moving on to a larger point.

A Republic is defined by dictionary.com as a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them. Irans elections put supreme power in religious leaders, not the people. In previous elections when there were public demonstrations in opposition to the government, the people were jailed, or murdered by the regime.

Radical Islam is a system of beliefs founded on interpretations of the Koran made by political leadership that seeks to impose those beliefs on its citizens and the rest of the world, by force if necessary. At least thats my definition, based on sermons from hardline mullahs in Iran and elsewhere, along with personal observations about how those beliefs are put into practice.

Obviously not all Muslims agree on everything, especially when it comes to politics. Neither do Christians and Jews for that matter, but Christians and Jews are not known for wanting to eliminate nations they dont like or for forcibly imposing their will on others.
Since our launch this past March, Feast and Field has told innumerable stories of American food and drink  and met many new faces along the way. Weve traveled coast to coast reporting from the ocean to the field, learning from pioneers of sustainable, regenerative and organic farming, and weve discovered the history and processing behind some of our favorite foods and drinks. Weve introduced you to innovative chefs who have taught us a few of their best tricks of the trade with recipes and tips, and featured producers creating the highest-quality products in their industry and craft.

Not only are our bellies fuller, but our audience bigger. Feast and Field has already reached over 170,000 users, and our stories have been read over 300,000 times. Week over week, our social communities continue to quickly expand with followers eager to read new content.

With that, we have some exciting news.

Enjoy Feast and Fields makers at home.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new online store featuring goods from some of Feast and Fields past makers. Now, you can shop the incredible products youve been reading about  along with a few new additions.

Find us in print, too.

On June 26th and 27th, Feast and Field will reach Lee Enterprises 1.2 million subscribers throughout the country with our 16-page printed edition located inside their 80-plus publications  filled with a curated collection and taste of some our best stories, cooking tips and recipes.

Work with us.

Feast and Field is always on the lookout for the next illuminating story or talented contributor. As we grow, we are looking for a full-time sales representative. Please reach out to Donna Bischoff at donna.bischoff@lee.net. Writers, reach out to Dana Fouchia at dfouchia@feastandfield.net; photographers and videographers should contact Heather Gray at hgray@feastandfield.net.

As always, be sure to check out our next adventure every Monday.
ALDA  In celebration of National/Nebraska Pollinator Week, the Crane Trust hosted a special pollinator camp Wednesday and again today at the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center, which is located off Interstate 80 at the Alda Road exit, west of Grand Island.

According to Alyx Vogel of the Crane Trust, the event was outdoors with activities from the Nebraska Outdoor Trailer from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Crane Trust itself.

On Wednesday, participants from the The Arc of Buffalo County, which is a group of children and adults with developmental disabilities, and Third City Connect, which is an after-school childrens group, were welcomed to the camp to learn about pollinators and the outdoors.

The activities included a range of activities, from a pollinator and plant matching game and a pollinator and butterfly life cycle craft to pollinator origami and Nebraska Wildlife Jeopardy. All in all, there were 16 activities in which to participate.

This was the second year that the Crane Trust hosted the pollinator camp. There was a camp in 2019, but, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was canceled last year.

The idea of the pollinator camp is to teach young people the importance pollinators play in our lives.
I tried to take one of those big checks to the bank. They used to ask me what I got myself into, Boyd said.

Boyd said his daughter loved fishing. She used to sit under the console of the windshield in the shade with her Barbie dolls. Boyd said he used to gently throw a fishing lure at her because he couldnt tell if she was awake or not.

The one thing she requested was that I picked a motel with a pool, Boyd said.

Fishing full-time came with challenges. Boyd said it sometimes took the joy out of fishing because of the pressure he had to make a living income.

It was a business, Boyd said. It was fun because we were catching fish, but it was tough when I didnt catch anything at a tournament. It left me thinking of where I could go next. It was a very stressful job.

It was also hard for him to be away from home. Boyd said he would come home to see his wife in June. He would be home for few months, and then he had to be back fishing in Texas by the end of January.

Boyd fished full-time for seven years until he got sick.
A key concern for Rose Godinez, legal and policy counsel to ACLU of Nebraska, is the work state troopers will be expected to perform in Texas and whether that includes enforcing federal immigration law.

A Texas DPS spokesperson declined to provide details about the need for help in Del Rio and functions troopers from Nebraska will perform, including whether they will be enforcing federal immigration law and whether that would require special training.

"The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is committed to securing our border under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott," Press Secretary Ericka Miller wrote in an email. "We are grateful to every agency that has offered assistance in making Texas and the United States more secure, and will be integrating other law enforcement agencies into our operations at the border as appropriate. While the department does not discuss operational specifics, we will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds in order to make real-time decisions to protect the people and property of Texas."

She wrote that DPS was unable to accommodate a ride-along with Nebraska troopers and DPS that an Omaha World-Herald reporter requested and did not answer a follow-up email asking why.
Whether or not to teach critical race theory in the classroom

Resume debate over the voting bill

H.B. 20, which would have made it harder to bail out on bond without cash

Fixing the state's electrical grid

Expanding healthcare

All of them

Other

Vote

View Results
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They found pottery fragments and five U.S. Army buttons from the Lewis and Clark-era. Around the buttons read "U.S. Army, R1." Wagner said that means Regiment 1, which was Lewis and Clarks regiment.

Wagner warned any would-be treasure hunters that it is illegal to remove artifacts from state historic sites. Anyone with a metal detector or caught digging will be asked to leave or arrested, according to the site superintendent.

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At the site of the American fort, just above the historic cemetery, crew members investigated two sites for features. The smaller excavation site held a lot of pottery. Some called red ware would have been used as storage vessels. The site also included some glazed pottery plates that Wagner said would have belonged to officers.

The second site was a cellar, and students were excavating a larger area. The site held U.S. Army buttons in a style used in 1803, bricks made at the fort and animal bones.

Wagner said the field school includes Kaleigh Best, who is certified by the state in skeletal remains, and Jessica Spencer, a Ph.D. candidate studying human osteology. Both are students at SIU.

The cellar contains a lot of large rocks, like it was filled in with the rocks and other debris. Artifacts were found among then rocks.
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One of the biggest activities will be is that the participants will be co-authoring a book, Maxwell explained. It will feature their artwork and a written portion that they will do. They will all be listed as authors.

Maxwell established the Carbondale United organization several years ago as a way of bringing various civic groups together to combat and prevent gun violence. She was inspired to do something after losing her stepson to gun violence.

This program is something for them to do besides things that could lead to violence. It will give them a chance to see the other side of life and learn what they can do. Plus, they will be able to use the mentors as references for future job searches and just for someone to talk to in the future, Maxwell said.

The goal is to be a resource for these youth; to be someone that they can talk to, work with and who can assist them along the way, said Jeff McGoy, exploratory student advisement director at Southern Illinois University. McGoy has agreed to serve as one of the mentors. We want to make sure these students are exposed to some different things where they can feel safe, where they can feel like they are growing and they can feel like they have hope for their future.

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The CDC also recommends providers consider co-administering COVID-19 vaccines with other routinely recommended vaccines, especially when patients are behind or might fall behind on routine recommended vaccines.

Children 12 and over are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and some experts are hopeful a vaccine for younger children might be available in the fall.

While Illinois was not one of the 10 states that participated in the CDC childhood vaccination study, officials with Cook County Health said Wednesday that the county and state have seen similar troubling trends locally during the pandemic.

I think fear was the main reason families were not bringing their children in to the pediatrician for their vaccines during the pandemic, and we saw a lot of parents cancel visits because they were worried about taking public transportation, and other ways of possibly being exposed to the virus, Dr. Rosibell Arcia-Diaz, a pediatrician with Cook County Health, said.

But right now, the concern is if families dont start meeting the vaccine schedules, we could see possible outbreaks, Arcia-Diaz said.
In Illinois, Black student enrollment in colleges and universities dropped by 29% between 2013 and 2018, according to a recent state report. About 61% of Black undergraduates receive financial aid grants from the state to attend public universities compared with 24% of white students.

For students of color who do enroll at U. of I., outcomes are also worse. Compared with their white peers, graduation rates in 2020 lagged by about 12% for Black students and 9% for Latino students at the campus.

The Lawyers Committee coalition brings together students, grassroots organizations, civil rights groups and alumni. A total of 15 organizations will participate, with representatives from the Illinois League of United Latin American Citizens, the NAACP Illinois State Conference and the Chicago Urban League.

At the end of the 18-month process, were producing a set of student and alumni recommendations and new policy proposals for greater racial equity on campus, said Ivanley Noisette, a legal fellow leading the project. We hope that the university will adopt some of those policies and practices.
SPRINGFIELD  The owner of an abandoned power plant has agreed to clean up toxic waste dumped into the flood plain of the Vermilion River, boosting efforts to protest Illinois' lone national scenic river.

Under a deal brokered by the Illinois attorney general's office, Texas-based Vistra on Monday agreed to drain pits of water-soaked coal ash along the Middle Fork Vermilion River, about 120 miles south of Chicago. The energy company also will dig a trench to collect contaminated groundwater and monitor eroding riverbank after major storms.

Vistra's three coal ash pits were dug into the flood plain by Illinois Power, which built a coal-fired power plant next to the river in 1955. Dynegy bought the plant in 2000, closing it in 2011. Vistra took on liability for the three pits of coal slurry when it absorbed Dynegy in a corporate merger.

Before Monday's deal, Vistra sought permission to cap the coal ash and leave it behind a wall of rock 150 yards long. But the deal with Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office requires Vistra to remove and safely dispose of the waste away from the tributary of the Wabash River.
WASHINGTON - Making Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, a national holiday is a victory. But it is a hollow one at a moment when the political party that won the Civil War and made that freedom a permanent reality is now moving heaven and earth to keep African Americans from voting.

All but 14 House Republicans were happy to vote for the long-overdue legislation adding June 19 to the holiday calendar, signed by President Joe Biden. Doing so allows them to portray themselves as opponents of racial oppression, which they prefer to leave in the past -- rather than as contemporary racism's enthusiastic enablers.

In the Senate, the Juneteenth legislation even had the sponsorship, no less, of the likes of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who infamously raised his fist in solidarity with the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Their aim, which Hawley endorsed, was to overturn the 2020 election by invalidating swing-state votes cast largely by people of color in cities such as Atlanta, Philadelphia and Phoenix.
Fairfax says Tyson was friendly with him in the days and weeks after the alleged attack during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, and even tried to get him to meet her mother.

In July 2019, Fairfax issued a public letter to a district attorney in North Carolina, alleging for the first time the existence of a witness who was in the room when he and Watson had their encounter. Shortly afterward, he demanded that CBS retract the interviews, and CBS refused.

Fairfax then sued CBS in federal court, alleging defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A U.S. District Court judge last year granted a request from CBS to dismiss the lawsuit.

In its ruling, the 4th Circuit panel upheld that ruling.

Fairfax vigorously disputes the accusations made by Tyson and Watson, and we express no opinion on the truth or falsity of their claims. But even accepting Fairfaxs version of events, he has alleged nothing to suggest that CBS reported the womens stories with knowledge or reckless disregard of their falsity," Judge Allison Jones Rushing wrote in the 3-0 ruling.

Lauren Burke, a spokeswoman for Fairfax, called the allegations false and politically-motivated.
Some students -- such as Javon Johnson, who stars in Tyler Perrys The Oval on BET -- went onto successful acting careers. Graduates from the S.C. State drama program are now leaders in such theatre programs as North Carolina A&T and Florida A&M universities. They are shaping theatre in such organizations as the Actors Equity Association, The Black Theatre Network, and The National Association of Speech and Dramatic Arts.

But Mundy was equally proud of those in other fields of study who came through the drama program.

I was fortunate enough to have people who were successful in the military, successful teachers, successful artists who have done well and continue to do well, Mundy said in the video.

Speaking via a university press release, Ursula Robinson, S.C. States current director of theatre, described Mundy as a pioneer in HBCU theatre programming, as he was well known across the world of drama and historically Black colleges and universities. He served as a judge and a consultant for several different South Carolina organizations, such as The Governors School of The Arts and the NAACPs national talent contest. He provided students with page-to-stage opportunities through productions and projects with S.C. Educational Television.
Job Title: Human Resource and Administration Assistant (Fresher NGO Jobs)

Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Duty Station: Uganda

About US:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the worlds worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting nationals and refugees and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, the civil society and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health, peace building, gender-based violence, economic recovery and agribusiness, and children & youth. IRC has a country office in Kampala, and field offices in Moroto, Kiryandongo, Kyaka II, Yumbe and Imvepi.

Job Summary: The Human Resource and Administration Assistant is responsible for providing support for day-to-day administrative requirements, functions, and general office management of the IRC Bidibidi Office.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Human Resource

Recruitment

Assist generally in the human resource activities for the national employees (job adverts, interviews, contracts, and personnel files) for the IRC Bidibidi.

Maintain a recruitment resource database (CVs).

Staff Contracts

Draft and track of Staff Contracts/COS with the support of HR/Admin Officer.

Prepare the IRC staff list monthly in liaison with the HR/Admin Officer for Bidibidi/Yumbe.

Medical Insurance and GPA

Submit and track medical forms for the newly recruitment staff at Bidibidi Office

Provide support to staff, follow up and report any issues staff are facing with the medical service providers.

Staff Leave

Maintain employees database for employee leave and R& R, employee performance evaluation and staff training tracking sheets.

Exit Management

Prepare exit evaluation grid, collate results, and provide copies to relevant managers in liaison with the HR & Admin Officer.

Reporting

Prepare monthly reports for Bidibidi.

Maintain the leavers and departure trackers monthly.

In liaison with the HR and Admin Officer Bidibidi/Yumbe, prepare monthly payroll information for staff and forward to the Country HR Lead for payroll processing in a timely manner.

Timesheets

Maintain and update the timesheet tracking database for national staff in Bidibidi/Yumbe and file all timesheets appropriately.

Administration

Attend to the office telephone, e-mail in a professional manner and ensure timely distribution of mail/messages.

Ensure mail pouches to other IRC Offices are dispatched in a timely manner.

Prepare invoices and payment request vouchers for all utilities (electricity bills, water bills, newspapers etc) including telephone bills.

Under the supervision of HR and Admin officer, prepare monthly cash projections for the Human Resources/Admin Department.

Support with accommodation booking for guests, track visitors to your field site and prepare payments.

Maintain employees database for employee leave and R& R, employee performance evaluation and staff training tracking sheets.

Ensures OADF forms/Templates are replenished and updated.

Assist to monitor staff movement to/from the field, to trainings, etc. and provide weekly updates (Travel calendars) to relevant staffs









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Human Resource and Administration Assistant job must hold University studies/ Higher education in Human Resources, Business administration or any other related course.

At least two years of experience in similar position.

Proven skills in administration and human resources management.

Strong organizational, interpersonal skills.

Good administrative skills.

Strong written and oral English communications skills.

Excellent computer skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.

Strong skills in collaboration with multi-cultural and diverse teams.

A team builder with excellent people skills; must be culturally sensitive

How to Apply:

All applicants who wish to join the International Rescue Committee (IRC) should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 8th July 2021.

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Job Title: Volunteer Cleaner

Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About US:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the worlds worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting nationals and refugees and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, the civil society and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health, peace building, gender-based violence, economic recovery and agribusiness, and children & youth. IRC has a country office in Kampala, and field offices in Moroto, Kiryandongo, Kyaka II, Yumbe and Imvepi.

Job Summary: The Volunteer Cleaner is responsible for maintaining general cleanliness of the Livelihood Resource Center premises at all times.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Always maintain cleanliness inside and outside the Livelihood Resource Centre premises daily.

Wash floors and windows at the premises each day.

Empty and Clean dustbins and wastepaper baskets daily and dispose rubbish in designated areas only.

Ensure that washrooms are kept clean and well always stocked with the necessary toiletries daily.

Ensure that all the Livelihood furniture and Training equipment are clean and well-arranged daily.

Assist in arranging for in house meetings i.e. (arranging meeting room).

Ensure requirements for tea/coffee making are always available at the kitchen/pantry counter i.e., teacups, sugar, coffee, teaspoons.

When required, assist with the general duties involved in the production of and delivery of food during office events and the lunch time.

Assist with any other office duties as may be required by your supervisor.

Notify management of occurring deficiencies or needs for repairs.

Follow all health and safety regulations.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Volunteer Cleaner job must hold an O Level Certificate, with a good command of the English language

At least One year experience working in a similar position (preferred)

A good command of the English language

Ability to maintain the highest degree of discretion and confidentiality.

Must be detail-oriented and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Excellent organizational, communication and time management skills.

Honest, reliable and trustworthy.

Willing to adhere to and implement the IRC rules.

Good inter-personal interpersonal skills

How to Apply:

All applicants who wish to join the International Rescue Committee (IRC) should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 1st July 2021.

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
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Casper also benefited from $13.1 million in CARES Act money in the previous fiscal year, which helped offset those coronavirus-related expenses for things like equipment, cleaning supplies and services, and emergency costs.

CARES Act money has also been allocated to repay city employees for income they lost during furloughs last summer. But the bulk of it, around $11.5 million, will be rolled over into the upcoming fiscal year, where it can help pay for projects and other expenses.

General fund

While the bulk of the citys budget is tied up in special funds for specific purposes including water, sewer and recreation, nearly $50 million goes toward the general fund. That covers salaries for city employees, streets, city buildings, and other services and amenities.

The largest chunk of that money, about $32.6 million, goes toward employee salaries and wages, benefits and insurance. That number is broken out in other places, as part of each departments allocation.

About $26 million of the general fund, just over half, is allocated to public safety  which covers the police department and Casper Fire-EMS. Around $10 million will go toward general government expenses, and the rest is divided up among public works, health and social services, culture, and recreation.
Today is Thursday, June 24, 2021. Let's get caught up.

Here's what you should know today: A bipartisan group of senators will pitch a new infrastructure deal to the White House; Vice President Harris will visit US-Mexico border; and Britney Spears asks judge for her freedom.

Keep scrolling for today's top stories, this date in history and celebrity birthdays.

TOP STORIES

Senators push $953B infrastructure plan, raise hope for deal

WASHINGTON (AP)  A bipartisan group of senators is seeking President Joe Bidens support for a $953 billion infrastructure plan, raising hopes for a breakthrough agreement after arduous negotiations on his top legislative priority.

Biden has invited members of the group of 21 senators, Republicans and Democrats, to the White House on Thursday. The pared-down plan, with $559 billion in new spending, has rare bipartisan backing and could open the door to the presidents more sweeping $4 trillion proposals.
The state's 14-day average in total new cases is 88.5 per day. That number is up 14 from a month ago.

The state's number of total active cases is 522. That number is up 65 from a month ago.
A 55-year-old man from Bridger, Montana, who admitted spilling and igniting gasoline while repairing a dirt bike on U.S. Forest Service land has been charged with causing the Robertson Draw fire, which has burned 29,601 acres south of Red Lodge.

John Lightburn was arrested on a warrant issued by Carbon County Attorney Alex Nixon, the Carbon County Sheriffs Office announced in a news release Thursday.

According to an affidavit filed in Carbon County District Court on Wednesday, Lightburn had been riding a dirt bike off trail near the base of Mount Maurice at 10 a.m. on June 13. The path, on U.S. Forest Service land, was closed to motorized vehicles.

He coasted the bike downhill after the engine appeared to be flooding. Lightburn then stopped the bike to repair it, and in the process spilled gasoline all over, he told Forest Service officials.

He then checked his spark plug, which sparked and ignited the gasoline and surrounding vegetation. Lightburn admitted to officials he did not make an effort to stop the fire, and instead took off his shoes and fled the scene.
But White Eagle Sr. had the motivation and aspiration to receive assistance. He lived a life with purpose, without resentment, and used ceremonial ways to heal himself, Wilson pointed out.

And White Eagle Sr. and his brother Nelson White Sr. were raised as the last of a generation of Arapaho first-language speakers, according to Wilson.

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The clear link to that is really understanding; theyre the closest thing that we had left to original Arapaho thought, Wilson said. Before your intellect was compromised by English and the acculturated kind of structures of thinking, focusing and looking at the world view from that vantage point, theyre the last ones, theres still a few left, but that generation was the last to have all those things.

White Eagle advocated for education throughout his life  despite that, he was beaten and abused as a child attending St. Stephens, a Catholic boarding school on the Wind River Reservation, for speaking Arapaho and refusing to assimilate.

He helped found Wyoming Indian High School and the Northern Arapaho Endowment for scholarships at UW. His influence spread to his children, who pursued higher education in law, medicine and more.
surprise that they were unusually giddy just to be able to hear each other and play together.

Bringing such a diverse group to Wyoming from as far away as Ukraine and closer to home as Los Angeles and Las Vegas gives local music lovers access to excellence they might have to travel far to hear. The conductor this week is Ukrainian-born American conductor Taras Krysa, who heads orchestra studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As for the musicians, they love the camaraderie while experiencing magical Casper summer on river canoe trips and mountain hikes. If you were driving to the mountain this week you might have been startled to see two musicians at the lookout turnoff blowing eerie-sounding Alphorns  the 10-foot long ones famously featured in Ricola advertising and originally used to call the cows in Switzerland.

The performances range from an evening at Gruner Brothers Brewing to one involving the 26-member orchestra on June 20. That included a concerto for eight, yes eight, timpani. very large booming drums. One person, Genie Burkett, played all eight of them and the audience was standing up to applaud before she finished.
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The Prime Minister has an open mind on the selection of a police commissioner.

Asked yesterday whether as head of the Cabinet, his Government was prepared to approve a nomination coming to the Parliament for the continuation of Gary Griffith as Commissioner of Police, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said: We in the Cabinet keep an open mind on matters of national interest like that. The Cabinet has a duty to keep an open mind. The authority (Police Service Commission) advises us and we will look at the advice with an open mind as you would have seen us doing before.
We want to work now!

Hundreds of truck drivers throughout the country say they have been crippled by Covid-19 restrictions, which saw the closure of the construction sector in early May.

They are therefore pleading with the Government to reopen the sector for the sake of their survival.
History is what is left behind. When it is colonial history, usually what is left behind lingers, long after the perpetrators have left.

Some people, such as colonisers and other plunderers, set the stage of history. They may come on ships as Captain Cook did in the Pacific, or as Columbus and his crew did in the Americas.
If the scenes of despair circulating around the nation and the desperate pleas by people are not enough to get the Government to understand the generational crisis we are facing, what will?
The school will serve more than just students majoring in mining-related fields. One new introductory course, for example, will be geared to students who say they know little to nothing about mining.

It will explain the need for mineral resources and the technical, social, economic and environmental issues surrounding their acquisition, use and reuse. The course will explore the impact of developments like digitization and low-carbon technologies, as well as community and environmental health.

Analyst say copper will become the new oil as an in-demand commodity.

According to the Copper Development Association, pure electric vehicles use copper in the motors, batteries, inverters, wiring and in charging stations. They can contain more than a mile of copper wiring.

For the first time in the history of mining anywhere in the world, our new school will rely on a holistic approach to mineral resource management, said Moe Momayez, interim department head and David and Edith Lowell Chair in the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering.

A nationwide search for the schools director is expected soon.
The task force would be specifically charged with investigating whether and to what extent the practices of social media platforms and internet search engines effectively become in-kind political contributions to a candidate, meaning the donation not of cash but of a service with financial value.

That drew questions from Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe. "Am I going to have to start reporting retweets as in-kind contributions?'' he asked.

Borrelli said what he wants ferreted out is more specific.

"There are social media platforms that have been very biased towards one particular party over another,'' he said.

For example, Borrelli said, the algorithms used by search engines to determine results when someone asks a question can be altered so that certain subjects show up first. And he said some politicians have lost followers.

"These are the kinds of things that need to be investigated and make sure that it's fair,'' Borrelli said.
A behind-the-scenes battle between Pima Countys top prosecutor and the administration she replaced rages on six months after the start of Pima County Attorney Laura Conovers term. The result: dozens of employee departures and the threat of litigation by one former official.

While the 58 employee departures as of June 14 resulted in the loss of more than 450 years of experience, the office has brought in 44 new employees as of Tuesday. Conover says the new hires are a diverse and talented group, but some remain concerned about the exodus.

The departures are a combination of resignations and retirements, with no employees having been terminated, although Conover said one or two employees did not retain a leadership position in the new round of selections.

Employees reasons for leaving vary, but a handful of former employees say they believe the County Attorneys Office is no longer prioritizing accountability for offenders and in some cases, not prioritizing victims rights, documents and interviews indicate.

With the offices shift in focus, one former prosecutor believes that public safety will suffer, as offenders become savvy to the new dynamic that prioritizes rehabilitation over incarceration. And with hundreds of years of experience walking out the door, others are concerned that new employees will have no one to turn to for advice on handling Pima Countys most serious criminal cases.

Some former prosecutors say they were uncomfortable with new duties, including looking for mitigating factors  historical or psychological reasons that could explain a defendants actions and result in lower-level charges or sentence  and immigration consequences, which they say is the defense attorneys job.

Employees who have complained about the changes to the office or disagreed with Conovers vision of reform are met with retaliation, according to one document obtained by the Star.

Conover said employees, some of whom have done things the same way for decades under the previous administration, are saying that professional business decisions are feeling very personal to them and that some are having really personal responses to business decisions.

Conover says her mandate from voters is to reframe the priorities of the office, and some people are having a hard time adjusting.

(To) those who devoted their career to the previous administration that was tough on crime, Im in a rough position to be the messenger trying to explain whats happening. I have to deliver the message from Pima County that says we must grow in a new direction, Conover said. And it puts them in an uneasy place.

Conover said that she vowed not to fire any prosecutors from the previous administration, as other county and district attorneys do when taking office, and that shes kept that promise, calling it exhausting administratively.

For five months, I really tried to work with some people who were truly unhappy with just everything. And theyve finally realized that they dont have to grow with us. They can go on, theyre not trapped here. And so theyre departing and we wish them well, Conover said. The commitment from now on needs to be that we are undistracted and undeterred, and were focusing on the extraordinary hiring thats going on.

Not how it was supposed to be

Pima County prosecutor Nicol Green arrived to her last day on the job Friday, June 11, expecting to spend most of her time finalizing work on her cases that would be permanently handed off to colleagues in her absence.

Green was named major crimes bureau chief in February 2019, and previously supervised the cold-case and domestic-violence units. When Conover took office, Greens title was chief trial counsel, but that was taken away shortly before she resigned.

Green was met with a surprise that last day at the office, but it wasnt an all-office party or any kind of fanfare over her departure after nearly 22 years of service.

Instead, Green found herself locked out of her county-issued computer and email accounts shortly after she arrived, eventually being told it was the result of a new policy for outgoing employees.

Green was unable to do any work on her cases or say goodbye to her colleagues en masse as shed planned. But she still had to stick around for her afternoon exit interview with the Pima County Attorneys Offices human resources department via Microsoft Teams.

After the interview, Green realized that she had access to PCAOs criminal bureau group on Microsoft Teams, and she set to work, hastily writing off a farewell.

Im heartbroken about how this career is ending. Heartbroken for the Victims. Heartbroken for the folks Im leaving behind who have worked so hard to hold people accountable for their crimes and protecting the rights of Victims, Green wrote in the message. Finally, Im heartbroken for the citizens of Pima County Ive dedicated my life to serving and protecting. Im heartbroken because this is not how it was supposed to be.

Green, an admitted conservative who said she was not resistant to many of Conovers reform efforts, said that she had every intention at the start of the year to stick around until she was retirement-eligible in 2025. She eventually put in her notice in May after she says she came to the conclusion that the office was no longer focused on ensuring accountability for offenders.

Being smart vs. being tough

In an open letter sent to Conover and all other employees through the officewide email account, one six-year departing paralegal accused Conover of not taking time to understand what made the office successful before making tidal wave changes. Conover called the changes being smart on crime, as opposed to tough and said that what shes asking for is a level of attention to detail that employees havent been used to in prior years.

She said that in some cases, she is asking attorneys to seek out mitigating factors for defendants, calling that a best-practice suggestion that is welcomed by most prosecutors. Conover used the example of the offices homicide review panel, in which a group of prosecutors review homicide case files, which are not always complete, if defense attorneys havent sent over any materials. By not taking those mitigating factors into account during the charging panel, the office is setting itself up for an appeal.

At least weve checked that box to get a good solid conviction the first time. This is smart on crime, because appeals double the costs, and were trying not to have the most expensive system in the world anymore, Conover said. Its protecting the record and its bringing in best practices so that we get it right the first time.

Another complaint included in the letter was the breakdown of the offices civil unit. It lost much of its staff when anyone involved in the Louis Taylor case left, after a declared conflict of interest by the previous administration. Taylor, who was convicted in the 1970 Pioneer Hotel fire and served 42 years in prison before making a deal with former Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWalls office in 2013, is suing the county and city of Tucson, alleging racism and poor training of police and prosecutors led to his false conviction. Before her departure, LaWall and her team declared that Conover had a conflict of interest and retained outside counsel to handle the case going forward.

The letter said and Conover acknowledged that a number of tort cases that were previously being handled by Pima County attorneys were contracted out to local law firms.

Conover said that with the recent hiring of a new civil division chief and several new attorneys set to start in July, the period of having to send out cases has stopped.

She also said that Pima County supervisors told her that service on existing cases had been continuous and admitted that she didnt realize how much of a hot-button issue the Taylor case would remain.

Another complaint in the letter was that victims were being encouraged to not press charges so that people accused of crimes can get help, saying that safety is a higher priority over providing assistance to offenders.

Conover said that the offices Victims Services Division was deeply affected by the pandemic  undergoing two separate outbreaks and losing its chief the middle of last year  but that she believes communication with victims is paramount.

That division was the crown jewel of this office and it can be again, Conover said, adding that she recently hired Virginia Rodriguez from the Arizona Attorney Generals Office as the divisions new chief. I really believe it will be again.

Conover said that shes had more than 10 private meetings with victims to make sure that their voices are being heard, and has asked her staff to send along any requests by victims to speak to the county attorney directly.

Theyre my bosses. The community is my boss. I want to serve them as best as I can, Conover said. Ive been trying to teach that to Victims Services and the prosecutors, too.

Ex-bureau chief has concerns

Longtime Pima County prosecutor and outgoing Chief Criminal Deputy David Berkman said he reached out to Conover and her senior leadership team before she took office in an effort to assist with the transition. His help seemed unwanted and unwelcome, he said, and Conover did not respond to several overtures but eventually agreed to a conversation. That was the end of their interactions, and Berkman departed the office on Jan. 1.

He told the Star he has concerns with Conovers dealings with the Taylor case and has been asking for records, which the office is not producing.

Conover said Monday that since January, Berkman has sent the office 73 public-records requests, including one that morning.

It literally is the previous administration going around and causing all these rumblings, Conover said. They have not stopped campaigning. They have never for a moment stopped. Theyre threatening litigation, theyre threatening state bar complaints. Never for a moment was it accepted.

Berkman said Wednesday the number of requests hes submitted is far less than what Conover reported. He said part of the problem came after Conover filed a bar complaint of her own against former Deputy County Attorney Rick Unklesbay, which had a polarizing effect on many PCAO employees. Unklesbay, an open supporter of Conover during and after the campaign, retired in early March.

Conover said that after Chief Deputy Mulembo discovered that our email network had been breached by former employees, she followed Arizona Supreme Court rules and filed a mandatory report regarding to the forwarding of work product to non-employees.

Conover said the report is not the same as a bar complaint, and that to Mulembos knowledge, the matter is not closed.

Unklesbay told the Star Thursday that a bar charge alleging an ethical violation was filed by the office on April 2. Unklesbay denied any such violation, and told the Star that while he had responded at the bars request, the charge remains open.

Another concern of Berkmans is Conovers offices revisiting of decades-old closed cases, including those of Ralph David Cruz and Angela Rene Leeman, who are both serving life sentences for crimes committed as juveniles.

Cruz was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and one count each of armed robbery and aggravated assault in the 2000 killing of 36-year-old Lucila Bojorquez and her two children, Star archives show. Cruz, then 16, shot the family to death at a west-side apartment complex in an attempt to steal the wheels of Bororquezs car. The mother was left to die in the parking lot and the bodies of her children were later found at Gates Pass.

Leeman was convicted in 1994 of 13 counts of child abuse and drug charges in a case of child abuse that prosecutors and court officials called the most horrifying theyd ever seen, according to Star archives. Leeman, then 17, and her 30-year-old boyfriend, Gregory Scott Hatton, were arrested five days after taking her 8-month-old son to the emergency room. They told doctors the child was sick and didnt seem to be getting any better, but doctors determined the child had been systemically raped, beaten and brutalized to within 24 hours of his life, Star archives show.

Both defendants are actively petitioning for reduced sentences through post-conviction relief, saying that mitigating factors were not presented at trial. But their efforts began years ago, after a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the abolishment of life imprisonment without parole for juvenile offenders must be applied retroactively. While states werent required to re-try applicable cases, every state must allow juvenile homicide offenders to be considered for parole.

Conover said she could not discuss ongoing cases, but said that she promised in her campaign platform that she would take the offices wrongful-conviction unit and make it a true, robust conviction integrity unit.

Weve launched it and have been working hard to be accessible that if a mistake was made, theres a review process. Were absolutely living up to (the campaign promise,) Conover said, adding that the offices previous unit was around for several years but consisted only of one part-time prosecutor  Unklesbay. Were going to put the resources behind it to make it successful.

Gabriel Jack Chin now heads up the conviction integrity unit and has gotten a great response from defense attorneys, who have been sending in materials for Chin to review.

Chin, who is representing PCAO in both Cruz and Leemans quests for sentence reductions, will eventually have a full clinic of law students working with him, in addition to full-time staffers.

Leeman has a hearing with the Arizona Executive Clemency Board on July 6. Conover said the county attorneys office historically has always participated with the clemency process and will continue to do that.

Berkman said that with decades worth of experience having walked out the door, the offices new prosecutors are running out of seasoned prosecutors to turn to for advice in handling serious cases.

Theyre going to be getting advice from people that havent worked there for very long, Berkman said.

How people are treated

Green and others say the bulk of the departures arent about changes Conover is making or a lack of interest in reform, and Green said exactly that in her farewell message to colleagues.

It has to do with how people are treated, Green wrote.

Green said that after she submitted her resignation letter to PCAOs three top bosses, she received only an email from Chief Deputy Tamara Mulembo acknowledging receipt and thanking her. Green had limited interactions with Mulembo and Conover after that, and no conversations about her departure. She also said she had no indication prior to that Friday morning that she would not have access to the tools needed to do her job.

Green said that she had positive interactions with Conover before her new boss took office and was hopeful about the transition, telling co-workers she believed everything would be fine.

Being a prosector ... was about holding people accountable, getting justice for Victims and protecting the community. This emphasis is gone, Green wrote, urging her colleagues to continue to be the ones to hold people accountable.

Green told the Star that with the rising homicide rates in Pima County and the offices new push to ensure offenders  even those with prior convictions for violent offenses  are able to receive bail, shes concerned about what Conovers changes will mean for community safety. She acknowledged that the rise in violent crime rates started in 2019 and is part of a nationwide trend.

The letter from the departing paralegal accused Conover of Darth Vader management tactics, saying that Conovers negative public statements about some employees put others in an impossible situation.

I want to be really respectful as to each individual, even when they do use government resources to send out frustration to the whole office, Conover said, declining to comment on specific departures. I sympathize with the situation. Many of those departing came here to work for the previous administration.

Conover said that some of the previous administrations employees simply did not share the reform mentality that voters had asked for, while others who understood the communitys desire for change and want to be a part of the offices efforts to implement change now have the opportunity to spread their wings and fly.

Conover said that some of the departures are also the result of the offices low pay, an issue that shes been working to correct since August.

A recent letter of resignation by one prosecutor mentioned a 40% pay increase at a private firm, and Conover said that there are staff members who work second jobs on nights and weekends to make ends meet.

We have prosecutors who can go to other counties and tremendously increase their salary, Conover said. These are the people weve asked to keep our community safe. And theyre the lowest paid prosecutors in the state. Thats been going on for a decade.

Conover stressed that while some cities and counties undergo leadership changes every four or eight years, its a much more difficult task transitioning to outside leadership after 44 years under the old regime.

Its highly unusual, Conover said, adding that bulk of the complaints are coming from employees who worked under the previous administration. It truly is small, but loud. And Ive gotta focus on the mission. Public safety is too important for these shenanigans.

Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at 573-4191 or cschmidt@tucson.com. On Twitter: @caitlincschmidt

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Cartels in Mexico also differ in how they make their money, Brown said.

Both the Sinaloa cartel and the Tijuana cartel have been more heavily focused on the narcotics trafficking business and less heavily focused, while still involved, in the human smuggling trade, Brown said.

Were seeing the eastern cartels getting more engaged in human smuggling as a source of profits, so fentanyl is less of a source of their profits than they are for the traditional and probably stronger drug cartels, Brown said.

Federal court records in Tucson show many of the recent fentanyl busts involved U.S. citizens, who are are subject to fewer pandemic-related travel restrictions at the border than Mexican citizens, hiding packages of fentanyl in their vehicles or under their clothes as they crossed into Arizona from Mexico at ports of entry.

In a typical incident from May 27, a woman drove her Chevrolet Impala into the Douglas port of entry, where a CBP canine smelled a suspicious odor under the car, according to court records. Officers put the car on a lift and found 107 packages of fentanyl, weighing 31 pounds, in a hidden compartment. She said she crossed into Mexico on foot earlier in the day, spent a few hours at a hotel, and then drove to the port after her friend brought her car to her.
House Speaker Russell Bowers, R-Mesa, acknowledged that the change effectively was payback for Democrats refusing to show up for debate on Tuesday when the Republicans had finally corralled the votes among their own caucus to enact $1.3 billion  and possibly $1.8 billion  in permanent tax cuts and the $12.8 billion state spending plan. The House was left without a quorum that day as four Republicans were away from the Capitol.

It is clear, was clear then, by the absence of an entire caucus, and by actions prior and currently today, that procedural obstruction and delay have been instituted in lieu of civility, Bowers said. He said the time limits still allow for discussion but also allow us to get out in an expedited fashion.

Democrats said Republicans have no one but themselves to blame for the fact the Legislature is now up against a deadline to enact a new spending plan for the fiscal year that begins in less than a week.

Fernandez pointed out that Republican leaders brought lawmakers to the Capitol for 26 days where there was absolutely no legislative business done while they tried to line up the votes among their own caucus. She said thats because they chose not to involve Democrats in budget negotiations or include their priorities in the plan.
Amherst is among hundreds of communities and organizations across the country seeking to provide reparations to Black people, from the state of California to cities like Providence, Rhode Island, religious denominations like the Episcopal Church and prominent colleges like Georgetown University in Washington.

Amherst advocates have cited Evanston, Illinois, which became the first American city to pay reparations last month, as a model for their efforts. That program uses marijuana tax revenues to give eligible Black residents $25,000 housing grants for down payments, repairs or existing mortgages.

Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman said local approval of a fund means the town can now begin accepting contributions for reparation work and decide on a financial plan going forward.

Bockelman and other town officials have suggested designating more than $200,000 in surplus budget funds as an initial seed investment.

The council on Monday also approved creating the African Heritage Reparations Assembly to develop the town's reparations plan by Oct. 31, the newspaper reported. It will be made up of six Black residents and one representative from Reparations for Amherst.
The drop in Asian American representation was anticipated: a group of parents has sued the school board in federal court, claiming the new procedures discriminate against Asian American students who thrived under the old system. The judge hearing the case declined to issue an injunction barring the new rules from taking effect, but made clear in his comments that he has concerns about the school system's new policies.

He sounded skeptical when lawyers for the school system insisted the new system is race neutral.

"Everybody knows the policy is not race neutral, and that its designed to affect the racial composition of the school, Judge Claude Hilton said. You can say all sorts of beautiful things while youre doing others.

In an interview Thursday, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand insisted the new policies are race neutral, and said he expects them to withstand legal scrutiny. He compared the new admissions process to one used by public universities in Texas, which guarantees admission to the top 10% of students at high schools across the state. That system has withstood legal challenges from applicants who argued the geographical set-asides function as a proxy for racial quotas.

If it's good enough for Texas universities, it's good enough for FCPS, Brabrand said.
The promises of the new barrier come on top of plans for Texas state troopers to begin arresting border crossers and jailing them for state crimes, such as trespassing. Abbott said homes are being invaded" along the border. Landowners are losing livestock and crops, Abbott said, because of the carnage that is being caused by the people who are coming across the border."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 180,000 encounters on the Mexican border in May, the most since March 2000. But the numbers were boosted by a pandemic-related ban on seeking asylum that encouraged repeat attempts to cross because getting caught carried no legal consequences.

Nearly 19,000 unaccompanied children were picked up along the border in March, by far the highest month on record. April was second-highest and May was third-highest.

Abbott has rejected criticism that his measures are just for show.

Anyone who thinks this is politics doesnt have a clue whats going on at the border," Abbott said last week in the Texas Capitol. Anyone who thinks this is politics doesnt care about American citizens or Texas residents."

Immigration has been a weak spot for Biden.
Ramdat's plea is a step in the right direction to giving the women affected by his horrific actions the justice they deserve, said U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. "The systemic negligence at the Clarksburg VAMC must be addressed and dealt with. Accountability begins at the top, and I am committed to working with VA Secretary McDonough and as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to ensure that these serious issues are addressed.

In May, a federal judge called ex-nursing assistant Reta Mays the monster that no one sees coming before sentencing her on seven counts of second-degree murder for intentionally injecting the veterans with unprescribed insulin.

Mays, who has a history of mental health issues, offered no explanation for why she killed the men. But U.S. District Judge Thomas Kleeh told her you knew what you were doing.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  Local officials were concerned about the safety of a heavily traveled stretch of Interstate 65 where 10 people died in a fiery crash long before the pileup last weekend, and the road itself could become part of the investigation into the wreck.

State Rep. Chris Sells said he and Butler County Coroner Wayne Garlock inspected the wreck area weeks ago after he heard complaints it was hot spot with a potential for problems even though only sporadic accidents had occurred there through the years.

The area is too congested, he said, and a lengthy downhill slope can lead to both excessive speed and the pooling of water after a storm. Combine that with drivers following too closely and not paying attention and tragedy can occur, Sells said Wednesday.

Its not like this was a particularly deadly area  its not, said Sells, of Greenville. But it is now.

Garlock said the highway near the crash scene is is notorious for hydroplaning because of the way the road is made, but declined to go into details about his concerns citing the continuing investigation into the crash.

Its not just me. A lot of people are concerned with certain areas, he said. Alabama has plenty more potentially dangerous places in roads, he said.
Both opened before Towson codified its facility naming policy in 2017. The committee concluded that honoring the slave owners wouldnt meet the current guidelines. It determined that Carroll and Pacas disregard for diversity and equity doesnt align with the universitys values.

Students have called on school officials for years to change the building names. A group called Tigers for Justice collected more than 6,700 signatures demanding their removal.

Schatzel acknowledged the mens contributions as founding fathers but questioned in a letter how we can ask our students to accept living and sleeping in a residence hall that, as one student told me, was named after a man that enslaved my ancestors and tortured them as part of his daily life.

She said in a message to the university community on Monday that the process to rename the buildings will begin in the fall. The universitys shared governance bodies  the Academic Senate, Staff Senate and Student Government Association  will be required to offer input.

Towsons renaming guidelines say the buildings could be named after notable Marylanders, state landmarks or alumni and faculty who have left the university system at least a year prior.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Baltimore Sun.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Roughly 650 U.S. troops are expected to remain in Afghanistan to provide security for diplomats after the main American military force completes its withdrawal, which is set to be largely done in the next two weeks, U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

In addition, several hundred additional American forces will remain at the Kabul airport, potentially until September, to assist Turkish troops providing security, as a temporary move until a more formal Turkey-led security operation is in place, the officials said. Overall, officials said the U.S. expects to have American and coalition military command, its leadership and most troops out by July Fourth, or shortly after that, meeting an aspirational deadline that commanders developed months ago.

The officials were not authorized to discuss details of the withdrawal and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The departure of the bulk of the more than 4,000 troops that have been in the country in recent months is unfolding well before President Joe Bidens Sept. 11 deadline for withdrawal. And it comes amid accelerating Taliban battlefield gains, fueling fears that the Afghan government and its military could collapse in a matter of months.
Officials complained that they have reached out repeatedly to the Biden administration about lifting the nonessential travel ban, but so far have not received a response.

Ive written two letters to Vice President Kamala Harris, one in April and one in the beginning of this month asking her to come to Nogales and visit our port to understand more the economic impact, and I havent gotten a response from her office or any staff of hers, not by email not by phone, Garino said.

Wells said he also reached out, with no luck, and that until the ban is lifted border businesses will continue to suffer.

Local leaders said the ban is not logical. It allows the cross-border movement of cargo and travel for schooling, medical care, work or government business, among other exceptions, and applies only to land ports  not airports.

Thousands and thousands of people are still crossing the border every day, said Kimberly Kahl, executive director for the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce. Were not stopping the spread of COVID-19; all were doing is stopping people from being able to cross the border and provide patronage to businesses or visit family.
OPINION: With the differential water rated approved our letter writers are sharing ideas on how it could done in a better way. What are your thoughts? Submit a letter to the editor at tucson.com/opinion.
Artists from Fire in Little Africa and Rod Wave will be support acts when they open for Lil Baby during an Aug. 6 tour stop at Tulsas BOK Center. Tickets went on sale 10 a.m. Friday, June 25.

A collective of Oklahoma hip hop artists recorded a Fire in Little Africa album of original material to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The album was released May 28 by Motown Records/Black Forum in partnership with Tulsas Bob Dylan Center and Woody Guthrie Center.

Fire in Little Africa executive producer Stevie Dr. View Johnson posted this on social media after the news was announced that FILA will be a supporting act for Lil Baby: We went from recording an album (during a pandemic) in a former KKK mansion to signing with Motown Records and now sharing the stage with Lil Baby and Rod Wave. And Im grateful to be spinning for the night. Always stay true to yourself. #EverythingIsUs.

Fire in Little Africa artist Dialtone provided this statement about the news that FILA will be a part of the Lil Baby show: Really its just a testament to the path Tulsa hip hop been on. To go from the idea of FILA to touching the biggest stage in the city, its all paying off.

Watch now: Fire in Little Africa telling Tulsas story

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A trans-Pacific chain of events, including an extended Chinese New Year and shipping backups, has led to a nationwide fireworks shortage. Buyers are getting their fireworks as soon as possible to avoid a holiday dud.
Oklahoma has a moderate level of community transmission, meaning the total new cases per 100,000 persons in the past seven days is between 10 and 49.99 and a percentage of positive tests during the past seven days between 5% and 7.99%, according to the CDC.

Bratzler said he believed an outbreak of the Delta COVID-19 variant in southwest Missouri may be contributing to the increase in cases in Oklahoma, particularly the northeast part of the state.

While Oklahoma has only detected 41 cases of the Delta variant amongst its screening of the virus, Bratzler said he expects the real figure to be many, many more due the small percentage of COVID-19 specimens that are examined for variants.

As cases rise, the Tulsa Health Department also continues to keep a very close eye on the number of new cases reported in the county, said Monica Rogers, Tulsa Health Department Division Chief of Data and Technology.

Rogers said while the latest weekly increase was concerning, they are not at the level that makes us truly concerned or alarmed, moving forward.

Rogers said Tulsa County would be considered a region with a high level of community transmission of COVID-19 if it logged 650 new cases in a given week.
PUA is available for gig and contract workers who normally are not entitled to receive regular unemployment benefits.

The number of continued PUA claims, those filed after one week of unemployment, declined slightly from 15,288 the week ending May 29 to 14,732 the following week.

Another temporary federal program for those who have exhausted all of their regular state unemployment benefits, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, saw a slight decline in those receiving benefits, from 33,416 the week ending May 29 to 32,197 the following week.

Those receiving PUA, PEUC or the $300 weekly federal payment will see those benefits come to an end Sunday.

Thats the day Gov. Kevin Stitt chose for the state to opt out of the federal programs with the hope of luring more unemployed people to take jobs.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission has been hosting job fairs throughout the state in an effort to connect employers and employees.

The commission touted its unemployment rate in its weekly jobless report.
Dellinger said they are unsure if any more documents will be shared. The attack was halted mid-stream, and the city knows the size of data that was taken, but not the total number of files or documents.

The city still encourages those who have had business with the city to monitor their personal records, as police reports contain personal identification information and as a precaution in the event of more information being released.

Residents are asked to:

Freeze accounts from the three major credit bureaus  Equifax, Transunion, and Experian

Monitor financial accounts and credit reports

Ask credit/debit card companies to issue a fraud alert

Change passwords on personal accounts

Take additional authentication measures in all personal accounts and applications

For additional information on how to protect your privacy, visit the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit website at ok.gov/okdocc.

The citys incident response team and federal authorities are continuing to investigate the data breach and monitor any information being shared.
This time the fish was brought to a boat landing area so Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation fisheries biologist Jason Schooley could officially weigh and measure the fish off a hoist arm on his pickup truck. It was 164 pounds even, and the official length was 81.75 inches tip to tip.

The black spot, about the size of a silver dollar at the center of the fish just above its lateral line, was distinctive, he said. It also has a notch in the fleshy part of the gill plate on the left side of the fish, Schooley said.

The fish was a non-reproductive female, he said. Many of the states largest paddlefish are found to have this condition. They grow large because they put energy into constantly growing fat rather than producing and shedding eggs each year. This fishs ovaries were embedded in 27.38 pounds of fat, he said.

While Schooley and Mefford have teamed up to weigh and successfully release several world-record paddlefish, the most recent being a 151.9-pound beast caught last July, this fish was unable to handle the stress this time.
After what the first one was able to accomplish during the height of a pandemic, organizers behind the Day of Caring Regional Food and Blood Drive are expecting even bigger things this time around.

We know last year many organizations and families would have loved to collect food and send their generous donations to their struggling neighbors, but they were bound by COVID restrictions. This drive signifies that today is indeed a new day, Greg Raskin, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma spokesman, said of the follow-up event, which is scheduled for Friday.

We hope people throughout the entire Tulsa area will respond with an outstretched hand, he said.

Hosted by the Tulsa Area United Way, the 2020 drive brought in an impressive 50,000 pounds of food and 155 pints of blood, officials said at a news conference Wednesday.

The goal for the 2021 drive has been set at 60,000 pounds of food and 180 pints of blood.

We need everybodys help to accomplish these goals, said Tim Lyons, who is co-chairing the 2021 United Way Campaign along with Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith.
Oklahoma continues to experience a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases in a week, according to data released Wednesday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

The agency reported 1,102 new cases for a one-week period that ended Saturday, a 10% jump over the previous week.

As of Wednesday, there are 1,505 active documented cases in the state, with 338 in Tulsa County.

The rise in cases come as some health officials are closely monitoring regional surges in infections believed to be as a result of the emerging delta variant first identified in India.

We are very concerned that this might be a variant, although we dont have a lot of data on the variants in Oklahoma because were not testing that anywhere, Oklahoma State Medical Association President Dr. Mary Clarke told the Tulsa World.

We do know there are cases of the delta variant in Oklahoma. There are a few that have been documented, but were also worried because Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas all have relatively high percentages of the delta variant.

Oklahoma, said Clarke, has sequenced just 0.18% of all positive tests related to identifying which variants are circulating, which ranks 50th in the United States.
A man involved in a domestic disturbance was found dead after an exchange of gunfire with Cherokee County deputies in which authorities said no one was struck.

Cherokee County Sheriffs Office deputies had responded to a domestic violence call in the 19500 block of West Cookson Bend Road in Cookson about 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

The call involved Jerett Gray, 23, and a woman, the OSBI said.

"The woman told Gray that the cops were being called. Gray told the woman to tell the cops that Gray would start shooting at the cops when they got there," the OSBI said in the release.

"Upon the arrival of the deputies, Gray fired at the deputies and one of the deputies returned fire. No one was struck during the exchange of gunfire," the OSBI release says.

"Gray fled the immediate area and hid.

"Deputies found Gray deceased with a single gunshot wound."

The OSBI said "an active and ongoing investigation" is being conducted and that "the OSBI's initial understanding of the facts and circumstances may evolve over the course of the investigation as witnesses are interviewed and evidence is collected and analyzed."
Vietnam-based platform for branded goods Leflair is slated to resume operations in the third quarter of this year, its new owner announced on Wednesday.

In the announcement, the U.S.-based Society Pass Incorporated said it had bought Leflair and other intellectual properties, including its domain name, from a company in Hong Kong.

The revived Leflair will expand operations to other Southeast Asian markets next year, Society Pass Inc. added.

Society Pass is an e-commerce startup that specializes in connecting consumers with suppliers in Southeast Asia and South Asia.

In Vietnam, Society Pass currently runs Sopa, an e-commerce platform for foods and drinks and gastronomy, and #Hottab, a supplier of solutions and marketing connections for users data management.

Leflair, an online platform that sourced goods from brands and official distributors and resold them to Vietnamese customers, has ceased its local business operations since the beginning of February 2020, according to a notice sent to suppliers about the closure.

Founded in December 2015, Leflair followed the flash-sales model that has proven successful in Europe.

The startup offered a wide range of worldwide branded merchandise, from fashion and beauty to home, such as Calvin Klein, Botanist and Moleskine, to Vietnamese consumers at attractive prices.

Leflair representatives admitted at a meeting with suppliers last year that the company owed US$2 million in outstanding debts to about 500 merchants.

According to Society Pass, it has nothing to do with Leflairs old legal entity in Vietnam.

A new team from Society Pass will be in charge of operational management of Leflair, it said.

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For thousands of years, people have built their great metropolises right up against the contours of coasts, in estuaries and deltas, confident of the ebb and flow of the tides.

Domination of the seas allowed many coastal cities to become trading powerhouses and cultural melting pots.

But now that strength is becoming a liability as climate change swells the oceans, redrawing the map and putting hundreds of millions at risk.

That's the warning of an unpublished draft report by the UN's climate science advisory panel, seen exclusively by AFP, which outlines the vast and urgent climate threats facing the planet.

From the air, you can see the problem.

In city upon city, office towers, warehouses and homes crowd the water's edge as if they are jostling to take a dip, major roads hug the shore, landing strips jut dauntlessly into the frothing waves.

These cities are on the "frontline", the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report says.

"Difficult choices will need to be made as sea level continues to rise, floods and storm surges become more frequent and intense, warming increases ocean acidity and intensifies heatwaves," it adds.

Rising seas will likely spark mass migration and eventually force whole cities to be abandoned to the flood.

But profound consequences for megacities, small islands, arctic communities and deltas will come long before that -- well within the lifetimes of most alive today.

Vast floods in Thailand in 2011 inundated manufacturing centres, like this car factory, and disrupted global supply chains. Photo: AFP

In some places, people already know all too well the destructive power of water.

"I once was a bride of an affluent family," Yasmin Begum tells AFP in the bare corrugated metal hut she now shares with her relatives in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

"My in-laws and parents, they had everything -- cattle, nice house, farmland. But the river took it all away."

The family had lived a relatively prosperous life in the southern island district of Bhola, an exposed tendril of land at the outer limits of one of the world's most populated deltas.

Then one night 12 years ago, the raging Meghna river devoured everything they had.

Begum, now 30 and a mother of three, scratches a living as a Dhaka housekeeper, while her husband drives a cycle rickshaw through the city's steamy streets.

They escaped one flood only to be at risk of another: Their new home, in one of the narrow-alley slums clustered precariously close to a flood barrier, is just metres from the riverbank.

Storm damage on the Atlantic Coast after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Photo: AFP

'Mortal' cities

Roughly a tenth of the world's population and assets are based less than 10 metres (33 feet) above sea level.

"Structurally, a lot of cities are set up in almost the exact wrong place for a world with rising seas," says Ben Strauss, CEO and chief scientist at Climate Central.

Ports and airports are built on the very flattest, lowest land possible.

"Sea level used to be stable," Strauss explains.

"Not anymore."

Land currently home to 300 million people will be vulnerable to annual flooding by 2050, according to his research.

Those least able to afford to protect themselves will likely be hit hardest.

All urban areas are increasingly stifled by air pollution and extreme heat, but those at the coasts are also deluged by flooding intensified by the rising water level and lashed by storms whipped into greater fury by warmer seas.

Saltwater washes across agricultural fields and rice paddies, while ecosystems -- crucial for economies, cultures and climate protection -- are gravely degraded by human activities.

Cities like Venice and Jakarta are also sinking, while low-lying island nations, particularly in the Pacific, are at risk of disappearing under the waves.

The report says slashing emissions now can reduce the risks.

"But sea level rise is accelerating and will continue for millennia," it says.

Greenhouse gas emissions are locking in global heating that is melting ice sheets and glaciers and expanding oceans. Photo: AFP

The greenhouse gases already in the air have essentially baked-in the amount that waters will rise until around 2050.

By 2100, the IPCC has predicted water levels could be 60 centimetres (24 inches) higher, even if global warming is limited to well below two degrees Celsius -- the cornerstone target of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Longer term, it says, the prospects for many coastal cities are "dismal" without deep cuts to emissions.

Meanwhile, humanity continues to pump pollution into the atmosphere, locking in global heating that is melting ice sheets and glaciers and expanding oceans.

In just a few decades we may have emitted enough to eventually drown some of the world's great cities, Strauss says.

By 2050, an at-risk region like South Florida might have developed a multi-decade plan to "empty out", he says.

"We live our lives knowing we're going to die, but I don't think we often think of our cities in those terms," he tells AFP.

"Most of our coastal cities are mortal. A lot of them will end by flood in the long run."

Dhaka faces 'severe escalating risk' from climate change, the IPCC report says. Photo: AFP

Cascading risk

Costs are already rising.

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy slammed into the coast around New York and New Jersey, killing scores of people and causing tens of billions of dollars in damages.

The storm caused "cascading" impacts, the IPCC says, triggering massive power outages and disrupting water and communication links for hundreds of thousands of people.

Disasters like this in globalised coastal cities pose "risks for societies and the global economy in general", the report says.

A worst-case-scenario projection for the world's 136 largest coastal cities calculated expected damages by mid-century of between $1.6 to $3.2 trillion from sea level rise without adaptation.

There were wide variations between cities, partly because of where assets and people are concentrated, study co-author Elisa Sainz de Murieta of the Basque Centre for Climate Change said.

Guangzhou was top of the list, with damages calculated at around $330 billion by 2050 under a pessimistic emissions scenario without adaptation, and nearly $1.4 trillion in 2100.

In second place was Mumbai, which the IPCC report describes as a "non-adapter" -- with little done to prepare people and property for disaster -- despite predictions that swathes of built-up area could be flood-prone by 2100.

And cities continue to expand, putting millions more in harm's way, particularly in Asia and Africa.

The costs of climate and weather disasters are already rising steeply. Photo: AFP

Lessons from the 'bathtub'

How can cities protect themselves?

Options include engineered protections like dykes and seawalls, which could cut flood risk for up to a few metres of sea rise but can damage environmental systems.

Rehabilitating coastal ecosystems also offers broad benefits.

Storm surges kill fewer people and cause less damage when a coastal city is sheltered behind a wide buffer of mangroves or marshes.

Seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, coral reefs and tidal marshes also support marine life and related economic sectors like fisheries and tourism.

There is "no silver bullet", the IPCC draft says, but the choices will only get tougher as the impacts stack up.

"We have to act now, because we are already too late," says Johan Verlinde, programme manager for Rotterdam's Climate Adaptation Plan.

More than half of the Netherlands is vulnerable to large-scale coastal and river flooding and over a quarter is below sea level.

After deadly inundations in 1953 the country set about building a network of high-tech defences.

The Netherlands currently allocates one billion euros ($1.2 billion) a year for its "living with water" adaptation plan.

Rotterdam's assortment of floating infrastructure includes a cattle farm.

With 85 percent below sea level, Verlinde says the city is "really a bathtub".

"Every drop of water that falls on our city, we need to pump it up. We really need to be innovative to keep our feet dry," he says.

Dutch engineers travel the world sharing their flood resilience expertise, although many poorer countries and communities cannot afford the most effective big infrastructure defences.

But the reasons why some are protected and others not go far beyond national budgets.

Coastal cities at risk. Photo: AFP

'Sink or swim'

Cape Town is an "extensive adapter", according to the IPCC, with flood protection infrastructure, as well as early warning systems in place.

But almost 100,000 households are exposed to flooding in a city riven by deep poverty and the legacy of apartheid.

Toward the coast, the serene Lake Michelle is a high-end housing complex enfolded within a secure perimeter fence.

Outside a scrubby strip of land separates it from Masiphumelele, where ramshackle informal homes blanket the waterlogged ground.

The contrast is an example of the stark inequalities that make finding consensus on a response to climate change much more difficult, says Anton Cartwright of the African Centre for Cities.

"Ultimately we're all going to have to sink or swim -- literally in this instance -- together," he says.

Saint Mark's Square in Venice is waterlogged. Photo: AFP

'Die by drowning'

In the end, even the most innovative, big-spending adapters may not be able to avoid the ultimate solution: retreat.

Indonesia has already put together plans to shift its capital to Borneo from subsidence-wracked Jakarta.

In Bangladesh, climate-related migration has already started. But this is just the beginning.

Studies predict sea level rise could displace nearly a million people in the country by 2050, and more than two million by the end of the century.

Dhaka will likely be a destination for those driven from their homes in other low-lying coastal areas.

But the delta city, where almost 40 percent of people live in vulnerable informal settlements, is itself expected to face increasing inundations.

As simple as their rented house is, Begum says they cannot afford to lose it -- her family has nowhere to retreat to.

"Then probably we'll have to die by drowning," she tells AFP.

"We have no other option."

Like Begum, some communities will be unable or unwilling to move even if their homes are at risk.

And some places are irreplaceable.

Flooding can threaten key infrastructure like this airport in Bangkok, deluged during huge 2011 floods. Photo: AFP

'Queen of the Seas'

UNESCO describes Venice as an "extraordinary architectural masterpiece" where even the smallest buildings contain works by some of the world's great artists, such as Titian and Tintoretto.

The city was founded in the 5th century, although it was not until the 10th century that the "Queen of the Seas" became a major maritime power.

Today, Venice is the most threatened world heritage site in the Mediterranean.

Over 90 percent of the city is vulnerable to flooding.

Venice has installed mobile barriers to close lagoon inlets during storm surges.

But if sea levels rise 30 centimetres, floodwaters could slosh around the palazzi for several weeks. At 75 centimetres, they could linger for six months.

The IPCC's most pessimistic prediction for 2100 is 1.1 metres.

Oceanographer Georg Umgiesser says because of the effects of subsidence, even half a metre would be "catastrophic" for the city.

St Mark's Square would never be dry.

And Venice is not alone -- up to 140 world heritage sites are at risk of coastal flooding even at two degrees Celsius of global warming, mostly in the Mediterranean.

Coastal cities at risk. Photo: AFP

What we've lost

Humans have told stories about cities and civilisations swallowed by the sea for centuries.

In the past, there was no evidence linking behaviour to the deluge, but now our choices are creating real Atlantises of the future, says Strauss.

"Our efforts to stop climate change are to protect the lives that we have today, but also they are going to shape the stories that our descendants tell about us," Strauss says.

"And I think there will be a lot of stories about what we've lost, about the things we failed to protect.
Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong has unveiled a six-point action plan after being re-elected to the same position for the 2021-26 term.

The official, also a deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee, won the re-election after obtaining a majority of votes in favor at the first session of the local 10th Peoples Council on Thursday.

In his action plan delivered after the re-election, Phong pledged he will join the local political system to successfully implement the resolutions of the 13th National Party Congress and the 11th local Party Congress, based on the spirit of solidarity, responsibility, and creativity.

Specifically, the local government will focus on six major issues, including building an effective, efficient, and democratic administration; developing the local economy rapidly and sustainably by applying scientific and technological advances; improving the quality of planning work; promoting socio-cultural development in harmony with economic development; strengthening the COVID-19 prevention and control; addressing the noise, traffic congestion, and flooding problems; and maintaining political security, social order, and safety.

Phong undertook to respect and promote the peoples mastery and listen to recommendations to continue improving the efficiency of administration, thereby best serving local people and businesses.

The mayor also promised to practice ethics, improve leadership ability, and maintain close relations with all levels of local authorities, while not committing bureaucracy or corruption.

The citys leader said he would wholeheartedly serve the people, take care of their material and spiritual life, and bring a life of prosperity, happiness, security, and safety to every resident.

In his 2021-26 term, Phong will be assisted by five deputy chairps, including Le Hoa Binh, Ngo Minh Chau, Duong Anh Duc, Vo Van Hoan, and Phan Thi Thang, who were also elected on Thursday.

The 59-year-old chairman is a native of the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre and has a doctorate in economics.

After holding different positions in Ho Chi Minh City and Ben Tre, Phong was elected as a member of the Party Central Committee at the 11th Party Congress in 2011.

In 2013, he was named chairman of the Peoples Council of Ben Tre Province, and two years later, the central government transferred him to Ho Chi Minh City as deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee.

In October 2015, Phong was re-elected to the same post, and two months later, he held the position of chairman of the local Peoples Committee.

At the first meeting of the Peoples Council in its ninth tenure, he was re-elected as chairman of the Peoples Committee for the 2016-21 term.

At the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and peoples councils at all levels for the 2021-26 term, Phong was elected as deputy of the 10th municipal Peoples Council.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

COVID-19 Updates

-- The Vietnamese Ministry of Health confirmed 42 new COVID-19 cases, including 26 in Ho Chi Minh City and five imported cases, on Thursday morning, taking the national tally to 13,989 infections, with 5,684 recoveries and 70 deaths.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control announced on Wednesday night that it was looking for visitors to several wholesale markets in the city who might have come into contact with some confirmed COVID-19 patients.

-- A Vietnamese woman repatriated from Malaysia has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after finishing her quarantine period and returning to her home in southern Tay Ninh Province, according to the provincial Department of Health.

-- Authorities in south-central Phu Yen Province have issued an urgent notification on tracing visitors to eight locations in the province who might have come into contact with a COVID-19 patient, according to the provincial Health Department.

Society

-- Authorities in Phu Yen Province on Wednesday initiated legal proceedings against one teenage boy and a friend for murdering the formers mother to steal VND3.8 million (US$165).

-- Police in the southern province of Soc Trang on Wednesday apprehended five people for illegally trafficking about two kilograms of drugs from Ho Chi Minh City to the province, seizing VND156 million ($6,771).

-- Four people were arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday for breaking in many boarding houses.

-- Police in Ho Chi Minh City have captured and initiated legal proceedings against the director of Global Economic Co. Ltd. for scamming multiple real estate investors and appropriating more than VND20 billion ($868,000).

-- Ho Chi Minh police officers said on Wednesday that they had arrested two teenage boys for threatening a mortocyclist with weapons to steal her vehicle.

Education

-- Over 16,000 students in the northern province of Bac Ninh will be subject to coronavirus testing before they are allowed to take the national high school graduation exam, according to the provincial People's Committee.

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A man and woman from northern Vietnam are being investigated after violating COVID-19 prevention and control regulations and spreading the disease to three individuals.

The Peoples Procuracy in Bac Ninh City under Bac Ninh Province on Thursday approved the decision to initiate legal proceedings against Nguyen Van Quy, 31, and his girlfriend  34-year-old Nguyen Thi Phuong  for spreading dangerous contagious diseases to others.

Quy hails from Bac Ninh City while Phuong is from Song Lo District, Vinh Phuc Province.

He was previously probed for disrupting public order at a COVID-19 checkpoint on June 11.

According to officers, authorities in Bac Ninh City tightened pandemic prevention and control regulations from May 24, requiring residents to only go outside when necessary and stay home after 8:00 pm daily.

On May 26, Phuong traveled from Hanoi to Bac Ninh City by motorbike taxi, before being picked up by Quy and taken to his house in Dai Phuc Ward.

Quy began suffering body aches on June 3 but did not sign up for a COVID-19 test.

The couple visited a motel at 11:00 pm on June 9.

On the following day, Quy visited one of his friends in the city before reaching a COVID-19 checkpoint in Kinh Bac Ward on his way home.

After being asked to present his personal documents, the man aggressively resisted while threatening officers at the checkpoint.

He went on to insult the officers and block the roadway with his motorcycle.

Quy was eventually taken to a local police station and later tested positive for COVID-19.

He refused to cooperate authorities during the epidemiological investigation.

Among his 71 direct contacts, Phuong and another person were later confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus.

Two others who came into close contact with Phuong on June 10 and 11 also contracted the virus.

Officers stated that Phuong had traveled to multiple locations despite being aware of pandemic prevention and control regulations in Bac Ninh City.

In accordance with the Penal Code, punishments for spreading dangerous contagious diseases to others range from a VND50-200 million (US$2,160-8,670) fine to jail terms lasting one to 12 years.

Vietnam had documented 14,116 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon, with 5,684 recoveries and 70 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 10,820 local infections in 45 provinces and cities since a new outbreak began on April 27.

Bac Ninh Province has the third most cases in this bout, with a total of 1,554.

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Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have decided to turn two hospitals into COVID-19 treatment facilities, raising the total number of beds for coronavirus patients in the city to 5,000.

Nine hospitals with 3,500 beds are currently providing COVID-19 treatment in Ho Chi Minh City, according to the municipal Department of Health.

As the number of cases in the metropolis recently passed 2,000, local health authorities have decided to temporarily transform Binh Chanh District Hospital and Thu Duc Regional General Hospital into infirmaries specializing in receiving and treating COVID-19 patients.

All medical examination and treatment activities for outpatients and inpatients at Binh Chanh District Hospital will be suspended.

The venue will become Binh Chanh COVID-19 Treatment Hospital, which is expected to be put into operation on Friday.

It has a capacity of 500 beds and 20 resuscitation beds.

The Department of Health assigned the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital to provide medical support for Binh Chanh COVID-19 Treatment Hospital.

At Thu Duc Regional General Hospital, medical examination and treatment for inpatients will be halted, but the infirmary is still allowed to provide such services for outpatients.

The facility will be turned into Thu Duc COVID-19 Treatment Hospital and put into operation next Monday.

The hospital will be divided into two separate zones, with one providing services for outpatients and the other receiving and treating COVID-19 patients.

Inpatients at Thu Duc Regional General Hospital will be transferred to Le Van Viet Hospital and Thu Duc City Hospital for further treatment.

Thu Duc COVID-19 Treatment Hospital will have 1,000 beds and 25 resuscitation beds.

Vietnam had documented 14,116 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon, with 5,684 recoveries and 72 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 10,820 local infections in 45 provinces and cities, including 2,175 cases in Ho Chi Minh City, since a new outbreak began on April 27.

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Offering all of its products gratis, a grocery store in Loc Ha Town of Vietnam's Ha Tinh Province aims to provide support for local residents living under the coronavirus-induced lockdown mandate.

The store, located in Thach Bang Market, was founded by the chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Loc Ha Town, Dang Thai Son, its secretary, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday.

According to Son, the initiative stems from the Youth Union chapters wish to share the burden of poor, working-class residents whose lives have been upended by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Since early June, several infection clusters have been detected in Loc Ha Town, forcing 17 neighborhoods to be locked down.

Since then, locals have had difficulty traveling to and from work, as well as accessing essential products.

We erected this store in the center of the town to help our neighbors get access to groceries and necessities, Son explained.

The shelves at the store are stocked with fresh produce, as well as other essential products, including face masks, disinfectant, soap, and toothpaste.

Locals pick up complimentary groceries from a zero-cost grocery store in Loc Ha Town, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam. Photo: Hoang Luong / Tuoi Tre

Volunteers from the Youth Union chapter have also shown up to ensure adherence to COVID-19 prevention guidelines in the store.

The zero-cost store operates on a core principle: take it if youre in need, leave it for others if youre doing well, Son stated.

The Youth Union chapter is planning to keep the store running even after the epidemic wanes.

Ha Tinh has recorded 84 infections, including 58 in treatment in the province and 28 transferred to the central-level Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, since the fourth resurgence of the coronavirus epidemic in Vietnam transpired on April 27.

Vietnam had documented 14,116 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday afternoon, with 5,684 recoveries and 70 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 10,820 local infections in 45 provinces and cities in this fourth wave.

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A Vietnamese woman working as an interpreter was arrested in Da Nang on Wednesday for helping to organize the illegal entry of a Chinese national into Vietnam under the guise of an expert.'

Da Nang police on the same day indicted the woman  Le Thi Thanh Loc, 29, hailing from north-central Ha Tinh Province and a current resident of Da Nangs Son Tra District.

Authorities also searched her residence and seized relevant documents for their investigation into the case.

Loc was the third person detained and indicted in the case, following charges levied against Jiang Fei, a Chinese national, and Vietnamese citizen Le Thi Kim Anh on June 11.

According to initial information, Loc was a Chinese language interpreter at Boviet Vietnam Investment Management Co. Ltd., which Jiang had asked Anh to establish and manage as its director.

Loc was also responsible for assisting Anh in preparing related documents and working with service companies to legalize the unlawful entries of foreigners into Vietnam under the cover of experts.

Police officers search the residence of Le Thi Thanh Loc in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 23, 2021. Photo: D.C. / Tuoi Tre

In March this year, Jiang asked Anh to use the companys legal status to sponsor the migration of fellow Chinese national Wang Xu to Vietnam as an expert.

Under Vietnams current COVID-19 prevention guidelines, experts are included on the priority list for entry into the country.

Anh used her position at the company to prepare the necessary documents and asked a service company to proceed with procedures for Wang to enter Vietnam as her companys expert at a cost of VND60 million (US$2,600).

In fact, after his entry, Wang worked for Jiang.

Further investigation into Jiang and Anhs case led to the arrest and indictment of Loc.

Vietnam began denying entry to foreign nationals on March 22, 2020 and currently only allows foreigners who are investors, experts, skilled workers, and business managers to get in.

They are required to present certificates showing they tested negative for COVID-19 within three days before their flights and comply with Vietnams coronavirus quarantine regulations upon their arrival.

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Police in the northern Vietnamese province of Bac Giang said on Wednesday that they have temporarily detained a female delivery worker for attacking functional forces stationed at a COVID-19 checkpoint with a brick this week.

Nguyen Thi Thom, 33, from the provinces Bac Giang City, was seeking permission to pass the COVID-19 roadblock in Tinh Loc Village in Viet Yen Districts Nghia Trung Commune in order to deliver four cartons of milk to a customer living in neighboring Minh Duc Commune at around 1:00 pm on Tuesday.

After checking her shipment, functional forces decided not to allow Thom to travel through the checkpoint as she failed to meet regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

After causing a scene, Thom grabbed a nearby brick and began beating the officers at the checkpoint with it. She was soon brought under control.

Functional forces at the checkpoint made a record of Thoms behavior before police in Viet Yen temporarily took her into custody to investigate her violations.

Vietnam had documented 13,989 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday morning, with 5,684 recoveries and 70 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 10,694 local infections in 45 provinces and cities since a new outbreak began on April 27.

Bac Giang Province, with 5,502 confirmed COVID-10 cases, has been the hardest hit of any Vietnamese locale during this current wave.

The provinces Viet Yen District is currently following strict social distancing measures under the prime ministers Directive No. 16.

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Eighteen people in the same hamlet of the Mekong Delta province of Long An tested positive for the novel coronavirus after one of them had contracted the virus from an individual from Ho Chi Minh City, the local epidemic control agency has reported.

All the infections were found in Phuoc Ly Hamlet of Can Giuoc District, representing the largest cluster of COVID-19 cases ever detected in the province, the Long An Center for Disease Control said on Thursday.

The detection was made after the center was notified by its Ho Chi Minh City counterpart that a person living in Phuoc Ly had caught the virus from another from the city.

A cross-infection could have taken place among these people, the center said.

All of the 18 COVID-cases have been sent to a health facility for isolation and treatment, while their 29 direct contacts have been put into centralized quarantine.

Relevant agencies are urgently disinfecting the affected areas and have deployed other epidemic prevention measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Local health authorities also took samples from 700 others in the hamlet for COVID-19 testing, all of whom have received negative results.

On Thursday morning, one more coronavirus positive case was detected in the province's Duc Hoa District.

The new infection case is a 31-year-old saleswoman for a plastics company located near her home in Duc Hoa Ha Commune.

On June 16, the woman came into direct contact with a driver of the same company, who was later confirmed as a COVID-19 patient by Ho Chi Minh Citys health authorities.

The Ministry of Health on Thursday noon recorded 127 new COVID-19 patients, including 126 domestic cases and one imported infection, of which 75 were detected in Ho Chi Minh City, which recently topped the country in daily new cases.

Vietnam has documented a total of 14,116 patients, including 5,684 recoveries and 72 deaths, since the pathogen first emerged in it in early 2020.

Since April 27, when the pandemics fourth wave appeared in Vietnam, 10,820 coronavirus cases have been recorded nationwide.

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SBS has made new appointments in its Drama department with Julie Eckersley as its new Head of Scripted, and Donna Chang promoted to Commissioning Editor, Scripted.

Julie Eckersley (pictured left) is an award-winning Creative Producer with a career spanning more than 20 years across drama, comedy, animation, documentary and childrens content. As well as working independently, her experience includes nine years at Matchbox Pictures where she worked on projects including The Family Law, Glitch, Maximum Choppage, developing and producing projects with Australian networks, Netflix and NBCU International.

Donna Chang (pictured right) has been promoted to Commissioning Editor, Scripted. She joined SBS in 2020 as Development Executive, Scripted, from Lingo Pictures where she was Head of Development. She was previously at Screen Australia as a Development Executive, and had also been a Story Development External Assessor since 2015.

Marshall Heald, SBSs Director of Content, Television & Online, said: We have a fantastic slate of new scripted programming in development and production, and its an exciting time to welcome Julie to the team. Were thrilled to have someone with her extensive experience and passion for our Charter to lead our Scripted offering, working closely together with Donna in a larger role that will fully recognise and utilise her exceptional talents.

Julie Eckersley said: All Australians should feel seen on our screens and Im thrilled to join SBS as they lead the way in achieving this. My focus will be on supporting talent, in front of and behind the camera, as we create stories that celebrate and explore our diverse perspectives and shared humanity. Im looking for great stories that are entertaining, surprising and full of heart.

Donna Chang added: At the core of our Scripted slate and industry initiatives is a commitment to making great local drama that showcases under-represented voices and talent. Its a privilege to work in service of these stories at SBS, and I look forward to continuing this work with Julie.

SBS also acknowledged Penny Win, who has been Acting as the Head of SBS Scripted over the last six months. Formerly at Foxtel, she will continue to work with SBS to develop fiction projects with SBS.

SBSs upcoming scripted slate includes New Gold Mountain and Iggy and Ace, a short-form drama series.

Julie Eckersley commences with SBS on 5th July 2021.
Grand Designs returns with Kevin McCloud fronting 5 new episodes.

These screened in the UK in January this year.

The brand-new series of Grand Designs is as inspiring and engaging as ever. Self-builds this series include a radical barn reconstruction for a remarkable young couple defying illness to build a new life near Sevenoaks. Theres a risk taking, sky diving couple breathing new life into a centuries old Cornish mill on the verge of collapse. In South West London an ex-soldier builds a giant subterranean extension to a listed lodge within the boundary of a cemetery, and in South Lincolnshire a local builder creates an enormous Dutch influenced tile-skinned home at breakneck speed. Thats not forgetting the pioneering couple near Bletchley defying logic to create the UKs first self-heating house. Kevin McCloud is once again on hand to monitor progress, analyse the architecture and guide us through the emotional rollercoaster that comes with risking everything to create an extraordinary new place to live.

EP01 South-West London

Justin plans to restore a neo-Gothic cemetery keepers lodge in south-west London and convert its toilet block into a luxury extension complete with a moat and swimming pool. But can he keep his budget under control?

Sunday, 27 June, 7.40pm on ABC.
Good news for Bosch fans with SBS on Demand confirming the 7th and final season is fast-tracked from this Saturday, same day as the US.

There are also a number of other drama titles launching from today.

Welcome To Sweden (Seasons One and Two)

Thursday, 24 June

In English and Swedish with English subtitles. All twenty episodes available to stream

New York City accountant Bruce (Greg Poehler) moves to Sweden in Northern Europe, after falling in love with a Swedish woman named Emma (Josephine Bornebusch). In S2, Emma and Bruce are getting married  hopefully! The new season opens with a proposal, but as the weeks continue the lovebirds and their hilariously bizarre families clash over everything from opposing customs and expectations, to the ultimate in-law face-off over where the nuptials should take place. Meanwhile, Emma is overwhelmed at work resulting in paid time off, whilst Bruce has finally got a new job of his own  fulfilling the unusual requests of American celebrities visiting Stockholm. Will love conquer-all with a wedding that mirrors Bruce and Emmas imperfectly perfect relationship, or is their cultural divide too wide a gap to be bridged?

Paris Police 1900

Thursday, 24 June

In French with English subtitles. All eight episodes available to stream.

Paris, 1899. The French president Felix Faure has just died. Crippled by the far right, anti-Semitic groups and rising anarchy, France has never appeared so weak. When police chief Louis Lepine (Marc Barbe) is urgently called out of retirement to restore order in Paris, the tragic discovery of a young womans torso in a suitcase floating down the Seine, spurs a young, ambitious detective Antoine Jouin (Jeremie Laheurte) into action at the heart of the police headquarters. Joseph Fiersi is a corrupt officer known for blackmail who also moonlights as a hit man for the undercover police. Hes taken a particular interest in this criminal investigation and enlists Meg Steinheil (Evelyne Brochu) the courtesan accused of killing the frail hearted president during sex to work as a spy for him. In Paris, where crime and sin mix with opulence and puritanism, all of these characters will cross paths and join forces to save France. Murders, blackmail, riots, conspiracies, coups  welcome to la Belle Epoque.

Wonderland

Thursday, 24 June

In French with English subtitles. All six episodes available to stream.

Jeremy (Pierre Deladonchamps) is a lonely 33-year-old man who lives in Paris. Hes never felt like he belonged to his own time. One night, Jeremy discovers The Wonderland, a club with live music run by a charismatic manager named Tony. Jeremy tries out his luck and becomes a bartender there. Dozens of photos cover the wall, telling the history of the club. But one of them catch Jeremys attention  the one of a woman named Alice (Olga Kurylenko) on a beach, taken in Biarritz in 1960. The Wonderland will serve as a gate for Jeremy, who will find himself in Biarritz, in the 1960s. Wonderland tells the story of two people who never should have met and fall in love.

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Bosch S7

Saturday, 26 June

New episodes coming weekly, fast-tracked from the US.

Hollywood Homicide Detective Hieronymus Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) has a reputation for never backing down when it comes to seeking justice. Based on the bestselling novels by Michael Connelly, Bosch takes an unflinching look at the complexities of police work, where things are never as black-and-white as they may seem. When a ten-year-old girl dies in an arson fire, Detective Harry Bosch risks everything to bring her killer to justice despite opposition from powerful forces. Detective Jerry Edgar (Jamie Hector) falls apart as he grapples with the consequences of shooting Jacques Avril. Maddie assists Honey Chandler on a high-profile case that draws Bosch in and puts them in the crosshairs of dangerous criminals.
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Mostly cloudy with some showers after midnight. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with some showers after midnight. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3)
Checkmate! Chess Grandmaster Ladva Wins Super MILLION$

June 24 2021 Matthew Pitt

Ottomar Ladva sat down at the first GGPoker Super MILLION$ final table of Season 2 as the chip leader and built on his dominant position to claim the $325,957 top prize for himself. Ladva is better known for his chess skills in his native Estonia, but he has racked up some superb poker results over the past few months. Maybe a change of career is on the cards?

Super MILLIONS Season 2 Event 1 Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Ottomar Ladva Estonia $325,957 2 Igor Gofman Russia $254,559 3 Connor Drinan Canada $198,800 4 Juan Pardo Dominguez Andorra $155,254 5 Adrian Mateos Mexico $121,247 6 HaiFanFan Uruguay $94,689 7 RRomashka Estonia $73,948 8 Stoyan Obreshkov North Macedonia $57,750 9 Thomas Muehloecker Austria $45,100

The final table lost its first player on the very first hand. Ladva min-raised with pocket eights from late position before calling when Thomas Muehloecker three-bet all-in for a shade under 11 big blinds with pocket sevens on the button. An ace-high board resigned Muehloecker to a ninth-place finish.

Stoyan Obreshkov was the next finalist heading to the showers. Obreshkov opened to 180,000 with king-queen from middle position, a raise which left him only 195,384 chips behind. Ladva called from the big blind with ace-eight of diamonds. Ladva set Obreshkov all-in on a nine-high flop, and Obreshkov called. No king or queen appeared on the turn or the river, and the tournament was down to seven players despite being in the first level of the evening.

Looking Back at One Year of the GGPoker Super MILLION$

Those seven became six when RRomashka crashed out. Connor Drinan limped with king-jack of diamonds before calling RRomashkas six big blind shove from the big blind, which he made with pocket jacks. Drinan flopped a flush draw, but it was the king of spades on the river that won the hand for Drinan.

The last five-figure prize, $94,689, went to Uruguays HaiFanFan. Juan Pardo Dominguez made it 154,000 to go during the 35,000/70,000/8,500a level, and HaiFanFan called from the big blind. A ten-eight-jack flop saw HaiFanFan shove 385,672 chips into the pot with what turned out to be king-queen, and Dominguez called with king-ten of clubs. Dominguez picked up a flush draw on the turn to leave HaiFanFan drawing thinly. The Uruguayan missed the river and headed into the night.

Fifth place and $121,247 went to the dangerous Adrian Mateos. The Spaniard did not really have any spots where he could build his stack, and eventually pinned his hopes on ace-four of clubs. A raise to 560,000 left Mateos with 512,765 chips behind, and they went into the middle of the table when Dominguez three-bet enough to set Mateos all-in, and Mateos called. The five community cards ran out kindly for Dominguez pocket nines, and Mateos bowed out.

2021 WSOP Online Dates Announced; 66 Bracelets to be Won Across WSOP.com & GGPoker

Dominguez could not put Mateos chips to good use because he was the next player out of the door. Igor Gofman opened to 176,000 with pocket kings on the button, and Dominguez put in the additional 96,000 chips from the big blind with eight-three of diamonds. Dominguez check-called a 305,600 bet on a six-high flop after pairing his three. The turn was the two of clubs, putting three clubs on the board. Dominguez bet 208,000 and was called. Dominguez checked the seven on the river before calling off his 1,974,689 stack when Gofman ripped it in! Game over for Dominguez.

Heads-up was set when Drinan ran out of steam in third, a finish worth $198,800. Drinan busted after limping in from the small blind for 100,000 with king-queen. Gofman made it 350,000 to go with ace-nine of spades from the big blind, and Drinan responded by jamming his 3,019,969 stack into the middle. Gofman called, an ace on the flop and a nine on the nine on the turn busted Drinan.

That hand propelled Gofmans stack to more than 12 million chips, way more than the 2.4 million in Ladvas stack. Ladva clawed his way back into contention before forging a lead for himself.

The final hand took place during the 70,000/140,000/17,500a level. Ladva limped with jack-eight of clubs before calling the 560,000 raise by Gofman, made with ace-king. Two jacks and a queen on the flop put the ball firmly in Ladvas court. Gofman bet 308,500 and was called. A harmless three on the turn saw Gofman check-call a 582,648 bet from his Estonian opponent. The river was a six, and Gofman had 2,688,667 chips with 2,930,896 in the pot. Gofman checked, Ladva set his opponent all-in, and was called. Gofman busted in second place for $254,559, leaving Ladva to bank a cool $325,957 and the title of champion.
Tajikistans security services have confirmed that more than 130 Afghan troops were forced to flee across the border in the face of an overwhelming Taliban onslaught, sparking fears that spiraling instability in Afghanistan is already putting pressure on neighboring nations.

The State Committee for National Security, or GKNB, which includes the border service within its purview, said in a statement released late June 22 that the Taliban assault focused on the Shir Khan Bandar border crossing, which is linked to Tajikistan by a U.S.-funded bridge, Eurasianet writes.

As a result of the armed clash, which lasted until 9 a.m. on June 22, 134 Afghan government troops unable to withstand the offensive were forced to retreat  into the territory of Tajikistan, the GKNB said. Tajik security officials said they admitted the fleeing troops out of a sense of humanism and good neighborliness, although it is unclear that they had much choice.

Around 100 Afghan troops are said to have been killed or captured around the Shir Khan Bandar crossing. And this area is only one of many bordering Tajikistan that have seen unrest in the last couple of weeks. The GKNB named five districts in the Takhar province and another three in the Kunduz province, both of which border Tajikistan, that it said have fallen under Taliban control, along with a pair of border checkpoints.

Taliban success extend across other parts of Afghanistan too. UN special envoy Deborah Lyons this week warned of dire scenarios as she told the UN Security Council of how more than 50 of the countrys 370 districts have been seized from government troops.

The Taliban appeared to have been emboldened to further their momentum following the announced gradual drawdown of the roughly 3,000 U.S. troops that remained in Afghanistan in May. In April, U.S. President Joe Biden said that a pullout would last until September 11  a timeframe that he argued did not constitute a hasty rush to the exit.

There are some clues, though, that warring between the Afghan army and militant forces could spiral into something even more generalized. Kabul-based outlet ToloNews carried a report from northern Afghanistan on June 23 talking about how the civilian population is also increasingly taking up arms to resist Taliban incursions.

The alarm has been rung inside Tajikistan about the possible fallout from unrest in Afghanistan by the head of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or GBAO, who spoke at a meeting with law enforcement and military officials on June 21 about the need to strengthen border defenses.

The lack of security in Afghanistan was a signal to Tajikistan that internal stability needed to be protected, Yodgor Faizov was cited as saying by the Khovar state news agency.

Tajikistan should set aside accommodation and accumulate fuel, food, clothing, and transportation facilities in anticipation of a possible refugee crisis, Faizov said. In a subsequent interview to Asia-Plus news website, Faizov said that Tajikistan was prepared to accept more than 10,000 Afghans seeking refuge.

In light of how strictly statements to the press by senior Tajik officials are policed by the authorities, it is safe to assume Faizovs remarks are broadly in line with positions held by the central government in Dushanbe.

On June 23, Faizov followed up his earlier remarks to say that Tajik defenses had been bolstered in the GBAO.

The GBAO has an extensive border with Afghanistan, so it is necessary to routinely bolster the activities of territorial defenses [units], so that its members are in a state of permanent readiness, he was quoted as saying by TASS news agency. Defense of the border has been strengthened. Border guards are in a state of heightened readiness.

Although most of the provinces known have been seized by the Taliban are closer to the southwestern areas of Tajikistan, TOLONews has reported that at least one district in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province  Khash  has fallen.

Speaking to Dushanbe-based news website Avesta, Rahmatillo Abdulloyev, whom the outlet described as an expert on Afghanistan, sought to soothe anxieties, saying that Tajikistan itself was at negligible risk of Taliban incursions.

We should not expect serious consequences. There will of course be consequences of a local character. But so far, all the Taliban needs is to shore up their positions in the north, Abdulloyev said.

With its 1,344 kilometers of shared border with Afghanistan, Tajikistan is the most exposed among former Soviet Central Asia states to potential overspill from unrest.

Regional security is accordingly top of the agenda at a meeting in Dushanbe this week of security officials from members states of the Moscow- and Beijing-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Russia has a strong military presence in Tajikistan, although it is not directly responsible, as it had been in the past, for security along the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman said that Moscow was concerned at how the situation was evolving in Afghanistan against the backdrop of U.S. withdrawal.

The development of the situation in Afghanistan as American and other military forces are withdrawn from the country is something to which we are paying close attention, the spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, was quoted as saying by TASS news agency. Tajikistan is a very close partner state to us. And so, the emergence of a new hotbed of tension and threat is what worries us.
On June 20, early parliamentary elections were held in Armenia, which ended in a confident victory for Nikol Pashinyan's party - his "Civil Contract" received 72 mandates. The main opponent is acting Prime Minister - the bloc of ex-President Robert Kocharian took the second place, having managed to get the nationalists from "Dashnaktsutyun" into parliament and secured 27 mandates. Unexpectedly for everyone, members of the "I Have Honor" bloc of the third president of the republic, Serzh Sargsyan and former head of the National Security Service, Artur Vanetsyan, managed to get into parliament, having received a modest six mandates.

The nationalists failed to defeat Pashinyan. For the second time in the modern history of Armenia, people voted against the revanchist ideas of Kocharian and his supporters. Even the defeat of the Armenian army in the Second Karabakh War under the Pashinyan government did not return Kocharian's popularity, although he did not hesitate to demonize any alternatives to the separatists.

The bloc of parties "Rodina" and "Republican Party of Armenia" (RPA) failed to gain the necessary 7% to pass the electoral barrier.

"I have the honor" owes its result to Artur Vanetsyan, who, probably, was able to call his electoral base for the elections.

5.32% of the votes did not allow Gagik Tsarukyan's "Prosperous Armenia" to retain his presence in the National Assembly.

Now the parliament has lost the system of opposition, through which Pashinyan's opponents put a spoke in the wheels of the "Civil Agreement". Now, instead of a bleak political meeting attended by the ruling party and several of its systemic opponents, Armenia received a parliament headed by a "revolutionary" government and its opponents, who can hardly be considered an opposition force willing to work for the good of the republic. If earlier it was enough for Kocharyan and his associates to use the behind-the-scenes services of the systemic opposition in order to ruin Pashinyan's initiatives, now the ex-president will have to do everything with his own hands.

Kocharian lost the elections - just getting into parliament is not enough for him, since the criminal prosecution against the second president has not been completed, and after the elections it may even be restarted.

A coalition of separatist forces cannot oppose Pashinyan in parliament. First, the Civil Contract party won an absolute majority of the seats in the National Assembly. Secondly, let's see with what forces the Karabakh separatists managed to get into parliament. The pocket party of the former governor of Syunik Vahe Hakobyan cannot boast of a reliable composition, and therefore will not become a support for Kocharyan. The party of the former head of the National Security Service, Artur Vanetsyan, is young and is likely to be lost between the interests of Sargsyan and Kocharyan. There remain the Dashnaks, whose political experience was tested outside the parliament, but not within its walls. Dashnaktsutyun members are accustomed to participating in high-profile political campaigns, supporting this or that influential person, and it is scary to imagine what legislative initiatives the members of the revolutionary federation, whose rhetoric is almost always pumped by calls to arms, can come up with.

The presence of the leaders of the Karabakh clan within the walls of parliament is unlikely. Neither Sargsyan nor Kocharian will take part in parliamentary sessions and criticize the prime minister's policy from the rostrum of the National Assembly.

Taking into account the fact that Kocharian and his team went to the elections as to war, it is likely that the nationalist front of the former political elite will prefer a political demarche - they will continue to refuse to recognize the election results. In this case, the Armenian parliament will not be able to meet, and Pashinyan will not be able to be re-elected. The fact that Armenia may plunge into a deep political crisis of anarchy seems to be something secondary for Kocharian. The ex-president of Armenia under investigation went to fight with Pashinyan, so now Kocharian will try to prevent Pashinyan from being elected prime minister by disrupting the process of forming the parliament.
One of the world's largest weapons importers, Riyadh wants at least half of its arms purchases to be from local sources by the end of the decade. Saudi Arabia plans to hugely expand its modest arms industry over the next decade, but doing so amid low oil prices and a pandemic-battered economy could prove challenging for the kingdom. Earlier this year, Riyadh announced it would invest more than $20bn in its domestic weapons industry, with a 2030 goal of spending around 50 percent of its military budget on local sources, Middle East Eye writes. Building more weapons systems locally would naturally reduce Saudi Arabia's need to import the vast majority of its military hardware, munitions, and spare parts - as it does currently.

At present, the oil-rich nation is one of the world's single largest importers of military equipment. The kingdom's heavy dependency on the United States and western countries in particular for weapons systems can at times prove disadvantageous. The Biden administration, for example, froze billions of dollars in arms sales to Riyadh over its devastating war in Yemen and considered only selling it "defensive" weapons in the future. Nevertheless, the US is still actively helping the kingdom build up its defensive capabilities and supporting its efforts to localise manufacturing.

Shortly after Biden took office, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) - a state-owned defence company - set up a joint venture with the US aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin, which, according to a SAMI statement, "will develop localised capabilities by transferring technology and knowledge, and by training a Saudi workforce in manufacturing products for, and providing services to, the Saudi armed forces". Lockheed is also helping Saudi Arabia set up a $15bn missile defence system as the kingdom comes under attack from Houthi missiles and drones launched from neighbouring Yemen.

A distant, unlikely goal

In 2019, the US reached a co-production agreement with Saudi Arabia to manufacture key components of US-built Paveway "precision-guided" weaponry in the kingdom. As The New York Times reported, the deal "raised concerns that the Saudis could gain access to technology that would let them produce their own version of American precision-guided bombs". "Saudi Arabia has made a lot of progress in building up its domestic arms industry, especially in terms of developing land weapons systems, electronics, and smart bombs," Emily Hawthorne, Stratfor's Middle East and North Africa analyst at RANE, told Middle East Eye. "But the goal of spending 50 percent of the kingdoms military budget at home remains a distant, unlikely one."

Hawthorne pointed out the kingdom remained heavily dependent on foreign sources and imports for its "technologically advanced weapons, aircraft, and ships". "Riyadh has successfully been able to divert some money formerly earmarked for imports to developing domestic alternatives and has reaped the benefit in terms of Saudis employed, but the goal of going from two percent domestic spending in 2018 to 50 percent domestic spending by 2030 is unrealistic if Riyadh wants to maintain its capabilities and maintain an arsenal of the best equipment," she said.

Saudi Arabia's neighbour, the United Arab Emirates, has made some significant progress in the local development and manufacture of arms, mainly through its state-owned defence conglomerate, EDGE Group. EDGE recently unveiled locally built loitering munitions, also known as kamikaze or "suicide" drones. Its CEO also expressed the company's aim to become part of the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme's supply chain and even develop missiles for the US stealth fighter. "I think Saudi Arabia will be able to make progress similar to EDGE in terms of small arms, artillery, and in terms of boosting technological capabilities in the kingdom," Hawthorne said. But Riyadh "is still many years away from making the kind of connections EDGE has in terms of exporting those products to regional customers".

A military transformation

Kirsten Fontenrose, Middle East security director at the Atlantic Council, pointed out the kingdom was "undergoing a military transformation that is years in the making". The project has made "quite a bit of headway" thanks to the personal interest of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Ministry of Defence and the fact that "its day-to-day leadership is entrusted to KBS [Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman al-Saud]." The crown prince is eager to build a more robust defence production sector for the kingdom.

"For years now, Saudi Arabia has tried to drive hard bargains when purchasing high tech platforms, from the US as well as others like Russia - this is one big reason why we didnt see Russian S-400 air defence missiles in Saudi Arabia - seeking to ramp up the transfer of technology' whereby the selling company or country teaches the Saudis how to produce critical components of the system indigenously," Fontenrose told MEE. "The success of a homegrown industry will depend on this."

Fontenrose added that Riyadh needed to successfully emulate EDGE and the UAE's rapidly growing local arms industry. "In the UAE, the growth of EDGE has been catalysed by a strategy that begins with reaching back into the education system to academically prepare Emiratis to feed potential employees into the defence sector," she said. "That model is imitable if Saudi chose to go that route, but it's not instantaneous." "Of interest, looking at academic statistics in Saudi Arabia, should that happen, the majority of those future employees would be female."

Self-sufficiency

The US is gradually drawing down its forces from the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia. Washington said last week it was cutting the number of troops and air defence units deployed to the Middle East, including Patriot defence batteries. It also said it was removing a THAAD anti-missile system from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen, however, said downsizing American military assets in the kingdom will not affect its defence capabilities. "This will not affect the Saudi air defences," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters on Sunday. "We have a strong understanding with... our allies about the threat in the region. We do have the capability to defend our country."

This development, coupled with the kingdom's general desire to lessen its dependence on foreign sources for arms procurement, are likely the main factors motivating Riyadh's ambitious 2030 defence project. Fontenrose said she believes the looming prospect of a US drawdown from the Middle East has undoubtedly "heightened the sense of urgency". She said the Saudis see the "need to quickly and tangibly improve its decision-making processes, acquisition processes, training programmes, and strategy formulation expertise in order to be better able to fill in the gaps that a US drawdown may create".

Secondly, the kingdom "shrewdly assesses that the best way to keep the US closely engaged is to make that engagement feel natural to the constantly rotating US personnel assigned to the Saudi file. To this end, they recently stood up the office of an Assistant Minister of Defence for Executive Affairs, the first civilian oversight office responsible for military and defence policy". By later this year, Saudi Arabia plans to begin restructuring its military to reflect the US model of Service Staffs and Unified Geographic Combatant Commands", she said.

Meanwhile, Hawthorne said the Saudi goal for self-sufficiency was "related to the kingdom's dependence on foreign sources of weapons overall, not just on US arms, as well as the government's desire to employ more of its population in technologically advanced and well-paying jobs". "Saudi Arabia's calculations regarding its need to be self-sufficient depend heavily on the risk of conflict with Iran," she said.
The recent votes in Israel, Armenia and Iran have affected both the region and those countries' relations with Turkey. In particular, Tel Aviv's new Prime Minister Bennett's discriminatory statements and Tehran's new President Raisi's conservative attitude are on the agenda, General Coordinator of SETA Foundation Burhanettin Duran writes for Daily Sabah.

Three key elections took place in Turkeys neighborhood, while Turkish leadership was preoccupied with international summits and events. In Israel, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won an early election on March 23, yet Naftali Bennett managed to form a coalition government with eight parties. Consequently, the incumbents 12-year reign ended on June 14.

In Iran, the presidential election, in which moderates and reformists were prevented from contesting, took place on June 18, resulting in a victory for Ebrahim Raisi  a conservative figure.

Finally, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, who suffered a humiliating defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh last year, recently won Armenias early parliamentary election.

Still, no one knows how those developments affect the regions future and Turkeys relations with those countries.

Bennett era

It was noteworthy that the United States administration played an active role in the formation of Israels new government. Curiously enough, a coalition agreement, which excluded Netanyahu, became possible shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit.

Bennett, who will govern for the first two years, is known for his proximity to settlers and his nationalist and far-right views. Obviously, it remains unclear whether the coalition government, which includes the Israeli-Arab Raam party and leftists, can last and how the partners will manage their ideological differences.

For the record, hardly anyone expects Bennett to differ from his predecessors on Jerusalem, the settlers or the West Bank. Indeed, the eviction of Palestinians from their homes in Silwan, a predominantly Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem, may trigger yet another crisis. Still, Israels new prime minister entered office without the baggage that Netanyahu accumulated over the past 12 years.

Will Bennetts novelty create an opportunity for normalization between Ankara and Tel Aviv? The answer depends on his governments approach to the question of Jerusalem and the Palestinians. Needless to say, any attempt to remove additional Palestinians from their homes stands to hinder normalization efforts.

Normalization talks with Iran

It is no secret that U.S. President Joe Bidens administration intends to ease international pressure on Iran. Tehrans regional influence will grow at Tel Avivs expense if Iranian diplomats manage to conclude a new nuclear deal, despite a conservative president-elect.

Another important point is that the Gulf states have responded to Washingtons partial withdrawal from the region by launching normalization talks with Iran.

The conservatives may have scored a victory in Tehran, but the fact that only seven out of 592 candidates were permitted to contest the election alienated Iranian voters and resulted in a 48% turnout.

Needless to say, Raisi, who was Irans chief justice, enjoys Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis support and, unlike his predecessor, wont have to deal with resistance from the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The fact that conservatives have control of the executive, legislative and judicial branches will restore stability in Iranian politics.

Yet the incoming conservative president will nonetheless find it difficult to manage thorny issues like the nuclear deal and normalization with Gulf states.

Raisi, who is on the U.S. and the European Union sanctions list, faces criticism over his alleged involvement in the mass executions of 1988. In this regard, he lacks the credentials to address the United States or Europe. Indeed, doubling down on nuclear power, Shiite militias and expansionism would only serve to weaken Tehrans hand.

It is no secret that the bilateral relationship between Ankara and Tehran swings between cooperation and competition. In recent years, the Astana process, together with the aggressive policies of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as embodied by the Qatar blockade, pushed those two countries closer together.

Yet the Iranians are unhappy with Turkeys growing influence over the Caucasus as a result of its support for Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Again, Turkeys pursuit of normalization with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel are often seen as attempts to counter Iran.

The Iranian leadership, which intended to de-escalate tensions with the Gulf, made things somewhat harder for itself in regional politics by getting a conservative candidate elected president over domestic considerations.

I do not believe that Raisis administration  which faces an uphill battle for influence in Washington, Brussels and the Gulf  will be eager to quarrel with Ankara. Thats why anyone who expects some radical changes in the balance of power between the two countries stands to be wrong.

Armenia

Last but not least, Pashinians victory in Armenias early elections suggests that the country will remain a battleground between the West and Russia. Could the incumbent, who won the election despite his defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh, normalize his countrys relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey? The Turkish leadership promises more trade, an opening and Armenias inclusion in a six-party platform in return for Yerevan signing a peace treaty with Baku. It remains to be seen how things will play out.
The Shusha declaration on allied relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey signed the day before is of historical importance, Director of the Baku Network Expert Platform Gulnara Mammadzadeh said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

- In your opinion, what does the Shusha Declaration signed yesterday mean for Turkish-Azerbaijani relations?

- This declaration has historical significance, given the day on which it was signed - National Salvation Day. (On June 15, Azerbaijan celebrated one of its important state holidays. On that day in 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan - this was his return to the leadership of Azerbaijan, which had only recently restored its independence, ed.). As for the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, this is an exit to a higher level of allied relations. But it is important to emphasize that the signing of the Shusha Declaration is important not only in the context of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, since these relations are already, and have been, and will be at the highest level, but also for the entire region.

The document emphasizes the importance of maintaining stable peace, stability and security in general in the South Caucasus - laying the foundations for long-term peace and security, economic cooperation, taking into account the interests of all countries in this region. Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and even Armenia, if desired, receive great opportunities as a result of cooperation, which is indicated in the declaration. Items related to military-political cooperation are not directed against third countries. This is a certain guarantee that Azerbaijan and Turkey support each other at all levels. The declaration was signed after the participation of the Turkish President in the meeting of NATO members, which once again underlined the importance of Turkey as one of the leading powers in the region, not only in the South Caucasus, but also in Central Asia and the Middle East. This is a certain guarantee of safety over a large geographic area.

It is also about the opening of the Zangezur corridor, and about the construction of the Nakhchivan-Kars railway, which will contribute to the intensification of relations between the countries. These are serious economic projects that will bring the entire region to a higher level of economic development and provide serious security guarantees.

- How do you assess Erdogan's visit, during which he visited the liberated territories of Azerbaijan?

- Erdogan is the first leader of a foreign state to visit the liberated territories. This is symbolic, because Turkey has provided moral and political support to Azerbaijan throughout the 44-day war. The peoples of Azerbaijan and Turkey have close historical, cultural and political ties. Therefore, it is very important that Erdogan visited the territories.

The true owners have returned to these lands, which will revive the region in its cultural and historical significance. We see what the Armenian occupation left behind. Absolutely all territories are mined. If the maps of the minefields are not provided, it will take ten years to clear them, return refugees, displaced persons there, and establish an economic revival there. Azerbaijan returned to its ancestral territories, it is making great efforts to return these lands to cultural and historical economic significance. Therefore, the cultural and historical context of this meeting is very symbolic. This is the land belonging to the people of Azerbaijan, the Turkic peoples - this also has a certain symbolism.

- At the press conference, the leaders noted the importance of Russia's participation in the post-war processes in the region. In your opinion, what are the current relations in the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Russia triangle? How will the Shusha Declaration affect them?

- Everything that happens in this region, including in the context of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, does not come into conflict with the interests of Russia. A long time ago a geopolitical, strategic triangle was formed, which is now receiving new development through specific situations. The interests of Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan coincide and in no way contradict each other. Unfortunately, with the submission of certain information resources, sometimes an incorrect interpretation of the ongoing processes occurs. But the President of Russia and the President of Turkey have repeatedly stated that they are coordinating their actions.

Russia has strengthened its presence in the South Caucasus region, acted as a key moderator in the negotiation process, and a Russian-Turkish monitoring center is operating. All these processes provide a balance of interests in the South Caucasus. Russia and Turkey agree on many issues, and Azerbaijan is an important mediator in these processes.

Russia is no less interested than Turkey and Azerbaijan in opening communications, since we are talking about highways and railways, including between Russia, Iran, and Armenia. The opening of communication simplifies the solution of many economic problems, but the most important thing is that a serious security platform is now being formed in the region.

I think that all these processes correspond to the interests of Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and other countries of the region. Unfortunately, so far Armenia does not react in any way to these initiatives. Perhaps the pre-election situation is affecting. Much will depend on what political forces will come to power in this country after the elections. But in any case, Armenia will have to fit into this process. In the meantime, it is trying to use the support of certain political forces to destabilize the situation in the region.

The Shusha Declaration just showed that no attempts to violate the status quo, which has formed in accordance with international law, can be violated, since there are forces that act as guarantors of security in this region.

- What, in your opinion, are the prospects for the 3 + 3 format with the participation of all regional states? What needs to be done for its full-fledged work?

- For its full-fledged work, everything necessary is being done. This economic configuration, which is being formed in the region, taking into account the opening of communications, will meet the interests of all three countries. When such an economic platform is formed, transport flows open up, and a political dialogue is established. It should be normalized, proceeding from the logic of the processes laid down by the leaders of Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. In the future, it will be possible to talk about the establishment of relations between Russia and Georgia, between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Preconditions will be created for the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In a word, there is no serious alternative to these processes.

It is important to emphasize the role played by the President of Azerbaijan in initiating regional processes. The triangles Russia - Azerbaijan - Turkey, Russia - Azerbaijan - Iran were formed earlier. Today, these intersecting triangles provide a solid platform for regional cooperation. Now we need to minimize the destructive role of Armenia, which so far falls out of the process and even tries to hinder it. It is necessary to follow the spirit of the signed trilateral statements at the level of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia - these statements must reach the level of agreement. If the trilateral statements are fulfilled, then economic cooperation will begin to develop, which will entail the strengthening of this platform in the South Caucasus.
The Armenian government made a decision at Thursdays Cabinet meeting to extend for another 6 months the ban on the import of Turkish goods to the country, Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said.

The minister recalled that the Armenian Government adopted a decision on banning the import of Turkish goods to Armenia on October 20, 2020, which established a six-month ban on the import of final consumer goods of Turkish origin, Sputnik Armenia reported.

"A six-month period has been set on the basis of the relevant provision of the EEU, according to which EEU member states may unilaterally apply non-tariff regulation measures in trade with third countries for a maximum period of 6 months. The legal regulation prohibiting the import of goods of Turkish origin came into force on December 31, 2020, so the 6-month period expires on July 1," Kerobyan said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to take measures to "reduce the risks" that Nord Stream 2 allegedly poses to Ukraine and European energy security, according to the State Department's press service.

"Secretary Blinken underscored continued U.S. opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and encouraged Germany to take concrete steps to reduce the risks it poses to Ukraine and European energy security," the statement reads.

Earlier, Blinken said that the U.S. has no better friend in the world than Germany.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday described Germany as his countrys closest friend.

"I think its fair to say that the United States has no better partner, no better friend in the world than Germany," Blinken declared, standing alongside Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

Blinken also thanked Merkel for "remarkable leadership," Politico reported.

The chancellor plans to stand down after 16 years in power following a general election in September.
Russia has the right to "bomb on target", when foreign warships violate its sea borders, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday commenting on the incident in the Black Sea.

"What can we do? We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law. If this does not help, we can bomb not only in the direction, but also on target, if our colleagues do not understand. I warn everyone violating the state borders of the Russian Federation under the slogan of free navigation, from such provocative steps, because the security of our country comes first," he said.

"The territorial integrity of the Russian Federation is inviolable. The inviolability of its borders is an absolute imperative, we will stand guard over all this by diplomatic, political and, if necessary, military means," Ryabkov said.

Spokeswoman for the ministry Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Wednesday that Moscow views the actions of a British destroyer that sailed into Russias territorial waters in the Black Sea as a crude provocation, British Ambassador to Moscow Deborah Bronnert will be summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"The Defense Ministry of our country has already shared its professional review of the reckless actions of the British navy destroyer in the Black Sea. I would like to add that we view it as a crude provocation by the UK which runs counter to international and Russian law. I also inform that the British ambassador will be summoned to our Foreign Ministry," she said

On June 23, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Black Sea Fleet, acting in cooperation with the border guard force of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), stopped a violation of the state border by the destroyer HMS Defender off Crimea's Cape Fiolent. The destroyer ventured three kilometers into Russia's territorial waters. A border guard patrol ship fired warning shots, and a Sukhoi-24M bomber dropped bombs ahead of the destroyer. After that, the HMS Defender left Russia's territorial waters.

The Russian defense ministry later described the British ship's actions as a gross violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and urged the British side to investigate the crew's actions.
The Kremlin positively assesses initiatives that would help foster dialogue between Brussels and Moscow, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the European Union needs to look for a direct dialogue with Russia. At the same time, a number of media outlets reported on Thursday the EU may discuss the format of a possible summit between the leaders of the union and the Russian president.

"We assess the initiative positively. Russian President [Vladimir] Putin supports creating a mechanism for dialogue and contacts between Brussels and Moscow," TASS cited Peskov as saying.

This dialogue, according to the Kremlin spokesman, "is really needed by both Brussels and Moscow." "Of course, we are watching the summit, which is opening today in Brussels, very closely, as well as and the assessments of this potential dialogue that will be voiced there," he summed up.
The European Union should seek direct talks with President Vladimir Putin even as it stands together against "provocations" from Russia, said Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday.

"In my opinion, we as the European Union must also seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president," she told parliament.

"It is not enough for the American president to talk to the Russian president," she said, stressing that the European Union too "must also create different formats for talks."

Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden held face-to-face talks last week, in a meeting that both said could lead to a more predictable, albeit still tense, relationship.

Merkel said recent events had shown that it was not enough "if we react to the multitude of Russian provocations in an uncoordinated manner."

Rather, the 27-member bloc should put up "a united front against the provocations," The Moscow Times reported.
The United States believes that Russia and Turkey agree to discuss the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya, a high-ranking State Department spokesman said, according to the press service of the State Department.

"Were basically in a position where both the Turks and the Russians have agreed that this could be a topic of discussion, that lets talk about whether you could get 300 Syrians on side and 300 Syrians from the other side, put them on a plane, and get them somewhere just as a tangible, practical first step. These processes always work step by step," the official said.

The situation in Libya is moving in the right direction and there is a chance to achieve stability, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said yesterday after the second Berlin conference on Libya.

"We believe that the situation is moving in the right direction by and large," he said. "All decisions that are being made at the level of the international community, including the UN Security Council and by the Libyans themselves contribute to this."

Armed presence in Libya must be scaled down and this must be done in a well-considered way, Vershinin stressed. "We believe that the situation is relatively stable, both in the eastern and western parts of the country," he added.
U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan, who left for Washington for consultations on April 22, will return to Moscow within the next few days, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

"He will come within the next few days. He will be in Moscow literally within days," TASS cited the senior diplomat as saying.
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres is urging governments to use a solidarity or wealth tax on those who have profited during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guterres shared a tweet on Monday about a report on the wealthy earning $5 trillion in 2020 while 120 million people were pushed to extreme poverty, adding that those who earned should pay taxes to reduce "extreme inequalities."

"Reports indicate a $5 trillion surge in wealth of the richest in the past year. Yet, 120 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty. I urge governments to consider a solidarity or wealth tax on those who have profited during #COVID19, to reduce extreme inequalities," Guterres said.

"I urge governments to consider a solidarity or wealth tax on those who have profited during #COVID19, to reduce extreme inequalities," he stressed.

Guterres has been pushing for governments to tax the wealthy since April to help with extreme inequality. He added that a group of 20 rich nations should extend their debt service suspension until 2022, expanding it to help middle-income economies in pandemic relief.

But we need to go beyond debt relief, Guterres said in the Reuters report. We urgently need to strengthen the international debt architecture to end the deadly cycles of debt waves, global debt crises and lost decades.
Bac Giang provincial authorities aim to have 120,000 workers return to work in Industrial Zones by October 2021.

Bac Giang has issued a plan to support enterprises in IZs to resume operation after the pandemic. It vows to gather all resources to support enterprises to restore production so as to minimize global supply chain disruptions.

The resumption of production activities will be organized on the principle of ensuring the harmonization between production restoration and Covid-19 prevention and control.

It is expected that by July 1, 2021, the enterprises in IZs all will return to production. The total number of workers to return to work is expected to reach 30,000 by the end of July and 50,000 by the end of August. The figures are 100,000 by October and 120,000 from the end of November.

The difficult problem for factories to resume normal operation is the lack of concentrated accommodations for workers to stay in accordance with the new model.

Bac Giang provincial authorities have promised to support enterprises to arrange concentrated accommodations for workers.

It is expected that 7,000 accommodations would be available by the end of July, 12,000 by the end of August, and 25,000 by the end of October. From late November, Bac Giang would have 35,000 accommodations.

To solve the problem of labor shortage, Bac Giang has committed to support enterprises to get the workers signed labor contracts with the enterprisesbto return to work.

The province in early June set up a taskforce to support enterprises. It is in charge of supervising, speeding up and guiding the peoples committees of districts and cities to accelerate the process of certifying workers related to Covid-19 prevention.

It will also help coordinate the activities of receiving workers back in accordance with the timeline agreed with enterprises.

The provincial authorities will also support enterprises in testing workers before their come back to work.

If the workers returning to enterprises want to return to their places of residence, they wont have to pay medical quarantine if they have negative PCR test results (within three days before returning).

Moreover, Bac Giang has committed to help enterprises seek workers in the province and neighboring localities.

As many as 137 enterprises have resumed operation, accounting for 38.1 percent of total enterprises in the four IZs which had to shut down during the outbreak peak. The number of workers approved to come back to work is 22,242 out of 196,000 workers in the entire province.

Bac Giang plans to obtain industrial production value of VND8 trillion in July and VND15 trillion a month from November 2021.

Kien Trung

Bac Giang hands over 35,000 workers to their home provinces Bac Giangs Deputy Chair Mai Son affirmed that only workers who can meet requirements on safety will be sent back to their home provinces.
Bad debts may climb by the end of the year as the pandemic has interrupted the production of many enterprises and they had no revenue to repay debts.

Vietcombank's headquarters in Hanoi. The problem of bad debt with small- and medium-sized enterprises becomes more serious when their cash flows are interrupted and unstable, leading to insolvency.  VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet

Experts proposed the Government and the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) extend policies to continue to support businesses.

Hoang Van Vinh, chairman of the Nha Trang  Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, said tourism businesses in the province are on the verge of bankruptcy with 95 per cent of hotels closed and less than 5 per cent registering to operate as quarantine facilities.

We want banks to support the businesses directly affected by the pandemic to access interest-free loans, Vinh told the seminar Bad debts amid the COVID-19 pandemic  Solutions to support the banking industry and the business community on Wednesday.

With no tourists, entrepreneurs can become debtors and all businesses may go bankrupt, Vinh said, proposing urgent and more practical solutions such as reducing taxes and fees, as well as cutting valued-add tax to zero per cent.

Chairman of the Hanoi Transport Association, Bui Danh Lien, also said due to the restrictions on movement, only 20-30 per cent of passenger cars are operating with less than 50 per cent of travellers on each trip.

Especially, when the fourth wave of the pandemic started at the end of April, the number of operating vehicles decreased even more.

"We would like to recommend the Government to find more effective solutions to support businesses. Besides bad debt, debt rescheduling and freezing need to be a priority. If there is no production, the debt will become a bad debt and businesses cannot get new loans, Lien said.

To support the business community in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020, the Government has introduced many support packages with the most recent Decree 52 to defer payments on tax and land fee rentals on April 19 with a total value of VND115 trillion (US$5 billion).

However, as the impacts of the current wave are mounting for the vast majority of transport businesses, these support solutions are not enough, Lien said.

Real picture of bad debts

The problem of bad debt with small- and medium-sized enterprises becomes more serious when their cash flows are interrupted and unstable, leading to insolvency.

According to data of BOS Securities Joint Stock Company, total value of bad debts of 24 listed banks reached VND91.24 trillion ($3.9 billion) by the end of the first quarter, an increase of VND3.95 trillion compared to the end of 2020. The ratio of bad debt to total outstanding loans also increased by 0.02 percentage points to 1.41 per cent.

For example, ACB's bad debt increased by 61 per cent to nearly VND3 trillion. According to Saigon Securities Incs report, ACB has actively reclassified the debt of large corporate customers that may face difficulties in the future.

In addition, banks holding a high amount of bad debt in the system include VPBank, VietinBank, Vietcombank and Military Bank.

The fact that the central bank is allowing banks to keep the debt group unchanged makes the picture of bad debt not reflect reality. Banks do not have to make provisions which reduce provision costs and increase profits, but risks also increase," BOS Securities Joint Stock Company said in a report.

According to the revised Circular 03, commercial banks are allowed to keep the same debt group and structure so that enterprises can continue to borrow (effective May 17, 2021). The rescheduling for repayment terms, including the case of debt extension, must be appropriate to the extent of the impact of the pandemic and must not exceed 12 months.

Handling VND530 trillion of bad debt

Nguyen Quoc Hung, general secretary of the Vietnam Banks Association (VBA), said Resolution No. 42/2017/QH14, effective on August 15, 2017, had a great and profound impact on banks and organisations, including Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC), which provides effective mechanisms to help credit institutions speed up the bad debt settlement process.

Between August 15, 2017 and April 30, 2021, the whole banking system has handled VND350 trillion ($15 billion) worth of bad debts, equivalent to 66 per cent of the total, under Resolution No. 42, double compared to the pre-resolution period.

Resolution No.42 is a pilot policy with a short validity period of five years (it will expire in a year), thus it cannot apply to handle all bad debts of credit institutions. VBA suggested in the long term, the policymaker should legalise regulations on bad debt handling and build a separate legal document on this issue.

"The Vietnam Banks Association proposes to the Government and the National Assembly to prolong the validity of Resolution 42, Hung said and added to prolong it, it must evaluate and summarise the advantages and disadvantages of the resolution; otherwise, it must be added to the civil laws so that credit institutions have a clear legal corridor to handle bad debts.

VAMCs general director Doan Van Thang said the current bad debt has not yet reflected the impact of COVID-19 thanks to debt rescheduling policies.

"We suggest that the State Bank continue to support customers through policies and the support time should be longer, Thang said.

From the credit institutions side, we recommend banks support customers depending on their resources, he added.

Source: Vietnam News

Local banks earn high profits from bancassurance activities Local credit institutions are enjoying a rise in bancassurance activities with more exclusive deals coming, according to industry insiders.
How will Vietnam overcome challenges to realize its development plans? Nguyen Dinh Cung, former head of Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), shares his perspective with VietNamNet.

One of the great successes of economic reform in Vietnam since doi moi (renovation) is the establishment of a community of businesses from different economic sectors with many ownership modes. Vietnamese enterprises are operating under similar legal forms as in other market economies.

High in quantity, small in scale

In terms of quantity, enterprises in the private sector account for the overwhelming proportion, 97 percent, while SOEs (state owned enterprises) account for 0.38 percent and FIEs the remaining.

The enterprises employ 16 million workers. The workers in SOEs account for 7 percent, private enterprises nearly 60 percent and 33 percent in FIEs (foreign invested enterprises).

In terms of total assets, SOEs account for 28 percent, private enterprises 53 percent and FIEs 29 percent.

In terms of stockholder equity, SOEs account for 20 percent, non-state owned enterprises 56 percent and FIEs 24 percent.

In terms of net revenue, SOEs account for 14.5 percent, non-state owned 57 percent and FIEs 28.5 percent.

In terms of pre-tax profit, SOEs account for 21 percent. The figures are 36 percent for non-state owned enterprises and 43 percent for FIEs.

If considering financial efficiency, the ROE (return on equity) is 9 percent for SOEs, 4.5 percent for non-state owned enterprises and 15 percent for FIEs. Meanwhile, the profit to sale ratio is 5.6 percent for SOEs and FIEs, while it is just 2.4 percent for non-state enterprises.

The figures show that while private enterprises account for the overwhelming proportion, they mostly have small and micro scale, with very few enterprises having medium scale. They have low technology and low competitiveness.

Lacking inner strength and driving force to develop

This is attributed to several reasons:

First, the ratio of profit to revenue and to assets is too low. Stockholder equity is not high enough for re-investment and development. Therefore, most private enterprises have to rely on working capital from relatives and friends. Only a small part of the enterprises can access bank loans.

Most private enterprises lack capability to innovate and receive technology transfer, and lack the driving force to research, develop and renovate technology. In other words, private enterprises lack inner strength and motivation for development.

Second, one part of private enterprises doesn't want to expand investment to become large enterprises.

This is attributed to unclear and overlapping laws which can be understood and implemented in different ways by different state management agencies. The bigger that enterprises become and the more business fields they cover, the higher legal risks they face, which may cause big losses or loss of all of their assets that had been created over decades.

While private enterprises account for the overwhelming proportion, they mostly have small and micro scale, with very few enterprises having medium scale. They have low technology and low competitiveness.

In this situation, there is no reliable and effective tool and institution, especially independent courts, capable of protecting their rights and benefits.

Third, another part of private enterprises wants to grow but cannot, because they cannot access resources for investment and development. Surveys have found that capital costs are too high. The inability to get enough capital and access land are the big barriers for private enterprises in this group.

Fourth, some of the hundreds of thousands of private enterprises are crony enterprises. The number of these enterprises is not high if compared with the total number of operating enterprises, but they appropriate significant resources and deprive business opportunities from authentic investors and businesses.

The enterprises of this kind contribute to creating an unfair business environment which lacks transparency; distort the allocation of national resources; and distort the value and constrict the business motivation of genuine businesses.

It is the enterprises of this kind that make it difficult for other enterprises to access resources and business opportunities. This is a major obstacle for the development of private enterprises.

Large private groups vulnerable

Vietnam now has some large-scale private enterprises, called economic groups. There are some similarities and differences between the economic groups and groups in some Asian economies prior to 1979 as follows:

The similarities include investment in multi business fields; reliance on bank loans; lack of transparency in administration and business; and relatively friendly relations with the government. They are big if compared with the size of the economies, and so they are not allowed to collapse.

Regarding differences, some foreign economic groups specialized in manufacturing, developed strong R&D (research and development), and expanded their business across the region and the world. They have had specific products and strong brands. Meanwhile, Vietnamese private economic groups mostly target the domestic market, focusing on real estate and consumer services. They still cannot develop and master technologies in their fields and dont have global competitiveness.

It is obvious that Vietnams private economic groups are not as powerful as Asian private economic groups before 1979, and they are vulnerable. If the businesses collapse, it will take a longer time to recover them and the collapse may cause bigger losses to the national economy.

Therefore, developing the private sector, including economic groups, in a balanced, effective and sustainable manner must be a top priority task in the coming time.

It is necessary to amend unreasonable policies to help private enterprises increase their strength and overcome obstacles so they can feel secure to expand investment for development.

The 13th Party Congress Resolution has set specific goals for Vietnams socio-economic development. By 2025, Vietnam would become a developing country with industry going towards modernization and income surpassing the lower average level. By 2030, Vietnam would become a developing country with a modern industry and higher than average income. By 2045, it would become a developed country with high income.

Nguyen Dinh Cung

Will 24 years be enough for Vietnam to become a developed country with high income? The 13th Party Congress Resolution says Vietnam aims to become a developed country with high income by 2045, when it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the country's establishment.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has decided to add VND11.58 billion ($500,000) from the central budget reserve in 2021 to the Ministry of Health to make contributions to the COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) Facility.

The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX arrived in Vietnam on April 1, 2021.

He ordered the management and use of the funding to be publicised, transparent, and in line with regulations.

The principal role of the COVAX Facility is to maximise the chances of people in participating countries getting access to COVID-19 vaccines as quickly, fairly and safely as possible. By joining COVAX, self-financing countries will be guaranteed sufficient doses to protect a certain proportion of their population, depending upon how much they buy into it. Subject to funding availability, funded countries will receive enough doses to vaccinate up to 20 per cent of their population in the longer term.

As one of 190 participating countries, Vietnam is included in the list of those getting sponsored in the first phase of the mechanism.

So far, UNICEF has delivered a total of 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the initiative to Vietnam, with the first batch of 811,200 arriving on April 1, and the second shipment of 1,682,000 doses in mid-May, making up the mainstay of Vietnams vaccination drive.

As of June 23, more than 2.6 million vaccine doses have been administered in Vietnam, with 137,682 receiving the full two doses.

Source: Vietnam News
The project on building a national database on population and production, and issuing and managing citizen identification has been basically completed.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc at the conference

The shifting from the management mode of paper household residence registration books to personal identification numbers will be implemented soon.

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on June 22 organized a conference reviewing the national population and production database project and citizen identity card issuance.

Thr ministry organized a ceremony on announcing the official running of the system, commencing from July 1.

PM Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ministries attended the ceremony.

According to Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Public Security, the two projects were approved by the PM in 2020. Though they were independent projects, the Ministry of Public Security decided to integrate them to help cut costs. The projects cost VND1 trillion lower than the estimates.

Ngoc named four outstanding achievements of the projects.

First, completed the building of a national database center in population and production system, and the issuance and management of citizen ID cards.

The ministry instructed the contractors to design in a way that is modern, synchronous, high security and not wasteful. They were implemented with the support of MIC to ensure the meeting of the requirements, with the information security meeting the fourth level as stipulated by the Decree 85.

Second, MPS has completed the collection and addition of population information across the country, "cleaned" the data, synchronized it into the system and issued identification codes to citizens nationwide.

To date, information about 98 million individuals has been collected . Identification codes were granted to citizens on June 18. This is an important basis for establishing electronic identity of citizens, contributing to national digital transformation.

Third, the designing and production of new citizen ID cards with electronic chips have been completed. From March 1 to now, 54 million dossiers for application for citizen ID card granting have been submitted, one month earlier than planned.

However, Ngoc said the printing and delivering of citizen ID cards are still slow because of the lack of materials and electronic chips caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fourth, MPS has successfully carried out the trial connection of the national database in population with ministries, branches and local authorities.

MPS has conducted a test run of connecting and integrating services shared with the Ministry of Infomation and Communications (MIC), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Justice (MOJ), and the peoples committees of Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue; and has cooperated with the Government Office to trial the service connection on the national public service portal.

Doan Bong

HCM City police begin issue of chip-based identity cards HCM City police have begun to issue chip-based identity cards at 91 police stations.
State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Right) presents gift to RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong. VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI  State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has affirmed that the development of ties between Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) is a common determination from grassroots to the highest levels.

During a reception in Ha Noi on Wednesday for RoK Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong, Phuc suggested the two countries foreign ministries and agencies maintain all-level exchanges, uphold initiatives to overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic, and further expand and diversify the RoKs investment in Viet Nam.

The host asked for effectively tapping the potential of cooperation in investment, trade, science-technology, culture-education, and urged the RoK to offer more support to the Vietnamese community in South Korea, including popularising Viet Nams culture and language teaching.

Thanking the RoK for providing valuable assistance for Viet Nam in the fight against COVID-19, Phuc wished that the RoK would share its experience in vaccine production and medical resources.

He expressed appreciation for the RoKs support for Viet Nam to fulfil its roles as rotating ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, adding that the two countries need to work closely together when Viet Nam serves as coordinator of ASEAN  RoK relations in 2021-2024.

President Phuc reiterated Viet Nam and ASEANs stance on maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime safety and freedom, and settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Minister Chung expressed his delight at visiting Viet Nam on the occasion of the Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM) High-level Policy Dialogue in commemoration of ASEMs 25th founding anniversary in Ha Noi.

Describing Viet Nam as a strategic and major partner in the RoKs New Southern Policy Plus, he said the RoK wishes to further bolster coordination with Viet Nam in all areas to meet aspirations of the the two countries' people.

On the occasion, he thanked Viet Nam for creating favourable conditions for Korean experts and firms to do business in the country, and hoped that they would receive more support to effectively tap into bilateral economic and trade ties in the near future.

Speaking highly of Viet Nams important contributions in the region and the world, especially this year when it serves as coordinator of ASEAN  RoK relations for the 2021-2024 period, he expressed his wish for closer connections with Viet Nam to push forward ties between the RoK and ASEAN member states, including the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

The guest stated that the RoK Foreign Ministry is ready to work closely with Viet Nam at multilateral forums and on issues of shared concern.

He also wished that Viet Nam would make further contributions to promoting dialogue and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula. VNS
We take no pleasure in what we have to show you in this case, but we have to show you, Hix said. This child was injured head to toe, and there is no question that it was serious bodily injury.

Defense attorney David Fanning told jurors Rodriguez is not guilty and questioned the thoroughness of the police investigation into the boys injuries.

It would take a monster to do this, Fanning said. Gerardo is not a monster.

Thiele, the former Waco detective, said he met Rios and Rodriguez after Rios brought Luis to a hospital in Waco. He said Rios was crying and Rodriguez was stoic, appearing unfazed and unsurprised at the extent of his sons injuries.

Thieles investigation showed the boy was in his parents exclusive care from 5 p.m. April 2, 2015, to 7 p.m. April 3, 2015, the Good Friday when Rios  without Rodriguez  took the boy to the hospital.

Rios left their Flint Avenue residence in southwest Waco to go to her job at McDonalds about 6:30 a.m. that Friday and got home about 3:45 p.m., Thiele testified. Rios boss told Thiele that Rios was in and out of the restroom all day talking on her phone and said she obviously was upset by something Rodriguez told her.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday tossed out all charges against six defendants accused of cheating the government by supplying unqualified linguists to serve in Afghanistan, ruling that the government waited too long to bring the case to trial.

Prosecutors obtained a grand jury indictment against the six defendants in April for conduct that occurred in 2011 and 2012. Prosecutors say the defendants arranged for unqualified candidates to be hired as linguists in Dari and Pashto, the primary languages in Afghanistan, in part by having more proficient speakers take tests over the phone on their behalf. The linguists hired under the contract would support Army soldiers in communicating with Afghan civilians and military officials.

The defendants asked the judge to dismiss the case, saying their ability to defend themselves was prejudiced by the 10-year delay in bringing charges. They said one key witness had died, another went missing, and others were suffering memory impairment caused by medical conditions and the passage of time. They also said key evidence was never preserved.
Clyde is one of those Fanone fought to save. Though there are photos of the lawmaker trying to barricade the House chamber against invaders, he is also one of those who has downplayed the severity of the attack, even likening it to a normal tourist visit. He joined 20 other Republicans in voting against awarding police the Congressional Gold Medal.

Fanone, who has been an outspoken critic of efforts to whitewash the riot, spotted Clyde at the Capitol and stepped into an elevator with him. He told The Washington Post that he greeted the lawmaker and extended a hand. I knew immediately he recognized me by the way he reacted. He completely froze. He just stared at me.

Fanone says that instead of accepting the proffered handshake, Clyde produced a cellphone and began thumbing through apps. When the doors opened, he says, Clyde bolted like the car was on fire.

There is something viscerally disgusting in this lying coward sprinting away from a handshake. But all of us need to be clear on one crucial point: Clyde is not some bizarre outlier but, rather, the beating heart of a GOP in thrall to Trump.
My Everything: The Parent I Want to Be, The Children I Hope to Raise

By Einat Nathan

My Everything is a compassionate parenting book about the relationship you can build and want to have with your kids. It is told through a mixture of personal stories and candid parenting insight.

Why recommended: My Everything is an easy book that reads very much like a conversation between friends. It is filled with compassionate advice and heartfelt understanding on the difficulties and triumphs that are all a part of being a parent.

Recommended by: Alysha, East Waco Library

If Bees Disappeared

By Lily Williams

This engaging picture book for children poses the question: What would happen if bees disappeared completely? After an introduction to bees and the function they serve in our ecosystem, the author uses scientific speculation to show the possible effects their loss would have on the Earth. The book concludes with the ways each of us can help save bees and keep them thriving in our world.
Finally, a contentious and partisanship fight has come to an end to what has become known as the truth in labeling law for Texas wines.

Designed to be a guarantee of authentic Texas wines, the newest bill finally passed the Texas Legislature after being passed over by committee with the goal of settling issues internally between the two groups representing growers and producers.

For six years, the issue of only 100% Texas grapes in a bottle has deeply divided the wine industry in the state into two sides: Those who believe only 100% Texas grapes should be in a bottle to receive Texas designation on the label and those who believe a certain percentage of Texas-grown grapes should be allowed in a bottle to receive a Texas designation.

The Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association represents 85% of the states grape growers and about 600 of the states wineries. This group understood the challenges still presented to small start-ups, as well as large wineries, that would greatly affect them with a sole 100% rule.
Traveling Abroad

Questions have also mounted as to how a traveler will be asked to prove they have been vaccinated when traveling outside the United States. Officials in the United States are, for the most part, expecting people to be honest about their vaccine status even though there are no plans in place for a traveler to have to prove their vaccination and no health passports required to travel in this country.

Some other more distant countries for the adventurer are also options with just a negative test needed upon entering such as South Africa, Nepal, Croatia and Turkey to name a few. However, many countries like those in the European Union will not allow Americans to enter yet unless they have been vaccinated and prove a negative COVID-19 test.

For example, Italy, Greece and Spain have now opened borders to those who have been vaccinated or have tested negative for the virus and the EU is looking forward to U.S. tourists in that group this summer as well.

Of course the United States is requiring a negative COVID-19 test on the return from any destination outside of the country, but Eskew explained it is getting easier to take the test while traveling.
Howard Hughes was a man who once commanded the worlds attention, sometimes for all the wrong reasons. His story is one of wealth, power, fame and the dangers of obsession.

Howard Robard Hughes Jr. was born in Houston on Christmas eve, 1905. His father, Howard R. Hughes Sr., was a wealthy inventor and businessman. The younger Hughes likewise was fascinated by science and machinery.

By 1917 he was one of only a handful of licensed ham radio operators in Southeast Texas. He later built the first motorcycle in Houston by himself. In spite of his privileged upbringing, he faced two heartbreaking tragedies in rapid succession: his mother died in 1922, followed by his fathers death in 1924.

After inheriting his fathers fortune and the Hughes Tool Company, he proved very skilled at running the family business and wanted to expand. Fascinated by movies, he headed west to become a movie producer.

In 1927 he began production of Hells Angels, an action film taking place in World War I that included recreations of aerial dogfights with dozens of aircraft. He learned to fly while he directed the movie, which at $3.8 million ($55.8 million today) was the most expensive made up to that time.
DENVER (AP)  A Colorado man was shopping when he heard the gunfire that killed a suburban Denver police officer, rushed out of the store with his gun and shot the suspect, according to a worker who saw the shooting.

Bill Troyanos told Denver news station KMGH-TV that he was working at the Army Navy Surplus store in downtown Arvada on Monday when he and a man later identified by police as 40-year-old John Hurley heard shots and spotted a gunman in a plaza outside. Troyanos said Hurley rushed to confront the shooter.

He did not hesitate; he didnt stand there and think about it. He totally heard the gunfire, went to the door, saw the shooter and immediately ran in that direction, Troyanos said. I just want to make sure his family knows how heroic he was.

Troyanos said he heard five or six shots fired from Hurleys gun. The gunman, identified by police as 59-year-old Ronald Troyke, fell against a parked vehicle, he said.

Hurley, who lived in the city of Golden, was killed, as were the gunman and Arvada police Officer Gordon Beesley, a 19-year department veteran and beloved school resource officer. Police have not said who shot Hurley or the gunman.
AIR FORCE

Air Force awards $950M radar & range support contract

The Air Force has finalized 20 awards for a potential six-year, $950 million contract covering broad support for the branchs threat radar systems and combat training ranges.

Every company that bid for the contract received a position and will compete for task orders to provide infrastructure, tools and other services to the Air Force.

Awardees will also work on joint threat emitter platforms and modernization programs run by the Air Forces range threat systems branch.

Companies on the contract are:

Amentum

Amherst Systems

Applied Research Associates

Ball Aerospace & Technologies

Booz Allen Hamilton

Dynetics (now part of Leidos)

EWA Government Systems

Georgia Tech Applied Research

IERUS Technologies

KIHOMAC

Leonardo DRS

Lockheed Martin

Radiance Technologies

Raytheon Technologies

Saab

Scientific Research Corp.

Signature Research

Syracuse Research Corp.

Technology Service

Viasat
TOP 100

Raytheon pressing forward on its tech & revenue synergy initiative

Two priorities have been at or near the top of Raytheon Technologies agenda since last years merger that created the company: get the integration right and navigate the pandemic-caused economic tumult.

Raytheon certainly has more control over priority number one but much less on the second. The pandemic remains an overhang over the companys commercial aerospace business, albeit with those headwinds lifting as travel ramps back up.

Within Raytheon itself, Roy Azevedo has been tasked with leading the consolidation of two legacy segments into the intelligence and space business that he is president of.

Technology synergies and greater capacity for investment in developing new innovations drove the combination of old Raytheon with United Technologies Corp. From Azevedos perspective, that big picture idea for what is now RTX in shorthand becomes more pronounced at the segment level.

Intelligence and Space: its legacy and our future is going to be based on discriminating technologies, Azevedo told me. Were part of the technology play and some of that has already borne some fruit in some of our revenue synergies.

Raytheon Technologies climbed two spots year-over-year to reach No. 2 on the 2021 Top 100 with $6.6 billion in prime contracts. Overall revenue for Arlington, Virginia-headquartered Intelligence and Space was $15 billion in calendar year 2020 on a pro forma basis. Raytheon sees the segments sales growing low-to-mid single digits this calendar year.

What is now a 37,000-employee Intelligence and Space organization was formed by combining the legacy Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services segment with the Space and Airborne Systems segment. Azevedo led the SAS segment as president before the merger.

IIS was certainly the most complex of old Raytheons segments given that business housed much of the companys technology and solutions integration work, mainly centered around software.

Intelligence and Space sounds very much the same, given how Azevedo said the business has around 5,000 programs with none representing more than 2 percent of new Raytheons annual revenue.

The revenue split is around 80-20 between defense and civilian customers with 10 percent from international markets. Azevedo characterized the segments offerings around three main areas: sensing and effects; command/control and communications; and cybersecurity, training and other services.

Part of the strength of this business is the diversity, Azevedo said. It does provide a level of protection, because were so diverse, against possible budget fluctuations.

Back to the revenue synergies: Azevedo said Raytheon was awarded nearly $100 million of them during year one when it comes to joint efforts between the companys Intelligence and Space and Collins Aerospace business segments.

Those two divisions have other rather large proposals that are being evaluated by government customers, Azevedo added.

One of those agency decisions to watch is a takeaway bid for the Federal Aviation Administrations $3.5 billion telecommunications contract called FENS, for which Raytheon is teamed with MetTel. There again is an example of Raytheons Intelligence and Space and Collins Aerospace segments working on the same opportunity,

It is also worth noting that Raytheon already is a partner to MetTel on the governmentwide EIS next-generation telecom contract awarded nearly four years ago.

Along with the revenue synergies, the other big rationale behind the merger that Azevedo pointed to was the sharing of technologies between the commercial aerospace and defense sides of Raytheon.

Were often having conversations and there are plenty of forums that have been available at all levels of our organization, where we go out and talk to the other businesses to see what we may be able to partner with, Azevedo said.

One example he offered was how Intelligence and Space works with the engine and propulsion making Pratt & Whitney segment of Raytheon. The former segment does not buy many motors like P&W does, but Azevedo said their technologies and scientists often contribute to what Intelligence and Space is working on.

We pull them in for even things like independent reviews of design, and using their expertise is something thats already demonstrating to be a valuable asset for this business, Azevedo said.

Internal focus has obviously been paramount for Raytheon to make the most out of the merger, but an opportunity that emerged late last year to acquire small satellite maker Blue Canyon Technologies was one the buyer could not pass up.

Azevedo said when Raytheon looked at where it was in the space value stream, the company found it was not a player when it came to payloads onto satellites.

We never were looking to get into some of the big satellite programs as a prime because that is going to be something that is very, very long term, Azevedo said. If you take a look at where the modernization of space is going, its proliferated LEO (low earth orbit) small satellites.

So in terms of the market and customer desires, that matched.

As did the augmenting technologies Blue Canyon has, such as stable electro-optical infrared payloads to help identify objects from long distances.

Stability is the word Raytheon hopes will both further define the world at-large and the commercial aerospace market it participates in as well, even as a recovery in travel continues to take shape.

That slow return to pre-pandemic travel activity, including international, would also give Raytheon the commercial-defense balance it envisioned as a merged company.

With regards to the defense side of things: we had a great first year, weve had a great first quarter, were going to leverage all of that first quarter to continue through the year and continue the growth that we experienced in our first year, Azevedo said.

(A future episode of Project 38 will feature my full conversation with Azevedo that also includes his views on Raytheons plans for the post-pandemic future of work, what that means for recruiting and retaining talent, and digital transformation trends across industry and government)
Former Leidos exec Angela Heise joins Microsoft

Angela Heise, who spent over 20 years rising through the ranks at Lockheed Martin and then Leidos before leaving in 2019, has signed on as a corporate vice president with Microsoft's worldwide public sector business.

As CVP for defense and intelligence, Heise will work with U.S. cabinet agencies and other public sector organizations around the world. Shell be focused on IT and cybersecurity, air traffic automation, energy and the environment, federal infrastructure and logistics, and transportation security.

Heise was running Leidos civilian business when she left the company in October 2019. Prior to that, she was responsible for several defense lines of business and commercial markets when she was with the former Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions sector that merged into Leidos in 2016. She first joined Lockheed in 1997 as a software engineer.

Her appointment was announced on LinkedIn by Julia Glidden, corporate vice president for Microsoft's worldwide public sector business.
WATERLOO  A lawsuit brought by relatives of two Tyson workers in Waterloo and Independence who died days apart of COVID-19 has been transferred to federal court.

Its a move that hasnt worked for other coronavirus lawsuits against the meatpacking giant.

Family members of Jeffrey Orvis and Arthur Scott, both of Waterloo, filed suit against Tyson Fresh Meats, Tyson Pet Products and a list of plant officials and supervisors in Black Hawk County District Court in April, alleging the company ignored warnings about the coronavirus pandemic and didnt take the necessary steps to protect workers.

On Monday, the suit was transferred to U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids at the request of the defense, claiming the allegations involve actions the company took at the direction of federal officers  former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Agriculture.

Orvis, 65, worked at the Waterloo plant and died April 19, 2020. Scott, 51, was employed at the Independence facility and died April 23, 2020.
The closed-toe clog style of the foam Crocs footwear brand would be allowed as would some non-collared shirts  and not just on special days.

If its a Waterloo Community Schools apparel, we allow them to wear it without a collar, said Padget, under the proposed policy. That would include T-shirts and sweatshirts. As far as other tops, multiple-color plaid, check or striped shirts would be allowed and logo sizes could grow from one to two inches under the proposal.

Also, bottoms in any single color or those that are more than one size too large would be allowed. Until now, bottoms in any shade of green, yellow, light or medium blue, red, orange, purple, or white were not allowed.

Cargo or carpenter bottoms would also be taken off the list of prohibited clothing as would jeggings. Jeggings are similar to leggings but made of stretchable fabric that resembles tight-fitting denim jeans.

Still prohibited would be jeans and bottoms that are form-fitting to the body, according to the policy. Leggings would also still not be allowed for middle and high school students. Leggings worn as pants without an additional bottom or top at knee length would also remain prohibited in the preschool and elementary grades.

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UNI has a goal of keeping tuition affordable for our students, she said. While we understand that tuition must go up to ensure quality, we are concerned about the long-term impact on our students.

Struck urged the board to support a request to the Legislature for $4 million in new money for UNI during the next fiscal year. She said those funds are intended to keep tuition rates flat, helping to maintain access and affordability. The board had made the same request for the current year, but state funding for all three universities was frozen by the Legislature.

Other student government representatives sounded similar themes.

An increase in tuition is something students are never excited to hear, said Regan Smock, student body president for University of Iowa undergraduates, calling for an approach that is sustainable and affordable.

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We need systemic changes in our funding model, she added. The burden should not be placed squarely on the shoulders of young people.
CHARLES CITY  A lawsuit seeks to force a special election to determine how Floyd County elects its Board of Supervisors.

The action was filed in Floyd County District Court by Gordon Boge on behalf of the Coalition for Better County Government.

The coalition June 1 attempted to present a petition with 1,100 signatures to the county Auditors Office asking for the special election. Floyd County currently elects supervisors at large, with the entire county voting for each supervisor. The petition seeks to divide the county into three geographical districts, with voters in each district electing one supervisor. That would ensure voters in both rural and urban areas are represented on the board, according to the coalition.

To get the issue on the ballot, the group needed 10% of the turnout of registered voters from the last election, or 809 people, to sign.

But when Boge and others presented the petition, Auditor Gloria Carr upon the advice of the Iowa Secretary of States office, deferred approval to the supervisors. At issue was the fact the petition question was not listed on every signature page. Under state code, thats a requirement for nomination papers for anyone seeking elected office.
DES MOINES  Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday that she plans to deploy Iowa State Patrol officers to the U.S. southern border to aid law enforcement and border security efforts there.

Reynolds said she took the action in response to requests from Republican Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

My first responsibility is to the health and safety of Iowans and the humanitarian crisis at our nations southern border is affecting all 50 states, Reynolds said in a statement The rise in drugs, human trafficking, and violent crime has become unsustainable. Iowa has no choice but to act, and its why I am honoring Texas Emergency Management Assistance Compact following assurances from the Iowa Department of Public Safety that it will not compromise our ability to provide all necessary public safety services to Iowans.

On June 10, Abbott and Ducey formally requested law enforcement support from all 50 states through an existing interstate mutual aid agreement that enables states to share resources during a disaster, according to Reynolds' office. With the action, Iowa would join Florida, Nebraska, and Idaho in sending law enforcement to the southern border to assist Texas and Arizona.
WATERLOO  Hawkeye Community College has joined a new consortium to support the manufacturing sector as it adapts to digitalization and automation.

That next wave of change, known as Industry 4.0, will require new processes for businesses and new skills for employees. Consortium members from across the state will lead a training and awareness initiative for the manufacturing industry.

Along with Hawkeye, the group includes other community colleges and Iowa State Universitys Center for Industrial Research and Service, or CIRAS.

A January report from the Iowa Economic Development Authority Seizing the Manufacturing 4.0 Opportunity: A Strategic Plan for Iowas Manufacturing Industry called for advancing the knowledge base, expertise and collaboration among businesses in the state. This partnership will respond to workforce, training/education and integration needs to help manufacturers strategically address technology investments, workforce pipeline, and workforce talent challenges.

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The consortium will support Iowa manufacturers efforts to seize opportunities and remain competitive by providing consultation, education, implementation, and access to resources.
DES MOINES  Danny Homan, leader of Iowas largest public employee union, will end his 16-year run as president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61 next month.

Homan, 68, an AFSCME employee for over 33 years and president since 2005, plans to retire at the end of his term and a new president will be elected at the unions upcoming convention July 24.

I am proud to have had the trust and support of the members of this council for the last 16 years, Homan said in his announcement Wednesday. Working here has been the honor of my life. Every day I knew thousands of people were counting on me and this council to have their back, and I am proud to say that we did.

AFSCME Council 61 represents more than 55,000 members in over 230 bargaining units across Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.

In both the good times and the bad, AFSCME was there fighting for the hard-working men and women of the state of Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, in our cities, counties, schools, state and private sector employers, Homan added. While there is a lot of fight left in me, I know that now is the time for new leadership to move the council forward.
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How do you become a CEO? Start making some calls.

Cold calling companies is not the only way Jennifer Lawrence Hanscom 91 became leader of the largest medical professional association in Washington. In addition to her audacity, her education empowered her to advance from a survey research job in Salem to overseeing Washington State Medical Associations (WSMA) operations and communications, which includes representing its 11,000-plus healthcare professionals.

I feel like my liberal arts education really prepared me for my career journey  traits such as critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, persuasiveness, all of it. From the start I was able to apply those learned characteristics to each of my jobs, she said Along with a little tenacity.

Life beyond Riddle

A first-generation student who arrived at Willamette after living in Riddle, Oregon  a town of less than 1,500 south of Eugene  Hanscom worried about fitting in, despite moving from one small community to another.

I was from a rural community and Willamette seemed so elite, she said. So I felt like I had to find my people pretty quickly. Once I did, I knew Id made the right choice.

Small town life left her envisioning a different future. Everyone she knew worked at the lumber mill  she did, too, enduring the graveyard shift to support herself during college  and she was more determined than ever to get an office job. Political science seemed requisite for the law degree shed longed for, so she took up the major and also studied communications. But at some point during a semester spent in Washington, D.C., she realized she could change peoples lives in other ways.

I saw the science of politics in real life, and the power of the people around the table making decisions  a lot of them in their 20s  and all that goes into the political machine that runs this country. That made me more open-minded about what I could do for a career, she said.

Soon after, she picked up a phone book, looked up anybody and anything that had lobbyists associated with it and requested informational interviews. She landed an internship at a Salem lobbying firm, Public Affairs Counsel, her senior year. Later, she found out she got the job because she wanted to be paid  and had the guts to ask.

Sometimes you have to go for it and create your own opportunities, she said. Theyre not always handed to you.

Rising through the ranks

That phone call led to nearly seven years at the firm, developing survey research questionnaires, lobbying on behalf of clients and managing numerous campaigns.

In 1996 Hanscom picked up the phone book again. The man who would become her husband lived in Seattle at the time, so she contacted lobbyists to see if she could work on staff for a company there. What started as an informational interview turned into a job offer as director of communications and membership at WSMA, which required her to grow its membership through focused communication efforts. All written communication  newsletters, brochures, op-eds  as well as lobbying and member retention fell on her plate, and it was a great opportunity to apply the liberal arts skills she developed with her work experience, she said.

In the space I work in, its so important to communicate well  whether youre trying to pass a piece of legislation, communicating a point to the media or convincing a patient to take action, she said.

Her ability to persuade made a difference in peoples lives even when it didnt fall in her favor. After she was promoted to senior director of public affairs and operations in 2005, one of her many duties involved helping launch an effort with consultants to pass tort reform. Voters werent convinced to place caps on non-economic damage awards, but the effort helped inform the public on how high jury awards can be detrimental to the ability to access care, she said.

Hanscom continued her path becoming the first female CEO at the WSMA in 2013, gaining more operational and leadership responsibility. She realized early on what fulfilled her and she nurtured connections along the way  and didnt wait for the right moment to arise.

She's paying it forward, too. Last year, a Willamette student interested in public health contacted her about an internship, but WSMA didnt have one at the time. So the association created an internship for the student in its policy department, and she is of course getting paid, Hanscom said.

By reaching out, you can discover jobs that dont even exist at the time because you connect with someone and they want to create an opportunity for you, she said. Nothing at home set me up for where I am today, except for maybe having grit.
With growing interest in its experiential learning opportunities, Willamette Law excitedly announces a significant investment into the Clinical Law program with the hiring of Professor Sarah Matsumoto, from Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver, and the appointment of Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence, Professor Susan Cook, to the full-time faculty. Both will assume their positions at Willamette this summer to direct the College of Laws legal clinics.

Sturm College of Law is well-known for its strength in hands-on learning, something Willamette Law plans to match in the Pacific Northwest. With Matsumoto and Cook joining the Clinical Law program as full-time faculty in the clinics, and a new emphasis on the schools Signature Strengths, Dean Brian Gallini is confident they are headed in the right direction.

We are well on our way to growing into the Pacific Northwests leading experiential law school, Gallini says. Having Professors Matsumoto and Cook join us truly legitimizes our goal.

Willamette Law currently offers four clinics in Business Law, Child and Family Advocacy, Immigration, and Trusts and Estates. Previous clinics have also included Sustainability, Human Rights, and Law and Government. Students can enroll for multiple semesters and gain experience meeting with actual clients and completing real legal work, such as guardianships, special needs trusts, wills and trademarking assistance.

When Professor Warren Binford, who will be leaving for the University of Colorado in July, took over and revitalized the program in 2005, demand for the clinics experiential learning opportunities increased exponentially.

Although the excitement about the program has continued to grow, running it is resource-intensive. In 13 of the last 15 years, enrollment exceeded clinic capacity, but even then, only about 13% of the total student body could participate. Adding Matsumoto and Cook will help to address the student demand for clinical learning opportunities.

Professor Sarah Matsumoto

For the last three years, Matsumoto has been a clinical teaching fellow at Sturms Environmental Law Clinic. A Washington native and graduate of Seattle University School of Law, she is thrilled to be returning to the West Coast. She is especially excited about offering a new Environmental Justice clinic in what is known as an outdoors haven.

My hope is that clinic students and I will help people access meaningful legal options and opportunities that truly impact their everyday lives, Matsumoto says. Experiential offerings like a clinic are an essential part of students legal education, and I cant wait to meet and work with the outstanding students at Willamette Law.

Professor Susan Cook

Cook has been in private practice in Salem since 1996, focusing on protective proceedings, estate planning, and probate and trust administration. Her practice deals with wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships and probate matters. Cook has been a part-time lecturer-in-law at Willamette Law since 2000, teaching overwhelmingly popular sections of Elder Law and the Trusts and Estates Clinic.

When I started teaching as an adjunct professor in 2001, I was unsure how long I would continue, she says, but the more time I spent with students I realized my true passion lies in teaching. Every year seems to get better with the clinic. I am inspired by each new class of students who bring fresh ideas and a renewed desire to help our community.

The appointments of Matsumoto and Cook usher in a new era, along with more emphasis on experiential learning at Willamette Law. Gallini, who became dean of the school last summer, sees the potential in the programs growth.

Students not only want to learn how to think like a lawyer, but also practice how to be one, he says. At Willamette Law, our students get the best of both worlds, learning from our incredible faculty scholars, then applying their knowledge in real-world situations. Bringing in Professors Matsumoto and Cook to strengthen experiential opportunities for our students is another critical step toward becoming the premier law school for experiential learning in the Pacific Northwest.


During the first three months of 2021, Deutsche Windtechnik Netherlands signed four new contracts for inspection and maintenance of the balance of plant at four different offshore wind farms. This includes

Gemini

,

Prinses Amaliawindpark

,

Eneco Luchterduinen

and

Hollandse Kust Zuid

.



The scope covers monopiles and transition pieces of turbines and substations, both internal and external. The works on

Gemini

begun in March and in July it will start at

Hollandse Kust Zuid

with durations of 12 and 18 months, respectively. The agreements for

Prinses Amaliawindpark

and

Eneco Luchterduinen

will start in upcoming summer and will continue for five years.



OWF Gemini team said: We were looking for an experienced service provider to execute the inspection and maintenance scope on the inside of our WTG foundations. During the tender process Deutsche Windtechnik convinced us with their track record and flexibility to work within the given logistics set-up.



Keld Bennetsen, Project Director for Hollandse Kust Zuid, said: By building the worlds first subsidy-free offshore wind farm we are raising the bar for ourselves and for all our partners and suppliers. We know we can rely on Deutsche Windtechnik to support us during construction, not just for high safety standards and for high quality inspections but also for fast response times and well-prepared remedial works, whenever we need them.



Renzo Schildmeijer, Lead Asset Manager of Eneco Asset Operations Wind Offshore, said: Its a real pleasure to work with Deutsche Windtechnik since 2009. It was very important that we were able to contract a reliable party with an excellent track record. A contractor with the right price-quality ratio. We are happy that we are able to continue the Balance of Plant inspections at Prinses Amaliawindpark and Eneco Luchterduinen with Deutsche Windtechnik.



We are very happy and also proud that we can take responsibility and carry out high quality inspections as well as maintenance work with optimised cost structures at these four Dutch offshore wind farms, Niels Noordeloos, Business Development Manager Deutsche Windtechnik B.V., said. IJmuiden is a perfect base of operations for our work in the Prinses Amaliawindpark, Eneco Luchterduinen and Hollandse Kust Zuid. Deutsche Windtechniks office and warehouse in IJmuiden is perfectly located at the quayside where inspectors and technicians board the crew transfer vessels. The works at OWF Gemini will be executed from the client DPII vessel operating out of Eemshaven.



Geert Timmers, Managing Director Deutsche Windtechnik B.V., added: We want renewables to be successful as a competitive energy source in all aspects of safety and technology. Our service strategy offers the best synergies and cost optimisation to contribute to this."
Lubbock, TX (79423)

Today

Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph.
E+ / Getty Images

En espanol | With more workers beginning to return to their jobs as more Americans get COVID-19 vaccines, lawmakers in Congress and some states are addressing the need to better protect older employees against age discrimination. Recent votes on three bills that address on-the-job bias show a growing awareness of how important workers age 50 and older are to the nation's economy.

On June 23, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 247-178 to approve the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) with bipartisan support. The legislation would restore protections lost as the result of a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult for people who face age discrimination in the workplace to successfully challenge age bias in court. The House first passed this legislation in January 2020, but the Senate did not vote on it. AARP continues to urge federal lawmakers to pass POWADA.

"Today's vote is a crucial moment for older workers who have waited more than a decade for legislation to restore fairness and protections against age discrimination, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond said following the House vote. The strong bipartisan support for POWADA sends a clear message that discrimination in the workplace  against older workers or others  is unacceptable. Ageism is not only harmful to workers but for companies, too, who miss out on the experience and expertise older workers bring.

The bill now moves again to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. But as lawmakers look to raise employment numbers that dropped dramatically during the pandemic, the recession's effect on older adults in particular will need to be addressed, advocates say. During economic downturns, older workers typically file more complaints of age discrimination in firing and other workplace actions, according to data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state-level civil rights agencies.
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There has been much focus in the Albuquerque metro area and elsewhere on the concepts of not criminalizing our residents and restorative justice.

Unfortunately, those concepts have not been made realities more than a handful of times in the metro area  even though weve had a program for two years dedicated to helping those defendants accused of low-level crimes who are struggling with mental health issues and/or addiction to get out, and stay out, of the legal system.

And, while COVID-19 and its safety protocols put a crimp in Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) training and in-person contacts, its all the more important now that things are opening up for our law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense attorneys to get the word out, and for members of our community to support their relatives, friends and neighbors who make the commitment not to make their lives one of crime.

For those who would point to the rise in violent crime in the metro area and decry any so-called slap on the wrist, we are not talking about violent offenses here. The LEAD programs aim is to reduce the number of non-violent frequent flyers who would be better served by a hand up rather than a trip into and through the legal system. When the Second Judicial District Attorneys Office and the Albuquerque Police Department announced the LEAD program back in 2019, they made it clear the focus was on low-level crimes, including minor drug possession, prostitution, vagrancy, loitering and property crime done to feed an addiction. Not eligible was anyone accused of a violent felony, crimes against children or drug-dealing for profit, and if the crime involved a victim, the victim had to OK the diversion.

At the April 2019 announcement, APD Deputy Chief Eric Garcia said, This is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Theyll still be accountable for any future crimes.

Unfortunately, two years later, in a city of more than 600,000, a whopping 98 people have been referred to the program by APD, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and others, only 44 completed the intake process and just seven are active clients. Not exactly a groundswell for not criminalizing low-level offenders.

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So its encouraging the LEAD program has new federal funding (a three-year $1 million grant), a dedicated revenue stream of $250K (from Bernalillo Countys behavioral health tax for case managers and other costs) and a new program manager (Glenn St. Onge, who knows Albuquerque, its crime patterns and crime fighters, having retired in 2016 as a lieutenant after 20 years with APD).

As St. Onge works to educate skeptics on the force, as prosecutors and defense attorneys reclassify their version of a win as helping someone get on a better path, we need every member of our community who knows someone who could benefit from LEAD (and the many other diversion and specialty court programs that are woefully underused) to speak up and support them as they put in the work. Completing the program is hard  and those who qualify have to truly change their lives to succeed. Most diversion programs are at least 18 months long, and require regular court and office visits, individual and group therapy, and random drug and alcohol tests. While it is not an easy path, having a clean record and starting on the next chapter of life is worth it.

Not criminalizing our residents and restorative justice are important concepts. Lets all try to make that a reality for more than a handful of people.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Santa Fe police responding to a shooting in a part of town popular with tourists shot and killed an armed man Wednesday morning near Loretto Chapel.

The man died at the scene and his alleged accomplice in a womans shooting was arrested. No officers or bystanders were injured, according to Santa Fe police.

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The incident started at De Vargas Park, across Sandoval Street from a skate park just blocks away from the historic Plaza and behind the 1st Judicial District courthouse.

Santa Fe police say they responded to a call about a fight in progress about 10:05 a.m. A woman was shot and police officers arriving at the scene gave aid to her before she was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Her name or condition were not released.

Police say Kalin Addison, 20, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence in the shooting of the woman at the park. According to a news release, Addison allegedly fired at least one shot at the victim before giving the handgun to the man eventually shot by police. That man also shot the victim at least one time before fleeing the area on foot, still carrying the gun.

At least two police officers pursued the suspect east on West Alameda Street in the direction of the historic district heavily populated this time of year by tourists.

I saw him walking down the street and police were on the other side of the street yelling at him, Drop the gun, drop the gun,  said Scott Dawson, whose office at the state Land Office overlooks West Alameda. He went around the corner and then I heard two or three shots.

Just what the tourists want to see, quipped a woman visiting from Albuquerque.

A man from Colorado who witnessed the shooting said the man was shot in front of Loretto Chapel, a tourist attraction famous for its miraculous staircase.

He and his wife were eating breakfast at a nearby restaurant when he saw police yelling at the suspect to drop his weapon.

Police gave him every chance (to drop the gun), said the man, who was escorted away by police to be interviewed before a reporter could get his name.

State police are investigating the killing, as is standard protocol in cases of officer-involved shootings, while Santa Fe police are investigating the earlier incident at De Vargas Park.

State police said it will not release the name of the dead man until next of kin have been notified and interviews with witnesses have been conducted.

A news release from state police said a Santa Fe police officer fired his weapon after the suspect pointed a handgun in the direction of officers as he got close to a crowded tourist area.

SFPD and the city of Santa Fe issued a news release confirming that officers engaged with and shot the suspect and the suspect had died. It said that SFPD and the city would not be providing further comment.

The first shooting incident took place directly across West De Vargas Street from the 1st Judicial District Attorneys Office.

D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies issued a statement early Wednesday afternoon:

I am saddened to learn of the shootings that occurred today, including one officer involved shooting. As always, our office pledges full transparency in our handling of officer involved shootings, which is critical for ensuring public trust in the justice system, she said. While we encourage and await the results of a full investigation, the preliminary reports appear to show that the suspect had a gun and that officers were in danger. We always grieve the loss of any life, regardless of the circumstances.

The last officer-involved shooting in Santa Fe occurred a year ago when police wounded 30-year-old Joseph Galassini, who was accused of stabbing two people in the parking lot of a Big R store on St. Michaels Drive.

There have been four fatal shootings involving SFPD officers since 2015.

In July 2017, two officers assigned to the SWAT team killed a mentally ill 27-year-old man, Anthony Benavidez, who had holed up in an apartment and threw what was believed to be an explosive device at officers.

Two months prior to that incident, Santa Fe police chased a man all the way to Eldorado east of Santa Fe where during a chaotic struggle with police 33-year-old Andrew James Lucero was shot and killed after he jumped into a police patrol unit and pinned a police officer against a tree.

In January 2016, Herman Flores, 31, was killed during a gunfight with police at a Cerrillos Road motel after he allegedly robbed a Walmart.

In August 2015, 30-year-old Marvin Maestas was shot and killed by an officer during an exchange of gunfire near Dinosaur Trail close to the Cerrillos Road exit off Interstate 25.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico oil production has bounced back in a big way from a March 2020 price crash that caused a rapid decline in drilling, with state oil and natural gas production hitting record high levels in recent months.

The production recovery and a related price increase  oil prices have gone from less than $15 per barrel in April 2020 to nearly $70 per barrel in June  is expected to bolster state revenue levels but could renew questions about environmental impact and New Mexicos budgetary reliance on the extractive energy industries.

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We are in a short-term very revenue positive space, said Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, during a Legislative Finance Committee meeting Wednesday in Ruidoso, while acknowledging the states long-term revenue outlook from oil and natural gas is hazy due to global market forces.

New Mexico is currently the nations third-highest oil producing state, and is the only top oil-producing state to have recovered to pre-pandemic production levels, according to the Legislative Finance Committee.

While Texas and North Dakota both saw year-over-year production declines, New Mexicos production was up 4% from March 2020 through March 2021 amid the faster-than-expected recovery in oil prices.

That could translate into more money for state lawmakers to spend on public schools, health care and other state programs, as the LFC report said the recovering oil prices and volumes are driving oil and natural gas-related revenue collections to exceed expectations from February. Revised state revenue estimates will be released by executive and legislative economists in August.

Despite attempts to diversify New Mexicos economy, the state currently gets nearly 45% of its total revenue  or more than $4 billion annually  from taxes and royalties on the oil and natural gas industries.

But there is uncertainty on the horizon in the form of volatile oil markets and a looming energy transition toward wind, solar and other renewable sources.

In fact, the legislative report released Wednesday said the recent oil production surge could mask New Mexicos longer-term production outlook.

LFC economist Dawn Iglesias cautioned lawmakers to show budget restraint when it comes to using oil-generated revenue windfalls for recurring spending due to the future uncertainty.

The more that we rely on oil and gas activity in our revenue mix, that will obviously make it more difficult to adjust to those shifts in the market, Iglesias said.

New Mexico has not yet been significantly impacted by an executive order to indefinitely pause all new oil and gas leasing on public lands that was issued by President Joe Biden just days after he took office in January.

In part, thats because more than 6,000 oil drilling permits have been acquired by operators  primarily in southeastern New Mexico  but not yet used.

But an extended moratorium on oil and natural gas leasing could have a significant impact on the states revenue levels, according to state economists.

The pause on new lease sales, aimed at giving the federal government time to review permitting and leasing procedures, was blocked by a federal judge in Louisiana this month and the Biden administration has not yet announced a more permanent policy going forward.

Despite the federal policy review, Garrett Golding, a business economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said oil production levels in the Permian Basin would likely continue to increase for the next four years.

But he cautioned that oil industry employment levels in New Mexico, which has a much higher percentage of federally-owned land than neighboring Texas, could decline in the coming years.

Some Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups have urged the Biden administration to permanently ban oil and natural gas leasing on public lands.

And cleaning up and plugging abandoned oil and gas wells on some New Mexico public lands could generate thousands of jobs and as much as $4 billion in wages, according to a recent study by ODonnell Economics, a New Mexico-based research firm.

However, many Republican lawmakers have staunchly defended the oil and gas industry, while also citing its outsized budgetary impact.

Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, said Wednesday new state regulations on methane emissions have placed a larger burden on oil producers without delivering clear environmental benefits.

I think its important for us to invest in businesses that want to do business in New Mexico responsibly, Diamond said.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Well, there was no kinder way to put it but to say that the little dog looked like a mop.

More accurately, like a mop left out in the harsh elements of the New Mexico nowhere for a couple of years, which is even less kind but closer to the truth of what had happened to this dog.

Not much was known about it, including its gender (hence the it), when someone found it wandering somewhere in the rural reaches of N.M. 6, scooped it up and dropped it off at the Valencia County Animal Shelter in Los Lunas last week.

Because of its condition, an emergency alert for care went out Thursday to animal rescue groups and foster folks.

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Allie Sikorski of Pawsitive Life Rescue of New Mexico answered the call.

If her name and her nonprofit group sound familiar, its because they were featured in this column last October with the story of another mop-like stray dog that roamed the neighborhoods and mesas around 98th Street on Albuquerques West Side, eluding all capture for six months until the group finally got him.

Dash, as Sikorski named him, turned out to be a dashing schnoodle once he was freed of his matted hair. Today, thanks to Pawsitive Life, Dash is living his best life, adopted and loved, and still dashing.

Last Thursday, Sikorskis first thought when she saw this latest matted mutt was that it looked an awful lot like Dash had looked, maybe even more awful.

You could tell this dog was very scared and uncomfortable and needed to be somewhere other than a shelter, she said.

It took some maneuvering with a catch pole to get the small snarling, snapping dog into a crate. Once in Sikorskis car, the dog continued to growl but still allowed her to gently feel its abdominal area to determine its gender  which turned out to be female.

Almost as a joke, I had been calling the dog Mop, Sikorski said. When I found out she was a girl, I changed it to Mopsy.

Sikorski could also feel a soft mass at the dogs abdomen and thought perhaps Mopsy was going to be a mom.

Groomer Sherry Clark got to work, shaving off 22 ounces of matted hair, including a thick dreadlock dangling from her front that looked like a fifth leg.

But she had to stop snipping around Mopsys face after the dog became too agitated.

Once shorn, Sikorski could see that what she had thought was a pregnant belly was a tumor-like round mass about the size of a softball.

Dr. Adena Robertson of 4 Paws Pet Hospital assessed the mass as a hernia, a tear in Mopsys abdominal wall, likely caused by trauma such as being hit by a car. What Sikorski initially thought were puppies were actually lengths of intestines protruding through the abdominal wall.

That meant major surgery.

That meant a couple thousand dollars on top of the cost of grooming and veterinary care Mopsy had already received.

And that means you can help, if youre so inclined. Ive included ways to help in an accompanying information box.

Mopsy was sedated to complete her facial grooming. Sikorki said she thinks part of the dogs agitation was because of the irritation from spiky foxtail grasses burrowing into her eyes.

Shes a cutie, Sikorski said. But she looks so terrified.

Those who have worked with Mopsy believe she is a Shih Tzu mix, about 7 or 8 years old, likely spending those last two years surviving on her own.

Mopsys story is another reminder of the importance of getting pets microchipped, Sikorski said. Its possible shes somebodys long lost dog, but its been too long to know that now.

Its also important to alert someone  a rescue group, an animal shelter  when you spot a dog out in a place where he or she shouldnt be, Sikorski said.

Let me add that if you cannot rescue an animal in distress yourself, its worth supporting rescue groups that can.

For now, Mopsy is learning to live among humans, indoors. She enjoys sitting next to her foster mom and watching television, which suggests that when the time comes, likely this fall, she will make a good companion for someone who likes to live a calm and quiet life.

Shes a survivor. She deserves at least that.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 730-2793, jkrueger@abqjournal.com, Facebook or @jolinegkg on Twitter.

How to help

4 Paws Pet Hospital: 505-821-0309, specify donation is for Mopsy.

PayPal: itsapawsitivelife@gmail.com.

Venmo: @pawsofnm

Mail: PO Box 91743, Albuquerque, NM, 87199.

Make checks out to Pawsitive Life Rescue of NM. Donations are tax deductible.
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CATCHES OF THE WEEK

At Bluewater Lake,

Marvin Endito, of Thoreau, caught a 40-inch, 17-pound, 11-ounce tiger muskie using a waterdog June 20.  Phillip Bishop, of Albuquerque, caught and released six tiger muskie, ranging in size from 32 to 36 inches, using large green/white and red/orange streamer flies June 15.

Chris Archibeque, of Roswell, caught a 4-pound largemouth bass at Brantley Lake using a green crankbait June 15.

Carlos Campos, 2, of Pojoaque, caught a 17-inch rainbow trout at Canjilon Lakes using a Rooster Tail spinner June 19.

Bryant Henderson, of Kansas, caught a 24-inch lake trout on the Chama River using a Panther Martin spinner north of Heron Lake on June 20.

Mike Watkins, of Albuquerque, caught a 5-pound walleye at Cochiti Lake using a Kastmaster lure June 18.

Declan Padget, 11, of Rio Rancho, caught a 16.75-inch rainbow trout at Cowles Ponds using a grasshopper June 19.

Jeremy ODell, 13, of Santa Fe, caught a 20-inch, 3-pound rainbow trout at Eagle Nest Lake using a black Pistol Pete spinner fly June 17.

At Elephant Butte Lake, Zahara Gantz, 13, of Silver City, caught a 3.5-pound walleye using a curly tail jig June 16.  Jessica Morales, of El Paso, caught a 4-pound largemouth bass using a Texas-rigged watermelon soft plastic bait near Rattle Snake Island June 16.  Lunazul Looney, 7, of Austin, Texas caught a 26-inch walleye using a white crankbait June 15.

Valerie Martin, of Albuquerque, caught a 17-inch and 15.5-inch rainbow trout at Monastery Lake using rainbow glitter PowerBait on June 18.

Jose Pat Garcia, 89, of Belen, and his family caught their limits of trout at Morphy Lake using pink salmon eggs and orange PowerBait on June 10.

Michael Brown, 5, of Rio Rancho, caught a 1-pound smallmouth bass at Navajo Lake using a jig June 19.

Patrick Iverson, of Santa Fe, caught a 16 and 18-inch rainbow trout on the Pecos River using a Woolly Bugger and Perdigon fly June 11.

AJ Morales, 10, of San Antonio, Texas caught a 14-inch rainbow trout on the Red River using a grasshopper at the hatchery June 17.

David Lopez, of Las Vegas, caught several 10-pound catfish at Storrie Lake using trout viscera June 20.

Latasha Coho, of Gallup, caught a 15-pound catfish at Stubblefield Lake using chicken liver June 10.

Levi Weiss, 9, of Albuquerque, caught a 5.3-pound catfish at Tingley Beach using a hotdog June 19.

If you have a catch of the week story send it to funfishingnm@gmail.com.

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NOTES from GAME & FISH

Northeast fishing report

Cabresto Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Charette Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Cimarron River, near Cimarron, on Monday morning was 30.7 cubic feet per second. Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait, nightcrawlers and beadhead nymph flies.

Fishing for catfish at Clayton Lake was good when using chicken liver.

Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels. The boat ramps on the south side of the lake managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are open. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using plastic worms and tubes. Fishing for white bass was fair to good when using chartreuse and silver spinners. Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using Berkley Flicker Shad lures, jigs and nightcrawlers. Fishing for crappie was fair when using live minnows. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait.

At Costilla Creek, the department has implemented the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involved removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on Forest Road 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries) with a tentative restocking of Rio Grande cutthroat in spring 2022. Places to fish nearby include Costilla Creek below the fish barrier, Upper Comanche Creek, Shuree Ponds, Middle Ponil Creek, Upper Powderhouse Creek, Little Costilla Creek, Vidal Creek and McCrystal Creek. The department anticipates completion of this final phase in the fall of 2021. Please check the department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim.

Fishing for trout was good at Cowles Ponds when using grasshoppers and salmon eggs.

Coyote Creek had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Eagle Nest Lake was slow to fair when using black Pistol Pete spinner flies. Fishing for perch was good when using worms and corn. Fishing for pike was good when using perch and rainbow color lures, black Pistol Pete spinner flies, juvenile pike swimbaits, Rebel minnows and Mepps spinners.

Fishing for trout at Eagle Rock Lake was good when using green PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Fawn Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout on the Gallinas River was fair when using worms.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was good when using garlic PowerBait.

Lake Alice had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Lake Maloya was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies, PowerBait and various topwater and nymph flies.

Los Pinos River had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13 had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Monastery Lake was good when using rainbow glitter PowerBait and various flies.

Fishing for trout was good at Morphy Lake when using pink salmon eggs, orange PowerBait and Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Streamflow on the Pecos River, near the town of Pecos, on Monday morning was 69.0 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs, red worms, grasshoppers, Woolly Buggers and Perdigon flies.

Streamflow on the Red River, below the hatchery, on Monday morning was 89.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using salmon eggs and worms. Fishing for trout at the hatchery was good when using grasshoppers.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande, at the Taos Junction Bridge, on Monday morning was 584 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using nightcrawlers, Rooster Tail spinners and salmon eggs.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo on Monday morning, near Valdez, was 39.8 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora on Monday morning, near Terrero, was 16.8 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo, near Penasco, on Monday morning was 10.6 cfs.

Fishing for trout was good at Santa Cruz Reservoir when using garlic PowerBait and pink PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds is closed until July 1, 2021.

Fishing for pike at Springer Lake was fair to good when using rainbow Kastmaster lures.

Fishing for trout at Storrie Lake was good when using PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was good when using trout viscera and chicken liver.

Fishing for catfish at Stubblefield Lake was good when using chicken liver.

Fishing for white bass at Ute Lake was good when using topwater baits, spoons and small swimbaits. Fishing for walleye was very good when using jigs tipped Berkley Gulp minnows, swimbaits and curly tail grubs in 8 to 12-feet of water. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Ned Rigs, tubes and chigger craws. Fishing for catfish was fair when using punch bait and chicken liver. Fishing for crappie was slow. The water surface temperature was in the mid-70 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was stained.

Northwest fishing report

Fishing for walleye at Abiquiu Lake was fair to good when using bottom bouncers with spinners tipped with worm in 8 to 10-feet of water. Fishing for bass was fair to good when crankbaits and curly tail grubs.

Water flow on the Animas River, below Aztec, on Monday morning was 913 cfs.

Fishing for bass at the Albuquerque Area Drains was fair when using legged bug flies and small plastic worms.

Fishing for tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake was good when using large green/white and red/orange streamer flies, crankbaits, Rapala lures and swim baits.

Fishing for trout on the Brazos River was fair to good when using gold Panther Martin spinners.

Fishing for trout at Canjilon Lakes was good when using Rooster Tail spinners.

Monday-morning flows on the Chama River, below El Vado and Abiquiu, were 506 cfs and 422 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair when using spinners and nightcrawlers. Fishing below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using worms and nymph flies. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

Visitors to Cochiti Lake need to make a reservation by purchasing a ticket at least 24 hours in advance through recreation.gov. Tickets and reservations will NOT be sold at the lake. Fishing for walleye was fair when using Kastmaster lures and jigs.

Fishing for bass, perch and trout at El Vado Lake was very good when using spinners and PowerBait. El Vado Lake Dam Day Use area is open. The main lake area, boat launch and campground are open. Camping by reservation only.

Fishing for trout at Fenton Lake was fair to good when using nightcrawlers and flies. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

Fishing from a boat at Heron Lake for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon was very good when using Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tail spinners, Kokanee Killers and Rapala lures trolled 10 to 25 feet deep. Fishing from shore for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon was good when using chunky cheese garlic PowerBait, green PowerBait and salmon eggs. Sierra Vista and La Laja boat ramps are both open due to rising water levels.

A t the Jemez Waters, Streamflow on the Jemez, near the village of Jemez Springs, on Monday morning was 4.99 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Panther Martin spinners and worms. Fishing near the Valles Caldera was good when using nymph flies.

Fishing for trout at Laguna del Campo was fair to good when using peach PowerBait.

Lagunitas Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Farmington had no reports from anglers this week.

Due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions at McGaffey Lake, stocking efforts have been suspended. Lake conditions will be monitored and stockings will resume once conditions improve.

Fishing for bass at Navajo Lake was very good when using crankbaits, Ned Rigs, buzzbaits and green watermelon tubes. Fishing for pike was fair when using jerkbaits up the San Juan arm of the lake. Fishing for kokanee salmon was good when using pink and orange spinners and Hoochie Squid tipped with corn fish 20 to 30 feet deep.

Fishing for catfish on the Rio Grande was fair to good when using worms and chicken liver near Albuquerque.

San Gregorio Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the San Juan River on Monday morning was 311 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using size midge emerger flies and red annelid flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using gold Panther Martin spinners, worms and PowerBait.

Fishing for trout at Seven Springs Brood Pond was good when using PowerBait and Woolly Bugger flies.

Fishing for catfish at Tingley Beach was fair to good when using hotdogs and homemade dough-bait.

Fishing for trout at Trout Lakes was good when using dry flies and worms.

Southwest fishing report

Alumni Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Bear Canyon Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Bill Evans Lake was fair when using wacky rigged worms.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Caballo Lake was fair to good when using plastic worms and crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was good when using live minnows, small spoons and white crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using live minnows, bottom bouncers, nightcrawlers and crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and nightcrawlers.

Fishing for white bass at Elephant Butte Lake was good when using jointed swimbaits, yellow grubs, live worms and live shad. Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using Texas-rigged watermelon-colored soft plastic lures. Fishing for walleye was good when using silver crankbaits, chartreuse curly tail grubs tipped with worm, white crankbaits and bottom bouncer worm harness rigs. Fishing for crappie was good when using live minnows and live worms. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using shad, worms and live minnows.

Escondida Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Gila River on Monday morning was 13.5 cfs.

Glenwood Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Roberts had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Percha Dam was fair to good when using chicken breast.

Fishing for trout at Quemado Lake was good when using rainbow PowerBait.

Rancho Grande Ponds had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande, below Elephant Butte, on Monday morning was 1,910 cfs. Fishing for catfish near Las Cruces was fair to good when using cut bait. Fishing for catfish near Caballo Lake was fair to good when using raw chicken and worms.

Snow Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Trees Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for all species was slow at Young Pond .

Southeast fishing report

Fishing for trout at Alto Lake was fair to good when using worms and green garlic PowerBait.

Bataan Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Black River, at Malaga, on Monday morning was 2.31 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake is closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. It appears that the lake will be out of commission until 2022.

Fishing for bass at Bosque Redondo Lake was fair when using green soft plastic worms.

Bottomless Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Brantley Lake was good when using green crankbaits.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Chaparral Park Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Corona Pond was fair when using hotdogs.

Fishing for trout at Eunice Lake was fair when using PowerBait.

Green Meadow Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Greene Acres Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Grindstone Reservoir was good when using white PowerBait and salmon peach PowerBait.

Jal Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Van had no reports from anglers this week.

Oasis Park Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Pecos River, below Sumner Lake, on Monday morning was 91.5 cfs.

Perch Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Ruidoso River on Monday morning, at Hollywood, was 3.09 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for walleye at Sumner Lake was fair when using bottom bouncer nightcrawler harness rigs.
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The New Mexico Forestry Divisions biannual seedling sale dates back all the way to 1960, but the origins of the program are largely unknown.

We looked to see if we could find any historical documents, but we just have not found anything, said Forestry Division Seedling Program Manager Carol Bada. The oldest document I can find is a contract with Colorado State Forest Service nursery to buy seedlings, and that is from 1970.

While the record keeping from the early days is lacking, its probably safe to assume that the motivation for the seedling sale was largely the same then as it is now. According to the Forestry Divisions website, millions of seedlings  small containers, large containers and bare root  have been sold to landowners throughout the Land of Enchantment to plant for reforestation, erosion control, windbreaks, streambank restoration, and wildlife habitat improvement.

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The Forestry Divisions fall sale begins on July 6 this year, with distribution set to begin on Sept. 13 and conclude on Oct. 15. (Theres also a spring sale, which starts with ordering in the first week of December and distribution from March through April).

More than 60 different types of species are sold  exact availability isnt finalized until late June for the fall sale  including ponderosa pine, pinon, Douglas fir, Rio Grande cottonwood and desert willow, to name a few. In addition to those offerings, two of the most popular seedlings are the Arizona cypress and the Afghanistan pine, both of which can thrive in the southern New Mexican climate.

We kind of cover all the eco-types. It goes from all sorts of shrubs to all sorts of tree types, Bada said. I think we can cover at least most of the state in some way or another for something that will grow where they live.

One primary requirement to able to purchase seedlings is owning an acre of land, in large part because of the quantities that are sold. A minimum order for bare root trees is a lot of 50 at $64; 49 at $80 for trees in small containers and 20 at $57 for trees in large containers.

You almost have to have an acre to be really able to plant that many seedlings, Bada said. Especially since we dont break them up in smaller lots. If youre smaller than that, you probably want to go visit your local native plant nursery.

Private landowners are the main buyers, but the Forestry Division also sells seedlings to municipalities, tribal governments and occasionally, federal agencies. Its best that any seedling buyer have a drip irrigation system at the ready upon purchase. With a watering system in place, success rate for the seedlings is generally at 80-to-90%, according to Bada.

We recommend (watering) about twice a week during the summer, even for our drought-tolerant species because they are babies, she says. They dont have lots of root systems. They cant just be put in the ground and forgotten for a while.

In any given year, up to 300 orders can be processed, which range from the minimum single order of 20 for large container seedlings to 9,000 seedlings for larger-scale reforestation efforts. The seedling program is not supported by the government. Other than Badas salary, it is entirely funded by the Forestry Division itself.

The proceeds we receive from selling the seedlings goes right back into the program to maintain the program and buy more seedlings, Bada says. Its basically a customer-driven program.

Bada has more than enough to keep her occupied  particularly during the seedling distribution period.

I get help from some of my co-workers, when the crews are working they help me ship and pack and all that stuff, but Im basically a one-woman show, she said. I do everything from packing and shipping to developing our seedling contracts to who we have grow our seedlings. Usually if you pick up seedlings, Im the one you see. Im there when theyre picking them up.

For more information, or to order, visit emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/treepublic/ConservationSeedlings.html.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico remains a hot spot for film and TV.

The state announced this week that the New Mexico film industry has brought in $623 million in what is known as a direct spend with one week left to go in the fiscal year.

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Despite the ongoing pandemic, the film industry broke the record of $525.5 million set in fiscal year 2019. In fiscal year 2020, the film industry had a direct spend of $386.8 million.

Contributing to the record-breaking year are film partnerships with NBCUniversal and Netflix. Both entities have signed a 10-year commitment to bring film and TV projects to the state.

This has put us on a global scale to attract film and television and multimedia productions to the state, said Alicia J. Keyes, Cabinet Secretary of Economic Development Department. This money supports New Mexicans and small businesses around the state.

On Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller participated in the official opening for NBCUniversals production facility in Martineztown.

Lujan Grisham gave credit to the film industry for its continued growth. Quite frankly, this industry is a star industry during the pandemic, Lujan Grisham said. (The film industry) had one of the lowest positivity rates, if not the lowest in the state.

For more than a decade, New Mexicos film incentive package has been seen as the gold standard in the industry. The package offers a 25-30% rebate on New Mexico goods and services.

We lead. We do it right, Lujan Grisham said. This is an incredible place for the film industry.  Were not just making movies here. We are a movie industry hub for the United States and the globe. This is where you want to be if youre going to be doing productions.

NBCUniversal has kept production at a steady pace during the pandemic. Its latest production was also announced on Tuesday.

The TV comedy series, MacGruber is being filmed for the Peacock streaming service and will be filming through August.

Eleven years ago, the feature film for MacGruber called New Mexico home and NBCUniversal wanted to bring production back to the state.

MacGruber is based on a Saturday Night Live sketch and the 2010 feature film.

It stars Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Mickey Rourke and Ryan Phillipe.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production will employ approximately 225 New Mexico crew members, 61 New Mexico actors and stunt players, and 850 New Mexico background actors.

Lujan Grisham said the production will have a $25 million direct spend.

It means restaurants, purchasing lumber, hiring New Mexicans and investing in all the fabrication, Lujan Grisham said. All the work that goes into actually creating these productions means that New Mexico businesses are thriving and New Mexico workers are fully employed.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, not including MacGruber, there have been 28 productions announced by the film office during this fiscal year.

The number of New Mexico crew hired for the productions is 3,302. There have been 986 New Mexico actors within those productions.

The biggest impact is with background actors, which is 7,963 New Mexicans hired.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Police are investigating a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian late Wednesday in Southeast Albuquerque.

Officers were called to the scene at Louisiana and Trumbull around 10 p.m.

During the investigation it was learned a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle in the intersection, Albuquerque police said in a news release. The vehicle left the scene of the crash, southbound on Louisiana.

The pedestrian  who was not identified by police  suffered significant head trauma and a broken leg and was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital, where the person died.

A witness gave officers a description of the vehicle that fled, and the investigation is ongoing.

No other details were released.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa  Iowa will send up to 30 state police officers on a two-week deployment to Texas after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds agreed to a request from GOP governors to help fight crime at the U.S.-Mexico border, officials said Thursday.

A statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety did not say when the deployment of the officers would begin or how they would be chosen. The officers will assist the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Critics said the deployment was a political boondoggle that would accomplish little, other than diverting dozens of officers at a time when they were desperately needed in Iowa. They noted that Reynolds in April declined a federal request for help housing migrant children who had crossed the border, saying: This is not our problem.

Reynolds said she agreed to the deployment, following similar moves by Republican governors in Nebraska, Florida and Idaho, after receiving assurances from the department that the absences will not compromise our ability to provide all the necessary public safety services to Iowans.

Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona earlier this month requested help at the border from other states under an interstate compact to provide mutual aid during emergencies and disasters.

My first responsibility is to the health and safety of Iowans and the humanitarian crisis at our nations southern border is affecting all 50 states, Reynolds said in a statement. The rise in drugs, human trafficking, and violent crime has become unsustainable. Iowa has no choice but to act.

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The deployments will affect about 5% of the states approximately 550 sworn officers and come in an unusually difficult year for Iowa public safety.

Earlier this month, state patrol officials warned that traffic fatalities were spiking on Iowa roadways due to increasingly dangerous driving and vowed that they would step up enforcement. The state has also recently agreed to help Davenport fight a rise in gun violence.

The year has also seen the first trooper shot and killed in the line of duty in decades, an exhaustive search for a missing boy that remains ongoing, an attack in which inmates killed two prison workers, and a shooting that wounded a Linn County deputy.

Manny Galvez, a social justice activist in North Liberty, said that Reynolds should welcome migrants to the state rather than send police to the border.

This is crazy, Galvez said. How shameful and an absolutely irrational waste of state resources.
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PHOENIX  The Arizona House on Thursday approved a $1.9 billion income tax cut that mainly benefits the wealthy as majority Republicans pushed through key pieces of a state budget plan opposed by Democrats and packed with a conservative wish list of unrelated policy changes.

The House joined the Senate in approving the tax cuts and another bill shielding high-earning taxpayers from the effects of a new 3.5% tax surcharge voters approved in November to boost education funding.

In all, nine of the 11 bills that make up the $12.8 billion budget were ready to send to Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who negotiated the spending plan and will sign it. The 31-29 party-line votes came after majority Republicans, angered that House Democrats failed to show up to work earlier in the week, limited debate on the budget plan.

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House Speaker Rusty Bowers announced that the GOP would change the rules and allow only 30 minutes of debate on each bill. Such debate typically takes up hours on each measure.

It is clear, was clear then, by the absence of an entire caucus  that procedural obstruction and delay have been instituted in lieu of civility, Bowers said.

Republicans say the state is flush with cash, and the tax cut is needed to keep Arizona competitive and prevent the tax increase contained in Proposition 208, which added the new tax on high-earning Arizonans. They argued the tax cut will help businesses create jobs and that will help the middle class.

I think what we do have here is a historic tax cut that will result in significant positive impact for everyone, everyone in the state, said Peoria Rep. Ben Toma, the majority leader and a key architect of the tax cuts. Its a tax cut that helps small businesses, and it helps us be more competitive as a state relative to our neighbors.

Democrats vehemently oppose the tax cuts, saying without them the state could finally fully fund schools and social programs that were never completely restored after the Great Recession.

This is the time to make meaningful investments in our states future instead of this massive giveaway to folks who are really not struggling, Democratic Rep. Kelli Butler of Paradise Valley said. And there are plenty in Arizona who are really struggling.

The $1.9 billion in tax cuts will be phased in when revenue targets are met, starting at $1.3 billion this year. When fully phased in, the plan would lower tax rates for most taxpayers to 2.5%, down from a range of 2.59% to 4.5%. Wealthy taxpayers would, in effect, be spared from the tax hike approved by voters last year to pay for schools.

The average Arizonan earning between $75,000 and $100,000 will save $231 a year in state income taxes, while the average taxpayer earning between $500,000 and $1 million a year will save more than $12,000, according to the Legislatures budget analysts.

Ducey hailed the passage of the tax cut bill and the provision shielding individuals earning over $250,000 or couples making more than $500,000 from the new Proposition 208 tax. The estimated $827 million a year in new money will still go to schools, but it will come out of the general fund, preventing the state from funding other programs.

Every Arizonan  no matter how much they make  wins with this legislation. They will get to keep more of the money they earn under this tax plan, Ducey said. It will protect small businesses from a devastating 77% tax increase, it ensures working families and all Arizona taxpayers get to spend their money how they choose, and it will help our state stay competitive so we can continue to attract good-paying jobs.

Changes negotiated by a pair of GOP holdouts protect city revenues by boosting the percentage of income tax shared with municipalities, and boost state debt payoffs to $1.9 billion.

The new rules eliminated most of the usual debate, questions and forced roll call votes on amendments that can eat up hours of time. Holding 29 of 60 seats, Democrats only power is to slow the movement of bills by extensive debate.

Democrats were enraged, saying they did not show up Tuesday because Republicans had introduced a slew of last-minute budget amendments, and noted that it was absent Republicans who prevented a quorum.

Rep. Charlene Fernandez of Yuma called the limits absolutely ridiculous and said Republicans wasted 26 days of the session getting their own members on board with the budget deal.

The Senate packed the budget with conservative policy priorities, including a big expansion of the states private school voucher program, a ban on teaching so-called critical race theory in K-12 schools, and a host of items targeting the enforcement of coronavirus restrictions. They include bans on cities requiring vaccines or ordering mask mandates if the pandemic again surges and similar restrictions for schools and state colleges and universities.

Republican Rep. Bret Roberts of Maricopa said he would not have voted for the health budget bill without those items and told members that he was glad they were included.

Democratic Rep. Lorenzo Sierra of Cashion, who survived a severe case of COVID-19 that left him on a ventilator for days, was flabbergasted. Arrogance is not an effective vaccine against COVID-19, Sierra said.

It also embraces the unfounded theory that former President Donald Trump lost in Arizona because of voter fraud, creating a $12 million election integrity fund to pay for election security updates and other priorities.

While Republicans appear to have the votes to pass the overall budget, some of the items added by the Senate could end up being dropped by the House. The lower chamber adjourned at about 10:30 Thursday night after skipping debate on the voucher expansion, which some House Republicans oppose.

The Senate, meanwhile, re-introduced and passed 22 bills that Ducey vetoed last month, when he said he wouldnt sign any new measures before lawmakers approved a budget. The unexpected action infuriated many lawmakers.

Senators also took the extremely unusual step Thursday of voting to override one of Duceys vetoes, which requires a two-thirds vote. Republican Sen. Tyler Pace said they chose a bill making technical changes to state laws that had previously passed unanimously to send Ducey the message that lawmakers wont roll over.

The last time the Legislature overrode a governors veto was in 1981.
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  Residents in about 90 homes west of Flagstaff were told to evacuate Thursday because of a wildfire in the area.

The lightning-caused fire has burned more than 56 square miles of steep, rugged terrain, flatter land and parts of wilderness areas with zero containment.

Firefighters were working ahead of the blaze Thursday to create a buffer between the fire and the homes to keep them from burning and the fire from reaching more populated areas.

Crews were going door-to-door to inform residents of the evacuation order.

That smoke will get to a point where its just hazardous to health for them to be there, said Coconino County sheriffs spokesman Jon Paxton. The hope would be that if the fire did approach that area, it would hit that area where theyre doing backburning and it would have nothing else to burn.

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A shelter was set up at Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff. A virtual community meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening.

The fire was one of several burning across Arizona that has forced people to flee their homes and sent motorists on detours.

Residents in some communities near Pine and Strawberry arent expected to be allowed back in their homes for another week. A fire there has burned more than 63 square miles and was 1% contained Thursday.

Most national forests in Arizona and state land is closed because of the wildfire danger.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Detectives released the names of four men killed in separate incidents over the past week in Albuquerque.

Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said the deaths of Daniel Bustos, 34, Raymond Ortiz, 29, Karl Jurisson, 64, and Kenny Rougemont, 37, are being investigated as homicides.

No arrests have been made in any of the cases. Jurisson, Ortiz and Rougemont were killed over a nine-hour period.

The first case was June 17, when police responded around 2:30 a.m. to gunfire at the Travelodge near Coors and Iliff NW. Officers found shell casings in the parking lot and Bustos, fatally injured, was brought to the hospital.

Then, on Sunday, officers were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. to a shooting in the 500 block of Vassar SE. Police found Jurisson shot and lying in the street. He died at a hospital.

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Two hours later, police were called to a fight and shooting in the 120 block of Pennsylvania NE, just north of Central. They found Ortiz injured. He died at the scene.

Later, at 3 a.m., officers were dispatched to reports of a body at the Motel 6 near Interstate 40 and Coors NW. Police found Rougemont dead inside a room.

There have been 60 homicides investigated by the Albuquerque Police Department this year. At this time last year, there had been 28.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ark.  A man wanted for shooting and wounding a North Texas police officer earlier this month was arrested Thursday at an Arkansas motel, authorities said.

Royce Wood, 43, is accused of opening fire June 13 on two police officers from the city of Rhome after they pulled his motorcycle over in nearby New Fairview, located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Fort Worth. He was suspected in a home invasion that had occurred the day before.

Lane Akin, the sheriff of Wise County in Texas, said Wood and his girlfriend, Tiffany Caswell, 32, were arrested in Arkansas by local authorities and U.S. Marshals. The Stone County sheriffs office in Arkansas said Wood and Caswell were arrested in the city of Mountain View.

We are tremendously relieved to know that these two, especially Wood, is in custody, Akin said. Because we know that Wood had made several threats against law enforcement, and he had intent, according to statements that hes made, that he was planning to hurt more law enforcement officers.

He said Wood faces two charges of aggravated assault on a public servant for opening fire on the officers. Both Wood and Caswell face a charge of aggravated robbery for the home invasion.

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Both Caswell and Wood entered the house with weapons, threatened the occupants, and then stole several items, televisions and other electronics, Akin said.

Akin said that the officer was shot in the lower leg and has since been released from the hospital.

Wood and Caswell are being held in the jail in Stone County, Arkansas, while they await extradition. Jail records did not list attorneys for either of them.

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This story has been updated to correct that Royce Wood and Tiffany Caswell were were arrested in Mountain View, not Batesville.
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The antivirus software founder was found hanging in a jail cell in Barcelona hours after his extradition to the United States on tax evasion charges had been approved.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Software mogul John McAfee has passed away at 75 years old. The British-American computer programmer, who was best known for founding the company behind McAfee Antivirus, was found dead in a Spanish jail on Wednesday, June 23.

His death is believed to have been caused by suicide as his lawyer Javier Villalba confirmed McAfee was found hanging in a prison cell in Barcelona. The lawyer claims his nine months in prison brought his client to despair.

McAfee's other lawyer, Nishay Sanan, confirmed his death in a statement. "I am saddened to hear of the events and my prayers go out to his wife Janice," it read. "John was and will always be remembered as a fighter. He tried to love this country but the U.S. Government made his existence impossible. They tried to erase him but they failed."

McAfee was detained on October 3 at the Barcelona airport as he was about to board a flight to Istanbul with a British passport, a Spanish police source said at the time. He was found dead just hours after Spain's high court approved his extradition to the United States, where he will face tax evasion charges.

Villalba says McAfee still had opportunities to appeal his conviction but could not stand more time in jail. "This is the result of a cruel system that had no reason to keep this man in jail for so long," he claims.

During a court hearing last month, McAfee said that given his age, he would spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted in the United States. "I am hoping that the Spanish court will see the injustice of this," he said, adding that "the United States wants to use me as an example."

McAfee was indicted in Tennessee on tax evasion charges and was charged in a cryptocurrency fraud case in New York. In 2019, he had bragged about not paying U.S. income taxes for eight years for ideological reasons. That year, he left the United States to avoid trial, largely living on a megayacht with his wife, four large dogs, two security guards and seven staff.

U.S. prosecutors will likely ask the judge overseeing the tax evasion case to dismiss charges because of McAfee's death.
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The former 'Drake and Josh' star has agreed to plead guilty to attempted child endangerment and disseminating material harmful to children over an incident relating to a girl he met in 2017.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Drake Bell has pleaded guilty to attempted child endangerment and disseminating material harmful to children. The "Drake and Josh" alum, who initially pleaded not guilty, changed his tune and agreed to a plea deal at a virtual court hearing on Wednesday, June 22.

According to a livestream of the testify from ABC's local station News 5, the judge declared, "My understanding is there's been a plea agreement reached where the defendant will plead guilty to count one attempted endangering children, a felony in the fourth degree [and] plead guilty to count two: disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a misdemeanor the first degree."

The judge later informed the Nickelodeon star, born Jared Bell, that attempted endangering children carries a sentence of anywhere from six to 18 months in prison in monthly increments and/or a fine of up to $5,000, though prison time is not mandatory. The second charge carries up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

"However, if you go to prison, upon your release, you could be subjected to a discretionary period of three years post-release control. Post-release control could involve restrictions on your activities," the judge continued to explain. "If you were to violate those restrictions, you can be returned to prison, [for] up to a maximum of one-half of your original sentence."

The judge went on to ask Drake, "Do you understand the potential penalties?" to which the 34-year-old actor responded, "I do, Your Honor. Yes." The judge then followed it up with another question, "Do you understand if you plead guilty that is an admission by you that you did these crimes?" to which the actor, who appeared on "iCarly", again said, "Yes, Your Honor."

A hearing for Drake's sentencing is scheduled for July 12 in Cleveland. As the victim, who met him online and attended one of his concerts in Cleveland in 2017, is now an adult, she will be allowed to give a victim impact statement at the sentencing, the judge added.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Drake's lawyer Ian Friedman said, "All questions about this case will be answered at sentencing." He pointed out, "Including why Mr. Bell chose to enter his plea."

Drake was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio earlier this month for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate chat with a 15-year-old girl that was at times sexual in nature. The alleged incident happened on December 1, 2017, the same day the "Superhero Movie" actor was scheduled to perform at a venue in Cleveland.
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The 'Eternals' actress, who adopted Zahara from Ethiopia, recalls a moment when a nurse told her to call them if the 16-year-old's skin 'turned pink' after going under the knife.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Angelina Jolie has gotten candid about how her eldest daughter experienced bias in the medical system. Revealing that Zahara has undergone surgery, the "Eternals" star claimed that the 16-year-old's care after the procedure depended on her "skin color."

The 46-year-old shared her story when sitting down with Malone Mukwende for Time's interview. "I have children from different backgrounds, and I know when there was a rash that everybody got, it looked drastically different depending on their skin color," she said. "But whenever I looked at medical charts, the reference point was always white skin."

"Recently my daughter Zahara, whom I adopted from Ethiopia, had surgery," the Oscar-winning actress further spilled. "And afterward a nurse told me to call them if her skin 'turned pink.' "

Upon hearing Angelina's revelation, Malone noted that he "started to notice [the bias] very early on" in his medical studies. He then explained, "Almost the entirety of medicine is taught in that way. There's a language and a culture that exists in the medical profession, because it's been done for so many years and because we are still doing it so many years later it doesn't seem like it's a problem."

The 21-year-old, who is on a mission to teach other doctor hopefuls how conditions and diseases can be present in non-white patients, went on to elaborate, "However, like you've just illustrated, that's a very problematic statement for some groups of the population." He concluded, "Because it's just not going to happen in that way and if you're unaware you probably won't call the doctor."

Angelina previously opened up about Zahara's surgery in March. In an essay for Time, she wrote, "I have spent the last two months in and out of surgeries with my eldest daughter, and days ago watched her younger sister go under the knife for a hip surgery."

"They know that I am writing this, because I respect their privacy and we discussed it together and they encouraged me to write," the estranged wife of Brad Pitt continued. "They understand that going through medical challenges and fighting to survive and heal is something to be proud of."

"I have watched my daughters care for one another," she raved. "My youngest daughter studied the nurses with her sister, and then assisted the next time. I saw how all my girls so easily stopped everything and put each other first and felt the joy of being of service to those they love."

In addition to Zahara, Angelina and Brad share Maddox, Pax, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and twins Knox and Vivienne.
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The 46-year-old high-profile showrunner, who got out of the Netflix partnership in January, is teaming up with ViacomCBS and gearing up to launch his BET Studios.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kenya Barris has parted ways with Netflix. Confirming that he walked away from a $100 million deal with the streaming giant, the "Black-ish" creator explained the reason behind his decision.

The 46-year-old film and television writer offered his two cents in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "I think a lot of people thought I got fired or I quit, like 'f**k this,' over some kind of beef with Netflix," he first shared.

"I want to do in-your-face s**t," the showrunner pointed out. "I want to sell to everybody - and if you don't want to work with me, I'm not saying that you're racist, but other people might."

"I just don't know that my voice is Netflix's voice," he added. "The stuff I want to do is a little bit more edgy, a little more highbrow, a little more heady, and I think Netflix wants down the middle... Netflix became CBS."

Kenya, who signed the lucrative deal with Netflix in 2018, implied that the streamers' bosses weren't enthusiastic about his semi-autobiographical comedy, "#BlackAF". He stated, "For Netflix, say we got 35 million viewers, they were like, 'Well, it wasn't 'Fuller House'. "

Kenya admitted to feeling "f**king terrified" of telling Netflix that he wanted to get out of the deal. "[Ted Sarandos] had come and saved me with a beyond-generous offer and he let me act, and I'm not an actor, in a show that wasn't their cup of tea," he elaborated.

"And they paid a ton of money for that show, they let me put on Deon Cole's special and an experimental sketch comedy show ['Astronomy Club']. They gave me beautiful offices and they never knocked on my door and asked what I was doing. I was like, 'Is this the definition of ungrateful?' " he reflected. Luckily, Kenya said that Ted could understand his decision.

Rumors about Kenya leaving his Netflix deal first emerged in October 2020. He, however, officially ended the partnership in January. He is now teaming up with ViacomCBS and gearing up to launch his BET Studios.
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Accounts show that the Prince of Wales continued to fund the Sussexes in the months following Megxit, contradicting the Duke's remarks in his Oprah Winfrey interview.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Prince Charles continued to financially support his son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their royal exit. Contrary to the 36-year-old's claim, his father still bankrolled him and his wife by "a substantial sum" in the months following Megxit.

As reported by Daily Mail, royal accounts, which were made public for the first time on Wednesday, June 23, show that Charles used a Clarence House pot to fund Harry and Meghan for 4.4 million until summer 2020. The couple formally stepped down as senior members of the royal family in January 2020 to start a new life in California.

The record contradicts Harry's remarks during his interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, during which he claimed that his family "literally cut me off financially." To the former daytime talk show queen, he said that he stopped getting financial support from his family in the "first quarter" of last year. To support their financial needs, Harry said he and his wife were forced to live off what "my mother had left me."

The royal accounts, however, do show that there's a significant fall to the sum that the Sussexes received in the year 2020/2021 from 2019/2020. In the earlier year, back when they were still working royals, the couple was transferred 5.6 million from Charles's Duchy of Cornwall income.

Speaking of Charles' expenditure for Harry, a senior Clarence House spokesman said, "As we'll all remember, in January 2020 when the duke and duchess announced that they were going to move away from the working Royal Family, the duke said that they would work towards becoming financially independent. The Prince of Wales allocated a substantial sum to support them with this transition. That funding ceased in the summer of last year. The couple are now financially independent."

The spokesman added, "I betray no confidence when I say they've been very successful in becoming financially independent." When asked on the discrepancy in Harry's remarks, the spokesman tried to keep his opinion neutral as saying, "I wouldn't acknowledge that they are dramatically different. All I can tell you are the facts."
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To celebrate the special day, the oldest child of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham takes to his social media account to offer a heartfelt tribute to his actress fiancee.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Brooklyn Beckham showered Nicola Peltz with more love on a special milestone. To mark their first engagement anniversary, the oldest child of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham a.k.a. Victoria Adams took to social media to offer a loving tribute to his fiancee.

Making use of Instagram on Wednesday, June 23, the 22-year-old shared a short clip of him and Nicola smooching for the camera. He followed it up with a picture that saw the two posing at the beach. In the accompaniment of the post, he raved, "This exact day 1 year ago I asked this gorgeous woman to marry me."

"She makes me a better person everyday and is my best friend," the model and photographer further gushed. "I can't imagine my life without you because you continuously make me laugh and smile x happy 1 year baby."

Brooklyn's post has since caught the attention of his fiancee Nicola. The actress portraying Katara in "The Last Airbender" raved in the comment section, "I love you so much baby."

Brooklyn and Nicola confirmed their engagement in July 2020. At that time, he announced on Instagram, "Two weeks ago I asked my soulmate to marry me and she said yes xx I am the luckiest man in the world. I promise to be the best husband and the best daddy one day I love you baby xx."

His bride-to-be, meanwhile, posted a snap of the two on her own Instagram account. She captioned it, "you've made me the luckiest girl in the world. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life by your side. your love is the most precious gift. I love you so so much baby and thank you harper for this pic."

The twosome reportedly planned to exchange vows in September this year. However, they decided to put their wedding on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "They originally told close friends to save a date in September 2021," some insiders told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper. "This week, Brooklyn told his mates they've decided to postpone as it's too risky."
Lifetime TV

The third movie of Lifetime's 'Harry and Movie' trilogy is set to follow the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's struggles as well as the strain under the pressure of media scrutiny.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Lifetime has unveiled the first trailer for "Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace". Arriving on Wednesday, June 23, the new video offers the first glimpses at the upcoming movie that chronicles Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit from British royal family in 2020.

In the short clip which was shared in the official Instagram account of Lifetime, Prince Harry (Jordan Dean) is seen worrying about his wife Meghan (Sydney Morton) who experiences mistreatment in the palace. "I see you literally being hounded to death, and I'm powerless to stop it," Harry, who wakes up in a cold sweat, tells the Duchess of Sussex.

"I am the person who is strong and gets things right," Meghan assures her husband. The couple then declares that they can't lose each other. The upcoming TV will cover Meghan and Harry's tumultous journey as recent as their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey during which the pair got candid about their experience at the palace.

"Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace" is set to follow Harry and Meghan's struggles as well as the strain under the pressure of media scrutiny. It will also highlight Harry's trauma over the relentless attention, which is similar to the one that led to the death of his mother Princess Diana, and their decision to move to the United States.

The official synopsis of the third movie of "Harry & Meghan" trilogy read, "It will explore what really happened inside the palace that drove Harry and Meghan to leave everything behind in order to make a future for themselves and their son Archie."

Sydney and Jordan replace Parisa Fitz-Henry and Murray Fraser who played Meghan and Harry respectively in 2018's "Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance". Meanwhile, 2019's "Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal" featured Tiffany Smith's Meghan and Charlie Field's Harry.

Directed by Menhaj Huda, "Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace" is set to premiere fall 2021.
Instagram Celebrity

The former No Limit Records rapper was sentenced to 30 years behind bars in 2001 after being found guilty of manslaughter in a case relating to the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Barron Victor Jr.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Former No Limit Records rapper Mac has walked free from prison after two decades behind bars.

Mac, real name McKinley Phipps Jr., was handed a 30-year sentence in 2001 after he was found guilty of manslaughter, relating to the shooting death of 19-year-old Barron Victor Jr. the year prior at a Louisiana club where the then-rising star had been due to perform.

He insisted he was innocent, and in 2015, five witnesses to the crime claimed they had been coerced into naming Phipps as the shooter at the time by investigating officers.

Mac was finally granted clemency in April, allowing him to argue his case for freedom before members of a state parole board, and on Tuesday, June 22, they voted in his favor.

He was released on parole on Tuesday night, and must now follow a number of rules to avoid legal trouble, including abiding by a curfew, avoiding establishments where alcohol is served, and keeping up with weekly meetings with his parole officer.

Responding to Mac's parole granting, his wife Angelique Phipps said as quoted by WDSU, "Today marks the end of a long fight for justice." She added, "Today we are looking towards a brighter future for our family. We are grateful to all of those who have never wavered in their support of Mac's innocence."

Mac, who is set to start working as a painter for a friend's construction business, has also been ordered to perform six hours of community service a month with at-risk youth, according to NOLA.com.

Mac was a protege of hip-hop veteran Master P in the late 1990s, and enjoyed chart success with his 1998 release, "Shell Shocked", which hit number 11 on America's Billboard 200. He went on to drop "World War III", his final album for No Limit before his 2000 arrest.
WENN/Instar/Adriana M. Barraza Celebrity

Proving that she maintains a good relationship with the 'Troy' actor, the 'Friends' star says in a new interview that they 'had fun' during 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' table read where she called him 'honey.'

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Jennifer Aniston has proved that she could maintain a healthy friendship with her ex-husband Brad Pitt. In a new interview, the "Friends" alum insisted that "there's no oddness" with the "Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood" actor as they remain "buddies."

On Wednesday, June 23, the 5-year-old talked to Howard Stern on SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show" about her friendship with her ex-husband. "It was absolutely fun. Brad and I are buddies, we're friends," the actress shared about her reunion with the "Troy" actor in September 2020 for a live table reading of 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". She added, "And we speak, and there's no oddness at all."

"Except for everyone that probably watched it and was wanting there to be, or assumed there to be," Jennifer continued. The "We're the Millers" actress, who appeared in the interview alongside her "Friends" co-stars Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox, then recalled, "We had fun, and it was for a great cause." The event raised money for two different organizations, Sean Penn's emergency relief organization CORE and criminal justice nonprofit Reform Alliance.

During the star-studded table read of the Sean Penn-starring classic film, both Jennifer and Brad greeted each other in an adorable way. "Hi Aniston," the "World War Z" actor said, to which the smiley actress replied, "Hi Pitt." They then exchanged friendly "how you doings" with "The Morning Show" star, at one point, calling him "honey."

Of their relationship, Jennifer was married to Brad from 2000 to 2005. The "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" actor guest-starred in a 2001 episode of her sitcom "Friends". Following his split from Angelina Jolie, the former couple has since rekindled their friendship, with the 57-year-old actor attending her 50th birthday celebration in 2019.

In May, Jennifer mentioned Brad as one of her favorite "Friends" guest stars. During a sit-down with Access Hollywood, the Rachel Green depicter in ohe comedy show gushed over her ex-husband, saying, "Mr. Pitt was wonderful," while she was asked to name the most memorable guest.

Jennifer herself has just revealed that she is currently not looking to walk down the aisle again, but she hopes to find a "fantastic partner." The actress said of getting married for the third time during an interview for PEOPLE magazine's July issue, "Oh God, I don't know." She noted, "It's not on my radar. I'm interested in finding a fantastic partner and just living an enjoyable life and having fun with one another. That's all we should hope for. It doesn't have to be etched in stone in legal documents."
Instagram/WENN/FayesVision Celebrity

Samaria Rice's post arrives after the co-founder of Real Justice PAC uploads an episode, which is titled 'I spoke to Samaria Rice this past week', on his podcast 'The Breakdown'.

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Tamir Rice's mother Samaria Rice has taken to social media to slam civil rights activist Shaun King. In the scathing Instagram post on Wednesday, June 23, Samaria dubbed the co-founder of Real Justice PAC a self-centered person and "a white man acting black."

"Why do you think its so important to tell folks we had a conversation?" Samaria began her post that was addressed to Shaun. "Well we talked and everything that was said was very toxic and uncomfortable for me to hear that you raised additional money and then say you did not want to bother me. Personally I don't understand how you sleep at night."

Later, Samaria noted that she never gave Shaun permission to raise money in the name of her 12-year-old son, who was killed in Cleveland by Timothy Loehmann, a white police officer, back in 2014. She went on to say that Shaun "robbed me for the death of my son" along with "the united states."

The mom further criticized him, "You gave me a cop and donut conversation. All lies Shaun, please stop thinking we on the same page. As a white man acting black you are a imposter that can not be trusted. My son was 12 years old and, and DOJ needs to reopen his persion. Tamir Human rights was violated, why would you so ever make it about you?"

Concluding her post, Samaria called Shaun "a selfish self centered person," before adding, "God will deal with you White man."

Samaria's post arrives after Shaun uploaded an episode, which has since been replaced with a new episode focused on elections in New York, on his podcast "The Breakdown". Describing the episode, which was titled "I spoke to Samaria Rice this past week", Shaun wrote, "It was a much-needed conversation. I learned a lot. Listened a lot. Shared my heart. And pledged we would continue to fight to get justice and accountability for Tamir."

Prior to this, it was reported that Shaun and Real Justice PAC were named in a 312-page lawsuit. In the court docs, Shaun was accused of funneling "significant funds donated by unwitting citizens of Philadelphia to line the pockets of defendant Shaun King, his Real Justice PAC, and the [Larry Krasner] campaign."

Shaun has yet to react to Samaria's post.
WENN/Johnny Louis Celebrity

After years of berating his former G-Unit member of his alleged homosexuality, the 'In da Club' rapper urges the 'Shorty Wanna Ride' spitter to 'just say he was gay.'

Jun 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - 50 Cent has been long been convinced that Young Buck is gay and is tired of the latter seemingly still hiding in the closet. After keeping up with his former G-Unit member for years, the rapper-turned-TV producer has bumped into the news of Buck allegedly coming out of the closet and he wasted no time to mock his former labelmate.

On Tuesday, June 22, Fiddy shared a clip of blogger Tasha K titled "Young Buck COMES OUT of The Closet". As he listened attentively to what the blogger was saying, the "Power" star/co-creator urged Buck to come clean about his sexuality.

"SMH why he didn't just say he was gay," he wrote in the caption of an Instagram post in which he reposted Tasha K's video. He further encouraged his former buddy, "There is nothing wrong with it Buck. But you can't be putting your hands on no women because she keep catching you."

In the said clip, Tasha K actually talked about Buck's ex-girlfriend, who was arrested in October 2020 for allegedly shooting at him outside of a Sumner County, Tennessee home. The blogger said the woman was tired of catching him with different trans women and gay men, which then led to the domestic incident between the former couple.

Buck's ex , who is identified as Lucresia Neil, was arrested and booked into the Sumner County Sheriff's Office on a charge of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. She reportedly "let off a few rounds" during the argument and shared a photo of her allegedly pointing a gun toward his vehicle on their driveway.

Buck, whose real name is David Darnell Brown, was not injured in the incident. A few days later, the 40-year-old was taken into custody on charges of domestic assault, possession of a weapon and vandalism over $10,000. He posted $60,000 bond and was released.
WENN Music

The 'Fancy' hitmaker admits performing for an hour on stage is a struggle for her as she vows to 'get fit' in preparation for her upcoming trek with Pitbull.

Jun 25, 2021

AceShowbiz - Iggy Azalea has "gotta get fit" before she heads out on tour as she's not capable of performing for an hour onstage.

The 31-year-old rapper - who announced the birth of her son Onyx on social media in June (20) last year - has revealed plans to tour with Pitbull later this summer, but the Australian, real name Amethyst Amelia Kelly, admits she desperately needs to get in better shape over the next few weeks.

Asked what it feels like to be returning to the stage, Iggy wrote on Twitter, "I'm glad I'm not the headliner cause babe, I can't do an hour on stage yet I gotta get fit again. My lungs can't take it. Lmao (sic)"

And on how many songs she'll be performing during each show, the "Black Widow" hitmaker added, "35min set so probably 10-12 songs. (sic)"

Despite this, Iggy doesn't have any immediate plans to tour Europe, explaining that it'll be too difficult to manage touring overseas amid the pandemic.

When probed about potential plans to tour Europe, the "Work" rapper said, "Not right now, just USA because 32 dates is already tons to juggle when you have a 15 month old kid. (sic)"

Earlier this month, Iggy revealed she'd bought a "baby" Range Rover for her son.

The rap star - who owns a Range Rover Autobiography - wrote on Twitter, "I bought onyx a baby range today and I'm so excited."

"Mama has the autobiography and baby boy has the evoque. I'm getting rims on it so it can be like the mini version of mine!"
CHICO, Calif. - A new resting site for the City of Chico's homeless is getting ready to open up.

Mayor Andrew Coolidge said it's coming from city COVID-19 funds, federal funds and county funds.

They have around $2 million to work with but Coolidge doesnt think it will cost that much.

He said this is all money that has been set aside specifically to help with this issue.

The total cost depends on how many people actually use the site.

The city said there will be enough room for around 570 people here in this area. The city wants to stress they only expect about 30 to 80 people to actually use it.

Action News Now spoke with one woman staying at Comanche Creek who said she doesn't plan to use it because she doesn't like the location.

RELATED: Chico finds solution to shelter homeless

When you think of from the airport to any store close by, it's at least 30 minutes away maybe longer, said Amber Bond.

This is a site that meets the criteria we need, provides a temporary place for them to go and fulfills that order moves us forward so we can get our parks and waterways cleaned up, said Mayor Coolidge.

He said the site will have an RV and car area, a large tent, water tanks and portable restrooms.

People will be able to bring tents and personal belongings and pets as long as everything stays in allocated spaces.

Action News Now also spoke with businesses in the airport area who shared concerns.

"Security is a big concern. Thats a lot of people. The airport is right here. Our business, we aren't accustomed to having that many people out here that aren't working out here," said Bill Weaver, who works near the airport.

"In terms of people who live in the area there's no homes within several hundred yards of this facility, in terms of people who do business in the area, there are no businesses within several hundred yards of this facility," Coolidge said. "This facility is set up to provide what we need to provide but also protect our population. We have fences, actually two fences seperating this population from the airport. So you're talking thousands of feet in between where the planes are taking off between this and the shelter site."

RELATED: Over 500 homeless could be sheltered near Chico airport

The amount of time the site will be up is up to the judge.

The site is set to open Friday. Mayor Coolidge said it will be monitored 24/7.

The case will be presented at the U.S. Eastern District Court to determine if it meets the judges approval on July 2.

Mayor Coolidge said the overall goal is to eventually move people from the site and into shelters where they can get more help.
ORLAND, Calif. - The Orland Fire Chief said a house fire broke out after 2:10 a.m. Thursday morning on Tehama St. and Third St. in Orland.

When firefighters got to the scene they found a home completely engulfed in flames.

Firefighters quickly responded to a structure fire on Tehama St. and Third St. early Thursday morning. Firefighters quickly responded to a structure fire on Tehama St. and Third St. early Thursday morning.

A man was found dead inside the home as he was one of three people inside of the home at the time of the fire.

The man who died got trapped inside the house, according to the fire chief.

The two survivors escaped as one of them escaped through the front and the other survivor escaped through the bathroom window. Both of the survivors were treated for smoke inhalation.

The brother of the victim said the man was 63 years old and was disabled.

The home was destroyed and it took firefighters as it took about three minutes to get to the scene.

When they arrived, they were not able to immediately enter the home since the fire was breaking out in the backside of the house.

Firefighters attacked his fire in the air with a ladder truck and they went inside the building.

As a result of the fire, all the windows got busted open, the basement got gutted and the roof collapsed.

Multiple agencies came out to assist in this incident including Willows Fire Department, Hamilton City Fire Department, Capay Fire Department, Artois Fire Department, Orland Police Department and Glenn County deputies.

It took roughly 45 minutes for a complete knockdown of the house fire. Firefighters tried to save the man but it was too late when they arrived at the scene.

At one point, one nearby home was threatened but that was mitigated, meaning no other home got burned.

The cause is still under investigation
Over the last two decades, Bandhan has sought to reach out to empower Indians from all walks of life through access to formal financial services. Similarly, a city-based rapid transit system like the Kolkata Metro  the first of its kind to come up in India  helps empower citizens from all walks of life by affording access to hassle-free commute.

Keeping this synergy in mind, Bandhan Bank has entered into an arrangement with Kolkata Metro for the branding rights of the Salt Lake Sector V metro station. With this, the station will now be called Bandhan Bank Salt Lake Sector V Metro Station. Notably, this is the first of its kind arrangement for the Indian Railways where a private entity has been given the branding rights to an entire station. While such arrangements are seen across various metro stations in other larger cities, this is the first for Indian Railways and also for the city of Kolkata, whose metro service is the oldest in the country.

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Bandhan Bank was also the first BFSI brand to tie up with Kolkata Metro for their Smart Card branding a few months ago. It was a maiden deal in the history of Kolkata Metro as the rapid transit system joined hands with a private entity to leverage its vast user base via an exclusive medium.

Salt Lake Sector V was where Bandhan Bank was born. The registered office and the head office of the bank are in Sector V. Since Sector V is a major IT, commercial and education hub, the station promises to have good commuter traffic in the future. It will also serve as a point of interchange between two metro lines, which will further augment footfalls at the station.

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Along with the earlier tie-up for branding smart cards issued to commuters, the branding of Bandhan Bank Salt Lake Sector V metro station, which will soon be bustling with people across age groups and social strata, promises to substantially amplify the Banks visibility and brand recall. The partnership with Kolkata Metro is Bandhan Banks tribute to the indomitable spirit of Kolkatas hardworking citizens, from whom the metro is a lifeline, a Bandhan Bank spokesperson said.

Manoj Joshi, General Manager, Eastern Railways, said: We are glad to join hands with a home-grown organisation for the very first initiative of its kind for the Indian Railways. Bandhan Bank is a household name in the city of Kolkata and for us at Indian Railways, it is a proud moment to exemplify the advertising and brand building potential of metro stations with respect to commuter audiences via Bandhan Bank. I congratulate and thank Bandhan Bank for y
Throughout 2020, Kantar- the worlds leading data-driven insights and consulting company tested more than 10,000 creatives for clients around the world. Over 1,000 of those creatives were tested in India alone.

Kantar has unveiled the ads that were most effective and creative in India across 2020. At Kantars Creative Effectiveness Awards, consumers are the jury, making it unique and different from all other awards in the advertising world. The India report includes over 150 ads tested across categories, markets, TGs and media channels which were potential contenders.

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Across the television ads that were tested in India, Kantar has called out the standout performers/ winners in four key categories. These ads exemplify essential characteristics of being creatively engaging and landing persuasive brand stories. There is also a special award for ads tested in the digital space for bringing to life the exciting storytelling possibilities in the digital world.

Kantar Creative Effectiveness Awards 2021 India Winners

Award Category: Corporate: Brand: Creative Agency: Creative: Channel: Personal Care Hindustan Unilever Closeup Mullen Lowe Bedsheet TV Durables BSH Home Appliances Corp Bosch Home Appliances Jung von Matt, Germany Sustainability TV Foods & Beverages Kellogg India Kellogg India Ogilvy Ek Chamach TV Home Care Hindustan Unilever Surf Excel Quick Wash Lowe Lintas Surf excel Olsen Vada TV Digital Beam Global Spirits & Wine Oaksmith Gold Publicis Teppanyaki Digital

The study that led to the selection of winners captured a plethora of consumer insights:

During 2020s COVID crisis, ads started following a templated communication. Most focussed on being together in unprecedented times and showcased brands as Corona Warriors in different ways. Whether this connected with consumers or not is arguable, but they all definitely looked quite similar.

The winning ads had certain winning ingredients like storytelling, consistency, localisation and well-integrated brand role.

Winning ads offer a practical solution & embed themselves into a category moment of truth.

This is in line with what other Kantar data sources indicate consumers want brands to be a part of their lives. 56% feel that brands should be a trusted source of accurate information.

44% consumers pinned their choice on brands that can reduce their anxiety and understand consumers concerns.

Another 56% feel that brands need to be practical and realistic and help consumers in their everyday life.

Response to advertising continues to be led by individual executions. Enjoyment levels of ads remain similar between pre-COVID (41%) and during COVID times (43%).

Finally, creativity in advertising still is the key indicator of brand building. Kantar BrandZ data for 94 brands from 2006 to 2018 shows that brands with creative communication grew a whopping 271% over 12 years.

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Commenting on this years winners, Soumya Mohanty, Managing Director- Client and Quantitative, Insights Division at Kantar, said, We are happy to extend this global property to India. The winners are from a diverse range of industries and products. Like our global report, in India, too, brands that have won have a penchant for achieving creative excellence and their brand promise is delivered through performance, consistently.

Across the year, and the 10,000+ adverts analysed globally using Link, Kantars validated ad testing solution, five habits from the most effective advertisers were identified as:
Jagran New Media has been recognized as Indias Best Place to work in Media for the year 2021 by the Great Place to Work Institute.

Great Place to Work is the global authority on building, sustaining and recognizing High-Trust, High-Performance Culture at workplaces. The Certification is recognized world over by employees and employers alike and is considered the Gold Standard in identifying and recognizing Great Workplace Cultures.

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Every year, more than 10,000 organizations across 60 countries apply to get Great Place to WorkCertified.

This is Jagran New Medias first ever recognition in the best in media ranking. Earlier the organization got certified in the year 2018, 2019 and this year as well the certification came for demonstrating best culture driven practices for the employees.

On getting the recognition Mr. Bharat Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Jagran New Media said Culture Building is the foundation to achieving sustainable growth models, I would like to thank team Jagran New Media for believing in the vision, working innovatively and exhibiting strong camaraderie.

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Considering the fact that digital is evolving every day and we are transitioning from millennials to Gen Z, its imperative for us to build a friendly work environment where everyone feel connected remains our main priority said Neha Verma, Head  Human Resources, Jagran New Media.

In the survey, conducted by the Great Place to work in Jan 2021 most of the employees praised the organization for looking after them like a family during the pandemic and applauded the efforts made by the leadership team in designing communicable strategies for a sustainable and productive work from home environment.
m/SIX, GroupMs youngest outcome-based agency has won the creative and integrated media duties for Dindigul Thalappakatti, a restaurant chain that operates primarily in Tamil Nadu, Bangalore & Kerala, following a multi-agency pitch.

Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant is a restaurant chain whose first outlet was opened in 1957 at Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. The restaurant has 82 outlets and is present across India, USA, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia & Sri Lanka. In India, the restaurant has 76 outlets that operate in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, & Pondicherry. The Thalappakatti restaurant focuses on a premier South Indian dining experience.

Saket Sinha, Senior Vice President and Head of m/SIX India said, Team m/SIX is delighted to have a legacy restaurant chain on board. The food industry has always been Indias favorite and is always on the forefront. With m/SIXs data intelligence and our DNA Xcellerator, we will take the brand of newer heights. With Dindigul Thalappakattis wide presence in India and internationally, and our teams enthusiasm, m/SIX will further strengthen the restaurants position and derive significant outcome.

Ashutosh Bihani  CEO, Dindigul Thalappakatti said, We at Dindigul Thalappakatti DT are proud of serving unique and authentic food to customers made out of our safeguarded secret recipes of over 3 generations. As we fast forward our growth in various parts of Southern India and Sri-Lanka, we are happy to partner with m/SIX as our Media Agency. m/SIXs agility and consumer-centric approach made us confident of maintaining our leadership in our home market and achieving similar brand relevance in identified target markets.

Anita Gupta, Deputy Brand Manager, Dindigul Thalappakatti said, We are delighted to join forces with m/SIX. DT has embarked upon an exciting journey of growth and expansion. We are certain that m/SIXs strategic vision and deep domain understanding of the category will help the brand unlock new growth levers. We are all excited and looking forward to a great journey ahead. 

The account will be handled out of m/SIXs Gurgaon office and will cater to all creative and integrated media duties along with social media.
In keeping with its endeavour to have a 360-degree coverage of all markets, Adgully turned the spotlight on the sparsely covered East Market as part of its Adgully4um knowledge session. Titled An Advertisers Perspective: A View of the Eastern Market, the special Web conference sought to understand the dynamics of the East market comprising Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. As per TAM AdEx data on the advertising outlook of the East market for the January to April 2021 period, prior to the onset of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the East Market showed rapid signs of recovery, with ad volumes on television and print media growing by 57 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. More than 14,000 brands advertised during this period, with 1,200 new brands on TV and 7,430 new brands on print, compared to the same period last year, according to data provided by TAM Media Research.

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Monaz Todywalla, CEO, PHD India, observed, Weve picked up a couple of peculiarities in West Bengal more than any other market in the last decade. The market is exceeding open to innovations from a media standpoint. There is a dependence on TV, but over the last couple of years theres an increasing dependence on digital and it has seen even more acceleration in the last two years. Another peculiarity in the East is that there is a lot of local consumption of content.

Jai Lala, CEO, Zenith India, noted, The East market is broken up into West Bengal, which has been part of all media plans for many brands across the country. And markets like Assam, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, which over the last few years have got increasing attention from marketers. West Bengal is an evolved media market with various regional TV channels. Print is very popular and digital is gaining traction, where we are seeing customised digital solutions for WB.

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The interest part is that Assam, Bihar and other parts of East market are becoming a part of media plans. Earlier, they were covered by national media channels but now there are specific inputs going into these markets. I wouldnt look at East as one market, but rather as West Bengal and other markets, where WB obviously leads in ad spends while the other markets are gaining, Lala added.

Poulomi Roy, CMO, RSH Global, noted, In the last decade, we have seen Hindi GEC content replicated for regional channels. But in the last few years, Ive observed that content created for Bengali regional channels is being replicated on national TV channels and has met with a lot of success. Earlier, companies that did not have a very strong sales and distribution network did not invest in smaller markets. However, thanks to e-commerce which has increased the penetration into these markets, brands are advertising their products to customers in smaller markets. It is interesting to see how online retail is influencing advertising spends in these smaller markets.

Suparna Mucadum, Head of Marketing and Brand Custodian, Keventer Agro, said, Our research has found that in the last decade, the entire portion size of products has reduced. The East being a cost conscious market, products that have done really well tend to be use-based and priced very aggressively. The smallest markets are absolutely untapped and I am not just talking about Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar, but also the North East markets. Our brand actually entered the North East first before entering WB and weve seen a lot of success with our milk brand under Keventer Agro. Tetrapak has replaced the entire powder milk market in the North East and now we are the second largest player next to a goliath like Amul today.

According to Sushant Panda, Team lead, Marketing and Communications strategy, Digital initiatives & International Business expansion, McENROE Consumer Products, Lifestyle desirability has been the highest in the North East market and then travels down from there. The bottom rung of the consumption pyramid has really gone up, which means that there is a larger chunk of people who have joined the consumption classes. Modern retail seems to have bypassed the East and instead the market has jumped straight into ecommerce. The reason why modern retail didnt work in the East is because you dont get the right amount of people walking in. The population is not concentrated, but rather distributed. Which is why East has become the largest market for Flipkart by 3-4 percentage points. There was a point about Bengali content being adapted to Hindi, but actually that is part of a larger trend where content is travelling beyond borders and geographies. And content is a great equaliser in my mind. For example, the followers of K-Pop in the North East are extremely high. There is a far greater degree of homogenisation in terms of content, even if the language is different.

Watch the full session:
Skechers, the global lifestyle and performance footwear brand headquartered in the United States, is expanding its #OriginalsKeepMoving campaign with its new collection featuring actress Ananya Panday. The campaign will include the launch of Skechers Energy Racer in India and the popular Skechers DLites for women as well as men.

Together with Ananya, were excited to double the thrill as we launch the Energy Racer across India alongside the DLites rangewhich has been demanded by sneaker lovers since its debut, said Rahul Vira, CEO of Skechers South Asia. Were infusing an element of novelty while continuing to blend expressive style with fashion that appeals to all kinds of tastesand we believe that this new Skechers campaign with Ananya which celebrates the original spirit of the youth will help them make strong style statements and give our designs their own unique take.

My insatiable love for trendy and comfortable sneakers gets me excited every time a new Skechers collection is about to drop, added Ananya Panday. This collection in particular had me waiting with bated breath: the Skechers DLites range has been a favourite, and the Energy Racer is a natural extension of how I like to express myself through my fashion. The fact that these have launched as part of the #OriginalsKeepMoving Campaign makes it sweeter for me personally, because I deeply believe in the message that it carries: true originals keep moving forward in life and evolving, no matter what the odds are.

Iconic for their chunky platforms, the Skechers DLites range reflects spring and summers optimistic style sentiment with its colourful splashwhile the Energy Racer range heads from its success on the runaway to a trendy style boost for every wardrobe. The collections join the newest leg of the #OriginalsKeepMoving campaigna fashion movement that launched in Autumn/Winter 2020 with Ananya Panday, and showcases the magic that can be created when original individuals find new ways to keep moving and overcome challenges.

The new collection will be available at Skechers retail outlets nationwide and online at Skechers.in. Since Skechers India launched in 2012, the Company has offered a wide range of its 3,000 footwear styles to men, women and children across the country, along with introducing apparel and accessories in nearly every category.
With acute focus on growth and expansion, The Outlook Group is embarking on an aggressive roadmap for titles across its publishing spectrum. As a part of the growth plan, Ashish Jha has been appointed the Editor of Outlook Traveller  Indias most illustrious travel content destination.

Ashish has worked across print, broadcast, and new media in his corporate journey of over one and half-decade. With his deep understanding of the media industry and audience behaviour, he has captained content products from the stage of infancy and helped turn them into successful businesses. A strong storytelling and product management professional, he has worked as an editorial leader with media titles like AutoX and NDTV Convergence, and supported National Geographic Traveller India on special projects. He has also spent time with media agencies like Ideate Labs and Publicis Groupe, and contributes to WION, a global television news channel.

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Ashish has worked across print, broadcast, and new media in his corporate journey of over one and half-decade. With his deep understanding of the media industry and audience behaviour, he has captained content products from the stage of infancy and helped turn them into successful businesses. A strong storytelling and product management professional, he has worked as an editorial leader with media titles like AutoX and NDTV Convergence, and supported National Geographic Traveller India on special projects. He has also spent time with media agencies like Ideate Labs and Publicis Groupe, and contributes to WION, a global television news channel.

Meenakshie Mehta, Publisher, Outlook Traveller The last couple of years have been exceedingly difficult for the entire news and niche media industry. At Outlook Traveller, we have thought of new constructs with Ashish and their implementation will enable us to grow the product across print, digital, and special projects. It is great to have him on board and drive the brand ahead with a fresh approach.

GAMEXX Awards 2021 Early Bird Discount Extended Last Date - Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - ENTER NOW

Ashish Jha, Editor, Outlook Traveller It is wonderful to have been given the opportunity to work on a brand as prestigious as Outlook Traveller. There are immense opportunities to explore and well unpack several new ways to grow it strongly. I look forward to working with people across the organisation and hope to collectively take this iconic media title to greater heights."
Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Dubendorf, 24.06.2021 - The OECD gives the green light to the fish cell line assay developed at Eawag. This paves the way for companies and authorities around the world to determine the environmental toxicology of chemicals without having to resort to animal testing.

A large number of chemicals are used in everyday products, in agriculture or in industry. At some point, many of these end up in the environment. In order for these substances to be authorised for the market, manufacturers must be able to prove in advance that they are harmless to humans and nature. This is done with toxicity tests in which living creatures are exposed to the effects of the chemicals. Thousands of fish die every year because they are used to test the effect on aquatic vertebrates.

Thanks to a test procedure developed in recent years by the aquatic research institute Eawag, this should soon be a thing of the past. This assay, based on rainbow trout gill cells, has now been approved by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as the latest guideline in the field of environmental toxicology. This paves the way for animal-free approval procedures.

The fish cell line assay is the world's first alternative to experiments with live fish. The new OECD guideline allows companies to use fish cell line testing for product development and as part of the dossiers for chemical approval. "There is great interest on the part of industry in non-animal tests," confirms Professor Kristin Schirmer, Head of Department at Eawag, who together with Melanie Fischer (also at Eawag), has taken the lead in driving this pioneering work forwards. Because on the one hand, the demands on environmental risk assessment are growing, and on the other hand, the number of new chemicals and products that need to be tested is constantly increasing. In addition, the fish cell line assay also conserves resources. The miniaturisation through the use of cells allows chemicals, water and time to be saved.

Kristin Schirmer assumes that the regulatory authorities, such as the ECHA in Helsinki or the US EPA in the USA, will increasingly accept the fish cell line assay as an equivalent substitute to the regular fish test: "The OECD recommendation was the last important step from our side, after our method had already been certified by ISO two years ago. This should mean that nothing more stands in the way of an animal-free approval procedure."

In this way, Eawag contributes to the further development of toxicology and makes a significant contribution to the reduction of animal testing. This is because in 2019, tests were carried out on almost 8,000 fish in Switzerland alone for ecotoxicological tests.

This concludes a long and intensive period that required perseverance and a supportive environment. Schirmer already had the idea for this test procedure during her doctoral thesis in the mid-1990s. At the University of Waterloo (CAN), she then worked with exactly the same cell line on which the method is still based today. The cell line goes back to Schirmer's doctoral supervisor Niels C. Bols, who isolated the cells from the gills of the rainbow trout for the first time and cultivated them in such a way that they can be multiplied as often as desired.

"We chose gill cells because it is the gills that first come into contact with chemicals due to their large surface area in the fish," explains Schirmer. If the chemicals damage the gill cells, this means that vital processes, such as oxygen supply, no longer function for the fish. "So by observing how the gill cells are damaged by a chemical, we can predict how that chemical would affect a living fish," says Schirmer.

The award of a project proposal, which Schirmer received from the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) in 2006, marked the actual staring signal for the development of the now validated fish cell line assay. Schirmer continued her research first as Head of Department at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig and from 2008 as Head of Department at Eawag. In 2009, engineer and laboratory technician Melanie Fischer joined the team.

"In a first step, we developed and optimised our method and compared the results with regular tests on fish," says Schirmer. A study published in 2013 was thus able to prove for the first time that the new fish cell line assay arrives at the same toxicity values for over 30 chemicals as the conventional fish test. "After that, we had to show that the method also works in other laboratories," says Schirmer. Six laboratories from industry and universities took part in the international ring study conducted for this purpose in 2013-2014. Their results, obtained using the Eawag method, proved to be repeatable and comparable.

The study data laid the foundation for ISO certification in 2019 and the OECD guideline 2021. "Certification by internationally supported organisations is very important, as it is the only way to ensure that the tests are carried out in a standardised manner worldwide and that the results are thus also recognised," says Schirmer. From the submission to the OECD to the validation that has now taken place, a record short time of only two years passed, during which the method was once again revised in an elaborate process in order to harmonise the proposals and opinions of experts from many different representative countries and organisations. The team was supported by the national representatives of Switzerland (Petra Kunz, Federal Office of the Environment FOEN) and Norway (Sjur Andersen, Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency and Adam Lillicrap, NIVA). Eszter Simon (also at FOEN) supported the work as an expert.

Schirmer attributes the fact that the guideline could be adopted in such a short time to the interest and great support of all those involved: "It was an active discussion with OECD countries, industry, NGOs and regulatory authorities." This is also confirmed by Leon van der Wal of the OECD: "The commitment of OECD countries to aid the reduction of animal testing is reflected in the swift adoption of this first in vitro method for ecotoxicity testing. This is also due to the well-organised and transparent manner in which the lead countries communicated, as well as the hard work of the method developers and the OECD experts reviewing the method."

Looking back, Kristin Schirmer comments: "Our learning curve was very steep. But the investment of time and energy was worth it. This success for non-animal testing alternatives in ecotoxicology is great and is something that will stay."

Address for enquiries

Prof. Dr. Kristin Schirmer, kristin.schirmer@eawag.ch; +41 58 765 5266

Publisher

Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

http://www.eawag.ch




(From left) U.S. Navy veteran and SIUE Coordinator of Military and Veteran Services Telisha Reinhardt; alumna Christine Durham, who is in the Air Force attached to the 136th AW in Texas; and alumna Rachel Cawvey, who enlisted in the Navy straight out of high school in 2012, serving as an Aviation Ordnanceman in San Diego
Ask most folks how agricultural commodities are transported to market; theyll probably say truck or train. Some might say ships.
Editors note: This article is the first in a series featuring women who are serving as conservation coaches for Wisconsin Women in Conservati
Pollinator Week is June 21-27, and one Kansas organizations goal is to encourage an agriculture that supports healthy pollinator populations.

Pollinators are critical to ecosystem function and a key component in protecting and promoting biodiversity and resiliency in the landscapes we live in and rely on for our health and well-being, said Joanna Will, pollinator program coordinator at Kansas Rural Center.

Pollinators play a key role in a healthy farm and food system. What they contribute goes beyond making fruits and vegetables grow.

Will said that while agriculture and the use of chemicals has played a significant role in the decline of pollinator populations worldwide, a number of farmers in Kansas and elsewhere have been including  when possible  a variety of agricultural practices that also help that protect and promote pollinator populations.

The Kansas Rural Center hosted a talk earlier this year as part of the Pollinators on the Plains virtual farm and food Conference Series. Sarah Red-Laird gave the keynote presentation on how bees and other pollinators benefit agriculture.

Red-Laird is executive director of Bee Girl, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and inspire communities to conserve bees, their flowers and our countryside.

The problem, is were losing native bees. Were losing large acres of flowers and land, and loss of habitat and floral diversity, said Red-Laird.

Bees dont have the nutrients they previously had, possibly linked to soil issues, she said. Many of the practices that improve soil health have direct or indirect benefits for pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Red-Laird encourages practices that support wild pollinators and native bees. Bees need diverse, pesticide-free flowers, she said. Her many ongoing pollinator projects include a regenerative bee pasture project, bee-friendly vineyards, and projects with kids.

You have to engage collaborators, engage people in the community and fellow conservationists, and policy makers, and bring them into a solution, Red-Laird said.

In her business venture, she aims to bring people into the story of where her honey came from by putting it on the label.

Red-Laird encourages practices that support wild pollinators and native bees. She raises bees and sells honey and finds a direct relationship between bees and grazing lands. She recommends rotational adaptive grazing, using no chemicals. No till and soil health building principals compliment pollinators as well.

In her fields, she uses a bee crimper, which was designed to go in the back of her Toyota pickup and also to go in between vineyard roads. She has a seed drill, thats small enough to get seeds into the pasture without tillage. The seed drill can penetrate the matted vegetation.

Soil health is human health, said Red-Laird. I encourage you to think about right relationship with land  whether you run 800 acres of corn and soy, or whatever you do.

Reporter Amy Hadachek is a two-time Emmy Award winning meteorologist and a storm chaser who earned her NWA and AMS Broadcast Meteorology Seals of Approval. She and her husband live on a diversified farm in Kansas. Reach her at amy.hadachek@midwestmessenger.com.

Midwest Messenger Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Midwest Messenger. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Andy Hayes doesnt know how many families will show up at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, July 3, for th
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Banning-Israeli-Food-Truck-in-Philadelphia.html

When an Israeli food truck was disinvited to a food festival, supporters stepped in to protest.

When a Philadelphia food festival recently disinvited an Israeli food truck, Jews and allies around the world made their voices heard, decrying antisemitism and ultimately leading to an apology and the cancellation of the festival.

The Taste of Home festival was meant to showcase local immigrant chefs. Two previous Taste of Home food festivals, in April and May 2020, had proved popular with local diners, and allowed immigrant chefs to showcase their culinary skills.

One emerging chef on the Philadelphia food scene is Israeli-born Nir Sheynfeld, who debuted his new Israeli themed food truck Moshava at the May festival. In a recent Aish.com exclusive interview, Nir explained that the Israeli street food he served proved popular with festival-goers.

I grew up in Even Yehuda, a small moshava (farm) outside of Netanya in the north of Israel, Nir explained  hence the name of the food truck. Nir grew up eating popular Israeli dishes such as falafel, shawarma and sabich  a delicious pita sandwich of fried eggplant, hard boiled eggs and salads. Nir moved to the United States in 2015 to attend culinary school, and opened Moshava along with two partners as a way to showcase the scrumptious Israeli foods he loves.

At the May event, Nirs food proved popular. We thought it was great. A lot of people showed up to support us at the food trucks grand opening. We got good feedback on the food and everything, he recalls.

While Nir was dishing up Israeli cuisine, however, the two local organizations behind the food festival  Sunflower Philly and Eat Up the Borders  were getting intense hate-filled criticism for allowing an Israeli food vendor to take part. We received more hate than I thought was possible for having an Israeli vendor, a representative of Eat Up the Borders posted on social media.

Vitriolic anti-Israel protestors turned what was meant to be a fun food festival into a highly politicized vehicle for hate. As an attempt to appease their critics, Sunflower Philly and Eat Up the Borders announced that for their next food festival, in June 2020, they would invite a Palestinian food vendor and continue to include Nirs food truck.

But days before the June food festival was to go ahead, the Palestinian food vendor was forced to pull out due to scheduling conflicts. Eat Up the Borders abruptly informed Nir that he was barred from selling food at the festival.

The New Antisemitism

This assumption that Israel  alone, out of the global family of nations  somehow merits special attention and criticism has gained traction in recent years, with horrific results. By treating Israel as a pariah state and exposing it to constant defamation and distortion, Israels enemies have succeeded in many quarters in making people believe that Israel alone is some sort of monstrous, illegitimate country without equal in the world. Activists who criticize Israel single it out for scrutiny and hatred in a way that they would never apply to any other state, no matter how terrible the conditions there might be.

While many critics of Israel claim that they are not antisemitic and are merely motivated to speak out by politics within Israel, detractors of the Jewish state dont apply this standard to any other nation. The BDS (boycott, divestment and sanction) movement aims to remove Israel from the parameters of acceptable discourse, rendering Israel an unwanted outsider without friend, supporters or allies. This echoes age-old antisemitic slurs that Jews are somehow an evil or accursed race with no role to play in wider society.

Natan Sharansky, the acclaimed Israeli politician who languished for years in a Soviet prison for the crime of wanting to leave Russia and move to Israel, has called this intense demonization of Israel the new antisemitism. Whereas classical antisemitism is aimed at the Jewish people or the Jewish religion, Sharansky notes, new antisemitism is aimed at the Jewish state. Since this anti-Semitism can hide behind a veneer of legitimate criticism of israel, it is more difficult to expose. Making the task even harder is that this hatred is advanced in the name of values most of us would consider unimpeachable, such as human rights.

Sharansky came up with the 3D Test to help determine whether criticism of Israel is legitimate or motivated by anti-Semitism:

Demonization: Are Israels actions being distorted? Are critics discussing Israeli actions in a deliberate way? Or are they making wild, harmful claims such as Israel is acting like Nazi Germany or Israel is nefariously interfering in politics in other countries. This is anti-Semitism, not legitimate criticism of Israel, Sharansky notes.

Double Standards: Is Israel alone being criticized for human rights abuses while other nations  many with terrible human rights records  are left out of anti-Israel activists concerns? By obsessively focusing on the sole Jewish state, Israels detractors are tapping into anti-Jewish tropes that Jews are somehow uniquely evil or bad.

Delegitimization: When Israels fundamental right to exist is denied  alone among all the peoples in the world  this too is antisemitism, Sharansky notes. The decision to exclude Nir from the food festival includes all three of these conditions, painting Nir and his food truck and all of Israel as somehow too tainted and bad to take part in a fun weekend event.

Fighting Back

When news got out that Eat Up the Borders and Sunflower Philly had banned Nir from the June food festival, engaged citizens around the world flooded their social media accounts with comments. While some of these comments were intensely hateful and slandered the Jewish state, many more expressed outrage that an individual Israeli living in Philadelphia was being boycotted in this way.

When faced with anti-Jewish hatred, dont be afraid or be silent.

Days before the June festival, Eat Up the Borders issued an apology. We now see that excluding any particular vendor in the name of trying to protect them (from potentially violent protestors) was the wrong decision. We did what we thought was best in the moment, but we failed. Notably, however, the festival organizers did not invite Moshava back to the festival, though they did offer to pay them a portion of the profits.

Nir and the festival organizers continued to hear from outraged patrons, calling the ongoing decision to ban Nirs food truck unconscionable. Finally, soon before the festival was meant to take place, Eat up the Borders and Sunflower Philly announced they were cancelling Junes Taste of Home.

All the support that we got is amazing and extremely overwhelming, Nir notes. Were grateful for everyone who contacted us  we feel their love.

In the days since he was disinvited to the food festival, Nirs food truck has continued to be popular with customers. He wants us to take away a key lesson. Dont be afraid or be silent when faced with anti-Jewish hatred. All being silent does is empower people to push those racist and antisemitic agendas.
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Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615)

Today

Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High near 85F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
As the withdrawal of Christian values from the formation of public policy has accelerated, the religion of progressive secularism has rushed in to fill the gap. It is to this religion Biden and the Democratic Party have pledged their devotion. It is on the bases of the religion of progressivism they form public policy, domestic and foreign.

Biden certainly demonstrates the symbolic and real embodiment of the progressive idea of the radical separation of church and state. According to radical progressives, Christianity, including Catholicism, is to play no part in public policy.

Catholicism; indeed, Christianity in general, is to be confined to private domains, expressed entirely in private rituals and ceremonies conducted behind church doors or within ones own domicile. Once one walks out of home or church, life in the public arena is guided by the latest progressive principles; which principles progressives hope may be gradually incorporated into an increasingly syncretistic seminaries and churches, Catholic and Protestant.

The policy of absolute separation of church and state embraced by Biden was articulated and affirmed by John Kennedy in his famous speech to Protestant leaders when he was running for president. JFKs policy has been one of the chief instruments employed by progressives to cordon off Christians, confining them to a cultural preserve where Christian practices can be safely contained and observed as curiously exotic rituals.

Kennedy believed religious belief is a purely private matter. He said, I believe in a president whose religious views are his own private affair, neither imposed by him upon the nation, or imposed by the nation upon him as a condition to holding that office.

In addition to making faith a purely personal matter, Kennedy announced his belief in the absolute separation of church and state. Progressives have since interpreted the First Amendment in a similar fashion.

Kennedy stated: I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference; and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.

Kennedys speech was rife with false comparisons and red herrings, but the bottom line was that he regarded the Christian religion as merely and entirely a personal matter. The core principles of Christianity were not to extend to public policy in any way. The separation of Christianity and the State was to be severe and complete.

Joe Biden has absorbed the progressive ideas about separation of church and state articulated by JFK. As the American Independent and other news sources reported, White House press secretary Jen Psaki remarked about Bidens faith, echoing JFKs remark that an elected officials religious views are his own private affair.

Psaki said, "It's personal to him. He doesn't see it through a political prism And we're not going to comment otherwise on the inner workings of the Catholic Church." She said separately, "Joe Biden is a strong man of faith. And as he noted just a couple of days ago, its personal. He goes to church, as you know, nearly every weekend. He even went when we were on our overseas trip [in England].

Because Biden considers the Catholic faith to be merely a matter of interior and completely private and individualistic belief, he can through severe compartmentalization separate out the rituals of faith from public practice of faith.

The above means he can carry a rosary on his person. He can expect to attend mass and receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. He can bury his late son according to Catholic funeral rites.

But while acting in the public square he can openly flout longstanding dogma of the Catholic faith. He can officiate at a same-sex marriage ceremony in direct defiance of the Catholic view of marriage as between a man and a woman; he can appoint to public office a man who claims to have transitioned to the opposite sex in contradiction of the Catholic view of human beings being created in the image of God as male and female; and he can support abortion as an inalienable human right despite the Catholic teachings forbidding the taking of innocent human life.

In short, Biden practices Catholicism through private rituals at home or in the sanctuary but practices the religion of leftist progressivism in public. The Catholic faith does not speak to his actions. Again, Biden echoes JFK, who said, For contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president, who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me. (Italics mine.)

In other words, Christianity does not inform or even speak to Biden when it comes to public policy, domestic or foreign. Hence the schizophrenia and resultant chaos and confusion accompanying his policies.

For centuries the Catholic Church has outlined a world view that includes what it means to establish a just and righteous governance according to the foundational beliefs of Christianity. Application of Christian principles to public policy eventually resulted in the abolition of slavery and helped ameliorate many other societal ills.

Be it St. Paul in his letters to the early Church, Augustines City of God, Cardinal Newmans thinking about Catholic academia or countless other expounders of the Christian faith, including Protestants such as Abraham Kuyper, great expositors of the Christian faith have always articulated a weltanschauung that finds Christianity as informing all facets of society. From its roots in Judaism and onward, throughout its entire history Christianity has had a world view that includes what it means to govern justly, righteously according to the Law of God as revealed in nature, scripture and tradition.

Prophets of old and Christ himself made it abundantly clear that observances of rituals, feasts and formalities mattered little when the greater issues of injustices within society were ignored or flouted. Christ rebuked the Pharisees for their fastidious concentration on minute legalities while they neglected the more important matters of the law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

In his rebuke, Christ echoed the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah, who wrote: This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

If we consider only Bidens wholehearted endorsement of abortion, which is the shedding of innocent blood, it is obvious Biden does not practice the Catholic faith he professes to believe.

Biden continually violates core beliefs of the Catholic Church. In fact, he actively and continually attacks and undermines the Christian faith, as did his predecessor and influencer Barak Obama.

As Christ said of those who faked being his followers, You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Bottom line: Judged by his fruits, Biden is not Catholic.

Fay Voshell holds a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, which awarded her the prize for excellence in systematic theology. Her thoughts have appeared in many online magazines. She has been a frequent contributor to American Thinker for a decade. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com

Image: Adam Schultz

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Last November, the now-defunct Trump Accountability Project, linked to former Democratic National Committee press secretary Hari Sevugan, bruited its plan to blacklist those who worked for the Trump administration. Sevugan tweeted, Employers considering them should know that there are consequences for hiring anyone who helped Trump attack American values. Find out how at the Trump Accountability Project. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Dem-NY) too called for devising lists of Trump supporters for punishment and ostracism. The rhetoric reeked of a witch-hunt to name and shame anyone linked to the former president.

Now that the Biden administration is securely ensconced in the White House, the blatant malice has been toned down with disingenuous calls for unity. But theres persistent targeting of unwoke conservatives -- in fact, of anyone not aligned with the hate America script of social justice warriors. In this, the Biden administration has been active. There are several recent instances that highlight a hypocritical progressive agenda to enforce groupthink and extinguish critical and independent thinking.

In May, the IRS denied 501(c)(3) status to Christians Engaged, a Texas-based prayer group that encourages members to pray for the country and its elected officials, motivates citizens to vote for cultural impact, and campaigns for preserving our constitutional republic. The group endeavors to integrate civic involvement as part of religious practice but does not promote any party or candidate. However, in his official letter denying tax exemption, Stephen A. Martin, the IRSs director of exempt organizations, clearly implies that biblical values are exclusively Republican. He wrote: While you educate voters on what the Bible says about issues, your educational activities are not neutral. The topics typically are affiliated with distinct candidates and specific political party [Republican] platforms.

The First Liberty Institute, a Christian legal organization, is appealing the IRS decision as discriminatory. It argues that there is no requirement that organizations must be neutral on public policy issues, and that just because there is some overlap between the views of Christians Engaged and the Republican party, the IRS cannot conclude that the organization serves private interests. The IRS decision amounts to a violation of the free speech, free exercise, and free establishment clauses of the First Amendment. Declaring biblical teachings as exclusively Republican is the slippery slope that could lead to future discrimination against Christian organizations and even churches.

Remarkably, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB)-affiliated Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) enjoy tax exemption even though they have been shown to be financing terrorism. In the 2008 Holy Land Foundation case, the largest terror-funding trial in American history, the government had produced ample evidence that CAIR, INSA, and other MB groups were associated with the designated terror group Hamas. One MB document presented in court said the work of the Ikhwan in the U.S. is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and G-ds religion is made victorious over all other religions.

In another attack on conservative principles, Colorado baker Jack Phillips was fined $500 under the states anti-discrimination law for refusing to make a gender transitioning cake for a transgender activist. Colorado had earlier barred Phillips, a devout Christian, from designing custom wedding cakes after he declined to make one for a same-sex wedding. But hed won a Supreme Court victory in 2018, explaining that he was unwilling to violate his beliefs and was exercising his First Amendment right to religious freedom. Despite that ruling, Colorado officials have targeted him again. Phillips has filed a lawsuit citing his right to practice his faith as well as his right to equal protection under the 14th Amendment. Kristen Waggoner, general counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian non-profit thats representing Phillips, stated: Radical activists and government officials are targeting artists like Jack because they wont promote messages on marriage and sexuality that violate their core convictions.

Meanwhile, kindergarteners at the Ashlawn Elementary School, Arlington County, Virginia, were subjected to transgender messaging on Read Across America Day. A cross-dressing male LGBTQ+ activist read to them from a factually false transgender picture book without parental knowledge or consent. The activist is a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which champions same-sex marriage, the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights, HIV/AIDS advocacy, and legislation on anti-discrimination and hate crimes. In attendance as a sponsor was the president of the National Education Association, a leftist union of 2.3 million public school teachers and college students preparing to become teachers. The union campaigns for abortion, socialized medicine, prisoner rights, and other causes dear to the Left.

Two additional examples of how conservatives are forced to endure viewpoint discrimination and correction (or indoctrination) hail from the national security sector and the military.

This month, the Biden administration announced the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism to target those who espouse racial or ethnic bigotry and hatred or anti-government ideology or anti-authority sentiment. While purporting to promote public safety, it aims to push Critical Race Theory, the Muslim-as-victim narrative, and other radical Leftist views. Rather than address the physical threat of terrorism, it targets ideological opponents of the Biden administration and encourages views befitting a democracy -- as if only certain opinions confer acceptance. It principally targets white supremacists and violent extremists but fails to mention the anti-law enforcement, anti-American ideologies of Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and Islamic terrorists (except for a perfunctory mention of Al Qaeda). For all intents and purposes, opposition to government policies is the new terrorism -- not ISIS, not Al Qaeda, not Black Lives Matter, not Antifa.

In the military, theres an agenda to root out ideas and people who oppose the Biden administrations fundamental transformation of America. With the avowed purpose of eliminating extremism in the ranks, training material from the Pentagon mischaracterizes American laws and disparages citizens who believe in constitutional principles. It identifies no instances of racism or discrimination that would prompt such a program. But officers are instructed with talking points on anti-government extremists as proven by recent events. The allusion is clearly to Trump supporters or those who are against Bidens progressive agenda. Contrary to the spirit of the First Amendment, the material states that service members must reject ideas and speech that threaten to undermine our government or face disciplinary action, including discharge. It explicitly lays out permissible and prohibited political activities and social media practices as part of a radical agenda to undermine constitutional freedoms and indoctrinate our troops.

During the Summer of Love, far-left mayors and city councils had dismissed the concerns of citizens over the rioting, arson, senseless murder, assaults on police, and the chaos in the lawless autonomous zones created by BLM and Antifa. Later though, even Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan walked back her comments and confessed that the mayhem was not a viable vision for her city. One would have thought that a reasonable response following such anarchy would be for political leadership to reassess their policies, respond to the public outcry, and temper its rhetoric against conservative constitutionalists. Sadly, that hasnt happened, and the fundamental transformation of America is advancing apace.

When crises are manufactured to target ideological foes and real threats are ignored, safety, security, and civil rights are sacrificed. In all its dogmatism and intolerance, the progressive agenda of enforced cultural conformism is gaining ground. The pushback that has already begun must become fierce.

Image: Montecruz foto

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Who would have thought it possible? Who would have ever guessed that today's military would be led by the very socialists and Marxists whom I and millions of other veterans battled during a 45-year cold war  not to mention hot wars such as Korea and Vietnam?

But apparently, that is the case.

Secretary of defense Lloyd James Austin III has ordered a radical leftist indoctrination of America's Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and the newly created Space Force. To make sure this Marxist assault is carried out, Austin has hired a radical socialist named Bishop Garrison to perpetrate so-called "diversity" training and purge and eliminate "extremism" in our armed forces.

Austin and Garrison have never effectively defined just which "extremists" they want to oust from the military, but it appears they mean anybody in the military who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020  in other words, those servicemen who are not Democrats.

One of those servicemen who is not a Democrat is Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, a Space Force commander. Lohmeier said last month that the Pentagon sent servicemembers a video declaring that America in general and white people in particular are "evil."

For blowing the whistle on that bit of insidious indoctrination, Lohmeier was relieved of his command. Ultimately, he left the military and wrote a new book entitled Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest and the Unmaking of the American Military.

Lohmeier said the Department of Defense's new "woke" policies include several videos "that were sent out to every base [and] service member" and "we were told to watch [them] in preparation for our 'extremism' down days and discussions on race." Those videos, Lohmeier added, "taught that our country was evil, that it was founded in 1619 and not 1776, and that whites are inherently evil."

You have to wonder how motivated members of our military are after being told that they are, in effect, putting their lives on the line for a systemically racist and evil nation still being run by malevolent white slavers.

It certainly isn't the kind of motivation I received in the mid-1960s when I was a SIGINT operative for the U.S. Army Security Agency with a top-secret and crypto-security clearance. For those unfamiliar with SIGINT, it is one of the principal missions of the National Security Agency. SIGINT is intelligence derived from electronic signals and systems used by foreign targets, such as communications systems, radars, cyberspace, and weapons systems.

Our mission was to gather and analyze intelligence we collected from external enemies  including the old Soviet Union and its East European Warsaw Pact allies, as well as Communist China, North Korea, North Vietnam, and Cuba.

Today, however, our men and women in the military are being told by President Biden and military leaders such as Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, that our number-one enemies are not external ones as in the past.

Instead, our foremost enemies today are climate change and domestic terrorism by white supremacists, otherwise known as Trump-supporters, and those who oppose the Democrat leadership in Washington.

Recently, Gilday was grilled by House Republicans in the House Armed Services Committee over accusations from several military whistleblowers of "wokeness" being infused into the psyches of U.S. troops. Specifically, Gilday was pressed on the fallacious contents of Ibram X. Kendi's highly controversial 2019 book, How to Be an Antiracist, and its inclusion on sailors' list of reading materials.

The book argues that capitalism and racism are inextricably linked, saying, "Capitalism is essentially racist" and "racism is essentially capitalist," and therefore "capitalism should be destroyed"  not the most convincing or rational syllogism I have ever heard  but hey, when it comes to race-hustlers like Kendi, who's counting?

"Do you personally consider advocating for the destruction of American capitalism to be extremist?" Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) asked Gilday during the hearing.

"I am not going to sit here and defend cherry-picked quotes from somebody's book," he said. "This is a bigger issue than Kendi's book. What this is really about is trying to paint the United States military, and the United States Navy as weak, as woke."

Trying? Nobody is trying. The U.S. Military is already far down the yellow brick road to "wokeness." One only hopes that the socialist Wizards of Oz who are leading today's military can be exposed and unmasked before it's too late.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), citing passages in Kendi's book, pressed Gilday on why such a fraudulent piece of rubbish should be included in so-called "voluntary" reading lists.

"How does exposing our sailors to the idea that they are either oppressors or oppressed, and that we must actively discriminate in order to make up for past discrimination, improve our Navy's readiness and lethality?" he asked.

Excellent question. The answer is: it doesn't!

The military is not and should not be used as a laboratory to test harebrained theories on race or sham experiments linked to gender dysphoria and other social constructs.

For example, the U. S. Army's mission statement says its purpose is "to deploy, fight and win our nation's wars by providing ready, prompt and sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force."

Where does it say in that statement that the United States is an evil nation? That it is systemically racist? That capitalism is evil and should be supplanted by socialism or Marxism?

And where does it say that in order to achieve its mission, it must address "extremism" in its ranks while swilling the poisonous Kool-Aid of "woke" ideology and Critical Race Theory?

The answer? Nowhere.

Thank God, two Republican lawmakers, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas, both decorated veterans, have begun a whistleblower campaign so that active-duty military members can report that garbage like the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory is being used as part of the military's diversity training programs. The whistleblower campaign will protect men such as Lt. Col. Lohmeier from being summarily dismissed for speaking out about the appalling CRT indoctrination taking place in our military.

While Gilday may argue that our military is not weak or woke, the facts seem to contradict his argument.

Last month, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) mocked a U.S. Army recruitment ad that featured a female soldier who was raised by a lesbian couple in San Francisco and was inspired to serve a country that defends gay rights. Well, whoop-de-doo. As long as she defends gay rights and whatever other socially woke flavors of the day are making the rounds in our march to incessant wokeness, we can be sure we will be well protected by our military.

He compared that ad to a Russian military ad that showed a group of tough-as-nails male soldiers doing pushups, shaving their heads, engaged in hand-to-hand combat, jumping from airplanes, and firing rifles.

"Holy crap," Cruz quipped. "Perhaps a 'woke,' emasculated military is not the best idea."

You think?

Ronald E. Yates is a veteran, an author, a former Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent, and professor and dean emeritus of journalism at the University of Illinois. His website: http://www.ronaldyatesbooks.com.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.

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With murder rates skyrocketing in major American cities, Joe Biden announced his "gun crime prevention strategy." Because Democrats are opposed to punishments for crime, Biden was reduced to maligning the Second Amendment. Thankfully, he lacks the authority to grab our guns, but he managed a few chilling statements.

Violent crime has dramatically escalated in Democrat-run states and cities, where Democrats have released violent prisoners; defunded, hamstrung, and demoralized the police; decreased or done away with bail; and elected Soros-funded prosecutors who refuse to prosecute potential Democrat voters. As a Democrat, Biden could not promote stiffer prison penalties, meaningful bail, and aggressive prosecution. However, he did concede that police make a difference:

[C]ities experiencing an increase in gun violence were able to use the American Rescue Plan dollars to hire police officers needed for community policing and to pay their overtime. [snip] And for folks at home, the American Rescue Plan, which is a once-in-a-generation investment to reduce violence in America, is available. I'm proud of it. It means more police officers, more nurses, more counselors, more social workers, more community violence interrupters to help resolve issues before they escalate into crimes.

The real point of Biden's speech was grabbing guns. (If the filibuster holds, Biden lacks the political might to pass gun-grabbing laws.) His problem is that the cities with the worst violent crime already have gun-grabbing laws.

Biden fell back on the old Chicago standby, saying that the illegal guns used to commit crimes in Democrat cities are smuggled in from states with lax gun laws:

With these strike forces, local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors are going to be able to better coordinate the prosecution of illegal gun trafficking across city and state lines, so illegal guns sold from the back door of a gun shop in Virginia don't end up at a murder scene in Baltimore.

What Biden failed to explain is why those gun-supplying states don't also have out-of-control gun crime.

Biden also insisted that the only reason to have weapons and ammo is deer hunting:

Background checks for purchasing a firearm are important; a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines  no one needs to have a weapon that can fire over 30, 40, 50, even up to 100 rounds [Me: 100 rounds? Someone's been getting into the Geritol] unless you think the deer are wearing Kevlar vests or something; community policing and programs that keep neighborhoods safe and keep folks out of trouble.

The Second Amendment has nothing to do with deer-hunting  and it's not the government's job to tell us what we need to defend ourselves, including against a tyrannical government. And that leads us to Biden's incoherent, yet frightening attack on the Second Amendment:

The Second Amendment, from the day it was passed, limited the type of people who could own a gun and what type of weapon you could own. You couldn't buy a cannon. Those who say the blood of lib  "the blood of patriots," you know, and all the stuff about how we're going to have to move against the government. Well, the tree of liberty is not watered with the blood of patriots. What's happened is that there have never been  if you wanted or if you think you need to have weapons to take on the government, you need F-15s and maybe some nuclear weapons. The point is that there has always been the ability to limit  rationally limit the type of weapon that can be owned and who can own it.

A few points:

The first national gun control law limiting the types of guns Americans could own was in 1934, a mere 143 years after the Second Amendment was ratified.

Following America's creation, the laws controlling who could own guns came from Democrats disarming Blacks. Except for some renegade Southern Democrat branches of the NRA, the NRA pushed vigorously to overturn those laws.

Apparently, Thomas Jefferson was wrong when he said that "the Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." In Biden's America, if you face the government, you'd better come prepared, unless you're an unarmed civilian whom the Capitol Police welcome into the Capitol. Then, you're more dangerous than a nuclear bomb.

In 2018, Larry Correia practically predicted Biden's attitude (h/t: Glenn Reynolds):

I've had a Caring Liberal tell me that the example of Iraq doesn't apply, because "we kept the gloves on", whereas fighting America's gun nuts would be a righteous total war with nothing held back Holy s---, I've got to wonder about the mentality of people who demand rigorous ROEs to prevent civilian casualties in a foreign country, are blood thirsty enough to carpet bomb Texas. You really hate us, and then act confused why we want to keep our guns?

In the end, all Biden could do was say he'll go after law-violating gun dealers. Still, his implied threat about turning the Army on Americans should make everyone wary.

Image: Biden talks about gun violence (cropped). YouTube screen grab.

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In November 2020, over 80% of Marin County, California residents voted for Joe Biden. This was to be expected. In 2018, 64% of Marin's residents voted for Gavin Newsom. Only 12% voted for John Cox, the Republican candidate. Another 8% of votes went to yet another Democrat. Now that Marinites have gotten their solid Democrat governance, though, they're not happy with one of the main Democrat goals: turning expensive suburbs into densely populated urban areas. Welcome to the new NIMBYs ("not in my backyard").

Marin County is one of the wealthiest areas in America, coming in at number 13 according to a 2016 American Community Survey. In 2016, the median Marin household income was $103,845. Marin might be doing even better now because it weathered the COVID lockdowns very well. This is probably because Marin's wealth comes, in significant part, from people who can make deals sitting at their computers.

One of Marin's great charms for the wealthy is the abundance of open space. If you live in the right parts of Marin, you get Bay views, San Francisco views, Golden Gate Bridge views, RichmondSan Rafael Bridge views, and multiple mountain views. There are wonderful hiking trails within easy driving distance, whether one wants to climb Mt. Tamalpais or Ring Mountain, hike down to the Pacific, or wander among the ancient redwoods in Muir Woods.

Crime in Marin is low, schools are good, and  and this is very important  the place has a friendly, small-town feel. If you raise children there, it's virtually guaranteed that, wherever you go, you'll run into someone from your neighborhood or your school. Despite the hard-left politics, Marin is a community with a Leave It to Beaver feel to it.

Several years ago, two teenagers who were not from Marin were caught after breaking into multiple homes. They explained that they came to Marin because the pickings were so easy. Marin residents, they said, didn't even lock their doors.

Marin people are always bathed in self-satisfaction when they vote for Democrats. They're standing up for the poor people. They're fighting police brutality. They're there for the LGBT crowd and the BIPOCs. They'll turn out in their little pink hats because Trump may have groped someone. None was bothered by credible rape claims against Biden, not to mention all those videos showing him fondling little girls.

On the subject of double standards, while Marinites support government when it makes that "equitable" push to build housing for poor people in your town, county, or state, they don't think it's a good idea when Democrat politicians try to do the same in Marin. After all, Marinites spent good money to buy vastly overpriced homes because of location, location, location.

And that's how you end up with wonderful, un-ironic news reports like this one, from Marin's local paper:

Larkspur is the latest Marin community to oppose a regional housing mandate that aims to increase equitable access to housing. In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the City Council joined Sausalito and Corte Madera in directing staff to appeal the Association of Bay Area Governments' regional housing methodology. It would require the city to add 979 residences by 2031. Of the cities and towns that have appealed so far, Larkspur is tasked with adding the most residences. Under the regional housing allocation formula, Mill Valley would have to add 865; Corte Madera, 725; and Sausalito, 724. [snip] Elsewhere in Marin, Novato is expected to add 2,090 residences while San Rafael's share is 3,220. The unincorporated parts of the county are slated for 3,569. Fairfax, Ross and San Anselmo are expected to add 490, 111 and 833, respectively. Belvedere is on the hook for 160 residences. Tiburon, which is expected to add 639 residences, will consider an appeal at its affordable housing committee meeting on Monday. Mill Valley will also consider an appeal at a meeting on Monday. The San Anselmo and Novato councils will discuss the issue on Tuesday. Larkspur's planning director, Neal Toft, said the allocation method targets Larkspur because of its residents' longer life expectancy, higher population of educated residents and public transportation infrastructure.

What's fascinating is that the people quoted in the newspaper have no vocabulary to oppose what's happening. If they were familiar with the rights of a free people, they might say that the government has no right to devalue their huge investments in their homes. Moreover, America is a nation dedicated to equality, not equity. That allows for the incrementalism  that is, just as most of Marin's residents worked hard to acquire their wealth, others can do the same and, one day, they too can buy property in lovely Marin.

But all that Marin's people can do, having elected politicians determined to impose "equity," is whine that it's "not fair."

UPDATE: The Marin Independent Journal is reporting that Mill Valley has joined the consortium of towns protesting the mandate. Mill Valley is one of the more left-leaning towns in Marin County, which is saying a lot.

Image: Nicaso Reservoir in Marin County by Daniel Di Palma. CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Move over, Jeffrey Epstein. Another high-profile prisoner has been found dead in his jail cell before his trial, with authorities claiming suicide. John McAfee, who wrote the first commercial anti-virus software, sold the company bearing his name, and later urged customers to uninstall the software, was widely described as "eccentric." He lived for a while in Belize but left that country in 2013 after being wanted for questioning by police over a murder. He made and lost most of a fortune believed to have totaled $100 million. McAfee was arrested in October last year at Barcelona Airport at the request of U.S. authorities over alleged income tax evasion and was being held in a prison in Barcelona, awaiting extradition, which had just been approved when he was found dead.

What makes the death so suspicious is that he had earlier warned against such an outcome. The New York Post reports:

Software tycoon John McAfee, who died from an apparent suicide in a Spanish jail cell Wednesday, sent a cryptic tweet last year that if he was found hanged behind bars like Jeffrey Epstein, "it would be no fault of mine." "I am content in here. I have friends," the eccentric entrepreneur tweeted on Oct. 15. "The food is good. All is well." "Know that if I hang myself, a la Epstein, it will be no fault of mine."

Even before his arrest, he was so convinced that U.S. authorities were out to kill him and make it look like suicide that he had himself tattooed and tweeted:

Getting subtle messages from U.S. officials saying, in effect: "We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself". I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd. Check my right arm.$WHACKD available only on https://t.co/HdSEYi9krq:) pic.twitter.com/rJ0Vi2Hpjj  John McAfee (@officialmcafee) November 30, 2019

McAfee also warned against the Deep State:

I have no idea whether he changed his mind and killed himself or whether some plot extended to his jail in Catalonia and he was bumped off to silence him, but his warnings certainly are suspicious.

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In late 2020, the United States negotiated a peace agreement between Israel and Morocco. In parallel, the U.S. legally recognized Morocco's claims to an area known as the Western Sahara. Since the peace deal's completion, critics have come out in full force: Some have said that the Western Sahara recognition tramples on the rights of the Sahrawi people who live there, and they've called for the Biden administration to undo it.

I am a Sahrawi, and I not only support the U.S.'s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, but also believe that unraveling it could do irreparable harm to my people and to peace and stability in the region.

The Sahrawi have a long history of people speaking on our behalf who don't live in the territory and don't understand our situation. The Polisario Front  a separatist group created in 1973 and backed by the nearby country of Algeria  have claimed to speak for the Sahrawis for decades. The Polisario sell themselves well: they use international media to paint the Sahrawi people as aggrieved and attacked, and they portray themselves as freedom fighters valiantly standing up for Sahrawi rights.

Here's the harsh reality: like many mercenary groups, the Polisario's primary interest is in enriching themselves and their Algerian backers  not in helping the Sahrawis. Over the years, the Polisario have diverted aid intended for the Tindouf camps in Algeria, with the active complicity of Algerian officials who benefit from the embezzlement.

They've also badly mismanaged the region's refugee camps, which are home to thousands of Sahrawis. The conditions in these camps are tragic and dehumanizing, and they are a direct result of Polisario actions. The U.N. has regularly expressed concern about the fact that the Polisario  an armed non-state actor  run camps that should be run by a government. But there is little the U.N. or anyone else can do: the Polisario camps are the only refugee camps in the world where the U.N. has been denied the chance to run a census.

The Polisario and their Algerian backers are pushing for the U.S. to undo its recognition of Morocco's claims to the Western Sahara. That's because the longer the region remains "disputed," the less attention is paid to the Polisario's corruption and malfeasance, their pilfering of humanitarian supplies, and their unwillingness to negotiate. In short, if the "dispute" ends, the Polisario lose power and funding.

I and many Sahrawi are tired of being used as political pawns in a decades-long regional dispute. The U.S. took a critical step in the right direction by recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and supporting the Moroccan autonomy plan as a solution of compromise. They aren't the only nation to take such steps. More than twenty other countries have opened consulates in Western Sahara  a move that confirmed their recognition of Moroccan sovereignty.

What's more, over forty countries supported the autonomy solution under Moroccan sovereignty at an international conference co-hosted by the U.S. and Morocco in January. These countries made clear that the U.S. decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty advanced a search for a realistic, practicable, and enduring political solution.

That multi-country recognition reflects facts on the ground. Today, Sahrawis vote in Moroccan elections, and the region is administered by locally elected officials. The U.N. itself has recognized these democratically elected officials as the representatives of the people of the region. Furthermore, many Sahrawis have achieved success in business and government across the kingdom. Our cultural heritage is also enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution. Far from being "an occupied people," we feel part and parcel of Moroccan life.

We're also eager to turn the page on this matter and build Western Sahara into what it could be. The Moroccan government has invested in that future by committing more than $8 billion to the development of the region, including $3 billion for Moroccan-based banks and hotels. The private sector has stepped up as well, with a U.S. wind energy and blockchain start-up announcing that it may set up an outpost here as well.

The more countries that recognize Western Sahara as part of Morocco, the more such development will take place and the better off the people of this region will be. As a Sahrawi, I am encouraged by these efforts. My hope is that the world recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara  not just for Morocco's sake, but for the sake of the Sahrawi people.

Mohammed Ahmed Gain is the president of the African Institute for Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation (AIPECT) based in Laayoune and a professor at the University of IBNO TOFAIL, Kenitra.

This material is distributed by Clout Public Affairs, LLC on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

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President Biden has formally announced his gun crime strategy. His new, trailblazing initiative blames gun violence on inanimate objects, the guns themselves. He also blames "rogue" gun dealers, who apparently knowingly provide said objects to criminals. So be warned: if you have a gun that willfully gets up and starts shooting people, there will be new "resources" to take it down, whether it's an AR-15 with a "hundred round magazine" or a "ghost gun." There will be zero tolerance  except for Hunter Biden and others who get away with lying on their background checks.

Apparently, "rogue" gun-dealers simply don't bother to do background checks, and they use "loopholes" to provide guns to criminals. There will be a multi-jurisdictional task force to take them down, coordinated with the ATF and FBI.

This will supplant local law enforcement, allowing the feds to come, take over, work across state lines, and go around local and state laws to get "traffickers." With their current record of selectively invading people's homes, and their equally appalling record of selective prosecution of only those who lean right, what could go wrong?

Let's say, for instance, a gun-dealer sold to a legitimate buyer, who submitted a background check, with all the paperwork signed. What happens if he (like Hunter Biden) lied, and didn't get caught by the officials who vet the paperwork? What happens when that gun is used in a gun crime? Will that be enough to shut down that dealer? Sounds to me as though it would be so. It's a great way to systematically eliminate gun-dealers.

They've already been eliminated here in California, to a significant extent. In fact, all these gun laws he mentioned already are in force here, so there's nothing new in his proposals, and no, they don't work. Just look at our crime stats.

Beyond all that, we've apparently already dedicated $350 billion to something called the American Rescue Plan, which money will be distributed to all the violent cities. New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Los Angeles, D.C.  you know, the leftist hell-holes where they defunded the police and now need them back. Neat trick, getting the feds to pay for your police! Our tax dollars at work. The money will also fund social workers doing "community violence intervention," to connect people to social services. Apparently, cognitive therapy works to reduce gun crime by 50%. In Chicago. Imagine how many would die if it weren't working!

The one thing that's not included in the description of his new initiative against "gun crime." Um...how about arresting the actual criminals who commit the specific gun crimes with the crime guns he so wants to eliminate? Then how about prosecuting them in a court of law, convicting them, and showing them the legal consequences of their actions  continued incarceration?

Instead of the logical and effective methods by which we have historically reduced crime, such as stop-and-search, Biden blames the pandemic. Not quite sure how that works. Is it that people have been cooped up so long, they've gone bat-guano crazy? Or has COVID (or the inoculation against getting it) stripped them of sanity? Is it that Mom and Dad succumbed to the virus and are no longer with us to tell us what's right and wrong?

Clearly, the kids have had nothing better to do for a year and a half than perfect their police-car roof twerking and their carjacking skills. In the meantime, be reassured, because the president also wants the NIH and CDC to "study" gun violence as a "public health threat."

It's a whole 15 minutes or so of painstaking teleprompter-reading, with not one word mentioned about defunding the police, allowing rampant rioting and looting, demoralizing law enforcement by blaming and prosecuting them for doing their jobs, and all the other things the left routinely ignores  the stuff that makes up the "broken windows" aspect of lawlessness. Not a single mention of Black-on-Black crime, despite the clear upswing in gun violence within that community. No mention of gangs; no mention of the violent offenders sneaking over the border.

I guess Building Back Better, at the community level, means throwing money at leftist cities, going after the gun-dealers, and making sure that we the people can't use hundred-round magazines, cannons, and F-15s against our government. And joking about deer in Kevlar vests.

Image: Biden on gun violence (cropped) YouTube screen grab.

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Kamala Harris, who's Joe Biden's border surge czar focused on "root causes" very specifically in Central America, is finally going to the border.

According to Fox News:

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, the White House confirmed, amid mounting criticism from both Republicans and some Democrats for not yet doing so, following her appointment by President Biden to handle the "root causes" of migration.

Obviously, she's doing so because President Trump has announced that he will be touring the border with Texas's Gov. Greg Abbott, which would be about the only thing that could explain the hasty timing of the announcement. Trump certainly pointed that out. Prior to that, she had just giggled when asked about going to the border  again and again and again, digging in stubbornly, and at times utterly refusing to go, dismissing border trips as photo ops as if to suggest she was supposedly deep and serious about resolving the border surge with all those root causes and there was nothing to learn from migrants propelling themselves over the border illegally, even as embattled Democratic congressmen from border surge regions called for her to pay attention to what is going on in their districts. It actually sounded as though she didn't think she would like what she would find.

Nope, she wouldn't go  might call attention to the hard reality that the Biden administration invited the border-surgers in, and being border-surgers, they came. Plus, the opportunities for selfies and Instagram glamour shots were, at best, minimal in most hardscrabble border towns.

Then came Trump.

Here's a headline from mainstream, middle-of-the-road columnist Scott Jennings at the Courier-Journal:

Biden has a mess on his hands with VP Harris, who could usher in second Trump term in 2024

Here's how Harris stacks up to Trump in a head-to-head race, presumably 2024, according to a poll:

A new McLaughlin & Associates poll revealed that Donald Trump is favored by voters over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 general election, Breitbart reported. The survey asked voters whether they would vote for Trump or Harris in a hypothetical 2024 matchup. The results revealed that 49 percent of respondents said they would support Trump, while 45 percent said they would back Harris. "Independent voters also suggested they would support the Republican nominee, with 49 percent signaling support for Trump," Breitbart reported.

Here's what that border resistance has done to her favorability among voters, according to Statista:

As of June 2021, 33 percent of U.S. adults surveyed said they had a very unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. On the other hand, 46 percent said they had either a very favorable or a somewhat favorable opinion of the first female Vice President.

Fact is, her refusal to go to the border has actually defined her months-old vice presidency now. Her fear of making the border surge stick to her has only made it stick harder, as well as highlight her failure to do anything serious about it. The surgers hit record numbers, and Harris went and visited cake shops and gay pride parades.

Now that Trump has announced that he will tour the border with the Texas officials, something got her attention, and now she comes running, trying to play catch-up, to get ahead of Trump in her vice-presidential position and the gushy news coverage Lester Holt seems to be promising to give her.

Comically, CBS's Lester Holt, who inadvertently embarrassed Harris with his question about when she would go to the border a couple of weeks ago, prompting one of her famous cackles, says he's the reason why Kamala Harris finally decided to go to the border. That interview was on June 8. Trump's announcement was June 16. Harris's announcement was yesterday. Draw your own conclusions.

It's pretty sad to see Biden's border policy driven by terror of President Trump and a desire to dilute his inevitable media coverage when he goes to the border. Apparently, Trump cornered her and was the only one to get her to face the music, at least potentially, about why the illegal aliens are surging in. She'll attempt to evade this and do a soft-focus, pillowy, weepy trip for the cameras with an improbable bid to Blame Trump.

But most people can see what is going on here. She's jerked around by her political enemies, and only for the simple reason that she refuses to be serious. Well, she may not be serious about the border, but the border is serious about her, as the saying goes.

Trump has exposed her as a fool, and now she's dancing to his tune. Guess that's what it takes to get this lazy woman to do her job. If it takes Trump, then maybe Trump might just be better as president. You'd never see Trump dancing to Kamala's tune. It's pathetic, and it shows how unfit she is to be vice president.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
This is huge. Those of us who have had hopes that Saudi Arabia can be transformed from a sponsor of hard-line jihad into a modernizing force in the Islamic world have cause for optimism.

Remarks made by the real ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), suggest that he is carefully laying the ground for a fundamental reinterpretation of orthodox Islam.

Tarek Fatah, a fellow at the Middle East Forum, writes in the Toronto Sun:

When the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, challenged the fundamental precepts of Islamic Sharia in an interview on April 28, the tremors were so deep, they left most Muslims and their clerics in a state of silent shock. MBS, as the crown prince is known, had questioned the very validity of 'Hadith' literature  sayings attributed to Prophet Muhammad  that provide much of what is today considered Islamic Law in places as far apart as Aceh in Indonesia to University campuses in California in the West. As an example, the hijab suddenly lost its religious justification and much of the Islamic laws that created the Taliban lost their validation. Many of us who had for decades fought the Saudization of Islam were taken aback by MBS's statements. The man who is turning his country slightly away from funding overseas jihads and civil wars had quietly heralded women's rights and in an unprecedented move included the Hindu texts of Mahabharat and Ramayana into the school syllabus. These tremors in Islamdom were so deep and fundamental, they left the Imams, Muftis and mosque clerics who had always looked towards Riyadh for inspiration  both financial and religious  in a state of stunned silence. They still have not reacted. Even the Islamist scholars in Canada held their breath, not knowing what to say or how to react to the changing winds in Islam.

Because Saudi Arabia sends so much money to support mosques and Muslim clergy overseas, it is quite understandable that there is silence, at least for the moment. No one is better positioned to help Islam reform and modernize than the ruler of Saudi Arabia.

I have from the start of his reign seen MbS as attempting something similar to what the Meiji reformers did in Japan, following its 19th-century opening to the West. I am guessing that he and his advisers have studied their success closely, for he is adopting the same basic approach: labeling modernization as a "restoration." In Japan, the claim was made that the reformers were "restoring" direct imperial rule, getting rid of the corrupt shogun, who stood between the people and their divine ruler (while installing themselves as the interpreters of the Emperor's wishes).

MbS is returning to direct Quranic law, eliminating the potentially inaccurate hadith sayings as a source of sharia law. It is much simpler to interpret (and reinterpret) the shorter body of the Quran than the much more voluminous hadith  especially when the Saudi government is subsidizing the clergy who will issue the re-interpretations.

Here are some of the relevant excerpts (emphases added):

[W]e are bound to implement the Quran in some form or another. But in social and personal affairs, we are only obliged to implement stipulations that are clearly stated in the Quran. So, I cannot enforce a Sharia punishment without a clear Quranic stipulation or an explicit stipulation from the Sunnah. When I talk about an explicit stipulation from the Sunnah, most hadith writers classify hadith based on their own typology, like Bukhari, Muslim and others, into correct hadith or weak hadith. But there is another classification which is more important, namely whether a tradition or hadith has been narrated by many people or a single narrator, and this is the main reference for jurisprudence for deducing regulations, Sharia-wise.

In essence, he is saying that some of the hadith may not be reliable.

So, when we talk about a Mutawater hadith, i.e., narrated and handed down from one group to another group to another starting with the Prophet, PBUH, these hadiths are very few in number, but they are strong in terms of veracity, and their interpretations vary based on the time and place they were revealed and how the hadith was understood at the time. But when we talk about Ahad hadiths, which is handed down from a single person to another starting with the Prophet PBUH, or from a group to a group to a single individual then another group etc. starting with the Prophet PBUH, so that there's and individual in the chain. This is called ahad hadith. And this is broken down into many classifications, such as correct, weak, or good hadith. And this type of hadith, the ahad, is not as compelling as the mutawater hadiths; the ones narrated by a chain of groups unless paired with clear Quranic stipulations and a clear mundane or worldly good to be had, especially if it's a correct ahad hadith. And this is also a small portion of the body of hadith. While a "Khabar" is a hadith handed down from a single person to another single person etc. to an unknown source, starting with the Prophet PBUH, or from a group to a group, then a person to another person, and so on, starting with the Prophet PBUH, so that there's a missing link. This represents the majority of hadith and this type of hadith is unreliable whatsoever, in the sense that its veracity is not established and that it isn't binding.

Wow! A majority of hadiths are unreliable!

And in the biography of the Prophet PBUH, when the hadith was first recorded the Prophet PBUH ordered those records to be burnt and forbade the writing of hadith, and that should apply even more so to "Khabar" hadiths so that people are not obliged to implement them from a Sharia perspective, since they also might be used as ammunition to dispute God Almighty's power to produce teachings that are fit for every time and place. Hence, the government, where Sharia is concerned, has to implement Quran regulations and teachings in mutawater hadiths, and to look into the veracity and reliability of ahad hadiths, and to disregard "khabar" hadiths entirely, unless if a clear benefit is derived from it for humanity. So, there should be no punishment related to a religious matter except when there is a clear Quranic stipulation, and this penalty will be implemented based on the way that the Prophet PBUH applied it.

The Crown Prince has the best security that money can buy. He needs it. This has the potential to change the character of Islam in the modern era.

Photo credit: Mazen AlDarrab.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
The strong push-back to the last second cancellation of the Taste of Home food festival in Philadelphia by the organizers who uninvited an Israeli vendor, Moshava Philly, under threats of violence from the unnamed because an Israeli was invited (hmm, who would have done that?), which I wrote about here, surprised the cowardly organizers. Following thousands of years of history, the organizers, Sunflower Philly and Eat Up The Borders, succumbed to hate and blamed the Israeli victim, stating:

In order to best serve our guests, we decided to remove one of our food vendors for Sunday's event so that we could deliver an optimal experience for all. This decision came from listening to the community we wish to serve and love.

Hmm, so an "optimal experience" for a community the organizers "wish to serve and love" meant validating hate and terror and kicking out the victim.

Apparently, there was another community that opposed giving in to terrorist threats and reacted. Effectively. Strongly. And so, after initially shutting down their social media sites, EUTB finally managed to drool out a mushy statement, which also rewarded those who threatened.

We understand that our actions have hurt you and we are truly sorry. We want to be very clear that we do not support antisemitism or allow antisemitism in our spaces. Our actions were ignorant and inexcusable.

A decent apology  they should have stopped there. But they didn't. EUTB's statement continued:

Our series of "A Taste of Home" events started in April 2021. Moshava attended our second spring event in May 2021. After the event, we received some pushback from activists who criticized the attendance of Moshava. Not wanting to unintentionally alienate any members of our community, we decided to host a Palestinian food vendor in our future event.

Oh  those unknown "activists" "criticized" Moshava's upcoming attendance. However, while there was certainly a place for a Palestinian (sic) food vendor, who not so incidentally was invited but couldn't attend for other reasons, why did those "activists" criticize the presence of an Israeli vendor? And why did EUTB not invite another Palestinian (sic) vendor initially? Why did they agree to do so only after threats? Blah, blah, blah, they equivocated, apologizing to both the kicked-out vendor and the fans of the terrorists.

"We look forward to listening, learning, and growing from this," they dribbled, concluding with cliched hopes for a better world for all the lefty fashionable victims du jour.

Sunflower Philly's apology, as befits a more sophisticated, experienced organization, was slightly better, with a hint of sincerity. Gurgling the usual peace and love cliches "constructive dialogue" and, of course, "inclusion"  while shifting blame for the abrupt cancellation to EUTB, they at least apologized to Moshava, the vendor, and even to the Jewish community. They thus at least grudgingly acknowledged the real victims of the hate after initially blaming them for the shutdown  "to prevent any kind of discriminatory activity in our space"! Equivocation.

Sunflower Philly categorically denounces all forms of hatred, discrimination and injustice. We cancelled the "Taste of Home" event scheduled for June 20th, 2021, which was being organized by Eat Up The Borders, to prevent any kind of discriminatory activity in our space. Sunflower Philly deeply regrets and apologizes to Moshava, our neighbors, vendors, and the Jewish community for our part in a very unfortunate turn of events. We allow third party event promoters and organizations to make their own decisions regarding productions and this model has allowed us to host over 50+ diverse events in 2021. Moving forward we will be taking a hands-on approach with our productions to ensure this doesn't happen again. Our daily intention is to be a place of inclusion, diversity, understanding and peace. With our community's support, we will proudly carry on our mission. All mistakes are an opportunity to learn and grow.

As for Moshava, well, business has increased, and, as their Instagram account informs us, #proudisraeli

#proudtobejewish #moshavaphilly #jewsofamerica #standwitisrael #standwithus #israelifood #israel #equlity

Haters, eat your heart out! B'tayavon! (Translation: Bon appetit!)

Image: StateofIsrael via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
On April 19 of 2021, I was watching the closing arguments in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin from my home in Alameda, California, after which I intended to run some errands. I stepped outside and saw some police vehicles at the end of my street next to the small parklet at the end of my street. The area was blocked off by yellow caution tape.

I later discovered that the police were there due to the death of a man named Mario Gonzalez while in police custody. Gonzalez was a 26-year-old resident of Oakland, California. The interaction between Gonzalez and the police was initiated by a 911 call from a resident who described Gonzalez as intoxicated and speaking incoherently.

A few days after Gonzalez's death, the 911 calls from the resident and police body cam footage were released to the public. Investigations are ongoing. I'm waiting patiently for the results. I did review the information that was released, though, and I have an opinion I'd like to share with you, because I live quite near the parklet; I could throw a stone to it from my porch.

Due to my home's proximity to the parklet, I walk by it every day; often multiple times a day. I'm familiar with the activities that occur there. For the most part, the parklet is unused, as it is small and contains no recreational equipment. It is basically a sitting area that abuts a lagoon, which affords the parklet a pleasant view. There are benches there for this purpose. It is not uncommon for people, sometimes young, sometimes old, sometimes disheveled with signs that they may be unhoused, to sit in the parklet and drink beer, smoke pot, and enjoy the view. There may be other, more dangerous drugs being consumed there, but I haven't seen it myself. I have seen people in various states of inebriation, including some who appeared to be suffering from some sort of mental illness, talking to themselves, sometimes loudly. Since I've lived in the same place for a long time and am accustomed to these sorts of activities, it's never made me feel unsafe, and I've never felt that calling 911 was necessary.

The police body cam footage shows officers interacting with Gonzalez. I'm going to avoid making judgments about the actions of the parties involved in deference to the ongoing investigations. However, my subjective viewpoint is that the neighbor who reported the call could have likely saved everyone a lot of trouble by calling the police department non-emergency line instead of 911. I've had occasion to call the police department a half-dozen times, and I always call the non-emergency line, except for one time when my house was burglarized, and I didn't know whether the burglars were still in the house.

The difference is that when you call the non-emergency line, at least in Alameda, the police dispatch a non-sworn technician to evaluate and triage the situation and request additional resources (either police or medical) as needed.

I support law enforcement in general, so this is not a "defund the police" argument I'm making here. I'm saying the actions of Gonzalez, as described in the 911 call, don't fall in my definition of an emergency. I see that type of behavior on a fairly regular basis in the parklet, and even when someone appears to be suffering from mental illness, I'm not aware of violent incidents there resulting from people drinking, smoking pot, or talking crazy in a loud voice.

From a conservative perspective, people may not have a right to drink and smoke pot in a public park, but there should be a balancing act when determining the appropriate response of citizens to these types of situations. The balancing involves the exercise of individual liberty and when that liberty impinges on the safety of others in the community. And yes, that's my libertarian streak coming out. Inside voice: "For Pete's sake, the guy was just down at the parklet getting buzzed, and now he's dead, and the cops are going to get raked over the coals." I should also mention that it has been reported that Gonzalez was the father of a four-year old boy and was a care provider for his autistic brother.

As things stand now, Gonzalez is dead, the officers involved have all been placed on leave pending the outcome of multiple investigations, and there have been several peaceful protests regarding the actions of the police and the neighbor who made the 911 call.

Can we agree that not everything illegal is a 911-level "emergency"? I encourage you to consider my opinion the next time you have need to call the police department and whether calling the non-emergency line might be better than 911. Thank you for your consideration.

Image: ernestoslava via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.


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Gympie-Gympie sounds adorable, but if you pay any attention to its scientific name Dendrocnide moroides, you would know its to be avoided. Dendrocnide is derived from the Ancient Greek word dendron, meaning tree, and knide, which means stinging needle. Indeed, Dendrocnide moroides, with its soft and fuzzy heart shaped leaves, is believed to be Australias most poisonous plant. The plants fuzzy appearance is due to it being covered by thousand of small hair-like stingers which carry a toxin so potent that victims have writhed in pain for weeks.

Photo: Steve & Alison1/Flickr

Botanist Marina Hurley who studied the plant for three years in the rainforests of Queensland describes its sting as being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.

Hurley was stung several times during the course of her study, despite wearing protective gear like particle masks and welding gloves. She needed hospitalization once.

Dendrocnide moroides, which grows near rainforests in eastern Australia from Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales, is one of six stinging-tree species found in Australia. But Gympie-Gympie is the worst of its kind. The entire plant is covered in small needle-like hairs. Similar to hypodermic needles, these hairs are sharply pointed and hollow and are designed to breakoff near the tip so that it can inject venom into the victims tissues. The needles are so tiny that they are hard to remove from the skin, but unless it is done so, the needles continue to release toxins into the body causing writhing pain whenever the affected areas are touched or they come in contact with water, or temperature changes. Researchers have reported that even dried leaves can have their hairs full of toxin.

An electron micrograph of stinging hairs. Photo: Marina Hurley

Leaves of Gympie-Gympie. Photo: Steve Fitzgerald/Wikimedia Commons

Ernie Rider, a senior conservation officer with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, who was slapped in the face and torso with the foliage in 1963, recalled:

For two or three days the pain was almost unbearable; I couldn't work or sleep, then it was pretty bad pain for another fortnight or so. The stinging persisted for two years and recurred every time I had a cold shower...There's nothing to rival it; it's ten times worse than anything else.

Worse still, the plant constantly sheds its needles like a cat shedding fur. The needles remain suspended in the air near the plants vicinity, where it can be inhaled by an unsuspecting victim causing respiratory complications. Marina Hurley was exposed to airborne hairs over a long period of time. She suffered sneezing fits, watery eyes and nose, and eventually developed an allergy that required medical attention. She recalled:

The allergic reaction developed over time, causing extreme itching and huge hives that eventually required steroid treatment. At that point my doctor advised that I should have no further contact with the plant and I didnt object.

W.V. MacFarlane, Professorial Fellow in Physiology at the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University, observed the effects of inhaling the trichomes (or hairs). He reported:

The plucking of hairs from the leaves invariably produces sneezing in the operator within 10 or 15 minutes. During early attempts to separate stinging hairs from dried leaves, dust and presumably some hairs were inhaled. Initially they produced sneezing, but within three hours there was diffuse nasopharyngeal pain, and after 26 hours a sensation of an acute sore throat like tonsillitis was experienced.

Les Moore, a scientific officer with the CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology in Queensland, was studying cassowaries when he was stung across the face. His face swelled up immediately:

Within minutes the initial stinging and burning intensified and the pain in my eyes was like someone had poured acid on them. My mouth and tongue swelled up so much that I had trouble breathing. It was debilitating and I had to blunder my way out of the bush. I think I went into anaphylactic shock and it took days for my sight to recover.

Marina Hurley wearing a particle face mask and welding gloves works with stinging trees. Photo: Marina Hurley

Tales of the Gympie-Gympies encounter with humans are fascinating. Road surveyor A.C. Macmillan, who was among the the first to document the effects of a stinging tree, reported to his boss in 1866 that his packhorse was stung, got mad, and died within two hours. Local folklore is abound with similar tales about horses jumping in agony off cliffs and forestry workers drinking themselves silly to dull the intractable pain. There is one apocryphal story about a World War 2 officer who unknowingly used the killer plants leaves as toilet paper. The pain was so terrible that he ended up shooting himself. Another story involved an ex-serviceman, who fell into one of the plants during WWII training exercises, and he ended up strapped to a hospital bed for three weeks, "as mad as a cut snake."

Surprisingly, despite being such a toxic plant, Gympie-Gympie is also food for some animals. Marina Hurley discovered during her study that Gympie-Gympies leaves are eaten by a nocturnal leaf-eating chrysomelid beetle and many other leaf-chewing insects and sap-suckers. They are also consumed voraciously by the red-legged pademelons that can strips entire plants of their leaves overnight.

A Tasmanian pademelon. Photo: Caroline Marschner | Dreamstime.com

References:

# Amanda Burdon, Gympie Gympie: Once stung, never forgotten, Australian Geographic

# Marina Hurley, The worst kind of pain you can imagine  what its like to be stung by a stinging tree, The Conversation

# Wikipedia
Atotech in Berlin is looking for an

Aufgaben

Where your expertise is needed



In your role as an Application Engineer (m/f/d) in the field of Panel & Pattern Plating you will be part of the world wide cross functional team to translate customer requirements into Atotech solutions. You will support our existing product portfolio to be transferred to customer and you will participate on trouble shooting and internal projects optimizing our products and processes.



Testing, qualification and evaluation of new products and processes and their process-technical implementation at the customers site

Support in the further development of existing products and processes, including method development for existing processes and those under development

Direct contact with OEM/EMS companies for in-depth discussions on troubleshooting and introduction of new processes

Customer consulting for commissioning of new plants/processes as well as consulting regarding existing processes and presentation of results internally and to the customer

Application support for the sales department and regional organisations

Independent and self-reliant troubleshooting in the technical laboratory, in the pilot plant or at the customers site

Carrying out sample processing

Handling large quantities of hazardous substances

Anforderungen

What were looking for



Completed (technical) university degree in chemistry, surface technology, chemical engineering or a comparable qualification

Several years of professional experience in electroplating and good knowledge of printed circuit board process technology

In-depth knowledge of electroplating chemistry and equipment

Very good user knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Powerpoint and Word

Very good written and spoken English

Organisational skills, appropriate appearance, ability to communicate and work in a team, ability to work independently, ability to cope with pressure and flexibility

Willingness to undertake frequent necessary business trips at home and abroad



What can you expect at Atotech?



Compensation

Attractive remuneration in line with the tariff for the chemical industry (Berlin) 13th month's salary + holiday pay + bonus.



Working hours

You benefit from flexible working hours in flexitime, 30 days annual leave, special leave days and flex days (working time compensation) possible and unlimited employment. Mobile working is possible by arrangement.



Further development

Stay on the ball with extensive onboarding, active trial management with regular touchpoints, intensive monitoring and various career opportunities throughout the company.



General advantages

Free parking spaces, company canteen, a wide range of health services, various insurance documents (bAV, BUV etc.) and many exclusive partner offers are part of it.

Unternehmen

Atotech (NYSE: ATC) is a leading specialty chemicals technology company and a market leader in advanced electroplating solutions. Atotech delivers chemistry, equipment, software, and services for innovative technology applications through an integrated systems-and-solutions approach. Atotech solutions are used in a wide variety of end-markets, including smartphones and other consumer electronics, communications infrastructure, and computing, as well as in numerous industrial and consumer applications such as automotive, heavy machinery, and household appliances.



Atotech, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, is a team of 4,000 experts in over 40 countries generating annual revenues of $1.2 billion (2020). Atotech has manufacturing operations across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. With its well-established innovative strength and industry-leading global TechCenter network, Atotech delivers pioneering solutions combined with unparalleled on-site support for over 9,000 customers worldwide. For more information about Atotech, please visit us at atotech.com.
Andover, MA (01810)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 58F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Andover, MA (01810)

Today

Periods of rain. High 58F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
TCL took the opportunity provided by MWC 2021 to not only announce two new phones from the ALCATEL brand. The company also announced two new wearables, some carrier equipment, and a new multi-screen collaboration. As well as to hint at an upcoming, budget-specific 5G handsets from its own TCL brand.

Those details came complete with not only expected arrival dates but also some fairly detailed specs and images. Put simply, theres a lot to explore here. So lets dive right in.

TCL NXTWEAR G is a next-level wearable for your eyes at MWC 2021

First up, is TCL NXTWEAR G Wearable Display Glasses. As its branding betrays, NXTWEAR G is a device thats made to sate the needs of movie lovers, gamers, and portable external display users. Particularly as it comes to productivity and privacy in that latter case. Summarily, this is a display from TCL that users wear over their eyes, much like VR but as an extension of a display.

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Where TCLNXTWEAR G differs from most available gadgets in its still-brand-new category is chiefly on purpose and design. TCL started with a foldable, frameless design in order to offer a more comfortable fit for more users. So, in terms of design, these look more like a slightly bulky pair of sunglasses rather than a VR headset. Complete with a high-shine black coloration with silvery ear arms.

The new wearable doesnt require any charging, works in a plug-and-play fashion via USB-C with over 100 smartphones, hybrid two-in-one devices, and laptops from all major manufacturers, and brings relatively great display specs to the table. Not least of all, the displays on the interior of the sunglass-like wearable are Sony FHD Micro LED panels.

Those are only set at a refresh rate of 60Hz, of course, but they are set at a 1080p resolution with an emulated display size of around 140-inches. At an aspect ratio of 16:9, too. And that should equate to a great experience, given TCLs prior prowess with display technology leading to placement in our top-ten value phones list.

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Of course, that also means they should be well suited to just about any task users could want to use them for.

TCL NXTWEAR G Specs

For those looking for a full run-down of specs for TCL NXTWEAR G Wearable Display Glasses, those can be found here, as provided by the company.

Display Type Micro OLED Resolution Dual 1080P, 16:9 aspect ratio FOV/PPD 47, 47 pixels per degree Refresh rate 60Hz Viewing Size 140 @4M Display Features [email protected], [email protected] Sensors Accelerometer, Gyro, Compass, P sensor Audio Dual Speaker Ports USB Type-C Connectivity USB Type C with Display Port Accessories Lens Frame for vision correction lenses /- 3 nose pads/- Glasses cleaning cloth Dimensions 187.35 x 159.3 x 42.8 mm (unfolded)

181 x 53 x 46 mm (folded) Weight 100~130g (with cable)

but TCL NXTWEAR G didnt arrive at the event all on its own either

The second big announcement at the TCL MWC 2021 event was the announcement of its MOVETIME Family Watch 2. Aimed at child smartwatch wearers, the new wearable comes with all of the great features found in the original. Complete with 4G voice and video call support, text messaging, and more via a Nano-SIM slot. Geofencing is part of that package too, helping alert parents if the wearer leaves the designated safe zone.

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But this variant, available in a Blue/Green or Red/Pink coloration, also takes several steps forward. Well beyond the ruggedization, one-touch SOS, and camera features. The SOS feature, conversely, gives kids one-touch access to trusted adults and contacts in the event of an emergency.

Not least of all, TCL says this wearable has a larger screen at 1.54-inches, with new personalization features for young users  compared to the original. It also has a battery thats 40-percent more capacious. So it should last a lot longer between chargers. Finally, TCL says that location tracking is improved in this variant too. So it should be easier than ever for parents to get peace of mind about where their kids are at.

TCL MOVETIME Family Watch 2 Specs

Of course, there are at least a few specifications that TCL has opted not to divulge at this time for MOVETIME Family Watch 2. But, for those looking to see exactly what has been divulged, thats included below. As provided by TCL.

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Size 48.54214.8mm

Display size  1.54-inches Fits Wrist 135mm~200mm Strap Width 20mm Estimated Weight Target: <55g (Rubber wristband) Form Factor rectangle Glass 2D Glass Watch Body Plastic Side Keys Power key Removable Wristband? Yes Camera 2MP VoLTE Compatible with VOLTE, depending on customers and platform Networking EU/MEA  GSM 900/1800, UMTS B1/8, FDD B1/3/7/8/20

SEAPAC  GSM 850/900/1800, UMTS B1/5/8, FDD B1/3/5/7/8/28full

LATAM & BDSC  GSM 850/1900, UMTS B1/2/4/5, FDD B2/4/5/7/28full/66 OS Proprietary OS (Based on Android 4.4) Chipset SL8521E, dual-core A53 @1.3GHz GPU Mali T820 MP1 @ 384MHz GPS/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Internal integration, GPS/AGPS/Beidou or Glonass, Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi connecting: Yes

Wi-Fi location: Yes

Bluetooth: BT4.2 Battery ~850mAh, Polymer; 4.35V,

Charging Time: Around 2 hours via USB 2.0

Working Time: Up to 2 days (Based on 4G)

Standby Time: Up to 7 days

Talking time: 12mins Ports Card slot: Nano SIM

SIM Card Number: 1

Audio Jack: No

Charging Port: Micro USB

Multimedia Output: No Sensors Accelerometer (G sensor) Accessories Standard: Quick Guide, PSI, TCL hotline, Micro USB Cable, Colorful Screen sticker, SIM tool

Optional: Charger/One additional wristband Services Video call: Yes

Sticker camera: Yes

Google map: Yes

TCL has also unveiled a brand new experience for multi-screen collaboration

Jumping beyond device announcements momentarily, TCL also unveiled a new Multi-Screen Collaboration for this years MWC. That, as might be surmised from the branding used, is a collaborative effort with Windows 10 devices. And it effectively follows in Samsungs footsteps.

Summarily, the Multi-Screen experience lets users wirelessly edit, share, and control phone content between a Windows 10 gadget and a compatible TCL smartphone. For instance, TCL 20 Pro 5G users will be able to access their phones files, apps, and photos, as well as the clipboard, directly from their computer.

This also works across other gadgets. For instance, switching from a laptop to TCLs 10 TABMAX tablet also works. With users continuing to receive smartphone notifications. And it also works with select TVs. So users can wirelessly sync up the same data from the TCL 20 Pro 5G on the TV, from phone-captured footage to shows from an app. And continuing over through music casting and more.

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TCL revealed something for operators at MWC 2021 too

TCL had some news for mobile operators at this years event too. Namely, new 5G and 4G CPEs.

On the former front, the TCL LINKHUB 5G outdoor CPE is a device meant for areas with a low number of 5G base stations. In effect, this is for last-mile 5G service, extending the reach for operators via weatherproof, IP67-rated wall- or pole-mounted hardware. And that includes weather protection against lightning and an operating temperature range from -40C to +55C. Thats -40F to around 131F.

In short, it uses high-gain antennas to first capture and then send out signals across every 5G band. All thats needed, according to the announcement, is a 5G SIM card inserted in the unit. And thatll work for both standalone and non-standalone networks, with either 4G or 5G core systems.

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The TCL LINKHUB 5G outdoor CPE offers speeds of up to 4.67Gbps over sub-6GHz transmission.

In the future, the company also plans to unveil an indoor solution its presently referring to as the ultra-fast indoor CPE. As the branding implies, that will work a bit differently. And TCL hasnt provided too many details as of this writing. But it will be aimed at bolstering mobile networking for smart homes and offices.

Last but not least, TCL has a secondary solution dubbed the LINKHUB LTE Cat12 outdoor CPE. And, as that branding implies, thats a similar last-mile hub meant for the outdoors. But this one operates using Cat12 4G to provide operators customers up to 600Mbps on the download side. Specifically, where 4G LTE isnt readily available or densely spread. And, like the previously discussed LINKHUB 5G outdoor CPE, thats offered with installation flexibility and an IP67 weatherproof rating.

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But wait, theres one more thing from TCL at MWC 2021

The final reveal of the TCL MWC 2021 announcement came in the form of something hinted at but not necessarily announced.

Namely, TCL indicates that it plans to unveil the most affordable 5G smartphone with TCL branding later on in the year. Now, TCL already offers 5G at an affordable price. Between the 5G variant of the TCL 20 announced at CES 2021 at around $363 and the TCL 10 5G UW, currently on sale online for under $300, these are already a great value.

So any phone thats aiming to be the most affordable TCL 5G phone yet has a lot to contend with. The company also didnt divulge exactly when it plans to launch the gadget, however. For now, all we know is that its coming.

Pricing and availability

Now, as noted above, all of these announcements are in addition to the launch of the TCL-built Alcatel 1 and 1L Pro today. So TCL appears to be jumping into MWC 2021 ready to take the show in several categories. However, there are some missing details regarding the launch of each of these products.

For starters, details have not been provided with regard to arrival dates for several experiences and products. Including the new TCL multi-screen collaboration features and the operator-ready 4G and 5G solutions. For the former, the company also hasnt detailed just yet how that will work, exactly.

Theres no price available for the NXTWEAR G Wearable Display Glasses, as of this writing, either. Although TCL did say at MWC 2021 that it would become available in Australia beginning next month with wider availability to follow.

The only product to receive full details at this event, as it turns out, is MOVETIME Family Watch 2. That will become available across Europe in mid-August. TCL is pricing that to move at just 149 in either a blue-green or red-pink color configuration.
There was gold in the ground of Cleburne County back in the day, we're told in this front-page article of June 24, 1901.
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Part of the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo, with more than 100 units at 8777 Collins Ave., collapsed around 2 a.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2021. (Amy Beth Bennett/Sun Sentinel/TNS)
(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 24 - Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini paid tribute to the members of the Italian armed services who took part in the coalition missions in Afghanistan, including 53 who lost their lives.

"I thank the 723 Italians who were injured and the 53 victims who lost their lives for the Republic to bring stability and peace to Afghanistan," Guerini said in the Senate as he reported on the withdrawal of Italian troops from the Asian country.

"This utmost sacrifice must not be in vain and the memory of them will be indelible.

"It is not easy to summarize 20 years of effort.

"Over 50,000 men and women were involved over these 20 years and they contributed to giving lustre to our country.

"The Atlantic Alliance will continue with its commitment to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a paradise for terrorism and to combat the narrative of abandonment". (ANSA).


TEL AVIV - Hundreds of Palestinians protested in downtown Ramallah, in the West Bank, for the death of Nizar Banat, a well-known opponent of President Mahmoud Abbas, according to media reports. Banat, 44, was pronounced dead by doctors at the hospital of Hebron after Palestinian security forces arrested him at home.



According to the governor of Hebron, Jibreen al-Bakri, quoted by local media, Banat's health worsened when he was arrested by security forces, based on an order of the prosecutor general.



During the arrest - explained al-Bakri - Banat didn't feel well and was immediately taken to the hospital of Hebron where doctors pronounced him dead. A member of Palestinian security forces was quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying that an investigation has been opened into the incident but refused to comment the allegations - made on social media and by family members - according to which he was beaten up during the arrest.



Premier Mohammed Shtayyeh - according to the official Wafa news agency - has ordered an investigation.



During the protest in downtown Ramallah - near the Palestinian president's office - slogans were chanted demanding him to resign. Media reports said one was chanted during the 2011 Arab spring: 'People want the regime's fall'.



The local EU representation in a tweet said it was "shocked and saddened by the death of the activist and candidate in political elections Banat after his arrest last night by Palestinian security forces". The representation then asked for "a full, independent and transparent investigation to be immediately carried out".


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A man accused in the killings of his father and two other people in a small Oregon city before he allegedly forced a woman to drive him more than 2,000 miles in her car to Wisconsin last week is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday
Travel industry bosses have cautiously welcomed the expansion of the green list  but warned it fails to go far enough.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that a number of destinations are being added to the green list for travel  from which returning travellers are not required to self-isolate  from Wednesday.

These include Malta and Spains Balearic islands as well as a number of Caribbean destinations such as Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados and Grenada.

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But while leaders in the travel and tourism sector welcomed the move, they warned that it was insufficient to help the industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Airport Operators Association chief executive Karen Dee said: Any extension of the green list is welcome, however small, but we also have to be realistic: this is not yet the meaningful restart the aviation industry needs to be able to recover from the pandemic.

Shai Weiss, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, added: Its a constructive step that the Government has recognised that Antigua, Barbados and Grenada can be classified as green allowing family and friends to finally reunite and enable much needed holidays.

However todays announcement fails to go far enough.

Mr Shapps also said it was the Governments intention that later in the summer UK residents who are fully vaccinated will not have to isolate when travelling from amber list countries.

Ms Dee said this was a welcome step and urged the Government to publish details of its plans as soon as possible to save what remains of the summer season.

She added: While this is not yet the vaccine dividend people in the UK had hoped for, it is welcome that Government intends to exempt fully vaccinated travellers from quarantine.

In the meantime, the overly cautious approach continues to have major financial impacts for airports.

Mr Weiss said the Government needed to remove quarantine for fully vaccinated passengers returning from both amber and green list countries no later than July 19, when restrictions could be eased.

He added: The UK has already fallen behind the EUs reopening and a continued overly cautious approach will further impact economic recovery and the 500,000 UK jobs that are at stake.

The British Airline Pilots Associations (Balpa) acting general secretary, Brian Strutton, and Ms Dee called for the aviation sector to be given more financial support by the Government.

Mr Strutton said: With some countries looking to shut us out, it is now imperative that the bespoke financial support the Chancellor promised last year is delivered immediately.

Ms Dee added: Unless more support is put in place, many jobs in aviation and travel will continue to be at risk.

The union Unite said that the Government as a minimum needed to extend the furlough scheme until spring next year to protect aviation jobs.

Its assistant general secretary Diana Holland said: If they fail to do so then tens of thousands of workers will be at risk of losing their jobs when the CJRS [Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme] ends.

The traffic light system is simply not fit for purpose; it is impossible for a multibillion-pound industry to make plans for the future when the rug can be pulled from under them every three weeks.

The Department for Transport said that all additions to the green list apart from Malta will also join the green watchlist, as will Israel and Jerusalem  signalling that these places are at risk of moving from green to amber.

Rory Boland, Which? travel editor, said that travellers needed to be extremely cautious about booking trips this summer, even to green-list destinations.

He added: Countries can be downgraded quickly and with little warning, as we saw with Portugal, while several European countries have introduced quarantine requirements for UK residents.

Restrictions around international travel are changing regularly and when they do, the cost to holidaymakers is significant.

But Thomas Cook CEO Alan French said he expected to see a bumper weekend of bookings following the announcement.

He added: Todays announcement is fantastic news for our customers who are desperate for a holiday and have been waiting with bated breath for this latest update.

We expect to see a bumper weekend of bookings as people rush to head back to their favourite islands and claim their rightful spot by the pool or on the sun-soaked beaches of Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Madeira and Malta.
Holidaymakers could be given more options for quarantine-free travel when the Government reviews its foreign travel list on Thursday.

An update of the lists which determine the quarantine and testing requirements for people arriving in the UK could see Malta and the Balearic Islands added to the green list, according to reports.

It comes after the vaccines minister revealed almost half of all adults aged 25 to 29 in England and a third of those aged 18 to 24 had now received their first dose of a coronavirus jab.

People arriving in the UK from green list destinations are not required to self-isolate, but there are currently no viable major tourist destinations in that tier.

However, Malta and the Balearic Islands, with its popular destinations of Mallorca and Ibiza, are among a handful of places being considered for addition to the green list, according to the Times.

Malta and Spain are currently on the Governments amber list, alongside other popular summer hotspots such as Portugal, Italy and Greece, with a 10-day quarantine period at home required for people returning from those locations.

(PA Graphics)

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said earlier this week that the Government is working on plans to allow quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated Britons returning from amber locations.

Asked about the prospect of restrictions being eased in the review, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the PA news agency: Of course I very much hope the world could open up.

Weve got to follow the data, and thats what well be doing in the meetings over the next few days.

His comments came as the travel industry held a day of action on Wednesday to put pressure on the Government to reopen the sector and provide tailored financial support to businesses.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Nadhim Zahawi said that more than 14,000 lives had been saved by the vaccination programme, while 44,500 hospital admissions had also been averted in England  2,500 in the past two weeks.

Referring to younger adults coming forward for their jab, the vaccines minister told a Downing Street press conference: The enthusiasm is making a huge difference.

We have already given first doses to almost half of all 25 to 29-year-olds in England and only a week after the programme opened to all adults on Friday, one-third of people aged between 18 and 24 have had their first dose.

(PA Graphics)

To all of the young people who have stepped up, I want to say a huge thank you. You have protected yourself, you have protected your families, and you have protected your communities.

The minister added that he was confident that 66% of adults could have had two jabs by July 19, which has been earmarked for when all remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England could be lifted.

As of 9am on Wednesday, there had been a further 16,135 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK  the highest reported daily toll since February 6.
A 72-year-old man has described how he became what is thought to be the worlds longest ever Covid patient after testing positive for the virus for 305 days.

Dave Smith, from Bristol, a retired driving instructor, said he was ready to die and give up on life.

He had Covid-19 for more than 10 months in what experts have said is the longest-ever recorded persistent infection with the virus.

He told the BBC how he coughed for five hours straight, non-stop if you can imagine the drain that puts on your body, the energy.

He added: I was ready to give up, I said to Lyn my wife let me go, Ive been hanging on, its so bad now, Im just jelly. If I go in the night, dont be surprised.

His wife Lynda said there were a lot of times we didnt think he was going to pull through.

Mr Smith said he celebrated the news he was Covid negative with a bottle of champagne.

Mr Smith had conditions which led to him having a compromised immune system, putting him more at risk from Covid-19.

Longest ever Covid case as man tests positive for 305 days

He told The Guardian: Whenever I went bad, I went really bad  down to deaths door. My wife started to arrange a funeral five times.

He added jokingly: I called all the family in to make my peace with them. I wish Id kept my mouth shut now.

He said his weight fell from 18.5 stone to 10 stone (117kg to 64kg) while ill due to a lack of appetite, adding: At one point, I was bedridden for two or three months. My wife had to wash and shave me in bed because I just couldnt stand up.

Sometimes I thought: I wish theyd take me in the middle of the night, because I just cant go on anymore. You get to the point where you are more afraid of living than you are of dying.

His case is to be presented to the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in July.

An abstract, which is to be presented to the conference, describes how Mr Smiths infection is thought to be the longest infection recorded in the literature.

Academics from the University of Bristol, North Bristol NHS Trust and Public Health England, said Mr Smith was admitted to hospital in May 2020 with a cough and fever.

A PCR test confirmed he had Covid-19.

He was discharged after eight days but he had significant breathlessness and went on to have interspersed acute deteriorations associated with fever which required further hospital admission in August, September, October and December.

The experts noted that in December 2020 a trial of daily remdesivir therapy was discontinued after 17 days as it had no effect.

He later received treatment with monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab.

Mr Smith was successfully treated with the laboratory engineered antibodies, the University of Bristol said.

It added that his health improved dramatically, and the virus was not detected in PCR tests 45 days after the combined treatment.

The combination of antibodies, by pharmaceutical firm Regeneron, have since been shown to save the lives of some of the sickest Covid-19 patients in a clinical trial, but the treatment regime is yet to be approved for use in the UK.

Mr Smith no longer tests positive some 305 days after first infection, academics have told conference officials.

(PA Graphics)

They said he reported symptoms for six weeks before his first test so they suspect infection was actually longer  meaning that he could have continuously tested positive for the virus for almost a year.

Mr Smith had a history of a condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which meant he had lung disease causing inflammation of the lung tissue and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia  a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells and tends to progress slowly over many years.

Dr Ed Moran, consultant in infectious diseases at North Bristol NHS Trust and co-author on the paper, added: It is wonderful that we were able to help this individual.

Whilst such cases are rare there will be a number of people across the country in similar situations.

The small numbers make it difficult to perform trials of experimental therapies. However, it is important that we find a way to access and develop treatment regimens for these individuals both for the wellbeing of the individual and to protect public health.

Academics are conducting further research into persistently infected immunocompromised individuals.

Other researchers have previously detailed a case which lasted for 85 days.

A number of people have spent long periods of time in hospital after being admitted with Covid-19. But this does not necessarily mean that they will test positive for the whole length of their stay.

Kate Garraways husband Derek Draper, a 53-year-old former political adviser, was in hospital for a year after being admitted with coronavirus symptoms and placed in a coma.

And Jason Kelk died on Friday following his decision to withdraw his treatment after more than 14 months in intensive care.

Sky News reported that Mr Kelk, 49, had spent more than a year in intensive care at St James Hospital in Leeds after contracting coronavirus in March 2020.
MPs have called for a change in culture at the UKs financial regulator to protect consumers and financial markets following the collapse of mini-bond firm London Capital & Finance (LCF).

The Treasury Select Committee has also called for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to confirm a deadline to enact a transformation programme to improve the organisation.

It comes a month after the FCA apologised to bondholders who lost millions of pounds invested in the collapsed mini-bond firm.

LCF failed in 2019 after raising 237 million from 11,000 small investors.

In December last year, a report by Dame Elizabeth Gloster found the FCA failed to properly regulate and supervise LCF and said the regulator must focus on improving internal authorisation and supervision processes.

On Thursday, the committee report called for further improvements at the FCA and said there are doubts as to whether the FCA Board has met the standards which it seeks to impose on others.

It said there is over-reliance on collective responsibility at the organisation which may deny visible accountability and potentially weigh on confidence in the FCA.

Mel Stride MP, chair of the Treasury Select Committee, said: The collapse of LCF is one of the largest conduct regulatory failures in decades.

Dame Elizabeth Gloster identified a litany of failings at the FCA regarding its regulation of LCF, and highlighted a range of changes needed at the FCA under its new leadership.

The Treasury Committee has made some further recommendations for the regulator and the Government to help prevent another LCF.

This includes setting deadlines and milestones for the FCAs transformation programme, expediting HM Treasurys consultation into the regulation of mini-bonds, and including measures to address fraud via online advertising in the Online Safety Bill.

The MPs said it was disappointing that measures against fraud through online adverts is not part of the draft bill published last month.

An FCA spokeswoman said: We welcome the committees report and will be providing a formal response in due course.

As we have said we are profoundly sorry for the mistakes we have made over LCF and are committed to implementing the recommendations of The Gloster Report which are progressing at pace.

The FCA has embarked on a wide ranging transformation programme to build a data-led regulator able to make fast and effective decisions and we are providing the committee with updates on our progress.

We agree with the recommendation that fraud via online advertising should be included in the Online Safety Bill, as online platforms are now the single biggest channel of financial scams and fraud.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges country-wide tour on the royal train cost the taxpayer almost 48,000, royal accounts have revealed.

William and Kate travelled 1,250 miles by rail after setting off from London, a few weeks before Christmas last year, to thank communities, outstanding individuals and key workers for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The couple made stops in Edinburgh, Manchester, Berwick, Batley, Cardiff and Bath Spa and ended their three-day tour by visiting the Queen at Windsor Castle.

The cost of the train is met by the taxpayer and has long been controversial with the service nearly scrapped in 2013 when it was feared the rolling stock would have to be replaced.

William and Kate arrive at Cardiff by Royal Train (Geoff Caddick/PA)

During the Golden Jubilee year of 2002, the trains journeys cost 872,000.

The royal accounts revealed the Cambridges journey cost 47,965 and the monarchy only made a handful of major royal trips due to the pandemic.

The most expensive was the Prince of Wales charter flight in October to Kuwait to pay his condolences following the death of the countrys Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, at a cost of 58,993.

The overall cost for royal travel during 2020-21 was 3.2 million, down by 2.1 million on the previous financial year, but despite the reduced number of trips a significant amount of the funds was used for leasing payments for the transportation.

The cost of helicopters was 2.1 million, including operating lease payments of 600,000, large and small fixed wing aircraft cost 100,000 each, rail travel was 700,000, which included lease payments of 200,000, and vehicles 200,000.
Quick trip! Prince Harrys time in the U.K. will be brief as he and brother Prince William reunite to unveil their late mother Princess Dianas statue next week, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly.

Read article

Itll be a fleeting visit, the insider says, noting it wont be as long as Harrys April visit for Prince Philips funeral service. Hell be in and out.

The former military pilot, 36, wants to get back to his wife, Meghan Markle, in Montecito, California, the source explains, especially since they just welcomed their second child, daughter Lili, on June 4.

Why Prince Harrys UK Trip Dianas Statue Unveiling Will Be Fleeting

While the brothers are uniting for the unveiling, sadly, they wont get to spend much time together, the insider adds.

A second source confirmed that Harry wont be visible the whole time hes in the U.K. because he will be following protocols and taking a COVID-19 test before quarantining across the pond for 10 days. He will then get a second COVID test before seeing his family.

Why Prince Harrys UK Trip Dianas Statue Unveiling Will Be Fleeting

The new statue of the late princess is set to be unveiled on Thursday, July 1, on what would have been Dianas 60th birthday. The memorial will include a plaque, a playground and a fountain surrounding the official sculpture of the Princess of Wales, who died in 1997 at the age of 36.

Read article

Harrys return to his home country will mark the first time hes seen his family since they attended the Duke of Edinburghs funeral following his death in April at the age of 99. At the time, Harry traveled to England solo since his wife, 39, was very pregnant with their daughter and was not given clearance by her doctors to fly.

This time, the prince will again be arriving by himself, leaving Meghan in California with their nearly one-month-old baby girl and 2-year-old son Archie.

Harry has continued to make waves since the last time he saw his family overseas despite appearing to make amends during Philips service with William, 39, and Duchess Kate. After comparing his life growing up as a royal to a mix between The Truman Show and living in a zoo during a May appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast, a source exclusively told Us that Queen Elizabeth II is unimpressed by Harrys actions and found it hurtful.

Read article

However, since the birth of Harrys daughter, who is named after the queens childhood nickname Lilibet, the royals seem to be making strides toward mending fences once again.

All is not forgiven, but after all the backlash regarding their interviews  which by the way, the pair have no regrets about  theyre trying their utmost to maintain a good relationship with the queen in order to keep the peace, an insider told Us earlier this month.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Utah Rep. John Curtis says he's tired of hearing that Republicans  his party colleagues  don't care about climate change or slowing global warming.

A former Provo mayor who has served in Congress since 2017, Curtis says Republicans can push for serious climate solutions while holding fast to conservative values. To prove the point, he has formed the Conservative Climate Caucus, an all-GOP group aimed at educating fellow Republicans on climate change and advancing market-based policies to counter the Green New Deal and other Democratic proposals.

Those who watch this caucus will see Republicans do care about this Earth  deeply,'' Curtis said at a news conference Wednesday.

"We, too, want to leave this Earth better than we found it. We dont need to kill the U.S. economy to reach our climate goals. In fact, its just the opposite. There is a way to lower emissions without sacrificing American jobs and principles. And I believe Republicans are the ones to lead on this.''

Leading Republicans, most notably former President Donald Trump, have mocked climate change as a hoax and downplayed the effects of warming temperatures caused by fossil fuel emissions. Trump withdrew the United States from the global Paris climate accord, and his Environmental Protection Agency refused to update a website highlighting evidence of climate change in the United States, including rising temperatures, increased ocean acidity and more severe droughts and wildfires.

Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan, another caucus member, said it's long past time for Republicans to acknowledge the reality of climate change and put forward solutions that reduce carbon emissions while remaining "aligned with our business community.''

Climate caucus members are not going to be bringing snowballs onto the House floor,'' Meijer said. Were bringing solutions. Were not using this as a cheap talking point.''

Meijer was referring to a 2015 incident when Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., brought a snowball to the Senate floor to dispute global warming.

Meijer, a freshman who voted to impeach Trump in January, acknowledged that Republicans have an image problem on climate change, but he said Democrats must answer for excesses of their own.

Far too often,'' he said, "our colleagues on the other side of the aisle look at the environment as a cloak they can wrap around any policy, as just another adjective in front of a nebulously defined justice that can encompass whatever their talking points want.''

Curtis, who voted against impeachment but supported a bipartisan commission on the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, said he has not talked to Trump about the climate caucus. The group includes some strong Trump supporters, but all are "independent thinkers,'' Curtis said in an interview.

Calling climate change a serious threat, he said, "We've been missing from the table for too long as conservatives.''

A total of 56 Republicans  a quarter of the GOP caucus  had joined the climate group as of Wednesday, including Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves, the top Republican on the House Select Committee on Climate; Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the top Republican on Energy and Commerce; and Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman, top Republican on Natural Resources.

None of the top three GOP leaders in the House belongs to the climate group, although House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California has pledged to form a GOP task force on energy and climate issues.

Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida, the Democratic chair of the full House climate panel, said she hopes Republicans are serious about addressing climate change and are not just trying to score political points.

As a dangerous heatwave threatens to break all-time temperature records across the West, and as families and farmers struggle with rising costs, it is clearer than ever that Congress must act now to expand clean energy and cost-saving energy efficiency,'' Castor said. There is no more time for half measures. If my Republicans colleagues really want to do something, they need to start voting in favor of real solutions.

David Doniger, a top climate strategist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said his organization welcomes Republican engagement on climate. The key question is: Will they support actual limits on carbon pollution to cut emissions in half in the next 10 years and reach net-zero (greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050? he said.

Curtis and other caucus member cited private-sector innovation and development of technologies that capture and store carbon emissions as crucial to address climate change, and said the United States is the global leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas exports from Russia produce about 40 percent more carbon emissions than U.S. gas exports, Graves said, citing a 2019 Energy Department study.

We didnt do it with mandates, we didnt do it with picking technological winners or losers. We did it because of Americas innovators, because of the same people that allowed the United States to be this amazing economy,'' he said.
Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk.

Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen.

If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned.

I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country.

It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously.

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Take shorter showers.

Only use the sprinklers in the cooler parts of the day.

Run the dishwasher less often.

Recycle sink and shower water for plants.

Turn off the water while your brushing teeth.

I don't.

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After our 2nd year of being in business, it did not take long to figure out that people absolutely love talking about health insurance! Kidding of course. However, for as much as people do not WANT to talk about it, the truth is that you MUST talk about it. Why? Read more
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Paradoxically, three days after Indias May decision, and because of the threat of the Delta variant, the UK reduced the gap to eight weeks

It would benefit us to better understand the controversy surrounding the length of the gap between two AstraZeneca injections -- our Covishield. After all, theres no one over 18 whos not affected. So let me lay out the key facts and explain the complications inherent in them.

When the vaccinations started on January 16, the Covishield gap was set at four weeks, which is what the manufacturers recommended and what was followed in the incomplete bridging trials. However, earlier in December, Britain, on the basis of its own analysis of AstraZenecas (AZ) trial results and additional information from the company, had unilaterally increased the gap to 8-12 weeks. Then, in February, WHO advised a similar gap. So, unsurprisingly, questions were asked in India. In response, the government first expanded the gap to 6-8 weeks in March and then to 12-16 weeks in May. Paradoxically, three days after Indias May decision, and because of the threat of the Delta variant, the UK reduced the gap to eight weeks.

Now the Indian governments press release says the gap was extended to 16 weeks on the basis of real-life evidence, particularly from the UK. This created the first controversy. The original UK policy limited the gap to 12 weeks. It doesnt have real world data to cover the additional four weeks. When I questioned Gagandeep Kang, a member of the Covid Working Group which had suggested the 12-16-week gap, she said the additional four weeks was based on AZs trial results and modelling. Now theres nothing wrong with that except its not real-life evidence from the UK.

Last week, Prof. Andrew Pollard, the chief investigator of AstraZeneca and director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, rationalised the 12-16-week gap differently. He said protection from one dose is extremely good till 12 weeks but doesnt fall off a cliff thereafter. Its reasonable to assume a longer extension and, therefore, extending the gap to 16 weeks is not problematic.

However, this is the lesser controversy. The bigger one has to do with studies suggesting that AZ does not provide adequate protection against the Delta variant. This is of particular concern because AZ constitutes 88 per cent of all vaccinations in India while Delta is the dominant variant. There are probably more cases in India than the rest of the world put together. So, the efficacy of AZ against Delta is critical.

First, Public Health England has said that AZ only provides 30 per cent protection against symptomatic illness caused by Delta. Then, Frances Louis Pasteur Institute published a laboratory-based study stating that a single dose of AstraZeneca will not display an optimal protection against B.1.617.2 (the Delta variant). Finally, our own National Centre for Disease Control in association with the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology published a study of the Delta variant concluding that partial vaccination is an insufficient impediment to its spread.

Now, do these studies suggest that Indias 12-16-week gap leaves people inadequately protected against Delta and we should reduce the gap to eight weeks, as Britain has done? Several experts say yes. They include Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, and Arvinder Singh Soin, chairman of Medantas Institute of Liver Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine. A few newspaper op-eds and editorials echoed this view.

However, this is where we need to pause and understand what precisely the studies are telling us. No doubt one dose of AstraZeneca provides inadequate protection against symptomatic infection, but it provides very credible protection against serious illness and hospitalisation. Public Health England has established -- and, by the way, most of the good research on AZ and Delta comes from Britain, its only just starting in India -- one dose provides 71 per cent protection, going up to 92 per cent after the second. And thats what really counts.

To explain further, let me rely on what Prof. Pollard said last week. We should not be deterred or deflected by the fact that one dose of AZ gives only 30 per cent protection against symptomatic illness. That usually means nothing more than a cold, cough and fever, which most people can handle. Whats important is protection against serious illness, hospitalisation and death.

His second point is more important. The preponderant majority of the Indian population is unvaccinated and, therefore, unprotected at a time when the Delta variant is spreading widely and increasing in threat. In these circumstances, a vaccination policy that covers the largest number, in the quickest possible time, with at least one dose makes sense. This means a gap up to 16 weeks is arguably the right response.

Prof. Pollard also warned against comparing vaccination policies in Britain and India. The circumstances in the two countries are very different. Britain reduced the gap after a substantial proportion of its population was vaccinated. India extended the gap to reach more people. Additionally, theres a shortage of vaccines. We need to make the most of the little we have. Were not in Britains position of abundant supply.

So now you have the two poles of the debate. Which should we focus on? Inadequate protection conferred by a single dose of AZ against symptomatic illness or the 71 per cent protection against serious illness and hospitalisation? In the last week, the balance has tilted in favour of the governments strategy, which prioritises protection against serious illness and hospitalisation. No doubt, Prof. Pollards endorsement has hugely helped, but so too has a recent study by the Christian Medical College in Vellore which shows 70 per cent protection against hospitalisation, 94 per cent against need for oxygen and 95 per cent against the need for intensive care after one dose.

Yet two issues remain and theyre also unaddressed. Is it wise to leave the elderly and vulnerable inadequately protected for 16 weeks or should the gap be narrowed to eight weeks for them? Second, people who develop symptomatic illness are also carriers and can pass it on. A 12-16-week gap means there could be more such people than if it was just eight weeks.

To the best of my knowledge, this is where the controversy stands today. N.K. Arora, head of the Covid Working Group, has said that any change will be taken scientifically  on the basis of merit. However, he also added that if it turns out the current decision is fine, we will continue with it. I guess well have to wait and see what happens.

The writer is a television commentator and anchor.
Google teamed up on technology initiatives, including development of affordable smartphones for price-sensitive, tech-savvy Indian market

JioPhone Next will be available from September 10, and will be the most affordable smartphone globally. (Photo: Twitter)

New Delhi: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Thursday announced 'JioPhone Next', a power-packed affordable smartphone that has been jointly developed by Jio and tech titan Google.

JioPhone Next will be available from September 10, and will be the most affordable smartphone globally, Ambani said while addressing RIL's annual general meeting.

The "extremely affordable" smartphone will have cutting-edge features, including voice assistant and language translation, among others, he said.

He further said Reliance Jio will use Google Cloud for 5G.

Last year, Google had announced an investment of Rs 33,737 crore for a 7.7 per cent stake in Reliance Industries' technology venture Jio Platforms. The tech giant had also teamed up on technology initiatives, including development of affordable smartphones for the price-sensitive, tech-savvy Indian market.
HP

That means it's 111 years since Alfa Romeo has been a major actor on the automotive scene. The only thing to ever slow this team down have been the two world wars, and the usual economics. Several events have been announced and are underway as we speak to mark this companys anniversary.The main event is the delivery of the first Giulia GTA and GTAm models, limited to 500 units. The anniversary also coincides with the upcoming Austrian F1 Grand Prix, set to kick off on July 1, 2021. In the spirit of the occasion, Alfa has also decked out the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo with a ton of red cars and even whipped up a few activities for public and private enjoyment.Since some folks were inspired enough and rich enough to order a new Giulia GTA and GTAm , today looks to be the day theyre patience wears off. Delivery of the first of 500 units is to begin, making a few lucky folks really happy.The GTA and GTAm are both fitted with the same 540 PS (530 hp) 2.9-liter V6 Bi-Turbo engine. This badass currently boasts the best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 187 PS/liter (184/liter). Now, this vehicle is heralded as a road-legal sedan thats track ready, so its got to be fast. Zero-to-100-kilometer (62 miles) time is recorded at around 3.6 seconds.With the inclusion of carbon fiber, aluminum, and other lightweight alloys, plus 50 years of track experience brought by Sauber Engineering, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone is zipping round with a smile on their face today.The only real difference between the two models is a reduction in weight due to removal of the rear bench and replacement of several other body components for the GTAm. The GTAm is also equipped with Sabelt 6-point sport seats, and a roll bar. In total, the GTAm weighs up to 100 kg (220.5 lbs) less than the Giulia Quadrifoglio on which the GTA and GTAm are based.If youve got 143,000 plus VAT ($170,825 at the current exchange rates), you can get yourself a Giulia GTA, but I recommend throwing in an extra 4,000 and get yourself the GTAm at 147,000 plus VAT ($175,456). Really now, whats another 4,000 when youre spending almost 150,000 on a car?Whats also special about this anniversary are the events organized at the museum. Aside from visitors seeing countless Alfa Romeo vehicles from the entire history of the Milanese brand and embarking on tours and activities, Alfa Romeo is also including an interactive live link with its F1 teams drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.Now thats one heck of an occasion to get your questions answered by the team directly from the Spielberg circuit. But wheres Kubica in all this? Probably at the wheel testing Alfa's F1 car. On display over the next four days will also be Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen single-seater show car.Also available to visitors are two in-depth lectures on brand history and several other talks, including one on the 4C prototype. As a special perk for 4C owners , they will also be invited to parade their vehicles on the museum track.If you happen to be on the private guest list or even decide to go without an invitation, as the museum is open to the public, make sure you wear some hue of red. Yes, its a dress code. If you really want to impress, Alfa Red, a.k.a. AR 501 is the hue of choice.
Partnering with Brooklyn-based artist Madsteez, DeLorean has announced opening bids for a limited collection of 40 NFTs (non-fungible tokens), one for each year in the life of the DMC-12 since it entered production. Each NFT is unique and bears Madsteezs outstanding visual style. The compilation in the video below should offer an indication as to what to expect.The entire collection will be available on the OpenSea platform, with bids accepted only in Ethereum. According to DeLorean, several of the NFTs will be accompanied by physical gifts, like a pair of Nike 6.0 Dunk SE DeLoreans, an original poster for Back to the Future in a steel frame, and other memorabilia. The 2021 NFT, called Special Edition: DeLorean An Electrifying Future, comes with a special-edition Super73 , a DeLorean x Super 73-S2 e-bike. For the DeLorean fans who are not yet ready to go all-out for digital art and digital possessions, you know.Perhaps the best part of the announcement comes last: two NFTs will come with incredible physical utilities. Whoever buys Special Edition: DeLorean The Start of it All (1981) will instantly be granted a spot on the waitlist for the upcoming DeLorean revival vehicle. The company has long stood by revival plans , and theyve been more or less confirmed, but an actual timeline for the revival has not been revealed.The winner of the Special Edition 1-of-1 DeLorean 40th Anniversary Montage NFT will get an actual DeLorean. Its a 1981 model, fully restored and all original, with a gray interior and an automatic transmission, a new engine, and 28,000 miles (45,061 km) recorded.Bidding on all NFTs and the assorted goodies is open, may the DeLorean fan with the fattest digital wallet win!
Somewhat uneven considering the number of Indians pitted against Harleys, the competition sees two of todays most iconic models, the Indian Challenger and Harley-Davidson Road Glide, chase each other down some of Americas most famous tracks.But King of the Baggers is an actual race, with laps and all, and that means it ultimately comes down to the bikes willingness to take a beating and the riders skill and strategy. By no means does King of the Baggers explain which of the two is faster on a straight line.For that, one needs a drag race, and if we are to judge by how CycleDrag describes the 11 minutes or so of footage available below, it would be the first time ever a brand new Harley-Davidson Road Glide has been pitted in such a setting against an equally brand-new Indian Challenger.Were told both bikes are stock, with the Road Glide rocking a 114cc engine and the Challenger a 108cc one. Both took to the track in the hands of their owners during the Thunder at the Rock event in Rockingham, North Carolina, at the end of last week.The riders went for a two-out-of-three competition, with $500 in cash and bragging rights on the table.It didnt take long for the Indian rider to know hes in trouble. Issues for the Challenger started right before race one, when it had some problems during burnout for one reason or another. That, however, did not stop it from getting on the starting line, from where, to its surprise it, watched the Harley shoot off like a champ.Not willing to give up, the rider of the Indian gave chase, and by the end of the race, managed to catch up, finishing the race right beside the Road Glide.Race two proved a nightmare for the Indian , which failed to completely get off the line, and settled for watching the Harley disappear into the distance. With Harley having one both races, the competition was over.The two riders decided to go for the third race just for the kicks of it, though, and this time the Harley stood no chance. It was too little too late, but as you'll see in the video below, there's talk of payback.
As Spin puts it, the T in S-100T stands for tough. Custom designed by the brands in-house team, the seventh generation was tested to handle anything the city will throw at it. Fresh off the line, this e-scooter has been through a lot. It went through 149F (65C) heat, -4F (-20C) cold, high and low humidity, and even saltwater fog.Its 500W motor took a bath in saltwater then was run at 1,000 rpm for up to 1,000 times. I guess its safe to say that it survived the salty adventure and functioned properly after. After withstanding more than 400 different safety and durability tests, the S-100T is ready to face the unexpected.The new e-scooter features a triple braking system which includes a stomp brake, a front-wheel drum brake, and a rear-wheel regenerative motor braking system. Together, these allow the vehicle to stop in less than 15 ft (4.5 meters).Much like a car, it has a bright 270-degree tail light which lets other traffic participants see you from 600 ft (183 meters) away. As far as lighting systems go, it also comes with a 360-degree status light ring wrapped around the display that shows other riders if the scooter can be rented or not.Spec-wise, the S-100T is equipped with a 576Wh custom swappable battery that gives it enough juice for a 30-mile (96.5 km) range. Spin aims to achieve a 15-minute zero-emission solution for citizens by exceeding the 284-day environmental neutrality target.The S-100T will join Spins electrified family, the original S-100, the three-wheeler S-200, and an S-300 e-bike. According to the Ford-owned brand, the new scooter will be launched in Sacramento this summer before rolling out across the U.S. later this year.
The object showed no coma in any of the (5 band) DES images between 2014-2018 (when it moved from 29 to 23 au). The residuals of a scene-modeling photometry of this objects shows consistency with noise (both in each image and in a stack of all 30 something images we have) pic.twitter.com/7JIibMPyZS  Dr. Pedro Bernardinelli (@phbernardinelli) June 20, 2021

Too far away to be of any real use to us, with our current level of technology, the Oort cloud is in effect the mysterious boundary of our solar system, one that probably hides amazing wonders. And one of these wonders may just have been spotted.Earlier this week, astronomers Pedro Bernardinelli and Gary Bernstein announced theyve discovered what may very well be the largest Oort cloud object unearthed so far.Dubbed 2014 UN271, the space rock was found by studying images gathered for the Dark Energy Survey between 2014 to 2018. Its still too far away to make accurate measurements, but astronomers believe it may be between 100 and 370 km (62 to 230 miles) in length.The object caught these guys attention thanks to its orbit, stretching from far out into the Oort cloud right into our solar system. The object is presently just past the orbit of Neptune Sometime in 2031, it will make its closest approach to our planet. Although it is presently too early to estimate how close it will pass, its worth noting its orbit is almost perpendicular to the plane created by the nine inner planets as they move around the Sun.Astronomers expect that as it comes closer to the Sun, the object will develop a comet-like tail, although that is not a given either. If it does, it will become the largest comet ever discovered. It will also get brighter, and that should allow Earthlings to study it betterexpectations are it will be as bright in the night sky as, say, Pluto or its moon Charon.
According to Ciferri, Lancia will have three new EVs in the next five years: a small car to replace the Ypsilon, a compact crossover, and a compact hatchback. Two of them would have already been approved, and one is still in discussion.The first electric car ever to present the Lancia logo will be the replacement for the Ypsilon, expected to arrive by mid-2014, and it will also have a combustion-engined derivative. If you think it will present the same platform as the current Fiat 500e, that will not be the case. The future small Lancia will have the second generation of the eCMP architecture , which should be presented in 2022. We suspect it may be called simply SLTP Small to follow the new naming strategy Stellantis has adopted for its platforms.The compact crossover would arrive in the first quarter of 2026, would be manufactured in Melfi, and it will be exclusively electric. Its platform will be the eVMP, which also suffered a name change: youll now call it SLTP Medium from now on.The last of the three new products is the one that is still under evaluation. Stellantis executives would be wondering if there will still be a market for a compact hatchback in 2027 for Lancia to present one.Apart from the new products, Stellantis intends to sell Lancia vehicles in countries other than Italy to improve its chances. Anyway, and if you take what Peter Rawlinson said about his strategy for Lucid, the recovery plan for Lancia may seem strange.Carlos Tavares himself said that Lancia embodies Italian elegance, which suggests the Stellantis CEO saw it as an excellent fit for a luxury brand. Rawlinson recently noted that theres always room at the top and that Its mighty crowded down below. Under this perspective, putting Lancia to compete in high-volume and low-profit-margin segments may make it harder for the brand to survive.
The Mint Green finish of this naturally aspirated toy has been out there for three decades, as it made its debut on the 964 iteration of the Neunelfer (the 1991 model year).It is part of the Paint To Sample (PTS) range the German carmaker offers for the GT3, being one of the pre-approved shadesyou can always ask the company to bring almost any color you desire, even if, say, it's borrowed from Ferrari. Mind you, such a move will impact the cost and the time frame of the operation.And, unlike in the past, when customers had to wait for a certain window, PTS colors are offered from the start of the GT3 production.This specification is not for the introverts, and we're not just saying that because of the black finish of the stone guards and the staggered wheels (20-inch units up front and 21-inch toys at the back). As such, if you take a peek through the spokes, you'll notice the yellow calipers of the PCCB carbon-ceramic brakes.The vehicle seems to have been photographed at Porsche's headquarters in Zuffenhausen, Germany (lens tip to Linus, a.k.a. bent.light for these shots).And while there's a single cabin image in the Instagram post below, we can still notice a few options, such as the full bucket seats, the roll cage included in the Clubsport Package, the Sport Chrono Package, and the manual tranny.Returning to the point made in the intro, the recent arrival of the majestic Touring Package isn't the only reason why the GT3 has constantly been in the spotlights.For one, Porsche initially announced that it wouldn't sell the six-speed manual on GT3s destined for California, due to noise-related law. However, it returned to the matter a few days ago, letting us know the legal matter had been sorted out, so nobody is forced to go with the otherwise brilliant eight-speed PDK.
SUV

The goal is that this hardware will eventually help the XC90 drive autonomously, something Tesla has been promising it will offer since 2016.When Volvo confirmed its cars would have LiDARs, it unavoidably reminded us that Tesla removed radars from its vehicles to rely on a camera-based system. The goal is to make the cars cheaper, but they presented no price reduction after radars were removed.According to Volvo, the idea with the AI computer and Luminars radar is to help save even more lives as the company sets a new benchmark for automotive safety. Thats something Tesla also claims to prioritize. To the companys bad luck, a Model S owner recently made fun of that motto in his Tik Tok videos when the airbag module just detached from the steering yoke.According to Hakan Samuelsson, Volvos CEO, his company is, and always has been, a leader in safety. The XC90 and future vehicles would now define the next level of car safety, in the executives words. Although this is a bold claim, Volvo phrases it in conservative  and sensible  ways.Volvo did not promise to deliver autonomous driving. Instead, the company said that the technology is expected to mature over time. Past safety systems mainly relied on warning the driver, while future ones will, over time, increasingly intervene as needed to prevent collisions. Summing up, things will happen step by step  when they are tried and proved enough to be offered to customers.It is not unlikely that the new XC90 will use the same dedicated electric platform that we will see in the Polestar 3, a crossover Volvo will produce in South Carolina for its sister brand. We hope Volvo discloses the name of this new architecture soon.
Both the Poncho and its V10-animated drag strip companion entered service in the 1990s before retiring after the 2002 model year. Oh, and while we're listing similarities, they're both red.On a more serious note, this is where the common points of the two American toys end, especially since the Trans Am seems to be the only one given a major aftermarket overhaul.The piece of footage at the bottom of the page, which comes from the Drag Racing and Car Stuff YouTube channel, shows the machines duking it out at the Street Car Takeover event held over the weekend at the US131 Motorsports Park in Michigan.Now, the Gen II Viper appears to sport aftermarket wheels and tires, as well as a diffuser. However, if we take a look at the quarter-mile time of this GTS mode l, whose 8.0-liter engine delivers 450 hp (456 PS) and 490 lb-ft (664 Nm), it seems that no engine mods have been installed.There are very few details about this Gen IV Trans Am, aside from the obvious turbo soundtrack. However, if we check out the 1,320-ft numbers of the coupe, we'll notice its tech side has been seriously massaged.And, since the only potential visual clue towards that boost (pun intended) comes from the wheels and tires, this Pontiac is a sleeper.Note that the video also showcases the Viper racing what appears to be a 2019 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 (yes, this is the 400-hp twin-turbo 3.0L V6 expected to power the upcoming Nissan Z ).However, this is an index class battle , with the big W going to the vehicle that gets the closest to the designated time, which sits at 12s for this run. Andspoiler alertsometimes the difference between the competitors can be as little as 0.001s.
EV

We all know that every new vehicle is put through a series of tests before it hits the market, but what happens in the months leading up to the official release is rarely publicized.It turns out that the all-electric version of Fords popular cargo van has completed one such testing regime not long ago, and the manufacturer offers a glimpse at what the vehicle had to endure in a recent video that you can watch below.Aiming to simulate the ten years worth of intensive use in just three months, two E-Transit cutaway and high-roof cargo van prototypes have experienced extreme climate and durability testing at the manufacturers high-tech facilities in Europe and the United States.Both prototypes were exposed to the harsh winter conditions in Michigan during these tests where they racked up hundreds of miles on precarious roads. After that, they crossed the Atlantic, arriving at Fords Environmental Test Chamber in Cologne, Germany, where extreme heat, cold, and altitude were simulated. Finally, the two EVs made their way to the companys Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium, where they were extensively driven through huge potholes and rough road surfaces.The Environmental Test Chamber can recreate temperatures higher than those recorded in the Sahara desert or colder than what we normally get during winter in the Siberian tundra.Engineers analyzed the durability of the all-electric powertrain, battery liquid-cooling system, and the behavior of components and materials inside the cabin by subjecting the vehicle to over 104 F (40 C) for two weeks using 28 spotlights with 4,000-watt bulbs.Immediately after this test was completed, the chamber was set to -31 F (-35 C) and an air pressure similar to what the van would encounter on Austrias Grossglockner High Alpine Road, one of the highest paved roads in Europe. The E-Transit was kept there for another two weeks.In Belgium, thousands of passes over specifically designed tracks full of bumps, potholes, and cobbles were performed, mimicking cobbled streets, or challenging unpaved roads from around the world.The durability of the battery pack, electric motor, and redesigned rear suspension were tested by repeatedly driving the two prototypes through mud and salt baths and saltwater sprays, simulating winter roads and low water crossings. These tests also validated the corrosion resistance of these components, as well as the bodywork.The goal of this rigorous vehicle "boot camp" was to make sure that the E-Transit is as durable as its diesel-powered siblings which have become some of the best-selling commercial vehicles in the world, mainly because of their reliability.Throughout the entire process, the effects of more than 150,000 miles (240,000 km) of driving in the most grueling situations were simulated. Ford assesses that this figure should be attained in about ten years of use, which it states is the estimated lifespan of this commercialThe manufacturer also says that the vehicles readiness will be further analyzed through extensive customer trials in the supermarket, utility, and last-mile delivery sectors later this year.As part of the Blue Ovals growing all-electric lineup, the E-Transit will go on sale earlier next yea r with a range of 126 miles (203 km). The all-electric van is expected to be available in most parts of the world.
Mild spoiler: its far from the cool accomplishment in the film because its the work of a drunk driver. He caused serious property damage and is now facing charges because of it. It happened in Omaha, Nebraska, in the late hours of Saturday night, and of course, he didnt do it because he wanted to recreate the iconic visual from the movie.Footage recorded by a doorbell camera and shared with NBC affiliate WOWT (the video is only available at the link) shows a small sedan traveling on a residential street, leaving a trail of fire behind it. Based on the footage, you cant tell whats causing the fire, but Chief Deputy Sheriff Way Hudson from the Douglas County Sheriffs Office says that it was a fire hydrant.The driver hit a fire hydrant and then dragged it with the car. The sparks from the hydrant rubbing against the tarmac ignited the gasoline leaking from the pierced tank, so the driver left a trail of fire leading to his driveway. As if that wasnt enough clue for authorities, they found the car involved in the incident, as well as another one, burned down in the driveway.According to the same media outlet, the driver was identified and arrested and is now facing charges of second offense DUI, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of a property-damage crash. Hudson underlines that, Back to the Future comparisons aside, this video serves as an indication of how dangerous a drunk driver is.The ring cam and the different cameras out there are really helping us now, the Chief Deputy Sheriff says. This is a prime example where we can show video evidence of how dangerous someone who is drinking and driving can be, how dangerous they can be.For the non-dangerous, completely fictional trail of fire and the even more impressive time-traveling DeLorean , heres a video to refresh your memory.
AV

Residents of Indianapolis will get the chance to see for themselves what its like to ride around in an autonomous shuttle. The Together in Motionshuttle service was launched by TMF, in collaboration with May Mobility, Energy Systems Network (ESN, a local nonprofit) and Indianas public transport provider, IndyGo. Throughout June and until November 19, 2021, people in Central Indiana will have free access to this service.This is part of the larger Motion Indiana program, created by TMF and ESN at the beginning of this year, with the objective of developing advanced mobility technologies. Throughout the project, the partners will test various mobility solutions adapted to the needs of local communities, as a learning process for taking AV services to the next level and adapting them to the market.The AV shuttle service will be operating from Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The actual vehicles will be 5 Lexus RX 450h cars and a Polaris GEM shuttle with wheelchair-accessibility, all of them equipped with May Mobilitys autonomous technology The shuttles will operate on a rotating loop, with a total of 9 designated stops and a 10 to 15-minute distance between arrivals. The Together in Motion route will follow IndyGos Red Line, with additional circling of the IU Health University Hospital and the Riley Hospital for Children campuses. Additionally, those who are interested in a ride can check out live updates of the shuttles location and plan their trip on Google Maps Before the free service was officially launched at the beginning of this month, May Mobility offered short rides on a special demonstration route, to Indianapolis residents and those who were attending the Indy 500 race.The next phase of the Indiana AV project will begin later this year, in Fishers.
FILE - In this Dec 12, 2012 file photo, anti-virus software founder John McAfee talks on his mobile phone as he walks on Ocean Drive in the South Beach area of Miami Beach, Fla. John McAfee, the creator of the antivirus named after him, has been found dead in a cell of a jail near Barcelona, a government source told The Associated Press on Wednesday June 23, 2021 on the same day that a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of his extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges.(AP Photo/Alan Diaz, file)
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Apple Daily, Hong Kong's biggest pro-democracy newspaper, announced Wednesday that it will close at the weekend following the freezing of its assets under China's national security law.

Why it matters: It's the latest blow to the Asian financial hub's democracy movement and to free speech. Authorities have used the law that gives the government broad power to limit people's political freedom to arrest several journalists at the news outlet, founded by imprisoned tycoon Jimmy Lai.

Authorities used the law to charge Lai and other pro-democracy activists for organizing a massive unauthorized protest in 2019.

Hong Kong police cited media articles as potentially violating the law when they arrested five Apple Daily executives last week  the first time the law has been used for this reason in the former British colony.

Of note: The closure announcement comes hours after police arrested an Apple Daily columnist, who's also been accused of "conspiring to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security" under the law.

What they're saying: Parent company Next Digital said in a statement that its board "regrets to announce that due to the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong, Apple Daily in its print form will come to an end no later than the last edition" this Saturday.

Its website "will no longer be accessible no later than 11:59pm on Saturday," the statement added.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
Democrats, in private and public, are warning that rising crime  and the old and new progressive calls to defund the police  represent the single biggest threat to their electoral chances in 2022.

Why it matters: There has been a big spike in big-city crime, a dynamic increasingly captured in local coverage and nationally on CNN and Fox News.

The latest: Democrats say it's no coincidence that Eric Adams, the leader in the New York City mayoral race, ran against defunding the police.

Adams, who retired as an NYPD captain after a 22-year law-enforcement career, held a lead in yesterday's Democratic mayoral primary. Final results could take weeks because of the election's complex ranked-choice voting. Andrew Yang conceded.

Graphic: CNN

The big picture: Homicide rates in large cities  many of them run by Democrats  were "up more than 30 percent on average last year, and up another 24 percent for the beginning of this year," foreshadowing a violent summer, the N.Y. Times reported June 1.

President Biden sees this rising threat, and plans to roll out anti-crime plans at 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

The N.Y. Times' Tom Friedman, one of Biden's favorite columnists, writes Wednesday under the headline "Want to Get Trump Re-elected? Dismantle the Police":

"As for policing, this issue could really sink Democrats. For example, big swaths of my old hometown, Minneapolis, have been turned into a dangerous and dystopian ghost city, wracked by gun violence, since the police murder of George Floyd."

WashPost front page on Wednesday, top of column 1, "Cities at a loss as murder rates soar": "The killings rolled over the country like a fast-moving storm. From Savannah to Austin, from Chicago to Cleveland."

"In six hours one night this month, four mass-shooting attacks. And in their wake, a sober recognition from city leaders that they dont have many options left for curbing a surge in homicides that is traumatizing communities nationwide."

What's next: Republicans plan to use Dems' defund-the-police rhetoric as a major issue in next year's midterms.
The State Department is concerned organizations performing supply-chain audits in China are coming under pressure from Chinese authorities.

Why it matters: U.S. law prohibits importing products made through forced labor, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to verify whether products from China are tainted.

In April, at least seven people in China who work in partnership with Verite were interrogated by Chinese authorities for several days, several people familiar with the matter told Axios.

Verite is a U.S.-based company that performs supply-chain audits around the world to ensure production is free of forced labor and other violations.

It declined to comment. Verite does not have operations in Xinjiang.

A similar organization has expressed concern for the safety of its Chinese employees, according to one person familiar with the matter.

Between the lines: As part of a sweeping campaign of forced assimilation and genocide, the Chinese government has forced Muslim ethnic minorities to work in factories in Xinjiang and other parts of the country.

This potentially taints a large number of supply chains throughout China.

Last week, the U.S. and G7 economic powers issued a joint statement condemning forced labor in global supply chains  specifically naming the Chinese government's use of forced labor in Xinjiang as a top concern.

What they're saying: "We are deeply concerned by reports that supply-chain auditors have been detained, threatened, harassed and subjected to constant surveillance while conducting their vital work in China," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to Axios.

"We continue to caution businesses about the reputational, economic and legal risks of supply-chain links to entities that engage in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Companies must ensure their activities comply with U.S. law."

"We will continue to consider all available tools to promote accountability for the PRC governments atrocities in Xinjiang," the State spokesperson said.

The Chinese government has denied accusations of genocide and forced labor, saying instead that Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are benefiting from vocational education and poverty alleviation programs.

The Chinese government also has levied sanctions on foreign researchers, organizations and even members of the European Parliament who have raised awareness about human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Authorities in Xinjiang have denied or limited access to the region to journalists, researchers and human rights investigators, complicating independent assessments of working conditions in the region.

Be smart: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss efforts "to eradicate forced labor from U.S. supply chains."
The Biden administration is urging the Israeli government to start engaging with Sudan's civilian leaders, rather than just the military, as part of the normalization process between the countries, Israeli officials tell me.

The backstory: Sudan is governed by a transitional civilian-military council, but the Israeli government has communicated almost exclusively with the military, starting with a summit 18 months ago between then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Burhan, the chairman of Sudan's governing council.

While Burhan pushed the normalization process forward, there were strong reservations on the civilian side, many of which remain to this day.

Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi, for example, opposed the abolishing of an Israel boycott law. Other top officials, such as Justice Minister Nasreldin Abdelbari, are more supportive of the normalization process.

Why it matters: The U.S. believes that increasing contacts between the Israeli government and the civilian faction of the Sudanese government could advance the normalization process.

Behind the scenes: In a recent meeting with the U.S. charge daffaires in Khartoum, Brian Shukan, senior Sudanese civilian officials said that Israel was engaging only with the military and intelligence services and asked the Biden administration to intervene, Israeli officials tell me.

State Department officials then conveyed that message to the Israeli Foreign Ministry and prime minister's office, and made clear that the State Department also believes Israel should work with Sudan through civilian channels.

They didnt ask us to stop working with the military but asked that we start working with the civilian government, too," an Israeli official said.

A State Department official declined to comment.

But there was a new source of tension last week after an Israel private jet affiliated with the Mossad spy agency landed in Khartoum.

Sources familiar with the flight tell me Mossad officials met with Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemetti.

Hemetti is Burhans deputy on the Sovereignty Council but has been trying to create an independent relationship with the Israelis in order to promote his own domestic political agenda in Sudan. He's also a highly controversial figure who has been accused of war crimes in Darfur.

Sudanese officials were upset about the optics of the Mossad visit, which could be seen as an Israeli attempt to undermine Burhan and the civilian government, a source familiar with the issue says.

Whats next: Sudan and Israel still havent signed a formal agreement on diplomatic relations. The agreement has been drafted, but the Sudanese want to have it endorsed by the Biden administration and signed in a ceremony in Washington.
According to official results of the June 20 elections, the LHK won only 1.2 percent of the vote, falling far short of the 5 percent legal threshold for entering the parliament. It had garnered 6.4 percent in the previous elections held in 2018.

LHK leader Edmon Marukian said his party was on course to clear the vote threshold until the last few days of campaigning marked by bitter recriminations traded by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and two hardline opposition alliances led by Kocharian and another former president, Serzh Sarkisian.

Marukian claimed that many LHK sympathizers deserted his camp after Kocharians Hayastan bloc held the biggest rally of the entire election campaign in Yerevan on June 18. He said they felt that Kocharians return power is a real possibility and that they should prevent it by voting for Pashinians Civil Contract party.

Our representative in Yeghegnadzor told me that people are coming to the [local LHK] office and saying, Sorry, we planned to vote for you but after seeing that rally we thought that they are returning [to power] and decided to give extra votes to the authorities so that it doesnt happen, he told a news conference.

The official results showed Civil Contract getting almost 54 percent of the vote, compared with 21 percent and 5.2 percent polled by Hayastan and Sarkisians Pativ Unem bloc respectively. Both opposition forces are expected to ask the Constitutional Court to overturn what they call fraudulent results.

During the 12-day election campaign, the LHK positioned itself as a viable alternative to Armenias current and former rulers. It pledged to form a government of national unity in case of making a strong showing in the polls.

The megaphones of the current and former authorities were much stronger than ours, complained Marukian. Our voice was drowned out as a result.

The LHK leader also accused Hayastan and Pativ Unem of helping Pashinian to stay in power. He said that lawmakers representing the radical opposition will be an easy target for the reelected prime minister.

Supporters of the two ex-presidents claim the opposite. They say that Pashinian will face real opposition in the parliament for the first time since coming to power more than three years ago.

Hardline critics of the Armenian government have for years questioned the LHKs opposition credentials. They have accused Marukian of secretly cooperating with Pashinian, his erstwhile political ally.

Like other major opposition forces, Marukians party blamed the government for Armenias defeat in last years war in Nagorno-Karabakh. But it did not join street protests organized by them in an attempt to force Pashinian to resign.
The conclusions of international and local observers and the international community are unequivocal: the elections were held in conformity with democratic standards. In effect, we set a new standard, Pashinian said, opening a weekly meeting of his cabinet in Yerevan.

When pre-term parliamentary elections were held in 2018 and the international community gave those elections unprecedentedly high marks  it was said at the time that the election outcome was obvious for everyone in advance and that the incumbent government did not need, so to speak, to falsify the election results. The outcome of the 2021 parliamentary elections was not predictable and everyone knew that they are probably the most unpredictable elections in the Third Republics history, he said.

In their preliminary report released on Monday, European observers gave a largely positive assessment of the Armenian authorities handling of the snap elections held on Sunday. They said the vote was competitive and generally very well-managed.

Both the United States and the European Union cited the findings of the observer mission mostly deployed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in their official reactions to the conduct of the snap polls.

The U.S. State Department urged the Armenian opposition to accept the official election results that gave a landslide victory to Pashinians Civil Contract party.

The two leading opposition groups that won seats in Armenias new parliament have alleged widespread irregularities, however. They are expected to ask the Constitutional Court overturn the official results.

Former President Robert Kocharians Hayastan bloc, the official runner-up in the polls, accused the European observers on Monday of turning a blind eye to violations which it said benefited the ruling party.

Armenian law-enforcement authorities have charged more than a dozen opposition members and supporters with trying to bribe or bully voters. No government officials and loyalists are known to have been prosecuted for electoral offenses so far.

Pashinian cited on Thursday the election-related criminal cases. I am convinced that they will be properly investigated, he said.
The Kremlin reported that Putin emphasized the importance of consistent implementation of the Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the war in Nagorno-Karabakh and follow-up understandings reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in January.

The Russian side will continue active mediation efforts to ensure stability in the region, it said in a statement.

The Armenian government also said the two men discussed the implementation of those agreements. In that context, it said, Pashinian stressed the need for the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians still held in Azerbaijan.

Putin spoke with Pashinian one day after his phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. According to a Kremlin statement, the call took place at the initiative of the Azerbaijani side and touched upon practical aspects of the realization of the agreements reached by Aliyev, Pashinian and Putin.

Special attention was paid to intensifying work in a trilateral format on the restoration of economic links and transport routes in the South Caucasus, added the statement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov spoke by phone earlier on Wednesday.

The agreements call for the reopening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for commercial traffic. They specifically commit Armenia to opening rail and road links between Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan. For its part, Armenia should be able to use Azerbaijani territory as a transit route for cargo shipments to and from Russia and Iran.

At their January 11 meeting in Moscow, Putin, Aliyev and Pashinian agreed to set up a trilateral working group tasked with working out practical modalities of establishing such transport links. The group co-headed by deputy prime ministers of the three states held several meetings in the following months.

The group has not met since Azerbaijani troops crossed several sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on May 12-14, triggering a continuing military standoff with Armenian forces.

Given these border incidents, I dont think its possible to constructively work on that [Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani] platform, the groups Armenian co-chair, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian, said recently.

Grigorians Azerbaijani opposite number, Shahin Mustafayev, suggested earlier this week that the trilateral task force will resume its activities after a new Armenian government is formed as a result of the June 20 elections.
Professor Armen Charchian, the director of the Izmirlian Medical Center, was prosecuted after a non-governmental organization publicized last week a leaked audio recording of his meeting with hospital personnel.

Charchian, who ran for the parliament on the opposition Hayastan blocs ticket, can be heard telling them that they must vote in the snap elections or face much tougher treatment by the hospital management.

He was indicted under an article of the Criminal Code that prohibits any coercion of voters.

A Yerevan court allowed the Special Investigative Service (SIS) late on Wednesday to arrest Charchian and hold him in pre-trial detention.

It emerged afterwards that the renowned surgeon was hospitalized shortly before the court ruling. He was understood to remain in another Yerevan hospital on Thursday.

Mr. Charchian has been suffering from diabetes for more than 20 years, one of his lawyers, Erik Aleksanian, told reporters. He also underwent serious heart surgery recently.

Aleksanian insisted that the accusations are groundless because the leaked audio contains only a short excerpt from his comments made at the meeting with the Izmirlian Medical Center staff. He said a longer recording submitted by defense lawyers to the court shows that Charchian assured his staffers that he will not resort to repression against anyone refusing to go to the polls.

Charchian also told them that the Armenian Apostolic Church, which owns the hospital, does not want Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to stay in power. Prosecutors say this amounted to ordering the hospital staff to vote against Pashinians Civil Contract party.

Aleksanian denied that. The lawyer said his client made clear at the start of the meeting that he is not going to agitate for or against any political group.

Meanwhile, the churchs Echmiadzin-based Mother See issued another statement on Thursday condemning Charchians unfounded persecution and demanding that the authorities revoke the arrest warrant.

Distinguished doctor Armen Charchian has saved thousands of lives in the most difficult situations and is continuing, as head of the Izmirlian Medical Center, to wholeheartedly serve our people and fatherland, read the statement.

Hayastan, which finished second in the elections, says that the charges leveled against Charchian are government retribution for his affiliation with the ruling partys main election challenger.

More than a hundred members and supporters of the opposition alliance led by former President Robert Kocharian gathered outside the Office of the Prosecutor-General to demand an end to the criminal proceedings.

Hayastan and another major opposition bloc, Pativ Unem, claim that public sector employees openly supporting them were harassed and even fired by government officials in the run-up to the polls. They have also accused central and provincial government bodies of forcing their employees to attend the ruling Civil Contract partys rallies. Civil Contract leaders deny these allegations.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Some Arizona marijuana businesses are pulling certain products because of fears over salmonella or aspergillus, a common mold. Eight products are being voluntarily recalled. They are plants that are either trimmed, flower-cured or prerolled. A full list is below.

Brand Name Product Name Batch Number Product Type Implicated Contaminant Harvest Platinum 14g Pre Pack Indica Flower (Glazed Apricot Gelato) CVGH210406HB Plant, Trim Salmonella Harvest Platinum 14g Pre Pack Sativa Flower (Tiger Haze) CVGH210406HM (L) Plant, Trim Aspergillus Modern Flower 3.5g Pre Pack Indica Flower (Orange Acai) CVGH2104210HI Plant, Flower - Cured, Greenhouse Aspergillus sp. Sol Flower Dispensaries and Establishments Tahiti Lime 0121TILM.33.WT Plant, Flower - Cured Aspergillus sp. EHF (Elephant Head Farms) HAT Trick #17 Flower 030821F1H12 Plant, Flower - Cured Salmonella Mohave Cannabis Preroll LAB #454 PR Plant, Preroll, Indoor Salmonella Tru Infusion Flower Caked Up Cherries 0326R12CUC Plant, Flower - Cured indoor Aspergillus sp. The Pharm Chemistry #1 (HD 3/24/21) Chemistry #1 1 B15B.R1-10 Plant, Flower - Cured, Greenhouse Aspergillus sp.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, no one has gotten sick because of the contamination. But health officials urge people who bought the products to not eat or smoke them, and throw them away. During a routine inspection, state lab auditors found that the marijuana samples from the eight products tested positive for salmonella or aspergillus. Once health officials found out, they worked with retailers to remove the products.

ADHS confirmed the lab was OnPoint Laboratories LLC of Snowflake. Demetri Downing, the founder of the Marijuana Industry Trade Association of Arizona, said the voluntary recall is creating a more accountable industry. "This is a small instance in a massive industry. The end result, in the end of the story, is everything is moving toward transparency, accountability, openness, testing, which is a good result," said Downing.

A spokesperson for OnPoint responded to questions from Arizona's Family Thursday morning. "OnPoint Laboratories takes full responsibility, and reiterated today that all of the products, dispensary companies and brands associated with this recall have always followed rigorous state testing requirements and continuously provide clean products for consumers," they said in an email.

Mentioning the clean certificate of analysis it received earlier this year, the company also said it supports what ADHS is doing to protect consumers.

Their bi-annual audits and reports are essential and the AZDHS system is working. While this recall was issued out of an abundance of caution, it exemplifies the excellent teamwork of the agency, the labs and the cannabis companies that serve Arizona consumers, said an OnPoint Laboratories spokesperson.

According to OnPoint, the voluntary recall is the result of "an audit-based testing discrepancy between OnPoint Laboratories and AZDHS," and not "any wrongdoing by the products, dispensaries, or brands." The company's full statement is at the end of this story. (Jump to statement.)

Ryan Treacy, the founder of C4 Laboratories, said the marijuana and testing industry is still adapting to new regulations while trying to keep up with demand. "Still, in the thick of the transition period in what a nonregulated and regulated market looks like," said Treacy. "I think it is a really good sign that the Department of Health Services has taken the rules and regulations seriously."

For symptoms of salmonella, a type of bacteria, click/tap here. For symptoms of aspergillus, click/tap here.

What's in your weed? Sales up, safety testing down For people purchasing marijuana products from a dispensary, it would be reasonable to expect products to be free of harmful chemicals and pesticides. That is an assumption people in Arizona should not make.

Full statement from OnPoint Laboratories
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

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Bluefield, WV (24701)

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Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 72F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Shakespeare Plays the Oregon Coast Outdoors at Cannon Beach Summer Shows

Published 06/22/21 at 7:15 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Cannon Beach, Oregon)  The Bard is heading to the beach, the north Oregon coast in particular.

As summer concerts return to Cannon Beach, something new (and well, a few hundred years old) pops up as well. Cannon Beach's City Park will be filled with Shakespearean sonnets and mysterious plots as the Coaster Theatre Playhouse takes its performances outside this year.

Every Friday from July 9 to Sept. 3, the Coaster Theatre Shakesperience Presents Sixty-Second Shakespeare, offered at 6 p.m. in the park, at Second and Spruce streets, behind the Cannon Beach Visitors Center.

Directed by Patrick Lathrop, Sixty-Second Shakespeare involves a collection of humorous scenes and sonnets from classic Shakespearian plays. With each piece no longer than a minute, the Shakesperience is designed to entertain Shakespeare novices and experts alike.

Directed by Patrick Lathrop, Sixty-Second Shakespeare involves a collection of humorous scenes and sonnets from classic Shakespearian plays. With each piece no longer than a minute, the Shakesperience is designed to entertain Shakespeare novices and experts alike.

The cast includes Rosemary Allen, Luthian Goldstein-McDonald, Lynn Hadley, Margaret Hammitt-McDonald, Leonard Hoge, Bennett Hunter, Katherine Lacaze and Terra Wolden.

On Saturdays, from July 10 through Sept. 4, mysterious characters will reveal secret plots in the Coaster Theatre Mystery Hour Presents the Case of the Coaster Clambake. The laughter begins at 6 p.m. in the park.

Who dunnit? Was it Joey Breakers, an American aging surfer that seeks the ultimate wave? Or Cannon Beach local Pete Zaria, an Italian pizza restaurateur with a history of saucy fashion and traditions? Or possibly Sue Nami, a French oceanographer who came to Cannon Beach for the summer and knows everyone's business? Join British detective Clive Sheerluck as he unravels the mystery of his own demise, and help Clive uncover his killer.

Directed by Katherine Lacaze, the cast includes Frank Jagodnik, Brittania Williams, David Sweeney, Lucas Ethridge, Bob Liotta, Margo McClellan and Emily Andrade.

No admission will be charged for either play, but donations are welcome.

Previews of both performances also are planned at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 25 in Astoria's McClure Park, at Eighth Street and Grand. MORE CANNON BEACH BELOW

Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours

Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals. About 60 vacation homes to choose from: ocean view, oceanfront and very close to the beach, all in Cannon Beach or in Arch Cape. All are either oceanfront or very close. Homes sleep as many as 12. 164 Sunset. Cannon Beach, Oregon. 503-436-0940. 866-436-0940. www.visitcb.com







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As the next meeting between the company and union representatives for 620 Beaumont workers still hangs in limbo, ExxonMobil has started answering questions about decertifying the bargaining unit.

In a Thursday night informational message to employees, the company decided to outline information it said answered questions from currently locked out workers about the process of removing their representation by the United Steelworkers Union and its local, 13-243.

The Company continues to receive decertification-related questions from employees and has published some of those questions along with answers, spokesperson Nakisha Burns told the Enterprise in an email.

In the bulletin, representatives from the company explained the technical parts of calling an election to decertify and how pay for certain positions would be affected in the event it was passed.

According to information from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which receives petitions to facilitate elections for workplace representation, at least 30% of the 620 workers in the refinery and packaging facility bargaining unit would have to sign the petition to begin the process.

A notice of a petition for an election hadnt been publicly released in the NLRB database by Friday afternoon.

On Friday morning, representatives from the United Steelworkers Union called the notice a desperate move and questioned the timing of the information.

Richard Hoot Landry, a staff representative with USW District 13, said that the conversation about decertification isnt new and had been happening well before the lockout began on May 1, but he believed it was handled poorly.

There was an employee in the plant that was trying to collect signatures for decertification efforts and was sharing information with workers, but it eventually grew to a point where it was creating a hostile work environment that was brought up to management.

Landry said he couldnt comment on the details of what happened and the union wasnt accusing ExxonMobil of pushing the movement to decertify.

An official complaint to the NLRB filed more than a month ago provided more context about what happened before the lockout.

In the document filed on April 23, USW lawyers alleged that the company had been providing an employee with materials about decertification, as well as emails of employees and use of its email system and allowed them to keep a lockbox on the companys property for petitions since early March.

The complaint also alleged the company had been making changes outside of the agreed contract that impacted safety and rights of workers, like ending the requirement for employees working at heights to have a spotter.

It also took exception to workers not being able to make up shifts lost due to Winter Storm Uris impacts across Texas.

The company said it couldnt respond to the direct charges in the complaint, but that it has been acting appropriately and within the law throughout the contract negotiation.

The Company has at all times acted lawfully and will continue to do so, Burns said in an email. Beyond that, the Company has no further comment on the decertification effort at this time.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
The Beaumont Police Department needs your help to piece together the events that led to a recent homicide.

Officers are looking for more information about the man who was killed last week as well as the black BMW they believe was purchased before his death.

Police are asking for any information surrounding the movements of 53-year-old Claude McField in the days before he was killed last Wednesday. On that day, officers arrived in the 4400 block of Magnolia Street and found McField in the middle of the road with multiple gunshot wounds.

Information gathered from the scene described a dark colored sedan leaving speeding away from the homicide. McField had a newly-purchased vehicle  a 2012 BMW 528i with a temporary paper license, 17571W9, which police are now searching for.

Beaumont PD also is hoping to hear from people who knew McField or surveillance footage from 2 to 3:30 a.m. from cameras in the area.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

We are always asking for the public to come forward with any information, Officer Haley Morrow told The Enterprise on Wednesday. Typically, when we have a homicide investigation, there is someone out there that has information, whether they specifically have know exact details, heard something or seen it on social media.

We just always ask for the public to be aware of it, and if they have information, to come forward so that the detectives can hopefully bring justice to the homicide victim and their family, she added.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the victim or the crime is asked to call Beaumont Police at 409-832-1234 or Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS (3477).

meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/megzmagpie
BUTTE, Mont. (AP)  Butte-Silver Bow county announced the initial winners of its vaccination sweepstakes on Thursday, as it also begins a marketing campaign aimed at increasing the number of people who are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ina G. Fox and Mark Bleken each won $10,000 in the COVID-19 Vaccine Sweepstakes while LaDonna Black, Emily Loos and Toby Richards won $5,000, NBC Montana reported.

The weekly drawings will be held each Thursday through Sept. 30, and will give away a total of more than $500,000 to vaccinated residents, officials have said.

The Butte-Silver Bow Health Department is also beginning a new marketing campaign emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines to people ages 12 to 59. State data shows that 56% of the eligible population of Silver Bow County is fully vaccinated, among the best vaccinated rates in Montana.

The majority of our communitys older people have pursued vaccinations, health officer Karen Sullivan told The Montana Standard. Its the younger demographics were after, and our campaign will be speaking to them about the importance of being vaccinated against the virus."

The charitable foundation of the Town Pump convenience store chain provided $500,000 in prize money and the county plans to spent $500,000 on its advertising campaign.

By year's end, Sullivan said the county aims to have 75% to 85% of the entire population fully vaccinated.

All I want is for people to get a shot in the arm. I want this community to be vaccinated, Sullivan said recently. How we get there, if its ethical and above board, then Im good with it. Lets get er done.

Nearly 16,800 of the 30,125 eligible people in Silver Bow County have already been vaccinated.

Statewide in Montana, 46% of eligible adults and teens have been fully vaccinated, trailing the national rate of 53.3%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Silver Bow County has reported 4,157 cases of COVID-19 and 86 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
The McFaddin-Ward House (MWH) has selected Victoria Tamez as its next curator of collections.

Since our doors opened in 1986, the vast collections of the McFaddin-Ward House have been nationally recognized, Tony Chauveaux, MWH executive director, said in a statement. Im incredibly excited that Victoria Tamez has agreed to join our team and continue the long tradition of excellence in the care and management of over 35,000 objects in the McFaddin-Ward House collections.

Tamez recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a Masters of Arts degree in heritage and museum sciences. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in history from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Previously, Tamez worked as the acting collections manager for the history division of the Museum of Texas Tech University and served as a graduate assistant. She also worked as a research assistant at Our Lady of the Lake University, Center for Mexican American Studies and Research in San Antonio.

Golden Pass LNG has awarded its latest round of scholarships to high school graduates in the Port Arthur and Sabine Pass communities pursuing process technology degrees at Lamar Institute of Technology and Lamar State College - Port Arthur.

Recipients will receive full tuition as well as support services, career counseling, a Golden Pass employee mentor and opportunities to interact with the company throughout their training. Upon completion, participants will have the opportunity to interview with Golden Pass for a job in the companys new LNG export facility.

The following participants were awarded the 2021 Golden Pass LNG Scholarship for Process Technology:

- Alexander Saucedo

- Ivan Ochoa

- Marcus Kemper

- Angela Bennett

- Juan Cardenas

- Phi Tran

- Huy Tran

- Lisandro Valencia

- Randy Nguyen

Golden Pass LNG is hiring 200 new, direct employees to operate its new LNG export facility, which is expected to be operational in 2024.

Education First Federal Credit Union also announced scholarship recipients for the graduating class of 2021.

The credit union personally presented $1,000 scholarships to 36 local high school seniors in Southeast Texas.

The credit union has been distributing scholarships since 1999. This years round of scholarships in Southeast Texas brings its total investment in local students to $587,000.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
Bedford, PA (15522)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy. Low around 60F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
A demonstrator holds a picture of Rizieq Shihab, an Islamic cleric, whose supporters gather outside a courtroom in Jakarta, June 24, 2021.

An Indonesian court on Thursday sentenced a hardline Islamic cleric to four years in prison for saying he was not infected with COVID-19 after testing positive last November and refusing to give the government access to test results.

The ruling by the East Jakarta District Court was its second conviction of Muhammad Rizieq Shihab over pandemic-related offenses in less than a month. Outside the courthouse, hundreds of his supporters clashed with security personnel who tried to disperse them for violating COVID-19 social distancing rules.

A three-judge panel said that Rizieq, founder of the banned but influential Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), had written to a hospital in Bogor, a city near Jakarta, asking it not to disclose information about his condition. Rizieq, a vocal critic of Indonesias government, sent the letter as he held gatherings attended by thousands of people upon his return home from Saudi Arabia on Nov. 10, 2020.

We declare that defendant Muhammad Rizieq bin Shihab guilty beyond reasonable doubt of spreading false information, and deliberately causing public disturbances, said Khadwanto, the head of the three-judge panel.

The court also sentenced the director of the Bogor hospital where Rizieq was treated, Andi Tatat, and the clerics son-in-law, Muhammad Hanif Alatas, to one year in prison for being accessories to spreading false information.

Khadwanto said Rizieq, 55, could seek a presidential pardon to escape the prison sentence.

Last December, the COVID-19 task force in Bogor had filed a police complaint after Rizieq and the hospital refused to disclose his test results. A month earlier, Rizieq held at least three religious gatherings attended by thousands of people.

The prosecution said Rizieqs refusal to disclose his COVID-19 test result was a deliberate attempt to hinder the governments efforts to control the pandemic.

A defiant Rizieq said he would appeal.

I will fight on. To my legal team, dont back down, he said after the verdict was read out.

Achmad Michdan, a member of Rizieqs defense team, said his client would lodge a legal appeal instead of asking for a presidential pardon.

On May 27, Rizieq and five of his associates were sentenced to eight months in prison for violating coronavirus restrictions by organizing events late last year that drew thousands of people. These included a gathering to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad and a wedding for Rizieqs daughter.

Indonesia has the largest COVID-19 caseload in Southeast Asia, with more than 2 million confirmed cases and 55,000 deaths.

On Thursday, Indonesia recorded 20,574 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily jump, amid a surge in infections partly driven by the highly virulent Delta variant, which was first detected in India.

Far from justice

Outside the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday, Rizieqs supporters pushed a police car into a river, after police tried to disperse them for not socially distancing

Police arrested dozens of the supporters on suspicion of carrying crude weapons and provoking the crowd, East Jakarta police chief Erwin Kurniawan said.

We negotiated with the coordinator, but we did not agree to their demand, Erwin told reporters.

More than 3,000 soldiers and police were deployed to provide security during the trial.

Rizieqs supporters were not the only ones questioning the clerics trials.

One legal expert, Abdul Fickar Hadjar of Jakarta-based Trisakti University, wondered why Rizieq was probed for spreading false news instead of being prosecuted under the health quarantine law.

Fickar said Rizieq had been targeted.

This is a witch hunt. This is far from justice, Fickar told BenarNews.

Since founding FPI in 1998, the cleric and the groups members have had several brushes with the law.

In the early 2000s, the FPI was notorious for raiding bars and night clubs, which they said harbored drug dealers and prostitutes.

In 2003, Rizieq was sentenced to seven months in prison for these raids.

In 2008, he was jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of inciting FPI members to assault protesters from the National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Beliefs.

On Dec. 7 last year, police shot and killed six of Rizieqs supporters who were traveling in a convoy with him, claiming they acted in self-defense.

A month later, the National Commission on Human Rights said its investigation found police had acted unlawfully in the killings of at least four of those followers.

FPI, for its part, claimed the six were victims of extrajudicial killings.

The Indonesian government officially banned the FPI last December after it accused the group of violating the law and disrupting peace and security. In addition, 35 members and former members had been convicted on terrorism charges.

The decision to ban the organization was taken jointly by Indonesias home, law and communications ministers, the police and counter terrorism heads, and the attorney general.
An Air Force S-76A Sikorsky helicopter crashed on Basilan Island, southern Philippines, while en route to airlift troops wounded in a suicide bombing on Jolo Island, Sept. 16, 2020.

The Philippine Air Force grounded its fleet of newly acquired Black Hawk helicopters after one of them crashed during a night-training flight, killing all six onboard, the military and the defense department said Thursday.

The S-70i Black Hawk chopper went down during a training mission on Wednesday evening near the Crow Valley in Capas, a town in northern Pampanga province, about 100 km (62 miles) north of the capital Manila, officials said. The area is a frequent training site for the military.

The crash was the latest in a series of crashes of helicopters in the Philippine military and police fleets dating to early 2020  most of them resulting in fatalities.

We at the Department of National Defense extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the three pilots and three airmen of an S-70i  helicopter of the Philippine Air Force who perished when their [aircraft] crashed, Delfin Lorenzana, the Philippine defense chief, said in a statement.

In the meantime, the entire Blackhawk fleet is grounded while the incident is being investigated, he said.

Search and retrieval operations were continuing on Thursday, according to Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano who declined to release the names of those killed, pending results of a full investigation.

Their identities will be provided as soon as the members of their families are properly notified. We grieve for the loss, he said.

Although with inherent risks, this competency is vital and necessary for the transport and logistics requirements of Unified Commands, Mariano said.

The S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, the newest aircraft of the PAF, were built by Polands PZL Mielec.

The government ordered 16 helicopters and received five earlier this month to go with six that were delivered in November 2020 for the Air Force modernization program. A military official said the helicopter that crashed was one of six delivered last year, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.

The crash occurred nearly two months after an Air Force MG-520 attack helicopter, made by McDonnell Douglas in the United States, plunged in the waters off Bohol Island in the central Philippines, leaving its pilot dead and three others injured.

In January, seven soldiers died when their helicopter, a refurbished UH-1H Vietnam-era craft commonly known as a Huey, went down in the mountains of Bukidnon, a province in the southern Philippines.

In September 2020, an Air Force helicopter used as an air ambulance crashed en route to the southern island of Jolo, leaving four crew members dead. Two months earlier, four soldiers were killed when their Huey chopper crashed after takeoff in the northern province of Isabela.

In March 2020, the countrys police chief and three police generals were among eight people injured when their Bell 429 helicopter crashed near Manila.
Police investigators and soldiers search the scene outside a Catholic cathedral following a twin suicide bombing in Jolo, southern Philippines, Jan. 27, 2019.

The Philippine military said Thursday that its forces rescued the 13-year-old daughter of an Indonesian couple responsible for a suicide bombing at a church in the south in 2019, and killed a suspected Abu Sayyaf militant during a counter-militancy raid.

Combined forces from the 45th Infantry Battalion and police launched the operation Wednesday night to arrest Abu Sayyaf member Rudymar Habib Jihiiran (alias Gulam) in Patikul, a town on southern Jolo Island, said Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, head of local military forces.

The security forces were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest against Gulam when he and his comrade fired at our forces, Gonzales said in a statement.

A brief firefight ensued, allowing Gulam and two other militants to escape, Gonzales said, adding that an alleged Abu Sayyaf member identified only as Sawi was killed.

Troops recovered bomb-making paraphernalia after the raid, according to commanding officer Lt. Col. Vicente Mabborang.

In addition, troops rescued Sitti Aisyah Rullie, 13, who apparently was married to a militant, Gonzales said.

She is an Indonesian who is being indoctrinated in conducting bombings and also the wife of Jihiiran, Gonzales said.

Mabborang, meanwhile, identified her as a daughter of militants Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh, who were identified as the bombers of the Jolo cathedral. The Indonesian couple, who had been indoctrinated by Abu Sayyaf bomber Mundi Sawadjaan, killed 21 people and themselves in in a twin suicide bombing in January 2019.

Sawadjaan is the nephew of Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the Philippine commander of the Islamic State. The military has said that the elder Sawadjaan might have been killed in a July 2020 clash in Jolo, but his body has not been recovered.

Sitti Aisyah Rullies older sister, Rezky Fantasya Rullie, allegedly had planned a suicide attack but was arrested during an October 2020 raid in Jolo, the military said.

Officials, meanwhile, said the military had coordinated with relevant agencies about the young girl.

Still, we in the security sector have no choice but to coordinate with concerned agencies and act on this. She is married to a full-fledged Abu Sayyaf Group member, her older brother is an armed member under the Daulah Islamiyah group, and per intel reports, she is being groomed as a suicide bomber. There is a risk here, Gonzales said.

We sincerely hope that she could be de-radicalized and have another chance at a decent life. Involving children in this kind of terroristic act is outright shameful and a clear violation of our existing laws, he said.

The Indonesian Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to BenarNews requests for comment.

The military in Sulu has said two suspects remain of the seven known foreign militants that had been operating in the island province, Gonzales said. They were identified as the girls brother, Ahmad Ibrahim Rullie, and an Egyptian known only as Abdurahman. Both apparently are minors.
Then-President Benigno Aquino III speaks to members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, in Manila, Oct. 23, 2013.

Former Philippine President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III, who led Manila to victory in an international arbitration courts ruling against Beijing over its expansive claims to the South China Sea, died Thursday of complications from a lingering illness, his sister said. He was 61.

The only son of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., who was assassinated in 1983, and Corazon Aquino, who served as president following an uprising that led to the 1986 ouster of longtime dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Aquino carried on the familys tradition in politics. He served in the Philippine House and Senate prior to winning the 2010 presidential election.

Pinky Aquino-Abellada said her brother died peacefully in his sleep.

His death certificate pronounced his death at 6:30 a.m., due to renal disease secondary to diabetes, Abellada said in a brief statement. No words can express how broken our hearts are and how long it will take for us to accept the reality that he is gone.

Aquino, who never married and had no children, was awaiting a transplant at the time of his death, according to a former political adviser and a close friend who declined to be named, adding that the former president had recently lost a drastic amount of weight.

Aquino swept into power a year after the death of his mother, Corazon, in 2009. In 1987, one year after she took office, Benigno Aquino III was shot five times when rebel soldiers tried to topple her government in a coup. A bullet remained lodged in Aquinos neck. Three of his body guards died in the attack.

He left office at the end of his constitutionally limited six-year term in 2016, but not before shepherding into law key legislation.

This included a family planning law that angered the church  the most influential religious institution in the predominantly Catholic Philippines  because it backed the use of prophylactics. He also led the passage of a law that called for reparations for thousands of Filipinos who were killed by the Marcos regime, which declared martial law in 1972.

He tried to do what was right

Tributes poured in from political allies and foes alike for Aquino, who tried to keep his promise to the people of the Philippines whom he said were his bosses.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who succeeded Aquino and often criticized him, issued a statement expressing sympathy for his sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris.

Let us take this opportunity to unite in prayer and set aside our differences as we pay respects to a leader who has given his best to serve the Filipino people, Duterte said. His memory and his familys legacy of offering their lives for the cause of democracy will remain forever etched in our hearts.

The president declared a 10-day period of national mourning for his predecessor that would run through July 3.

Dutertes spokesman, Harry Roque, asked reporters for a moment of silence and offered a prayer for Aquino.

Dutertes vice president, Leni Robredo, issued a statement as well.

The news of PNoys death is heart shattering, she said, using one of Aquinos nicknames. He tried to do what was right even when it was not popular.

Robredo, who is among the leaders of the opposition to Duterte, said Aquino was a quiet worker who always thought of the publics welfare.

He was a man of both kindness and toughness. And PNoy was, first and foremost, a man of integrity and honor, a man who always put the welfare of the people front and center, Robredo said. No amount of historical distortion can change the truth: That every decision he made was oriented toward the betterment of the Filipino people.

Sen. Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator, also offered her condolences.

I will always treasure the memories of our long years together as freshmen legislators and members of a tiny opposition, she said about their shared opposition to Gloria Arroyo, who served as president from 2001 to 2010.

For beyond politics and much public acrimony, I knew Noynoy as a kind and simple soul, she said, using another nickname.

Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, whom Aquino had appointed to the bench in 2012 after he headed a panel negotiating peace with Muslim rebels in the south, described the late president as kind and diligent with his duties.

I saw him carry his title with dignity, Leonen said.

John Law, Charge dAffaires of the U.S. Embassy in Manila, offered condolences as well.

We are saddened by President Aquinos passing and will always be thankful for our partnership, Law said in a tweet.

A woman places flowers outside the Manila home of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, June 24, 2021. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews]

Landmark ruling

A month after Duterte took office in 2016, an international arbitration court at The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China in a territorial dispute on the South China Sea. The ruling was based on a complaint filed four years earlier after the Chinese occupied Scarborough Shoal, just west of the Philippines main island of Luzon.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, a critic of Duterte, praised Aquino for the ruling and for his efforts as president.

In a text message to BenarNews, she said he was a respected statesman who fought enormous battles for our national sovereignty. His strong stand led to our historic win at The Hague in 2016, leaving behind a legacy of hope and justice for generations to come.

Duterte did not enforce The Hagues ruling and instead chose to focus on ties with China by seeking closer economic cooperation. Despite Dutertes efforts, China has ramped up the presence of its fishing and military fleet in disputed South China Sea areas.

It was only last year that Duterte, during a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, said the ruling was beyond compromise.

Botched commando raid

Aquinos time in office as president was marred by controversy over a botched raid in the southern Philippines that resulted in the deaths of 44 police commandos in January 2015.

He had greenlighted the operation by commandos whose mission was to capture Malaysian terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir (alias Marwan). Marwan was killed, but because of a lapse in communication, members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)  a group that had signed a peace deal with the Aquino administration a year earlier  thought they were being attacked and opened fire on the police officers.

MILF officials, who now control an autonomous region in the south, testified at a congressional inquiry that they were not told about the raid in advance, in violation of previously agreed upon protocols.

Basilio Sepe, Jojo Rinoza and Froilan Gallardo contributed to this report from Manila, and Dagupan City and Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.
Parit Penguin Chiwarak (left), Jatupat (Pai Dao Din) Boonpattararaksa (center) and a fellow activist gesture with the three-finger salute as they take part in an anti-government protest at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. June 24, 2021.

Thailands parliament voted late Thursday against amending the constitution to reduce the powers of the Senate, legal advocacy group iLaw said about one of the key demands for constitutional reform by pro-democracy protesters, hundreds of whom rallied in Bangkok earlier in the day.

Lawmakers approved only one constitutional change: a return to an electoral system in which voters cast separate ballots for a candidate and a political party. That clause, which was written into the 1997 constitution, is not in the 2017 constitution, which a military government drafted and remains in force today under Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the former junta leader.

The youth-led pro-democracy activists, who were marking the 89th anniversary of the end of absolute monarchical rule in Thailand, have been protesting since last July to demand Prayuths resignation, the removal of 250 military-appointed senators, and reforms to laws protecting the powerful monarchy.

None of these demands were approved in a late-night vote after the first of three readings of proposed amendments to the Constitution.

The motion number 13 is the only proposal accepted, Chuan Leekpai, the house speaker said in parliament during the proceedings that were telecast live, referring to a proposal by the Democrat Party, which is part of the ruling coalition.

iLaw, a group that opposes Prayuths government, said the proposal refers to a return to the election system framed under the 1997 constitution when voters cast two ballots  one for MPs and for political parties.

The proposal accepted was one of 13 from opposition and coalition parties. Proposed changes to the monarchy had already been ruled unconstitutional, on June 18, and were not part of the 13 that were voted on Thursday.

The proposed changes needed to be approved by 366 of 734 eligible voters  from both the lower house and senate  of which 84 had to be senators.

Chuan called for a committee to be set up to discuss a second reading of the proposed amendments within 15 days.

Another vote will be held after the third and final reading, following which any amendments approved by both houses would then have to be voted on by Thailands 51 million electorate in a referendum.

Earlier this week, lawmakers voted in favor of a bill allowing the three-step process that would lead to a referendum on constitutional amendments.

The approval came after a Constitutional Court ruled in March that parliament must take proposed changes to the Constitution for a vote before the people through a two-tiered referendum.

Navaporn Sunanlikanon, an academic at Chulalongkorn University, said she doubted that most of the proposed amendments would see the light of day.

With the systemic mechanism of power retention of the Prayuth administration, I dont see that the constitutional change would happen any time soon, Navaporn Sunanlikanon, an academic at Chulalongkorn University, told BenarNews.

Senates power to select PM

Like the protesters, opposition politicians were focused on changing the provisions that gives the Senate unprecedented authority to select the prime minister. The opposition also proposed the inclusion of a provision to outlaw military coups.

Prayuth first came to power after a coup he led in May 2014, when he was the army chief.

Nearly five years later, Thailand held its first post-coup general election. He was elected as prime minister by parliament in March 2019 and aided by the military-backed 2017 Constitution, which allowed the votes from the 250-member senate hand-picked by the junta to combine with the votes from the lower house.

As per the previous constitution, only the members of the lower house were eligible to select the prime minister from party-nominated candidates.

The 2017 Constitutions provisions are intended to extend Prayuths tenure as PM, Rangsiman Rome of the Move Forward Party told parliament on Thursday.

The top priority issue to be solved once and for all is the abolishing of the Senates power to select the prime minister, Rangsiman said.

These 250 senators are in fact the mechanism for the prolonging of the power for Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

Chadej Insawang, one of those 250 junta-appointed senators, defended the power of the senate, saying it was acquired as part of the 2017 Constitution, which was approved via a referendum.

The protesters, of course, believe the 2017 Constitution further undermined democracy following Prayuths 2014 coup.

I want to have a total rewrite of the military-sponsored Constitution because it is illegitimate [and accepted] through an opaque referendum, Parit Penguin Chiwarak, a protest leader and one of the hundreds who rallied earlier on Thursday, told Benar News.

I want a change to, or a fresh all-out rewrite of the Constitution, which belongs to the people.

Another protest leader, Panupong Jadnok, said pro-democracy activists would continue to pressure Prayuth.

This rally is a duty of the citizens. The Prayuth administration failed to solve the COVID problem. We have to pressure him, Panupong, one of the activists who has been charged with royal defamation, told BenarNews.

Three demands is not asking too much.
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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.
Amanda Burke covers Pittsfield City Hall for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Find her on Twitter at @amandaburkec.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
GREAT BARRINGTON  Police came upon an early morning crash on Hurlburt Road last year that had trapped a passenger who was struggling to breathe.

What police did next saved that young man's life, and resulted in honors to be celebrated Thursday in a ceremony in Springfield held by the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts.

The group's 19th Hometown Heroes celebration will honor Great Barrington Police Officer Bradley Lupiani, 24, and Chief Paul Storti, 54, for heroic acts that evening that kept a man alive in a mangled car until he could be extracted and whisked to a hospital by a helicopter whose pilot landed on a nearby cornfield.

The virtual celebration this year also is dedicating honors to those on the front lines of the pandemic.

On Sept. 21, a number of fortunate events came together to keep alive Raphael Gutierrez, 20, of Great Barrington, after the car he was riding in sideswiped a utility pole before slamming into a tree about 1 a.m.

'So many miracles': Father of crash survivor says Great Barrington officers saved son's life GREAT BARRINGTON  When police officer Bradley Lupiani got to the crash, he found a young man trapped in the wreckage, badly injured and struggling to breathe.

The driver, Benjamin Badurski, then 19, also of Great Barrington, is facing multiple charges that include operating while under the influence. His next pretrial conference is June 28, in Southern Berkshire District Court.

Lupiani was patrolling the road by happenstance when he came upon Badurski crying and frantically waving him down; Badurski had lost his phone in the accident about 10 minutes earlier, and so he couldn't call police. Lupiani found Gutierrez badly injured, slumped forward and struggling to breathe. Lupiani tilted back his head to keep his airway open.

Then Storti heard the anxiety in Lupiani's voice on his radio and left his patrol on Main Street for the scene. He then began to try to free Gutierrez from the car, and he and Lupiani used a crowbar "and everything we could" to try to free him, but the damage to the car made it impossible, Storti said. Both continued to keep Gutierrez's airway open until firefighters arrived to cut away the car's roof, medics came to stabilize him and a Life Star helicopter landed about 100 yards away to fly Gutierrez to Baystate Medical Center.

Gutierrez could not be reached for comment, but last year his father praised the officers.

"I just want to express appreciation," he said. "There will never be enough."

And Storti said it was teamwork and quick responses by the other responders that made it happen. He said Gutierrez's family kept him informed about his condition, since all the responders were awaiting good news.

"That was exciting; thats what we work for," Storti said. "We werent sure of his status when he left in the helicopter."

There is another aspect of small-town policing that also is sometimes harrowing and requires courage, Storti said: knowing so many of your neighbors. "Those are tough calls; those are the calls I dread. But, on the other side of the coin, thats the rewarding part."

Of the Red Cross honors, Storti said it really is for everyone who did their job so well that day to save someone. "It was a series of events that played out perfectly."

Lupiani was at a training this week and unavailable for an interview.
President Joe Biden is set to unveil a strategy on Wednesday (June 23) to address violent crime, which has seen a spike, particularly from gun violence, over the past year. His aides say he will call again for comprehensive gun reform legislation from Congress and outline a number of executive orders to address the problem, the Associated Press reports.



The White House is also expected to meet with Attorney General Merrick Garland, the mayors of Baltimore, Miami-Dade County, Rapid City, S.D., the New Jersey attorney general, the Baton Rouge, La., police chief and other activists to discuss the issue.



The strategy will use funding from the American Rescue Plan to assist state, local, territorial and tribal governments financially with law enforcement and community policing, a statement from the White House says. The funds are also targeted at supporting violence intervention programs, summer jobs, and other proactive crime prevention measures.



Since his presidential campaign, Biden has publicly been against the notion of defunding police departments and instead has supported better funding for community policing efforts.



There needs to be reforms of police systems across the country. The president is a firm believer in that, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday (June 22). But there are also steps he can take as president...to help address and hopefully reduce that crime. A big part of that, in his view, is putting in place gun safety measures.

RELATED: Rash of Weekend Mass Shootings In Multiple Cities Makes Officials Fearful of a Bloody Summer



The United States saw its most violent year in decades in 2020 with as many as 19,000 people killed in shootings, according to TIME magazine, citing data from the Gun Violence Archive, a website that takes records of shootings nationwide. The archive says 2021 has already topped that number with more than 20,000 gun-related deaths.



Cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and other municipalities are wringing their hands trying to figure out how to stem the tide of mass shootings while reforming police departments to avoid misconduct that results in incidents like the deaths of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor.



Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot said her city, which has seen more than 100 mass shootings this year, has done as much as it can to push back against the violence and needs federal help.



Cities individually cannot tackle this problem on its own  we just cannot. In Chicago, weve done absolutely everything possible, and we need help from the federal government because this is a national problem, she said, according to CBS Chicago.



RELATED: Mass Shooting on Chicago South Side Spurred By Petty Fight Kills 2, Wounds 13



The Biden-Harris Administration will announce a Department of Justice policy that will hold firearms dealers who violate federal law accountable, strengthen regulations on ghost guns or a firearm that is manufactured in parts and can be assembled outside of a factory by its owner, and movement to install a permanent Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms director.



Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, speaking at a Police Executive Research Forum event on Tuesday, acknowledged how far gun violence has gone and said the federal government is committed to reducing it.



It is staggering. It is sobering, she said, according to the AP. And its something that [the] DOJ is committed to do all we can to reverse what are profoundly troubling trends.
Donovan Lynch, Pharrell Williams' 25-year-old cousin, was shot and killed by Virginia Beach Police on March 27. Wayne Lynch, his father, has now filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit.

According to The New York Daily News, the lawsuit claims the police officer, who has been identified as Solomon D. Simmons in the suit but not by police, was responding to a separate shooting incident at a club on March 26. Lynch and his friend, Darrion Marsh were leaving the area when they crossed paths with the officer.



The suit alleges Simmons immediately, unlawfully, and without warning fired his gun at Lynch.

Court documents said, Mr. Lynch posed no threat to Officer Simmons or anyone else.

Simmons is accused of using excessive force and acting with gross negligence.

Homicide detective findings claimed Lynch was brandishing a handgun at the time of the shooting. Wayne Lynch told The Washington Post that his son, who sometimes worked security, had a legal firearm but was not brandishing.

Weve made several attempts to have something done, to have the word brandishing redacted from their statement [about what happened], Wayne Lynch explained to the outlet. Theyve refused to do that. They havent done anything.

RELATED: Bad Girls Club Star Deshayla Harris Killed In Virginia Beach Shooting

On March 27, Pharrell Williams posted a tribute to his cousin on Instagram, which read, The loss of these lives is a tragedy beyond measure. My cousin Donovon was killed during the shootings. He was a bright light and someone who always showed up for others. It is critical my family and the other victims families get the transparency, honesty and justice they deserve.

The city has not commented on the lawsuit.
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of The New York Times 1619 Project is pushing back against the alleged employment discrimination at the University of North Carolina.

CNN and NC Policy Watch report that lawyers for the Pulitzer-Prize winner submitted a letter to the UNC this week saying that she will not take a position at the school without tenure.

In April, UNC announced Hannah-Jones was appointed to the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism, where she would teach as a professor while also remaining with The New York Times Magazine. However, it was reported that UNC offered her a five-year contract with eligibility for tenure review at the end, rather than the tenured position that was typical for past appointments.

RELATED: UNC Declining To Grant Tenure to Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones Sparks Backlas

In the letter, Hannah-Jones lawyers said "since signing the fixed-term contract, Ms. Hannah-Jones has come to learn that political interference and influence from a powerful donor contributed to the Board of Trustees' failure to consider her tenure application."

"Under these circumstances, any appointment of Ms. Hannah-Jones without tenure is unacceptable," the letter continues.

UNC has received intense backlash since the alleged influence behind the offer was initially reported. The UNC Board of Trustees told the The Washington Post last month that tenure wasnt offered because Hannah Jones was a non academic. Critics responded that the decision didnt make sense, since the Knight Chair was designed to attract professional journalists.

RELATED: Nikole Hannah-Jones: Lawyers for 1619 Project Creator Explore Discrimination Lawsuit

Black UNC faculty and students have also spoken out in favor of giving Hannah-Jones tenure. According to NBC News, the school has since lost esteemed Black faculty members, including historian Malinda Maynor Lowery. The UNC Black Caucus said 70 percent of its members, all UNC employees, are considering leaving the university.

UNC-Chapel Hill Vice Chancellor of Communications Joel Curran gave a statement to CNN regarding last weeks letter: "The University has been contacted by attorneys representing Nikole Hannah-Jones. While this remains a confidential personnel matter, as Chancellor Guskiewicz has said publicly, we feel she will add great value to the Carolina campus."
A woman has been charged with a hate crime after she reportedly accosted a Black man working in her neighborhood in April and called him a derogatory name.

According to a police report, Berkeley, California resident Julie Walrand, who is white, confronted the 25-year-old man, who was delivering Amazon packages on April 18. She parked beside his van in a manner to prevent escape, police wrote.

The delivery man subsequently attempted to drive away to deescalate the situation, but was unable to because Walrand grabbed his steering wheel and hands.

RELATED: Department Of Justice Indicts Ahmaud Arbery Killers On Hate Crime, Kidnapping Charges

Police say Walrand then called 911 and told authorities the driver was trying to escape before screaming curses at the man, and again, the steering wheel.

According to court papers, Walrand cursed at the man after he got out of his van and yelled a derogatory term for Black people. Fearing for his safety, he got back into his van and was able to drive away.

While a portion of the incident was recorded, police have not released the footage to the public.

Berkeley Side reports the Alameda County D.A.s office charged Walrand with a hate crime on Wednesday (June 16), as well as two counts of battery and disturbing the peace by offensive language. All four charges are listed as misdemeanors.

Walrand is scheduled for arraignment on July 1. She is no longer in police custody.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
MOSCOW - Four students from the University of Idahos College of Art and Architecture captured first, second and third place in a statewide competition to design a new entryway for the Ann Morrison Park in Boise. In the spring of 2021 the Harry Morrison Foundation held a juried entryway design competition to gather ideas. The competition was open to any student enrolled in an Idaho university.

U of I students Tyler Schram and Regan Campbell received first place and $1,500; Matt Vollendorf, who graduated this spring, received second place and $1,000; and Kelsey Ramsey, who is finishing her masters in the U of I Boise program, won third place and $500. The honorable mention went to Lewis-Clark State College student Whitney Suarez.

The Entryway Design Competition was part of the Ann Morrison Park renewal and spearheaded by the Harry Morrison Foundation and the City of Boise. Through the combined efforts of Harry Morrison, co-founder of the Morrison-Knudsen Company, service clubs, neighborhood organizations, and individuals, Morrison built a park to honor his deceased wife and gave it to the City of Boise in 1957.

For many years it has been a dream of Harry Morrison Foundation board vice president, Judyth Roberts, to set off Ann Morrison Park with a magnificent entrance, said Bonnie Wilkerson, Harry Morrison Foundation board member and chair for the Come Play! Ann Morrison Park fundraising campaign.

This dream became feasible with the creation of a new park master plan and fundraising campaign. After a few concepts were presented to the HMF board, we came up with the idea of holding a competition for students. We were seeking out-of-the-box ideas, and who better to give us that than college students, not yet set in a certain pattern of thinking? And they certainly delivered, Wilkerson said.

The entryway design proposals were evaluated by design professionals, members of the Harry Morrison Foundation board, key project donors and representatives of the Boise City Parks Department and the Arts & History Department

Wilkerson will be presenting the student designs later this month at the foundations annual board meeting, where it will decide what plan to proceed with for its final piece.

Learn more about the Ann Morrison Park renewal project and see the winner entries: https://www.annmorrisonpark.org/entryway-design-competition.
Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Stand Up for Your Country.

Tonights rundown:

Bills analysis of Joe Bidens speech on crime  did Biden offer legitimate solutions?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs an education bill that will require schools in the state to teach children about the evils of communism

Bill speaks with Nicole Neily of the Parents Defending Education, an organization that is fighting the indoctrination of our children

It is finally happening! After being put in charge of the border crisis some 90 days ago, Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to go to the border this Friday

If you are white, you should feel deep shame  according to a new video posted by The Washington Post

A Pride event in Seattle is charging white people a reparations fee to participate  how is that inclusive?

This Day in History, 1992: Crime boss John Gotti is sentenced to life in prison

Final Thought: Fear

In Case You Missed it:
Thanks for listening to The OReilly Update. No Spin. Just Facts. Always looking out for YOU.



Heres whats happening across our nation. Joe Biden addresses the nations crime surge Kamala Harris to visit the border

Portland Police to stop making traffic stops Atheists sue the State of Mississippi Actor Matthew McConaughey tops the latest polls for Texas Governor Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, Joe Biden's speech on the rise in violent crime



The O'Reilly Update is on Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms. Subscribe to the podcast here.
Right after Donald Trump announced that he will be visiting the Southern border next week with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the White House finally announces that VP Kamala Harris will make a trip down there this Friday! Will the Vice President's trip solve any border problems?



Sign up for our Premium Membership and get Killing the Mob free.
Technology transfer hubs are training facilities where the technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development performed

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its COVAX partners are working with a South African consortium comprising Biovac, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a network of universities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish its first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub.

The move follows WHOs global call for Expression of Interest (EOI) on 16 April 2021 to establish COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hubs to scale up production and access to COVID vaccines. Over the coming weeks, the partners will negotiate details with the Government of South Africa and public and private partners inside the country and from around the world.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the full extent of the vaccine gap between developed and developing economies, and how that gap can severely undermine global health security. This landmark initiative is a major advance in the international effort to build vaccine development and manufacturing capacity that will put Africa on a path to self determination.

Technology transfer hubs are training facilities where the technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development performed. Interested manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries can receive training and any necessary licenses to the technology. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients.

The technology transfer hub will benefit from the Medicines Patent Pools (MPPs) vast experience of intellectual property (IP) management and issuing of IP licenses. MPP is also assisting WHO to negotiate with technical partners and supporting in the governance of the hubs.
A key focus will be to strengthen the effectiveness of the state health insurance programme

The Government of India, Government of Mizoram and the World Bank (WB) have signed a $32 million Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project to improve management capacity and quality of health services in Mizoram, particularly for the benefit of under-served areas and vulnerable groups.

The project will strengthen the governance and the management structure of the Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) and its subsidiaries, improve the quality and coverage of services delivered by the state government health systems, and invest in a comprehensive Quality Assurance program which would enable quality certification of health facilities.

A key focus will be to strengthen the effectiveness of the state health insurance programme; build synergies with the Government of Indias Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY); and thereby reduce financial barriers in accessing hospital services, prevent catastrophic out of pocket expenditure for health by poor families and expand coverage.

The Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project will benefit the people across all eight districts of the state. It will also benefit health sector staff, specifically at the secondary and primary levels, by strengthening their planning and management capacity along with building their clinical skills and competencies.

The agreement was signed on 17.06.2021 by Shri Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India; Shri Eric Zomawia, Project Director, Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project on behalf of the Government of Mizoram; and Mr. Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, India on behalf of the World Bank.

As a key strategy, the project will move towards a performance-based financing system where Internal Performance Agreements (IPAs) between the DoHFW and its subsidiaries would foster more accountability at all levels. This is expected to go a long way in improving the management of the system to deliver quality health services. The project will also focus on promoting synergy between various schemes and augment the capacity of the state insurance agency.
It is my pleasure to speak at the JC3's flagship event today. This conference is an important platform for us to share knowledge, best practices and solutions in tackling the threat of climate change.

Since the last time we held this event in 2019, the world has been gripped by a health crisis of staggering proportions. It is unlike anything we have experienced in recent memory  with great economic and social costs. Despite unprecedented and massive policy responses to the crisis, the crisis has led to some setbacks to past progress towards sustainable development goals. And the global community is still confronting the harsh consequences of under-investments in health, education, infrastructure and the environment, at the expense of more sustainable and inclusive growth.

If anything, the pandemic has been a sobering wake up call to the importance of sustainable development and the urgent need to pay more attention to planetary health. Even as Governments and policymakers have been laser-focused in combatting the Covid-19 pandemic, climate-related events have continued to intensify. These events include displacement and disruptions due to storms, flooding and droughts. For example, between November 2020 and January 2021, a few states in Malaysia experienced severe flooding. This led to the displacement of more than 25,000 people, loss of lives and significant economic damage. Last year, 53 weather disasters across the world racked up more than USD1 billion in economic losses . In fact, it is estimated that altogether, economic losses from natural disasters were more than a quarter of a trillion US dollars in 2020 .

These events are prompting a renewed determination around the world to achieve a new balance of economic, social and environmental progress. Indeed, the pandemic presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to place sustainable development firmly at the core of recovery plans.

To date, Governments of more than 120 countries have committed to "Net Zero" by mid-century or earlier. Among the countries are some of Malaysia's major trading partners such as the EU, South Korea, Japan and China. Similarly, more and more companies are also adopting net zero targets. It is noteworthy that in 2020  during the pandemic - such commitments by regions increased by ninefold, and threefold by corporates. This is significant.

A fast growing number of countries have also introduced climate change legislation and carbon management programs. Global climate change laws are reported to have increased twenty-fold since 1997 across 164 countries, up from 99 countries just 6 years ago . Climate-related laws and frameworks are also being strengthened in many countries, in ways that could significantly alter the course of economic development going forward. This includes the implementation of mandatory climate-related disclosures by various governments, regulators and independent bodies to hold companies accountable for their impact on the environment.

The world is clearly moving more aggressively on building climate resilience in what is being described as the "decisive decade for climate action". Individual countries and firms cannot stand still. Not just because climate change has severe implications at a domestic level  more so for developing countries  but because global climate actions affect us directly through economic and financial linkages. How we respond is crucial. With the growing traction to sustainability, the risk of stranded assets is real and significant. The risk of getting left behind and shut out of key markets will affect our economic competitiveness, lead to a drop in growth and worsen existing inequalities.

Ultimately, it is at the local level that the effects of climate-change will be mostly felt  through its transmission to food supply, energy and transport, disease and livelihoods. It is therefore in our collective interests and responsibility to act now, and to act together.

As the lifeblood of the economy, the response of the financial sector is crucial on several levels  (i) to safeguard the resilience of the financial system through the identification and management of climate-related risks; (ii) to direct financial flows to low-carbon activities; and (iii) to support the transition by economic agents through appropriate financial and risk solutions.

Over the last two years, we have taken important steps forward within the financial sector in Malaysia.

The establishment of the JC3 in 2019 by Bank Negara and the Securities Commission in partnership with the industry, has served as a key focal point for collective climate actions in the financial sector and across multiple stakeholders. The JC3 continues to coordinate and lead efforts in five priority areas.

First, we are introducing frameworks for the identification and classification of economic activities that meet climate objectives and are environmentally sustainable. A principles-based taxonomy has been issued to encourage financial flows to activities that support the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy. With the taxonomy in place, our focus will be to support its consistent and credible implementation within the financial sector. These efforts are being complemented by the issuance of sectoral guides under the Value-based Intermediation Assessment Framework (VBIAF) to help financial institutions conduct ESG risk assessments at a more granular level. Such guides have been issued for three economic subsectors, with three more to be published for consultation by the end of this year. And today, we will be launching the VBI Takaful Framework (VBITF) which outlines the implementation approach for activities in the takaful industry that is aligned with sustainability considerations.

Second, we are strengthening practices in the treatment and disclosures of climate risks by financial intermediaries. As part of our supervisory approach, Bank Negara expects financial institutions to consider and integrate climate risks in their business strategies, risk management framework and practices. In support of this, we are currently working through the JC3 to develop Guidance Documents on Climate Risk Management and Scenario Analysis. An Application Guide is also being developed to encourage and improve TCFD-aligned disclosures by financial intermediaries.

Third, we are ramping up our engagement and capacity building efforts to support climate action and risk management in the financial sector. The JC3 actively engages with various stakeholders on climate and transition initiatives. As part of its advocacy role, JC3 also contributes to the formulation of national climate policies to promote alignment with the financial sector's response to climate risks. In addition, the JC3, working with selected knowledge partners, will continue to deepen its stack of technical programmes to strengthen the knowledge and competencies of financial professionals in this area.

Fourth, we are collaborating with the industry to promote an enabling environment for green financing and investments. Building on work undertaken to identify market gaps and barriers, JC3 members are working to develop concrete measures to enhance the demand and supply of green finance. This includes solutions to support and accelerate climate risk mitigation and adaption by firms along the supply value chain.

Fifth, we are working to identify and address critical data gaps in climate and environmental risks-related information. Without adequate and good quality data, we will not be able to make informed assessments and judgments. This is especially important for climate risk management, disclosure and scenario analysis. To this end, under the JC3, a new sub-committee on data has been established earlier this year to take this work forward.

These initiatives complement various ongoing efforts at the national level to strengthen national climate policies, institutions and frameworks. We will have the opportunity to hear more about these efforts over the course of this event.

The 5 areas I have just mentioned are necessary but insufficient conditions to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. At the end of the day, actions at the individual firm level matter enormously. And the actions of financial institutions matter more than most given their role in the economy.

The more we learn and observe about climate risks and practices in the financial sector, it is evident that we are still a long way from the breakthrough needed in how the financial sector thinks about and acts on climate issues. Such a breakthrough calls for financial institutions to recognise and reflect the systemic nature of the climate challenge in their business and risk considerations, and adopt an integrated and inter-disciplinary approach to climate issues.

This means bringing together dimensions of climate science and technology with economic, social, risk and behavioural considerations. It means treating climate considerations not as a standalone issue, but one that is embedded in an institution's growth strategies, risk management and business operations. It means committing substantial investments to build the capacity and culture needed to make long-term shifts in business activities that support and are aligned with climate mitigation and adaptation. And it means making climate considerations an important part of social contracts between financial institutions and the communities that they serve  where financial institutions refocus on the role society needs them to play. That is, helping households and businesses cope with the physical and transition risks of climate change by providing financing and risk protection that will meet their needs.

Allow me to elaborate further on the above. The current drive towards digitalisation of financial services presents an immense opportunity for financial institutions to contribute further to the climate change agenda. From a business operations perspective, while financial institutions explore newer applications of technology for cost optimisation and efficiency gains, integration of technology within the value chain may complement the industry's own carbon footprint reduction measures. For example, Accenture estimates that migrations to the public cloud could reduce global carbon emissions by 59 million tons of CO2 per year. From a growth perspective, innovative design of digital financial services can mobilise financial consumers in support of the climate change agenda. In 2017, the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative reported that a major financial institution's digital finance platform prevented 150,000 tons of carbon emissions in just nine months by influencing its users to adopt and record more environmentally friendly behaviours, for example by walking instead of driving.

The financial sector, at its core, has a role to facilitate the allocation and deployment of economic resources. Given its central role in helping people to save, borrow, invest or make payments, the financial sector is in a unique and powerful position to contribute beyond climate change, towards the broader sustainability agenda, including helping to end poverty and to reduce inequality. Funding remains a key challenge for many sustainability projects. Thus, the financial sector can be more deliberate in funding sustainability initiatives and incentivising investments in low carbon sectors. There are many such opportunities available. For example, projects under the National Investment Aspirations (NIA) framework, the Malaysian Climate Action Council (MyCAC)'s plan for Malaysia to be a hub in green economy, services and technology and the Low Carbon Mobility Development Plan 20212030.

To meet the funding needs, it will not be sufficient for financial institutions to use traditional instruments. They will need to think creatively to develop new and innovative solutions which also takes into account the current challenges faced by businesses and individuals. Blended finance, for example, is a viable option for businesses that struggle with both the impact of climate change and the losses from the pandemic. In combining concessional financing and commercial funding, such as combining philanthropic funds or social finance instruments and traditional lending, blended finance approaches can avoid excessive debt loads that could increase future risks. There are also significant opportunities for financial institutions to support a green recovery from the pandemic through the provision of transition financing linked to sustainable practices.

Climate change is not just a scientific issue. It is a business issue and it is a social one, inseparable from the basic obligations of financial institutions to prudently manage risks, act responsibly towards their customers and create long-term value.

Consistent with this view, let me just mention some of the things that Bank Negara will be focused on in terms of its regulatory and supervisory priorities in the near term to promote a climate-resilient financial system.

Over the last two years, we have been actively encouraging improvements in how financial institutions consider climate risk in their risk management approaches. We know that it will take some time before we see greater uniformity in approaches and while we would prefer not to dictate practices, we see a clear need to reduce the substantial divergence currently observed across institutions. The Bank is exploring various options to encourage better risk management approaches by outlier institutions  including through Pillar 2 capital requirements and supervisory assessments to reflect an inadequate consideration of climate risks.

Building on the implementation of the principles-based taxonomy and the work by JC3 to address data gaps, the Bank's Financial Stability Committee has recently endorsed a four-year plan to prepare for industry-wide climate change stress tests at the counterparty level. This work is supported by efforts internally within the Bank to model the macroeconomic impact of climate shocks based on defined climate scenarios.

And we will be taking further concrete steps to improve transparency on the management of, and exposures to, climate-related risks in the financial sector. To this end, Bank Negara will finalise plans this year for mandatory climate-risk disclosures by financial institutions in consultation with the financial industry.

Let me conclude. Climate change is an unprecedented challenge. The economy and society cannot be separated from the environment and our actions have to be cognisant of this. While we are making progress, there remains considerable scope for the financial sector to be more deliberate in considering the impact of climate change on risks and strategy. There is significant potential for the financial sector to provide guardrails for economic activities to stay on the path towards a low carbon and climate-resilient economy, and in doing so, avoid a more destructive path that will inflict untold harm on current and future generations. The Dutch businessman, Paul Polman, once said "Climate change is sometimes misunderstood as being about changes in the weather. In reality it is about changes in our very way of life". Financial institutions must take a deeper interest not just in how changes in the weather can affect them, but importantly, in how they affect the weather.

The path to a more sustainable future depends on it.

Thank you.
Technology advancements, particularly those in the user interface area, have made the chat channel far more user-friendly and accessible to customers. This is helping drive growth in the channel, giving companies a confidence boost when it comes to supporting it as part of their omnichannel strategy and even setting it on a path to disrupt e-commerce.

More and more consumers are choosing to engage with their favourite brands via chat. This is supported in various regions by their preferred chat channels such as WhatsApp in South Africa; Facebook Messenger in North America; and WeChat in China, explains Gavin Harvett, SVP of product management at Clickatell.The rapid growth in e-commerce in South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdowns has highlighted the importance of digital offerings for local businesses. However, Harvett says chat commerce takes it one step further.Chat offers a personal touch that goes beyond just the convenience factor. We are used to communicating with one another via chat. Especially the younger generations have grown up using chat and see it as a much more personal way of engaging. Brands can now take advantage of that. While we have seen tremendous growth in digital products like airtime and electricity vouchers, there are now more and more use cases for the sale of physical products via chat channels, Harvett explains.When it comes to financial services, Harvett says including chat as part of the omnichannel offering is a no-brainer.Allowing customers to perform services like activating credit cards, checking balances, making payments and buying airtime and electricity are obvious wins. It lowers the reliance on branches and keeps the customer service costs much lower. It has been an obvious migration from websites to mobile apps and now to chat channels, he explains.Harvett points out that insurance companies are rapidly developing chat use cases, especially when it comes to selling products like travel and funeral cover. Whats more, with the advances in AI, there is a growing case for bots to give financial advice based on questionnaires including risk profiles.Clickatell has put forward a strong retail use case for chat commerce, showcasing the user journey of a consumer shopping for running shoes.After seeing the shoe in a physical store, the customer engages with the store via a chat app. After determining that they have her size, she asks if they have the shoe in her preferred colour. Then, using augmented reality and her phones camera, she can even see what it would look like on her foot.An end-to-end customer journey is experienced as she chooses how she wants to pay and, after completing the secure and authenticated payment in the chat channel, she is able to track her delivery until it reaches her door.Harvett explains that embracing chat commerce as part of a companys omnichannel strategy also gives the operations team all the support they need through the advanced bot flow editor making workflow simple.Harvett says the future of chat commerce in retail is bright and says consumers will soon also be able to work with personal shoppers making use of chat, making the experience even more immersive.Another sector that has developed compelling chat commerce use cases is the travel industry.Harvetts sentiments are backed up by the findings of an Aberdeen Research survey, commissioned by Clickatell. According to the survey, retail outlets can benefit from a 75% boost in annual revenue growth and a 48% increase in customer retention rates.Commenting on local uptake, Harvett says South African business leaders are no slouches when it comes to embracing new technologies.South African companies have shown a keen understanding of the opportunities presented by chat commerce. If they are not already rolling services out, they have teams looking very closely at what can be achieved. Our companies are known for their innovation, and we have a global reputation when it comes to our financial service offerings in particular. We can expect a rapid uptake of chat as a preferred means for brands to engage with their customers. And, while it may not replace it in the short-term, we can expect to see chat commerce playing on a level playing field with e-commerce very soon, Harvett predicts.We create a better world through technology, making commerce in chat accessible for everyone, everywhere. Consumers can now connect with brands to find goods and services, make purchases, track orders and resolve issues with a simple text or chat. No need for cash, phone calls, in-person interactions or apps. Founded in 2000 with now over 10,000 customers, Clickatell is powering the digital commerce transformation. Clickatell is headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA and has offices in Canada, South Africa and Nigeria ( www.clickatell.com ).
The National Arts Festival has opened bookings for its 2021 Makhanda Live curated hybrid programme - which will take place in Makhanda from 8 to 18 July. All tickets can be bought on the Festival's website. Due to the worsening Covid-19 situation the concerts in Joburg have been cancelled.

A scene from "Etherality" - Source: Supplied

National Arts Festival to present in-person, virtual and nationwide programme in 2021 The 2021 edition of the National Arts Festival (NAF) will include an in-person, virtual and countrywide programme in July...

Sandra Prinsloo in "Kamphoer, Die Verhaal van Susan Nell" - image credit Jesse Kramer - Source: Supplied

Simphiwe Dana appears in the film "My Culture, My Music" - Source: Supplied

What to expect from the National Arts Festival's countrywide programme The National Arts Festival's (NAF) countrywide programme kicks off today, 17 June 2021. As many people can't visit Makhanda during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the support of Standard Bank, the NAF will take the festival to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gqeberha and Durban from 17 June until 4 July 2021, with a hybrid comedy show on 10 July. Due to the worsening Covid-19 situation the concerts in Joburg have been cancelled...

Aaron McIlroy in "The Apology" - Source: Supplied

In Makhanda, the festival will be staged live in venues across the city with limited audiences and full Covid-19 protocols in place. The festival is reinventing its format by crossing over into the hybrid space when the Very Big Comedy Show unites live performances in three cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg and Makhanda) via a stream that will be presented online too.The festival is expecting to attract most of its visitors from the Eastern Cape where there is already a loyal following of day-trippers who come for their annual fix and hopes that passionate art lovers from elsewhere will come too. The Eastern Cape will also be showcasing its talents across the programme from the Dakawa Jazz Festival to the Eastern Cape Dance Ensemble and the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra who will present the Gala Concert conducted by Richard Cock, with guest musician 2018 Standard Bank Young Artist for Music, Guy Buttery. They will also present the ever-popular Childrens Concert.Also from the Eastern Cape Asanda Mqiki and Dumza Mzwana will be performing live on the Standard Bank Jazz Festival programme; the show will be available on the NAF online programme too. Festival-goers will also be rewarded with a performance by songbird Sibongile Mngoma as she celebrates jazz and opera.A much-anticipated show at the festival is Kamphoer  Die Verhaal van Susan Nell starring Sandra Prinsloo as a survivor of the horror of a British concentration camp during the Anglo-Boer war. The creative documentary project One Take Grace reflects the decade-long collaboration between artist Lindiwe Matshikiza and actor and community leader Mothiba Grace Bapela, who met while working as a part-time actor and full-time domestic worker.Clare Stopfords Covid Moons tells the story of the disorientation and dislocation of the early days of the coronavirus and our bewildered attempts to survive a full lockdown. In a noisy world, The Listening Biennial brings together an international group of artists, musicians, and researchers, as well as institutions and collectives across the globe, to foster questions and experiences of listening.Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandjas Zilin is a sonic journey through a borderless Africa using Zilin, a vocal technique from Benin in Africa; a musical style that is used in rituals and practices. Another musical journey, this time through film, is My Culture, My Music; a celebration of the unique cultural landscape of South Africa through the expression of music. The large cast includes Simphiwe Dana and the 2020 National Arts Festival featured artist Madosini.Co-creators Oupa Sibeko and Nicola Pilkington collaborate in Black is Blue. Drawing from the widespread practice of using seawater for healing and spiritual purposes and linked to the people of water, for whom the sea is a realm of ancestors, the work calls people to embrace the myth of an inland sea as a way to rethink the urban space; returning to the sea to repair wounds and find spiritual grounding.Metsi journeys through a relationship tested by tough times and asks what you have left to give when you have nothing to give but your inner being.Classical concert Reflections by the Gqeberha String Trio weaves together the unconventional combination of violin (David Bester), viola (Jan-Hendrik Harley) and double bass (Mariechen Meyer) taking listeners on a musical tour. In Planets and Symphonies Deconstructed, the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra Horn Ensemble presents a programme that showcases this versatile instrument.Curator and artist Zodwa Skeyi-Tutanis interdisciplinary live performance work Inertia: Ubungeyo Mpazamo/Elwandle/Nithi Ngibanina Lo Makanda takes place at The Monument in Makhanda, weaving through a wounded history to address the silences that perpetuate divisions and exclusion in the communities of Makhanda. In this retelling, the artists invoke a strategy of mothering and care with the use of the various aspects of Intsomi, acknowledging the weight of the residue of colonial trauma still present in the place today.Umdiyadiya is an isiXhosa word to describe the cloth installed inside the house to create the demarcation of rooms. The theatre piece Umdiyadiya is inspired by collective memories and seeks to track historical events in Black households during South Africas turbulent recent past. Artist Wezile Mgibe remembers time spent in both welcoming and unwelcoming spaces, reflecting on experiences with family and friends.The Award Ceremony is a film in three parts that tells the tale of a little girl anxiously awaiting her grandmothers return to bring her new shoes so she can collect her school awards, it stars Kgalalelo Mfokazane, Sindi Montsho and Thishiwe Ziqubu. Rwandan filmmaker Kantarama Gahigiris Ethereality is the story of a man stranded in space for thirty years who finally gets to come home. Selected for the Chicago International Film Festival (2020), and screened previously at Clermont-Ferrand (2020) and Kurzfilmtage Winterthur (2019). What Did You Dream completes the triple bill with its tale set in the summer holidays in 1990 South Africa when 11-year-old Boipelo becomes consumed by the fact that, unlike her two cousins, she can no longer remember her dreams and, therefore, cant help her granny play Fahfee.Festival favourite Aaron McIlroy brings some satire into the mix with a hilarious look at the world of tone-deaf dudes and privilege in its many forms in the comedy The Apology.National Arts Festival artistic director Rucera Seethal says: The programme weaves through many distinct and different stories and many ways of telling stories too. Some are quiet and thoughtful, others are brimming with rage and hurt and many seek perspective on events past and present. We see the audience engaging in contemplative spaces with this programme and imagine it will leave them with much to think about in a time that calls us to re-engage with everything anew.The 2021 Fringe programme straddles the online space and returns to live stages in Makhanda. The Fringe programme will be released shortly. Excellence at the Fringe will once again enjoy the recognition of the Standard Bank Ovation Awards, which will review the works on the NAF 2021 Fringe and select those that stand apart. The Awards will culminate in an online ceremony to announce Gold, Silver and Bronze winners from the Festival.To view the full Makhanda Live programme, visit nationalartsfestival.co.za/category/naf2021/makhanda-live/
Oratile Seabela, Founder of MALII

Who inspires you?

What do you most love about your work?

What other skills or talents do you have?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What sparked your interest in fintech and the integrated transport sector?

Can you tell us more about your mobile app solution, Malii  how does it work?

Youve previously won the SAB Foundation 2020 Social Innovation Development Award and 2020 Johannesburg Smart City Innovator Challenge Award  what did these wins means for you?

What is your message to South Africas youth this Youth Month?

As founder of Malli, Seabela is responsible for setting the companys vision and making sure that it is unique and attractive to potential consumers. She is also responsible for assembling a team that is invested in the companys success, developing business plans and executions and managing the business finance.Here, Seabela chats to us about her business, what inspires her and where she sees herself and her business going in the next five years.I am inspired by billionaire businessman and philanthropist Dr Strive Masiyiwa. My perspective on how to do business in Africa changed when I stumbled on one of his Facebook posts. I then religiously started following his posts and went as far back as 2014 to when he started blogging so that I could learn all that he had to teach and about his entrepreneurial journey.Through his blog, he has selflessly taught me things that money cannot buy; things that are not in textbooks, things only he learnt through experience. I have never personally met Dr Masiyiwa but regard him as my personal business mentor.He mentors us, about 5.7 million people on his Facebook page, and says that it is important to focus on the 'substance' of what someone says rather than the form (style of delivery). So, I urge the youth to stand on the shoulders of a giant by following and practising what Dr Strive Masiyiwa teaches.I love the fact that I have an opportunity to make a difference in the community and impact the lives of South Africans.Im a qualified fashion designer and was a fashion editor for the iconic Drum Magazine, so Ive got a knack at spotting trends - be it fashion or technology.In five years, I'd like for Malii to be available in all of South Africa's nine provinces.All minibus taxi commuters have hilarious stories about the exchange of money in a taxi. Some people will bring R100 notes, some R50, others the exact taxi fare in coins which will end up underneath the taxi seats; squabbles often erupt in a taxi due to lack of change. Then there are those brave enough not to pay, prompting the driver to make a U-turn and drive all of us back to the taxi rank.While riding a taxi in 2017 I began asking myself questions. Why were we still paying like this in a taxi? Why is the taxi experience still like this?Clearly, there had to be a better way. I then delved into further research, speaking with taxi owners, drivers and commuters, to see if this was a genuine pain point; if they wanted it to be solved and if they were prepared to pay for a solution. Malii is an app that enables taxi commuters to make payments in a taxi without the use of cash. Commuters upload funds for the month in the Malii wallet, using their bank card or top up at the nearest spaza shop. When riding a taxi, they will find a QR code sticker positioned on the taxi window and then scan the QR code with their smartphone.Malii is solving a tough social challenge that can be solved. Through the support of the SAB Foundation, it has been possible to find solutions; we cant do it alone. It was so encouraging and it meant the world to the Malii team to have won these prestigious awards.You have an advantage because you come from, nobody knows the hood like you do. Use that to your advantage. That thing that bothers you in your community, is YOUR problem to solve. No one is coming to save you or solve that problem.Change your thinking, where there is a problem, there is an opportunity for you to start a business that provides a solution. "Hang around with millionaires" by listening to podcasts likeandto learn how they built multi-billion dollars business from absolutely nothing.
Alexia Poulos, national marketing and events manager at Primedia Broadcasting

What does your job entail and what does your average workday look like these days?

What excites you most about your role as marketing and events manager at Primedia Broadcasting?

Each day I am amazed with how the world has changed a little bit more than the day before in this pandemic - yet our brands continue to find opportunities to connect to our audiences in meaningful ways.

Can you tell us a bit about your career journey prior to your current role?

Its been an epic brand management journey  including launching brands, building brands, managing brand and presenter reputations, creating virtual events and maintaining brand relevance and brand presence in the time of a pandemic.

How would you define your brand?

The first lesson learnt in radio is to KYA  Know Your Audience; so preparation and adaptability is key.

What are some of your most recent brand campaigns and the rationales behind them?

Tell us about your most successful marketing campaign.

What other sectors impact on your industry?

With the Covid-19 pandemic, what are the biggest challenges when it comes to marketing?

In your opinion, what do you think are the most successful channels for getting your brand message out there?

When it comes to marketing efforts, what can brands no longer ignore?

What career advice would you give to aspirant young marketing and eventing professionals?

Learn from the experts around you and understand how each of their skills build the overall execution.

Alexia Poulos was appointed as the national marketing and events manager; overseeing marketing, trade, PR and events function for EWN, 947, 702 and CapeTalk radio.As national marketing and events manager, I get to work on incredible radio brands 702, 947, Kfm 94.5 and CapeTalk as well as independent news brand Eyewitness News. I work with a dynamic, nimble team of 10 who service these brands nationally, around the clock. These days my average workday is spent like many other peoples' - at home in back-to-back zoom meetings. But the content of the meetings and the projects I get to work on are so cool my energy is always super high!There's never a dull moment in radio! And yes - I love the adrenalin. It also excites me tremendously that we are still delivering world-class events; albeit virtually.As a broadcast medium, radio has the unique ability to help, guide, create platforms for debate, inform and provide an escape - all in real time.Through the music and talk formats we build strong communities, and our presenters are the glue. As the prevalence of fake news increases, we have seen listeners align more closely to our brands because they trust us. That's a big responsibility - they turn to us when they need to deal with difficult financial and emotional situations.My first job after university was in strategy and public relations where I worked on some amazing brands like Simba, Samsung and Renault. I then jumped into the world of advertising before moving to Primedia Broadcasting, where I have been for more than 10 years.My personal brand? My brand shows up. It shows up on good days, it shows up on hard days. My brand takes life head on and long as my brand is evolving and being challenged its maintaining its relevance. Part of showing up is being present with myself and my team  especially now. Mental health check-ins are necessary to ensure that I bring the best of myself to each meeting.The past 10 months have been busy for us at Primedia Broadcasting. In September 2020 we repositioned 702  a bold move in the thick of the pandemic. We relooked the entire brand and all its facets, from its visual representation and structural essence through to the lineup. Many of the insights that led to the repositioning were the results of an in-depth listener survey conducted end 2019 to early 2020  before our country went into hard lockdown.The #LetsWalkTheTalk strapline is literally how we at 702 tackle our listener and country's issues. We are all on a life journey and sometimes we need someone to walk with us. To empower, support, inform and help us action what's important. 702, its presenters and its content have been adjusted to reflect this motion.What if it is still to come?A great campaign was 947's recent Anele and the Club smoothie campaign. We managed to get Joburg behind the breakfast team to choose the smoothie blend that epitomizes Joburg. It was a fun, community-building, small business-supporting win! Sir Juice sales increased by 283% over the 6-week campaign, and 947 listeners managed to create a tangible product that reflects the fun nature of the show and the get-up-and-go attitude of the city.Positive impact or negative? Streaming is audio and Primedia is leading in this area... watch this space Physical brand activations have become a challenge. Audio and broadcasting brands are typically intangible  so Primedia has, over decades, built iconic events that have brought communities together, such as 702s Walk the Talk, CapeTalks Moonstruck and the music festival series 947 Joburg Day and Kfms KDay. That being said, we have found incredible opportunities during the pandemic. These events were refocused to virtual events and the results have been overwhelming. The virtual executions were highly produced, very entertaining and importantly; created a sense that life continues during lockdown. These events also boosted the local production and music industries that were seriously impacted over the past year.Radio is an incredible channel in itself...The combinations of ad frequency and personality endorsement really does get the message and the call-to-action out there. Radio, supported by digital is a stunning combination and Facebook for our four radio station brands is a phenomenal tool. LinkedIn is a remarkable platform for our talk and B2B brands and we love a little influencer marketing too.You can definitely not ignore the consumer.Have clear objectives. Get your hands dirty. Achieve the metrics. Get stuck into the operational part of a marketing plan.Have clear objectives before rolling-out a campaign and measure the outcomes. And have fun doing it.
Nicole Glover, head of digital and social media at Penquin, is a passionate and goal-orientated young professional. Having already made her mark in the marketing industry, she is looking to be recognised internationally and make a big difference through her career path.

Nicole Glover, head of digital and social media at Penquin

What does your role entail, and what does your average day at work look like?

What do you love most about your work?

What are your long term career goals?

Youve won some industry awards, could you tell us more about those?

Could you tell us more about your career highlights?

What is your process when putting together campaigns for your clients?

When people say you think outside of the box, what comes to mind for you?

Gender and race equality is something close to your heart. What approach do you think companies should take to tackle these societal issues?

I spoke with her to find out more about who she is, what her work entails and what her future looks likeMy role is a little bit of everything. I look after the social and digital media efforts of all of our clients at Penquin, with the help of my team. This varies from putting together strategies and conceptualising big campaign ideas to assisting the team with community management and setting up ads.My average work day, much like I think everyone at the moment, is jam-packed with Zoom calls. A lot of brainstorming sessions, client meetings, catch-up sessions with my team. The rest of my day is spent either collaborating with other teams in the agency to put together proposals and strategies for clients, sorting out budgets and working with my team to get the day-to-day things done.Getting to be creative and getting to be myself. I think its really cool that I can get paid to think of ideas and see them come to life. Working in an advertising agency is great. You never feel constricted. Being creative is the norm. So, you often get to work with like-minded people and build really valuable relationships along the way.I also really enjoy the results-driven side of advertising too. Ive mentioned before that Im really competitive so getting to do really creative things that actually yield results is something that is super rewarding.This is a tricky one because the social and digital space evolves so quickly. You never quite know whats coming next, but growth and progression is always a key focus for me.In the short term, my goals are just to keep learning and growing within the space and doing as many valuable things as I possibly can. In the long-term, I do want more of my work to be recognised. International recognition would be amazing, and just growing into a space where I am able to lead a bigger team and be as creative as possible.I recently won Assegai's young direct marketer of the year which was a really great one for me. I have won a couple of awards through Penquin and the agencys work on our clients, but this one was exclusively for me.I think anyone who knows me, knows that I take my work and career very seriously and Im really grateful that I get to see all of my hard work come into fruition. Creating amazing campaigns for the best clients and to have that hard work be recognised is kind of the cherry on top that says, 'Youre doing well, keep going.'A big highlight was starting with Penquin. Ive worked my way up in the agency since starting five years ago and theyve put a lot of faith and trust in me and my work, which I really appreciate.Another big one was definitely a good year that we had at the New Generation Awards. We won Gold for most innovative social media campaign as well as digital brand of the year for Suzuki. I think as lead on Suzukis social and digital media efforts, this was a big win for myself and my team. Similarly to my Assegai win, it really cemented that were doing a good job.Lastly, a trip to Portugal in 2019 to Web Summit, an amazing tech conference that takes place in Lisbon every year. It was such an unforgettable experience and my first time travelling outside of South Africa. I learnt so much.Every client, every business, every brand is different, so I approach each one differently. Theres no one-size-fits-all approach. I tailor my strategy and tactics to the client. As a marketer, I have a framework and a baseline knowledge and experience that I work from to build strategies and tactics that fit that specific campaign or client. Generally, the bottom line is making sure I understand the landscape, the client needs and how to make the two work together to get the best results.Thinking outside of the box just means that Im willing to consider different solutions. Not every client has the budget to pull off a crazy award-winning campaign, but that doesnt mean their campaign cant be just as effective or creative. The journey from A to B doesnt always have to be the same.I think an easy place to start is to ask questions. A lot of the time, companies work on assumption and attempt to put best practices and good policies in place. However, this often comes from a place of privilege or even a lack of understanding.The best way to approach these issues is with empathy. Ask as many questions as you can and try to understand the position of those less privileged than yourself. I think if companies take that time to actually understand, theyll be in a better position to put policies in place to protect and promote inclusivity.
Portia Phohlo, sustainability researcher at Woodlands Dairy

Can you tell us what your role entails and what your day-to-day looks like?

Who inspires you?

What other skills or talents do you have?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see each farm and farmer as a research station and scientist. Farmers have a wealth of knowledge and I believe as academics and researchers, we can learn a lot from them which we cannot learn from our textbooks.

What sparked your interest in measuring sustainability on dairy farms and/ or soil science?

Can you tell what you most love about doing this sort of work?

In your opinion, why is sustainability indicators such as carbon footprint, soil health, water use efficiencies and nutrient conversion important?

How can this be beneficial to farmers in the long run?

What is your message to South Africas youth this Youth Month?

This is a difficult question to answer because each day is different. On one day I will be on a farm, meeting with a farmer and discussing strategies with them. The next I could be in the office researching about improving our current measures of sustainability or writing articles.On any other day, I could be in a meeting with the Trace & Save team, a sustainable agriculture company which facilitates and guides us on research pertaining to sustainability on farms and the implementation of these practices.My mother is my biggest inspiration. She raised me and my 10 siblings basically on her own as she was widowed at a young age. She has taught me to always stand tall even in the face of adversity. Her poise and strength inspired me, and as a result, I have inherited some of those traits from her which are helping me in my professional setting today.Well, I cannot call it a talent or skill as I am not that good at it. Maybe a hobby, but I enjoy art, specifically drawing, I am a bit rusty now but in my teenage years I used to draw well. I like making comics, like sketches and cartoon characters.Hopefully, having finished my PhD and seen as one of the leading researchers in my field of expertise in the country. I also want to somehow contribute my knowledge back to rural communities. I want to help improve the rural economy through agriculture.The government provides funds to start farming projects in rural communities but does not provide sufficient support in training to help the farmers maintain these projects sustainably. I would really like to one day be involved in something like this.As a child I used to go to our family field with my mom and siblings to plant or remove weeds on our maize and soybean field. I was always fascinated by how soil can convert a seed into food. I guess the seed was planted then.When I started university, I was not sure exactly which field in agriculture I was interested in because agriculture is very broad. I then realised that I enjoyed botany (the study of plants) in my first year, so I knew I wanted to continue with something similar; then, one of my lecturers in my second-year courses, Prof Muchaonyerwa shifted my interest not just from plants but to soils as well.He taught one of the soil science courses I attended with such passion as if he was living in the soil himself. From there, I changed my degree not just from plant-focused but to soil as well. I realised the importance of this natural resource and was fascinated and wanted to know more about it.My postgraduate studies and my current work then helped me create the link with the bigger picture of farming and to see how soils are important to sustainable farming.The research aspect and engaging with farmers. A huge part of my work involves doing research about trends and practices in agricultural sustainability globally. We are constantly trying to ensure that we meet global standards in all that we do, and what I find exciting is that in some cases we can see how the work we are doing is progressing beyond what we can see in the rest of the world.It is also exciting for me when our research leads to further questions  it makes me feel like Sherlock Holmes, following clues to try and figure out the story.I also enjoy engaging with farmers, getting to witness their passion for the land and learning from them as well. I see each farm and farmer as a research station and scientist. Farmers have a wealth of knowledge and I believe as academics and researchers, we can learn a lot from them which we cannot learn from our textbooks.The combination of these measures gives us a holistic picture of the sustainability of a farm. They each provide insight into important aspects of a farms management and insight into the environmental impact of farming. We cannot manage what we do not measure, therefore these indicators allow us to assist farmers to start managing their farms more sustainably.Further to this, sustainability has become a very loose term. People use it to mean all sorts of things. The company I work with, Trace & Save, believes that claims of sustainability should be made with integrity. Measuring indicators on a farm each year allows us to see whether farmers are actually successfully implementing sustainable practices, and the effect they are having at improving the sustainability of the farm.The carbon footprint, for instance, is a good tool to measure the impact of farming practices on climate change and from it, we are able to advise farmers on what they can do to reduce their environmental impact. Soil health measures the soils status and potential to produce food with minimal inputs.If farmers can make their soils healthier then they can use less fertiliser while they still grow healthy produce without having to use environmentally degrading fertilisers. Fewer fertiliser inputs also mean less financial input by the farmer, less pollution our fresh water sources as well as lower emission of greenhouse gases.Well, one of the pillars of sustainability is maintaining economic efficiency, and the improvement of these indicators will also improve the farms finances and thus the sustainability of the farm. We also work with a lot of farmers that deeply care for the environment and want to improve the environmental health of their farms. Our work can support them in this goal.Set your goals and focus on them, do not let anything interfere with your journey to accomplish them and always remember to stand with poise no matter what. Remembering this has worked for me and still works even today.
Heightened risk

The researchers assessed the magnitude, function and phenotype of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 T cells in 95 hospitalised Covid-19 patients (38 of them being HIV and/or TB co-infected) and 38 non-Covid-19 patients, using flow cytometry.We found that SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 T cell attributes, rather than magnitude, associates with disease severity, with severe disease being characterised by poor polyfunctional potential and reduced proliferation capacity, said Dr Catherine Riou, lead researcher and senior research officer at UCTs Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa).HIV and TB co-infection skewed the SARS-CoV-2 immune response. HIV mediated CD4 T cell depletion associated with suboptimal T cell and antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 and a decrease in the polyfunctional capacity of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 T cells was observed in Covid-19 patients with active TB, said Riou. These results corroborate the important role of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in Covid-19 pathogenesis and support the concept of altered T cell functions in patients with severe disease.The results also revealed that Covid-19 patients displayed reduced frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells.Many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, cause a temporary immunosuppressive effect, which could lead to the reactivation of subclinical bacterial infection. Thus, in a TB-endemic country such as South Africa, many concerns have been raised about the possibility that Covid19 could reactivate latent TB, Professor Robert J Wilkinson, co-author and director of CIDRI-Africa, saidHe suggested that HIV infected patients with SARS-CoV-2 need to be started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) if not already established. HIV infected persons should be stabilised on ART and then prioritised for vaccination. The co-occurrence of TB reduces the effectiveness of the anti- SARS-CoV-2 immune response and TB should be suspected as a complication of SARS-CoV2."Associate Professor Katalin Wilkinson, principal laboratory research scientist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, commented: The clinical and epidemiological interactions of Covid-19 with TB and/or HIV pose an additional health threat. Although comorbidities associated with HIV and TB may primarily drive Covid-19 severity in these populations, it is also plausible that HIV and/or TB-associated immune dysregulation may contribute to heightened risk.
After acquiring a Diploma in Public Relations in 2018, Keowin Knowlden immediately started working as an intern at Atmosphere Communications. This opportunity launched his PR career and after a mere two years in the industry he became an account manager at just 24-years-old. Knowlden has been part of a team who has won several awards, including a Loeries in 2018 and Prisms in 2019 and 2021...
In the later years of an abusive relationship I was in, my abuser had become so confident in how mentally caged he had me that hed start overtly telling me what he is and what he was doing. He flat-out told me he was a sociopath and a manipulator, trusting that I was so submitted to his will by that point that Id gaslight myself into reframing those statements in a sympathetic light. Toward the end one time he told me I am going to rape you, and then he did, and then he talked about it to some friends trusting that Id run perception management on it for him.

The better he got at psychologically twisting me up in knots and the more submitted I became, the more open hed be about it. He seemed to enjoy doing this, taking a kind of exhibitionistic delight in showing off his accomplishments at crushing me as a person, both to others and to me. Like it was his art, and he wanted it to have an audience to appreciate it.

I was reminded of this while watching a recent Fox News appearance by Glenn Greenwald where he made an observation weve discussed here previously about the way the CIA used to have to infiltrate the media, but now just openly has US intelligence veterans in mainstream media punditry positions managing public perception.

If you go and Google, and I hope your viewers do, Operation Mockingbird, what you will find is that during the Cold War these agencies used to plot how to clandestinely manipulate the news media to disseminate propaganda to the American population, Greenwald said. They used to try to do it secretly. They dont even do it secretly anymore. They dont need Operation Mockingbird. They literally put John Brennan who works for NBC and James Clapper who works for CNN and tons of FBI agents right on the payroll of these news organizations. They now shape the news openly to manipulate and to deceive the American population.

In 1977 Carl Bernstein published an article titled The CIA and the Media reporting that the CIA had covertly infiltrated Americas most influential news outlets and had over 400 reporters who it considered assets in a program known as Operation Mockingbird. It was a major scandal, and rightly so. The news media are meant to report truthfully about what happens in the world, not manipulate public perception to suit the agendas of spooks and warmongers.

Nowadays the CIA collaboration happens right out in the open, and the public is too brainwashed and gaslit to even recognize this as scandalous. Immensely influential outlets like The New York Times uncritically pass on CIA disinfo which is then spun as fact by cable news pundits. The sole owner of The Washington Post is a CIA contractor, and WaPo has never once disclosed this conflict of interest when reporting on US intelligence agencies per standard journalistic protocol. Mass media outlets now openly employ intelligence agency veterans like John Brennan, James Clapper, Chuck Rosenberg, Michael Hayden, Frank Figliuzzi, Fran Townsend, Stephen Hall, Samantha Vinograd, Andrew McCabe, Josh Campbell, Asha Rangappa, Phil Mudd, James Gagliano, Jeremy Bash, Susan Hennessey, Ned Price and Rick Francona, as are known CIA assets like NBCs Ken Dilanian, as are CIA interns like Anderson Cooper and CIA applicants like Tucker Carlson.

Theyre just rubbing it in our faces now. Like theyre showing off.

Bellingcat got funding from the US gov-funded NED. It acts like an unofficial NATO propagandist, obsessively focusing on Western enemies. pic.twitter.com/DDegClagkj  Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) June 25, 2017

And thats just the media. We also see this flaunting behavior exhibited in the US government-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a propaganda operation geared at sabotaging foreign governments not aligned with the US which according to its own founding officials was set up to do overtly what the CIA used to do covertly. The late author and commentator William Blum makes this clear:

[I]n 1983, the National Endowment for Democracy was set up to support democratic institutions throughout the world through private, nongovernmental efforts. Notice the nongovernmental  part of the image, part of the myth. In actuality, virtually every penny of its funding comes from the federal government, as is clearly indicated in the financial statement in each issue of its annual report. NED likes to refer to itself as an NGO (Non-governmental organization) because this helps to maintain a certain credibility abroad that an official US government agency might not have. But NGO is the wrong category. NED is a GO. We should not have to do this kind of work covertly, said Carl Gershman in 1986, while he was president of the Endowment. It would be terrible for democratic groups around the world to be seen as subsidized by the C.I.A. We saw that in the 60s, and thats why it has been discontinued. We have not had the capability of doing this, and thats why the endowment was created. And Allen Weinstein, who helped draft the legislation establishing NED, declared in 1991: A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA. In effect, the CIA has been laundering money through NED.

We see NEDs fingerprints all over pretty much any situation where the Western power alliance needs to manage public perception about a CIA-targeted government, from Russia to Hong Kong to Xinjiang to the imperial propaganda operation known as Bellingcat.

"The U.S. had financed some of the protester groups through the CIA aligned National Endowment for Democracy and the Open Technology Fund. If the U.S. wants to continue instigating unrest in Hong Kong it must now move those programs to the CIA and distribute the money secretly." https://t.co/kpmcikpjb1  Caitlin Johnstone  (@caitoz) July 1, 2020

To further #humanrights & human dignity for all people in China, the National Endowment for Democracy has funded Uyghur groups since 2004. #NEDemocracy #HumanRightsDay https://t.co/C0LJEyWxq1 pic.twitter.com/OqZdehdxXN  NEDemocracy (@NEDemocracy) December 10, 2020

Hell, intelligence insiders are just openly running for office now. In an article titled The CIA Democrats in the 2020 elections, World Socialist Website documented the many veterans of the US intelligence cartel who ran in elections across America in 2018 and 2020:

In the course of the 2018 elections, a large group of former military-intelligence operatives entered capitalist politics as candidates seeking the Democratic Party nomination in 50 congressional seats  nearly half the seats where the Democrats were targeting Republican incumbents or open seats created by Republican retirements. Some 30 of these candidates won primary contests and became the Democratic candidates in the November 2018 election, and 11 of them won the general election, more than one quarter of the 40 previously Republican-held seats captured by the Democrats as they took control of the House of Representatives. In 2020, the intervention of the CIA Democrats continues on what is arguably an equally significant scale.

So theyre just getting more and more brazen the more confident they feel about how propaganda-addled and submissive the population has become. Theyre laying more and more of their cards on the table. Soon the CIA will just be openly selling narcotics door to door like Girl Scout cookies.

Or maybe not. I said my ex got more and more overt about his abuses in the later years of our relationship because those were the later years. I did eventually expand my own consciousness of my own inner workings enough to clear the fears and unexamined beliefs I had that he was using as hooks to manipulate me. Maybe, as humanitys consciousness continues to expand, the same will happen for the people and their abusive relationship with the CIA.

Source: Medium

The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, following me on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud or YouTube, or throwing some money into my tip jar on Ko-fi, Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy my books. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else Ive written) in any way they like free of charge. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what Im trying to do with this platform, click here.
San Diegos more than $160-billion proposal to expand rail, bus and other transportation services throughout the region relies heavily on Californias still nascent plans for a so-called road charge. The fee being explored would charge drivers a set price for every mile traveled within the state.

The proposed Regional Transportation Plan, drafted by the San Diego Association of Governments, anticipates collecting more than $34 billion in these per-mile fees through 2050.

How to collect those road charges  currently the single largest source of revenue in SANDAGs draft blueprint  is still being explored under a state pilot program that could run through 2026. Options include everything from transponders to smart phones to routine odometer readings as a way to monitor the driving distances of the roughly 26 million vehicles registered in California.

The goal of state leaders is to replace its waning gas tax before electric and increasingly fuel-efficient vehicles make it all but obsolete.

The idea of a per-mile fee has frustrated some local Republicans, whove said that SANDAGs vision would unfairly tax motorists to pay for expensive transit projects. The plans marquee venture is a 200-mile regional rail system with a dozen new train stations and a price tag of more than $43 billion.

Usually, when you pay a user fee, its to pay for what youre actually using, said San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones. Whats being proposed by SANDAG is using the fee to pay for a new mass transit system.

The agencys top brass said their approach will benefit drivers as much as transit users, citing the plans anticipated spending on highway maintenance and operations of more than $18 billion through mid-century. They said investments in rail as well as dedicated freeway lanes to serve buses, carpools and paying customers, would ensure speedy travel times for all commuters.
Update: John McAfee Had WHACKD Tattoo and Once Said If He Was Found Dead in Suicide  He Didnt Kill Himself



Update: John McAfees Instagram Account Posts Mysterious Q Minutes After His Jail Suicide Death Is Reported



Via: New York Post:

Antivirus software tycoon John McAfee apparently hanged himself in a Spanish jail cell on Wednesday  just hours after a court ruled he would be extradited to face federal charges in the US.

Authorities said a preliminary investigation determined there were no signs of foul play, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.

The 75-year-old eccentric tech entrepreneur was arrested in October and was awaiting extradition in the Barcelona jail when he was found dead by hanging, police sources told El Pais.

The newspaper reported McAfee was pulled from his cell in Barcelona and police are investigating the circumstances around his death.
Originally published at The Last American Vagabond.

In the latest sign that the US governments War on Domestic Terror is growing in scope and scale, the White House on Tuesday revealed the nations first ever government-wide strategy for confronting domestic terrorism. While cloaked in language about stemming racially motivated violence, the strategy places those deemed anti-government or anti-authority on a par with racist extremists and charts out policies that could easily be abused to silence or even criminalize online criticism of the government.

Even more disturbing is the call to essentially fuse intelligence agencies, law enforcement, Silicon Valley, and community and faith-based organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, as well as unspecified foreign governments, as partners in this war, which the strategy makes clear will rely heavily on a pre-crime orientation focused largely on what is said on social media and encrypted platforms. Though the strategy claims that the government will shield free speech and civil liberties in implementing this policy, its contents reveal that it is poised to gut both.

Indeed, while framed publicly as chiefly targeting right-wing white supremacists, the strategy itself makes it clear that the government does not plan to focus on the Right but instead will pursue domestic terrorists in an ideologically neutral, threat-driven manner, as the law makes no distinction based on political viewleft, right or center. It also states that a key goal of this strategic framework is to ensure that there is simply no governmental tolerance . . . of violence as an acceptable mode of seeking political or social change, regardless of a perpetrators political affiliation.

Considering that the main cheerleaders for the War on Domestic Terror exist mainly in establishment left circles, such individuals should rethink their support for this new policy given that the above statements could easily come to encompass Black Lives Matterrelated protests, such as those that transpired last summer, depending on which political party is in power.

Once the new infrastructure is in place, it will remain there and will be open to the same abuses perpetrated by both political parties in the US during the lengthy War on Terror following September 11, 2001. The history of this new domestic terror policy, including its origins in the Trump administration, makes this clear.

Its Never Been Easier to Be a Terrorist

In introducing the strategy, the Biden administration cites racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists as a key reason for the new policy and a main justification for the War on Domestic Terror in general. This was most recently demonstrated Tuesday in Attorney General Merrick Garlands statement announcing this new strategy. However, the document itself puts anti-government or anti-authority extremists in the same category as violent white supremacists in terms of being a threat to the homeland. The strategys characterization of such individuals is unsettling.

AG Merrick Garland: In the FBIs view, the top domestic violent extremist threat comes from racially or ethically motivated violent extremists specifically those who advocate for the superiority of the white race.

pic.twitter.com/4JtruuMSv2  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 15, 2021

For instance, those who violently oppose all forms of capitalism or corporate globalization are listed under this less-discussed category of domestic terrorist. This highlights how people on the left, many of whom have called for capitalism to be dismantled or replaced in the US in recent years, could easily be targeted in this new war that many self-proclaimed leftists are currently supporting. Similarly, environmentally-motivated extremists, a category in which groups such as Extinction Rebellion could easily fall, are also included.

In addition, the phrasing indicates that it could easily include as terrorists those who oppose the World Economic Forums vision for global stakeholder capitalism, as that form of capitalism involves corporations and their main stakeholders creating a new global economic and governance system. The WEFs stakeholder capitalism thus involves both capitalism and corporate globalization.

The strategy also includes those who take steps to violently resist government authority . . . based on perceived overreach. This, of course, creates a dangerous situation in which the government could, purposely or otherwise, implement a policy that is an obvious overreach and/or blatantly unconstitutional and then label those who resist it domestic terrorists and deal with them as suchwell before the overreach can be challenged in court.

Another telling addition to this group of potential terrorists is any other individual or group who engages in violenceor incites imminent violencein opposition to legislative, regulatory or other actions taken by the government. Thus, if the government implements a policy that a large swath of the population finds abhorrent, such as launching a new, unpopular war abroad, those deemed to be inciting resistance to the action online could be considered domestic terrorists.

Such scenarios are not unrealistic, given the loose way in which the government and the media have defined things like incitement and even violence (e. g., hate speech is a form of violence) in the recent past. The situation is ripe for manipulation and abuse. To think the federal government (including the Biden administration and subsequent administrations) would not abuse such power reflects an ignorance of US political history, particularly when the main forces behind most terrorist incidents in the nation are actually US government institutions like the FBI (more FBI examples here, here, here, and here).

Furthermore, the original plans for the detention of American dissidents in the event of a national emergency, drawn up during the Reagan era as part of its continuity of government contingency, cited popular nonviolent opposition to US intervention in Latin America as a potential emergency that could trigger the activation of those plans. Many of those continuity of government protocols remain on the books today and can be triggered, depending on the whims of those in power. It is unlikely that this new domestic terror framework will be any different regarding nonviolent protest and demonstrations.

Yet another passage in this section of the strategy states that domestic terrorists can, in some instances, connect and intersect with conspiracy theories and other forms of disinformation and misinformation. It adds that the proliferation of such dangerous information on Internet-based communications platforms such as social media, file-upload sites and end-to-end encrypted platforms, all of these elements can combine and amplify threats to public safety.

Thus, the presence of conspiracy theories and information deemed by the government to be misinformation online is itself framed as threatening public safety, a claim made more than once in this policy document. Given that a major pillar of the strategy involves eliminating online material that promotes domestic terrorist ideologies, it seems inevitable that such efforts will also connect and intersect with the censorship of conspiracy theories and narratives that the establishment finds inconvenient or threatening for any reason.

Pillars of Tyranny

The strategy notes in several places that this new domestic-terror policy will involve a variety of public-private partnerships in order to build a community to address domestic terrorism that extends not only across the Federal Government but also to critical partners. It adds, That includes state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as foreign allies and partners, civil society, the technology sector, academic, and more.

The mention of foreign allies and partners is important as it suggests a multinational approach to what is supposedly a US domestic issue and is yet another step toward a transnational security-state apparatus. A similar multinational approach was used to devastating effect during the CIA-developed Operation Condor, which was used to target and disappear domestic dissidents in South America in the 1970s and 1980s. The foreign allies mentioned in the Biden administrations strategy are left unspecified, but it seems likely that such allies would include the rest of the Five Eyes alliance (the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand) and Israel, all of which already have well-established information-sharing agreements with the US for signals intelligence.

The new domestic-terror strategy has four main pillars, which can be summarized as (1) understanding and sharing domestic terrorism-related information, including with foreign governments and private tech companies; (2) preventing domestic terrorism recruitment and mobilization to violence; (3) disrupting and deterring domestic terrorism activity; and (4) confronting long-term contributors to domestic terrorism.

The first pillar involves the mass accumulation of data through new information-sharing partnerships and the deepening of existing ones. Much of this information sharing will involve increased data mining and analysis of statements made openly on the internet, particularly on social media, something already done by US intelligence contractors such as Palantir. While the gathering of such information has been ongoing for years, this policy allows even more to be shared and legally used to make cases against individuals deemed to have made threats or expressed dangerous opinions online.

Included in the first pillar is the need to increase engagement with financial institutions concerning the financing of domestic terrorists. US banks, such as Bank of America, have already gone quite far in this regard, leading to accusations that it has begun acting like an intelligence agency. Such claims were made after it was revealed that the BofA had passed to the government the private banking information of over two hundred people that the bank deemed as pointing to involvement in the events of January 6, 2021. It seems likely, given this passage in the strategy, that such behavior by banks will soon become the norm, rather than an outlier, in the United States.

The second pillar is ostensibly focused on preventing the online recruitment of domestic terrorists and online content that leads to the mobilization of violence. The strategy notes that this pillar means reducing both supply and demand of recruitment materials by limiting widespread availability online and bolstering resilience to it by those who nonetheless encounter it. The strategy states that such government efforts in the past have a mixed record, but it goes on to claim that trampling on civil liberties will be avoided because the government is consulting extensively with unspecified stakeholders nationwide.

Regarding recruitment, the strategy states that these activities are increasingly happening on Internet-based communications platforms, including social media, online gaming platforms, file-upload sites and end-to-end encrypted platforms, even as those products and services frequently offer other important benefits. It adds that the widespread availability of domestic terrorist recruitment material online is a national security threat whose front lines are overwhelmingly private-sector online platforms.

The US government plans to provide information to assist online platforms with their own initiatives to enforce their own terms of service that prohibits the use of their platforms for domestic terrorist activities as well as to facilitate more robust efforts outside the government to counter terrorists abuse of Internet-based communications platforms.

Given the wider definition of domestic terrorist that now includes those who oppose capitalism and corporate globalization as well as those who resist government overreach, online content discussing these and other anti-government and anti-authority ideas could soon be treated in the same way as online Al Qaeda or ISIS propaganda. Efforts, however, are unlikely to remain focused on these topics. As Unlimited Hangout reported last November, both UK intelligence and the US national-security state were developing plans to treat critical reporting on the COVID-19 vaccines as extremist propaganda.

Another key part of this pillar is the need to increase digital literacy among the American public, while censoring harmful content disseminated by terrorists as well as by hostile foreign powers seeking to undermine American democracy. The latter is a clear reference to the claim that critical reporting of US government policy, particularly its military and intelligence activities abroad, was the product of Russian disinformation, a now discredited claim that was used to heavily censor independent media. This new government strategy appears to promise more of this sort of thing.

It also notes that digital literacy education for a domestic audience is being developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Such a policy would have previously violated US law until the Obama administration worked with Congress to repeal the Smith-Mundt Act, thus lifting the ban on the government directing propaganda at domestic audiences.

The third pillar of the strategy seeks to increase the number of federal prosecutors investigating and trying domestic-terror cases. Their numbers are likely to jump as the definition of domestic terrorist is expanded. It also seeks to explore whether legislative reforms could meaningfully and materially increase our ability to protect Americans from acts of domestic terrorism while simultaneously guarding against potential abuse of overreach. In contrast to past public statements on police reform by those in the Biden administration, the strategy calls to empower state and local law enforcement to tackle domestic terrorism, including with increased access to intelligence on citizens deemed dangerous or subversive for any number of reasons.

To that effect, the strategy states the following (p. 24):

The Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Homeland Security, with support from the National Counterterrorism Center [part of the intelligence community], are incorporating an increased focus on domestic terrorism into current intelligence products and leveraging current mechanisms of information and intelligence sharing to improve the sharing of domestic terrorism-related content and indicators with non-Federal partners. These agencies are also improving the usability of their existing information-sharing platforms, including through the development of mobile applications designed to provide a broader reach to non-Federal law enforcement partners, while simultaneously refining that support based on partner feedback.

Such an intelligence tool could easily be, for example, Palantir, which is already used by the intelligence agencies, the DHS, and several US police departments for predictive policing, that is, pre-crime actions. Notably, Palantir has long included a subversive label for individuals included on government and law enforcement databases, a parallel with the controversial and highly secretive Main Core database of US dissidents.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made the pre-crime element of the new domestic terror strategy explicit on Tuesday when he said in a statement that DHS would continue developing key partnerships with local stakeholders through the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) to identify potential threats and prevent terrorism. CP3, which replaced DHS Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention this past May, officially supports communities across the United States to prevent individuals from radicalizing to violence and intervene when individuals have already radicalized to violence.

The fourth pillar of the strategy is by far the most opaque and cryptic, while also the most far-reaching. It aims to address the sources that cause terrorists to mobilize towards violence. This requires tackling racism in America, a lofty goal for an administration headed by the man who controversially eulogized Congress most ardent segregationist and who was a key architect of the 1994 crime bill. As well, it provides for early intervention and appropriate care for those who pose a danger to themselves or others.

In regard to the latter proposal, the Trump administration, in a bid to stop mass shootings before they occur, considered a proposal to create a health DARPA or HARPA that would monitor the online communications of everyday Americans for neuropsychiatric warning signs that someone might be mobilizing towards violence. While the Trump administration did not create HARPA or adopt this policy, the Biden administration has recently announced plans to do so.

Finally, the strategy indicates that this fourth pillar is part of a broader priority: enhancing faith in government and addressing the extreme polarization, fueled by a crisis of disinformation and misinformation often channeled through social media platforms, which can tear Americans apart and lead some to violence. In other words, fostering trust in government while simultaneously censoring polarizing voices who distrust or criticize the government is a key policy goal behind the Biden administrations new domestic-terror strategy.

Calling Their Shots?

While this is a new strategy, its origins lie in the Trump administration. In October 2019, Trumps attorney general William Barr formally announced in a memorandum that a new national disruption and early engagement program aimed at detecting those mobilizing towards violence before they commit any crime would launch in the coming months. That program, known as DEEP (Disruption and Early Engagement Program), is now active and has involved the Department of Justice, the FBI, and private sector partners since its creation.

Barrs announcement of DEEP followed his unsettling prediction in July 2019 that a major incident may occur at any time that will galvanize public opinion on these issues. Not long after that speech, a spate of mass shootings occurred, including the El Paso Walmart shooting, which killed twenty-three and about which many questions remain unanswered regarding the FBIs apparent foreknowledge of the event. After these events took place in 2019, Trump called for the creation of a government backdoor into encryption and the very pre-crime system that Barr announced shortly thereafter in October 2019. The Biden administration, in publishing this strategy, is merely finishing what Barr started.

Indeed, a prediction like Barrs in 2019 was offered by the DHS Elizabeth Neumann during a Congressional hearing in late February 2020. That hearing was largely ignored by the media as it coincided with an international rise of concern regarding COVID-19. At the hearing, Neumann, who previously coordinated the development of the governments post-9/11 terrorism information sharing strategies and policies and worked closely with the intelligence community, gave the following warning about an imminent domestic terror event in the United States:

And every counterterrorism professional I speak to in the federal government and overseas feels like we are at the doorstep of another 9/11, maybe not something that catastrophic in terms of the visual or the numbers, but that we can see it building and we dont quite know how to stop it.

Elizabeth Neumann at 02/26/20 Congressional Hearing on Confronting the Rise in Anti-Semitic Domestic Terrorism

This another 9/11 emerged on January 6, 2021, as the events of that day in the Capitol were quickly labeled as such by both the media and prominent politicians, while also inspiring calls from the White House and the Democrats for a 9/11-style commission to investigate the incident. This event, of course, figures prominently in the justification for the new domestic-terror strategy, despite the considerable video and other evidence that shows that Capitol law enforcement, and potentially the FBI, were directly involved in facilitating the breach of the Capitol. In addition, when one considers that the QAnon movement, which had a clear role in the events of January 6, was itself likely a government-orchestrated psyop, the government hand in creating this situation seems clear.

It goes without saying that the official reasons offered for these militaristic domestic terror policies, which the US has already implemented abroadcausing much more terror than it has preventeddoes not justify the creation of a massive new national-security infrastructure that aims to criminalize and censor online speech. Yet the admission that this new strategy, as part of a broader effort to enhance faith in government, combines domestic propaganda campaigns with the censorship and pursuit of those who distrust government heralds the end of even the illusion of democracy in the United States.
The US government has shut down multiple news media websites based in the Middle East, including Irans state-owned Press TV, and al-Masirah TV which is owned by the Houthi group Ansarullah in Yemen. The Department of Justice said on Tuesday it had seized 36 Iranian-linked websites, claiming without evidence that they were associated with either disinformation activities or violent organizations and were shut down for a violation of US sanctions.

This would be the same US government that is imprisoning Julian Assange for journalism which exposed US war crimes, the same US government which paid for the weapons used to destroy more than 20 Palestinian media outlets in Gaza last month, the same US government whose unipolar domination of the planet is made possible by the journalism-destroying propaganda of the media-owning plutocratic class in alliance with sociopathic government agencies.

This would also be the same US government which constantly pays lip service to the need to protect the freedom of the press, as part of the rules-based international order it purports to uphold in the world.

The Biden administration has been bleating rules-based order so frequently and with such obvious meaninglessness that even The New York Times voiced some criticism of the way that vapid, idiotic phrase is being used instead of the well-defined term international law. As Medea Benjamin and Nicolas JS Davies wrote for Salon last month:

For Blinken, the concept of a rules-based order seems to serve mainly as a cudgel with which to attack China and Russia. At a May 7 UN Security Council meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that instead of accepting the already existing rules of international law, the United States and its allies are trying to come up with other rules developed in closed, non-inclusive formats, and then imposed on everyone else.  Today, far from being a leader of the international rules-based system, the United States is an outlier. It has failed to sign or ratify about 50 important and widely accepted multilateral treaties on everything from childrens rights to arms control. Its unilateral sanctions against Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and other countries are themselves violations of international law, and the new Biden administration has shamefully failed to lift these illegal sanctions, ignoring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres request to suspend such unilateral coercive measures during the pandemic.

Indeed, US government officials babble endlessly about rules, and the rules are literally always tools used for the benefit of the US government, and the US government literally always flouts those rules exponentially worse than any other government on earth.

What the phrase rules-based order actually means is Washington-based order. It means a world order imposed by the US government and its lackey states on pain of devastation and death, which exists solely to keep the US at the head of a unipolar empire. It means do as I say, not as I do. It means rules for thee but not for me. It means we decide what happens based on what suits our interests.

If you peel away all the narrative spin and outward politeness, the US empire just looks like any other tyrannical force that has ever existed throughout human history, except it kills a lot more people than most of the others. In the old days the thugs with the most effective killing force would dominate everyone else using terror, wearing frightening battle costumes adorned with the body parts of their enemies. Nowadays they still dominate everyone else using terror, except they do it while wearing suits, and while waxing self-righteously about the rules-based international order. And they are much better at killing.

There is no other government on earth that is less qualified to impose any order upon the world. This is the only government on earth which has killed millions of people and displaced tens of millions just since the turn of this century, the only government on earth that is circling the planet with hundreds of military bases and working to destroy any nation which disobeys its dictates. Yemen alone completely delegitimizes any claim the US may have had to be the arbiter of order in the world, to say nothing of Iraq, Vietnam, Libya and all the other innumerable atrocities that this monstrous regime has inflicted upon our species.

The sooner humanity can extract the parasite that is the US empire from its skin, the better off the whole world will be.

____________________________

The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, following me on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud or YouTube, or throwing some money into my tip jar on Ko-fi, Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy my books. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else Ive written) in any way they like free of charge. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what Im trying to do with this platform, click here.

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The Washington Post published a report Tuesday that admitted lab leaks in China are common, as well as pointing to evidence that the Chinese military was conducting secret research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. However, the piece suggested that the origins of the coronavirus pandemic will never be found because of this very fact.

The Post, which earlier in the year was completely rubbishing the lab leak theory as a debunked conspiracy theory, has done a complete 180, now reporting it as credible.

The new report acknowledges that classified military research was carried out at the lab and that records will almost certainly remain sealed by the Chinese government for two decades.

The secrecy may help to explain why efforts to confirm or disprove the lab-leak theory of the pandemics origins have made little progress, the report claims.

The Post further describes U.S. intelligence efforts to probe the pandemic origin as exactly the sort of operation the Wuhan lab prepared for more than a decade ago with the setting up of systems to handle confidential information.

The precautions dont mean the lab has anything to do with the viruss origin, or that theres anything nefarious about its classified projects, the report proclaims.

The report then acknowledges that lab leaks have happened before in China, but claims that So far, no evidence has emerged contradicting statements by the Wuhan researchers that they did not encounter covid-19 before the pandemic and that no accidents occurred at the lab.

This completely contradicts the intelligence that reignited the lab leak hypothesis, the fact that workers at the lab were hospitalised before the pandemic, and even had family members die.

The Post article also argues that Many Western scientists favor the theory that the pandemic began in nature, without highlighting any of the scientific studies or other evidence pointing to the likelihood the the virus was engineered.

Neither does the piece point to the coordinated campaign to coerce scientists not to pursue the lab leak theory by gain of function research funder Peter Daszak and his cohorts, and the resulting dismissal of the hypothesis based on nothing but fear of being ostracised.

But then again what else would we expect from the establishment media.

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Parents protesting against anti-white critical race theory and transgenderism being pushed on their children in Loudoun County, Virginia were violently arrested by police on Tuesday after a school board meeting was declared an "unlawful assembly."



WATCH:













Two arrests made at the Loudoun County, Virginia school board meeting after it was declared an unlawful assembly and some parents here to protest against critical race theory and a transgender policy refused to leave right away #CriticalRaceTheory pic.twitter.com/dsZDrqJ0Gp  Gabriella Borter (@gabriellaborter) June 22, 2021

Man Arrested After Speaking Out Against #CRT



Parents and teachers who fled Communist countries where people were silenced for speaking the truth were screaming at the police for doing the same thing here.



Can we all please pray for the brave patriot in this video tonight? pic.twitter.com/LkBizBo7Sn  Tatiana Ibrahim (@tatianaibrahim5) June 23, 2021



The Loudoun County school board cut off the mic of legendary Virginia State Senator Dick Black as he spoke out against transgender lunacy being pushed on children in schools. After the crowd erupted in cheers, the board voted to shut down the entire meeting.









Loudoun County school board ended public comment. Anti-critical race theory protesters react: pic.twitter.com/QpdVoiAksl  Gabriella Borter (@gabriellaborter) June 22, 2021

Parents protesting against critical race theory broke into the national anthem when the Loudoun Co., Virginia school board ended public comment because the crowd got too out of hand pic.twitter.com/qms00grIIj  Gabriella Borter (@gabriellaborter) June 22, 2021

The Loudoun County sheriffs office declared the school board meeting an unlawful assembly. Everyone told to get out or will be trespassing. Two arrests made #CriticalRaceTheory pic.twitter.com/23Cojtczvy  Gabriella Borter (@gabriellaborter) June 22, 2021



Parents were then brutalized and arrested as can be seen in the top videos.



From The Daily Mail:



The Loudoun County School Board in Virginia cut off public comment during a meeting on Tuesday as residents debated contentious transgender policy proposals and Critical Race Theory.



County residents arrived early to pack the auditorium as 259 residents signed up to speak during the public comment session before the debates became so heated that at least two men were eventually arrested for refusing to leave the building. The men were protesting the policy.



The parents debated a draft of the proposed 8040 policy on restrooms that reads that 'students should be allowed to use the facility that corresponds to their gender identity,' as school district leaders say they are moving to make schools more inclusive for transgender students - something that is considered by some parents as challenging traditional religious beliefs.



According to Fox News, the comments went rather smoothly through the first half-dozen speakers who supported the 8040 proposal until the seventh speaker was booed for insulting Christian parents in the district who oppose the policy.



The woman, who identified herself as the mother of a transgender Loudoun student, had said that 'hate' was 'dripping from the followers of Jesus in this room' - which promoted the board to call a five-minute recess for parents to cool down.



Brenda Sheridan, the board chair, warned residents after the recess that members of the board had voted unanimously to end public comment if the room again became disruptive.

Black Lives Matter and Antifa can riot, loot, murder and burn down cities causing billions in damages and police chiefs and the FBI will kneel before them but they'll happily turn around and brutalize and arrest a group of parents for opposing transgenderism and anti-white critical race theory being pushed on their children!



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A local MPs year-long quest to get his private members bill through both chambers of Parliament reached the finish line on Tuesday after it cleared the Senate.

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A local MPs year-long quest to get his private members bill through both chambers of Parliament reached the finish line on Tuesday after it cleared the Senate.

First introduced on Feb. 19, 2020, Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguires Bill C-208 amends the federal Income Tax Act to reduce the amount of taxes paid when a small business, farm or fishing corporation is transferred between family members.

Currently, when a farmer sells their farm to a family member, its considered a dividend and taxed accordingly. If that same producer sold their farm to a third party, it would be seen as a capital gain, which is taxed at a lower level. Maguires bill seeks to level the playing field by taxing family transfers as a capital gain and not a dividend.

Though the vast majority of MPs from the governing Liberals voted against Maguires bill in the House of Commons, the Tories received support from the NDP, Bloc Quebecois, the Green Party of Canada and all independents except Vancouver Granville MP Jody Wilson-Raybould to pass the bill.

Speaking with the Sun by phone from Ottawa on Wednesday, Maguire said its the first time he has gotten a bill passed since he became a member of Parliament in a 2013 byelection. He said that the passage of his bill, along with five other Conservative bills that recently got approved by the Senate, is historic.

See Its  Page A2

According to Maguire, some of the most stringent opposition to his bill came from former Liberal senators delivering anti-business quotes as they tried to kill it in the Red Chamber. He expressed relief that a proposed amendment that would have removed small businesses from being covered by the bill didnt garner enough support to be implemented.

In 2014, then-Liberal leader Justin Trudeau expelled all Liberal senators from his partys caucus in an attempt to make the Senate more non-partisan.

"Its just a real honour for me to be able to carry this bill forward to help family transfers of small, qualifying businesses being able to sell to their children and/or grandchildren without negatively impacted by high tax rates," Maguire said. "Its not about creating any loopholes like the senators were talking about  its actually levelling the playing field so that families arent at a disadvantage to selling to a complete stranger."

The MP said the Parliamentary Budget Office has estimated that his bill will cost the federal government between $170 and $300 million a year, depending on how many businesses get transferred in a given year.

"About a tenth of a percent of the budget that the federal government just spent," Maguire quipped.

Given swirling rumours of a federal election being called later this year, Maguires bill getting passed also prevents it from losing progress if the writ is dropped and Parliament is dissolved.

"Three of my colleagues  Andrew Scheer, Kevin Waugh from Saskatoon and Randy Hoback  allowed me to continue to move my bill forward because each time it goes through the House, it drops to the bottom of the order paper unless you exchange with someone and we were able to move it forward and therefore have time to get it to the Senate to get it passed before the House rises tonight," he said.

Asked why he thought he his bill had support from other parties, Maguire said it was a common-sense bill.

"This is the same bill that came forward in 2017 with Guy Caron when he was the interim leader of the NDP," he said. "The Liberals voted it down at that time, but this time bringing it forward we still had all of the opposition in favour of this bill as we did from coast to coast from chambers of commerce, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Theres so much industry support."

In a statement posted to its website on Wednesday, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture wrote that the passage of Maguires bill will help "ensure the next generation of family farms is in strong financial health."

Also having kind words to say was Keystone Agricultural Producers.

"We want to make sure farmers have the tools they need and the ability to successfully transfer their operations as they choose," KAP policy manager Alanna Gray told the Sun by phone.

She said the profitability and sustainability of family farms as they get passed down between generations is a key concern of KAP members.

"I dont always think a family farm is what it may be perceived to be," Gray said. "I lot of people I work with farm with their brothers, their parents, they are a family operation. Somebody keeps the books, somebodys out there seeding and theres a lot of work and collaboration between family members."

Gray said KAP is grateful for all the MPs and senators that voted in favour of the bill, saying its a vote of confidence in producers importance to the economy and the nations food production.

Other bills currently working their way through the House that KAP approves of are Bill C-205, which would improve biosecurity, and Bill C-206, which would provide an exemption from the carbon tax to producers needing to dry their grain.

Maguires bill is set to receive royal assent from acting Governor General and Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Richard Wagner in the next few days.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Westmans Conservative MPs were on opposite sides of an issue on Tuesday when voting on Bill C-6s third reading in the House of Commons.

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Westmans Conservative MPs were on opposite sides of an issue on Tuesday when voting on Bill C-6s third reading in the House of Commons.

The bill, brought forward by federal Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti, would make conversion therapy, a so-called treatment designed to change a persons sexual orientation or gender identity, illegal as well as prevent people from taking a child out of the country to receive conversation therapy.

Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire voted in favour of the bill, while Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier voted against it with 62 of his Conservative colleagues. Mazier had originally voted in favour of the bill during second reading.

In a statement emailed to the Sun, Mazier said he is against conversion therapy and explained why he voted no on the bill.

"I believe in the Parliamentary process, which is why I voted in favour of Bill C-6 at second reading hoping that the concerns of Canadians were addressed," the statement reads. "Let me be clear; I fully oppose conversion therapy, but Bill C-6 failed to secure adequate safeguards and created an immense amount of legal uncertainty.

Larry Maguire

"At committee, my colleagues put forth an amendment that would better clarify the definition of conversion therapy in the bill to target coercive practices. I heard from hundreds of my constituents who raised concerns about the broadness of the definition asking me to vote against the bill as it currently read. Unfortunately, the Liberals ignored reasonable efforts to build a consensus and strengthen the bill."

Explaining why he voted in favour of the bill in a phone interview with the Sun on Wednesday, Maguire said he believed the bill as written doesnt prevent parents, clergy or teachers from being able to talk to people about "any changes that they might want to have with their gender."

"The government could have made it much clearer," Maguire said.

"There was an amendment put forward thats even in the preamble, but they wouldnt put it in the bill. All we were asking on the Opposition side was for them to clarify it even more."

Ultimately, the bill passed by a margin of 263-63. All opposing votes came from the Conservative Party, as well as former Conservative and now independent MP Derek Sloan.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Eagleclaw Thom cried on the phone with family members as they shared stories of attending a former Saskatchewan residential school where a search has revealed what are believed to be 751 unmarked graves.

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Eagleclaw Thom cried on the phone with family members as they shared stories of attending a former Saskatchewan residential school where a search has revealed what are believed to be 751 unmarked graves.

Thom said the discovery on the grounds of the Marieval Indian Residential School announced by the Cowessess First Nation on Thursday left a hole in his heart.

Thom, 40, is from the Sakimay First Nation that borders Cowessess and did not attend Marieval, but his father and paternal grandparents did. Some of his siblings attended different schools throughout the province.

"People may have been able to leave or escape residential school, but it never left them," Thom said from Ottawa.

"There was a cultural genocide, but there was also a genocide of our people."

Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme promised that memories of those who died at Marieval will not be wiped out. He said work will be done so a name is placed on each of the unmarked graves he said may have had markers or headstones that were removed in the 1960s.

"The Catholic Church representatives removed these headstones, and today they are unmarked graves," Delorme said.

"We want to honour our loved ones that lay there today, he said. "We want to make sure that we keep that place and preserve it so many could come here and heal."

The Archdiocese of Regina shared a letter it sent to Delorme, which said it has had conversations with the First Nation about abuse at the school, unmarked graves and how one priest destroyed headstones.

A 1956 photograph of the parish church in Marieval, Sask., is shown in this handout image provided by Societe historique de Saint-Boniface. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Societe historique de Saint-Boniface *MANDATORY CREDIT*

"As you have communicated elsewhere, Chief Cadmus, even for those of us who were not there or not involved, it is nonetheless the painful legacy that we need to carry," Archbishop Don Bolen wrote.

Spokesman Eric Gurash also said the archdiocese contributed $70,000 to the First Nation for cemetery restoration.

The grave search began earlier this month using ground-penetrating radar that recorded 751 hits. The number would be the highest to date found in Canada. Delorme said the technology has a 10 to 15 per cent error rate.

But we do know there are at least 600 (graves).

The existence and number of graves does not come as a surprise to those yet living who attended the school, he said.

"Over the past years, the oral stories of our elders, of our survivors and friends of our survivors, have told us they knew these burials were here," said Delorme.

At a virtual news conference, he showed a photo of a grassy field with 751 coloured flags sticking out of the ground.

"The grave site is there and it is real."

Last month, a First Nation in British Columbia revealed that ground-penetrating radar had found what are believed to be the remains of 215 children buried at a former residential school in Kamloops. The school was once the largest in Canada's residential school network.

An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children attended residential schools between the 1860s and 1996. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission documented stories from survivors and families and issued a report in 2015 which detailed mistreatment, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse. It said there were at least 4,100 deaths.

Flags mark where ground-penetrating radar recorded hits of what are believed to be 751 unmarked graves near the grounds of the former Marieval Indian Residential School on the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan in this undated handout photo provided by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, FSIN *MANDATORY CREDIT*

The Cowessess school, about 160 kilometres east of Regina, was built in 1899 by Roman Catholic missionaries. Delorme said it closed in 1996.

Delorme said he's hoping to get school records held by the church and has "full faith" they will be released.

The search for remains will continue, he said. The discovery was made within the bounds of a Roman Catholic grave site, but survivors believe people who were not baptized or too young to be baptized were buried outside the grounds, he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was terribly saddened.

"The hurt and the trauma that you feel is Canadas responsibility to bear, and the government will continue to provide Indigenous communities across the country with the funding and resources they need to bring these terrible wrongs to light," Trudeau said in a statement.

Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, said the graves provide "evidence of what the survivors of the Indian Residential Schools have been saying all along for decades."

"We are seeing the results of the genocide that Canada committed here," said Cameron. "Genocide on our treaty lands."

Cameron said the federation will search every school site as well as the grounds of sanatoriums  so-called "Indian hospitals"  and "all the sites where our people were taken and abused, tortured, neglected and murdered.""

"We will find more bodies and we will not stop until we find all of our children."

Survivors and their descendants will need time to "heal and get stronger," he said.

"We are not asking for pity, but we are asking for understanding. We need time to heal, and this country must stand by us."

The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program has a hotline to help residential school survivors and their relatives suffering trauma invoked by the recall of past abuse. The number is 1-866-925-4419.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2021.
The payoff for Canadians, and for all of us, is when we reach that threshold, well be able to accommodate significant easing of the border.

"The payoff for Canadians, and for all of us, is when we reach that threshold, well be able to accommodate significant easing of the border."

 Public Safety Minister Bill Blair talking about reaching 75 per cent vaccination rate during an interview with CBC.

Beginning on July 5, Canada will be lifting some of its border restrictions that have been in place since last year.

But what does that mean for travellers?

Fully vaccinated Canadians, international students, permanent residents and temporary foreign workers will no longer have to quarantine as long as they meet the vaccination requirements. These new rules also remove the dreaded and much-hated mandatory three-day hotel quarantine for those returning to Canada.

However, the Canadian government is still punishing a good portion of the population should they happen to have children under 12 years of age.

With more than three million children under the age of 12 in Canada, a lot of families are taking one for the team and delaying travel outside of Canada to see family because of the 14-day quarantine requirement even if both parents are vaccinated.

Those families, should they choose to travel, will still have to quarantine for 14 days as their youngsters cant be vaccinated.

And here is yet another misstep by the feds when it comes to reopening the country and in turn the economy as it continues to slowly ease back until Canada has reached those "golden numbers."

The country is expected to reach 75 per cent for first doses and is hoping to attain 20 per cent for second doses by the time its set to release the next update on border and travel restrictions in the country on July 21.

Of course, families wanting to visit relatives outside the province arent the only ones affected  businesses in the province that rely on tourism from the U.S. continue to feel the impacts as well.

Statistics Canada reported that border crossings dropped by 93 per cent in 2020 from 2.2 million recorded border crossings back into the country in September 2019 down to just over 151,000 after the borders were closed due to the pandemic.

That number alone has had a staggering hit on the economy, and its felt here in this province.

Manitoba Tourism shows in its 2017-2022 Tourism Strategy report that hunting and fishing, by itself, brings in $312 million in GDP to the province. The provinces more than 250 lodges and outfitters and 250,000 licence holders not only sustain 7,500 jobs, but those operators are losing out on a portion of that estimated $26 million in direct revenues.

As of last week, Canada had yet to make it onto Europes "white list" of safe countries because the country is still so far behind on its vaccination schedule. That means the country will continue in a holding pattern where international travel is concerned.

American visitors make up around 12 per cent of tourism visitors in the province. With the locks still on for overseas travel in and out of the country until near the end of July, the country would have been relying more heavily on U.S. travellers to potentially boost the economy over the summer months. However, the country wont have that opportunity either, as Homeland Security just announced Sunday that its borders with Canada and Mexico will remain on lockdown until July 21 as well.

All these closed borders could be a boon for boosting a withering tourism economy by taking advantage of cross-province tourism. However, that will also depend on whether some provincial borders remain closed to inter-provincial travel. And that will rely heavily on vaccine uptake in provinces like Manitoba, where we are still struggling to reach those golden numbers.

As Maryscott Greenwood, CEO of the Canada America Business Council, said in a CBC interview: "Its frustrating, not only to Americans but to Canadian businesses that we work with on a daily basis. We need to get back into a place where were able to do business in a safe way and Canada is, for reasons that are really puzzling to us, quite reluctant."

Its time for the federal government to start looking at streamlining its currently piecemeal and disorganized reopening strategy so that the country can start working to rebuild the economic damage the past 15 months has produced.
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts and Pats is the place to do it.
Freshly listed drinks giant Endeavour Groups shareholders have said the company will be under pressure to perform without the safety net of Woolworths, as the two businesses get used to life on the ASX as separate entities.

Supermarket giant Woolworths and Endeavour traded separately for the first time on Thursday after shareholders voted last week to split the two, instantly creating a new top-50 company on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Endeavour Group managing director Steve Donohue: There is certainly opportunity for retail expansion. Credit:

Shares in Woolworths fell by as much as 15 per cent after market open, reflecting the estimated $6 per share value Endeavour represented. At midday, Endeavours shares began trading on a deferred settlement basis and volatile before settling around $6.

Shareholders have been looking forward to the demerger, which was first announced in 2019, with White Funds managing director Angus Gluskie saying it was a net positive for both companies.
Luke Toebelmann is sometimes asked whether he is paid for his work in the charity sector.

Not only is he paid, but he is developing skills that are favoured in the corporate sector as well.

Working for a cause is still a profession and a real job, he said.

Fundraiser of the year Luke Toebelmann

Gary Johns, commissioner at the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, says law and accounting firms value prospective employees who have work experience in the not-for-profit sector. He says this experience suggests to employers that a job candidate has a broader outlook and that they offer more than just a toolkit of skills.
Disgraced former NRL star Jarryd Hayne will face court in November to appeal against his conviction for sexually assaulting a woman in her Newcastle home.

Hayne, 33, was convicted in March of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent after he assaulted the woman, then aged 26, with his hands and mouth and left her bleeding from the genitals in September 2018.

Jarryd Hayne will appeal his sexual assault conviction in November. Credit:Getty

He was jailed in May for five years and nine months, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months.

On Thursday, Haynes lawyer Penny Musgrave told the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal the conviction appeal had an estimate of two to three hours and all material had been filed.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed that the three mystery cases included a 9 year-old child from St Charles Primary School in Waverley, a Double Bay hairdresser and a healthcare worker from the eastern suburbs. Dr Chant said widespread testing around the 9 year-old had so far not identified teachers or family members as contacts. Dr Chant indicated there were more frequent transmissions in retail settings which heightened challenges for contact tracers, but health authorities are not dealing with a backlog situation which is what would prompt a lockdown. A three-day lockdown was not needed at this stage, she said, because were not in a situation where were not getting to people through contact tracing. There were 48,402 tests reported to 8pm Wednesday, up from the previous days total of 44,640. Ms Chant said she wanted to see testing levels sustained or surpassed in the next week.

Loading NSW Health said urgent investigations were under way in relation to an infection in a hairdresser from western Sydney. Three women who are close contacts of the hairdresser have tested positive. When asked about mandatory vaccinations for aircrew drivers Ms Berejiklian confirmed police had broadened their investigations beyond the limousine driver case, and would soon be providing certainty around what occurred in this situation. Im as upset as anybody and frustrated as much as anybody. Its really disappointing when things dont go the way they should. I want to say to those people in and around the system who think complacency is okay - its not okay. The Herald understands the results of these investigations are expected to be announced by Monday.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys issued a warning on mask compliance, with police having issued 150 cautions to people not wearing masks on public transport and other places where they should. He said police will focus on compliance and enforcement around the order rather than a simple education response. After people who were at Joh Bailey at Double Bay last Thursday, Friday or Saturday were asked to test and isolate, on Thursday the ministry asked anyone who attended Crown Hair in Kings Cross on Tuesday to follow the same advice. Four more people linked to the West Hoxton birthday party have tested positive. Twelve of the partys 30 attendees have now caught the highly transmissible Delta variant at the event on Saturday. Dr Chant confirmed that so far vaccinated people who attened the party have not been infected, with a number of those being aged care workers or health care workers who were vaccinated. Vaccines are effective in preventing serious disease, and we know they also have a transmission impact. But we will still need to have those other measures in place... we need multiple layers of controls if we are to keep us safe, said Dr Chant.

One of Thursdays cases was Mr Marshall, whose positive COVID-19 test sent his colleagues into a spiral at State Parliament on Thursday morning. Health Minister Brad Hazzard was directed to test and isolate as a close contact of a case. On Wednesday afternoon he announced he had received a negative test result. Mr Marshall on Thursday said he felt pretty ordinary about the number of people that could be impacted by his positive test, given the nature of Parliament and the number of people in the building this week for the budget. Confirming the result just after 8am, Mr Marshall said he had been isolating since Tuesday night when he was informed he was a close contact of a positive case after attending Christos Pizzeria at Paddington on Monday.

I was quite shocked actually, because the other people that I was with at the table, having dinner, have all tested negative, he told Sky News. So were all sort of scratching our heads trying to work out how the contraction of the virus actually happened. Only 16 Coalition MPs were required to attend the NSW lower house today in the wake of the growing outbreak as Parliament was closed to staff and members of the public. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Ms Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Paul Toole, Mark Speakman, Rob Stokes, Victor Dominello, David Elliott, Stuart Ayres, Matt Kean, Anthony Roberts, Shelley Hancock, Peter Sidgreaves, David Layzell, whip Adam Crouch and Lee Evans were all approved to attend, although Mr Kean said he would get tested and isolate at a spare bedroom at home instead.

My contact with Adam Marshall was outside the infectious window, but I dont want to take any chances here, Mr Kean said. The government issued a stay put order amid confusion over how MPs were supposed to respond to the news. Anyone who had already arrived at Parliament House was given a COVID-19 test in the building where they must remain until they receive a negative result. Some members of NSW Health leave NSW Parliament House which has been suspended after NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive for COVID-19. Credit:Photo: Kate Geraghty Several MPs tweeted concerns that Mr Marshall sat in the Coalition party room meeting and question time in Parliament on Tuesday, potentially exposing many others. New restrictions for Greater Sydney came into force on Wednesday evening, with masks mandatory in all public indoor settings and household gatherings capped at five guests. People who reside or work in seven inner Sydney local government areas are not permitted to leave the citys metropolitan area.
What must be and should have been done over many years is to stop this access, Judge McInerney said as he jailed Laurence Walter Hardy for five years and nine months.

County Court judge Michael McInerney on Thursday cited the actions of German police, who in May busted one of the worlds biggest international darknet platforms , as an example of the action needed to stop those who profit from exploiting children.

One of Victorias most experienced judges has demanded more be done to thwart the distributors of child abuse material as he jailed a truck driver found in possession of more than 400,000 images and videos.

Steps should be taken .. to try to tackle the providers of this material and the ones who provide platforms for this material.

Judge McInerney, who was appointed to the bench in 1994 and has previously held the position of the County Courts acting chief judge, said his remarks were not a criticism of governments or authorities.

But he was concerned at the ease with which people could go online to access illegal videos and images and said intense actions were needed to target those who produced and sold the material. The more that can be done to tackle this the better, he said.

Hardy, a 51-year-old truck driver from Yackandandah in north-east Victoria, was found in possession of more than 400,000 images and videos on his electronic devices when arrested last year. He used his name and credit card to make 14 purchases in 2016 from a members only website that distributes encrypted and compressed files.

Some of the videos he had ran to an hour in duration and depicted girls believed to be aged nine and five being abused by men.
Here we are on the knifes edge of a Delta epidemic in Sydney. As always, it was a breach of our borders: this time, one of the forgotten frontline workers, a driver who transports international arrivals to hotels.

Airport transport workers are not explicitly named as a priority group among border workers in our vaccine rollout, and no systematic attempt has been made to vaccinate them. Despite recent upgrading of protections for health workers, there has been no such move to provide drivers with N95s respirators, nor a plan to address ventilation of transport vehicles. Instead, the infected driver has been potentially criminalised.

Tense times for Premier Gladys Berejiklian as her health team tries to contain a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney. Credit:Wolter Peeters, Dominic Lorrimer

On January 4, I warned we could not afford to delay the vaccine rollout to the end of March (which was the plan at the time) because the emergence of new variants, which are more transmissible and vaccine-resistant, raised the stakes. The rollout was then hastened to begin at the end of February, but beset by supply problems and vaccine hesitancy on the back of the rare clotting syndrome caused by AstraZeneca.

So here we are near the end of June, with only about 4 per cent of the population fully vaccinated, and a Delta outbreak in Sydney. Delta is estimated to be at least 60 per cent more transmissible than Alpha, which itself was 50 to 100 per cent more transmissible than the variant that caused the Victorian second wave.
London: The Queens income has been hit hard by the COVID pandemic as lockdowns and travel restrictions led to a 53 per cent decline in takings from tourists visiting royal palaces.

Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in England alongside the Palace of Holyrood House in Scotland are among the royal residences which would usually be open to visitors. Mothballing them cut the sovereigns income to 9.4 million pounds ($17.3 million) in 2020-21 from 20.2 million a year earlier, according to annual accounts published on Thursday, London time.

An earlier forecast estimated the closure of the palaces would shave 15 million off the supplementary income over the next three years.

Queen Elizabeth II attends Royal Ascot 2021 at Ascot Racecourse, England, last week. Credit:Getty Images

British taxpayers funded the Queen to the tune of 85.9 million in 2020-21 in line with an agreement struck with the government in 2012, the royal accounts show. Of that, 51.5 million went towards official travel, property maintenance and the operating costs of the monarchs household. An additional 34.4 million went towards renovating Buckingham Palace in London.
Local

Vaccine lottery ends

COLUMBUS  Ohio, the state that launched the national movement to offer millions of dollars in incentives to boost vaccination rates, planned to conclude its program Wednesday  still unable to crack the 50% vaccination threshold.

The states not alone in mixed results for prize giving.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWines May 12 announcement of the incentive program had the desired effect, leading to a 43% boost in state vaccination numbers over the previous week. But numbers of vaccinations have dropped since then.

Clearly the impact went down after that second week, DeWine acknowledged Wednesday.

Multiple other states followed Ohios lead, including Louisiana, Maryland and New York state, with the impact on vaccinations hard to pin down.

Under New Mexicos Vax 2 the Max sweepstakes program, vaccinated residents could win prizes from a pool totaling $10 million. The rewards include a $5 million grand prize that will be drawn later this summer. The sweepstakes kept the vaccination rate from declining further but the initial boost was small. According to the governors office, the seven-day average of new vaccination registrations was 1,437 per day during the first week of the contest  just 85 more per day than the previous week.

California awarded $116.5 million in prizes  the countrys largest pot of vaccine prize money  and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said they increased vaccinations at a time when more was needed to get people to overcome reservations or inertia.

From the time the incentives were announced May 27 until the June 15 finale, Newsom said California was one of the few states to see a week-over-week increase in the rate of vaccinations, including a 22% increase in the week prior to awarding of the grand prizes.

The Sacramento Bee noted that the increase was skewed because the previous week included three lower vaccination days over the Memorial Day weekend, and found most of the increase was from second doses of the Pfizer vaccine three weeks after 12- to 15-year-olds became eligible on May 13.

In West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, hoped to use a series of prize giveaways to inject new life into a vaccine drive that drastically slowed down after a strong early start.

When he announced the drawings last month, Justice had projected that more than two-thirds of eligible residents ages 12 and over would be vaccinated by the time he removed a mask mandate on Sunday. But the state fell short of that goal  61.5% had received at least one dose by Sundays first drawing.

In late May, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced that Oregonians who are 18 or older and have received at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will automatically be entered to win $1 million or one of 36 $10,000 prizes  with one winner in each county. Oregonians, ages 12 to 17, have a chance to win one of five $100,000 scholarships. The drawing is set to take place on June 28.

The Oregonian reported in early June that the seven-day average of adults receiving their first shots had actually decreased from about 9,000 the day before Brown, a Democrat, announced the lottery to 6,700 nearly two weeks later.

This month, Brown announced additional prizes including travel packages to destinations around Oregon and more than 1,500 gift cards, worth $100, that were being distributed at vaccine sites during the weekend of June 12  an incentive that officials said brought a noticeable increase of people to sites.

In Colorado, vaccinations have slowed since its lottery was rolled out by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis last month, with about 500,000 fewer doses given out in the month since Polis announcement, compared to the same amount of time a month before the contest began.

The state is offering five residents the chance to win $1 million each in weekly lottery drawings from June 4 until July 7.

In Ohio, about 5.5 million people have received at least one shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as of Wednesday, or about 47% of the population. About 5 million people, or 43% of the population, have completed the process.

While the incentives success was short-lived, it got Ohioans who were either straddling the line or those who had no plans to get the vaccine to get vaccinated, Ohios governor said.

As evidence, Jonathan Carlyle of Toledo, an Amazon deliveryman who won the second $1 million prize on June 2, and said the next day: When yall announced the Vax-a-Million, as soon as I heard that, I was like Yes, I need to go do this now.

DeWine continues to urge Ohioans to get vaccines, saying the end of state social distancing requirements, the return to in-person school classes in the fall, and the multiplying of virus variants remain a concern. Last week, DeWine held a news conference at Thomas Worthington High School in suburban Columbus along with students and coaches urging middle and high school children who play sports to get vaccinated.

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Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri in Columbus, Ohio, Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Sara Cline in Salem, Oregon; John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia; Patty Nieberg in Denver; and Don Thompson in Sacramento contributed to this report. Amiri, Cline and Nieberg are 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.
Ryan Ramczyk can't really pinpoint whether he's a few blocks away, around the corner or just down the street. But the New Orleans Saints' star right tackle knows he's approaching being the player he wants to be.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries (RIL), will set up more stores, sharpen omnichannel capabilities, and acquire new businesses as he looks to scale up operations of his retail division, the largest organised player in the country.

Addressing shareholders at the company's 44th annual general meeting on Thursday, Ambani, 64, said Reliance Retail was on a "hyper-growth trajectory". It would grow at least "3x in three to five years", providing 1 million jobs to people in the near future.

Ambani also outlined a five-point agenda for the division as it sought to be amongst the top 10 global retailers in the next few years.

"Reliance Retail continues to be among the fastest-growing retailers in the world. To expand the circle of shared prosperity, we will be focusing on five key initiatives, including research, design and product development capabilities, sourcing ecosystem, supply-chain infrastructure, expanding store footprint multi-fold, and acquiring businesses," he said of the division's future road map.

The RIL chairman, however, chose to steer clear of announcing any listing plans for Reliance Retail, whose 2020-21 (FY21) turnover stood at Rs 1.53 trillion - over 6x the nearest competitor in retail.

Reliance Retail had added 1,500 stores in FY21 and had taken its total store count for the year to 12,711 outlets across multiple formats, including grocery, electronics, and apparel.

The division's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) stood at Rs 9,842 crore in FY21, with Ambani indicating that retail and Jio were together contributing to half of RIL's total Ebitda of Rs 98,000 crore for the year.

RILs apparel business sold nearly 500,000 units per day and over 180 million units during the year. This is equivalent to dressing up the entire population of the UK, Germany, and Spain once," said Ambani.

Ajio, the online fashion and lifestyle platform of Reliance Retail, had emerged as one of the leading digital commerce destinations with a portfolio of over 2,000 brands, Ambani said.

Driven by innovation, Ajio now contributes to over 25 per cent of our apparel business," he added.

We further consolidated our position in consumer electronics and sold 45 million units of electronics last year (FY21), which translates into over 120,000 units per day," he added.

As Indias largest grocery retailer, Reliance Retail sold over a billion units of groceries, or about 3 million units per day.

JioMart, the new commerce platform launched in May last year by the company, had registered over 650,000 peak orders in a single day, said Ambani.

Since its launch, over 300,000 merchants or shopkeeper partners across 150 cities were onboarded on JioMart. The plan is to increase the number to over 10 million in the next three years.
Food Processing Industries Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday called the industry players to take benefit of the government initiatives, including the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

"The government is committed to the development of the food processing sector. The government has taken several initiatives to harness the food and horticulture potential of the country," an official statement quoted Tomar as saying at the northern region food processing summit organised by industry body CII.

The government has launched the for the food processing industry, under which Rs 11,000 crore will be spent, he said.

Another scheme 'Prime Minister formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) has been launched under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganised sector.

The scheme focuses on supporting groups engaged in agri-food processing such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and producer cooperatives across their value chain, he added.

Calling for cooperation to take the benefits of the government initiatives to all the farmers, Tomar said the government is working on these initiatives in a planned manner.

The minister also asked Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to conduct a comparative study on the available foodgrains and horticulture resources in the country with their processing level so that the Centre could devise a strategy to fill the gaps.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary in the Food Processing Industries Ministry Manoj Joshi emphasised the need for joint efforts by the government and industry in the area of fortification of processed food and meeting the changing consumer preferences.

(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.)
Reliance Industries' retailing arm would grow at least three times in the next 3 to 5 years, Chairman and Managing Director said on Thursday.

It continues to be among the fastest-growing retailers globally and the company aims to be among the top ten retailers of the world, Ambani said at RIL's annual general meeting with shareholders.

In the next three years, will create employment opportunities for over ten lakh people and enable the livelihoods for many more, he added.

will continue to acquire businesses to heighten its offering, sharpen omnichannel capabilities, and drive operating efficiencies, as it has recently acquired digital platforms as Netmeds, Urban Ladder and Zivame, Ambani said.

The company has plans to onboard over one crore merchant partners over the next three years on its e-commerce venture JioMart.

In addition, Reliance Retail will also expand its store footprint multi-fold this year, with co-located delivery hubs in the next few years.

I am confident that Reliance Retail is on a hyper-growth trajectory to grow at least 3X in the next 3 to 5 years, Ambani said.

Despite a challenging year, Reliance Retail had revenues of Rs 1,53,818 crore and an EBITDA (pre-tax profit) of Rs 9,842 crore in FY21.

We are by far the leader in each category -- grocery, electronics and apparel, Ambani said.

Reliance Retail would further invest in our research, design and product development capabilities along with strengthening its sourcing ecosystem and supply chain infrastructure to maximise efficiencies, he added.

An automated, modular, reliable and scalable warehousing and logistics ecosystem will enable us to deliver products anywhere across the country in the shortest possible time, he said.

In the pandemic impacted FY21, Reliance Retail added 1,500 new stores, which is among the largest retail expansion undertaken by any retailer during this period. Reliance Retail has a total store count of 12,711.

We continue to maintain and strengthen our leadership position. Today, one in every eight Indians shops with Reliance Retail, Ambani said.

Reliance Retail sells over a billion units of groceries or about 30 lakh units per day.

Our apparel business sold nearly five lakh units per day and over 18 crore units during the year. This is equivalent to dressing the entire population of UK, Germany and Spain once, he said.

In FY21, Reliance Retail has also created over 65,000 new jobs. It currently employs over 2 lakh people, making it one of the largest employers in the country.

Over the next three years, we shall further create employment for over ten lakh people and enable the livelihoods for many more, he noted.

Its fashion portal Ajio has a portfolio of over 2,000 labels and brands along with a listing of over 5 lakh options. It now contributes to over 25 per cent of its apparel business.

We further consolidated our position in consumer electronics and sold 4.5 crore units of electronics last year which translates to over 1,20,000 units per day, Ambani said.

On JioMart, Ambani said over 3 lakh merchant across 150 cities joined the platform, which has registered over 6.5 lakh peak orders in a single day, and over 3 lakh merchant were enabled and empowered to transform their businesses.

JioMart new commerce's aim is to transform and grow the small merchant ecosystem, so our merchant partners prosper, Ambani said, adding expansion across cities is well underway and we will onboard over one crore merchant partners over the next three years.

In FY21, Reliance Retail also agreed to acquire the retail and wholesale business along with the logistics and warehousing segment of the Future Group for a consideration of Rs 24,713 crore.

The deal is contested by Amazon and final order from the Supreme Court is awaited. Reliance Retail also executed India's largest fundraising of Rs 47,265 crore in FY21 from global investors.

(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.)
Saudi Aramco chairman and head of the Kingdom's cash-rich wealth fund PIF Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan will join the board of Ltd as a precursor to a USD 15 billion deal that is now expected to conclude this year.

RIL chairman and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani told shareholders that a deal to sell a 20 per cent stake in the company's oil-to-chemical unit to Saudi Aramco was expected to conclude this year.

Harvard educated Al-Rumayyan, 51, will replace Yogendra P Trivedi, 92, who has expressed a desire to retire, Ambani said.

"Despite several challenges due to COVID-19, we have made substantial progress in the past in our discussions (with Saudi Aramco)," he said. "I expect our partnership to be formalised in an expeditious manner during this year."



RIL had inked an initial pact to sell a fifth of the unit that houses its oil refineries, petrochemical plants and fuel retailing business in August 2019, but the outbreak of global pandemic delayed the deal.

Ambani said RIL is looking forward to "welcoming Saudi Aramco as a strategic partner in our O2C business".

In 2019, he had announced a USD 75 billion valuation for the O2C business. On Thursday, he did not put any value.

He, however, announced the appointment of Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of Saudi Aramco and the Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), as an independent director on the RIL board.

Besides bringing his vast financial experience, the induction of Al-Rumayyan, who also sits on the board of SoftBank Group Corp and Uber Technologies, will bring down the average age of the board of directors of Reliance.

Over the past years, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate has segregated businesses into separate verticals - Jio Platforms houses the company's digital and telecom unit, retail is a separate unit, and oil refining and petrochemical segments have been carved into the O2C vertical to attract strategic partnerships.

In the last year, PIF has invested billions of dollars in RIL ventures.

In June last year, PIF bought a 2.32 per cent stake in RIL's digital unit Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crore. Five months later, it picked up a 2.04 per cent stake in RIL's retail venture for Rs Rs 9,555 crore. PIF has also invested Rs 3,779 crore in an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT), Digital Fibre Infrastructure Trust (DFIT) that holds RIL's fibre-optic assets.

"I am sure that we will immensely benefit from his rich experience of running one of the world's largest companies, and also one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world," Ambani said. "His joining our board is also the beginning of the internationalisation of Reliance. You will hear more about our international plans in the times to come."



An accounting graduate from King Faisal University, who went on to do a general management programme at Harvard Business School, Al-Rumayyan is the head of PIF since May 2019. He was appointed chairman of the board of Saudi Aramco in September 2019.

Al-Rumayyan's experience encompasses over 25 years working in some of Saudi Arabia's key financial institutions.

He began his career at the Saudi Hollandi Bank, where he occupied key positions in various departments. He is a member of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and also serves as an advisor to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the Chairman of the Decision Support Center, and a board member of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund.

With a stake, Aramco would not just have a share in one of the world's best refineries and the largest integrated petrochemical complex, but also access to one of the fastest-growing markets -- a ready-made market for 5 lakh barrels per day of its Arabian crude and a potentially bigger downstream role in future.

While COVID-19 delayed the deal, talks have revived this year and the two are reportedly discussing a cash and share deal - Aramco paying for the stake with its shares initially and then staggered cash payments over several years.

Besides refineries and petrochemical plants, the O2C business also comprises a 51 per cent stake in the fuel retailing business. It, however, does not include the upstream producing assets such as the flagging KG-D6 block in the Bay of Bengal.

RIL board has Ambani and his wife Nita, cousins Hital and Nikhil Meswani. Business heads PMS Prasad and PK Kapil too are on the board.

Independent directors include eminent scientist Raghunath A Mashelkar, 78; Adil Zainulbhai, 67; Dipak C Jain, 64; former finance secretary Raminder Singh Gujral, 68; Shumeet Banerji, 59; former SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, 63; and former CVC K V Chowdary, 66.

(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.)
chairman told shareholders at the company's 44th AGM on Thursday that the country is in midst of humanitarian crisis owing to coronavirus pandemic.

"Our business and financial success since last AGM have exceeded expectations despite Covid pandemic. But what has given me far greater happiness than our business performance is RILs humanitarian efforts during these exceedingly difficult times," said

Even in a challenging environment, RILs performance continued to be outstanding. Consolidated revenue was Rs 5.4 trillion, consolidated EBITDA was Rs 98,000 cr, and almost 50% of EBITDA was contributed by consumer businesseses, added Ambani.

RILs contribution to Indian economy remained unmatched in FY21  6.8% of Indias merchandise exports, 75,000 new jobs, Rs 21,044 crore of customs plus excise, Rs 85,306 crore of GST plus VAT, and Rs 3,213 crore of income tax, he said.

RIL raised $44.4 billion  largest ever capital raise by any company in a year globally. "This capital raise is a strong vote of confidence by global investors in Indias growth potential," said Ambani.

Ambani also announced that Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of Saudi Aramco and Governor of PIF, will join the Board of as Independent Director. "His joining our Board is also the beginning of internationalisation of Reliance," he said.





Harvard educated, Al-Rumayyan, 51, will replace Yogendra P Trivedi, 92, who has expressed desire to retire, Ambani said at the company's annual shareholder meeting.

On the sale of 20 per cent stake in the O2C business, he said the deal is likely to conclude this year.

"Continued engagement and resolve from both sides, even during this pandemic, is a testimony of strong relationship between Saudi Aramco and Reliance. I expect our partnership to be formalised in an expeditious manner this year," added

"Our O2C business faced unprecedented challenges by severe economic contraction at the beginning of year. Yet we were probably the only company globally that operated at near full capacity and was profitable in every quarter," added Ambani.

He also said the company rewarded its shareholders with the largest and the most successful Rights Issue ever by an Indian company. "Our retail shareholders have made 4x returns in just one year on their rights shares," added Ambani.



Ambani said the company aims to bridge the green energy divide in India and globally.

"As one of the biggest energy markets in the world, India will play a leading role in transforming the global energy landscape. We have established Reliance New Energy Council with some of the finest minds globally. We have started work on developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex on 5,000 acres in Jamnagar. It will be amongst the largest such integrated renewable energy manufacturing facilities in the world. We plan to build four Giga Factories to manufacture and integrate all critical components of New Energy ecosystem  solar photovoltaic module factory, energy storage battery factory, electrolyser factory, fuel cell factory," said Ambani.



"Over the next 3 years we will invest over Rs 60,000 crore in these initiatives. We will invest an additional Rs 15,000 crore in value chain, partnerships and future technologies, including upstream and downstream industries. Thus, our overall investment in New Energy business will be Rs 75,000 crore in 3 years," he said about the company's future plans.





Besides bringing his vast financial experience, the induction of Al-Rumayyan, who also sits on the board of SoftBank Group Corp and Uber Technologies, will bring down the average age of the board of directors of Reliance.

Over the past years, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate has segregated businesses into separate verticals - Jio Platforms houses the company's digital and telecom unit, retail is a separate unit and oil refining and petrochemical segments have been carved into the O2C sector to attract strategic partnerships.

Under Al-Rumayyan, PIF has invested billions of dollars in RIL ventures.

In June last year, PIF bought a 2.32 per cent stake in RIL's digital unit Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crore. Five months later, it picked up a 2.04 per cent stake in RIL's retail venture for Rs 9,555 crore. PIF has also invested Rs 3,779 crore in an infrastructure investment trust (InvIT), Digital Fibre Infrastructure Trust (DFIT) that holds RIL's fibre-optic assets.

"I am sure that we will immensely benefit from his rich experience of running one of the world's largest companies, and also one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world," he said. "His joining our board is also the beginning of the internationalisation of Reliance. You will hear more about our international plans in the times to come."

An accounting graduate from King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia who went on to do a general management programme at Harvard Business School, Al-Rumayyan is the Governor of Public Investment Fund (PIF) since May 2019. He was appointed chairman of the board of Saudi Aramco in September 2019.

Al-Rumayyan's experience encompasses over 25 years working in some of Saudi Arabia's key financial institutions.

He began his career at the Saudi Hollandi Bank, where he occupied key positions in various departments. He is a member of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and also serves as an advisor to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the Chairman of the Decision Support Center, and a board member of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund.

Ambani had in August 2019 announced talks for the sale of a 20 per cent stake in the oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business, which comprises its twin oil refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat and petrochemical assets to the world's largest oil exporter.

The deal was to conclude by March 2020 but has been delayed.

Talks have revived this year and the two are reportedly discussing a cash and share deal - Aramco paying for the stake with its shares initially and then staggered cash payments over several years.

Besides refineries and petrochemical plants, the O2C business also comprises a 51 per cent stake in the fuel retailing business. It, however, does not include the upstream oil and gas producing assets such as the flagging KG-D6 block in the Bay of Bengal.

RIL had in 2019 put $75 billion as the value of the O2C business after signing a non-binding letter of intent with Saudi Aramco.

The firm had recently announced carving out the O2C business as a separate subsidiary to support strategic partnerships and new investors in order to accelerate its new energy and material plans.

Digital business is already held by a subsidiary Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail holds the offline and online retail business.

Aramco buying 20 per cent in O2C business would allow Reliance to build financial muscle, as it carves out a space for itself in highly competitive omnichannel retail.

With a stake, Aramco would have a share in one of the world's best refineries and largest integrated petrochemical complex. It has access to one of the fastest-growing markets, a ready-made market for 5 lakh barrels per day of its Arabian crude and offering a potentially bigger downstream role in the future.

Besides Ambani, the RIL board has his wife Nita and cousins Hital and Nikhil Meswani. Business heads PMS Prasad and PK Kapil too are on the board.

Independent directors include eminent scientist Raghunath A Mashelkar, 78; Adil Zainulbhai, 67; Dipak C Jain, 64; former finance secretary Raminder Singh Gujral, 68; Shumeet Banerji, 59; former SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, 63; and former CVC K V Chowdary, 66.
Mukesh Ambani-led Ltd (RIL) on Thursday took a step further in its globalisation plans as it offered a board seat to Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

Speaking at the 44th annual general meeting (AGM) of RIL, Ambani said Al-Rumayyan joining our board is also the beginning of internationalisation of Reliance. You will hear more about our international plans in the times to come.

In addition to his role at Aramco, Al-Rumayyan, who is joining as independent director, is governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund with a 2.32 per cent stake in Jio Platforms.

According to company officials in the know, Ambanis internationalisation push will hinge on maximising gains from the partnership with Aramco and the technological solutions that RIL can offer as it explores areas in the energy businesses.

In addition to playing a key role at Aramco and in Saudi Arabias investment vehicles, Al-Rumayyan is on the board of multiple international majors. These include British semiconductor and software design company Arm Holdings, American ride-sharing behemoth Uber Technologies, and Japanese conglomerate SoftBank group. The board seats held by Al-Rumayyan reflect the investment made by the PIF and its arms in these

At RIL, he will replace 92-year-old Y P Trivedi, who is retiring after a long stint.

Announcing the appointment, Ambani said: We look forward to welcoming as a strategic partner in our oil to chemicals (O2C) business. I expect our partnership to be formalised in an expeditious manner during this year, setting a timeline for the much-anticipated investment by Aramco in RILs O2C business.

In June 2020, the PIF had invested Rs 11,367 crore for a 2.32 per cent stake in Jio Platforms. Besides Aramco and the PIF, global tech giants Google, Facebook and, Microsoft are also collaborating in the companys push towards digital dominance in India.

In his speech, Ambani also offered Jios home-grown and comprehensive 5G solutions to the world.

Once Jios 5G solution is proven at India scale, we are excited by the prospect of exporting Jio 5G solutions to other telecom operators across the world, he said.

Its not that RIL is entirely an India-centric company. After selling most of the assets, it still holds a 45 per cent working interest (WI) partnership with Ensign Natural Resources in the Eagle Ford shale play and a 40 per cent WI partnership with Chevron. Both these assets are in the United States.

RILs O2C business also has a significant export-oriented approach.

The companys 2020-21 Annual Report noted that the impact of a fall in domestic demand during Covid-19 lockdown months was mitigated through higher exports by the company.

At about Rs 1.45 trillion ($19.9 billion), it is India's largest exporter, accounting for 6.8 per cent of Indias merchandise exports to 107 countries.
Mukesh Ambani announced a thrust into green energy, and the launch of a new affordable smartphone at the 44th annual general meeting (AGM) of He also inducted the Saudi Aramco and PIF boss, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, on the board. There was more good in that the partnership with BP is producing gas from KG-D6 basin. Aside from that, RIL will continue to expand its retail footprint and Jio Platforms will continue its push into 5G.

The oil-to-chemical (O2C) division receives a big 'moral' boost from the induction of a Saudi Aramco representative since this indicates concrete developments in the alliance with Aramco announced two years ago. The connection to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund is worth noting.

The Exploration & Production (E&P) division should start generating significant revenues again. Production from the three deep gas wells (two of which are already operational) will generate enough gas to meet roughly 20 per cent of Indias domestic gas demand.

The 'New Energy' initiative will revolve around the creation of four gigafactories. This will together entail Rs 60,000 crore in investments over the next three years. These will produce solar PV panels, battery and storage solutions, electrolysers for the production of green hydrogen, and fuel cells to convert said hydrogen into energy.

These are all high tech areas. There have been continuous innovation breakthroughs. The New Energy divisions gigafactories should add scale. The details are not clear, however. Technology induction and the ability to scale up viably will be crucial to meet the typically ambitious targets.

The planned investments do not seem excessive. RIL has raised over Rs 3.25 trillion in the past fiscal alone so it will be able to fund this even though it is cash flow negative. It will need to invest less in the telecom venture in the near future, since it has picked up the spectrum it needs, investing around Rs 72,000 cr in spectrum and network infrastructure in FY21.

The New Energy move is consistent with the RIL philosophy of ploughing profits back into expansion. Ambani indicated the group is looking at investments of $200 billion across all divisions in the next decade, as well as being net carbon zero by 2035.

The smartphone launch in conjunction with Google happens on September 10 (Ganesh Chaturthi). Details like price-points are lacking at the moment. The JioPhone Next will have a stripped-down Android OS. It will target 200 million-plus 2G subscribers (mainly on Voda-Idea and BSNL networks) who have not yet migrated to smartphones. This is a low ARPU segment  much lower than current Jio ARPU of Rs 138. But Ambani indicated Jio has the spare capacity to absorb 200 million new users into its existing network so it would utilise extant capacity.

The Reliance Retail division is already dominant in organised retail, holding 6x the market share of the next largest player. Expansion will continue. The Jiomart model of pulling in local retail partners has apparently been successful. There was no reference to the Future deal, which is mired in legal dispute. But Ambani did mention RIL is open to expanding the retail footprint through acquisitions. The retail division targets expansion of 3x in the next five years.

Jio and Retail produced over 50 per cent of operating profits (EBITDA) in 2020-21, with various segments growing at close to 40 per cent. This balanced off a tough year for O2C, which saw 30 per cent drop in EBITDA.

O2C will always be cyclical. The last fiscal was hit by demand destruction (first half) and rising crude and gas prices. E&P coming back on track with KG-D6 production will counter higher input prices to some extent. But cyclicality is inherent. The major growth areas will be digital, retail and green energy.

Devangshu Datta is an independent market analyst. Views are his own.
Five years after disrupting the telecom space with the launch of Jio, Ltd (RIL) on Thursday announced yet another game-changing move  a mega entry into

The company is planning to get into generation and manufacturing, hydrogen production, e-fuels, and energy storage under its New Energy and New Materials division.

It will also set up a platform for project finance to source long-term global capital for investment in these sectors.

The three-pronged plan will cumulatively involve an investment of Rs 75,000 crore over three years, Mukesh Ambani, chairman, RIL, announced during its annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday. The AGM was also addressed by his wife, Nita Ambani and his children, Akash and Isha.

Response to the RIL stock was, however, not so enthusiastic. It was the top loser among index stocks and ended 2.35 per cent lower at Rs 2,153.35 on the BSE. Some of this decline can be attributed to the stocks 12 per cent rise in the past one month. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 3.3 per cent during this period.





ALSO READ: RIL AGM 2021: Jio, Google to roll out 4G smartphone on September 10

Under the plan, RIL will set up a Dhirubhai Ambani Giga Complex, spanning 5,000 acres, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, at Rs 60,000 crore while another Rs 15,000 crore will be invested in value chains, partnerships, and future technologies, including upstream and downstream industries.

RIL will create a capacity of producing of 100 Gw in 10 years. The ambition is stunning as Indias installed capacity of is now 40 Gw (including ground mounted and rooftop).

Reliance will thus create and offer a fully integrated, end-to-end renewables energy ecosystem, said Ambani.



The move will bring RIL into direct competition with the Adani group. Adani Solar has 3.5 Gw of annual solar photovoltaic production capacity while Adani has a portfolio of 25 Gw of commissioned and under construction projects.

RIL will set up four giga factories for integrated solar photovoltaic modules, advanced energy storage, an electrolyser factory for green hydrogen, and a fuel cell factory for converting hydrogen into motive and stationary power.





ALSO READ: RIL offers board seat to Saudi Aramco's Yasir Al-Rumayyan in global push

For solar manufacturing, RIL will have integrated manufacturing starting from raw silica and poly silicon to ingot, wafers to finished products cells and modules. This will be a major addition to Indias solar manufacturing plans though the company did not reveal the capacity it would be putting up.

India imports close to 90 per cent of its and module requirements. Eighty per cent of this is from China. According to the industry data, India has 3,100 Mw of cell manufacturing capacity and 9,000 Mw of module manufacturing.

The Union government early this year announced the production-linked incentive scheme for solar photovoltaic panels manufacturing in India. The Rs 4,500 crore scheme aims at creating an additional 10 GW capacity of integrated solar PV manufacturing plants in the country.





ALSO READ: RIL reinvents, again

RIL will focus in a major way on rooftop solar and decentralised solar installations in villages. The second part of the plan entails creating a value chain for the giga factories. It will be part of the Jamnagar complex of the company.

RILs project management and construction division will provide end-to-end solutions for large renewable plants across the world.

Ambani said the centre would also enable and partner with thousands of green MSME entrepreneurs, who can deploy kilowatt-to-megawatt scale solutions in agriculture, industry, residences and transportation.

All of these three together will be part of its architecture for Indias decentralised green economy.

With these new initiatives, Reliance will put Gujarat and India on the world solar and hydrogen map, Ambani said in his AGM speech.
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday restrained the police from taking coercive action against Manish Maheshwari, country head of India.

Maheshwari was asked by the Police to appear before Loni Border Police Station in relation to an investigation. The case relates to an ongoing complaint related to tweets on the assault of an elderly man in Ghaziabad.

There will be an interim order restraining the respondents from initiating any coercive action against the petitioner, the single judge bench said in an order on Thursday. It further said if the police wished to examine the petitioner, they may do so in the virtual mode.

The next hearing date has been set for June 29.

on Monday restricted tweets showing video and images from the viral video, according to a filing with the Lumen Database by the microblogging platform.

The tweets are withheld for users in India.

Ghaziabad Police said the assault on the man was a personal dispute but was being painted as a communal issue on

Some media platforms and journalists were also named in the complaint.

Maheshwari, who is based in Bengaluru, had been summoned last week for questioning by the He had made himself available on video call, but the summoned him to appear physically at the Loni Border station.

The lawyer appearing for Maheshwari cited the case of journalist Vinod Dua, where another High Court had allowed investigation through video conferencing.
A federal US court in has scheduled on its calendar the in-person extradition hearing of Tahawwur Rana, the Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman who is sought for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in India.

The extradition hearing, at the request of the Indian government, would be held in the court of Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian in

The court records suggested that the US government submitted a set of sealed Indian documents before the court twice this week, the latest one being on Wednesday. On request, the content of the documents have been sealed. The extradition hearing is scheduled for 1.30 local time, which is 2 am IST on Friday, June 25.

United States of America v Tahawwur Hussain Rana (In-Person CUSTODY, a Courtroom deputy clerk of US District Court, central District of California said in the court's calendar for Thursday.

Proceedings: Extradition Hearing it said.

The United State government, in multiple submissions before the court, has made a declaration in support of the United States' Surrebuttal in Support of its Request for Certification of Extradition.

Rana, 59, is sought in India in connection with his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack.

Rana, a childhood friend of prime convict David Coleman Headley, was re-arrested on June 10, 2020 in on an extradition request by India for his involvement in the Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. He has been declared a fugitive by India.

Headley, 60, was made an approver in the case, and is currently serving a 35-year prison term in the US for his role in the attack. Rana has opposed his extradition to India, arguing that he has already been convicted by a US court in Chicago.

The United States government asserts that the premise of Rana's argument is incorrect because the Indian substantive charges are not considered lesser included offenses of their conspiracy charges.

As per the India-US Extradition Treaty, the Indian government has requested the formal extradition of Rana, and the United States has initiated this extradition proceeding. The US government has argued that Rana meets all the criteria warranting certification of his extradition to India.

These are: the court has both personal and subject matter jurisdiction, there is an extradition treaty between the United States and India that is in full force and effect, and the crimes for which



Rana's extradition is sought are covered by the terms of the treaty.

In his previous court submission on February 4, Rana's attorney had argued that Rana's extradition is barred under Article 6 of the United States-India extradition treaty because he had previously been acquitted of the offences for which his extradition is sought, and under Article 9 of the treaty because the government has not established probable cause to believe that Rana committed the alleged offences.

(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 CBI on Thursday carried out searches at six locations after registering a fresh case of fraud of Rs 2,435 crore in Yes Bank and other consortium banks against former CG Power and Industrial Solutions chairman who is already under probe in more such cases, officials said.

CG Power and Industrial Solutions was earlier Ltd.

The searches took place at locations in Mumbai, Delhi and Gurgaon.

This is a new case against Thapar, who was booked recently in Rs 466 crore fraud case in Yes Bank, the officials said.

Thapar faces multiple (CBI) FIRs for alleged bank fraud and corruption, they said.

The present case is based on a complaint from the State Bank of India on behalf of the consortium of 11 other lender banks, including Yes Bank.

Besides Thapar, the CBI has also booked CG Power and Industrial Solutions, erstwhile Ltd, and the then executives, including chief executive officer and managing director K N Neelkanth, executive director and chief financial officer (CFO) Madhav Acharya, director B Hariharan, non-executive director Omkar Goswami and CFO Venkatesh Rammoorthy.

"It was alleged that the said accused had cheated SBI and other consortium member banks, including Bank of Maharashtra, Axis bank, Yes Bank, Corporation Bank, Barclays Bank, IndusInd Bank etc...," the CBI said in a statement.

It is alleged in the FIR that they between 2015 and 2019 allegedly cheated the banks by way of diversion of bank funds and sham transactions with related parties.

They also allegedly misrepresented and falsified account books, entries, vouchers and financial statements providing false, incorrect or misleading information to secure credit which they siphoned off by diverting them to other companies, the statement 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.)
High drama was witnessed on Wednesday during a parliamentary committee meeting on COVID-19 vaccine development during which several MPs walked out stating that discussion over vaccine policies were not on the agenda.

The meeting was chaired by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on the agenda of vaccine development for COVID-19 and genetic sequencing of and its variants.

Meanwhile, some opposition party MPs wanted to discuss vaccine policies, but MPs disagreed and staged a protest against the chairman as vaccine policies were not on the agenda.

MPs walked out of the meeting hall demanding votes to discuss vaccine policies and other non-agenda issues.Later on Ramesh's assurance, all of them were called back to the meeting.

The meeting was called to hear the views of Professor K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Dr. V K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog and Chairman, National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), and the representatives of the Departments of Biotechnology and Scientific and Industrial Research.

(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.)
Pledging to bridge the distance between dil (heart) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Dilli (dil aur Dilli ki doori), Prime Minister (PM) made an emotional closing speech to 14 leaders of parties in J&K. He promised that Atal Bihari Vajpayees approach of insaniyat (humaneness), jamhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat (the Kashmiri identity) would be the guiding principles in the governance and administration of the Union Territory (UT).

The meeting lasted three and a half hours and the PM heard everyone before committing himself to some assurances: that the next steps in the region would be on the basis of consensus and respect for all views; that moves towards democracy (i.e., elections to the Assembly and eventually statehood) and development of the region would continue apace; and that the sacrifices made by the people in rooting out terrorism will not have been in vain.

overtly flagged a return to the pre-5 August 2019 status of J&K when was written down. In an emotional speech he spoke about the loss of trust.

"We requested the PM that our fight will continue, but it's essential to reverse some decisions that aren't at all in the interest of J&K. It was given the status of a UT, people don't like it. They want full statehood for J&K with J&K cadre restored," ANI quoted Omar Abdullah, Conference leader, as saying.

Muzaffar Beigh, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who has now joined Sajjad Lones Peoples Conference, reminded the gathering that the status of J&K was a matter before a constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court (SC). Rather than create an atmosphere around the possible outcome, we should let the SC address the matter and revert with the judgment. Till then, this issue should not be used to whip up sentiment he said.

Later, he told reporters: All leaders demanded statehood. To which the PM said, the delimitation process should conclude first and then other issues will be addressed. It was a satisfactory meeting. There was complete unanimity for restoring peace in J&K.

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister who opened the meeting (the PM asked Abdullah to begin but he deferred to Azad) told reporters the party raised the issue of the restoration of statehood, the question of Assembly polls, protection of the land rights of the people of J&K, the return of Kashmiri Pandits, and the release of political prisoners.

Mufti echoed some of these concerns, but added that the government must restart a dialogue with Pakistan, partly in the interests of restarting border trade. Without actually saying Pakistan was a stakeholder in events relating to J&K, she said must engage Islamabad, in the same way it engages with other countries. She also said prisoners must be released to instil confidence and restore trust.

Home Minister gave facts and figures about those who are in prison. He has set up a committee under Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha to review the cases of those in jail. But, he said, many of the prisoners had been convicted in criminal cases like murder, rape, terror funding, and money laundering. Shah reiterated the Centres faith in democracy and said elections would be held but delimitation was a prerequisite to holding polls.

All parties had praise for the role played by the L-G. a presentation was made about all the development efforts that have already been taken and those that are in the pipeline.

Among the projects is rail connectivity between Srinagar and the rest of India by next year; industrial development of J&K, 100 per cent electrification of all districts and drinking water in most, and extensive fortification of the health infrastructure with two AIIMS institutions in the pipeline, along with medical colleges. Several oxygen plants have been set up and vaccinations against Covid are progressing apace.
India on Thursday reported a net reduction of 16,137 in active cases to take its count to 627,057. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 5.51 per cent (one in 17). The country is third among the most affected countries by active cases. On Wednesday, it added 54,069 cases to take its total caseload to 30,082,778 from 30,028,709  an increase of 0.2%. And, with 1,321 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 391,981, or 1.30 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 6,489,599 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Wednesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 301,626,028. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 29,063,740  or 96.61 per cent of total caseload  with 68,885 new cured cases being reported on Wednesday.

Now the third-most-affected country by active cases and deaths, second by total cases, and first by recoveries, India has added 382,465 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 5.51% of all active cases globally (one in every 17 active cases), and 10% of all deaths (one in every 10 deaths).

India has so far administered 301,626,028 vaccine doses. That is 1002.65 per cent of its total caseload, and 21.64 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Maharashtra (33987653), Uttar Pradesh (32871127), Gujarat (27431709), Rajasthan (27234185), and West Bengal (24125506).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Kerala (431687), Gujarat (429477), Delhi (418596), Uttarakhand (398960), and J&K (350607).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 16 days.

The count of active cases across India on Thursday saw a net reduction of 16,137, compared with 40,366 on Tuesday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Tripura (114), Manipur (77), Meghalaya (39), Lakshadweep (25), and Arunachal Pradesh (19).

With 68,885 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 96.61%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.30%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.68%), Uttarakhand (2.08%), and Maharashtra (1.99%). The rate in as many as 18 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 70,206  1,321 deaths and 68,885 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 1.88%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.2%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 385.3 days, and for deaths at 205.3 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (12787), Maharashtra (10066), Tamil Nadu (6596), Andhra Pradesh (4684), and Karnataka (4436).

Among states with more than 100,000 cases, the five with worst recovery rates at present are Karnataka (94.65%) and Maharashtra (95.93%).

India on Wednesday conducted 1,859,469 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 397,832,667. The test positivity rate recorded was 2.9%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Goa (18.38%), Maharashtra (14.95%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.53%), Kerala (12.76%), and Sikkim (12.08%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are, Sikkim (19.88%), Manipur (11.79%), Meghalaya (10.93%), Kerala (10.29%), and Nagaland (8.19%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1120738), J&K (707733), Kerala (624135), Karnataka (491232), and Uttarakhand (476890).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (5997587), Kerala (2842247), Karnataka (2819465), Tamil Nadu (2443415), and Andhra Pradesh (1862036).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 12787 new cases to take its tally to 5997587.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 12617 cases to take its tally to 2842247.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 4436 cases to take its tally to 2819465.

Tamil Nadu has added 6596 cases to take its tally to 2443415.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 4684 to 1862036.

Uttar Pradesh has added 112 cases to take its tally to 1704790.

Delhi has added 588 cases to take its tally to 1433366.
Despite recent developments that have accelerated the impending extradition of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who has been in custody in Londons Wandsworth Prison for over two years, the last month has seen his uncle Mehul Choksi dominate the headlines instead with his circus-like exhibition in the Caribbean that has involved red herrings such as a girlfriend, to whom his wife seemed to have no objection, and possibly concocted stories of being kidnapped and manhandled.

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Although the current infection situation in was "encouraging," Chancellor called for further caution over the Covid-19 crisis during her last government question session in the Bundestag on Wednesday.

"Even if the third wave has been impressively broken, the pandemic is not over yet," said Merkel. "We are still on thin ice." Keeping distance, hygiene and the use of protective masks in certain situations were still "important protective measures and will remain important," she added, Xinhua reported.

Germany's incidence rate of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days continued to fall to 7.2 on Wednesday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). A week ago, the country's seven-day incidence rate stood at 13.

The number of new daily Covid-19 infections also remained below the previous week's level as 1,016 new cases were registered in on Wednesday, according to the RKI.

Merkel highlighted the threat posed by the spreading of mutations. "We must not now lightly risk what we have achieved together," said Merkel.

Although the share of the Covid-19 Delta variant in only reached six percent of new cases as of last Friday, the strain was spreading at a fast pace, warned the RKI.

As of Tuesday, almost 27 million people in Germany had been fully vaccinated, bringing the country's vaccination rate to 32.4 per cent, the RKI said. Almost 43 million people have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose.

--IANS

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(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.)
Karnataka on Thursday granted interim relief to India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari against notice issued by the in a case related to a video that went viral on the platform.

The court directed Ghaziabad police not to take any coercive steps against him and said that if the cops want to examine India chief, they can do so through virtual mode.

During the hearing, Maheshwari's counsel told Karnataka HC that he is just an employee of the organisation and has nothing to do with the offence.

Maheshwari's counsel further informed the court that his client is living in Bengaluru. He said that both Supreme Court and have agreed that the statement can be recorded through video-conferencing but Ghaziabad Police wants his personal presence.

The case relates to a video of a Muslim man being beaten up and allegedly forced to chant Jai shri Ram by his attackers. A case was filed against Twitter, wire.in, Congress leaders and journalists for promoting the video and giving it a communal colour.

Ghaziabad Police has summoned Maheshwari and asked him to appear in person. officals informed the police that they are available for questioning via video conferencing and the cops rejected it.
Defence Minister on Thursday said the naval base being developed here under "Project Seabird" should be Asia's biggest, and he would try to get budget allocation enhanced for it, if required.

He also said India should aim to be among one of the top three naval powers in the world in the next 10-12 years time.

"I had a curiosity before visiting Project Seabird to see and understand it...I'm happy seeing Karwar closely and can say that my confidence level has increased towards this naval base," Singh said.

Addressing the officers and sailors, he said, with the completion of the project, not only India's defence preparedness will be strengthened, but also the country's trade, economy and the humanitarian assistance that it provides will also get more strength.

"It is said that this will become India's largest naval base, but I have said not only India's, our wish is that this should become Asia's biggest naval base, and I will try to get budget allocation increased if required for this," he added.

Singh, accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, undertook an aerial survey of project area and sites, prior to arriving at INS Kadamba Helipad here.

Stating that during the aerial survey of the project, he could see its future, the Defence Minister said, the future of this naval base is "very bright" and the credit for this has to go to the officers and sailors.

"I have also seen the country's first sealift facility, which will improve our maintenance compared to earlier...so I say this naval base is different from the rest," he said.

Noting that India's strength is growing, Singh said, "..India is now among the five major naval powers in the world, we should aim to be among the top three in the next ten to twelve years."



Indian Navy's contribution in maritime and security is immense, Singh said.

Not only him, but those with the knowledge on security-related issues are of the view that the Navy will play the most important role in the country's security in the future, he added.

Citing the role played by the navy in the past like the liberation of Goa, and India-Pakistan wars, among others, he said there is Navy's role in improving diplomatic relations and recalled the service rendered by it during the COVID pandemic, which has gained appreciation from other countries too.

"Some countries have come close to us, it is because of you," he said, adding, in this way not only as a defence power, the Navy has also safeguarded the country's global interests.

Highlighting the Navy's role in improving trade and cultural ties with other countries, Singh said, "we have 7,500 km of coastline, 1,100 islands, 25 lakh sq km of exclusive economic zones that can play an important role in the development of the world with the help of our capabilities and capacity."



"Sometimes we forget our own capability in front of other global powers.....with courage we can achieve things, victory can be achieved during a fight with courage and not only because of ammunition.""You might have seen, we have proved it (victory with courage).. this time, I don't want to take any names, you are aware of it, it is in our defence forces," he said.

Noting the Navy's role in maintaining peace and development in the Indian Ocean Region, and in realising the PM's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security & Growth for All in Region), Singh said, at the time when economic and political relations are fast changing, there is a need for to be strengthened further.

"We have to be prepared for the future, we will have to improve our capacity and capability," he said.

There are no shortcomings in mutual coordination between the country's tri-services, "but we have thought about further improving it." Singh said that the Defence Ministry is also taking up certain reforms.

Speaking on self-reliance in the defence sector, he said 64 per cent of the capital procurement budget will only be for domestic procurement and several changes have been made in the defence acquisition procedure.

As many as 46 out of 48 ships and submarines being procured are being built in Indian shipyards, Singh said, adding, Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikrant will be completed soon and is likely to be commissioned as the country completes 75 years of Independence.

The Defence Minister is also scheduled to visit Kochi to review the progress of construction of the indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) there.

(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.)
on Thursday issued the Request for Information (RFI) to finalise the specifications for acquiring 1,750 (FICVs) under the Make in India initiative to destroy enemy tanks and carry troops.

The says it wants to deploy the vehicles in places like Eastern Ladakh along with desert and amphibious terrain.

The FICV project has been in plans for a long time and the need for a modern troops carrier equipped with tank-busting capabilities was felt during the recent Ladakh conflict.

Due to the experiences in the Ladakh theatre, the is also looking at the prospect of acquiring 350 light tanks in a phased manner, along with performance-based logistics, niche technologies, engineering support package, and other maintenance and training requirements.

The Light Tank is planned to be procured under the 'Make-in-India' ethos and spirit of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) - 2020, the Indian Army has stated.

The Indian Army specified that it wants its less than 25 tonnes tanks to be used for operations in High Altitude Area (HAA), marginal terrain (Rann), amphibious operations, etc.

"The advancement in technology also facilitates that the 'Light Tank' is having weapon systems and protection of adequate capacity and is equipped suitably to operate in current/future threat spectrum, to support combat operations as a weapon system," the RFI issued on April 23 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.)
The number of active cases in has more than tripled in the past two weeks, the state's ministry of health said on Wednesday.

The number of active cases in has reached 606, compared with 477 reported on Tuesday and 186 on June 9, Xinhua reported.

A total of 146 new cases were reported on Wednesday, raising the total caseload in the country to 840,225.

The death toll from the virus remained unchanged at 6,428, and the number of patients in serious condition remained 26, out of 50 hospitalized patients.

The total recoveries in rose to 833,191 after 17 newly recovered cases were added.

The number of people vaccinated against Covid-19 in Israel reached nearly 5.51 million, or 59.1 per cent of its total population.

Earlier in the day, Israel announced the postponement of the planned entry of individual tourists for at least a month until August 1 after the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.

Israel began reopening its borders in May to groups of vaccinated tourists and planned to begin reopening to individual tourists on July 1.

Groups of vaccinated tourists will still be allowed to arrive in Israel, according to a statement by the Israeli prime minister's office.

--IANS

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(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.)
Five persons have so far been found infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant of in and one of them has died, state Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang said on Thursday.

The other four persons, who were vaccinated against COVID-19, are fine, he told PTI.

"One person from Ujjain, who died, was not inoculated, he said.

'Delta Plus' has been declared a variant of concern by the Centre.

So far, three persons from Bhopal and two from Ujjain have been found infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant in MP, the minister said.

A genome sequencing machine will soon be installed in Bhopal and the state would then not have to send samples to Delhi, he added.

Ujjain Collector Ashish Singh confirmed that a 59-year-old woman, who died of COVID-19 on May 23, was infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant.

She tested positive for on May 17. Later, her sample was sent for genome sequencing. On Tuesday, it was found that she was infected by the 'Delta Plus' variant, the official said.

Earlier, the sample of a 65-year-old woman from Bhopal was sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on May 23 and it came out positive for the 'Delta Plus' variant on June 16, officials said.

The woman, who had received both doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine, recovered in home isolation, they said.

The new 'Delta Plus' variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave.

Though there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, 'Delta Plus' is resistant to the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for COVID-19 recently authorised in India



On Wednesday, recorded 84 new cases of and 21 fatalities, raising the tally of infections in the state to 7,89,499 and the death toll to 8,827, as per official data.

(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 single dose of either the or Covid-19 vaccine offers around 60 per cent protection against infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19, in adults aged 65 years and above, according to a new study published in the The Lancet Infectious.

The study, led by researchers from the University College London, in the UK showed that the protective effect of a single dose of vaccination is evident from four weeks to at least seven weeks after vaccination, which provides some evidence to support extension of the interval between doses beyond three weeks, in line with UK policy.

"However, even beyond four weeks, a single vaccine dose does not eliminate infection risk, highlighting the continued importance of non-pharmaceutical measures to control transmission within long-term care facilities," said Madhumita Shrotri and Laura Shallcross, from the UCL Institute of Health Informatics.

The study will be critical to inform policy decisions regarding revaccination schedules in this vulnerable population and the disease control measures needed in the short, medium, and long term to protect long-term care facilities from future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the team said.

The team analysed 10,412 care home residents aged 65 years and older from 310 facilities, with a median age of 86 years. Of these 1,155 residents had evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A total of 9,160 (88 per cent) residents received at least one vaccine dose during the study period, of whom 6,138 (67 per cent) received (ChAdOx1) and 3,022 (33 per cent) received (BNT162b2).

Between December 8, 2020 and March 15, 2021, there were 36,352 PCR tests carried out, with 1,335 PCR-positive infections detected (713 in unvaccinated residents and 612 in vaccinated residents).

The risk of infection was 56 per cent lower in vaccinated residents after 28 to 34 days, days, and 62 per cent lower at 35-48 days. Similar effect sizes at 35-48 days were seen for the vaccine (68 per cent reduced risk of infection) and the vaccine (65 per cent reduced risk).

The study will be presented at the 2021 European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) to be held from July 9-12.

--IANS

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(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 is said to have assured all the leaders of (J&K) that election process in the union territory will begin once the delimitation process is finished.

"Todays meeting with political leaders from is an important step in the ongoing efforts towards a developed and progressive J&K, where all-round growth is furthered," Prime Minister said after the meeting.

"Our priority is to strengthen grassroots democracy in J&K. Delimitation has to happen at a quick pace so that polls can happen and J&K gets an elected Government that gives strength to J&Ks development trajectory," Modi tweeted.

During the three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting, PM Modi heard out suggestions and inputs from all participants. He expressed happiness that all of them shared their honest views. It was an open discussion that revolved around building a better future for Kashmir, news agency ANI reported.

Modi said that there would be political differences, but everyone should work in interest so that people of J&K benefit. He stressed that atmosphere of safety and security needs to be ensured for all.

"The talks were held in a good atmosphere today. The Prime Minister heard issues of all leaders. He said the election process will begin when delimitation process is over," J&K Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari said.

Amit Shah said the meeting was conducted in a very cordial environment and everyone expressed their commitment to democracy and the constitution.

"We are committed to ensure all round development of J&K. The future of was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament," the union home minister said in a twitter post.

In his first big outreach after the revocation of Article 370, PM Modi on Thursday held a crucial meeting with 14 political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, including four former chief ministers, to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory.

The four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state who participated in the discussions were Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah of the Conference, Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief

"The home minister said he is committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir," Ghulam Nabi Azad, who represented the Congress party at the meeting, said.

"Almost 80 per cent of parties spoke on Article 370, but the matter is sub judice in court. Our demands included full-fledged statehood soon, elections to restore democracy, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, all political detainees to be released and land and employment guarantee," the Congress leader said after the meeting.

Omar Abdullah, vice president of the Conference, said: "We told the Prime Minister that we don't stand with what was done on August 5, 2019. We are not ready to accept it. But we will not take law into hands. We will fight this in court. We also told PM that there has been breach of trust between State and Centre. It's Centre's duty to restore it."

PDP chief said the people are angry, upset and emotionally shattered after the removal of Article 370.

"People are in a lot of difficulties after Article 370 was abolished. They feel humiliated. I told PM that people of J&K don't accept the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally," she said.
About a year ago, genetic sequences from more than 200 virus samples from early cases of Covid-19 in Wuhan disappeared from an online scientific database.

Now, by rooting through files stored on Google Cloud, a researcher in Seattle reports that he has recovered 13 of those original sequences  intriguing new information for discerning when and how the virus may have spilled over from a bat or another animal into humans.

The new analysis, released on Tuesday, bolsters earlier suggestions that a variety of coronaviruses may have been circulating in Wuhan before the initial outbreaks linked to animal and seafood markets in December 2019.

As the Biden administration investigates the contested origins of the virus, known as SARS-CoV-2, the study neither strengthens nor discounts the hypothesis that the pathogen leaked out of a famous Wuhan lab. But it does raise questions about why original sequences were deleted, and suggests that there may be more revelations to recover from the far corners of the internet.

This is a great piece of sleuth work for sure, and it significantly advances efforts to understand the origin of SARS-CoV-2, said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona who was not involved in the study.

Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center who wrote the new report, called the deletion of these sequences suspicious. It seems likely that the sequences were deleted to obscure their existence, he wrote in the paper, which has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal.

Dr. Bloom and Dr. Worobey belong to an outspoken group of scientists who have called for more research into how the pandemic began. In a letter published in May, they complained that there wasnt enough information to determine whether it was more likely that a lab leak spread the coronavirus, or that it leapt to humans from contact with an infected animal outside of a lab.

The genetic sequences of viral samples hold crucial clues about how SARS-CoV-2 shifted to our species from another animal, most likely a bat. Most precious of all are sequences from early in the pandemic, because they take scientists closer to the original spillover event.





ALSO READ: Covid: What the world wants China to disclose in Wuhan lab leak probe

As Dr. Bloom was reviewing what genetic data had been published by various research groups, he came across a March 2020 study with a spreadsheet that included information on 241 genetic sequences collected by scientists at Wuhan University. The spreadsheet indicated that the scientists had uploaded the sequences to an online database called the Sequence Read Archive, managed by the U.S. governments National Library of Medicine.

But when Dr. Bloom looked for the Wuhan sequences in the database earlier this month, his only result was no item found.

Puzzled, he went back to the spreadsheet for any further clues. It indicated that the 241 sequences had been collected by a scientist named Aisi Fu at Renmin Hospital in Wuhan. Searching medical literature, Dr. Bloom eventually found another study posted online in March 2020 by Dr. Fu and colleagues, describing a new experimental test for SARS-CoV-2. The Chinese scientists published it in a scientific journal three months later.

In that study, the scientists wrote that they had looked at 45 samples from nasal swabs taken from outpatients with suspected Covid-19 early in the epidemic. They then searched for a portion of SARS-CoV-2s genetic material in the swabs. The researchers did not publish the actual sequences of the genes they fished out of the samples. Instead, they only published some mutations in the viruses.

But a number of clues indicated to Dr. Bloom that the samples were the source of the 241 missing sequences. The papers included no explanation as to why the sequences had been uploaded to the Sequence Read Archive, only to disappear later.

Perusing the archive, Dr. Bloom figured out that many of the sequences were stored as files on Google Cloud. Each sequence was contained in a file in the cloud, and the names of the files all shared the same basic format, he reported.

Dr. Bloom swapped in the code for a missing sequence from Wuhan. Suddenly, he had the sequence. All told, he managed to recover 13 sequences from the cloud this way.

With this new data, Dr. Bloom looked back once more at the early stages of the pandemic. He combined the 13 sequences with other published sequences of early coronaviruses, hoping to make progress on building the family tree of SARS-CoV-2.

Working out all the steps by which SARS-CoV-2 evolved from a bat virus has been a challenge because scientists still have a limited number of samples to study. Some of the earliest samples come from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, where an outbreak occurred in December 2019.

But those market viruses actually have three extra mutations that are missing from SARS-CoV-2 samples collected weeks later. In other words, those later viruses look more like coronaviruses found in bats, supporting the idea that there was some early lineage of the virus that did not pass through the seafood market.

Dr. Bloom found that the deleted sequences he recovered from the cloud also lack those extra mutations. Theyre three steps more similar to the bat coronaviruses than the viruses from the Huanan fish market, Dr. Bloom said.

This suggests, he said, that by the time SARS-CoV-2 reached the market, it had been circulating for awhile in Wuhan or beyond. The market viruses, he argued, arent representative of full diversity of coronaviruses already loose in late 2019.

Maybe our picture of what was present early in Wuhan from what has been sequenced might be somewhat biased, he said.

In his report, Dr. Bloom acknowledged that this conclusion would have to be confirmed with a deeper analysis of the virus sequences. Dr. Worobey said that he and his colleagues are working on a large-scale study of SARS-CoV-2 genes to better understand its origin and that theyll now add Dr. Blooms 13 recovered sequences.

These additional data will play a big role in that effort, Dr. Worobey said.

Its not clear why this valuable information went missing in the first place. Scientists can request that files be deleted by sending an email to the managers of the Sequence Read Archive. The National Library of Medicine, which manages the archive, said that the 13 sequences were removed last summer.

These SARS-CoV-2 sequences were submitted for posting in SRA in March 2020 and subsequently requested to be withdrawn by the submitting investigator in June 2020, said Renate Myles, a spokeswoman for the National Institutes of Health.

She said that the investigator, whom she did not name, told the archive managers that the sequences were being updated and would be added to a different database. But Dr. Bloom has searched every database he knows of, and has yet to find them. Obviously I cant rule out that the sequences are on some other database or web page somewhere, but I have not been able to find them any of the obvious places Ive looked, he said.

Three of the co-authors of the 2020 testing study that produced the 13 sequences did not immediately respond to emails inquiring about Dr. Blooms finding. That study did not give contact information for another co-author, Dr. Fu, who was also named on the spreadsheet from the other study.

Some scientists are skeptical that there is anything sinister behind the removal of the sequences. I dont really understand how this points to a cover-up, said Stephen Goldstein, a virologist at the University of Utah.

Dr. Goldstein noted that the testing paper listed the individual mutations the Wuhan researchers found in their tests. Although the full sequences are no longer in the archive, the key information has been public for over a year, he said. It was just tucked away in a format that is hard for researchers to find.

We all missed this relatively obscure paper, Dr. Goldstein said.

You cant really say why they were removed, Dr. Bloom acknowledged in an interview. You can say that the practical consequence of removing them was that people didnt notice they existed. He also noted that the Chinese government ordered the destruction of a number of early samples of the virus and barred the publication of papers on the without its approval.

For his part, Dr. Worobey still wants answers. I hope we hear from the authors who generated, but then deleted, these crucial sequences so we can understand more about their motivation for doing so, he said. It certainly is strange at face value and really demands an explanation.

Regardless of what happened to these 13 sequences, Dr. Bloom now wonders what other clues might be discovered online. In order to reconstruct the origin of Covid-19, all those clues potentially matter.

Ideally, we need to try to find as many other early sequences as possible, he said. And I think this study suggests that we should look everywhere.
JioPhone Next, co-developed with Google, to be most affordable smartphone globally: Ambani



Chairman on Thursday said Jio and Google have jointly developed Made for India 'JioPhone Next', a power-packed and affordable smartphone that will be available from September 10. Ambani promised that JioPhone Next will be the most-affordable smartphone, not just in India but globally, although the pricing was not disclosed. READ MORE...

chairman to join Reliance board

chairman and head of the Kingdom's cash-rich wealth fund PIF Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan will join the board of Ltd as an independent director in a precursor to a USD 15 billion deal. Reliance Chairman and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, who had two years back disclosed the talks to sell a 20 per cent stake in the company's oil-to-chemical unit to Saudi Aramco, announced the appointment of Al-Rumayyan at the company's annual meeting of shareholders. READ MORE...

shows Windows 11, first major overhaul in six years

Corp on Thursday showed Windows 11, which will hit markets toward the end of this year and is the first major revamp of its Windows operating system since 2015. The software that turned into a household name and dominated personal computers for years has been overtaken in popularity by devices using Apple and Google software, but it is still core to Microsoft's strength in the corporate market. READ MORE...

tightens dividend payout norms for NBFCs, links them to bad debt



The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday tied down a non-banking financial companys ability to pay dividend to certain factors, including how much bad debt it has in its book and whether it has declared it correctly. The dividend ratio, which is the ratio between the amount of the dividend payable in a year and the net profit, is now capped at 50 to 60 per cent, depending upon the nature of the business. Any extraordinary income in the year has to be excluded from profits to arrive at the dividend ratio, the said. READ MORE...
Top headlines Thursday morning: Analysts expect Amarco deal update at AGM. The government expands defintion of small firms.

Analysts expect Aramco deal update, other products in RIL AGM

The upcoming annual general meeting of (RIL), scheduled to be held on June 24, will be a keenly watched event, according to analysts where the company is touted to spell out its plans for the oil-to-chemical (O2C) telecom, digital and retailing verticals.

Investors now expect RIL to give direction to these businesses and announce ground breaking products. There is also expectation of some update on Saudi Aramco deal and speculation that the Chairman of Saudi Aramco may join RILs board, wrote Thomas C. Hilboldt, head of resources & energy research for Asia Pacific at HSBC. Read more

buyer may face restriction on raising capital for a few years

The new buyer of may not be able to raise capital from the market for a few years after the company's privatisation. The government will include such a clause in the draft share purchase agreement (SPA) and request for proposal (RFP) for

The government plans to sell 26 per cent out of the total 54.03 per cent stake it holds in the defence public sector company, along with transfer of management control. Read more

CoC rejects DHFL's proposal for raising payout to small investors

The committee of creditors (CoC) of the beleaguered home financier Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) has rejected the proposal to increase the payout to small investors.

The CoC  by an overwhelming majority of 89.19 per cent  rejected the proposal to increase the payout as suggested by the Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). While the bankruptcy tribunal approved the overall plan, it had asked for reallocating funds to fixed-deposit (FD) holders and small investors. Read more

MCA expands small firm definition, raises turnover and borrowing limits

The ministry of corporate affairs has expanded the definition of small and medium companies (SMC), raising their turnover and borrowing limits. This would enable a wider set of companies to avail of greater flexibility in the accounting standards, according to a notification issued on Wednesday.

The 388-page notification has defined small and medium companies as unlisted entities which are not banks, financial institutions or insurance firms and have a turnover of up to Rs 250 crore and borrowings up to Rs 50 crore in the immediately preceding accounting year. Read more

Vaccination in key states dipped before and after Monday

Two of the three top contributors to Mondays record vaccinations also saw double-digit declines in jabs on multiple days before the surge. Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh accounted for over 40 per cent of Mondays record-setting 8.7 million vaccinations.

The top state Madhya Pradesh also recorded over one million vaccinations on Wednesday as per provisional evening numbers, accounting for 17.6 per cent of the 5.97 million doses given nationally. Read more
A federal US body has announced that it will allow some foreign guest workers to re-submit their applications for the H-1B visa, the most sought-after non-immigrant visa among Indian IT professionals.

The H-1B visa allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), such re-submission of applications is for those whose applications have been rejected or administratively closed solely because the requested start date was after October 1, 2020.

If your FY 2021 petition was rejected or administratively closed solely because your petition was based on a registration submitted during the initial registration period, but you requested a start date after Oct. 1, 2020, you may re-submit that previously filed petition, with all applicable fees, USCIS said on Wednesday.

Such petitions must be re-submitted before October 1, 2021. If properly resubmitted, we will consider the petition to have been filed on the original receipt date, USCIS said.

In 2020, USCIS implemented an electronic registration process for the H-1B cap.

Prospective petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the USD 10 H-1B registration fee for each beneficiary.

The electronic registration process has streamlined processing by reducing paperwork and data exchange and provided overall cost savings to employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, it said.

According to USCIS, for fiscal 2021, the number of petitions filed during the initial filing period was below the number projected as needed to reach the numerical allocations.

This discrepancy was likely related to multiple factors, including the economic, political, and public health uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the fact that FY 2021 was the first year that we implemented the electronic registration process.

Therefore, in August 2020, we selected additional registrations that were held in reserve. The filing period for registrations selected in August ended on November 16, 2020, it said.

Some petitioners indicated a start date after October 1, 2020. We rejected or administratively closed those petitions because they were based on registrations submitted during the initial registration period but indicated a start date after October 1, 2020. Upon reconsideration, we no longer believe that the regulations required us to reject or administratively close those petitions, USCIS said.

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One airline is set to emerge stronger than ever from Covid

While other airlines were pounded by the pandemic, Qantas not just survived the biggest crisis in aviation history, but became almost unassailable in its home market Australia. While losses at airlines globally from are set to surpass $174 billion by the end of 2021--wiping out half a decade of profits--Qantas has become one of the most financially secure carriers anywhere in the world. Its stock has surged 120 per cent from a March 2020 low--almost double the return of the Bloomberg World Airlines Index--and its market value has swollen to $6.7 billion. Qantas says net debt has peaked and its on track to deliver an underlying profit for the year ending this month. Read here

Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 179,606,727 Global deaths: 3,892,076 Vaccine doses administered: 2,731,761,934 Nations with most cases: US (33,577,714), India (30,082,778), Brazil (18,169,881), France (5,824,127), Turkey (5,387,545). Source: John Hopkins Research Center

JP Morgan warns employees of mandatory vaccination

JP Morgan, Wall Street's biggest bank, said it may require employees to get vaccinated against and has ordered staff to fill out a questionnaire on their jab status by the end of this month, according to Bloomberg report. Employees who dont respond will be contacted by managers until they do. We need you to enter this information so that we can properly prepare for and manage returning to the office, the CEO and others wrote to staff in a memo. For now, the executives said, all US employees, including those who arent vaccinated, should plan to start regular office schedules July 6. Read here

Scientist finds early virus sequences that had been mysteriously deleted

About a year ago, genetic sequences from more than 200 virus samples from early cases of Covid-19 in Wuhan disappeared from an online scientific database. Now, by rooting through files stored on Google Cloud, a researcher in Seattle reports that he has recovered 13 of those original sequences-intriguing new information for discerning when and how the virus may have spilled over from a bat or another animal into humans. The new analysis bolsters earlier suggestions that a variety of coronaviruses may have been circulating in Wuhan before the initial outbreaks linked to animal and seafood markets in December 2019. Read here

More than 2 million adults in England have had long Covid for over 12 weeks: study

More than 2 million adults in England have experienced coronavirus symptoms lasting over 12 weeks, government data suggeststwice the previous estimate for long Covid. The study, one of the largest to date, found that people with ongoing symptoms tended to fall into two categories: those with respiratory symptoms, who often experienced more severe illness when they first got sick, and a second group with fatigue-related symptoms. Like previous studies, it found that women were more commonly affected and that the prevalence of ongoing symptoms increased with age. Researchers described the findings as alarming. Read here
The new buyer of BEML may not be able to raise capital from the market for a few years after the company's privatisation. The government will include such a clause in the draft share purchase agreement (SPA) and request for proposal (RFP) for BEML.

This is being done as such a move would lead to further dilution of the sovereigns stake below 28 per cent after privatisation, said an official. The government plans to sell 26 per cent out of the total 54.03 per cent stake it holds in the defence public sector company, along with transfer of management control. The clause would ...
Noting that India's share in $100 billion global toy market is only around one-and-a-half billion dollars, Prime Minister on Thursday stressed to focus on "toyconomy" advising country's gaming and toy industry to play a big role in this sector.

By focusing on toy and gaming sector, the Prime Minister said that country's crores of rupees going outside can be saved.

"Today, we import around 80 per cent of our toys as well. That is, crores of rupees of the country are going out on these. Today, the world wants to understand the present potential of India, the art-culture of India, the society of India in a better way. Our Toys and Gaming Industry can play a big role in this," the Prime Minister said while addressing participants of Toycathon-2021 via video conferencing.

In the last five-six years, the Prime Minister said hackathons have been made big platforms to solve the problems of the country and that the thinking behind this is to organize the country's potential and to give it a medium.

"The effort is that our youth should be directly connected to the challenges and solutions of the country."

The Prime Minister mentioned if the child's first school is the family, then the first book and the first friends are these toys. "The first communication of the child with the society is through these toys."

"There is another very big aspect associated with toys, which everyone needs to know. This is the economy of the world of Toys and Gaming - Toyconomy."

Pointing that most of the online or digital games available in the market currently are not Indian in concept, the Prime Minister told the participants to take advantage of this loophole as the concepts of many games either promote violence or cause mental stress.

Toycathon 2021 was jointly launched by the Ministry of Education, WCD Ministry, MSME Ministry, DPIIT, Textile Ministry, I&B Ministry and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on January 5 this year to crowd-source innovative toys and games ideas.

The event aimed at boosting the Toy Industry in India to help it capture a wider share of the toy market.

Around 1.2 lakh participants from across India registered and submitted more than 17,000 ideas for the Toycathon 2021, out of which 1,567 ideas have been shortlisted for the three-day online Toycathon grand finale, being held from June 22 to June 24. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this grand finale will have teams with digital toy ideas, while a separate physical event will be organized for non-digital toy concepts.

India's domestic market as well as the global toy market offers a huge opportunity to our manufacturing sector.

--IANS

rak/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.)
Digital currencies are almost here, with Chinas e-CNY possibly off the block as early as the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. But among the many things we still dont know about these new payment instruments is their usage overseas: How helpful will one countrys electronic cash be in another?

All we know is that digital cash will be a direct claim on a central bank, just like its physical counterpart. But there the similarity ends. Theres a whole money-changing industry ready to swap  for a fat fee  our banknotes for different ones that can be used where were going. However, when the cash resides in a wallet on our smartphones, tourists may not be able to spend it at a coffee shop or a curio store overseas if merchants arent allowed to receive foreign digital currencies.

Commercial have solved this problem. By using intermediaries like Visa Inc. and PayPal Holdings Inc., theyve made our claims acceptable as payments in other countries. But for monetary authorities to do this, every one of them will need a way to verify the identities of 8 billion people. Thats because, in theory, anyone on the planet can land in any country with purchasing power acquired abroad.



Unlike cash, or like Bitcoin, digital money issued by central wont be pure tokens. Either the issuing monetary authority, or some private players it tasks with the job, will keep debit and credit accounts. Accounts involve identities, and  when the setting is international  questions of money laundering, terrorist financing and national security arise.

Chinas digital yuan trials with foreign athletes next year will probably involve giving them some e-CNY to spend locally. Thats just marketing. Its when the Chinese try to use it overseas that the challenges of sharing identities across borders will become more complex. Beijing wants to promote the currency internationally as an alternative to the all-important dollar. But will it be comfortable if the Federal Reserve wants access to a database that would check the identities of all Chinese visitors in the U.S., potentially tracking what theyre buying with digital yuan, where and when? Will Washington tolerate the same when a digital dollar is ready?

ALSO READ: 'Britcoin' digital currency being considered by UK authorities

There are three ways out of the logjam, according to the latest annual economic report by the Bank for International Settlements. The simplest solution may be for two different payment authorities to enhance compatibility of their technical and regulatory standards. Going a step further, they can interlink their systems and share some interfaces, eliminating middlemen. Finally, several can get together on one platform for their independent digital currencies. Each of the three approaches would require increasingly intertwined identification schemes, but in all cases, ID would remain at a national level, the BIS says.

The third model  a jointly operated payment system supporting multiple central bank digital currencies  is the most promising from a users perspective. After the Hong Kong Monetary Authority began experimenting with the Bank of Thailand to develop a common platform, they were joined by the Peoples Bank of China and the central bank of the United Arab Emirates. The project is now called m-CBDC Bridge. Even in such a highly cooperative setup, a single ID system would not be needed, the BIS says.

Its unlikely that the U.S. and China will agree to join their digital currencies at the hip, given their growing mutual distrust. What to do then? In some ways, the pandemic may be offering clues to solve the problem.

My vaccination certificate in Hong Kong sits on my Apple Wallet, with name and identity numbers partially masked. It has a tamper-proof QR code, which can be read by immigration authorities anywhere. To achieve this, Apple and the health authority had to verify my identity via my phone number and my unique Hong Kong ID. It took only a few seconds, because both of them independently know a lot about me, though only a tiny bit is to be shared with border control officials. As long as other countries recognize Hong Kongs vaccination certificates, the electronic version, protected by the phones facial or fingerprint recognition feature, would be accepted for international travel.

A similar system could work for international payments with digital cash. For a cup of coffee, it should be sufficient that a competent national authority has verified that you are who you say you are, and you have what you say you do: unspent money. As long as the country accepting foreign digital cash is satisfied with the issuing authoritys anti-money-laundering standards, nothing more is required. The Fed can credit the cafes wallet with FedCoin and the Peoples Bank of China can debit e-CNY from yours, and the two can settle their accounts without telling each other anything more about you. Travelers save on high foreign-exchange conversion costs built into card payments.

Without this level of coordination, e-CNY, FedCoin, Britcoin and the digital euro will all remain trapped in silos, making them complete non-starters in a globalized world and paving the way for the likes of Diem, synthetic private-sector tokens backed by reserves maintained in one or several official currencies. The growing popularity of is already a headache for central banks; they wont want their legal tender to lose out to these so-called stablecoins. So theyll cooperate  even if they dont collaborate. Your countrys digital cash may be more welcome in some places than But itll work everywhere.
The (RBI) on Thursday tied down a non- financial companys (NBFCs) ability to pay dividends to certain factors, including how much bad debt it has in its books and whether it has declared it correctly.

The ratio, which is the ratio between the amount of the payable in a year and net profit, is now capped at 50 to 60 per cent, depending upon the nature of the business. Any extraordinary income in the year has to be excluded from profits to arrive at the ratio, the RBI said.

However, there will be no such cap on that do not take public deposits and also do not have a customer interface. The RBI said the new norms would infuse greater transparency and uniformity in practice."

Before declaring the dividend, the board has to ensure that the regulator has not found any underreporting of (NPAs) by the NBFC. The NPAs, satisfied by the RBI and auditors, have to be below 6 per cent for three consecutive years. The NBFC should have the minimum capital adequacy ratio, which would be at least 15 per cent, in those three years. For standalone primary dealers, which deal in government business, the minimum capital adequacy will be 20 per cent.

Any NBFC that does not meet the criteria will also be eligible for dividend payout subject to a cap of 10 per cent. However, it must have a net NPA ratio of less than 4 per cent at the end of the financial year for which it is paying the dividend, the RBI said.

The auditors qualifications on the accounts and long-term growth plans of the NBFC have to be taken into consideration too before the board approves dividend, the RBI said. The dividend ratio has to be calculated on equity shares and compulsorily convertible preference shares that add up to the core capital.

The Reserve Bank shall not entertain any request for ad-hoc dispensation on the declaration of dividends, the central bank said.

registered as a core investment company, which hold 90 per cent of its investment in group companies, can transfer dividends of up to 60 per cent. The same is the case for standalone primary dealers, while for the rest, which make up the bulk of the nearly 10,000 NBFC universe, the cap will be 50 per cent.





The tightening in dividend payout rules comes within a few weeks of the central banks norms on auditor appointments. are against the auditor appointment move, but the central bank has remained adamant.

However, on the dividend payment front, there may not be much resistance, as there is no reason not to link dividends with future goals and having a clean account, experts say. It is a matter of hygiene for any firm, they say.

According to Jinay Gala, associate director at India Ratings, the tighter norms should not come as a burden for NBFCs.

Most large firms meet prescribed norms for capital adequacy and bad loan ratio. They have improved provision cover for stressed assets plus many have raised capital during pandemic times," Gala said, adding that the cap of 50 per cent on the dividend payout ratio is reasonable. Most NBFCs have a ratio below 40 per cent, he said.

A senior sector expert, who did not wish to be named, explained that the RBI has brought in the guidelines to harmonise the dividend payout rules for NBFCs. There are 11 kinds of NBFCs registered with the RBI, and each one has other sub categories. In total, there are nearly 10,000 NBFCs registered with the RBI. Every day, the central bank cancels some licences due to norm violations, and also gives fresh licences to others.

The dividend norms were not rationalised. For example, housing companies did not have provision for dividend. Therefore, along the lines of banks, the circular for NBFCs has been issued, said the sector expert.

The capital adequacy norms for each kind of NBFCs also vary. For example, gold loan companies must have tier-1 capital, or core capital, adequacy ratio of at least 12 per cent, which is higher than others 10 per cent. There are also varied restrictions on leverage. And so, harmonisation of rules is often difficult.
The CBI on Thursday carried out searches at six locations after registering a fresh case of fraud of Rs 2,435 crore in and other consortium against former Crompton Greaves chairman Gautam Thapar who is already under probe in more such cases, officials said.

The searches took place at six locations in Mumbai, Delhi and Gurgaon.

This is a new case against Thapar, who was booked recently in Rs 466 crore fraud case in Yes Bank, the officials said.

Along with Thapar, several other executives of the company have been booked in the case.

(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.)
As is expected to be the main point of discussion during Afghan leaders' visit at the this week, has reached out to the Afghan government conveying it in clear terms that the upcoming visit must not be used to blame Islamabad, officials told The Express Tribune.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah are set to visit the United States this week to meet US President Joe Biden.

Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul met Afghan leaders from across party lines and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also interacted with Dr Abdullah as well as his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar at the sidelines of the recent Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

Officials have said that fears that 'spoilers' within the Afghan setup may use the upcoming visit of President Ghani and Dr Abdullah to blame Islamabad for the failure of peace talks in the conflict-torn country.

At the recent Afghan Track-11 dialogue, Qureshi stressed that Ghani might use the upcoming visit to the to blame Pakistan. "If the objective [President Ghani's visit] is to start a new blame game and hold Pakistan responsible for all the ills, I think it will not help. It's a shared responsibility and no one is going to buy this anymore. We will not take any responsibility. We have been accused enough," he said.

On Sunday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said: "President Biden looks forward to welcoming Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, to the White House on June 25, 2021."

The Taliban, meanwhile, reacted to the visit and termed it "useless".

"They [Ghani and Abdullah] will talk with the US officials for preservation of their power and personal interest. It won't benefit Afghanistan," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib and vice president Amrullah Saleh in particular in recent weeks issued scathing statements against Pakistan, according to The Express Tribune.

Mohib accused Islamabad of enabling a violent 'proxy war' by the terror group in Pakistan, furious over the Afghan NSA's diatribe, has decided to sever all official links with him.

Islamabad has been accused of aiding the and using them as proxies for its own benefit.

As the resumes attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians, Pakistan recently extended support to the terrorist group, saying it would be an "exaggeration" to hold them responsible for violence in

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi defended the Taliban for increase in violence in and shifted the blame on Daesh, another word for ISIS (another word for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

Meanwhile, the Afghan diaspora in the Netherlands blamed Pakistan 'Strategic Depth Policy' for the unbearable suffering of Afghans along both sides of the Durand Line.

"The Pakistani military chiefs have officially admitted supporting groups such as Taliban. They call this interference strategic depth. This policy still continues and has been causing unbearable suffering among Afghans on both sides of the Durand line," said the statement of the Afghan diaspora, reported Pajhwok Afghan News.

(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.)
sued over anti-dumping measures on some Chinese goods, further ratcheting up tensions between the two nations.

filed a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization over Australian anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on Chinese exports of railway wheels, wind towers and stainless steel sinks, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday in Beijing. This would be the third recent case between the two countries, after sued over Chinese tariffs on wine and barley.

Relations between the sides have steadily worsened since 2018, when barred Huawei Technologies Co. from building its 5G network, and went into freefall last year as Prime Minister Scott Morrison led calls for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus that first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Beijing has responded with tariffs and restrictions on imports of coal, barley, lobsters and wine.

opposes nations abusing trade-remedy measures that damage the legitimate rights of Chinese companies and undermine the authority of rules, Ministry of Commerce Spokesman Gao Feng told reporters Thursday in Beijing.



China hopes Australia can avoid distorting goods trade, and bring it back to a normal track as soon as possible, he said.

Australia will vigorously defend the case, Trade Minister Dan Tehan told reporters after the announcement.
By Norihiko Shirouzu, Stella Qiu and Jamie Freed

BEIJING (Reuters) -Trade power tensions, regulatory hurdles and attempts by the West to counter Chinese competition are delaying a return of the 737 MAX in China, frustrating Co as a potential rival demonstrates its growing influence.

Six months after the West lifted an almost two-year flight ban on the MAX, there is no clear end in sight for the crisis surrounding Boeing's fastest-selling jet in China - the first nation to ground it in 2019 after two deadly crashes in five months.

The company had hoped for China to approve the MAX to return to the sky by the end of last year; in January 2021, said it expected the MAX to be approved by regulators everywhere by the end of June. Now, with help from the Biden administration, is stepping up efforts to convince China the plane is safe and reset its most strategic partnership as airlines start to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

But people familiar with the discussions say regulatory and political obstacles mean any resolution is still months away. For Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun, that means seeing profits and market share slip to European rival Airbus SE.

"I do know that if it goes on for too long, I pay a price," he told a Bernstein conference this month. "I pay a price because they're (China) the biggest part of the growth of the industry in the world."

Because of the China uncertainty, Boeing is not confident it can raise production beyond the 31 MAX planes per month level it expects to hit by early 2022, Calhoun said.

The company has been all but shut out of new orders in the world's biggest market since 2017, which contributed to its decision to cut production of its long-haul 787 model.

China hopes to compete against Western planemakers, including with its C919, a direct rival to the MAX and other narrowbodies such as the Airbus A320. Its manufacturer, state-owned Commercial Corporation of China (COMAC) is aiming for local certification of the C919 by year end, and is ultimately seeking Western certification.

That potential competition has prompted the United States and Europe to call a truce in a 17-year trade war so they can focus on challenging Chinese subsidies.

Group of Seven leaders last week scolded China over a range of issues and demanded a thorough probe of the origins of COVID-19, angering Beijing.

Any improvement in the political backdrop to the MAX decision seems unlikely before the Communist Party's 100th anniversary on July 1, sources and analysts say.

"The 100th anniversary of the founding of the party, the 20th Party Congress next year, the (2022 Winter) Olympics - all of those push China to be less cooperative," said Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser at Center for Strategic and Studies.

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS

The MAX grounding - after crashes that killed 346 people - has been worst crisis in Boeing's history. Design flaws led to multiple investigations, damaged its reputation worldwide and left it short of cash needed to cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

Yet a year ago, the prospects of China returning the MAX to service on a timeline similar to that of the United States and Europe seemed good.

But politics, practical problems such as visa and quarantine issues, and the Chinese aviation regulator's intense scrutiny have gradually sapped U.S. hopes of a quick solution, industry sources say.

Last year, engineers from Seattle visited China to answer Civil Aviation Administration of China's (CAAC) technical queries, one of the people said.

Once it was clear CAAC's timeline lagged that of other regulators, Boeing suggested China send representatives to Seattle to observe test flights, two people said, but CAAC declined as the pandemic raged in the United States.

Discussions shifted to having Boeing's engineers and pilots travel to Beijing for test flights, but six months later that hasn't happened, the first person said.

Boeing said it continued to work closely with CAAC and other regulators to return the MAX to service worldwide but declined to respond to specific questions from Reuters.

CAAC declined to comment about the timeline for approval or the considerations for granting it. But CAAC chief Feng Zhenglin late last year raised concerns about Boeing's pilot training and after-market services in a small group meeting, a third source familiar with the matter said. The source, like others in this article, declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

CAUTIOUS REGULATOR

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was also cautious about the MAX's return to service and slapped down efforts by Boeing to speed up the process; Europe's aviation regulator delayed approvals by months.

CAAC, however, is known in the industry as the most conservative of the world's major aviation regulators. China has not had a deadly commercial air crash in more than a decade.

CAAC was the first regulator to ground the MAX. It has since issued three requirements for the return to service of the MAX in China: certified design changes, sufficient pilot training, and definitive findings from the crash investigations.

Beijing has big long-term regulatory ambitions, according to a State Council blueprint. It aims for China to become a global aviation power by 2050, giving the regulator greater influence.

CAAC's most recent jet aircraft certification was with the domestically manufactured regional jet ARJ21, whose production is ramping up after five years in service. It has not been certified by any Western regulator.

In the past, the Chinese regulator would have simply ticked certification boxes under bilateral agreements, a source at a Western aerospace supplier said. But now, as Beijing pins its aviation hopes on the C919, it is asking for detailed and sometimes proprietary data, analyses and presentations.

"CAAC... have put on their big boy pants," the source said. "Now what they're doing in the industry is saying, 'We do not trust traditional certification authorities anymore. We want to learn ourselves what you guys have been doing for the past 50, 60, 70 years.'"

(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu and Stella Qiu in Beijing and Jamie Freed in Sydney; additional reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Writing by Jamie Freed; Editing by Tim Hepher and Gerry Doyle)

(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.)
Brazilian Minister Ricardo Salles resigned Wednesday, weeks after he was targeted by federal police as part of an investigation into alleged illegal logging in the rainforest.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Salles, who has been widely criticised by environmental activists around the world over rising deforestation under his watch, will be replaced by Joaquim Alvaro Pereira Leite, an official previously in charge of monitoring the

The outgoing minister had led efforts to try to persuade the U.S. to pay the South American country USD 1 billion to help it combat deforestation and finance sustainable development in the region.

Last month, federal police raided properties linked to Salles as part of a wide-ranging probe into alleged illegal chopping of trees for export. The Brazilian Supreme Court also green-lit a criminal investigation. Salles maintained that the accusations against him are unfounded.

"The departure of Ricardo Salles is a victory for society, but it is still a partial victory; we know that he was the operator of Bolsonaro's nefarious and anti-environmental policy. We continue in the fight," said Marina Silva, a former Brazilian presidential candidate and environmental activist

About 224 square miles of trees in the world's biggest rainforest were lost in April, the highest level for that month since Brazil's space research agency, Inpe, created the Terra Brasilis platform in 2015 to track the data, according to WSJ.

Meanwhile, environmental activists raised concerns that the Leite's appointment would do little to change the direction of President Jair Bolsonaro's government. Typically, ranchers and soybean farmers operating illegally are blamed for much of the deforestation of the

Since Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, his government has been criticised by European governments and activists because of his vocal support for development in the Amazon and policies that trimmed funds for environmental protection.

(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.)
is all set to operationalise the first electric train in the remote Himalayan region of Tibet, connecting the provincial capital Lhasa with Nyingchi  a strategically located Tibetan border town close to Arunachal Pradesh.

The 435.5-km Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan- Railway is expected to be inaugurated ahead of the centenary celebrations of the ruling Communist Party of (CPC) on July 1, according to official media reports.

The electricity transmission process has been completed and tested, Liu Yuxiang, Chief Engineer of the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway, was quoted as saying by the state-run CCTV earlier.

The Sichuan- Railway will be the second railway into after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. It will go through the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the world's most geologically active areas.

In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping had instructed officials to expedite construction of the new railway project, connecting Sichuan Province and Nyingchi in Tibet, saying the new rail line would play a key role in safeguarding the border stability.

The Sichuan-Tibet Railway starts from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, and travels through Ya'an and enters Tibet via Qamdo, shortening the journey from Chengdu to Lhasa from 48 hours to 13 hours.

Nyingchi is prefecture level city of Medog which is adjacent to the Arunachal Pradesh border.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin a two-nation visit of Greece and Italy on Friday.

In Italy, Jaishankar will attend a meeting of foreign ministers of G20 countries as well as another one of development ministers of the bloc, the (MEA) said on Thursday.

"External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be leaving tomorrow for a visit to Greece and to Italy. In Greece, he would make a bilateral visit on June 25 and 26 for talks with his Greek counterpart apart from other engagements," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

It will be the first visit to Greece at the level of the external affairs minister since 2003.

"After Greece, the external affairs minister will travel to Italy to attend G20 ministerial meetings," Bagchi said.

The G20 summit is scheduled to be held in Italy in October. India is expected to hold the presidency of the G20 in 2022.

The G20 is an influential bloc that brings together the world's major economies. The G20 member countries collectively account for more than 80 per cent of world GDP, 75 per cent of the global trade and 60 per cent of the population of the planet.

The G20 member countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

(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.)
said Thursday that it is nearly ready to take another shot at getting regulatory approval for a possible Alzheimer's drug.

The drugmaker plans to submit its potential treatment donanemab to the Food and Drug Administration later this year.

The announcement comes a few weeks after the approved a treatment from rival Biogen despite warnings from the agency's independent advisers that it hasn't been shown to help slow the brain-destroying disease.

The agency approved Biogen's Aduhelm based on study results showing it seemed reasonably likely to benefit Alzheimer's patients. It's the first new Alzheimer's drug in nearly 20 years and the only therapy that U.S. regulators have said can likely treat the underlying disease, rather than manage symptoms like anxiety and insomnia.

Lilly said Thursday that it will seek approval for its potential treatment, donanemab, based on data from a mid-stage clinical study of the drug involving 272 patients.

The gave donanemab a breakthrough therapy designation, which is intended to speed the development and review of drugs that show signs of being an improvement over established treatments.

The Indianapolis company also will examine the drug in a larger, late-stage study.

A company spokeswoman said Lilly plans to complete enrollment in that study by the end of the year, and an 18-month treatment period will follow.

Both Aduhelm and donanemab help clear a protein called beta-amyloid from the brain.

Lilly may be able to file its application for approval in the next two or three months since the drugmaker appears to have all the data it needs, said Dr. Vamil Divan, an analyst who covers the company for Mizhuho Securities USA.

Some 6 million people in the U.S. and many more worldwide have Alzheimer's, which gradually attacks areas of the brain needed for memory, reasoning, communication and basic daily tasks.

Lilly and several other drugmakers have previously failed in attempts to find a treatment that slows the progression of the mind-robbing disease.

More than four years ago, Lilly said another potential drug it developed called solanezumab did not work better than a placebo treatment in a study of over 2,100 people.

That drug also aimed to clear potentially harmful protein from the brain.

Shares of and Co. jumped more than 8%, or $18.59, to $235.69 at the opening bell Thursday.

(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.)
Treasury Secretary told a congressional panel Wednesday that failing to raise the federal ceiling would have catastrophic consequences that could bring on a

Testifying before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Yellen said in response to questions that it is important Congress not delay in dealing with the limit, which has been suspended for the past two years.

That suspension is due to expire on July 31, when the limit will go back into effect at the level of at that time. The debt subject to the limit currently stands at USD 28.3 trillion. It has risen sharply over the past year as Congress has approved trillions of dollars in support packages to combat a recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., asked Yellen what would occur if Congress were to fail to either raise the debt ceiling or suspend it for a period of time so that the government could keep borrowing to meet its obligations, including making interest payments on the national debt.

Failure to make those debt payments would result in the federal government defaulting on its debt obligations, something that has never occurred in U.S. history. A standoff on raising the debt ceiling in 2011 resulted in a first-ever downgrade on a portion of the federal government's AAA-bond rating by the Standard & Poor's rating agency.

Yellen said defaulting on the national debt should be regarded as unthinkable because it would have absolutely catastrophic consequences that could precipitate a

I would plead with Congress simply to protect the full faith and credit of the United States by addressing the issue before the July 31 deadline.

The Treasury Department is able to use bookkeeping maneuvers, such as temporarily disinvesting government pension accounts, to keep the government from broaching the debt limit. But those measures can only buy a limited amount of time.

Yellen said she could not give an estimate for how long the emergency measures might last. Outside groups have estimated that the Treasury's emergency measures would likely be exhausted by sometime this fall.

Yellen said it is hard to make an accurate forecast because of the large amount of uncertainty caused by the pandemic regarding payment flows and revenue collections.

She said it is possible Treasury could reach a point where it would be unable to pay the government's bills as soon as August, when Congress is scheduled to be out for its summer recess.

(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 on Thursday said it desires normal relations with and it was for that country to create a conducive atmosphere through measures including taking "credible, verifiable and irreversible" action to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross-border terrorism.

"We desire normal relations with all our neighbours including Pakistan," (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

He was responding to a question.

" must work towards creating a conducive atmosphere including by taking credible, verifiable and irreversible action to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross-border terrorism against India in any manner," he said.

To a question on foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's comments on New Delhi's role in Afghanistan, Bagchi said India brought electricity and built dams, schools and healthcare infrastructure in that country.

"The world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan," he said.

Bagchi said India supports the Afghan peace process and is in touch with various stakeholders including regional countries.

(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.)
John McAfee, the tech genius whose eponymous software was used widely in the 1980s and early 1990s, died in Barcelona jail cell on Wednesday.

The 75 years-old was found dead after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the United States to face charges of tax evasion from 2014-2018, reported Bloomberg.

A larger than life personality of McAfee and his run-ins with law inspired numerous projects surrounding his life. He was born in the United Kingdom in the mid-1940s, and moved to Roanoke, Virginia, when he was young.

He moved to Silicon Valley in the 1970s and worked in numerous tech companies as a coder all the while abusing drugs and alcohol until 1983 when he became sober, reported BBC.

He started McAfee Associates in 1987, when computers were relatively new and the first computer virus hit computers. He resolved the issue, started McAfee Associates and helped to spark a multi-billion dollar industry in the computer world. He resigned from McAfee in 1994 and was eventually sold to technology giant Intel for more than $7.6 bn in 2011, reported Business Insider.

In 2008, McAfee moved to a jungle in Belize with the stated intention of trying to cure infection and dabbled in herbal antibiotics. He started a company called Quorumex that planned to build plant based products to combat illnesses. In 2012,he was named person of interest by by Belize authorities in the murder of his neighbour. He fled after being questioned by authorities, said BBC.

McAfee was arrested in Guatemala on charges of illegal entry to the country. He suffered a series of heart-related health issues while being detained and was sent to the US, reported Esquire.

In 2015, he filed paperwork to run in the 2016 presidential race and announced he would form his own political party, The Cyber Party. McAfee took his campaign to the Libertarian Party National Convention, but failed to secure the nomination, reported US Today.

Later, he was appointed chairman and CEO of tech company MGT Technologies.He was arrested in Spain in October 2020, at the behest of the United States government. He was accused of failing to file tax returns, even though he made millions from consulting work, cryptocurrencies, speaking engagements, and selling his life rights, reported US Today.

McAfee is survive by his wife, Janice McAfee
North Korea has ruled out the "possibility of any contact" with the US, according to a state media report.

"We are not considering even the possibility of any contact with the US, let alone having it, which would get us nowhere, only taking up precious time," Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon said in a statement on Wednesday released by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Ri also said his Ministry "welcomes the clear-cut press statement issued by the vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, which is to brush off hasty judgment, conjecture and expectation of the US", Xinhua news agency reported.

He was referring to a statement on Tuesday by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who said Washington's expectation of resuming talks with Pyongyang was wrong and "would plunge them into a greater disappointment".

On Sunday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Kim Jong-un's comments of preparing both dialogue and conflict with Washington as an "interesting signal".

The remarks made during a key Workers' Party meeting on June 17 in Pyongyang marked the first time that spoke of the US since President took office in January.

Sullivan added the US will "wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward".

The Biden administration at the end of April completed its policy review towards North Korea.

and former US President Donald Trump held their first summit in Singapore in June 2018, agreeing on a complete denuclearization of and a lasting peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

Denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have been stalled since the second Kim-Trump summit ended without agreement in February 2019 in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

--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.)
Russian President rarely appeals directly to citizens of the West for acceptance of and friendly cooperation with Ever since his famous speech at the 2007 Munich Security Conference, his tone has been more defiant than conciliatory. And yet on June 22, the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germanys attack on the Soviet Union, Die Zeit, the center-left German newspaper, published an op-ed signed by Putin that, essentially, calls on Europeans to ditch the U.S. as a strategic partner and go with instead.

Putin has been around long enough to understand that this scenario is hardly realistic. And German media reactions to the piece have ranged from contemptuous to angry. But an analysis of Putins alleged dream scenario is still a useful mental exercise. There are at least three important questions to answer: Why exactly is it unrealistic, would it be workable without Putin and why Putin chose to air it now, in 2021, when he  and by association -- is increasingly unpopular in the West.

Just four months ago, Josep Borrell, the European Unions top foreign policy official, wrote after a disastrous visit to Moscow that  and Russia are drifting apart. It seems that Russia is progressively disconnecting itself from and looking at democratic values as an existential threat. But in Die Zeit, Putin suddenly recalls Charles de Gaulles idea of one stretching from the Atlantic to the Urals and its extension, beloved of Putin's predecessor Boris Yeltsin, of a Europe from Lisbon to Vladivostok. It is within that logic  within the logic of constructing a Greater Europe united by common values and interests  that Russia strove to develop its relations with Europeans, Putin wrote (this translation is from the original Russian).

Strove, that is, until the evil U.S. interfered by driving the eastward extension of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization against the advice of some European politicians. (Putin specifically cites Egon Bahr, the prominent Social Democrat responsible for Chancellor Willy Brandts Soviet-tolerant Ostpolitik  a reference that shouldnt be lost on the readers of Die Zeit, traditionally close to the Social Democratic Party.) Then, according to Putin, the U.S. organized a coup detat in Ukraine in 2014, and Europe gutlessly backed it, provoking Crimeas secession.





ALSO READ: UK denies Russian claim of shots fired at British warship off Black Sea

Instead of blindly following the U.S., Europe should cooperate with Russia on a broad spectrum of issues, from fighting Covid-19 to creating a common economic and security space, because Russia is one of the biggest European nations, and we feel an unbreakable cultural and historical bond with Europe.

German mainstream media reactions were predictable. Putin admits mistakes  those of the West, was the headline in the weekly Der Spiegel, which also pointed out that Putins outreach to Europe was hard to reconcile with his governments actions: Just last month, Russia declared one of the oldest German-Russian cooperation groups, the DRA, founded in 1992, an undesirable organization. Germanys most popular tabloid, Bild, was even less diplomatic: Putin lies and agitates in Die Zeit, it wrote. In the text, pretty much nothing is true, it continued, describing the op-eds publication as a scandal. Putins piece seeks to divide, Thomas Franke said in a commentary for the influential Southwestern Radio  a curious response to a piece that ostensibly calls for cooperation.

What the German commentators couldnt fail to notice about Putins column is that the offer of friendship comes from someone with a history of, to put it mildly, unfriendly action, his own and that of his predecessors. Putin, the apostle of Russias increasing Sovietization, doesnt so much as acknowledge Eastern Europes painful experiences under Soviet puppet regimes, which inspired their scramble for NATO membership as soon as the Soviet Union collapsed. In his telling, what happened to Crimea was secession, not annexation, and Russia never preyed on weaker neighboring states. It was only recently that Germany treated a leading Russian opposition figure, Alexey Navalny, after Putins agents nearly poisoned him to death  and less than six months since he returned to Russia just to be immediately imprisoned; that instance of Russian-German interaction wasnt worthy of a mention, of course.

Why would anyone want to be friends with this guy or the country he represents?

Well, Putins implicit suggestion in his op-ed that Europe should forget about all this nasty stuff isnt as preposterous as it might seem. Thats what makes it so insidious and divisive. Europe is good at forgetting and turning a blind eye; if it werent, Europes wars would never stop.

There are plenty of examples  from the continued prosperity of some former Nazis in Germany to the recent restoration of military honors to ex-general, war crimes defendant and until recently active politician, Branimir Glavas in Croatia  of how Europe and its constituent states havent exactly been relentless in the pursuit of figures from their hate-filled past. Its not in the DNA of todays Europe to be tough on people who did awful things in different times; many prominent figures from Eastern Europes Communist regimes, too, were allowed to remain in national

Europe also tolerates the newer illiberal regimes in its midst, such as those of Hungary and Poland, and so much questionable Russian and post-Soviet capital that one could argue lower tolerance toward Putins Russia would be simply unfair. In other words, nothing Russia is doing now or did in the past is a valid reason to withhold cooperation from one of the biggest European nations, bound to Europe by all these pasts it would rather only remember on certain dates  and by a business-driven present that has more to do with certain cynical Italian, Austrian, German traditions than with the EUs declared values. The not-quite-explicit message in Putins column is that Europe has more in common with Putins Russia than with the U.S., which, is, well, simply not European. "What does a stranger understand? goes an Austrian saying often quoted by the Nobel prize-winning author and Yugoslav wars dissenter Peter Handke. Putin, his clique and the people they rule are no strangers to Europe  or at least they dont see themselves as strangers in places that store their wealth and often embody their best memories and cultural urges; Putinists beef is really with the U.S.

Ive met Europeans who feel that way too  theyre part of the 55% of Greeks, 36% of Italians, 27% of Germans, 26% of the French who, according to Pew Research, have confidence in Putin to do the right thing in affairs. And if the distasteful Putin regime is somehow magically erased and a more palatable figure emerges in the Kremlin, these percentages would likely increase, potentially making closer ties with Russia a popular project in Europe. There have been times  especially in the 2000s  when Russians were approaching acceptance as Europeans, along with Balts and Poles and perhaps ahead of Ukrainians; it could happen again. Europe, as Ive already mentioned, does selective memory quite well.

European values? Theyre very important, of course, but theyre relatively new.

Putin the cynic knows quite well, though, that Europe will never ally with Russia to the detriment of its partnership with the U.S.  for reasons that have nothing to do with values. Even four years of Donald Trump, hardly a Europhile, who imposed trade sanctions on the EU, smashed a European-brokered deal with Iran and even considered pulling the U.S. out of NATO, didnt drive Europeans toward Russia as a better ally. For one thing, the U.S. economy is about 13 times the size of Russias in nominal terms, and the EU does about four times as much trade with it as with Russia. For another, the U.S. security guarantee  at this point still the best in the world  has not brought much U.S. interference in any of the NATO members, whichever direction their domestic have taken. The Soviet military guarantee, when it covered a significant part of Europe, meant invasions or at least a threat of armed intervention at pivotal moments; a Russian shield would come with similar risks under the best of circumstances.

Potentially, Russia plus the EU could be a powerful military, economic, technological and cultural combination that would rival, if not exceed, the might of the U.S. and China. But, even leaving values aside, creating this combination is not in Europes cynical interests.

And yet Putin the mega-troll dangles the impossible dream before his European readers, mixing unsubtle dissembling with subtle mockery and a fake wistfulness. Hes speaking to the German sense of guilt, the innate anti-Americanism shared by the extreme left and right, the visions of sovereign European grandeur that live even in moderate politicians heads. Hes not trying for the pie-in-the-sky  Russia replacing the U.S. as Europes security guarantor and economic partner. Hes trotting out the tattered Lisbon to Vladivostok dream to get much less  a haven for crooked capital here, a pipeline project like Nord Stream 2 there, a softening of sanctions, a small backroom deal, a more cautious condemnation.

Perhaps its the fate of most grand dreams to be instrumentalized in this way. I hope not.
By Chen Lin

(Reuters) - Singapore's public prosecutor on Thursday filed an additional 105 charges against Lim Oon Kuin, the founder of collapsed oil trading firm Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd, relating to $2.23 billion in fraudulent disbursements.

Hin Leong, one of Asia's largest oil traders, was wound up in March after failing to restructure some $4 billion in debt following a crash in the oil price during the pandemic that exposed earlier financial troubles.

The new charges followed 25 forgery-related charges filed against Lim last year and in April this year. They comprised 68 charges of cheating, 36 of conspiracy to commit forgery and one of conspiracy to forge a valuable security.

The prosecutor told the State Court the latest charges related to $2.23 billion which was fraudulently disbursed, adding that $262 million had not been repaid.

Lim allegedly deceived at least 14 banks, including ANZ, DBS, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp and Societe Generale, into believing that Hin Leong had entered contracts with BP Singapore, a unit of BP, for fuel trades between 2019 and 2020, charge sheets showed.

The forgery charges were in addition to similar charges that accused Lim of abetting and conspiring with a Hin Leong employee to procure false records of oil quality inspection documents from employees of Amspec Testing Services Pte Ltd.

Lim was also accused of abetting and conspiring with another Hin Leong employee to forge a bill of lading document as a valuable security in March 2020.

Lim's lawyer declined to comment on the case on Thursday. Lim has previously declined to comment to Reuters on the case. BP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The oil trading firm, set up in 1973, is owned by Lim and his children Evan Lim and Lim Huey Ching.

At the hearing, the judge increased Lim's bail amount by S$1 million ($743,000) to S$4 million. A pre-trial conference was set for Aug. 5.

A court in May approved a freeze on up to $3.5 billion of Lim family assets, boosting the prospect of debt recovery from the former oil trading empire that counts some of the world's biggest banks among its creditors.

($1 = 1.3457 dollars)

(Reporting by Chen Lin; Additional reporting and writing by Aradhana Aravindan and Florence Tan; Editing by Richard Pullin)

(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 Biden administration on Wednesday ordered a ban on U.S. imports of a key solar panel material from Chinese-based Hoshine Silicon Industry Co over forced labor allegations, two sources briefed on the matter said. The U.S. Commerce Department separately restricted exports to Hoshine, three other Chinese companies and the paramilitary Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), saying they were involved with the forced labor of Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang.

The three other companies added to the U.S. economic blacklist include Xinjiang Daqo New Energy Co, a unit of Daqo New Energy Corp; Xinjiang East Hope Nonferrous Metals Co, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based manufacturing giant East Hope Group; and Xinjiang GCL New Energy Material Co, part of GCL New Energy Holdings Ltd.

The Commerce Department said the companies and XPCC "have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor and high-technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in" Xinjiang.

At least some of the companies listed by the Commerce Department are major manufacturers of monocrystalline silicon and polysilicon that are used in solar panel production.

The companies or their parent firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment, or could not immediately be reached. XPCC could not immediately be reached for comment.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday that will take "all necessary measures" to protect its companies' rights and interests. Beijing has dismissed accusations of genocide and forced labor in Xinjiang as lies.

The immediate effect of the restrictions would be limited as the companies named do not have "vast contracts" with U.S. based wafer companies, Dennis Ip, Regional Head of Power, Utilities, Renewables & Environment (PURE) Research at Daiwa said in a note to clients.

"However, we see possibility for the ban to gradually extend to include restrictions on all solar modules which contain Xinjiang-produced polysilicon," he said.

Chinese module producers could still use polysilicon from Inner Mongolia and Yunnan for their U.S.-bound module shipments, he added.

About 45% of all polysilicon used in solar module production is produced in Xinjiang, with 35% produced in other parts of The remainder comes from outside

The global solar energy supply chain has been squeezed by record high costs for polysilicon, labour and freight.

The "Withhold Release Order" by U.S. Customs and Border Protection only blocks imports of the material from Hoshine. A source familiar with the order said it does not impact the majority of U.S. imports of polysilicon and other silica-based products.

A second source said the move does not conflict with President Joe Biden's climate goals and support for the domestic solar industry.

The Biden administration in March announced a target to cut the cost of solar energy by 60% within the next 10 years. President Biden has set a goal of a 100% clean electricity grid by 2035.

The sources said the is continuing to investigate allegations of forced labor by Chinese companies who supply polysilicon.

The Xinjiang region accounts for approximately 45% of the world's solar-grade polysilicon supply, a report by solar industry analysts found.

The two sources familiar with the policy said the White House sees the actions as a "natural continuation" of the G7 agreement earlier this month to eliminate forced labor from supply chains.

"We view these three actions as putting that commitment into action," one of the sources said. "We believe these actions demonstrate a commitment to imposing additional costs on the PRC for engaging in cruel and inhumane forced labor practices."

The XPCC, a paramilitary organization sent to Xinjiang in the 1950s to build farms and settlements, remains powerful in the region's energy and agriculture sectors, operating almost like a parallel state.

Foreign governments and human rights activists say it has been a force in the crackdown and surveillance of Uyghurs in the region, running some detention camps. The U.S. Treasury Department last year sanctioned XPCC for "serious rights abuses against ethnic minorities."

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld, David Shepardson, Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Emily Chow in Shanghai and Shivani Singh in Beijing; Editing by Howard Goller, Lisa Shumaker and Richard Pullin)

(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.)
Shares of hit a new high of Rs 1,539.90, up 2.5 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade on Thursday after the information technology (IT) major announced that its Rs 9,200 crore buyback via open route will commence on Friday, June 25, 2021.

In the past one month, has outperformed the market by surging 14 per cent, as compared to 4 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. A sharp run-up in stock price has seen Infosys' market capitalisation cross Rs 6.5 trillion. At 11.00 am, the market-capitalisation of stood at Rs 6.56 trillion on the BSE, the exchange data shows.

Infosys has proposed to buy back shares at a maximum price of Rs 1,750 per share. The company had announced its intention of a share buyback during its Q4FY21 results.

The Board approval for the buyback was issued on April 14, and shareholder approval was received on April 19, at the companys 40th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The share buyback is in accordance with the company board's decision to return 85 per cent of the free cash reserves over a period of five-years through a combination of dividends and share buyback to shareholders.

Infosys said the Buyback is being undertaken by the Company after taking into account the strategic and operational cash needs in the medium term and for returning surplus funds to the members in an effective and efficient manner.

The Buyback will help the Company to return surplus cash to its members. The Buyback is generally expected to improve return on equity through distribution of cash and improve earnings per share by reduction in the equity base in the long term, thereby leading to long-term increase in members value; and the Buyback gives an option to the members of the Company, either to sell their equity shares and receive cash or not to sell their equity shares and get a resultant increase in their percentage shareholding in the Company post the Buyback, without additional investment.

In a public announcement, Infosys said it shall utilise at least 50 per cent of the amount earmarked as the maximum buyback size for the buyback i.e. Rs 4,600 crore. Based on the minimum buyback size and the maximum buyback price, the company will purchase an indicative minimum of 26.29 million equity shares.
By Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The share of Middle Eastern crude in India's oil imports fell to a 25-month low in May, tanker data provided by trade sources showed, as refiners tapped alternatives in response to the government's call to diversify supplies.

India, the world's third biggest oil importer, in March directed refiners to diversify crude sources after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, led by top exporter Saudi Arabia, ignored New Delhi's call to ease supply curbs.

Asia's third-largest economy imported about 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in May, just below the previous month but about 31.5% higher than a year earlier, the data showed.

The Middle East's share dropped to 52.7%, the lowest since April 2019 and down from 67.9% in April, the data showed.

Imports from Saudi Arabia, India's second-largest supplier after Iraq, slipped by about a quarter from a year earlier, while supplies from the United Arab Emirates, which dropped to No. 7 position from No. 3 in April, fell by 39%, the data showed.

This comes after Indian state refiners nominated to lift less oil from in May.

Lower purchases of oil from the Middle East dragged OPEC's share of Indian oil imports to a record low.

To replace Middle Eastern oil, refiners hiked imports from Latin America, the United States and the Mediterranean.

Indian refiners bought higher volumes of gasoline-rich U.S. oil in March, expecting a recovery in local gasoline demand to continue in the months ahead, said Ehsan Ul-Haq, lead analyst for Oil Research and Forecasts at Refinitiv.

Strong demand for light crude saw Nigeria improving its ranking by two notches to become the No. 3 supplier to India in May.

Private Indian refiners Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy, however, boosted purchases of Canadian heavy oil to a record 244,000 bpd, equivalent to about 6% of India's overall imports.

"Indians bought Kazakhstan's CPC blend and Canadian oil due to attractive discounts in comparison to dated Brent and WTI, respectively," Ul-Haq said.

Tanker arrival data showed higher imports in contrast to preliminary government data, as cyclones along India's coast line last month delayed discharge of cargoes.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Florence Tan and Mark Potter)

(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.)
Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) ended 2.3 per cent lower at Rs 2,153.50 on BSE on Thursday in otherwise strong market. The Mukesh Ambani-controlled company held its 44th annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday. The stock of the countrys most valuable company hit high of Rs 2,214.80 and low of Rs 2,140 in intra-day trade. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 0.75 per cent higher at 52,699 levels.

The stock has now dipped for the third day in a row, falling around 4 per cent during this period and wiping off nearly Rs 53,000 crore in market capitalisation.

AGM of RIL began with the speech of chairman amid expectations that the company may spell out its plans for the oil-to-chemical (O2C) telecom, digital and retailing verticals. CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS





Investment plans



on Thursday announced a Rs 75,000 crore investment in setting up four 'Giga' factories to make solar photovoltaic cells, green hydrogen, batteries and fuel cells over the next three years. Addressing the company's annual shareholder meeting, he said Reliance will set up 100 GW of solar power generating capacity. on Thursday announced a Rs 75,000 crore investment in setting up four 'Giga' factories to make solar photovoltaic cells, green hydrogen, batteries and fuel cells over the next three years. Addressing the company's annual shareholder meeting, he said Reliance will set up 100 GW of solar power generating capacity. "We plan to build four Giga Factories to manufacture and integrate all critical components of new energy ecosystem solar photovoltaic module factory, energy storage battery factory, electrolyser factory, fuel cell factory," Ambani said. . These four factories will involve an investment of Rs 60,000 crore. READ ABOUT IT HERE

Ambani also announced plans to launch JioPhone Next, a fully featured smartphone, that is developed in partnership with Google. The launch is scheduled for September 10,2021. Ambani also announced plans to launch JioPhone Next, a fully featured smartphone, that is developed in partnership with Google. The launch is scheduled for September 10,2021. "JioPhone Next is one of the most affordable smartphones globally, which has cutting-edge technology," Ambani said. Speaking about the new smartphone, Google chief Sundar Pichai said that it is built for India and will open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the internet for the first time. . Dear Reader,

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Digital Editor Read our full coverage on Reliance Industries AGM
Shyam Metalics and Energy (SMEL) made a strong debut on the bourses, with the stock listing at Rs 380, a 24 per cent premium over its issue price of Rs 306 per share, on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday.

On the BSE, the stock listed at Rs 367, a 20 per cent premium over the issue price. However, it surged to Rs 399, a 30 per cent premium against its issue price in intra-day deals.

At 10:03 am, SMEL was trading at Rs 394, a 29 per cent premium on the NSE and BSE. A combined 7.7 million shares have changed hands on both the exchanges, so far.

The Rs 909 crore initial public offering (IPO) had witnessed robust demand from investors as the issue was subscribed 121.4 times. The metal producer has fixed the price band of Rs 303-306 for the IPO.

The issue saw stellar demand from most investor group. Qualified institutional buyers and non-institutional investors were the biggest subscribers to the issue as their portions were subscribed 156 times and 340 times, respectively. The portion kept aside for retail investors was also subscribed 11.6 times.

SMEL is a long steel products and ferro alloy company based in Kolkata, with manufacturing plants at Sambalpur in Odisha, and Jamuria and Mangalpur in West Bengal.

Of the net proceeds, Rs 470 crore will be utilized to repay or prepayment of debt availed by the company. Residual funds will be used for general corporate purposes, the company said in its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

At higher price band of Rs 306, SMEL is demanding a trailing twelve month (TTM) EV/EBITDA multiple of 8.6x, which is at premium to the peer average of 6.4x. Despite factoring in an exponential rise in EBITDA in Q4FY21, the company still appears to be overvalued in relation to its peers. That said, with favorable macros for steel consumption, cautious view on the international steel prices and higher demanded valuation, Choice Broking said.

According to the analysts at HDFC Securities, loss of any of SMELs suppliers or a failure by its suppliers to deliver some of its primary raw materials such as iron ore, iron ore fines, coal, chrome ore and manganese ore may have an adverse impact on its ability to continue manufacturing process.

Further, the steel industry is characterized by volatility in the prices of raw materials and energy which could adversely affect SMELs profitability; they said highlighting key concerns around the companys financial stability.
Nifty futures on SGX traded 25 points higher at 15,720 around 8.45 am, indicating a positive start for the benchmark indices on Thursday.

Here are the top stocks to track today:

Reliance Industries: The 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of (RIL) will be the most keenly tracked event on Thursday, where the company is touted to spell out its plans for the oil-to-chemical (O2C) telecom, digital and retailing verticals, according to analysts. The AGM begins at 2 PM. READ MORE

New listing: The shares of Shyam Metalics and Sona Comstar are slated to list on the bourses on Thursday. A strong debut is on the cards for Shyam Metalics while Sona Comstar is likely to witness a muted listing, suggest grey market trends.

Results today: A total of 97 companies, including ONGC, Ashok Leyland, Mishra Dhatu Nigam, and West Coast Paper Mills are scheduled to be released on Thursday.

said Guenter Butschek will step down as its MD and CEO with effect from June 30. He will, however, continue as a consultant to the company till the end of this fiscal year.

Enterprise reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 169.89 crore for the March quarter of FY21 as compared to Rs 209.60 crore in the year-ago quarter. Consolidated revenue stood at Rs 2,867.95 crore in the quarter under review.

Godawari Power: Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests & Climate Change, Impact Assessment Division has accorded its environment clearance for enhancement of iron ore production capacity from 1.405 MTPA to 2.35 MTPA in Ari Dongri Iron Ore Mines at Chhattisgarh, and for setting up of beneficiation plant of 0.6 MTPA capacity.

Vardhman Steel Limited has been granted the long-awaited Environmental Clearance for expansion of capacity at its existing plant in Ludhiana, upto 2,80,000 tons per annum of rolled production.

Speciality Restaurants reported consolidated profit of Rs 8.43 crore in Q4FY21 against loss of Rs 37.11 crore in Q4FY20. Revenue fell to Rs 65.42 crore.

Allcargo Logistics reported consolidated profit at Rs 5.91 crore in Q4FY21 against Rs 54.06 crore in Q4FY20. Revenue jumped to Rs 3,349.31 crore from Rs 1,870.96 crore in the year-ago quarter

Orchid Pharma: Promoter Dhanuka Laboratories proposed to sell 32,80,115 equity shares, representing 8.04 per cent of total paid-up equity via offer for sale, on June 24 and June 25.

Jaypee Infratech: Mumbai-based Suraksha Group has received the approval of the committee of creditors (CoC) to take over bankrupt real estate firm Jaypee Infratech, with more than 98 per cent of votes in favour of its resolution plan.
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director said on Thursday the conglomerate's consolidated revenue totalled Rs 5.4 lakh crore in 2020-21 (FY21) with a sharp increase from consumer businesses.

The consolidated EBITDA was nearly Rs 98,000 crore and almost half of it was contributed by consumer businesses. Net profit for the year was Rs 53,739 crore, higher by 34.8 per cent compared to the previous year.

"As India's largest enterprise, Reliance's contribution to the Indian economy continues to remain unmatched. At Rs 1.45 lakh crore, we continue to be India's largest exporter accounting for 6.8 per cent of India's total merchandise exports across 107 countries," said Ambani while addressing the company's 44th annual general meeting held virtually.

Even in a challenging environment, Reliance added nearly 75,000 new jobs in the past year. "We are committed to creating and enabling large-scale employment opportunities which is one of India's most urgent national tasks," he said.

Reliance continues to be India's highest payer of customs and excise duty in the private sector with payments of Rs 21,044 crore. It is among the highest payers of GST and VAT at Rs 85,306 crore.

It is also among the highest payers of income tax in private sector, paying Rs 3,213 crore.

In FY 2021, Reliance carried out the largest ever capital raise by any company globally in a year, notwithstanding the Covid challenges. The capital raises exceeded Rs 3.24 lakh crore through equity in Jio Platforms and Retail, rights issue and asset monetisation.

The investors included some of the best and marquee names across the world across sovereign wealth funds and private equity.

"This capital raise is a strong vote of confidence by global investors in India's growth potential. It reflects their faith in the ability of company's management to execute ambitious projects and long-term value creation plans," said Ambani.

Reliance retail shareholders have made 4x returns in just one year on their rights shares.

"All of these helped Reliance achieve a net debt-free balance sheet much ahead of March 2021, a promise I had made two years ago," said Ambani.

(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.)
Fitch said that RIL's ratings are supported by its superior refining asset quality, solid market position in petrochemicals, diversified cash flow streams with leading positions in telecom and retail and its expectation of low leverage.

The credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded the long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) of Reliance Industries (RIL) to 'BBB', from 'BBB-', with a negative outlook.

The agency has also affirmed RIL's long-term local-currency IDR at 'BBB+' with a stable outlook.

The upgrade is driven by Fitch's expectation that RIL's hard-currency (HC) external debt-service ratio will remain at above 1.0x over the next 12 months. Fitch's non-financial corporates exceeding the country ceiling rating criteria states that a company with a ratio of above 1.0x over at least 12 months can be rated one-notch above the country ceiling. India's Country Ceiling is 'BBB-'.

The negative outlook reflects the outlook on India's sovereign rating (BBB-/negative); should the sovereign IDRs be downgraded, the country ceiling may be revised down in tandem. This would constrain RIL's foreign-currency IDR to one notch above the country ceiling.

RIL's local-currency IDR reflects the company's strong business profile, with market leading positions and diversified cash flow from a mix of oil to chemical (O2C) and consumer businesses, as well as lower net leverage.

Fitch Ratings expects RIL's HC external debt-service ratio to remain above 1.0x over the next 12 to 18 months. The stronger ratio is driven by a 36% reduction in foreign-currency borrowings outside India following pre-payments of USD7.8 billion in the financial year ending March 2021 (FY21). This was achieved using part of the proceeds from the stake sales of digital-service and retail subsidiaries as well as a rights issue.

Fitch expects RIL's EBITDA to increase to around Rs 1.1 trillion in FY22, supported by a recovery in petrochemical spreads, transportation fuel cracks, higher refining throughput and a continued rise in digital services EBITDA.

RIL's ratings benefit from cash flow generation across diversified business segments with unrelated industry drivers. This was reflected in FY21, when strong cash flow from telecom mitigated the impact on overall cash generation from the pandemic-affected O2C segment.

Consumer businesses, including digital services and retail, contributed around half of overall EBITDA generation in FY21 and we expect this to be the case over the medium term, even as O2C and upstream EBITDA rises.

The credit ratings agency expects deleveraging to continue, with net leverage falling to around 0.5x in FY22 (FY21: 1.3x, FY20: 2.3x), supported by positive free cash flow generation and the receipt of the balance of funds from the rights issue. Capex is also likely to fall, averaging at Rs 550 billion a year in FY22-FY25 (FY21: Rs 1.1 trillion), as most planned capex has been completed.

RIL is the largest private sector corporation in India. Its activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail and digital services.

On a consolidated basis, RIL reported 108.36% surge in net profit to Rs 13,227 crore on 9.59% increase in net sales to Rs 149,575 crore in Q4 March 2021 over Q4 March 2020.

Shares of oil-to-telecom conglomerate were currently down 1.22% at Rs 2178.30 on the BSE.

The 44th annual general meeting (AGM) of the members of RIL will be held on today, 24 June 2021, at 14:00 IST.

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He would continue as a consultant to the company till the end of this fiscal year.

Tata Motors, in a regulatory filing made after trading hours yesterday, said that Guenter Butschek would be stepping down from his role as CEO & MD from 30 June 2021. Butschek had informed the company about his desire to relocate to Germany at the end of the contract for personal reasons.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group, said: I would like to thank Guenter for leading Tata Motors successfully over the last 5 years and creating a strong foundation for the future. I look forward to his continued inputs as a consultant to the company.

Guenter Butschek said: Leading Tata Motors over the last 5 years was an exciting experience. The business fundamentals are stronger, and we are well positioned to leverage the opportunities in both Commercial and Passenger Vehicles. I look forward to my continued association with the company as a consultant in the coming months.

Pursuant to this, Girish Wagh is being appointed as the executive director to the board of Tata Motors from 1 July 2021, the company said in a statement.

Girish Wagh as an additional director shall hold office upto the date of the ensuing annual general meeting (AGM) of the company and a proposal for his appointment as an executive director of the company would be placed for the approval of the members at the ensuing AGM of the company.

The company's 76th AGM is scheduled to be held on Friday, 30 July 2021.

Tata Motors' domestic business has successfully transitioned to a business unit structure with the commercial vehicles division headed by Girish Wagh and the passenger vehicle division headed by Shailesh Chandra. The executive committee is an experienced leadership team that has been successfully scripting the turnaround of the company and will continue to drive the business.

Girish Wagh, president - commercial vehicles, Shailesh Chandra, president - passenger vehicles and Thierry Bollore, CEO - Jaguar Land Rover will continue to work closely with the chairman, N Chandrasekaran.

Tata Motors, part of the Tata group, is a global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses.

On a consolidated basis, the auto major reported net loss of Rs 7,605.40 crore in Q4 FY21 lower than net loss of Rs 9,894.25 crore in Q4 FY20. Total revenue from operations during the quarter increased 41.8% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 88,627.90 crore in Q4 FY21.

The scrip shed 0.28% to currently trade at Rs 334.30 on the BSE.

On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the stock has zoomed 81.59% while the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex and S&P BSE Auto index have advanced 9.54% and 13.82%, respectively.

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The benchmark indices extended gains and hit fresh intraday high in early afternoon trade. At 12:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 301.23 points or 0.58% at 52,607.31. The Nifty 50 index gained 76.80 points or 0.49% at 15,763.75. The June 2021 F&O contracts will expire today, 24 June 2021.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 0.41% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index lost 0.16%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1,407 shares rose and 1,639 shares fell. A total of 155 shares were unchanged.

IT stocks were in demand. TCS (up 2.94%), Infosys (up 3.14%), HCL Technologies (up 1.51%) and Wipro (up 1.05%) advanced.

Reliance Industries (RIL) fell 1.23%. RIL will conduct its 44th AGM virtually today, 24 June 2021, at 14:00 IST. The oil-to-telecom conglomerate may make announcements across its telecom, retail and O2C businesses.

Coronavirus Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 17,95,99,617 with 38,91,945 deaths. India reported 6,27,057 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 3,91,981 deaths while 2,90,63,740 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

India recorded 54,336 new coronavirus cases and 1,321 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 9 A.M. on Thursday. With this the country's total caseload has risen to over 3 crore, while the death toll has increased to 3.91 lakh. Meanwhile, the active caseload has dropped to 6.27 lakh.

Derivatives:

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 1.82% to 15.0850. The Nifty 24 June 2021 futures were trading at 15,782.15, at a premium of 18.40 points as compared with the spot at 15,763.75.

The Nifty option chain for 24 June 2021 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 105.20 lakh contracts at the 15,800 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 81.30 lakh contracts was seen at 15,700 strike price.

The June 2021 F&O contracts will expire today, 24 June 2021.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index rose 0.92% to 5,108.55. The index fell 1.13% yesterday.

JSW Steel (up 2.03%), APL Apollo Tubes (up 1.67%), Hindustan Zinc (up 1.58%), Tata Steel (up 1.49%) and Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) (up 1.40%) gained.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Tata Motors rose 0.21%. In a regulatory filing made after trading hours yesterday, the automobile major said that Guenter Butschek would be stepping down from his role as CEO & MD from 30 June 2021. Mr Butschek had informed the company about his desire to relocate to Germany at the end of the contract for personal reasons.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) fell 1.01% after the company said that it may abandon Myanmar project if it violates U.S. sanctions and will write-down investments in the project in full. APSEZ has a project to build a container terminal in the city of Yangon on land leased from a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate. A military coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021 and an ensuing crackdown on mass protests in which hundreds have been killed has drawn international condemnation and sanctions on military figures and military-controlled entities.

Offering clarification with respect to the aforementioned media reports, Adani Ports said that the company has zero tolerance policy which ensures that there is no contravention of US and other sanctions. The company is in discussion with its US based counsels to ensure that the company follows the OFAC sanctions programs.

Nureca hit an upper circuit of 5% at Rs 1,627.50 after Hornbill Orchid India Fund bought 1,95,766 equity shares (or 1.95% stake) of the company at Rs 1,549.97 per equity share via bulk deals on the BSE yesterday, 23 June 2021.

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Reliance Industries (RIL) chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani is hosting the 44th annual general meeting (AGM) virtually.

Mukesh Ambani said that the company's business grew despite challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was mainly due to a sharp increase in its consumer business, which now contributes roughly half of RIL's operating profit.

The company reported a consolidated revenue of Rs 5,40,000 crore and consolidated EBITDA of Rs 98,000 crore.

RIL chairman further said that he expects a partnership between RIL and Saudi Aramco to be "formalised in an expeditious manner this year".

Despite challenges due to the pandemic, the two parties have made "substantial progress" in talks, Ambani said. He added that he expects strong global growth to benefit RIL's oil-to-chemicals business.

Ambani also announced that H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Saudi Aramco and governor of the Kingdom's wealth fundthe Public Investment Fundwill join the board of RIL as an independent director as part of the deal.

Emphasising on the need for a transition towards clean energy, the company's chairman laid out the roadmap of RIL's new energy business.

"We have started work on developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex on 5,000 acres in Jamnagar," Ambani said. "It will be amongst the largest such integrated renewable energy manufacturing facilities in the world."

Ambani said that RIL plans to build four Giga Factories for each of these task - Production of solar energy, Storage of intermittent energy, Production of green hydrogen and Fuel cell factory for converting hydrogen to motive and stationary power.

Ambani said that RIL will set up two additional divisions - Renewable Energy Project Management and Construction Division and a Renewable Energy Project Finance Divisionto further strengthen its renewable ambitions.

Reliance will thus create and offer a fully integrated, end-to-end renewables energy ecosystem. Our overall investment in New Energy business will be Rs 75,000 crore in 3 years, the chairman said.

Mukesh Ambani has revealed the JioPhone Nextan affordable smartphone co-developed with Google that is aimed at first-time internet users.

The phone will be available in the market from 10 September 2021. "JioPhone Next will be by far the most affordable smartphone globally," Ambani said. The phone will be powered by a highly optimised version of Android, Ambani said.

"I'm proud to announce that we are taking our collaboration further, with a new 5G partnership between Google Cloud and Jio. It will help more than a billion Indians connect to a faster and better internet... support businesses in their digital transformation and help Jio build new services in sectors like health, education and more laying a foundation for the next phase of India's digitization," Google-parent Alphabet's CEO Sundar Pichai said.

Mukesh Ambani said that Reliance Jio is doing a trial run with Facebook to integrate JioMart with WhatsApp. The initial response from customers has been encouraging, Ambani said.

With Microsoft, we have operationalized an initial 10 MW capacity of JIO-AZURE Cloud Data centres in two cities, Jamnagar and Nagpur. We are currently onboarding the initial group of pilot customers and we plan to expand our data centre capacity and our offerings to a growing number of SMEs and start-ups over the coming quarters, the chairman said.

RIL is the largest private sector corporation in India. Its activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail and digital services.

The scrip fell 2.66% to end at Rs 2146.50 on the BSE.

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Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) will be in focus. RIL will conduct its 44th AGM virtually today, 24 June 2021, at 14:00 IST. The oil-to-telecom conglomerate may reportedly make announcements across its telecom, retail and O2C businesses.

Shares of Sona BLW Precision Forgings will debut on the bourses today, 24 June 2021. The IPO of Sona BLW Precision Forgings was subscribed 2.33 times at a price band of Rs 285-291 per share.

Shares of Shyam Metalics & Energy will debut on the bourses today, 24 June 2021. Shyam Metalics' IPO was subscribed over 121 times at a price band of Rs 303-306 apiece.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise on Wednesday announced the creation of India's largest omni-channel healthcare platform called 'Apollo HealthCo' by merging its online and offline pharmacies and telemedicine businesses through slump sale.

Piramal Enterprises said the board of directors of the company will be held on Monday, 28th June, 2021, to consider and approve the issue of Secured, Rated, Listed Redeemable Principal Protected Market Linked Non-Convertible Debentures up to Rs. 100 crores along with an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs. 900 crores, the total size aggregating up to Rs. 1,000 crores on private placement basis.

Orchid Pharma said that promoter Dhanuka Laboratories proposed to sell 32,80,115 equity shares, representing 8.04% of total paid-up equity via offer for sale, on June 24 and June 25. The floor price for the sale is Rs 375 per share.

UCO Bank said the board of directors of the bank approved the proposal for raising of Tier II capital upto Rs.500 crore.

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Over 10 lakh shares of the company were traded in the counter so far on the BSE.

Shares of Shyam Metalics and Energy were currently trading at Rs 378.65 per share at 10:19 IST on the BSE, at a premium of 23.74% to the initial public offer (IPO) price of Rs 306 per share.

The scrip was listed at a price of Rs 367 per share, at a premium of 19.93% compared with the issue price.

The stock has hit a high of 399.10 and a low 367 so far in the trading session. On the BSE, 10.72 lakh shares were traded in the counter.

The IPO of Shyam Metalics and Energy received bids for 256.11 crore shares as against 2.10 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data. The issue was subscribed 121.43 times.

The non-institutional investors category was subscribed 339.98 times. The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) category was subscribed 155.71 times. The retail individual investors category was subscribed 11.64 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Monday, 14 June 2021, and closed on Wednesday, 16 June 2021. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 303-306 per share.

The issue comprised of fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 909 crore comprising of a fresh issue of up to Rs 657 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to Rs 252 crore (including anchor portion of 88,21,764 equity shares).

The existing shareholders selling shares in the OFS are Subham Capital, SubhamBuildwell, NarantakDealcomm, KalpataruHousefin and DoriteTracon. Total selling shareholders pre-issue shareholding was 88.22%, which shall decrease to 77.56% at the upper price band of Rs 306.

Ahead of the IPO, the company finalized allocation of 88,21,764 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 306 per share aggregating to Rs 269.94 crore.

The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds of the fresh issue towards repayment and/or pre-payment, in full or part, of debt of the company and SSPL (Shyam SEL and Power), one of the subsidiaries amounting Rs 470 crore and balance towards general corporate purposes. Gross debt was Rs 886.292 crore at the end of 31 December 2020.

On a consolidated basis, Shyam Metalics and Energy reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 456.32 crore and sales of Rs 3,933.08 crore in the nine months ended on 31 December 2020.

ShyamMetalics and Energy is a leading integrated metal producing company based in India with a focus on long steel products and ferro alloys. It is amongst the largest producers of ferro alloys in terms of installed capacity in India, as of February 2021.

The company sells intermediate and final products across the steel value chain. As of March 31, 2020, it is one of the leading players in terms of pellet capacity and the fourth largest player in the sponge iron industry in terms of sponge iron capacity in India. It is also one of the leading integrated steel and ferro alloys producers in the eastern region of India in terms of long steel products, as of March 31, 2020.

The company currently export products to Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, United Kingdom, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan, and is currently exploring newer geographies in North America, South America, Europe and Africa in order to increase exports.

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The stock listed at premium of 3.92% compared with the issue price of Rs 291 per share.

Shares of Sona BLW Precision Forgings were currently trading at Rs 309.60 per share at 10:16 IST on the BSE, at a premium of 6.39% to the issue price of Rs 291 per share.

The scrip was listed at a price of Rs 302.40 per share, at a premium of 3.92% as compared to issue price.

The stock has hit a high of 316 and a low 295.15 so far in the trading session. On the BSE, 7.78 lakh shares of the company were traded in the counter.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Sona BLW Precision Forgings received bids for 24.44 crore shares as against 10.71 crore shares on offer, according to the stock exchange data. The issue was subscribed 2.28 times.

The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) category was subscribed 3.46 times. The retail individual investors category was subscribed 1.58 times. The non-institutional investors category was subscribed 0.39 times.

The issue opened for bidding on 14 June 2021, and closed on 16 June 2021. The price band for the IPO was set at Rs 285-291 per share.

The issue comprised of fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 5,550 crore comprising of a fresh issue of up to Rs 300 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to Rs 5,250 crore (including anchor portion of 8,58,24,742 equity shares).

One of the promoters, Singapore VII Topco III, an affiliate of The Blackstone Group Inc is selling part of its stake through offer for sale aggregating upto Rs Rs 5,250 crore. Post OFS, the shareholding of Singapore VII Topco III will decline to 34.18% on expanded post issue equity down from 66.28% pre-IPO.

Ahead of the IPO, the company finalized allocation of 8,58,24,742 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 291 per share aggregating to Rs 2,497.50 crore.

Proceeds from fresh issue will be used for repayment and pre-payment of identified borrowings in full availed by the company to the extent of Rs 241.117 crore and balance for general corporate purposes.

Total debt of the company as end of 31 March 2021 stood at Rs 366.26 crore including long term loan of Rs 249.748 crore up from Rs 306.782 crore as end of March 2020.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported a net profit of Rs 215.17 crore and sales of Rs 1,566.30 crore in the twelve months ended on 31 March 2021.

Sona BLW Precision Forgings (SBPF) is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing and supplying highly engineered, mission critical automotive systems and components such as differential assemblies, differential gears, conventional and micro-hybrid starter motors, BSG systems, EV traction motors [Brushless direct current (BLDC) motor and Permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM)] and motor control units to automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across US, Europe, India and China, for both electrified and non-electrified powertrain segments.

The company is among the top ten players globally in the differential bevel gear market and in the starter motor market on the basis of respective volumes supplied to its end segments in calendar year 2020 and has been gaining global market share across products.

The company is one of a few companies globally, with the ability to design high power density EV systems handling high torque requirements with a lightweight design, while meeting stringent durability, performance and NVH specifications, enabling EV manufacturers to enhance the vehicle range, acceleration and the overall efficiency.

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UCO Bank announced that the bank's board has approved the proposal for raising of Rs 500 crore.

In an exchange filing on Wednesday, UCO Bank said, the board of directors of the bank at its meeting held on 23 June 2021 approved the proposal for raising of Tier II capital upto Rs 500 crore.

Shares of UCO Bank were trading 1.49% higher at Rs 14.99 on BSE.

UCO Bank is a commercial bank. Its segments include treasury, corporate/wholesale banking, retail banking and other banking operations. It offers personal banking, corporate banking, international banking and rural banking services. As of 31 March 2021, the Government of India held 94.44% stake in the bank.

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Wipro announced that US-based Wipro IT Services LLC, a wholly owned step-down subsidiary of the company has raised USD 750 million by the issue and allotment of 1.50 per cent notes (Notes) to qualified institutional buyers.

The company has undertaken guarantee obligations in relation to the Notes.

The corporate guarantee will be treated as a contingent liability for the company.

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Digital Editor
Prime Minister on Thursday held a crucial meeting with 14 political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, including four former chief ministers, to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory.

The meeting is the first between the Centre and mainstream politicians after the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into two union territories in August 2019.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were among those attended the meeting at the prime minister's residence.

The four former chief ministers of who participated in the discussions were Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

"I will keep my agenda in the meeting and then talk to you," Farooq Abdullah said before the meeting started.

Asked about PDP chief Mehbooba's comments that India should initiate dialogue with Pakistan, the NC leader said, "Mehbooba ji is the president of her party. She has the right to speak. I have my own. I don't want to bring in Pakistan. I am going to talk to our own prime minister."

"If India can talk to the Taliban in Doha (Qatar), why not Pakistan," Mehbooba had said earlier,

With no agenda announced for the meeting, the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir said they have come with an open mind.

"We have not been given an agenda. We will be attending the meeting to know what the Centre is offering, said CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, a spokesperson of the six-party People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and among the 14 leaders invited.

P K Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister, and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla were in attendance as well.

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Prime Minister on Thursday said he wanted to end 'Dilli ki duri' as well as 'Dil ki duri' with Jammu and Kashmir, which has been witnessing prolonged spell of militancy and unrest.

He said this at a meeting held with 14 political leaders from to discuss the future course of political action -- two years after the abrogation of the Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories.

Modi said he wanted to remove 'Dilli ki duri' as well as 'Dil ki duri' (distance from Delhi as well as distance of heart), according to official sources.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state -- Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, Congress's Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti -- were among those who attended the three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting.

Modi patiently heard out suggestions and inputs from all participants and expressed that all of them shared their frank and honest views, the sources said.

It was an open discussion which revolved around building a better future for Kashmir, they said.

The main focus of the meeting was to strengthen the democratic process and the prime minister assured that the central government was fully committed to the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

The prime minister stressed that the holding of assembly elections just like the successful conduct of the DDC polls is a priority, the sources said.

It was discussed that elections can happen soon after delimitation and by and large most participants expressed willingness for it, they said.

Modi emphasised the need to strengthen democracy at the grassroots and work together with the people of to ensure their uplift.

He expressed happiness on the commitment to the Constitution and democracy espoused by all participants.

Modi said that even one death in is painful and it is the collective duty to protect the younger generation.

He stressed that there is a need to give opportunities to the youths of Jammu and Kashmir and they will give back lots to the country.

The development achieved by Jammu and Kashmir was discussed in detail with implementation of many pro-people initiatives.

Modi expressed satisfaction with the acceleration of development in Jammu and Kashmir and said that it is creating new hope and aspirations among the people.

He said when people experience corruption-free governance, it inspires trust among them and they also extend their cooperation to the administration and this is visible in Jammu and Kashmir now-a-days, according to the sources.

Modi said there would be political differences but everyone should work in national interest so that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are benefitted.

He stressed that an atmosphere of safety and security needs to be ensured for all sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

This is the first interaction between the central leadership and mainstream parties since August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

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Reliance Industries Chairman on Thursday announced 'JioPhone Next', a power-packed affordable smartphone that has been jointly developed by Jio and tech titan

JioPhone Next will be available from September 10, and will be the most affordable smartphone globally, Ambani said while addressing RIL's annual general meeting.

The "extremely affordable" smartphone will have cutting-edge features, including voice assistant and language translation, among others, he said.

He further said will use Cloud for 5G.

Last year, had announced an investment of Rs 33,737 crore for a 7.7 per cent stake in Reliance Industries' technology venture Jio Platforms. The tech giant had also teamed up on technology initiatives, including development of affordable smartphones for the price-sensitive, tech-savvy Indian market.

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New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI/NewsVoir): Barco ClickShare, global leader in visualisation and collaboration solutions, has revealed the results from its annual research on meeting trends and engagement.

As the (https://www.barco.com/en/news/2020-12-07-introducing-the-meeting-barometer) Meeting Barometer, Barco's meeting quality index, takes a plunge from +17 in 2020 to -25 now, the report marks five trends in work and meeting on the verge of returning to the office post-Covid. Hybrid meetings create opportunities for business leaders to change work culture, redesign the workplace and invest in usability and technology fully in sync with employee needs.

Rajiv Bhalla, Managing Director, Barco India, "Technically, the old argument about which tasks can or cannot be done remotely has been dispensed within the last 12-14 months. More than productivity, concerns regarding hybrid working are all about employees - about bonding, connection, job security, innovation, access, culture and control. We need to realistically navigate towards an office where everyone can thrive, businesses as well as people. Meetings are at the centre of engagement in hybrid workplaces and can make a real impact on business outcomes starting from an employee-centric mindset. Visual tools are important for intimacy, to establish bonding with the remote worker, to share work progress, address the gaps, conveying urgency, ensuring deadlines. Tech exhaustion will be minimised if we match the right tools in the right proportion."

In our newest, international survey we continued to monitor the engagement and needs of employees in meetings. We discovered 5 trending topics that business leaders can simply not ignore when preparing for a flexible, hybrid future:

Office optimism returns. Back to office scenarios are not only pushed by C-level management, but they are also completely in line with what employees want. More than 75% of Indian respondents are ready to return to the office, while 68% are expected to be back in the office one or more days by the end of June 2021. They want to work less from home than 6 months ago (2 days in 2020 - 1.5 days in 2021).

The Barco Meeting Barometer takes a plunge as people struggle with an overload of virtual meetings. An index of -25, compared to +17 in 2020 and +63 in 2019, clearly shows that meetings deteriorate. 72% feel remote collaboration does not come naturally.

The search for more engagement drives us away from virtual. We look for more in-person meetings and less virtual interactions. 1 in 2 employees goes back to the office to host a meeting (60%). The preference for hybrid, in-person or virtual, meetings depend on the purpose and type of a meeting, as well as on the number of meeting participants. High engagement activities like decision-making, solution-solving or relationship-building require office-based meetings.

The laptop is our interface to the world. As the preference for people-centric tech becomes clearer, the laptop remains the number one tool for 85% of employees to host video calls from. Traditional in-room systems are no longer preferred, in favor of BYOD and BYOM.

The employee-centric workplace arises. Hybrid meeting investments should be in sync with employee expectations on how and where they want to work and collaborate. 53% believe that the company has not prioritized the investments they needed for better hybrid collaboration while 71% think that all meeting rooms need to be equipped with videoconferencing technology.

The time for workplace change is now -

The emerging hybrid workplace isn't just about simply going back to our old-ways or about drastically changing present-day, virtual habits. It will be a careful balance between employee needs and business goals. For companies to daily bridge the gap between in-office and remote workers and allow them to be truly productive in meetings, both a change in work culture and technology investments like usability, BYOM and video solutions, will be crucial. In addition, our report includes 3 main take-aways that will enable decision-makers to anticipate and keep ahead of competition, as they shape the hybrid workplace moving forward:

Re-connecting with the organization and with colleagues is crucial for employee engagement and retention. 81% of employees think their employer should start preparing for hybrid work now.

One size does not fit all. Not all meetings are equal, not all employees have the same needs or requirements for collaboration. There are many differences across generations, gender, department and seniority level. Companies need to develop workplace strategies that allow for this kind of flexibility and empower employees to work the way they want.

Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) is the employee's preferred choice for connecting to the world and to co-workers. The laptop is the heart of the meeting room eco-system and employees want to work with wireless & touchless meeting room tech that allows BYOM. 87% believe that easy-to-use technology can make for a better meeting.

The full findings can be viewed (https://www.barco.com/en/clickshare/hybrid-meetings)

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mukesh Ambani, on Thursday, announced Jio Phone Next, an ultra-low-cost smartphone developed jointly by Google and Reliance Jio.

"I am pleased to announce that Google and Jio teams have jointly developed a truly breakthrough smartphone - JIOPHONE NEXT. It is a fully featured smartphone supporting the entire suite of applications from both Google and Jio," said Mukesh Ambani at the Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL) 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtual event.

He added that the JioPhone Next runs on a special version of Android. The low-cost 4G smartphone will be available in the Indian market from September 10, Mukesh Ambani further stated.

"It is ultra-affordable and packs cutting-edge features," Ambani added. "It will be available in market from Ganesh Chaturthi, 10th September," announced Mukesh Ambani during the keynote.

JioPhone Next follows JioPhone and JioPhone 2. While the phones were primarily feature phones with some smart features, JioPhone Next is a full-fledged smartphone that comes with the Google Play Store.

"Our teams have optimised a special version of Android specifically for this phone. It is built for India and for users who will experience a smartphone for the first time," said Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

"At a time when so many aspects of our lives and work are moving online, it's even more important to make technology accessible and helpful for everyone. This goal is at the heart of our partnership with Reliance Jio," Pichai added.Also Read: Jio Institute to start academic sessions this year: Nita Ambani

Also Read: Reliance's COVID-19 work would have made grandfather proud: Isha, Akash Ambani

Also Read: Reliance AGM Live Updates: RIL created 75,000 new jobs; retail shareholders for 4x returns, says Mukesh Ambani






Jio Institute will commence operations at its campus in Navi Mumbai this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, said at the Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL) 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

"Despite the pandemic, I am pleased to announce that Jio Institute is all set to commence academic sessions at their campus in Navi Mumbai this year itself!" said Nita Ambani.

"We have also worked very hard through these challenging times, to bring our dream project - the Jio Institute - to life! Jio Institute is envisioned to be an exemplary academic institution with a world-class platform for research, innovation, and lifelong learning. It will prepare the next generation of global leaders who will significantly contribute to the advancement of India and the world," she added.

Set up under Reliance Foundation, Jio Institute was awarded the Institute of Eminence (IoE) status in 2018 under the 'Greenfield' category, meant for new or proposed institutes.

Also Read: Reliance's COVID-19 work would have made grandfather proud: Isha, Akash Ambani

Jio Institute campus will be spread across 52 acres land and 3,60,000 sq ft in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. In its first academic year, Jio Institute has proposed to begin programmes in data science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital media, and integrated marketing communication for undergraduates.

The Reliance Foundation will also come out with Reliance Foundation Scholarships in AI and Computer Science for undergraduates and postgraduates.

Nita Ambani also highlighted the company's philanthropic endeavours, comprising the production of high-quality medical-grade industrial oxygen and procuring oxygen tankers from other nations in the wake of oxygen shortages owing to high coronavirus cases.

"You will feel proud to know that today Reliance is producing over 11% of India's medical-grade liquid oxygen, the highest by a single company at a single location," said the Reliance Foundation chairperson.

"Created a total capacity of over 2000 beds for Covid care, all equipped to provide uninterrupted oxygen supply and totally free-of-cost treatment," she added.

Also Read: Reliance AGM Live Updates: RIL created 75,000 new jobs; retail shareholders for 4x returns, says Mukesh Ambani

Nita Ambani further pointed out that Reliance Foundation unveiled five missions to fight COVID-19 - Mission Anna Seva, Mission Oxygen, Mission Vaccine Suraksha, Mission COVID Infra, and Mission Employee Care.

She added that RIL's Mission Vaccine Suraksha was one of the country's largest corporate vaccination programmes to inoculate 20 lakh employees, retired employees, partner company employees, and their families free of cost. Nita Ambani stated that Reliance will also give Rs 10 lakh to families of off-roll employees who died due to COVID-19.

"I assure you that in every challenge that India faces, Reliance Foundation has and will continue to stand with every Indian. Together, we shall overcome as we always have," she said.
Mukesh Ambani, in his address to the shareholders on Thursday, said that Saudi Aramco's plan to join Reliance O2C Ltd as a strategic partner is expected to be formalised in an "expeditious manner" this year. The $15-billion deal announced by Ambani in 2019 annual general meeting (AGM) has been delayed because of the troubles that Aramco has been facing at the crude pricing front. However, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has inducted Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of Saudi Aramco and the Governor of the Public Investment Fund, on the board of India's largest private company. The move is expected to hasten the deal conclusion.

"We look forward to welcoming Saudi Aramco as a strategic partner in our O2C business," said Ambani. He added that both the companies have made substantial progress in discussions in the past year.

Also read: Jio Institute to start academic sessions this year: Nita Ambani

"These discussions have been held in the spirit of mutual commitment to convert our long-standing relationship into a perpetual partnership. This continued engagement and resolve from both sides, even during this pandemic, is a testimony of the strong relationship between Saudi Aramco and Reliance," he added.

Reliance O2C has international plans also, Ambani indicated. The strategic investments of Aramco is expected to act as a bridge for RO2C in its international foray, especially in the new areas of petrochemicals business.

Also read: Mukesh Ambani's next big disruption to be solar! 5,000-acre Dhirubhai Ambani complex in works

Saudi Arabia is in the process to sell 1 per cent stake in its oil giant Aramco for $19 billion. Aramco may be in talks with one of the state-backed oil majors from China, suggested reports. The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, earlier confirmed the possible sale in the world's biggest oil company.

Aramco has been in discussions with RIL to pick up a 20 per cent stake in the latter's refining and petrochemicals business for $15 billion.

The partnership of RIL and Aramco is expected to improve the India-Saudi relations, especially while negotiating the crude price. The governments recently sparred over the crude oil prices. India, the third-largest crude oil importer and consumer, recently asked public sector crude refining companies to scale up imports from the US and Africa following Saudi Arabia's decision to raise the official selling price (OSP) of oil shipments to Asia in May. The action by Saudi, the world's largest crude exporter, was largely conceived as a retaliation to India's plan to cut crude imports from the country.

Also read: RIL AGM Live: Jio is not only making India '2G-mukt', but also '5G-yukt', says Mukesh Ambani
Stating that GST council meetings have become "almost toxic" with the erosion of trust between the Centre and states, West Bengal minister Amit Mitra on Wednesday urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider a "course correction" to rebuild faith.

In a letter to Sitharaman, the state's finance minister also claimed that the central government comes to GST council meetings with a "predetermined conclusion".

Mitra on June 13 alleged that his voice was "muzzled" during the GST Council meeting on that day and his opposition to levy taxes on Covid essentials like vaccines, masks, PPE kits and anti-viral drug Remdesivir, was not heard.

"What pains me most is the fact that GST Council meetings have become acrimonious, vexing and almost toxic with erosion of mutual trust that had held fast between state and the Centre since the inception of the GST Council," he said in the letter.

Also read: GST on COVID-19 essentials triggers Centre-Bengal row; state FM says 'voice muzzled'

Many have observed a steady breakdown of the spirit of cooperative federalism and the erosion of the commitment to work out a consensus in the GST Council meetings, Mitra claimed.

Mitra recalled several instances where sharp differences cropped up between the states and the Union government but then there was no "bitterness or antagonism".

"But, now I am afraid that arriving at such a consensus, even for much simpler matters, has become elusive," he said.

It is a dangerous time for the GST regime as the states own resources are in dire distress, the state finance minister said.

The gap between projected revenue and revenue collected has ballooned to Rs 2.75 lakh crore and the actual compensation due to the states for 2020-21 has reached Rs 74,398 crore, he said adding that fraudulent transactions hit a peak of Rs 70,000 crore, as per Nandan Nilekani's presentation to the GST council.

"An undercurrent has emerged in recent times that while the Chair hears the submissions of all States very patiently, indeed, there is a predetermined conclusion with which the Government of India, aided by top bureaucrats, comes to the GST council meetings," the letter read.

He said that the issues were brought to her attention with utmost sincerity and frankness so that she may consider a course correction in the manner of functioning of the GST Council.

"I assure you that we will respond in equal measure if you bring back a consensual atmosphere that had defined the GST council since its inception," he said.

Also read: GST Council meet: No tax on Black Fungus drugs, 5% rate on COVID-19 vaccines unchanged
The Karnataka High Court is set to hear a plea by Twitter India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari, seeking transit anticipatory bail in connection with a probe related to a video of a victim of a purported hate crime, before his questioning in Uttar Pradesh.

Maheshwari was expected to appear in person before the Ghaziabad police to record his statement on Thursday, but has not appeared so far. "He did not reach the police station at the given time and is expected to reach here by noon," Circle Officer (Loni), Atul Kumar Sonkar, told PTI.

The plea was filed on June 23, two days after the UP police summoned Maheshwari and Dharmendra Chatur, Twitter India's Resident Grievance Officer, for questioning. The plea will be heard today by Justice G Narendar.

The Ghaziabad police on June 15 had booked Twitter Inc, Twitter Communications India, news website The Wire, journalists Mohammed Zubair and Rana Ayyub, besides Congress leaders Salman Nizami, Maskoor Usmani, Shama Mohamed and writer Saba Naqvi.

They were booked over the circulation of 'misleading' tweets and videos in which an elderly man, Abdul Shamad Saifi, claims he was allegedly thrashed by some young men who asked him to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' on June 5. The police claim the video was shared to cause communal unrest and 'provoke communal sentiments.'

"You couldn't remove certain tweets even after you were asked to by authorities. You understand Indian laws and are bound to follow them," the notice summoning Maheshwari said.

Twitter India had been ordered to delete such posts, but initially failed to do so. According to PTI, the company had 'withheld' 50 tweets containing content related to the video, after receiving a legal request to do so.

This is the first time that a case has been filed against the social media giant after the government's new IT rules for online news publishing platforms came into effect.(Edited by Rupashree Ravi)

Also Read: 'Law of the land supreme': Parliamentary panel grills Twitter over violation of new IT rules

Also Read: Police summons Twitter India's top official over viral video that incited 'hate and enmity'
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani said that he expects to formalise the oil-to-chemical (O2C) deal with Saudi Aramco this year. He said that the conglomerate's O2C business faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic but that both RIL and Aramco still have a strong relationship.

"Our O2C biz faced unprecedented challenges by severe economic contraction at the beginning of the year. Yet we were probably the only company globally that operated at near full capacity and was profitable in every quarter," he said, further adding, "Continued engagement and resolve from both sides, even during this pandemic, is a testimony of strong relationship between Saudi Aramco and Reliance. I expect our partnership to be formalised in an expeditious manner this year."

"As an important part of this vision of achieving accelerated growth, we look forward to welcoming Saudi Aramco as a strategic partner in our O2C business," said Ambani.

Mukesh Ambani also announced that Saudi Aramco chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan will join the board as an independent director. He said that Al-Rumayyan presence in the Reliance board is the beginning of 'internalisation of Reliance'.

The deal was originally expected to be sealed by March 2020 but had gotten delayed for unexplained reasons. However, talks revived this year.

Mukesh Ambani during the speech also announced his next big disruption -- solar energy. He said that Jamnagar was the cradle of their old energy business and Jamnagar will be the cradle of their new energy business. He said that they are planning to build four giga factories to manufacture and integrate all critical components of new energy ecosystem -- solar photovoltaic module factory, energy storage battery factory, electrolyser factory, fuel cell factory. "We have started work on developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex on 5,000 acres in Jamnagar. It will be amongst the largest such integrated renewable energy manufacturing facilities in the world," he added.
Tata Group founder Jamsetji Tata has topped the EdelGive Hurun Philanthropists of the Century. Emerging as the biggest philanthropist globally over the last 100 years, Jamsetji Tata donated $102 billion, according to a list of top-50 readied by Hurun Report and EdelGive Foundation.

The report pegs the current value of total donations, mainly made to boost education and healthcare, at $102.4 billion.

Jamsetji Tata is the only Indian in the top 10 list, followed by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, Henry Wellcome, Howard Hughes, and Warren Buffett.

Also Read: 'Never an owner': Azim Premji's son shares father's philosophy on wealth

Meanwhile, the only other Indian among the top 50 is Wipro chairman Azim Premji, who is ranked 12th in the list and has virtually given his entire fortune of $22 billion for philanthropic causes.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' ex-wife Mackenzie Scott donated $8.5 billion directly to charities, most ever in a year by a living donor.

Tata, the founder of what has now become a group spanning interests from salt to software, is ahead of others like Bill Gates and his now estranged wife Melinda who have donated $74.6 billion, Warren Buffet ($ 37.4 billion), George Soros ($34.8 billion) and John D Rockefeller ($26.8 billion), the list showed.

"Whilst American and European philanthropists may have dominated the thinking of philanthropy over the last century, Jamsetji Tata, founder of India's Tata Group, is the world's biggest philanthropist," Rupert Hoogewerf, the chairman and chief researcher at Hurun, told reporters.

Setting aside two-thirds of ownership to trusts engaged in doing good in various areas, including education and healthcare, has helped Tatas achieve the top spot in giving, he said, adding that Jamsetji Tata's giving started in 1892 itself.

Also Read: Ratan Tata conferred FIICC's 'Global Visionary of Sustainable Business and Peace' award

Hoogewerf said there are a few names like Alfred Nobel which are not even in the list of top-50 givers of the last century, while some others are not a surprise.

A majority 38 people in the list are from the US, followed by the UK (5) and China (3). Total 37 of the donors are dead while only 13 of them are alive.

The total donations by the 50 givers are pegged at $832 billion over the last century, of which $503 billion came from foundation endowments and $329 billion from donations to date.

The annual grants by them are now topping $30 billion, Hurun said.

"Today's billionaires are not keeping up with philanthropy, making money much faster than they are giving it away," Hoogewerf said.
In June 2020, the board of Adani Power decided to delist the company whose share price was languishing at Rs 38 against its August 2009 listing price of Rs 100. The low price was affecting fundraising and growth plans. The board set the floor price for delisting at Rs 33.82 and has been waiting for approval from stock exchanges. However, over the last seven months - December 2020 to June 2021 - the company's share price surged around 300 per cent, pushing the scrip to Rs 166.

Shares of five other Adani group companies grew three to 10 times in the last one year until June 11, 2021. Market value of Adani Green Energy (AGEL) increased to Rs 1.9 lakh crore (as on May 31, 2021). Barring Adani Power (Rs 57,000 crore), each of the other group firms' market cap crossed Rs 1.7 lakh crore by June 11. Aggregate market capitalisation of the six entities stood at Rs 9.5 lakh crore. The rise in market value propelled group Chairman Gautam Adani (the family owns 56-75 per cent in listed entities) to being Asia's second-richest man, after Reliance Industries' Mukesh Ambani. Adani's wealth shot up to $77 billion.

The spike in Adani group stock prices was, however, highly unusual. They grew 122-819 per cent during January 2020-June 11, 2021, while the Sensex and the Nifty rose 27 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively.

Adani group did not respond to BT's questions on the unusual rise in share prices. But here's how the group reasons out the share price rise. In a recent public statement, it said Adani Ports & SEZ handled 247 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo, registering a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) three times higher than the industry. "It has best in class EBITDA margin of 70 per cent and has registered volume CAGR of 10 per cent during the last five years," the statement said. For Adani Green Energy, the EBITDA margin is 89 per cent. Adani Transmission operates the largest private network in India. Adani Electricity Mumbai, a subsidiary of Adani Power, distributes power to over 3 million homes in Mumbai. Adani Total Gas, which has presence across 38 geographical areas, registered 41 per cent EBITDA. Adani Enterprises, which witnessed 10 times growth in share price in the last one year until early June, incubates new businesses such as airports, roads, data centre and solar manufacturing, besides enhancing its FMCG portfolio.

But, industry experts and observers found it difficult to comprehend the price surge, putting a question mark on the valuation of Adani group companies. Especially when the group's market capitalisation crashed by over Rs 1 lakh crore on June 14 on incorrect reports of the National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) freezing the accounts of foreign portfolio investors who hold a vast majority of their portfolio in Adani group firms. Even though NSDL later clarified to Adani group about the inaccuracy of the information (it said the three accounts were 'active'), retail investors have since pulled down the prices of Adani Power, Adani Transmission and Adani Total Gas by 18 per cent as on June 18. 2021. Chairman Gautam Adani lost almost $10 billion in the four days of trading since June 14, bringing him down to the third spot in the Asian wealth ranking.

Some analysts say the dip in share prices is due to a correction since group firms were highly over-valued compared to peers. For instance, share prices of three Adani group companies in the power sector- Adani Power, Adani Green Energy and Adani Transmisssion - have jumped 200 per cent to 600 per cent in the last one year, and the aggregate market cap of these companies zoomed to Rs 4 lakh crore as on June 11, 2021. Rival Tata Power Company (TPCL), which operates in all the areas of the three Adani companies, witnessed nearly 200 per cent rise in its share price in the one year since June 10, 2020, but its market value was still one fourth at Rs 40,000 crore on June 11, 2021. JSW Energy has seen a 235 per cent rise in share price and its market value was Rs 27,000 crore during the same period.

The three Adani companies own coal-fired, solar and wind power projects with around 16,000 mega watt (MW) capacity and 17,200 circuit kilometres (CKm) of transmission lines and distribution rights in Mumbai. The three posted an aggregate net profit of Rs 2,642 core on combined revenue of Rs 39,172 crore in FY21. But these companies also had gross and net debts of Rs 98,853 crore and Rs 94,938 crore, respectively, in FY21. Rival Tata Power Company has 12,808 MW of generation capacity (30 per cent from renewable), 3,531 kilometres of transmission network and distribution rights in Delhi, Mumbai, Ajmer and Odisha. The company, which posted a net profit of Rs 1,439 crore in 2020/21, has a debt of just Rs 36,000 crore.

A big surprise is Adani Total Gas, valued at Rs 1.48 lakh crore on June 18, 2021. It reported Rs 471-crore profit in FY21. In comparison, its much-larger peer and the more profitable Gujarat Gas had a market cap of Rs 36,921 crore, though it generated a profit of Rs 1,275 crore. Indraprastha Gas, which posted a profit of Rs 1,249 crore, had a market cap of Rs 37,000 crore.

Valued at Rs 9.5 lakh crore before the crash, the Adani group reported an aggregate net profit of Rs 8,922.93 crore in FY21. Its gross and net debt stood at Rs 1.48 lakh crore and Rs 1.37 lakh crore. Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries (RIL), which generated a profit of Rs 53,739 crore in FY21 and has zero net debt, is valued at Rs 14.7 lakh crore. India's third most valuable firm, HDFC Bank, which posted Rs 31,116-crore profit in FY21, is valued just above Rs 8 lakh crore.

Why The Difference?

Arun Kejriwal, Director, investment advisory firm, KRIS, says market cap is a function of perception and comparison between two companies. "When you compare two companies from the same business, you compare the promoters and management, quality of assets and performance track record. Adani firms tend to get higher valuation because of their business approach, high promoter shareholding in the companies, better financial performance and projects in pipeline," he adds.

Since promoters have a high shareholding in all Adani group firms, fewer shares are available for trade. In a demand-supply situation, when demand rises, prices of shares with lower float in public tend to rise faster. In Adani Enterprises, Adani Power, Adani Total Gas and Adani Transmission, promoters hold nearly 75 per cent stake, the upper limit permitted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. In Adani Ports, they hold 63.74 per cent. Promoter stake in Adani Green Energy has been reduced to 55 per cent from 75 per cent in the March quarter following the sale of 20 per cent stake to French oil and energy group Total SE.

Deven R. Choksey, Managing Director, KR Choksey Investment Managers, says the Adani group is the only pure-play infrastructure conglomerate in the country. "Global investors look for longer visibility for revenue and cash flow. The group is cash surplus and generated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of Rs 32,000 crore," he says. Investors are also attracted to the high internal rate of return (IRR) of 14-15 per cent in these companies, which is only 2-4 per cent in utility/infra companies in developed countries, he adds.

Sources, however, are concerned about a trend where promoters work with friends and friendly organisations to generate demand for shares of target companies. "Promoters usually assure a particular return to friendly associates to buy the shares of their companies. They also compensate if there are losses incurred due to the purchase," says an operator in the market. Kejriwal of KRIS says such a practice is prevalent in the market.

Sanjay Sethi, Managing Partner, Nestor Capital Consulting, believes the high momentum in the shares of Adani group firms is primarily due to the herd mentality of retail investors. "However, the market believes that the group is well funded... It is the largest acquirer of infrastructure assets even in a down market," he says.

The group is also building assets, besides acquisitions. Recently, it set up Adani Cement Industries to cash in on the construction boom. An IPO for the airport business is also on the cards, according to sources. "The group plans to hive off the airport business from Adani Enterprises to kickstart the process," a company insider said.

In short, the market value in absolute terms is misleading at least in the case of Adani companies. While analysts feel the companies are overvalued, they agree that Adani has moved at a lightning speed to find new opportunities and ink quick deals.

On The Cards, But...

Fifty eight-year-old Gautam Adani, who started off as a diamond sorter in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazar, earned the millionaire tag in just three years of working as a diamond broker in his early 20s. He returned to Ahmedabad to run his elder brother's plastic unit and began building infrastructure assets in the midst of India's economic liberalisation. The Adani group, which was established in 1988, saw an unprecedented jump in share prices during the 2014 general elections. Group firms' share prices jumped 100-300 per cent in the belief that Adani's meteoric rise during the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's tenure could be replicated nationally with Modi as Prime Minister.

Gautam Adani was the 10th-richest Indian with $12 billion in wealth in 2018, thanks to the listing of Adani Green Energy and Adani Gas in June that year. In 2019, he became the second-richest Indian with $16-billion wealth.

The group recently shifted focus to new opportunities such as green energy, power distribution, airports, defence, data center and city gas distribution. Most of these segments are driven by government orders/projects. To strengthen his consumer portfolio, Adani has also become aggressive in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business, which comes under joint venture Adani Wilmar.

It continued to invest when the economy was struggling after Covid 1.0. In October 2020, Adani Port completed a Rs 12,000-crore acquisition of 75 per cent stake in Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh, and later received the Competition Commission of India's approval to acquire the additional 25 per cent from Vishwasamudra Holdings for Rs 2,800 crore. The company plans to acquire 31.5 per cent stake in Gangavaram Port in Andhra Pradesh from PE investor Warburg Pincus for Rs 1,954 crore. Group firms took over Dighi Port in Mumbai for Rs 705 crore and Alipurduar Transmission for Rs 1,300 crore during the pandemic.

The group also announced a plan to buy a majority stake in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports. Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, has acquired 23.5 per cent stake in the Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) from foreign investors for Rs 1,685 crore in February. It is also acquiring GVK Airport Developers' 50.50 per cent stake in MIAL. In mid-2018, Adani Transmission took over the Mumbai electricity distribution business from Reliance Infrastructure.

However, growing through high-value acquisitions is not a good idea when there is uncertainty in the economy and demand is dipping. Airports have been empty across the world during lockdowns. The power business has been struggling for the last one decade and big power projects announced were either non-starters or ended as bankrupt. It was the infrastructure-focused companies that went bankrupt in the last three years - Jaypee, Bhushan, Reliance Communications, Lanco and ABG Shipyard to name a few.

But Gautam Adani remained unfazed. Adani Ports has raised its capacity to 500 million tonnes (MT) from 245 MT in the last six years, thanks to acquisitions. Adani Green expanded capacity to 5,000 MW from 300 MW, while Adani Transmission has more than doubled its capacity to 17,000 CKm from 7,000 CKm. Adani Total Gas caters to 38 geographical areas now, against five in 2015.

Insiders say the group's infrastructure and real asset portfolio registered an EBIDTA growth of 22 per cent in FY21, despite the pandemic impacting economic growth. The group's net debt to EBIDTA is around 3.88, which is in the first quartile among global peers in the utility and infra sector. "Timely execution, operational excellence and prudent capital management are the key pillars of the group's growth. The group attracted large pool of foreign institutional investors, who constitute a significant part of our share register. Our register also includes significant strategic investors, including Total of France and QIA (Qatar Investment Authority)," they add.

The group's EBITDA stood at Rs 32,300 crore in FY21. "We expect similar growth this fiscal. While Adani Ports has given a guidance for a 11-12 per cent cargo volume growth, Adani Green's operational capacity will increase 10,000 MW by March 2022. Similarly, Adani Transmission will add 2,500 CKm by then," according to company insiders.

Adani Green recently bagged a contract for building a large solar project of 8,000 MW at an investment of Rs 45,000 crore. The company aims to become the world's largest renewable energy major by 2030. It has an installed renewable capacity of 2,800 MW and wants to raise it to 25,000 MW by 2025. However, the 8,000-MW solar project announced in June last year is yet to get dedicated buyers as the fixed power purchase agreement (PPA) tariff for the project is at the higher side of Rs 2.92 per kilowatt hour (kwh) for 25 years, against the going rate of Rs 2.3-2.4 per Kwh. But it may expose the company to higher financial risks, say experts.

The group plans to invest $5-7 billion annually to achieve its growth targets. It will entail raising huge debt additionally on existing loans. In such a situation, group companies cannot afford cash flow disruptions. As a group depending heavily on public utility businesses, Adanis are also exposed to policy disruptions.

Investors are now awaiting the next chapter of the Adani story.

@nevinji
Oil prices climbed on Thursday after a sharp drawdown in US crude and gasoline stocks reinforced optimism of a quick recovery in fuel demand and on doubts about the future of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that could end US sanctions on Iranian crude exports.

Brent crude futures rose 9 cents, or 0.1%, to $75.28 a barrel by 0103 GMT, after increasing 0.5% on Wednesday. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 6 cents, or 0.1%, to $73.14 a barrel, after rising 0.3% on Wednesday.

Both benchmarks hit their highest since October 2018 on Wednesday, but they pared gains later in the session as energy traders locked in profit after the US inventory report, Edward Moya, senior market analyst at brokerage OANDA, said in a report. Prices resumed climbing in Asia trade on Thursday.

US crude inventories fell by 7.6 million barrels in the week to June 18 to 459.1 million barrels, their lowest since March 2020, the US Energy Information Administration said. The drawdown was nearly double analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 3.9 million-barrel drop.

US gasoline stocks fell by 2.9 million barrels in the week, against analysts' expectations for an 833,000-barrel rise. ?

"Oil prices were lifted by the US inventory data which confirmed the strong outlook for higher fuel demand in the second half of this year, backed by a recovery in road and air travel," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, general manager of research at Nissan Securities.

"Behind the rally is also a view that there are still gaps in the talks over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal," he said.

Iran said on Wednesday the United States had agreed to remove all sanctions on Iran's oil and shipping but Washington said "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed" in talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

"We may see a short-term correction ahead of the OPEC+ meeting, but the market trend will remain bullish due to tightening supply-demand balance," Kikukawa said.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+), which meet on July 1, have been discussing a further unwinding of last year's record output cuts from August but no decision has been made, two OPEC+ sources said on Tuesday.

Also read: Middle Eastern share in India's oil imports reaches 25-month low
Share of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) declined over 3 per cent during the 44th annual general meeting (AGM) today. The stock hit an intraday low of Rs 2,140. It ended 2.35 per cent lower at Rs 2153.35 against the previous close of Rs 2205.10 post the AGM.

The large cap share opened 0.45 per cent higher at Rs 2214.80 against the previous close of Rs 2205.10. However, the stock shed all its early gains and slipped into the red.

Market cap of the company fell to Rs 13,65,103.98 crore.

The share stands higher than 50 day, 100 day, and 200 day moving averages and lower than 5 day, 10 day and 20 day moving averages.

It has gained 25 per cent in the last 12 months and risen 8 per cent since the beginning of this year.

Reliance raised Rs 3,24,432 crore capital through equity sale in Jio Platform and retail, rights issue, asset monetisation.

The Aramco deal was one of the most keenly followed developments in the RIL AGM. Chairman Mukesh Ambani said Saudi Aramco's plan to join Reliance O2C Ltd as a strategic partner is expected to be formalised expeditiously in this year.

Also, Reliance Industries has inducted Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of Saudi Aramco and the Governor of the Public Investment Fund, on the board of India's largest private company. The move is expected to hasten the deal conclusion.

Mukesh Ambani also announced Jio Phone Next, an ultra-low-cost smartphone developed jointly by Google and Reliance Jio.

"I am pleased to announce that Google and Jio teams have jointly developed a truly breakthrough smartphone - JIOPHONE NEXT. It is a fully-featured smartphone supporting the entire suite of applications from both Google and Jio," said Mukesh Ambani at the Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL) 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtual event.

JioPhone Next follows JioPhone and JioPhone 2. While the phones were primarily featured phones with some smart features, JioPhone Next is a full-fledged smartphone that comes with the Google Play Store.

He further informed that they have started work on developing the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex on 5,000 acres in Jamnagar. It will be amongst the largest such integrated renewable energy manufacturing facilities in the world.

"Reliance Retail sold 4.5 crore units of electronics last year which translates to over 120,000 units per day. We sold over a billion units of groceries or about 30 lakh units per day," he added.

He said that they plan to build four Giga factories to manufacture and integrate all critical components needed for the new energy ecosystem -- solar photovoltaic module factory, energy storage battery factory, electrolyser factory, fuel cell factory.
India's national carrier Air India will resume its flight operations from UAE Thursday onwards, weeks after the nation suspended incoming flights from India due to a surge in coronavirus cases.

"Effective June 24, 2021 (10 am), all Air India flights will arrive and depart from Terminal 1 of Dubai International Airport. All passengers booked to travel on or after June 24 are requested to report at Dubai Terminal-1," the airline said on its website.

On June 19, the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai said that passengers from India with a valid residence visa who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine will be permitted to travel to Dubai.

Meanwhile, Air India Express flights scheduled to depart from Dubai will continue to operate from Dubai Terminal-2.

From June 23, Emirates Airlines has started its flight operations to India. The airline welcomed the latest protocols and measures announced by Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management to allow safe travel of passengers from India, South Africa, and Nigeria to Dubai and onwards.

"They should also present a negative test certificate from a PCR test taken 48 hours before departure. We will resume carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with these protocols from 23rd June," said Emirates.

On April 24, UAE had announced that all incoming flights on national and foreign carriers from India will be suspended due to the surge in the cases of coronavirus.(Edited by Rupashree Ravi)

Also Read: Cairn lawsuit: Air India has time till mid-July to challenge the case
Domestic pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech and the World Health Organization (WHO) held a 'pre-submission' meeting on Wednesday for the international Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of the Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine. The meeting is a chance for the Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm to obtain proper guidance from the international health community before it finally submits Covaxin for approval. Earlier, the international health agency had accepted the Expression of Interest (EoI) for Covaxin from Bharat Biotech.

Explaining the process of the 'pre-submission' meeting, WHO said, "The pre-submission meeting does not include a detailed review of data or full study reports. However, an essential aspect of the meeting is the submission (at least two weeks in advance of the pre-submission meeting) of a completed QOS-PD (Quality overall summary product dossiers)".

The EUL procedure has been established to help streamline the process by which new or unlicensed products like Covaxin can be utilised during a public health emergency, according to WHO guidelines. Only seven vaccines have been granted EUL to date. These include Covishield, Pfizer, Moderna and others.

As per Bharat Biotech's report, the firm had submitted 90 per cent of the required documents to WHO in April. The firm is planning to submit the rest of the documents by the end of this month in order to obtain EUL for its COVID-19 vaccine.

Covaxin is one of the three COVID-19 vaccines which are being used for India's nationwide vaccination drive. The other two are Sputnik V and Covishield.

Bharat Biotech had developed Covaxin in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Bharat Biotech has submitted Phase III clinical trials data to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

(Edited by Purnima Priyadarsini)

Also Read: Warned Bolsonaro about internal pressure to buy Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, says Brazilian official
A Brazilian Health Ministry official has revealed that he alerted President Jair Bolsonaro to internal pressure he was facing to buy a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech, according to a newspaper interview on Wednesday.

A Senate panel probing the government's handling of the pandemic on Wednesday formally called the logistics department official, Luis Ricardo Miranda, to testify. Miranda has told prosecutors he was pressured by Alex Lial Marinho, an aide to one of Bolsonaro's closest allies, former Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello, according to documents seen by Reuters.

Miranda told O Globo he took his concerns, with documents, to Bolsonaro on March 20, and the president said he would speak with the head of the federal police. The meeting was brokered by Miranda's brother, Congressman Luis Miranda, who backed up the account in an interview with CNN Brasil on Wednesday.

The reports pose a problem for Bolsonaro, with questions likely to follow on what he did to investigate Miranda's claims. It also raises awkward questions for Pazuello, who is facing criminal and civil probes into his handling of the pandemic while minister. The president's office did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Both Miranda brothers are expected to testify before Senate investigators on Friday. Marinho, the aide to the former health minister, has also been called to testify before the probe, which has already unsealed his bank, telephone and tax records. The Health Ministry did not immediately respond to a request to interview Marinho.

Brazilian federal prosecutors have opened an investigation into a contract worth 1.6 billion reais ($320 million) for 20 million doses of Bharat Biotech's vaccine. Prosecutors cited comparatively high prices, quick talks and pending regulatory approvals as red flags for the contract signed in February.

In a statement, Bharat Biotech said its vaccine pricing had been consistently $15-20 per dose for foreign governments, a range in which the Brazil contract fell. Despite signing the deal with Brazil in February, Bharat said it had not shipped any vaccines as it awaited approvals and a formal purchase order.

In a statement late on Tuesday, the ministry said it had not made any payment to Bharat for its COVID-19 vaccine, called Covaxin, and the matter was under legal review.

Also read: This country plans to jail those who refuse to get vaccinated
JioPhone Next has been announced at the company's 44th AGM on Thursday. The smartphone has been built in collaboration with Google. The company announced that the JioPhone Next runs on a special version of Android.

JioPhone Next comes after JioPhone and JioPhone 2. While the JioPhone 1 and the JioPhone 2 were essentially feature phones with some smart features, the JioPhone Next is a full-featured smartphone, complete with the Google Play store.

"I am pleased to announce that Google and Jio teams have jointly developed a truly breakthrough smartphone, JioPhone Next. It is a fully-featured smartphone supporting the entire suite of applications from both Google and Jio," said Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited, during the 44th Reliance AGM, which was the second consecutive virtual annual general meeting.

"Our teams have optimised a special version of Android specifically for this phone. It is built for India and for users who will experience a smartphone for the first time," said Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Jio Phone Next is powered by an optimised version of Android, which has been jointly developed by Reliance Jio and Google.

"It is ultra-affordable and packs cutting-edge features," Ambani added. The Jio Phone Next will be available in India starting September 10. "It will be available in market from Ganesh Chaturthi, 10th September," announced Ambani during the keynote.

"At a time when so many aspects of our lives and work are moving online, it's even more important to make technology accessible and helpful for everyone. This goal is at the heart of our partnership with Reliance Jio," Sundar Pichai added.

Pichai also added that the new affordable Jio smartphone would open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the internet for the first time.

Some of the features teased on the JioPhone Next include voice assistant support, which means it may support Google Assistant, will be able to read screen text aloud automatically, can handle language translation, and will pack a camera with augmented reality filters.

Some camera features announced include Night mode support, HDR mode, and Snapchat lenses bringing Indian-specific effects to your selfies. The Jio Phone Next has also been confirmed to support the latest Android releases and security updates. The smartphone will offer users access to the Google Play store.
Xiaomi has already started working on the Redmi K50 series. The Chinese smartphone maker had launched the Redmi K40 smartphones in its domestic market earlier this year and had re-branded them as the Mi 11X and Mi 11X Pro for India. Now, company's general manager Lu Weibing has posted on Weibo asking users about features, configuration, and everything else they wish from the Redmi K40 successor. This confirms that the company is already working on the new phone, even though we don't have a timeline for it.

The Redmi K50 series is tipped to come with significant upgrades over the Redmi K40 smartphones. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the Redmi K50 smartphones will bring improvements to fast charging, video/imaging, and screen quality.

To recall, the Redmi K40 smartphones come with 33W fast-charging support and the same charger inside the box. Xiaomi has already paired its more premium Mi 11 Ultra with 67W and 55W fast chargers for China and India markets, respectively. It may add one of these chargers with the Redmi K50 smartphones.

There is still no official word on the launch date of the Redmi K50 but, it should arrive before the end of 2021. In that case, we should hear more about the Redmi K50 series in the coming days. Xiaomi is likely to launch at least two models in the line-up Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro before adding more in the future.

In India, it has recently launched the Mi 11 Lite as the fourth smartphone in the Mi 11 series. The line-up already includes the Mi 11X, Mi 11X Pro and Mi 11 Ultra. Mi 11 Lite is the most affordable of all these smartphones. It features a 6.5-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+ support and a 10-bit panel for better contrast and colours.

The smartphone is just 6.8mm thick and weighs 157 grams. It comes with a glass rear panel and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor in India. Xiaomi has launched only a 4G variant in the country right now but has hinted that a 5G model may arrive in the future.
Reliance Industries will kick off its 44th annual general meeting today, and there are a lot of expectations riding on the event. Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is likely to announce the roadmap for Jio 5G rollout today, alongside launching the first Jio 5G phones. It is an important stage in the company's growth that aims to bring the next-generation telecommunication services to India, even before its rival Airtel does that. Both Jio and Airtel are conducting 5G trials in restricted places in at least two cities, but wider testing is expected sometime at the beginning of 2022, if not later this year.

The biggest attraction that Jio was able to showcase was its homemade 5G equipment that is in line with the expectations of the government, which previously ruled out Chinese telecom gear makers such as Huawei from being a part of India's 5G testing. Jio also announced a partnership with Intel to develop 5G networking equipment, so there are going to be some advanced solutions available to the company at its disposal for the trials. But Jio is not the only one making significant achievements here. Airtel joined hands with Tata Consultancy Services to build the 5G network in India. Before we delve deeper, let us get some important AGM live stream details out of our way.

RIL AGM live stream

You can watch the RIL AGM live in a number of ways. On YouTube, you can tune to the Jio channel or The Flame of Truth channel to watch the live stream. On Facebook, you can watch the AGM live on Reliance Industries Limited and Jio pages. On Twitter, the live stream will be available on The Flame of Truth and Reliance Jio accounts, which you can go to watch the event.

RIL 44th AGM starts at 2 pm today.

Jio 5G in India

At last year's AGM, Reliance's Mukesh Ambani said Jio will begin testing 5G in mid-2021 and the upcoming AGM coincides with that timeframe. The expectation that Jio will outrightly begin 5G trials right after the AGM seems a bit far-fetched. But Jio will definitely have something to show its advances, especially now that the race to the first 5G deployment has got aggressive after Airtel's announcement that it will begin mass trials of 5G services in January 2022. The Department of Telecom has already granted telecom players permission to use the 700MHz, 3.5GHz, and 26GHz spectrums for 5G.

If you place some hope in Jio's progress so far in terms of 5G deployment, the telecom company is likely to begin mass 5G trials within this year. But that will be limited to a city or a state in the beginning, so you should not really hope 5G will reach everyone right from the start. Since Jio is hosting trials in Mumbai right now, it is likely Mumbai will get 5G for everyone first. Airtel, on the other hand, is conducting trials in Gurugram.

5G JioPhone

Jio is highly expected to also introduce its first 5G handsets at the 44th AGM today. Since the deployment of 5G in India will gain pace, Jio wants people to invest in the hardware. By hardware, I mean phones that support 5G. There is already a big assortment of 5G phones from across brands, but Jio launching its own phone makes sense. Jio's feature phone, called the JioPhone, is among the most popular feature phones in India, and continuing from that, Jio's 5G phone may even be a feature phone -- something that will probably be a first in the world. The 5G JioPhone is likely to use KaiOS as the operating system to bring some smart features.
Candy Hutchinson of Lake City with husband Tommy and daughters Alyssa, right, and Ashley. courtesy photo
Chinas benchmark Shanghai Composite Index (000001.SH) closed nearly flat on Thursday, while the Shenzhen Component Index (399001.SZ) fell 0.4%.

Shanghais tech-heavy STAR 50 Index (000688.SH) lost 1.92% for the day, while Shenzhens similar ChiNext Index (399006.SZ) fell 1.2%.

Below is a rundown of the top China business and finance stories, plus other news for the day:

 Energy Insider: Guangdong Kicks Off Renewable Energy Trading; China to Release Strategic Metals From Reserves

Authorities release details on carbon trading; State Council outlines plan to develop western region; Guizhou Gas Group signs pipeline gas accord

 Caixin Summit: Klaus Schwab Advocates New Business Approach

Founder of World Economic Forum argues that companies need a broader metric than short-term profits and need to provide for all stakeholders including society

 Tianjin Seeks to Revive Confidence After Bond Defaults

Top port city officials pledge no new SOE defaults in meeting with executives of more than 100 financial institutions

 In Depth: Chinas Bond Market Gets a Reprieve in WMP Overhaul

Regulators gave providers of wealth management products an extra year to restructure their money market-like offerings, easing pressure to dump bonds

 Suning Seeks to Buy Stake From State-Backed Fund Despite Drowning in Debt

Surprise bid for shares in Yunwang Wandian owned by Shenzhen Capital seen as asset grab to boost logistics and cloud services for its retail operations

 China Launches Probe Into Commodities Amid Surging Prices

Top economic planner and market regulator seek to check prices and fight speculation

 Top Gaokao Scorers Banned From Brand Spokesperson Jobs, the Cost of Phone Scams, After-School Service Hours

The 10 most-read domestic stories on Chinese social media also include the reappearance of a vast pile of trash on the Tibetan Plateau and the prevalence of human trafficking gangs in China

 Chinese Swimmers Ban Over Doping Violations Reduced, U.S. Unlikely to Meet July 4 Vaccination Target, Indian Pilgrims Undeterred by Covid

Former South Korean presidents house auctioned, Taiwan leader mourns death of Bidens dog

 Debt-Ridden State-Owned Aluminum Company Finds Strategic Investor

Administrator of Qinghai Provincial Investment signs agreement with state-backed peer Huanghe Hydropower

 Star Chinese Swimmer Sun Yang Banned From Competing for Four Years

Olympic champion will miss the Tokyo games after court confirms he broke doping rules

Click here to read more of the latest news.

This article was generated by Caixin Automation.

Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go.

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(Nikkei Asia)  Tech suppliers rushing to expand production amid an unprecedented global chip shortage risk being stung once supply catches up with demand, according to the chairman of one of Taiwan's leading chip material makers.

Canon Huang, chairman and CEO of Chang Wah Electromaterials and Chang Wah Technology, told Nikkei Asia that a market correction is inevitable given how many chipmakers are ramping up output to tackle supply shortages that have hit a swath of industries from cars to consumer electronics. Intel and TSMC  the world's two leading chipmakers  have announced aggressive expansion plans, while smaller chipmakers such as Nanya Tech and United Microelectronics plan to build more plants as well.

https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-05-31/cover-story-how-a-perfect-storm-created-a-global-chip-shortage-101720282.html

It could be dangerous if you do not expand capacity like your peers, because you would lose market share and growth opportunities, Huang said. But it could also be a concern if you expand capacity, as there will surely be a correction at some point in the future.

A good company, he said, has to have risk-management plans to fully prepare for any recession or correction ahead to avoid getting hurt badly.

Three chip industry executives called Huang during his interview with Nikkei Asia. All of them, he said, were asking for more lead frame supplies, even if it meant paying a higher price. Lead frames are a type of metal carrier used in chip packaging, the crucial final step in the chipmaking process. Chang Wah Technology, the key Chang Wah Group affiliate, is the world's No. 2 maker of leadframes and supplies such chipmakers as Texas Instruments, Infineon and NXP, as well as virtually all providers of chip packaging and testing services, including ASE Technology Holding and Powertech, according to analysts and industry sources.

While customers are clamoring for more supplies, however, Huang said his company must weigh each request carefully.

We really cant commit allocation too early, and if we agree to give to one customer more, I may need to give another customer less, Huang said. Its very interesting  in normal times, its cheaper per unit when you buy more, but during a shortage, its more expensive if you want to buy more.

Whether a client company has a fair and professional procurement team has also become more important amid the chip shortage, the industry veteran said. If you used to abuse the power of being a big customer and always force your suppliers to slash prices, you may suffer more during a shortage. You could receive less support from suppliers and it may be hard to secure all you need as everyone is rushing to have more.

The shortage is not limited to one part of the supply chain, Huang added, saying it extends from chip manufacturing and packaging to basic materials, including molding compound  a kind of protective material used in chip packaging and high-end copper and copper alloy.

The component shortage has also hit makers of chipmaking tools, creating a vicious circle that makes the underlying shortage harder to resolve, as Nikkei first reported.

Huang also talked about geopolitical tensions, and said the tech industry must adapt to a world with two supply chains  one that serves the U.S. and another serving China.

Its very obvious that the world ahead will be divided into two segments as the geopolitical tension is not going away anytime soon, Huang said. Its challenging for suppliers to choose sides, but all of us have to pay attention to geopolitical risks and formulate plans that could serve both worlds, rather than betting on who will win and who will lose.

The U.S. is stepping up efforts to boost local production of chips, which are needed not only for consumer electronics but also for supercomputers and fighter jets. China, meanwhile, is continuing to support its domestic semiconductor sector because the government views chips as being directly linked to national security.

https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-05-05/us-urges-tsmc-to-prioritize-supplies-to-american-carmakers-grappling-with-global-chip-shortage-101705521.html

Huang said his company will continue expanding in the Chinese mainland, including by setting up a joint venture with companies there, and also increase its investments in Taiwan and Malaysia. The company is building a $100 million plant in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung that is set to start production late next year. It is also considering adding capacity in Malaysia.

Chang Wah, based in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, saw its revenue rise 6.2% from a year ago to 16.42 billion New Taiwan dollars ($590 million) for 2020. In the first five months of 2021, Chang Wah generated 18% more revenue than a year ago. The Taiwanese company is also a key distributor of molding compounds for Sumitomo Bakelite, the leading global maker of the critical chip packing material.

This story was first published in Nikkei Asia.

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Construction of the new Workers Stadium began last year, with the aim of creating a world-class soccer venue and restoring the Beijing landmark to its original appearance from the 1950s. The home of the Beijing Guoan soccer team has hosted a number of key events over its history and has been renovated three times since the 1990s

Jul 02, 2021 07:44 PM
LITTLETON  Although the investigation continues, it appears the cause of the fire that broke out at the Schilling Beer Co. brewpub shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday was an ember from burning wood fueling a pizza oven that blew out of the chimney and landed on the roof.
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CAMEROUN :: Omer FOTSING : The Huawei Cameroon trailblazer thinks big.

As a devoted and hardworking person, Omer Fotsing joined Chinese based ICT Company, Huawei in Cameroon in 2006.

In an interview granted to the press, Omer narrates his story as an accomplished employee who followed a step by step career in abid to attain the status he occupies today.

I do remember that I joined Huawei on the 10th of March 2006. I was very excited to join Huawei as I knew Huawei is an international company. For me, it was the beginning of a beautiful venture. I Joined Huawei through a competitive recruitment and went through the various stages of this process. We were selected five (5) of us to join the company. He said.

He who started as an application and software engineer in 2006, now tops the position of CAMTEL Account Delivery Head, thanks to earnest efforts over the past years.

Omer Fotsing, the Key Account Delivery Head at Huawei Cameroon is now a senior staff. He retraces his 15 year rich and long career as he emerged as one of those who are well placed to make in-depth descriptions of how Huawei Grow in Cameroon.

He recounts his numerous adventures within the company: In 2007, I was sent to Gabon to have a workshop with one of our customers (Libertis). I had the responsibility to introduce a new technology solution to the customer. I had to use less than a week to master all details of the technology and the solution. I was quite afraid since my mastery of this solution was still low, but Huawei mobilized experts in a very short time to give me intensive trainings, in order to help me build up the necessary potentials before the day of the workshop. And I did it! At the end of the workshop all the customers stood up and gave me a standing ovation. That was a so touching moment for me and it gave me, more than ever a great motivation. This particular experience made me to build more trust and confidence in my job. I was so proud to work with Huawei!

The veteran staff has over the past years that make up his fruitful career within Huawei, witnessed various transformative changes and technological developments undertaken at all levels in Cameroon. He has series of best practices to share with the younger generations and those interested to pursue an enriching career and who wish to enlarge their portfolios in the domain of information and communication technologies.

Omer Fotsing added: Also, in 2008, during my first encounter as Project Manager, I had to do a swap project from an existing vendor to Huawei core network equipment in Orange Cameroon. It was a great challenge and the customers team was very much involved too. We had series of trials and we really wanted to achieve good results. When the first call was made through Huawei equipment, we got lot of excitement both from the customer and my company Huawei. We had a positive feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Such memories, I cant forget them in this beautiful journey with Huawei Cameroon.

Described as someone who is calm and discrete by nature, Omer Fotsing is a pioneer in his domain. On daily basis, he leads a great team and most importantly, he is very close to his clients. With time, he has braced up challenges linked to his job and by the way, he has integrated values of Huawei which are mainly focused on customers priority.

Huaweis Cameroonian born employee, Omer Fotsing is reported to be amongst those whom the companys Heads are proud of.

After all these years, I can say that the Huawei culture is quite special and particular in the sense that, first of all, it is a pure objective driven environment. Secondly, our customers are the only and only reason of our existence. Thirdly, the last but not the least and which is even the key is that, facing a problem or a challenge at work is not a problem, the problem is rather not being able of finding suitable solutions to solve the problem.. He stated.

He equally stressed on the fact that Huaweis policies are quite different from several ICT companies he knows, simply through-out its stated objectives and the dire need to put at the core centre employees.

Through my experience and my interaction with other partners from other companies I do think that employees from Huawei have a different mind-set just because they are objectives driven and results oriented. Employees satisfaction is a continuous objective. Huawei Cameroon is aware of that and several actions are frequently carried-out such as surveys on the organizations environment; the voice of employees are heard during business unit or department meetings; team building and out of office activities as well as frequent communication are encouraged. Omer said.

The coronavirus pandemic that affected countries worldwide was not left aside during the interview granted openly by Huaweis Omer Fotsing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Huawei ensured the health and safety of employees through different ways; Massive sensitization campaigns, distribution of sanitary kits, checking of temperature before acceding offices, the distribution of hand sanitizers in all offices and public spaces, special work arrangement for all personnel to void any risk etc.

As a husband and father of 5 children, Omer is said to be a clear indication of the companys value in integrating local employees through a carrier path at Huawei. And thus, the contribution of Huawei as local employer.

He however in the interview granted acknowledged the fact that, thanks to Huawei, he has been able to benefit from a stable life.

Huawei granted to my family and I more stability. I am also very grateful to my family for all the support given and all the efforts undertaken. Moreover, when discussing with my family about Huawei, they have 2 feelings: First, they are happy and very supportive. The second feeling is like I have very few time for them. I usually spend some time with them, but they really understand imperatives of my job and we still find some other means for happy moments. I think, I have to make an improvement in that area.

According to the devoted and passionate staff of Huawei Cameroon, the journey is yet to begin as his motivation keeps growing in order to serve well customers and to bring in more contributive efforts at his level.
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Do you have an athlete in mind that contributes to the team or sport, holds sportsmanship and team spirit, has epic playmaker moments and/or in general makes the the sports fun? If yes, please make your nominations for our edition of Athlete Spotlight.

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Among carmakers, it made the most sense for Subaru to come out with a big 7-seater SUV. Their image, aside from winning World Rally Champion...
When new CEO Paige Alexander first saw the cafeteria in the Carter Centers Atlanta office, paper shamrocks and pots of gold adorned the walls to mark St. Patricks Day. Only it wasnt March. It was June 2020.

With the office closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and staff working from home, the cafeteria stood as it had been three months before. Little did Alexander know that the St. Patricks Day decor would remain frozen in time long enough to celebrate the holiday the next year too.

The office may have been closed, but Alexander soon learned the Carter Center community was anything but. Resilient and dedicated, despite the challenges of the pandemic, they stood ready to bring the new CEO into the fold.

Although born and raised in Atlanta, Alexander never lived there as an adult. Positions with the U.S. Agency for International Development and other organizations kept her based in Washington, D.C., and working throughout Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East. For the three years prior to coming to The Carter Center, she was in Amsterdam, running a nonprofit focused on agriculture in Africa. She traveled extensively, including trips to Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and especially Ethiopia. Ethiopia is so dynamic  the difference between the bustling city of Addis Ababa and the far-flung communities in the Amhara region is striking, she said.

Preparing for her new position with The Carter Center, which she had accepted in January 2020, Alexander looked forward to meeting the frontline staff in person, whether in Chad for Guinea worm or Myanmar for election observation. Of course, those plans came to a grinding halt once the pandemic hit. My previous travel in Africa was always related to agriculture and peoples livelihoods, she said. Im eager to see these countries from a new perspective.

The challenges of 2020 kept coming. Summer brought protests and a racial reawakening across the U.S., and rhetoric around the November national elections put the country in further turmoil. As a pioneer in the field of international election observation, The Carter Center was particularly well positioned to act on the latter.

She turned to Carter Center founder and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for guidance. I felt we needed to get involved in election issues in a targeted way, she said. Along with Jason Carter, chair of the Centers Board of Trustees, We were able to bounce ideas off President Carter. He is the compass for our big ship. In the end, the Center focused on election integrity and transparency, creating a public information campaign and undertaking a focused observation of a post-election audit in Georgia.

Alexander had been familiar with the Center mostly from its peace-building programs. She knew people who had been election observers and one organization she worked for, IREX, partnered with The Carter Center on its access-to-justice work in Liberia.

The Centers health programs, on the other hand, were new to Alexander. She keeps a preserved Guinea worm on her desk as a tangible token of the Carter Centers mission to improve peoples lives. Im continually learning, she said. The health programs provide that to me on a daily basis.

Almost a year into her job, Alexander is looking forward to the office reopening and meeting people in person that shes known mostly on Zoom. And finally seeing new seasonal decor in the cafeteria.

My goal is to build on the successes of the past 39 years, she said. But we would be remiss not to take away important lessons from the last year. I firmly believe that with challenges, we are always able to find opportunities. I look forward to doing that with the Carter Center team.
ATLANTA (June 24, 2021)  On June 24, Palestinian political activist Nizar Banat died when Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces raided his home in Hebron in the southern West Bank. According to his family, PA security officers used explosives to blow open the door of Banats residence, pepper-sprayed him, and violently beat him.

Banat was a sharp critic of the PA and a candidate on the Freedom and Dignity list for the cancelled May 22 legislative elections. In the past month, PA security forces have detained dozens of political opponents, including human rights defender Issa Amro and members of another electoral list, the Democratic Reform Bloc, for criticizing the Palestinian Authority. The government has justified some detentions under the cybercrimes law, which human rights groups have constantly warned is being used by the PA to squeeze online freedom of expression.

The Carter Center calls on the Palestinian Authority to end its crackdown on political opponents and refrain from any actions that restrict the fundamental freedoms of Palestinian citizens, including their rights of assembly and expression.

The public prosecution office has launched an investigation into the cause of Banats death. An independent investigation should be carried out as well, and those responsible must be brought to justice. Additionally, the Palestinian Authority should release activists arrested for criticizing the PA and revise the laws under which such arrests are justified.

###

Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

In Ramallah, Qais Asad, qais.assad@cartercenter.org



The Carter Center

Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Welcome to the latest episode of the Cartoon Brew Podcast, guest-hosted by Cole Delaney of Youtube channel Any-mation. Today, Cole speaks to Chris Appelhans, director of Sony Pictures Animations new feature Wish Dragon, which is being distributed by Netflix.

The cg family film, a Shanghai-set story about a boy who encounters a magical dragon, was made in an unusual way, as a Chinese-American co-production involving Sony Pictures Animation and Xiamens Base Animation. In a wide-ranging conversation, Appelhans explains why he ended up making the feature in China, rather than through the U.S. studio system, and reflects on what it means to be an American telling a story rooted in Chinese culture.

The director is frank about the relative upsides of this set-up, but also the downsides, not least the relatively small budget. He talks about the specific challenges of bringing to life the dragon Long  a mix of Aladdins Genie and Marvels Tony Stark  and rigging and animating him within the constraints of the production.
Photo: The Canadian Press Cannabis plants are seen Wednesday, February 20, 2019 in Sainte-Eustache, Que. The price of cannabis at government-run stores in British Columbia declined while potency rose between 2019 and 2020, says a new report. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

The price of cannabis at government-run stores in British Columbia declined while potency rose between 2019 and 2020, says a new report that has a researcher raising questions about what its findings mean for public health.

The study found that the amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, increased from 64 milligrams to 129 mg per person over the age of 15 during that period.

Dr. Tim Naimi, director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, said gross revenue of about $290 million from sales of cheaper but stronger cannabis suggests there's a need to consider tougher public health measures, perhaps through taxation and potency restrictions.

"We hope over time that the government will consider public health considerations and not engage in a race to the bottom in terms of selling the most potent stuff for the cheapest prices," said Naimi, who led the researchers doing the study.

The federal government did not place a limit on the amount of THC used in many cannabis products when its use was legalized in 2018.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General could not immediately be reached for comment.

Sales of regulated cannabis doubled in B.C. as the number of government stores rose from 11 to 25, researchers found from data provided by the province, which commissioned the report.

At the same time, the number of private stores selling cannabis also jumped from 128 to 270. But on a per-capita basis, government stores sell about twice as much cannabis as private ones, the findings show.

Last year, the B.C. government sold cannabis products containing nearly 8,000 kilograms of THC, amounting to about 400 million joints, the report says. Flower and pre-roll products accounted for about 84 per cent of all cannabis sales by THC weight.

Naimi said more research is needed into legal cannabis sales, including why the Northern Health region had the highest per-capita sales in the province.

"That is interesting because that is similar to what we see for alcohol," said Naimi, an alcohol epidemiologist.

It's hard to compare sales of regulated cannabis across Canada because data are not collected in the same way in all jurisdictions, he said.

David Hammond, a professor in the school of public health sciences at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, said the rise in THC levels outlined in the report can partly be explained by the fact that more concentrated products like vape oil and edibles were not legally available until the start of 2020.

More frequent users of higher-potency products are also transitioning to the legal market, said Hammond, who leads an ongoing international cannabis policy study that includes analysis of both the legal and illegal markets.

While the goal of governments was to switch users to the legal market, questions are now being raised about their responsibility to better regulate what's being sold, he said, adding that Quebec is the only province to set a potency cap on THC.

"That is a question that regulators and advocates and public health authorities are starting to ask, once we start to see the establishment of the legal market," he said of THC limits, particularly because younger users attracted to vaping products are at risk of nicotine addiction.

Health Canada released draft regulations last week aimed at banning most flavoured vaping products.

"Right now you can buy strawberry, peaches and cream vape oil with a THC level that will blow the most potent dried flower out of the water. And those are the products that are most popular among young people," Hammond said.

"We really don't know much about solid concentration vape oils because they're relatively new on the market so that is an important public health concern."

Overall, it's important for provinces to have detailed and consistent data on the legal cannabis market and make it available to the public, he said.

"That's where we'll learn whether there are advantages to having government-run or private stores."
Photo: The Canadian Press

As scientific and medical discourse plays out in real time online and in the media during the COVID-19 pandemic, observers specializing in science and risk communication say Canadians must be even more discerning in choosing which expert voices they listen to and amplify.

The recent government guidance on mixing and matching mRNA vaccines amid delivery delays is one of the latest issues to stir up public debate, including within the scientific community.

While access to a wide variety of sources and less institutional gatekeeping are positive overall, the sheer volume of information can contribute to confusion, particularly when it is changing so quickly, said Tim Sly, an epidemiologist and risk communication expert at Ryerson University.

"Science itself is doing the best it can, is running as fast as it can, just to keep up to date with the knowledge," he said.

Over time, "the weight of the evidence changes," and a clearer message emerges, he said. But in the meantime, "every day, every radio station's got two or three experts on their phone-in show," he said.

As well, an emergency room physician's perspective on the available knowledge will likely be different from that of a virology expert or someone working with vulnerable communities -- a distinction that may not be immediately evident to the public, he said.

Doctors themselves are among those highlighting the highly specialized nature of expertise related to the pandemic.

"Were clearly at a crossroads in the COVID social media world. Lots of different opinions. Lots of experts," Dr. Shady Ashamalla, head of general surgery at Toronto's Sunnybrook hospital, said in a tweet earlier this week.

"But just remember being an expert in one thing doesn't make you an expert in another...ie being a cancer surgeon doesnt make me an expert in infectious disease and so on."

Media outlets, too, must be mindful of which voices they are elevating as experts on any given topic, said Sarah Everts, a former scientist and science journalist now teaching at Carleton University.

In covering the pandemic, media can't assume that "literally anybody who's a scientist can pontificate on all aspects of science with the same level of expertise," she said.

It's also important to communicate to the public "the background of the person whose voice you're amplifying with a quote or an opinion, and why you're letting them spout that opinion, as opposed to somebody else," she said.

The global health crisis is bringing to light the "inherent messiness" of science, and media must be careful when seeking sources and information on an issue where there has yet to be a consensus, Everts said.

"This is the first time that the public is really watching science happen in real time," she said.

"Effectively how science has always worked is debate and discussion, and then consensus is achieved, and then generally, hopefully, the media reports on that consensus. ... Well, what's happening now is always something new and the scientists are all debating it."

It's important to look beyond academic credentials in assessing people's expertise, said Samantha Yammine, a neuroscientist and science communicator who goes by Science Sam on social media.

"We've seen many people with an MD and a PhD and an MPH and all the right degrees still give really bad hot takes," she said.

One red flag, she said, is when someone is voicing personal opinions on a broad array of topics, since it's unlikely they have expertise in all of them.

"The best sources of information are those who often reference other people and consensus of experts on a specific field," she said.

Consolidating sources by sharing and referencing existing information can also help scientists avoid contributing to the "avalanche of information," Yammine said.

"I think in everyone's genuine efforts to help, we've incidentally contributed to a higher volume of noise -- even though some of that noise is good, the core problem is that there's just too much," she said.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The summary of a forensic report from the Canadian government says a "series of reckless acts and omissions" by Iranian authorities resulted in the fatal downing of a passenger jet in January 2020.

The official document from the Prime Minister's Office says Iran showed a "blatant disregard" for air safety by failing to provide any information to airlines about its military activities when it launched a missile strike against a pair of U.S. bases across the border in Iraq hours before the plane was shot down.

The summary, which draws on a forensic investigation led by a former deputy director at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, says a surface-to-air missile operator likely misidentified the passenger plane as a "hostile target."

An earlier report from Iran's civil aviation authority blamed "human error" as the reason why the Iranian military shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 minutes after takeoff from the Tehran airport en route to Kyiv.

All 176 people on board the Ukraine International Airlines jetliner were killed, including 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents and dozens of others bound for Canada.

The report relies partly on intelligence as well as the Iranian aviation authority study, and comes after Iran blocked Canadian and Ukrainian investigators from a complete on-site analysis.
Photo: Glacier Media

Lheildi Tenneh Chief Dolleen Logan is calling for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 to become a national public holiday.

National Aboriginal Day (now National Indigenous Peoples Day) was announced in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada Romeo LeBlanc.

It was created as a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.

However, it is only a provincial statutory holiday in North West Territories and the Yukon, and is not a federal statutory holiday akin to Canada Day.

Canada is only about 154-years-old. First Nations have been around for 9,000 years and we should celebrate our land and our culture and celebrate the people that were here first, said Chief Logan.

It's not a holiday, so we have kids at school that can't take time off and we have Indigenous workers and businesses that can't take time off work because it's not a holiday. If they could come and join and share our culture with non-Indigenous people, it would familiarize people and re-familiarize themselves with the culture.

A bill creating a separate statutory holiday on Sept. 30, which is known as Orange Shirt Day, received royal assent on June 3 after passing unanimously in the senate.

Bill C-5 creates a statutory holiday for employees in the federal government and federally regulated workplaces to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada and would be known as an annual national day for truth and reconciliation.

The bill was fast-tracked in parliament after the remains of 215 Indigenous children in unmarked graves were discovered at a former residential school in Kamloops.

However, Chief Logan said National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 should still become a holiday.

The 21st is a day to celebrate and a day to mourn. It would be a healing journey for everyone, Orange Shirt Day is to remember, but so is the 21st, said Logan.

We all get together and talk and have fun and remember our culture and National Indigenous Day is for Indigenous People where we are proud to be who we are and where we came from and what our future will be.

June 21 is normally a colourful and celebratory day, but this year it came on the heels of the discovery in Kamloops and several weeks of emotional events which have highlighted the need to reform institutions and policies that perpetuate systemic racism and discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.

It was heartbreaking but I celebrated, said Logan, who attended the Prince George celebrations at Lheidli Tenneh Memorial Park.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Several experts say Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has lost all credibility when it comes to tackling sexual misconduct in the ranks.

The comments follow a report from The Canadian Press that one of Sajjan's military assistants was ordered suspended three years ago from the Vancouver Police Department for having had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

Sajjan's office says the two men served together as senior officers in the same army reserve unit, but that neither the minister nor his staff knew about Maj. Greg McCullough's past and the military was responsible for hiring him to the position.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously defended Sajjan, who was already facing opposition calls to resign for his handling of sexual misconduct allegations involving senior commanders.

But Megan MacKenzie, an expert on military sexual misconduct at Simon Fraser University, says the latest revelation suggests the minister himself is part an "Old Boys network" where senior military officers protect each despite allegations of misconduct.

Charlotte Duval-Lantoine of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute says Sajjan has lost all moral authority when it comes to leading the type of change that is needed to eliminate inappropriate and criminal sexual behaviour in the ranks.
Photo: VPD

The Vancouver Police Department predicts it will be over budget by $4.98 million by the end of the year  the first time in 16 years  and points to city councils decision not to fully fund its 2021 budget request as the reason for the expected deficit.

The department outlined its financial situation in a report that goes before the Vancouver Police Board Thursday.

In previous years, the council-approved VPD budget has equalled the boards submission, the report said. However, as council voted a significant decrease to the VPDs 2021 budget, the year-end projection is volatile and, at this time, depending on the events in the city, managements best estimate is that the VPD will be over budget by $4.98 million by year end.

Those events include, but are not limited to, escalating gang violence, a growing number of protests and an easing of COVID-19 provincial health orders that translates to more public activity.

The report noted the first quarter of the year also saw police respond to the Strathcona Park encampment and investigate a dramatic rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. Drug-fueled street disorder also persists in the Downtown Eastside.

Management anticipated the department would likely be under budget in the first part of the year  which it is, by $568,396  but predicted the deficit would incur as the year comes to a close.

The police budget approved by council means the department cant hire 61 new recruits, which will keep the VPD at 2009 staffing levels. The department also expects to lose officers  and already has  to Surreys new municipal force.

Excluded in the year-end deficit prediction, and a topic of discussion with city staff, is the budget adjustment for 2020 collective agreement wage settlements. In previous years, the city would fund the settlements.

However, as a result of COVID-19, funding earmarked for all city-wide potential collective agreement provisions were re-directed to offset the citys financial challenges, the report said. This could further increase the year-end deficit position if VPD were to absorb this cost within the existing budget.

The VPD's budget concerns come two months after Vancouver school trustees voted to scrap the 17-member school liaison officer program at schools, effective at the end of this month. Police say they are looking at alternative models to support youth.

"As a result, there will be no savings realized from the dismantling of the SLO program and therefore it is not considered in the year-end projection," the report said.

In December 2020, the majority of council voted to approve a 2021 police budget of $316 million, about $766,000 more than the 2020 budget but $5.6 million less  total figure was $5,689,974  than the VPD requested for this years budget.

The police board has since appealed the decision to Wayne Rideout, B.C.s director of police services. An emailed statement Monday from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General said the review is still underway and we have no updates at this time.

On June 10, Vancouver city manager Paul Mochrie sent a letter and 17-page report to Rideout that outlines councils decision in December 2020, which was initially based on a city staff recommendation that the police budget be reduced by at least one per cent.

Should the ministry decide in favour of the [police boards] application, the impact on other city services would be significant given the VPD is the largest department in the city, said the city report obtained by Glacier Media.

Any increases to the VPD budget would require offsetting reduction in other city services, which given their size would require disproportionate service reductions in those areas.

Those services could include major reductions to other departments such as community services, parks operations and street cleaning, which would create significant additional pressure on VPD resources, effectively negating the exercise or worsening the situation.

Added the report: One would anticipate increased calls related to homelessness, street disorder, encampments and mental health issues, if those other city resources are not available.
The percentage of males and nonpregnant females aged 13 years with either commercial insurance or Medicaid who received testing for HIV increased from 2014 to 2019 but was less than 6%. Testing rates were higher among persons with Medicaid than those with commercial insurance; among those with Medicaid, rates for Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latino persons were higher than for White persons.

HIV testing is a critical component of effective HIV prevention and care. CDC recommends routine opt-out HIV testing in health care settings for all sexually active persons aged 1364 years at least once in their lifetime and risk-based testing regardless of age for those who report behaviors associated with HIV acquisition (1). However, recent studies show low HIV testing rates in clinical settings; HIV testing rates at visits to physician offices did not increase during 20092016 (2). The objective of the current study is to estimate temporal trends in HIV testing among persons with commercial insurance or Medicaid from 2014 through 2019 and describe their demographic characteristics in 2019. Weighted data from the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database* (commercial insurance) and from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) claims database (Medicaid) were analyzed to estimate the proportions of persons with commercial insurance or Medicaid who received testing for HIV. Testing rates increased among male and nonpregnant female persons aged 13 years with either type of coverage. In 2019, only 4.0% of those with commercial insurance and 5.5% of those with Medicaid received testing for HIV. Testing rates were higher among non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black) persons and Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) persons. Based on mathematical modeling studies, these annual testing rates would need to increase at least threefold and be sustained over several years (3,4) to achieve the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) in the U.S. initiative goal of 95% of persons with HIV being aware of their infection by 2025. Interventions need to be implemented to increase routine and risk-based HIV testing in clinical settings to higher levels that can help reduce disparities in HIV diagnoses between Black and Hispanic persons compared with non-Hispanic White (White) persons (5). Increased HIV testing is essential to achieve the goals of the EHE initiative and reduce disparities in HIV diagnoses; public health should partner with health care systems to implement interventions that support increased testing.

Many factors might be associated with low HIV testing rates for persons across socioeconomic strata, even among those with health care insurance (6). In 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the EHE initiative that includes four strategic pillars (diagnose, treat, prevent, and respond) to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. The diagnose pillar is intended to achieve diagnosis for all persons with HIV as early as possible, with a goal to detect 95% of all infections by 2025. As part of the initiative, CDC funded health departments to conduct several activities, including the expansion of routine and risk-based testing in clinical settings. HIV testing can serve as an entry point for HIV prevention and care services and can normalize HIV testing as a routine part of preventive care.

CDC analyzed data from the 20142019 MarketScan and Medicaid databases to identify temporal trends in HIV testing in clinical settings among persons with commercial insurance or Medicaid and their demographic characteristics. The MarketScan database is a convenience sample of commercial health plans that include health service information for approximately 40 million persons per year and is weighted using validated methods to be nationally representative of the 200 million U.S. persons with commercial insurance. The CMS database includes information on persons with Medicaid in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Both databases contained deidentified patient information and diagnostic, procedural, and drug codes for clinical services provided; Medicaid reports data on race/ethnicity, and MarketScan does not. Separate analyses were conducted using the MarketScan and Medicaid databases. Eligibility criteria included persons who 1) were aged 13 years, 2) were continuously enrolled for at least 6 months in a given year, and 3) had no previous HIV diagnosis. Pregnant adolescents and women were excluded because CDC recommends that they receive prenatal testing for HIV during each pregnancy, rather than routine or risk-based testing (1). Persons aged 65 years were included because HIV prevalence has increased in the oldest age group for which surveillance data are reported (7). HIV diagnoses were identified using codes from the ninth and tenth revisions of the International Classification of Diseases.** HIV tests were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. SAS software (version 9.4; SAS Institute) was used to conduct analyses. This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.

The proportions of male and nonpregnant female persons aged 13 years with commercial insurance or Medicaid who received HIV testing each year were estimated. Race/ethnicity data were available only for persons with Medicaid, therefore the trend in testing over time was estimated by race/ethnicity only for those with Medicaid. The estimated annual percentage change and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each trend. The estimated number and proportion of persons with commercial insurance and with Medicaid who had testing in 2019 were stratified by sex, age group, race/ethnicity (Medicaid only), urban versus rural residence, and U.S. Census region.

During 20142019, the proportion of male and nonpregnant female persons aged 13 years with HIV testing increased an estimated 6.0% per year among those with commercial insurance, and an estimated 3.2% among those with Medicaid (Table 1). Among persons with Medicaid, this trend was observed for all racial and ethnic groups except Hispanic persons (Figure). Despite the increase in HIV testing, only 4.0% of persons with commercial insurance and 5.5% of persons with Medicaid received testing for HIV in 2019 (Table 1). The proportion of persons with HIV testing was higher among those with Medicaid than among those with commercial insurance across all regions and all demographic groups except persons aged 65 years (Table 2). In 2019, among persons with Medicaid, the percentages of Black persons (8.5%) and Hispanic persons (5.9%) with HIV testing were higher than the percentages of White persons (3.9%) and non-Hispanic Asian (Asian) persons (5.0%) with HIV testing.
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CEMBUREAU states concern for CBAM Fit for 55 package

24 June 2021

The European cement industry fully supports the objectives of the European Green Deal, says the industry association, CEMBUREAU. In its Carbon Neutrality Roadmap, the cement sector commits to CO 2 emissions reduction targets by 2030 and works towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve these objectives, establishing viable business cases that secure continued growth and employment in Europe is essential. Having the first carbon-neutral cement plant in the European Union within the next decade is within reach.

While the cement industry supports the concept of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), CEMBUREAU is concerned by messages coming out of the European Commission that, as part of the Fit for 55 package, the level of free allowances for industry may be significantly reduced for sectors covered by CBAM. "It is vital that the Fit for 55 package does not endanger the investment decisions and projects made by European cement companies and prevents significant competition distortions with third countries, said CEMBUREAU.

CEMBUREAU states the package must ensure that free allocation under the EU ETS fully co-exists alongside CBAM for an appropriate transition period lasting until 2030. It should ensure a fully comparable CO 2 cost basis, covering both direct and indirect emissions, between EU and non-EU cement suppliers so that carbon leakage protection is not weakened. CEMBUREAU also request that it provides for a CO 2 charge exemption for EU exporters to third countries, if the country in question is not covered by an equivalent carbon pricing mechanism. There should be a solid monitoring and verification system for assessing emission levels in third countries.



In addition, CEMBUREAU states the package must Include a sufficiently broad number of sectors in CBAM to avoid market distortions, both in terms of ETS coverage and on downstream markets. Furthermore, it should ensure consistency between the different legislative initiatives under the Fit for 55 package and the timely development of secondary legislation before the full introduction of CBAM.

In the absence of these essential elements being part of the Fit for 55 package, the conditions for the cement industry to develop a sound business case for investments in Europe and its crucial role in supplying the downstream concrete and construction market, would be seriously compromised, remarked CEMBUREAU.

Published under
Caribbean Cement signs MoU for tyre usage

24 June 2021

The Jamaican government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Caribbean Cement Co for the usage of end-of-life pneumatic tyres. The company will take used tyres from landfills and convert them into an alternative fuel.



Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that more than 2m used tyres are generated in Jamaica per year and landfills receive approximately 185,700 tyres per year.

Caribbean Cement's Managing Director, Yago Castro, stated that the agreement symbolises the continuation of a longstanding partnership between the company and the government. "It represents an extension of our purpose of being responsible corporate citizens and will result in positive environmental and social impacts," he said.

Published under
Buena Vista, CO (81211)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Crews abandoned their search for the fifth victim in a Dan River accident; Martinsville Police file charges in a shooting death; Poor maintenance on a dryer sparks a house fire in Danville; Traffic guidelines if you're headed to the river.
Choice Health Network will provide free HIV testing at the following events in recognition of National HIV Testing Day, held annually on June 27.



- Friday, June 25; 7-10 p.m. Pride Mix and Mingle. Family friendly, free to attend . Moxy Chattanooga Downtown, 1220 King St.

- Saturday, June 26; 2:30-9 p.m. Pride Day. All ages, free to attend. WanderLinger Brewing Company, 1208 King St.

Officials said, "We are also will raising awareness of Choice Health Networks everyday services for East Tennessees most vulnerable individuals and families affected by HIV, mental illness, substance use, homelessness, discrimination and disabilities.

"People with HIV can live long, healthy lives when receiving quality medical care. When HIV-positive patients stay on HIV-protective medication, the virus is no longer detected in their blood, and the virus is not transmittable to others. Within four to six weeks of starting and maintaining medication, 94 percent of Choice Health Network clients attain viral suppression."



National HIV Testing Day not only heightens awareness of the need for testing and services across our region, but also allows us to underscore the importance of what we do year-round in Tennessee, said Steve Jenkins, CEO of Positively Living & Choice Health Network. We provide affordable medical care for insured or uninsured patients, along with social services for people who need inclusive healthcare and who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.



Choice Health Network offers free HIV testing by appointment year-round. In addition to testing and operating a full-service medical clinic, Choice Health Networks services include mental health care counseling and therapy; food and transportation aid; housing support; telehealth; a syringe service exchange; naloxone distribution; resources and referrals to recovery; and HIV prevention through Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).



Choice Health Network is located at 5721 Marlin Road in Chattanooga. For more information about Positively Living & Choice Health Network, visit https://choicehealthnetwork.org.
2021Grow Your Own Partnership Competitive Grant Awardees EPPGrant Awardees LEAPartners AustinPeayState University

Cheatham County Schools

Clarksville-Montgomery County SchoolSystem

Dickson CountySchools

Hickman CountySchools

Robertson CountySchool Freed-Hardeman University Fayette County Public Schools Lincoln Memorial University

Alcoa CitySchools

Anderson County Schools

Blount County Schools

Campbell County Schools

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Hamblen County Schools

Hancock County Schools

Hawkins County Schools

Jefferson County Schools

Lenoir City Schools

Knox County Schools

Monroe County Schools

Oak Ridge Schools Lipscomb University Clarksville-Montgomery County SchoolSystem

Hamilton County Schools

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

Williamson County Schools Milligan University Elizabethton City Schools Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro City Schools Nashville Teacher Residency Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Relay Graduate School of Education Tennessee Public Charter School Commission

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

Shelby County Schools Tennessee Technological University

Clay County Schools

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Hawkins County Schools

Morgan County Schools

Oneida Special School District

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Union County Schools Tennessee State University

Bedford County Schools

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Williamson County Schools Wilson County Schools Tusculum University Greene County Schools

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Weakley County Schools

The Tennessee Department of Education announced $4.5 million in Grow Your Own grants has been awarded to establish partnerships between Educator Preparation Providers and local school districts and create innovative pathways to becoming a teacher in Tennessee for free.This second round of Grow Your Own grants awards 45 grants of $100,000 each to 13 EPPs in Tennessee to form or expand state recognized Grow Your Own partnerships with more than 50 school districts across the state.Building upon the momentum of the initial $2 million investment in the initiative, this latest round of grants from the department significantly expands the Grow Your Own program, totaling a $6.5 million investment in 65 partnerships between 14 EPPs and 63 school districts-- enabling over 650 future educators to become a Tennessee teacher for free."The department is thrilled to see Grow Your Own partnerships flourishing across the state to further boost the states teacher talent pipeline to provide all our students with a high-quality education, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. This investment provides individuals with the opportunity to become a teacher for free and will continue to make Tennessee the best state to become and be a teacher. We are excited to continue to see the success of this program impact the state for years to come.The Grow Your Own competitive grants are designed to foster partnerships between EPPs and districts to provide innovative, no-cost pathways to the teaching profession by increasing EPP enrollment and growing the supply of qualified teachers. These grant funds will remove barriers to the teaching profession by providing funds to entirely cover tuition, textbooks, and fees for all selected participants, while providing dual licensure or initial licensure opportunities with an additional endorsement.

District leaders, education preparation program leaders, and education chairmen for the Tennessee General Assembly commented on the importance of this program and grant funding to further support the teaching profession across the state.The Grow Your Own Program provides needed support to build a successful educator workforce focusing on our existing talent pool of future teachers, said Senate Education Committee Chairman Brian Kelsey. These grants will help prepare incredible teachers, strong schools and connected communities. It is a win-win for Tennessee.Grow Your Own builds deliberate pathways from the community to the classroom and from within our classified staff, said Dr. Bryan Johnson, director of schools, Hamilton County Schools. It also creates more access to teaching for candidates with varied experiences and diverse candidates whose perspectives can help our children thrive.Milligan University is pleased to partner with Elizabethton City Schools on the Grow Your Own grant opportunity, said Dr. Angela Hilton-Prillhart, associate dean, School of Social Sciences and Education, Milligan University. It is rewarding to be part of an initiative that will offer scholarships to individuals who are already working with children who want to become teachers.The Grow Your Own program has been incredibly successful by providing additional learning opportunities and advancing career pathways for local candidates to join the teaching profession, said House Education Instruction Subcommittee Chairman Scott Cepicky. We are excited to see this program expanding to other Tennessee communities and know they will benefit from these additional resources.We are looking forward to working with Tennessee State University as part of the Grow Your Own Partnership Grant sponsored by the TDOE, said Dr. John Combs, director of schools, Tipton County Schools. This opportunity will allow us to address areas of need in our district by increasing the availability of certified teachers in special education and ESL, while utilizing our outstanding educational assistants whose goal it is to become teachers for Tipton County Schools.Thanks to the continued investment by the Tennessee Department of Education in these essential partnerships, APSU has the opportunity to strategically invest and strengthen our teacher pipeline, said Dr. Prentice Chandler, dean of the Eriksson College of Education, Austin Peay State University. This work matters, and we appreciate the states commitment to ensuring all our students will have access to high-quality teachers.The departments Grow Your Own initiative seeks to increase access to and success in the teaching profession as part of the Best for All strategic plan, which sets a vision for Tennessee to be the top state to become and remain a teacher and leader.Funding for the Grow Your Own competitive grant is available through federal COVID-19 stimulus funding.To read more about our existing Grow Your Own partnerships in Tennessee and to see a full list of Grow Your Own grant awardees, click here
Here are the No Bills and True Bills from the Hamilton County Grand Jury:



No Bills:

1 MATTHEWS, KENNETH DEWAYNE DOMESTIC ASSAULT 06/16/2021

1 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 06/16/2021

True Bills:

311612 1 LAFERRY, ZACHERY DAVID CRIMINAL SIMULATION 06/16/2021

311611 1 AUTRY, CLAY PATRICK CRIMINAL SIMULATION 06/16/2021

311613 1 AUTRY, CLAY PATRICK POSSESSION OF LEGEND DRUG 06/16/2021

311613 2 AUTRY, CLAY PATRICK THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311614 1 BALES, APRIL EXPLOITATION OF VULNERABLE ADULT 06/16/2021

311614 2 BALES, APRIL FRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT CARD 06/16/2021

311615 1 BELCHER, ALVIN LAJUAN AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING 06/16/2021

311615 2 BELCHER, ALVIN LAJUAN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY 06/16/2021

311616 1 BELTRAMO, GRANT PERKINS POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 06/16/2021

311616 2 BELTRAMO, GRANT PERKINS VIOLATION OF WINDOW TINT LAW 06/16/2021

311616 3 BELTRAMO, GRANT PERKINS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE 06/16/2021

311617 1 BOWMAN, JAMES LAWRENCE AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT 06/16/2021

311618 1 CAMPBELL, MATTHEW DAVID THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311619 1 HARRINGTON, DENNIS BRAY POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALE 06/16/2021

311619 2 HARRINGTON, DENNIS BRAY POSSESSION OF HEROIN FOR RESALE 06/16/2021

311619 3 HARRINGTON, DENNIS BRAY POSSESSION OF LEGEND DRUGS 06/16/2021

311619 4 HARRINGTON, DENNIS BRAY POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 06/16/2021

311620 1 HARVEY, STEPHANIE JEAN THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311621 1 HEDGECOTH, CAROLNE DIANE THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311621 2 HEDGECOTH, CAROLNE DIANE FRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT CARD 06/16/2021



311622 1 JACKSON, CHRISTOPHER MALIK CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION 06/16/2021

311622 2 JACKSON, CHRISTOPHER MALIK POSSESSION OF FIREARM WITH PRIOR VIOLENT FELONY

CONVICTION

06/16/2021

311623 1 JONES, FELICIA YVONNE THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311624 1 LAFERRY, ZACHERY DAVID POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALE 06/16/2021

311624 2 LAFERRY, ZACHERY DAVID POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 06/16/2021

311625 1 MOYE, PHILIP S AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 06/16/2021

311625 2 MOYE, PHILIP S RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT 06/16/2021

311625 3 MOYE, PHILIP S LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT 06/16/2021

311625 4 MOYE, PHILIP S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE 06/16/2021

311625 5 MOYE, PHILIP S VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE 06/16/2021

311626 1 OLIVER, MITCHELL HAYES POSSESSION OF HEROIN FOR RESALE 06/16/2021

311627 1 REAVES, MITCHELL WILLIAM HARASSMENT 06/16/2021

311628 1 SHADDEN, TIFFANIE BROOKE TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE 06/16/2021

311628 2 SHADDEN, TIFFANIE BROOKE POSSESSION OF HEROIN 06/16/2021

311628 3 SHADDEN, TIFFANIE BROOKE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 06/16/2021

311629 1 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 06/16/2021

311629 2 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 06/16/2021

311629 3 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT 06/16/2021

311629 4 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL RECKLESS DRIVING 06/16/2021

311629 5 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL VIOLATION OF OPEN CONTAINER LAW 06/16/2021

311629 6 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL EVADING ARREST 06/16/2021

311629 7 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL RETALIATION 06/16/2021



311629 8 SMITH, BRANDON DANELL DRIVING ON REVOKED LICENSE 06/16/2021

311631 1 STALYON, MEREDITH ANN THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311630 1 STALYON, MERCEDES DELENE THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311632 1 STALYON, MEREDITH ANN THEFT OF PROPERTY 06/16/2021

311632 2 STALYON, MEREDITH ANN FAILURE TO APPEAR 06/16/2021

311633 1 SUMNER, ERICA JEANNE DOMESTIC ASSAULT 06/16/2021

311634 1 TERRY, DONTE ANTONIO FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE 06/16/2021

311634 2 TERRY, DONTE ANTONIO DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE 06/16/2021

311634 3 TERRY, DONTE ANTONIO DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE 06/16/2021

311635 1 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON POSSESSION OF HYDROCODONE 06/16/2021

311635 2 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 06/16/2021

311635 3 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE FOR RESALE 06/16/2021

311635 4 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON VIOLATION OF LIGHT LAW 06/16/2021

311635 5 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE 06/16/2021

311635 6 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON EVADING ARREST 06/16/2021

311635 7 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT 06/16/2021

311635 8 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON POSSESSION OF HEROIN FOR RESALE 06/16/2021

311635 9 WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEBRON RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT 06/16/2021

311636 1 WILSON, ROBERT W RAPE 06/16/2021

311636 2 WILSON, ROBERT W SEXUAL BATTERY 06/16/2021


The City of Chattanooga announced on Thursday that the Bike Chattanooga bikeshare program set records for growth during the COVID pandemic, as residents took the opportunity to enjoy the citys outdoor resources and opportunities.

One of Chattanoogas greatest competitive advantages is our unparalleled outdoor recreation, with spectacular destinations across our city, said Mayor Tim Kelly. As a Chattanoogan who has enjoyed riding my bike to work and for fun, Im grateful that other residents are taking advantage of the chance to enjoy fresh air and exercise while exploring our wonderful community.

The nearly nine-year-old program, which includes 42 stations and 400 bikes located throughout the city, shattered its annual usage record in 2020 and continues to show growth through May 2021.

Ridership started to pick up after we introduced e-bikes in 2018, and were excited to see that trend continue through the pandemic and beyond, said Ben Taylor, Director of Transportation Operations for the City of Chattanooga.

Bike Chattanooga served an average of 51,000 trips to around 20,000 users each year from 2013 through 2018. In 2019, Bike Chattanooga served 73,000 trips to over 26,000 users, growing to 88,000 trips to over 35,000 users in 2020, with trips up another 60% so far for 2021.

Casual recreational users were largely responsible for the systems unprecedented uptick in usage, with 77% of all trips taken by short-term (24-hour or three-day subscriptions) members in 2020, a 43% annual increase. Weekends accounted for 50% of all trips, a 97% annual increase.

In trying and adverse conditions, our team in Chattanooga excelled, helping to ensure that our bikes were safe and available to use for all Chattanoogans, said Eddie Inlow, CEO of Shift Transit, the company that has overseen the day-to-day operations of the Bike Chattanooga program since 2017. We are thrilled to have played a role in Bike Chattanoogas record-breaking accomplishments in 2020 and look forward to continuing to partner with the city to build on the programs success.



On the heels of Bike Chattanoogas success, the Tennessee Department of Transportation last week awarded Chattanooga a $1 million Multimodal Access Grant to further enhance the transportation solutions available for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit-users. The grant will be used to create a North-South Multimodal Connectivity Corridor with transit shelters, ADA accessibility improvements, and additional Bike Chattanooga stations. The new infrastructure will support a new bus route on Tennessee State Route 17, which passes through N. Willow Street, E. 3rd Street, and Dodson Avenue.



Adding Bikeshare stations with the transit stops will serve the first and last mile connection, and will link southside neighborhoods to the historic ridge-to-river area and connect key east-west corridors with much needed north-south access for safe and efficient transportation options to services and jobs.
Dani Soares was one of the stars of Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2. The retired stewardess is in the middle of drama as questions around the paternity of her baby come up. It is widely speculated that her Bravo co-star Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux is the father and he has come out publicly to say he was open to get a paternity test. With all the controversy in the background, Soares revealed the one person that is keeping her from being passed out on the street.

Dani Soares | Laurent Basset/Bravo

Dani Soares in bliss with her baby

Soares became a mother recently with the birth of her daughter Lilly. Although the former Below Deck Sailing Yacht star might be surrounded by a lot of tabloid noise, theres one person that is putting a smile on her face.

Honestly, its hard and everything, but if Lilly wasnt here, I feel like I would probably be passed out on the street right now with heels and makeup everywhere, and thats not a good thing, Soares told ET during an interview. So she definitely came to change my life and give me the meaning that I was looking for.

The news that Soares was pregnant was a shock to all viewers as she made the announcement as the reality series was airing on TV. Being pregnant was a shock to her as well, she admitted.

Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux and Dani Soares | Laurent Basset/Bravo

RELATED: Below Deck Mediterranean Season 6: Captain Sandy, Malia White Backlash Overshadows Peacock Premiere

Dani Soares reacts to criticism

As Soares mentioned, having a daughter gave her a new perspective on life. As news of her pregnancy was discussed by fans, she received a lot of criticism for not being more open about the situation. Many pointed to her singing up to a reality show and hiding aspects of her life. However, she has a different view on things and her daughter is at the top of her mind.

I have zero problems talking about my life. Its just a problem that involves somebody else, and then you have to be careful what you say, she explained. You have to be careful because its on TV, its on the internet. Its going to be there forever. So my daughter is going to see that one day. So you dont want to say things that youre going to regret later. So, you need to be very careful, but it does feel good to talk about it, just to put it out there and just be like, Right, you guys all wondering, there you go. Have fun with that information.'

Daniele Soares | Laurent Basset/Bravo

RELATED: Below Deck Alum Kate Chastain Says Bravos Chat Room Was A Miserable Experience

Is Dani Soares returning to Below Deck Sailing Yacht again?

Fans that were expecting to see Soares return to Below Deck Sailing Yacht will not be happy to know that the stewardess has retired yachting for good.

Below Deck was really my saying goodbye to yachting, she revealed. I thought it was a great way to say goodbye to yachting. I really did. I was ready to move on land and everything. So Im pretty happy with being in Australia. Australia is such an amazing country and Im so lucky to be here. I have my daughter now, obviously, and she needs my attention and just having a normal life.

Soares wil now concentrate on raising her baby in Australia where she is living now.
The Fast and the Furious is about cars, first and foremost. Actually, its about family but the cars get people in. Food is almost as important to the Fast saga as cars and family are. So, Showbiz Cheat Sheet looked back on the 10 films incuding Hobbs & Shaw and F9 to see how food functions in each one.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for the Fast Saga.]

Vin Diesel | Universal Pictures

Food begins The Fast and the Furious and ends F9

The Fast and the Furious begins with Brian OConner (Paul Walker) stalking Torettos restaurant ordering a tuna sandwich every day. Once he saves Dom (Vin Diesel) from police and gangsters after a street race, Brian is finally invited into the family. That includes the traditional Toretto family barbecue, including one in which Vince (Matt Schultze) asks and receives forgiveness. Theres chicken on the grill and corn, beans, cornbread and salad on the table. It establishes the tradition that the first one to reach for food says grace. The last scene in F9 is one of Doms barbecues so its full circle, so far.

L-R: Matt Schulze, Chad Lindberg, Michelle Rodriguez, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker Johnny Strong, Jordana Brewster, and Rick Yune | Universal/Getty Images

RELATED: Do People Still Care About The Original Fast and Furious Cars?

But thats not all! Johnny Tran (Rick Yune)s crew gets interrupted at lunch by a bust. Theyre at a Chinese restaurant, but Trans family is busted at home having dinner. Dom and Brian also have shrimp by the beach.

2 Fast 2 Furious is 2 Fast 2 Foodious

When Diesel didnt want to return for the sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious introduced Roman Pierce (Tyrese Gibson) to be Brians partner. Roman is always grabbing sandwiches wherever he goes, so its hard to log each one. But, eating would become a character trademark for him, too. Bilkins (Thom Barry) has some popcorn at the demolition derby and theres a fruit plate at Carter Verone (Cole Hauser)s house. A soda from Gallos Pizzeria is a significant plot point, too.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is the first exotic cuisine in the series

Introducing entirely new characters, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is about American high schooler Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) abroad in Japan. Sean sees his neighbor eating noodles through the window. Later, he goes for noodles with Neela (Nathalie Kelley). The school cafeteria is serving Japanese cuisine which even Twinkie (Shad Moss) cant identify. As the first Fast Saga appearance of Han (Sung Kang), this also introduces Hans compulsive snack habit.

Fast & Furious has no time for barbecue

The fourth movie reunites the original cast members, but its in a fraught situation. Dom and Brian go undercover to avenge Letty (Michelle Rodriguez)s presumed death. They dont have time to make full barbecue, so they plot their mission with Mia (Jordana Brewster) over Chinese takeout.

Fast Five is a return to food form

Picking up where Fast & Furious left off, Fast Five finds Brian and Mia on the run in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its Vince who feeds them. As the gang plot their heist, Dom hosts a traditional barbecue with ribs in the warehouse. Vince again begs forgiveness for an earlier betrayal and gets a seat at the table.

RELATED: F9 Star Jordana Brewster Says 1 Character Was Cut Out of the Latest Fast and the Furious Movie

Furious 6 is a buffet of food styles

As Furious 6 reassembles the team, it picks up Han and Gisele (Gal Gadot) enjoying street food in China. They never open it so we dont get to see what theyre eating. Once Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) briefs them on the mission, Roman raids the vending machine. When Hobbs grants them full pardons after a successful mission, they return to the Toretto house for a traditional barbecue. It looks like chicken on the grill, but maybe its ribs and they have sausage standing by.

Supporting characters dine in Furious Seven

When Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) seemingly kills Han and pursues the rest of Torettos family, they dont have time to eat. Hobbs goes to the hospital where he gets hospital Jello and salad. The gang bursts in on Deckard eating a steak, but they dont have their own barbecue.

The Fate of the Furious makes you wait to eat

Theres no food until the end of The Fate of the Furious, a missed opportunity perhaps in its opening in Havana, Cuba. But, it ends with a traditional Toretto barbecue on a rooftop. Theres ribs, corn and cornbread as Dom introduces baby Brian. Likewise, F9 saves the barbecue for the end so perhaps a new tradition is emerging.

Hobbs & Shaw have breakfast before they get fast and furious

The spinoff introduces buth Hobbs and Shaw (Jason Statham) making breakfast. They both have eggs, but Hobbs drinks his. Hobbs does take his daughter for a pancake breakfast before he teams up with Shaw for the mission.

F9 connects many characters over food

When Mia and Letty go to Hong Kong looking for Han, they have ramen together. Tej (Ludacris) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) play a mean trick on Roman using a magnet to interrupt his lunch. A bunch of stray candy wrappers in the finale also reveals that Roman has been stress eating. In that final barbecue, we see burgers and corn on the grill, wings on the table and Mia brings the salad.
Ree Drummond, the host of Food Networks The Pioneer Woman, makes cobbler unbelievably simple. She uses all of five ingredients to make her five-star Blackberry Cobbler.

The Pioneer Womans Blackberry Cobbler has a 30-second batter

The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond | Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Pioneer Woman Magazine

RELATED: Barefoot Contessa: 1 of Ina Gartens Favorite Summer Desserts Is Such a Crowd-Pleaser

The celebrity chef admits there are different types of cobbler. Everyone has their own interpretation of cobbler, Drummond once said during an episode of The Pioneer Woman, which she films on her familys ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Some people think of cobbler as fruit in a dish and a pie crust over the top. Thats one version. Some people think of cobbler as fruit on the bottom and a biscuit topping.

She continued, saying she prefers cobbler thats a little bit more cakey and poofy. Part of the reason she likes it this way is because the batter comes together in a matter of seconds.

That right there is why I love this cobbler so much, she said as she mixed together milk, flour, sugar, and melted butter to form the batter. The only other ingredient? Blackberries.

If you make a cobbler with a pie crust you have to cut the shortening in with the flour and go through all of those steps, Drummond added. If you do it with a biscuit topping you have to make the biscuit dough, roll it out, cut it. This is about a 30-second batter to throw together. And the sooner I can get cobbler in my mouth the happier I am.

Ree Drummond describes her Blackberry Cobbler as something not of this world

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummonds Favorite Donuts

While everyone might interpret cobbler a little differently, the Food Network stars version is all about a cakey texture. The magic happens after pouring the batter in a pan with fresh blackberries.

This batter is going to poof and bake around the blackberries and it turns into something not of this world, Drummond explained on The Pioneer Woman.

An added touch to give some crunch, the cookbook author sprinkles sugar on top of the cobbler when it has 10 minutes left in the oven.

Drummonds Blackberry Cobbler is a 5-star Food Network recipe

At the time of publication, the popular Pioneer Woman dessert recipe averages five stars on Food Networks website. Its been reviewed more than 500 times and, while some complained about the cobbler being too sweet or coming out of the oven flat, the majority of reviewers had positive things to say about it.

This really hit the spot, one person wrote. Ive tried two other recipes, and this one from Ree is the best. Not too sweet and not bland. Another called it a crowd pleaser, saying there wont be any to take home after dinner.

Others raved about the cobblers simplicity. Such a simple recipe but doesnt taste that way, one reviewer wrote. Another described it as so easy but tastes like you spent hours on it while someone else called it afool-proof dish I will make again and again. One even called it their favorite cobbler recipe.
By season 2 of The Sopranos, the mob show had no trouble finding top stars to audition for new roles. When the part of Janice Soprano opened up, casting directors saw one elite actor after another. The list included Marcia Gay Harden and Aida Turturro, who eventually won the role. Marianne Leone had also tried out for Janice.

Afterward, Leone came back and auditioned for the role of Joanne Moltisanti, who entered the show during season 4. Leone landed that part, and she played the mother of Christopher (Michael Imperioli) until the shows final season. Looking back on her Sopranos run, Leone said she was glad she didnt play Janice on the show.

Marianne Leone was suing a school on behalf of her son during the Sopranos years

Chris Cooper & wife Marianne Leone attend a Seabiscuit Los Angeles premiere in Los Angeles. | Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

On the Talking Sopranos podcast, Leone thought back on her time playing Joanne Moltisanti. During that period, she was raising a son with disabilities in Massachusetts with her husband, actor Chris Cooper. She recalled having multiple lawsuits going at the same time.

I was in a two-year battle with the school, Leone said. I am organizing the parents, suing the school. There are, like, six lawsuits. Never f with an Italian mother. While making speeches on behalf of her son in front of the schoolboard, Leone imagined what it would have been like had she played Janice as opposed to Christophers mother.

I thought, Its kinda good they dont have in their mind me being fed from behind by Richie Aprile, holding a gun to my head,' Leone said on Talking Sopranos. You know, it might soften the message [laughs]. Indeed, she was glad shed joined the show as Mrs. Moltisanti instead. Leone and Cooper ended up winning that battle on their sons behalf.

Leone had multiple scenes cut out of Goodfellas

Marianne Leone Cooper and Chris Cooper attend the Tribeca Festival after-party on June 13, 2021. | Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for 2021 Tribeca Festival

RELATED: The Sopranos: How Lorraine Bracco Kept Peter Bogdanovich on His Toes for Their Scenes

If you check Leones credits, youll see Goodfellas on her list of films. However, you might not recall Leone, who played the wife of Tuddy Cicero (Frank DiLeo), in the classic film. Thats because Martin Scorsese cut Leones scenes with dialogue during the editing process. However, Leone still had some memorable moments on set.

I did manage to drop an entire plate of lasagna into Lorraine Braccos lap [laughs], Leone said on Talking Sopranos. It was a total accident. [Bracco] swore, and they had to redo it. I thought, Im gonna kill myself, now. I couldnt believe I stumbled and dropped [the lasagna] on her.

Obviously, the two actors could look back on that and laugh during their Sopranos years. (Bracco played Dr. Jennifer Melfi.) At the time, Bracco didnt seem to hold it against Leone. She did say son of a bh, but I dont think she wanted to kill [inaudible], Leone recalled of that awkward moment.
FAIRCHILD AFB  Fairchild Air Force Base is listed among the victims of a $3.5 million family housing scheme, the Justice Department announced on June 9. Two former managers from the Balfour Beatty Communities pleaded guilty to falsifying documents while providing maintenance services for on-base family housing between 2013 and 2016. Bonuses for exceeding service deadlines were claimed in writing, despite the work not being completed.

Rick Cunefare of Glendale, Arizona, and Stacy M. Cabrera of Converse, Texas, pleaded guilty and face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both are currently awaiting sentencing in federal district court. Cabreras fraudulent conduct produced about $1 million in performance bonuses.

The incentive-based fee contract stipulates that 95% of maintenance duties must be completed within three business days in the quarter to be eligible for the additional funds. It is currently unclear whether other conspirators were involved as no further names have been provided at this time.

The negligent actions produced a reduction in preventative maintenance on family facilities within Fairchild Air Force Base, allowing the structures to fall into a state described as substandard. Other bases involved in the case are Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; Travis and Vandenberg Air Force, California.

Initial reports regarding the two charged property managers began to surface in 2019 and come in the wake of a series of complaints regarding military housing. Various other companies are alleged to maintain similar practices, contributing to asbestos, animal infestations, and varying degrees of pipe leakage and sewage issues.

Fairchild has no comment regarding the incident. The Balfour Beatty company is a third-party contactor hired by the Air Force and it is unclear what services were provided or neglected.

In the United States, 21 Air Force bases and 34 Army and Navy bases utilize Balfour Beatty as family housing managers.

Scott Davis can be reached at news@cheneyfreepress.com.
Letter to the Editor

Where did the main stream media report the major atrocities taking place in Israel and occupied Gaza?

Of course, we heard about the bombing and destruction of the building housing Associated Press and Al-Jazeera and numbers killed, but we havent heard much about the roof knocking, the targeted killing of Palestinian doctors, the purposeful destruction of the Covid lab in Gaza, the squatting of non-Arab Israelis (many of which are American citizens) in Arab-Israeli homes in Jerusalem and other human rights violations.

One heart-wrenching story reported that every night, an entire Palestinian family sleeps in one room so if bombed, they will all die together and nobody will have to grieve. What a toll on the mental health of Palestinians and Israelis.

There are more atrocities that are ignored in the rush to support President Bidens and others assertion that Israel has a right to defend itself from the occupied  from stone-throwing teenagers and missiles lopped against the Iron Dome. The United States, with the explicit support of President Biden, is complicit in this war.

Biden should have demanded Israel stop the bombing before it started. Our tax money is wasted in this futile attempt to keep the peace in this region. War is not peace, and rarely if ever keeps the peace.

We need to hear the reports of the organization, Jewish Voices for Peace. As Bernie Sanders says, Palestinian Lives Matter. As Quakers say, War is not the Answer. As Martin Luther King said, Violence begets violence.

Nancy Street

Cheney
From weekly Shabbat services to high holy days, life for most Israeli Jewish communities revolves around regular in-person gatherings. When the Israeli government announced a strict lockdown on March 9, 2020, these came to a screeching halt. The government banned gatherings of more than two people except for funerals and circumcision ceremonies. As a result, all synagogues were forced to close and religious prayers which were once public were forced to adapt to the new normal of the COVID-19 lockdown.

This did not just cause mass upheaval in the religious life of many Israeli Jews but also in their psychological well being, as religious gathering meets the "belonging need" outlined Maslows hierarchy of needs, which follows immediately after "physiological and security needs" in terms of importance.

This need requires stable interpersonal relationships with frequent interactions, which the thrice daily minyan prayer gatherings provide many Jews (at least 10 men or women typically gather for these). These prayer gatherings facilitate a sense of belonging and purpose and is at the core of community life for many Israeli Jews.

Professor Rivi Frei-Landau of the Culturally-Sensitive Clinical Psychology Program at the Open University of Israel wrote for a psychology journal about how Rabbanim (Jewish community leaders) adapted their religious rituals during COVID:

Enabling alternative ways to continue performing religious rituals was imperativefirst of all, because it helps community members maintain a sense of belonging. Second, because religion is a framework that provides meaning and significance, especially in times of stress, it is considered a coping resource that promotes human resilience. Finally, in light of the association found between religious fundamentalism (and thus, by extension, observance too) and a preference for religiousrather than psychologicalhelp-seeking, maintaining religious practices and customs in times of stress becomes even more crucial.

Similarly, Freud claimed that maintaining religious rituals can help relieve the individuals anxietya desirable consequence in times of stress.

Balcony prayers deemed okay.

Inspired by the pandemic balcony singing and cheering in Italy, the Rabbanim decided that the thrice-daily Minyan prayer meetings would be allowed to be conducted amongst neighbors on balconies as long as the neighbors made eye contact with each other.

Accordingly, neighbors established relationships quite quickly (in some cases, WhatsApp groups were set up to coordinate prayer schedules). Eventually, this new form of religious practice resulted in social support, mutual assistance, and general discourse regarding the pandemic.

Independent religious learning groups (Chivruta) went virtual using video conferencing.

To preserve ways for social collaborative learning, as well as to enable the leaders to continue preaching to believers, the chief rabbinate decided that during the pandemic, these social interactions would be conducted using a video-conferencing application (Zoom), a step reminiscent of educational institutions sudden shift to using information and communications technology (ICT). This continuous, virtual, and collective relationship enabled the community members to maintain social ties and a sense of belonging.

Passover celebrations were broadcasted virtually.

Passover is an important family gathering for many Jews and allowing it to be conducted virtually was quite controversial.

The Jewish religious precepts forbid the use of electronic devices during religious holidays; hence, this was an innovative rule that aroused a huge debate among the various Jewish religious denominations. Notwithstanding, this ruling demonstrates religious figures acknowledgment that a sense of belonging is vital for maintaining ones resilience in difficult times.

Subscribe to email digests from the Better Samaritan.

Frei-Landaus research on the adaptation of Jewish religious rituals sheds light on a few of the many ways that religious communities have had to adapt their practice to meet the social-distancing requirements imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully, her research will prompt further research in other religious communities as to how to best adapt and utilize existing communal and religious structures to serve communities around the world spiritually and promote mental health in the face of disasters.

Daniel Kohl is a current masters student in the Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership program at Wheaton College (IL). He grew up in the Middle East and prior to his masters degree, he received a bachelors degree in Economics & Business from Westmont College.

References:

Frei-Landau, R. (2020). When the going gets tough, the tough getCreative: Israeli Jewish religious leaders find religiously innovative ways to preserve community members sense of belonging and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), S258-S260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000822
Six weeks after Stu Davis left his job as pastor at one of Colorado Springss largest churches in 2013, most of his kitchen appliances broke. Then his car broke. When his employee health insurance ran out, all three of his children had to make separate visits to the hospital.

There were definitely times when I was angry at the Lord, Davis said. It was just a super, super hard season.

Those trials made Davis think differently about the role of the church in his city. He had helped build a large youth program at Woodmen Valley Chapel, an ambitious multiyear missions project to Swaziland, and, if he was being honest, a big platform for himself. But he hadnt really focused on the problems of people struggling in Colorado Springs.

The experience changed him. He says the trials dislodged him. Now, Davis serves as the executive director of COSILoveYou, a Christian nonprofit that connects nearly 100 local churches to address suffering and promote flourishing in Colorado Springs.

In some ways, Daviss story is the story of evangelicalism in Colorado Springs, the city of 464,000 that celebrates its 150th birthday this July. Evangelicals were really successful in the city starting in the 1980s, earning it the title of the evangelical Vatican as Colorado Springs became a platform for high-profile Christian leaders. Then there were some broken appliancessome dislodgingand the citys evangelicals rediscovered the importance of caring for their local community.

The majority of local churches that would describe themselves as evangelical churches have started to step back or dial back, Davis said, and focused a lot more on either ...

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Please note: the announcement for the protest vigil warned, Prayers will be offered and certain testimonies may include dimensions of God and religion. If this is triggering for you, take any precautions you need.

The protest was led by students at a Christian college, where one would hope that dimensions of God and religion would be both commonplace and triggering (of reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness).

Student protests are not reliable indicators of institutional health. But in this case, the fliers and tweets promoting the student protest vigil at Seattle Pacific University (SPU), a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, are an indication that something has gone awry.

The candlelight vigil was held to protest the SPU Board of Trustees decision not to abandon its positions on human sexuality. The schools Employee Lifestyle Expectations bar sexually immoral behavior which is inconsistent with Biblical standards. A Statement on Human Sexuality spells out what those biblical standards are. At 758 words, the human sexuality statement is a robust model for other Christian organizations. Its not a list of dos and donts, but rather a robust theological framework affirming human creation in the image of God and renounc[ing] the equation of sexuality with genital sex alone.

Of course, most attention these days is on the statements affirmation that God intends sexual experience to be celebrated only between a man and a woman in the covenant of marriage. An adjunct nursing instructor sued the university in January, saying he was denied a full-time position because ...

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Temporary Measures in Times of Crisis

The first time in my life I ever went live was Saturday, March 14th announcing that there would be no church in the morning. I had been pastor here for almost eighteen years, but my head was spinning. From the number and nature of the responses to the post,

it was evident that not only our church, but also our community was watching closely. I could feel the eyes on me.

No courses in seminary prepared me for pastoring during a pandemic. Was I equipped to pastor Gods people through this unprecedented moment? The questions began to pile up

Cancel church or not?

Masks or not?

Online or not?

Pre-record or go live?

Vaccines or not?

Home groups or not?

Two services or not?

To Zoom or not to Zoom?

How to care for our folks physically, emotionally, spiritually?

How to disciple?

How to preach?

And a hundred others.

1 Corinthians 7:26 pushed its way to the front of my mind:

I think that in view

of the present distress

it is well for a person

to remain as he is. (RSV, as all others unless otherwise noted)

The Corinthians had written to Paul with questions about how to live the Christian life in that particular place and in those particular days (7:1). This is Pauls response. Though we cant know for sure what the present distress was, Bruce Winter has made a strong case that the distress was a famine.[1] If it was a famine or something similar, it affected the whole society and not the church only. Gordon Fee understands Paul to be saying, In light of the troubles we are already experiencing, who needs the additional burden of marriage as well?[2] Delaying marriage  not an insignificant decision for an excited young couple!  was a temporary measure in view of the present distress.

Paul does not pontificate in this passage on what they all must do. In fact, this chapter addresses each one and demonstrates Pauls sensitivity to the complexities of life. Thiselton comments,

Paul deals with the good, the possible, the just, the feasible, the constructive, the useful, and the right and their contraries in ways which take seriously the contingencies of the addressees life and underscores Pauls concern with adaptation.[3]

Ciampa and Rosner are prescient here on the pandemic:

Important decisions in life (as well as mundane ones), if made wisely, will take into consideration the social context We need wisdom to discern the times and understand our circumstances so as to know the best way to glorify God and avoid putting ourselves or others under unnecessary duress.[4]

This is pastor Paul providing wisdom for living wisely in a chaotic world.

How should pastors think about taking temporary measures in a time of crisis?

Below I suggest a 7-step process to follow as we decide what to do in times of crisis. But first I want to consider 1) 1 Corinthians 7 in view of the Jewish responsa material, and 2) 1 Corinthians 7 in the context of 1 Corinthians 1-14.

During the Holocaust, a group of Jews were huddled in a bunker hiding from the Nazis. There was a baby with them who began to cry. If discovered, they all would be slaughtered, so one of the men covered the infants face with a pillow. When the Nazis finally left, the infant had suffocated.[5] The Jews, traumatized, sent a question, a sheelah, to the rabbi asking what should be done in such circumstance. In such a situation, the rabbis answer is a teshuvah, and material such as this is called Responsa. Hundreds of thousands of responsa have been preserved through the centuries, making up an authoritative body of Jewish legal material.[6] Eminent Jewish legal scholar, Menachem Elon, explains why the responsa carry such great authority in Jewish law:

Rulings arrived at in the course of a responsum in an actual case have greater force and are closer to the truth than conclusions reached as a result of theoretical study.[7]

Furthermore, a responsum is

accorded special force and weight once it has been applied in practice and has been tested in the crucible of actual life.[8]

The rabbis stood near their suffering people, as shepherds with their sheep, pressed by circumstance to offer answers to inescapable questions. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul is a pastor-sage giving answers to the pressing requests of his people, Now concerning the matters about which you wrote (7.1).

This is the way of biblical wisdom  being present with these people in this place, understanding their plight so you might provide a word in season (Proverb 15.23).[9]

We all now know the feeling.

Now the context in 1 Corinthians.

Paul is a principled pragmatist. He leaves some questions without definitive answers because he knows life is messy. But there is a deep principle of wisdom that guides everything. In chapters 1-2 Paul reminds the Corinthians of the self-sacrifice of Jesus on the cross which is the epitome of the wisdom of God. The world cannot understand it, but it is the center of the Christian life. This is the bedrock principle at work throughout the book. Hear the echoes of the cruciform wisdom as Paul applies in a concrete world

On lawsuits:

Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? (6.7, NLT)

On the right to eat meat sacrificed to idols:

If food is a cause of my brothers falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. (8:13)

On Pauls rights as an apostle:

I have made no use of any of these rights. (9:15)

Back to meat and idols:

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (10.24)

On spiritual gifts:

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (12:7)

Pauls big idea  it is never about my rights first. To put it in American lingo  the First Amendment is never our first priority.

Temporary measures must pass the test of the timeless measure against which all things are tested, the cross of Jesus.

Not even faith can be the foundational consideration, If I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didnt love others, I would be nothing faith, hope and love  and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:2, 13). During this pandemic, I often heard faith being prioritized over love, but faithfulness is often a matter of love more than of faith, and a Corinthian-style display of faith-flexing (ch. 12, 14) is no virtue.

Lets gather this up. No two crises are exactly alike, and so its difficult to be too specific, but heres a suggested process for considering temporary measures in a time of crisis:

Pray. This is obvious, but often overlooked and underdone. Pray and listen. Be as Present as Possible. They need to know we are with them. Be present and listen. Consult the Prudent. I could not have shouldered the burden without the wisdom of my deacons. Listen to the wise. Pay Attention to the Particulars. I am in Locust Grove, not New York City. Loving our community may look a little different. Listen to the locals. Consider Precedent. Paul constantly drew on the First Testament (e.g.10.1-10), and so did Jesus. Jesus justified plucking grain on the Sabbath in part by appealing to David eating the sacred bread. Listen to the past. Prioritize Deeper Principles. Crises reveal priorities. The Christian faith is pragmatic, and what looks like pragmatism always has underlying principles of priority. Jesus said, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. In spite of the Chroniclers typical punctiliousness on law-keeping, he reports that those of the northern tribes had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuarys rules of cleanness (2 Chronicles 30.18-19). The Didache 7:1-3 (c. early second century CE) allows at least four options for baptism from the best to the acceptable. The deepest principle is always the cross of Jesus.

Be Practical. You must do something. You have been placed there to do something. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4). There is never a perfect time and a perfect plan, but you cant afford to be paralyzed by idealized perfection.

Dr. Jeff Blair is Pastor of Locust Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Oklahoma where he lives with his wife, Jennie, and three kids. Jeff graduated from Northern Seminary in 2018 with a Doctor of Ministry in New Testament Context.

[1] Bruce W. Winter, Secular and Christian Responses to Corinthian Famines, Tyndale Bulletin 40.1 (1989), 86-106.

[2] Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, NICNT (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 329. Emphasis mine.

[3] Emphasis mine. Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: NIGTC (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000), 536537. Quoting Glad, Paul and Philodemus: Adaptability in Epicurean and Early Christian Psychagogy, 246 and referencing Charles H. Giblin, 1 Cor 7A Negative Theology of Marriage and Celibacy? BT 41 (1969): 23955.

[4] Note the date, 2010, on the heals of the Great Recession. Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, PNTC (Grand Rapids, MI; Eerdmans, 2010), 337338. Emphasis mine.

[5] Irving Rosenbaum, The Holocaust and Halakhah, p. 40.

[6] The earliest examples are embedded in the Talmud. Later, responsa became a distinct genre of Jewish legal material.

[7] Menachem Elon, Jewish Law (Philadelphia: JPS, 1994), 1458. Emphasis mine.

[8] Ibid. 1457. Emphasis mine.

[9] Which Waltke describes as (A) response to some challenging situation and given at the right time. Bruce Waltke, Proverbs, Chapters 115, NICOT (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004), 633.
Franklin Graham condemns Colorado mayor for banning Pledge of Allegiance, calling it divisive'

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The mayor of a Colorado mountain town recently banned the board of trustees and residents from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at public board meetings, purportedly due to its divisiveness, which drew the ire of evangelical leader Franklin Graham.

Mayor Shane Fuhrman of Silverton, a small mountain town of fewer than 600 residents, did not mention specific incidents but said the pledge would no longer be recited due to threats.

Due to direct and indirect threats, inappropriate comments in and out of public meetings, and the general divisiveness this is creating in our community, we will not be doing the Pledge of Allegiance during town of Silverton Board of Trustees meetings, and its removed from agendas and or protocols until such time that we can discuss this at a board retreat or workshop, said Fuhrman, explaining why he made an executive decision to ban the pledge less than a minute into the meeting on June 14, which was Flag Day.

Trustee Molly Berla expressed her frustration at the mayor's action and called him out for making the unilateral decision to end the pledge without first consulting the board, the Daily Mail reported.

Minutes later, a meeting attendee who was at the meeting to make a public comment addressed the board by first saying that she wanted to recite the pledge.

I would like to make one comment. I would like to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, the audience member said as the mayor tried to silence her, as seen in the recorded video of the meeting, beginning at the 5:18 mark.

A few of the board members and those attending the public meeting defied the mayor's order and recited the pledge anyway.

The mayor and most of the board members remained seated during the pledge, which was followed by a strong rebuke by Fuhrman, who told attendees that he had the power to cancel the meeting.

We did have a one-strike policy, Fuhrman said. Im not going to ask everyone to leave tonight, but if something like that happens again, we will. And heckling and other things like that are out of order, he added in response to one audience member who shouted out loud without being recognized by the board.

In a post on Facebook, Graham condemned the mayor who had to gall to ban the pledge from public meetings.

Ive been to Silverton, Colorado, several times and I never thought this western historic mining town would ban the Pledge of Allegiance! Graham wrote on Facebook Thursday.

... Those in attendance didnt go along with his idea at all, and when it was time for public comments, they stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance together, he added.

When they were finished, Mayor Fuhrman said they were out of order and that they would be asked to leave if they did it again, Graham continued. I think this mayor is the one who is out of order! Its a shame that an elected official would feel this way about the Pledge of Allegiance. Its important that we take time to recognize and honor our countrys flag  a flag that represents the freedom that so many fought and died for. Im proud of these citizens and trustees for standing up for that. Silverton may need to re-think who they select for mayor.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., tweeted that it's hard to put into words what kind of anti-American disgrace this is, in response to the mayor's disdain for the pledge.

Mayor Fuhrman should resign and purchase a one-way ticket to China where he wont have [to] worry about hearing the pledge! Boebert quipped.

Silverton, COs Mayor unilaterally banned the Pledge of Allegiance at city meetings.



Its hard to put into words what kind of anti-American disgrace this is.



Mayor Fuhrman should resign and purchase a one-way ticket to China where he wont have worry about hearing the pledge! pic.twitter.com/tjzU1cnOv0  Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) June 18, 2021

Controversy over the Pledge of Allegiance in Silverton dates back to an April 9, 2018, meeting when Trustee Malcolm MacDougall refused to stand for the pledge.

Ron Renowden, a resident of Silverton, expressed frustration at MacDougalls refusal to stand for the pledge. I understand you dont believe in God and will have to deal with that. Thats the worst man to mess with, Renowden, a veteran, told MacDougall at the meeting, which was recorded.

Im here to address you not standing up for the Pledge of Allegiance. It infuriates the hell out of me that you dont have the courage or the consideration to stand when we do the Pledge of Allegiance and put your hand over your heart, he added.

... For you to show such disrespect, he continued. If you dont want to stand for the flag, you should leave this country. Its a shame. Your father was in the military in Vietnam. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Im not, MacDougall retorted.

Renowden responded by saying, And you better hope that one of these days, if it wasnt to go to jail, somebodys going to kick your butt up and down Greene Street.

MacDougall said Renowden's public comment was a threat to his personal well-being.

The sheriffs office reviewed a recording of the meeting and concluded that while [the comments were] aggressive, it did not meet the elements of harassing or menacing, The Durango Herald reported at the time.
Jim Bakker ministry to pay $156K in settlement over coronavirus cure claims

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Controversial televangelist Jim Bakker will pay $156,000 in restitution as part of a settlement agreement with the state of Missouri for promoting a fake cure for coronaviruses on his program.

In February 2020, The Jim Bakker Show featured a product known as Silver Solution in which a guest said it was able to cure certain coronaviruses.

On Tuesday, the state of Missouri and Bakker entered into a consent judgment in which Bakkers ministry would pay $156,000 in restitution for selling the product on his show.

According to the order, signed by Associate Circuit Judge Alan Blankenship, Bakker has agreed to stop selling the product but also denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

Nevertheless, both parties agreed to the settlement in order to avoid substantial expense and the uncertainties of further litigation.

Restitution checks for those who purchased the Silver Solution from Bakker are scheduled to be mailed out within 30 days of the execution of the consent judgment.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a statement Wednesday that he was pleased with the settlement and the strong safeguards to prevent the marketing of silver solution as a cure or treatment for COVID and other medical issues.

My Office will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of Missouri consumers, and will not hesitate to take action when those consumers are being defrauded, stated Schmitt.

On a Feb. 12, 2020, broadcast of The Jim Bakker Show, Bakker featured Dr. Sherrill Sellman, a regular guest, who said Silver Solution was effective against some coronaviruses.

This influenza, which is now circling the globe, youre saying that Silver Solution would be effective? Bakker asked Sellman during the episode.

Well, replied Sellman, lets say it hasnt been tested against this strain of the coronavirus, but its been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours.

The Silver Solution was priced at over $80 on the show and was marketed on several episodes until March 2020, when the Missouri attorney general sued the program.

The Food and Drug Administration and the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James both sent cease and desist letters to Bakker in response to his promotion of Silver Solution.

The 2019 novel coronavirus poses serious consequences to public health, and consumers are concerned as to how they can best protect themselves and their families, wrote James last year.

Your shows segment may mislead consumers as to the effectiveness of the Silver Solution product in protecting against the current outbreak.

Bakker was not without his supporters, as former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon decided to serve as an attorney for Bakker during the legal battle and filed a motion to dismiss.

Jim Bakker is being unfairly targeted by those who want to crush his ministry and force his Christian television program off the air, stated Nixon in May of last year.

The video recording of the Jim Bakker Show clearly shows the allegations are false. Bakker did not claim or state that Silver Solution was a cure for COVID-19. This case is about religious freedom.
Pakistani Christian girl forced to convert to Islam, kept as slave cook

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A Muslim couple in Pakistans Punjab province forcibly converted a 13-year-old Christian girl to Islam so that she could work as a cook in their kitchen and touch utensils and food items. Now they are refusing to allow her to return home to her parents unless they pay a ransom, according to a report.

The Muslim man, identified only as a medical doctor named Altaf, recently told the parents of Neha, the Christian teenager, that she had embraced Islam and he and his wife were keeping her as their servant, the U.K.-based nonprofit Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement said in a statement Thursday about the abduction.

Nehas father, Munawar Masih, and his wife, Mehtan Bibi, who live in Muzaffargarh district, are economically poor and had hoped that their daughter would earn a little money by working in Altafs house.

The young Christian teen has seven siblings and their parents earn only about $50 a month.

Altaf was introduced to Masih as someone who was looking to employ two girls to work in his house. Initially, Masih sent Neha and her sister, Sneha, to work in Altafs house, and the two worked there for four years despite being treated as slaves, CLAAS said.

The sisters complained about mistreatment by the family, who would swear at them and even physically assault them.  They told the family that they wanted to go back home and live with their family, but Dr. Altaf did not allow them to leave.

The girls were promised $65 a month but were only paid $20.

Due to her deteriorating health, Altaf allowed Nehas sister to return to her parents. But when Masih requested Altaf to return also, he was told that Neha had embraced Islam and therefore could not live with her parents any longer.

Altaf told Masih that it was not possible for them to allow any non-Muslim to enter the kitchen and touch their food items and kitchen utensils so she had to convert.

He also claimed that he had mistakenly overpaid Masih $1,750 and told him he must pay him that amount if he wants to get his daughter back.

Perhaps Pakistan is the only country where such crimes are happening on a daily basis under the cover of Islam, CLAAS-UK Director Nasir Saeed said. It cannot be justified at any cost that a young girl was converted to Islam against her will and without her parents knowledge and now she cannot be returned to her parents because her parents are Christians, and she cannot be allowed to live them.

A 2014 study by The Movement for Solidarity and Peace Pakistan estimated that about 1,000 women and girls from Pakistans Hindu and Christian communities were abducted, forcibly married to their captor, and forcibly converted to Islam every year.

International persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA ranks Pakistan No. 5 on its 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution due to an extreme level of Islamic oppression. Pakistan is also listed by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for tolerating in or engaging in egregious violations of religious freedom.
'Unfair exclusion': Advocates slam Wisconsin gov.'s veto of school choice program expansion

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School choice advocates are criticizing Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' veto of a bill that would have expanded access to the states school choice program as the push for alternative schooling options accelerates amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Democrat announced Friday that he vetoed Assembly Bill 59, which would enable more families to participate in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program.

Evers said he objects to "diverting resources from school districts to private schools" in a veto message.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program allows eligible students living outside the cities of Milwaukee and Racine to use a taxpayer-funded voucher to attend a participating private school in grades four-year-old kindergarten (K4) to 12.

The bill, supported by Republican legislators and opposed by Democrats, would have increased the income eligibility for the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program to 300 percent of the federal poverty level and allowed pupils to submit full-time open enrollment applications to an unlimited number of nonresident school districts.

Assembly Bill 59 passed the Republican-controlled State Assembly on a party-line vote of 60-36 and the Republican-controlled Senate on a party-line vote of 20-12. But the legislation was rejected by Gov. Evers, the states former Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Evers argued that because participation in the WPCP increased by over 30 percent in the 2019-20 school year and 25 percent in the 2020-21 school [year] with the 220 percent income threshold in place, the current income threshold does not prevent program growth.

Evers said he is concerned that the proposed change could have "long-term financial impacts" and lead to an increase in property taxes in some school districts. He argued that 297 school districts "have the potential for increased property taxes" because of resident students participating in the program.

"The bill would exacerbate not only property tax increases but the incoherence of Wisconsin's current school funding system among public and private schools in our state," Evers' message reads.

The legislature will likely fail to accumulate the votes needed to override Evers veto since support for the legislation fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to nullify a veto in both chambers of the state legislature.

CJ Szafir, president of the Institute for Reforming Government, said that the governors veto illustrates that he has failed to live up to his goal of serving as the education governor.

With so many public schools closed this year, its more important than ever for policymakers to focus on giving all children the opportunity to attend a high quality K-12 school, Szafir concluded, according to The Center Square. Unfortunately, Governor Evers veto denies families access to more educational options for their children. Its disappointing, especially when so many students are struggling.

Justin Moralez, the state director of the Wisconsin Federation for Children, which supported the proposed expansion of the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program, praised the program for meeting a demand, especially during the pandemic." He told The Center Square that families in the 220%-300% income threshold are looking for the same access rather than unfair exclusion. He alleged that Evers has shown that he thinks some Wisconsin residents are more deserving of equal education access than their neighbors across the state.

For the 2021-22 school year, approximately 300 religious schools have indicated an intent to participate in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. The Wisconsin Federation for Children reported that nearly 12,000 students were enrolled in the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program during the 2020-21 school year.

The debate about school choice has intensified throughout the coronavirus pandemic when many public schools remained closed to in-person instruction as private schools opened for in-person instruction. Additionally, the widespread adoption of remote learning made parents aware of what their children were learning at school, which, in some cases, included lessons about controversial topics such as critical race theory, Black Lives Matter and transgender ideology.

In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Hadley Manning, the policy director for the Independent Womens Forum, expressed hope that the coronavirus pandemic would lead to policies providing all families with an education savings account that is funded by the state and allows them to direct their education dollars to private schools.

While the divided government has prevented the expansion of school choice in Wisconsin, other states have successfully adopted wide-reaching school choice initiatives in the pandemic's wake.

Earlier this year, West Virginia implemented what school choice advocates described as the most expansive education savings account policy in the country. The Hope Scholarship Program, slated to go into effect in 2022, will allow families who withdraw from public schools to receive a $4,600 per-student, per-year (scholarship) for private- and home-schooling expenses.

Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure projected to allow 60,000 previous ineligible families to obtain vouchers to attend private schools. The bill will permit home-schooled students to participate in the voucher program and increase the income threshold for participation in the voucher program to 375% of the poverty level.

According to the American Federation for Children, an organization that supports school choice initiatives, 26 states and Washington, D.C. currently have private school choice programs that allow students to receive taxpayer funding to attend a private school of their choice.

School choice programs are primarily directed at low-income families and those living in low-performing school districts, but initiatives like the one in West Virginia have made access to school choice more widely available.
Al Mohler blasts VA's decision to cover elective cosmetic surgeries for trans-identified veterans

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A prominent theologian has condemned the Department of Veterans Affairs' decision to offer elective cosmetic surgeries to trans-identified veterans as part of their medical benefits package, calling it "cultural coercion."

With the adoption of this policy, the medicalization of gender and transgender ideology won't be limited to the U.S. military or the several thousands of people who might be covered with this provision, said Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in a Tuesday episode of his podcast, The Briefing, but it will have far-reaching effects.

It is clearly coming as a part of the cultural coercion to say that all medical establishments must do the same. Medical insurance companies should do the same. This is putting the clout of the United States government through an organization as central as the Department of Veterans' Affairs behind the sexual revolution in a whole new way, Mohler said.

The Christian Post reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs to ask if elective surgeries would be covered for all veterans or only those who identify as transgender. This article will be updated once a response is received.

In his podcast, Mohler noted that newspapers like The Washington Post and The New York Times hailed the news and used trans-affirming terminology such as gender confirmation surgery in their reporting.

The reason for this euphemism is the result of the splitting of sex and gender that cultural forces have wrought, a distinction that Christians do not recognize. Gender confirmation obscures what was once called sex reassignment surgery despite the impossibility of actually reassigning the sex of the body, Mohler explained.

The New York Times report referenced an unnamed Biden administration official who said: "Gender-confirming procedures reconstruct sexual organs to match the gender with which an individual identifies and have proved to mitigate serious health concerns like substance abuse, suicide and suicidal ideation." The person further argued that " ... procedures, which were once considered to be akin to cosmetic surgery, are now widely seen as effective treatment for such issues."

Mohler urged Christians to understand these radical interventions are being defended on psychiatric and political, not physical, grounds and that the reproductive capacity is not mentioned.

This is, indeed, more akin to cosmetic surgery, the SBTS president asserted.

The fact that this is a very political decision was made clear in the fact that the Department of Veterans Affairs secretary made the announcement at a PRIDE event in Orlando, Florida. He was clearly choosing the timing of the event and the location, the context in order to make a political point to score political points. That just makes very clear the political nature of all of this, he said.

He went on to note that the VA secretary spoke of previous eras of bigotry and discrimination but explained that the policy of not recognizing transgender surgeries dates back to 2013 when Barack Obama was president and Joe Biden was vice president.

But the way the major newspapers reported the development, readers are led to think that the bigotry was confined to Trump's presidency, he said.

Commenting further on the language tactics that come with gender ideology, Molher noted that the World Professional Association for Transgender Health organization was cited as authoritative, a group that recommends trans surgeries as vital healthcare.



"We're supposed to assume that has worldwide automatic credibility and authority. The very construction of the word should tell you that the organization exists to justify this kind of surgery and the ideology behind it. Guess what? We've just come full circle," he said.
Army won't punish chaplain threatened with reprimand for Facebook post on transgender military ban

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A U.S. Army chaplain who faced potential punishment for criticizing a possible end to a ban on openly trans-identified individuals serving in the military on social media will not face a formal reprimand.

The First Liberty Institute, which represents Chaplain Maj. Andrew Calvert, announced Thursday that the U.S. Army will not issue a potentially career-ending formal reprimand against the chaplain.

Calvert recently contested a reprimand he received after posting from his Facebook page his opposition to the Biden administration's intention of dropping a Trump-era ban on trans-identified troops serving in the armed forces.

The Army issued Calvert a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand on April 22 after screenshots were sent to the 3rd Forces Assistance Brigades Facebook account of Calvert's Jan. 25 comment on a news article reporting on the plan to reverse the transgender military ban. An investigator determined that the chaplain had violated a Defense Department directive and suspended him from his duties.

But according to First Liberty, Calvert will have his record cleared and again has the possibility for future promotions and assignments.

Were very happy for Chaplain Calvert and we commend the Army for making the right decision, First Liberty General Counsel Mike Berry said in a statement. No service member should ever be punished because of their religious beliefs.

In his Jan. 25 post, Calvert expressed his support for the Trump-era ban, asking how rejecting reality is not evidence that a person is mentally unfit, and as a result, unqualified to serve.

An unknown party took screenshots of Calverts comments.

In May, Calvert filed an appeal to the reprimand, getting support from multiple entities, including the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty.

The right to freedom of conscience' is the most sacred belief held by all Americans and proponents of a free society, and that is why it is our first constitutional right, Alliance Executive Director Derek Jones said in a statement shared with The Christian Post in May.

Chaplain Calverts sincerely held beliefs are protected by the First Amendment and our federal courts have repeatedly ruled in favor of First Amendment protection for religious expression such as Chaplain Calverts.

Critics argued that the chaplains remarks on trans-identified service members and earlier comments criticizing progressive Christians are outside of First Amendment protections.

His critics include the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which advocates for the separation of church and state.

 the U.S. Supreme Court has held for nearly half a century that speech such as Calverts deliberate and hateful calumnies against transgenders and Progressive Christians, are NOT protected under the U.S. Constitution as he is a member of the American armed forces, stated MRFF's Mikey Weinstein, as reported by DailyKos.

The Army must timely, publicly and aggressively investigate and punish this wretched, Old School bigot-imbecile in order to make an example of him and make it perfectly clear that such seething, divisive hatred will NEVER be tolerated in our nations military."
As ex-megachurch leader Kirbyjon Caldwell reports to prison, wife says she cried a river

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Suzette Caldwell, the wife of Kirbyjon Caldwell, who formerly led the 14,000 member Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Texas, says she cried a river as her husband began a six-year prison term for defrauding members of his church and other investors Tuesday.

I want to encourage you, church family, to cry. I cried a river yesterday [June 22], and as you can see, Im still crying, she revealed in an emotional video message to the church, where she also serves as associate pastor.

But we have to go forward. I want to encourage you to cry and shed the tears. Some of you are feeling sadness, Im sure. Some of you are disappointed. Some of you are angry and your feelings matter."

Kirbyjon Caldwell, who served as a spiritual adviser to former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty in March 2020 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection to his role in a multimillion-dollar investment scheme that preyed on the elderly.

The former megachurch leader and Gregory Alan Smith, an investment adviser based in Shreveport, Louisiana, were charged with 13 counts, including conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to prosecutors, Smith and Caldwell raised around $3.5 million in historical Chinese bonds from 29 investors between 2013 to 2014 that carried no value outside the memorabilia market.

Both men reportedly tricked investors into believing that they were buying the bonds through a Shreveport-based company called Smith Financial Group LLC. The U.S. Department of Justice charged that the bonds were issued by the former Republic of China before losing power to the communist government in 1949.

In a going away video to his church family, Kirbyjon Caldwell said he and his lawyer were not aware that he was committing wire fraud.

Over three years or so ago, I was indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Wire fraud is very inclusive [of a wide range of activities], obviously. I did not know I was committing wire fraud, neither did my attorney at the time, and thats the way it goes, the 67-year-old former church leader said.

Windsor Village issued a statement after their pastors sentencing in January stating that he was remorseful about the scheme and that all of his victims had been repaid.

The court found that Caldwell made full restitution to all of the victims. Notable, restitution began prior to indictment and was completed before sentencing," the church said. "Many victims were paid over and above the amount that they invested. Voluntary restitution is virtually unheard of and extremely rare in these kinds of cases."

The church further noted that Caldwell was also removed as an ordained elder in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Kirbyjon Caldwell is currently staying at a satellite prison camp adjacent to the Beaumont low-security prison within the Beaumont Federal Correctional Complex in eastern Texas. These prison camps usually have dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The camps are work and program-oriented.

Hes able to freely go in and out and move around. Where he is, they dont have the bars and that kind of things  the doors that lock behind you as you are walking from one place to the next, his wife explained. As we were told by a gentleman that greeted us when we got there, they are free to come and go, but he just said, but you cant go home. And that was pretty sobering."

"So, church family, I want you to know something. Im not pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell. And I will not try to be Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell," she added. "But I do want you to know that Ive committed my life to serve you, this church family and this community.

Her husband explained that even though he is going to prison, he still has hope in God and believes God is with him.

I know how long Im on the books to stay, but as you know, there are a few laws on the books of the United States Congress which will allow you to be released prior to the stated time. God is with me, he told the church family.

God will surely be with you. God has been doing a great job through Pastor Suzette and the leadership team. You can fully expect that to continue. Ill be praying for you. You continue to pray for me. Gods not through with you, or me, or Windsor Village yet. This may sound strange, but the best is still yet to come."
Franklin Graham hails Meghan McCain for warning that Biden is doing grave spiritual harm over abortion

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Franklin Graham expressed his support for Meghan McCain who warned that President Joe Biden is doing grave spiritual harm to himself and the country by walking a fine line by supporting abortion despite being a member of the Catholic faith, which considers abortion a cardinal sin.

On Monday's episode of The View, McCain, a co-host on the daytime talk show and daughter of the late Republican Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain, said Biden must choose between his Catholic faith and stance on abortion.

If he is for the federal funding of abortion  as far as Im concerned, abortion is murder. And as far as government funding of [the] killing of the unborn  we have to as pro-lifers, fight for the rights of the unborn. And thats a doctrine thats as old as the Catholic Church itself, so [Biden] has to choose, she asserted in a debate with her co-hosts, all of whom are supportive of abortion.

CATHOLIC BISHOPS PLANNING REBUKE OF BIDEN? American Bishops voted to move ahead with guidance that could deny Pres. Biden from receiving Holy Communion because of his presidential support of women having the right to choose  @sunny, @MeghanMcCain, and @SaraHaines discuss. pic.twitter.com/CsRjcn4XCf  The View (@TheView) June 21, 2021

Catholic bishops voted last week to move forward to draft a document that would advise Catholic politicians who support abortion, like Biden, to refrain from taking communion.

McCain further argued that Bidens official stance is contradictory because he's personally opposed to it but is politically supportive of it.

For someone who claims to be pro-life, I never understand this argument. Its like saying, Im personally opposed to murder, but if you want to murder a little bit its fine and its not my problem. It doesnt register with me, she said.

I dont get it. So its ultimately up to the Church, so hes walking a very fine line here. And all of these issues are literally life and death for Catholics, for devout Christians, and hes just going to have to ultimately talk to his Creator when the time comes, as we all do, and reconcile his politics with his personal faith, she maintained.

And I believe hes doing grave spiritual harm to himself and harm to this country," McCain declared.

Graham, who's president of Samaritans Purse, posted a statement on Facebook showing his support for McCains comments and said his hope is that Biden will reconsider his stance on abortion.

I have disagreed with Meghan on a number of political issues, but I think she is absolutely right on this issue, Graham said in a post on Tuesday regarding McCain who is a pro-life Republican but does not always align herself with socially conservative views.

... I appreciate that Meghan isnt afraid to state the truth  and that she is willing to defend life even if it isnt politically correct to some, Graham said. I pray that President Biden will reconsider his position on abortion in this country.

As part of her comments on Monday, McCain added: When it comes to the separation of Church and State, the onus is on the government, not the Church. The Church is always going to try and impede in every possible way they can and influence in every possible way they can. Everybodys spiritual journey  is their own personal journey, and I dont try to proselytize my spirituality on other people, but if you are a devout Catholic, as President Biden claims to be, abortion is a cardinal sin that can do deep spiritual harm to you.

McCain also mentioned Bidens stance of the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal tax dollars from paying for abortions. Biden was once supportive of the Hyde Amendment until he decided to run for president in 2019.

Nearly two dozen Republican attorneys general have called on congressional leaders to reject Bidens proposal that excludes the Hyde Amendment from the federal budget, Fox News reported.

"But because one cannot move to avoid federal taxes," the letter from the GOP attorneys general read, "there would be nowhere for a pro-life, or even a moderately pro-choice, American to go to avoid violating the moral or religious conviction that their hard-earned dollars not be used to fund abortions. The administrations decision here is merely the most recent illustration of its having lost all sense of accountability to the taxpayer."
Va. school board halts public comment on controversial transgender policy; 2 arrested

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A Virginia public school board meeting on Tuesday resulted in two arrests and silenced public comments after a heated discussion erupted regarding new transgender policies, which one conservative activist called psychological child abuse and a total fraud.

The new policy for Loudon County Public Schools in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., includes privacy and restroom accommodations for trans-identified students and would require teachers to use students pronouns or name preferences.

About 259 people reportedly signed up for public comments, but only 51 voices were heard since the public comment session was halted after chaos ensued, Fox News reports.

The proposed policy, known as Policy 8040, is not expected to be officially voted on by the school board until Aug.10 at the earliest.

Many parents fear implementing the policy in public schools will violate parents rights and lead to left-wing indoctrination.

A draft of the policy explains: LCPS staff shall allow gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns that reflect their gender identity without any substantiating evidence, regardless of the name and gender recorded in the students permanent educational record.

Inadvertent slips in the use of names or pronouns may occur; however, staff or students who intentionally and persistently refuse to respect a students gender identity by using the wrong name and gender pronoun are in violation of this policy, the policy states.

Tensions arose in the crowded school board meeting when one speaker, the mother of a trans-identified student, said that hate was dripping from the followers of Jesus in this room." The comment was directed toward the Christian parents who disagreed with transgender discussions in public school, according to Fox News.

After calling a short recess, the board unanimously voted to allow no more public comments if the room got out of control again. The board later voted 9-0 to end public comment in the meeting altogether when they were criticized by former Republican state Sen. Dick Black for the board's treatment of an elementary school physical education teacher placed on leave after speaking out about the policy in an earlier meeting.

Byron Tanner Cross of Leesburg Elementary School was recently put on administrative leave after expressing opposition to the proposed policy. Cross said that as a Christian, he cannot affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa. The school district is appealing a judge's order to reinstate Cross temporarily. Multiple parents at the meeting urged the school board to drop its appeal of the court's decision.

At least two parents protesting critical race theory and the transgender policy were arrested after the meeting was declared an unlawful assembly.

The arrests occurred after the parents remained in the room to deliver their remarks. According to Fox News, one parent refused to leave until everyone was given the opportunity to speak. Deputies alleged he was arrested for trespassing.

One man was issued a trespassing summons and released and the second was accused of "acting disorderly," "aggressive behavior towards another attendee" and resisting arrest, the Loudon County Sheriff's Office disclosed.

2 parents protesting against CRT and a transgender policy have just been arrested after a Loudoun County, Virginia school board meeting was declared an unlawful assembly. pic.twitter.com/0lKhZYG7Pw  Pembrokeshire-Patriot (@DarrenEdmundso1) June 23, 2021

Cathy Ruse, a Northern Virginia lawyer who earned a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University and formerly served as a senior fellow at the conservative Christian advocacy group Family Research Council, delivered remarks at a rally before the school board meeting.

She condemned the anti-science proposition and fake science propaganda of transgenderism.

The Loudoun County School Board is about to force all families in Loudoun County Public Schools to embrace the radical, anti-science proposition that biological sex is meaningless, Ruse said in prepared remarks obtained by The Christian Post.

It is an ideology that teaches children they can be born in the wrong body," she added. "Thats psychological child abuse, according to the American College of Pediatricians. And of course its a lie. The truth is: Every child is born in exactly the right body.

Ruse argued that most children grow out of gender dysphoria.

She said the school boards proposal demands that all members of a school community lie to a confused child and tell him he is, indeed, in the wrong body.

Transgender activists want to turn our classrooms into laboratories, Ruse said. And this School Board is complicit. Public schools should never be a place to experiment on other peoples children.

Ruse stressed how imposing the policy on the school district would be a total fraud.

[The policy] calls itself progressive, but acts like a retrogressive tyrant, especially when it comes to the freedom of speech, she argued.

And worst of all, it preaches tolerance and acceptance, and then tells kids to reject their own bodies, even to the point of mutilation," she continued. "This ideology has no place in our public schools.

Evangelical leader and Samaritans Purse President Franklin Graham called on Christians in Loudon County to stand strong and speak the truth in love, saying school boards decisions have implications on the nations future.

In 2016 I went to all 50 states holding prayer rallies for our nation and I urged Christians to run for office in their cities and communities  specifically for school boards  and this is exactly the reason why! Graham, son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, shared in a Facebook post Wednesday.

School boards are making decisions about what is being taught in our schools and the policies that will be followed, Graham added. These impact our children and our grandchildrens lives, and they impact the future of our country, so it is vitally important.

I'm thankful for the parents in Loudoun County, Virginia, who are speaking up and working to keep things like critical race theory and concerning transgender policies out of their schools, Graham continued. We have to stand up against the godless socialist agenda trying to divide us and take over this country.
80% of Americans support voter photo ID laws: Monmouth poll

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Four-fifths of Americans support laws that require voters to show photo identification in order to cast a ballot in elections, according to a new poll by Monmouth University.

In findings released Monday, Monmouth reported that 80% of respondents supported photo ID laws for voters, while only 18% of respondents opposed them.

Some 62% of Democrats, 91% of Republicans and 87% of independents said they were in favor of the laws that protect election integrity.

Nevertheless, the same poll found strong support for making the voting process easier, with 71% of respondents agreeing with making it easier, while only 16% said it should be harder.

The poll contains some seemingly conflicting information on voter access, said Patrick Murray, director of the West Long Branch, New Jersey-based Monmouth University Polling Institute, in a statement. The bottom line seems to be that most Democrats and Republicans want to take the potential for election results to be questioned off the table. The problem, though, is they arent likely to agree on how to get there.

The sample for the poll was 810 adults in the United States, who were interviewed by telephone from June 9-14, with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

Another finding of the poll was that 32% of Americans believe that the results of the 2020 presidential election came via widespread voter fraud, while 61% say that Joe Biden won fair and square.

According to Monmouth, this number has remained consistent over the course of four polls conducted since last November, while those who said Biden won fair and square was slightly smaller than the 65% reported in a January poll.

At first glance in the crosstabs, it looks like the number of Republicans who believe this has been trending down while the number of independents who agree has ticked up, stated Monmouth.

However, this appears to be a product of a shift in how Republicans identify themselves, with some moving their self-affiliation from being partisan to being an independent who leans partisan.

Monmouth noted that, when combining those who identify as Republican and those who lean Republican, the percent of respondents who say that Biden did not win fairly remains fairly steady, peaking in January with 69%, being 64% in March, and now standing at 63%.

According to the National Conference of State Legislators, 36 states request or require "voters to show some form of identification at the polls, while 14 states use other methods to verify the identity of voters, such as a signature.

Proponents see increasing requirements for identification as a way to prevent in-person voter impersonation and increase public confidence in the election process, explained the NCSL in a May article.

Opponents say there is little fraud of this kind, and the burden on voters unduly restricts the right to vote and imposes unnecessary costs and administrative burdens on elections administrators.
Ted Cruz says the 'Church is asleep,' must 'wake up' to defeat 'woke assault': Revival is coming'

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called for the Church to wake up if the woke assault is to be defeated in the United States, promising during his speech at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority" conference on Friday that a revival is coming.

Cruzs address to the crowd of Christian conservatives gathered for the national evangelical grassroots organization's annual conference held this year in Kissimmee, Florida, centered around two messages: the need to "defend America" and a coming revival.

If we are going to defeat the woke assault, then all of us need to wake up, the staunch conservative said, followed by applause from the crowd.

The slumbering Church needs to wake up...," Cruz continued. "We need to wake up. We need to energize. We need to engage.  We can win and we will win.

If we are going to defeat the woke assault, then all of us need to wake up. pic.twitter.com/Dtqulpk8JW  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 19, 2021

Billed as the nation's "premier pro-life, pro-family event", the conference also included speakers such as former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other conservative congressmen and political leaders.

Today, politics is culture, Cruz, a 2016 presidential candidate, said in contrast to the idea that "politics is downstream from culture."

If you want to hold on to your faith, if you want to hold on to your freedom, then you have to rise and answer the call to defend America, he stressed.

The senator issued a call to rhetorical arms for Americans to be prayer warriors" who organize, mobilize and go to the ballot box. He urged: use your arms to vote the bums out.

Cruz said that out of roughly 90 million evangelical Christians in the U.S., only about half vote because the Church is asleep.

While millions of lives have been lost to abortion and values are being stripped away, Cruz shared how his dad, Raphael Cruz, who is a pastor, says no one bears more responsibility for that than the pastors in America  who hide behind the pulpit.

Cruz proclaimed that the nation's foundations and eternal principles are under a relentless assault like never before.

America is great, he contends. Christopher Columbus discovering America was a good thing. George Washington was an American hero. Thomas Jefferson was an American hero. Abraham Lincoln was an American hero. Our founding fathers were extraordinary patriots. America has been a force for good in the world. We should stand for our national anthem."

"Police officers keep us safe. Marriage is a holy covenant before God," he continued. "An unborn child is a child. Children do best when they are raised by a mother and a father. Israel is our friend. The Wuhan virus came from Wuhan. And there is a difference between boys and girls.

Cruz went on to explain that just a few years ago, each statement he made "would have been utterly uncontroversial and blazingly obvious, even to the most dimwitted among us."

And today, we are at a moment where saying those words can get you canceled," he added. "Saying those words can get you fired. Saying those words can get you erased.

Cruz condemned critical race theory, which is being pushed into school curriculums, calling it bigoted and a lie." He argued that critical race theory seeks to turn us against each other and is every bit as racist as the Klansmen in white sheets.

The politician said that even though the political left wants to convince patriots that they need to retreat and give up on America, such an argument is built on a pile of lies.

Common sense is there. It is real. And the American people are with us. Weve just got to see it, weve got to believe it, he said.

Cruz said he remains hopeful despite the constant negativity and demoralization in politics because there is a natural pendulum to politics.

The further and further and further crazy left they go, the more the American people are going to bring us back and pull this country back from the edge of the cliff, the Texas senator said.

He expressed optimism for the 2022 and 2024 elections, which could allow Republicans to reclaim Congress and the White House.

It took Jimmy Carter to bring us Ronald Reagan, Cruz maintained. Joe Biden is Jimmy Carter 2.0, and Im here to tell you revival is coming.

He quoted Psalm 30, which says, weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Im here to tell you morning is coming, Cruz encouraged the crowd. Were going to win in 2022 and retire [Speaker of the House] Nancy Pelosi and [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer. And then were going to win in 2024 and send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris a one-way ticket finally to our southern border.

Revival is coming," Cruz concluded his speech. "God bless America. Revival is coming."
World Refugee Day: Pakistani Christian woman shares harrowing story of escaping persecution

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As Christians worldwide mark World Refugee Day on Sunday to honor the courage and perseverance of millions of refugees who've fled their home countries to seek safety and a better life elsewhere, one woman shared her harrowing story of persecution with The Christian Post.

Martha, a Pakistani Christian, was forced to flee her home with her family who moved from city to city to escape being found and killed. Living in constant fear, they made the difficult decision to leave their country only to be imprisoned in a foreign nation before finding refuge in the United States.

Refugees are made in Gods image, Desiree Lueckhof, executive director of Peace of Thread, an organization that helps refugee women, told CP. Theyre just like you and me, but unfortunately, theyve gone through hard things that are really unimaginable for us in America. But we have the opportunity to love them and be their friend and walk alongside them as they resettle here, Lueckhof added.

World Refugee Day, which is celebrated every year on June 20, recognizes the anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Marthas son, a Chrisitan, had fallen in love with and married a woman from a Muslim family in Pakistan. Her family and the Muslim community did not accept their marriage, especially after she became pregnant.

This put the familys lives in danger and forced them to escape.

Martha and her family fled from city to city in Pakistan, attempting to escape those trying to kill them due to the Christian-Muslim marriage they disapproved of.

Pakistan is ranked the fifth-worst country in the world for Christian persecution due to Islamic extremist oppression, according to Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List, and is the second-most dangerous country in Asia for Christians.

The U.S. State Department recognizes Pakistan as a "country of particular concern" for tolerating or engaging in egregious violations of religious freedom.

After they arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital city, they then decided to flee to Thailand.

With no money, no identification card and a language barrier, Martha, her husband and her son were arrested and jailed in Thailand, which was a very scary time for their family. Their other children did not see them for the entire year they were imprisoned.

After that ordeal, Martha, her husband and youngest daughter were granted refugee status in the U.S. in 2014, one week after her son and daughter-in-law arrived with the help of the U.N.

Despite their challenges, Martha believes God was with her family every step of the way, and said God gave her dreams to warn her to leave the city.



Martha misses her home country but gives thanks to God for the freedom she has now.

She and her family are now active in church and are integrating into their new community in the U.S.

Martha said she finds encouragement in the Bible because it never departs from her, as she meditates on it day and night, she added.

Once Martha and her family arrived in the U.S. as refugees, legal immigrants, she became involved with Peace of Thread, which has helped her to assimilate in her new country.

Peace of Thread is an organization with a mission to empower, employ, and advocate for women in vulnerable populations through providing resources and job opportunities.

A nonprofit organization based in Clarkston, Georgia, Peace of Thread enables women like Martha to work from home as artisans producing quality purses, bags and accessories using recycled materials. This provides them with the skills necessary to eventually find another job.

Martha, who made clothes while living in Pakistan, now makes handbags for Peace of Thread and is able to work from home and stay with her family.

The Peace of Thread artisans have access to counseling, free medical care, free ESL classes, job training, educational workshops and community during their often difficult transition.

President Joe Biden recently raised the refugee admissions cap to 62,500 for the fiscal year, which Peace of Thread said gives American Christians an opportunity to welcome refugees into their communities.

Biden announced he would eventually raise the refugee cap to 125,000 for the first fiscal year of his administration.
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Have you ever heard the Aesops Fable about the belly and the rest of the members of the body? It is reminiscent of contemporary attempts to defund the police. There is a lesson to be learned.

The fable, as I read it as a child, go likes this: One day it occurred to the Members of the Body that they were doing all the work while the Belly had all the food. So they held a meeting and decided to strike till the Belly consented to its proper share of the work.

Yes, every day, the members of the body would work to the point of exhaustion. The feet would grow weary with walking. The hands and arms and shoulders would grow weary with hunting and carrying. Even the teeth and jaws would grow weary with chewing, and the throat with swallowing.

And all this just to feed the belly, which simply sat around, did nothing, and enjoyed the fruit of the bodys labors. So, the members of the body decide to call for a boycott. Enough was certainly enough.

Consequently, For a day or two, the Hands refused to take the food, the Mouth refused to receive it, and the Teeth had no work to do. After a day or two the Members began to find that they themselves were in poor condition: the Hands could hardly move, and the Mouth was parched and dry, while the Legs were unable to support the rest. Thus even the Belly was doing necessary work for the Body, and all must work together or the Body will go to pieces.

When it comes to applying this fable to the move to defund the police, the application is hardly exact, as if the police simply enjoyed the fruit of societys labors. Obviously not.

But, as I said, there is a lesson to be learned, and it is simply this: the police are doing a necessary, albeit difficult and often thankless job, and if we dont feed them (= we defund them), in the end, we hurt ourselves.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal on May 26, One year after the movement to defund law enforcement began to upend municipal budgets, many American cities are restoring money to their police departments or proposing to spend more.

What do you know! The police are performing a necessary service after all. Defund them, and violence and lawlessness will increase.

And who will be hurt most by this in the end? The citizens of each community; that is, the members of the body in the fable.

Yes, Many U.S. cities are led by Democrats who supported protesters calls to defund the policea term that activists have used in different ways, including to push for simply shrinking the size of police forces but also shifting resources from law enforcement to social services. . .

But city officials have found it difficult to keep police budgets down after seeing a rise in crime over the past year, with murder rates up by double digits in many cities. In the last three months of 2020, homicides rose 32.2% in cities with a population of at least one million, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Quarterly Uniform Crime Report. Law-enforcement officials and criminologists say pandemic stress and a police pullback amid protests are likely contributors.

To quote Michael Nutter, the former mayor of Philadelphia and a Democrat, Its hard to have a serious conversation with folks about cutting a police departments budget when crime is up.

So, in theory, its great to suggest that police funds could better be spent in other ways. But in reality, less police presence means more crime, especially violent crime. Thats because violent criminals respond to force, not appeal and not reason. Take away the police force, and you take away the restraint.

Similar stories have flooded the internet in recent months, with headlines announcing, This US city was working to cut its police budget in half  then violent crime started to rise (The Guardian, March 19, referring to Oakland, CA). Other headlines declared, Defund the police encounters resistance as violent crime spikes (CNN, May 25) and, US crime rise draws fears of bloody summer, calls for more cops (Al Jazeera, June 22).

Thats why 89 pastors in Ohio recently called for a Day of Prayer and Appreciation for Police, noting that the local law enforcement plays a valuable role in our society, with brave men and women keeping vigilant watch at all hours risking their lives . . . on behalf of the safety of others; often with their acts of heroism going unnoticed.

This doesnt mean that we shouldnt address issues of police brutality. Or that we shouldnt talk about police reform. Or we shouldnt look into issues of corruption, abuse of power, or injustice.

It simply means that the sooner we abandon the wacky idea that defunding the police is a good way to fight crime, the sooner surging crime rates will start to drop.

Otherwise, in cities like Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed, as crime spirals out of control, residents will be asking, Where are the police?
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French Aristocrat Alexis De Tocqueville wrote the seminal and oft-quoted masterpiece Democracy in America in 1835. De Tocqueville had travelled to America in 1831 to study the American Prison system and was able to make a multitude of observations. America had grown fourfold in population (3 million to 12 million) in the short period between the Revolution and 1831, and the new Republic was a flourishing and successful democracy. De Tocqueville wrote about what he thought made democracy work in America. De Tocqueville wrote about the importance of a free press as absolutely necessary for any functioning democracy. It is in the arena of media that de Tocqueville would likely offer his greatest warning for America today.

In his mind, a free press in America was directly tied to the political value of equality. The first newspaper he read upon arriving in America was scathing in its criticism of the newly elected president, Andrew Jackson. The unfettered ability to offer such criticism was unique. De Tocqueville noted: But in the countries in which the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people ostensibly prevails, the censorship of the press is not only dangerous, but it is absurd. When the right of every citizen to co-operate in the government of society is acknowledged, every citizen must be presumed to (have access to the different viewpoints to come to truth). The sovereignty of the people and the liberty of the press may therefore be looked upon as correlative institutions; just as the censorship of the press and universal suffrage are two things which are irreconcilably opposed, and which cannot long be retained among the institutions of the same people.

What impressed de Tocqueville most about the US press was its decentralization and independence. That free media environment ensured no centralized power could control the flow of information as he had seen in France. According to De Tocqueville: Americans have established no central control over the expression of opinionit is owing to the laws of the Union that there are no licenses to be granted to printers, no securities demanded from editors as in France, and no stamp duty as in France and formerly in England. The consequence of this is that nothing is easier than to set up a newspaperThis decentralization prevented control by any state or national power, and habituated Americans to assess varying sources of information and discriminate among those sources to search for truth.

Unfortunately, the modern US media environment has become much closer to the European nations De Tocqueville lambasted. In much of Europe of the 1830s, nations controlled by Aristocratic elite decision-makers, centralized the media. In modern America, media and the big tech elite act as the Aristocratic controlling element of 1830s Europe. The progressive viewpoints of media and big tech executives have aligned with the progressive political elite and its goal of centralizing information.

This phenomenon can be seen in the most recent national stories: The suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, promotion of the discredited Steele Dossier Russian Collusion story, suppression of the credible Wuhan lab leak story, and many more. The examples are endless. Citizen journalists with blogs, and the small number of conservative media outlets can report the alternative viewpoint. However, mainstream media and big tech have the power and influence to smear and discredit those sources. They now openly espouse censorship of conservative news, using the alleged danger of extremism and disinformation from the political right as an excuse. Those same Progressives generally seek to diminish the influence of Christianity, further eroding our democracy.

Alexis de Tocqueville would likely tell Americans today that democracy in America is under assault, and its survival is flimsy if the medias ever-growing control over our news continues. He would tell us that the people of America, not media and big tech progressive elites, must rule. That can only happen if the press is again totally free. We trust in God above all else, and know that he will ultimately guide democracy in America through the people.
Chinas state-sanctioned churches to celebrate Communist Partys centennial

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In the run-up to the Chinese Communist Partys planned celebrations to mark 100 years of its existence on July 1, churches affiliated with the government are organizing and participating in events that seek to glorify the single-party rule that has persecuted religious communities.

Last month, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association in Jiangbei district of Chongqing city held an event called Grateful and Praise for the CCP Pilgrimage to Pay Respect to St. Mary, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

People from the association visited churches in that city and held a Grateful and Praise for the CCP Blessing Mass at one of the worship gatherings, the nonprofit reported.

The Church should organically unify Love Party, Love Country, and Love Socialism and faith; boldly speak about politics, while speaking about faith in accordance with law, Ding Yang, the priest who officiated the mass, was quoted as saying.

God has chosen the Chinese Communist Party, Liu Yuanlong, the vice president of the CPCA and a member of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conferences National Committee, wrote in a congratulatory note, according to Apple Daily, a Hong Kong pro-democracy tabloid-style newspaper. Apple Daily is being forced to shut down after CCP authorities froze its assets last week under Beijings national security law, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on Monday.

Liu quoted Proverbs 11:14, which states, For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers, to show his public support for the CCP. Liu also encouraged church members to listen and to follow the party led by Xi Jinping.

The associations head, Bishop John Fang of the Shandong Diocese, said in a statement that his organization would continue to deepen the Sinicization of the Catholic religion.

Ahead of the CCPs centennial celebration, Chinese authorities have tightened security across the country, especially in the capital city of Beijing.

The Epoch Times quoted a Chinese citizen as saying that China has been turned into a prison.

On March 20, 18 departments, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Central Propaganda Department and the Central Committee of Political and Legal Affairs, jointly launched a three-and-a-half-month special campaign to suppress illegal social organizations.

State-run media Xinhua reported that over 500 illegal social organizations were identified and placed under investigation.

Under the direction of President Xi, CCP officials are enforcing strict controls on religion, according to a report by China Aid. The nonprofit advocacy group also said that Christians in both official, state-run churches and house churches were ordered to fly the Chinese flag and sing patriotic songs during worship services.

Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, estimates that there are about 97 million Christians in China, a large percentage of whom worship in what China considers to be illegal and unregistered underground home churches.

Authorities in China are also continuing their crackdown on Christianity by removing Bible Apps and Christian WeChat public accounts as new highly restrictive administrative measures on religious staff went into effect this year.

Open Doors USAs World Watch List ranks China as the 17th-worst country in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians. In addition, the organization notes that all churches are perceived as a threat if they become too large, too political or invite foreign guests.

The U.S. State Department has labeled China as a country of particular concern for continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

Christians are not the only religious minority to face persecution at the hands of the CCP.

Estimates suggest that as many as 1 million to 3 million Uyghur and other ethnic Muslims have been subject to internment camps in the western Xinjiang province, where they are taught to be secular citizens who fall in line with the CCP. In January, the U.S. State Department recognized China's treatment of Uyghurs as a "genocide."

China has also reportedly violated the rights of Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetan Buddhists.
Nigerian pastor freed from 8-month abduction, surprised with newborn son on Father's Day weekend

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A Christian pastor in Nigeria regained freedom last week after eight months of being held captive by Islamic extremists and learned that his wife had just given birth to the couples third child, according to a Washington-based international human rights advocacy group.

Rev. Polycarp Zongo was reunited with his family, including his newborn son, in Jos, central Nigeria, over Fathers Day weekend after being in captivity since October 2020.

Zongo of the Church of Christ in Nations was kidnapped by insurgents from the Islamic State West Africa Province, a Boko Haram splinter group, along Maiduguri-Damaturu road while traveling to a church conference.

Zongo appeared in a video not long after the abduction, pleading with the state government to negotiate his release and the release of two Christian women held captive with him.

I was traveling to Gombe for a church conference when we encountered the caliphates armed men who captured me along the way, and right now Im with them, Zongo said in the video, pleading for help from the government, the Christian Association of Nigeria and COCIN.

They too captured two Christian women who are also here with me. Im appealing that you all do all that is possible to secure our release from captivity, he said.

The Kalthum for Peace Foundation and the John Pofi Foundation were reportedly instrumental in restoring his freedom, according to the U.S. Nigeria Law Group. The foundations confirmed no ransom was paid for the pastor's release. It is reported that illness factored into the pastor's release.

Upon his release, Zongo partook in a worship service in the capital city and sang, You are Yahweh Alpha and Omega by gospel artist Steve Crown. He also laid facedown on the floor in worship, according to a statement shared with The Christian Post.

Emmanuel Ogebe, an international human rights lawyer with the U.S. Nigeria Law Group, commended the terrorists for showing compassion in releasing the hostages. But many remain kidnapped.

Im not sure if ISWA released captives to celebrate their recent defeat of Boko Haram or because they realized these were genuinely poor people who couldnt raise a ransom, Ogebe said in a statement.

Whatever the case, I commend the terrorists for the compassion they showed in freeing the hostages, he continued. I hope that this dialogue can continue and that the new merged BH/ISWA will facilitate the release of the remaining 112 Chibok girls.

Ogebe also called for the release of Maida Yakubu Tikko, the youngest of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls who will be 23 years old this year.

Over 200 Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in an April 2014 raid on a public school, and more than 100 are yet to be released.

I commend the Kalthum and John Pofi Foundation for this amazing feat and extend congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Zongo and family for this double blessing and good news, Ogebe said. It is amazing that civil society members were able to achieve what the government of Nigeria couldnt do.

Nigeria recently became the first democratic nation to be added to the U.S. State Department's list of "countries of particular concern" for tolerating or engaging in egregious violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Religious persecution watchdog Open Doors USA ranks Nigeria at No. 9 on the 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution for extreme levels of Islamic oppression. According to the watchdog group, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, "more Christians are murdered for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country."

Critics have accused the Nigerian government of being complicit in terrorist activity, as insurgent groups often experience no accountability for their actions or receive government ransoms for kidnappings even though the government denies paying ransom to terrorists.

Jihadi attacks in West Africa have increased in recent years, with Nigeria as the main target. Islamic terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Fulani militants and ISWAP have killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions of others in an attempt to impose Sharia law, the U.S.-based nonprofit International Christian Concern reports.

A former U.S. congressman recently warned that Nigerias situation will develop into a genocide similar to what occurred in Rwanda in 1994 if action is not taken by the international community.

When the world and the U.S. ignored  genocide in Rwanda, hundreds of thousands of people died, former Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., said in a panel discussion on Nigeria earlier this month hosted by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

History is repeating itself," Wolf added. "Because of the atrocities in Rwanda that we had ignored, President Bill Clinton flew to Rwanda and apologized to the Rwandan people near the end of his term.

If what is happening in Nigeria were happening to nearly any country in Europe, the world would be enraged and engaged. But in Nigeria, there is no action, Wolf continued.
About 100 abducted from Nigerian school in broad daylight; 11 rescued, 3 found dead Cleric warns Nigeria is a 'killing field,' needs 'multi-faceted approach' to fight terrorism

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Around 100 students and staff members were abducted from a Nigerian school by armed insurgents on Thursday, and 11 have since been rescued or freed, while three others have been found dead.

Mustapha Yusuf, principal of the federal government college in the remote town of Birnin Yauri, told Reuters that gunmen raided the school in the northwest Kebbi state in broad daylight for a mass abduction of over 94 students (the number is not confirmed) as well as eight staff members.

The armed militants reportedly killed a policeman during the raid.

The army said it rescued three teachers and eight students as of Monday and had killed one of the abductors, Reuters reported.

Two girls and a boy were found dead, two of whom had suffered gunshot wounds in their legs. One is believed to have died of exhaustion, according to Voice of America News.

The kidnappers "have been taking cover under the students," Yusuf was quoted as saying.

"They are in the bush," Yusuf said.

He said the kidnappers had used students cell phones to call parents, demanding a ransom worth 60 million nairas (about $146,341).

This kidnapping is part of a trend of mass abductions in northern Nigeria in recent months, including the abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in February who were freed days later.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative industry for criminals and extremist groups in Nigeria.

The government's inaction in holding kidnappers accountable and its willingness to pay ransom to insurgents has led many to believe the government is complicit or complacent toward the attacks and kidnappings.

Solomon Gbetogo Kuponu, an Anglican bishop in Nigeria, warned during a recent session of the church's sixth synod in Ogun state that the government is giving amnesty to terrorists and further fueling insecurity. According to The Daily Trust, Kuponu accused the government of encouraging kidnappers by paying ransoms.

He said the violence and instability have become the worst under President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

Kuponu said Nigeria has become a "killing field" due to "kidnapping, abduction, banditry, fatal clashes of herdsmen and farmers, ritual killings, political assassination, armed robbery and murder."

"Fighting terrorism needs a multi-faceted approach, to cut off their sources of funding, disrupt their logistics and support networks and decapitate the leadership as the United States' war on terror has proved," Kuponu said.

Northern Nigeria is especially impacted by the surge in mass kidnappings since late 2020, where schools are often the targets.

"The recent abductions we have seen across different states in northern Nigeria tell us that the government is either unwilling or unable to secure schools and protect the right to education," Amnesty International's Seun Bakare said, according to Voice of America News. "Millions of children are now having to pay the price of government's failure to protect citizens from violence."

Hundreds of schools in the north have reportedly shut down in response to the kidnapping surge.

The wave of school kidnappings follows the abduction of 276 Nigerian schoolgirls from a school in Chibok in 2014. The abduction of the Chibok girls gained international attention and inspired the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Over 112 of the Chibok schoolgirls are still missing.

Maulid Warfa, the United Nations Childrens Fund [UNICEF] field office chief of the Kano state, urged the Nigerian local, state and federal government to ensure the wellbeing of children in schools, according to This Day newspaper.

Education of our children is fencing very serious challenges, including the mass kidnapping of boys and girls, Warfa said. Mass kidnapping of school children is something that is very worrisome to all of us and as UNICEF, we condemned the act.

Children are the future of the country, they need their rights to be fulfilled, they need their education to be assured, he continued.

The Global Terrorism Index ranked Nigeria as the third-most affected country by terrorism in 2020. The index reports that over 22,000 people were killed by acts of terror in Nigeria from 2001 to 2019.

Much of the violent terror is fueled by Islamic extremism and terrorist groups like Boko Haram and radicalized herdsman.

The U.S. Commission on International and Religious Freedoms 2021 annual report warned Nigeria will move relentlessly toward a Christian genocide if action is not taken quickly.

Nigeria was the first democratic nation to be added to the U.S. State Department's list of "countries of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.

Open Doors World Watch List ranks Nigeria as the ninth-worst country for Christian persecution, stating that Islamic oppression toward believers is rampant and often runs unchecked.

Just under half of the population in Africas most populous nation is Christian. Open Doors reports there are over 95 million believers in Nigeria.

Advocates have argued that if the international community does not act, Nigeria could become the next Rwandan genocide if action is not taken quickly.
Austin, schmaustin. One manufacturing company is swapping Southern California for San Antonio.

Plastics manufacturing company Nissei America, Inc. is moving its U.S. headquarters from Anaheim to the Brooks development on the Southside, the latest link on the great California-to-Texas migration trail.

The Japan-based company, which already has a presence in the Alamo City following the opening of a $21 million factory in 2018, said it was drawn to the city's "geographic location, growing workforce, and Texas business-friendly environment" as key incentives for the move.

READ MORE: Could Matthew McConaughey make Texas politics fun again?

San Antonio presents great advantages for our U.S. headquarters in its accessibility and environment, says Hozumi Yoda, President of Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd., in a release. San Antonios central location offers easy and quick access to other areas in the U.S., rapidly growing markets in Mexico, and its close proximity to the Port of Houston opens broader access to Central and South America as well as Europe."

Nissei's move from Anaheim to San Antonio should be finalized in July.

Along with the new HQ, the manufacturer says it plans on adding new jobs, though it didn't specify how many. The company, which started in 1947, "researches and develops injection molding machines as well as its molds, molding support systems, and mold processing technologies for global clients."

READ MORE: Southwest Airlines' first flights landed in San Antonio 50 years ago

According to Nissei, the San Antonio region has one of the largest concentrations of manufacturing and plastic industry employment the U.S., something the company hopes to expand further.

Our communitys strategic focus on adding quality manufacturing jobs and educating our workforce to take those great jobs initially brought Nissei to San Antonio," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. "We are thrilled to see their investment grow with the relocation of Nissei Americas U.S. headquarters operation.
One hundred fifty-three workers at Houston Methodist hospital system have lost their jobs because they refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Yahoo News.

On June 12th, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes dismissed an employee lawsuit claiming the vaccines are dangerous, experimental and similar to the medical experiments performed on Nazi concentration camp victims during World War II. The judge called the comparison reprehensible and says the workers can find other jobs if theyre opposed to the vaccine requirement.
We all know that sneezing can be a symptom of any common cold or even if you suffer from an allergy. However, one study suggests that excessive sneezing can also be a symptom of COVID-19 in people who have been vaccinated.

Research conducted by the ZOE company and King's College London explains that although many people who contract SARS-CoV-2 can sneeze, this is not a definitive symptom of the disease. However, it has been found that it can become a common sign in people who have already received the injection against the virus.
During the blockbuster plot twist that was 2020, three Los Angeles-based actors and longtime friends wrote themselves a scene that was playing out in cities across the United States. Early into lockdown, Becca Tobin, best known for her role as Kitty Wilde on the Fox series Glee, formed a pandemic pod with her fellow actors Haylie Duff and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, gathering for regular backyard confabs about shifting priorities, family demands and their future in Hollywood.

We had been able to work from home successfully and set up our careers from anywhere, Tobin said. And we were all kind of ready for a change.

Tobin, 35, Duff, 36 and Sigler, 40, had all moved to Los Angeles in their 20s for work and, like so many others, spent much of 2020 wondering if they wanted to live somewhere else. Hollywood the town and Hollywood the job had been cleaved apart, with acting classes going online, self-tape auditions replacing in-person and the off-screen demands of the job  red carpets, award shows, interviews  going virtual or extinct.

HOUSTON TO HOLLYWOOD: How a Houston actress is fulfilling her dreams in the 'City of Angels'

We found our conversations shifting more toward life, said Sigler, who made her mark playing Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos. And then we started to fantasize about what it would be like to live in different cities, and would we ever want to leave LA?

They were far from alone. For the first time in more than a century, California lost people last year, according to population estimates released by the state in May. Some of that was a result of COVID-19 deaths, falling birthrates and the Trump administrations efforts to limit immigration. But for many, it was simply a matter of finding better prices in greener pastures.

The three made a pact to relocate their quaranteam, leaving Hollywood together for a new city where they could keep working but enjoy a less hectic, and less expensive, life.

It reminded me of being in high school and being like, Youre gonna go home tonight and shave your legs, right? Because Im going to do it, too, Tobin said of the agreement. Like adult peer pressure.

During the summer, Duff, the native Texan in the group, had visited her parents in Houston and felt the pull back home. The older sister of actress Hilary Duff, she has been acting since she was a teenager and had always planned to move back to Texas eventually, and after the trip, she cut her familys five-year plan to a five-month plan. As more friends relocated, there was an energy around people choosing to make a change in their life, for a positive reason, for a self-care reason, she said.

The friends considered different cities they had heard of people moving to, like Nashville or Atlanta, but they kept coming back to Texas. We liked the idea of being in a progressive city, but not necessarily something so overly populated, Tobin said.

The obvious choice was Austin, the booming southern crossroads of culture and technology, where they could more or less split the distance between Los Angeles and New York. It was a madcap move in the rush of a red-hot sellers market, a once-in-a-century chance to pause, then fast-forward.

Even though we were together so much during quarantine and COVID, it really chipped away at us as a family, like many families, said Sigler, who had only been to Austin once, for a film premiere at the South by Southwest festival. Coming to this new city all together on this adventure offered a lot of repair for us, as well.

Tobin, a Georgia native who had lived in Los Angeles for 12 years, said of Tinseltown: As easy as it was to come, it was as easy for me to say goodbye.

The three families made a common checklist, headlined by ample outdoor space and good public schools. They hit the Zillow hard, Sigler said, lobbing listings at one another from film sets and playgrounds. In October, they embarked on a house-hunting tour with partners and children in tow (Duff has two daughters; Sigler has two sons), and settled on a neighborhood about 20 minutes northwest of downtown Austin.

When they arrived in the spring, the culture shock came by way of small-town hospitality and everyday conveniences.

You mean I can get in my car, drive five minutes and not fight people when Im in the grocery store to get in a lot? said Tobin, who arrived in April after filming a TV reboot of the 1989 film Turner & Hooch in Vancouver, British Columbia. Oh, and you dont pay for parking anywhere.

In decamping to Austin  home to an ever-expanding ecosystem of film festivals and production studios  they were joining a wave of high-profile Californians like Tesla founder Elon Musk and podcaster Joe Rogan, as well as the other roughly 70,000 people who moved to the area last year, according to U.S. census data, making it the fastest-growing metro area in the United States.

Once you come here, its hard to leave, said Duff, whose film roles include Napoleon Dynamite and The Wedding Pact, and who spent time this year shooting a movie in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She noted that each of the friends booked gigs not long after closing on their Austin homes, which felt like a nod from the universe.

I almost feel more connected to my craft and why I love acting, said Sigler, who had just returned from recording dialogue at a studio in downtown Austin for an ABC pilot she shot in Los Angeles. When the calls come in, its a beautiful surprise. Im still on things and Im still a businesswoman and its still my career, but I dont feel the pressure around it because we took a stand for ourselves and we made decisions for our families.

With its bohemian charms, natural splendors and lack of state income taxes, Austin has been courting Californias twin economic engines, Hollywood and Silicon Valley, for years, all while trying to maintain its cherished Keep Austin Weird credibility. According to Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research, about 90,000 Californians moved to Texas in 2018 and 2019. The pandemic has only deepened the romance. Austin enjoyed a PR blitz of high-profile corporate relocations and expansions last year, with tech giant Oracle moving its headquarters there from Redwood Shores, California, and Musk announcing Teslas $1 billion gigafactory on the southeast edge of town.

The housing market, already in a decadelong development frenzy, wound up defying the pandemic and roaring back to life. In May 2021, the median sale price in the Austin metro area hit an all-time high of $465,000, according to the Austin Board of Realtors. High-end home prices spiked 24%, according to Redfin, the most of any area in the country.

Still, anyone used to California prices sees Texas as a bargain, said Scott Michaels, an Austin real estate agent with Compass, who described cutthroat, all-cash bidding wars that drew 40 to 60 offers on a single property.

Its a challenge because were competing with people moving from out-of-state, and theres just not a lot of inventory on the market, he said.

For Sigler, who is from Long Island, New York, Austins square footage and outdoor space were revelatory.

There was a lot of like, Oh my God, look what we can get for this. Look at the life we can give ourselves, you know, compared to what were able to afford here in LA, she said. I just feel like were taking a big, deep breath since we got here.

Sigler and Duff started their careers as teens but wanted a different lifestyle for their children in Austin, where space and nature are plentiful, and paparazzi arent.

That was a big choice for us, wanting our kids to stay young, Duff said.

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Austin has been contending with growing pains since the early 1980s, during its first hint of what locals call Silicon Hills, said Natasha Harper-Madison, the citys mayor pro-tem. Born and raised in East Austin, Harper-Madison said the changing cityscape was best described by her mother: She said, I really like my neighbors. I just wish I didnt have to lose so many of the old ones to get new ones. And I think, in large part, thats how folks feel. Its not any sort of absence of the desire to welcome people to our communities. Its the exact opposite. In fact, people want to preserve and sort of steward the evolution of their communities.

Despite some natal cries of Dont California My Texas from both ends of the political spectrum, whats fueling the migration are the states similarities. Sitting on the border with relatively sunny climates, theyre both super diverse, in every possible way  ethnically, economically, geographically, said Jake Weggman, an associate professor of community and regional planning at the University of Texas at Austin.

Its an incredible burst of prosperity for the city, but its also just terrifying from a housing affordability standpoint, what that means for people living here, Weggman said.

Tobin has sensed some side-eye when she tells locals where shes from, but she tries to put them at ease. Voting and donating are two ways to do it, she said, and she has contributed to causes that support homeless outreach and abortion rights through local nonprofits like Mobile Loaves & Fishes and the Lilith Fund.

I get it, they dont want us to LA their Austin, she said. My husband and I personally are going to really try to do our best to help out in the community and get involved where we can.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
This week CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said adult deaths from Covid-19 are at this point entirely preventable due to the effectiveness of vaccines. And a new analysis from the AP confirms what Walensky said.

According to the analysis of government data from May, released on Thursday, out of the 18,000 Covid-19 deaths during the month, approximately 150 were fully vaccinated people. That comes out to 0.8 percent, or an average of five deaths per day out of more than 200 average daily deaths. At the height of the pandemic in January of this year, average daily deaths were above 3,400 per day. Additionally, fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,000 hospitalized with the virus (0.1 percent).

According to CDC data, around 63 percent of eligible Americans have gotten at least one dose of a vaccine. But completing both rounds of two-dose vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna is crucial to have the best protection against Covid-19, especially with the new variants that are spreading.

A study by the CDC of adults above the age of 65  the population most at risk  found that seniors who received partial vaccination were 64 percent less likely to be hospitalized, but fully vaccinated seniors were 94 percent less likely to be admitted to a hospital for Covid-19. Another study, published this month in Nature, found that the two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were 88 percent effective in preventing illness caused by the Delta variant that originated in India, but one dose was only 33 percent effective. The new Novavax vaccine is even better, according to trial data, with 90.4 percent efficacy even against variants.

The second shot is critical, Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine researcher at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, told NBC News. We know from the phase one studies that the second shot induces a level of virus-specific neutralizing antibodies thats about tenfold greater than that after the first dose.

This data and the emerging variants should be enough evidence to convince anyone to get a vaccine. But thanks to people pushing anti-vax narratives, including Republicans like Sens. Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, more than a quarter of Americans say they will not get vaccinated, according to a CNN poll conducted in April.

Some Republicans, however, are urging people to get a vaccine. As he announced seven new deaths in West Virginia due to Covid-19 this week, Republican Governor Jim Justice told the states residents that if you arent getting vaccinated, All youre doing is entering the death drawing.

An exasperated Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) goes off about the unvaccinated: All youre doing is entering the death drawing  I dont wanna take the chance when the wheel spins that it could come up Jim Justice. pic.twitter.com/B0vcmijmRl  The Recount (@therecount) June 24, 2021

If I knew for certain that there was going to be eight or nine people [dead from Covid-19] by next Tuesday and I could be one of them if I dont take the vaccine, what in the world do you think I would do? Justice said. I mean I would run over on top of somebody because I dont want to take the chance when the wheel spins that it could come up Jim Justice. I dont want to take that chance.
The Houston Zoo is helping an endangered bird on a remote Caribbean island after a volcano erupted earlier this year.

The La Soufriere volcano on St. Vincent started erupting April 9, blanketing the island in ash and soot. Eruptions continued to plague the island nation for some time, forcing thousands out of their homes, according to Town & Country's Leena Kim.

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The threat from the volcano further endangered one of the island's native birds, the St. Vincent Parrot, which has a population of as little as 500, according to the zoo. The eruption came on the heels of the bird's mating season, with countless young chicks expected to have been hatched right as the eruptions began.

Back in the 1970s, zoo staff successfully bred the St. Vincent Parrot in captivity to help boost its population and has been active in helping the species ever since.

So naturally, when the volcano erupted months ago, zoo staff reached out to the St. Vincent Forestry Department to give support in any way they could. Workers on the island had already placed special feeders around the island to help the birds but fear great numbers might be lost.

"We had to act fast to find out how we could help," senior director of wildlife conservation Renee Bumpus said in a blog post. "It was difficult to see how many people were evacuating."

Bumpus had worked with members of the St. Vincent Forestry Department in the past and called to offer help. In doing so, the zoo offered guidance on best practices for protecting the birds and virtual seminars for forestry personnel.

They've spotted a few chicks already and hope to find more, according to the zoo.

Their conservation efforts are funded each time someone visits the zoo. Maybe it's time for a family trip to help protect the St. Vincent Parrot.

What was your favorite experience at the Houston Zoo? Let me know on Twitter: @jayrjordan
There are about 10 people gathered on a sidewalk in Noe Valley. Their heads are bent toward the ground. Some hold noisemakers and shakers, one woman stands alone, smudging the gathered with sage.

This cast of characters on Sanchez Street and 30th are stopping to look for something most of us don't think about on a day-to-day basis. They're seeking out the light.

To be more precise, they're waiting for the moment  about 4:25 p.m. in the summer  when the sun peeks through a crack between two houses and aligns with a yellow line painted on the ground.

"Solstice sun crack returns," the line reads.

The sun crack aligns perfectly with the yellow line on one day of the year  the summer solstice, which fell on Sunday this year.

On this day, the neighborhood gathers to celebrate the longest day of the year. It's an auspicious time, a time for bonfires and feasts and debauchery  all to celebrate the midsummer season.

Jenny Badger Sultan, an artist who has lived on the block since 1986, painted the line decades ago. She got a bucket of yellow paint and traced the sun as it peeked through the cracks between buildings. Thus, the solstice sun crack was born.

"It's been there for a long time. In fact, this is the second iteration because the first was a piece of concrete that had to be taken out," she said.

Sultan said she saw a film at the old Exploratorium about a solstice sun dagger in New Mexico created by Native people. The seed was planted.

"There were slabs of stone and the sun came through on the solstice in a dagger shape," she recalled. "I thought, this is fantastic. I love these kinds of markers."

Shortly thereafter, Sultan said she noticed the light peeking through the buildings in front of her home.

"And I decided to paint it on the day of the solstice," she said.

The light comes through most days in the summer season  Sultan couldn't tell me the exact months. But she did note that it tends to appear around 4:30 p.m.

Something strange is happening to the solstice crack, however. Sultan said she's had to repaint the line as it's shifted slightly from its original iteration.

Her house, she concludes, must be moving. Even so, the light continues to shine through.
Over the span of about a week, Texas received $459,000 in private donations for the states planned wall at the southern border, the governors office said Wednesday.

This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott said he would reallocate $250 million in state funds as a down payment for the project  while crowdfunding some of the remaining costs.

RELATED: Abbott says he'll use crowdfunding for his plan to build a border wall

The identities of the donors and how much they donated to the wall construction are not readily available and can only be obtained through public information requests, a spokesperson for Abbott said. Eventually, Abbotts office said, the total donations figure will be available online on a website that currently solicits people to donate.

Abbott has not given an estimate of the projects total costs or details of how long the wall will be or where it will be located but said he expected it to be hundreds of miles long. He directed the Texas Facilities Commission to hire a program manager who will lead efforts to determine those factors.

The commission said in a statement Thursday it began work on creating a request for proposal for the program manager position, saying it would remain transparent and compliant with State competitive bidding standards.

Abbott also said he expects Texans to volunteer their land for the project and said he would send a letter to President Joe Biden asking the federal government to return land the Trump administration took from private property owners in Texas to build a border wall.

The Trump administration had met fierce resistance from private property owners unwilling to allow the federal government to build on their land. Land Commissioner George P. Bush said last week he would grant emergency authorization for the building of the wall on state lands, which makes up approximately 591,595 surface acres along the border.

Promises and calls for a border wall between Mexico and the U.S. were a hallmark of former President Donald Trump and his supporters, both during his campaigns and his presidency. Trumps administration built about 450 miles of barrier, mostly in Arizona, according to The Washington Post. Trump is set to tour the border with Abbott next week. Vice President Kamala Harris will head to the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday.

'I'M JUST STUNNED:' Texas leaders react to Abbott's announcement about border wall

Construction on the federal wall largely stopped after Biden in January ordered federal agencies to pause construction on the barrier where possible. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told House lawmakers DHS is not requesting further border wall funding in its 2022 budget proposal to Congress.

Tensions over border security have risen between the Democrat president and the two-term Republican governor. Abbott has blamed Biden's immigration policies for the increase of immigrants on the state's southern border, saying in a disaster declaration that new federal policies have paved the way for dangerous gangs and cartels, human traffickers, and deadly drugs like fentanyl to pour into our communities. Abbott has announced a partnership with the state of Arizona calling for other states to send law enforcement officials to help border states arrest and jail immigrants crossing the border.

There were 180,034 border crossings last month, compared to fewer than 25,000 border crossings in late 2020, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. During the Trump administration, the highest recorded number of apprehensions was nearly 150,000.

Portions of the existing wall in Texas cost $26.5 million per mile to construct, federal lawmakers have said. The Biden administration has said building the wall cost taxpayers $46 million per mile in some areas along the border.

Texas border fundraiser has already surpassed a similar effort in 2011 by the Arizona Legislature. That effort received almost $270,000 by 2014, but the attempt was abandoned and the money reallocated after estimates for the final project stretched into the billions, according to The Arizona Republic.

Correction, June 23, 2021: A previous version of this story erroneously stated the state has a total of $709,000 set aside for the walls construction. The state has more than $250 million set aside for the border wall construction including $459,000 in private donations.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/23/texas-border-wall-donations/.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
HAMMOND, Ind. (AP)  Two Gary men have agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in the slaying of a pizza delivery driver and admit that they lured the man to an abandoned house for a planned robbery.

Terryante A. Flournoy, 22, and Ciontay J. Wright, 21, signed plea agreements Wednesday under which both will plead guilty to attempted robbery, with Flournoy also pleading guilty to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
HODGEN, Okla. (AP)  Two men who walked away from a state prison in southeastern Oklahoma were recaptured as they tried to return to the prison, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections said Thursday.

Two escapees, Jerome Brock and Chad McGlory, were returned to custody by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections when they attempted to return to their housing unit at Jim E. Hamilton Correctional Center Wednesday evening, DOC spokesperson Justin Wolf said in a statement.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  At least a couple of private West Virginia schools are requiring students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this fall.

The University of Charleston and Bethany College both say vaccinations will be required for the upcoming school year.
Pack the car for your Fourth of July road trip Celebrate Independence Day with a getaway in the Hill Country or a Gulf Coast retreat.
NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP)  On oil well pads carved from the wheat fields around Lake Sakakawea, hundreds of pump jacks slowly bob to extract 100 million barrels of crude annually from a reservation shared by three Native American tribes.

About half their 16,000 members live on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation atop one of the biggest U.S. oil discoveries in decades, North Dakotas Bakken shale formation.

The drilling rush has brought the tribes unimagined wealth -- more than $1.5 billion and counting -- and they hope it will last another 20 to 25 years. The boom also propelled an almost tenfold spike in oil production from Native American lands since 2009, federal data shows, complicating efforts by President Joe Biden to curb carbon emissions.

Burning of oil from tribal lands overseen by the U.S. government now produces greenhouse gases equivalent to about 12 million vehicles a year, according to an Associated Press analysis. But Biden exempted Native American lands from a suspension of new oil and gas leases on government-managed land in deference to tribes sovereign status.

A judge in Louisiana temporarily blocked the suspension June 15, but the administration continues to develop plans that could extend the ban or make leases more costly.

With tribal lands now producing more than 3% of U.S. oil and huge reserves untapped, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland  the first Native American to lead a U.S. cabinet-level agency  faces competing pressures to help a small number of tribes develop their fossil fuels while also addressing climate change that affects all Native communities.

Were one of the few tribes that have elected to develop our energy resources. Thats our right, tribal Chairman Mark Fox told AP at the opening of a Fort Berthold museum and cultural center built with oil revenue. We can develop those resources and do it responsibly so our children and grandchildren for the next 100 years have somewhere to live.

Smallpox nearly wiped out the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes in the mid-1800s. They lost most of their territory to broken treaties  and a century later, their best remaining lands along the Missouri River were flooded when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created Lake Sakakawea. With dozens of villages uprooted, many people moved to a replacement community above the lake  New Town.

Today, leaders of the three tribes view oil as their salvation and want to keep drilling before it's depleted and the world moves past fossil fuels.

And they want the Biden administration to speed up drilling permits and fend off efforts to shut down a pipeline carrying most reservation oil to refineries.

PIPELINE FIGHT

Yet tribes left out of the drilling boom have become outspoken against fossil fuels as climate change worsens. One is the Standing Rock Sioux about 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the south.

Home to the Dakota and Lakota nations, Standing Rock gained prominence during a months-long standoff between law enforcement and protesters, including tribal officials, who tried to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline that carries Fort Berthold crude.

A judge revoked the pipeline's government permit because of inadequate environmental analysis and allowed crude to flow during a new review. But Standing Rock wants the administration to halt the oil for good, fearing a pipeline break could contaminate its drinking water.

Meantime, attention surrounding the skirmish provided the Sioux with foundation backing to develop a wind farm in Porcupine Hills, an area of scrub oak and buffalo grass with cattle ranches.

The pipeline fight stirs bitter memories in Fawn Wasin Zi, a teacher who chairs the Standing Rock renewable power authority. She grew up hearing her father and grandmother tell about a government dam that created Lake Oahe  how they had to leave their home then watch government agents burn it, only to be denied housing, electricity and other promised compensation.

Wasin Zi, whose ancestors followed legendary Lakota leader Sitting Bull, wants to ensure the tribe doesn't fall victim yet again to a changing world, where fossil fuels warm the planet and bring drought and wildfire.

We have to find a way to use the technology that's available right now, whether it's geothermal or solar or wind," she said.

Only a dozen of the 326 tribal reservations produce significant oil, according to a drilling analysis provided to AP by S&P Global Platts.

Biden's nominee to oversee them as assistant secretary for Indian affairs, Bryan Newland, recently told a U.S. Senate committee the administration recognizes the importance of oil and gas to some reservations and pledged to let tribes determine resource development.

Interior officials denied interview requests about tribal energy plans, but said tribes were consulted in April after Biden ordered the department to "engage with tribal authorities" on developing renewables and fossil fuels.

Joseph McNeill Jr, manager of Standing Rocks energy authority, said a conference call with Interior yielded no pledges to further the tribe's wind project. Fort Berthold officials said they've had no offers of discussions with the administration.

ONE TRIBE'S BUILDING BOOM

Fort Berthold still reels from ills oil brought  worse crime and drugs, tanker truck traffic, road fatalities, spills of oil and wastewater. Tribal members lament that stars are lost in the glare of flaring waste gas from wells.

Yet oil brought positive changes, too. As the tribes' coffers fattened, dozens of projects got underway. The reservation now boasts new schools, senior centers, parks, civic centers, health and drug rehab facilities. Oil money is building a $26 million greenhouse complex heated by electricity from gas otherwise wasted.

The $30 million cultural center in New Town pieces together the tribes fractured past through displays and artifacts. A sound studio captures stories from elders who lived through dam construction and flooding along the Missouri. And one exhibit traces the oil boom after fracking allowed companies to tap reserves once too difficult to drill.

Our little town, New Town, changed overnight, said MHA Nation Interpretive Center Director Delphine Baker. We never had traffic lights growing up. It's like I moved to a different town.

HOPING FOR MORNING LIGHT

Lower on the Missouri, Standing Rock grapples with high energy costs. Theres no oil worth extracting, no gas or coal. The biggest employer beside tribal government is a casino, where revenue plummeted during the pandemic.

Theres nothing here. No jobs. Nothing, said Donald Whitelightning, Jr., who lives in Cannon Ball, near the Dakota Access Pipeline protest.

Whitelightning, who cares for his mother in a modest home, said he pays up to $500 a month for electricity in winter. Utility costs, among North Dakota's highest, severely strain a reservation officials say has 40% poverty and 75% unemployment.

The tribe hopes its wind project, Anpetu Wi, meaning morning light, will help. Officials predict its 235 megawatts  enough for roughly 94,000 homes  would double their annual revenue and fund benefits like those Fort Berthold derives from oil  housing, health care, more jobs.

Standing Rock's power authority can directly negotiate aspects of the project. Yet it needs Interior approval because the U.S. holds tribal lands in trust.

AN OIL FIELD TO PROTECT

Outside North Dakota, tribes with oil  the Osage in Oklahoma, the Navajo in the Southwest and Native corporations in Alaska  also are pushing the Biden administration to cede power over energy development, including letting tribes conduct environmental reviews.

A Navajo company's operations in the Aneth field in southern Utah bring about $28 million to $35 million annually. Active since the 1950s, the field likely has another 30 years of life, said James McClure, chief executive of the Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Co..

The company has considered expanding into federal land in New Mexico and Colorado. Bidens attempts to suspend new leases could slow those plans, and its considering helium production as an option.

In northern Oklahoma, the Osage have been drilling oil for more than a century.

Cognizant of global warming and shifting energy markets, they are pondering renewables, too. For now, they want the Biden administration to speed up drilling permits.

We are looking at what is going to be best for us, said Everett Waller, chairman of the tribes energy regulator. I wasnt given a wind turbine. I was given an oil field to protect.

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Fonseca reported from Flagstaff, Ariz.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
DENVER (AP)  The older brother of a 13-year-old boy who disappeared in Colorado in 2012 confronted his father about photos of him eating feces from a diaper months before his younger sibling went missing, the boy's brother testified Thursday.

The father, Mark Redwine, is being tried in the killing of his son, Dylan Redwine. The boy disappeared in the Vallecito area near Durango during a court-ordered visit during his Thanksgiving break, authorities said. Mark Redwine told investigators he left his son alone at home to run errands and returned to find him missing, The Denver Post reported.

Prosecutors argued this week that Mark Redwine killed his son over photographs that triggered a fatal outrage. The photos, accidentally discovered by the two boys on their father's computer during a road trip in 2011, depict Mark Redwine wearing womens underwear and a diaper, and eating feces from a diaper.

While their father slept, the siblings looked at the photos in a locked bathroom and Cory took his own photos to save on his phone.

During cross-examination, Cory Redwine said he sent copies of the compromising photos to his father in August 2012, while Dylan and Mark Redwine were alone on a trip together. Dylan knew about the photos and was not harmed on that trip, despite the texting confrontation between Cory and Mark Redwine.

Cory called his father an (expletive)-eating coward and said you are what you eat, according to text messages revealed Thursday in court.

In response, Mark Redwine texted back not to hurt Dylan, public defender John Moran said. The father also called Cory a thief for taking the photos and said he was trying to hurt him just like his mother, who was in a contentious custody battle with him at the time.

On Wednesday, Cory had testified that the accidental discovery of photos ruined Dylan's relationship and image of his father.

Dylan lost any reason for him to look up to Mark that day, Cory Redwine said.

On Monday, Fred Johnson, special deputy district attorney, suggested that on the night he was killed, Dylan Redwine may have mentioned or shown his father the photographs, triggering his father to become violent.

Defense attorneys for Mark Redwine said the photos have no connection to Dylan Redwine's death and suggested the the boy ran away from home. His remains were found a few miles from his fathers house in 2013.

Cory Redwine told the court his younger brother was pretty disgusted and said he wanted to use the photos as leverage in an argument with his dad a year later.

Hey send me those poop pics of Papa because he gave me a speech about you guys being a bad example and I want to show him who he really is, said Dylan Redwine in a text to his older brother in August 2012, according to court documents.

Cory Redwine said he did not send the pictures and it was unclear from his testimony if his brother had confronted his father regarding the photos.

The brothers' mother, Elaine Hall, testified Wednesday that she sent Dylan Redwine to his fathers house on Nov. 18, 2012, learned he was missing the next day and immediately drove six hours to La Plata County to search for her son. Hall said during cross-examination that she had no knowledge of her son confronting his father about the photos.

She almost immediately suspected her ex-husband wasnt telling the full truth about their sons disappearance, text messages show. Two hours after learning Dylan was missing at 6:35 p.m., Hall texted Mark Redwine.

He wouldnt just leave, she wrote. He would have called me. I am so suspect of you right now. How could he just disappear?

Public defender Justin Bogan questioned Hall about her suspicions of Mark Redwine, suggesting that her perspective was tainted by their contentious divorce and custody battle.

Hall had appeared on the Dr. Phil television show in 2013 and made her suspicions about the father public. Bogan also suggested that Hall turned public opinion against her ex-husband and influenced the direction of the police investigation.

But Hall defended her actions, saying she spoke with media and attended a protest at Mark Redwines house in an effort to bring Dylan home.

I was frantic, she said. It was so surreal. You dont expect anything like this to happen to you. I figured he was safe because he was with his dad, and I was devastated that no one knew where my son was.

Mark Redwine, who has pleaded not guilty, was arrested after a grand jury indicted him in July 2017.

He was accused of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. He faces up to 48 years in prison if found guilty.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Two former officials with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department are suing the state under whistleblower protection laws.

Debra and Cliff Gilmore announced the lawsuit Thursday after filing it with a state district court earlier this week. Its the latest fallout from the use of the Signal messaging app by the Children, Youth, and Family Department.

The couple moved to New Mexico last year to take high-ranking posts; she led the Office of Childrens Rights and he was the top spokesman.

The couple have said before that they were fired only months later after raising issues, including concerns that a Signal feature that automatically deleted messages ran afoul of state record retention laws. Debra Gilmore said she also raised concerns over a massive software upgrade she consulted on.

The lawsuit for the first time claims that their firings are covered by whistleblower protection laws set to prevent employees from being sacked for raising legal or ethical concerns. They believe that the use of self-deleting messages violated open records laws.

CYFD Secretary Brian Blalock has disagreed, arguing that the messages count as transitory" and can be deleted. He has said that the move to the free, encrypted app was a cheap and safe way to switch sensitive communications online when the pandemic hit.

The agency eventually dropped the use of the Signal app altogether citing concerns from the public.

The lawsuit also accuses the highest ranks of Children, Youth and Families Department leadership including Blalock of pressuring Cliff Gilmore to advance a specific job candidate at an intermediary stage of the hiring process.

While CYFD appreciates the opportunity to clarify misinformation, CYFD cannot discuss personal personnel matters or threatened litigation," said acting spokesman Charlie Moore-Pabst.

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This story has been corrected to accurately spell Debra.

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Attanasio 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 under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Federal regulators have ordered a Nebraska rancher and county officials to clean up a remote stream after it was deluged with enough sand and sediment to change the shape of the waterway.

The Environmental Protection Agency said the Snake River had been a deep and narrow creek until an estimated 1.6 million tons of sand washed into it, turning a 3-mile stretch into a wide, shallow and sandy waterway, according to the Omaha World-Herald. That's enough sand to fill an area the size of a football field about 540 feet deep.

The stream is a popular fishing and canoeing spot in the Sandhills, a desolate region of grass-covered sand dunes in north-central Nebraska. The sand and sediment flowed into the Snake River after a 2.5-mile ditch was excavated to the river to drain water from a flooded pasture and road.

Federal officials said the sand was deposited into the stream without proper permits. Under the federal Clean Water Act, the sand and sediment are considered pollutants.

On June 14, the EPA ordered rancher Dick Minor of Gordon, Nebraska, and Cherry County officials to stop the erosion and create a plan within 60 days to permanently stop the flow of sediment into the stream. Minor and the county were also ordered to restore the stream's deep channel to the extent technically feasible.

David Cozad, a compliance director with EPA Region 7, said he was encouraged that Minor and the county signed an agreement that would "protect this important aquatic resource, as well as prevent further impacts to downstream property owners.

The waterway was damaged in April 2020 when Cherry County crews assisted Minor in trenching out a roadside ditch on Minors property to drain floodwaters off a county road and an adjacent meadow. Heavy rains had raised groundwater levels, flooding several roads and fields used for cattle grazing.

The EPA said Minor extended the ditch so it drained into the Snake River, and additional rainfall pushed massive amounts of sand into the stream.

The damage occurred west of Nebraska Highway 61, which is about 30 miles west of Merritt Reservoir, a popular recreation and fishing spot.

Minor said there was no other place for the water to drain off his meadow and the county road.

I cant see that it hurt nothing, he said. No one will even see the stuff (sand) in five years.

The rancher and county will share the cost of the mitigation and restoration work, which is subject to EPA approval. Failure to do the work could result in fines, EPA officials said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Former President Donald Trump has railed against it. Republicans in the U.S. Senate introduced a resolution condemning any requirement for teachers to be trained in it. And several Republican-controlled states have invoked it in legislation restricting how race can be taught in public schools.

The concept known as critical race theory is the new lightning rod of the GOP. But what exactly is it?

The term seemed to appear in statehouses and at political rallies almost from nowhere. Over the past few months, it has morphed from an obscure academic discussion point on the left into a political rallying cry on the right.

On Wednesday, for instance, critical race theory became a flashpoint during a congressional hearing into the militarys approach to addressing racism and extremism, when Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pushed back forcefully against accusations by Republican lawmakers that the effort is creating division and hurting morale.

Yet, even those who condemn or seek to ban critical race theory in schools often struggle to define what it is. Real-world examples of students being indoctrinated in its principles are difficult to find.

WHAT IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s.

It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation's institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society.

The architects of the theory argue that the United States was founded on the theft of land and labor and that federal law has preserved the unequal treatment of people on the basis of race. Proponents also believe race is culturally invented, not biological.

Kimberle Crenshaw, executive director of the African American Policy Forum, a social justice think tank based in New York City, was one of the early proponents. Initially, she says, it was simply about telling a more complete story of who we are.

IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS?

There is little to no evidence that critical race theory itself is being taught to K-12 public school students, though some ideas central to it, such as lingering consequences of slavery, have been. In Greenwich, Connecticut, some middle school students were given a white bias survey that parents viewed as part of the theory.

Republicans in North Carolina point to the Wake County Public School System as an example, saying teachers participated in a professional development session on critical race theory. County education officials canceled a future study session once it was discovered but insist the theory is not part of its classroom curriculum.

Critical race theory is not something we teach to students, said Lisa Luten, a spokeswoman for the school system. Its more of a theory in academia about race that adults use to discuss the context of their environment.

WHY ARE REPUBLICANS UPSET?

Many Republicans view the concepts underlying critical race theory as an effort to rewrite American history and persuade white people that they are inherently racist and should feel guilty because of their advantages.

But the theory also has become somewhat of a catchall phrase to describe racial concepts some conservatives find objectionable, such as white privilege, systemic inequality and inherent bias.

WHERE DID REPUBLICAN PUSHBACK BEGIN?

Republicans often cite the 1619 Project as a cause for concern. The New York Times initiative, published in 2019, aimed to tell a fuller story of the countrys history by putting slavery at the center of Americas founding.

Critical race theory popped into the mainstream last September when then-President Trump took aim at it and the 1619 Project as part of a White House event focused on the nation's history. He called both a crusade against American history and ideological poison that ... will destroy our country.

HOW ARE STATES ADDRESSING IT?

So far, 25 states have considered legislation or other steps to limit how race and racism can be taught, according to an analysis from Education Week. Eight states, all Republican-led, have banned or limited the teaching of critical race theory or similar concepts through laws or administrative actions. The bans largely address what can be taught inside the classroom. While bills in some states mention critical race theory by name, others do not.

Last week Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill prohibiting public school teachers from making any of 10 concepts part of their curriculum. That includes the idea that the advent of slavery in what is now the United States marks the true founding of the nation.

At the request of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, that state's education board approved a resolution last week stating that teaching critical race theory and using instructional material related to the 1619 Project violate state standards. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, and two other GOP senators introduced a resolution last month that condemns the practice of requiring teachers to receive Critical Race Theory education.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSE TO THE GOP ACTIONS?

Teachers unions, educators and social studies organizations worry the limits will whitewash American history by downplaying the role past injustices still play today. They also fear a chilling effect on classroom discussions.

Leading critical race theory scholars view the GOP-led measures as hijacking the national conversation about racial inequality that gained momentum after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minnesota.

Some say the ways Republicans describe it are unrecognizable to them. Cheryl Harris, a UCLA law professor who teaches a course on the topic, said it's a myth that critical race theory teaches hatred of white people and is designed to perpetuate divisions in American society. Instead, she said she believes the proposals have a clear political goal  to ensure that Republicans can win in 2022.

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Anderson 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. Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson. AP writer Michael Melia in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Standing in the State Dining Room on May 4, President Joe Biden laid out a lofty goal to vaccinate 70% of American adults by Independence Day, saying the U.S. would need to overcome doubters and laziness to do it. This is your choice, he told Americans. "Its life and death.

As for the ambition of his 70% goal, Biden added: Id like to get it at 100%, but I think realistically we can get to that place between now and July Fourth."

He won't.

With the July Fourth holiday approaching, the White House acknowledged this week that Biden will fall shy of his 70% goal and an associated aim of fully vaccinating 165 million adults in the same time frame. The missed milestones are notable in a White House that has been organized around a strategy of underpromising and overdelivering for the American public.

White House officials, while acknowledging they are set to fall short, insist theyre unconcerned. We dont see it exactly like something went wrong, press secretary Jen Psaki said this week, stressing that Americans lives are better off than they were when Biden announced the goal.

As of Wednesday, 65.6% of Americans age 18 and older had received at least one shot, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. The figure is expected to be over 67% by July 4.

A half-dozen officials involved in the vaccination campaign, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the missed target candidly, pointed to a combination of factors, including the lessened sense of urgency that followed early success in the vaccination campaign; a decision to reach for a higher goal; and unexpectedly strong recalcitrance among some Americans toward getting a shot.

Nonetheless, the White House says its not letting up on its vaccination efforts. Biden flew to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday to urge people to roll up their sleeves as part of a nationwide month of action to drive up the vaccination rate before the holiday. The White House is rolling out increasingly localized programs to encourage specific communities to get vaccinated.

The best way to protect yourself against the virus and its variants is to be fully vaccinated, Biden said after he toured a mobile vaccination unit and met with frontline workers and volunteers. It works. It's free. It's safe. It's easy.

The White House always expected a drop-off in vaccination rates, but not as sharp as has proved to be the case. The scale of American reluctance to get vaccinated remains a source of global curiosity, particularly as many nations are still scrambling for doses to protect their most vulnerable populations.

When the 70% goal was first announced by Biden seven weeks ago, more than 800,000 Americans on average were getting their first vaccine dose each day  down from a high of nearly 2 million per day in early April. Now that figure is below 300,000.

Paradoxically, officials believe the strong response to the early vaccination campaign has served to reduce motivation to get a shot for some. One of the most potent motivators was the high rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Now that those figures have dropped to levels not seen since the onset of the pandemic, officials say its become harder to convince Americans of the urgency to get a shot  particularly for younger populations that already knew they were at low risk of serious complications from the virus.

Separately, two officials involved in the crafting of the 70% goal said that officials knew 65% would have been a safer bet, but that the White House wanted to reach for a figure closer to experts projections of what would be needed for herd immunity to bring down cases and deaths. Aiming for the higher target, the officials said, was seen as adding to the urgency of the campaign and probably increased the vaccination rate above where it would have been with a more modest goal.

Other officials said the White House, which has always cast the vaccination campaign as hard, nevertheless failed to grasp the resistance of some Americans to getting a shot when it set the 70% goal.

The hesitation among younger Americans and among Trump voters has been too hard to overcome, said GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who has worked with the White House and outside groups to promote vaccinations. They think they are making a statement by refusing to be vaccinated. For Trump voters, its a political statement. For younger adults, its about telling the world that they are immune.

Of the White House, Luntz said, I think they did as good a job as they could have done."

The White House points to all that the nation has achieved to play down the significance of the goals it will miss.

Back in March, Biden projected a July Fourth holiday during which Americans would be able to safely gather in small groups for outdoor barbecues  a milestone reached months ago. Nearly all states have lifted their virus restrictions, businesses and schools are open and large gatherings are resuming nationwide.

The most important metric at the end of the day is: What are we able to do in our lives? How much of normal have we been able to recapture? said Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. And I think what we are seeing now is that we have exceeded our expectations.

The White House also has taken to crunching the vaccination numbers in new ways to put a positive spin on the situation. On Tuesday, the administration announced that 70% of adults 30 and over have been vaccinated  removing the most hesitant population from its denominator. But even that statistic glosses over lower vaccination rates among middle-aged adults (62.4% for those aged 40-49) and millennials (52.8% for those aged 25-39).

The administration's predicament is all the more notable given what had been an unbroken streak of fulfilled vaccination goals. Before taking office, Biden pledged to vaccinate 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of his presidency  a rate that the U.S. was exceeding by the time he was sworn in. Within days he suggested a goal of 150 million and ultimately easily met a revised goal of 200 million shots in the first 100 days.

Bidens 70% goal also was achievable, officials say  if in retrospect too ambitious  but critically relied less on the government's ability to procure shots and build capacity to inject them and more on individuals' willingness to get vaccinated.

We did that as a team, relying very heavily or exclusively on the docs and scientists, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Tuesday on how the targets were selected.

More significant than the 70% statistic, officials said, is the vast regional disparities in vaccination, with a state like Vermont vaccinating more than 80% of its population while some in the South and West are below 50%. Within states, there's even greater variation. In Missouri, some southern and northern counties are well short of 40% and one county is at just 13%.

With the delta variant first identified in India taking hold in the U.S., officials say the next vaccination boost may not come from incentives like lotteries or giveaways, but out of renewed fears of preventable illness and death. Other officials project a significant increase in vaccine uptake once the shots, which have received emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, receive final approval from the agency.

Heading into the end of the month, another Biden goal also was in doubt.

The president last month set a target of shipping 80 million COVID-19 excess vaccine doses overseas by the end of June. U.S. officials say the doses are ready to go, but that regulatory and legal roadblocks in recipient countries are slowing deliveries.

About 10 million have been shipped so far, including 3 million sent Wednesday to Brazil. Shipments are expected to pick up, but meeting the goal by June 30 appears unlikely.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP)  Relatives of 16 Nicaraguan opposition figures jailed in recent weeks demanded Thursday that President Daniel Ortegas government let them see their loved ones, know where they are and how they are doing.

The families said during a virtual news conference that they believe most if not all of the prisoners are in the infamous El Chipote prison in Managua, where many of those detained for participating in street protests in 2018 were taken.

In 2018, families could at least line up outside to take their relatives food and medicine, but this time many families say they dont know where their relatives are. The majority are above age 50 and some suffer from chronic illnesses.

Its been 11 days without seeing him, they dont let him talk to his lawyer and they only let us bring him water. Why, because hes been beaten? asked Cristian Tinoco, daughter of the former deputy foreign minister Victor Hugo Tinoco. Police arrested him June 13.

Cristian Tinoco said her 68-year-old father suffers from hypertension and the family has been told he has experienced vertigo since his arrest.

I want them to let us see him because it is a human right, she said.

Nicaraguan police began locking up presidential hopefuls and quickly expanded to other opposition figures. In a speech Wednesday, Ortega, who is running for a fourth consecutive term in elections scheduled for Nov. 7. said that all of those arrested were criminals and terrorists plotting to overthrow his government.

Most face nebulous allegations of crimes against the government. The international community has condemned the arrests and called for their release.

Victoria Cardenas, wife of presidential hopeful Juan Sebastian Chamorro, has not been able to visit her husband.

I dont know where my husband is, nor how he is ... were desperate, helpless, she said.

Without knowing officially where their loved ones are held, the families said they consider them disappeared.

Berta Valle, wife of another detained presidential hopeful, Felix Maradiaga, said her husband suffers from high blood pressure and she doesnt know if he is receiving his medicine.

We suppose hes in EL Chipote, but there is not guarantee, nor evidence that he is, said Valle, a journalist who has been living in exile for more than a year.

Two others under arrest  Jose Pallais, former vice minister of government and foreign affairs during the presidency of Violeta Chamorro, and Violeta Granera  are both over age 60 and their families fear for their well-being.

Concern has become anguish, said Jilma Herdocia, Pallais wife.

Julio Sandino, Graneras son, said his mother was arrested June 8 and only in the past two days was the family allowed to bring her water, but no food.

That is also a form of torture, he said.

Also under arrest is 65-year-old Dora Maria Tellez, a well-known former guerrilla commander who later split with Ortega and became a leader of the Sandinista Renovation Movement. Another jailed former Sandinista guerrilla and Renovation Movement leader, Hugo Torres, is 73.
ATLANTA (AP)  Two transgender women are suing the state of Georgia, saying they've been denied access to gender-affirming health care under its Medicaid program.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the federal lawsuit Thursday in Atlanta on behalf of Shon Thomas and Gwendolyn Cheney. The suit says Georgia bans gender-affirming surgeries in violation of the U.S. Constitution, the Affordable Care Act and the Medicaid Act.

A spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Community Health, which is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, did not immediately respond Thursday to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit.

Many surgical treatments that are used to treat gender dysphoria are covered by Georgia Medicaid when they are used to treat non-transgender people for other conditions, the lawsuit says. Georgia's Medicaid exclusion incorrectly characterizes their gender-confirming health care needs as cosmetic and/or experimental or investigational, when the medical community recognizes that they are effective treatments for gender dysphoria," the lawsuit says.

Thomas and Cheney, who both live in the Atlanta area, have been denied care that would be available to them if they weren't transgender, ACLU attorney Taylor Brown said in a news release.

This is discrimination and it is against the law, Brown said. "At a time when many in our country are having long overdue conversations about racial disparities in our health care system, it is important that the health care needs of Black transgender people, like Ms. Thomas and Ms. Cheney, are a part of that conversation.

The ACLU says Georgia is one of 10 states that doesn't allow transgender adults to receive gender-affirming care under Medicaid.

The lawsuit seeks class action status and asks a judge to order Georgia to stop enforcing the exclusion and to order state health officials to provide Medicaid coverage to those who are eligible for transition-related surgical care.

Cheney, 60, said the denial of care has kept her from living a full life.

Having access to this care would give me a chance to actually live as who I am, Cheney said in the release. "I want to be all that I can be and I cant be that with gender dysphoria. Its a chance to have a normal life without depression and anxiety.

Thomas, 45, said it seems that transgender people in the South are only tolerated not accepted.

Even when it comes to health care, we are only given the bare minimum to exist," she said. It keeps me depressed. I think about it all the time, and it feels like there is no way out.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A federal judge on Thursday appeared skeptical of arguments to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems over baseless 2020 election claims made by Trump allies Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani and the MyPillow Guy.

The voting system company sued the trio for $1.3 billion each after they claimed the company rigged the election for Democrat Joe Biden. Those claims, along with falsehoods from former President Donald Trump and others, helped spur a violent mob into storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, in a failed effort to stop the certification of Biden's victory.

The three persisted making the accusations even after government officials, both Republican and Democrat, and Trump's own attorney general said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Dominion's voting equipment was used in several key battleground states.

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols heard arguments made by attorneys for Powell, Giuliani and Mike Lindell, CEO of Minnesota-based MyPillow, that the case should be dismissed. The attorneys argued the speech was protected by the First Amendment, that Dominion should be considered a government agency because it provided voting equipment for elections and treated like a public figure. And in some cases, attorneys said, the statements made about Dominion were true  and therefore couldn't be considered malicious.

Nichols told the attorneys that the public debate over election security is "not the same as saying a particular company intentionally committed voter fraud."

Powell and Giuliani, both lawyers who filed election challenges on Trump's behalf, and Lindell made various unproven claims about the voting machine company, including that the company was created in Venezuela to rig elections for the late leader Hugo Chavez and that it has the ability to switch votes. Dominion has also sued Fox News and conservative media outlets over the same claims.

Dominion attorneys said that the three made purposeful and specific false claims aimed at defaming the voting company and that the claims persisted even after their legal claims challenging the election failed.

These were statements made in press conferences, in rallies, on social medial, on television ... including after the very lawsuits theyre referencing to the court were dismissed," attorney Tom Clare said.

Powell and Lindell appeared in court; Giuliani, whose law license was suspended in New York on Thursday after a panel found he'd made false statements about the election, did not.

There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, including Trumps attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Bidens victory, also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states.

Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies were dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices.

The judge plans to rule at a later date.

___

Associated Press writer Nomaan Merchant in Washington contributed to this report.
MADRID (AP)  Authorities in Spain say a judge has ordered an autopsy for John McAfee, the gun-loving antivirus pioneer, cryptocurrency promoter and occasional politician who died in a prison cell pending extradition to the United States for allegedly evading millions in unpaid taxes.

A court spokeswoman for the Catalonia region said Thursday that a forensic team would need to perform toxicology tests on McAfee's body to determine the cause of death and that results could take days or weeks.

Authorities say everything at the scene indicated that the 75-year-old tycoon killed himself.

The judicial investigation is being handled by a court in Martorell, a town northwest of Barcelona with jurisdiction over the prison where McAfee died. The spokeswoman wasn't authorized to be identified by name in media reports.

McAfee's Spanish lawyer, Javier Villalba, said the entrepreneur's death had come as a surprise to his wife and other relatives, adding he would seek to get to the bottom of his client's death.

This has been like pouring cold water on the family and on his defense team," Villalba told The Associated Press on Thursday. Nobody expected it, he had not said goodbye.

Although Villalba said he had no evidence of any foul play but blamed the death on the cruelty of the system for keeping a 75-year-old behind bars for economic, not violent, crimes after judges refused to release him on bail.

We had managed to nullify seven of the 10 counts he was accused of and even so he was still that dangerous person who could be fleeing Spain if he was released?" the lawyer said. He was a world eminence, where could he hide?

Spain's National Court on Monday ruled that McAfee should be extradited to the U.S. to face charges for evading more than $4 million in taxes in the fiscal years 2016 to 2018. The judge dropped seven of the 10 counts in the initial indictment.

Villalba said McAfee had learned about the ruling on Tuesday and that his death on Wednesday didn't come in the heat of the moment. He also said McAfee and the legal team had been preparing an appeal to avoid being extradited.

A penitentiary source told the AP that McAfee was sharing a cell in the Brians 2 jail where he had been put in preventive detention since he was arrested in October last year on a U.S. warrant, but that at the moment of his death he had been alone.

Prosecutors in Tennessee accused McAfee of failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, earnings made in speaking engagements and for selling the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

The British-born entrepreneur led an eccentric life after selling his stake in the antivirus software company named after him in the early 1990s. He twice made long-shot runs for the U.S. presidency.

McAfee often professed his love for drugs and guns in public remarks. And some of his actions landed him in legal trouble beyond Tennessee, from Central America to the Caribbean. In 2012, he was sought for questioning in connection with the murder of his neighbor in Belize, but was never charged with a crime.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  Maine has lifted a barrier civil lawsuits by people who were sexually abused when they were children.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed into law that eliminates that made a previous bill eliminating the statute of limitations retroactively, meaning victims can now bring lawsuits based on older cases.

Every year, I turn away dozens of survivors whose claims had expired because of the statute of limitations, attorney Michael Bigos, who specializes in litigation related to child sexual abuse, told the Portland Press Herald. Now, those survivors can come forward."

In 2000, Maine eliminated the statute of limitations for those lawsuits, but the policy was not retroactive, so victims whose claims had expired still could not bring them forward.

Previously, survivors who experienced abuse before 1987 generally would not be able to file lawsuits.

Rep. Lori Gramlich, a social worker and survivor of childhood sexual abuse, sponsored the legislation. She said that she saw this bill as an opportunity to give others a chance to be heard.

For me, its not about suing somebody for big bunches of money, said Gramlich, a Democrat from Old Orchard Beach, said. Its about having an opportunity to have justice.
HONOLULU (AP)  The 31-year-old man officers on the Big Island shot and killed last week had no permanent Hawaii address and was originally from Michigan, police said.

Police said Daniel Buckingham cut an officer with a large knife Friday when officers responded to an alarm at a Hilo home that was supposed to be empty.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he is not convinced that Kevin Strickland is innocent, despite prosecutors and other supporters calling for Strickland's exoneration for a triple murder that has kept him in prison for four decades.

Parson told KSHB-TV on Wednesday that he has looked at Strickland's case several times but the bottom line is that no court of law has found Strickland innocent.

I am not convinced that Im willing to put other people at risk if youre not right, Parson told the station.

Parson said he is more than likely going to sign a new law that would provide Strickland with a new legal avenue toward release. The law would give local prosecutors the authority to ask judges to exonerate prisoners they believe are innocent.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has sought Stricklands release and said if Parson signs the new legislation, she will file a motion asking a Jackson County judge to exonerate Strickland at 9 a.m. Aug. 28, when it would become law.

Several state lawmakers from both parties have asked Parson to pardon Strickland, who has maintained his innocence since he was convicted in the April 1978 deaths of three people in Kansas City.

Members of the prosecution team that convicted Strickland have said he should be exonerated, as have federal prosecutors in the Western District of Missouri, Jackson Countys presiding judge, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Midwest Innocence Project.

The Kansas City Star reported in September that two men who pleaded guilty in the killings said for decades that Strickland was not with them during the shooting. The only eyewitness also recanted and wanted Strickland released.

Defense attorneys said in a motion filed with the Missouri Supreme Court in May that prosecutors removed the only four Black potential jurors from the trial for Strickland, who is Black. The state Supreme Court declined to hear Stricklands case, without giving a reason.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  The owner of an abandoned power plant has agreed to clean up toxic waste dumped into the flood plain of the Vermilion River, boosting efforts to protest Illinois lone national scenic river.

Under a deal brokered by the Illinois attorney generals office, Texas-based Vistra on Monday agreed to drain pits of water-soaked coal ash along the Middle Fork Vermilion River, about 120 miles (193.12 kilometers)south of Chicago. The energy company also will dig a trench to collect contaminated groundwater and monitor eroding riverbank after major storms.

Vistras three coal ash pits were dug into the flood plain by Illinois Power, which built a coal-fired power plant next to the river in 1955. Dynegy bought the plant in 2000, closing it in 2011. Vistra took on liability for the three pits of coal slurry when it absorbed Dynegy in a corporate merger.

Before Mondays deal, Vistra sought permission to cap the coal ash and leave it behind a wall of rock 150 yards (137.16 meters) long. But the deal with Attorney General Kwame Raouls office requires Vistra to remove and safely dispose of the waste away from the tributary of the Wabash River.

Vistra officials said in a statement they believe the coal ash could safely left in place or moved to another spot on company property farther away from the river. However, they agreed to remove the coal ash given the unique nature of the site and to resolve the pending dispute with the state of Illinois.

The Chicago Tribune reports the agreement appears to resolve a complaint filed nearly a decade ago by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. It also marks a test of new Illinois regulations requiring Vistra and other energy companies to clean up coal ash dumps near two dozen other power plants, most of which will be closed by the end of the decade.

Our work now will be to ensure that the terms of the order are carried out in a manner that permanently protects the river and the communities that depend on it, said Lan Richart, co-director of the Eco-Justice Collaborative, a Champaign-based group that helped draw attention to threats to the Middle Fork
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, the son of pro-democracy icons who helped topple dictator Ferdinand Marcos and a defender of good governance who took China's sweeping territorial claims to an international court, has died. He was 61.

Aquinos family told a news conference that he died in his sleep early Thursday due to renal failure secondary to diabetes. A former Cabinet official, Rogelio Singson, said Aquino had been undergoing dialysis and was preparing for a kidney transplant.

Mission accomplished Noy, be happy now with Dad and Mom, said Pinky Aquino-Abellada, a sister of the late president, using his nickname and struggling to hold back her tears.

Condolences poured in from political leaders such as President Joe Biden and Aquino's successor Rodrigo Duterte and the dominant Catholic Church. Philippine flags were lowered at half-staff on government buildings.

For beyond politics and much public acrimony, I knew Noynoy as a kind and simple soul. He will be deeply missed, Sen. Imee Marcos, a daughter of the late dictator, said in a statement, using Aquinos nickname.

Biden called Aquino a valued friend and partner to the United States and said he enjoyed their time working together.

President Aquinos steadfast commitment to advancing peace, upholding the rule of law, and driving economic growth for all Filipinos, while taking bold steps to promote the rules-based international order, leaves a remarkable legacy at home and abroad that will endure for years to come, Biden said in a statement mourning Aquinos death.

Aquino, who served as president from 2010 to 2016, was the heir of a family that has been regarded as a bulwark against authoritarianism in the Philippines.

His father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated in 1983 while under military custody at the Manila international airport, which now bears his name. His mother, Corazon Aquino, led the 1986 people power revolt that ousted Marcos. The army-backed uprising became a harbinger of popular revolts against authoritarian regimes worldwide.

A scion of a wealthy land-owning political clan in the northern Philippines, Aquino, who was fondly called Noynoy or Pnoy by many Filipinos, built an image of an incorruptible politician who battled poverty and frowned over excesses by the countrys elites, including powerful politicians. One of his first orders that lingered throughout his presidency was to ban the use of sirens in vehicles that carried VIPs through Manilas notorious traffic jams.

Aquino, whose family went into exile in the U.S. during Marcoss rule, had turbulent ties with China as president. After China seized a disputed shoal in 2012 following a tense standoff in the South China Sea, Aquino authorized the filing of a complaint before an international arbitration tribunal that questioned the validity of Chinas sweeping claims in the strategic waterway Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds.

We will not be pushed around because we are a tiny state compared with theirs, Aquino told The Associated Press in June 2011. We think we have very solid grounds to say do not intrude into our territory.

The Philippines largely won. But China refused to join in the arbitration and dismissed as a sham the tribunals 2016 ruling, which invalidated Beijings claims based on a 1982 U.N. maritime treaty. Aquinos legal challenge and the eventual ruling plunged the relations between Beijing and Manila to an all-time low.

Born in 1960 as the third of five children, Aquino never married and had no children. An economics graduate, he pursued business opportunities before entering politics.

During his mother's tumultuous presidency, after democracy was restored, Aquino was wounded by gunfire during a failed 1987 coup attempt by rebel soldiers who attempted to lay siege on the heavily guarded Malacanang presidential palace. Three of his security escorts were killed. A bullet had remained embedded in Aquino's neck.

He won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1998, where he served until 2007, then successfully ran for the Senate. Aquino announced his presidential campaign in September 2009, saying he was answering the call of the people to continue his mothers legacy. She had died just weeks earlier of colon cancer.

His won with a battle cry "without the corrupt, there wont be poor people. He called ordinary Filipinos his boss and offered himself as their servant. Friends said he often carried a copy of the Philippine Constitution in his pocket, a reflection of his steadfast belief that no one is above the law.

His victory was also seen as a protest vote due to exasperation with the corruption scandals of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She was detained for nearly five years before the Supreme Court cleared her of the charges. Arroyo later served as House speaker under Duterte.

Public expectations of Aquino were high. While he moved against corruption  detaining Arroyo and three powerful senators  and initiated anti-poverty programs, the deep-seated inequalities and weak institutions in the Southeast Asian nation wracked by decades-old communist and Muslim insurgencies remained too daunting.

Under Aquino, the government expanded a program that provides cash dole-outs to the poorest in exchange for commitments by parents to send children to school. Big business, meanwhile, benefited from government partnership deals to finance major infrastructure projects.

One of Aquino's major successes was the signing of a 2014 peace deal with the largest Muslim separatist rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It eased decades of fighting in the countrys south, homeland of minority Muslims in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Opponents pounded on missteps, including a Manila bus hostage crisis that ended with the shooting deaths of eight Chinese tourists from Hong Kong by a disgruntled police officer, and delays in recovery efforts in the disastrous aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. He was also criticized in 2015 for his absence at an air base ceremony honoring police commandos who were killed by Muslim insurgents during a covert raid that killed one of Asias most-wanted terror suspects.

Aquino retained high approval ratings when his single, six-year term ended in 2016. The rise of the populist Duterte, whose deadly crackdown on illegal drugs has killed thousands of mostly petty drug suspects, was a reality check on the extent of public dissatisfaction and perceived failures during Aquinos reformist rule.

Aquino campaigned against Duterte, warning he could be a looming dictator and could set back the democracy and economic momentum achieved in his own term.

Time magazine named Aquino as one of 100 most influential people in the world in 2013, praising him for stabilizing a sputtering economy and for bravely confronting China over the South China Sea disputes.

After leaving office, Aquino stayed away from politics and the public eye.

He is survived by four sisters. His cremated remains are to be taken Friday to a Roman Catholic church at Ateneo de Manila University, his former school, for a daylong public visitation subject to coronavirus safeguards before a planned weekend interment, organizers said.

___

Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  The state House on Thursday approved an amendment overhauling a Senate gun-control measure that would have outlawed virtually all magazines sold with modern semiautomatic firearms.

The amendment was prompted by concerns raised about the constitutionality and feasibility of the Senate bill, which banned magazines capable of holding more than 17 rounds and required existing owners of such magazines to surrender them to the state.

The amendment guts the entire Senate bill, allowing the sale and possession of magazines that are commonly included as accessories with new firearms while taking aim at after-market magazines.

The House measure, approved on a 24-16 vote and sent to the Senate, criminalizes the possession while committing a felony of an after-market magazine that increases the designed capacity of a firearms standard magazine. A person accused of possessing a prohibited after-market magazine while committing a felony would be subject to a separate felony charge punishable by two to 25 years in prison.

The legislation also outlaws, except in certain circumstances, the sale or transfer of a handgun magazine that exceeds 20 rounds or a rifle magazine holding more than 30 rounds. It does not, however, prohibit the possession of after-market magazines exceeding those capacities by people who already own them.

They will be grandfathered.... Youre still allowed to use it lawfully, said Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, author of the House amendment and chief House sponsor of the original Senate bill.

Describing the crafting of the legislation as a learning experience, Chukwuocha, a Wilmington Democrat, noted that the Senate bills definition of a large capacity magazine would have outlawed basically every magazine for semiautomatic firearms.

That wasnt the intention, he said, also acknowledging that he believed the original bill affected the constitutional rights of gun owners.

Were targeting individuals who are committing crimes with these magazines, not lawful individuals, explained Chukwuocha, who described the revised legislation as a solid bill.

Its one that respects the Second Amendment rights, as well as the Delaware constitutional rights, of gun owners, he said.

Despite the revisions, most House Republicans voted against the measure, as did a handful of Democrats.
SYDNEY (AP)  Sydney was going through one the scariest times of the pandemic as a cluster of the highly contagious delta variant infects more people, an Australian state leader said on Thursday.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she tested negative for the coronavirus after her Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive Thursday. Health Minister Brad Hazzard is self-isolating as a close contact of a suspected COVID-19 case in Parliament House.

Sydney tightened pandemic restrictions on Wednesday, but Berejiklian said Australias largest city did not yet need to lock down further.

Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through, Berejiklian told reporters.

It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, she added.

Authorities say the cluster spread from a Sydney airport limousine driver who tested positive last week. He was not vaccinated, reportedly did not wear a mask and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew. The cluster had grown to 36 cases by Thursday.

Police were considering charging the driver and his employer with a range of offenses, Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said.

Marshall tested positive after dining with three government colleagues on Monday at a Sydney restaurant after an infected diner.

All four lawmakers had been attending Parliament as recently as Tuesday.

Several government ministers, lawmakers and staff were told to get tested and isolate until July 6 after a positive case attended a political party dinner in Sydney on Tuesday. Australias Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also attended the dinner, but was allowed to attend Parliament in the national capital Canberra on Thursday after taking medical advice.

Australian states have closed their borders to travelers either from parts of Sydney or from anywhere in New South Wales. And New Zealand has stopped quarantine-free travel from New South Wales for at least three days.

Victoria state said it would continue to ease pandemic restrictions in its capital Melbourne following a fourth lockdown despite a Melbourne resident testing positive after returning from Sydney on Sunday.

Australia has been relatively successful in containing coronavirus clusters, although the delta variant first detected in India is proving more challenging.

The pandemic has claimed 910 deaths in Australia, which has a population of 26 million. The only COVID-19 death since October was an 80-year-old man who became infected overseas and was diagnosed in hotel quarantine.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Tennesseans can now search the full records of many state Supreme Court cases through an online database thanks to the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

The opinions have long been available electronically, but the associated case files were stored in more than 10,000 boxes in the attic of the Capitol building, according to a news release from the Administrative Office of the Courts. For more than a decade, Library and Archive staff has been cleaning and indexing these records. Today, around 85% of the collection is available online.
A betrayal like no other from a beaver who just cant get enough.

Buc-ee's is building the world's largest convenience store, not at all a shock for a chain that built its name on Walmart-sized gas stations where you can get Dippin' Dots and home decor under the same roof.

LONG LIVE LUBY'S: Luby's gets new life after selling 32 locations to Chicago-based group

But it wont be in Texas.

Buc-ee's upcoming location in Sevierville, Tennessee will break the record already held by Buc-ee's with a 74,000-square-foot travel center, ABC 6's Gregory Raucoules reports.

And after all Texas has given this buck-toothed behemoth, youd think our state would deserve to keep the world's largest convenience store record. Everything is already supposed to be bigger in Texas. Its our unofficial slogan. And theyre just going to throw that away for Tennessee? Unconscionable.

Plus, weve already seen how non-Texans feel about letting a giant beaver loom over their highways. Theyre not always welcoming, obviously stemming from a reasonable lack of understanding on why a convenience store would ever need to be that size and where the fudge actually comes from.

IT'S TRUE: Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets really are the best gas station snack

But alas. King Buc-ee will not stop until every motorist coast to coast has a bag of Beaver Nuggets in hand and has seen just how clean a gas station bathroom can be. And perhaps we should have prepared for the day Buc-ee left the nest for greener pastures (states where an oversized gas station is even more of a shock). Maybe the thrill of the chase just wore off for him here in his home state.

Until the Tennesse Buc-ee's location opens, visit what will formerly be the world's largest convenience store at the New Braunfels Buc-ee's and pay your respects to a Texas legend.
Kim Blalock, who says she has chronic back pain, battled excruciating aches during her most recent pregnancy, so she turned to painkillers prescribed by her doctor, hoping for relief.

Instead, the 36-year-old mother of six has endured a distressing ordeal: Her baby tested positive for the opioid, which precipitated an investigation that led an Alabama prosecutor to charge Blalock with prescription fraud in a case her attorneys say is an unprecedented violation of a pregnant woman's privacy and freedoms. Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said this is the first time he has prosecuted a pregnant woman refilling her prescription as fraud.

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"I'm not a crusader," he told The Washington Post. "I'm not looking to make precedent about this, but the facts are the facts. Our position is that she concealed the material fact from her doctor that she was pregnant in order to continue to get hydrocodone."

This new punitive step in Alabama, the state with the nation's harshest statute against drug use during pregnancy, is part of policies set by dozens of states that researchers say are "divorced from health care."

The case, which was first reported by al.com, comes at a time when officials are wary of pain pills in the wake of a nationwide epidemic of addiction and overdose deaths, leaving chronic pain patients like Blalock at odds with the crackdown on opioid prescribing.

"It really has taken a toll," she wrote in an email. "I didn't get to bond with my baby. I've had severe postpartum depression with this baby."

Blalock, who said she has suffered from arthritis and degenerative disk disease for more than 14 years, said the hydrocodone prescribed by her orthopedist allowed her to function with what "feels like an electric pain" that has plagued her with limited mobility.

"It is worse in the morning or when I'm overdoing it, but it also happens when I'm lying in bed too much," she said.

When she was pregnant with her youngest son this year, she stopped taking the hydrocodone until six weeks before the birth, when she said the pain was unbearable.

"It's not just the pain, which is bad enough. But dealing with chronic pain, I have a lot of anxiety and depression surrounding the pain," she said. "I tried not to take it, but it was getting to the point where I felt like I had no other choice."

After she gave birth in September, she said she told her obstetrician about the hydrocodone and her newborn was tested, triggering an investigation under a state law authorities use to prosecute parents for exposing children to fumes from home-based meth labs.

Lawmakers later clarified in 2016 that pregnant women taking legally prescribed medications are exempt from the chemical endangerment law following reporting by al.com and ProPublica that revealed officials prosecuted more than 500 women in over a decade under the statute.

Blalock said she showed investigators her pill bottle to prove her medication was prescribed, but the Lauderdale County District Attorney's Office pursued a prescription fraud charge, accusing her of refilling her prescription without informing her doctor she was pregnant.

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Blalock's case is the latest in a decades-long trend of states enacting punitive measures against substance use during pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an organization focused on reproductive health and rights. Nearly two dozen states and D.C. consider substance use during pregnancy to be child abuse under civil child welfare statutes, according to a state-by-state tracker maintained by the group.

Public health groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, oppose punishment for drug use while pregnant.

Connolly said he does not wish to "demonize" Blalock, acknowledging she was seeking the medication for her chronic pain. But, he said, he is recommending she participate in a pretrial diversion program in which she could possibly be drug tested and weaned off her medication, alluding to people who have become addicted after long-term use.

"We have an opioid epidemic in not only our state but in the nation," he said. "The idea is there's got to be an alternative to chronic opiate use that can address whatever chronic pain situation this person has or other people. The answer to chronic pain is not to use opiates for the rest of your life."

Blalock's attorneys from the National Advocates for Pregnant Women have represented pregnant women in similar cases across the country, including Chelsea Becker, who was charged by California authorities with murder after she consumed methamphetamine and delivered a stillborn child. The case, which drew widespread attention from civil rights groups and reproductive health advocates, was dismissed in May.

The legal advocacy group says the case against Blalock could possibly set a precedent in Alabama, if she is convicted, for limiting those who are pregnant from refilling prescriptions they would otherwise be allowed to.

"What's particularly troubling is that it is creating a criminal penalty for perceived failure to disclose one's pregnancy - which is private information - even without being asked," Dana Sussman, one of the attorneys representing Blalock, told The Post.

Blalock said she was not asked by her orthopedist if she was pregnant.

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Hytham Imseis, an obstetrician on the board of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, said even if Blalock's doctor was aware she was pregnant, that doesn't necessarily mean Blalock's pain should not be treated.

"It was certainly worth being treated when she was not pregnant," he said. "And then when she becomes pregnant, she does not become less worthy of being treated."

"But everyone is fearful of harm to the fetus," Imseis added.

Newborns exposed to opioids in the womb may experience neonatal abstinence syndrome, with symptoms including tremors, trouble feeding and irritability days after birth.

Imseis said studies have shown the diagnosis of the condition is subjective.

While Blalock said her child was born healthy, the prosecution alleges the baby suffered from withdrawal symptoms.

Concerns about addiction have run rampant since the misuse of prescription opioids fueled the deadly opioid epidemic, leading to more than 500,000 deaths in the 21st century. The majority of overdose deaths in recent years have been caused by illegal drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines, increasingly laced with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.

In an effort to address the surge in overdose deaths, officials have clamped down on prescription opioids, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to release prescribing guidance that was misconstrued by some doctors to cut off prescriptions and leave patients to fend for themselves.

About 20 percent of American adults - 50.2 million people - live with chronic pain, according to the CDC.

Kate Nicholson, the founder and president of the National Pain Advocacy Center, citing a finding that less than 8 percent of people prescribed opioids become addicted, said most chronic pain patients continue taking opioids long-term without abuse.

While people suffering from pain have endured stigmatization and lost access to care, Nicholson said a criminal charge such as this for filling a prescription is uncommon.

"The idea that someone filling a legitimate prescription would be subjected to a felony charge is outrageous," Nicholson said.
Down on the Southwest border, business is booming  criminal business, that is.

The federal government steadfastly refuses to protect the border or the interior. Since Day 1, the Biden administration has announced to the world that protections that President Trump put into place would be canceled, and that both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security would be neutered.

Those ill-advised White House decisions have enabled drug and human traffickers to make small fortunes transporting their cargo to the United States, where taxpayers will foot the bill for housing, education and eventually a host of other affirmative benefits. Not a peep from Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris or the presidents cabinet about the unfairness or the devastating long-term effects their indifference will have on the nation.

But for enterprising criminals, the income potential from Bidens willful neglect is virtually unlimited.

When border patrol agents finally apprehended Victoria Perez, she told them she earned $200,000 over a ten-month period smuggling aliens through the El Paso checkpoint. Perezs fee was $1,500 per individual if the checkpoint was closed; $600 if open. Her work was easy. By driving only two days a week, Perez raked in, calculated Washington Times reporter Stephen Dinan, more than sitting members of Congress, $174,000 annually, and about three-times a border agents $70,000 starting salary. Perez was apprehended at a Texas checkpoint with 12 passengers, or at $1,500 a head, a load worth $18,000. Although Perez pleaded guilty, she was arrested again for trafficking during the six-month period before she was ordered to jail.

Income opportunities abound for other players in human traffickings criminal endeavor. Stash house operators, deliverymen who bring food and other supplies to the stash house, and extortionists who beat migrants to force their families to shell out more on top of the already exorbitant fees paid up front. In all, migrants pay billions of dollars each year to be dangerously and illegally smuggled into the U.S., a dicey gamble that sometimes ends in apprehension or even death. Migrant deaths at the border have nearly tripled since the same time last year, from 45 to 128.

Experts predict that fees will rise as long as the Biden administration continues to encourage illegal crossing. Harris much-touted trip to Mexico and Guatemala to uncover migrations root causes was laughed off by those governments as a waste of their time, a conclusion that the White House agreed with.

Facebook, the worlds largest social media company and prominent anti-First Amendment power broker, is aiding and abetting the smugglers. Thanks to soaring advertising revenues, Facebook posted its strongest first quarter earnings, a revenue of $26.1 billion, 48% more than the $17.7 billion it garnered in last years first quarter, and nearly $3 billion more than Wall Street analysts anticipated. Net income also smashed analysts expectations, hitting $9.5 billion, double 2020s $4.9 billion.

Facebooks willingness to accept drug money from Mexican cartels contributed to the companys advertising revenue and its staggering quarterly income surge.

According to U.S. law, encouraging or inducing an alien to come to, enter or reside in the U.S., or aiding and abetting any of these activities, is subject to financial penalties and imprisonment for periods of five years or longer. The likelihood of the Biden administration criminally punishing Facebook is a statistical impossibility  less than zero. Facebook played a prominent role in assuring that Biden would be elected, and the president isnt likely to punish his friend regardless of the helping hand it provides in the illegal border surge.

During Bidens presidency, immigration crime perpetrators go unpunished, but Americans must unfairly endure migrant waves flowing into their local communities, and then subsidize the everyday lives of these people for the indefinite future. Nothing could be more unjust.

Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. He can be reached at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org.
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A. Lower speeds need to be approved for human and manatee safety.

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We are excited to announce support for managed guest sessions for Google Chrome Enterprise in the VMware Workspace ONE UEM Console (version 2102+). Managed guest sessions add a new option for handling shared Chrome OS devices.

Multiple Users on Shared Chrome OS Devices

The concept of a shared device is not new for Chrome OS  with Workspace ONE UEM, admins have already had the ability to deploy and configure a single-app kiosk profile for communal use. As the name suggests, the single-app kiosk profile locks a Chrome OS device into a single application for public use.

Now with managed guest sessions support in the Workspace ONE UEM console, admins can set up Chrome OS devices for shared use with access to multiple apps and resources. No longer limited to a single app, admins can granularly configure the type of access granted to public users and support a wider variety of use cases.

For users, the experience is as simple as walking up to the device, tapping the guest user, using it for the intended purpose (web browsing, training, inventory lookup, etc.), then exiting the session and leaving it for the next user. No sign-in to a Google account is required because each session login is handled as a guest user and theres no privacy concerns because user data is cleared after each session.

An employee opens a managed guest session without Google credentials and can access admin-approved apps, bookmarks and resources.

Customization, Control and Security

With integrated support in the Workspace ONE UEM console, admins have direct access to managed guest sessions settings  there is no need to switch back and forth between management consoles. Admins can customize and secure the guest session experience with the available policies. Because policies are device-based, each session will offer the same experience regardless of the user. Here are some of the ways managed guest sessions can be configured:

Managed Guest Session Name  Display a fully customizable session name on the devices sign in screen to communicate branding or the intended use.

Browser Settings  Enabling users to easily find the resources they need, admins can configure a homepage, manage bookmarks and even designate a group of URLs to open at startup.

Security and Privacy  To protect against dangerous sites or files, admins can enable Safe Browsing or configure allow- and deny-lists for more granular browsing control. For situations in which users require browsing privacy, Incognito Mode can also be made available during a guest session.

Application Control  Managed guest sessions offer great flexibility around application control. For full control, admins can select a set of Chrome applications and extensions to preconfigure and push to the device. Alternatively, access to all or select Chrome apps can be allowed or blocked.

Session Length  A time limit can be assigned to demark the end of a users session. Otherwise, the user can manually log out to end a session. With either approach, user data is cleared at upon session termination.

From the Workspace ONE UEM console, admins can control Chrome managed guest session settings.

Use Cases

Managed guest sessions offer deep customization and flexibility, making it a great fit across various use cases.

Retail  There are plenty of uses for shared devices in retail, both for customers and employees. Associate training, inventory look up and point-of-sale are just a few activities where multiple users utilize a shared device for a common intended purpose.

 There are plenty of uses for shared devices in retail, both for customers and employees. Associate training, inventory look up and point-of-sale are just a few activities where multiple users utilize a shared device for a common intended purpose. Office Workers  Forgot your laptop at home? No problem, IT can make a stable of Chromebooks accessible for simple grab-and-go during the day.

 Forgot your laptop at home? No problem, IT can make a stable of Chromebooks accessible for simple grab-and-go during the day. Business Centers  The session time limit feature is perfect for hotel business centers, libraries and cybercafes that offer loaned devices to patrons on an hourly basis.

Were excited for you to try out managed guest sessions with Workspace ONE. For more information on managing Chrome Enterprise with Workspace ONE, check out our product documentation.
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The votes havent been fully counted, but its not too early to wonder what the next New York City mayoral administration will look like.

Perhaps Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who leads among first-place votes  or Maya Wiley and Kathryn Garcia, who have still have a chance to win  should read historian Doris Kearns Goodwins Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, which vividly describes the bold step President-elect Abraham Lincoln took after winning the election of 1860, when he appointed a number of his vanquished opponents to his new administration.

After beating Sen. William Seward from New York, Ohio Gov. Salmon Chase and veteran Missouri legislator Edward Bates for the Republican presidential nomination, Lincoln appointed Seward secretary of state, Chase secretary of treasury and Bates attorney general. Lincoln also appointed prominent Democrats including Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. By being geographically inclusive and bipartisan and harnessing the talents of even political adversaries, Lincoln was able to win the Civil War.

In the Democratic primary that came to a close at 9 pm on Tuesday, the eight most prominent candidates brought unique talents and ideas to their hard-fought campaigns. It would be a shame to waste all that positive brainpower in the next chapter of the citys history.

As has been noted incessantly the past 15 months, New York City is facing unprecedented challenges coming out of the global pandemic that decimated the city especially badly. Coming back to the pre-pandemic status quo ante would be challenging enough for any leader.

But as has been noted by almost everyone on the campaign trail, going back to New York circa 2019 is not going to be good enough. The city must be rebuilt more equitably to ameliorate the gaping problems such as unequal education and economic opportunity that the pandemic threw into stark relief.

So why not harness the collective wisdom of the eight Democratic candidates for mayor in one powerful team of rivals?

Wiley, the former chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, has been a civil rights leader for years. Her views on police reform do not seem to have completely won over the electorate, but why not put her in charge of a bipartisan blue-ribbon panel that would recommend to the new mayor ways to shift certain functions like mental health crisis management or low-level traffic stops to more qualified, civilian teams?

Garcia, the former Sanitation commissioner, was undoubtedly the winner of the competence lane in the race. Garcia espoused some very good ideas on the campaign trail for cutting red tape and bureaucratic delays for small businesses and restaurants, so they can roar back in the post-pandemic economy. Why not ask her to be deputy mayor for operations so the new mayor can streamline and sync up the various agencies to work together more smoothly so that New Yorkers feel that the government is actually working for them and not against them?

Former investment banker Ray McGuire may not have done well at the polls, but hes no doubt had an impressive career on Wall Street. He had some bold ideas to create good new jobs for New Yorkers out of work because of the pandemic fallout. Maybe he could be a workforce czar to create middle-class jobs in underprivileged communities?

Former U.S. Sec of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan also didnt seem to break through with his message to voters, but his background on affordable housing and reducing homelessness nationally among veterans could be a valuable part of a new cabinet. Put Donovan in charge of cutting homelessness in New York City in half by 2024. Hes the person with the best track record to actually make a dent in this five-decade long crisis.

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer has had an exemplary career in government and knows all the players in the city. Had he not been crippled by a series of sexual harassment allegations, he might have emerged as the clear choice for the progressive left. He was the first out two years ago with an ambitious plan to implement universal child care  an idea that was later echoed in various forms by Garcia and other candidates. Make Stringer the universal daycare czar and give him the resources to accomplish this in the first term.

Diane Morales, a nonprofit executive, had a left-wing message that resonated with some young people early in the race. She was hobbled by her campaign staff dysfunction and rebellion and finished near the bottom of the pack. But her strong voice could be utilized to continue fighting for underprivileged New Yorkers. Maybe she could run a beefed up Office of Immigrant Affairs that works on getting proper benefits for the undocumented and those decimated and left behind the most during the COVID-19 crisis?

Andrew Yang may be a tougher fit because of the rancor between him and Adams in the final days of the campaign and Wiley refused to campaign with him the final weekend because of his seemingly callous remarks about the mentally ill homeless. He did, however, in his presidential and mayoral campaigns, bring attention to the important idea of direct cash benefits, so maybe he could head up a commission to study the feasibility of Universal Basic Income in New York and how the city and state can fund this each year.

Adams appears to be on a path to victory, but with ranked-choice nothing is assured. His unique position as a fierce advocate for both public safety and police reform would give him a chance to help accomplish both if he doesnt ultimately prevail in the primary  maybe as NYPD commissioner?

Disclosure: City & State Publisher Tom Allons son serves as press secretary for Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
An upset victory by socialist India Walton over four-term Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown in the Democratic primary this week follows a familiar tale. An overly confident local power broker dismisses a lefty challenger as an amateur and takes reelection for granted. The underdog mobilizes local activists and captures the imagination of the rising political left. Brown, like others before him, tried to make up for lost time in the home stretch of the race, but Walton, a registered nurse and community activist, ended up 7 points ahead on election night. This story of incumbent arrogance, however, only explains so much about why she will become the first big-city socialist mayor in America in decades. People are just ready for a change, Walton said in an interview. We have a message that resonates in a city like Buffalo, a blue-collar working-class city, (where) people are looking for a working-class hero, and thats what I bring to the table.

Walton does not run from the socialist label, but she does not lead with it either. Her campaign website does not even use the word to describe her policies, but it does have a lot of details about potential police reforms, stormwater management  and jobs. Buffalo will likely have its first female mayor because she worked hard, attracted support from established groups like the Working Families Party that had previously backed Brown, and focused on local issues rather than ideology. That is a significant difference between her and democratic socialists like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of the Bronx and Queens, who put that ideology front and center in building her political brand.

Buffalo was once a model for racial integration in the country, but those days are long gone. Its industrial base has eroded and while the local economy is recovering from the pandemic, unemployment remains a significant problem. This is especially the case in long-struggling places like the East Side, a predominantly Black neighborhood where residents have not shared in the wealth generated by rising rents and the big-ticket public investments in the private sector that Brown had touted alongside political allies, according to Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., a professor of urban and regional planning at the University at Buffalo. It wasnt a mixed pattern of development  and it was a development that gave the market full rein to run, he said in an interview. (The election) was a rejection of the neoliberal city that Byron Brown sought to build. A spokesperson for Brown did not respond to a request for comment.

Socialist candidates of color have pulled off more than a few upsets in recent years, but there have been questions about how much they appeal to relatively wealthy, highly educated white lefties (white voters make up nearly half of Buffalos population) compared to the Black voters (who make up 36.5% of the citys population) who disproportionately suffer from economic and racial inequality. I dont think we saw it play out that way at all, said Clarence Lott, a former Brown supporter, longtime grassroots organizer and leader of the local community group East Side Political Network. A map of the Election Day results and early voting (absentee ballots have yet to be counted but have little chance of switching the primary outcome) showed that Brown  who like Walton, is Black  won a majority of the precincts in the East Side while also doing well in white areas like South Buffalo. Walton, however, did well enough in those areas to win an outright majority of all voters. She did especially well in racially mixed areas along the waterfront.

Buffalo results credit Zach Williams.jpg Alt Text: Buffalo election results Title Text: Buffalo election results Caption: The blue dots show where India Walton got more votes, while the red dots are where Byron Brown got more votes. Description: The blue dots show where India Walton got more votes, while the red dots are where Byron Brown got more votes. Image Credit: Zach Williams

She credits the Working Families Party with providing the political know-how and resources to mobilize voters in an election where about 20% of voters turned out this year, which is well in line with past mayoral elections. Everything from planning our media strategy and attracting national media, to our fundraising campaign, to our field game  you name it  the Working Families Party was very involved and super helpful to every single part of this campaign, Walton said in an interview. We could not have done it without them. Another key source of support came from the union representing Buffalos teachers. Its thousands of members alone might have put Walton over the top in a race where she was ahead by less than 2,000 votes on Election Day. Like the WFP, they too used to support Brown, but this time around used their institutional influence to help a political outsider.

Her victory means less talk about Tesla as a savior for the downtrodden and more consideration for ideas backed by Walton like public banks and giving minority- and women-owned businesses more help getting government contracts. She is also vowing to end the school speed camera program that Brown defended as promoting public safety. It generated animosity in communities of color, according to Lott. It was a money grab, he said of the speed camera program. Brown had won previous reelections by comfortable margins, but he likely lost voters because of his response to Black Lives Matter protests last year when he defended the police department despite controversial incidents like two officers violently shoving an older man to the ground. He didnt read his base accurately at all, Lott said. He really didnt. Compare that to how Waltons pragmatic socialism plays out on public safety. Defunding police is not a thing, she told The Buffalo News editorial board earlier this month. Its not an effective way to communicate with people. She has talked about independent oversight of the police department and not having officers respond to people suffering mental health episodes.

Brown is reportedly considering a write-in candidacy for the November general election, but Erie County Democratic Chair Jeremy Zellner has already said the party is backing Walton this fall. Other political leaders are also getting behind her after not endorsing in the primary. Im eager to have a partner that will be responsive, said Assembly Member Jonathan Rivera, who represents part of the city. Its not rocket science. The personal touch and (her) consistency of message was just going to win.

Republicans meanwhile did not nominate anyone for mayor despite recent precedence for Republicans unexpectedly winning races in Democratic strongholds. Instead, Buffalonians are likely to get their first socialist mayor. This is why you put up token opposition, said Jacob Neiheisel, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo. Its because stuff like this happens. Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, who has said he is not a racist despite a history of controversial remarks, is reportedly considering a long shot write-in candidacy, though Neiheisel added the odds are firmly against any Republican prevailing in an overwhelmingly Democratic city.

With Walton winning the Democratic primary, the big question is what she might do with her future power to overcome resistance from influential local political interests. The citys police union is already promising to fight her agenda. Real estate interests are waiting to see how threatening she will be to their bottom line. Wealthy donors  including Merryl Tisch, the wife of Loews Corp. President and CEO James Tisch  had donated thousands of dollars to Brown in recent weeks. They can now spend money on other causes, which may or may not include funneling money to thwart Waltons political agenda. While Walton has seemingly made the politically impossible happen, she is not aiming to surprise anyone once in office. After running for mayor in plain sight, others may have to catch up to the pace of change she wants to bring to Buffalo. Not everything is going to happen the way we want, when we want, but Im not going to mislead people, she said. Where theres a will, theres a way.
In the wake of New York Citys first major test of ranked-choice voting, everyone who voted for a candidate currently in second or third place among first-choice votes is wondering: Can someone come from behind for a win after trailing on election night?

While statistically unlikely, it remains possible in several tight races in the city. The new voting system creates a chance that someone who doesnt win the most first-choice votes could wind up the winner once the instant runoff is conducted, as candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated and their votes are redistributed. Since the New York City Board of Elections wont conduct that instant runoff for weeks, until after all the absentee ballots are in, candidates and their supporters in races in which no one won a clear majority of first-place votes remain in limbo.

That includes the mayoral election, in which Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams ended election night with 31.7% of first-choice votes, Maya Wiley ended with 22.2% and Kathryn Garcia ended with 19.5%. History suggests that candidates almost never make up that large of a margin. However, three borough president races and several City Council races are still close enough that the second place finisher on election night has a more plausible shot at winning.

Although candidates losing on election night may still hope theyll emerge victorious, with the help of lower-ranked votes, it doesnt happen often in cities and states with ranked-choice voting. In fact, it only happens about 4% of the time. According to FairVote, a national ranked-choice voting advocacy organization, only 15 out of 375 ranked-choice elections held in the United States between 2004 and 2020 have resulted in a victor other than the person leading in first-choice votes. Of those, only two were originally in third place, the other 13 having placed second. In the vast majority of New York City primary elections held on Tuesday, whoever finished the night with the most first-choice votes will likely remain in the lead throughout the tabulation process.

In many of those ranked-choice elections a candidate won a majority of votes on election night, whereas in elections that actually go beyond the first round counting  as the mayoral race will  someone other than the initial leader wins 12% of the time.

Only three times out of the 375 ranked-choice U.S. contests in has a candidate come from behind by as much as Wiley would have to to win and no one ever made up as big a margin as Garcia would have to.

In most elections ranked-choice elections in the state Maine and cities such as Minneapolis, when a second- or third-place finisher prevailed, the results were pretty close after the first round of counting, generally only a few percentage-points differences or less. No candidate more than 10 points behind in first-place votes wound up winning. Although many candidates in city races currently lead by over 10 points, there are still many separated by five points or fewer, making them the most likely to see the lead change hands.

Absentee ballots, which still need to be counted, could change the calculus in some races before vote tabulation begins, by widening or narrowing the gap between the top two first-round finishers.

Borough president races are separated by fewer than 5 points in Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. Surprising many observers, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is locked in a very tight reelection battle with former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. Richards leads with 41.3% to Crowleys 40.2 percent. Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, the only other candidate in the race, finished with 17.8%. As the second-choice votes of his supporters get redistributed, Crowley could pull ahead.

The race in Manhattan has a bigger field, with City Council Member Mark Levine leading state Sen. Brad Hoylman by 3 points. In the Bronx, Council Member Vanessa Gibson was ahead of Council Member Fernando Cabrera on election night by just under 5 points.

A number of City Council races were close enough on election night that the second-place finisher may have a glimmer of hope. In the 9th Council District in Manhattan, incumbent Bill Perkins only holds a 1.3 point lead over second-place finisher Kristin Richardson Jordan. Amanda Farias is ahead by a little less than 1 point over William Rivera in a tight race for the 18th Council District in the Bronx. In Queens 23rd Council District, Jaslin Kaur trails Linda Lee by just under 5 points. Julie Won leads Amit Bagga by less than 1 point in the crowded race for the 26th Council District in Queens. Just 1.5 points separate election-night leader Lynn Schulman and second-place finisher Aleda Gagarin in the 29th Council District in Manhattan. In the 32nd Council District in Queens, Felicia Singh is only ahead of Michael Scala by about 1.3 points. Crystal Hudson leads Michael Hollingsworth by 4 points in the 35th Council District in Brooklyn. Rita Joseph is ahead of Josue Pierre by a little less than 5 points. And in the 48th Council District in Brooklyn, Steven Saperstein led on election night by about 2.7 points over Mariya Markh.

None of this means someone who trails by more than 5 points cant theoretically win. In the 2010 Oakland mayoral race, Jean Quan trailed frontrunner Don Perata by 9 points among first- choice votes, only to win after tabulating the ranked results. Its also likely that most races dont feature eight major candidates and leave as many votes to be redistributed as the New York City Democratic mayoral primary did this year.

Council Speaker Corey Johnson may be hoping to repeat Quans feat, as he is trailing in the comptrollers race, with 22.5% of the vote to Council Member Brad Landers 31.3%. Council Member Robert Cornegy, who trails fellow Council Member Antonio Reynoso by 9 points in the race for Brooklyn borough president, also has the low likelihood of a dramatic comeback.
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A Connecticut judge ruled that The Hartford did not owe coverage to designer footwear wholesaler Marc Fisher for more than $100 million in losses caused by COVID-19 business closures.

Waterbury Judicial District Judge Barbara N. Bellis ruled that government orders restricting access to retail locations did not constitute a direct physical loss of property and granted summary judgment in favor of the insurer. She said in a June 15 memorandum explaining her decision that Fishers package policy clearly excluded any loss caused by viruses and that there was no direct physical damage to property that would trigger coverage under its marine policy.

Although Fisher is headquartered in Connecticut, its marine policy required disputes to be resolved according to New York law. Bellis cited two New York court decisions in her memorandum that found the words direct and physical in an insurance policy narrow the scope of coverage to include only physical damage to the property itself.

Labeling the policy as all risk does not relieve the insured of its initial burden of demonstrating a covered loss under the terms of the policy, Bellis wrote.

The case is notable because attorneys for Fisher, also know as Moda, were seeking access to Insurance Service Office documents to show that insurers knew before a standard virus exclusion was created in 2006 that policyholders would expect coverage if there was no exclusion. The effort to subpoena ISO documents continues in other lawsuits that are still pending.

Bellis is the latest in a legion of jurists who have ruled against policyholders seeking coverage for losses caused by government shutdowns to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. According to a litigation tracker maintained by the University of Pennsylvanias Carey Law School, state and federal judges have dismissed 347 lawsuits seeking coverage for COVID-related business interruption losses, compared to 49 cases where motions to dismiss were denied.

Plaintiffs have done better in state courts, where 33 cases were dismissed and 27 dismissal motions were denied, but the law school has less data about state court filings.

The Hartford filed suit seeking a declaratory judgment after Fisher and its affiliates filed a claim seeking coverage for $120 million that was lost when retailers canceled orders because of pandemic shutdowns.

Fishers attorney, Christine Montenegro with Kasowitz Benson Torres, attempted to compel theproduction of ISO documents related to drafting of the virus exclusion that is now standard in most commercial property insurance policies. Montenegro told the court that ISO notes show that ISO members, including the Hartford, knew that existing polices could potentially provide coverage for damages caused by viruses.

Bellis never ruled on Fishers motion. Instead, she issued an order granting Hartfords request for a declaratory judgment.

Montenegro did not respond to a request for comment.

Policyholder attorney Chip Merlin, with the Merlin Law Group in Tampa, said he and other attorneys have been able to subpoena the ISO for documents related to the virus exclusion filing. He said his discovery efforts have produced 14,000 pages of documents, but he is now allowed to comment on them because of a protective order by the court.

Merlin said he believes that in every case where ISO has released documents, it did so under a confidentiality agreement.
WOBURN, Mass. (AP)  A man who used sledgehammers and mallets to further damage customers vehicles at the two auto body shops he owned in an effort to cheat insurance companies has pleaded guilty to dozens of charges, prosecutors said.

Adam Haddad, 44, pleaded guilty Tuesday to 18 counts of insurance fraud, 15 counts of larceny by false pretenses, six counts of malicious destruction of property and three counts of attempted larceny, according to the state attorney generals office.

Haddad, who owned shops in Worcester and Everett, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail, with six months to serve and the remainder suspended with probation. He was also ordered to pay $170,000 in restitution.

Authorities started investigating in 2017 after getting a a referral from the Insurance Fraud Bureau.

According to law enforcement, Haddad regularly enhanced damage and caused new damage to customers vehicles to falsely inflate appraisal repair quotes. He then kept insurance checks without completing the necessary repairs on the customers cars.

Haddad was implicated in part by surveillance video from one of his businesses that showed him using mallets, sledgehammers, and pieces of wood to intentionally dent five vehicles.

In a separate case, Hadded pleaded guilty in September to federal tax fraud charges.

ADH Collision of Boston Inc., owned by Haddad and located in Everett, and Accurate Collision Inc., formerly owned by Haddad and located in Worcester, each pleaded guilty to the charge of larceny by false pretenses over $1,200, the AGs office said in a press release.

Haddad is also required to provide the AGs Office with his individual and yearly tax returns for ADH Collision for the three-year term of his probation.

The sentence is stayed until June 25.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ISMAILIA  The owners and insurers of a giant cargo ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March have reached agreement in principle in a compensation dispute with the canal authority, their representative and the canals chairman said on Wednesday.

The Ever Given container ship has been anchored in a lake between two stretches of the canal since it was dislodged on March 29. It had been grounded across the canal for six days, blocking hundreds of ships and disrupting global trade.

We agreed to settle this issue in a peaceful way without going through the courts and agreed on a final settlement. The deal is being drafted and will be reviewed, Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie told a local Egyptian television program late on Wednesday.

Work is under way to finalize a signed settlement agreement as soon as possible and arrangements for the release of the Ever Given vessel would be made after formalities had been dealt with, Faz Peermohamed of Stann Marine, which represents the owners and insurers, said in a statement.

The SCA had demanded $916 million in compensation to cover salvage efforts, reputational damage and lost revenue before publicly lowering the request to $550 million.

The Ever Givens Japanese owners, Shoei Kisen, and its insurers have disputed the claim and the ships detention under an Egyptian court order.

The settlement reached was seen as satisfactory by the canal, Rabie said, adding that the parties had signed a confidentiality agreement so the sum on the deal would not be made public until everything is finalized and signed.

I want to reassure you that this settlement upheld all of our rights, the cost of the rescue operation and the damages that befell the waterway. We also maintained our relationship with our partners and the political and economic relations with Japan, thank God, Rabie said

The six-day blockage disrupted global shipping, according to the Associated Press. Hundreds of ships waited in place for the canal to be unblocked, while some ships were forced to take the much longer route around the Cape of Good Hope at Africas southern tip, requiring additional fuel and other costs.

About 10% of world trade flows through the canal, a pivotal source of foreign currency to Egypt. Some 19,000 vessels passed through the canal last year, according to official figures, the AP reported.

About the photo: In this photo released by Suez Canal Authority, the Ever Given, a Panama-flagged cargo ship, is pulled by one of the Suez Canal tugboats, in the Suez Canal, Egypt, Monday, March 29, 2021. Engineers on Monday partially refloated  the colossal container ship that continues to block traffic through the Suez Canal, authorities said, without providing further details about when the vessel would be set free. (Suez Canal Authority via AP)
Beck Center for the Arts annual Spotlight Gala will be held live and in-person from 6 to 11 p.m. June 17 at the Gordon Green event space, 5400 Detroit Ave. in Cleveland. The gala will honor major donors Wally and Joyce Senney and artistic director Scott Spence as well as celebrate 88 years 
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Clifford Chance advises on three CEE Deals of the Year in 2020

Clifford Chance advised on three award-winning transactions at the CEE Deal of the Year Awards 2020 hosted by CEE Legal Matters across the following categories:

Estonia Deal of the Year was awarded for advice on the inaugural issue of covered bonds by Luminor Bank, with an aggregate nominal value of EUR 500 million. Clifford Chance advised the underwriters on Luminor Banks Covered Bond Programme and previously advised the arranger in respect of the establishment of Luminor Bank's EMTN Programme in Estonia. The deal team were Partner David Dunnigan and Senior Associate Eric Green. This marks the first-ever issue of covered bonds in the Baltic region.





was awarded for advice on the inaugural issue of covered bonds by Luminor Bank, with an aggregate nominal value of EUR 500 million. Clifford Chance advised the underwriters on Luminor Banks Covered Bond Programme and previously advised the arranger in respect of the establishment of Luminor Bank's EMTN Programme in Estonia. The deal team were Partner David Dunnigan and Senior Associate Eric Green. This marks the first-ever issue of covered bonds in the Baltic region. North Macedonia Deal of the Year was awarded for the acquisition of technology company Seavus by the Aricoma Group (part of the KKCG Group). The transaction team advising Aricoma Group was led by M&A Counsel Michal Jasek who was assisted by Associates Jakub Vesely and Tomas Prochazka. The finance team was led by Partner Milos Felgr who was assisted by Senior Associate Dominik Vojta. David Kolacek, Partner and Co-Head of the Corporate practice, supervised the Clifford Chance team. The Prague team was further assisted by colleagues from the Amsterdam and New York offices of Clifford Chance. Karanovic & Partners North Macedonian office provided advice on the transaction in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania.



With this acquisition, the Aricoma Group expands further in Europe and strengthens its position in the USA. At the same time, it becomes an international player in the IT services industry, with consolidated revenues of EUR 300 million.

Poland Deal of the Year was awarded for the EUR 1bn sale of AXA's subsidiaries in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to UNIQA. The international team advising AXA was led by Partner Marcin Bartnicki. The core team also consisted of Corporate Counsel Tomasz Derda, Nick Fletcher and Krzysztof Hajdamowicz, as well as Banking/Insurance Counsel Marta Bieniada. Senior Associate Vladimir Rylich headed the work on Czech aspects and Senior Associate Stanislav Holec was in charge of Slovak advice with the support from Junior Lawyer Andrej Havko. Partner Anastasios Tomtsis led on the EU merger control aspects of the transaction, Partners Mathieu Remy and Pierre-Benoit Pabot du Chatelard led on French law and Partner Nicholas Mace on English law tax aspects.

The transaction was one of the largest M&A transactions in the CEE region in 2020.

Prague Office Managing Partner, Alex Cook, comments: "We are delighted to have been awarded three CEE Deals of the Year, and we are pleased that our strengths have been recognised so broadly. It reflects our excellent standing in the CEE region, in which we have built up extremely close working-relationships with colleagues throughout the region to ensure exceptional value and seamless client service on high-calibre instructions in areas including corporate, banking & finance, real estate, litigation / arbitration and tax. Thank you and congratulations to everybody involved."


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Russ O'Reilly is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @RussellOReilly.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23)  The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP IAS) has recommended the dismissal of the police officer behind the killing of a 52-year-old woman in Quezon City last month, PNP Chief PGEN Guillermo Eleazar said on Wednesday.

While he has yet to receive a copy of the IAS resolution, Eleazar vowed to uphold its recommendation to dismiss Police Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan.

The PNP chief said he has also ordered to expedite the review and decision on Zinampan's case. Officials earlier said Zinampan will face murder charges.

In a police report, a witness said Zinampan confronted the victim in front of a store at around 9:30 p.m. in Barangay Greater Fairview on May 31. A video showed the visibly agitated policeman drawing his firearm and shooting the victim at the back of her head, killing her instantly.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23)  The country's top cop has finalized the dismissal of a policeman who fatally shot a woman in Quezon City.

"Today, I signed the dismissal order of Police Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan who was found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer in connection with the killing of 52-year-old Lilybeth Valdez on May 31, 2021," PGen Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement on Thursday.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Zinampan would face murder charges for the death of Valdez.

In a police report, a witness said Zinampan confronted the victim in front of a store. A video showed the visibly agitated policeman drawing his firearm and shooting the victim at the back of her head, killing her instantly.

On Wednesday, the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service recommended Zinampan's dismissal.

In Thursday's statement, Eleazar said the summary dismissal proceedings followed existing protocol to prevent any technicalities that could be used by Zinampan to be reinstated.

"Si PMS Zinampan ay nakakulong ngayon dahil may kinakaharap siyang murder case. Sa panig ng PNP, hindi na siya itinuturing na pulis dahil sa kanyang dismissal order, na ang ibig sabihin din ay tinanggalan na siya ng sweldo at iba pang mga benipisyo," Eleazar added.

[Translation: PMS Zinampan is now in jail because he is facing a murder case. The PNP does not consider him a police officer anymore because of his dismissal order, which means he has been stripped of his salary and other benefits.]

Neither Zinampan nor his representative has released a statement on the dismissal.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  International tributes poured in as nations paid their respects to former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who passed away Thursday morning.

US President Joe Biden on Friday condoled with Filipinos, while underscoring the success of economic reforms under the Aquino administration from 2010 to 2016.

"President Aquino's steadfast commitment to advancing peace, upholding the rule of law, and driving economic growth for all Filipinos, while taking bold steps to promote the rules-based international order, leaves a remarkable legacy at home and abroad that will endure for years to come," Biden said in a statement.

Biden served as Barack Obama's vice president during Aquino's six-year term.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Aquino's passing was a loss to the Philippines. He recalled the time they met in Singapore in 2014.

US Embassy Charge d'Affaires John Law and British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce offered their condolences to Aquino's family and loved ones.

"We are saddened by President Aquino's passing and will always be thankful for our partnership," Law said in a tweet.

The German Embassy in Manila remembered Aquino's visit to the European country in 2014 as an "important milestone in intensifying German-Philippine relations."

The European Union in the Philippines called the late president a "friend," and recalled his visit to Brussels in Belgium in 2014.

"We mourn a friend who pushed for deepening of our relations," the delegation said.

"We mourn a friend who pushed for deepening of our relations," the delegation said.

Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson also paid tribute to Aquino while remembering his visit to Australia in 2012, and "the legacy of partnership and bayanihan" the two shared.

French Ambassador Michele Boccoz said she was "deeply saddened" by Aquino's death.

"His legacy as the leader of this country & the contributions to [French-Philippine] ties will always be remembered," Boccoz said in a tweet.

"His legacy as the leader of this country & the contributions to [French-Philippine] ties will always be remembered," Boccoz said in a tweet.

This story will be updated.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23)  Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government can tap the unobligated funds under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 to settle the unpaid benefits of health workers.

"Posible na magkaroon ng supplemental funding sa pamamagitan ng Bayanihan 3 o 'di kaya further realignment of the funds intended for Bayanihan 2 for this purpose," he said in a Palace briefing.

[Translation: It is possible to have supplemental funding through the Bayanihan 3 or further realignment of the funds intended for Bayanihan 2 for this purpose.]

The Filipino Nurses United earlier called on the national government to set aside unobligated funds from Bayanihan 2 to pay for their benefits and compensation.

Citing data from the Department of Budget and Management, Roque on Monday said there was a balance of 18.4 billion under the Bayanihan 2. The law will expire on June 30.

RELATED: Hontiveros seeks probe on delayed health worker hazard pay

Under Administrative Order 35, active hazard duty pay of up to 3,000 will be given monthly to medical, allied medical, and other personnel in the public sector who physically report to work and are on the frontlines of the government's health care response to the pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte also authorized through Administrative Order 36 the monthly grant of a special risk allowance of up to 5,000 for private and public health workers "who directly cater to or are in contact with" infected patients.

According to Roque, Duterte is set to have a meeting today with lawmakers to discuss Bayanihan 2 and 3.

READ: Diokno on fate of Bayanihan 3: 'There's still money floating around'

The House of Representatives previously greenlighted the 401 billion Bayanihan 3 on third and final reading. This targets to provide 2,000 financial aid for every Filipino.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  House and Senate leaders will meet with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on Thursday afternoon to discuss the fate of Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said.

The meeting, which is primarily set for signing into law some bills that were already passed by both chambers, will also likely cover Bayanihan 2 which will expire by the end of the month, he said.

"We will bring this up at an opportune time later today in coordination with our Speaker and Senate President," Romualdez told CNN Philippines' The Source. "We will be able to have an opportunity to have this discussion today."

"We hope there will be some resolution on this matter," he added.

Romualdez said the lawmakers are ready to call for a special session anytime to tackle the possible extension of the availability of the stimulus package, even while Congress is in recess until July 25.

The House leader said they still have to settle at least 18 billion worth of unobligated funds under Bayanihan 2 which is intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ: Implementation problems hound full utilization of Bayanihan 2 funds, solon says

Opposition senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, however, mentioned a higher amount, saying that the unreleased funds actually totaled 173 billion.

READ: What happened to unreleased 173 billion under Bayanihan 2? - Pangilinan

The Department of Budget and Management previously cited "implementation issues" among government agencies that allegedly delayed fund releases.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III earlier told The Source that they are willing to extend the validity of the stimulus program until December 31 instead of passing Bayanihan to Arise as One Act with a budget of 401 billion.

Bayanihan 2, which was initially supposed to lapse on December 2020, was further extended to June 30, 2021.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Israeli health experts have offered suggestions on how the country could improve its national vaccine program to fight COVID-19.

Among their recommendations are centralized vaccine storage hubs, and making the right preparations to distribute the vaccines to far-flung areas.

"The Philippines needs more hubs since it is an archipelago. You should go for creating centralized hubs for Pfizer vaccines based on the ability to reach a certain population, and possibly with a customized approach in more remote areas," said Adam Segal, logistics and operations manager of Salomon Levid & Elstein Ltd., in a statement released by the National Task Force on Thursday.

Modifying packaging also helped keep the vaccines safe and secure, Segal added.

Another best practice shared by the three-member Israeli team in their country's vaccine information system was a so-called "traffic light" model, where authorities are able to pinpoint areas needing immediate action.

"It allows us to focus on cities that need more attention," according to Dafna Segol.

Health Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taino said the information from the meetings with the experts will help the government improve the vaccine rollout.

"As we prepare for the arrival of the 40 million vaccines from Pfizer, the sharing of best practices and strategies from our Israeli partners will be a learning opportunity that we can adopt in our practice," Vidal-Taino said.

The Israeli experts arrived in the country on June 20 to help strengthen the Philippines' approach in combating COVID-19.

In an earlier statement, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the Philippine government is looking to adopt Israel's ways in boosting its coronavirus vaccine program.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Actress and television host Kris Aquino said while she and her family were shocked by the death of her brother, former president Noynoy Aquino, she was glad they had resolved their differences before he passed away.

Speaking to the media, Kris said she and Noynoy settled their rift last month. She refused to disclose more details, saying it was a private matter.

"God blessed me because we made our peace May 18," she told reporters at Heritage Park in Taguig City where the late president's remains were cremated. "Nagpapasalamat ako na napatawad ako at minahal ako and to the end ang tinuring sa akin ay ako 'yung kanyang bunso."

[Translation: I am thankful I was forgiven and loved and to the end I was treated as his youngest (sister).]

"Pinangako ko sa kanya gagawin ko ang lahat [I promised him that I would do everything] to just be even 1% of what he is as a man and as a Filipino," she added.

The rift between Kris and Noynoy had been apparent since 2018 when Kris revealed to the public that they had not spoken to each other in three months. The reason behind their rough patch is not known, but Kris previously shared she had hurt her brother. In the same statement, Kris said she reached out to Noynoy so he could continue visiting her son Joshua, who was hospitalized at that time.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a proclamation declaring 10 days of national mourning over the death of former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.

The period will run from Thursday, June 24 until July 3, according to Proclamation No. 1169.

For 10 days, flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on all government buildings and installations throughout the Philippines and abroad, Malacanang said.

Aquino  the nation's 15th president  passed away Thursday morning from renal disease, secondary to diabetes. His remains were cremated later in the day, with burial set on Saturday.

Duterte, meanwhile, offered his condolences to the family and loved ones of Aquino, whom he described as "a leader who has given his best to serve the Filipino people."

"His memory and his family's legacy of offering their lives for the cause of democracy will forever remain etched in our hearts," the President said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  Malacanang expressed gratitude for former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's service to the country, as it joined the nation in mourning his death on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque started his regular virtual briefing with a moment of silence for Aquino, expressing condolences to his family and loved ones afterwards.

"We are grateful for the former president for his contribution and services to the country and we ask our people to offer a prayer for the eternal repose of the former chief executive," Roque said. "Rest in peace, Mr. President."

RELATED: Tributes, condolences pour in for ex-president Aquino

Roque also talked about the legacy Aquino left behind as a leader.

"Syempre po maalala din natin iyong kanyang order na walang wang-wang at maalala natin siya bilang isang simpleng public servant na hinalal po ng taumbayan," he said, referring to the late president's order prohibiting government officials from using sirens in their vehicles to avoid traffic jams.

[Translation: Of course, we can also recall his no sirens order and his time as a simple public servant elected by the people.]

RELATED: Foreign officials pay tribute to late president Noynoy Aquino

Aquino, 61, passed away Thursday morning due to renal disease secondary to diabetes, his family confirmed later on in the day.

Flags in Malacanang were flown at half-staff earlier this afternoon after his passing.

Libingan ng mga Bayani burial up to family

The Palace also said Aquino  a former head of state  may be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, but ultimately it's the call of his family.

"Talaga naman pong pupwedeng mailibing doon ang ating mga dating presidente. But that is the choice of the family," Roque said.

[Translation: Former presidents can indeed be buried there.]

FULL TEXT: Message from the Aquino family on the death of former president Benigno Aquino III

The Aquino family has yet to announce plans on his wake and burial. Meanwhile, Roque said he has no information yet on whether the Palace will offer to hold a state funeral for the late president.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24)  House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez will not be running for vice president if President Rodrigo Duterte pursues the second highest post in the land next year.

"Obviously I will defer to the higher authority so to speak....It will actually not be appropriate for me to be running in contravention to his actual campaign," Romualdez told CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday, when asked about his political plans for the 2022 polls.

The Leyte lawmaker said he is "honored and humbled" to be considered by Duterte for the national post, but he clarified that he is still consulting with different stakeholders and his own party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD.

RELATED: Good idea, but: Duterte says he won't run for VP if Romualdez vies for post

Romualdez also told the media last week that he remains undecided, but he expressed interest in strengthening alliance with the regional party of the President's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

READ: Romualdez undecided on VP bid but wants to strengthen alliance with Saras HNP

On Wednesday, Lakas-CMD formalized this intent by adopting a resolution seeking to renew its alliance with Mayor Duterte's Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

READ: Lakas-CMD to renew alliance with Hugpong; ready to support Sara Duterte's possible bid for higher office

But does this signify a possible tandem with the Davao City mayor who is also being floated as next year's president? Romualdez said his party will not preempt the chosen candidates of HNP.

"We just wanted to first renew the alliance between HNP and Lakas and we will take everything step by step," Romualdez said.

"Obviously if the standard bearer of our chosen ally does not decide to have me as candidate, then obviously why would we persist so?" he added.

President Duterte and Mayor Duterte have yet to reveal their plans for the upcoming polls, despite allies pushing for a father-daughter tandem next year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25)  The OCTA research group said on Thursday that it supports the decision of the government to retain the use of face shields indoors and outdoors.

During a briefing, Dr. Guido David said they trust the study made by medical experts who made recommendations to President Rodrigo Duterte on the use of face shields.

We took it at face value na iyong ginawa nilang pag-aaral ay may basis and sinu-support namin iyong desisyon ng Pangulo na ipatupad muna iyong pagsusuot ng face shield sa ngayon, he explained.

[Translation: We took it at face value that the study they made had basis and we support the decision of the President to keep for now the use of face shields.]

After a series of contradicting statements and calls to lift such policy, Duterte said on Monday that the public must continue to wear face shields outdoors and indoors for now. During his weekly address, he recognized the inconvenience of wearing such, but he also emphasized that it was a small price to pay to keep the public safe from the coronavirus.

RELATED: Palace: No kickbacks on face shields

Medical experts have been also emphasizing that practicing all health protocols  use of face masks and face shields, and social distancing  give the best protection aside from getting vaccinated.

Following the confusion as the government flip-flopped on its face shield policy, Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a resolution on Wednesday seeking an investigation into the efficacy of face shields.

To date, the countrys COVID-19 cases have reached 1,378,260, with 51,410 currently ill patients.
Staff Reporter

Kerin majored in journalism at Ohio University and has worked as an editor and reporter for monthly, daily and weekly publications in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Delaware since 1983. A native of Baltimore, Md., she has lived in Ocean View since 1996.
Colorado College freshmen Katerine Beard, left, and Kendall Havill wear masks as they walk across campus Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, on the first day of freshman orientation at the Colorado Springs college. More than 150 students living in CCs Loomis Hall are in quarantine after one of the dorm residents tested positive for COVID-19, according to a university email. Beard and Havill were affected by the quarantine.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Association and other business interests formally took a shot at getting Gov. Jared Polis to veto climate-change legislation, House Bill 1266.

The trade association made the request in a letter noting the bill, previously focused on a community disproportionately impacted by environmental issues, to include elements of Senate Bill 200, which Polis had opposed because it granted too much regulatory power to a politically appointed board.

"It is well known that the Governor objected to SB21-200 which would have established hard caps across the economy," his spokesman, Conor Cahill, said in an email. "The Governor worked with the legislature to forge a different path forward that honors the all-of-government approach articulated by the roadmap and keeps the Air Quality Control Commission in their lane rather than setting them above everything. The Governor has always been supportive of the environmental justice provisions in the bill and is glad that they found a vehicle to become law.

House Bill 1266 is awaiting the governor's signature .

The letter points out the bill collected a 25-page amendment less than 48 hours before the end of the session on June 8, "[w]ithout involving all the industries impacted by this legislation, such as, oil and gas, electric utilities, and others."

"The substantial changes made in this legislation will lead to increased electricity costs and loss of jobs; neither are optimal outcomes emerging from a devastating pandemic and will directly financially impact the bottom line of those who this bill was originally intending to help," COGA and its allies beseeched the governor.

The language and intent of the bill overshoots its title: Environmental Justice on Disproportionately Impacted Communities, the letter states.

"We are asking you to exercise your authority as Governor to veto this legislation, open a thorough and thoughtful stakeholder process over the interim with all affected parties and encourage the legislators to present meaningful climate solutions that are collaborative, attainable, and effective," the coalition's letter asked.

The other signers of the letter included the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the Colorado Mining Association, Intermountain Rural Electric Association, NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, the Colorado Aviation Business Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the Colorado Petroleum Association, the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Upstate Colorado and the Colorado Sand and Gravel Association.

House Bill 1266 originally passed the House before it was heavily amended in the Senate, then repassed 37-27 on the last day of the session, after the upper chamber approved it 19-15 earlier in the day.

This story was updated to include more groups that signed the letter.
Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday signed into law four bills aimed at fundamentally restructuring Colorados tax code.

"Today is certainly one of my most exciting days as governor because we're delivering on tax relief for the people of Colorado," Polis said, touting the package during a signing ceremony at Boettcher Mansion. "Together, we're providing meaningful tax relief so families can afford to live in our great state a little bit better and keep more money in their pockets."

The first of the bills to be signed into law were House Bills 1311 and 1312, a tandem of measures that Democrats hope will close loopholes in the tax code and generate $400 million in revenues.

According to sponsor Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, HB 1311 modernizes the states tax code, closes special interest tax loopholes for large corporations and wealthy individuals and benefits small businesses.

The bill Sirota carried along with Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Sens. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, increases the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which is for low-wage earners. Under current law, Colorados Earned Income Tax Credit is available for those who claim the federal EITC. The bill raises the Colorado credit from 15% to 20% of the federal credit.

It also funds the Child Tax Credit, which would provide up to $600 in tax credits per child for up to 200,000 families. That credit is intended to help pay for child care and other pre-elementary school expenses.

The changes are paid for by capping certain itemized deductions for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes at $400,000 or more, eliminating the capital gains deduction, and eliminating whats known as a pass through deduction of 20% of business income created under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017.

Meanwhile, the major provision in HB 1312, from the same set of sponsors, is to increase to $50,000 the business personal property tax exemption for small businesses. That's property taxes businesses pay on items such as desks, computers, phones and other movable equipment that they use to run their operations.

Under the bill, the first $50,000 in property would be exempted from those taxes, up from $7,900. And while those taxes are paid to counties, the state would backfill the costs under the bill. The measure also provides incentives for employee-owned businesses.

The bill's cost, about $19 million, according to the fiscal analysis, is paid for by changes in tax policy for insurance, oil, gas and coal companies, which could not only eventually generate about $150 million per year but would also result in a TABOR refund in 2022-23 that would be paid the following year.

Ahead of Polis putting pen to paper on the measure, Weissman praised the work that went into enshrining the policies in state law, noting the bills were the culmination of a year's worth of work.

"We learned from our state auditor, we learned from the experience of other states and we made some changes that are going to help hundreds of thousands of lower and middle income families who we know have been struggling and tens of thousands of Colorado small businesses," he said.

Polis also signed House Bill 1327, a measure from Reps. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, and Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, and Sens. Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Rob Woodward, R-Loveland, aimed at granting a tax break for small businesses.

The bill allows pass-through businesses such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S-corporations to pay their state income tax at the entity level, rather than the individual level, beginning in tax year 2022. These businesses could pay taxes like a C-corporation, which would allow them to claim an unlimited deduction at the federal level for state and local taxes paid.

The governor rounded out the ceremony by putting his signature on Senate Bill 293, which is designed to reduce property tax assessment rates.

The measure from Hansen, Sen. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, and House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, rewrites property tax classifications, dividing the current two classifications into six subsections and reducing assessment rates for four of those new classifications.

73rd General Assembly adjourns, with historic moves made on transportation, tax policy, mental health care Lawmakers on Tuesday certainly had their running shoes laced up, but the last day of the session transformed into a sprint, and then a slog. But at 7:41 p.m., the House crossed the finish line and adjourned sine die.

Property tax bill faces strange day in the state Senate Senate Bill 293 was introduced late Wednesday and as of Thursday night is the 623rd and likely last bill introduced in the 2021 session. Its first hearing with the Senate Finance Committee drew a small contingent of those normally viewed as Democratic allies in opposition to the bill.

According the Gray, the bill is designed to address "one of the paradoxes of this pandemic."

"Even though a lot of folks have suffered in losing their jobs or have their jobs to put off we have not seen the cost of housing go down at all  if anything, it's gone up," he said. "We're trying to address that head on."
Dierks Bentley stands on stage at the inaugural Seven Peaks Music Festival in 2018.
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I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366.

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06/24/2021

Photo (c) Tsuji - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) 

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 33,580,588 (33,567,044)

Total U.S. deaths: 602,900 (602,504)

Total global cases: 179,702,837 (179,261,894)

Total global deaths: 3,894,122 (3,884,666)

JPMorgan strongly urges vaccinations for employees

Employers are wrestling with the question of whether to mandate vaccinations for employees returning to the office. JPMorgan Chase has taken a position that could establish the pattern for other large companies.

In a memo to employees, the bank said it strongly urged all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to the office. The memo also made clear that the request could become a demand.

We also believe that the more employees who are vaccinated, the safer our offices will be for everyone, the memo said. In the future, we may mandate that all employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination consistent with legal requirements and medical or religious accommodations.

COVID-19 caused big drop in U.S. life expectancy

More than 600,000 Americans have died from the effects of COVID-19, and those deaths have produced a big drop in U.S. life expectancy, according to a new study in the British Medical Journal.

The researchers point out that in 2018, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was about 79 years. By the end of 2020, it had fallen to just under 77 years, the biggest decline since World War II.

The study found that other factors besides the virus contributed to the decline. Researchers noted that because of COVID-19, millions of people put off medical screening and treatment for things like cancer and heart disease.

Jobless claims arent falling as fast as expected

With the economy reopening nearly everywhere and employers complaining that they cant fill slots, you might expect unemployment claims to plummet. Theyre going down, but not as fast as expected.

The Labor Department reports that initial claims for unemployment benefits last week totaled 411,000, slightly less than the week before but considerably higher than in the previous two weeks.

The number of Americans continuing to draw unemployment benefits, which had been trending lower, actually went up last week. The report shows that 14,845,450 Americans are still drawing benefits, an increase of 3,756 from the previous week.

Around the nation
It's the end of an era -- anti-virus software tycoon, former Libertarian presidential candidate, herbal antibiotics peddler, and one-time person of interest in a Belizean murder case, John McAfee, was found dead in his Barcelona prison cell on Wednesday, according to several reports. Arrested in October 2020 on charges of tax evasion, McAfee's death comes hours after a Spanish court agreed to extradite the controversial mogul back to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges that could have landed him up to 30 years in prison. He was 75.

Although no definitive cause of death has been released, the Catalan Department of Justice says that "everything indicates" that the entrepreneur likely died by suicide, per BBC News. Medics attempted to resuscitate McAfee but were not successful.

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Amid the news of his passing, several of McAfee's sentiments surrounding suicide, the death of financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, in 2019, and even his own cryptocurrency have emerged, raising eyebrows across the Twitterverse. In November 2019, the entrepreneur and longtime crypto enthusiast launched his own digital currency called $WHACKD," featuring a full rubric that read Epstein Didnt Kill Himself," symbolic of one of the former tech mogul's firmly-held beliefs.
Anna Mae Wilson-Welborn, 86, of Crossville, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Monday, June 28, 2021. She was born July 11, 1934, in Spencer, TN, daughter of the late Floyd Stanton Dodson and Annie (Lawson) Dodson. Anna worked as a seamstress and was of the Baptist faith. Sh
The food pantry is open the fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donna Kerns, director of the food pantry, said she also gives away food on request. Its open to everyone and church attendance is not required.
Antivirus pioneer John McAfee was found dead in a Spanish prison cell on Wednesday June 24, 2021. According to Spanish authorities, the cause of the 75-year-olds death was suicide.

The British-born, outspoken millionaire was being held in Barcelona after being arrested in October 2020 on charges of US tax evasion. In March this year, McAfee was indicted by the US Department of Justice on charges of conspiracy to commit commodities and securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities and touting fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and substantive wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy offenses stemming from two schemes relating to the fraudulent promotion to investors of cryptocurrencies. Just hours before his death, a Spanish court ruled that he could be extradited to the US to stand trial.

Ng Han Guan / AP / Shutterstock

Cybersecurity industry reflects on McAfees legacy

John McAfee is considered a forefather of the cybersecurity industry, founding one of the first antivirus vendors on the market, McAfee Associates, in 1987. Since then, the company has remained one of the leading cybersecurity vendors in the sector. However, he parted ways with the organization in 1994 and has not been associated with it since. He regularly spoke of his distaste for the organization that still bears his name and went on to live a highly controversial lifestyle surrounded by allegations of immoral and illegal behavior.

Several figures within the cybersecurity sector have spoken with CSO in reaction to McAfees passing and reflected on his legacy both in, and out, of the IT security industry.

He was a divisive character seemingly able to spark both admiration from some and distaste in others, says information security leader Quentyn Taylor. Whilst he was one of the pioneers of the industry, the path he then walked up to the present day was mired in controversy as well as legal and regulatory drama. Someone who will be remembered for a long time in the infosec industry, but not necessarily for what he may have wished for.

I met John only briefly, but he was very charming and nice to me, says Javvad Malik, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4. He was definitely a polarizing figure in the industry, but he was a pioneer and will leave a void.

...while we remember the passing of one of the initial leaders in our industry, lets not forget the potential victims and their families that remain and for whom the coming days will be difficult.

John McAfee was certainly a controversial character within the cybersecurity industry, adds Brian Honan, founder of BH Consulting. He and his company helped secure millions of computers worldwide. However, his personal life had many serious controversies ranging from accusations of murder, rape, tax evasion, and drug use. So, while we remember the passing of one of the initial leaders in our industry, lets not forget the potential victims and their families that remain and for whom the coming days will be difficult.

He was certainly able to see some lucrative tech opportunities ahead of the curve, says cybersecurity consultant, speaker, and author Raef Meeuwisse. He seemed very eccentric and flawed. I suspect he may be remembered for his flaws rather than for his achievements.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris will make her first visit on Friday to the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office, following criticism from members of both parties for failing to go earlier despite her role leading the Biden administrations response to a steep increase in migration.

Harris will visit the El Paso area, accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, according to a statement Wednesday from Harris senior adviser Symone Sanders.

Harris has faced months of criticism from Republicans, and even some frustration from those in her own party, for not visiting the area.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

She was tasked earlier this year by President Joe Biden with taking on the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States, and so far she's focused largely on outreach to local leaders and advocacy groups with the goal of improving economic and living conditions in the region. Harris has said her goal is to offer residents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico hope for their future, so they no longer feel compelled to leave home for better opportunities.

Her aides have repeatedly insisted her efforts are distinct from the security issues that plague U.S. officials trying to handle a spike in border crossings. But Republicans have pointed to the failures by both Harris and Biden to visit the border to paint the administration as absent in a crisis.

Harris will arrive in the area just days before former President Donald Trump is to visit the border with a group of House Republicans and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Trump is certain to use the opportunity to drive Republican attacks on Democrats as soft on immigration.

The border issue shadowed Harris first foreign trip earlier this month, to Guatemala and Mexico, where she met with both nations presidents and local officials to discuss economic and humanitarian solutions to the significant outmigration from both countries.

During that trip, she sat for an interview with NBC News in which she dismissed a question about why she hadn't made a trip to the border by responding, I've never been to Europe, and adding, I don't understand the point you're making. Harris and White House aides were subsequently forced to parry repeated questions about the decision and her remarks.

Harris said she was focused on tangible results as opposed to grand gestures," but she also said she might visit in the near future.

She has noted that as a senator from California, she has visited the border in the past, and she has asserted that unless the root causes of migration are addressed the situation there will never be fixed.

It's unclear what Harris' plans include during her visit to the area, but one migrant detention facility in El Paso, at the Fort Bliss military post, has drawn criticism from advocates who have described unsafe conditions and allegations of abuse toward some of the thousands of children housed there.

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the trip was part of the coordinated effort between her office, her work, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, to continue to address the root causes and work in coordination to get the situation under control.

While Psaki emphasized that border security is under Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas' purview, she added that its important every component of our government is coordinated on the issue.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 180,000 encounters on the Mexican border in May, the most since March 2000. Those numbers were boosted by a pandemic-related ban on seeking asylum, which encouraged repeated attempts to cross the border because getting caught carried no legal consequences.

The numbers have led even some centrist Democrats to join Republicans in their calls for Harris to make a trip to the area. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat whose district stretches from south of San Antonio down to the southern border, wrote a letter to Harris earlier this month inviting her to observe the ongoing humanitarian crisis and share the perspective of Americans who live there.

I believe it is critical that you meet with local stakeholders and residents, consider their concerns, and use their lived experiences to implement more effective policies, he wrote.

Cuellar issued a tweet Wednesday thanking Harris for her plans to visit.

But his engagement on the issue underscores the potential political peril for Democrats on immigration. An AP-NORC poll conducted in April found that more Americans disapprove than approve of how Biden is handling the sharply increasing number of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.

And Trump's trip to the border marks another sign of how closely Republicans continue to align themselves with Trump and the extent to which they see the border as a winning campaign issue. The former president immediately took credit for Harris' trip, speculating in a statement that the vice president would not have made plans to go if he hadn't been headed there himself.

Psaki said the administration "made an assessment within our government about when it was an appropriate time for her to go the border.

___

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Psaki's statement was Wednesday, not Tuesday.
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  A beachfront condo building partially collapsed Thursday outside Miami, killing at least one person and trapping others in the tower that resembled a giant fractured dollhouse, with one side sheared away. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers kept up a desperate search for more.

A wing of the 12-story building in the community of Surfside came down with a roar around 1:30 a.m. By late evening, nearly 100 people were still unaccounted for, authorities said, raising fears that the death toll could climb sharply. Officials did not know how many were in the tower when it fell.

The building is literally pancaked, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. That is heartbreaking because it doesnt mean, to me, that we are going to be as successful as we wanted to be in finding people alive.

Hours after the collapse, searchers were trying to reach a trapped child whose parents were believed to be dead. In another case, rescuers saved a mother and child, but the womans leg had to be amputated to remove her from the rubble, Frank Rollason, director of Miami-Dade emergency management, told the Miami Herald.

Video showed fire crews removing a boy from the wreckage, but it was not clear whether he was the same person mentioned by Rollason. Teams were trying to enter the building from a parking garage beneath the structure.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who toured the scene, said television did not capture the scale of what happened.

Rescue crews are "doing everything they can to save lives. That is ongoing, and theyre not going to rest, he said.

Teams of 10 to 12 rescuers at a time entered the rubble with dogs and other equipment, working until they grew tired from the heavy lifting, then making way for a new team, said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the states fire marshal.

Theyre not going to stop just because of nightfall, Patronis told Miami television station WPLG. They just may have a different path they pursue.

Patronis said he was deeply moved by the image of a bunk bed near the now-exposed top of the building.

Somebody was probably sleeping in it, he said. Theres all those what-ifs.

Authorities did not say what may have caused the collapse. On video footage captured from nearby, the center of the building appeared to fall first, with a section nearest the ocean teetering and coming down seconds later as a huge dust cloud swallowed the neighborhood.

Wilfredo Lee/AP

Work was being done on the buildings roof, but Burkett said he did not see how that could have been the cause.

President Joe Biden promised to provide federal aid if requested.

Hotels opened to some displaced residents, the mayor said, and deliveries of food, medicine and more were being hastily arranged.

About half of the building's roughly 130 units were affected, the mayor told a news conference. Rescuers pulled at least 35 people from the rubble by mid-morning, and heavy equipment was being brought in to help stabilize the structure to provide more access, Raide Jadallah of Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue said.

The tower has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents, and while the building keeps a log of guests, it does not keep track of when owners are in residence, Burkett said.

Fortuna Smukler posted about the disaster on Facebook, hoping that someone would know the whereabouts of Myriam Caspi Notkin and Arnie Notkin, an elderly couple who lived on the third floor.

Arnie Notkin spent years teaching physical education at a local elementary school, said Smukler, a North Miami Beach commissioner who is friends with Myriam Notkins daughters.

He was such a well-liked P.E. teacher from peoples past, she said. Everyones been posting, Oh my god, he was my coach.

It would be a miracle if theyre found alive, she added.

Nicholas Fernandez spent hours after the collapse trying to call two friends who were staying in the building with their young daughter. The family had come to the United States to avoid the COVID-19 outbreak in their home country of Argentina, said Fernandez, of Miami.

Now Playing: A wing of a 12-story beachfront condo building has collapsed in a town outside Miami, killing at least 1 person while trapping residents in rubble and twisted metal. Officials said Thursday morning that search and rescue operations are underway. (June 24) Video: Associated Press

The hope is that, perhaps, someone hears the call. I know there are dogs inside, he said. I know it may sound ridiculous what Im saying but theres always hope until we hear different.

A total of 22 South Americans were missing in the collapse  nine from Argentina, six from Paraguay, four from Venezuela and three from Uruguay, according to officials in those countries.

The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and ripped open some homes in the still-standing part of the building. Television footage showed beds, tables and chairs inside. Air conditioners hung from some parts of the building, where wires dangled.

Now Playing: A woman may have soccer to thank for a decision to not stay overnight in the wing of a 12-story condo building outside of Miami that collapsed. Patricia Avilez says she keeps an eye on her brother-in-law's condo when he's away. (June 24) Video: Associated Press

Barry Cohen, 63, said he and his wife were asleep in the building when he first heard what he thought was a crack of thunder. The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the building's hallway to find a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around.

I couldnt walk out past my doorway, said Cohen, the former vice mayor of Surfside.

Surfside City Commissioner Eliana Salzhauer told WPLG that the buildings county-mandated 40-year recertification process was ongoing. Salzhauer said the process was believed to be proceeding without difficulty. A building inspector was on-site Wednesday.

I want to know why this happened, Salzhauer said. Thats really the only question. ... And can it happen again? Are any other of our buildings in town in jeopardy?

The seaside condo development was built in 1981. It had a few two-bedroom units on the market, with asking prices of $600,000 to $700,000. The area's neighborhood feel offers a stark contrast to the glitz and bustle of nearby South Beach.

The area has a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists. The main oceanside drag is lined with glass-sided, luxury condominium buildings, but more modest houses are on the inland side. Among the neighborhoods residents are snowbirds, Russian immigrants and Orthodox Jewish families.

___

Associated Press writers Tim Reynolds and Ian Mader in Miami; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Bobby Caina Calvan in Tallahassee; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; and R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed to this report.
MADISON  School employees comprised nine of the 10 highest-paid public employees in 2020, according to salary information provided by the town and Madison Public Schools.

Assistant Superintendent Gail Dahling-Hench topped the towns salary list, taking home a total of $191,005 during the calendar year, according to the data. Her salary is likely to be topped this year, however, by Superintendent Craig Cooke, who was hired in September on a contract that calls for a $245,000 annual salary.

According to the 2020 salary information provided by the town, Cooke took home $17,011 last year, after his contract began on Dec. 7. The average salary for a full-time superintendent in Connecticut was about $209,000 last year, a recent Hearst Connecticut Media investigation found.

Rounding out the top-10 highest-paid public employees in Madison were five principals, two assistant principals and the school systems director of special education. The only town employee to crack the top-10 was Police Chief John Drumm, who earned $158,000.

In somewhat of a rarity for Connecticut towns, only two police officers were included in the list of Madison employees who earned six-figure salaries, Drumm and police Capt. Joseph Race. Many officers in Connecticut are able to boost their salaries with overtime and extra-duty pay.

The salary data was provided to Hearst Connecticut Media in response to Freedom of Information Act requests in May and June. Salary data provided by the town included the names and title of each employee, as well as their base salary, extra pay and total compensation.

Madison Public Schools responded to the request with data showing the names of each employee and their total pay last year. Hearst Connecticut Media matched those names to titles using the districts online directory.

In total, 59 employees of the town and school district earned more than $100,000 in 2020.

This story includes previous reporting from Viktoria Sundqvist.
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GIBRALTAR (AP)  Gibraltar was holding a referendum Thursday on whether to introduce exceptions to the British territorys ban on abortion.

Abortion is illegal in Gibraltar, unless it is needed to save the mothers life. Abortion is legally classified as child destruction and is punishable by up to life in prison. It is one of Europes most restrictive laws on pregnancy termination.

Gibraltars just over 23,000 registered voters are being asked whether they agree with a 2019 decision by parliament to allow exemptions on health grounds to the abortion law.

If enacted, the changes would allow pregnancies to be terminated up to the 12th week if doctors deem the pregnant womans physical or mental health to be at risk or if there is a substantial risk that the fetus is suffering from a fatal fetal abnormality.

Gibraltar is a speck of British land on Spains southern tip. Many locals live and work across the border. In Spain, abortion is allowed upon request up to the 14th week of pregnancy.

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, who heads the government, said it was an important ... seminal referendum on womens reproductive rights.

I very much look forward to this day being a day that goes down in history, whatever the result, Picardo, who heads the Socialist Labour Party, told reporters.

Most political parties have united behind a yes vote. The leaders of the two parties in Gibraltars governing coalition, the Socialist Labour Party and the Liberal Party, have joined with the Together Gibraltar party in urging voters to back the change. The leader of the main opposition Social Democrats is against the proposed alterations.

The question on voting cards at 15 polling stations is, Should the Crimes (Amendment) Act 2019, that defines the circumstances which would allow abortion in Gibraltar, come into force?

Results were expected after midnight.

About 80% of Gibraltarians are Catholic, and the Bishop of Gibraltar has spoken out against the proposed changes. The Gibraltar Pro-Life Movement has run a Save Babies, Vote No campaign. It argues that in practice the legal change amounts to introducing abortion on demand, because the mental health proviso can be misused.

We are aware that some of the laws regarding abortion has to change, like life in prison and things like that, but this law its too wide and too extreme, said voter Katy Hall.

Campaigners for the Gibraltar for Yes group say women should have the right to decide about terminating their pregnancy in the public health care system.

Women have the right to  privacy and they also have the right to not be subject to inhumane and degrading treatment when they are forced to continue a pregnancy against their will, said Nicole Vanda, who supports the Gibraltar for Yes movement.

The referendum was postponed from March last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

___

Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Lieberman was back on Capitol Hill on Tuesday testifying in support of the Democratic push for Washington, D.C., statehood. Then he met privately with Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the many Republicans who fiercely oppose such a move.

It was a classic agenda for Lieberman, the former Democratic  and later independent  senator from Connecticut who made his reputation building relationships with Republicans. But in a hyperpartisan era, the approach is becoming a relic, a risk underscored later in the day when the GOP united to block a voting rights bill that Democrats say is essential for democracy.

Still, Lieberman was undeterred.

There have to be people in both parties who talk to each other, negotiate, compromise, he insisted.

The debate over whether and how the parties should cooperate is coming to a head as a summer legislative flurry intensifies in Congress. The infrastructure package that is one of President Joe Biden's top priorities may suffer the same fate as the voting bill, emboldening Democrats to move on their own. Many progressives want Democratic leaders to end the procedural hurdle known as the filibuster that allows the GOP to stymie the majority's priorities.

Amid the tension, a small group of lawmakers has huddled privately on infrastructure in recent months to test a different approach. Led by GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana along with Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., they have focused on bridging both the partisan divide and the cultural hurdles in Congress that often prevent members of the House and Senate from working together.

This is a great example of finding common ground, Cassidy said during a Wednesday meeting. We've still got obstacles, let me just say that, but I am just hopeful that we can do this.

Their success is far from certain. Already, a group of 21 senators from both parties is working with the White House to finalize an infrastructure deal. The senators reached a tentative framework for a deal Wednesday, and Biden invited members of the group to the White House on Thursday.

Heading into next year's congressional primaries, there's not much energy in either party's base for centrist politics. But the effort is notable for its buy-in from both ends of Capitol Hill.

In one of the bizarre truisms of Washington, as divided as Democrats and Republicans may be, the deeper split can often be between rank-and-file members of the House and Senate. They work in the same building but belong to chambers with different customs.

In the House, the majority almost always carries the day and political pressures are never far away, with members facing an election every two years. The Senate in modern times typically requires the consent of 60 members to accomplish almost anything and members face voters every six years.

The result is a legislative body that is often at odds.

Even though we're just a few feet away from each other, it's like you're in two different universes, Gottheimer said.

That began to change last year when some members of the House and Senate collaborated to reach an agreement on coronavirus relief. With that experience in mind, Cassidy, Gottheimer and Fitzpatrick found themselves among dozens of governors and members of Congress from both parties who descended on Annapolis, Maryland, in April for an infrastructure summit hosted by Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who has decried intense partisanship.

The No. 1 problem we face in America is really the toxic politics, Hogan, who may eye a run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said in an interview. We're so far divided, and nobody seems to ever want to work together to get things done.

After the gathering, No Labels, a political group focused on bipartisanship, facilitated additional conversations among Cassidy, Gottheimer and Fitzpatrick. While other talks, including those between Biden and GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, garnered more attention, the other group kept in touch largely out of sight.

Although the House-Senate conversations are limited to just a few members, those lawmakers are connected to larger groups that could prove important in determining whether an infrastructure bill advances in a narrowly divided Congress or remains a punchline for dysfunction.

Cassidy is among the 21 senators involved in negotiations with the White House while Gottheimer and Fitzpatrick are members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 56 lawmakers in the House made up of 28 Democrats and 28 Republicans. Gottheimer and Fitzpatrick have participated in meetings with the 21 senators and have shepherded information back to their House colleagues.

Its really fair to say, yes, we were both reporting back to our respective groups and kind of helping negotiate a package, Gottheimer said.

For now, it's unclear whether anything that his group has discussed will become law.

Over the past decade, much-heralded bipartisan pairings have failed to deliver on such issues as immigration and government spending. The Trump era deepened the split between the parties, and mistrust among lawmakers has soared in the aftermath of the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by the former president's supporters.

Theyre in a much tougher environment than we were in 30 years ago, said former Democratic Rep. Dick Gephardt, who was the House Democratic leader from 1995 to 2003.

And while bipartisan groups can garner attention, they also attract suspicion, conjuring images of backroom deals being made without much scrutiny.

That's especially true after The Intercept reported leaked audio earlier this month of a meeting hosted by No Labels in which Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., seemed to suggest to donors that they should try to persuade Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., to vote to support an independent commission to probe the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Manchin's representatives have denied that he was seeking donations and Blunt joined every other Senate Republican in opposing the commission. Lieberman, a co-chair of No Labels, told reporters that he's never heard the organization's members raise a question related to their business.

Regardless of whether the conversations that Gottheimer, Fitzpatrick and others are having result in provisions that become law, those involved say there are bigger issues at stake. Fitzpatrick framed the work as a way to push back against ideological extremes in both parties.

If we can get a win here, I think it will send a very loud message that if the centrists stick together we can overcome the fringes, he said. The battle is not between Democrats or Republicans; its centrism versus extremism.
Trends in retail banking have shifted in the last few years, but digital transformation and increasing digital customer demands are making strides to change the industry forever. In our experience economy, consumers expect more than real-time communication and information at their fingertips. Consumers expect every interaction to feel like an experience. When it comes to finding, acquiring, and even retaining credit union members, there are four key digital transformation trends that are shaping the retail banking landscape.

Online search is still critical to find new members

For most members, the start of their retail banking journey starts with a Google search. And bank near me searches have increased by 60% in the past two years, with most searches originating from a smartphone. Even beyond finding a bank, consumers are searching for local solutions in great numbersGoogle searches for a specific business type + local increased 80% year-over-year in 2020. And after a search? On average, banking consumers spend $3,432. It pays to be found online!

To keep pace with this trend, its critical that you follow a few key steps:

Claim and maintain your Google My Business listing with up-to-date hours, phone number, photos, and website Maintain a consistent flow of new reviews for your credit union, boosting your average star rating and in turn, increasing your search result ranking



Members want 1:1 communication with businesses

Beyond a name and a welcome on your credit union homepage or member login, consumers want to know that you really know them. Personalized offers and communication options on preferred platforms help, but they dont close the loop on this growing expectation. Customers want 1:1, real-time conversations. In fact, 53% of consumers are more likely to do business with you if they can message you directly. And more than 50% of consumers agree that business messaging is the modern way to communicate.

To stay ahead of this trend and meet new member demands, check out these tips:

Offer a web chat option on your website so new and existing members can instantly connect with a customer service rep Make it easy to contact you in todays digital, mobile ageconvert your landline to a textable number so new members can text you directly from search results



Conversations on the go are the new baseline

There isnt a more on-the-go conversation solution than texting. And consumers know it9 out of 10 say they want to communicate with a business via text. Text messaging is so common, at least 97% of consumers send or receive at least one text per day already. And compared to an email open rate of 20%, over 80% of consumers open every text they receive, every dayusually within a few minutes.

To meet the new digital transformation baseline for member conversations, follow these key suggestions:

Convert web chat conversations to text so members can continue their conversations on-the-go, instead of staying tied to their laptop or desktop computer Connect all of your communication platforms into one inbox, giving complete context to the customer service rep responding to each member



Members want a seamless physical-to-digital experience

While digital experiences are on the rise, with texting and web chat and other website capabilities critical to maintain growth and meet member demands, the physical, in-person experience is still important. Especially as members transition from one space to anotheronline to offline. Members still value face-to-face interactions for big decisions, like loans or mortgages. And for banks and credit unions, a human touch can impact sales in a big way, increasing conversion by 30% when a response was relayed by a human vs. a completely digital customer journey.

To provide a seamless physical-to-digital experience for your members, remember to:

Offer video calls or online consultations for members that cant meet in person or prefer an online experience Send important documents, forms, and/or other paperwork directly to members before or during their in-person appointments



Member behaviors are shifting and the experience economy is requiring more from businesses in every industry. For retail banking, that means showing up at every stage of the member journeyfrom online search to seamless, omnichannel interactions. Assess your member journey to stay ahead of the curve and keep up with member expectations.
Even before the pandemic, traditional mortgage closings were too often inconvenient for members and inefficient for credit unions. Thats why when Beth Eller joined Truliant Federal Credit Union ($3.5B, Winston Salem, NC) in the fall of 2019 as the first vice president of Truliant mortgage services, she made it a top priority to help the cooperative reach of its goal of becoming the first credit union in the state of North Carolina to conduct an end-to-end eClosing.

Thanks to some early prep work, Truliant achieved its goal in just four months and completed its first eClosing in March 2020, drastically reducing the typical six to nine months new projects typically require for implementation.

Similar to a Zoom meeting, in an eClosing the member, the lender, an attorney, and an eNotary all dial into the conference call and appear on screen with the closing documents. North Carolina uses in-person electronic notary (IPEN), which means the notary meets the borrower to sign the note and deed of trust in person. The borrower inscribes an electronic signature on a fully encrypted biometric pad. The borrower signs only the two required notarial documents at the closing itself, which cuts down the average time from nearly two hours to just 30 minutes.


June 24, 2021 June 24, 2021

International Centre for Investigative Reporting





ONE of the giants of 20th century African nationalism, Kenneth Kaunda, former president of Zambia was to many, the gentle giant who pioneered African socialism.



The patriarch of African independence passed away June 17 at a military hospital in Zambias capital, Lusaka. He was 97.



Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta eulogised him for bravely hosting various liberation groups and he received international kudos for bowing out peacefully after losing an election.



But as there are two sides to every coin, Kaunda was also the authoritarian, who introduced a one-party state. He cut a supply-side deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and he planned to give huge tracts of farmland to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi after he promised to create a heaven on earth.



The revolutionary, who gave sanctuary to liberation movements, was also a friend of US presidents, recalled Gavin Evans, writing for The Conversation, a newsletter of university scholars and researchers



In a final coup de grace, the government that succeeded him placed him under house arrest after alleging a coup attempt; then declared him stateless when he planned to run in the 1996 election.



He survived an assassination attempt in 1997, getting grazed by a bullet. One of his sons, Wezi, was shot dead outside their home in 1999.



The 1986 AIDS death of another son, Masuzgo, motivated him to campaign around HIV issues far earlier than most, and he stepped this up over the next two decades.



In the obituaries that proliferated after his death, Kaunda was described as an impassioned orator who could bring an audience to its feet and to tears; a schoolteacher who quoted Lincoln and Gandhi; and a physically striking man who brushed his hair to stand at attention so that it added inches to his six-foot-tall stature.



Kenneth David Kaunda was born in Chinsali, Northern Zambia, on Oct. 24 1924. Like many of his generation of African liberation leaders, he came from a family of the mission-educated middle class. He was the youngest among eight children. His father was a Presbyterian missionary-teacher and his mother was the first qualified African woman teacher in the country.



He became a head teacher before his 21st birthday, teaching in the former Tanganyika (Tanzania), where he became a lifelong admirer of future president Julius Nyerere, whose Ujamaa brand of African socialism he tried to follow.



As the leader of the United National Independence Party (UNIP)), he travelled to America and met Martin Luther King. Inspired by King and Mahatma Gandhi, he launched the Cha-cha-cha civil disobedience campaign.



Although his government became increasingly autocratic and intolerant of dissent, Kaunda will go down in history as a relatively benign autocrat who avoided the levels of repression and corruption of so many other one-party rulers.
STORY LINK Euro to US Dollar (EUR/USD) Exchange Rate Steady as German Business Confidence Grows in June

EUR/USD Exchange Rate Rangebound Despite Robust German Business Morale

US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rate Steady Despite Strong US PMI Data

EUR/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: UK and US Consumer Confidence Data in Focus

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The Euro US Dollar exchange rate held steady this morning following the release of the latest German business climate report for June which rose above forecasts from 99.2 to 101.8. The pairing is currently trading around $1.19.The Euro (EUR) has benefited from rising French and German business confidence as two of the Eurozones largest economies shake off the Covid-19 crisis.Carolynn Look, an analyst at Bloomberg, commented on the latest German business confidence data:Europes two largest economies are on track for a strong upswing after contractions in the first quarter. Consumers are starting to visit restaurants and shops again after months of stringent lockdown, coronavirus infections have dropped, and half the population in each country now has at least one vaccination.Ifo president Clemens Fuest was also optimistic, saying:In trade, the easing of restrictions improved the business climate greatly. This was due to a marked improvement in current business. Expectations also turned more optimistic.Sentiment rose particularly steeply in retail. Never has the indicator for the current situation seen such a steep rise.Euro traders will be looking ahead to todays speech from Fabio Panetta, a member of the European Central Banks (ECB) executive board.Any upbeat comments about the outlook for the Eurozones economy could see the EUR/USD exchange rate rise.The US Dollar (USD) is rangebound against the single currency today following the publication of the latest Markit PMIs. While the manufacturing data beat forecasts, the serves PMI fell below forecasts, but the outlook for the US economy remains strong.Today will see the release of the latest US durable goods orders for May. With the figure expected to rise by 2.7%, we could see the US Dollar begin to edge higher on growing optimism in the American economy.Later on today the US initial jobless claims report is expected to fall, buoying confidence in the US labour sector, which took a severe hit from the Covid-19 pandemic.Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, in a series of dovish comments suggested the US was very far from maximum employment.However, with large economies like the Eurozone and China recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, demand for the safe-haven Greenback appears to be slipping.Pound (GBP) investors will monitor tomorrows release of the latest GfK consumer confidence data for June.Any signs of improvement in consumer morale would bode well for the UK economy and boost the GBP/USD exchange rate.US Dollar (USD) traders will monitor tomorrows release of the US Michigan consumer sentiment index for June.If the outlook for the US economy continues to improve, then we could see risk sentiment improve, limiting demand for the safe-haven US Dollar.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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Weather Alert

...The Flood Advisory continues for the following rivers in Illinois... Kankakee River near Wilmington affecting Will, Kankakee and Grundy Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Flood Advisory means water levels near flood stage are imminent or may already be occurring. Water may overtop low stream banks in some areas. Persons in the advisory area should use caution and avoid flood waters. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/Chicago and water.weather.gov The next statement is expected around 1100 AM CDT Saturday morning. && ...The Flood Advisory remains in effect... The Flood Advisory continues for the Kankakee River near Wilmington. * Until Saturday afternoon. * At 6:45 PM CDT Friday the stage was 5.0 feet. * Action stage is 5.0 feet. * Flood stage is 6.5 feet. * Forecast...The river is expected to fall below 5.0 feet by midday Saturday. * Impact...At 5.0 feet, Minor lowland flooding begins in areas immediately adjacent to the river. &&
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 84F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 63F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
A solar power array is seen at SUNY New Paltz in New Paltz, N.Y.
Ivory Rose performs at T.R. Gallo Park in Kingston, N.Y., as part of the city's Fourth of July festivities in 2019.
Since 1990, Patricia R. Doxsey has been a reporter for the Freeman, covering politics, crime, and government affairs.
A sign directing people to a COVID-19 vaccination site sits outside Rondout Valley High School, which served as a walk-in vaccination clinic on May 14, 2021. Ulster County announced on Thursday, May 20, a set of seven upcoming walk-in vaccination sites.
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Australian Dollar Outlook:

Weathering the Storm

The Australian Dollar has had two diametric forces pulling it in separate directions. On one hand, plunging commodity prices, particularly industrial base metals (copper, iron ore, nickel), has reduced the growth appeal of the Aussie. On the other hand, resilient global risk appetite has seen equity markets push to record highs, suggesting demand for higher yielding, high beta currencies like the Australian Dollar remains robust.

The net-result has been a wash for the Australian Dollar, particularly against the safe haven currencies. AUD/JPY and AUD/USD rates have largely moved sideways to lower in recent weeks. Considering that the consolidations formed following sustained multi-month uptrends, there is still reason to believe that they may ultimately be bullish resolution. However, failure outside of these flags would indicate more significant topping efforts are afoot; only time will tell.

AUD/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to June 2021) (CHART 1)

Its been previously suggested that AUD/USD rates had consolidated into a bull flag, but that a deeper setback towards the 76.4% Fibonacci retracement of the 2020 high/low range at 0.7510 may begin soon. to that end, the flagging pattern remains intact. It has taken on a more bearish tone, however, give the series of lower highs and lower lows that have formed since the end of February.

Having just rebounded at the 76.4% Fibonacci retracement of the 2018 high/2020 low move at 0.7510, AUD/USD rates are now running into their daily EMA envelope. A breach above the daily EMA envelope would be a strong indication that a run towards flag resistance (closer towards 0.7700) was developing.

Otherwise, AUD/USD rates momentum profile still has bearish inclinations. The pair is below its daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMA envelope, which is still in bearish sequential order. Daily MACD is dropping below its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics have yet to clear their median line.

IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/USD RATE Forecast (June 24, 2021) (Chart 2)

AUD/USD: Retail trader data shows 57.91% 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 0.72% higher than yesterday and 3.27% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 18.11% higher than yesterday and 36.07% higher 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.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current AUD/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

AUD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to June 2021) (CHART 3)

AUD/JPY rates may still be consolidating in a sideways range after losing the uptrend from the March and November 2020 lows. AUD/JPY rates are holding right at their daily EMA envelope following a brief selloff around the June Fed meeting last week. Daily MACD is flat against its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are rising but not having yet reached overbought territory. Until AUD/JPY rates clear 81.95 or 85.85, the pair will continue to flag.

IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/JPY Rate Forecast (June 24, 2021) (Chart 4)

AUD/JPY: Retail trader data shows 32.55% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 2.07 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 1.94% lower than yesterday and 2.56% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 25.50% higher than yesterday and 34.04% higher 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.

Traders are further net-short than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger AUD/JPY-bullish contrarian trading bias.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist
'I'm a slave for U,' sang Britney Spears in 2001.

Ironically, it was an anthem to freedom.

After reading the lyrics for the first time, Britney said it was 'about me just wanting to go out and forget who I am and dance and have a good time. That's kinda where I am right now. I love working, but at the same time I love having a good time.'

Billboard said the song 'blazed a new path for pop stars of the future, letting the world know that how an artist chooses to express themselves is entirely up to them, whether or not you like that.'

Today, the song title carries a very different meaning for the deeply troubled star because she's become a modern-day slave of the very worst freedom-denying kind.

Jamie Spears, 68, has always insisted he's taken the tough actions he felt Britney (pictured together) needed to help her get through the devastating mental breakdown in 2007

'I deserve to have a life,' anguished Britney told a Los Angeles courtroom yesterday in harrowing testimony. 'I want to be able to get married and have a baby.'

Incredibly, despite being 39 years old, and having a long-term boyfriend, she's not allowed to do either of those things due to a draconian 13-year 'conservatorship' ordered in 2008 which handed legal power over her life, personal decision-making and $60 million fortune to her father Jamie.

In fact, in the most explosive part of her anguished audio-link evidence, she claimed she is forced to wear an IUD contraceptive device in her uterus to stop her becoming pregnant and has been refused permission to remove it.

It almost defies belief that any woman in America, the world's great superpower and supposedly 'land of the free', should be subjected to such appalling treatment.

The bombshells kept coming.

Britney said she's not allowed to see her friends, or have her boyfriend (Sam Asghari, a 27-year-old Iranian personal trainer and actor, who she met when he starred in her 2016 video for the song Slumber Party) drive her in a car - or spend her own money how she wants.

She alleged she's been made to work against her will and forced to take strong drugs like lithium which made her feel 'drunk.'

Protesters gather outside a court in Los Angeles yesterday ahead of the Britney hearing

In a stinging attack on her father, she accused him of not caring about her when she was put in a $60,000-a-month treatment facility against her will.

'I cried on the phone to my dad for an hour and he loved every minute of it,' she said. 'My dad and everyone else who has played a key role in my conservatorship should be in jail. They have way too much control. He made me feel like death, with the depth of what he did to me.'

Of course, there are two sides to this awful saga, and I find it hard to believe that any father would love every minute of his daughter being so distraught.

Jamie Spears, 68, has always insisted he's taken the tough actions he felt Britney needed to help her get through the devastating mental breakdown in 2007 that saw her shave her hair off in front of the paparazzi.

And following yesterday's court drama, his legal team released a statement saying:

'He is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain. Mr Spears loves his daughter very much.'

But Britney seems a very different woman now, a much older, more mature one with a higher degree of self-awareness.

She begged Judge Brenda Penny: I want this conservatorship to end, I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive.'

And I defy anyone to listen to her full 25-minute speech and not come to the same conclusion.

Her former boyfriend Justin Timberlake said 'we should all be supporting Britney at this time'

We've been told for years via endless cruel briefings to the media that Britney's so mentally unhinged that's she totally incapable of thinking, speaking or acting for herself.

That wasn't the woman I heard yesterday.

It was stunning to hear the brutal reality from Britney's own mouth, in her own powerful, eloquent, often rapid-fire words.

It was like she couldn't wait to finally have her say, and who could blame her for the obvious frustration and anger?

The last time she appeared in front of Judge Penny, in 2019, Britney's testimony was sealed.

This time, it was made public so there could be no doubt or self-interested 'spin' about what she was asserting.

'I have a lot to say,' she began, 'so bear with me. I don't think I was heard on any level when I came to court last time.'

That's the understatement of the year.

There's no doubt that Britney's still a troubled woman, but it seems apparent that many of her current demons are now being driven by the way she's been treated as a direct result of her conservatorship that she says has 'enslaved' her.

A sketch in the Los Angeles County Courthouse yesterday, with Judge Brenda Penny presiding

'I'm not here to be anyone's slave,' she declared.

Nor should she be.

Yet, she is.

There's no other way to describe her living conditions.

The dictionary definition of slavery is this: 'A relationship whereby one person has absolute power over another and controls his or her life, liberty and fortune.'

That's inarguably where Britney Spears now finds herself.

And it's shameful.

'You may choose to look the other way,' said the great British slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce, 'but you can never again say that you did not know.'

Britney has now laid bare, clearly and shockingly, the horrifyingly draconian prison-like conditions under which she has to endure her life in this conservatorship.

We, the tens of millions of us who bought her records and revelled in her celebrity  and yes, as a former newspaper editor, I now look back and shudder at the way the media frenziedly fuelled the circus around this obviously unstable woman as she spiralled out of control - can look the other way, but we can never again say we didn't know what's happening to her.

'I want changes going forward,' she said at the end of her extraordinarily moving speech, 'and I deserve changes. It's my wish and dream for all of this to end. In California, the only similar thing to this is called sex trafficking, making anyone work against their will, taking all their possessions away credit card, cash, phone, passport. I just want my life back. It's been 13 years and it's enough. I'm done.'

'Hit me baby one more time,' Britney sang in her first and most famous chart-topping song

Then, in a truly heart-breaking moment, Britney told Judge Penny: 'I wish I could stay on the phone to you forever. Because when I go off this phone the 'nos' will start again. No no no.'

This torture must stop.

'Hit me baby one more time,' Britney sang in her first and most famous chart-topping song.

Little did she know as a fresh-faced exuberant teenager living many kids' pop star dream that life would keep hitting her again and again and again.

Her dream very quickly became a nightmare, and the full scale of that ongoing nightmare became apparent yesterday.

As her former boyfriend Justin Timberlake tweeted: 'After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time. Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it waswhat's happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body. No one should ever be held against their willor ever have to ask permission to access everything they've worked so hard for. We hope the courts, and her family make this right and let her live however she wants to live.'

He's right.

I urge Judge Penny to say yes to this poor tormented woman's cries for freedom, end her conservatorship and release her from her living hell. #FreeBritneySpears
The adorable moment a bilingual toddler tells a family friend all about her day at the zoo in British sign language has gone viral online.

Footage shared on Facebook shows Kate Sinclair, two, from Holywood, near Belfast, chatting to an unnamed woman about her fun day out before switching in to British Sign Language (BSL).

Kate's father is deaf and she picked up sign language to communicate.

The video quickly went viral online, with thousands like the post and one commenting: 'Wow, she's so clever what a sweet little girl.'

Her father Anthony, who is deaf, told FEMAIL she picked the language up on her own and never had any education on it, adding: 'I never taught her sign language as such, she acquired it naturally by communicating with me and my family.'

The adorable moment a bilingual toddler Kate Sinclair, two, from Holywood, near Belfast, tells a family friend all about her day at the zoo in British sign language has gone viral online

In the video, the woman, who is a friend of her parents, asked Kate who joined her at the zoo, and she immediately signed: 'Me and mummy and Patrick and Charlie.'

When asked if her father was there, she knew exactly what was being asked and replied using BSL saying: 'Yes and me too.'

Kate then began to tell her about the animals she saw, but explained the group didn't manage to catch the elephants.

She added: 'We didn't do the elephants yet. There were two elephants in the zoo. There was a boy and a girl.'

Kate then began to tell her about the animals she saw, but explained the group didn't manage to catch the elephants

Without hesitating, the little girl switches from signing to English and chats about what other animals she saw.

The friend asked: 'And did you see some gorillas? How many gorillas', as the young girl replies 'yes'.

Kate then says she saw five of the apes, adding that there were both big and small ones at the zoo.

Showing her playful side, she then begins doing her best gorilla impression and makes noises and larks about.

The little girl said: 'My favourite animal is a tall tall tall giraffe and a tall tall tall elephant.'

The tot began to use British Sign Language (BSL) her day while sitting on the woman's knee, and chatted about who went to the zoo with her

Kate was brought up in a bilingual home since birth, speaking sign language and English, and is fluent in both languages.

Speaking to Femail, Anthony said: 'Im deaf and my first language is BSL and my wife is hearing but signs fluently. Kate is amazing and communicates so effectively in both languages.

'My mission is to create a more inclusive and aware society by giving everyone the tools to know "enough" sign language to communicate with the deaf community!'

Other users were amazed by the little girl's ability to sign, with one writing: 'Fantastic! Highlights the power of BSL to empower her communication and incredible how fluent she is in both languages.'

Kate was brought up in a bilingual home since birth, speaking sign language and English, and is fluent in both languages and chats away to her mother using the gestures

Another wrote: 'Cute is an understatement with this little one.'

BSL is the preferred language of over 87,000 Deaf people in the UK, and for many of these people English may be a second or third language.

It is reported that there are 151,000 individuals in the UK who can use this language who may use it to communicate with family.

BSL is a visual-gestural language with a distinctive grammar using handshapes, facial expressions and gestures to convey meaning.

Other users were amazed by the little girl's ability to sign, with one writing: 'Fantastic! Highlights the power of BSL to empower her communication and incredible how fluent she is in both languages'
A 'greedy' carer who cajoled her son into killing her friend so she could inherit his estate was willing to let her child take the blame for the murder so she could walk free, the prosecuting barrister revealed in a new documentary on the case.

Thelma Purchase, from Stoke-on-Trent, persuaded her son Lance Rudge and his friend Shane Edge, both 19, to murder disabled Greg Baker, 61, in 2007, at his Alton residence in Staffordshire.

Baker considered Purchase a friend after she worked for him as a carer some years before, and had named her as a main beneficiary in his will. Hungry for cash, Purchase decided to kill him to inherit it early.

Rudge and Edge entered Baker's house on June 15, 2007, and smothered him with his pillow before returning to Stoke-on-Trent. Purchase drove them to Baker's house and back, but denied any involvement in the crime at her trial in 2008.

Purchase was served with a minimum sentence of 30 years, while her son and his friend were ordered to serve minimum terms of 18 and 20 years respectively for the murder.

Speaking in My Lover My Killer on 5Star, Christopher Hotton QC, the prosecuting barrister in Baker's case, said Purchase was ready to put all the blame on her son and Edge in order to walk free, in the ultimate betrayal.

Thelma Purchase, a carer from Stoke-on-Trent, orchestrated the murder of Greg Baker, 61, right, in 2007 at his home of Alton, Hampshire, so she could inherit his will

Purchase, who orchestrated the vile crime, told police her son and Edge had borrowed her car on the night of the murder, and that she had not been involved in Baker's killing at all.

She said her phone - the signal of which was located in Alton on the night of the murder - was in her car, which Lance had 'taken to buy drugs'.

Purchase claimed that when she woke up the next day, Rudge had parked her car in her driveway and put her phone through her letterbox, and stuck to this version of events throughout.

'When you take a moment to think about it, the wickedness of that lie was that she was prepared to sacrifice her own son to save herself,' Hotton said.

'She was prepared to lead the police to think it must be her son and Shane who alone were responsible for this murder. This would have allowed her to escape responsibility for her part.'

The boys who helped: Shane Edge, and Purchase's son Lance Rudge, right, both 19, killed Baker in his room on June 15 2007. He had tutored Rudge in mathematics when he was younger

'There can be no greater betrayal of a mother for her son than to frame him in that way in order to exculpate herself,' he said.

In fact it was Purchase, motivated by greed, who had hatched the plan to kill Baker, who lived alone. Disabled after contracting polio as a child, later in life he also developed muscular atrophy.

Purchase had worked for Baker alongside other carers from 2005, and he immediately took to her. She later described their relationship as that of a father and daughter, however, the other carers who worked for Baker and other eye-witnesses told police they had seen them cuddle and kiss.

'What the true nature of that relationship was is a matter of speculation,' Hotton said. 'Thelma described her relationship with Greg as that of a father-daughter, other witnesses paint a very different picture.

'Two of the other carers recalled occasions where Thelma was sitting on the lap of Greg, cuddling him and kissing him and there was a strong inference that there was rather more than the daughter-father affection between them.'

Purchase, pictured, had befriended Baker when she worked as his carer and then used him for his money, before deciding she couldn't wait for him to die of natural causes to inherit the lot

As their relationship developed, Baker started buying several gifts for Purchase, including a blue Citroen Saxo car.

Friends became aware that he was also helping her with money, and tutoring her son in maths.

Some grew suspicious that Purchase was using Baker for his money. In spite of this, Andrea Stafford said in the documentary she didn't raise her worries to Baker because she didn't want 'to burst his bubble'.

While she was working for Baker in 2006, Purchase separated from her partner Kelvin Almos.

Almos later discovered Purchase had tried to hire a hit man so she could claim his life insurance.

Purchase stopped working for Baker, but the pair remained friends, and in 2007, he made her one of the two main beneficiaries of his will, alongside his friend Andrea Stafford.

'She stood to get a very substantial amount of money out of his death,' Hotton said.

It is estimated Purchase would have received 70,000 at Baker's death.

'Being the greedy woman that she was, she didn't want to wait for Greg to die from natural causes, who know how long that might be? It might be many, many years,' he continued.

'Who knew what might happened in those years, the relationship might come to an end, another person might come who would win his affection, he could choose to change his will and cut her out.'

Purchase moved to hatch a plan to kill Baker she could pocket the money. This was despite the fact she had received 8,500 in backpay from him shortly before his murder.

Turning to someone she could trust, she asked her son Lance Rudge, 19, whether he knew someone who'd be willing to participate.

Hotton said in the documentary that people reported hearing Lance asking 'is there anybody here who would be prepared to kill for money?', the only person to say yes was Edge, and Purchase briefed him at a barbecue shortly after.

She persuaded the boys to participate by promising to pay them 8,000 each once she'd have inherited from Baker.

'Her son and Shane were teenage lads, they would never had become involved in something of this nature hadn't it been for the persuasive powers of Thelma Purchase and her promise that they would each receive 8,000 once she inherited the estate from Greg,' Hotton said.

'She was the driving force because she'd receive the lion share of the money.'

It was decided she would drive Rudge and Edge from Stoke-on-Trent to Alton, park the car nearby and wait while they killed Baker.

Purchase knew that Baker slept with his door open so that his carer could access him in case of emergency. She also knew that on Fridays, his carer put 500 in his pajamas top pocket so he could pay them.

The two men went into Baker's room, put a pillow over his head and sat on his body until he was completely asphyxiated.

Hotton, who said it was a 'callous' way of killing someone, added Edge had said he heard Baker say 'why are you trying to kill me?'

'Suffocation is a horrible way to die,' said Dr Sarah Jarvis, medical journalist.

'Your adrenaline flows through you, your oxygen drops very quickly and the carbon monoxide rises, even if you weren't awake, you would be as soon as you realise you you couldn't breathe,' she said, likening the experience to drowning.

Greg's tombstone in Alton, where he is remembered by friend as a kind and generous man who as manipulated by 'greedy' Purchase

After committing the crime, the two men returned to Purchase's car, where she took Edge's shoes, t-shirt and the pillow he had used to kill Baker.

She burnt all the items in her courtyard, thinking that this way, nothing would link them to the crime.

It was reported Edge returned to his house-share shoe-less and said 'I did it.'

After Baker's body was found, it was first believed he had died of natural causes, however, police soon were tipped off by several particularities about the case, namely that his pillow was gone, just like the 500 he would normally have had in his pocket.

Hotton said in the documentary: 'The event that took pace clearly demonstrated somebody or some people who had intimate knowledge of Greg, somebody who knew that he left his door open at night, somebody solely breaking in to steal whatever they could would not have killed Greg.

'This was not a random burglary, this was a targeted killing. The only person who needed to break in and kill Greg was somebody who stood to benefit from his death.'

Quickly, police identified Purchase as a suspect, and suspected she hadn't acted alone.

She tried to throw them off by lying, saying she had not left home that night.

However CCTV and phone technology at the time placed Purchase, Rudge and Edge in Alton that night.

Ironically, Purchase had driven the Citroen Saxo Baker had bought her to go kill him.

When they visited Purchase' home, police found burn marks on the paving of her courtyard and decided to investigate.

They found fragments of cotton and enlisted the help of an expert at London' Natural History Museum ti confirm it had belonged to a pillow.

Uncovered CCTV also showed Edge - who wasn't wearing shoes - and Rudge buying alcohol at an all-night store.

In spite of the mounting evidence against them, the trio denied any involvement in the crime until their trial, where a jury eventually convicted them.

'There was clear, compelling inference that all of them were involved ed in what had been a ruthless plan to execute the unfortunate Greg Baker for money,' Hotton said.

Purchase, Edge and Rudge were sentenced to prison, and while they serve their time, friends of Baker still remember him fondly.

His friend Andrea remembers the day of the verdict as a rainy day she said 'felt like god crying.'

'My heart was crying for justice for Greg, for all the injustice that had gone on and the manipulation that had gone on against this generosity and kindness,

'I was just so upset about all that, he would have forgiven Yvonne, we know he would have forgiven Yvonne.'

My Lover My Killer airs on Tuesdays at 10pm on 5Star.
Looking out to sea during a weekend escape, I was delighted to see a number of cruise ships.

After a 14-month hiatus due to Covid, these magnificent vessels are no longer languishing in ports, and wealthy pensioners are finally able to indulge in one of their favourite pastimes.

But what about our children? While many of the double-jabbed elderly are joyfully whizzing around the country catching up with old friends and hitting the shops and restaurants with all the money they have saved, life is still far from normal for those at school.

Pupils continue to be subjected to damaging, disruptive and unnecessary Covid-related measures designed to prevent a threat that no longer exists.

Isabel Oakeshott said she has come to dread 'emails of doom' from her daughters school and said it was exasperating to self-isolate to prevent a threat that no longer exists (file photo)

I have come to dread the emails of doom from my daughters school informing me that yet another child or teacher isnt feeling well, or a member of staff has been pinged by NHS Test and Trace, as a result of which all normal activity must cease.

The first and most unwelcome alert came on the eve of half term, just as she and her two siblings were packing up for a much anticipated staycation to the Isle of Wight. Cue all plans in disarray.

Even worse was the run-up to Easter, when pupils had only been back for a matter of days before they were all sent home. After almost a whole term of homeschooling, they had been so excited to see friends again  only for shattering disappointment. By the time theyd finished self-isolating, it was the holidays.

Last week we reached the highest level of virus-related absences from state schools in England since they reopened in March  at least 239,000.

One desperate father wrote to me, following comments I made on Twitter, to share his own familys misery. His young sons school had rung to say he must be collected at once after contact with someone who had tested positive. As both he and his wife are self-employed, one of them will have to receive little or no income while they care for him during his isolation.

Meanwhile, both businesses are hanging by a thread and their bounce back loan repayments have just started. I can only imagine his fury and worry. The paranoia is equally evident at my younger daughters primary school, where a teacher felt the need to clamp a jumper over her mouth while she and the class sang Happy Birthday to one pupil.

The mother-of-three said said pupils continue to be subjected to disruptive, unnecessary Covid measures, and believes children have suffered enough (file photo)

What a ridiculous charade. Are there two more miserable and exasperating words for children and parents right now than self-isolate?

That is what thousands of teachers and pupils are still routinely required to do for a full ten days whenever a close contact tests positive for the virus  even if that close contact is asymptomatic, everyone who has been near them continually tests negative and anyone vulnerable has been jabbed.

Quite how any of it fits with the steel rain that used to be poured on parents who dared take their children out of school a day or two before term ended to go on holiday is unclear.

The corrosive safety first approach was fair enough when scientists were still learning about transmissibility and lethality of the virus. Now we know as much as we do, including PHE data that suggests jabs will protect against the Delta strain, it is unforgivable.

To date, more than 31 million people  almost half the UK population  have received both jabs, giving them a high degree of protection from a virus that is only routinely deadly to a minority of people. This ought to have liberated our children from the tyranny of bubbles, social distancing and self-isolating many weeks ago.

After all, Covid very rarely makes kids seriously sick. Most who contract the virus are either asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms. Just 40 of the 128,000 people in the UK who have died within 28 days of a positive Covid test were under 20.

Most will have had underlying health conditions. Tragic as their loss is, there are far greater risks to our children out there. So why are schools continuing to behave as if we are at the peak of the pandemic?

At the slightest sign that a pupil or teacher is unwell, or worse, may have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid, the education authorities act as if the whole school has been hit by a chemical weapon.

Lateral flow tests, heavily promoted by the Government and distributed free of charge by the NHS, were supposed to be the way out of all this hysteria. Results within half an hour mean everybody can quickly get back to normal after a scare.

Parents continue to be encouraged to carry out twice-weekly lateral flow tests on their children. But it is unpleasant and almost entirely pointless because schools often dont take the results seriously  because, for most educational establishments, only a gold standard PCR result will do.

As was the case with a friends daughter, some schools encourage parents of children who dont feel well to carry out the tests  then refuse to accept a negative result until it has been confirmed in a separate test processed by the NHS.

Children have suffered and been disadvantaged enough. We have cut them off from their friends; told them they cant hug their aunts, uncles and grandparents; stopped them from going anywhere exciting and, perhaps worst of all, created a deeply unhealthy culture of risk aversion and fear.

The Prime Minister must make it crystal clear that this approach to possible cases of coronavirus in schools is no longer necessary. Teachers should be thanked for their efforts and ordered to return to doing what they do best  which is not promoting a culture of unnecessary fear.
It was 2007, both my parents had died, at the age of 80, within a few months of each other. My fathers death from lung cancer was a short and beautifully handled affair after two weeks in a hospice where he could not have had better care.

Ive always wondered if the lovely doctors might have given him a little too much morphine towards the end to ease his pain.

My mothers experience was as bad as it could possibly be as Parkinsons disease took away just about everything she had ever valued in life. For nearly a year she lay in an expensive nursing home unable to walk or care for herself. She couldnt read, stitch or cook  all the things she had loved to do. For nearly 2,000 a week she was washed, fed  at least until she could no longer swallow  held my fathers hand, struggled to converse and finally wasted away.

My abiding memory is of her begging me to help her die and me shamefully saying I could do nothing to help. Assisted suicide was illegal under the 1961 Suicide Act, carrying a possible prison sentence of 14 years for the person who assists. It still is.

It was around this time that I met with two of my closest friends and made a pact.

Jenni Murray (pictured) said that after her mothers experience with Parkinsons disease, she made a pact with two of her closest friends in her mid-50s

We were in our mid-50s at the time and none of us could bear the thought of ending our lives in such a prolonged and agonising way. We agreed that, were any of us to end up in such a situation, we would help. We didnt want to put our husbands or children into the position I had been in.

We couldnt stand having the people we love hear us begging for death, nor could we risk them being accused of a crime with the motive of an inheritance, saving the colossal cost of care and responsibility.

We, as friends, would have nothing to gain. We simply determined that we would find a way of assisting suicide  making the trip to Dignitas in Switzerland for example  and, if necessary, face the consequences of aiding and abetting an illegal act.

My husband was sad that Id made such an agreement without including him in the trio, but he understood our reasons for wanting to protect our families from any possibility of blame.

The three of us still talk about our plan, every time a move towards the legalisation of assisted dying is proposed  and rejected. As were all now in our 70s, the trust we placed in each other becomes increasingly important in setting our minds at rest that we would not have to suffer unnecessarily.

Getting old can be frightening. At the weekend I saw Anthony Hopkinss extraordinary performance in The Father.

He doesnt know where he is, he doesnt remember one of his daughters has died, he doesnt recognise his other daughter, he imagines people who care for him are people hes known as family members, he is sometimes violently angry and we see him finally in a care home, begging for his Mummy. I couldnt bear to live like that.

I have no desire to find myself in a care home. Ive seen too many older friends deposited in a room they hated, sitting listlessly in a communal dining room or lined up in chairs with a television they had not chosen to watch blaring away constantly.

Modern medicine may prolong life, but does it bring quality of life? Rarely, I suspect. I certainly dont want to hear Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag when my youth was the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley.

Jenni (pictured) said they agreed that, were any of them to end up in such a situation, they would find a way of assisting suicide

My friends and I have become a little less blase about the prospect of a prison sentence  we used to joke about writing a book about it if it happened but are more determined than ever that the time of our death should be our choice and no one elses.

Not one of us has any desire to put the burden and expense of care on our husbands and children, nor the misery of total dependence on others.

There is some hope on the horizon. In Scotland a new Assisted Dying Bill, described by the chief executive of Dignity In Dying as a watershed moment, was lodged in Holyrood this week.

If passed, it would require having lived in Scotland for a year, being in the late stages of a terminal disease, being mentally competent and having the approval of two doctors to be given life-ending medication. A similar Private Members Bill to cover England and Wales had its first reading in the Lords last month.

Neither goes far enough. According to a survey commissioned by Dignity In Dying, eight in ten Britons support having the right to assisted dying, but, for me, the caveats are too stringent.

The decision and timing should be made only by the individual who is suffering.

Its my life and it should be my death. No pact with friends should be necessary.

I should be able to have a humane death at home, in the company of my supportive family and friends and at a time of my choosing.

A new reason to be jealous of Flexi Felicity

The UK-based columnist confessed she has always been jealous of Felicity Kendal, but now has another reason after seeing pictures of her stretching (pictured)

A confession! Ive always been a wee bit jealous of Felicity Kendal, since every man Ive ever known has always been a little bit in love with her.

I saw those pictures of her with her leg up to shoulder height as she prepares to dance in Anything Goes at The Barbican and thought, Im three years younger than her, I can do that. I couldnt.

Still jealous.

Now we cant sign a text with a kiss!

Essex Police have told staff not to exchange texts signed with a kiss or heart emojis as it could be read as sexual harassment.

So thats me banged up as a sex pest! X

A couple of weeks ago I expressed the desire for the BBC to stop saying: All episodes can be found on iPlayer, when youve just watched the first one. I couldnt resist bingeing on Sean Beans Time and then had nothing to look forward to the next Sunday night. It seems Im not alone.

American streaming services such as Disney+ and Amazon Prime have begun to go back to releasing one episode a week as weve all reached peak binge. How delightfully old-fashioned to go back to delayed gratification.

Nagas right, coil torture must stop

Jenni said like the presenter Naga Munchetty (pictured) she too suffered agony by having a contraceptive coil inserted

Bravo to the novelist Caitlin Moran and the presenter Naga Munchetty for highlighting the agony suffered by women having a contraceptive coil inserted. I had it twice.

First time, pre-childbirth, the kindly nurse held my hand and regretted the pain she suffered as my fingernails left deep scars in her palm.

Second time, after two big babies, not so bad, but would still have welcomed an anaesthetic. This torture must end.
AMBER, 41

Dating past?

Ive received a few marriage proposals. The timing wasnt right with one, and Id be divorced by now if Id accepted the other. My longest relationship was four years  Ive put my career first and travelled with my job.

Pre-Date Nerves?

In all honesty, no. As a head hunter Im used to meeting people I dont know. And as an old soul and a healer I had sensed it would be a good day.

Amber, 41, (pictured) has been single for six months and works as a head hunter and energy healer

Vital statistics Single for six months, no children. Current role Head hunter and energy healer. Would like to meet Someone financially secure, charismatic and loving. Im very spiritual, so hell need to be open-minded. Advertisement

First Impressions?

I arrived slightly early, and when Chris was shown to our table I realised Id already passed him and checked him out, thinking he was cute. He was wearing jeans, a white shirt and deck shoes, and was really sweet and open.

Easy To Talk To?

We were at our table for more than three hours, so Id say so. Wed both taken a day off work for our lunch date. I couldnt match Chris on the drinking front, but I still had a few of glasses of white wine.

Chris shares custody of his son, and I admire that hes rejected a high-flying career as an investment banker to focus on his little boy. I have no issues dating men who are fathers  I still might want children myself, though.

Chris said hes an old soul too, which I liked. Were the kind of people others refer to as their rock and like to confide in. That was a huge tick for me.

Embarrassing Moments?

Well, I managed to slosh my first glass of wine on the table within 15 minutes. We both thought it was funny and Chris gave me his napkin.

Amber's Verdict: 9/10 Liked? Hes easy to talk to. Regrets? The hangover from hell. Coffee or cab? Coffee Advertisement

Did Sparks Fly?

Yes, although I drank more than I usually would and everyone seems wonderful after youve had a drink.

We both had back-up plans in case the date fell flat and fortunately we didnt need them. We went on for drinks afterwards and parted ways at 8pm.

See him again?

Chris has invited me to his sisters next singing performance and to Bournemouth Pride this summer. I will take him up on the invites. Were also social media friends now.

What do you think he thought of you?

Chris made me laugh when he said that after finding out about my marriage proposals hed concluded that Im attractive but fussy. I like to think I proved him wrong.

Would your family like him?

Yes  Chris can get along with anyone, and our backgrounds are similar. My stepfather is a GP, and so is Chriss dad, while our mothers are nurses. Theyd like that he messaged me to ensure I got home safely.

CHRIS, 40

Chris, 40, has been single for three years with one son, aged five, and works as an investment broker

Vital statistics Single for three years with one son, aged five. Current role Investment broker. Would like to meet A woman who is as happy at a festival in a tent as she is on a spa weekend. Advertisement

Dating past?

I had a few relationships in my early 20s, but then I focused on my career until my mid-30s.

It took a while to recover when my most recent relationship ended after seven years. Then, just as I was feeling ready to date again, the pandemic arrived  so my sister put me forward for a blind date. My son has mentioned its time we got a mummy for our home. While he already has a mummy, I think hed like a female influence around my place.

Pre-Date Nerves?

Yes, as Im so out of practice.

First Impressions?

I arrived at the restaurant on time and Amber was at our table. I recognised her as wed passed each other near the loos. She is very pretty and was wearing a beautiful dress.

Easy To Talk To?

Yes, because were very similar in so many ways. Were both into cars Amber drives a Porsche and I used to own a Lotus until I had to swap it for a family-friendly estate car.

Had I not put my career on pause, wed both be at the same place in our professional lives. But Im more focused on being a parent right now. I showed Amber a picture of my son  she explained that shes good with children, and said shed look forward to meeting him in the future.

I appreciate being a parent may put some people off, and it was nice that Amber was so positive about it.

Chris's Verdict: 10/10 Liked? The company, of course. Regrets? None. Coffee or cab? Coffee Advertisement

Embarrassing Moments?

There werent any, but it didnt help that we went out on the hottest day of the year in London. I wore a long-sleeved shirt and was very warm.

Did Sparks Fly?

Yes, there was chemistry. We laughed about the fact we both had a plan B in case the date didnt work out.

Our phones kept buzzing  no doubt our friends checking up on us  so we put them away. We enjoyed a three-hour lunch and then went on to a wine bar. Before I put Amber in a cab that evening we had a little kiss.

See her again?

We both said wed like to do so. Weve talked about Amber coming to Bournemouth, where I live, and weve been messaging one another since, so hopefully well meet again.

What do you think she thought of you?

Amber likes me  I hope.

Would your family like her?

Very much so. Amber is different to romantic choices Ive made in the past  my parents would be relieved and delighted to meet her.

Fancy a posh meal with an eligible single like you? Or would you like to play cupid for someone else? Email your  or their  details and a photo to blinddate@dailymail.co.uk
A high flying 'corporate Karen' has sparked outrage on radio after she demanded tradies be 'kept out of sight' when working in offices because they 'smell'.

The Sydney woman, known only as 'Susan', called breakfast duo Kyle and Jackie O to complain about 'dirty' tradies and why they should be banned from using the same lifts as office workers because they have the 'wrong look' for the company.

'I honestly think it's the wrong look for a company, especially if respective clients are coming in... It's the smell, the dirt, how loud they talk, the swearing, they're leering at women, I just don't think it's a professional look,' Susan, 36, explained.

Furious tradies swiftly called up the radio station to slam Susan over her pretentious remarks, as tradesman Adrian labelled her a 'stupid pen pusher' and an 'idiot'.

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A high flying 'corporate Karen' has sparked outrage on radio after she demanded tradies be 'kept out of sight' when visiting offices because they 'smell' (stock image)

Poll Should tradies be 'kept out of sight' when working in offices? Yes No Should tradies be 'kept out of sight' when working in offices? Yes 13 votes

No 112 votes Now share your opinion





'We're busting our a**** putting our hands up your pipes, fixing your c*** and you want to separate us from everyone... you're an absolute moron,' he said, getting increasingly fired up.

'What's wrong with you? We're working hard and all you're doing is pushing a pen and typing on a computer.'

Barrister Patricia - who's married to a tradie - called up next, telling Susan to 'get your nose out of your a*** and smell the roses. I make more money than you and I do not whinge as much as you. You need to keep your mouth shut'.

Third caller, Peter asked Susan what would happen if the 'toilet breaks and you have s*** everywhere on the 33rd floor of this precious building of yours?'

'How do I get in? You want me to climb up the window like Spider-Man so no one sees me fix your s***? How do I do that?'

Susan responded, saying: 'If there's a problem with the plumbing, that's fine. A tradie can come up [with the lift] in this instance. As long as you have clean boots when you come up, will it be clean?'

Fired up: An argument between white-collar and blue-collar workers blew up on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Pictured: Jackie 'O' Henderson (left) and Kyle Sandilands (right)

Poll Should tradies be banned from using the same lifts as office workers? Yes No Should tradies be banned from using the same lifts as office workers? Yes 16 votes

No 93 votes Now share your opinion





A heated Peter hit back, saying: 'So if there's a bit of dirt on our shoes because we finished working on your sh**ty house because you don't let tradies over, what do we do then? Clean our shoes?'

Another tradie, Caroline blew up at Susan on air, screaming she's a 'f**king knob'.

'During the pandemic, you sat at home doing nothing while tradies worked their a***es off. If you don't like a tradie being there, go back home woman and stay at home darling so people can do real work,' Caroline said.

'Tradies are the backbone of this country. Snobs like you... oh my lord, I have no words for you woman, no words. Tradies work harder than you.'

The backlash came after Susan explained why she thought it was a good idea for tradies to be banned from using the same elevators as office workers.

'They could use the stairs instead of the lifts - or they could use the lifts after hours when office workers aren't there,' Susan, who's a single woman, said.

'When we get into those lifts, the guys in there, especially in the afternoon, they stink. They leave the dirt from their shoes all over the ground, and there's all the greasy prints on the buttons of the lifts.

'Why can't it be a blanket rule that the tradies do not come into our common areas when we're trying to eat lunch and they're talking and swearing.'
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Travel blogger Lauren Bullen has debuted her new French beau during their romantic getaway in Paris just months after her shock split from her boyfriend of five years.

The Australian traveller, 28, best known as @gypsealust, and Jack Morris, 30, from Manchester, known as @doyoutravel, quietly called it quits on their relationship in March.

The blonde bombshell and her ex-boyfriend who collectively have 4.4 million followers on Instagram built a $1.2 million dollar three-storey mansion in Bali together in 2019 after making an enviable living capturing perfectly-arranged, beautifully-set-up photographs at some of the world's most idyllic destinations.

Three months on, Lauren has finally confirmed her new romance with surfer Liam following weeks of keeping his identity under wraps. In a new post, Lauren clarified where she and Jack stood after their followers accused her of how she 'moved on so fast'.

'Firstly thank you for all those beautiful people supporting this new chapter of my life, believe me it's big to share this but I want to move on and not hide a big part of my life forever... As I've been hiding for a while - I obviously didn't meet this guy last week,' she wrote on her Instagram Story.

'Jack and I are both happy for each other, neither are hurting, we just wish each other happiness, so don't jump to conclusions that any of these posts are hurting him, believe me I wouldn't be posting about it if I believed this would hurt him. There is no #teamLauren or #teamJack so just leave it.'

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Travel blogger Lauren Bullen has debuted her new French beau Liam (pictured together) during their romantic getaway in Paris just months after her shock split from her boyfriend of five years

'Don't compare us, don't take sides and start drama when there isn't any drama to begin with. Every breakup and relationship is so different so don't compare your breakup experiences.'

Lauren said she doesn't expect 'everyone to understand or agree' with her new relationship.

'If you think it's too soon, that's ok... But you have to realise you don't fully understand what people have been going through prior to knowing about the breakup so you don't have any place to tell someone when it is ok for them to love again,' she said.

'Yes in the beginning I tried to run or deny feeling this way about someone so soon but when someone comes into your life and makes you feel the way he made me feel then you better not run from it, I chose to embrace it and I'm so happy I did.

'Also I'm not trying to "prove" to anyone that I'm happy, I just generally am, any of our friends that watched us fall in love are the first to have seen how genuinely happy we both are.'

Lauren looked blissfully happy as she enjoyed a glass of wine with her new man on a balcony overlooking an Italian wine grape vineyard in the region of Saint-Emilion in Southern France

Three months on, Lauren has finally confirmed her new romance with surfer Liam following weeks of keeping his identity under wraps

Lauren hit back at cruel trolls for sending her nasty messages, saying: 'Just because I have a following online doesn't mean I am immune to feeling hurt by rude comments, and doesn't mean I should accept that it comes with this either.

'Everyone deserves to be happy, let's remember that and not try to bring others down.'

Her response comes after she shared a new video on social media of her enjoying a passionate kiss with Liam.

'This girl is in love... It's a romantic summer in France,' she wrote on her Instagram Story.

Lauren looked blissfully happy as she enjoyed a glass of wine with her new man on a balcony overlooking an Italian wine grape vineyard in the region of Saint-Emilion in Southern France.

Her video has since been viewed more than 620,000 times, with thousands saying they are thrilled to see Lauren find love again after her devastating breakup with Jack.

One fan - who's struggling with a break up after her relationship ended in April - told Lauren her new romance has made her 'believe in love again after loss'. Lauren swiftly responded: 'You will love again, and trust me it's the best feeling ever... worth the temporary pain to find what you deserve.'

Lauren (pictured) best known as @gypsealust, has found love again following her shock split from her boyfriend of five years

The blonde bombshell has been travelling around Paris with her new lover (left and right). Lauren shared a video of the mystery brunette man walking ahead of her holding a surfboard, followed by a picture of the pair sitting at a beach with his hand resting on her leg

Earlier this month, Lauren shared a video of the mystery brunette man walking ahead of her holding a surfboard, followed by a picture of the pair sitting at a beach with his hand resting on her leg.

'Everyday is perfect,' she wrote.

In her latest Instagram post, Lauren said she was exploring the 'city of love' in France.

'I loved that I actually got to experience Paris this visit, usually I'm more busy chasing photos than experiences and sometimes forget to enjoy the place,' she wrote in her caption.

Many of her followers were quick to congratulate Lauren on her new romance, with one saying: 'You seem happy! Excited to follow this new journey of yours and see more of this new beau.'

But not everyone agreed with her new relationship, with one woman saying: 'Whoa, the glimpses of a new boyfriend. Some of us are not ready, we're still grieving, this seems so soon.'

However, Lauren hit back, saying: 'Don't you think it would be nicer to just wish us both happiness, like we wish for each other and keep in mind that you only see what we decide to have shown, and when we decided to?'

Lauren (right) and Jack Morris (left) who earn a six-figure salary from sharing their enviable lifestyle on Instagram previously revealed what they're going to do with their $1.2 million Balinese mansion following their shock split

Her new romance comes just months after Lauren revealed the ex-couple are planning on listing their $1.2 million three-storey Balinese mansion up on the rental market, 'unless a really good offer comes through to sell'.

'Our Bali villa will be turning into a rental sometime later this year. We will still keep the house together, but neither of us will live in it,' Lauren wrote on her Instagram Story in April.

'Hope to be welcoming you all soon.'

Lauren previously revealed to her followers she had always planned on moving back to Australia sometime this year after her twin sister Ellie, who lives in Queensland, gave birth her son.

'I just felt this pull to wanting to be there more,' Lauren said late last year, adding: 'I just started to crave living in Australia again'.

Last year, Lauren revealed the couple had built their mansion with the 'plan to turn it into a rental'.

'It was never our intention to live in this house forever. Bali pre-covid has great rental return. It was always a business plan with the build. We thought we'd live here for two to three years and then rent it out,' she said.

'Bali will always be our second home.'

The couple announced they had quietly parted ways in March after they used their income from social media to build their million dollar home - complete with a sunken lounge room, marble swimming pool, designer kitchen and a home cinema theatre in 2019.

The couple announced they had quietly parted ways in March, shocking millions of their followers on Instagram

Lauren said the decision to go their separate ways was 'for sure the hardest' she has ever made, before cryptically adding: 'Sadly the last year, we let our relationship slip away from under us.'

Jack, a former carpet cleaner who left the UK to travel the world in 2012, said he spent 'by far the best years' of his life with Lauren, claiming no one has inspired him the way she has.

'It's really hard for me to find words for this post, and a post I really never thought I'd be making.. but life happened and Jack and I decided to separate last month. This for sure was the hardest decision I've ever made,' Lauren began.

'Sadly the last year we let our relationship slip away from under us. I know from the outside it looked like we had everything you could want and more, but one thing was missing, something more important to me than anything, happiness.'

She continued: 'Jack you were the best thing to come into my life.. we had an instant and inseparable connection. I'm so proud of everything we achieved together it's more than I could have ever imagined for my life, which I thank you for.

'You pushed me to work harder and dream bigger and I was always so inspired by your dedication and determination to succeed.'

Lauren revealed the pair had spent the past few weeks in tears, opening up about troubles they had been hiding from one another and reminiscing on the past five years of 'love, adventure and fun' which ultimately led them to agree they should end their romantic relationship.

The duo famously used their income from social media to build a $1.2million three-storey Balinese mansion (pictured) complete with a sunken lounge room, marble swimming pool, designer kitchen and a home cinema theatre in 2019

They built their dream home (pictured) from scratch using only the money they make off the photo-sharing platform

Jack (pictured with Lauren in happier times) took a leap of faith nine years ago and quit his job as a carpet cleaner after deciding he needed more adventure in his life

'[It] brought us both so much closure and understanding of why we couldn't make it work as a couple any longer,' she wrote.

'Many of you have followed our full journey together but for sure it's the moments no one else sees, just us being us and the Jack that only I really got to see, that's what I'll miss more than anything.'

Jack echoed his ex-love's words, starting his post by saying: 'It was a real difficult decision for both of us, but a decision we know is for the best.

'I spent by far the best years of my life with this girl, and I'll cherish those memories forever. It's pretty rare to find someone you instantly click with, share the same dreams with, and then be fortunate enough to go out and take on the world together.'

The former carpet cleaner addressed Lauren directly, saying while it is difficult for him to understand why they grew apart, he will 'always be there' for her.

News of the split sent shockwaves through the couple's combined 4.5million follower base, with hundreds of friends and fans responding with messages of support

The pair built a $1.2 million dollar three-storey mansion in Bali together in 2019 after making an enviable living capturing perfectly-arranged, beautifully-set-up photographs at some of the world's most idyllic destinations

'I remember meeting you and feeling like I hit the jackpot, cuddling up during our first movie night in Fiji, the first time we held hands whilst walking in Sri Lanka, telling you I love you for the first time and you not hearing me... damn, where did the time go?' he wrote.

Jack paid tribute to their time together, saying that despite the glamorous lifestyle they portray online, it's the 'little day by day moments that aren't shared with the world' that he will miss the most.

'Who knows where this next chapter will take us, wherever it does, I'll always be so thankful for the years we spent together, and for our friendship that we'll always continue to share,' he added.

The exes - who sell Lightroom presets which fans and fellow content creators can use to edit photos, as well as enjoying sponsorship deals with global brands such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, Disney, Air NZ, Airbnb and Tiffany & Co. - ended their posts by promising to remain close friends and business partners.
A woman discovered a 'message in a bottle' written almost a century ago while scuba diving - and was able to track down the author's daughter over social media.

Jennifer Dowker, 45, from Cheboygan, Michigan, was swimming in the Cheboygan River when she came across the small green bottle on the riverbed.

She unfurled the note, which read: 'Will the person who finds this bottle return this paper to George Morrow, Cheboygan, Michigan and tell where it was found? November 1926.'

After sharing her discovery on Facebook, Jennifer was contacted by Mr Morrow's daughter, Michele Primeau, 74, of Detroit.

Michele had recognized her late father's handwriting and said he had a habit of leaving letters for people to find. She explained her father had died in 1995 and that the date on the letter suggests he put it in the water just before his 18th birthday.

Jennifer Dowker, 45, from Cheboygan, in Michigan, found a 'message in a bottle' while scuba diving in the Cheboygan River. Pictured: Emerging from water after finding the bottle

Jennifer had been diving in the hopes of finding an item to spark her client's interest in the sport, when she found the message (pictured)

The note was signed by George Morrow, who was in Michigan in 1926. Pictured: Late George Morrow at age 18

Jennifer said: 'I am just so flabbergasted by the whole situation. It's incredible. I am sitting back in awe at everything. It was like winning the lottery in my mind.

'That's what's so weird about this. It was like winning the lottery in my mind... to have the response it's gotten on social media has knocked my socks off. We can tell the story to our clients and inspire them when they go on their own scuba dives.'

Mother-of-three Jennifer, who runs Nautical North Family Adventures, found the note on June 18.

She had wanted to find something to interest her friend Walter, who was learning to dive.

She explained: 'I like to scuba dive the river and find old artifacts. I have a good time doing that. I thought "I should find something interesting to keep his interest in scuba diving peaked".

'I saw the little green bottle sitting on top of a fish bed. I picked it up and looked at it, and I could see the paper inside.

Jennifer said one person who contacted her recognized the handwriting on the message. Pictured: Late George Morrow, aged 18

Michele explained her father likely dropped the message around his 18th birthday. Pictured: Late George Morrow with his daughter

'It was about two-thirds full of water and I thought 'oh no', but I could find the word 'this' through the glass. I was like 'holy c***, this is so cool'.'

The boat owner, who runs Nautical North Family Adventures, then swam back to her friends on the boat, clutching the piece of history in her hands, before scrambling on to the deck to read the note.

That night, she posted a picture on Facebook in the hope a local resident might come forward and know the owner - but had no idea the response she would receive the next day.

The post has since attracted more than 98,000 shares and 5,900 comments from amazed readers.

Jennifer said: 'One of the people messaging me gave me a phone number for a lady, but on my way home, the lady called me.

Jennifer took to Facebook in the hopes of reuniting the message with the writer. Pictured: Green bottle found by Jennifer

Jennifer, who is a mother-of-three, had feared the contents of the bottle was destroyed because it was filled with water. Pictured: Message from the bottle

Jennifer said finding the 'message in a bottle' was like winning the lottery because she can keep it to inspire her clients. Pictured: Jennifer's boat

'She said "I'm 100 per cent sure this is my dad". He's dead now, he died in 1995 and she's in her seventies.

'She was almost in tears. She said "this is exactly what he would do". He was always putting papers in the wall and bottles in the water.

'She said he was born in November 15, so she figured he had dropped it in the water near his 18th birthday.

'My goal was to send it back to her and we were both really excited, but the next day, on Monday, she said she'd slept on it and when she woke up, she decided it'd be better if we kept it here and kept his memory living on.'

Jennifer (pictured), who runs Nautical North Family Adventures, racked up over 98,000 shares on her Facebook post about the bottle

George's daughter Michele claims the note helped her think about the fond memories of her dad during Father's Day weekend.

Michele said: 'I can't believe all this. It was interesting because it was Father's Day that weekend and it brought back lots of memories about him. I knew immediately it was my dad

'He was very sentimental and did things like that. I remember one time when we were camping, he did that in one of our great lakes here, Lake Keiran.

'It shocked me because he died in 1995. It's a long time. To see his handwriting after all this time was quite moving.

'His name will live on if Jennifer has it and displays all this, as opposed to me having it in my home. She was very kind. I'm meeting her in September, we're going up to northern Michigan. She said I have a lifetime of free tours on her boat.'
A Scottish mother who fell pregnant while unmarried in the 1970s and was forced to give up her baby at birth has told how the enduring shame and grief 'ruined her life'.

Jeannot Farmer, then 22, from Glasgow, considered putting her child up for adoption after failing an exam during her fourth year at university, but intended to make an 'informed decision' once her son had arrived.

But she claims that decision was 'taken away from her' when social services turned up at the hospital after he was born in 1979 and took him.

She told how the birth was 'brutal' and she was treated very differently by NHS staff to what she'd experienced leading up to it.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, Jeannot - who is a member of the Scottish branch of the Movement for an Adoption Apology, which is demanding the government says sorry for the scandal which saw thousands of babies taken into care - said it 'ruined her life'.

'I've had very good things happen in my life and I've had many happy moments, but there's always been a kernel inside of me that was holding onto that and keeping it tightly bound inside so that it didn't impact on me and people around me, and that will not necessarily be fixed,' she told hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt.

'There's always a part of you that feels that you don't deserve the nice things that other people deserve, you're an unmarried mother, someone that those things should have happened to, so it's very debilitating for us.

'It's complicated also by the fact that there's no one to talk to. If you lose a child in any way, there's a tremendous grief that goes with that and you never forget that child - there's not a day that goes by where you don't think of that child.

'And your thoughts of that child are shrouded in the grief, shrouded in the shame that you've endured, and for some of us the trauma we endured, so that's very complex feelings to be having every day when you're thinking of your child, so you can't talk to anyone about it, you're very isolated, and it's something that you learn to keep under control within you, you crush it.

'An apology doesn't fix it, but an apology will lift some of shame all of us are still enduring and walking around with the stigma of having gave our babies away.'

Jeannot Farmer, then 22, from Glasgow, considered putting her child up for adoption after failing an exam during her fourth year at university, but intended to make an 'informed decision' once her son had arrived

Jeannot is among tens of thousands of then unmarried women in the UK who were forced to give up their babies for adoption in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

She fell pregnant in 1978 and was 'very keen' to keep her baby and had turned down the chance to have an abortion.

'I very much wanted my baby,' she said. '[But] I had a bit of a disappointment academically and became a bit concerned towards the end of my pregnancy, I think as many mothers do, first time mothers, of "will I cope, will I manage?"'

Jeannot approached social services to seek advice and discuss the options open to her, including adoption. However, she never formally agreed to go through with it.

'I knew that people changed their mind about such things, and I expected that I could make an informed decision when my child was born,' she explained.

'However when I went to the hospital to give birth it was very clear from the outset, from the arrival, I was treated in quite humiliating ways from the outset, that something had been written on my file about adoption, and that I was already in a process, on a pathway towards adoption.

Jeannot told hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt that she approached social services to seek advice and discuss the options open to her, including adoption while pregnant. However, she never formally agreed to go through with it

'I didn't understand at that time that I had lost the decision, that the decision had been made for me. I didn't understand that until the social worker appeared after the birth.'

She added that the process in the hospital was 'so brutal', which included 'a very difficult delivery which resulted in me having stitches without any anaesthetic'.

'It became apparent that I was being treated in a way that I had never ever expected to be treated in the NHS, and it was so different from the experience I'd had leading up to it,' she recalled.

'I hadn't suffered any family pressure to have my child adopted, I hadn't suffered any social pressure, I thought it would be difficult to be a single parent but I didn't think it would be impossible, and I certainly didn't think it would be immoral and I didn't think the state would see it as immoral and imperative to have my child adopted.'

Jeannot was finally reunited with her son 31 years later, which she described as one of the three best days of her life - the other two being the days she gave birth to her subsequent children.

Jeannot said she hopes an apology from the Scottish government would help other women who had their children removed from them would realise they were not alone in what happened to them

She told how connecting with other women in 2012 which went through a similar ordeal has been helpful to her personally, because for 40 years she was in 'complete isolation'.

Head of the Catholic church in Britain apologises for the adoption scandal In 2016, the head of the Catholic church in Britain apologised for the adoption scandal following the Second World War, when young unmarried mothers were pressured into handing over their babies. More than 500,000 women had a child adopted in the three decades after the war. But many of them have now come forward and claimed they were given no choice by agencies acting in the name of the Catholic Church. Several women have said they were not told about the financial support they were entitled to, in order to help them to keep their children, had they wished to do so. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, apologised for the hurt caused by the agencies and said he understands the grief and pain that the women went through and described some of the behaviour of the Church and State as lacking in care and sensitivity. His comments came as a team of lawyers investigating the issue called on the Home Secretary to launch a public inquiry into the scandal. In 2017, the government rejected a demand for a public inquiry, saying there was 'insufficient justification'. Earlier this year Sue Armstrong Brown, the chief executive of Adoption UK, said: 'What happened to these women is heartbreaking and indefensible. Apologising to them is the right thing for the government to do. Today, adoption is only used when it is not safe for a child to stay with their birth family because of abuse, violence or neglect But we owe it to these women and their children to face up to the wrong that was done to them in different times.' Advertisement

'What happened to me in the hospital and afterwards was a very isolating experience, and you believe that perhaps you just caught people on a bad day, that perhaps you just met people at the wrong time, but when you start to talk to other mothers in the same situation, what you find is that we all have common features that happened to us,' she said.

'Things like removing the baby at birth and not being allowed to see them, being put in nurseries, the abuse, the neglectful practices of some of the nursing staff, there are so many common features around what happened to us and the words that were said to us, and the things that occurred, it becomes very apparent that these were not rogue characters exerting their own moral influence on your situation, there were policies and practices that caused these things to happen.

'I always blamed myself for having ever spoken to social services, but I've since learned that some mothers went to hospital unmarried and then doctors phoned social services to come and say, "You must have this child adopted," and those same practices of removing babies so you couldn't see them - they were put into nurseries where you had no access to them - and as happened to me, quite brutal obstetric violence occurred in various degrees to various women, so there's been a healing effect for me in making contact.'

Jeannot said she hopes an apology from the Scottish government would help other women who had their children removed from them would realise they were not alone in what happened to them.

'These were policies and practices of the state, they weren't public opinion and private moral standards, this was institutional systematic shaming that occurred to us,' she said.

'We were so shamed, we were shamed and humiliated before the birth, then after the birth you're also shamed because you're a person who has given your child away, you didn't care enough about your child to hold on to them, so there's shame at both sides of that.'

Today the Movement for an Adoption Apology will meet the Scottish Children's Minister to discuss the proposal of a formal government apology.

Last month mothers in England who were subjected to the same ordeal wrote to Boris Johnson asking him to issue a government apology for historical forced adoptions because of the role played by NHS staff and social workers.
Queen Letizia cut a stylish figure as she stepped out for the festival of San Juan, Patron of the Municipal Police, in Madrid on Thursday.

The mother-of-two, who was presiding over the occasion held in the Paseo de Coches in the capital's Parque del Retiro, watched as medals were awarded on the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of women to the organisation.

The royal, 48, beamed in a flattering red dress with a cinched waist design that was strategically teamed with nude slingback heels for an elegant look.

Queen Letizia of Spain (pictured) attended the festival of San Juan, Patron of the Municipal Police, in Madrid today

Royal, 48, (pictured) teamed a red dress with nude slingback heels and minimal accessories for an elegant look

Queen Letizia (pictured) completed her look by wearing her hair in a relaxed bun, while opting for very subtle makeup

Queen Letizia, who wore a face mask throughout the event, drew attention to her eyes with a dark liner, while keeping her make-up otherwise subtle.

She polished the look by coiling her hair into a bun with a few loose strands towards the front for a relatively relaxed style.

During the act of commemoration of the festivity of San Juan, Patron of the Municipal Police, recognition was awarded including The Medals of Professional Merit and the Crosses.

The Municipal Police of Madrid also celebrated the feast of its patron, San Juan Bautista.

The municipal body, which was established centuries ago, received the patronage of Saint Juan Baptist in the Seventies.

He was known for his authority and advice to the people, with scholars claiming that Baptist embodied the principles by which police officers are guided.

Queen Letizia (pictured) presided over the event on the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of women to the municipal body

Queen Letizia (pictured) watched as awards including the Medals of Professional Merit and the Crosses were given

Attendees at the act of commemoration of the festivity of San Juan also took the opportunity to celebrate their patron, Saint Juan Baptist. Pictured: Queen Letizia at the event

Among the most prominent is the defense of the virtue of justice, which involves protecting the rights of all.

While Madrid is the initiator of the patronage, other local and municipal police from across Spain have taken advantage of it.

The Municipal Police of Madrid has gushed about the 'privilege' of having Queen Letizia attend on their historic anniversary in a Twitter post.

The former journalist has had a busy week, having attended the delivery of the Gold Medals of Merit in Fine Arts last night with husband King Felipe, as well as joining him for a gala at the new ABC headquarters the night before.

The couple who met at a dinner party in 2002, are parents to Crown Princess Leonor, 15, and Infanta Sofia, 14.
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The life and legacy of the Duke of Edinburgh is being celebrated at a special display which opens its doors at Windsor Castle today.

Photographs taken of the Prince Philip: A Celebration at Windsor reveal the Coronation Robe and Coronet worn by the duke during the Queen's Coronation in 1953, as well as his Chair of Estate which is usually located in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.

Prince Philip - the nation's longest serving consort who died aged 99 on April 9 - was set to have marked his 100th birthday earlier this month and curator Sally Goodsir said the exhibition was planned as part of the celebrations.

'But following his death in April, we have delayed its opening just by a couple of weeks and are still holding it,' she said. Philip was aware of the exhibition and its contents, Sally said.

The life and legacy of the Duke of Edinburgh will be celebrated at special displays at Windsor Castle this summer. Pictured, the Coronation robe worn by the Duke of Edinburgh at Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953

Prince Philip - the nation's longest serving consort who died aged 99 on April 9 - was set to have marked his 100th birthday earlier this month

Some of the gifts presented to the duke during state visits, overseas tours and official engagements will be on public view - including a First Nations feather headdress he was given in Canada in 1973 - embroidered with HRH (pictured left). Pictured right, Royal Collection Trust creator Sally Goodsir holds a pair of Cowboy boots, with 'Prince Philip' inscribed in gold

Royal Collection Trust creator Sally Goodsir makes adjustments to the display during a preview for Prince Philip: A Celebration at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, commemorating the life and work of the Duke of Edinburgh

Among the highlights of the display are the coronation robes and coronet worn by Philip to the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and his chair of estate which normally stands beside the queen's at Buckingham Palace and is displayed at Windsor Castle for the first time.

Going on public display for the first time is a portrait of the prince painted in 2017, the year of his retirement.

The painting by Ralph Heimans features Philip wearing the blue and red Windsor uniform, standing in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle.

The items include deeply personal mementos, including Queen Victoria's journal recording the birth of Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice, at Windsor Castle in 1885.

A member of staff from the Royal Collection Trust looks at George A Weymouth's portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh standing in the shell of St George's Hall in Windsor Castle after the fire of 1992

Pictured left: the Duke of Edinburgh's coronation coronet, worn during Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in June 1953, and right: The Chair of Estate, made for the Duke of Edinburgh after Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation to accompany her Chair of Estate in the throne room at Buckingham Palace

Other pieces are more eccentric - a human-sized grasshopper wine cooler presented by former French President Georges Pompidou during his visit to the UK in 1972

The items include deeply personal mementos, including Queen Victoria's journal recording the birth of Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice, at Windsor Castle in 1885

Other pieces are more eccentric - a human-sized grasshopper wine cooler presented by former French President Georges Pompidou during his visit to the UK in 1972.

Other items include: a Faberge frame with photographs of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth that was a wedding gift and a chess set presented by Nelson Mandela during his 1996 visit to the UK.

Meanwhile a pair of cowboy boots with the words Prince and Philip inscribed in gold, gifted to the prince during a visit to Houston, Texas, in 1991, will also go on display.

A pair of cowboy boots with the words Prince and Philip inscribed in gold, gifted to the prince during a visit to Houston, Texas, in 1991, will also go on display (left). A curator adjusts the pieces (right)

Prince Philip - the nation's longest serving consort who died aged 99 on April 9 - was set to have marked his 100th birthday earlier this month and curator Sally Goodsir said the exhibition was planned as part of the celebrations

Going on public display for the first time is a portrait of the prince painted in 2017, the year of his retirement (pictured)

The painting by Ralph Heimans features Philip wearing the blue and red Windsor uniform, standing in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle

Above the boots, the exhibit displays a First Nations feather headdress, a 1973 gift from the Head Chief of the Blood Reserve, Jim Shot Both Sides.

Also on show are the remains of Windsor Castle's St George's Hall clock and a fragment of a burnt beam, salvaged by Philip from the debris following a fire that swept through the castle in 1992.

'I think without people being able to gather for the funeral, as they might ordinarily have done, I hope they might be able to come to the castle and learn a little bit more about him,' said Goodsir.

Prince Philip: A Celebration is part of a visit to Windsor Castle from June 24 until September 20 2021.

Tickets must be pre-booked via www.rct.uk or 0303 123 7300.
The Prince of Wales appeared in high spirits today as he hosted a major investiture ceremony at St James's Palace.

Prince Charles, 72, presented honours to recipients including to Eastenders actor Rudolph Walker, who has played Patrick Trueman in the soap for 20 years, and the dean of Westminster Abbey, The Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle.

Significant changes brought in to keep the event Covid secure included the insignia being collected by the recipients from a cushion rather than being pinned on by the prince.

Those being honoured with knighthoods and MBEs also had to wear masks as they move around the Palace, but could remove their face coverings in the Throne Room where the actual ceremony is taking place.

The Prince of Wales appeared in high spirits today as he hosted a major investiture ceremony at St James's Palace. Among those to receive a CBE from the Prince of Wales today was Eastenders actor Rudolph Walker, who plays Patrick Trueman in the soap

Walker held up his CBE medal as he posed for photos after his investiture today

Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman and Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman in 2004

Walker was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity

Eastenders fans will recognise Rudolph as the longstanding character Patrick in the soap (pictured, in 2009 with Diane Parish, Belinda Owusu and Don Gilet)

Eastenders star Rudolph was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity.

Rudolph became the first black person to star in a major TV series, when he was cast as the lead role in Love Thy Neighbour in 1972.

He has also worked in repertory theatres across the country.

Buckingham Palace - the Queen's official London residence - is normally the venue for many of the ceremonies - but the event took place at St James's Palace because of on-going work to update the services at the royal residence.

Recipients were only permitted to bring one guest, but the family member, partner or friend also had the chance to meet heir-to-the-throne Charles.

During traditional investitures, each recipient would have approached the prince or hosting royal on their own, and up to three guests would have watched, seated at a distance with scores of other spectators.

But during the pandemic, those being honoured entered the Throne Room one at time, joined by their guest who was also greeted by the prince.

There was no audience present but the investiture is thought to have been shown on large screens to those waiting their turn in the adjacent Queen Anne room  another of the State Rooms.

Meanwhile the dean of Westminster Abbey, The Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle, appeared to share a laugh with Prince Charles during the ceremony

Recipients were only permitted to bring one guest, but the family member, partner or friend also had the chance to meet heir-to-the-throne Charles

Those attending are required to bring proof of a negative lateral flow Covid test to ensure entry and be subject to a temperature check on arrival.

There will also be no hanging around and mingling afterwards. Those attending will depart after collecting their honour, and seating will be socially distanced.

There will also be reduced numbers of ceremonial and support staff present, and family portrait and media facilities remain, but in more limited numbers.

Adeline Ginn, from London, was awarded an MBE, who is the founder and Chair of Women in Rail

Adeline appeared overjoyed as she spoke with Prince Charles earlier today during the ceremony at St James Palace

Meanwhile foster carer Shakuntla Gittins was awarded an MBE for her services to the community (pictured)

Investitures are usually a key part of the royal calendar, but there were no major ones for 15 months, since before the start of England's first national lockdown.

Today was just the second ceremony to take place since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the first taking place yesterday.

The events took took place despite the delay to the June 21 easing of restrictions following concerns over the rapidly spreading Delta variant first identified in India.

Charles could be seen leaning down as he spoke with Maria Green, who was made an MBE during the ceremony today

Those attending are required to bring proof of a negative lateral flow Covid test to ensure entry and be subject to a temperature check on arrival

Chairman of Sony music Jason Iley was also made an MBE by Prince Charles earlier today during the event

'The arrangements have been made in full consultation with Public Health England and Government to ensure they are Covid compliant, in line with current guidelines,' a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said.

In March 2020, the Queen was pictured wearing gloves for the first time at a palace investiture, when the total number of people diagnosed with Covid-19 in the UK was 51.

It was before the UK was in the grip of coronavirus, and the head of the World Health Organisation was advising people over the age of 60 to avoid crowded areas.

Meanwhile Marilyn Scott, director of The Lightbox museum and gallery in Woking beamed as she spoke with Prince Charles
The BBC has shared a throwback snap of Princess Margaret while she was recording The Archers on the 37th anniversary of her cameo appearance.

The Queen's late sister joined the cast of the British serial The Archers in June 1984 and played herself as a VIP guest attending a fundraising fashion show held in Ambridge, the fictional town in England where the radio series takes place.

The pilot episode of The Archers was broadcast on the Midlands Home Service on May 29, 1950, going nationwide on January 1, 1951.

The broadcaster, which shared a photograph of Princess Margaret holding a script during a recording at Kensington Palace online, said: 'The Princess's appearance cemented The Archers' reputation and position in the soap opera firmament.'

The BBC has shared a throwback snap of Princess Margaret while she was recording The Archers on the 37th anniversary of her cameo appearance

The organisation shared the post earlier this week as it marked 37 years since Princess Margaret appeared on the show

The fictional fundraiser was in aid of the NSPCC, and as the president she asked if she could join the cast after the Duke of Westminster was originally asked.

Princess Margaret set up a makeshift recording studio in the library at Kensington Palace to record her part on the show, instead of going to the BBC's recording studio in Birmingham.

The show, which is the BBC's most listened-to non-news programme, is set in the fictional county of Borsetshire.

The village would be positioned between Worcestershire and Warwickshire in the Midlands, just south of Birmingham, in real life.

She joined the BBC Radio 4 drama as a VIP guest in 1984, and played herself at a fundraising fashion show (pictured, while recording Desert Island Discs in 1981)

According to the BBC's website, 'producer William Smethurst said the Princess quickly mastered the microphone techniques required for radio drama.'

She was not the only real person to appear on the programme as themselves, and over the years other guests included Gilbert Harding, John Peel and Alan Titchmarsh.

It also marked the first time a member of the royal family had taken part in a BBC drama.

Since then, members of the royal family have followed in her footsteps by appearing in popular soaps, with Prince Charles making a guest appearance on Coronation Street in 2000.

Princess Margaret later made appearances on other BBC programmes, including Desert Island Discs

Last year, Princess Margaret's closest confidante Lady Anne Glenconner revealed how the spirited royal would shush the Queen if she interrupted her during The Archers.

Appearing on Lorraine, the royal's former lady-in-waiting, 87, revealed how she had to smooth things over with a cup of tea after the Princess refused to speak to the Queen while listening to Radio 4.

Lady Glenconner explained that once while Margaret was ill, she had to resolve a spat between the two sisters with a 'cup of tea' after Margaret told the Queen to be quiet.

'Princess Margaret was in bed and the Queen came and I waited in the drawing-room and I soon heard her come downstairs.

I said "Is everything okay?" she said, "No it, isn't, Princess Margaret is listening to the Archers and every time I say something she tells me to shush".

'So I went off and turned the wireless off and we made a cup of tea, but it all ended all right.'
Princess Charlene is undergoing multiple, complicated procedures after contracting a severe ear, nose, and throat infection in May, meaning she will not be able to travel back to Monaco for her 10th wedding anniversary next week.

The royal, 43, hasn't been seen in Monaco since January, but her husband Prince Albert and their six-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques visited her in South Africa earlier this month.

Charlene underwent her most recent operation yesterday, with her medical team advising she stays in her native South Africa while undergoing more procedures.

Princess Charlene is undergoing multiple, complicated procedures after contracting a severe ear, nose, and throat infection in May, meaning she will not be able to travel back to Monaco for her 10th wedding anniversary next week. She is pictured in South Africa

The royal shared this photo of her husband Albert, her twins, her brother and nieces and nephews on safari in South Africa earlier this month

'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement.

'However, Albert and I had no choice but to follow the medical team's instructions even though it is extremely difficult. He has been the most incredible support to me.

'My daily conversations with Albert and my children help immensely to keep my spirits up, but I miss being with them. It was special to have my family visit me in South Africa, and it was truly wonderful seeing them. I can't wait to be reunited with them'.

Prince Albert was joined by the couple's six-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques to watch the World Rugby Sevens in Monaco earlier this month

Prince Albert of Monaco has appeared without his wife Princess Charlene once again as he attended a rugby match with their children

When did Princess Charlene travel to South Africa and when was she last seen with her husband? January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection Advertisement

Princess Charlene came to South Africa to do conservation and anti-poaching work, earlier this year. She was last seen in Monaco in January.

Her foundation say she was driving the causes close to her heart, pouring herself into her Foundation work in South Africa when she fell ill.

Before contracting the infection and undergoing the procedures, Princess Charlene worked with various ambassadors and partners to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation's initiatives.

Prince Albert and their children will visit Princess Charlene in South Africa again soon to be with her and support her.

The former Olympian, who debuted a radical new hairstyle while on the trip, had been due to return to Monaco for the principality's Grand Prix in May, where she was guest of honour.

It's been a tumultuous start to the year for the royal, after news emerged that her husband is facing a paternity suit over a love child born in the early years of their relationship.

The 63-year-old prince, who already supports two illegitimate children, is alleged to have had a relationship with a Brazilian woman which resulted in a daughter in 2005.

The claim, which his lawyers dismissed as a 'hoax', is particularly painful as he was dating Charlene at the time, having met the former Olympic swimmer in 2000.

The 34-year-old claimant  who cannot be named for legal reasons  says she had a passionate affair with Albert, leading to the birth of their daughter  whose name is also classified  on July 4, 2005.

Albert received a handwritten letter from the child, who is now 15, in September last year reading: I don't understand why I grew up without a father, and now that I have found you, you don't want to see me.

Legal papers were also filed, as lawyers for the claimant called on Albert to undergo a DNA test  just as he did before finally being identified as the father of two illegitimate children born in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In January, Charlene spoke publicly for the first time since the allegations, telling Point de Vue: 'When my husband has problems, he tells me about it. I often tell him, "No matter what, no matter what, I'm a thousand percent behind you. I'll stand by you whatever you do, in good times or in bad."

The royal, 43, put on a united front with her six-year-old twins and husband Albert, 63, as the family gathered around a birthday cake with Charlene's brother Sean Wittstock, 37, his wife Chantell, 34, their eldest son Raigen, 7, and the birthday girl

Passionate: Charlene, who was raised in South Africa and represented the country at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, travelled to Thanda Safari in KwaZulu-Natal to learn more about being done by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa to help save rhinos

Last public outing together: Charlene and Albert were last pictured together in public in January at the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. On April 2, she shared a photograph alongside her husband Prince Albert and their children Jacques and Gabriella to mark Easter, although it is not clear where it was taken

The mother-of-two went on to say she also often tells her husband she will 'protect him' and will 'always be by his side.'

Charlene, who was raised in South Africa and represented the country at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, travelled to Thanda Safari in KwaZulu-Natal to learn more about being done by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa to help save rhinos from poachers.

The princess took part in conservation operations including rhino monitoring and tracking, deployment with the Anti-Poaching Unit, educational wildlife photography sessions, and a White Rhino dart and dehorning exercise.
Peru Two drug mule Michaella McCollum recalls sobbing on her concrete bunk at the Peruvian prison where she served three years and tells how inmates there were 'so sexually active' in a new documentary.

McCollum made headlines in 2013 when she was arrested in Peru alongside Melissa Reid. The pair had travelled to the country from Ibiza, where they were employed by a drug-dealing gang to smuggle 1.5million worth of cocaine across the world.

They were caught arriving at Lima airport and sentenced to six years and eight months inside a grim jail in the Peruvian capital, after cutting a deal with the state prosecutor to confess which reduced the maximum 15 year sentence they'd be handed if found guilty at trial. However, they were released after serving three years, with McCollum returning to Northern Ireland in June 2016.

Speaking in High: Confessions Of An Ibiza Drug Mule, McCollum told how the idea of spending 15 years in Ancon 2, one of South America's fearsome maximum-security women prisons, made her 'want to do something stupid'.

McCollum (left) made headlines in 2013 when she was arrested in Peru alongside Melissa Reid (right). The pair had travelled to the country from Ibiza, where they were employed by a drug-dealing gang to smuggle 1.5million worth of cocaine across the world

Michaella McCollum recalls sobbing on her concrete bunk at the Peruvian prison where she served three years and tells how inmates there were 'just so sexually active' in a new documentary

'The whole place was just so toxic, everything about it was toxic, the majority of the people were toxic,' she said. 'The first thing I noticed about Ancon was it was just so manic and crazy and noisy, it sounded like a zoo.

'It just felt like you were in this madhouse. There was this woman... she had caught her husband having an affair and she had killed their child, and then she fed it to her husband in a stew.

'I've never been so scared and I was obviously really intimidated because we were foreign... One of the things I noticed about Ancon quite quickly was they were just so active sexually.

'I'd never actually seen people be so open about their sexuality, I was shocked that they were doing that kind of thing quite openly. Nobody was really making that big of an issue so I didn't really want to make an issue of it either, but I felt uncomfortable that was happening so close to me.

The Peru Two Michaella McCollum Connolly (left) and Melissa Reid were sentenced to six years and eight months inside a grim jail in the Peruvian capital, after cutting a deal with the state prosecutor to confess which reduced the maximum 15 year sentence they'd be handed if found guilty at trial

'The way people would behave like that and the fact I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying just added to this whole confusing mad feel of the place where you never knew what was going to happen next.'

At age 19, craving sun and adventure, McCollum took her first foreign holiday to Ibiza, where she became embroiled in its hedonistic partying and drug scene.

She met a 'Cockney guy called Davey', who groomed her over a series of weeks with romantic beach dates before persuading her to pick up a package for him in Barcelona while she was high on acid at a villa party, in exchange for 5,000.

'He made it sound like a walk in the park,' she recalled. 'I literally thought a small package of, I obviously thought it was drugs, I definitely didnt think it was going to be anything big.'

Soon after, she said, she and another young girl - Melissa - were in an apartment in Mallorca where a man who kept a drawer full of guns in the house was preparing them to go to Lima.

At age 19, craving sun and adventure, McCollum took her first foreign holiday to Ibiza, where she became embroiled in its hedonistic partying and drug scene

Apparently there'd been a change of plan on the destination front, and McCollum, who'd 'never really paid much attention in Geography', didnt want to admit she had no idea where in Spain Lima was. She claimed she only realised when she saw the computer screen on the seat in front of her on the plane.

'I seen the huge arrow pointing towards South America and I was like, "Oh ****." I felt panic, "Oh my God, Im going to the jungle",' she explained.

After spending a day backpacking, posing as tourists, the twosome met with the cartel who stuffed their bags full of uncut cocaine.

McCollum describes the moment an armed officer put his hand on her shoulder at the airport before the drugs were discovered.

'The guy started shouting, "Coca, coca, coca" and all of a sudden the place erupted, everyone was shouting and screaming. I just thought this is not happening, it's not real life,' she said.

McCollum describes the moment an armed officer put his hand on her shoulder at the airport before the drugs were discovered in the documentary (pictured being moved from the National Police anti-drug headquarters to a court to be formally charged for drug trafficking in Lima)

'We were handcuffed and they cuffed our feet too. It was freezing, it smelt like a toilet and it was so dark I could barely make the walls out. Lately there'd been a lot of contenders for worst day of my life but this was going to take some beating.'

She told how her bunk in her cell was a 'piece of concrete' and she was 'crying all the time'. The next morning she woke up and asked to call her family, which was 'the worst phone call ever'.

'My mum said, "I thought you were dead",' she recalled, becoming emotional. 'And then I got really upset because I didn't know she was going through all of that. And I'm like, how am I going to tell her where I am.

'I said, "Im in Peru, Im in jail," and she was like, "What, what?", and then the phone call ended, I didn't get to tell her the situation.'

McCollum's brother later told her that her mother had passed out. 'She was just so overwhelmed by the anxiety and the stress,' she explained. 'I think she was just completely heartbroken.'

After she was moved to Ancon 2, McCollum became anxious about having a target on her back because she'd cooperated with the authorities to lessen her sentence

While awaiting trial at Virgen de Fatima prison, McCollum said she struggled to sleep because it was infested with cockroaches.

'I barely ate, I couldn't sleep, I would lie awake all night with the guilt and the cockroaches,' she said.

'At the beginning I was obviously really scared because I hadn't really seen cockroaches before. And there was lots, there was so many of them. They would hide during the day, and when I would get into bed you would hear them crawling up.

'I used to just cover myself with a sheet and hope they didn't crawl on me. I was really paranoid because I felt like my skin was crawling all the time. I went to see the prison doctor and he basically said I was crazy because I felt like there was things on me but there wasn't. Basically I was really losing it.'

After she was moved to Ancon 2, she became anxious about having a target on her back because she'd cooperated with the authorities to lessen her sentence.

McCollum grabbed every opportunity she could to prove that she was trustworthy in prison, even working in its 'beauty parlour'

A cartel lawyer justifies her concerns, telling the documentary: 'To kill a person is a business of two or three seconds. You can hire a [hitman] in a Peruvian jail.'

While behind bars, McCollum witnessed a harrowing attack where an inmate attacked another with a long needle.

'She just leaped across the table and started attacking this other girl, her blood and hair were everywhere,' she said.

'After the first few horrendous months there I did slowly start to drop my guard a bit... I kind of figured if they wanted me dead it would have happened by now.'

McCollum grabbed every opportunity she could to prove that she was trustworthy. She took over the running of the prisons beauty salon, and became a delegada - a representative - for her fellow inmates, the first English-speaking person ever to hold the role. She worked hard to learn Spanish and forged friendships with other drug mules.

'I learned the prison had their very own beauty salon, more like a few chairs and mirrors and a concrete room, but for me it was heaven,' she explained.

Now a mother of twins and studying for a degree, McCollum said her experience in prison was transformative

'I got a job and I would do different hair treatments, colouring and cutting, blow-dries, waxing, nails, massage. I had no real qualifications, I was winging it but I was good at it. I had a lot of clients.

'I really did try to improve things; I got water filters so we could all have clean water and a microwave, and we would have evenings where we have an hour of dancing.'

Her 'lucky break' finally came in 2015 when she met a man called Fernando who worked at the local courtroom and hired himself out to prisoners who were fed up with waiting for their parole paperwork on the side.

For a healthy fee he would grease the appropriate wheels to expedite his clients case, so McCollum paid the bribe and made an impassioned plea for freedom.

'I wanted them to understand how the mistakes Id made in the past had given me this chance to learn and grow,' she said.

McCollum, who helped arrange for Reid to expedite her parole hearing, said prison made her the person she is today which is a 'better person than she would have been otherwise'

She was released in 2016 and told how she and her mother 'hugged like freaks for 10 minutes' before the guards told her to leave. McCollum then helped arrange for Reid to expedite her parole hearing.

Now a mother of twins and studying for a degree, McCollum said her experience in prison was transformative.

'When youre young you dont know it all. I made a dreadful mistake and I regret it, but what prison taught me made me who I am today and thats a better person than I would have been otherwise,' she said. 'I am a mam now and I am going to get on with being the best one I can.'

High: Confessions Of An Ibiza Drug Mule airs on BBC Three on July 3.
It's the simple question that's divided the nation- should you wear knickers to bed under your pyjamas?

Style guru Susannah Constantine triggered an online debate in her latest podcast earlier this week, with BBC Woman's Hour host Emma Barnett being pro-pants, while the 59-year-old stylist insists on going commando.

The debate made its way to BBC Woman's Hour, with some Radio 4 listeners saying it causes too much laundry to change pyjamas everyday while others argued that they lack freedom if they wear underwear at night.

Susannah Constantine, 59, discussed whether it was acceptable to wear pants under pyjamas in bed on her podcast My Wardrobe Malfunction, sparking a flurry of debate

'No pants!' Holly Willoughby revealed on Tuesday that she wears no knickers in bed

It was further discussed on ITV's This Morning, where Holly Willoughby confessed to not wearing pants to bed.

Now, social media users have continued the debate - with one writing: 'People wear pants in bed? Weirdos' while another shared: 'Of course I wear pants under my pyjamas, why wouldn't you?'

'Surely the one time you can reasonably not wear knickers is when you've got pyjamas on,' wrote one. 'If I lived alone on a desert island then I'd happily burn all the knickers'.

'Knickers under pyjamas?! Well, I never!' added another. 'Though I suppose they could prevent wedgies which is why I prefer nighties. Or do they compound the problem?'

Guest Emma Barnett, host of BBC's Woman's Hour, was 100 per cent in the pants on camp, writing on Instagram later: 'Pjs without knickers? Unthinkable'

'Knickers under PJs, always!' exclaimed a third.

Others said that they always wore pants in case of a nighttime emergency.

'I always wear nice PJs as my mother always said you don't know when you'll get rescued by fireman or end up in hospital'.

While some suggested ditching PJs all together and just sleeping naked.
When Josh Duggar was released on bail last month after being charged with possession of child pornography, he was sent to live with a conservative Christian couple described as family friends of the Duggars  and now it has been revealed that Josh's brother-in-law is dating the couple's daughter.

Josh, 33, was released to the home of LaCount and Maria Reber, who live with their daughter Hannah, 22, in Lafayette, Arkansas.

While the Rebers said they have known the Duggar family for six to eight years, LaCount said that he didn't know Josh particularly well.

But social media screengrabs reveal that David Keller  the 20-year-old younger brother of Josh's wife Anna  is currently courting Hannah Reber.

Pest: Josh Duggar, 33, was charged with receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material in May, with some material showing children younger than 12

Bail: He was released to the home of LaCount and Maria Reber, who live with their daughter Hannah, 22, in Lafayette, Arkansas (pictured with their son Lemuel, who lives with his wife)

Surprise! Hannah (top) is dating David Keller (bottom), the 20-year-old younger brother of Josh's wife Anna

Anna has seven siblings, six of whom are married. And now David, the youngest, may be on his way to matrimonial bliss with the young woman currently living with his brother-in-law, and accused pedophile.

This week, David posted a photo of Hannah on Instagram, gushing like a man in love.

'Hey everyone, I'd like you to meet Hannah Reber! I have really enjoyed getting to know her. God gives good Gifts,' he wrote.

Hannah soon shared her own photo of David, this one a screengrab of them FaceTiming while lying in their prospective beds.

'Dear David. God gives good gifts,' she wrote with a yellow heart emoji.

The couple ultimately switched their Instagram accounts to private, but not before Redditors captured screengrabs and shared them on a snarking subreddit.

Dating with a purpose: David posted a photo of Hannah on Instagram, gushing: 'I'd like you to meet Hannah Reber! I have really enjoyed getting to know her. God gives good Gifts'

Family: It's unclear if the relationship began before or after David's brother-in-law Josh moved in (Josh pictured far left with Anna, David picture in white under swingset)

Connection: If they tie the knot, Josh would be related by marriage to the Rebers (Josh pictured far left, David pictured top right)

It's unclear how long the pair have been dating, and if there relationship began before or after David's brother-in-law Josh moved in.

But the Kellers, like the Duggars, are fundamentalist Christians who 'court' instead of date  and announcing a relationship often means an engagement is imminent.

If they tie the knot, Josh would be related by marriage to the Rebers, whom he is living with under home detention with an ankle monitor as he awaits his trial, which is set to start on July 6.

In a bail hearing last month, LaCount and Maria agreed to house Josh, even after hearing that authorities had found that he kept a sickening trove of 200 child porn images on his computer.

Josh is not allowed to return home to his pregnant wife Anna and their six children, though he is allowed supervised visitation.

LaCount, 49, is an MRI tech with the US Department of Veterans Affairs and was previously a volunteer chaplain at the Washington County Detention Center, where Duggar was locked up after his April 29 arrest.

He and Maria, 53, a fulltime homemaker, were described at a bail hearing as longstanding church friends of Duggar patriarch Jim Bob and his wife Michelle.

Taking him in: Hannah's father LaCount, 49, is an MRI tech with the US Department of Veterans Affairs and was previously a volunteer chaplain at the Washington County Detention Center

LaCount and Maria are friends of the Duggar family, whom they've known for six to eight years

The Duggars turned to them for help in particular because of LaCounts experience within the prison system.

The couple agreed to keep their internet pin-protected and remove their rifles and six pistols from the house. They are required by law to tip off authorities if Duggar breaches his bail conditions.

While LaCount and Maria have a son, Lemuel, 24, who recently married and no longer lives with them, their daughter Hannah, a classical pianist, still lives there and teaches music out of the family home.

The couple has other connections to the Duggars. Two of Josh's brothers, Jed and Jeremiah, were groomsman at Lemuels wedding. Austin Forsyth, who is married to Joy Anna, was also a groomsman.

The Rebers told the court that they did not know Josh well, but were friends with Jim Bob and had known the Duggars since 2015. They said they agreed as part of their faith, and their belief in helping people in need.

Maria said she initially had reservations about being alone in the house with Duggar, but added: 'We want to help the family and minister to them. My husband has made the decision and I'm here to support that decision.

Out: Josh was released on bail while he awaits trial for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material

Josh's lawyers say they need more time for a computer forensic expert to review the evidence

The couple said they were prepared to remove their firearms from the house as a condition of hosting Josh, and agreed that if Josh violated the terms of his bail they would tell probation officers.

'Not your husband, not Jim Bob Duggar, not elders in the church,' Judge Comstock warned.

Under the release to third-party custodians, Duggar must wear an ankle monitor, have a probation officer's permission to leave the couple's home, cannot access the internet, or be inside a residency where firearms are stored.

During the hearing, Homeland Security special agent Gerald Faulkner testified that the images found on Duggar's computer were 'in the top five of the worst of the worst that I've ever had to examine'.

Investigators seized Duggar's computer and cellphone during a 2019 raid on his now-closed car dealership, Wholesale Motorcars.

The agent testified they found 65 child sexual abuse images showing a young girl. Agents also allegedly found a two-minute video that showed a man sexually abusing two young girls, aged between five and 10 years old.

Two hundred child sexual abuse images found on the computer were located in 'unallocated space,' which means someone tried to delete them, the agent said.

Pray, not prey: Despite the seriousness of his charges, Josh is allowed to see his own six children with supervision

Gross: Duggar is alleged to have downloaded the child sexual abuse material online back in 2019 on May 14, 15, and 16

When the raid was carried out and before Duggar knew what authorities were investigating, Duggar had allegedly asked agents: 'What is this about? Has someone been downloading child pornography?'

Duggar was asked about having child porn in his possession and he allegedly responded: 'I'd rather not answer that question.'

Duggar is alleged to have downloaded the child sexual abuse material online back in 2019 on May 14, 15, and 16.

The files were first flagged by a detective in Little Rock before allegedly being traced to Duggar's car dealership. The IP address of the computer was also linked to Duggar's dealership.

Josh's trial is set to go forward in two weeks, though his lawyers have made an attempt to have it postponed until 2022  and it may be at least pushed back a few months.

Legal documents from Josh's lawyers reportedly ask that the trial be pushed to a date 'in or after February 2022,' with his lawyers calling the case 'complex' with a 'several-year federal investigation,' and they expect the trial to involve 'computer forensic evidence and anticipated expert opinion testimony.'

His wife, Anna, reportedly thinks he is innocent  and blames his parents for his arrest

Pleading: Josh's lawyers asked that the trial be delayed until next year

To that end, they have 'retained an independent computer forensic expert who must conduct a computer forensic examination of each of the devices at issue  a time-consuming process that requires review at a government facility for the one device the Government alleges contained child pornography.'

They said the computer forensic expert must 'conduct a time-intensive process of reviewing the remaining devices that the Government does not allege contained child pornography,' which they say could take several months.

But prosecutors in Arkansas objected on Monday, telling the court they would agree to a 'reasonable continuance' of three months but said postponing the trial to next year 'would result in unnecessary delay.'

A three month delay would allow Josh's lead attorney Justin Gelfand to prepare for his other criminal trials scheduled for September, October, and November, but 'there exists no legally or factually valid reason supporting a continuance until February of 2022.'
He's the dressed-down brother of the Duchess of Cambridge and is usually pictured working in casual outdoor gear with his dogs and other animals.

But James Middelton, 34, proved he looks just as good in the great indoors today as he dressed up with fiancee Alizee Thevenet to attend the Bvlgari Magnifica Gala dinner at Spencer House in St James' London.

The entrepreneur, who founded raw dog food brand Ella & Co, sported a collarless deep blue velvet jacket with gold brass buttons and grey embellishments.

James Middelton, 34, proved he looks just as good in the great indoors today as he dressed up with fiancee Alizee Thevenet to attend the Bvlgari Magnifica Gala dinner at Spencer House in St James' London

Her paired the statement piece with simple black trousers and shiny leather shoes as he posed with his French-born financier bride-to-be.

Meanwhile, Alizee stunned in a peach maxi dress with a trendy dragon print and plunging neckline.

She paired the look with a simple, dainty necklace, gold dangling earrings and a complementing clutch bag.

The pair were later joined by Bulgari UK Managing Director Joyce Weng.

The entrepreneur, who founded raw dog food brand Ella & Co, sported a collarless deep blue velvet jacket with gold brass buttons and grey embellishments. Meanwhile, Alizee stunned in a peach maxi dress with a trendy dragon print and plunging neckline

The pair were later joined by Bulgari UK Managing Director Joyce Weng, pictured far right

Also in attendance was Iris Law, the model daughter Sadie Frost and Jude Law and jewellery designer Sabine Getty.

James and Alizee have just snapped up the familys fourth property in Berkshire village of Bucklebury, for 1.45 million.

Its a four-bedroom Grade II listed period farmhouse with beams and leaded windows in a village on the Bucklebury fringes.

Also in attendance was Iris Law (left) the model daughter Sadie Frost and Jude Law and jewellery designer Sabine Getty (right)

It means Kates family are all now near-neighbours, with parents Carole and Michael living in a 4.7 million Georgian manor house in the village, while her sister Pippa recently bought Bucklebury Farm Park, a petting zoo which is a favourite of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Jamess move means the Middletons own three properties in the area, having sold one. The original family home, the 1.5 million Oak Acre, where Kate and William met in secret during breaks from St Andrews University, was sold a few years after they married.

James Middleton recently shared pictures taken shortly after he was diagnosed with clinical depression and opened up about his mental health in a lengthy Instagram post.

James Middleton recently shared pictures taken shortly after he was diagnosed with clinical depression and opened up about his mental health in a lengthy Instagram post.

The brother of Kate Middleton, 34, took to social media to share how he 'swam in an icy lake' and ' took solitary walks on snow-capped mountains and stayed alone in a remote cottage' as he learnt about mental health following his diagnosis three and half years ago

James Middleton previously revealed he and his fiancee Alizee Thevenet are moving out of London for life in the country

Last month, James took to social media to share how he 'drove to the Lake District' and 'swam in an icy lake' and ' took solitary walks on snow-capped mountains and stayed alone in a remote cottage' as he learnt about mental health following his diagnosis three and half years ago.

He shared that being in the mountains, walking in nature and beekeeping has helped his mental health and helped him 'press the mute button' on everything worrying him.

Last year, James said he 'owes his dogs his life' as he spoke about living with depression.

The entrepreneur has five dogs - Golden Retriever Mabel and four black Spaniels called Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna - who he has often credited with helping him through difficult times.

In a clip shared on his Instagram page in August, James, who work with charity Pets For Therapy, explained: 'For me, during troubled times and good times, they're my consistent....I would go so far as to say that I owe Ella my life, and she doesn't know that.'
People who have recovered from COVID-19 may only need one shot of the vaccine, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles found that people who had been previously infected with the virus had sufficient immune responses to combat COVID-19 after only receiving one shot of a two-dose vaccine.

They also found that the second shot provided no additional immunity to the virus.

The findings provide evidence that many more people around the world are protected than previously believed.

It also adds to the conversation on the natural immunity a person can form from COVID-19, and whether or not natural antibodies are sufficient in stopping reinfection.

Researchers from UCLA found that people who had recovered from COVID-19 likely only need one dose of a two-shot vaccine to be protected from the virus

For the study, published in ACS Nano, the team recruited 36 people who had previously gotten COVID-19 and 26 people with no known history of the virus.

Each participant received one shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

The 26 people with no history of COVID, and by virtue no antibodies, all developed antibody levels similar to someone with a mild infection of the virus after getting the first shot and it took two doses to have levels on par with someone who had been severely ill with the virus.

But the 36 COVID-19 survivors all showed antibody levels similar to someone who had been severely infected after just one dose.

What's more, they showed no increase in antibody levels after receiving a second doses .

The results lead researchers to believe that antibodies produced naturally by a COVID infection may be valid replacements for part of the mRNA vaccines.

'Our data suggest that a person who previously had COVID-19 has a huge response after the first mRNA vaccination and has little or no benefit from the second dose,' senior author Dr. Otto Yang, professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, said in as statement

'It is worth considering changing public health policy to take this into account both to maximize vaccine usage and avoid unnecessary side effects.'

Previous research finds that natural antibodies from COVID could protect a person from the virus for up to ten months.

Another study also found that after 28 days, people who had received just one shot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were 95 percent less likely to contract the virus.

However, the UCLA team also found that antibody levels naturally decreased by 90 percent over 85 days - whether they previously had COVID or not - meaning that a third booster shot will likely be required at some point.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla have both said the need for the third shot could come as early as September.

A booster shot of the vaccine may also be required to protect from the ever-growing crop of variants of the virus popping up around the world.

Health experts still recommend getting both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine when available, whether someone has been previously infected or not.

Currently, about 65 percent of Americans have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risk of heart inflammation in teenagers and young adults because the jab will reduce cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

In an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America on Thursday, Dr Rochelle Walensky discussed the nearly 500 reports of the heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, in people under age 30 vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.

The previous day, a CDC advisory committee concluded that there is a 'likely association' between the two.

But Walensky said the side effect is rare and that, if one million teenagers between ages 12 and 17 are vaccinated over the next four months, there will be between 30 and 40 cases of myocarditis.

'And, for that, if we were to vaccinate all one million, we would avert 8,000 cases of Covid, 200 hospitalizations, 50 ICU stays and one death,' she told host Cecilia Vega.

'And so we weigh the risks as well as the benefits - these extraordinary benefits of vaccines - as we make these recommendations and it's why we at CDC have made the recommendations to vaccinate.'

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks of rare heart inflammation in teens and young adults because the shot will reduce cases, hospitalizations and deaths

As of Thursday, there have been 484 cases of myocarditis reported out of 90.6 million doses in Americans under age 30, manly after dose 2 and in males

According to a presentation released on Wednesday, the CDC's Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group said there have been 484 preliminary reports of myocarditis or pericarditis in young people under age 30 as of June 11.

So far, 323 have been confirmed by CDC and 148 are still under review.

In total, 309 patients were hospitalized, of which 295 were discharged and 79 percent have since recovered.

Nine patients are still hospitalized with two in intensive care units. There was no data available for five patients.

Males were much more likely to report heart inflammation after receiving a second dose than women.

As of June 11, there were 9.1 per million reported cases of myocarditis/pericarditis in females ages 12-to-17 compared to 66.7 per million in males of that age group.

Walensky said if 1 million teens were vaccinated, there would be 30-40 cases of myocarditis, but the shot would reduce cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Pictured: A teenager receives a COVID-19 vaccine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 2021

Young males were up to seven times more likely to report heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, than young women, which Walensky says may be due to hormonal differences

What's more, rates among females ages 18-to-24 and ages 25-to-29 were 5.5 per million and 2.6 per million, respectively.

Among males, rates were 56.3 per million for the 18-to-24 age group and 20.4 per million in the 25-to-29 age group.

Walensky was asked why many more cases of heart inflammation are being seen in young men compared to young women.

'Myocarditis itself is more predominant in males than it is in females, so we are seeing the same trends that we see in the disease itself,' she told Good Morning America.

'So it may be something associated with the hormones in men that make them more prone to myocarditis.'

With more than 90.6 million young Americans under age 30 who have received one or both doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it means just 0.000534 percent of people who have been administered the shots have reported such an effect.

Following the VaST meeting on Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services released a statement co-signed by the CDC and other groups reiterating that the risk of heart inflammation is rare.

'Only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination,' the statement read.

'Importantly, for the young people who do, most cases are mild, and individuals recover often on their own or with minimal treatment.

'In addition, we know that myocarditis and pericarditis are much more common if you get COVID-19, and the risks to the heart from COVID-19 infection can be more severe.'
Millions of COVID-19 cases went undiagnosed during the first months of the pandemic, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) analyzed blood samples from people across the country who hadn't received a Covid diagnosis.

They estimated that almost 17 million cases were missed nationwide and that for every COVID-19 case detected in spring and summer 2020, there were 4.8 undiagnosed infections.

Younger Americans, people of color, and those in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions were all more likely to have Covid antibodies - lining up with known patterns of the virus in the U.S. during the first half of last year.

The teams says the findings provide new insight into just how often COVID-19 cases may go undetected because many patients experience few or no symptoms.

Researchers at the NIH estimate that 17 million Americans caught Covid in the early months of the pandemic. Pictured: A Detroit resident gets vaccinated in June 2021

Antibody test results show that, during the first half of 2020, about 8.6 percent of Americans in the Mid-Atlantic region and 7.5 percent of those in the Northeast got Covid

Since March 2020, more than 33 million Americans have been infected with the novel coronavirus and more than 600,000 have died.

But these numbers may be significant undercounts because millions of Americans likely got infected but were never diagnosed.

In the early months of the pandemic, many Americans suspected they might have Covid but were unable to get tested.

With limited numbers of tests available, many healthcare providers only tested people with specific, flu-like symptoms or travel history to China.

As the virus spread, however, scientists learned more about other symptoms - loss of smell, fatigue, muscle aches - that didn't fit their past testing criteria.

The U.S. also learned that many people who are infected with the coronavirus never show symptoms at all.

The combination of inaccessible tests and no-symptom cases led to many cases going undetected, especially during the early months of the pandemic.

For the NIH study, published on Tuesday in Science Translational Medicine, researchers selected study participants from a pool of 240,000 volunteers, ensuring the study group was representative of the overall U.S. population.

About 8,000 participants had their blood drawn between May and July 2020 and completed surveys, telling the researchers about their demographics and work experiences during the pandemic.

The team then tested the blood samples for antibodies, immune system proteins that indicate a patient's body has fought off a coronavirus infection.

Out of the 8,000 volunteers tested, 304 had Covid antibodies.

None of the volunteers were diagnosed for COVID-19 before taking part in the study - meaning their Covid cases went undetected at the time they got sick.

From these results, the researchers estimated that 4.6 percent of U.S. adults had undiagnosed Covid during the first half of 2020.

This means that for every COVID-19 case that was diagnosed during that period, the researchers say, there were an estimated 4.8 cases that went undetected - a total of 16.8 million missed cases.

Those Americans most likely to have undetected Covid cases were also more likely to be exposed to the virus or not experience symptoms

'The estimate of COVID-19 cases in the United States in mid-July 2020, three million in a population of 330 million, should be revised upwards by almost 20 million when the percent of asymptomatic positive results is included,' said co-senior author Dr Kaitlyn Sadtler, scientist at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, in a press release.

'This wide gap between the known cases at the time and these asymptomatic infections has implications not only for retrospectively understanding this pandemic, but future pandemic preparedness.'

Demographic patterns in the antibody test results follow patterns in those cases that did get diagnosed in the first half of 2020.

The researchers found the highest test positivity in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions with 7.5 percent positive in the Northeast and 8.6 percent positive in the Mid-Atlantic, compared to positivity rates under 5 percent for the rest of the country.

These regions saw major outbreaks early in 2020, with New York and New Jersey as early hotspots.

Urban areas had higher positivity rates: 5.3 percent positive, compared to a rate of only 1.1 percent for rural areas. The virus did not hit many rural areas until later in 2020.

Younger Americans, who tend to experience less severe symptoms, were more likely to have their Covid cases go undetected. The 18-44 age group had a positivity rate of 5.9 percent, compared to rates under 4 percent for older adults.

Women had a higher positivity rate than men - 5.5 percent versus 3.5 percent - suggesting that women may also be less likely to experience severe symptoms.

People of color had higher COVID-19 prevalence rates than white people, adding to other data on the disproportionate burden that the pandemic has placed on racial minorities.

Black Americans had a positivity rate almost six times higher than white Americans: 14.2 percent compared to 2.5 percent. Native Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans also had higher rates.

Those who worked from home had lower positivity rates, likely because they were less exposed to the virus - a 3.0 positivity rate, compared to the national average of 4.6 percent.

Finally, those with prior vaccinations for the flu and pneumonia were also less likely to have Covid antibodies.

'This study helps account for how quickly the virus spread to all corners of the country and the globe,' said Dr Bruce Tromberg, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

'The information will be invaluable as we assess the best public health measures needed to keep people safe, as new - and even more transmissible - variants emerge and vaccine antibody response changes over time.'
The nation's largest health care union says it plans to oppose hospital COVID-19 vaccine mandates, setting up a showdown between workers and their employers around the country.

Earlier this month, NewYork-Presbyterian became the first hospital in the state, and one of the first in the country to require all employees to get vaccinated in order to keep their jobs.

The majority of staff, 70 percent have been vaccinated, officials say, and workers have until August 1 to apply for a medical or religious exemption.

But 1199SEIU, a union with more than 450,000 members between Florida, Maryland Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC, represents workers at the hospital, and plans to fight the mandate on behalf of their members.

While the union encourages its members to get vaccinated, officials say they oppose vaccine requirements.

In December, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that employers were allowed to mandate that staff receive immunizations.

1199SEIU, the nation's largest healthcare workers union that represents employees at NewYork-Presbyterian, plans to oppose the vaccine mandate

'We are not in agreement with a mandate of the COVID-19 vaccine,' George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU, said in a statement earlier this month.

'A hard-handed approach will not work and will only create greater frustration for the healthcare heroes who have been battling this pandemic every day for the last 15 months.

'We agree that vaccination is an important tool to help us move forward, but mandating vaccination is not, nor will it ever, be the answer.'

Gresham, who has received a vaccine himself, said his union plans to fight against the mandate.

'Whether there is a legal challenge that we can make, or whether it's just a pure organizational challenge that we can make, we are not going to just give in,' he told Gothamist.

1199SEIU did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) has also voiced opposition to the vaccine mandates.

On its website, NYSNA writes that it supports the vaccine, but believes its nurses have a right to have some reservations.

'The public has legitimate concerns regarding the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of any vaccine that has been developed and processed under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and one that particularly has been developed at 'warp speed'' says a statement.

All available COVID-19 vaccines have received emergency use authorization, but not full authorization, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

NewYork-Presbyterian hospital in New York City is requiring all of its employees to get at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot by September 1 in order to keep their jobs

The FDA issued the temporary form of authorization that will only last as long as the nation is in a state of emergency related to the virus - which is slated to end in March 2022.

While the vaccines are all believed to be totally safe, the vaccines will not be able to receive full authorization until they have a few years worth of clinical data.

NewYork-Presbyterian is giving all employees up to September 1 to get get at least the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to keep their jobs.

'The stakes in this matter are high, and the evidence is clear that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most important and responsible action we can take as NYP team members for the safety and well-being of our patients and visitors, our communities, and ourselves,' hospital leadership wrote in a memo to staff obtained by Gothamist.

The hospital already requires all staff to be vaccinated for the flu, measles, rubella and varicella.

Houston Methodist became the first hospital to institute an employee vaccine mandate earlier this year. More than 150 employees were terminated earlier this week for failing to get vaccinated

NewYork-Presbyterian is not the first hospital to issue a vaccine mandate.

Houston Methodist Hospital became the nation's first major hospital system to issue a vaccine mandate when they gave all employees up to June 6 to get fully vaccinated.

Just before the deadline, 117 employees joined a lawsuit, suing the hospital to remove the mandate.

The lawsuit was thrown out, and 153 employees were either terminated or resigned earlier this week.

Dozens of other hospitals have followed suit, including in states like Maryland, Florida and Washington D.C., where 1199SEIU also represents many healthcare employees, setting the stage for battles over the mandates across the country.
Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are in now occurring in people who aren't vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been.

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that 'breakthrough' infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,00 hospitalizations.

What's more, only about 150 of the more than 18,000 COVID-19 deaths in May were in fully vaccinated people, which translates to about 0.8 percent, or five deaths per day on average.

The data shows the value of the COVID-19 vaccine and are an indication that deaths per day - now averaging 300 per day - could be practically zero if everyone eligible was immunized.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said that almost all deaths from COVID-19 at this point are preventable due to the availability of the vaccines

The AP analyzed figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which itself had not estimated what percentage of hospitalizations and deaths are in fully vaccinated people.

The analysis found that only 45 states report breakthrough infections, so there may be some undercounting in the case total among vaccinated people.

Currently, it is believed that breakthrough infections account for under 0.1 percent of new COVID cases.

Breakthrough cases are often less severe, though, as antibodies supplied by the vaccine help combat the worst effects of the virus.

'Nearly every death, especially among adults, due to COVID-19, is, at this point, entirely preventable,' said CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, suggested that 98 percent to 99 percent of the Americans dying of the coronavirus are unvaccinated.

Cases and deaths in the United States have plummeted in recent months, as more and more Americans get vaccinated.

The nation is recording about 80,000 new cases a week at the moment, a large drop from the peak of the pandemic in January, where more than 1.75 million cases were recorded in a week.

The U.S. also has not recorded more than 1,000 deaths in a single day in more than three months.

Credit for the lowering cases goes to the COVID-19 vaccines.

More than 65 percent of American adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with around half being fully vaccinated.

While vaccines remain scarce in much of the world, the U.S. supply is so abundant and demand has slumped so dramatically that shots sit unused.

Ross Bagne, a 68-year-old small-business owner in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was eligible for the vaccine in early February but didn't get it.

He died June 4, infected and unvaccinated, after spending more than three weeks in the hospital, his lungs filling with fluid.

He was unable to swallow because of a stroke.

'He never went out, so he didnt think he would catch it,' said his grieving sister, Karen McKnight.

She wondered: 'Why take the risk of not getting vaccinated?'

The preventable deaths will continue, experts predict, with unvaccinated pockets of the nation experiencing outbreaks in the fall and winter.

Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said modeling suggests the nation will hit 1,000 deaths per day again next year.

Many of these unvaccinated pockets are in the southeastern United States, where states like Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and others are struggling to get their populations vaccinated.

First Lady Jill Biden visited Mississippi and Tennessee this week, promoting the vaccine and hoping to sway the state's unvaccinated populations to receive the shots.

While the vaccines have contributed to lower case and death rates, people who live in pockets of the country with a lower vaccination rate are at risk of experiencing another outbreak in their community. Many states in the south have had trouble getting people vaccinated

Mississippi (36 percent of population at least partially vaccinated) has the lowest percentage of people vaccinated of any U.S. state.

Tennessee and Arkansas (41 percent each) are not doing much better.

For comparison, Vermont (73 percent) leads the nation and has more than twice the percentage of people vaccinated.

Over half, 54 percent, of all Americans have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Delta variant - an extremely contagious variant of the virus that originated in India - is on the rise as well, having been recorded in 41 U.S. states.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, predicts that the variant accounts for 20 percent of active cases in America, and will be the dominant strain of the virus in a matter of weeks.

While the vaccines are believed to be able to protect from the Delta variant, unvaccinated people will be at risk - especially if they live in a largely unvaccinated area.

In Arkansas cases, hospitalizations and deaths are rising.

'It is sad to see someone go to the hospital or die when it can be prevented,' Gov. Asa Hutchinson tweeted as he urged people to get their shots.

First Lady Jill Biden visited Mississippi and Tennessee - two of the state's with the lowest percentage of people vaccinated - to promote the vaccine

In the St. Louis area, more than 90 percent of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated, said Dr Alex Garza, a hospital administrator who directs a metropolitan-area task force on the outbreak.

'The majority of them express some regret for not being vaccinated,' Garza said.

'Thats a pretty common refrain that were hearing from patients with COVID.'

The stories of unvaccinated people dying may convince some people they should get the shots, but young adults - the group least likely to be vaccinated - may be motivated more by a desire to protect their loved ones, said David Michaels, an epidemiologist at George Washington University's school of public health in the nation's capital.
BOOK OF THE WEEK

SEX: LESSONS FROM HISTORY

by Fern Riddell (Hodder 20, 368pp)

Even I, an Oxford man, did not know the F-word was named after Simon Fukkebotere, a 13th-century butter-churner in Ipswich whose trade was seen to be synonymous with sex.

I definitely did not know there are 93 penises littered throughout the Bayeux Tapestry. I think I thought they were dropped stitches.

Author Fern Riddell also tells us drawings of rude body parts litter cave walls, and if the Roman town of Pompeii heaved under the weight of phallic statuary, these images were a fetish for fertility, an idolisation of the mother and a celebration of the power of reproduction.

The alarming carvings found in Celtic churches also had symbolic significance  it was believed the sight of a womans vulva would scare away the Devil, though Peter Cushing relied on a brandished crucifix.

Sex: Lessons from History (inset) explores attitudes to sex culture throughout history, from early sex toys and birth control to pregnancies, rape and prostitution

Nevertheless, despite some people trying to argue that sex cured baldness, staved off the plague and prevented stagnation of the liver, as this book demonstrates, carnal commerce, rumpy-pumpy or a session in Cupids Cloister has generally met with medical and governmental disapproval.

To try anything outside the missionary position and which might be enjoyed for purposes other than the continuation of our species was simply to ask for trouble. Sex was bestial, shameful, a heinous sin and so forth, thundered against from pulpits and in law courts. Even erotic dreams were meant to be an indication of demonic possession.

In 1894, John Harvey Kellogg, a doctor and nutritionist, developed cornflakes to try to calm people down, the roughage intended as a purgative. But he didnt stop there. Kellogg thought male arousal should be discouraged with electrocution of the penis. Weights were to be tied to the testicles.

I wonder what torture hed have prescribed for Samuel Pepys, who pleasured himself in public, particularly when sitting in church and seeing the Portuguese ladies-in-waiting of Charles IIs wife, Catherine of Braganza. God forgive me for it, he wrote in his diary, it being in chapel.

In 1894, John Harvey Kellogg, developed cornflakes to try to calm people down, and thought male arousal should be discouraged with electrocution of the penis (file image of cornflakes)

Whats apparent from Riddells study of sex from a historical perspective is that frenzied fulfilment was seen as a uniquely male thing, and women were seldom thought to have actively engaged with the erotic side of life.

Queen Victoria did not believe lesbians existed. Why would a woman desire a woman for foul lusts? On the Continent, however, lesbians were routinely executed. A girl was publicly drowned in Germany in 1477; two girls were tortured in Bordeaux; two nuns were burned alive in Spain.

In England, it was homosexual men who were persecuted  and in the Royal Navy, homosexuality was a worse crime than murder. Deviants were imprisoned for indecency and immorality, shackled to a treadmill and fed on oatmeal gruel  the ordeal of Oscar Wilde. In 1835, John Pratt (30) and John Smith (41) were hanged for indecently assaulting each other in the privacy of a hotel room. Even in the post-war period, Alan Turing was chemically castrated.

Henry VIII wanted to believe priests and monks were guilty of buggerie as he needed theological and legal authority for confiscating their lands and money. St Thomas Aquinas had obligingly decreed a homosexual should first lose his testicles, then his member and if he does it a third time, he must be burned.

As Riddell says, however, sex is not something we have ever successfully restrained with laws or punishments, or anyway not entirely; and there were always private clubs, where chaps could dress up in a cooks shawl and apron, flirt with soldiers dressed in the uniform of the Horse Guards, and cross paths with friends named Orange Mary, Pretty Chris, Hardware Nan and Flying Horse Moll. Which all reminds me of Larry Graysons companions, Everard and Pop-It-In Pete, the postman.

Whilst Riddell regrets the hypocrisy and harassment  all the ways human beings have attempted to regulate sex since the dawn of time  she also points out that a lot of fun has been had with (to use a few euphemisms) hysterical paroxysms and pelvic massage. I loved hearing about early sex toys on sale in a shop in Leicester Square, such as the fornicatory dolls and mysterious Parisian Rubber Articles.

She points out that Eliza Doolittle, portrayed by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (pictured), insists Im a good girl, I am! when plucked from the gutter by Professor Higgins as she came from an area of London renowned for child slavery and abuse

Edward VIIs queen, Alexandra, actually commercially endorsed something called a motorised saddle. The mind boggles, though she was Danish.

Birth control is a big subject. Contraceptives were known as Rubber Preventive Devices, the French Remedy, or Ladies And Gentlemens India Rubber Surgical Appliances.

Spanish condoms were extra strong and large in size, so no wonder the Costa Brava would become a popular holiday destination. Condom boxes were camouflaged as cigarette packets and could be customised with regimental colours. Its a sign of how sex was generally not fit to be named among Christians, however, that birth control pamphlets were banned as obscene and the authors arrested. Customs and Excise were always keen to seize pornography.

In 1874, 130,248 photographic plates and slides were confiscated. If only James Joyces correspondence had been intercepted  a note to Nora, telling her shed soon begin to groan and grunt and sigh and fart with lust sold at auction the other day for 240,000.

Riddells book grows dark in subject-matter when she sees how proletarian women were burdened with unwanted pregnancies, raped with impunity and driven by poverty into prostitution.

She points out that Eliza Doolittle, though a flower-seller when portrayed by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, came from an area of London renowned for child slavery and abuse. Im a good girl, I am! Eliza insists, when plucked from the gutter by Professor Higgins. The seemingly jolly musical has a sinister undercurrent, about power, class and control.

As we discover from Riddells survey, sex-wise there is nothing new under the sun. Its all been going on for centuries. Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, and have done since the year dot.

SEX: LESSONS FROM HISTORY by Fern Riddell (Hodder 20, 368pp)

Even switching gender, which we hear so much about today, is not a novelty. In 1906, Martha Baer underwent surgery to defeminise her body.

With the help of Dr Magnus Hirschfeld, who ran Berlins Institute for Sexual Research, which offered counselling, sex education, advice on birth control and fought for the acceptance by society of people otherwise deemed deviant, Baer brought a legal case for an acceptance of her body and person as male. (Germany as a centre of sexual liberation was quickly shut down by the Nazis  though I always found their uniforms and leather fetish somewhat camp).

The difference in the 21st century is that sex is all about the individual  it has become narcissistic, with people wanting to present themselves as perfect on social media. Everything is virtual.

There is an avoidance of actual relationships, perhaps because relationships are messy, fraught with danger and unpredictability. Hurl a pass and it goes wrong, flirt and it misfires  you can be in instant and lingering hot water. What people are wedded to instead are their smartphones.

As Riddell, a distinguished cultural historian and media personality, shows, we think we are modern and permissive. We are not. And the tragedy is that the idea of sex as a shared experience now makes everyone wary.

So, take it from an old hand, sex is only dirty if you are doing it right.


GOING WITH THE BOYS

by Judith Mackrell (Picador 20, 456pp)

On August 28, 1939, a diminutive 27-year-old woman from Leicestershire boldly drove across the Polish border for a shopping trip to Germany.

The previous day Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had warned Hitler that an invasion of Poland would be defended by the British and most Poles believed that would keep them safe. But novice reporter Clare Hollingworth wasnt convinced and she was determined to take a closer look.

Hollingworth spent the day in Germany buying goods that were scarce in Poland  wine, torches, camera film  but it was on the drive back along the frontier road that she got her scoop and broke news of World War II. A sudden gust of wind blew aside the camouflage screens lining the route to reveal hundreds of tanks lined up ready to go into Poland.

Eyewitness: Novice reporter Clare Hollingworth, then 27, had only been working for The Daily Telegraph for a week when she was the only British journalist on the spot as the Germans invaded Poland in 1939 (pictured in 1932)

When she returned, breathless, with the news, the British consul-general in Warsaw wouldnt believe shed even made it into Germany until she brandished her shopping bags. Then the mood changed and he sent a coded message to London, while she called her gobsmacked editor at The Daily Telegraph.

Two days later, on the September 1, Hollingworth woke in her hotel room in Katowice, 160 miles from Warsaw, to hear the German bombers delivering the first of their payload.

Staff at the British Embassy still refused to believe her until she held the telephone receiver out of the window so they could hear the gunfire. Hollingworth was the only British journalist on the spot. The boot manufacturers daughter  whose education had ended at a domestic science college for lady housewives  had been in the job only a week.

Over the next few weeks she kept ahead of the Panzer divisions, driving across cornfields in her battered old car in the hope of witnessing the final fall of Warsaw.

American war correspondent Martha Gellhorn (pictured in 1946) was just 28 when she stowed away on a ship bound for Normandy to become the only female reporter present at D-Day

Hollingworth  who liked to say that only second-rate men are scared of being outclassed by a woman  is one of six extraordinarily resourceful women featured in Judith Mackrells tribute to the female reporters of World War II.

A couple of Mackrells subjects are already well known. Theres the maverick Martha Gellhorn, whod be furious to know shes still widely remembered for her brief marriage to Ernest Hemingway.

She was just 28 when she scooped her husband (and the rest of the press corps) by stowing away on a ship bound for Normandy to become the only female reporter present at D-Day.

Then theres the traumatic tale of Lee Miller  the American fashion model-turned-photographer who covered the London Blitz, the liberation of Paris and the camps at Buchenwald and Dachau for Vogue. Miller was the woman everybody wanted to know because she always had whisky, cigarettes and a plan.

But she had been damaged by the war and could never get the stench of Dachau out of my nostrils. She died in 1977, a raging alcoholic consumed by self-loathing.

GOING WITH THE BOYS by Judith Mackrell (Picador 20, 456pp)

Mackrells lesser known subjects are equally astonishing. I was in awe of steely Jewish Sigrid Schultz, holding her nerve at dinner parties with the Third Reichs top brass to send damning reports from Berlin to the Chicago Tribune, which published them under a pseudonym.

I was thrilled by Virginia Cowles, the glamorous American debutante who crawled through trenches in her high heels, got kidnapped by a smitten Russian general and sweet-talked Unity Mitford into giving her the low-down on Hitlers character.

Mitford told Cowles that the dictator loved doing impressions of his fellow fascists  Goebbels, Goering, Himmler and especially Mussolini - but what he really likes is excitement. Otherwise he gets bored. Cowles blanched to think that world happiness hung on the ennui of one man.

Although Mackrell reminds us male war correspondents still roughly outnumber women by three to one, the women in her book prove gender is no barrier to doing the job well. They all lived on the edge, getting something out of history, as Gellhorn said, that is more than anyone has a decent right to hope for.
THE WEEKEND by Charlotte Wood (W&N 8.99, 288 pp)

THE WEEKEND

by Charlotte Wood (W&N 8.99, 288 pp)

In the scorching heat of an Australian Christmas, three seventy-something friends meet at a beach house in the coastal town of Bittoes.

The house belonged to Sylvie, the fourth member of their tight-knit quartet, who died almost a year ago. Now Jude, Wendy and Adele have gathered to clear the place.

Each woman is facing a life crisis: the controlling behaviour of former restaurant manager Jude reflects the lack of control she has in her long relationship with her married lover, Daniel.

Actress Adele faces a dwindling career and an uncertain future. Wendy, a successful academic, risks Judes fury by bringing her incontinent dog, Finn, to the house. Charlotte Woods powerful novel depicts old age as a time when hope, desire and love are still felt as vividly as they were in youth.

V FOR VICTORY by Lissa Evans (Penguin 8.99, 304 pp)

V FOR VICTORY

by Lissa Evans (Penguin 8.99, 304 pp)

Readers of Lissa Evanss earlier novel, The Crooked Heart, will recognise her resourceful heroine, Vee, and her streetwise orphaned charge, Noel. Now known as Mrs Margery Overs, a respectable widow, Vee makes a precarious living for herself and Noel, whom she claims is her nephew, by running a Hampstead boarding house.

Noel roams the hazardous adventure playground that is London during the Blitz, and pursues a delicious romantic friendship with his captivating next-door-neighbour, Genevieve.

But when Vee is witness to a street accident, the stability that she and Noel have fought so hard to achieve is put in jeopardy. Evanss warm-hearted novel is a delightful celebration of love, loyalty and the quiet heroism of ordinary people in extraordinary times.

DIARY OF AN MPS WIFE by Sasha Swire (Abacus 9.99, 544 pp)

DIARY OF AN MPS WIFE

by Sasha Swire (Abacus 9.99, 544 pp)

If journalism is the first draft of history, political diaries are where the untold stories of government lie buried  at least until the diarist decides to make them public.

Sasha Swire gave up a career as a journalist when she married Hugo Swire, a former minister under David Cameron.

Sasha comes from old political stock: her father is Sir John Nott, one of Margaret Thatchers ministers; and she had the extra advantage of being close friends with David and Samantha Cameron.

As a secret journal writer since childhood, she found herself with plenty to record during the years from 2010 to 2019. The diaries offer an irreverent and often scurrilous behind-the-scenes account of a turbulent period in our island story. As she says: A minute is a long time in politics these days.
Financial media regards City communications firms with a degree of disdain. Many see the likes of Brunswick and Finsbury Glover Hering as obstacles, with a job to spin a tale and to keep intrepid reporters at a distance from the truth.

The dark arts deployed in hostile situations such as contested takeover bids, when less experienced reporters are ignored or cajoled into submission, should never be tolerated.

Yet we should remember that the new breed of global firms, which began as small outfits in or around the Square Mile, are as much part of London's emergence as a world-leading financial centre as the investment banks, the private equity buccaneers and 'magic circle' legal firms.

The new breed of global PR firms are as much part of London's emergence as a world-leading financial centre as investment banks, private equity buccaneers and 'magic circle' legal firms

My early discovery as a journalist working in the US was that there was no culture of financial PR.

Companies did their own communications and those which did employ outside experts, such as the investment bank Salomons, used publicists which usually consisted of one person and a dog.

Garnering reliable information on the complex rescue of Chrysler in the 1980s was like pulling teeth. There was a big space on Wall Street and in lobbying on Capitol Hill to move into.

The UK firms have become big hitters in the US, only rivalled by Clinton-connected Teneo.

It needs all the reputational advice it can muster following allegations of drunken, inappropriate behaviour by its boss Declan Kelly at the Vax Live concert in Los Angeles.

It is to the credit of Alan Parker at Brunswick, Roland Rudd at Finsbury et al that they saw the opening and exploited it.

From its understated HQ at Lincoln's Inn, Brunswick has grown into an enterprise valued at 500million, with tentacles which reach across the Atlantic and into Asia.

Releasing cash by bringing in outside investor BDT will assist in avoiding a brain drain. Parker's own local difficulty over disclosures at Save the Children, where he was chairman, has not held him back.

Among Brunswick's breakthrough operations was working with City newcomers Goldman Sachs in defending Britain's then premier industrial group ICI from an assault by Lord Hanson.

Finsbury was at the forefront of the battle to save Astrazeneca (an ICI spin-out) from a hostile takeover attempt in 2014. Andrew Grant at Tulchan helped to keep Unilever out of the hands of private equity and in London.

At present Brunswick is behind the barricades at Glaxosmithkline where aggressive activist Elliott Advisers has taken aim at Emma Walmsley, one of a handful of female FTSE 100 chief executives.

Global Britain is all about projecting the UK's skills as a service provider.

It is remarkable that from small acorns in the City, British PR has come to dominate global M&A tables.

No saints

Let's be clear from the start: St Modwen is no Morrisons. Britain's food security, up to 100,000 employees and consumer choice are not at stake.

That doesn't mean that it should be ushered into the arms of Blackstone enthusiastically.

The board, headed by the estimable Danuta Gray, has not covered itself in glory. It accepted a low-ball bid and was forced to eke out a higher price of 560p a share or 1.3billion after dissident investor JO Hambro felt it was sold short.

The difficulty is that St Modwen defies analysis because it is a dog's dinner of a company with a bit of housebuilding and a promising warehousing operation. It is the latter which made it attractive.

Blackstone has unlimited amounts of capital and is on a global rampage. If it carries on as it is, it could end up owning the whole world.

That would not be pleasant given its raw history with care homes in the UK and trailer parks in the US.

But it cannot be blamed for malfunctioning equity markets or an unambitious management team which could have picked up the logistics ball and occupied the fastest-growing space in real estate.

What a mess.

Timed out

There is a nice symmetry about ITV moving into the BBC's abandoned broadcast centre at White City. Cutting costs has been paramount but making long-term decisions about 'hybrid' working, with Covid still raging, is premature.

After all, media is all about mixing and creativity. As a senior FTSE 100 executive told me the other the other day: 'I would rather slit my wrists than attend one more Zoom meeting.'
What does a professional investor do when the stock market is crashing?

How do they react when shares are falling hard and fast and stocks in their portfolio are tossed about in a sea of red, but companies theyd like to buy are on offer at half their price a month ago?

This is an intriguing question for us amateur investors and one that fund manager Georgina Brittain answered candidly in my recent Investing Show interview with her.

Avoiding panicking is the obvious move, the manager of the JP Morgan UK Smaller companies trust and other funds said, because by the time you do its too late.

Too late to sell: Investors are warned against ditching shares when markets tumble by 40%, as the FTSE 100 did last year, but how many are brave enough to buy

That was what she told her team, who turned to her decades of experience in investing as markets nosedived in the Covid crash of February and March last year.

If you were really, really smart you panicked in January, you sold a lot of these things and then you bought them back in March, Georgina said. That was not a Mystic Meg move that she or her team managed to make.

Of course, there may have been some smart investors who did spot the worrying coronavirus signs emerging out of China in January 2020 and bailed out, but they will be few and far between.

For the rest of us, last years crash was one of those gut-wrenchingly relentless plunges that can chip double-digit percentages off your investment portfolios value each week, or even each day.

If weve done our homework or successfully ridden out some storms before, we know not to panic, however great the temptation may be. But there is a flipside to any crash  and that is the buying opportunity as the market goes on sale.

Be greedy when others are fearful is the Warren Buffett-ism weve all heard, but thats a lot easier said than done when the world feels like its falling apart

So, whats it like for a fund manager?

'It's incredibly tough, said Georgina. I have managed money for almost 25 years. You think youve seen it all. You know that at times its stressful or very stressful. Last year was off the clock, is the only way to describe it in terms of the stress.

Mentally, intellectually, you know this is the right thing to do but on the day it feels pretty silly. And especially because then the next day shares are down even more

Yet, she said, that you have to steel yourself against that and have faith that buying good companies when their price is down will pay off.

She said: Mentally, intellectually, you know this is the right thing to do  well youre very confident it will prove to be the right thing to be done  but on the day it feels pretty silly.

'And especially because then the next day shares are down even more and you think hmm.

It is a test of really understanding your companies. Understanding the fundamental drivers of each of the companies we invest in.

Georgina added: You have to really push yourself and just keep focussing back on the fundamentals of why you own these companies, why you want to own them and why you think they are long-term winners.

Sounds easy doesnt it, but my goodness it was hard.

Shes right, it is hard. I know this because I only got my strategy half right as the crash hit. I did my not panicking thing and I even did a bit of buying, but I didnt fill my boots as I had always promised myself that I would.

Id say that I have been investing properly for about a dozen years  prior to that Id dabbled in a few things here and there but not taken it too seriously.

That means I started in earnest after the financial crisis crash, but unfortunately not close enough to it to catch the rebound.

Ever since, I have always told myself that the next time the market fell 30 per cent, I was buying as much as I possibly could of quality stuff that had tumbled in value.

Thats based on the fact that I know how rare it is for the stock market to crash 30 per cent  its a once a decade or more-type thing  that markets always over-react, and that if you are patient and think long-term, its highly likely buying will pay off.

And so, last March I watched the market drop by my magic number  and then keep going  but I didnt properly pull the trigger.

I can pinpoint my problem in not doing what I knew I should: the speed, strength and illogical nature of the rebound.

Led by the US tech stars, shares started bouncing again in late March, just as the UK and major western economies went into unprecedented lockdowns.

Like many I thought: This cant be it. This cant last. Shares will dive again.

Some did, of course, but a lot of good stuff has powered ahead since  and I missed my opportunity to buy when it was on a big discount.

As with many investors, the question I now ask myself is: What happens next and with things looking so frothy, have we seen the best of the rebound?

I dont know the answer to that, but Im willing to back the idea that a strong consumer recovery means some companies have plenty of headroom for further gains.

I just wish Id bought them a year ago, at 40 or 50 per cent off.
Timber, wood panelling and decorative wooden surface supplier James Latham has seen its profits rise even as a squeeze on construction supplies in the past year pushed prices up.

AIM-listed and UK-based, James Latham reported brisk business as a lockdown home renovation boom gripped the nation.

The group, which was founded in 1757, provides everything from wood-based panel products like plywood to MDF mouldings such as skirting boards.

Wood panels have become a fashionable home renovation item, boosting James Latham

James Lathams' pre-tax profit for the year to 31 March came in at 18.6million, up 2.9million on the previous year, and revenue rose 1.3 per cent to 250.2million.

The group's comments on prices are pretty striking.

It said: 'The cost price of our products has started to rise significantly in the second half of the year and are on average 7.3 per cent higher than at the start of the financial year.'

James Latham shares rose almost 2 per cent yesterday and are up almost 25 per cent this year.

In a boost for shareholders, the group's top brass have declared a final dividend of 15.5p a share, up from 10p a share. Shareholders will receive their dividend payout on 27 August.

The company said strong demand for the products it supplies had continued at pace into its new financial year, with margins on the up as well.

It added: 'Global demand for timber products is very strong, being driven primarily by North America, but also from the construction sector worldwide.

'Many manufacturers have introduced an allocation system limiting the ability for us to grow our volumes.

'These manufacturers are unable to significantly increase capacity as they struggle with Covid-19 (especially in South America), labour shortages, rising costs and a shortage of raw materials.

'We have seen significant price rises on many commodity products. This is an area where our volumes have grown as we have been able to use our supplier relationships to secure supply of product for our customers in these exceptional market conditions.

'There have also been worldwide issues on shortages of shipping containers, in part due to the pandemic, with increased container rates which has further increased the costs of many of our imported products, as well as creating severe delays to shipments.'

James Latham shares have proved a profitable investment over the long-term

Timber prices have climbed due to a shortage of supply as demand has risen

Looking ahead, James Latham said its outlook was difficult to predict, but noted that the current supply situation looked set to continue for the rest of the year.

It added: 'Visibility beyond that is much more uncertain, but we know that the market will change at some point.'

James Latham's share price is now nearly 40 per cent higher than it was a year ago, when it stood at 845.00p.

During the pandemic, lumber prices rose sharply amid global shortages, sending construction costs through the roof.

Housebuilders and DIY chains were left battling for supplies while demand continued to soar. In May, lumber prices spiked at around $1,607.50, but have seen slipped to around the $867 mark.

'As the economy has opened back up, people are doing less around their homes', Chris McIver, senior vice-president West Fraser, the world's biggest lumber producer, told the Financial Times.

He added: 'That was enough to drive prices in the other direction which were too high and unsustainable.'

But, a sizeable chunk of lumber brokers think prices will rise at the years roll on, amid cheap mortgage deals and global mass housebuilding projects.
For those who have always dreamt of working down a mine in the middle of the Outback, this could be the opportunity youve been waiting for.

The shutdown of Australias borders during the pandemic has helped keep the virus at bay. But it has also fuelled an acute labour shortage Down Under  not least in its mining industry.

Anglo-Australian behemoths Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton are among those facing spiralling wage bills, delays to projects and hits to production as they struggle to recruit key workers, from train drivers to engineers.

The shutdown of Australias borders during the pandemic has helped keep the virus at bay. But it has also fuelled an acute labour shortage Down Under  not least in its mining industry

Now ministers in Canberra have responded to urgent appeals from mining and hospitality bosses by doubling the scope of its fast-track visa programme for foreign skilled workers.

Engineers, drillers, underground surveyors and geologists are among 22 occupations added to the federal governments Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List, alongside chefs and accountants.

Other professions added to the fast-track visa list include prosthetists and cartographers, as well as software programmers.

They join key workers like GPs, nurses and midwives, taking the total number of professions in Australias fast track visa scheme to 41.

Applications for foreigners who work in these roles will be prioritised by immigration officials, so long as they have an Australian employer to sponsor them.

Drillers, geologists and engineers can expect to command six-figure salaries, with miners forced to pay top dollar due to the labour shortage.

One major catch is that  until the rules change  they will have to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks at their own expense.

Rising costs: Haulage trucks at the Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara, West Australia. Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton are among those facing spiralling wage bills

The skills crunch has echoes of the mining boom more than a decade ago when thousands of foreigners  including plenty of Brits  were lured Down Under to work in highly paid jobs.

This time the backdrop is very different, with Australias prime minister Scott Morrison warning its international borders may not be reopened until the second half next year.

This risks starving businesses of vital foreign labour for the foreseeable future.

A report commissioned by Western Australias Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) has warned the state, a mining powerhouse, faces a shortfall of up to 33,000 workers in the next two years without reforms to encourage interstate and international migration.

It said the severe skills shortage in the mining sector has been caused by a perfect storm of factors, including border closures, the backlog of maintenance work which was delayed by Covid, and the demand for skilled workers generated by big government-backed infrastructure projects.

Interstate border closures and restrictions have also contributed to the labour shortage in Western Australia.

Underlining the ongoing threat to the labour market, millions of people in Sydney have just been banned this week from leaving the city following a small outbreak of the Indian variant of Covid near Bondi Beach.

Western Australia, as well as Queensland and South Australia, have responded by shutting their borders to much of Sydney.





The CME report predicted a wide range of impacts on the resources sector, the Western Australian economy, and state government if the labour shortage is not addressed.

And it said mining companies could face spiralling costs and delays to major projects.

Rob Carruthers, director of policy and advocacy at the CME, said: The consequences of not addressing these shortages are pretty acute.

The skills crunch in the mining sector is set to become more urgent, with an estimated 76billion of projects in the pipeline as record iron ore prices have turbo-charged the mining sector.

Those with most at stake include FTSE 100 firms Rio Tinto and BHP, which have raked in bumper profits and paid out record dividends to investors on the back of the surge in iron prices. Rio Tinto has four big projects on the go.

The biggest of these is the new 2billion Gudai-Darri mine in the Pilbara, Australias mining heartland in the remote north-west.

The firm previously told investors that a combination of the labour shortage and cyclone season has already disrupted maintenance of its mines in the Pilbara region.

BHP has also warned of a critical shortage of train drivers in the Pilbara.

Steve Knott, chief executive of the Australian Mines and Metals Association, said the closure of international borders to skilled migrants has wreaked havoc on the mining industry.

The CME also said the expansion of the fast-track visa programme should help address the labour shortage.

But it has urged the Australian government to go further by establishing a special mining visa  similar to the agricultural visa launched for South East Asian nations.

Western Australias premier Mark McGowan will meet with industry leaders at a skills summit in Perth next week.

Rio and BHP shareholders, living half a world away back in Britain, have every reason to hope its a fruitful one.
Makeover mission: Former Capita boss Paul Pindar

Private equity has an image problem  but one man trying to change all that is Paul Pindar, the former 3i high flyer who then became boss of FTSE 250 outsourcer Capita for 27 years.

His venture Literacy Capital, which was founded in 2017, floats on the stock market today and he is hoping it can change how private equity is viewed.

While private equity is usually known for raking in vast returns and doling out eye-watering pay packages to its partners, Literacy Capital will donate 0.9 per cent of the fund's value every year to charities helping children learn how to read and write.

'We have an extremely unique structure because we are the only private equity firm in the UK which has part-charitable purposes,' Pindar says.

'Every year 200,000 kids in the UK leave primary school without being able to read or write properly. It's a massive barrier to economic growth.'

The idea was inspired by his wife Sharon. 'She was brought up in a tough council estate in Wrexham and her mum couldn't read or write well, and her dad was abusive,' he explains.

'The fact that her mum couldn't read or write meant she felt trapped  it affects your ability to work, and she felt that she couldn't leave.'

Pindar is happy to address the villainous image which private equity has created for itself, promising that his firm is in it for the long term.

'We will happily take a 15-year view when we invest,' he says, dispelling any worries about short-term outlooks.
British financial technology star Wise has confirmed plans for what could be the biggest stock market float in London for a decade.

The company said it was planning a direct listing on July 7 in a deal that could value it at anything between 5billion and 9billion.

A value at the upper end of that range would make it the biggest float in London since Glencores blockbuster 38billion stock market debut in 2011. And it is set to hand its founders a fortune.

Payday: Wise's founders Taavet Hinrikus (left) and Kristo Kaarmann (right) look set to earn a fortune from what might be the biggest stock market float in London for a decade

London-based Wise was set up in 2010 by two Estonian entrepreneurs, Kristo Kaarmann and Taavet Hinrikus.

Kaarmann owns 19.8 per cent of the company  a holding that could be worth up to 1.8billion  while Hinrikus stands to see his 11.5 per cent stake valued at as much as 1billion.

But unlike a normal float, the direct listing will see it sell shares without setting a price in advance, with the opening figure determined by an auction on the day.

It is being seen as a key test of investors appetite after a mixed record for floats in recent months.

Food delivery firm Deliveroo was dubbed Floperoo after its shares tanked by a third on the first day of trading, while chip designer Alphawave IP also tumbled out of the gate.

Others such as cyber-security firm Darktrace and e-greetings card retailer Moonpig have fared better, while bathroom products firm Victorian Plumbing romped higher this week, but the overall picture remains patchy.

Neil Wilson, chief markets analyst at Markets.com, said: Wise seems a good business, I just dont know if in the current market investors are willing to pay up at this kind of valuation.

'I dont think the London market is that able or willing to provide this kind of liquidity.

It is also unclear whether Wise has secured guaranteed backing from institutional investors yet.

As we saw with Deliveroo this was the biggest problem, as there was no buyer of last resort that was willing to take on more as the share price fell, thus stabilising it, Wilson added.

Wise is using a controversial dual-class share structure that will ensure that investors who held shares before its listing  including Virgin tycoon Richard Branson and Paypal founder Peter Thiel  retain outsized voting powers.

Kaarmann said: Since announcing our expected intention to float last week, weve had over 60,000 expressions of interest in our customer shareholder programme.
Chris Hemsworth has been spotted drinking with fans in regional Australia after generously donating $10,000 worth of medical equipment to a local health clinic.

The items were gifted to the Armajun Aboriginal Health Service in Armidale. in northern New South Wales, on Tuesday by a film producer called Harry who had been filming a National Geographic documentary with the Thor star.

Hours later, the 37-year-old A-lister and his personal trainer Luke Zocchi were photographed mingling with staff and locals at the Tattersalls Hotel in the heart of the small town.

'Such lovely guys who were happy to get a few pics with our team before they headed off,' the hotel wrote on social media.

Pictured: Chris Hemsworth (right) with staff at the The Tattersalls Hotel in Armidale, NSW

Armajun Aboriginal Health Service (pictured) were gifted $10,000 in medical equipment by Chris Hemsworth and National Geographic

Pictured: Chris Hemsworth (right) with employees at a local pub in Armidale after gifting $10,000 worth of medical supplies to a local clinic

Following the generous donation, Rachael Kliendienst, who is a clinical coordinator at the Armajun centre, wrote on Facebook that the film crew were looking for a 'worthy little clinic that may benefit [from the medical supplies], and they found us'.

Ms Kliendienst told Daily Mail Australia that the medical supplies, which included an X-ray light, medical trolley, thermometers, and a weight and height machine means 'everything' to the clinic.

'I think this random act of kindness has meant a lot to a lot of people who just really need to know that the little guys matter to the big guys,' she said.

She also said she was so shocked by the generous donation that she had to 'grab the side of the van to hold myself up'.

'He opened the truck  I said, "I don't understand, can I just pick something?"  and he said "no, you can have it all". I cried.'

Ms Kliendienst said the good deed would make a big difference at the regional clinic, which struggles to access supplies.

'I cuddled him for an awkward amount of time and then I called him Prince Harry,' she added.

Pictured: Two awe-struck employees at the Armajun Aboriginal Health Service in Armidale after receiving the huge donation

The generous donation (pictured) included an X-ray light, medical trolley, thermometers, and a weight and height machine

'I hope Chris, National Geographic and 'our Prince Harry' get to read this as you have no idea what you've done,' the coordinator added.

'Stop by anytime and I'd be happy to share stories about what my amazing staff achieve and what your generous support has done to help continue to do what great work they do for our community.'

It's understood the Hollywood heartthrob has been working on a project called Limitless with National Geographic, which sees him 'embark on an epic mission to transform himself by training for six extraordinary challenges, showing how to fight ageing and every stage of life'.

Hemsworth's donation comes weeks after he donated two tickets for the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder, scheduled to be released in 2022, at the Gold Dinner 2021.

The tickets went under the hammer for $60,000, which helped raise a record setting $4.4million for the Sydney Children's Hospital foundation.
CNN's Brian Stelter's revised book 'Hoax' has delivered 'embarrassing' sales in its two weeks on the shelves, data obtained by DailyMail.com shows.

Stelter originally released his book Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth in August 2020, but on June 8 released an updated version with new chapters on the January 6 Capitol Riot, claims of voter fraud, and the rise of conservative media outlets Newsmax and OANN.

But despite Stelter's aggressive book tour - which included stops at CNN's Cuomo Prime Time and New Day, MSNBC's Chris Hayes, C-SPAN, the Joe Madison Podcast, a launch party and nonstop promotion on his Twitter - the numbers are worrisome.

According to Bookscan, 'Hoax' sold just 1,738 copies in its first week, which left it off of the Publisher's Weekly bestseller list.

The book doesn't even appear on Amazon's bestseller list and is ranked 4,007- behind children's books.

Earlier this month, CNN's Brian Stelter released an updated version to his 2020 book Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth

Stelter said he added 20,000 words to the original, 13 new chapters and even changed the cover to show faces of Fox News hosts instead of the back of Trump's head

Despite Stelter's aggressive book tour - which included stops at CNN's Cuomo Prime Time and New Day, MSNBC's Chris Hayes , C-SPAN, the Joe Madison Podcast, a launch party and nonstop promotion on his Twitter - his book hasn't sold. Stelter and his CNN colleagues are pictured at the launch party

Several CNN talent and executives joined Stelter for his book launch party at a bar in Hells Kitchen, Manhattan last week.

High-profile CNN anchors Alisyn Camerota, Victor Blackwell, Ana Cabrera, and Poppy Harlow all showed up to support their colleague.

Ousted CNN chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin - who returned to the network this month after an embarrassing suspension - was also in attendance.

In its initial release, 'Hoax' did make the New York Times bestseller list. Stelter said he added 20,000 words to the original, 13 new chapters and even changed the cover to show faces of Fox News hosts.

Stelter with his wife Jamie Shupak at the launch party for his book

The description says the book is 'for anyone who reads the news and wonders how we got here, and what happens next.'

This comes as Stelter's ratings continue to plummet after his Father's Day episode of 'Reliable Sources' drew only 656,000 viewers in his least-watched showing of 2021.

It marks the the 12th consecutive week Stelter's show failed to hit one million views.

In comparison, Fox News, which Stelter has been critical of, airs 'MediaBuzz' during Stelter's direct timeslot. That show averages 1.14 million viewers to top 'Reliable Sources' by 74 percent, Fox News reported.

Reliable Sources, which airs weekly on Sundays, has suffered a disastrous ratings drop since interest from early this year peaked for all cable news amid the Capitol riot and Inauguration Day.

So far in June, Stelter's ratings are down 57 percent overall since January, and 67 percent in the key age demographic prized by advertisers, 25-54, according to Nielsen data reviewed by DailyMail.com.

Biden's presidency has seemingly zapped CNN's ratings.

The Washington Times reported CNN as a whole lost 44 percent of its total audience since the last week of January, but Stelter in particular has been the target of scrutiny.

In early June, he was ripped for lobbing softball questions to White House press secretary Jen Psaki in an exclusive one-on-one interview.

Stelter's first question was, 'What does the press get wrong when covering Biden's agenda?'

Psaki replied: 'Some of our muscles have atrophied a little bit over the last few years, and there isn't a lot of memory  recent memory or longer memory  on how long it takes to get legislation forward or how messy the process of negotiating and the process of getting legislation across the finish line can be.

'So we know, we understand everybody is always looking for a deadline, a timeline, things like that,' she continued. 'I don't know if that's the press getting it wrong. I'll leave you to the critique of that, Brian.'

One Twitter user called the book a 'baseless cash grab'

Stelter's book has gotten backlash online from conservatives who believe CNN is 'fake news'

Stelter originally released his book Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth in August 2020, but on June 8 released an updated version with new chapters on the January 6 Capitol Riot, claims of voter fraud, and the rise of conservative media outlets Newsmax and OANN

Afterward, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald, who broke one of the Edward Snowden stories, tweeted it was 'one of the most sycophantic interviews of a state official you'll ever see.'

Former press secretary for President Donald Trump Kayleigh McEnany also blasted Stelter's interview with Psaki for not asking pertinent questions about Dr. Anthony Fauci in the wake of his email dump.

McEnany maintains that during a one-on-one interview Stelter conducted with Psaki, the issue was never mentioned either during the CNN interview or by the White House press pool during a daily press briefing.

Last week, Stelter came under fire again after Joe Rogan blasted Stelter on his podcast 'The Joe Rogan Experience' after Stelter lamented that some YouTubers draw more viewers than cable networks.

'They were describing it as if they were entitled to viewers,' Rogan said. 'This is because the market has spoken and your show's f**ing terrible.

'Brian Stelter's show keeps slipping and slipping and slipping in the ratings. Same with Don Lemon's. It's the same thing. Everybody knows they're not real. They're not real humans,' he continued.

Rogan piled on with more criticisms of Stelter's interview with Psaki saying, 'How about Brian Stelter talking to the press secretary saying, 'What are we doing wrong? What are we doing wrong?' Like, hey motherf***er, you're supposed to be a journalist.

Stelter, host of CNN's 'Reliable Sources,' hasn't hit the one-million viewer mark for 12 straight weeks

Reliable Sources has shed 57 percent of its viewers overall (left) since January, and 67 percent in the key age demographic prized by advertisers; 25-54 (right)

'They're obviously being told a certain amount of what to do,' said Rogan of Stelter and other cable news hosts.

'Maybe he'd be an interesting guy if he had his own f**in' podcast, if he could just rely on his own personality and be himself. I don't know. I can't imagine doing that gig. Any of those guys. That gig is a strange gig,' he said.

As pointed out by Mediaite, Rogan's talk may have been spurred in part by a segment Stelter did last month mocking Rogan's 'overreaction' to 'woke cancel culture.'

Stelter played clips of Rogan expressing fears that eventually 'straight white men' would be forbidden from speaking or going outside if woke culture took its course, remarks that Stelter sneered were 'crazy'.

Stelter continued: 'On one level it's just comical hearing this rich and famous guy express worries even though he's paid to talk for a living, he's going to be silenced in the future.'
Almost three weeks after the explosion that killed seven coal miners, one of the victim's loyal pets is still coming to visit his late owner every day.

Gonzalo Cruz, 53, adopted mutt Cuchufleto six months ago and every day since he joined the family, the dog would accompany Cruz on the half-mile morning walk to the northeast Mexico coal mine in Muzquiz, Coahuila.

'He would leave with my husband at 6:30 am, Cruz's widow Sandra Briseno said. 'He even went inside with my husband to the mine. He did not care that it was dark. There he was. Sometimes he would go out and wait for him outside,' she said.

The dog would return back to the Cruz' home while he went to work but would sometimes pop back on his own if he noticed his owner was running late.

But everything changed on June 4, when the mine suffered a collapse, killing seven miners, including Cruz.

Briseno told television station 15 Sabinas that on the afternoon of the tragic accident, Cuchufleto sensed that Cruz had not arrived and went off on his own to the mine to pick him up, only to be met by dozens of rescue workers who were attempting to reach the trapped miners.

According to Briseno, Cuchufleto stood outside the mine until rescue workers pulled out Cruz's body June 6. Later that day, Cruz was laid to rest and Cuchufleto did not return home until late at night.

NOTICIAS TELEDIARIO MATUTINO Posted by 15 Sabinas on Wednesday, June 16, 2021

"Cuchufleto" still walks each day to a mine in Coahuila, Mexico, that partially collapsed and his his owner, Gonzalo Cruz, and six other miners June 4. The dog, who was adopted over a year ago, would join Cruz everyday for a half-mile walk to the mine and would sometimes return there by himself if he noticed that Cruz was running late. Sandra Briseno told television station 15 Sabinas that Cuchufleto still senses that her husband will walk out of the mine

Gonzalo Cruz was one of seven workers who were killed June 4 after a coal mine partially collapsed in Coahuila, Mexico

Since then, the distraught dog spends his days lying in front of the door steps waiting for Cruz to come back from his shift at the mine.

In the three weeks that have passed since the mine collapse, Cuchufleto has barely ate anything and only drinks water.

While Cuchufleto spends most of his days sitting outside the house, residents have spotted him sniffing and scratching at the surface outside the mine while looking around to see if Cruz is going to finally show up.

'Maybe he thinks that my husband is still there, he turns around and comes back and stays lying,' said Briseno, who said Cuchufleto joined the whole family in grieving for Cruz, a father.

'One day he was crying and crying, moaning, like a cry when something hurts. It is the pain that he feels for the absence of my husband who he has not seen.'

Briseno added the dog would also accompany Cruz on the days he picked up a second shift and remained there until dawn so that his best friend would not go home alone.

Cuchufleto stood outside the mine for two days until rescue workers pulled out Gonzalo Cruz's body June 6
A father has defended the mother accused of murdering their seven-year-old autistic son, saying he does not think she is a 'bad mom,' but instead had a 'time of weakness.'

Samantha Moreno Rodriguez, 35, was arrested in Denver, Colorado, last week and faces a murder charge in Las Vegas after her son Liam's body was found dumped on a hiking trail in Nevada last month.

But Liam's father, Nicholas Husted, has now spoken out in her defense.

Husted clutched onto his son Liam's favorite Mickey Mouse blanket as he spoke at a vigil at Sunset Park in Las Vegas on Sunday.

'I don't think she was a bad mom,' Husted told The Las Vegas Review Journal. 'She had a time of weakness, and she is going to pay for it.'

Nicholas Husted clutched onto his son Liam's favorite Mickey Mouse blanket at a vigil at Sunset Park in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Husted had arrived home in San Jose, California, on May 24 to find Liam and Rodriguez gone. She'd left a letter saying: 'I'm sorry I had to do it like this.'

Police revealed that in Rodriguez's letter to Husted, she'd also said: 'I'm going to try to get a house for Liam and I and we can talk about this in the future.'

Nicholas reported Liam missing on June 1, a week after finding the letter, but said he did not think his son was in danger.

Prior to her arrest, Rodriguez was last seen on May 31 alone at a Denver-area hotel.

She was last seen with Liam on May 26 - two days before he was found dead.

Police said the mother and son left San Jose on May 24, driving a dark blue 2007 Dodge Caliber sedan with the back seat packed full of belongings.

Husted's body was found by hikers behind a bush on Mountain Springs Trailhead between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada. The police official had said it was clear the boy was killed, but did not say on Monday how Husted had died

Pictured: A grab from a Fox 2 news report showing the site where the boy's body was found, and flowers people have left for him

Liam's body was found shortly after dawn May 28 behind a bush at a trailhead off the main highway between Las Vegas and rural Pahrump.

He had become the focus of a massive campaign which the local community became involved in.

'This young boy didn't live here, but he is one of us. He could be your child,' one of the vigil's organizers Dina Lynn said on Sunday. 'Liam Husted. We won't forget your name.'

Husted told the Review Journal: 'I just had to come and show my appreciation for everything you guys did in this community to take him under your wing like he was your own when I wasn't able to be here with him, really means a lot to me, and I know he appreciates it just as much as I do.'

'He was one in a trillion,' the father added. 'I'm still in shock. I still don't want to believe it.'

Rodriguez was arrested last Tuesday at a roadside hotel in Denver, Colorado by the Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force.

The FBI and the LVMPD both say the child was a victim of homicide. They believe his body was found within 24 hours of his death

Las Vegas police Lieutenant Ray Spencer said Rodriguez was with a man when she was found but police do not believe he had 'any involvement whatsoever in this case.'

'We are all relieved that we were able to get her into custody so quickly,' said Spencer, the homicide lieutenant who had made nearly daily pleas for public help to identify the child's body after it was discovered by hikers.

Spencer would not say during a news conference last week how Liam died or describe a motive for the killing. He referred to a coroner's investigation and toxicology tests, which can take weeks to complete.

However, he did say it was clear that the boy had been killed in the remote Mountain Springs area where he was found.

Spencer has previously described a 'heartbreaking conversation' with the child's father following his identification and has confirmed that the father is not a suspect in the killing.

Pictured: The mother and son left San Jose on May 24 driving a dark blue 2007 Dodge Caliber sedan with the back seat packed full of belongings

The homicide lieutenant had also said there was 'nothing that would indicate any prior abuse that we're aware of'.

Liam's body was found shortly after dawn May 28 behind a bush at a trailhead off the main highway between Las Vegas and rural Pahrump.

Police are still trying to determine where the mother and boy stayed on May 26, Spencer said.

Police believe the body was left near State Route 160 after dark May 27.

Before Liam was identified, authorities released digitally enhanced images of an unidentified boy, developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - based on images shared by the medical examiner.

A family friend told San Jose police on Friday that she had not seen Rodriguez or Husted in more than a week. Pictured: The site where Husted's body was found

They were released on Thursday, June 3, along with news of the $10,000 reward for anyone with information pointing to the boy's identity.

The renderings painted a vivid picture of an eight-to-10-year-old Hispanic boy dubbed John 'Little Zion' Doe, who was later identified as Liam Husted.

The images were created on Adobe Photoshop, and authorities said they hoped they would identify the boy sooner thanks to the stark details drawn by the artists.

Colin McNally, the supervisor for the imaging unit at the NCMEC, told Las Vegas station KVVU that the images 'open up the eyes, sort of clean up the tissue damage, (and) change the perspective of the image so that its turned upright'.
The dual threats of heat and drought could spell disaster for communities along the US west coast, as the region faces the potential for record temperatures this weekend and more in store for the summer.

With a heat wave gripping much of the region for over the past week, the threat for wildfires, blackouts and water shortages only increases as it experiences its worst drought in 20, and potentially even 1,200 years if it continues, and even hotter conditions are expected for this weekend.

Already, temperatures have reached 116 degrees in Las Vegas and 115 degrees in Phoenix. On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency, warning that the state's power grid was under stress due to the heat, and called on residents to conserve electricity.

It's likely to get worse, with places in the northwest such as Portland, Oregon and Redding, California potentially in for temperatures topping 112 degrees and 113 degrees respectively this weekend.

And it's only the start of summer.

Much of the western United States is experiencing some of the worst drought conditions it has seen in 20, and potentially even 1,200 years

Drought conditions were far less severe around this time last year, and the area still experienced devastating wildfires, potentially heralding an even worse season this year

The high temperatures are even more troubling with much of the southwest and west coast in the midst of extreme drought conditions.

'This doesnt bode well, in terms of what we can expect with wildfire and the worsening drought,' Kathleen Johnson, an associate professor of Earth system science at the University of California, Irvine told The Guardian.

'This current drought is potentially on track to become the worst that weve seen in at least 1,200 years,' she said.

The extreme conditions could put the area on track for another devastating wildfire season.

Temperatures in the northwest are expected to reach triple digits this weekend as record-breaking heat waves wash over the region

Already cities in the region have broken heat records this week

Last year 4million acres burned in California and 1.07million in Oregon, with roughly 713,000 in Washington.

The record blazes killed at least 47 people and destroyed 13,887 buildings.

Already fires have broken out in Arizona and Utah, according to Daniel Swain a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

'This is really, really bad. Here on the eastern side of the Rockies, here in Boulder, were seeing record high temperatures,' he told The Guardian. 'Thats the case in other parts of the state and in other states.'

The extreme drought and heat conditions have the potential to create an even more devastating wildfire season than the one last year (pictured above) where 4million acres in California burned

The 2020 fire season kill at least 47 people and destroyed 13,887 buildings

'The fires we saw in the last couple of years were really awful, and this year it seems like were on that same trajectory,' he added. 'It kind of feels like deja vu.'

Heat waves are also becoming more frequent, longer and intense, with the Environmental Protection Agency tracking an average six heat waves per year in the US, compared to around two in the 1960s, and lasting around a day longer.

The threat of water shortages is also elevated, with Newsom already declaring drought emergencies in 41 of California's 58 counties as its reservoir supplies dwindle.

Water levels have plummeted in California's largest reservoirs. Lake Mead (above) is seeing its lowest water levels this year since it was filled in the 1930s with the construction of the Hoover Dam

Lake Oroville, the state's second largest reservoir is also seeing alarmingly low water levels, which have the additional consequence of hampering power generation at the hydroelectric plants that rely on their water for generation

The water level at Lake Mead, the state's largest reservoir, which supplies water to some 25 million Californians is at its lowest level since it was filled in the 1930s with the construction of the Hoover Dam, CNN reported.

Lake Oroville, the state's second-largest reservoir is in a similar situation and has dropped to 'alarming levels,' according to a Californian Energy Commission spokeswoman, and could spell the closure of the Edward Hyatt hydroelectric plant, which uses the lake's water to generate electricity for around 800,000 California residents, if it drops any further.

Currently, the Hyatt plant is projected to close in two to three months, if the water levels at Oroville continue to drop, which would coincide with the hottest months of the summer, CNN also reported.

With hydroelectric power supplying around 13% of the state's electricity, the drought conditions could exacerbate an already strained power grid.

Last year, the state experienced rolling blackouts for the first time in 19 years, when hundreds of thousands of residents lost power at 2.5-hour intervals, with other days-long power shut-offs to prevent wildfires around portions of the state's aging electricity infrastructure, according to the Wall Street Journal.
74-year-old Anna Sandhu Ray

The ex-wife of Martin Luther King Jr's assassin is facing dozens of counts of animal cruelty after authorities discovered an array of animals starving, living in cages and soaked in their own waste in her Tennessee home.

Authorities in Jackson made the startling discovery on Monday while performing a welfare check at the home of 74-year-old Anna Sandhu Ray, the ex-wife of assassin James Earl Ray.

Authorities found three times the amount of animals they were expecting when they entered the filthy home completely covered in feces and garbage, that was clearly in violation of multiple state and local safety and animal cruelty codes.

Police found puppies and newborn litters loose inside the house roaming the floors that were piled thick with animal feces, full of debris, and soaked in urine, Animal Rescue Corps, a national animal protection nonprofit that specializes in large-scale animal cruelty cases, said in a statement.

Authorities found at least three dead dogs in the home which had a powerful stench that could be smelled from outside of the home due to the 'dangerously high levels' of ammonia gas from animal waste, Animal Rescue Corps said.

In total, authorities saved 44 dogs, who did not have access to water or food, from Ray's home

Photos of the home released by Animal Rescue Corps show a home in complete disarray, with walls smeared with filth, floors covered in so much muck its is not visible

Animal Rescue Corps saved 44 dogs that will be treated and vaccinated before being put up for adoption

Caged dogs found in Ray's home, which was in violation of multiple state and local safety and animal cruelty codes

Authorities reached out to Animal Rescue Corps and their team arrived on the scene to help the animals.

Many of the dogs were gravely ill, with some showing signs of 'severe and chronic' neglect that included emaciation, starvation, mange, dehydration, intestinal worms, external parasites, runny eyes, and alopecia, Animal Rescue Corps said.

Photos of the home released by Animal Rescue Corps show a home in complete disarray, with walls smeared with filth, floors covered in so much muck its is not visible and puppies packed into cages full of waste.

Photos even show dead dogs lying inches from cages filled with helpless animals.

Animal Rescue Corps said none of the dogs had access to food or water and Ray was arrested and taken to jail for booking.

'The conditions on this property are some of the worst we've seen. It's absolutely horrible.' Amy Haverstick, Animal Rescue Corps Director of Operations, said. 'These poor animals have endured extreme suffering.'

The animals were transported to Animal Rescue Corp's Rescue Operation Center where they are set to receive thorough veterinary exams, appropriate vaccinations, and any necessary medical treatment until they are fit to be taken to shelters where they can be adopted.

Ray has a history of animal neglect, including a 1996 arrest after authorities found 25 live animals and several dead ones in her Knoxville home, the Los Angeles Times reported.

She appeared in court on Tuesday over video and claimed she looked after her pets.

'I took care of my babies,' Ray told Judge Anderson. 'I laid on the back bedroom floor. They laid all around me, and we slept together. I didn't catch anything. I don't have anything.'

Animal Rescue Corps photographed the horrible conditions in the bathroom of Ray's Jackson home

Anna Sandhu Ray appears before a judge who set her bail for $5,000 and sent her to be mentally evaluated

Animal Rescue Corps saved a puppy from Anna Sandhu Ray's home on Monday after a welfare check

James Earl Ray (left) was arrested and convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. (right) at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968

Judge Anderson said he told her three weeks prior at a previous court hearing to remove the dogs from the home, WBBJ TV reported.

'Nobody told me,' Ray told Anderson. 'If I was in court, it may be because I can't hear a damn thing.'

Anderson asked Ray about her ex-husband James Earl Ray, a small-time criminal who assassinated the iconic civil rights leader in April 1968 in Memphis.

The pair were married 10 years into Ray's 99-year sentence for assassinating King and divorced in 1993 after 15 years of marriage.

Ray died in prison in 1998 of natural causes.

'Your husband, is he still living?' Anderson inquired.

'James Earl Ray? The killer? He died some time ago,' Ray replied. 'And he's my ex-husband.'

Ray's bond was set for $5,000 and she was charged with 44 counts of animal abuse and ordered to undergo a mental evaluation, WBBJ reported.
Australians are being urged to take long domestic holidays in an attempt to help the tourism industry recover from the coronavirus.

The industry has lost $80 billion as a result of crippling state and international borders, according to a new report from Tourism Australia.

There were 7.6 million fewer international arrivals to Australia, 45 million fewer domestic overnight trips, and 84 million fewer day trips compared to 2019.

Australians are being encouraged to domestic destinations like the Karajini National park, WA (pictured above) to assist in recovering $80 billion in losses

The void of international tourists is likely to remain until at least 2022 with experts Australia unlikely to open its border sooner.

Australians unable to travel overseas have since holidayed at home and helped prop up the industry.

The report says the remaining losses could be made up by domestic tourists taking longer trips.

'If Australians took, on average, slightly longer holidays, we could potentially make up entirely for the loss of international tourism with just domestic travel,' the report recommended.

The tourism industry was ravaged in 2020, with international and state border closures stopping holiday-goers from visiting places like Bruny Island, Tasmania (pictured above)

'Australians need to travel more like international tourists  stay longer, spend more, disperse to the regions, enjoy our cities and enjoy the Australian tourism experience'.

Tourism Australia data shows the average Australian takes three overnight holidays, and 10 leisure day trips a year.

If each person added three more overnight trips to that average, losses could be recouped.

The report also said our attitudes whilst holidaying needs to shift to assist the industry.

International travellers spent about $45 billion in 2019.

'In Australia, we rely on international visitors because they are 'high-yield'  meaning that, though we don't necessarily get a high volume of international travellers, the ones that do come have a significantly above-average level of expenditure,' the report said.

'This does make us vulnerable, as Australia's position as a world-class destination for high-yield travellers is not guaranteed, and if our travel restrictions remain in place beyond those of competitor nations, we are likely to lose market share to other countries.'

If Australians can stay, on average, an extra three nights away on domestic trips in towns such as Bathurst NSW (pictured above), the losses could be recouped

The report found the downturn in the tourism industry has also had direct impacts on workers across the country.

'One in every eight businesses across the country is in the tourism business, and in total, tourism supported more than a million jobs in 2018-2019. This is equivalent to one out of every 12 jobs in Australia,' the report read.

The report found Australia's youth made up a significant number of these workers impacted by the industry grinding to a halt.

'People aged under 25 comprised approximately 45 per cent of the accommodation and food services workforce in 2019, compared to 15 per cent across all others,' the report read.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want to use the Earl of Dumbarton title for their son Archie because it contained the word 'dumb', it has been reported.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have not been keen on the title because they feared the young royal might be mocked, the Telegraph reports.

Harry and Meghan were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Earl and Countess of Dumbarton and Baron and Baroness Kilkeel by the Queen on their wedding day.

However, they have rarely used the two other titles, with the couple instead going by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Sources meanwhile have reportedly told the Telegraph that the couple were not keen on using the Earl of Dumbarton - a title of Scottish nobility - for Archie because it began with the word 'dumb' and they were 'worried about how that might look'.

Another insider reportedly told the paper: 'It wasn't just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls, it also bothered Harry.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want to use the Earl of Dumbarton title for their son Archie because it contained the word 'dumb', it has been reported

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have not been keen on the title because they feared the young royal might be mocked, the Telegraph reports

The Queen, who bestows titles, yesterday met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson face to face for the first time in more than 15 months

The history behind the title 'The Earl of Dumbarton' The Earl of Dumbarton is a historic Scottish title which has been extinct for more than 250 years. It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas, who was also made Lord of Ettrick at the same time. Despite being born in Scotland, most likely in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, to the Marquess of Douglas, George, a catholic, spent much of his time in the service of French king Louis XIV. When James II ascended to the English and Scottish throne he was a trusted servant - even following him to exile in France after the Glorious Revolution. Following the death of their only son, the unmarried second Earl, both of Douglas' titles became extinct in January 1749. The second creation of the title was in 2018, when Prince Harry was made the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel on his wedding day to Meghan Markle. Dumbarton in Scotland pictured today The Scottish town of Dumbarton, from the Gaelic Dun Breatann, is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age. It was once the strategic stronghold of the Alclud Kingdom, making it the centre of British power in the north. The town was later granted the status of Royal burgh by Scotland's Alexander II in 1222. After his capture by the English in 1305, William Wallace was shortly imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle - today a popular tourist spot. Advertisement

Prince Harry, 36, is said to have not wanted to give his children titles anyway. Instead it is believed he wants to follow in the footsteps of his aunt, Princess Anne, who did not give titles to son Peter and daughter Zara.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph also reported how sources close to the Sussexes claim the couple 'never raised an issue' about Archie, two, not being made a prince.

It comes after reports in the Mail on Sunday suggested that Prince Charles had told Meghan and Harry that Archie would not be made a prince when he becomes king, as he plans to slim-down the number of 'front-line' royals.

The issue was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security.

Meghan told the US chat show host: 'They didn't want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and (said) that he wasn't going to receive security.

She added: 'In those months when I was pregnant we have in tandem the conversation of, you won't be given security, not gonna be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.'

However, the sources are said to have told the Telegraph that the couple had 'never raised an issue' about the titles, or lack off, until the interview.

It comes as the Mail on Sunday earlier this week claimed that Prince Charles had made it clear that Harry and Meghan's son will have no place among frontline Royals as he plans a slimmed-down Monarchy after he becomes King.

The Prince of Wales is said to have initially intended to include Harry and Meghan in his slimmed-down Monarchy, but the plan is said to have changed when the pair moved to America.

A grandchild of the sovereign has long had the right to be a Prince, but Charles is determined to limit the number of key Royals, believing the public does not wish to pay for an ever-expanding Monarchy.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Charles told the Sussexes that he will change key legal documents to ensure that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right, according to a source close to the couple.

The move is said to have incensed the Sussexes and is thought to have prompted the series of bitter accusations the couple have levelled at Charles and the Royal Family from across the Atlantic.

However, it was later reported by the Sun that the decision for the couple to do their interview with Oprah came within 24 hours of Harry's military titles being removed in February's final Megxit deal.

It comes as a royal expert today claimed that Meghan and Harrys decision to buy a 'Lili Diana' website almost a week before their daughter's birth and 'Lilibet Diana' on the day she arrived indicates they had 'already made up their minds' on the name before speaking to the Queen.

The issue of titles was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security

Four days before Lili was born in California the domain LiliDiana.com was registered on May 31 followed by LilibetDiana.com on June 4  the day Archie's younger sister entered the world.

'Lilibet' was first used by the then Princess Elizabeth when she was unable to pronounce her own name and was used affectionately by her grandfather George V and later her husband Philip until he died in April.

Following claims by the BBC that the Queen had not been consulted, Harry and Meghan's lawyers said it was 'false and defamatory' to suggest they did not discuss using the name with Her Majesty.

Charles has told the Sussexes that he will change key legal documents to ensure that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'The fact they registered it before the name was announced tends to indicate that they had made up their minds and probably only told the Queen once they'd decided on it.

'When they issued a statement it said Harry had rung the Queen before anyone else and discussed the name with her. That may well be right but that's not the same as asking permission days or even weeks beforehand. I think the Queen might have been caught off guard and probably didn't object to it because she doesn't want to upset Harry any further'.

He added: 'But from what I hear the Palace has not denied the BBC story which claimed Harry didn't ask permission before announcing the name.'

Evening Standard Royal Editor Robert Jobson suggested that the couple may have undermined their legal threat against the BBC, tweeting today that their lawyers could now be 'without a paddle'.

The public announcement of Lilibet Diana's arrival came two days later. Harry insists he spoke to his grandmother about the name 'in advance of the announcement' but has not been specific on when that exactly was only to say: 'His grandmother was the first family member he called'.

A spokesman for the couple told The Telegraph: 'As is often customary with public figures, a significant number of domains of any potential names that were considered were purchased... to protect against the exploitation of the name once it was later chosen and shared.'

The statement suggests that had Her Majesty refused to allow them to use Lilibet they would have gone for another name amongst the 'significant' number of domains they bought before the birth.

MailOnline had contacted representatives of the Sussexes for comment.
A pair of designer sneakers valued at $1450 are on sale at Mosman's Lifeline store (pictured), in Sydney's Lower North Shore

A fleet-footed bargain hunter can pick up a pair of $1,450 designer sneakers for just $330 after they were donated to a charity shop.

An eagle-eyed shopper spotted a pair of hot pink Balenciaga trainers in the window of a Lifeline store in Mosman before sharing a photo of the steal on Facebook.

'Little bit of op-shop window shopping today,' she wrote.

'Lifeline selling Balenciaga trainers. [This would only happen] in Mossman.'

The woman could not confirm the not-for-profit's asking price, but a woman who said she worked there gave details.

She said the women's track sneakers were delivered brand new - and were marked down $1,100.

'I was volunteering when they came in - new and in the box. Size 36. Priced at Lifeline, $350,' she said.

'I believe this Lifeline carries high end donations and does charge for them,' another added.

A woman who volunteers at the store (pictured) said the sneakers were delivered brand new, and marked down to $350

Others detailed how they had come across other high-end items at charity shops in the area.

'Actually not only in Mosman - I found some awesome D & G heels in another store and they're almost as comfortable as trainers and were $30,' one person wrote.

'Life line Cremorne has the real treasures too - Gucci shoes and designer bags,' someone else commented.

'I saw a pair of jimmy Choos for $695, clearly worn and second hand,' a third wrote.

Balenciaga, based in Paris, is a popular luxury brand started in 1917 by Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga.

Their range of items, which includes clothes, shoes, and accessories, sell for hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Australian dog owners are urged to be on high alert for a deadly tick-borne disease ehrlichiosis, which has reached the state of Victoria for the first time.

A positive case was found in a dog that had travelled from the Northern Territory where the disease is widespread, to Horsham Victoria.

Ehrlichiosis is caused by a tick-borne bacteria and if left untreated may prove fatal to dogs, the disease had not been detected in Australia prior to May 2020.

There is currently no vaccine available for the deadly disease.

Ehrlichiosis is a disease caused by a tick-borne bacteria and if left untreated may prove fatal to dogs

The rapid spread of the disease has resulted in the death of almost 1,000 dogs since December, found in remote indigenous communities across the Northern Territory.

Symptoms of ehrlichiosis include fever, lethargy, conjunctivitis, cloudy or red eyes; abnormal bleeding and swelling, small spots or bruising on the body and limbs.

Victoria's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Cooke told the ABC that early prevention is vital.

'When detected early, antibiotics may be used to treat the disease,' he said.

'Protect your dogs from ehrlichiosis by regularly checking them for ticks, using effective tick control and seeking veterinary advice promptly if they become unwell.'

Dog owners are urged to check their dogs regularly for ticks and to seek out effective tick control

Dog owners are encouraged to check their dogs for ticks by running their fingers through the dog's coat, on the skin while paying close attention to the head, neck, ears, chest, between the toes and around the mouth and gums.

If a positive case of Ehrlichiosis is detected, it must be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

For more information on the disease, visit the Agriculture Victoria website or call 136 186.
Former President Donald Trump hit out at Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris for denying theories he promoted as president that the coronavirus leaked from a lab in China, and said the Communist country would have to pay even if it was accidental.

Speaking to Dr. Nicole Saphier on Fox Nation Wednesday, Trump said he was surprised at the recent traction the theories that the coronavirus leaked from the Chinese Wuhan Institute of Virology have gained, saying that now, 'it's the biggest subject there is in America today.'

'You know that I said it a long time ago right from the beginning, and when you look at Wuhan and that's where it all started and then you look at the Wuhan lab and that's what they were doing it seemed pretty obvious to me,' he said.

Former President Donald Trump said he was surprised at the traction the theory that the coronvairus emerged from a Chinese lab had gained recently in a Fox Nation interview on Wednesday

"I called it a long time ago." In an interview with @NBSaphierMD, former President Trump challenges Democrats for dismissing him early on the Wuhan lab leak theory. Watch the full interview in Fox Nation's 'Panic Attack: Playing Politics with Science.' https://t.co/sQ6gwMLCRz pic.twitter.com/Zt2vEURGdV  Fox Nation (@foxnation) June 23, 2021

'Rare' genome sequence suggests the virus WAS man-made Two U.S. experts have penned a damning essay saying that science strongly suggests the novel coronavirus was manufactured inside a Chinese laboratory. The claim was made by Drs Stephen Quay, CEO of biopharmaceutical company Atossa Therapeutics Inc, and Richard Muller, a physics professor at the University of California Berkeley, in The Wall Street Journal on Sunday. In the op-ed, the men say their proof lies in genome sequencing, or analyzing the DNA, of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. There are 36 DNA segments - made up of three-letter 'words' - that viruses use to make an amino acid known as L-arginine. L-arginine helps make proteins but is also often used in so-called 'gain of function' research, which alters viruses to make them more transmissible and more deadly. The new virus contains a segment called CGG-CGG, which is considered rare even in experiments in which researchers are trying to manipulate virus. But even more telling is that this combination has never been found naturally in any other type of coronavirus, including in SARS and MERS, both of which are cousins of the new virus. 'A virus simply cannot pick up a sequence from another virus if that sequence isn't present in any other virus,' Quay and Muller wrote. 'The CGG-CGG combination has never been found naturally. That means the common method of viruses picking up new skills, called recombination, cannot operate here.' Advertisement

The first coronavirus cases were recorded in China's Wuhan province, and Democrats had dismissed the lab-leak theory, with Harris going so far as to say Trump's comments on the possibility constituted, 'racist and xenophobic rhetoric against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants directly puts their lives at risk,' in a June, 2020 tweet.

The theory, however, has gained some renewed attention in recent weeks, when President Joe Biden late last month ordered an intelligence review into the origins of the virus, including the possibility that it emerged from a Chinese lab.

'I'm a little surprised they would even do it, because it seemed to be fading, and now its the biggest subject there is in America today and probably throughout the world,' Trump said.

He said he has some theories as to why his claims were dismissed outright.

'They love to cancel out certain people,' Trump said of his critics. 'I guess I'd be at the top of the list, but certainly when I mentioned Wuhan, they tried to play it down, and then they try and take credit for it later.'

'The Democrats fought it all the way I don't know why,' he later added. 'It doesn't make them look better or worse if it was Wuhan or somewhere else, but they fought it, maybe because that's what I thought.'

In addition to the intelligence review, it recently emerged that a government laboratory in California concluded in May 2020 that COVID-19 may have escaped from a facility in Wuhan, and recommended further investigation.

Scientists at the the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, near Berkeley, analyzed the genetic makeup of the virus to try to understand how it evolved.

They passed their May 27, 2020 findings on to the State Department in October. The five-month delay was not explained.

On January 15 the State Department published a fact sheet about COVID-19, which said that 'circumstantial' evidence suggested a lab leak theory was possible.

The secret document the California lab produced was not known about until June 14, when The Wall Street Journal reported on its existence.

People familiar with the Lawrence Livermore study said that it was prepared by their 'Z Division,' which is its intelligence arm.

The California lab has not confirmed the contents of their report, which remains secret.

Renewed attention has been paid to the theory the the coronvirus emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured above) after President Joe Biden ordered and intelligence review into the origins of the virus, including the possibility that it leaked from a lab

If proven, Trump said the leak was likely accidental, but said China should pay

Trump was slammed by Democrats for pushing the theory, including by Kamala Harris, who before becoming vice president said it constituted, 'xenophobic rhetoric' against Asian Americans

Chinese scientist 'filed a patent for a vaccine BEFORE virus was declared a pandemic' A Chinese military scientist with ties to the United States reportedly filed a patent for a COVID-19 vaccine well before the disease was declared a global pandemic. Yusen Zhou, who worked for the People's Liberation Army (PLA), lodged the paperwork on behalf of the Chinese political party on February 24 2020, according to The Australian newspaper. That date was just five weeks after China first confirmed human transmission of the coronavirus. Zhou is also said to have 'worked closely' with scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), including Shi Zhengli - the deputy director of the lab who is famous for her research on coronavirus in bats. Zhou mysteriously died less than three months after he filed the patent. The New York Post claims his death was only reported in one Chinese media report, despite the fact he was one of the country's most prominent scientists. Zhou had previously worked on research linked to the US institutions, including the University of Minnesota and the New York Blood Center, the newspaper reported. Advertisement

Even if definitive evidence does emerge that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute, Trump said he believes it was likely accidental, but consequences should follow.

'Ideally we have to make China pay, something has to happen, what they've done is a terrible thing,' he said. 'I do believe it was probably accidental but there are those that say maybe it wasn't.'

Dr. Marty Makary a professor at the John's Hopkins School of Medicine, who spoke on the show said accidents do happen even at some of the world's most prestigious labs.

'Lab accidents are common. I saw it at Harvard, at Hopkins, at all kinds of institutions that I was at that had good reputations . Lab accidents happen everywhere,' he said.

'And if they're happening at Harvard, they're happening at the Wuhan virology institute.'

Trump is doubtful, however, that definitive proof that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute will be found, saying that the opportunity to find it has likely passed.

'I'm not hopeful for a conclusion because at this point I think China has gotten rid of the evidence,' he said.

He turned his attention to the World Health Organization (WHO), which he said had missed its opportunity to property investigate the origins of the virus.

'They've become a spokesman for China,' he said of the organization. 'They never looked where they should have looked and when they should have looked because initially was the time to catch whatever it may have been ... in terms of the evidence to get.'

The WHO sent a team to the Wuhan lab in late January, but the investigators were only allowed in for three hours, and were not granted access to all the documentation they required.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the WHO, said their visit was inconclusive and upbraided China for being uncooperative.
A beloved hippo has suddenly died at one of New South Wales' most popular zoos leaving zookeepers heartbroken.

Mana the 26-year-old hippo suffered a medical episode in his paddock on Tuesday afternoon at his home at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, central NSW.

The zoo's veterinary team were called to Mana's enclosure but tragically the hippo was unable to be saved, with an investigation finding he had suffered sudden acute heart failure.

Mana the 26-year-old hippo suffered a medical episode in his paddock on Tuesday afternoon at his home at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, in central NSW

The zoo broke the news on Facebook and said the team were 'devastated' by Mana's death.

'The loss of Mana is a huge shock to the entire Zoo team, especially the dedicated keepers who cared for him for so many years. It is a very difficult and distressing time for all involved,' they wrote.

'Mana was close to our hearts having been born here at the Zoo in March 1996. Keepers describe him as a gentle giant.'

The hippo was the largest bull at the zoo and fathered females Kibibi and Kendi and male Kani.

Staff at the zoo said Mana was a popular attraction and was well known among guests who came from all over Australia to visit.

The hippo had lived at the zoo his entire life and was a very popular animal with guests

'He had a great disposition with an extremely patient and gentle nature and instilled awe in those who met him,' they said.

The Facebook post was flooded with comments from many who had visited the zoo sending their condolences to all staff.

Others shared photos of their own experiences with the beloved hippo with some admitting they travelled from far and wide just to see him.
Medical experts have warned young Australians to 'open their minds' and be aware of the devastating long-term health effects Covid could give them.

Infectious disease Professor Marc Kvansakul said the past 12 months showed coronavirus can produce greatly varied forms of illnesses.

Professor Kvansakul and his colleagues have published a study examining the difference between Covid-affected and healthy human lungs.

'Our research discovered that once a person is infected, Covid attacks human lung tissue, and the damage could be significant, in the short and long term,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'While smoking cigarettes for example, causes continual damage to the lungs, being struck by Covid in your respiratory tissues is like getting hit by a truck.'

Melbourne based Infectious Diseases Professor Marc Kvansakul is concerned by the lax attitude to coronavirus for those aged under 30 in Australia

A series of health experts have stressed the importance of mass vaccinations across Australia in a bid to combat a Covid outbreak (pictured registered nurses in Queensland getting the jab)

Professor Kvansakul, an expert at La Trobe University in Victoria, also had a message for people of all ages: Get vaccinated as soon as you can.

'Across the world we have seen the Ebola virus in Africa, and back in 2004 we had the SARS outbreak,' he said.

'Covid spread quickly across the world last year, and we all saw the devastation in places like India and more broadly across Europe.

'It is why vaccinations are so important... the next stage of our research will look to pinpoint just how severe the damage from the virus can be so we can assist in developing treatments for patients.'

Doctor Rachel Williamson was also part of the research project, which she labelled a 'critical step in medical research'.

She is equally concerned about the lax attitude to coronavirus, especially for those aged under 30.

'Some young healthy people continue to have a dangerous misconception that Covid-19 is not too serious for them, and that if they contract the virus, they will recover quickly,' Dr Williamson said.

'This isn't the flu, it is a new virus and, we have very little information about the long-term, potentially extremely serious, health impacts on the body in five, ten, or even twenty years from now.'

Professor Patrick Humbert, who also works at La Trobe University, said the focus of science needs to shift to finding treatments for Covid-19s long-term effects.

Melbourne based Infectious Diseases Professor Marc Kvansakul said the past 12 months has shown Covid-19 can produce greatly varied forms of illnesses (pictured, a drive-thru testing facility at Bondi Beach in Sydney

Wearing masks on public transport is currently mandatory in Greater Sydney (pictured commuters at Central Station waiting for a train)

'We have already seen how this virus can mutate into new strains, meaning our current vaccines wont always be effective,' he warned.

The team of researchers at La Trobe University and experts from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation combined their fresh findings in the project.

They will help uncover how and why the deadly virus attacks lung tissue in healthy people as well as those with pre-existing conditions.

The $300 million ANSTO Synchrotron used for the project has also created the opportunity for Australians to be world leaders in science and innovation.
The ex-bikie who collided with prominent neurosurgeon Charlie Teo's daughter in a horrific crash has called for the reasons dangerous driving charges were dropped against her to be publicly explained.

Nicola Teo was due to face the New South Wales District Court on dangerous driving charges relating to a 2019 accident which left rural firefighter and former Comanchero boss Jock Ross with 'life changing' injuries.

Vanessa Ross, Mr Ross's wife, claims she was told the case was dropped after a psychiatric report was reviewed, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Nicola Teo was flanked by supporters when she left Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday after dangerous driving charges against her, relating to a collision with former Comanchero boss and rural firefighter Jock Ross, were dropped

Charlie Teo and his daughter Nicola, who was due to face court over dangerous driving charges

'We only heard from the DPP the night before the court case to say they were dropping it because of the psych report,' Ms Ross said.

'Jock asked them to let that be decided in court, but they said it was unlikely they'd win it.'

The case was dropped before the trial because the Director of Public Prosecutions believed it was 'unlikely' to beat an unusual defence strategy after reviewing Ms Teo's psychiatric report.

Mr Ross made a miraculous recovery after being placed in an induced coma following the 2019 accident

Comanchero bikie gang founder William 'Jock' Ross was seriously injured after a horrific collision with a car allegedly being driven by brain surgeon Charlie Teo's daughter

Ms Teo, 26, was flanked by friends and her mum Genevieve as she left Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday after the charges were dropped.

She was due to face a five-day trial after she pleaded not guilty to four charges, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Mr Ross, a grandfather of 12, was left fighting for life after the collision with Ms Teo's Toyota LandCruiser.

He was rushed to Westmead Hospital and placed in an induced coma with leg, head and internal injuries and was placed in an induced coma before spending three months in intensive care.

The trial, which was due to begin on Monday, was initially delayed for one day because the prosecution was awaiting a psychiatric report after it became clear the defence would be based on 'automatism'.

Automatism is a rarely-used defence that an act was committed involuntarily and if successful can mean an accused person can't be found guilty because an offence may have occurred independently of their will.

Jock Ross' daughter Holly Gittany (pictured) expressed her disappointment after the charges against Nicola Teo were dropped

It is not known what was in the psychiatric report reviewed by the prosecution.

The NSW Shadow Attorney-General Michael Daley said the reasons the case was dropped should be clarified to ensure the public retained 'confidence' in the system.

'Unless there is some strong reason not to, it wouldn't hurt for the DPP to explain why it has dropped all charges to ensure ongoing public confidence,' Mr Daley said.

Prosecutors told the court on Tuesday they would drop all charges, which were formally withdrawn and dismissed by Judge Warwick Hunt.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in NSW confirmed the matter had been withdrawn in a statement but would not provide any further comment.

'Ms Teo, that means that there's nothing that holds you here - you're free to go and get on with your life,' he told the woman as her supporters gasped in shock.
John McAfee was found in his cell at the Centre Penitenciari Brians 2 in Barcelona

The prison in Spain where John McAfee was found dead in an apparent suicide had 1,500 inmates, two bunk beds per cell and 'stale bread and cold hot dogs,' according to the antivirus software pioneer's previous statements.

Two inmates killed themselves in the complex in May, local media reported. McAfee's death is being investigated as a likely suicide, but a cause hasn't been determined with certainty.

The prison, where McAfee was sent in October after he was caught traveling through an airport in Barcelona, is a boxy, cement, low-slung complex with a green roof, according to photos.

McAfee was stopped in Barcelona after he was found wanted by U.S. authorities on tax evasion. He was set to be extradited to the U.S. the day he was found dead after being on the run since 2019.

The jail where he was found dead has housed other big-name inmates - including the mastermind behind one of Catalonias biggest corruption schemes and a former Barcelona official.

McAfee had compared it to 'the Hilton' when compared to U.S. prisons.

Still, he complained about the food in tweets that he posted.

In November - just weeks after McAfee's arrest - the Spanish newspaper El Diario reported that McAfee was impressed by the structure of the country's criminal justice system and compared it to five-star hotel in the US, according to a letter that he wrote his wife

John McAfee appears via videoconference during his extradition hearing at Audiencia Nacional court, in Madrid, Spain earlier this month. He has died behind bars at 75

The Brians 2 prison complex was built in 2007 to alleviate overcrowding in prisons

The exterior of Brians 2 prion complex in Barcelona

John McAfee, before his death, said the Spanish prison where he was staying was like a luxury hotel compared to American prisons

This is inside the hallways of the Brians 2 prison complex in Barcelona

'Life in Spanish prisons is like the Hilton compared to the abject surrealism and dehumanization of American prisons,' he wrote. 'Here I am treated as a human being instead of a number.'

Immediately after his arrest, he was held in the Brians I prison complex but was transferred shortly thereafter - although it's not clear when - to Brians 2 in Barcelona, where he spent was found dead in an apparent suicide Wednesday.

The charges against John McAfee: Antivirus software pioneer John McAfee was facing 10 counts of tax evasion in Tennessee and seven counts of fraud and money laundering conspiracy in New York when he was found dead in a Spanish jail. Tennessee prosecutors charged him with five counts of tax evasion and five counts of willful failure to file a tax return in a June 2020 indictment unsealed in October. Prosecutors alleged he had earned more than $12 million between 2014 and 2018 - but failed to file any tax returns during this time. If convicted, he faced 30 years in prison. In March, McAfee and his bodyguard Jimmy Gale Watson Jr were both charged with seven counts of securities fraud by Manhattan federal prosecutors. These are: conspiracy to commit commodities and securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities and touting fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and substantive wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy offenses. The two men allegedly promoted cryptocurrencies to McAfee's more than one million Twitter followers in order to inflate prices and then sell the cryptocurrencies when prices rose, earning them and other McAfee Team members more than $11 million in payments. Both McAfee and Watson faced up to 100 years in prison on these charges if convicted as well as financial penalties. The Spanish prosecutor said Wednesday McAfee could be extradited, but only to face charges related to his tax returns of 2016, 2017 and 2018 in the tax evasion case. These charges - six - would have carried a maximum of 18 years in prison Advertisement

With a capacity for 1,500 inmates, the prison opened in 2007 as the Department of Justice tackled overcrowding at other penitentiaries.

According to the Association of Families of Prisoners of Catalonia, in the last three weeks there have been four suicides in Catalan prisons, two of whom were inmates at Brians 2, the Catalunya Press reported.

There have been examples of violence in the prison, too, including a highly publicized brutal inmate-on-inmate murder shortly before McAfee was arrested.

The victim, who had been jailed for coercing minors and disabled individuals into performing sex work and gender violence, was listening to music on an MP3 player when the prisoner caught him off guard and plunged a knife 29 times into his neck, chest and abdomen.

In April 2020, a 27-year-old man, who was diagnosed with mental problems, apparently experienced a manic bout and attacked inmates and prison staff before he was restrained by prison guards.

The detainee, who was serving a 32-month sentence for larceny and gender violence, was immobilized by correction officers and stopped breathing.

The prisoner at one point stopped breathing and was declared dead by paramedics.

Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, who was arrested for money laundering before he was acquitted by a court over lack of evidence, spent part of his 20-month prison stay at Brians 2.

And Felix Millet, the former president of Barcelonas Palau de la Musica concert hall who masterminded one of the largest schemes that brought in 23-million euros, is serving a nine-year eight-month sentence in Brians 2.

Inside the prison, McAfee called it a 'polite society' in a February tweet, where he said the cell is open twice a day for 30 minutes, but no one enters without invitation.

In several tweets, he made observations about the other inmates and seemed to enjoy some of their company.

His wife, Janice, said on Twitter the other inmates called him 'Papa America,' as he was the oldest one in the prison.

There were times he felt alone and isolated because of the language barrier, Janice said, but there was one inmate who was teaching him.

Because of COVID-19, phone privileges' were increased, McAfee tweeted, and inmates were counted three times a day, he said in a separate tweet on April 15.

There's been no reported escapes, which he noted in his tweet, so 'Fear of alien abductions is the only rationale I can think of,' he said.

There were multiple tweets about the awful food, including 'stale bread,' 'cold hot dogs,' 'chicken, fish, sausage (and) an unidentifiable substance.'

McAfee and his wife Janice were both active on social media while he was on the run. They are shown in one picture, which he described as showing them 'in their retreat'

The Brians 2 prison complex, viewed from above, also housed the mastermind behind one of the country's largest scheme as well as a former Barcelona president

inside Brians 2, pictured here, McAfee called it a 'polite society' in a February tweet, where he said the cell is open twice a day for 30 minutes, but no one enters without invitation

The prison houses up to 1,500 inmates

At some point, he began writing Charles Bukowski-like poetry in his tweets about life in prison.

What's life like in behind bars, he tweeted on February 4.

'It's relative. In a world where billions lead lives of misery and can't feed their families, where children starve and have no roof over their heads... A prison cell, a bed and three meals a day without working would seem like heaven.'

His death came on the day that a court approved his extradition to the U.S. on tax evasion charges, something he and his wife have been fighting to avoid.

McAfee's first job in computers was at the Missouri Pacific Railroad in St. Louis. They were trying to use an IBM computer to schedule trains in 1969. McAfee made a system that produced optimized train routes. At the time, he was in the throes of drug and alcohol addiction. In the years that followed, his first wife left him and he hit rock-bottom. He founded McAfee Associates in 1989 after reading about a computer virus from Pakistan that was invading American computers. He's shown that year. By 1990, he was making $5million-a-year from people using his anti-virus software

The women included 16-year-old Amy Emshwiller. McAfee dumped his girlfriend of 12 years within a month of meeting Amy, claiming he was in love. She said she wanted to rob him. She also tried to kill him on one occasion

By 2008, McAfee had divorced his second wife and moved to Belize where he settled into his compound. By 2013, he had a harem of seven women living with him on the property. He posted photos of them on his blog that year, calling them 'The Girls'

His wife said on Twitter that the American public already viewed him as guilty, so he wouldn't get a fair trial. He seemed to want to remain in the Spanish prison.

In a virtual extradition hearing, John said he will surely spend the rest of his life behind bars in the US, which and 'I am hoping that the Spanish court will see the injustice of this.'

'I am content in here. I have friends. The food is good. All is well. Know that if I hang myself, a la Epstein, it will be no fault of mine,' he tweeted referring to persistent theories that sex predator Jeffrey Epstein did not take his own life, as authorities ruled.

In one of his final tweets, presumably dictated to his wife from behind bars and posted on June 16, McAfee denied having any hidden assets, claiming the fortune he made in an alleged cryptocurrency scam had 'evaporated.'

'I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing,' the tweet stated.

McAfee dead at 75: Eccentric antivirus software pioneer hangs himself in his jail after Spanish court approved his extradition to the US on tax evasion changes

John McAfee, the pioneer creator of popular computer antivirus software, has died in an apparent suicide at a Spanish prison, on the day that a court approved his extradition to the U.S. on tax evasion charges.

McAfee, 75, was found dead on Wednesday afternoon in his cell in Brians 2 Prison in Barcelona, with officials saying that the early investigation points to a suicide, the Catalan justice department said.

It came just hours after a Spanish court approved McAfee's extradition to the United States, where he is wanted on tax-related criminal charges that carry a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

McAfee still had opportunities to appeal his conviction but could not stand more time in jail, his lawyer Javier Villalba told Reuters.

'This is the result of a cruel system that had no reason to keep this man in jail for so long,' Villalba said.

Villalba said that McAfee had committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell.

McAfee had been held in Spanish prison since his arrest in October, when the U.S. Justice Department announced charges that McAfee and his supporters insisted were politically motivated.

His death follows a wild, controversial life filled with legal issues and foreign adventures, including allegations that McAfee murdered his American neighbor in Belize, a claim that was never proven in criminal court.

Soon after his arrest last year, McAfee's Twitter account posted a dark hint suggesting that if he died in an alleged suicide, a conspiracy would be to blame.

'I am content in here. I have friends. The food is good. All is well. Know that if I hang myself, a la Epstein, it will be no fault of mine,' he tweeted referring to persistent theories that sex predator Jeffrey Epstein did not take his own life, as authorities ruled.

In one of his final tweets, presumably dictated to his wife from behind bars and posted on June 16, McAfee denied having any hidden assets, claiming the fortune he made in an alleged cryptocurrency scam had 'evaporated.'

'I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing,' the tweet stated.

McAfee had praised conditions at the prison where he was being held in Spain, though his Twitter account sometimes complained about the food.

'Life in Spanish prisons is like the Hilton compared to the abject surrealism and dehumanization of American prisons. Here I am treated as a human being instead of a number,' McAfee said in a letter written to his wife, according to El Diario.

For years, McAfee had been living in self-imposed exile, fleeing what he claimed was a vast web of corruption and conspiracy in the U.S.

In January 2019, McAfee fled his heavily fortified Tennessee compound with wife Janice, 38, claiming a grand jury was preparing to indict him on tax-related charges and taking to the high seas to escape.

Touring the Caribbean on his 'Freedom Boat' also allowed McAfee to avoid a $25million judgement in a wrongful death lawsuit over the 2012 murder of his neighbor in Belize, Gregory Viant Faull.

McAfee was never criminally charged with the murder and he always strenuously denied it. He continued to trot the globe until his arrest in Spain last fall.

McAfee claimed to be trapped in Cuba by nefarious forces in June 2019, and that July he was briefly detained in the Dominican Republic after officials accused him of loading his yacht with high-caliber weapons.

Last year, Tennessee prosecutors charged McAfee with evading taxes after failing to report income made from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consultancy work, as well as income from speaking engagements and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary.

The charges referred to the three fiscal years from 2016 to 2018, according to the Spanish court's ruling on Wednesday.

The entrepreneur was arrested last October at Barcelona's international airport. A judge ordered at that time that McAfee should be held in jail while awaiting the outcome of a hearing on extradition.

McAfee's wife Janice said in a statement on Sunday that he had been targeted by prosecutors 'for speaking out against the corruption within their government agencies.'

'These eight months John has spent in prison in Spain have been especially hard on his overall health both mentally and physically, as well as financially, but he is undeterred from continuing to speak truth to power,' she added.

In a hearing held via videolink earlier this month, McAfee also argued that the charges against him were politically motivated and said he would spend the rest of his life in prison if he was returned to the U.S.

McAfee linked the charges filed by the Internal Revenue Service to his failed bid to run as a Libertarian Party candidate in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, a second such attempt.

'In late 2018, I announced I would run again and I also announced I would target the IRS and its corruption and two months later the IRS filed charged against me,' he told the Spanish High Court during the first hearing of his extradition trial.

'I believe the charges are politically motivated.'
a note saying they were 'determined not to carry on in this life'

Peter White, 72, and wife Diana, 74, were found dead in their flat in Altrincham

A devoted vegan couple died in a suicide pact at their retirement village home because they 'didn't want to go without each other', an inquest has heard.

Peter White, 72, and his wife Diana, 74, from Trafford, Greater Manchester, were found dead in their flat at the sheltered housing scheme in Altrincham in January.

They were found to have died of a drug overdose after leaving a note saying they were 'determined not to carry on in this life'.

During an inquest into their deaths earlier this month, a coroner ruled they both deliberately took their own lives and had done so 'jointly'.

A family member has now paid tribute to the 'insular' couple, saying they 'led a pure life' and ultimately 'didn't want to go without each other'.

Peter's niece Deborah Allen, who along with her brother Christopher is one of the couple's closest surviving relatives, said they 'kept themselves to themselves' but were also totally devoted to each other.

Peter White (pictured left), 72, and his wife Diana (right), 74, from Trafford, Greater Manchester, were found dead in their flat at the sheltered housing scheme in Altrincham

Deborah, whose late father Paul was Peter's brother, said: 'They were very quiet people. They kept themselves to themselves really. But they were lovely people and wouldn't do anyone any harm.

'They were very insular. I think that says a lot about them. But they were very, very close and totally devoted to each other, that always came through.

'Ultimately they led a very pure life. They were very much into saving the environment - so much so they made it clear they did not want to have a funeral for environmental reasons.

'They became vegan many years ago. Peter was very involved with the Vegan Organic Network. The last time I saw them was a long, long time ago.

'But we just have the feeling that they were taken too soon.'

Deborah, 48, of Stoke-On-Trent, said the circumstances of their death had left the family in shock.

She said: 'It was a shock. It really was. And of course there was sadness. We weren't told initially how they had died and when we did find out it was very close to the anniversary of my dad's death, so it brought a lot of emotion to the surface.

'But at least we know they are now at peace.'

'We know that Peter had had a stroke, and his dad had multiple strokes and he had seen the impact they had' she added.

'And I believe they didn't want to go without each other.'

The hearing was told the couple's bodies were discovered at their flat at Rostherne Court (pictured above) in Altrincham on January 4 this year

A joint inquest into Mr and Mrs White's deaths was held at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport on June 14.

The hearing was told the couple's bodies were discovered at their flat at Rostherne Court in Altrincham on January 4 this year.

They had lived in a second-floor flat at the complex on Brown Street, where there was 24-hour emergency assistance if needed but which was not a care home, for around seven years.

Mr White had been admitted to the stroke unit at Salford Royal Hospital after he reported weakness in his left arm and leg.

He was said to have suffered from two episodes of transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke, and was later discharged to have follow-up assessment and treatment as an outpatient.

Mrs White suffered with mobility problems and painful joints, the inquest heard.

The couple were last spoken to by the scheme's manager on December 18 last year and she said 'they both seemed fine.'

But a neighbour became concerned when he didn't hear any noise from the flat over the Christmas period and a card remained unmoved in the letterbox.

He informed staff who used the master key to access their flat on January 4 and found their bodies, which may have been there 'for some time', the inquest was told.

A note was found containing both their names which said they were 'determined not to carry on in this life'.

A family member has paid tribute to the 'insular' couple, saying they 'led a pure life' and ultimately 'didn't want to go without each other' (pictured: Mrs White)

Post-mortems found they both died of an overdose of a mix of drugs. A police investigation found no suspicious circumstances or evidence of third party involvement.

Detective Inspector Matthew Gregory, who was in charge of the investigation, said in a statement that there was 'no evidence they were anything other than a loving couple' and that there was 'no evidence that this anything other than a suicide pact or a joint act both were a party to.'

Area Coroner Chris Morris recorded conclusions of suicide in both cases.

He said: 'It seems fitting to undertake the inquests into the deaths of Mr and Mrs White jointly, in reflection of the manner in which they both lived their lives and they died.

'The evidence before me suggests Mr and Mrs White were a devoted couple who lived quietly and with relatively little contact with the outside world.

'Neither had any recent contact with their doctors, they were not known to police neither were they known to adult social care providers.

'As their neighbour said in their statement, they very much kept themselves to themselves.'

He added: 'I am satisfied with the conclusion that Greater Manchester Police has reached that there was no evidence of any third party involvement or suspicious circumstances.

'Similarly I accept DI Gregory's conclusion that there is no evidence Mr White or Mrs White were deceived or coerced into taking medication against their will or in any way bore any responsibility for their deaths.'

He said they had brought about their deaths through their own actions but did so 'jointly' and 'by consensus'.

Anyone seeking help can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit Samaritans.org
A picture showing hundreds of cars at a drive-thru testing site in Bondi on Wednesday at 10pm has sparked Karl Stefanovic to say 'it was the moment Sydney finally got it'.

New South Wales recorded 16 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections to 36.

The health service issued alerts for new exposure sites at venues in Darlinghurst, Double Bay, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction, Narellan, Meadowbank and the Sydney CBD.

The photograph showed cars queueing outside St Vincent's testing centre on Bondi Beach after Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that 40,000 people had been tested in just one day.

On Thursday morning Today Show host Karl said: 'This was the moment Sydney got it.

'At 10pm last night in Bondi, queues as far as the eye could see.'

The traffic jams to get tested reached more than a kilometre long with health authorities expecting similar queues on Thursday.

Hundreds of cars have snaked their way from Bondi testing clinic as the city's Covid outbreak grows to 36 cases prompting Today host Karl Stefanovic to say Sydney siders have 'got it'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is in isolation after returning from the G7 meeting in the UK, has said he was not surprised by the latest outbreak in Australia's most populous city.

Five of the cases announced yesterday cases were from the Bondi testing clinic.

Authorities have warned to brace for more positive test results on Thursday and are encouraging as many people as possible to come forward and get tested.

A raft of new restrictions were announced for Sydney residents on Wednesday.

Residents who live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas cannot travel outside the metropolitan area unless it's absolutely essential.

Masks must also be worn indoors including to gym classes, which are now limited to 20 people.

Eight of the 13 additional cases were at a birthday party attended by about 30 people in West Hoxton on Saturday, which NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant described as a 'super-spreader event'.

Concerns are growing that millions of Sydneysiders could soon be forced to completely lock down as the highly infectious Indian strain of Covid continues to spread across the city, with mixed messages coming from those close to Gladys Berejiklian.

The virus has even spread into NSW Parliament with Health Minister Brad Hazzard and four other MPs are in isolation after being close contacts of Agriculture Minister, Adam Marshall, who has tested positive to Covid.

Covid cases are on the rise in Sydney with sources saying Thursday will bring 'big numbers' (pictured, a couple in mandatory masks in Manly)

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is in isloation (pictured) after being exposed to the virus

Mr Marshall contracted the virus after dining at Christo's Pizza in Paddington on Monday night with Nationals colleagues Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin.

The four MPs were present in parliament on Tuesday afternoon after attending a partyroom meeting on Tuesday morning.

'This morning just after 8am I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for COVID-19,' Mr Marshall said in a statement on Thursday.

'I have been in isolation in Sydney since late Tuesday night, when I received a text message from NSW Health,' he said.

The parliament will operate on a skeleton staff on Thursday with just enough MPs to pass the budget before it's suspended.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard also revealed he is self isolating after being exposed to a potential case at parliament house.

Mr Hazzard admitted it 'was likely' other MPs could be affected and told Channel Nine he stands next to Premier Gladys Berejiklian every day.

Sources close to the Berejiklian government have hinted that Thursday will see 'big numbers' of new infections, with Sydneysiders ordered not to leave the city.

Lockdown-happy premiers in other states including Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland have already slammed their borders shut, disrupting school holiday plans for thousands.

Ms Berejiklian, who has always strived to take a measured approach to outbreaks, has so far stood firm by refusing to lock down Sydney, instead bringing in a number of restrictions including limits of five visitors to a household and mandatory masks.

But in the face of a growing number of cases, senior health source admitted to Daily Mail Australia that the trend of infections is 'not good'.

When asked about a potential lockdown, the source said: 'It certainly looks like that's where we are heading.'

Sydney's eastern suburbs cluster has ballooned to 36 cases (Pictured: The Bondi Beach Drive-through COVID-19 Clinic with long lines stretching along Campbell Parade on June 23)

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Wednesday) has so far managed to fend off a lockdown, instead bringing in restrictions including limited visitors to the home and mandatory masks - even in offices

Four new mystery infections have contributed to widespread speculation that the city will be locked down by the end of the week, with sources telling the ABC and 7 News such restrictions could be imminent with a big spike in cases to be announced.

The Indian variant is so contagious that two people in Bondi this week caught Covid by momentarily brushing past each other.

While other premiers have locked down state capitals after just two cases, Ms Berejiklian has always tried to strike a balance between public health and economic and mental wellbeing.

Cars line up as health officers scramble to administer tests at Bondi's St Vincent's drive-though testing centre on Thursday morning (pictured)

But she conceded that approach may have to change if cases begin to spiral out of control, particularly those not linked to known outbreaks.

'We have always said we will not burden our citizens unless we absolutely have to,' she said on Wednesday.

'If we need to take further action within the week or after the week, we are open to that.'

Her close ally NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has rubbished claims that a lockdown is imminent, saying they have 'zero' truth to them.

'No plan to lockdown contrary to reports this evening,' Mr Hazzard told news.com.au on Wednesday night.

'Measures implemented this afternoon are proportionate and appropriate. Reports of a lockdown are greatly exaggerated.'

Those who live and work in seven hotspot suburbs will not be allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason

On Wednesday evening, NSW Health added 12 stores, a busy bus route and three train lines to the burgeoning list of exposure sites in the city. Pictured: Passengers at Sydney Domestic Airport

Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised the NSW's premier's approach.

'She hasn't gone to lock down Australia's biggest city,' he said.

'But has taken the positive decision to keep Sydney and NSW open for its residents and to continue to rely on what is Australia's best contact tracing system.'

The outbreak has forced Ms Berejiklian to bring in new restrictions, including banning people from metropolitan Sydney from leaving the city, but she stopped short of shutting down businesses.

Her interstate counterparts were quick to slam their borders shut to residents amid the latest outbreak, ruining travel plans for many over the school holidays, which begin on Friday.

Queensland's premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has rushed to declare all of Sydney a Covid-19 hotspot, slamming the borders shut to millions.

Lockdown-happy premiers in other states including Western Australia , Victoria and Queensland have already slammed their borders shut, disrupting school holiday plans for thousands (inset, the Sydney suburbs deemed 'hotspots')

The move came after draconian moves by Western Australia and South Australia, which have shut the border to the entire of New South Wales.

In Victoria, people from seven local government areas are banned from the state - City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick.

The majority of the 16 new cases stem from a birthday party on Saturday in West Hoxton, in western Sydney, which included an infected Bondi Junction Westfield worker.

The man in his 30s was not suffering any symptoms at the time, but was tested the next day when they developed and received a positive result on Monday.

Passengers are seen lining up to check in at Sydney Domestic Airport on Wednesday as states rushed to shut their borders

All party attendees were ordered into self-isolation, with eight partygoers who came forward for testing on Tuesday found to have contracted the virus.

This includes a two-year-old child who attended Little Zak's childcare in Narellan Vale, near Campbelltown, on Monday.

NSW Health added 12 stores, a busy bus route and three train lines to the burgeoning list of exposure sites in the city late on Wednesday evening.

New venues included three eastern suburbs supermarkets, a TAFE building in Meadowbank, and an office building on Pitt Street in the CBD.

NEW COVID-19 RULES FOR GREATER SYDNEY From 4pm Wednesday for one week: Visitors to households will be limited to five guests  including children; Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events; Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed; Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed; Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people); Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn); The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals; Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity; Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced Advertisement

A BWS store in Mascot is also on alert, along with United Cinemas in Narellan, and three trendy eastern suburbs cafes.

Sydneysiders who were at the Tropicana Cafe in Darlinghurst between 12pm and 2pm on Friday 18 June, or Ikaria Bondi between 5pm and 7pm on Sunday June 20 have been told to contact NSW Health immediately and isolate for two weeks.

Shoppers at Coles Express Shell Petrol station on Birrell Street in Bondi Junction in the half an hour after 7.15pm on June 18 should get tested and isolate immediately, along with anyone who was at Wooworths Metro at Bondi Beach between 1 and 1.30pm on June 20.

Visitors at to Coles Kings Cross in Potts Point between 8pm and 9pm on Monday June 21 should also get tested and isolate, along with anyone who was at the Transport NSW Training Centre in Petersham between 4 and 4.10pm on Monday.

New exposure sight: On Wednesday, it was announced the Joh Bailey salon was exposed from June 17 to June 19

A public health warning has also been issued Christo's Pizzeria in near Paddington (pictured)

STATES THAT HAVE BANNED SYDNEYSIDERS: Queensland: Sydney declared a hotspot, banning entry into the Sunshine State WA: All of NSW banned SA: All of NSW banned Victoria: Sydney hotspots banned- Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick Tasmania: Sydney hotspots banned Northern Territory: Anyone from Sydney hotspots must quarantine for 14 days. ACT: Sydney hotspots banned Advertisement

Five bus journeys were also added to the close contact list, with alerts for anyone who was on specific trips on the 600 or 665 buses on Sunday June 20.

Anyone who travelled on bus 333 between 1.07pm and 1.12pm on Tuesday June 22 is also considered a casual contact and should get tested and self-isolate immediately.

Three trains lines are also on the list, including one that travelled from Bondi Junction to Mascot on Friday June 18 between 6.55pm and 7.22pm.

Another travelled from Mascot to Central on Saturday June 19 between 5.26pm and 5.35pm, and the third went from Central to Glenfield on the same day between 5.53pm and 6.38pm.

Two venues in the ritzy suburb of Double Bay have now been added to the city's growing list of exposure sites, including restaurant Matteo and the salon of renowned stylist, Joh Bailey.

A public health warning has also been issued Christo's Pizzeria in nearby Paddington.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the outbreak demonstrated how quickly transmission could occur.

'There were about 30 people at that gathering in a house and the person was unknowingly infectious, did not have symptoms, and had not attended venues,' Dr Chant said.

A number of bus journeys were added to the close contact list on Wednesday evening with alerts for anyone who was on specific trips on the 600 or 665 buses on Sunday June 20 (pictured, a woman getting on a bus in Sydney)

The majority of the 16 new cases stem from a birthday party on Saturday in West Hoxton, in western Sydney, which included an infected Bondi Junction Westfield worker (pictured, testing at Bondi Beach)

'What you can see is that those test results indicate how quickly the virus was transmitted in that circumstance... And that is on day two after exposure.

'All those individuals would have unknowingly had the infection on Monday.'

Contact tracers are scrambling to determine exposure sites visited by the positive cases, as well as trying to trace the four new mystery infections.

The Bondi cluster began last week after a Sydney Airport limousine driver tested positive to the highly-infectious Delta variant, which started spreading at Bondi Junction's busy Westfield shopping centre.

For the next week from 4pm on Wednesday, household gatherings are limited to five visitors and masks are compulsory in all indoor venues, including workplaces and gym classes.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the outbreak demonstrated how quickly transmission could occur (pictured, women leaving Westfield Bondi Junction on Wednesday amid a wave of new infections)

Drinking while standing in pubs and bars is also banned and those who live and work in seven hotspot council areas are not allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason.

Those council areas are the City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick - home to around 782,000 residents.

The tightened rules - which also include a 50 per cent capacity restriction for outdoor seated events - applies to Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Central Coast and Shellharbour regions.

Ms Berejiklian said the growth of 'unlinked cases' in the state meant she needed to take proportionate action to stop the highly-contagious Indian Delta variant from spreading.

'If you live or work in any of those impacted LGAs we don't want you moving outside of metropolitan Sydney other than for one of four essential purposes,' she said.

'Unless you are visiting a relative in care or have to go to work you should not be going outside the city for the next week.'

She clarified the boundaries of metropolitan Sydney were the city itself, the Blue Mountains, Shellharbour, Wollongong and the Central Coast.

The one person per four square metre rule in indoor venues has also come back into force.
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Ministers are under intense pressure to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic islands and Malta today after scientists declared them safe.

Tory MPs and travel industry figures said the decision on whether to expand the green list is a vital test of the Government's willingness to save the summer holidays.

Ministers will meet this afternoon to decide whether to expand the list of destinations where quarantine-free travel is allowed.

They will also debate plans for quarantine-free travel to amber list countries for those who are fully vaccinated.

An 'in principle' decision could come as soon as today, but ministers are still wrangling over the start date.

Whitehall sources told the Mail the Government's Joint Biosecurity Centre has advised that Malta and the Balearic islands meet the criteria for safe travel.

Opening up the Balearics is seen as a game changer as more than five million Brits visit Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca in a normal year.

But there are fears that the Government could overrule the advice, as it did when Malta was put forward for approval last month.

Tourists could be able to travel as soon as next Tuesday without isolating for up to 10 days on return, the Times reported last night.

It said Turkey is set to remain on the red list, which could also see the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uganda added while Israel could move from green to amber.

There are also reports that the number of expensive tests needed by returning holidaymakers will also be slashed.

Ministers are under intense pressure to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic islands and Malta today after scientists declared them safe. Pictured: The Maltese capital Valetta in May [File photo]

Tory MPs and travel industry figures said the decision on whether to expand the green list is a vital test of the Government's willingness to save the summer holidays. Pictured: A beach on the Balearic Island of Formentera

Sources last night said there was also a danger that Israel could be moved from green to amber.

Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation Group, said: 'Frankly, these destinations should already be on the green list along with many others.

It is a nonsense that people are not able to travel freely to countries that have lower rates of infection than we do.'

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: 'It's now or never if we are to have any sort of summer season and the data shows this can be done safely and proportionately with many more countries being added to the list.

'The future of our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports depends on it.' Culture minister John Whittingdale hinted at positive news yesterday, saying: 'Hopefully it will be possible to increase that number' of countries on the green list. Green list status is only allocated to destinations that can show they have low Covid rates and no significant problems with variants of concern. They also have to show that they can monitor for new variants.

Government scientists advised last month that Malta could be added to the green list, only to be overruled by ministers led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Latest figures suggest infection rates on the island are less than half those in the UK.

Ministers are also close to an agreement on the plan to end quarantine requirements for the fully vaccinated. It is seen as the best chance for saving the travel sector this summer and would require travellers to prove their vaccination status either using the NHS app or with a paper record from their GP.

The Cabinet is split on the timing with some ministers favouring a July 9 start date and others wanting a more cautious approach.

A Government source said August is the most likely date but no final decision has been taken.

Make Britons isolate! Angela Merkel calls on EU nations to force UK travellers to quarantine because of high levels of Indian Covid variant

By David Churchill, Transport Correspondent for The Daily Mail

Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers' plans to reopen foreign travel.

The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine.

Mrs Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament: 'In our country, if you come from Great Britain you have to go into quarantine  and that's not the case in every European country, and that's what I would like to see.'

Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers' plans to reopen foreign travel. Pictured: German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the Second Berlin Conference on Libya, in Berlin, Germany on June 23, 2021

Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless they are a German citizen, have residency rights or if there is an 'urgent humanitarian reason' like a family death.

But those allowed in still have to register to get permission to visit and quarantine for two weeks with no option for early release after a negative test.

It comes after Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for all UK arrivals amid growing concerns in Europe about the spread of the Indian, or Delta, variant, now dominant in the UK.

Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday that Italy will require all travellers from Britain to quarantine for five days upon arrival.

A negative test is required at the end of the five-day period. America currently still bans UK tourists amid the surge in Delta cases. Dr Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious diseases expert, last week suggested that UK-US travel would only reopen in September as a result.

Mrs Merkel's call came ahead of the Government today being expected to announce plans for fully vaccinated Britons to be able to visit amber countries without having to self-isolate for ten days on return.

The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine

It is expected to take effect in August, although some ministers are pushing for this to be brought forward to July 19. The move will effectively turn destinations that are amber into green for fully vaccinated people.

But if other European countries listen to Mrs Merkel's call then UK holidaymakers' options could be limited even further this summer.

Portugal, Spain and Greece are still allowing UK holidaymakers to visit with proof of a negative test and no quarantine. France is also allowing in fully vaccinated Britons with a negative test.

But European health officials say further action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant as it gains a hold on the Continent.

This month it accounted for 70 per cent of sequenced cases in the greater Lisbon region of Portugal, more than 20 per cent in Italy and about 16 per cent in Belgium. It has also been detected in clusters in Germany, France and Spain.
Hundreds of travel workers including pilots and business owners marched on Westminster yesterday to demand that ministers ease restrictions threatening the industry.

They called on the Prime Minister to expand the quarantine-free travel green list at todays review and make it easier for fully-vaccinated Britons to go on holiday.

They warned huge numbers of jobs are at risk and called for the furlough scheme to be extended beyond September if current restrictions continue.

Pilots and cabin crew who have been grounded for over a year were joined by travel business owners who told of being on the brink.

Around 400 protesters gathered outside the Commons as part of a Travel Day Of Action.

Hundreds of travel workers including pilots and business owners marched on Westminster yesterday to demand that ministers ease restrictions threatening the industry

Travel industry workers warned huge numbers of jobs are at risk and called for the furlough scheme to be extended beyond September if current restrictions continue

Demonstrations were also held outside Holyrood and Stormont to lobby the Scottish and Northern Ireland governments and at airports including Bristol and Manchester.

Senior Tory MPs joined the Westminster protest, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Sir Graham Brady, former minister Steve Baker and transport committee chairman Huw Merriman, who called on ministers to use the success of the being shut down to the extent it is now, we would take that on the chin, but there just doesnt seem to be.

Richard Mann, 56, a pilot for travel giant Tui, said it was the biggest crisis the aviation industry had ever faced, stressing: Everyones worried for their livelihoods'

Richard Mann, 56, a pilot for travel giant Tui, said it was the biggest crisis the aviation industry had ever faced, stressing: Everyones worried for their livelihoods.

If there was a clear reason for travel being shut down to the extent it is now, we would take that on the chin, but there just doesnt seem to be.

Infection rates in the Balearic Islands and others are lower than we have here, so why are they shut off?

You see thousands packing themselves on to Bournemouth beach. Is that keeping people safe? It doesnt make sense.

Pilots and cabin crew who have been grounded for over a year were joined by travel business owners who told of being on the brink

Demonstrations were also held outside Holyrood and Stormont to lobby the Scottish and Northern Ireland governments and at airports including Bristol and Manchester (pictured, protesters in London)

Mark Tanzer, of travel industry group Abta, said some members had been forced to take new jobs as call centre workers and Amazon delivery drivers to make ends meet, adding: Its really heart-breaking.

Sir Graham said ministers must ensure a viable summer season is salvaged.

He insisted: There are over one million jobs at stake  as well as peoples freedom to see their family overseas or to go on holiday.

Mr Merriman warned: The sector is haemorrhaging jobs.'
Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was once kidnapped by the nation's biggest guerrilla group, faced her former captors for the first time Wednesday.

The event was meant for seven former members of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC, to admit their responsibility, a step toward reconciliation contemplated in a peace deal signed in 2016 by the government and the combatants.

The emotional meeting was convened by a commission with no judicial powers but responsibility for helping clarify what exactly happened during the decades-long conflict.

'I would never have imagined in the depths of my captivity that one day I would have the possibility of a human dialogue with my former captors,' said Betancourt, who was kidnapped for six years and four months. '... We can say that love is greater, that there is hope, and if there is hope, there is a future.'

Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, the former commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, begged Betancourt to forgive him and the rest of the group.

'We present ourselves here, with our heads bowed and our hearts in hand,' he said. 'We are truly sorry and hope that some time they can forgive us for the unspeakable damage inflicted.'

Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was abducted while campaigning by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels in 2002, is overcome by emotion as she speaks during an event at the Truth Commission to commemorate victims of the country's decades-long armed conflict, in Bogota, Colombia, on Wednesday

Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, the former commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, begged Betancourt to forgive him and the rest of the group

Ingrid Betancourt hugs Carlos Cortes whose father, journalist Guillermo 'La Chiva' Cortes, was kidnapped, during a meeting between seven men and women who had been kidnapped and seven captors

As part of their efforts to reintegrate themselves into society, former FARC members have previously asked for forgiveness from victims and acknowledged the kidnappings of more than 21,300 people throughout the South American nation.

The Truth Commission and the seven men and women who were once held by the guerrilla fighters, saw the face to face sit down as an opportunity for ex-leaders of the group to admit their actions without cynicism or justifying them as a response to the conditions of war.

Colombians remain divided over who should be held to account for the decades of violence that only diminished with the peace accord that called for the disarmament of the FARC despite some 10,000 dissidents still waging war. The landmark agreement also set up a tribunal that offers perpetrators reduced sentences if they help with investigations and are willing to provide reparations to victims.

Betancourt was kidnapped on February 2, 2002 while she was campaigning under the Green Oxygen Party.

She was rescued in July 2, 2008 when the Colombian army deceived the FARC with a fictitious humanitarian operation after infiltrating secret communications. Three members of the U.S. military and 11 individuals with the Colombian armed forces who had been kidnapped for up to a decade were also rescued.

Betancourt now lives in France and said she expected more explanations and repentance from the ex-combatants.

'I must confess that I am surprised that we, on this side of the stage, are all crying, and that on the other (side), there was not a single tear,' she said.

Betancourt was kidnapped on February 2, 2002 while she was campaigning under the Green Oxygen Party. She was rescued in July 2, 2008. She is pictured here, while a prisoner, in 2007

Former Colombian Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, right, who was abducted while campaigning by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, rebels, is comforted by another kidnapping victim

Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt speaks during an event at the Truth Commission to commemorate victims of the country's decades-long armed conflict, in Bogota, Colombia, on Wednesday

Armando Acuna (left), a former city councilman who was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, hands former FARC commander Carlos Antonio Lozada, the bag Acuna was given by the rebels for his personal belongings while he was in captivity.

The FARC in 2019 recognized for the first time its responsibility for the kidnapping, and in April rebels accepted before the postwar tribunal the accusation for crimes against humanity.

The investigations by the tribunal have concluded that the FARC subjected its victims to torture, sexual violence, forced displacement and attacks on their personal dignity. The kidnappings were used to finance their operations with the ransom they demanded from families of the victims, force the exchange of imprisoned guerrilla members and control territories.

Ingrid Betancourt gestures as she arrives to a military base in Bogota after being rescued from six years of captivity on July 2, 2008

Ingrid Betancourt prepares to get down from the plane upon her arrival at the Catam air base in Bogota after she was released by the Colombian Army along with three US nationals and 11 other FARC hostages from their captivity on July 2, 2008

Roberto Lacouture, who was kidnapped in 1989, was visibly moved during the event.

Although he opposed the peace accord, he decided to attend the meeting to ask the FARC to 'tell the truth.'

'I suddenly cannot forgive ... I don't know what will happen, but what I am not going to do is forget all the atrocities that have been committed,' Lacouture said.

Carlos Cortes, whose father, journalist Guillermo Cortes, was kidnapped and rescued in 2000, welcomed the historic exchange.

'I believe that in this way I am honoring, not only my father, but my entire family. That despite what we suffered from the kidnapping, we are convinced that dialogue is the best weapon and that is what matters,' he said.
Netflix or Amazon could take over Channel 4, said culture minister John Whittingdale yesterday after the Government announced it would launch a consultation into the privatisation of the network.

The ex-culture secretary said it is 'sensible to look at alternative ownership models' and did not 'by any means rule out' the public service broadcaster being acquired by a streaming giant.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 presenter Kirstie Allsopp, who co-hosts Location, Location, Location, has railed against the sell-off plan, saying the network 'does not take a penny off the Government'.

Supporters of Channel 4 have suggested that the sale comes after repeated attacks from senior Tories who consider their output left-wing, and suggest the process is politically-motivated to stifle a critical voice of the Government.

Channel 4 has also been criticised by Conservatives who complain that some of its output is biased against the Tories, leading to suspicions that there is a political motivation behind the Government's move.

John Whittingdale said he did not 'by any means rule out' Channel 4 being acquired by a streaming giant (left: Elisabeth Moss playing June in C4's The Handmaid's Tale and right: Jennifer Metcalfe as Mercedes McQueen in Hollyoaks, which is also aired on the network)

Channel 4 presenter Kirstie Allsopp (above), who co-hosts Location, Location, Location, has railed against the sell-off plan, saying the network 'does not take a penny off the Government'

Mr Whittingdale told Times Radio: 'What we've said is that we think that it is sensible to look at alternative ownership models, in order to make sure that Channel 4 is still able to invest in programme content, to compete with these other services.

'In terms of who might potentially be interested, that's the purpose of having a government consultation. We don't rule out anyone.

'There would be competition issues if a very strongly established broadcaster wanted to merge, and that's something which automatically is a matter of competition, but I don't by any means rule out existing streaming services or indeed anybody else. We'll wait and see what happens.'

He added that the Government was concerned over the network's business model coming under intensifying pressure due to its reliance on advertising.

However, Ms Allsopp tweeted: '@Channel4 does not take a penny off the Government, but it is a public service broadcaster.

'Someone said we dont need 2 public service broadcasters I agree, we need 3, the more TV that is for the public the better. Innovative, brave, compassionate broadcasting is what we do.'

In a separate tweet posted on Wednesday evening, she wrote: 'Did a couple of interviews today making the case against privatising @Channel4.

'I was amazed by the kindness of other broadcasters and their belief in C4. Margaret Thatcher set it up to do a job, it does it brilliantly. No true @Conservatives would raise a hand to harm Channel 4.'

Mr Whittingdale, above, added that the Government was concerned over the network's business model coming under intensifying pressure due to its reliance on advertising

Ms Allsopp's tweets, pictured above. Sir David Attenborough has also called for an end to short-sighted political and financial attacks on public service broadcasters as ministers begin moves towards privatising the network

How Channel 4 was set up in 1982 by Mrs Thatcher and is 100% owned by the taxpayer Channel 4 launched in 1982, to provide a fourth television service to Britain, alongside BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. It has been funded by advertising and sponsorship deals since the outset. It made its debut with an episode of Countdown, presented by Carol Vorderman and Richard Whiteley and has become known for its left-leaning coverage, programming for young people and 'property porn' shows such as Grand Designs and Location, Location, Location. It is also home of the Great British Bake Off and known for its groundbreaking drama, most recently: Its A Sin. Channel 4 is commercially funded. It raised revenues of 985million in 2019, but a pre-tax loss of 26million. The process will be overseen by Media Minister John Whittingdale, who advocated privatisation of Channel 4 as long ago as 1996. Selling Channel 4 could be seen as something of an easy win for the Government, as it seeks to find new savings. The taxpayer has a 100 per cent shareholding in Channel 4 but relatively few viewers are even aware that it is state-owned. Advertisement

It follows the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) saying in a statement that moving Channel 4 into private ownership and changing its remit could ensure its 'future success and sustainability'.

The DCMS will consider whether new rules around impartiality and accuracy are needed for documentaries and news content on the platforms to 'level the playing field' with broadcasters, who are regulated by the watchdog Ofcom.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: 'Technology has transformed broadcasting but the rules protecting viewers and helping our traditional channels compete are from an analogue age.

'The time has come to look at how we can unleash the potential of our public service broadcasters while also making sure viewers and listeners consuming content on new formats are served by a fair and well-functioning system.

'So we'll now be looking at how we can help make sure Channel 4 keeps its place at the heart of British broadcasting and level the playing field between broadcasters and video-on-demand services.'

But Sir David Attenborough has called for an end to short-sighted political and financial attacks on public service broadcasters as ministers begin moves towards privatising the network.

The 95-year-old presenter has given his backing to a campaign group which has warned that ministers should not try to diminish these broadcasters.

Sir Davids name has been added to a group of public figures that have backed an open letter sent to Mr Dowden.

Other names understood to have signed include Sir Lenny Henry, Sir Salman Rushdie, Lord Mandelson and actor Adrian Lester.

The group, called British Broadcasting Challenge, argue in the letter that public service principles are under severe threat not just from streaming services and big tech companies but also from the Government.

Channel 4, launched in 1982, is a Government-owned but commercially funded public service broadcaster, with a remit to broadcast diverse, alternative and challenging programming that appeals to a younger audience.
Scott Morrison has backed Gladys Berejiklian's decision not to lock down Sydney.

The Prime Minister said the premier was 'taking the right approach' to adopt proportionate restrictions as an outbreak of the Indian Delta variant rose to 36 on Wednesday with more cases expected on Thursday.

University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely said Ms Berejiklian was 'crazy' for keeping gyms open and warned lockdown will last longer for every moment she delays imposing it.

But Mr Morrison supported his Liberal colleague.

'The premier and I spoke at some length yesterday and I have been keeping in contact over the course of this last week with the situation in NSW,' Mr Morrison told Sunrise.

A woman is seen cleaning the sanitiser station at a shop store in Bondi Junction on June 23

'I think the approach that she is taking is the right one. There are sensible restrictions that are being put in place and they are affecting people right across Sydney.'

Mr Morrison said he hoped restrictions would be lifted quickly once cases subside.

'I think that encourages people, particularly in NSW, knowing that as soon as those restrictions are not necessary they will be lifted because that is what Gladys Berejiklian and her government have always sought to do during the course of this pandemic,' he said.

Sixteen new infections were announced on Wednesday, bringing the total to 36 new community infections in the Harbour City after a super spreader event saw 10 people infected at a birthday party, which was attended by 30 people.

Sources close to the Berejiklian government have hinted that Thursday will see 'big numbers' of new infections, with Sydneysiders ordered not to leave the city.

Ms Berejiklian, who has taken a measured approach to outbreaks, has so far stood firm by refusing to lock down Sydney, instead bringing in restrictions including limits of five visitors to a household and mandatory masks.

On Wednesday evening, NSW Health added 12 stores, a busy bus route and three train lines to the burgeoning list of exposure sites in the city. Pictured: Passengers at Sydney Domestic Airport

Ms Berejiklian conceded that harsher measures will be needed if cases begin to spiral out of control, particularly those not linked to known outbreaks.

'We have always said we will not burden our citizens unless we absolutely have to,' she said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison has warned new variants of Covid-19 emerging in poor countries are 'unpredictable' and could evade vaccines.

The Prime Minister backed his policy to keep international borders closed as other countries relax restrictions, saying he won't 'recklessly' trade places with nations that still have high numbers of cases and deaths.

'Once you let it in you can't get it out,' he said of the virus in an interview with Sunrise.

Commuters wear protective face masks as they enter Central Station following the implementation of new public health regulations from the state of New South Wales

Western Australia and South Australia have shut their borders to all New South Wales residents while other jurisdictions have blocked travel from either Greater Sydney or the seven worst-affected local government areas, just before school holidays.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr asked the Prime Minister why Australians are facing restrictions while nations like the US and the UK, who have largely vaccinated their populations, are opening up.

Mr Morrison said: 'In Australia we don't have the virus at rates seen in other countries.

'If we would take the steps that others seem to be suggesting, we would have to be comfortable with 5,000 cases a day. Now I don't think Australians would be happy with that.

'What we're doing is we're keeping our economy growing and keeping our people safe and we're doing that behind international borders.

'And I agree with you, we should keep Australia as open as possible behind those borders.'

Those who live and work in seven hotspot suburbs will not be allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason

The comments are a heavy blow to Aussies hoping to visit family overseas after 15 months of being trapped in the country due to travel bans. The government estimates the borders will not be open until July 2022.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Australia has pursued an aggressive suppression strategy to snuff out the virus with some of the toughest border controls in the world alongside contract tracing and mass testing.

Earlier this week India recorded yet another variant of the virus which has been labelled Delta plus.

Mr Morrison said the new strains were 'unpredictable' and made outlining a roadmap to freedom very difficult.

'The strains are unpredictable. The variants and their impact on future vaccines and all the rest of it is unpredictable,' he said.

'And once you let it in, you can't get it out and I'm not going to recklessly exchange places with countries in the rest of the world who are suffering from that problem where that got people dying every day. That's not happening in Australia.'

The Prime Minister said the factor that would determine whether Australia could relax international borders would be whether the vaccines prevent hospitalisations.

In the UK, where half the population has been fully vaccinated compared to Australia's measly three per cent, hospitalisation rates jumped 20 per cent over the past week due to the Delta variant - but the hospitalisation rate is now slowing.

'The key figure going forward is how many people are suffering serious illness, and that's what we are watching closely in the United Kingdom,' Mr Morrison said.
Scotland Yard will launch its sixth forensic review in a bid to crack the unsolved 1987 axe murder of Daniel Morgan (pictured) after an inquiry branded the Metropolitan as 'institutionally corrupt' earlier this month

Scotland Yard will launch its sixth forensic review in a bid to crack the unsolved 1987 axe murder of Daniel Morgan after an inquiry branded the Metropolitan as 'institutionally corrupt' earlier this month.

A specialist team will re-examine some of the evidence in the case of the private eye's death in the hope of finally catching those responsible for the father-of-two's murder in the car park of a London pub on March 10, 1987.

The review of the case will use the latest technology and DNA developments, similar to that used that helped bring the killers of Stephen Lawrence to justice in 2012.

In the case of Lawrence, who was stabbed to death by a racist gang, two men were found guilty of the 1993 murder almost 20 years after the attack.

The decision to launch a forensic review comes after a 16million inquiry into the murder of the private investigator accused the Met of decades of cover-up, incompetence and corruption  that continues to this day.

An independent panel spent eight years producing the report, which suggested that the force was more interested in protecting its own reputation that solving the brutal murder of Morgan, who was killed with an axe.

The murder has been dubbed the 'most investigated unsolved murder in the history of the Metropolitan Police'.

In response to the report Sir Stephen House, the deputy commissioner, rejected the accusations and said that the Met had not given up hope in solving the crime.

'There is still a possibility of solving this murder however remote that may seem. Our work to achieve that will not stop no matter how much time passes,' he told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee on Wednesday.

He noted that criminal allegiances change over time and that it is not uncommon for people to confess to crimes that happened decades earlier.

'It is never too late to do the right thing,' he said.

Alastair Morgan, the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, speaking to the media following the publication of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report, June 15. Alastair, who has campaigned for justice for his brother for decades, said on Tuesday that he has still not received a written apology from Dame Cressida Dick

He continued: 'We have also commissioned a new forensic review to look at a series of exhibits linked to this case. This is a process we conduct in all unsolved homicides periodically and is something we have considered in this case for sometime.

'We feel the conclusion of the panel report now marks the right time for this process to take place,' he said.

Sir Stephen also pointed to other cases in which DNA and forensic technology led to new evidence, saying this has the potential to help in the case of Morgan.

Mr Morgan's business partner at Southern Investigations Jonathan Rees (pictured) was twice charged with his murder. No trial ever took place due to difficulties with evidence

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Barbara Grey has been appointed to lead the Met's response to the report.

The report recommended that the Met ask a handwriting expert to examine a diary found in Mr Morgan's desk to ensure that written entries were made by him.

It also said that the force should take DNA from relatives of a late police officer identified only as Z31, to compare with samples found on the handle of the axe used to murder Mr Morgan.

In the wake of the report both Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave rejected the stinging accusation, and were joined in doing so by Sir Stephen on Wednesday.

'The National Police Chiefs' Council defines corruption as the improper exercise of power or privilege for the purpose of achieving a personal benefit or a benefit or detriment for another person,' he also told the Assembly.

'The Metropolitan Police Service does not accept that we are institutionally corrupt in this way.

'We don't accept that we don't have the necessary framework to identify and bring to book those who abuse the privilege of wearing a police uniform.

'And we don't accept that corruption followed this case throughout the decades that we've been trying to find the offenders.'

However, he admitted that 'occasionally we may be overly defensive' and said the force could do more to explain what it does and why.

Mr Morgan was killed with an axe outside the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south London

Daniel Morgan was investigating claims of corruption within the Metropolitan Police when he was murdered in 1987

Despite a string of police investigations and an inquest no-one has been brought to justice for his murder or for alleged corruption.

Sir Stephen said: 'We accept and we deeply regret that corruption played a major part in the failure of the first investigation into Daniel Morgan's murder.

'It's quite clear that the acts of individual police officers undermined the investigation. As a senior police officer of 37 years' service I deeply, deeply regret that.

'It's a source of anger and sadness for all right-thinking police officers.'

Mr Morgan's brother, Alastair, who has campaigned for justice for his brother for decades, said on Tuesday that he has still not received a written apology from Dame Cressida.

Sir Stephen told the committee: 'It's quite clear that our failings compounded the pain suffered by Daniel Morgan's family. For this we profoundly apologise.

Alastair Morgan (right), the brother of murdered private investigator Daniel Morgan, with his family solicitor Raju Bhatt (centre) speaking to the media following the publication of the report

'As the Commissioner has said, we recognised that the family has shown incredible grit, determination and courage over the years since the terrible murder.

'I hope the report provides the family with some of the answers to questions that have arisen over the past 34 years.

'I know from speaking to her yesterday that the Commissioner will shortly be writing directly to the Morgan family to set out the next steps that we as an organisation will be taking.'

No one has been brought to justice for the brutal killing of Mr Morgan in a south London pub car park in 1987. The 37-year-old was found with an axe lodged in his skull and 1,000 in banknotes in a pocket.

After five separate criminal inquiries and an inquest, at an estimated cost of 30million, it was hoped that the eight-year public inquiry would finally uncover the truth.

Mr Morgan's business partner at Southern Investigations Jonathan Rees was twice charged with his murder. No trial ever took place due to difficulties with evidence.

On the night of the murder, Rees met Mr Morgan in the Golden Lion pub  where his body would later be discovered. Rees claimed he left before Mr Morgan was killed.

Police who visited Rees's home to question him a few hours later described him as 'extremely nervous', while his wife's behaviour was said to be 'odd'.

Rees was later found guilty of conspiring to plant cocaine on an innocent woman in order to discredit her child custody battle, and was also found to be involved in the 2011 News of the World scandal.
Boris Johnson was yesterday accused of describing criticism of low conviction rates for rape offences as 'jabber'.

Just 1.6 per cent of reported rapes and attempted rapes result in a charge and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said victims were being failed.

In his response in the Commons, the Prime Minister said: 'We're getting on with the job  they jabber, we jab. They dither and we deliver. They vacillate and we vaccinate.'

Boris Johnson was yesterday accused of describing criticism of low rape conviction rates as 'jabber'

Labour's Jess Phillips said the comment was 'disgraceful' and demanded an apology but Mr Johnson's press secretary insisted the use of the word 'jabber' was aimed at the Opposition.

The Prime Minister gave an apology to rape victims who have experienced 'inadequacies' in the criminal justice system.

It emerged yesterday that prosecutors are trawling through rape victims' school reports before deciding whether to charge their attackers.

Dame Vera Baird QC, the Victims' Commissioner, told MPs there was an 'over demand' by prosecutors for disclosure of 'every piece' of data, including medical notes and social services reports.

Just 1.6 per cent of reported rapes and attempted rapes result in a charge, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said victims were being 'failed'

Ministers last week set out plans for a 'system and culture change' which will include focusing more on the behaviour of the suspect than the accuser to improve conviction levels.

The latest CPS figures for 2019-20 show 1,439 suspects were convicted of rape or lesser offences in England and Wales last year - the lowest level since records began, and down from 1,925 the previous year, despite reports of adult rape to police almost doubling since 2015-16.

There are an estimated 128,000 victims of rape and attempted rape a year, but only 1.6% of reported cases results in a charge.
It would appear easy to blame populist leaders for disasters, whether natural or man-made.

But while human error certainly seems to play a part, it is often obscure bureaucrats who are actually at fault, says historian Niall Ferguson.

It is too easy to place all the blame on leaders, however many errors they have made, he told an audience at the Daily Mail-sponsored Chalke Valley History Festival yesterday.

He referred to the American space shuttle Challenger which blew up shortly after launch in January 1986. The first impulse of the Washington press corps was to blame it on the US President, claiming the launch was rushed so Ronald Reagan could include it in the State of the Nation address.

It is too easy to place all the blame on leaders, however many errors they have made, he told an audience at the Daily Mail-sponsored Chalke Valley History Festival (pictured) yesterday

Princess Diana's brother, who has written a book about the 12th-century monarch, told the Chalke Valley History Festival yesterday the king was like a 'Greek tragic hero'. Pictured: Reading Abbey, founded by King Henry I

But there was no substance to that, said Mr Ferguson, and in reality Nasa engineers knew there was a one in 100 chance it would blow up.

However, Nasa bureaucrats  including an enigmatic figure [called] Mr Kingsbury had changed the risk into one in 100,000, a significantly lower probability of disaster.

Mr Ferguson said there is a Mr Kingsbury in every disaster and it is not the people at the top that make the fatal errors but someone in the middle management, in an obscure layer of bureaucracy.

Earl Spencer: Give Henry I a proper burial Henry I should be exhumed from a grave beneath a boarding school in Reading and given a proper burial at Westminster Abbey, Earl Spencer has suggested. Princess Diana's brother, who has written a book about the 12th-century monarch, told the Chalke Valley History Festival yesterday the king was like a 'Greek tragic hero'. Henry built the now-ruined Reading Abbey but is buried under a school extension. 'I'm not sure he deserves that,' said the Earl. 'It would be wonderful if he was reburied in Westminster Abbey or somewhere suitable.' Advertisement

In another example, he said the big mystery of the coronavirus crisis is that the US and UK were said to be well prepared for a pandemic.

But he referred to a little known lecture in 2018 by Robert Kadleck, who was assistant secretary for preparing and response at the US department of health and human services.

Mr Ferguson said Kadleck had let it slip that he had minimal confidence in the emergency pandemic plans and said if they were not beefed up we are going to be SOL [s*** out of luck].

The historian also pointed to tweets posted by Dominic Cummings about a systemic failure in the UKs public health system.

The festival, held in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, is going ahead despite the delay to lockdown being lifted.

But Mr Fergusons talk, based on his book Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe, was pre-recorded and screened  because he was quarantining in Wales after flying in from the US.

He said he was careful to stick to the rules, unlike his namesake Professor Neil Ferguson, who broke lockdown to meet his married lover.

Mr Ferguson added: Even with the different spelling I still got an enormous amount of hate mail that was supposed to go to the epidemiologist Neil Ferguson who not only broke the rules that were his own idea but was the guy who wrote the paper that recommended hugely popular lockdowns that have now claimed me as their temporary victim.
Lowering academic standards for disadvantaged students is patronising, the universities watchdog says.

The Office for Students (OfS) yesterday started a review into assessment practices that allegedly disregard spelling and grammar mistakes.

A number of universities are accused of ordering lecturers to lower grading standards for students from non-traditional backgrounds to be more inclusive.

Lowering academic standards for disadvantaged students is patronising, the universities watchdog says (stock image)

Susan Lapworth, the OfS director of regulation, told Times Higher Education: Students from all backgrounds should expect a high-quality academic experience and a qualification that reflects their achievements.

'We have been clear that standards should not be reduced for particular groups of students and it is patronising to expect less from some students under the guise of supporting them.

Effective academic writing requires good spelling, punctuation and grammar from all.

The review was launched after reports institutions had told academics that insisting on good written English discriminated against ethnic minorities and those who went to underperforming schools.

Hull University reportedly told markers that requiring high proficiency in written English could be seen as homogenous, North European, white, male, and elite.

The institution said that students should be encouraged to develop a more authentic academic voice...that celebrates, rather than obscures, their particular background or characteristics.

The University of the Arts London reportedly issued guidelines saying that staff should actively accept spelling, grammar or other language mistakes that do not significantly impede communication unless the brief states that formally accurate language is a requirement.

It warned academics to avoid imposing your own idea of correct English on student work.

The University of Worcester allegedly told staff that if spelling and grammar were not central to the assessment criteria, it was fairer to judge students on their ideas and knowledge of the subject (pictured, students receive their A-Level results)

The University of Worcester allegedly told staff that if spelling and grammar were not central to the assessment criteria, it was fairer to judge students on their ideas and knowledge of the subject.

The OfS said that its review would identify areas of good practice as well as areas where it was likely to have future regulatory concerns, Times Higher Education reported.

Ms Lapworth said it was a matter of strong public interest that the English higher education sector is able to demonstrate that the degrees it awards to students are a reliable indicator of academic achievement and that high standards are maintained.
New South Wales politicians have been forced into isolation after a minister caught the virus during a pre-budget dinner at a pizza restaurant.

Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive after he dined at Christo's Five Ways Pizzeria with fellow Nationals MP Steph Cooke and Upper House members Ben Franklin and Trevor Khan on Monday night.

They headed to the family-run restaurant - which serves $15 pizzas and pastas and lets customers bring their own booze - after arriving in Sydney ahead of the parliamentary sitting week.

Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive after he dined at Christo's Five Ways Pizzeria with fellow Nationals MP Steph Cooke and Upper House members Ben Franklin and Trevor Khan on Monday night

NSW Health staff leave with Covid testing equipment at NSW State Parliament - after conducting tests on politicians

All of the politicians checked in using the QR code system, which would prove vital later on.

On Tuesday the four politicians attended a Nationals party room meeting before Treasurer Dominic Perrottet handed down the state budget in the lower house.

'We had the normal budget day of Parliament, a series of meetings, but nothing out of the ordinary at all,' Mr Marshall told Sky News on Thursday.

He said he was in the same room but not close to the Treasurer and the Premier.

That night at 11.51pm they got texts from NSW Health to say a positive case had been in the pizzeria from 5.55pm to 8.30pm, overlapping with the time they were there.

Ms Cooke said she read the message when she woke up on Wednesday morning.

'I am following the advice of NSW Health by staying in isolation and taking further tests in coming days,' she said in a statement.

As instructed, the politicians isolated and got tested. Three were negative but Mr Marshall returned a positive result on Thursday morning, forcing government whips to order politicians to isolate in their parliamentary offices and await further instructions.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard, who was deemed to have close contact with Mr Marshall on Tuesday, has also been forced into isolation and is awaiting a test result.

All of the politicians checked in using the QR code system, which would prove vital later on

Mr Hazzard has said it is 'unlikely' that Premier Gladys Berejiklian will have been infected.

Health officials were seen leaving the Parliament building with testing kits on Thursday morning after conducting mass swabs.

Labor leader Chris Minns was due to deliver his budget reply speech on Thursday but that has been postponed until further notice.

In a statement, Mr Marshall - who has displayed no symptoms - confirmed that he had followed health orders.

'This morning just after 8am I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for COVID-19,' he said.

'I have been in isolation in Sydney since late Tuesday night, when I received a text message from NSW Health advising of my attendance at a close contact venue on Monday evening, and the need to present for testing.

'To everyone who has contacted me this morning, thank you for your thoughts and well wishes - I'm doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities.

'To our wonderful NSW Health staff, who continue to do an amazing job in these challenging times, thank you for your support and efforts keeping all of us safe and well.

'Take care everyone.'

The minister texted 2GB radio host Ben Fordham to reveal he caught the virus in the pizzeria.

'I've just received a call from NSW Health, formally advising me that I am positive,' the text read.

'No doubt from the pizza joint I went to on Monday evening.'
In a new interview, former President Bill Clinton says cancel culture was started by Republicans before it was adopted by liberals.

Clinton appeared on British morning show Lorraine on Wednesday and discussed life after the White House and his latest novel The President's Daughter with best-selling author James Patterson.

In the wide-ranging interview Clinton discussed cancel culture, which he says was actually started by Republicans who tried to cancel anyone who was not of the same mindset before it was embraced by liberals.

'The first canceling I ever went through throughout my life was the canceling that people on the right tried to do to people who weren't,' Clinton said.

Bill Clinton appeared on ITV's Lorraine today with author James Patterson discussed cancel culture, which he says was started by Republicans who tried to cancel anyone who was not of the same mindset

Clinton did not specify when Republicans tried to cancel him but the former president was impeached by a Republican-controlled House in 1998 following his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky

The former president added that with time cancel culture shifted to liberals canceling people on the right.

Clinton said he believes that criticism, which he is more open to listening to, works better than canceling those you oppose.

'Then it became tempting when the demographics changed just to go the other way, but I think if you listen to our book, criticism works better than canceling because I always listen to my critics.'

Clinton did not specify when Republicans tried to cancel him but the former president was impeached by a Republican-controlled House in 1998 following his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The highly publicized sex scandal between then 49-year-old Clinton and the 22-year-old White House intern dominated headlines in 1998.

The sexual relationship between the two lasted between 1995 and 1997.

After an inquiry between October and December 1998, President Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 19, 1998; the articles of impeachment charged him with perjury and obstruction of justice.

'The first canceling I ever went through throughout my life was the canceling that people on the right tried to do to people who weren't,' Clinton said

Clinton also added he pays attention to his critics, including his wife Hillary. 'I always pay attention to her criticism it's how I survived the last 45 years,' Clinton joked.

Over the past few years many right-wing conservatives have developed the view that 'cancel culture' is a form of harassment intended to silence anyone who goes against what is considered 'woke politics,' Vox reported.

'Cancel culture' has recently become a social-media trend that places celebrities, companies and media alike under a microscope of political correctness, the New York Post reported.

Many have criticized the movement, claiming it is too rigid and does not allow for meaningful engagement.

In his interview Clinton also revealed that when he left office he had 'more nightmares on what could happen' to his country but said it's 'foolish wishing you can do something you can't do anymore.'

'After I left office, when I had more free time, I had more nightmares thinking about what else could go wrong with our country,' explained Bill Clinton. 'I occasionally have them now but not so much as before.'

'By and large, I've been really happy. I think it's a foolish thing to spend a day wishing you could do something you can't do any more. I made a promise to myself when I was president, I wouldn't do that. It's been an eventual 20 years since I left office, I've been very fortunate because under President Bush and President Obama, I've been given a lot of chances to help.

He continued: 'I'm happy for President Biden because I think he's fortunate to be serving at a time when the challenges meet his skill set.'

Clinton also added he pays attention to his critics, including his wife Hillary.

'I always pay attention to her criticism it's how I survived the last 45 years,' Clinton joked.
FBI Director Chris Wray has begged companies to stop paying hackers ransom money, saying it encourages cybercriminals to carry out more attacks.

Wray testified before a US Senate appropriations panel Wednesday for a bureau budget hearing where cybersecurity was one of the top issues on the agenda.

'In general, we would discourage paying the ransom because it encourages more of these attacks, and frankly, there is no guarantee whatsoever that you are going to get your data back,' he urged.

His comments come after several major companies have shelled out millions of dollars in ransom payments in recent months to hacking groups in efforts to get their systems back online.

Last month, Colonial Pipeline shelled out almost $5million to the criminal cybergroup DarkSide after it fell victim to an attack that forced the carrier of 45 percent of fuel to the East Coast to shut down its entire network and sparked a fuel crisis nationwide.

FBI Director Chris Wray (in Wednesday's hearing) has begged companies to stop paying hackers ransom money, saying it encourages cybercriminals to carry out more attacks

Wray warned public companies and other hacking victims Wednesday that paying ransoms to cybercriminals will only embolden them to ramp up future attacks.

He said the FBI is seeing increasingly sophisticated types of ransomware attacks and that cyber thieves have been demanding larger sums of money.

'We've seen the total volume of the money paid I think triple over the last year or so,' Wray said.

Instead of bowing to the demands of cybercriminals, Wray urged companies and municipal governments who become victims of attacks to turn to the FBI as soon as possible.

'When they do, there's all kinds of things that we can do,' Wray said.

'Sometimes through other work we've done, we might have the decryption key and be able to help the company unlock their data without having to pay the ransom.'

He added that 'the most important thing is that [victims] reach out and connect... with us as quickly and transparently as possible.'

The FBI director told the panel there needs to be a greater focus on encouraging - and incentivizing - victims to work with authorities in handling a cyber attack.

'If we don't solve the riddle of how to get the private sector promptly and transparently working with us - and more and more companies, I should say, are doing that all the time - but if we don't make that sort of the norm, we're going to have a heck of a time winning this conflict,' he said.

'Anything that helps provide more incentive for that to happen, I think is a step in the right direction.'

Wray testified before a US Senate appropriations panel Wednesday (above) for a bureau budget hearing where cybersecurity was one of the top issues on the agenda. 'In general, we would discourage paying the ransom because it encourages more of these attacks' he urged

The Justice Department revealed this month that officials managed to help Colonial Pipeline recover $2.3million of the almost $5million in cryptocurrency ransom it paid out to hackers.

The FBI was able to identify a Bitcoin wallet used by the DarkSide hackers to collect payment from Colonial.

The bureau was then able to recover those funds because it had a private key to unlock the wallet.

It was unclear how the FBI managed to access the key, with officials keeping the secret close to their chest to help in future incidents.

However, officials said even foreign-based cybercriminals like DarkSide often use US infrastructure at some point in the criminal enterprise, giving the US an entry to recover funds.

Bitcoin seizures by the federal government are relatively uncommon, but authorities have been stepping up their expertise in tracking the flow of digital money.

Colonial Pipeline was condemned by national security experts and members of Congress alike after it emerged it had paid close to $5million to DarkSide in exchange for a decryption key to restore access to its servers.

Several major companies have shelled out millions of dollars in ransom payments in recent months Last month, Colonial Pipeline (the facility in Baltimore, Maryland) shelled out almost $5million to the criminal cybergroup DarkSide after it fell victim to an attack

The cyber attack forced the carrier of 45 percent of fuel to the East Coast to shut down its entire network and sparked a fuel crisis nationwide with gas pumps dry across the country

The pipeline was taken offline on May 7 in the attack, halting 2.5 million barrels per day of fuel shipments along the line running from Texas to New Jersey.

The hack sparked concerns of a national fuel crisis with thousands of gas stations running out of fuel and motorists racing to fill up their cars, pushing the national average price of gas past $3 for the first time since 2014.

The FBI said named DarkSide as the perpetrator of the attack.

DarkSide is believed to be based in Russia or Eastern Europe with ties to Russia.

Officials said the hack was the most disruptive cyberattack on energy infrastructure in American history.

But, Colonial is not alone in forking out ransom money to meet the demands of hackers.

Earlier this month, it emerged that America's largest beef supplier JBS paid an $11million ransom in Bitcoin to the hackers who shut down its US plants.

America's largest beef supplier JBS paid an $11 million ransom in bitcoin to the hackers who shut down its plants in the United States

Andre Nogueira, the CEO for the Brazilian company's United States division, told The Wall Street Journal the payment was made after most JBS plants were already up and running again as 'insurance to protect our customers.'

He added: 'It was very painful to pay the criminals, but we did the right thing for our customers.'

JBS learned of the attack early on May 30 after finding 'irregularities' on its servers and a ransom note.

This forced the supplier to shut down its computer servers, suspending meat production systems at its US plants for four days.

The scale at which victims of cyber attacks are bowing down to the will of hackers is not fully known, as many firms quietly pay ransoms without it being made public.

However, an analysis by Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic last month found that DarkSide alone had bagged more than $90million in Bitcoin ransom payments from 47 victims in the nine months between October last year and mid-May when the wallet shut down.

DarkSide bagged the most ransom money in February when it got more than $20million in payments from 11 victims.

Dark web intelligence firm DarkTracer identified 99 organizations that were infected with Darkside including fashion label Guess and car firm Toshiba.

The DarkSide hackers that closed the Colonial Pipeline bagged more than $90 million in Bitcoin ransom payments from 47 victims in the last year

This means roughly half of all organizations targeted by the cybercriminal gang paid ransom money with the average payment being around $1.9million, Elliptic said.

It is not clear which companies paid the hackers ransom money.

Of the more than $90million identified, $15.5million went to DarkSides developer and the remaining $74.7million went to its affiliates, Elliptic said.

Most ransom money paid to DarkSide was then sent to cryptoasset exchanges, where it could be swapped for standard currencies such as US dollars.

Wray is looking to allocate a significant part of the FBI budget into cybersecurity so the US can ramp up expertise in the wake of the spate of high-profile, crippling cyber attacks on major government agencies and public and private companies.

The FBI's fiscal year 2022 budget proposal includes an additional $40million for cybersecurity investigations, including hiring 155 more experts in the field.

It also includes another $15million to help the FBI improve its own cybersecurity.

Joe Biden also vowed to put in measures to strengthen the US's cybersecurity defenses following the Colonial Pipeline attack.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned Sydney is going through the 'scariest period' of the pandemic but refused to impose a city-wide lockdown as she confirmed 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight.

Fears are growing the virus may be spreading through multiple 'super-spreader' events after the new cases were linked to a birthday party attended by 30 people in West Hoxton in Sydney's west.

There are now 36 cases linked to the Bondi cluster, which has forced Ms Berejiklian to impose widespread restrictions on Wednesday to slow the spread of the highly-contagious Delta strain of the virus.

Victorian contact tracers are also scrambling to stop the spread after a man in his 60s tested positive to Covid-19 in Melbourne after visiting his daughter in Sydney over the weekend.

'This is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through,' Ms Berejiklian said in her daily press conference on Thursday afternoon.

'It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are comfortable that the settings we have in place are appropriate.'

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New South Wales has recorded 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight. Commuters pictured wearing face masks on a train platform at Central Station on Wednesday

NEW COVID-19 RULES FOR GREATER SYDNEY From 4pm Wednesday for one week: Visitors to households will be limited to five guests  including children; Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events; Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed; Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed; Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people); Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn); The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals; Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity; Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced Advertisement

Light rail cleaners are seen wiping down a tram in the Sydney CBD on Thursday. Fears are growing the virus may be spreading through multiple 'super-spreader' events after 11 cases were linked to a birthday party attended by 30 people in West Hoxton in Sydney's west

The premier said she was deemed a casual contact of an infected case after an outbreak at the state's parliament building, but that she tested negative to Covid-19 on Thursday morning.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and four other MPs were forced into isolation after being told they were close contacts of Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who has tested positive to the virus after dining at Christo's Pizzeria in Paddington in Sydney's inner-east on Monday night.

Mr Hazzard confirmed on Thursday afternoon he had also tested negative to the virus.

Ms Berejiklian said she had had 'zero contact' with Mr Marshall when he was infectious.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said dozens of staffers and state MPs who attended a budget dinner on Tuesday night may have been part of a super-spreader event.

The parliament's whips sent notes to MPs members urging them not to bring in staff before both houses sit on Thursday.

MPs who were at Parliament House on Tuesday or Wednesday have been told by the NSW Department of Parliamentary Services to self-isolate until told otherwise.

New South Wales Health staff leave NSW State Parliament in Sydney on Thursday after the state's agriculture minister Adam Marshall tested positive to Covid-19

The 11 additional cases includes six recorded overnight since 8pm and five unreported infections from Wednesday's figures.

All but one of the new infections is linked to a previous case.

The positive community cases came from 48,402 tests, up from the 44,640 carried out the day before.

Epidemiologist Dr Abrar Chughtai said the decision on sending Sydney into lockdown would hinge on three key factors - vaccination levels, how fast the Delta Covid-19 strain is spreading, and how active the cases were in the community.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and four other MPs are in isolation after being close contacts of Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who has tested positive to the Delta variant

'If all cases are close contacts and you are able to trace all contacts of those cases, then you probably don't need lockdown,' he told ABC News.

Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday she did not want to impose a debilitating lockdown unless she had no other option.

'I am not going to rule out further action, I am not going to rule out what happens beyond a week,' she said.

Ms Berejiklian pictured at Thursday's press conference. She said she had had 'zero contact' with the infected minister when he was infectious

Covid cases are on the rise in Sydney (pictured, a couple in mandatory masks in Manly)

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Wednesday) has so far managed to fend off a lockdown, instead bringing in restrictions including limited visitors to the home and mandatory masks - even in offices

Lockdown-happy premiers in other states including Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland have already slammed their borders shut, disrupting school holiday plans for thousands.

On Thursday, Queensland recorded three new local cases after an infected woman in her 30s visited the Portuguese Family Centre restaurant in Ellen Grove in Brisbane's south-west.

Ms Berejiklian has always strived to take a measured approach to outbreaks and has implemented a number of restrictions including limits of five visitors to a household and mandatory masks.

However, in the face of a growing number of cases, a senior health source admitted to Daily Mail Australia that the trend of infections is 'not good'.

THE THREE FACTORS THAT COULD SEND SYDNEY INTO LOCKDOWN The city's vaccination levels How fast the Delta variant is spreading How active the cases were in the community while they were infectious Source: UNSW epidemiologist Dr Abrar Chughtai Advertisement

When asked about a potential lockdown, the source said: 'It certainly looks like that's where we are heading.'

Four new mystery infections have contributed to widespread speculation that the city will be locked down by the end of the week, with sources telling the ABC and 7 News such restrictions could be imminent.

The Delta variant is so contagious that two people in Bondi this week caught Covid by momentarily brushing past each other.

While other premiers have locked down state capitals after just two cases, Ms Berejiklian has always tried to strike a balance between public health and economic and mental wellbeing.

But she conceded that the approach may have to change if cases begin to spiral out of control, particularly those not linked to known outbreaks.

'We have always said we will not burden our citizens unless we absolutely have to,' she said.

'If we need to take further action within the week or after the week, we are open to that.'

Mr Hazzard rubbished claims that a lockdown is imminent, saying they have 'zero' truth to them.

'No plan to lockdown contrary to reports this evening,' Mr Hazzard told news.com.au on Wednesday night.

'Measures implemented this afternoon are proportionate and appropriate. Reports of a lockdown are greatly exaggerated.'

Those who live and work in seven hotspot suburbs will not be allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason

Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised the NSW's premier's approach.

'She hasn't gone to lock down Australia's biggest city,' he said.

'But has taken the positive decision to keep Sydney and NSW open for its residents and to continue to rely on what is Australia's best contact tracing system.'

On Wednesday evening, NSW Health added 12 stores, a busy bus route and three train lines to the burgeoning list of exposure sites in the city. Pictured: Passengers at Sydney Domestic Airport

Lockdown-happy premiers in other states including Western Australia , Victoria and Queensland have already slammed their borders shut, disrupting school holiday plans for thousands (inset, the Sydney suburbs deemed 'hotspots')

NSW Health added 12 stores, a busy bus route and three train lines to the growing list of exposure sites in Sydney late on Wednesday evening.

New venues included three eastern suburbs supermarkets, a TAFE building in Meadowbank, and an office building on Pitt Street in the CBD.

A BWS store in Mascot is also on alert, along with United Cinemas in Narellan, and three trendy eastern suburbs cafes.

Sydneysiders who were at the Tropicana Cafe in Darlinghurst between 12pm and 2pm on Friday 18 June, or Ikaria Bondi between 5pm and 7pm on Sunday June 20 have been told to contact NSW Health immediately and isolate for two weeks.

Pictured: The Bondi Beach drive-through Covid-19 clinic. There are now 36 cases linked to the state's latest outbreak

Shoppers at Coles Express Shell Petrol station on Birrell Street in Bondi Junction in the half an hour after 7.15pm on June 18 should get tested and isolate immediately, along with anyone who was at Woolworths Metro at Bondi Beach between 1 and 1.30pm on June 20.

Visitors at to Coles Kings Cross in Potts Point between 8pm and 9pm on Monday June 21 should also get tested and isolate, along with anyone who was at the Transport NSW Training Centre in Petersham between 4 and 4.10pm on Monday.

New exposure sight: On Wednesday, it was announced the Joh Bailey salon was exposed from June 17 to June 19

A public health warning has also been issued Christo's Pizzeria in Paddington (pictured)

STATES THAT HAVE BANNED SYDNEYSIDERS: Queensland: Sydney declared a hotspot, banning entry into the Sunshine State WA: All of NSW banned SA: All of NSW banned Victoria: Sydney hotspots banned- Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick Tasmania: Sydney hotspots banned Northern Territory: Anyone from Sydney hotspots must quarantine for 14 days. ACT: Sydney hotspots banned Advertisement

Five bus journeys were also added to the close contact list, with alerts for anyone who was on specific trips on the 600 or 665 buses on Sunday June 20.

Anyone who travelled on bus 333 between 1.07pm and 1.12pm on Tuesday June 22 is also considered a casual contact and should get tested and self-isolate immediately.

Three trains lines are also on the list, including one that travelled from Bondi Junction to Mascot on Friday June 18 between 6.55pm and 7.22pm.

Another travelled from Mascot to Central on Saturday June 19 between 5.26pm and 5.35pm, and the third went from Central to Glenfield on the same day between 5.53pm and 6.38pm.

Two venues in the ritzy suburb of Double Bay have now been added to the city's growing list of exposure sites, including restaurant Matteo and the salon of renowned stylist, Joh Bailey.

A public health warning has also been issued Christo's Pizzeria in nearby Paddington.

Contact tracers are scrambling to determine exposure sites visited by the positive cases, as well as trying to trace the four new mystery infections.

The Bondi cluster began last week after a Sydney Airport limousine driver tested positive to the Delta variant, which started spreading at Bondi Junction's busy Westfield shopping centre.

A number of bus journeys were added to the close contact list on Wednesday evening with alerts for anyone who was on specific trips on the 600 or 665 buses on Sunday June 20 (pictured, a woman getting on a bus in Sydney)

The majority of the 16 new cases stem from a birthday party on Saturday in West Hoxton, in western Sydney, which included an infected Bondi Junction Westfield worker (pictured, testing at Bondi Beach)

For the next week from 4pm on Wednesday, household gatherings are limited to five visitors and masks are compulsory in all indoor venues, including workplaces and gym classes.

Drinking while standing in pubs and bars is also banned and those who live and work in seven hotspot council areas are not allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason.

Those council areas are the City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick - home to around 782,000 residents.

The tightened rules - which also include a 50 per cent capacity restriction for outdoor seated events - applies to Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Central Coast and Shellharbour regions.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the outbreak demonstrated how quickly transmission could occur (pictured, women leaving Westfield Bondi Junction on Wednesday amid a wave of new infections)

Ms Berejiklian said the growth of 'unlinked cases' in the state meant she needed to take proportionate action to stop the Delta variant from spreading.

'If you live or work in any of those impacted LGAs we don't want you moving outside of metropolitan Sydney other than for one of four essential purposes,' she said.

'Unless you are visiting a relative in care or have to go to work you should not be going outside the city for the next week.'

She clarified the boundaries of metropolitan Sydney were the city itself, the Blue Mountains, Shellharbour, Wollongong and the Central Coast.

The one person per four square metre rule in indoor venues has also come back into force.
Kabul could be captured by the Taliban within a year as US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, but its fall is not inevitable and will depend on a much better-run Afghan defense force, US experts say.

As worries mount that the insurgents could retake power in the war-torn country, experts with years of experience in Afghanistan warned that poor leadership, corruption and ethnic divisions in the Afghan security forces offer the Taliban advantages, and that much depends on whether President Ashraf Ghani's troubled government can hold.

The Islamist rebels have taken control of dozens of Afghanistan's 400 districts since the September deadline for withdrawal was set by Washington, where Ghani is set to meet with US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that a new US intelligence report estimates that the Taliban could win control of the country's capital within six to 12 months of the US pullout.

Afghans gather with their heavy weapons to support government security forces against the Taliban, in Guzara district, Herat province

US experts say Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is facing a tough test with the stepped up attacks by Taliban insurgents, who have the potential of besieging Kabul within a year

'There's really no denying the size and the speed of the kind of territorial losses the government has suffered,' Andrew Watkins of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

But 'the fall of Kabul is not imminent. The Taliban is not an unstoppable military juggernaut,' he said.

Most of the districts the insurgents have claimed are 'out in rural areas of the country that have little strategic or military value. There's no military need for either actor to be out there.'

Yet some are on transport routes and around provincial capitals.

'The Taliban are strengthening their chokeholds around major cities. They're not necessarily in the near-term future going to try and take those cities,' Watkins said.

Afghan security forces have lost the support of US air strikes on the Taliban in the past year, and their own air force could be weakened if thousands of US civilian contractors, who keep Afghan aircraft flying, depart by September.

Carter Malkasian, a former Pentagon official and now an Afghanistan security expert at the CNA consultancy, said it is only 'remotely possible' that the Taliban sweep into Kabul in the near term.

However, he said, such an outcome is conceivable within a year, as regional capitals are not currently under threat.

'If you see the losses of big cities like Kandahar city or Mazar-i-Sharif, then I would start worrying about Kabul falling,' said Malkasian.

A member of the anti-Taliban 'Sangorians' militia fires a heavy machine gun during an ongoing fight with Taliban insurgents in the village of Mukhtar in Helmand Province

James Dobbins, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan and now an expert at Rand Corporation, said he expects fighting to escalate.

Right now, he said, 'the Taliban have certain advantages. But their advantages generally apply in the countryside where their supporters are.'

The cities are more of a challenge for the group than when they gained power in 1996: the country is more populous, urbanized, better educated, better connected and more complicated to manage.

'They don't have many supporters in the cities where all the infrastructure is,' he said.

'Kabul is now a city of five million people. It's not what it was the last time the Taliban captured it. And I think they'd have a hard time controlling it.'

Watkins said the Afghan military is doing what it needs to do, shrinking its footprint to focus on defending population centers and major supply arteries.

And a recent shakeup of the leadership could improve its operations.

'The Afghan military has to demonstrate a strength and a resilience that makes the Taliban reconsider trying to take over the country by force,' he said.

However, he added, 'The territorial losses the Afghan government has suffered are going to wind up having political impact. There is a potential of freaking out everyone, from rank and file Afghan soldiers and policemen . . . all the way up to the highest political level,' Watkins said.

An Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) stands guard at an outpost set up against Taliban fighters in Kajaki, northeast of Helmand Province

Malkasian said that the Taliban are focused as much on eroding public morale and confidence in the government as they are on gaining the upper hand in negotiations on a future government.

'Ultimately what they want to do is not to have to fight their way tooth and nail to Kabul or to conquer the rest of the country,' he said.

'What they would like to see is for the Afghan government to fall apart, so that they can step into a vacuum.'

Malkasian insisted that peace talks are important to the insurgents, to lend them credibility if they do end up assuming power.

'The Taliban do care about international recognition. They do care about receiving future assistance,' he noted.
China is complaining Australia's Great Barrier Reef is under threat from climate change while it tears up the South China Sea to build military bases.

Beijing is furiously building outposts in the powder-keg region, destroying huge bodies of lush reefs in its quest for military dominance.

The authoritarian regime's hypocrisy is not lost on on scientists who condemned its rampant destruction while using the Great Barrier Reef as a pawn in its economic coercion campaign against Australia.

Marine biology professor John McManus of the University of Miami said large patches of coral are 'gone forever' as a result of China's building.

'If you built something, if you've put dirt, rubble, and pavement There's no way to recover that,' he told Radio Free Asia.

Beijing's construction of a number of concrete fishing and military outposts throughout the sea has received widespread international condemnation both because of its political and environmental consequences

Australia will contest a recommendation to list the Great Barrier Reef as a world heritage site 'in danger' after a United Nations body called for more government action on climate change

UNESCO have become heavily influenced by China and Australian officials allege the recommendation about the Great Barrier Reef is the Communist nation's latest way of applying political pressure

A draft recommendation from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee listed the reef's world heritage status as 'in danger' due to Australia's failure to address the effects of climate change on the 2,300km stretch of coral.

UNESCO is heavily influenced by Chinese officials, and its Australian members claim this is the latest move to apply political pressure to Australia.

The move is particularly hypocritical given their destruction to the South China Sea, home to 300,000sqm of coral reef.

Professor McManus, who has been studying the sea for three decades, said the ability to survey the area has become increasingly difficult due to Chinese aggression.

'Nobody can actually get all the information they need,' he said.

'If you do go in there in a research vessel there's always a chance that one of the many China Coast Guard vessels might come up and actually ram you.'

Marine biology professor John McManus of the University of Miami says large patches of coral are 'gone forever' as a result of China's satellite building

A draft recommendation from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee listed the reef's world heritage status as 'in danger' due to Australia's failure to address the effects of climate change

China's campaign of economic coercion against Australia has been going for more than a year, slapping key exports with over $20billion worth of arbitrary bans and tariffs. Pictured: People's Liberation Army troops

Two Australian professors from James Cook University who study oceanography said China prioritised territory over ecological sustainability.

'The Spratlys are the sites of a military build-up and gross overfishing, mainly by China. Reefs and islands have been destroyed to construct military outposts to further territorial claims,' Professor Eric Wolanski said in a paper published last year.

'Reefs degraded or killed by island-building and overfishing produce less fish and coral larvae for those downstream.

'The levels vary, but in the most extreme case - Namyit Island - there are no more new coral and fish larvae getting through, due to all its sources of larvae being destroyed.'

Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud came out swinging against UNESCO for recommending the Great Barrier Reef be listed as in danger.

The Queenslander accused the international agency of making the call from the comfort of an office in Europe, a claim UNESCO flatly rejects.

The reef lost about half of its corals from 1995 to 2017, with mass bleaching events taking place in 2016 and 2017, according to marine scientists at the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence

A recommendation from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has listed the reef's world heritage status as 'in danger' due to Australia's failure to address the effects of climate change (turtle swimming at the Great Barrier Reef, pictured)

Mr Littleproud challenged the agency to provide concrete proof it conducted more than a desktop review.

'They might want to demonstrate to the Australian government because there has been no inspection, as they have articulated, as far as I have been advised,' he told ABC radio.

'I'm not the environment minister and I'm prepared to be corrected on that, but as I am advised, there has been no formal inspection or ask of the Australian government.'

Mr Littleproud demanded UNESCO clarify the process.

'You just can't take a desktop assessment of the Great Barrier Reef, something as complex as the Great Barrier Reef, and make assertions,' he said.

UNESCO has rejected Australia's claims it was told the Great Barrier Reef would not be listed as endangered.

The agency also denied suggestions it bowed to political pressure in making the recommendation.

UNESCO insists its recommendation was based on science, not political interference.

Australia's chief diplomat is aware of suspicions within government that China orchestrated the ruling.
An experienced free diver shared a video of the sun rising over the ocean just hours before he vanished while spearfishing with friends off the coast of Queensland.

Norwegian man Didrik Hurum had been in the water with friends near popular diving site Flat Rock, 6km off North Stradbroke Island, when he suddenly vanished at around 11.15am on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old diver and fisherman was one of four men that were freediving that day.

Mr Hurum had been about 40 metres deep when his diving partner lost sight of him as he failed to resurface, Seven News reported.

Norwegian man Didrik Hurum had been in the water with friends near popular diving site Flat Rock, 6km off North Stradbroke Island, when he suddenly vanished at around 11.15am on Wednesday

In the hours before he disappeared, Mr Hurum had shared a video to Instagram of the sun rising over the ocean

Water police, police divers, a rescue helicopter and crews from Marine Search and Rescue have been scouring the waters since his disappearance with teams continuing to search the coastline on Thursday.

It's understood Mr Hurum's friends had called for help after it dawned on them the 25-year-old hadn't come up for air.

They immediately dove back into the water in the hopes of finding him themselves.

Local lifesavers also scoured the area on jet skis.

Queensland Water Police Senior-Sergeant Mitch Gray said there's two possible reasons Mr Hurum became separated from his diving group.

'One is that he released his weight belt while underwater and became disorientated, separating him from his partner. The second is that he may have had a shallow water blackout,' he said.

Water police, police divers and crews from Marine Search and Rescue have been scouring the waters since his disappearance with teams continuing to search the coastline on Thursday

'We are throwing everything at it to bring this young boy back to his family, it must be so concerning for them back home in Norway while he is missing.'

A shallow water blackout is a loss of consciousness which occurs when oxygen is unable to get to the brain.

Mr Hurum is a marine science student at Griffith University and currently lives on the Gold Coast.

He had earlier served in the Norwegian Armed Forces and regularly posts videos and photos of himself free diving and fishing.
Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse defended membership in second club that 'lacks diversity' and says he won't resign - but vows to 'build a more inclusive membership' on Wednesday.

Whitehouse, 65, belongs to the Ida Lewis Yacht Club of Newport - which he did not identify but was confirmed by the club to Fox News.

The news comes after he had been linked to the Bailey's Beach Club, another entity that has faced criticism for seemingly having no black members, sparking criticism of the progressive politician from constituents in Rhode Island.

He told the outlet that he is not a member of the beach club but his family is and will remain members despite calls for him to resign.

Whitehouse. 65, belongs to the Ida Lewis Yacht Club of Newport - which he did not identify but was confirmed by the club

Pictured: The Ida Lewis Yacht Club of Newport Rhode Island

Pictured: The Ida Lewis Yacht Club of Newport Rhode Island

Pictured: The Ida Lewis Yacht Club of Newport Rhode Island

Bailey's Beach Club is seen from Newport Cliff Walk

Spouting Rock Beach Association, also known as Bailey's Beach is an elite private beach and club

'While I am not a member of the beach club, I do own a boat and belong to a sailing club in Newport. While this club does not have exclusionary rules for membership, it does lack diversity,' Whitehouse said in a statement to Fox News.

'Failing to address the sailing club's lack of diversity is squarely on me, and something for which I am sorry. I commit to working with the club and the community to build a more inclusive membership and to better connect with the local community.'

He added: 'There have been calls for me to resign from the club, which I understand. However, I have no membership to resign, nor will I ask my wife or any other family members to do so.'

Fox News noted that his family appears to have been invested in the yacht club for decades. A 'Sheldon Whitehouse' who is presumably his grandfather Edwin Sheldon Whitehouse is listed as 'commodore' of the club from 1937 to 1940.

The Bailey's Beach Club, officially known as Spouting Rock Beach Association, is located on Ocean Avenue in Newport.

In a video posted by GoLocalProv on Tuesday, Whitehouse was asked about his family's membership in the beach club.

In the video, the interviewer asked Whitehouse about comments he had made in 2017 in which he said he hoped the club would start to accept minority members.

Whitehouse had told the outlet at the time that 'it would be nice if the membership changed a little but it's not my position.'

'I think the people who are running the place are still working on that, and I'm sorry it hasn't happened yet,' Whitehouse said on Tuesday.

Whitehouse was then asked if exclusive clubs with all white members should 'continue to exist.'

'It's a long tradition in Rhode Island and there are many of them and we just need to work our way through the issues,' Whitehouse said.

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse answers questions regarding his family's membership to Bailey's Beach Club, also known by its legal name Spouting Rock Beach Association

The club said in a statement to WPRI that it is 'inaccurate and false' to say the club does not have any non-white members.

'Over many years, Club members and their families have included people of many racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds from around the world who come to Newport every summer,' the club said in the statement.

The outlet noted that the club did not provide any statistics or other data showing the number of non-white members who belong to the club.

In his statement to Fox News, Whitehouse said the GoLocalProv reporter's question had caught him 'off guard.'

'I was attending an unrelated event and wasn't prepared for the question. At the time, I made the mistake of accepting her premise,' Whitehouse told Fox News.

'I then checked the assertion and was assured that, first, the assertion was wrong, there is diversity in the membership and there are non-white club members; and second, that improving diversity remains a priority and an active task for the club's new board.'

Gary Dantzler, founder and executive director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, called Whitehouse's membership in the club an insult to black people in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday.

'The senator says he's about systemic change in America. But the problem that I have ... is that it's almost a contradiction,' Dantzler told the outlet.

'Someone with that power that we elected to be our senator, our watchdog, he's not fulfilling the part of being transparent to African Americans, so I have a huge problem with that.'

He added: 'It's not just him. It's a huge cesspool of politicians that are failing our communities. And you had this opportunity months ago to rally and adapt to what's going on, when you said you're for George Floyd and the mission while we screamed for African American liberation. But we didn't get none of that.'

Jim Vincent, president of the NAACP in Providence, dismissed the controversy over Whitehouse's club memberships in a statement to the Washington Post.

Vincent described Whitehouse as 'a champion of civil rights' and noted that the NAACP has given him an 'A' rating on his last legislative report card.

'I understand that there's been no written policy that excludes Blacks or other people of color from being members in that club,' Vincent told the outlet.

'And I understand that there are members of color in that club. And there's not a written covenant saying 'No Blacks need apply'.'

He added: 'Given the fact that the senator said it's not accurate, all those things taken together, I'm satisfied.'
An ex-model has made an unlikely name for herself as a competitive eater, gauging on a full KFC Family Feast in under 20 minutes in a recent video.

Nala Zisser, 26, from New Zealand, has been trying her hand at eating competitions for about five years - claiming she has munched her way through tonnes of food.

The video uploaded to her YouTube channel last Thursday shows Ms Zisser seated at a table in front of the pile of food which contains ten chicken pieces, a large plain gravy, large fries, a large coleslaw, and a two-litre Fanta soda.

Christchurch model Nala Zisser (pictured) won the 2013 Miss Earth New Zealand competition

In a video shared to her YouTube channel on Thursday Ms Zisser attempts to eat a KFC feast meant for a family of six (pictured)

The feast weighs in at a whopping 7,141 calories and is enough to feed a family of six, Ms Zisser - at 170cm tall and 55kg - said.

'I can't wait to eat it, my game plan is to finish as quickly as possible. I'm going to start with a piece of chicken,' the model says before chomping on a chicken drumstick.

She then moves onto the chips 'while they're still hot' but let's viewers in on one of the tricks of the trade.

'I'm just going to put the chips in my mouth and then drink some gravy,' she says as she sips from the huge gravy container.

She explains the sauce is thinner than usual because she left out the 'fake' potato which she is no a fan of.

At the five minute mark she had polished off the chips and is onto her fourth piece of chicken saying her progress is good despite her talking.

Ms Zisser has been competitive eating for five years after her mother suggested she would be good at it

She lets viewers in on a trade secret of ordering the gravy without the potato mash and drinking the sauce straight from the container

She then moves onto the coleslaw - which she strangely chooses to eat with the tiny included plastic spoon - and the full sugar Fanta.

At just over 19 minutes she polishes off the last of the chicken and gulps down the final remnants of Fanta - with almost a minute to spare for the challenge.

'I'm stoked. That was a lot of food. I can't move,' she says with a burp.

The video has been viewed by more than 30,800 people with the vast majority impressed by the feat.

'Under 20min is absolutely crazy. Awesome, I need to get some KFC now,' on person said.

The 26-year-old (pictured) is also a medical student and says she hasn't been asked about her hobby by her fellow students yet

'When you burp - so funny, yet necessary. Great job,' another said.

'Amazing. I'm a big lad but wow. Ten pieces, sides and a drink. Where do you put it?' added a third.

Ms Zisser won the Miss Earth New Zealand competition in 2013.

She was schedule to compete in the Miss Earth 2013 finals in the Philippines that year but had to miss the event because of food poisoning.

That has not deterred the medical student from her competitive eating hobby which was prompted by her mother who suggested she'd do well in a local pizza eating competition.

To her surprise she beat '19 big dudes' in the contest and has been entering the events consistently for the last five years.

Zisser's YouTube account chronicles such food feats as wolfing down 10 Burger King Whoppers in 17 minutes, devouring a 1kg burrito in just under 100 seconds, and consuming a 2.2-pound jar of Nutella in under four minutes.
A short three-day lockdown would not help contain Sydney's coronavirus outbreak because there are only a handful of unknown cases, health bosses insist.

NSW recorded 11 new local cases overnight, which includes five identified before 8pm on Wednesday and six after that time.

There are now 36 cases linked to the Bondi cluster, prompting Premier Gladys Berejiklian to impose widespread restrictions.

However, Chief Health Offier Kerry Chant said Sydney would not be implementing a 'circuit breaker' lockdown favoured by other states.

She said that strategy is employed when contact tracers are struggling to identify unknown cases, which is not the case in Sydney.

Dr Kerry Chant says a three-day lockdown for Sydney will not work as the highly-contagious Delta Covid strain spreads across the city

'Three days is not long enough if you have distributed disease,' Dr Chant told reporters on Thursday.

'If you have a look at the reasons for the three days, it is a pause where you are when you have a sudden surge of cases and you want everybody to stay in the same place, and that allows you to get any backlog of any contact tracing.

'We are not that situation where we are not getting to people in terms of the contact tracing.'

Of the 11 new cases, all but one are linked to a known case or the Bondi cluster, with urgent investigations underway into how a man in his 40s caught the virus.

He's the second man in as many days who has contracted the virus from an unknown source.

Rather than imposing a lockdown, Dr Chant said the government's focus was 'changing the trajectory' of the outbreak by identifying the very few mystery chains of transmission.

'This has got out into the community, and there are chains of transmission that we are not aware of because we have some unlinked cases,' she said.

'Because of that, we do not know the size of the chains those missing links have established, and that is the reason for the concern.'

She said there were 'very minimal but more frequent transmission episodes', and health authorities were ramping up contact tracing measures to understand the way transmission occurs.

A health workers looks on at Bondi Beach Drive-through Covid clinic as Sydneysiders flock to get tested

'In circumstances where we have CCTV footage, where we can actually see the distance people are away from each other, we look at that,' she said.

'We also interviewed both the case and the other person, which allows us to really understand the movements.'

NSW Health figures show there were 18 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, 13 of which were announced earlier.

There were another six cases detected after the 8pm cut off which will be included in Friday's official tally.

This means there's a total of 11 new cases reported on Thursday linked to the outbreak that began in Bondi last week.

One of the new overnight infections is NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who confirmed on Thursday that he had tested positive.

He caught the virus while dining at Christo's Pizzeria in Paddington, Sydney's east, at the same time as a previously reported case linked to the Bondi cluster.

'This morning just after 8am I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for COVID-19,' Mr Marshall said on Thursday.

People wait in line outside a coronavirus disease vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday as the city grapples with a new Covid outbreak

'I'm doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities.

'I have been in isolation in Sydney since late Tuesday night, when I received a text message from NSW Health.'

Mr Marshall has been isolating at his Sydney flat since Tuesday night and won't be able to return to his Armidale home for at least 14 days. His ministerial staff are also in isolation.

He had dined with three of his Nationals colleagues -Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin - with all three understood to have tested negative.

The four MPs were in parliament on Tuesday afternoon after attending a party room meeting earlier in the day.

Parliament staffers have been told to stay home on Thursday, and MPs inside the Macquarie Street building are undergoing rapid Covid tests.

Government whip Adam Crouch instructed MPs to 'stay put' until they receive an update.

Sydney's Covid outbreak has grown to 36 after 11 new cases were reported overnight. Pictured: People wearing masks wait to cross the road in Bondi Junction on Wednesday

'If you are currently in Parliament House remain in Parliament House,' he said in a statement.

'If you are not in Parliament House, remain where you are.'

Media and non-essential staff have been told to leave, and get tested.

Just 16 MPs are inside the NSW Parliament on Thursday - just enough to pass the 2021/22 budget handed down this week before the current session is suspended.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Brad Hazzard has tested negative and is out of isolation after being exposed to a potential case at parliament.

Mr Hazzard admitted it 'was likely' other MPs could be affected.

Meanwhile, school holiday plans are in tatters for many Sydney parents under new travel restrictions.

People living or working in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas cannot move outside the metro zone unless it's absolutely essential.

NSW Health has also confirmed fragments of the virus have been detected at sewage plants that service Sydney's northwest and southern suburbs as well as the Illawarra.
Dawson's Creek and Wasteland writer Heidi Ferrer was afraid her long-haul COVID-19 would turn her into an invalid before she committed suicide following a 13-month battle with the virus, her husband said on Wednesday.

A month ago, Heidi Ferrer, 50, took her own life at her home in Los Angeles, California. She had been bedridden and riddled with excruciating pain since she contracted the virus in April 2020.

Her husband, director Nick Guthe, told CNN that it took months for doctors to diagnose her ailments and get a referral for a long-haul Covid clinic, which arrived a day before she died.

'She had indicated that if things got really bad she didn't know how she could continue, she didn't know how she could keep going, and I just kept saying, you know, "Just hang on, you know, just hang on, medical science is moving at the quickest rate it ever has,"' Guthe said.

'But I think she just felt that she was only going to diminish, she was going to lose the ability to walk, end up in a wheelchair, not be able to bathe herself.'

Through Guthe and his family's tragedy, he's urged everyone who's suffering like his wife did to hang on.

'I believe that help is on the way, but we need our government to step in now and fund research right away and provide mental health support services for people like her,' he told CNN.

The mother-of-one suffered body aches, including severe pains in her feet and ankles, fatigue and flu-like symptoms when she tested positive for COVID in April 2020.

Her symptoms worsened, and by June she was bedridden. Over the following months, Ferrer's fatigue and foot pain remained but she also became crippled with neurological tremors.

In a heartbreaking blog post that she penned back in September titled 'How I'm recovering from long haul COVID', Ferrer detailed how the virus had crippled her but declared that 'COVID won't win'.

Director Nick Guthe said his wife Heidi Ferrer, pictured here at the premiere of 'Mini's First Time' during the 5th Annual Tribeca Film Festival on May 1, 2006 in New York City, was in excruciating pain for 13 months with long-haul COVID before she killed herself

Guthe posted photos of their wedding on Facebook with the message, 'I miss her'

Heidi Ferrer, 50, took her own life on May 26 at her home in Los Angeles, California following a lengthy battle with COVID-19, her family said

'The monster is real and it came for me. Recovering from COVID-19 has been one of the hardest things I've ever gone through and I've been through a lot,' she wrote.

'In my darkest moments, I told my husband that if I didn't get better, I did not want to live like this. I wasn't suicidal, I just couldn't see any quality of life long term and there was no end in sight.

'One of the cruelest things COVID did to me was to take away my ability to have dreams. I don't mean dreams in my sleep, I mean I completely stopped dreaming about my future because I couldn't picture it. It was a wall.

'Yes, everyone had lost our trips, our events, our free lives during the shutdown, but I had lost all of that and also became suddenly crippled with scary neurological programs.'

Ferrer told those going through similar long-haul struggles with COVID that they could all pull through together and urged them never to give up.

'I believe this in my bones: If you are suffering from this monster, you will eventually make it out, we will heal,' Ferrer wrote.

'Slowly, almost inexorably, sometimes glacially we are recovering. It's just that no one knows for sure how long it might take, maybe six months, maybe a year.'

Ferrer detailed how her condition started to improve in August and that she had longer stretches of good days.

The mother-of-one contracted the virus in April 2020 after experiencing body aches, including severe pains in her feet and ankles, fatigue and flu-like symptoms. She is pictured above in her last family photo with husband Nick Guthe and 13-year-old son Bexon

Her husband Nick Guthe, who is a screenwriter, director and producer, revealed news of her death on social media following the 13-month battle

Heidi's husband posted this photo taken three months before her death. Her condition is believed to have deteriorated rapidly in the last few months

'I now believe that I will still have more 'waves' of symptoms and bad days, but it feels like it's happening every month now instead of every 1-2 weeks,' she said.

'My loose timeline is that about two weeks after the first symptoms mid-April, I had COVID toes May 1st, then one month later succumbed to 2 months of crippled pain from hell, then I began to slowly heal.

'I had a turning point at 12 weeks, then a much bigger one at 16 weeks, and I'm expecting to be much better in two months, 6 months from the symptom onset. Fingers crossed.

'Time will tell, but I'm focusing on being wildly optimistic. COVID won't win.'

At the end of her blog post, Ferrer wrote: 'I'm not out of the woods yet, but I see a clearing.'

Her condition is believed to have deteriorated rapidly in the last few months.

Her husband Nick Guthe, who is a screenwriter, director and producer, revealed news of her death on social media following the 13-month battle.

'She fought it like she lived, ferociously, but in the end it was relentless and took away everything from her,' Guthe wrote in a Facebook post.

Ferrer was a career scriptwriter who penned several episodes of the hit 90s shows Dawson's Creek and Wasteland, as well as several films.

In recent years, she became an avid and well-known blogger.

She is survived by her husband Nick and their 13-year-old son Bexon.
Australian hairdressing icon Joh Bailey's Double Bay salon has been listed as a location for a potential super-spreader event

Hundreds of customers at a hairdressing salon frequented by Sydney's high society have been thrown into isolation by an infected employee.

Joh Bailey's in Double Bay, in the city's eastern suburbs, could spread the virus across Sydney, after a hairdresser worked for three days on June 17 to 19 while infectious - putting hundreds of people at risk.

The male hairdresser who lives in western Sydney and commutes to Double Bay is the only unlinked case of 11 announced on Thursday.

He worked three-consecutive nine-hour shifts at the ritzy salon from Thursday June 17 to Saturday June 19.

The salon is the biggest concern for health officials as they battle to contain Sydney's latest Covid outbreak.

The hairdresser and owner of the city's most iconic salon told Daily Mail Australia the ramifications of one staff member testing positive to Covid 19 was 'unbelievable'.

'We have over 1,000 customers and staff this has affectedwho have to isolate,' Mr Bailey said.

As the salon underwent a deep clean on Thursday  which he described as scenes resembling the Met Gala  Mr Bailey said the focus was on staff and customer health.

'We are allowed to re-open, of course, but because all or most of our staff have to isolate, so that's the problem we have right now.'

Joh Bailey's Double Bay hairdresser has been listed as a location for a potential superspreader event - putting hundreds of people at risk of infection

The founder took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon confirming the salon would be shutting down temporarily due to contact from a coronavirus-positive patron

NSW Health officials contacted the salon on Wednesday morning to alert them to the positive case, and management closed the doors immediately.

'We wish to express our deepest gratitude to NSW Health for their incredible efficiency and support during the ongoing Covid-19 NSW outbreak,' the salon wrote on its Instagram.

'In light of this, our Double Bay salon will be temporarily closed for deep cleaning and we will advise our re-opening date in due course.

'An enormous thank you to our valued clients and community who have reached out with messages and support of kindness.

'It is appreciated so much and we in turn wish everyone to remain safe, healthy and supported during this challenging global pandemic.'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Wednesday) has so far managed to fend off a lockdown, instead bringing in restrictions including limited visitors to the home and mandatory masks - even in offices

Joh Bailey Double Bay has about 15 hairdressers working at any given time, plus beauticians and support staff.

Hundreds of customers who had haircuts and other treatments on June 17 to 19 have been plunged into isolation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned on Sydney was going through the 'scariest period' of the pandemic yet, but refused to impose a city-wide lockdown as she confirmed 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight.

The 11 additional cases includes six recorded overnight since 8pm and five unreported infections from Wednesday's figures.

All but one of the new infections, the hairdresser, is linked to a previous case.

There are now 36 cases linked to the Bondi cluster, which prompted the NSW premier to impose widespread restrictions to slow the spread of the highly-contagious Delta strain of the virus.

The positive community cases came from 48,402 tests, up from the 44,640 carried out the day before.

NSW Health said 11 of the 30 people who went to a 'super-spreader' birthday party in West Hoxton in Sydney's west had now returned positive Covid-19 results.

Covid cases are on the rise in Sydney (pictured, a couple in mandatory masks in Manly)

New South Wales has recorded 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight. Commuters pictured wearing face masks on a train platform at Central Station on Wednesday

Ms Berejiklian said she was comfortable the restrictions announced on Wednesday were sufficient to contain the outbreak of the highly-contagious Delta variant.

'This is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through, and [NSW Chief Health Officer] Dr Chant and I have an equal view of that,' she said.

'It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are comfortable that the settings we have in place are appropriate.'

Fears were earlier mounting that millions of Sydneysiders may soon be confined to their homes as the virus spreads across the city, but this did not come to pass.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and four other MPs were forced into isolation after being close contacts of Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who tested positive to Covid-19.

He contracted the virus after dining at Christo's Pizzeria in Paddington in Sydney's inner-east on Monday night.

NEW COVID-19 RULES FOR GREATER SYDNEY From 4pm Wednesday for one week: Visitors to households will be limited to five guests  including children; Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events; Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed; Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed; Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people); Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn); The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals; Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity; Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced Advertisement

Those who live and work in seven hotspot suburbs will not be allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason

Mr Hazzard on Thursday afternoon confirmed he had tested negative and, as a casual contact, was allowed to leave isolation.

However, other MPs and staff from a National Parrty post-Budget dinner on Tuesday night are in isolation as close contacts of Mr Marshall.

The parliament's whips sent notes to MPs members urging them not to bring in staff before both houses sit on Thursday.

MPs who were at Parliament House on Tuesday or Wednesday have been told by the NSW Department of Parliamentary Services to self-isolate until told otherwise.

THE THREE FACTORS THAT COULD SEND SYDNEY INTO LOCKDOWN The city's vaccination levels How fast the Delta variant is spreading How active the cases were in the community while they were infectious Source: UNSW epidemiologist Dr Abrar Chughtai Advertisement

Lockdown-happy premiers in other states including Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland have already slammed their borders shut, disrupting school holiday plans for thousands.

On Thursday, Queensland recorded three new local cases after an infected woman in her 30s visited the Portuguese Family Centre restaurant in Ellen Grove in Brisbane's south-west.

Ms Berejiklian, who has always strived to take a measured approach to outbreaks, has so far stood firm by refusing to lock down Sydney, instead bringing in a number of restrictions including limits of five visitors to a household and mandatory masks.

The Delta variant is so contagious that two people in Bondi this week caught Covid by momentarily brushing past each other.

While other premiers have locked down state capitals after just two cases, Ms Berejiklian has always tried to strike a balance between public health and economic and mental wellbeing.
Police are telling fans of HBO's hit show 'Mare of Easttown' to stop trespassing on private property in the Pennsylvania town where the show was filmed.

Fans have flocked to several locations in Delaware County featured on the show, including the home where the the protagonist 'Mare' played by Academy Award winning actress Kate Winslet lived.

The crime drama centers on a detective investigating a murder in her small town.

The seven-episode limited series ran on HBO from April to May.

Fans have flocked to several locations in Delaware County featured on the show, including the home where the the protagonist 'Mare' played by Academy Award winning actress Kate Winslet lived (pictured)

A homeowner now has 'no trespassing' and 'private property' signs in front of her home

The owner of the home, who has chosen to not be identified, (pictured) says things have gotten 'ugly' and in one instance she asked a woman to stop taking pictures of her home because she and her children were playing on their front yard when the woman cursed at her

The owner of the home, who has chosen to not be identified, told ABC 6, that fans have violated her privacy and she even caught someone looking into her front window late at night.

'Supposedly, I can only guess to see if it's the same as where they filmed the show,' she said.

The homeowner says things have gotten 'ugly' and in one instance she asked a woman to stop taking pictures of her home because she and her children were playing on their front yard when the woman cursed at her.

'She just yelled at me and harassed me,' she told ABC 6.

Things have gotten so out of hand Nether Providence Police took to Facebook to remind people that there is no excuse for trespassing on private property.

'Yes! It's neat they filmed a lot of it in our town,' the post said. 'Yes!! It's really cool Kate was 'living in Wallingford'.

'No!!!!! It's NOT cool to go to the homes they filmed at, trespass on the property and harass the owners and their kids all hours of the day and night..REALLY! It's a house. Get over it.' Police posted.

The crime drama starring Kate Winslet (pictured) centers around a detective investigating a murder in her small town

Things have gotten so out of hand Nether Providence Police took to Facebook to remind people that there is no excuse for trespassing on private property

The same homeowner now has 'no trespassing' and 'private property' signs in front of her home.

She told ABC 6 her young daughter is scared of all the people flocking to their house.

'She's afraid to go outside. She's afraid to play and it's become a concern to us because it's concerning to her,' she said.

Due to increased complaints, local police have increased the number of patrol cars in the area.

'You know, we get it, we get it's an attraction and HBO had a pretty big movie here now, but these people live here,' Sgt. Michael Montgomery with the Nether Providence Township Police Department told ABC 6.

'People live here, how would you like it if somebody is looking through your window and walking up on your property?' Montgomery said.

Police have been adamant that trespassing and disturbing the peace will not be tolerated.

'If you plan on taking this trip, STOP and think! Officers will be in and around the area(s) and will take appropriate action. Warnings will not be given and signs are posted. Trespassers, blocking traffic, disturbing the peace, etc., will not be tolerated. Thank you' police warned on Facebook.
A Sydney geography teacher who sexually abused her 14-year-old student sobbed in court as she begged his family to forgive her for the 'embarrassment and hurt' she has caused.

Monica Elizabeth Young, 24, appeared in NSW District Court on Thursday supported by her parents, aunt, uncle and grandmother after pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a minor.

She took to the stand in front of the victim's mother and cried as she apologised for 'letting the relationship progress' over the period of offending between June 24 and July 6 2020.

Young told the court that she was sexually abused when she was in Year Seven and could therefore understand the 'trauma' she had subjected the boy to.

Young sported a slimmed down figure and wore all black when she appeared in court on Thursday, tearfully begging her victim's family for forgiveness

Young expected to be sentenced on Thursday but the judge delayed proceedings to consider the outcome

'I just never imagined I'd be one of those people I've never been in trouble with the law. I hope he and his family can forgive me,' she said through tears.

'I was foolish.'

The court heard Young started teaching at the all-boys school in southwest Sydney on March 20th, 2020, and was given 23 classes between year seven and 10.

She'd spent four-and-a-half years at university studying to teach PDHPE, and was 'so proud' of herself when she landed her first full time role.

Of the 23 classes she was assigned, 12 were in geography - a subject which she had no formal training in and was always just 'one page ahead' of her students as she tried to teach herself the curriculum.

By April, the Covid pandemic had forced the closure of schools and Young was required to teach her classes remotely via online learning channels.

Of the 23 classes she was assigned, 12 were in geography - a subject which she had no formal training in and was always just 'one page ahead' of her students as she tried to teach herself the curriculum

Young had five members of her family - including her parents, an aunt and an uncle, arrived at court to offer their support as she expected to be sentenced

It was at this point that 'the lines were criminally blurred' as Young became 'more accessible' to her students, many of whom contacted her all hours of the night and day.

When school returned six weeks later, it was mid-May. The physical relationship between the pair started in June.

The court heard it was only when the victim's family members spotted him in a car park with Young that they contacted his mother and the entire relationship unraveled.

A police statement of facts previously tendered in court said Young drove her pupil to a western Sydney park, mounted him and had sex in her car.

Investigators obtained CCTV footage allegedly showing Young's car approaching the park, according to material before the court.

Two other counts of sexual abuse occurred on school grounds.

Monica Elizabeth Young, 24, appeared in Downing Centre District Court on Thursday supported by her 'dedicated family' after pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child

The court heard Young started teaching at the all-boys school in southwest Sydney on March 20th, 2020, and was given 23 classes between year seven and 10

Young had been in a relationship for several years at the time of offending, but her defence counsel, former top prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC, told the court it was 'going very badly by this stage'.

'There was a background of physical abuse, infidelity and drug taking In addition she had an experience herself as a child.'

Ms Cunneen implored the Judge Kate Traill to consider 'how often this terrible crime rears its' head again in people who have been victims themselves'.

'She can hardly believe that what happened, happened.'

There was confusion about Young's relationship status in the courtroom, as Judge Traill asked whether she and her former fiance had ever officially tied the knot.

'She did not marry him according to the laws of Australia, but there was a particular religious ceremony,' Ms Cunneen said.

Young moved in with her grandmother when she was granted bail, where she has no access to internet or a mobile phone

The court heard Young initially attempted to maintain a professional working relationship with the student, who she was 'forced to block' from the classroom online feed for repeatedly posting inappropriate content for his peers to see.

But after returning to the classroom, Young claims she was trying to keep on top of the syllabus herself while also catching up students who fell behind, including the victim.

He first found her on Instagram but she proceeded to hunt down his Snapchat account, which is where they predominately communicated.

Prosecutor Alexander Terracini asked Young if it was correct that she 'dared' the boy to participate in the relationship, telling him via the app that he 'didn't have the balls' to pursue anything further with her.

On another occasion, she sent a message which read: 'It's dangerous if we get caught but if you do it it'll be worth it'.

Monica Elizabeth Young (pictured) originally pleaded not guilty but admitted to three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a minor. Pictured with her former fiance

Young told the court in her tearful letter to the family that she regrets the relationship and understands that both her victim and his family will carry the trauma of the offence 'for the rest of their lives'.

'I knew it was wrong, I knew my actions were inappropriate but I couldn't let myself believe it,' she said. 'He trusted me and I abused that trust.'

Young entirely expects to serve time in custody when she is sentenced by Judge Traill in two weeks' time.

She told the court she'd been receiving psychological help and hoped to continue with her treatment even behind bars.

Young spent five weeks in custody after her arrest in protection in the maximum security jail - locked up 22 hours a day - and another inmate in an adjacent cell killed herself.

'I never thought I'd be behind bars,' she told the court as she wiped away tears. 'Five weeks in custody was confronting enough and a difficult situation.

'I'm a hardworking woman who is honest, reliable and has integrity... I'll never commit an offence again.'
The inventor of mRNA vaccines said 'the government is not being transparent about the risks' of the COVID-19 vaccine after YouTube deleted a video where he discussed potential risks for young adults and teens.

Dr. Robert Malone, who invented the mRNA technology that's now being used in the COVID-19 vaccine, told Fox's Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night that there isn't enough data about the risks for these age groups and doesn't believe they should be forced to get vaccinated.

'I don't think the benefits outweigh the risks in that cohort,' said Malone, referring to people in the 18 to 22 age bracket, 'but unfortunately the risk-benefit analysis is not being done.'

'My concern is I know there are risks but we don't have access to the data,' Malone said. 'And so, I am of the opinion that people have the right to decide whether to accept vaccines or not, especially since these are experimental vaccines.'

Malone shared his concerns the same day that an advisory group for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there is a 'likely link' between rare cases of heart inflammation in adolescents and young adults and the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use mRNA technology, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses the more traditional virus-based technology.

Malone says on his website that he invented the field of messenger mRNA therapeutics in 1988.

'His discoveries in mRNA non viral delivery systems are considered the key to the current COVID-19 vaccine strategies,' his biography says.

Scroll down for video.

Dr. Robert Malone, inventor of the mRNA vaccine technology, says there isn't enough risk-benefit analysis data for young adults and teens

The CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group said Wednesday that there is a 'likely link' between rare heart inflammation and vaccines, especially after the second dose in adults under age 30

Young males were up to seven times more likely to report heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, than young women

His warnings come as a presentation was released earlier Wednesday: The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group discussed nearly 500 reports of the heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, in vaccinated adults under age 30.

The group of doctors said he risk of myocarditis or pericarditis following vaccination with the mRNA-based shots in adolescents and young adults is notably higher after the second dose and in males.

Malone pioneered 'in-vitro RNA transfection' and also 'in-vivo RNA transfection' in 1987 and 1988 at the Salk Institute, according to his biography. He did that on frog embryos and mice.

Conventional vaccines are produced using weakened forms of the virus, but mRNAs use only the viruss genetic code.

An mRNA vaccine is injected into the body where it enters cells and tells them to create antigens. These antigens are recognized by the immune system and prepare it to fight coronavirus.

No actual virus is needed to create an mRNA vaccine.

This means the rate at which it can be produced is dramatically accelerated. As a result, mRNA vaccines have been hailed as potentially offering a rapid solution to new outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The findings were presented in a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which is the official journal of the US National Academy of Sciences and has been published since 1914.

But Malone said the federal government is recommending COVID vaccines for everyone over 12 without the research to back that up.

'Young adults in the prime of their lives are being forced to take the vaccine because Tony Fauci said that,' Carlson said during Wednesday night's show, adding that Malone 'has a right to speak,' given his expertise.

Malone was a guest speaker on a podcast that included Bret Weinstein, who is an evolutionary biologist, and Steve Kirsh, an American serial entrepreneur who has started seven companies.

So far, 484 cases have been reported out of 90.6 million doses, which means the risk occurs in 0.000534% of young adults. Pictured: Max Zito, age 13, is inoculated by Nurse Karen Pagliaro at Hartford Healthcares mass vaccination center at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut, May 13

The podcast was uploaded to YouTube which was flagged as sharing misleading information about the COVID-19 vaccine and removed.

In particular, YouTube flagged statements about how the 'spike protein' used in the COVID-19 vaccine, which is how mRNA vaccines work, are toxic.

During the podcast, Malone said he sent 'manuscripts' months ago to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration claiming the spike protein used in the COVID-19 vaccine posed a health risk.

'And their determination was that they didnt think that that was sufficient documentation of the risk that the spike was biologically active,' he said.

The study comes as the amount of US cases are just below 33.6 million and the number of COVID-related deaths are at 602,836.

To be sure, COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna reduce the risk of getting sick from the virus by 94 percent, according to real-world data form the largest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study to-date, as of May.

Only six percent of COVID-19 cases among more than 1,800 health care workers were in people fully-vaccinated with one of the two mRNA shots, according to the new study, released Friday. No one included in the study had had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The study was only designed to test whether the vaccines prevented people from getting symptomatic COVID-19, but the fact that only a small fraction of the group who tested positive were fully vaccinated suggests that the shots likely prevent infection and transmission - not just illness.

The study drew upon a network of more than 500,000 health care workers.

Its data was whittled down to 1,843 participating nurses, doctors and hospital staff, all of whom were likely exposed to COVID-19 on the job.

Among the group, there were a total 623 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 and had at least one symptom of the infection, and 1,220 people who tested negative.

Only 40 out of the 623 people who tested positive had been fully vaccinated.

In other words just three percent of people who tested positive had been fully vaccinated, compared to 15 percent of people who tested negative.

That suggests (but doesn't prove) that fully vaccinated people are five times less at-risk of getting COVID-19, and translates to a vaccine effectiveness of 96 percent.

However, the study did not include people who tested positive for coronavirus but never showed any symptoms, so it can't prove that the shot prevents infection.
A nurse who was fired from a Texas hospital for refusing to take the coronavirus vaccine says she doesn't need it because she already has antibodies after contracting Covid-19 herself.

Jennifer Bridges was fired on Tuesday from Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital after refusing to comply with its requirement that employees be vaccinated.

Speaking on Fox News' Hannity on Wednesday she said she was infected with the coronavirus last summer, and that regardless of whether she is immune, her vaccinated colleagues shouldn't be concerned.

'If they took that vaccine, and they feel safe about it, then they shouldn't worry about if we had it or not,' she said. '... I had Covid last summer, I do not need that vaccine and Methodist did not care about that.'

Texas Nurse Jennifer Bridges appeared on Hannity Wednesday after she was fired from her job at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital the previous for refusing to comply with its mandate that all employees be vaccinated for the coronavirus. She was with her lawyer, Jared Woodfill

Bridges cited a recent study by the Cleveland Clinic, which indicated that immunity from being previously infected with the coronavirus was roughly as effective as that provided by vaccination, and that the already infected were unlikely to further benefit from getting inoculated.

Her former employers she said, 'need to follow the proper science because we do not need to be vaccinated if we had COVID.'

Bridges was among 153 Houston Methodist employees who either resigned or were terminated this week, after a judge dismissed an employee lawsuit earlier this month over the vaccine requirement.

She was the lead plaintiff in the suit, which she filed along with 117 of her fellow colleagues, and in which they likened their situation to medical experiments performed on unwilling victims in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

Bridges led a protest earlier this month against the hospital's vaccine policy. She said she didn't need to get vaccinated after contracting the coronavirus herself last summer

In his June 12 decision US District Judge Lynn Hughes of Houston called the comparison 'reprehensible,' and deemed Bridges' contention that the vaccines are 'experimental and dangerous' to be false and otherwise irrelevant.

The judge said that if employees of the hospital system didn't like the requirement, they could go work elsewhere.

Bridges, 39, who had worked at the hospital for 6-and-a-half years, argued in the suit that the vaccines were unsafe because they do not have full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Bridges was among 153 Houston Methodist employees who were terminated or resigned Tuesday after they refused to comply with the hospital's vaccination policy and a judge dismissed her employee lawsuit that the requirement was unlawful. Protesters gathered outside the hospital on June 7, the deadline when its employees needed to be immunized

The vaccines currently have emergency authorization from the FDA.

Jared Woodfill the attorney who filed the suit on Bridges and her colleagues' behalf, reiterated that point Wednesday.

'For the first time in the history of our country, we have an employer saying to their employees as a condition of employment, you have to participate in a vaccine trial, you have to take an experimental vaccine,' he said. 'We think this is a completely inconsistent with the law, the both federal statutes and the Code of Federal Regulations.'

In particular, he said, Bridges' and her colleagues' termination constituted punishment after their work on the frontlines during the pandemic.

'As a result of their service, she contracted COVID-19, she recovered and recuperated, and at the time, we said "go girl, go." But here we are today, Methodist Hospital says you won't submit to or participate in our vaccine trial, here's your pink slip, sentencing her to bankruptcy,' he said.

Protestors of Houston Methodist's vaccine policy. The lawsuit against the hospital was seen as a test as to how far employers could go to protect the health of their workers

'And that's just plain wrong.'

Houston Methodists decision in April made it the first major US health care system to require COVID-19 vaccinations for workers.

The hospital system's president and CEO, Marc Boom, has said nearly 25,000 of its more than 26,000 workers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

'You did the right thing. You protected our patients, your colleagues, your families and our community. The science proves that the vaccines are not only safe but necessary if we are going to turn the corner against COVID-19,' Boom said in a statement to employees.

Bridges (second from left) was with the hospital for 6-and-a-half years

On June 7, the deadline for the hospital workers to complete their immunization, Bridges led a walkout with her colleagues to protest the policy.

Shortly after, Houston Methodist suspended her and 177 other workers for two weeks without pay.

Woodfill vowed to take the case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and if unsuccessful there, all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

'This is a question that needs to be answered, not just for Jennifer and the employees at Methodist, but also for employers and employers all across the country,' he said. 'So I think it's a very important case of first impression that's going to set legal precedent for folks all across this country.'
Terminally-ill people wishing to end their lives will be able to access voluntary euthanasia after the South Australian parliament passed historic legislation.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was put to a conscience vote, passing parliament on its 17th attempt in 25 years about 11am on Thursday.

It includes 68 safeguards and a provision that people wishing to die must be SA residents for at least 12 months.

It will next go to the Governor for assent before the legislation comes into effect in about 18 months.

When it does, SA will be the fourth state in the country to legalise voluntary euthanasia.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was put to a conscience vote, passing parliament on its 17th attempt in 25 years about 11am on Thursday (stock picture)

'Voluntary Assisted Dying. It's all done in Parliament. Every last bit,' jubilant SA Labor MP Kyam Maher tweeted.

A terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of less than six months, or 12 months for a person with a neurodegenerative disease, must be confirmed for a patient to access the procedure.

The bill also requires patients show they have decision-making capacity and are capable of informed consent, and that they undergo an assessment by two independent medical practitioners.

They must have their request verified by two independent witnesses and must be experiencing intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved.

The SA bill is based on Victoria's legislation and system for voluntary assisted dying.

Mr Maher co-sponsored the bill in 2020 after watching his mother's suffering.

Western Australia recently passed similar laws that come into force later this year, while legislation has also passed in the Tasmanian parliament
A 41-year-old woman accused of trying to stab a man she believed had raped an acquaintance has been granted bail on charges of attempted murder.

Kristy Lee Edwards allegedly went to the man's Gold Coast home on March 7 armed with knives having been told days earlier he raped someone she knew.

His name had not been publicly disclosed, but was discovered through 'what is alleged to have been investigations undertaken' by Edwards, Brisbane Supreme Court Justice David Boddice said on Thursday.

The court was told police were still investigating the alleged rape.

Kristy Lee Edwards allegedly went to a man's Gold Coast home armed with knives having been told days earlier he raped someone she knew, and allegedly attempted to stab him

A neighbour's CCTV camera captured Edwards allegedly approaching the man's house and then being arrested by police after a disturbance

Edwards allegedly ensured she had the correct person upon arriving at the Varsity Lakes home, and then 'used the knives to attempt to kill the complainant by stabbing through a security door'.

'As a consequence of the strength of the security door the knives penetrated aspects of the door, but did not penetrate any aspect of the complainant,' Mr Boddice added.

Edwards allegedly told officers on the scene 'she would kill him if police did not do something'.

Justice Boddice granted bail, subject to a $20,000 surety, residing with family in New South Wales, adhering to a curfew and reporting to police three times a week.

Edwards - who has no criminal history - was answering charges of attempted murder and attempted burglary.

Edwards - who has no criminal history - faces charges of attempted murder and attempted burglary.

She has been behind bars for more than 100 days since the alleged attack in March.

The case was due back for a mention before the Southport Magistrates Court on July 1.
A frantic search is underway for a missing teenager who hasn't been heard from in nearly a week.

Melbourne woman Camaryn, 19, was last seen on June 19 at about 1.50pm.

The Highett resident is known to frequent Bayside, Melbourne, and the Mornington Peninsular surrounding areas.

Camaryn is 172cm tall with a slim build and long brown hair.

Camaryn is described as being 172cm tall with a slim build and long brown hair with a rose tattoo inked on her upper-left arm and a roman numeral on her left forearm

She has a rose tattoo inked on her upper-left arm and a roman numeral on her left forearm.

Police are concerned for the 19-year-old's welfare as her disappearance is out of character.

Investigators have launched a public appeal for information and have released an image of the missing woman.

Police have urged anyone with information on the young woman's whereabouts to contact Bayside Police Station.
Scott Morrison has rejected suggestions Barnaby Joyce is a nuisance, describing the returned Nationals leader in glowing terms.

'I describe him as a wind in the sails,' the prime minister told the Nine Network.

'I was treasurer when he was deputy prime minister, Barnaby and I have sat around cabinet tables for years, and we're both passionate about what we want to achieve for this country.'

In an interview with Today's Karl Stefanovic and Allie Langdon on Thursday the PM said Barnaby Joyce was the 'wind in the sails'

Mr Joyce has already made waves after seizing the leadership in a partyroom ballot, with the Nationals now casting doubt on climate targets and threatening to blow up the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The prime minister was challenged on whether the wind Mr Joyce created could prove perilous for the government.

'This is going to get us where we need to go as a country,' Mr Morrison said.

'You'll see.'

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is lapping up the Nationals leadership switch and ensuing policy chaos.

'Spoiler alert: Barnaby is the spoiler,' he told a business forum in Canberra on Thursday.

Mr Joyce (pictured) snatched back the Nationals leadership in a ballot on Tuesday

Nationals senator Matt Canavan is proud of the party's water rebellion and pushback on net zero emissions.

However, some of Mr Joyce's recent comments on a Sri Lankan family from Biloela have attracted the ire of a Liberal cabinet colleague.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has hit back at the deputy prime minister's 'unfair and mischaracterised' claim the government would have treated Tamil children Tharnicaa and Kopika differently if their names were Jane and Sally.

'It doesn't weigh on my mind in any way, shape or form what their names are or what ethnicity they are or what country they've come from,' Mr Hawke told SBS.

'It's about whether we owe them protection and whether they fit into our legal migration framework.'

Mr Morrison is isolating after returning to Australia from the G7 meeting in the UK

Nationals MP George Christensen has announced he will retire at the next election, but there are suggestions he could reconsider now Mr Joyce has returned as leader.

Mr Joyce fuelled the speculation during Question Time on Thursday, heaping praise on the outspoken backbencher.

'I'm doing everything I can to make sure the member for Dawson remains the member for Dawson after the next election because of the advocacy that he has done,' he told parliament.
The US Food and Drug Administration will add a warning to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines after the CDC said there is a 'likely link' between them and rare cases of heart inflammation in teenagers and young adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the announcement Wednesday during a presentation.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group discussed nearly 500 reports of the heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, in vaccinated adults under age 30.

The group of doctors said the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis following vaccination with the mRNA-based shots in adolescents and young adults is notably higher after the second dose and in males

It comes as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is set to meet this week to assess the possibility of a link between the heart condition and the mRNA vaccines.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use mRNA technology, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses the more traditional virus-based technology.

The CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group said Wednesday that there is a 'likely link' between rare heart inflammation and vaccines, especially after the second dose in adults under age 30

Young males were up to seven times more likely to report heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, than young women

According to the presentation, there have been 484 preliminary reports of myocarditis or pericarditis in young people under age 30 as of June 11.

So far, 323 have been confirmed by CDC and 148 are still under review.

In total, 309 patients were hospitalized, of which 295 were discharged and 79 percent have since recovered.

Nine patients are still hospitalized with two in intensive care units. There was no data available for five patients.

Males were much more likely to report heart inflammation after receiving a second dose than women.

As of June 11, there were 9.1 per million reported cases of myocarditis/pericarditis in females ages 12-to-17 compared to 66.7 per million in males of that age group.

What's more, rates among females ages 18-to-24 and ages 25-to-29 were 5.5 per million and 2.6 per million respectively.

So far, 484 cases have been reported out of 90.6 million doses, which means the risk occurs in 0.000534% of young adults. Pictured: Max Zito, age 13, is inoculated by Nurse Karen Pagliaro at Hartford Healthcares mass vaccination center at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut, May 13

Ang males, rates were 56.3 per million for the 18-to-24 age group and 20.4 per million in the 25-to-29 group.

This type of heart inflammation can be caused by a variety of infections, including a bout of COVID-19, as well as certain medications.

With more than 90.6 million young Americans under age 30 who have received one or both doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it means just 0.000534 percent of people who have been administered the shots have reported such an effect.

The ACIP will discuss the benefits of the mRNA vaccines versus the potential risk to adolescents and young adults from the heart condition, according to the agency's agenda.

The group is not expected to cast a vote on any issues regarding the vaccine rollout, but may issue an update on vaccine safety, the odds of myocarditis and a risk-benefit of analysis of vaccines in teens and young adults.

The CDC earlier this month said it was still evaluating the risk from the condition and did not confirm a causal relationship between the vaccines and the heart issue.

The agency, however, said a higher-than-expected number of young men have experienced heart inflammation after their second dose of the mRNA COVID-19 shots, with more than half the cases reported in people between the ages of 12 and 24.

Dr Tom Shimabukuro, deputy director of the CDC's Immunization Safety Office, said in a presentation that data from one of the agency's safety monitoring systems - Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD)  suggests a rate of 12.6 cases per million in the three weeks after the second shot in 12- to 39-year-olds.

Pfizer, whose vaccine has been authorized for use in Americans as young as 12, previously said it had not observed a higher rate of heart inflammation than would normally be expected in the general population.

Moderna had said it could not identify a causal association with the heart inflammation cases and its vaccine.

Although health officials in Israel have also determined that there is likely a link between vaccination and the heart inflammation, concerns about the more infectious Indian 'Delta' variant have prompted the country to urge 12-to 15-year olds get vaccinated.
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Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warns more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser.

It was initially revealed that the hairdresser, who lives in western Sydney, worked three consecutive nine-hour shifts at the salon from Thursday June 17 to Saturday June 19.

But in a worrying new development on Thursday night, NSW Health announced that the salon had been exposed to coronavirus for eight full days - from the moment it opened to the second it closed - between June 15 and June 23.

Mr Bailey told Daily Mail Australia the ramifications of one staff member testing positive to Covid 19 was 'unbelievable'.

'We have over 1,000 customers and staff this has affected who have to isolate,' he said.

The infected hairdresser is one of two super-spreader events in Sydney sending thousands of residents into isolation after being exposed to the highly-infectious Indian Delta variant.

Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warns more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser

The hairdresser, who lives in western Sydney, worked three consecutive nine-hour shifts at the salon from Thursday June 17 to Saturday June 19

It is one of two super-spreader events in Sydney that could bring the Harbour City to its knees with thousands of residents and workers isolating after being exposed to the highly-infectious Delta variant

The other event was a dinner on Monday night at Christo's Pizzeria in the city's trendy inner-eastern suburb of Paddington where NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall was infected by another customer, and then attended a National Party Budget dinner on Tuesday night in Parliament House.

As Joh Bailey's salon underwent a deep clean on Thursday  which he described as scenes resembling the Met Gala  Mr Bailey said the focus was on staff and customer health.

'We are allowed to re-open, of course, but because all or most of our staff have to isolate - that's the problem we have right now.'

Mr Bailey is one of Australia's most sought-after hairdressers who has been at the top of his game for three decades.

His client list that reads like a who's-who of TV stars, socialites, politicians, business elite - and once even gave Princess Diana a makeover on her seminal 1983 Australian tour.

They including former WAG Phoebe Burgess and former Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley, and actresses Elle Macpherson, Linda Evangelista, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, and Judy Davis.

NSW Health officials contacted the salon on Wednesday morning to alert it to the positive case, and management closed the doors immediately.

The hairdresser, who commuted from the city's west for work each morning, has since infected three customers - with hundreds of others in isolation with fears it could lead to a massive outbreak.

'We wish to express our deepest gratitude to NSW Health for their incredible efficiency and support during the ongoing Covid-19 NSW outbreak,' Mr Bailey wrote on Instagram.

As the salon underwent a deep clean on Thursday  which he described as scenes resembling the Met Gala  Mr Bailey said the focus was on staff and customer health

Cleaners prepare their equipment before entering the salon, which will be closed until further notice

Australian hairdressing icon Joh Bailey said the scene at his flagship salon in Double Bay was like something out of the Met Gala as officials scrambled to conduct a deep clean

'In light of this, our Double Bay salon will be temporarily closed for deep cleaning and we will advise our re-opening date in due course.

'An enormous thank you to our valued clients and community who have reached out with messages and support of kindness.

'It is appreciated so much and we in turn wish everyone to remain safe, healthy and supported during this challenging global pandemic.'

The Double Bay salon has about 10 hairdressers working at any given time, plus beauticians and support staff.

Just one suburb away, Mr Marshall and three fellow Nationals were in attendance at the Paddington pizzeria from 5.55pm to 8.30pm on Monday, the evening before the state's budget announcement.

Mr Marshall is believed to have contracted the virus from a diner, before he was in attendance at the state parliament building on Macquarie Street the next day.

His fellow Nationals MPs Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin are also in isolation.

Mr Marshall then attended the post-budget Nationals party dinner, which was attended by a variety of senior officials including the NSW Premier, who confirmed she tested negative on Thursday.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard also tested negative to the virus and as a casual contact was allowed to leave isolation.

Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was absent from the beginning of question time on Thursday afternoon after it was believed he was a close contact of Mr Marshall's.

Mr Joyce returned to parliament soon after and confirmed after meeting with health officials he was not a close contact and was able to return to work.

All four of the MPs and many of their staffs who were at the dinner on Monday night were present in state parliament on Tuesday.

MPs who were at Parliament House on Tuesday or Wednesday were told by the NSW Department of Parliamentary Services to self-isolate until told otherwise.

Parliament House on Macquarie Street in Sydney's CBD has been listed as a high-exposure site after NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive

Mr Marshall is believed to have contracted the virus from a diner, before he was in attendance at the state parliament building on Macquarie Street the next day

A Nationals dinner at Christo's Pizzeria in Paddington is believed to be the catalyst for the superspreader event, with four MPs and their staff all attending the pre-budget event

The Joh Bailey took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon confirming the salon would be shutting down temporarily due to contact from a coronavirus-positive patron

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Wednesday) has so far managed to fend off a lockdown, instead bringing in restrictions including limited visitors to the home and mandatory masks - even in offices

Ms Berejiklian warned Sydney was going through the 'scariest period' of the pandemic yet, but refused to impose a city-wide lockdown as she confirmed 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight.

The 11 additional cases includes six recorded overnight since 8pm and five unreported infections from Wednesday's figures.

All but one of the new infections, the hairdresser at Joh Bailey's salon, are linked to a previous case.

There are now 36 cases linked to the Bondi cluster, which prompted the NSW premier to impose widespread restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.

The positive community cases came from 48,402 tests, up from the 44,640 carried out the day before.

NSW Health said 11 of the 30 people who went to a 'super-spreader' birthday party in West Hoxton in Sydney's west had now returned positive Covid-19 results.

Health workers have been photographed in attendance at parliament on Thursday afternoon as they undergo a deep clean of the facilities after a positive case attended the building

Barnaby Joyce sought medical advice before Question Time and returned to the chamber soon after the beginning of the session

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and four other MPs are in isolation after being close contacts of Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who has tested positive to the Delta variant

Ms Berejiklian said she was comfortable the restrictions announced on Wednesday were sufficient to contain the outbreak.

'This is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through, and [NSW Chief Health Officer] Dr Chant and I have an equal view of that,' she said.

'It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are comfortable that the settings we have in place are appropriate.'

Fears were earlier mounting that millions of Sydneysiders may soon be confined to their homes as the virus spreads across the city, but this did not come to pass.

Victorian contact tracers are also scrambling to stop the virus spreading again after a man in his 60s tested positive to Covid-19 in Melbourne after visiting his daughter in Sydney over the weekend.

Canberra is also bracing for further cases with politicians having re-entered the capital.

Covid cases are on the rise in Sydney (pictured, a couple in mandatory masks in Manly)

New South Wales has recorded 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight. Commuters pictured wearing face masks on a train platform at Central Station on Wednesday

Light rail cleaners are seen wiping down a tram in the Sydney CBD on Thursday. Fears are growing the virus may be spreading through multiple 'super-spreader' events after 11 cases were linked to a birthday party attended by 30 people in West Hoxton in Sydney's west

NEW COVID-19 RULES FOR GREATER SYDNEY From 4pm Wednesday for one week: Visitors to households will be limited to five guests  including children; Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events; Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed; Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed; Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people); Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn); The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals; Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity; Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced Advertisement

Those who live and work in seven hotspot suburbs will not be allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason





THE THREE FACTORS THAT COULD SEND SYDNEY INTO LOCKDOWN The city's vaccination levels How fast the Delta variant is spreading How active the cases were in the community while they were infectious Source: UNSW epidemiologist Dr Abrar Chughtai Advertisement

Lockdown-happy premiers in other states including Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland have already slammed their borders shut, disrupting school holiday plans for thousands.

On Thursday, Queensland recorded three new local cases after an infected woman in her 30s visited the Portuguese Family Centre restaurant in Ellen Grove in Brisbane's south-west.

Ms Berejiklian, who has always strived to take a measured approach to outbreaks, has so far stood firm by refusing to lock down Sydney, instead bringing in a number of restrictions including limits of five visitors to a household and mandatory masks.

The Delta variant is so contagious that two people in Bondi this week caught Covid by momentarily brushing past each other.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised the NSW's premier's approach.

'She hasn't gone to lock down Australia's biggest city,' he said.

'But has taken the positive decision to keep Sydney and NSW open for its residents and to continue to rely on what is Australia's best contact tracing system.'
Australia has been accused of being hypocritical in demanding the world governments respect human rights during the pandemic - while leaving its own citizens stranded overseas.

Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Sally Mansfield sent tongues wagging at the Human Rights Council this week.

Ms Mansfield declared 'governments must ensure Covid-19 response measures comply with international human rights obligations'.

'We reiterate our concerns that some states are taking advantage of Covid-19 to undermine or supplant established human rights,' she said.

Ms Mansfield announced that 'governments must ensure Covid-19 response measures comply with international human rights obligations' in the Human Rights Council this week

The ban on Australians going overseas was introduced in March last year as non-citizens and non-residents were also stopped from entering the country in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus

However, Sarah Joseph, professor of Human Rights Law at Griffith University, said Australia needed to look in the mirror before critiquing other countries, The Age reported.

She pointed to the government's unprecedented decision in May, to jail or fine Australians who flew home from Covid-ravaged India.

The emergency law, invoked under the Biosecurity Act, held a sentence of five years in jail or a fine of $66,000.

Mr Hunt made the unprecedented determination under the Biosecurity Act after receiving advice from Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.

It was the first time the Biosecurity Act has been used to stop Australians citizens returning to Australia under threat of jail.

It was also the first time in history the Australian Government has used any kind of emergency powers for that purpose.

Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) made the unprecedented decision to jail or fine Australians who flew home from covid-ravaged India under the Biosecurity Act in May

It was the first time the Biosecurity Act has been used to stop Australians citizens returning to Australia from India (pictured) under threat of jail

Professor Joseph described the law as a 'low point' for Australia and said it failed to balance the rights of citizens overseas and at home.

'That measure may have helped protect people in Australia but it made things much more dangerous for Australians in India, especially given the shortages of basic resources like oxygen in its hospitals at the time,' she said.

The ban on Australians going overseas was introduced in March last year as non-citizens and non-residents were also stopped from entering the country in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The national and state border closures are also potential breaches of the UN's 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Australia was one of eight nations that helped draft this set of principles in 1948.

Australia's national and state border closures are also potential breaches of the UN's 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Under Article 13: 'Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.'

This clause also states: 'Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.'

Professor Joseph said that while measures to minimise the spread of the virus were required to protect a person's right to life and health, it was Australia's disproportionate and draconian approach to any virus cases that was problematic.

'Australia seems to have lost sight of proportionality which is a key human rights principle,' she said.

The professor explained the costs of snap lockdowns and border closures would see Australia's human rights costs continue to climb.

Without change, Ms Joseph fears the country will remain 'hostage' to the upcoming federal election which Scott Morrison could call as early as October.

'Australia seems to have lost sight of proportionality which is a key human rights principle,' Human Rights Professor Sarah Joseph. Pictured: A Covid-19 victim is buried in New Delhi

She said Australians at home and abroad were paying a premium for their state and federal governments obsession with eliminating Covid-19.

Phil Lynch, an Australian who heads the Geneva-based International Service for Human Rights, said Australia's abandonment of citizens abroad had 'revealed values of insularity, isolationism and discrimination'.

Mr Lynch said a human-rights approach to the coronavirus required all measures be 'reasonable, necessary and proportionate'.

A complaint has been launched to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva by a group supporting stranded Australians, 'Free and Open Australia'.

The group is being advised by international human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, the founder of Londons Doughty Street Chambers.
New South Wales police have warned they will take an uncompromising approach to imposing fines on those not wearing masks and otherwise breaking Sydney's new Covid restrictions.

The government has imposed an array of restriction as the number of positive cases across the city reached 36 on Thursday, including a government minister.

NSW Police said they had issued 150 cautions to people for not wearing masks on public transport and indoor public places since those restrictions were reimposed on Wednesday, but said they will not remain so forgiving as school holidays begin on Friday.

New South Wales police have warned those caught breaking Sydney's Covid restrictions will be fined, with increased police patrols during the school holidays

'Those people will be spoken to by police and will be issued with a penalty notice rather than given the option of a caution,' NSW Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said on Thursday.

He said everyone must obey restrictions on travel for Sydney residents and said traffic and highway patrol 'will be out there enforcing that'.

'As we move into the school holidays, people need to understand if they choose to go outside the order and drive to a location, whether that is down to the snow or whether that's up the coast, down the south coast, out west.'

'If people choose to go outside the order and drive to a location, whether that is down the snow or up the coast, down the south coast, out west, traffic and highway patrol are well aware of the order and what it says to people and what it commands them to do, and police will be out there enforcing that part of the activity,' the deputy commissioner said.

What are the new Covid restrictions for Greater Sydney? Until July 1, restrictions will apply in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour. Restrictions include: - Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests (including children) - Masks will be compulsory in all indoor public spaces (including workplaces) and at organised outdoor events - Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed - Dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people) - Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn) - Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs - Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed - The 1 person per 4sqm rule will apply to all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals - Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50% seated capacity - Public transport capacity limits will apply, representing by the green dots - If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel. MASK EXEMPTIONS A person may remove their mask if they are: - eating or drinking - communicating with another person who is deaf or hard of hearing - at work and the nature of the work makes the wearing of a fitted face covering a risk to the person's, or another persons' health and safety, or where clear enunciation or visibility of your mouth is essential - asked to remove their mask for identity purposes - in an emergency situation - when the removal of a face mask is necessary for the provision of a good or service e.g. a facial or a beard trim - Children 12 years and under, are exempt but are encouraged to wear masks where practicable. - You are not required to wear a mask if you have a physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability, that makes wearing a mask unsuitable. For example, if you have a skin condition, an intellectual disability, autism or trauma, you are not required to wear a mask - If you have a condition that prevents you from wearing a mask, you may wish to ask your registered health practitioner or disability care provider to issue a letter confirming this. However, this is not a requirement under the public health order. Source: NSW Health Advertisement

Covid cases are on the rise in Sydney (pictured, a couple in mandatory masks in Manly)





Fines for not wearing a securely-fitting mask in Sydney on public transport and at non-residential indoor settings - including workplaces - are $200

New South Wales has recorded 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight. Commuters pictured wearing face masks on a train platform at Central Station on Wednesday

NSW Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said on Thursday that police will also be operating on public transport and in and around cafes, pubs and clubs, 'making sure people comply' with the mask edict and other restrictions.

Fines for non-compliance of $200 can be issued for not wearing a securely-fitting mask.

The places masks must be worn include: shopping centres, supermarkets, public transport, cinemas and theatres, places of worship, beauty and hair salons, banks, spas, betting shops, gaming lounges and tattoo parlours.

Light rail cleaners are seen wiping down a tram in the Sydney CBD on Thursday. Fears are growing the virus may be spreading through multiple 'super-spreader' events after 11 cases were linked to a birthday party attended by 30 people in West Hoxton in Sydney's west

Masks must be worn at shopping centres and in supermarkets in Sydney under the new rules

If you don't have a 'lawful reason' - such as a physical or mental health condition - for not wearing a mask you can be fined, though under the public health order documentary evidence of an exemption is not required.

NSW public health orders state that bandanas and or scarves are not sufficient.

Spitting and coughing deliberately in Sydney can earn you a fine of $5000.

Maximum fines for breaching other public health orders relevant to Covid restrictions - such as traveling without an acceptable reason - are much higher.

NSW public health orders state 'a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 6 months and/or a penalty of up to $11,000' can be applicable.

With requirements for people to wear masks in the workplace, corporations that fail to comply with a direction are liable to a fine of $55,000.

Those who live and work in seven hotspot suburbs will not be allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason

People living or working in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra, cannot move outside the Sydney metropolitan area unless it's essential.

Restrictions are also in place in the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Shellharbour regions.

They include the number of visitors to a household being limited to five guests including children at one time, and compulsory mask wearing in all indoor settings including workplaces.

The restrictions were introduced on Wednesday at 4pm and will last for a week, until July 1.

Deputy Commissioner Worboys told a press conference that NSW police are now moving into 'much further into a compliance and enforcement regime around the order rather than a simple education response to people'.
A young man has handed himself into police after allegedly breaking into the home of his friend's mother and twice biting her on the nipple.

Jonathan Stefan Priscan, 24, allegedly turned up at the home of the woman on March 18 after he wrote her a letter requesting she meet him but she refused.

Later that day the woman said she heard Priscan outside her home calling her name and asking to be let in which she also refused.

Police Prosecutor Brendan Gottschutzke told the Christies Beach Magistrates Court in southern Adelaide that Priscan allegedly entered the house through the laundry.

Jonathan Stefan Priscan, 24, handed himself into police after allegedly breaking into his friend's mother's home and biting her on the nipple twice

'She asked him to leave on a number of occasions, he didn't, causing her to feel scared and intimidated,' Mr Gottschutzke said, The Advertiser reported.

When the pair moved to sit out the back of the home, Priscan asked the woman for a hug and after she refused, the 24-year-old allegedly then moved to sit on top of the woman, touching her breasts before biting her left nipple.

The mother then slapped Priscan in the face and punched him in the stomach after the unwanted advance.

But Priscan allegedly then bit her on the nipple for a second time, leaving the woman with bruising.

Priscan only left the house after the woman agreed to unblock him from her phone, Mr Gottschutzke said

The 24-year-old has been charged with indecent assault, basic assault and serious criminal trespass.

He was remanded in custoday to face court again later this month.
Police in Greece have launched a manhunt after a 25-year-old pregnant woman was raped before being abducted and gang-raped by three other men who she went to for help.

The woman, who is three months pregnant, had travelled to the Omonia neighbourhood of Athens to get her phone fixed.

She was approached by an Afghan man who took her into a darkened area and raped her, local reports said.

The expectant mother then asked three Pakistani men for help. They called a cab and took her to an underground flat in the nearby Agios Panteleimon area where they gang-raped her.

Three of the four Pakistani men (centre) appear in court after allegedly raping a pregnant woman in Athens, Greece on Thursday, above and below

The woman, who is three months pregnant, had travelled to the Omonia neighbourhood of Athens to get her phone fixed

Her screams were heard by neighbours who went onto their balconies to shout across to each other and ask what was going on. The trio, fearing the suspicions of their neighbours, let the victim leave.

But she went straight to the police who arrived back at the apartment later to arrest three suspects aged 19, 21 and 27. They have been charged.

However, the fourth man - who first raped the woman - remains at large.

Police have gathered DNA evidence from the victim's underwear and clothes and hope it can help track the attacker down - as well as prove the guilt of the trio who later raped her in the flat.

Last month, a 34-year-old Pakistani man was arrested on suspicion of attempting to rape several underage girls and a 22-year-old.

In 2012, the brutal beating and rape of a young girl on the island of Paros drew widespread attention.

A manhunt has been launched after four men allegedly kidnapped and raped a pregnant woman in Greece

The teenager was found unconscious with a severe head injury that has resulted in permanent damage.

Her attacker was later identified as Ahmed Waqas, an undocumented migrant from Pakistan, who was arrested in Athens. He was later sentenced to life in prison.

The case prompted a crackdown on undocumented migrants in the Greek capital, with some 4,500 police arresting 7,000 people in just 72 hours.

It also led to a series of violent racist attacks against migrants in Greece, including the murder of a 19-year-old Iraqi man in Athens by assailants on motorcycles who had reportedly earlier targeted two foreigners who managed to escape.

Greece has a relatively low rate of violent crimes for a large European country and is frequently featured on lists of safest destinations for solo female travellers.
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Britons gambled on booking foreign beach breaks to Malta and the Balearic islands before changes to the UK's 'green list' countries for quarantine-free travel were announced.

Ministers were under intense pressure to lift Covid travel restrictions to the Mediterranean destinations after scientists declared them safe.

And hopeful tourists took to social media over the past few days to reveal their plans for some summer sun abroad, with return flight prices as cheap as 21 for Malta and Ibiza and 26 to Mallorca over the next few months.

Even last-minute holidays will not break the bank, with Saturday-Saturday returns from July 3 to July 10 available through price comparison website Skyscanner for 87 to Ibiza, 120 to Mallorca and 147 to Valletta.

And one British tourist from Manchester, @speckysi, tweeted: 'It's Russian roulette time again, I've now booked Malta for next week - there's next to nothing cases and zero deaths. All I want is one week in the sun.'

Another, Tristan Dawson from Essex, tweeted that he had 'just booked Mallorca' and was 'determined to have a holiday' - while a third, Adam Courtney, said he had 'gambled and booked' a trip to Malta on Tuesday.

MALLORCA: Return flights are on sale to the Spanish island for just 26 from London this summer. El Arenal beach is pictured

MALTA: Flights to Valletta are available for just 21 return from London with WizzAir. Pretty Bay at Birzebbuga is pictured

IBIZA: Flights to Ibiza are still available for just 21 this summer, while returns from July 3 to July 10 are still a reasonable 87

Conservative MPs and travel industry figures said the decision on whether to expand the green list - which could come into force next Tuesday - is a vital test of the Government's willingness to save the summer holidays.

Ministers will today decide whether to change the list of destinations where travel without self-isolation is allowed, and will also debate plans for quarantine-free travel to amber list countries for those who are fully vaccinated.

How much are flights to Malta, Ibiza and Mallorca before 'green list' update? Here are the current prices via Skyscanner for leaving any London airport on Saturday, July 3 and returning a week later on Saturday, July 10, checked at 8am today: Ibiza 87 - July 3 0600 Jet2 Stansted / July 10 2140 Ryanair Stansted Mallorca (Palma) 120 - July 3 0600 Jet2 Stansted / July 10 1005 easyJet Luton Menorca (Mahon) 124 - July 3 1245 Jet2 Stansted / July 10 1700 Jet2 Stansted Malta (Valletta) 147 - July 3 1655 Ryanair Stansted / July 10 0715 MaltaAir Heathrow And here are the cheapest return flights available for those four destinations on any dates this summer from London airports, according to Google Flights: Ibiza 21 - August 2 0605 WizzAir Gatwick / August 9 1045 WizzAir Gatwick Mallorca (Palma) 26 - July 21 1200 WizzAir Luton / July 28 1555 WizzAir Luton Menorca (Mahon) 85 - July 7 0730 Jet2 Stansted / July 14 1145 Jet2 Stansted Malta (Valletta) 21 - August 2 0605 WizzAir Gatwick / August 9 1045 WizzAir Gatwick Advertisement

An 'in principle' decision could come as soon as today, but ministers are still wrangling over the start date.

Whitehall sources told the Mail the Government's Joint Biosecurity Centre has advised that Malta and the Balearic islands meet the criteria for safe travel.

This morning, Cabinet minister George Eustice said the Government would take a cautious approach to changes to travel restrictions.

The Environment Secretary told Sky News: 'I want us to get back to a position where we can support those who want to travel to do so.

'Nobody likes the draconian restrictions we have had to put in place over this last year as we have wrestled with the pandemic.

'So, yes, we want to get to a position where we can support people who want to travel to be able to do so, but it is difficult.

'We are being cautious because the biggest threat still to our progress against this pandemic and the great progress we have made on vaccination is that there will be another variant somewhere that maybe hadn't been properly detected in another country and that that variant is more resistant to vaccination.

'That's the great challenge that we have got, that's why we are proceeding with caution.'

Mr Eustice also said Angela Merkel's call for more European countries to impose restrictions on British tourists was unjustified.

The German chancellor told the Bundestag yesterday that she would like other countries to follow her lead in placing quarantine requirements on Britons.

And Mr Eustice told LBC radio: 'Each country is taking their own decisions on this, so it will be for them to judge what approach they want to take.

'I'm not sure that such an approach would be justified given the highly advanced stage we are currently at now in terms of vaccination, with 80 per cent having had one jab and now 60 per cent having had the second jab.

'I don't think such a move would be justified but obviously it's for individual countries to make these judgments.'

Opening up the Balearics is seen as a game changer as more than five million Brits visit Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca in a normal year.

But there are fears that the Government could overrule the advice, as it did when Malta was put forward for approval last month. Sources last night said there was also a danger that Israel could be moved from green to amber.

Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation Group, said: 'Frankly, these destinations should already be on the green list along with many others.

'It is a nonsense that people are not able to travel freely to countries that have lower rates of infection than we do.'

IN FULL: The UK's new travel green list All changes will come into effect from Wednesday, June 30 at 4am: Anguila

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

Balearic Islands

Barbados

Bermuda

British Antartic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

British Virgin Islands

Brunei

Cayman Islands

Dominica

Falkland Islands

Faroe Islands

Gibraltar

Grenada

Iceland

Israel and Jerusalem

Maderia

Malta

Montserrat

New Zealand

Pitcairn Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Singapore

Turks and Caicos Islands Advertisement

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: 'It's now or never if we are to have any sort of summer season and the data shows this can be done safely and proportionately with many more countries being added to the list.

'The future of our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports depends on it.'

Culture minister John Whittingdale hinted at positive news yesterday, saying: 'Hopefully it will be possible to increase that number' of countries on the green list.

Green list status is only allocated to destinations that can show they have low Covid rates and no significant problems with variants of concern. They also have to show that they can monitor for new variants.

Government scientists advised last month that Malta could be added to the green list, only to be overruled by ministers led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Latest figures suggest infection rates on the island are less than half those in the UK.

Asked about the prospect of restrictions being eased in the review, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Of course I very much hope the world could open up.

'We've got to follow the data, and that's what we'll be doing in the meetings over the next few days.'

Ministers are also close to an agreement on the plan to end quarantine requirements for the fully vaccinated.

It is seen as the best chance for saving the travel sector this summer and would require travellers to prove their vaccination status either using the NHS app or with a paper record from their GP.

The Cabinet is split on the timing with some ministers favouring a July 9 start date and others wanting a more cautious approach.

A Government source said August is the most likely date but no final decision has been taken.

It comes after the vaccines minister revealed almost half of all adults aged 25 to 29 in England and a third of those aged 18 to 24 had now received their first dose of a coronavirus jab.

People arriving in the UK from green list destinations are not required to self-isolate, but there are currently no viable major tourist destinations in that tier.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said earlier this week that the Government is 'working on' plans to allow quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated Britons returning from amber locations.

It comes as the travel industry held a day of action yesterday to put pressure on the Government to reopen the sector and provide tailored financial support to businesses.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Nadhim Zahawi said that more than 14,000 lives had been saved by the vaccination programme, while 44,500 hospital admissions had also been averted in England - 2,500 in the past two weeks.

IBIZA: This Google Flights graph shows how prices drop to as low as 21 for a seven-day return by the start of August

MALLORCA: Flights to the island are available for just 26 if booking at the end of July, while there are also bargains in August

MENORCA: The Balearic island is a little more expensive to visit, with the return flights this summer available for 85

MALTA: Flights to the island can be very cheap if booking in August, but you must pick dates carefully to get a bargain

Referring to younger adults coming forward for their jab, the vaccines minister told a Downing Street press conference: 'The enthusiasm is making a huge difference.

'We have already given first doses to almost half of all 25 to 29-year-olds in England and only a week after the programme opened to all adults on Friday, one-third of people aged between 18 and 24 have had their first dose.

'To all of the young people who have stepped up, I want to say a huge thank you. You have protected yourself, you have protected your families, and you have protected your communities.'

The minister added that he was 'confident' that 66 per cent of adults could have had two jabs by July 19, which has been earmarked for when all remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England could be lifted.

As of 9am yesterday, there had been a further 16,135 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK - the highest reported daily toll since February 6.
A former bank worker has avoided jail over a more than $3 million financial scam after the Commonwealth Bank took eight years to report it to police.

George Vrettakos, 41, was handed a three-year fully suspended jail sentence on Thursday over the fraud he confessed to more than a decade ago.

Vrettakos took out three separate lines of credit through the Commonwealth Bank - where he worked as a mobile lender - in 2008 and 2009 worth a total of $3.75 million.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception, pocketing $1.4 million through the credit lines.

George Vrettakos illegally took out three separate lines of credit through the Commonwealth Bank - where he worked as a mobile lender - in 2008 and 2009 worth a total of $3.75 million

The Melbourne man used the stolen money to spend up big on 'lunches, wine, cocaine and girls' (pictured customers using a Commonwealth Bank ATM)

The bank worker didn't take all the money for himself, initially setting up accounts to pay out loan amounts to customers whose applications were delayed.

Prosecutors described his actions in those cases as 'robbing Peter to pay Paul', and Vrettakos claimed he had done so because he was under pressure from his bosses to fulfil loans.

But he did also spend a big chunk of change on himself, paying off a loan over a business deal that went bust.

County Court Judge Gavan Meredith said Vrettakos also spent up big on 'lunches, wine, cocaine and girls', as well as buying a house where he lived with his new bride.

The fraud was uncovered in early 2010 when a solicitor noticed an error with a customer's property title.

The bank investigated and Vrettakos was stood down and later fired. He made extensive admissions of his crimes.

The Commonwealth Bank claimed back more than $695,000 in civil proceedings against Vrettakos in 2010.

But his criminal offending was not reported to police until 2018, after the frauds and Vrettakos' admissions were reported in the media.

Vrettakos' lawyers told police in 2018 he intended to plead guilty, but he still wasn't charged until October last year.

Judge Meredith said even now the reason for the delay wasn't clear to him. Over the last decade Vrettakos' rehabilitation had been ongoing and was well advanced, he said.

'In my view your rehabilitative prospects are very good,' he said.

'In addition I accept that you have re-ordered your life and that since the police became involved you have been living with the anxiety of not knowing whether you would be the subject of an immediate term of imprisonment.'

Vrettakos now works for a debt collection agency. A reference said he was highly disciplined and ethical, and 'quite a different fellow' than before.
Beijing's thin-skinned diplomats have dismissed frank assertions by Australia's top diplomat that President Xi Jinping and his authoritarian regime are 'dogged by insecurity'.

Frances Adamson, in her last week as secretary of the Department of Foreign and Trade, told Canberra's Press Club that China's 'siege mentality' and 'deeply defensive mindset' is driving their increasing belligerence on the world stage.

She also warned that 'insecurity and power can be a volatile combination'.

Australia's top diplomat has warned China's 'Insecurity and power can be a volatile combination'. Pictured: Police in Hong Kong block a camera on June 12, 2021

Australian secretary of the Department of Foreign and Trade, Frances Adamson (left), said President Xi Jinping (right) and his authoritarian regime are 'dogged by insecurity'

'Few really grasp that this great power is still dogged by insecurity as much as driven by ambition, that it has a deeply defensive mindset perceiving external threats even as it pushes its interests over those of others,' she said.

'This siege mentality  this unwillingness to countenance scrutiny and genuine discussion of differences  serves nobody's interests,' she said.

Ms Adamson, who was once an ambassador in Beijing, said Mr Xi's obsession with 'external threats' is also making life uncomfortable for those working within the Chinese political class.

'I always find it useful to remind myself when faced with strident official representations that the pressure exerted outwards on other countries must also be felt within, at an individual level, by those subject to that system.'

China Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, who is well known for his verbal tirades and Twitter trolling of Australia, rejected the comments on Thursday at a press briefing in Beijing.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said 'the Australian side bears full responsibility' for the current diplomatic conflict

Police stand guard in Hong Kong on June 12, 2021, after they cordoned off parts of the causeway bay shopping district in anticipation of pro-democracy groups gathering to protest

What is a Wolf Warrior Diplomat? Chinese diplomats around the globe have made headlines in recent years by making aggressive public statements against democratic nations - often in to the contrary of all available evidence. Political observers say such statements are made to impress Communist Party bosses back home in Beijing so they get noticed. The term Wolf Warrior is actually a Chinese action film franchise launched in 2015. The plot of the 80s-style action films centre around a patriotic Chinese soldier who takes on enemies from all over the world and is fearless in the face of danger. Advertisement

'I'd like to stress that since the latter half of 2017, China-Australia relations have experienced one serious setback after another,' the 'Wolf Warrior' diplomat said.

'The crux is that Australia, in a breach of international law and basic norms of international relations, grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs, hurt Chinese interests and wantonly placed restrictions on bilateral exchange and co-operation,' he added.

'The Australian side bears full responsibility.'

A new survey by the Lowy Institute this week revealed that Australia's trust in China has sunk to all-time lows.

The poll of 2000 respondents found that only 16 per cent of Aussies have faith that China will 'act responsibly in the world' and just one in ten trust Mr Xi to 'do the right thing' when it comes to international affairs.

Canberra's relation with its largest trading partner rapidly deteriorated after the Morrison government called for an independent inquiry to the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic in April last year.

The plea for transparency was met with fury from the Communist Party who slapped over $20billion worth of arbitrary bans and trade tariffs on a range of key Australian exports including barley, wine, timber, seafood, coal, copper and cotton.

Police officers patrol the streets during a protest against the invocation of the National Security Laws in October, 2019

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon and owner of the Apple Daily newspaper, Jimmy Lai is pictured being led into a police van as part of Chinese draconian crackdown in Hong Kong

A protester is detained by riot police while attempting to leave the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University on November 18, 2019

But Australia's souring ties with the totalitarian power is not unique with various nations across the globe and in the region experiencing similar diplomatic difficulties.

China has engaged in a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong, stripping away the economic hub's political independence by imposing draconian National Security Laws.

The regime has simultaneously been condemned for the arbitrary detention of up to one million Uighur Muslims in the northwestern province of Xinjiang, where they are being held in 're-education camps'.

India, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam are also locked in territorial disputes with China.

Mr Xi's paranoia was evident after he scrapped presidential term limits in 2018, declaring himself President-for-life.

He made the move after launching a years-long anti-corruption campaign which indicted more than 100,000 people.

Critics of the opaque leader claim the initiative was launched as mechanism to stamp out his political opponents.

Mr Xi has also banned all use of the cartoon character Winnie the Pooh in china, after domestic bloggers made comparisons between the pair as a joke after he came to power.

Mr Xi (left) banned all use of the cartoon character Winnie the Poh (right), after domestic bloggers made comparisons between the pair as a joke
A New Zealander tried to rob Victoria's Supreme Court because the sneak thief was 'not in a good state of mind' due to transitioning back to being a man, his lawyer told Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Jayden Boge-Neilson, 29, crawled into the courthouse through an open window in the middle of the evening while wearing a V for Vendetta-style Guy Fawkes mask, reported the Herald Sun.

But the Kiwi fled almost empty handed after finding only a law book, a copy of the Koran and a Bible plus a laptop, the court heard.

Jayden Boge-Neilson, 29, (right) crawled into the courthouse through an open window in the middle of the evening while wearing a V for Vendetta-style Guy Fawkes mask (pictured). His lawyer Lily Yan told the court the accused had been suffering mentally '...given the quite dramatic procedure he was going through at the time'

After Boge-Neilson was spotted by security guards jumping on the roof of the building, the Kiwi fell three metres to the ground in a bungled bid to escape and was pinned down until police arrived.

The court heard Boge-Neilson - who is also known as Bella Boge-Neilson and Adama Raydyn Boge-Neilson - was 'not in good state of mind' when the botched robbery took place last September.

His lawyer Lily Yan told the court the accused had been suffering mentally '...given the quite dramatic procedure he was going through at the time.

'He has gone through a lot in the last 10 years  he has changed from male to female, and then back to male.'

The court heard Boge-Neilson (pictured) - who is also known as Bella Boge-Neilson and Adama Raydyn Boge-Neilson - was 'not in good state of mind' when the botched robbery took place last September

She said Boge-Neilson had identified as a woman for most of his 20s but was now undergoing hormone therapy to reverse the process and return to his male gender.

Boge-Neilson told the court he had entered the building after spotting it was surrounded by barbed wire which had piqued his curiosity.

His social media profiles include links to New Age beliefs and some conspiracy theory sites.

His lawyer told the court: 'To be more specific, at the time there were a lot of news reports about institutionalised child sexual abuse, and also from very high profile American celebrities about child sexual abuse.

Boge-Neilson (pictured) had identified as a woman for most of his 20s but was now undergoing hormone therapy to reverse the process and return to his male gender

'And so, he saw the barbed wire in the Supreme Court building and he thought it was really strange to have a barbed wire building in the middle of the city.

'He didnt know it was the Supreme Court building and he just thought, its really strange given whats happening around the world, and he wanted to go in to have a look.'

The day after the botched burglary, Boge-Neilson confessed to the crime on Facebook.

'Does the word of divine belong in a human room where so many lies have been told and stolen freedom has been taken?' he wrote.

The day after the botched burglary, Boge-Neilson confessed to the crime on Facebook (pictured)

Boge-Neilson (pictured) pleaded guilty to burglary and theft and was fined $750 but Magistrate Johanna Metcalf did not record a conviction, saying he was a first offender acting out of character and did not expect him to be back in court again

He told the court he was wearing the Guy Fawkes mask - also famously worn by online hackers group Anonymous - to comply with Covid-19 requirements.

His lawyer told the court Boge-Neilson was now getting support and was working in the community with the homeless.

Boge-Neilson pleaded guilty to burglary and theft and was fined $750.

But Magistrate Johanna Metcalf did not record a conviction, saying he was a first offender acting out of character and did not expect him to be back in court again.
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ABC star Annabel Crabb's private texts to a friend of Christian Porter's rape accuser have been released by a court in a surprise twist in the legal saga.

In the messages, Crabb speaks candidly to Jo Dyer about the allegations their school friend, an Adelaide woman known only as Kate, made about the Attorney-General before she died in June 2020.

The Kitchen Cabinet host and star political writer, 48, admitted she was left with a 'boiling sense of rage and grief' when she learned about the claims - and was scathing about the senior Cabinet minister.

'What a strange dude CP (Christian Porter) is,' Crabb wrote. 'And how amazingly arrogant to think you can mistreat people and get away with it forever.'

Crabb said she felt 'completely poleaxed' about the matter given an inquiry's recent findings about High Court judge Dyson Heydon sexually harassing female associates.

The texts reveal the ABC journalist even offered up her house for Ms Dyer to be interviewed by Four Corners journalist Louise Milligan.

ABC star Annabel Crabb's text messages to her friend Jo Dyer - a close mate of Christian Porter's late accuser 'Kate' - have come to light in a Federal Court judgement

Text messages between Crabb (in grey) and Ms Dyer (blue). Crabb says: 'What a strange dude CP is. And how amazingly arrogant to think you can mistreat people and get away with it forever'

When Ms Dyer tried to organise a tribute to Kate, Crabb outlined her busy itinerary of events in Byron Bay and Canberra, before quipping: 'Are you at my house btw?'

Ms Dyer replied: 'Heading to your house at 11am, which will feel slightly odd in your absence!'

Jo Dyer, the close friend of Porter's accuser Kate, filmed an interview with the ABC and Crabb's house

Ms Dyer later opened up to Crabb that the interview with Milligan was a 'very intense experience ... longer and more involved than I expected'.

When Ms Dyer expressed doubt that the information she provided was as detailed as Milligan would have hoped, Crabb reassured her friend she had been told 'Jo was amazing'.

Ms Dyer said she hoped other witnesses could provide a definitive timeline of Porter's alleged encounter with Kate.

She noted that the stakes were high, before joking that the interview had at least made her look as if she had a 'more impressive house'.

Crabb replied: 'I bet Kate would be extremely moved to know how much you're all doing to get some justice for her xx'.

The pair also had a candid chat about The Australian's columnist Janet Albrechtsen, and a piece she had apparently written about ousted Labor MP Emma Husar.

Ms Dyer had a less than favourable view: 'What a f***wit'', she said, according to the court documents.

In this message exchange, Crabb reveals she spoke to Communications Minister Paul Fletcher about 'Kate'. 'He responded to the news a bit unreadably,' she recalled

Further messages in October where Ms Dyer (at the end) describes The Australian's opinion columnist Janet Albrechtsen in unflattering terms

The ABC paid Christian Porter's legal team $100,000 in 'mediation and related costs', a parliamentary inquiry heard

Part of Ms Dyer's interview was aired last year as part of the Four Corners program 'Inside the Canberra Bubble', which did not air the rape claim against Porter.

That came to light in February when Ms Milligan published an article online claiming an unnamed minister allegedly raped a teenage girl during a 1988 debating trip to Sydney.

Mr Porter outed himself as the man accused days later at an emotional press conference.

He insisted that the alleged sexual assault 'just didn't happen', and then sued the ABC for defamation in the Federal Court.

The parties settled last month, with the ABC amending its article to say it 'regretted' its article could be misinterpreted as an accusation of guilt against the Cabinet minister.

Crabb's messages were handed to the Federal Court as evidence in Ms Dyer's lawsuit against Porter's chosen barrister, Sue Chrysanthou.

The case ended in Ms Chrystanthou being restrained from representing Porter in the defamation case.

The Australian newspaper was first to report on the messages. Crabb told the publication she was surprised her texts had come to light in court documents, given her 'personal irrelevance' to any of the issues in the case involving Ms Dyer and Ms Chrysanthou.

Ms Dyer slammed Mr Porter and his 'henchmen' at the (newspaper) for what she called 'conspiracy-laden spin'. Thursday was the one year anniversary of Kate's death.
Hong Kong's pro-democracy Apple Daily tabloid said it was a 'victim of tyranny' in a defiant final edition on Thursday after it was forced to close under a new national security law, ending a 26-year run of taking on China's authoritarian leaders.

The sudden death of the popular newspaper is the latest blow to Hong Kong's freedoms, deepening unease over whether the international finance centre can remain a media hub as China seeks to stamp out dissent.

Queues formed across Hong Kong on Thursday as residents raced to snap up one of the one million copies Apple Daily said it planned to print. Many vendors sold out within minutes and were awaiting fresh deliveries.

The swansong front page featured the paper's own journalists waving goodbye to crowds outside its headquarters.

This morning Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the newspaper's closure was the latest sign China was not respecting the people of Hong Kong.

British foreign secretary Dominic Raab last night accused Hong Kong's authorities of spearheading a 'forced closure' of the paper, describing it as 'a chilling demonstration of their campaign to silence all opposition voices'.

'It is crystal clear that the powers under the National Security Law are being used as a tool to curtail freedoms and punish dissent  rather than keep public order,' he said.

Queues formed across Hong Kong on Thursday as residents raced to snap up one of the one million copies Apple Daily said it planned to print. Many vendors sold out within minutes and were awaiting fresh deliveries

Hong Kong's pro-democracy Apple Daily tabloid said it was a 'victim of tyranny' in a defiant final edition on Thursday after it was forced to close under a new national security law, ending a 26-year run of taking on China's authoritarian leaders

'The Chinese government undertook to protect press freedom and freedom of speech in Hong Kong under the UK-Sino Joint Declaration. It must keep its promises, and stand by the commitments it freely assumed.'

The joint declaration Mr Raab referred to was the Sino British Joint Declaration - a legally binding agreement which says certain freedoms would be protected in Britain's former colony Hong Kong for 50 years after China assumed sovereignty in 1997.

It was signed by then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and China's former Premier Zhao Ziyang in 1984.

Raab said in 2019 that the UK takes these commitments seriously and supports their implementation.

Apple Daily is the biggest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong. Its sudden death is the latest blow to Hong Kong's freedoms, deepening unease over whether the international finance centre can remain a media hub as China seeks to stamp out dissent

Dominic Raab said: 'The closure of Apple Daily in Hong Kong part of ongoing failure by china to comply with joint declaration agreement with Britain.'

Apple Daily is the biggest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong.

By 8:30am on Thursday, Apply Daily's final edition of 1 million copies was sold out across most of the city's newsstands.

The newspaper said it would cease operations after police froze 2.3 million dollars (1.66 million) in assets, searched its office and arrested five top editors and executives last week, accusing them of foreign collusion to endanger national security - another sign Beijing is tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city.

In recent years, the newspaper has become increasingly outspoken, criticising Chinese and Hong Kong authorities for limiting the city's freedoms not found in mainland China and accusing them of reneging on a promise to protect them for 50 years after the 1997 handover from Britain.

'Apple Daily is dead,' deputy chief editor Chan Pui-man, who was arrested last week on a national security charge, wrote in a farewell letter to readers.

Multiple international media companies have regional headquarters in Hong Kong, attracted to the business-friendly regulations and free speech provisions written into the city's mini-constitution

Apple Daily had long been a thorn in Beijing's side, with unapologetic support for the city's pro-democracy movement and caustic criticism of China's authoritarian leaders

The owner of the paper Jimmy Lai (pictured), currently in jail for attending democracy protests, was among the first to be charged under the law after its imposition last year

In the working-class district of Mongkok, hundreds queued through the early hours of the morning to get their hands on the final edition, some chanting 'Apple Daily we will meet again!'

'It's very shocking,' a 30-year-old woman, who was in the queue and gave her first name as Candy, told AFP.

'Within two weeks, authorities could use this national security law to dismantle a listed company.'

Hong Kong's most popular tabloid had long been a thorn in Beijing's side, with unapologetic support for the city's pro-democracy movement and caustic criticism of China's authoritarian leaders.

Those same leaders used a new security law to bring about its rapid demise.

Owner Jimmy Lai, currently in jail for attending democracy protests, was among the first to be charged under the law after its imposition last year.

But the final chapter was written over the last week when authorities deployed the security law to raid the newsroom, arrest senior executives and freeze its assets.

That last move crippled the paper's ability to conduct business or pay staff and the news group decided Thursday's newspaper - a run of one million copies in a city of 7.5 million - would be its last.

Overnight it took down its website, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Some 1,000 people, including 700 journalists, are now out of work.

'Apple Daily is dead,' deputy chief editor Chan Pui-man, who was arrested last week on a national security charge, wrote in a farewell letter to readers

'Hong Kongers lost a media organisation that dared to speak up and insist on defending the truth,' eight local journalist associations said in a joint statement, as they called on colleagues to dress in black on Thursday.

China imposed its security law on Hong Kong last year after the city was convulsed by huge and often violent democracy protests in 2019.

The prosecution of Apple Daily was sparked by articles and columns that allegedly supported international sanctions against China, a view now deemed illegal.

Lai, chief editor Ryan Law and CEO Cheung Kim-hung have all been charged with colluding with foreign forces to undermine China's national security and remanded into custody.

In the working-class district of Mongkok, hundreds queued through the early hours of the morning to get their hands on the final edition, some chanting 'Apple Daily we will meet again!'

On Wednesday, Yeung Ching-kee, one of the paper's top columnists, was arrested on the same charge.

The decision to freeze Apple Daily's assets also laid bare the sweeping powers now at the disposal of authorities to pursue any company deemed to be a national security threat.

Multiple international media companies have regional headquarters in Hong Kong, attracted to the business-friendly regulations and free speech provisions written into the city's mini-constitution.

But many local and international outlets are questioning whether they have a future there.
John McAfee claimed the US government 'wants to make an example out of me' in a final plea before he was found hanging in his Spanish jail cell on Wednesday in an apparent suicide that his lawyer says came as a complete surprise.

The 75-year-old died at the jail outside Barcelona just hours after a court approved his extradition to the US where he was wanted for tax evasion and fraud.

Spanish authorities insist that there was no evidence of foul play, but McAfee's previous tweets that he would never take his own life 'a la Epstein' have fuelled conspiracy theories.

'I am content in here. I have friends. The food is good. All is well. Know that if I hang myself, a la Epstein, it will be no fault of mine,' McAfee tweeted on October 15.

McAfee was collared at Barcelona airport at the request of the US Justice Department on October 3, about to board a flight to Istanbul with a British passport.

During a court hearing last month, McAfee said that he would spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted in America. 'I am hoping that the Spanish court will see the injustice of this,' he said, adding 'the United States wants to use me as an example.'

His lawyer Javier Villalba said said McAfee's death had come as a surprise to his wife and other relatives, adding he would seek to get 'to the bottom' of his client's death.

'I had constant telephone contacts with him,' Villalba said. 'At no point had he shown any special worry or clue that could let us think this could have happened.'

'This has been like pouring cold water on the family and on his defense team,' the lawyer said. 'Nobody expected it, he had not said goodbye.'

The sense of foreboding in McAfee's tweets and in particular, his obsession with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has cast doubts on his apparent suicide.

Epstein was found hanged in his prison cell in Manhattan in August 2019 but many believe he was assassinated to stop him from implicating wealthy elites in a child sex trafficking ring.

LAST PHOTO: John McAfee appears via videoconference during his extradition hearing at Audiencia Nacional court, in Madrid, Spain earlier this month. He has died behind bars at 75

ON THE RUN: McAfee - who had sold his company to Intel for $7.7 billion in 2010 - had lived in a self-imposed exile for years, globe-trotting and living on his 'Freedom Boat' in the Caribbean after being accused of murdering his neighbor in Belize in 2012 (pictured with his wife Janice, a former prostitute)

Soon after his arrest last year, McAfee's Twitter account posted a dark hint suggesting that if he died in an alleged suicide, a conspiracy would be to blame

Final Tweet: In one of his final tweets, presumably dictated to his wife from behind bars, McAfee said 'I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing.'

McAfee got a tattoo in 2019 saying 'Whackd' - after he said the US government was after him and that he would never kill himself; his comments have now sparked conspiracy theories

Although Villalba said that he had no evidence of any foul play, he blamed McAfee's death on 'the cruelty of the system' for keeping a 75-year-old behind bars for economic and not violent crimes after judges refused to release him on bail.

'We had managed to nullify seven of the 10 counts he was accused of and even so he was still that dangerous person who could be fleeing Spain if he was released?' the lawyer said. 'He was a world eminence, where could he hide?'

Spain's National Court on Monday ruled that McAfee should be extradited to the U.S. to face charges for evading more than $4 million in the fiscal years 2016 to 2018. The judge dropped seven of the 10 counts in the initial indictment.

Villalba said that McAfee had learned about the ruling shortly after on Monday and that his death on Wednesday didn't come in the heat of the moment. He also said that the legal team had been preparing with him an appeal to avoid being extradited.

A penitentiary source told AP that McAfee was sharing a cell in the Brians 2 jail, but that at the moment of his death he had been alone.

McAfee - who had sold his company to Intel for $7.7 billion in 2010 - had lived in a self-imposed exile for years, globe-trotting and living on his 'Freedom Boat' in the Caribbean after being accused of murdering his neighbor in Belize in 2012.

He always denied the murder but had been ordered to pay $25 million by a court in Florida in 2015 which found him 'liable' for expat Gregory Viant Faull's death.

US authorities claimed he had earned millions over the last decade, failed to pay taxes and accused him of fraud by touting cryptocurrencies to his millions of Twitter followers in order to inflate prices and rake in profits.

He finally fled the US in January 2019, leaving his heavily-fortified Tennessee compound with his former prostitute wife Janice after claiming a Grand Jury was convened to indict him on tax-related charges.

In June 2019, while claiming he was trapped in Cuba, McAfee tweeted: 'I've collected files on corruption in governments. For the first time, I'm naming names and specifics. I'll begin with a corrupt CIA agent and two Bahamian officials.

'Coming today. If I'm arrested or disappear, 31+ terrabytes of incriminating data will be released to the press.'

McAfee's tweets to that effect and his correspondence with prominent figures have been the focus of much conjecture about his demise today.

Eric Weinstein, a political commentator, mathematician and investor, revealed a tweet sent to him by McAfee last year in which he asked him about Epstein and whether the paedophile had been connected to intelligence agencies.

Weinstein had previously revealed meeting Epstein in the early 2000s.

In the message sent via Twitter on March 13, 2020, McAfee writes: 'I watched one of your interviews about Epstein. Awesome interview. Was he connected to an intelligence Agency? Where did his fortune come from? Why no one has spiken (sic) with Wexler ... etc.'

He continues: 'I am mire unterested (sic), however, in how he met his death, and its bizarre circumstances and manipulations.'

Sharing the message last night, Weinstein said that not only had he met Epstein in the early 2000s, but also that the financier had been 'asking after me in a late email just before he died. I have no idea why.'

Weinstein said he had no recent contact with McAfee but was 'quite concerned now given John's 2020 call.'

Eric Weinstein, a political commentator, mathematician and investor, revealed last night a tweet sent to him by McAfee last year in which he asked him about Epstein and whether the paedophile had been connected to intelligence agencies.

In the message sent via Twitter on March 13, 2020, McAfee writes: 'I watched one of your interviews about Epstein. Awesome interview. Was he connected to an intelligence Agency? Where did his fortune come from? Why no one has spiken (sic) with Wexler ... etc.'

Sharing the message last night, Weinstein said that not only had he met Epstein in the early 2000s, but also that the financier had been 'asking after me in a late email just before he died. I have no idea why'

Just minutes after his death was reported, his official Instagram account posted a plain image of the letter 'Q' in an apparent reference to the QAnon conspiracy theory

He had founded a meme cryptocurrency called WHACKD which he was promoting, as well as suggesting that people wanted to kill him. A poster promoting the token which he shared a few days before depicted Hillary Clinton holding a slice of pizza and looking at a pair of feet dangling in the air as if from someone who had been hanged. 'Epstein didn't kill himself,' the poster said.

Another tweet which has generated a lot of interest is a photo that McAfee took of a tattoo he got in November 2019, which says: '$WHACKD.'

Accompanying the picture, he wrote: 'Getting subtle messages from U.S. officials saying, in effect: 'We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself'. I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd. Check my right arm. $WHACKD available only on http://McAfeedex.com.'

He had founded a meme cryptocurrency called WHACKD which he was promoting, as well as suggesting that people wanted to kill him.

A poster promoting the token which he shared a few days before depicted Hillary Clinton holding a slice of pizza and looking at a pair of feet dangling in the air as if from someone who had been hanged. 'Epstein didn't kill himself,' the poster said.

The charges against John McAfee: Antivirus software pioneer John McAfee was facing 10 counts of tax evasion in Tennessee and seven counts of fraud and money laundering conspiracy in New York when he was found dead in a Spanish jail. Tennessee prosecutors charged him with five counts of tax evasion and five counts of willful failure to file a tax return in a June 2020 indictment unsealed in October. Prosecutors alleged he had earned more than $12 million between 2014 and 2018 - but failed to file any tax returns during this time. If convicted, he faced 30 years in prison. In March, McAfee and his bodyguard Jimmy Gale Watson Jr were both charged with seven counts of securities fraud by Manhattan federal prosecutors. These are: conspiracy to commit commodities and securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities and touting fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and substantive wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy offenses. The two men allegedly promoted cryptocurrencies to McAfee's more than one million Twitter followers in order to inflate prices and then sell the cryptocurrencies when prices rose, earning them and other McAfee Team members more than $11 million in payments. Both McAfee and Watson faced up to 100 years in prison on these charges if convicted as well as financial penalties. The Spanish prosecutor said Wednesday McAfee could be extradited, but only to face charges related to his tax returns of 2016, 2017 and 2018 in the tax evasion case. These charges - six - would have carried a maximum of 18 years in prison Advertisement

The pizza slice is a reference to the debunked 'pizzagate' conspiracy theory which claims that the Democrat Party trafficked children as part of a sex ring, with one of the establishments used in the alleged abuse a pizzeria in Washington D.C.

McAfee had continued to tweet until recently while in custody, with many of his statements being used by conspiracy theorists to corroborate the claim that he would not have killed himself.

In a pinned tweet from June 16, he wrote: 'The US believes I have hidden crypto. I wish I did but it has dissolved through the many hands of Team McAfee (your belief is not required), and my remaining assets are all seized. My friends evaporated through fear of association. I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing.'

He also appeared to have been upbeat about life in the jail.

'Life in Spanish prisons is like the Hilton compared to the abject surrealism and dehumanization of American prisons. Here I am treated as a human being instead of a number,' McAfee said in a letter written to his wife in November.

Just minutes after McAfee's death was reported, his official Instagram account posted a plain image of the letter 'Q' in an apparent reference to another conspiracy: QAnon. It was not immediately clear who had access to his account.

The QAnon conspiracy theory, which came about during the presidency of Donald Trump, holds a wide range of odd beliefs including that Trump was secretly battling cannibalistic pedophiles who worship Satan.

His wife Janice McAfee further fuelled the conspiracy theories with a Father's Day post made just days before his death in which she speculated that 'US authorities are determined to have John die in prison.'

'I know John is an extremely polarizing individual. Believe me, I know this better than most! But I also know, as well as any of you who follow him on Twitter, that he has always been honest about who he is. ALWAYS. Sometimes too honest, sometimes sharing more than any of us cared to know about him!' Janice tweeted.

'John's honesty has often gotten him in trouble with corrupt governments and corrupt government officials because of his outspoken nature and his refusal to be extorted, intimidated or silenced.'

McAfee's body was discovered at the Brians 2 penitentiary in northeastern Spain on Wednesday. Security personnel tried to revive him, but the jail's medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

'A judicial delegation has arrived to investigate the causes of death,' the statement read. 'Everything points to death by suicide.'

McAfee's death was confirmed after Spain's National Court ruled in favour of extraditing McAfee, who had argued in a hearing earlier this month that the charges against him by prosecutors in Tennessee were politically motivated and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the US.

McAfee and his wife Janice were both active on social media while he was on the run. They are shown in one picture, which he described as showing them 'in their retreat'

On the run again in Cuba, in 2019: McAfee went on the run after being charged with tax evasion but he still kept in touch with the media. He wasn't shy of running from the US authorities and wanted people to know what he claimed - that the American government was guilty of corruption

On the run again: In 2019, McAfee fled the US after being charged with tax evasion. He is shown in the Dominican Republic (left) after being arrested there because authorities thought he had illegal weapons on his boat, and right, in Belarus in 2020

The court's ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October following charges filed in Tennessee that month for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Born in England's Gloucestershire in 1945 as John David McAfee, he moved to Virginia as a child and grew up troubled, with a father who 'beat him mercilessly' and killed himself with McAfee's shotgun when the boy was 15, said Steve Morgan, who spent time with McAfee in Alabama in 2016 to talk about his life for a biography he'd been contracted to write. Morgan is also the founder of market research firm Cybersecurity Ventures.

'He told me his father never showed him an ounce of affection,' Morgan said, adding that recounting his father's death was the only time during their long meeting that McAfee cried.

While McAfee's tech legacy may have been overshadowed in recent years by his tumultuous life, Morgan said he sees his most lasting impact as a software and security pioneer.

'I think that's how ultimately he really most like to be remembered. I think a lot of people will remember him as a very troubled soul. Some people will remember him as a criminal. It depends on your age and your exposure to him,' Morgan said.

McAfee founded his eponymous company in 1987. At the time, Morgan said, he was operating a BBS, a bulletin board system that served as a precursor to the World Wide Web and working with his brother-in-law. When the first major computer virus, called 'Brain,' hit in 1986, 'John instantly dialed up a programmer he knew and said, there's a big opportunity. We need to do something. You know, we want to write some code to combat this virus,' Morgan said. He called the program VirusScan and the company McAfee Associates.

McAfee in 2016 at the 4th China Internet Security Conference. He was consulted as a global expert on cyber security because of his work, but McAfee became increasingly paranoid as the years went on

McAfee went on the run from Belize, convinced he'd be set up there for Faull's death. He fled to Guatemala but was arrested there in 2012 and extradited to Miami. He is shown being transferred in an ambulance to the Police Hospital in Guatemala

After being transferred from Guatemala to Miami, he was released on bail. He is shown on Ocean Drive in Miami after wards

'He was a true pioneer, not just as a security technologist but as one of the first companies to distribute software over the internet,' Morgan said.

California chipmaker Intel, which bought McAfee's company in 2011 for $7.68 billion, for a time sought to dissociate the brand from its controversial founder by folding it into its larger cybersecurity division. But the rebranding was short-lived, and Intel in 2016 spun out the cybersecurity unit into a new company called McAfee.

In the software industry, McAfee's claim to fame was that he offered the first all-in-one virus scanner, said Vesselin Bontchev, a Bulgarian computer scientist and an early antivirus researcher. Prior to that, said Bontchev, researchers would only scan for one virus at a time. But there were only about a dozen computer viruses back then.

'Technologically, as a scanner, it wasn't anything outstanding. It was just the general idea that was good. Not the implementation,' said Bontchev, a senior researcher at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Bontchev said McAfee was 'a peculiar guy,' even back then. He said he wrote McAfee asking for a part-time job about the time the Soviet Union was breaking up so he could work on a post-doctoral dissertation in the U.S.

In response, McAfee told Bontchev in a letter that the Bulgarian was believed to be a Soviet agent so 'they cannot work with me,' he said. 'This is a really bizarre way to say no to somebody who is asking for a job.'

The two later met in the U.S. at the annual Virus Bulletin conference, said Bontchev. 'I don't think he was a typical American. He was just weird.'

McAfee twice made long-shot runs for the U.S. presidency and was a participant in Libertarian Party presidential debates in 2016. He dabbled in yoga, ultralight aircraft and the production of herbal medications.

In 2012 he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Gregory Viant Faull, who was shot to death in early November 2012 on the island in Belize where both men lived.

McAfee told AP at the time that he was being persecuted by the Belizean government. Belizean police denied that, saying they were simply investigating a crime about which McAfee may have had information. Then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressed doubts about McAfee's mental state, saying, 'I don't want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers.'

McAfee enjoyed life in Belize. He would say that he had cut ties with 'polite society' and was more comfortable in the company of the 'prostitutes, thieves and handicapped people' he met there

McAfee is seen in Cuba in 2019. Shortly before his death, Spain approved his extradition to the US on tax charges, which he argued were politically motivated

McAfee's first job in computers was at the Missouri Pacific Railroad in St. Louis. They were trying to use an IBM computer to schedule trains in 1969. McAfee made a system that produced optimized train routes. At the time, he was in the throes of drug and alcohol addiction. In the years that followed, his first wife left him and he hit rock-bottom. He founded McAfee Associates in 1989 after reading about a computer virus from Pakistan that was invading American computers. He's shown that year. By 1990, he was making $5million-a-year from people using his anti-virus software

A Florida court ordered McAfee in 2019 to pay $25 million to Faull's estate in a wrongful death claim. He refused to pay it, writing in a statement posted on Twitter that he has 'not responded to a single one of my 37 lawsuits for the past 11 years.' He claimed to have no assets, writing that the order was a 'mute point' - an apparent misspelling of 'moot.'

In July of that year he was released from detention in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of travelling on a yacht carrying high-calibre weapons, ammunition and military-style gear.

Wired Magazine reporter Joshua Davis spent six months investigating McAfee's tumultuous life in 2012, when he was living in Belize and being sought for questioning in connection with his neighbor's murder. He described watching as McAfee took out a pistol to illustrate a point.

''Let's do this one more time,' he says, and puts it to his head,'' Davies wrote. 'Another round of Russian roulette. Just as before, he pulls the trigger repeatedly, the cylinder rotates, the hammer comes down, and nothing happens. 'It is a real gun. It has a real bullet in one chamber,' he says. And yet, he points out, my assumptions have somehow proven faulty. I'm missing something.'
BBC star Nick Robinson today jokingly appeared to refer to Harry and Meghan as 'dumb and dumber' on air while discussing claims the Sussexes didn't want their son to be named the Earl of Dumbarton.

Fellow Today programme host Justin Webb also laughed out loud when discussing The Daily Telegraph's story claiming the couple did not want their eldest son to use the title because it contained the word 'dumb'.

Listeners also enjoyed the funny moment that came weeks after Harry and Meghan declared war on the BBC over their claims that they failed to consult the Queen about using her nickname 'Lilibet' for their new daughter, with the couple's lawyers calling it 'false and defamatory'.

This morning Mr Robinson appeared to poke fun at the couple during Today's paper review.

A laughing Justin Webb said: 'The Daily Telegraph is claiming that Prince Harry and Meghan turned down the title of Earl of Dumbarton for their son Archie because it contained the word dumb. A spokesman for the couple declined to comment'. Co-host Nick Robinson then laughed and said: 'Dumb and dumber' before moving on to the next story.

Mr Robinson told MailOnline after the show ended: 'I would be horrified if Mail readers thought I was making a comment of any sort though I can say that Im the Dumb one', adding: 'As for Justin...'

The phrase 'dumb and dumber' is being widely used on social media by critics of the couple who have seen the Telegraph story.

BBC star Nick Robinson today jokingly referred to Harry and Meghan as 'dumb and dumber' on air and co-host Justin Webb got the giggles over claims they did not want their eldest son to use the title Earl of Dumbarton because it contained the word 'dumb'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want to use the Earl of Dumbarton title for their son Archie because it contained the word 'dumb', it has been reported

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have not been keen on the title because they feared the young royal might be mocked, the Telegraph reports.

The history behind the title 'The Earl of Dumbarton' The Earl of Dumbarton is a historic Scottish title which has been extinct for more than 250 years. It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas, who was also made Lord of Ettrick at the same time. Despite being born in Scotland, most likely in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, to the Marquess of Douglas, George, a catholic, spent much of his time in the service of French king Louis XIV. When James II ascended to the English and Scottish throne he was a trusted servant - even following him to exile in France after the Glorious Revolution. Following the death of their only son, the unmarried second Earl, both of Douglas' titles became extinct in January 1749. The second creation of the title was in 2018, when Prince Harry was made the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel on his wedding day to Meghan Markle. Advertisement

Harry and Meghan were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Earl and Countess of Dumbarton and Baron and Baroness Kilkeel by the Queen on their wedding day.

However, they have rarely used the two other titles, with the couple instead going by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Sources meanwhile have reportedly told the Telegraph that the couple were not keen on using the Earl of Dumbarton - a title of Scottish nobility - for Archie because it began with the word 'dumb' and they were 'worried about how that might look'.

Another insider reportedly told the paper: 'It wasn't just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls, it also bothered Harry.'

Earlier this month the couple launched an unprecedented legal attack on the BBC after the corporation claimed the couple did not ask the Queen if they could name their daughter Lilibet.

In an extraordinary escalation of their war on the UK media, Harry and Meghan instructed lawyers to contest comments from the BBC's 'palace source'.

The couple said it was 'false and defamatory' to suggest the monarch had 'never been asked' if they could use her nickname and said the claim should not be repeated.

The BBC, although not commenting publicly, appeared to be standing by its story, which was still up on its website and the segment ran in most of its main news bulletins.

It is not clear whether the couple intend to take the matter to court, as they have done twice previously in cases against the media.

Buckingham Palace has refused to comment, but is notably not denying the BBC's story that Her Majesty 'was never asked' about the couple appropriating her pet name.

One well-placed insider told the Daily Mail that the couple's decision to use Lilibet was 'a classic example of their conviction that everything they do is right but deliberately misconstrued by the forces out to get them  and yet totally tone-deaf to the realities of the situation'.

The row was triggered on Radio 4's Today programme, when royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said he had been told by a 'palace source' that the Queen had not been asked by the couple about naming their daughter Lilibet.

In a report, which was backed up by a longer story on the BBC's website, he said the source strongly disputed reports that Harry and Meghan had spoken to the Queen before the birth.

Mr Dymond said his 'good palace source' was 'absolutely adamant' the Queen had 'never' been consulted. But his report also highlighted the fact that a 'source close to the Sussexes' had told the BBC directly that Harry had spoken to the Queen 'before the birth' and 'would have mentioned the name'.

The aide behind the Palace leak to the BBC is unknown, though it is thought to be a senior official. It's also unclear if the Queen was aware of the comment, though it is considered almost unprecedented for the monarch not to sign off on quotes from senior officials, even if they are anonymous briefings.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have not been keen on the title because they feared the young royal might be mocked, the Telegraph reports

The Queen, who bestows titles, yesterday met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson face to face for the first time in more than 15 months

Prince Charles DIDN'T axe Prince Harry's cash: Duke of Sussex said he was 'cut off' financially after leaving royal life... but Prince of Wales spent 'substantial sum' on him from 4.4m set aside for both sons, accounts show Prince Charles bankrolled the Duke and Duchess of Sussex by a 'substantial sum' in the months following Megxit, despite Harry claiming his family 'literally cut me off financially'. Royal accounts made public for the first time yesterday show that the future king continued to fund Harry and Meghan until the summer of last year from a 4.4million Clarence House pot used to support his two sons and their families. This contradicts Harry's remarks when he told Oprah Winfrey that he stopped getting financial support from his family in the 'first quarter' of last year. He even claimed he and his wife were reduced to living off what 'my mother had left me'. What is clear from the independently audited accounts is that Harry and Meghan were still listed as receiving money from Charles's Duchy of Cornwall income, despite quitting the monarchy at the end of March last year. A senior Clarence House spokesman said: 'As we'll all remember, in January 2020 when the duke and duchess announced that they were going to move away from the working Royal Family, the duke said that they would work towards becoming financially independent. The Prince of Wales allocated a substantial sum to support them with this transition. That funding ceased in the summer of last year. The couple are now financially independent.' The spokesman added: 'I betray no confidence when I say they've been very successful in becoming financially independent.' And when quizzed on the discrepancy in Harry's remarks, the spokesman said: 'I wouldn't acknowledge that they are dramatically different. All I can tell you are the facts.' Advertisement

Prince Harry, 36, is said to have not wanted to give his children titles anyway. Instead it is believed he wants to follow in the footsteps of his aunt, Princess Anne, who did not give titles to son Peter and daughter Zara.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph also reported how sources close to the Sussexes claim the couple 'never raised an issue' about Archie, two, not being made a prince.

It comes after reports in the Mail on Sunday suggested that Prince Charles had told Meghan and Harry that Archie would not be made a prince when he becomes king, as he plans to slim-down the number of 'front-line' royals.

The issue was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security.

Meghan told the US chat show host: 'They didn't want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and (said) that he wasn't going to receive security.

She added: 'In those months when I was pregnant we have in tandem the conversation of, you won't be given security, not gonna be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.'

However, the sources are said to have told the Telegraph that the couple had 'never raised an issue' about the titles, or lack off, until the interview.

It comes as the Mail on Sunday earlier this week claimed that Prince Charles had made it clear that Harry and Meghan's son will have no place among frontline Royals as he plans a slimmed-down Monarchy after he becomes King.

The Prince of Wales is said to have initially intended to include Harry and Meghan in his slimmed-down Monarchy, but the plan is said to have changed when the pair moved to America.

A grandchild of the sovereign has long had the right to be a Prince, but Charles is determined to limit the number of key Royals, believing the public does not wish to pay for an ever-expanding Monarchy.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Charles told the Sussexes that he will change key legal documents to ensure that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right, according to a source close to the couple.

The move is said to have incensed the Sussexes and is thought to have prompted the series of bitter accusations the couple have levelled at Charles and the Royal Family from across the Atlantic.

However, it was later reported by the Sun that the decision for the couple to do their interview with Oprah came within 24 hours of Harry's military titles being removed in February's final Megxit deal.

It comes as a royal expert today claimed that Meghan and Harrys decision to buy a 'Lili Diana' website almost a week before their daughter's birth and 'Lilibet Diana' on the day she arrived indicates they had 'already made up their minds' on the name before speaking to the Queen.

The issue of titles was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security

Charles has told the Sussexes that he will change key legal documents to ensure that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right

Four days before Lili was born in California the domain LiliDiana.com was registered on May 31 followed by LilibetDiana.com on June 4  the day Archie's younger sister entered the world.

'Lilibet' was first used by the then Princess Elizabeth when she was unable to pronounce her own name and was used affectionately by her grandfather George V and later her husband Philip until he died in April.

Following claims by the BBC that the Queen had not been consulted, Harry and Meghan's lawyers said it was 'false and defamatory' to suggest they did not discuss using the name with Her Majesty.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'The fact they registered it before the name was announced tends to indicate that they had made up their minds and probably only told the Queen once they'd decided on it.

'When they issued a statement it said Harry had rung the Queen before anyone else and discussed the name with her. That may well be right but that's not the same as asking permission days or even weeks beforehand. I think the Queen might have been caught off guard and probably didn't object to it because she doesn't want to upset Harry any further'.

He added: 'But from what I hear the Palace has not denied the BBC story which claimed Harry didn't ask permission before announcing the name.'

Evening Standard Royal Editor Robert Jobson suggested that the couple may have undermined their legal threat against the BBC, tweeting today that their lawyers could now be 'without a paddle'.

The public announcement of Lilibet Diana's arrival came two days later. Harry insists he spoke to his grandmother about the name 'in advance of the announcement' but has not been specific on when that exactly was only to say: 'His grandmother was the first family member he called'.

A spokesman for the couple told The Telegraph: 'As is often customary with public figures, a significant number of domains of any potential names that were considered were purchased... to protect against the exploitation of the name once it was later chosen and shared.'

The statement suggests that had Her Majesty refused to allow them to use Lilibet they would have gone for another name amongst the 'significant' number of domains they bought before the birth.

MailOnline had contacted representatives of the Sussexes for comment.
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France and Germany launched a joint push to make Britons quarantine on arrival in the EU today despite Boris Johnson hailing the 'real opportunity' of opening travel to double-jabbed holidaymakers.

The bid to tighten the bloc's defences against the Indian - or Delta - variant emerged as the UK prepares to add the Balearics and Malta to the 'green list' of destinations where people do not have to self-isolate on return.

Game-changing plans to drop 'amber list' restrictions for those who are fully vaccinated are also being considered by ministers this afternoon, and could potentially come into effect as early as next month.

However, even if the rules are loosened it will be of limited use as Britons still face tough curbs imposed by other countries - who are alarmed at the spike in infections caused by the Indian, or Delta, variant.

Angela Merkel urged all EU states to follow Germany's lead by requiring travellers from the UK to quarantine.

'I will lobby for a more co-ordinated approach, particularly with regard to entries from regions where virus variants abound,' she said at a summit in Brussels today.

French president Emmanuel Macron echoed her hard line, saying: 'We must all be vigilant because the much-talked-about Delta variant is coming, which spreads much more rapidly than the other variants and affects people who are not vaccinated or who only have had one dose.

'For me, one of the issues of discussion is to be really taking co-ordinated decisions in terms of opening of borders to third countries and on recognising vaccines because at this stage we have to limit this to the vaccines that have been approved by the European medical authority.'

Environment Secretary George Eustice condemned the Franco-German stance. 'I'm not sure that such an approach would be justified given the highly advanced stage we are currently at now in terms of vaccination, with 80 per cent having had one jab and now 60 per cent having had the second jab,' he told LBC radio.

'I don't think such a move would be justified but obviously it's for individual countries to make these judgments.'

On a visit to Aldershot, Mr Johnson dodged directly criticising Mrs Merkel's comments.

He said: 'Let's see where we get to with all this. I think that the real opportunity we all have now is to open up travel through the double jab.

'We've got more than 60 per cent of our population have now had two jabs, 83 per cent have had one jab, we're really getting through it now.

'I'm not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I don't want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.

On another tense day of coronavirus developments:

Covid-19 case rates in all regions of England are continuing to increase, according to the latest PHE surveillance report, with North-west England spiking to 238.9 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to June 20 compared to 200.3 the previous week;

Boris Johnson is struggling to contain an apparent Cabinet split today as ministers openly said they will ditch face masks the moment they are not compulsory - and suggested that should happen on July 19;

Inflation is expected to rise above 3 per cent 'for a temporary period' this year as Britain's economic recovery continues at pace, the Bank of England said today;

The first lockdown in March 2020 led to a drop in fertility rates and not the baby boom previously predicted, official figures have shown.

On a visit to Aldershot, Boris Johnson sidestepped on Angela Merkel's comments about making Britons quarantine but said the 'real opportunity' was to open up travel to people who have had two vaccination doses

Tory MPs and travel industry figures said the decision on whether to expand the green list is a vital test of the Government's willingness to save the summer holidays. Pictured: A beach on the Balearic Island of Formentera

Angela Merkel (pictured with Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit) has called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival

Ministers are under intense pressure to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic islands and Malta today after scientists declared them safe. Pictured: The Maltese capital Valetta in May [File photo]

Ministers say they will stop wearing masks as soon as they are not law Boris Johnson is struggling to contain an apparent Cabinet split today as ministers openly said they will ditch face masks the moment they are not compulsory - and suggested that should happen on July 19. George Eustice dismissed the idea he would keep wearing face coverings when they are not required, saying: 'I want to get back to normal.' He also reiterated that the plan is for 'all legal restrictions' to lift in England on the so-called Covid 'Freedom Day' next month. Chancellor Rishi Sunak gave a similar message as he said it is his 'strong expectation' that the unlocking will go ahead on schedule. Asked at the Times CEO summit if he would stop wearing masks when they are not legally required, Mr Sunak said: 'Yes, as soon as possible.' Meanwhile, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg ramped up expectations of curbs being fully removed as he told MPs that the description of July 19 as a 'terminus point' is likely to mean Covid certificates and other rules are dropped completely. However, in signs of tensions at the heart of government, Downing Street said the PM is only aiming to 'get back as close to normal as is possible' and 'no final decisions have been taken'. Nicola Sturgeon suggested earlier this week that the Scottish government could keep advising people to wear masks beyond August even if they are not mandatory. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also warned that they should still be required on the Tube and buses as they give people 'confidence' they are safe. Advertisement

More than five million Brits visit Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca in a normal year. Scientists have signed off on declaring the Balearics safe enough for the green list, which would be a welcome relief for the travel industry.

However, there are lingering fears that the Government could overrule the advice, as it did when Malta was put forward for approval last month.

If there is agreement, tourists could be able to travel as soon as next Tuesday without isolating for up to 10 days on return.

Turkey is expected to remain on the red list, which could also see the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uganda added while Israel could move from green to amber.

There are also reports that the number of expensive tests needed by returning holidaymakers will be slashed.

Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation Group, said: 'Frankly, these destinations should already be on the green list along with many others.

It is a nonsense that people are not able to travel freely to countries that have lower rates of infection than we do.'

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: 'It's now or never if we are to have any sort of summer season and the data shows this can be done safely and proportionately with many more countries being added to the list.

'The future of our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports depends on it.'

Culture minister John Whittingdale hinted at positive news yesterday, saying: 'Hopefully it will be possible to increase that number' of countries on the green list.

Green list status is only allocated to destinations that can show they have low Covid rates and no significant problems with variants of concern. They also have to show that they can monitor for new variants.

Government scientists advised last month that Malta could be added to the green list, only to be overruled by ministers led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Latest figures suggest infection rates on the island are less than half those in the UK.

Ministers are also close to an agreement on the plan to end quarantine requirements for the fully vaccinated. It is seen as the best chance for saving the travel sector this summer and would require travellers to prove their vaccination status either using the NHS app or with a paper record from their GP.

The Cabinet is split on the timing with some ministers favouring a July 19 start date and others wanting a more cautious approach. The so-called 'doves' are believed to include Matt Hancock, Priti Patel and Dominic Raab.

A Government source said August is the most likely date but no final decision has been taken.

However, the impact of the UK's decisions will be blunted by the draconian restrictions still being imposed by other countries.

Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless they are a German citizen, have residency rights or if there is an 'urgent humanitarian reason' like a family death.

But those allowed in still have to register to get permission to visit and quarantine for two weeks with no option for early release after a negative test.

It comes after Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for all UK arrivals amid growing concerns in Europe about the spread of the Indian, or Delta, variant, now dominant in the UK.

Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday that Italy will require all travellers from Britain to quarantine for five days upon arrival.

A negative test is required at the end of the five-day period. America currently still bans UK tourists amid the surge in Delta cases.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious diseases expert, last week suggested that UK-US travel would only reopen in September as a result.

Portugal, Spain and Greece are still allowing UK holidaymakers to visit with proof of a negative test and no quarantine.

France is also allowing in fully vaccinated Britons with a negative test.

But European health officials say further action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant as it gains a hold on the Continent.

This month it accounted for 70 per cent of sequenced cases in the greater Lisbon region of Portugal, more than 20 per cent in Italy and about 16 per cent in Belgium. It has also been detected in clusters in Germany, France and Spain.
Thousands of Sydneysiders are flocking to vaccination centres as the city's Covid outbreak shocks them out of complacency.

Lines stretched around the block on Thursday as NSW reported another 11 new cases and sweeping restrictions took affect to tackle the outbreak.

Residents will have to wear masks indoors and not see more than five mates at a time for the next six days - or longer if the cluster spreads and grows.

However, this temporary pain could be a net benefit to NSW and the whole country by shocking complacent Australians procrastinating their vaccinations.

Lines for Covid-19 tests (pictured) stretched around the block on Thursday as NSW reported another 11 new cases and sweeping restrictions took affect to tackle the outbreak

Thousands of Sydneysiders are flocking to vaccination centres (pictured) as the city's Covid outbreak shocks them out of complacency

Australian National University professor Peter Collignon said the measures being taken by the NSW Government will see a spike in vaccinations.

'If more people get vaccinated, particularly those over 70, it's a good thing,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'If we look in Victoria with two their separate outbreaks, it did increase vaccination markedly. I think it'll have the same effect in NSW.'

Residents will have to wear masks indoors and not see more than five mates at a time for the next six days - or longer if the cluster spreads, prompting the mass response pictured

Dr Collignon said though 'it's not the way' he'd be pushing vaccines, the move could prove to be a positive thing for Australia's battle with the virus.

'The benefits of the vaccine so far outweigh the other side,' he said.

'The perception of risk is out of proportion to the benefits. There's a one in two million chance you'll die as a result of the [AstraZeneca] vaccine from clots.'

He said the added motivation of having rights removed can often convince people who were on the fence about getting the jab.

'As soon as Covid spreads and it means restricting your life, that shows more people the benefits of the vaccine,' he said.

Medical experts hope the latest outbreak could be a net benefit to NSW and the whole country by shocking complacent Australians procrastinating their vaccinations

Following Victoria's fourth lockdown, which began on May 28, vaccine rates in that state surged, according to the University of Melbourne.

In the first week of lockdown the proportion of people vaccinated in the state jumped from 17.7 per cent to 22.3 per cent.

The rest of Australia increased from 17.1 per cent to 18.7 per cent in the same week.

This translates to Victoria's most recent outbreak and lockdown causing people to get vaccinated twice as fast as the rest of the country.

Following Victoria's fourth lockdown, which began on May 28, vaccine rates in that state surged, according to the University of Melbourne

The university also noted the number of adults in Victoria who claimed they wanted to wait to get vaccinated dropped from 37.4 per cent to 29.1 per cent during the lockdown.

For over 50s the effect was even more apparent with the number plunging from 39.4 per cent to 21.6 per cent.

Dr Collignon believes the restrictions put in place by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian were 'proportionate' and a lockdown is not yet necessary.

'The good news is there isn't too many cases out there in the community,' he said.

Australian National University professor Peter Collignon said the measures being taken by the NSW Government will see a spike in vaccinations

Australians over 60 are urged to roll up their sleeves for the AstraZeneca vaccine rather than waiting for alternatives

'There are some community transmissions, but while that's the case we have to do what we can to stop its spread.'

Australians over 60 are urged to roll up their sleeves for the AstraZeneca vaccine rather than waiting for alternatives.

Medical experts are worried Australia's success in controlling coronavirus could be put at risk if vaccinations are not rolled out quickly enough.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison encouraged older Australians to get a vaccine and told younger people to convince their older relatives.

Medical experts are worried Australia's success in controlling coronavirus could be put at risk if vaccinations are not rolled out quickly enough

Earlier this week Mr Morrison said he was not focused on people who were vaccine hesitant, instead focusing his efforts on those willing to get one.

'I encourage all those that are over 50 to go and get the jab, and particularly if you are over 70 which is our strong focus. I would very much encourage you to do it,' he told reporters in Launceston, Tasmania, on Friday.

There are concerns some older Australians are reluctant to get the AstraZeneca jab because of its link to a tiny number of rare blood clots.

Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino receives a COVID-19 vaccine at the Royal Exhibition Building vaccination hub in Melbourne, Friday, May 28, 2021

Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy said a 'complete overview' of the vaccine rollout was needed to ensure the substantial ramp-up in the second half of the year went smoothly'.

He told the committee 48 per cent of over-50s received a first jab, as had 65 per cent of over-70s.

However, Professor Murphy added: 'Hardly anyone has had their second shot because the AstraZeneca has a 12-week schedule.

'It only started second shots in the last two weeks.'
The retired policeman behind the 'One Britain, One Nation' campaign has blasted internet trolls for mocking a song written by children.

It comes as a high-profile doctor likened asking children to sing the One Britain tune to the beginning stages of Nazi Germany and said she felt 'terrified'.

The One Britain song, written by primary school children as young as seven, provoked ridicule after it went viral online, with critics calling it 'ridiculous' and 'an embarrassment'.

It was composed by children and their music teacher at St John's CofE Primary in Bradford, and adopted by the One Britain One Nation campaign, set up by former police officer Kash Singh.

Dr Julia Grace Patterson, a former NHS doctor and chief executive of EveryDoctor, posted a seven-point Twitter thread yesterday warning Britons not to 'sleep walk into this', suggested a comparison between the UK and 'Nazi Germany in the 1930s'.

Of the current UK Government, she added: 'They denied children food. They are hostile to immigrants. They are trying to shut down protest. And now, now they have a song? A song for our children to sing? No. My children will not sing a song of unity encouraged by those who seek to divide us.'

Mr Singh said criticism of the song was 'diabolical' and the seven, eight, nine and ten year olds who wrote it would be 'so upset'.

He added: 'I am absolutely shocked by the response. Where have we gone so far wrong in this country?'

Dr Julia Grace Patterson (pictured), a former NHS doctor and chief executive of EveryDoctor, posted a seven-point Twitter thread yesterday

The One Britain song, which appears to have Government backing, provoked ridicule after it went viral online, with critics calling it 'ridiculous' and 'an embarrassment'. Pictured, retired police officer and the campaign founder Kash Singh holds up a OBON sign

The song's creators said it promoted 'love and unity' and encouraged all pupils to show 'love for our great nation'.

But a lyric video soon went viral online as the nation appeared to unite against the song, calling it 'ridiculous', 'pernicious dross' and 'a party political move'.

The song is called 'We are Britain and we have one dream, to unite all people in one great team', which are also the words of the chorus.

It also includes the lines: 'Our nation survived through many storms and many wars/We've opened our doors, and widened our island's shores/We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts/United for ever, never apart.'

A Whitehall source told the Telegraph: 'It is despicable that a police officer from an ethnic minority background trying to do good has been lambasted in this way by a Twitter hate mob.'

Dr Patterson warned Britons not to 'sleep walk into this', suggested a comparison between the UK and 'Nazi Germany in the 1930s'

Dr Patterson was blasted online for her comparison between Britain and Nazi Germany.

She said she 'could not sleep last night' and 'is terrified for our country' after the song went viral online.

She added: 'Songs are powerful. What would it mean to refuse the song? Is it an admission on my part that indeed I do not value the qualities of kindness and unity that "this government stand for"?

'And what does that make me? An alien? A traitor? An enemy? And what then? What are the consequences?'

Dr Patterson was blasted online for her comparison between Britain and Nazi Germany

Twitter users were quick to blast Dr Patterson, calling her a 'lunatic' and in 'literal cuckoo land'.

One said: 'If youre wondering, rather than knowing or understanding, maybe leave the pious tweets to one side.'

Mr Singh is pictured during his time as a police officer at Shipley Police Station

Another added: 'Britain is a grim place, at present, but comparing it to Nazi Germany is a bit over the top.'

One wrote: 'A gentle reminder that hijacking Holocaust imagery to satisfy a political agenda is not- and never will be- appropriate. Our experiences will never compare to the experiences of people in Nazi Germany. Stop claiming that they will.'

In a tweeting frenzy this week, parents pointed out the irony of Scottish children being unable to join in with One Britain One Nation Day because schools there break up before June 25.

Some compared the song to the Hitler Youth, with one writing: 'Weve officially reached the Hitler Youth stage of this Government. No thank you. My child will not be participating.'

Others questioned whether teachers had been given enough notice to teach children the words to the One Britain song.

On Monday the Department for Education's official Twitter account promoted the OBON day and linked to its website. OBON wants schools to hold a minute's applause on Friday and sing the song.

The idea was derided by one of the Conservative Party's own MPs, Caroline Nokes.

The MP for Romsey and Southampton North retweeted a preview of the OBON song saying: 'I can't unhear this (however fervently I wish I could).'

On Monday the Department for Education's official Twitter account (pictured) promoted the OBON day and linked to its website. OBON wants schools to hold a minute's applause on Friday

Mr Singh said the concept of OBON was 'born from my dream as a police officer' after coming to the UK as a six-year-old boy who 'couldn't speak a word of English'.

He said he set up the campaign in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 2013 after retiring from the police force in 2012.

Mr Singh told Times Radio: 'We started the concept in Bradford and West Yorkshire, and it's been very, very successful indeed, so what we want to look at is taking it across the nation.

Lyrics: One Britain One Nation We are Britain and we have one dream; To unite all people in one great team. We are Britain and we have one dream; To unite all people in one great team. Our nation survived through many storms and many wars; We've opened our doors, and widened our island's shores; We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts; United forever, never apart. We are Britain and we have one dream; To unite all people in one great team. We are Britain and we have one dream; To unite all people in one great team. So many different races, standing in the same place; So many different faces, moving at the same pace; We all stand together with pride in our hearts; United forever, never apart. We are Britain and we have one dream; To unite all people in one great team. We are Britain and we have one dream; To unite all people in one great team. Strong Britain, Great nation Strong Britain, Great nation Strong Britain, Great nation Strong Britain, Great nation Advertisement

'It was something that was born from my dream as a police officer, in terms of what I'd see, in terms of my passion, pride and frustration, and something that I feel needed to be done in this country.

'This country is a brilliant country. I came to this country as a six-year-old kid who couldn't speak a word of English. My parents were labourers, they worked in a factory and foundry, and there are fantastic people in this country.

'One of the things that was missing for me was what we need to do, is we need an organisation that the people of this country can align themselves to, to showcase their passion, pride and love for this great nation.

'Some people may have this perception that not everybody is proud of this country - let me tell you, people like me, and the millions of people who've settled in this country from other parts of the world, are so proud of this country.

'I think we need to celebrate that and create this spirit of oneness and togetherness, and showcase that we're all one people of this country regardless of where you're from.'

But a slew of derision has been posted online since the One Britain song went viral online this week.

One user said: 'To what terrible parallel universe have I been transported?'

Another said: 'They should put that song into Eurovision. They hate us as it is, so we might as well go for broke.'

A third said: 'It's just so bad. It still manages to gets worse every single time you hear it.' A fourth said: 'Anyone who tweets that ridiculous One Britain song in my timeline earns an automatic block.'

Another added: 'Please don't tell me the Tories really turned our country into such an embarrassment?'

Others complained One Britain One Nation day was leaving out Scottish children, who will have broken up for their summer holidays by then.

Most Scottish schools will end term on June 23, two days before the national day.

One said: 'Scotland's schools finish before the 25th of June ! Do some some research.'

Another added: 'This uniting song to be sung by all kids in the great one nation on 25th is when Scots kids are on holiday. How can u not see this constant flag waving is odd?'

'Apart from the fact that this nation within your 'one nation' is on summer holiday, that song is just down right creepy. Sack whoever had that idea,' said another.

Others just hated the song itself, while a few tried to stick up for the children who wrote it.

One said: 'I know people have been having fun about the One Nation song but this song was written by schoolchildren. It isn't their fault is has been used by adults to impose it on the rest of us. Be kind and remember how you would feel if you were one of those children.'

But others were less diplomatic.

One added: 'This song is pernicious dross. Idiotic sentiments and a crap tune. And 'one nation' is a longstanding Conservative slogan, so it's an unambiguous party political move.'

A slew of derision has been posted online since the song went viral yesterday

Another said: 'My youngest who is still at school will not be singing this. Like most things the government come up with nowadays, it's abhorrent.'

One added: 'I think One Britain One Nation should be cancelled on the grounds it's a bloody awful song.'

Another wrote: 'I had absolutely, genuinely assumed this 'One Nation' song thing was a spoof. It's not? What the hell?! That's insane.'

Others doubted teachers' ability to teach the song to children with such short notice.

One wrote: 'Do they expect primary school kids to learn a song in the space of a week? They start rehearsing the nativity in Sept.'

The One Nation campaign lists its aim as being 'to create, a strong, fair, harmonious and a proud British Nation, celebrating patriotism and respect for all our people'.

'OBON day' is scheduled for Friday, June 25, and the campaign wants children to sing the official song.

It calls on schools to hold a minute's applause on the designated day - June 25 - and sing the official song or play it through the school's tannoy system.

Meanwhile, actress Joanna Lumley has expressed strong support for the organisation, according to the OBON website.

In a statement on the site, she said: 'The aims and aspirations of OBON are extremely impressive and timely.

'I wish the project all the success it so richly deserves and I support its vision of one nation with all my heart.'

Schools are also encouraged to dress children in red, white and blue for the day and 'allow children to unpack the meaning of shared values of British Citizenship'.

No 10 said the Department for Education (DfE) had not asked anyone to sing songs for One Britain One Nation Day (OBON).

Asked whether it was sensible for the department to encourage schoolchildren to sing the OBON patriotic song on Friday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister supports schools promoting fundamental British values, including tolerance and respect, and we endorse One Britain One Nation's aims to help children learn about equality, kindness, pride, but I will point out the department has not asked people to sing songs or promoting any specific materials for One Britain One Nation day.'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she first assumed the UK Government's backing for the idea was a 'spoof' when she saw it on social media.

Speaking after meeting with EU citizens living in Scotland and organisations supporting people to apply for settled status to remain in the UK, she said: 'I'm trying to imagine the outrage there would be if the Scottish Government was insisting or even encouraging Scottish school kids to sing some song about how great Scotland is.

'People would be - and rightly so - up in arms about it.

'It's ludicrous and it perhaps says everything about the disinterest the UK Government has in Scotland that they're asking this to happen on the day Scottish schools go off on their holiday.

'Every aspect of it is ludicrous and I think it says sadly so much that we know about the misguided priorities, the hypocrisy and just the ridiculous nature of a lot of what this UK Government is doing.

'Meanwhile, EU citizens that have been here for most of the lives and are working so hard to help make the country what it is are having to jump through hoops to stay here.'
Matthew Doyle, the ex-Labour prime minister's press spokesman, has been made interim director of communications as the Opposition leader continues his shake-up of his top team.

Sir Keir Starmer has drafted in one of Tony Blair's former top aides to run his spin operation as he seeks to steady the ship ahead of a crucial by-election next week.

Matthew Doyle, the ex-Labour prime minister's press spokesman, has been made interim director of communications as the Opposition leader continues his shake-up of his top team.

He was a head of press and broadcasting for the party when it was in power and was a special adviser to Mr Blair from 2005 to 2007. He went to work for the ex-leader when he left Downing Street in 2007.

He comes in to replace Ben Nunn, who left last week. His deputy, Paul Ovenden, is also leaving.

It comes ahead of the July 1 Batley & Spen by-election, where Labour is facing the prospect of losing yet another seat in its former northern heartlands.

The Tories are favourites to take the seat, vacated by Tracey Brabin when she became mayor of West Yorkshire.

Some Tories believe Labour could actually finish third, with hard-Left survivor George Galloway hoovering up votes.

It comes ahead of the July 1 Batley & Spen by-election, where Labour is facing the prospect of losing yet another seat in its former northern heartlands - which could prompt a leadership challenge against the party leader

Baroness Chapman (right) will leave her role as political director in Sir Keir's shake-up. Tories say George Galloway (left) seems to be 'destroying' Labour's campaign in Batley & Spen

As part of the wider shake-up, Baroness Chapman will leave her role as political director in the shake-up but will take a seat in the shadow cabinet instead as the party's top Brexit spokesman, shadowing Lord Frost.

The move comes after the peer faced criticism from Labour MPs over the party's performance at the Hartlepool by-election.

Labour lost the seat to the Tories at the start of May as the governing party took control of the constituency for the first time since it was created.

That loss represented a hammer blow to Sir Keir's leadership as his internal party critics questioned whether he can lead Labour back to power at the 2024 general election.

Ms Chapman was also blamed by some Labour MPs for the botched shadow cabinet reshuffle which followed the Hartlepool result which saw a furious row erupt between Sir Keir and Angela Rayner, his deputy, after he tried and failed to demote her.

The party's performance at last week's Chesham and Amersham by-election has further piled the pressure on Sir Keir as Labour slumped to a fourth placed finish, securing just 1.6 per cent of the vote.

It emerged at the weekend that Sir Keir's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, is also being moved to a different role.

Last night Tories raised the prospect of Labour coming a catastrophic third in the Batley & Spen by-election.

Senior politicians who have been on the ground in the Red Wall constituency say that the hard-Left former MP Mr galloway has been 'hoovering up' votes from Muslim communities.

Reports at the weekend suggested Sir Keir's tough stance on anti-Semitism after replacing Jeremy Corbyn - and his neutral stance over recent violence in Israel and Palestine - has cost him the trust of some Muslim voters.

Even his wife Victoria's Jewish heritage apparently being cited as one reason not to vote Labour, something branded 'repellent and repugnant' by party sources.

One experienced Conservative source who has spent a lot of time there told MailOnline that turnout would be crucial, but estimated they could end up with 14,000 votes on July 1 and Mr Galloway might rack up as many as 12,000 votes, with Labour trailing far behind.

Both Labour and Tory HQ played down the suggestion that Mr Galloway could take second place. A Conservative source tried to dampen expectations saying: 'We think it is neck and neck. It is Labour's to lose.'

A Survation poll carried out earlier this month put the Conservatives on 47 per cent, with Labour on 41 per cent and Mr Galloway on 6 per cent.

However, constituency surveys are notoriously difficult to conduct and the varied demographics in Batley & Spen complicate the task.

Labour has been throwing massive effort into holding the seat, left vacant by Tracy Brabin when she became West Yorkshire mayor. Kim Leadbeater, sister of murdered former MP Jo Cox, is the party's candidate.
An image has emerged showing Gladys Berejiklian standing outside a dinner where she dined with a Covid-infected MP, raising questions about whether the premier should isolate for the full 14 days.

The New South Wales premier dined with fellow politicians at Parliament House in Sydney on Tuesday evening, which was hosted by the NSW National Party to celebrate the state budget.

Among the guests was Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall who, unbeknownst to him, was infected with Covid and ran the risk of spreading the respiratory virus strain to the state's political top dogs.

Ms Berejiklian confirmed on Thursday that she did not speak with Mr Marshall at the event and has since tested negative for Covid, and explained that she did not need to isolate for longer because she was considered a 'casual' contact.

Casual contacts must get tested and isolate, but are allowed to go outside when a negative result is received.

But hundreds of Sydneysiders in the latest outbreak have been deemed 'close' contacts, meaning they have to isolate for 14 days regardless of the test results.

Pictured: Gladys Berejiklian with a man at an event at NSW Parliament on Tuesday. In the background is Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who was infected with Covid

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) stressed that she did not speak to Mr Marshall and tested negative to the virus on Thursday

The suited man standing next to the premier in the photo is not Mr Marshall, but the Agriculture Minister could be seen sitting at a nearby table in the reflection of a window in the background.

Ms Berejiklian said she was deemed a casual contact and tested negative to the virus before she fronted the media a couple of hours later.

'Health has made their assessments and deemed that I am a casual contact.

'I was tested very early this morning and isolated and returned a negative test a couple of hours ago and I will continue to follow health advice,' she told reporters.

'Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that NSW is going through.

'It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, but that is so long as everybody does the right thing.'

Pictured: Christo's Pizzaria in Paddington, where Mr Marshall dined before testing positive to Covid

Covid cases are on the rise in Sydney with 11 new cases on Thursday (pictured, a couple in mandatory masks in Manly)

Social media users were quick to compare Ms Berejiklian's potential exposure to the virus and shoppers across two levels in Myer at Westfield Bondi Junction who were ordered to quarantine for two weeks, regardless of whether they test negative.

'Talk about double standards, the people involved in the Myer exposure site who have to isolate for two weeks, even with a negative result or fully vaccinated should be absolutely furious,' wrote one woman.

Another wrote: 'The premier made the point the other day of how quick the virus spreads. So even if she wasn't anywhere near the minister there is a good chance someone else was, that she would have come into contact with.'

But others jumped to her defence, claiming the situation between the Westfield shoppers and Ms Berejiklian's potential exposure are different scenerios.

'Perhaps because it is not possible to be as precise about the movements of all of those in Myers?' one man wrote. 'I have great faith in Gladys and her team.'

NSW Chief Health officer explained there are multiple factors that come in to play when deciding how to categorise different exposure sites.

Light rail cleaners are seen wiping down a tram in the Sydney CBD on Thursday. Fears are growing the virus may be spreading through multiple 'super-spreader' events after 11 cases were linked to a birthday party attended by 30 people in West Hoxton in Sydney's west

'What we do is assess each venue, so not every venue is the same, with the size of the venue, you have to pass on the venue  if it is a venue the size of a massive area, that is very different than a single room,' she explained.

'[It] is the duration you are there, there are multiple factors as well as the infectivity that is assessed of the individual that is there at the time.'

On Thursday, Mr Marshall told reporters: 'This morning just after 8am I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for Covid-19.'

'I'm doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities.'

Mr Marshall caught the virus after dining with three of his Nationals colleagues at Christo's Pizzaria in Paddington, in the city's eastern suburbs, before it was declared an exposure site on Monday.

His colleagues Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin are understood to have tested negative.

Mr Marshall has been isolating at his Sydney flat since Tuesday night and won't be able to return to his Armidale home for at least 14 days. His ministerial staff are also in isolation.

New South Wales has recorded 11 new local cases of Covid-19 overnight. Commuters. Pictured: wearing face masks on a train platform at Central Station on Wednesday

NSW Parliament was added to the state's list of exposure sites on Thursday, with health authorities urging anyone who there on Tuesday at any time to monitor for symptoms and to get tested and isolate until they get a negative result.

Similarly, Stranger's Dining Room at Parliament House was also added to the list, with anyone there between 6pm and 9pm on Tuesday to get tested and self-isolate until they receive further

Three other venues were also added to the list, including two stores in Darlinghurst - Frankie's Beans and Vinfafe Cafe.

Patrons have been told to contact NSW Health, get a test and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

Anyone who was at TerryWhite Chemmart in Rouse Hill Town Centre has also been told to isolate for 14 days until a negative test is received.

The 11 additional cases in NSW on Thursday includes six recorded overnight since 8pm and five unreported infections from Wednesday's figures.

All but one of the new infections is linked to a previous case.

The positive community cases came from 48,402 tests, up from the 44,640 carried out the day before.
A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday became the second in as many weeks to temporarily block a part of the Biden administration's federal stimulus relief package that forgives agricultural debts to minority farmers.

A white farmer named Scott Wynn of Jennings, Florida, in May had challenged U.S. President Joe Biden's plans as he faced farm loans and financial hardship during the pandemic. He said the debt relief program discriminated against him by race.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard blocked the government's $4 billion aid package to farmers of color on Wednesday, ruling that the plaintiff had established a 'strong likelihood' of the policy violating his right to equal protection under the law.

Judge Howard said the law's 'rigid, categorical, race-based qualification for relief is the antithesis of flexibility.'

It is the second time that a federal judge has moved to block section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan, which would pay up to 120 percent of black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American farmers' debt.

On June 10, Judge William Griesbach of Wisconsin argued the plan failed to provide adequate examples of recent hardships imposed on farmers from minority backgrounds.

In that case, a group of 12 farmers from nine states filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in April alleging the program exempts white farmers and is a violation of their constitutional rights.

Judge Marcia Morales Howard (left) blocked the government's $4 billion aid package to farmers of color on Wednesday. She was the second judged in as many weeks to block the law, after a similar move by Judge William Griesbach (right) of Wisconsin

Griesbach claimed that in trying to end one type of discrimination, the program ended up creating another.

'The obvious response to a government agency that claims it continues to discriminate against farmers because of their race or national origin is to direct it to stop: it is not to direct it to intentionally discriminate against others on the basis of their race and national origin,' said Griesbach.

The USDA has identified 'socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher' to mean farmers 'who are one or more of the following: Black/African American, American Indian, Alaskan native, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, or Pacific Islander,' the judge noted.

The agency does not actually consider, he ruled, 'the financial circumstances of the applicant.'

The USDA had planned to start the payments to farmers in June.

Close to 17,000 farmers of color would have been eligible to access the payments.

Following the Wisconsin ruling, the USDA had said it disagrees with Judge Griesbach and will carry on with plans for the program when the temporary order is lifted.

'We respectfully disagree with this temporary order and USDA will continue to forcefully defend our ability to carry out this act of Congress and deliver debt relief to socially disadvantaged borrowers,' department spokesman Matt Herrick told NBC News.

'When the temporary order is lifted, USDA will be prepared to provide the debt relief authorized by Congress.'

The program was put in place in an effort to tackle longstanding inequities that have plagued farming.

It was hailed by civil rights groups as the most significant legislation for black farmers since the Civil Rights Act.

Close to 17,000 farmers of color would have been eligible to access the payments under Biden's plan

For decades, USDA employees and programs have discriminated against socially disadvantaged farmers by denying loans and delaying payments, resulting in $120 billion in lost farmland value since 1920, according to a 2018 Tufts University analysis.

Black farmers have been promised relief from federal discrimination in the past, only to be repeatedly disappointed, Lloyd Wright, a Virginia farmer who served as the director of the USDA's Office of Civil Rights in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has said earlier.

He suggests eligible farmers continue paying on loans so that they do not end up being behind if the program is permanently blocked.

Several lawsuits from black farmers accusing the agency of discriminating against them were filed from 1999 to 2010 and settled by federal agricultural officials.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the disparity had worsened during the pandemic.

'For generations, socially disadvantaged farmers have struggled to fully succeed due to systemic discrimination and a cycle of debt,' he told The Washington Post.

'On top of the economic pain caused by the pandemic, farmers from socially disadvantaged communities are dealing with a disproportionate share of COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalizations, death and economic hurt.'

Data from the USDA shows the number of black farmers has shrunk from one million around a century to 45,000 today.
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A top Russian official has warned British warships could be bombed the next time they sail too close to Crimea after warning shots were fired at HMS Defender on Wednesday.

The British Type 45 destroyer sailed within the 12-mile limit of Crimea near Cape Fiolent in the Black Sea which Russia claims as its own territory but the West sees as international waters.

After the flashpoint, which saw 20 Su-24s buzzing over the Royal Navy vessel, Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov warned: 'What can we do? We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law.

'If this does not help, we can bomb not only in the direction but also on target, if our colleagues do not understand.

'I warn everyone violating the state borders of the Russian Federation under the slogan of free navigation, from such provocative steps, because the security of our country comes first.'

Backing up his comments, the Kremlin said Moscow that would respond harshly to any similar actions in the future and warned against any further 'provocations'.

Despite their warnings, British minister George Eustice said 'of course' Royal Navy ships will continue to sail through the disputed waters around Crimea, saying: 'We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.'

Meanwhile Britain's Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, admitted there is a prospect of an engagement flaring up with Britain's 'dangerous game' of sailing in disputed waters.

The former Defence Secretary told BBC 4: 'There's huge scope for an accident to occur, misinterpretation, leading to an actual kinetic engagement and it could be a bit of time before somebody grabs that red phone and calms things down.'

Amid the escalating tensions, Boris Johnson boarded a helicopter to visit soldiers in the new Ranger Regiment to mark Britain's Armed Forces Week in a show of military strength.

Boris Johnson boarded a helicopter in London this morning to visit soldiers as part of Armed Forces Week amid the escalating row with Russia

Russia released footage filmed from one of its Su-24M attack jets which showed HMS Defender sailing off Crimea - but not the moment it alleges shots were fired and four bombs were dropped

Images released by the Russian defence ministry shows the SU-24s buzzing above the destroyer and lining the vessel up in its crosshairs

Pictured: HMS Defender conducts close proximity sailing whilst on maritime operations in the Black Sea on June 17

Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov (pictured) has vowed to bomb a British warship the next time it sails too close to Crimea after warning shots were fired at HMS Defender on Wednesday

Britain's prime minister met with soldiers of the new Ranger Regiment during a visit to mark Armed Forces Week, at the Aldershot Garrison in Aldershot, amid the diplomatic row

Johnson poses in an armoured vehicle of the new Ranger Regiment as members of his government criticise Russia's 'misinformation' over Wednesday's incident

Russia claimed to have shot at HMS Defender, and to have dropped four bombs from an Su-24M warplane in waters ahead of the Royal Navy vessel.

Britain has denied the Russian version, and insists HMS Defender was either in Ukrainian or international waters at all times.

Many Western countries do not accept Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea by military force as being legitimate in law.

Britain's ambassador Deborah Bronnert will be summoned to the Russian foreign ministry on Thursday to give account for HMS Defender's actions.

Ryabkov said today: 'We are outraged by their [the UK's] behaviour, and we would like to note that balancing on the brink of confrontation is fraught with very serious consequences for those who plan such events and then try to carry them out.'

Black Sea menace: One of two Russian patrol vessels with 30mm gun, circled, that fired heavy bursts towards the Royal Navy destroyer it was shadowing

Britain's Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood (right), admitted it is a 'dangerous game' to provoke Russia and other powers by sailing in disputed waters, while Lord Alan West (left) accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing to the home audience'

Vigilance: Crew member scans sea for Russian activity on board the vessel on Tuesday when the incident occured

A picture taken on Friday shows a ship from the Russian Black Sea Fleet (circled) shadowing USS Laboon , HMS Defender and the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen

The diplomat said: 'This is a very serious situation, we condemn the actions of the British side.'

He said: 'The territorial integrity of the Russian Federation is inviolable.

'The inviolability of its borders is an absolute imperative, and we will protect all this both through political-diplomatic and, when necessary, military methods.'

Meanwhile a former Royal Navy chief accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing to the home audience' after Moscow's bold claims of its use of force against HMS Defender.

Lord Alan West, former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Commander in Chief of the Royal Navy and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Security and Counter-Terrorism, said the Russian president's behaviour was 'appalling'.

Bear in the air: Co-pilot looks out as his Su-30 jet roars over the British warship during the close call that emerged on Tuesday

'The bottom line is Putin is an expert at disinformation and his actions are very reckless, and we've seen that now for three or four years,' he told LBC.

'His behaviour is appalling.

'There's no doubt the (HMS) Defender was asserting her right of innocent passage from one port to another.

'Putin wants to play to his home audience, he wants to tell them 'aren't I tough, look at that, I've made Britain go away', and that's why I think they lied about firing warning shots at the defender - which they didn't do.

'As per usual, I'm afraid, Putin's organisation is lying about that.'

Lord West added that the behaviour was 'dangerous and stupid'.

'I would say it's the behaviour of a rogue state, but Russia shouldn't be a rogue state,' he said.

Battle stations: Officers and crew in white anti-flash balaclavas and mittens feel the pressure yesterday as they dictate naval operations from Defender's bridge

Some footage was allegedly shot from the Su-24M which is said to have dropped four bombs to deter the Royal Navy vessel. Above: Su-24Ms seen in the Russian video

Meanwhile cabinet minister George Eustice told Sky News: 'Under international law you can take the closest, fastest route from one point to another. HMS Defender was passing through Ukrainian waters, I think on the way to Georgia, and that was the logical route for it to take.

'This is a very normal thing, it's quite common actually. What was actually going on is the Russians were doing a gunnery exercise, they had given prior notice of that, they often do in that area.

'So, I think it's important people don't get carried away.'

Asked if the Government would do it again, he said 'of course, yes', adding: 'We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.'

He said while the gunner exercise was the 'official reason' given for the Russian activities, 'whether that was cover for them to try and make some point, we don't know'.

'Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't,' he told ITV's Good Morning Britain.

Moscow boasted that an Su-24 dropped four bombs in the vessel's path after it refused to back down and warning shots were fired from their patrol ship, but Britain said the destroyer stayed in international waters and no shots were fired.

Two Black Sea Fleet coastguard ships continued to shadow HMS Defender from 100 yards away while 20 military aircraft patrolled it from the skies as it charted its course from Odessa in Ukraine to Georgia past Crimea, which Russia has annexed but the West refuses to recognise.

Former head of the Army General Lord Dannatt said Mr Putin is 'testing the will of the West'.

He told Sky News: 'I'm a little bit surprised that the Ministry of Defence is playing it down.

'It was unreasonable of the Russians to challenge HMS Defender in the way that they did.

'The underlying point is that there are international laws that must be upheld by everyone and HMS Defender had the absolute right to be where she was yesterday.'

It was the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting the growing risk of military incidents amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West, as Ukraine's foreign minister appealed for further NATO help.

But Britain's Foreign Secretary said: 'No shots were fired at HMS Defender. The Royal Navy ship was conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters. We were doing so in accordance with international law and the Russian characterisation is predictably inaccurate.'

Meanwhile Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'These are things that come and go with Russia; disinformation, misinformation is something that we have seen regularly. We are not surprised by it, we plan for it.'

Russia released footage filmed from one of its Su-24M attack jets which showed HMS Defender sailing off Crimea - but evidently not the moment it alleges shots were fired and four bombs were dropped.

A map shows the route taken by HMS Defender during the alleged incident near the south coast of Crimea

Captain Vincent Owen said his mission was confident but non-confrontational and insisted he was maintaining course on an internationally recognised shipping lane but Mr Beale said it was a 'deliberate move to make a point to Russia'.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also denounced what she called 'rude British provocation that defies international law'.

The Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, described the incident as 'regrettable' and claimed HMS Defender had been two miles inside Russian territorial waters.

He told Channel 4 News: 'He did not respond to several warnings, at least the warnings were issued every 10 minutes while he was going into water, deep into the waters. And then it was stopped by means that were available.'

To underline Moscow's point, the Russian Embassy chose a picture of the Crimea as its daily post of a 'Russian' landscape.

The Ministry of Defence and Number 10 insist the incident never happened, adding that Russia was carrying out pre-arranged exercises and Defender was conducting an 'innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters'.

Releasing the footage of HMS Defender from the air, Russian defence ministry's TV channel Zvezda said: 'In the footage can be seen the culprit of the incident, the destroyer Defender.

'It is not known at what moment the footage was shot, either before or after the warning shots which forced the ship to change course and leave the territory of the Russian Federation.'

Some footage was allegedly shot from the Su-24M which is said to have dropped four bombs to deter the Royal Navy vessel.

Other footage may have been from a military drone.

A caption said the footage showed a joint operation by the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet 'uppressing violations of the Russian state border by the British destroyer HMS Defender'.

HMS Defender is armed with missiles, an air defence system, an armed Lynx Wildcat helicoper, Westland Merlin helictopers and various naval guns. Russia's Su-24 jets are equipped with 23mm cannon, laser-guided air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles and can also carry tactical nuclear bombs

In an unusual move, Russia also released footage of Britain's defence attache being summoned in Moscow.

Such meetings are normally private but a video was released to state media fuelling the assumption that Moscow was using the alleged incident for propaganda.

'In the wake of a violation of the Russian Federation's border by a Royal Navy destroyer, the defence attache at the UK embassy in Moscow has been summoned to the Russian Defence Ministry,' said a statement.

The Russian defence ministry had claimed a patrol ship first opened fire at 12.06pm and shot again two minutes later at HMS Defender after it refused to listen to radio warnings about entering its territorial waters.

Around ten minutes later, the Su-24 dropped four OFAB-250s in the path of the British vessel, forcing it to retreat after venturing two miles inside their waters, Russia said.

But the MoD issued a swift response to the claims, saying: 'No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender.

'The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law.

'We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity.

'No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.'

Tom Tugendhat, chair of the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee slammed the government of Russia's Vladimir Putin in a pair of tweets on Wednesday.

'Firing shots at ships in international waters is criminal. Putin's regime has: Used chemical weapons in the UK, Murdered opponents across Europe, Set explosions in Prague, Invaded and illegally occupied Ukraine and Georgia, Kept the Russian people hostage for a generation,' he wrote.

'Now it appears they lied about it,' Tugendhat said in a second tweet.

'For a mafia regime they really are pretty rubbish. But then they've so robbed the people and stripped out the country that there's nothing left. Russia deserves better than these thieves.'

Won by conquest, given away as a 'gift', now occupied by force: Russia's history in Crimea and the Black Sea Prince Grigory Potemkin, who established the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea in 1783 The Black Sea - and the Crimean peninsula which juts into it - are a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Middle East and Asia which has been contested by Empires and nations for centuries. The sea itself contains vital trading routes, is bordered by five of Russia's near-neighbours, and today hosts vital energy pipelines and fibre optic cables. For Russia to assert power in the waters, control of Crimea - which contains its main Black Sea port at Sevastopol and controls the Kerch Strait leading to the nearby Sea of Azov - is essential. Crimea has, at one time or another, come under the control of the Greeks, Persians, Romans, Mongols, Ottomans. It was not until 1783 that it fell fully under the control of the Russian Empire when Russian generals Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky led a force of 8,000 men to victory against an Ottoman army of 40,000 at the the Battle of Kozludzha. Russia's Prince Grigory Potemkin quickly established the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the port of Sevastopol, from where he asserted naval power over the Black Sea, it neighbours including Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey, and projected power further into the Mediterranean. Crimea also turned into a key trading post. On the eve of World War 1 in 1914 - some 50 per cent of all Russia's exports and a full 90 per cent of its agricultural exports passed through Bosphorus Strait which leads out of the Black Sea. In 1954 Crimea was given as a 'gift' by Nikita Khrushchev to Ukraine, ostensibly to mark the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's merger with Tsarist Russia, but more likely to secure Ukraine's support for Khrushchev's leadership and to cement Ukraine as part of the Soviet Union. Because Ukraine was then part of the Union, Moscow maintained control over Crimea and its vital ports - at least until 1991 when the union collapsed and Ukraine became and independent county. Following Ukraine's independence, access to the peninsula became a bargaining chip between the two nations, with Ukraine recognising Russia's right to the port at Sevastopol in return for concessions such as writing off debts and taking control of part of the Black Sea fleet. But in 2014, the pro-Moscow government of Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown in a popular uprising that wanted to draw the country closer to Europe. Fearing the loss of the port at Sevastopol, Putin marched troops into Crimea and seized control of it - later holding a 'referendum' which showed majority support for the region to become part of Russia, though the result is viewed as far from credible. Today, Moscow is in control of the peninsula and refers to it as part of its territory, though most world bodies refer to the region as 'occupied Crimea'. The Black Sea Fleet remains one of Russia's largest and most formidable, thought to comprise a total of 47 ships, seven submarines and 25,000 troops, mostly marines. Advertisement

MARK NICOL witnesses bullets fly as Putin's forces target British warship after tensions boil in the Black Sea

Mark Nicol on board HMS Defender yesterday

The angry thud of cannon fire rings out on the port side of HMS Defender as I crouch beside the bridge in my hastily adorned flame retardant gloves and balaclava.

We are being pursued furiously by a pair of Russian coastguard vessels while, every couple of minutes, Russian jets pass thunderously overhead.

The deafening roar of supersonic aircraft filling my ears is an unsettling, yet enthralling, experience. Then, as part of Defender's response, her deadly arsenal of Sea Viper missiles are brought to readiness.

After a second burst of enemy cannon fire I overhear an update intended for her captain that we have 'two hard-kill missiles effective'. For a second I wonder just what might happen next. Wars have started over less.

The drama began about an hour ago as we approached Crimean territorial waters to carry out what the Royal Navy calls a freedom of navigation patrol.

Russia does not like these patrols because it regards the waters off the peninsula as its territory  while the UK, as an ally of Ukraine, maintains these are Ukrainian waters. Irrespective of whose waters these are, the Royal Navy also insists Defender is following an internationally recognised shipping route.

I was inside the destroyer's cool, dimly-lit operations room when the Russian radio operator issued the first of his warnings via the VHF transceiver: 'Delta 36 [Defender's radio call-sign], change your course.'

He didn't sound too concerned though and there was no sense of what would transpire. Looking around none of the 30 crew in their blue overalls, sitting studiously before banks of radio screens, seem alarmed either. But minute by minute, as more red (for enemy) icons flash up on the banks of monitors, the tension mounts.

While today's passage is entirely legitimate, and justified under UN charters and international shipping conventions, there is no doubt that we are, to use the overused phrase, poking the Russian bear. A signaller responds to a second warning from the Russian radio operator reminding him of the UK's entitlement to uphold the right of innocent passage.

I move up two decks from the windowless operations room to Defender's bridge, which affords a perfect view of the placid sea on this warm morning. I even spot dolphins swimming on our port side. All is well.

Black Sea menace: One of two Russian patrol vessels with 30mm gun, circled, that fired heavy bursts towards the Royal Navy destroyer it was shadowing

Vigilance: Crew member scans sea for Russian activity on board the vessel on Tuesday when the incident occured

All hands on deck: The Royal Navy destroyer carries a range of missile systems such as the Sea Viper as well as smaller anti-ship weapons

Heavy weaponry: Personnel get to grips with one of HMS Defender's formidable guns. They are pictured handling ammunition for one of the guns

Captain Vincent Owen, pictured on HMS Defender today, said his mission was confident but non-confrontational and insisted he was maintaining course on an internationally recognised shipping lane but Mr Beale said it was a 'deliberate move to make a point to Russia'

Members of the ship's crew were pictured wearing anti-flash gear, which protects them from flame exposure and heat

Moments later the grey outline of a Russian coastguard vessel appears on the horizon. 'Request her course,' says Defender's operations officer, glancing through binoculars over the ship's head. Then over the radio Commander Owen asks: 'How many aircraft [Russian] do we have now?' 'Probably 14 now,' responds the female air warfare officer. That's 14 supersonic jets and maritime patrol aircraft, including SU-24s. While more Russian jets are apparently taking off from nearby bases.

Then the Russian coastguard's voice crackles on the radio again, sounding piqued by Defender's course. Contrary to his requests we have declined to steer to our starboard to avoid what are Crimean territorial waters.

'Delta 36, I am Russian coastguard, please change your course. Keep clear. Keep away from the border line, change your course. Your course leads to territorial waters. Do you read me over?' Commander Owen responds on the radio reminding his crew they must 'maintain the narrative': the UK warship is here to uphold international law. 'I suspect they're going to try to budge us out,' he says.

True to Commander Owen's prediction two Russian coastguard vessels effectively form a barrier on Defender's port side. Plumes of grey smoke rise from their engines as they accelerate in a bid to maintain Defender's speed. Commander Owen is amused, remarking of the lead coastguard vessel: 'She's right on the beam now, she can't keep up with us. We're outrunning them.'

Defender's wake sends huge waves towards the coastguard vessels which crash against their hulls  an ignominious feeling one imagines for the Russians, who seem desperate to keep us out of Crimean waters.

They're back on the radio and this time the warnings are pretty threatening: 'Delta 36, do not cross the border or I fire. Change your course. If you cross, I fire. Your ship is entering the territory of the Russian Federation. We do not take responsibility if you are damaged. We are engaging in a military exercise in this area.'

The introduction of the apparent military exercise seems a convenient ruse intended to dissuade Defender from entering what it regards as Russian waters.

More Russian jets conduct thunderous passes on our port and starboard and the operations officer is sufficiently concerned to order the crew to put on 'anti-flash' balaclavas and gloves.

Battle stations: Officers and crew in white anti-flash balaclavas and mittens feel the pressure yesterday as they dictate naval operations from Defender's bridge

Another image taken from BBC footage showed a strip of bullets on the deck of HMS Defender

Russia claimed an Su-24 dropped four bombs in the path of HMS Defender in the Black Sea after accusing it of entering its waters near Cape Fiolent on Tuesday

A picture taken on Friday shows a ship from the Russian Black Sea Fleet (circled) shadowing USS Laboon , HMS Defender and the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen

At this stage there's no protective equipment for me. 'Have you guys got any anti-flash?' asks the ops officer. I shake my head. 'Better get them some then,' he says.

Sailors scurry off and come back with clothing I'll be thankful for if any Russian missile or gunfire causes a fire aboard Defender. Pulling on the gear the threat seems real now. The Russians aren't messing around and neither are we, there's no way the Royal Navy is going to be steered off course.

The aircraft warning aboard Defender is raised to 'red' while another Nato vessel, which is also operating in the Black Sea, suspects that it has been 'radar-locked' by a large Russian navy vessel, a precursor perhaps to a missile engagement.

The Crimean coastline is now clearly in view, seafront buildings, forests and hills. More aggressive warnings over the radio from the Russians then a report from observers on the port side upper deck reaches the bridge: 'Gunfire heard to the stern!'

I rush outside for a better look; an instinctive response but perhaps not the wisest move for a husband and father of three young children. A sailor bearing binoculars reckons cannon fire came from one of the coastguard vessels.

Moments later more cannon fire, two heavy bursts from the lead coastguard vessel. 'Keep away from me!' says the Russian coastguard over the radio.

Two Black Sea Fleet coastguard ships continued to shadow HMS Defender from 100 yards awa

Releasing the new footage of HMS Defender from the air, Russian defence ministry's TV channel Zvezda said: 'In the footage can be seen the culprit of the incident, the destroyer Defender

Some footage was allegedly shot from the Su-24M which is said to have dropped four bombs to deter the Royal Navy vessel. Above: Su-24Ms seen in the Russian video

Only the Russian sailors know for certain who they were firing at or in what direction. But given their exasperation at being unable to persuade Defender to change its course, we were a likely target, albeit we were out of range.

Defender's threat state is reduced as we leave Crimean territorial waters, but the closest pass by an SU-24 takes place as we return to international waters. A drone is also spotted far overhead.

The Russian jets were flying 'wings clean', meaning they were not carrying missiles. But the aircraft are equipped with high powered cannons which, if armed, could have ripped through Defender's hull. Both coastguard vessels were equipped with 30mm cannons with live rounds. Other fully armed Russian vessels are also patrolling in our vicinity.

Defender is equipped with a 4.5 inch mark 8 medium calibre gun with a range of 12 miles, two Phalanx close-in weapon systems and Sea Viper air defence missiles with 48 silos at the front of the ship.

The Royal Navy was entirely justified in sailing along an internationally recognised shipping route. But we definitely poked the Russian bear and she poked back. The next time a British warship enters Crimean waters the tension will be even higher.
New Zealand will keep its border closed to New South Wales for at least another 12 days, as Sydney's coronavirus outbreak continues to spread.

The decision comes as NSW recorded 11 new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, and after a passenger on a trans-Tasman flight tested positive to the virus on Tuesday.

New Zealand's Minister for COVID-19 Response, Chris Hipkins, said the Kiwi government will take 'a cautious approach' with several mystery cases still being investigated.

New Zealand will keep its border closed to New South Wales for at least another 12 days, officials said. Pictured: Passengers disembark from their flight at Christchurch Airport in New Zealand, Thursday, May 14, 2020

NZ's Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins said the Kiwi government will take 'a cautious approach' with several mystery cases still being investigated. Pictured: Commuters wearing masks arrive by ferry at Sydney's Circular Quay on June 24, 2021

'There are now 36 recent community cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales  including four not yet linked to the existing outbreak that are urgently being investigated by Australian health officials,' Mr Hipkins said.

'This decision follows a further public health assessment today in which officials consider a range of factors  whether any new cases are identified, the results from COVID-19 testing of any contacts identified and from the wider Sydney community.'

New Zealand health officials pulled up the draw bridge for hotel-quarantine free travel at 9.59pm (AEST) on Tuesday for a period of 72 hours.

But with the still outbreak continuing to wreak havoc on Sydney, Mr Hipkins conceded there was no choice but to suspend the trans-Tasman bubble for a prolonged period.

There has been close liaison between the health agencies of NSW and New Zealand. Pictured: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (left) and NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (right)

New Zealand have pulled up the draw bridge to Western Australia and Victoria on one occasion and slammed the door shut on NSW twice since the trans-Tasman travel bubble came into effect on April 19. Pictured: Departure passengers to New Zealand wait to check in at Sydney International Airport, Sydney, Monday, April 19

Since Australian and New Zealand trans-Tasman travel bubble came into effect on April 19, there have been numerous occasions where it has been halted due to outbreaks.

New Zealand had reinstated a hard border to Western Australia and Victoria on one occasion and slammed the door shut on NSW twice.

At the time of the announcement New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned that the rules could be subject to rapid change if an outbreak occurs in either country.

'Those undertaking travel on either side of the ditch will do so under the guidance of flyer beware,' Ms Ardern said.

'People will need to plan for the possibility of travel being disrupted if there is an outbreak.'

Despite the growing case numbers, Ms Berejiklian was standing by her policy of not imposing a blanket lockdown on the city. Pictured: Health workers conduct coronavirus testing at a Covid-19 facility at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, February 7, 2021

Pictured: Passengers receive a Cover-19 check from NSW Heatlh officials after arriving on Flight VA849 from Melbourne at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney

Of the 11 new cases reported in NSW on Thursday, all but one were linked to a known case or the Bondi cluster.

The one case with an unknown source was a man in his 40s; the second man in as many days without a traceable contact.

Despite the growing case numbers, Ms Berejiklian was standing by her policy of not imposing a blanket lockdown on the city.

'This is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through,' she said.

'It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are comfortable that the settings we have in place are appropriate.'

Nationals MP and minister Mr Marshall (pictured) is asymptomatic and will now isolate for 14 days

The premier herself was now considered a casual contact of a positive case after the state's parliament building was added to the list of exposure sites, but she tested negative to Covid on Thursday morning.

One of the new overnight cases was NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who confirmed he had tested positive after dining at a restaurant in Sydney's east at the same time as a previously reported case.

'This morning just after 8am I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for Covid-19,' Mr Marshall said on Thursday.

'I'm doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities.

'I have been in isolation in Sydney since late Tuesday night, when I received a text message from NSW Health.'
An apparently fit and healthy mother of two died from a cancer normally related to asbestos after she suffered a rare complication to successful radiotherapy treatment she underwent for another strain of the illness.

Pensions and mortgage advisor Alana Shaw, 38, had seemed to respond well to 2013 treatment for carcinoma of the cervix but last year she mysteriously fell ill when she felt discomfort in her stomach while out running six years later.

Initial scans did not diagnose any further cancer but when symptoms persisted doctors subsequently discovered she had peritoneal mesothelioma, an illness normally related to continued exposure to asbestos.

Ms Shaw, pictured, was successfully treated for carcinoma of the cervix in 2013. Medics think she may have suffered a rare side effect of the radiotherapy as there is no evidence she had been exposed to asbestos

Alana Shaw, pictured with her partner Steven Peel, right, died two days after she was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester on May 13, 2021 having been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer normally associated with exposure to asbestos

Ms Shaw died in Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester on May 15, 2021 of peritoneal mesothelioma

However, a review of Ms Shaw's medical records could not find any exposure to asbestos, so medics believed she suffered an incredibly rare reaction to her earlier radiotherapy treatment.

Research has shown that in very rare cases, prior radiotherapy can alter the DNA in cells in the targeted area. These changes can cause the cells to grow in an 'out-of-control' fashion.

Her inquest heard she was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester on May 13, 2021 and passed away two days later.

An investigation took place into whether Miss Shaw, of Bowdon, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester was ever exposed to the toxic material but experts concluded she developed the illness as a result of radiotherapy.

An inquest in Manchester heard Mrs Shaw who worked for the finance giant Prudential had worked her way up the company ladder after starting as a cashier. She had previously worked for the NatWest bank.

How could radiotherapy cause an asbestos-related cancer? How could radiotherapy cause an asbestos-related cancer? Mesothelioma  which is rarely curable  is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, the NHS says. But the rare disease can also be triggered by radiation exposure, according to top oncologists. And patients may not be struck down until 30 years after getting cancer treatment. Over the past three decades, medical journals have published a handful of tales of patients who've developed mesothelioma after undergoing radiotherapy. Doctors in Philadelphia who investigated the link in 1994 wrote: 'Its occurrence has been documented numerous times after exposure to diagnostic or therapeutic radiation.' And in 2012, Spanish researchers concluded a 60-year-old woman was struck down with the disease after undergoing breast cancer treatment. The experts, from the University Hospital Complex of Vigo, trawled through medical literature and found six other cases of mesothelioma induced by radiotherapy used to treat breast cancer. They found the patients were struck down between 10 and 30 years after having the original treatment. Because of the rarity of the cases, scientists know little about the link  or how the powerful cancer treatment could lead to mesothelioma. But when the disease is caused by asbestos, it is because the tiny fibres get stuck in the lungs and damage DNA over time. Around 2,500 Britons are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year. The cancer develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body's organs, such as the lungs (pleural), stomach (peritoneal), heart and testicles. Advertisement

Police coroners officer Joseph Keys said in a statement: 'She enjoyed running and days out walking with her family and together, she and her partner Steven have two children.

'In 2013, she was diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix and received treatment for that, including radiotherapy. She was later diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, which can be linked with working with asbestos.

'Her partner, Steven, confirmed that upon her diagnosis, Alana looked into the possibility that she had worked with asbestos, but couldn't really pinpoint when she could have worked with asbestos and they did not make further inquiries.'

Dr Paul Taylor, a consultant in medical oncology, at Wythenshawe hospital said he first became involved with Mrs Shaw's care in May 2020 at his oncology clinic after she was referred by a surgeon colleague.

He added: 'She was diagnosed in 2013 with carcinoma of the cervix and was treated. She received a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which was given with curative intent.

'A follow-up scan showed an excellent response to the treatment but in February 2020, she felt lower abdomen discomfort following a run. There was an MRI of her Pelvis in March 2020. At that time there was no evidence of cancer and she also went to have a CT of her abdomen and pelvis.

'But the symptoms persisted and she had further scans, which in turn lead to a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. There were discussions at Wythenshawe hospital as to whether this was linked to asbestos or whether it was a diagnosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

'It appeared from Alana's past medical records that she had a history of carcinoma of the cervix and there was no history of working with asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma is typically due to previous exposure to asbestos, but in Alana's case, there is no clear history of exposure to asbestos, although people can be exposed to asbestos without being aware of this.

'Typically, the term of exposure to asbestos is thirty years but it can be as short as twenty years or considerably shorter. Previous radiology treatment to the pelvis could have been a contributing factor but it's a rare complication.'

The cause of Miss Shaw's death was peritoneal mesothelioma contributed to by carcinoma of the cervix. Recording a narrative conclusion Manchester coroner Zak Golombeck said: 'In 2013, Alana was diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix and received radiotherapy to treat that.

'She was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in April 2020 and she died on May 15, 2021. The radiotherapy intended to treat her carcinoma of the cervix contributed to her death and she died from recognised complications from necessary medical treatment. I find that peritoneal mesothelioma was contributed to by the radiotherapy and not by asbestos exposure.'

At the time of Miss Shaw's death her fiancee Steven Peel a company inspection manager said: 'Our hearts are completely shattered. The past 12 months have been incredibly difficult but she remained focused and fought so hard. Even on the darkest and hardest of days she managed to stay so positive and never lost sight of what was important.'
A priest attacked seven bishops from the Greek Orthodox Church by dousing them with acid during his disciplinary hearing for alleged drug trafficking.

The priest, who has been named by local media as Theofylaktos Komvos, 37, poured the caustic liquid over the senior members of the church during meeting at the Petraki Monastery in Athens on Wednesday.

The seven bishops, who were considering deposing the priest, suffered burns on their faces and hands in a meeting that descended into a 'bloodbath', before being rushed to hospital.

A police officer who helped restrain the suspect was also injured in the attack, as were a lawyer and a presiding clergyman. All three were also hospitalised.

Komvos, who was facing the disciplinary hearing for allegedly being involved in drug trafficking, was arrested unharmed and detained for questioning.

A witness of the attack said he 'froze' when he saw blood and heard screams, describing the scene as a 'blood bath'.

A priest attacked seven bishops from the Greek Orthodox Church by dousing them with acid during his disciplinary hearing for alleged drug trafficking, police said. Pictured: Police officers are seen at the entrance of Petraki Monastery after the attack on Wednesday

One bishop who was injured in the attack has described how he felt his eyes burning after Komvos poured the acid on them.

Police said it was not immediately clear what liquid was used, but the priest had reportedly brought a 'large bottle of corrosive liquid' to the meeting, newspaper Ta Nea reported.

The bishops had been meeting to consider stripping the suspect of his priesthood after he was allegedly discovered with 1.8 grams of cocaine in June 2018 which he had hidden 'near his genitals', reports In.gr.

It was during the pronouncement of the verdict that the priest took out the bottle and threw it over the bishops.

George Tzikas, a former defence lawyer for the priest who was at the hearing, told ANT1: 'We did not expect it, he opened a bag, took out bottles and began [pouring it over the bishops].

'At first I thought it was water, but the place was full of blood. I could not handle it, it was insane.

'Fortunately there was a policeman inside,' he said, adding that the priest was unable to empty the bottles.

'I froze when I saw the blood and heard screams... there was a blood bath.'

The priest, who has been named by local media as Theofylaktos Komvos, 37, poured the caustic liquid over the senior members of the church during meeting at the Petraki Monastery (pictured) in Athens on Wednesday

Bishop Artis Kallinikos, who was a victim of the attack, told Mega TV that he now has 'burns on my face'.

He said: 'The former priest was quite accurate and the seven of us were hit in the face by a bottle and from a distance.

'He began pouring the liquid on us. The bottle was large, two litres, he held it with both hands. He did not say anything.

'He had the bottle in a bag. When I saw him take out the bottle, my first thought was that it was holy water. My mind did not go elsewhere.'

Kallinikos added: 'I quickly realised, from the sting in my eyes, the liquid was a caustic liquid because it was immediate. Another bishop's face changed colour as soon as the liquid fell on him.'

'I express my abhorrence at this unprecedented event,' Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou wrote in a tweet after contacting Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos II, the leader of the Greek church.

Most of the victims hold the senior rank of metropolitan bishop.

The seven bishops, who were considering deposing the priest, suffered burns on their faces and hands, before being rushed to hospital. Pictured: Police officers leave the Petraki Monastery on Wednesday

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias visited the Athens hospital where the bishops were initially treated, joined by Archbishop Ieronymos.

Ieronymos told reporters he was 'deeply saddened' by the attack but relieved that none of the injuries were considered by doctors to be life-threatening.

Health Minister Kikilias said four of the bishops were more lightly injured and were receiving first aid, while one was transferred to the plastic surgery unit of another hospital and the other two might also be transferred to other hospitals with specialized units, including one with a specialist eye clinic.

He said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had asked for constant updates on the case.

The motives for the attack were not immediately clear. State-run ERT television reported that the hearing was held as an appeal to depose the priest from the clergy.

Police identified the victims as the metropolitan bishops Antonios of Glyfada, Kyrillos of Kifissia, Kallinikos of Arta, Nikodimos of Kassandra, Dionysios IV of Zakynthos, Dimitrios of Goumenissis, and Andreas of Dryinoupolis.
A retired driving instructor has revealed how he was 'ready to give up' when he became 'the world's longest-ever Covid patient' after testing positive for 305 days.

Dave Smith, 72, from Bristol, had the virus for more than 10 months in what experts say is the longest-ever recorded persistent infection with coronavirus.

He today told the BBC how he coughed for 'five hours straight, non-stop... if you can imagine the drain that puts on your body' and was 'ready to die' during his ordeal.

Several people have spent long periods of time in hospital after being admitted with Covid, but this does not necessarily mean they will test positive for their entire stay.

However, Mr Smith was consistently confirmed to have the virus for 305 days after first being admitted to hospital in May 2020 with a cough and a fever.

He said: 'I was ready to give up, I said to Lyn my wife ''Let me go, I've been hanging on, it's so bad now, I'm just jelly'. If I go in the night, don't be surprised.'

Dave Smith, 72, from Bristol, had the virus for more than 10 months in what experts say is the longest-ever recorded persistent infection with Covid

His wife Lynda said there were 'a lot of times we didn't think he was going to pull through.'

But more than 10 months after his first positive PCR, Mr Smith and his wife were able to celebrate the news he was Covid negative with a bottle of champagne.

Mr Smith had conditions which led to him having a compromised immune system, putting him more at risk from Covid-19.

He told The Guardian: 'Whenever I went bad, I went really bad - down to death's door. My wife started to arrange a funeral five times.'

He added jokingly: 'I called all the family in to make my peace with them. I wish I'd kept my mouth shut now.'

Mr Smith said his weight fell from 18.5 stone to 10 stone while ill due to a lack of appetite, adding: 'At one point, I was bedridden for two or three months.

Jason Kelk, 49, died on Friday following his decision to withdraw his treatment after more than 14 months in intensive care

Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper, a 53-year-old former political adviser, was in hospital for a year after being admitted with coronavirus symptoms and placed in a coma

More than two million people in England may have had long Covid, new data suggests More than two million people in England may have had long Covid, new data suggests. Findings from the React-2 studies show more than one third of people who had coronavirus reported symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. This amounts to 5.8 per cent of the whole study population, with 2 per cent reporting severe symptoms. Researchers found the prevalence of long Covid increased with age and was higher among women. The findings are based on self-reported data from 508,707 adults aged 18 and over who took part in rounds three to five of Imperial College London's React-2 study carried out between September 2020 and February 2021. Around a fifth of those surveyed reported having had a coronavirus symptom previously, with more than a third reporting persistent symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. Around a tenth of those with symptoms said they lasted at least 12 weeks and were severe. Researchers say the findings suggest prevalence of persistent symptoms, or long Covid, increases with age, with a 3.5% increase in likelihood in each decade of life. The study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, indicates that long Covid is higher among women, people who are overweight or obese, those who smoke, people who live in deprived areas, or those who had been admitted to hospital. According to the research, persistent Covid-19 symptoms were lower in people of Asian ethnicity. Professor Paul Elliott, director of the React programme at Imperial, said: 'Our findings do paint a concerning picture of the longer-term health consequences of Covid-19, which need to be accounted for in policy and planning. 'Long Covid is still poorly understood but we hope through our research that we can contribute to better identification and management of this condition, which our data and others' suggest may ultimately affect millions of people in the UK alone.' People with persistent symptoms at 12 weeks fell into two broad groups, researchers found. In the first, the most common symptoms were tiredness and muscle aches. The most common symptoms in the second group were shortness of breath affecting normal activities, tightness in the chest, and chest pain, with more people reporting that they had severe symptoms. But the study was based on self-reported data and because many of the symptoms are common and not specific to the virus, it may overestimate the prevalence of persistent symptoms following Covid-19. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'Long Covid can have a lasting and debilitating impact on the lives of those affected. 'Studies like this help us to rapidly build our understanding of the impact of the condition and we are using these findings and other new research to develop support and treatments. 'We are learning more about long Covid all the time and have made 50 million of research funding available to support innovative projects, with clinics established across the country to help improve the treatment available.' Advertisement

'My wife had to wash and shave me in bed because I just couldn't stand up. Sometimes I thought: I wish they'd take me in the middle of the night, because I just can't go on anymore.

'You get to the point where you are more afraid of living than you are of dying.'

His case is to be presented to the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in July.

An abstract, which is to be presented to the conference, describes how Mr Smith's infection is thought to be the 'longest infection recorded in the literature'.

Academics from the University of Bristol, North Bristol NHS Trust and Public Health England, said Mr Smith was admitted to hospital in May 2020 with a cough and fever. A PCR test confirmed he had Covid-19.

He was discharged after eight days but he had 'significant breathlessness and went on to have interspersed acute deteriorations associated with fever' which required further hospital admission in August, September, October and December.

The experts noted that in December 2020 a trial of daily remdesivir therapy was discontinued after 17 days as it had no effect.

He later received treatment with monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab. Mr Smith was successfully treated with the laboratory engineered antibodies, the University of Bristol said.

It added that his health improved dramatically, and the virus was not detected in PCR tests 45 days after the combined treatment.

The combination of antibodies, by pharmaceutical firm Regeneron, have since been shown to save the lives of some of the sickest Covid-19 patients in a clinical trial, but the treatment regime is yet to be approved for use in the UK.

Mr Smith no longer tests positive some 305 days after first infection, academics have told conference officials.

They said he reported symptoms for six weeks before his first test so they suspect infection was actually longer - meaning that he could have continuously tested positive for the virus for almost a year.

Mr Smith had a history of a condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which meant he had lung disease causing inflammation of the lung tissue and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia - a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells and tends to progress slowly over many years.

Dr Ed Moran, consultant in infectious diseases at North Bristol NHS Trust and co-author on the paper, added: 'It is wonderful that we were able to help this individual.

'Whilst such cases are rare there will be a number of people across the country in similar situations.

'The small numbers make it difficult to perform trials of experimental therapies.

'However, it is important that we find a way to access and develop treatment regimens for these individuals both for the wellbeing of the individual and to protect public health.'

Academics are conducting further research into 'persistently infected immunocompromised individuals'.

Other researchers have previously detailed a case which lasted for 85 days.

A number of people have spent long periods of time in hospital after being admitted with Covid-19.

However, this does not necessarily mean that they will test positive for the whole length of their stay.

Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper, a 53-year-old former political adviser, was in hospital for a year after being admitted with coronavirus symptoms and placed in a coma.

Jason Kelk, 49, died on Friday following his decision to withdraw his treatment after more than 14 months in intensive care.

Mr Kelk had spent more than a year in intensive care at St James' Hospital in Leeds after contracting coronavirus in March 2020.
The region is experiencing a persistent heatwave which is causing concern because it is contributing to the melting of permafrost

emperatures soared to a peak of 118F in town of Verkhojansk, the highest recorded above the Arctic Circle since measurements began

Freezing temperatures, snow and ice might come to mind when you think of Siberia, but the past week has seen the Arctic region experiencing a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures soaring to 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Saskylah, a small village north of the Arctic Circle, the ground temperature reached 89F (31.9 degrees Celsius), the highest recorded in 85 years since 1936.

Meanwhile, the temperatures soared to a peak of 118F (48C) in the town of Verkhoyansk, the highest temperature recorded above the Arctic circle since measurements began, while in Govorovo they reached 109F (43C).

Satellite images published by Copernicus, the European Union's Earth observation program, showed that temperatures widely exceeded 95F (35C) on Sunday in Siberia as the region is experiencing a persistent heatwave.

Satellite images published by Copernicus, the European Union's Earth observation program, showed that temperatures widely exceeded 95F (35C) on Sunday in Siberia as the region is experiencing a persistent heatwave

Meanwhile, the temperatures soared to a peak of 118F (48C) in the town of Verkhoyansk, the highest temperature recorded above the Arctic circle since measurements began

In a region where temperatures normally average just 60F (16C) on a June day, the rising temperatures are causing serious concern among those living in the region and scientists as wildfires rage on and permafrost melts.

The heatwave is contributing to the melting of permafrost which covers about two-thirds of Russia's largest territory.

As permafrost melts, it releases carbon and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which fuels further warming.

The hot and dry weather is an increasing concern in areas of Siberia, with the northern region of Yakutia facing 64 active forest fires on Tuesday, reports The Barents Observer.

Across Siberia, wildfires have sparked since April and became so bad that the smoke could be seen from space in NASA imagery

Regional governor Aisen Nikolaev said the current heatwave hitting Siberia was a key factor in causing the rapid increase of the number of fires.

Across Siberia, wildfires have sparked since April and became so bad that the smoke could be seen from space in NASA imagery.

Verkhoyansk, where the temperatures soared to 118F (48C) this week, is also the coldest place on Earth, having recorded a record low temperature of -90.04F (-67.8C).

It experiences extreme temperature changes due to its position deep inside the Asian continent where it is surrounded by land, which heats and cools far faster than water.

Verkhoyansk, in Siberia, often looks more like the scene above - snow-covered and frozen

'2021 is a make-or-break year for climate action,' the World Meteorology Organization said in a statement Monday.

'With the window to prevent the worst impacts of climate changewhich include ever more frequent and more intense droughts, floods, and stormsclosing rapidly.'

The organisation said that the most dramatic change in temperatures can be found in the Arctic region where Siberia is located, which is warming more than two times quicker than the global average.

Meanwhile, the Russian capital of Moscow was also hit by a heatwave this week, with temperatures reaching a 120-year record due to the effects of climate change, Russia's weather service said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Russian capital of Moscow was also hit by a heatwave this week, with temperatures reaching a 120-year record due to the effects of climate change, Russia's weather service said Tuesday. Pictured: A girl enjoys the hot weather in Moscow on June 24

On Monday the Russian capital sweated under 94.5F (34.7C) , according to Roshydromet, matching the record for a June day from in 1901.

The weather service, which has kept records since 1881, is forecasting temperatures above 95F (35C) on Thursday and Friday.

'The increase in temperatures recorded in Moscow for these days is unprecedented in 120 years,' Roshydromet meteorologist Marina Makarova told AFP.

'This is because of global climate change.'

The highest-ever recorded temperature in Moscow - more than 38C (100.4 F) - was in July 2010 when much of western Russia suffered a massive heat wave and huge fires.
Former Tory chancellor George Osborne has been elected as chairman of the British Museum, the institution announced this morning.

The museum said in a statement today that Mr Osborne will join the board on September 1 and will succeed outgoing chair Sir Richard Lambert, a former Financial Times editor and CBI director general, on October 4.

Mr Osborne served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under David Cameron between 2010-16, before he was sacked by Theresa May after she became premier in the chaotic days following the EU referendum.

He earned 650,000-a-year for one day a week at investment firm BlackRock and edited the London Evening Standard until earlier this year.

Mr Osborne is currently a partner at financial consultants Robey Warshaw and chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. He also advises Exor and Silicon Valley venture capital fund 9Yards Capital.

Together with positions at Stanford, Manchester University and the McCain Institute, it is thought his new position as chair of the British Museum will be Mr Osborne's eleventh job since leaving public office.

Former Tory chancellor George Osborne has been elected as chairman of the British Museum, the institution announced this morning

The British Museum said in a statement that Mr Osborne will join the board on September 1 and will succeed outgoing chair Sir Richard Lambert, a former Financial Times editor and CBI director general, on October 4

In a statement, Mr Osborne said: 'I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at the British Museum - and so honoured to have had the opportunity to apply for this role, and to have been chosen by the Trustees to become their Chair'

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer's roles since leaving office BlackRock : Mr Osborne became a senior adviser to the investment firm in 2017. He was paid 650,000 a year for one day a week;

: Mr Osborne became a senior adviser to the investment firm in 2017. He was paid 650,000 a year for one day a week; London Evening Standard : The former chancellor was named as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper in 2017. He left the Evening Standard and BlackRock in early 2021;

: The former chancellor was named as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper in 2017. He left the Evening Standard and BlackRock in early 2021; Exor : Mr Osborne was made chairman of a panel of advisers to Exor, which owns Juventus football club and the Fiat car empire, in 2018;

: Mr Osborne was made chairman of a panel of advisers to Exor, which owns Juventus football club and the Fiat car empire, in 2018; The Northern Powerhouse Partnership : Mr Osborne became chair of the partnership in autumn 2016, having backed the Northern Powerhouse as a concept and who coined the phrase itself in a keynote speech in June 2014;

: Mr Osborne became chair of the partnership in autumn 2016, having backed the Northern Powerhouse as a concept and who coined the phrase itself in a keynote speech in June 2014; The McCain Institute : The former chancellor became a fellow at the US think tank in January 2017;

: The former chancellor became a fellow at the US think tank in January 2017; The University of Manchester : In June 2017, Mr Osborne was made an honorary professor of economics;

: In June 2017, Mr Osborne was made an honorary professor of economics; Stanford University : He holds two positions at Stanford, including a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, and gave a talk on Covid-19 and the UK last year;

: He holds two positions at Stanford, including a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, and gave a talk on Covid-19 and the UK last year; 9Yards Capital : Mr Osborne was appointed as an adviser to Silicon Valley venture capital fund 9Yards Capital in December 2018;

: Mr Osborne was appointed as an adviser to Silicon Valley venture capital fund 9Yards Capital in December 2018; Robey Warshaw : The former chancellor became a partner at financial consultants Robey Warshaw in February this year. Advertisement

In a statement released through the institution, Mr Osborne said: 'I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at the British Museum - and so honoured to have had the opportunity to apply for this role, and to have been chosen by the Trustees to become their Chair.

'All my life I have loved the British Museum. To my mind, it is quite simply the greatest museum in the world. It's a place that brings cultures together and tells the story of our common humanity.

'Richard Lambert will be a very hard act to follow, but I look forward to working with Hartwig and the impressive team he leads at the museum.

'I hope to bring my experience, energy and passion to this incredibly exciting role.'

Mr Osborne was appointed by trustees including Left-leaning figures Professor Dame Mary Beard, artist Grayson Perry and former TV presenter Muriel Gray.

In 2016 Mr Osborne sparked controversy by joking that former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and then-shadow chancellor John McDonnell both 'lost their marbles' in reference to the controversial Elgin Marbles on display at the British Museum, which Greece has long demanded to be returned.

The British Museum, Tate Modern, the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) all saw an average 78 per cent drop in attendance in 2020 compared with 2019, according to a survey by The Art Newspaper.

It comes at a hinge point in the history of the British Museum, which is one of many cultural institutions at the heart of a raging row over the removal of controversial monuments.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden sparked a backlash this year when he intervened to tell museums and heritage organisations to follow a policy of 'retaining and explaining' contested items rather than removing them.

The British Museum has also come under pressure from climate activists over its sponsorship links to oil giant BP.

Baroness Minouche Shafik, deputy chair of the British Museum, said Mr Osborne would be working with the board to expand the institution's audience as it embarked on a 'major programme of renewal'.

Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum said: 'I am very happy to welcome George Osborne as our Chair. George Osborne knows the Museum well and values the trust the Museum enjoys around the world.

'He understands the active role the British Museum is playing in the recovery of the country, creating opportunities for everyone to discover the collection as their own - onsite, through loans to their local museums and online.

'Under the current leadership of Sir Richard Lambert, we have laid the groundwork for the masterplan, to embark on the biggest transformative project in our history, and to renew our displays.

Mr Osborne's appointment comes at a hinge point in the history of the British Museum, which is one of many cultural institutions at the heart of a raging row over the removal of controversial monuments

'Together with my colleagues I look forward to working with George to continue to ensure that the British Museum is the most innovative, accessible and inspiring museum of the world, for the world.'

Baroness Shafik said: 'George Osborne has a long-standing commitment to culture, both personally and in his various public roles.

'The Trustees look forward to working with him to bring the Museum to ever larger audiences and to expand its contribution to public understanding of our collective history.

'He brings enthusiasm for the Museum combined with extensive national and international networks and experience with finance and fundraising on a global scale.

'With the masterplan, the Museum is undergoing a major programme of renewal and his experience will prove invaluable as we work to deliver even more wonderful opportunities for everyone to enjoy the Museum's collection.'
A father whose partner died after catching pneumonia is suing their former landlord over claims bodged attempts at fixing a boiler turned their family home into an 'iceberg'.

Timothy McDonagh said Kelly Naghten died because 'cowboy' landlord Ali Bolat did not do enough to make sure their 'freezing' north London house was in a habitable state.

The couple were allegedly forced to put up with walls covered in mould and rain puddling on the floor.

And then shortly after their second Christmas in the property, Ms Naghten, 32, suffered a bout of flu which tragically led to her death from pneumonia and sepsis.

Mr McDonagh, who has been left to look after their four young children, is now suing the landlord for 400,000, who he blames for her death.

Timothy McDonagh, 42, said his partner Kelly Naghten died because 'cowboy' landlord Ali Bolat did not do enough to make sure their 'freezing' north London house was in a habitable state

Mr McDonagh says Mr Bolat bodged boiler fixes himself, meaning it would frequently cut out and leave them without heating or hot water.

But Mr Bolat, who owned the property in Enfield as a rental investment, has vehemently denied the allegations and said Mr McDonagh was 'exaggerating' and that problems with the house were always fixed quickly.

Central London County Court heard this week that the couple moved into the house in Enfield in 2014 and claimed to almost immediately have problems, which worsened during the winter of 2015.

When the couple contacted Mr Bolat to deal with the boiler issues, it was claimed he carried out 'amateurish' repairs of his own, which failed, causing them to lose the heating again.

Central London County Court heard how the couple were allegedly forced to put up with walls covered in mould and rain puddling on the floor. But when the couple contacted Mr Bolat to deal with boiler issues, it was claimed he carried out 'amateurish' repairs of his own

When Mr McDonagh complained about having no hot water, he was told to get it from the electric shower above the bath.

In the witness box, Mr McDonagh, now 48 and living in Islington, said: 'My family was torn away from me - I was happy, it was lovely'.

He told the judge he considered Mr Bolat to be a 'cowboy', claiming the property had been 'very drafty' due to gaps around the windows, while Kelly frequently had to scrub mould from the walls.

The court heard how on one occasion rain had poured into the house and left puddles next to plug switches.

Their complaints were eventually met with a threat of eviction, he added.

Shortly after their second Christmas in the property, Ms Naghten, 32, suffered a bout of flu which tragically led to her death from pneumonia and sepsis

Kelly fell ill before Christmas 2015 and was admitted to hospital, but she discharged herself and was back with her family for the holiday period.

But she then became ill again in the New Year and, having developed pneumonia and sepsis, died in hospital on January 30, 2016.

'I have lost my wife and have four little kids to bring up,' Mr McDonagh told the judge.

'Kelly was the most beautiful, loveliest girl you could have seen.

'This isn't about me, it's about my four little kids. Kelly was the best mother ever to her kids. She loved her children, they were her world.'

His barrister Nicholas Baldock told Judge Alan Saggerson that Mr Bolat's own attempts to fix the boiler were 'futile and amateurish.'

When he eventually had it inspected by tradesmen, 'numerous issues' were identified and it was replaced in January 2016.

'It was only when he engaged properly qualified tradesmen that electrical and plumbing problems were resolved,' he argued.

When Mr Bolat eventually had the property's boiler inspected by tradesmen, 'numerous issues' were identified and it was replaced in January 2016

Mr Baldock argues that Mr Bolat was in breach of his obligation to repair the property in a timely manner.

That led to the house being 'cold and damp' which contributed to the severity of Kelly's condition.

But for Mr Bolat, barrister Michael Leemy denied that the landlord was in breach of any of his obligations.

'It is his case that the premises were not in physical disrepair to the extent that puddles formed on the floor or that mould formed on the walls,' he said.

'Whilst repairs to the hot water and central heating system boiler were required, these were carried out within a reasonable period of time and therefore the defendant is not in breach of his obligations.'

A cold and damp house would not have contributed to someone contracting flu, he added, since it is passed by person-to-person contact.

He claimed that accounts of mould and damp were 'exaggerations' by Mr McDonagh and other members of Kelly's family, who gave evidence.

But Chloe McDonagh, a niece of the couple, said the smell of damp in the house was 'overwhelming' and that the family had had to 'huddle around a heater' to keep warm.

Giving evidence himself, Mr Bolat insisted that any issues with the house were dealt with promptly.

He had never seen any damp in the house, he insisted, and had even gone onto the roof to check when his tenants complained of leaking rainwater.

The electrics and boiler had been checked by professionals when he bought the house, he added.

And although he was not a plumber, Mr Bolat said he had a background in engineering and knew his way around a boiler.

The judge will give his judgment on the case at a later date.
Farmers in England will be paid 20million to pave over agricultural land under plans to give walkers better access to the countryside.

Radical new proposals unveiled by Environment Secretary George Eustice today will see farmers and landowners encouraged to build parking spaces, ponds and wetlands, or care for historic features.

They also mean the Yorkshire Wolds and the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge will be considered for protected status as areas of outstanding natural beauty, while the existing Surrey Hills and Chilterns AONBs could be extended.

The Government said the four areas being considered could deliver more than 40 per cent of the additional 1,500 square miles needed to meet the UK's commitment to protect 30 per cent of its land by 2030.

But conservationists warn much of the existing protected areas are national parks and AONBs which do not necessarily deliver for nature, with many of them suffering from overgrazing, poor management or intensive agriculture.

They are now calling for urgent action and more resources to improve the natural world across existing protected areas.

It comes as EU subsidies to farmers and landowners in England reduce over the next seven years and will be replaced by UK grants and top-ups where they will be expected to do more for smaller hand-outs.

The Yorkshire Wolds will be considered for status as an area of outstanding natural beauty

Cheshire Sandstone Ridge will be considered for status as an AONB under the new plans

Where are the 34 areas of outstanding natural beauty in England? Arnside & Silverdale

Blackdown Hills

Cannock Chase

Chichester Harbour

Chilterns

Cornwall

Cotswolds

Cranborne Chase

Dedham Vale

Dorset

East Devon

Forest of Bowland

High Weald

Howardian Hills

Isle of Wight

Isles of Scilly

Kent Downs

Lincolnshire Wolds

Malvern Hills

Mendip Hills

Nidderdale

Norfolk Coast

North Devon

North Pennines

North Wessex Downs

Northumberland Coast

Quantock Hills

Shropshire Hills

Solway Coast

South Devon

Suffolk Coast and Heaths

Surrey Hills

Tamar Valley

Wye Valley Advertisement

Emma Marsh, director of RSPB England, described the announcement on the potential new areas as simply 'warm words', adding: 'Wildlife isn't even thriving in our existing protected landscapes.

'If any protected landscapes - existing or new - are to be able to deliver land 'well-managed for nature', they need to be resourced and set up to do so.'

The Yorkshire Wolds is an area of gently rolling hills, which extends south from the Yorkshire coast to the shadow of the Humber Bridge, and has long inspired artist David Hockney, whose recent works depict its changing seasons.

It is home to Fotherdale Farm in Thixendale, where two kestrels and their six hungry chicks have been watched by tens of thousands of people on a camera in their nest box.

Meanwhile Cheshire Sandstone Ridge offers expansive views, exposed reddish-pink Triassic sandstone and the remains of Iron Age hill forts.

It also contains ancient woodland and the remnants of a Royal Hunting Forest.

Being designated an AONB gives landscapes greater protection, with local authorities required to make sure all decisions, from planning permission to installing telecommunications cables, take the conservation of the area into account.

Announcing plans to boost nature and public access in protected areas, Mr Eustice said: 'We have an opportunity to create a new chapter for our protected landscapes.

'The work that we are going to take forward will contribute to our commitment to protect 30 per cent of our land by 2030, and boost biodiversity, while designating more areas of the country for their natural beauty.

'Our farming in protected landscapes programme will provide additional investment to allow farmers to work in partnership with our National Park Authorities and AONB teams to improve public access.'

It comes in response to the Glover Review, commissioned by the Government, which recommended 'national landscapes' should have a new mission to enhance nature, create wilder areas and deal with climate change.

It also set out proposals to increase access to protected landscapes for people and create new designated areas. The Government has said it will respond in full to the review later in the year.

Farming was a key issue in the 2016 referendum on EU membership, as farmers and landowners received subsidies from the bloc through its Common Agricultural Policy.

Now the UK has left the EU, it has started the seven-year process of weaning itself off the EU's enormous agricultural subsidy programme.

Farmers will increasingly receive grants through the Environmental Land Management scheme. However, subsidies will come to be based around the concept of 'natural capital'.

The existing Surrey Hills AONB could also be extended under the proposals announced today

Another AONB in the Chilterns could be widened under plans being put forward by Ministers

How AONBs mean councils must ensure all planning decisions consider conservation An area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) is land protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, also known as the CROW Act. This gives landscapes greater protection, with local authorities required to make sure all decisions, from planning permission to installing telecommunications cables, take the conservation of the area into account. There are a total of 47 AONBs in Britain, including 34 England, five in Wales and eight in Northern Ireland. The UK total will hit 49 with the inclusion of the Yorkshire Wolds and the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge. An area which becomes an AONB under Natural England's orders must meet the 'natural beauty criterion', of six factors - landscape quality; scenic quality; relative wildness; relative tranquillity; natural heritage features; and cultural heritage. To designate an AONB, Natural England can issue an order under section 82 of the CROW Act to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of an area. Each AONB must have a management plan, in place within three years of a designation - and a review must take place within five years of the start of the plan. Advertisement

Instead of receiving the CAP's Basic Payment scheme support for acres farmed, farmers and landowners will have to earn rewards for delivering 'public goods' suchg as creating woodland or improving water quality.

Philip Wynn, agricultural consultant and interim managing director of James Dyson's Dyson Farming company, told the FT that farmers will increasingly be required to do a lot more for less money.

'The reality is the very best you're going to receive is 50-60 per cent [of the Basic Payment scheme] but you're going to have to provide quite a lot in terms of public goods to achieve that, and for lots of people it'll be more like 30 per cent,' he said.

In response to the Government announcement, Julian Glover, who led the review, said: 'Our national landscapes are the soul of England, beautiful, much-loved, and there for all of us, but they are also under pressure.

'We need to do a lot more for nature and more for people, too.

'Our report set out a plan for a brighter, greener future and I'm delighted that words are now being followed by action.'

NFU environment forum chair Richard Bramley told MailOnline: 'Farming is at the heart of all activity in our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

'That's why this new Farming in Protected Landscapes programme need to be simple and flexible and work with those individual farm businesses in mind.

'The NFU will work with Natural England and consult with our members on the four areas being considered for new or extended AONB status, making sure that viable farm businesses are at the heart of the decision-making process so that our work to protect and enhance our valuable landscapes, which millions of people visit and enjoy every year, continues.

'As we say in the NFU's Landscapes and Access report, whether it is incentives to manage bigger hedgerows, plant more trees, or conserve carbon through the soil, we do need to see government policies that work together to support the delivery of agriculture's net zero ambition and to ensure we have farmed landscapes that can both feed the nation and thrive with wildlife.'

Dr Richard Benwell, chief executive of the coalition of conservation groups Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: 'The creation of new AONBs is excellent, but it must be accompanied by stronger duties and resources for environmental improvement to bring the landscapes to life with nature.'

He said three quarters of sites of special scientific interest, which are protected for nature, were in poor condition within designated landscapes.

More ambition was needed to fill protected landscapes with wildlife and ensure they play their part in tackling climate change, he urged.

'We need quick action now to complete the designations and to strengthen the environmental purposes and resources of AONBs.

Environment Secretary George Eustice, pictured at Downing Street in London last November

The 47 AONBs in Britain - including 34 in England, five in Wales and eight in Northern Ireland

'Only then can Government reliably include these places in its promise to protect 30 per cent of the land for nature.'

Jo Smith, chief executive of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said the proposed designations 'will not magically help meet the target of 30 per cent of land where nature can thrive'.

'Instead, what's needed is urgent action, political will and more resources, to repair and heal the natural world across the National Parks that we already have,' she said.

'If this Government is serious about its ambition to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation, it must properly fund meaningful action to restore habitats across our protected landscapes,' she added.

Crispin Truman, chief executive of countryside charity the CPRE, said: 'We know that not all of the land within existing National Parks and AONBs is effectively managed for nature.

'Our evidence also shows that a developer-led planning system with centralised housing targets has driven up pressure on these nationally important areas, particularly in the south.

'So there is a long way to go before these areas help meet the government's target to protect 30 per cent of land for nature by 2030.'

Meanwhile the Environment Agency has announced changes to water abstraction licences held by 20 businesses in the Ant Valley on the Norfolk Broads.

These could see fish, birds and plants benefit from up to three billion litres of water being returned to the environment.

Environmental bodies including the WWF and Woodland Trust have also described a 'visionary' new project in the Yorkshire Dales called Wild Ingleborough.

This will see the restoration of peatland and the expansion of native woodland and scrub, in a bid to remove and store carbon and tackle climate change.
May also be due to G7 summit earlier this month, when leaders of leading democracies arrived in Cornwall

Professor Tim Spector, from King's College London, said Brits flocking to coast over half-term was to blame

Cases in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly have doubled in week to 148 per 100,000, Government dashboard shows

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Professor Tim Spector, who runs the country's largest symptom-tracking study, suggested No10's strict travel rules had led to increased mixing and spreading in Cornwall

Covid infections are rising in Cornwall because of the thousands of Britons who have flocked to the coast for a staycation over half-term, a top expert claimed today.

Professor Tim Spector, who runs the country's largest symptom-tracking study, suggested No10's strict foreign travel rules had led to increased mixing and spreading in the seaside county.

Latest Government figures show that 147.8 people per 100,000 tested positive for the virus in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the week leading up to June 18  up from 60.7 in the previous seven-day spell.

Professor Spector said Cornwall's climbing infection rates may also be due to the three-day G7 summit earlier this month, which saw crowds gather to welcome the leaders of world's richest nations.

He called for holidaymakers to stay vigilant when enjoying staycations this summer to ensure outbreaks are kept under control.

But in a glimmer of good news, the King's College London epidemiologist revealed the number of people falling ill in Scotland were finally plateauing.

His study showed there were 3,716 new symptomatic cases in Scotland every day last week, the equivalent of one in 121 people. This is higher than last week but marks a slowdown in the speed of the outbreak north of the border.

Infection rates in Scotland have been rising faster than the rest of the UK due to outbreaks of the highly infectious Indian variant in the country's central belt.

The King's College London study also found that case rates in the North West of England, another hotspot for the Indian 'Delta' variant', were flatlining.

There were 3,984 symptomatic people testing positive every day in the region last week, which is the equivalent of around one in 131. Similar to Scotland, cases are continuing to rise in the region, but at a slower rate, according to the data.

Professor Spector and his team believe the UK's R rate has fallen to 1.1 in the past week, down from 1.2 - the lowest it has been since the third wave started in April.

The UK is now recording 19,122 cases each day, which equates to 1 in 264 people, according to the ZOE Covid symptom study. The data shows that around 15,099 of these cases are in unvaccinated people, while 4,023 are in people who have had the vaccine

Professor Spector and his team believe the UK's R rate has fallen to 1.1 in the past week, down from 1.2 - the lowest it has been since the third wave started in April

The researchers estimate that there are currently 15,099 new symptomatic cases of Covid in unvaccinated people in the UK, compared to 4,023 in vaccinated. This gives a total of 19,122 new cases every day

Data from the ZOE study shows that cases are continuing to rise across the country, but the number of new cases in Scotland (brown line) and the North West (purple line) show that cases are beginning to even out

The researchers also found that cases are proportionately at the highest among those aged between 20 and 29, with over 1,100 people per 100,000 testing positive (orange line). This is followed by those aged under 19, where around 500 individuals per 100,000 testing positive (blue line)

Professor Spector said: 'Data this week shows rates in former hotspots, such as Scotland and the North West of England, continuing to plateau.

'At the same time, top UK holiday destinations like Cornwall are emerging as new areas with rapidly increasing cases.

'I think this is down to a number of factors, including the sudden influx of holidaymakers over half term, as well as the recent G7 summit and a previously unexposed local population.

'We need to remain vigilant of these UK holiday destinations as summer holidays approach, and ensure that we minimise outbreaks by following government guidelines.'

Despite the positive findings, the true state of the situation in the UK remains a mixed picture, with daily infections yesterday hitting a four-month high of 16,135.

Health chiefs blamed the massive increase on surge-testing being carried out in Scotland, which saw its biggest case-load since the public swabbing blitz began.

The data shows that people who have not had the vaccine are most likely to catch the virus (red line), while those who have had both doses are the most protected (orange line)

The study shows there are still Covid hotspots in the North West and Scotland, where 500 to 2,973 people per 100,000 have Covid symptoms. But Professor Spector said the cases are beginning to plateau in these regions

The high testing numbers are only partly to blame however, because infections are still climbing.

Some scientists have attributed this to young men meeting indoors to watch Euro 2020.

About two thirds of people testing positive in Scotland are now men  compared to an even spread between men and women earlier on in the pandemic.

The new figures, from the surveillance study ran by KCL and health-tech firm ZOE, paint a more hopeful picture for Scotland's outbreak.

But local authorities Dundee City and South Ayrshire have been added to the top three of the study's 'watch list', which aims to identify areas where cases are rising.

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday delayed the latest phase of its loosening for another three weeks and suggested that mask-wearing is likely to continue into the autumn.

The First Minister said the country is aiming to lift all major Covid rules in early August in a return to an 'almost complete normality'.

But she said the government would not be recommending that people fully return to working in offices from that date.

The North West was battered by the Indian variant, with millions urged not to travel to curb spread of the Indian variant.

Bolton and Blackburn have both already managed to control spiralling cases, offering hope that the mutant strain can be kept at bay without restrictive lockdowns.

Four areas in Cornwall, including St Ives and Halsetown, Towednack, Lelant and Carbis Bay, Ponsanooth, Mabe Burnthouse and Constantine, as well as Falmouth West and South, have all recorded over 800 cases per day per 100,000 in the seven days up to June 16

From June 1 to 16, the number of people testing positive per 100,000 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly increased from 3.8 to 130.6

In the space of one week from June 9 to 16, the number of people testing positive per 100,000 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly increased from 33.6 to 130.6. On June 16, 161 Covid infections were identified in Cornwall, up from just five cases on June 1

Overall, the KCL study found there were 19,122 new symptomatic cases of Covid across the UK last week compared to 15,760 the week before. The majority (79 per cent) were not fully vaccinated.

In terms of prevalence, on average one in 264 people in the UK are currently estimated to have symptomatic illness. The number of cases in the 20-29 age group continues to rise, however cases in the age groups over 30 have begun to level off.

The KCL study did not offer any exact figures for Cornwall but Government data shows cases have been on the rise over the past month.

It comes after cases in Cornwall were linked to the G7 summit, after some of the event's security staff tested positive, along with protesters and local hospitality workers.

But a spokesperson for Boris Johnson claimed there was no link between the summit and the spike in cases, insisting the rise in cases was down to the relaxation of restrictions on May 17.

This view was supported by the region's director of public health, Rachel Wigglesworth, who argued infections were already increasing before the three-day summit took place because of May's easing of restrictions.

It comes as it was revealed today that ministers are preparing to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic islands and Malta today amid a Cabinet row over dropping 'amber list' rules for the double jabbed.

The list of destinations where quarantine-free travel is allowed is set to be expanded at a crunch meeting, in a glimmer of hope for would-be holidaymakers.

Plans to drop 'amber list' restrictions for the double jabbed will also be considered - with a Cabinet split emerging over how soon it should happen. Boris Johnson said this morning that his views on the issue are currently 'unformed', in a strong hint there will be no final decision today.

However, even if the rules are loosened it will be of limited use as Britons still face tough curbs imposed by other countries - who are alarmed at the spike in infections caused by the Indian, or Delta, variant.

Angela Merkel last night urged all EU states to follow Germany's lead by requiring travellers from the UK to quarantine.
Nicola Sturgeon and Andy Burnham reignited their bad-tempered squabble over a travel ban barring Mancunians from entering Scotland today.

Sources close to the First Minister branded the Greater Manchester mayor 'incoherent and absurd' after they met on Wednesday night for talks.

The leak to the media prompted a backlash from Mr Burnham, who accused the SNP of leaking the details of what was meant to be a private head-to-head.

A source close to Sturgeon said Mr Burnham had been unable to respond at the meeting when she pointed out that Greater Manchester's official website tells visitors to 'minimise travel in and out of affected areas'.

'The first minister pointed out the stark contradiction between what Andy Burnham has been saying in recent days and his own authority's clear advice to ''minimise travel',' they told the Telegraph.

'Burnham had no proper answer to that. His attempted explanation was incoherent and absurd.'

But Mr Burnham publicly attacked the leak, tweeting: 'And there was me thinking they (the talks) were confidential '

A spokesman for the mayor later added: 'We are surprised that the Scottish Government has briefed details of a discussion in what we were told was a confidential meeting.

'But, given this has happened, we need to be clear on what was said. The First Minister accepted that she should have told the mayor before she announced her decision.

Sources close to the First Minister branded the Greater Manchester mayor 'incoherent and absurd' after they met on Wednesday night for talks.

Mr Burnham said on Tuesday that he would be seeking a 'political route' to end the dispute, following a decision taken by the Scottish Government in the face of Manchester's rising infection rate.

The leak to the media prompted a backlash from Mr Burnham, who accused the SNP of leaking the details of what was meant to be a private head-to-head.

'We also welcome her acceptance that the Scottish Government needs to provide more information about how they reach their decisions on bringing in regulations and travel bans that affect other parts of the United Kingdom.

This is important because towns and cities in England need to know if they may be put under Scottish regulations.

'We are, however, disappointed that the First Minister completely dismissed the financial impact her decision has had on residents in Bolton, Manchester and Salford and the need for her Government to consider providing compensation. These people had no advance notice and no ability to change their plans and are now left out of pocket.

'The reference made to the travel advice in Greater Manchester misunderstands that this is UK Government advice that was agreed in advance with the Mayor. This is very different to the unilateral ban that was imposed without notice by the Scottish First Minister.'

Mr Burnham had previously branding Ms Sturgeon a 'hypocrite' for allowing thousands of Scots to head to London for the Euros while blocking arrivals from Manchester.

She had responded by accusing him of posturing as part of his desire to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.

It came as budget flight operator easyJet has confirmed it will not go ahead with new routes connecting Manchester to Edinburgh and Aberdeen following the travel ban.

The Manchester-Edinburgh route was due to take just 65 minutes and replace a service lost when Flybe ceased operations in March 2020.

Mr Burnham claimed over the weekend that the ban was imposed without consulting Greater Manchester authorities, adding it was hypocritical of the Scottish Government which he claims regularly complains of being steamrolled by Westminster.

The Scottish Government was also rebuked by Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone on Tuesday for not announcing the ban to MSPs but instead in a written question, despite the Scottish Parliament sitting when the announcement was made.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister, and Covid Recovery Secretary, John Swinney told Holyrood the Scottish Government will not acquiesce to Mr Burnham's demands for compensation.

Scotland Office minister Iain Stewart has urged the pair to resolve the 'not satisfactory' situation.

Mr Stewart told the Commons: 'The issue between the mayor of Greater Manchester and the First Minister is clearly not satisfactory and I'd urge them both to come to a very sensible arrangement to allow travel to resume between Scotland and Greater Manchester.'

Mark Beveridge, operations director at Aberdeen International Airport, said: 'This is hugely disappointing news from easyJet.

'We can't continue like this and urgently need help and a plan that sets out how we can work towards the safe restart of travel.'

The issue was discussed during Scottish Questions in the House of Commons yesterday.

Conservative MP Andrew Bowie, who represents West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, said: 'As a direct result of the baffling and inconsistent travel ban placed on Scots going to Greater Manchester, easyJet have cancelled their newly-announced route from Aberdeen to Manchester, putting at risk many jobs in the North-East of Scotland.'

He asked what the minister and the Scotland Office were doing to ensure that 'when it comes to international travel and reopening, the same rules will apply around the entirety of the UK, instead of leaving the Scottish aviation sector... at the mercy of the Scottish Government, who completely abandoned them?'.

UK Government Scotland minister David Duguid said easyJet had made a commercial decision.

He added: '[The travel ban] has been widely criticised as disproportionate... and there are clearly calls particularly for this particular regulation to be reviewed and in closer consultation with all interested parties.'
Channel Ten star Lisa Wilkinson has explained to viewers how you can cleverly skip the vaccination queue and get a Covid-19 jab - even if you're not yet eligible.

The Project host said her husband, Peter FitzSimons, 59, found a way to get the AstraZeneca vaccine 12 weeks ago, despite not technically being eligible for the jab.

He simply phoned his local GP and asked to be on a standby list so that no inoculations are wasted if people don't make their appointment - something anyone can seemingly do.

Similar savvy people in Britain and the US also took advantage of surplus supplies during their rollout, with those not yet eligible being text at the last minute to let them know a jab was going spare.

Lisa Wilkinson said her husband, Peter FitzSimons (pictured together), found a way to get the AstraZeneca vaccine despite being under 60 and not a front-line worker

'My husband actually had his jab 12 weeks ago even though he didn't fall into the category,' Wilkinson said.

'He rang the local GP and said, "If anybody doesn't turn up for an appointment and you will throw an AstraZeneca shot away, just give me a call".'

Australia's medicines watchdog, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, does not recommend the AstraZeneca inoculation for those under 60 due to the rare chance of blood clotting.

But many thousands of people of all ages have been given the jab overseas with very few instances of clots or other side effects.

At this stage Covid jabs are available to anyone over the age of 40 in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and other states.

All ages are eligible to get the jab in the Northern Territory.

But even when the rollout was limited to frontline workers, quarantine staff and older Australia, doctors, who may have to throw away a vaccine dose because somebody has not turned up for an appointment, still have the discretion to administer the shot to another member of the public.

Wilkinson, 61, who received her second dose of AstraZeneca on Tuesday, encouraged everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

The Project host (pictured) received her second dose of the Covid vaccine on Tuesday

'I was a little bit nervous because you do see stuff about the clots but I just figured, against the possibility of me getting Covid, particularly this Delta variant and dying from it, I knew which one I was going to take,' she said.

Strategic health policy expert Bill Bowtell at the University of NSW, told the panel the current outbreak which has wreaked havoc on Sydney with a total of 36 infections linked to the Bondi cluster, could have easily been avoided.

The soaring cluster was sparked by an unvaccinated airport driver in his 60s who was eligible for the vaccine but did not get vaccinated.

It's suspected he contracted the virus after ferrying infected international flight crew to Sydney Airport.

Wilkinson (pictured on The Project) said her husband simply phoned his local GP and asked to be on a standby list so that no inoculations are wasted - something anyone can do

'This came about because of yet another breach of quarantine arrangements run by NSW Health at Sydney Airport and the guidelines that allowed this case into the community have still not been changed, both in relation to wearing proper masks and PPE, and vaccinating the front line staff, in this case a driver,' Prof Bowtell said.

'So those guidelines have got to be changed. We cannot do this business as usual. Tonight in NSW, Australia, about only 5 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.

'That's another problem because the delta variant is spreading in a largely unvaccinated population.

'It is very different tonight in Israel where 57 per cent are fully vaccinated or in the US and UK where 45 per cent fully vaccinated.'
Twitter users reacted with a mix of laughter and disbelief at today's claims Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want their firstborn Archie to be called the Earl of Dumbarton because it contained the word 'dumb'.

Many joked the couple may be holding out for the Earl of Wokingham - because the LA-based Sussexes are considered so right-on - or pondered whether a dukedom on the Isles of Scilly would be better.

Others were angry on behalf of the people of Dumbarton in Scotland - a small town west of Glasgow on the banks of the River Clyde - saying it is 'insulting' to residents.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have not been keen on the Earl of Dumbarton title because they feared the young royal might be mocked and bullied as he grows up, the Telegraph reports.

Reacting to the story Ant Watts, tweeted: 'Should have offered the title Earl of Wokingham surely?' another wrote: 'How about the Earl of Wokingham? Seems to fit better!' Dozens more made the same joke.

GB News presenter Colin Brazier offered an alternative and said in a tongue-in-cheek tweet: 'The Dukedom of the Isles of Scilly never stood a chance'.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want to use the Earl of Dumbarton title for their son Archie because it contained the word 'dumb', it has been reported

Many rushed to suggest the Earl of Wokingham as an alternative to the right-on couple

Some suggested it was an insult to the people of Dumbarton in Scotland

The history behind the title 'The Earl of Dumbarton' The Earl of Dumbarton is a historic Scottish title which has been extinct for more than 250 years. It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas, who was also made Lord of Ettrick at the same time. Despite being born in Scotland, most likely in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, to the Marquess of Douglas, George, a catholic, spent much of his time in the service of French king Louis XIV. When James II ascended to the English and Scottish throne he was a trusted servant - even following him to exile in France after the Glorious Revolution. Following the death of their only son, the unmarried second Earl, both of Douglas' titles became extinct in January 1749. The second creation of the title was in 2018, when Prince Harry was made the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel on his wedding day to Meghan Markle. Dumbarton in Scotland pictured today The Scottish town of Dumbarton, from the Gaelic Dun Breatann, is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age. It was once the strategic stronghold of the Alclud Kingdom, making it the centre of British power in the north. The town was later granted the status of Royal burgh by Scotland's Alexander II in 1222. After his capture by the English in 1305, William Wallace was shortly imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle - today a popular tourist spot. Advertisement

Harry and Meghan were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Earl and Countess of Dumbarton and Baron and Baroness Kilkeel by the Queen on their wedding day.

However, they have rarely used the two other titles, with the couple instead going by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Sources meanwhile have reportedly told the Telegraph that the couple were not keen on using the Earl of Dumbarton - a title of Scottish nobility - for Archie because it began with the word 'dumb' and they were 'worried about how that might look'.

Another insider reportedly told the paper: 'It wasn't just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls, it also bothered Harry.'

Prince Harry, 36, is said to have not wanted to give his children titles anyway. Instead it is believed he wants to follow in the footsteps of his aunt, Princess Anne, who did not give titles to son Peter and daughter Zara.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph also reported how sources close to the Sussexes claim the couple 'never raised an issue' about Archie, two, not being made a prince.

It comes after reports in the Mail on Sunday suggested that Prince Charles had told Meghan and Harry that Archie would not be made a prince when he becomes king, as he plans to slim-down the number of 'front-line' royals.

The issue was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security.

Meghan told the US chat show host: 'They didn't want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and (said) that he wasn't going to receive security.

She added: 'In those months when I was pregnant we have in tandem the conversation of, you won't be given security, not gonna be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.'

However, the sources are said to have told the Telegraph that the couple had 'never raised an issue' about the titles, or lack off, until the interview.

It comes as the Mail on Sunday earlier this week claimed that Prince Charles had made it clear that Harry and Meghan's son will have no place among frontline Royals as he plans a slimmed-down Monarchy after he becomes King.

The Prince of Wales is said to have initially intended to include Harry and Meghan in his slimmed-down Monarchy, but the plan is said to have changed when the pair moved to America.

A grandchild of the sovereign has long had the right to be a Prince, but Charles is determined to limit the number of key Royals, believing the public does not wish to pay for an ever-expanding Monarchy.

'Dumb and dumber: BBC Radio 4's Nick Robinson chuckles and appears to poke fun at Harry and Meghan while co-host Justin Webb is in stitches over Earl of Dumbarton story BBC star Nick Robinson today jokingly appeared to refer to Harry and Meghan as 'dumb and dumber' on air while discussing claims the Sussexes didn't want their son to be named the Earl of Dumbarton. Fellow Today programme host Justin Webb also laughed out loud when discussing The Daily Telegraph's story claiming the couple did not want their eldest son to use the title because it contained the word 'dumb'. Listeners also enjoyed the funny moment that came weeks after Harry and Meghan declared war on the BBC over their claims that they failed to consult the Queen about using her nickname 'Lilibet' for their new daughter, with the couple's lawyers calling it 'false and defamatory'. This morning Mr Robinson appeared to poke fun at the couple during Today's paper review. A laughing Justin Webb said: 'The Daily Telegraph is claiming that Prince Harry and Meghan turned down the title of Earl of Dumbarton for their son Archie because it contained the word dumb. A spokesman for the couple declined to comment'. Co-host Nick Robinson then laughed and said: 'Dumb and dumber' before moving on to the next story. Mr Robinson told MailOnline after the show ended: 'I would be horrified if Mail readers thought I was making a comment of any sort though I can say that Im the Dumb one', adding: 'As for Justin...' The phrase 'dumb and dumber' is being widely used on social media by critics of the couple who have seen the Telegraph story. Advertisement

According to the Mail on Sunday, Charles told the Sussexes that he will change key legal documents to ensure that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right, according to a source close to the couple.

The move is said to have incensed the Sussexes and is thought to have prompted the series of bitter accusations the couple have levelled at Charles and the Royal Family from across the Atlantic.

However, it was later reported by the Sun that the decision for the couple to do their interview with Oprah came within 24 hours of Harry's military titles being removed in February's final Megxit deal.

It comes as a royal expert today claimed that Meghan and Harrys decision to buy a 'Lili Diana' website almost a week before their daughter's birth and 'Lilibet Diana' on the day she arrived indicates they had 'already made up their minds' on the name before speaking to the Queen.

Four days before Lili was born in California the domain LiliDiana.com was registered on May 31 followed by LilibetDiana.com on June 4  the day Archie's younger sister entered the world.

'Lilibet' was first used by the then Princess Elizabeth when she was unable to pronounce her own name and was used affectionately by her grandfather George V and later her husband Philip until he died in April.

Following claims by the BBC that the Queen had not been consulted, Harry and Meghan's lawyers said it was 'false and defamatory' to suggest they did not discuss using the name with Her Majesty.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'The fact they registered it before the name was announced tends to indicate that they had made up their minds and probably only told the Queen once they'd decided on it.

'When they issued a statement it said Harry had rung the Queen before anyone else and discussed the name with her. That may well be right but that's not the same as asking permission days or even weeks beforehand. I think the Queen might have been caught off guard and probably didn't object to it because she doesn't want to upset Harry any further'.

He added: 'But from what I hear the Palace has not denied the BBC story which claimed Harry didn't ask permission before announcing the name.'

Evening Standard Royal Editor Robert Jobson suggested that the couple may have undermined their legal threat against the BBC, tweeting today that their lawyers could now be 'without a paddle'.

The public announcement of Lilibet Diana's arrival came two days later. Harry insists he spoke to his grandmother about the name 'in advance of the announcement' but has not been specific on when that exactly was only to say: 'His grandmother was the first family member he called'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have not been keen on the title because they feared the young royal might be mocked, the Telegraph reports

The Queen, who bestows titles, yesterday met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson face to face for the first time in more than 15 months

The issue of titles was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security

A spokesman for the couple told The Telegraph: 'As is often customary with public figures, a significant number of domains of any potential names that were considered were purchased... to protect against the exploitation of the name once it was later chosen and shared.'

The statement suggests that had Her Majesty refused to allow them to use Lilibet they would have gone for another name amongst the 'significant' number of domains they bought before the birth.

MailOnline had contacted representatives of the Sussexes for comment.
A 'shocked' Caprice has been told her name and phone numbers are listed in Jeffrey Epstein's Little Black Book, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

The US model, 49, has no idea who gave the billionaire paedophile her contact details because only her close family have her home numbers.

A source close to Caprice said she 'doesn't want to be involved' and finds the allegations of a paedophile ring 'totally toxic'.

Epstein, who killed himself in prison in August 2019, cultivated an extraordinary cache of more than 1,000 phone numbers and email addresses for hundreds of famous names across the Atlantic.

The source added: 'Caprice is shocked to hear her name is in Jeffrey Epsteins Little Black Book of contacts.

'She didnt know he had her personal phone numbers or who he got them from. It wasnt just her mobile number but the landlines of two of her personal residences in the UK and NYC. Only close family had those numbers for in an emergency.

Caprice (pictured), 49, has no idea who gave Jeffrey Epstein her contact details, because only her close family have her home numbers

A source close to Caprice said she 'doesn't want to be involved' and finds the allegations of a paedophile ring 'totally toxic'. Pictured, Caprice's contact is listed in the book

Caprice knew Ghislaine Maxwell, who the source said 'was always nice to Caprice', adding that the star 'was really shocked when the story broke about her and Jeffrey'.

Last year it was revealed Caprice dated Prince Andrew, who has been accused of having sex with one of Epstein's 'sex slaves', Virginia Giuffre.

Prince Andrew let Caprice sit on the Queen's throne at Buckingham Palace during one of their dates, it was claimed.

Epstein's (pictured) 'little black book' contained the names of 301 of Britain's richest and most powerful people

The Duke of York, 60, met the American lingerie designer at a dinner party and the pair dated for two months in 2000, reports The Sun.

On one of the dates he took her to Buckingham Palace and let her take a decorative bowl without staff knowing, according to the paper.

Meanwhile, Epstein's 'little black book' contained the names of 301 of Britain's richest and most powerful people including Sir Mick Jagger, Tony Blair, Sir Richard Branson, Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson.

Epstein is said to have written down 16 phone numbers for Prince Andrew including a mobile number and landlines for Sandringham and Balmoral, where the prince once invited him for a visit.

There were also 18 numbers for Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who once had a 15,000 dept paid off by Epstein, according to the Mirror.

Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair was recorded once, while his former cabinet minister Lord Mandelson had ten numbers recorded, including one marked 'direct line', one marked 'home' and one marked 'country home'.

Other names and numbers in his book are said to include Sir Mick Jagger, Sir David Frost, Richard Branson, Naomi Campbell, and a number of members of the House of Lords.

Royal connection: Epstein kept the details of Sarah Ferguson (left) and Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer

Other royal connections in the list include 'Charles Althorp', meaning Charles, Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, and Rosa Monckton, the late princess's best friend.

The book is also said to contain contacts of Epsteins former girlfriend Ms Maxwell, the daughter of Robert Maxwell, including her extended family, friends and brief acquaintances.

The book is now in the hands of the FBI - but there is no suggestion that the people named were involved with Epstein's crimes and many will never have met him.

In total there are 97 pages of records, five of which appear to be notes made by lawyers or investigators before the records were entered into court records.

The list was cited as an exhibit - and therefore entered into court records - as lawyers for women who alleged they were abused by Epstein brought a damages claim against him.

Virginia Roberts in front of Naomi Campbell and Flavio Briatore at an Epstein party

A spokesman for Richard Branson said previously: Jeffrey Epstein has the island next door to Necker but Richard has literally only met him once for about five minutes. Thats the extent of it.

Epstein also kept another diary with the names of over 100 'recruits' from areas where he had residences, including New York and Palm Beach, Florida, as well as Paris.

Alfredo Rodriguez, one of Epstein's household employees, took a journal that he referred to as the 'Holy Grail' from Epstein's computer 'that reflected many of the names of underage females Epstein abused across the country and the world, including locations such as Michigan, California, West Palm Beach, New York, New Mexico, and Paris, France'.

Epstein is pictured with his associate and one-time girlfriend and alleged fixer Ghislaine Maxwell in 2005

In 2015, court papers claimed the journal identified 'among other Epstein acquaintances, females that Rodriguez believes were underage under the heading "Massages"'.

Rodriguez was later charged in a criminal complaint with obstruction of justice in connection with trying to obtain $50,000 from civil attorneys pursuing civil sexual assault cases against Epstein as payment for producing the book to the attorneys.

Court papers state that Rodriguez argued he needed the money because the journal was his insurance - as he feared Epstein would make him 'disappear'. Because of the importance of the information in the journal to the civil cases, Rodriguez called it 'The Holy Grail'.

Rodriguez was later found guilty of obstruction of justice and served 18 months in prison.

Epstein alleged in court papers that the journal contained the names of people who had 'no connection whatsoever' to his litigation, including Donald Trump.

Prosecutors believe Epstein orchestrated a network of students who were lined up by other young women and then forced to satisfy the hedge fund billionaire's wishes.
Ukraine's foreign minister has blasted a proposal from Germany and France for the EU to consider restarting summits with Russia, ahead of a debate on the issue by the bloc's leaders.

'Initiatives to resume EU summits with Russia without seeing any progress from the Russian side will be a dangerous deviation from EU sanctions policy,' Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting the EU's foreign policy chief in Brussels.

'The decision to freeze summits between the EU and Russia was taken in 2014 against the background of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Unfortunately, Russia has not demonstrated any will to change its policy, neither towards Ukraine, nor towards the EU, and we believe that the resumption of summits is groundless.'

Berlin and Paris on Wednesday put forward a last minute proposal ahead of a meeting in Brussels of EU leaders for the bloc to contemplate a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the wake of US President Joe Biden's sit-down with him in Geneva last week.

It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said that the stability of Europe required a dialogue with Russia, as he attempted to persuade his reluctant EU counterparts to consider talks with Moscow.

Talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin 'is necessary for the stability of the European continent, but it will be demanding because we will not give up any of our values', he said as he arrived for an EU summit in Brussels.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, left, gives a joint statement next to his Moldova's counterpart Aureliu Ciocoi, second left, Georgia's counterpart David Zalkaliani, second right, and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, right, after their meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, June 24

But there remains resistance from numerous EU members states - especially in eastern Europe - who were blindsided by the push and remain deeply wary of talking to the Kremlin.

EU ambassadors failed to thrash out a common position on the proposal late Wednesday and left it for the leaders to hammer out the details.

The 27-nation bloc is looking to revamp its strategy on keeping its vast eastern neighbour in check as Brussels admits that relations with the Kremlin look set to deteriorate further despite having already reached their 'lowest level'.

The German-French plan insists the EU has to stand firm and united on Moscow, but should look to engage with the Kremlin on issues of mutual interest such as climate change, health, the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

Proposed draft conclusions put forward by Berlin and Paris for the EU summit say the bloc 'will review the existing formats of dialogue with Russia, including at Leaders' level'.

But they also lay out that leaders will ask the European Commission 'to present options for additional restrictive measures, including economic sanctions' to push back against 'any further malign, illegal and disruptive activity by Russia'.

The EU gathering on Thursday is set to be the last for German Chancellor Angela Merkel before an election to decide her successor in September.

Berlin and Paris on Wednesday put forward a last minute proposal ahead of a meeting in Brussels of EU leaders for the bloc to contemplate a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, pictured above, in the wake of US President Joe Biden's sit-down with him in Geneva last week

Merkel has taken the lead among leaders in the bloc in dealing with Putin as ties have unravelled over the past seven years.

'In my opinion, we as the European Union must also seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president,' she told the German parliament on Thursday.

'It is not enough for the American president to talk to the Russian president,' she said, stressing that the European Union too 'must also create different formats for talks'.

One European diplomat argued that 'the EU must stand firm and establish a counterbalance against Russia. It must also put itself in a position to resist, in particular, cyberattacks. And it must be able to engage in dialogue with Russia on the subjects for which it has interests.'

Another countered that it was 'premature' to talk about a meeting with the Russian leader.

'Why have a summit with Putin if there is nothing positive to discuss,' the diplomat said.

Details on the exact format for any potential meeting with Putin are still unclear - and it remains to be seen if it would involve all 27 national leaders or the heads of the European Commission and Council.

The last summit between EU chiefs in Brussels and Putin took place in early 2014, with the Kremlin strongman preferring to deal bilaterally with individual nations since then.

Ties between the EU and Russia have been in the doldrums since the Kremlin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014.

The bloc has slapped waves of sanctions on Moscow, and Russia has responded with its own counter-measures.

This is the moment a Russian jet buzzed low over HMS Defender as it sailed past Crimea on Wednesday, before warning shots and bombs were fired in the Royal Navy destroyer's path after it was accused of crossing into territorial waters

It comes after British Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender was met with a Russian jet that buzzed low over the vessel as it sailed past Crimea on Wednesday.

Warning shots and bombs were allegedly fired in the Royal Navy destroyer's path after it was accused of crossing into territorial waters.

HMS Defender was told: 'If you don't change course I'll fire,' after it entered the 12-mile limit of Crimea's territorial waters near Cape Fiolent in the Black Sea.

Moscow boasted that an Su-24 dropped four bombs in the vessel's path after it refused to back down and warning shots were fired from their patrol ship, but Britain has flatly denied the claims, saying the destroyer stayed in international waters and no shots were fired.
The EU's ambassador to the UK today delivered a rebuke to Emmanuel Macron after France threatened to cut off Jersey's electricity supply in a row over fishing rights.

Joao Vale de Almeida, the bloc's representative in London, said all post-Brexit disputes must be resolved through the formal mechanisms set out in the divorce and trade deals.

He said the flashpoint over Jersey last month was an example of 'where we did not start well' and that 'we should aim at going back to the normal procedures'.

He told peers on the European Affairs Committee that both Britain and the bloc have a 'collective responsibility to further de-dramatise this relationship'.

Emmanuel Macron faced criticism after his ministers threatened to cut off power to Jersey in a row over post-Brexit fishing rights

The row centred around French fishermen saying they were being prevented from operating in British waters because of difficulties in obtaining licences. French vessels are pictured off the coast of Jersey on May 6

France threatened to cut off Jersey's power at the start of May as tensions exploded because of a row over fishing rights.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin had suggested Paris would cut off electricity to the island if the dispute was not resolved.

Jersey gets 95 per cent of its power supply from France via an underground cable.

Boris Johnson responded to the threat by sending two Royal Navy gunships to the area amid fears a fleet of 100 fishing boats from the continent could try to block access to the port at St Helier.

The row centred around French fishermen saying they were being prevented from operating in British waters because of difficulties in obtaining licences.

Tensions cooled in the weeks that followed and Mr Vale de Almeida was asked this morning how he believes disputes like the one relating to Jersey should be resolved.

He replied: I think the methodology overall is for us to use the instruments we created, the bodies we set up within the Withdrawal Agreement, the joint committees, specialised committees within the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, a number of committees and working groups.

It is quite a complex governance structure we realise but it is the one that will allow us to address the issues in a consensual way, in a cooperative way.

We want to avoid unilateral measures and as we know we have some differences of view on that with the British government.

So if I go back to the fishing rights I think it is a good example where we did not start well and that we should aim at going back to the normal procedures.

But I am encouraged by what I have seen in the recent weeks because the EU and the UK have found an agreement on total allowable catch for 2021 a couple of weeks ago.

Mr Vale de Almeida said both sides need to work on cooling post-Brexit tensions amid a rumbling row over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

I look forward to a lowering of temperature of the public discourse about this relationship and I am not thinking of anyone in particular,' he said.

I think it is a collective responsibility to further de-dramatise this relationship and look at concrete answers to concrete problems within the terms of the agreements we made.
The March 2020 lockdown led to a drop in fertility rates and not the baby boom previously predicted, it has emerged.

Fertility rates in England and Wales for December 2020 and January 2021 showed 'relatively steep decreases' compared with a year earlier, down by 8.1% and 10.2% respectively, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Births in these months would have mostly been conceived in the weeks following the start of the lockdown.

Previous data collected by the long-running National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles found physical intimacy between British couples halved during the first lockdown.

Other studies of the under-35s have found that during the three lockdowns, a third of couples were having less sex with their partner and a quarter none at all.

However, there was a year-on-year increase in the fertility rate for March 2021 of 1.7%, which suggests that sex was very much back on the table when 'lockdown restrictions were beginning to be eased in summer 2020', the ONS said.

Fertility rates in England and Wales for December 2020 and January 2021 showed 'relatively steep decreases'. Births in these months would have mostly been conceived in the weeks following the start of the lockdown

In May, a new survey revealed that four in ten Britons have not been intimate with their loved-one over the entire Covid pandemic  with most blaming working from home.

Nearly 80 per cent of married people said their partner never initiates sex and the typical adult rates their sex life at an underwhelming 2.9 out of ten  compared with 7.3 at the beginning of their relationship.

The new data released from the ONS seems to reflect a drop in sex throughout the pandemic.

Fertility rates are the number of live births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44.

The rate for December 2020 was 50.1, down from 54.5 for December 2019, while the rate for January 2021 was 50.3, down from 56.0 in January 2020.

By contrast, the rate for March 2021 was 55.2: up from 54.3 in 2020.

The figures also show that the total number of live births in England and Wales in 2020 fell for the fifth successive year in a row.

Some 615,557 live births took place during the year, down 4% on 2019, and a drop of 16% from the recent peak of 730,883 births in 2012.

There were 2,429 stillbirths in England and Wales last year, the equivalent of 3.9 per 1,000 births, the ONS said. This is down slightly from 2,596 stillbirths and a rate of 4.0 in 2019.

The stillbirth rate for January 2021 was 4.7 - the highest for any calendar month since March 2018.

January 2021 coincided with the height of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic but the ONS said the rate was 'within the plausible range that we might expect to see from random variation', noting there are relatively low numbers of stillbirths each month, and there were 226 stillbirths in January 2021 compared with 207 in January 2020.

A timeline of the different UK coronavirus lockdowns, from March 2020 to March 2021

Meanwhile the total fertility rate in England and Wales for this year could end up being the lowest ever recorded, the ONS suggested.

Based on data for the first three months of the year, the rate for 2021 is estimated to be 1.53 children per woman. This is down from 1.92 children per woman in 2011.

The total fertility rate is the average number of live children a group of women would bear if they experienced age-specific fertility rates throughout their childbearing life.

Discussing the lack of lockdown sex, psychosexual therapist Murray Blacket, said: 'You stop recognising the unique qualities in your partner that made you attracted to them in the first place.'

Other specialists say the mundane routine of lockdown made it hard to connect with sexual feelings.

'Sexuality is often seen as something different and extra to our everyday lives,' says sex therapist Marian O'Connor from the relationship counselling charity Tavistock Relationships. 'The routine of lockdown has meant that many couples find it hard to get into that sense of otherness or specialness.'

While women are twice as likely to lose sexual interest in their partner compared with men, according to a study by University College London, other researchers lay the blame for the lack of lockdown libido on that mood-killer  stress.

'All of the polls during lockdowns have shown that women bear the brunt of domestic stress by leading the home schooling or doing the endless cooking,' says Dr Machin.
Tribunal heard he was asked for racism example during the 'safe space' session

A council worker who was sacked for using the N-word on an anti-radicalisation training course has won a claim for unfair dismissal.

Ian Stevenson used the racial epithet after being asked to give an example of racism that he had witnessed.

Shortly before the course's instructor had told him and other employees that the session was a 'safe space'.

But an employment tribunal heard that there was no definition for what that actually meant.

After Mr Stevenson said the N-word in full, other staff on the course complained and he was sacked for gross misconduct.

Council worker Ian Stevenson was sacked for gross misconduct after staff complained about his use of the N-word during a Prevent training meeting for Redbridge London Borough Council employees. Pictured: Redbridge council's head office

However, he has now won a case for unfair dismissal after a judge ruled Redbridge London Borough Council, where he had worked for 32 years, should have resolved the matter differently.

Mr Stevenson, who apologised for using the word in full, is now in line for compensation.

The East London employment tribunal heard Mr Stevenson, an applications support officer with a clean disciplinary record, attended a Prevent training programme with five other colleagues in February 11.

Despite the course being about anti-radicalisation, Mr Stevenson raised issues surrounding racism.

A tribunal report said: 'The facilitator of the session had said that the session was a "safe space".

However, the report noted: 'There is no definition of what using the phrase "safe space" means within the [council] and there is no universal understanding of what it means or what is allowed when the phrase is used.'

The hearing was told that although the course was about radicalisation, Mr Stevenson raised the issue of racism, specifically around Jewish jokes, stereotypes and websites.

'During the course of this session Mr Stevenson asked a question of the facilitator around when situations should be reported as racism as sometimes it was unclear,' the tribunal said.

'She asked him to give an example and Mr Stevenson relayed a situation he had been in in 1985 when a black person had referred to his then girlfriend, who was also black, using the N-word.

'In the course of relating this example Mr Stevenson used the N-word in full.

'Mr Stevenson said sorry in the training session after he had used the N-word. No one at the session said to Mr Stevenson he should not have used the N-word in full.'

However, following the course several other course participants complained about him with one saying the use of the word had had a 'significant' impact on him.

The council launched disciplinary action against Mr Stevenson.

The report added: 'Mr Stevenson accepted at the disciplinary hearing that he had reflected on the impact of his language on the individuals and said he felt 'terrible'.

'Mr Stevenson also accepted that he could have got his message across without using the N-word in full. He agreed that he should have used another word. He went on to accept that he should not have said it.'

In July 2020 he was sacked was sacked for gross misconduct, however Employment Judge Imogen Noons ruled that it was unfair.

No other action apart from a disciplinary hearing - such as mediation - was considered by the council and it claimed he didn't show remorse when he did, the judge found.

But, she criticised Mr Stevenson for using the N-word in full when there was no need.

Judge Noons said: 'Mr Stevenson was a long serving employee of the council. He had attended diversity and inclusion training courses and by his own account he knows that the N-word is extremely offensive and in fact he, himself, was offended by its use.

'The N-word is an offensive and racially loaded term and is not appropriate for use in the workplace.

'One of the complainants made clear he was impacted by the use of this word. Mr Stevenson could have told the same story but just said "and the individual used the N-word", rather than saying it in full.

'The story he was telling would still have made sense and would still have had impact. The facilitator would still have understood the question he was asking and have been able to answer him.'

Any compensation Mr Stevenson receives at a future hearing will be reduced by 90 per cent, she ruled.
Covid may have been circulating in China as early as October 2019, according to another study.

Doctors in Wuhan  the city at the centre of the pandemic  only raised the alarm about a cluster of patients being struck down with a mysterious virus on that New Year's Eve.

Beijing officials have insisted the virus originated in mid-December. But a mountain of studies have since poked holes in the claim.

Now British researchers tracing the origin of the pandemic have waded into the debate, finding more evidence the disease emerged that autumn.

University of Kent experts believe the most likely date the first person was infected was November 17. But their analysis also concludes it is entirely possible the virus was circulating in early October.

The map shows the estimated origin date per country, with darker colours indicating that the virus had spread to that country between November 2019 and January 2020. Lighter colours indicate that someone in those countries did not catch Covid until closer to March 2020

The researchers found that the origin date of the first Covid cases in countries outside of China was on average 4.2 days before the first national case was verified. Timor, part of an Island in southeast Asia, and Sint Maarten, part of an island in the Caribbean, took 24 days to verify their first cases, the longest of any other countries

How Covid spread across the world Researchers at the University of Kent applied a calculation used to determine when species went extinct to pinpoint the first Covid case in certain countries. The found that the first case of the virus outside of China would have been in Japan, while the virus spread to Europe via Spain. China: November 17 Japan: January 3 Thailand: January 7 Spain: January 12 South Korea: January 14 North America: January 16 France: January 19 UK: January 22 Australia: January 23 Germany: January 26 Nigeria: February 9 Brazil: February 19 Advertisement

It comes after another bombshell study yesterday claimed that Chinese researchers tried to cover-up crucial data from some of the first patients to be infected.

That analysis also revealed that the virus was circulating before the outbreak at the Huanan Seafood Market, which has been pinpointed as the ground zero of the pandemic.

Suspicions are growing that the virus may have accidentally leaked from a high-level biosecurity laboratory in Wuhan.

But China  which told the WHO that the first symptoms of Covid dated back to December 8  says it is not responsible for the pandemic and has dismissed theories about the disease being manmade.

The Kent study, based on mathematical modelling, also claimed the virus had spread to Japan, Spain and North America by early and mid-January, slightly earlier than the dates recorded by these countries.

Scientists aimed to identify when the coronavirus originated in China, the first five countries it spread to and when, and when a case was identified in each continent.

Dating the first Covid cases is 'critical' for understanding the spread of the disease, the research paper, published in journal PLOS Pathogens, states.

The researchers used a mathematical tool  called Optical Linear Estimation (OLE)  which was developed to determine when species became extinct.

The OLE uses data about the last time a species was known to be around to estimate how long afterwards it went extinct. To determine Covid's origins, they reversed this calculation.

While China has tried to insist the virus originated elsewhere, academics, politicians and the media have begun to contemplate the possibility it leaked from a high-level biochemical lab in Wuhan - raising suspicions that Chinese officials simply hid evidence of the early spread

More proof Covid came from a lab leak? China 'DELETED' samples from earliest patients that indicated virus was circulating in Wuhan BEFORE seafood market outbreak in December 2019 Chinese scientists have deleted crucial data from the earliest confirmed Covid patients, it emerged yesterday amid intense scrutiny about the true origins of the disease. Dozens of test samples from patients in epicentre Wuhan were found to have been wiped from an international database used to track the virus' evolution. The files could have provided vital clues about how the virus originated and how long it had been spreading before the seafood market outbreak in December 2019. The American professor who spotted their deletion and managed to recover some of the data said they suggested Covid was circulating long before China's official timeline. He found the early samples of the virus were more evolved than would be expected of a pathogen that had recently jumped from animals to humans  but did not say it gave more weight to the 'lab leak' theory. Professor Jesse Bloom, a virologist from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said he believed China had removed the files to 'obscure their existence'. British scientists told MailOnline the findings confirm Covid was spreading in people before being linked to wet markets, 'perhaps months before'. The latest cover-up comes amid mounting suspicion the virus may have accidentally leaked from a high-level biosecurity laboratory in Wuhan. Boris Johnson's former chief aide Dominic Cummings said Professor Bloom's find pointed further 'towards' the 'lab leak' theory. The cover-up was detailed in a scientific paper titled 'Recovery of deleted deep sequencing data sheds more light on the early Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 epidemic' today. Forty-five positive samples had originally been uploaded to the National Institute of Healths (NIH) Sequence Read Archive by the Wuhan University in early March 2020. The NIH is a US Government agency responsible for biomedical and public health research. The samples were published as part of a study into diagnosing Covid patients using PCR tests  just days before the Chinese Government issued an order requiring approval of the publication of all coronavirus data. Professor Bloom noted all 45 samples have since been pulled from the database, with 'no plausible scientific reason for the deletion'. He said the most likely explanation was to 'abuse' and 'obscure' the truth about the origins of the pandemic. The professor explained scientists can get their genetic samples removed from the NIH's database with relative ease, normally via an email request. He said that while there were often legitimate and valid reasons for having them deleted, there was no evidence of any in the case of the Wuhan samples. 'The current study suggests... the trusting structures of science have been abused to obscure sequences relevant to the early spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan,' he wrote. However, he defended staff at the NIH's Sequence Read Archive, explaining that they have to manage more than 13million samples, 'making it infeasible for its staff to validate the rationale for all requests'. The virologist was able to partially recover 13 of the samples using Google Cloud and then sequence the viruses. He noted several genetic differences between the strains in the deleted samples and the virus that eventually spread around the world. Advertisement

The researchers applied the OLE to Covid figures to estimate that Japan was the first country the virus spread to, with the first person becoming infected there on January 3.

Officially, the first case outside of China was spotted in Thailand on 13 January.

Dr Roberts and colleagues found the first case in Thailand was likely to have actually occurred on January 7.

By January 12, the virus had spread to Spain.

Official data shows that Japan confirmed its first case on January 16 and Spain on January 31.

It then reached South Korea on January 14 and North America two days later.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid, spread to Australia on January 23, while the first case in Africa was likely in Nigeria on February 9, experts estimated.

The virus had spread to all continents by February 19, with someone being infected in Brazil, according to the researchers.

Their calculation found that the first case in France most likely occurred on January 19. But the researchers noted that France has since spotted disease in a patient on December 27, days before China even raised the alarm about the pandemic.

The researchers conclude Covid likely 'spilled over into humans much earlier' than December 2019.

But they noted the accuracy of their predictions depends on the quality of testing and reporting in different countries.

A separate study by Harvard University found 'significant changes' to hospital and internet search traffic in Wuhan from August to October 2019.

It suggested that the origin could be even early than the period considered by the Kent University scientists.

The experts said their findings support 'growing evidence that the pandemic arose sooner and grew more rapidly than officially accepted'.

Top scientists and Government officials in the UK and globally had publicly written off the 'lab leak' hypothesis as a conspiracy until recently.

But recent developments and revelations about the type of research that went on at the Wuhan lab has led to growing doubts about the virus' origin.

Boris Johnson has said that the possibility that it escaped from the viral institute in Wuhan has not been ruled out.

US infectious diseases boss Dr Anthony Fauci has faced calls to resign over the scandal after he last year dismissed the theory as nonsense but appeared to be considering it behind closed doors.

And scientists who put their names to a letter denouncing the 'lab leak' theory last year have since changed their minds and said a full inquiry is required.

President Joe Biden has ordered a full investigation into the origin of the pandemic virus and demanded scientists work out whether there is truth to the theory.

The head of the WHO insisted just a day earlier that the theory that Covid emerged from a Wuhan lab has not been ruled out  as he said China should help solve the mystery out of 'respect' for the dead.

The body's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, suggested that Beijing had not cooperated fully as he urged more 'transparency' in the continuing investigation.

The latest twist in the lab leak theory saga came this week, when British scientist Peter Daszak had been removed from a commission looking at the origins of the pandemic.

Professor Daszak secretly denounced the lab leak theory while failing to mention his close ties to the same facility.

The scandal-hit scientist's departure from the UN-backed Lancet commission into the virus's origins was revealed on its website.

It added a sentence in brackets under his photo and above his biography, saying 'recused from Commission work on the origins of the pandemic.'

No further information on Daszak's departure was given - but he has faced conflict of interest claims after his close ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology were revealed last month.

Daszak, 55, president of the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance, was one of 28 experts from around the world asked to analyze how best to respond to the pandemic.

The panel comprised leading global figures in public health, economics, philanthropy, diplomacy and politics.
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Russia summoned the UK's ambassador in Moscow for a formal telling off today as relations between the two nations continued to deteriorate after the air and sea skirmish in the Black Sea.

Russia's foreign ministry summoned Deborah Bronnert in order to deliver a 'tough demarche' - diplomatic jargon for a firm rebuke.

It came as Boris Johnson borrowed a page out of Vladimir Putin's playbook as he joined the British Army for land and air manoeuvres before declaring the Royal Navy will not be dictated to by Moscow following yesterday's incident.

As Russian officials promised to bomb any ship unlawfully in Crimean waters, the PM said it was 'entirely right' for HMS Defender to have been travelling close to the peninsula because the UK does not recognise Russia's 'illegal' claim to the territory.

Mr Johnson dodged the question of whether he had personally authorised the Royal Navy destroyer to use the route but insisted that British ships would make the same journey again if needed, despite Russian threats.

Mr Putin's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov warned against 'provocative steps' and vowed that Russia will bomb any ships who 'violate the state borders of the Russian Federation'.

Moscow claimed it fired warning shots at the destroyer as it passed through the contested part of the Black Sea but that assertion was dismissed by the UK which said Russia was conducting a routine 'gunnery exercise'.

Russia subsequently accused the UK of telling 'barefaced lies' about what had happened but Mr Johnson struck a defiant tone as he hit back and said: 'Well, they're the bear.'

Earlier, the Environment Secretary George Eustice had hinted that he believed Russia's claim of British aggression was a stunt, with Moscow trying to paint a regular military exercise as something more significant.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace rubbished the claim of shots being directed at the ship, telling MPs: 'At no point were warning shots fired at HMS Defender, nor bombs dropped in her path as has been asserted by the Russian authorities.'

Mr Johnson said: 'I think it was wholly appropriate to use international waters. This is part of sovereign Ukrainian territory, it was entirely right that we should vindicate the law and pursue freedom of navigation in the way that we did, take the shortest route between two points, and that's what we did.'

He added: 'We don't recognise the Russian annexation of Crimea, it was illegal, these are Ukrainian waters and it was entirely right to use them to go from A to B.'

The PM spoke out on visit to New Normandy Barracks in Aldershot, where he addressed soldiers, drove an armoured vehicle complete with machine gun before jumping into a helicopter in aviation gear for the flight back to London.

Mr Putin is well known for building his own hard man image by posing with his own Armed Forces. The former KGB chief is commonly pictured with his shirt off - sometimes fishing, holding a gun or riding on horseback - and won Russia's sexiest man award again in April.

HMS Defender was passing through the Black Sea around 12 miles from the Crimean city of Sevastopol as part of an exercise also involving a Dutch frigate having just left the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa.

Mr Johnson said: 'I think it was very important for the carrier strike group to do what they're going to do around the world, in partnership with 40 other countries on manoeuvres, sticking up for our values, sticking up for what we believe in. That includes democracy, human rights, equalities, but also the rule of law and freedom of navigation. We don't recognise the Russian annexation of Crimea, it was illegal'.

The PM spoke out as:

Defence committee chair Tobias Ellwood told MailOnline that the UK should not be 'spooked' by Russian sabre-rattling - as Labour MP Chris Bryant faced a backlash after tweeting that the UK forces taking that route near Crimea seemed like a 'set up';

A top Russian official and ally of Mr Putin has warned British warships could be bombed the next time they sail too close to Crimea after warning shots were allegedly fired at HMS Defender on Wednesday;

Cabinet minister George Eustice dismissed Russian claims that warning shots were fired at the Royal Navy destroyer but admitted Moscow may have been trying to make a point by staging a 'gunnery exercise' in the vicinity;

A Daily Mail reporter was on board the destroyer as repeated bursts of cannon fire rang out in a dramatic incident that opened up a fresh diplomatic crisis;

UK Ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in central Moscow today for a formal telling off over the Black Sea skirmish

Boris Johnson, pictured boarding a helicopter in London today to travel to an Army base in Aldershot, insisted Britain had every right to sail close to Crimea

Mr Johnson is pictured behind the wheel of an armoured vehicle complete with machine gun belonging to Britain's the new Ranger Regiment during a visit to mark Armed Forces Week, at the Aldershot Garrison in Aldershot

Russia released footage filmed from one of its Su-24M attack jets which showed HMS Defender sailing off Crimea - but not the moment it alleges shots were fired and four bombs were dropped

Mr Johnson elbow bumped with soldiers during the visit to Aldershot Garrison in Aldershot to mark Armed Forces Week

Senior soldiers showed the PM around the barracks and showed him new weaponry and vehicles

Mr Johnson appeared to be borrowing a page from the playbook of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is well known for his macho photo shoots

The Ministry of Defence has flatly denied Russia's claims, saying no warning shots were fired

A top Russian official has warned British warships could be bombed the next time they sail too close to Crimea after warning shots were fired at HMS Defender on Wednesday.

The British Type 45 destroyer sailed within the 12-mile limit of Crimea near Cape Fiolent in the Black Sea which Russia claims as its own territory but the West sees as international waters.

After the flashpoint, which saw 20 Su-24s buzzing over the Royal Navy vessel, Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov warned: 'What can we do? We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law.

'If this does not help, we can bomb not only in the direction but also on target, if our colleagues do not understand.

'I warn everyone violating the state borders of the Russian Federation under the slogan of free navigation, from such provocative steps, because the security of our country comes first.'

Backing up his comments, the Kremlin said Moscow that would respond harshly to any similar actions in the future and warned against any further 'provocations'.

Despite their warnings, British minister George Eustice said 'of course' Royal Navy ships will continue to sail through the disputed waters around Crimea, saying: 'We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.'

Defence committee chair Tobias Ellwood told MailOnline that the UK should not be 'spooked' by Russian sabre-rattling.

'The journos helped destroy the Russian version of events. But it does show how dis-information is now very much part of Russian strategy,' he said.

'This was an attempt to label the West as the aggressor and Putin getting all of us talking about him. And Putin loves nothing more than being at the centre of attention!'

Labour MP Chris Bryant also faced a backlash after tweeting that the UK forces taking that route near Crimea seemed like a 'set up'.

'It seems odd that journalists and a camera crew just happened to be on HMS Defender. I'm a long-standing critic of Putin and Russian annexation of Crimea but this all feels like a setup.'

Tories privately said Mr Bryant had 'lost the plot' and was risking handing Russia a propaganda tool by suggesting it was wrong to sail in what Britain regards as international waters.

Former defence minister Mark Francois told MailOnline: 'HMS Defender was conducting a freedom of navigation exercise in international waters under international law.

'There is nothing unusual in having embedded journalists reporting on the work of the Armed Forces, which has been a regular practice for decades.

'As someone who has not always been the BBC's greatest fan I thought I that Jonathan Beale's report showed what a credit the Royal Navy are to this country.'

Conservative MP Bob Seely did not criticise Mr Bryant directly, but said: 'The British are making a point that we don't recognise Russia's illegal Crimea annexation.

'That is a pretty sensible point to be making because if you accept it is Russian territorial waters you de facto accept the Russians have annexed part of another state.'

Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov (pictured) has vowed to bomb the British warship the next time it sails too close to Crimea after warning shots were fired at HMS Defender on Wednesday

Images released by the Russian defence ministry shows the SU-24s buzzing above the destroyer and lining the vessel up in its crosshairs

Britain's Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood (right), admitted it is a 'dangerous game' to provoke Russia and other powers by sailing in disputed waters, while Lord Alan West (left) accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing to the home audience'

Cabinet minister George Eustice dismissed Russian claims that warning shots were fired at the Royal Navy destroyer but admitted Moscow may have been trying to make a point by staging a 'gunnery exercise' in the vicinity.

Dramatic eyewitness accounts revealed the Type 45 destroyer was buzzed by Russian military jets and the sound of naval gunfire could be heard as it sailed from Odessa in Ukraine to Georgia on Wednesday.

Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'Under international law you can take the closest, fastest route from one point to another. HMS Defender was passing through Ukrainian waters, I think on the way to Georgia, and that was the logical route for it to take.

'This is a very normal thing, it's quite common actually. What was actually going on is the Russians were doing a gunnery exercise, they had given prior notice of that, they often do in that area.

'So, I think it's important people don't get carried away.'

Asked if the Government would do it again, he said 'of course, yes', adding: 'We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.'

He said while the gunner exercise was the 'official reason' given for the Russian activities, 'whether that was cover for them to try and make some point, we don't know'.

'Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't,' he told ITV's Good Morning Britain.

Britain's prime minister met with soldiers of the new Ranger Regiment during a visit to mark Armed Forces Week, at the Aldershot Garrison in Aldershot, amid the diplomatic row

PM Boris Johnson leaves London by Helicopter this morning wearing a Flying Helmet

The PM was visiting the Army's Aldershot garrison, an area that covers approximately 500 acres and its population is about 10,500 people

Mr Johnson gave a funny speech under canvas in Aldershot today

Then there was the more serious business of looking at the Ranger Regiment's vehicles and machines guns

Boris seemed particularly pleased to be jumping into the armoured vehicle and getting behind the wheel

Mr Johnson also spoke to soldiers and listened to their stories in a field tent

British ambassador Deborah Bronnert was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow after Russia accused the Type 45 destroyer of straying into its territorial waters.

Former Royal Navy chief Admiral Lord West accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of 'playing to the home audience'.

The former first sea lord told LBC: 'The bottom line is Putin is an expert at disinformation and his actions are very reckless, and we've seen that now for three or four years.'

He said Mr Putin's behaviour is 'appalling' and 'there's no doubt the Defender was asserting her right of innocent passage from one port to another'.

He added: 'Putin wants to play to his home audience, he wants to tell them 'aren't I tough, look at that, I've made Britain go away', and that's why I think they lied about firing warning shots at the Defender - which they didn't do.

'As per usual, I'm afraid, Putin's organisation is lying about that.

'I would say it's the behaviour of a rogue state, but Russia shouldn't be a rogue state.'

Former head of the Army General Lord Dannatt said Mr Putin is 'testing the will of the West'.

He told Sky News: 'I'm a little bit surprised that the Ministry of Defence is playing it down.

'It was unreasonable of the Russians to challenge HMS Defender in the way that they did.

'The underlying point is that there are international laws that must be upheld by everyone and HMS Defender had the absolute right to be where she was yesterday.'

Relations between London and Moscow were at crisis point last night after a Russian vessel pursuing a Royal Navy warship opened fire in a dramatic incident witnessed by the Mail.

Repeated bursts of cannon fire could be heard off the deck of HMS Defender as President Vladimir Putin's forces responded to the warship legitimately entering Crimean territorial waters in the Black Sea.

Russian military sources confirmed the incident early yesterday afternoon approximately five miles from Cape Fiolent, a prominent landmark on the Crimean coastline.

A Russian statement said: 'The destroyer had been warned that weapons would be used if it trespassed the border of the Russian Federation. It did not react to the warning.'

Russian military officials also claimed a Russian plane dropped four high explosive fragmentation bombs as another warning to the UK warship.

But this claim is almost certainly propaganda as no ordnance of this nature was seen or heard by the crew of Defender or picked up by her hi-tech sensors.

After the incident, the Queen sent a message of 'best wishes and a safe journey' to the crew, which was announced over the tannoy by the warship's captain, Commander Vincent Owen. Russia reacted angrily, calling the warship's actions an act of 'blatant provocation' and summoning the British defence attache in Moscow for a dressing-down.

British officials are expected to discuss the incident with Nato allies to agree a co-ordinated response to future Russian aggression.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs that Russia remained a 'threat to stability', pointing to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning.

The latest incident saw more than 50 interactions with Russian aircraft recorded by Defender in a few hours. Commander Owen told the Mail: 'That is the closest I have come to a Russian vessel in my 21-year career. I suspect the gunfire was from one of the coastguard vehicles.

HMS Defender is armed with missiles, an air defence system, an armed Lynx Wildcat helicoper, Westland Merlin helictopers and various naval guns. Russia's Su-24 jets are equipped with 23mm cannon, laser-guided air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles and can also carry tactical nuclear bombs

A map shows the route taken by HMS Defender during the alleged incident near the south coast of Crimea

Repeated bursts of cannon fire could be heard off the deck of HMS Defender (pictured) as President Vladimir Putin's forces responded to the warship legitimately entering Crimean territorial waters in the Black Sea

Two Russian Coast Guard Vessels shadow HMS Defender closely whilst she conducts Freedom Of Navigation Operations

'We were confident and non-confrontational and exercising our entitlement to uphold the innocent passage of ships through international waters on a recognised shipping route.

'I was comfortable we were out of range of its guns as we were travelling at 30 knots to their 21. The 240 men and women aboard this ship performed as I would expect them to. But today has seen an upsurge in the Russian response as closing to that distance of 100 to 200 yards is neither safe nor seamanlike.

'We've also had many Russian jets and an unmanned aerial vehicle interact with us.'

Launched in 2009, Defender is the fifth of the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers. She is also one of the most advanced warships ever constructed.

She belongs to the Royal Navy's newly formed Carrier Strike Group and her role is to provide air defence for the UK's new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

But on Tuesday she broke off from the CSG's maiden voyage to perform her own delicate, possibly dangerous task.

Mr Wallace and the UK's National Security Council had approved orders for Commander Owen to set course for Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula invaded by Russia in 2014 and still occupied by President Putin's elite forces. This includes the much vaunted Black Sea fleet with its heavily armed frigates and submarines and squadrons of supersonic aircraft.

Commander Owen's 'freedom of navigation' patrol took Defender into disputed seas just off the Crimean coastline.

While Britain considers these waters Ukrainian, Russia regards the peninsula as its territory, which its ships and aircraft are entitled to defend, aggressively if necessary.

Yesterday's incident also came just days after President Putin's abruptly terminated summit with US President Joe Biden which ended after barely three hours of talks and no agreement on Crimea or other security issues.

Downing Street insisted Defender was taking the 'most direct' route from Ukraine to Georgia along an 'internationally recognised travel corridor' and was not subject to warning shots fired by Russia. A source acknowledged the Government was playing down the incident to deny Moscow the row it is seeking.

Tom Tugendhat, Tory chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, accused Moscow of 'pathetic grandstanding'. He said the West had 'grown used to Russia lying', adding: 'Putin has stolen so much money from the Russian navy that most of their ships are rust buckets.'

The Russian embassy in London tweeted: 'HMS Defender turns HMS Provocateur and violates Russian border. Not exactly a ''routine'' transit.'

Russian jets thunder overhead. The angry thud of cannon fire rings out. Our crew readies Sea Viper missiles. Wars have started over less. Read the dramatic Mail eyewitness report as Vladimir Putin's gunboat opens fire on HMS Defender

Russian warplanes and armed coastguard vessels targeted a Royal Navy warship before opening fire yesterday.

A Daily Mail reporter was on board HMS Defender as repeated bursts of cannon fire rang out in a dramatic incident that opened up a fresh diplomatic crisis.

The Russian jets and ships menaced the UK destroyer after it entered disputed territorial waters off Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

After the coastguard vessel opened fire, the British sailors frantically pulled on flame retardant suits and body armour amid fears that their warship could be hit.

The hour-long incident represented the most alarming escalation of UK tensions with the Kremlin since the Salisbury poisonings of 2018.

Russia responded by summoning the British defence attache in Moscow. Its embassy in London accused the Royal Navy of an act of provocation and of violating its border.

But the Queen sent a message of 'best wishes and a safe journey' to Defender's 240-strong crew.

And Tom Tugendhat, Tory chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, accused Moscow of 'pathetic grandstanding'.

Pictured: HMS Defender conducts close proximity sailing whilst on maritime operations in the Black Sea on June 17

MARK NICOL witnesses bullets fly as Putin's forces target British warship after tensions boil in the Black Sea

Mark Nicol on board HMS Defender yesterday

The angry thud of cannon fire rings out on the port side of HMS Defender as I crouch beside the bridge in my hastily adorned flame retardant gloves and balaclava.

We are being pursued furiously by a pair of Russian coastguard vessels while, every couple of minutes, Russian jets pass thunderously overhead.

The deafening roar of supersonic aircraft filling my ears is an unsettling, yet enthralling, experience. Then, as part of Defender's response, her deadly arsenal of Sea Viper missiles are brought to readiness.

After a second burst of enemy cannon fire I overhear an update intended for her captain that we have 'two hard-kill missiles effective'. For a second I wonder just what might happen next. Wars have started over less.

The drama began about an hour ago as we approached Crimean territorial waters to carry out what the Royal Navy calls a freedom of navigation patrol.

Russia does not like these patrols because it regards the waters off the peninsula as its territory  while the UK, as an ally of Ukraine, maintains these are Ukrainian waters. Irrespective of whose waters these are, the Royal Navy also insists Defender is following an internationally recognised shipping route.

I was inside the destroyer's cool, dimly-lit operations room when the Russian radio operator issued the first of his warnings via the VHF transceiver: 'Delta 36 [Defender's radio call-sign], change your course.'

He didn't sound too concerned though and there was no sense of what would transpire. Looking around none of the 30 crew in their blue overalls, sitting studiously before banks of radio screens, seem alarmed either. But minute by minute, as more red (for enemy) icons flash up on the banks of monitors, the tension mounts.

While today's passage is entirely legitimate, and justified under UN charters and international shipping conventions, there is no doubt that we are, to use the overused phrase, poking the Russian bear. A signaller responds to a second warning from the Russian radio operator reminding him of the UK's entitlement to uphold the right of innocent passage.

I move up two decks from the windowless operations room to Defender's bridge, which affords a perfect view of the placid sea on this warm morning. I even spot dolphins swimming on our port side. All is well.

Black Sea menace: One of two Russian patrol vessels with 30mm gun, circled, that fired heavy bursts towards the Royal Navy destroyer it was shadowing

Vigilance: Crew member scans sea for Russian activity on board the vessel on Tuesday when the incident occured

All hands on deck: The Royal Navy destroyer carries a range of missile systems such as the Sea Viper as well as smaller anti-ship weapons

Heavy weaponry: Personnel get to grips with one of HMS Defender's formidable guns. They are pictured handling ammunition for one of the guns

Captain Vincent Owen, pictured on HMS Defender today, said his mission was confident but non-confrontational and insisted he was maintaining course on an internationally recognised shipping lane but Mr Beale said it was a 'deliberate move to make a point to Russia'

Members of the ship's crew were pictured wearing anti-flash gear, which protects them from flame exposure and heat

Moments later the grey outline of a Russian coastguard vessel appears on the horizon. 'Request her course,' says Defender's operations officer, glancing through binoculars over the ship's head. Then over the radio Commander Owen asks: 'How many aircraft [Russian] do we have now?' 'Probably 14 now,' responds the female air warfare officer. That's 14 supersonic jets and maritime patrol aircraft, including SU-24s. While more Russian jets are apparently taking off from nearby bases.

Then the Russian coastguard's voice crackles on the radio again, sounding piqued by Defender's course. Contrary to his requests we have declined to steer to our starboard to avoid what are Crimean territorial waters.

'Delta 36, I am Russian coastguard, please change your course. Keep clear. Keep away from the border line, change your course. Your course leads to territorial waters. Do you read me over?' Commander Owen responds on the radio reminding his crew they must 'maintain the narrative': the UK warship is here to uphold international law. 'I suspect they're going to try to budge us out,' he says.

True to Commander Owen's prediction two Russian coastguard vessels effectively form a barrier on Defender's port side. Plumes of grey smoke rise from their engines as they accelerate in a bid to maintain Defender's speed. Commander Owen is amused, remarking of the lead coastguard vessel: 'She's right on the beam now, she can't keep up with us. We're outrunning them.'

Defender's wake sends huge waves towards the coastguard vessels which crash against their hulls  an ignominious feeling one imagines for the Russians, who seem desperate to keep us out of Crimean waters.

They're back on the radio and this time the warnings are pretty threatening: 'Delta 36, do not cross the border or I fire. Change your course. If you cross, I fire. Your ship is entering the territory of the Russian Federation. We do not take responsibility if you are damaged. We are engaging in a military exercise in this area.'

The introduction of the apparent military exercise seems a convenient ruse intended to dissuade Defender from entering what it regards as Russian waters.

More Russian jets conduct thunderous passes on our port and starboard and the operations officer is sufficiently concerned to order the crew to put on 'anti-flash' balaclavas and gloves.

Bear in the air: Co-pilot looks out as his Su-30 jet roars over the British warship during the close call that emerged on Tuesday

Battle stations: Officers and crew in white anti-flash balaclavas and mittens feel the pressure yesterday as they dictate naval operations from Defender's bridge

Another image taken from BBC footage showed a strip of bullets on the deck of HMS Defender

Russia claimed an Su-24 dropped four bombs in the path of HMS Defender in the Black Sea after accusing it of entering its waters near Cape Fiolent on Tuesday

A picture taken on Friday shows a ship from the Russian Black Sea Fleet (circled) shadowing USS Laboon , HMS Defender and the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen

At this stage there's no protective equipment for me. 'Have you guys got any anti-flash?' asks the ops officer. I shake my head. 'Better get them some then,' he says.

Sailors scurry off and come back with clothing I'll be thankful for if any Russian missile or gunfire causes a fire aboard Defender. Pulling on the gear the threat seems real now. The Russians aren't messing around and neither are we, there's no way the Royal Navy is going to be steered off course.

The aircraft warning aboard Defender is raised to 'red' while another Nato vessel, which is also operating in the Black Sea, suspects that it has been 'radar-locked' by a large Russian navy vessel, a precursor perhaps to a missile engagement.

The Crimean coastline is now clearly in view, seafront buildings, forests and hills. More aggressive warnings over the radio from the Russians then a report from observers on the port side upper deck reaches the bridge: 'Gunfire heard to the stern!'

I rush outside for a better look; an instinctive response but perhaps not the wisest move for a husband and father of three young children. A sailor bearing binoculars reckons cannon fire came from one of the coastguard vessels.

Moments later more cannon fire, two heavy bursts from the lead coastguard vessel. 'Keep away from me!' says the Russian coastguard over the radio.

Two Black Sea Fleet coastguard ships continued to shadow HMS Defender from 100 yards away

Releasing the new footage of HMS Defender from the air, Russian defence ministry's TV channel Zvezda said: 'In the footage can be seen the culprit of the incident, the destroyer Defender

Some footage was allegedly shot from the Su-24M which is said to have dropped four bombs to deter the Royal Navy vessel. Above: Su-24Ms seen in the Russian video

Only the Russian sailors know for certain who they were firing at or in what direction. But given their exasperation at being unable to persuade Defender to change its course, we were a likely target, albeit we were out of range.

Defender's threat state is reduced as we leave Crimean territorial waters, but the closest pass by an SU-24 takes place as we return to international waters. A drone is also spotted far overhead.

The Russian jets were flying 'wings clean', meaning they were not carrying missiles. But the aircraft are equipped with high powered cannons which, if armed, could have ripped through Defender's hull. Both coastguard vessels were equipped with 30mm cannons with live rounds. Other fully armed Russian vessels are also patrolling in our vicinity.

Defender is equipped with a 4.5 inch mark 8 medium calibre gun with a range of 12 miles, two Phalanx close-in weapon systems and Sea Viper air defence missiles with 48 silos at the front of the ship.

The Royal Navy was entirely justified in sailing along an internationally recognised shipping route. But we definitely poked the Russian bear and she poked back. The next time a British warship enters Crimean waters the tension will be even higher.

EDWARD LUCAS: We're paying the price for years of blind complacency

Vladimir Putin's regime feeds on conflict. It systematically bullies its neighbours, while hypocritically denouncing anyone who resists it as an aggressor. More than anything, it knows how to wield the element of surprise.

In 2006, the West was caught off-guard when Kremlin-appointed thugs murdered the fugitive dissident Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium in central London.

War in Georgia came as another shock in 2008, just as we were stunned when Russian troops half-wittedly shot down a passenger plane over Ukraine in 2014 or when Russian thugs used a lethal nerve agent in Salisbury in 2018.

That is why yesterday's events off the coast of Crimea must be seen in context: as part of a pattern of Putin being deliberately unpredictable  attempting to wrong-foot us.

The West is scrambling to reassert its presence in the Black Sea, a vital crossroads for our interests in trade, energy, counter-terrorism and fighting organised crime.

Russia  which still regards its former empire with proprietorial arrogance  is furious about this.

Vladimir Putin is pictured on Wednesday amid the dispute over whether Russia fired at the British vessel

It is no coincidence that yesterday's events took place days before the start of Sea Breeze, a major naval exercise led by America to try to bolster Nato's fraying presence in the region.

What incenses Putin is that a key participant in the drills will be Ukraine. Russia's illegal seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 was followed by a separatist war in the east of the country. The fighting continues  and has killed thousands.

Britain does not recognise Russia's seizure of Crimea, which is why the Ministry of Defence pointedly said HMS Defender was travelling through 'Ukrainian territorial waters' yesterday.

Boosting Ukraine's sovereignty and security is a key part of attempts by Britain and the West to constrain the bullying, thieving regime in Russia. Only two days ago, Britain signed a defence deal with Ukraine at a ceremony on board HMS Defender, and hours before the incident, Ukrainian special forces were conducting exercises with the British warship.

The feints and wargames could yet escalate into a terrifying east-west confrontation. Will that happen? Much depends on how Joe Biden responds to Putin.

Washington has been increasingly disappointed with its bickering and feckless European allies: France and Germany have just announced plans to restart EU-Russia summits, jeopardising the united front embodied in Nato.

Some wonder if America really has the stomach for any kind of confrontation with Russia. But make no mistake: to ignore Putin and his sabre-rattling would spell disaster for Britain and her allies, particularly the brave frontline states in eastern Europe that have entrusted their future to us and Nato.

The credibility of Western military defence on the continent is threadbare. Decades of underspending in countries such as Germany have taken a grievous toll. Stocks of fuel, ammunition and spare parts are perilously low, while plans for defending Europe exist mainly on paper and are rarely rehearsed.

What many do not (or will not) see is that Russia is boosting its arsenal of modern, high-tech weapons. Most worryingly, it expertly plays divide and rule, exploiting the complacent, greedy and spineless mentality of decision-makers in Berlin, Brussels, Paris and  I am sorry to say  London.

At best we pay lip-service to the threat from Russia. But we are not willing to pay the military, financial and diplomatic price of dealing with it. The bill for years of neglect of our defence and security is coming due.

The daunting task for Britain is to rally our allies to stand firm in the face of Russian intimidation, without allowing the roiling Black Sea to boil over into war.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff on Thursday denied former President Donald Trump's trip to the border next week compelled his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, from making the trek too.

'Kamala Harris isn't driven by any political issues or political pressure. She's really just doing what the right thing is to do for this very important job that the president entrusted her with,' Emhoff said to NBC News, in his first TV interview as second gentleman.

Trump said Wednesday that Harris would not have finally scheduled a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday unless he announced his own trip there next week.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff denied his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, was motivated to go to the U.S.-Mexico border Friday because former President Donald Trump will be in Texas next week

Vice President Kamala Harris (right) attends a D.C. Pride parade with her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff (left), earlier this month . Emhoff also said 'noone wants to see anyone they love attacked or criticized', but it is part of the territory of being in office

'After months of ignoring the crisis at the Southern Border, it is great that we got Kamala Harris to finally go and see the tremendous destruction and death that they've created - a direct result of Biden ending my very tough but fair Border policies,' Trump said.

'Harris and Biden were given the strongest Border in American history. And now, it is by far the worst in American history,' he continued. 'If Governor Abbott and I weren't going there next week, she would have never gone!'

Harris announced Wednesday that she will head to the border after 90 days of criticism from Republicans and Democrats over her handling of the crisis, a bungled trip to the Northern Triangle and five straight months of increases in migrant crossings.

She refused to answer questions about the trip during a LGBTQ listening session Wednesday afternoon, including whether Trump's forthcoming trip inspired her to go.

Emhoff was then asked by NBC's Peter Alexander about the timing.

The second gentleman also offered that 'noone wants to see anyone they love attacked or criticized.'

'But that's part of what she signed up for in this life of public service,' he continued, adding that his wife is just 'focused on the work.'

Former President Donald Trump sent out a statement Wednesday claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris was only going to the border because he was. 'If Governor Abbott and I weren't going there next week, she would have never gone!'

The White House's border trip announcement came eight days after Trump announced he accepted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's invitation to survey the southern border the Lone Star State shares with Mexico  and where the majority of encounters occur.

President Joe Biden put Harris in charge of dealing with the root causes of the migration crisis, which quickly turned her into the person to blame for the spike in migrants coming into the U.S.

Harris will make a trip to the border in El Paso, Texas alongside Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, her office announced Wednesday.

The vice president will beat Trump to the region by five days.

Just two days ahead of the trip, 21 House Republicans, led by Colorado's Lauren Boebert, introduced a bill to censure Biden over his failure to secure the U.S. border in his more than five months as president.

'President Biden passed the buck to cackling Kamala, when he tapped Ms. Harris as border czar. Her work on the border is nonexistence, it's a joke  and even she laughs. But it's not funny,' Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert said in announcing the censure on Wednesday.

'This administration has not lifted a finger to end this crisis and secure our southern border,' she continued. 'They must be held accountable.

He claimed in a statement Wednesday that Harris is only giving into pressure to visit the border now because he announced his own impending trip.

About a dozen members of the Republican Study Committee, the largest group of House Republicans, will also join Trump on the trip, Politico reported.

Immigrants walk toward border patrol after crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. on Monday

Representative Jim Banks, the head of the Republican Study Group and a lawmaker joining Trump in Texas said: 'The dual trips offer a great split-screen.'

'President Trump is the greatest immigration president of our lifetime who devoted four years to fixing the border to protect Americans' lives and livelihoods,' he wrote in a Wednesday statement. 'Kamala Harris is the border czar for an administration that created a national embarrassment and has taken no effort to stop it.'

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters during a briefing Wednesday that the trip is part of a 'coordinated effort' to address 'root causes' of mass migration from Northern Triangle countries to the U.S.

'Earlier this year, as you all know, the president asked the vice president to oversee our diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, to Guatemala and Honduras and as a part of this work she recently traveled to Guatemala and Mexico last month. This trip to the border on Friday will be a part of this effort,' Psaki said.

She also reiterated previous comments where she and Harris have both said that the vice president would make a trip to the border when the timing was 'appropriate.'

Harris' senior advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on the visit: 'Vice President Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas on Friday, June 25,' 'She will be accompanied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.'

A migrant family seeking asylum arrives on U.S. soil after crossing the Rio Grande on June 19, 2021 in Roma, Texas

'Vice President Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas on Friday, June 25,' Harris' senior advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on the visit on Wednesday. 'She will be accompanied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.'

'Earlier this year, the President asked the Vice President to oversee our diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras,' she continued. 'As a part of this ongoing work, the Vice President traveled to Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month and will travel to El Paso on Friday.'



Republicans have slammed Harris for not making the trip yet.

'It reminds me of that old show, 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' She'll go everywhere except the border because she's afraid of what's going on down there, and they have no solutions,' Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told Fox & Friends.

Harris took her first trip abroad earlier this month to Guatemala and Mexico to meet with government and community leaders about the migrants flowing into the U.S.

In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt from Guatemala, Harris was asked why she hadn't visited the border. 'Why not see what Americans are seeing in this crisis?' the newsman asked.

She first answered that why there's 'no question' about the White House having to deal with what's happening at the border 'we have to understand that there's a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and then identify the problem so we can fix it.'

Holt then asked if Harris had any plans to visit the border.

'At some point, you know, we are going to the border. We've been to the border. So this whole thing about the border, we've been to the border. We've been to the border,' she responded.

This chart shows how 2021 border crossings - pictured in blue - rocketed on crossings made in 2020, represented by the brown line (2018 is pictured in gray, with 2019 in orange)

This graph shows the number of migrants caught by the Office of Field Operation (OFO) and US Border Patrol agents in April and May

Holt pointed out, 'You haven't been to the border.'

'And I haven't been to Europe,' the vice president said. 'And I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making. I'm not discounting the importance of the border.'

The response was widely panned.

Harris later snapped at Univision reporter Ilia Calderon, the day after she returned from the trip, telling her 'I've not finished,' as Calderon pressed when there might be a border trip.

Harris has been given seven roles in Biden's administration  including the border crisis

'I've said I'm going to the border. And also, if we are going to deal with the problems at the border, we have to deal with the problems that cause people to go to the border - to flee to the border. And that is the root causes,' Harris said, justifying her first foreign trip being to Guatemala and Mexico.

Biden has loaded Harris down with seven jobs - including running point on migration.

On Monday, Harris was tasked with selling Biden's Child Tax Credit, with a trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In early June, the vice president received her fifth and sixth jobs, as the president asked her to go on a vaccine education tour and handle the administration's efforts to protect voting rights.

Harris was on Capitol Hill Tuesday and presided over Senate Democrats' failed vote to start debate on a voting rights measure.

She's also handling the issues of broadband and space and also leading a pro-union taskforce that would take a 'whole-of-government approach to empower workers.'

In late March, Biden announced he had tapped Harris to lead the effort to stem migration coming from the Northern Triangle countries - El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras - and up through Mexico.

Harris, he said, 'agreed to lead our diplomatic effort to work with those nations.'

Very quickly Harris became a target for Republicans as border crossings soared and she didn't travel to the border to see the conditions on the ground.

In mid-April, Psaki said the 'confusion' surrounding Harris' role with the migrant crisis is 'perplexing,' arguing immigration policy has never been a 'one-woman' job.

Psaki also pointed out that Biden, as vice president, had essentially played the same role during the Obama years.
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The residents of Dumbarton reacted with fury today over claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want their firstborn Archie to be called the Earl of Dumbarton because it contained the word 'dumb'.

Locals in the working-class town in West Dunbartonshire, which is one of Scotland's most deprived areas, blasted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for being 'stupid', 'woke' and 'insulting' for rejecting the name.

The couple, who live in an 11million mansion in California, were slammed for 'virtue signalling', seeking celebrity status and for claiming to be victims - while insulting a population of around 20,000 people in Dumbarton.

The Duke and Duchess were said to have not been keen on the Earl of Dumbarton title because they feared their son who is now two years old might be mocked and bullied as he grows up, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Lifelong residents of Dumbarton, a small town west of Glasgow, rejected the suggestion that Archie would be bullied for the association and insisted that sharing the town's name was something to be proud of.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie joked it was a 'low blow' and shared a meme of her with the words ''mon then', while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar added: 'The Queen of Dumbarton @jackiebmsp is not going to be happy!'

Dumbarton mother-of-one Nicole Bates (left), 21, conceded she might have been called a 'dumb blonde' but it had nothing to do with where she was from, which she said was a 'good place', while student Jade Daly (right), 20, said: 'I have lived in Dumbarton my entire life and I have never once been called dumb because of it'

Grandfather-of-one Bill Hannah (left), 83, of Dumbarton, said Harry is 'more interested in being a celebrity than following his duties', while finance officer Liz Clark (right), 59, said is 'pathetic' and 'insulting to the people of Dumbarton'

Father-of-one James McBarron (left), 41, said he was proud his little boy would grow up in the town and branded it 'insulting'. Scott Murdoch (right), 25, a sales rep, said: 'I didn't think they could get any stupider, but there you go'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie in Cape Town in September 2019 during their royal tour of South Africa

An aerial view of Dumbarton today after Prince Harry and Meghan were said to have turned down its name in a title for Archie

Mother-of-one Nicole Bates, 21, conceded that she might have been called a 'dumb blonde' but it had nothing to do with where she was from, which she said was a 'good place'.

The pub worker said 'I think that's shocking. I don't know why they would do that. Dumbarton's a good place, full of crazy people but they are certainly not dumb.

History behind the title 'The Earl of Dumbarton' It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas The Earl of Dumbarton is a historic Scottish title which has been extinct for more than 250 years. It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas, who was also made Lord of Ettrick at the same time. Despite being born in Scotland, most likely in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, to the Marquess of Douglas, George, a catholic, spent much of his time in the service of French king Louis XIV. When James II ascended to the English and Scottish throne he was a trusted servant - even following him to exile in France after the Glorious Revolution. Following the death of their only son, the unmarried second Earl, both of Douglas' titles became extinct in January 1749. The second creation of the title was in 2018, when Prince Harry was made the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel on his wedding day to Meghan Markle. Dumbarton in Scotland pictured in the present day The Scottish town of Dumbarton, from the Gaelic Dun Breatann, is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age. It was once the strategic stronghold of the Alclud Kingdom, making it the centre of British power in the north. The town was later granted the status of Royal burgh by Scotland's Alexander II in 1222. After his capture by the English in 1305, William Wallace was shortly imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle - today a popular tourist spot. Advertisement

'I used to be blonde, so I guess I could get called a dumb blonde - but it's nothing to do with being from Dumbarton. I think they (think) it could maybe affect their children, so they are trying to protect them.'

Grandfather-of-one Bill Hannah, 83, added: 'I couldn't give a s***. I think how they act is ridiculous, the way they keep going on in the press. He is more interested in being a celebrity than following his duties.

'I wouldn't want him to have anything to do with Dumbarton. He can be the Prince of California for all I care.'

Student Jade Daly, 20, added: 'Refusing that is a bit dumb in itself. I have lived in Dumbarton my entire life and I have never once been called dumb because of it.

'I guess I can see why they act like they act sometimes - but refusing the title of Dumbarton for that is stupid. I think they do get treated a bit rubbish though.

'When Meghan says she has mental health issues you cannot doubt that, especially with the mental health crisis going on.'

Finance officer Liz Clark, 59, said: 'It's pathetic. It's insulting to the people of Dumbarton. They clearly want more attention, as they are chasing the celebrity life.

'So everyone that comes from Dumbarton will be bullied? It's pathetic, as I said. I think she leads him. It's going to come out who her grandmother is to her children, she can't hide away from her title.'

And Scott Murdoch, 25, a sales rep, said: 'I didn't think they could get any stupider, but there you go. I think that sums it up quite well. It's virtue signalling, to make people think they are good people.

'No children are getting bullied because of a title. They are extremely woke - your standard people that are always the victim.'

Father-of-one James McBarron, 41, said he was proud his little boy would grow up in the town and branded it 'insulting'.

Mr McBarron, who works as chef, said: 'Why have they refused that? They would never get called dumb, that would never happen. I think it's insulting. I'm from Dumbarton, lived here my whole life. If it was me, I would be proud. They should honour it.

'I'm proud to say I'm from Dumbarton, and I'm proud to have a child from Dumbarton. I mean it's part of a word. They should honour their titles. I don't think this is a problem if he is not with Meghan.'

Harry and Meghan were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Earl and Countess of Dumbarton and Baron and Baroness Kilkeel by the Queen on their wedding day.

However, they have rarely used the two other titles, with the couple instead going by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Sources meanwhile have reportedly told the Telegraph that the couple were not keen on using the Earl of Dumbarton - a title of Scottish nobility - for Archie because it began with the word 'dumb' and they were 'worried about how that might look'.

Another insider reportedly told the paper: 'It wasn't just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls, it also bothered Harry.'

Prince Harry, 36, is said to have not wanted to give his children titles anyway. Instead it is believed he wants to follow in the footsteps of his aunt, Princess Anne, who did not give titles to son Peter and daughter Zara.

The Scottish town of Dumbarton, pictured today, is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age

Dumbarton was once the strategic stronghold of the Alclud Kingdom, making it the centre of British power in the north

Locals in the working-class town in West Dunbartonshire blasted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for being 'stupid' and 'woke'

The royal couple were slammed for 'virtue signalling' while insulting a population of around 20,000 people in Dumbarton

Residents of Dumbarton, a small town near Glasgow, rejected the suggestion that Archie would be bullied for the association

Many Twitter joked the couple may be holding out for the Earl of Wokingham - because the LA-based Sussexes are considered so right-on - or pondered whether a dukedom on the Isles of Scilly would be better.

'Dumb and dumber': BBC Radio 4's Nick Robinson chuckles and appears to poke fun at Harry and Meghan while co-host Justin Webb is in stitches over Earl of Dumbarton story BBC star Nick Robinson today jokingly appeared to refer to Harry and Meghan as 'dumb and dumber' on air while discussing claims the Sussexes didn't want their son to be named the Earl of Dumbarton. Fellow Today programme host Justin Webb also laughed out loud when discussing The Daily Telegraph's story claiming the couple did not want their eldest son to use the title because it contained the word 'dumb'. Listeners also enjoyed the funny moment that came weeks after Harry and Meghan declared war on the BBC over their claims that they failed to consult the Queen about using her nickname 'Lilibet' for their new daughter, with the couple's lawyers calling it 'false and defamatory'. This morning Mr Robinson appeared to poke fun at the couple during Today's paper review. A laughing Justin Webb said: 'The Daily Telegraph is claiming that Prince Harry and Meghan turned down the title of Earl of Dumbarton for their son Archie because it contained the word dumb. A spokesman for the couple declined to comment'. Co-host Nick Robinson then laughed and said: 'Dumb and dumber' before moving on to the next story. Mr Robinson told MailOnline after the show ended: 'I would be horrified if Mail readers thought I was making a comment of any sort though I can say that I'm the Dumb one', adding: 'As for Justin...' The phrase 'dumb and dumber' is being widely used on social media by critics of the couple who have seen the Telegraph story. Advertisement

Others were angry on behalf of the people of Dumbarton, saying it is 'insulting' to residents.

Reacting to the Telegraph's story Ant Watts, tweeted: 'Should have offered the title Earl of Wokingham surely?' another wrote: 'How about the Earl of Wokingham? Seems to fit better!' Dozens more made the same joke.

GB News presenter Colin Brazier offered an alternative and said in a tongue-in-cheek tweet: 'The Dukedom of the Isles of Scilly never stood a chance'.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph also reported how sources close to the Sussexes claim the couple 'never raised an issue' about Archie, two, not being made a prince.

It comes after reports in the Mail on Sunday suggested that Prince Charles had told Meghan and Harry that Archie would not be made a prince when he becomes king, as he plans to slim-down the number of 'front-line' royals.

The issue was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security.

Meghan told the US chat show host: 'They didn't want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and (said) that he wasn't going to receive security.

She added: 'In those months when I was pregnant we have in tandem the conversation of, you won't be given security, not gonna be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.'

However, the sources are said to have told the Telegraph that the couple had 'never raised an issue' about the titles, or lack off, until the interview.

It comes as the Mail on Sunday earlier this week claimed that Prince Charles had made it clear that Harry and Meghan's son will have no place among frontline Royals as he plans a slimmed-down Monarchy after he becomes King.

The Prince of Wales is said to have initially intended to include Harry and Meghan in his slimmed-down Monarchy, but the plan is said to have changed when the pair moved to America.

A grandchild of the sovereign has long had the right to be a Prince, but Charles is determined to limit the number of key Royals, believing the public does not wish to pay for an ever-expanding Monarchy.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Charles told the Sussexes that he will change key legal documents to ensure that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right, according to a source close to the couple.

The move is said to have incensed the Sussexes and is thought to have prompted the series of bitter accusations the couple have levelled at Charles and the Royal Family from across the Atlantic.

Dumbarton's MSP Jackie Baillie joked last night that it was a 'low blow' and shared a meme of her with the words ''mon then'

However, it was later reported by the Sun that the decision for the couple to do their interview with Oprah came within 24 hours of Harry's military titles being removed in February's final Megxit deal.

Some Twitter users rushed to suggest the 'Earl of Wokingham' as an alternative name for the right-on couple

It comes as a royal expert today claimed that Meghan and Harry's decision to buy a 'Lili Diana' website almost a week before their daughter's birth and 'Lilibet Diana' on the day she arrived indicates they had 'already made up their minds' on the name before speaking to the Queen.

Four days before Lili was born in California the domain LiliDiana.com was registered on May 31 followed by LilibetDiana.com on June 4  the day Archie's younger sister entered the world.

'Lilibet' was first used by the then Princess Elizabeth when she was unable to pronounce her own name and was used affectionately by her grandfather George V and later her husband Philip until he died in April.

Following claims by the BBC that the Queen had not been consulted, Harry and Meghan's lawyers said it was 'false and defamatory' to suggest they did not discuss using the name with Her Majesty.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'The fact they registered it before the name was announced tends to indicate that they had made up their minds and probably only told the Queen once they'd decided on it.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose with Archie following his birth, at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle in May 2019

The issue of royal titles raised during Harry and Meghan's jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey in the US in March

'When they issued a statement it said Harry had rung the Queen before anyone else and discussed the name with her. That may well be right but that's not the same as asking permission days or even weeks beforehand.

'I think the Queen might have been caught off guard and probably didn't object to it because she doesn't want to upset Harry any further'.

He added: 'But from what I hear the Palace has not denied the BBC story which claimed Harry didn't ask permission before announcing the name.'

Evening Standard Royal Editor Robert Jobson suggested that the couple may have undermined their legal threat against the BBC, tweeting today that their lawyers could now be 'without a paddle'.

The public announcement of Lilibet Diana's arrival came two days later. Harry insists he spoke to his grandmother about the name 'in advance of the announcement' but has not been specific on when that exactly was only to say: 'His grandmother was the first family member he called'.

A spokesman for the couple told The Telegraph: 'As is often customary with public figures, a significant number of domains of any potential names that were considered were purchased... to protect against the exploitation of the name once it was later chosen and shared.'

The statement suggests that had Her Majesty refused to allow them to use Lilibet they would have gone for another name amongst the 'significant' number of domains they bought before the birth.

MailOnline had contacted representatives of the Sussexes for comment.
A liberal arts college in Massachusetts has warned its students and faculty against using 'violent language' - even banning the phrase 'trigger warning' for its association with guns.

Brandeis University in Waltham has created an anti-violence resource called the Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center which provides information and advice to students and staff.

It lists words and idioms, including 'picnic' and 'rule of thumb,' which it claims are 'violent' and suggests dreary alternatives such as 'outdoor eating' for the former and 'general rule' for the latter.

The college claims that 'picnic is often associated with lynchings of black people in the United States, during which white spectators were said to have watched while eating, referring to them as picnics or other terms involving racial slurs against black people.'

Picnic is derived from the French 'pique-nique,' originally used to describe the taking of one's own wine to a meal, which later evolved to encompass the sharing of food outdoors and started being used in England in the 18th century.

Brandeis University, a liberal arts college based in Waltham, Massachusetts

The university has created a list of words and idioms, including 'picnic' and 'rule of thumb,' which it claims are 'violent' and suggests dreary alternatives such as 'outdoor eating' for the former and 'general rule' for the latter

In addition to its page of 'violent language' the college has a whole section dedicated to 'oppressive language,' which includes 'identity-based language,' 'language that doesn't say what we mean,' 'culturally appropriative language' and 'person-first alternatives'

Lynchings were often public spectacles and could be described as taking place in a picnic-like setting. A project by the Equal Justice Initiative entitled 'Lynching in America' notes that during the late 1800s and early 1900s, 'white men, women, and children present watched the horrific murders while enjoying deviled eggs, lemonade, and whiskey in a picnic-like atmosphere.'

However, the word picnic itself is not derogatory and has no intrinsic links to slavery, lynchings or racism.

Brandeis also disagrees with 'rule of thumb' which it claims 'comes from an old British law allowing men to beat their wives with sticks no wider than their thumb.'

But this is another spurious etymological interpretation which has been wrongly attached to the phrase by myth and rumour.

The precise origins of the phrase are unclear but it is meant in the sense of approximating something using the thumb rather than a specific tool - there is no evidence of a legal application to wife beating.

It was first used in print in 1865 by Scottish preacher James Durham who writes: 'Many profest Christians are like to foolish builders, who build by guess, and by rule of thumb (as we use to speak), and not by Square and Rule.'

Among the most absurd phrases that the university objects to is 'trigger warning,' the very term which was coined to help those who might be offended by language.

Brandeis suggests that instead of 'trigger warning,' speakers should use 'content note' or 'drop-in.'

'The word "trigger" has connections to guns for many people; we can give the same head's up using language less connected to violence,' the anti-violence group says.

In addition to its page of 'violent language' the college has a whole section dedicated to 'oppressive language,' which includes 'identity-based language,' 'language that doesn't say what we mean,' 'culturally appropriative language' and 'person-first language.'

For example, the phrase 'abusive relationships' is not appropriate because 'relationships don't perpetrate abuse; abusers do. It is important to name that someone is responsible.'

Instead we should say, 'relationship with an abuser.'

Other linguistic leaps are to be found for 'disabled person', which is corrected to 'person with a disability'; 'addict,' which should be phrased 'person with a substance use disorder'; and 'prostitute,' where the phrase 'person who engages in sex work,' is recommended.

The university provides a form where students and faculty members can submit further 'oppressive words' to be added for consideration.

MailOnline has contacted Brandeis for comment.
Anxious pigeon fanciers have appealed for help after up to 10,000 birds vanished during a race in Peterborough.

One breeder described the puzzling event as 'one of the very worst racing days in our history.'

The birds, many based in the North East of England, became lost in a race from Peterborough at the weekend.

Their owners believe a 'solar storm above the clouds' may have disorientated the birds and thrown off their normally infallible homing instinct.

Around 9,000 birds from the North East alone were in the race and it is estimated that 40% of them didn't return home.

The full number from around the country hasn't yet been calculated but is thought to be between 5,000 and 10,000 missing.

Richard Sayers, based in Skinningrove, North Yorkshire, 170 miles from the race, says 300 birds are missing from lofts in the fishing village, where pigeon racing is a way of life to many.

Richard Sayers (centre, with his family and birds), based in Skinningrove, North Yorkshire, 170 miles from the race, says 300 birds are missing from lofts in the fishing village

He appealed to people to give shelter to the missing birds, reminding the public of the part pigeons played carrying vital messages during the world wars.

Mr Sayers said: 'We've seen one of the very worst ever racing days in our history. Around 300 birds are missing from this village alone and thousands across the North East.

'But it's the same story right across the country, the birds set out from Peterborough and didn't make it home, they have vanished.

'Most of the breeders I'm talking to are blaming the atmospheric conditions, possibly a solar storm above the clouds that created static in the atmosphere, but no one really knows.

'It's a worrying situation for breeders and we're asking people who come across the birds to do their best to look after them for us.

'We're asking anyone who comes across a racing pigeon to feed, water and let it rest and there's an 80% chance the birds will get on their way after a few days.

'Each pigeon has an identification ring on with a code and number.

'We needed our little birds' help in the major conflicts and they saved 1000s of lives by carrying messages, now we can do our little bit to help them.'

Mr Sayers flies his homing birds as Sayers Bros & son from Skinningrove in the East Cleveland Federation. The partnership has kept birds for around 50 years.

Roughly between 30% and 40% of the Skinningrove birds are missing, around 300 birds, he said. In the East Cleveland Federation the figure is estimated to be 1,000.

Across the North East section, the estimate is between 3,500 and 5,500 missing.

Pigeon racing sees the birds released at a start point to then make their way home.

The time it takes the pigeon to cover the specified distance is measured and the bird's rate of travel is calculated and compared with all of the other pigeons in the race to determine which one returned at the highest speed

Ian Evans, CEO of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, said an as yet unidentified solar phenomenon on Saturday brought 'unprecedented' pigeon losses across the UK.

There were also heavy losses at races in Portugal and in Belgium - but no one knows why.

Mr Sayers flies his homing birds as Sayers Bros & son from Skinningrove in the East Cleveland Federation. The partnership has kept birds for around 50 years

It is thought solar winds may have been part of the cause, because they can interrupt the earth's magnetic field.

The huge losses of birds - still as yet not fully calculated - has led to the RPRA hold talks with the Met Office to try to get reports on the possibility of unusual solar activity so that racing can be cancelled if necessary.

Mr Evans said: 'We became aware quite quickly that something very unusual was happening on Saturday.

'I'm 45 and have kept pigeons since I was nine years of age and I have never heard of anything like this, it was extremely unusual and is a real mystery.

'On the face of it the weather conditions across the country were good, there was nothing to suggest that any birds would struggle to get home.

'In fact in many parts the conditions were favourable and you might have expected some good times.

'But in the events thousands of birds simply didn't return and as yet are still to return, which of course is a concern to the owners and breeders.

'Something happened that disrupted the navigational abilities of the birds. We believe it may have had something to do with solar wind activity which can distort the earth's magnetic field.

'There is a theory that this is what the birds use to find their way home with such accuracy.

'There was certainly something happening because birds released from locations all over the country disappeared and we've had many many reports of strays since.

'It wasn't just in this country either, we've had reports of heavy losses in Portugal and in Belgium as well.

'The result of all this is that we have re-entered talks with the Met Office to see whether we can get a specialised report to be used by pigeon racing.

'It would identify not just the weather, but also give us warning of any unusual meteorological activity.

'That would enable us to stop races going ahead and prevent days such as the one we experienced on Saturday.

'We are obviously hoping that the majority of these birds find their way home given time.'
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a woman was recovered from a flat in Great Yarmouth last night.

Police were called to the scene on Victoria Road shortly before 8.30pm where they discovered the woman's body.

The victim, who is believed to be in her 50s, has not yet been named. Officers from Great Yarmouth CID are treating her death as 'unexplained', pending the results of a post mortem.

The woman's body was found inside a flat on Victoria Road, Great Yarmouth at around 8.30pm yesterday. Norfolk Constabulary arrested a man in his 30s at the scene on suspicion of murder

Officers secured the scene while forensic specialists looked for evidence. A man in his 30s who was known to the victim was arrested inside the flat

Norfolk Constabulary confirmed to MailOnline that a man in his 30s, who is known to the deceased, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being questioned by detectives.

Crime scene examiners were busy collecting forensic evidence from the scene and a cordon around the property remains in place.

Officers said they are working to establish the events leading up to the woman's death.

Detective Inspector Tom Smith of Great Yarmouth CID said: 'Were in the early stages of our enquiries but at this stage, we believe this to be an isolated incident and are not linking this to any other ongoing investigations locally.

'Initial enquiries led officers to arrest a man in the property on suspicion of murder and he is helping us with our enquiries.'

Police said there is no link between this death and the murder of Linda Hood, who was strangled at her home in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth.

Ms Hood, who was 68, died from 'compression of the neck' before her house was set ablaze.
A House committee early Thursday morning approved sweeping legislation to curb the dominance of Big Tech firms including Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple.

The American Choice and Innovation Online Act, the focus of a six-bill antitrust package looking to restrict the command the tech giants have on the market, was advanced with a vote of 24 to 20 in the House Judiciary Committee.

The legislation would limit conduct by huge corporations' that gives their own products an advantage over competitors and discriminates against other businesses.

The Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching, or Access, Act was also approved on Wednesday night. The bill would make it easier for internet users to share their information with other platforms.

The bills must now pass the full House, but sets up further debate between Democrats and Republicans over additional amendments which could hamper the progress.

The measures were passed after it was revealed Apple CEO Tim Cook called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier this month to warn over the 'rushed' antitrust bills.

A House committee early Thursday morning approved sweeping legislation to curb the dominance of Big Tech firms including Facebook, Google , Amazon and Apple. Apple CEO Tim Cook called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier this month to warn over 'rushed' antitrust bills that are circulating throughout the House, according to a new report

Cook called Pelosi and other members of Congress to 'deliver a warning' that the antitrust bills were 'rushed,' would hurt innovation and hurt consumers by disrupting Apple's services, according to The New York Times, which first reported the news.

Two sources familiar with the call told the Times that Cook asked Pelosi to delay the process of considering the bills.

Pelosi reportedly pushed back against Cook's concerns, asking him to identify a specific policy objection.

But both parties are divided on how far to go. And Pelosi has been warned by opponents inside her own party that the proposals could have a damaging impact on the U.S. economy.

In a letter obtained by DailyMail.com, Timothy Powderly, Apple's Senior Director of Government Affairs, Americas, told the House Judiciary Committee that a number of provisions would create a race to the bottom for security and privacy.

'The App Store creates competition, and it is a place where all developersno matter their sizecan turn their passion and creativity into a thriving business,' Powderly wrote in the letter.

'The App Store offers customers access to nearly 2 million apps, and it supports more than 2.1 million jobs across all 50 states. We are concerned that many provisions of the recent package of antitrust reform legislation would create a race to the bottom for security and privacy, while also undermining innovation and competition.'

'Apple is concerned that current proposals would harm consumer privacy, device security, and innovation,' Powderly added.

'We urge the Committee not to approve the proposed legislation in its current form, and we look forward to engaging with the Committee going forward.'

The Times added that lobbyists and more than 12 think tanks and advocacy groups with funding from tech companies have called, emailed or visited Capitol Hill lawmakers and their staff expressing their deep concerns about the bills.

The proposals have attracted broad support across the political spectrum, from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, to Trump loyalists, such as Rep. Matt Gaetz.

But both parties are split on the issue.

Members of the New Democrat Coalition - made up of moderate Democratic Representatives - wrote to their party leadership urging deeper scrutiny of the proposals.

'The scope and impact of these bills could have a tremendous impact on the products and services many American consumers currently enjoy and the competitiveness of our innovation economy,' wrote the members, who included Rep. Suzan DelBene, a former Microsoft executive, and Rep. Scott Peters.

'Notably, stakeholders and policy experts are raising concerns these proposals may weaken personal privacy protections, cybersecurity, and increase the spread of dangerous conspiracy theories and misinformation.'

Amazon's vice president of public policy, said that the company is still analyzing the various bills, but that they may have a 'significant negative effect' on consumers and small and medium-sized businesses

Others in the tech industry have made their voice heard about the six pieces of legislation that are making their way through the House, including tech execs from Amazon and Google.

In a statement, Brian Huseman, Amazon's vice president of public policy, said that the company is still analyzing the various bills, but that they may have a 'significant negative effect' on consumers and small and medium-sized businesses.

'The Committee is moving unnecessarily fast in pushing these bills forward,' Huseman wrote.

'We encourage Chairman [David] Cicilline and committee members to slow down, postpone the markup, and thoroughly vet the language in the bills for unintended negative consequences.'

Google's Mark Isakowitz, VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, said it is not opposed to antitrust scrutiny or regulations on certain issues, but 'American consumers and small businesses would be shocked at how these bills would break many of their favorite services.'

'This would all dramatically undermine US technology leadership, damage the way small businesses connect with consumers, and raise serious privacy and security concerns.

Thirteen advocacy groups, including the TechNet, which calls itself a 'bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives,' wrote a letter on Monday noting that two of the bills, one written by Rep. Cicilline, D-R.I. and the other by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., would have grave impacts on consumer apps.

'Rep. Cicilline's bill would ban Google from displaying YouTube videos in search results;ban Alexa users from ordering goods from Amazon; block Apple from preinstalling 'Find My Phone' and iCloud on the iPhone; ban Xbox's Games Store from coming with the Xbox; and ban Instagram stories from Facebook's newsfeed,' the group of 13 wrote in the letter.

'Rep. Jayapal's bill would force free apps like Google Maps, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, iMessage, and FaceTime to be divested from their parent companies, putting at risk these free services and making them less accessible to the public.'

A Facebook spokesman told DailyMail.com that these bills 'underestimate the relenting competition' both domestically and abroad, within the tech sector.

'The proposed bills arent a solution to the ever-changing challenges of the consumer internet; they are a poison pill for Americas tech industry at a time our economy can least afford it,' a Facebook spokesperson said via email.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Microsoft and with a request for comment for this story.
A painting by Sir Winston Churchill has sold for more than 1.3million a century after it was first created.

The oil landscape, entitled 'The Moat, Breccles', was created by the wartime leader in 1921 before it was gifted to the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1961 to mark their growing friendship.

The painting, which illustrates a Norfolk wooded glen, proudly hung in the saloon of Onassis' yacht, the Christina, which Churchill and his wife Clementine visited numerous times.

However in 1975, following Onassis' death, the yacht was sold by the family and the the oil painting, which is signed 'WSC', went into storage, where it has remained for four decades.

Now, a century after it was created, the family has sold it with auctioneers Phillips, of New York, where it fetched 1.32m ($1,845,000).

The painting, entitled 'The Moat, Breccles', was created by Sir Winston Churchill in 1921. It has now sold for 1.32m ($1,845,000) with auctioneers Phillips, of New York

Sir Winston mentioned the painting in his essay 'Painting as a Pastime' published in The Strand Magazine in December 1921

Sir Winston, who mentioned the painting in his essay 'Painting as a Pastime' published in The Strand Magazine in December 1921, used painting as a helpful tool for battling his bouts of depression triggered by the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in the First World War in 1915.

He started off doing watercolours and then turned his attention to producing oil works, but was initially reluctant to part with them because he doubted their quality.

Jean-Paul Engelen, deputy chairman of Phillips, said: 'Two of the most influential figures of the 20th century, Churchill and Onassis formed a remarkable friendship, which Churchill sought to honour by gifting a work that he treasured in his own private collection for forty years.

'Churchill must have thought 'what do you give the world's richest man who has everything' and this was his answer.

'He was clearly proud of this painting as it featured in his 1921 The Strand article.

'Long thought to have been lost, The Moat, Breccles was in fact aboard the Christina until it was sold by the family following Onassis' death and put into storage.

'The Onassis Family have chosen to sell it a century after its creation and 50 years after it was generously gifted by the statesman to the family.'

Sir Winston's son, Randolph, introduced him to Onassis at a dinner in La Pausa, France, in January 1956.

The introduction sparked a friendship that prompted Onassis to invite the wartime leader and his wife, Clementine, to a dinner party on his yacht the Christina.

Churchill was not only impressed by Onassis' hospitality, but also the yacht which he described once in a letter to Clementine as 'the most beautiful structure I have seen afloat'.

Jean-Paul Engelen, deputy chairman of Phillips, said Sir Winston sought to honour his friendship with Onassis by gifting him with the work

The oil landscape, which is signed 'WSC', was gifted to Onassis' in 1961 and hung in his saloon

During the period of 1958 to 1963, Sir Winston, often accompanied by his wife, made eight cruises in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic on the Christina.

Onassis also went to great lengths to make each cruise as easy and comfortable for the elder statesman.

Celia, Sir Winston's granddaughter, observed that her grandfather had aged considerably after his retirement and was wonderfully happy on the yacht and those pleasurable holidays appeared to give him renewed life.

While onboard the Christina, the wartime leader visited many locations, and it was on the yacht that he made his final visit to the US in 1961.

Onassis, who married Jackie Kennedy five years after JFK's assassination in 1963, and his celebrated guest crossed the Atlantic from Gibraltar and cruised the West Indies before proceeding to New York City.

During the period of 1958 to 1963, Sir Winston made eight cruises in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic on the Christina

Churchill, who spent a lot of time with Onassis (left), was introduced to him at a dinner in La Pausa, France, in January 1956

The British wartime PM, who became a friend of Onassis in his retirement, enjoyed successive cruises on the Christina. Pictured: The former PM in 1961 with Onassis (third from left), on his super yacht the Christina

The Christina's fame and allure as the original 'superyacht' owes itself to such illustrious and glamorous guests.

These included Maria Callas, Eva Peron, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Greta Garbo and the Kennedys.

The record price for a Churchill painting is 8.285m ($11.5m) for his 'Tower of the Koutoubia' which was sold from the collection of Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in March.

In January, it was revealed that paintings by Sir Winston had sharply risen in value following The Crown, which offered an insight into the wartime Prime Minister's life.

The popular Netflix drama gave a generous portrayal of Churchill, played by John Lithgow, 69, as a major guiding light for the young Queen Elizabeth, reminding her of her duties before leaving Downing Street aged 80 due to ill health.

Sotheby's expert Simon Hucker told The Telegraph: 'What The Crown does is bring these figures from British political history very much to life  and makes them very human.

'John Lithgow portrayed Churchill as this warm and genial old man, guiding the young Queen as best he can, whilst his own health fades and perhaps it is this side of Churchill that people see in his paintings.'
The mother of two young sisters who were found dead floating in a Florida canal has been taken into custody on suspicion of killing them amid claims she was offering to baptize people's children in the water.

Tinessa Hogan, 36, was taken into custody in Lauderhill, Florida, on Tuesday, a day after her daughters Destiny, nine, and Daysha, seven, were found dead.

Police have not arrested her but she is in custody, leading to the belief that they have detained her under Florida's Baker Act, which applies to people with mental illness.

A video obtained by local network WPLG shows Hogan being handcuffed next to a tree in Florida on Wednesday.

The first girl's body was found on Tuesday at 12pm, after it floated past an apartment complex. The other sister's body was found eight hours later.

Investigators say there were no obvious signs of trauma on Daysha's body. Destiny had pale white hands, and a white substance on her face. Autopsies were completed on Wednesday, although their results have not been released.

Neighbors say Tinessa had been offering to baptize their kids in the canal on Monday - which is the last time the girls were seen alive.

Tinessa Hogan, 36, was taken into custody in Lauderhill, Florida, on Tuesday, a day after her daughters Destiny, nine, and Daysha, seven, were found dead.

The bodies of two young girls were discovered, hours apart, floating in a canal behind a condominium in Lauderhill, Florida, on Tuesday. One of the bodies is seen under a tarp after investigators recovered it from the water

The body of the first girl was spotted shortly after 12pm outside the Habitat II Condominiums

Some told The Sun Sentinel that Tinessa had a 'cult like personality' and wanted to evangelize. She was carrying a bible when she was taken into custody and was shouting: 'I am God! and !I am the devil!'

Neighbor Lawana Johnson told CBS Miami of a worrying encounter she had with Hogan on Monday, saying: 'She was in the water swimming, she had a bible and she told me to come here.

'I said, "Why?" She said she wanted to baptize me. She say God told her, I say "God didnt tell you anything."'

Tinessa was taken into custody before police had found the second girl's body. It's unclear if police even knew she was the girls' mother when she was taken away from in an ambulance, not far from the canal where the girls were found.

Police now want to know whether or not Tinessa was part of a church or a religious organization.

'If you know the family, the children, if you're familiar with the relationship, if you're familiar with any churches or organizations that they may be a part of, we desperately need to know what the relationship was and how this may have happened,' Lauderhill Police Lt. Mike Bigwood. said at a press conference on Wednesday.

He said he had been told by neighbors that she was offering to baptize their kids in the canal, but he wouldn't comment on it.

The girls' bodies were found eight hours apart on Tuesday. The first was found at noon, after a women in a nearby apartment complex called 911 to report seeing it float by

A neighbor recorded Hogan being arrested on Tuesday. She was screaming 'I am the devil! I am God!'

He also wouldn't specify whether she was being held in jail or in a mental facility, just said that she was 'no longer in the community'.

Neighbor Cheryl Robinson told the Sentinel that Hogan had a 'cult like' personality.

A social media account belonging to someone of the same name that DailyMail.com viewed on Thursday includes religious references.

It's unclear where the family was living.

Recent property records for Hogan have her most recent address as a home in Daytona, more than 200 miles north of where the girls died.

Police were alerted to the scene shortly after noon when a woman in a nearby apartment complex spotted the first body floating in the water.
A rogue elephant has killed at least 16 villagers in the past two months after likely being expelled from his herd for 'bad behaviour or sexual rivalry with other males', a wildlife official said on Thursday.

The mature male, believed to be 15 or 16 years old, has been on the rampage in the tribal Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand state ever since he was separated from the herd of 22 elephants.

'It's likely he was in heat and was expelled because of his bad behaviour or sexual rivalry with other males,' Satish Chandra Rai, regional divisional forest officer, told AFP.

'We are studying his behaviour and a team of 20 officials is constantly trying to track him because our first priority is to protect the animal.'

A rogue elephant has killed at least 16 villagers in the past two months after likely being expelled from his herd for 'bad behaviour or sexual rivalry', a wildlife official said on Thursday (file image)

The elephant, which is now on its way back seeking to reunite with the herd, has managed to outwit officials with his sheer speed and unpredictability.

On Tuesday, the elephant lifted an elderly couple with his trunk and battered them to death when they had ventured out before dawn.

Rai said the elephant was only killing people who accidentally got in its way, got too close, or who tried to provoke it and take pictures.

'He has not been breaking into houses or deliberately attacking people,' Rai said. 'We want to see if he is accepted back in the herd. If he is not it will be proved he is a bad boy.'

India has an estimated 30,000 wild Asian elephants - nearly 60 percent of the total wild population.

In recent years there have been rising incidents of elephants killed by locals - and vice-versa - as humans encroach further into forest areas.

In November 2019, an elephant that went on a rampage and killed five Indian villagers was caught after a massive operation to hunt down the animal.

In November 2019, an elephant that went on a rampage and killed five Indian villagers was caught after a massive operation to hunt down the animal

The elephant - named after Osama bin Laden - killed five villagers in a 24-hour rampage in 2019. He can be seen walking through the forest in a picture taken by a drone before his capture

Wildlife officers tracked the pachyderm - dubbed 'Laden' after the late Al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden by the locals it menaced in northeastern Assam state - through a forest for several days using drones and domesticated elephants.

The rogue animal killed five people, including three women, during a 24-hour rampage through Goalpara district in October 2019.

Officials said they would take the elephant's welfare into account as well as the safety of people living nearby in deciding where it would be relocated.
Elaine Hall (pictured) testified on Wednesday at her ex-husband Mark Redwine's trial for the murder of their son Dylan

The mother of a 13-year-old boy allegedly killed by his father revealed how she became suspicious of her ex-husband just hours after their son vanished during testimony at his murder trial.

Mark Redwine's trial for the murder of his son Dylan kicked off in Colorado's La Plata County court this week - nearly nine years after the boy disappeared in November 2012 in the Vallecito area near Durango.

Prosecutors say Redwine, 59, killed Dylan in a fit of rage after the boy confronted him about disturbing photos he'd found of his father eating feces from a diaper and dressed in women's lingerie.

On Wednesday, the court heard from several of Dylan's family members, including his mother, Elaine Hall.

Hall recounted how she sent Dylan to stay with his father for Thanksgiving on November 18, 2012, and learned the next day that he was missing.

In text messages shown to the court, Redwine wrote to Hall at 4.32pm on November 19: 'Elaine, I am wondering if you have heard from Dylan, I have been trying to reach him all afternoon.'

Hall said she immediately set out on a six-hour drive to La Plata County as she began to fear that Redwine had something to do with Dylan's disappearance.

At 6.35pm she texted Redwine: 'He wouldnt just leave. He would have called me. I am so suspect of you right now. How could he just disappear?'

Mark Redwine, 59, (pictured right) is currently standing trial for the murder of his 13-year-old son Dylan. He is seen talking to his public defender, John Moran

Redwine, 59, (left) is currently standing trial for the murder of his 13-year-old son Dylan (right), who disappeared near their home in Colorado's La Plata County in November 2012

Redwine told Hall that he had just left the Marshall's office to report Dylan missing - but she testified that when she called the office she was told that there was no record or report about her son, according to the Denver Post.

'They didn't have a report or anything on Dylan being missing. They really didn't know anything,' Hall said.

Hall said that Dylan didn't want to go to his father's for the holiday and instead wanted to stay with his mom and maternal grandmother, who was stricken with cancer.

Seven months after Dylan (pictured) disappeared his remains were found scattered in southwestern Colorado mountains by wild animals

When Hall consulted her attorney, however, she was left with little option.

'She basically said it was a court order and that I would be in violation of the court,' Hall testified about potentially withholding Dylan, according to 9News.

Describing the last time she saw Dylan at the Colorado Springs Airport, Hall told the court: 'I said: "Oh, youre too old to give your mom a hug," and then he came back and gave me a hug.'

Under cross examination Redwine's public defender questioned whether Hall's suspicions of her ex-husband may have been unfairly fueled by their bitter divorce and custody battle.

'I believed then that he was the last person to see Dylan and he had no answers for us and he was refusing to answer any questions or help us find Dylan and it was frustrating,' Hall replied.

She later added, 'I've always said, that I believed he had a hand in Dylan's disappearance.'

Defending her actions in the days after Dylan was last seen - including her decision to speak to media about her suspicions - Hall said: 'I was frantic. It was so surreal.

'You don't expect any of this to happen you and, you know, I figured he was safe because he was with his dad. And I was devastated that no one knew where my son was.

'My intention was to bring Dylan home. It wasn't to belittle or besmirch or anything like that it was to get Dylan's face out there in case anyone in this country had seen him.'

Seven months after Dylan disappeared his remains were found scattered in southwestern Colorado mountains by wild animals.

His skull was found by hikers in 2015 about a mile from the initial location.

According to indictment, forensic anthropologists discovered the skull had injuries consistent with blunt force trauma at two locations.

Redwine, who has pleaded not guilty, was arrested after a grand jury indicted him in July 2017 on charges of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.

If found guilty of his son's death, Redwine faces up to 48 years in prison.

Redwine's trial has been postponed at least 10 times with a judge granting multiple mistrials last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Dylan's skull was found by hikers in 2015 about a mile from the initial location. According to indictment, forensic anthropologists discovered the skull had injuries consistent with blunt force trauma at two locations

Mark Redwine's trial was postponed at least 10 times with a judge granting multiple mistrials last year due to COVID-19 restrictions. He is pictured in court in August 2017

On Wednesday the court also heard from Dylan's older brother, Cory, who said the boy's relationship with his father was deeply damaged when he discovered the alleged fetish photos.

'Dylan lost any reason for him to look up to Mark that day,' Cory said.

Cory, who is around eight years older than Dylan, was on the 2011 road trip to Cleveland where the photos were discovered. They looked at them together in a locked bathroom, with Cory taking pictures of the photos on his own phone.

'He was pretty disgusted,' Cory said of how Dylan reacted to the photos.

An August 2012 text exchange revealed that Dylan tried to use the photos as leverage against his dad during an argument.

'Hey send me those poop pics of Papa because he gave me a speech about you guys being a bad example and I want to show him who he really is,' Dylan texted Cory.

Cory said that he did not send the photos. His testimony is set to continue on Thursday.

In her testimony, Hall stated that she didn't know if Dylan confronted his father over the scandalous photos.

Cory Redwine, Dylan's older brother (pictured) revealed they had discovered the photos

If found guilty of his son's death, Redwine faces up to 48 years in prison. The trial is expected to continue through mid-to-late July

During the prosecution's opening statement on Monday, Special Deputy District Attorney Fred Johnson suggested Dylan confronted his father with 'compromising photographs' of Redwine dressed in women's underwear and eating feces from a diaper on the night he was killed, according to The Denver Post.

'A damaged relationship, exposed with compromising photographs, photographs in the hands of a 13-year-old who is disgusted by it, which triggered a violent rage in the defendant,' Johnson said.

Johnson added that the prosecution plans to prove Dylan knew about the photographs and that they made him uncomfortable to be around his father.

Redwine's public defender, Moran, dismissed that motive, highlighting old text messages which show Dylan had previously confronted his father about the photographs during a cross-country trip without suffering any harm.

Moran states the prosecution won't be able to prove a connection between Dylan's death and the photographs because they 'come from deep within Mark's private life.'

Prosecutors have argued that Dylan was killed around the night of November 18, 2012.

He had made plans to meet a friend the following morning but never showed up, and there was no activity on his cellphone after 9.56pm the night before.

Redwine initially told investigators he left Dylan alone that night to run errands and returned to find him missing.

A missing poster of 13-year-old Dylan Redwine hangs on a trail head sign next to Vallecito Reservoir in Vallecito, Colorado. His remains were found seven months later scattered in southwestern Colorado mountains by wild animals

During his opening statement for the defense, Moran said Dylan ran away from home and suggested that a bear or mountain lion attacked him due to a tooth mark found on Dylan's skull.

Johnson said investigators found traces of Dylan's blood in Redwine's living room and a cadaver-sniffing dog alerted them to the smell of human remains in the back of Redwine's truck and on his clothing.

He mentioned prosecutors will present evidence that Redwine killed Dylan in his living room, before dumping the body off a trail close to his house, and misleading investigators to cover up the crime.

Moran referred to the dog's scent as 'junk science,' arguing that the 'infinitesimally small' amount of blood found in Redwine's living room is likely to be found in anyone's house.

However, prosecutors said Dylan's body was discovered without his wallet or his backpack, a detail Moran said does not point to a scenario in which Dylan ran away.

During the first night when rescue crews were deployed to search for Dylan, all the lights in Redwine's house were out by 11pm, Johnson said.

'At a time when most people would have been out in the woods with a flashlight, a time when most people would know to leave the light on in case a child was lost in the woods ... At 11pm, the defendants house went dark,' Johnson said. 'Dylan was gone.'

The case drew nation attention when Redwine and the boy's mother, Elaine Hall, leveled accusations at each other during appearances on Dr. Phil in 2013.

In addition, TV host Nancy Grace also did a segment on Dylan's disappearance.

Testimony began on Tuesday and is expected to continue through mid-to-late July.
Dr. Anthony Fauci resisted former President Donald Trump's call to cancel a research grant to a non-profit that gave money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the institution at the center of the COVID-19 lab leak theory.

A new book, 'Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration's Response to the Pandemic That Changed History,' written by Washington Post reporters Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta, details how Fauci was ordered by Trump to formally announce the grant had been terminated in April 2020.

Of concern, according to an excerpt given to Fox News, was that Fauci and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins were not sure the NIH had the legal authority to terminate a peer-reviewed grant in the middle of a budget cycle.

Dr. Anthony Fauci resisted former President Donald Trump's call to cancel a research grant to a non-profit that gave money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the institution at the center of the COVID-19 lab leak theory

Former President Donald Trump pushed Dr. Anthony Fauci and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins to cancel a grant to a non-profit that had been giving money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, something it was unclear they had the legal authority to do

Workers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology are photographed in 2017. The Wuhan lab has been central to the so-called lab leak theory - that COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese lab instead of jumping from an animal to a human

The general counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services made it clear to Fauci and Collins that the order came directly from Trump.

The implication, the book said, was that their jobs were on the line.

The grant had been given to the non-profit EcoHealth Alliance to have the Wuhan lab study how coronaviruses jump from infected bats to humans. Politico, however, reported that EcoHealth Alliance wasn't actively collaborating with the lab when NIH cut off the funds.

Trump had declared at an April 17 press conference that he had instructed U.S. officials to look into whether any taxpayer dollars were slated to go to the Wuhan Institute for research - and announced that funding would be cancelled.

Trump wanted the men to announce at a 5 p.m. press conference on April 24, 2020 that the grant had been terminated.

Fauci and Collins reluctantly did as they were told.

On April 24, the NIH told EcoHealth Alliance that the funds had been terminated.

EcoHealth Alliance was told not to spend the remaining $369,819 balance of the 2020 grant.

The HHS general counsel later decided that the agency probably didn't have the authority to terminate the grant, so NIH had to reinstate it, but stopped payment.

The authors write that Fauci's longtime friend, HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley encouraged him to hold out against Trump's demand - even suggesting Fauci resign.

Staley was concerned about politics seeping into scientific research.

'You want us both to resign over a $3.7 million grant?' Fauci pushed back.

The book revealed that Fauci and Collins heard the same advice from a number of members of the scientific community.

In the conversation with Staley, the activist took it back.

'You're right, you're right,' he told Fauci. 'That's not what you resign over.'
A Daytona Beach police officer has been critically injured after being shot in the head and a $100,000 reward has been offered to locate the alleged gunman.

The 26-year-old officer suffered a gunshot wound to the head while investigating a 'suspicious incident' on Kingston Avenue on Wednesday at around 9pm, according to Daytona Beach Police Department.

The suspect has been identified as Othal Wallace, 29, and Volusia County Sheriff's Department warned that he should be considered as armed and dangerous.

A $100,000 reward has been offered by police for anyone who is able to help to locate the suspect, who is believed to be driving a grey 2016 Honda HRV with a California tag of 7TNX532.

Bodycam footage released by Daytona Beach Police shows the moment the officer is shot by the alleged gunman.

An officer, 26, was shot in the head while investigating a 'suspicious incident' on Wednesday at around 9pm, according to Daytona Beach Police. Pictured: Bodycam footage showing police officer speaking with suspect

In the clip, the police officer approaches a parked vehicle and asks the driver if he lives in the area, before telling him to 'sit down'.

Responding to the officer's repeated calls for him to 'sit', the suspect says: 'Come on man. Sir, don't do this.

'Why are you asking me do I live here? What's going on though?'

The suspect is heard telling the officer to 'back up' while the police officer begins yelling 'stop' repeatedly as he attempts to hold the man back.

In the video, a scuffle breaks out before what appears to be a gunshot is heard and the officer falls to the ground.

The officer was found by additional units lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head after he stopped replying to calls on his radio, according to police.

The suspect has been identified as Othal Wallace (pictured), 29, and there is a $100,000 reward on offer for anyone who is able to help to locate the suspect

Bodycam footage shows the moment the officer is shot by the alleged gunman (pictured) on Kingston Avenue, Daytona Beach, after he approaches his car and starts speaking to him

Sharing the bodycam footage to Twitter, Daytona Beach Police wrote: 'A $100,000 reward is now available for anyone who can help authorities locate the man who shot one of our officers in the head earlier this evening.

'The man we're looking for is located in the video below. His name is Othal Wallace. He's 29 years old.

'Othal Wallace may be in a gray 2016 Honda HRV with a California tag of 7TNX532. Anyone with information is urged to contact 911 immediately.'

The 26-year-old officer was rushed to Halifax Health, where he underwent surgery which wrapped up before 4am this morning. He remains in critical condition and his mother is at his bedside.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told Fox 35 News that the wounded officer's condition was 'really bad'.

Meanwhile, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young called the suspect a 'coward' as a massive manhunt is underway to find the alleged gunman.

In the video, a scuffle breaks out and the officer yells 'stop' repeatedly, before a gunshot is heard and the officer falls to the ground. Pictured: Suspect gets out of car to speak with officer

He tweeted: 'No change in the status of my hero who was shot in the line of duty last night.

'He's fighting while all of us are praying. The manhunt continues for the coward responsible for this.....'

Speaking to press this morning, he added: 'This cop is 26-years-old, behind me, fighting for his life, most of us are just starting to live at 26-years-old.

'We are completely heartbroken by what took place.'

Chief Young also assured his community that 'even though we are hurt, even though we are heartbroken, if you need us, we will be there'.

A man hunt is underway to locate Wallace, who is believed to be driving a grey 2016 Honda HRV with a California tag of 7TNX532 (pictured)

Police are working on several leads to track down Wallace, who reportedly has five felony cases in Volusia County and one arrest in Brevard County. Pictured: Police at the scene

Florida Highway Patrol said at around 10.45pm on Wednesday that areas of the Interstate 4 and Interstate 95 were being shut down in connection with the manhunt, Click Orlando reported.

Dozens of patrol vehicles from Central Florida law enforcement agencies and US marshals have also been assisting with the manhunt.

Chief Young said at least three ballistic vests, ammo magazines, boxes of rifle rounds, a rifle and semi-automatic handgun were found at the suspect's apartment, according to Fox 35 News.

Police are working on several leads to track down Wallace, who reportedly has five felony cases in Volusia County and at least one arrest in Brevard County.
Children put on puberty blockers 'inevitably' progressed onto cross-sex hormones, the High Court heard today, as an NHS gender clinic tries to overturn a legal ban on the drugs.

The High Court previously ruled that children under 16 with gender dysphoria can only consent to the use of hormone-blocking treatments if they can understand the 'immediate and long-term consequences'.

However, the judges said it was 'highly unlikely' that a child aged 13 or under would be able to consent to the treatment, and that it was 'doubtful' that a child of 14 or 15 would understand the consequences.

The case was brought by Keira Bell - a 24-year-old woman who began taking puberty blockers when she was 16 before later 'detransitioning' - against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the UK's only gender identity development service for children.

A mother of an autistic teenager who is on the waiting list for treatment, only known as Mrs A, supported Ms Bell in their successful legal challenge.

The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is appealing against the ruling.

Jeremy Hyam QC, representing Ms Bell and Mrs A, told the court today that the appeal should fail as it did not find any 'material errors' in the original ruling.

The barrister also said that there was an 'inevitable or inextricable progression' from puberty blockers onto cross-sex hormones and that the court was right to say a child would need to understand the impact of cross-sex hormones before being allowed the puberty-blocking treatment.

The Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust (file picture) runs the UK's first gender clinic in London

Keira Bell seen here arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday. She is a 24-year-old woman who began taking puberty blockers when she was 16 before later 'detransitioning'

Fenella Morris QC, for the trust, said on Wednesday that the decision 'reset almost half a century of established law' and caused 'serious distress to many young people and their families'.

But on Thursday Mr Hyam said: 'The claimant's case was that the procedures as a whole failed to ensure, or were insufficient to ensure, proper consent was being given by children who commenced on puberty blockers.'

He added: 'This is the court evaluating the totality of the defendant's evidence and standing back and saying of that, some matters are peripheral but these are the salient matters that must be understood in order for informed consent in law to be given.'

The barrister also said there was 'little to no evidence' suggesting puberty blockers lead to improvements in psychological wellbeing.

In written arguments, he added: 'The need for a child to understand, retain and weigh up the salient facts is all the more important because, unlike life-saving cancer treatment, there is much uncertainty as to what the benefits of puberty blockers actually are.'

This was previously disputed by Ms Morris, who said that it was not inevitable for a young person to move onto cross-sex hormones at 16 though a majority did do so.

What are puberty blockers and how can children transition gender? If a child is under 18 and may have gender dysphoria, they'll usually be referred to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. GIDS has 2 main clinics in London and Leeds. The team will carry out a detailed assessment, usually over 3 to 6 appointments over a period of several months. Young people with lasting signs of gender dysphoria may be referred to a hormone specialist (consultant endocrinologist) to see if they can take hormone blockers as they reach puberty. These hormone, or 'puberty' blockers (gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues) pause the physical changes of puberty, such as breast development or facial hair. Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria. Although the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) advises this is a physically reversible treatment if stopped, it is not known what the psychological effects may be. It's also not known whether hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or children's bones. Side effects may also include hot flushes, fatigue and mood alterations. From the age of 16, teenagers who've been on hormone blockers for at least 12 months may be given cross-sex hormones, also known as gender-affirming hormones. These hormones cause some irreversible changes, such as breast development and breaking or deepening of the voice. Long-term cross-sex hormone treatment may cause temporary or even permanent infertility. Source: NHS Advertisement

She told the court: 'There is no suggestion anywhere that this is one pathway... there is no shying away from explaining to children and young people what the possibilities are.'

Mr Hyam later said there were 'legitimate concerns' about puberty blocker referrals at the Tavistock, including an absence of data on how many children and young people were refused the treatment.

'The other legitimate concerns arising out of the defendant's evidence was the lack of evidence base and the degree to which it was experimental,' he added.

The barrister later said that more girls than boys were being referred to the service.

He continued: 'This is against a background of concern that it might be social media that is having an effect. They do not have an explanation for it, but that might be a reason.'

On Wednesday, Ms Morris told the court that puberty blockers are used 'to reduce distress' for children with gender dysphoria, allowing them to make decisions about their bodies in the future.

She continued: 'Having reduced that distress, it creates the possibility to take time to consider options... it allows the child to make the choice.

'If puberty progresses without pause, then the distress which is caused by the progress of puberty inhibits the thinking which allows the child to make an informed choice.'

The hearing before Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett - sitting with Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lady Justice King - will conclude on Thursday with judgment expected at a later date.

Ms Bell's lawyers previously argued there is 'a very high likelihood' that children who start taking hormone blockers will later begin taking cross-sex hormones, which they say cause 'irreversible changes'.

However, the Court of Appeal heard that it is not inevitable that a young person will move from puberty blockers to cross-sex hormones - which will only be prescribed to those over 16 - with even fewer going on to have surgery.

Ms Morris later said that puberty blockers are said to be 'fully reversible' in international guidelines relied upon by the trust.

Also, according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines, very few people regret treatment of their gender dysphoria, the court heard.

'They refer to satisfaction rates across studies ranging from 87% in male to female patients and 97% of female to male patients and regrets were extremely rare,' Ms Morris said.

The barrister later said that children or young people who are considering going on to puberty blockers are told about the effects on their fertility that may be caused by later stages of transition.

Keira Bell outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London after December's ruling. The 23-year-old, who began taking puberty blockers when she was 16 before 'detransitioning', brought legal action against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust

Miss Bell (pictured as a five-year-old) had treatment which began at the Tavistock in London

Miss Bell (pictured left, and right as a man), took testosterone, which left her with a deep voice and possibly infertile, and had a double mastectomy - but later realised she had 'gone down the wrong path'. Right, She changed her name and sex on her driving licence and birth certificate, calling herself Quincy (after musician Quincy Jones)

Highlighting that it is not inevitable that a young person will continue on to cross-sex hormones after puberty blockers, she added: 'The question is whether a child is counselled about fertility implications at the next stage and you can see from the material ... all of that is explained at the initial stage.

'There is no suggestion anywhere that this is one pathway ... there is no shying away from explaining to children and young people what the possibilities are.'

Nine organisations or individuals - including human rights group Liberty and professional body The Endocrine Society - have intervened in the case.

Liberty director Gracie Bradley said: 'Liberty has a long and proud history of standing up for trans rights - and today is no different. This case has implications for trans children not just in the UK, but also all over the world.

'Other countries have already started using the UK ruling to restrict trans rights - we now have a chance to stop that.

'This case could also impact the ability of all children and young people to choose and receive healthcare - something which would be a regressive step that any rights' respecting society should be loudly and fiercely rejecting.'
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People-smugglers took advantage of the good weather to send a migrant boat full of dozens of men and boys to Dover as the crisis in the English Channel continues.

Up to 60 migrants were picked up in a dinghy in the Channel this morning and were taken to Dover Marina on HMS Seeker, where they then went to a holding facility.

Immigration officials are warning that Border Force agents are struggling to cope with the extraordinary surge in crossings, and claimed the system 'is at the point of collapse'.

Kent County Council said it has 'reached the limit' for the number of unaccompanied child migrants it can look after, and has threatened to sue Priti Patel as its services reach breaking point.

More than 1,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this month, while over 5,000 have made the perilous journey from France this year - more than double the number during the same period in 2020. It is now predicted 10,000 will cross in 2021, a landmark for illicit sea immigration to the UK.

Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union said 'the pressure across the board is intolerable' and warned of 'serious health and safety concerns on behalf of staff connected with the excessive hours this causes'.

Speaking to MailOnline, Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said the Government 'seems incapable of stemming the flow' and said the 'public are in despair as migrant after migrant pushes their way into the UK at will and people-smugglers laugh all the way to the bank'.

Boris Johnson is apparently furious about the growing number of Channel crossings facilitated by people-smugglers, and allegedly blasted Miss Patel for her mismanagement.

Miss Patel is bringing forward new laws to try to crackdown on the journeys but ministers are apparently frustrated that Border Force officials are failing to enforce the existing rules.

Border Force officials took dozens of migrants to a holding facility in Dover today as the crisis in the English Channel continues

Up to 60 migrants, most of them young men, were picked up in a dinghy in the Channel this morning and taken to Dover

Border Force officials guide migrants off the vessel, where they are then taken to a facility

Most of the migrants who were picked up in the English Channel today were young men

Border Force officials stand over the migrants who were picked up in the Channel today

Border Force vessel transports newly arrived migrants to a holding facility

More than 5,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this year - more than double the same period in 2020

Kent County Council leader Roger Gough and Sue Chandler, the cabinet member for integrated children's services, said it had again reached an unsafe capacity.

They added it would no longer be able to accept any new unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) from June 14, just 10 months after it had to take similar action.

Mr Gough said: 'I am profoundly saddened to be in this unthinkable position once again in such a short period of time.

'Despite warnings, and continued dialogue with government, Kent's UASC support resources are again significantly overwhelmed,' Mr Gough said.

The Home Office announced measures to encourage more local authorities around the UK to take in child migrants who arrive unaccompanied.

Border Force officials guide newly arrived migrants to a holding facility

Migrants are seen disembarking HMS Seeker in Dover Marina today as the crisis continues

Border Force officials guide migrants off the vessel, where they are then taken to a facility

Most of the migrants who were picked up in the English Channel today were young men

Border Force officials guide migrants off the vessel, where they are then taken to a facility

Mr Gough said that after taking advice from its Director of Children's Services, the council would 'no longer be able meet our statutory duty to safely care for the children we support' and no further arrivals could be accepted until 'sufficient transfers have been made outside of Kent bringing our numbers back to safe levels'.

The council said the government's recommended maximum number of under 18-year-old UASC that Kent should care for is 231.

Kent's number of under-18 UASC in care has risen from 274 to more than 400 since the beginning of the year and the numbers are rapidly increasing on a daily basis, according to KCC.

The council said it is also dealing with 1,100 UASC care leavers over 18 who remain in care with the council until the age of 25.

Mr Gough said: 'If every other local authority in the UK were to take two or three under 18-year-old UASC who arrive at Dover into their care, Kent's numbers would reduce to the council's safe allocation immediately.

'This remains, a small problem for the nation to resolve but a huge and unreasonable responsibility for Kent.'

The crisis is putting 'extreme pressure' on local authorities, with Kent County Council threatening to sue the Home Secretary over it

A newly arrived migrant shows his wrist band to a Border Force official

Most of the migrants who were picked up in the English Channel today were young men

Up to 60 migrants, most of them young men, were picked up in a dinghy in the Channel this morning and taken to Dover

The council suggested the National Transfer Scheme had failed to meet the purpose the Home Office created it for in 2016, to keep pace with the rate of arrivals and provide timely transfers.

It called for a robust mandatory National Transfer Scheme for all local authorities.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'The Home Office is grateful for the role Kent County Council has played in supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and we have provided them with substantial operational support, including transferring those in need of support to other local authorities in the UK.

'We recently announced vital updates to the National Transfer Scheme to alleviate pressures on certain areas and continue to work closely across Government on provision for unaccompanied minors.'
A New Mexico mom is appealing to the state court system to keep her violent repeat-offender son in jail after she says he attacked his 13-year-old sibling and threatened to massacre a family.

Jade Gordon, from Albuquerque, told the station KRQE that her 23-year-old son, Shane Gordon, has been troubled from a young age and has long been 'on a path of destruction.'

Over the past three years, Shane has been in and out of jail on charges including harassment, intimidation, and multiple counts of battery, assault and property damage, but each time he was released after getting a slap on the wrist, only to reoffend again.

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Shane Ward, 23, from New Mexico, has been in and out of jail for more than two years. His mother wants him imprisoned before he kills someone

The 23-year-old is currently on the run after yet again cutting off his GPS ankle monitor following a domestic violence incident.

'I believe deep down in my heart, that somebody at some point could end up dead,' said Gordon. I just pray that he sees this and he gives up.

The mother said as a child, Ward was diagnosed with conduct disorder, which is marked by antisocial behavior, including being irresponsible, skipping school, stealing, or physically harming animals or people.

As her son got older, Gordon said his conduct grew worse, prompting her to kick him out of the house when he turned 18 years old.

We would no longer allow him in the home, she said. Specifically, because we have younger children in the home and we did not want our younger children to be subjected to his actions or the things he would state in the home.

Court records indicate that in recent years, Ward has been charged with using a phone to intimidate his ex-boyfriends relatives by texting them messages like 'your family will be massacred' and '[I will] chop [your] children's heads off.'

Jade Gordon says her son Shane has been getting slaps on the wrist from judges, despite attacking people and threatening family members with homicidal violence

In another case, Ward was accused of battery and false imprisonment after allegedly strangling a man.

Temporary restraining orders requested by victims were denied.

In one of the battery cases from 2019, Ward entered a plea deal and received a delayed sentence, but since then he has violated the conditions of his probation at least three times.

I honestly believe the system failed my son, Gordon said. The judge keeps releasing him and letting him out.

Earlier this month, Gordon said that Ward beat up her 13-year-old son, then cut off his ankle monitor and went on the lam. A warrant for the fugitive's arrest was issued on June 15.

Gordon said she and her husband want her recidivist son charged in this latest case so that he could 'learn from his mistakes.

The married mom added that she would like to see Ward stay imprisoned long enough to get the help he needs.

Officials with the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office told the station that they have filed three motions seeking to revoke Ward's probation, but two of those were denied by judges. The third motion is still pending.
A fugitive stole a $1.2 million yacht from upstate New York, sailed it across Lake Champlain for two days, then claimed he was 'water-testing' the vessel after being tracked down by a Border Patrol helicopter.

Robert Morris, 56, of Jericho, nabbed the luxury boat, a Jeanneau Prestige 500 dubbed 'Volans,' from Rouses Point Marina on Monday morning, it is claimed.

He then spent the next 36 hours sailing the pilfered vessel on Lake Champlain, until he was arrested on Tuesday afternoon.

Afterwards, Morris claimed he had permission to take it after being spotted near St Albans in Vermont by Border Patrol agents hunting for the missing yacht, WCAX reported.

Morris was apprehended with the help of the St Alban's Police Department, who brought the fugitive ashore. The alleged thief is then said to have claimed he was sailing the boat back to its owner Ron McCarthy in Montreal, Canada.

McCathy denied giving Morris permission to do so - and police asked Morris why he had been sailing south towards Vermont when he was caught, rather than north to Canada.

A wanted fugitive stole a $1.2 million yacht from a lake in upstate New York and drove it across Lake Champlain to Vermont

'He drove the boat from Rouses Point, New York, to Burton Island, Vermont, so he crossed state lines,' Deputy State's Attorney Deb Celis said during Morris's court appearance on Wednesday.

Morris interrupted Celis and said he was 'water-testing' the boat after making mechanical fixes. He gave a slew of excuses as to why he was driving the yacht, including his claim that he'd been asked by yacht owner McCarthy to return the boat to him in Montreal.

But McCarthy said that wasn't true. And Morris was heading south when he was caught - the opposite direction to Montreal, which sits north in Canada.

When he was caught, Robert Morris, 56, of Jericho, lied that he was 'water-testing' it

At the end of his court appearance on Wednesday, Morris gave the middle finger

Morris was seen in a video of his court appearance, published by WCAX, during which he continued to talk over the judge to refute claims made against him. 'You want to go over the affidavit? I pointed out a bunch of mistakes in bold,' he said before the judge replied, 'You might be well advised to just stay silent for now.'

Before leaving the meeting, Morris gave the middle finger to the webcam.

The judge ordered that he undergo a competency exam, WCAX reported.

The Vermont State Police says they found five sets of boat keys on the vessel, which the marina said they were missing, according to an affidavit.

It remains unclear exactly how Morris was able to seize the boat, how he knew it was owned by McCarthy, and whether he had any prior sailing experience.

Morris is a wanted fugitive in New Hampshire with a list of prior arrests, according to WCAX. He is being held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility and had his court arraignment on Wednesday.

He is staying at his uncle's house in Alburgh, his defense attorney said, but is set to be extradited to New York to face additional charges, including possession of stolen property.

The boat's owner Ron McCarthy, of Montreal, keeps his boat docked at Rouses Point marina

Celis called Morris a 'flight risk' and requested a $25,000 bond. 'He has little to no contacts with the state of Vermont,' she says in the video. 'He advised police that he was homeless and had not been in the area for 20 years.'

Local residents from Rouses Point said the incident shocked them as the community is usually low on crime. Ralph and Ann Choiniere, both retired, have lived there most of their lives and are frequent guests of the Safe Harbor Gaines Marina, where they go on bike rides and admire the boats.

'Just sort of a hobby of ours,' Ralph told WCAX. 'We have no burglaries, we have no armed robbery, we have none of that stuff. That is surprising, yes it is.'

'It's sad,' his wife Ann added.
Thousands more Sydneysiders risk being plunged into isolation after Covid spread its tentacles across dozens of busy venues spanning 17 suburbs, while the deputy premier has hinted at a possible snap lockdown.

John Barilaro said the current health advice didn't suggest going into lockdown, but warned 'that advice could change in the next few hours'.

'We look at the numbers, 11 cases sounds alarming (but only) one is a mystery case,' he told the Today show.

'It is not just the numbers, it is the detail, the information we have behind the scenes that our expert health officials look at that gives us the confidence to make the decision and the advice at this stage is not to lock down. At this stage I don't think we need a lockdown.'

In an unprecedented late night drop of new exposure sites on Thursday, NSW Health put alerts out for a host of new venues including a Kmart, Domino's Pizza and several popular coffee shops.

Another shock development came as coronavirus fragments were found in a Bourke sewage treatment plant, 750km away from Sydney in the far north-west of NSW, where there has never been a single known case.

The wastewater finding indicates the virus may have already escaped the NSW capital and has somehow reached vulnerable outback areas.

Meanwhile, Queensland has recorded two new locally transmitted Covid cases following revelations a flight attendant spread the virus after becoming infected in hotel quarantine.

A total of 181 exposure sites have been announced in Greater Sydney since the latest outbreak began, bringing in a raft of new restrictions (pictured, commuters in masks on Thursday)

This terrifying map shows the 17 suburbs announced as having Covid exposure sites in a worrying late night drop on Thursday

The Covid-positive Queenslanders were both already in isolation while infectious.

Victoria on Friday recorded no new locally acquired coronavirus cases beyond the two infections already announced by authorities.

An Oakleigh man in his 60s tested positive on Thursday after returning from Sydney at the weekend and his co-worker at the Sandringham Dry Cleaners has also tested positive.

In Sydney, Coles and Woolworths' shelves across the city have once again been stripped bare of toilet paper.

Neither of the supermarkets have re-introduced buying limits on toilet paper, but frustrated shoppers have called out others for stockpiling.

Officials announced 11 new cases of the highly-infectious Indian Delta strain on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections linked to the Bondi cluster up to 36 - with several more lingering mystery cases.

Since the outbreak began last week, 181 exposure sites have been added to the burgeoning list - 33 of which were added on Thursday night alone in suburbs sprawling right across Australia's largest city.

Covid-infected residents have been on 23 public transport routes, and anyone who visited one of 53 venues across Sydney over the past few days has been told to get a test and isolate immediately, regardless of the result.

Anyone who visited in Westfield Paramatta (pictured) on Wednesday has been told to isolate until they test negative after the shop was visited by an infected person

Commuters are seen wearing face masks as they arrive at Circular Quay by ferry on Thursday, as the number of Covid cases grew by 11 in Sydney

In the surprise late night announcement just after 11pm, authorities demanded anyone who has visited a series of cafes, restaurants and gyms across Bondi, Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Alexandria contact NSW Health immediately, get tested and isolate for 14 days even if the test is negative.

Anyone who dined at Coffee, Tea & Me in Potts Point or who visited the pool or the change rooms at the Elixr Health Club in Bondi Junction on Sunday has been told to do the same.

Likewise, diners in the inner west who went to Cantine Verte Cafe or The Pommery Cafe in Alexandra on Monday has been given the same advice.

In Bondi, people who went to Elixr Health Club but did not go to the change rooms or the pool have been told to isolate until a negative test is returned.

SUBURBS ON ALERT: Alexandria Bankstown Bondi Bondi Junction Casula Darlinghurst Double Bay East Sydney Gregory Hill Kensington Merrylands North Sydney Parramatta Potts Point Randwick Rouse Hill Vaucluse Advertisement

The same advice goes for anyone who went to Harry's Bondi, Bondi Relish, La Piadina, Lyfe Cafe, Royal Hotel, Fitness First Platinum or Fitness First on Spring Street in the beachside suburb on Sunday or Monday.

In the west, anyone who went to Amart Furniture in Bankstown on Sunday, Domino's Pizza or Big Bun in Merrylands on Monday, or Kmart in Westfield Paramatta on Wednesday has been told to isolate until they test negative.

Further south, shoppers who went to Crossroads Homemaker Centre in Casula on Sunday has been told to stay at home for 14 days until they get a negative test, or if they went to Gregory Hills Town Centre, in the city's south-west.

An exposure site was also added in North Sydney, with anyone who visited Priceline Pharmacy on Walker Street on Monday told to isolate until testing negative.

Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warned more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser.

It was initially revealed that the hairdresser, who lives in western Sydney, worked three consecutive nine-hour shifts at the salon from Thursday June 17 to Saturday June 19.

But in a another worrying development on Thursday night, NSW Health announced that the salon had been exposed to coronavirus for nine full days - from the moment it opened to the second it closed - between June 15 and June 23.

Skin Medi Spa and Wellness, in the same complex is under a similar order with anyone who visited from Wednesday June 16 to 23 Wednesday - at all times - urged to isolate and get tested immediately.

Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warned more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser (pictured, former WAG Phoebe Burgess at the salon earlier this week)

In the west, anyone who went to Amart Furniture in Bankstown on Sunday, Domino's Pizza (pictured) or Big Bun in Merrylands on Monday has also been told to get tested

HUGE COVID EXPOSURE LIST REVEALED THURSDAY NIGHT NSW Health says anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553 Potts Point: Coffee, Tea & Me (dine in customers ) - Sunday June 20, 9.50am  10.10am Bondi Junction: Elixr Health Club (patrons in the swimming area, poolside showers and poolside change rooms) - Sunday June 20, 2.45pm  3.45pm Alexandria: Cantine Verte Cafe - Monday June 21, 9.20am  9.35am and Tuesday June 22, 8am  8.15am Alexandria: The Pommery Cafe - Monday June 21, 2.30pm  3pm Double Bay: Joh Bailey hairdresser - Tuesday June 15 to June 16, any time Double Bay: SKIIN Medi Spa & Wellness - Wednesday June 16 to 23, any time Bondi: Lyfe Cafe - Wednesday June 16, 12.30pm - 2.25pm Bondi: Royal Hotel - Monday June 21, 9.45am - 11.45am Double Bay: Michel's Charcuterie - Tuesday June 22, 1.30pm - 2pm Bondi Junction: Fitness First on Spring Street - Tuesday June 22, 5.45pm - 6.45pm Darlinghurst: Frankie's Beans shop - Monday June 21, 10am - 11am and 1pm - 2pm Darlinghurst: Vinfafe Cafe - Tuesday June 22, 3.05pm - 3.45pm Anyone who attended any of the following venues at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received Potts Point: Coffee, Tea & Me (takeaway customers ) - Sunday June 20, 9.50am  10.10am Casula: Crossroads Homemaker Centre - Sunday June 20, 1.30pm  2.30pm Bankstown: Amart Furniture - Sunday June 20, 2.30pm  3.05pm Gregory Hills: Gregory Hills town centre - Sunday June 20, 3.30pm  4.35pm Bondi Junction: Elixr Health Club - Sunday 20 June 20, 2.45pm  3.45pm Double Bay: Michael's Charcuterie - Monday June 21, 11am  1pm Randwick: Mr Vitamins - Monday June 21, 2.20pm  2.50pm Bondi: Totti's Restaurant - Sunday June 20, 7.50pm - 9.30pm Bondi Beach: Harry's Bondi - Monday June 21, 1.50pm  2.20pm Bondi Beach: Bondi Relish - Monday June 21, 2.35pm  3.05pm Bondi Beach: La Piadina - Monday June 21, 2.40pm  3.10pm Vaucluse: Wings Dragon - Monday June 21, 3.10pm  3.40pm Alexandria: Industrial complex at 32 Ralph Street - Monday 21 June, 8.30am  5.30pm and Tuesday June 22, 8am  12.45pm North Sydney: Priceline Pharmacy, Monday June 21, 4.50pm  5.15pm Merrylands: Domino's Pizza - Monday June 21, 6.20pm  6.50pm Merrylands: Big Bun - Monday June 21, 6.50pm  7.10pm East Sydney: Woolworths - Tuesday June 22, 8am  12.45pm Kensington: 7-Eleven - Tuesday June 22, 12.40pm  1.20pm Parramatta: Kmart Westfield Parramatta Shopping Centre - Wednesday June 23, 11.50am  12.10pm Rouse Hill: TerryWhite Chemmart - Monday June 21, 11.05am - 11.15am Full list of exposure sites is here Advertisement

Michael's Charcuterie, also in Double Bay was also added on Thursday, with anyone who went to the meat shop on Tuesday June 22 between 1:30pm to 2pm, considered a close contact.

Mr Bailey told Daily Mail Australia that the ramifications of one staff member testing positive to Covid-19 were 'unbelievable'.

'We have over 1,000 customers and staff this has affected who have to isolate,' he said.

The infected hairdresser is one of two potential super-spreader events in Sydney sending thousands of residents into isolation after being exposed to the highly-infectious Indian Delta variant.

As Joh Bailey's salon underwent a deep clean on Thursday, he said the focus was on staff and customer health.

Famed Sydney salon boss Joh Bailey warned more than 1,000 customers and staff at his flagship outlet in Double Bay have been exposed to coronavirus by an infected hairdresser (pictured, the salon being deep cleaned on Thursday)

Woolworths on Crown Street in Surry Hills (pictured) was also added to the list of exposure sites

'We are allowed to re-open, of course, but because all or most of our staff have to isolate - that's the problem we have right now.'

Mr Bailey is one of Australia's most sought-after hairdressers who has been at the top of his game for three decades.

His client list that reads like a who's-who of TV stars, socialites, politicians, business elite - and once even gave Princess Diana a makeover on her seminal 1983 Australian tour.

Clients include former WAG Phoebe Burgess and former Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley, and stars Elle Macpherson, Linda Evangelista, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, and Judy Davis.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Thursday) has so far managed to fend off a lockdown - but has brought in a number of new restrictions

Ms Burgess even visited the salon for a blow dry earlier this week, but not during the times initially announced by NSW Health.

The star went to get a Covid test regardless back near her Southern Highlands home.

But under the revised rules, she and the other 1,000 customers who enjoyed a treatment over an eight day period will need to go back into isolation.

NSW Health officials contacted the salon on Wednesday morning to alert it to the positive case, and management closed the doors immediately.

The hairdresser, who commuted from the city's west for work each morning, has since infected three close contacts - with hundreds of others in isolation with fears it could lead to a massive outbreak.

A range of gyms in the eastern suburbs (pictured, Bondi's Elixir Health) have also been added to the list of new exposure sites

A 7-Eleven in Kensington, in the eastern suburbs, was also been added to the list of exposure sites late on Thursday night

'We wish to express our deepest gratitude to NSW Health for their incredible efficiency and support during the ongoing Covid-19 NSW outbreak,' Mr Bailey wrote on Instagram.

'In light of this, our Double Bay salon will be temporarily closed for deep cleaning and we will advise our re-opening date in due course.

'An enormous thank you to our valued clients and community who have reached out with messages and support of kindness.

'It is appreciated so much and we in turn wish everyone to remain safe, healthy and supported during this challenging global pandemic.'

The Double Bay salon has about 10 hairdressers working at any given time, plus beauticians and support staff.

On Wednesday, it was announced the famed Joh Bailey salon in Double Bay was exposed from June 17 to June 19. That has been revised to include all times over nine days from June 15 - 23

The hairdresser, who lives in western Sydney, worked three consecutive nine-hour shifts at the salon from Thursday June 17 to Saturday June 19

Cleaners prepare their equipment before entering the Double Bay salon, which will be closed until further notice (pictured on Thursday)

In nearby Paddington, Mr Marshall and three fellow Nationals dined at Christo's Pizzaria from 5.55pm to 8.30pm on Monday, the evening before the state's budget announcement.

Mr Marshall is believed to have contracted the virus from a diner, before he was in attendance at the state parliament building on Macquarie Street the next day.

His fellow Nationals MPs Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke and Ben Franklin are also in isolation.

Mr Marshall then attended the post-budget Nationals party dinner, which was attended by a variety of senior officials including the NSW Premier, who confirmed she tested negative on Thursday.

'This morning just after 8am I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for Covid-19,' Mr Marshall told reporters.

'I'm doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities.'

Health Minister Brad Hazzard also tested negative to the virus and as a casual contact was allowed to leave isolation.

COVID-19 RULES FOR GREATER SYDNEY From 4pm Wednesday for one week: Visitors to households will be limited to five guests  including children; Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events; Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed; Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed; Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people); Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn); The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals; Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity; Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced Advertisement

A father, who works as a dry cleaner in Sandringham, travelled back to Melbourne on Jetstar flight JQ523 between 5.30pm and 7.40pm on Sunday. Pictured: A man being tested for Covid

Victorian contact tracers are also scrambling to stop the spread after a man in his 60s tested positive to Covid-19 in Melbourne after visiting his daughter in Sydney over the weekend.

Officials believe he contracted the virus after he attended a 'super spreader' birthday party at his daughter's with 30 others in Sydney's West Hoxton on Saturday - which is now linked to 11 cases.

The father, who works as a dry cleaner in Sandringham, travelled back to Melbourne on Jetstar flight JQ523 between 5.30pm and 7.40pm on Sunday.

Anyone who was in Terminal 4 between 6.55pm and 7.40pm on June 20 has been told to get tested and isolate for 14 days, from the time of exposure.

The man developed symptoms on Tuesday evening and returned a positive test result on Wednesday.

His boss at Sandringham Dry Cleaner, in Melbourne's south, also tested positive on Thursday.

Residents who visited the store throughout the day between June 21 and 23 should also take a Covid test and isolate for two weeks.

The business has since closed for deep cleaning and genomic sequencing is underway to determine the variant, but health officials believe it is the highly infectious Indian Delta strain.

A public health warning has also been issued Christo's Pizzeria in Paddington (pictured) after an infected man dined then and infected a Nationals MP

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard (pictured, left) and four other MPs are in isolation after being close contacts of Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall (right), who has tested positive to the Indian Delta variant

The city recorded another local case linked to the Kings Park complex - the site of Melbourne's outbreak in early June - but the person has been in isolation throughout their infectious period.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the new infections are 'concerning' due to the way the Delta variant is spreading around Sydney.

'The advice I have, hot off the press as it were, is that he displayed symptoms late on Tuesday night,' Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said.

'What that end means for his infectivity, we are working through that as we speak.'

Lockdown-happy premiers in other states including Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland have already slammed their borders shut, disrupting school holiday plans for thousands.

Mr Marshall is believed to have contracted the virus from a diner, before he was in attendance at the state parliament building on Macquarie Street the next day (pictured, NSW State Parliament on Thursday)

On Thursday, Queensland recorded three new local cases after an infected woman in her 30s visited the Portuguese Family Centre restaurant in Ellen Grove in Brisbane's south-west.

For the next week from 4pm on Wednesday, household gatherings are limited to five visitors and masks are compulsory in all indoor venues, including workplaces and gym classes.

Drinking while standing in pubs and bars is also banned and those who live and work in seven hotspot council areas are not allowed to leave metropolitan Sydney unless they have an essential reason.

Those council areas are the City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick - home to around 782,000 residents.

The tightened rules - which also include a 50 per cent capacity restriction for outdoor seated events - applies to Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Central Coast and Shellharbour regions.
A massacre in northwest Burkina Faso in which more than 130 people were slaughtered earlier this month was carried out mostly by child soldiers between the ages of 12 and 14, the country's government said.

Armed assailants raided the village of Solhan on the evening of June 4, opened fire on residents and burned homes. It was the worst attack in years in an area plagued by jihadists linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

Government spokesman Ousseni Tamboura said the majority of the attackers were children, prompting condemnation from the U.N.

'We strongly condemn the recruitment of children and adolescents by non-state armed groups. This is a grave violation of their fundamental rights,' the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said in a statement on Thursday.

Armed assailants raided the village of Solhan on the evening of June 4, opened fire on residents and burned homes. Pictured: The damage of the attack is seen on June 7

Residents gather at the site of an attack in the village of Solhan on June 7, three days after the massacre where their houses and possessions were burned

Jihadists had launched an attack in June on civilians in Solhan where they shot villagers, burned down their homes and the market.

At least 132 people, including seven children, were killed and countless others were injured. Local sources have put the death toll at 160.

Many of the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals in Dori town and the country's capital, Ouagadougou.

Nearly 800 people fled in the immediate aftermath of the attack to the nearby town of Sebba, according to an internal report for aid workers.

An anonymous aid worker in Sebba said there were more than 40 people with bullet wounds and burns from fleeing the attack.

A local journalist, who also didn't want to be named for fear of his safety, told the AP earlier this mean that he saw wounded people in Dori's hospital lying all over the floor.

Tamboura on Wednesday attributed the Solhan attack to the Mujahi-al Qaida, a group affiliated to Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims.

At least 132 people, including seven children, were killed and countless others were injured in the attack. Local sources have put the death toll at 160. Pictured: Burkina Faso's Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire (left), accompanied by officials, meets wounded people at a hospital in Solhan on June 7

A view shows damaged buildings and huts at the site of an attack in the village of Solhan

Despite interventions from U.N. peacekeepers and international armed forces, attacks by Islamist extremists continue unabated across West Africa's Sahel region, including neighbouring Mali and Niger.

Local officials in Burkina Faso's north, where jihadists control large areas, said child soldiers have been used by Islamist groups over the past year, but this month's attack was by far the highest profile case.

It represented a new low for the impoverished West African country that since 2018 has seen a sharp rise in attacks on civilians and soldiers.

Hundreds of people have been killed and more than 1.2 million are displaced, UNICEF said, many of whom have been forced into makeshift camps dotted across the arid north, east and centre. Over 2,200 schools have been closed - about one in ten - affecting over 300,000 children.

Burkina Faso's Prime Minister Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire visited the site of the attack in Solhan on June 7

The shocking development comes as 15 police officers were killed in a militant attack in Burkina Faso on Monday.

Initially 11 police officers were reported killed and four missing after the attack, but the missing were later found dead, police sources said on Wednesday.

The ambush occurred while the unit was on a relief mission to the town of Yirgou, which has been hit by recent violence, Security Minister Ousseini Compaore said in a statement.

For five years, Burkina Faso's ill-equipped and undertrained army has been struggling to stem a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, often arriving late or not at all to attacks.

The attacks in the country are in response to the presence of volunteer fighters in the area, community volunteers fighting alongside the army.

Since the program started last year, volunteers have become both perpetrators of violence against civilians as well as targets for the jihadis who accuse them of supporting the army, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

'The militarization of the war against terrorism has created more insecurity than benefits, and both sides, jihadis and pro-state militias are targeting civilians,' said Tanguy Quidelleur a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of social sciences and politics who has researched self-defense groups in the Sahel.

The West African country had seen a relative calm in recent months, after a secret cease-fire between JNIM and the government was reached. Earlier this year, jihadis told the AP they were instructed to lay down their guns and don't understand the recent surge in fighting.

'I think there are attacks again because there are new people recruited by the group (and)...not everyone who laid down his gun returned to the community,' a former jihadi who left the group in October told the AP by phone.
A mother who killed her five-year-old daughter by knifing her 15 times in the throat and chest before turning the blade on herself has been sent to a mental unit.

Sutha Sivanantham, 36, has been left with a colostomy bag and spent several months in hospital after stabbing herself in the stomach at her home in Mitcham.

She stabbed her daughter Sayagi 15 times in the bedroom of their south London flat in June last year, the Old Bailey heard, with two wounds puncturing the little girl's heart.

The mother had been complaining of mystery ailments for almost a year and her husband said fear of the virus and lockdown restrictions pushed her over the edge.

Sainsbury's employee Suganthan was working when he received the call that his wife had killed their daughter.

He sobbed loudly in the dock as his impact statement was read to the court.

'I believe Covid restrictions may have had a negative effect on her wellbeing,' Mr Sivanantham said. 'She took the restrictions seriously and was petrified about catching the virus.'

Sutha Sivanantham, 36, stabbed her daughter Sayagi (pictured) 15 times in the bedroom of their south London flat in June last year, the Old Bailey heard

The mother (pictured) had been complaining of mystery ailments for almost a year and her husband said fear of the virus and lockdown restrictions pushed her over the edge

The court heard Sutha spoke no English and had been living in the UK since 2006 after an arranged marriage with her husband. He described her as 'a very good mother'.

In the autumn of 2019 she started to complain of mysterious pains and went to A&E several times. By the summer of the following year she complained of dizziness and weight loss as she plummeted to just seven and a half stone.

'The defendant had developed a morbid concern she was suffering from undiagnosed serious illness,' said prosecutor Bill Emlyn-Jones. 'She appears to have become convinced that she was going to die.'

Hospital tests revealed Sutha had been infected with Covid 19 at some point.

'The night before the incident, she had specifically asked her husband if he would take care of the children in the event of her death,' Mr Emlyn-Jones said.

'On the morning of 30th June 2020, she asked her husband not to go to work, but he explained that he had to go, leaving the defendant at home.'

Sutha phoned friends during the day complaining about her health but they were not concerned. At around 4pm neighbours rushed to the flat after hearing the sound of screaming and found a 'bloodbath'.

'They found the defendant on the floor, with a serious stab wound to her abdomen,' Mr Emlyn-Jones said. 'Sayagi, who was lying on the bed, had been stabbed several times in the neck, chest and abdomen.

'A knife was seen embedded in Sayagi's shoulder, which fell out when she was moved to be treated on the instructions of the 999 operator.'

Floral tributes in memory of the five-year-old girl, were left tied to railings outside the flat

Forensic teams and uniformed officers were seen outside the property in Mitcham on June 30

Mother and daughter were both taken to hospital by air ambulance but Sayagi was later pronounced dead.

NHS worker and neighbour Elsa Gonzales, 47, described hearing screaming and crying coming from the property, where the family from Sri Lanka lived.

When she arrived with her sister - Riza Marfilla, 55 - she discovered the woman wearing only her underwear.

She said: 'I went next door and saw the lady on the floor covered in blood. She had what looked like a knife wound in her stomach.

'I was on the phone to 999 and I tried to see if the young girl was likely to survive but she looked lifeless  there was so much blood everywhere.'

Sayagi was attending a local Tamil class to learn her parent's language, sources close to the family told MailOnline.

Paying tribute to the young girl, Ms Gonzales said: 'She's so smart and so tough. She was always fighting with the boys when she played.

'She's always smiling at me. She was such a good girl. My heart breaks for her.'

Another neighbour Riza Marfilla, 55, said: 'It's so sad. She likes Bruno - my dog. Whenever she would see him, she would be shouting ''Bruno! Bruno!''.

Sayagi (left and right) was pronounced dead and described by neighbours as 'such a good girl'

'She is such a sweet child.'

In hospital Sivanantham told a doctor how terrified she was that she was about to die. 'The defendant told the doctor she had been worried what would happen to her child if anything happened to her and thought her daughter would not be able to live without her,' Mr Emlyn-Jones said.

'She also said that on the day of the murder she had felt as if she was asleep and dreaming; she had known she was hurting herself 'but I didn't realise I was hurting her'.

'The defendant was charged on 11th September 2020 and two letters were seized.

'In one of these she again asks for forgiveness and says she still doesn't 'know what happened to me on that day'.'

A police cordon was in force at the scene of the incident on June 30 after the stabbing

One psychiatrist who has treated Sutha found the social isolation and stress caused by the Covid 19 lockdown contributed to her serious mental illness.

Another, Dr Nigel Blackwood, told the court: 'At the time of the alleged offences, Ms Sivanantham's mental state appears to have been dominated by hypochondriacal delusional beliefs and was thus abnormal.

'Her behaviour and decision-making were strongly influenced by the content of her psychotic belief.

'However, in my view she likely knew the fundamental nature and quality of her actions at the time of the assault (that is, she was aware that she was engaged in assaultative acts likely to inflict a serious injury on another), and knew that what she was doing was wrong.'

Sutha denied murdering her daughter but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The prosecution accepted the plea.

In his impact statement her husband said: 'I get very emotional having to relive what has happened to my daughter and my wife.'

NHS worker and neighbour Elsa Gonzales (pictured), 47, described hearing screaming and crying coming from the flat

He said before the killing the family had lived a 'happy fulfilling and blissful life'.

Since then he has had to give up work and 'each day is a struggle'. Mr Sivanantham said he has not spoken to his wife but accepts she was not responsible for her actions.

'I know that if she was well she would not have been able to kill our daughter,' he said.

Passing sentence Judge Wendy Joseph said the case was a 'terrible tragedy.'

'What is clear is that the ongoing mental illness was not fully appreciated by anyone around her, including her doctors,' the judge said. 'She developed a morbid concern that she was seriously ill and became convinced she was going to die.

'She was due to have further hospital tests the next day and was clearly depressed, possibly about what would be found.

'She went to the bedroom for a lie down. She took Sayagi with her. She also took two knives.'

The judge said the lockdown may have contributed to the mother's illness.

'Information from both her GP and St George's Hospital suggest she had over a period of months following the imposition of lockdown, complained of a range of symptoms beyond those of which she had previously.

'The symptoms included cough, cold, loss of sense of smell, chest pains, dizziness and extreme fatigue.

'As her physical health deteriorated, so did her mental health.'

The judge added: 'A moving statement from Mr Sivanantham makes it clear the devastation wrought on this family by the events of his day.

'He has not and perhaps never will comes to terms with the death of his daughter or the actions of his wife.'

Sutha was sent to be treated in hospital under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act.

It will be for the doctors to say when, if ever, she should be released.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin from the Met's Specialist Crime said: 'This is a truly tragic and complex case which has devastated the family and community and has had a huge impact on the investigation team. Our thoughts will always be with Sayagi.'
The latest coronavirus outbreak is crackling across Sydney with exposure sites identified in 44 suburbs, and confirmed cases in 26 of them, NSW Health data has revealed.

The outbreak is believed to have begun on June 12 when a Bondi limo driver ferrying flight crew from Sydney Airport to nearby hotels was infected.

He wasn't being tested on his days off and spread the disease around Sydney's eastern suburbs until he returned to work on June 15 and finally tested positive.

By then though the highly contagious Indian Delta variant of Covid had been unleashed in the city.

Now less than two weeks later, Sydney has seen a raft of new restrictions and is sealed off from the rest of the country as authorities fight to contain Covid's spread.

Contact tracers faced an initial uphill battle to catch up with the spread of the disease which had been given a head start by the delay in the first positive result.

Scroll down for full list of infected suburbs

The outbreak is believed to have begun around June 12 when a Bondi limo driver ferrying flight crew from Sydney Airport to nearby hotels was infected (pictured, testing in Bondi)

The outbreak is believed to have begun around June 12 when a Bondi limo driver (pictured) ferrying flight crew from Sydney Airport to nearby hotels was infected

Since then, the list of possible close and casual contacts has grown, with some infected by apparently the most fleeting of encounters with Covid carriers.

At the heart of the current outbreak is Bondi Junction which has seen 33 alerts for possible contamination hotspots this month.

The popular shopping centre and public transport hub has been central to the disease spreading to the rest of the city.

It's also seen the most cases of the disease in the latest outbreak with eight positive tests coming from the 2022 postcode it shares with nearby Queens Park.

Neighbouring Woollahra (2025) has had two cases but no hotspots, while Paddington, Moore Park and Centennial Park (2021) has had one confirmed case and one alert site.

Bondi and Bondi Beach (2026) (with the testing centre pictured above) have had 10 hotspot alerts but just one case while elsewhere in the city there have been numerous danger alerts

SYDNEY SUBURBS WITH COVID INFECTED RESIDENTS Infections recorded since June 15: EASTERN SYDNEY Bondi Junction, Queens Park (2022): 8 cases Woollahra (2025): 2 cases Mascot (2020): 2 cases Paddington, Moore Park, Centennial Park (2021): 1 case Bondi Beach, Tamarama (2026): 1 case INNER SUBURB Redfern (2016): 2 cases Potts Point, Woolloomooloo, Rushcutters Bay (2011): 1 case Camperdown (2050): 1 case NORTH SYDNEY Ryde, Putney, Denistone East (2112): 1 case Lindfield, East Lindfield (2070): 1 case SOUTHERN SYDNEY Menai, Barden Ridge, Bangor, Alfords Point, Illawong (2232): 1 case Jannali, Bonnet Bay (2226): 1 case Sans Souci, Dolls Point, Sandringham (2219): 1 case SOUTHWEST SYDNEY Narellan, Smeaton Grange, Mount Annan (2567): 3 cases Green Valley, Miller, Hinchinbrook, Busby, Sadleir, Heckenberg: 2 cases Denham Court, Ingleburn (2565): 1 case West Hoxton, Cecil Hills, Horningsea Park (2171): 1 case Gregory Hills, Gledswood Hills, Catherine Field, Rossmore (2557): 1 case GREATER SYDNEY AND SURROUNDING REGIONS Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, Balgownie (2519): 5 cases Thirroul, Austinmer, Coledale, Wombarra, Scarborough (2515): 1 case In addition, there are two cases in the Hills Shire LGA being investigated, as well as two in Waverley LGA and one in Sydney LGA Source: NSW Health Advertisement

Bondi and Bondi Beach (2026) have had 10 hotspot alerts but just one case while elsewhere in the city there have been numerous danger alerts.

Double Bay (2028) has four major alerts, while Potts Point (2011) has two hotspots and one confirmed case. Mascot (2020) has five danger area warnings and two cases.

In Sydney's CBD, Barangaroo, Central and Haymarket areas (2000), there have been alerts for 24 different locations in the current clampdown while inner city Darlinghurst and Surry Hills (2010) have had five alerts.

In the Inner West, Redfern (2016) has had three hotspot alerts and two confirmed cases, while Newtown (2042) has had three danger zones.

Drummoyne (2047) has had 21 alerts, focused mainly on Birkenhead Point factory outlet and Leichhardt (2040) has had one hotspot while Camperdown (2050) has had one confirmed case.

Parramatta (2150) sounded the alarm on four locations, while Merrylands (2160) had three hotspots and Ashfield (2131) flagged one site as a possible contact area.

Sydney is in a mini-lockdown and sealed off from the rest of the country as authorities fight to contain its spread (stock image)

Tempe (2044) had three hotspot alerts and Zetland (2017) four danger zones, while Petersham (2049) and Hurstville (2220) had one each but no confirmed cases in any of them.

In the city's south, Menai/Barden Ridge/Bangor/Alfords Point/Illawong area (2232) reported one confirmed case, as did Jannali/Bonnet Bay (2226) and Sans Souci/Dolls Point/Sandringham (2219).

In the south-west, Campbelltown (2560) had three hotspots while Narellan/Smeaton Grange/Mount Annan (2567) had three confirmed cases and one hotspot.

Green Valley/Mille/Hinchinbrook/Busby/ Sadleir/Heckenberg (2168) have had two cases.

The list of possible close and casual contacts has grown, with some infected by apparently the most fleeting of encounters with covid carriers (stock image of a woman being vaccinated pictured above)

Denham Court (2565) had one confirmed case and one hotspot. West Hoxton/Cecil Hills/Horningsea Park (2171) has had one confirmed case, as did Gregory Hills/Gledswood Hills/Catherine Field/Rossmore (2557). Spring Farm (2570) had one hotspot.

Further south Fairy Meadow (2519) had one hotspot while Wollongong (2500) and Balgownie had four confirmed cases. Thirroul/Austinmer/Coledale/Wombarra/ Scarborough (2515) also reported one confirmed case.

In the city's north, North Sydney (2060) and Macquarie Park (2109) had one hotspot each, while Baulkham Hills (2153) had three. Castle Hill (2154) sparked four alerts, while there were three in Northmead (2152)

There are also six more cases where the specific area has so far not been disclosed pending further investigation (pictutred, ferry commuters wearing masks on Thursday)

Ryde/Putney/Denistone East area (2112) reported one case as did Lindfield/East Lindfield (2070) while Meadowbank (2114) sounded the alarm on two locations within the TAFE college there.

There are also six more cases where the specific area has so far not been disclosed pending further investigation. Two are from The Hills local government area, two from Waverley LGA and one from the City of Sydney area, and one other linked to a known cluster.
JPMorgan Chase has announced plans to bring staff back to the office on July 6 regardless of vaccination status, joining a growing list of American companies curtailing work from home in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Employees of the banking giant who work in the US were informed late Wednesday that they will be expected to return to the office between 50 and 100 percent of the time.

'We are doing this because we believe that human interaction, spontaneous learning and creativity are so important to the way we run our company and serve our clients,' read the memo signed by the operations team including CEO Jamie Dimon and obtained by CNBC.

The memo mentions getting people on a 'regular schedule' while still maintaining occupancy limits in offices.

'In many cases this may be five days each and every week, and for others it will mean a minimum of 50 percent of your workdays will be in the office, due to occupancy limit,' the memo stated.

It said that scheduling will depend on role but did not specify details about what the split will look like.

JPMorgan Chase became the latest major company to reveal plans to return to the office, bringing back staff members regardless of their vaccination status (HQ pictured)

'We are aware that some teams are piloting a hybrid approach that varies by job, such as three days in the office or 50% rotations, but we want each of you back regularly so that we can test the effectiveness of these models as quickly as possible,' the memo continued.

This will be the case regardless of whether or not employees are vaccinated. There's a good chance some won't be, as President Joe Biden has stated the country is going to fall short of his 70 percent vaccination goal by Independence Day.

JPMorgan Chase employees will need to fill out a survey before returning by June 30, which asks staff members about their vaccination status. Employees can choose not to disclose it.

'We are doing this because we believe that human interaction, spontaneous learning and creativity are so important to the way we run our company and serve our clients,' the memo, signed by the operations team including CEO Jamie Dimon (pictured), rationalized

Those who are vaccinated won't be required to wear masks or social distance, but those who are not will be subject to the usual protocols, including testing. Those rules will vary depending on state laws.

It's unclear if people who are immunocompromised will be required to return to the office full-time.

The memo urges employees to get vaccinated and says that down the road, 'we may mandate that all employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination consistent with legal requirements and medical or religious accommodations.'

The memo congratulated workers who were vaccinated and who had already returned to the office.

The company has offices around New York City and the country, though their headquarter are located in Midtown Manhattan.

JPMorgan Chase boasts of more than 240,000 employees in more than 60 countries across the world. It's not clear what policy will emerge for the company internationally.

'Over the past month it has been terrific to see more of you safely returning to our US offices, and we have been pleased to hear from many of you that our workspaces are better than ever,' the memo stated.

'Youve commented on the health and safety protocols weve put in place, the new technology weve rolled out and, most importantly, how good it feels to see your colleagues in person.'

CEO Dimon previously expressed that he expected things to return to a more normal state for his company by the fall.

'It doesnt work for people who want to hustle, doesnt work for culture, doesnt work for idea generation,' Dimon stated of being remote, according to the New York Post.

'By September itll look like just it did before. We are getting blowback about coming back internally but thats life.'

According to the BBC, employees in the UK and the rest of Europe won't be receiving the same letter because of data privacy laws in the region.

The company's offices in London are currently at 25 percent capacity, though that may increase in a month's time.

JPMorgan Chase's plan stands against that of Morgan Stanley, which is planning to block staff and clients from entering the bank's New York offices if they are not fully vaccinated after the CEO issued a stark warning that employees are expected back after Labor Day.

Employees, clients and visitors will be required to be fully vaccinated in order to access the bank's offices in New York and Westchester.

JPMorgan Chase employees will need to fill out a survey before returning by June 30, which asks staff members about their vaccination status (headquarters pictured)

From July 12, those who don't attest to being fully vaccinated will lose building access, according to an internal memo obtained by the Financial Times.

Those who are not fully vaccinated will need to work remotely.

The bank is currently not dictating how many days a week staff should come in.

The bank's vaccine policy is among the strictest on Wall Street.

Goldman Sachs has made it compulsory for employees to disclose if they have been vaccinated. Unvaccinated employees are allowed in the office but are required to wear face masks.

Biden's administration conceded Tuesday that it will fall short of its goal of having partially vaccinated 70 percent of adult Americans by July 4th - but officials vowed they would 'crush' COVID-19 and said they have incentives in the work to raise the vaccination rate.

Officials blamed the missed goal - of having one shot in the arm of 70 percent of adult Americans - because of the slow vaccination rate among 18-to-26-year-olds.

'The country has more work to do, particularly with 18-to-26 year-olds. The reality is many younger Americans have felt like COVID-19 is not something that impacts them, and they've been less eager to get the shot,' Jeffrey Zients, the head of the White House COVID response team, said at a press briefing.

'It'll take a few extra weeks to get to 70 percent of all adults with at least one shot with the 18-to-26-year-olds factored in,' he added.

He also conceded the White House would fall short on Biden's goal to have 150 million Americans fully vaccinated by Independence Day, coming in a few weeks late.

'We will hit 160 million Americans fully vaccinated no later than mid July,' he said.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said incentives remain in the works to get young people to vaccination clinics, including more public appearances by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has become the star of the pandemic.

'It's not just Dr. Fauci on TikTok but that is happening,' she said at her press briefing on Tuesday. 'Dr. Fauci has done several Q&As with TikTok and Instagram influencers to answer questions to meet people where they are, including young people, give them information they need.'

She pointed out the administration is working with the business sector on give-aways to get more shots in arms.

'Microsoft is giving away Xboxes at Boys and Girls Clubs, the College Challenge is rallying university students across the country, Walgreens is giving out $25 to anyone who gets vaccinated there before July 4th,' she said.

And she called the original goal 'bold' and 'ambitious.'

'There's nothing ever magical through science about 70 percent. Seventy percent was a bold ambitious goal we set to continue to drive to get more people vaccinated across the country,' she said.

Fauci, meanwhile, vowed the US would crush the coronavirus.

'No one should think that when we reach the 70 percent across the country that we're done. We are not done until we completely crushed this outbreak,' he said.

He did not offer a definition of what 'crushing' the virus meant.

'We're gonna continue to vaccinate millions and millions more Americans across the coming months,' Fauci said.

As of Wednesday, 65.5 percent of adults in the US have received at least an initial dose, and experts say boosting rates in the Southern states will be key to beating back the virus.
CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden has warned that 'Julian Assange could be next' after John McAfee was found hanged in a Spanish prison cell on Wednesday.

Snowden, who lives in Russian exile, tweeted: 'Europe should not extradite those accused of non-violent crimes to a court system so unfair - and prison system so cruel - that native-born defendants would rather die than become subject to it. Julian Assange could be next.

'Until the system is reformed, a moratorium should remain.'

Antivirus pioneer McAfee died at a prison outside Barcelona just hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the US for tax evasion and fraud.

The 75-year-old had pleaded with judges not to send him back to America, saying he would die in prison because 'the United States wants to use me as an example.'

McAfee believed the US government was out to get him - much like Snowden and WikiLeaks founder Assange who also face decades behind bars in the States.

Assange, 49, remains caged in Britain's toughest jail, HMP Belmarsh, despite winning his extradition battle in January. He has not been bailed ahead of an appeal hearing because he is considered a flight risk.

Julian Assange, 49, remains caged in Britain's toughest jail, HMP Belmarsh, despite winning his extradition battle in January. He has not been bailed ahead of an appeal hearing because he is considered a flight risk (pictured: Assange, left; and McAfee at a jailhouse in 2019, right)

CIA intelligence leaker Edward Snowden warned that 'Julian Assange could be next' after John McAfee was found hanged in a Spanish prison cell on Wednesday'

Assange is still wanted in the US on an 18-count indictment, facing allegations of plotting to hack computers and conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.

The prosecution followed WikiLeaks' publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents in 2010 and 2011 relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, as well as diplomatic cables.

McAfee, who was a famous libertarian known for his anti-government stance on guns, drugs and liberty, believed that the US government was conspiring against him.

His tweets, often cryptic and ominous, suggested that he was the target of wealthy elites, including high-ranking officials in the CIA.

The tech entrepreneur was collared at Barcelona airport at the request of the US Justice Department on October 3, about to board a flight to Istanbul with a British passport.

During a court hearing last month, McAfee said that he would spend the rest of his life in jail if convicted in America. 'I am hoping that the Spanish court will see the injustice of this,' he said, adding 'the United States wants to use me as an example.'

His lawyer Javier Villalba said said McAfee's death had come as a surprise to his wife and other relatives, adding he would seek to get 'to the bottom' of his client's death.

'I had constant telephone contacts with him,' Villalba said. 'At no point had he shown any special worry or clue that could let us think this could have happened.'

'This has been like pouring cold water on the family and on his defence team,' the lawyer said. 'Nobody expected it, he had not said goodbye.'

The sense of foreboding in McAfee's tweets and in particular, his obsession with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has cast doubts on his apparent suicide.

Epstein was found hanged in his prison cell in Manhattan in August 2019 but many believe he was assassinated to stop him from implicating wealthy elites in a child sex trafficking ring.

Although Villalba said that he had no evidence of any foul play, he blamed McAfee's death on 'the cruelty of the system' for keeping a 75-year-old behind bars for economic and not violent crimes after judges refused to release him on bail.

'We had managed to nullify seven of the 10 counts he was accused of and even so he was still that dangerous person who could be fleeing Spain if he was released?' the lawyer said. 'He was a world eminence, where could he hide?'

Spain's National Court on Monday ruled that McAfee should be extradited to the U.S. to face charges for evading more than $4 million in the fiscal years 2016 to 2018. The judge dropped seven of the 10 counts in the initial indictment.

Villalba said that McAfee had learned about the ruling shortly after on Monday and that his death on Wednesday didn't come in the heat of the moment. He also said that the legal team had been preparing with him an appeal to avoid being extradited.

A penitentiary source told AP that McAfee was sharing a cell in the Brians 2 jail, but that at the moment of his death he had been alone.

LAST PHOTO: John McAfee appears via videoconference during his extradition hearing at Audiencia Nacional court, in Madrid, Spain earlier this month. He has died behind bars at 75

ON THE RUN: McAfee - who had sold his company to Intel for $7.7 billion in 2010 - had lived in a self-imposed exile for years, globe-trotting and living on his 'Freedom Boat' in the Caribbean after being accused of murdering his neighbor in Belize in 2012 (pictured with his wife Janice, a former prostitute)

Soon after his arrest last year, McAfee's Twitter account posted a dark hint suggesting that if he died in an alleged suicide, a conspiracy would be to blame

In one of his final tweets, presumably dictated to his wife from behind bars, McAfee said 'I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing.'

McAfee - who had sold his company to Intel for $7.7 billion in 2010 - had lived in a self-imposed exile for years, globe-trotting and living on his 'Freedom Boat' in the Caribbean after being accused of murdering his neighbor in Belize in 2012.

He always denied the murder but had been ordered to pay $25 million by a court in Florida in 2015 which found him 'liable' for expat Gregory Viant Faull's death.

US authorities claimed he had earned millions over the last decade, failed to pay taxes and accused him of fraud by touting cryptocurrencies to his millions of Twitter followers in order to inflate prices and rake in profits.

He finally fled the US in January 2019, leaving his heavily-fortified Tennessee compound with his former prostitute wife Janice after claiming a Grand Jury was convened to indict him on tax-related charges.

In June 2019, while claiming he was trapped in Cuba, McAfee tweeted: 'I've collected files on corruption in governments. For the first time, I'm naming names and specifics. I'll begin with a corrupt CIA agent and two Bahamian officials.

'Coming today. If I'm arrested or disappear, 31+ terrabytes of incriminating data will be released to the press.'
The Biden administration has extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help tenants who are unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but it said this is expected to be the last time it does so

The Biden administration has extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help tenants who are unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but it said this is expected to be the last time it does so.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium from June 30 until July 31.

The CDC said Thursday that 'this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium'.

The White House had acknowledged Wednesday that the emergency pandemic protection, which had been extended before, would have to end at some point.

The trick is devising the right sort of off-ramp to make the transition without massive social upheaval.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separate bans on evictions for renters and mortgage holders were 'always intended to be temporary.'

As many as six million renters are believed to be behind on their rent payments and property owners and landlords have called for the eviction moratorium to be lifted so they can easier collect money from tenants.

The White House is now considering ways to use the $1.9 trillion relief package, and billions in rental aid, to help prevent evictions.

This week, dozens of members of Congress wrote to President Joe Biden and Walensky calling for the moratorium to be not only extended but also strengthened in some ways.

The letter, spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Jimmy Gomez of California and Cori Bush of Missouri, called for an unspecified extension in order to allow the nearly $47 billion in emergency rental assistance included in the American Rescue Plan to get into the hands of tenants.

Ending the assistance too abruptly, they said, would disproportionately hurt some of the same minority communities that were hit so hard by the virus itself.

They also echoed many housing advocates by calling for the moratoriums protections to be made automatic, requiring no special steps from the tenant in order to gain its protections.

'The impact of the federal moratorium cannot be understated, and the need to strengthen and extend it is an urgent matter of health, racial, and economic justice,' the letter said.

As many as six million renters are believed to be behind on their rent payments and property owners and landlords have called for the eviction moratorium to be lifted so they can easier collect money from tenants. Protesters call for the end of rent in Brooklyn last July

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium from June 30 until July 31. The CDC said Thursday that 'this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium'

Jobless claims declined just 7,000 to 411,000 for the week ending June 19

Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, called an extension of the eviction ban 'the right thing to do - morally, fiscally, politically, and as a continued public health measure.'

But landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it in court, are against any extension.

They have argued the focus should be on speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.

Saoirse Gowan, a policy expert most recently at the Democracy Collaborative think tank, told the Washington Post: 'Were not in a good enough place for people to avoid very, very serious hardship.

'Theres still a bunch of tenants who still have debts and local governments rental assistance programs have been very slow.'

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week, a sign that layoffs declined and the job market is slowly improving.

The Labor Department said Thursday that jobless claims declined just 7,000 from the previous week to 411,000 for the week ending June 19, with 3.4 million Americans collecting continuing benefits.

The number of weekly applications for unemployment aid has fallen steadily this year from about 900,000 in January, but remains well above the pre-pandemic average of around 200,000.

There are a record 9.8 million job openings across the country, but desperate employers are struggling to to attract workers.
Greg Abbott blasted Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday for 'ignoring the real problem' after she finally announced she will visit the U.S.-Mexico border.

'Vice President Harris is ignoring the real problem areas along our southern border that are not protected by the border wall and are being overrun by the federal government's ill-thought-out open border policies,' Texas Governor Abbott wrote in a statement following the announcement.

'She will fail in her mission if she refuses to speak to residents of the Del Rio sector whose homes and ranches are being overrun by gangs and smugglers,' he continued. 'The Vice President was named Border Czar over 90 days ago, and in that time Texans have had their homes broken into, property damaged, and guns pointed at their heads as cartels, smugglers, and human traffickers profit off the Biden Administration's reckless open-border policies.'

Abbott said: 'Texas has been and continues to step up to protect Texans and Americans.'

When DailyMail.com reached out to Abbott for whether he will meet with Harris during her trip on Friday, the office forwarded the above statement.

Harris' office announced the trip Wednesday  following three months of criticism from Republicans and some Democrats after she was put in charge of addressing the mass migration crisis.

The vice president's office announced Wednesday that she will visit El Paso, Texas on Friday along with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

She will beat former President Donald Trump to the region by five days.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott blasted Kamala Harris as 'ignoring the real problem areas' of the border crisis on Wednesday after she announced she will finally make the trek to the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday

Abbott said the vice president's trip will be a failure if she does not talk with residents of Texas who have been afflicted by mass migration, including having 'their homes broken into, property damaged, and guns pointed at their heads' by 'cartels, smugglers and human traffickers'

Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday she is heading to the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday after three months of pressure from Republicans  and even some Democrats. Harris speaks on voting rights in the Eeisenhower Executive Office Building on June 23, 2021

For months, the White House insisted Harris' role as 'border czar' was specifically to address 'root causes' of migration in Northern Triangle countries and not specifically the U.S.-Mexico border.

That excuse didn't fly with Republicans who pressured the vice president for 90 days to visit the border if she actually cared about fixing the problem.

Abbott will meet with Trump during his trip to the southern border on Wednesday, which was announced eight days before the White House revealed Harris' impending trip.

In fact, it was the Republican governor who invited the former president to join him in surveying the border area the Lone Star State shares with Mexico  and where the majority of illegal encounters occur.

Trump took credit for Harris' change of heart, claiming she would not have scheduled a visit to the southern border unless he announced his own trip there next week.

'After months of ignoring the crisis at the Southern Border, it is great that we got Kamala Harris to finally go and see the tremendous destruction and death that they've createda direct result of Biden ending my very tough but fair Border policies,' Trump celebrated in a statement from his Save America political action committee email on Wednesday.

'Harris and Biden were given the strongest Border in American history. And now, it is by far the worst in American history,' he continued. 'If Governor Abbott and I weren't going there next week, she would have never gone!'

Rather than visiting the border in her 90 days as a czar, Harris took a trip to Guatemala and Mexico last month to address 'root causes' after five straight months of increases in migrant crossings.

President Joe Biden put Harris in charge of the migration crisis in March, which quickly turned her into the person to blame for the massive spike.

Just two days ahead of Harris' trip, 21 House Republicans, led by Colorado's Lauren Boebert, introduced a bill to censure Biden over his failure to secure the U.S. border in his more than five months as president.

Donald Trump will visit Texas next Wednesday alongside Abbott and at least 12 Republican House members . The former president departs from Trump Tower in Washington D.C. on Tuesday

Immigrants walk toward border patrol after crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. on Monday

'President Biden passed the buck to cackling Kamala, when he tapped Ms. Harris as border czar. Her work on the border is nonexistence, it's a joke  and even she laughs. But it's not funny,' Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert said in announcing the censure on Wednesday.

'This administration has not lifted a finger to end this crisis and secure our southern border,' she continued. 'They must be held accountable.

He claimed in a statement Wednesday that Harris is only giving into pressure to visit the border now because he announced his own impending trip.

About a dozen members of the Republican Study Committee, the largest group of House Republicans, will also join Trump on the trip, Politico reported.

Representative Jim Banks, the head of the Republican Study Group and a lawmaker joining Trump in Texas said: 'The dual trips offer a great split-screen.'

'President Trump is the greatest immigration president of our lifetime who devoted four years to fixing the border to protect Americans' lives and livelihoods,' he wrote in a Wednesday statement. 'Kamala Harris is the border czar for an administration that created a national embarrassment and has taken no effort to stop it.'

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters during a briefing Wednesday that the trip is part of a 'coordinated effort' to address 'root causes' of mass migration from Northern Triangle countries to the U.S.

'Earlier this year, as you all know, the president asked the vice president to oversee our diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, to Guatemala and Honduras and as a part of this work she recently traveled to Guatemala and Mexico last month. This trip to the border on Friday will be a part of this effort,' Psaki said.

She also reiterated previous comments where she and Harris have both said that the vice president would make a trip to the border when the timing was 'appropriate.'

A migrant family seeking asylum arrives on U.S. soil after crossing the Rio Grande on June 19, 2021 in Roma, Texas

Harris' senior advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on the visit: 'Vice President Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas on Friday, June 25,' 'She will be accompanied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.'

'Vice President Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas on Friday, June 25,' Harris' senior advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on the visit on Wednesday. 'She will be accompanied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.'

'Earlier this year, the President asked the Vice President to oversee our diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras,' she continued. 'As a part of this ongoing work, the Vice President traveled to Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month and will travel to El Paso on Friday.'



Republicans have slammed Harris for not making the trip yet.

'It reminds me of that old show, 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' She'll go everywhere except the border because she's afraid of what's going on down there, and they have no solutions,' Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told Fox & Friends.

Harris took her first trip abroad earlier this month to Guatemala and Mexico to meet with government and community leaders about the migrants flowing into the U.S.

In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt from Guatemala, Harris was asked why she hadn't visited the border. 'Why not see what Americans are seeing in this crisis?' the newsman asked.

She first answered that why there's 'no question' about the White House having to deal with what's happening at the border 'we have to understand that there's a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and then identify the problem so we can fix it.'

This chart shows how 2021 border crossings - pictured in blue - rocketed on crossings made in 2020, represented by the brown line (2018 is pictured in gray, with 2019 in orange)

This graph shows the number of migrants caught by the Office of Field Operation (OFO) and US Border Patrol agents in April and May

Holt then asked if Harris had any plans to visit the border.

'At some point, you know, we are going to the border. We've been to the border. So this whole thing about the border, we've been to the border. We've been to the border,' she responded.

Holt pointed out, 'You haven't been to the border.'

'And I haven't been to Europe,' the vice president said. 'And I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making. I'm not discounting the importance of the border.'

The response was widely panned.

Harris later snapped at Univision reporter Ilia Calderon, the day after she returned from the trip, telling her 'I've not finished,' as Calderon pressed when there might be a border trip.

Harris has been given seven roles in Biden's administration  including the border crisis

'I've said I'm going to the border. And also, if we are going to deal with the problems at the border, we have to deal with the problems that cause people to go to the border - to flee to the border. And that is the root causes,' Harris said, justifying her first foreign trip being to Guatemala and Mexico.

Biden has loaded Harris down with seven jobs - including running point on migration.

On Monday, Harris was tasked with selling Biden's Child Tax Credit, with a trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In early June, the vice president received her fifth and sixth jobs, as the president asked her to go on a vaccine education tour and handle the administration's efforts to protect voting rights.

Harris was on Capitol Hill Tuesday and presided over Senate Democrats' failed vote to start debate on a voting rights measure.

Migrant embrace relatives in 'Hugs, No Walls' at the border between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico on June 19, 2021

She's also handling the issues of broadband and space and also leading a pro-union taskforce that would take a 'whole-of-government approach to empower workers.'

In late March, Biden announced he had tapped Harris to lead the effort to stem migration coming from the Northern Triangle countries - El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras - and up through Mexico.

Harris, he said, 'agreed to lead our diplomatic effort to work with those nations.'

Very quickly Harris became a target for Republicans as border crossings soared and she didn't travel to the border to see the conditions on the ground.

In mid-April, Psaki said the 'confusion' surrounding Harris' role with the migrant crisis is 'perplexing,' arguing immigration policy has never been a 'one-woman' job.

Psaki also pointed out that Biden, as vice president, had essentially played the same role during the Obama years.
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Russia has warned it will be bomb any warships that sail too close to the Crimea after firing warning shots at a British destroyer in a dramatic stand-off in the Black Sea on Wednesday.

Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday that any invading warships could be attack the next time they sail 'too close' to Crimea.

Moscow boasted that a Su-24 dropped four bombs in Britain's HMS Defender path after it was ordered to change course after warning shots were fired from a patrol ship.

But Britain said the destroyer stayed in international waters and no shots were fired and the firing was from nearby Russian naval exercises.

The ship was part of a convoy from NATO-backed Ukraine to fellow NATO ally Georgia but its voyage took it past the disputed strategically important Crimea peninsula that was invaded and seized by Moscow in 2014.

The Royal Navy insists the 'freedom of navigation patrol' took it through international waters, and that Russia is trying to illegally claim ocean beyond its 12-mile territorial waters.

Two Black Sea Fleet coastguard ships continued to shadow the destroyer from 100 yards away while 20 military aircraft patrolled the skies today.

The British Type 45 destroyer has been on operations in the Black Sea alongside American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Laboon and Dutch warship HNLMS Evertsen.

The stand-off was the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting the growing risk of military incidents amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West.

After the stand-off, Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday that in the future, Russia would fire on any intruding warships too close to the Crimea because 'the security of our country comes first'.

Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov warned any warships could be bombed the next time they sail too close to Crimea, after a tense stand-off in the Black Sea. A picture taken on Friday shows a ship from the Russian Black Sea Fleet (circled) shadowing USS Laboon, HMS Defender and the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen

Moscow said a Su-24 dropped four bombs in Britain's HMS Defender path after warning shots were fired, but Britain said no shots were fired. Images released by the Russian defence ministry shows the SU-24s buzzing above the destroyer and lining the vessel up in its crosshairs

Russia released footage filmed from one of its Su-24M attack jets which showed HMS Defender sailing off Crimea - but not the moment it alleges shots were fired and four bombs were dropped

Issuing a stark warning, the Russian official said: 'What can we do? We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law.

'If this does not help, we can bomb not only in the direction but also on target, if our colleagues do not understand.

'I warn everyone violating the state borders of the Russian Federation under the slogan of free navigation, from such provocative steps, because the security of our country comes first.'

Backing up his comments, the Kremlin said Moscow that would respond harshly to any similar actions in the future and warned against any further 'provocations'.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov continued: 'If unacceptable provocative actions are repeated, if those actions go too far, no options to legitimately protect the borders of the Russian Federation could be excluded.'

Ryabkov also warned that 'balancing on the brink of confrontation' would have 'very serious consequences' for anyone who tried to plan or carry out 'such events' as he expressed 'outrage' at the UK's behaviour.

The diplomat said: 'This is a very serious situation, we condemn the actions of the British side.'

He added: 'The territorial integrity of the Russian Federation is inviolable.

'The inviolability of its borders is an absolute imperative, and we will protect all this both through political-diplomatic and, when necessary, military methods.'

Two Black Sea Fleet coastguard ships shadowed the Type 45 destroyer from 100 yards away while 20 military aircraft patrolled it from the skies Pictured: HMS Defender conducts close proximity sailing whilst on maritime operations in the Black Sea on June 17

Britain's prime minister met with soldiers of the new Ranger Regiment during a visit to mark Armed Forces Week, at the Aldershot Garrison in Aldershot, amid the diplomatic row

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also denounced what she called 'rude British provocation that defies international law'.

The Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, described the incident as 'regrettable' and claimed HMS Defender had been two miles inside Russian territorial waters.

He told Channel 4 News: 'He did not respond to several warnings, at least the warnings were issued every 10 minutes while he was going into water, deep into the waters. And then it was stopped by means that were available.'

To underline Moscow's point, the Russian Embassy chose a picture of the Crimea as its daily post of a 'Russian' landscape.

Despite Russia's warnings, when asked if the UK Government would do it again, cabinet minister George Eustice said 'of course, yes', adding: 'We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.'

Earlier this month, the Russian Defense Ministry said its fleet was monitoring the movements of the US navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Laboon as it continued its deployment in the Black Sea, according to Russian state media.

The National Center for Defense Management, part of the Russian Defense Ministry, said in a statement: 'The forces of the Black Sea Fleet have begun monitoring the actions of the US Navy destroyer Laboon, which entered the Black Sea on 11 June 2021.'

In Wednesday's stand-off as tensions rise, Russia claimed to have shot at Britain's HMS Defender, and to have dropped four bombs from an Su-24M warplane in waters ahead of the Royal Navy vessel.

Black Sea menace: One of two Russian patrol vessels with 30mm gun, circled, that fired heavy bursts towards the Royal Navy destroyer it was shadowing

Vigilance: Crew member scans sea for Russian activity on board the vessel on Tuesday when the incident occurred

But Britain has denied the Russian version, and insists HMS Defender was either in Ukrainian or international waters at all times.

Many Western countries do not accept Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea by military force as being legitimate in law.

The UK's cabinet minister George Eustice told Sky News: 'Under international law you can take the closest, fastest route from one point to another. HMS Defender was passing through Ukrainian waters, I think on the way to Georgia, and that was the logical route for it to take.

'This is a very normal thing, it's quite common actually. What was actually going on is the Russians were doing a gunnery exercise, they had given prior notice of that, they often do in that area.

'So, I think it's important people don't get carried away.'

He said while the gunner exercise was the 'official reason' given for the Russian activities, 'whether that was cover for them to try and make some point, we don't know'.

'Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't,' he told ITV's Good Morning Britain.

Britain's ambassador Deborah Bronnert will be summoned to the Russian foreign ministry on Thursday to give account for HMS Defender's actions.

A former Royal Navy chief has also accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing to the home audience' after Moscow's bold claims of its use of force against HMS Defender.

Bear in the air: Co-pilot looks out as his Su-30 jet roars over the British warship during the close call that emerged on Tuesday

Battle stations: Officers and crew in white anti-flash balaclavas and mittens feel the pressure yesterday as they dictate naval operations from Defender's bridge

Lord Alan West, former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Commander in Chief of the Royal Navy and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Security and Counter-Terrorism, said the Russian president's behaviour was 'appalling'.

'The bottom line is Putin is an expert at disinformation and his actions are very reckless, and we've seen that now for three or four years,' he told LBC.

'His behaviour is appalling.

'There's no doubt the (HMS) Defender was asserting her right of innocent passage from one port to another.

'Putin wants to play to his home audience, he wants to tell them 'aren't I tough, look at that, I've made Britain go away', and that's why I think they lied about firing warning shots at the defender - which they didn't do.

'As per usual, I'm afraid, Putin's organisation is lying about that.'

Lord West added that the behaviour was 'dangerous and stupid'.

'I would say it's the behaviour of a rogue state, but Russia shouldn't be a rogue state,' he said.

Meanwhile Britain's Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, admitted there is a prospect of an engagement flaring up with Britain's 'dangerous game' of sailing in disputed waters.

The former Defence Secretary told BBC 4: 'There's huge scope for an accident to occur, misinterpretation, leading to an actual kinetic engagement and it could be a bit of time before somebody grabs that red phone and calms things down.'

Some footage was allegedly shot from the Su-24M which is said to have dropped four bombs to deter the Royal Navy vessel. Above: Su-24Ms seen in the Russian video

Former head of the Army General Lord Dannatt said Mr Putin is 'testing the will of the West'.

He told Sky News: 'I'm a little bit surprised that the Ministry of Defence is playing it down.

'It was unreasonable of the Russians to challenge HMS Defender in the way that they did.

'The underlying point is that there are international laws that must be upheld by everyone and HMS Defender had the absolute right to be where she was yesterday.'

It was the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting the growing risk of military incidents amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West, as Ukraine's foreign minister appealed for further NATO help.

But Britain's Foreign Secretary said: 'No shots were fired at HMS Defender. The Royal Navy ship was conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters. We were doing so in accordance with international law and the Russian characterisation is predictably inaccurate.'

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'These are things that come and go with Russia; disinformation, misinformation is something that we have seen regularly. We are not surprised by it, we plan for it.'

Russia released footage filmed from one of its Su-24M attack jets which showed HMS Defender sailing off Crimea - but evidently not the moment it alleges shots were fired and four bombs were dropped.

A map shows the route taken by HMS Defender during the alleged incident near the south coast of Crimea

Captain Vincent Owen said his mission was confident but non-confrontational and insisted he was maintaining course on an internationally recognised shipping lane but Mr Beale said it was a 'deliberate move to make a point to Russia'.

The Ministry of Defence and Number 10 insist the incident never happened, adding that Russia was carrying out pre-arranged exercises and Defender was conducting an 'innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters'.

Releasing the footage of HMS Defender from the air, Russian defence ministry's TV channel Zvezda said: 'In the footage can be seen the culprit of the incident, the destroyer Defender.

'It is not known at what moment the footage was shot, either before or after the warning shots which forced the ship to change course and leave the territory of the Russian Federation.'

Some footage was allegedly shot from the Su-24M which is said to have dropped four bombs to deter the Royal Navy vessel.

Other footage may have been from a military drone.

A caption said the footage showed a joint operation by the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet 'uppressing violations of the Russian state border by the British destroyer HMS Defender'.

HMS Defender is armed with missiles, an air defence system, an armed Lynx Wildcat helicoper, Westland Merlin helictopers and various naval guns. Russia's Su-24 jets are equipped with 23mm cannon, laser-guided air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles and can also carry tactical nuclear bombs

In an unusual move, Russia also released footage of Britain's defence attache being summoned in Moscow.

Such meetings are normally private but a video was released to state media fuelling the assumption that Moscow was using the alleged incident for propaganda.

'In the wake of a violation of the Russian Federation's border by a Royal Navy destroyer, the defence attache at the UK embassy in Moscow has been summoned to the Russian Defence Ministry,' said a statement.

The Russian defence ministry had claimed a patrol ship first opened fire at 12.06pm and shot again two minutes later at HMS Defender after it refused to listen to radio warnings about entering its territorial waters.

Around ten minutes later, the Su-24 dropped four OFAB-250s in the path of the British vessel, forcing it to retreat after venturing two miles inside their waters, Russia said.

But the MoD issued a swift response to the claims, saying: 'No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender.

'The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law.

'We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity.

'No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.'

Tom Tugendhat, chair of the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee slammed the government of Russia's Vladimir Putin in a pair of tweets on Wednesday.

'Firing shots at ships in international waters is criminal. Putin's regime has: Used chemical weapons in the UK, Murdered opponents across Europe, Set explosions in Prague, Invaded and illegally occupied Ukraine and Georgia, Kept the Russian people hostage for a generation,' he wrote.

'Now it appears they lied about it,' Tugendhat said in a second tweet.

'For a mafia regime they really are pretty rubbish. But then they've so robbed the people and stripped out the country that there's nothing left. Russia deserves better than these thieves.'

Won by conquest, given away as a 'gift', now occupied by force: Russia's history in Crimea and the Black Sea Prince Grigory Potemkin, who established the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea in 1783 The Black Sea - and the Crimean peninsula which juts into it - are a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Middle East and Asia which has been contested by Empires and nations for centuries. The sea itself contains vital trading routes, is bordered by five of Russia's near-neighbours, and today hosts vital energy pipelines and fibre optic cables. For Russia to assert power in the waters, control of Crimea - which contains its main Black Sea port at Sevastopol and controls the Kerch Strait leading to the nearby Sea of Azov - is essential. Crimea has, at one time or another, come under the control of the Greeks, Persians, Romans, Mongols, Ottomans. It was not until 1783 that it fell fully under the control of the Russian Empire when Russian generals Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kamensky led a force of 8,000 men to victory against an Ottoman army of 40,000 at the the Battle of Kozludzha. Russia's Prince Grigory Potemkin quickly established the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the port of Sevastopol, from where he asserted naval power over the Black Sea, it neighbours including Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey, and projected power further into the Mediterranean. Crimea also turned into a key trading post. On the eve of World War 1 in 1914 - some 50 per cent of all Russia's exports and a full 90 per cent of its agricultural exports passed through Bosphorus Strait which leads out of the Black Sea. In 1954 Crimea was given as a 'gift' by Nikita Khrushchev to Ukraine, ostensibly to mark the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's merger with Tsarist Russia, but more likely to secure Ukraine's support for Khrushchev's leadership and to cement Ukraine as part of the Soviet Union. Because Ukraine was then part of the Union, Moscow maintained control over Crimea and its vital ports - at least until 1991 when the union collapsed and Ukraine became and independent county. Following Ukraine's independence, access to the peninsula became a bargaining chip between the two nations, with Ukraine recognising Russia's right to the port at Sevastopol in return for concessions such as writing off debts and taking control of part of the Black Sea fleet. But in 2014, the pro-Moscow government of Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown in a popular uprising that wanted to draw the country closer to Europe. Fearing the loss of the port at Sevastopol, Putin marched troops into Crimea and seized control of it - later holding a 'referendum' which showed majority support for the region to become part of Russia, though the result is viewed as far from credible. Today, Moscow is in control of the peninsula and refers to it as part of its territory, though most world bodies refer to the region as 'occupied Crimea'. The Black Sea Fleet remains one of Russia's largest and most formidable, thought to comprise a total of 47 ships, seven submarines and 25,000 troops, mostly marines. Advertisement

MARK NICOL witnesses bullets fly as Putin's forces target British warship after tensions boil in the Black Sea

Mark Nicol on board HMS Defender yesterday

The angry thud of cannon fire rings out on the port side of HMS Defender as I crouch beside the bridge in my hastily adorned flame retardant gloves and balaclava.

We are being pursued furiously by a pair of Russian coastguard vessels while, every couple of minutes, Russian jets pass thunderously overhead.

The deafening roar of supersonic aircraft filling my ears is an unsettling, yet enthralling, experience. Then, as part of Defender's response, her deadly arsenal of Sea Viper missiles are brought to readiness.

After a second burst of enemy cannon fire I overhear an update intended for her captain that we have 'two hard-kill missiles effective'. For a second I wonder just what might happen next. Wars have started over less.

The drama began about an hour ago as we approached Crimean territorial waters to carry out what the Royal Navy calls a freedom of navigation patrol.

Russia does not like these patrols because it regards the waters off the peninsula as its territory  while the UK, as an ally of Ukraine, maintains these are Ukrainian waters. Irrespective of whose waters these are, the Royal Navy also insists Defender is following an internationally recognised shipping route.

I was inside the destroyer's cool, dimly-lit operations room when the Russian radio operator issued the first of his warnings via the VHF transceiver: 'Delta 36 [Defender's radio call-sign], change your course.'

He didn't sound too concerned though and there was no sense of what would transpire. Looking around none of the 30 crew in their blue overalls, sitting studiously before banks of radio screens, seem alarmed either. But minute by minute, as more red (for enemy) icons flash up on the banks of monitors, the tension mounts.

While today's passage is entirely legitimate, and justified under UN charters and international shipping conventions, there is no doubt that we are, to use the overused phrase, poking the Russian bear. A signaller responds to a second warning from the Russian radio operator reminding him of the UK's entitlement to uphold the right of innocent passage.

I move up two decks from the windowless operations room to Defender's bridge, which affords a perfect view of the placid sea on this warm morning. I even spot dolphins swimming on our port side. All is well.

Black Sea menace: One of two Russian patrol vessels with 30mm gun, circled, that fired heavy bursts towards the Royal Navy destroyer it was shadowing

Vigilance: Crew member scans sea for Russian activity on board the vessel on Tuesday when the incident occured

All hands on deck: The Royal Navy destroyer carries a range of missile systems such as the Sea Viper as well as smaller anti-ship weapons

Heavy weaponry: Personnel get to grips with one of HMS Defender's formidable guns. They are pictured handling ammunition for one of the guns

Captain Vincent Owen, pictured on HMS Defender today, said his mission was confident but non-confrontational and insisted he was maintaining course on an internationally recognised shipping lane but Mr Beale said it was a 'deliberate move to make a point to Russia'

Members of the ship's crew were pictured wearing anti-flash gear, which protects them from flame exposure and heat

Moments later the grey outline of a Russian coastguard vessel appears on the horizon. 'Request her course,' says Defender's operations officer, glancing through binoculars over the ship's head. Then over the radio Commander Owen asks: 'How many aircraft [Russian] do we have now?' 'Probably 14 now,' responds the female air warfare officer. That's 14 supersonic jets and maritime patrol aircraft, including SU-24s. While more Russian jets are apparently taking off from nearby bases.

Then the Russian coastguard's voice crackles on the radio again, sounding piqued by Defender's course. Contrary to his requests we have declined to steer to our starboard to avoid what are Crimean territorial waters.

'Delta 36, I am Russian coastguard, please change your course. Keep clear. Keep away from the border line, change your course. Your course leads to territorial waters. Do you read me over?' Commander Owen responds on the radio reminding his crew they must 'maintain the narrative': the UK warship is here to uphold international law. 'I suspect they're going to try to budge us out,' he says.

True to Commander Owen's prediction two Russian coastguard vessels effectively form a barrier on Defender's port side. Plumes of grey smoke rise from their engines as they accelerate in a bid to maintain Defender's speed. Commander Owen is amused, remarking of the lead coastguard vessel: 'She's right on the beam now, she can't keep up with us. We're outrunning them.'

Defender's wake sends huge waves towards the coastguard vessels which crash against their hulls  an ignominious feeling one imagines for the Russians, who seem desperate to keep us out of Crimean waters.

They're back on the radio and this time the warnings are pretty threatening: 'Delta 36, do not cross the border or I fire. Change your course. If you cross, I fire. Your ship is entering the territory of the Russian Federation. We do not take responsibility if you are damaged. We are engaging in a military exercise in this area.'

The introduction of the apparent military exercise seems a convenient ruse intended to dissuade Defender from entering what it regards as Russian waters.

More Russian jets conduct thunderous passes on our port and starboard and the operations officer is sufficiently concerned to order the crew to put on 'anti-flash' balaclavas and gloves.

Battle stations: Officers and crew in white anti-flash balaclavas and mittens feel the pressure yesterday as they dictate naval operations from Defender's bridge

Another image taken from BBC footage showed a strip of bullets on the deck of HMS Defender

Russia claimed an Su-24 dropped four bombs in the path of HMS Defender in the Black Sea after accusing it of entering its waters near Cape Fiolent on Tuesday

At this stage there's no protective equipment for me. 'Have you guys got any anti-flash?' asks the ops officer. I shake my head. 'Better get them some then,' he says.

Sailors scurry off and come back with clothing I'll be thankful for if any Russian missile or gunfire causes a fire aboard Defender. Pulling on the gear the threat seems real now. The Russians aren't messing around and neither are we, there's no way the Royal Navy is going to be steered off course.

The aircraft warning aboard Defender is raised to 'red' while another Nato vessel, which is also operating in the Black Sea, suspects that it has been 'radar-locked' by a large Russian navy vessel, a precursor perhaps to a missile engagement.

The Crimean coastline is now clearly in view, seafront buildings, forests and hills. More aggressive warnings over the radio from the Russians then a report from observers on the port side upper deck reaches the bridge: 'Gunfire heard to the stern!'

I rush outside for a better look; an instinctive response but perhaps not the wisest move for a husband and father of three young children. A sailor bearing binoculars reckons cannon fire came from one of the coastguard vessels.

Moments later more cannon fire, two heavy bursts from the lead coastguard vessel. 'Keep away from me!' says the Russian coastguard over the radio.

Two Black Sea Fleet coastguard ships continued to shadow HMS Defender from 100 yards awa

Releasing the new footage of HMS Defender from the air, Russian defence ministry's TV channel Zvezda said: 'In the footage can be seen the culprit of the incident, the destroyer Defender

Some footage was allegedly shot from the Su-24M which is said to have dropped four bombs to deter the Royal Navy vessel. Above: Su-24Ms seen in the Russian video

Only the Russian sailors know for certain who they were firing at or in what direction. But given their exasperation at being unable to persuade Defender to change its course, we were a likely target, albeit we were out of range.

Defender's threat state is reduced as we leave Crimean territorial waters, but the closest pass by an SU-24 takes place as we return to international waters. A drone is also spotted far overhead.

The Russian jets were flying 'wings clean', meaning they were not carrying missiles. But the aircraft are equipped with high powered cannons which, if armed, could have ripped through Defender's hull. Both coastguard vessels were equipped with 30mm cannons with live rounds. Other fully armed Russian vessels are also patrolling in our vicinity.

Defender is equipped with a 4.5 inch mark 8 medium calibre gun with a range of 12 miles, two Phalanx close-in weapon systems and Sea Viper air defence missiles with 48 silos at the front of the ship.

The Royal Navy was entirely justified in sailing along an internationally recognised shipping route. But we definitely poked the Russian bear and she poked back. The next time a British warship enters Crimean waters the tension will be even higher.
A North Carolina man is accused of strangling to death his 19-year-old girlfriend, stuffing her body into a tote and driving it to Tennessee, where police said he was arrested while attempting to dispose of it.

Michael Cadogan, 24, was arrested on Monday on charges of abuse of corpse and fugitive from justice in another state in connection with the slaying of High Point University student Gianna 'Gia' Delgado.

Ricardo Delgado, the victim's heartbroken father, said he wants the death penalty for his daughter's killer.

Michael Cadogan, 24, faces charges of first-degree murder, concealment of death and tampering with a corpse for the strangulation death of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Gianna Delgado (right)

Cadogan is pictured in Tennessee court following his capture on Monday

Ricardo Delgado, Gianna's father (left), said he wants the death penalty for his daughter's killer

'I dont think he deserves that air that we breathe, because he definitely took my daughters last breath,' he told WJHL. 'And I will be there when he takes his.'

In an emotional Facebook post on Tuesday, the grieving dad-of-two wrote, addressing Cadogan directly: 'too bad the justice system got to you first cuz [sic] I would have did [sic] everyone the favor and save money and time sending you straight to hell where you belong.'

High Point police said on Monday afternoon, officers were called to an apartment on Pallas Way that Gianna shared with Cadogan after getting information that the woman had been assaulted.

Court documents said Cadogan contacted a female friend from Kingsport, Tennessee, admitted strangling Gianna during an argument over another man, and asked for help with disposing of the victim's body.

Gianna was a rising sophomore at High Point University in North Carolina (pictured), where he was pursuing a degree in criminal justice

Gianna had ended a relationship with Cadogan, but the two continued sharing an apartment

That friend then contacted police to report the crime.

She told the authorities that Cadogan had called her that morning and said he had done 'something,' reported WECT.

When the woman asked Cadogan what he had done, he allegedly FaceTimed her and showed her a body that appeared lifeless.

Cadogan then allegedly admitted to his friend to choking and beating his girlfriend to death during an argument.

During a later call between Cadogan and the friend, who was at the Kingsport Police Department, the friend agreed to meet Cadogan at a marina in Carter County, Tennessee, to put Gianna's body and car in Watauga Lake. A police lieutenant listened in on the call, officials said.

A Carter County sheriffs deputy later spotted and stopped Cadogan, who was driving Gianna's car, near the marina, authorities said.

When the deputy asked Cadogan if he had a body in the car, the suspect replied: 'lawyer.'

The missing student's body was found stuffed inside a large storage tote in the vehicle.

Cadogan is charged with first-degree murder, concealment of death and tampering with a corpse. He is being held without bond in Tennessee, and theres been no word on his possible extradition back to North Carolina.

Pam Haynes, a spokesperson for High Point University in North Carolina, said Gianna had just completed her freshman year at the university.

The 19-year-old's father said Gianna did not deserve to have her life ended like this.

'She was a great little girl,' he said. 'She always fought for what she wanted.'

Ricardo said his daughter was 'a good little girl' and did not deserve what had happened to her. He would like to watch her killer get executed

The father is now left to care for Gianna's dog, Franklin, which he said Cadogan had used to manipulate her because he knew how much she loved the pet

Ricardo told Fox 8 his daughter had ended a brief relationship with Cadogan, but the two continued living together while his daughter was pursuing a degree in criminal justice.

He also claimed that the suspect would exploit Gianna's love for her dog, Franklin, to manipulate her.

'[Cadogan] would use the dog as leverage to underpower my daughter, and hed kidnapped the dog before,' Ricardo said, adding that he is now left to take care of Gianna's pet.

'Im glad hes here with us, because hes the only thing I have left,' Ricardo Delgado said.
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Winston Marshall's millionaire Brexiteer father has backed him for quitting Mumford and Sons after he became the victim of 'cancel culture' when he praised a US conservative journalist.

Hedge fund tycoon Sir Paul Marshall, 61, shared his son's Medium.com essay on Twitter with the caption: 'Very proud of my son!'.

Mr Marshall, who played banjo in the folk rock band, quit after he was pilloried by a 'viral mob' for the 'sin' of praising a right wing reporter on social media.

In a 1,263-word essay on Medium, the 33-year-old described how his 'innocuous' endorsement of Andy Ngo's book on far-Left extremist group Antifa triggered 'tens of thousands of angry retweets and comments'.

He said he 'failed to foresee' his praise of Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan To Destroy Democracy 'could be interpreted as approval of the equally abhorrent Far-Right' and feared it would bring his bandmates 'more trouble'.

Mr Marshall, who was born and raised in Wandsworth, south London, wrote he could have stayed with the group and 'continued to self-censor', but believed it would 'erode my sense of integrity'.

The folk rock musician was attacked on social media earlier after calling Mr Ngo's book 'important' and describing the US journalist - who has been attacked while covering street clashes - a 'brave man'.

Following allegations he was 'endorsing Fascism' - claims he branded 'ludicrous' - band members Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane, and their management, reportedly asked him to leave the group.

Despite this, the group posted a message in support of him on Twitter today, saying: 'We wish you all the best for the future, Win, and we love you man. M, B & T.'

In March the banjoist and guitarist said he was stepping back from the group, leading one critic of cancel culture to write: 'Never appease the hate mob, you should have stood by your words'.

But he has now said he has quit for good, writing on Medium 'as long as I am a member of the band, speaking my mind on the evils of political extremism could bring them trouble'.

Mr Marshall said he plans to undertake new creative projects, 'as well as speaking and writing on a variety of issues.'

Hedge fund tycoon Sir Paul Marshall (left), 61, shared his son's (right) Medium.com essay on Twitter with the caption 'very proud of my son!'

Ngo's (left) book Unmasked claims to expose Antifa - the name for protesters in the US who arrive at far-right marches to oppose them - as a 'violent extremist movement'. Pictured right: Marshall's tweet

The band in 2019. Pictured from left to right: Winston Marshall, Ted Dwane, Marcus Mumford and Ben Lovett

Mr Marshall was attacked on social media after tweeting support for US journalist Andy Ngo. In 2015, he married Glee star Dianna Agron, before the couple divorced in August 2020. They are seen together in New York in 2015

Writing on Medium, Mr Marshall said he 'failed to foresee' that his praise of the book Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan To Destroy Democracy 'could be interpreted as approval of the equally abhorrent Far-Right'

Andy Ngo: Right-wing 'provocateur' whose book described Antifa as a 'violent extremist movement' Andy Ngo, 35, is a conservative American journalist from Portland, Oregon, who has sparked controversy for his reporting on street clashes between left and right-wing protesters in the US Andy Ngo, 35, is a conservative American journalist from Portland, Oregon, who has sparked controversy for his reporting on street clashes between left and right-wing protesters in the US. Ngo is editor-at-large of news site The Post Millennial and regularly appears on Fox News. He has also written columns for several publications including The Spectator and the Wall Street Journal. Ngo came to national attention in 2019, when he was attacked by far-left antifa protesters at a march by the right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys in Portland, Oregon. His book, Unmasked: Inside Antifa's radical plan to destroy democracy, claims to expose Antifa - the name for protesters in the US who arrive at far-right marches to oppose them - as a 'violent extremist movement'. It claimed his attack was just one example of 'a long list of crimes perpetrated by antifa' and 'tells the story of this violent extremist movement from the very beginning'. He includes interviews with former Antifa members and people who have been attacked by the group to suggest it wants to 'destroy the nation-state, America in particular'. Ngo calls the book 'a letter of gratitude to the nation that welcomed' his parents when they emigrated from war-torn Vietnam, and claims Antifa consists of 'violent leftists' who want to undermine American democracy. One of the ways it does this - Ngo - claims, is to attack 'responsible' journalists like him who are reporting on them activities in an attempt to scare them into submission. The book has been criticised by some media outlets as inaccurate. In the same year it was published, a video surfaced online of Ngo laughing and smiling alongside members of Patriot Prayer, another far-right group, who later attacked antifa members gathered at a nearby bar. At the time, Portland Mercury journalist Alex Zielinski reported that 'there's no way [Ngo] couldn't know the group was planning on instigating violence' - but Ngo denied this claim. Advertisement

He wrote: 'I've had plenty of abuse over the years. I'm a banjo player after all. But this was another level. And, owing to our association, my friends, my bandmates, were getting it too. It took me more than a moment to understand how distressing this was for them.

'Despite being four individuals we were, in the eyes of the public, a unity. Furthermore it's our singer's name on the tin. That name was being dragged through some pretty ugly accusations, as a result of my tweet.

'The distress brought to them and their families that weekend I regret very much. I remain sincerely sorry for that. Unintentionally, I had pulled them into a divisive and totemic issue.

'Emotions were high. Despite pressure to nix me they invited me to continue with the band. That took courage, particularly in the age of so called 'cancel culture'. I made an apology and agreed to take a temporary step back.

'Rather predictably another viral mob came after me, this time for the sin of apologising. Then followed libellous articles calling me 'right-wing' and such. Though there's nothing wrong with being conservative, when forced to politically label myself I flutter between 'centrist', 'liberal' or the more honest 'bit this, bit that'.

'Being labeled erroneously just goes to show how binary political discourse has become. I had criticised the 'Left', so I must be the 'Right', or so their logic goes.'

He went on: 'I have spent much time reflecting, reading and listening. The truth is that my commenting on a book that documents the extreme Far-Left and their activities is in no way an endorsement of the equally repugnant Far-Right.

'The truth is that reporting on extremism at the great risk of endangering oneself is unquestionably brave. I also feel that my previous apology in a small way participates in the lie that such extremism does not exist, or worse, is a force for good.

'For me to speak about what I've learnt to be such a controversial issue will inevitably bring my bandmates more trouble. My love, loyalty and accountability to them cannot permit that. I could remain and continue to self-censor but it will erode my sense of integrity.

'Gnaw my conscience. I've already felt that beginning. The only way forward for me is to leave the band.

'I hope in distancing myself from them I am able to speak my mind without them suffering the consequences. I leave with love in my heart and I wish those three boys nothing but the best. I have no doubt that their stars will shine long into the future.'

Mr Ngo's book Unmasked claims to expose Antifa - the name for protesters in the US who arrive at far-Right marches to oppose them - as a 'violent extremist movement'.

Critics say it inflates the size and threat of the Left-wing Antifa movement, which was a frequent target of President Donald Trump. It was even described by the Los Angeles Times as 'supremely dishonest'.

In his offending tweet, Mr Marshall wrote to Mr Ngo: 'Finally had the time to read your important book. You're a brave man'.

The book recounts how Mr Ngo was attacked and 'milkshaked' by militant anti-Fascist protesters in 2019 - along with the history and tactics of the Antifa movement.

Footage at the time showed Mr Ngo being punched, kicked and covered in milkshake. The writer tweeted afterwards that he was bleeding and had been robbed of his camera equipment and was heading to the hospital for treatment. At least three demonstrators from Antifa were arrested.

Ngo, who describes himself in his Twitter bio as 'hated by Antifa', is seen attempting to get away from the crowd

The march in Oregon where Ngo was attacked. He was covering protesters from the far-right Proud Boys group

Fans took to Twitter to slam Marshall's tweet about Ngo's book - which was later deleted

But there was also anger at Marshall leaving the ban, with one commentator saying, 'Never try to appease the hate mob'

Winston Marshall's father Sir Paul: The Brexit-supporting hedge fund tycoon Winston Marshall's father is Sir Paul Marshall, the Brexit-supporting millionaire hedge fund tycoon who runs Knightsbridge-based firm Marshall Wace and is reportedly worth 630million. Sir Paul had a longstanding affiliation with the Lib Dems, working as research assistant to former party leader Charles Kennedy MP before standing for Parliament for the SDP/Liberal Alliance in Fulham in 1987. He co-edited The Orange Book in 2004, a Left-leaning pamphlet containing chapters written by various politicians including Nick Clegg, Chris Huhne, Vince Cable MP, Ed Davey MP and Susan Kramer. The hedge fund millionaire reportedly donated 200,000 to the Lib Dems from 2002 until he left the party in 2015 over its policies on the EU and its support of British membership of the bloc. In July 2016, he donated 3,250 to Michael Gove's Tory leadership campaign, according to Vice. Though Mr Gove's bid was unsuccessful, it foiled Boris Johnson's own campaign and paved the way for Theresa May. Sir Paul was a public support of Brexit during the 2016 referendum and donated 100,000 to the Leave campaign, according to the Financial Times. Writing for the Brexit Central website in April 2017, Sir Paul called withdrawal from the EU 'a huge opportunity' and said the country 'should be a champion of free trade, open and outward looking to the world and built on strong institutions'. Sir Paul and his business partner Ian Wace reportedly made millions of pounds by placing huge bets on falling share prices in March last year as stock markets collapsed early in the pandemic. Advertisement

He said: 'Attacked by antifa. Bleeding. They stole my camera equipment.

'No police until after. waiting for ambulance . If you have evidence of attack please help.'

Adding: 'On way to hospital. Was beat on face and head multiple times in downtown in middle of street with fists and weapons. Suspects at large.'

Mr Ngo has in the past associated himself with US group Proud Boys, who are self-described 'western chauvinists' and identified as a 'hate group' by anti-extremist organisation the Southern Poverty Law Centre.

Mumford fans quickly criticised Mr Marshall for his tweet - with one writing: 'Certainly left a nasty taste in my mouth. I'll be listening to anybody but M&S from now on.

But another wrote: 'This is so damn disappointing and really reinforces all the bad stereotypes about what it means when you hear 'the sound of banjos.' Supporting fascism ain't a good look.'

Mr Marshall was born in Wandsworth, south-west London, and attended 25,000-per-year St Paul's school - was a founding member of Mumford & Sons.

In 2015, he married Glee star Dianna Agron, before the couple divorced in August 2020.

The notoriously private couple tied the knot at the Beldi Country Club in Morocco in 2016, following a whirlwind romance and lived in New York.

The couple were first rumoured to be dating back in 2015 when Miss Agron was pictured holding hands with Marshall when she joined his band on tour in Paris.

Before marrying Mr Marshall, Miss Agron had dated fellow actors Alex Pettyfer, Sebastian Stan and Thomas Cocquerel.

Mr Marshall is rumoured to have dated Katy Perry just before she got together with Orlando Bloom.
America's biggest liberal news outlets have avoided reporting on the latest Hunter Biden scandal, amid claims he inadvertently used his fathers credit card to accidentally overpay an escort $25,000.

The United States' most popular left-leaning publications and news networks  including The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and MSNBC  have made no mention of the story in the 36 hours since it was broken by the Post, and confirmed by DailyMail.com

On Wednesday evening, CNN host Jake Tapper did mention Hunter on his show - but only while discussing the president's son's paintings with Republican writer Kristin Soltis Anderson.

Soltis Anderson blasted Biden for cashing in on his dad's name, and selling his artworks to anonymous buyers. But no mention was made of Biden's alleged overpayments to the sex worker with his dad's plastic.

This isnt the first time mainstream media outlets ignored controversy surrounding the presidents son. They previously blanked a June 7 DailyMail.com exclusive about Hunter using the n-word, and have faced hypocrisy claims after running multiple stories on the alleged wrongdoing of Donald Trump's children while he was president.

Liberal media outlets in the US are facing backlash for completely ignoring Hunter Biden's prostitution scandal. The New York Times has not mentioned the story. Wednesday's edition is pictured

Thursday's Washington Post, which has also avoided mentioning the latest Hunter Biden scandal, despite being the White House hometown paper

Rachel Maddow, of MSNBC, made no mention on her show last evening about claims Hunter inadvertently used his fathers credit card to pay an escort $25,000

Jake Tapper, of CNN, mentioned Hunter in the context of another story about him selling his art to unnamed bidders - but did not reference the credit card story

Mainstream media outlets previously ignored a June 7 DailyMail.com exclusive about Hunter using the n-word. Donald Trump Jr. tweeted about the double standards that would arise if it had been one of Donald's children

When the n-word story broke, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted that coverage would have looked far different if it involved someone in the Trump family. Try to imagine one of the Trump kids dropping the n-word, he tweeted.

This week, CNN have run a story about Ivanka and Jared Trump distancing themselves from Ivanka's dad, as well as a follow-up analysis of that claim.

The story about Hunter using his fathers credit card for sex with a prostitute was covered numerous times on Fox News - including on shows hosted by the network's most popular stars Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity.

But CNN did not mention the credit card story, and MNSBC avoided it altogether.

The lack of coverage has prompted outrage among conservatives with many taking to Twitter to accuse the liberal media of double standards.

Hunter is pictured with a prostitute during a previous encounter. The latest claims from his laptop have been snubbed by liberal publications that enjoyed bashing the Trumps

Michael Champlain referenced a video from the incident in which Hunter balances a line of M&Ms on his penis, which was documented in files stored on the laptop. He wrote, Remember when they told you that President Trumps children lacked morals because they operated businesses? What are they going to say about Hunter balancing M&Ms on his erect penis for a prostitute?

Another user called OddBiff wrote, Too funny...So receipts and texts show Hunter Biden spent thousands on President Biden's credit card for prostitutes .. Was shocked the news is not saying it was Ivanka Trump he paid just to smear her.

Stacy Herbert called out MSNBC for not providing any coverage of the scandal, writing, Unlikely that Maddow, who had been so eager to air the Trump pee tape, will be airing any of the contents of the m&m's on penis photos.

And a Twitter user named Punished Donut wrote, Hunter Biden could shoot someone in the street in broad daylight and youd still bring up Trump.

Meanwhile, only more conservative-leaning media have unraveled the story about a series of wild nights that Joe Biden may have accidentally paid for his son Hunter to have with a prostitute in 2018.

It was early May that year when Hunter Biden ordered Yanna, an escort, who billed herself as 'Russian, Green Eyes, Thin Brunette, an elite courtesan' from his favorite site, Emerald Fantasy Girls, according to files obtained by the New York Post from his 2017 Macbook Pro.

'Hi, My name is Rob.' he texted the woman on May 7, 2018, using his first name, Robert, before telling her he was staying at The Jeremy Hotel, 'Are you available now?'

During her visit to the Los Angeles hotel, the two had sex, drank vodka and filmed porn while he smoked crack, according to the Post. At one point Hunter balanced a line of M&Ms on his erect penis - all of it documented in files stored on the laptop.

Hotel bills show Hunter then moved to a $470-per-night room at The Jeremy in West Hollywood later that month, where he hired another escort while under the protection of two recently retired Secret Service agents.

And messages saved on the laptop show Joe Biden might have inadvertently been the person actually paying the bill for the wild week, according to the messages obtained by the Post.

First son Hunter Biden (left and right, with a pipe) may have inadvertently spent his fathers funds on an escort at LA hotel The Jeremy, according to text messages and receipts, when he was overcharged nearly $25,000 for the services, the Post reports

Text messages show a former Secret Service agent at Hunter Biden's door after he made the transaction

As for the 2018 tryst at The Jeremy, the Post reports that on the Morning of May 24, Hunter added a woman named Gulnora, a registered agent for Emerald Fantasy Girls, as a recipient on the cash transfer app Zelle, and attempted to wire her the money.

But his card didn't work, and Wells Fargo sent him a fraud warning alert.

He tried another card, and then another before the $8,000 charge finally went through.

Throughout the morning, however, the transactions he thought had failed started to clear, meaning he was overcharged.

The first $8,000 left his account at 10.22am, according to receipts from the laptop viewed by the Post.

Then at 10.50am another transfer of $2,000 went out, this time from a different account.

At 10.59am another $3,500 transfers were sent, and at 11am another $8,000 and finally $3,500 at 11.03am.

In total roughly $25,000 is transferred in less than an hour, according to the Post.

'There is many transactions on my account,' Yanna would soon text him, according to the Post. 'From last night 8k, 8k, 3500k. So get back with me when you can. So I can transfer back to you. Better if you call my personal.'

'Im happy to see that much in my account.' she texts again. 'No worries you can have the rest back. Karma is a b***h.'

'Send it back please.' Hunter replies at 4.19pm, according to the Post.

A little more than two hours later, however, he would be receiving texts from a very different person.

Labelled as from Robert Savage III, a former Secret Service agent who until that month had been in charge of the agency's Los Angeles field office, the Post reports, he texts him at 6.37pm: 'H  Im in the lobby come down. Thanks, Rob.'

'5 minutes,' Hunter answers.

Savage's attorney told the Post that he had never been in contact with Hunter Biden, and said that he was retired before the exchange took place. He referred to the messages as 'fabricated text messages.'

DailyMail.com identified the messages on Hunter's laptop, validated earlier this year by cyber forensic experts as authentic.

'Come on H, this is linked to Celtics account,' Savage replied five minutes later, using the Secret Service code name for Joe Biden when he was vice president, the Post reported. 'DC is calling me every 10. Let me up or come down. I cant help if you dont let me H.'

It's not clear which if any of the accounts Hunter used to pay for Yanna may have been linked to his father - although Celtic was a codename used for his dad.

'I promise be right down. Sorry.' Hunter answers.

Another five minutes goes by and Savage warns him that Dale Pupillo, also retired from the Secret Service, and who served as the agency's assistant director, had shown up, the Post reports.

Invoices on the laptop show that Pupillo vetted potential business partners for Hunter.

'Hes going to front desk, call and tell them to give us a key now H,' Savage texts. 'As your friend, we need to resolve this in the immediate.'

'Call the front desk now H or I will have to assume you are in danger and we will have to make them give us the keys.' Savage continues.

'Really, Rob I am coming down right now,' Hunter replies nine minutes later. 'I really promise. Was in the bathroom buddy. Coming right this second.'

'We're at your door. Open it,' comes a quick reply from Savage.

The exchange ends there, but further records on the laptop indicate Hunter spent the rest of the evening on an encrypted site, 'secure.login.gov' until 4.04am, according to the Post.

Further texts and receipts on the laptop indicate that all but $5,000 of the extra charges for Yanna's visit were returned, with Gulnora texting Hunter that she was having trouble with her bank account.

'Bulls***t I am so sick of this,' he responds.

A number of Hunter's other escapades have been chronicled on files recovered from the laptop.

Biden had stayed in LA for an 'undetermined amount of time' in 2018, following his divorce from Kathleen Buhle and during an extended period of drug use he chronicled in his memoir 'Beautiful Things.'

Leaked emails and photos obtained by DailyMail.com from Hunter's laptop reveal he was desperate to avoid going to jail for unpaid taxes after blowing tens of thousands of dollars on luxury cars, prostitutes, drugs and designer clothing

Hunter, the son of President Joe Biden (with him in January, right) has long struggled with drugs, and spent much of 2018 at the Marmont, where he invited the escort

In 2016, he allegedly dropped off a rental car in Prescott, Arizona, leaving behind a crack pipe and white powder, his driver's license and his late brother Beau's attorney general badge.

And in April, DailyMail.com reported that he had stayed in a third-floor suite of The Jeremy Hotel in Los Angeles for a week, ordering room service each night, drinking at the hotel bar and racking up a $5,195 bill, including a $400 fine for smoking in his room.

During the stay, he also sought refills for prescriptions of a generic equivalent to Viagra called Sildenafil, the antidepressant Lexapro and anxiety medication clonazepam.

He had also texted his father, now President Joe Biden, about his struggles and the president had offered to pay for his grandchildren's medical care when Hunter ran out of money.
A Tennessee doctor accused of illegally prescribing hydrocodone to multiple female patients who he also had inappropriate sexual contact is facing 20 years in prison after admitting to his role in the overdose death of a pregnant woman he treated.

Thomas K. Ballard III, 63, who owned and operated the Ballard Clinic in Jackson, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death of a pregnant women in 2015.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Ballard wrote prescriptions for dangerous, addictive controlled pharmaceutical drugs without any legitimate medical purpose for several female patients since he was licensed to prescribe opioid medication in 2012.

Ballard also 'engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with several female patients while he ignored red flags that they were abusing the medications he prescribed', the Department of Justice said in a news release.

The abuses were often reflected in Ballard's own medical records, prosecutors said, proving that he knew about them but chose to keep prescribing anyway.

In the case for which he was convicted this week, records showed that the pregnant patient had psychiatric issues, abused her medication and fabricated personal trauma and tampering with drug screens.

Her medical records also listed unusual drug screens, her incarceration record and suboxone receipts from other places to treat opioid disorder.

Despite many warning signs Ballard continued prescribing her hydrocodone. His last prescription was written on May 28, 2015 - the day the woman died.

Thomas K. Ballard III, 63, who owned and operated the Ballard Clinic in Jackson (pictured), pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death of a pregnant women in 2015

The allegations against Ballard came to light in 2019 when the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the federal Office of Inspector General raided his clinic. Pictured: A TBI officer investigates a storage container outside the clinic

The allegations against Ballard came to light in 2019 when the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the federal Office of Inspector General raided his clinic.

Documents found during the raid indicated that Ballard gave some of his patients large dosages of addictive medicines to treat 'chronic pain' without actually documenting the pain in their medical records.

A probe concluded that he prescribed a massive 4.7 million pills during an estimated three-year period.

'Today's plea is a somber reminder of the human cost of illegal prescribing,' Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department's Criminal Division wrote in the news release. 'Above all, physicians are trusted not to harm their patients.'

'Ballard has proven himself to be nothing more than a predator in a white lab coat, and he should expect to be punished accordingly,' said Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA's Louisville Division.

'Doctors take an oath to first do no harm, and instead, Ballard chose to put his own licentious interests above his patients' well-being.'

Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General also described Ballard's way of treating patients as inhumane.

'Ballard's callous disregard for the well-being of his patients and the principles of his profession caused the death of a vulnerable woman and put other lives at risk,' he said.

He went on to add: 'The damage he caused is severe and irreparable. HHS-OIG, alongside other law enforcement agencies, works to pursue medical professionals who inflict harm on patients in their care.'

Ballard will be sentenced to 20 years in prison, the statutory mandatory minimum, on September 21, if the court accepts his plea agreement.
A X-ray technician allegedly sexually abused an 81-year-old Alzheimer's patient while carrying out a scan at a nursing home in Manhattan.

Guy Negoue, 44, faces charges of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person over the incident at the Catholic-Church run ArchCare Terence Cardinal Cooke Nursing Home.

Negoue had allegedly asked the woman's nurse to leave her room while he carried out the X-ray in August last year, the New York Daily News reports.

But after she left, the nurse claimed she heard the woman's cries coming from the room, and when she went back in she saw Negoue leaning over her.

She alleged that he then wiped his hands on the woman's bed sheets before throwing his gloves into the trash, according to court documents.

The nurse alleged that Negoue told her 'I didnt do anything on purpose. I realized a lubricant was on my hand which is why I wiped it on the bed.'

He was arrested at the home soon after, and was later indicted by a grand jury for endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, as well as misdemeanor sex abuse charges.

Guy Negoue was arrested shortly following the incident at ArchCare Terence Cardinal Cooke Nursing Home (pictured)

Negoue is facing up to four years in prison if convicted. He appeared in a New York court Wednesday for a procedural hearing.

The victim - a former nurse herself - was not named by the Daily News as she is the victim of a sex attack.

But her son Rodney Vargas spoke to the newspaper, and blasted the alleged attacker.

He said: 'How despicable do you have to be that you would do that to someone who is mentally incapacitated?

'I think thats the lowest thing that I ever heard.'

Vargas hailed the nurse for stepping in to the room and rescuing his mother.

'She was my mothers voice when my mother didnt have one. If I saw her, Id give her a hug and thank her,' he told the Daily News.

A spokesman for ArchCare, Jon Goldberg, also applauded the nurse's handling of the situation.

'She not only intervened and tended to the resident, but alerted security so he [Negoue] was apprehended in the building,' he told the Daily News. 'And she had the presence of mind to preserve evidence.'

Goldberg said that Negoue was employed by a third-party contractor who had performed a background check.
President Joe Biden promised to move the 18,000 Afghans who helped the U.S. war effort and are awaiting visas to a safe location amid fears of Taliban revenge.

ABC News reported Thursday that an evacuation would begin 'in a few days - at the most, a week,' but a destination has not been announced.

On Wednesday, press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration was doing 'extensive planning for potential evacuation' of Afghans who have worked as translators, drivers, cooks and in other positions helping the U.S. war effort.

President Joe Biden promised to move the 18,000 Afghans who helped the U.S. war effort and are awaiting visas to a safe location amid fears of Taliban revenge, according to a report from ABC News

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday the U.S. government is doing 'extensive planning for potential evacuation' of the 18,000 Afghans stuck in the visa process who have aided the U.S. war effort

When President Joe Biden withdraws the final American troops from Afghanistan, up to 18,000 who risked their lives for the US could be left behind. These are the Afghan translators and interpreters who have worked alongside all military branches and against the insurgents for the last 20 years throughout America's longest war. One is pictured in Afghanistan with US troops

More than 18,000 are stuck trying to apply for Special Immigrant Visas, with the U.S.'s involvement in Afghanistan ending in 80 days. If left in Afghanistan, those allied with the U.S. could be murdered by the Taliban.

'These are individuals who have played an incredibly courageous role in helping the United States at various times over the course of our recent history,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. 'We are processing and getting people out at a record pace.'

'We are working with Congress right now to streamline some of the requirements that slow this process down and we're doing the kind of extensive planning for potential evacuation should that become necessary,' Psaki continued.

'So we're continuing to evaluate what are options are there, continuing to take steps foward and certainly we want to take every step we can take from the federal government to treat all these courageous individuals as they deserve,' she added.

Psaki also confirmed that the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks remains the Afghanistan drawdown deadline.

'I would say I don't anticipate, the timeline for withdrawal is not going to change, by September, which of course is overseen by our Department of Defense,' she said during Wednesday's press briefing.

Afghans applying for the visas are are under constant fear of deadly attacks from the Taliban and have been run out of their homes, with their families of young children, because of their support for the American government.

These are the Afghan translators and interpreters who have worked alongside all U.S. military branches and against the insurgents for the last 20 years throughout America's longest war.

They have served with the CIA, the State Department, the Army and the Marines on the frontlines in one of the most dangerous battle zones in the world - but have been left in limbo by the slow process to get accepted for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV).

They are the cooks, drivers and cultural advisors who were essential in supporting ground operations - even though they knew siding with American military would put their livelihoods in imminent danger.

Now, they are stranded and begging for visas to let them escape the hell they face, with just 80 days until all troops are gone.

They are all under threat, and when the U.S. ends its military presence on September 11, they will be even more exposed to the violence of the Taliban, who have grown increasingly aggressive since Biden announced he was pulling out U.S. forces.

Many have already seen relatives killed and others fear they will be decapitated. They are now reaching out to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to give them safe haven in the United States.

All linguists are in a very bad situation. If the Taliban or Sisi see us, they will cut our heads from our bodies. Help us please Visa application from one of the 18,000 stranded Afghan translators as the US withdraws forces

Some have been waiting years to have their application approved, with the longest dating back to 1981, according to No One Left Behind, the non-profit charity fighting to make sure the U.S. government keeps their promise to those who supported the military during some of the most intense fighting in Helmand Province.

The organization says 300 Afghan interpreters have been killed in targeted attacks while waiting to secure their visas since 2014, but the exact numbers are unknown.

The process should take nine months, but has been hampered by a myriad of setbacks including the pandemic and the need for translators to get paperwork.

SIVs are available to those who have helped the U.S. military and now face serious threats as a result of their employment.

The U.S. has handed out 50 special visas per year to be issued to Afghan and Iraqi interpreters and translators.

There have also been 26,500 visas allocated to Afghans employed by the government since December 2014, but the process for those who haven't had their applications accepted is slow.

It has been delayed even further by the pandemic and the State Department's administrative backlogs, and time is running out with Biden looking to pull all troops out by September 11, 2021.

On Sunday, the Kabul embassy suspended all visa operations because of a third wave of COVID that is sweeping the country. This is after embassy, like most other U.S. outposts around the world, that has severely limited appointments because of pandemic restrictions.

There is also a staff shortage that is hampering the speed of which these applications are handled.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said half of the 18,000 SIV applicants waiting for approval are in the early stages of the application and require more paperwork. He is also considering bringing the Afghans into the U.S. as refugees.

But many are stuck. They require supporting documents from their supervisors in the military. Sometimes they have no means of contacting them, simply because they don't know their personal email addresses.

The translators who served alongside Americans are stranded and begging for visas to let them escape the hell they face, with just 80 days until all troops are gone. They are all under threat, and when the US ends its military presence on September 11, they will be even more exposed to the violence of the Taliban, who have grown increasingly violent since Biden announced he was pulling out US forces

Around 300 Afghan interpreters are believed to have been killed in targeted attacks while waiting to secure their visas since 2014, but the exact numbers are unknown. Their faces have been blurred to protect their identity because of Taliban threats

They also need evidence that shows they worked for the U.S. government for two years.

According to a database held by No One Left Behind, the Afghan applicants have taken to pleading to Biden and Harris.

In their applications they detail the threats they face and beg for the process to be sped up. Some insist they still support the American and hope for better lives if they are welcomed into the U.S., but believe they have betrayed by the bureaucratic logjam.

There is now a bipartisan push to pressure the State Department into accelerating the process as the Pentagon quickly pulls troops out.

The date of full withdrawal is September 11, but many have already left and operations are rapidly drawing to a close.

If we abandon them, we are signing their death warrants. - Republican Rep. Michael McCaul

The U.S. has said it will maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul, which could help the visa applications, but the lack of troops will mean the translators aren't protected.

Rep. Michael Waltz told DailyMail.com: 'Afghan translators have been vital American partners on the ground and their lives are in danger if we can't get them out soon.

'The military has testified that they are ready to evacuate but the Biden Administration must make it a priority to green light their extraction.

'I can't emphasize how detrimental it would be to our national security interests if we signaled to the rest of the world that we are willing to leave those who help us against the enemy behind to die.'

Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine, told reporters last week that Biden's hair 'should be on fire' over the Afghans he is leaving behind.

'I want the White House's hair on fire. I want them to do everything within their power to solve this problem.Im not being critical of the administration, but I think its time to step up their game,' King said.

'Much of whats needed could be done by the administration. It can't be business as usual.'

Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs said earlier this month: '[The Afghan interpreters] have a bull's eye and a target on their back from the moment we leave the country.

'If we abandon them, we are signing their death warrants.'

James Miervaldis, from the Board of Directors of No One Left Behind, told DailyMail.com: 'We received over 1,200 signatures from SIV applicants complete with NVC case numbers, the amount of time they have been waiting, and personal statements to President Biden.

They have worked for the CIA, the State Department, the Army and the Marines on the frontlines in one of the most dangerous battlezones in the world - but have been left in limbo by the slow process to get accepted for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)

A State Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com they are constantly working to improve the SXIV program while ensuring the integrity of the program and safeguarding national security

75 percent of applicants would still work with the U.S. knowing what they know now about how they've been treated. Twenty-five percent regret they worked with U.S. troops.

Sergeant William Bee, the Marine behind one of the most iconic photos from the War On Terror, told DailyMail.com that getting the translators out safely would be the 'best thing to come out of all of it'.

'I have been waiting 14 years and I am still waiting to get my visa. The guys running the SIV program are not working as much as they should. I wish you were in my position, so they could feel what I am. Then you would have to run the system like hell to save us Afghan translator applying for an immigrant visa

He worked frequently with translators during his tours in Helmand Province and believes the Biden administration desperately needs to help the Afghan people who served America.

A State Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com they are constantly working to improve the SIV program while ensuring the integrity of the program and safeguarding national security.

'Approximately 30 percent of applications are awaiting a decision at the Chief of Mission stage. The final 20 percent were approved by the Chief of Mission and are moving through the immigration process, either in the petition or visa processing stages,' the spokesperson said.

They said 9,000 of the applicants need to 'take action' before the U.S. government can being processing their cases.

They have also identified ways to try and improve the program, such as using staff in Washington to process the applications.

'The Department also approved a temporary increase in consular staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to conduct interviews and process visa applications, which allowed the Embassy to address cases that were delayed due to COVID-19 related closures earlier this year.'

However they mentioned that the COVID outbreak in Afghanistan has stifled their attempts.

'We acknowledge and regret the inconvenience to applicants as we seek to protect the health of our staff and applicants to ensure we can fully support visa and other consular services going forward,' the spokesperson said.

'We are continuing to make every effort to move SIV applicants through the process quickly. Most applicants are pending completion of much earlier steps in the SIV process and are not yet ready for an interview.'

In the past year, the USAID has provided more than $39million to directly help Afghanistan respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, expedited $90million in other COVID-related development assistance through the World Bank, and reoriented other U.S. assistance to support Afghan efforts to deal with the pandemics consequences.

'If the Taliban see us they will cut off our heads': The pleas of stranded Afghan translators to the Biden administration Below are some of the requests in SIV applications from Afghan translators and interpreters. They detail their threats, some simply say 'help' and others reach out directly to the White House in hopes of staying alive. Some of the passages have been paraphrased. None have been identified because of the ongoing safety concerns they face in Afghanistan. 'SIV is our last hope of staying alive.' 'I have served for more than two years as an interpreter/translator and more than seven years on the USAID funded projects in Afghanistan. My visa is pending administrative processing for no reason besides waiting for my recommendation letter.' 'I did my medical on September 16, 2020 , but am still waiting for issues to be resolved.' 'The embassy has cancelled my application for (unfaithful services), a general term they are putting for thousands of translators to cancel their petitions. Contrary to the fact that we risked our lives, our entire family and could have been killed.' 'I have worked with oil companies as an supervisor also worked with US army and coalition forces as an translator. 'I applied for SIV in August 2014. I was finally down to my interview at the Kabul US Embassy September 2018. Then the Console Section gave me a yellow card and told me to bring a new recommendation from my supervisor. I haven't been able to find him in two years because his email is not working and I don't have his personal email address. My family is in trouble. I am still receiving threats from ISIS and the Taliban. I don't know where I can go or or to whom I can tell my problems.' 'Kindly pass our message on that we have suffered a lot for American soldiers. We have worked with them honestly for a bright future. Now we have been left behind, and no excuses have been given.' 'Me and my family are living under serious threat in Afghanistan.' 'I want to speed up our case. We are still living in fear and we have been waiting for asylum into the US for so long.' 'I have been waiting for my visa since 2016. I started working for the US Special Forces in 2009 until 2013.Then our program closed in 205. Since then I have been working with US ASS Mentors at COB Morehead in Kabul. I am still an interpreter, and as you know we are at risk of threat and violence in Afghanistan. It's very hard to live any more because of my work for the US government. Please save my life, my two children and my wife.' 'In April 2020, the State Department Consular section in Baghdad refused my SIV case. It seems loyalty to U.S. goals are not appreciated, just like 100s of American soldiers who returned home and were not taken care of. No surprise at all.' 'I have been waiting for my SIV case to process for four years. More than four of my close friends have lost their lives. After our work with the US, we have put the lives of our family members in great danger and the future for us is uncertain.' 'Please save our lives. We risked our lives for your forces. 'We have given our time, our life, and our integrity. Please expedite the process.' 'I worked with US special forces as interpreter, but I have still been left behind.' 'My life is really in danger due to working with US forces in Afghanistan. I have been followed by the Taliban. My house is under the threat of attack. I applied for an SIV when I got married. My daughter is five and my son is two, and I am still waiting for an interview.' 'I have been waiting 14 years and I am still waiting to get my visa. The guys running the SIV program are not working as much as they should. I wish you were in my position, so they could feel what I am. Then you would have to run the system like hell to save us. Thank you.' 'All linguists are in a very bad situation. If the Taliban or Sisi see us, they will cut our heads from our bodies. Help us please.' 'Please resume interviews at the US Embassy in Kabul.' 'We interpreters need your consideration for speeding up the process because our security is getting worse by the day.' 'Mr. President, every day in Kabul is deadly, and we can not live in our villages. We are very happy that you were elected. These are the real values of the United States. We want an executive order to move all barriers of employment.' 'President Biden, we hope we can see changes in the SIV program and an easier way to facilitate the process, especially for the ones who been waiting for years.' 'I have been attacked couple times. The first attack was by ISIL, but, I managed to flee. The second attack was an IED at my house door. It exploded and destroyed most of my home, but God saved me. Since then I flee from one place to another. 'Mr. Biden please help me.' 'Everybody knows that here in Afghanistan the conditions are getting worse day by day, so we are humbly requesting from the new elected US president Joe Biden and vice president Harris to speed up our all SIV applicant's cases.' 'The Taliban killed my brother while working with Chemonics in Helmand in 2005. They have been treating me since then, but I could not go my village in Paktia from 2006. But I do not know why my application has been rejected where I had worked with the USAID. 'I know that president-elect Biden and Vice president- elect Harris have the kind of personalities that believe 'nothing makes them happier than making someone else happy, especially for those who really needs help and assistant'. The kindness we put out into the world always finds a way of coming back to us.' 'I request to the respected President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to keep our families safe.' 'Mr. Biden. For more than eight years I have been employee on behalf of the US government here in Afghanistan. I have been known as US government supporter in the region and I have suffered several threats as a result. My US supervisor recommended me for the SIV program, but all his contacts are off. I don't know whether my supervisor is alive or not, but one thing is clear is that we have truly supported and helped the U.S. government. Every moment for us we live under threat. Please resolve the issue or me and my family will be killed one day.' 'I've been waiting all these years. I wish President Biden would make my dreams come true.' Advertisement

An Afghan interpreter is seen on patrol with US troops in Helmand Province. They have been essential troops for the last 20 years

Many Afghan translators are stuck. They require supporting documents from their supervisors in the military. Sometimes they have no means of contacting them, simply because they don't know their personal email addresses

A State Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com they are constantly working to improve the SIV program while ensuring the integrity of the program and safeguarding national security

The US has said it will maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul, which could help the visa applications, but the lack of troops will mean the translators are left to fend for themselves

75 percent of SIV applicants would still work with the U.S. knowing what they know now about how they've been treated. 25% regret they worked with U.S. troops.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex today sensationally hit back at claims that Prince Charles bankrolled them with a 'substantial sum' in the months following Megxit.

Royal accounts made public for the first time yesterday showed the future king continued to fund Prince Harry and Meghan Markle until summer 2020 from a 4.4million Clarence House pot used to support his two sons and their families.

This contradicted what Harry told Oprah Winfrey in March when he said he stopped getting financial support from his family in the 'first quarter' of last year. He even claimed he and his wife were reduced to living off what 'my mother had left me'.

But Harry and Meghan's friend and trusted journalist Omid Scobie tweeted a clip of the Oprah interview this afternoon along with an attempt at a clarification.

Mr Scobie said: 'Despite some confusing reports, Prince Charles and Prince Harry's timelines for the period the Sussexes' financial support ended are the same.

Prince Charles with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Buckingham Palace in June 2018

Harry and Meghan's friend and trusted journalist Omid Scobie tweeted a clip of the Oprah interview this afternoon along with an attempt at a clarification on Twitter (above)

'Clarence House says funding continued until last summer (Q1 of the UK's fiscal year is April to June) and Harry told Oprah the same.'

In the Oprah clip, Harry says: 'Also the Netflix and the Spotify of it all, that was never part of the plan.' Meghan then adds: 'No.' Oprah says: 'Because you didn't have a plan.' And Meghan adds: 'We didn't have a plan.'

Harry then continues: 'We didn't have a plan. That was suggested at the point at where my family literally cut me off financially and I had to afford security for us.'

Oprah interjects: 'Wait, hold up, wait a minute? Your family cut you off?' And Harry replies: Yeah, in the first half, the first quarter of 2021. But I've got what my mum left me, and without that we would not have been able to do this.

Prince Charles attends a Prince's Trust discussion at St James's Palace in London yesterday

Details of Charles's continued financial support for his estranged son came as both Clarence House and Buckingham Palace opened up their yearly financial accounts.

How pandemic helped cost of travel plunge The cost of royal travel to the taxpayer plummeted over the past year as, along with the rest of us, the familys wings were clipped. Spending on official trips fell from to 5.3million to 3.2million, a reduction of almost 40 per cent. The most expensive single trip was a 58,993 overnight visit by the Prince of Wales who flew by private jet to pay the nations condolences following the death of the Emir of Kuwait last October. Second was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges 47,965 Christmas UK tour on the Royal Train to thank frontline staff and those who had gone above and beyond for their communities during the pandemic. Charles and Camillas official visit to Germany amounted to 42,486, while the Queen ran up a bill of 32,791 flying to and from Balmoral, her Scottish home, by private jet last summer. Royal aides point out that foreign tours are conducted at the request of the British Government, which sees the Royal Family as an important tool in its use of soft diplomacy. Officials warned yesterday that, while the bill would rise again when travel restrictions eased, there would be more of an emphasis on having a blend of in-person and virtual engagements in the future. One senior royal aide said building relationships in person still very much mattered, but, in terms of both costs and the environment, it made sense to adapt to a more digital way of working where possible. Advertisement

Clarence House's annual review revealed that Charles's bill for the activities of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  plus other expenditure including the prince's capital expenditure and transfer to reserves in 2020/2021  was 4.4million.

This was a fall of 1.15million  around 21 per cent  from 5.6million in 2019/2020  the last year the Sussexes were working royals.

The report provided no detailed breakdown of the figures and royal aides declined to elucidate further.

But what is clear from the independently audited accounts is that Harry and Meghan were still listed as receiving money from Charles's Duchy of Cornwall income, despite quitting the monarchy at the end of March last year.

A senior Clarence House spokesman said: 'As we'll all remember, in January 2020 when the duke and duchess announced that they were going to move away from the working Royal Family, the duke said that they would work towards becoming financially independent.

'The Prince of Wales allocated a substantial sum to support them with this transition. That funding ceased in the summer of last year. The couple are now financially independent.'

The spokesman added: 'I betray no confidence when I say they've been very successful in becoming financially independent.'

And when quizzed on the discrepancy in Harry's remarks, the spokesman said: 'I wouldn't acknowledge that they are dramatically different. All I can tell you are the facts.'

Harry and Meghan have signed multi-million-pound deals with Netflix and Spotify, with the duke telling Miss Winfrey he secured these to pay for his family's 'security'.

Yet he claimed that when the couple moved to North America, he only had what Princess Diana had left him  7million at the time.

The couple emigrated first to Canada and then to California, where  despite their apparent penury  they bought an 11million family home in Montecito.

They have also set up their own film and audio company, as well as their Archewell Foundation.

Oprah Winfrey interviews Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a show which came out in March

Journalist Omid Scobie (pictured) said: 'Despite some confusing reports, Prince Charles and Prince Harry's timelines for the period the Sussexes' financial support ended are the same'

Buckingham Palace also confirmed yesterday that the probe into allegations of bullying against Meghan was still being investigated. Meghan denies the claims.

The Palace stressed that no money from the public purse was being used to finance the review but refused to confirm where that money was coming from.

The Clarence House accounts also showed that Charles's annual income from the Duchy of Cornwall profits fell this year to 20.4million  a drop of 1.8million or 8 per cent  as a result of the pandemic.

The prince also voluntarily paid more tax, an increase of 3 per cent from 4.86million to 5.02million.
A 62-year-old Pentagon linguist has been jailed for 23 years for giving her Hezbollah-linked Lebanese love interest a list of US spies' names that she had been keeping under her mattress.

Mariam Taha Thompson sobbed as she was sentenced on Wednesday in Washington's federal court, saying: 'I just wanted someone to love me in my old age.'

She had never met the man in person, and was introduced to him on social media by her Lebanese relatives on social media in 2019.

The man, who is not named in the indictment, asked her to marry him when she retired and move to Lebanon. She agreed, and started video-chatting with him, convinced that they'd be a couple once she quit her job.

Instead, she was arrested in Iraq in February 2020 after turning over the names of eight US spies and ten US targets to him in the wake of an airstrike that killed Iranian General Quasem Soleimani.

At her sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Thompson - who was born in Lebanon but became a naturalized US citizen - said she was overcome by a desperation for love in her old age.

Mariam Taha Thompson, 62, worked as a contract linguist between 2006 and sobbed as she was sentenced on Wednesday in Washington's federal court. She has been sentenced to 23 years behind bars. Pictured is the Pentagon, which she was contracted by. She has never been photographed and no cameras are allowed inside federal court

'Your honor, I love this country, and I love our soldiers...I did not set out to hurt them or do damage to our national security.

'I just wanted to have someone to love me in my old age, and because I was desperate for that love I forgot who I was for a short period of time.'

The judge ignored her tearful pleas and sentenced her to 23 years. She'll be 80 by the time she gets out, if she is still alive.

'There is no question in my mind that the offense conduct to which the defendant admitted endangered U.S. military personnel and human assets work with the United States and accordingly posed a significant threat to national security.

'This was an actual risk situation, not a hypothetical situation, and therefore it is extremely serious,' US Judge John Bates said.

Thompson was arrested by the FBI in February 2020 in Iraq. She had been speaking with an unnamed man who, after the US killed Soleimani, started asking her for classified information.

The pair had been introduced on social media through Mariam's Lebanese relatives. She was born in Lebanon but became a naturalized citizen.

According to the government, the Lebanese man - whose nephew was in the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior - told her that he wanted to marry her and bring her to Lebanon to live there. She agreed, saying she'd move when she retired.

The Lebanese man convinced Thompson to give him classified information after this US airstrike in December 2019 which killed a Hezbollah leader and Iranian general

Quasem Soleimani was killed in the airstrike as was Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Lebanon's powerful Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah

He also told her that he had ties to the Lebanese Hezbollah.

After Trump launched an airstrike on Soleimani in December 2019 which not only killed him but also Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, founder of Kataib Hizballah, the love interest starting asking Thompson for more information.

He was very 'upset' about the strikes, according to the indictment against her, and wanted to know which US spies had been behind it.

She agreed and in January 2020, started accessing classified files at work and writing it down on post-it notes to take home.

She'd then recite it to the lover over video chat or hold up the notes for him to take screenshots of it. She kept one piece of paper under her mattress.

She was arrested in February 2020 and was taken to Washington where she has remained ever since.
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France and Germany were today accused of hypocrisy after pushing to keep British holidaymakers out of Europe this summer, despite the Indian variant already being on the rise in both nations.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron urged all EU states to follow their lead in making it mandatory for UK travellers to quarantine, regardless of whether they have been jabbed or not.

The bid to tighten the bloc's defences comes amid fears about the ultra-infectious Indian 'Delta' variant which has taken off far quicker in Britain than the rest of the continent.

But data shows prevalence of the mutant strain is growing exponentially in Germany and is accounting for up to 70 per cent of new cases in some regions in the South West of France.

Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline the Franco-German stance was 'an attempt to close the stable door after the horse has bolted'. He said previous waves had shown overly-strict border controls between European countries cannot keep out new variants because they are so closely tied in trade, business and travel.

Nationally, the Indian variant only makes up 15 per cent of infections in Germany currently and cases are still trending downwards. But official data shows the proportion of infections made up of the Delta strain have doubled every seven days for the past three weeks.

French Government figures show 10 per cent of all new Covid cases are the virulent variant, but seven in 10 of new cases in the southwestern region of Landes, on the Atlantic coast. Landes is recording more than 50 Covid cases per 100,000 population in total which is double the national rate. It is also the only area in France where infection rates are climbing.

The situation in Landes has echoes of how the Indian variant was first seeded in the North West of England and spread around Britain from April.

Currently, those travelling from Britain to Greece, Spain and Portugal are not required to quarantine. Spain is letting Britons in without having to produce a PCR test.

The UK's hugely successful vaccination programme - which has seen more than 80 per cent of adults jabbed and 60 per cent fully vaccinated - means the majority of the population are protected from the Indian variant and less likely to spread it.

The UK's infection rate is trending in the opposite direction of those in France and Germany. The number of daily cases per million in Britain stands at 165, compared to France's 31 and Germany's 10

But the UK leads the way both in terms of how many first jabs it has dished out per person and also how many people it has fully vaccinated

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German Government agency steering its Covid response, said today that the Indian variant accounted for 15 per cent of all new cases as of June 13. Although prevalence is still low, it is the third week in a row that the proportion of cases being made up by the variant have doubled

Angela Merkel (pictured with Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit) has called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival

Dr Clarke told MailOnline: 'The Indian variant is already in Germany, France and the rest of Europe and it will highly likely continue spreading, even without quarantine [for travelling Brits].

'Just as we've had regionalised hotspots it appears France does too, and I suspect other countries will do in time, as well.

'Our globalised and connected way of life in Europe means there's going to be people mixing in different countries and even if they don't come places where the variant originated, it will come from a third party country.'

He suggested that Britain was being punished for its world-leading surveillance capabilities which have seen it pick up on variants long before they are discovered by other countries.

'They [Germany and France] are neglecting the fact that Britain has good surveillance. Other countries don't have such good surveillance so it's entirely possible these variants are in other countries and they just don't know it yet.'

In a study published last week, French researchers warned that cases of the Indian variant were likely to have been underestimated because of its weak genomic sequencing capacity.

Let us fly again! Furious pilots march on Westminster Hundreds of travel workers including pilots and business owners marched on Westminster yesterday to demand that ministers ease restrictions threatening the industry. They called on the Prime Minister to expand the quarantine-free travel green list at today's review and make it easier for fully-vaccinated Britons to go on holiday. They warned huge numbers of jobs are at risk and called for the furlough scheme to be extended beyond September if current restrictions continue. Hundreds of travel workers including pilots and business owners marched on Westminster yesterday to demand that ministers ease restrictions threatening the industry (pictured) Pilots and cabin crew who have been grounded for over a year were joined by travel business owners who told of being on the brink. Pictured: Virgin Air Crew at a protest outside the Houses of Parliament where the travel industry is protesting to MPs showing they are not happy about continued travel restrictions Around 400 protesters gathered outside the Commons as part of a Travel Day Of Action. Demonstrations were also held outside Holyrood and Stormont to lobby the Scottish and Northern Ireland governments and at airports including Bristol and Manchester. Senior Tory MPs joined the Westminster protest, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Sir Graham Brady, former minister Steve Baker and transport committee chairman Huw Merriman, who called on ministers to use the success of the vaccine rollout to reboot international travel. Richard Mann, 56, a pilot for travel giant Tui, said it was the biggest crisis the aviation industry had ever faced, stressing: 'Everyone's worried for their livelihoods. 'If there was a clear reason for travel being shut down to the extent it is now, we would take that on the chin, but there just doesn't seem to be. 'Infection rates in the Balearic Islands and others are lower than we have here, so why are they shut off? 'You see thousands packing themselves on to Bournemouth beach. Is that keeping people safe? It doesn't make sense.' Mark Tanzer, of travel industry group Abta, said some members had been forced to take new jobs as call centre workers and Amazon delivery drivers to make ends meet, adding: 'It's really heart-breaking.' Sir Graham said ministers must ensure a 'viable summer season' is salvaged. He insisted: 'There are over one million jobs at stake  as well as people's freedom to see their family overseas or to go on holiday.' Mr Merriman warned: 'The sector is haemorrhaging jobs.' Advertisement

The French study said that while the UK had sequenced 49,000 samples of the Delta variant at the time, France had analysed just 176. France is only looking at a third of all positive tests for variant.

Meanwhile, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German Government agency steering its Covid response, said today that the Indian variant accounted for 15 per cent of all new cases as of June 13.

Although prevalence is still low, it is the third week in a row that the proportion of cases being made up by the variant have doubled.

The RKI said: 'The proportion of variant B.1.617.2 (Delta) continues to increase and the proportion of this VOC (variant of concern) doubled within one week.

'The current distribution of the variants in Germany shows that it can be expected that the VOC B.1.617.2 [Delta variant] can be expected to prevail over the other variants.'

But it is true that the UK's infection rate is trending in the opposite direction of those in France and Germany. The number of daily cases per million in Britain stands at 165, compared to France's 31 and Germany's 10.

At a summit in Brussels today, Ms Merkel urged all EU states to follow Germany's lead by requiring travellers from the UK to quarantine.

'I will lobby for a more co-ordinated approach, particularly with regard to entries from regions where virus variants abound.

Mr Macron echoed her hard line, saying: 'We must all be vigilant because the much-talked-about Delta variant is coming, which spreads much more rapidly than the other variants and affects people who are not vaccinated or who only have had one dose.

'For me, one of the issues of discussion is to be really taking co-ordinated decisions in terms of opening of borders to third countries and on recognising vaccines because at this stage we have to limit this to the vaccines that have been approved by the European medical authority.'

Britain's Environment Secretary George Eustice condemned the stance taken by Ms Merkel and Mr Macron.

'I'm not sure that such an approach would be justified given the highly advanced stage we are currently at now in terms of vaccination, with 80 per cent having had one jab and now 60 per cent having had the second jab,' he told LBC radio.

'I don't think such a move would be justified but obviously it's for individual countries to make these judgments.' On a visit to Aldershot, Mr Johnson dodged directly criticising Mrs Merkel's comments.

He said: 'Let's see where we get to with all this. I think that the real opportunity we all have now is to open up travel through the double jab.

'We've got more than 60 per cent of our population have now had two jabs, 83 per cent have had one jab, we're really getting through it now.

'I'm not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I don't want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.'

More than five million Brits visit Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca in a normal year. Scientists have signed off on declaring the Balearics safe enough for the green list, which would be a welcome relief for the travel industry.

However, there are lingering fears that the Government could overrule the advice, as it did when Malta was put forward for approval last month.

If there is agreement, tourists could be able to travel as soon as next Tuesday without isolating for up to 10 days on return.

Turkey is expected to remain on the red list, which could also see the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uganda added while Israel could move from green to amber.

There are also reports that the number of expensive tests needed by returning holidaymakers will be slashed.

Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation Group, said: 'Frankly, these destinations should already be on the green list along with many others.

It is a nonsense that people are not able to travel freely to countries that have lower rates of infection than we do.'

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: 'It's now or never if we are to have any sort of summer season and the data shows this can be done safely and proportionately with many more countries being added to the list.

'The future of our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports depends on it.'

Culture minister John Whittingdale hinted at positive news yesterday, saying: 'Hopefully it will be possible to increase that number' of countries on the green list.

Green list status is only allocated to destinations that can show they have low Covid rates and no significant problems with variants of concern. They also have to show that they can monitor for new variants.

Government scientists advised last month that Malta could be added to the green list, only to be overruled by ministers led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Latest figures suggest infection rates on the island are less than half those in the UK.

Ministers are also close to an agreement on the plan to end quarantine requirements for the fully vaccinated. It is seen as the best chance for saving the travel sector this summer and would require travellers to prove their vaccination status either using the NHS app or with a paper record from their GP.

The Cabinet is split on the timing with some ministers favouring a July 19 start date and others wanting a more cautious approach. The so-called 'doves' are believed to include Matt Hancock, Priti Patel and Dominic Raab.

A Government source said August is the most likely date but no final decision has been taken.

However, the impact of the UK's decisions will be blunted by the draconian restrictions still being imposed by other countries.

Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless they are a German citizen, have residency rights or if there is an 'urgent humanitarian reason' like a family death.

But those allowed in still have to register to get permission to visit and quarantine for two weeks with no option for early release after a negative test.

It comes after Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for all UK arrivals amid growing concerns in Europe about the spread of the Indian, or Delta, variant, now dominant in the UK.

Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday that Italy will require all travellers from Britain to quarantine for five days upon arrival.

A negative test is required at the end of the five-day period. America currently still bans UK tourists amid the surge in Delta cases.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious diseases expert, last week suggested that UK-US travel would only reopen in September as a result.

Portugal, Spain and Greece are still allowing UK holidaymakers to visit with proof of a negative test and no quarantine. France is also allowing in fully vaccinated Britons with a negative test.

But European health officials say further action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant as it gains a hold on the Continent.

This month it accounted for 70 per cent of sequenced cases in the greater Lisbon region of Portugal, more than 20 per cent in Italy and about 16 per cent in Belgium. It has also been detected in clusters in Germany, France and Spain.
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The world's highest luxury hotel, boasting a restaurant on the 120th floor and 24-hour personal butler service, has opened in Shanghai to guests with deep pockets and a head for heights.

The J Hotel's 165 opulent rooms occupy the top floors of the 632m (2,073ft) Shanghai Tower in the city's financial district.

Elevators that travel at a record-breaking 42.8mph or 18 metres per second whizz guests up the intimidating spiral-like skyscraper.

The world's highest luxury hotel, boasting a restaurant on the 120th floor and 24-hour personal butler service, has opened in Shanghai Tower to guests with deep pockets and a head for heights

J Hotel boasts 165 rooms on the top floors of the 632m Shanghai Tower, the second tallest building in the world, in the city's financial district

The J Hotel also boasts a restaurant nestled in the clouds on the 120th floor of the 632m (2,073ft) Shanghai Tower

Opulent furniture fills the luxury hotel, which boasts a 24-hour personal butler service, located in Shanghai Tower, in the city's financial district

The hotel is the highest in the world and is situated in the second-tallest building in the world after Dubai's Burj Khalifa at 2716 ft

The Shanghai Tower is the second-tallest building in the world after Dubai's Burj Khalifa at 2716 ft.

The opening of the hotel was delayed partly by the coronavirus pandemic but the hotel has now started receiving well-heeled guests who can call on the services of a dedicated butler at any hour, day or night.

Patrons can also enjoy one of the hotel's seven restaurants, bars, spa, 84th-floor swimming pool, and all the other usual trappings of a top-notch hotel.

The opening of the hotel was delayed partly by the coronavirus pandemic but the hotel has now started receiving well-heeled guests who can call on the services of a dedicated butler at any hour, day or night

The J Hotel's suites have extraordinary views over the city, but they do not come cheap. From Saturday, a night in a 'J Suite', complete with crystal chandeliers and sauna, will costs over 67,000 yuan (7,443)

Patrons can also enjoy one of the hotel's seven restaurants, bars, spa, 84th-floor swimming pool, and all the other usual trappings of a top-notch hotel

It does not come cheap. To celebrate its opening, J Hotel is offering a 'special experience rate' of 3,088 yuan ($450 or 343) a night, but prices for its 34 suites sky-rocket.

A night in a 'J Suite', complete with crystal chandeliers and sauna, this Saturday costs over 67,000 yuan (7,443).

The hotel is part of Jin Jiang International Hotels, a major Chinese state-owned group, and officially opened on Saturday.

'On the day of our opening even the web page was overloaded with so many visitors with strong interest and they have such (a) strong will to come and experience our hotel,' said Ms Renee Wu, sales and marketing director.

'Of course this is very encouraging to all of us, but at the same time, we are committed to making sure that all our guests are well taken care of.'

To celebrate its opening, J Hotel is offering a 'special experience rate' of 3,088 yuan ($450 or 343) a night, but prices for its 34 suites will soon sky-rocket

Patrons can also enjoy one of the hotel's seven restaurants (including pictured Jin Yan restaurant), bars, spa, 84th-floor swimming pool, and all the other usual trappings of a top-notch hotel

The hotel is part of Jin Jiang International Hotels, a major Chinese state-owned group, and officially opened on Saturday

The J Hotel also boasts a restaurant nestled in the clouds on the 120th floor of the 632m (2,073ft) Shanghai Tower, where guests can enjoy luxury foods and admire the view over the city

The opening of the hotel was delayed partly by the coronavirus pandemic but the hotel has now started receiving well-heeled guests who can call on the services of a dedicated butler at any hour, day or night

The elevator in the Shanghai Tower is the world's fastest elevator. In a ceremony at the end of last year, it was officially awarded the title by the Guinness World Records.

The speedy lift is operated by a Mitsubishi technician who can turn on a switch to make the capsule accelerate up to 42.8 miles/hour (69 kilometres/hour) as it travels up the 632m (2,074ft) tall building.

In comparison, Usain Bolt - the fastest man in the world - runs at 27.44 miles/hour (44 km/hour).

Shanghai Tower, right, in Lujiazhui Finanicial Zone, China

The J Hotel, located in the Shanghai Tower, officially opened on Saturday following delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and has seen guests return this week

To celebrate its opening, J Hotel is offering a 'special experience rate' of 3,088 yuan ($450 or 343) a night, but prices for its 34 suites will soon sky-rocket

The J Hotel's suites have extraordinary views over the city, but they do not come cheap. From Saturday, a night in a 'J Suite', complete with crystal chandeliers and sauna, will costs over 67,000 yuan (7,443)

The hotel is part of Jin Jiang International Hotels, a major Chinese state-owned group, and officially opened on Saturday
This is the moment a migrant climbed over the barb-wire topped border wall in Arizona and rappelled down the other side - only for a passing border border agent to spot the illegal crossing and chase them down.

Footage, recorded by Univision, shows the migrant being lowered down the wall by a rope round his middle, held by a smuggler on the Mexican side.

'F*** it, run,' the smuggler shouted from Mexico. 'Run, don't be scared.'

The commotion caught the attention of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent who immediately gave chase through the border town of Nogales - giving the smuggler ample time to help several more migrants cross.

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Still image from a video footage recorded by Univision shows Footage recorded by Univision shows how a migrant was able to illegally cross the United States-Mexico border in Nogales, Mexico, by having a rope tied around his body as a smuggler stood atop what appeared to be building in Mexico and lowered him to the ground

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer chases after a migrant in Nogales, Arizona, moments after noticing the male individual had been lowered over the border wall with the aid of a rope

A migrant sits on the edge of a sidewalk in downtown Nogales, Arizona, moments after he was stopped by border agents for climbing down a United States-Mexico border wall

'We just finished getting here because we're waiting for the opportunity to catch him sleeping,' the smuggler told Univision after the agent left to give chase.

CBP's most recent monthly report for southwestern border encounters showed that Tucson Sector border agents stopped 120,367 migrants in May, compared to 100,465 individuals who were stopped between October 1, 2020 - the start of the current fiscal which runs to September 30 - and April 30.

Tucson Sector is responsible for 262 border miles, from the New Mexico state line to the Yuma County line.

At least 3,700 agents are assigned to nine stations in the sector.

'Obviously we can't have agents, we don't have sufficient agents to place them everywhere, but thanks to the technology, it's like if we had an agent and we had eyes at the location,' Tucson Sector spokesman Jesus Vasavilbaso told the network.

A border agent in Nogales, Arizona, stands next to one of the five migrants who recorded by Univision while they climbed down a border fence with the assistance of a smuggler
EE will charge British customers for mobile usage in the EU from next year, despite previously saying it had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges after Brexit.

The move will affect new customers and those upgrading from July 7, who face a 2 daily fee from January 2022 to use their data, minutes and text allowance when roaming in 47 European destinations.

BT-owned EE said the move is designed to 'support investment into our UK-based customer service and leading UK network'.

It comes after O2 yesterday announced plans reintroduce some roaming charges - with Britons travelling to the EU charged 3.50 for every gigabyte used over 25GB.

Roaming charges when travelling across Europe ended in June 2017, allowing consumers to continue using their mobile plan in other EU nations at no additional cost, with a fair use limit.

EE will charge customers for mobile usage in other European countries from next year, despite previously saying it had no plans to reintroduce them after Brexit. Pictured: Stock image

The change will come as a blow to the Government as it grapples with other post-Brexit issues such as the 'sausage war' trade dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Under the UK's Brexit trade agreement, it said both sides should 'co-operate on promoting transparent and reasonable rates' for mobile charges but a guarantee on free roaming was not carried forward.

Although network providers could choose to bring back charges once the UK had left the EU, the main four - EE, O2, Three and Vodafone - initially said they had no plans to do so.

MP Philippa Whitford, the SNP's shadow Europe spokesperson, said travellers from Scotland and the UK to the EU face 'yet another Brexit bite and hefty charges all thanks to the Tories' narrow Brexit vision'.

EE said people travelling abroad for longer will be able to use a 30-day Roam Abroad Pass, which could allow some to avoid the costs.

'Essential plan customers will be able to take the Pass for 10, while Smart or Full Works plans customers are able to include the same pass as part of their plan,' a spokesperson said.

Ernest Doku, a mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, said we must see whether Vodafone and Three follow suit.

'It's hugely disappointing for consumers to see that situation change so quickly,' he said.

The move will affect new customers and those upgrading from July 7, who face a 2 daily fee from January 2022 to use their data, minutes and text allowance when roaming in 47 European destinations

O2 yesterday announced plans reintroduce some roaming charges for Britons travelling to the EU. From August, the network's customers will face a 3.50 bill for every gigabyte used over 25GB

'If you're an existing EE customer, these charges won't affect you yet, but make sure you check the small print if you're due an upgrade in the coming months.

'When it comes to travelling, don't leave it till the last minute to check the roaming charges for your destination, and always use hotel and cafe wifi when on holiday where possible.'

It comes after O2 yesterday confirmed it was introducing a fair use data cap of 25GB a month when roaming in Europe, which would charge users who exceeded that monthly allowance.

The company said this would only impact around 1 per cent of its pay monthly customers - and a practice that is already common among mobile operators.

Three has also confirmed it will be lowering its fair use limit for those travelling in the EU.

'Following a review of our fair use policy, we are making some changes to our Go Roam policy in the EU to bring it in line with our Go Roam Around the World fair use policy,' the operator said.

'This means from July 1 our fair use limit for data while in the EU will reduce from 20GB per month to 12GB.

'The new fair use limit is still more than enough for holidaymakers to use their phone like they would if they were in the UK. There is no change to our surcharge, so data usage over 12GB (up to the customer's allowance), will remain subject to a small fee of 0.3p per MB.'

Vodafone said it had 'no current plans to change our approach to roaming in the EU'.
Donald Trump's top campaign lawyer Justin Clark called Rudy Giuliani a 'f***ing a**hole' during a vicious Oval Office phone call with the president after Trump lost the 2020 election.

According to Michael C.Bender in Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost, in an excerpt exclusively by DailyMail.com, Giuliani accused Clark and campaign manager Bill Stepien of 'lying' about the Georgia recount rules.

The heated conversation discussing how the campaign would deal with their allegations of voter fraud led to Trump not trusting Clark and instead believing Giuliani, who was at the center of pushing the wild theories.

Donald Trump's top campaign lawyer Justin Clark

'Less than a week after 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien and Justin Clark, the campaign's top attorney, had walked Trump through their legal plan, Giuliani was blowing it upand pushing his way further into the Oval Office,' it reads.

'On November 13, Trump summoned Clark into the Oval Office as Giuliani, on speakerphone, claimed the campaign had been too slow to contest election results in Georgia.

'Clark explained that state law required results to be certified before a recount could be requested, which hadn't yet happened. '

"'They're lying to you, sir!'" Giuliani shouted. Clark denied anyone was lying.

'Suddenly, the two men were shouting loud enough that it startled people waiting outside the Oval Office.

'You're a f***ing a**hole, Rudy!' Clark said. Clark had been the campaign's top attorney for the past year.

'He'd spent most of 2019 in the weeds of state and national party rulebooks ensuring that it was virtually impossible for any Republican to challenge Trump in a primary.

'During Trump's first two years, he ground out long hours as a White House aide.

'Now, after one phone call from Giuliani, the president was entertaining nonsensical attacks on his ability to read Georgia election code and to give an honest answer to a simple question to the president he'd spent four years trying to reelect.

'Clark stopped going to the White House.'

Rudy Giuliani served as Trump's private attorney

Michael C.Bender's book 'Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost' is out July 13

Giuliani took the lead for Trump in denouncing the 2020 election results and arguing - without proof - there was voter fraud.

Those claims led to Thursday's decision by New York state to suspended Giuliani's legal license for 'false and misleading statements' based on pushed on Donald Trump's election fraud claims.

'[W]e conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump's failed effort at reelection in 2020,' the 33-page decision from the state appellate court read.

The court said Giuliani made numerous false statements about the voting in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania, including that hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots or votes, including from dead people, had been improperly counted.

He argued the vote was riddled with fraud and claimed voting machines had been rigged in favor of Joe Biden.

'We find that there is evidence of continuing misconduct, the underlying offense is incredibly serious, and the uncontroverted misconduct in itself will likely result in substantial permanent sanctions', the court said.

Giuliani's son Andrew, who is running for governor of New York in 2022, responded in a Twitter video to the suspension. 'This is unacceptable and I stand by my father. He did everything ultimately by the book,' he said

Giuliani's son Andrew, a Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York's 2022 race, said his father 'did everything by the book' is a response to the suspension on Twitter Thursday.

'Earlier this hour, 5 Leftist judges decided to suspend my [father's] law license,' he lamented on Twitter along with a video statement.

'The five judges that ruled on it all five of them are Democrats, three of which were appointed by Andrew Cuomo. Five to nothing, ultimately. Democrats with zero Republicans on there,' the junior Giuliani said in the video attached to the tweet.

'Again, this is just unbelievable to see just how politicized all this has become. I am infuriated by all of this,' Andrew Giuliani continued. 'And any American that believes in an independent justice system  this is going after one of President Trump's closest allies. That's exactly what this is. And any American that doesn't believe that  they are just biased.'

'This is unacceptable and I stand by my father. He did everything ultimately by the book.'

Rudy Giuliani was admitted to the state bar in New York in 1969 and had a prominent legal career before joining Trump's team  including working in the Justice Department under Ronald Reagan.

He was named U.S. Attorney in Manhattan in 1983 where he remained through 1989 before running and becoming Mayor of New York City

The New York Bar Association announced January 11, 2021 that it was launching an investigation into whether Giuliani's membership should be revoked, noting his comments on January 6 to a crowd of Trump supporters before they stormed the Capitol.

Bender's forthcoming book also reveals Trump mocked Giuliani for falling asleep in meetings and calling him 'pathetic' after the former mayor's television appearances.

Giuliani 'rarely complained' and, instead, 'seemed to crave the attention,' according to Michael C.Bender in his new book Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost, in an excerpt exclusively by DailyMail.com. The book is out on July 13.

In the 432-page book, that details Trump's life in the White House Bender reveals details of the president's relationship with his personal lawyer.

Trump 'would needle the former mayor for falling asleep on flights and joke about Giuliani's constant use of his iPad,' Bender reveals.

'He's looking at cartoons,' Trump would say.

For his part, Giuliani 'seemed to crave the attention and would often physically jockey with other aides and advisers to sit next to Trump at dinner or on the plane.'

'Rudy never wanted to be left out,' one 2016 aide said in the book. 'If you were ever between Rudy and the president, look out. You were going to get trampled.'

Trump wasn't always happy with Giuliani, who was willing to go on television at any time to defend the president.

After the release of the now-infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape in the 2016 campaign - where Trump is heard making derogatory comments about women - Giuliani was the only surrogate willing to go on the Sunday morning public affairs shows to defend Trump.

Trump was not grateful.

After the appearances, Giuliani went to LaGuardia Airport, where Trump was waiting on his plane to fly to St. Louis for his second presidential debate with Hillary Clinton.

'When Giuliani climbed up the stairs, he was greeted with huzzahs and high-fives' from Trump's aides Hope Hicks, David Bossie, and Stephen Miller.

When Giuliani walked to the front of the plane, 'Trump barely looked up from his newspaper. 'Rudy, you sucked,' Trump said. 'You were weak.' Giuliani looked like he'd simultaneously had the wind knocked out of him and taken a kick to the groin. 'What the fuck do you want me to do?' Giuliani said,' according to the book.

But, at other times, Trump showed his gratitude to Giuliani for his willingness to take the punches.

During one 2017 staff meeting, 'Trump's team started complaining about Giuliani's puzzling television appearances that often veered off-message and created more work for the press shop. Trump barked that at least Giuliani was out there fighting for him. Everyone shut up after that.'

Donald Trump enjoyed tormenting Rudy Giuliani, according to a new book that offers details on the two men's relationship

Trump sometimes mocked Rudy Giuliani for his TV appearances but, at other times, would express gratitude to the former mayor for his willingness to defend the president

Giuliani, however, was overly confident in his relationship with Trump. The two men knew each other for years when both were making names for themselves on the New York scene - Rudy as a hard-talking, tough prosecutor and Trump as a real estate mogul.

After the election, Giuliani was 'eager for an administration post and assumed he would get one. He privately told friends that he was a lock to be named secretary of state and publicly told reporters that he was being considered for several positions but wouldn't say which ones.'

He was under consideration but the vetting process 'set off alarm bells.'

For example, Giuliani told aides he hadn't been to the Middle East in more than a year. It turns out he had been to the United Arab Emirates a month earlier.
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Never-before-seen photos taken by a fishmonger-turned-SAS hero behind enemy lines in World War Two have come to light 76 years on.

Sergeant Samuel Rushworth was dropped into occupied France two days before D-Day in June 1944.

The commandos of the 2nd Special Air Service were tasked with disrupting German reinforcements dispatched to Normandy following the Allied landings.

In his rucksack was a small camera he used to document their progress across Western Europe in the following months.

The archive is being sold at Bosleys auctioneers, of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on June 30 and is expected to fetch up to 300.

Never-before-seen photos taken by a fishmonger-turned-SAS hero behind enemy lines in World War Two have come to light 76 years on. Sergeant Samuel Rushworth was dropped into occupied France two days before D-Day in June 1944. Pictured: Members of the SAS pose with a Nazi flag while in France

SAS troops pose for a photograph by the camp fire before crossing the Rhine. It was against the rules to have a camera in the field so it is extremely rare to have images of the paratroopers in the field

It was against the rules to have one so it is extremely rare to have images of the paratroopers in the field.

There are photos of blown-up bridges on the Rhine and Jeeps being readied for patrols.

Sergeant Rushworth snapped the moment he and his comrades entered Germany, passing a sign stating 'there will be no fraternising with any Germans'.

A German Nazi flag is held aloft as they move closer to securing Allied victory.

Sergeant Samuel Rushworth

Photos taken before the operation show his squadron doing target practice and posing together on an airfield.

There are also images of Sergeant Rushworth in Bergen, Norway, where they put down the final Nazi fanatical elements.

Sergeant Rushworth, who was born in Dublin but grew up in Manchester, enlisted with the Royal Artillery at the outset of World War Two.

He transferred to the Parachute Regiment and joined the 2nd Special Air Service (SAS).

Shortly after, Sergeant Rushworth landed in France, his patrol was ambushed and he was shot in the backside by machine gun fire.

He escaped serious injury and after a spell of recuperation was dropped in the Vosges mountains on the French-German border as part of the ill-fated Operation Loyton.

Unfortunately, the paratroopers landed next to a large SS division which was reinforcing the German army in the area against US General George Patton's Third Army.

Some Allied commandos were captured and executed under Adolf Hitler's orders, but Sergeant Rushworth evaded the enemy's clutches.

He moved eastwards into north Germany and was one of the first soldiers to liberate Belsen concentration camp in April 1945.

His final operation was in Norway where he hunted down the last U-Boat crews and SS soldiers.

A demolished bridge at the Rhine, Germany. The retreating Nazis blew up bridges along the Rhine to prevent Allied forces from advancing during Operation Plunder in March 1945

A member of the SAS poses for a photograph with his Jeep. The image was taken on the camera which was secretly being Carried by Sergeant Rushworth. Operation Plunder followed the Allies' victory in the Battle of the Bulge on January 25, 1945, which ended the German Ardennes offensive. Read More This forced the remaining Nazi troops to limp back to Germany and prepare to defend the River Rhine, Germany's natural barrier.

This image showed a sign on the German border which warned, passing a sign stating 'You are now entering Germany - there will be no fraternization with any Germans'

One of Sergeant Samuel Rushworth's comrades poses for a secret photograph which features in the albums going up for sale

Members of the Royal Artillery in France in 1940 - the year the country was successfully invaded by Adolf Hitler's Nazi forces

SAS troops are seen posing near a campfire shortly before they crossed the Rhine into Germany. The operation - which took four days - marked the beginning of the final push to defeat German forces and force them to surrender

A jeep is loaded onto an aircraft so it can be used in combat missions. Sergeant Rushworth, who was born in Dublin but grew up in Manchester, enlisted with the Royal Artillery at the outset of World War Two

Post-war, Sergeant Rushworth left the army and returned to the Manchester Fish Market.

He died aged 81 in 2001. The archive being sold also includes his combat knife, ID bracelet and SAS badges. The two albums contain over 100 photos in total.

Bernard Pass, auctioneer at Bosleys, said: 'The nice thing about these albums is that there are pictures in the field in combat, blowing up bridges and preparing their Jeeps to go out on patrol.

'It is quite common to get a snapshot of life in camp, but very rare to get this insight into what went on in the field.

SAS troops alongside their aircraft ready for the next mission. The Special Air Service was founded in 1941 as a regiment. Sergeant Rushworth transferred to the Parachute Regiment after starting his military career in the Royal Artillery. He then and joined the 2nd Special Air Service (SAS). Shortly after, Sergeant Rushworth landed in France, his patrol was ambushed and he was shot in the backside by machine gun fire

Two of Sergeant Rushworth's SAS comrades pose for a photograph together. The commandos of the 2nd Special Air Service were tasked with disrupting German reinforcements dispatched to Normandy following the Allied landings

Members of the SAS are seen carrying out rifle practice in a field as they prepared for one of the operations which Sergeant Rushworth was involved in. Bernard Pass, auctioneer at Bosleys, said: 'The nice thing about these albums is that there are pictures in the field in combat, blowing up bridges and preparing their Jeeps to go out on patrol

Mr Pass added: 'It is quite common to get a snapshot of life in camp, but very rare to get this insight into what went on in the field'. Pictured: A scene captured on Sergeant Rashworth's camera shows SAS members laying charges to blow up a road block in Germany. In the foreground a jeep armed with three visible machine guns can be seen

SAS troops load jeep onto a barge to cross the Rhine in March 1945, after bridges were destroyed by the fleeing German forces

'The paratroopers were not meant to carry cameras with them and these photos have never been published.

'Samuel was first dropped into France ahead of D-Day to cause problems to German communications, blowing up railway lines.

'He was shot in an unfortunate place but then was dropped for a second time into Vosges next to an SS division.

'SAS men who were captured were shot but he survived and in the final throes of the war was one of the first people to liberate Belsen, before finishing the war in Norway putting down the final Nazi stand there.'

The sale of the archive, which is tipped to fetch 600, takes place on June 30.

SAS troops take part in parachute training. The sale of the archive, which is tipped to fetch 600, takes place on June 30

The moment that SAS troops blew up a road block in Germany was captured on Sergeant Rushworth's clandestine camera

Post-war, Sergeant Rushworth left the army and returned to the Manchester Fish Market. He died aged 81 in 2001
The UK boss of Citigroup has said 'business works best from being together' as the American banking giant plans to get staff back in the office.

James Bardrick said the 'vast majority' of its workers - 6,000 in London and 3,000 in Belfast - will be called in three days a week if restrictions are eased on July 19.

He said the move is so employees are together again 'to get the best out of yourself and for the team'.

It comes as other big firms such as Goldman Sachs are planning to get staff back in the office next month.

But some employers have told workers they need to submit their vaccinations status before heading in.

Meanwhile Office For National Statistics figures found people working from home spent 45 minutes less doing their job each day.

The study released today shows home workers only spend six-and-a-half hours a day on work.

The UK boss of Citigroup has said 'business works best from being together' as the American banking giant plans to get staff back in the office (pictured, its London offices)

Mr Bardrick, Citi's country officer for the UK, said said when lockdown is eased the 'vast majority' of workers would be back in the office for three days a week.

He told the Today programme: 'We strongly believe that our business works best from being together.

'We think that we are better together. We think we succeed for our clients and for our organisation together.

'So what we are saying is that, yes, use greater flexibility, but to do your job well, to develop as an employee, to get the best out of yourself and for the team, we need to be together.'

The businessman said Citigroup would not follow fellow banking giant JP Morgan in registering staff members' vaccination status.

James Bardrick (left, with Sajid Javid and George Osborne in 2018) said the 'vast majority' of its workers - 6,000 in London and 3,000 in Belfast - will be called in three days a week if restrictions are eased on July 19

But he said anyone heading into one of their buildings would have to 'demonstrate that they have got a negative test result'.

JP Morgan has told employees in the US to log their vaccination status on an internal portal for when they are expected to return to the office next month.

Goldman Sachs has also said workers in the States have to reveal whether they have been jabbed - but it is voluntary for those in Britain.

Meanwhile official data suggests people working from home spend 45 minutes fewer on their job each day.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released today show home workers only spend six-and-a-half hours a day on work

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released today show home workers only spend six-and-a-half hours a day on work.

In comparison, people still commuting into an office or factory spent around seven hours and 15 minutes a day working  including half-an-hour at home.

The data was taken from a survey of thousands of Brits, who were quizzed about how they spent their time over the past year.

It was earlier revealed millions of office staff may get a 'default' right to work from home under post-pandemic plans from ministers.

The proposals would change the law to make it impossible for employers to insist on staff attending the workplace unless they can show it is essential.

No10 will consult on the plan  part of a drive to promote flexible working  over the summer, ahead of possible legislation later this year.

The ONS data today showed that, overall, the average amount of hours people spent working at home in the UK increased from 55 to 74 minutes a day from March and April last year to March this year.

People working from spent 45 minutes less a day on their job than those who returned to normal working conditions

Retirees, stay-at-home mothers and unemployed people were included in the data.

Brits have been asked to work from home wherever possible since No10 introduced the first lockdown last spring.

The ONS also looked at how vaccinated people spent their time, compared to non-jabbed adults.

Statisticians said most people did not change their lifestyles much after receiving a vaccine, even as the programme was expanded to younger groups.

Most people with a vaccine said they did not see others from outside their household any more frequently than they had before their jab.
The National Guard has been preparing for a major cyber attack that would bring down utilities across the US, after the hack of the Colonial Pipeline brought the nation's fuel supply to its knees.

Troops from across the New England region practiced tackling a massive simulated breach across critical infrastructure sectors including power, water and gas during a two-week training exercise this month.

The exercise involved a situation where a huge cyber attack targeted utilities on the West Coast before moving east across the country.

Much like in a real-life scenario, National Guardsmen worked alongside government agencies - including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and US Cyber Command - as well as private sector utility partners to respond to the crisis.

While the crisis was a simulation this time round, such an attack is looking increasingly possible.

A series of recent, devastating attacks have sent warning signs about the risk cybersecurity breaches can bring to national infrastructure.

When the Colonial Pipeline was targeted by hackers in May, it was forced to shut its entire network carrying 45 percent of all fuel to the East Coast, sparking a national fuel crisis that sent gas prices soaring.

Weeks later, the food supply chain was dealt a blow when hackers led to the four-day closures of plants belonging to America's largest beef supplier JBS.

The National Guard has been preparing for a major cyber attack that would bring down utilities across the US, after the hack of the Colonial Pipeline brought the nation's fuel supply to its knees. Pictured the two-week training exercise

Troops from across the New England region practiced tackling a massive simulated breach across critical infrastructure sectors including power, water and gas during the Cyber Yankee Event (above)

The Cyber Yankee event, which has been held for the last seven years and was carried out in Camp Edwards, Cape Cod, tested the ability of the National Guard cyber units to respond to a real-life cyberattack and trained them to collaborate with government and industry partners.

Troops were divided into Blue Teams - Guardsmen and industry partners who played their own roles responding to cybersecurity breaches - and Red Teams - Marines and Marine Reservists who posed as the threat actors.

Industry and government partners joined the exercise remotely due to the pandemic.

The exercise involved practicing using the new Cyber 9-Line tool where National Guard units in individual states can pass intel on potential threats to the centralized Cyber Command.

Similarly, the Cyber Command can alert state units about threats.

Maj. Michael Frank, cyber warfare officer for DCO-IDM company bravo, 6th Communications Battalion, told C4ISRNET that authorities must understand how the attackers work to be able to defend from them.

'In order to be effective defenders of a network, you need to know what the adversary TTPs [tactics, techniques and procedures] are,' he said.

'Doing cyber threat emulation here and actually going through the steps of OCO [offensive cyber operations] and going through what we would expect an adversary to be doing to us, we have a better idea of how to defend our networks.

'For them to get a chance to do it from this side is hugely valuable.'

This year marked the first year the gas pipeline sector was involved in the exercise - coming just weeks after the Colonial Pipeline attack (pictured the Colonial Pipeline Co. Pelham junction and tank farm in Pelham, Alabama)

An Exxon station in DC is seen out of gas in May after the cyberattack crippled the biggest fuel pipeline in the country

Lt. Col. Cameron Sprague, J6 and CIO for the Connecticut Air National Guard and deputy exercise director for Cyber Yankee, told C4ISRNET it is difficult to run an exercise that is true to life.

'Operating effectively in incident response environment is really hard,' he said.

'That's what a lot of teams first take away when they're walking through this is how we're actually going to do an incident response plan.

'That's the big point of this. That's why a lot of them come back year after year.'

Maj. Ryan Miler, state cyber operations officer for the Connecticut Army National Guard, told the outlet that one of the key aims for the exercise is to build trust between the private companies, the state National Guards and the various government agencies.

'We do it in an exercise environment so that when it does happen, we've already got those relationships established not just from a National Guard but from all of our critical infrastructure, our federal, local, state partners,' Miller said.

'We've established those lines of communication and then it's that much easier to get together and respond.'

The exercise involved practicing using the new Cyber 9-Line tool where National Guard units in individual states can pass intel on potential threats to the centralized Cyber Command

Marines address visitors during Cyber Yankee 21 on Camp Edwards in Massachusetts. The exercise involved a situation where a huge cyber attack targeted utilities on the West Coast before moving east across the country

Guardsmen worked alongside government agencies - including the FBI - as well as private sector utility partners to respond to the crisis

Each year, additional partners are brought on board to join the event.

This marked the first year the gas pipeline sector was involved - coming just weeks after the Colonial Pipeline attack.

The pipeline was taken offline on May 7 in the attack, halting 2.5 million barrels per day of fuel shipments along the line running from Texas to New Jersey.

The hack sparked concerns of a national fuel crisis with thousands of gas stations running out of fuel and motorists racing to fill up their cars, pushing the national average price of gas past $3 for the first time since 2014.

Officials said the hack was the most disruptive cyberattack on energy infrastructure in American history.

The blame was leveled at criminal cybergroup DarkSide - which is believed to be based in Russia or Eastern Europe with ties to Russia.

Colonial Pipeline shelled out almost $5million to DarkSide to get its pipeline back online as soon as possible.

Cybersecurity was a major talking point between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit last week (pictured)

Just weeks later, JBS fell victim to an attack, forcing it to shut down its computer servers, suspending meat production systems at its US plants for four days.

US officials are now vowing to ramp up the nation's defense against cybercriminals with the White House announcing the creation of a new inter-agency taskforce to better coordinate its response to attacks.

Cybersecurity was a major talking point between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit last week.

Biden told Putin that certain critical infrastructure should be 'off-limits' to cyberattacks.

Putin denied that Russia was behind recent hacking attacks.

The FBI has also put cybersecurity high on its agenda with its fiscal year 2022 budget proposal including an additional $40million for cybersecurity investigations.

It also includes another $15million to help the FBI improve its own cybersecurity.
Matt Hancock is facing a sleaze probe after failing fully to declare shares in a firm that has won contracts from the NHS.

The Health Secretary declared in March that he had acquired 15 per cent of the shares in Topwood Ltd, which specialises in the secure storage, shredding and scanning of documents.

However, the entry on the MPs' register of interests did not mention that his sister Emily Gilruth also has shares and is a director of the firm, or that it has connections to the health service.

It was awarded 300,000 of business by NHS Wales this year.

The website of standards commissioner Kathryn Stone now says she is investigating whether Mr Hancock breached the code of conduct over registering shareholdings.

Matt Hancock is facing a fresh 'cronyism' row today after it emerged he and his sister have shares in a firm that has won contracts from the NHS

Mr Hancock declared in March that he had acquired 15 per cent of the shares in Topwood Ltd

The website of standards commissioner Kathryn Stone now says she is investigating whether Mr Hancock breached the code of conduct over registering shareholdings

Topwood received a place on the Shared Business Services framework as a potential supplier for local NHS trusts in 2019, the year after Mr Hancock took charge at the Department of Health.

A probe by Lord Geidt, the independent adviser on ministerial standards, found last month that Mr Hancock was guilty of a 'technical' breach of the rules after failing to declare that the company had become an approved NHS contractor.

But the ministerial sleaze watchdog ruled the contravention of the code was 'minor' and did not call for the Cabinet minister to resign  a recommendation the Prime Minister agreed with.

A government spokesman previously insisted that Mr Hancock - who said he had a 'delegated management arrangement' for the 'gifted' shares - had acted 'entirely properly'.

'Mr Hancock has acted entirely properly in these circumstances. All declarations of interest have been made in accordance with the Ministerial Code. Ministers have no involvement in the awarding of these contracts, and no conflict of interest arises.'

After the situation was highlighted by the Health Service Journal, sources insisted Mr Hancock had discussed the issue with the permanent secretary before accepting the shares, and was told that any conflicts could be handled if they arise.

The Health Secretary is said to have no 'active participation' in the running of the company, and was not involved in awarding contracts.

But shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said he was 'shocked' a company linked to Mr Hancock's family was given a place in the NHS framework as a potential supplier.
The founders of a South African cryptocurrency exchange have reportedly disappeared with nearly $3.6billion in Bitcoin after telling investors they were hacked in April.

Bloomberg reported that a Cape Town law firm says it cannot locate Ameer and Raees Cajee, the founders of Africrypt - one of the country's largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

In April, the company told investors it had been hacked but asked that they not report the incident to police, saying that would slow the process of recovering their missing funds. The alleged hack came as Bitcoin's value surged to record highs.

Some investors retained law firm Hanekom Attorneys to investigate the incident, but the law firm could not find the brothers.

What it did discover was that Africrypt's pooled funds had been withdrawn from the local accounts and client wallets where the coins were originally kept, then put through tumblers and mixers - a.k.a. other large pools of Bitcoin - a process that severely complicates any attempt at tracing the money.

'Africrypt employees lost access to the back-end platforms seven days before the alleged hack,' Hanekom Attorneys told Bloomberg.

The founders of a South African cryptocurrency exchange have reportedly disappeared with nearly $3.6billion in Bitcoin after telling investors they were hacked in April. Bloomberg reported that a Cape Town law firm says it cannot locate Ameer and Raees Cajee, the founders of Africrypt - one of the country's largest cryptocurrency exchanges [Stock image]

The outlet reported it had tried to call both brothers multiple times but all calls went straight to voicemail. The Africrypt website is also down.

The incident has been reported to Hawks, an elite national police force that tackles organised crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crime.

Lawyers have also alerted crypto exchanges worldwide to be on the lookout for attempts to convert the coins.

South Africa's Finance Sector Conduct Authority is looking into Africrypt but cannot launch an official probe into the incident because cryptocurrency is not considered a legal financial product in the country, Bloomberg reported citing the watchdog's head of enforcement Brandon Topham.

The market is believed to be operating largely unchecked by regulatory powers, Bloomberg reported.

If the money is not recovered, the incident would be the largest-ever cryptocurrency loss in history.

Last year, Mirror Trading International, another South African Bitcoin trader, collapsed, with investors losing about $1.2billion in digital currency.
A man who jumped to his death from a Virginia parking garage last weekend after confessing to murdering his girlfriend and her two young children was a convicted member of the ruthless MS-13 gang living in the US illegally who had previously been deported.

Court records indicate that 37-year-old Jose Iraheta Palacios would still have been behind bars on Saturday if most of a nine-year prison sentence not been suspended by a judge, who then ordered him deported in 2017.

But Palacios, who went by the nickname 'Little Crazy,' returned to the US and police found him at around 6am that morning kneeling on the roof of a parking garage in Reston, Virginia, and making suicidal statements.

Convicted MS-13 gang member Jose Iraheta Palacios, 37 (left), allegedly killed his girlfriend Claudia Menjivar, 34, and her children, Carlos Josue Gutierrez, 10, and Dayana Gutierrez, 12 (pictured together, right), in Virginia on Saturday

Palacios (pictured atop a parking garage in Reston, Virginia) jumped to his death after reportedly confessing to the murders

He allegedly told police that he had killed his girlfriend, Claudia Menjivar, 34, during an argument about a suspected infidelity, along with her two children, 10-year-old Carlos Josue Gutierrez and his sister, Dayana Gutierrez, who was turning 12 that day.

The mother and children were killed while getting ready for Dayana's birthday celebration.

Palacios, who was in the US illegally, allegedly killed his mom-of-three girlfriend during an argument over infidelity

Despite officers' efforts to dissuade Palacios from committing suicide, he ended up leaping to his death.

Police then rushed to Menjivar's apartment in the 500 block of Florida Avenue in Herndon and discovered the bodies of Menjivar and her children.

Police have not revealed how the victims died, but Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBoard said the scene inside the apartment was 'horrific.'

According to reporting by Fox 5 DC, Palacios was an undocumented immigrant who was arrested in 2015 on a slew of charges related to his participation in the MS-13 gang.

They included human trafficking; gang recruitment; contributing to the delinquency of a minor; aiding illicit sexual intercourse and obstruction of justice.

Police in Manassas, Virginia, said that the charges stemmed from a gang initiation ritual in November 2014, during which a 15-year-old girl was assaulted by MS-13 members.

Palacios ultimately pleaded guilty to counts of human trafficking, gang recruitment of a juvenile and gang participation, and was sentenced to nine years.

After serving just two years in state prison, a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge suspended the remainder of Palacios' sentence, and he was deported.

At some point between 2017 and last weekend, Palacios had returned to the US.

Juan Carlos Gutierrez, the biological father of Menjivar's children, said he did not know Palacios.

[I] dont know why they let him out. he told Fox 5 DC of Palacios.

The father's sister, Erlinda Gutierrez, described Menjivar to The Washington Post as a good mother who had come to the US from El Salvador and worked hard as a hotel housekeeper to provide for her children.

Menjivar's daughter, Dayana (right), was getting ready to celebrate her 12th birthday on the day she was killed

She is survived by her 16-year-old son, Roberto, who is living with his grandparents in El Salvador.

Menjivar's sister, Dora, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for the transportation of her body back to their home country for burial.

She always said if something happened to her, her wish was to be buried back in our country El Salvador, the sister wrote. Our parents are elderly and it is their last wish; to see their daughter one last time in El Salvador.

Dora Menjivar also stated in the fundraisers description that her slain sister lived for her children, and 'they adored their mom and now they are in heaven together.
The family of a soldier who died after plunging from a seventh-floor balcony after a boozy night out where he was pepper sprayed believe he was 'let down' by the Army.

Corporal Ryan Lovatt, 25, died on August 1 2019 when he accidentally fell from a balcony at Comfort City Hotel in Warsaw, Poland, just after 4am.

The squaddie, from Torrance, East Dunbartonshire, had been on a drinking session at a cocktail bar and an inquest heard he was believed to have become 'disorientated'.

The court heard Mr Lovatt had been pepper sprayed by a bouncer and told a colleague he was unable to see.

He was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and had been deployed for diplomatic services with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Corporal Ryan Lovatt (pictured), 25, died on August 1 2019 when he accidentally fell from a balcony at Comfort City Hotel in Warsaw, Poland, just after 4am

Senior coroner for Oxfordshire Darren Salter told an inquest at Oxford Coroners' Court yesterday he believed a sober person should have been part of the party.

The coroner said: 'I think reality speaking the danger or likelihood when groups are off base on a trip that one might very well see is alcohol being consumed above the level being put in a policy.

'What's really important therefore someone is giving the responsibility of being sober and keeping an eye on things and keeping everyone together.'

He issued a Prevention of Future Deaths order in a bid to mitigate a similar tragedy after Mr Lovatt died from his injuries, with a conclusion of 'accident' recorded.

But Mr Lovatt's family told today how they felt he was 'let down by those he trusted'.

He grew up in a military family and was described by grieving relatives as 'a pleasure' to be around, and a dedicated soldier who was proud to serve in the British Army.

The family said: 'The day Ryan died our lives changed forever. Ryan excelled as a member of the British Armed Forces, he chose to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

'Ryan was a born soldier and had so much promise. Whilst in Poland he had already gained his ''Spurs'' during several gruelling exercises conducted by the American Forces, one of only a few to gain this prestigious honour.

'Ryan had a gift in that he brought a smile to everyone who had the pleasure of his company.

'Ryan's avoidable death has left emptiness not only with his family but to everyone who knew him.

'The world is certainly a darker place since this wonderful young man's life was taken too soon.

Senior coroner for Oxfordshire Darren Salter told an inquest at Oxford Coroners' Court (pictured) yesterday he believed a sober person should have been part of the party

'Ryan loved and trusted the British Army to have his back without question. It's difficult not to think that he was let down by those he trusted.

'All we can hope for now if the safety improvements are introduced as soon as possible.

'The inquest was not just about securing answers in Ryan's memory but also to help protect the lives of all the other brave soldiers.

'We wouldn't want other families to go through what we have..'

His family instructed specialist military accident lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to support them through the inquest process and help secure answers.

Stephanie Clark, the expert military accident lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: 'Understandably Ryan's family remain devastated by his sudden and unexpected death which they are still struggling to come to terms with.

'For approaching two years they have had a number of questions and concerns about the events that unfolded in the lead up to Ryan's death.

'Sadly the inquest has identified worrying issues.

'While nothing can make up their loss it's vital that lessons are now learned from Ryan's death to help protect other service personnel in future.

'We welcome the coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths order and urge the Ministry of Defence to respond to the coroner's concerns as soon as possible.'
Heartbreaking pictures show murdered mother Caroline Crouch getting ready for her wedding to the man who killed her.

The images show Caroline, who was then 18, smiling as she had her hair and make-up done by a stylist in July 2019.

Less than two years after the photos were taken, the mother-of-one was smothered by the man she had married, Babis Anagnostopoulos, 33, over the course of six minutes as their baby daughter Lydia lay nearby.

For weeks, Anagnostopoulos played the grieving widower as police searched for the 'robbers' he claimed had tied him up and killed his wife, plus the family's pet dog, Roxy.

Then last Wednesday, hours after hugging Caroline's mother at a memorial service, the 33-year-old finally brought the cruel charade to an end with a police confession.

Carolines parents are seeking full custody of Lydia, and earlier this week applied to a court in Athens to be granted care of her. The court will decide next week.

Heartbreaking pictures show murdered mother Caroline Crouch getting ready for her wedding to the man who killed her. The images show Caroline, who was then 18, smiling as she had her hair and make-up done by a stylist in July 2019

Less than two years after the photos were taken, the mother-of-one was smothered by the man she had married, Babis Anagnostopoulos, 33, over the course of six minutes as their baby daughter Lydia lay nearby

Susan is demanding that she and her husband David - Caroline's father - be given full custody and that Lydia stay with them on Alonnisos until a final decision is made.

Lydia is currently being looked after by Anagnostopoulos's parents at their Athens home and they are demanding that custody of her be shared.

His lawyer, Alexandros Papaioannidis told MailOnline that Lydia's two grandmothers, Susan and Georgia, had spoken on the phone and that both wanted what was best for the child.

He said: 'Both families want different things, but they are on good terms and are communicating. It is the court that will have to find a solution about this.

The images showed Caroline smiling as she prepared for her marriage to the man who would take her life

Caroline gave birth to her daughter last year. The little girl was present when her mother was smothered

'Keeping Lydia for part of the time in Athens and part of the time in Alonnisos is not feasible.

'My client is in prison and the only thing that he can do is care for his child as best he can. He wants custody to be shared.'

While confessing to his crime, Anagnostopoulos claimed that he staged an elaborate hoax to make it appear that Caroline had been killed in a botched burglary because he did not want Lydia to be brought up without any parent.

Thanassis Hamanis, a lawyer representing the Crouch family, confirmed earlier this week that his clients wanted full custody.

He said: 'You can understand the position of the mother who at some point became conscious of the fact that at her daughter's second funeral [her memorial last week] she was embraced by the same hands that cut off her child's very breath.

'You can understand how painful and how tragic it is for a mother.'

Susan and the parents of Anagnostopoulos have also been summoned to testify in an Athens court next week on details of their respective children's stormy marriage.

Distraught Susan is to travel from her home on the island of Alonnisos to give evidence, and is expected to describe Anagnostopoulos as 'controlling,' who prevented her from maintaining a healthy relationship with her family.

Caroline's father, who is aged 78, has told how his daughter excelled in the classroom and in sports such as kickboxing, swimming and running.

On Friday, Caroline's mother Susan Dela Cuesta (pictured above) is set to face off with the parents of Anagnostopoulos - Constantinos and Georgia - in court to wrangle over who will care for Lydia

Anagnostopoulos's parents meanwhile are expected to testify that it was Caroline who was verbally and physically abusive towards their son.

A number of family friends have also been summoned to give evidence on the claims.

While on the face of it the couple appeared to have a seemingly perfect life in their Athens villa with their one-year-old child and a number of pets, Anagnostopoulos has claimed that in truth, Caroline was physically and verbally abusive towards him.

He told a court earlier this week that his judgement became 'blurred' prompting him to kill her after she attacked him.

His lawyers have summoned the parents as part of their case that the couple rowed regularly and that on the night of the murder, Anagnostopoulos acted on impulse and did not plan it.

An Athens court is also to make an interim decision on Friday on who should have custody over the couple's one-year old daughter Lydia.

Susan is demanding that she and David be given full custody and that Lydia stay with them on Alonnisos until a final decision is made.

Ms Dela Cuesta is demanding that she and her husband David - Caroline's father - be given full custody and that Lydia stay with them on Alonnisos until a final decision is made

Yesterday police released pictures of the scene where the killer suffocated his wife and killed their dog.

It showed broken patio doors where Anagnostopoulos claimed a gang had entered their Greek villa.

A disabled security camera was on the floor along with an upturned Monopoly box where the shameless father said the 'thieves' had found 10,000 of savings.

The images came as he tried to blame his wife for her own death, claiming a miscarriage 'changed her behaviour'.

He told a court Caroline had 'aggressive outbursts' after the loss of their first baby and the 'explosions' drove him to kill her at the couple's luxury home in Athens last month.

Yesterday police released pictures of the scene where the killer suffocated his wife and killed their dog

A CCTV camera which Babis said masked raiders had disabled is seen on the floor, with police now saying he disabled it himself in evidence he planned Caroline's killing

A Monopoly box where Babis claimed to have been hiding a large amount of cash which the burglars wanted, but which police now say never existed

The Greek pilot then played the distraught widower, claiming his wife had been killed by burglars.

But as police began picking apart his version of events he confessed to suffocating her in her sleep in front of their 11-month-old daughter and staging the crime scene.

'I really regret this act, I ruined my life and my family,' he told a judge when he appeared in court in Athens this week, the transcript of which was released yesterday.

Anagnostopoulos and Miss Crouch wed in 2019, when she was 18 and he was 31.

He told a judge: 'Caroline became pregnant a few weeks after we got married. This child would complete our family and our happiness.

'Unfortunately, when she was three months' pregnant, Caroline miscarried, and since then her behaviour had been gradually changing.

'From that moment on, she started to have aggressive outbursts and explosions towards me.

'In order to be able to manage this situation, I suggested we visit a psychologist in order to save our family.

'At first, Caroline accepted and was regular with the sessions, but gradually she began to find various excuses and eventually stopped.'

Babis argued in court that he should be freed on bail so he can continue looking after his daughter with Caroline, an argument the judge rejected

Anagnostopoulos claimed the couple had 'argued' again on the night of May 11 but denied he planned to kill her.

In chilling detail, the helicopter pilot spelt out the awful final moments of his wife's life.

He said: 'Caroline started shaking her body, to get out of my arms, and I kept holding her tight.

'At one point, her face was wincing on the pillow. I kept holding her in my arms until she stopped rocking.

'All this lasted for about five minutes, from the time I hugged her until the time she stopped rocking.'

Anagnostopoulos was branded a 'monster' by women's rights campaigners when he went to court on Tuesday.

They screamed 'rot in jail' to him, and said he typified Greece's growing problem with domestic violence.

Anagnostopoulos claimed he had mounted the cover-up because he could not bear Lydia growing up without either parent.

Last night Anagnostopoulos's father Constantinos said from his home in Athens: 'For now, we are concentrating on the child. Even now, as I speak, I'm preparing food for her.

'We will do whatever it takes to have custody of her and hope that we can come to an arrangement.'

Anagnostopoulos is expected to enter a plea to a murder charge when he next appears in court.

He has been taken from the female wing of a maximum security prison on the outskirts of Athens to the male part - where he asked to find work.
The owner of a card shop in Worcestershire who refused to close during lockdown is set to stand trial.

Alasdair Walker-Cox and wife Lydia, owners of Grace Cards & Books in St Andrews Square shopping centre in Droitwich, Worcestershire, received four Covid fines totalling 17,000 during this year's lockdown.

At the time, current lockdown legislation prevented non-essential shops from opening as the Government looked to limit contacts between people and stem the rise in coronavirus infections which were increasing earlier this year.

In a video shared widely on social media in February, Mrs Walker-Cox was seen challenging an official from Wychavon District Council and a police officer in the shop.

She was seen in the video arguing that they sold items offered by shops that were still allowed to trade in lockdowns, including newspapers and confectionery, and could therefore legally stay open.

Now, Mr Walker-Cox has pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions ) Regulations, with a trial set for August 17 at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court.

Alasdair and Lydia Walker-Cox have refused to shut Grace Cards and Books in Droitwich, claiming they sell essential items including newspapers, snacks and baking products

Wychavon District Council disagreed, with leader Coun Bradley Thomas previously saying: 'It's disappointing this one particular business feels the need to flout the rules and we will work with our partners to take further action, if needed, to protect the public.'

Mrs Walker-Cox previously told Worcestershire Live: 'We are a business of 30 years. We changed the shop around in November to become essential.

We are liable not to have a business after this. We sell drinks, confectionary and daily newspapers.

The couple's shop is seen above. Mr Walker-Cox has pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions ) Regulations, with a trial set for August 17 at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court

Wychavon District Council's first fine handed out to the couple in November was for 1,000 fine last week after they refused to close

'Take a trip from our shop to Smith's. There's really no reason why we shouldn't be open.

'We have got all the screens up. It's very safe to go around our shop. That conversation posted with the council lady and the police made me quite exasperated.

'We couldn't find the line on what could be acceptable.

'If you Google WH Smith's they are registered as a stationers. They don't operate as a traditional newsagents.

Alasdair, 54, and Lydia Walker-Cox, 50, owners of Grace Cards and Books in Droitwich, Worcestershire, said they would rather go to prison than close their business

'We haven't paid the fines. We feel we have a case. We have said all along we will go to court so I guess that's where we are heading.'

Mr and Mrs Walker-Cox were first fined 1,000 last November but have now accumulated almost 20,000 in penalties for keeping their shop open.

Last December they were issued a 1,000 fine after they refused to close during the second lockdown.

Since January 5 they have been issued with another 1,000 fine followed by one for 2,000 and another for 4,000.

In February 10 they were hit with a 10,000 fine.
A shocking video shows Scotland and England fans violently clashing at the UK's largest army base while bagpipes continue to play in the background.

Footage shows rival supporters chanting at each other from opposite sides of Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire last week ahead of the two teams' Euros clash, before it took a violent turn.

England fans were filmed belting out The Three Lions towards the Tartan Army who were located at an adjacent building at the barracks.

The clip then shows the group of around ten Scotland supporters trying to drown out their rivals with bagpipes.

The piper continuously belts out Scotland the Brave while surrounded by footie fans wearing Scotland strips and kilts.

The clip then flips to footage taken afterwards which shows the two rival team supporters violently clashing.

The clip then flips to footage taken afterwards which shows the two rival team supporters violently clashing. Around a dozen men, most wearing Scotland strips and kilts, huddle and push each other whilst targeting a lone England supporter

A man, covered in an England flag, was filmed cradled on the floor as a male kicked him in the back and the stomach

Around a dozen men, most wearing Scotland strips and kilts, huddle and push each other whilst targeting a lone England supporter.

The man, covered in an England flag, was filmed cradled on the floor as a male kicked him in the back and the stomach.

The brute then swings and punches him in the face while his victim tries to protect his face with his hand and flag.

A piper continues to play on their bagpipes throughout the whole incident.

The initial footage showing the rival sides trying to drown each other out was shared on social media yesterday captioned: 'This is brilliant' followed by a thumbs up emoji.

It has attracted nearly 500 likes and over 280 shares.

Some social media users later took to the clip to share the second scene which captured the base erupting into chaos.

Dozens of viewers have commented on the footage.

Footage shows rival supporters chanting at each other from opposite sides of Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire last week before it took a violent turn. England fans were filmed belting out The Three Lions towards the Tartan Army who were located at an adjacent building at the barracks

One user said: 'Something beautiful about bagpipes playing as somebody is getting a kicking.'

Another said: 'I was half expecting Mel Gibson to ride out on his horse!'

While one added: 'Soon as I saw this I knew it was the barracks, mad b******.'

A British Army spokesman today said: 'We are aware of an incident last week in Catterick. We will assist with any enquiry.

'If any soldiers have been found to not be meeting our Values & Standards, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

'Service Police are investigating and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.'
Teachers views are being policed by 'self-appointed moral guardians who harry them on social media,' England's chief schools inspector has said in a stark warning about 'militant activists' limiting children's education.

Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman said schools are facing a new 'confrontational brand of activism', and insisted that it was 'unacceptable' that some pupils and teachers are suffering abuse and violence 'simply for being who they are' amid a rise in activism both inside and outside schools.

Children should not be 'all but forced to support a fellow student's campaign, no matter how compellingly presented, nor feel that they will be ostracised if they do not', she said in a speech to the Festival of Education.

Teachers views are being policed by 'self-appointed moral guardians who harry them on social media,' England's chief schools inspector has said in a stark warning about 'militant activists' limiting children's education. Pictured: Protesters give a statement to members of the media outside Batley Grammar School in Batley, West Yorkshire

'This is a difficult problem for schools. So much effort goes into encouraging young people to understand and think about their democratic rights, which of course include the right to protest and to campaign for what they believe in.

'But education must come first. And no child should ever feel targeted or marginalised because intolerance has replaced reasoned debate.'

The chief inspector added: 'Let's not have teachers policed by self-appointed "moral guardians" who refuse to tolerate an alternative viewpoint.

'Or harried on social media into apologising for what they've said, or into changing the way they teach, in the face of militant activism.'

Her comments come after protests were held outside Batley Grammar School in March after a teacher showed Year 9 pupils a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed during a Religious Studies (RS) lesson.

In 2019, some primary schools in Birmingham faced protests at the school gates from parents who opposed allowing children to be taught about the existence of LGBT+ relationships.

A motion passed at the National Education Union's (NEU) conference in April called for support for staff and pupils who face protests against teaching age-appropriate Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).

Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman (pictured) has said schools are facing a new 'confrontational brand of activism', and insisted that it was 'unacceptable' that some pupils and teachers are suffering abuse and violence 'simply for being who they are' amid a rise in activism both inside and outside schools

Addressing sector leaders on Thursday, Ms Spielman said: 'It cannot be right for children to have to cross what amount to picket lines outside their school because one group's religious beliefs - protected by law - sit uncomfortably with teaching about another group's sexuality - also protected by law.

'It cannot be right that the curriculum can be filleted by pressure groups.

'And the militant defence of orthodoxies is not confined to adult protests, or to the protected characteristics. We are also seeing more pupil activism in schools, on many fronts.

'Some of this is about racism, or anti-racism; some is about climate change; some is about issues that are quite remote for most British children, such as the charged and complicated politics of the Middle East.

'But in some cases children and teachers are suffering abuse or even violence, simply for being who they are: for being the wrong religion, or race, or ethnicity. This is completely unacceptable.'

The Ofsted chief said a new 'confrontational brand of activism' was 'problematic' for schools.

The Batley Grammar School teacher sparked fury by allegedly showing pupils cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a RE lesson. Pictured: Protesters outside the school in March

During the speech, she said: 'What I'm concerned about is not the activism that broadens debate and brings about long term change, but the militant kind of activism that demands immediate adherence to a position.

'We are seeing these confrontational approaches both outside and inside schools. It is affecting staff, parents and children and can have a limiting effect on education.'

Last week, the MailOnline reported that a teacher who was suspended after showing a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad to pupils during an RE lesson is refusing to return to work over fears for his life - despite being cleared of causing deliberate offence and told that he could have his job back.

As of June 18, he remained in hiding with his family and has permanently left the housing association property they shared near Batley.

The family have been rehoused at a secret location with not even close relatives being informed about where it is.

Two other members of staff who were also suspended by officials at Batley Grammar School, West Yorkshire have refused to return to the classroom after being reinstated, citing similar concerns that they could be attacked.

The teacher, who is not being named, was head of Batley Grammar School's RE department but remains in hiding with his family following furious protests in March. Pictured: Protests outside Batley in March

It has resulted in the entire RE department, which was made up of the three teachers, being replaced by supply staff.

The teacher who kick-started the row and his two colleagues remain on full pay although it is not known how long this will continue for as their suspensions have been lifted.

They are being supported by the National Education Union (NEU), which is liaising with school officials in an attempt to resolve the stalemate.

A source close to the teacher, who was head of RE at Batley Grammar School, told MailOnline that he had not ruled out the possibility of legal action if he is unable to reach a settlement with the school so that he can move on with his career and personal life.

'On paper, he's got his job back but returning to the school is not a possibility,' the source said. 'An inquiry might have cleared him, but it doesn't mean a thing because he doesn't feel safe teaching there and genuinely fears that he could be killed.

'His two colleagues feel exactly the same. The matter needs to be resolved so that they can have a decent future but if we don't get to that point soon, legal action is not out of the question.'

The teacher's former home is currently undergoing repair work for new tenants.

Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire, where protests took place in March

A neighbour told MailOnline: 'A few weeks ago a removal van came and took all their stuff. I saw the teacher's sister and she told me that the family won't be coming back.

'The last contact I had with him was last month when he sent us Eid cards and presents through his sister.

'But I've not been able to speak with him or his partner because they've had to change their mobile phone numbers and they're not allowed to contact us.'

The teacher was suspended in March for showing pupils a drawing taken from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo during a religious studies classes at Batley grammar school, provoking complaints from parents and protests outside the school's gates.

A report published last month by the Batley Academy Trust, which runs the school, found that although it was not necessary for the teacher to use the material in question, they 'genuinely believed' using the image had educational purposes and did not mean to cause offence.

But it added: 'Nevertheless, the Trust recognises that using the image did cause deep offence to a number of students, parents and members of our school community.'

It ruled that the teacher's suspension and the suspension of his two colleague should be lifted and they should be allowed to return to the classroom.

The Trust refused to comment on the reasons why they have not yet resumed their teaching duties.

On March 24, the teacher was suspended and the school accompanied its unreserved apology with the announcement of an independent panel to investigate. Pictured: Protestors outside the school

In a statement, it said: 'The findings are clear, that the teaching staff involved did not use the resource with the intention of causing offence, and that the topics covered by the lesson could have been effectively addressed in other ways.

'In the light of those conclusions, the suspensions put in place while the investigation was underway will now be lifted.'

A spokesperson for the NEU said: 'Personal employment details of individual members are not something for the NEU to discuss publicly, and we believe that our members want, need and deserve privacy.

'We are continuing to support all our members at the school, and we have worked to ensure fairness and the best outcomes in the workplace for all going forward.'
A Massachusetts town has created a fund to pay reparations to black residents as communities and institutions across the country look to atone for slavery, discrimination and past wrongs amid the nation's ongoing racial reckoning.

The Amherst Town Council on Monday voted 12-1 in favor of establishing the fund and requiring a two-thirds vote of the council to authorize any spending from it, The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported.

The town, which is located some 90 miles from Boston and has a population of just under 38,000, has yet to decide how a person would become eligible for the reparation fund, according to Athena O'Keeffe, Clerk of the Council.

Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman and other town officials have suggested designating more than $200,000 in surplus budget funds as an initial seed investment.

Bockelman said local approval of a fund means the town can now begin accepting contributions for reparation work and decide on a financial plan going forward.

Michele Miller, who cofounded Reparations for Amherst, a local advocacy group that pushed for the measure, said the fund sets the foundation for providing equity in the college town.

The town of Amherst has joined the initiative of other towns around the United States in paying for reparations of their black members of the community

Miller and other proponents have cited restrictive housing policies which prevented black families from purchasing homes in desirable parts of town.

Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman was fully behind the new collective and believes that $200K in surplus funds will make up the initial investment for the fund

Black people were also shut out of jobs and educational opportunities at UMass Amherst, one of the states largest and most prominent institutions, they say.

As a result, the median income for Amhersts white families is more than two times that of black families, and more than half its black population lives below the poverty line.

Miller praised the town council for its decision, saying: 'Your actions will lay the foundation for our community to begin a collaborative healing process.

'Amherst will become a reason for other communities and our federal government to take long overdue action', she told WWLP.

The town's council on Monday also approved creating the African Heritage Reparations Assembly to develop the town's reparations plan by Oct. 31.

It will be made up of six Black residents and one representative from Reparations for Amherst.

Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke was the lone vote against the fund, suggesting it was premature to establish it before forming the assembly.

Miller, meanwhile, said Thursday her group hopes to establish a private fund to bolster Amhersts efforts.

'We look forward to supporting the African Heritage Community to implement a robust and sustainable reparative plan,' she said.

Amherst is among hundreds of communities and organizations across the country seeking to provide reparations to Black people.

Amherst advocates cited Evanston, Illinois, which in March became the first American city to pay out reparations, as a model for their fund.

What are reparations and what is being done to implement them in the US? Reparations for slavery is a political justice concept that argues that the descendants of slaves should be compensated for the lasting impression slavery has left on the US. Calls for reparations have been around for centuries but have reached a fever pitch in the past year following the death of George Floyd in May last year. Democrats in Congress introduced a bill - House Resolution 40 - in 2019 that would form a committee to further study the issue of reparations. Public support for federal reparations remains relatively low. An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted last June found that 73 percent of Americans do not believe that the federal government should financially compensate black people who are descendants of slaves. But in the absence of federal support, local leaders in some communities including Evanston have worked to come up with their own measures to introduce reparations. Advertisement

That program uses marijuana tax revenues to give eligible Black residents $25,000 housing grants for down payments, repairs or existing mortgages.

Black residents are eligible for the housing program if they, or their ancestors, lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or if they can show they suffered housing discrimination due to the city's policies.

The recipients will be randomly selected if there are more applicants than available funds in the housing program.

Evanston have also committed $10million over the next decade towards their reparation efforts.

Evanston's program could become a model for other cities and states grappling with whether to pursue their own reparations programs.

Other cities, including Chicago; Providence, Rhode Island; Burlington, Vermont; and Asheville, North Carolina have launched initiatives, though none has yet identified specific funding.

California passed a bill modeled after the federal legislation, and lawmakers in New York and Maryland have introduced similar measures.

Private institutions have also announced campaigns. The Jesuit order of Catholic priests has pledged $100 million to benefit the descendants of the enslaved people it once owned.

'Reparations is the public policy prescription that addresses - and redresses - systemic racism,' said Ron Daniels, who oversees the National African American Reparations Commission, which consulted with Evanston on its proposal.

The practicality of implementing reparations programs, especially on a national scale, is still a matter of debate.

Reuters/Ipsos polls taken in June 2020, at the height of racial justice protests, found only one in five respondents agreed the United States should pay damages to descendants of enslaved people.

Some opponents ask whether taxpayers can afford to pay out what could be billions, or even trillions, of dollars.

Others question how eligibility for such programs would be determined, whether by race, ancestry or evidence of discrimination.

Some black Evanston residents have objected to the city's plan's scope and size as inadequate, highlighting the difficulties inherent in designing a program that by all accounts can never fully ameliorate centuries of discrimination.
Donald Trump enjoyed tormenting Rudy Giuliani, mocking him for falling asleep in meetings and calling him 'pathetic' after the former mayor's television appearances.

Giuliani 'rarely complained' and, instead, 'seemed to crave the attention,' according to Michael C.Bender in his new book Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost, in an excerpt exclusively by DailyMail.com. The book is out on July 13.

Michael C.Bender's book 'Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost' is out July 13

In the 432-page book, that details Trump's life in the White House Bender reveals details of the president's relationship with his personal lawyer.

Trump 'would needle the former mayor for falling asleep on flights and joke about Giuliani's constant use of his iPad,' Bender reveals.

'He's looking at cartoons,' Trump would say.

For his part, Giuliani 'seemed to crave the attention and would often physically jockey with other aides and advisers to sit next to Trump at dinner or on the plane.'

'Rudy never wanted to be left out,' one 2016 aide said in the book. 'If you were ever between Rudy and the president, look out. You were going to get trampled.'

Trump wasn't always happy with Giuliani, who was willing to go on television at any time to defend the president.

After the release of the now-infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape in the 2016 campaign - where Trump is heard making derogatory comments about women - Giuliani was the only surrogate willing to go on the Sunday morning public affairs shows to defend Trump.

Trump was not grateful.

After the appearances, Giuliani went to LaGuardia Airport, where Trump was waiting on his plane to fly to St. Louis for his second presidential debate with Hillary Clinton.

'When Giuliani climbed up the stairs, he was greeted with huzzahs and high-fives' from Trump's aides Hope Hicks, David Bossie, and Stephen Miller.

When Giuliani walked to the front of the plane, 'Trump barely looked up from his newspaper. 'Rudy, you sucked,' Trump said. 'You were weak.' Giuliani looked like he'd simultaneously had the wind knocked out of him and taken a kick to the groin. 'What the fuck do you want me to do?' Giuliani said,' according to the book.

But, at other times, Trump showed his gratitude to Giuliani for his willingness to take the punches.

During one 2017 staff meeting, 'Trump's team started complaining about Giuliani's puzzling television appearances that often veered off-message and created more work for the press shop. Trump barked that at least Giuliani was out there fighting for him. Everyone shut up after that.'

Donald Trump enjoyed tormenting Rudy Giuliani, according to a new book that offers details on the two men's relationship

Trump sometimes mocked Rudy Giuliani for his TV appearances but, at other times, would express gratitude to the former mayor for his willingness to defend the president

Giuliani, however, was overly confident in his relationship with Trump. The two men knew each other for years when both were making names for themselves on the New York scene - Rudy as a hard-talking, tough prosecutor and Trump as a real estate mogul.

After the election, Giuliani was 'eager for an administration post and assumed he would get one. He privately told friends that he was a lock to be named secretary of state and publicly told reporters that he was being considered for several positions but wouldn't say which ones.'

He was under consideration but the vetting process 'set off alarm bells.'

For example, Giuliani told aides he hadn't been to the Middle East in more than a year. It turns out he had been to the United Arab Emirates a month earlier.

The book also reveals Trump's top campaign lawyer Justin Clark called Giuliani a 'f***ing a**hole' during a vicious Oval Office phone call with the president after Trump lost the 2020 election.

The heated conversation discussing how the campaign would deal with their allegations of voter fraud led to Trump not trusting Clark and instead believing Giuliani, who was at the center of pushing the wild theories.

'Less than a week after 2020 campaign manager Bill Stepien and Justin Clark, the campaign's top attorney, had walked Trump through their legal plan, Giuliani was blowing it upand pushing his way further into the Oval Office,' it reads.

'On November 13, Trump summoned Clark into the Oval Office as Giuliani, on speakerphone, claimed the campaign had been too slow to contest election results in Georgia.

Donald Trump's top campaign lawyer Justin Clark

'Clark explained that state law required results to be certified before a recount could be requested, which hadn't yet happened. '

"'They're lying to you, sir!'" Giuliani shouted. Clark denied anyone was lying.

'Suddenly, the two men were shouting loud enough that it startled people waiting outside the Oval Office.

'You're a f***ing a**hole, Rudy!' Clark said. Clark had been the campaign's top attorney for the past year.

'He'd spent most of 2019 in the weeds of state and national party rulebooks ensuring that it was virtually impossible for any Republican to challenge Trump in a primary.

'During Trump's first two years, he ground out long hours as a White House aide.

'Now, after one phone call from Giuliani, the president was entertaining nonsensical attacks on his ability to read Georgia election code and to give an honest answer to a simple question to the president he'd spent four years trying to reelect.

'Clark stopped going to the White House.'

Rudy Giuliani served as Trump's private attorney

Giuliani took the lead for Trump in denouncing the 2020 election results and arguing - without proof - there was voter fraud.

Those claims led to Thursday's decision by New York state to suspended Giuliani's legal license for 'false and misleading statements' based on pushed on Donald Trump's election fraud claims.

'[W]e conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump's failed effort at reelection in 2020,' the 33-page decision from the state appellate court read.

The court said Giuliani made numerous false statements about the voting in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania, including that hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots or votes, including from dead people, had been improperly counted.
The body of a woman has been found in the search for a hillwalker who vanished after reaching the top of Ben Nevis.

Sarah Buick, from Dundee, was last seen at the 4,413ft summit of Britain's highest mountain early on Tuesday morning.

The 24-year-old had taken a selfie at around 5am and posted it on her Facebook page.

But friends and family became worried when she did not return home that day.

After extensive police appeals and a search operation, officers confirmed last night that they had recovered the body of a woman.

Sarah Buick, from Dundee, was last seen at the 4,413ft summit of Britain's highest mountain early on Tuesday morning

The 24-year-old had taken a selfie at around 5am and posted it on her Facebook page

Personnel from Police Scotland, Lochaber mountain rescue and the RAF had been involved in the search of the peak near Fort William, Inverness-shire, when the body was found.

The body has yet to be formally identified but the family of Miss Buick have been informed.

A police spokesman said: 'There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.'

Miss Buick, an experienced hillwalker, had set off from the Lower Falls area of Glen Nevis. She last shared images of herself at the top of the mountain on her Facebook page just as the sun had risen.

She captioned her post: 'Good morning from Ben Nevis.' Her friend Martin Brady raised the alarm when he did not hear from Miss Buick.

But friends and family became worried when she did not return home on the day she posted the picture

The body has yet to be formally identified but the family of Miss Buick have been informed

Before the discovery of the body, personal trainer Mr Brady, from Broughty Ferry, Dundee, had said: 'I have been in touch with local police and her parents about this, I was the one who raised the alarm as I knew she was away. I haven't slept since last night.

'I spoke to police and they said they have two helicopters out with drones and the RAF covering the area.'

Miss Buick regularly shared images of the peaks she had climbed on her social media pages.

These also included Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach in Glen Coe just three weeks ago.

Following the tragic news that police had recovered a body, tributes flooded in on social media. One said: 'Very, very sad news.' Another commented: 'Heartbreaking.'

Ben Nevis is known for its unpredictable weather but remains a popular spot, with more than 150,000 visitors climbing it every year.
A security guard accused to stabbing nine cats to death was seen acting 'really odd' near where a pet called Nancy was found with a fatal knife wound, a court has heard.

Steve Bouquet, 54, from Brighton, is standing trial after pleading not guilty to 16 counts of criminal damage in relation to cats and one count of possession of a knife.

Nancy's owner found her injured and hiding under his bed and a bloody trail led out of the house to a pool of blood on his doorstep in Shaftesbury Road in the city.

The beloved brown cat was rushed to the vet but later suffered a cardiac crash and did not survive.

Steve Bouquet (pictured outside Brighton Magistrates' Court), 54, from Brighton, is standing trial after pleading not guilty to 16 counts of criminal damage in relation to cats and one count of possession of a knife

Jurors at Chichester Crown Court on Thursday heard that a bald man later identified by a witness as Steve Bouquet had been seen acting 'really odd' in the vicinity of where Nancy lived on the same day.

During several months in 2018 and 2019, Brighton was swept by a string of attacks on cats, with the felines left bleeding on doorsteps after being stabbed, prosecutors say.

Nine cats - Hendrix, Tommy, Hannah, Alan, Nancy, Gizmo, Kyo, Ollie and Cosmo - were killed while another seven were injured.

Shocked owners - many reeling from the loss of their pets - were left with vet bills often reaching thousands of pounds.

On Thursday, prosecutor Rowan Jenkins continued to read statements from cat owners who found their beloved pets bleeding after stab attacks.

Jeff Carter described finding a trail of blood through his house and finding his cat Nancy hiding underneath his bed.

During several months in 2018 and 2019, Brighton was swept by a string of attacks on cats, with the felines left bleeding on doorsteps after being stabbed, prosecutors say. Pictured: Bouquet outside Brighton Magistrates' Court

'I opened the front door and noticed that there was quite a large pool of blood on the doorstep which alarmed me because it was obvious that it was more serious', he said in a statement.

'I saw that Nancy had a large wound on the right side of her body that was bleeding heavily.'

She was rushed for treatment and was seen by Jenny Hill at Coastway Vets.

Ms Hill told the court in a statement that Nancy suffered a cardiac crash and was given CPR and put on a ventilator.

She added: 'Unfortunately it became apparent that she would not survive with any quality of life so we made the decision to let her go.

Jurors at Chichester Crown Court (pictured) on Thursday heard that a bald man later identified by a witness as Steve Bouquet had been seen acting 'really odd' in the vicinity of where Nancy lived on the same day

'It's my professional opinion that Nancy's wound was caused by a malicious stabbing by a human using a sharp knife.'

Jurors heard how Craig Neeld had been walking along Shaftesbury Road on the same day that Nancy was found stabbed.

In his statement, he described receiving a phone call from his friend Barry, who asked him to look out for a 'guy acting really odd'.

Mr Neeld said he saw a bald man who was 'bending over and moving his arms' as if operating a camera phone.

He said it looked like the bald male was 'up to no good' and as a result he decided to film him.

Mr Neeld later identified the defendant, Steve Bouquet, as the man he had seen at a police identification procedure, the court heard.

The trial continues.
Subway has defended the tuna it uses in its sandwiches and blasted the findings of two lab reports that found that the filling doesn't contain any of tuna DNA.

The fast food chain hit out the day after New York Times revealed it had sent more than 60 inches worth of tuna sandwiches to a lab after ordering them from the fast food franchise at various Los Angeles locations.

The unnamed lab conducted a $500 PCR test to determine if the Subway tuna was one of five different species, but found 'no amplification products from the DNA' and so they 'cannot identify the species.'

Earlier this year, a separate class-action lawsuit was filed against the fast food franchise alleging misrepresentation of the fish in their sandwiches after a similar DNA test.

But the chain said in a statement to FOX Business on Thursday: 'A recent New York Times report indicates that DNA testing is an unreliable methodology for identifying processed tuna.

'This report supports and reflects the position that Subway has taken in relation to a meritless lawsuit filed in California and with respect to DNA testing as a means to identify cooked proteins.

'DNA testing is simply not a reliable way to identify denatured proteins, like Subways tuna, which was cooked before it was tested.'

A tuna sandwich from Subway is displayed in San Anselmo, California. A recent lab analysis of tuna used in Subway sandwiches commissioned by the New York Times did not reveal any tuna DNA in samples taken from Subway tuna sandwiches

In the Times study, a reporter ordered the sandwiches without cheese or vegetables to avoid contaminating the test.

The reporter proceeded to remove the tuna meat from the sandwiches before freezing it, then sending it to a commercial food testing lab.

The lab involved in the latest tests declined to be named, citing concern about jeopardizing future professional opportunities.

A spokesman from the lab hinted at two possible conclusions.

'One, its so heavily processed that whatever we could pull out, we couldnt make an identification. Or we got some and theres just nothing there thats tuna.'

However, it was also taken into consideration that when tuna is cooked and seasoned, its DNA is more difficult to locate.

That is because cooked tuna becomes denatured, destroying its characteristics and making it difficult to identify.

Subway is the fast food chain with the largest number of restaurants both in the United States and worldwide

There are 15 species of fish that can be considered tuna, but Subway states they sell skipjack and yellowfin tuna, which a lab would know as Katsuwonus pelamis and T. albacares, respectively.

'It is sourced from fisheries with non-threatened stock levels,' the company's Tuna and Seafood Sourcing statement says.

The testing comes five months after two Bay Area residents, Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin of Alameda County, filed a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court, accusing the American fast food restaurant franchise of misrepresenting its tuna sandwich.

The plaintiffs claim that they performed independent lab tests of samples of tuna taken from several Subway locations in California.

The tests prove that the tuna is actually a mixture of various concoctions that do not constitute tuna, yet have been blended together by [Subway] to imitate the appearance of tuna, according to the complaint.

The complaint does not specify what the lab tests revealed or what the tuna is actually made of.

Dhanowa and Amin want to have their claim certified as a class action, which would allow thousands of other potentially dissatisfied customers to join in the legal action.

Anyone wishing to join the lawsuit would have had to purchase a tuna sandwich or tuna wrap sometime after January 21, 2017.

Dhanowa and Amin are suing Subway for fraud, intentional misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and other civil violations.

They recently issued a new filing, however, seemingly retreating slightly from their original claim and alleging their lawsuit is about if Subway uses '100% sustainably caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna.'

Subway does not comment on where they get their tuna from, but a California store manager revealed the 'tuna comes in a case and inside the case, there are six aluminum pouches and its just like a pressed, vacuum sealed slab of tuna.'

She described it as 'flaky' and 'clearly soaked in water' when it arrives, before it is spread out and mixed with mayo.

Tuna can stay in the refrigerated sandwich bar located in stores for up to 72 hours, she added, per corporate guidelines.

A former employee told the Times that she didn't believe the company was swapping tuna out.

'I personally have a really weak stomach to fish, which is how we know the tuna is real,' she stated.

Additionally, a recent Inside Edition investigation found that specimens taken from Queens Subway locations were actually tuna.

Still, many people on social media couldn't help but to rag on Subway for the latest hit to the company.

'There is about as much courage DNA in the Republican Party as there is tuna DNA in a Subway sandwich,' Dan Rather sarcastically tweeted.

One user tweeted, 'the subway tuna fish sandwich is most likely people and i think that's fine.'

'Something fishy going on here,' tweeted another user, pun clearly intended.

A lab found 'no amplification products from the DNA' and so they 'cannot identify the species' (Pictured: A Subway employee prepares a sandwich in Moscow, Russia)

Subway has previously denied claims that the tuna is bogus, telling DailyMail.com it is real and from fish caught in the wild.

A Subway representative told DailyMail.com: These claims are meritless.

'There simply is no truth to the allegations in the complaint that was filed in California,' a company spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

'Subway delivers 100 per cent cooked tuna to its restaurants, which is mixed with mayonnaise and used in freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads that are served to and enjoyed by our guests.

'The taste and quality of our tuna make it one of Subway's most popular products and these baseless accusations threaten to damage our franchisees, small business owners who work tirelessly to uphold the high standards that Subway sets for all of its products, including its tuna.'

Subway is the fast food chain with the largest number of restaurants both in the United States and worldwide.

According to its website, there are more than 22,000 Subway franchises in the US; more than 2,800 in Canada; 1,674 in Brazil; more than 1,200 in Australia; and thousands more combined in Europe, Russia, and China.

There are more than 40,000 Subway locations worldwide, with tuna sandwiches proving to be one its best sellers. It's the only seafood sandwich they sell.

'Subways tuna sandwich ranks among our guests favorite sandwiches,' a spokeswoman from the company said.

Tuna is very popular in the United States, with Nielsen Holdings reporting around 700 million cans sold in 2020.

Grand View Research claims the canned tuna market in 2020 was valued at $8.57 billion, likely due to the rush for canned food during the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci had to strip naked and get hosed down 'in what looked like a kiddie pool' after being mailed a white powder he feared was deadly ricin.

The White House COVID adviser turned chief medical adviser, 80, has said he thought was at risk when he opened the envelope on August 27, 2020, at his office at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC, and mystery white powder blew into his face and chest.

Fauci's ordeal is explained in the new book, 'Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration's Response to the Pandemic That Changed History,' written by Washington Post reporters Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta.

Fauci, who is the director of the National Institutes for Health, said he believed the substance was one of three things: a prank to scare him, anthrax or ricin. If it was anthrax, hed survive albeit be very ill. If it was ricin, he would be dead.

Over the next few hours, his team hosed him down to his skivvies in a chemical lab, making him stand naked in what looked like a kiddy pool as they awaited the results of tests on the substance, reads an excerpt of the book published by Politicos Playbook. He called his wife to warn her before breathing a sigh of relief a few hours later when the findings came back negative for both deadly substances.

Anthony Fauci had to strip naked and get hosed down 'in what looked like a kiddie pool' after being mailed a white powder during the height of the COVID crisis, a new book has revealed. Fauci, right, Dr. Deborah Birx, left, listen as President Donald Trump speaks on March 20 last year

He received a mysterious envelop at his office at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC, pictured, and the white powder blew into his face and chest

The details of Fauci's poison scare are revealed in a new book by Washington Post reporters Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta, Nightmare Scenario

Fauci first revealed the details of the poison scare to The New York Times in January, though he left out the experience of being hosed down naked. Fauci added that he doesn't know if former President Trump even knew about the incident and he never told anyone in the administration about it.

The book also details the death threats Fauci received during Trump's presidency amid the ebbing pandemic. He angered Trump and his supporters by disagreeing with the ex-president, often in public, moments after Trump had spoken.

Nature's deadliest biological weapons Anthrax: An illness caused by a spore-forming bacterium named bacillus anthracis that could be deadly, but is treatable with antibiotic medication Ricin: A naturally-occurring toxin found in castor beans that could kill anyone exposed to it in three days, in most cases Advertisement

Fauci said he received his first death threat on March 28, 2020, adding: 'They knew where my kids work, where they live, he told the New York Times.

'The threats would come directly to my childrens phones, directly to my childrens homes. How the hell did whoever these assholes were get that information?'

Shortly after the first death threat, Fauci had to have a security detail.

Another incident revealed in the book involves Fauci resisting Trump's call to cancel a research grant to a non-profit that gave money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the institution at the center of the COVID-19 lab leak theory.

Fauci was ordered by Trump to formally announce the grant had been terminated in April 2020. Of concern, according to an excerpt given to Fox News, was that Fauci and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins were not sure the NIH had the legal authority to terminate a peer-reviewed grant in the middle of a budget cycle.

The book also explains how Fauci resisted former President Donald Trump's call to cancel a research grant to a non-profit that gave money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the institution at the center of the COVID-19 lab leak theory

Trump pushed Fauci and National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins to cancel a grant to a non-profit that had been giving money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, something it was unclear they had the legal authority to do

Workers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology are photographed in 2017. The Wuhan lab has been central to the so-called lab leak theory - that COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese lab instead of jumping from an animal to a human

The general counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services made it clear to Fauci and Collins that the order came directly from Trump.

The implication, the book said, was that their jobs were on the line.

The grant had been given to the non-profit EcoHealth Alliance to have the Wuhan lab study how coronaviruses jump from infected bats to humans. Politico, however, reported that EcoHealth Alliance wasn't actively collaborating with the lab when NIH cut off the funds.

Trump had declared at an April 17 press conference that he had instructed U.S. officials to look into whether any taxpayer dollars were slated to go to the Wuhan Institute for research - and announced that funding would be cancelled.

Trump wanted the men to announce at a 5 p.m. press conference on April 24, 2020 that the grant had been terminated.

Fauci and Collins reluctantly did as they were told.

On April 24, the NIH told EcoHealth Alliance that the funds had been terminated.

EcoHealth Alliance was told not to spend the remaining $369,819 balance of the 2020 grant.

The HHS general counsel later decided that the agency probably didn't have the authority to terminate the grant, so NIH had to reinstate it, but stopped payment.

The authors write that Fauci's longtime friend, HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley encouraged him to hold out against Trump's demand - even suggesting Fauci resign.

Staley was concerned about politics seeping into scientific research.

'You want us both to resign over a $3.7 million grant?' Fauci pushed back.

The book revealed that Fauci and Collins heard the same advice from a number of members of the scientific community.

In the conversation with Staley, the activist took it back.

'You're right, you're right,' he told Fauci. 'That's not what you resign over.'
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IN FULL: The UK's new travel green list All changes will come into effect from Wednesday, June 30 at 4am: Anguila

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

Balearic Islands

Barbados

Bermuda

British Antarctic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

British Virgin Islands

Brunei

Cayman Islands

Dominica

Falkland Islands

Faroe Islands

Gibraltar

Grenada

Iceland

Israel and Jerusalem - to be moved to the Green Watch List

Madeira

Malta

Montserrat

New Zealand

Pitcairn Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Singapore

Turks and Caicos Islands The UK Government will move the following countries to the red list from June 30: Dominican Republic

Eritrea

Haiti

Mongolia

Tunisia

Uganda Advertisement

Flight prices to popular holiday destinations have tripled within hours of the government announcing its updated green list.

The cost of heading to Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca and Malta surged by up to 200 per cent after they were added to the quarantine-free areas.

Tickets for a return flight to Ibiza on July 3 and July 10 leaped from 149 to 314 while journeys on the same days to Majorca leaped from 153 to 478.

The soaring prices came just hours after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced via Twitter which countries had made the cut for the green list.

He said the Balearic islands - Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca - along with Madeira, Grenada, Barbados, and Bermuda have all been downgraded from amber to green.

It means holidaymakers will be able to return from these countries without being forced into quarantine for 10 days when arriving back in the UK.

Mr Shapps also said the Government will allow those who are double-jabbed to holiday in amber list countries later this summer without having to quarantine on their return.

And in a further boost for Britons, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays announced plans to put on 70 additional flights to Malta and Madeira in anticipation for a huge spike in demand.

Meanwhile six countries including Tunisia and Haiti will be put on the UK's travel red list - meaning only UK citizens and those with residency status can travel from here and must stay in quarantine hotels for 10 days.

Israel and Jerusalem, which have been on the UK's travel green list since its inception, will be added to the 'green watch list'.

Others in this category - which signals that a country might be moved to the amber list in the near future - include Antigua, the Balearic Islands, Barbados and Grenada.

And in another blow France and Germany launched a joint push to make Britons quarantine on arrival in the EU despite Boris Johnson hailing the 'real opportunity' of opening travel to double-jabbed holidaymakers.

Travel chiefs welcomed Mr Shapps' update, with Virgin Atlantic chief Shai Weiss describing the decision to allow Antigua, Barbados and Grenada as a 'constructive step' to allow 'much needed holidays'.

But she also criticised the decision to leave the US on the UK's amber list, saying: 'Today's announcement fails to go far enough.'

Some Britons jumped the gun and revealed they had been booking flights and stays abroad before the Transport Secretary's announcement.

Hopeful tourists took to social media over the past few days to show their plans for some summer sun, bagging return flight prices as cheap as 21 for Malta and Ibiza and 26 to Mallorca over the next few months.

On another tense day of coronavirus developments:

Covid-19 case rates in all regions of England are continuing to increase, according to the latest PHE report;

The North-west spiked to 238.9 cases per 100,000 in the week to June 20 compared to 200.3 previous week;

Boris Johnson is struggling to contain an apparent Cabinet split as ministers said they will ditch face masks;

Inflation is expected to rise above 3 per cent 'for a temporary period' as the UK economic recovery continues;

The first lockdown in March 2020 led to a drop in fertility rates and not the baby boom previously predicted.

IBIZA BEFORE: Tickets for a return flight to Ibiza on July 3 and July 10 started at 149 earlier on Thursday

IBIZA AFTER: But journeys to the party island jumped after the announcement to 314

MAJORCA BEFORE: One journey on the same days to Majorca started at 153 earlier on Thursday

MAJORCA AFTER: But to get to the Balearic Island now you will have to fork out around 478

MENORCA BEFORE: A trip with the same firm to nearby Menorca rose from 132 to 312

MENORCA AFTER: Passengers wanting a trip to Menorca next month could have to pay premium prices for their flights

MALTA BEFORE: The price of the flight from Heathrow to Malta was just 201 ahead of the announcement

MALTA AFTER: But after Mr Shapps' revealed the new list it jumped up to 260

Jet2 announces 70 extra flights to Malta and Madeira after green list announcement British travel firm Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have announced plans to put on 70 additional flights to Malta and Madeira in anticipation for a huge spike in demand in the wake of the Government's latest travel announcement. The plans include adding a new route to Malta from London Stansted for Summer 21. Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: 'We have been urging the UK Government to stay true to their word and follow the scientific evidence when it comes to making decisions about international travel, so yesterday's announcement is an overdue but welcome step in the right direction. 'We believe other destinations should still be added to the Green List, however what this demonstrates is that the Government is firmly committed to reopening international travel and we commend that approach. 'This is fantastic news for our customers who want nothing more than to get away for a much-needed holiday. 'Now that we have some clarity about where we can fly to, our focus is on getting everything ready for the restart of our international flights and holidays from July 1.' Advertisement

Within hours of Mr Shapps' announcement prices for flights to the new green list destinations surged by up to 200 per cent.

Jet2's plane from Stansted to Ibiza and back - at 6am on July 3 and 10.20am on July 10 - jumped from 149 to 314.

Ryanair's journey to Malta for the same dates - but at 4.55pm and 7.15am - also increased in cost from 201 to 260.

Meanwhile a Jet2 plane out of the Essex airport to Majorca on those days leaped from 153 to 478 within hours of the announcement.

A trip with the same firm to nearby Menorca rose from 132 to 312.

The welcome announcement of the new green list, which comes into effect from June 30, was made after both Scotland and Northern Ireland jumped the gun and revealed the additions before Mr Shapps.

Almost an hour after the Northern Ireland Assembly had revealed the updated green list, the Transport Secretary said in a Twitter post: 'We're adding Malta to the Government green list.

'We're also adding Madeira, the Balearic Islands, several UK Overseas Territories and Caribbean Islands (including Barbados) to the green list and green watchlist. Israel and Jerusalem are also added to the green watchlist.'

He added: 'Thanks to our successful vaccination programme, our intention is that later in the summer UK residents who are fully vaccinated will not have to isolate when travelling from amber list countries.'

Mr Shapps said more details about the double-vaccination holiday scheme will be unveiled by the government next month.

Six countries including Tunisia and Haiti will be put on the UK's travel red list - meaning only UK citizens and those with residency status can travel from here and must stay in quarantine hotels for 10 days.

Israel and Jerusalem, which have been on the UK's travel green list since its inception, will be added to the green watch list - which signals that a country might be moved to the amber list in the near future.

The travel list changes are all due to come into place from June 30, at 4am.

The cost of heading to Ibiza (pictured), Majorca, Menorca and Malta surged by up to 200 per cent after they were added to the quarantine free areas

Britons have been given a major boost to their hopes of a foreign getaway this summer, with 16 locations - including several top holiday hotspots - being added to the UK's travel green list. Pictured: Pretty Bay at Birzebbuga, Malta - which has been added to the list

The hugely popular Balearic islands - Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca - along with Madeira, Grenada, Barbados (pictured), and Bermuda have all been downgraded from amber to green, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed tonight

Mallorca (pictured: Beach El Arenal) is one of the top holiday hotspots to be put on the UK's green travel list by Grant Shapps

Bermuda (pictured: Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda) is also being added to the list, with changes set to be made on June 30 at 4am

What is the UK's green 'watch list' for travel The green 'watch list' is the Government's new section of the travel traffic light system. Introduced earlier this month, the watch list is for countries that are on the green list for travel, but are seeing concerning Covid numbers. The Government says it can and will move countries between its red, amber and red lists if there are concerns about case figures. But it came under fire from holiday groups and passengers after dramatically dropping countries from its green list - leaving passengers facing a fight to get their money back or rearrange their holiday plans at short notice. The watch list, therefore, is meant to act as a warning to travellers that a country may soon be put on the amber list. However the quarantine rules remain the same on the green and green watch list - in that passengers who arrive in the UK from these countries do not have to quarantine on their return. Israel and Jerusalem, which have been on the green list since its inception, are now heading for the watch list. And 15 out of the 16 additions to the green list will be placed on the watch list instead of straight on the green list. Malta will be the only country from the new green list nations not to be on the watch list. Advertisement

Both Northern Ireland and Scotland had earlier jumped the gun on the announcement, revealing the 16 countries they were set to allow on their travel green list.

Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson said: From the outset we have said caution is required regarding international travel and people should think very carefully about travelling abroad as situations can suddenly change.

'We continue to work closely with the other home nations and are cautiously supportive of exploring options for the easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers arriving from countries on the amber list - but only if the clinical advice supports it and if systems are in place to ensure the wider safety of the Scottish population.'

Travel chiefs welcomed the move, with Virgin Atlantic chief Shai Weiss describing the decision to allow Antigua, Barbados and Grenada as a 'constructive step' to allow 'much needed holidays'.

But she also criticised the decision to leave the US on the UK's amber list, saying: 'Today's announcement fails to go far enough.

The Government's own evidence shows the US is low risk and should be added to the Green list now. Whilst the transatlantic corridor is closed, 23million in economic value each day is restricted.

'We urge the UK Government to move the US to the UK's 'Green list' and for the Biden administration to repeal the 212F proclamation for UK travellers.'

Sean Doyle, chief executive officer of British Airways said also urged the Government to move faster, saying: 'We cannot afford another missed summer.

'There are jobs at stake, Britons separated from family members and we cannot afford to allow the success of our vaccine programme to be wasted.'

Chief executive of trade group ABTA, Mark Tanzer, said while the green list additions were 'welcome' that the Government's latest update did 'not on its own deliver a meaningful restart of international travel'.

Merkel and Macron are accused of hypocrisy over push to keep Brits out of Europe this summer France and Germany were accused of hypocrisy after pushing to keep British holidaymakers out of Europe this summer, despite the Indian variant already being on the rise in both nations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron urged all EU states to follow their lead in making it mandatory for UK travellers to quarantine, regardless of whether they have been jabbed or not. The bid to tighten the bloc's defences comes amid fears about the ultra-infectious Indian 'Delta' variant which has taken off far quicker in Britain than the rest of the continent. But data shows prevalence of the mutant strain is growing exponentially in Germany and is accounting for up to 70 per cent of new cases in some regions in the South West of France. Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline the Franco-German stance was 'an attempt to close the stable door after the horse has bolted'. He said previous waves had shown overly-strict border controls between European countries cannot keep out new variants because they are so closely tied in trade, business and travel. Nationally, the Indian variant only makes up 15 per cent of infections in Germany currently and cases are still trending downwards. But official data shows the proportion of infections made up of the Delta strain have doubled every seven days for the past three weeks. French Government figures show 10 per cent of all new Covid cases are the virulent variant, but seven in 10 of new cases in the southwestern region of Landes, on the Atlantic coast. Landes is recording more than 50 Covid cases per 100,000 population in total which is double the national rate. It is also the only area in France where infection rates are climbing. The situation in Landes has echoes of how the Indian variant was first seeded in the North West of England and spread around Britain from April. Currently, those travelling from Britain to Greece, Spain and Portugal are not required to quarantine. Spain is letting Britons in without having to produce a PCR test. The UK's hugely successful vaccination programme - which has seen more than 80 per cent of adults jabbed and 60 per cent fully vaccinated - means the majority of the population are protected from the Indian variant and less likely to spread it. Advertisement

ABTA chief, Mr Tanzer, said: 'If the Government is going to continue to place such tight constraints on the industry's ability to trade, we need them to commit to a package of tailored financial support for the sector, which recognises that the travel industry's recovery will be slower than that in other sectors of the economy.

'Travel companies are facing increased furlough and business rates costs next week and - with travel to the most popular holiday destinations still largely restricted  they will simply not have the money to do so.'

On the amber list double jab announcement, he added: 'We're glad to hear that the Government intends to remove quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers travelling to amber countries, and this needs to be introduced as quickly as possible.'

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: 'It is very positive news that ministers are following the science and that fully vaccinated people will be able to travel safely without quarantine later this summer. We will work with the Government to make this happen as soon as possible and let Britain fly!'

But travel expert Paul Charles of the PC Agency tweeted: 'Just to be clear - the 'green watchlist' enables #UKGov to switch green countries to Amber or Red without warning.

'Of the 15 destinations added today, only one, Malta, is pure green. Ministers have not re-instilled confidence in the traffic lights system.'

It comes as France and Germany launched a joint push to make Britons quarantine on arrival in the EU despite Boris Johnson hailing the 'real opportunity' of opening travel to double-jabbed holidaymakers.

The bid is to tighten the bloc's defences against the Indian - or Delta - variant, with countries alarmed at the spike in infections caused by the mutation.

Angela Merkel urged all EU states to follow Germany's lead by requiring travellers from the UK to quarantine.

But Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya confirmed tonight the country would snub Angela Merkel by continuing to let British tourists into the country without forcing them to quarantine.

She said at a press conference with her Panamanian counterpart Erika Mouynes after their meeting in Madrid: 'At the moment we are maintaining the measures which enable British citizens to enter our territory.'

Spain's defiant stance comes after the German president said in summit at Brussels: 'I will lobby for a more co-ordinated approach, particularly with regard to entries from regions where virus variants abound.'

French president Emmanuel Macron echoed her hard line, saying: 'We must all be vigilant because the much-talked-about Delta variant is coming, which spreads much more rapidly than the other variants and affects people who are not vaccinated or who only have had one dose.

'For me, one of the issues of discussion is to be really taking co-ordinated decisions in terms of opening of borders to third countries and on recognising vaccines because at this stage we have to limit this to the vaccines that have been approved by the European medical authority.'

Environment Secretary George Eustice condemned the Franco-German stance. 'I'm not sure that such an approach would be justified given the highly advanced stage we are currently at now in terms of vaccination, with 80 per cent having had one jab and now 60 per cent having had the second jab,' he told LBC radio.

'I don't think such a move would be justified but obviously it's for individual countries to make these judgments.'

Spain indicated it will fight any Franco-German attempt to get the rest of Europe to introduce quarantine for British holidaymakers.

Meanwhile, on a visit to Aldershot, Mr Johnson dodged directly criticising Mrs Merkel's comments, saying: 'Let's see where we get to with all this.

'I think that the real opportunity we all have now is to open up travel through the double jab. We've got more than 60 per cent of our population have now had two jabs, 83 per cent have had one jab, we're really getting through it now.

'I'm not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I don't want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.'

Angela Merkel (pictured with Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit) has called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival

On a visit to Aldershot, Boris Johnson sidestepped on Angela Merkel's comments about making Britons quarantine but said the 'real opportunity' was to open up travel to people who have had two vaccination doses

Ministers say they will stop wearing masks as soon as they are not law Boris Johnson is struggling to contain an apparent Cabinet split as ministers openly said they will ditch face masks the moment they are not compulsory - and suggested that should happen on July 19. George Eustice dismissed the idea he would keep wearing face coverings when they are not required, saying: 'I want to get back to normal.' He also reiterated that the plan is for 'all legal restrictions' to lift in England on the so-called Covid 'Freedom Day' next month. Chancellor Rishi Sunak gave a similar message as he said it is his 'strong expectation' that the unlocking will go ahead on schedule. Asked at the Times CEO summit if he would stop wearing masks when they are not legally required, Mr Sunak said: 'Yes, as soon as possible.' Meanwhile, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg ramped up expectations of curbs being fully removed as he told MPs that the description of July 19 as a 'terminus point' is likely to mean Covid certificates and other rules are dropped completely. However, in signs of tensions at the heart of government, Downing Street said the PM is only aiming to 'get back as close to normal as is possible' and 'no final decisions have been taken'. Nicola Sturgeon suggested earlier this week that the Scottish government could keep advising people to wear masks beyond August even if they are not mandatory. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also warned that they should still be required on the Tube and buses as they give people 'confidence' they are safe. Advertisement

Portuguese PM Antonio Costa admitted earlier his country would bow down to whatever EU leaders decided ahead of a European Council meeting.

Asked by a Portuguese journalist if Lisbon would consider making Brits quarantine, he replied: 'If that was the wish of the Council, yes.

'The United Kingdom shouldn't have any different treatment.'

But Spain's Tourism Minister Maria Reyes Maroto appeared to put her country on a collision course with the likes of Merkel and Macron by insisting before the UK's new traffic light announcement: 'Hopefully we can begin to receive British tourists soon.'

Speaking at an event organised by leading Spanish newspaper El Pais, she said: 'We don't have any restrictions on tourists from the UK at the moment.

'They're the ones who are placing restrictions on people when they return.'

More than five million Brits visit Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca in a normal year.

Scientists had earlier signed off on declaring the Balearics safe enough for the green list, though there were fears that the Government could overrule the experts and keep them on the amber list.

Earlier, Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation Group, said some of the countries should have already been on the green list.

He said: 'Frankly, these destinations should already be on the green list along with many others.

'It is a nonsense that people are not able to travel freely to countries that have lower rates of infection than we do.'

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: 'It's now or never if we are to have any sort of summer season and the data shows this can be done safely and proportionately with many more countries being added to the list.

'The future of our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports depends on it.'

Culture minister John Whittingdale hinted at positive news yesterday, saying: 'Hopefully it will be possible to increase that number' of countries on the green list.

Green list status is only allocated to destinations that can show they have low Covid rates and no significant problems with variants of concern.

They also have to show that they can monitor for new variants.

Government scientists advised last month that Malta could be added to the green list, only to be overruled by ministers led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Latest figures suggest infection rates on the island are less than half those in the UK.

Meanwhile, Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless they are a German citizen, have residency rights or if there is an 'urgent humanitarian reason' like a family death.

But those allowed in still have to register to get permission to visit and quarantine for two weeks with no option for early release after a negative test.

It comes after Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for all UK arrivals amid growing concerns in Europe about the spread of the Indian, or Delta, variant, now dominant in the UK.

Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday that Italy will require all travellers from Britain to quarantine for five days upon arrival.

A negative test is required at the end of the five-day period. America currently still bans UK tourists amid the surge in Delta cases.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the US's top infectious diseases expert, last week suggested that UK-US travel would only reopen in September as a result.

Portugal, Spain and Greece are still allowing UK holidaymakers to visit with proof of a negative test and no quarantine.

France is also allowing in fully vaccinated Britons with a negative test.

But European health officials say further action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant as it gains a hold on the Continent.

This month it accounted for 70 per cent of sequenced cases in the greater Lisbon region of Portugal, more than 20 per cent in Italy and about 16 per cent in Belgium. It has also been detected in clusters in Germany, France and Spain.

Ahead of Mr Shapps' green list update, some Britons took to social media to announce they had decided to buy tickets abroad anyway.

Hopeful tourists over the past few days revealed their plans for some summer sun abroad, with return flight prices as cheap as 21 for Malta and Ibiza and 26 to Mallorca over the next few months.

Even last-minute holidays will not break the bank, with Saturday-Saturday returns from July 3 to July 10 available through price comparison website Skyscanner for 87 to Ibiza, 120 to Mallorca and 147 to Valletta.

And one British tourist from Manchester, @speckysi, tweeted: 'It's Russian roulette time again, I've now booked Malta for next week - there's next to nothing cases and zero deaths. All I want is one week in the sun.'

Another, Tristan Dawson from Essex, tweeted that he had 'just booked Mallorca' and was 'determined to have a holiday' - while a third, Adam Courtney, said he had 'gambled and booked' a trip to Malta on Tuesday.
Two women and one man were arrested for allegedly beating and choking a police officer after he pulled their car over for driving through a stop sign in Illinois.

Jennifer Taylor, 24; Sheba Taylor, 26; and Paul Sherrod, 28, are each facing charges of aggravated battery, resisting or obstructing a police officer causing injury and aggravated assault of a peace officer, according to The Aurora Police Department.

The attack unfolded on Monday during a traffic stop after the unidentified police officer watched the group's car ignore a stop sign near West Aurora High School at about 10.30pm.

Paul Sherrod, 28, (left) and Sheba Taylor, 26, (right) were arrested along with another woman on Monday night they allegedly attacked a police officer during a traffic stop

Jennifer Taylor, 24, (pictured) was also arrested and charged for Monday night's alleged attack

Sherrod was driving the vehicle and pulled into a driveway before he began shouting at the officer, police said.

One of the female passengers then got out of the car and approached the officer, who ordered her to get back inside multiple times before informing her that she was under arrest for obstructing police.

Public Information Officer Paris Lewbel stated that moments later Sherrod also exited the vehicle, continued yelling obscenities, and started approaching the officer at the rear of the car. He told the officer that he would fight him if he touched the rear female passenger.

The officer then informed Sherrod that he, too, was under arrest, before Sherrod started running away.

The officer pursued Sherrod on food with both women running behind him.

At some point, the woman whom the officer had threatened to arrest caught up to him and he tried to grab her arm to restrain her.

The woman yanked her arm away before she and the fellow female passenger began beating the officer with their fists on his body and head.

Soon after Sherrod joined in on the attack, police said.

The passenger who was initially ordered to go back to the car then placed her forearm around the officer's neck and applied significant force to his throat, causing him to lose the ability to breathe.

Additional officers then arrived at the scene and helped to arrest all three suspects. The officer was then transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

'Our Aurora police officers are entrusted with keeping our community safe from harm. I am at a loss of words when an officer is physically attacked from something that would have been a simple traffic ticket,' said Chief Kristen Ziman.

'We will not allow our city to become a place where criminals feel emboldened, and lawlessness ensues,' she said.

Mayor of Aurora also stepped in to condemn what happened to the officer.

'This type of lawlessness and violence against our police officers cannot and will not be tolerated,' said Mayor Richard C. Irvin.

He added that 'This was an act of malice and cowardice and I will absolutely seek that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Let's keep this officer in our prayers as the officer makes a full and complete recovery.'

Both Taylors are in custody with their bond set at $50,000. Jennifer Taylor is scheduled for a court date on July 14, while Sheba Taylor's hearing is on July 7.

Sherrod is being held on a $75,000 bail with his hearing scheduled on July 6.

All three of them are facing One Count of Aggravated battery (Victim Police Officer) Class 2 Felony, One count of Aggravated Battery/Strangle  Class 3 Felony, One count of Aggravated Battery (Public Way)  Class 3 Felony, One count of Resisting or Obstructing a Police Officer Causing Injury  Class 4 Felony and One count of Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer  Class 4 Felony.
The former headmaster of a school embroiled in the infected blood scandal has told an inquiry there was nothing more the school could have done to support pupils emotionally after they were diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis as 'they were infected and were going to die'.

Alec Macpherson was the headmaster at Lord Mayor Treloar College, a boarding school in Hampshire, from 1974 to 1990.

During his tenure, several pupils - who had haemophilia - were diagnosed in their teenage years with HIV after receiving treatments which were infected. Others found out they had hepatitis prior to him joining the school.

A total of 72 haemophiliac pupils who attended the school in the 1970s and 1980s have since died after contracting HIV and hepatitis.

Alec Macpherson (pictured during the infected blood inquiry) was the headmaster at Lord Mayor Treloar College, a boarding school in Hampshire, from 1974 to 1990

Earlier this week, former pupils and parents of pupils gave evidence to the inquiry - where they said the boys were given little emotional support after receiving their diagnoses.

In the latest hearing of the inquiry on Thursday, Mr Macpherson outlined the emotional support offered at the school, which included two counsellors on site and a psychiatrist who would visit pupils weekly.

While he said he acted 'in loco parentis', or in place of the parents, for the pupils, he added the boys would lean on their schoolmasters at their boarding houses or the nurses at the haemophilia site for support after receiving their diagnoses.

He said he was not invited to any meetings where pupils were informed they had hepatitis or were HIV-positive.

'All the boys had someone they could talk to who was willing to listen to them,' he said.

During his tenure, several pupils - who had haemophilia - were diagnosed in their teenage years with HIV after receiving treatments which were infected. Pictured: Princess Diana visiting the Lord Mayor Treloar College in 1989

'They weren't mentally ill - they didn't need psychiatric help, they were perfectly sane. What they had was a rage inside them, a frustration, that suddenly they had been made ill and they were going to die in the not-too-distant future.

'You could see it when you talked to them... it was a result of this disease, it had a dreadful effect on them.'

He added: 'If you're trying to say that we should have done more in terms of counselling them, I don't think we could have done any more. I think the staff did as much as they could.

'There was nothing you could do about it. They were infected, they were going to die and that was it. You just had to help them get on with life and live life to the full. Our way of doing it was trying to keep them busy.'

A total of 72 haemophiliac pupils who attended the school (pictured) in the 1970s and 1980s have since died after contracting HIV and hepatitis

The school, which has since rebranded as Treloar's, issued a statement on Monday which said the on-site haemophilia medical centre where the boys were treated was run by the NHS.

And Mr Macpherson told the inquiry on Thursday the school had an oversight of the NHS-run centre, with at least two doctors being paid NHS workers while other medical staff, including physiotherapists and nurses, were employed by the school.

During his tenure as headteacher, Mr Macpherson said he had nothing to do with the decision-making regarding the boy's health, what they were treated with, how and when they were told about their diagnoses and conversations with parents over consent and treatment plans.

He instead held weekly meetings with Dr Aronstam, an NHS worker and director of the haemophilia centre in the 1970s and 1980s, who gave him a general update on how the boys were doing.

Other medical issues were handled by the college's medical officer, Dr Pat Tomlinson - a GP, he added.

Mr Macpherson (pictured) told the inquiry on Thursday the school had an oversight of the NHS-run centre, with at least two doctors being paid NHS workers while other medical staff, including physiotherapists and nurses, were employed by the school

Documents shown to the inquiry on Thursday revealed the school governors, and Mr Macpherson, discussed the pupils' positive HIV tests at a meeting in 1985.

Mr Macpherson said he believed the meeting was held shortly after he had first been informed of the pupils' diagnoses by Dr Aronstam, and that the school 'did not delay doing everything they could' to help the pupils.

Medical records seen by the inquiry earlier this week showed some pupils were listed as being 'at risk' of hepatitis in 1978, while Dr Aronstam had begun testing pupils for HTLV - which is what HIV was previously known as - as early as 1983.

When this was put to him, Mr Macpherson said he found it 'hard to believe' Dr Aronstam had potentially waited two years to tell him students had been infected with HIV.

'I always thought that they [the doctors] were doing the best they could,' he said.

'If they didn't take immediate take action when they knew that infected blood was being used, I'm very surprised. I think that was remiss, that was a mistake, which I would say was culpable. If that is true - that's disgraceful.'

He added: 'I don't think any of us in the school...we didn't know about it, we didn't have any authority, or reason to interfere in any way, no reason whatsoever. Doctors are God, let's face it, aren't they?'

Lead counsel for the inquiry, Jenni Richards QC, told chairman of the inquiry Sir Brian Langstaff she has not seen any earlier references to Aids in the governor's meeting documents, but 'did not want to give him an assurance' that was correct until she had checked the documents herself.

Trealoar's said in a statement the school had developed a 'much deeper understanding of what happened' to the pupils as a result of the evidence given this week and it was 'grateful' to those who highlighted shortcomings in the pastoral care.

The inquiry continues.
A homeless man attacked two elderly diners sitting outside a Lower Manhattan coffee shop for refusing to give him money, the New York Police Department reported Thursday.

The 47-year-old homeless man confronted the two diners outside of Think Coffee in NoHo, telling them they 'were being disrespectful for not giving him money', according to the New York Post.

He then allegedly shoved the 61-year-old to the ground and hit the 75-year-old in the side, before fleeing.

The victims suffered minor injuries but they both refused medical attention at the scene.

The incident joins a string of recent attacks by homeless people in New York City amid a harrowing surge in crime.

A pair of elderly diners outside of Think Coffee on Bleeker Street in Lower Manhattan (file photo) were allegedly attacked by a homeless man who claimed they were being 'disrespectful for not giving him money'

The incident comes just days after former mayoral candidate Andrew Yang came under fire for remarks he made about homeless people.

In the last mayoral debate last week, Yang made an impassioned plea to get more treatment for mentally ill homeless people.

'Yes, mentally ill people have rights, but you know who else has rights? We do - The people and families of our city,' he said. 'We have the right to walk the streets and not fear for our safety because a mentally ill person is going to lash out at us.'

Former New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang said dangerously mentally ill people should be forced off the streets

He added that 'mentally ill homeless men are changing the character of our neighborhoods' and that families are fleeing the city as a result.

He further claimed a friend of his wife's had recently been 'punched in the face by a vagrant in [the Manhattan neighborhood of] Hell's Kitchen'.

'This is happening in New York City, and we're not talking enough about it. We owe people and families better than this,' he blasted.

Yang vowed to double the number of 'psych beds' in the city, and stated: 'There will be no recovery until we resolve this'.

However, the other Democrat candidates - most of whom are further left- have hit out at Yang's remarks.

Candidate Scott Stringer snapped, saying: 'You can't say, "Psych beds for all". This is a teaching moment. This is not how the next mayor has to comport themselves.'

Meanwhile, AOC-backed candidate Maya Wiley called Yang 'cruel', while candidate Eric Adams - a former NYPD cop - said he was 'really disturbed' by Yang's comments and added that mental illness shouldn't be 'criminalized.'

A man sleeps on the sidewalk outside the busy Moynihan Train Hall in Midtown Manhattan

Homeless people are seen sleeping near West 40th St. and Broadway on Thursday. Crime in the area has spiked 170%

People slept on the streets near the intersection of West 40th St. and Broadway on June 17

Yang ultimately dropped out of the race on Tuesday, as violent crime continues to increase.

The Manhattan South police district - which includes the area around tourist-heavy Times Square and Penn Station - has spiked by 170 percent compared to last year's figures.

Pictures taken by DailyMail.com on Thursday showed homeless people in the area sleeping on sidewalks without shoes, using drugs and drinking alcohol, or passed out next to empty or smashed bottles.

People in the city have been slashed and punched in the face, spit at, pushed onto subway tracks and stabbed with box cutters - all in recent months and each time by random strangers who were seemingly out of their minds.

Yang said he'd been an 'advocate for mental health' and said he'd gone to counseling as a younger person. But, he said, mental health issues aren't an excuse for violence - and he pointed to what he said was the sharp rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, half of which he said had been perpetrated by mentally ill people.

'We need to get them compassionate comprehensive care - and not let them languish on our streets,' Yang said in a tweet.

He didn't release a detailed plan on how he'd do that, but, as the state and city moved away from institutionalizing those with serious mental problems, they left behind huge facilities - many of which are now little-used: For instance, the 17-story Manhattan Psychiatric Center, a state-run mental hospital on Wards Island in the East River, has more than 500 beds, but is only using about 200, according to state records.

The NYPD have now set up a command post and metal barriers in Midtown Manhattan in a bid to crack down on violent crime that is being fueled, in part, by an illegal drug market between Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Terminal. Police say crime has spiked in that area after hundreds of homeless were rehoused there in hotels during COVID

For months residents living near the hotels where around 8,000 homeless people have been housed have implored the city to relocate them. They blame the homeless for bringing crime and drug use to their front door

Many of the newcomers, living in nearby hotel rooms contracted by the city, have been largely inconspicuous. But others with mental health and drug problems have become a growing presence in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood and adjacent Times Square.

And now, as the city looks to welcome back tourists and office workers with the measures introduced for the pandemic lifting, suburban commuters and residents say there is a palpable difference from the New York they knew before much of the country locked down in March 2020.

Giselle Routhier, policy director for the Coalition for the Homeless advocacy group, faulted the state and city for not providing enough mental health services and for 'shuffling people' between locations.

'What we actually need for the city to do is to offer folks on the streets access to single occupancy rooms where they can come inside and feel that they're safe from the elements and from the spread of the coronavirus,' she said.

Longer term, the city needs 'more robust housing production for extremely low-income and homeless households, particularly for single adults,' many of whom were pushed into homelessness by the economic fallout of the pandemic, Routhier said.

Several of the more than a dozen Democrats running for mayor in next Tuesday's primary election also have called for converting hotels into housing for the homeless.

As the pandemic raged last spring, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) relocated 10,000 people from crowded shelters to 67 hotels whose tourism, business and convention bookings had dried up.

Over 20 percent were packed into hotels in the Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen neighborhoods west of Times Square and the Theater District, the New York Post reported, citing a letter from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer that it had obtained.

Residents there then started to complain about an alleged rise in lewd activities and drug use in their neighborhoods.

'We heard the complaints from the communities and that's why we increased the (police) presence,' said Terence Monahan, a senior adviser to Mayor Bill de Blasio for COVID-19 recovery and safety planning who retired earlier this year as the NYPD's chief of department. 'People need to feel safe.'
John McAfee, the outlaw antivirus pioneer who died in a Spanish prison on Wednesday, spend his final months of freedom in a mysterious 'ghost hotel' where he was tracked down by web sleuths.

While McAfee claimed to be jetting around to Belarus and hoaxed an arrest in Norway for wearing a thong as a mask, he was actually staying in the Daurada Park Hotel in Cambrils, Catalonia, according to the New York Post.

McAfee appears to have been hiding out in the hotel from March 2020 until his arrest in October, and was busted by amateur sleuths who spotted Spanish products and images of the Catalonian coast in his photos on Twitter.

At the hotel, no one answered the phones and it was impossible to make a reservation, according to El Confidencial, leading the Spanish newspaper to call the Daurada Park a 'ghost hotel.'

John McAfee, the outlaw antivirus pioneer who died in a Spanish prison on Wednesday, spent his final months of freedom in a mysterious 'ghost hotel' in Catalonia

While McAfee claimed to be jetting around to Belarus and hoaxed an arrest in Norway for wearing a thong as a mask, he was actually staying in the Daurada Park Hotel (above)

The Daurada Park is situated in a small fishing village on the Spanish coast, about 70 miles southwest of Barcelona.

The last TripAdvisor reviews for the hotel were posted in late 2016 and are resoundingly negative, with one comparing it to 'the Overlook Hotel from Stephen King's the Shining' and a 'Spanish version of hotel California'.

Spanish media report that the hotel was then purchased by an unnamed Russian businessman, who drew attention from authorities by installing a large laser on the roof pointing at the sky.

In 2018, Spanish police raided the hotel after rumors circulated that it was being used as a brothel.

What cops found surprised them. Instead of prostitution, the hotel was operating a large Bitcoin mining operation in the basement and parking garages, according to Diari de Tarragona.

The rooftop laser was apparently a ploy to explain the huge energy use of the computers in the basement, which earned Bitcoin by processing transactions.

Police appear to have been baffled by the operation, which didn't seem illegal on its face, and it's unclear whether any charges were ever brought.

Some sleuths spotted Spanish wine and bottled water in this photo, taken when McAfee claimed to be in Belarus

Twitter users noted that McAfee was consuming a Spanish brand of whipped cream when he claimed to be in Belarus

Others tied vistas from his photos to locations on the Spanish coast

McAfee's connection to the hotel was exposed by amateur web sleuths on Twitter, most of whom have now had their accounts suspended.

Last spring, McAfee claimed to be in 'lockdown' in Belarus, but posted photos that eagle-eyed followers noted contained Spanish products.

McAfee's photos showed beaches and balconies in the background that the sleuths were able to trace to Cambrils, and eventually the Daurada Park.

Confronted about the inconsistencies, McAfee lashed out on Twitter, claiming he had 'visited Spain for a few days.'

But it appears he used the mystery hotel as his base of operations for months before his arrest on U.S. tax and fraud charges.

McAfee was arrested at Barcelona airport in early October when he was about to board a flight to Istanbul with a British passport.

He languished in Spanish prison until a court this week approved his extradition to the U.S. to face the charges.

McAfee was found dead in his cell on Wednesday in what authorities say appears to be a suicide by hanging.
Joe Biden praised Kamala Harris on Thursday for her work 'at the border' just two days ahead of her first trip there as criticism mounts over her failure to visit the U.S.-Mexico border in her first 90 days in charge of the crisis.

'Mr. President, what are you hoping the Vice President can do at the border tomorrow?' a reporter asked Biden at the end of short remarks on infrastructure followed by a press conference on Thursday.

'She's done a great job so far,' Biden said with Harris by his side as he walked halfway out of the room.

'And the reason why it's important that she go down, she's now set up the criteria  having spoken with the president of Mexico and Guatemala, visited the region  to know what we need to do,' he added.

Harris will take her first trip to survey the southern border between the U.S. and Mexico on Friday  even though she was named 'border czar' by the White House in March.

The vice president traveled to Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month to address 'root causes', but received a slew of backlash from both parties for making a joke of not yet going to the border during her trip.

Harris announced her trip on Wednesday. She will visit El Paso, Texas with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

She will beat Donald Trump to the region by five days, even though the former president announced his trips eight days before Harris did her's.

President Joe Biden (left) said Thursday that he thinks Vice President Kamala Harris (right) has done a 'great job' addressing the border crisis  even though she has not yet visited the region

Harris on Friday will make her first trip to the border since Biden put her in charge of the crisis in March

Trump announced last week that he accepted Texas Governor Greg Abbott's invitation to visit the border.

The former president took credit for Harris' impending visit, claiming if he and Abbott were not going next week, she would not have scheduled her own trip.

Abbott blasted Harris for 'ignoring the real problem' at the border.

'Vice President Harris is ignoring the real problem areas along our southern border that are not protected by the border wall and are being overrun by the federal government's ill-thought-out open border policies,' he wrote in a statement following the announcement on Wednesday.

'She will fail in her mission if she refuses to speak to residents of the Del Rio sector whose homes and ranches are being overrun by gangs and smugglers,' he continued. 'The Vice President was named Border Czar over 90 days ago, and in that time Texans have had their homes broken into, property damaged, and guns pointed at their heads as cartels, smugglers, and human traffickers profit off the Biden Administration's reckless open-border policies.'

Abbott said: 'Texas has been and continues to step up to protect Texans and Americans.'

When DailyMail.com reached out to Abbott for whether he will meet with Harris during her trip on Friday, the office forwarded the above statement.

Harris' office announced the trip Wednesday  following three months of criticism from Republicans and some Democrats after she was put in charge of addressing the mass migration crisis.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott blasted Kamala Harris as 'ignoring the real problem areas' of the border crisis on Wednesday after she announced she will finally make the trek to the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday

Abbott said the vice president's trip will be a failure if she does not talk with residents of Texas who have been afflicted by mass migration, including having 'their homes broken into, property damaged, and guns pointed at their heads' by 'cartels, smugglers and human traffickers'

For months, the White House insisted Harris' role as 'border czar' was specifically to address 'root causes' of migration in Northern Triangle countries and not specifically the U.S.-Mexico border.

That excuse didn't fly with Republicans who pressured the vice president for 90 days to visit the border if she actually cared about fixing the problem.

Abbott will meet with Trump during his trip to the southern border on Wednesday, which was announced eight days before the White House revealed Harris' impending trip.

In fact, it was the Republican governor who invited the former president to join him in surveying the border area the Lone Star State shares with Mexico  and where the majority of illegal encounters occur.

Trump took credit for Harris' change of heart, claiming she would not have scheduled a visit to the southern border unless he announced his own trip there next week.

'After months of ignoring the crisis at the Southern Border, it is great that we got Kamala Harris to finally go and see the tremendous destruction and death that they've createda direct result of Biden ending my very tough but fair Border policies,' Trump celebrated in a statement from his Save America political action committee email on Wednesday.

'Harris and Biden were given the strongest Border in American history. And now, it is by far the worst in American history,' he continued. 'If Governor Abbott and I weren't going there next week, she would have never gone!'

Rather than visiting the border in her 90 days as a czar, Harris took a trip to Guatemala and Mexico last month to address 'root causes' after five straight months of increases in migrant crossings.

President Joe Biden put Harris in charge of the migration crisis in March, which quickly turned her into the person to blame for the massive spike.

Just two days ahead of Harris' trip, 21 House Republicans, led by Colorado's Lauren Boebert, introduced a bill to censure Biden over his failure to secure the U.S. border in his more than five months as president.

Donald Trump will visit Texas next Wednesday alongside Abbott and at least 12 Republican House members . The former president departs from Trump Tower in Washington D.C. on Tuesday

Immigrants walk toward border patrol after crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. on Monday

'President Biden passed the buck to cackling Kamala, when he tapped Ms. Harris as border czar. Her work on the border is nonexistence, it's a joke  and even she laughs. But it's not funny,' Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert said in announcing the censure on Wednesday.

'This administration has not lifted a finger to end this crisis and secure our southern border,' she continued. 'They must be held accountable.

He claimed in a statement Wednesday that Harris is only giving into pressure to visit the border now because he announced his own impending trip.

About a dozen members of the Republican Study Committee, the largest group of House Republicans, will also join Trump on the trip, Politico reported.

Representative Jim Banks, the head of the Republican Study Group and a lawmaker joining Trump in Texas said: 'The dual trips offer a great split-screen.'

'President Trump is the greatest immigration president of our lifetime who devoted four years to fixing the border to protect Americans' lives and livelihoods,' he wrote in a Wednesday statement. 'Kamala Harris is the border czar for an administration that created a national embarrassment and has taken no effort to stop it.'

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters during a briefing Wednesday that the trip is part of a 'coordinated effort' to address 'root causes' of mass migration from Northern Triangle countries to the U.S.

'Earlier this year, as you all know, the president asked the vice president to oversee our diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, to Guatemala and Honduras and as a part of this work she recently traveled to Guatemala and Mexico last month. This trip to the border on Friday will be a part of this effort,' Psaki said.

She also reiterated previous comments where she and Harris have both said that the vice president would make a trip to the border when the timing was 'appropriate.'

A migrant family seeking asylum arrives on U.S. soil after crossing the Rio Grande on June 19, 2021 in Roma, Texas

Harris' senior advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on the visit: 'Vice President Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas on Friday, June 25,' 'She will be accompanied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.'

'Vice President Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas on Friday, June 25,' Harris' senior advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on the visit on Wednesday. 'She will be accompanied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.'

'Earlier this year, the President asked the Vice President to oversee our diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras,' she continued. 'As a part of this ongoing work, the Vice President traveled to Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month and will travel to El Paso on Friday.'



Republicans have slammed Harris for not making the trip yet.

'It reminds me of that old show, 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' She'll go everywhere except the border because she's afraid of what's going on down there, and they have no solutions,' Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told Fox & Friends.

Harris took her first trip abroad earlier this month to Guatemala and Mexico to meet with government and community leaders about the migrants flowing into the U.S.

In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt from Guatemala, Harris was asked why she hadn't visited the border. 'Why not see what Americans are seeing in this crisis?' the newsman asked.

She first answered that why there's 'no question' about the White House having to deal with what's happening at the border 'we have to understand that there's a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and then identify the problem so we can fix it.'

This chart shows how 2021 border crossings - pictured in blue - rocketed on crossings made in 2020, represented by the brown line (2018 is pictured in gray, with 2019 in orange)

This graph shows the number of migrants caught by the Office of Field Operation (OFO) and US Border Patrol agents in April and May

Holt then asked if Harris had any plans to visit the border.

'At some point, you know, we are going to the border. We've been to the border. So this whole thing about the border, we've been to the border. We've been to the border,' she responded.

Holt pointed out, 'You haven't been to the border.'

'And I haven't been to Europe,' the vice president said. 'And I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making. I'm not discounting the importance of the border.'

The response was widely panned.

Harris later snapped at Univision reporter Ilia Calderon, the day after she returned from the trip, telling her 'I've not finished,' as Calderon pressed when there might be a border trip.

Harris has been given seven roles in Biden's administration  including the border crisis

'I've said I'm going to the border. And also, if we are going to deal with the problems at the border, we have to deal with the problems that cause people to go to the border - to flee to the border. And that is the root causes,' Harris said, justifying her first foreign trip being to Guatemala and Mexico.

Biden has loaded Harris down with seven jobs - including running point on migration.

On Monday, Harris was tasked with selling Biden's Child Tax Credit, with a trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In early June, the vice president received her fifth and sixth jobs, as the president asked her to go on a vaccine education tour and handle the administration's efforts to protect voting rights.

Harris was on Capitol Hill Tuesday and presided over Senate Democrats' failed vote to start debate on a voting rights measure.

Migrant embrace relatives in 'Hugs, No Walls' at the border between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico on June 19, 2021

She's also handling the issues of broadband and space and also leading a pro-union taskforce that would take a 'whole-of-government approach to empower workers.'

In late March, Biden announced he had tapped Harris to lead the effort to stem migration coming from the Northern Triangle countries - El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras - and up through Mexico.

Harris, he said, 'agreed to lead our diplomatic effort to work with those nations.'

Very quickly Harris became a target for Republicans as border crossings soared and she didn't travel to the border to see the conditions on the ground.

In mid-April, Psaki said the 'confusion' surrounding Harris' role with the migrant crisis is 'perplexing,' arguing immigration policy has never been a 'one-woman' job.

Psaki also pointed out that Biden, as vice president, had essentially played the same role during the Obama years.
A New Mexico man has been found not guilty of murder in the 2018 strangulation death of a six-year-old girl, but jurors deadlocked on two other felony counts.

The jury at Leland Husts trial could not reach a verdict on Wednesday on the charges of child abuse resulting in death and criminal sexual penetration of a child. Prosecutors plan to seek a new trial on those charges.

Hust, wearing a face mask, cried and appeared relieved after the verdict was announced.

The verdict came nearly three years after Ariana 'Jade' Romeo was found dead and bloodied on August 11, 2018, in a bedroom of the Rio Rancho house she and her mother shared with Hust and seven others.

New Mexico jurors acquitted Leland Hust, 25 (left), of first-degree murder in the 2018 strangulation death of Ariana 'Jade' Romeo, six (right), but deadlocked on counts of child abuse and sexual penetration

Hust is pictured getting a pat on the back from his defense attorney Graham Dumas on Wednesday after being cleared of first-degree murder

Attorney Graham Dumas hugs Hust after the verdict of not guilty on the murder charge is reached by the jury at the Valencia County District Court on Wednesday

Hust's grandmother Susan Hazeltine, left, and his mother Sarina Hazeltine hug. Hazeltine said 'there is no relief' for anyone connected with this case

A forensic examination found evidence that she had been raped and strangled or smothered to death.

Prosecutor Jessica Martinez said she was disappointed with the outcome and planned to seek a new trial within six months on the two charges on which the jury deadlocked.

'Well review our evidence and do a better job next time,' Martinez said. 'All the evidence we have points only to [Hust].'

Ariana's mother, Stephanie Romeo, was not present for the reading of the verdict, but Martinez said that she later spoke to her about it, reported KRQE.

'Shes disappointed but shes strong and shes ready and willing to do it again,' said the prosecutor of the second trial, which would not take place for at least six months. Until then, Hust will remain jailed.

Prosecutors said Hust (left) was the last person to see Ariana alive on August 10, 2018, and DNA found on girl's body matched his

Ariana's mother, Stephanie Romeo, testified that she came home from a long night of work and climbed into the bed beside her daughter without realizing the girl was dead

Husts attorneys said they were pleased by the single not-guilty verdict for first-degree murder. 'This is the case of a diligent jury that took their time,' attorney Michael Rosenfield said.

Hust's mother, Sarina Hazeltine, said the verdict was 'good' but was still angry with the way the case unfolded, accusing the police of bungling the investigation by focusing on her 'innocent' son while letting the real killer get away with the child's murder.

'Theres no relief in this. Jade was murdered by somebody,' said Hazeltine. 'Theres no relief here for anybody at all. My family, Stephanies family. Lelands family, nobody, theres no relief for anybody here.'

Stephanie Romeo testified at the beginning of Hust's trial earlier this month that she came home from a long night of work at a pub and climbed into the bed beside her daughter without realizing the girl was dead. Romero recounted that the following morning on August 11 she made futile attempts to wake the girl up.

Court records show Ariana, who was mostly nude and bloodied, was cold to the touch, not breathing and wrapped tightly in a blanket. She also had multiple injuries to her body. The medical examiners office ruled her death as homicide by strangulation.

Romeo reacts as the jury is sent home after the second day deliberating Hust's fate on Tuesday. She was not present when the verdict was read

The Rio Rancho Police Department responded to the home where an officer encountered a man, later identified as Hust, leaving a room in the home.

A criminal complaint revealed detectives later interviewed Hust on August 23, where he told detectives he last saw Ariana on August 10 when he put on a movie for her in her room.

He denied having anything to do with her death. The complaint also said laboratory results from the New Mexico State Crime Lab matched Husts DNA to DNA found from the girls genital swabs.

His attorney Michael Rosenfield told jurors that police botched the investigation and later coerced Hust into making incriminating statements by overstating the strength of DNA evidence implicating Hust, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

Prosecutor Jessica Martinez, center, said she was disappointed with the outcome and planned to seek a new trial on the two charges on which the jury deadlocked

'This is a murky case based on insufficient investigation,' Rosenfield said, noting during his opening statement that sloppy police work destroyed evidence at the scene that could have identified the killer.

Assistant District Attorney Jannette Mondragon argued that Hust was the only member in the home who could not be eliminated as a source of the DNA. She also said he was the last person to see her alive, a claim Rosenfield disputed.

Hust's defense lawyer pointed a finger of blame Winston Scates Sr, the 65-year-old owner of the home where Ariana lived with her mother and the others. Scates had pleaded guilty in 2019 to sexual contact with a minor for inappropriately touching a female relative, and was handed a suspended sentence.

Scates was then granted immunity in exchange for testifying against Hust.
He was dubbed 'the craziest man in tech', which is saying something. The prime minister of Belize, where John McAfee became an international fugitive and built a fortress home, put it more bluntly, branding him 'bonkers'.

Nobody who encountered British-born McAfee came away with a mild impression of him.

Whatever the exact nature of the computer software tycoon's death, he would at least have relished the fact that it caused a stir.

As he awaited extradition to the U.S. to face tax evasion and cryptocurrency fraud charges, he had repeatedly tweeted from his Barcelona jail that, if he died there, people should be suspicious.

On Wednesday, eight months after his arrest, 75-year-old McAfee was found dead in his cell.

Officials have indicated he hanged himself just hours after a Spanish court authorised the extradition.

He was dubbed 'the craziest man in tech', which is saying something. The prime minister of Belize, where John McAfee became an international fugitive and built a fortress home, put it more bluntly, branding him 'bonkers'

The charges, including allegations he evaded paying millions of dollars, could have landed him in prison for decades and McAfee  who put his name to the world's most famous anti-virus software  may well have considered suicide preferable.

However, it's also true that the notoriously combative and paranoid McAfee  someone, say friends, who people crossed at their peril  enjoyed making enemies almost as much as he loved his other passions of drugs, guns and girls.

Technology barons love to shake off their super-nerd image and cut a bit of a buccaneering dash, no matter how tame the reality.

The heavily tattooed McAfee, however, was the real McCoy  colourful, engaging and eccentric, but also an unhinged and unnerving figure whose outlaw image created an aura of danger that was much more than just for show.

An attention-hungry master manipulator, he estimated that he had been arrested 21 times in 11 countries for offences including drug trafficking, illegal arms ownership, tax evasion and stock market fraud.

The troubled technology genius, who married a prostitute he once hired and tried not to go anywhere without being armed to the teeth, admitted himself that he was hardly perfect. 'Boy, I do live an exciting life,' he said in one interview.

'It's too exciting sometimes. But that happens if you live on the edge, which I like to do because that's where most discoveries are made. I'm a curious person but sometimes I fall off.'

To begin with, at least, he managed to keep his balance, despite a calamitous upbringing in Virginia after being born on a U.S. Army base in Gloucestershire in 1945 to an English mother and American serviceman.

Nobody who encountered McAfee came away with a mild impression of him. Whatever the exact nature of the computer software tycoon's death, he would at least have relished the fact that it caused a stir. Pictured: McAfee in prison

His father was an abusive alcoholic who fatally shot himself when John was 15.

McAfee said it deeply affected him, driving him to drugs and alcohol from an early age.

His academic career looked promising until his other vice, young women, ended it in the late 1960s when he was thrown out of a Louisiana university for sleeping with an undergraduate he was supposedly mentoring.

He focused his career instead on computer programming, working for Nasa, Lockheed and Xerox.

By the 1980s he was a successful engineer in Silicon Valley, albeit one who admitted he drank a bottle of whisky a day and not only snorted cocaine at his desk but sold it to colleagues.

He experimented with hallucinogenic drugs that sent him 'stark, raving mad'.

Meanwhile, as personal computers became ubiquitous, so did viruses. The first, called the Pakistani Brain, was able to wipe clean a PC's hard drive.

McAfee infected his own computer with the virus and then devised a program that would disable it.

He launched his anti-virus software business in 1987, and within five years it controlled almost 70 per cent of the market.

In 1994, he made at least $100 million when he sold his company.

Now he could freely indulge his real passions as a 'lover of women, adventure and mystery'.

He bought nine luxurious homes across the U.S., filling them with expensive art and furniture.

He turned his 400-acre Colorado estate into a yoga retreat where he went out with a string of teenage girls.

The home of anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee is seen in San Pedro November 14, 2012

He also bought a landing strip from where he set up a new extreme sport he called 'aero-trekking' which involved flying ultra-light aircraft dangerously close to the ground.

He closed the business after a passenger died in a crash.

The victim's family sued him but, claiming he had been all but wiped out financially in the recession, McAfee left the U.S. in 2008 and moved to the tax haven Belize.

But here his problems only got worse as he was able to give even freer rein to his vices. He effectively bought up an entire village, including a former brothel called Crazy 8's which he turned into a 'family swimming resort' called Studio 54 (after the notorious New York nightclub), but critics said it was essentially the same business.

McAfee earned comparisons to Kurtz, Joseph Conrad's deranged jungle lord from his novel Heart Of Darkness, as he surrounded himself with muscled bodyguards and liked to pose for photos clutching guns and girls in bikinis.

Local women later described how the twisted McAfee would pay them to perform depraved sex acts with him.

His American girlfriend left him after he took a 16-year-old prostitute as his lover  even though she'd previously tried to shoot him and steal his money. 'I gravitate to the world's outcasts,' he boasted.

Conventional family life held little appeal  he was married three times and reportedly abandoned his only child, a daughter, from the first marriage.

Intent on staying young forever, McAfee  by then in his mid-60s and sporting dyed blond hair and a goatee beard  started injecting himself daily with testosterone.

He built a jungle lab next to a Mayan temple and announced he was developing plant-based medicines that included a herbal version of Viagra for men and women.

On Wednesday, eight months after his arrest, 75-year-old McAfee was found dead in his cell

McAfee admitted the latter, called 'tan', enhanced desire but also often left users rubbing their genitals 'past the point of bleeding and still couldn't stop'.

Police became suspicious when he began combining tan with 'bath salts', an amphetamine-like drug blamed for producing psychotic rages in users.

Convinced he was now cooking up the banned drug methamphetamine, police raided his jungle compound in 2012 and found McAfee in bed with a 17-year-old girl.

Seizing an arsenal of pump-action shotguns and pistols, they accused him of assembling a private army of heavily armed ex-convicts but found no drugs.

The raid fuelled the intense paranoia of a man who already went everywhere in Belize with a handgun strapped to his hip.

Associates fled in fear for their safety and a visiting journalist was invited to play Russian roulette with one of McAfee's revolvers.

When he declined, McAfee played alone, putting the gun down on a table littered with fake IDs after he had pulled the trigger five times.

Six months after the raid, Greg Faull, an American neighbour of McAfee's beachfront home in the resort town of San Pedro, complained to police that the 'rogueish' McAfee was scaring people by firing off his guns and allowing his pack of nine aggressive guard dogs to run free on the beach.

Shortly afterwards, the dogs were poisoned with spiked meat.

The following night, an intruder got into Mr Faull's home, tasered him repeatedly and then shot him in the head.

McAfee immediately fled, first hiding by burying himself in sand and putting a cardboard box over his head.

He later escaped over the border into Guatemala with a 20-year-old girlfriend.

McAfee insisted he didn't kill his neighbour and had only gone on the run because police and politicians were trying to frame him.

However, McAfee's caretaker later alleged his boss paid $5,000 to have the American killed.

In Guatemala, McAfee faked a heart attack to prevent him being sent back to Belize.

He was instead deported to Miami where, on his first night, he picked up a prostitute, Janice Dyson, who would become his third wife, although 40 years younger than him.

'I instantly saw in Janice what I've been looking for my entire life,' he claimed.

Back in the U.S., McAfee still showed flashes of lunacy. In 2013, he produced a spoof video entitled How To Uninstall McAfee Anti-Virus in which he blasted a computer with a gun, swore profusely, snorted white powder off his desk and was undressed by a bevy of nubile young women.

In 2015, he was arrested in Tennessee for drink-driving and possession of a firearm. A year later, a documentary claimed he had drugged and raped a biologist business partner in Belize.

'He talked about taking over the Belize government,' she said. 'He would talk about how he could have people hurt or killed, and honestly I was scared.'

The documentary also claimed McAfee ordered his goons to beat up a local man who had crossed him, tasering him in the face and genitals.

McAfee  who chose a convicted drug trafficker to write his biography  once even vowed to be the first to be both U.S. president and UK prime minister, based on the fact that while he was British-born, the military base where his mother gave birth was technically American soil.

Yet he unsuccessfully ran for the nomination of the Libertarian Party in the 2016 presidential election, on a ticket that included legalising cannabis and championing cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

He inaccurately predicted that the latter would be worth $500,000 each by 2020.

In 2019 he fled the U.S. after being ordered to pay $25 million in a wrongful death lawsuit over the murder of his Belize neighbour Mr Faull and facing arrest for tax evasion (he'd boasted for years that paying taxes was morally wrong).

He and Janice toured the Caribbean on his yacht, Great Mystery.

After being detained in the Dominican Republic for having high-calibre weapons on board, he headed to the UK and later to Spain, where he was arrested last October as he was about to board a plane to Istanbul.

'The drummer that leads me is an odd drummer but I follow the sound,' said McAfee.

For him, it was a moment of rare clarity.
Boris Johnson is determined to scrap the one-metre rule on July 19 even if other Covid measures have to stay in place, Cabinet sources said yesterday.

Multiple sources have told the Daily Mail that the Prime Minister has prioritised the removal of the key social distancing rule above all other measures because of its importance to sectors such as hospitality and the arts.

A surge in Covid cases has raised fresh doubts about the Governments ambition to end all restrictions on July 19.

It has also all but ended hopes that Freedom Day could come a fortnight early on July 5.

Boris Johnson is determined to scrap the one-metre rule on July 19 even if other Covid measures have to stay in place, Cabinet sources said yesterday

Ministers will formally assess the latest data this weekend before announcing a decision on the mid-point review.

But a Cabinet source told the Mail: Its not happening.

The Governments roadmap out of lockdown had originally envisaged lifting all remaining restrictions by June 21.

But the final stage of the plan  known as Step Four  was postponed earlier this month because of the rapid spread of the Indian or Delta variant across England.

Mr Johnson remains hopeful that all restrictions will finally go on July 19. But officials are now drawing up contingency plans in case only a partial lifting is possible on that date.

Multiple sources have told the Daily Mail that the Prime Minister has prioritised the removal of the key social distancing rule above all other measures because of its importance to sectors such as hospitality and the arts

A surge in Covid cases has raised fresh doubts about the Governments ambition to end all restrictions on July 19, but it is understood the Prime Minister will ease social distancing measures to help the arts and hospitality industries get back on their feet

Scrapping the one-metre rule is seen as essential to buoy the hospitality and arts sector by increasing the capacity in venues to pre-pandemic levels

Ministers have been alarmed by the continuing surge in cases driven by the virulent new variant.

The latest official figures yesterday showed 16,703 new cases were recorded in 24 hours  the highest number since early February. Cases are now rising at almost 45 per cent a week.

Hospitalisations and deaths, which are now seen as the key figures, both remain low.

And figures show that the virus is running out of steam in hotspots of the Delta variant  with the R rate now at its lowest since the third wave began.

...and Rishi says: I'll ditch mask as soon as it's legal Two Cabinet ministers piled pressure on Boris Johnson to scrap Covid mask laws yesterday by saying they hoped to stop wearing them by July 19. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he expects to ditch his mask as soon as possible once it is no longer legally required in England. Environment Secretary George Eustice said he would follow suit as soon as the legal compulsion was dropped. I have to be honest, once Im told that its safe not to, I want to get back to normal, he said. Mr Eustice said the Government planned to lift all restrictions on July 19, including the laws compelling people to wear masks on public transport and in shops. He added: Whether there will still be some people who might choose to wear masks or whether it may be advisory in some settings, thats a separate matter. But Downing Street played down expectations, with the Prime Ministers official spokesman insisting no decisions had been taken on the issue. Government sources said it was possible that face coverings might still be required or advised in certain settings, such as on public transport. Pressed on whether Mr Johnson hoped to stop wearing a face mask at the end of the road map, his spokesman said: That would depend. The Prime Minister, should there be any requirement for it in future, would be happy to comply with them. But, as I say, no decisions have been taken on what will or will not be required in future.' Advertisement

In the North West of England and parts of Scotland virus rates are continuing to plateau.

Nevertheless, some ministers are getting jittery about the prospect of sanctioning a full reopening against the backdrop of rising cases, which officials fear could hit 30,000 a day within a fortnight.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has urged the Prime Minister to prioritise the removal of the one-metre rule, which continues to cripple the hospitality and arts sector by reducing the capacity in venues to unsustainable levels.

Scrapping the rule is also seen as essential in any drive to persuade office workers to go back to their desks.

A Cabinet source said the PM had accepted the argument that the one-metre rule should be made the top priority for July 19.

The economic case is unarguable, the source said. The one-metre rule is the key remaining social distancing measure left.

If we cant remove it then we might as well not bother on July 19 at all. The PM is determined to get rid of it, even if things like masks have to stay for a bit longer.

Sources said contingency plans could see people advised to continue wearing face masks in certain settings, such as public transport and crowded shops.

Guidance on working from home could also remain in place until the autumn, despite both the PM and Chancellor wanting it lifted.

Mr Sunak yesterday struck an upbeat tone about the future, saying: Things are looking good for July 19, as the Prime Minister has said. My strong expectation is we can lift these major restrictions then and get back to normal.

But No 10 said it was too early to say whether measures like face masks would remain in place after July 19.

Downing Street said no final decisions had been made on whether all coronavirus restrictions would be legally lifted on July 19, despite Environment Secretary George Eustice declaring all measures would be scrapped.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: It is right that obviously we want to get back to as close to normal as is possible post-Step Four.

However, no final decisions have been taken about what measures are required.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is confident the NSW government can deal with its latest Covid-19 outbreak without shutting down Sydney.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday warned the state was entering its 'scariest' period since the pandemic began.

Her state has now clocked up 36 cases linked to the outbreak that began in Bondi last week.

All but one of the new infections are linked to a known case or cluster.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is confident the NSW government can deal with its latest Covid-19 outbreak without shutting down Sydney

Rather than a lockdown, as has occurred in other states, there will be a police blitz to nab anyone defying tough new restrictions.

Other states have responded to the Sydney situation by imposing travel bans or other restrictions on people from parts or all of NSW, just ahead of school holidays.

Mr Morrison said there would be breaches in hotel quarantine, but what counts is how those breaches are followed up.

'New South Wales, I have no doubt, has the gold standard contact tracing system not just in Australia but in the world,' he told Sky News.

'My fellow Sydneysiders can feel very confident that if anyone can get on top of this without shutting the city down it is the NSW government.'

He said the Covid-19 situation would continue to change, noting some countries were tracking hospitalisation figures rather than case numbers.

'Right now there is not one person in an ICU with Covid (in Australia),' he said.

Responding to concerns that vaccinated people were not entitled to travel exemptions, Mr Morrison said his department was continuing to model how such a system might work.

But nothing could be done until there was a higher rate of fully vaccinated people, which would happen in the coming months.

An investigation has been launched into how a Sydney limousine driver at the centre of the city's coronavirus outbreak was not vaccinated.

Jane Halton, who the federal government chose to review quarantine last year, said the man should have been vaccinated and wearing a mask.

'I'm really, really, really disconcerted by this,' she told the Nine Network.

'When I did my review of hotel quarantine last year ... I actually said that this was a potential hole and people needed to be very, very aware that these people and their transport arrangements had to be a high priority.'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday warned the state was entering its 'scariest' period since the pandemic began

Just three per cent of adults in Australia have been fully immunised against the deadly disease.

About two thirds of people aged over 70, and about half of over-50s, have received their first dose.

Meanwhile, Brisbane's Courier-Mail reports the prime minister has written to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk offering to pay for a purpose-built quarantine facility close to Brisbane Airport.

The proposed facility, at the Damascus Barracks at Pinkenba adjacent to the airport, could house up to 1000 returned travellers and help ease pressure on the hotel quarantine system.

A spokesman for the premier confirmed receipt of the letter.

The move could help defuse a simmering row between the state and federal governments over Queensland's proposal for a quarantine facility at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba, which Canberra has rejected.

The West Australian reported that Mr Morrison also wrote to WA Premier Mark McGowan to offer land at Jandakot Airport and Perth Airport for a quarantine facility that would contain 1000 beds.
Three Canterbury Bulldogs players could find themselves in hot water with the NRL after being ordered to self-isolate for attending an exposure site in Bondi's Covid cluster.

The NRL revealed late on Thursday that former Queensland State of Origin player Dylan Napa, half Brandon Wakeham and youngster Aaron Schoupp will have to undertake an immediate Covid test and self-isolate.

The trio were found to have attended The Royal Hotel in Bondi on June 20, a venue where a person who has tested positive for the virus is known to have attended.

Former Queensland State of Origin player Dylan Napa, half Brandon Wakeham (pictured) and Aaron Schoupp will have to undertake an immediate Covid test and self-isolate

Bulldogs youngster Aaron Schoupp (right) will have to undertake an immediate Covid test and self-isolate

As well as the three players being ordered into isolation, the remainder of the Bulldogs squad will be unable to train until the test results are known. Pictured: Dylan Napa, who attended The Royal Hotel in Bondi

That appears to be in contravention of a directive issued by the NRL on June 17 to all Sydney-based clubs mandating that players and staff were not to attend any restaurants, clubs or bars in the Waverley Local Government area.

As well as the three players being ordered into isolation, the remainder of the Bulldogs squad will be unable to train until the test results are known.

The NRL said none of the three are known to have been in contact with any Origin players ahead of Sunday's game two in Brisbane, nor are they believed to have been in contact with representatives of any other club.

'The remainder of the Bulldogs squad will not train until the test results of the three players are known,' an NRL spokesman said on Thursday night.

'The players have not been in contact with representatives from any other club nor does it impact any State of Origin player.

'The NRL issued a clear directive to all Sydney based clubs on 17 June mandating that players and staff were not to attend any restaurants, clubs or bars in the Waverley Local Government area.

The NRL said it will continue to seek advice from its biosecurity experts and NSW Health to ensure no risk to other teams or the community. Pictured: Brandon Wakeham

The trio were found to have attended The Royal Hotel in Bondi on June 20, a venue where a person who has tested positive for the virus is known to have attended

'All clubs in the Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast areas were placed on Level 3+ Biosecurity Protocols from Tuesday evening and are not permitted to leave home except to train or access essential services.'

The NRL said it will continue to seek advice from its biosecurity experts and NSW Health to ensure no risk to other teams or the community.

The ongoing outbreak in Sydney has resulted in all clubs in the Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast areas being placed on level-three biosecurity restrictions, effectively returning them to last year's bubble.

The news came just hours after the Sydney Roosters' clash with Melbourne became the first NRL match moved as a result of the Covid outbreak.

Next Thursday's clash will now be played at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle rather than the SCG, while other clubs begin planning for further ramifications.

The Bulldogs, Warriors, Penrith and Wests Tigers also have home games in Sydney next week, but none are yet eying moves, with reduced crowd capacities a likely outcome.
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The world's most famous locomotive The Flying Scotsman today powered through the Northumberland countryside and into Scotland as it continued its sell-out trip from London to Edinburgh.

Passengers enjoyed stunning scenes of the north east as the locomotive passed the quaint coastal village of Alnmouth before crossing the border into Scotland.

It is due to take part in three circular routes of Fife tomorrow. As part of its three circuits, one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, the locomotive will head into Fife and make its way along the coast towards Kirkcaldy, back to Edinburgh.

The morning train for the Fife Circular will depart from Edinburgh at 9.44am and return at 12.41am. The afternoon one will depart from Edinburgh from 2.14pm and return at 4.38pm. The evening service will leave Edinburgh at 7.05pm and return at 9.56pm.

The excursion is organised The Steam Dreams Rail Company using the National Railway Museum's locomotive, with the journeys all sold-out.

The world's most famous locomotive The Flying Scotsman today powered through the Northumberland countryside and into Scotland as it continued its sell-out trip from London to Edinburgh

Passengers enjoyed stunning scenes of the north east as the locomotive crossed the border into Scotland, where it is due to take part in three circular routes of Fife tomorrow

As part of its three circuits, one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, the locomotive will head into Fife and make its way along the coast towards Kirkcaldy, back to Edinburgh. Pictured: The Flying Scotsman passes by Alnmouth in Northumberland on its way to Scotland

2,500,000 miles covered including 422 in one go: Ten facts about the world-famous Flying Scotsman The Flying Scotsman, an A3 Pacific class locomotive, was originally built in 1923 for the London and North East Railway It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and has been in the public eye since it first went into service, having been on display at the British Empire Exhibition the following year The Flying Scotsman took eight hours to complete the trip between London and Edinburgh and in 1934 was officially credited with becoming the first steam locomotive to be clocked at 100 miles an hour It holds a second record for the longest non-stop run of 422 miles when it was in Australia The locomotive weighs about 100 tons The Flying Scotsman has covered around 2,500,000 miles in its long career It had five numbers, 1472, 4472, 502, 103 and 60103 Doncaster railway works is where the engine was built The Flying Scotsman took eight hours to cover the 392 miles between London and Edinburgh At one stage it had a tender with a corridor to enable crew changes during the Edinburgh trip Advertisement

Built in 1923 in the South Yorkshire market town of Doncaster, the 60103 Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive in the UK to officially reach 100mph and hauled the first regular non-stop London to Edinburgh service.

The Pullman-style dining cars are vintage carriages with wood panelled walls, table lamps and curtains, while those travelling in premium standard were invited to bring their own picnics whilst seated in 1960s open carriages with large picture windows.

The famous locomotive made its first mainline journey with passengers in two years in May.

Speaking ahead of that trip, David Buck, owner of Steam Dreams Rail Company, said: 'We are delighted to be back out on the tracks again bringing the magic of steam train travel back to those who have missed it so much over the last year.

'What better way to re-start our steam train programme than with the most famous locomotive of them all. We are very grateful to Riley & Son (E) and the National Railway Museum for helping make it happen.'

The Flying Scotsman was built for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923 to a design of Sir Nigel Gresley, and employed on long-distance express trains on the LNER and its successors, British Railways Eastern and North-Eastern Regions.

The following year, the Flying Scotsman was selected to appear at the British Empire Exhibition in London, and had been renumbered 4472  and given the name 'Flying Scotsman' after the London to Edinburgh rail service which started daily at 10am in 1862.

The locomotive, initially numbered 1472, set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100mph (160.9 kmh) on November 30, 1934.

It then set a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles (679km) on August 8, 1989 while in Australia.

The Flying Scotsman passes over a level crossing in Chiswick, West London, in May on a mainline trip with passengers

The Flying Scotland - which was also the first steam locomotive to undertake a non-stop run between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley - was eventually retired from regular service in 1963 after covering 2,076,000 miles.

The locomotive then gained further fame in preservation under the ownership of Alan Pegler, William McAlpine, Tony Marchington and finally the National Railway Museum which owns it today.

The Flying Scotsman now runs special journeys in the UK for rail enthusiasts, but also toured extensively in the US and Canada from 1969 to 1973 and later Australia from 1988 to 1989.
Brothers were due to put aside bitter rift to host an elaborate ceremony on July 1

Princes William and Harry have drastically scaled back next weeks unveiling of the statue of Princess Diana, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The brothers were due to put aside their bitter rift to host an elaborate ceremony on July 1 at Kensington Palace, her former home, on what would have been their mothers 60th birthday.

Instead they will preside over a significantly reduced gathering featuring just a handful of guests  the estranged princes themselves and Spencer relatives.

Up until this week they had been planning to welcome more than 100 of their mothers friends, former staff and supporters. But Covid rules have pressed them into a rethink.

Guests have been told that next Thursdays large ceremony has been scrapped and that a new date will be fixed for September.

Princes William and Harry have drastically scaled back next weeks unveiling of the statue of Princess Diana, the Daily Mail can reveal (pictured: the Princess of Wales arriving at the Serpentine Gallery in London in June 1995)

The brothers (pictured at Prince Philip's funeral in April this year) were due to put aside their bitter rift to host an elaborate ceremony on July 1 at Kensington Palace. Instead they will preside over a significantly reduced gathering featuring just a handful of guest

It is a bitter disappointment for many in Dianas circle who had hoped their presence would help bring about a reconciliation between William and his brother. They have been barely on speaking terms since Harry and Meghan quit royal life for California. Whether this makes a rapprochement that much easier remains to be seen.

The pair have privately told friends that they will do their utmost to ensure their differences do not distract from what they hope will be a moving celebration to recognise their mothers positive impact.

Ever since they announced plans for the statue it has been bedevilled by problems. Originally it was hoped to be unveiled in 2017.

But there were delays over the design and, according to insiders, differences of opinion over what period in Dianas life the statue should represent.

Such divisions led the committee set up after her death in 1997 in order to find a suitable way to celebrate her life to conclude that a statue would be wrong.

At the time, her family expressed reservations that no sculptor had ever properly caught Diana. There were also real fears that a statue would become a shrine.

The Princess of Wales pictured with her sons attending the Heads of State VE Remembrance Service in London's Hyde Park in May 1995

Guests have been told that next Thursdays large ceremony has been scrapped and that a new date will be fixed for September (pictured: Diana at a private viewing and reception at Christies in aid of the Aids Crisis Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund)

Those fears have not subsided but with the passing years, William and Harry felt the time was right for a life-size figure. They sought private donations to fund the statue, which has been created by artist Ian Rank-Broadley, whose portrait of the Queen appears on all British coins.

The statue was finished in 2018, but Harry and Meghans wedding and Megxit delayed the unveiling.

Donors including Elton John and David Furnish will now be invited to Septembers party along with other friends and family  but there is no guarantee Harry will be there.

So while many watching on Thursday will be keen to see how the artist has imagined Diana, many more will be searching for any sign that the warring brothers can settle their differences.
This was the moment socialite Jasmine Hartin was dramatically re-arrested just hours after breaking her silence to tell DailyMail.com of her horror at 'accidentally' killing a top Belizean cop.

Hartin, 32, who is awaiting trial for shooting Superintendent Henry Jemmott with his own service pistol, was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon when she reported to a police station as part of her daily bail requirements.

Amid chaotic scenes at the San Ignacio police station, the mother-of-two pleaded with officers that she had done nothing wrong before being led away to face the prospect of returning to a grim Belizean prison.

The details of the charge were not immediately clear but it comes after Hartin clashed with her partner Andrew Ashcroft, the son of Britain's Lord Ashcroft, on Tuesday afternoon when she tried to see their four-year-old twins Elle and Charlie.

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This was the moment socialite Jasmine Hartin was dramatically re-arrested just hours after breaking her silence to tell DailyMail.com of her horror at 'accidentally' killing a top Belizean cop

Jasmine Hartin was arrested again in Belize on Thursday, DailyMail.com can reveal. The arrest came hours after she spoke to DailyMail.com revealing she was a victim of an attempted rape just days before she shot Jemmott

The details of the charge were not immediately clear but it comes after Hartin clashed with her partner Andrew Ashcroft

Earlier this week, Hartin filmed on her cell phone as she confronted Andrew at the Alaia hotel. 'Why won't you let me see the kids Andrew? Why won't you let me see the children?' she says as she chased him in the hotel kitchen

Hartin had filmed on her cell phone as she cornered her partner of seven years in a hotel restaurant, repeatedly asking him: 'Why won't you let me see the kids Andrew? Why won't you let me see the children?'

She later told DailyMail.com that she was warned by her attorney that authorities would seek to revoke her bail over the confrontation that happened at the swank Alaia Belize resort in San Pedro island, which she operated with Andrew before Jemmot's death.

That's exactly what happened as she arrived for her daily check-in appointment, with her mom Candice Castiglione looking on in disbelief.

'I'm being detained for something in San Pedro. I'm not sure why,' a stunned Hartin called out to DailyMail.com from behind the front desk.

'This is illegal, I'm being detained illegally right now. I don't know what this charge is. It's an unknown charge from someone in San Pedro. I have no idea why I'm being held.

'I'm being detained for something in San Pedro. I'm not sure why,' a stunned Hartin called out to DailyMail.com from behind the front desk

'All I did was try to collect my personal belongings and see my children. I have obeyed every single court order. I have done absolutely nothing wrong here.'

Video shot by DailyMail.com reveals Hartin begging to know what she had done to breach her $30,000 Belizean dollar bail ($15,000 US).

An officer replies: 'According to San Pedro Police you're detained for common assault.' Asked whom she was accused of assaulting the officer adds: 'I cannot comment.'

Hartin is now likely to be taken back to austere Hattieville Prison, which once featured on the Netflix documentary 'Inside the World's Toughest Prisons.'

She spent eight days there before being bailed on June 9 when she was warned by a judge she could be thrown back behind bars unless she signed in with police daily and handed over her ID and passport.

'Being in prison is easier than being away from my children. I would go to prison every day if it meant I could have my kids,' Hartin added before she was led away to a cell.

'This is horrible. The worst thing that he's ever done to me is take my kids,' she added in an apparent reference to Andrew Ashcroft.

Hartins mom Candice Castiglione, 66, had flown in from Ontario to support her daughter and was with her when she tried to see her children Tuesday.

She told DailyMail.com she was baffled by the assault accusation as she did not see Hartin push or make contact with security staff.

If there was any physical contact you would be able to see it on the videos. Jasmine didnt push anyone or abuse anyone, she was a lady the whole time, she told DailyMail.com.

Castiglione said she desperately wants news about her daughters latest incarceration but is afraid to speak to Belizean police.

This is all made up. Im worried they will disappear her, she alleged. Im the only one who has been able to help her but Im afraid to go back to the police station.

Hartins mom Candice Castiglione, 66, had flown in from Ontario to support her daughter and was with her when she tried to see her children Tuesday. She told DailyMail.com she was baffled by the assault accusation as she did not see Hartin push or make contact with security staff

Hartin tearfully described Jemmott as a 'great man' and her 'friend', who had urged her to get a firearms license after she was attacked at a party

Jemmott, a 24-year veteran of the Belize Police Department, leaves behind five children and a partner of 14 years, described by family as his common-law wife. His funeral service was held on June 12, nearly two weeks after her was shot dead

Jemmott, a father-of-five and a highly-rated officer tipped as a future leader of his country's police force, was struck behind his right ear by a 9mm round from his own Glock 17 service pistol.

According to a criminal complaint he had been 'socializing' and drinking alone with Hartin on a secluded hotel pier in Ambergris Caye, a tropical island haven for millionaire expats.

A security guard heard a 'loud bang' at 12:45am and police arrived to find Canadian national Hartin 'covered in red substance as that of blood' and Jemmott, 42, floating dead on his back 30ft from the shore.

An expended shell casing was still lodged inside the gun which was found on the Mata Rocks hotel pier along with a magazine, live bullets and a pool of blood.

After spending the weekend behind bars, Hartin gave a statement in the presence of her attorney, Godfrey Smith, saying the off-duty officer was showing her how to handle his firearm as the pair drank and hung out

In her exclusive interview earlier Thursday with DailyMail.com she reiterated her version of events, saying the gun went off unexpectedly in her hands as she tried to re-insert a clip and hand it back.

'Henry was my friend. It was an accident, I didn't flee the scene. The first thing I did was call the police myself,' she said.

'There's literally not a day that goes by when I don't cry and my frigging chest doesn't hurt and ache for his kids, for his family, for him.'

She also revealed for the first time that the reason she was practicing with the gun was because an unnamed man had tried to rape her at a party six days earlier.

Three days after Jemmott's death Hartin was charged with manslaughter by negligence after prosecutors opted against murder or full-fledged manslaughter on the strength of her witness statement insisting it was an accident.

Hartin told DailyMail.com that she was warned by her attorney that authorities would seek to revoke her bail over the confrontation that happened at the swank Alaia Belize resort in San Pedro island, which she operated with Andrew before Jemmot's death

'I didn't go there looking for a fight. I went there hoping to see my children whom I have been denied access to, and to collect my things,' Hartin later told DailyMail.com

The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of nine months or a fine of around 10,000 Belizean dollars ($5,000 in US money).

Instead of being released on bail, however, petite Hartin was taken on a boat to mainland Belize and spent eight days at notorious Hattieville.

When she was finally released she remained at a secure location near San Ignacio, close to the Guatemalan border, rather than returning to live with her family.

She claims relations between herself and Andrew hit rock bottom Tuesday when Hartin travelled to San Pedro to see her kids only for security to block her from entering the Grand Colony resort, where their marital home is.

'I didn't go there looking for a fight. I went there hoping to see my children whom I have been denied access to, and to collect my things,' she later told DailyMail.com.

'The authorities are now trying to claim that I breached my parole by behaving inappropriately. But there is nothing to say I can't see my children. There are no custody proceedings.'
Matt Gaetz posted and swiftly deleted a tweet Wednesday calling for the defunding of the FBI as the agency investigates the Florida congressman for sex trafficking of a minor.

'If Democrats want to defund the police, they should start with the FBI,' Gaetz tweeted Wednesday.

Progressive Democrats have often called for the dismantling of police departments across the U.S. as the 'defund police' movement sparked following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer last May.

Gaetz's tweet came the same day President Joe Biden announced a new crime reduction initiative, including a 'zero tolerance' policy on gun dealers that would strip them of their license upon the first offense in breaking federal law.

The tweet, coming from the congressman's official account rather than his personal one, was deleted just minutes after it was sent.

Gaetz is under federal investigation into whether he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl  he has not been charged with any crimes and has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The age of consent in Florida, which is where the encounter is said to have taken place, is 18.

Representative Matt Gaetz tweeted  and then deleted  a post from his official congressional account calling on Democrats to defund the FBI as they investigate him

The Justice Department is probing allegations that Gaetz trafficked sex from a minor

The congressman has also said repeatedly that he will not resign from Congress.

A source with conservative network Newsmax, however, told Reuters earlier this month that Gaetz is, in fact, considering leaving his House seat.

'Earlier this year, [Gaetz] reached out and said he might leave Congress early and was interested in TV work.' the source said.

When asked by reporters on Friday if he was worried he would be indicted, the Florida congressman replied: 'No.'

Gaetz, a hard-line Trump ally, represents Florida's 1st congressional district, which includes the most western part of the state's panhandle  a deeply red area bordering Alabama.

Joel Greenberg, a Gaetz associate and former Florida county official, recently pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking a female minor to other adult men. He admitted sex trafficking a minor and paying at least one underage girl to have sex with him and others.

A federal judge accepted his guilty pleas last week, on the provision that Greenberg cooperate with prosecutors.

Gaetz and girlfriend Ginger Luckey attend a 'Women for America First' event April 9, 2021 in Doral, Florida

Gaetz insists he isn't worried that his former 'wingman' could turn on him  even after striking the plea deal.

Asked if he or his lawyers had been approached by investigators in his home state regarding sex crime allegations, Gaetz swerved and said: 'Well, I think there's a lot going on in Florida, my focus is on what's going on here in Washington.'

Reporters also asked the congressman if he has spoken to his ex-girlfriend about the investigation in Florida, but Gaetz said he wouldn't divulge personal information to reporters.

'I would love to be able to share all the people in my life that I talk to and don't talk to, but unfortunately the people in your profession have doxxed, harassed, threatened people that have been in my life, and so I don't get into who I talk to and don't talk to, because I don't want to put people in jeopardy.'

Gaetz's ex, who has not been named, is said to have been with him in 2017 - the period investigators are probing.

She is said to be cooperating with prosecutors.

NBC News reported that federal prosecutors are also looking into whether Gaetz obstructed justice during a phone call with a witness in a potential sex crimes investigation.

In his most recent sign of fallout from the investigation, Newsmax turned down Gaetz's request for a job earlier this year following previous rejections for television gigs at both Fox News and One America News Network.

He reached out for the job at Newsmax shortly after news broke he was the subject of federal investigation, but the network told Geatz they were not interested, Reuters reported.

'Newsmax has had no plans to hire Rep. Gaetz,' Newsmax spokesperson Brian Peterson said.

The source added that Gaetz 'approach to network management was 'just a conversation' and Newsmax 'never told him we were interested' in hiring him.

Gaetz's friend Joel Greenberg (right) pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking a female minor to other adult men. Greenberg is now cooperating with prosecutors

Gaetz has been honing in on conservative news networks including Fox News, OANN and Newsmax after making a name for himself as a strong defender of Trump.

He has been a frequent contributor on FOX news network and other conservative outlets, but so far the networks have all publicly rejected the idea of hiring him.

'No one with any level of authority has had conversations with Matt Gaetz for any of our platforms, and we have no interest in hiring him,' Fox News said in a statement in April.

Prior to that Gaetz made it clear he was looking for an opportunity at OANN following a February visit to the network's San Diego headquarters but network founder Robert Herring told the Daily Beast he passed down advice to Gaetz to remain in Congress.

'Right now, I'm not really hiring anybody for talk shows,' Herring told the Daily Beast in March. 'I think he is a great congressman, and I told (that 'somebody') to tell him to stay there. That's what I want Congressman Gaetz to do.'
The most famous woman in the world would have turned 60 next week. Yesterday, as part of a landmark series and podcast that re-examines Dianas last days, the Mail told the story of the investigation into the mystery Fiat Uno said to have collided with her Mercedes seconds before it met disaster. Today we examine key conspiracy theories surrounding her death.

February 2005, and two of the most distinguished figures in law enforcement on either side of the Channel are in conversation at Paris police HQ. This is not a courtesy visit. Both men are working. The situation is unusual, to say the least.

Jean, asks Pierre Mutz, the citys Prefet de Police, of his companion. I cannot understand why the most senior policeman in Britain is here, investigating a simple road traffic accident?

Sir John Stevens, who until the previous month had been the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, regards Mutz with solemnity.

Because the central allegation I am investigating is that Her Majesty the Queens husband conspired with MI6 to murder the most famous woman in the world, he replies.

Okay, Jean, says Mutz. Now I understand!

Stevenss remit was to examine more than 100 allegations of a murderous Establishment conspiracy; allegations which had been made by Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed in relation to the death of his son Dodi and Diana (pictured) on August 31, 1997

In January 2004, while still boss at Scotland Yard, Stevens had been asked by then Royal Coroner Michael Burgess to head an investigation which would become known as Operation Paget.

Stevenss remit was to examine more than 100 allegations of a murderous Establishment conspiracy; allegations which had been made by Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed in relation to the death of his son Dodi and Diana on August 31, 1997.

Pagets findings  which included 300 witness statements and a deep delve into the files of MI5 and MI6  would then be used as evidence for a London inquest into both their deaths.

A major catalyst in setting up Paget was a note Diana had written to her butler Paul Burrell in 1995, expressing fears that her estranged husband Prince Charles was plotting to harm or kill her by sabotaging her car.

In the wake of her death, these allegations were championed by Al Fayed. He believed Establishment opposition to Dianas relationship with Dodi was driven by a deep-rooted racism  a scenario which has echoes in the rift between Harry and Meghan and the Palace today  and Islamophobia.

Al Fayed was not alone in believing there had been a plot. It was an international concern, said Stevens. I think something like 65 or 70 per cent of the country thought there had been a conspiracy and that the death of someone like Diana, who was an icon... couldnt be explained away, other than that... foul play [took] place.

Stevens was under no illusion that the task would be tricky. But the only way to proceed is to keep a neutral stance and, to use my old maxim, go where the evidence takes you. He recruited a tightly knit team of only 12 officers.

I didnt want any leaks, because I had no doubt that [dirty tricks] would take place. I know we were under surveillance at times, though I dont know by whom. It goes with the territory in these cases.

Inititally, Al Fayed had every faith in Stevens to get to the truth. Indeed, he had pressured the coroner to appoint him, having been impressed with the way he had conducted three inquiries in Northern Ireland into alleged collusion between the security forces and Loyalist paramilitary groups that had resulted in the murder of Nationalists.

Pictured: Princess Diana with Dodi Fayed in the lift of the Ritz hotel CCTV footage showing the couple's final hours

Mr Burgess had been pressured by Mohamad Al Fayed into having me appointed, mainly because of what had happened in Northern Ireland, Stevens told the Mail this week. Mr Al Fayed had confidence that I would do what he referred to as a proper job and investigate in a way that would be fearless.

There was a very cordial first meeting at Al Fayeds Park Lane apartment, where the tycoon left the Commissioner in no doubt whatsoever what he believed to have taken place.

The crash was not an accident but murder, and this murder was a result of a conspiracy by the Establishment, in particular His Royal Highness Prince Philip and the security and intelligence services, said Stevens. These were very, very serious allegations that went to the very heart of the Royal Family, MI5 and MI6.

He added: We made the decision early on to remind ourselves, regularly, that Mr Al Fayed was a grieving father. And we got on pretty well over that three-year period until, Im afraid, we gave our conclusions and the relationship deteriorated pretty rapidly after that.

The sheer number of conspiracy allegations which had to be examined by Paget led him to break them down into 16 different themes. These were then assigned to members of his team to be pursued concurrently.

This week Stevens took the Mail through the bombshell core allegations supposed to have provided a motive for murder.

The princess was pregnant

This was one of Al Fayeds most incendiary claims. There was plenty of eyewitness and circumstantial evidence that Diana was not expecting a baby when she died. But could Paget prove or disprove her condition scientifically so long after the event?

The thing we wanted to do very, very quickly was to get the [wreck of the Mercedes] back over from France so that we could have it examined by the forensic people, said Stevens. Look at the blood, see if we could actually find out from the blood  though it had never been done before  whether or not Princess Diana had been pregnant. In the car there were still traces of her blood and other peoples blood which we wanted to test. So we managed to get it back and the Transport Research Laboratory took it to bits.

A DNA test identified a sample of Dianas blood from the carpet inside the Mercedes. Then, at the request of the Paget team, a private forensic company carried out a further test. This was supervised by Professor David Cowan, head of forensic science and drug monitoring at Kings College, London. No sign of the pregnancy hormone HCG was found. The probability from the blood sample is that she was not pregnant, said Stevens. The samples were seven to eight years old and it was a long shot but we had to give it a go.

Not conclusive but on a sliding scale, no, she was not pregnant. Taken together with other eyewitness accounts, and her use of contraceptives at the time, there is a degree of certainty. The Mail can reveal that the world-renowned fertility expert Lord (Robert) Winston assisted the Paget team in reaching this conclusion.

A DNA test identified a sample of Dianas blood from the carpet inside the Mercedes (pictured). Then, at the request of the Paget team, a private forensic company carried out a further test

She was embalmed to mask pregnancy

Al Fayed claimed that the embalming carried out at the hospital on August 31, prior to the arrival of Prince Charles and Dianas sisters, was a deliberate attempt to conceal her pregnancy. This had been orchestrated by MI6 and the British embassy.

If a woman is embalmed, the formaldehyde used in the process can result in a false positive for pregnancy, explained Stevens.

Mr Al Fayed said this was done so Dianas pregnancy could be blamed on the embalming fluid. In fact she was embalmed that afternoon at the request of the French authorities, following their own rules and regulations. They brought in a female embalmer.

We interviewed her and she told us she did exactly to Diana what she would have done with anyone else. It was a chaotic situation but the French simply wanted to make her presentable.

Diana and Dodi were getting engaged

Al Fayed alleged that Diana was in a serious relationship with his son and they intended to marry. The Establishment was not prepared to accept a Muslim as Dianas husband, nor stepfather to a future king. As a result they had to be killed.

The existence or otherwise of an engagement ring was one of the most intriguing aspects of the Paget inquiry.

Celebrity jeweller Alberto Repossi, who owned a shop on the Place Vendome in Paris, a display window in the Ritz hotel and another shop in Monte Carlo, was interviewed by Paget investigators no fewer than three times.

Even so, a convincing narrative thread regarding such a ring remained elusive. Al Fayed claimed that the couple had seen a ring at the Repossi store in Monaco. But their bodyguards insisted that they did not go into the shop.

On the evening of his death, Dodi visited the Repossi store in the Place Vendome. The hotels deputy manager then also paid a visit and returned to the Ritz with two rings. One of them was from the Dis-moi Oui (French for Say Yes to Me) range. This was later found in Dodis apartment.

The existence or otherwise of an engagement ring was one of the most intriguing aspects of the Paget inquiry. Paris jeweller Alberto Repossi sold Dodi Fayed this dlrs 205,400 diamond friendship ring he gave Princess Diana shortly before the car crash that killed them Sept 1, 1997

Paget spoke to Dianas close friends. None of them had been told of a potential engagement. Indeed Diana was opposed to remarriage.

Stevens also submitted written questions to Prince William: One of the most important was whether his mother had expressed to him whether or not she was going to get married. And he categorically said she had not.

The Paget team still believe that the paparazzi in Paris that weekend might have been tipped off they will not say by whom  about the possibility of a $1 million first photo of Diana wearing such an engagement ring.

A picture of the ring would have been worth a fortune, said Stevens. Just why were the paparazzi in such a frenzy that night after a whole summer of Diana and Dodi pictures?

Paget was not allowed to interview the paparazzi as they had already been questioned by their French colleagues.

Stevens believes that the first time that Dodi saw the Dis-moi Oui ring was when the Ritz manager brought it to the hotel hours before the fatal crash.

We believe that Dodi was probably going to ask Diana to marry him and she would have said no, Stevens told the Mail.

We suspect his butler was waiting at his Rue Arsene Houssaye apartment with the ring to be presented after the aborted meal at Chez Benoit. The restaurant was too public a place to propose.

Henri Pauls blood samples swapped

Al Fayed claimed that Henri Paul had been part of a secret service murder plot. He also suggested that blood samples taken from his body after death came from someone else altogether, in order to cover up the truth.

Precisely how this fitted into his conspiracy theory  for example by causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle  was not made clear, but it is true that the carbon monoxide levels in Pauls blood samples were extraordinarily high.

This was a real problem for us, said Stevens. The blood sample was supposed to have been taken from his heart, where the blood is most pure.

The reading for carbon monoxide from that sample was 20.7 per cent, which was very hard to explain. At those levels he would have been staggering aroundbarely conscious. The high reading (the true level was around 12 per cent) was the result of mistakes made at the French forensic laboratory.

Pictured: Henri Paul, the driver of the car that carried Princess Diana, her boyfriend Dodi and himself to their deaths on the Aug 31 high-speed crash in a traffic tunnel at the Pont de l'Alma in Paris

The particular blood samples had not been taken from Pauls heart but his chest cavity, a location which would have been vulnerable to contamination during or immediately after the crash.

The sample vials were then mislabelled as heart blood. Documents which confirmed that the samples came from the chest cavity rather than the heart were then misplaced in the archive. It was very awkward [to untangle], says Stevens. But it would have been a very big problem for Paget if we had not discovered the mistake.

Blood samples showed an alcohol content which would have impaired Pauls ability to drive safely. We never used the word drunk in the report, said Stevens. But put yourself in his shoes that Saturday night.

He left work after a long and stressful day and probably had a glass of wine or two. I would have done the same myself.

And when the unexpected recall came he couldnt refuse. The circumstances would have put him further on edge. I think he was just one of those persons who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. And for that he lost his life.

I think if Diana had Scotland Yard protection there, linked with the French security services and their protection, then this wouldnt have happened.

Ive got no doubt about that. Certainly Henri Paul wouldnt have been driving that car.

After three years Paget was ready to report. There had been no conspiracy. And no one could have saved the Princess.

Stevens had a private meeting with Princes William and Harry at St Jamess Palace the day before his report was delivered.

The Princes were quite keen to see me on my own and for me to take them through the main issues ... and what our conclusions were, Stevens recalled.

They didnt want anyone else in the room. Just the three of us.

We spent 90 minutes together and it was an incredibly emotional situation. They were invited to ask any question they wanted to and they did. I know our conclusions were a relief to them.

That same day, Paget informed Mohamed Al Fayeds office and lawyers of the conclusions the investigation had reached.

We sent him a message that I would like to see him to explain the conclusions in person, Stevens recalled. But the message came back that Mr Al Fayed did not want to meet me.

The only time I saw Mr Al Fayed after that was at the inquest when I was giving evidence and he was in the court.

By then, sadly, he had rubbished the report and wouldnt take the conclusions at all. But there will always be people around who cannot believe someone like Diana died in this most horrendous and tragic circumstance without there being a conspiracy.

Indeed, there still are.
Police have opened an investigation into the 12-story Miami apartment building collapse that left one dead and 99 missing - as hundreds of rescue crews continue to scour through tons of rubble and desperate families wait for news of any survivors.

Officially, only one woman has been confirmed dead after the Champlain Towers South beachfront building collapsed at about 1.30am on Thursday in Miami's Surfside neighborhood.

Authorities, however, have warned the death toll could climb sharply given there were 99 people still missing as of Thursday afternoon. It was unclear whether any, or all of them, were inside the building of the collapse.

Horrifying surveillance footage, obtained by WSVN, captured the moment the building collapsed, sending a huge cloud of debris into the air and officials said the level of destruction made it seem like a 'bomb went off'.

Rescue teams are currently entering the rubble in groups of 10 to 12 at a time with dogs and other equipment as they trawl the wreckage for any survivors. Sources told NBC that search a dog had tracked two potential survivors as of Thursday afternoon.

Hundreds of distraught relatives gathered at a family reunification center holding photos of their loved ones as they awaited news.

As the desperate search for survivors continued, police were already probing the cause of the collapse.

Officials said the building, built in 1981, was going through a recertification process and that engineers had been hired to complete electrical and structural repairs.

Experts who had studied the building as recently as last year said the building was unstable and had been sinking since the 1990s.

A huge emergency search and rescue operation is underway after the beachfront condo tower, Champlain Towers South, collapsed at about 1.30am this morning in the Miami neighborhood of Surfside. One woman has been confirmed dead and at least eight people were injured

Hundreds of firefighters were seen walking through the wreckage, picking up other survivors and carrying them away. Authorities fear many more people may be dead or remain trapped under the rubble

Rescue teams rescued 35 people from the damaged building and two people, including the young boy, were pulled from the rubble in the early stages of the search operation

Thirty-five people were rescued from the damaged building including a young boy, who was photographed being pulled from the rubble in the early stages of the rescue operation. Two of those people, including the woman who has since died, were taken to hospital.

Authorities say many more people may be dead or remain trapped under the rubble and warned the recovery efforts could last an entire week.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had earlier said rescue teams had made contact with some survivors but did not elaborate on where they were located or if they had been rescued.

'Right now, we have the fire rescue. They are in search and rescue mode. They are trying to identify survivors, I know they have made contact with some, and I know they are doing everything they can to save lives,' he said.

DeSantis and other authorities said earlier that they were bracing for bad news in terms of survivors given the level of destruction.

'The building has literally pancaked,' Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. 'That is heartbreaking because it doesn't mean to me that we are going to be as successful as we wanted to be in finding people alive.'

Authorities say the building was 'substantially full' when it collapsed. Of the building's 136 apartments, 55 were destroyed.

The tower, which is located one block away from where Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump currently live, has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents. Mayor Burkett said the building keeps a log of guests staying but does not keep track of when owners are in residence.

Hundreds of people were gathering at a family reunification center set up nearby as they awaited news on their family and friends.

The president of Paraguay's sister-in-law and her family, as well as a celebrity plastic surgeon from Argentina are among those still missing.

Sophia Lopez Moreira, her husband Luis Pettengill and their three young children are still missing, Paraguay's foreign ministry confirmed.

Moreira is the sister of President Mario Abdo Benitez's wife Silvana. The family owned a condo in the building.

Also missing is a famed Argentinian plastic surgeon, his partner, and their newly-adopted six year-old daughter.

That surgeon - Andres Galfrasconi, 45 - was visiting Miami with his partner Fabian Nunez, 55, and their daughter Sofia, six, to receive their COVID-19 vaccines.

Hundreds of distraught relatives gathered at a family reunification center holding photos of their loved ones as they awaited news

Relatives continuously tried to called their missing loved ones throughout Thursday while others showed off photos of their family and friends in case any one had seen them

Authorities have not yet determined what caused the building to collapse but confirmed that renovations had been underway on the roof in recent weeks. Burkett said it was unlikely that the roof work had anything to do with the collapse, instead describing it as a 'catastrophic failure' of the building.

'It's hard to imagine how this could have happened,' Burkett said. 'Buildings just don't fall down... There's no reason for this building to go down like that unless someone literally pulls the supports out from underneath.'

Burkett suggested that potential causes could be the result of the foundations being washed out or a sinkhole.

The Miami-Dade Police have assumed control of the investigation as to why the building collapsed.

The building been subject to various inspections recently due to the recertification process that has to occur every 40 years.

'There were garage underground issues related to that, to make sure that it was done soundly,' Surfside Commissioner Charles Kesl told Local 10. 'And, to my understanding, there were some cracks from that project - minor cracks - that were just patched up. Nothing, based on my understanding, to the magnitude that would indicate that there was a structural problem that could result in something so catastrophic.'

Shimon Wdowinski, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environment at Florida International University, told USA Today that he studied the building last year as part of a report on how buildings in Miami were sinking generally with rising sea levels.

Wdowinski said in his study that the building had been sinking since the 1990s.

He said on Thursday he knew instantly which building had collapsed when he heard news reports of it.

'I looked at it this morning and said 'Oh my god'. We did detect that,' he said.

The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and left a number of homes in the still-standing part of the building exposed in what looked like a giant dollhouse.

Bunk beds, tables and chairs could be seen still left inside the damaged apartments. Air conditioner units were hanging from some parts of the building where wires now dangled.

Bunk beds, tables and chairs could be seen still left inside the damaged apartments. Air conditioner units were hanging from some parts of the building where wires now dangled

The collapse left a number of units in the still-standing part of the building exposed with furniture visible inside some apartments

Several air-conditioning units were hanging from the building after the building collapsed

Photos and video from the scene show the collapse affected half the tower. Piles of rubble and debris surrounded the area just outside the building.

The debris from the collapse coated cars up to two blocks away with a light layer of dust.

Barry Cohen, 63, said he and his wife were asleep in the building when he first heard what he thought was a crack of lightning.

The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the building's hallway to find 'a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around'.

'I couldnt walk out past my doorway,' said Cohen, the former vice mayor of Surfside. 'A gaping hole of rubble.'

He and his wife eventually made it to the basement and found rising water there. They returned upstairs, screamed for help and were eventually brought to safety by firefighters using a cherry-picker.

Cohen said he raised concerns years ago about whether nearby construction might be causing damage to the building after seeing cracked pavers on the pool deck.

Jennifer Carr was asleep in a neighboring building when she was awakened by a loud boom and her room shook. She thought it was a thunderstorm but checked the weather app on her phone and saw none. The buildings fire alarms went off, and she and her family went outside and saw the collapse.

'It was devastation,' Carr said. 'People were running and screaming.'

Nicolas Fernandez was waiting early Thursday for word on close family friends who lived in the collapsed section of the building.

'Since it happened, Ive been calling them nonstop, just trying to ring their cellphones as much as we can to hep the rescue to see if they can hear the cellphones.'

Crowds of people were gathering at a family reunification center set up nearby as they awaited news on their family and friends

Authorities say the building was 'substantially full' when it collapsed. Of the building's 136 apartments, 55 were destroyed. Families are pictured at a family reunification center on Thursday morning

Santo Mejil, 50, told the Miami Herald his wife called him from the building, where she was working as an aide for an elderly woman.

'She said she heard a big explosion. It felt like an earthquake,' Mejil told the newspaper. He said she later called him and said rescuers were bringing her down.

One witness, who was staying in the south Florida island city with his family, was in a neighboring building at the time and said the collapse sounded and felt like a tornado or earthquake.

'It was the craziest thing I ever heard in my life,' he told Fox News.

Witnesses claimed to have heard people screaming beneath the rubble during frantic efforts to free them from the wreckage of the building.

One witness told NBC: 'They are able to rescue some people but I heard some screams.'

When the building initially collapsed, more than 80 rescue units were on the scene, including designated teams skilled in retrieving bodies from wreckages.

The building, a twelve-story apartment block called Champlain Towers South (pictured), collapsed in the early hours of this morning.

The sea-view condo development was built in 1981 in the southeast corner of Surfside, on the beach. It had a few two-bedroom units currently on the market, with asking prices of $600,000 to $700,000.

The area is a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists.

The community provides a stark contrast from bustle and glitz of South Beach with a slower paced neighborhood feel.
Scotland Yard has carried out the biggest Bitcoin seizure in British history, finding a staggering 114 million in a suspect's account yesterday.

Specialist detectives investigating a tip-off about criminal assets uncovered an astonishing sum of cryptocurrency being laundered in the UK.

The bumper profits of a criminal network discovered by detectives from the Economic Crime Command represent one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures in the world.

Last night details of the colossal money laundering operation were being kept secret as officers seek to trace those responsible.

Specialist detectives investigating a tip-off about criminal assets uncovered an astonishing sum of cryptocurrency being laundered in the UK

But Scotland Yard vowed the investigation by specialist financial investigators would continue until the culprits were brought to justice.

The sum captured is more than 20 times the amount of cash seized from criminals by the force in the last financial year.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty said of the landmark Bitcoin seizure: 'Every single part of the Met is working to reduce violence on the streets of London as an absolute priority, this includes our financial investigators.

'There is an inherent link between money and violence.'

In May this year, the force announced that it had made its biggest ever cash seizure after a criminal dubbed moneybags was spotted struggling to carry holdalls brimming with money.

More than 5 million was discovered stuffed under mattresses, in cupboards and stacked up on the floor of a flat in West London which a money laundering gang had stored because they didnt know what to do with it during the lockdown.

The bumper profits of a criminal network discovered by detectives from the Economic Crime Command represent one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures in the world

In comparison, the latest seizure of bitcoin is said to have stunned detectives.

Unlike convential currency, Bitcoin largely exists online.

Bitcoins are created through a complex process known as mining and then monitored by a network of computers across the world.

The cryptocurrency has proved popular with criminals to buy drugs and guns as it can be traded anonymously and is unregulated.

In recent years, police seizures of cryptocurrency have been growing.

Surrey Police were the first force in 2019 to capture more than 1.2million worth of Bitcoin from a senior member of an organised crime gang.

Serejgs Teresko, was jailed for nine years for money laundering and drugs offences relating to a large cannabis factory in Virginia Water.
Cameras captured the moment Vice President Kamala Harris nudged President Joe Biden during a press conference to remind him to mention the Miami condo collapse that has left four people dead and 159 unaccounted.

The nudge came at the end of president Biden's White House press conference on Thursday where he discussed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill alongside VP Harris.

Biden wrapped up the conference and was ready to walk away, telling reporters he had a helicopter to catch as they shouted questions regarding the Miami condo collapse at him.

It was then Harris approached Biden and appeared to whisper 'Florida, yeah,' under her breath before walking away, at which point Biden says 'Oh yes! I apologize,' and thanked Harris for the reminder.

Harris was referring to the 12-story Miami apartment building collapse that left at least four dead and 159 missing.

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Harris approached Biden on Thursday and appeared to whisper 'Florida, yeah,' under her breath before walking away

After Harris approached Bide to nudge him to speak on the Miami condo collapse Biden says 'Oh yes! I apologize,' and thanked Harris for the reminder

There are currently hundreds of rescue crews continuing to scour through tons of rubble and desperate families wait for news of any survivors.

Horrifying surveillance footage captured the moment the building collapsed, sending a huge cloud of debris into the air

As of Friday morning four people were confirmed dead after the Champlain Towers South beachfront building collapsed at about 1.30am on Thursday in Miami's Surfside neighborhood.

Authorities, however, have warned the death toll could climb sharply given there are 159 people still missing as of Friday. It was unclear whether any, or all of them, were inside the building of the collapse.

Biden told reporters he has spoken with local officials regarding the building collapse, including Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

'I've spoken with, coincidentally, the mayor of Miami-Dade, was in my office yesterday, not about that, obviously, but I had a long discussion with her today,' Biden said. 'I've also spoken with, we've been in contact with congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz who's in that district.'

As of Friday morning four people were confirmed dead after the Champlain Towers South beachfront building collapsed at about 1.30am on Thursday in Miami's Surfside neighborhood

Authorities have warned the death toll could climb sharply given there were 159 people still missing as of Thursday afternoon

Biden said he is waiting on the governor to declare the situation an emergency in order to provide federal assistance

Biden added that he is waiting on the governor to declare the situation an emergency in order to provide federal assistance.

'We've gotten in touch with FEMA, they're ready to go,' he said. 'They're down inspecting what they think is needed, but I'm waiting for the governor to ask for a declared emergency, especially as we learn what might happen to the rest of the building.'

Biden said that his chief of staff Ron Klain has been involved with the situation from the beginning and is working closely with FEMA officials.

'I say to the people of Florida, whatever help you want that the federal government can provide, we're waiting,' he said. 'Just ask us. We'll be there.'
Prince Harry did use his HRH title on the birth certificate of his newly born daughter Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, it has been revealed.

The birth certificate, uncovered by US news site TMZ, has Prince Harry's last name listed as 'HRH' and his first as 'The Duke of Sussex'.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle's name is written as her birth name 'Rachel Markle' - with Meghan being her middle name.

A birth certificate is a public document in the US state of California, where the couple live in their 11million Montecito mansion.

Prince Harry, 36, and wife Meghan, 39, were told they were to no longer use their HRH titles in January last year in the wake of Megxit.

In a statement released at the time, Buckingham Palace said the couple could no longer use the titles because they were 'no longer working royals'.

However the couple were allowed to keep their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles - which were gifted to them by the Queen on their wedding day.

It comes after it was announced this week that Prince Harry will have his HRH title expunged from notices at a new royal fashion exhibition featuring his mother Princess Diana's wedding dress.

Meanwhile, the reveal of Lilibet's birth certificate threatens to spark a fresh row, much like the reveal of Archie's certificate following his birth in May 2019.

The birth certificate, uncovered by US news site TMZ , has Prince Harry's first name as 'HRH' and his second name as 'The Duke of Sussex'

Prince Harry did use his HRH title on the birth certificate of his newly born daughter Lilibet Diana, it has been revealed. Pictured: Prince Harry and pregnant Meghan in February 2021

The reveal of Lilibet Diana's birth certificate comes following a row over Archie's certificate following his birth in May 2019. Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan with son Archie

The couple were left furious when reports suggested Meghan had removed her Christian names from Archie's birth certificate - meaning she was listed as 'Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex'.

It prompted the Sussexes to hit back with a furiously worded statement insisting that the removal of her Christian names had been dictated by the Palace, as confirmed by documents from senior Palace officials.

The reveal of the birth certificate comes after it was announced that Prince Harry is set to have his HRH title expunged from notices at a new royal fashion exhibition featuring his mother Princess Diana's wedding dress.

Placards at the Kensington Palace exhibit last week described dresses worn by Diana as 'Lent by HRH the Duke of Cambridge and HRH the Duke of Sussex'.

Now the Royal Collection Trust, which oversaw the loan of the gowns, said the labels 'were incorrect and will be updated', citing an 'administrative error'.

Under the terms of the historic deal struck at Sandringham last year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were allowed to keep their HRH titles but never use them.

Royal experts are likely to regard the move to remove Harry's HRH title from signs at the exhibit, called Royal Style in the Making, as a sign of the sensitivity over the duke and duchess' sudden departure from royal life.

It comes as the duke and duchess were demoted on the official Royal Family website, now listed below Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, as well as the Princess Royal and the Duke of York, after leaving their senior roles.

Harry and Meghan quit royal life last year and moved to an 11million mansion in Montecito, California to become financially independent.

Since then, they have signed deals with Netflix and Spotify reportedly worth hundreds of millions of pounds, and are expecting a baby daughter this week.

But critics have questioned whether the couple should have their royal titles removed after making a series of high-profile public remarks.

In their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, the pair made extraordinary allegations of racism against the Firm after Meghan claimed a senior royal - who has not been named - asked what colour their son Archie's skin would be.

Harry and Meghan also criticised Donald Trump during the US presidential election and lent moral support to the Black Lives Matter movement last year.

The Princess of Wales' wedding dress is prepared for display at Royal Style in the Making

Harry is due to return to the UK this month to join Prince William for the unveiling of a statue of Diana the brothers commissioned four years ago in her memory, although Kate Middleton may reportedly fill in for her husband.

The statue will be unveiled in the public grounds of Kensington Palace on July 1, which would have been the princess' 60th birthday.

A Royal Collection Trust spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The items were loaned by HRH The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex. Due to an administrative error, for which Royal Collection Trust was responsible, the labels were incorrect and will be updated.'

Representatives for the Sussexes have been approached for comment.

It comes as Harry and Meghan are now listed below Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, as well as the Princess Royal and the Duke of York on the official site.

Prince Charles' growing role as an active heir preparing to ascend to the throne is reflected in his own promotion to the top of the 'Royal Family' section on www.royal.uk. The Queen has been removed and is featured higher on the page.

Despite the reshuffle, the website still claims the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be 'balancing their time' between the UK and the US.

It follows Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex taking part in their first major interview since their marriage in 1999.

The couple shared a laugh over Harry and Meghan's controversial Oprah interview as they insisted the royals remain a family 'no matter what happens'.

It was recently revealed Sophie is one of four loyal, discreet and 'utterly trustworthy' women of the Queen's inner circle who are offering crucial support as she faces life without her beloved Prince Philip, who died on April 9, aged 99.

Of the website change, Buckingham Palace told MailOnline it had no comment 'other than that we refresh the website regularly'.
The NSW government will hold a crisis meeting to review the state's response to a growing number of Covid-19 infections across Sydney, which has so far avoided a lockdown.

The cabinet gathering due to take place at 9.30am on Friday will come ahead of the official release of the latest infections data later in the morning.

So far, there are 36 cases linked to the so-called Bondi cluster that erupted in the city's east last week.

The coalition government has held off declaring a lockdown, instead preferring to restrict the movements of residents, increase mask wearing and limit social and other gatherings.

The NSW government will hold a crisis meeting to review the state's response to a growing number of Covid-19 infections across Sydney, which has so far avoided a lockdown

'It's the detail, the information we have behind the scenes that our expert health officials look at, that gives us the confidence to the make a decision and the advise at this stage is not to lock down,' Deputy Premier John Barilaro told Nine Network on Friday.

'We'll see what the numbers are like this morning when the crisis cabinet meets again at 9.30am.'

'But the advice could change in the next few hours, and it could change over the weekend.'

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday warned the state was facing its 'scariest' period since the pandemic began.

There were 18 new cases recorded from 48,402 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, 13 of which were announced previously.

Another six cases were detected after the 8pm cut-off - which will be included in Friday's official tally - adding to the five new cases confirmed on Thursday for a tally of 11, for an overall total of 36.

All but one of the new cases are linked to a known case or cluster.

NSW Health added several exposure sites including two cafes in Potts Point, two cafes in Alexandria and a health club in Bondi Junction to its list of venues of concern on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Despite widespread speculation Sydney was on the brink of another lockdown, Ms Berejiklian held her nerve but flagged a police blitz to nab anyone defying the restrictions announced on Wednesday.

'Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that NSW is going through,' she said on Thursday.

'It is a very contagious (Delta) variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, but that is so long as everybody does the right thing.'

Meanwhile, Mr Barilaro has tested negative to Covid-19 after a virus scare in the state's parliament.

'I have tested negative, which is a relief,' he told Nine on Friday.

However, the NSW Nationals leader must follow health advice and remain in isolation in Sydney until July 6 and be tested at least two more times.

The NSW parliament was on Thursday declared a potential exposure venue during one of the busiest weeks of the year - budget week - after Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive.

Many state MPs were deemed close contacts and hundreds of people working in the building on Sydney's Macquarie Street this week were at risk of exposure.

Ms Berejiklian was tested and cleared on Thursday morning, as was Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

Parliament House workers were told to stay home on Thursday while a group of MPs underwent rapid testing so they could enter parliament and pass the 2021/22 budget which was handed down on Tuesday.

Lower house Speaker Jonathan O'Dea on Thursday afternoon said no other MPs had tested positive so far, but some were still awaiting results.
Sydneysiders won't have to wear masks while doing strenuous exercise at the gym despite face coverings becoming mandatory at all public indoor venues.

New restrictions were brought in for the Greater Sydney region this week amid the growing Bondi Covid cluster, which now stands at 36 cases.

But gym owners in Sydney have found a hidden detail in the NSW Government's public health order that allows their members to go mask-free while undergoing strenuous workouts.

An email sent to members of F45 Coogee stating 'NOT mandatory to wear a mask while you are physically training.

'Masks are to be worn upon entry and exit and during class demonstrations, then once you start your training, you can remove these,' the alert said.

The NSW Health website advises gymgoers they can remove masks to perform 'strenuous' exercise - which more than fits the descriptions of the classes held within the F45 chain.

An email sent to members of F45 Coogee stated it is 'NOT mandatory to wear a mask while you are physically training

The NSW Health website advises gymgoers that 'you can also remove your mask when you are doing strenuous exercise'

Gym owners in Sydney have since found a hidden detail buried in the NSW Government's public health order that allows their members to go mask-free while undergoing strenuous workouts

However, masks must still be worn during gym or dance classes - which have been limited to 20 people - or when simply lifting weights or using cardio equipment.

The CEO of Fitness Playground Sydney, which has gyms in Marrickville, Surry Hills and Newtown, said the restrictions are 'open to interpretation'.

'It is our responsibility to act decisively to ensure the safety of our members,' CEO Justin Ashley told news.com.au.

'Therefore, in an effort to provide logic to the term 'strenuous', we can use the modified Rating of Perceived Exertion Chart (RPE) scale here.'

The level of intensity is ranked from one, meaning light exercise, and runs to 10 with maximum force activity.

Mr Ashley said anyone with an RPE of seven or higher doesn't need to wear a mask, while what some might consider strenuous might be moderate for another gymgoer.

'Some members will find Yoga Strength a very strenuous class, while they find a Spin Class something they could do for hours. Other members will be the polar opposite,' he said.

Barry's Bootcamp Australia has followed the same approach, telling its members via social media that 'masks do not need to be worn while in the Red Room' for strenuous workouts.

However, Orange Theory in Bondi Junction said in an Instagram post on Thursday evening that is 'now mandatory to wear a mask while doing strenuous activity in an indoor class setting'.

'Masks now to be worn for the whole duration of your workout,' the post read.

The level of intensity is ranked from one, meaning light exercise, and runs to 10 with maximum force activity

The CEO of Fitness Playground Sydney, which has gyms in Marrickville, Surry Hills and Newtown, said the restrictions are 'open to interpretation'

The new mask rules came into effect at 4pm on Wednesday, prompting fitness enthusiasts to express the difficulties of training while wearing a mask.

'It was so hard this morning with the mask,' one wrote on Instagram.

'Legit couldn't breathe running with a mask on,' said another.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said masks will remain compulsory until midnight on June 30 on public transport and in most indoor settings for people in Greater Sydney, The Blue Mountains, the Illawarra and Shellharbour.

'It is only when you are eating or drinking indoors at a venue that you can't or shouldn't wear a mask,' she said on Tuesday.

'In every other circumstance, if you live or are in Sydney, you must wear a mask for another week beyond Wednesday midnight.'
And amber will no longer stand for ambiguity once the changes come into effect

We were always promised that the vaccine rollout was the key to our freedom. But it never happened. Quite the reverse, in fact.

Until last nights announcement, foreign travel has been more restricted this summer  when 60 per cent of adults in the country have received both jabs  than it was 12 months ago when a national programme of inoculation was still some way off.

But, finally  24 hours after travel workers marched on Westminster to vent their frustration  the Government has loosened the chains.

Not nearly enough, but a few scraps of holiday comfort will go a long way after 18 months of stop/start, confusion and outright incompetence from a government that at times has appeared to turn its back on the travel sector.

The traffic light system is still in place but one of the big changes is that amber will no longer stand for ambiguity once the changes come into effect  hopefully on July 19, but more likely in August.

People who work in the UK aviation and travel industry take part in a 'Travel Day of Action' protest near the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, on Wednesday

Before yesterdays news, government advice was that we should not travel to an amber-listed country unless we have a good reason to do so. That has been scrapped.

Even more crucially, fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to visit amber countries  such as Greece and Spain  without needing to self-isolate on their return. But thats also for the future.

The most cheering development is that four traditional holiday hotspots  Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Madeira  will be on the green list from Wednesday. Although theres a caveat there, too.

These and the other new green countries  except for Malta  are in fact on a green watchlist, which means that at any time their status could change with little warning.

This was the fate of Portugal, which turned green on May 17 but was downgraded little more than two weeks later, ruining the plans of thousands and prompting a scramble to get back before new rules came into force.

We will still need to take a test within 72 hours of returning to the UK from a green country, plus a PCR test on day two after our return. These tests remain expensive and the Government needs to honour its word to clamp down on companies fleecing travellers.

Until last nights announcement, foreign travel has been more restricted this summer  when 60 per cent of adults in the country have received both jabs  than it was 12 months ago (pictured: Caroline Nicolls receives an injection of the Moderna vaccine in Reading)

Fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to visit amber countries  such as Greece and Spain  without needing to self-isolate on their return (pictured: the Greek island of Santorini)

The bulk of new green countries are in the Caribbean, and not before time. Grenada, for example, has recorded only one death since the pandemic began.

Stand by for a surge of bookings to the likes of Malta and the Balearic islands  and lets hope airlines and tour operators will not hike their prices to unreasonable levels. Meanwhile, theres the issue of Italy, Germany and France. They didnt want us to leave the EU  but now they dont want us to visit EU countries.

The Prime Minister must press EU leaders to reward Britain for its vaccination programme. Our travel industry contributes 106 billion to the economy and supports 2.6 million jobs. The hope was that by 2025 it would be worth more than 257 billion  around 10 per cent of our GDP.

There must be no turning back now. The summer of 2021 must go down as a turning point. That means holidays not quite as usual  but holidays all the same.
Pregnant women could be given shopping vouchers worth up to 400 if they quit smoking, under NHS guidelines.

Health officials suggest that mothers-to-be undergo carbon monoxide tests to prove they have given up.

But they say that if the tests cannot be carried out because of the pandemic, the vouchers should be handed out anyway.

It is the first national guidance to recommend that pregnant women should receive publicly funded vouchers for quitting smoking, although several councils have carried out trials of similar schemes.

Pregnant women are smoking and drinking in private because they are 'irritated' by people's reactions to the habits which are known to harm unborn babies, a study has found

Approximately 10 per cent of expectant mothers are known smokers at the time of giving birth and they are at much greater risk of going into labour prematurely, having a stillbirth or their baby suffering a cot death.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) and Public Health England (PHE), which produced the draft guidelines, claim previous research has found that for every 1,000 pregnant women offered vouchers, 177 would stop smoking.

Dr Paul Chrisp, director of Nice's centre for guidelines, said: 'Smoking continues to take a huge toll on the health of the nation and accounts for approximately half the difference in life expectancy between the richest and poorest in society. It is therefore vital that we reduce the level of smoking.

'Given the significant health effects of smoking on both mothers and babies, it is clear that further efforts are required to encourage this group to give up. We need to use every tool in our arsenal to reduce smoking rates, including education, financial incentives and e-cigarettes.'

The guidelines say pregnant women should be referred to the voucher scheme during their first appointment with their GP or midwife.

Vouchers would be handed out at intervals after a woman has taken a carbon monoxide test to prove she has not smoked recently. The total value of the vouchers available to a woman who does not smoke throughout the pregnancy would be 400.

Carbon monoxide testing may not always be possible during the pandemic. 'Vouchers are recommended even if biochemical validation is not possible,' the guidelines say.

If the draft recommendations are adopted after consultation with medical experts and policy officials, Nice and PHE will issue them to local councils and health trusts.

The money for the vouchers is likely to come from NHS or council budgets, depending on how the scheme is run in each area.
Woke warriors won't like the sound of it  but Britons are among the world's most anti-PC populations, a poll suggests.

Respondents in 28 countries were asked to rate their feelings about woke behaviour on a scale of nought, meaning people are too easily offended, to seven, indicating that the population 'need to be more sensitive to those from different backgrounds'.

In Britain, 51 per cent rated their views at between nought and three, ranking this country as one of the nations most against political correctness.

Only 32 per cent of Britons believe 'culture war' divisions  revolving around supposedly insulting history and opinions  are a problem in the UK.

In contrast, 57 per cent of Americans thought the US was divided by culture wars.

Only 32 per cent of Britons believe 'culture war' divisions  revolving around supposedly insulting history and opinions  are a problem in the UK. Pictured: A protest against lockdown measures in London

Countries where people were most likely to think others should speak carefully about minorities included those with little freedom of speech.

Professor Bobby Duffy, of King's College London, which carried out the study with Ipsos Mori, said the findings indicated 'our particular suspicion of the ease with which people can take offence and the policing of speech'.

He said: 'International comparisons put your own country's problems into perspective - and the much greater sense of tension between groups in the US is a useful reminder that we don't, yet, have nearly as deeply embedded divisions or a culture war.

'There are important signals, however, of the cultural preferences in Britain, with our particular suspicion of the ease with which people can take offence and the policing of speech.

'Of course, this tension is a constant of cultural change, as new generations and contexts have different standards, but it is still a signal of a need for an open discussion of free speech in Britain.'

Countries where people were most likely to think others should speak more carefully about minorities included some with religious sensitivities and others with little freedom of speech.

In Turkey, which has an increasingly authoritarian and Islamist government, 76 per cent say people should be more sensitive about what they say, and China, where free speech is effectively outlawed, 72 per cent say people should be more sensitive.
A man was attacked and killed by a shark more than 3,000 years ago in Japan, according to researchers, who carefully recreated the scene after discovering the victim's remains.

Archaeologists found evidence of the ancient attack in the Seto Inland Sea of the Japanese archipelago then used forensic techniques to discover what happened.

The Oxford University-led researchers say this is the earliest direct evidence for a shark attack on a human and caused 790 deep, serrated injuries to the victim.

He was missing a hand, a leg and an arm, say the researchers, but he had been buried after the attack in a nearby cemetery with his leg placed on top of the body.

It is likely the individual, part of the Jomon Japan people, was fishing at the time he was killed by either a tiger or great white shark between 1370 to 1010 BC.

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Discovery: A man was attacked and killed by a shark more than 3,000 years ago in Japan, according to scientists, who recreated the scene after finding the victim's remains (pictured)

The grim discovery of the victim was made while researchers J. Alyssa White and Professor Rick Schulting were investigating evidence of violent trauma on the remains of prehistoric hunter-gatherers held at Kyoto University.

They came upon a fossil known as 'No 24', from the previously excavated site of Tsukumo - it was an adult male riddled with traumatic injuries.

'We were initially flummoxed by what could have caused at least 790 deep, serrated injuries to this man,' said the Oxford pair.

'There were so many injuries and yet he was buried in the community burial ground, the Tsukumo Shell-mound cemetery site.'

'The injuries were mainly confined to the arms, legs, and front of the chest and abdomen. Through a process of elimination, we ruled out human conflict and more commonly-reported animal predators or scavengers,' they wrote.

Since archaeological cases of shark reports are extremely rare, they turned to forensic shark attack cases for clues and worked with expert George Burgess.

He reconstructed the attack and the team concluded the man died 3,000 years ago, between 1370 to 1010 BC.

The distribution of wounds suggest the victim was alive at the time of attack - his left hand was sheared off, possibly a defence wound as he tried to fight off the shark.

No 24s body had been recovered soon after the attack and buried with his people at the cemetery near where they lived.

Excavation records showed he was also missing his right leg and his left leg was placed on top of his body in an inverted position.

Location of the killing: Archaeologists found evidence of the ancient shark attack in the Seto Inland Sea of the Japanese archipelago (pictured) then used forensic techniques to discover what happened

It is likely the individual, part of the Jomon Japan people, was fishing at the time he was killed by either a tiger or great white shark (pictured) between 1370 to 1010 BC

'Given the injuries, he was clearly the victim of a shark attack,' said White and Schulting.

'The man may well have been fishing with companions at the time, since he was recovered quickly. And, based on the character and distribution of the tooth marks, the most likely species responsible was either a tiger or white shark.'

Co-author Dr Mark Hudson, a researcher with the Max Planck Institute, said the victim was a member of the Neolithic people of Jomon Japan.

They exploited a range of marine resources and it isn't clear if this individual was targeting sharks or whether the shark was attracted by blood from other fish.

'Either way, this find not only provides a new perspective on ancient Japan, but is also a rare example of archaeologists being able to reconstruct a dramatic episode in the life of a prehistoric community,' said Hudson.

The findings are published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
China plans to send its first crewed mission to Mars in 2033 with the goal of constructing a base and extract resources from the Red Planet, according to a new presentation made by Wang Xiaojun, the head of China Academy of Launch Facilities Technology.

The ambitious plan will intensify a race with the US to put humans on Mars, with NASA aiming for sometime during the 2030s.

Wang's Mars roadmap consists of three stages for colonizing the Red Planet, with the first using robots to find possible sites for the base on Mars and building systems to source resources.

Humans will then take the 239-million-mile journey through space and upon landing on the Martian world, will construct the base.

The final stage envisages fleets of spacecraft shuttling between Earth and Mars and major development of its resource.

The initial mission is set to launch in 2033, with subsequent voyages happening in 2035, 2037, 2041 and 2043, among others.

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China plans to send its first crewed mission to Mars in 2033 with the goal of constructing a base and extract resources from the Red Planet. Pictured is China's Long March-5B Y2 that could take humans to Mars

The reason China has its missions spread out every two years, is because Earth and Mars perfectly align every two years.

China has made waves in space travel over the past years, with its most recent achieved of landing its Zhurong rover on the Red Planet in May.

The country also returned its Chang'e-5 capsule in December 2020 with a precious cargo of rocks and soil from the moon.

China is now looking to make a name for itself by putting humans on Mars  and it could do so before NASA.

NASA is using its Artemis mission to send the first Americans to Mars, also by 2033, so it will be a race between the US and China to see which one touches down first.

The plan includes sending robots to Mars first, which will look for a base site and humans will follow in 2033 who will construct the base and extract resources from the planet

NASA is using its Artemis mission to send the first Americans to Mars, also by 2033, so it will be a race between the US and China to see which one touches down first. Pictured is the Artemis I on Mobile Launcher

China has made waves in space travel over the past years, with its most recent achieved of landing a rover on the Red Planet in May

The country plans on using nuclear propellant in its spacecraft, which uses energy released from nuclear reactions in the form of heat and electricity.

China would have to accomplish round trips with a total flight time of 'a few hundred days', Wang said.

NASA has also mentioned using nuclear propellant when it sends Americans to Mars in the 2030s.

The US space agency says this system could cut the voyage time to Mars from six months to four and safely deliver human explorers by reducing their exposure to cosmic radiation.

NASA and many other countries currently use liquid hydrogen to power spacecraft.

Along with conquering Mars, China is also looking to set up a base in the south pole of the moon, in which it is working with Russia to complete.

The country also returned its Chang'e-5 capsule in December 2020 with a precious cargo of rocks and soil from the moon

Authorities from Moscow and Beijing signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the project in March to cement the partnership.

'An international lunar science station is a complex of experimental and research facilities created on the surface and/or in orbit of the moon,' the memorandum reads.

The base, it continued, would be 'designed to conduct multidisciplinary and multipurpose research work.'
Britain is set to get its first new Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in 26 years.

The Yorkshire Wolds and Cheshire Sandstone Ridge will be considered for AONB status, the UK government revealed today.

AONB is an official government designation given to land protected by law, to conserve and enhance its natural beauty.

The government is also planning extensions to the existing Surrey Hills and Chilterns AONBs, both of which surround London.

The announcement is part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's commitment to protect 30 per cent of the UK's land by 2030.

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Yorkshire Wolds and Cheshire Sandstone Ridge are 'under consideration' as AONBs, while Surrey Hills and Chilterns AONBs are set to be extended

Beauty zones: The Yorkshire Wolds (pictured) and Cheshire Sandstone Ridge are set to become the first new Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in Britain in 26 years

THE NEW AONBs Two areas 'under consideration' for AONB status by Natural England are: - Yorkshire Wolds - Cheshire Sandstone Ridge A further two existing AONBs are being considered for expansion: - Surrey Hills - Chilterns Advertisement

It is likely to take several years for the areas to be granted AONB status because every local authority involved will have to be consulted before Environment Secretary George Eustice makes the final decision.

Existing protected areas  which include AONBs, National Parks and National Scenic Areas  already comprise approximately 28 per cent of land in the UK, the government told MailOnline.

But an additional 2.2 per cent  more than 500,000 hectares  will be protected too by 2030 in a bid to support 'the recovery of nature'.

'We have an opportunity to create a new chapter for our protected landscapes,' said Mr Eustice.

'The work that we are going to take forward will contribute to our commitment to protect 30 per cent of our land by 2030, and boost biodiversity, while designating more areas of the country for their natural beauty.'

There are currently 46 AONBs  33 wholly in England, four wholly in Wales, one that straddles the Anglo-Welsh border and eight in Northern Ireland.

But the last AONB to be officially confirmed was Tamar Valley in Devon and Cornwall, back in 1995.

Scotland uses its own designation  national scenic area (NSA)  instead of 'AONB'.

Cheshire Sandstone Ridge is a celebrated landscape located in the heart of Cheshire, in close proximity to the large populations of northwest England

The Yorkshire Wolds and Cheshire Sandstone Ridge are both 'being considered for designation'  but if approved, will boost the number to 48.

The government says Yorkshire Wolds is worthy for consideration for its 'tranquil landscape of rolling hills and valleys' containing ancient woodland, chalk streams, farm holdings and historic villages.

What is an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty? AONB is an official government designation given to land protected by law, to conserve and enhance its natural beauty. There are 46 AONBs across the UK, 34 of which are in England. They include the North Wessex Downs, which stretch across Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire and the Norfolk Coast. Only local authorities or the Secretary of State can give permission for development in, or affecting, an AONB. However, authorities must make sure any proposals have regard for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the AONB. The status is different from National Park status, which has significantly higher protection from development. Source: Natural England Advertisement

The Yorkshire Wolds is home to Fotherdale Farm in Thixendale, where two kestrels and their six hungry chicks have been watched by tens of thousands of people on a camera in their nest box.

Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, meanwhile, has a diverse, distinctive, and celebrated landscape located in the heart of Cheshire and is 'rich in heritage, archaeology, wildlife, and culture'.

Being designated an AONB gives landscapes greater protection, with local authorities required to make sure all decisions, from planning permission to installing telecommunications cables, take the conservation of the area into account.

The government said securing the AONB designation for the sites would allow them to benefit from greater protections, so that more English landscapes are 'safeguarded for future generations'.

However, conservationists have warned that existing AONBs do not necessarily deliver for nature, as many suffer from overgrazing, poor management or intensive agriculture.

Emma Marsh, director of RSPB England, described the announcement on the potential new areas as simply 'warm words'.

'Wildlife isn't even thriving in our existing protected landscapes,' she said.

'If any protected landscapes  existing or new  are to be able to deliver land "well-managed for nature", they need to be resourced and set up to do so.'

Crispin Truman, chief executive of countryside charity CPRE, said: 'We know that not all of the land within existing National Parks and AONBs is effectively managed for nature.

There are currently 46 AONBs  33 wholly in England, four wholly in Wales, one that straddles the Anglo-Welsh border and eight in Northern Ireland. Pictured, Reigate Hill, Surrey Hills AONB

'Our evidence also shows that a developer-led planning system with centralised housing targets has driven up pressure on these nationally important areas, particularly in the south.

'So there is a long way to go before these areas help meet the government's target to protect 30 per cent of land for nature by 2030.'

Jo Smith, chief executive of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said the proposed designations 'will not magically help meet the target of 30 per cent of land where nature can thrive'.

'Instead, what's needed is urgent action, political will and more resources, to repair and heal the natural world across the National Parks that we already have,' she said.

Ministers have also launched a programme to fund farmers and landowners in protected landscapes to help nature and people.

Projects under the programme will include creating ponds, improving public access or reducing carbon emissions or plastic use on farms.
Early modern humans may have once lived alongside Denisovans and Neanderthals more than 44,000 years ago, DNA discovered in a Siberian cave has suggested.

Experts from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany analysed sediments from the Denisova Cave in Siberia's Altai mountains.

The cave lent its name to the Denisovans, the archaic human species whose remains were first found there in 2008 but lived across much of Asia in the early Palaeolithic.

Neanderthal remains have also been found in the cave  along with the bone from a child whose DNA indicated that it had a Neanderthal mother and Denisovan father.

Although this proved that the species met in the region, only sparse remains  eight bone and teeth fragments  have come from 300,000 years of cave sediments.

This made it impossible to discern the occupational history of the cave in any detail, or tie specific tools, pendants and other artefacts to a particular hominin species.

The DNA analysis, however, allowed the team to map out when different species occupied the cave, with Denisovans arriving first, as early as 250,000 years ago.

Early modern humans may have once lived alongside Denisovans and Neanderthals more than 44,000 years ago, DNA discovered in a Siberian cave has suggested. Pictured: (from left to right) researchers Kieran O'Gorman, Zenobia Jacobs and Bo Li collecting sediment samples for genetic analysis from the South Chamber of the Denisovan cave in southern Siberia

According to the researchers, their study represents the largest ever analysis of sediment DNA from a single excavation site.

'The analysis of sediment DNA provides a wonderful opportunity,' said paper author and archaeologist Richard 'Bert' Roberts of the University of Wollongong, Australia.

From their study, the team were able, he added, 'to combine the dates that we previously determined for the deposits in Denisova Cave with molecular evidence for the presence of people and fauna.'

The team extracted 700 samples in a dense grid from exposed sediments from three locations across the cave  one from within the main chamber and two from the east chamber.

'Just collecting the samples from all three chambers in the cave and documenting their precise locations took us more than a week,' said paper author and archaeologist Zenobia Jacobs, also of the University of Wollongong.

After this, the sediments were shipped to the lab at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, where the team spent two years extracting and sequencing tiny traces of ancient animal and hominin mitochondrial DNA.

'These efforts paid off and we detected the DNA of Denisovans, Neanderthals or ancient modern humans in 175 of the samples,' explained lead author Elena Zavala.

Denisovan cave lent its name to the Denisovans (left), the archaic human species whose remains were first found there in 2008 but lived across much of Asia in the early Palaeolithic. The remains of Neanderthals (right) have also been found in the cave  along with the bone from a child whose DNA indicated that it had a Neandertal mother and Denisovan father.

Experts from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany analysed sediments from the Denisova Cave in Siberia's Altai mountains. Pictured: geneticist Matthias Meyer analyses a sample in a laboratory clean room

Mapping how the DNA profiles changed across the sediment layers, the team found that the earliest hominin DNA detected belonged to the Denisovans  indicating that they made the oldest stone tools at the site some 250170,000 years ago.

It wasn't until around the end of this period that the first Neanderthals arrived in the area  after which both Denisovans and Neanderthals occupied the cave site.

The exception was a period between 130,000100,000 years ago, during which no Denisovan DNA was found deposited in the sediments at all.

Moreover, when the Denisovans returned after this time, the researchers found that they carried a different mitochondrial DNA signal, suggesting that these were a different population to that which had previously occupied the cave.

Mapping how the DNA profiles changed across the sediment layers, the team found that the earliest hominin DNA detected belonged to the Denisovans  indicating that they made the oldest stone tools at the site some 250170,000 years ago. Pictured: the sediment outcrops sample from the East (right) and Main (left) Chambers. Samples are shown as icons, with Denisovans in red, Neanderthals in blue and early modern humans in yellow

Modern human mitochondrial DNA, meanwhile, did not appear until the sediment layers from which Upper Palaeolithic tools and other objects have been unearthed  with a diversity of design that surpasses that of the older artefacts.

'This provides not only the first evidence of ancient modern humans at the site, but also suggests that they may have brought new technology into the region with them,' explained Ms Zavala.

The team believe that early modern humans first occupied the cave somewhere between around 63 and 44 thousand years ago, probably near the end of that range. The uncertainty stems from the possibility of mixing in the eastern sediments.

'Did Neanderthals, Denisovans and modern humans ever overlap? We cant rule out that possibility, but the resolution of the chronology is too coarse-grained to distinguish events at even 1000-year resolution,' Professor Roberts told MailOnline.

'So even if they were all present at around the same time, they may never or rarely have encountered each other,' he explained.

'The exception, of course, are Denisovans and Neanderthals in the older layers, because they produced a daughter, referred to scientifically as Denisova 11.'

'So those archaic humans evidently got up close and personal at least once!'

'Did Neanderthals, Denisovans and modern humans ever overlap? We cant rule out that possibility, but the resolution of the chronology is too coarse-grained to distinguish events at even 1000-year resolution,' Professor Roberts told MailOnline. 'So even if they were all present at around the same time, they may never or rarely have encountered each other,' he explained. Pictured: the entrance to the Denisovan cave in southern Siberia

By also looking at the animal DNA found in the sediments, the researchers were also able to identify two periods characterised by shifts in both animal and hominin populations.

The first  which occurred around 190,000 years ago  corresponded to a shift from relatively warm interglacial conditions to a colder, glacial climate.

This manifested as a shift in the detected populations of hyaenas and bears  alongside the first arrival of the Neanderthals in the cave.

The second change, some 130,000100,000 years ago, saw the climate shift back in the opposite direction and coincided with both the absence of the Denisovans from the cave and a change in detected animal population.

The team extracted 700 samples in a dense grid (as pictured) from exposed sediments from three locations across the cave  one from within the main and two from the east chamber

'Being able to generate such dense genetic data from an archaeological site is like a dream come true, and these are just the beginnings,' said paper author and geneticist Matthias Meyer of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

'There is so much information hidden in sediments  it will keep us and many other geneticists busy for a lifetime.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.

Experts led from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany analysed sediments from the Denisova Cave in Siberia's Altai mountains
Cosmic dawn, that is the moment the first stars in the universe started emitting light, happened between 250 and 350 million years after the Big Bang, a study revealed.

Studying Hubble telescope images from galaxies 550 million years after the Big Bang, allowed UCL and the University of Cambridge experts to calculate the age of the oldest stars in those galaxies, and in turn estimate the time of cosmic dawn.

The team say that the James Webb space telescope, scheduled for launch in November, will be sensitive enough to observe the first light from these stars.

They will find the first moment of galactic light by searching back for the dark ages of the universe, then looking for tell-tale dots of light from hydrogen-rich stars.

The stars will be significantly larger, burn much brighter and burn out much more quickly than modern stars, creating a kind of 'cosmic firework show,' the team said.

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Cosmic dawn, that is the moment the first stars in the universe started emitting light, happened between 250 and 350 million years after the Big Bang, study finds. Using computer models they predict that by 368 million years after the Big Bang there will be a 'fireworks show'

WHAT IS COSMIC DAWN? Cosmic Dawn is the moment after the Big Bang when the first reactions happened in massive stars. It is the moment when the darkness of the Cosmic Dark Ages turned light. Those first stars were massive, explosive and relatively short lived. It would have been like a 'cosmic fireworks show' with stars burning and exploding one after another. No telescope is currently able to view this cosmic fireworks show, but the James Webb space telescope can. Astronomers have pinpointed this period of starlight to within 250 and 350 million years after the big bang. The stars would mainly be burning atomic hydrogen, the first elements present within the early, dark universe. Atomic hydrogen is hydrogen that has not been split into protons and electrons. Advertisement

The study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, included the study of six of the most distant galaxies currently known.

The light reaching Earth from these six galaxies has taken most of the lifetime of the universe to reach us, according to the researchers.

They found that the distance of these galaxies corresponded to a 'look back' time of more than 13 billion years ago, when the universe was only 550 million years old.

They were then able to use images from Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes to estimate the age of the oldest stars in these six galaxies - which also allowed them to estimate how old they were at the point we were viewing them.

They found they formed between 200 and 300 million years earlier - so about 250 to 350 million years after the Big Bang - but current telescopes can't view back that far.

Lead author Dr Nicolas Laporte from the University of Cambridge, who started the project while at UCL, said: 'Theorists speculate that the universe was a dark place for the first few hundred million years, before the first stars and galaxies formed.

'Witnessing the moment when the universe was first bathed in starlight is a major quest in astronomy.'

It is hoped that the first stars will be sufficiently luminous to be seen with James Webb, which has been described as a 'cosmic time machine' due to its ability to peer back further into the history of the universe than any telescope before it.

This cosmic dawn will be very different to the galaxies we see today, or even those galaxies we can see by looking back with Hubble, the team explained.

Dr Laporte told MailOnline: 'The first galaxies are 100 times smaller than our own galaxy, the Milky Way, but they are producing more than 10 times more stars.

'But because the first stars are more massive than our Sun, they are exploding much faster. In other words, a galaxy at Cosmic Dawn is like a big Fireworks with dozen of stars forming and exploding.'

Co-author Professor Richard Ellis of the UCL Physics & Astronomy department, told MailOnline the first stars will appear like fireflies in the night sky.

This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the galaxy cluster MACS J0416.12403. This is one of six being studied by the Hubble Frontier Fields programme

'We aren't going to see spiral arms and glorious pictures of galaxies, we will see the universe illuminated with little fireflies which will be existing.

'To prove these signals of star light are the birth of stars we will look for chemical elements as we don't expect them to have anything but helium and hydrogen.'

To calculate the age of the stars in the oldest galaxies visible with Hubble, and in turn calculate when Cosmic Dawn happened, they looked for markers in their energy distribution that suggest the presence of atomic hydrogen in their atmosphere.

By 359 million years after the Big Bang there will be an increasing number of stars forming from the dust and gas of the early universe, leading to the first galaxies

WHAT IS THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE? The Hubble telescope was launched on April 24, 1990, via the space shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. It is named after famed astronomer Edwin Hubble who was born in Missouri in 1889. He is arguably most famous for discovering that the universe is expanding and the rate at which is does so - now coined the Hubble constant. Hubble has made more than 1.3 million observations since its mission began in 1990 and helped publish more than 15,000 scientific papers. It orbits Earth at a speed of about 17,000mph (27,300kph) in low Earth orbit at about 340 miles in altitude. Hubble has the pointing accuracy of .007 arc seconds, which is like being able to shine a laser beam focused on Franklin D. Roosevelt's head on a dime roughly 200 miles (320km) away. Advertisement

Atomic hydrogen is hydrogen that has not been split into protons and electrons.

This hydrogen signature increases in strength as the stellar population ages but diminishes when the galaxy is older than a billion years.

The age-dependence arises because the more massive stars that contribute to this signal burn their nuclear fuel more rapidly and therefore die first.

All the heavier elements in the universe - everything except for hydrogen, helium and lithium  are synthesised in stars and then seeded across the universe when the stars explode at the end of their lives.

This includes the elements that make up humans  the calcium in our bones, the iron in our blood.

The presence of hydrogen and helium at the expense of other chemicals is the 'acid test' in determining they are truly the first stars at the 'cosmic dawn,' explained Professor Ellis in an interview with MailOnline.

'We are convinced we have pinpointed when it has occured and James Webb will be able to see the signals, then the next step is to find them and observe their chemical signals.'

They are basically telling James Webb 'when to look' for the stars.

Co-author Dr Romain Meyer of UCL Physics & Astronomy and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany said astronomers already use this age indicator to date stars in the Milky Way.

Adding that it 'can also be used to date extremely remote galaxies, seen at a very early period of the universe.'

'Using this indicator we can infer that, even at these early times, our galaxies are between 200 and 300 million years old,' he explained.

In analysing the data from Hubble and Spitzer, the researchers needed to estimate the 'redshift' of each galaxy which indicates their cosmological distance and hence the look-back time at which they are being observed.

When it launches in November, the James Webb space telescope (pictured) will be able to look deeper and further into the history of our universe than ever before

WHAT IS THE BIG BANG THEORY? The Big Bang Theory is a cosmological model, a theory used to describe the beginning and the evolution of our universe. It says that the universe was in a very hot and dense state before it started to expand 13,7 billion years ago. This theory is based on fundamental observations. In 1920, Hubble observed that the distance between galaxies was increasing everywhere in the universe. This means that galaxies had to be closer to each other in the past. In 1964, Wilson and Penzias discovered the cosmic background radiation, which is a like a fossil of radiation emitted during the beginning of the universe, when it was hot and dense. The cosmic background radiation is observable everywhere in the universe. The composition of the universe - that is, the the number of atoms of different elements - is consistent with the Big Bang Theory. So far, this theory is the only one that can explain why we observe an abundance of primordial elements in the universe. Advertisement

To achieve this, they undertook spectroscopic measurements using the full armoury of powerful ground-based telescopes.

Including the Chilean Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA), the European Very Large Telescope, the twin Keck telescopes in Hawaii, and Gemini-South telescope.

These measurements enabled the team to confirm that looking at these galaxies corresponded to looking back to a time when the universe was 550 million years old.

Professor Ellis, who has tracked ever more distant galaxies over his career, said: 'Over the last decade, astronomers have pushed back the frontiers of what we can observe.'

They have pushed it 'to a time when the universe was only 4% of its present age.'

'However, due to the limited transparency of Earth's atmosphere and the capabilities of the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes, we have reached our limit,' he said.

'We now eagerly await the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which we believe has the capability to directly witness cosmic dawn.

'The quest to see this important moment in the universe's history has been a holy grail in astronomy for decades. Since we are made of material processed in stars, this is in some sense the search for our own origins.'

Viewing the first stars will also allow astronomers to better understand the cosmic dark ages - the moments before those first reactions happened.

'By definition, Cosmic Dawn is the period in the history of our Universe when the first stars and galaxies start to bath the Universe in light,' said Dr Laporte.

'Therefore, before Cosmic Dawn there is no light in the Universe, that is what we called the Dark Ages, and as an observer there is nothing I will be able to see.'

What is not yet known is what else was there during this cosmic dark age, when there were no stars - was it made up of dust and gas, or were there black holes.

Professor Ellis said we expect beyond the first stars is to see darkness and whether there are any black holes or other matter is open to further exploration.

''In my experience the exploration never stops, you keep going and we will have to think of how to explore the dark ages, and we will need different facilities to do that,' he explained in an interview with MailOnline.

The finding have been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
A trio of British-built satellites launch on a SpaceX rocket tomorrow with the aim of monitoring climate change and tracking endangered wildlife around the world.

The satellites are due to lift off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-2 ride share mission at 19:56 BST (14:56 ET) on Friday.

UK companies have received nearly 15 million from the UK Space Agency, through the European Space Agency's Pioneer Partnership Programme to build the satellites.

The UK Space Agency said the initiative puts the UK at the forefront of climate change and wildlife monitoring in orbit through satellite development.

Among the devices going into space is one making Internet of Things (IoT) connections easier, another tracking wildlife movements and a third 'ride-share' device.

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Lift-off: A trio of British-built satellites launch on a SpaceX rocket tomorrow with the aim of monitoring climate change and tracking endangered wildlife around the world

Two of the satellites, built by Spire, in Glasgow, will develop optical intersatellite links (ISL) which will provide a step change in how we get large amounts of data from space down to Earth

TRIO OF BRITISH SATELLITES ON SPACEX RIDESHARE Three British satellites are going to space with the SpaceX Transporter-2 rideshare mission on Friday. Two of the satellites, built by Spire, in Glasgow, will develop optical intersatellite links (ISL) which will provide a step change in how we get large amounts of data from space down to Earth. This will enable constellations of satellites to become integrated networks in space, capable of delivering very high volumes of data at speed to anywhere in the world, including remote and rural areas, disaster areas and at sea. The third satellite is built by In-Space Missions, based in Hampshire. The Faraday Phoenix satellite incorporates payloads for six customers including Airbus, Lacuna, SatixFy and Aeternum. The In-Space satellite includes the demonstration payload for Lacuna Space, which is developing a ground-breaking satellite IoT service. This is the next step in Lacunas space network, further improving the companys capability to service massive deployments for the IoT. Advertisement

The IoT is made up of connected 'things', such as machines, animals or people that have sensors connected to the internet that collect and share data.

The smart devices collect, send and act on data they acquire from their environments and can be used in a house, personally or from space.

One of the firms involved in the launch is Lacuna Space, based in Oxfordshire, which is connected to the ride-share In-Space Faraday Pheonix satellite.

The company is 'revolutionising the cost and simplicity of connecting sensors to the internet', by reaching every corner on Earth using small satellites to support the IoT.

Lacuna sensors, which fit in the palm of your hand and run for years off a single battery charge, can be used to monitor the environment.

The firm says they can also be used to track wildlife and help farmers by providing data on the health of cattle and crops and for water and soil management.

All three satellites are being managed by the ride-share partner firm Spaceflight, which will use its orbital transfer vehicles to move the satellites into their desired orbits after the launch.

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said the UK was leading the way in exploiting space to tackle climate change by developing satellites to monitor the environment and wildlife.

It comes as the UK is gearing up to host the COP26 conference in Glasgow that could see a new global agreement on tackling climate change.

This may go beyond the agreements made as part of the Paris agreement to take actions that limit global temperatures from rising by more than 2.7F over the next 50 years.

This is because a number of the worst case scenario climate change impacts are already becoming apparent and temperatures are expecting to begin reaching that maximum in the coming decade.

'As well as supporting our climate ambitions, these British-built satellites will provide exciting innovation in remote sensing and tracking, kickstarting industry to offer new services that will help to improve all our lives,' said Solloway.

Two of the satellites, built by Spire, in Glasgow, will develop optical intersatellite links (ISL) which will provide a step change in how we get large amounts of data from space down to Earth.

This will enable constellations of satellites to become integrated networks in space, capable of delivering very high volumes of data at speed to anywhere in the world, including remote and rural areas, disaster areas and at sea.

This enhanced data and better predictive analytics will improve our understanding of the environment and the impact we have on it.

Spire has been supported by the UK Space Agency, through the European Space Agency's Pioneer Partnership Programme with nearly 9 million of total funding.

They have used this to develop a range of innovative technologies and data platforms including the pair of satellites planned for tomorrow's launch.

Theresa Condor, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Spire Space Services, said it is a critical time for our planet.

One of the firms involved in the launch is Lacuna Space, based in Oxfordshire, which is connected to the ride-share In-Space Faraday Pheonix satellite

The firm is 'revolutionising the cost and simplicity of connecting sensors to the internet', by reaching every corner on Earth using small satellites to support the Internet of Things (IoT)

'With COP26 taking place later this year, we need to be able to map out and report on rapidly changing phenomena on Earth. That is the core purpose of Spire's constellation,' she said.

'Enhanced data and better predictive analytics help us to further understand our environment and the impact we have on it.

'Optical ISL allows us to deliver the most time sensitive data faster and at higher volumes for critical applications such as weather monitoring and forecasting.'

The third satellite is built by In-Space Missions, based in Hampshire, supported by 4.9 million of funding for this and future validation missions launching by 2023.

The Faraday Phoenix satellite incorporates payloads for six customers including Airbus, Lacuna, SatixFy and Aeternum within a single spacecraft.

Lacuna sensors, which fit in the palm of your hand and run for years off a single battery charge, can be used to monitor the environment

The third satellite is built by In-Space Missions, based in Hampshire, supported by 4.9 million of funding for this and future validation missions launching by 2023

Doug Liddle, CEO at In-Space Missions, said this is a highly capable and innovative satellite that has come to fruition in less than a year.

The In-Space satellite includes the demonstration payload for Lacuna Space, which is developing a ground-breaking satellite IoT service, thanks to 800,000 in funding.

This is the next step in Lacuna's space network, further improving the company's capability to service massive deployments for the IoT.

Rob Spurrett, Lacuna's CEO, said there is an 'endless world of possibilities' from the world of the internet of things - connecting physical objects together virtually.

'In cities there are many possible ways to do that, but our service ensures that rural parts of the UK and even the most remote locations in the world are part of this data revolution,' Spurrett explained.

Other payloads on the Faraday Phoenix mission include the Babel payload - a future digital, uploadable payload offering within the Faraday service

Among the uses for the Lacuna sensors is a project to monitor King Penguins (pictured) with data beamed to space and back to the researchers base

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is due to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is a 'taxi ride to space'.

Other payloads on the Faraday Phoenix mission include the Babel payload - a future digital, uploadable payload offering within the Faraday service.

This will effectively allow customers to send a piece of software to the system from Earth for a new monitoring setup without sending a new satellite.

This first version is a high gain, wideband software defined radio enabling a number of different applications to be uploaded and exercised  from tracking ship radars to creating heat maps of 4G mobile usage.

This mission, launching on June 25 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will include two new orbital transfer vehicles including Sherpa by Spaceflight with multiple satellites inside the vehicles

This is a small rover in Greenland with a Lacuna Space sensor on board that can send data back to the base station from space via the new satellites

SatixFy Space Systems, based in Manchester, is using the mission to demonstrate their satcom technology in space for the first time.

SatixFy's cubesat computer will be the most capable product of its type on the market, supporting up to 4Gbps of data transmission, and allowing companies to process large amounts of data in orbit.

The Airbus Prometheus 1 payload, built in Portsmouth, with a Software Defined Radio will be able to survey radio spectrum usage across the world from orbit.

This can detect radar tracking of the Faraday Phoenix satellite, and potentially identify and locate search and rescue beacons.
Experts may have identified 29 exoplanets that are 'perfectly positioned' to watch Earth if they hold life, but a new study suggests planets in the Milky Way with Earth-like biospheres could be far fewer than previously imagined.

The new research, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, found there is just one other planet in the galaxy - Kepler-442b - that receives enough sunshine from its star to form a biosphere with 'oxygenic' photosynthesis, which the authors note is a crucial part of complex life.

'We see that all exoplanets in our sample (but Kepler-442b) are well below such a threshold,' the study's authors wrote.

'Hence, the [photosynthetically active radiation] photon flux on these exoplanets would probably not sustain a biosphere as the one on our planet, if the OP chemical reaction (1) using PAR is the main mechanism to produce biomass. Kepler-442b stands out as the only other world where OP could produce a biosphere theoretically as the one on our planet.'

Planets in the Milky Way with Earth-like biospheres are far fewer than previously imagined. Just one, Kepler 442-b, receives enough sunshine from its star to form a biosphere with 'oxygenic' photosynthesis

The rocky planet, which was discovered in 2015, takes 112.3 days to orbit its star and is 0.409 AU (astronomical units) away from its star

Kepler-442 (pictured), the star that Kepler 442-b orbits. It is just slightly under 1,200 light-years from Earth

The authors calculated the amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) that planets receive from their stars and found that stars with half the temperature of the sun - around 2,600 Kelvin - does not get enough energy in the correct wavelength range.

'Oxygenic photosynthesis would still be possible, but such planets could not sustain a rich biosphere,' a statement from the Royal Astronomical Society reads.

Oxygenic photosynthesis is what gives energy to plants and other organisms, allowing the light they absorb to be converted into energy.

The most common stars in the galaxy, red dwarfs, are less than one-third the temperature of the sun.

Those that are significantly hotter than the sun give off more radiation in the necessary range to allow effective photosynthesis and largely do not last long enough to allow complex life to form.

'Since red dwarfs are by far the most common type of star in our galaxy, this result indicates that Earth-like conditions on other planets may be much less common than we might hope,' University of Naples professor and the study's lead author, Giovanni Covone, said in the study.

'This study puts strong constraints on the parameter space for complex life, so unfortunately it appears that the 'sweet spot' for hosting a rich Earth-like biosphere is not so wide,' Covone added.

Considered a 'Super-Earth,' Kepler-442b has a radius of 1.34 times that of Earth and more than twice its mass, according to NASA.

The rocky planet, which was discovered in 2015, takes 112.3 days to orbit its star and is 0.409 AU (astronomical units) away from its star. One astronomical unit is 93 million miles.

It is just slightly under 1,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra and is in the goldilocks zone or 'habitable zone' of its star.

The Goldilocks zone is the belt around a star where temperatures are ideal for liquid water to pool on a planet.

The James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, will be able to look at distant worlds around other stars and determine if they could potentially host life.

Earlier this month, said it would delay James Webb because the European Space Agency-funded Ariane 5 rocket to launch it isn't ready.

A NASA spokesperson told DailyMail.com the launch of the Hubble successor will happen 'no earlier than October 31.'

It is still expected to launch for space this year and James Webb will spent at least 30 percent of its first year studying exoplanets.
Archaeologists have unearthed a new type of prehistoric human that emerged 400,000 years ago and which is thought to have likely interbred with Homo sapiens.

Skull and jaw fragments of a 'Nesher Ramla' Homo were found at an open-air prehistoric site of the same name at a cement plant near the city of Ramla, Israel.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have dated the remains to around 140,000120,000 years ago.

Nesher Ramla Homo's big teeth, skull structure and absent chin make its morphology markedly different to that of modern humans, analysis has revealed.

But it does have features in common with Neanderthals  specifically its teeth and jaw  while its skull resembles that of other archaic Homo specimens.

Thus, the find may answer a big puzzle in human evolution  how Neanderthals came to have Homo sapiens genes long before the two groups met in Europe.

The researchers argue the Nesher Ramla people may be the previously-hypothesised 'missing' population that mated with modern humans 200,000 years ago.

In fact, they likely predated modern humans in the Levant by 200,000 years before overlapping for more than 100,000 years after that.

The team suspect that the Nesher Ramla people were the source from which many humans of the Middle Pleistocene developed  including 'European' Neanderthals.

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Archaeologists have unearthed a new type of prehistoric human that emerged 400,000 years ago and which is thought to have likely interbred with Homo sapiens. Pictured: a 3D model showing the skull and jaw fragments of the newly identified Nesher Ramla Homo

The team suspect that the Nesher Ramla people were the source from which most humans of the Middle Pleistocene developed  including 'European' Neanderthals

'The discovery of a new type of Homo is of great scientific importance,' said paper author and biological anthropologist Israel Hershkovitz of Israel's Tel Aviv University.

'It enables us to make new sense of previously found human fossils, add another piece to the puzzle of human evolution, and understand the migrations of humans in the old world,' he added.

'Even though they lived so long ago, in the late middle Pleistocene (474,000130,000 years ago), the Nesher Ramla people can tell us a fascinating tale, revealing a great deal about their descendants' evolution and way of life.'

The remains were found during a dig in the mining area of the Nesher cement plant.

Digging 26 feet down, the researchers also found large quantities of animals bones  including horses, fallow deer and and ox-like aurochs  and stone tools.

Analysis of the bone morphology confirmed that they belonged to a new type of Homo  the first to be classified based on remains unearthed in Israel.

'This is an extraordinary discovery. We had never imagined that alongside Homo sapiens, archaic Homo roamed the area so late in human history,' said paper author and archaeologist Yossi Zaidner of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

'The archaeological finds associated with human fossils show that "Nesher Ramla Homo" possessed advanced stone-tool production technologies and most likely interacted with the local Homo sapiens.'

 Slide me  Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have dated the remains to around 140,000120,000 years ago. Pictured: a three-dimensional reconstructions of the Nesher Ramla jaw bone (left) and in transparency showing the tooth roots (right)

'Before these new findings, most researchers believed the Neanderthals to be a "European story",' said Professor Hershkovitz.

The prevailing theory, he explained, proposed that 'small groups of Neanderthals were forced to migrate southwards to escape the spreading glaciers, with some arriving in the Land of Israel about 70,000 years ago.'

'The Nesher Ramla fossils make us question this theory, suggesting that the ancestors of European Neanderthals lived in the Levant as early as 400,000 years ago, repeatedly migrating westward to Europe and eastward to Asia.'

'In fact, our findings imply that the famous Neanderthals of Western Europe are only the remnants of a much larger population that lived here in the Levant  and not the other way around.'

'This is an extraordinary discovery. We had never imagined that alongside Homo sapiens, archaic Homo roamed the area so late in human history,' said paper author and archaeologist Yossi Zaidner of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Pictured: the Nesher Ramla remains

'People think in paradigms. That's why efforts have been made to ascribe these fossils to known human groups like Homo sapiens, Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis or the Neanderthals,' said paper author Rachel Sarig.

'But now we say: "No." This is a group in itself, with distinct features and characteristics,' the dental anthropologist from Tel Aviv University added.

'At a later stage small groups of the Nesher Ramla Homo type migrated to Europe  where they evolved into the "classic" Neanderthals that we are familiar with  and also to Asia, where they became archaic populations with Neanderthal-like features.'

Team member Gerhard Weber  an evolutionary anthropologist from Vienna University  agreed, adding that he believe the history of Neanderthal evolution will be told differently now.

'Europe was not the exclusive refugium of Neanderthals from where they occasionally diffused into West Asia,' he said.

'We think that there was much more lateral exchange in Eurasia, and that the Levant is geographically a crucial starting point, or at a least bridgehead, for this process.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Science.

The remains were found during a dig (pictured) in the mining area of the Nesher cement plant. Digging 26 feet down, the researchers also found large quantities of animals bones  including horses, fallow deer and and ox-like aurochs  and stone tools

Skull and jaw fragments of a 'Nesher Ramla' Homo were found at an open-air prehistoric site of the same name at a cement plant near the city of Ramla, Israel
Researchers analyzing a number of bones that were found in an Israeli quarry more than a decade ago have confirmed they are from a branch of the human evolutionary tree connected to Neanderthals and could be anywhere between 120,000 and 140,000 years old.

The bones, which include parts of a skull, lower jaw bone and tooth, were found in Nesher Ramla, Israel, in 2010.

The anthropologists compared them to hundreds of fossils around the world from different eras and determined they came from a group closely related to Neanderthals.

The bones appear to share many of the same features that Neanderthals did, including the shape of the lower jaw.

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The team suspect that the Nesher Ramla people were the source from which most humans of the Middle Pleistocene developed  including 'European' Neanderthals

There are also enough similarities to link the group to other populations found in prior cave excavations in Israel dating to around 400,000 years ago.

'The teeth have some unique features that enable us to draw a line between these populations,' said Tel Aviv University dental anthropologist Rachel Sarig, a co-author of the paper published Thursday in the journal Science, in an interview with the Associated Press.

Homo sapiens are widely believed to have originated in Africa about 270,000 years ago.

From there, they took routes to Eurasia, passing through Levant and subsequently, Boker Tachtit, Israel, or they went to remote areas of Asia and beyond.

Neanderthals went extinct between 50,000 and 35,000 years ago, as modern humans began to settle throughout Europe and Asia.

A study published earlier this month suggested that humans and Neanderthals lived together in Israel's Negev desert, passing through Levant and subsequently, Boker Tachit.

This group probably inhabited the region from around 400,000 to 100,000 years ago, said Tel Aviv University physical anthropologist Israel Hershkovitz, another co-author.

He said the remains found at Nesher Ramla are likely from 'some of the last survivors of a once very dominant group in the Middle East.'

The team suspects the Nesher Ramla people were the source from which many humans of the Middle Pleistocene developed  including 'European' Neanderthals.

Prior research has shown that homo sapiens - modern humans - also lived in the region at the same time.

This undated image provided by Tel Aviv University in June 2021 shows a virtual reconstruction of a human ancestor mandible found in Nesher Ramla, Israel

Scientists said the bones found in an Israeli quarry are from a branch of the human evolutionary tree and are 120,000 to 140,000 years old

The bones, which include parts of a skull, lower jaw bone and tooth, were originally found in 2010

The bones appear to share many of the same features that Neanderthals did, including the shape of the lower jaw

A study published earlier this month suggested that humans and Neanderthals lived together in Israel's Negev desert

The fossilized bones were originally found in Nesher Ramla, Israel, in 2010

The remains were found during a dig in the mining area of the Nesher cement plant.

Digging 26 feet down, the researchers also found large quantities of animals bones  including horses, fallow deer and and ox-like aurochs  and stone tools.

The new findings add to research showing that homo sapiens and Neanderthal-like groups overlapped in the Middle East over a significant amount of time, probably tens of thousands of years.

There were likely cultural and genetic exchanges between the groups, the paper authors suggest. 'The Neanderthal story can no longer be told as a European story only. Its a much more complicated story,' said Hershkovitz.

Sheela Athreya, a Texas A&M University paleoanthropologist who was not involved in the study, said the new research 'gives us a lot to think about in terms of the history of population groups in this region, and how they may have interacted with populations in other regions, in Europe and North Africa.'

The Nesher Ramla fossils 'look like something on a lineage heading toward Neanderthal,' said Eric Delson, a paleoanthropologist at Lehman College in New York who was not involved in the study. He characterized the findings as 'fossils of what appears to be an intermediate variety - this group may be predecessors to Neanderthals in this area.'
Tesla will start allowing other automakers to use its Supercharger network in 2022, according to a new report.

The Elon Musk-led company told Norwegian officials it will start the process in September 2022, according to Electrek.

It's unclear at this point if Tesla will start with its Superchargers in Norway or if it will let other electric vehicles from manufacturers such as General Motors and Ford use the entire network, which now spans more 25,000 chargers at more than 2,700 stations.

The electric vehicle maker spoke with Vestland fylkeskommune, the governing body of Norway's Vestland county, according to minutes of the meeting obtained by Electrek.

Tesla will reportedly start allowing other automakers to use its Supercharger network in 2022

It's unclear at this point if Tesla will start with its Superchargers in Norway or if it will let other electric vehicles use the entire network, which now spans more 25,000 chargers at more than 2,700 stations

Tesla unveiled its Supercharger network in September 2012, several months after the release of its Model S sedan

'The condition for benefits is that infrastructure must be developed with a publicly available offer,' the minutes read. 'Tesla applied for benefits to expand 5 fast-charging stations. Tesla's charging stations today are just available for Tesla cars.'

'That type of infrastructure is then only open for use by one group and not for the general public otherwise. In the application, Tesla describes the relevant charging stations will nevertheless be publicly available from the third quarter of 2022.

'The administration considers that the charging stations for which benefits have been applied for will then be eligible for the scheme, provided that the benefits paid out after Tesla opens the charging offer for all car brands no later than the end of September 2022. The administration recommends that Vestland County Municipality take note that the benefit can be removed if the conditions are not met.'

Electrek added that an official in Germany has been speaking to Tesla about opening up its network for other automakers.

Palo Alto, California-based Tesla, which does not have a traditional press office, could not immediately be reached for comment via Musk's Twitter page.

Tesla unveiled its Supercharger network in September 2012, several months after the release of its Model S sedan.

It started with six locations throughout California, but has grown to a worldwide operation since then.

Initially, Tesla offered free supercharging for both its Model S and Model X vehicle, but Musk said several years ago the perk was not 'really sustainable' as production of the vehicles ramped up.

It brought back free supercharging for the Model 3 during a period in 2018, but has more recently ended the perk.

Pricing varies by location and it may change from time to time, Tesla has said previously.

Earlier this month, Tesla filed a trademark application for 'restaurant services,' an idea first brought up by Musk several years ago.

It's possible the restaurants could be located at or near the company's Supercharger stations.
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Love Island is nothing if not truly shocking television.

Far from only tuning in to see couples finding love, the drama keeps the UK captivated for eight long weeks of summer and in its five year history there have been explosive moments peppered throughout.

From full-frontal romps to wicked behaviour to ejections over physical fights, Love Island viewers have been shocked - and often disgruntled - with many alarming moments in the show history.

We take a look at the most explosive moments in show history...

TERRY AND EMMA'S OVER-COVER ROMP

SERIES TWO: 2016

Carpenter Terry Walsh and bombshell Emma-Jane Woodhams were the subject of one of the most shocking moments in Love Island history when they had full-frontal sex above a duvet, entirely uncovered and in a communal bedroom while their co-stars - and the nation - watched on.

Carpenter Terry Walsh and bombshell Emma-Jane Woodhams were the subject of one of the most shocking moments in Love Island history when they had full-frontal sex above a duvet

Terry joined the show shortly after its launch, initially falling for Olivia Bowen, nee Buckland, before ditching her for Malin Andersson, who was then voted off.

He then fell for bombshell Emma-Jane, the ex-girlfriend of fellow Islander Tom Powell, with the duo growing ever closer much to Malin's chagrin on the outside as she watched on.

As their romance developed, Emma and Terry stunned fans and co-stars alike by having sex in the bedroom without shielding themselves as the whole room looked on in shock.

Emma revealed she had thought it was better to bed Terry without any covers so as to conceal the deed, as she believed it couldn't legally be aired on TV.

Unbeknownst to her, however, the scenes had played out on the show meaning it wasn't just her fellow islanders that had a front row seat, which eventually led to ITV being bombarded with anger from viewers.

Emma revealed she had thought it was better to bed Terry without any covers so as to conceal the deed, as she believed it couldn't legally be aired on TV

The couple's actions led to a backlash, prompting complaints to be raised about the steamy scene, which aired at 9.01, but Love Island was later cleared by watchdog Ofcom who said 'no rules had been breached' by the show.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: 'We investigated a small number of complaints about a scene where two housemates had sex shortly after the watershed, but didn't find it breached broadcasting rules...

'The shots of the couple were very brief and relatively indistinct as a result of the use of a night vision camera. The tone was lightened by the focus on the housemates' reactions reduced the material's potential to cause offence.'

Expressing her regret over her actions once filming had wrapped, Emma later told new! magazine: 'There's not a day goes by I don't wish I hadn't done that.'

Terry joined the show shortly after its launch, initially falling for Olivia Bowen, nee Buckland, before ditching her for Malin Andersson (pictured), who was then voted off

THE ROMP THAT COST THE CROWN: ZARA AND ALEX

SERIES TWO: 2016

Zara was left heartbroken by the hideaway drama

Miss GB Zara Holland and bombshell Alex Bowen enjoyed a now-infamous night of passion in the hideaway after viewers had to choose two dates for the star to decide between - leading to her choosing Alex over James Khan.

Alex had spent most of the day flirting with his now-wife Olivia Bowen, nee Buckland, however he still accepted Zara's invitation into the hideaway, saying beforehand: 'When she did pick me I was just like s**t. I looked at Olivia and Olivia was like 'Oh no'', while Olivia also admitted: 'It's a bit gutting'.

Night vision cameras captured the evening in detail, leading to the destruction afterwards.

While Alex suffered little fallout from the moment, going on to be forgiven by Olivia, Zara was left beyond bereft when it was revealed she was to be stripped of her Miss Great Britain title due to misconduct.

Stating that her mother had fallen ill, Zara then left the villa and faced the storm at home.

She later said of the romp: 'Its horrible. You know, I was in the moment, I was in the Hideaway. Id had a few glasses of Champagne, Im not blaming it on that...

Ahem: The hideaway has been scene to some of the raciest scenes in the show's history, including 2016 series two's Zara Holland's now-infamous romp with Alex Bowen, which led to her being stripped of her Miss GB crown

Night vision cameras captured the evening in detail, leading to the destruction afterwards.

'Earlier on that day we had a challenge and the new boys got to rate everyone in order of which they think is the hottest girl and how much banter there was. I was the fourth fittest girl and I didnt apparently have much banter. you start to think oh god am I really boring, am I not pretty...

'Everything that day kind of contributed to it. Im not making an excuse, I know I am my own person, and I made that decision. But it was the biggest mistake ever'.

Speaking in 2019, Zara said: 'You think you're on a summer holiday and you might find love, but you are in a posh prison where you don't know what time it is and a voice in a wall tells you what to do. That show screwed me up. I blame it for everything. What it does to the contestants is terrible'.

Alex and Olivia tied the knot in September 2018.

Stating that her mother had fallen ill, Zara then left the villa and faced the storm at home

JON'S PROPOSAL

SERIES ONE: 2015

In the inaugural series of Love Island's reboot - following its initial and brief stint on-screens in 2005 - Jon Clark, later of TOWIE fame, popped the question to glamour model Hannah Elizabeth.

He wrote a poem for the star, penning: 'Love is mad, love is crazy, love makes me feel like a daisy. Love is scary, love is cool though. Loving you makes me feel like a rainbow'.

He later said: 'For us to win Love Island as a couple would just finish off the fairytale story that weve started. We met each other the first day, weve come on leaps and bounds, weve got to know each others. Sh*t bits, ugly bits, bad bits, great bits, lovely bits, sexy bits youve watched us grow as a couple into where we are now',

Hannah added: 'Ive met the love of my life and winning Love Island would just help start our future together'. Their romance ended catastrophically when Hannah slammed Jon for his treatment of her through their relationship.

In the inaugural series of Love Island's reboot - following its initial and brief stint on-screens in 2005 - Jon Clark, later of TOWIE fame, popped the question to glamour model Hannah Elizabeth

He wrote a poem for the star, penning: 'Love is mad, love is crazy, love makes me feel like a daisy. Love is scary, love is cool though. Loving you makes me feel like a rainbow'

KADY'S WINE THROWING

SERIES TWO: 2016

Kady McDermott caused shockwaves when she engaged in a physical fight with fleeting star Malia Arkian

Kady McDermott caused shockwaves when she engaged in a physical fight with fleeting star Malia Arkian.

In June 2016, Malia was ejected from the villa just hours after her grand arrival, after she became locked in an 'altercation' with Kady over Kady's love-interest and later boyfriend Scott Thomas.

When she entered the show, Malia, showed a romantic interest in Scott and later got to know him on a date.

Appearing jealous over Scott's date, Kady decided to get to know the newcomer by the fire pit at the luxury Majorca mansion, however, during an unfortunate accident, Kady then spilt drink on Malia's leg.

Believing the act was deliberate, Malia said: 'If you wanna speak to me, just come in there. You don't do that with me, not at all.'

Kady then stood up and shouted back: 'I swear to God, if you want to get rowdy that's a f**king joke. Do you honestly think I'd waste my wine over you? It was a f**king accident.'

Malia replied: 'Shut up you b**ch. Who the f**k do you think you are?' The girls then erupted into an argument and during that time an altercation took place, where Malia was alleged to have 'shoved' Kady, leading to ejection.

While Love Island viewers were not given full access to the scenes at the time, in 2019, Kady alleged that she was punched so hard by Malia that she bled. Kady took to Twitter to announce: 'She punched me in the nose after and gave me a nose bleed but they didnt show it as too graphic'.

In July 2018, Kady claimed she called the police after Malia 'made threats' towards her in a Twitter row - after which she refused to apologise. Malia went on to dismiss her claims and demand Kady stop mentioning her name.

In June 2016, Malia was ejected from the villa just hours after her grand arrival, after she became locked in an 'altercation' with Kady over her love-interest and later boyfriend Scott Thomas

DANI'S HEARTACHE... AND THE OFCOM RECORD

SERIES FOUR: 2018

Dani Dyer's treatment from producers led to a record breaking number of Ofcom complaints

Back in 2018, Love Island broke a new record for receiving the most amount of complaints ever for a single instalment of the show at the time, with the tally reaching 2500 - in a jump from 650 in the space of 48 hours.

The complaints stemmed from producers' 'cruel' decision to show Dani Dyer a clip of her boyfriend Jack Fincham, coming face to face with his ex-girlfriend Ellie Jones, implying there was something unsavoury afoot.

Dani was left distressed and weeping, panicked about what Jack was getting up to - toying with her emotions yet Jack had barely spoken to Ellie, remaining loyal to Dani throughout.

An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed this was the highest number of complaints about a single issue in Love Island history at that time. They also added that each one will be assessed against the broadcasting code.'

At the time, before the complaints racked up further, Ofcom said: 'We are considering these complaints against our broadcasting rules, before deciding whether or not to investigate.'

Dani had burst into tears saying she knew her romance was 'too good to be true', yet late host of the show Caroline Flack justified producers' cruel actions by saying the point of the show is to 'test relationships.'

The scenario worried viewers so much that it was compared to Romeo and Juliet's tragic Shakespearean ending. Viewers of the show took to Twitter to write: 'Love Island producers sending Dani that video is literally like when Romeo thought Juliet had died but was acc sleeping #loveisland.'

'That was a cruel cruel move on poor Dani,' one person raged, as another posted 'Dani if only you knew how Jack really feels about you! Cruel this is. Reunite them at once!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

Jack and Dani went on to win the show.

Back in 2018, Love Island broke a new record for receiving the most amount of complaints ever for a single instalment of the show at the time, with the tally reaching 2500 - in a jump from 650 in the space of 48 hours

GASLIGHTING CONCERNS: ADAM, ZARA AND ROSIE

SERIES FOUR: 2018

Adam Collard left fans raging when he brutally ended his romance with Rosie Williams when Zara McDermott arrived in the villa as a bombshell addition to the cast

Adam Collard left fans raging when he brutally ended his romance with Rosie Williams when Zara McDermott arrived in the villa as a bombshell addition to the cast.

The hunk left viewers appalled when he appeared to 'manipulate' Rosie into thinking they were never really an item. This backfired, with the Geordie being accused of 'gaslighting' by domestic abuse charities. Scenes aired on the show sparked concerns with bosses at domestic abuse charity Women's Aid.

Adam locked horns with Rosie in an explosive confrontation, during which he was widely-criticised by viewers for smirking throughout the argument and later leaving her in hysterical tears.

Voicing concern over Adam's actions, which have seen him move on to new girl Zara, Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Womens Aid, said: 'On the latest series of Love Island, there are clear warning signs in Adams behaviour.'

Adam was a late arrival into the villa and was initally paired with Kendall Rae-Knight before Rosie was his next partnership. Following this, he voiced interest in new girl Megan Barton Hanson much to Rosie's chagrin.

After Zara's arrival, his head was again turned - despite the fact she entered the villa days after Rosie revealed she had performed a sexual act on her love interest.

The hunk left viewers appalled when he appeared to 'manipulate' Rosie into thinking they were never really an item

She then geared herself up to confront Adam, after which he smirked his way through her tearful monologue - leading to fans branding the personal trainer 'a narcissist and sociopath' for his cold response.

In light of the shocking scenes, Women's Aid have urged viewers watching Adam's behaviour to recognise the warning signs and patterns. Releasing a statement in response to the show, bosses said: 'On the latest series of Love Island, there are clear warning signs in Adams behaviour.

'In a relationship, a partner questioning your memory of events, trivialising your thoughts or feelings, and turning things around to blame you can be part of pattern of gaslighting and emotional abuse. Last night, Rosie called out Adam's unacceptable behaviour on the show.

'We ask viewers to join her in recognising unhealthy behaviour in relationships and speaking out against all forms of domestic abuse  emotional as well as physical. It is only when we make a stand together against abuse in relationships that we will see attitudes change and an end to domestic abuse.'

Adam and Zara went on to date after the show following Rosie's heartache

THE KISS THAT NEVER WAS? GEORGIA AND JACK'S LIP LOCKING CONFUSION

SERIES FOUR: 2018

Georgia Steel left the nation raging when she alleged to have locked lips with Jack Fowler - much to his shock and an extremely staunch denial from the hunky bombshell

Georgia Steel left the nation raging when she alleged to have locked lips with Jack Fowler - much to his shock and an extremely staunch denial from the hunky bombshell.

Georgia caused friction in the villa when she picked then newcomer Jack, who was coupled up with Laura Anderson, to go on a date with her, and then caused chaos when she kissed him at the end of the date.

The plot thickened when Georgia and Jack ended up offering different accounts of what actually went down, with Georgia saying the kiss was mutual but Jack saying it was unintentional.

Kissgate worsened when a VAR breakdown of the kiss was shown on After Sun, only for viewers to point out continuity errors in the playback of the kiss from different angles.

Trying to set the record straight, Georgia has now admitted the kiss was filmed more than once. There was so much going on in the day I didnt really know what was going on at that time I just kind of do what I wanna do and they get different angles,' she said.

'I honestly dont remember. I have no idea because theres so much going on then Im just focusing on how many times Ive gotta do whatever Ive gotta do. Was it more than twice? Yeah,' she admitted.

Georgia caused friction in the villa when she picked then newcomer Jack, who was coupled up with Laura Anderson, to go on a date with her, and then caused chaos when she kissed him at the end of the date.

SHERIF'S DEPARTURE

SERIES FIVE: 2019

Viewers were left stunned after it was revealed Sherif Lanre was asked to leave the villa with immediate effect after apparently breaking the rules. It later emerged that he was removed for accidentally kicking Molly-Mae Hague in the crutch during a play fight, before later joking that it was a c*** punt.

Viewers were left stunned after it was revealed Sherif Lanre was asked to leave the villa with immediate effect after apparently breaking the rules

Speaking to The Sun, Sherif revealed: 'I did kick Molly-Mae in the groin area but it was an accident and she 100 per cent was not injured afterwards. She did appear to be in pain at first but then she stood up and seemed fine and we started laughing about it.'

Explaining the sequence of events in further detail, Sherif stated that he and Tommy Fury went to brush their teeth before bed and were met by Molly in the bathroom.

Sherif revealed that he and Molly began play fighting and 'acting out karate moves' - but inevitably his 'toes crashed into her groin and she crouched over in a defensive position.'

Admitting that while he checked to see if she was OK, he turned and joked to Tommy: 'Thats a c*** punt.

Confessing that he didn't think anything was wrong, Sherif noted that they all continued laughing and joking following the accidental kick, and 'he didn't feel the need to apologise for his remark.'

Sherif claimed ITV producers woke him up two hours before everyone else, they dragged him down to the Beach Hut and then interrogated him over what had happened. Noting that the whole interrogation looked worse that what had actually happened, he revealed he was sent home 'without a change to say goodbye or pack my bags.'

Explaining the sequence of events in further detail, Sherif stated that he and Tommy Fury went to brush their teeth before bed and were met by Molly in the bathroom

Speaking about his c**t-punt joke, Sherif expressed complete remorse and admitted he had never actually used the saying before and that it had 'just popped out.'

Despite this concession, at a later date, Sherif claimed he was given less air time than his white co-stars and was treated more harshly than women who 'slapped his bum'.

The reality star claimed he was 'groped' by girls in the villa and accused the show of 'unconscious' racial bias and double standards - something ITV has staunchly denied. Sherif said: 'I'm not going to point fingers... but the airtime [black people received] was disproportionate to our value in the villa.

'Statistically we get less air time. I know [the producers] have a duty to edit and give the viewers what they want. But I think the race thing is more to do with the people in charge finding people who want to be with people of colour.'

Confessing that he didn't think anything was wrong, Sherif noted that they all continued laughing and joking following the accidental kick, and 'he didn't feel the need to apologise for his remark'

MAURA'S 'PREDATORY' ADVANCES AT TOMMY

SERIES FIVE: 2019

When Irish grid girl Maura Higgins walked into the villa, she set her sights firmly on boxer Tommy Fury, despite him being coupled up with Molly-Mae Hague, with whom he remains now.

But her constant sexual remarks about the boxer left several viewers watching at home very uncomfortable.

When Irish grid girl Maura Higgins walked into the villa, she set her sights firmly on boxer Tommy Fury, despite him being coupled up with Molly-Mae Hague, with whom he remains now

Things escalated as when Maura mounted Tommy as he lay on the sofa and attempted to kiss him several times, with the boxer forced to swerve her numerous advances.

The scene attracted over 700 complains to media regulator Ofcom, with fans branding her 'desperate' and predatory, with many accusing her of sexually harassing Tommy.

Despite the sea of complaints Ofcom said it had assessed the complaints about the episode but would not be investigating them further. Viewers branded Maura 'desperate' and 'crossing a line' on Twitter.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: 'While we recognise that many viewers disapproved of a contestant's behaviour in this episode, we took into account the context in which it occurred, including the nature of Maura and Tommy's relationship, before and after.'

The regulator said that all complaints about the episode had been 'assessed under generally accepted standards'. Of the 726 complaints received, the 'vast majority' - 709 - were from viewers who alleged Maura had 'sexually harassed' Tommy by trying to kiss him on multiple occasions, Ofcom said.

But her constant sexual remarks about the boxer left several viewers watching at home very uncomfortable

Things escalated as when Maura mounted Tommy as he lay on the sofa and attempted to kiss him several times, with the boxer forced to swerve her numerous advances

OLLIE'S TROPHY HUNTING

SERIES FIVE: 2020

Ollie Williams, an heir to a 15million fortune, was exposed as a trophy hunter who gleefully poses next to the corpses of the animals he kills in images that were unearthed soon after he entered the villa

Ollie Williams, an heir to a 15million fortune, was exposed as a trophy hunter who gleefully poses next to the corpses of the animals he kills in images that were unearthed soon after he entered the villa.

It has emerged that he has travelled to several foreign destinations to take part in hunts  even shooting endangered animals. Ollie, who is set to inherit the 2,000-acre Lanhydrock estate in Cornwall, has proudly had his photo taken standing over dead warthog and water buffalo among other animals.

One now-deleted picture is of him with a giant eland  a type of antelope which has been listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Another of the Viscount-in-waiting with a slaughtered beast is captioned: 'You've gotta love it when you put your binos up and see a bull like this on the other end!'

Despite widespread backlash from fans, Love Island bosses insisted that had 'no intention' of axing Ollie Williams after he was exposed as a 'big game hunter who posed with an array of dead animals he killed in Africa.'

Producers of the ITV2 series refused to 'bow down to the public on a moral issue' as they dont believe keeping Ollie on the show will affect viewing figures. An insider told MailOnline: 'It is highly unlikely Ollie will be booted off the series. He's part of the lineup and already filmed the first episode  bosses see no reason to kick him off.'

It was not long however before he departed after stating her still had feelings for his ex-girlfriend.

It has emerged that he has travelled to several foreign destinations to take part in hunts  even shooting endangered animals

Which Love Island couples are still together?

Full list of Love Island 2021 Contestants: Series 7 cast members confirmed by ITV2
Evan Mock has detailed playing a bisexual character in Gossip Girl, saying that he's also 'seeing if I like it or not' while acting his role.

The skateboarder and model, 24, will portray Aki Menzies in the hotly-anticipated HBO Max reboot who is dating Audrey Hope, played by Emily Alyn Lind.

Speaking with MR PORTER's digital magazine, Evan explained that although he's not gay in real life, filming a threesome scene and making out with a male co-star made him question 'why kissing a man' is thought to be 'so much weirder'.

'It's pretty lit': Evan Mock has detailed playing a bisexual character in Gossip Girl, saying that he's also 'seeing if I like it or not' while acting his role in a new interview with MR PORTER

Discussing playing a bisexual character, Evan said: 'Me and my girlfriend in the show are super into this dude, Max, and we have a threesome.

'It's pretty lit. I'm not actually gay in real life but the character is I guess bisexual.

'I had to make out with [co-star] Thomas [Doherty] and I feel like I'm playing the character, but, for my personal life, I'm also seeing if I like it or not.

'I didn't but you're also asking yourself questions like, 'why is [kissing a man] so much weirder?' I think it has to do with social norms and all that.'

Breakout role: The skateboarder and model, 24, will portray Aki Menzies in the HBO Max reboot who is dating Audrey Hope, played by Emily Alyn Lind

On screen: Evan's character Aki and on-screen girlfriend Audrey have a threesome during the racy 10-part reboot (pictured with actress Emily who plays Audrey filming in November)

Evan and Emily play the longtime couple Aki Menzies and Audrey Hope in the reboot, which is set nine years after the original series.

The new version of Chuck Bass is Max Wolfe played by 26-year-old Thomas Doherty. while the new Dan Humphrey character is Zoya Lott played by Whitney Peak.

Also confirmed as appearing in the line-up for the 10-episode spin-off is 28-year-old transgender actress Zion Moreno, who plays character Luna La, and Tavi Gevinson whose mysterious character Kate Keller is only described as 'ambitious.'

Further talking about how he got into acting ahead of the show starting, Evan revealed that he wasn't too keen on the idea at first.

Striking: Evan looked incredible as he modelled a range of edgy looks in the high-fashion shoot

Thought provoking: Evan explained that while making out with a male co-star he felt 'like I'm playing the character, but, for my personal life, I'm also seeing if I like it or not'

Bit sleepy? One edgy shot saw Evan leaning on a windowsill and flashing his shirtless chest while donning fluffy, white slippers

He said: 'I collect hobbies. Acting is just another thing to add to the list, I guess. I was hesitant at first. I was dealing with self-doubt and s**t.'

However, Gossip Girl's creator Joshua Safran praised the young star, telling how he convinced him to join the cast.

Joshua told the publication: 'He didn't want to do this, I talked him into it. I wrote the role for him, I reached out to see if he was interested  he sort of was, he sort of wasn't.

'He'd say, 'I'm really gonna try!' I was like, 'You can try, but this is also a contract and if the show goes years and years you have to be in it.'

Change of heart: Evan also recalled how he wasn't too keen on becoming an actor at first, but that he collects hobbies and 'acting is another thing to add to the list'

Childhood: The skateboarder candidly spoke about his childhood in Hawaii and learning to surf elsewhere in the interview

Before being linked to Gossip Girl, Evan was mostly known for his skateboarding skills and became a viral social media star after being spotted by Frank Ocean.

Talking about that fateful day and his brightly coloured hair, Evan said: 'It was the day I coloured it, actually. [I dyed it] pink just hours before.

'I had things that I wanted to accomplish. Frank spotlighted me and it worked so well because I'd already set out to do what I'm doing now.'

Evan also candidly reflected on his childhood in Hawaii while speaking to MR PORTER, saying: 'The lifestyle we were living as kids was really a fantasy.

What a job: Before getting into acting, Evan worked as a guide leading tourists on swims with sharks

'I was homeschooled. We would go surfing when the waves were good and do our school whenever.'

And explaining how surfing transitioned smoothly to skating, he said: 'My grandma told me that I was ripping around on a board at five years old. The waves are good in the wintertime, so summertime was just about skating.'

Before getting into acting, Evan worked as a guide leading tourists on swims with sharks.

He said: 'Sharks just have a negative image. They look scary, but they're not. They're battling currents without even trying, they just glide.'

Proving he really can do everything, the actor and athlete also revealed that he's designing his own clothing line.

Upper East Siders: Evan is also joined in the cast by Eli Brown, Max Wolfe and Thomas Doherty with the show set to air on July 8 (Evan is pictured filming in New York in November 2020)

He said: 'It's going to be early-2000s late-1990s raver, plus mixing Hawaiian culture into it  the essentials I grew up with. It's just another way to express my feelings and ideas'

And although about to star in a hotly-anticipated reboot, Evan said that his long-term goal is all about surfing.

On where he ultimately wants to be, Evan said: 'On an island somewhere at my house that I own, around the people that I like; surfing seems like the thing that'll last the longest. Surfing is liberating. It's freeing. You get lost in Mother Nature.'

The Gossip Girl reboot takes place eight years after the titular gossip site went dark, as a new crop of Upper East Side private school teens grapple with a new anonymous blogger and a new era of social media.

Production on the 10-episode season began in early November in New York City, and it's expected to premiere on HBO Max on July 8.

The original Gossip Girl starred Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley, running for six seasons on the CW, from 2007 to 2012.
Gai Waterhouse has paid a whopping $7.3 million for a house backing onto Randwick Racecourse.

The sale marks the highest price ever paid for a property in Kensington, eclipsing the previous record of $7.2 million, according to realestate.com.au.

The 66-year-old horse trainer's new freestanding Victorian home features stables with eight horseboxes.

Winners are grinners: Gai Waterhouse has paid a whopping $7.3 million for a house backing onto Randwick Racecourse. Seen here in 2018

The house itself is situated on a 613 square metre block and boasts four bedrooms with two bathrooms.

The previous owner, horse trainer David Hayes, bought the property in 1989 for $610,000.

The bidding opened at $4 million, with Waterhouse competing against Racing NSW CEO Peter Vlandys during the auction.

Decked out: The 66-year-old horse trainer's new freestanding Victorian home features stables with eight horseboxes

Bare necessities: The house itself is situated on a 613 square metre block and boasts four bedrooms with two bathrooms

However Waterhouse came out on top, adding to her portfolio that already includes the properties on either side of her new acquisition.

The purchase comes after Gai got candid about her fraught relationship with her famous father on Anh's Brush with Fame on Tuesday.

The racing royalty revealed how she's haunted by a furious row with dad Tommy 'TJ' Smith just before he had a fatal stroke while chatting with Anh Do for his ABC series.

Markup: The previous owner, horse trainer David Hayes, bought the property in 1989 for $610,000

Waterhouse revealed how the pair clashed bitterly in Sydney 23 years ago when he criticised her training technique.

But just a few days after the fight, Mr Smith had a stroke and never recovered, forcing his family to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support system.

'Until someone loses their father and mother, we have no comprehension of how devastating it is,' she admitted.

'My father and I came to blows on the Saturday at Rosehill races. 'He said, "you'd make a man sick - you can't train these two year olds."

Horse trading: The bidding opened at $4 million, with Waterhouse competing against Racing NSW CEO Peter Vlandys during the auction

'And I said, "Oh you just break them down." He said, "Well, I've won six Golden Slippers..."

'I stormed off, all hot under the collar, as I used to be with him.'

On Tuesday, he suffered a stroke and he died on the Wednesday.

Mr Smith trained two Melbourne Cups, four Caulfield Cups, seven W. S. Cox Plates, six Golden Slippers, and 35 derby winners among 246 Group One winners over a career spanning decades.

Ms Waterhouse has trained a Melbourne Cup winner and more than 140 Group One winners, as well as also training horses for Queen Elizabeth II.
Courtney Stodden rocked a barely-there green bikini, which showed off their curves, as they shared message of love and letting go with their Instagram followers.

While putting on a very busty display in her metallic two-piece, the 26-year-old social media star appeared to be addressing the intense criticism they received after tying the knot with 51-year-old Doug Hutchison in 2011, at the age of 16.

'Forgiveness is everything #mindfulness,' the beauty - who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns - captioned their latest post, which showed the star running their hands through their wavy blonde hair in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Forgiving: Courtney Stodden - who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns - rocked a barely-there green bikini, which showed off their curves, as they shared message of love and letting go with her Instagram followers

Earlier this year, they opened up about being persistently bullied by Chrissy Teigen online as a teen at the beginning of the 2010s.

In June, Teigen, 35, wrote a blog post to apologize for her past bullying tweets, including one which told Stodden to commit suicide.

The mother-of-two took to Medium to write a lengthy post in which she admitted to being a 'troll' and an 'a**hole' while insisting that she is 'no longer that person.'

Doing well: On Wednesday afternoon, Teigen looked unfazed as she posted a photo of herself playing Jenga with a pal as she sported a tied-up button down and ripped jean shorts

Amid the backlash, Teigen has been dropped by several companies, including Safely, the cleaning brand she founded with Kris Jenner; Macy's; Target; and Bloomingdale's.

The large retailers have removed her line of Cravings cookware from its shelves. Teigen has also pulled out of Netflix's Never Have I Ever.

Teigen was slated to be one of the guest narrators for the series, co-created by Mindy Kaling, but is exiting the gig amid the fallout following her cyberbullying scandal.

Trying to make ammends: In June, Teigen, 35, wrote a blog post to apologize for her past bullying tweets including one which told Stodden to commit suicide (seen in February)

Bullying victim: Stodden (pictured above in 2019), who identifies as non-binary, says she has forgiven Teigen for telling her to kill herself as a teen

Last week, her husband John Legend shrugged off any controversy as he was seen smiling, and when asked how his wife is doing Legend replied: 'Great!'

On Wednesday afternoon, Teigen looked unfazed as she posted a photo of herself playing Jenga with a pal as she sported a tied-up button down and ripped jean shorts.

'I truly had no idea I was good at jenga. Never had the patience to play, and the noise of the collapsing, my lord I cannot!!' she captioned the shot.

Her rock: Last week, her husband John Legend shrugged off any controversy as he was seen smiling, and when asked how his wife is doing Legend replied: 'Great!' (seen above in Los Angeles in February 2020)

She continued: 'Crowds gathered and chants of JENGA GIRLS filled the room (like 3 people) but i will never stop telling this glorious story. I will be 95 and force people to hear my jenga tale.'

Despite Stodden specifically saying they have accepted Teigen's apology and forgiven her, the former Sports Illustrated model received quite a few snarky comments.

'Strange-you dont have the patience to play with wooden blocks yet you can with other peoples feelings,' one wrote, while others praised the star for 'staying positive and not letting the hate get' her down.
The Project host Lisa Wilkinson has responded to an ill-informed anti-vaxxer who mocked her for getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

The 61-year-old shared a photo to Instagram on Tuesday of herself getting the first of two AstraZeneca shots, and noted she didn't have any side effects.

She wrote in the caption: 'First AZ shot done and literally didn't feel a thing.'

'MY choice': The Project host Lisa Wilkinson has responded to an ill-informed anti-vaxxer who mocked her for getting the Covid-19 vaccine

'So glad to finally have the first one out of the way,' Lisa added. 'I have to admit, I was a tiny bit nervous.'

The Channel 10 personality said she felt 'great' afterwards and signed off with: 'Here's to life getting back to normal again.'

While hundreds of Lisa's followers applauded her for having the jab and sending a positive message, a few 'Covid Karens' crawled out of the woodwork.

'So glad': The 61-year-old shared a photo to Instagram on Tuesday of herself getting the first of two AstraZeneca shots, and noted she didn't have any side effects

'I thought you were a smart woman,' one moronic anti-vaxxer commented, adding a series of laughing-face emojis.

Lisa wasted no time hitting back with a blunt reply.

'Trolling another woman for making well-researched, informed choices about the health of her own body, and doing my bit to help reduce the risk of this pandemic spreading is MY choice,' she countered.

Firing back: While hundreds of Lisa's followers applauded her for having the jab and sending a positive message, a few 'Covid Karens' crawled out of the woodwork

AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia The AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine is the current recommended vaccine for Australia citizens over the age of 60. So far there have been 60 cases of blood clots from the AstraZeneca jab. Nationally, there have been 6.59 million vaccine doses administered including 4 million AstraZeneca shots. Advertisement

'Whatever choice you want to make is your business,' she added.

Lisa then wished the troll 'good luck' if she contracts the Delta Covid-19 variant without having received the vaccine, adding: 'And good luck to your loved ones, and particularly your elderly loved ones, or any poor person you happen to pass in the street.'

Lisa is not the only celebrity to receive trolling comments from anti-vaxxers.

Her Project co-host Carrie Bickmore also copped flack on Instagram when she posted a photo of herself getting the Covid jab earlier this month.
Katie Price and her beau Carl Woods have reportedly jetted to sunny Spain after their stay in Turkey where she had full body liposuction.

According to The Sun, the couple are staying at a villa in Malaga, with the hunk, 33, sharing clips of a pool and stunning views surrounding the pad to Instagram.

Spain is on the UK government's amber list - meaning travellers returning to the UK can isolate at home - while Turkey is on the red list requiring hotel quarantine.

Relocation: Katie Price and her beau Carl Woods have reportedly jetted to sunny Spain after their stay in Turkey where she had full body liposuction (pictured flying to Turkey last week)

Carl gave fans a glimpse into their plush accommodation, panning his camera around to showcase the rolling hills and open countryside.

Two loungers could also be seen by a spacious swimming pool, while the white villa and extra seating sat further back.

A source told the publication: 'Katie can avoid having to pay for a quarantine hotel if she returns to the UK from an amber list country and quarantine at home instead.'

New pad: The couple are thought to be staying at a luxury villa (pictured) in Malaga, with the hunk, 33, sharing clips of a pool and stunning views surrounding the pad to Instagram

A MailOnline spokesperson told MailOnline: 'This is a planned stop gap before returning to the UK.'

Spain, including the Balearics and Canary Islands, is currently on UK's amber list, meaning those returning to Britain must quarantine for 10 days- however this can be done at home.

The government also requires that travellers take a Covid test on or before day two and on or after day eight.

Relaxing: Carl shared a quick video of the pool and sun lounger area at the stunning villa

Scenic: He also revealed the villa is surrounded by open countryside in the social media clip

It may be possible to end quarantine early if a private Covid test through the Test to Release scheme is paid for.

Whereas people who have been in a red list country in the 10 days before their return to the UK must quarantine in a hotel - at a cost of 1,750 - for 10 full days.

They also have to take a coronavirus test on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantining.

Trip out: The hunk also revealed he'd enjoyed a stroll along an empty street in the holiday destination on Wednesday

Turkey is on the red list of countries, which the UK government says are at the highest risk from Covid, and should not be visited 'except in the most extreme of circumstances'.

It comes after Katie underwent full body liposuction in Turkey last Tuesday after gaining two stone in lockdown after injuring her feet in a freak incident.

The star showed off her post-surgery compression stockings on her Instagram stories on Monday as she recovered from her procedure.

The mum-of-five, 43, called herself a 'trooper' after going under the knife, with the star having to previously defend her travel to Turkey calling it a 'work trip'.

What a trooper: It comes after Katie showed off her post-surgery compression stockings on her Instagram stories on Monday as she recovered from her liposuction procedure

Katie - who flew to Turkey with beau Carl last Monday - has stated that filming the procedure for Katie Price: My Crazy Life, constitutes as an extreme circumstance, due to the fact it is a work trip, and her current weight has left her in physical pain.

A representative for the star told MailOnline: 'Katie has travelled with her fiance to undergo a surgical procedure.

'The purpose of this travel is essential in that it is for her work, she is being filmed undergoing the operation.'

Katie broke both feet last summer after jumping off a 25ft wall while on holiday with her family, which has left her unable to do much cardio.

Travels: The mum-of-five recently underwent full body liposuction in Turkey after gaining two stone in lockdown, calling her travels a 'work trip'

Touching on the incident, Katie's rep continued: 'Since her horrific accident in Turkey last year that left Katie with life changing injuries, Katie has not been able to exercise or lose weight gained post op in the way she has successfully done so in the past.

'Despite her efforts to lose weight she has gained over two stone - this in turn has put immense pressure and further strain on her feet and is directly affecting her walking and management of day to day as a mother of five without being in constant pain.

'Katie accepts she is in a fortunate position to be able to undergo this procedure and would like to reassure in doing so is part of her "work", in sharing her journey as she endures further emotional, mental struggles and challenges.'

Katie's representative stressed at the time that the star, Carl and camera crew will stay in a mandatory quarantine hotel when they get back, costing 1,750 per person.

Pre-surgery: While she also shared an image of her legs as she relaxed by the pool before undergoing her liposuction

Katie has booked in for full body liposuction with Mono Cosmetic Surgery - the same clinic where a mother-of-three died in August after undergoing the same treatment.

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, 38, a social worker from Dartford, Kent, passed away after buying a 5000 overseas package deal including liposuction and a Brazilian Butt Lift.

The inquest heard that a post-mortem examination found that Abimbola suffered perforations to the bowel and a cause of death was given as peritonitis with multiple organ failure as a complication of liposuction surgery.

The hearing was told that such perforations were a rare complication in the UK, with about three to five cases in the past decade, but that it might be more common abroad.

Katie previously jetted to Turkey in April 2019 where as a Brazilian bumlift, she also had liposuction and a facelift.

Tragic: Katie booked in for liposuction with Mono Cosmetic Surgery - the same clinic where mother-of-three Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose (pictured) died in August after undergoing the same treatment
Wog Boy 3 is back and currently in production in Melbourne.

The movie's creator and star Nick Giannopoulos shared an image from the film on Wednesday, as well as revealing the anticipated release date for the comedy.

'In cinemas sometime in 2022,' the 57-year-old captioned the post.

They're back! Wog Boy 3 is currently in production in Melbourne. Star Nick Giannopoulos [R] and co-star Vince Colosimo [L] pictured in a Wednesday Instagram post

The accompanying image showed Nick and co-star Vince Colosimo sitting on the hood of a muscle car.

The vehicle's vanity plate read, 'WOGBOYS'.

The rest of the post's caption read, 'Were back! WOG BOY 3 is currently filming in Melbourne.'

Popular: The original Wog Boy [pictured] was released in 2000 and went on to become the 20th highest grossing Australian film of all time

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Herald Sun on Thursday, Nick revealed that his father's death motivated him to get the movie made.

Leonidas Giannopoulos passed away in January this year, while son Nick was still writing the script.

'I read him parts of it and he was laughing and loving it and he said keep going,' the filmmaker revealed.

'Theyre memories Ill treasure for the rest of my life.'

Sequel: Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos was released in 2010. Nick and Vince seen here on set in 2009

The original Wog Boy was released in 2000 and went on to become the 20th highest grossing Australian film of all time.

Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos was released in 2010.

Nick claimed in 2019 that he trademarked the word 'wog' and 'wogboy' in order to prevent other comedians appropriating it.

'My trademarks are wogs or wogboys... My lawyers have been hired by me to protect my trademark,' he told the Herald Sun at the time.
Geoffrey Edelsten's widow Gabi Grecko has blasted his ex-wife Brynne Edelsten over her decision to keep his surname following their divorce in 2014.

On Thursday, the American model, 32, claimed Brynne caused 'a lot of problems' in her marriage to the millionaire businessman, after keeping his last name instead of her maiden name, Gordon.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Gabi said: 'She could have changed her name. We had a lot of fights about it - it was a wedge in our relationship.

Furious: Geoffrey Edelsten's widow Gabi Grecko has blasted his ex-wife Brynne Edelsten over her decision to keep his surname after their divorce. Pictured: Gabi and Geoffrey in 2014

'People ask why I have such distain for Brynne. It's like - that was a huge thing in our marriage.'

Geoffrey married Brynne in a lavish $3million wedding in Melbourne in 2009, while was 26 and he was 67.

The couple split in 2014, and the Allied Medical Group founder went on to marry Gabi at a registry office in Melbourne on June 11, 2015.

Gabi claims herself and Geoffrey never legally divorced.

'It's just my name': Earlier this week, Brynne defended her decision to keep her last name in an interview with New Idea

The heartbroken widow added that Geoffrey became upset on multiple occasions because he wanted his new bride to become Mrs Edelsten - but Gabi refused change her name to if 'someone else' already had it.

'She already had enough fame that she could have gone on shows, but she rode the train of being connected to him,' Gabi added.

'Brynne really caused a lot of problems. It's really important when you marry that you take the male or female's name so you become a unit. So that was just one of the things that really messed with us, and she knew that.

Angry: 'Brynne really caused a lot of problems. It's really important when you marry that you take the male or female's name so you become a unit. So that was just one of the things that really messed with us, and she knew that,' Gabi claims

'She acts like she's a sweet person, but I think it's all an act. It's upsetting.'

When asked if she'd be watching Brynne on the new season of SAS Australia, Gabi replied: 'I certainly won't be giving her any ratings, that's for sure.'

Earlier this week, Brynne defended her decision to keep her last name in an interview with New Idea.

Wedding of the century: Brynne married Geoffrey Edelsten in a $3million wedding in 2009. She was 26 at the time and he was 67

'I dont associate my name as an attachment to him  its just my name,' she said. 'I dont see any reason why I would change it  thats my identity with or without him.'

In 2014, Geoffrey spoke to Daily Mail Australia about how he wanted his estranged wife as he prepared to marry Gabi.

'Gabi will be the real Mrs Edelsten,' he said. 'The day I sign the papers, Ive asked her to change her name to mine. And I havent considered Brynne to be Mrs Edelsten for a long time.

'Shes no longer part of my family, and therefore she shouldnt be using that name just to cash in for her career.'

Geoffrey died earlier this month at the age of 78 at his apartment in Melbourne.

A representative for Brynne declined to comment when on the story when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
Inside Tesco: 24/7

Rating:

One of the mischievous pleasures of Inside Tesco: 24/7 (C5) was wondering what was happening inside Sainsbury's and Asda as they watched this lavish hymn of praise to their greatest rival.

How they must have fumed: unexpected jealous rage in the bagging area.

This profile and history of the store couldn't have been any more favourable to Tesco if Julie Andrews had skipped down the frozen foods aisle singing: 'The tills are alive.'

The tone was set from the start as the manager of Tesco Extra in Northampton  safely masked, of course  patrolled the aisles, cheerily greeting his staff by name. Oh, brave new world that has such people in it.

One of the mischievous pleasures of Inside Tesco: 24/7 (C5) was wondering what was happening inside Sainsbury's and Asda as they watched this lavish hymn of praise to their greatest rival

The chain, which now has 3,627 stores in the UK alone, was founded as a group of market stalls by Sir Jack Cohen, and the company is still run on fairly simple principles. So simple that the current UK boss Jason Tarry explained: 'Our job is to serve customers.'

Mansplaining at its finest.

Jack Cohen's big innovation, which he pinched from America, was the idea of self-service.

In post-war Britain, this was a bit of a risk because people rather enjoyed being served. Apparently, it made them feel posh. Yet self-service proved hugely popular and sales boomed.

As a business expert explained: 'The move to self-service is the first time the customers were co-creating the service experience.' Remember that next time you are trudging along with a recalcitrant trolley. You are not shopping  you are co-creating.

Even the mundane parts of the business were lifted somehow by good camerawork and editing.

At a distribution centre in Daventry, we watched fork-lift trucks gliding to and fro, hauling trains of wire cages behind them.

It was hypnotic, almost balletic. All it needed was the music from Swan Lake.

In The Footsteps of Killers

Rating:

In The Footsteps Of Killers (C4) pairs Silent Witness star Emilia Fox with Professor David Wilson, a criminologist, and asks them to tackle unsolved crimes.

The trouble with this idea is that crimes remain unsolved for a reason.

It's well known that the first hours of a murder investigation are crucial, so what hope was there of tracking down the killer of RAF cook Rita Ellis, who in 1967 was strangled with her own underwear near the Buckinghamshire base where she worked? Especially when a follow-up police investigation in 2007 also reached a dead end.

In The Footsteps Of Killers (C4) pairs Silent Witness star Emilia Fox with Professor David Wilson, a criminologist, and asks them to tackle unsolved crimes

The professor looked determined and serious. Emilia offered wistful staring and intelligent nods. And it got them pretty much nowhere.

They concluded that Rita  seen shyly saluting in home movie footage  probably knew her killer, and that this might be a sexual encounter that went wrong.

Yet we'd been told earlier that this was a shy, timid teenager. Would she really have agreed to a sexual encounter in a remote copse, especially when she was supposed to be babysitting for a wing commander?

The investigators had all the tools of successful television crimebusters at their disposal. There were pin boards with maps and pictures linked by bits of coloured string.

There were interviews with retired detectives, and visits to the crime scene.

They even deployed the sort of haunting piano music which usually indicates that Inspector Morse is thinking very deeply, but in the end we weren't any closer to finding the identity of Rita's killer.

TRAIN-SPOTTERS OF THE WEEK

How times change. The Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romance (BBC4) showed packed crowds on platforms to wave off the countrys most famous locomotive.

These days the biggest attraction on the railways  with a distinctive and brightly coloured livery  is Michael Portillo.
Carrie Bickmore is no stranger to making a fashion statement on The Project.

And the 40-year-old wowed in an emerald green frock on the Channel 10 current affairs show last week, catching the attention of fashion fans.

She highlighted her stylish outfit on Instagram, showing off the figure-hugging midi dress featuring long sleeves and a belted waist.

Go for green! Carrie Bickmore wowed in an emerald green frock on The Project last week, catching the attention of fashion fans

She credited her stylist Rachel Dennis with choosing the $70 number, which is from British online fashion retailer ASOS.

Fans of the glamorous mother of three fawned over her outfit, including one who wrote: 'Love this color on you.'

Radio host Erin Molan also commented: 'This colour.' Meanwhile, sportscaster Neroli Meadows wrote: 'Just so gorgeous.'

'That is one of my faves you have worn,' one of Carrie's followers added.

Stylish: She credited her stylist Rachel Dennis with choosing the $70 number, which is from British online fashion retailer ASOS

Loving the look! Fans of the glamorous mother of three fawned over her outfit, including one who wrote: 'Love this color on you'

White hot: It comes after Carrie channelled Old Hollywood glamour in a $250 outfit inspired by screen legend Marilyn Monroe earlier this month

It comes after Carrie channelled Old Hollywood glamour in a $250 outfit inspired by screen legend Marilyn Monroe earlier this month.

She wore a collared halterneck top by Acler, which featured a belted waist.

'Marilyn Munro vibe,' commented one Instagram follower at the time, while another added: 'Marilyn Monroe vibes! Just gorgeous'.

In good company: Earlier this month, Carrie shared photos on Instagram of herself getting the Covid-19 vaccine with Peter Helliar (right), one of her co-hosts on The Project

Earlier this month, Carrie shared photos on Instagram of herself getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

She was joined at the vaccination hub by comedian Peter Helliar, one of her co-hosts on The Project.

'Vaccinated,' the TV host wrote in the caption, adding the thumbs-up emoji.
Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) is back with a bang.

The 34-year-old, who recently returned to modelling, simply stuns in a new shoot for Mecca Cosmetica.

The blonde haired, blue-eyed beauty shows off her flawless line-free visage and perfect white teeth as she promotes Tom Ford's popular Scarlet Rouge lipstick.

Absolutely flawless! Lara Worthington, 34, shows off her incredible line-free and glowing visage in a stunning new shoot for Mecca Cosmetica

The mother-of-three also flaunts a hint of cleavage in a low-cut black top with rhinestone trim.

Her signature crop was pulled back tightly for the shoot, to make sure the attention was focused on her glowing complexion.

Lara turned 34 on Tuesday.

And to celebrate, the beauty treated herself to the ultimate casual-chic look with a lavish tracksuit by French luxury house, Louis Vuitton.

Posting the photograph of her flashy outfit to her Instagram on Wednesday, Lara can be seen sporting a white nylon hooded parker, valued at approximately AUD$5,200.

Fancy pants! Lara turned 34 on Tuesday. And to celebrate, the beauty treated herself to the ultimate casual-chic look with a lavish tracksuit by French luxury house, Louis Vuitton

She teamed her versatile jacket with a pair of AUD$2,176 wide-leg pants from the same brand.

In her gallery of images, Lara also shared a sneak peek at a pair of sky blue mules, also from Louis Vuitton, that are valued at $1,180.

The total value of Lara's designer duds comes to a whopping AUD$8556.

Pricey slides! In her gallery of images, Lara also shared a sneak peek at a pair of sky blue mules, also from Louis Vuitton, that are valued at $1,180

Gone fishin': Along with her luxury haul, she also shared a rare picture of Rocket, six, and Racer, four, sitting on a pier while enjoying a spot of fishing

Lara is currently Down Under with her husband Sam Worthington and their three sons.

Along with her luxury haul, she also shared a rare picture of Rocket, six, and Racer, four, sitting on a pier while enjoying a spot of fishing.

Another candid image showed Lara holding a birthday cupcake ablaze with a single candle.

Make a wish! Another candid image showed Lara holding a birthday cupcake ablaze with a single candle

All smiles! The birthday girl appears to have enjoyed her special day with Phoebe Tonkin, who is currently filming Transfusion with Lara's husband, Sam Worthington

The birthday girl appears to have enjoyed her special day with Phoebe Tonkin, who is currently filming Transfusion with Lara's husband, Sam Worthington.

Lara rose to prominence in 2006 when she appeared in a $180million Tourism Australia ad and proclaimed - 'Where the bloody hell are you?'

Lara and her husband Sam arrived back in Australia with their children in January.

They are both proud parents to Rocket, Racer and one-year-old River.

Claim to fame: Lara first rose to prominence in 2006 when she appeared in a $180million Tourism Australia ad and proclaimed - 'Where the bloody hell are you?'
He was evicted from the Big Brother house during Wednesday night's episode.

And Daniel Hayes issued a warning to one of the housemates responsible for his ousting, in a social media address after the eviction.

'Ari, I won't forget that,' the 48-year-old said while being driven away from the Big Brother compound in Sydney.

You've been warned: Big Brother's Daniel Hayes, 48, has issued a warning to one of the housemates responsible for his ousting on Wednesday's episode

Ari Kimber had earlier surprised the real estate agent by nominating him for eviction, despite their perceived alliance.

'I snapped a few necks and cashed some cheques, so to speak,' Daniel began.

'I took a few people out that I actually like taking out. But everyone gets their day and I got my day tonight.'

Admitting he didn't see the eviction coming, Daniel added: 'Ari, I won't forget that.'

Feud: 'Ari, I won't forget that,' said Daniel while being driven away from the Big Brother house

'Just make a note of that,' he continued, before tempering the threat with: 'In a fun way, of course!'

The motorcycle enthusiast then joked he hadn't in fact been evicted, but was being taken 'to a bunker'.

'I'm pretty sure we're going to a secret mission [and] that I haven't really been evicted,' he said with a wry smile.

Architect of his doom: Ari Kimber, who plotted against Hayes, is pictured here

Earlier in the night, Daniel and Sarah Jane Adams were left 'blindsided' when they were both put up for eviction by their younger housemates.

Both he and SJ appeared shell-shocked as they sat in front of their fellow remaining housemates - Ari Kimber, Christina Podolyan and Marley Biyendolo.

'Well-played, kids,' SJ, 66, told them as she faced with the prospect of eviction.

Facing off: Daniel and Sarah Jane Adams (right) were left 'blindsided' on Wednesday's episode when they were both put up for eviction by their younger housemates

Christina and Ari, both 22, stunned the house when they formed a secret alliance and put the oldest contestants up for eviction.

Daniel admitted he was surprised because he'd expected Ari to nominate Christina.

'He shook on it, agreed to it,' Daniel said of Ari's betrayal, as his smiling assassin sat alongside Christina and laughed.

Game on: Both Daniel and SJ appeared shell-shocked as they sat in front of their fellow remaining housemates - Ari Kimber, Christina Podolyan and Marley Biyendolo (pictured)

'Should we tell them? Ari and I were just pretending to still dislike each other so that this would work out,' added Christina.

But Marley said he would vote to save Daniel after giving him his word earlier on, unlike Ari.

'I'm a man of my word, and when I shake someone's hand and tell them I'll have their back, I'll have their back,' the 26-year-old said pointedly.

Sly move: Christina and Ari (pictured) stunned the remaining housemates when they formed a secret alliance and put Daniel and SJ up for eviction

'Should we tell them? Ari and I were just pretending to still dislike each other so that this would work out,' said Christina (pictured)

After calling Daniel 'the biggest threat that's walked into this show', Ari voted to evict him.

Christina also voted to evict Daniel, while Marley stood by his word and voted to evict SJ, despite saying she'd become a mother figure to him in the house.

Host Sonia Kruger then informed the remaining housemates that Daniel had been eliminated, leading to an emotional display.

Kicked out: Host Sonia Kruger then informed the remaining housemates that Daniel had been eliminated, leading to an emotional display

After saying his goodbyes, Daniel broke down in tears as he collected his belongings and made his way to the exit.

'I know tomorrow, after I've had a few tears, I'll think, I got outplayed by a 22-year-old and a 21-year-old, who just smashed me all over the eviction room, and I didn't see that coming to be honest,' he confessed.

He added: 'I got blindsided.'
Bachelor star Noni Janur is no stranger to sharing raunchy bikini photos.

But on Wednesday, the former Bachelor star instead showcased her transformed tresses in a post shared to Instagram.

Noni, who runs her own swimwear company, unveiled her newly permed hair in a stunning set of images from a modelling shoot.

Tressed to impress! Former Bachelor star Noni Janur showcased her transformed tresses in a post shared to Instagram on Wednesday

Noni's light hair framed her face perfectly, and she seemed to be a fan of the tight ringlets.

'Me thinking about a permanent perm,' she wrote in the caption. 'Today's lewkkk..obsessed.'

It comes after Noni and her longtime boyfriend Samuel Johnston confirmed their relationship last year, amid break-up rumours.

Looking good: Noni's light hair framed her face perfectly, and she seemed to be a fan of the tight ringlets

They had been the subject of split rumours due to their long-distance romance, with Noni living in Sydney and Samuel based in Los Angeles.

However, Sam confirmed in December last year he was still very much with Noni.

The pair, who went public with their romance in 2017, have faced a challenging 18 months due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

Still going strong: It comes after Noni and her longtime boyfriend Samuel Johnston (right) confirmed their relationship last year, amid break-up rumours

While Noni would often visit her beau in California, the pandemic prevented them from being together.

'I'm just stuck here. In between visas and Covid, she [Noni] can't come here and I can't come back,' Sam said.

It was previously reported they had parted ways following Noni's trip to Los Angeles over Christmas 2019.

Gossip: They had been the subject of split rumours due to their long-distance romance, with Noni living in Sydney and Samuel based in Los Angeles

Sam had relocated to LA in mid-2017, just a few months after he and Noni went public with their romance.

The brunette previously spoke to Daily Mail Australia about how the couple keep the spark alive despite spending so much time apart.

'Long distance is something you have to plan - plan to see each other, plan to make that phone call every day. Its majority trust, obviously, and effort,' she said.
Boy Erased star Lucas Hedges and Tommy Dorfman were seen together arm-in-arm for the second time while out in Manhattan's Downtown area on Tuesday afternoon.

While walking down the street holding hands with the 29-year-old 13 Reasons Why star, Hedges, 24, rocked a light green t-shirt, velvet sweatpants and a trendy black bucket hat.

He completed his casual ensemble with a gold chain and black leather shoes, while Dorfman sported a black t-shirt, long skirt and combat boots.

Friendly: Tommy Dorfman (left) and Boy Erased star Lucas Hedges (right) were seen together arm-in-arm for the second time while out in Manhattan's Downtown area on Tuesday afternoon

The American Horror Story, who identifies as non-binary with pronouns of they and them, toted a stylish bunny handbag and retro sunglasses.

The affectionate display appeared to be platonic as Dorfman has been married to Peter Zurkuhlen since 2016 and recently shot a Hugo Boss campaign with him in honor of Pride.

The acting duo have been friends for a while as Tommy celebrated their birthday with Hedges by their side and both have spoken candidly about sexuality and gender.

Looking cozy: While walking down the street holding hands with the 29-year-old 13 Reasons Why star's shoulder, Hedges, 24, rocked a light green t-shirt, velvet sweatpants and a trendy black bucket hat

Tommy first came out as non-binary in 2017, and told Refinery29 that they hated the idea that clothing was 'gendered.'

'Growing up, I hated the idea that clothing was gendered. I identify as non-binary. I present as mostly masculine because it's just how I feel, but I've never had this idea that clothing should be one thing or the other.'

Lucas, who has previously romantically linked to actress Taylor Russell after they starred in Waves together, said his sexuality exists on a 'spectrum' during a 2018 interview with Vulture.

Chic: The American Horror Story, who identifies as non-binary with pronouns of they and them, toted a stylish bunny handbag and retro sunglasses

'In the early stages of my life, some of the people I was most infatuated with were my closest male friends. That was the case through high school, and I think I was always aware that while for the most part I was attracted to women, I existed on a spectrum,' he shared.

He continued to say that at one point he felt 'ashamed' he could not pinpoint his sexuality but said he's 'not necessarily bisexual.'

'I felt ashamed that I wasn't 100 percent, because it was clear that one side of sexuality presents issues, and the other doesn't as much. I recognize myself as existing on that spectrum: Not totally straight, but also not gay and not necessarily bisexual.'

Married: Dorfman has been married to Zurkuhlen since 2016 and they recently shot a campaign with Hugo Boss to celebrate pride
She is currently in Australia to film the latest installment of the Thor franchise.

But Natalie Portman has also been enjoying some side gigs while she's in town.

The Hollywood actress 40, simply stunned as she modelled a beautiful pearl necklace during a photo shoot in Sydney on Wednesday.

What a pearler! Natalie Portman, 40, looked stunning in a white lace dress while modelling pearls during a photo shoot in Sydney on Wednesday

The Black Swan star was having a ball as she posed up a storm and was tended to in between takes by a hair and makeup artist.

Natalie looked heavenly in a white lace dress worn over a sweet white collared shirt.

A pearl choker with an ornate hanging rose was placed around her neck, and the beauty wore minimal makeup and had her hair coiffed in a simple up do.

Stunning: A pearl choker with an ornate hanging rose was placed around her neck

Fun on set! The Black Swan star was having a ball as she posed up a storm and was tended to in between takes by a hair and makeup artist

Glowing: Natalie wore minimal makeup on her flawless face and had her hair coiffed in a simple up do

The crew were taking no chances of COVID contamination around the star as they wore face masks and shields.

Natalie relocated to Australia with her husband Benjamin Millepied, 43, and their children last year, and they have been living in Sydney since November.

Production on Thor: Love and Thunder began in January at Fox Studios.

The blockbuster will see Natalie's character, astrophysicist Jane Foster, take up the mantle of Thor after transforming into a female version of the Norse god.

Strike a pose: Natalie struck several poses throughout the shoot and shared a laugh with the photographer

Relaxed Down Under: Natalie relocated to Australia with her husband Benjamin Millepied, 43, and their children last year, and they have been living in Sydney since November

Touch ups: Natalie was tended to by several hair and makeup artists

Natalie previously revealed her excitement at returning to the franchise during an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

'It's going to be really silly and funny and great. We've got [director] Taika Waititi. He's wonderful, so I'm very excited,' she said.

Natalie was absent for 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, but was a key player in the first two Thor films, released in 2011 and 2013.

Thor: Love and Thunder is scheduled for cinematic release in February 2022.

Safety first! The crew were taking no chances of COVID contamination around the star as they wore face masks and shields

'It's going to be really silly and funny and great': Natalie previously revealed her excitement at returning to theThor franchise during an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Kenya Barris' Netflix show #BlackAF will not be returning for a second season despite the fact that it was already renewed last summer.

The 46-year-old writer, producer, and star of the series exited a huge $100M deal with the service after they had made plans to move forward with more projects, because he wanted to do stuff that was 'more edgy.'

Speaking about taking his talents to newly created BET Studios  which he has a stake in  Barris disclosed to the Hollywood Reporter that he wants to make 'in-your-face s**t,' whereas Netflix was interested in 'down the middle' content.

Living on the edge: Kenya Barris talks about backing out of $100M Netflix deal and pulling #BlackAF season two in favor of BET Studios as he says the streaming service wasn't 'edgy' enough for him; pictured 2020

Speaking about the show  which is based on the Grown-ish and Black-ish creators own life  Kenya said that he struggled to present his ideas to Netflix because some of his ideas weren't in their wheelhouse though they graciously gave him shot after shot.

'I just don't know that my voice is Netflix's voice,' he told the publication. 'The stuff I want to do is a little bit more edgy, a little more highbrow, a little more heady, and I think Netflix wants down the middle.'

He is however slated to work with the streaming service on two stand-alone #BlackAF movies and he has also been flirting with ideas of #blackAF: Brazil and #blackAF: Mexico.

But Kenya continued to say that he had already been shopping around for new content homes that are independent of Netflix and its ViacomCBS umbrella, including Hulu, Starz and Apple for future projects.

Backing out: Though the series was already picked up for a second season Barris made the decision to back out of an $100M Netflix deal because they were too 'down the middle' for his ideas

Striking out: Barris divulged that though his content was too edgy for the service, others had accused his content of being white-washed versions of the Black experience

'I want to do in-your-face s**t. I want to sell to everybody  and if you don't want to work with me, I'm not saying that you're racist, but other people might,' he said of his decision to look elsewhere.

He had been accused of making white-washed content about the Black experience and got criticism from many people including personality Charlamagne Tha God.

Amid last summer's racial uproar around the shooting of both George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others, Barris said he wanted to 'be part of the conversation in a different way,' which led him to think of a life without Netflix.

He had met with BET president Scott Mills in 2018 and after revisiting the idea of partnering up with them in some capacity in 2020, he realized that he could add value as they had always struggled to produce engaging content.

'BET was always like secondhand embarrassment because it wasn't at that same level,' he said of other networks, which prompted him to consider working with them to add credibility and draw eyeballs.

Pivot: The show was renewed last summer but after the Black Lives Matter movements picked up speed among fatal shootings, Barris' pondered adding value by moving to a historically black home like BET

In the interview he also cited the nitty gritty details of finances confessing that he asked his CAA agent Joe Cohen if BET would match his $100M Netflix deal and the conversation quickly picked up to the point where they posed an offer he couldn't refuse.

BET discussed the idea of creating a new Black-owned studio  now BET Studios  with Barris as partner to which he confessed: 'It was not the conversation I expected to have in any way, shape or form, but I said, 'The short answer is yes,'' of inking that deal.

Despite an exciting new feat beyond his wildest dreams Barris was then forced to back out of the deal with Netflix which he candidly said made him wonder if it was largely 'ungrateful,' for all they'd done for him.

'I was f***ing terrified,' he said. 'This dude had come and saved me with a beyond-generous offer and he let me act, and I'm not an actor, in a show that wasn't their cup of tea. And they paid a ton of money for that show...I was like, 'Is this the definition of ungrateful?'

Everything turned out fine as Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said they'd still be working with Kenya on 'many fronts': 'The good news for us is we're still in business with Kenya on many fronts, and we'll be in business with him for a long time to come.'
Geelong real estate agent Daniel Hayes was eliminated from Big Brother on Wednesday's episode, after 62 days in the house.

And the 48-year-old revealed on Thursday he didn't actually apply for the Channel Seven reality show but was invited to audition after a memorable appearance on Nine's A Current Affair last year.

He made the admission on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, after radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson asked if he had ever considered trying out for Australian Survivor or if he was always set on doing Big Brother.

'They rang me': Big Brother's Daniel Hayes has revealed producers asked him to audition for the show following his controversial appearance on A Current Affair last year

He said: 'No, I didn't have my heart set on Big Brother, they [the producers] rang me up and they asked me if I would audition after they saw a little interview I had, with myself being on A Current Affair.'

'They thought I might make an interesting contestant,' he added.

The ACA story centred on Daniel crossing from Victoria through New South Wales and into Queensland in July last year, at the height of the Covid pandemic.

Invited: 'No, I didn't have my heart set on Big Brother, they [the producers] rang me up and they asked me if I would audition after they saw a little interview I had, with myself being on A Current Affair,' Daniel, 48, told The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Thursday

Jackie asked: 'That was when you weren't allowed to cross the border, but you did anyway on the Harley?'

'No, well, I'll just set the story straight,' he said, adding: 'The policeman used his discretion and I had the correct paperwork and I crossed the border.

'But A Current Affair decided - because I'm a real estate agent that drives a Ferrari - let's hang him out to dry, which they tried to do.'

Road trip: The ACA story centred on Daniel crossing from Victoria through New South Wales and into Queensland in July last year, at the height of the Covid pandemic

At the time, the self-described 'Million Dollar Bogan' crossed the Queensland border on 'compassionate grounds' - to get a tattoo and a new tyre for his Harley-Davidson.

He boasted about the trip on YouTube and showed that despite being stopped at the border by a police officer he was allowed to proceed through - despite having been in Victoria, which was a coronavirus hotspot at the time.

Upon his arrival at the checkpoint, he showed a police guard a note he'd obtained online detailing how a Harley-Davidson dealer in Queensland needed to change the rear tyre on his motorcycle.

Getting through: At the time, the self-described 'Million Dollar Bogan' crossed the Queensland border on 'compassionate grounds' - to get a tattoo and a new tyre for his Harley-Davidson

The officer initially told him he needed to quarantine for 14 days because he had travelled from Victoria.

After a brief exchange, the policeman remarkably told Daniel: 'I will let you through. But technically you shouldn't because you might be full of the lurgy.'

Despite his promise to leave Queensland that day, Daniel stayed overnight on the Gold Coast where he got himself a tattoo.

No regrets: He boasted about the trip on YouTube and showed that despite being stopped at the border by a police officer he was allowed to proceed through - despite having been in Victoria, which was a coronavirus hotspot at the time

He told A Current Affair at the time he had no regrets about crossing the border.

'I don't feel like I broke the law. I felt that I was honest with him and he let me through,' he said.

'I don't know if I've done anything wrong. I gave him my excuse. I showed him the paperwork, which I filled out. I had a letter from Gasoline Alley [the Harley-Davidson dealership], and I crossed the border, and he let me through.'
He recently hit back at an internet claim he only married his Swedish wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein 'for passport reasons'.

Yet Hugh Grant, 60, was shirking his woes as he looked very happy to be in the company of Anna, 41, after dining out at 5 Hertford Street in London on Wednesday.

The legendary British actor flashed a winning smile as he and his partner climbed on the back of a Vespa scooter to dash home.

Happy couple: Hugh Grant, 60, and his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein, 41, hopped on a Vespa after dining out at 5 Hertford Street in London on Wednesday evening

Hugh looked smart in a black suit and white shirt which he left unbuttoned. He carried his safety helmet in his hand and beamed as he walked down the street.

Ensuring safety came very much first, he wore a helmet and protective goggles.

Wife Anna went for a smart-casual look in a denim mini-dress with a white trim around the pockets and the collar.

Her slender legs were on show as she displayed an impressive tan. She wore a pair of blue and white high heels as she walked down the Mayfair streets.

They're off! He looked delighted to be in the company of wife Anna after dining out at 5 Hertford Street in London on Wednesday evening

Producer Anna elegantly climbed aboard Hugh's scooter and clasped her arms around him as she joined him on the vehicle.

Last week Hugh hit back at an internet claim he only married Anna 'for passport reasons'.

The star came across the claim listed as part of a Google search and, taking issue with it, set the record straight on Twitter.

Firing back, Hugh - who married Anna in 2018 - insisted that the reason why he and his wife tied the knot was because of 'love'.

Happily ever after: Last week Hugh hit back at an internet claim he only married Anna 'for passport reasons' after coming across the claim listed as part of a Google search (pictured in 2019)

Having his say: Bridget Jones's Diary star Hugh insisted he married Anna for 'love' after he was informed of the search result

He shared a screenshot of the search results for his wife Anna's full name, which brought up an online article, published by site Nicki Swift in December 2020, claiming he married Anna for 'passport reasons'.

Bridget Jones's Diary actor Hugh married for the first time three years ago and the article quotes him stating in an interview with USA Today that he and Anna believe marriage is a 'pretty preposterous social construct', before discussing their different names on their passports.

Hugh, who shares three children with TV producer Anna, said while discussing getting married: 'I didn't like going through immigration into countries where they'd say, "Everyone with a Grant passport over here, and all the others through there."

'[Anna] went through with the nannies. That seemed all wrong.'

However, Hugh - who previously dated Elizabeth Hurley - has now insisted that he actually didn't marry for practical reasons and married for love.

On a roll: Hugh was also seen hitting back after someone joked he had 'forgotten' wife Anna and needed to Google her

After coming across the search screengrab, Hugh shared it via Twitter and fired back: 'No I didnt, @internet. I married her because I love her.'

Not stopping there, Hugh was then seen hitting back at a person who joked he had 'forgotten' his wife and needed to Google her.

They had tweeted in response to Hugh: 'Did Hugh Grant forget who his wife is and have to Google it?'

Again, clearing up any confusion, Hugh firmly responded: 'No. A friend sent it to me.'
Lisa and her Nova radio presenter husband Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli have been happily married for eight years.

And now the businesswoman, 39, has finally put 'partner swapping' rumours to rest as she spoke about her husband's close friendship with Hamish Blake.

'They are like two kids when they get together. I think they probably speak everyday on the phone, if not twice a day,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

EXCLUSIVE: 'There's no partner swapping': Radio WAG Lisa Wipfli, 39, has revealed the truth about her and husband Wippa's close friendship with Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake

'I think the same goes for Zoe [Foster Blake] and Mike, but yes, they are smart and silly and there's often naughty jokes - but I can assure you, we don't partner swap and as much as I love Hamy, he is like a brother to me.'

'It's really lovely that two guys can have that special bond and that closeness and go out and have a really nice time where they had their own little counseling sessions.'

It comes days after her husband, Wippa, told Daily Mail Australia that there was concerns that Hamish could be the father of the couple's third child, Francesca.

Insight: 'I think the same goes for Zoe [Foster Blake] and Mike, but yes, they are smart and silly and there's often naughty jokes - but I can assure you, we don't partner swap and as much as I love Hamy, he is like a brother to me,' Lisa told Daily Mail Australia earlier this week

'I know people think we're tight, but there's a few discussions the moment our third child Francesca was born,' he laughed.

'She is very fair compared to how dark the boys are, so it just trying to work out if Hamish is the father,' Wippa joked.

'We don't know at this stage, we haven't run any tests. But, you know stranger things have happened.'

Close bond: Wippa explained that while he and Hamish have been friends for a number of years, their friendship became even tighter when they both welcomed children. Pictured Lisa and Zoe on holiday in 2019

Back in 2019, Hamish joked that during an overseas trip to Europe the two men suggested to their wives, Zoe and Lisa, they do a 'partner swap'.

'We said, ''hey girls, we've all been best friends for a long time. The four of us'',' he joked.

'How about a partner swap?...Me and Wippa are going to dinner. You girls can stay together.'

Laugh a minute! Back in 2019, Hamish joked that during an overseas trip to Europe the two men suggested to their wives, Zoe and Lisa, they do a 'partner swap'

While it was presumably a joke, Hamish did admit that he and BFF Wippa did enjoy a bit of skinny dipping together, stripping off for a swim off the back of the yacht.

The TV and radio host explained the nude swimming was not weird, as it was to 'impress their wives', who found it funny.

It comes as Hamish and his wife Zoe relocated from Melbourne to Sydney's Vaucluse after splurging $9million on a mansion in December last year.
Georgia May Jagger and her rocker dad Mick's lookalike son Lucas spent some quality time together during her half-sibling's recent trip to Los Angeles.

Model Georgia, 29, shared some family snaps on Instagram on Wednesday, giving her followers a rare look at her and Lucas, 22, together.

She captioned the post: 'Lucas in LA,' and could be seen smiling alongside her half-brother with the green hills of the City of Angels in the background.

Family bond: Georgia May Jagger, 29, shared rare family snaps on Instagram on Wednesday with rocker dad Mick's lookalike son Lucas, 22, during LA stay

The pair were matching in white T-shirts as Georgia gazed into the camera with her striking green eyes.

Lucas looked content alongside her, rocking an untamed hairstyle while he wore chain around his neck.

In another picture the pair could be seen posing with a friend as they enjoyed some time together at Georgia's Californian home.

Keeping good company: In another picture the pair could be seen posing with a friend as they enjoyed some time together at Georgia's Californian home

Georgia and Lucas kept themselves occupied during his visit by enjoying a number of activities.

In one picture Lucas could be sitting in front of a huge bowl of soup as the pair sat down together to enjoy a meal at a restaurant.

In another, Georgia was seen holding a pink worm cuddly toy on a shopping excursion.

Keeping busy: The pair kept themselves occupied with different activities and Lucas could be seen sitting in front of a huge bowl of soup at a restaurant

Retail therapy: Georgia posed with a pink worm cuddly toy on a shopping excursion in the City of Angels

And in one other photo Georgia could be seen walking down a slope during a hiking trip as they made the most of the hilly landscape of LA.

Georgia and Lucas share father Mick but Georgia's mother is model Jerry Hall, 64, while Lucas's mother is Brazilian television host Luciana Gimenez, 51. Luciana gave birth to Lucas in 1999 while he was married to Jerry.

Mick is also father Lizzy, 37, James, 35, and Gabriel, 23, who he shares with Jerry, to philanthropist Karis, 50, whose mother is actress Marsha Hunt, 75, jewelry designer Jade, 49, whose mother is actress Bianca Jagger, 76.

Responding to Georgia's post, Lucas wrote on Instagram: 'Love uuuuu,' before adding: 'Cant wait for our next trip.'

Earlier this month Georgia shared a sensational snap of herself on the beach to celebrate World Oceans Day.

Fighting fit: The pair made the most of LA's landscape and headed out for a hike in the hills with Georgia's pet dogs

Golden hour: Earlier this month Georgia celebrated World Oceans Day with a photo of herself wearing a pink-hued bathing costume with a purple and orange silk scarf over her shoulders

Walkies! The star stepped out to take her dogs for a stroll along the sandy beach and they looked happy as they trotted along

In the picture she could be seen wearing a pink-hued bathing costume with a purple and orange silk scarf over her shoulders.

A beautiful orange sunset could be seen behind her just before night fell in Southern California.

The star had stepped out to take her dogs for a stroll along the sandy beach.

Georgia captioned her post: 'Happy World Oceans Day. You can help protect the ocean and all of its creatures by supporting @projectzero.'
Georgia Love married Lee Elliott in a fairytale wedding in Hobart in March.

But on Wednesday, the gushing newlywed celebrated five years since meeting her husband on The Bachelorette.

Posting a gif of the moment she met her suitors on the Channel 10 show, Georgia wrote: 'Five years since this night. FIVE YEARS!!!?!?! And I still absolutely cannot believe they picked me.'

How time flies! Georgia Love marks five years since meeting husband Lee Elliot on The Bachelorette

She went on to tell her 245,000 Instagram followers that her experience on the show was phenomenal.

'I couldnt say more sincerely that I absolutely loved it! I had the time of my life, it was hands-down the best experience of my life and I met the love of my life. How bloody lucky am I?!'

She also went on to cheekily add: 'There was some stiff competition and I dont let him forget that.'

Despite the competition, Georgia was besotted with the tradesman from the minute she laid eyes on him.

Memories: 'I had the time of my life, it was hands-down the best experience of my life and I met the love of my life. How bloody lucky am I?!' Georgia wrote on Wednesday

The couple, who met on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, got engaged in 2019.

Georgia and Lee tied the knot in an elegant ceremony in March after their initial plans for a 2021 wedding in Italy were cancelled.

The nuptials took place at the picturesque Frogmore Creek Winery in Tasmania.

Destination wedding: The couple was due to marry in Italy last year, but they were forced to cancel their wedding because of the coronavirus pandemic

Got there in the end! The reality TV lovebirds tied the knot at the picturesque Frogmore Creek Winery in Tasmania

At the time, guests arrived for the wedding ceremony on London-style red double-decker buses.

According to their website, it costs $150 per person, which includes an 'onsite ceremony, three-course menu, 3.5 hour beverage package, exclusive use of the Frogmore Creek Deck and table setting and menu'.

Frogmore Creek Winery is located in Cambridge, just 20 minutes outside of Hobart's city centre.
Daisy Lowe shares a series of throwback snaps with her boyfriend Jordan Saul on Thursday as she revealed how they met and celebrated their one-year relationship anniversary.

The model, 32, uploaded the romantic photos to Instagram including one of her beau topless, as she thanked him for making her laugh and called him her 'hero'.

She was seen rocking a chic black swimsuit as Jordan wrapped his arms around her waist for a mirror selfie. He gave a cheeky pout whilst Daisy beamed.

Love: Daisy Lowe shares a series of throwback snaps with her boyfriend Jordan Saul on Thursday as she revealed how they met and celebrated their one-year relationship anniversary

The London-born star shared a photo relaxing on a sofa in a white top as her boyfriend draped his arm around her once more.

In another photo, the pair donned wetsuits and held their surfboards before making a splash in the ocean.

For a third Instagram snap, Jordan planted a kiss on the make-up free beauty.

She captioned the upload: 'A year ago today I went to meet @misstilda for a walk on the Heath. But I was running a little late- Mercury was in retrograde [crying laughing emoji].

Smitten: The model, 32, uploaded the romantic photos to Instagram as she thanked him for making her laugh and called him her 'hero'

'When I arrived, Monty ran straight towards a very handsome Belgium shepherd, attached to this handsome dog was a rather handsome man.

'I dawdled around having some dog chat we ended up walking together for a couple of hours, what a dog walk!'

She continued: 'Here we are a year later, through countless lockdowns, adventures, disasters and triumphs. You @jordanjaysaul have been my hero.

'Through and through. Thanks for feeling like home & always making me giggle even when I really dont want to! Its my absolute favourite making you laugh so much your legs give way.

Happy couple: The London-born star shared a photo relaxing on a sofa in a white top as her boyfriend draped his arm around her

Surfers: In another photo, the pair donned wetsuits and held their surfboards before making a splash in the ocean

'I am very happy I was 5 mins late to meet Tilds that day & I am so very grateful you are mine. Happy anniversary my pain in the ass. I love you .' [sic]

Daisy has been dating boyfriend Jordan for a year and last month, she was forced to deny she was pregnant after a troll rudely asked her about it on Instagram.

The socialite was posing in a nude Agent Provocateur bra and thong that perfectly showcased her hourglass curves and complemented her porcelain complexion.

Gazing seductively down the lens, she threw her arms behind her head as she posed beside a box of roses, captioning the sexy snap: 'Life is a bed of roses?'

Although Daisy sent her 360,000 followers wild with the steamy snaps, one troll commented, 'R u pregnant ?', to which Daisy swiftly replied: 'No I am definitely not pregnant thank u x'

'I am so very grateful you are mine': She penned a lengthy caption professing her love for Jordan and reflecting on their first meeting

Daisy tagged her boyfriend Jordan as the photographer of the snap, a week after sharing a sweet montage of pics with him to mark his birthday.

The former Strictly contestant shared a selfie of them passionately kissing alongside a slew of pictures from their countryside break and wrote how lucky she felt to have Jordan in her life.

In a lengthy caption, Daisy wrote: 'Happy birthday to my dearest @jordanjaysaul thanks for being the best play mate, for always keeping our ship sailing smoothly & for making life just make more sense.

How rude: Daisy has been dating boyfriend Jordan for a year and last month she was forced to deny she was pregnant after a troll rudely asked her about it on Instagram

Shocking: Although Daisy sent her 360,000 followers wild with the steamy snaps, one troll commented, 'R u pregnant ?', to which Daisy swiftly replied: 'No I am definitely not pregnant thank u x'

'There's no one in the world like you, your weird sense of humour, your intuitive nature with the animal kingdom, you seem to know absolutely everything ( I know I test this theory a lot) & you do have the most beautiful heart...

'Im very lucky you're all mine mine mine. Wishing you the brightest year ahead. The world is yours.' [sic]

Daisy and boyfriend Jordan's romance was first revealed when they were spotted putting on a PDA-fest in a north London park in July.

A month prior to Daisy being spotted with Jordan, she was seen cuddling up to musician Christian Langdon, just weeks after splitting from Jack Penate after a six month relationship.

Lovebirds: Daisy tagged her boyfriend Jordan as the photographer of the snap, a week after sharing a sweet montage of pics with him to mark his birthday
Shes best known for her rebellious role of Virginia Loc on Claws.

And Karrueche Tran showed off her cleavage in a low-cut bustier top during a fun night out with her pals at Delilah in West Hollywood on Wednesday night.

The American actress, 33, also showed off her incredibly toned legs in a pair of hot pants which matched her long-sleeved sexy top.

Fun night out: Karrueche Tran looked sexy in a cream corset top and matching white hot pants as she headed out to the Rhude fashion party held at Delilah on Wednesday night

Simple: She swept up her short, jet-black curly locks into a messy ponytail, and opted for a natural makeup look

The two-time Daytime Emmy award-winner, born Karrueche Tientrese Tran, added a small black and white paisley handbag and red and patterned sandal heels.

She added a touch of bling to her look  including a doubled-up gold chain necklace and gold hoop earrings.

Karrueche swept up her short, jet-black curly locks into a messy ponytail, and opted for a natural makeup look.

She simply added a hint of blush on her cheekbones, mascara, nude lipliner and a glistening nude lip-gloss on her pout.

Over the shoulder: Tran looks on smiling widely as she arrived at the after party

Walking tall: The star and her pals all looked super glam for the occasion

Happy: Tran had a huge smile on her face as she waited to head on inside

Who needs a cab? Karrueche had been pictured driving her pals to the venue

Friends in high places: Evan Ross was also in attendance on the night

Stylish: Evan Ross looked trendy in a distressed shirt

The after-party comes after she turned up to support a runway show for LA fashion label RHUDE on Wednesday.

The clothing brand, founded in 2015, showcased its Spring/Summer 2022 collection at an event held in Beverly Hills.

Tran showcased her beaming smile, despite ex-boyfriend Chris Brown also attending the event.

Stars: Saweetie, (left) and Cynthia Erivo (right), were among the famous faces who came out to support a runway show for LA fashion label RHUDE earlier that night

Looking good: Two-time Daytime Emmy award-winner Karrueche showed off her smile at the Rhude fashiow show earlier that evening

Awkward: Also on the guest list was Tran's ex Chris Brown, 32, who arrived in a casual ensemble of knit cardigan and blue jeans with blue sneakers

Wow! Shaun Ross was looking incredible in a red gown

She was also joined by Insecure actress Erin Pepper and Hollywood costume designer Dion Demetries at the event.

Tran posted a photo of herself and American record producer Mustard at the runway show on her Instagram story today.

The clothing brand, RHUDE, was founded in 2015 and showcased its Spring/Summer 2022 collection at the event in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.
She was recently walking with the help of crutches after a nasty fall.

Yet Jane Seymour was poking fun at her accident on Thursday as she took to Instagram to share a snap while in character for new Irish drama Harry Wild.

The legendary actress, 70, shed her youthful looks to age up with a headscarf, old-fashioned glasses and a walking stick and stated that her titular character 'needed help walking' despite Jane no longer needing her crutches.

Struggles: Jane Seymour was poking fun at her accident on Thursday as she took to Instagram to share a snap while in character for new Irish drama Harry Wild

She added a caption reading: 'Jane might be off crutches but apparently now Harrys the one who needs help walking! Having a laugh on the set. Wishing you all a lovely week ahead!

Late last month Jane revealed she had suffered a hairline fracture on her left kneecap following a fall on the set of Harry Wild. And keeping fans updated on how she's recovering, Jane recently credited ballet for helping her.

The actress explained on Instagram: 'I've been taking extra care of my knee. Rest and patience is the cure! Thankfully ballet has enabled me to almost not limp on set. Although it hurts, it's getting better everyday!

'Thank you to everyone who reached out with such kind messages. Keep smiling! #HarryWild @acorn_tv. [sic]'.

'Keep smiling!' Late last month Jane revealed she had suffered a hairline fracture on her left kneecap following a fall on the set of Harry Wild

Cheeky! The legendary actress, 70, shed her youthful looks to age up with a headscarf, old-fashioned glasses and a walking stick and stated that her titular character 'needed help walking' despite Jane no longer needing her crutches

Jane had shared details about her 'really painful' injury at the time, with the actress revealing she had injured her left kneecap after filming a thrilling scene that involved her running across a bridge.

The star explained she 'fell pretty badly' and proudly added that she still managed to 'finish the scene' and hasn't missed a 'minute of work' since.

Jane captioned the Instagram video, which was shot from her trailer on set, with: 'I thought I'd break the news to you all, I fell pretty badly on set about a week ago. [injured emoji].

Off for a drive: Ahead of filming, Jane wrapped a tartan scarf around her head as she prepared to ride in her red car

'I've got lots of hairline fractures on my kneecap. Got lucky comparatively! In spite of it, I managed to finish the scene and work all week trying not to hobble. [crying emoji] This is acting! #HarryWild @acorn_tv.'

In the video, Jane panned the camera onto her leg brace as she spoke to the camera and revealed that she also has crutches to help her during recovery, she said: 'So I was set the other day...

'I had to run across a bridge and look for a guy that was being tortured. I fell, so I'm in a leg brace and I've got crutches. I have not missed a minute's work and I have now been renamed to hop-a-long and hop-a-long keeps trying to hop a long.

Twinning:'I'm acting above the kneecap and I have a wonderful double for below the kneecap!', Jane told her fans (pictured with stunt double Orlaith last month)

'But I did apparently smash my kneecap, so it's really painful, I'm not allowed to move it for two to three weeks. I'm acting above the kneecap and I have a wonderful double for below the kneecap!'

Jane was first spotted on the set of Irish mystery thriller Harry Wild last month and it is due for release next year.

The actress will both star and co-executive produce the show for Acorn TV, a streaming service from AMC that focuses on British content.

In the eight-part series, Jane is set to play retired English professor Harriet 'Harry' Wild, who finds herself recovering from a mugging at the home of her son, who works as a police detective.

While staying at her son's house, she becomes entwined in a murder investigation that he is working on.
She welcomed daughter Frankie Violet with husband Jake Wall in 2009.

And on Thursday, Jennifer Hawkins documented her trip to the beach with her one-year-old pride and joy.

Posting to her Instagram Stories, the 37-year-old shared a glimpse of the mother-daughter day out.

Beach babes! Jennifer Hawkins and daughter Frankie, one, enjoyed a day a the beach on Thursday

In the first image, Jennifer is seen holding the hand of her daughter as she walked along the sandbank.

She followed up the post with an image of both of their feet sinking into the sand.

'Frankie girl,' the proud mum captioned the moment, along with a love-heart eye emoji.

Jennifer and her family often enjoy downtime on the beach.

Too cute: 'Frankie girl,' the proud mum simply captioned the moment

In February, the stunner shared a number of photos of the adorable little girl while the pair went for a walk.

Frankie looked content and happy as she sat on the footpath while clutching onto a yellow Daisy.

The youngster was then seen taking a couple of steps towards her famous mother, who was gently holding her hands.

Doting: In February, the stunner shared a number of photos of the adorable little girl while the pair went for a walk

Too cute: Frankie (pictured) looked content and happy as sat on the footpath while clutching onto a yellow Daisy flower

Bond: Jennifer also showed a photo of her clutching onto Frankie's tiny hand

In a separate image, Jennifer held onto the cherubic tot's little hand.

'Bit cute,' she captioned the photo, adding a love heart.

Jennifer married Jake, 37, in Bali, Indonesia, in 2013, after eight years of dating.
Emma Corrin celebrated finishing filming the LGBT movie in style as she took to Instagram on Thursday to share a slew of snaps.

The Crown star, 25, who plays wife Marion in My Policeman, wrapped up filming in Italy last week alongside her co-star Harry Styles, 27, who plays central character Tom Burgess.

Now back in London, Emma uploaded a photo doing a Zoom call in a grey spiky Miu Miu as well as a video of her running down the corridor during a luxury stay at five star hotel The Standard.

Designer garb: Emma Corrin celebrated finishing filming the LGBT movie in style as she took to Instagram on Thursday to share a slew of snaps, including a photo in a grey Miu Miu jumper

The grey jumper was embellished with spikes on the shoulder and embellishment on the chest.

And Emma was thrilled to be staying at The Standard Hotel. The actress shared a video of herself running down the corridor in a tight white vest and chinos.

The Netflix star captioned the shot: 'merci @thestandardlondon for being anything but standard'.

Having fun: Emma uploaded a photo doing a Zoom call in a grey spiky Miu Miu as well as a video of her running down the corridor during a luxury stay at five star hotel The Standard

Having a blast: Emma was thrilled to be staying at The Standard Hotel. The actress shared a video of herself running down the corridor in a tight white vest and chinos

There she goes: The Netflix star captioned the shot: 'merci @thestandardlondon for being anything but standard'

Spiky: The grey jumper was embellished with spikes on the shoulder and embellishment on the chest

Emma also uploaded two photos outside the Harold Pinter theatre as she larked around with the cast of the play Anna X, as they counted down two weeks until their opening night.

The actress will play the lead character Anna, which follows her trying to keep up with New York's social elite.

Last week, Emma shared a series of throwback snaps with her My Policeman co-stars as she celebrated filming coming to an end on their LGBT movie.

Taking to Instagram, the actress quipped, 'aaaaand thats a falafel wrap baaaaby' alongside the shots.

In the first shot, Emma threw it back to a day when the cast had been filming at a pool, showing herself clad in a swimsuit while co-star Harry donned red trunks.

Impressed: The actress gazed out at the view as she enjoyed her stay at The Standard

Fun: Emma also uploaded two photos outside the Harold Pinter theatre as she larked around with the cast of the play Anna X, as they counted down two weeks until their opening night

Thespian: The actress will play the lead character Anna, which follows her trying to keep up with New York's social elite

The pair - who play husband and wife in the film - sat on lifeguards chairs by the side of the pool alongside producer Robbie Rogers and filmmaker Michael Grandage.

It was no doubt an emotional moment for the cast and crew after they spent the last few months filming My Policeman in Brighton.

Harry takes the lead in the new movie which is set in Brighton in the 1950s, and based on Bethan Roberts' novel, focusing on police officer Tom, who is gay, but married to Marion (Emma) due to societal expectations.

Fantastic four: Last week Emma shared snaps with (L-R) My Policeman producer Robbie Rogers, filmmaker Michael Grandage and co-star Harry Styles to celebrate filming wrapping

The film follows him as he goes on to have a decades-long affair with museum curator Patrick Hazelwood, played by David.

It is currently unclear when the film will be released.

Harry reportedly shot sex scenes with co-star David, who plays his on-screen lover, in the upcoming romantic drama.

Delightful duo: Another snap showed Emma cuddling up to co-star David Dawson, who plays Harry's love interest in the flick

An insider previously said: 'Harry will be having sex on screen and they want it to look as real as possible. The plan is to shoot two romps between Harry and David, then another scene where Harry is naked on his own.'

The 2012 novel explores the criminalisation of homosexuality in the 1950s.

The Amazon Studios production is being directed by Michael Grandage, and began shooting on April 12 on locations in London and the South-East coast, while the more intimate moments will be filmed at one of the big film studios.

The film is adapted by Oscar-nominee Ron Nyswaner, and Amazon is working with Berlanti Schechter Productions.
Courteney Cox has admitted that maintaining a long-distance relationship with her partner Johnny McDaid amid the Covid-19 pandemic has been 'hard', as she shared a snap from their first post-quarantine date on Wednesday following two and a half months apart.

The Friends star, 57, spent lockdown in California whilst the Snow Patrol rocker, 44, was in Europe, and Courteney revealed that she found it difficult to spend time away from her partner.

Courteney  who is currently in London at her boyfriends apartment  said on SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show: 'People from the UK, they still can't come to America. You're not allowed in still, which is crazy.

Sweet: Courteney Cox discussed maintaining a long-distance relationship with Johnny McDaid on Wednesday before sharing a snap on their first post-quarantine date after two months apart

'He's been vaccinated and he can't come in. I don't understand it. People can go from Florida to Los Angeles, no quarantine. I don't get it. I don't know why they can't come to America and quarantine the way I did.

'I've been on this five-day test and release. I'm going out tonight, can't wait. I don't mean out, just to a restaurant. I just want to go out - literally, out of the apartment. I have not left [Johnny's apartment] except to get a nose swab at Heathrow [Airport].'

The couple were last seen together in Los Angeles at the start of April before reuniting in London this week.

The 57-year-old actress revealed that she and the musician never engaged in 'Zoom intimacy' whilst spending time in different countries as she prefers to engage in 'other' forms of intimacy.

Separated: The star, 57, spent lockdown in California whilst the Snow Patrol rocker, 44, was in Europe, and Courteney revealed that she found it difficult to spend time away from her partner (pictured together in 2019)

Couple: Courteney  who is currently in London  said on SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show: 'People from the UK, they still can't come to America. You're not allowed in still, which is crazy'

She said: 'Zoom intimacy? We're very intimate, but I don't know how to do that [on Zoom]. There's other kinds of intimacy.'

Sharing a selfie with Johnny at Core By Clare Smyth in Notting Hill on Wednesday evening, the actress said: 'First night out of quarantine! Date night [heart emoji].

'What an amazing experience! Thank you... @corebyclaresmyth.'

Back in October, Courteney said she hadnt seen her partner for 150 days, after he jetted back to his home in London just after the US began to implement lockdowns.

She explained at the time: 'Let's say it's been 150 days - I've cooked 145 of them. And I haven't seen John in that many days.

Throwback: The couple were last seen together in Los Angeles at the start of April before reuniting this week

'He left the next day [after] the whole country shut down - or at least [when] California did.

'I think maybe New York was before us. I've had these two friends ... they were gonna quarantine with me - which is great, because if I can't be with John, I don't wanna be just by myself with [my daughter] Coco. I'm a little chicken.'

Courteney and Johnny first began dating in 2013 and became engaged nine months later, however they decided to call it off in 2015 and went their separate ways.

The pair reunited the following year but haven't resumed their engagement.

Courteney shares daughter Coco, 17, with her ex-husband David Arquette. Meanwhile Northen Ireland native Johnny has never been married and does not have any kids.

Steamy! The actress revealed that she and the musician never engaged in 'Zoom intimacy' whilst spending time in different countries as she prefers to engage in 'other' forms of intimacy
Her sensational figure and model good looks have made her a sweetheart of the fashion and beauty world.

And Bella Hadid was flaunting all her best bits as she was seen in Paris on Thursday while showing off her incredible abs and also showing off her famous friends as she was joined by Off White designer Virgil Abloh for a stroll.

The model, 24, looked simply sensational in a Nineties-inspired look comprising a sheer top which left little to the imagination due to her braless state while Virgil, who was showcasing his edgy style in a belted grey suit.

Stylish: Braless Bella Hadid left nothing to the imagination beneath an ab-flashing sheer top in Nineties-inspired ensemble as she stepped out with Off White designer Virgil Abloh in Paris

Bella was wowing as she headed out in the sheer top which tied at the middle yet showed her assets from beneath the material and left her abs on show.

She paired the look with jeans and a blazer with chunky boots and a Fendi bag.

The brunette beauty slicked her hair back tight which gave full view of her stylish Chanel spectacles. It is unknown it they were decorative or prescription.

Virgil looked incredibly chic in his grey suit and edgy ensemble as he emerged with the stunning model on the heels of his new collaboration with Nike and Louis Vuitton.

Stunner: The model, 24, looked simply sensational in a Nineties-inspired look comprising a sheer top which left little to the imagination due to her braless state while Virgil, who was showcasing his edgy style in a belted grey suit

Chic: The famous friends strutted down the street together in style

Sneaker News detailed: 'Since entering mainstream consciousness, Virgil Abloh has demonstrated that hes never not working...

'The Illinois-natives relentless drive has produced collections with IKEA, speakers with Ojas and recently 21 pairs of the Louis Vuitton x Off-White x Nike Air Force 1...

'Unveiled at the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring 2022 runway show in Paris on June 24th, the collection of sneakers mark yet another expansive project from Abloh.'

Chic: Virgil was rocking sensational glasses as he emerged following the showcase of his Louis Vuitton x Off White X Nike trainers

Wow! The model looked stunning in her trendy getup

Strutting their stuff: They made their way down the street in typically sensational style

Fresh: He wore the trainers from the new collection

Kicking back: Kylie Jenner's on-off boyfriend Travis Scott was also in the French capital

Chilled out: He was chatting to pals while he relaxed on the balcony

It comes as Bella and her sister Gigi, whose father Mohamed is a Palestinian born in Nazareth, waded controversially into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict last month.

Bella was accused of antisemitism after posting cartoons denouncing Israel, which she has since deleted from her Instagram.

The post, which Gigi liked, argued that Israel was 'not a country' and accused the Jewish State of 'ethnic cleansing, military occupation and apartheid.'

Happy days: Her sensational figure and model good looks have made her a sweetheart of the fashion and beauty world

Stunner: She was treating the streets as a catwalk in her chic look

Bella preempted allegations of bigotry by posting a clip of Bernie Sanders arguing: 'It is not anti-Semitic to be critical of a right-wing government in Israel.'

'Hate from either side is not okay - I do not condone it!!' wrote Bella. 'I will not stand to hear people talk badly about Jewish people through all of this.'

Gigi also wrote on her Instagram: 'One cannot advocate for racial equality, LGBT & women's rights, condemn corrupt and abusive regimes and other injustices yet choose to ignore the Palestinian oppression. It does not add up. You cannot pick and choose whose human rights matter more.'

Stylish: She paired the look with jeans and a blazer with chunky boots and a Fendi bag

Chanello! Her trendy glasses were adorned with the Chanel wording down one arm

Hitting back: It comes as Bella and her sister Gigi , whose father Mohamed is a Palestinian born in Nazareth, waded controversially into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict last month

Bella also found herself in hot water when she went Live on Instagram from a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City.

She filmed herself chanting the popular Palestinian slogan: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!' along with other protestors.

The State Of Israel directly condemned her on its official Twitter account writing: 'When celebrities like @BellaHadid advocate for throwing Jews into the sea, they are advocating for the elimination of the Jewish State.'

Trendy: She wore a pair of red glasses although it is unknown if they are decorative of prescription

Chic: Her leather blazer complemented her Fendi bag perfectly

Sizzling: She was sure to show off her figure in all its glory

Shock: Bella also found herself in hot water when she went Live on Instagram from a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City
She has amassed almost half a million social media followers thanks to her racy snaps and sizzling content.

And Rhian Sugden turned up the heat once more on Thursday as she displayed her incredible figure in semi-sheer lingerie.

The glamour model, 34, worked her best angles at home and shared the snaps to social media.

Black is always in fashion: Rhian Sugden turned up the heat on Thursday for social media snaps as she displayed her incredible figure in sexy black underwear

Her from DearScantilly featured stretch panels of intricate lace fabric and complemented her frilled underwear. The revealing lingerie also boasted gold pendants.

Rhian added a touch of glamour with delicate gold jewellery and styled her honey blonde tresses in a sleek hairdo.

She opted for full coverage make-up as she captioned the upload: 'Feeling bra-vellous! Thanks to @dearscantilly - big pants can be sexy pants.'.

The sizzling post comes after Rhian revealed that a married businessman had offered her 200K to spend the night with him.

Sizzling: Her bra from DearScantilly featured stretch panels of intricate lace fabric and complemented her frilled briefs

Too glam to give a damn: She opted for full coverage make-up as she captioned the upload: 'Feeling bra-vellous! Thanks to @dearscantilly - big pants can be sexy pants'

The model also revealed that one inappropriate social media user asked if she could sleep with their wife so they could film it.

Rhian told fans on her Instagram story: 'Eurgh there are some right creeps in my inbox this week.

'Just woke up to an offer of 200k for one night with a married business man... and another offer to couple up with someone's wife and be filmed!!'

Rhian sternly ended her post with: 'Leave it out will you. This isn't a knocking shop' followed by a 'barf' emoji.

The model spent the UK's multiple lockdowns with her husband Oliver Mellor and their gorgeous dog.

Loved-up: The model spent the UK's multiple lockdowns with her husband Oliver Mellor and their gorgeous dog

Back in November, Rhian revealed her third round of IVF failed and said even though she was disappointed, she was 'OK'.

The couple, who wed in 2018, revealed last year they had endured gruelling IVF for 18 months.

The IVF treatment came after the glamour model discovered she couldn't conceive naturally.

Before their third go, Rhian and Oliver bought a puppy and Rhian said: 'So many people told me that getting a puppy after failed IVF is a godsend and a good distraction.

'After two failed rounds I tell you what, I've not been this happy in months. My heart could burst.'
Oti Mabuse and James Jordan led the congratulatory messages to Anton Du Beke after it was announced the dancer has joined the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel.

On Thursday, the BBC confirmed Anton, 54, the longest-serving pro dancer on the show, will make the step up to a judging seat this year for the entire series following a successful two-week stint as a panellist last year.

Following the announcement, a host of Strictly's professional dancers and fans took to social media to celebrate the 'wonderful news'.

Thrilled: Oti Mabuse (L) and James Jordan (R) led the congratulatory messages to Anton Du Beke after it was announced the dancer has joined the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel

His dream: On Thursday, the BBC confirmed Anton, 54, the longest-serving pro dancer on the show, will make the step up to a judging seat this year for the entire series

Oti, who was crowned Strictly 2020 champion with Bill Bailey, took to Instagram where she wrote: 'He made it! JUDGE @mrantondubeke super proud of you Anton and so happy!

'Feels like positivity is in the air - everyone gets what theyve wanted and hoped for for years and its a beautiful sight to see with the @bbcstrictly first @jmanrara now @mrantondubeke nothing but joy and pride for both of you.'

James, meanwhile, who starred on the show alongside Anton from 2006- 2013, typed: 'Congratulations to my mate @TheAntonDuBeke on becoming a judge on #strictly. About b****y time!!'.

He made it! Oti and James said they were over the moon Anton had finally landed his dream role as a judge

Special bond: Host Tess Daly, 52, shared a throwback snap on Instagram alongside the message: 'We have had so many laughs over the past 17 years. Love him to bits'

Anton, who joined the show since it started in 2004, will replace Bruno Tonioli, who will not be able to take part in the 19th series due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.

Bruno, 26, wrote: 'Sadly due to the current quarantine regulations and previous work commitments I will miss this year @bbcstrictly will miss you all and I am sure youll be AMAZING'.

Host Tess Daly, 52, shared a throwback snap on Instagram alongside the message: 'This was taken after one of my favourite routines; as Austin Powers - and hilariously Judge Craig thought his teeth were part of the costume when they were in fact real.

'Priceless! We have had so many laughs over the past 17 years. Love him to bits'.

Sweet: AJ Pritchard, who left after the 2019 series, uploaded a throwback snap from 2016 of the pair and penned: 'Congratulations @mrantondubeke...'

Other stars of the show also took to their social media to praise Anton on the landing the role.

Janette Manrara, who has stepped down from being a pro dancer this year and will replace Zoe Ball on It Takes Two instead, wrote: 'What wonderful news!!! CONGRATULATIONS ANTON on becoming our new @bbcstrictly judge!! Absolutely thrilled for you. So deserved after so many amazing years on that dance floor!'

Hilarious: Anton became a fan favourite with his wacky routines (pictured here with Anne Widdecombe in 2010)

AJ Pritchard, who left after the 2019 series, uploaded a throwback snap from 2016 of the pair and penned: 'Congratulations @mrantondubeke... You are going to be perfect for the Job #Judge @bbcstrictly / sorry for the bad photo from 2016.'

Kevin Clifton, who also departed Strictly after the 2019 series, penned: 'Congrats @TheAntonDuBeke. Ladies and gents, your new @bbcstrictly judging panel.'

Bruno added: 'Sadly due to the current quarantine regulations and previous work commitments I will miss this year @bbcstrictly will miss you all and I am sure youll be AMAZING'.

Strictly family: Janette Manrara, Bruno Tonioli and Kevin Clifton also took to social media following the news

Meanwhile, viewers took to Twitter to share memes as well as their excitement over the role.

One wrote: 'Congratulations on this appointment Anton. Lets hope its forever and ever well deserved.'

Another fan of the show typed: 'Anton Du Beke should have always been the replacement for Bruce Forsyth as host. Winkleman and Daly are not as talented as their ubiquity would suggest.'

A third chimed: 'Anton du Beke is the Prince Charles of the Strictly family'.

'Well deserved': Meanwhile, viewers took to Twitter to share memes as well as their excitement over the role

The announcement was made via the official BBC Strictly account, as dazzling portraits of the judges were shared alongside the words: 'Its the judges!...

'Please welcome back to Strictly, Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse AND Anton Du Beke, wholl be stepping into Bruno Toniolis shoes for 2021!'

Anton said: 'My loves I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno's brogues for the next series of 'Strictly'.

Exciting: 'It's a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them have ever been to me', Anton said

'It's a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them have ever been to me.'

Bruno - who has been a 'Strictly' judge since 2004 - is 'gutted' about missing this year's show, but he is 'so excited' to see Anton on the programme.

ANTON'S PARTNERS AND PLACEMENTS SERIES 1 - Lesley Garrett 3rd SERIES 2 - Esther Rantzen 8th SERIES 3 - Patsy Palmer 5th SERIES 4 - Jan Ravens 9th SERIES 5 - Kate Garraway 8th SERIES 6 - Gillian Taylforth 15th SERIES 7 - Laila Rouass 4th SERIES 8 - Ann Widdecombe 6th SERIES 9 - Nancy Dell'Olio 11th SERIES 10 - Jerry Hall 13th SERIES 11 - Fiona Fullerton 9th SERIES 12 - Judy Murray 9th SERIES 13 - Katie Derham 4th SERIES 14 - Lesley Joseph 11th SERIES 15 - Ruth Langsford 9th SERIES 16 - Susannah Constantine 15th SERIES 17 - Emma Barton 2nd SERIES 18 - Jacqui Smith 12th Advertisement

He added: 'Whilst I am gutted to not be on the show this year there is one person and one person only that could take my place - it's just a shame they weren't available ... ha ha.

'Darlings, I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Seriously though, I have to tell you, Anton is Mr Strictly and if anybody is filling in for me, it has to be him. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way and I am so excited to see him waggle his paddle.'

Anton will bring a lot of experience to the panel after he joined 'Strictly' during its first series, and he is the only pro dancer to have danced in every series to date.

While he has performed in all 18 series, Anton has sadly never walked away victorious.

The highest place he has scored was coming in second with Emma Barton in 2019.

His second highest was in 2004's inaugural season, where he came in third with Lesley Garrett.

Anton's appearance as judge last year won rave reviews as he stood in for Bruno and Motsi.

He proved to be a hit with viewers after he stood in for the South African dancer, who was isolating for 14 days, after rushing home to Germany due to her dance school being 'targeted'.

Viewers called for Anton to become a permanent judge on the show. The Mail On Sunday reported at the time that Anton hopes his role on the panel on Saturday night could lead to a full-time position.

Friends of Anton say he has been eager 'for quite some time' to have a judging role and has been disappointed when outsiders have been brought in.

Happy days: Bruno - who has been a 'Strictly' judge since 2004 - is 'gutted' about missing this year's show, but he is 'so excited' to see Anton on the programme (Bruno, pictured in 2019)

One friend told The Mail on Sunday: 'This is a dream come true for Anton. For many years now he has fancied the role but has been beaten to it when the likes of Motsi and before that Shirley Ballas were brought in.

'He has been a trouper for Strictly, he has been given some less-than-able celebrities to dance with over the years and never complains.'

The exciting news comes after Anton discussed his 10,000 hair transplant and said that the procedure 'immediately transformed his life'.
Craig Revel Horwood claimed he is 'over the moon' that Anton Du Beke has been named judge Bruno Tonioli's replacement on the series 19 panel.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 56, revealed he's 'delighted' to be welcoming the BBC show's longest-serving pro dancer to the panel after 17 years on the ballroom floor and also claimed it was time for the dancer, 54, to 'give up the dance shoes',.

Speaking on Thursday's edition of This Morning, Craig said of Bruno: 'We were talking about whether he is going to be able to fly backwards and forwards [from his LA home]. And of course he can't. It's just too risky I think at the moment.

Honest: Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood said on Thursday he was 'over the moon' that Anton Du Beke will be a judge on series 19 as he claimed it was time for him to 'give up the dance shoes'

'So delighted when Anton got the job, I was over the moon. In fact I spoke to him on the way to the studio here today and he's super excited, as we all are.

'And isn't it about time, darling? I mean there is a point in your life where you have to give up the dance shoes and hang them up at some stage. So he deserves it, and he's great.'

And when Holly Willoughby pointed out that Anton 'knows the show inside out', Craig agreed and added: 'Well of course! He's original.'

However, Craig stressed that the change for this year doesn't mean Bruno - who has featured on the programme since its launch in 2004 - is on his way 'out' permanently.

Exciting: Earlier in the day, Anton was named judge Bruno Tonioli's replacement as he can't take part due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding travel restrictions caused by COVID-19

Happy for him: Craig said, 'I was over the moon. In fact I spoke to him on the way to the studio here today and he's super excited, as we all are. 'And isn't it about time, darling?'

Candid: Craig added,'I mean there is a point in your life where you have to give up the dance shoes and hang them up at some stage. So he deserves it, and he's great'

He said: 'You know, Bruno's not "out" out in that way, he may come back next year, who knows? But I'm so delighted to welcome Anton onto the panel.'

The BBC confirmed Bruno, who is the longest-serving pro dancer on the show, will make the step up to a judging seat this year for the entire series following a successful two-week stint as a panellist last year.

He will replace Tonioli, who will not be able to take part in the 19th series due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.

Chatting away: Holly and Phil spoke about the news

Promotion: The BBC confirmed Bruno, who is the longest-serving pro dancer on the show, will make the step up to a judging seat this year for the entire series

Anton, who will join returning judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Craig Revel Horwood, said: 'My loves I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno's brogues for the next series of 'Strictly'.

'It's a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them have ever been to me.'

The announcement was made via the official BBC Strictly account, as dazzling portraits of the judges were shared alongside the words: 'It's the judges!...

'Please welcome back to Strictly, Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse AND Anton Du Beke, who'll be stepping into Bruno Tonioli's shoes for 2021!'

Happy days: Anton had a successful two-week stint as a panellist last year (pictured)

Happy days: Bruno - who has been a 'Strictly' judge since 2004 - is 'gutted' about missing this year's show, but he is 'so excited' to see Anton on the programme (Bruno, pictured in 2019)

Bruno - who has been a 'Strictly' judge since 2004 - is 'gutted' about missing this year's show, but he is 'so excited' to see Anton on the programme.

ANTON'S PARTNERS AND PLACEMENTS SERIES 1 - Lesley Garrett 3rd SERIES 2 - Esther Rantzen 8th SERIES 3 - Patsy Palmer 5th SERIES 4 - Jan Ravens 9th SERIES 5 - Kate Garraway 8th SERIES 6 - Gillian Taylforth 15th SERIES 7 - Laila Rouass 4th SERIES 8 - Ann Widdecombe 6th SERIES 9 - Nancy Dell'Olio 11th SERIES 10 - Jerry Hall 13th SERIES 11 - Fiona Fullerton 9th SERIES 12 - Judy Murray 9th SERIES 13 - Katie Derham 4th SERIES 14 - Lesley Joseph 11th SERIES 15 - Ruth Langsford 9th SERIES 16 - Susannah Constantine 15th SERIES 17 - Emma Barton 2nd SERIES 18 - Jacqui Smith 12th Advertisement

He added: 'Whilst I am gutted to not be on the show this year there is one person and one person only that could take my place - it's just a shame they weren't available ... ha ha.

'Darlings, I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Seriously though, I have to tell you, Anton is Mr Strictly and if anybody is filling in for me, it has to be him. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way and I am so excited to see him waggle his paddle.'

Anton will bring a lot of experience to the panel after he joined 'Strictly' during its first series, and he is the only pro dancer to have danced in every series to date.

While he has performed in all 18 series, Anton has sadly never walked away victorious.

The highest place he has scored was coming in second with Emma Barton in 2019.

His second highest was in 2004's inaugural season, where he came in third with Lesley Garrett.

Anton's appearance as judge last year won rave reviews as he stood in for Bruno and Motsi.

He proved to be a hit with viewers after he stood in for the South African dancer, who was isolating for 14 days, after rushing home to Germany due to her dance school being 'targeted'.

Viewers called for Anton to become a permanent judge on the show. The Mail On Sunday reported at the time that Anton hopes his role on the panel on Saturday night could lead to a full-time position.

Friends of Anton say he has been eager 'for quite some time' to have a judging role and has been disappointed when outsiders have been brought in.

One friend told The Mail on Sunday: 'This is a dream come true for Anton. For many years now he has fancied the role but has been beaten to it when the likes of Motsi and before that Shirley Ballas were brought in.

'He has been a trouper for Strictly, he has been given some less-than-able celebrities to dance with over the years and never complains.'

Here they are! The announcement was made via the official BBC Strictly account, as dazzling portraits of the judges were shared alongside the words: 'It's the judges!'
Myleene Klass hit back after being accused of getting lip filler, insisting her Filipino heritage is behind her plump pout.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Myleene, 43, shared a series of behind-the-scenes clips of herself and Rachel Riley filming Countdown, flashing her fans a pout while looking typically chic in a tailored red suit.

Her post prompted one user to ask: 'Have you had your lips done or is this your selfie pout?' to which doting mother Myleene swiftly responded: 'I'm biracial! These are the lips I was given.'

Response: Myleene Klass, 43, responded to a social media user asking if she has had her lips cosmetically enhanced on Wednesday after posting a snap of herself pouting on Instagram

Myleene responded to lip filler claims: 'I'm biracial! These are the lips I was given.' She also added the hashtag 'pinoypower' alongside the country's flag

Myleene also added the hashtag 'pinoypower' alongside the country's flag.

Poking fun at her show-stopping outfit, Myleene also revealed to her fans that Countdown presenter Anne Robinson had told her: '[You] look like [you're] from the cast of Dynasty.'

Myleene also made sure to gush about Rachel, 35, who is heavily pregnant with her second child, writing on social media: 'I've just watched this girl do five hours worth of sums that I wouldn't attempt without baby brain, let alone with. Total legend.'

Last June, Myleene, who has a Filipino mother and Austrian father, detailed the horrific racial abuse she experienced in her childhood and the prevalent prejudice she still witnesses.

Behind-the-scenes: Myleene shared a series of clips of herself and Rachel Riley filming Countdown

The songstress, who was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, took to Instagram to reveal she was struggling to explain racism to her children amid the Black Lives Matter movement.

In her impassioned post, Myleene listed some of the horrendous slurs she has faced over the years, with a shocking list reading: 'Chink. Slit eye. Number 69, Fried rice. Mongrel. Ping pong. Slut. All Tai girls are sluts. Banana'.

Discussing her own experiences - yet conceding she cannot understand the struggles in the US - Myleene shared the lengthy caption beneath a childhood snap.

Sweet: Myleene also made sure to gush about Rachel, 35, (pictured) who is heavily pregnant with her second child

Myleene opened the post with explaining what she is working to do by revealing the struggles she has faced in her past. She wrote: 'I'm trying so hard to explain the complexities of racism to my children. How it happens...

'How whilst I don't understand the struggles a black person living in America might be experiencing, how I do understand and know my own experience of being a mixed race Filipino girl growing up in Norfolk...

'I had those words thrown at me. On other occasions, it wasn't just words, it was rock filled snowballs by a group of boys as I walked home, I had my hair cut in the school cloakrooms by some girls, later they threatened a lighter...

'There was spitting. Why does your mum speak like that? Why don't you have an accent? 'I was born here. Yeah, but you don't belong here'...

'I also remember the pride and relief I felt when a bus of school children, aged 10 pulled up next to my own bus and the children opposite all started making ''Chinese eyes and buck teeth'' to then have my own bus retaliate with fist signs and fingers..

'It was small ''victory'', I felt embarrassed, hot, shamed but I remember it so well because for the first time, I didn't feel alone, I had a small token of solidarity that gave me courage'.

Speaking about her experiences at college, she went on: 'At college, I walked into the canteen only to have a group of students hand me their trays loaded up with dirty plates. You're Filipino, you're all cleaners right? Then the laughter.'

Speaking about how she is now living with and addressing the issues, she went on: 'The world looks different now. I am mixed race and I am so proud of that.'

Heartfelt: The songstress, who was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk took to Instagram last year to reveal she was struggling to explain racism to her children amid the BLM movement
He's stepping into the terrifying role of one of the most infamous serial killers of all time.

Evan Peters, 34, was seen in costume heading to the set of his upcoming Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Hit television creator Ryan Murphy is at the helm of the limited series which will be told from the perspective of the murderer's many victims and highlight the missteps by authorities.

At the office: Evan Peters, 34, was seen in costume heading to the set of his upcoming Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Peters was seen wearing a clear face shield while he headed to set to film a scene for the series.

The actor was costumed simply and looked pretty innocuous in jeans, a blue zip-up hoodie and white sneakers, sporting Dahmer's shock of messy blond hair.

It's hard to fathom the horrors this unassuming character inflicted on so many victims during his reign of terror in the late 70s and 80s.

According to a Netflix synopsis, the series will be positioned from the perspective of Dahmer's victims and examine major mistakes police made amid a series of incidents involving the Milwaukee chocolate factory worker.

Killer character: The actor was costumed simply and looked pretty innocuous in jeans, a blue zip-up hoodie and white sneakers, sporting Dahmer's shock of messy blond hair

Dahmer was convicted in connection with the murders of 16 men between 1978-1991, making national headlines for his acts of cannibalism and necrophilia involving his victims. He admitted to killing 17 men in the wake of his arrest in 1991.

Dahmer was bludgeoned to death with a metal bar at 34 by inmate Christopher Scarver in a deadly 1994 prison beating.

The series will feature a talented cast without any major A-listers including Shaun J. Brown, Penelope Ann Miller, Richard Jenkins, Niecy Nash and Colin Ford.

Terrifying: Dahmer was convicted in connection with the murders of 16 men between 1978-1991, making national headlines for his acts of cannibalism and necrophilia involving his victims. He admitted to killing 17 men in the wake of his arrest in 1991

Miller and Jenkins are slated to play Dahmers parents, while Nash will play Dahmers neighbor Glenda Cleveland, who made futile efforts to report Dahmer's strange behavior to authorities.

Production on the limited series is thought to have started in January.

Peters has past worked with Murphy on a number of projects including American Horror Story and Pose.

On screen: According to a Netflix synopsis, the series will be positioned from the perspective of Dahmer's victims and examine major mistakes police made amid a series of incidents involving the Milwaukee chocolate factory worker

Murphy has excelled chronicling 1990s true crime sagas, with past American Crime Story projects including 2018's The Assassination of Gianni Versace and 2016's The People Vs. OJ Simpson.

2021 seems to be a big year, career wise for Peters, who reprised his X-Men role as Peter Maximoff AKA Quicksilver for the Disney+ hit WandaVision.

He also starred as fan-favorite Detective Zabel in the HBOMax smash Mare of Easttown with Kate Winslet.
Sofia Richie has joined her siblings Nicole and Miles on a luxury Greek getaway alongside their hit-maker dad, Lionel.

Model Sofia, 22, has shared a series of snaps of their holiday on Instagram, including one of herself posing in the doorway of an old church wearing a tiny string bikini.

The famous family - who are also joined by Sofia's longtime friend Tess Kemper - appear to have landed in Greece on Sunday, and have spent the week lapping up the sunshine, enjoying delicious looking meals and whizzing around the crystal clear waters on boats.

Wow: Sofia Richie, 22, has joined her siblings Nicole and Miles on a luxury Greek getaway alongside their hit-maker dad, Lionel, posing in a string bikini in one sensational snap

Holiday: Sofia has shared a series of snaps of their holiday on Instagram, with the blonde beauty donning a pretty patterned slip dress while exploring Paos with her sister Nicole, 39

Tagging posts in both Paos and Santorini, Sofia has been keeping her 6.7million Instagram followers updated with her family's antics.

On Tuesday, the blonde beauty donned a pretty patterned slip dress while exploring Paos with her sister Nicole, 39 - who looked equally chic in a plunging crocheted mini-dress.

Lionel, 72, enjoyed playing tourist, posing in front of a gift shop wearing a denim bucket hat and face mask in keeping with pandemic protocol.

Sofia also posted many pictures of the mouthwatering Greek cuisine on offer alongside beautiful photos and videos of days spent on the ocean.

Having a blast: Lionel, 72, enjoyed playing tourist, posing in photos for his youngest daughter Sofia

Family: Sofia, Nicole, Lionel and their brother Miles, 27, posed together in one magical family photo on a beach lit by candles

Best friends: The Richie family were joined on their holiday by Sofia's long-term friend Tess Kemper

Beautiful: Tagging posts in both Paos and Santorini, Sofia has been keeping her 6.7million Instagram followers updated with her family's antics

Living the high life: The family's accommodation is out of this world

Stunning: Sofia also posted many pictures of the mouthwatering Greek cuisine on offer alongside beautiful photos and videos of days spent on the ocean

Views: Sofia made sure to post many beautiful photos of the Greek scenery she and her family had spent the past few days enjoying

Stylish: Sofia put on a typically stylish display in a patterned slip dress teamed with white sandals and sunglasses

Exploring: Blonde bombshell Sofia took in all the beautiful sights Greece has to offer and posted photos on social media

Lionel also shared pictures from his and his family's getaway.

Captioning his post 'making memories,' the doting father proudly uploaded photos of both his children and grandchildren enjoying Father's Day on the beach.

The family tucked into a magical dinner next to the water's edge, and the sand had been decorated with dozens of candles.

Nicole's husband Joel Madden was also in attendance, as were the couple's two children, Harlow and Sparrow.

Tasty: Tucking into many Greek dishes, Sofia shared snaps of her and her family's many mouth-watering meals

Fun in the sea: Sofia cooled off in the beautiful crystal clear blue waters with her friend after taking in the sights

Artwork: Impressed by the local artwork, Sofia made sure to share the colourful designs with her fans

More food: The Richie family made sure to try out as many tasty dishes as possible

Breathtaking: Although Sofia did not specify where the family was staying, their accommodation appeared to be right on the water's edge

In another snap shared by Lionel, he flashed the camera a thumbs up while sitting in a people carrier, with Nicole and her daughter Harlow sitting in the back seat wearing face masks.

Lionel also posted a video of himself wearing a life jacket while sitting in a dingy, moments before exploring a sea cave.

'Where are we? What are we doing?' the Hello singer hilariously asked his tour guide.

Proud dad: Lionel also shared pictures from his and his family's getaway, captioning his post 'making memories'

Family fun: The doting father proudly uploaded photos of both his children and grandchildren enjoying Father's Day on the beach

Dinner with a view: The Richie's marked Father's Day with a stunning dinner at the water's edge

Son-in-law: Lionel posed for a photo on the beach with his son-in-law Joel Madden, 42

Miles made sure to also keep his Instagram followers updated with his and his family's holiday, posting sunny snaps on social media.

In one, he strolled through Greece alongside his famous dad, sweetly wrapping his arm over Lionel's shoulder.

In a separate post, Miles uploaded three images of himself and his sister Sofia pulling funny faces for the camera.

Day trip: In another snap, he flashed the camera a thumbs up while sitting in a people carrier, with Nicole and her daughter Harlow sitting in the back seat wearing face masks

Time to explore! Lionel also posted a video of himself wearing a life jacket while sitting in a dingy, moments before exploring a sea cave

Father and son: Miles made sure to also keep his Instagram followers updated with his and his family's holiday, posting sunny snaps on social media

Close bond: In one, he strolled through Greece alongside his famous dad, sweetly wrapping his arm over Lionel's shoulder

It comes after the family celebration doting dad Lionel's birthday on Father's Day, with Sofia sharing a gallery of photos from their celebrations abroad, which featured a chocolate bust cake that looked like a sculpted figurehead of Lionel.

Sofia also included some lovely photos on the occasion of her dad's trip around the sun to her Instagram Stories, including some throwback shots from when she was just a small child.

Nicole also included a sweet photo of the group posing around the funny cake.

Sibling fun: In a separate post, Miles uploaded three images of himself and his sister Sofia pulling funny faces for the camera

Having a ball: Lionel posted for photos across a beautiful Greek home front

Romantic: Lionel and his partner Lisa Parigi looked more loved-up than ever as they strolled arm-in-arm in the sunshine

She added the caption: 'We finally found a way for you to take the photo but also be included. Happy Father's Day & happy birthday L-Train!'

Lionel legally adopted Nicole, the daughter of one of his bandmates, when she was nine years old after raising her since taking her into his home in 1983.

The crooner shares biological children Sofia and Miles with his ex-wife Diane Alexander, to whom he was married from 1995 until 2004.

Sweet: Lionel shared a snap of Nicole and her son Sparrow with smiles on their faces

Granddaughter: Lionel's granddaughter Harlow (left) is shaping up to be the spitting image of her famous mum
Independent Spirit Award-winning filmmaker Olivia Wilde is looking forward to playing a mystery role in Paramount Pictures drama Babylon.

'So much respect for Damien Chazelle, and his wild imagination,' the 37-year-old actress - who boasts 7.6M social media followers - gushed on Thursday.

'This will be fun.'

New gig! Independent Spirit Award-winning filmmaker Olivia Wilde is looking forward to playing a mystery role in Paramount Pictures drama Babylon (pictured in 2019)

The 37-year-old actress - who boasts 7.6M social media followers - gushed on Thursday: 'So much respect for Damien Chazelle, and his wild imagination. This will be fun'

The 36-year-old Oscar-winning director - who graduated from Harvard University - previously helmed the films First Man (2018), La La Land (2016), and Whiplash (2014).

Also landing acting parts were Oscar-winning screenwriter Spike Jonze and former Spider-Man Tobey Maguire, who already signed on as executive producer - according to THR.

And Australian beauty Phoebe Tonkin - last seen in Stan series Bloom - also scored a role in the flick set in late 1920s during the golden age of Hollywood.

Maestro: The 36-year-old Oscar-winning director (pictured in 2018) - who graduated from Harvard University - previously helmed the films First Man, La La Land, and Whiplash

Rarely onscreen: Also landing acting parts were Oscar-winning screenwriter Spike Jonze (L) and former Spider-Man Tobey Maguire (R), who already signed on as executive producer

'#AloPartner': Australian beauty Phoebe Tonkin - last seen in Stan series Bloom - also scored a role in the flick set in late 1920s during the golden age of Hollywood (pictured Tuesday)

Two-time Oscar winner Brad Pitt heads up Babylon as a silent star, reportedly based upon John Gilbert, who fails to successfully transition to 'talkies.'

Production is said to start 'next week' for 'The Great Gatsby on steroids' - which hits select theaters on December 25, 2022 before a wider release on January 6, 2023.

The Babylon ensemble also includes Margot Robbie, her lookalike Samara Weaving, Diego Calva, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, Katherine Waterston, Max Minghella, Lukas Haas, Flea, Rory Scovel, Eric Roberts, P.J. Byrne, and Damon Gupton.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood... again! Two-time Oscar winner Brad Pitt (L) heads up Babylon as a silent star, reportedly based upon John Gilbert (R), who fails to successfully transition to 'talkies'

'The Great Gatsby on steroids': Production is said to start 'next week' on the movie - which hits select theaters on December 25, 2022 before a wider release on January 6, 2023
Molly-Mae Hague has revealed she's been diagnosed with endometriosis after her excruciating symptoms were repeatedly ignored by doctors.

The Love Island star, 22, told fans in her latest YouTube video that she will undergo surgery for the condition after finally getting a diagnosis from a private specialist.

Admitting that having endometriosis 'wasn't a good thing,' Molly-Mae reassured fans that the procedure could help treat the condition, but there was still chance it could return in later life.

Concerning: Molly-Mae Hague, 22, has revealed she's been diagnosed with endometriosis after her excruciating symptoms were repeatedly ignored by doctors

In her latest online post Molly-Mae documented 24 hours in her daily life, which included dashing around London to pose in glamorous shoots.

However at the end of the video she shared her diagnosis, after struggling with painful periods throughout her life.

She said: 'I actually have got to have an operation for something that I want to tell you guys about. It's kind of a good thing and it's kind of a bad thing.

Worries: The Love Island star told fans she will undergo surgery for the condition after finally getting a diagnosis from a private specialist (pictured in an Instagram post on Thursday)

Candid: In a video she shared with fans on YouTube, Molly-Mae said she sought medical help after struggling with painful periods

'I've told you guys for so long now that I suffer with excruciating periods and so many of you guys were commenting on my videos telling me to check for endometriosis.'

Molly-Mae added that she was repeatedly told by doctors she couldn't have endometriosis, and finally decided to seek help from a private specialist.

She explained: 'Straight away they said ''You absolutely do have endometriosis, it's clear as day''. So I guess that's kind of a good thing because at least I know now what it is.

Open: Molly-Mae added that she was repeatedly told by doctors she couldn't have endometriosis, and finally decided to seek help from a private specialist

WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS? Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. Each month, these cells react in the same way as those in the womb; building up, breaking down and bleeding. Yet, the blood has no way to escape the body. Symptoms include pain, heavy periods and fatigue, as well as a higher risk of infertility, and bowel and bladder problems. Its cause is unknown but may be genetic, related to problems with the immune system or exposure to chemicals. Treatment focuses on pain relief and improving quality of life, which may include surgery or hormone treatment. Source: Endometriosis UK Advertisement

'It's not a good thing that I have endometriosis, because obviously it can affect fertility and loads of other things, and you can never really cure it.'

Explaining there was still a 40 per cent chance the condition could return, Molly-Mae told fans she knew surgery was the next step.

Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body.

Getting help: Explaining there was still a 40 per cent chance the condition could return, Molly-Mae told fans she knew surgery was the next step

Glam: After sharing her YouTube video, Molly-Mae took to Instagram to share a pair of snaps from dinner in London

Each month, these cells react in the same way as those in the womb; building up, breaking down and bleeding. Yet, the blood has no way to escape the body.

Symptoms can include pain, heavy periods and fatigue, as well as a higher risk of infertility, and bowel and bladder problems.

This isn't the first time Molly-Mae has shared her health fears with fans, as last year she learned a mole removed from her leg was cancerous.

The star broke down in tears as her doctor told her via telephone that the mole was a malignant melanoma - a type of skin cancer - after she filmed herself being given the diagnosis for a YouTube video posted in November.

Shock diagnosis! This isn't the first time Molly-Mae has shared her health fears with fans, as last year she learned a mole removed from her leg was cancerous

In the video, she opened up about what she's been going through following her 'shock' diagnosis, telling her fans: 'I was walking around with skin cancer on my leg.'

Molly-Mae revealed that she learned her mole was a malignant melanoma during a work trip to Italy, when a doctor phoned her to deliver the diagnosis following a recent biopsy.

The social media star initially got the mole on her leg checked out by two dermatologists but was told it was nothing to worry about.

Molly-Mae eventually sought third professional opinion during a routine check-up because she 'felt something wasn't quite right'.

Woes: The star broke down in tears as her doctor told her that the mole was a malignant melanoma - a type of skin cancer - after she filmed herself being given the diagnosis

Speaking on her YouTube video, after the phone call from her doctor played out, she told fans: 'I got the call today and he's told me it is malignant melanoma - which is skin cancer basically.

'It's obviously petrifying, shocking and scary. I don't even know what to think or say. I cannot believe I was told by others doctors it was OK. I am so upset and angry.

'I just briefly asked this doctor when I was walking out. I was walking around with skin cancer on my leg!

'If I hadn't have asked, I'd still have that mole on my leg now and I'd be none the wiser. It could be spreading through my body, you just never know.'

Molly-Mae continued, explaining how she was trying to be strong, despite breaking down, so that her loved ones didn't freak out, and concluded the video by urging her fans to have their moles checked out.
At times sounding desperate, banging her hand on a desk for emphasis and with her voice wobbly with emotion, Britney Spears made an extraordinary bid for freedom this week.

The pop star has been the subject of a 'conservatorship agreement' since suffering a nervous breakdown in 2007  this is an order, made by a judge, appointing a guardian or protector to manage the financial affairs and daily life of someone who's deemed unable to look after themselves.

It meant her father Jamie was placed in charge of her 36million fortune, and her entire life.

And so, for the last 14 years, this 39-year-old mother of two, who conquered the world as a gloriously effervescent teenager with smash hit songs like Baby One More Time and Toxic, has been given an 'allowance' of 1,400 a week to live on.

At times sounding desperate, banging her hand on a desk for emphasis and with her voice wobbly with emotion, Britney Spears made an extraordinary bid for freedom this week

Up until recently Britney always insisted she was happy with the setup. But this week the world heard, in a dynamic 24-minute public deposition in court in Los Angeles, that she was anything but.

She described how she cries daily and is begging for emancipation from what she believes is a form of legally sanctioned slavery dictating her therapy, medication and even contraception  all against her will.

Now in a new relationship, Britney says she wants to be free to get married and have a baby. She wants to be allowed to travel in a car which her boyfriend is driving. She wants to go on holiday with her children without a therapist in tow.

And  most pressingly  she wants nothing to do with any of her family or their lawyers who she describes as crooks and abusers. 'I just want my life back,' she told the court.

So what is she asking for, who does she accuse  and will she win her freedom? ALISON BOSHOFF reports.

Recovering alcoholic Jamie Spears (pictured with his daughter), 68, is said to be 'obsessed' with his daughter and has been the conservator of her estate since the arrangement began in 2007

LOCK UP MY FATHER!

Recovering alcoholic Jamie Spears, 68, is said to be 'obsessed' with his daughter and has been the conservator of her estate since the arrangement began in 2007. Back then Britney, just 25 years old, had recently filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, her husband of three years and the father of her two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden, now aged 15 and 14.

As they fought for custody of their boys, Britney started to unravel, culminating in her shaving her head and attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella. She was hospitalised under a '5150 hold'  a temporary, involuntary psychiatric commitment, granted when individuals represent a danger to themselves or others due to signs of mental illness.

That was the point of the conservatorship order which, Britney says, enabled her father to seize control of everything and he started to rule her with blackmail and fear. She said: 'The control he had over someone as powerful as me  he loved the control to hurt his own daughter 100,000 per cent. He loved it.

'My dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a huge role in punishing me... they should be in jail.'

Britney (pictured leaving the Ventura County Sheriffs' office the day before she is due to address the court at her latest conservatorship hearing) compared her living conditions to that of a sex slave and detailed, in lurid detail, what life under the order entailed

DADDY GOLD-DIGGER?

Considering he's been in charge of Britney's vast fortune for the last 13 years, there's certainly no sign of riches around Jamie Spears. He was bankrupt before Britney hit the big time and is divorced from her mother Lynne. He currently lives in a motor home parked at a storage facility in rural Kentwood, Louisiana.

He apparently 'hosts crawfish boils, visits the VFW bar and keeps to himself' while all items from Britney's career are housed in the storage facility where he is parked.

His lawyer said in a statement yesterday: 'He is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain. Mr Spears loves his daughter very much.'

In November 2020, Jamie's legal team said his 'sole motivation' was 'unconditional love for his daughter and a fierce desire to protect her from those trying to take advantage of her'.

However, Britney is having none of it: 'I would honestly like to sue my family. I also would like to be able to share my story with the world, and what they did to me, instead of it being a hush-hush secret to benefit all of them. I've been so angry and I cry every day.'

A demonstrator holds a poster reading 'Terminate the conservatorship' as hundreds demonstrators rally during a #FREEBRITNEY protest in front of the court house

She accuses her father and family of 'telling lies about me openly'  perpetuating the image of her as a dead-eyed, mentally disturbed woman approaching middle age.

'Even my family, they do interviews to anyone they want on news stations,' she said, 'and I can't say one thing. My own people say I can't say anything.'

MONITORING AND MEDICATION

Britney compared her living conditions to that of a sex slave and detailed, in lurid detail, what life under the order entailed. She said: 'In California, the only similar thing to this is called sex trafficking. Making anyone work against their will, taking all their possessions away  credit card, cash, phone, passport  and placing them in a home where they work with the people who live with them.'

She added: 'They all lived in the house with me, the nurses, the 24-7 security. They watched me change every day  naked  morning, noon and night. My body  I had no privacy door for my room.

'If I didn't do any of my meetings and work from 8am to 6pm, I wouldn't be able to see my kids or my boyfriend. I never had a say in my schedule.

'I've lied and told the whole world, 'I'm OK and I'm happy.' I thought just maybe if I said that enough maybe I might become happy, because I've been in denial. But now I'm telling you the truth, OK? I'm not happy.'

CONTRACEPTION SHE DOESN'T WANT

The star is often seen on social media rattling around her large house in Thousand Oaks, California, doing dance routines and posing for pictures without her children, who live largely with their father. She has been dating male model Sam Asghari, 27, since 2016 after meeting him on the set of a pop video.

She said: 'I want to be able to get married and have a baby. I have an IUD (intrauterine device contraceptive) inside of myself right now so I don't get pregnant. I wanted to take the (IUD) out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team won't let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don't want me to have children  any more children.'

WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO COMPLAIN?

She has always had the power to end the conservatorship if she files a petition to do so  but even though legal papers suggest she was complaining about the arrangement in 2016 to a court investigator, she has never done so.

Britney claims she simply didn't know she could. 'I'm sorry for my ignorance, but I honestly didn't know that,' she told the court. 'I was told I have to sit down and be evaluated, again, if I want to end the conservatorship.

'But I don't think I owe anyone to be evaluated. I've done more than enough. I don't feel like I should even be in the room with anyone to offend me by trying to question my capacity of intelligence.

'I don't owe these people anything... it's embarrassing and demoralising what I've been through, and that's the main reason I've never said it openly. I honestly don't think anyone would believe me. I thought people would make fun of me or laugh at me.

'I just want my life back. And it's been 13 years. And it's enough. It's been a long time since I've owned my money. And it's my wish and my dream for all of this to end without being tested.'

She went on: 'I'm not willing to meet or see anyone. I've met with enough people against my will.'

She believes that her father will fight her: 'Considering my family has lived off my conservatorship for 13 years, I won't be surprised if one of them has something to say going forward.'

SHOWS IN VEGAS AGAINST HER WILL

Britney's contracts to perform in Vegas are known for being some of the most lucrative on the strip. From 2013 to 2017 she was on stage in the Piece Of Me residency at Planet Hollywood and revenues reportedly stood at 103million.

In October 2018, she announced a new residency called Domination, this time at the MGM resort.

It was obvious from the launch event that there were issues. She didn't dance or sing after her great unveiling but simply walked, smiling and assisted by minders, down a steep staircase and off stage.

It was announced in January 2019 that the residency had been cancelled, with reports suggesting this was happening because Britney wasn't taking her medication.

Britney, however, had another version of events. She told the court: 'I'd been doing Vegas for four years and I needed a break. But no, I was told this is the timeline and this is how it's going to go.

'I rehearsed four days a week. I was basically directing most of the show. I taught my dancers my new choreography myself. I take everything I do very seriously. I wasn't good  I was great.

'Yet they all said I wasn't participating in rehearsals and I never agreed to take my medication  my medication is only taken in the mornings, never at rehearsal. They don't even see me. So why are they even claiming that?'

ROW OVER 'WRONG' DANCE MOVE

The Domination row all centred around her objecting to one dance move, she claimed. 'It was as if I planted a huge bomb somewhere,' said Britney. 'My management, my dancers and my assistant of the new people that were supposed to do the new show all went into a room, shut the door and didn't come out for at least 45 minutes.

'I was told by my at-the-time therapist, Dr Benson, that my manager called him and told him I wasn't co-operating or following the guidelines in rehearsals.

'And he also said I wasn't taking my medication, which is so dumb, because I've had the same lady every morning for the past eight years give me my same medication.

'I remember telling my assistant, 'I feel if I say no they're gonna come back and be mean to me or punish me or something'.'

REHAB AND STRONG MEDICATION

Three days later, she said she was made to go to rehab where she was put on the strong anti-psychotic medication Lithium. 'It's very, very strong and completely different medication compared to what I was used to,' she said.

'I felt drunk. I couldn't even have a conversation with my mum or dad really about anything. I was scared. They wouldn't let me get in my car to go anywhere for a month.' She said of rehab: 'Not only did my family not do a goddamn thing, my dad was all for it. A lady came into my home for four hours a day, sat me down and did a psych test on me.

'Then after, I got a phone call from my dad, basically saying I'd failed the test: 'I'm sorry, Britney, you have to listen to your doctors. They're planning to send you to a small home in Beverly Hills to do a small rehab programme we're going to make up for you. You're going to pay $60,000 a month for this.' I cried on the phone for an hour and he loved every minute of it.'

ABUSE, PHOBIAS AND THERAPISTS

She revealed this week that 14 years later she is still obliged to undergo therapy, three times a week, with people who she complains she doesn't know. When her previous therapist, Dr Timothy Benson, died in 2019, Britney was pleased to see him go. 'I got on my knees and thanked God,' she said.

She would like to do one meeting a week. 'I actually know I do need a little therapy... but it takes too much out of me going to this man I don't know. Number one, I'm scared of people. I don't trust people with what I've been through.

'I have trapped phobias being in small rooms because of the trauma, locking me up for four months in that place (rehab). It's not OK for them to send me to that small room twice a week with another new therapist that I pay that I never even approved. I don't like it.'

SO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NOW?

Now Britney has given her public deposition, evidence will be gathered from everyone else involved in the case. This, it is believed, will be done 'under seal'  in secret. Considering the length of her care and the number of people involved, it is expected to take many months before the judge makes a decision.

Britney turns 40 in December  whether she sees her fifth decade as a free woman is once again in the hands of the authorities.
Her eye-catching fashion sense has made her one of fashion's biggest stars.

And Bella Hadid continued to flaunt her edgy sense of style in a black leather trench coat as she headed out for a stroll in Paris, France on Thursday.

The model, 24, channelled Neo from The Matrix trilogy in the bold cover-up teamed with rust-coloured cords as she stepped out in the French capital.

Looking good! Bella Hadid, 24, flaunted her edgy sense of style in a black leather trench coat as she headed out for a stroll in Paris, France on Thursday

Despite never shying away from flaunting her figure, for this outing Bella was wrapped up in the black leather coat.

The star finished her outfit with her signature narrow-framed sunglasses and her essentials in a matching mini handbag, a Noughties staple that's recently made a fashion comeback.

Bella beamed as she headed out in the city in the midst of Paris Men's Fashion Week, which has seen some of the worlds biggest designers showcase their newest looks for male style fans.

Style icon: The model channelled Neo from The Matrix trilogy in the bold cover-up teamed with rust-coloured cords as she stepped out in the French capital

Standing out: Despite never shying away from flaunting her figure, for this outing Bella was wrapped up in the black leather coat

Dressed to impress: The star finished her outfit with her signature narrow-framed sunglasses and her essentials in a matching mini handbag

Style star: Along with a matching black face mask (left) Bella was hard to miss in her bold ensemble as she headed into the French city

THAT's why she's here! Bella beamed as she headed out in the city in the midst of Paris Men's Fashion Week

It comes as Bella and her sister Gigi, whose father Mohamed is a Palestinian born in Nazareth, waded controversially into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict last month.

Bella was accused of antisemitism after posting cartoons denouncing Israel, which she has since deleted from her Instagram.

The post, which Gigi liked, argued that Israel was 'not a country' and accused the Jewish State of 'ethnic cleansing, military occupation and apartheid.'

Controversy: It comes as Bella and her sister Gigi, whose father Mohamed is a Palestinian born in Nazareth, waded controversially into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict last month

Shocking: Bella was accused of antisemitism after posting cartoons denouncing Israel, which she has since deleted from her Instagram

Controversy: The post, which Gigi liked, argued that Israel was 'not a country' and accused the Jewish State of 'ethnic cleansing, military occupation and apartheid'

Bella preempted allegations of bigotry by posting a clip of Bernie Sanders arguing: 'It is not anti-Semitic to be critical of a right-wing government in Israel.'

'Hate from either side is not okay - I do not condone it!!' wrote Bella. 'I will not stand to hear people talk badly about Jewish people through all of this.'

Gigi also wrote on her Instagram: 'One cannot advocate for racial equality, LGBT & women's rights, condemn corrupt and abusive regimes and other injustices yet choose to ignore the Palestinian oppression. It does not add up. You cannot pick and choose whose human rights matter more.'

Opinions: Bella preempted allegations of bigotry by posting a clip of Bernie Sanders arguing: 'It is not anti-Semitic to be critical of a right-wing government in Israel'

Sparking allegations: 'Hate from either side is not okay - I do not condone it!!' wrote Bella. 'I will not stand to hear people talk badly about Jewish people through all of this'

Dramatic: Bella also found herself in hot water when she went Live on Instagram from a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City

Bella also found herself in hot water when she went Live on Instagram from a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City.

She filmed herself chanting the popular Palestinian slogan: 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!' along with other protestors.

The State Of Israel directly condemned her on its official Twitter account writing: 'When celebrities like @BellaHadid advocate for throwing Jews into the sea, they are advocating for the elimination of the Jewish State.'
Seven News Melbourne anchor Peter Mitchell suffered a live TV gaffe on Thursday.

While presenting the 6pm news bulletin, the 61-year-old journalist took a sip of water but didn't realise the cameras were still rolling.

Footage obtained by TV Tonight shows the parched newsman grabbing a bottle and drinking from it during the live broadcast.

'Just having a drink': Seven News Melbourne anchor Peter Mitchell suffered a live TV gaffe on Thursday. While presenting the 6pm news bulletin, the 61-year-old journalist took a sip of water but didn't realise the cameras were still rolling

He was unaware he was on air and thought it was a commercial break.

A producer could then be heard saying something off camera and Peter looked visibly shocked as he quickly set the bottle aside and read the next segment.

Despite the awkward gaffe, the newsreader maintained his composure as he focused on the teleprompter.

Back in the zone: Footage shows the parched newsman grabbing a bottle and drinking from it during the live broadcast. A producer could then be heard saying something off camera and Peter looked visibly shocked as he quickly set the bottle aside and read the next segment

At the end of the package, Peter told viewers: 'Just having a drink of water.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.

Peter's live TV slip-up comes as Seven News Melbourne hits a ratings high, according to TV Blackbox.

Hydrated: At the end of the package, Peter jokingly told viewers: 'Just having a drink of water'

Peter began working at Seven in 1987 and has covered major world events including the death of Princess Diana, the September 11 terrorist attacks and the mine rescue in Beaconsfield, Tasmania.

It comes after Seven News Tasmania's Louise Houbaer made a gaffe while reporting on the government's Covid vaccine advertisements in January.

While reading from a teleprompter, she accidentally implied the federal government was 'pressuring' the public into getting vaccinated.

Career: Peter began working at Seven in 1987 and has covered major events including the death of Princess Diana, the September 11 terrorist attacks and the Beaconsfield mine rescue

She had meant to say the government aimed to 'reassure' the public about the jab.

'The ads will run on television and online as the government hopes to pressure the public...' Ms Houbaer told viewers.

But Houbaer was able to quickly recover and apologised to viewers, saying: 'Reassure the public, sorry, about its safety and effectiveness.'
Michelle Keegan looked typically stylish when she left a London hotel with her husband Mark Wright on Thursday.

Stepping out in a chic knitted dress, the Our Girl star, 34, teamed the summery piece with a cropped denim jacket and a fedora while strolling through the capital wearing a face mask.

Mark, also 34, looked dapper in a blue T-shirt and matching jogging bottoms, opting for comfort in a pair of crisp white trainers.

Stylish: Michelle Keegan, 34, looked typically stylish when she left a London hotel with her husband Mark Wright, also 34, on Thursday wearing a knitted dress

Brunette beauty Michelle made the most of the warm weather in flip flops, and stopped to sign autographs for fans before going about her day.

She kept her belongings safe in a luxury Fendi handbag and accessorised with three golden bangles worn on her right wrist.

Michelle also wore a delicate gold necklace alongside a luxury gold watch on her left wrist.

Last week, Michelle looked besotted as she cuddled her cousin Katie Fearnehough's young son, nine-months old Brody Allen, in a snap shared to Instagram.

Chic: Stepping out in a chic knitted dress, the Our Girl star teamed the summery piece with a cropped denim jacket and a fedora while strolling through the capital wearing a face mask

The broody actress shared a glimpse of her maternal side as she gushed: 'he's just too much,' alongside the post, which saw her hold the baby boy in her arms and pucker up to plant a kiss on his cheek.

The Our Girl star looked radiant in a white floral dress, complete with an off-the-shoulder neckline, while shielding her eyes with Ray-Ban shades.

Michelle and husband Mark regularly take to Instagram to share snaps of themselves with little Brody, who they clearly adore.

Broody: Last week, Michelle looked besotted as she cuddled her cousin Katie Fearnehough's young son, nine-months old Brody Allen, in a snap shared to Instagram

And Mark's father, Mark Snr, awkwardly begged the couple to make him a grandfather on one such post shared by the TOWIE star last year.

Mark uploaded a shot of himself holding Brody, and his father was quick to lead the comments with suggestions of grandchildren.

He penned: 'Lovely baby and it's about time you made me a grandad and your mum a grandma.'

Family matters: Michelle's cousin, Katie Fearnehough gave birth to little Brody last September

Last year, Michelle admitted that she felt 'frustrated' by constant questions about when she and Mark Wright will have a baby.

The actress, who has been married to the TOWIE star turned TV presenter, for six years, hit out at sexist double standards - admitting queries about when she is going to have a baby do 'bother' her now.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she said: 'A few years ago it didn't bother me and I answered the question.

Demands! Mark's father, Mark Snr, awkwardly begged the couple to make him a grandfather on one such post shared by the TOWIE star last year

'But now I think, ''I don't need to answer that because nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors''.

'I remember when I finished Our Girl people were like, ''Is it because you're going off to have a baby?''

'I know for a fact if Mark finished a job, nobody would ask him if he was going to have a baby. It's not fair. It does make me feel frustrated.'

Michelle and husband Mark have been together since late 2012 when they met while they were both on holiday in Dubai.

The former TOWIE star popped the question nine months later and the pair married in a lavish ceremony at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk in May 2015.
The Crown star Emma Corrin has revealed she joined thousands in the crowd on the streets of London for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2011.

The actress, 25, revealed she and a pal decided to go and join the masses to watch the celebration unfold after being 'swept up' by the couple's love story.

Emma, who rose to fame thanks to her role as Princess Diana in The Crown's fourth series last year, shared the hilarious story during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, having joined the wedding festivities when she was just a teenager.

She was there! The Crown star Emma Corrin has revealed she joined thousands in the crowd for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2011

Emma told Jimmy she and her friend brought along a large inflatable daffodil so they could spot themselves in the TV coverage following the wedding.

She explained the pair were amongst the thousands of well-wishes who flooded London to see the Royal procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate exchanged their vows.

Emma said: 'I remember 10 years ago, I was 15, I was with my friend Katherine and we got very very swept up in the royal wedding fever I think probably because we were both very bored and very single. So we decided to go.'

Iconic: The actress revealed she and a pal decided to go and join the crowds in London to watch the celebration unfold (Prince William and Kate Middleton pictured after the wedding)

She went onto confess she purchased a DVD based on William and Kate's love story, which was 'so bad that it's so good.'

The actress added: 'We were so excited because my friend Katherine had this great inflatable daffodil.

'I remember that when we were watching the footage back to see if we could get a glimpse of ourselves, we couldn't see ourselves but we did see, in the middle of these crowds, this massive inflatable daffodil that she was holding up.'

Screen star: Emma rose to fame last year thanks to her critically-acclaimed role as Princess Diana in The Crown's fourth series

Last week, Emma shared a series of throwback snaps with her My Policeman co-stars as she celebrated filming coming to an end on their LGBT movie.

Taking to Instagram, the actress quipped, 'aaaaand thats a falafel wrap baaaaby' alongside the shots.

In the first shot, Emma threw it back to a day when the cast had been filming at a pool, showing herself clad in a swimsuit while co-star Harry Styles donned red trunks.

The pair - who play husband and wife in the film - sat on lifeguards chairs by the side of the pool alongside producer Robbie Rogers and filmmaker Michael Grandage.

Fantastic four: Last week Emma shared snaps with (L-R) My Policeman producer Robbie Rogers, filmmaker Michael Grandage and co-star Harry Styles to celebrate filming wrapping

It was no doubt an emotional moment for the cast and crew after they spent the last few months filming My Policeman in Brighton.

Harry takes the lead in the new movie which is set in Brighton in the 1950s, and based on Bethan Roberts' novel, focusing on police officer Tom, who is gay, but married to Marion (Emma) due to societal expectations.

The film follows him as he goes on to have a decades-long affair with museum curator Patrick Hazelwood, played by David.
FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2021, file photo, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts speaks during a news conference at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Neb. Gov. Ricketts is defending his decision to send state patrol troopers to the U.S.-Mexican border at the request of fellow Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and using it as an opportunity to rail against the Biden administration, as he has increasingly done in recent months. Ricketts announced Saturday, June 19, 2021, that he would send 25 troopers to Del Rio, Texas, later this week for a deployment to last as long as 16 days.
Dancehall legend Red Rat, best known for his trademark catchphrase Oh noooo! has never stopped making music. The former Main Street Records deejay is currently promoting several new projects including his new summer song, This Summer, which was released on June 18.

In this interview, Red Rat talks about his career and early success as a Dancehall artist.

How was it coming from a musical family with your brothers being musicians and your dad, a guitarist of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires?

I started at age 4 singing on the north coast hotels with my brothers and as a kid, it was exciting for me just to be in the hotels and on the beautiful beaches of jamaica. Being able to do music and perform with them was just a plus.

How did you come up with the stage name Red Rat?

The name Red Rat was given to me by my friend and fellow artist General Degree. He said I am red and I look like a rat so I should call myself Red Rat and the name just stuck from there.

What is your favorite Bob Marley song?

Rat Race. I listen to that song every morning.

Were you surprised by your early success?

Surprised in the sense of how fast the song broke, yes. Shelly-Ann took one weekend to be the biggest song on the island and another week to be the biggest song globally. However, I was always an artist who put in the work and I knew my hard work would pay off one day.

Where were you best received by fans?

Red Rat is loved and received by all his fans globally. I cant put anyone above anyone. I love all my fans the same and I know they do too.

As a generation Xer, how are you catering to the millennial audience?

I always have my ear to the streets so I know when the tide is changing so I can adapt to whatever the wave is. I am a musician as well so it is maybe easier for me to change with the times as opposed to other artists.

You took a break from the industry in 2007 when your father died. What was that time like?

It is still something that I struggle with every day. He was and still is my hero.

How has it been taking on a new role as president at Infinity Moguls music group?

It was very difficult but I welcomed the challenge and It was definitely the obvious next step to transition from being an artist/producer/writer.

You are still one of the biggest streaming Dancehall artists. How do you feel bout that ?

Success is not an easy task. If it was so everyone would be successful. You have to be very dedicated and work your ass off to see success in your life. We work hard everyday to achieve our goals and we will continue to do so until our last breath.

You and your business partner Pascalli you wrote a song Zimbabwe Rise up Zimbabwe. And then again 2017 with never give up Zimbabwe celebrated as the non-official anthem of the people of Africa. How does it feel to be an international act with recognition in the motherland?

It is an honor for me to be doing what I do and represent my country and my culture. I love the continent of Africa, I always feel at home whenever I am there.

What are you working on now?

I have a few new single out now that I am promoting.

Ina the drop-top produced by Mogul Beatz Production. The Love produced by Troyton Remi of Black Shadow Records that in playing on a few major radio stations both locally and abroad. Dog Flight with myself and Badda General, that is about the Dogs that were shipped to Canada the other day. And I have a new single This Summer .

Who do you look forward to collaborating with in the near future?

I am open to collaborating with any artist as long as the song is a HIT!!!
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  A Missouri judge on Wednesday ruled that a ballot measure to expand Medicaid is unconstitutional, meaning hundreds of thousands of newly eligible adults won't be able to access the health insurance program July 1 as promised.

Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem wrote that the voter-approved amendment unconstitutionally sought to force lawmakers to set aside money for the expansion.

Under the Constitution, lawmakers cant be forced to make appropriations unless the ballot measure includes a funding mechanism.

Beetem wrote that the amendment indirectly requires the appropriation of revenues not created by the initiative and is therefore unconstitutional.

Voters approved Medicaid expansion last August, passing a constitutional amendment by 53% of the vote. It was set to take effect July 1.

But Republican Gov. Mike Parson declined to provide coverage for an estimated 275,000 newly eligible low-income adults after the GOP-led Legislature refused to provide any extra funding to do so in the state budget.

Three low-income women, including two mothers, sued the state to try to force Parson's administration to give them the health insurance coverage. The plaintiffs lawyers said they will appeal Beetems decision.

Beetem's ruling deals a major blow to supporters of Medicaid expansion. It all but guarantees that the thousands of newly eligible low-income adults under the amendment won't have access to the program.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs in a statement wrote that a question over the amendment's constitutionality wasn't even raised before the judge during Monday's trial.

We are disappointed in todays ruling, but believe the Court of Appeals will disagree, the plaintiffs' attorneys wrote in a statement.

Attorneys defending Parsons administration declined to comment, citing an appeal.

During the trial, Solicitor General John Sauer had argued that additional funding approved by lawmakers was needed in order for Parson to enact the amendment.

Missouris Medicaid program currently does not cover most adults without children, and its income eligibility threshold for parents is one of the lowest in the nation, at about one-fifth of the poverty level.
Daytona Beach, FL (32114)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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New Delhi: Twitter has lost its 'safe harbour' protection in India over non-compliance with IT rules and failure to appoint key personnel mandated under the new guidelines, despite repeated reminders, and the platform will now be liable for action under the Indian Penal Code for third party unlawful content, sources said.

Earlier this month, the government had given one last chance to Twitter to comply with the new IT rules, that came into effect on May 26, and had issued a stern warning that failure to adhere to the norms will lead to the platform losing exemption from liability under the IT Act.

Sources in the government confirmed that Twitter has lost the safe harbour immunity, as it failed to comply with the IT rules, and appoint key executives under the new guidelines.

While the resident grievance officer and the nodal contact person nominated by the company, is not an employee of Twitter Inc in India, the Ministry had also not received any concrete information on Chief Compliance Officer, the name, or details, sources said.

Another source said that Twitter's intermediary status and the legal shield it had, ended automatically on May 26, given its non-compliance with new guidelines. Same is true for any other social media platform, which has not complied with the requirement under the IT rules.

The government has confronted Twitter over multiple instances in the past months, including during the farmers' protest and later when it tagged political posts of several leaders of the ruling party BJP, as "manipulated media", triggering a sharp rebuke from the Centre.

The last flashpoint was the delay in complying with the IT rules that mandate large digital platforms to undertake greater due diligence as well as appoint a grievance officer, a nodal officer and a chief compliance officer. These personnel have to be residents of India.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), on June 5, had said that Twitter's refusal to comply with the rules demonstrated the microblogging site's "lack of commitment and efforts towards providing a safe experience for the people of India on its platform".

The IT Ministry had earlier questioned Twitter over not providing information about the Chief Compliance Officer as required under the Rules. Also, the resident grievance officer and the nodal contact person nominated by the company, is not an employee of Twitter Inc in India as prescribed in the rules, the ministry had flagged.

When contacted, Twitter did not comment on queries related loss of the intermediary status.

Twitter on Tuesday said it has appointed an interim Chief Compliance Officer and the details of the official will be shared directly with the IT Ministry soon.

The US-based company had assured the Indian government last week that it is in advanced stages of finalising the appointment of chief compliance officer, and that it would submit additional details within a week. That deadline ended on Monday.

A Twitter spokesperson on Tuesday said the company continues to make every effort to comply with the new guidelines, and is keeping the IT Ministry apprised of progress at every step of the process.

Meanwhile, the government has contended that the office address in India mentioned by Twitter is that of a law firm, which is also not as per the rules.

"Despite being operational in India for more than a decade, it is beyond belief that Twitter Inc has doggedly refused to create mechanism that will enable the people of India to resolve their issues on the platform in a timely and transparent manner and through fair processes, by India based, clearly identified resources," the IT ministry had said in its notice earlier this month.

The ministry had on June 5, also said that though with effect from May 26, 2021, "consequences follow" given Twitter's non-compliance with rules "however, as a gesture of goodwill, Twitter Inc is hereby given one last notice to immediately comply with the rules, failing which the exemption from liability available... shall stand withdrawn and Twitter shall be liable for consequences as per the IT Act and other penal laws of India."

The Ministry had warned Twitter that non-compliance will lead to "unintended consequences", including Twitter losing exemption from liability as intermediary under the IT Act.

Twitter has an estimated 1.75 crore users in India, as per data cited by the government recently.

The new IT rules mandate large digital platforms to undertake greater due diligence, and make them more accountable and responsible for the content that is hosted. Social media companies will also have to take down flagged content within 36 hours, and remove within 24 hours content that is flagged for issues such as nudity and pornography under the new rules.
After the 35-hour journey from India to Thailand, I had to prepare for the next long part of my Covid trip  the two-week lock-in quarantine at a hotel in Bangkok. It was another strange and surreal experience.

Many nations enforce a compulsory quarantine for foreigners entering their country, and Thailand has been doing it for a long time, which is why it managed to impressively curtail the pandemic last year. The current rule for all foreigners entering the country is a 14-day quarantine, irrespective of the passenger having taken both doses of the Covid vaccine.

(The rule will change in the sand-box programme of Phuket, when it opens to international tourists, on July 1.)

And so, immediately after my documents were cleared by the immigration officials at Bangkoks Suvarnabhoomi airport, I was whisked to the waiting car of my ASQ (alternative state quarantine) hotel for the last part of my long Covid journey.

There are more than a hundred ASQ hotels to choose from in Bangkok, and one can pick them from many ASQ websites. They not only enumerate the facilities of the hotels, but also the experiences of the foreign travellers who stayed there.

One makes ones choice, according to the price, location, room, food, service. When one stays in a hotel for 14 days, all of these factors matter. The prices (for 14 days) range from about 35,000 B to 100,000 B, depending on the size and style of the rooms, the amenities, views etc. The ASQ hotels are located in different parts of Bangkok, from the downtown areas to riverfront spots, as also the beach town of Pattaya, an hour away from the city.

My chosen ASQ hotel was the Belair Bangkok, a hotel noted for its Indian restaurant Tiffin. I had selected it without much thought, as I had left India in a hurry, impressed by the fact that its helpful manager had been super-quick with my booking, and also offered to upgrade my room.

I had no regrets with the hotel. It was reasonably priced, my room was upgraded to a suite, the food (especially Indian) was excellent, and the service was impeccable. Here again, one needs to know what service means in an ASQ hotel.

It means no room service. All the services are carried out through WhatsApp messages on the phone, but no entry into the room. The toughest rule, in an ASQ hotel, involves your being treated like a Covid patient till the day your quarantine ends. That means no one enters your room, your food is placed on a table outside your door; and if you need anything, the staff comes in full PPP outfits, places it outside your room, and scampers away.

This is the most surreal thing about quarantine stay in Thailand .You have a comfortable room, eat great food, have all the time in the world to watch TV, read books, listen to music, work on your laptop. But when you are shut in totally like a prisoner, your reflexes dont work at all. My main moment of happiness came when a series of Satyajit Ray docus were relayed online by the Films Division of India to celebrate the great filmmakers 100th birth centenary.

The big regret I had in my hotel was that it did not have a balcony or a window. My large 47-metre room had long French windows but they could not be opened. I saw the bright sunlight outside, but could not feel it or enjoy the fresh air. Future quarantines should definitely be mindful of this, when they select their rooms in an ASQ hotel. Its well worth paying the extra buck for.

As far as the food is concerned, most ASQ hotels offer very good choices, as this is their only form of hospitality since all their restaurants are shut. After opting for the premium menu instead of the regular menu in my hotel, my food choices were endless. I had a choice of three dishes for every meal, from an extensive range of cuisines  Indian, Western, Thai, Italian, Middle Eastern and Chinese. And during my two-week stint, I tried out almost all the best dishes in the various menus  biryani, pasta, shawarma, kimchi, kabsa, katsu curry.

My most creative job was selecting my menu every day, and sending WhatsApp messages to the reception desk. In addition to the three main meals, there was also afternoon tea and pastries (I wished there were savouries, too). I must admit I was happy that there was no weighing scale in the room. So it was an orgy of eating, drinking, sleeping, during my two-week quarantine stay. I tried hard to work on my laptop, but my imprisoned environment dulled my brain.

To knock out of my lethargy, I asked for cleaning materials to sweep and swab my room, detergents to wash my clothes, a line to dry my clothes, all of which were produced in a jiffy. When I wanted a particular brand of coffee, they bought it from the supermarket, and left it at my door. I asked for a yoga mat and got it immediately, requested for a microwave, and got that too soon. A quarantine stay means you get what you want, when you want, as along as its within your closed door. After all, you are a Covid suspect throughout your stay in the ASQ hotel.

You need to record your temperature twice a day. You also need to do three Covid tests, during your 14-night stay at the hotel. The Covid tests were rough, which further dampened my mood. But they were the only time when one could step outside ones room. The tests were done in the lush lawns of the swimming pool. I looked longingly at the pool, but was not allowed to stay longer than five minutes.

By the way, in case any of the Covid tests turning out to be positive, one is immediately shifted to the hospital attached to the hotel. Every ASQ hotel is attached to a hospital, and the insurance policy of $100,000 that one takes before flying to Thailand is used for the Covid treatment in the hospital. The hotel usually refunds their money if the traveller is moved to a hospital.

I always feel that the first Covid test done in the quarantine hotel, on the second day of ones arrival, is the trickiest, as one could have picked up the virus on the flight. I was particularly worried about myself, as I had taken three flights to reach Bangkok. I had also taken my second dose of the vaccine on my day of travel. So I was very worried indeed.

I was lucky that my three Covid tests at the ASQ hotel were negative. However, I was not allowed to step outside my room, even after my third negative test.

Day 15 was freedom day, and I was packed and ready to leave, well before the PPP-clad hotel steward came to collect my luggage. The reception area of the hotel was sealed, so I waited outside the hotels porch for my husband to pick me up revelling in the hot sun and warm air.

I was given a quarantine certificate in recognition of my two-week quarantine stay in the ASQ hotel. To me, it was a certificate of survival.

The strange, surreal Covid travel experience had ended finally.
According to police, Rekha was distributing food kits when the two motorcycle-borne youths attacked her. (Representational image)

Bengaluru: A former BJP corporator was stabbed to death in front of her house in Cottonpet in the city on Thursday, police said.

Though the former corporator Rekha Kadiresh was rushed to Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Sciences, she could not be saved, police said, adding that previous enmity was the reason behind the murder.

According to police, Rekha was distributing food kits when the two motorcycle-borne youths attacked her.

A manhunt has been launched to catch the accused, police said.

Her husband Kadiresh had been stabbed to death by two youths on February 7, 2018.

The attackers had later surrendered before a city court.
The state government said it will tentatively hold the Class 12 examination in the last week of July and the time table would be issued shortly. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it will be able to conduct Class 12 exams successfully as there are no reliable alternatives to assess the state board students.

The state government said it will tentatively hold the Class 12 examination in the last week of July and the time table would be issued shortly.

In its affidavit, filed through standing counsel for the state Mahfooz A Nazki, the state government said that COVID-19 cases are fast declining in the state.

It gave figures of COVID cases for June 20 - 5,646, June 21 - 5,541 and June 22 - 4,169 cases and compared them with last month's corresponding dates May 20 - 22,610, May 21 - 20,937 cases and May 22- 19,981 cases.

Experts have been consulted and they are of the view that it will be feasible to hold the examination. The state accordingly shall endeavour to conduct the examination tentatively in the last week of July 2021. The actual time table shall be issued shortly and intimated to the students and parents 15 days in advance, it said.

The practical exams have already been conducted from March 31 to April 24, 2021, it said.

The Andhra government said there does not appear to be a reliable alternative to assess Class 12 of the state board Class 10 students are awarded grades instead of marks.

The board does not have any check or visibility on the internal examinations conducted by various schools. Thus, any assessment based on internal examination in the State of Andhra Pradesh may not yield accurate results, the state government said.

The state's affidavit, which will be taken up for hearing before a special bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari on Thursday, said that in the common entrance exam (Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test), 25 per cent weight is given to the marks obtained in Class 12.

The top court is hearing a plea seeking directions to state governments to not hold board examinations in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thus, Class 12 results play a crucial role in determining the future of the Students, the Andhra Pradesh government said, adding that in view of the difficulties coupled with the improving COVID situation, the authorities are of the view that it will be in the best interest of Students if examination is conducted.

It said a total of 5,19,510 students are scheduled to appear for Class 12 exams and 5,12,959 students are eligible for Class 11 exams.

It said that several precautionary measures will be put in place if the state government is permitted to conduct examinations -- like, Class 12 and Class 11 will be held on alternative days.

It added that Class 11 and Class 12 students are required to appear for 5-6 subjects only, hence each student will be required to attend examination for 5-6 days.

Only 15 to 18 students will be allotted to each examination Centre, the state government said while giving details of several precautionary measures it will be taking keeping in mind the COVID pandemic.

The state is conscious of the difficult situation that it is in. However, under the given circumstances, the State is of the considered view that conduct of examination shall not only be in the best interest of the Students but shall also be conducted safely, it said.

The state government sought permission of the top court to conduct the Intermediate Public Examination 2021 adhering to the precautions.

On Tuesday, the top court had said If there is any fatality, we will hold the state responsible.

The remark of the top court came after it was informed by the state government of its decision to hold the Class 12 board examination.

The top court was informed that Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are the only two states which have till now decided to hold the Class 12 board examination.

It had told the counsel for Andhra Pradesh that the state government will have to give very good reasons to hold Class 12 board examinations.

The bench said that it will consider the affidavit of Kerala government on Thursday and asked a students' body of the state to file a counter affidavit to the state government's response.

On Monday, the top court was informed by the Assam and Tripura governments that they have cancelled their state boards of Class 12 board exam due to the pandemic.

The Counsel for the Karnataka government had said it too has announced that class 12 board exam has been cancelled, but no final decision has been taken as far as Class 10 examination is concerned.

On June 17, the top court was informed that out of 28 states, six states have already conducted the board exams, 18 states have cancelled them, but four states (Assam, Punjab, Tripura and Andhra Pradesh) have not cancelled them as of now.
NELLORE: The sustained efforts of revenue authorities and APIIC have put an end to land compensation issues that had delayed the proposed aluminium alloy plant of Midhani in association with Nalco (National Aluminium Corporation), spread over 110 acres in Bodduvaripalem near Nellore.

Incidentally, it is the first defence manufacturing facility of Mishra Dhatu Nigam (Midhani) outside of Hyderabad and the organisation is expected to invest Rs 2,000 on the facility, which has vast employment potential.

While 57.14 acres is government land, the remaining belonged to Cooperative Joint Farming Society (CJFS). The CJFS land was assigned to the landless poor (one acre per beneficiary) free of cost for cultivation in the 1980s but the land was resumed in 2010 as none of the beneficiaries utilized the land.

However, the government assigned the lands once again after 2013 at the rate of 60 cents per head to the old beneficiaries and some more eligible persons.

In 2017, in a bid to allot the land required for Midhani, APIIC paid Rs 10 lakh compensation per acre of CJFS land, although the market value was only Rs 4 lakh. Meanwhile, the assignees collected Rs 10 lakh per acre initially but started demanding Rs 56 lakh per acre citing the amount paid for lands acquired for Coca-Cola unit in the neighbourhood.

In fact, they obstructed the construction of the compound wall, when Midhani started the work and moved the High Court to realise their demand.

In this backdrop, industries minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy, a team of revenue officials led by SPSR Nellore district collector K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu, officials of Midhani and APIIC negotiated with those involved in the litigation and convinced them to accept a one-time settlement of Rs 4 lakh per petitioner as a final settlement.

Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of deliberations with the CJFS members, Chakradhar Babu said that a public hearing was held on April 15 and they were awaiting environment clearance and CFE (Consent for Establishment) for the project.

Goutham Reddy said that decks are cleared for Midhani to recommence construction works. He thanked Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and DRDO Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy for their support.
Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday asked MLAs not to project him as the Chief Ministerial face for the 2023 assembly polls, amid widening fissures within the party on the issue, that has triggered a game of one-upmanship between him and state unit President D K Shivakumar.

His statement came amid a growing list of MLAs who openly favoured him as CM face despite diktat from the party leadership, which has irked Shivakumar, who is also nursing Chief Ministerial ambitions.

"I don't know, I don't want to react to that... I have never said that I will become Chief Minister, but I will still request MLAs don't make statements (projecting me as) next Chief Minister," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question on Shivakumar's statement asking him to rein in MLAs projecting him as next CM.

On returning from New Delhi after meeting party's national leaders, Shivakumar on Wednesday said Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah will look into open statements by some MLAs projecting him.

"...party high command has said what it has to, I have also seen statements by some MLAs in the media. Legislature Party leader (Siddaramaiah) will look into it. If he does not, the party is there to look into it," he had said, adding that he was in no urgency to become the CM and bringing the party to power was his goal.

Siddaramaiah, who is now the leader of opposition in the Assembly, however, playing down statements by some MLAs projecting him as the next CM and maintaining it as their personal views, on Wednesday said "I can't do anything about it...I'm not concerned about it."

Congress legislators B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan (Chamarajpet), Raghavendra Hitnal (Koppal), J N Ganesh (Kampli) and Bhima Naik (Hagaribommanahalli), S Ramappa (Harihar) and R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshinagar) have openly expressed their opinion in favour of Siddaramaiah as the next CM.

Their statements had come despite AICC General Secretary in-charge of the State Randeep Singh Surjewala and Shivakumar's diktat to party legislators and leaders not to make such open remarks.

The move by Siddaramaiah's loyalists is said to have gained momentum following a tweet from Karnataka Congress' official Twitter handle, last month, stating that the Covid- 19 pandemic would have been under control if Shivakumar was the CM.

The tweet was immediately deleted, but not before enraging the Siddaramaiah camp.

With growing political one-upmanship between the two leaders, the issue may become contentious in the days to come for the Congress, party sources said.

Siddaramaiah had earlier headed the Congress government between 2013-18, in which Shivakumar, who is often referred to as the party's troubleshooter, was a Minister.
In his complaint, the MLA had alleged that Gandhi defamed the entire Modi community by saying "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?". (PTI file photo)

Surat: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared before a magistrate's court in Surat on Thursday to record his final statement in a criminal defamation suit filed by a Gujarat MLA over the former's remark on the "Modi surname".

BJP legislator from Surat Purnesh Modi had filed a complaint against Gandhi in April 2019 under IPC Sections 499 and 500, that deal with defamation.

A week back, Surat's Chief Judicial Magistrate A N Dave directed Gandhi to remain present in the court on June 24 to record his final statement in the case.

In his complaint, the MLA had alleged that Gandhi defamed the entire Modi community by saying "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" while addressing a poll rally in 2019.

During the election rally held at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, Gandhi had reportedly asked, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as the common surname. How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Rahul Gandhi was the Congress president when he had made this remark.

Gandhi earlier appeared before the court in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty for his comment.
Amaravati: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Wednesday hit out at the YSRCP-led government in Andhra Pradesh for allegedly misleading people with false COVID-19 vaccination figures.

TDP national spokesperson K Pattabhi Ram said that it was shameful that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed that over 58.74 lakh doses were given in the state from June 1 to 22, when in fact, only 39.89 lakh doses were administered.

As per a TDP statement, these conflicting numbers were there in the claims and charts tweeted by the Government's Arogyandhra wing.

"The Government's faulty tweet was immediately removed after the TDP exposed the misinformation campaign of the ruling party. It was unfortunate that instead of ensuring transparency in the most crucial vaccination programme, the YCP regime was feeding false figures to the public. The CM should explain to the people why AP slipped to 22nd place in per capita inoculation on June 22 when it could create world record on June 20," Ram said while addressing a press conference here.

He further asserted that the Jagan government was caught red handed when it tried to cheat the people as usual with the false claims.

"It was bold enough to make the wrong claim of giving over 19 lakh doses from June 1 to 22. Also, the Government claimed to have received 46.46 lakh doses from the Centre as against only 41.69 lakh doses only. A wrong claim of receiving over 5 lakh doses was made," the statement said.

The TDP leader further said that the party had evidence available to prove the false information campaigns of the YSRCP Government.

"From June 1 to 22, AP gave just 39.89 lakh doses as against 60.70 lakh in Maharashtra, 50.85 lakh in Rajasthan, 88.53 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, 63.59 lakh in Karnataka, 49.22 lakh in West Bengal, 59.21 lakh in Gujarat and 55.93 lakh in Madhya Pradesh," he said.

Ram demanded that the state government speed up both first and second dose vaccination in order to save the lives of the people in the face of the 'impending threat of the third wave'.
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the judicial first class magistrate of Alair division to inquire into the alleged custodial death of a Dalit woman at the Addagudur police station in Rachakonda commissionerate.

The court said the inquiry should be completed in a week and the report furnished in a sealed cover.

A division bench of Justice Ramachander Rao and Justice Vinod Kumar was hearing a petition filed by People's Union for Civil Libraries (PUCL), Telangana, represented by its general secretary Jaya Vindyala seeking a judicial probe into the death of Mariyamma, allegedly due to police brutality on June 18.

The division bench said the magistrate could order a second post-mortem examination of the body.

Advocate-general BS. Prasad informed the court that the guidelines promulgated by the NHRC had been followed in the case and the body of Mariyamma was handed over to her daughter. The constables involved in the alleged lock-up death had been suspended and an inquiry initiated.

The revenue division officer and the assistant commissioner of police of Medchal Maljakgiri district were conducting inquiries.

Justice Rao asked the A-G how could an executive authority hold an inquiry whereas the law mandates a judicial inquiry in such cases. Citing the amended Section 176 (1A) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which mandates judicial inquiry into every case of death, rape, and disappearance in police custody, the judge asked how the government confined the inquiry to the executive authority. This is nothing but flouting of the CrPC, the bench observed.

The court also expressed displeasure when the AG said, in response to a query, that CCTV cameras had not been installed in police stations. Justice Rao said it was also a violation of Supreme Court guidelines which mandated that every police station should have CCTV cameras that should be monitored by higher authorities.

Shashi Kiran, counsel who appeared for the PUCL, said there were several doubts about the death of Mariyamma and sought directions to the state government to pay Rs4 crore as exemplary compensation to the family of the victim, and that the money should be collected from the salaries of the officers and errant staff of the Addagudur police station.
The top court is hearing a plea seeking directions to state governments not to hold board exams in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: PTI/Representational)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday told Andhra Pradesh it is not convinced of the precautionary measures suggested by the state for holding Class 12 board exams and said unless satisfied that there will be no fatality due to COVID, it will not allow them.

The apex court said it may also look into the aspect of compensation in case of a fatality like in many other states where Rs 1 crore is given for the death due to COVID-19.

A special bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, which posed tough questions to the Andhra Pradesh government on its decision to hold Class 12 board examinations, asked the standing counsel for the state Mahfooz A Nazki to place before the court the snapshot of the file giving reasons to hold the test.

We are not satisfied with the precautionary measures you will be taking for holding the exams. We are not convinced with the mechanism you have devised. Unless we are satisfied that you are able to conduct the examination without any fatality, we will not allow you to hold the examination, the bench said.

We have to see the aspect of compensation in case of any fatality during the examination. Some States have given Rs 1 crore compensation for death due to COVID. We can look at things through that aspect, it said.

The top court is hearing a plea seeking directions to state governments not to hold board exams in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the hearing, the top court flagged its specific concern over accommodating 5,19,510 students in classrooms for the exams and said the state government says that maximum of 15 to 18 students will be in one class.

If we go by your figure then for 15 students per class, you will need 34,644 rooms and if we take 18 students per class then you will need 28,862 rooms. Tell us from where you get all these rooms, the bench said.

It told Nazki, Don't hold examinations for the sake of examination. It is not only 5 lakh students giving the examination, more than a lakh people will be involved in the process including 34,000 supervisors for each room. You have to think about their health and safety also.

The bench said the state should keep in mind the impact of the second COVID wave, how fast it unfolded and how it will cope if it is hit by the third wave.

Do you have any contingency plans? If you are hit by a third wave or if there is any unwarranted situation how will you deal with it. We have not seen any such thing on your affidavit. No one is here to prove anything. You must have thought about something about the health and safety of students and teachers, the bench said.

Nazki said the major problem was that in Class 10 students are given only grades and there is no mechanism to evaluate the students.

We understand your difficulty that converting grades to marks or evaluating the students will be a problem. But every problem has ten solutions. You talk about experts. You can talk to UGC, CBSE, CISCE or other States and experts and devise a formula. Many states had problems but they have decided to cancel the examinations, the bench said.

The top court also flagged its concern that Andhra Pradesh has not mentioned a timeline for the exams or results and asked the state to specify it to avoid any uncertainty in the minds of students.

You cannot keep things uncertain. If you want to hold the examination we want a concrete plan by tomorrow. We want to know what your COVID protocol management is and how you are going to implement it. You must know that first and second COVID are different and as per experts the third wave will also be different. Alerts have been sounded in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala for Delta variant, the bench said.

The top court asked Nazki to file an affidavit by Friday giving the complete plan and convince the court that it has the entire necessary wherewithal to deal with any exigencies.

We want a complete break-up of things. Right from students and teachers' transportation, classrooms and their sitting arrangements, ensuring maintenance of COVID protocols or we will direct you not to hold the examination, the bench said, pointing out that many states have taken the decision to cancel the examination looking at the ground reality.

The bench also dealt with the affidavit of Kerala, which said that it has already held Class 12 board examinations and it will hold Class 11 examination in the month of September.

The top court said that it is dealing with the plea on Class 12 board examination and if the students from Kerala have any grievance with respect to Class 11 examination, then they can approach the High Court there.

In its affidavit, the Andhra Pradesh government had told the top court that it will be able to conduct Class 12 exams successfully as there are no reliable alternatives to assess the state board students.

On Monday, the top court was informed by the Assam, Tripura and Karnataka governments that they have cancelled their state boards of Class 12 board exam due to the pandemic.

On June 17, the top court was informed that out of 28 states, six states have already conducted the board exams, 18 states have cancelled them, but four states (Assam, Punjab, Tripura and Andhra Pradesh) have not cancelled them as of now.
At a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, minister for education Adimulapu Suresh and higher officials of the education department explained about the apex court directions and it was decided to cancel both exams. (Photo: Representational/PTI)

VIJAYAWADA: Ending a long anxious wait, the Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday announced cancellation of Class 10 and Intermediate second year (Class 12) examinations. The decision comes within hours of the Supreme Court bench expressing its dissatisfaction over the adamant stand of the state government in deciding to conduct the examinations in the last week of July, while many states had done away with the examinations.

At a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, minister for education Adimulapu Suresh and higher officials of the education department explained about the apex court directions and it was decided to cancel both exams.

Addressing a press meet later, Suresh said that the court had ordered that all the states should declare the examination results by July 31, which was impossible as Andhra Pradesh would take 45 days to evaluate the exam papers. He announced that the government would appoint a high-power committee to look into the announcement of results and awarding of marks.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam MLC Nara Lokesh termed the decision as a victory for students, parents and teachers after their relentless agitation demanding cancellation.

He said that it was after a two-month agitation that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had relented and cancelled the exams. CPI state secretary K. Ramakrishna also welcomed the government's decision.
The newspaper said it was forced to cease operations after police froze $2.3 million of its assets, searched its office and arrested five top editors. (AP Photo)

Hong Kong: The final edition of Hong Kong's last remaining pro-democracy paper sold out in hours Thursday, as readers scooped up all 1 million copies of the Apple Daily, whose closure was yet another sign of China's tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city.

Across the densely populated metropolis, people lined up early in the morning to buy the paper, which in recent years has become an increasingly outspoken critic of Chinese and Hong Kong authorities' efforts to limit the freedoms found here but not in mainland China. The paper was gone from newsstands by 8:30 am.

The newspaper said it was forced to cease operations after police froze $2.3 million of its assets, searched its office and arrested five top editors and executives last week, accusing them of foreign collusion to endanger national security.

This is our last day, and last edition, does this reflect the reality that Hong Kong has started to lose its press freedom and freedom of speech? an Apple Daily graphic designer, Dickson Ng, asked in comments to The Associated Press. Why does it have to end up like this?

The paper printed 1 million copies for its last edition  up from the usual 80,000. On the front page was splashed an image of an employee in the office waving at supporters surrounding the building, with the headline Hong Kongers bid a painful farewell in the rain, We support Apple Daily.'

While pro-democracy media outlets still exist online, it was the only print newspaper of its kind left in the city.

The pressure on the paper reflects a broader crackdown on Hong Kong's civil liberties, ramped up after massive anti-government protests in 2019 unsettled authorities. In response, they imposed a sweeping national security law  used in the arrests of the newspaper employees  and revamped Hong Kong's election laws to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.

The result is that dissenting voices have been almost completely silenced in the city long known as an oasis of freedoms on mainland China's doorstep. The increasing restrictions have come despite China's promise to protect Hong Kong's civil liberties for 50 years after the city's 1997 handover from Britain.

The closure of Apple Daily raises the spectre that other media outlets  though none as outspoken  will become even more cautious, such as the more than 100-year-old English-language South China Morning Post.

The paper, while identified with the political and business mainstream, has thus far continued to report on controversial issues in Hong Kong and on mainland China, even after its owner, internet business titan Jack Ma, dropped from sight last year after publicly criticising Chinese government policies.

Apple Daily's closure marks a dark day for press freedom in Hong Kong, said Thomas Kellogg, executive director of the Georgetown Centre for Asian Law.

Without Apple Daily, Hong Kong is less free than it was a week ago. Apple Daily was an important voice, and it seems unlikely that any other media outlet will be able to fill its shoes, given growing restrictions on free speech and freedom of the press, he said.

Taiwan's Cabinet agency responsible for China issues also lamented the paper's closure as a heavy blow to media freedom in Hong Kong. The island is a self-governing democracy that split from mainland China in 1949 but that Beijing continues to claim as its territory.

This shows the international community that the Chinese Communist Party, in its exercise of totalitarian political power, will stop at nothing to use extreme means to wipe out dissenting opinions, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in an emailed statement.

Humankind's quest for freedom, democracy and other universal values will not be lost to history, but history will remember the ugly face of the power behind the suppression of freedom.

Beijing has dismissed such criticism as interference in its internal affairs, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Thursday lashed out at foreign officials who have criticised the legal actions against Apple Daily.

Press freedom is not an excuse of impunity and whoever disrupts Hong Kong has no extrajudicial privileges, Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing.

On Wednesday night, over 100 people stood outside Apple Daily's office building in the rain to show their support, taking photographs and shouting words of encouragement.

Inside the building, associate publisher Chan Pui-man told staff who gathered around the newsroom to big applause: You've done a great job, everyone! Chan was one of the five arrested last week.

In the early hours of Thursday, residents in the city's Mong Kok neighbourhood in the working-class Kowloon district began lining up hours before the paper hit the stands.

Apple Daily's Hong Kong website contained only a notice on Thursday that read: We are sad to inform you that Apple Daily and Next Magazine's web and app content will no longer be accessible at 23:59, 23 June 2021, HKT. "We would like to thank all of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, and Hongkonger(s) for your loyal support," the notice read.

A similar message was posted on its news app.

In the wake of the announcement of the paper's closure, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said authorities were using the national security law to curtail freedom and punish dissent, calling the paper's closure "a chilling demonstration of their campaign to silence all opposition voices.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Adebahr said the closure was another sign that pluralism, freedom of opinion and freedom of the press in Hong Kong are subject to erosion".

Last week's arrests of the Apple Daily employees represented the first time the national security law had been used against journalists for something they published.
The United States will search federal boarding schools for possible burial sites of Native American children, hundreds of thousands of whom were forcibly taken from their communities to be culturally assimilated in the schools for more than a century, the interior secretary announced on Tuesday.

The initiative is likely to resemble a recent effort in Canada, where the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the site of a defunct boarding school rekindled discussion of the traumatic history and treatment of Native populations.

Addressing a virtual conference of the National Congress of American Indians, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said the program would shed light on the unspoken traumas of the past, no matter how hard it will be.

Read more: Upsetting: Survivor of Indigenous boarding school in Canada recalls painful times

I know that this process will be long and difficult, she said. I know that this process will be painful. It wont undo the heartbreak and loss that so many of us feel. But only by acknowledging the past can we work toward a future that were all proud to embrace.

The forced removals were a result of the Civilization Fund Act of 1819, which sought to introduce the habits and arts of civilization to Indian tribes adjoining frontier settlements through instruction.

In the years after the law was enacted, residential boarding schools were established across the nation and used to house relocated Indigenous children, suppressing American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian cultures.

The new program, called the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, will identify the facilities and sites where there may have been student burials, as well as the tribal affiliations of the children, the Department of the Interior said.

It will also mine records from 1819 to 1969 that were kept by the department, which had oversight of the facilities, working with tribal nations, Alaska Native corporations and Native Hawaiian organizations. A final report will be sent to Haaland by April 1.

Christine Diindiisi McCleave, chief executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, said that finding the graves of the missing children would be very healing for a lot of our people.

The thing that is the open wound for our communities right now, she said, is the fact that our children were taken, and theyre lost, and we dont know where they went and we dont know what happened to them. We dont know their final resting place.

Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, described the boarding schools as part of an effort by the federal government to civilize Native Americans. The Cherokee Nation identifies the boarding schools as the biggest factor in the loss of the Cherokee language.

We saw an erosion of our culture and language, and in some cases, it was literally beaten out of the children who were forced to attend, Hoskin said in a statement. It is a history that needs to be known and remembered.

In a statement on Tuesday, Jonathan Nez and Myron Lizer, president and vice president of the Navajo Nation, commended Haaland on the announcement.

This troubling history deserves more attention to raise awareness and to educate others about the atrocities that our people experienced, so that they can better understand our society today and work together to heal and move forward, Nez said.

In an interview on Wednesday, Nez said his biggest worry for the initiative was that it would become a report that gets filed away.

He said he hoped that the findings from the effort would make it into textbooks and lead to teaching unedited Native American history, especially in public schools on reservations.

We are sovereign nations, that should also include sovereignty in education, Nez said.

The discovery in Canada prompted the Department of the Interior to begin the initiative to shed light on what it called these past traumas.

In Canada, the Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced in May that ground-penetrating radar had discovered the remains of 215 children at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, which operated from 1890 until the late 1970s.

It gave new impetus to the debate on how to atone for a history of exploiting Indigenous people. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada has prioritized 94 actions intended to commemorate the students and improve the lives of Indigenous people.

In the United States, a similar reckoning will take place, according to Bryan Newland, the principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian affairs. He said the Department of the Interior would consult with tribes on how to protect burial sites and use other information it had gathered.

We must shed light on what happened at federal boarding schools, he said.

As a member of the Laguna Pueblo, Haaland is the first Native American Cabinet secretary in the United States and has made Native American issues a top priority at the department.

She said in a memo that in most instances, Indigenous parents were not able to visit their children at the schools, where students endured routine injury and abuse and where some perished and were interred in unmarked graves.

The initiative may lead to the possible repatriation of human remains as well as a deeper understanding of the long-term consequences of forced assimilation.

Many who survived the ordeal returned home changed in unimaginable ways, and their experiences still resonate across the generations, Haaland wrote.
US health authorities plan to update official guidance about administering mRNA Covid vaccines to adolescents and young adults after finding a likely link to rare cases of heart inflammation, but say the overall benefits still "clearly" outweigh the risks.

The decision was announced during a meeting of experts convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday that reviewed 323 confirmed instances of myocarditis and of pericarditis, inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart, among people under 30 following vaccination.

"Fortunately it's an extraordinarily rare event, and when the event happens it's generally quite mild," Henry Bernstein, a pediatrician at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New York and member of the expert panel, told AFP after the meeting.

He added he would continue to strongly advise parents to vaccinate their adolescents.

Of the 323 cases, 309 were hospitalised, 295 were discharged, nine remain hospitalized with two in intensive care, and there is no outcome data for five cases.

Read | How to prevent the next pandemic

The cases are predominantly among males, most occur after the second dose, and there are no confirmed deaths.

The data is current as of June 11, when more than 50 million doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines had been administered to people aged 12-29 in the United States.

While the case numbers are low, they are still higher than what would be expected in these age groups and researchers are studying possible biological triggers.

"Myocarditis is a rare disease but it's not a new disease, it's been around for a while," Matthew Oster, a member of the CDC's Covid vaccine task force told the meeting, noting the estimated background rate of myocarditis is about 0.8 per 100,000 children per year.

Oster said the illness was thought to be caused by viruses in some cases, although there could be other triggers.

"It does appear that mRNA vaccine may be a new trigger for myocarditis," he said.

According to the CDC, for every million second doses given to 12-to-17 year old boys, 5,700 Covid cases, 215 hospitalizations, 71 ICU admissions and two deaths across 120 days would be prevented by vaccination.

Between 56 to 69 cases of myocarditis would be expected as a result of the vaccines.

"Currently, the benefits still clearly outweigh the risks for Covid-19 vaccination in adolescents and young adults," CDC scientists said in a presentation.

The CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plan to update their advice and warning labels to reflect the potential risks.

If a person develops pericarditis after their first dose, they should wait until their symptoms clear and consult their doctor before getting a second dose, according to the draft guidance which will soon be finalized.

If a person develops myocarditis after their first dose, they will be advised to defer their second dose until more information is known.

While children are less affected by Covid than adults, the virus has still hospitalized more than 3,000 under-18s in the United States and led to more than 300 deaths, according to official data. Some 2,700 people under 30 have died from Covid.

Messenger RNA vaccines have been proven to be extraordinarily protective against the disease. Pfizer's Covid vaccine is currently authorized for ages 12 and up while Moderna's is authorized for those 18 and over.

Beyond protecting children from the immediate risks of Covid, pediatricians also want to shield them from possible long term impacts such as long Covid and a rare but very serious post-viral complication called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

There are also worries the new variant Delta might be more harmful to children than past strains.

Ahead of the meeting, Monica Gandhi, an infectious diseases and public health expert at the University of California San Francisco, pointed out that the United States has gone beyond some other countries' recommendations on vaccinating teens.

These include Germany and Israel, which only recommend vaccinating adolescents who are at high risk, while Britain is still examining the data and hasn't yet reached a decision.
Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane on Thursday held a telephonic interaction with his counterpart in Kazakhstan Major General Talgat Mamyrtaevich Koibakov to discuss issues of bilateral defence cooperation, according to an official statement.

Kazakhstan shares land border of around 1,780 km with China. However, unlike India, Kazakhstan does not have any active border dispute with China.

It has been more than a year since the military standoff between the armies of India and China erupted in eastern Ladakh on May 5, 2020, during which there were fatalities on both sides for the first time in 45 years.

India and China have made limited progress in achieving disengagement in the Pangong lake area while negotiations for similar steps at other friction points continue.

Indian Army said on Twitter on Thursday, "General MM Naravane, COAS (Chief of Army Staff), had telephonic interaction with Major General Talgat Mamyrtaevich Koibakov, Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces of the Armed Forces, Republic of #Kazakhstan and discussed issues of bilateral defence cooperation."
Highlights of this day in history: Start of the Berlin blockade during the early Cold War; Boxing champ Jack Dempsey born; Comedian and actor Jackie Gleason of 'The Honeymooners' fame dies. (June 24)
Flowers lie at the scene where a driver slammed into spectators at the start of a Pride parade on June 19 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Officials said the crash was an accident, but it initially drew speculation that it was a hate crime directed at the gay community.
This tract near the former Don Guanella school in Marple has been the focus of green-space preservation efforts.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

There's more to the story of Israel vs. Palestine
Derry, NH (03038)

Today

Periods of rain. High 59F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Students in Derry launched their very own mini satellite this week with a view to gathering information that will help rural communities.

The CanSat competition is organised by the European Space Agencys (ESA) - Europes gateway to space.

ESAs mission is to shape the development of Europes space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

The competition is aimed at participants from 14 to 19 years of age.

The project challenges students to fit all the major subsystems of a satellite inside the volume and shape of a soft drink can, which is then launched by a small rocket up to an altitude of one kilometre.

As the CanSat descends, its mission begins.

St. Columbs College pupil, John Augustine Joseph, along with pupils from his own school and others across the city decided to take on the challenge.

He explained: Our name is Team Cupertino and we are building a CanSat called Earhart 1, after Amelia Earhart who landed in Derry after her transatlantic flight.

Our CanSat is specifically a Satellite Mapping system.

He explained: The main mission that we plan to accomplish is to create a system that can be used to automate the map-making process, that will enable low-scale rural entrepreneurs and governments to make their own maps of their local areas.

Whilst companies such as Google and Apple make various detailed maps of urban areas throughout the developed world, many rural communities still lack access to the infrastructure and the capital that would enable them to access the bare minimum of the map services offered by these companies.

Our solution is comprehensive and sustainable; we are creating a low cost and easy to maintain CanSat as well as an accessible programme to process the data collected from the CanSat which consists of an AI that will be used to identify unique characteristics within these images.

This system can then be used by rural communities to create their own maps to help them in agricultural or other enterprises.

Every participating CanSat team has to accomplish two missions: a mandatory primary mission to collect air temperature and pressure data, and a secondary mission is completely open to the students imagination.

Investigations have ranged from calculating variations in Earths magnetic field and tracking the Sun, to measuring solar radiation and levels of carbon dioxide.

Participating countries in past competitions included Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

The European CanSat competition is one of many ESA hands-on initiatives to inspire young people to follow a career in science or engineering.

In this way, it is hoped to ensure the availability of a highly qualified work force in the space industry of the future.

Team members were: John Joseph (St Columb's College), Paedar Brady (St Columb's College), Adrian Baena (St Columb's College), Orla ODoherty (Thornhill College), Joe Thames (St Columb's College), Lucy Healy (Lumen Christi), Morgan Reid (Lumen Christi), Caoimhe Lees (Thornhill College).

Theyre helped by Mr Bliadhan Glass (St Columb's College) and Mr Sean Molloy, Mr Eoghan Barr and Mr Lukas Arkinson from Lumen Christi.
Today marks 77 years since a Liberator plane crashed into the side of Benevenagh mountain near Limavady. Last year Liam Tunney spoke to historian Stephen McCracken, who made a renewed call for a memorial to those who died.

A local historian has renewed a call for the erection of a memorial to remember airmen who died in a crash in County Derry during World War II.

Nine lives were lost in total when a Liberator plane crashed into the face of Benevenagh Mountain outside Limavady in 1944, while returning from sorties in Iceland.

Stephen McCracken, originally from Magilligan but now based in Antrim, has stressed the importance of remembering the human stories of the airmen and their families, along with Limavady Area Ancestries Fiona Pegrum.

Its not right that there isnt a place where the relatives can come to pay their respects, other than their graves, he said.

The bodies were removed, but there were some body parts that they didnt get, which were left up there.

The Canadians and the New Zealanders are buried in the Roe Valley at various Churches including Ballykelly Church of Ireland, Tamlaghfinlaghan.

The ones from Britain were taken back home, but those from Canada and New Zealand were left here.

The grave at Ballykelly of New Zealander Coombe.

Henry Gordon Coombe, George William Gerring, Ivor Bramwell Jenkins, John Fraser Leonard, Harry Gwynne Lewis, George Francis Logan, Reginald Richard James Revell, William Harvey Wilson and Wilfred Clark Wallace were all killed in the accident.

Liberator planes were packed with munitions, and the accident in the early hours of a June morning created a shocking spectacle for some local fishermen.

There were a couple of people fishing on the Roe that morning who witnessed it, said Stephen.

The plane was coming home from Iceland, where it was doing sorties looking for U-Boats. It was coming back on a misty, foggy morning. There was light, but there was a lot of sea fog.

It made two approaches into Ballykelly. After the second approach, they tried again at altitude and just smashed into the sheer face of Benevenagh mountain.

Once it went up, the bombs and munitions went flying all over the place. People were finding wee bits of bullets for years after it.

A cross marks the spot where the crash happened.

Magilligan-born Deirdre Watson, nee Sherrard, recalled how there was significant presence in the skies above north Derry during World War II.

l can remember seeing the wreckage [of the Liberator] lying on the slopes of Benevenagh, where it lay for some time it seemed, before it was cleared away, she said.

l dont remember any talk about lives lost, whether the folks did not know the details, or did not want to talk about it in front of a 12 year old, as l was at the time.

At that time, three RAF men were billeted in part of what had been the home of my great grandfather Joseph Sherrard.

These men manned a beacon in my father's field. This beacon flashed Morse code to let planes know they were near Ballykelly aerodrome.

This code changed every night and was so secret that one man travelled to Ballykelly on motorcycle daily to collect it, even though they had a phone installed.

Later the beacon was replaced with a revolving one and a caravan provided for the personnel both of which remained until the war ended.

The church at Inverkeithing, Scotland, taken by the Waton/Sherrard family.

The stories of two of the men who died in the accident add extra poignancy to the story, as the war wiped out large sections of their families.

John Fraser Leonard, from Inverkeithing in Scotland, had lost his brother just six months previously. He had died in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.

Henry Gordon Coombe was one of three brothers, all lost within six weeks of each other.

They would have been getting the news all at the same time, or just a few weeks apart. It must have been heart-breaking for them, says Stephen.

All the big Liberator aeroplanes few out of Ballykelly and Aghanloo at Limavady. They were all based there and thats where they made their sorties from.

They lost a load of people going out from Ballykelly. Some went out straight over Lough Foyle and by the time they got to Donegal they werent high enough hand would crash.

There are lots of memorials in Donegal, they really put us to shame. Theyre brilliant and theyre well done, but we have nothing.

The grave at Inverkeithing of the Leonard family.

Despite the loss of life, newspaper reports from the time are almost non-existent, leading Stephen to suspect some war-related censorship.

People looked up the newspaper archives and they couldnt find anything on it, because it was going to result in bad press, and they didnt want that during the war, he said.

Its surprising not to see anything in the newspapers about it. I always heard of tragedies here during the war that didnt make the newspapers because they were told to suppress it.

Its strange when you see it in action. There was nothing in the Canadian or New Zealand newspapers either, its nuts. They were all told not to report it.

A small cross that sits on the sheer face of Benevenagh mountain is the only indicator of the tragedy that occurred there in 1944.

The site is not easily accessible on foot and Stephen has plans for a much more publicly available memorial.

There is a place called Ballycarton, on the slopes of Benevenagh and a trail goes through the forest from there. It would be the perfect site, he said.

It would be nice to have a remembrance walk and a memorial there. People would come to see it - it would be a huge draw for tourists.

Last year we were contacted by a boy from Wales, whose uncle was killed, and this year some Australians got in touch, so the interest is there.

Its something I want to leave and next year Ill be doing a bit more research. We just have to keep the pressure up, so it comes to fruition.

Benevenagh mountain, where the crash took place.

Local Causeway Coast and Glens councillor Alan Robinson has been helping Stephen, and the local heritage group, in their campaign.

Rather than just a wee wooden cross that is currently up there, it would be much more befitting for the bravery of those men that lost their lives there, he said.

Its an admirable project. It would be a nice way to remember them and a place where families could come and pay their respects.

Stephen is hopeful that, once lockdown eases and things begin to return to normal, things can be progressed to see the memorial created.

Ive got permission from everyone I needed to. Its a memorial, so permission was granted by the landlord, who said hed be delighted.

In February time, the Council were given money for tourism, to put into Benevenagh and the surrounding area, so we planned to take from that fund.

It wont take much, Id like something simple and then a maple tree to signify Canada and another tree to represent New Zealand.

Something that, in five years time, youll see these two trees that arent native to the forest and people will want to come and see it and learn about what it signifies.
Local figures in the education sector have been honoured for their work.

Selected from thousands of nominations, they have been honoured out of 102 Pearson National Teaching Silver Award winners for their commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.

Marie Lindsay, a former principal of Saint Mary's College, has received theThe Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Judges said: "She has devoted her 35 year career as an educator to inspiring generations of young women in the city of Derry and beyond.

Her leadership of St Marys College has had a life changing impact on her pupils, their families and the wider community, and the school is recognised as one of the highest performing all ability secondary schools in Northern Ireland.

This outstanding journey is underpinned by the innovative ways that Marie engaged pupils, parents, business and educational communities and empowered staff in driving continuous improvement, embracing the Shared Education Programme aimed at overcoming religious and cultural divisions in Northern Ireland.

Michael Allen (pictured below receiving his award), principal of Lisneal College, has won The Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School.

Judges said: Michael has shown constant commitment, leadership and inspiration to all stakeholders since his appointment as headteacher in 2015.

His powerful vision and strategic approach now mean that Lisneal College is not just a name recognised locally but nationally, internationally and globally.

Michael at all times puts the needs of his students first in everything that he does and is a wonderful role model for everyone within the entire school community with his work ethic, strong value system, accountability and professionalism.

Michaels outstanding leadership has resulted in a dramatic increase in school enrolment and he has taken the colleges provision to the next level.

Aine Mellon at St Patricks & St Brigids College won a Silver Award for The Award for Excellence in Special Needs Education.

Judges said: Aines passion and dedication to SEN is evident the minute you meet her. Every day she goes the extra mile for her students. Her co-workers describe her as firm but fair, as well as determined and driven. Whether that be ensuring her students get the support they deserve or assisting families in building a supportive environment at home.

In her third year as SENCO in the school, Aine has overseen a review of SEN provision to build upon the colleges inviting and welcoming learning environment. She has also sought to bring about positive change beyond her classroom; contributing to a discussion panel to analyse SEN practice in Northern Ireland and arranging specialist SEN training for her colleagues.

Ruth Riley, from Ballykelly Primary School, won The Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year.

Judges said: Ruth is a warm, caring and nurturing Teaching Assistant who is extremely sensitive and empathetic to the needs of all of the nursery children.

When involved in working with children of such a young age, above and beyond and going the extra mile are phrases which sum up the hard working and dedicated person that Ruth is.

She keeps abreast of new initiatives and training within preschool to help provide excellent support to nursery staff. From baking scones, planting seeds or playing toy guitars with the children, Ruth is highly committed to her profession and helps to ensure pupils achieve their very best in all areas of the preschool curriculum.

The winners have now been shortlisted to win a Gold Award in their category, in a programme which will be broadcast on the BBC.
A barrister has claimed that a British Army regiment has erected 'a wall of silence' to protect the soldier believed to have fired the fatal shots that killed a Derry mother of six.

Soldier D was giving evidence yesterday on the final day of the evidence gathering phase of the inquest into the shooting in November 1971 of Kathleen Thompson who was shot in her own back yard during a British army operation in Creggan.

The witness had given evidence originally in March 2018 and during his testimony then he had denied being taken off a training course he was on to secure promotion following the shooting.

Karen Quinlivan QC, counsel for the Thompson family, accused the former soldier of lying about that as yesterday he gave evidence that he had been taken off the course.

Soldier D maintained that he had not been stood down from the course but said he had been temporarily returned to his platoon while Military Police investigations were under way.

He claimed that he believed the training course 'had simply forgotten about me' as he was later promoted.

Ms Quinlivan asked the witness 'are you serious' when he repeated his claim that he had simply been forgotten about.

The witness repeatedly maintained he had not been stood down from the course, merely temporarily returned to his platoon while the investigation was ongoing.

Ms Quinlivan put it to Soldier D that his regimental colleagues had erected a 'wall of silence' to protect the witness because it was well known he had been involved in the shooting of Kathleen Thompson.

The witness denied this and Ms Quinlivan put it to him they had decided 'the best way to assist you was to say nothing and to pretend they didn't even know Kathleen Thompson had been shot.'

The hearing concluded yesterday and oral submissions will be made in September with the Coroner Judge Sandra Crawford indicating she wanted to give her decision before the end of October.
Derry has been chosen as the first Northern Ireland location for German brand, Butlers Homeware, with a new branch opening at Foyleside Shopping Centre this Saturday.

This is the latest new addition to the retail offer at Foyleside since retail restrictions were eased in April.

Make-up mega-store bPerfect opened its doors in May and new anchor tenant Frasers is also planning a grand opening this summer.

Butlers has built a reputation as a must-have name in homeware with its furniture and home accessories.

The competitive German brand stocks everything from crockery to Christmas trees.

Fergal Rafferty, Centre Manager, said: It is a real coup for Foyleside Shopping Centre to be selected as the premier location for Butlers in the north and a testament to our ongoing ability to attract shoppers and visitors from all over the North West and beyond.

We are thrilled to be chosen as the number one NI base for Butlers Homeware and look forward to welcoming customers to our newest store.

"We are confident that shoppers will appreciate the added choice and variety that Butlers offers, in addition to the great range of stores already trading in our centre.

We wish to extend a warm welcome to Butlers Homeware and the staff who are taking up employment with the company locally this week.

The new Butlers store at Foyleside Shopping Centre will stock the full range of gifts associated with the brand, along with designer collection furniture.

Clinton Nel, Director of Butlers, said: Our multi-channel retail strategy also helps other independent businesses in the area, even if they are of a competitive nature.

"Our stores are generally destination stores and will drive footfall to the shopping centre. Consumers are likely to spend time with neighbouring retailers and cafes as well as our new store, so its a win-win situation for all of us.

Butlers was launched 20 years ago in Cologne, Germany.

The company has grown organically and now has more than 120 stores as well as trade sales to 10 European countries. It opened its first branch in Ireland in Dublin in 2019.

The company says that despite this phenomenal growth, Butlers continues to operate with small company values and places a huge emphasis on great quality, fantastic customer service, environmental sustainability and loyalty to all involved.

The company also intends to expand its NI footprint with a new branch opening in Belfast soon, creating 15 jobs in the process.
Derry man Eamonn Lynch has just had his first book published. Get That Boy Home is a tale of fiction based on his time growing up above the family pub on Bishop Street leading up to and during 'The Troubles' as well as a period spent as an internee in Long Kesh. The main writer of the centenary pageant on the 1916 Easter Rising that was performed in the Guildhall Square to a large crowd in May 2016, Eamonn looks back at a time when a 'wee voice' in his head kept telling him to write a book and reveals his decision to dedicate it to his late brother.



Get That Boy Home is the title of a debut book by Derry man Eamonn Lynch. Falling into the genre of historical fiction it sets out to capture the mood and experiences of the times leading up to, during and beyond 'The Troubles,' told through the story of lead character, Dan Feeney.

From Derry's Bishop Street, Eamonn says while the book is fictional it is based on personal experiences.

He says: I think its virtually impossible to write my first book taking in those times in Derry that I have lived through without resorting to personal experience.

Get That Boy Home falls under the historical fiction label, therefore, I dont present it as a true story.

However, the chapters on family and school life are fairly typical of my life during those remarkable times. It was really lovely and indeed surreal to relive my childhood through the prism of Dan Feeney, with the vocabulary, cynicism and humour of an adult looking back into that period as a child and young boy in the 1950s and 1960s.

The hilarious story of Dan Feeneys first date could only come from personal experience!

As a teenager who became an active republican after the introduction of internment in August 1971, I felt well able to mesh and merge fact and fiction to mix authenticity, creativity and drama to 'The Troubles' elements of the book. The chapter that covers internment in Long Kesh certainly reflects much personal experience, as I was interned during 1974/75.

However, this is not a book solely about 'The Troubles,' its more about how a fairly normal boy and teenager found himself immersed into those times of a harsh educational system and a bigoted and unequal political one.

The book also deals with Eamonn's various human experiences, challenges, relationships, excessive drinking and gambling.

He adds: My own life has, to some extent, mirrored many of these themes but again the freedom to use imagination allowed me to add humour, pathos, tension, contradiction and controversy that, hopefully, makes the book enjoyable and takes the reader to places of identification, judgement, empathy, hilarity and sadness by engendering those emotions and reflections when reading Get That Boy Home.

He adds the book is based, 'but not entirely,' on real people.

He adds: The school and college chapters, in particular, draw on my own memories of what to me seemed like the infliction of education and Catholicism on children by nuns, Christian Brothers, priests and lay teachers who, in hindsight, certainly had an abundance of knowledge to pass on, but were not equipped with the social skills to be around children and teenagers.

I also used other characters that I knew or had heard about to fit into various roles throughout 'The Troubles' stories. I think this adds to the authenticity of the overall book.

About 20 years ago I started writing poems on many themes and I still do. That was probably the lead-in to gaining the confidence to take on a book.

He adds: Im one of those people who had a voice in my head saying theres a book in you but a louder voice told me the cheek of you to think you could write a book. Eventually, the voices quietened after I had a feck it moment and I just started writing. Now, I have published this book and have two more germinating.

He says three words describe his feelings at the book being published: Relief, satisfaction and joy. Having the printed book in my hand instilled a quiet pride in the achievement of actually writing and publishing a book. Even yet I find it hard to refer to myself as a writer or an author. And those two labels will never eclipse being a dad, a grandfather, a brother, a friend and a Derryman. Writing is my hobby, all those other things are my life.

Eamonn has dedicated the book to his brother, Hugh, who died in December 2017 after a short illness.

Eamonn says: He is still very much alive in mine and all our familys hearts and minds. So, a dedication to Hugh for that reason alone is entirely justified.

However, Hugh was also instrumental in the title of my book, Get That Boy Home, which comes from a very short telephone call from my daddy in Derry to Hugh in London in 1969 when I was in danger of becoming another young Derryman lost to England. Hugh got me home. What an act of love that collusion with my dad turned out to be. He would have been so proud to see Get That Boy Home in print.

A proud father of Emma and doting grandfather of David (15) and Penny (2), Eamonn describes himself as a 'Derryman through and through.'

He adds: My parents Michael and Margaret (a blow-in from Donegal) are both deceased. Our family of six brothers (one now deceased) and two sisters lived in lower Bishop Street at my fathers bar (Mickey Lynch's). I am the second youngest.

As I said, I come from a large family, so my parents had their work cut out, particularly with the boys. We lived over a small family pub, so our house was always a busy place and often an exciting one, especially when customers scattered to various rooms and the backyard if the RUC raided the bar for after-hours drinkers.

As as boy, I loved sitting out in the bar listening to my dad holding court, telling stories and yarns to his customers.

Getting out to play with my pals on the bankin', down 'The Line' near the river and on the streets of Bishop Street and Brook Street Avenue were my childhood highlights, and I was a nightmare to bring home for the nightly Rosary that my mum always made us say.

My favourite quiet moments were sitting in the darkened cinemas of Derry as a young boy and youth, engrossed in the films of my boyhood heroes on the big screen. Any day I had the required sixpence I was there.

Overall, my family memories are happy ones, and living in a locality with great neighbours and camaraderie was, and remains, very special to me.

The schools Eamonn went to were all 'a stone's throw' from his Bishop Street home, attending the 'Wee Nuns' in the grounds of the St Columba's Church, Long Tower. After making his First Communion he transferred the Brow of the Hill, Christian Brothers School just off the Lecky Road before moving to to St Columbs College in Bishop Street.

He adds: I left college at 16 after basically downing tools and flunking my O-Levels. I cover much about the harsh education system of those times in Get That Boy Home.

I drifted through a couple of junior office jobs from 1969 to 1972. However, those were times of protest initially, followed quickly by the beginning of 'The Troubles' and my attention was fully focused on what was developing in Derry in relation to that, rather than office pursuits.

Bring That Boy Home is available on Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle format. However, he is in the process of obtaining a stock of the paperback edition and that will enable him to offer it within his DerryYarns website for immediate delivery, postage or collection, depending on the location of the reader. He will also offer the book to local book outlets and to the library.

As well as working on two further books, Eamonn has also written a play which he hopes to put on when Covid subsides.

In the meantime, poems and short stories written by Eamonn are available for free on his Derry Yarns website.

He explains the thinking about starting up his own site: Derry Yarns emanated from having written Get That Boy Home and operating on a shoestring budget to market it. Like most self -published authors, I had tried and failed to get local, national and international publishers interested in my book.

However, books that relate to 'The Troubles' are no longer as attractive as they once were. Rejection from publishers is the norm, although I must say that those who didnt have the respect and good manners to even reply to say 'no,' annoyed me especially as one was a very well known local publisher!

So, the derryyarns.com website has become a shop window for the book and has a link through to Amazon for those interested in buying it. But I didnt want it to be just that. I have been writing poems for years and more recently short stories. So, I decided to have the A Derryman Writes link to showcase these writings and provide them free to anyone browsing. Initially, I have put up three short stories and three poems and I can update with new material over time.
Following the recovery of the body of young Derry man Andrew Quigley from the River Foyle in 2014, his family launched a campaign to get a detox centre for the city after it emerged he had sought and failed to get help with his drug and alcohol addictions. Today, over eight years later, local woman Tamzin White has rekindled the campaign after her mother Louise lost her battle - at the age of just 40 - to alcohol and drug addiction in January this year. Tamzin believes if a detox centre had been available her mother would be still alive. With deaths due to drugs continuing at a worrying rate in the city, which has the second highest rate in the North for alcohol-related deaths, local Aontu councillor Emmet Doyle argues the case for such a facility for the city



Derry is at war. We often cant see our enemy, it hides within our homes, our families and it's often as a result of something else. It is addiction.

There are those who are holding back the tide of this scourge with their bare hands  community groups, counsellors and health professionals. We have many fantastic services to offer support for addicts and their families both in the community and in the health service, but the need for a Tier 4 detox centre is now, and has been for some time, obvious.

The current campaign run by Tamzin White isnt geared towards somehow stealing the provision of the Asha Centre in Omagh, but the evidence we have of need right here at home cant be ignored  though some are trying very hard to do just that.

Over a third of all of the users of the detox service in Omagh in recent years have been from Derry and Strabane. When we look at the other centres in the east, neither of them share the same profile of users and there is no obvious one centre of population that are using the services.

The number of people who present and are admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital due to alcohol and drugs misuse is rising, and Grangewood in-patient mental health unit is continually operating at the height of its capacity.

When I presented a motion to council that we declare a mental health emergency in the district, there was opposition  some felt the word emergency was too strong. The signs that we are in an emergency dont just manifest themselves in statistics.

Youll have been hard-pressed not to notice groups like the Foyle Prevention Team walking the riverside night after night in their reflective gear. They are all volunteers who have seen how mental health and addiction reach an apex in areas around the river and taken it upon themselves to do something. Without Foyle Search and Rescue and groups like FPT, more lives would be lost to the Foyle.

That is what an emergency requires  selfless leadership.

It is that kind of leadership that the Quigley family provided, that Tamzin White now provides that deserves nothing less than all of our support to deliver a detox centre. Up to now, the campaign has done everything you would expect; weve gathered the stats I referred to, weve secured the support of parties across council, weve met with health officials, written letter after letter to decision makers, weve even sat down with the Health Minister.

The New Decade, New Approach agreement specifically referred to a detox facility in Derry, and it has to be delivered upon. It is as important as many other commitments in that document and it is a weapon for this war that we cannot do without.

The journey for those with alcohol or drug addiction is fraught with difficulties. It can take many years for people or their families to be read to reach out for help to the health service, usually through their GP.

Theyll be assessed and can be referred depending on their needs to the community detox nurses. There are only two in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area. Should they need a higher stage of care they can avail for example of a number of beds in Damian House  but only if you are a man. Women have access to this level of support only in premises in Omagh.

It is only when we get to Tier 4  where you need to attend a specific unit as an in-patient, that there are no services in Derry. You are required to undertake that journey to Omagh, which from many of the survivors I have spoken to, is hard enough in itself.

People often instead wish to go to a facility in Newry in a different care pathway than Omagh, and we dont know how many people have made that journey.

We cannot  we should not, settle for less. When stakeholders called for a cancer centre in Derry they were told that Belfast was only a run up the road. It wasnt good enough then and it is not good enough then. They pushed on, and the difference to patients lives have been tremendous. The detox centre is next.

The only way we can deliver this project is via people power  it is the one tactic we in Derry have no problem in utilising.

Be under no illusion  there are those sitting in offices in Belfast and in Derry who do not want to deliver this provision. They want us to tell people about the services that are available which is fine, but when it comes to a detox centre, Omagh is fine and they see no problem with patients having to travel.

That is not good enough. The days of second  even third class status for the people of this city in relation to services they pay for is over.

Stand with us.
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) has hit out at what it called the 'shortcomings of the justice system' after a Claudy man received a second lifetime ban and suspended sentence.

Michael Conwell, Slievebuoy Park, Claudy, was handed a four-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay a fine of 7,500, as well as being subject to a lifetime ban on owning animals in 2017.

In March 2021, Conwell received a nine-month suspended sentence, a 3,000 fine and a further lifetime ban from owning animals.

USPCA Chief Executive, Brendan Mullan, however, has said the suspension of a custodial sentence is 'difficult to comprehend'.

"We cannot ignore the shortcomings of the Justice system," he said.

"Conwell has received not one, but two suspended sentences linked to badger baiting - one of the most callous, premeditated acts of animal cruelty which causes inconceivable suffering to not only the innocent badgers, but also to the dogs that are forced to engage in this activity.

"Whilst suspending a custodial sentence in the first instance may be justified, the decision to do this on a second occasion is difficult to comprehend.

"Northern Ireland has some of the toughest provisions for animal cruelty in Europe including five-year custodial sentences, lifetime animal bans, and 20,000 fines, but these are relatively meaningless if not being applied by the Courts.

"Conwell's punishment on both occasions is in no way fitting of the crime and will not serve as a future deterrent for him or other like-minded individuals."

Calling for the introduction of a Banned Offenders' Register to ensure animals do not end up in the hands of 'dangerous individuals', Mr Mullan said current bans were ineffective.

"If these bans are effective, how can we see the same individual banned from owning animals in 2017 and back in Court this year for animal related offences?" he said.

"As it stands, we have no guarantee that he or other banned offenders will be unable to obtain another animal which will most likely be subject to the same terrible ordeals and suffering as those before.

"This case has highlighted the glaring ineffectiveness of such bans and underlines the need for significant change to animal welfare regulation.

"We believe that the introduction of a register, similar to a sex offenders register, is the next vital step needed to address the issues which have arisen from Conwells ban, and undoubtedly the many other breached lifetime bans that may be out there.

"The actions arising on the back of this case are twofold; we need the Courts to use our animal cruelty legislation to full effect when sentencing offenders, and a Banned Offenders Register is urgently required to stop repeat offending and to put an end to animal suffering," he added.
Richa Chadda Ali Fazal hopeful about getting married by the end of 2021, don't want to host a 'super spreader event' actress says

Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal had obtained a license to wed and were all ready to host a kick-off their lavish wedding festivities right before the pandemic struck and delayed their plans. The has since been a lot of curiosity about when this couple will finally tie the knot as even in 2021 we are still to overcome the pandemic.

The two actors have time and again mentioned that they will only take a decision about their impending wedding once the pandemic is over and they moved in together instead. Richa, however, has dropped a hint as to when the wedding might eventually happen and it looks like it just months away.

Speaking to Bollywood Life, Richa said, It's a situation of responsibility. It'll be our family members there (at their wedding), all our people only, so we have to be responsible...we definitely don't want to be having a super-spreader event (keeping the pandemic situation in mind) in our own marriage. We want people to enjoy, if we do something, then people should be able to hug you...meet...so that's why we've just held out on doing something big. Hopefully (pauses a bit)...end of this year...hopefully, if things are better, if there's less casualties during the third wave.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Richa Chadha (@therichachadha)

Ali Fazal had proposed to Richa on her birthday in the Maldives in 2019. Talking about the proposal, Richa had earlier told Free Press Journal, I dont think even he thought about doing it. We were on a private island having dinner on my birthday, it was a beautiful moment under the moon, there was nobody else and just us. I think he thought of it instantly and read out something sweet to me.

The couple first met on the sets of their film Fukrey which released in 2013.
Vidyut Jammwal all set for Hollywood; action star signed on by Wonder Street

Joining the likes of legends such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, after being recognised as one of the world's top martial artists, Vidyut Jammwal kicks off his journey to Hollywood. He is now officially the only Indian action supremo to have been signed by the industry's most reputed talent management agency - Wonder Street, which reps action heroes such as Tony Jaa, Michael Jaa White and Dolph Lundgren.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vidyut Jammwal (@mevidyutjammwal)

In the last year, through his chat segment X-Rayed By Vidyut, the Khuda Haafiz actor interacted with action icons world over, who took their passion for martial arts across the borders of their countries. While Vidyut has been doing the same with Kalaripayattu, Hollywood now comes along as another vast avenue to explore for the fitness star. As the industry beckons him, Jammwal is all set to put India on the global map through his work in the West. He will be working with Wonder Street partners Christine Holder and Mark Holder, who will rep him.

The big move comes for the action star and martial artist following his string successes which includes the Commando series, Khuda Haafiz and Junglee. He has ventured into film production with his own banner Action Hero Films this year. The source reveals that he is in talks with a few prominent Hollywood producers for a collaboration with his production house.

Talking about his association with Wonder Street, Jammwal says, "I'm excited to be associated with some of the hardest working people of Hollywood."

Jammwal's upcoming films include Sanak and Khuda Haafiz Chapter II.
Yash starrer K.G.F Chapter 2 sets new September release date but conditions apply: Reports

The much-awaited second part of Prashanth Neels K.F.G is back in the news for having found a new release date. The film which amassed a humongous fan base with its first part in 2018 is getting a much bigger sequel which is touted to be the most expensive Kannada film ever.

K.G.F Chapter 2 featuring Kannada actor Yash was earlier given a July 16 release date which the makers cannot meet due to delays posed by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The movie will release in September now according to trade analyst Sumit Kandel.

He tweets, that K.G.F Chapter 2 has been given a release date of September 9 after postponements if all goes well. The makers are wary of the third wave of Covid-19 which has been predicted by scientists and if the situation normalizes by September with theatres getting re-opened, they will proceed with the new date.

#KGFChapter2 couldve a theatrical release on 9th September providing covid is under control by then & theaters reopens across India. #KGF2pic.twitter.com/3YpafwYoAy  Sumit Kadel (@SumitkadeI) June 23, 2021

For now, K.G.F Chapter 2 is in post-production with Yash busy dubbing for his parts. Besides Yash, the project also stars Malavika Avinash, Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon in key roles.

K.G.F narrated the story of Rocky who sets out to become wealthy in order fulfill a promise he made to his dying mother. On moving to Mumbai he gets involved with gold mafia.
Avinash Tiwary bags web series inspired from Tom Cruise's Top Gun, top play a pilot of the Indian Air Force

Films based on the Indian Air Force same to be pretty vogue in Bollywood these days and looks like actor Avinash Tiwary is the latest to join that bandwagon. The Laila Majnu actor has apparently signed a web series where he will be donning the uniform.

The project, according to a News 18 report, will an Indian remake of Tom Cruise starrer Hollywood film Top Gun. The story will reportedly be based on the journey of an Indian air force pilot and not only has the actor given his nod for the project but the pre-production work on this web series backed by a popular streaming platform has also begun.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Avinash Tiwary (@avinashtiwary15)

Avinash was in fact supposed to shoot for the project from next month but those plans have now been altered. The series according to a source is supposed to be shot in Europe and the makers are still busy obtaining necessary permissions due to the pandemic leading to delays.

The actor also has shoot on series based S Hussain Zaidis book Dongri to Dubai to complete. Apart from these, Avinash also has a web series with filmmaker Neeraj Pandey titled Bihar Diaries. The story of the project is based on Bihar based IPS officer Amit Lodha who arrested Vijay Samrat a feared drug lord from the state.
Mrinal Dutt talks about staying away from 'typical soap operas' in his TV career: 'The shows I did were well-written'

Actor Mrinal Dutt, who has made a mark for himself with his performances in web-series "His Story" and sci-fi short film "55 km/sec", says his hope is to work with talented directors and build a versatile filmography.

The actor, who hails from Delhi, started his career with television before venturing into the digital space. He found success with shows such as "Upstarts" and "Hello Mimi".

In 2020, Dutt was particularly noted for two projects -- "His Story", a queer drama series, and short film "55 km/sec".

"I just want to have versatility in the parts that I pick. I want to do every kind of work because I have just started. There are a lot of talented filmmakers that I want to work with," the actor told PTI.

"I also know that if something doesn't pan out, then it's not the end of the world. If you don't have something today, there's a good chance you will get it tomorrow," Dutt added.

The 32-year-old actor said he realised his passion for acting during his graduation days in Zakir Hussain College.

"In college, I became very much active with drama society in the last two years. I used to participate in a lot of street plays in the Old Delhi area, where our college was situated.

"After that, I attended some workshops with Act One and from there I got the opportunity to do some advertisement. When I landed in Bombay, I was lucky as I started getting work soon," Dutt said.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mrinal Dutt (@crimrinal)

Though he initially worked in television, the actor is glad that he was able to avoid the quintessential soap operas.

"The work I did on television was a finite series. I did two shows and they had 17 and 20 episodes. I did not work on those typical soap operas. The shows I did were well-written with a defined story and character graph.

"In digital, things are done with a lot of clarity as it is a writer's medium and they have the liberty to write what they want," he said.

Dutt currently stars in series "Khwabon Ke Parindey", which started streaming on Voot from June 14.

The show explores the journey of friendship, hope and life of three friends through the picturesque landscape of Australia.

It revolves around the lives of three friends Bindiya, Dixit and Megha who are joined by Aakash - a quirky and rugged hitchhiker on an adventurous and life altering road trip from Melbourne to Perth.

About the series, Dutt, who plays Dixit in the series, said, "When it came to me, it sounded very exciting on paper as it was a coming-of-age show about three friends in Australia."

"Also a very cool group of people were behind it, so it had everything that I was looking for. It was a nice opportunity and I got to visit Australia as well. There was no reason for me to say no to it, it ticked all the boxes," he added.

Shooting for the road trip drama felt like actually going on one, Dutt said, adding that he did a lot of things that people do during such trips.

"The only difference was that during a road trip, you would stop at a place and witness and explore that area. In this scenario, we wouldn't get time to explore the area. All we did was to travel and then shoot at that place for 4-5 days before moving on to the next location.

"However, we did get the feel of a road trip as it was an independent film crew. We spend a lot of time together."

Directed by Tapasvi Mehta, "Khwabon Ke Parinday" also features Asha Negi, Manasi Moghe and Tushar Sharma.
Joint Statement of Ireland and Norway at the UNSC Briefing on Syria - Humanitarian

Statement

Mr President,

I make this statement on behalf of the co-penholders of the Syrian humanitarian file, Norway and Ireland. We would like to thank UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ramesh Rajasingham, and the CARE Turkey Country Director Ms Sherine Ibrahim, for their briefings which we have just heard.

Mr. President,

This year we marked ten years of conflict in Syria, a conflict that has caused enormous suffering for the Syrian people and created a deeply embedded humanitarian crisis which continues to worsen.

The facts are stark and shocking. At present, 13.4 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, a 20 percent increase from last year. The Syrian people continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict.

We condemn the attacks on 12 June on Al Shifaa Hospital in Afrin city that killed and injured civilians, including healthcare workers, and we underline once again the obligation on all parties to conflict to respect international humanitarian law. The impact of the reduced water levels in the Euphrates further underlines the ongoing vulnerability in the North East, where critical irrigation of crops and essential power supply to hospitals has been interrupted.

Mr. President,

On 10 July, the humanitarian aid delivery mechanism, renewed by Resolution 2533, will expire. In the coming two weeks Ireland and Norway as co-penholders will work with all members of this Council for renewal of this humanitarian resolution. We must show our strong and united support for Syrias most vulnerable people.

Let me be clear. After ten years of conflict and rising humanitarian needs in 2021, cross-border access is as essential today as it has ever been.

In fact, the situation on the ground has worsened since last July when this Council adopted Resolution 2533. An additional 2.4 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance. Food insecurity has risen by 50% - let me repeat 50%. In addition, Covid-19 has put enormous pressure on what was already a very fragile health system.

When it comes to delivering life-saving aid to people in need across Syria, we need to use all channels, both cross-line and cross-border modalities.

Mr. President,

As we have made clear over the past six months, the approach of Ireland and Norway as co-penholders for this resolution is guided solely by the humanitarian need and suffering of the people of Syria. Their needs are our overwhelming concern.

In the north-west, the number of people in need increased by over 20 percent in 2021. Each winter, freezing temperatures and flooding cause further hardships for the 1.6 million people living in camps and informal settlements.

In the north-east, humanitarian needs also remain high, and the situation has worsened since the closure of the Al Yarubiyah border crossing. While cross line deliveries to this area have been scaled up, they have not been adequate to meet growing needs. As the Secretary Generals latest report emphasises, humanitarian organisations in the north-east continue to report limited capacity of healthcare facilities, and imminent stockouts of medical supplies, including critical medicines such as insulin, and cardiovascular and antibacterial medicines. With more crossings and more funds, the UN could do more to help the rising number of people in need.

Mr. President,

We have consulted broadly with Security Council Members, civil society and indeed listened carefully to the UN, including the Secretary General, OCHA and the UN Agencies delivering the humanitarian response in Syria. The message has been very clear. A failure to renew the cross border resolution would halt the delivery of life-saving aid to millions of people in desperate need, increasing civilian suffering in north-west Syria to levels unprecedented in a decade of conflict.

Without a renewal, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the North West would be severely disrupted. A closure would have a detrimental effect on health, food security, water, sanitation, protection and other services provided by NGOs who rely on the UN support in logistics, financing and procurement. Put simply, failure to renew would cause a humanitarian catastrophe in the North West of Syria.

Humanitarian access must be facilitated to reach all civilians in need using all possible means, including through cross-line operations. However, even if deployed regularly, we know that cross-line convoys in the North West could not come close to replicating the size and scope of the cross-border operations. It is worth noting here the critical role of the UN Monitoring Mechanism in ensuring the cross border operation in the North West is one of the most heavily scrutinized and monitored aid operations in the world, ensuring the humanitarian nature of all shipments in the North West.

Mr. President

This brings us to the role and responsibility of the members of this Council, to ensure that all channels for delivering life-saving aid to people in need in Syria should be made and kept available.

Mr. President,

In the coming days, Ireland and Norway as co-penholders will be circulating to Council Members a draft resolution which will renew and expand the humanitarian aid delivery mechanism in response to the pressing humanitarian needs.

As penholders, our approach will continue to be informed by the words of the UN Secretary General that a large-scale cross-border response for an additional 12 months remains essential to save lives. We will remain in close contact with all members of the council in the weeks to come, in ensuring that the humanitarian needs of the people of Syria are met.

Thank you.

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We're celebrating our 20th birthday this month, and we've invited industry experts, researchers and scientists to write in and paint a vision of the future, 20 years from now. Here's what Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director of NVIDIA South Asia, had to share about his vision of the future.

There has been a rise in the phenomenon of gaming, with it increasing in droves before and during the pandemic. But as life slowly returns to normal around the globe, gamers appetite for interactive, realistic graphics that take immersive gameplay to the next level is unabated. About 64 percent of global gamers reportedly said they started playing video games in the past year, and the onus to keep this increasing phenomenon alive is on game developers, companies and studios. Together, we need to create visuals that can accurately render, enhance the immersive experience and make it a multi-sensory experience in the future.

NVIDIA technology, such as AI-powered DLSS and hardware ray-tracing, is powering a gaming revolution with the help of companies and studios including, 4A Games, CD PROJEKT RED, DICE, Codemasters, Headup Game, LEGOs Light Brick Studios, Rebellion, Rockstar Games, and Square Enix. NVIDIA technologies are helping to power stunning visuals while at the same time improving game performance of popular games like Minecraft, Cyberpunk 2077, Valorant, Death Stranding, DYING: 1983, Fortnite, Overwatch Monster Hunter World, Justice, Gu Jian Qi Tan Online, JX3, Xuan-Yuan Sword VII, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Doom Eternal. The success of these games shows how NVIDIAs technology is positively impacting the gaming ecosystem for developers, gaming studios and of course, the fans. As this ecosystem grows, NVIDIAs technology would be used to create more popular and best-selling games in the future. NVIDIA is constantly innovating for game developers of all sizes to figure out what their needs are both now and in the future as it looks to find ways to keep games engineers focused on building great content rather than fighting the technology itself.

NVIDIAs technology has addressed decade old challenges faced by developers like measuring game latency and setting up realistic lights and shadows to enhance visuals. NVIDIAs Ray Tracing technology made it possible to craft building blocks in Minecraft and bring the night city to life in Cyberpunk 2077. NVIDIAs GeForce and DLSS have given the metropolis nightlife a cinematic quality rendering in Cyberpunk 2077. The ray tracing technology helped in creating stunning visuals and rendering realistic LEGO bricks to build mini-worlds for award winning puzzle game LEGO Builders Journey. LEGO Builders Journey is also accelerated with NVIDIA DLSS, with enhanced graphics, global illumination, reflections and shadows. This gives GeForce gamers an unparalleled gaming experience.

Another innovation that has provided much benefit for game developers is NVIDIA Reflex which improves game latency up to 360 Hz at 18ms. Reaction times in milliseconds makes a huge difference between life and death in games. NVIDIA Reflex breaks down real time latency metrics by game pipeline stage, eliminates GPU render queue and has allowed game companies to serve players around the world with the lowest render latency possible. With NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Reflex, GeForce RTX players will enjoy a more authentic gaming experience. It provides players with improved performance and an overall improved experience at no cost to image quality. NVIDIA Reflex is supported in 12 of the top 15 competitive shooters INCLUDING: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)/Call of Duty: Warzone, CrossFire HD, Destiny 2, Enlisted, Escape from Tarkov, Fortnite, Overwatch, Rainbow Six Siege, Rust and Valorant.

Any conversation about the future of gaming would be incomplete without the mention of NVIDIA Omniverse. Real time asset collaboration is the next approach for developers and graphic designers around the world. It lets them create and simulate shared virtual 3D worlds that obey the laws of physics. Through NVIDIA Omniverse, creators can import assets from supported games or most 3rd party asset libraries into the platform. Reality is effortlessly recreated with high-fidelity physics like particles and fluids, and physically accurate materials. After mixing, playing, and composing the scenes, path-traced rendering technology is enabled with one-click to final output with the highest fidelity. Omniverse technology also enables developers to work simultaneously on the same project irrespective of their location and also provides the ultimate shortcut for integrating NVIDIA technologies. The transformative tools of NVIDIAs Omniverse are not only revolutionizing the way we collaborate but are also accelerating production workflows. Omniverses appeal is beyond question, and gamers and developers will no doubt be surprised beyond belief once the technology achieves full maturity with momentum and impact that will be unprecedented for the long term.

These technologies combined with NVIDIAs GPUs are aligned perfectly with game developers ever growing demand of increased graphic workloads, which continue to evolve every year, setting the stage for next generation of games and gamers. The best thing about the GPUs is how seamlessly they complement NVIDIAs technology with the least amount of effort.

With NVIDIA GPUs and technologies driving this massive development, and upping the ante every year, the future of gaming will be forever changing and very exciting. Were still in the early days, and weve only begun to understand what we can achieve, but were taking big steps on the way to the future.

By Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, NVIDIA South Asia
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By KEN SWEET

AP Business Writer

NEW YORK  Wall Street's big investment banks are sending a message to their employees this summer: Get back into the office and bring your vaccination card.

New York-based Morgan Stanley said this week that all employees will be required to attest to their vaccination status. Those who are not vaccinated will be required to work remotely, which could potentially put their jobs at risk, since the bank's top executives have said they want everyone back in the office by September.





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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe challenging the operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

With his ruling, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg outlined a path for a future legal challenge to an ongoing environmental review, should the tribe seek to make one.





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Arrived Homes gets $37M from Bezos and other billionaires

New real estate platform Arrived Homes recently announced $37 million in seed funding and debt financing. Core Innovation Capital arranged the first round of financing from sources including Bezos Expeditions (the investment company of Jeff Bezos), Time Ventures (the investment fund of Marc Benioff, of Salesforce) and Spencer Rascoff (the former CEO of Zillow). Arrived was founded here by Ryan Frazier, Kenny Cason and Alejandro Chouza. The startup that allows investors to buy SEC qualified shares in rental homes. The company says it has to date bought over 30 properties throughout Arkansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina. CEO Frazier said in a statement, With Arrived, we're breaking down the barriers to investing in rental homes, by taking a process that typically takes months and making it accessible in less than four minutes, starting from just $100. We're really passionate about the opportunity to help millions of people better access this historically great asset class.




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Photo by AvalonBay Communities [enlarge] Among the Redmond Place amenities is a pool.





Avalon Redmond Place Apartments, at 8935 160th Ave. N.E. , has sold for $97.7 million, according to King County records. The seller was Bay Pacific Northwest LP, associated with AvalonBay Communities, which acquired the property in 1997 for $21.7 million.





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To succeed in this role, we believe that you have:

Youll join a motivated, energetic and international team, where you will find fellow implementation and release managers. A great occasion to learn from them and for the team to learn from you! The role is based in Gdansk; Gdynia; Warsaw.

Welcome to the System Releases team. We add value by where you will have a unique opportunity to take the next step in your career.

We focus on uplifting our IT capabilities: change execution, requirements management, software architecture, software development, quality assurance, engineering system and strategic execution.

Nordea IT is going through a transformation to increase efficiency, create greater coherence across IT and to meet the customer expectations. Our Technology unit and more agile execution model are organised around IT capabilities and a business-alignment function.

Next steps





Submit your application no later than 07/14/2021.

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Jet Airways to fly again

Grounded airline Jet Airways is set to get its wings back, two years after it halted services in April 2019. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has given the go-ahead for the revival plan submitted by a consortium of UKs Kalrock Capital and UAE-based Murari Lal Jalan for the debt-laden carrier.

The NCLT has also directed the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the ministry of civil aviation to allot time slots to the grounded airline within 90 days.

Jet had about 700 time slots, but after its suspension of operation in April 2019 and the start of the debt resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), those slots were allocated to other airlines.

The airline operated a fleet of more than 120 planes serving dozens of domestic destinations and international hubs such as Singapore, London and Dubai at the time.

Jet Airways was facing increasing financial pressure due to rising operating costs. Added pressure from new competitors compounded the crisis. As a result, the company failed to meet several debt obligations.

Jet had to ground a significant portion of its fleet after defaulting on lease payments. Soon after, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) stopped supplying fuel to the beleaguered carrier over uncleared dues. Jet Airways had to soon shut down operations completely as it ran out of cash to conduct any further flights and its lenders rejected an infusion of Rs400 crore as emergency funding.

When talks with the Hinduja Group and Etihad Airways for investing in Jet Airways fell through, the creditors of the company moved to the NCLT to formally start the insolvency process.

Jet Airways Committee of Creditors had, in October 2020, approved the resolution proposal of the Kalrock-Jalan consortium that had offered to repay banks, financial institutions and employees and establish Jet Airways as a full service airline.

Jet Airways owes more than Rs 8,000 crore to banks.

Grant Thornton and SBI Capital were placed as professional advisor and process advisor, respectively, in the resolution procedure. The NCLT gave a 90-day timeline for the resolution process.

The Kalrock-Jalan consortium is believed to have offered to repay Rs1,183 crore over a period of five years to financial creditors, employees and other staff of Jet Airways. It has also offered about a 9.5 per cent stake in Jet Airways and a 7.5 per cent stake in Jet Privilege to financial creditors.

Some key lenders to Jet Airways are SBI, Yes Bank, IDBI Bank and Canara Bank. While Jet Airways faces claims of over Rs15,000 crore from various creditors under IBC, 13 domestic banks and financial institutions led by SBI have made claims of Rs5,776 crore.

In the meantime, the company was facing cross-border insolvency in the Netherlands as well.

In the face of mounting claims, no buyers emerged within the original timeline. An extension of 180 days was granted, during which South American conglomerate Synergy Group Corp, Russia-led Far East Development Fund, Prudent ARC, and a reinterested Hinduja Group considered bidding for the airlines.

Out of the many speculated bidders, the Committee of Creditors received just one bid, from Synergy Corp. The bid, however, was rejected since it came with the stipulation of writing off a significant portion of the debt, and converting the remaining into equity.

The spread of the Wuhan virus further complicated the resolution process, with fewer buyers coming forward to revive an insolvent company in one of the hardest hit sectors.

In June, the NCLT granted permission to the airline to sell its Bandra Kurla Complex for about Rs500 crore. The payment was immediately utilised by the bank to settle mortgage debts to HDFC and US-based Exim Bank. The payments helped unencumber six aircraft with a total value of $200 million.

Since then, UK investment fund Kalrock Capital along with Murari Lal Jalan, a UAE-based entrepreneur, emerged as leading candidates. Imperial Capital Investments LLC from Abu Dhabi and Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC) were the second consortium to submit their bids. FSTC later submitted an improved bid, but as the bid was outside the deadline, the Kalrock-Murari Lal Jalan bid was accepted.

The NCLT approved the Kalrock-Murari resolution bid and set the stage for Jet to resume its operations after receiving slots and rights from the ministry of civil aviation. With the resolution process closed, Jet Airways became the first airline to go through the insolvency process under IBC in India.

If all goes well, Jet Airways will fly again by the end of the calendar year. It will initially operate on 20 routes, with 20 narrow body aircraft and 5 wide-bodied aircraft, according to the advisors.
Govt moves to protect consumers from e-commerce frauds

The government has proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, 2020 and Rules thereby, making it mandatory for e-commerce firms to appoint a Chief Compliance Officer - a nodal contact person for 24x7 coordination with law enforcement agencies and officers to ensure compliance with their orders -and a Resident Grievance Officer for redressing the grievances of consumers on the e-commerce platform.

This would ensure effective compliance with the provisions of the Act and Rules and also strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism on e-commerce entities, the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution stated in a release.

The ministry also proposed a framework for registration of every e-commerce entity with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for allotment of registration number, which has to be displayed prominently on website as well as invoice of every order placed by the e-commerce entity. Registration of e-commerce entities would help create a database of genuine e-commerce entities and ensure that the consumers are able to verify the genuineness of an e-commerce entity before transacting through their platform, the ministry pointed out.

To protect the interests of consumers, mis-selling has been prohibited, ie, entities selling goods or services by deliberate misrepresentation of information about such goods or services.

To ensure that consumers are aware about the expiry date of the products they are buying on the e-commerce platform, all sellers on marketplace e-commerce entities and all inventory e-commerce entities have to provide `best before or `use before date to enable consumers to make an informed purchase decision.

To ensure that the domestic manufacturers and suppliers get a fair and equal treatment on the e-commerce platform it has been provided that where an e-commerce entity offers imported goods or services, it shall incorporate a filter mechanism to identify goods based on country of origin and suggest alternatives to ensure fair opportunity to domestic goods.

To ensure that consumers are not adversely affected in the event where a seller fails to deliver the goods or services due to negligent conduct by such seller in fulfilling the duties and liabilities in the manner as prescribed by the marketplace e-commerce entity, provisions of fall-back liability for every marketplace e-commerce entity have been provided.

To protect the interests of consumers and encourage free and fair competition in the market, the government is sharing a draft of the proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020

For the purposes of preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Central Government had notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 with effect from 23 July 2020. However, since the notification of these rules, the Government has received several representations from aggrieved consumers, traders and associations complaining against widespread cheating and unfair trade practices being observed in the e-commerce ecosystem.

Prevalence of such unfortunate incidents has negatively impacted the consumer and business sentiment in the market, causing immense distress and anguish to many. It was observed that there was an evident lack of regulatory oversight in e-commerce which required some urgent action. Moreover, the rapid growth of e-commerce platforms has also brought into the purview the unfair trade practices of the marketplace e-commerce entities engaging in manipulating search result to promote certain sellers, preferential treatment to some sellers, indirectly operating the sellers on their platform, impinging the free choice of consumers, selling goods close to expiration etc.

Additionally, conventional flash sales by third party sellers are not banned on e-commerce platform. But, certain e-commerce entities are engaging in limiting consumer choice by indulging in back to back or flash sales wherein one seller selling on platform does not carry any inventory or order fulfilment capability but merely places a flash or back to back order with another seller controlled by platform. This prevents a level playing field and ultimately limits customer choice and increases prices.

To protect the interests of consumers, prevent their exploitation and encourage free and fair competition in the market, Government of India is sharing a draft of the proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020. The proposed amendments aim to bring transparency in the e-commerce platforms and further strengthen the regulatory regime to curb the prevalent unfair trade practices.

The proposed amendments are available on website of Dept of Consumer Affairs https://consumeraffairs.nic.insitesdefaultfilesfile-uploadslatestnewsComments_eCommerce_Rules2020.pdf and views/comments/suggestions on the draft rules may be sent to js-ca@nic.in within 15 days (till 6 July 2021).
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Tammy Malgesini, who recently returned as an East Oregonian community writer, enjoys spending time with her husband and two German shepherds, as well as entertaining herself with random musings.
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BOARDMAN  Oregon officials have given Cody Easterday 15 days to withdraw his application to operate a controversial mega-dairy in Boardman, j
Turkce okuyun

EBRD, ILO and Union of Municipalities of Turkey embark on new initiative to empower women

Partners to propose policy changes for municipal childcare services

Affordable and quality childcare options can increase womens labour-force participation

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (UMT) are joining forces to promote more accessible childcare with the view to encouraging womens participation in the labour force.

Policymakers in Turkey recognise that the unequal sharing of childcare responsibilities within the family is one of the main reasons for womens lower labour-market participation. Meanwhile, accessible, affordable and quality childcare options provided by the private and public sectors, particularly municipalities, remain insufficient to meet demand.

To address this issue, the EBRD, ILO and UMT have agreed to strengthen the capacity of Turkish municipalities to provide enhanced childcare services, enabling more women to seek job opportunities and stay in the workforce.

The partners will work together to improve the municipal regulatory environment in childcare matters, to advocate change among policymakers and to support the implementation of these new approaches in selected municipalities, paving the way for broader policy reform.

EBRD Managing Director for Turkey Arvid Tuerkner, Director of ILOs Turkey office Numan Ozcan and President of UMT and Mayor of Gaziantep Fatma Sahin formalised the cooperation in a memorandum of understanding signed by video conference today.

Arvid Tuerkner said on behalf of the EBRD: The high burden of unpaid care has already been limiting womens ability to participate in the economy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, gender equality has worsened for working women. Now, more than ever, is the time to create a more enabling environment for women to find employment, stay in jobs and advance their careers. To achieve this, childcare solutions are critical. The EBRD will provide technical support, including a review of relevant municipal law, coordinate and manage regular consultations of the policy working group and support the implementation of its recommendations.

Numan Ozcan of the ILO commented: One of the main reasons for womens low participation in the labour force is responsibility for care, especially childcare roles, which fall on the shoulders of women. Therefore, the provision of accessible and affordable early childhood care and education services is key to increasing womens employment. The collaboration is the result of a joint study by the ILO and the EBRD, with the contribution of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey. It sets out the way forward for our organisations to scale up accessible, quality and affordable municipal early childhood care and education services in Turkey. We hope that, in this way, we can help women return to work and increase their participation in the labour market.

Mayor Sahin added: In every crisis, disadvantaged groups are the ones most affected. Many women were forced to leave the workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic because childcare was not available. Todays agreement will empower municipalities to enhance the available childcare, which goes beyond just kindergartens. We hope the model that we will create will be successful and many cities around the world would follow suit.
Man, thats GOTTA hurt

While there have been a few rational actors in the Michigan Republican legislative caucus who have refused to subscribe to The Big Lie that Donald Trump won more votes than Joe Biden in Michigan and, in fact, across the entire country, most have been vocally all in on it. The only the way The Big Lie isnt a lie is if there was widespread voter fraud, the likes of which this country has never seen.

The happy fact is, our election system is so distributed, run by local municipalities with no central controller, stealing an election through voter fraud would be, as I said on the pod last week, like robbing a bank one dollar at a time. Even ballot tabulation equipment is different different from place to place so voting machine hacking would still have very little impact and would be virtually impossible to conceal.

But none of this has kept most Michigan Republicans from fawning and preening before an audience of one  Donald Trump  parroting his ridiculous Big Lie claims. Michigan Senate Republicans held a tour de farce hearing where they brought in Rudy Giuliani  who today lost his New York law license due to his mendacity about the 2020 election  to essentially run the show, calling witnesses, cross examining them, and turning our senate chambers into a complete clown show, once again making our state a national embarassment.

Senate Republicans vowed to get to the bottom of it with a serious investigation that many of figured would start with the conclusion and then work backwards. However, it turns out they actually did a valid examination and came to a non-subtle conclusion. Rather than put that conclusion in my own frame, well let their report speak for itself. These are actually excerpts from the 55-page report:

This Committee found no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud in Michigans prosecution of the 2020 election.

At this point, I feel confident to assert the results of the Michigan election are accurately represented by the certified and audited resultsAll compelling theories that sprang forth from the rumors surrounding Antrim County are diminished so significantly as for it to be a complete waste of time to consider them further (That is a quote from Michigan Senate Oversight Committee Chair Ed McBroom.)

[T]here is no evidence presented at this time to prove either significant acts of fraud or that an organized, wide-scale effort to commit fraudulent activity was perpetrated in order to subvert the will of Michigan voters.

There was no evidence presented to the Committee indicating that hundreds of thousands of absentee voter ballots were mailed to Michigan voters without previously being requested.

The chance of encountering [an] attempted double vote scenario is so statistically unlikely as to make impossible even a small effort to do so.

[T]he Committee found no evidence fraudulent activities were undertaken or that such actions led to irreparable harm to ballots or vote counting.

The Committee states that the dataclearly and concisely shows that ideas and speculation that the Antrim County election workers or outside entities manipulated the vote by hand or electronically are indefensible. Further, the Committee is appalled at what can only be deduced as a willful ignorance or avoidance of this proof perpetuated by some leading such speculation.

The Committee recommends the attorney general consider investigating those who have been utilizing misleading and false information about Antrim County to raise money or publicity for their own ends.

The Committee finds those promoting Antrim County as the prime evidence of a nationwide conspiracy to steal the election place all other statements and actions they make in a position of zero credibility.

The Committee finds these postulations [about illegal votes] strain credulity and are simply preposterous.

The Committee finds insisting [that there] is evidence of a cover up, Destruction of election artifacts prior to end of 22-month archival requirement, is incredibly misleading, demeaning, and irresponsible.

The Committee can confidently assert that it has been thorough in examination of numerous allegations of unlawful actions, improper procedures, fraud, vote theft, or any other description which would cause citizens to doubt the integrity of Michigans 2020 election results. Our clear finding is that citizens should be confident the results represent the true results of the ballots cast by the people of Michigan. The Committee strongly recommends citizens use a critical eye and ear toward those who have pushed demonstrably false theories for their own personal gain.

That list reads like a list youd see from a Democratic caucus investigation as it so thoroughly refutes all of the adherents to The Big Lie, at least as it relates to Michigan, that Senator McBroom and all of the other Republicans who signed onto it have probably ended their careers in whats left of the Republican Party. The GOP is no longer a political party that permits dissent or contrary views. You either toe the line or you are banished into the political wilderness like Liz Cheney and others.

There are a number of recommendations in the report that might possibly save them. Some are valid, others seem to give some breathing space for the voter suppression bills Republicans will invariably pass and that Governor Whitmer will invariably veto. However, given how safe, secure, and legitimate the 2020 election was here, they seem entirely unnecessary.

At any rate, the recommendations in the report are little more than drop in an ocean of OUCH! for Michigan Republicans.

Man, thats gotta hurt.
Candidates for local authority elections urged to come forward



By Chris Cave - Local Democracy Reporter

Current and former members of local authority boards are urging those passionate about their communities to stand in next months elections.

The deadline for nominations is looming and there are fears a lack of interest at local government level will harm the Islands democracy.

Arbory and Rushen Commissioners Chair Jane Glover MBE says local authority members can have a big influence in shaping the area they live in.

I think everybody has an image of what an MHK is but they dont really fully understand what commissioners do, she said.

Mrs Glover added: From my experience its much broader than people actually imagine.

For anyone out there that is passionate about the community that they live in, wants to keep it in [a] good state, want[s] to make improvements; I really would encourage them [to stand].

Stand up, step forward and stand up for their community.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Tony Brown OBE, who himself was a commissioner before entering central government, is calling for those that care about their communities to come forward.

He said: The importance of commissioners should not be undervalued.

People who are considering standing need to, one, care about the area they want to stand for, and be willing to fight to protect and safeguard things that matter to their local area.

Anyone interested in becoming a local authority candidate must meet Tuesdays nominations deadline.

Voters are set to head to the polls on Thursday, 22 July.
Anger as planning consent approved to fell historic trees

A television presenter is among a number of people who have condemned plans to fell one of Europes last elm tree tunnels at St Marks.

The Manx Wildlife Trust has criticised the plans to fell the trees near the entrance to Ballavarvane Farm.

More than 50 trees could be felled to improve visibility along Braaid Road.

BBC presenter and naturalist Chris Packham described the plans as an 'absolute disgrace'. He said: "Whoever granted the permission should have a sit down and a rethink . This is a National natural treasure - not an inconvenience to be destroyed for a farm."

A petition against the plans has been signed by more than 8,000 people.
Ricky VanHoozer, 65, of Athens, Alabama, died Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in Madison Hospital. A 2 p.m. graveside service will be Saturday at Bottom Cemetery with son-in-law Billy Sims officiating. Visitation is from noon until 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Spry Funeral Home in Athens. Pallbearers will 
Google is delaying its plan to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome to mid-2023 amid pushback from regulators and the wider ad industry. The web giant first announced its Privacy Sandbox initiative in 2019 and the following year it revealed a 2022 implementation date.

As part of the sweeping changes, Google will effectively replace individual user tracking with group-based ad targeting. Others, including Apple, Microsoft and Mozilla, have already done so in their respective browsers. Though Google was keen to catch up  even testing its Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) tech on some users around the world in March  it's now slowing down the pace.

Today, Google admitted that it "needs more time across the ecosystem to get this right." Google now expects that it will completely replace third-party cookies over a three-month period by the end of 2023.

"In order to do this, we need to move at a responsible pace, allowing sufficient time for public discussion on the right solutions and for publishers and the advertising industry to migrate their services," Vinay Goel, privacy engineering director, Google, said. "This is important to avoid jeopardizing the business models of many web publishers which support freely available content."

Currently, Google is testing out four out of 30 Privacy Sandbox proposals in what it defines as "key areas" such as ad measurement, ad relevance and content and fraud detection. One of these trials was the aforementioned FLoC test, which Google says it is on track to complete in the coming weeks.

As part of a two-stage implementation process, Google plans to deploy these technologies in the form of APIs starting in late 2022. This first stage will last for nine months and give advertisers and publishers time to make the switch, the company said. The next step will mark the beginning of the end for third-party cookies starting in mid-2023.

Along the way, Google promised to partake in transparent discussions and incorporate feedback from external parties including web developers, advertisers, publishers and regulators. Competition watchdogs have made it clear to Google that they want to be briefed on the changes. The company has already bowed to the UK Competition and Market Authority's demands to oversee the ad tech overhaul. While multiple states in the US are investigating the changes as part of a broader antitrust lawsuit into Google's alleged abuse of power. Just this week, the European Commission launched its own wide-ranging competition probe to determine if Google uses its ad tools and user data to stymie smaller rivals.
Kusanagi Motoko, Johnny Mnemonic, Takeshi Kovacs, John Perry, Lenny Nero  the practice of melding biological minds with electronics hardware is a cornerstone technology of modern cyberpunk literature. And, if certain medical device startup companies are to be believed, accomplishing similar cybernetic feats  from downloadable memories to Whoa, I Know Kung Fu-style instantaneous learning  could become reality sooner than we think. However, a number of leading researchers in the study of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and the encompassing field of neurology, arent quite so bullish on the prospects of an inevitable cybernetic future.

BCIs are, essentially, devices that read the electrochemical firing of the brains myriad synapses, interprets and translates that signal into a digital format that can be understood by computers. Research on the technology began in the 1970s at the Brain Research Institute of University of California at Los Angeles under the watch of pioneering neurologist, Dr. Jacques J. Vidal. It took researchers more than two decades to sufficiently lay the basic technological groundwork needed to progress from animal models but by the mid-1990s the very first BCI prototypes were being installed in human craniums.

People have tried regenerative medicine, stem cells and that's been a really hot area for years, to try to inject biological payloads to repair injury, Dr. Charles Liu, Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery and Director of the USC Neurorestoration Center, explained to Engadget. But for people with very severe injuries, like the ones that we deal with. We envision a situation where we can essentially create a replacement technology to the natural way that humans do things.

BCIs are generally categorized based on whether they collect electrical information from the inside or the outside of the patients head, with each method having its own unique qualities and characteristics. The skull is a big insulator, Dr. Liu noted. it attenuates all the information. I mean, if the brain wasn't inside the skull, it wouldn't be so mysterious.

For example, in a 2016 study, Dr. Liu coordinated with a team of neurologists from the University of California, Irvine (Zot! Zot! Zot!), led by Dr. An Do, Assistant Professor

Department of Neurology and member of UCIs Brain Computer Interface Lab, to help partially restore a paraplegic mans ability to walk using an external, noninvasive BCI that relied on Electroencephalography (EEG). The patient, 27-year-old Adam Fritz, a Southern California insurance adjuster who had been paralyzed in a 2008 traffic accident, first had to relearn how to walk  but only inside his head.

As part of the therapy, Fritz spent countless hours trying to cajole a video game avatar to walk from one side of a computer screen to the other, using only the power of his mind, while an EEG cap monitored and collected his mental output. Those signals, especially after he figured out how to consistently will his character across the screen, were then fed into a signal processing algorithm to translate them into something that a computer could understand. Those commands were then used to control a device affixed below the break in his spinal column which fired electrical impulses into his legs, allowing him to walk the length of a 12-foot course.

At the other end of the invasiveness scale, youve got devices like the almost-fully implantable BrainGate2 system. Installing this BCI requires surgery as a baby aspirin-sized array of micro-electrodes are implanted directly onto the surface of the brain itself. By decoding the collected neuroelectrical signals, patients using the BrainGate system have shown the ability to control on-screen cursors with relative ease.

In a groundbreaking 2012 study, a team of researchers from Brown University implanted 96-pin BrainGates into the motor cortices of two quadriplegic patients, allowing them to control a DLR robotic arm to pick up and serve herself a cup of coffee unassisted for the first time in 15 years (and could still do so five years after the device had initially been implanted). Earlier this year, Brown University researchers made an even more monumental technical advancement  they built a system that works wirelessly. The team replaced the conventional Medusas scalp of wires and cables that used to run from the implant site to nearby computer arrays, with a 2-inch long, 1.5 ounce wireless transceiver.

Weve demonstrated that this wireless system is functionally equivalent to the wired systems that have been the gold standard in BCI performance for years, John Simeral, assistant professor of engineering at Brown University and lead author of the study, told Brown University News. The signals are recorded and transmitted with appropriately similar fidelity, which means we can use the same decoding algorithms we used with wired equipment. The only difference is that people no longer need to be physically tethered to our equipment, which opens up new possibilities in terms of how the system can be used.

This advance could for example help accelerate the development of a new generation of mind-controlled prosthetics, like the new bidirectional sensing LUKE hand developed at the University of Michigan. This is the biggest advance in motor control for people with amputations in many years, Paul Cederna, Professor of Plastic Surgery at the U-M Medical School, told UMich News.

Noninvasive BCIs, like the EEG-based skull cap Dr. Dos team used in the 2016 study, are still widely used in research given their convenience and minimal chance of causing complications. However those come at a cost of lower spatial resolution and spectral bandwidth compared to invasive systems that can monitor the activation state of individual neurons. That is, the system is easier to get on and off but it doesnt generally produce as high quality data as a more invasive subdural array would. In a few circumstances, however, that low fidelity data can still be useful and generalizable beyond its primary function.

At an ECG level, because everything is so mushed together and the resolution is so low, Dr. Do explained to Engadget, the algorithm we use to decode, as the person is thinking about moving or not moving, can be used for both upper and lower extremities.

Now, when it comes to the lower extremities and upper extremities within the invasive domain, Dr. Do continued. When we get into the extracellular potentials and single neuron activity, that may not hold true.

Dr. Payam Heydari, a professor at UCI's Henry Samueli School of Engineering, elaborated In the upper extremity, the essence of the algorithm perhaps remains the same but the learning based model is going to change because the rotation, the movements and everything else for upper and lower extremity are going to be different, but the essence is going to be the same.

Dr. Do notes that the added algorithmic and signal processing layers needed to help establish command and control over individual fingers as opposed to toes could preclude some systems built to interpret the signals destined for legs and feet to translate for use with arms and hands.

However, as signal fidelity increases through the use of implanted BCIs capable of recording the activity of single neurons, more generalized sets of actions may be possible, at least for the upper extremities. Those signals contain so much information about intended movement, it should allow intuitive control over complex devices, including multi-dimensional reach and grasp of robotic prosthetic limbs, Dr. Leigh Hochberg, Director of the Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Neurocritical Care and Acute Stroke Services, Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Engineering at Brown University, told Engadget. Those same signals can be used for controlling a computer cursor on screen and, as shown recently, those same signals can be used for decoding intended handwriting.

That flexibility is what we want to harness  much like somebody who's able-bodied may, at one moment, use their hand to write with a pen, and the next moment, use their hands to control a computer mouse, and a few moments after that, reach out to pick up a cup of coffee, he continued. Part of the reason to be recording from the brain is to use the signals that allow for flexible control over multiple useful devices.

Despite numerous advances over the past decade, BCI technology still faces significant roadblocks in getting out of the lab and (literally) into the publics consciousness. USCs Dr. Liu points to miniaturization of the electronics, design of a fully implantable device, better signal processing algorithms and creating the bidirectionality in the sensation and control signals, as laudable goals but notes that much of their potential success is predicated on having a sufficiently robust power supply.

The power requirements are critical, he said. If you have something that requires a lot of power, then the person has to carry a battery pack and, if you want to implant it fully, then how big can the battery be? And then if you want to change the battery out periodically, how often do you need to do that? Our goal would be to put in something very small that achieves everything.

This technology can be useful, Dr. Karunesh Ganguly, Associate Professor of Neurology at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. But the question of how to make it useful day-to-day for patients is the challenge and... requires customization to an individual's needs.

Ganguly sees future applications for the technology expanding to help stroke patients as well as for severe paralysis. That's probably the one that would make the biggest impact hopefully in the next five or ten years. People who are quadriplegic or paraplegic, upper spinal cord injuries, stroke, ALS, muscular dystrophy and so forth. They're paralyzed, but their brain is intact. That phenotype, I think, has the greatest chance for this version to work.

Regardless of the myriad treatments BCIs could one day be used for, the technology remains in its infancy and exists almost exclusively in research labs. But that hasnt stopped startups like Elon Musks Neuralink company from making a number of fantastic claims about what their devices might someday do  from monkeys playing Pong to being able to rewind memories or download them into robots a la Altered Carbon.

Such claims have been met with a range of reactions by the neurology research community, from huffed eye rolls to outright hostility. And as for whether well be able to instantly learn anything, a la The Matrix, well, try not to hold your breath.

The guy is a master of selling things that may never work, Dr. Miguel Nicolelis, pioneering neurologist and Principal Investigator of the Nicolelis Lab at Duke University, recently told Inverse, They will never make people download their emotions or their deep cognitive functions, and theyll never make people learn French by uploading French grammar to a brain-machine interface. You will never reproduce it. For a science fiction movie, that's fine, but for Elon Musk to come out and say exactly the same thing is bogus  totally bogus.

[Musk] sells things that have been invented before and he tries to say that hes done some amazing thing, he continued, arguing that much of what Neuralink has touted as advancements is actually old hat for the academic research community.

Dr. Do concedes that we still have a lot of challenges that are necessary to overcome before were downloading languages at will but also points out that private companies  and the hefty R&D budgets that they command  are able to iterate ideas more quickly and make things happen on a timescale that's way faster than anything happens in academia. So maybe our Kung Fu fighting futures arent that far off after all.

However, the prospect of using BCIs to not only heal injuries back to full functionality but to actively enhance human performance and cognition leads  as nearly all cutting edge technologies do  to a morass of ethical issues. Who gets access to the technology and when? Will having computers in our heads exacerbate existing societal inequality? How do we keep these machines secure from hacking attempts, and build public trust in a radically new form of biotechnology such as this? These are questions without easy answers but as Dr. Hochberg points out, despite their world-changing potential, BCIs are still just medical devices. Ones which, in the US at least, are subject to massive amounts of testing, validation and oversight by the FDA and other federal regulatory agencies. And just like previous revolutionary technological advancements  looking at you implantable pacemakers, deep brain stimulation systems, and vagus nerve stimulators  any BCI device that does make it to market, whether it came out of a university lab or Elon Musks latest fever dream, will have been put through its paces.
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Drake Bell changed his path now and pleaded guilty to charges involving a 15-year-old girl.

On Wednesday, Bell pleaded guilty via Zoom to several charges. The case involves attempted child endangerment (4th-degree felony) and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

The pre-trial hearing virtually happened in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

He and his defense attorney, Ian Friedman, refused to comment on the case. However, Friedman noted that they will reveal why the former "Drake & Josh" star decided to enter the plea.

Once finalized, he could receive a prison sentence of up to 18 months and a fine of up to $5,000 for the felony charge. Meanwhile, the misdemeanor charge could cause him to spend six months in county jail and fine up to $1,000.

The 34-year-old actor might also score three years of post-release control once the possible prison term has been finalized. Currently, no definite update as to what will happen next or when the next court appearance will occur.

Bell initially pleaded not guilty on June 3, 2021, and posted a $2,500 bond before he was released.

Following the initial arrest, the court ordered him not to reach out to the victim. He was also required to submit a DNA as part of the requirements for the standard operating procedure in the court.

What Drake Bell Did to 15-Year-Old Woman

According to Tyler Sinclair, a spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, it all began when a girl contacted the Toronto Police in October 2018 regarding the abuse she faced while attending Bell's concert.

Per Sinclair, the celebrity violated his "duty of care" by harming the victim. Several years before the concert, the two reportedly developed a relationship online.

READ ALSO: 'Jeopardy!' Issues Apology Following Erroneous Medical Clue: Not The First Time!

Throughout that period, Bell reportedly sent inappropriate messages to the girl. On Dec. 1, 2017, the concert and the incident happened.

In the initial filing, the 15-year-old victim revealed that the incident occurred "at a Cleveland nightclub on Old River Road in the city's East Bank of The Flats district."

The Canadian authorities immediately relayed the information to the Cleveland Police to further investigate the matter.

After looking into things, they found out that their supposed friendly meetup ultimately risked the minor.

Bell famously joined Nickelodeon's "The Amanda Show" and "Drake & Josh." He and co-star Josh Beck starred in two "Drake & Josh" films.

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Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt sparked romance rumors during the 2020 SAG Awards, and the actress now revealed the truth behind it.

For years since Aniston and Pitt became single, many people assumed that they might be together again. One instance that hyped fans involved their exclusive moment at SAG Awards and several reunions.

Recently, Howard Stern himself wanted to know what's going on between the two by asking Aniston herself about the relationship.

Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt Feel Awkward?

In the recent episode of SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show," the 52-year-old actress set the records straight about the inquiry. The host also brought up the "awkward exchange" during the awards event.

At that time, the "Friends" actress and Pitt had a seemingly awkward moment backstage of the 2020 SAG Awards. The actor even held her hand when she tried to brush past him.

But for Aniston, the moment was not weird at all.

"It was absolutely fun. You know, Brad and I are buddies," Aniston said, as quoted by Fox News. "Like, we're friends and we speak."

She added that they currently share no oddness at all. Still, she noted that those people who saw the picture thought what Stern thought. However, she assured that they remain friends even after their divorce.

READ ALSO: Camilla May Possibly Get a 'Queen' Title- But in a Different Aspect

They went on to marry different people. In 2015, she said "I do" to Justin Theroux while Pitt married Angelina Jolie in 2014. The former couple both filed for divorce from both marriages.

In the past months, they sparked reconciliation rumors after the public spotted them hanging out several times. The "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" actor even attended her 50th birthday celebration and her holiday party in 2019.

Can They Get Back Together?

Despite keeping their relationship healthy and being available at the moment, Aniston and Pitt's romantic reunion is impossible right now.

But Aniston told Stern that while she has not found love yet, she is not closing her doors for a new relationship. She then pressed that she will not join any dating apps as she feels fine even without them.

"There's nothing anonymous about it and I wouldn't do that," she said. "I don't want to do that and I don't need to do that. I'm all good."

This month, the actress became subject to rumors as multiple news outlets suggested that she is dating John Mayer and her "Friends" co-star, David Schwimmer. Currently, none of these are proven true.

READ MORE: 'Jeopardy!' Issues Apology Following Erroneous Medical Clue: Not The First Time!

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John McAfee and his death sparked creepy conspiracy theories and involved Jeffrey Epstein's name.

After being charged with tax evasion in the U.S., McAfee entered the prison cell and was currently awaiting extradition in a Spanish prison.

However, only a week after Spain's National Court in Madrid approved his extradition to the U.S., the antivirus software magnate took his own life.

Authorities found his dead body inside his cell in Barcelona around 1:00 PM. Although the cause of death remains under investigation, the Catalonia regional government Justice Department said that he could have died by suicide.

His manner of death immediately sparked creepy conspiracy theories that lead Epstein to a trending list worldwide.

What Makes John McAfee's Death Questionable

Before his death, he tweeted on October 15, 2020, that he might kill himself ala Epstein.

"I am content in here. I have friends. The food is good. All is well. Know that if I hang myself, a la Epstein, it will be no fault of mine," he wrote.

The mention of Epstein in his tweet refers to the convicted sex offender who infamously hanged himself inside his New York prison cell. Even Epstein's death caused massive theories to arrive as some people alleged that he was strangled to death before hanging him. Thus, he did not die by suicide.

Because of this, people began digging into McAfee's social media and found some possible hints that he might have been murdered, as well.

READ ALSO: Jennifer Aniston Reveals Real Score With Brad Pitt Now That They're Both Single: Can They Get Back Together?

In another post in November 2019, the 75-year-old said that if he died by suicide, then it means that the U.S. government officials "whacked" him. Even until now, no evidence could prove his claims about the U.S. government killing him.

Meanwhile, after his death has been reported, his official Instagram account posted a plain image of the letter "Q." This led to another conspiracy theory called QAnon.

This particular hypothesis came during the presidency of Donald Trump. The beliefs under this include talk about Trump secretly battling cannibalistic pedophiles who follow Satan.

In the weeks leading to his death, he expressed how contented he feels despite feeling the sorrow in prison.

McAfee's wife, Janice, put more fuel to the fire through a Father's Day post in which she speculated that the U.S. government is determined to kill him inside his cell.

As of the writing, none of these conspiracies have been proven true.

READ MORE: Drake Bell Pleads Guilty To Charges Amid Child Endangering Case [REPORT]

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Royal experts say that Queen Elizabeth once had reservations about Kate Middleton when she married Prince William in 2011.

The Duchess of Cambridge is now a much-loved member of the royal family after marrying Prince William, yet the Queen was not convinced of the Prince's choice, at least during the earlier days.

The royal expert Katie Nicholl claimed that Her Majesty does not personally hate Kate. Instead, she's worried about her.

She was worried about Kate not having an identity of her own before she made amends with the Prince and the Royal Family.

In her book, "The Making of a Royal Romance," Katie Nicholl wrote about the Queen's misgivings.

"Privately she had grave concerns and believed that Kate needed to have a job and an identity in her own right before an engagement was announced."

Aside from Nicholl, a royal correspondent, Phil Dampier, also claimed the Queen was worried about Kate's work ethic.

He revealed that Kate was eased into royal engagements with William because he was protective of his then-fiance.

Dampier told Express UK, "The Queen once remarked Kate doesn't do very much so I think she had a fairly long entrance to the Royal family."

It Took Queen 10 Years To Worry Less About The Duchess of Cambridge

But 10 years on from marrying Prince William and becoming the Duchess of Cambridge, it seems the Queen is realizing that she had little to worry about.

The royal family would be different as it is today without the Duchess of Cambridge. She is a staunch mental health advocate since marrying Prince William in 2011.

After meeting each other at the Prince at St Andrew's University in 2001, they went public as a couple in 2004.

Before long, it became clear that then Kate Middleton was the perfect fit for Prince William. Soon after, Prince William proposed.

Since she entered the Royal Family and took care of three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, Kate's confidence and performance actually soared.

READ ALSO: Prince William, Kate Middleton Going to the US for a 'Secret Mission'?

Kate Middleton's "Heads Together" Campaign

She co-founded the "Heads Together" charity along with Prince William, which is a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation.

We believe that tackling the toughest challenges in early childhood and achieving the long-term impact requires people to come together. pic.twitter.com/f6oXyoSarq  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 18, 2021



During the lockdown, Kate also met parents who are homeschooling their kids - earnestly admitting her difficulties and letting other parents know they were not alone.

This year, she made an appearance in Clapham Common to lay flowers in memory of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped and murdered a week earlier.

It was even reported that Kate spent her ninth wedding anniversary doing charity work with pregnant women and new mothers.

She also played a huge role in connecting William and his brother Prince Harry following their fallout.

As for her relationship with The Queen, it is clear that the pair are getting along well and are often caught on camera laughing together at official events.

READ MORE: Princess Diana Was So 'Desperate' To Do THIS Before Tragic Death, Reveals Last Person She Called

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Angelina Jolie has always used her platform for the betterment of the community; her recent article aims to spread information on proper medical care for people with black and brown skin.

Recently, the actress candidly opens up about her struggles with medical care for her children from different ethnic backgrounds; she stated that the medical charts available are always for people with white skin.

When the actress interviewed medical student Malone Mukwende for Time, she shared a big problem that she experienced firsthand.

She stated that when her children got a rash, it appears different in every one of them as their skin colors vary.

She mentioned that she's struggling to find the proper treatment, "whenever I looked at medical charts, the reference point was always white skin." Jolie stated.

The "Maleficent" star also opened up about her Black daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt's recent experience in which she suffered a skin problem after surgery.

The actress said that the skin of her daughter, who was adopted from Ethiopia, turned pink.

Mukwende and Jolie share a big problem in the medical field

The medical student is currently on a mission to spread information on treating POC patients' diseases.

Mukwende started his project when he learned that the information available in the medical field is solely based on white people. According to him, patients with black and brown skin suffered misdiagnosis and, worst-case scenario, death.

"Almost the entirety of medicine is taught in that way. There's a language and a culture that exists in the medical profession because it's been done for so many years and because we are still doing it so many years later it doesn't seem like it's a problem," Mukwende noted. (via ET Online)

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Angelina Jolie's Children

The actress, who's also a contributing editor for Time, has three biological children with Brad Pitt named Shiloh, Knox, and Vivian.

They also had three adopted children- Maddox from Cambodia, Pax from Vietnam, and Zahra from Ethiopia-whose ethnic backgrounds are different.

As we previously reported, Jolie and Pitt got divorced, and the actress is "desperate" to win the case of her children's custody.

Per Us Weekly, the legal documents show that three of her children are willing to testify to court. Before this, the judge handling their case, John Ouderkirk, granted Pitt custody of their five minor children.

The actress then requested to remove the judge from their legal battle, but the court did not grant it.

READ ALSO: 'Blink 182's' Mark Hoppus Reveals SHOCKING Health Condition; Fans Devastated By Sad News

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Prince Harry famously claimed that he was financially cut off by his dad, Prince Charles, after announcing that he and his wife Meghan Markle were stepping back as senior royals.

During his bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, the 36-year-old dad of Archie and Lilibet Diana said he stopped getting financial support during the first quarter of 2020.

At the time he was financially cut off, the Duke of Sussex claimed to have reduced to living off what his mom Princess Diana left him, which was about $9.7 million.

However, royal documents made public show that Prince Charles continued to fund for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle until the summer of 2020.

The new details emerged after both Clarence House, the Prince of Wales' home, and Buckingham Palace has opened up their annual financial accounts.

In Clarence House's annual review, the future king's bill for the activities of both couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Prince William and Kate Middleton was about $6,150,000.

However, the report didn't detail the breakdown of the figures.

But one thing that is clear from the audited accounts is that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were still listed as receiving money from Prince Charles' Duchy of Cornwall income despite officially quiting the monarch at the end of March 2020.

READ ALSO: Prince William Shockingly Hints Prince Harry is Treated Differently By A-Listers

A spokesman for Clarence House told the Daily Mail, "As we'll all remember, in January 2020 when the duke and duchess announced that they were going to move away from the working Royal Family, the duke said that they would work towards becoming financially independent."

He added that despite the couple's decision, Prince Charles decided to continue to bankroll them until they were financially capable of making their own money.

"The Prince of Wales allocated a substantial sum to support them with this transition. That funding ceased in the summer of last year. The couple is now financially independent."

But when the senior spokesperson was asked about the discrepancy in Prince Charles' youngest son, he told the outlet, "I wouldn't acknowledge that they are dramatically different. All I can tell you are the facts."

Prince Harry also claimed that he used his multi-million-pound deals from Netflix and Spotify to pay for his family's security aside from his inheritance money from Princess Diana."

He famously told Oprah, "I think she [my mother] saw it coming. I certainly felt her presence throughout this whole process."

Prince Charles Doesn't Want To See Prince Harry

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Prince Harry is attending the Princess Diana statue unveiling event in the UK in the next few days.

Though he will be joined by Prince William, The Sun reported that Prince Charles has no plans to see his son when he returns.

An insider revealed, "Charles has made it quite clear he will not be around...because he is going to Scotland. There is no planned meeting between the three of them."

READ MORE: Lilibet Diana Expected To Have A Major Role in the Palace - Will Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Allow it?

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Michael B. Jordan came under fire these past few days after many claims that he's appropriating the Caribbean culture. Recently, the actor speaks out and apologizes for the damage caused.

The "Black Panther" star took to his Instagram stories to address the situation.

"I just wanna say on behalf of myself & partners, our intention was never to offend or hurt a culture (we love & respect) & hoped to celebrate & shine a positive light on." he wrote.

He also mentioned that he has been listening over the past few days, and he also engaged with communities to have countless conversations.

Jordan then announced that his team would be changing the name of their rum line.

"We hear you. I hear you & want to be clear that we are in the process of renaming. We sincerely apologize & look forward to introducing a brand we can all be proud of."

The updated name of his brand was not yet announced.

Fans applauded

Following his recent statement, fans took to Twitter to applaud the actions of the actor.

"All props to @michaelb4jordan though, for real. We have a tendency of not capitalizing on anything creative before other people do, especially if it's 'ours'. I'm not even disappointed."

one wrote. "What a class act. That's why so many people like him. He didn't know, but he's fixing it." another one wrote.

READ NOW: Britney Spears' Dad Jamie Living in an RV After Selling Mansion; Conservatorship Salary and Net Worth Revealed

Michael B. Jordan's brand name sparks cultural appropriation claims

As we previously reported, Jordan got a lot of heat over the past few days after launching his liquor brand named "J'Ouvert."

Following this, many Caribbean people called him out and claimed that the actor is stealing from their culture.

The word "J'Ouvert" has a significant meaning to the country of Trinidad and Tobago.

A petition was made by Jay Blessed asking the actor to remove the trademark of the word. The internet reacts negatively with the rum line's name; even the queen of rap Nicki Minaj chimed in to call out the actor.

Michael B. Jordan is not the only celebrity accused of cultural appropriation

In early reports, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star Kendall Jenner was also accused of cultural appropriation for her tequila line called "818."

A Mexican Twitter user called out the reality TV star and stated that she's profiting from their culture.

Unlike Jordan, Jenner did not address the controversy.

READ ALSO: Queen Elizabeth Worried Greatly About Kate Middleton After Prince William Proposed

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Queen Elizabeth II reportedly began the preparation to abdicate.

As early as last year's Trooping of Colour, talks about Queen Elizabeth II finally abdicating started to emerge. New Idea magazine even reported that the Queen almost gave up the role not until the COVID-19 pandemic occurred.

It came after one royal family biographer revealed it to The Telegraph. Last year, the news outlet also revealed that Her Majesty's reign is already over due to the pandemic.

"The Queen's reign is effectively over. Corona has practically put Charles on the throne," the biographer said. However, The Telegraph itself immediately refuted the statement as it clearly underestimated the Queen's capacity to adapt to challenges.

The same paper applauded how Queen Elizabeth II quickly made the best moves during the coronavirus era.

With that said, GossipCop safely reported that even after a year, the Queen still has no plans to give way for her son, Prince Charles.

For what it's worth, she continuously performed royal engagements amid the pandemic and after Prince Philip's death.



Recently, she attended the pared-back ceremony in Britain's Parliament. She met the members of the House of Lords before reading out a speech about Boris Johnson's government. Her son and future King, Prince Charles, sat beside her to fill the space Prince Philip left since retiring from public duties in 2017.

Will Queen Elizabeth II Ever Abdicate?

People should not ask when the Queen will abdicate. Instead, the question that lingers until now is whether she ever plans to do so.

For years, the statement said by Mrs. Margaret Rhodes, Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin, already answered the royal watchers' questions. She once told PEOPLE that Her Majesty pledged to offer her entire life serving the monarchy and kept that promise in a letter.

READ ALSO: Jennifer Aniston Reveals Real Score With Brad Pitt Now That They're Both Single: Can They Get Back Together?

If that is the case, then Prince Charles has no chance to be the King of the monarchy. However, he may slowly get to the throne of Her Majesty starts a period of regency.

The Regency Act allows the Queen to pass down most of her royal duties to the regent, but she will still technically be the Queen of the British Monarchy.

But until now, Buckingham Palace has not released a statement about Queen Elizabeth II's concrete plans.

READ MORE: John McAfee Did NOT Kill Himself? Magnate's Death Brings Back Jeffrey Epstein's Theory

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Rebel Wilson's fans are quick to send their love to the actress even though they do not necessarily know what she's going through. They just saw Wilson posted a long message on her IG, wherein she said she has been dealing with stuff while trying to stay motivated, is revealed.

It was probably meant to be self-motivating, and not a cry for help, but Wilson's fans are just the sweetest in offering her help.

The 41-year-old Australian star recently shared a thoughtful message with her Instagram followers with regard to staying motivated during challenging times. Posting a photo of herself on the social media platform, Rebel wrote as a caption a lengthy message that goes, "Hey babe, you got this x I know it's hard right now, I know you're trying to deal with stuff - but let's keep getting up every day and CRUSH IT - work out, hydrate, fuel your body with quality food ...show your brilliant brain and your big heart. Remember the vision. Love you."

She added a kiss emoji for good measure.

Fans were alerted and concerned by the fact that she said she's dealing with stuff, even though she did not specify what. Quickly, the fans poured in all the kind words they can giev.

Fans made sure that she does not feel alone in this "trying" time of her life and made supportive and encouraging statements. Wilson is generous with her replies though, making sure her fans feel loved in return.

"You got this sis ," one person wrote to which Rebel replied "." A different fan commented, "Queen " and Rebel responded, "."

ALSO READ: Can Prince Harry, Prince William Remember a Promise Made to Princess Diana?

Many more meaningful comments can be read, all with the same intention of making Wilson feel better.

"Rebel, you SO got this. You're a strong, beautiful, compassionate, determined woman!  sending you a giant hug!!" a fan wrote..

"You got this babe ," another added.

"You are such an inspiration for a lot of girls, Rebel! ," a fan also wrote.

This is not the first time that fans have came to her rescue when it was apparent that she was feeling the blues.

Last month, she also went to Instagram to express her empathy for women who have fertility issues and the same outpouring of supportive comments happened.

It is apparent that her fans are only interested in thing - for Wilson to be happy.

ALSO READ: Jennifer Aniston Talks About David Schwimmer, Says She Would Not Have Hidden Their Relationship

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2021-06-23

Maeci

The Italian hostage Giovanni Cali', abducted on 1 June while in Haiti, was released a short while ago. He had been taken from the building site where he worked by a local criminal gang. His release, after only 22 days, was secured by the relentless work of our intelligence system and of the Crisis Unit set up at the Foreign Ministry, which was in touch daily with family members in Sicily.
2021-06-23

Maeci

This afternoon, Deputy Minister Manlio Di Stefano chaired the second meeting of the Steering Committee on Digital Geopolitics, following the first meeting held in November 2020.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the main government departments involved, namely, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry for Economic Development, Ministry of Digital Transition, Department of European Policies.

Today, digital technology is the cross-sector system par excellence of the contemporary world, permeating all the ethical, industrial and regulatory issues we are called on to tackle on a daily basis, which is why we need to address it at a political level to define an Italian position that can then be projected into the main international fora and, above all, that can place us at the forefront at the European level, the Deputy Minister said in his opening address.

Connectivity, cloud, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, international law and cyberspace: today, it has become essential to get a handle on and regulate all these aspects according to a strategic perspective, before we are absolutely overwhelmed. Moreover, these issues need to be addressed as a whole, with due regard for our national interest. This is why it is so important to build a national and European way to digital development, capable of making our continent self-sufficient and at the forefront of the strategic aspects that are vital for our future, he concluded.
Minority groups in the US are more vulnerable to memory loss, confusion and their consequences earlier in life, according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health.

A researcher at Delaware State University, USA, investigated levels of subjective cognitive decline in US adults, who were over 45 years old. Subjective cognitive decline is the experience of frequent confusion and memory loss, which has been identified as a potential early sign of Alzheimer's disease. The author used data on 179,852 US adults aged 45 and over, collected as part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey from 2015 to 2018 during which respondents answered six questions designed to self-assess memory loss and cognitive ability.

Overall, 10.8% (19,276) of adults aged 45 or over self-reported subjective cognitive decline. 10.7% of those who were white experienced subjective cognitive decline compared to 12.3% of those who were Black and 9.9% of those who were Hispanic.

Black and Hispanic individuals with subjective cognitive decline were more likely to be younger (45-54 years) compared to white individuals with subjective cognitive decline (most of whom were 65 or over). In the Black and Hispanic groups, those with subjective cognitive decline were more likely to be less educated, to have a lower income and to have functioning difficulties (struggling to complete household chores).

Less than half of those who were Black (46.8%) or Hispanic (44.5%) with subjective cognitive decline had discussed their issues with a healthcare provider, but this did not significantly differ from those who were white.

However, the author found a significantly higher burden of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure among the Black and Hispanic groups with subjective cognitive decline. Nearly 80% of people who identified themselves as Black and reported subjective cognitive decline symptoms, reported at least one chronic condition, compared to around 64% in white and Hispanic groups. The author suggests there may be a higher burden of chronic conditions as Black and Hispanic groups were found to be more likely in the lower income category and experience more functioning difficulties.

The author emphasises that by 2060, the percentage increase in total population in the US is estimated to be 172% for African Americans, and 391% for Hispanics compared to 75% non-Hispanic whites. They suggest it may mean higher numbers in Black and Hispanic groups experiencing cognitive difficulties.

Sangeeta Gupta, the author said: "It is concerning that we found Black and Hispanic groups self-report cognitive symptoms at an earlier age especially considering the projected rise in minority populations in the U.S by 2060. Looking to the future, as we see more younger Black and Hispanic individuals developing cognitive decline symptoms, this may mean we have higher numbers in those groups not only struggling to be independent but also possibly progressing towards Alzheimer's disease and related dementia."

The author cautions that the survey may not have captured individuals with more severe cognitive issues, as these individuals are likely to live in residential care homes which were not included in the study. Additionally, comprehending questions and answering accurately requires some level of memory, and those who are more affected may not have been able to answer.

###

Media Contact:

Tara Eadie

Press Officer

Springer Nature

T: +44 (0)2034 263329

E: tara.eadie@springernature.com

Notes to editor:

1. Research article: Racial and ethnic disparities in subjective cognitive decline: a closer look, United States, 2015-2018 BMC Public Health 2021 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11068-1

For an embargoed copy of the research article please contact Tara Eadie.

After the embargo lifts, the article will be available here: https:/ / www. biomedcentral. com/ articles/ 10. 1186/ s12889-021-11068-1

Please name the journal in any story you write. If you are writing for the web, please link to the article. All articles are available free of charge, according to BMC's open access policy.

2. BMC Public Health is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on the epidemiology of disease and the understanding of all aspects of public health. The journal has a special focus on the social determinants of health, the environmental, behavioral, and occupational correlates of health and disease, and the impact of health policies, practices and interventions on the community.

3. A pioneer of open access publishing, BMC has an evolving portfolio of high quality peer-reviewed journals including broad interest titles such as BMC Biology and BMC Medicine, specialist journals such as Malaria Journal and Microbiome, and the BMC series. At BMC, research is always in progress. We are committed to continual innovation to better support the needs of our communities, ensuring the integrity of the research we publish, and championing the benefits of open research. BMC is part of Springer Nature, giving us greater opportunities to help authors connect and advance discoveries across the world.
This book series brings updated reviews to readers interested in advances in the development of anti-infective drug design and discovery. It covers a range of topics including rational drug design and drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, in-silico drug design, combinatorial chemistry, high-throughput screening, drug targets, recent important patents, and structure-activity relationships.

Frontiers in Anti-Infective Drug Discovery is a valuable resource for pharmaceutical scientists and post-graduate students seeking updated and critically important information for developing clinical trials and devising research plans in this field.

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About the Editor:

Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Cambridge University (1968) has 1,232 international publications (45 international patents and 341 books). He received the following awards: Fellow Royal Society (FRS) London (2006), UNESCO Science Prize (1999), Honorary Life Fellow Kings College, Cambridge University (2007), Academician (Foreign Member) Chinese Academy of Sciences (2015), Highest Civil Award for Foreigners of China (Friendship Award, 2014), High Civil Award Austria ("Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande') (2007), Foreign Fellow Chinese Chemical Society (2013), Sc.D. Cambridge University (UK) (1987), TWAS (Italy) Prize (2009). He was the President of Network of Academies of Sciences of Islamic Countries (NASIC), Vice President TWAS (Italy), Foreign Fellow Korean Academy of Science & Technology, President Pakistan Academy of Sciences (2003-2006) and (2011 -- 2014). He was the Federal Minister for Science and Technology of Pakistan (2000 -- 2002), Federal Minister of Education (2002) and Chairman Higher Education Commission/Federal Minister (2002-2008), Coordinator General of COMSTECH (OIC Ministerial Committee) (1996-2012), and the Editor-in-Chief of Current Medicinal Chemistry.

Dr. M. lqbal Chaudhary is a Professor of Organic/Bioorganic Chemistry and Director at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry and Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research) and Coordinator General of COMSTECH (OIC Ministerial Committee). He is among the most prominent scientists of Pakistan, recognized for his original contributions in the fields of natural products and bioorganic chemistry. He has written and edited 27 books, most of which have been published in USA and Europe. He is also the author of over 1000 research papers and chapters in top international science journals of the West as well as 27 US patents (H-index: 68 & Citations: 27,500). He is the Volume Editor of many international book series and journals. He has served as a visiting faculty in many prestigious universities of the world including Cornell University (New York), Purdue University (Indiana), Pennsylvania State University (Pennsylvania), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Son Diego, California), The University of Rhode Island (Rhode Island), and other top Universities.

Keywords:

antimicrobial drug development, leishmaniosis, dengue fever, anti-infective, drug design and drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, in-silico drug design, combinatorial chemistry, high-throughput screening, drug targets.
'Nanomaterials: Evolution and Advancement Towards Therapeutic Drug Delivery' gives the present status and future perspective of Polymeric nanoparticles, Liposomes, Carbon Nanotubes, Magnetic Nanoparticles, Silica Based nanomaterial, Hydrogels, Metallic Nanoparticles, Cyclodextrins, Poly (Lactide-Co-Glycolide) and its Copolymers.

Improvement of a vector for the delivery of therapeutic drug in a controlled and targeted fashion is still a major challenge in the treatment of many diseases. The conventional application of drugs may lead to many limitations including poor distribution, limited effectiveness, lack of selectivity and dose dependent oxicity etc.

Development of an efficient drug delivery system can surmount these problems Nanomaterials aided delivery of drug provides advantage by enhancing aqueous solubility that leads to improved bioavailability, increased resistant time in the body, decreased side effects by targeting the drug to the specific location, reduced dose dependent toxicity and protection of the drug from early release.

In this book, up-to-date studies illustrating the promising nanomaterials as drug carriers that are navigating the conventional barriers have been reported. A detailed account of various nanomaterials including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, micelles, carbon nanomaterials, magnetic nanoparticles, solid lipid-based nanoparticles, silica nanomaterials and hydrogels for drug delivery will be accounted.

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About the Editor:

Dr. Surendra Nimesh is an internationally recognized nanotechnology expert for biological applications with specialization in drug and gene delivery. He is currently working as o UGC assistant professor in the Department of Biotechnology at the Central University of Rajasthan, India. He has authored several research and review articles in international peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and 4 books. His area of interest includes nanotechnology for drug/gene/siRNA delivery for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer.

Dr. Nidhi Gupta received her MSc degree in Biomedical Science from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, in 2004 and Ph.D. in Virology from the National Institute of Immunology (NII), India, in 2008. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal (2007-2008) and the McGill University (2011-2013), Montreal, Canada. She has successfully completed the DST Young Scientist project at the IIS University, India, sponsored by SERB, Indio. Currently, she is working as a senior research scientist at the IIS University, Jaipur. Her field of interest includes catalytic nucleic acids, siRNA, and nanotechnology for drug delivery.

Prof. Ramesh Chandra is a distinguished scientist, a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, and an outstanding Biomedical Sciences researcher. He is the founder-director of Dr B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi. Professor Chandra has contributed largely in the field of chemical sciences and particularly in new drug discovery and development as well as drug metabolism. He has published more than 400 research papers in International journals of repute, including review articles/monographs, book chapters; Four of his chapters are also published in internationally acclaimed books.

Keywords:

Nanotechnology, Drug Delivery, Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, Nanomedicine Nanotechnology, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles, Nanomedicine, Silica Nanoparticles, Drug Delivery, Nanoformulations, Nanoparticles, Nanosuspensions, Dynamic Light scattering, PLGA Nanoparticles, Liposomes, Fullerenes, Dedrimers , Vaccine delivery,Nanomicelles, Nanoemulsions, Carbon Nanotubes, Nanocarriers.
Philadelphia, June 24, 2021 - Women with depression and other mood disorders are generally advised to continue taking antidepressant medications during pregnancy. The drugs are widely considered safe, but the effect of these medications on the unborn fetus has remained a topic of some concern. Now, researchers have found that maternal psychiatric conditions - but not the use of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) - increased the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay (DD) in offspring.

The study appears in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier.

Previous studies had found links between SSRI use and ASD in offspring, and ASD is associated with disrupted serotonergic pathways. But the question of whether medication or underlying conditions are responsible remained muddy.

Jennifer Ames, PhD, from Kaiser Permanente and lead author of the new study, said, "Our latest findings are good news for women managing psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety while pregnant and are consistent with a growing body of research that's trying to better disentangle the separate relationships of the mother's SSRI treatment and psychiatric indications during pregnancy with child neurodevelopment."

Dr. Ames and colleagues used data from the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), which collected information about the development of thousands of children born across the US between 2003 and 2011. The current analysis of SEED data included three groups of children: those with ASD (1,367 children); with DD (1,750 children); or healthy population controls (1,671 children). Mothers were determined to have psychiatric disorders and to have taken SSRIs during pregnancy based on self-report and on medical records. About a third of mothers in the study had a psychiatric condition before or during pregnancy, and about a quarter of those took SSRIs or other antidepressants.

The findings indicated that the risk of ASD or DD was roughly doubled for children of mothers with a psychiatric disorder compared to those without. But importantly, the use of SSRIs was not associated with increased risk.

John Krystal, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, said of the work, "Parents have been concerned about the risks posed to infants when mothers take antidepressant medications. It is a big relief to see that maternal antidepressant consumption does not increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder or other neurodevelopmental disorders. However, this study does confirm that maternal psychiatric disorders are associated with increased risk for autism spectrum disorder in offspring."

"Our study has some unique strengths such as including a large and demographically diverse group of mothers and children in the United States, an analysis of specific subgroups of children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders, and an examination of multiple types of psychiatric conditions in the mothers," added Dr. Ames.

The findings should provide some peace of mind for the estimated 6% of pregnant women in the US taking SSRIs.

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Notes for editors

The article is "Maternal psychiatric conditions, treatment with SSRIs, and neurodevelopmental disorders," by Jennifer Ames, Christine Ladd-Acosta, Daniele Fallin, Yinge Qian, Laura Schieve, Carolyn DiGuiseppi, Li-Ching Lee, Eric Kasten, Guoli Zhou, Jennifer Pinto-Martin, Ellen Howerton, Christopher Eaton, Lisa Croen (https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1016/ j. biopsych. 2021. 04. 002 ). It appears as an Article in Press in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier.

Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please contact Rhiannon Bugno at Biol.Psych@sobp.org or +1 254 522 9700. Journalists wishing to interview the authors may contact Jennifer Ames at Jennifer.L.ames@kp.org or +1 510 301 3688 or Jan Greene at Janice.X.Greene@kp.org or +1 510 504 2663.

The authors' affiliations and disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available in the article.

John H. Krystal, MD, is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, Chief of Psychiatry at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and a research psychiatrist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. His disclosures of financial and conflicts of interests are available here.

About Biological Psychiatry

Biological Psychiatry is the official journal of the Society of Biological Psychiatry, whose purpose is to promote excellence in scientific research and education in fields that investigate the nature, causes, mechanisms and treatments of disorders of thought, emotion, or behavior. In accord with this mission, this peer-reviewed, rapid-publication, international journal publishes both basic and clinical contributions from all disciplines and research areas relevant to the pathophysiology and treatment of major psychiatric disorders.

The journal publishes novel results of original research which represent an important new lead or significant impact on the field, particularly those addressing genetic and environmental risk factors, neural circuitry and neurochemistry, and important new therapeutic approaches. Reviews and commentaries that focus on topics of current research and interest are also encouraged.

Biological Psychiatry is one of the most selective and highly cited journals in the field of psychiatric neuroscience. It is ranked 7th out of 155 Psychiatry titles and 12th out of 271 Neurosciences titles in the Journal Citations Reports published by Clarivate Analytics. The 2019 Impact Factor score for Biological Psychiatry is 12.095. http://www. sobp. org/ journal

About Elsevier

As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems.

In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders.

Elsevier employs 8,100 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,500+ digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, our 40,000 eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world.

Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. http://www. elsevier. com

Media contact

Rhiannon Bugno, Editorial Office

Biological Psychiatry

+1 254 522 9700

Biol.Psych@sobp.org
Final results from a study of a blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer have shown that it is accurate enough to be rolled out as a multi-cancer screening test among people at higher risk of the disease, including patients aged 50 years or older, without symptoms.

In a paper published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1] today (Friday), researchers report that the test accurately detected cancer, often before any symptoms arose, while having a very low false positive rate. The test also predicted where in the body the cancer is located with a high degree of accuracy, which could help doctors choose effective diagnostic tests.

GRAIL, Inc. (California, USA), the company developing and funding the research, has now made the multi-cancer early detection test available in the USA by prescription only, and to complement other, existing screening methods such as those for breast, cervical, prostate, lung and bowel cancers [2]. Many of the cancers that the test is capable of detecting do not have screening tests available, such as liver, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers, which are among the most deadly and where early detection could make a real difference.

First author of the paper, Dr Eric Klein, chairman of the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA, said: "Finding cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful, is one of the most significant opportunities we have to reduce the burden of cancer. These data suggest that, if used alongside existing screening tests, the multi-cancer detection test could have a profound impact on how cancer is detected and, ultimately, on public health."

The test involves taking a sample of blood from each patient and analysing it for DNA, known as cell-free DNA (cfDNA), which tumours (and other cells) shed into the blood. Genomic sequencing is used to detect chemical changes to the DNA called "methylation" that control gene expression, and a classifier developed with machine learning (artificial intelligence) uses these results to detect abnormal methylation patterns that suggest cancer is present. In addition, the machine learning classifier can predict where in the body the cancer is located. Results are available within ten business days from the time the sample reaches the lab.

The third and final sub-study of the Circulating Cell-free Genome Atlas (CCGA) study reported today investigated the performance of the test in 2,823 people already diagnosed with cancer and 1,254 people without cancer. It detected cancer signals from more than 50 different types of cancer and found that across all four cancer stages (I, II, III, IV), the test correctly identified when cancer was present (the sensitivity or true positive rate) in 51.5% of cases. The test's specificity (the true negative rate) was 99.5%, meaning that the test wrongly detected cancer (the false positive rate) in only 0.5% of cases.

Sensitivity of the test was 67.6% overall across stages I-III in 12 pre-specified cancers that account for two-thirds of cancer deaths in the USA each year (anal, bladder, bowel, oesophageal, stomach, head and neck, liver and bile duct, lung, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, lymphoma and cancers of white blood cells such as multiple myeloma), and it was 40.7% overall in more than 50 cancers.

For all cancers, detection improved with each cancer stage with a sensitivity rate of 16.8% at the early stage I, 40.4% at stage II, 77% at stage III and 90.1% at stage IV - the most advanced stage when symptoms are often showing.

The sensitivity varied by type of cancer. In solid tumours that do not have any screening options, such as oesophageal, liver and pancreatic cancers, overall sensitivity of the test was twice that for solid tumours that do have screening options, such as breast, bowel, cervical and prostate cancers: 65.6% compared to 33.7%. Overall sensitivity in cancers of the blood, such as lymphoma and myeloma, was 55.1%.

In addition, the multi-cancer early detection test correctly identified the tissue in which the cancer was located in the body in 88.7% of cases.

Dr Klein said: "We believe that cancers that shed more cfDNA into the bloodstream are detected more easily. These cancers are also more likely to be lethal, and prior research shows that this multi-cancer early detection test more strongly detects these cancer types. Cancers such as prostate shed less DNA than other tumours, which is why existing screening tests are still important for these cancers."

In order to understand how the test would perform when used to screen populations, the researchers estimated its positive predictive value (PPV) - the proportion of cases correctly identified as cancer among those with a positive result - as well as the negative predictive value (NPV) - those correctly identified as not having cancer. The PPV was 44.4% among people most likely to develop cancer, those aged 50-79, and the NPV was 99.4%.

Dr Klein concluded: "These data add to a growing body of literature that supports the use of next-generation sequencing for the detection of cell-free DNA in blood samples as a tool for earlier detection of common cancers that account for a significant number of deaths and other health problems worldwide. In addition, a screening test that requires only a simple blood draw could provide an option for communities that have poor access to medical facilities. I'm excited about the potential impact this approach will have on public health."

Researchers are continuing to collect additional data from the test in large, prospective studies in the USA (STRIVE, PATHFINDER and REFLECTION studies) and the UK (SUMMIT study), and to examine its feasibility for screening populations [3]. GRAIL has also established a partnership with the UK's National Health Service to investigate the multi-cancer early detection test's clinical and economic performance in approximately 165,000 eligible patients, starting later this year.

A strength of the CCGA study is that, overall, it includes a total of 15,254 participants from 142 clinics in North America, helping to ensure the results can be generalisable to a diverse population. The participants in this final sub-study had not been included in the earlier, development stages of the test to ensure accurate estimations of performance. Limitations of this sub-study include: if blood samples were collected from cancer patients after they had had a biopsy, this could increase the proportion of cfDNA in the blood compared to before the biopsy; CCGA is a case control study and may not fully reflect how the test would perform in population screening conditions (this is being evaluated in the PATHFINDER study); and some inaccuracy occurred in the detection of the tissue of cancer origin for cancers that are driven by the human papilloma virus (HPV), such as cancers of the cervix, anus, and head and neck.

Editor-in-chief of Annals of Oncology, Professor Fabrice Andre, Director of Research at the Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France, said: "Early detection of cancer is the next frontier in cancer research as it could save millions of lives worldwide. Developing technologies that address this issue is the first step. Next steps will include the development of new therapeutic interventions. In parallel, major efforts related to population awareness must continue or all these efforts will not lead to transformation of outcomes."

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Notes:

[1] "Clinical validation of a targeted methylation-based multi-cancer early detection test using an independent validation set", by Eric Klein et al. Annals of Oncology. doi: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1016/ j. annonc. 2021. 05. 806

[2] The multi-cancer detection test is recommended for people over the age of 50 as this is when more cancers are likely to start to occur. It is available in the USA apart from in the state of New York.

[3] ClinicalTrials.gov numbers: NCT03085888, NCT03934866, NCT04241796. The REFLECTION study does not yet have a number.
A new study to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) (9-12 July) and published this week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases shows that, for residents of long-term care homes for adults aged 65 years and over, a single dose of either the Pfizer or Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine offers around 60% protection against infection from SARS-CoV-2. The study is by Dr Madhumita Shrotri and Dr Laura Shallcross, UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, UK, and colleagues.

The greatest effects of SARS-CoV-2 have been in residents of long-term care facilities, who represent a small fraction of the general population but account for a disproportionate number of SARS-CoV-2-related deaths in many countries, including the UK. As in other countries, the UK prioritised residents of these care homes to receive the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines that arrived in the country.

To obtain real-world data on the effectiveness of these vaccines (Pfizer and Astra Zeneca) in care homes, the authors used data from the VIVALDI study, an ongoing study since June 2020 to investigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission, infection outcomes, and immunity in residents and staff in long-term care facilities in England that provide residential or nursing care for adults aged 65 years and older.

This analysis included long-term care facility residents undergoing routine asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 testing between Dec 8, 2020 (the date the first vaccine was administered in the study cohort), and March 15, 2021, using national testing data linked within the COVID-19 Datastore. This study was completed before the emergence of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 now dominating in the UK.

The researchers estimated the reduced risk of PCR-positive infection at 0-6 days, 7-13 days, 14-20 days, 21-27 days, 28-34 days, 35-48 days, and 49 days and beyond after vaccination, compared with unvaccinated residents, adjusting for age, sex, previous infection, local SARS-CoV-2 incidence, long-term care facility bed capacity, and clustering by long-term care facility.

The analysis included 10412 care home residents aged 65 years and older from 310 facilities, with a median age of 86 years, of whom 70% were female and 1155 residents (11%) had evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 9160 (88%) residents received at least one vaccine dose during the study period, of whom 6138 (67%) received Astra Zeneca (ChAdOx1) and 3022 (33%) received Pfizer (BNT162b2).

Between Dec 8, 2020, and March 15, 2021, there were 36352 PCR tests carried out, with 1335 PCR-positive infections detected (713 in unvaccinated residents and 612 in vaccinated residents). The risk of infection was 56% lower in vaccinated residents after 28 to 34 days, days, and 62% lower at 35-48 days. Similar effect sizes at 35-48 days were seen for the Astra Zeneca vaccine (68% reduced risk of infection) and the Pfizer vaccine (65% reduced risk).

The authors say: "Single-dose vaccination with either the Astra Zeneca or the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 in older residents in long-term care facilities. Our findings suggest that vaccination also has an effect on SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility by reducing the total number of infections in residents, as well as their infectivity. The protective effect of a single dose of vaccination is evident from 4 weeks to at least 7 weeks after vaccination, which provides some evidence to support extension of the interval between doses beyond 3 weeks, in line with UK policy. However, even beyond 4 weeks, a single vaccine dose does not eliminate infection risk, highlighting the continued importance of non-pharmaceutical measures to control transmission within long-term care facilities."

They add: "Further work is required to evaluate the effectiveness of the second dose of the vaccine, and the effect of vaccination on transmission. This knowledge will be critical to inform policy decisions regarding revaccination schedules in this vulnerable population and the disease control measures needed in the short, medium, and long term to protect long-term care facilities from future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection."

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Recently, a collaboration of researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Universities of Oldenburg (Germany) and Oxford (UK) have been gathering evidence suggesting that a specific light-sensitive protein in the eye named cryptochrome 4 is sensitive to magnetic fields and plays essential roles in magnetic sensing in migratory birds such as European robins. The results have been published in Nature (https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41586-021-03618-9 ) on June 23 and selected as the cover paper.

For the first time, first author XU Jingjing, a doctoral student in Mouritsen's research group at Oldenburg, with the help of XIE's group, produced cryptochrome 4 in night-migratory European robins in large quantities using bacterial cell cultures. "The expression of bird cryptochromes with the FAD incorporated was a major achievement and served as a crucial first step in this project," said Mouritsen.

The Oxford labs of Christiane Timmel and Stuart Mackenzie used a wide range of magnetic resonance and novel optical spectroscopy techniques to study the protein and demonstrate its pronounced sensitivity to magnetic fields. The international team deciphered the mechanism by which this sensitivity arises. "Electrons that can move within the molecule after blue-light activation play a crucial role," said Mouritsen. Proteins like cryptochrome consist of chains of amino acids: robin cryptochrome 4 has 527 of them. Four of the 527 - known as tryptophans - are essential for the magnetic properties of the molecule. The idea was supported by Hore and Ilia Solov'yov (Oldenburg), who performed quantum mechanical calculations in this project.

According to their calculations, electrons hop from one tryptophan to the next generating so-called radical pairs which are magnetically sensitive. To prove this experimentally, the team from Oldenburg produced slightly modified versions of the robin cryptochrome, in which each of the tryptophans in turn was replaced by a different amino acid to block the movement of electrons. Using these modified proteins, the Oxford team demonstrated experimentally that electrons move within the cryptochrome as predicted in the calculations - and that the generated radical pairs are essential to explain the observed magnetic field effects.

Hore said, "if we can prove that cryptochrome 4 is the magnetic sensor we will have demonstrated a fundamentally quantum mechanism that makes animals sensitive to environmental stimuli a million times weaker than previously thought possible". But, the researchers admited this is not definitive proof that cryptochrome 4 was the magnetic sensor they were looking for.

In all experiments, they examined isolated proteins in the laboratory. The magnetic fields used were also stronger than the Earth's magnetic field. "We think these results are very important because they show for the first time that a molecule from the visual apparatus of a migratory bird is sensitive to magnetic fields." said Mouritsen. "But it still needs to be shown that this is happening in the eyes of birds." Unfortunately, such studies are not yet technically possible.

They believed the proteins involved could be significantly more sensitive in their native environment. In cells in the retina, the proteins are probably fixed and aligned, increasing their sensitivity to the direction of the magnetic field. Moreover, they were also likely to be associated with other proteins that could amplify the sensory signals.

"We are still looking for other proteins that may participate in this complicated machinery, including but certainly not limited to MagR. We are open-minded and would not exclude any possible partners at this stage", said XIE. MagR is an iron-sulfur cluster protein discovered by XIE's group five years ago as a putative magnetoreceptor, though the exact mechanism is still to be answered. It is suggested to interact with cryptochrome 4 to form a nanoscale 'needle' in vitro: a rod-like core of MagR polymer with an outer layer of cryptochromes (DOI: 10.1038/nmat4484).

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The work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Presidential Foundation of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences to XIE's group, and a 6-year Synergy Grant from the European Research Council with the title 'QuantumBirds' to the Oldenburg and Oxford teams.
The IAU calls on our community to develop and implement specific actions to help achieve the aims of the 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change. The study of astronomy provides all citizens a unique perspective and view of the Universe that highlights the fragility of life on planet Earth. The first Kavli-IAU interdisciplinary symposium will be dedicated to climate change on planets in late 2022 or early 2023.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) joins other astronomy institutions and scientific organisations in stressing the importance and urgency of environmental sustainability for the future of our planet. As concluded by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) [1] and highlighted in many scientific reports, increases in anthropogenic carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have exacerbated climate change since the industrial revolution, and without mediation, we risk extreme and irreversible damage to life on our planet. The IAU calls on our community to develop, promote and implement specific actions to help achieve the aims of the 2016 Paris Agreement.

The study of astronomy provides all citizens a unique perspective and view of the Universe that highlights the fragility of Earth's biosphere. Additionally, through comparative studies of planetary atmospheres, astronomers can model and measure the impact of greenhouse gases and their consequences for climate and climate change on planets.

The IAU applauds and acknowledges the steps its members are already taking to help protect our climate -- from individual organizations that publish their own carbon budgets, to organisations like Astronomers for Planet Earth. The IAU, through its four Offices (OAD - http://www. astro4dev. org/ , OAO - https:/ / www. iau. org/ public/ oao/ , OYA - https:/ / www. iau. org/ training/ office_for_young_astronomers/ , OAE - https:/ / www. iau. org/ education/ oae/ ), strongly encourages and supports teaching and communicating about the Earth's climate and the consequences of human activity, and we urge our national and individual members to address climate change in connection with their scientific, educational, outreach, and other societal activities.

As one step towards addressing this global problem, the IAU will issue a special call for the first Kavli-IAU interdisciplinary symposium, dedicated to Climate and Climate Change on Planets, to take place in late 2022 or early 2023. The symposium will draw from members of the IAU as well as other relevant unions (such as GeoUnions - http://www. icsu-geounions. org/ ). One goal of the symposium will be to produce an IAU Springboard for Climate Action, directed to the astronomy community, that will recommend mitigating actions that can be undertaken at the individual, institutional, and IAU level.

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Notes

[1] IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (https:/ / www. ipcc. ch/ report/ ar5/ syr/ ) Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.). IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp. Note that the Sixth Assessment Report will be released in 2022.

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Contacts

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Tel: +33 1 43 25 83 58

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Email: lars@eso.org
Professor of materials science and engineering and physics at Lehigh University recognized for outstanding contributions to ceramic science

Jeffrey Rickman, a professor of materials science and engineering and physics at Lehigh University, has been named a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society (ACerS).

The designation of Fellow recognizes ACerS members who have distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions to the ceramic arts or sciences, broad and productive scholarship in ceramic science and technology, conspicuous achievement in ceramic industry, or by outstanding service to the society.

Rickman, a highly regarded computational materials theorist, will be honored during the ACerS Annual Meeting held at the Materials Science and Technology Conference, October 17-21, in Columbus, Ohio.

The society's 2021 Class of Fellows comprises 17 members who "are among the most experienced and knowledgeable in our profession," says Dana Goski, ACerS president. "They have dedicated their careers to moving ceramic and glass science and technology forward."

Founded in 1898, ACerS "is the leading professional membership organization for ceramic and materials scientists, engineers, researchers, manufacturers, plant personnel, educators, and students," according to the society, which has 10,000-plus members across more than 70 countries.

Rickman's research interests span multiple disciplines. He applies materials informatics to analyze big-data problems in materials science, such as the characterization of abnormal grain growth in ceramic oxides and the prediction of the plastic response of high-entropy alloys. He is also interested in the description of kinetics and pattern formation associated with phase transitions, the modeling of dislocation dynamics and its impact of plastic behavior, and the quantification of the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of internal interfaces.

His work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Army Research Office. A member of the Lehigh faculty since 1993, Rickman has received both the Harold Chambers Junior and Class of '61 professorships.

Rickman is an editor for both Acta Materialia and Scripta Materialia and the author of approximately 150 publications.He has received several honors, including Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi memberships, the NSF's Young Investigator Award, and Miami University's Culler Prize. He was elected as a Fellow of ASM International in 2019.

He joined the American Ceramic Society in 1998 and has been active in both the Basic Science and Electronics Divisions. He served as an organizer and program chair for the Electronic and Advanced Materials meetings in 2019 and 2020, and as a member of the Sosman Committee in 2019. He also co-organized materials informatics symposia at MS&T 2020.

Rickman is also a member of Lehigh's Nano/Human Interface Presidential Engineering Research Initiative, a multidisciplinary research initiative that proposes to develop a human-machine interface to improve the ability of scientists to visualize and interpret the vast amounts of data that are generated by scientific research. He is also affiliated with two of the university's interdisciplinary research institutes, the Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD) and the Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE).

He holds undergraduate degrees in physics and mathematics from Miami University and an MS and PhD in physics from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to joining the Lehigh faculty, he held postdoctoral appointments at the University of Michigan and Argonne National Laboratory.

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Scientists need to focus on tangible efforts to boost equity, diversity and inclusion in citizen science, researchers from North Carolina State University argued in a new perspective.

Published in the journal Science, the perspective is a response to a debate about rebranding "citizen science," the movement to use crowdsourced data collection, analysis or design in research. Researchers said that while the motivation for rebranding is in response to a real concern, there will be a cost to it, and efforts to make projects more inclusive should go deeper than that. Their recommendations speak to a broader discussion about how to ensure science is responsive to the needs of a diverse audience.

"At its heart, citizen science is a system of knowledge production that doesn't block entry based on credentials," said first author Caren Cooper, associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State. "Those of us in citizen science have been saying 'science is for everyone, you don't need a degree or special training.' But, the sad irony is that it hasn't been for everyone. The overwhelming majority of participants resemble their academic counterparts, who are often white, affluent and have advanced degrees. We want to take the good intentions that are driving rebranding, and commit to long-term, sustained efforts to reimagine an inclusive citizen science."

The term "citizen science" was coined in the 1990s, researchers said, to describe science led by institutions that use volunteers to collect data. It has evolved to encompass many types of projects with public involvement in design, leadership or data collection and analysis. As a "citizen science campus," there are projects underway at NC State in which undergraduates, faculty, staff and the general public can help collect data. Examples include projects that rely on volunteers to help figure out the microbial content of sourdough bread or detect the presence of lead pipes in homes around the state.

In an effort to resolve concerns that the term is exclusionary to people who do not have citizenship status in a given nation, some organizations have moved toward using the term "community science," among other names. But researchers said community science is a distinct and existing research movement led and designed by communities, rather than institutions, to address environmental or social justice problems.

"It's a huge dis to community science to flippantly change the name like it isn't already being utilized, and could be considered disrespectful to people who are doing this work and have been for many years," said co-author Zakiya Leggett, assistant professor of forestry and environmental resources. "If you have a citizen science project, but you advertise it as 'community science,' it does a disservice to both practices."

In addition, there is a cost to losing the term "citizen science," they said, since the term has gained momentum globally. In the United States, the term is used in a federal law authorizing the government to include volunteers in scientific research irrespective of their credentials and citizenship status.

"There is a lot of work that has gone toward incorporating 'citizen science' as a part of policy, as well as being accepted into mainstream science," said co-author Madhusudan Katti, associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State. "The name has been caught up in politicization of citizenship and nationalist politics, and rebranding is a little bit reactive. The concern is genuine, but the fix is not deep enough. Renaming something doesn't make it different from what it's been all along."

The researchers argued for strategic planning to advance accessibility, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in citizen science.

"One approach that could work for citizen science is 'centering in the margins.' That can include centering research agendas based on the areas that are underserved by science," Cooper said.

Other tactics could involve ensuring there are diverse perspectives in project leadership, or overcoming economic barriers to participation. They also said there is a need for funding to support science that addresses interests, concerns and needs of people who have historically or are currently underserved by science.

They said rebranding, if needed, should only happen if it is called for as part of a broader strategic plan. They also said rebranding efforts should refrain from co-opting existing terminology, avoid exporting issues in the United States to the rest of the world, and identify terminology to help further clarify distinctions for different types of projects.

"We wanted the fact that diversity and inclusion in citizen science remains elusive to serve as a canary in the coal mine to the rest of the scientific community - it takes far more than words and good intentions to be inclusive," Cooper said. "We can learn from community science without co-opting it. We need to figure this out without expecting quick-fix solutions, because those can do more harm than good."

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The perspective, "Inclusion in citizen science: The conundrum of rebranding," was published online in Science. In addition to Cooper, Katti and Leggett, other authors included Chris L. Hawn, Lincoln R. Larson, Julia K. Parrish, Gillian Bowser, Darlene Cavalier, Robert R. Dunn, Mordechai (Muki) Haklay, Kaberia Kar Gupta, Na'Taki Osborne Jelks, Valerie A. Johnson, Omega R. Wilson and Sacoby Wilson. Researchers reported funding from the National Science Foundation, through grant No. 1713562, to Cooper and Larson.
FORT LAUDERDALE/DAVIE, Fla. - We know that the domestic cat has distant relatives that roam the earth - lions, tigers, cheetahs and mountain lions. Less familiar are the 38 distinct species in the Family Felidae, many with strange names like pampas cat, kodkod and rusty spotted cat. The new field of genomics - the unravelling of DNA genomes of separate species - is resolving old conundrums and revealing new secrets across the history of evolutionarily related species among cats, dogs, bears and ourselves.

In the largest-ever study undertaken of Chinese cats, genetic detectives highlight the evolutionary uniqueness and premier conservation importance of the elusive Chinese mountain cat (Felis silvestris bieti), found only in the Tibetan plateau of China. Also called Chinese desert cat or Steppe cat, the Chinese mountain cat has a distinctive appearance of sand colored fur, with faint dark stripes a thick tail and light blue pupils.

The research is published in Science Advances.

This new study compared three different felines living in China: the Chinese mountain cat, Felis silvestris bieti, the Asiatic wildcat Felis silvestris ornata, and feral domestic cats Felis silvestris catus. The Asiatic wildcat has distinguishing spotted coat pattern across a wide range extending from the Caspian Sea in the East through western India and southern Mongolia to parts of western China. Approximately 600 million domestic cats are found across the world.

The study was led by the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at Peking University in Beijing and supported by an international team including lead genetic researchers at Nova Southeastern University, USA and in Malaysia. The genomic data resolves a taxonomic classification uncertainty, reveals the timing of evolutionary divergence and pinpoints the prospects for survival of an important endangered species.

Using 270 individual samples, the molecular genetic study finds that the Chinese mountain cat is a unique subspecies of the wide-ranging Wildcat, Felis silvestris. The wildcat species is found throughout Europe, Africa, and much of Western Asia. The Felis silvestris bieti subspecies, however, is found only in China, being adapted to the prey and alpine climate of the Tibetan plateau.

Applying the molecular clock hypotheses, the date of evolutionary split between F. s. bieti and F. s. ornata was a estimated at ~1.5 million years ago while the genetic distance from both to the closest Felis species relative, the black footed cat, Felis nigripes is twice that at 3.0 MY ago. These different times support the classification of F. s. ornata and F. s. bieti as subspecies of Felis silvestris. A closely related subspecies from Central Asia and north Africa, Felis silvestris lybica , is the clear predecessor of the world's domestic cats, including those throughout China. The cat domestication process happened 10-12,000 years ago in the Near East at around the same time and locale, when humankind ancestors morphed from peripatetic hunter-gatherers to sedentary farmers in the Fertile Crescent region.

The Chinese mountain cat faces several major threats, one from modern agricultural practices that divert precious habitat. A second, more existential threat, is from interbreeding with domestic cats brought by the growing human population in the cat's limited habitat. And finally, climate change, that may be expanding the range of neighboring wildcats into the mountain cat's core homeland.

"This study will help conservation scientists to identify threats and decide the best ways to conserve this special cat in its native range," said Stephen J. O'Brien, Ph.D., a world-renowned geneticist and research scientist at NSU's Halmos College of Arts and Sciences.

The study solidifies the taxonomic status of the mountain cat, Felis silvestris lybica, through an analysis of the cat's genome, placing the cat in an evolutionary context relative to other species and subspecies of cats. These arcane taxonomic distinctions are important for conservation because scientists have to be sure they are all talking about the same animal when discussing strategies, and no less important, because legal protections have to be specific to the group in question. Without an agreed-upon taxonomy, legal protections and conservation come to a stop.

Another important result of this study is the finding that domestic cats in China are derived from the same common stock and origin as domestic cats throughout the world, and that there was not an independent origin of domesticity in China. Previous studies have hinted at close associations between early Chinese farming communities and local wild animals, including Asian mountain cats, and that some of these animals may have begun the crossing from the wild to living with people in settled communities.

What the current study shows is that this did not happen with domestic cats; now the focus of research can move to determining - why? Why were some species domesticated in some place but not in others? Why did these processes happen when they did, and what were the conditions obtaining that allowed, maybe even promoted, the integration of wild animals into human societies? Answering these related questions will help us understand the history of early China, indeed helps us understand the history of the ancient anthropocentric world, in more detail.

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While some state legislators argue red flag laws are unconstitutional, legal scholars outline how they can reduce gun violence and still protect constitutional rights

"Red flag" gun laws--which allow law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from a person at risk of harming themselves or others--are gaining attention at the state and federal levels, but are under scrutiny by legislators who deem them unconstitutional. A new analysis by legal scholars at NYU School of Global Public Health describes the state-by-state landscape for red flag legislation and how it may be an effective tool to reduce gun violence, while simultaneously protecting individuals' constitutional rights.

Gun violence is a significant public health problem in the U.S., with more than 38,000 people killed by firearms each year. Following several mass shootings this spring, President Biden urged Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence, including a red flag law--also known as a "extreme risk protection order" law--at the federal level and legislation to incentivize states to pass their own. In June, the Department of Justice published model legislation to help states craft their own red flag laws.

"Research shows that prior to an attempted suicide or homicide, there are warning signs that a shooter intends to act," said Jennifer Pomeranz, assistant professor of public health policy and management at NYU School of Global Public Health and the lead author of the study, which was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. "Removing firearms during crisis situations allows for mental health intervention or law enforcement investigation, and can prevent tragedies from occurring."

In May 2020, Oklahoma passed the nation's first law preempting or blocking local governments from enacting their own red flag laws. The state's "anti-red flag" bill was one of several proposed across the country based on arguments that red flag laws are unconstitutional. Legal scholars have evaluated constitutional arguments supporting and opposing red flag laws, and while lower courts have upheld the laws, to date there is limited case law on their constitutionality.

To better understand the current landscape of red flag laws, the researchers gathered and analyzed all state red flag laws and related preemption bills and laws proposed or enacted as of July 1, 2020. They found that 19 states and the District of Columbia enacted a total of 43 red flag laws for both temporary and final orders; the majority were enacted between 2018 and 2020. They also identified five preemption bills in four states (Alaska, Georgia, Minnesota, and Kansas with two bills) and one that was signed into law (Oklahoma).

State legislators had a variety of rationales for wanting to stop local governments from passing red flag laws. The four most common concerns were based on constitutional law:

The First Amendment: State legislators argued that red flag laws violated the First Amendment, which protects against unwarranted government interference with expression; however, threats of violence, intimidation, harm, or death are not protected.

The Second Amendment: State legislators also argued that red flag laws violate the right to bear arms for self-defense. If a firearm is removed under a protection order, the respondent would temporarily not be able to exercise this right, but the Supreme Court has confirmed that some people may be "disqualified" from possessing firearms.

The Fourth Amendment: Two states introducing preemptive bills pointed to the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires probable cause to issue a warrant. All laws required probable cause (or higher) for a warrant; one law allowed for warrantless firearm removal, which the Supreme Court considers reasonable when a person is armed and presently dangerous.

The Fifth Amendment: State legislators argued that red flag laws violate the right to due process, which requires procedures that provide notice, an opportunity to be heard, and appeal. However, all existing red flag laws provide these due process protections, including requiring strict or heightened burden of proof standards for final orders removing firearms.

The researchers found that red flag laws are similar to other civil laws that protect people from harming themselves or others, including laws for involuntary commitment and removing children from unfit parents. Red flag laws provide the same or even more procedural due process than do some of these laws that confine or remove individuals--as opposed to their property--against their will.

"Without judicial determination that red flag gun laws are unconstitutional, it is premature for states to block the ability of local governments to temporarily remove firearms from people in crisis situations," said Gilberto Ochoa, a research intern at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study's coauthor.

"States have drafted red flag laws in an effort to allow authorities to restrict or remove firearms from people at risk to themselves or others, while simultaneously protecting their constitutional right. As such, there are strong arguments in favor of enacting these laws, rather than preempting them," Pomeranz concluded.

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About the NYU School of Global Public Health
COLUMBUS, Ohio - When the summer sun blazes on a hot city street, our first reaction is to flee to a shady spot protected by a building or tree.

A new study is the first to calculate exactly how much these shaded areas help lower the temperature and reduce the "urban heat island" effect.

Researchers created an intricate 3D digital model of a section of Columbus and determined what effect the shade of the buildings and trees in the area had on land surface temperatures over the course of one hour on one summer day.

"We can use the information from our model to formulate guidelines for community greening and tree planting efforts, and even where to locate buildings to maximize shading on other buildings and roadways," said Jean-Michel Guldmann, co-author of the study and professor emeritus of city and regional planning at The Ohio State University.

"This could have significant effects on temperatures at the street and neighborhood level."

For example, a simulation run by the researchers in one Columbus neighborhood found on a day with a high of 93.33 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature could have been 4.87 degrees lower if the young trees already in that area were fully grown and 20 more fully grown trees had been planted.

Guldmann conducted the study with Yujin Park, who did the work as a doctoral student at Ohio State and is now an assistant professor of city and regional planning at Chung-Ang University in South Korea, and Desheng Liu, a professor of geography at Ohio State.

Their work was published online recently in the journal Computers, Environment and Urban Systems.

Researchers have long known about the urban heat island effect, in which buildings and roadways absorb more heat from the sun than rural landscapes, releasing it and increasing temperatures in cities.

One recent study found that in 60 U.S. cities, urban summer temperatures were 2.4 degrees F higher than rural temperatures - and Columbus was one of the top 10 cities with the most intense summer urban heat islands.

For this new study, Guldmann and his colleagues selected a nearly 14-square-mile area of northern Columbus that had a wide range of land uses, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, commercial and business complexes, industrial areas, recreational parks and natural areas. More than 25,000 buildings were in the study area.

The researchers created a 3D model of the study area using 2D land cover maps of Columbus, as well as LiDAR data collected by the city of Columbus from an airplane. LiDAR is a laser sensor that detects the shape of objects. Combining this data resulted in a 3D model showing the exact heights and widths of buildings and trees.

They then turned to computer software that calculated the shadows cast by each of the buildings and trees in the study area over the course of a one-hour period - 11 a.m. to noon - on Sept. 14, 2015.

In addition, the researchers had data on land surface temperatures in the study area for the same date and time. That data came from a NASA satellite that uses Thermal Infrared Sensors to measure land surface temperatures at a resolution of 30 by 30 meters (about 98 by 98 feet). That resulted in surface temperatures for 39,715 points in the study area.

With that data in hand, the researchers conducted a statistical analysis to determine precisely how the shade cast by buildings and trees affected surface temperatures on that September day.

Results showed that, as expected, buildings turned up the heat in the area, but that the shadows cast by them also had a significant cooling effect on temperatures, particularly if they shaded the rooftops of adjacent buildings.

The statistical model could precisely calculate those effects, both positive and negative. For example, a 1% increase in the area of a building led to surface temperature increases between 2.6% and 3% on average.

But an increase of 1% in the area of a shaded rooftop led to temperature decreases between 0.13% and 0.31% on average.

Shade on roadways and parking lots also significantly decreased temperatures.

"We learned that greater heat-mitigation effects can be obtained by maximizing the shade on building rooftops and roadways," Guldmann said.

Results also showed the importance of green spaces and water for lowering temperatures. Grassy areas, both shaded and exposed, showed significant heat-reducing effects. However, the impact of shaded grass was stronger than that of grass exposed to direct sunlight.

The volume of tree canopies and the area of water bodies also had significant cooling effects.

In the simulation run in the Columbus neighborhood, the researchers calculated that if the current trees there were fully grown, the temperature on a 93.33-degree F day would be 3.48 degrees lower (89.85 degrees).

But that's not all. The simulation showed that if the neighborhood had 20 more full-grown trees, the temperature would be another 1.39 degrees lower.

"We've long known that the shade of trees and buildings can provide cooling," Guldmann said.

"But now we can more precisely measure exactly what that effect will be in specific instances, which can help us make better design choices and greening strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect."

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Contact: Jean-Michel Guldmann, Guldmann.1@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Using an unusually well-preserved subfossil jawbone, a team of researchers -- led by Penn State and with a multi-national team of collaborators including scientists from the Universite d'Antananarivo in Madagascar -- has sequenced for the first time the nuclear genome of the koala lemur (Megaladapis edwardsi), one of the largest of the 17 or so giant lemur species that went extinct on the island of Madagascar between about 500 and 2,000 years ago. The findings reveal new information about this animal's position on the primate family tree and how it interacted with its environment, which could help in understanding the impacts of past lemur extinctions on Madagascar's ecosystems.

"More than 100 species of lemurs live on Madagascar today, but in recent history, the diversity of these animals was even greater," said George Perry, associate professor of anthropology and biology, Penn State. "From skeletal remains and radiocarbon dating, we know that at least 17 species of lemurs have gone extinct, and that these extinctions happened relatively recently. What's fascinating is that all the extinct lemurs were bigger than the ones that survived, and some substantially so; for example, the one we studied weighed about 180 pounds."

Perry explained that much is unknown about the biology of these extinct lemurs and what their ecosystems were like. There is even uncertainty about how they were related to each other and to the extant lemurs that are alive today. This is due, in part, he said, to the difficulty inherent in working with ancient DNA, especially from animals that lived in tropical and sub-tropical locations.

"While many nuclear genomes of extinct animals have now been sequenced since the first extinct animal -- the woolly mammoth -- had its nuclear genome sequenced at Penn State in 2008, relatively few of these species have been from warmer climates due to faster DNA degradation in these conditions," said Perry. "For example, to date, Penn State's Ancient DNA Laboratory has screened hundreds of extinct lemur subfossils [or ancient bones that have not yet gone through the process of turning into rock]. Yet only two of our samples had sufficient DNA preservation for us to attempt to sequence the nuclear genome. The M. edwardsi jawbone was the best preserved."

Part of the collection of the Laboratory of Primatology and Paleontology at the University of Antananarivo, the jawbone that the team used in its study -- which was published today (June 22) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- had originally been discovered at Beloha Anavoha in southern Madagascar. Carbon-14 dating, a commonly used method for determining the age of archeological artifacts of a biological origin, revealed that the M. edwardsi jawbone was about 1,475 years old.

The team used a fragment of the jawbone to sequence the nuclear genome of M. edwardsi. Nuclear DNA contains information about both parents, whereas mitochondrial DNA, which is also used to study extinct species, only contains information about the mother.

In addition to M. edwardsi, the team newly sequenced the genomes of two extant -- or currently living -- lemur species: the weasel sportive lemur (Lepilemur mustelinus) and the red-fronted lemur (Eulemur rufifrons). The DNA from these species came from ear punches that members of the team, led by Edward E. Louis Jr., director of conservation genetics at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and general director of the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, obtained from wild-caught individuals.

"Previous studies based on skull and teeth comparisons suggested that M. edwardsi was closely related to L. mustelinus," said Stephanie Marciniak, postdoctoral scholar in anthropology, Penn State. "However, our genetic analyses revealed that M. edwardsi is more closely related to E. rufifrons."

According to Perry, the first genetic study of M. edwardsi -- conducted in 2005 by Anne Yoder, Braxton Craven Professor of Evolutionary Biology at Duke University and her team, and now a co-author of the current paper -- was an analysis of a small fragment of the species' mitochondrial DNA.

"When Anne and her team observed the phylogenetic placement of Megaladapis to be more closely related to Eulemur than to Lepilemur, it was somewhat of a shock, in a cool way," he said. "But uncertainty about the relationship between Megaladapis and other lemurs has continued to linger among scientists. That 2005 study was a really important one, and now with the more sophisticated technology available to us today, we robustly confirmed that major finding."

In addition to extant lemur species, the team also compared M. edwardsi's genome to the genomes of dozens of more distantly related species, including golden snub-nosed colobine monkeys, which are folivores, and horses, which are herbivores.

"We found similarities between M. edwardsi and these two species in some of the genes that encode protein products that function in the biodegradation of plant toxins and in nutrient absorption, consistent with dental evidence suggesting that M. edwardsi was folivorous," said Marciniak.

Specifically, the researchers identified similarities between M. edwardsi and the golden snub-nosed monkey across genes with hydrolase activity functions, and between M. edwardsi and horse across genes with brush border functions.

"Hydrolases help to break down plant secondary compounds, while brush border microvilli play crucial roles in nutrient absorption and chemical breakdown in the gut," said Marciniak.

In the future, the team plans to analyze DNA from additional extinct lemurs and non-lemur primates with the goal of continuing to fill in the gaps in the primate family tree.

"For now," said Perry, "we are excited to have been able to analyze M. edwardsi's nuclear genome sequence for insights into the evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology of this extinct animal and to have resolved its phylogenetic relationship with some other extant lemurs."

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Other Penn State authors include Mehreen Mughal, graduate student in bioinformatics and genomics, and Richard Bankoff, graduate student in anthropology. Authors from Universite d'Antananarivo include Heritiana Randrianatoandro, graduate student; Jeannot Randrianasy, head of the Laboratoire de Primatologie et Paleontologie des Vertebres; and Brigitte Raharivololona, head of the Anthropobiologie et Developpement Durable Mention. Other authors include Laurie Godfrey, professor emerita, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Christina Bergey, assistant professor of molecular biosciences, Rutgers University; Brooke Crowley, associate professor of geology; Kathleen Muldoon, associate professor of anatomy, Midwestern University; Stephan Schuster, professor of biological sciences, Nanyang Technological University; Ripan Malhi, professor of anthropology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Edward Louis Jr., director of the Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo; and Logan Kistler, curator of archaeobotany and archaeogenetics, Smithsonian Institution.

The College of Liberal Arts and Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State, the National Science Foundation and the Ahmanson Foundation supported this research.
INDIANAPOLIS -- A new study demonstrates that many younger adult dental patients are taking medications and highlights the importance of dental providers reviewing medication histories regardless of age.

The study from Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University School of Dentistry looked at dental records from 11,220 dental patients over the age of 18. The results showed:

53 percent of all patients reported taking at least one medication

12 percent of those age 18-24 were taking at least one medication

20 percent of those age 25-34 were taking at least one medication

"The number of younger adults on medication really surprised us," said senior author Thankam Thyvalikakath, DMD, PhD, director of the Regenstrief and IU School of Dentistry Dental Informatics Program. "Often dentists will assume individuals this age aren't on medications, but these results underscore the importance of paying attention to medical histories of all patients, because medications can play a significant role in oral health."

Younger adults were most likely to be taking antidepressants, which can cause dry mouth, and opioids, which carry the risk of addiction.

"We need to be aware of these possibilities, because dry mouth increases risk for tooth decay and tooth loss, and dental professionals should be proactive with preventive measures," said Dr. Thyvalikakath. "In the same way, if someone is taking an opioid, we as dentists need to make sure we are not overprescribing these medications to that patient and possibly contributing to dependence or substance use disorder."

The study showed that older patients were more likely to be taking medications to treat chronic conditions like high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes. Across all ages, white patients were more likely to be on a medication.

In the future, Dr. Thyvalikakath hopes to develop and test an intervention to alert dental care providers about medicines and medical history because a more complete picture of a person's health can lead to better care and prevention.

"Differences in medication usage of dental patients by age, gender, race/ethnicity and insurance status" was published online ahead of print in Technology and Health Care, the official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine. This project was made possible by Dr. Thyvalikakath's start-up funds through the Indiana University School of Dentistry.

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In addition to Dr. Thyvalikakath, authors on the paper are Dr. Zasim Siddiqui, BDS, M.S.; Yue Wang, M.S.; and Jay Patel, BDS, PhD, M.S., PhD; all of the IU School of Dentistry.

About Regenstrief Institute

Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief and its research scientists are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe.

Sam Regenstrief, a nationally successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institute's research mission.

About Indiana University School of Dentistry

The only dental school in the Hoosier state, Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) offers an extraordinary learning environment in which teaching, research and community service come together in the best way possible for the preparation of tomorrow's dental professionals. About 80 percent of the dentists practicing in the state of Indiana are alumni of the school.

Founded in 1879 in Indianapolis, IUSD is located on the health sciences campus of IUPUI, one of the outstanding urban universities in the United States with a recognized commitment to community engagement. IUSD capitalizes on the campus's central location in the state and its position in the research corridor that links IUPUI, Purdue University West Lafayette, and Indiana University Bloomington. IUSD faculty conduct world-class interdisciplinary research in collaboration with the other IU health science schools and the Purdue Schools of Engineering and Technology and Science.

About Thankam Thyvalikakath, DMD, PhD

In addition to her role as a Regenstrief research scientist and director of the Regenstrief Institute and IU School of Dentistry Dental Informatics Program, Thankam Thyvalikakath, DMD, PhD, is the director of dental informatics, an associate professor at IU School of Dentistry and an adjunct associate professor in the IUPUI School of Informatics and Computing.
Female elephant seal weigh on average 350 kg, and dive continuously to the ocean's mesopelagic zone, about 200 to 1,000 meters deep, to consume their only prey: small fish that weigh less than 10 grams. Now, an international team of researchers, armed with eight years of data, may have answered a decades-long question: How do seals maintain their large size on such small prey?

They published their answer on May 12 in Science Advances.

"It is not easy to get fat," said paper author Taiki Adachi, research fellow with the National Institute of Polar Research and the School of Biology, University of St Andrews. "Elephant seals have to spend almost the whole day -- 20 to 24 hours every day -- deep diving to feed on many small fish and gain body fat stores, which is essential for successful reproduction."

The researchers outfitted 48 female elephant seals with data loggers that tracked everything from location and depth to jaw motion and seal buoyancy, which helps estimate the rate of fat gain. The loggers also used video to capture prey type. They tracked the seals during their two-month post-breeding short migrations in the Northeast Pacific Ocean between 2011 and 2018.

"We focused on this time after breeding because gaining fat energy stores is critical in their annual life cycles to determine whether they will pup again in the next breeding year, ultimately affecting population dynamics," Adachi said.

With more than five million feeding events recorded, the researchers found that, on average, a single seal dove 80 to 100% of the day -- that's about 60 dives a day -- to eat anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 fish and gain more calories than they burned.

"We suggest that female elephant seals, which are not capable of echolocation or filter-feeding like other large marine mammals, found a unique evolutionary pathway to enhance diving abilities relative to their body mass, allowing them to dive continuously to the mesopelagic depths and maximize feeding opportunities on abundant small fishes," Adachi said. "These results demonstrate the close relationships between body size, prey availability and hunting capacity that shape the foraging guilds within marine animals."

While the elephant seals adapted to a unique foraging niche, according to Adachi, the adaptation may also put the elephant seals at risk as ocean temperatures rise and potentially reduce prey availability.

"We suggest that the narrow behavioral niche of elephant seals severely constrains their plasticity to buffer changes in mesopelagic fish biomass," Adachi said. "The round-the-clock foraging suggest that elephant seals are vulnerable to reduction in prey abundance." The researchers plan to continue studying elephant seals' foraging activity and monitoring their fat gain rate as an indicator of prey abundance changes.

"The next step is studying elephant seals as an important living sentinel to reveal climate change effect on deep ocean ecosystems," Adachi said.

Co-authors include Akinori Takahashi and Yasuhiko Naito, National Institute of Polar Research; Daniel P. Costa, Patrick W. Robinson, Sarah H. Peterson, Rachel R. Holser and Roxanne S. Beltran, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz; Luis A. Huckstadt, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz; Theresa R. Keates, Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz. Costa and Peterson are also affiliated with the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz. Huckstadt is also affiliated with the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Office of Naval Research and the E&P Sound and Marine Life Joint Industry Project of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers funded this work.

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About National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)

The NIPR engages in comprehensive research via observation stations in Arctic and Antarctica. As a member of the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS), the NIPR provides researchers throughout Japan with infrastructure support for Arctic and Antarctic observations, plans and implements Japan's Antarctic observation projects, and conducts Arctic researches of various scientific fields such as the atmosphere, ice sheets, the ecosystem, the upper atmosphere, the aurora and the Earth's magnetic field. In addition to the research projects, the NIPR also organizes the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition and manages samples and data obtained during such expeditions and projects. As a core institution in researches of the polar regions, the NIPR also offers graduate students with a global perspective on originality through its doctoral program. For more information about the NIPR, please visit: https:/ / http://www. nipr. ac. jp/ english/

About the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS)

The Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS) is a parent organization of four national institutes (National Institute of Polar Research, National Institute of Informatics, the Institute of Statistical Mathematics and National Institute of Genetics) and the Joint Support-Center for Data Science Research. It is ROIS's mission to promote integrated, cutting-edge research that goes beyond the barriers of these institutions, in addition to facilitating their research activities, as members of inter-university research institutes.
Dmitry Blinov is a co-author of the article and Senior Research Associate in the Department of Astrophysics, St Petersburg University. He notes that researchers have been studying the optical polarisation from active galactic nuclei for more than 50 years. Some of the first academic papers on this topic were published back in the 1960s by Vladimir Hagen-Thorn, Professor in the Department of Astrophysics, St Petersburg University, and Viktor Dombrovskiy, Associate Professor in the Department of Astrophysics, Leningrad State University.

In the Universe, the main material is concentrated in galaxies with hundreds of billions of stars: there are about 200-400 of them in the Milky Way. At the centre of galaxies there are supermassive black holes, whose mass ranges from millions to billions of those of the Sun. Around black holes there is a large number of stars, gas and dust, which, being too close to the black hole, 'fall' into it. However, a black hole cannot ingest these completely and throws out part of the matter into intergalactic space in the form of extremely fast plasma jets.

The best objects for studying this phenomenon are blazars. They are active galactic nuclei with very high luminosity, whose plasma flow (jet) is directed towards the Earth at an angle of no more than 15 degrees. Such objects are the main sources of cosmic gamma rays, the nature and properties of which are understudied. Additionally, blazars puzzle astronomers by other phenomena, including the rotation of polarisation plane.

The polarisation plane of a wave is the plane in which a vector (for example, the electric field vector) oscillates and changes. In the figure below, the oscillations of the electric vector are in blue; the polarisation plane is in red.

The light that we see in nature, as a rule, consists of many such waves directed in different directions. In this case, the orientation of polarisation is random (in the figure on the left). Fully polarised light (in the figure on the right) propagates with the oscillations of the electric vector in only one plane. Such a phenomenon can be observed in some lasers. However, physical processes mainly create partially polarised light, while electromagnetic waves in a light beam often oscillate along one of the directions. For example, the figure in the middle shows electromagnetic waves in a beam of partially polarised light directed towards the reader. It is this kind of light that scientists observe when studying blazars. For this purpose, they study active galactic nuclei through a telescope with a special polarising filter, similar to sunglasses, which transmits oscillations only in one plane.

Decades of observations have testified that the polarisation plane of visible light in blazars sometimes rotates. Scientists have put forward several hypotheses that could describe the mechanism of such rotations, but none of them have had sufficient evidence. The research group from the Laboratory of Observational Astrophysics at St Petersburg University drew attention to one of the theoretical models. It was proposed back in 2010 in an academic paper. Researchers from St Petersburg University also took part in that study. It considered a rotation of the polarisation plane and predicted that such rotations should coincide with repeated gamma ray bursts.

The research group from St Petersburg University tested this hypothesis in collaboration with scientists from: the Boston University Institute for Astrophysical Research, the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy; and other research institutions. They analysed publicly available data from: the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which had observed one of the most active blazars 3C 279; the St Petersburg University Observatory; the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory; the Perkins telescope; and others.

'We have compared the results of numerous observations of the polarisation of optical emission from blazar 3C 279 with open data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. It has been regularly scanning the entire sky since 2008 and showing gamma-ray flux distribution. We have managed to find a pattern of bursts in this blazar, which has repeated at least three times along with the rotations of the optical polarisation. This confirms the previously proposed model explaining rotations of polarisation,' says Dmitry Blinov.

Additionally, based on the data obtained, the researchers have managed to describe the structure of the inner part of the jets. It is found that the fast spine, the centre of the jet, is surrounded by a slower sheath, which consists of ring condensations. When a plasmoid moves along the spine of the jet at high speed, it scatters low-energy photons from the sheath to energies of the gamma-ray band. This causes the bursts that the scientists have observed. Since the ring-shaped structures of the sheath have been stable over the years of observations, such bursts have repeated several times.

The research findings have become the basis for 3D animation, which gives an idea of the processes taking place in the inner parts of active galactic nuclei. According to Dmitry Blinov, in the future, similar patterns of bursts in the gamma band might help clarify other issues. For example, according to one of the hypotheses, it is jets with fast spines and a slow sheaths that can produce fundamental cosmic particles - neutrinos. Repeating patterns of bursts might indicate blazars that emit cosmic neutrinos.

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The collection of 19 open access papers in SPIE's Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, highlights recent research on the starlight-suppression technology that will be used in upcoming space missions

BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA - The open access Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems (JATIS) has published a special section on the latest science, engineering, research, and programmatic advances of starshades, the starlight-suppression technology integral to extra-solar and exoplanet detection.

Section topics range from starshade programs and missions, to various aspects of related technologies, including formation flying, deployment, high-contrast imaging, and performance modeling. Together, the 19 open access articles provide an extensive overview and current status of this exponentially growing field.

"The starshade is a technology that has seen rapid development and wide interest at many institutions," the editors write in their introduction. "Many of the advances in this field are spread over many journals and meetings. As a result they are difficult to collect in a single location in order to get a good view of the state of starshades.... As interest in developing starshade-based missions grows, we hope that this special section will serve as a tutorial, providing enough of a background for potential investigators who are not familiar with starshades to have a current overview of the field in one location."

"NASA's starshade technology development activity," "Antireflection coatings on starshade optical edges for solar glint suppression," "Exoplanet imaging performance envelopes for starshade-based missions," and "Mapping the observable sky for a Remote Occulter working with ground-based telescopes" are just a few of the articles featured in this collection of open access papers.

The special section guest editors - Jonathan W. Arenberg, of Northrop Grumman, Anthony D. Harness, of Princeton University, and Rebecca M. Jensen-Clem, of the University of California, Santa Cruz - are all members of the NASA-chartered Starshade Science and Industry Partnership's Technology and Science Working Group.

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JATIS is one of 12 journals published by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, on its Digital Library platform.

About SPIE

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Pioneering research, led by a team from Trinity College Dublin and the Marine Research Institute of the Spanish Research Council (IIM-CSIC) in Vigo (Galicia, Spain), suggests "subterranean estuaries" may be critical in managing sustainable fishing and aquaculture - two growing industries of global importance.

Subterranean estuaries are analogous to surface water estuaries, where freshwater flowing out to sea mixes with seawater, but are instead located underground, invisible to the naked eye. Yet the newly published research shows these hidden features are very important in the ecology of coastal systems and in filtering pollutants - some of which have been slowly travelling to sea for decades having leached from agricultural soils.

The research, just published open access in Limnology and Oceanography, uncovered subterranean estuaries in the Ria de Vigo in Galicia (one of the most productive coastal ecosystems in Europe and leader in bivalve production for human consumption) and assessed their importance to the coastal environment.

By employing a selection of natural environmental tracers that carry the chemical fingerprints of groundwater sources on land out to sea, the team estimated that almost 25% of the continental freshwater discharged to the Ria de Vigo comes from this invisible source.

The Biogeochemistry Research Group of Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, led the study (Project SUBACID). Explaining the significance of the work, and its wider implications for Irish waters, Carlos Rocha, Professor in Environmental Change, said:

"Bivalve aquaculture is a strategic, expanding sector in Irish sustainable development and features highly in the national plans to diversify food production. While our work was conducted in the Ria de Vigo, this area was carefully selected because of its capability to support aquaculture and its biogeographic similarity to parts of the Irish coastline.

"These subterranean estuaries have a high capability to filter out pollutants, like fertilisers, from freshwater. Given the extent to which they supply large ecosystems with incoming freshwater, they have a much more important role to play than many would have believed."

Juan Severino Pino Ibanhez, researcher from the Marine Research Institute-CSIC (Spain), added:

"We will now focus in more detail on which specific ecosystem services these invisible structures provide, and how they might affect, for example, the ongoing threat to this industry posed by ocean acidification caused by anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.

"We are currently strengthening the collaborative network established with the Marine Research Institute of Vigo to elucidate the functioning of these hidden ecosystems and their role in coastal health and resilience. Lessons learnt in Vigo together with ongoing research made by our group in Irish coastal ecosystems will help to understand the future of Irish coastal ecosystem services and food production."

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The discovery of a new Homo group in this region, which resembles Pre-Neanderthal populations in Europe, challenges the prevailing hypothesis that Neanderthals originated from Europe, suggesting that at least some of the Neanderthals' ancestors actually came from the Levant.

The new finding suggests that two types of Homo groups lived side by side in the Levant for more than 100,000 years (200-100,000 years ago), sharing knowledge and tool technologies: the Nesher Ramla people who lived in the region from around 400,000 years ago, and the Homo sapiens who arrived later, some 200,000 years ago.

The new discovery also gives clues about a mystery in human evolution: How did genes of Homo sapiens penetrate the Neanderthal population that had presumably lived in Europe long before the arrival of Homo sapiens?

The researchers claim that at least some of the later Homo fossils found previously in Israel, like those unearthed in the Skhul and Qafzeh caves, do not belong to archaic (early) Homo sapiens, but rather to groups of mixed Homo sapiens and Nesher Ramla lineage.

Nesher Ramla Homo type - a prehistoric human previously unknown to science: Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have identified a new type of early human at the Nesher Ramla site, dated to 140,000 to 120,000 years ago. According to the researchers, the morphology of the Nesher Ramla humans shares features with both Neanderthals (especially the teeth and jaws) and archaic Homo (specifically the skull). At the same time, this type of Homo is very unlike modern humans - displaying a completely different skull structure, no chin, and very large teeth. Following the study's findings, researchers believe that the Nesher Ramla Homo type is the 'source' population from which most humans of the Middle Pleistocene developed. In addition, they suggest that this group is the so-called 'missing' population that mated with Homo sapiens who arrived in the region around 200,000 years ago - about whom we know from a recent study on fossils found in the Misliya cave.

Two teams of researchers took part in the dramatic discovery, published in the prestigious Science journal: an anthropology team from Tel Aviv University headed by Prof. Israel Hershkovitz, Dr. Hila May and Dr. Rachel Sarig from the Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research and the Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute, situated in the Steinhardt Museum at Tel Aviv University; and an archaeological team headed by Dr. Yossi Zaidner from the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Timeline: The Nesher Ramla Homo type was an ancestor of both the Neanderthals in Europe and the archaic Homo populations of Asia.

Prof.Israel Hershkovitz: "The discovery of a new type of Homo" is of great scientific importance. It enables us to make new sense of previously found human fossils, add another piece to the puzzle of human evolution, and understand the migrations of humans in the old world. Even though they lived so long ago, in the late middle Pleistocene (474,000-130,000 years ago), the Nesher Ramla people can tell us a fascinating tale, revealing a great deal about their descendants' evolution and way of life."

The important human fossil was found by Dr. Zaidner of the Hebrew University during salvage excavations at the Nesher Ramla prehistoric site, in the mining area of the Nesher cement plant (owned by Len Blavatnik) near the city of Ramla. Digging down about 8 meters, the excavators found large quantities of animal bones, including horses, fallow deer and aurochs, as well as stone tools and human bones. An international team led by the researchers from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem identified the morphology of the bones as belonging to a new type of Homo, previously unknown to science. This is the first type of Homo to be defined in Israel, and according to common practice, it was named after the site where it was discovered - the Nesher Ramla Homo type.

Dr. Yossi Zaidner: "This is an extraordinary discovery. We had never imagined that alongside Homo sapiens, archaic Homo roamed the area so late in human history. The archaeological finds associated with human fossils show that "Nesher Ramla Homo" possessed advanced stone-tool production technologies and most likely interacted with the local Homo sapiens". The culture, way of life, and behavior of the Nesher Ramla Homo are discussed in a companion paper also published in Science journal today.

Prof. Hershkovitz adds that the discovery of the Nesher Ramla Homo type challenges the prevailing hypothesis that the Neanderthals originated in Europe. "Before these new findings," he says, "most researchers believed the Neanderthals to be a 'European story', in which small groups of Neanderthals were forced to migrate southwards to escape the spreading glaciers, with some arriving in the Land of Israel about 70,000 years ago. The Nesher Ramla fossils make us question this theory, suggesting that the ancestors of European Neanderthals lived in the Levant as early as 400,000 years ago, repeatedly migrating westward to Europe and eastward to Asia. In fact, our findings imply that the famous Neanderthals of Western Europe are only the remnants of a much larger population that lived here in the Levant - and not the other way around."

According to Dr. Hila May, despite the absence of DNA in these fossils, the findings from Nesher Ramla offer a solution to a great mystery in the evolution of Homo: How did genes of Homo sapiens penetrate the Neanderthal population that presumably lived in Europe long before the arrival of Homo sapiens? Geneticists who studied the DNA of European Neanderthals have previously suggested the existence of a Neanderthal-like population which they called the 'missing population' or the 'X population' that had mated with Homo sapiens more than 200,000 years ago. In the anthropological paper now published in Science, the researchers suggest that the Nesher Ramla Homo type might represent this population, heretofore missing from the record of human fossils. Moreover, the researchers propose that the humans from Nesher Ramla are not the only ones of their kind discovered in the region, and that some human fossils found previously in Israel, which have baffled anthropologists for years - like the fossils from the Tabun cave (160,000 years ago), Zuttiyeh cave (250,000), and Qesem cave (400,000) - belong to the same new human group now called the Nesher Ramla Homo type.

"People think in paradigms," says Dr. Rachel Sarig. "That's why efforts have been made to ascribe these fossils to known human groups like Homo sapiens, Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis or the Neanderthals. But now we say: No. This is a group in itself, with distinct features and characteristics. At a later stage small groups of the Nesher Ramla Homo type migrated to Europe - where they evolved into the 'classic' Neanderthals that we are familiar with, and also to Asia, where they became archaic populations with Neanderthal-like features. As a crossroads between Africa, Europe and Asia, the Land of Israel served as a melting pot where different human populations mixed with one another, to later spread throughout the Old World. The discovery from the Nesher Ramla site writes a new and fascinating chapter in the story of humankind."

Prof. Gerhard Weber, an associate from Vienna University, argues that the story of Neanderthal evolution will be told differently after this discovery: "Europe was not the exclusive refugium of Neanderthals from where they occasionally diffused into West Asia. We think that there was much more lateral exchange in Eurasia, and that the Levant is geographically a crucial starting point, or at a least bridgehead, for this process."

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Link to the research video:

https:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v= OGPKRuyd-5M

Link to the research video:

https:/ / www. youtube. com/ watch?v= OGPKRuyd-5M

Static skull & mandible & parietal orthographic (also attached as a PNG file):
An international team of researchers co-led by the University of Adelaide and the University of Arizona has analysed the genomes of more than 2,500 modern humans from 26 worldwide populations, to better understand how humans have adapted to historical coronavirus outbreaks.

In a paper published in Current Biology, the researchers used cutting-edge computational methods to uncover genetic traces of adaptation to coronaviruses, the family of viruses responsible for three major outbreaks in the last 20 years, including the ongoing pandemic.

"Modern human genomes contain evolutionary information tracing back hundreds of thousands of years, however it's only in the past few decades geneticists have learned how to decode the extensive information captured within our genomes," said lead author Dr Yassine Souilmi, with the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences.

"This includes physiological and immunological 'adaptions' that have enabled humans to survive new threats, including viruses.

"Viruses are very simple creatures with the sole objective to make more copies of themselves. Their simple biological structure renders them incapable of reproducing by themselves so they must invade the cells of other organisms and hijack their molecular machinery to exist."

Viral invasions involve attaching and interacting with specific proteins produced by the host cell known as viral interacting proteins (VIPs).

In the study researchers found signs of adaptation in 42 different human genes encoding VIPs.

"We found VIP signals in five populations from East Asia and suggest the ancestors of modern East Asians were first exposed to coronaviruses over 20,000 years ago," said Dr Souilmi.

"We found the 42 VIPs are primarily active in the lungs - the tissue most affected by coronaviruses - and confirmed that they interact directly with the virus underlying the current pandemic."

Other independent studies have shown that mutations in VIP genes may mediate coronavirus susceptibility and also the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. And several VIPs are either currently being used in drugs for COVID-19 treatments or are part of clinical trials for further drug development.

"Our past interactions with viruses have left telltale genetic signals that we can leverage to identify genes influencing infection and disease in modern populations, and can inform drug repurposing efforts and the development of new treatments," said co-author Dr Ray Tobler, from the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences.

"By uncovering the genes previously impacted by historical viral outbreaks, our study points to the promise of evolutionary genetic analyses as a new tool in fighting the outbreaks of the future." said Dr Souilmi.

The researchers also note that their results in no way supersede pre-existing public health policies and protections, such as mask wearing, social distancing, and vaccinations.

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The team involved in this study also included researchers from Australian National University and Queensland University of Technology.
This novel virulence trait, which increases severity of S. pneumoniae superinfection, involves pneumococcal surface protein A, now identified as an adhesin

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A bout with flu virus can be hard, but when Streptococcus pneumonia enters the mix, it can turn deadly.

Now researchers have found a further reason for the severity of this dual infection by identifying a new virulence mechanism for a surface protein on the pneumonia-causing bacteria S. pneumoniae. This insight comes more than three decades after discovery of that surface protein, called pneumococcal surface protein A, or PspA.

This new mechanism had been missed in the past because it facilitates bacterial adherence only to dead or dying lung epithelial cells, not to living cells. Heretofore, researchers typically used healthy lung cell monolayers to search for bacterial adhesins that aid infection. Virus killing of lung cells during flu was found to set the stage for S. pneumonia attachment to the airway, thereby worsening disease and pneumonia.

The research, published in the journal Cell Reports, was led by Carlos Orihuela, Ph.D., and David Briles, Ph.D., professor and professor emeritus in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Microbiology. Orihuela and Briles say their findings provide further explanation for how an infection by influenza A flu virus -- followed by S. pneumoniae superinfection -- causes severe pneumonia and a high death rate. The mechanism also points to possible improvements for disease treatment and vaccination.

A historical example of the deadly synergy of flu infection followed by S. pneumoniae superinfection is found in banked lung samples from the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic that killed 40 million to 50 million people -- the vast majority of these samples showed co-infection or secondary infection with S. pneumonia.

The UAB research on PspA began with some head-scratching results from experimental lung infections of mice with influenza A, followed by either wild-type S. pneumonia that has the intact PspA gene, or a mutant S. pneumoniae that lacks PspA. Lung homogenates from mice infected with the wild-type had much higher numbers of S. pneumonia bacteria than lungs infected with the mutant. However, when researchers washed the interiors of the lungs and collected that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, they counted similar numbers of the wild-type S. pneumonia and the mutant.

"This unexpected result was interpreted to mean that wild-type S. pneumoniae were more resistant to dislodgement than S. pneumonia with a pspA gene deletion, and it served as rationale for further experimentation," Orihuela said.

From this clue, the researchers were able to show that PspA functions as an adhesin to dying host cells, in addition to its several other previously established virulence mechanisms. The researchers also detailed the molecular mechanism of this bacterial adherence.

Both influenza A infection and release of the S. pneumoniae toxin pneumolysin cause death of lung epithelial cells. As they are dying, cells' phosphatidylserine residues get flipped to the outer cell membrane, where they bind the host enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, or GAPDH. In turn, the S. pneumoniae PspA on the surface of the bacteria binds to the GAPDH. PspA-GAPDH-mediated binding to lung cells increased S. pneumoniae localization in the lower airway, and this was enhanced by pneumolysin exposure or co-infection with influenza A virus.

Tests with fragments of the PspA protein showed that a 52-amino acid portion of the protein -- from amino acid 230 to 281 -- was required for GAPDH binding. Instilling one of those binding fragments into the lungs of influenza-infected mice reduced the disease severity of S. pneumoniae superinfection, presumably through binding competition.

"Our findings support the targeting of regions of PspA for therapeutic and vaccine development against influenza A/Streptococcus pneumoniae superinfections," Orihuela said. "Importantly, and despite more than 30 years since its discovery, PspA was not previously shown to function as an adhesin. Thus, our finding of PspA's role in adherence substantially advances our knowledge on the interactions of S. pneumoniae with its host."

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Besides Orihuela and Briles as co-senior authors, Sang-Sang Park and Norberto Gonzalez-Juarbe are co-first authors of the study, "Streptococcus pneumoniae binds to host GAPDH on dying lung epithelial cells worsening secondary infection following influenza." The four researchers hold a provisional patent on PspA.

Park and fellow co-authors Ashleigh N. Riegler, Hansol Im, Yvette Hale and Christina Croney are in the UAB Department of Microbiology. Gonzalez-Juarbe and Maryann P. Platt are in the Infectious Diseases and Genomic Medicine Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland.

Support came from National Institutes of Health grants AI007051-38, AI118805 AI568898, AI146149, AI148368 and AI114800; J. Craig Venter Institute startup funds; and American Heart Association grant 16GRNT30230007.
Roads, bridges, pipelines and other types of infrastructure in Alaska and elsewhere in the Arctic will deteriorate faster than expected due to a failure by planners to account for the structures' impact on adjacent permafrost, according to research by a University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute permafrost expert and others.

The researchers say planners must account for the sideward repercussions of their projects in addition to the usual projection of the direct top-down effects.

The finding was presented in a May 31 paper in The Cryosphere, a publication of the European Geosciences Union.

UAF Geophysical Institute geophysics professor Vladimir Romanovsky is among the 13 authors of the paper. Principal researcher for the project is Thomas Schneider von Deimling of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Potsdam, Germany.

The research focused on a portion of the Dalton Highway on Alaska's North Slope about 10 miles south of the Prudhoe Bay oil fields. Sensors monitored the temperature at seven locations, three to the west of the highway and four on the east.

The researchers found that top-down thawing isn't confined to the area beneath the road surface. They found instead that thawing spreads outward, leading to destabilization of the embankment and subgrade and that it is caused by the formation of taliks -- areas of ground that have thawed and remains unfrozen year-round -- under a roadway's toe, the prepared zone at the base of the embankment and abutting the natural terrain.

The result, the authors write, is an accelerating thaw rate and earlier than anticipated road failure -- and a warning that other types of Arctic infrastructure such as pipelines, fuel storage tanks and airports will fail sooner than projected.

The fieldwork and subsequent computer modeling of a gravel road built on continuous permafrost found that a slow and gradual thaw will lead to an accelerated "and likely irreversible permafrost degradation" and that "road failure is inevitable once a critical level of ground warming has been reached" absent extensive ground-cooling measures, the authors write.

The authors write that their findings show a shortcoming in other infrastructure risk assessment methods, which fail to adequately capture changes in permafrost and don't analyze the interaction between the infrastructure and the adjacent ground.

Those shortcomings make current estimates of infrastructure failure dates inaccurate.

"You cannot make blank decisions when you're dealing with permafrost," said Romanovsky, a longtime permafrost researcher. "You always have to be more specific about the region, about the amount of ice in permafrost and about the infrastructure itself. And when you take all of this into consideration -- and climate change -- you can make a much more educated decision."

The research will prove more beneficial in the planning of new roads than in the maintenance of existing roads, for which little can be done to change their initial construction. The research will, however, give transportation managers a better idea of when existing roads are likely to fail, Romanovsky said.

"The Department of Transportation can, using these results, understand how much they have to plan to spend to keep roads in good condition," he said. "They have a good idea in the near term, but they don't know what to expect, say, 10 years from now when the permafrost will be even more vulnerable than it is right now and how this thawing process will continue."

The authors conclude by saying it is "crucial to consider climate change effects when planning and constructing infrastructure on permafrost as a transition from a stable to a highly unstable state can well occur within the infrastructure's service lifetime (about 30 years)."

They add that their focus on the Dalton Highway illustrates that "such a transition can even occur in the coming decade for infrastructure built on continuous permafrost that displays cold and relatively stable conditions today."

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ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Vladimir Romanovsky, University of Alaska Geophysical Institute, veromanovsky@alaska.edu.
Researchers are calling for changes to working culture and conditions for junior doctors in the UK after their new research has highlighted a lack of access to clinical and emotional support.

The call comes as a University of Birmingham-led team of researchers, including experts from Keele University, University College London, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Universities of Leeds and Manchester, carried out a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 21 NHS junior doctors.

All participants, 16 of whom were women and five were men, self-identified as having chronic stress and/or mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.

The National Institute for Health Research-funded study, detailed in two papers published today (June 24) in BMJ Open, examined the psychological, cultural and occupational contexts associated with reduced psychological wellbeing in junior doctors, and protective factors which may mitigate against this.

The findings showed four key themes relating to work-related stress - workload and working conditions; toxic work cultures including abuse and bullying, sexism and racism, and a culture of blaming and shaming; lack of support; stigma and a perceived need to appear invulnerable.

Analysis from the interviews also pin-pointed themes that protect junior doctors and facilitate support, with these including emotional and practical support from work colleagues to help manage workloads; supportive leadership strategies including those that challenge stigma; and access to professional support such as counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and medication.

First author and Chief Investigator of the research Dr Ruth Riley, of the University of Birmingham, said: "Normalising vulnerability through disclosure and creating emotionally open cultures where vulnerability is accepted and understood, allows junior staff greater confidence to be open about factors affecting their own wellbeing and to seek and receive support when needed.

"Supporting doctors who request time out or time off and facilitating access to support could reduce the potential for isolation in the workplace and reduce stigma-related barriers to seeking help.

"Examples of effective interventions and solutions to minimise distress and support staff are evidenced in existing leadership and collegial support, but need to be more consistently practiced across the NHS."

Co-author, Carolyn Chew-Graham Professor of General Practice Research at Keele University, said: "Participants reported stress and distress attributable to working conditions, such as unrealistic workloads and long hours, toxic work cultures including bullying, sexism and discrimination, a 'blame and shame' culture, and fear of whistleblowing.

"We call for a cultural shift within medicine to more supportive and compassionate leadership and work environments, and a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, harassment and discrimination."

The research is the first study to qualitatively examine how junior doctors view their working conditions, work cultures, and the factors which may protect them from psychological distress or offer them support.

There are currently 115,376 doctors working in the NHS, almost half of whom (56,404) are termed 'junior doctors', which includes doctors in specialist training or at pre-Consultant grade, and Foundation Year doctors.

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For interviews with Dr Riley, please contact: Emma McKinney, Communications Manager, University of Birmingham, email: e.j.mckinney@bham.ac.uk or call +44 7815607157. Alternatively, contact the Press Office out of hours on +44 (0)7789 921165.

For interviews with Professor Chew-Graham, please contact: Abby Swift, Senior Communications Officer, Keele University, email: a.swift@keele.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

* Riley et al (June, 2021). 'The sources of work related psychological distress experienced by United Kingdom-wide foundation and junior doctors: a qualitative study'. BMJ Open.

* Riley et al (June, 2021). 'Protective factors and sources of support in the workplace as experienced by UK foundation and junior doctors: a qualitative study'. BMJ Open.

* The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions, and its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from nearly 150 countries.

* The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR:

- Funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care

- Engages and involves patients, carers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research

- Attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future

- Invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services

- Partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximise the value of research to patients and the economy

- The NIHR was established in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research, and is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. In addition to its national role, the NIHR supports applied health research for the direct and primary benefit of people in low- and middle-income countries, using UK aid from the UK government.
Pandemic deepened anxiety and depression among nurses -- those working in long-term care affected the most

Working in the highly charged environment of COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the mental health of nurses, according to a new survey by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

The findings, described recently in the Annals of Epidemiology, is the first to compare Canadian nurses' mental health prior to and during the pandemic.

"Whether they worked in acute care settings, in community care or in long-term care homes, nurses experienced high rates of depression and anxiety as the pandemic accelerated," says lead researcher Dr. Farinaz Havaei, a professor of nursing at UBC who studies health systems and workplace psychological health and safety.

Prior to the pandemic, two out of 10 nurses reported that they felt depressed. By April 2020, this had increased, with three out of 10 nurses reporting they felt depressed.

And prior to the pandemic, three out of 10 nurses said they were feeling anxious, whereas during the COVID-19 outbreak, four out of 10 now reported they felt anxious.

"Heavy workloads, inadequate staffing and the mental and emotional stress of dealing with human suffering and death--these factors contributed to the decline in nurses' well-being," she added.

The survey was conducted in September 2019 and again in April and June the following year, drawing more than 10,000 respondents.

Long-term care nurses affected the most

While the pandemic affected many nurses, those in the long-term care (LTC) sector felt the greatest strain, with six out of 10 reporting anxiety in April, compared to four out of every 10 nurses in the acute care and community care sectors.

However, when surveyed two months later, LTC nurses reported their outlook had improved. In that survey, four out of 10 (37 per cent) reported they felt anxiety and three out of 10 (27 per cent) said they felt depressed.

Havaei says the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on LTC nurses isn't surprising given that COVID-19 hit the long-term care sector the hardest, adding that the apparent improvement in late spring could be related to some nurses leaving their jobs due to poor mental health.

"By the time we conducted the third survey round, many of the LTC nurses--likely burnt out by the strain of caring for ill patients--had quit their jobs, reducing the amount of reported mental health problems."

Mental health supports

Although the research draws on data from a single province--British Columbia--the findings highlight the need to critically examine the supports available for nurses across Canada, says study co-author Dr. Peter Smith, a senior scientist at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.

"Healthcare workers have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 response," says Dr. Smith. "Studies have shown that, when workers feel protected through adequate and effective infection control practices and personal protective equipment, rates of anxiety and depression are lower."

Dr. Smith added: "We need to ensure for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for pandemics in the future, that we have adequate systems and resources to quickly and effectively protect workers on the frontline. We also need to understand the effect that the prolonged period of high anxiety and stress has already had on frontline workers who didn't feel protected."

Dr. Havaei explains, poor nurse mental health has devastating costs for healthcare organizations and patients through increased nurse absenteeism, "presenteeism"--and turnover.

"Preliminary analysis from our other research shows that poor nurse mental health decreases the quality and safety of patient care delivery by as much as 10-fold. There is an urgent need for better mental health supports and resources for nurses, especially those who work in long-term care," adds Dr. Havaei.

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Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, together with epidemiologist Lone Simonsen from Roskilde University form part of the panel advising the Danish government on how to tackle the different infection-spreading situations we have all seen unfold over the past year. Researchers have modelled the spread of infections under a variety of scenarios, and the Coronavirus has proven to not follow the older models of disease spreading. An increasingly varied picture of its behaviour and thus its impact on society has emerged. In several scientific articles, researchers have described the knowledge accrued to date, most recently around the concept of "superspreaders". It turns out that only approximately 10% of those infected account for roughly 80% of the spread of the infection. The results have been published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS.

Where does our knowledge of infections spreading stem from?

The data researchers use to" feed" and develop computer models comes from a wide range of different sources. The Danish municipalities have kept inventories of the spread of the infection, and this data has the advantage that it stems from units that are not overly large. There is a high degree of detail and this means that one can trace local development more clearly and thus construct parameters for superspreading, which Postdoc Julius Kirkegaard has contributed to. Contact tracing is another source of information. In that case, the focus is on localising and limiting the individual's transmission of the virus. The third source is slightly more complicated as it seeks to follow the chain of infections via the gene sequence of the virus.

Who are the superspreaders?

Regardless of which source researchers examine, the results deliver roughly the same: 10% of all those infected account for as much as 80% of the spread of the infection. It is therefore crucial, in relation to the spread of the virus to locate the so-called superspreaders and uncover how superspreading occurs. Researchers stress that, at the moment, we are not quite sure what constitutes a person as a superspreader. It may purely be down to personal, physiological characteristics. In addition, there are varying degrees of superspreading in the population, so it is not necessarily just one or the other. Some people simply spread the virus more than others and the variation from persons with almost no transmission to superspreaders is great.

How do researchers model a population of just under 6 million individuals?

Three basic categories are considered important when modelling the population's behaviour, when calculating a scenario for the spread of infection: 1. The family context, 2. Work context and 3. The random contexts people find themselves in - in other words, people in proximity on public transport, at leisure activities etc. The time factor in all three is crucial, as it takes time to infect other people. In terms of time, these three categories are somewhat identical when it comes to common diseases, but not a superpreader coronavirus variant.

But this is where the individual characteristics of the virus come into play: Superspreaders are quite different when handled in a computer model. Methods known from physics become important here, as it is necessary to model individuals and their contacts. Researchers have set up computer models both for scenarios with and without superspreaders, and it transpires that shutting down workspaces as well as sporting events, and public transport has the same effect when the model does not take superspreaders into account. But when we include superspreaders, there is a pronounced difference, and the shutdown of public events has a much greater effect.

Disease modelling faces new challenges and strong interdisciplinary collaboration

Diseases can behave very differently and it is therefore incredibly important to be both ready and capable of rapid change in relation to the development of new models that reflect the characteristics of different diseases as accurately as possible, if we hope to contain them. Professor Kim Sneppen explains:" The biological variation of different viruses is enormous. SARS-CoV-2 contains a special feature in that it is at its most contagious just before one develops symptoms. This is the exact opposite of an earlier disease that threatened to become a pandemic, namely SARS, which is mostly contagious after one displays symptoms. Viruses are extremely advanced machines that each find specific weak points to exploit. A new field of research is rapidly developing, which examines how viruses attack the cells in our body. COVID-19 has proven to lead to very different sickness progressions for different patients. In that senses, it behaves chaotically, as we say in physics.".

Ph.D. student Bjarke Frost Nielsen and Professor Kim Sneppen see a large open field of research within the collaboration between physics and biology. Gathering as much possible information about different viruses is crucial thus enabling physists to deploy this knowledge in mapping scenarios to respond to them.

The potential for research into the spread of infections is great

Bjarke Frost Nielsen says:" We need to create a toolbox that contains a wide variation in the way we tackle the spread of transmission, in our computer programs. This is the immediate perspective we can see in front of us, at the moment. Mathematical disease modelling has been around for almost 100 years, but unfortunately not a lot of headway has been made over that period. To put it bluntly, the same equations from the 1930's are still in use today. In relation to some diseases, they can be correct, but in relation to others they can be way off. This is where, as physicists, we have a completely different approach. There are numerous parameters, i.e., social dynamics and much more varied interactions between individuals that we can build our scenarios upon. This is badly needed, when we see the enormous variations in the different diseases".

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The initial spread of the coronavirus in India led to the introduction of a national lockdown in March 2020. After the first wave of the pandemic had subsided and a nationwide vaccination campaign had begun, a mutation of the virus in the spring of 2021 caused infection and mortality rates to rise steeply again. The previous stages of the pandemic had led to severe social upheaval, the most visible sign of which was the return of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers to their often distant rural home regions. The pandemic threw into sharp relief the unevenness of India's infrastructure of social redistribution, which feeds on, and sharpens, the graded structures of inequality rooted in India's social fabric. Professor Ravi Ahuja of the Centre for Modern Indian Studies at the University of Gottingen will produce an "analytical chronicle" of this crisis. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has provided funding for his project "Crisis as catalyst: COVID-19, social citizenship and political transformation in India" for one year with support of 133,000 euros.

The chronicle will cover a period of 18 months: from the first weeks of 2020, when the first COVID-19 cases were identified, to the summer of 2021, half a year after the start of the vaccination campaign and shortly after the peak of a second wave. The aim is to capture the dynamism of social perceptions, behaviour and the contradictory possibilities opened up by the crisis. "We analyse the crisis as an unfinished, still unfolding historical event, a moment of societal acceleration creating sudden strains, and opening new possibilities for consolidation as much as for contestation," Ahuja explains.

The project investigates the formulation and implementation of social policy at the national level, the way the crisis unfolded in different regional contexts, and the way it was experienced, and access to social entitlements were negotiated, at the local level. To achieve this, publicly available sources will be evaluated and experts will be interviewed. "The analytical chronicle must be compiled promptly, while the optimal conditions for documenting everything exist and before the perception of the crisis fades or is reshaped by subsequent developments," says Ahuja. The research findings will subsequently serve as the basis for a deeper historical study of the transformations and structures of "social citizenship" in postcolonial India.

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Contact:
Are the traditional practices tied to endangered species at risk of being lost? The answer is yes, according to the authors of an ethnographic study published in the University of Guam peer-reviewed journal Pacific Asia Inquiry. But the authors also say a recovery plan can protect both the species as well as the traditional CHamoru practice of consuming them.

Else Demeulenaere, lead author of the study and associate director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability, presented on their findings during the Marianas Terrestrial Conservation Conference on June 8.

Strong cultural ties

The researchers interviewed CHamorus about their recollections of preparing and eating the endangered fanihi, the fruit bat found only in the Mariana Islands, and the endangered fadang, a cycad endemic to Micronesia, as sources of food.

"Gathering and processing the [fadang] seeds into titiyas fadang was a family activity. Manamko' spoke vividly about their exquisite taste and smell during my ethnobotanical research," Demeulenaere said. "CHamoru conservation managers told me they were afraid their kids would never acquire the taste of fanihi and hoped that one day the fanihi population would be restored so they could hunt them sustainably and restore this traditional practice."

Important roles in the ecosystem

Demeulenaere said the CHamoru culture's strong ties to these species only makes a stronger argument for preserving what are both ecologically important species in their own rights and important players in Guam's biodiversity.

"The fadang is a very special tree, as it belongs to the ancient genus Cycas, which originated during the Triassic Period, when dinosaurs were around. The leaves were most likely dinosaur food," Demeulenaere said.

The fadang, known scientifically as Cycas micronesica, was once the most common tree in Guam's limestone forests, but "an invasive scale insect has caused a rapid decline in the health of the cycad populations, which is further exacerbated by habitat loss," Demeulenaere said.

The fanihi, known scientifically as Pteropus mariannus, is an important seed disperser, she said, in particular for fadang seeds.

"They love to eat the seed coat of the fadang [...]," Demeulenaere said. "Restoration efforts consist of adding food sources for the fanihi in degraded forests. [Restoring the] fadang [population] is an important part of this effort."

Today, it is estimated that only 45 to 50 fruit bats remain in the wild in Guam -- down from 400-500 in 1984 and around 3,000 in the 1950s -- because of poaching and habitat destruction, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Restoration work moving forward

Most of the study's interviewees said they would like to eat fanihi again once the populations are restored. Endemic foods can also significantly contribute to food security in the region, the paper states. But scientist-led protection and restoration of limestone habitats as well as snake suppression are important to recover the species and make sustainable harvest possible.

Moving forward, Demeulenaere said, "A co-production of knowledge consisting of traditional holders and scientists can outline harvesting practices and the recovery actions."

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Samples from other worlds will be examined by space scientists at the University of Leicester as they continue to study the building blocks of the Solar System

Samples from other worlds will be examined by space scientists at the University of Leicester as they continue to study the building blocks of the Solar System.

Some of the first particles from asteroid Ryugu - returned by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) probe Hayabusa2 in 2020 - and samples from the Winchcombe meteorite, which fell to Earth earlier this year, will be scrutinised by planetary scientists in the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Both Ryugu and the unknown body which produced the Winchcombe meteorite - so-called for the Gloucestershire town where it was found in February - are examples of carbonaceous chondrites, considered one of the most primitive forms of planetary material. However, they are extremely rare and make up less than 5% of meteorite falls on Earth.

John Bridges is a Professor of Planetary Science and Dr Leon Hicks is a planetary materials researcher at the University of Leicester. They have been involved in a number of sample-return missions, including JAXA's first Hayabusa mission and NASA's Stardust mission.

Professor Bridges said:

"A key advantage of a sample-return mission such as Hayabusa2 is that it allows us to look at the properties of a known asteroid which we can observe from Earth, and compare to other samples in a lab setting.

"However, we have been incredibly lucky with the recent Winchcombe meteorite fall, as that is such a rare event.

"We can not only learn about the processes that led to the formation of asteroid Ryugu, but we will also learn more about similar samples in our meteorite collections."

Samples from the Winchcombe meteorite arrived at Leicester in June, with some of the first particles from asteroid Ryugu expected later this summer.

Researchers at the University's Space Research Centre and Advanced Microscopy Centre use a range of techniques to study the origin of asteroids and comets and the evolution of Mars. Methods include scanning electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, and focused ion beam. The samples will also be taken by Hicks and Bridgesto the Diamond synchrotron facility in Harwell, Oxfordshire later this month for further analysis.

This work helps scientists better understand the processes taking place at the formation of the Solar System as well as the changes which these bodies have undergone in the past 4.5 million years, and informs how our Earth came to possess the resources required to sustain life.

Planetary scientists have previously examined high-profile samples from the near-Earth asteroid Itokawa (Hayabusa), the comet Wild 2 (Stardust) plus lunar rocks and soil returned to Earth by NASA's Apollo Program.

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Professor Bridges is also a participating scientist and ChemCam team member on the NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission and is a key collaborator on the ExoMars mission - a joint project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia's Roscosmos - which aims to land a Leicester-built instrument on the Red Planet in 2023.
In the US, COVID-19 reduced overall life expectancy by over 1.3 years, with the effects on Black and Latino populations 2 to 3 times those for the white population

An updated analysis of American COVID-19 deaths throughout 2020 reveals an even bigger drop in average life expectancy as well as still-substantial disparities by race and ethnicity.

Lead author Theresa Andrasfay, a postdoctoral scholar at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, and coauthor Noreen Goldman of Princeton University first examined the pandemic's effect on American life expectancy in October 2020. Their initial study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in January 2021, showed the largest single-year decline in life expectancy in at least 40 years and the lowest life expectancy estimated since 2003.

The updated analysis, which included the more than 380,000 US COVID-19 deaths in 2020 and used 2018 life expectancies as a comparison, indicates that COVID-19 reduced overall life expectancy by 1.31 years (up from the initial estimate of 1.13 years lost) to 77.43 years. The reductions in average lifespan are more than three times as large for Latinos (3.03 years) and twice as large for the Black population (1.90 years) compared to whites (0.94 years).

"Impacts on life expectancy are likely to be even larger once excess mortality from other causes is taken into account." Andrasfay cautioned.

The changing geography of the pandemic's impact since last fall has made a significant difference in total average life expectancy loss as well as for whites, who were previously projected to lose 0.68 years on average.

"Since our October 2020 projections, disproportionately white Midwestern and Mountain states experienced surges in COVID-19 cases and deaths," Andrasfay explained. "As a result, the disparities are not quite as large as we initially projected, but are still striking."

As noted in the previous study, Black and Latino Americans have experienced a disproportionate burden of coronavirus infections and deaths, reflecting persistent structural inequalities that heighten risk of exposure to and death from COVID-19. The particularly large decrease in average life expectancy among Latinos likely stems from social and economic inequities that result in both higher exposure to infection and higher fatality among those infected. Compared to Black and white populations, Latinos have lower rates of health insurance, are more likely to live in multi-generational or crowded households and are more likely to hold frontline jobs with COVID-19 exposure risks, Andrasfay noted.

"Life expectancy is a metric of population-level mortality in a given year, and it is sensitive to deaths at younger ages," Andrasfay explained. "Though COVID-19 disproportionately killed older Americans, substantial numbers of younger Black and Latino Americans had their lives taken by COVID-19, which contributed to greater life expectancy reductions for these populations."

Andrasfay and Goldman also examined data from the first few months of 2021, which showed that average life expectancy is still affected by the pandemic.

"Though it is too early to estimate 2021 life expectancy, the deaths that occurred in just the first three months of 2021 already indicate that 2021 will have reduced life expectancy compared to pre-pandemic levels, and substantial racial and ethnic disparities in these reductions will persist," Andrasfay said. "The ultimate impact of COVID-19 on 2021 US life expectancy will depend on whether there is sufficient and equitable vaccination across the US. Looking to the future beyond COVID-19, reducing racial disparities in life expectancy requires investments beyond healthcare, including a commitment to make the economy more equitable."

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A new tool to help conserve one of the UK's most threatened mammals has been released today, with the publication of the first high-quality reference genome for the European water vole. The genome was generated by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in collaboration with animal conservation charity the Wildwood Trust, as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.

The genome, published today (24 June 2021) through Wellcome Open Research, is openly available as a reference for researchers seeking to assess water vole population genetics, better understand how the species has evolved and to manage reintroduction efforts.

The European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) is a small semi-aquatic mammal that lives on the banks of freshwater habitats and in wetlands. The species is native to Europe, west Asia, Russia and Kazakhstan. While the water vole's conservation status is 'least concern' worldwide*, populations in the United Kingdom have declined to such an extent that the species is considered nationally endangered. Habitat loss and predation by the American mink, an invasive alien species, have reduced the UK population from 7.3 million in 1990 to an estimated 132,000 in 2018**.

Water voles gained full legal protection in the UK in 2008. There have been a number of conservation projects in the UK aimed at supporting water vole populations, including efforts at habitat restoration and to control the population of American mink. There are also efforts to reintroduce the water vole in a number of restored urban and wild habitats, as well as mitigate the impact of new development***.

European water voles returned to Britain from ice-free refuges in Iberia and Eastern Europe after the last ice age, with these two clades contributing to genetic diversity in UK populations. This diversity may be apparent in certain traits, such as the black fur of Scottish water voles, which is distinct from those in England that tend to have brown fur. But the full wealth of genetic diversity cannot be estimated by appearance alone. It is also unknown how much diversity has been lost as a result of the recent population crash.

Hazel Ryan, Senior Conservation Officer at the Wildwood Trust, said: "Water voles are amazing animals and we don't fully understand what ecosystems lose without them. They are industrious habitat managers, almost like miniature beavers in the way they fell stems, make burrows and alter the landscape. We suspect that some water vole populations have become inbred in recent decades owing to shrinking numbers and the fragmentation of populations through habitat loss. The reference genome offers us a way to better understand genetic diversity for reintroductions and consider mixing individuals to ensure populations have the best chance to thrive."

To sequence the European water vole reference genome, a blood sample was taken from a live male A. amphibius individual that was part of the captive breeding population of the Wildwood Trust in Kent, UK. DNA was extracted from this sample and sequenced by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute on Pacific Biosciences SEQUEL I and Illumina HiSeq X instruments.

Professor Rob Ogden, Director of Conservation Science at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of water vole populations is an important aspect of their conservation in the UK, and is central to international guidelines on the movement of wildlife for conservation management. The release of the water vole genome provides a comprehensive set of genetic tools to support the future sustainability of the species in the UK."

The water vole genome is published as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project, which will see partner organisations sequence and assemble the genomes of 70,000 animal, plant, fungal and protist species across Britain and Ireland.

Professor Mark Blaxter, Programme Lead for the Darwin Tree of Life project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "The European water vole is a prime example of a British species whose genetic diversity we're in danger of losing before we've had chance to fully record it. This high-quality Arvicola amphibius reference genome will allow us to do that, as well as support ongoing conservation efforts to preserve existing populations and reintroduce new ones in a way that ensures these populations are genetically robust."

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Contact details:

Dr Matthew Midgley

Press Office

Wellcome Sanger Institute

Cambridge, CB10 1SA

Phone: 01223 494856

Email: press.office@sanger.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

** Population estimate by Natural England

*** For more information, visit the Wildwood Trust website

Publication:

Angus I. Carpenter, Michelle Smith and Craig Corton. (2021). The genome sequence of the European water vole, Arvicola amphibius Linnaeus 1758. Wellcome Open Research. DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 12688/ wellcomeopenres. 16753. 1

Funding:

The Darwin Tree of Life Project is funded by Wellcome.

Selected websites:

About Wildwood Trust

Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more.

As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust has taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.

The Wellcome Sanger Institute

The Wellcome Sanger Institute is a world leading genomics research centre. We undertake large-scale research that forms the foundations of knowledge in biology and medicine. We are open and collaborative; our data, results, tools and technologies are shared across the globe to advance science. Our ambition is vast - we take on projects that are not possible anywhere else. We use the power of genome sequencing to understand and harness the information in DNA. Funded by Wellcome, we have the freedom and support to push the boundaries of genomics. Our findings are used to improve health and to understand life on Earth. Find out more at http://www. sanger. ac. uk or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and on our Blog.

About Wellcome
Thursday, June 24, 2021

By Lynn Espejo

South East Bureau Chief

The Midnight Report

Earlier this week, I reported on what appears to be a plan hatched by staff at the South Central Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), to circumvent the Cares Act. As reported, that region has seen a rise in inmates that were released under the Cares Act being violated for minor infractions and returned to prison.

It is not lost on this reporter that the bureau's fiscal year-end is quickly approaching. President Biden's detailed budget proposal released on May 27, 2021, requested $7.8 billion for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This budget appears to be a 3.5% decrease from the last fiscal year-end. The 2022 budget request includes a reduction of $267 million to reflect decreases in the BOP's inmate populationa decrease that is a direct result, in part, due to the number of inmates released under the Cares Act.

Read Entire Story on The Midnight Report
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  A beachfront condo building partially collapsed Thursday outside Miami, killing at least one person and trapping others in the tower that resembled a giant fractured dollhouse, with one side sheared away. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers kept up a desperate search for more.

A wing of the 12-story building in the community of Surfside came down with a roar around 1:30 a.m. By late evening, nearly 100 people were still unaccounted for, authorities said, raising fears that the death toll could climb sharply. Officials did not know how many were in the tower when it fell.

The building is literally pancaked, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. That is heartbreaking because it doesnt mean, to me, that we are going to be as successful as we wanted to be in finding people alive.

Hours after the collapse, searchers were trying to reach a trapped child whose parents were believed to be dead. In another case, rescuers saved a mother and child, but the womans leg had to be amputated to remove her from the rubble, Frank Rollason, director of Miami-Dade emergency management, told the Miami Herald.

Video showed fire crews removing a boy from the wreckage, but it was not clear whether he was the same person mentioned by Rollason. Teams were trying to enter the building from a parking garage beneath the structure.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who toured the scene, said television did not capture the scale of what happened.

Rescue crews are "doing everything they can to save lives. That is ongoing, and theyre not going to rest, he said.

Teams of 10 to 12 rescuers at a time entered the rubble with dogs and other equipment, working until they grew tired from the heavy lifting, then making way for a new team, said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the states fire marshal.

Amy Beth Bennett/AP

Theyre not going to stop just because of nightfall, Patronis told Miami television station WPLG. They just may have a different path they pursue.

Patronis said he was deeply moved by the image of a bunk bed near the now-exposed top of the building.

Somebody was probably sleeping in it, he said. Theres all those what-ifs.

Authorities did not say what may have caused the collapse. On video footage captured from nearby, the center of the building appeared to fall first, with a section nearest the ocean teetering and coming down seconds later as a huge dust cloud swallowed the neighborhood.

Wilfredo Lee/AP

Work was being done on the buildings roof, but Burkett said he did not see how that could have been the cause.

President Joe Biden promised to provide federal aid if requested.

Hotels opened to some displaced residents, the mayor said, and deliveries of food, medicine and more were being hastily arranged.

About half of the building's roughly 130 units were affected, the mayor told a news conference. Rescuers pulled at least 35 people from the rubble by mid-morning, and heavy equipment was being brought in to help stabilize the structure to provide more access, Raide Jadallah of Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue said.

Susan Stocker/AP

The tower has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents, and while the building keeps a log of guests, it does not keep track of when owners are in residence, Burkett said.

Now Playing: A wing of a 12-story beachfront condo building has collapsed in a town outside Miami, killing at least 1 person while trapping residents in rubble and twisted metal. Officials said Thursday morning that search and rescue operations are underway. (June 24) Video: Associated Press

Fortuna Smukler posted about the disaster on Facebook, hoping that someone would know the whereabouts of Myriam Caspi Notkin and Arnie Notkin, an elderly couple who lived on the third floor.

Arnie Notkin spent years teaching physical education at a local elementary school, said Smukler, a North Miami Beach commissioner who is friends with Myriam Notkins daughters.

He was such a well-liked P.E. teacher from peoples past, she said. Everyones been posting, Oh my god, he was my coach.

It would be a miracle if theyre found alive, she added.

Nicholas Fernandez spent hours after the collapse trying to call two friends who were staying in the building with their young daughter. The family had come to the United States to avoid the COVID-19 outbreak in their home country of Argentina, said Fernandez, of Miami.

The hope is that, perhaps, someone hears the call. I know there are dogs inside, he said. I know it may sound ridiculous what Im saying but theres always hope until we hear different.

A total of 22 South Americans were missing in the collapse  nine from Argentina, six from Paraguay, four from Venezuela and three from Uruguay, according to officials in those countries.

David Santiago/AP

The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and ripped open some homes in the still-standing part of the building. Television footage showed beds, tables and chairs inside. Air conditioners hung from some parts of the building, where wires dangled.

Now Playing: A woman may have soccer to thank for a decision to not stay overnight in the wing of a 12-story condo building outside of Miami that collapsed. Patricia Avilez says she keeps an eye on her brother-in-law's condo when he's away. (June 24) Video: Associated Press

Barry Cohen, 63, said he and his wife were asleep in the building when he first heard what he thought was a crack of thunder. The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the building's hallway to find a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around.

I couldnt walk out past my doorway, said Cohen, the former vice mayor of Surfside.

Surfside City Commissioner Eliana Salzhauer told WPLG that the buildings county-mandated 40-year recertification process was ongoing. Salzhauer said the process was believed to be proceeding without difficulty. A building inspector was on-site Wednesday.

I want to know why this happened, Salzhauer said. Thats really the only question. ... And can it happen again? Are any other of our buildings in town in jeopardy?

David Santiago/AP

The seaside condo development was built in 1981. It had a few two-bedroom units on the market, with asking prices of $600,000 to $700,000. The area's neighborhood feel offers a stark contrast to the glitz and bustle of nearby South Beach.

The area has a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists. The main oceanside drag is lined with glass-sided, luxury condominium buildings, but more modest houses are on the inland side. Among the neighborhoods residents are snowbirds, Russian immigrants and Orthodox Jewish families.

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Associated Press writers Tim Reynolds and Ian Mader in Miami; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Bobby Caina Calvan in Tallahassee; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; and R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed to this report.
San Antonio school districts are walking back plans to offer virtual classes this fall after state lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would fund that option.

Students were forced to learn online when the coronavirus pandemic arrived, then were given the option of returning to classrooms during the school year that just ended. Many did, in percentages that varied by school district and fluctuated as the pandemic ran its course.

Educators expect that the vast majority of students will be back in the fall but say a small but significant number could benefit from continuing to learn remotely. Unless the law is changed, however, the emergency authority that allowed for virtual courses, and the state funding to pay for them, wont be available.

Close to 5,000 of the approximately 48,000 students in the San Antonio Independent School District have expressed interest in starting the 2021-22 school year online, Superintendent Pedro Martinez said, though he had expected that number to decrease with newer surveys.

The district could provide those students the technology and instruction, but it cant give academic credit for the courses they take virtually and cant be funded by the state for teaching them, he said.

We are talking to those families now, Martinez said. What weve shared with our community is that right now we dont have a legal option to provide remote (learning).

SAISD, Northside ISD and North East ISD were among the area districts to send notices to parents in recent days letting them know they would offer only in-person classes starting this fall. Some neighborhoods were receiving SAISD marketing materials at the same time, door hangers promoting magnet programs and schools and promising virtual or in-person learning opportunities.

District staff had been working to ensure a virtual option was in place for qualifying students or those seeking a medical waiver. However, plans for any virtual option are on hold while we wait for further guidance from the state, Northside ISD Superintendent Brian Woods wrote to families Friday.

We recognize that a small minority of our families have expressed an interest in virtual learning, but we cannot in good conscience try to offer remote learning without the appropriate law(s) in place, guidance from the state and gaining access to the necessary resources to support remote learning, read a notice sent to families by North East ISD Assistant Superintendent Anthony Jarrett.

The superintendents of all three districts were among leaders of 16 Bexar County school districts that sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday asking him to include the Local Remote Learning bill  House Bill 1468  in the upcoming special session of the Legislature after it failed to pass in the regular session this year.

Lack of vaccine options for younger students and the possibility that families still might be reluctant to send them to school because of health worries were among the main concerns, they wrote.

While our districts believe that in-person learning is the best environment for the majority of their students, many  are finding tremendous success in the remote environment, the letter stated. Additionally, in-person learning presents a greater risk to certain students. Some students or their family members are at risk for severe complications due to COVID-19.

At Northside, a district of about 105,000 students, about 470 students and their parents had voiced a preference for virtual classes next year, district spokesperson Barry Perez said.

North East had about 6,400 students, about 10 percent of its enrollment, expressing such interest, Jarrett said, but they were scattered across the entire district, which made timing a big factor in the decision to scrap the option.

Even if the special session produced funding for virtual classes, it would be too late to pivot, he said.

Can we find the teachers this late in the junction to be able to teach these classes online, give them the appropriate training, make sure the curriculum is aligned? Jarrett said. We are not saying that we would never consider it. But at this time, we cannot fully commit in good conscience that we can provide a quality education for our kids in a virtual space.

This spring, most districts tried to drastically increase their number of in-person students, targeting those who were clearly struggling at home. Teachers and school administrators reached out to the families of those at risk of failing or the ones who had gone completely radio silent, many of them in high school.

At San Antonio ISD, middle and high school students had the lowest classroom return rates, ending the school year with about 50 and 40 percent in-person students, respectively, Martinez said. Elementary schools, however, ended the year with about 70 percent or more in the classrooms.

Similar trends were seen in other districts, including North East. But all districts reported a significant loss in prekindergarten students  the youngest and less able to follow safety protocols but also the hardest to get to sit through a full day of virtual learning.

Educators hope that summer school programs being revamped to combat pandemic-related learning loss at all levels will help ease many of these families into the return to campuses.

Martinez said he is optimistic that students will be easier to bring back next year, but the challenge will remain for those who now hold jobs and other responsibilities. Based on registrations, we see that at least 90 percent of our students are going to come in person.

danya.perez@express-news.net | @DanyaPH
Lisa Krantz /Staff file photo

San Antonio residents can go back to enjoying cold drinks, BBQ and fireworks at Woodlawn Lake Park this Fourth of July.

After its cancellation last year because of the pandemic, the San Antonio Parks Foundation in collaboration with the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department is bringing back the citys official Fourth of July celebration at Woodlawn Park.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is urging community leaders to aggressively search for sexual abuse victims and to add 12 Marianist clergy members names to the Archdiocese of San Antonios list of those accused of committing it.

Self-described clergy abuse survivors and advocates with SNAP gathered Wednesday outside the archdioceses headquarters on Woodlawn Avenue to bring public attention to their demands, calling on Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller and St. Marys University President Thomas Mengler to take action.

The archbishop must include these 12 new names on the archdiocese list and its website, parish announcements and newsletters, SNAP officials said in a news release. He should be speaking at every school, parish and retreat center in the San Antonio area where these Marianist priests worked. Mr. Mengler should write to (all) alumni who attended St. Marys University during the time these accused predators worked there.

Only three credibly accused Marianists, two of them now deceased, have ever served at St. Marys, university officials said.

President Thomas Mengler has taken action to address abuse issues in a variety of ways and has included SNAP in those efforts, a university spokeswoman said.

Mengler has previously communicated twice with all St. Marys alumni to share the lists of Marianists who have been credibly accused of abusive acts against minors, and the university also hosted a public symposium in 2019 to raise awareness among its community and the broader public on the issue, she said.

SNAP officials said Garcia-Siller and Mengler should use their positions of authority to demand that Father Oscar Vasquez, the leader of the U.S. province of the Society of Mary, make the list usable for anyone trying to track their abuser. The list should include photos, dates of assignments, details of the accusations and current location (if they are still alive.) Then, include this information on our local list.

The 12 additional accused Marianist clergy all lived and worked in San Antonio at some point during their careers. The order published their names, assignments and other information in December; the list can be found on this website: List-of-Marianist-members-found-to-have-sexually-abused-a-minor121720.pdf.

Ronald Cortes /Contributor

SNAP urges anyone who has seen, suspected or suffered abuse at the hands of clergy members to report the activity to law enforcement, no matter how long ago it occurred. SNAP provides peer support to victims and witnesses of such trauma. The groups website is snapnetwork.org.

Mengler served as vice chair of an independent lay commission that reviewed the Archdioceses policies and practices and reported its findings to the archbishop and the public.

He was recently appointed to the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People, which collaborates with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to prevent sexual abuse of minors by people serving the Catholic Church.
A free press is vital to democracy, and that is why allegations the Trump administrations Department of Justice sought communications data from congressional members and staff, believed to be sources of leaks, must be investigated.

CBS News reported that federal prosecutors subpoenaed Apple for electronic data from two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee in 2017 and 2018  U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, the current chairman, and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell.

The New York Times reported that Microsoft was also subpoenaed for data from a congressional staffer in 2017.

The Trump DOJ issued the subpoenas to determine the source of leaks involving classified information about aides to then-President Donald Trump. New Attorney General Merrick Garland said important questions  must be resolved in connection with the secret effort to obtain the data.

As news of the subpoenas surfaced, the DOJ inflamed the controversy when it notified three media outlets  the Washington Post, the New York Times and CNN  that it had secretly obtained the phone and email records of reporters during the early months of the Trump administration.

The DOJ of the Biden administration is investigating the DOJ of the Trump administration.

Most charitably, this could be viewed as a sign of a healthy republic  that the government, through an investigation by the inspector general, can serve as a watchdog to itself.

And yet we cannot be so charitable, because the allegations are so disturbing and, if true, profoundly anti-democratic and very much authoritarian. Sometimes sources must be confidential in order to share vital information with the public.

But this isnt just an issue with the Trump administration. In fact, to only view it as an issue with the past administration is a disservice. The reality is the government has been aggressively hunting for leaks since the 9/11 terrorist attacks under Democratic and Republican administrations.

This includes, for example, the Obama administration seizing Associated Press phone records in 2013 and also portraying a Fox News reporter as a criminal conspirator in a search warrant.

To his credit, Garland has repeatedly recognized that the press, while not a government agency, is a key component of our democracy, acting as a watchdog that must be allowed to operate aggressively and independently, without threat of retaliation.

He met with executives of the Times, Post and CNN recently, assuring them the DOJ will no longer seize data during probes of reporters. Its amazing, really, that such assurances have to be offered.

But much more is needed.

If the Biden administration is serious about protecting the free press and honoring traditional reporter-source relationships, then this must be viewed as much bigger than one administrations DOJ investigating its predecessors DOJ. It may require an act of Congress to shield source information, and broaden the definition of journalism to bloggers, community journalists and others.

Addressing such complexities is the truest measure of the Biden administrations commitment to a free press.
Soon, San Antonio police officers may not be responsible for some calls for help.

City leaders are working on an alternative response model for certain problems, including mental health crises and 911 calls involving domestic violence and the homeless.

This new model would include a team approach. For these calls, mental health professionals, emergency medical personnel or on-scene advocates would take the lead, and uniformed police officers would be there for support. The advocates would be trained to triage family violence, mental health and housing situations using evidence-based risk assessment tools.

There would also be crisis de-escalation specialists on the scene. And the city could provide continued assistance, such as case management, peer support and navigation to benefits.

As I often said, police cannot arrest away issues like homelessness and mental illness, Police Chief William McManus said in a statement. City leadership has been very deliberate with examining the role of police in dealing with these complex social issues where police may not necessarily need to be the primary responder.

I believe that alternative responses make sense for many of the issues, and I remain committed to working with city leadership, partner organizations and community stakeholders to identify the appropriate responses that ensure safety for all, he added.

Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez, who oversees the San Antonio Police Department, agreed, saying this is a good step.

Of the nearly 2.2 million calls for service in 2020, about 930,000 were listed as nonemergency calls.

Officials are considering testing the alternative response system at a police substation before implementing it throughout the city.

On ExpressNews.com: Council committee wants SAPD to up its game in protecting LGBTQ people and handling mental health crises

City staff presented the proposal in a Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday, and they will present it to the full City Council on Friday during a budget work session. If approved, its scheduled to go into effect in October, when the citys new budget year begins.

Villagomez said parts of the $8 million proposed for public health could be used to add resources, such as clinicians and more civilian members on the crisis response team, to the Metropolitan Health District and the Department of Human Services to help the Police Department respond to mental health and domestic violence calls.

Once they get feedback from council members, staff will spend July developing specific recommendations for the budget.

Ananda Tomas  a community activist and the former deputy director for Fix SAPD, a police reform group created last year  said the alternative responses would be a win-win for everybody.

We dont need a gun to respond to every situation, Tomas said.

Mental health and even substance abuse calls should be diverted, Tomas added. There definitely needs to be some response other than a gun to these situations, and I think its a good start.

Because officers are overworked from taking on various roles in public safety, Tomas said, this would help with stress.

I hope that the city and the Police Department follow through, she said.

Changes wont stop there, though. Villagomez said the city is also looking at being more transparent with information on the Police Departments website and engaging more with the community over and above what we have traditionally done in the past.

For example, officials would follow best practices in data comparison for the departments racial profiling report, required by state law. Data from traffic stops and their outcomes would be analyzed for improvements. And when officers use force, reports would require the demographics of those involved and the type of weapon used by the officer.

The city began reviewing police services last June after protests erupted across the nation demanding justice for George Floyd, a Black man murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. The protests gave rise to a movement to defund the police and radically reinvent American law enforcement. San Antonio has adopted a more centrist response, leaving SAPD and its budget intact while moving to modify how police handle certain kinds of calls.

The proposal was drawn from various studies and community input received through surveys and town hall meetings.

Analysts identified six categories of calls that the public thought could be handled by different departments or with SAPD in a backup role: mental health crises that do not involve a weapon, animals such as aggressive dogs, enforcement of public health orders, parking violations, fireworks and graffiti.

For future animal-related calls, as well as fireworks and found property, uniformed police officers may not respond at all. Instead, callers might be greeted by nonsworn personnel.

On ExpressNews.com: Were on an upswing - street repairs, other basic services in San Antonio could get a boost as economy recovers

The city hired the University of Texas at San Antonio to analyze more than 3 million 911 calls from January 2018 to October 2020. The researchers found that certain call types, such as barking dogs and loud music, rarely result in an official report.

Input from 62 stakeholders and almost 900 SAPD officers also is being considered. More than half the officers agreed mental health and substance abuse calls without weapons should not be primarily handled by law enforcement. A majority also thought SAPD shouldnt be the primary authority for enforcing public health orders, responding to animal calls or issuing parking violations.

More than half the officers also said they shouldnt be the primary responders for loud music, child custody visitation violations or fireworks.

Final recommendations will be proposed to the Public Safety Committee on Aug. 2. On Aug. 12, City Manager Erik Walsh will propose next years city budget, and it is scheduled for a final vote Sept. 16.

Residents will be able to provide input on the proposed budget from August to September.

This project isnt going to be completed in August, Villagomez said. The work will continue just based on the feedback that we got from the community.

The conversation will continue, she added.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com | Twitter: @liz_hardaway
Tiny oil company Torchlight Energy Resources Inc. saw its shares more than double in a week after it became the latest stock touted on social media as a possible short squeeze.

The Plano-based company jumped as much as 74 percent to $10.88 a share Monday before falling back Tuesday and Wednesday. But Mondays jump made Torchlight, which had a market capitalization of about $1.2 billion, the second-biggest gainer on the Nasdaq this year. At the end of the first quarter, its market value had been about $266 million.

Its another example of so-called meme stocks, which came into focus after shares in GameStop jumped more than 1,200 percent earlier this year after it was hyped in comments on the Reddit social media forum.

Torchlight moved quickly to cash in on its sudden popularity by selling about $100 million in new shares. It disclosed the share sale in a federal filing late Monday.

The stock soared after users in the Reddit group r/TRCH said shareholders should Torch the short to get shares to $20 on Monday and $100 by Tuesday. The stock was also getting mentions in the popular r/WallStreetBets Reddit group.

Instead, Torchlight shares plunged 29 percent to $7 Tuesday for the biggest daily loss in almost 11 months. On Wednesday, they continued falling, to about $5. Chairman George McCabe was the companys largest investor as of Feb. 1 with a 10.6 percent stake; CEO John Brda was the No. 3 holder with 1.6 percent as of mid-March.

Associated Press file photo

The company was incorporated in 2007 in Nevada as Pole Perfect Studios Inc., which planned to offer fitness classes it said were centered around a firemans pole often found in gentlemans clubs.

It was receiving social media hype in part because in December, Torchlight announced a deal to combine with Metamaterial Inc., a Canadian company that describes itself as a designer and manufacturer of complex films and other materials called metamaterials. Torchlight said last week that the deadline for closing the agreement with Metamaterial had been extended to this past Wednesday to allow for payment of a preferred stock dividend.

In a federal filing last month, it warned it might go out of business, saying it had accumulated losses of almost $114 million since its inception and expects more losses in the development of its business.

Derek Gradwell, a spokesman for Torchlight, didnt immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment.

Torchlight also could have been getting a boost from a broader recovery in U.S. energy stocks as oil prices rebound from a pandemic-driven collapse in demand. But unlike the U.S. shale industry, which is poised to generate more than $30 billion of free cash this year, Torchlight isnt turning a profit. The company reported in last months filing that its oil and natural gas revenue tumbled 97 percent from a year earlier to $2,471 for the first three months of this year.

Since 2010, our primary focus has been the development of interests in oil and gas projects we hold in the Permian Basin in West Texas, Torchlight said in the filing. We also hold minor interests in certain other oil and gas projects in Central Oklahoma that we are in the process of divesting.

The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil companies in the state, lists Torchlight as being inactive for more than four years. Although it received a total of three drilling permits in the West Texas counties of Hudspeth and Tom Green in 2015 and 2016, the company hasnt reported any production to the regulator.

In 2019, short seller White Diamond Research published a report alleging that Torchlight had questionable management and that its Orogrande drilling project in West Texas was worthless. Torchlight was defended by Roth Capital Partners analyst John White, who said the companys test results had met or exceeded expectations.

Express-News staff contributed to this article.
SWANSEA, Wales (AP)  When Sierra Schade booked a trip from Atlanta to Greece, she hoped more European countries would follow Greeces lead and open to U.S. travelers.

She's now been able to add Italy and France to the itinerary for her trip next month after the 27-nation European Union recommended last week that restrictions be lifted for American tourists.

As pandemic restrictions start to ease, travelers and the businesses in Europe that rely on them are eager for a return to something resembling normal.

In 2019, before the pandemic, tourism and related activities accounted for 10% of the EU's GDP, meaning the return of international travel is key to economic recovery, particularly for countries like Greece and Italy that rely more heavily on it. That figure was cut nearly in half in 2020, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

There is guarded optimism about tourists returning this year, though the EU doesn't expect growth in the industry to return to 2019 levels until at least 2023.

Schade has flexibility because she works for an airline, but a confusing patchwork of restrictions has made booking trips trickier for average travelers. And European travelers still aren't welcome in the U.S.

Within Europe, governments use a traffic light system where countries in green are deemed safe and countries in red unsafe, but they don't all use the same criteria, befuddling those who want to take a trip.

And while the EU agreed that member countries should gradually remove restrictions on travelers from the U.S. and a handful of other countries, it's ultimately up to each individual country to decide how and when it wants to open its borders. Different countries may also have different requirements about vaccinations and COVID testing.

Things could get a bit easier, at least for Europeans, when the EU Digital COVID Certificate comes into effect next week. The certificates will certify EU citizens tests and vaccinations, allowing them to travel between countries without having to quarantine or undergo coronavirus tests.

Jennifer Janzen, from Europes largest airline association, Airlines for Europe, is hopeful that the certificate, if adopted widely, will help at least combat Europeans confusion about travel, merging 27 different systems in order to travel, to one single system.

She said that most Europeans didnt bother to travel outside their own countries with rules changing constantly, but an uptick is soon expected.

Were going from a ... long period of chaos, where nobody traveled, to now, a state where the industry is really hopeful that we will have some sort of recovery for European travel, Janzen said.

Many businesses that rely on tourists are still in wait-and-see mode.

Right now there is not much tourism in Barcelona because of the pandemic, said Roger Martin. He and his parents own Bar del Pi, a tapas bar and restaurant in the heart of the Spanish city. He said the lack of young tourists and local nightlife has meant much less business.

Still, he is hopeful the EU health passport will bring more tourism and investment in local businesses, including his own.

Not everyone has waited for a health passport to make a trip or let pandemic restrictions impede their travel plans.

Irina Gatilova, who lives in the Czech Republic and isnt yet fully vaccinated, underwent coronavirus tests for a recent trip to Italy, also crossing through Austria and Germany. Shortly after, she went on a family trip to Russia, where she currently is, knowing a mandatory quarantine awaits her upon her return home.

Gatilova supports the idea of the EUs health passport and plans to get one after her second dose of the vaccine.

Being outside the EU at the moment I dont feel very comfortable in hotels or public places where they dont ask for tests and people dont wear masks, she said. If there were compulsory COVID passports for travelers, it would give me confidence and peace of mind.

Recent data from the European Travel Commission found that two-thirds of Europeans plan to travel by the end of November.

Executive director and CEO Eduardo Santander said the travel industry in Europe is feeling additional relief and optimism with American travelers allowed in once again.

U.S. travelers (are) very important for a lot of European destinations that really depend on them and their market power, he said, adding that these travelers often visit multiple countries at a time.

But Europeans are still not allowed to visit the U.S., and Santander said that lack of reciprocity is posing a challenge for airlines that would prefer not to fly empty planes back to the U.S.

Still, U.S. airlines have scrambled to add new trans-Atlantic flight destinations in wake of the recent news, with American Airlines spokesperson Nate Gatten welcoming it as a positive development

For Schade, the relaxation of restrictions means a chance to get out into the world again.

We were both very COVID-safe, she said, referring to the friend she plans to travel with. So (this trip) is our first time...being out and able to do stuff thats not at home.

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Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  A beachfront condo building partially collapsed Thursday outside Miami, killing at least one person and trapping others in the tower that resembled a giant fractured dollhouse, with one side sheared away. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers kept up a desperate search for more.

A wing of the 12-story building in the community of Surfside came down with a roar around 1:30 a.m. By late evening, nearly 100 people were still unaccounted for, authorities said, raising fears that the death toll could climb sharply. Officials did not know how many were in the tower when it fell.

The building is literally pancaked, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. That is heartbreaking because it doesnt mean, to me, that we are going to be as successful as we wanted to be in finding people alive.

Hours after the collapse, searchers were trying to reach a trapped child whose parents were believed to be dead. In another case, rescuers saved a mother and child, but the womans leg had to be amputated to remove her from the rubble, Frank Rollason, director of Miami-Dade emergency management, told the Miami Herald.

Video showed fire crews removing a boy from the wreckage, but it was not clear whether he was the same person mentioned by Rollason. Teams were trying to enter the building from a parking garage beneath the structure.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who toured the scene, said television did not capture the scale of what happened.

Rescue crews are "doing everything they can to save lives. That is ongoing, and theyre not going to rest, he said.

Teams of 10 to 12 rescuers at a time entered the rubble with dogs and other equipment, working until they grew tired from the heavy lifting, then making way for a new team, said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the states fire marshal.

Amy Beth Bennett/AP

Theyre not going to stop just because of nightfall, Patronis told Miami television station WPLG. They just may have a different path they pursue.

Patronis said he was deeply moved by the image of a bunk bed near the now-exposed top of the building.

Somebody was probably sleeping in it, he said. Theres all those what-ifs.

Authorities did not say what may have caused the collapse. On video footage captured from nearby, the center of the building appeared to fall first, with a section nearest the ocean teetering and coming down seconds later as a huge dust cloud swallowed the neighborhood.

Wilfredo Lee/AP

Work was being done on the buildings roof, but Burkett said he did not see how that could have been the cause.

President Joe Biden promised to provide federal aid if requested.

Hotels opened to some displaced residents, the mayor said, and deliveries of food, medicine and more were being hastily arranged.

About half of the building's roughly 130 units were affected, the mayor told a news conference. Rescuers pulled at least 35 people from the rubble by mid-morning, and heavy equipment was being brought in to help stabilize the structure to provide more access, Raide Jadallah of Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue said.

Susan Stocker/AP

The tower has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents, and while the building keeps a log of guests, it does not keep track of when owners are in residence, Burkett said.

Fortuna Smukler posted about the disaster on Facebook, hoping that someone would know the whereabouts of Myriam Caspi Notkin and Arnie Notkin, an elderly couple who lived on the third floor.

Arnie Notkin spent years teaching physical education at a local elementary school, said Smukler, a North Miami Beach commissioner who is friends with Myriam Notkins daughters.

He was such a well-liked P.E. teacher from peoples past, she said. Everyones been posting, Oh my god, he was my coach.

It would be a miracle if theyre found alive, she added.

Nicholas Fernandez spent hours after the collapse trying to call two friends who were staying in the building with their young daughter. The family had come to the United States to avoid the COVID-19 outbreak in their home country of Argentina, said Fernandez, of Miami.

The hope is that, perhaps, someone hears the call. I know there are dogs inside, he said. I know it may sound ridiculous what Im saying but theres always hope until we hear different.

A total of 22 South Americans were missing in the collapse  nine from Argentina, six from Paraguay, four from Venezuela and three from Uruguay, according to officials in those countries.

David Santiago/AP

The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and ripped open some homes in the still-standing part of the building. Television footage showed beds, tables and chairs inside. Air conditioners hung from some parts of the building, where wires dangled.

Barry Cohen, 63, said he and his wife were asleep in the building when he first heard what he thought was a crack of thunder. The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the building's hallway to find a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around.

I couldnt walk out past my doorway, said Cohen, the former vice mayor of Surfside.

Surfside City Commissioner Eliana Salzhauer told WPLG that the buildings county-mandated 40-year recertification process was ongoing. Salzhauer said the process was believed to be proceeding without difficulty. A building inspector was on-site Wednesday.

I want to know why this happened, Salzhauer said. Thats really the only question. ... And can it happen again? Are any other of our buildings in town in jeopardy?

David Santiago/AP

The seaside condo development was built in 1981. It had a few two-bedroom units on the market, with asking prices of $600,000 to $700,000. The area's neighborhood feel offers a stark contrast to the glitz and bustle of nearby South Beach.

The area has a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists. The main oceanside drag is lined with glass-sided, luxury condominium buildings, but more modest houses are on the inland side. Among the neighborhoods residents are snowbirds, Russian immigrants and Orthodox Jewish families.

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Associated Press writers Tim Reynolds and Ian Mader in Miami; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Bobby Caina Calvan in Tallahassee; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; and R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed to this report.
FAIRFIELD  Racism within the Fairfield school district and the community in general has continued to be a major issue in the town, according to Fairfields Racial Equity and Justice Task Force.

Task force member Karen Lynch gave examples of racial inequality in town, as well as racial incidents within the schools during the task forces recent update to the Board of Selectmen.

Residents of color in our town are living a different experience than the majority of our town residents, Lynch said. We heard that people of color dont get the same service is restaurants for instance, black homeowners have often been mistaken for not living in Fairfield and they must live in Bridgeport. They must be the nanny of the children if theyre in an interracial family, for instance.

Weve heard stories and seen very recently lots of accounts of graffiti in schools, racial slurs being used between students, kind of victimizing students of color, she added. When I say schools, not just the incidents recently at Warde and Ludlowe, but Tomlinson, Burr and Sherman. Lets not forget kind of the politically heated graffiti that happen at McKinley.

In January, graffiti was found on the sidewalk outside of McKinley Elementary School. A local woman was later arrested in connection with the spraypainting, which included the words United States of China and Biden for Socialism, according to police.

More recently in May, a Warde student was arrested and charged after a photo with racial slurs was posted of a classmate on Snapchat. Shortly after, students from Ludlowe allegedly racially and verbally attacked the victims brother, an incident that didnt lead to any arrests, Fairfield police said.

Lynch said the racist incidents have been seeping down to the elementary schools. Racist graffiti was recently reported in the bathroom at Tomlinson Middle School and on the grounds of Burr Elementary School. Also, students at Sherman Elementary School were involved in a racially verbal altercation.

Parents have challenged the way those situations are treated with the administration, Lynch said. Education is a hot topic, if you will, in terms of this space for us.

Andrea Clark, the school districts spokesman, said she doesnt think there has been an uptick of incidents.

We do not believe these incidents have increased in frequency; they are simply being reported more often, she said Wednesday. As a district, we are working to be more transparent and communicate more openly with our families and the community when they do occur.

She said the district is focused on how best to communicate with and support the school communities when incidents involving racist language or acts happen.

We want to be absolutely clear that we stand against racist language and acts of racism, she said. We need to label such incidents for what they are and use them as teachable moments in developmentally appropriate ways.

She added, What is important is our ability to move forward and provide our students with tools to learn from these incidents, while ensuring they feel safe and protected in their school environment.

Lynch also raised concerns about interactions residents said happened with police.

Also, in law enforcement we have heard some kind of anecdotal stories that people of color in town feel as though that they are watched, for lack of a better word, a little more carefully, she added.

Lynch continued the task force presentation by describing two situations involving law enforcement that were believed to be racially biased.

The first incident included a resident who shared a story about being charged with a blight ordinance. The resident believes that the incident was based out of a racial or prejudice motivation.

The second story included a recent police stop where police officers pulled over a black man in town after hearing clear dispatch calls that the suspect was a short white male.

Implicit bias is playing out in these sectors, so were learning that first hand, Lynch said.

The police spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.

We are learning in the last several months even beyond our conviction, that it was an important task force to be involved in. We are certainly learning the importance of it in the last few months, we have had a lot of activity, for lack of a better word, Lynch said.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick says the task force was initially created in response to the George Floyd murder among other events happening on a national level. The group of volunteers, made up of residents with all different backgrounds, is currently researching and planning a blueprint to address the racial issues in town and will present it to the public shortly.

My hope for this task force is it might find areas of improvement whether it be in our towns hiring practices, the education of our children, in policing, and other areas of town governance, Kupchick said.

As Kupchick looks forward to the recommendations from the task force, she hopes that the community continues to look inward, listen, respect those who have different viewpoints and lead by example.

Every community faces challenges, and the recent incidents sadden me as a mom, a citizen and the chief elected official for our town. A task force cant change every bias, but I believe it can look at and make recommendations how we change our town government, or school policies for the better, she added.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Roughly 650 U.S. troops are expected to remain in Afghanistan to provide security for diplomats after the main American military force completes its withdrawal, which is set to be largely done in the next two weeks, U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday.

In addition, several hundred additional American forces will remain at the Kabul airport, potentially until September, to assist Turkish troops providing security, as a temporary move until a more formal Turkey-led security operation is in place, the officials said. Overall, officials said the U.S. expects to have American and coalition military command, its leadership and most troops out by July Fourth, or shortly after that, meeting an aspirational deadline that commanders developed months ago.

The officials were not authorized to discuss details of the withdrawal and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The departure of the bulk of the more than 4,000 troops that have been in the country in recent months is unfolding well before President Joe Bidens Sept. 11 deadline for withdrawal. And it comes amid accelerating Taliban battlefield gains, fueling fears that the Afghan government and its military could collapse in a matter of months.

Officials have repeatedly stressed that security at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul is a critical requirement to keeping any U.S. diplomatic staff in Afghanistan. Still, the decision to keep additional troops there for several more months makes it more complicated for the Biden administration to declare a true end to Americas longest war until later this fall. And it keeps the embattled country near the forefront of U.S. national security challenges, even as the White House tries to put the 20-year-old war behind it and focus more on threats from China and Russia.

In a statement Thursday night, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said that as Biden has ordered, the U.S. will complete the withdrawal by early September. Nothing has changed about that goal. Kirby said. The situation is dynamic, and we review our progress daily. Speculation by unnamed sources about potential changes to that timeline should not be construed as predictive.

On Friday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, chair of the High Council for National Reconciliation, are meeting with Biden at the White House. The two Afghan leaders also are to meet at the Pentagon with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and possibly other administration officials, the Pentagon announced.

Getting most troops out by early July had been in doubt because of complications including an outbreak of COVID-19 at the U.S. Embassy and the push to get Afghan interpreters and others who helped the U.S. out of the country. Officials said U.S. commanders and NATO allies in Afghanistan have been able to overcome logistical hurdles that might have prolonged the withdrawal process. But they also warned that plans in place for the final stages of the U.S. military withdrawal could change if airport security agreements fall through or there are other major, unforeseen developments.

As recently as last week, there was discussion of possibly extending the U.S. troop presence at Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, but officials said the U.S. presence at the base is expected to end in the next several days.

The roughly 650 U.S. troops that are planned to be a more permanent force presence in Afghanistan will provide security for the U.S. Embassy and some ongoing support at the airport. Officials said the U.S. has agreed to leave a C-RAM  or Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar system  at the airport, as well as troops to operate it, as part of an agreement with Turkey. The U.S. also plans to leave aircrew for helicopter support at the airport.

According to the officials, Turkey has largely agreed to provide security at the airport as long as it receives support from American forces. U.S. and Turkish military officials are meeting in Ankara this week to finalize arrangements.

On Wednesday, Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there is not yet a written agreement with Turks on airport security. He said he did not want to speak about specifics before there is a final agreement, but added, I feel very comfortable that security at the Kabul airport will be maintained and the Turks will be a part of that.

The U.S. troop departure, which began with Bidens announcement in April that he was ending U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan, is ramping up just as the administration moves ahead with plans to evacuate tens of thousands of interpreters and others who worked with American forces during the war and now fear for their safety.

A senior administration official said Thursday that planning has accelerated in recent days to relocate the Afghans and their families to other countries or U.S. territories while their visa applications are processed. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss unannounced plans. The administration intends to carry out the evacuation later this summer, likely in August, according to a second official familiar with the deliberations but not authorized to discuss them publicly.

The Pentagon has said the military is prepared to assist the State Department as needed but indicated that charter flights might be adequate to move the Afghan visa applicants, thus not necessarily requiring a military airlift.

Officials said that NATO allies, such as Germany, are also very close to being completely out of the country.

Senior Pentagon leaders, including Austin, have been cautious in recent weeks when asked about the troop withdrawal, and they have declined to provide any public details on when the last troops would leave, citing security concerns.
Farmers have been urged to check their vehicles and machinery are E10 compliant following a move to the grade this summer.

The transition to E10 this summer has sparked the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to remind those with vehicles and machinery made prior to 2011.

Currently, UK petrol is E5, meaning it contains up to 5 percent bioethanol, with E10 seeing the amount increased to 10 percent.

Petrol vehicles and machinery manufactured after 2011 and most motorcycles are E10 compatible.

However, around 5% of petrol vehicles made before 2011 will need to continue to use E5 petrol which will remain available as the super grade petrol option at pumps.

Using E10 fuel in an incompatible petrol vehicle will not cause immediate harm but continued use could damage engine parts.

As part of the DVLA campaign on E10, which launched this week, farmers can check if their vehicle is compatible using the online E10 vehicle checker.

NFU Scotland has welcomed the opportunities that switching could bring, but voices concerns about the fuel's compatibility with farm vehicles.

Whilst the Department for Transport estimates that 98% of the roadgoing fleet will be compatible, there is no information about how farm vehicles or agri equipment may be impacted by the switch.

The length of ownership of such vehicles found on farms and crofts far exceeds that of the roadgoing fleet, the union warned.

Chair of NFU Scotlands Legal and Technical Committee, Tom French said problems such as fuel filter blockings that farmers had seen recently 'simply cannot be repeated.'

There are concerns over the effect of the change in specifications and the new fuels compatibility with many of the older machines and equipment," he added.

It is essential that end users and consumers do not have to bear any additional costs and mechanical issues associated with the switch."
The UK and US have reached an agreement to temporarily suspend tariffs on agricultural goods as a result of the longstanding Airbus-Boeing dispute.

Higher rate tariffs were imposed on a range of products from October 2019, at a rate of 25% on the value of the product.

This was due to the Airbus-Boeing dispute. Both the US and EU claimed that each other's aeroplane manufacturer was unfairly subsidised.

Under the new agreement, both sides will remove tariffs on 8.2bn of goods, including wine, cheese, clothes and tractors, for five years.

In terms of the UK agricultural sector, the key products impacted most included pork and dairy.

When the tariffs were imposed, over 32 million of pork was affected, with higher welfare pork the focus.

According to AHDB figures, sales of this product fell 43 percent to 19 million last year.

Over 54 million of cheese was affected, with the US market key for organic exports, sales of which fell 20% to 44 million in 2020.

And close to 7 million of butter was affected, which fell 27 percent to 5 million last year.

AHDB head of strategic insight, David Swales said: "The agreement reached involves a 5-year suspension  but both parties will be looking to reach a longer-term solution.

"Earlier this year talks on a UK free-trade deal with the US stopped, and there are no details on when they might resume.

"The US is key market for the UK accounting for around a sixth of the UKs total trade - more than 10 times as much as with Australia, with whom a deal was struck earlier in the week."
Eric Garcia was one of the big novelties that entered Luis Enrique against Slovakia. The seleccionador Spanish decided to do without Pau Torres in the centre of the defence to bet by the flamante signing of the FC Barcelona. The one of Martorell debuted to the big with Spain in this Eurocopa and completed a meeting more than remarkable, especially in exit of balloon, where is a teacher.

The already ex of the Manchester City always has stood out for having an exit from backwards very clean with the balloon played. Already in his stage in the quarry barcelonista compared him with Gerard Hammered by this reason and now, with 20 years and after coinciding with Pep Guardiola, has improved even more in this section. Against the Slovaks showed it in a meeting that was very placido for a player like him.

Slovakia put tras from practically the pitido initial and played to see them come against Spain. This caused that the forwards almost did not upset to the Spanish saga, that grieve had work during the 90 minutes. By this reason, Garcia almost did not have to win individual duels, further of some sporadic crossing that solved with tarpaulin and with forcefulness, something important of face to his future in the Barca.

That the Slovaks almost no presionaran up did that Eric could receive with comfort in almost all moment. If the Catalan is a safe to go out of the rival pressures by means of a pass of split or even by means of a driving from backwards, when it does not receive pressure is decisive. In several occasions 'threw' of his vision of usual game and broke lines by means of passes that arrived direct to the forwards.

Eric went to the bench in the 70

Besides, Garcia played easy whenever it saw the too complicated pass and associated well with Sergio Busquets. Also it formed a good pair with Laporte, that from the left-handed profile also completed a good performance. In the 70, Luis Enrique decided to take out to Pau Torres by the blaugrana, that went with the work done. It will be necessary to see if the technician, that has full confidence in him, goes back to bet by him against Croatia in eighth of final.
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After being recognised as one of the world's top martial artists, Vidyut Jammwal is all set for his journey to Hollywood. Vidyut who was last seen in Khuda Hafiz will now officially be the only Indian action hero to have been signed by Hollywoods most reputed talent management agency - Wonder Street, which represents action heroes such as Tony Jaa, Michael Jai White and Dolph Lundgren.

In the last year, through his chat segment X-Rayed By Vidyut, the actor interacted with action icons world over, who took their passion for martial arts across the borders of their countries. While Vidyut has been doing the same with Kalaripayattu, Hollywood now comes along as another vast avenue to explore for the fitness star. As the industry beckons him, Vidyut is all set to put India on the global map through his work in the West. He will be working with Wonder Street partners Christine Holder and Mark Holder, who will represent him.



Talking about his association with the reputed agency, Jammwal says, "I'm excited to be associated with some of the hardest working people of Hollywood."





Earlier this year Vidyut even ventured into film production with his own banner Action Hero Films. The source reveals that he is in talks with a few prominent Hollywood producers for a collaboration with his production house. Meanwhile, Vidyut will be seen in Sanak and Khuda Haafiz Chapter II.
Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2021) - Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) announces the appointment of Jane McAloon as an independent Non-Executive Director and a member of the Human Resources and Remuneration Committee, effective from 1 July 2021.

Ms McAloon has extensive experience in the resources, energy, infrastructure and utilities industries. She spent 9 years as Group Company Secretary at BHP, including 2 years on the Group Management Committee as President Governance. Prior to that, Ms McAloon was Group Manager, Corporate & External Services & Company Secretary at AGL, had leadership roles with the NSW Government and worked in private legal practice.

Ms McAloon is a Non-Executive Director of United Malt Group and Home Consortium. She is also on the Board of Allianz Australia and Energy Australia. She is Chairman of the Monash University Foundation and an independent member of Allens' Advisory Board. She is retiring shortly from the Board of Viva Energy.

Ms McAloon holds a Bachelor of Economics with Honours and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance. She was awarded a Monash University Fellowship in 2018 and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Newcrest Chairman Peter Hay welcomed Ms McAloon to the Board of Directors. "With her extensive senior executive and Board experience, and her knowledge of the resources industry, I expect Jane will make a tremendous contribution to the Newcrest Board," said Mr Hay.

Authorised by the Newcrest Board

For further information please contact

Investor Enquiries:

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au

Ben Lovick

+61 3 9522 5334

+61 407 269 478

Ben.Lovick@newcrest.com.au

North American Investor Enquiries:

Ryan Skaleskog

+1 866 396 0242

+61 403 435 222

Ryan.Skaleskog@newcrest.com.au

Media Enquiries:

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au

This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88484
LONDON, June. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) ordered four state-owned banks and the country's leading mobile payment app Alipay to cut off all transactions linked to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The statement urged banks and payment firms to thoroughly check client accounts, identify those involved in cryptocurrency transactions and promptly cut their payment channels.

Beijing's hard line on crypto, paired with the rollout of the digital yuan, which allows the PBOC to keep near real-time transaction data of all individuals and entities using the digital currency, has long been a concern for many investors, entrepreneurs and businesspeople. The World Wealth Report noted China as the largest exporter of wealthy migrants, with around 16,000 Chinese millionaires leaving the country in 2019 alone. According to UK-based investment migration firm CS Global Partners, the trend is forecasted to continue increasing.

Wealthy Chinese individuals understand the importance of safeguarding their financial privacy and assets, says Micha Emmett, the CEO of CS Global Partners. "Investing in second citizenship remains a highly sought-after commodity to provide safety and a valid exit strategy and also allow wealth preservation and financial privacy. In a country like China, that's embroiled in a long trade war with the US - where economic stability is being threatened, and the government is pushing for even more monetary access - second citizenship feels like a necessity."

According to Emmett, a popular option for Chinese HNWIs looking to diversify their wealth and secure financial privacy is an investment in an economic citizenship programme like that of St Kitts and Nevis. St Kitts and Nevis' Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme is recognised internationally as a 'Platinum Standard' brand and has been hailed by the annual CBI Index as offering the world's fastest citizenship timeline. Applicants who pass vetting procedures can obtain citizenship and thus apply for a passport within three months.

Until the end of 2021, a family of up to four can receive St Kitts and Nevis citizenship with a contribution of $150,000 to a government fund instead of the previous $195,000. In exchange, investors are awarded citizenship which grants them rights to live, work and study on the dual island. Economic citizens also become eligible to travel to nearly 160 countries and territories.

Contact:

pr@csglobalpartners.com

www.csglobalpartners.com
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2021) - Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. (TSXV: SOIL) (FSE: SMK) ("Saturn" or the "Company") today announced the results of voting at its 2021 Annual General Meeting of shareholders (the "AGM") held on June 22, 2021.

A total of 43,671,759 common shares were voted at the AGM, representing 22.25% of the outstanding common shares of the Company. Shareholders voted in favour of the election of all director nominees as follows:

Name Votes by

Proxy For Votes by

Proxy Withheld Percentage

of Votes by

Proxy For Percentage

of Votes by

Proxy Withheld John Jeffrey 43,503,759 168,000 99.62% 0.38% Calvin Payne 43,541,759 130,000 99.70% 0.30% Chris Ryan 43,541,759 130,000 99.70% 0.30% Murray James Payne 43,541,759 130,000 99.70% 0.30% Ivan Bergerman 43,541,759 130,000 99.70% 0.30%

All other items of business before the AGM were voted in favour, including:

The resolution to amend the Company's articles to consolidate all the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, on a basis of one (1) new common share for twenty (20) old common shares (99.36% proxy votes in favour);

The annual appointment of auditors of the Company (99.83% proxy votes in favour); and

The amendment to the Company's stock option plan (99.42% proxies votes in favour).

About Saturn Oil & Gas Inc.

Saturn Oil & Gas Inc. is a growing Canadian energy company focused on generating positive shareholder returns through the continued responsible development of high-quality, light oil weighted assets, supported by an acquisition strategy that targets highly accretive, complementary opportunities. Saturn has assembled an attractive portfolio of free-cash flowing, low-decline operated assets in Southeast Saskatchewan and West Central Saskatchewan that provide an inventory of long-term economic drilling opportunities across multiple zones. With an unwavering commitment to building an ESG-focused culture, Saturn's goal is to increase reserves, production and cash flows at an attractive return on invested capital. Saturn's shares are listed for trading on the TSX.V under ticker 'SOIL' and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol 'SMK'. Further information and a corporate presentation is available on Saturn's website at http://www.saturnoil.com/.

Investor & Media Contact:

Saturn Oil & Gas

John Jeffrey, MBA - Chief Executive Officer Kevin Smith, MBA - VP Corporate Development

Tel: +1 (587) 392-7902 Tel: +1 (587) 392-7900

www.saturnoil.com ksmith@saturnoil.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88497
Rritual Product Line Achieves 'Tested To Be Trusted' Industry Standard Through Industry Leading Independent Lab Testing Protocol

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Rritual Superfoods Inc. (CSE: RSF) (FSE: 0RW) (OTC Pink: RRSFF) ("Rritual" or the "Company") is excited to announce the Company's superfoods product line has passed the industry leading Tested to be Trusted program.

Rritual products were independently tested by UL Laboratories, based on exacting criteria aimed at providing consumers and retailers with confidence in product ingredients and efficacy.

"Rritual Superfoods is driven to help lead and define the superfoods category," said Mr. David Kerbel, Rritual CEO. "In achieving that vision, we are committed to best practices, ensuring that consumers, and our retail partners have total confidence in the quality and effectiveness of our products, this certification is a major step in establishing the Rritual brand promise."

Ongoing independent lab testing is a key feature of Rritual's future product strategy, adhering to and establishing the highest possible standards to gain consumer and retail confidence in the Company's product integrity.

Rritual product offerings are all USDA-certified organic and are a caffeine-free option that can be mixed with other beverages or enjoyed by itself. Rritual's proprietary Immune-Synergy Six Mushroom Blend is the only functional health product on the market that contains a daily prebiotic blend which nourishes a healthy gut microbiome and facilitates balanced digestive function.

About UL

As the global safety science leader, UL helps companies to demonstrate safety, enhance sustainability, strengthen security, deliver quality, manage risk and achieve regulatory compliance.

About Rritual

Rritual is a fast-growing functional superfood company that creates natural wellness products which support a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. The company is poised to dominate a segment where demand and sales are growing exponentially. Under the executive leadership with over 100 years of CPG pedigree, Rritual has launched distribution to major retailers and is positioning itself to lead and define functional health and wellness industry as a superfood platform. Rritual markets organic wellness products in the United States through initial retail rollout which includes over 10,000 points of sale and through www.rritual.com.

Follow Rritual on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

For further information please contact:

David Kerbel - Chief Executive Officer and Director

E-mail: i nvestors@wearerritual.com

Telephone: 778-400-1242

Functional Foods Market

According to Grandview Research*, it is estimated that the global functional food market is projected to reach $275 billion by 2025, growing at 7.9% each year with consumers putting more emphasis on health and wellness.

*https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-functional-foods-market

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Rritual's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's plans to leverage third party manufacturing and logistics, the Company's broader retail distribution plans and the Company's other plans, focus and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Rritual's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated February 26, 2021 and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Rritual undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Rritual to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88467
COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the DIAMOND study, leading to lower-than-anticipated enrolment and slower incidence of cardio-vascular events

Independent study Executive Committee recommended new clinically relevant endpoints

Data are expected to be published in H1 2022

Vifor Pharma continues to drive evidence-based care using Veltassa through multiple additional trial activities

- Vifor Pharma will host a conference call today at 10:30 am CET -

Regulatory News:

Vifor Pharma Group today announced that the phase-IIIb DIAMOND study has been amended with new and clinically relevant endpoints, including a new primary endpoint of efficacy in potassium management in high-risk heart failure patients treated with guideline-recommended doses of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi). This decision has been made on the recommendation from the independent study Executive Committee and following the significant impact of COVID-19 on recruitment.

Patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease are among those at the highest risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19 infection. During the pandemic, treatment practices have been adapted to reduce risks of exposure to COVID-19 during hospital visits, disrupting clinical care and impacting the conduct of randomized clinical trials such as the DIAMOND study. This has led to fewer patients enrolled in the trial than anticipated and to a slower incidence of cardio-vascular events.

More than 1,000 patients with heart failure and with hyperkalemia or history of hyperkalemia have already been enrolled in DIAMOND. Following the change of endpoints, study read-out and remaining data collection is expected to be completed in 2021.

Prof. Javed Butler, Principal Investigator for the DIAMOND study, said: "Guidelines give strong recommendation to use RAASi to reduce mortality and morbidity in heart failure patients, but unfortunately patients are often treated with low doses, or not treated at all, because RAASi increase potassium levels, which can cause hyperkalemia. The new primary endpoint allows us to investigate the role of Veltassa in controlling serum potassium and potentially preventing hyperkalemia in heart failure patients treated with RAASi. This will maximize the scientific utility of the data collected in DIAMOND."

Dr. Klaus Henning Jensen, Chief Medical Officer of Vifor Pharma Group, commented: "We believe that this decision is a responsible approach towards the heart failure patients participating in the trial and towards the need of the medical community to learn from the outcomes of the DIAMOND study. A significant amount of evidence on the use of Veltassain combination with RAASi medication has been recorded in DIAMOND. We expect these data to support an effective management of hyperkalemia in patients on RAASi therapy with Veltassa and look forward to sharing this data during spring 2022 at a major conference."

Vifor Pharma continues to support several data generation programs with the ongoing phase-IV PLATINUM study and the CARE-HK global study platform to drive evidence-based care using Veltassa in chronic kidney disease and heart failure patients.

Conference call:

Vifor Pharma will host a conference call today, 24 June 2021 at 10:30 am (CET).

Access to conference call link

About Vifor Pharma Group

Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is a partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care). Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348).

For more information, please visit viforpharma.com.

About DIAMOND

This global, multicenter, double-blind, placebo controlled DIAMOND study was designed to evaluate the potential role of Veltassa in enabling patients with, or at high risk of, hyperkalemia to remain on RAASi therapy. The previous primary endpoint of the study was the time to first occurrence of cardiovascular death or cardiovascular hospitalization. On recommendation of the independent study Executive Committee and due to COVID-19 impact on recruitment, the primary endpoint has been changed to investigate the role of Veltassa in controlling serum potassium and potentially prevent hyperkalemia in heart failure patients treated with RAASi. More than 1,000 patients with hyperkalemia or history of hyperkalemia, who are therefore not able to use guideline-recommended doses of RAASi, were enrolled in the study.

About hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a serious condition characterized by elevated levels of potassium in the blood. Patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure, especially those treated with RAASi, are at particular risk of developing the condition. Studies have shown Veltassa enables patients to remain on RAASi therapy by effectively managing their chronic hyperkalemia.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210623005811/en/

Contacts:

Media Relations

Nathalie Ponnier

Global Head Corporate Communications

+41 79 957 96 73

media@viforpharma.com



Investor Relations

Julien Vignot

Head of Investor Relations

+41 58 851 66 90

investors@viforpharma.com
New focus expanded to investigate link between HERV-W ENV and long-term damage, in particular neurological, experienced by post-COVID-19 patients

HERV-W ENV may provide biological rationale with temelimab providing therapeutic option for post-COVID-19 neurological and psychiatric syndromes

Regulatory News:

GeNeuro (Euronext Paris: CH0308403085 GNRO), a biopharmaceutical company developing new treatments for neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), and the CIRI (International Center for Infectiology Research), in Lyon, France, a world-class research institute against infectious diseases, announced today the signing of an extension to their existing Research Collaboration Agreement.

This joint GeNeuro and CIRI research effort concentrates on understanding the interplay between viruses and human DNA. Viruses from the environment have been found to trigger the expression of pathogenic proteins encoded by human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), which are the remnants of ancestral viral infections integrated within the human genome.

"We are very excited to continue our collaboration with the GeNeuro team on COVID-19 and its consequences," said Dr. Branka Horvat, who heads the "Immunobiology of Viral infections" team at the International Center for Infectiology Research-CIRI. "Our previous work showed that in-vitro exposure of human cells to SARS-CoV-2 triggered the expression of the pathogenic HERV-W ENV protein in about 20% of healthy blood donors, suggesting individual susceptibility. Now we will also focus on the link between HERV-W ENV and the long-term neurological damage experienced by a significant subset of COVID-19 patients."

HERV-W ENV is known to be pro-inflammatory and pathogenic to nervous system cells. Once its expression is triggered by a virus infection, this expression may continue long-term, independently from the presence or activity of the triggering virus. This is, for example, the case with multiple sclerosis patients, in whom HERV-W ENV is expressed life-long in brain lesions by microglia cells, fueling the neurodegeneration suffered by those patients.

"We are honored to continue our research partnership with the CIRI to benefit from their world class expertise in understanding the consequences of viral infections," said Dr. Herve Perron, Chief Scientific Officer of GeNeuro. "We have already made great advances together, as well as with our international partners, in the understanding of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and HERV-W ENV, and this expanded focus on post-COVID will open new avenues for understanding and treating the millions of patients affected.

According to recent large-scale studies, at least 10% of people infected by SARS-CoV-2 fail to fully recover and/or develop new symptoms, particularly neurological or neuro-psychiatric. With more than 176 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide to date, of which more than 80 million are in the USA and Europe, this problem is emerging as a major public health emergency.

GeNeuro's temelimab, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize the pathogenic envelope protein pHERV-W that has already proven its excellent tolerability in Phase 2 trials, could be made immediately available for a clinical trial in post-COVID.

About GeNeuro

GeNeuro's mission is to develop safe and effective treatments against neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, by neutralizing causal factors encoded by HERVs, which represent 8% of human DNA.

GeNeuro is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has R&D facilities in Lyon, France. It has rights to 17 patent families protecting its technology.

For more information, visit: www.geneuro.com

Disclaimer:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and estimates concerning GeNeuro's financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is designed to," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "objective," "should," or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on management's current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the company's control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of GeNeuro or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and GeNeuro undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210623005885/en/

Contacts:

GeNeuro

Jesus Martin-Garcia

Chairman and CEO

+41 22 552 48 00

investors@geneuro.com

NewCap (France)

Louis-Victor Delouvrier Mathilde Bohin (investors)

+33 1 44 71 98 52

Nicolas Merigeau (media)

+33 1 44 71 94 98

geneuro@newcap.eu

Halsin Partners

Mike Sinclair (media)

+44 7968 022075

msinclair@halsin.com

LifeSci Advisors

Chris Maggos (investors)

+41 79 367 6254

chris@lifesciadvisors.com
MEXICO CITY (dpa-AFX) - Gold and silver producer Fresnillo plc (FRES.L) said that its construction of its new Juanicipio mine has progressed and is on track to be operational by the fourth-quarter of 2021. Production will also be increased when the recently-completed Pyrites Flotation Plant at Fresnillo is operational. Fresnillo will hold its Annual General Meeting Thursday. The Chairman, Mr. Alejandro Bailleres, said that exploration teams continue to identify and develop potential projects for pipeline, including at Rodeo, which the company expects to become next open pit gold mine. The Nominations Committee has recommended to the Board that Mr Hector Rangel be proposed for election as an independent Non-executive Director and Mr Eduardo Cepeda as a Non-executive Director at the AGM. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


LEVALLOIS-PERRET (dpa-AFX) - French speed-train maker Alstom SA (AOMFF.PK, ALS.L) Thursday said it has signed a contract worth around 130 million euros with Deutsche Bahn's DB Regio AG.



Under the deal, Alstom will equip 215 S-Bahn trains in Stuttgart with next generation European Train Control System or ETCS and Automatic Train Operation or ATO signalling technology.



The contract, part of the landmark rail project known as Stuttgart 21, will see Alstom retrofit the BR 423 and BR 430 trains operating in the greater Stuttgart area's S-Bahn and conventional railway lines.



The company will implement ETCS Level 2 and Level 3 as well as ATO in automation level 2 or GoA 2. This will ensure more sustainable operation, shorter headways and a denser train sequence, while supporting the associated relief of individual trains.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Manx Telecom trials Open RAN and begins transformation journey with next-generation virtualised voice and data networks

Mavenir, the Network Software Provider building the future of networks with cloud-native software that runs on any cloud and transforms the way the world connects, announces today that Isle of Man-basedcommunications service provider, Manx Telecom will be using the MAVcore solution to deliver both voice (VoLTE) and data networks (Packet Core).

Mavenir will be delivering and deploying an end-to-end solution to Manx Telecom for its On-Island and OV businesses, comprising cloud-native virtualised IMS and Packet Cores. In addition, Manx Telecom will use the MAVair solution to undertake an Open RAN trial.

Manx Telecom selected Mavenir as the best fit to meet the company's overall requirement today and its future architecture needs for IMS, Packet Core and RAN solutions.

The MAVcore family includes Mavenir's global leading VoLTE IMS and voice services delivering VoLTE based virtualised IMS solution including VoLTE roaming and PCRF capability, and its leading-edge Packet Core solution delivering a next-generation modernised data network. The MAVcore solution will allow the transformation to a cloud-native network providing the flexibility for future mobile network evolution.

The MAVair family includes the flexible Open RAN approach where the evolved RAN architecture, designed with cloud-native virtualisation techniques, enables the RAN to flex and adapt based on usage and coverage. Mavenir's virtualised RAN (vRAN) platform enables Manx Telecom to trial Open Virtualised RAN technology and meet its target objective of moving towards a network architecture using fully virtualised network components, with open standard interfaces, offering all the latest standard network features while allowing specific customisation and innovation where appropriate.

"Mavenir is delighted to work with Manx Telecom to transform its existing network into a dynamic, agile and cloud-native based platform, paving the way for the evolution of the future network," states Stefano Cantarelli, Chief Marketing Officer of Mavenir.

"Manx Telecom has chosen Mavenir to deliver a highly innovative solution based on open standards with simple architecture, and providing what we really need cost effectiveness and more flexibility leading to smoother network operations," states Sutha Siva, Chief Operations Officer of Manx Telecom.

About Mavenir:

Mavenir is building the future of networks and pioneering advanced technology, focusing on the vision of a single, software-based automated network that runs on any cloud. As the industry's only end-to-end, cloud-native network software provider, Mavenir is focused on transforming the way the world connects, accelerating software network transformation for 250+ Communications Service Providers in over 120 countries, which serve more than 50% of the world's subscribers. www.mavenir.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005045/en/

Contacts:

PR Contact Mavenir

Emmanuela Spiteri

PR@mavenir.com

Global PR

Kevin Taylor

KTaylor@GlobalResultsPR.com
PrecisionLife Limited, a global healthcare combinatorial analytics company, announces that it has appointed Ray Pawlicki as Executive Chair to the Board of Directors.

Widely recognized as a leader in informatics across pharma and biotech, he will work closely with the PrecisionLife Board and CEO Steve Gardner to help steer the strategic growth of the company.

Mr. Pawlicki's appointment underlines PrecisionLife's ambition to be a major player driving the next wave of precision medicine. Its unique combinatorial analytics platform generates more insights into the complex biology of chronic diseases, underpinning applications to find new treatment opportunities for patients' unmet medical needs.

Following an initial career in major corporates such as Pepsi Co, Mr. Pawlicki joined the healthcare industry in 2000 to bring technology and digital innovation to pharma. From 2008 2014 he served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for fast-growing Biogen Inc., where he was responsible for the creation of a new corporate strategy that included a technology pillar leveraging large datasets and leading-edge analytics to enable new drug discovery and launch strategies. This followed eight years with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, initially in the USA and then four years as Global CIO in Basel, Switzerland where he established data and digital innovation as a strategic business competence during the period that the biopharma sector embraced the promise of genomics and cloud computing.

Mr. Pawlicki is based on the East Coast of the US near the Boston biotech cluster and currently pursues an active portfolio career. He serves on the Board of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and on the Board of Trustees for UMass Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health systems in Massachusetts, as well as several start-up board roles including MedRythms, Nanowear and Rockstep. He has a degree in Computer Science from Montclair University and has participated in extensive executive education programs at Harvard University and IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Steve Gardner, CEO of PrecisionLife, said "Ray's appointment significantly strengthens the PrecisionLife Board and brings deep understanding of how digital technology can transform healthcare along with vital North American experience and perspective. There are very few individuals of his caliber and experience, and I look forward to working together. We have achieved significant milestones demonstrating the accuracy of our novel combinatorial approach in elucidating disease biology and patient risk. As we accelerate our commercialization initiatives, Ray's perspective will be invaluable in shaping our future strategy, building value for our shareholders and enabling us to fulfil the company's enormous potential."

Mr. Pawlicki's appointment follows an extensive international search to find a chairperson with a strong technological background and substantial senior experience in both the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

Raymond Pawlicki said "I am delighted to join PrecisionLife at this critical juncture in the company's evolution. I am passionate about the significant impact that accurate and high-resolution patient stratification can deliver to the biopharma and healthcare industry. I believe PrecisionLife's leading edge and unique approach to precision medicine can make a major contribution to patients. I have seen how digital innovation can be a major driver of change, and I look forward to working with the PrecisionLife team to create value, make a difference through more precise treatments and to help the healthcare industry further embrace new technologies."

-ends-

About PrecisionLife

PrecisionLife is headquartered near Oxford, UK and has operations in Aalborg and Copenhagen, Denmark, Warsaw, Poland and Cambridge, MA, USA. The company's unique combinatorial analytics platform generates more insights into the complex biology of chronic diseases, driving the next wave of genomic and precision medicine applications and finding new treatment opportunities for patients' unmet medical needs. PrecisionLife partners with disease charities, clinical research groups, CROs, best of breed technology providers and pharma, biotech and healthcare companies to improve our knowledge of chronic disease biology. PrecisionLife operates an innovation engine that translates proprietary disease biology insights into new drug discovery programs, more successful and cost-effective clinical trials and more personalized clinical decision support tools.

For more information see https://precisionlife.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn (precisionlifeai) and Twitter (@precisionlifeAI)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005048/en/

Contacts:

Steve Gardner, CEO

steve@precisionlife.com

T: +44 (0)1865 575170



Press Contact

Charles Consultants

Sue Charles

sue.charles59@outlook.com

T: +44 (0)7968 726585



Financial/Corporate Advisors

WG Partners

David Wilson, Nigel Barnes, Parthiv Patel, Jeff Glushakow

T: +44 (0) 20 3705 9321
The share of illicit cigarettes increased by 0.5 percentage points, to 7.8% of total consumption in the EU; PMI calls for continued collaboration between public and private sectors

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) is calling for public and private representatives to jointly combat illicit trade as a new report produced by KPMG was released on the consumption and flows of illicit cigarettes in 30 European countries-the 27 European Union (EU) member states, as well as U.K., Norway and Switzerland. The study estimates that, while total cigarette consumption continues to decline, the share of illicit cigarettes increased by one half of a percentage point to 7.8% of total consumption in 2020, reaching 34.2 billion cigarettes consumed across the EU 27 member states (EU27). The increase of illicit cigarettes-which consist of contraband, counterfeit, and illicit whites-was driven by an unprecedented 87% surge in counterfeit consumption. The tax loss for governments in the EU27 now amounts to approximately 8.5 billion.

The annual study, conducted independently by KPMG and commissioned by PMI, shows how legal and illicit cigarette consumption was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of lockdowns and restricted movement of people within the EU coupled with declines in affordability. The report estimates that total consumption of cigarettes declined by 4.7% in 2020 to 438.8 billion in the EU27, while the COVID-19-related border controls and travel restrictions resulted in a sharp decrease of non-domestic consumption, which declined in 2020 by 18.5% (11.9 billion cigarettes). It is noted that the decline in total cigarette consumption also coincided with the growth of 6.0 billion cigarette equivalent units in the fine cut tobacco category in 2020.

Consumption of illicit whites and other contraband cigarettes decreased year-over-year, but these declines were more than offset by an increase in counterfeit, which almost doubled in 2020, equating to 10.3 billion fake cigarettes, up from 5.5 billion in 2019. This was estimated to be driven mainly by an unprecedented 609% increase in counterfeit cigarette consumption in France, reaching 6.0 billion fake cigarettes consumed in the country alone.

"It is crucial to protect consumers against counterfeits and that law enforcement, governments, and trademark owners such as ourselves in the private sectors come together as one to address and eradicate illicit trade in Europe and beyond," said Alvise Giustiniani, Vice President, Illicit Trade Prevention. "Eliminating illicit trade is particularly important within the context of PMI's transformation toward a smoke-free future, and we need to continue working in partnerships to address any potential illicit trade threats, including in our novel products. Compliance to the law and effective enforcement against criminals profiting from illicit trade is an absolute must."

Interviews with law enforcement, conducted by KPMG as part of the study, indicate that organized criminal groups continued to move their operations inside the EU borders, as a large proportion of illicit whites and counterfeit cigarettes are also believed to be manufactured in illegal factories within the EU. This is further supported by the increasing number of illegal cigarette factory raids in multiple European countries.

The availability of cheap, fake, and unregulated cigarettes on the black market undermines efforts to reduce smoking prevalence and prevent youth from smoking. To succeed in PMI's mission to achieve a smoke-free world, it is imperative that illicit trade is eradicated wherever it exists. In order to tackle the illicit tobacco trade, PMI is working closely with a broad range of law enforcement authorities and private actors worldwide to identify and shut down counterfeiting and smuggling operations.

The company recently announced the launch of the third funding round of PMI IMPACT, its global initiative supporting third-party projects aimed at reducing or preventing illegal trade, and fostering an ecosystem of public and private actors to tackle illegal trade in its many forms.

Additionally, in its efforts to combat illicit trade, PMI continues to invest significantly in supply chain controls through preventive and protective measures, implements state-of the-art track-and-trace technology, and has strict due diligence protocols in place for all customers and suppliers. The company also supports regulations such as the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and the tracking-and-tracing provisions under the EU Tobacco Products Directive.

For more information about PMI's illicit trade prevention efforts, visit StopIllegal.com.

About the KPMG Report

A detailed overview of results and methodology is available here.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, its shareholders and its other stakeholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of March 31, 2021, PMI's smoke-free products are available for sale in 66 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 14.0 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005055/en/

Contacts:

Philip Morris International

Martin Schatzky

Martin.Schatzky@pmi.com

+54 911 3828 4288
- The Company's growth spree is fueled by the recent Series A funding of 30 million USD from Chicago Pacific Founders and is looking to hire 700+ people, doubling its global headcount.

LONDON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tredence, a leading AI engineering and data science company, today announced the opening of offices in the UK and Canada alongside plans to establish a new office in Ukraine. The new offices will now account for the rapid expansion the company is undertaking, enlarging the firm's global footprint to 9 offices in 4 countries.

Tredence is on course to hire 150+ data scientists, data engineers, and analysts in its newly opened offices in London and Toronto. The Company will offer business analytics, data engineering, data science for retail, CPG, TMT, industrial manufacturing, and healthcare customers in the regions.

"We're on the cusp of an exciting phase of the firm's life. We strongly believe scaling is about getting better, not just bigger. Our global expansion into newer markets is a real testament to our growth, innovation, and the exceptional ability of our employees to generate value for customers, especially in these uncertain times. The UK and Canada have exceptional technical and leadership talent in data analytics along with business-friendly policies that naturally align with our expectations," said Shashank Dubey, Chief Revenue Officer, Tredence.

"Our decision to expand in the UK and Canada reflects the momentum we are experiencing in the regions and aligns with our growth imperatives. London and Toronto offer a perfect springboard for tech companies looking to strengthen tech innovation and distributed agile delivery models. As our client base continues to grow in the regions, we are establishing dedicated offices staffed with local talent to service our regional customers most effectively. We also have plans to expand our presence in Europe in the next 12-18 months," said Harish Gudi, Chief Operating Officer, Tredence.

This global expansion is close on the heels of launching, Tredence Studio, a co-creation platform for enterprises to move the innovation needle from "Experimentation" to "Value-realization". The company is planning to hire 700+ employees in 2021 across markets.

About Tredence

Tredence is a data science and AI engineering company focused on solving the last mile problem in analytics. The 'last mile' is defined as the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence is 800+ employees strong with offices in Palo Alto, Chicago, Toronto, and Bangalore, with the largest companies in retail, CPG, Hi-Tech, telecom, travel, and industrials as clients.

Learn more at www.tredence.com or follow us.

Media Contact:

Neha Parmar

Neha.parmar@tredence.com
Tracking children, the elderly, and pets is becoming the new normal for safety

LONDON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- There are a variety of different consumer IoT products which include smart home products and appliances, wearable health monitors, and personal tracking devices. Personal tracking devices, specifically, devices to track children, the elderly, and pets, are becoming increasingly popular within the consumer IoT tracking market. Those three segments alone are forecasted to collectively reach an installed base of 68 million by 2026, up from the 2021 installed base of 16 million, according to a new report from global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research.

"There are different reasons as to why consumers would wish to track their pets, their children, and their elderly or vulnerable family member, but the most significant reason is safety," says Harriet Sumnall, Research Analyst at ABI Research.

Improved healthcare is resulting in a world population that is living a lot longer, with average life expectancy of 75-80. "Larger populations of elderly people increase the pool of seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's that will require tracking services for their health and safety." Sumnall explains. "Ultimately these devices offer the ability for the vulnerable to continue to live their lives as they do, but with that extra safety precaution put in place which offers family members and care givers peace of mind," Sumnall adds. SoS features, offered by companies such as MindMe, are critical in tracking devices for the elderly. The elderly tracking market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 42%; North America will have the largest installed base of 15 million by 2026.

As normality returns in a post-COVID world, child tracking devices will increasingly be used to offer parents peace of mind when their children are out playing, travelling to school, or out with friends. Furthermore, child abduction and trafficking rates are increasing, making the world a scary place for many parents. The offerings within this market include GPS tracking devices in the form of a smart watch (i.e., Verizon GizmoWatch), dongles (i.e., AngelSense, Relay, Jiobit), and tracking tags (i.e., Apple AirTag). Each device not only gives parents the peace of mind but also satisfies the "cool factor" for children that are becoming more tech savvy at a younger age. This segment is forecasted to have the highest install base by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 30.4%.

Bolting, being lost or stolen, training, and tracking fitness are the main reasons people use pet trackers. "A lot of people will use a tracking device for their pets, dogs especially, while they are either young or new to the home," Sumnall explains. If the animal decides to make a run for it, a GPS location will be highly beneficial (depending on surroundings) to locating the pet. Pet trackers can also be used for tracking pet activity levels. "Fitness tracking capabilities include number of steps taken by the pet throughout the day as well as their sleeping patterns. Both can be key information when diagnosing a problem at the vet," says Sumnall. Current pet trackers are GPS collar attachments from companies such as Tractive, Pawfit, Deutsch Telekom, and Vodaphone.

As with all IoT solutions and applications, latency, network speed, and coverage need to be considered when evaluating which technology or technologies to use for GPS tracking. Low latency is required for tracking devices, especially those for that are tracking people and pets; the ability to track location as close to real-time as possible is crucial. "Cellular, LPWA, and Cloud-based and Crowd-based location technologies are best suited for accurate GPS tracking," Sumnall concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research's Consumer IoT: Child, Elderly and Pet Tracking technology analysis report. This report is part of the company's M2M, IoT, IoE research service, which includes research, data and analyst insights. Based on extensive primary interviews, Technology Analysis reports present in-depth analysis on key market trends and factors for a specific technology.

About ABI Research

ABI Research provides strategic guidance to visionaries, delivering actionable intelligence on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies, and workforces across the world. ABI Research's global team of analysts publish groundbreaking studies often years ahead of other technology advisory firms, empowering our clients to stay ahead of their markets and their competitors.

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For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific or visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:

Global

Deborah Petrara

Tel: +1.516.624.2558

pr@abiresearch.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471031/ABI_Research_Logo.jpg
Although fans think that the popularity of Na (Nirvana) chain in the market is self-evident, they interpret NA by showing more details from an objective perspective to everybody. People can learn NA's development and long-term vision in just 10 minutes of reading.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Recently, NA (Nirvana) Chain testnet was officially launched. Global fans of NA (Nirvana) Chain community spontaneously express their love for NA (Nirvana) through online recommendation. As a unique chain focusing on the ideal user experience, it attracts a large number of fans with its solution for rapid implementation of Internet information system ecology construction.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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What's NA(Nirvana)Chain

NA (Nirvana) Chain is a decentralized infrastructure platform that focuses on providing friendly experience for application developers, allowing cross-chain support for other public blockchain applications such as Ethereum, as people learned from feeds pushed by the official account NA Fans previously.

Background of NA(Nirvana)Chain

NA (Nirvana) Chain upholds "everything is made for application" and intends to provide a solution for rapid implementation of Internet information system ecology construction. As the founding team prioritizes decentralization to ensure system operating spontaneously, the incentive model of miners was specially set up to empower the autonomous value network of resource exchange and transfer. NA (Nirvana) Chain's presence allows the Internet to decentralize again, with its ultimate vision to enable real economy transformation from underlying logic and architecture and to become a subversive blockchain application that reconstructs the real economy pattern.





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NA (Nirvana) Chain provides new tools that can be customized, compostable, and optimized, and has been most developers' top choice. As a result, its platform has provided a foundation on which many projects can be built and operated. The team started to accumulate its foundation since 2018. According to overseas survey by NA (Nirvana) Chain fans community, NA team members will provide supports to the project in development construction, ecological building, business planning and other development directions.

An absolute majority of the team members are technical personnel, most are elite geeks with universal industry influence in the world, which reveals the fact that the project focuses on research and development in the field of technology. From November 2018 to September 2020, members of the project team got down to proof of concept and technical feasibility testing, and always finished ahead of the roadmap published in its white paper. Based on its planning process, NA (Nirvana) Chain will continue to promote the implementation of the concept of application ecology and enlarge its usage scope in the future.

Token Distribution

Na (Nirvana) Chain public chain token name is NAC. The total amount of NAC tokens is 75 million. In its application, 28 million tokens will be gradually destroyed by burning for full node token exchange, application release (10%), service charge (10%), etc. A constant quantity of 47 million tokens will be retained.





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NAC is mainly used for miner reward, community governance, full node token exchange and transaction circulation in the system. NAC holders can participate in community proposals and decisions making, and vote on critical time and allocation of funds.

NOMC is a dual-system for full node token exchange, with a total amount of 35,000 of its tokens is used for full node token exchange. Data details are shown as follow:





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Project Highlights

100% Decentralized, NA (Nirvana) Chain understands that decentralization will always be the consensus and the core of competition for blockchain, and as a result the core mechanism of the project is to fully lay out decentralization, and strive to improve the transaction speed and reduce fees for users.

Innovative Heterogeneous Complex Chains, At the technical level, the project applies heterogeneous composite chains to elect Worker by DPOS campaign to obtain data processing qualification of DAG, and realize real-time submission of millions of data. The 100% decentralized domain name creating and leasing platform are very practical, each project can hence use NA platform domain name in different blockchains (ETH, BTC or others), and can also publish tasks to search for the right website and resolve to NA public chain for decentralized domain name creating.

Unique Original N++ program development language, The unique original N++ program development language allows developers to master in 5 minutes, easy to learn and easier to attract developers, to realize the mass production of the project software system in the developer store; NVM virtual machines and advanced smart contracts allow complex computing to work faster, helping developers save time and complete self-timed tasks.

Actor Concurrency Model, The Actor concurrency model makes computation of large micro-services available, greatly improves computing power and speed, and avoids wasting resources. Distributed storage provides users with smart editing in both dynamic and static modes.

Constant Transaction Fee, To avoid commission fee fluctuation, the project adopts real-time stable coin exchange protocol (NUSD SWAP), using NAC in the system as the stable coin to maintain a constant commission fee of 0.01 USDT for each transaction in the future.

Media Contact

Company Name: NA (Nirvana)

Contact Person: Oting

Email: Otingseratio@Gmail.com

Website: https://nachain.org/

Twitter: @NirvanaChain

Telegram Community: https://t.me/nachainglobal

Youtube: @Nirvana Chain

NA CHAIN Chinese Website: https://www.na-club.com/

WeChat Official Platform: @NA Fans

Weibo Chinese Community:@ NA Public Chain Chinese Community

Bilibili: https://b23.tv/95gfPq

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88523
Innovative portfolio of managed connectivity services combining Ka and Ku-band for a truly end-to-end global service

Addressing demand for connectivity services with extended reach, as business processes increasingly migrate to the cloud

Regulatory News:

Eutelsat Communications (Paris:ETL) (Euronext Paris: ETL) has launched Eutelsat ADVANCE, a global network solution for unlimited reach in a world where increasing digitalisation is having a massive impact on connectivity requirements for businesses.

Eutelsat ADVANCE is an end-to-end managed connectivity service, including network interconnection, a management portal and APIs for service providers and their clients, terrestrial connectivity, Ku and Ka-band capacity, and satellite terminals. Available via Eutelsat's certified network of partners, Eutelsat ADVANCE enables clients to enhance their service portfolio by increasing the range of services they offer, leveraging Eutelsat's powerful global capabilities and 24/7 support.

The new solution includes a suite of tailored offerings addressing multiple markets, notably Maritime, Aviation, Enterprise for businesses including energy, construction, banking and retail, Government and Telecoms with custom backhaul solutions supporting all 4G/5G coverage expansion needs and high-speed transmission links.

Eutelsat ADVANCE's global Ku-band network leverages the ST Engineering's Newtec Dialog platform. It facilitates application-use identification and prioritisation at a compelling cost that scales with demand. The high-performance Ka-band network will enable powerful connectivity for Enterprise markets using Eutelsat's in-orbit Ka-band resources combined with Hughes Network Systems' ground network system.

Philippe Oliva, Chief Commercial Officer of Eutelsat said: "The current context has accentuated the need for worldwide connectivity, as more and more business processes migrate to the cloud. This is why we are launching Eutelsat ADVANCE, our new satellite network-as-a-service offer. Through an innovative portfolio of globally managed services, optimising and sharing in-orbit resources in Ka and Ku-bands, terrestrial connectivity, the automation of data connectivity services, and a wide range of offerings tailored to specific markets, Eutelsat ADVANCE enhances our customers' portfolios of service offerings in their markets."

About Eutelsat Communications

Founded in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is one of the world's leading satellite operators. With a global fleet of satellites and associated ground infrastructure, Eutelsat enables clients across Video, Data, Government, Fixed and Mobile Broadband markets to communicate effectively to their customers, irrespective of their location. Over 6,800 television channels operated by leading media groups are broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers equipped for DTH reception or connected to terrestrial networks. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat assembles 1,000 men and women from 46 countries who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service.

For more about Eutelsat go to www.eutelsat.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005428/en/

Contacts:

Media

Joanna Darlington

Tel.: +33 1 53 98 31 07

jdarlington@eutelsat.com

Marie-Sophie Ecuer

Tel.: +33 1 53 98 32 45

mecuer@eutelsat.com

Jessica Whyte

Tel.: +33 1 53 98 46 21

jwhyte@eutelsat.com

Investors

Joanna Darlington

jdarlington@eutelsat.com

Tel.: +33 1 53 98 31 07

Cedric Pugni

Tel.: +33 1 53 98 31 54

cpugni@eutelsat.com

Alexandre Illouz

Tel.: +33 1 53 98 46 81

aillouz@eutelsat.com
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Interos Annual Global Supply Chain Report finds supply chain visibility is more important to big businesses than ever before

ARLINGTON, Va., June 24, 2021, reveals that global supply chain disruptions cost large companies, on average, $184 million a year. The report was commissioned by Washington, DC-based Interos, the operational resilience company whose AI-powered platform maps, monitors and models global supply chains.



Nearly all (94%) of the 900 senior IT, IT security and procurement decision-makers from companies across the US and EU reported some negative impact to revenue resulting from supply chain disruption, which they attributed to a variety of supply chain risks including cyber breaches, financial risks, and ESG (environment, social, governance) transparency issues.

The study, conducted by market-research firm Vanson Bourne on behalf of Interos, also showed that supply chain shocks aren't just impacting revenue; they're damaging public perception, with 83% reporting that their respective firms have suffered reputational damage as a result of supply chain disruption.

"Our survey results underscore the growing importance of supply chain operational resilience in the globally interconnected world that we all live and operate in," said Jennifer Bisceglie, CEO of Interos. "We can no longer cleanly separate digital and physical supply chains, which is driving a need for greater transparency into hidden supply chain risks, relationships and reliances, which companies are recognizing as critically important to protecting both the bottom line and corporate reputation."

"The recent White House Executive Orders on supply chain integrity and cybersecurity point to the fact that the fragile extended supply chain has become the soft underbelly of the global economy - and we see the private sector both here in the States and in Europe starting to think more intensely about how best to respond to such growing challenges and vulnerabilities," Bisceglie added.

Trade Disputes, Cyberattacks, and COVID continue to disrupt

In addition to suffering monetary and reputational damages, global supply chain leaders continue to contend with disruption from COVID and have a high level of concern over the future impact of brewing international trade conflict. A little over half (51%) of organizations' global supply chains have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years with almost all (89%) of those affected reporting disruptions to product lines and locations.

In the wake of recent ransomware attacks including the Colonial Pipeline and JBS hacks, it should come as no surprise that three-quarters (77%) of those surveyed encountered at least one cyber-attack on their supply chain in the last year.

An overwhelming majority (88%) also reported that international trade disputes would cause significant, notable, or moderate impacts to their organization with the most commonly faced impacts being forced changes in production locations, disruption to banking/payment infrastructure, and increases in cyber espionage against their business, among others.

Visibility is more important than ever

The status quo - manual, survey-driven processes that provide periodic visibility over a portion of the supply chain - is rapidly shifting. As supply-chain driven cyberattacks and a host of other factors increase volatility, corporate leaders are recognizing that the supply chain security and resilience must be a core business priority.

In fact, half of those surveyed (50%) believe that it will be their organization's top business priority in two years' time, compared to just under two-fifths currently (39%). This shift is reflected in the increasing frequency that boards are meeting to discuss supply chain risk, with over three-quarters (78%) reporting that their boards confer on this topic at least once every month.

But change may not be happening fast enough, even after the COVID shock to the global system

While many organizations are making supply chain risk and operational resilience key business priorities, full implementation of new, rapid risk-mitigation technologies -- such as AI/data and analytics -- lags. Only a third (34%) of organizations currently assess their global supply chain on a continuous basis, in spite of the fact that these tools were considered more beneficial than any other kind of solution with 45% of leaders ranking them the top three most-beneficial tools for monitoring their global supply chain. The smallest portion of users (16%) ranked questionnaires as the most helpful.

About Interos

Interos is the operational resilience company -- reinventing how companies manage their supply chains, through a breakthrough SaaS platform that uses artificial intelligence to model the total ecosystem of complex businesses into a living global map, down to sub-tier suppliers.

Eliminating months of backward-looking manual spreadsheets, the Interos platform helps the world's companies achieve operational resilience by avoiding risks and managing potential disruptions. At the same time, businesses can uncover game-changing opportunities that radically change the way they see, learn, and profit from their relationships.

Based in Washington, DC, Interos serves global clients with business-critical, interdependent relationships across cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, regulatory compliance, and ESG transparency in sourcing and labor. The fast-growing private company is led by CEO Jennifer Bisceglie and supported by investors Venrock and Kleiner Perkins. For more information, visit www.interos.ai.

About Vanson Bourne

Vanson Bourne is an independent specialist in market research for the technology sector. Their reputation for robust and credible research-based analysis is founded upon rigorous research principles and their ability to seek the opinions of senior decision makers across technical and business functions, in all business sectors and all major markets.

For more information, visit www.vansonbourne.com

About This Survey

Market research firm Vanson Bourne, on behalf of Interos, conducted a survey in April and May to assess the impact of supply chain disruption and methods of response. Survey respondents include 900 senior decision makers in the United States, UK, Nordics, and DACH countries, who serve in procurement and IT/security roles at companies with more than $1 billion in revenue across the aerospace and defense, financial services, and IT and technology industries.

Media contacts

Warren Getler

VP Corporate Communications and Public Affairs

wgetler@interos.ai

Casy Jones

Senior Partner, FINN Partners

Casy.jones@finnpartners.com
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks rose notably on Thursday after a measure of business confidence in the country surged to its highest level in nearly 14 years in June. Statistics agency INSEE said its monthly business confidence index rose to 113 from 108 in May, hitting its highest level since July 2007 as the easing of COVID restrictions unleashed a service sector boom. The manufacturing confidence index held steady at 107 in June, while the score was forecast to climb to 109. This was the joint-highest score since August 2018. The benchmark CAC 40 jumped 56 points, or 0.9 percent, to 6,607 after ending 0.9 percent lower the previous day. Speed-train maker Alstom SA rose half a percent. The company has signed a contract worth around 130 million euros with Deutsche Bahn's DB Regio AG. Retailer Carrefour gained 0.9 percent after it unveiled plans to potentially restructure its foreign units. Airbus rose about 1 percent despite regulators calling for more rigorous checks when pulling some Airbus jets out of pandemic storage. Banks BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale climbed 1-2 percent as bond yields recovered. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fractal, (fractal.ai), a global provider of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics solutions to Fortune 500 companies, today announced the appointment of Ashwath Bhat as Chief Financial Officer. Based out of global headquarters in New York, Ashwath will oversee the company's strategic finance, accounting, business intelligence, treasury and legal functions.

"We are delighted to welcome Ashwath to Fractal," said Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder, Group Chief Executive & Vice Chairman of Fractal. "Ashwath has a great track record of driving operational excellence and profitable growth in global & diversified businesses. In Ashwath, we have found a passionate leader with a problem-solving mindset, well aligned with Fractal's core values."

"Fractal is an exciting company that enjoys the trust of world's most admired brands," said Ashwath. "I look forward to working with the team and execute on the company's priorities, accelerate growth and maximize stakeholder value," he added.

Ashwath brings over two decades of global corporate finance and operations experience with reputed organizations such as GE, IBM and Nielsen. Over the last 10 years, he served in a variety of positions within Nielsen, including as the SVP of Finance Operations, CFO for Gracenote and VP of Corporate FP&A.

Ashwath is a Chartered Accountant from India and a graduate of GE's Finance Management Program.

About Fractal

Fractal is one of the most prominent players in the Artificial Intelligence space. Fractal's mission is to power every human decision in the enterprise and brings AI, engineering, and design to help the world's most admired Fortune 500 companies.

Fractal's products include Qure.ai to assist radiologists in making better diagnostic decisions, Cuddle.ai to assists CEOs, and senior executives make better tactical and strategic decisions, Theremin.ai to improve investment decisions, and Eugenie.ai to find anomalies in high-velocity data & Samya.ai to drive next generation Enterprise Revenue Growth Management

Fractal has more than 2,300 employees across 16 global locations, including the United States, UK, Ukraine, India, and Australia. Fractal has consistently been rated as India's best companies to work for, by The Great Place to Work Institute, featured as a leader in the Specialized Insights Service Providers Wave 2020, Computer Vision Consultancies Wave 2020 & Customer Analytics Service Providers Wave 2019 by Forrester Research, and recognized as an "Honorable Vendor" in 2021 Magic Quadrant for data & analytics by Gartner. For more information visit fractal.ai.
BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Germany's exports to countries outside the European Union grew sharply in May from the same month last year, driven by a surge in shipments to the US and the UK. Exports to non-EU countries rose 27.9 percent year-on-year to EUR 48.4 billion, preliminary data from Destatis showed Thursday. Shipments to the US jumped 40.9 percent and those to the UK surged 44.6 percent. Exports to China grew 17.7 percent. The strong increases were also due to the very low level of foreign trade in May 2020 or base effect, the agency said. On a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, exports to non-EU countries decreased 3.0 percent from the previous month. Exports to third countries were an adjusted 5.8 percent higher than in February 2020, the month before restrictions were imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic in Germany, Destatis said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's Siemens AG (SIEGY.PK, SMAWF) Thursday said it continues to expect fiscal 2021 net income in the range of 5.7 billion euros to 6.2 billion euros.



The full-year outlook now includes the previously announced burdens in connection with the acquisition of Varian Medical Systems, Inc. In the current quarter, the favorable business development continues.



As part of its Capital Market Day, the company announced progressive dividend policy, as well as new five-year share buyback program of up to 3 billion euros, which will begin in fiscal 2022 and run until 2026.



In its Capital Markets Day, the company presented new growth strategy to accelerate high-value growth as a focused technology company.



The company now projects comparable annual revenue growth of 5 percent to 7 percent over the business cycle, compared to previous outlook of 4 percent to 5 percent.



Annual increase in earnings per share before purchase price allocations or pre PPA is expected in high-single-digit percentage range.



Following the spin-off of Siemens Energy in 2020, Siemens said it is now a focused technology company that is addressing industry, infrastructure, transportation, and healthcare.



The addressable markets for Digital Industries, Smart Infrastructure, Mobility and Siemens Healthineers alone amount to a volume of 440 billion euros, with 2020 as the base year. These markets are set to grow 4 percent to 5 percent per year until 2025.



Siemens also intends to enter highly attractive adjacent markets with an additional volume of 120 billion euros.



For the future, Siemens expects its fiscal 2020 digital revenue of 5.3 billion euros to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 10 percent over the business cycle until 2025.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

SIEMENS-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
- Leading IoT Solutions Provider Scoops Best in Category Win for Intrusion Systems with World's First 5G-enbabled All-in-One Solution

HERZLIYA, Israel, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Essence Group, a leading provider of IoT solutions for the global security and care markets, today announced its Integrated FogShield solution, the world's first 5G-connected standalone intruder prevention system, has been awarded the 2021 ESX Innovation Award in the Intrusion Systems category. This achievement follows the company's consecutive ESX award wins for its digital health and Personal Emergency Response ?System (PERS) solutions.

First unveiled at CES 2021, Integrated FogShield represents the world's first 5G-enabled intrusion prevention device, suitable for use as a standalone solution or easily integrated into an existing security system. Appropriate for both residential homes and commercial facilities, it includes motion detection, video recording, two-way voice capabilities, and a smoke diffuser that fills a room with harmless, disorientating fog to force intruders to vacate premises.

"We are honored that Integrated FogShield has been recognized by ESX among the next-generation products bringing true innovation and opportunity to the industry," said Dr. Haim Amir, CEO and Founder of Essence Group. "The market is calling for new, reliable methods of protecting homes and businesses that actively prevent intrusion, rather than just detect and respond after the event. We have answered that call with a proactive and preventative solution providing the flexibility and ease of use for people to protect their families and belongings."

ESX's Innovation Awards distinguish innovation and excellence in the industry. Companies that serve the electronic security and life safety industry are encouraged to enter products and services that benefit the end user experience, and those that benefit dealers, integrators or monitoring companies' top line revenues and bottom line results.

"We are proud to highlight next-gen products and services that create new opportunities for security professionals to deliver what end users want and congratulate Essence Group for its success in this year's Intrusion Systems category," said ESX Chairman George De Marco.

Integrated FogShield will be commercially available worldwide later this year.

About Essence Group



Essence Group is a global technology leader with a mission to develop and deploy innovative, cloud-based, end-to-end security and healthcare solutions, underpinned by supporting services, that provide peace of mind to users. For over a quarter of a century, Essence has challenged convention by making care and safety both accessible and affordable. With over 70 million connected devices deployed worldwide, Essence helps people to live safer and more independent lives.



For more information: https://www.essence-grp.com/

Follow Essence Group on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook

Contact:

Finn Partners for Essence Group

Danny Sudwarts

Danny.sudwarts@finnpartners.com

(+1) 469-297-2515

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1508675/Essence_Logo.jpg
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC)(OTCQB:GRCAF) (the "Company" or "GRC") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Antonio Canton as President and Chief Executive Officer to succeed Matias Herrero, who will step down effective June 30, 2021 to pursue other opportunities.

Mr. Canton is a Swiss Certified Public Accountant and experienced businessman with deep expertise in finance and marketing. He has been an active director of the Company for more than 10 years. He was instrumental in negotiating the merger between the Company (then named South American Silver Corp.) and High Desert Gold Corp. that resulted in the Company acquiring the Gold Springs project. Together with management of the Company, he negotiated the settlement agreement with the Government of Bolivia to settle the Company's international arbitration against Bolivia for the 2012 expropriation of the Malku Khota project. Most recently, he was instrumental in structuring the Company's non-equity financing structure with a view to raising up to US$20 million to fund drilling programs at the Gold Springs project (please refer to the Company's news releases dated April 20 and 27, 2021).

Tina Woodside-Shaw, Chair of the Board of GRC, said "I am very pleased that Antonio is now taking on the role as the President and CEO of the Company. He brings a wealth of experience to the CEO role, and has been a key contributor in shaping the Company's strategic direction over the last 10 years. I would also like to thank Matias for his contribution during the past two years as CEO of the Company, and we wish him well in his future endeavors."

About Gold Springs Resource Corp.

Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC) and (OTCQB:GRCAF) is focused on the exploration and expansion of the gold and silver resources at multiple targets at the Gold Springs project located on the border of Nevada and Utah, USA. The project is situated in the prolific Great Basin of Western USA, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world.

Gold Springs Resource Corp. Contact:

Killian Ruby

Chief Financial Officer

info@goldspringsresource.com

+1 (604) 639-4527

SOURCE: Gold Springs Resources Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652930/Gold-Springs-Resource-Announces-New-President-and-CEO
Add funds to your Nebeus account from any bank card with zero fees until July 1st

LONDON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nebeus users can now add funds to their account using their bankcard with absolutely no charge. The zero fees offer, which runs until the end of this month, allows the user to add funds to their Nebeus accounts of up to 3,500 per transaction. The customary fee for this transaction is 2.9%, meaning Nebeus users will be saving up to 101 each time they add funds to their cryptocurrency account during this offer period.

As one of Europe's leading crypto platforms, Nebeus already provides the ability for over 70,000 users to gain access to cash from their bitcoin or Ethereum assets.

Michael Stroev, COO and Head of Product at Nebeus says: "We are excited to launch this limited offer on our platform and hope to show people how straightforward it is to access cash with your cryptocurrency and vice versa.

"Nebeus is one of only a few platforms to offer customers the opportunity to add funds using bank cards. We find this existing service is very popular as it enables users to tap into the evolving cryptocurrency market instead of waiting precious business days organising BACS transfers. On top of this, our zero fees offer is exactly the kind of deal we love to present to our new and existing users."

For more information on Nebeus, please visit www.nebeus.com.

Note to Editors

Michael Stroev, COO and Head of Product at Nebeus is available for interviews or comment.

About Nebeus

Nebeus is one of Europe's leading crypto platforms on a mission to bridge the gap between crypto and cash. To achieve this, Nebeus offers an ecosystem of secure and compliant crypto and financial product and services, allowing customers to borrow, exchange, earn, and insure their digital assets. Nebeus was founded in 2014 in England, operating primarily in the UK and Europe.

The Future of Nebeus

We see a world without monetary boundaries and where people can use their crypto to purchase everyday goods and services without selling their crypto.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1550786/Nebeus.jpg

For further press information, please contact:

nebeus@rooster.co.uk

+44 (0)7584 027638

Rooster. We are pr.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Spey Resources Corp. (CSE: SPEY) (OTC Pink: SPEYF) (FSE: 2JS) ("Spey" or the "Company") is very pleased to announce that it has entered into an Option Agreement (the "Agreement") dated June 23, 2021 with A.I.S. Resources Ltd. ("AIS") for an Option (the "Option") to acquire a 100% interest in the Pocitos I and Pocitos II claims (the "Property") located in Salta, Argentina.

The project is located approximately 10km from the township of Pocitos where there is gas, electricity and telephone internet services. Pocitos I is 800 Ha and Pocitos II 532 Ha, both of which are accessible by road. AIS Resources has spent more than USD$1.5m exploring the project, including surface sampling, trenching, TEM geophysics and drilling two 400m holes had outstanding results. To date, Pocitos II has yet to be drilled and the locations have been identified for holes 3 and 4.



Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6150/88489_9af91f84e4a9bbda_002full.jpg

AIS Resources did not pursue the property due to the high magnesium content of the brines, however, the Ekosolve lithium extraction process will help alleviate the magnesium situation. Lithium values of up to 125ppm were recorded and the flow rate of the hole exceeded 75,000 Litres per minute and continued for more than 5 hours. Both drill holes had exceptional brine flow rates. Spey's plan is to sample the current drill holes and drill a further two holes to estimate a NI 43-101 resource calculation and progress discussions to build a production pilot plant.

Pursuant to an option agreement, AIS has an option (the "Underlying Option") to acquire the Property from the current owners. Upon the exercise of the Underlying Option by AIS, Spey will be able to exercise the Option and acquire a 100% interest in the Property from AIS by paying a total of US$1,732,000 (the "Purchase Price") prior to June 23, 2022.

In order to maintain the Option in good standing under the Agreement, Spey must immediately pay AIS a total of US$100,000 and issue 2,500,000 Spey common shares. In addition, Spey must complete a US$500,000 exploration program on the Property within the next 12 months. Upon exercise of the Option and Spey's acquisition of a 100% interest in the Property, AIS will retain a 7.5% royalty on the sales revenue of lithium carbonate or other lithium compounds from the Property, net of export taxes.

CEO and director Nader Vatanchi states, "Working with AIS and their team in Argentina has been very productive and we are fortunate that they have access to these projects to expand our lithium portfolio. Spey is still focused on moving our Incahuasi exploration program forward and aim to be drill this summer now that we have the results from our TEM geophysics. Our new properties announced today, Pocitos I and II, are advanced stage and we look forward to drilling and completing a NI 43-101 report so that we can begin planning for potential production."

Qualified Person

Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol, MBusM, FAusIMM, MAIG, MAIMVA, (CMV), a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 regulations, has reviewed the technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release, and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Thomas is independent of the Company but discloses that he is a shareholder of SPEY.

About Spey Resources Corp.

Spey Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company which holds two option agreements to acquire 100% interest in the Candela II, Pocitos I and II lithium brine projects located in the Salta Province, Argentina. Spey also holds an option to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the Silver Basin Project located in the Revelstoke Mining Division of British Columbia as well as an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Kaslo Silver project, west of Kaslo, British Columbia.

For more information, please contact:

Nader Vatanchi CEO, Director

nader@speyresources.ca

778-881-4631

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosure in this release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. In making the forward-looking statements in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. However, the forward-looking statements in this release, including without limitation, statements pertaining to the future exercise of the Agreement to acquire an interest in the Property, the Company's exploration programs and the Company's mineral property development plans, are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and risks include, without limitation, financing risks, delays in obtaining or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political or competitive developments, exploration and operational difficulties, the timing of future business expenditures, the potential of the Company's mineral properties and changes in economic conditions or financial markets. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88489
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices inched higher on Thursday as data showing a draw in U.S. crude stocks boosted optimism about demand. Reports showing improving business confidence in Germany and France also fueled hopes of a fast economic recovery. Benchmark Brent crude futures rose 19 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $75.38 a barrel, after rising half a percent on Wednesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 9 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $73.17 per barrel, after gaining 0.3 percent in the previous session. Both benchmarks hit their highest since October 2018 on Wednesday before ending off day's highs. Data released by Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed crude inventories in the U.S. fell by 7.614 million barrels last week, declining for a fifth straight week. Analysts had expected crude inventories to drop by about 3.9 million barrels in the week. The American Petroleum Institute (API) industry group reported late Tuesday that U.S. crude stocks fell by 7.2 million barrels for the week ending June 18, compared with expectations for a much smaller draw of 3.9 million barrels. On the data front, Germany's ifo Institute's business climate index rose to 101.8 in June from 99.2 in the previous month. The score was expected to rise moderately to 100.6. According to ifo, both current assessment as well as expectations improved in June. French statistics agency INSEE said its monthly business confidence index rose to 113 from 108 in May, hitting its highest level since July 2007 as the easing of COVID restrictions unleashed a service sector boom. Meanwhile, Iran said on Wednesday the United States had agreed to remove all sanctions on Iran's oil and shipping, although Germany cautioned that Tehran and the powers still had to overcome significant hurdles. The focus now is on the upcoming meeting of the OPEC+ (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies), scheduled to take place on July 1, which will discuss further easing of curbs. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSXV trading symbol GBU - "Gabriel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has priced the repayment of the $90,862,000 convertible unsecured notes ("Notes") currently in issue. The outstanding principal amount of the Notes and accrued interest is repayable by the Company on June 30, 2021 ("Maturity Date").

Under the terms of the Note indenture ("Indenture"), the Company has the option to repay all or a proportion of the principal amount of Notes outstanding at maturity by issuing Common Shares ("Common Share Repayment Right") to holders of the Notes ("Noteholders"). As disclosed in its announcement of May 27, 2021, Gabriel has exercised the Common Share Repayment Right by issuing the requisite notice under the Indenture to the Noteholders and the trustee, Computershare Trust Company of Canada.

Pursuant to the exercise of the Common Share Repayment Right, and upon surrender of the Notes, the Company will issue, in aggregate, approximately 313.6m Common Shares to Noteholders, such number of shares calculated on the basis of the 'Current Market Price' of $0.28975, being the price equal to 95% of the volume weighted average trading price of a Common Share over a 20 trading day period to June 23, 2021 ("Note Repayment Price").

The Notes remain convertible up to the Maturity Date at the option of the Noteholders into Common Shares at a price of $0.3105 per share ("Conversion Price"). If all of the outstanding Notes were converted prior to or at the Maturity Date by the Noteholders at the Conversion Price, an aggregate of 292.6m Common Shares would be required to be issued by the Company. As the Note Repayment Price is lower than the Conversion Price, 21m more Common Shares will be required to be issued to the Noteholders than would be the case on conversion by Noteholders.

The repayment of the Notes through exercise of the Common Share Repayment Right is subject to any conversion of the Notes by Noteholders up to the Maturity Date and otherwise subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States or to "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons.

For information on this press release, please contact:

Dragos Tanase

President & CEO

Phone: +40 730 399 019

dt@gabrielresources.com Richard Brown

Chief Financial Officer

Mobile: +44 7748 760276

richard.brown@gabrielresources.com

Neither 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 release.

Further Information

About Gabriel

Gabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Ro?ia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Ro?ia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Ro?ia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company.

Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.

In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with: the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations (including but not limited to the completion of further funding noted above) or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "is of the view", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:

the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) may affect the Company's operations and/or the anticipated timeline for the ICSID Arbitration;

the duration, required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration;

the advancement of Romania's nomination of the "Rosia Montana Mining Landscape" as a UNESCO World Heritage site;

changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and/or the group of companies of which it is directly or indirectly parent;

access to funding to support the Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future;

equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of new or existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares;

the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the TSX Venture Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities;

the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: any allegations of historic acts of corruption, uncertain fiscal investigations; uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Group and political and social instability;

regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes and interpretation of existing and future fiscal and other legislation;

volatility of currency exchange rates; and

the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Group of certain key employees and consultants.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this press release that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies which can be viewed online at www.sedar.com.

ENDS

SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652959/Gabriel-Resources-Ltd-Pricing-of-Convertible-Note-Repayment


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German business confidence strengthened to its highest level in more than two years in June as the easing of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic lifted expectations and managers' current assessment, survey results from ifo Institute on Thursday.



The business climate index rose to 101.8 in June from 99.2 in the previous month. The score was the highest since November 2018 and also exceeded the expected level of 100.6.



Companies assessed their current business situation as much better and optimism regarding the second half of the year also grew.



The German economy is shaking off the coronavirus crisis, Clemens Fuest, ifo President, said.



The current conditions index came in at 99.6 in June. Economists had forecast the index to advance to 97.8 from May's 95.7.



Likewise, the expectations index climbed to 104.0 in June from 102.9 in the previous month. This was marginally above the expected score of 103.9.



In manufacturing, business confidence rose to its highest value since April 2018. Companies were notably more satisfied with their current business and their expectations were somewhat less optimistic.



However, many companies were concerned about increasing bottlenecks in intermediate products.



In the service sector, business sentiment jumped higher. The indicators for the current situation and for expectations both rose appreciably in June.



In trade, the easing of restrictions improved the business climate greatly and confidence in construction rose a little in June.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
The "Europe Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market Forecast to 2027 Covid-19 Impact and Analysis by Product (Continuous Flow, Pulse Flow); Application (COPD, Asthma, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Others); End User (Hospitals, Homecare Settings, Others); and Country" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe portable oxygen concentrators market is projected to reach US$ 710.25 million by 2027 from US$ 381.70 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2020 to 2027.

The growth of the Europe portable oxygen concentrators market is attributed to the growing prevalence of respiratory disorders, rise in geriatric population and increasing demand for the portable oxygen concentrators as alternative breathing equipment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. However, high cost of device is likely to hamper the growth of the market during the forecast period.

The portable oxygen concentrators are used in the treatment of chronic obstructive respiratory diseases and in COVID-19 cases as a replacement of respiratory device ventilator. The novel coronavirus can cause a significant respiratory distress and majority of the patients who do die are a result of extreme respiratory failure.

The oxygen concentrators prove to be very helpful in providing supplemental oxygen or relieve breathing difficulty thereby expediting body's healing process. The governments around the world are arranging oxygen concentrators to COVID-19 patients under home isolation to manage with sudden drop in oxygen among these patients. For instance, WHO and our UN partners are working with manufacturers across the world through a variety of private sector networks to buy oxygen concentrators for countries that need them most.

The Europe portable oxygen concentrators market, based on product, is further segmented into continuous flow and pulse flow. In 2019, the continuous flow segment held a larger share of the market. However, the pulse flow segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The Europe portable oxygen concentrators market, based on application, is segmented into COPD, asthma, respiratory distress syndrome and others. In 2019, the COPD segment held a larger share of the market and is expected to register a higher CAGR during 2020-2027.

Further, the Europe portable oxygen concentrators market, based on end user, is segmented into hospitals, home care settings and others. In 2019, the home care settings segment held a larger share of the market and is expected to register a higher CAGR during 2020-2027.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market Key Takeaways

3. Research Methodology

4. Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market Landscape

4.1 Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.3 Expert Opinion

5. Europe Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market Industry Dynamics

5.1 Key Drivers

5.1.1 Rising Number of COVID-19 Cases

5.1.2 Increasing Prevalence of Respiratory Diseases

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 High Costs of Portable Oxygen Concentrators

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Technological Advancement in Portable Oxygen Concentrators

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Increasing Preference of Home Care Products

5.5 Impact Analysis

6. Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market Regional Analysis

6.1 Europe Transdermal drug delivery system Market Revenue Forecast And Analysis

7. Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market Analysis By Product

7.1 Overview

7.2 Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market Revenue Share, by Product, 2019 and 2027 (%)

7.3 Continuous Flow

7.4 Pulse Flow

8. Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market By Application

8.1 Overview

8.2 Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market, by Application, 2019 and 2027 (%)

8.3 COPD

8.4 Asthma

8.5 Respiratory Distress Syndrome

9. Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market By End User

9.1 Overview

9.2 Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market, by End User, 2019 and 2027 (%)

9.2.1 Europe Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market, by End User Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

9.3 Hospitals

9.4 Home Care Settings

10. Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market- Regional Analysis

10.1 Europe: Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market

11. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Europe Portable Oxygen Concentrators Market

11.1 Europe: Impact assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

12. Company Profiles

GCE Group (Colfax Corporation)

Invacare Corporation

INOGEN INC.

Koninklijke Philips N.V

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q5amvg

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005481/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

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SoftServe veteran with almost two decades of information security experience to head new C-level position

SoftServe, a leading digital authority and consulting company, has appointed Adriyan Pavlykevych as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), effective immediately. Pavlykevych has almost 20 years of experience with SoftServe. As CISO, he will be responsible for shaping and implementing SoftServe's information governance and security strategy, including ensuring the secure delivery of the company's engineering services, and maintaining and developing its cyber defense capabilities. Pavlykevych will report to SoftServe's CEO, Chris Baker, as part of the company's Executive Management Team.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005010/en/

SoftServe Appoints Adriyan Pavlykevych as Chief Information Security Officer (Photo: Business Wire)

"Now more than ever, information security and cyber defense are essential parts of conducting business," said Chris Baker, Chief Executive Officer at SoftServe. "As a global player, we must protect our company and associate information, exceed security expectations in delivering our services, and protect the intellectual property we create for our clients. I am confident in Adriyan's ability as CISO to ensure the continuous improvement of our information security infrastructure, processes, and technology as we continue our rapid rate of growth."

"As CISO, I will further strengthen SoftServe's highly reliable and resilient IT ecosystem with the latest practices and tools," said Pavlykevych. "We are committed to zero-trust architecture of our cloud and mobile first IT infrastructure. We will also work to reach and maintain the highest maturity level of our cyber defense operation center (CDOC)."

Prior to joining SoftServe in 2003, Pavlykevych was Head of Networking Sector in the Computing Center at Lviv Polytechnic National University, one of Ukraine's top five technical educational institutions. Pavlykevych holds a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Lviv Polytechnic National University and is certified according to ISO 27001 as a Lead Implementer and Lead Auditor for the Information Security Management Standard.

About SoftServe

SoftServe is a digital authority that advises and provides at the cutting-edge of technology. We reveal, transform, accelerate, and optimize the way enterprises and software companies do business. With expertise across healthcare, retail, energy, financial services, and more, we implement end-to-end solutions to deliver the innovation, quality, and speed that our clients' users expect.

SoftServe delivers open innovation, from generating compelling new ideas, to developing and implementing transformational products and services. Our work and client experience are built on a foundation of empathetic, human-focused experience design that ensures continuity from concept to release. We empower enterprises and software companies to (re)identify differentiation, accelerate solution development, and vigorously compete in today's digital economy. No matter where you are in your journey.

Visit our website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005010/en/

Contacts:

SoftServe Media Contacts

Paul Jones

Senior Manager, Analyst and Public Relations

pjone@softserveinc.com

Andrew Kavka

Lead Analyst and Public Relations Specialist

akavk@softserveinc.com
Proptech scale-up continues global expansion as it accelerates its growth strategy

Plentific, the leading platform for smart property management, today announced the next phase of its global expansion with operations launched in North America. Residential and commercial landlord's in the US will now have access to the fast-growing proptech's award-winning marketplace SaaS platform, allowing them to start and manage their own fully flexible contractor supply chain. The move follows Plentific's successful entry into the German market in 2020, accelerating the businesses growth trajectory.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005503/en/

Plentific founder and CEO, Cem Savas (Photo: Business Wire)

"Over the last year, a shift has taken place within the real estate industry across the world, thanks to the global pandemic. Not only did lockdowns cause disruption for supply chains and result in a backlog in repairs and maintenance works, but a lack of real time, accessible data also created significant challenges in a remote working environment," said Cem Savas, CEO and co-founder of Plentific. "In a short period of time, landlords and property managers have quickly accelerated their digital transformation projects, increasing Plentific's growth trajectory. As landlords in North America face similar challenges to those in Europe, it was the obvious next step for us as we continue to rapidly scale."

Since the end of 2018, Plentific has seen a 17-fold growth and today has more than 350,000 units under management across 76 cities and sees 25,000 work orders created go through the platform each month. The proptech's SaaS-based platform empowers landlords and property managers to transform their repairs and maintenance operations. A seamless connection between repair reporting, procurement and payments, results in a higher quality of service for both landlords and tenants, at better value. Its dynamic procurement technology allows landlords to manage in-house operatives and send jobs to a marketplace of more than 18,000 fully vetted contractors for faster resolution. Accessible anytime, anywhere, the Platform allows clients to manage every repair and maintenance work order, from start to finish through its cloud-based and mobile-enabled software and provides unprecedented access to data analytics in real time.

Plentific's North American presence will be led by Andrew Bledsoe, Head of US operations, who has a long track record in the US property market, having previously co-founded the micro-housing and coliving platform, Ollie. In addition to Bledsoe, Plentific has appointed an additional three new hires in North America across the sales and marketing teams, with further appointments to be made.

"Plentific's technology solves a number of challenges faced by landlords from procurement to work order management, and data analytics to payments and by bringing everything into one platform it creates significant operational efficiencies for clients," said Bledsoe. "I am looking forward to supporting Plentific's growth across the US, and globally, and seeing the immense impact the platform has on clients."

About Plentific

Plentific is trusted by some of the best-known organizations in property, including L&Q, Peabody, Notting Hill Genesis, Grand City Properties and Knight Frank to manage more than 350,000 properties across the UK, Germany and USA. Its software integrates repairs, compliance, and voids management with a marketplace of more than 18,000 contractors to streamline property maintenance and provide instant insight into the health of a property portfolio. For more information please visit: https://www.plentific.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005503/en/

Contacts:

Victoria Jodl

T +49 152 52423959

victoria.jodl@kekstcnc.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - UGE International Ltd. (TSXV: UGE) (OTCQB: UGEIF) (the "Company" or "UGE"), a leader in commercial and community solar energy solutions, is pleased to announce nine new projects signed by its UGE Philippines subsidiary, totaling 3MW in rated capacity. The nine projects are expected to become operational by the end of 2022. Across all nine projects, UGE's clients are expected to save upwards of 30% on their energy bills by choosing to adopt solar energy.

The nine projects cover each of UGE's three regional markets within the country - Cebu, the subsidiary's home province, Luzon, and Mindanao. The projects signed include:

Cebu:

Two projects totaling over 600kW in capacity with a top national mall chain;

One project with a 700kW capacity with one of the oldest noodle manufacturers in the region, and;

Two projects totaling 450kW covering two grain processing terminals owned by a logistics company.

Luzon:

Two projects totaling 670kW across two cold storage facilities in Cavite.

Mindanao:

Two projects totaling 550kW for two ice plant facilities.

"I am enthusiastic about the growth we are experiencing in the Philippines this year," said UGE Philippines' Director of Development, Sebastian Thomas. "Given the significant savings solar offers our clients, the time is ripe for businesses in the Philippines to adopt solar energy. We have added several talented members to our business development team over the last six months, which helped drive 60% backlog growth so far this quarter. We expect our momentum to continue through the remainder of the year."

As of March 31, 2021, UGE Philippines' 5.1MW of backlog represented 7% of UGE's overall backlog, within the 5-15% range UGE expects going forward.

About UGE

UGE develops, owns, and operates commercial and community solar projects in the US and strategic markets abroad. Our distributed energy solutions deliver cheaper, cleaner energy to businesses and consumers with no upfront cost. With over 400MW of global experience, we work daily to power a more sustainable world. Visit us at www.ugei.com.

For more information, contact UGE at:

+1 917 720 5685

investors@ugei.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88450
Prof. Nutt Will Drive Progression of a Pipeline of New Psychedelic Medicines, Helping to Define a Clear Development Pathway to Treat Addiction Through Psychedelic Medicines

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Awakn Life Sciences Corp. (NEO: AWKN) (Awakn), a biotechnology company with clinical operations developing and delivering psychedelic medicine to treat Addiction, announced today that globally renowned neuroscientist and addiction researcher, Prof. David Nutt, has joined its executive team as Chief Research Officer.

This appointment is driven by the expansion of Awakn's psychedelic drug and therapy development pipeline targeting Addiction. In particular the identification, and development of several potential new candidates with unique properties to better treat a broad range of addictions, acquired from Prof. David Nutt's Equasy Enterprises in March 2021; the licencing of the intellectual property from world's only Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy trial for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) from the University of Exeter in March 2021. And finally, the world's only Phase IIb trial for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for AUD.

In this new role, which is in addition to Prof. Nutt's existing role as Chair of Awakn's Scientific Advisory Board, Prof. Nutt will lead Awakn's neuroscience research of psychedelic compounds for treating a broad range of addictions where the consequences for the patient, their family, and society are at present most severe. Prof. Nutt will work closely with Dr. Shaun McNulty, Awakn's Chief Scientific Officer, who leads Awakn's Pre-Clinical stage and Clinical stage research and development programs.

Professor David Nutt commented, "I am delighted to take on the role of Chief Research Officer in this exciting new biotechnology company that promises to revolutionise the treatment of addictions. Awakn's combination of pre-clinical and clinical research uniquely positions Awakn to solve some of the biggest societal problems."

Anthony Tennyson, Awakn's CEO commented, "Our ambition is to fully integrate effective psychedelic-based treatments into mainstream healthcare to better treat Addiction. Prof. Nutt is one of the world's leading experts in this field and is now part of our executive team to help us drive forward our preclinical discovery projects. With Prof. Nutt and our already strong R&D team we are positioned as a leader in the psychedelic-biotechnology industry."

About Professor David Nutt

Prof. David Nutt is currently the Edmond J. Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology and Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences.

After 11+ entry to Bristol Grammar School David was awarded an Open Scholarship to Downing College Cambridge and then completed his medical training at Guy's Hospital London, continuing in neurology to MRCP. After completing his psychiatric training in Oxford, he continued there as a lecturer and then later as a Wellcome Senior Fellow in psychiatry. He then spent two years as Chief of the Section of Clinical Science in the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in NIH, Bethesda, USA. On returning to England in 1988, he set up the Psychopharmacology Unit in Bristol University, an interdisciplinary research grouping spanning the departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, before moving to Imperial College London in December 2008 where he leads a similar group with a particular focus on brain imaging especially PET.

David is currently Chair of DrugScience (formally the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ISCD)). He was previously President of the European Brain Council, the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) and the British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP). He is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Psychiatrists and of the Academy of Medical Sciences. He is also the UK Director of the European Certificate and Masters in Affective Disorders Courses and a member of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy. He has edited the Journal of Psychopharmacology for over two decades and acts as the psychiatry drugs advisor to the British National Formulary. He has published over 500 original research papers, a similar number of reviews and books chapters, eight government reports on drugs and 33 books.

Previously he has been a member and then Chair of the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD - 1998-2009), a member of the HEFCE/NHS Senior Lecturer Selection Panel and of the MRC Neuroscience Board. Other previous national contributions include serving as the medical expert on the Independent Inquiry into the Misuse of Drugs Act (2000 Runciman report), and membership of the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Committee on NHS drugs and the Ministry of Defence Science Advisory Board. He was the clinical scientific lead on the 2004/5 UK Government Foresight initiative "Brain science, addiction and drugs," that provided a 25-year vision for this area of science and public policy.

David broadcasts widely to the general public both on radio and television including BBC science and public affairs programmes on therapeutic as well as illicit drugs, their harms and their classification. He also lectures widely to the public as well as to the scientific and medical communities; for instance has presented three times at the Cheltenham Science Festival and several times for Cafe Scientifiques. In 2010, The Times Eureka science magazine included him in the 100 most important figures in British Science, and the only psychiatrist.

About Awakn Life Sciences Corp.

Awakn Life Sciences is a biotechnology company with clinical operations; researching, developing, and delivering psychedelic medicine to better treat Addiction. Awakn's team consists of world leading chemists, scientists, psychiatrists, and psychologists who are developing and advancing the next generation of psychedelic drugs, therapies, and enabling technologies to treat Addiction. Awakn will also deliver evidence backed psychedelic therapies for Addiction in clinics in the UK and Europe and through licencing partnerships globally.

www.awaknlifesciences.com | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events or the Company's future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates", "targets" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, including statements relating to the proposed NEO listing, and the business of the Company. All forward-looking statements, including those herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.

Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These include: whether conditions to the listing on NEO will be satisfied; the business plans and strategies of the Company, the ability of the Company to comply with all applicable governmental regulations in a highly regulated business; the inherent risks in investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal in some jurisdictions; changes in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; inconsistent public opinion and perception regarding the medical-use of psychedelic drugs; and regulatory or political change. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date or dates specified in such statements.

Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's and Awakn's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Investor Enquiries:

KCSA Strategic Communications

Valter Pinto / Tim Regan

Phone: +1 (212) 896-1254

Awakn@KCSA.com

Media Enquiries:

America and Canada: KCSA Strategic Communications

Anne Donohoe

adonohoe@kcsa.com

Rest of World: ROAD Communications

Paul Jarman / Anna Ramsey

Awakn@roadcommunications.co.uk

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88478
Victoria, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) (OTCQB: PLCKF) and related subsidiaries ("Plurilock" or the "Company"), an identity-centric cybersecurity solutions provider for workforces, has secured a contract worth US$190,000 with a U.S. federal agency under National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Solution for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP), a U.S. Government-Wide Acquisition Contract Vehicle (GWAC).

The contract is one of several signed between Plurilock and federal government agencies in recent weeks, emphasizing the Company's continued efforts to expand sales within the government vertical. Since May 2021, Plurilock has signed nearly a dozen client contracts within the North American public and healthcare sector, each worth between US$100,000 and US$1.15 million, resulting in an increased revenue run rate for the current fiscal year.

Per the terms of the contract, Plurilock will provide the U.S. federal agency with nearly 2,000 solid-state storage devices, used to boost performance for existing computer hardware.

About SEWP

The SEWP V program, launched by NASA in 2015, is the leading information technology (IT) contract vehicle, with government agencies spending $7.9 billion in fiscal 2020.1 Estimates anticipate that agencies will utilize SEWP V for $8.8 billion in contracted spending in fiscal 2021.2 The contract vehicle provides Plurilock with the opportunity to access downstream customers in the government sector.

About Plurilock

Plurilock provides identity-centric cybersecurity for today's workforces. Plurilock offers world-class cybersecurity solutions paired with AI-driven, cloud-friendly security technologies that deliver persistent identity assurance with unmatched ease of use. The Plurilock family of companies enables organizations to operate safely and securely-while reducing cybersecurity friction.

For more information, visit https://www.plurilock.com or contact:

Ian L. Paterson

Chief Executive Officer

ian@plurilock.com

416.800.1566

Roland Sartorius

Chief Financial Officer

roland.sartorius@plurilock.com

Prit Singh

Investor Relations

prit.singh@plurilock.com

905.510.7636

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") which relate to future events or Plurilock's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Plurilock's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, impact of general economic conditions, success of the Company in obtaining new or extended contracts or orders; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers or develop new customers; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of other businesses and/or companies or to realize on the anticipated benefits thereof; and unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Plurilock. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof and Plurilock undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Information Form and are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither 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 release.

https://about.bgov.com/news/this-is-it-sewp-v-is-the-top-it-vehicle-in-fiscal-2020/ https://about.bgov.com/news/this-is-it-sewp-v-is-the-top-it-vehicle-in-fiscal-2020/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88501
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Therma Bright Inc. (TSXV: THRM) ("Therma" or the "Company"), developer of its smart-enabled AcuVid COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Saliva Test and other progressive diagnostic and medical device technologies, is pleased to announce that it will test the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Delta variant, first detected in India, with its AcuVid antigen saliva test. Governments and global health experts have expressed deep concerns that the highly contagious, fast spreading Delta variant will add to a new wave of COVID-19 viral infections globally later this summer and fall. The Delta variant has already become the dominant version of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus in the United Kingdom and has been detected in at least 74 other countries worldwide,

In addition, the Company has received the final 7 outstanding RT-PCR test results from the Brazilian study to match against its AcuVid saliva test, exceeding the minimum requirements of 30 positive/30 negative results for its FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) submission. The study results will also be used for ANVISA (Brazil) and INVIMA (Colombia) submissions, as well as to further support the CE approval received in April 2021.

"We are excited that our Brazilian clinical study has now met the minimum FDA-EUA requirements for our submission to secure serial testing approval," expressed Rob Fia, Therma Bright's CEO. "In addition, we're equally excited to begin testing our AcuVid COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Saliva Test with the Delta variant; as we have successfully tested other fast-moving SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the P.1 and P.2 variants originally detected in Brazil and the B1.1.17 variant first detected in the UK. As always, our goal is to make our 15-minute AcuVid COVID-19 antigen test the leading rapid screening solution to help mitigate community spread of this virus."

Therma Bright is not making any express or implied claims that its test product has the ability to eliminate or cure COVID-19 or the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

About Therma Bright Inc.

Therma Bright is a progressive medical device technology company focused on providing consumers and medical professionals with quality medical devices that address their medical and healthcare needs. The Company's initial breakthrough proprietary technology delivers effective, non-invasive and pain-free skincare. Therma Bright received a Class II medical device status from the FDA for its platform technology that is indicated for the relief of the pain, itch, and inflammation of a variety of insect bites or stings. The Company received clearance for the above claims from the US FDA in 1997.

Therma Bright Inc. trades on the (TSXV: THRM) (OTC Pink: THRBF) (FSE: JNX). For more information visit: www.thermabright.com and www.coldsores.com

For further information, please contact:

Therma Bright Inc.

Rob Fia, CEO

rfia@thermabright.com

Follow us on Twitter.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events such as development and commercialization of a rapid COVID-19 viral assay and related instrumentation, regulatory applications and manufacturing scale up as described in the news release. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88511
JAKARTA (dpa-AFX) - Iceland's jobless rate declined sharply in May, figures from Statistics Iceland showed on Thursday. The jobless rate rose to a seasonally adjusted 5.8 percent in May from 8.6 percent in April. In the same month last year, unemployment rate was 7.9 percent. The number of unemployed persons decreased to 11,900 in May from 17,800 in the preceding month. The number of employed persons rose to 190,300 in May from 189,800 in the prior month. On an unadjusted basis, the unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in May. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WINDSOR, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Canada's leading green energy provider, Bullfrog Power Inc. ("Bullfrog"), announced that Hiram Walker & Sons Limited ("Hiram Walker"), is choosing green natural gas for their distillery in Windsor. This green energy purchase is an important step in reaching Hiram Walker's goal of reducing CO2 emissions now and for generations to come.

"At Hiram Walker, we have a very ambitious roadmap when it comes to Sustainability and Responsibility (S&R) and we are committed to a clean energy future," said Craig Dryburgh, Senior Director of Operations at the distillery. "That is why we are proud to be partnering with Bullfrog Power to procure green natural gas for our facility in Windsor."

Through the agreement, Bullfrog Power's producers put green natural gas into the pipeline to match the amount of conventional natural gas used by Hiram Walker's Windsor facility. Bullfrog's green natural gas is sourced from methane-capture projects situated at various landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and anaerobic digestion sites. Through innovative technology, biogas is captured, cleaned up, and injected into the natural gas pipeline system, displacing fossil fuel-based gas while reducing emissions of CO2 and, more importantly, CH4 into the atmosphere. Watch this How It Works video to learn more about Bullfrog's renewable energy sources.

"We're excited to see the important steps Hiram Walker & Sons is taking to address their environmental footprint," said Sean Drygas, President, Bullfrog Power. "By choosing green natural gas, Hiram Walker is helping to reduce our dependence on polluting forms of energy, transition Canada to renewable energy sources, and signaling to their industry that clean, renewable energy is important to all stakeholders."

Bullfrog also uses the support of its customers to help fund more than 150 new community-based green energy projects across Canada.

Hiram Walker's purchase, which will be equivalent to 80,000 GJ of green natural gas over the course of the year, will avoid 4,000 tonnes of CO2e-which is like taking 868 cars off the road for a year!

About Bullfrog Power, Spark Power's sustainability division

Bullfrog Power, part of Spark Power Group Inc. (TSX: SPG), offers smart and sustainable energy solutions that help thousands of businesses and individuals meet their climate goals. In 2005, Bullfrog Power revolutionized Canada's energy landscape by giving businesses and individuals a renewable energy choice for the first time. Bullfrog Power's team of sustainability experts also offers solutions including power purchase agreements, energy efficiency, on-site solar, and a suite of green energy products. As a Certified B Corporation, Bullfrog Power meets higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Visit bullfrogpower.com to see how our sustainability solutions can power the future of your business, or join the bullfrogpowered community online on LinkedIn , Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Hiram Walker & Sons Limited

Established over 150 years ago,?Hiram Walker?& Sons Limited's tradition of blending quality ingredients, processes and highly skilled people continues at the?Windsor, Ontario?based production facility.?Hiram Walker?produces brands such as?J.P. Wiser's, Lot No. 40, Pike Creek, Gooderham & Worts and Royal Reserve Canadian whiskies, Polar Ice vodka, Malibu and Lamb's rums, and McGuinness and Criollo liqueurs for Canadian distribution by its affiliate, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited.?Hiram Walker?is a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard S.A., a leading global spirits and wine company with premium international brands such as ABSOLUT vodka, Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet and Ballantine's Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Beefeater gin, Kahlua liqueur, Mumm champagne, and Jacob's Creek, Wyndham Estate, Stoneleigh, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines.

Media Inquiries:

Suha Jethalal, General Manager, Bullfrog Power

Suha.jethalal@bullfrogpower.com

Kathy Leung, External Communications, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited

Kathy.Leung@pernod-ricard.com

SOURCE: Spark Power Group Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652865/Hiram-Walker-Partners-with-Bullfrog-Powerto-Procure-Green-Natural-Gas-for-their-Windsor-Facility
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Orogen Royalties Inc. ("Orogen" or the "Company") (TSXV:OGN) is pleased to announce it has signed an agreement (the "Agreement") with Eminent Gold Corporation (EMNT) ("Eminent") to option the Company's Gilbert South gold property in the Walker Lane epithermal belt in Nevada, USA.

Eminent may earn a 100% interest in the Gilbert South project by making staged cash payments totalling US$875,000, issuing 500,000 shares over a five-year period, assuming underlying vendor obligations, and granting to Orogen a 2% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty of which 1% can be purchased for US$1.0 million. The shares issued pursuant to the Agreement are subject to acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

"We are excited to have Eminent Gold advance the Gilbert South project, a transaction that represents Orogen's ninth partnership in its joint venture portfolio," commented Orogen CEO Paddy Nicol. "Orogen has several exploration and development programs underway with estimated partner-funded exploration expenditures of C$3.5 million on joint ventured projects and over C$60 million in exploration and development costs on projects in its royalty portfolio."

About the Gilbert South Gold Property

The 890-hectare Gilbert South property is located 42 kilometres west of Tonopah, Nevada in the Walker Lane low sulphidation epithermal belt.

Project Highlights

Low sulfidation epithermal gold system with a large one kilometre by two kilometre outcropping vein swarm;

High grade gold at surface with visible gold in crustiform quartz veins as well as in hydrothermal breccias which locally exceed 30 g/t gold;

Long runs of anomalous gold mineralization in historic shallow reverse circulation drilling (including 50 metres of 0.46 g/t Au) hosted in pseudomorphed quartz after calcite and quartz vein breccias on the margins of andesite domes;

New geologic model defines dome field as possible source for mineralization. Drilling has not targeted feeder structures for domes which may define higher grade cells within district; and

Gilbert South is road accessible on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and could be rapidly permitted for exploration drilling

Figure 1: Gilbert South Location Map showing approximate historic production of gold and silver deposits in the Walker Lane

The Gilbert South property lies within the historic Gilbert District where gold was first discovered in the 1800's. The district contains two types of mineralization; silver-lead ores hosted in limestones peripheral to Mesozoic age quartz monzonite intrusions, and epithermal gold +/- silver associated with Tertiary age volcanic rocks. Multiple small shafts and adits on the Gilbert South property are developed along free-gold bearing epithermal quartz veins and vein stockworks.

Modern exploration on the property has focused on near surface bulk tonnage gold targets with most drill holes extending less than 150 metres from surface. This drilling intercepted strongly anomalous gold in many different target areas indicating a large gold bearing system. Minimal exploration has focused on identifying zoning within the gold bearing system and testing for feeder structures at depths greater than 100 metres.

Geological mapping by Orogen identified a sequence of andesite and dacite domes controlling epithermal vein mineralization. Clay mineralogy maps paired with vein texture mapping were used to reconstruct the geologic domains on the property. Multiple target zones have been identified where shallow level quartz veins with anomalous mercury outcrop on the margin of dome complexes. The root zones and pressure shadows of these domes are the primary target for the next round of exploration drilling.

Figure 2: Recently mapped domes and intrusions at the Gilbert South property located in Nevada, USA

Gilbert South transaction terms

Eminent may earn a 100% interest in the Gilbert South project by making cash payments totalling US$875,000, issuing 500,000 shares and granting to Orogen a 2% NSR royalty of which 1% can be purchased for US$1.0 million:

US$25,000 and 50,000 shares on the date of signing the Agreement;

US$50,000 and 100,000 shares on or before the first anniversary;

US$100,000 and 150,000 shares on or before the second anniversary;

US$100,000 and 200,000 shares on or before the third anniversary;

US$100,000 on or before the fourth anniversary; and

US$500,000 on or before the fifth anniversary;

Once Eminent has exercised its option on Gilbert South, Eminent will grant to Orogen a 2% NSR royalty on the "G/L" claims of which 1% can be purchased for US$1.0 million. Orogen also retains the right to a 1% NSR on the Timberline claims subject to Orogen buying down a pre-existing 1% vendor NSR royalty for US$1.5 million. Eminent will be responsible for all other underlying vendor obligations.

Qualified Person Statement

All technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Laurence Pryer, Ph.D., P.Geo.., Exploration Manager for Orogen. Dr. Pryer is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

About Orogen Royalties Inc.

Orogen Royalties Inc. is focused on organic royalty creation and royalty acquisitions on precious and base metal discoveries in western North America. Orogen's royalty portfolio includes the Ermitano West gold deposit in Sonora, Mexico (2% NSR royalty) being developed by First Majestic Silver Corp. and the Silicon gold project (1% NSR royalty) in Nevada, USA, being advanced by AngloGold Ashanti N.A. The Company is well financed with several projects actively being developed by joint venture partners.

On Behalf of the Board

OROGEN ROYALTIES INC.

Paddy Nicol

President & CEO

To find out more about Orogen, please contact Paddy Nicol, President & CEO at 604-248-8648, and Liliana Wong, Manager of Marketing and Investor Relations at 604-248-8648. Visit our website at www.orogenroyalties.com .

Orogen Royalties Inc.

1201 - 510 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC

Canada V6B 1L8

info@orogenroyalties.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Orogen Royalties Inc. (the "Company") expect to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking information relates to statements concerning the Company's future outlook and anticipated events or results, as well as the Company's management expectations with respect to the proposed business combination (the "Transaction"). This document also contains forward-looking statements regarding the anticipated completion of the Transaction and timing thereof. Forward-looking statements in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the receipt, in a timely manner, of regulatory and stock exchange approvals in respect of the Transaction.

Although the Company believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Furthermore, the extent to which COVID-19 may impact the Company's business will depend on future developments such as the geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions, physical distancing, business closures or business disruptions, and the effectiveness of actions taken in Canada and other countries to contain and treat the disease. Although it is not possible to reliably estimate the length or severity of these developments and their financial impact as of the date of approval of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements, continuation of the prevailing conditions could have a significant adverse impact on the Company's financial position and results of operations for future periods.

Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Orogen Royalties Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652917/Orogen-Options-the-Gilbert-South-Property-to-Eminent-Gold
Fredericton, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - TRU Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV: TRU) (OTCQB: TRUIF) (FSE: 706) ("TRU" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the acquisition of a significant claims package (the "Claims") contiguous with the Company's flagship Golden Rose Project in Central Newfoundland's Gold Belt.

TRU has acquired, via indirect staking, 62.25 square kilometres (km2) of mineral claims contiguous with the existing Golden Rose Project, increasing the property size by almost 60% from 105 km2 to 167.25 km2 (Figure 1) along and adjacent to the Cape Ray - Valentine Lake Shear Zone (the "Shear Zone").

Joel Freudman, Co-Founder and CEO of TRU, commented: "Consistent with TRU's stated strategic objective to add or expand properties of merit along the Shear Zone, this acquisition adding to our district-scale Golden Rose Project is very exciting for us, and comes at only minimal staking costs. This consolidation provides better coverage of a 23 km section of a possible splay structure, or offshoot, adjacent to the main Shear Zone. Importantly, this 23 km long splay structure is very underexplored and is known to host gold mineralization, which automatically makes the Claims an early focus of TRU's field programs at Golden Rose."

The Claims are located along a structural corridor (Figure 2) believed to be a splay of the Shear Zone containing anomalous gold and arsenic in lake sediments. Several recent gold occurrences on the Golden Rose Project are interpreted to be associated with this splay structure. These include the Jacobs Pond gold zone (hand trenching returned grab samples grading from 0.8 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) to 2.2 g/t Au) and the Rose Gold showing (hand trenching returned grab samples grading from 3.3 g/t Au to 20.2 g/t Au)1. Additionally, visible gold grains have been panned along the trend of this structural corridor. The Claims also contain a historic grid hosting anomalous gold in soil values including 110ppb gold in soil2. Other historic gold showings that appear to be located along the structural corridor include the Sansu gold showing (3.5 g/t Au in grab samples3) and the Big Arm gold showing (16 g/t Au4).





Figure 1: Newly Acquired Claims - Golden Rose Project

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5993/88477_b23aef5d444f2aeb_001full.jpg





Figure 2: Gold Occurrences and Structural Corridor Along Newly Acquired Claims

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5993/88477_b23aef5d444f2aeb_002full.jpg

National Instrument 43-101 Disclosures

The technical information herein, including assay results, relating to the Golden Rose Project is historical in nature and has not been independently verified by TRU. Note that grab samples are selective by nature, and values reported may not represent the true grade or style of mineralization across the Golden Rose Project. The potential grades are conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource; and it is uncertain whether further exploration will result in any targets being delineated as a mineral resource.

Barry Greene, P.Geo. is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the contents and technical disclosures in this press release. Mr. Greene is a director and officer of the Company and owns securities of the Company.

About TRU Precious Metals Corp.

TRU has assembled a portfolio of 5 gold exploration properties in the highly prospective Central Newfoundland Gold Belt. The Company has an option with a subsidiary of TSX-listed Altius Minerals Corporation to purchase 100% of the Golden Rose Project, located along the deposit-bearing Cape Ray - Valentine Lake Shear Zone. TRU also owns 100% of the Twilite Gold Project, located along the same Shear Zone, and 3 under-explored properties including its Rolling Pond Property (under option) bordering New Found Gold Corp.'s high-grade Queensway Project. TRU's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TRU", on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "TRUIF", and on the Frankfurt exchange under the symbol "706".

TRU is a portfolio company of Resurgent Capital Corp. ("Resurgent"), a merchant bank providing venture capital markets advisory services and proprietary financing. Resurgent works with promising public and pre-public micro-capitalization Canadian companies. For more information on Resurgent and its portfolio companies, please visit Resurgent's LinkedIn profile at https://ca.linkedin.com/company/resurgent-capital-corp.

For further information about TRU, please contact:

Joel Freudman

Co-Founder, President & CEO

TRU Precious Metals Corp.

Phone: 1-855-760-2TRU (2878)

Email: ir@trupreciousmetals.com

Website: www.trupreciousmetals.com

To connect with TRU via social media, below are links:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TRU-Precious-Metals-Corp-100919195193616

Twitter

https://twitter.com/corp_tru

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tru-precious-metals-corp

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHghHMDQaYgS1rDHiZIeLUg/

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither 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 release.

Information in this press release relating to third-party mineral exploration properties are from sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by TRU. Information in this press release relating to historical exploration results at the Golden Rose Project was provided by the optionor of the property, and has not been independently verified by TRU.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including those relating to exploring the Claims, and the prospectivity and mineralization of the Claims and the Golden Rose Project. These statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Claims and the execution and success of exploration plans that are believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Claims and/or the Company's mineral exploration properties; the exploration potential of the Company's properties and the nature and style of mineralization at same; risks inherent in mineral exploration activities; volatility in financial markets, economic conditions, and precious metals prices; and those other risks described in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein except as required by applicable securities laws.

1 Source: Altius Resources Inc.

2 Source: NDME geofiles # 12A/0900

3 Source: NDME mineral occurrence database system

4 Source: NDME mineral occurrence database system

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88477
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) (OTCQB: FDCFF) ("Forum" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 5,555,555 flow-through units of the Company (the "FT Units") at a price of C$0.45 per FT Unit for gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$2,500,000 (the "Offering"). Red Cloud Securities Inc. is acting as a finder in connection with the majority of the Offering.

Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.57 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering.

The Use of Proceeds are for further exploration of the Company's uranium, copper, nickel and palladium projects in Saskatchewan.

The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units allocated to the FT Shares (the "FT Commitment Amount") will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced to the subscribers of the FT Units (the "Subscribers") with an effective date no later than December 31, 2021. If the amount of Qualifying Expenditures renounced to the Subscribers is reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each Subscriber for any additional taxes payable by such Subscriber as a result of the reduction..

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about July 12, 2021 and is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange. Finder's fees and finder's warrants will be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The FT Shares, Warrant Shares and any common shares of the Company that are issuable from the finder's warrants will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

About Forum Energy Metals

Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) has three 100% owned energy metal projects being drilled in 2021 by the Company and its major mining company partners Rio Tinto and Orano for copper/silver, uranium and nickel/platinum/palladium in Saskatchewan, Canada's Number One Rated mining province for exploration and development. In addition, Forum has a portfolio of seven drill ready uranium projects and a strategic land position in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. For further information: www.forumenergymetals.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard J. Mazur, P.Geo

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact:

NORTH AMERICA

Rick Mazur, P.Geo., President & CEO

mazur@forumenergymetals.com

Tel: 778-772-3100

UNITED KINGDOM

Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi, Director

burnsstb@forumenergymetals.com

Tel: 074-0316-3185

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88500Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States
Joel Toguri, Former Chief Revenue Officer Supreme Cannabis to lead Company

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Humble & Fume Inc. (CSE: HMBL) ("Humble" or the "Company"), a leading integrated cannabis and distribution platform in North American, announced today the appointment of Joel Toguri as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 5, 2021.

"Armed with significant leadership experience and a proven track record of delivering superior execution and sales growth in the cannabis industry, we welcome Joel to our team. Joel joins us from Supreme Cannabis where he was responsible for managing and driving sales, marketing, business development and retail growth opportunities," said Shawn Dym, Executive Chairman of Humble. "Joel's direct cannabis experience, combined with his experience in alcohol distribution, will be instrumental in leading Humble through its next phase of strategic growth and investment. With a focus on expanding distribution, Joel will lead our team in strengthening Humble's footprint in the United States."

Humble Founders, Robert Ritchot and Nathan Todd, will continue to lead the cannabis accessories business. Mr Ritchot will oversee North American activities and Mr Todd's focus will remain in the United States.

Prior to joining Humble, Mr. Toguri served as Chief Revenue Officer of The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. ("Supreme Cannabis"), a global diversified portfolio of distinct cannabis companies, products, and brands. Prior to that, Joel led sales for Aphria, now Tilray, managing medical and recreational sales to patients and consumers. Before entering the cannabis industry, Mr. Toguri served as Vice President of Sales and Operations at Southern Glazer's of Canada, where he was its first employee and responsible for establishing the company's footprint across Canada and leading a national sales team of more than 90 people. In three years under his direction, Southern Glazer's of Canada became one of the leading wine and spirits agents and brokers in Canada. Over the course of his career, Mr. Toguri has held a variety of senior sales and operational roles at MolsonCoors and Beam Global Spirits & Wine.

"With a strengthened balance sheet, no debt and recently listed on the CSE, Humble is well-positioned for operational growth and increased access to the capital markets. I look forward to stepping into the role of CEO of Humble to both expand its brand presence and distribution footprint in the United States," said Joel Toguri, CEO of Humble.

About Humble & Fume Inc.

Humble & Fume is one of North America's leading cannabis distribution solutions providing customer-centric services and accessories. Humble & Fume works with over 200 leading industry brands and offer more than 10,000 accessories and extract products and is the only major cannabis industry player to provide a fully integrated cannabis and accessories distribution solution with complete sales, distribution, and trade market support. Servicing more than 3,000 clients continent-wide, we can reach 90% of North American customers within 48 hours. Leveraging decades of North American Cannabis industry experience, we are committed to being a leading partner and brand representative by offering a comprehensive portfolio of leading brands and products to head shops, smoke shops, dispensaries, and consumers.

Learn more at humbleandfumeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposed listing on the CSE, the focus of the Company's business, and intentions of those subject to early warning disclosure requirements. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "contemplates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements about, among other things, the expected listing and trading on the CSE, Humble & Fume Inc.'s strategic plans and the intentions of those subject to early warning disclosure requirements are all forward-looking information. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the listing and trading of the Company's shares on the CSE will occur or that, if they do occur, they will be completed on the terms and timing described above. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances or actual results unless required by applicable law. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Listing Statement for information as to the risks and other factors which may effect the Company's business objectives and strategic plans.

For more information, please contact:

Company Contact:

Edge Communications Group

Email: invest@humbleandfume.com

Phone: 1-778-400-7894

Investor Contact:

Allison Soss

KCSA Strategic Communications

Email: humbleandfume@kcsa.com

Phone: 212-896-1267

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88519


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The United States on Wednesday reported 12436 new coronavirus infections, taking the national total to 33,577,712. This is higher than the 7-day average of 11310.



375 new deaths reported on the same day took the total COVID death toll in the country to 602,837, as per the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. The 7-day average of COVID deaths is 305.



Florida reported the most number of cases - 1884 - while California reported most COVID-related deaths - 55 - Wednesday.



California is the worst affected state in terms of both the COVID metrics - 3,812,231 cases and 63,429 deaths.



A total of 28,846,304 people have so far recovered from the disease in the country.



A total of 319,505,293 vaccine doses have been administered so far nationally. 177,948,892 people have received at least one dose.



150.8 million people, or 45.4 percent of the US population, are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.77.3 percent of people above 65 have received both vaccine doses.



On Thursday, President Joe Biden will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, as part of his administration's efforts to continue encouraging vaccinations across the country. The President is scheduled to visit a mobile vaccination unit and meet with frontline workers and volunteers there at 4:50 PM ET. He will deliver remarks highlighting the importance of getting vaccinated and kick off a community canvassing event at the Green Road Park Community Center in Raleigh.



New York on Thursday lifted the COVID-19 State of Emergency that Governor Andrew Cuomo declared in March 2020.



71.2 percent of adult New Yorkers have received at least one vaccine dose and 63.5 percent have completed their vaccination.



A COVID outbreak in the Australian city of Sydney has prompted the authorities to impose travel restrictions and a return to mask rules. 'Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through,' the state's premier Gladys Berejiklian said.



Elsewhere in the world, 54069 new COVID cases were reported In India on Wednesday, as infection rate continues to fall in the worst-affected country.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Blackline delivers 17 consecutive quarters of revenue growth

Blackline Safety Corp. (TSX: BLN), a global leader in connected safety technology with a hardware-enabled software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model, announced its seventeenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year quarterly revenue growth, achieving $11.7M total revenue in the fiscal quarter ending April 30, 2021. Product revenue grew 140% from the prior year's quarter with recurring service revenue up 8% to $7.1M from $6.6M, driven by an 18% increase in software services revenue.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005344/en/

Blackline Safety Q2 FY2021 Infographic (Graphic: Business Wire)

"We are proud to deliver Blackline's strongest ever overall quarterly revenue at $11.7M, while also recording our best quarter for product sales since the beginning of the pandemic, with 140% growth," said Cody Slater, CEO and Chairman at Blackline Safety. "While this demonstrates solid results, we see this as just the beginning of our return to accelerated growth post COVID."

"Our aggressive investments in Europe opening an office in France, hiring sales managers in the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Spain, France and Finland are delivering strong results," said Mr. Slater. "Revenue from these regions grew by 350% from $0.4M in Q2 FY2020 to $1.4M in Q2, demonstrating the ROI of our aggressive global sales and marketing expansion strategy. We expect the growth in Europe to continue and anticipate that our aggressive investments in the United States and international markets will also pay off in the coming quarters."

Product revenue has rebounded with procurement cycles moving more swiftly as the global economy emerges from the pandemic. New service activations and service increases have also rebounded with $0.6M delivered in the quarter. However, this increase was offset by $0.2M from customers who renewed fewer active devices due to workforce reductions over the last twelve months, $58,000 from customers who declined to renew and $0.1M from customers who placed their service plans on pause. Overall, growth of software services revenue was up 18% with total service revenue up 8% during the quarter. As return-to-workplace momentum continues, Blackline anticipates stronger service revenue growth returning in the second half of the fiscal year.

Overall, gross margin for the quarter was 51%, with significant improvement in product margin percentage compared to the prior year's quarter. Blackline closed the second quarter with a strong working capital position including cash and short-term investments of $39.6M.

Adjusted EBITDA and a change in Blackline's cash position was the result of a number of strategic, one-time investments and non-cash items. These one-time investments in Blackline's business infrastructure ensure strong foundation for accelerated growth:

Strategic acquisition of Wearable Technologies Ltd. ("WTL"), plus Blackline's investment in internal operations, product roadmap investments and geographic distribution in Europe and the Middle East. Costs incurred through the WTL acquisition include non-recurring transaction costs and one-time payments totalling $1.4M.

The second quarter also included costs of $0.4M related to the finalization of Blackline's new financing facility, preparation for graduation to the TSX and establishment of a new European Union subsidiary in France.

The Company also granted stock options to directors, officers and employees with a stock-based compensation expense of $1.3M incurred in the quarter.

Despite the challenging business environment during the global pandemic, Blackline has managed to maintain strong momentum and growth in revenue and product adoption. The continued investments in innovation and sales expansion have positioned Blackline well to fuel our strong growth trajectory as the world recovers from the global pandemic.

Second quarter highlights

Seventeenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth

Total revenue of $11.7M, a 38% increase over the prior year's Q2

Service revenue of $7.1M, an 8% increase over the prior year's Q2, comprised of: Software services revenue of $6.2M, a 18% increase over the prior year's Q2 Operating lease revenue of $0.8M, a 31% decrease compared to the prior year's Q2 Rental revenue of $0.1M, a 29% decrease compared to the prior year's Q2

Product revenue of $4.6M, a 140% increase from the prior year's Q2

Total revenue grew by 139% in Europe, 16% in the United States, 11% in Canada and 227% in other international markets compared to the prior year's Q2

Total revenue growth was 51%, excluding the commodity-impacted Canadian market

Overall gross margin percentage was 51%, including product gross margin percentage of 25% up from 1% in the prior year's Q2

Total cash and short-term investments of $39.6M at April 30, 2021

New $15M financing facility from National Bank of Canada supported by Blackline's SaaS business model

Acquired Wearable Technologies Ltd., based in the United Kingdom, operating under the Eleksen brand

Welcomed Empire Cat and Enovert into the new Blackline Collective, a forum for business to share safety insights and best practices

Established a new EU-based subsidiary in advance of opening a distribution facility in France

Post-quarter highlights

Graduated to the Toronto Stock Exchange and opened the market on June 11, 2021

Christine Gillies, MBA, joined the executive team as Blackline's first Chief Marketing Officer on June 14, 2021

Brian Sweeney, former Hulu Director and Amazon Global Head, was announced as a new executive, joining as Blackline's new Chief Technology Officer on June 28, 2021

Blackline Europe won its fourth large water and waste water utility customer in the United Kingdom as well as the expansion from lone worker to full gas monitoring for a current water utility customer

Financial highlights

The subsequent values in this release are in thousands, except for percentages and per share data.

Quarter Ended April 30 Six-Months Ended April 30 2021 2020 Change 2021 2020 Change Revenue 11,675 8,472 38 22,353 17,390 29 Gross Margin 5,963 4,658 28 11,517 8,717 32 Gross Margin Percentage 51% 55% (4) 52% 50% 2 Net Loss (8,558) (2,099) (308) (13,442) (4,454) (202) Net Loss per Share (0.16) (0.04) (300) (0.26) (0.09) (189) Adjusted EBITDA (1,519) 1,333 (214) (1,879) 1,909 (198) Adjusted EBITDA per Share (0.03) 0.03 (200) (0.03) 0.04 (175)

Key Financial Information

Overall second quarter revenue was $11,675, an increase of 38% from $8,472 in the comparable quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Service revenue during the second quarter was $7,103, an increase of 8% compared to $6,564 in the same quarter last year. The velocity of growth in service revenue during the second quarter was negatively impacted by delays of device deployments and customers who renewed fewer active devices after experiencing workforce reductions during the COVID-19 impacted period. However, retention rates of our existing customers across geographic regions and industry sectors remained robust.

Blackline's product revenue was $4,572, an increase of 140% compared to $1,908 in the prior year. The increase was due to our ability to regain access to customer sites, particularly in the United States and Europe, both regions which were heavily impacted by product order deferrals and constrained access to customer sites due to COVID-19. Notably, product revenue closed during the quarter was Blackline's third highest to date, highlighting an improvement in product sell-through compared to the impact of the pandemic. The increase also reflects the Company's investment in its expanded sales network across North America, Europe and internationally over the last twelve months. Blackline continued strong sales of its new G7 EXO area gas monitor contributing $1,205 in product sales during the quarter.

Gross margin percentage for the second quarter was 51%, a 4% decrease to that achieved in the comparable quarter of the prior year. Product margin improved to 25% from 1% due to the product sales mix, including continued G7 EXO sales. Service margin of 68% was a 3% decrease quarter-over-quarter due to lower Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy funding recorded and higher Blackline Safety Cloud infrastructure maintenance costs.

Adjusted EBITDA was $(1,519) for the second quarter compared to $1,333 in the comparable quarter of the prior year. The decrease in the Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was attributable to an increase in general and administrative expenses and selling and marketing expenses. Included in general and administrative expenses in the quarter were professional fees and other expenses of $398 related to the finalization of the Company's new credit facility, our preparation for graduation to the TSX and the professional and legal fees for the establishment of our new EU subsidiary in France. Adjusted EBITDA was also impacted by $694 related to operating costs for the Company's new subsidiary WTL. The Company also incurred recruiting expenses of $276 in the quarter to support its growth strategy in sales and marketing.

Blackline's unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and management's discussion and analysis on financial condition and results of operations for the period ended April 30, 2021 (including the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures) are available at www.sedar.com. All results are reported in Canadian dollars.

About Blackline Safety: Blackline Safety is a global connected safety leader that helps to ensure every worker gets their job done and returns home safely each day. Blackline provides wearable safety technology, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and increase productivity of organizations with coverage in more than 100 countries. Blackline Safety wearables provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of men and women, having reported over 150 billion data-points and initiated over five million emergency responses. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, we ensure that help is never too far away. For more information, visit BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to, among other things, Blackline Safety's expectation to realize potential from its intended investment in organic growth opportunities in 2020, Blackline's intention to expand its product offerings to total workplace connectivity and management's expectation that Blackline will continue to focus on its comprehensive approach to connected devices, live monitoring, consulting and integration services. Blackline provided such forward-looking statements in reliance on certain expectations and assumptions that it believes are reasonable at the time, including expectations and assumptions concerning business prospects and opportunities; customer demands, the availability and cost of financing, labor and services and the impact of increasing competition. Although Blackline believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Blackline can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, which by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the risks discussed in Blackline's Management's Discussion and Analysis. Blackline's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits Blackline will derive therefrom. Management has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking information provided in this press release in order to provide readers with a more complete perspective on Blackline's future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Blackline disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005344/en/

Contacts:

INVESTOR/ANALYST CONTACT

Cody Slater, CEO

cslater@blacklinesafety.com

Telephone: +1 403 451 0327

MEDIA CONTACT

Heather Houston

hhouston@daltonagency.com

Telephone: +1 904 398 5222

Cell phone: +1 386 216 9472
beqom, a cloud-based total compensation software provider, today announced it has been selected by one of the world's largest alternative investment managers to manage compensation for 1600 employees globally. beqom FlexFS, a compensation management solution designed exclusively for the financial services industry, will be used to manage processes for Salary/Merit Review, Bonus, and Long-Term Incentives, integrating with Workday's HCM platform.

The firm had been relying primarily on Excel to manage compensation, which presented operational, compliance, and security risks, and limited its ability to scale. It was seeking a unified compensation platform that could meet all compensation requirements while preserving their unique internal compensation processes and handling some complex calculations.

"They knew they needed a solution with flexibility to support their compensation practices, and were aware that an out-of-the-box solution such as those provided by HCM software suites would most likely not be able to handle their requirements," said Vismay Gada, Head of Global Financial Services at beqom. "beqom enables them to reduce risk while enhancing the manageability and efficiency of their processes, all without compromising their compensation strategy."

Headquartered in the US, the investment firm manages capital for hundreds of fund investors in dozens of countries. beqom provides the compensation management platform for many of the world's largest companies, managing $300 billion in compensation for 3 million people in 160+ countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005059/en/

Contacts:

Stanley Chang

stanley.chang@beqom.com
Trigo, a global leader in frictionless checkout technology, today announced that it has signed a partnership agreement to join Google Cloud's partner ecosystem.

Under the agreement, Trigo's AI-powered solutions for autonomous shopping will be available on Google Cloud, and teams from both companies will partner to help retail businesses accelerate their digital transformations with AI-powered autonomous stores. The choice to work with Google Cloud was based on Google Cloud's strong relationships with leading retailers, as well as sensitivities by leading European retailers to use Amazon Web Services.

"Trigo's work with Google Cloud shows how the world's top grocery retailers digitize, innovate, deliver exceptional experiences for their customers, and compete in an increasingly crowded and growing marketplace," said Michael Gabay, Trigo's co-founder and CEO.

Trigo's privacy-by-design solution uses AI-powered computer vision technologies together with off-the-shelf hardware to retrofit existing grocery stores with autonomous capabilities. The company applies its proprietary algorithms to ceiling-mounted cameras which automatically learn and upload data on shoppers' movements and product choices, enabling customers to simply walk into a store, pick up their desired items, and walk out without stopping at the checkout. Payments and receipts are settled digitally.

Trigo has seen rapid growth and increasing demand for its technology throughout 2020 and is working with leading retailers on the European mainland, including Rewe, to open stores during 2021. Trigo's technology has been tapped by Tesco PLC, one of the world's largest grocers with stores across the UK, Ireland and Central Europe. Tesco has been working on a trial with Trigo at a Tesco Express convenience store at its headquarters and will extend that to another store in a more urban environment. Trigo uses Google Cloud for part of the solution it provides Tesco. Trigo is also working with REWE, Germany's second largest grocery chain, on a cashierless checkout store in downtown Cologne.

According to Trigo's analysis of Kantar supermarket data, Trigo estimates there are around 500,000 convenience and small grocery stores (up to 1,000 square meters) worldwide that have the potential to be retrofitted with AI-based frictionless technology. Around 120,000 of them are in the EU alone.

"Technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and IoT are helping retailers deliver exciting, new experiences for consumers," said Paul Tepfenhart, Director, Global Retail Solutions at Google Cloud. "We're delighted that Trigo is bringing its retail solutions to Google Cloud, and we look forward to partnering with Trigo to help retailers accelerate their adoption of these capabilities."

To learn more about how Trigo's solution works, click here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005076/en/

Contacts:

Media contact: Amir Mizroch amizroch@trigo.tech
Luxury River Cruise Line Allows Travelers to Discover Their Family Story During Unforgettable Rhine River Cruise, Adding New Dimension to Heritage Travel on the Rivers

Luxury river cruise innovator AmaWaterways today announced a new partnership with the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, Ancestry. The groundbreaking collaboration provides a unique opportunity for guests to discover details pertaining to their specific family history while enjoying the incomparable river cruise experience that AmaWaterways is known for. With an uptick in consumers embracing heritage travel, the special Ancestry Experience package allows travelers to further personalize and enrich their river cruise experience through pre-cruise private consultation and family history research, onboard presentations and curated excursions accompanied by an expert genealogist throughout the cruise.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005224/en/

AmaWaterways partners with AncestryProGenealogists to offer groundbreaking family history experiences on river cruises (Photo: Business Wire)

"Having grown up along the legendary Elbe River in Germany, I am personally overjoyed by this new collaboration that provides our guests with a unique opportunity to connect with their European roots, through personalized research and specially curated experiences," said Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways. "Maintaining or creating cherished family connections is more important than ever, and this partnership with the industry-leading team at Ancestry provides the perfect setting to bring our guests' treasured family stories to life."

The first cruise in the series, Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry Experience, will depart July 30, 2022, on board the 156-guest AmaStella. Guests will embark in Amsterdam on an unforgettable seven-night river cruise along the Rhine River, visiting Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland while tracing their roots and following along in their ancestors' footsteps.

"At its core, Ancestry is a family history company, and we are constantly looking for new ways to help others uncover their own personal stories and to bring deeper meaning to their findings through genealogical research and heritage travel," said Jon Lambert, director of global client relations for Ancestry. "We found this same passion for creating enriching life-changing experiences with AmaWaterways Co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst. Their European heritage and appreciation of cultural diversity fit perfectly with Ancestry's mission to empower journeys of self-discovery to change lives."

This enriching Ancestry experience begins as soon as the river cruise reservation is made with AmaWaterways. Each guest who signs up will be matched with an expert from AncestryProGenealogists Ancestry's professional research division, who will conduct a one-hour welcome call to discuss aspects of their family that are of particular interest. From there, the genealogist will conduct a five-hour consultation and research phase delving into family background and identifying places of interest that the guest may visit or pass by during their river cruise.

Once on board, an expert genealogist will offer presentations to provide insight into what life was like for guests' ancestors and highlight the types of records that are available for them to learn more. As guests travel through different regions where their ancestors lived, the genealogist will explain the history behind those areas, providing an unparalleled understanding of the past and a glimpse of their ancestors' everyday lives.

Rounding out this enriching experience, each guest will also receive a private onboard consultation with the expert genealogist to review their own family tree. They will also have the opportunity to enjoy an Ancestry-specific group excursion with their expert genealogist. In certain cases, travelers can delve even deeper with an optional add-on of an Ancestral Home Visit accompanied by an expert genealogist.

Taking guests into the heart of Europe, the elegantly appointed AmaStella, with her exceptional crew, offers the opportunity for guests to be pampered in spacious staterooms; indulge in delicious cuisine from a choice of dining venues including the intimate Chef's Table Restaurant; and when not participating in one of the 23 included shore excursion choices, relax on an expansive sun deck, featuring a walking track and swimming pool with a swim-up bar. Active travelers will enjoy the onboard Wellness Program, which includes expertly guided fitness classes, as well as hiking and biking tours.

Reservations for the July 30, 2022, Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry Experience are now open, with prices starting from $5,399*. Reserve any AmaWaterways river cruise through Europe and customize your personalized heritage experience with Ancestry, from a pre-journey consultation with your expert genealogist to an Ancestral Home Visit for an additional fee.

*Per person prices (air and port charges not included). Visit AmaWaterways.com/ancestry for full details.

MEDIA NOTE: Hi-res versions of the images in this release can be found here.

To book an AmaWaterways river cruise, contact your preferred Travel Advisor, call 1.800.626.0126 or visit AmaWaterways.com. Follow AmaWaterways on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmaWaterways, Instagram @AmaWaterways, Twitter @AmaWaterways, and YouTube at YouTube.com/AmaWaterways.

About AmaWaterways

A family-owned company celebrating 18 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 25 ships sailing Europe's Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhone, Saone (2021), Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro Rivers, Southeast Asia's Mekong, Africa's Chobe River and Egypt's Nile River (2021). Led by experienced river cruise co-founders Rudi Schreiner and Kristin Karst, the company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique "twin balconies;" its wellness activities including a wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning dining-including The Chef's Table specialty restaurant as well as complimentary fine wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship features onboard amenities such as hair and massage salons and a fitness room, and many have heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation highlighted with the launch of AmaMagna, which at twice the width of traditional river ships, offers a new dimension in luxury river cruising. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families as well as group and charter options.

With the highest-rated ships in Europe according to the third edition of Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe the USA, AmaWaterways has received countless honors and accolades including Cruise Critic's 2019 Editor's Pick Award for "Best River Cruise Line" and "Best for Active Cruisers," 2018 AFAR Reader's Choice Award for "Best River Cruise Line" and inclusion of AmaMagna in2019 TIME "World's Greatest Places."

About AncestryProGenealogists

AncestryProGenealogists is a division of Ancestry and serves as Ancestry's professional research arm, bringing together a team of expert researchers and professional genealogists to conduct research around the world, trace family trees, and help clients connect with their past. For more information visit progenealogists.com.

About Ancestry

Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, empowers journeys of personal discovery to enrich lives. With our unparalleled collection of 30 billion records and over 20 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain actionable insights about their health and wellness. For over 30 years, we've built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005224/en/

Contacts:

Kayla Atwater Carmen Arce (For AmaWaterways)

Hemsworth Communications

(954) 716-7614 or AmaPR@HemsworthCommunications.com

Kyle Betit (For Ancestry)

Senior Genealogist Travel Program Operations Manager, AncestryProGenealogists

+1 801 990 5605 or kbetit@ancestry.com
Berwyn, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Annovis Bio, Inc. (NYSE American: ANVS), ("Annovis" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, today announced its CEO, Maria L. Maccecchini, Ph.D., was selected as a Life Sciences and Healthcare CEO finalist in the 2021 PACT Enterprise Awards.

Hosted by the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT), whose vision is to be the go-to resource for fast growing companies and a driver of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Philadelphia region, the PACT Enterprise Awards is a two-night, hybrid event featuring an in-person celebration on June 29 and an online broadcast of the Enterprise Awards ceremony on June 30, presented by Fairmount Partners and KPMG.

The awards ceremony will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET on June 30 and can be viewed online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSzTe3dY0RY.

As part of the 28th annual awards event, PACT hosted a panel, "Legends and Leaders," in which Dr. Maccecchini was a speaker. She participated in the discussion with past PACT Enterprise Awards Legend Honorees and other business leaders. The June 23 panel discussed the unique challenges and lessons learned from the past year as well as the current business environment and opportunities for the future.

Watch the PACT Legends and Leaders panel discussion: https://youtu.be/0KMvEdWLhiE

Watch the PACT Enterprise Awards finalist announcement: https://youtu.be/kL9qslKRDG0

About Annovis Bio Inc.

Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio, Inc. (Annovis) is a clinical-stage, drug platform company addressing neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's in Down Syndrome (AD-DS). We believe that we are the only company developing a drug for AD, PD and AD-DS that inhibits more than one neurotoxic protein and, thereby, improves the information highway of the nerve cell, known as axonal transport. When this information flow is impaired, the nerve cell gets sick and dies. We expect our treatment to improve memory loss and dementia associated with AD and AD-DS, as well as body and brain function in PD. We have two ongoing Phase 2a studies: one in AD patients and one in both AD and PD patients. For more information on Annovis, please visit the company's website: www.annovisbio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release contain "forward-looking statements" that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "will," "may," "should," "estimate," "project," "outlook," "forecast" or other similar words, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the timing, effectiveness, and anticipated results of ANVS401 clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are based on Annovis Bio, Inc.'s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Annovis Bio, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations:

Dave Gentry, CEO

RedChip Companies Inc.

407-491-4498

Dave@redchip.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88530
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - ScreenPro Security Inc. (CSE: SCRN) ("ScreenPro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the GoStop notification app is being adopted by film and television productions in Vancouver. The automation of testing results from the laboratory to the client(s) provides quick and efficient notifications of both negative and positive results along with contact tracing should a positive case be reported.

"On productions with a large number of crew members, actors, and background extras which could be upwards of 500+ people at any given time, it is important to identify infected individuals quickly and isolate them promptly. The GoStop app provides an expedited notification process, and if any individual comes back positive, the film production's isolation protocols are implemented to ensure continuum of work," said Andrew Ryu, CEO of the Company.

About ScreenPro

ScreenPro is a Screening and Medical Technology company. ScreenPro provides turnkey screening solutions with alerting software, GoStop. ScreenPro's unique access to multiple manufacturers of high quality test kits and its strategic partnership with Labs in Vancouver and Ontario allows ScreenPro to be a nationwide provider of a full-service testing solutions across Canada. In addition, ScreenPro has its own nursing professionals, and access to high quality PPEs to ensure that its clients are protected in all aspects of their testing needs. GoStop's passport was developed with a privacy preserving approach that will enable individuals to use the alerting software and downloadable app with authentication certificates. The alerts can be scheduled on an on-demand, daily, weekly, or monthly basis and can be used also for vaccine scheduling.

For additional information on ScreenPro and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.screenprosecurity.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information please contact:

Jamie Hyland, Director

Email: info@screenprosecurity.com

P. (604) 442-2425

Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements relating to expectations regarding the future development of ScreenPro's business. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The actual results of ScreenPro could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which ScreenPro operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to ScreenPro's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of ScreenPro. Management of ScreenPro believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents ScreenPro's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. ScreenPro disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88438
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya") is pleased to announce, subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange") that Ms. Annie Sismanian has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

Ms. Sismanian is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with over 18 years of broad progressive experience in finance, strategy, and corporate development. Prior to joining Kuya, she was Vice President, Corporate Finance and Investor Relations at Guyana Gold and has held senior financial roles at Hydro One, Kinross, Barrick, Fairmont and PWC. Ms. Sismanian succeeds Ms. Lesia Burianyk as Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Burianyk has agreed to remain with Kuya in the role of Finance Director.

The Company is also pleased to announce, that Mr. Aaron Hunter has been appointed as General Counsel of the Company. Mr. Hunter has over fifteen years of business law experience, with a focus on the extractive industries. He worked for a senior gold producer for seven years, providing legal leadership on project development, supply chain, governance and integrity matters. Mr. Hunter has also been in-house counsel for two global engineering firms. Before becoming an in-house counsel, he practiced corporate and securities law at a prominent Canadian firm and a US-based global firm. He is admitted to the bar in Ontario and New York.

Kuya's President and CEO, David Stein, stated, "We are very excited to be growing our senior management team with these outstanding and experienced industry professionals. We are very proud of the team we have assembled to date in Peru and Canada. Kuya has ambitious goals of achieving low-cost silver production and corporate growth, and building a high-quality team to execute our strategy is an important part of our plans."

The Company also announces, subject to approval by the Exchange, that it has granted 625,000 incentive stock options ("Options") to acquire common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share"), 150,000 were granted to Ms. Sismanian in connection with her appointment as Chief Financial Officer at an exercise price of $1.55, 225,000 were granted to employees and consultants at an exercise price of $1.55, and 250,000 were granted to independent directors at an exercise price of $1.90. The Options are subject to varying vesting provisions. Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the Options, are subject to a hold period expiring October 25, 2021, unless written approval to issue the Common Shares without the hold period is obtained from the Exchange.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya is a Canadian-based silver-focused mining company that owns the Bethania Project, which includes the Bethania mine, located in Central Peru. The Bethania mine was in production until 2016, toll-milling its ore at various other concentrate plants in the region, the Company's plan is to implement an expansion and construct a concentrate plant at site before restarting operations. The Bethania mine produced silver-lead and zinc concentrates from the run of mine material, until being placed on care and maintenance due to market conditions and lack of working capital.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

KUYA SILVER CORPORATION

David Stein, President and CEO

For more information, please contact the Company at:

Kuya Silver Corporation

Telephone: (604) 398-4493

info@kuyasilver.com

www.kuyasilver.com

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88503
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Maxtech Ventures Inc. ("Maxtech" or the "Company") (CSE:MVT)(Frankfurt:M1N)(OTC PINK:MTEHF) is pleased to announce completion of its first 3 diamond drill holes for a total of 919 metres, as part of its Phase One diamond drilling program on the St Anthony gold mine property located in the Kenora-Patricia Mining District, Ontario.

Highlights:

The holes with pending assay results display wide mineralized intervals in drill core (pyrite with trace sphalerite and galena within quartz veining and strong alteration) that are visually comparable to previously disclosed gold-bearing intervals (see reports).

Of particular interest, visible gold has been observed in the first three holes (SA21-15, SA21-16 and SA21-17).

Combined with historical drilling the first 3 holes have completed a section through the known mineralization on 50 metre centers.

Maxtech is planning a Phase II 10,000 m drill program based on the strong initial results of the current phase.

Update on the program:

Two holes tested Zones 1 and 2 with the third hole testing Zone 1 and the Hangingwall Zone for a total so far of 919 metres drilled.

Assays pending for all of them with results expected in the coming weeks.

Hole SA21-15 was a twin of a 2010 hole. SA21-16 and SA21-17 were delineation holes to complete coverage on 50-metre centres.

A total of 354 drill core samples have been sent to ALS Global Laboratories (ALS Global).

The two main zones at St. Anthony consist of Zone 1 and Zone 2. Zone 1 is broadly defined over a strike length of 350 metres, with a minimum depth of 200 metres and a true width averaging about 8 metres, based on past production. Historical production focused solely on the vein material and not the adjacent mineralized wallrock.

Zone 2 has had no development work and is largely parallel the Zone 1over a known strike length of 200 metres. Past drilling indicates Zone 2 is potentially a wider zone with several quartz veins within a wider sericite alteration halo about a quartz stockwork of 20-30 metres.

Peter Wilson, CEO, stated: "Maxtech's exploration targets were selected based on a combination of the following parameters: on past production, previous drill assays, alteration mapping and structural interpretation. Maxtech considers the exploration and resource potential of St. Anthony and in the vicinity to be excellent."

Drilling contract and analytical protocols:

The drilling contract was awarded to Full Force Diamond Drilling Ltd. Drill core samples will be sent to ALS Global of Thunder Bay for gold (Au-AA23) and multi-element (ME-MS61) analysis plus spectral mineralogy data will be collected from selected samples through the mineralized envelope to assist in vectoring to additional gold bearing structures. Maxtech applies industry-standard quality assurance/quality control procedures to the program. Certified reference materials, blanks and field duplicates are included in all drill core batches sent to the laboratory.

About The St. Anthony Gold Project:

The St. Anthony Gold Mine is located in the Kenora-Patricia Mining District of Ontario and encompasses four historical mining operations including the largest past-producing mine in the area, the St. Anthony. The mine produced 63,310 ounces of gold from 332,720 tons for an average grade of 5.95 grams per tonne (or 0.191 ounces per ton) up until World War II when gold production was halted. (source: Technical Report on the St. Anthony and Best/King Bay Properties, prepared by Graeme Evans BSc, PGeo, June 16, 2015). The property consists of 233 contiguous claims totaling 4,224 hectares (42.24 sq. km). In addition to the historical underground workings over 20 gold (-silver) occurrences have been documented, some hosting visible gold, many of which have seen little if any exploration work for several decades. Previous workers in the area include Aubet, Can Con and Falconbridge, companies that carried out work focused on the bulk tonnage potential of a mineralized area hosted within a quartz-feldspar porphyry intrusive located within the property. The St. Anthony Gold Project is located 85 km east of the town of Sioux Lookout, or 13 km south of the smaller town of Savant Lake.

Andrew Tims obtained his B.Sc. in Geology from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, and is a Registered Professional Geologist in Ontario and Manitoba and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

About Maxtech Ventures Inc.

Maxtech Ventures Inc., a Canadian-based diversified industries corporation, is focused on identifying and advancing high-value mineral properties.

For additional information see the Company's web site at

http://www.maxtechventures.com

Email to info@maxtechventures.com

Contact: Peter Wilson CEO - 604-484-0355

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile.

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Maxtech Ventures Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652855/Maxtech-Announces-Completion-of-the-Third-Drill-Hole-at-St-Anthony-Gold-Mine-Showing-Wide-Mineralized-Intervals-With-Visible-Gold-in-All
SANTA MONICA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Demand Brands, Inc. (OTC PINK:DMAN), ("Company" or "DMAN"), which markets under the brand name "Lucky Chief" (http://www.luckychief.com) announced today that Jonathan Ditto will be joining the Company C-Suite as Chief Agricultural Officer of Lucky Chief's California and Oklahoma operations and David Baily will be on-boarding as General Manager of Cultivation for Oklahoma grow operations.

Mr. Ditto brings over 20 years of cannabis breeding and genetic know-how to the Lucky Chief executive management team. Mr. Bailey was formerly the GM of the largest Tier 2 cannabis cultivation operation in the State of Washington and has 14 years of experience with large scale cannabis production. Bailey is also the former Grow writer and Editor for Dope Magazine.

"The leadership both Jonathan and David bring to our genetics team and operations will be vital to and our national expansion strategy and Lucky Chief's success," stated Ian Dixon, Chief Executive Officer of DMAN.

About Lucky Chief

Lucky Chief is a principle lifestyle brand of the Company and a pioneer in the research, cultivation, production and distribution of cannabis and cannabinoids. Lucky Chief was one of the first licensed producers of cannabis concentrates in California out of their Type 7 Lab in Oakland, CA. Lucky Chief also has its own in-house catalog of THC genetics. The vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" operation has been on dispensary shelves since 2016. Lucky Chief prides itself on its in-house cannabis dispensary, named the Cannabis Outlet whose flagship location is under construction in Atwater, CA.

This press release includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms 'believes', 'belief', 'expects', 'intends', 'anticipates', "projects" 'will', or 'plans' to be uncertain and forward looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Press Contact:

connect@pacifictechnologiesgroup.com

323-967-7900

SOURCE: Demand Brands, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652875/Demand-Brands-DMAN-Lucky-Chief-Expands-C-Suite
Integrated Solution Poised to Drive Transformation in Commercial Insurance Industry through Advanced AI and No-code Platform

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Groundspeed, a leading provider of SaaS-delivered smart submission and analytics solutions to the property & casualty insurance industry, and Unqork, the leading enterprise no-code platform, announced a strategic partnership and integrated offering to commercial insurance companies. The integration of the two solutions enables carriers to drive better risk selection, improve time-to-quote, and better serve their customers, while dramatically increasing and accelerating their return on investment.

"We are excited to partner with Unqork to help transform the commercial insurance marketplace," said Jeff Mason, CEO of Groundspeed. "This partnership provides insurance carriers and brokers with industry-leading solutions to dramatically accelerate operational and underwriting processes, and increase their agility in the market. Through the advanced technology in this partnership, the insurance industry can focus on innovating for their customers."

"We are extremely excited to team up with Groundspeed to help transform the commercial insurance marketplace," said Farooq Sheikh, Insurance GTM Lead at Unqork. "This partnership will help commercial insurance carriers automate, streamline and accelerate insurance submission intake, rate-quote-bind, underwriting workbench and operational processes to drive revenue and improve customer service. Together with Groundspeed, we are excited to continue advancing commercial insurance - transforming the industry with advanced, efficient technology."

Groundspeed is transforming how carriers, brokers, and others can leverage data to boost underwriting results, reduce costs, and provide superior service. Today, evaluating submission documents is one of the most critical aspects of the underwriting process, and current methods do not take advantage of the value locked in these documents. Groundspeed helps carriers unlock deeper insights from the information previously trapped in unstructured submissions. Its artificial intelligence Rapid Data Pipeline converts commercial insurance documents such as emails, applications, loss runs, and exposure schedules into enriched structured data used for underwriting, pre-fill, and analytics.

Unqork's no-code visual platform allows enterprises to build mission-critical applications that handle the complexity, scale and security required by modern enterprises - all without having to write a line of code. Leveraging Unqork's pure no-code platform, insurers can bring solutions to market at least three times faster and for a third of the cost when compared to coding methods. Unqork's no-code approach also results in 600x fewer bugs than code-based solutions, enabling higher quality applications that require significantly less future maintenance.

For the second consecutive year, Groundspeed was named to FinTech Global's InsurTech 100, a select group of industry leaders in digital transformation. The InsurTech 100 recognizes "innovative use of technology to solve a significant industry problem, or to generate cost savings or efficiency improvements across the insurance value chain."

About Groundspeed Analytics

Groundspeed Analytics is a leading provider of SaaS-delivered submission and placement technology to the commercial P&C industry. By accessing Groundspeed's API, the company's enterprise data pipeline solution, insurance carriers and brokers can automate the ingestion and enrichment of information held in unstructured submission documents. Groundspeed's comprehensive solutions are available via API. For more information, visit www.groundspeed.com.

About Unqork

Unqork is the industry pioneer no-code enterprise application platform that helps large companies build, deploy, and manage complex applications without writing a single line of code. Organizations like Goldman Sachs, Liberty Mutual, the Cities of New York, Chicago and Washington, DC and Maimonides Medical Center are using Unqork's drag-and-drop interface to build enterprise applications faster, with higher quality, and lower costs than conventional approaches. To learn more, please visit: https://www.unqork.com.

Public Relations Contact:

Jeremy Warren

Account Supervisor

anthonyBarnum Public Relations

Office: 512-387-3703

jeremy.warren@anthonybarnum.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1550410/Groundspeed_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1550354/Unqork_Logo.jpg
Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the Induced Polarization ("IP") Survey previously announced (April 6, 2021) for the Evelyn Gold Project has been completed. The IP survey consisted of approximately 38-line kilometres ("km") of 3D-IP covering the eastern half of the Evelyn Gold Project. Based on results reported to the Company by survey operator Geofisica TMC, S.A. de C.V. ("TMC"), Colibri has elected to extend the survey to the western boundary of the property. Results include chargeability anomalies spatially associated with the El Sahuaro and Cerro Rojo target areas, a deeper and stronger chargeability anomaly spatially associated with the Main Zone, and a well defined southeast striking and southwest dipping resistivity gradient.

"The results of the IP survey are extremely encouraging. I am particularly encouraged by the occurrence of chargeability anomalies coincident with our primary target areas, El Sahuaro and Cerro Rojo, and by the northwest-southeast trends evident in both the chargeability and resistivity results which is a known regional scale control on mineralization in the Caborca Gold Belt. Extending the survey to the west and thus covering most of the Property was an easy decision for the Company," commented Ian McGavney, COO for Colibri.

IP Survey Parameters and Location

The 3D IP survey consisted of 38 line km covering an area of approximately 2.5 sq km. The survey method was offset pole-dipole with receiver dipole spacing of 50 metres ("m"). Current injection points were extended past the ends of receiver lines to yield desired depth of investigation. Two smaller areas within the survey area were also surveyed with 25 m dipole spacing. The survey was completed over the eastern half of the property covering the Cerro Rojo and El Sahuaro target areas and spanning the intervening area which is characterized by a thick accumulation of alluvium. The El Sahuaro target area is located in the northeast part of the Evelyn property and includes a north-northeast mineralized trend occurring over a length of approximately 575 meters. Results of assays from trench samples in the El Sahuaro target area include values of 41.0 g/t Au, 17.35 g/t Au, 11.35 g/t Au and 9.47 g/t Au. The Cerro Rojo target area is characterized by the occurrence of anomalous and higher-grade samples taken over a relatively large area in the southeast quadrant of the property. The Cerro Rojo target area contains the Main Zone which is comprised of a quartz vein up to 1.5 m thick occupying a north-northeast striking and steeply east dipping fault zone. Previous sampling of the Main Zone vein has produced high grade samples including high values of 40.1 g/t Au 43.7 g/t Au. The Main Zone vein is exposed over a strike length of 120m.

IP Survey Results

Preliminary results of the IP survey are presented in the 3 maps attached. The map of chargeability at 100 m vertical depth (Figure 1) indicates two broad areas of higher chargeability underlying the northeast and central-east regions of the property. The northeastern chargeability anomaly is coincident with surface sampling defining El Sahuaro target area and the central-east chargeability anomaly is coincident with surface sampling defining the Cerro Rojo target area and, in particular, the highest chargeability response is spatially associated with the Main Zone within the Cerro Rojo target area.





Figure 1 - Evelyn Apparent Chargeability Map at 100m vertical depth



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/88537_2efec248141f083e_001full.jpg

The resistivity at 100 m vertical depth (Figure 2) illustrates a sharp north-northwest trending gradient between a more resistive domain to the northeast and a less resistive domain to the southwest. The north-northwest trending resistivity gradient is well defined as well on plans at 200 m and 300 m vertical depths indicating a westerly dip. Within the southwestern domain, a zone of higher resistivity is partially coincident with the highest chargeability and located immediately west of the Main Zone.





Figure 2 - Evelyn Resistivity Map at 100m vertical depth



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The chargeability plan at 200 m vertical depth indicates a strong anomaly directly underlying the chargeability high at 100 m vertical depth (Figure 3). One objective of the extended IP survey program is to validate and further evaluate the deeper and stronger IP anomaly detected.





Figure 3 - Evelyn Apparent Chargeability Map at 200m vertical depth



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About the Evelyn Property and Next Steps

The Evelyn Gold Project is an Orogenic-type gold target located in the Caborca Gold Belt of northwestern Sonora. The property is located approximately 25 km east of La Herradura, Mexico's largest gold mine, which produced 482,722 ounces of gold in 2019 at an average grade of 0.8 g/t Au and is approximately 9 km northeast of the Noche Buena mine which produced 127,166 ounces Au at an average grade of 0.55 g/t Au in 2019. The setting and style of mineralization at Evelyn is similar to that reported from La Herradura and Noche Buena. Higher grade mineralization on the Evelyn property consists of quartz veins and veinlets, ranging from 2 - 3 centimeters up to 1.5 m hosted by fault and fracture zones with minor oxidized pyrite, iron oxide, copper bearing oxide and carbonate minerals, and locally minor to trace amounts of galena, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite. Alteration of the host rocks incudes iron bearing carbonate minerals, quartz, sericite, and chlorite. Lower grade mineralization is associated with altered volcanic rocks containing minor amounts of oxidized sulfide. Mineralization is hosted dominantly by Jurassic volcanic rocks consisting of andesite and rhyolite.

Based on the results of the IP survey completed over the eastern half of the property, the Company has decided to extend the IP survey to the western boundary thus completing 3D IP coverage over most of the property and including the West Zone of mineralization where a number of surface and trench samples form a well-defined north-northeast trend paralleling the local magnetic trend. In addition, TMC will complete a north-south dipole-dipole survey line at 100 m dipole spacing to further evaluate the deeper and stronger chargeability anomaly indicated in the survey completed to date. This work is presently underway.

The Company is concurrently completing a structural geology mapping program under the direction of Dr. Raul Luga of Servicios Geologicos IMEx, S.C., based in Hermosillo. Colibri is working towards an integrated geological and geophysical interpretation of the Evelyn property which will form the basis of a near term drill plan.

Qualified Person

Jamie Lavigne, P. Geo and a Director for Colibri is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company has six exploration projects of which five currently have exploration programs being executed or planned for 2021. The flagship Evelyn Gold Project is 100% owned and explored by Colibri. The Company has four additional projects, Pilar Gold & Silver Project (optioned to Tocvan Ventures- (CSE:TOC)), El Mezquite Gold & Silver Project , Jackie Gold & Silver Project, and the Diamante Gold & Silver Project (earn-in agreements with Silver Spruce Resources - (TSXV: SSE)) are also currently being actively advanced.

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For further information: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, rongoguen@colibriresource.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88537
Pre-Tax NPV5% of USD825 million, Pre-Tax IRR of 34% and AISC of USD893/oz

Steady State Average Annual Gold Production of approximately 188Koz

Base Case Development Contemplates 14-Year Mine Life

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Pasofino Gold Limited (TSXV: VEIN) (OTCQB: EFRGF) (FSE: N07) ("Pasofino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a PEA on the Dugbe Gold Project, which includes both the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits. The Company is earning a 49% economic interest in the project (prior to the issuance of the Government of Liberia's 10% carried interest).

HIGHLIGHTS

Significant Production Potential - Establishing a Foundation for a New Gold District 5Mtpa operation, producing approximately 2.5 Moz of gold over a 14-year Life-of-Mine (LoM). Steady state average annual gold production of approximately 188 Koz, with peak production of approximately 226 Koz in year 8 of operation.

Strong Financial Metrics Pre-tax NPV 5% of USD825M (USD627M post-tax), 34% IRR (31% post-tax) at a conservative base gold price of USD1,600/oz. Pre-tax NPV 5% of USD1,153M (USD874M post-tax), at USD1,800/oz. Fast capital payback of approximately 2.9 years from start of production. LoM Cash flow of USD627M. [1] LoM AISC 1 of USD893/oz and USD821/oz cash cost. 1

Simple Project with Economies of Scale LoM strip ratio of 4.5:1 highlighted by a low 2.8:1 ratio in the first 4 years. Low power costs of USD0.18/kWh, with opportunities for long term savings with alternative renewable energy sources. Significant community support built over more than a 10-year history of the Project.



Development Capital Pre-production capital requirement of approximately USD391M . Exploration and Study Upside Much of the 2,599km 2 land package is prospective. The Company has new drill targets in the pipeline following intensive surface exploration work undertaken over the last 6 months. Ongoing positive drilling results at Dugbe F and Tuzon will be included in updated Mineral Resource Estimates planned for July and August 2021. Current test work underway in at ALS Perth, Australia looking to improve metallurgical recoveries



KEY ASPECTS WHICH ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE:

74km by road from the port of Greenville to the Dugbe Project.

Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits are 4km apart, serviced by a central processing plant.

USD0.18/kWh estimated mine life power costs.

Ian Stalker, CEO, commented; "We are extremely pleased with the set of outcomes from this PEA exercise. It underscores the potential of the Project to deliver significant value to all stakeholders going forward. Our consulting engineers and management team have set the basis for a quality feasibility study which is in progress, and which will incorporate the positive recent infill and step out exploration results recently announced. We look forward to completion of the Feasibility Study which should provide a solid foundation for the start of the build phase expected to occur in 2023

There are many key attributes of this Project demonstrated by the results of the PEA. However, from a practical construction and mining perspective, the following are worth highlighting:

The proximity of the Project to the deep-water port of Greenville (74km away);

The high productivity opportunity that both deposits on the Project offer provides added value to the development of Project.

The constructive relationship enjoyed with the Government of Liberia"

The PEA was prepared in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The reader is advised that the PEA summarized in this news release is intended to provide only a high-level review of the project potential and design options. The PEA mine plan and economic model include numerous assumptions and the use of inferred mineral resources. The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

TRADE-OFFS

DRA Global (South Africa) was appointed as lead consultant to prepare the PEA in accordance with NI 43-101, and was assisted by SRK Consulting Ltd (UK) and Epoch Resources (Pty) Ltd.

A number of trade-offs were completed by DRA Global and Pasofino during the PEA work, including the evaluation of processing capacities from 4Mtpa to 7Mpta and a trade-off on a full range of power options. The 5Mtpa option was identified as the most suitable capacity for the current project, based on the life of the project, estimated capital and shareholder return.

Figure 1: The Dugbe Project location of the Dugbe F and Tuzon and deposits



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For an owner mining scenario, the base case requires USD391M in initial capital. Operating costs are expected to be approximately USD826/oz during the initial years, and an average of USD893 /oz over the life of mine. During the first 4 years, operating costs are kept low by mining the shallow mineralized material in both pits (Dugbe F and Tuzon) at a targeted strip ratio of less than 2.8, increasing thereafter to an average of 6.8 over the balance of life of mine.

In terms of contained ounces, the PEA relies on 65% Indicated Resources and 35% Inferred Resources, from the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits which are 4km apart. Updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposit are anticipated to be released in July and August 2021. With the PEA now complete, the foundation is now set for the completion of the feasibility study in order to then fully demonstrate the financial viability of the Project, which is ongoing.

Other key considerations for the PEA included:

Mining and processing scenarios that were considered ranging from 4 Mtpa to 7 Mtpa.

Recent West African benchmarks were used to determine the capital and operating costs.

Work to date has included the potential for power generation from hydro power and thermal co-generation with photovoltaics (PVs). This may effectively reduce the project operating cost and carbon footprint.

Various TSF options have been initially evaluated in accordance with the stringent new Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management classification.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

The Project is located in south-eastern Liberia, approximately 60km east of Greenville and 240km south-east of the capital Monrovia. The combined Project covers an area of 2,559km2 and is defined within a single Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), issued to Hummingbird in January 2019, valid for 25 years. The centre of the Project has an approximate latitude of 5.093 and longitude of -8.502. The Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits are approximately 4km apart.

The Sackor Prospect is located 2.5km SW of Dugbe F. The Project area comprises a number of license areas that were amalgamated, the most recent of these being the Central License area.

Figure 2. Project Location in Liberia

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The Project area is an undeveloped area of Liberia, with one main access road, recently upgraded by the mine, and several villages. Most people in the area engage in artisanal mining, hunting or small-scale farming. No utilities such as power and water are available. The area is primarily degraded rainforest over low rolling hills, interspersed with numerous rivers. A sizable river, the Geebo, divides the two deposits. The climate is typically tropical, with high humidity, daytime temperatures and rainfall. The nearest town of consequence is Greenville, the Sinoe County capital, which has a basic port and a palm oil processing centre, but no grid-scale utilities.

MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE

SRK originally produced an MRE for Tuzon in March 2014. Without any material further exploration work, SRK updated the Tuzon MRE with an effective date initially reported as 30 July 2020, later revised to 19 August 2020 to align both deposit estimates, using SRK's 2014 model but applying updated economic parameters.

CSA produced an updated MRE for the Dugbe F deposit with an effective date of 15 July 2020. SRK reviewed the CSA MRE for Dugbe F for the purposes of the Company's Technical Report and the PEA; the effective date of the Technical Report was revised to 19 August 2020 to align both estimates.

Table 1 provides the MRE for the Dugbe Gold Project which has been prepared in accordance with the terminology, definitions and guidelines given in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014) and has been reported in accordance with National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Qualified Person for both estimates is Martin Pittuck (CEng, FGS, MIMMM). Martin Pittuck is an independent Qualified Person as defined by the Canadian National Instrument NI 43-101. No mining other than very minor artisanal workings has taken place at the deposits and therefore no depletion of the estimates was required. For both deposits, the Mineral Resource is restricted to a conceptual pit shell, as is required to establish reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE). Both estimates are reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off. Other parameters used for the conceptual pit-shell are provided in section.

Table 1. Mineral Resource for the Dugbe Gold Project





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Notes:

The effective date of the Mineral Resource is 19 August 2020. The Mineral Resource assumes open pit mining at a cut-off grade of 0.5g/t Au and within a USD1700/oz gold conceptual pit shell. A geological loss of 5% has been applied to the mineralised volumes at Dugbe F due to barren late-stage intrusive pegmatites. Figures have been rounded to the appropriate level of precision for the reporting of Mineral Resources. The Mineral Resources are stated as in situ dry tonnes. All figures are in metric tonnes. The Mineral Resource has been classified under the guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council (2014), and procedures for classifying the reported Mineral Resources were undertaken within the context of the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

MINING METHODS

Both the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits are shallow and so amenable to open pit mining operations. The planned open pits will be mined utilising conventional truck and shovel method to supply mill feed to the run of mine (RoM) tip (near Tuzon) and waste to the respective pit's waste stockpile facilities.

The primary aim of the PEA work was to test and evaluate various mining and processing options in order to scope the more detailed study work to follow. Most of the testing and evaluation was carried out through mine optimisation models that included technical and financial data from all aspects of the planned operation. As Pasofino is completing drilling work with the intention of converting Inferred Resources into Indicated Resources, the PEA work included Inferred material, in order to obtain a more accurate processing capacity for the probable mine life.

Three rounds of optimisation were completed as the results and inputs were refined. The technical results will be used to guide the further Feasibility Study work. The results of one of the selected scenarios were also used to support the financial model in this report to determine the financial potential of that scenario.

Geological and production schedule data was used to determine a suitable mining approach and fleet, which in turn informed the optimisation work. A fleet option was selected and further detailed for the selected scenario.

MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING

A number of historical test work programs have been undertaken on samples originating from the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits over the period 2009 to 2014. DRA reviewed the historical test work, with a primary focus on the Mintek work, to derive a conceptual level flowsheet, recovery and operating cost estimate for the updated PEA.

The Dugbe Gold Mine Project 5.0 Mtpa gold processing plant design has been based on a typical semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) and ball milling circuit followed by a carbon-in-leach (CIL) gold recovery circuit. This process flowsheet is well known in industry and has historically been proven as a successful processing route for oxide and fresh gold ores. Figure 3 below summarises the conceptual flowsheet for the PEA.

Figure 3. Conceptual flowsheet



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Based on previously reported similarities between the Dugbe F and Tuzon ore deposits in terms of mineralisation style, host lithology type and geometry, DRA interprets the metallurgical response for Dugbe F would be similar to Tuzon. The gold recoveries for Dugbe F and Tuzon oxide and fresh ore will be validated in the 2021 test work program undertaken at ALS laboratories.

From the historical test work, gold recoveries are expected to range from 87.1% to 89.5%, averaging 88.4% over LoM. The recovery assessment is based on a feed blend containing 71% Tuzon fresh material and 26% Dugbe F fresh material with the remaining 3% comprised of oxides.

PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE

Access

The primary access is a 74km road from the port of Greenville to the mine site utilising the existing public road infrastructure. The main requirement is to upgrade the existing access roads and tracks to accommodate the anticipated traffic volumes during mining operations, as well as providing public access to the local villages. The road is split into two defined sections: the 30km road from Greenville Port to Plazon Junction and the 44km track from Plazon Junction to the mine site. Access along the 30km from Greenville to Plazon Junction consists of gravel roads that are mostly in fair condition. The balance of the primary access road, between Plazon Junction and the mine site, consists of existing gravel roads and tracks. This section will require extensive upgrades to meet the required standards.

Water

It is anticipated that the Project will be water positive, and as such care will be taken to ensure that all water discharged to the environment meets the necessary quality requirements as per local legislation and international best practice.

The main water systems will be the tailings storage facility (TSF) and the process plant. Tailings slurry will be delivered to the TSF and the solids will settle out. The TSF will collect rain and runoff water. Water will be returned to the process plant for reuse, and excess water will be discharged in a controlled manner to the environment.

Other water-related considerations are runoff from the waste storage facility (WSF) and process plant areas. Waste ore will be tested for any geochemical contamination before a decision is made regarding appropriate designs for the WSF. All runoff from the process plant will be directed to pollution control dams.

Power

An electric load list was developed, based on a preliminary mechanical equipment list (carbon-in-leach recovery flow sheet). The load demand of the process plant and associated infrastructure is anticipated to be 25MW (28MVA), whilst annual energy consumption is expected to be approximately 205GWh.

As there is no electrical utility infrastructure in the vicinity of the mine site, energy demands must be met through local generation. Power provision will be the largest single operating cost for the operation. Consequently, various power supply options were evaluated to find the most cost-effective solution. Power generation can also be a material source of greenhouse gases and environmental impact, so low carbon emission options were also considered.

A high-level trade-off study was completed to determine the most cost-effective power generation technologies available to the Project; where the levelized cost of energy was compared between thermal generation (diesel and HFO), hydroelectric power generation and solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation. The base case power generation costs considered in this report are based on HFO fueled thermal generation plant, as this technology is readily available to the Project. "Hybrid" power generation solutions, involving a portion of PV generation and battery storage, should result in a reduction in energy cost and will be assessed during the execution of the FS. Other 'green' generation technologies show a reduction in the levelized cost of energy but require an investment by third parties, which is being actively pursued by Pasofino.

Based on HFO fueled power generation, operating costs are expected at $0.18 per kWh, with USD52.1M capital investment required (the capital portion is assumed to be spread over a 12-year period, based on the application of a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) type contract agreement). The operating cost is primarily comprised of fuel cost, which is subject to fluctuation with the crude oil price (dated January 2021).

Several fuel suppliers have been approached, and several proposals have been received regarding the delivery of 2,935 kl HFO fuel to site per month. The volume of fuel required supports the landing of new fuel storage and handling infrastructure at Greenville Port, with delivery to site taking place via road tanker. The costs for the required supply chain infrastructure have been included in the budgetary cost per litre provided.

CAPITAL COST ESTIMATE

The project capital has been derived from four previous projects of a similar nature executed in West Africa and is summarised in the table below. Capital is within the accuracy of a Class 4 Association of the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) estimate of (+50%/-30%).

Table 2. Project capital cost overview - base case

Cost Category Units Total Yr -1 Yr 0 Yr 1 % of Total Mining USD M 15 - - 15 4 Plant & Infrastructure (incl. Owner's Costs) USD M 298 15 104 179 76 TSF USD M 40 2 14 24 10 Other[2] USD M 37 - 15 22 10 Total USD M 391 17 133 241 100

(Columns may not add up due to rounding)

OPERATING COST ESTIMATE

The operating costs over life of Project include mine operations, process plant, TSF and general and administrative (G&A) costs. Total LoM average operational costs are estimated to be approximately USD134 million per annum equivalent to a unit rate of USD28/t RoM. An overview of operational costs is presented in Table 3 below.

Table 3. Operating expenditure

Description LoM Ave, USD M pa Unit Cost, USD/t RoM % of Total Mine 49 10 37 Process Plant 71 15 53 TSF <1 <1 1 G&A 12 3 9 Total Operating Cost 134 28 100

(columns may not add up due to rounding)

ECONOMIC OUTCOMES

The potential viability of the Project has been determined through developing an economic model founded on the results derived from the PEA. The financial model has been prepared on a 100% equity project basis and does not consider alternative financing scenarios. A discount rate of 5% has been applied in the analysis. A static metal price of USD1,600/oz has been applied. All-in sustaining costs have been reported as per the World Gold Council (WGC) guideline dated November 2018 and are exclusive of project capital, depreciation and amortisation costs. Capital payback is referenced to the timeline from initial production up to the point of realising a net zero cumulative cashflow. The key economic outcomes are presented in Table 4 on a pre-tax and post-tax basis.

The impact of initial capital costs has a limited elasticity in impacting overall project value due to the capital phasing profile and relatively low expenditure in comparison to revenue and operating costs over the prescribed LoM.

Table 4. Economic outcomes summary

Description Units Value Production Statistics Production LoM years 14 Total Ore Tonnes Mt 66.1 Total Au Ounces Recovered Moz 2.5 Steady State Average (Yrs 2 to 13) Throughput Mtpa 5 Au Grade g/t 1.34 Au Recovery % 88.40 Au Ounces Recovered Oz/a 180,259 Initial Capital Estimate USD M 391 Sustaining Capital Estimate USD M 170 Operating Cost Estimate Steady State Average (Yrs 2 to 13) USD M/a 134 Steady State Average Unit Cost (Yrs 2 to 13) USD/t 28 Financial Outcomes (PRE-TAX) NPV USD M 825 IRR % 34 Payback Period (Undiscounted) years 2.8 AISC USD/oz 893 USD/t 34 Financial Outcomes (POST-TAX) NPV USD M 627 IRR % 31 Payback Period (Undiscounted) years 2.9

NPV SENSITIVITY TO GOLD PRICE

The impact of flexing gold price and discount rate on NPV (pre-and post-tax) has been assessed and presented in Table 5 below.

Table 5. Metal price and discount rate data tables

Metal Price, USD/ozt Discount Rate 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 1,570 1,600 1,700 1,800 5 168 333 497 661 776 825 989 1,153 10 33 151 270 388 470 506 624 742 15 -46 43 132 220 283 309 398 487 20 -94 -25 45 114 162 183 252 321 25 -123 -68 -12 43 82 98 154 209 30 -142 -96 -51 -5 26 40 86 131 NPV (Pre-Tax), USDm Metal Price, USD/ozt Discount Rate 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 1,570 1,600 1,700 1,800 5 126 254 379 504 590 627 751 874 10 10 105 198 289 352 378 468 556 15 -59 15 86 156 203 224 291 358 20 -101 -42 15 70 107 123 176 228 25 -128 -79 -32 12 43 56 98 140 30 -145 -104 -65 -27 -2 8 44 78 NPV (Post-Tax), USDm

OPPORTUNITIES:

A number of potential opportunities exist to improve the economics of the Dugbe project:

reduce capital through contract mining,

increase mine life or throughput when recent drilling at Dugbe, Tuzon and Sackor is included in the MRE,

increase in recoveries based on further metallurgical testing,

additional deposits may be discovered along strike from Tuzon following positive trench results (reported in 18 May 2021), and

reduction in power costs with the potential for hydroelectric and solar power.

CURRENT WORK

Current work that is in progress includes:

further geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling,

metallurgical test work from existing and new drill core, and

environmental and social field work.

QUALIFIED PERSONS STATEMENT

Scientific or technical information in this disclosure (other than information that relates to mining, processing and related infrastructure results) was reviewed by Mr Martin Pittuck a full-time employee of SRK UK. Mr Pittuck is a member in good standing with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and is a Chartered Engineer; he has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralization under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to mining, processing and related infrastructure results was reviewed by Mr Robin Welsh, a full-time employee of DRA Global. Mr Welsh is a Professional Engineer in good standing with the Engineering Council of South Africa and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the project under consideration which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

This preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, includes inferred resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.

ABOUT THE DUGBE GOLD PROJECT

The 2,559 km2 Dugbe Project is located in southern Liberia and situated within the south westmost part of the Birimian Supergroup, which is host to the majority of West African gold deposits. To date, several gold deposits have been identified on the Project; currently, Mineral Resources have been declared for Dugbe F and Tuzon. The deposits are located within 4km of the Dugbe Shear Zone which is thought to have played a role in large scale gold mineralization in the area. A large amount of exploration in the area was conducted by Hummingbird including 74,497m of diamond coring. 70,700m of this was at the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits, discovered by Hummingbird in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Both deposits outcrop at surface and may be amenable to open-cut mining. Since executing the joint venture agreement in 2020, Pasofino has drilled an additional 14,584m at Dugbe F and Tuzon.

In addition, there are a number of prospects within the Project, including 'Sackor' where gold mineralization has been intersected in drill-holes and where additional drilling is planned. No other prospects have been drill-tested to date. At some prospects extensive trenching identified anomalous levels of gold that require drill-testing. An aggressive exploration program to test the prospects by the Company is ongoing. In 2019, Hummingbird signed a 25-year Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia providing the necessary long-term framework and stabilization of taxes and duties. Under the terms of the MDA, the royalty rate on gold production is 3%, the income tax rate payable is 25% (with credit given for historic exploration expenditures), the fuel duty is reduced by 50%, and the Government of Liberia is granted a free carried interest of 10% in the Project.

Table 6: Mineral Resource Estimate for the Dugbe Gold Project using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade

Category Tonnes (million) Au Grade (g/t) Contained Gold

(000 ounces) Tuzon Deposit Indicated 41.9 1.51 2,032 Inferred 10.4 1.31 439 Dugbe F Deposit Indicated 5.8 1.46 273 Inferred 16.3 1.57 823 Totals TOTAL INDICATED 47.7 1.51 2,304 TOTAL INFERRED 26.7 1.47 1,262

Notes:

Rounding errors may be evident when combining totals in the table but are immaterial.

The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is August 19, 2020 as reported in "Dugbe Gold Project, Liberia NI 43-101 Technical Report, Effective Date 19 August 2020," a report prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited. The Qualified Person is Mr. Martin Pittuck (CEng, MIMMM). The Mineral Resource has been classified under the guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council (2014), and procedures for classifying the reported Mineral Resources were undertaken within the context of the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). The estimates are stated using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have no demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues. Mineral Resource estimates are stated within conceptual pit shells that have been used to define Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE). The pit shells used the following main parameters: (i) Au price of USD1,700/ounce; (ii) plant recovery of 88%; and (iii) mean specific gravity of 2.78 t/m3 for fresh rock and 1.56 t/m3 for oxide material for Tuzon, and for Dugbe F a mean specific gravity of 2.73t/m3.

ABOUT PASOFINO GOLD LTD.

Pasofino Gold Ltd. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (VEIN). Pasofino, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, is earning a 49% economic interest (prior to the issuance of the Government of Liberia's 10% carried interest) in the Dugbe Gold Project.

For further information, please visit www.pasofinogold.com or contact:

Ian Stalker, President & CEO

T: 604 367 8110

E: istalker@pasofinogold.com

NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT

A technical report for the Dugbe Gold Project will be prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.pasofinogold.com within 45 days of this news release. Readers are encouraged to read the technical report in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the details summarized in this news release. The technical report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the ability to raise the funds to finance its ongoing business activities including the acquisition of mineral projects and the exploration and development of its projects. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the results of exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

This news release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), including cash costs and AISC per payable ounce of gold sold. Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. We believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate our performance. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

[1] Cash costs per payable ounce and AISC per payable ounce are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see "Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Measures". AISC per payable ounce includes all mining costs, processing costs, mine level G&A, royalties, sustaining capital and closure costs. Cash costs per payable ounce includes all mining costs, processing costs, mine level G&A, and royalties.

[2] Includes bulk infrastructure and re-settlement costs.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - GMV Minerals Inc. (TSXV: GMV) (OTCQB: GMVMF) (the "Company" or "GMV") announces drill mobilization at its 100% owned Mexican Hat Gold project located 72 miles SE of Tucson, Az. The Company is 100% funded for this expansion drill program.

NASCO Industrial Services and Supply has been engaged to drill up to 3000 metres of diamond drill core on the Company's Mexican Hat gold project. The Company expects the drilling program to commence within the next seven days.

Dr. D.R. Webb, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.Eng. is the Q.P. for this release within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical content of this release and has approved its content.

About GMV Minerals Inc.

GMV Minerals Inc. is a publicly traded exploration company focused on developing precious metal assets in Arizona. GMV, through its 100% owned subsidiary, has a 100% interest in a Mining Property Lease commonly referred to as the Mexican Hat Property, located in Cochise County, Arizona, USA. The project was initially explored by Placer Dome (USA) in the late 1980's to early 1990's. GMV is focused on developing the asset and realizing the full mineral potential of the property through near term gold production. GMV Recently updated its National Instrument inferred mineral resource to 36,733,000 tonnes grading 0.58 g/t gold at a 0.2 g/t cut-off, containing 688,000 ounces of gold.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

________________________________________

Ian Klassen, President

For further information please contact:

GMV Minerals Inc.

Ian Klassen

Tel: (604) 899-0106

Email: Klassen@gmvminerals.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQX: RYES) (the "Company") is pleased to report strong public support from the Nevada County community for the re-opening of the historic Idaho-Maryland gold mine (the "IMM Project"), located on the Company's private land in Nevada County, California.

A recent survey of Nevada County conducted by J. Wallin Opinion Research demonstrates strong local support for the IMM Project and provides insight into community issues and priorities. A majority (59%) of respondents supporting the re-opening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine with only 34% of respondents opposed. Majority support for the project is consistent across all of the County's five districts which are each represented by an elected supervisor. According to the survey results, respondents indicated jobs and economy, wildfires, homelessness, and affordable housing were among the top issues facing the community.

Most respondents (66%) had previously heard of the IMM Project proposal. A majority of those surveyed believe that the Nevada County Board of Supervisors should approve the IMM Project (58.4%-Yes: 33.8%-No) with "YES" significantly outweighing "No" responses in all demographic groups, including district, political affiliation, gender and age.

"These survey results indicate consistently high levels of support for the Idaho-Maryland Mine Project," stated Justin Wallin, chief executive officer of J. Wallin Opinion Research. "The fact that a strong level of majority support was maintained after hearing arguments both for and against the proposed re-opening of the mine shows public support is robust and resilient."

The survey was conducted from June 10 through June 17, 2021 with a sample size of 500 Nevada County voters. The sample was stratified, meaning that the demographic composition of the results matches the demographic composition of the region surveyed. The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.4%.

Nevada County is currently processing the Company's Use Permit application to authorize the reopening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine and a majority of the five elected supervisors must ultimately vote to approve the project. The project's strong constituent support in every supervisorial district is very encouraging. The Company is awaiting the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (the "DEIR") by Nevada County and remains confident that this independent scientific study will be favorable due to the modern environmentally sensitive design of the IMM Project.

The release of the DEIR will be a major milestone in the Use Permit process and the Company anticipates that it will be released this summer. The document will provide analysis and conclusions on the environmental impacts of the project based on numerous technical studies and expert review.

A general outline of remaining milestones in the Use Permit process is outlined as follows;

Draft Environmental Impact Report is published for public comment; After review of the public comments on the DEIR, Nevada County publishes a Final Environmental Impact Report (the "FEIR") which will include responses to public comments; The Nevada County Planning Commission holds a public hearing to consider the FEIR and makes a recommendation on the IMM Project approval to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors; The Board of Supervisors holds a public hearing to consider and make a final decision on the IMM Project. A majority vote of the five supervisors is required to approve the project.

The timeline to complete the Use Permit process is largely dependant on the Nevada County government. The most recent EIR process completed in 2019 by Nevada County was the Boca Quarry Expansion. In this case, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved the project approximately five months from the release of the DEIR. Based on this recent precedent, the Use Permit process for the IMM Project could be completed by the end of 2021.

Project Background

The IMM Project is a past producing gold mine which produced 2,414,000 oz of gold at an average mill head grade of 17 gpt gold from 1866-1955. The IM Mine was the second largest lode gold producer in the United States before being forced to close under War Production Board Order L-208 during World War II. The mine produced a substantial amount of gold in the years before the forced closure. In the two years before closure, 1940 and 1941, mine production averaged 920 tons per day with a mill head grade of 0.38 oz per ton (12.9 gpt) and 121,000 oz of gold production per year.

The Company recently completed 67,500 feet (20,600 meters) of exploration core drilling at the IM Mine. Numerous high-grade gold intercepts have been encountered, both near the existing mine workings, and to depths significantly below historic mining areas. The Company believes its drilling program has been successful but cautions investors that no current mineral resources or mineral reserves have been defined.

The Company's submission of an application for a Use Permit from Nevada County requires information regarding planned throughput and material quantities. The Company cautions investors that no technical report has been filed to demonstrate that this rate of production can be achieved. The Company has not completed a feasibility study to establish mineral reserves and therefore has not demonstrated economic viability of the IM Mine. The Company has not made a production decision for the IM Mine.

Project Design

The Use Permit application proposes underground mining to recommence at an average throughput of 1,000 tons per day. The existing Brunswick Shaft, which extends to ~3400 feet depth below surface, would be used as the primary rock conveyance from the underground mine. A second service shaft would be constructed by raising from underground to provide for the conveyance of personnel, materials, and equipment. Gold processing would be done by gravity and flotation to produce gravity and flotation gold concentrates. The Company would produce barren rock from underground tunneling and sand tailings as part of the project which would be used for creation of approximately 58 acres of level and useable industrial zoned land for future economic development in Nevada County. A water treatment plant and pond, using conventional processes, would ensure that groundwater pumped from the mine is treated to regulatory standards before being discharged to the local waterways.

About J. Wallin Research

Justin Wallin is a recognized expert in accurately measuring public opinion and forecasting outcomes with nearly twenty years of experience helping to develop communications strategy through opinion research. Wallin delivers strategic direction to Fortune 500 firms, governments, political candidates and campaigns, non-profit organizations, the media and other entities. Wallin is a regular guest on CNN, Fox News and BBC, has lectured at the University of Southern California, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, California State Universities and Hillsdale College and has taught both graduate and undergraduate courses. He is a featured speaker throughout the nation on matters of strategy, marketing and messaging.

Wallin is a Fellow of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC and received his MBA with an emphasis in marketing and strategy from the University of Southern California.

About Rise Gold Corp.

The Corporation is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Corporation's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine produced 2,414,000 oz of gold at an average mill head grade of 17 gpt gold from 1866-1955. Historic production at the Idaho-Maryland Mine is disclosed in the Technical Report on the Idaho-Maryland Project dated June 1st, 2017 and available on www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Benjamin Mossman

President, CEO and Director

Rise Gold Corp.

For further information, please contact:

RISE GOLD CORP.

333 Crown Point Circle, Suite 215

Grass Valley, CA, USA 95945

T: 530.433.0188

info@risegoldcorp.com

www.risegoldcorp.com

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, the impact of the COVID-19 virus and amendments to reporting and other applicable requirements as a result thereof, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88499
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) (OTCQB: MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Company" or Metals Creek) is pleased to announce the Company have received Exploration permits for planned work at the Ogden Gold Project in Timmins Ontario. The Ogden Gold Project is a 50/50 Joint Venture with Newmont whereas MEK is the operator.

The Company has received exploration permits to conduct diamond drilling, line cutting and ground geophysics with priority focus on the Thomas Ogden Zone and Naybob South. The exploration program is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

Diamond Drilling is expected to commence the latter part of July, dependant on drill rig availability. The Thomas Ogden Zone will be the main focus of the upcoming diamond drill program with emphasis on further defining the orientation of high-grade cross cutting veins as well as mineralization associated with cross-cutting structures as seen down plunge along the Thomas Ogden fold structure. Core orientation will be utilized. Ground geophysics consisting of Deep Section Induced Polarization (IP) will also take place over Naybob South, Thomas Ogden (TOG) and Thomas Ogden West (TOGW) to help further define mineralization down-plunge associated with fold structures of TOG and TOGW as well as further defining the plunge direction of known sulfide mineralization within Naybob South.

Metals Creek is also planning additional SGH sampling for the remaining portion of the property based on the success of the initial SGH program (See Metals Creek News released dated 22 Feb 2021). Phase 2 will continue to fill in gaps between TOG and South Zone, as well additional sampling to both the eastern and western boundaries. With greater than 97% of the project covered by overburden, SGH can greatly expedite the target generation process, potentially resulting in substantial cost savings when evaluating and ultimately delineating these potential targets. Samples will be collected on 100m spaced grid lines with sample spacings of 25m like that of phase 1.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares states, "We are delighted to recommence exploration at the Ogden Gold Project. With funding recently secured from Crescat Capital, we have the required capital to kick start exploration in the Timmins Camp. This should prove to be an exciting summer/fall for Metals Creek shareholders as we will be active at both Dona Lake and Ogden."

About the Ogden Gold Project

Work on the property by Metals Creek since 2009 has consisted of ground geophysical surveys which include magnetics and induced polarization (IP), down-hole IP, as well as 137 diamond drill holes totaling 35,830m.

The Ogden Gold Project covers 8 kilometers of the Porcupine Destor Fault, which is the key conduit for gold mineralization in the Timmins Gold camp. (See figure 1, Timmins Gold Camp). There are five known gold zones on the property, with TOG and Naybob South seeing the majority of the work. (See Figure 2, Known Gold Zones). Drilling in 2012 and 2013 on TOG greatly enhanced the corporations understanding of the geological and structural complexity within TOG and their control on gold mineralization. The gold mineralization is associated with alteration zones within porphyry dikes and Timiskaming sediments. The alteration consists of strong albitization and silicification, with varying amounts of pyrite, arsenopyrite mineralization and commonly with associated visible gold. Significant folding is present with enhanced gold grades along the fold hinges. These fold hinges have a gentle plunge to the east. Select results from these drill programs include:

6.08 grams per ton (g/t) gold (Au) over 21.85 meters (m) including 11.76g/t Au over 9.00m (TOG-12-03)

9.46g/t Au over 18.55m and 6.17g/t Au over 6.62m (TOG-12-07)

2732.64g/t Au over 0.93m which is a part of a broader zone of mineralization of 210.19g/t Au over 12.53m. (TOG-13-25) (See Figure 3, TOG 13-25 Core).

Upon performing a re-interpretation of the ground geophysical data in conjunction with applying known structural trends known for hosting gold mineralization in the Timmins Gold Camp, a new discovery (TOG West), 1 kilometer west of TOG resulted in an intercept of 5.20g/t Au over 2.90m. More importantly, this intercept resulted in the identification of a second fold structure parallel to that of TOG.

The Naybob South zone is described as a zone of intensely albitized mafic/ultramafics with abundant pyrite and arsenopyrite. Drill intercepts for South Zone include;

9.24g/t Au over 6.61m (OG09-012) and

6.21g/t Au over 6.63m (OG11-002) with both being within 100m of surface.

Newmont's Dome mill is located approximately 8 km east of the property.

All above mentioned drill intercepts are within 150m of surface.

Michael MacIsaac, P. Geo and VP Exploration for the Corporation and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for this release, and supervised the preparation of the information forming the basis for this release.

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corporation, including the past producing Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek has signed an agreement with Newmont Corporation, where Metals Creek can earn a 100% interest in the past producing Dona Lake Gold Project in the Pickle Lake Mining District of Ontario.

Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option in Ontario and Newfoundland which can be viewed on the Corporation's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Corporation at the number below.

Additional information concerning the Corporation is contained in documents filed by the Corporation with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO

Metals Creek Resources Corp

telephone: (709)-256-6060

fax: (709)-256-6061

email: astares@metalscreek.com

www.MetalsCreek.com

Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes

Facebook.com/MetalsCreek







Figure 1 (Timmins Gold Camp)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/943/88508_e63eb6162436fa91_002full.jpg





Figure 2 (Known Gold Zones)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/943/88508_e63eb6162436fa91_003full.jpg





Figure 3 (TOG 13-25 Core)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/943/88508_e63eb6162436fa91_004full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88508
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY), (OTC PINK:LKMNF), (FRA:LKY) ('Lucky' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce it has received new assays for Macuche. A 20-meter-long hand dug trench returned an average of 0.33 g/t gold from systematic 1.0 m x 0.50 m panel samples. This work is focused within its 100% owned Fortuna Property ('Fortuna'). Fortuna comprises approximately 55,000 hectares in a known mineralized district in southern Ecuador.

Lucky's CEO, Francois Perron stated: 'Our recent field work at Macuche was a follow up on an area that had gold values of interest which we have previously announced. The goal was to understand the continuity of the stockwork system. These results indicate that the stockwork system is pervasive over 20 metres and the potential for bulk tonnage is very real. The mineralization in the trench remains open both to the east and to the west. More work needs to be done in the area to understand both the scale and controls of the veining. Local prospecting will be undertaken in order to follow up on some historical artisanal pits that have been located nearby.'

Macuche Update

Lucky's exploration team has continued with geological mapping and sampling at Macuche. A total of 20 rock sample assays have been received from ALS Chemex Labs. These samples were taken from a 20-meter-long hand dug trench in altered schists with stockwork quartz-hematite-tourmaline veinlets. The stockwork veining remains open at both ends of the trench.

A total of 20 systematic samples were taken (Panels 1.0 m x 0.50 m each) and returned an average of 0.33 g/t gold. Please see the geology map and sample table below:

For a larger image of the map please click here and for a larger image of the sample table please click here.

Macuche Trench Geology and Sample Location Map

Macuche Trench sample Intervals and Gold grade

As this is an area at an early exploration stage, geological work will continue to better identify the extent of this mineralized area at surface. Prospecting work will include geological mapping to determine rock and alteration types. There are presently more than 18 samples, some coming from historical artisanal pits that are approximately 250 m from the Macuche trench. These assays are pending and are expected in the coming weeks.

At this time, mineralization at Macuche has been observed to be related to quartz-pyrite (hematite) stockwork type veinlets in a strongly altered (sericitic) rock.

QA/QC Protocols

All exploration work is completed following QA/QC protocols and include the insertion of a coarse blank, a standard and duplicate sample on every batch of 25 samples.

About Lucky

Lucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna Property.

The Company's Fortuna Project is comprised of twelve contiguous 550 km2 (55,000 Ha, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concessions. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador.

Covid-19 Safety Protocols

Lucky Minerals has strict rules in place for all workers arriving to and from field sites. All personnel are tested upon arriving and leaving and are tested every two weeks. All personnel are housed in separate and private accommodations and are isolated from the community.

Qualified Person:

Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Lucky's Exploration Manager and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Fortuna Project for Lucky Minerals and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

'Francois Perron'

Chief Executive Officer

Further information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Francois Perron, President and CEO, by email at investors@luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as 'will,' 'may,' 'should,' 'anticipate,' 'expects' and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652874/Lucky-Minerals-Receives-New-Assays-for-Macuche-and-Trench-Samples-Assay-033-GT-Gold-Over-200-Meters
Not for Distribution to the United States Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Gold Mountain Mining Corp. ("Gold Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX-V:GMTN) (OTCQB:GMTF) (Frankfurt:5XFA) is pleased to announce the completion of its previously announced bought deal private placement (the "Offering"). The Company issued a total of 4,255,190 units (the "HD Units") at a price of $2.10 per Unit and 1,326,450 flow-through units (the "FT Units") at a price of $2.31 per Unit, for total gross proceeds of approximately $12,000,000 (the "Offering"). This included the full exercise of the Underwriters' option.

Canaccord Genuity Corp. led a syndicate of underwriters which included Eight Capital and Red Cloud Securities Inc. (collectively the "Underwriters") in connection with the completion of the Offering.

The proceeds raised from the sale of FT Units will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" that are "flow-through mining expenditures" (as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) on the Company's Elk Gold Project in South Central British Columbia, Canada. The proceeds raised from the sale of HD Units will be used to advance the Elk Gold Project, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

"By successfully completing this financing Gold Mountain is in a strong position as we head into the second half of 2021," commented CEO and Director of Gold Mountain, Kevin Smith. "With site development already underway and our Phase 2 drill program hitting full stride, this capital will put us in a position to continue driving the project forward on all fronts."

Each FT Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a 'Warrant'), each of which will qualify as a 'flow-through share' (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and entitle the holder to a renunciation of qualifying expenditures incurred by the Company in respect of the Elk Gold Project. Each HD Unit shall consist of one common share of the Company and one-half of one Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $3.15 for a period of 2 years following the closing date of the Offering. Any common shares of the Company issued upon the exercise of Warrants will be issued on a non flow-through basis.

In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters received an aggregate cash fee equal to 6.0%, other than in connection with certain purchasers on a president's list of Gold Mountain, in which a reduced fee of 3.0% was paid (the "President's List"). In addition, the Company issued to the Underwriters 320,612 non-transferable broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants") representing 6.0% of the aggregate number of FT Units and Units issued pursuant to the Offering (other than in respect of sales of FT Units and Units to purchasers on the President's List, which were subject to a reduced 3.0% commission). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to $2.10 for a period of 2 years following the closing of the Offering.

The securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four-month and one day hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada. The Offering has received the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and remains subject to final approval.

Officers and directors of the Corporation subscribed for a total of 60,500 HD Units, which constitute "related party transactions" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The subscriptions are exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements set out in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, as neither the fair market value of the shares issued to insiders nor the fair market value of the consideration paid exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

About Gold Mountain

Gold Mountain is a BC-based gold and silver exploration and development company focused on resource expansion at the Elk Gold Project, a past-producing mine located 57 km from Merritt in South Central British Columbia.

For further information, please contact:

Gold Mountain Mining Corp.

Kevin Smith, Director and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 604-309-6340

Email: KS@gold-mountain.ca

Website: www.gold-mountain.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain 'forward-looking statements' under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking statements include statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; the price of gold; and the results of current exploration. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Gold Mountain disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For a comprehensive overview of all risks that may impact the Company, please see the Company's annual MD&A for the year ended January 31, 2021 a copy of which is available on Gold Mountain's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Gold Mountain Mining Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652922/Gold-Mountain-Closes-12-Million-Bought-Deal-Private-Placement
GUANGZHOU, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / La Premiere is collaborating with Israeli leading bridal gown designer Inbal Dror to launch the new bridal collection, which is set to launch in June 2021. The haute couture collection is expected to launch once a year. This year will feature 12 bridal gowns. As part of the collaboration, La Premiere will head the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of the collection via its global stores and wholesale accounts.

La Premiere is a romantic, entry-level luxury bridal brand under the Roissy Fashion Group, aiming to bring unique, haute couture wedding dresses for global brides. La Premiere believes the bridal gown presented the brides' personality and valued the couple's first-time grand and joyful ceremony. La Premiere has collaborated with many designers to bring diversified wedding gowns to the brides since the brand found, it has been praised and loved by brides worldwide.

La Premiere x Inbal Dror collection is the interpretation of 'love and beauty' for the brides, 'The stylistic shaping of this collection has deep inheritance significance and spiritual connotation behind it. The fashionable outline and the curve of design present the elegance and sexy of a bride. This is the highlight of this series, and it is also a delicate sense of ritual', says La Premiere head designer Archie.

Inbal Dror gowns are well known for their 'racy silhouettes' and 'revealing necklines.' She designed the wedding dress of Ivanka Trump and has also designed gowns for Beyonce, Naomi Watts, and other celebrities. Vogue has chosen the Inbal Dror wedding gown as one of the '10 Most Unconventional Bridal Looks from the Fall 2015 Collections'. In December 2017, Dror received an official request from the British royal family to submit sketches for a wedding dress for Meghan Markle in advance of Markle's 2018 marriage to Prince Harry.

'La Premiere as the original bridal brand of Roissy Fashion Group, minimalist design combined with fashion elements, emphasize the unique charm of happiness and giving wish to every couple's marriage and love. Which is coincides with my design philosophy', said Inbal Dror.

The mermaid legend inspires this collaborative collection and seeks inspiration from the mermaid skeleton, which has to continue Inbal Dror's signature silhouettes and necklines design. This season takes minimalist mermaid silhouette as cutting, restructuring, and the collision of smooth lines shaped by fishbone. By combining hazy gauze and lace elements, the blue sea legend is depicted on the white wedding dress, and the brides are as noble and sexy as a mermaid, showing brides' charming body curves.

The new partnership with Inbal Dror delivers the new look of La Premiere through Inbal Dror's signature design. She is sexy, confident, and elegant with a more integrated romantic way of conquering the global brides.

CONTACT:

Contact: PersonMichelle Zhu

Email: inquire@lapremierebridal.com

Phone: +86 15013166275

Website: https://www.lapremierebridal.com

SOURCE: La Premiere

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652920/La-Premiere-launches-a-new-collection-with-Inbal-Dror
AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Turner Valley Oil and Gas, Inc. (the "Company") ("Turner") (OTC PINK:TVOG), now doing business as Turner Venture Group, Inc., is pleased to provide an update on financial reporting, the ongoing audit and the upcoming Form 10 filing. The Company has completed and filed with OTC Markets the quarterly financial statements for the period ending on 3/31/21. Below is a link to access the report.

https://backend.otcmarkets.com/otcapi/company/financial-report/283550/content

Briggs & Veselka Co. has begun to work with the Company in order to audit the Company's financial statements for the past two years, and support completion of required SEC filings necessary for uplist to the OTCQB marketplace tier. We anticipate completion of this Audit in second half of 2021.

https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/TVOG/news/Turner-Venture-Group-Announces-Engagement-of-Auditor?id=296649

The completion of these activities is a prerequisite for the Company's equity placement agreement with GHS Investments, LLC which requires a Form 10 registration, and an effective registration statement (typically Form S-1) as part of a $4,000,000 equity financing agreement which is available to view at the following link: https://backend.otcmarkets.com/otcapi/company/financial-report/215959/content

The completion of the audit will be an important catalyst to advance additional acquisitions that are under review at this time. Please visit the Company's website for additional details on updated product labeling, box design and marketing materials for BloomiClean as per compliance discussions with legal counsel. Further information regarding the product roll out to market, changes to our online payment processor and details on our retail marketing strategy will be forthcoming in the near future. Please refer to most recent website announcements for more information: https://tvoginc.com/industry-news/turner-news/

About Briggs & Veselka Co.

Founded in 1973, Briggs & Veselka Co. is Houston's largest independent accounting firm. They are also the third-largest independent CPA firm in Texas. Briggs & Veselka offers audit, consulting, and tax services with experts specializing in a wide range of industries.

About Turner Valley Oil and Gas, Inc.

Turner (OTC PINK:TVOG) is a Venture Holding Company that acquires equity interests in innovative products and companies within the real assets, hemp, health, wellness, sanitation, infrastructure and supply chain technology segments. Turner's cornerstone acquisition of Bloomi Labs, LLC has formulation of a CBD Hand Sanitizer manufactured domestically.

Disclosures

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Key Links:

OTCMarkets Profile: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/TVOG/profile

Disclaimer: https://TVOGinc.com/contactus/disclaimer/

Corporate Website: http://TVOGInc.com | http://BloomiClean.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tvoginc | http://twitter.com/BloomiClean

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TVOGinc/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/TVOGinc/

Contacts:

James B. Smith, CEO, Chairman

Turner Valley Oil And Gas, Inc.

Address: 5900 Balcones Drive, Suite 4503, Austin, TX 78731

Phone: 1-830-291-8189

Email: TurnerVentureGroupInc@gmail.com or info@TVOGinc.com

SOURCE: Turner Venture Group, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652872/Turner-Venture-Group-Announces-Financial-and-Compliance-Update
Plymouth, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (CSE: PRT) (OTC: PLRTF) (FSE: 4XA) (WKN# A2N8RH) ("Plymouth Rock", "PRT", or the "Company"), a leader in developing detection apparatus and unmanned technologies, is pleased to announce that the first PRT X1-H model UAS has been sold and delivered to Aardvark LLP ("Aardvark"), to perform long range oil pipeline security and environmental operations in remote locations.

Alisher Valikhanov, General Director of Aardvark stated, "As one of the leading UAV service providers in Kazakhstan, we are delighted to announce the recent purchase of the new X1-H octocopter from Plymouth Rock Technologies.

"This addition to our ever-expanding fleet of UAVs will be used for environmental monitoring in the North Caspian Sea, as well as detailed observation and security patrols around national assets. The X1-H also enables long range autonomous missions of hundreds of miles for essential environmental ice flow monitoring for our globally recognized client base. We are very excited to be pioneering the unrivalled capabilities of this octocopter and we look forward to a working with the PRT team, as we upgrade our fleet over the next year," concluded Valikhanov.

"This deployment of the PRT X1-H for long range, onshore and offshore capability will provide a stepping stone for PRT to enter into the Oil & Natural Gas Infrastructure market. Long-endurance flight is essential for mission critical surveillance, priority delivery or first response," stated Carl Cagliarini, Chief Strategy Officer at PRT. "In an emergency situation when time is a factor, a long-endurance drone becomes a deeply compelling replacement for manned helicopters. The X1-H UAS has achieved up to a 4 hour flight time based on testing completed at our UK facilities with the payload required by Aardvark," concluded Cagliarini.

"We welcome Aardvark as a significant new client and look forward to further news on the missions that our UAS platforms will be tasked with," stated Dana Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer at PRT. "We believe this relationship will not only enable our partners to deliver top tier service to their clients, but also allow us to learn a great deal more of how our drones perform in remote, challenging environments and demonstrate the true capabilities of PRT UAS. Being chosen as the vendor to replace the aging fleet at Aardvark, is a significant business opportunity and privilege," concluded Wheeler.

About Aardvark LLP

Based in Kazakhstan, Aardvark is the oldest and largest drone service company in the region. We have adopted a team approach and focus on value engineering and innovation to achieve best results for our clients. Our client base is prestigious and ever expanding. We pride ourselves in maintaining strong customer relationships and ensuring client and end-user satisfaction. our business is focused on building and maintaining the infrastructure we all rely on in everyday life. Our core services are inspection, mapping, security, and agriculture.

About Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc.

We are on a mission to bring engineering-driven answers to the most critical problems that threaten our safety. We work with government, law enforcement and military to innovate solutions for national security, defense and space systems.

The Company is developing the next generation of threat detection solutions and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

The PRT X1 is a purpose-built multirotor UAS, utilizing Artificial Intelligence, cutting-edge sensors and the latest FLIR dual-camera module as standard, offering thermal capabilities alongside 1080p HD real-time air-to-ground streaming and 4K video recording, with the ability to mount multiple, various sensors, modules and payloads.

Our advanced threat detection methods fuse artificial intelligence with augmented reality interfaces to eliminate human operating error. Plymouth Rock products, both airborne and land-based, will scan for threat items at greater 'stand-off' distances than current existing technologies. Our unique radar imaging and signal processing technology creates new opportunities for remotely operated, non-intrusive screening of crowds in real time.

Plymouth Rock's core technologies include: (1) UAS platforms engineered to conform to H.R.4753 - Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act ("X1") ("XV"); (2) Millimeter Remote Imaging from Airborne Drone ("MIRIAD"); (3) A compact microwave radar system for scanning shoe's ("Shoe Scanner"); (4) A compact modular radar utilized for a variety of applications, from aircraft to weapon detection ("CODA").

www.plyrotech.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dana Wheeler

President and CEO

+1-774-404-7685

info@plyrotech.com

Investor Information:

Tasso Baras

+1-778-477-6990

tasso@plyrotech.com

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward - looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88509


MADRID (dpa-AFX) - John David McAfee, who founded the antivirus software company McAfee Associates, has been found dead in a prison cell in Spain shortly after a Spanish court agreed to extradite him to the US to face tax evasion charges, multiple reports said.



He was arrested in Spain in October 2020 after being accused of failing to file tax returns for four years. On Wednesday morning, Spain's National Court authorized his extradition to the US to face the charges.



The 75-year-old founder of McAfee Corp. apparently hanged himself.



John McAfee founded McAfee Corp., which released the first commercial anti-virus software, in 1987 and led the company until his resignation in 1994. The company was later acquired by technology giant Intel in 2011.



The tax evasion charges against the tech entrepreneur were announced after the U.S. SEC revealed that it had brought civil charges against McAfee and that he could face 30 years in prison if convicted.



As per the charge, McAfee allegedly evaded tax liability by having his income paid into bank accounts and cryptocurrency exchange accounts in the names of nominees.



McAfee earned millions in income from promoting cryptocurrencies, consulting work, speaking engagements, and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary. However, from 2014 to 2018, he allegedly failed to file tax returns, despite receiving considerable income from these sources.



The SEC also charged McAfee last year for promoting investments in initial coin offerings or ICOs to his Twitter followers without disclosing that he was paid to do so.



McAfee had fled the U.S. in January 2019 as he was facing tax fraud charges. The tycoon, who openly defies US tax system, earlier admitted that he did not pay taxes for eight years.



Meanwhile, McAfee had argued recently that the charges against him were politically motivated, and that he will have to spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the US.



In 2019, McAfee was briefly detained in the Dominican Republic for allegedly bringing weapons into the country.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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LANCASTER, Pa., June 24, 2021, a leader in on-product and online authentication and brand protection, has today launched OpSec SmartCheck, a proprietary smartphone-enabled Optically Variable Device (OVD) validation tool that uses advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and offers clients a reliable method of validating overt OVD features with a high level of confidence.



OpSec SmartCheckcombines the benefits of overt and covert authentication in one solution that provides fast and robust authentication. SmartCheck is integrated with OpSec's suite of proprietary high security and brand protection technologies, providing a solution customized to each customer's unique requirements. Using the OpSec Insight mobile app, field inspectors can simply scan the SmartCheck enabled OVD and receive instant authenticity validation without the need for security feature training or specialist hardware. SmartCheck adds a high level of authentication to visual checks, can be implemented quickly across a variety of inspection stakeholders using existing technologies, and does not require any additional devices.

The latest innovation from OpSec is another demonstration of their ability to innovate and to anticipate its customers' brand protection needs. "This is a real step forward in authentication technology. SmartCheck adds a high level of authentication to visual checks, is easily scalable, and can be implemented quickly across a variety of inspection stakeholders using existing technologies. It's a useful tool that the marketplace needs," Jim Keller, Global VP of Technology and Operations at OpSec Security stated. "Organizations that enforce and want an extra level of authentication need SmartCheck to improve their enforcement and productivity capabilities."

OpSec SmartCheck is ideal for organizations that enforce across a large geographic area in Automotive, Fashion, Electronics, Consumer Products, Government Authentication, and many more industries. SmartCheck is also secure enough for high-value documents, certificates, and deeds. Learn more about OpSec SmartCheckand contact the experts at OpSecto discuss a customized solution to fit your specific business goals.

About OpSec Security

OpSec Securityis the global market leader in securing and protecting brands.

After decades of leadership in brand protection technology, OpSec grew to become the leading provider of fully integrated brand and document security, providing companies and governments with myriad solutions to help our customers ensure brand quality, reputation, and integrity.

OpSec is a leading innovator in online brand and digital content protection, offering our clients end-to-end safeguards against counterfeiting, piracy, and unauthorized usage. We continue to innovate, finding increasingly advanced ways to meet an ever-growing range of threats. Even as the counterfeiters, pirates, and other bad actors employ more sophisticated ways to damage your brand, we never stop getting better at protecting it.

What is missing from your brand protection program? Find out more at www.opsecsecurity.com

Media Contact

Amanda Hershey

Marketing Communications Manager

Email: media@opsecsecurity.com

Phone: +1

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb60a2d5-825a-499f-a3d7-fa7b429f46cb




Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Magna Mining Inc. (TSXV: NICU) ("Magna" or the "Company") is pleased to announce drill results for the first two drill holes at its Shakespeare Project, located near Sudbury, Ontario. Diamond drilling on the Shakespeare Project commenced in late April, with one diamond drill focused on better defining the area between the East and West zones, referred to as the Gap Zone, and at depth, below the East Zone.

Drillhole MMC-21-15 intersected 0.51% Nickel Equivalent ("Ni Eq") over 33.8 metres in the Gap Zone, thereby supporting the Company's thesis that the existing NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate can be expanded in this near-surface part of the Shakespeare deposit.

Jason Jessup, Chief Executive Officer of Magna, stated, "We are pleased to report the first assay results received from our ongoing exploration program on the Shakespeare Project. Results from hole MMC-21-15 demonstrate the near surface exploration potential of the project, as well as the potential to significantly increase Mineral Resources."

"Of the planned 9,000 metre diamond drilling program to date, we have completed 2,426 metres in 11 drillholes. Additionally, we have successfully progressed three of the 2021 exploration program objectives. Firstly, drilling to date has advanced our understanding of the geological controls on Shakespeare mineralization. In addition, we have now identified substantial nickel-copper-PGM mineralization in proximity to our open pit resource and have established platforms for downhole geophysical surveys, which will help guide additional drilling in 2021. We are encouraged by the results to date, including drillhole MMC-21-15, which intersected significant mineralization outside of the current Mineral Resource and extending outside of the 2021 open pit resource shell. Magna looks forward to providing additional updates as the 2021 exploration program progresses and assay results are received," stated Jason Jessup.

The Gap Zone currently separates the Shakespeare West and East mineral resources (Figure 1). Six drillholes targeted the Gap Zone area, and results have been received for two holes. Table 1 summarizes drilling and assays received to date. Significant results include drillhole MMC-21-15, which intersected a wide interval of mineralization, extending beyond the current mineral resource open pit shell (Figure 2).

Two drill holes, MMC-21-18 and MMC-18-07 extension, were completed beneath the East Zone and extended into the footwall of the known deposit. These will provide platforms for downhole geophysical surveys, which could potentially define geophysical anomalies representing areas of conductivity and mineralization. Crone Geophysics has completed surveys on 5 of the 11 holes, for which results are pending.

Drilling has also been carried out on regional targets while the geophysical surveying program was being executed at Shakespeare. Currently the drill is on our Springer Target which is following up on surface sampling that assays up to 7.36% Cu and is in proximity to our newly acquired patents claims (see press release dated June 8th, 2021). Drilling will resume on the Shakespeare deposit later this month.





Figure 1: Shakespeare Deposit longitudinal section, illustrating the location of diamond drilling and assay results received to date



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8002/88549_96082a0c64487b4b_002full.jpg





Figure 2: Vertical section illustrating drillhole MMC-21-15



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8002/88549_96082a0c64487b4b_003full.jpg

Table 1 2021 Diamond Drilling Results

DDH Depth (m) Zone Including From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu (%) Ni (%) Co (%) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Au (g/t) Ni Eq MMC-21-14 178 Gap

63.0 65.0 2.0 0.08 0.13 0.01 0.15 0.16 0.08 0.21 MMC-21-15 201 Gap

49.8 52.6 2.8 0.01 0.27 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.23



Gap and 90.5 124.3 33.8 0.31 0.27 0.02 0.26 0.34 0.19 0.51





Including 90.5 112.2 21.6 0.37 0.34 0.03 0.32 0.42 0.24 0.64



East FW

131.9 134.7 2.8 0.51 0.39 0.02 0.45 0.49 0.25 0.73 MMC-21-16 309 S-13 Assays Pending MMC-21-17 150 Gap Assays Pending MMC-21-18 426 East FW Assays Pending MMC-21-19 252 Gap Assays Pending MMC-21-20 126 Gap Assays Pending MMC-18-07 (Deepening) 600

175 ext East FW Assays Pending MSP-21-01 102 Springer Assays Pending MSP-21-02 351 Springer Assays Pending MSP-21-03 71 Springer Assays Pending



(1) Reported lengths are downhole length. True widths are estimated to be 70-80% of downhole length.

(2) Nickel Equivalent grade is calculated based on metal prices of $6.25/lb Ni, $2.80/lb Cu, $31.00/lb Co, $950/oz Pt, $900/oz Pd and $1,250.00/oz Au, and metal recoveries of 76.4% for Ni, 95.9% for copper, 71% for Co, 74.8% for Pt, 42.4% for Pd and 38.4% for Au.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Marshall Hall, M.Sc., P.Geo, the Company's Exploration Manager. Mr Hall is a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

QA/QC

Sample QA/QC practices for Magna have been designed to meet or exceed industry standards. Drill core is collected from the diamond drill and placed in sealed core trays from transport to Magna's core facilities. The core is then logged and samples marked in intervals of up to 1.5m and cut with a diamond saw. Samples are then bagged in plastic bags with 10 bagged samples being placed into rice bags for transport to SGS Laboratories, Sudbury. Samples are submitted in batches of 50 with 5 QA/QC samples including, 2 certified reference material standards, 2 samples of blank material and 1 duplicate. The current drilling program is being carried out under the supervision of Marshall Hall, M.Sc., P.Geo, the Company's Exploration Manager.

About Magna Mining Inc.

Magna Mining is an exploration and development company focused on nickel, copper and PGM projects in the Sudbury Region of Ontario, Canada. The Company's flagship asset is the past producing Shakespeare Mine which has major permits for the construction of a 4500 tonne per day open pit mine, processing plant and tailings storage facility and is surrounded by a contiguous 180km2 prospective land package. Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website (www.magnamining.com).

For further information, please contact:

Jason Jessup

Chief Executive Officer

or

Paul Fowler, CFA

Senior Vice President

Email: info@magnamining.com

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 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88549
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Canagold Resources Ltd. (TSX:CCM, OTCQB:CRCUF, Frankfurt:CAN) announces the voting results from its Annual General Meeting held on June 21, 2021 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business including the re-election of five existing directors.

Voting results for directors were as follows:

Directors Votes For Votes Withheld Bradford Cooke 16,010,866 (99.67%) 53,000 (0.33%) Scott Eldridge 16,011,366 (99.67%) 52,500 (0.33%) Andrew Bowering 11,674,626 (72.68%) 4,389,240 (27.32%) Martin Burian 16,011,366 (99.67%) 52,500 (0.33%) Deepak Malhotra 16,011,366 (99.67%) 52,500 (0.33%)

The shareholders also voted in favour of fixing the number of directors at five and re-appointing Smythe LLP as its auditors. The Company granted 3,600,000 stock option to directors, management and employees with an exercise price of CAD$0.50 for a period of 5 years as an incentive to build value for the Company.

"Scott Eldridge"

____________________

Scott Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer

CANAGOLD RESOURCES LTD.

About Canagold - Canagold Resources Ltd. is a growth-oriented gold exploration company focused on generating superior shareholder returns by discovering, exploring and developing strategic gold deposits in North America. Canagold shares trade on the TSX: CCM and the OTCQB: CRCUF.

For More Information - Please contact: Scott Eldridge, CEO

Toll Free: 1-877-684-9700 Tel: (604) 685-9700 Cell: (604) 722-5381

Email: scott@canagoldresources.com Website: www.canagoldresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future performance of Canagold, and the Company's plans and exploration programs for its mineral properties, including the timing of such plans and programs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "has proven", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "potential", "appears", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "at least", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others risks related to the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; commodity prices; changes in general economic conditions; market sentiment; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to raise funds through equity financings; risks inherent in mineral exploration; risks related to operations in foreign countries; future prices of metals; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Canagold Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652978/Canagold-Announces-Results-of-its-Annual-General-Meeting-of-Shareholders
Top liver disease conference showcases positive clinical data from Yaqrit's technologies

Results from two trialspresented at EASL1 International Liver Conference 2021 show benefits for patients with liver failure and those with advanced cirrhosis

London, UK, 24 June, 2021- New treatments for liver disease patients have been given top billing at this week's International Liver Congress (ILC), one of the biggest global meetings for liver doctors and researchers, including technologies being developed by Yaqrit Discovery Ltd ('Yaqrit' or the 'Company'), a UK life sciences company developing treatments for patients with cirrhosis and its complications, an area of global unmet medical need.

Dialive is an ICU device for patients suffering from acute-on-chronic liver failure

In the first of two presentations on Yaqrit's Dialive technology, trial data showed that patients had statistically significantly better outcomes when treated with Dialive compared to patients in a control group.

Twice as many patients in the group treated with Dialive resolved from acute on chronic liver failure grades 1, 2 or 3 to ACLF grade 0. The treated group also resolved more quickly than the standard of care group.

Dr Banwari Agarwal, Chief Investigator and presenter of the data at the ILC,commented: "To see patients with ACLF grades 1, 2 and 3a resolving to ACLF 0 at twice the rate with Dialive treatment compared to those in the control group, is simply a remarkable outcome. Furthermore, this improvement was achieved with no treatment-related safety issues, which will be vital as the product enters pivotal studies in a larger population of patients."

ACLF is a serious condition often treated in the hospital intensive care unit. Patients have a 28-day expected short term mortality rate that ranges from 20% to over 80%2. Dialive is an ICU treatment based on the double filtration of blood-borne toxins and the replacement of damaged circulating albumin.

Carbaliveis an orally-administered macroporous carbon bead solution to treat decompensated cirrhosis

Yaqrit's second technology, Carbalive, is an adsorbent taken by mouth by patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Decompensated patients are usually hospitalised and at risk of deteriorating further to life-threatening ACLF.

Carbalive also met its primary endpoint of safety in a placebo-controlled clinical trial across Europe and in addition showed positive trends in markers of inflammation and gut health. These measures of gut health included those that signify a reduction in the translocation (leaking) of bacterial toxins out of the gut, an important factor in cirrhosis3.

Dr Jane McNaughton, a University College London hepatologist presenting the data at ILC, said"These findings in decompensated cirrhosis patients pave the way for the next stage of clinical development, which will be to evaluate Carbalive in dedicated efficacy studies and in higher risk patient populations."

The EU Horizon 2020-supported clinical trials of Dialive and Carbalive were conducted in hospitals across Europe respectively by two academic-industrial consortia, ALIVER and CARBALIVE. Both technologies had previously strong preclinical data at University College London, where they had been invented and developed by Professor Rajiv Jalan and colleagues at the Liver Failure Group based at the Royal Free Hospital, London.

Professor Rajiv Jalan M.D., Professor of Hepatology at UCL, Yaqrit's lead founder, said, "Carbalive's design is based on many observations of the course of patients in liver decompensation and the damaging inflammation that results. It's pleasing to see that not only has its safety been shown in this study but that there are encouraging signs of benefits to patients, which we hope will be confirmed in future trials."

"The randomised controlled clinical trials conducted with two of Yaqrit's development programmes product candidates yielded promising clinical results, and those obtained with Dialive exceeded our expectations",saidDaniel Green, CEO of Yaqrit. "We look forward to expanding our trials globally for both Carbalive and Dialive."

At the International Liver Congress , Dr Agarwal 's presentation is:

Session: Global Session - 1997

Date/Time: 24 June 2021, 4 pm CEST

Abstract: A multi-centre, randomized controlled study, to evaluate the safety and performance of the DIALIVE Liver Dialysis Device in patients with Acute on Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) versus standard of care (SOC)

At the International Liver Congress, Dr Mc N aughtan's presentation is:

Session: PO-1045

Date/Time: 26 June 2021, 9.08 am CEST

Abstract: A Double Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Study To Assess Safety and Tolerability of Oral Enterosorbent Yaq-001 In Cirrhotic Patients (CARBALIVE Consortium)

At the International Liver Congress, Dr Ba n ares's presentation is:

Session: OS-2060

Date/Time: 26 June 2021, 10.15 am CEST

Abstract: Pathophysiological basis of resolution of Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) induced by the novel liver dialysis device, DIALIVE

About the ALIVER Consortium

The ALIVER consortium includes many of Europe's leading experts in liver failure and the hospitals where they work, small and medium-sized enterprises

About the CARBALIVE Consortium

Humans have nearly 10 trillion intestinal bacteria. This is the gut microbiome, which both plays an important role in human health and is the largest reservoir of antigens and bacterial products in the body. If the gut is damaged, as is the case in liver disease, the bacterial products can leak from the gut to the liver where they cause inflammation and injury. These changes happen in chronic liver disease and in cirrhosis. Gut microbes also play a role in the progression of fatty liver disease to advanced liver disease, and it is these challenges that the CARBALIVE consortium was established to address. The Carbalive consortium has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 634579. For more information visit www.carbalive.eu

About Yaqrit Discovery Ltd

Yaqrit is a clinical stage life sciences company focused on developing innovative treatments for patients with advanced liver disease in areas of high unmet medical need. The Company was founded by internationally renowned hepatologist Professor Rajiv Jalan of UCL, who has three decades of clinical, academic and research experience in treating patients with chronic liver disease. The Company has developed a clinical stage pipeline led by three programs: Carbalive and Dialive, both of which have complete randomised controlled clinical trials, and TLR4 antagonists, the most advanced of which is being developed by Akaza Bioscience, a collaboration with Takeda. These programs are designed to address unmet medical needs across the advanced stages of chronic liver disease from medically stable patients with decompensated cirrhosis in the outpatient setting, to critically ill, hospitalised patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. The application of the different therapeutic approaches to specific patient groups is based upon the Company's deep understanding of the pathway and stratification of patients with chronic liver disease. For more information visit www.yaqrit.com

Contacts

For further information is also available at www.aliver.infoand www.carbalive.eu

1 EASL: European Association For The Study Of The Liver

2 "The systemic inflammation hypothesis: Towards a new paradigm of acute decompensation and multiorgan failure in cirrhosis. Arroyo et al JHEP 2020

3Leaky Gut and Gut-Liver Axis in Liver Cirrhosis: Clinical Studies Update - Fukui et al Gut Liver 2020https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33071239/
ROSEMONT, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / The 2021 ASSEMBLY Show, taking place in person October 26-28 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL will kick off on Tuesday, October 26th with three workshops. Editors of ASSEMBLY Magazine, producers of The ASSEMBLY Show, will moderate the workshops on Electric Vehicle Assembly: Challenges & Opportunities; Fastening & Joining: New & Alternative Methods and Robotics Assembly: Beyond the Basics. The morning workshop will take place from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm and the two afternoon workshops will be held from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Registration is now open for all three workshops and for the entire event.

"We are looking forward to bringing the industry back together in-person on October 26-28 in Rosemont IL now that the state of Illinois has eliminated capacity limits on conventions. We will kick off this 9th edition of The ASSEMBLY Show with three dynamic workshops packed with information from leading subject matter experts," said John Sprovieri, Editor of ASSEMBLY Magazine, producers of The ASSEMBLY Show. "For the first time, we will be offering a morning workshop on Electric Vehicle Assembly, followed by two afternoon workshops. We have put together a great line of subject matter experts to share their knowledge and expertise with our attendees."

The event will kick off on Tuesday morning with a workshop on Electric Vehicle Assembly: Challenges & Opportunities providing a guide through the important role of assembly tools and techniques in the mass-production of electric vehicle batteries, motors, and other components. Panelists will include Thomas Parker, Automotive Market Sales Manager, INFICON Inc., who will discuss Battery Leak Testing; Neil Dueweke, Vice President, FANUC America Corp. will discuss How Robotics are Helping the EV Market Grow at a Rapid Pace; and Tim Frech, Senior Engineer, EWI who will talk about Connecting Batteries and Cells to Tabs and Busbars with Pulsed Arc Welding. Austin Weber, Senior Editor, ASSEMBLY Magazine/Autonomous and Electric Mobility by ASSEMBLY will moderate the session.

In the afternoon, Jim Camillo, Senior Editor, Assembly Magazine will moderate Fastening & Joining: New & Alternative Methods. Engineers are incorporating a raft of new materials in vehicle designs, including composites, engineering plastics, aluminum, and higher strength, lighter-weight steels. Stephen Webb, Senior Applications Engineer, ORD Corp., a Part of Parker Hannifin will present Adhesives for Lightweighting; Byron Selorme, President, PressLock Technologies will discuss Clinching and Self-Pierce Riveting for Mixed-Material Assembly; Edward Kortes, M.S., Lead Application Engineer, Arnold Fastening Systems Inc. will discuss Flow-Drill Screws for Mixed-Material Assembly; and Pierson Cheng, Automotive Industry Manager, TRUMPF Inc. will talk about Lasers for Lightweighting.

John Sprovieri, Editor-in-Chief, Assembly Magazine will moderate the concurrent afternoon workshop on Robotics Assembly: Beyond the Basics. According to the International Federation of Robotics, there are 228 robots for every 10,000 manufacturing workers in the U.S. That's more than twice the global average. The advent of collaborative robots, or cobots, will only increase that trend. Panelists Max Reynolds, Co-founder and CEO, Symbio Robotics will talk about Artificial Intelligence for Robotic Assembly; Josh Person, Staff Engineer, FANUC America Corp. who will discuss Vision Guidance for Robotic Assembly; John Iskra, Robotic Systems and Automation Sales Manager, ASG, Division of Jergens Inc. will discuss Tips, Tricks and Technologies for Robotic Screwdriving; and David Cappellani, Global Key Account Manager for Automotive, Universal Robots will talk about Collaborative Robots in Today's Automotive Factory. These industry experts will provide insight on how to apply robotics to applications beyond simple pick-and-place operations and capitalize on the full capabilities of this technology.

The 9th Annual ASSEMBLY Show will bring together thousands of industry professionals with hundreds of exhibiting companies providing manufacturing engineers and managers the opportunity to uncover new resources, experience equipment hands-on, evaluate the latest technologies and products and connect face-to-face with industry experts. Attendees will have access to an expansive exhibit hall, providing the perfect opportunity to meet with exhibitors including Gold Sponsor PROMESS; Silver Sponsors ASG, SCHUNK and Universal Robots; and Bronze Sponsor Schmidt Technology. For more information, visit www.theassemblyshow.com.

Attendees will have access to the Keynote Presentation on Wednesday, October 27 featuring Sudhanshu Gaur, Vice President, Hitachi America, Chief Architect - Smart Manufacturing, Hitachi Astemo who will present Smart Manufacturing: Today and Tomorrow. The education opportunities continue off the show floor with Learning Theater Presentations by exhibiting companies, including ACD Group, Rexroth a Bosch Company, Cardinal Kinetic, Epson Robots, Festo Corp., INFICON, Daifuku, a Jervis B. Webb Company, Kistler, Mountz, Sturtevant Richmont, Tutelar Technologies, and Universal Robots.

The exhibit hall will be open on Tuesday, October 26 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm with the always popular Taste of Rosemont Welcome/Networking Reception; Wednesday, October 27 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm followed by the Pub Night Social Event from 5:00 - 7:00 pm and Thursday, October 28 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm kicking off with a Morning Mingle & Breakfast from 9:00 - 10:00 am. For information about exhibiting or sponsorships, click here to contact the ASSEMBLY Show sales staff. Registration is open, click here for more information.

The ASSEMBLY Show, sponsored by ASSEMBLY (www.assemblymag.com)has rapidly become the industry's leading trade show focused exclusively on assembly equipment, services and products. ASSEMBLY serves the multi-billion dollar assembly market and has been since 1958! ASSEMBLY is the leading brand covering the processes, technologies and strategies for assembling discrete parts into finished products. ASSEMBLY offers an integrated portfolio of products including the industry's leading trade show.

For further information, contact:

Amy Riemer, Media Relations

978-475-4441(office) or 978-502-4895 (cell)

amy@riemercommunications.com

SOURCE: The ASSEMBLY Show

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652912/Electric-Vehicles-Fastening-Joining-and-Robotics-Assembly-will-be-the-Focus-of-Three-Workshops-at-The-Assembly-Show-Taking-Place-Oct-26-28
Blockchain.com's 32 million verified users across 200 countries can now send crypto to simple, human-readable usernames

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain domain name provider Unstoppable Domains today announced native support for Blockchain.com, the world's leading crypto wallet and platform for retail customers, institutions, and crypto projects. Blockchain.com's 32 million verified users across 200 countries can now send funds with a simple, human-readable username instead of full-length wallet addresses. Through this integration, Unstoppable Domains and Blockchain.com are making crypto more accessible for all by removing the risk of human error when sending funds, drastically simplifying transactions between Blockchain.com users and 50+ other wallets and exchanges supported by Unstoppable Domains.

"By teaming up with Blockchain.com, we're able to seamlessly onboard people from fiat to crypto with usernames that make it easier to transact between family, friends, and exchanges," said Matthew Gould, Founder and CEO of Unstoppable Domains. "Freedom and digital ownership are at the heart of this integration. Services like Venmo and Cash App are closed ecosystems with geographic restrictions, but blockchain domain names give you the freedom to send funds between a large number of wallets and exchanges from anywhere in the world."

Traditionally, sending Bitcoin, Ethereum, Doge, and other cryptocurrencies requires entering the recipient's 25-42 digit alphanumeric wallet address. If a person mistypes or miscopies a wallet address, those funds can be lost forever. Unstoppable Domains solves this by introducing human-readable usernames compatible with 50+ wallets and exchanges, including Blockchain.com. Now, instead of "156i6HJfMWb1h2BEsKpfvZ2tQugqo4vs2w," users can simply type "[YourName].crypto" to send money to others or transfer it between accounts.

"Over the years at Blockchain.com we've worked hard to make crypto easier to use as part of our mission to build a new financial system for the internet. Our Unstoppable Domains integration is an exciting step in this direction," said Amadeo Pellicce, Product Manager at Blockchain.com. "Our customers can now send crypto to friends and family using more familiar-looking usernames. This drastically reduces the potential for errors without compromising on user security. Making crypto payments as easy as sending an email helps pave the way for wider adoption of crypto."

Unstoppable Domains has sold more than 1 million domain names, which are minted as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. Along with sending and receiving funds, these NFT domains are used to create decentralized websites to publish content and access Web3. Blockchain domains have already become the standard for crypto wallets, and interoperability is at the forefront of Unstoppable Domains' mission.

Blockchain.com recently raised $300 million at a $5.2 billion, post-money valuation, led by partners of DST Global, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and VY Capital. Since 2012, 76 million wallets have conducted $800 billion in transactions using Blockchain.com.

About Unstoppable Domains

Launched in 2018, Unstoppable Domains is a blockchain domain name provider and gateway to the decentralized web. Unstoppable Domains allows anyone to purchase a decentralized domain name that is minted as an NFT on the Ethereum blockchain, giving the owner full ownership and control. Domain names can be used for payments across 50+ wallets and exchanges. The company is backed by Draper Associates and Boost VC, and supported by grants from the Ethereum Foundation and Zilliqa Foundation. To learn more, follow Unstoppable Domains on Twitter, and join the conversation on Telegram.

Media Contact: unstoppabledomains@dittopr.co

About Blockchain.com

Blockchain.com is connecting the world to the future of finance. The company is the most trusted and fastest growing crypto company, helping millions across the globe - from single individuals to the largest institutions - safely access cryptocurrency. Through the use of block chain technology, Blockchain.com is revolutionizing the $14T financial services industry. Blockchain.com has raised $490 million from leading, global investors including: Baillie Gifford, partners of DST Global, Eldridge, GV, Kyle Bass, Lakestar, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Moore Strategic Ventures, Rovida Kruptos Assets Limited, VY Capital, and others.

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ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Findit, Inc., a Nevada Corporation (OTC PINK:FDIT), owner of Findit.com and the Findit App available on Android and IOS devices, has filed its response to the FORM S1 S.E.C. comment letter through Edgar. Findit, Inc. filed its Form S1 on March 11, 2021.

Findit, Inc. has filed its latest response to the S.E.C. along with its updated March 31, 2021 financials that have been reviewed by the auditing firm of BF Borgers CPA PC Certified, Public Accountants. The inclusion of the Auditors Review with the March 31, 2021 financials and the response to the S.E.C. comments has been completed.

Findit, Inc. retained the Auditing Firm BF Borgers CPA PC Certified, Public Accountants. The company completed three years of audited financials that include 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Form S1 includes year ending December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020 audited financials and now the auditors review of March 31, 2021.

The Law Firm of Thomas Cook and Associates prepared the FORM S1 filing and assisted in the response letter to the S.E.C. that has been submitted through EDGAR on June 22, 2021.



Form S-1/A Findit, Inc.

Raymond Firth stated, 'We continue to make progress toward our FORM S1 being effective. With this recent filing we are hopeful that Findit will be able to up list from the OTC Pinksheets and raise funds to build out the Findit team and continue to implement tools and services that provide tangible results for our members."

The S1 is priced at thirty cents per share which is currently higher than the current stock price. The number of shares in the offering is a total of ten million shares which would amount to three million dollars if the raise is 100% subscribed. The proceeds would be used for development and marketing of the website Findit.com and the Findit App, which is available on Android and IOS.

Download the Findit App Here

For Android devices Google

For IOS devices Apple

About The Law Offices of Thomas C. Cook

The Law Offices of Thomas C. Cook was formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1997, with a principal focus of representing public companies before the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, OTC Markets, LLC, and the various state securities authorities. Thomas C. Cook, Esq., the firm's principal attorney, has over two decades of experience in corporate and securities law, including but not limited to corporate formation and governance, securities registrations and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and the issuance of securities-related opinions. Mr. Cook received his Bachelor of Arts from Occidental College in 1990 and his Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School in 1993.

About BF Borgers CPA, PC?????

At BF Borgers CPA, PC, we have built our practice by providing exceptional service to our clients through our commitment to our firm culture and values based on the three underlying principles Professionalism, Responsiveness, Quality.

About Findit, Inc.

Findit, Inc., owns Findit.com which is a Social Media Content Management Platform that provides an interactive search engine for all content posted in Findit to appear in Findit search. The site is an open platform that provides access to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other search engines access to its content posted to Findit so it can be indexed in these search engines as well. Findit provides Members the ability to post, share and manage their content. Once they have posted in Findit, we ensure the content gets indexed in Findit Search results. Findit provides an option for anyone to submit URLs that they want indexed in Findit search result, along with posting status updates through Findit Right Now. Status Updates posted in Findit can be crawled by outside search engines which can result in additional organic indexing. All posts on Findit can be shared to other social and bookmarking sites by members and non-members. Findit provides Real Estate Agents the ability to create their own Findit Site where they can pull in their listing and others through their IDX account. Findit, Inc. is focused on the development of monetized Internet-based web products that can provide an increased brand awareness of our members. Findit Inc. trades under the stock symbol FDIT on the OTC Pinksheets.

Safe Harbor:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'), including statements regarding potential sales, the success of the company's business, as well as statements that include the word believe or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Findit Inc. to differ materially from those implied or expressed by such forward-looking statements. This press release speaks as of the date first set forth above, and Findit Inc. assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to factors such as the lack of capital, timely development of products, inability to deliver products when ordered, inability of potential customers to pay for ordered products, and political and economic risks inherent in international trade.

CONTACT:

Clark St. Amant

404-443-3224

SOURCE: Findit, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652691/Findit-Inc-Files-First-Quarter-Ending-March-31-2021-Audit-Review-in-FORM-S1-Filing-with-SEC
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund - Notice of Annual General Meeting

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR SOUTH AFRICA OR TO U.S PERSONS

Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund Ltd.

(The "Company")

(a closed-ended investment scheme incorporated with limited liability under the law of Guernsey with registration number 56535)

LEI Number: 213800GXKGJVWN3BF511

24 JUNE 2021

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited, Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey on 22 July 2021 at 1.00pm.

The Notice of AGM together with the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 has been posted to shareholders.

The Notice of Annual General Meeting and accounts are available from the Company's registered office and can be downloaded from its website: www.weisskoreaopportunityfund.com. Hard copy forms of proxy should be requested from the Company Registrar, Link Asset Services.



Enquiries:

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

The Company Secretary

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 3QL



Tel: 01481 745001



END
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) (the "Company" or "Santacruz") is saddened to report a fatality has occurred at its Rosario Project located in Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico on Saturday, June 19 2021.

The deceased was an underground miner. The accident took place at the Membrillo mine as a result of a rock fall. Santacruz personnel immediately followed mine rescue protocols, and authorities arrived shortly thereafter at the mine to review the site of the accident.

Carlos Silva, CEO of Santacruz, stated; "We are extremely saddened by this tragic accident and extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased." Mr. Silva continued; "Safety is a core value at Santacruz and we will thoroughly investigate this accident and take remedial action."

About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Santacruz is a Mexican focused silver company with two producing silver projects (Zimapan and Rosario) and two exploration properties, the La Pechuga property and Santa Gorgonia prospect. The Company is managed by a technical team of professionals with proven track records in developing, operating and discovering silver mines in Mexico. Our corporate objective is to become a mid-tier silver producer.

'signed'

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo,

Executive Chairman

For further information please contact:



Mars Investor Relations

Telephone: (778) 999 4653

scz@marsinvestorrelations.com

Arturo Prestamo

Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Email: info@santacruzsilver.com

Telephone: (528) 183 785707

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to production at the Zimapan Mine and Rosario Project and the Company's plans to grow it. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that future metal prices and the demand and market outlook for metals will remain stable or improve. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to above prove not to be valid or reliable; market conditions and volatility and global economic conditions, including increased volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; risk of delay and/or cessation in planned work or changes in the Company's financial condition and development plans; risks associated with the interpretation of data (including in respect of third party mineralized material) regarding the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the uncertainty of the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and the risk of unexpected variations in mineral resources, grade and/or recovery rates; risks related to gold, silver, base metal and other commodity price fluctuations; risks relating to environmental regulation and liability; the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88559
Goldman Sachs Asset Management Division ("Goldman Sachs") and Altor Fund IV ("Altor") today announced that they have agreed to sell Navico, a global leader in marine electronics, to Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the largest recreational marine company in the world.

Navico is a leading provider of marine electronics to the recreational segment, selling its products under the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, and C-MAP brands, and offering a full range of advanced marine electronics solutions. The product portfolio includes networked display systems, standalone displays, sonars, radars, autopilots, gyros, instruments as well as cartography and software products. Navico has also extended its portfolio of networked products into other areas such as trolling motors, integration and connectivity and digital services. Goldman Sachs and Altor acquired Navico in 2016 from Altor 2003 Fund, recognizing its value proposition arising from its being a pure-player in marine electronics, its strong R&D and product organization, and its differentiated brand strategy targeting distinctive customer segments.

Over the past 5 years, Goldman Sachs and Altor have worked with Navico's management to further scale Navico globally, recruiting top talent in the industry, building a strong digital presence by launching e-commerce initiatives, and expanding its global footprint with a goal of becoming a global leader in recreational marine electronics.

"We are extremely proud of Navico's growth and success under the leadership of Knut Frostad and the broader management team since our investment in 2016. Navico is a unique platform with exceptional technology, a long history as a pioneer of marine electronics and a deep connection to its customers. It has been a privilege to assist the company in its development, closely supported by the GS Value Accelerator. We are excited to see Navico joining forces with Brunswick to empower the next generation experience for customers," said Michael Bruun, Head of the EMEA Private Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

"We are thrilled to have found an excellent new home for Navico, and the combined group is very well placed to continue delivering exciting new products, services and experiences to customers globally. Navico has realized significant operational improvements across its business activities, and it has been a privilege to work with Navico's visionary management team over the years," said David Hess, Partner at Altor. "After a strong period of growth, we are very excited about joining the Brunswick family to further strengthen our offering and support our customers going forward," said Knut Frostad, Navico's President CEO. "On behalf of everyone at Navico, we cannot wait to begin our journey with Brunswick and share our passion and dedication with their team. By working together, we will be able to deliver a unique and integrated customer experience."

The selling shareholders and Marine Innovations Group AS were advised by Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, Sweden Bankfilial, Carnegie Investment Bank, Sullivan Cromwell LLP and Wiersholm.

The closing of the transaction is anticipated during the second half of 2021, and is subject to, among other things, regulatory and antitrust review and approval.

About Navico

Navico is a leading marine electronics company selling products under the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and C-MAP brands and with 239 years of combined heritage. Navico has about 2,000 employees globally and distribution in more than 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit navico.com.

About Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the world's leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and market-overseeing more than $2 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of March 31, 2021. Driven by a passion for our clients' performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Follow us on LinkedIn.

About Altor

Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised some EUR 8.3 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in excess of EUR 5 billion in more than 75 companies. The investments have been made in medium sized companies in Northern Europe with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are Dustin, CTEK, Eleda, OX2, RevolutionRace, Rossignol, SATS, and Trioworld. For more information, please visit www.altor.com.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation's leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Advanced Systems Group, which includes industry-leading brands like MotorGuide, Attwood, Mastervolt, Blue Sea Systems, CZone, and ASG Connect system integrators; Land 'N' Sea, BLA, Payne's Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Heyday, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club and Boat Class. For more information, visit brunswick.com

Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, Sweden Bankfilial ("GSBE"), is acting as financial adviser to Altor, Goldman Sachs Asset Management Division and Marine Innovations Group AS and no-one else in connection with the transaction described in this announcement. Neither GSBE nor its affiliates, nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than Altor, Goldman Sachs Asset Management Division and Marine Innovations Group AS for providing the protections afforded to clients of GSBE or for providing advice in connection with the transaction described in this announcement or for any other matters referred to herein.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005732/en/

Contacts:

For Goldman Sachs

Joseph Stein +44 207 774 4080
Thomson Reuters Second-Quarter 2021 Earnings Announcement and Webcast Scheduled for August 5, 2021

Conference call and webcast scheduled for 9:00 a.m. EDT

TORONTO, June 24, 2021 -- Thomson Reuters (NYSE, TSX: TRI) announced today that its second-quarter 2021 earnings will be issued via news release on Thursday, August 5, 2021.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/13199/THOMSON_REUTERS_LOGO.jpg

Steve Hasker, president and chief executive officer, and Mike Eastwood, chief financial officer, will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast that morning at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Discussions may include forward-looking information.

You can access the webcast by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of the Thomson Reuters website. Registration for the webcast is now open. Additionally, an archive of the webcast will be available following the presentation.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service - Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

CONTACTS MEDIA INVESTORS Andrew Green

Senior Director, Corporate Affairs

+1 332 219 1511

andrew.green@tr.com Frank J. Golden

Head of Investor Relations

+1 332 219 1111

frank.golden@tr.com

SOURCE Thomson Reuters
BERKELEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Eleven Canadian startups will participate today in the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) program's first U.S. Demo Day, produced in partnership with Berkeley SkyDeck. Silicon Valley VCs, angel investors and industry professionals will attend the Demo Day, held virtually.

The participating early-stage, Canada-based startups are part of two coast-to-coast CTA cohorts in the United States: CTA Digital Silicon Valley and the CTA Cybersecurity, Privacy and Compliance in New York. Many focus on building innovative solutions for sectors particularly impacted by COVID-19 including supply chain and retail tech. Other sectors represented include cybersecurity, legal tech, fintech and proptech.

"We're thrilled to partner with Berkeley SkyDeck to showcase the talented Canadian startups participating in our U.S.-based CTA programs," said Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley. "Canada has a deep pool of tech talent and is home to many innovative tech firms that are poised to support the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."

"We are delighted to be working with the Canadian Tech Accelerator and to continue to broaden opportunities between the Canadian startup community and the entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Berkeley," said Caroline Winnett, Executive Director, Berkeley SkyDeck. "It is exciting to help innovative companies bring their products to a broader audience and build new international connections."

The June 24 Demo Day will feature the following startups:

Crypto4A (Ontario) provides quantum-ready cybersecurity solutions to ensure the safe deployment of enterprise applications in the era of digital transformation.

Fortuna AI (Ontario) is a secure video relationship management platform for financial advisors.

iRestify (Ontario) is an enterprise-level cleaning and facilities management platform that allows property managers to manage maintenance operations more efficiently while elevating the experience of their tenants and visitors.

Kings Distributed Systems (Ontario) provides a web-based edge computing framework that allows institutions to create and administer their own secure on-premises edge computing networks.

Lytica (Ontario) is a market intelligence platform for electronic components.

Mondata (Quebec) provides organizations with a secured IT ecosystem that simplifies and accelerates their digital transformation while minimizing cybersecurity risks.

PrivateAI (Ontario) makes it safe and easy to unlock the potential of unstructured data for sharing, analysis, and insight mining.

Savormetrics (Ontario) is an AI-powered software that provides real-time biophysical & biochemical quality analysis for the food industry.

TrojAI (New Brunswick) develops solutions to protect artificial intelligence platforms from adversarial attacks on training data and AI models.

VXG (Ontario) is a cloud video surveillance platform that provides advanced video analytics powered by AI.

Willful (Ontario) is a centralized platform that makes estate planning accessible and easy for everyone.

About the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service

As part of Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) helps Canadian companies and organizations succeed globally. With trade offices across Canada and in 161 offices around the world, including the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley , the TCS can provide Canadian businesses with on-the-ground intelligence, qualified contacts, partnership opportunities, and practical advice on foreign markets to help them make better, more timely and cost-effective decisions in order to achieve their goals abroad.

About the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA)

The Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) is a global business development program by Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service. Established in 2009, the CTA program supports the international scale-up of high-growth, high-potential Canadian firms. Participants in the CTA programs gain access to training, mentorship, and practical workshops from local experts to help them develop a go-to-market and fundraising strategy and prepare them for successful investment opportunities. The CTA program reports more than 574 participants collectively garnering $646 million in capital, $238 million in revenue and the creation of 1,128 strategic partnerships and 2,529 new jobs. CTA alumni include Qohash, which recently secured $8 million in Series A funding after participating in the 2020 CTA program.

About Berkeley SkyDeck

Berkeley SkyDeck is UC Berkeley's global startup accelerator. Named in Forbes as one of the top five U.S. university accelerators, SkyDeck combines hands-on mentorship with the vast resources of its research university. SkyDeck is the only accelerator that provides funding for its startups via a public-private partnership, providing returns directly back to UC Berkeley from the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, a dedicated investment fund supported by top institutional VCs like Sequoia and Mayfield. To date, SkyDeck startups have raised more than $1.47 billion in aggregate. Participating startups have access to SkyDeck's 350 advisors, 50 industry partners, and a network of more than 510,000 UC Berkeley alumni. For more information, see skydeck.berkeley.edu .

Media Contact

Kate Walter

Public Affairs Officer

Consulate General of Canada San Francisco/Silicon Valley

(415) 209-3008

SOURCE: Berkeley SkyDeck

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/652237/Canadian-Technology-Accelerator-to-Host-its-First-US-Demo-Day-in-Partnership-with-Berkeley-SkyDeck
Regulatory News:

Pursuing their commitment to promoting responsible alcohol consumption and combatting binge drinking among young adults in Europe and beyond, Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI) and Erasmus Student Network, through their Responsible Party initiative, joined forces with the hospitality sector and signed a Declaration calling for more responsible togetherness and solidarity.

Responsible Party partners with HOTREC, the association of hotels, restaurants, bars, and cafes in Europe, in order to ensure the opening of safe venues which respect the measures in place and bring conviviality back in a responsible way. They encourage all individual organisations to join and sign this Declaration and become part of this movement to enjoy convivial moments in Europe safely and responsibly.

Created in partnership with the Erasmus Student Network, a European non-profit organization, Responsible Party is a prevention programme which actively fights against the misuse of alcohol. Born from the idea that events are even better if they are enjoyed responsibly, Responsible Party implements a peer-to-peer approach that has been highly successful, reaching over 450,000 students in 33 countries since the start of the program in2009.

Aspiring to "make good times unforgettable", Responsible Party focalizes on water distribution to reduce alcohol related harm, empowering young adults to make more responsible choices that raise awareness among their peers. Given the current context, Responsible Party extended its activities to both on-the-field activations and impactful digital campaigns. Since launching in April 2020, and thanks to their first "Sharing Good Vibes" digital campaign, Responsible Party's online presence amassed a reach of 6 million people in 30 countries.

With the world put on hold for the past year, the pandemic has drastically changed the dynamics of our society. The COVID-19 pandemic has also hit livelihoods and businesses hard, throwing Europe's wider mobility and hospitality sectors into a deep crisis. Supporting the hospitality sector in keeping customers and staff safe across the extraordinary diversity of convivial settings and experiences they offer is more than ever paramount for the businesses still standing today.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard, was present in Brussels to sign the Declaration. "There can be no conviviality in excess, especially in terms of alcohol misuse. This is why we stand together today, united in our desire to promote good practices and responsible consumption to ensure we all make good times unforgettable".

Kostis Giannidis, President of the Erasmus Student Network, expressed: "Young adults have also found themselves unfairly on the receiving end of blame for the propagation of the virus, with the 'blame game' directed at them over the past year. We hope this declaration empowers young adults seeking to partake in a sustainable learning mobility abroad to demonstrate that they are responsible and proactive actors committed to promoting safe and responsible socializing."

For HOTREC Director General, Marie Audren: "COVID-19 hit the European hospitality hard and brought hardship and uncertainty. We can't wait to welcome back people in all safety. At HOTREC, we especially feel a close connection with young adults where hospitality could be their career of choice moving forward, making support and solidarity paramount to our sector's reopening throughout Europe."

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world's No 2 in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 8,448 million in FY20. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's strategic plan, "Transform and Accelerate," deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics, as illustrated by the 2030 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Good times from a good place." In recognition of Pernod Ricard's strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nations' Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

About Erasmus Student Network

Erasmus Student Network is one of the biggest student associations in Europe. Present at over 1000 Higher Education institutions, it unites over 530 local associations in 42 countries. More than 15,000 volunteers take care of international colleagues under the motto "Students helping students." ESN works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible education environment by supporting and developing the student exchange from different levels and providing an intercultural experience.

About HOTREC

HOTREC is the umbrella Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and Cafes and similar establishments in Europe, which brings together 45 National associations in 34 countries, and is the voice of the hospitality industry in Europe. HOTREC's mission is to represent and champion its interests towards the EU and international institutions, foster knowledge sharing and best practice among its Members to further promote innovation, and act as a platform of expertise for the European hospitality industry.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005712/en/

Contacts:

Press contacts

Pernod Ricard

Emmanuel Vouin Head of External Engagement

+33 (0) 1 70 93 16 34

ESN

Sabina Achim Communication Manager

communication@esn.org

+32 470 47 22 25

HOTREC

Alessia Angiulli Communications Manager

alessia.angiulli@hotrec.eu

+ 32 (0)2 504 78 48
Charles River Development, a State Street company, has won "Best Fixed Income Execution/Order Management System" in the inaugural European Markets Choice Awards. Sponsored by MarketsMedia, the awards identify and recognize the best companies, individuals and innovation in financial markets. The 2021 awards span institutional trading and technology sectors, including buy-side traders; sell-side execution desks; exchanges and platforms; incumbent technology providers; and emerging fintech firms.

Charles River IMS combines a multi-asset order management system (OMS) with full execution capabilities, providing institutional traders with a single order and execution management system (OEMS). Integrated trade analytics and transaction cost analysis help inform traders managing complex, high touch trades. Charles River provides seamless connectivity to major global liquidity venues, and its Inventory Hub processes and aggregates inventory across a number of the largest dealers and venues. Traders can view this inventory in the OEMS, receive updated indications of interest and dealer quotes, and place orders for a full range of products and asset classes.

Charles River's open architecture and growing third-party provider ecosystem enable incumbent and emerging liquidity venues, analytics vendors and application developers to integrate their products and services in the OEMS, helping traders support the demands of their asset mix and investment process.

"Fixed income traders and portfolio managers continue to face challenges sourcing liquidity, transitioning from voice to electronic trading, and gaining actionable insights from growing volumes of market and internal data," said Alun Cutler, Director of Product Management EMEA at Charles River. "Our OEMS was built to address those issues, with trade automation for low-touch orders, sophisticated analytics and visualization that deliver faster time to insight, and a unified data platform that captures the breadth and historic depth of data needed to make informed broker and venue selections for a given trade."

Charles River has won several awards in the past year recognizing its trading and front office capabilities including "Best Trading Platform" award in the FinTech Breakthrough Awards, "Best Front-Office Platform" in WatersTechnology Asia Awards and "Best Order Management System" in the 2020 Market Choice Awards.

Charles River IMS serves as the front and middle office component of State Street Alpha?, which provides global investment managers, hedge funds, asset owners and insurers with a complete front to back solution for risk management, portfolio construction, trading, compliance, post-trade and back office services.

About Markets Media

Markets Media Group's Market Choice Awards (the MCAs) have been a fixture in the US calendar for a decade; they span the most important sectors of institutional trading and technology industry leaders, buyside traders; sellside execution desks; exchanges platforms; incumbent technology providers and emerging fintech firms. With the formation in 2020 of Markets Media Europe, bringing into the fold both Best Execution and The DESK, we now have a much broader platform in Europe and I am delighted to announce that we are expanding the US programme and, following the success of our first European Women in Finance Awards, launching the inaugural European Markets Choice Awards (the EMCAs). For more information please visit bestexecution.net/european-markets-choice-awards-2021.

About Charles River, A State Street Company

Investment firms, asset owners, wealth managers, hedge funds and insurers in more than 30 countries rely on Charles River's front and middle office investment management platform to manage more than US$30 Trillion in assets. Together with State Street's middle and back office capabilities, Charles River's cloud-deployed software technology forms the foundation of State Street AlphaSM. The Charles River Investment Management Solution (Charles River IMS) is designed to automate and simplify the institutional investment process across asset classes, from portfolio management and risk analytics through trading and post-trade settlement, with integrated compliance and managed data throughout. Charles River's growing partner ecosystem enables clients to seamlessly access external data and analytics, applications and liquidity venues that support the demands of their product and asset class mix. Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, we serve clients globally with more than 1,000 employees in 11 regional offices.

(Statistics as of Q1 2021)

About State Street Corporation

State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $40.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $3.6 trillion* in assets under management as of March 31, 2021, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 39,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at www.statestreet.com.

Assets under management as of March 31, 2021 includes approximately $60 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.

2021 State Street Corporation All Rights Reserved

State Street Corporation, One Lincoln St, Boston MA 02111

Charles River Development A State Street Company is a wholly owned business of State Street Corporation (incorporated in Massachusetts).

Information Classification: General

#3642686.1.1.GBL.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005810/en/

Contacts:

Media

Mary Masi-Phelps

marymasiphelps@crd.com

781-425-6155
Sopra Steria, a European leader in consulting, digital services and software development, helps its clients drive their digital transformation and obtain tangible and sustainable benefits. It provides end-to-end solutions to make large companies and organisations more competitive by combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors and innovative technologies with a fully collaborative approach. Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and is committed to putting digital to work for its clients in order to build a positive future for all. With 46,000 employees in 25 countries, the Group generated revenue of 4.3 billion in 2020. The world is how we shape it. Sopra Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) ISIN: FR0000050809 For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
PLEASANTON, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Adapdix, the industry leader in adaptive enterprise software, the edge optimized platform delivering the next generation of AI, is excited to welcome John Genovesi as its chief operating officer (COO) to help expand sector growth and support increasing customer demand. At Adapdix, he joins a world-class leadership team and will report directly to the CEO, Anthony Hill.

Genovesi comes from Rockwell Automation, where he held multiple senior roles since moving to the company from Siemens in 1989. Most recently, he held the position of senior vice president, enterprise accounts and software, and was responsible for Rockwell Automation's software strategy and strategic partnerships. Prior to that role he led the Enterprise Software and Process Business where he scaled revenue and earnings, significantly shifting businesses performance. Genovesi comes to Adapdix with a proven track record in industrial enterprise software leadership, having worked with Fortune 500 companies to realize their digital transformation goals. Genovesi will play a vital role in Adapdix's rapid expansion and global adoption plan through his internal leadership and development of external relations with strategic partners.

Adapdix recently announced EdgeOps DataMesh, the first product of its next-generation adaptive AI software platform EdgeOps that overcomes the typical hurdles of real-time operational data management. Performing data ingestion, pre-processing and edge inferencing in millisecond timeframes, enables real-time analysis control to improve operational efficiency and reduce downtime of high-value assets. The software is already used by multiple Fortune 500 customers, including several leading semiconductor manufacturers, to improve their manufacturing performance.

Anthony Hill, CEO at Adapdix, said, "John is an industry veteran with many years of senior-level experience, leading large cross-functional teams to deliver industrial IoT and analytic solutions. I'm delighted that he has decided to join Adapdix as he will play a key role in moving the company and our products to the next level."

Genovesi holds an MBA from Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Youngstown State University. He joins an Adapdix team that already includes experienced senior staff from industry-leading companies such as Amazon, Foxconn, GE Digital, and Hitachi Vantara.

About Adapdix

Adapdix provides an innovative software platform for enterprises that optimizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) at the edge. The company's customer-centric EdgeOps platform increases uptime of equipment, reduces supply chain and logistics cost and increases remote worker productivity. Founded in 2015, Adapdix is headquartered in Pleasanton, California - see www.adapdix.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1550826/Adapdix_John_Genovesi.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1359461/ADAPDIX__Logo.jpg
HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill" or the "Company") (OSE:SDRL, OTCPK:SDRLF) announces that Seadrill New Finance Limited (the "Issuer"), a subsidiary of the Company, has agreed to further extend the existing forbearance agreement announced on 19 April 2021, and extended on 17 May 2021, 27 May 2021, 3 June 2021 and 18 June 2021, with respect to the 12.0% senior secured notes due 2025 (the "Notes") with certain holders of the Notes (the "Note Holders").

Pursuant to the forbearance agreement, as extended, the consenting Note Holders have agreed not to exercise any enforcement rights with respect to the Issuer and any subsidiary of the Issuer which is an obligor under the Notes to, or otherwise take actions in respect of, certain events of default that may arise under the Notes as a result of, amongst other things, the Issuer not making the semi-annual 4% cash interest payment due to the senior secured noteholders on 15 January 2021 in respect of their Notes and the filing of Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas by the Company and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries (excluding the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries) until and including the earlier of 2 July 2021 and any termination of the forbearance agreement.

The purpose of the forbearance agreement is to allow the Issuer and its stakeholders more time to negotiate the heads of terms of a comprehensive restructuring of its balance sheet. Such a restructuring may involve the use of a court-supervised process.

About Seadrill

Seadrill is a leading offshore drilling contractor utilizing advanced technology to unlock oil and gas resources for clients across harsh and benign locations across the globe. Seadrill's high quality, technologically advanced fleet spans all asset classes allowing its experienced crews to conduct its operations from shallow to ultra-deep-water environments. The company operates 43 rigs, which includes drillships, jack-ups and semi-submersibles.

Seadrill is listed on the Oslo Brs and OTCPK. For more information, visit https://www.seadrill.com/

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes forward looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

CONTACT:

seadrill@hawthornadvisors.com

020 3745 4960

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
Abbas Hussain will take over as CEO of the Vifor Pharma Group on 16 August 2021

Succeeding Stefan Schulze, who has decided to step down and leave the company for personal reasons

Regulatory News:

Abbas Hussain (56, British citizen) has a successful and international career of more than 30 years as an executive in the healthcare sector. From 2008 to 2017, Abbas Hussain held various leadership positions for the British pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline, most recently as Global President Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines for five years. Prior to that, he worked for 20 years for the U.S. pharmaceutical group Eli Lilly, holding management positions at sites in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.

In recent years, he has contributed his experience as an independent member of the boards of directors of major pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies, such as Teva Pharmaceuticals, CSL and Cochlear. He has also acted as an advisor to private equity and venture capital firms focused on the healthcare sector. Abbas Hussain holds a Bachelor of Science in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Loughborough Institute of Technology (UK), graduated from Duke University Fuqua Executive Business School (North Carolina, USA) and is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University (California, USA).

Until Abbas Hussain joins the company on 16 August 2021, Stefan Schulze will continue to have overall executive responsibility for the Vifor Pharma Group. Stefan Schulze, who has been with Vifor Pharma for seven years, took over as CEO in March 2020. From 2017 to 2020, he was President of the Executive Committee and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Vifor Pharma Group. He joined the Vifor Pharma Group in 2014 as CEO of Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd. Prior to that, he worked for the German Fresenius Group for more than 20 years in various positions.

Jacques Theurillat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vifor Pharma, commented: "We are delighted that Abbas Hussain, an experienced and entrepreneurial leader, will take over the helm of Vifor Pharma. Abbas Hussain brings over 30 years of track record at an international level in the healthcare sector, and also an impressive experience across the pharmaceutical value chain in both mature and emerging markets. His professional background makes him ideally suited to further drive Vifor Pharma's growth. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Stefan Schulze for his commitment to Vifor Pharma over the past seven years. He has made a significant contribution to the strong market position of the Vifor Pharma Group. We wish him all the best for the future."

Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is a partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care). Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348).

For more information, please visit viforpharma.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005916/en/

Contacts:

Media Relations

Nathalie Ponnier

Global Head Corporate Communications

+41 79 957 96 73

media@viforpharma.com



Investor Relations

Julien Vignot

Head of Investor Relations

+41 58 851 66 90

investors@viforpharma.com
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - It is with feelings of outrage, but not shock that CAP responds to the news from Cowessess First Nation of the 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. In the wake of the news from Kamloops, Indigenous peoples across Canada knew that it was only a matter of time before the graves of more innocent children would be found at residential school sites.

National Chief Elmer St. Pierre has sent a letter to the Prime Minister requesting an investigation at every former residential school site. A letter was also sent to the Pope of the Catholic Church, copying the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Apostolic Nunciature in Canada. "The institutions that perpetrated these crimes against humanity must take responsibility for their actions, and we won't rest until all of our lost Indigenous children are recovered," stated National Chief Elmer St. Pierre. "When we continue to see officials downplay the atrocities at the residential schools, we know Indigenous rights are not being taken seriously. Seeing the news today that Pastor Owen Keenan wants us to thank the church for the "good" done by the residential school system makes me sick."

"It is unacceptable that the Government of Canada has continued to ignore the requests of Indigenous leaders to investigate the residential school sites," stated Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin. "Our people have continued to undergo the trauma associated with these findings, and we need full closure on this dark chapter in Canadian history."

CAP is demanding that Prime Minister Trudeau launch a full investigation, with additional support programming for Indigenous Peoples across the country. The responsibility for this tragedy cannot be passed any longer, the buck must stop with Prime Minister Trudeau.

-30-

For media interviews please contact:

Jessica Dawson, Executive Manager & Communications

j.dawson@abo-peoples.org

613-806-8669

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is the national voice representing the interests of Metis, status and non-status Indians, and Southern Inuit Indigenous People living off-reserve. Today, over 70% of Indigenous people live off-reserve.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88582
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market ended on a firm note on Thursday as investors picked up shares amid continued optimism about strong economic recovery. The benchmark SMI ended with a strong gain of 95.02 points or 0.8% at 11,993.64, after hitting a high of 12,010.59. Credit Suisse and Lonza Group both ended higher by about 2.8%. Partners Group, Geberit, Swatch Group, Holcim, ABB, Richemont and Givaudan gained 1 to 1.8%. Zurich Insurance Group ended nearly 1% up. Swiss Life Holding, SGS, Sika, Roche Holding, UBS Group and Swiss Re gained 0.6 to 0.85%. In the Mid Cap Index, Tecan Group shares soared nearly 11% after the company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Parmait Corporation for a total purchase consideration of US$ 1.0 billion (CHF 920 million). Flughafen Zurich, Straumann Holding and Sonova gained 2.2 to 2.3%. AMS, Lindt & Spruengli, Temenos Group, VAT Group, BB Biotech, Adecco, Barry Callebaut and Julius Baer moved up 1 to 2%. Vifor Pharma shares ended lower by 5.3%, while Dufry and OC Oerlikon Corp posted modest losses. Switzerland has decided to allow large public events with 10,000 plus people from Saturday. The government's move comes after data from Swiss Federal Health Ministry showed that only 209 of 180,000 new infections recorded in Switzerland in the last five months were in people fully vaccinated with shots from Moderna or Pfizer and BioNTech. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MOSCOW, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announces the data of the Ministry of Health of the Buenos Aires province (Argentina), confirming the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus has demonstrated the best safety profile among all vaccines used in the province.

According to the data collected between December 29, 2020 and June 3, 2021, with 2.8 million doses administered, Sputnik V recorded the lowest ratio of serious adverse events. Full data of the Ministry of Health of the Buenos Aires province is available at:

https://www.gba.gob.ar/saludprovincia/noticias/estudio_bonaerense_confirma_la_seguridad_de_la_vacuna_sputnik_v

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said:

"From the global experience we see that Sputnik V has the best safety profile compared to other vaccines. This is confirmed by international data coming from both national and regional ministries of health in a number of countries in various regions of the world, where Sputnik V is successfully used to protect the population."

Sputnik V has a number of key advantages:

Efficacy of Sputnik V is 97.6% based on the analysis of data on the coronavirus infection rate among those in Russia vaccinated with both components of Sputnik V from December 5, 2020 to March 31, 2021 ;

The Sputnik V vaccine is based on a proven and well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors, which cause the common cold and have been around for thousands of years.

Sputnik V uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination, providing immunity with a longer duration than vaccines using the same delivery mechanism for both shots.

The safety, efficacy and lack of negative long-term effects of adenoviral vaccines have been proven by more than 250 clinical studies over two decades.

There are no strong allergies caused by Sputnik V.

The storage temperature of Sputnik V at +2+8 C means it can be stored in a conventional refrigerator without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure.

The price of Sputnik V is less than $10 per shot, making it affordable around the world.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru

For additional information contact: Alexey Urazov Andrew Leach / Maria Shiryaevskaya Russian Direct Investment Fund Hudson Sandler Director for External Communications

Mobile: +7 915 312 76 65 Tel: +44 (0) 20 7796 4133 E-mail: Alexey.Urazov@rdif.ru



Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140939/Russian_Direct_Investment_Fund_Logo.jpg
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (the "Company" or "Aires") is pleased share an update after the first five months of the year.

Highlights:

Year over year revenue increase . For the same period in 2020, revenue increased by over almost 130% (unaudited figures).

. For the same period in 2020, revenue increased by over almost 130% (unaudited figures). New fulfillment center in California . Opening of a new warehouse in California able to fulfill most of the orders for West Coast of USA. This new location will be able to deliver customers faster, in 1-2 business days, for a very competitive cost, and significant saving on shipping.

. Opening of a new warehouse in California able to fulfill most of the orders for West Coast of USA. This new location will be able to deliver customers faster, in 1-2 business days, for a very competitive cost, and significant saving on shipping. New Chief Revenue Officer . Josh Bruni our new CRO will start officially working for Aires on July 1 st , 2021. He will be responsible for an organization's overall revenue strategy - growth plans, go to market strategy and new marketing initiatives.

. Josh Bruni our new CRO will start officially working for Aires on July 1 , 2021. He will be responsible for an organization's overall revenue strategy - growth plans, go to market strategy and new marketing initiatives. Customer Service expansion. The Customer Service is expanding in July, by bringing new talents. As the sales are growing, Aires, stay focus on the Customer Service Excellence!

Aires continues to be committed and focused on building out their infrastructure, platform and management team as seen above in the summary. As one of the only (if not the only) technologies that protects people from the harmful effect of EMR, Aires continues to see exuberant growth and will continue to expand their business globally to become the leader in EMR protection.

Dimitry Serov, President and CEO commented, "Over the last two years, we have seen strong revenue growth and the validation from the consumer Aires products are in demand. The consumer realization the threat of EMR potential health risks, especially with the global rollout of 5G is dramatically increasing positions Aires uniquely to combat these health issues and protect the consumer."

About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. is a nanotechnology company which has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The technology was developed by a team of highly credited scientists and confirmed by independent third-party validation including peer reviewed studies and publications in scientific journals. The technology specifically targets cellphones, computers, baby monitors, Wi-Fi radiation and general EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices. Aires has launched a full suite of consumer products under the brand name "Airestech" for use on almost all consumer electronic devices. The Company has adopted a global ecommerce and distribution platform that scales easily as sales grow. Since launching in 2019, Aires has enjoyed exuberant growth. The company has been aggressively building out their ecommerce platform which is now capable of delivering up to 10,000 shipments a day along with recent customer service center agreements. Strategically placed fulfillment centers have been secured to ensure prompt delivery around the globe (see PR Jan. 31, 2020).With the launch of 5G networks around the world, this year, we are seeing an increase of news, reports and leading health organizations discussing the potential harm of EMR and the importance of identifying solutions to reduce these harmful rays. Aires products are the solution.

www.airestech.com

On behalf of the board of directors

Company Contact

Dimitry Serov, CEO

Email: dimitry@airestech.com

Telephone: (905) 482-4667

Website: www.airestech.com

For further information please contact:

Investor Cubed Inc.:

Neil Simon, CEO

Email: wifi@airestech.com

Telephone: (647) 258-3310

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Not intended for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88572
LUXEMBOURG / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX) today released its 2020 Sustainability Report, an integral discussion of the company's progress towards achieving its objectives in a sustainable way.

Ternium's value proposition aims to achieve profitable operations on a sustainable basis, through a management approach that encompasses the interests of all of its stakeholders. The report has been prepared taking into account the guidelines established by worldsteel, the UN Global Compact, the Global Reporting Initiative and the New York Stock Exchange.

The company's Sustainability Report describes the actions taken to achieve Ternium's goals in six focus areas:

Safety Environment People Communities Value chain Business strategy

The report also reinforces the idea of integrity as key to Ternium's long-term sustainability. The company continuously works on building a corporate culture of ethical behavior and transparency through a strong set of corporate governance standards.

Ternium's 2020 Sustainability Report is accessible at its website www.ternium.com on the Investors section.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. These risks include but are not limited to risks arising from uncertainties as to gross domestic product, related market demand, global production capacity, tariffs, cyclicality in the industries that purchase steel products and other factors beyond Ternium's control.

About Ternium

Ternium is Latin America's leading flat steel producer, with operating facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, the southern United States and Central America. The company offers a broad range of high value-added steel products for customers active in the automotive, home appliances, HVAC, construction, capital goods, container, food and energy industries through its manufacturing facilities, service center and distribution networks, and advanced customer integration systems. More information about Ternium is available at www.ternium.com.

SOURCE: Ternium S.A.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/653033/Ternium-Releases-2020-Sustainability-Report
Highlights:

Phase 1 Indoor Cultivation expansion and upgrades underway: forecast additional $6.1 million in annual revenues

Phase 2 Indoor Cultivation construction and expansion to commence in Q3: forecast additional $10.9 million in annual revenues

Phase 1 CapEx: $1.7M USD via existing balance sheet

Phase 2 CapEx: $4.0M USD via existing balance sheet or project-based loan

Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Vibe Growth Corporation (CSE: VIBE) (OTC Pink: VBSCF) (FSE: A061) (the "Company" or "Vibe"), a leading vertically integrated multi-state cannabis enterprise, provides update on the expansion of its Sacramento Cannabis Campus.

The Company has prioritized the expansion of its Sacramento cultivation capacity to meet the increased demand for Vibe products, implementing a proven vertical integration strategy to significantly enhance its brands' margin profile. Cultivation expansion remains a top growth priority, having significantly improved its growing efficiencies translating to increased harvest yields and additional grow cycles, and achieving a recent record of 37.7% THC content cannabis harvest. The Company has a strong balance sheet and healthy cash position of $13.4 million (end of Q1 2021), which Vibe intends to deploy to initiatives critical to increasing production and yield capacity. The Company anticipates the initiatives to cost approximately $1.7 million US for the Phase I expansion and $4.0 million US for the Phase II expansion.

Plans for the licensed Sacramento facility are subject to various regulatory approvals and the Company anticipates completion of Phase I in the second half of 2021. Vibe has commenced its two-phased Sacramento cultivation expansion as follows:

Phase I:

The first phase of construction shall expand canopy and increase Vibe's annual cannabis production to $8.3 million US at the existing Vibe-owned 2-acre Sacramento Cannabis Campus, including new vegetative grow, flowering and drying rooms. This is in addition to our Crescent City annualized forecast greenhouse revenues of $6.0 million;

The additional canopy square footage is to be achieved by upgrading the existing Vibe cultivation buildings and current cultivation operations to a two-tiered vertical growing system using advanced irrigation and nutrient delivery systems;

The additional canopy is expected to increase the yield of premium indoor flower and trim/biomass for use in Hype Cannabis Co. retail products.

Phase II:

The second phase of construction is subject to customary regulatory approvals, upgrade of electrical service and construction of a new building on land owned by Vibe;

Will add an additional $10.9 million US in cultivation production to the additional $6.1 million US annual production from Phase I expansion;

Initial planning of the new building has commenced and the expansion will entail construction of a new building, site servicing, and fixturing of new vegetative grow, flowering & drying rooms.

Mark Waldron, CEO of Vibe, stated, "Our expansion goals on our Sacramento campus are to add an additional $17 million annually in high-margin and high-quality cultivation revenues. Our cultivation expansion will provide us significant economies of scale and the ability to improve margins, generating an optimal return for Vibe shareholders. In addition to allowing us to take advantage of opportunities in the state for premium indoor flower, expanding our cultivation capabilities underpins our plan to increase the degree of vertical integration for our Hype Cannabis Co. products, as well as the continued expansion of our retail footprint in California."

Annual General Meeting Update

The results of the matters presented for approval at Vibe's annual general meeting of shareholders, held on June 24, 2021, have been fully authorized and approved. A total of 49,785,076 common shares, representing 48.39 percent of the common shares issued and outstanding, were represented in person or by proxy at the meeting.

All of the nominees proposed as directors of the Company were unanimously elected as directors of the Company with votes cast by the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting. The Directors elected are Aaron Johnson, Jim Walker, Joe Starr, Gord Anderson and Mark Waldron.

An ordinary resolution to approve the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP, chartered professional accountants, as the auditor of the Company, was unanimously approved at the meeting.

About Vibe Growth Corporation

Vibe Growth Corporation and its cannabis retail brand, Vibe By California, is a trusted, California focused, multistate (MSO) cannabis enterprise with retail dispensaries; cannabis greenhouse cultivation; premium indoor cultivation; commercial cannabis distribution; brand sales and marketing; e-commerce platform; home delivery; and Hype Cannabis Co. marijuana and Vibe CBD products. In California, Vibe is focused on maximizing shareholder value through accelerating organic growth, opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and new license applications. The Company operates retail and e-commerce under its iconic Vibe by California brand.

To learn more about Vibe, please visit: www.vibebycalifornia.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Product & Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events, and may be impacted as a result of general economic conditions or the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company's expectations of revenue, EBITDA profitability and adjusted funds flow, higher sales volumes, and the company's retail operations. Actual future results may differ materially.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Risk factors related to the Company are described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any State securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

Unlike in Canada which has Federal legislation uniformly governing the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of medical cannabis under the Cannabis Act (Federal), readers are cautioned that in the U.S., cannabis is largely regulated at the State level. To the knowledge of Vibe Growth Corporation, there are to date a total of 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, that have legalized cannabis in some form. Notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of medical cannabis at the State level, cannabis continues to be categorized as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the U.S. and as such, cannabis-related practices or activities, including without limitation, the manufacture, importation, possession, use or distribution of cannabis are illegal under U.S. federal law. Strict compliance with state laws concerning cannabis will neither absolve Vibe of liability under the U.S. Federal law nor will it provide a defense to any Federal proceeding, which may be brought against Vibe Growth Corporation. Any such proceedings brought against Vibe may adversely affect its operations and financial performance.

Company Contact

Bill Mitoulas

Phone: +1 416.479.9547

Email: ir@vibebycalifornia.com

Website: www.vibebycalifornia.com

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88586
RICHMOND HILL, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX:HBP) ('Helix' or the 'Company'), an immuno-oncology company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, today announced that it has appointed Marcum LLP as the Company's new auditor, replacing BDO Canada LLP. The Company has filed a Notice of Change of Auditor in respect of this change under its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

The Company also announced today that it has received conditional approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") to extend the exercise period of a total of 4,830,175 outstanding common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"), all of which are held by arm's length parties, for a period of two years from their current expiry dates. The Warrants were issued pursuant to private placements of the Company that closed between July 2014 and August 2016 and represent approximately 3.4% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The Warrants that are proposed to be extended and which were issued in July 2014 were previously extended for a two-year period in 2019.

The dates of each private placement, the original issue price of the units (with each unit comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant), the total number of Warrants, the exercise price of the Warrants, the current expiry dates of the Warrants and the proposed extended expiry date of the Warrants are as follows:

Date of Private Placement



Issue Price of Units under Private Placement

($) Extended Warrants

(#) Warrant Exercise Price

($) Current

Expiry Date of Warrants



Extended Expiry Date of Warrants



July 10, 2014 $1.60 2,935,500 $2.24 July 9, 2021 July 9, 2023 July 29, 2016 $1.46 1,250,000 $1.82 July 28, 2021 July 28, 2023 August 18, 2016 $1.54 644,675 $1.92 August 17, 2021 August 17, 2023

About Helix BioPharma Corp.

Helix BioPharma Corp. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing unique therapies in the field of immune-oncology for the prevention and treatment of cancer based on our proprietary technological platform DOS47. Helix is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "HBP".

For more information, please contact:

Helix BioPharma Corp.

9120 Leslie Street, Suite 205

Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3J9

Tel: 905-841-2300 x 233

Frank Michalargias, Chief Financial Officer

ir@helixbiopharma.com

Investor Relations

Alpha Bronze, LLC

Mr. Pascal Nigen

Phone: + 1 (917) 385-2160

helix@alphabronze.net

Forward-Looking Statements and Risks and Uncertainties

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements and information that are not historical facts but instead include financial projections and estimates, statements regarding plans, goals, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to the Company's future business, operations, research and development, including the Company's activities relating to DOS47, and other information in future periods. Forward-looking statements can further be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "ongoing", "estimates", "expects", or the negative thereof or any other variations thereon or comparable terminology referring to future events or results, or that events or conditions "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved, or comparable terminology referring to future events or results.

Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are also uncertain. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements, including financial outlooks, are intended to provide information about management's current plans and expectations regarding future operations, including without limitation, future financing requirements, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Certain material factors, estimates or assumptions have been applied in making forward-looking statements in this news release, including, but not limited to, the safety and efficacy of L-DOS47; that sufficient financing will be obtained in a timely manner to allow the Company to continue operations and implement its clinical trials in the manner and on the timelines anticipated; the timely provision of services and supplies or other performance of contracts by third parties; future costs; the absence of any material changes in business strategy or plans; and the timely receipt of required regulatory approvals and strategic partner support.

The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the risk that the Company's assumptions may prove to be incorrect; the risk that additional financing may not be obtainable in a timely manner, or at all, and that clinical trials may not commence or complete within anticipated timelines or the anticipated budget or may fail; third party suppliers of necessary services or of drug product and other materials may fail to perform or be unwilling or unable to supply the Company, which could cause delay or cancellation of the Company's research and development activities; necessary regulatory approvals may not be granted or may be withdrawn; the Company may not be able to secure necessary strategic partner support; general economic conditions, intellectual property and insurance risks; changes in business strategy or plans; and other risks and uncertainties referred to elsewhere in this news release, any of which could cause actual results to vary materially from current results or the Company's anticipated future results. Certain of these risks and uncertainties, and others affecting the Company, are more fully described in the Company's annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended July 31, 2020 under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" and Helix's Annual Information Form, in particular under the headings "Forward-looking Statements" and "Risk Factors", and other reports filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com from time to time. Forward-looking statements and information are based on the beliefs, assumptions, opinions and expectations of Helix's management on the date of this new release, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement or information should those beliefs, assumptions, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances change, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Helix BioPharma Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/653007/Helix-BioPharma-Corp-Announces-Appointment-of-New-Auditor-and-Extends-Period-to-Exercise-Warrants
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Cinaport Acquisition Corp. III (TSXV: CAC.P) (the "Company"), a capital pool company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), is pleased to announce that all matters submitted to shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's management information circular dated May 24, 2021 (the "Circular") were approved at the annual general and special meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on June 24, 2021 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, MNP LLP was appointed as the auditor of the Company and the incumbent members of the board of directors, being Don Wright, Avi Grewal, John O'Sullivan, Patrick Ryan and Sesh Chari were elected.

In addition, disinterested shareholders of the Company have voted in favour of the following resolutions proposed by the Company in the Circular to implement certain changes required for the transition under the new TSXV Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies effective as at January 1, 2021 (the "New CPC Policy"):

removing the consequences associated with the Company not completing a Qualifying Transaction within 24 months of its listing date; approving the amendments to the Company's escrow agreement dated November 14, 2018 in accordance with the New CPC Policy; permitting payment of finder's fee to a non-arm's length party to the Company upon completion of its Qualifying Transaction pursuant to the New CPC Policy; and approving certain amendments to the Company's stock option plan in accordance with the New CPC Policy.

Please refer to the Company's news release dated May 25, 2021 and the Circular for further details with respect to the foregoing transition matters relating to the New CPC Policy.

For more information, please contact:

Avi Grewal

President & Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (416) 213-8118 Ext. 210

E-mail: agrewal@cinaport.com

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88604
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2021) - Mainstream Minerals Corporation (the "Company") announces that, pursuant to a termination and release agreement dated June 24, 2021 between the Company and Plutus Super Flow-Through Limited Partnership ("Plutus"), it has terminated the letter of intent with Plutus as previously announced on June 19, 2020 and September 17, 2020, and the transaction contemplated therein will not proceed.

In addition, the Company announces the resignation of Ms. Jessica Whitton as President, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary and Director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Ms. Whitton for her contribution to the Company and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.

The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Nauth as President, Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary and Director of the Company. Mr. Nauth practices U.S. securities and corporate law and advises both public and private issuers on U.S.-Canada cross border capital markets, M&A and corporate/securities transactions and regulatory compliance. Mr. Nauth holds a J.D. from Queen's University and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from York University. Mr. Nauth is a licensed Foreign Legal Consultant in the Province of Ontario. Mr. Nauth has extensive advisory experience in a range of industries, including mining and oil/gas, emerging biopharmaceutical and medical devices, medicinal cannabis, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Mr. Nauth currently serves as a director of Bhang Inc., QcX Gold Corp., SBD Capital Corp., Interactive Capital Partners Corporation, Crosswinds Holdings Inc., Pima Zinc Corp. and Veta Resources Inc.

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Nauth

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (416) 477-6031

Email: dnauth@nauth.com

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward- looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/88603


MUMBAI (dpa-AFX) - After Facebook and Google, Reliance Industries adds another global figure in their board of directors. Reliance head, Mukesh Ambani announced the inclusion of Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Chairman of Saudi Aramco, to the board of directors at Thursday's annual general meeting.



This deepens the ties between the company and the gulf kingdom. According to Ambani, Rumayyan will join as an independent member. Ambani said, 'We look forward to welcoming Saudi Aramco as a strategic partner in our O2C ( Oil to chemical) business'.



This attempt will smoothen the process of Saudi Aramco's acquisition of 20% stock in Reliance's core refining and petrochem business, worth $15 billion. The move was set to be completed in 2020, but the pandemic halted the negotiations. 'Despite several challenges due to Covid-19, we have made substantial progress in the past year in our discussions,' added Ambani.



Rumayyan is also the managing director of the kingdom's Public Investment Fund, which promised to invest $1.3 billion in Reliance Jio during its fundraiser last year, and also invested $1.5 billion in Reliance Retail.



Ambani has shaken hands with Google to make cost-efficient smartphones in India. In the meet, Ambani also announced investment of $10 billion in making clean energy. The company will make four factories in the country that will produce 100 gigawatts of solar energy by 2030.



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RELIANCE INDUSTRIES-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2021 / Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. ("Lincoln" or the "Company") (TSXV:LMG) is pleased to announce that it has signed a drilling contract with KB Drilling Co. Inc. of Moundhouse, Nevada to carry out a core hole drilling program at its Pine Grove project south of Yerington, Nevada, with an anticipated start date in September 2021.

This drilling program is an important next step in determining processing options for higher grade gold, potential expansion of known gold mineralization, and final pit design.

There are three primary objectives to this drill program:

Three previously drilled rotary holes will be twinned to compare with current drill core results. This will better assist the Company in identifying high grade zones of mineralization and designing the recovery system for the higher-grade mineralization on the property. When the Pine Grove mine operated from 1865 to 1886, it was reported that approximately 240,000 gold ounces were produced at an average grade of 1.3 - 1.4 ounces per ton (see news release of February 19, 2017).

Two geotechnical holes are planned for each mining pit (4 holes total) to determine the pit slopes for the final overall design.

Potential expansion of known gold mineralization in the Wilson Pit area (see news release of September 16, 2019).

The Company is pleased to take this next key step in advancing the permitting process. Understanding and segregating the high-grade gold zones at the Pine Grove project area is an important part of the overall production plan.

About Lincoln

Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. is an advanced-stage gold mine exploration and development company holding a 100% interest in the Pine Grove Gold Project, in the Walker Lane structural zone of western Nevada. The Company has prepared a preliminary economic assessment of the Pine Grove Gold Project pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Lincoln is working with the U.S. Forest Service to secure the permits necessary to develop the Pine Grove Gold Project into a low-cost heap leach operation with a high-grade gravity circuit.

Lincoln is developing exploration plans for the newly acquired Shawinigan Quebec property to evaluate the copper, nickel, and cobalt opportunities at the site. Per the option agreement Lincoln will expend a minimum of $250,000 over the next 12 months.

Lincoln also owns an interest in a joint venture in respect of the Oro Cruz Gold Property in California. Lincoln's joint venture partner is advancing the Oro Cruz Gold Property towards further exploration, development, and production.

Lincoln holds its interests in the U.S. based projects through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Lincoln Resource Group Corp. and Lincoln Gold US Corporation, both Nevada corporations.

For more information, please contact Paul Saxton, President and CEO of the Company.

On behalf of Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.

Paul Saxton

President and CEO, Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.

Tel: (604) 688-7377

Email: saxton @ lincolnmining.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to markets about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the royalty buydown, the permitting process, future production of Pine Grove Gold Project, budget and timing estimates, the Company's working capital and financing opportunities and statements regarding the exploration and mineralization potential of the Company's properties, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Lincoln's expectations include fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Lincoln does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements.

SOURCE: Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/653066/Lincoln-Gold-Announces-Signing-of-Drill-Contract-for-the-Pine-Grove-Property
AlayaCare, a Montreal, Canada-based global home and community care software company, raised $225m CAD Series D funding round.

The round was led by Generation Investment Management LLP with participation from Klass Capital and incumbent investors Inovia Capital, CDPQ, and Investissement Quebec.

The company intends to use the funds to continue global expansion, hire additional staff and further invest in innovation capabilities to build a more complete post-acute offering in addition to products that help solve labour market issues around employee shortages and churn.

Founded in 2014 by Adrian Schauer, CEO, AlayaCare offers an end-to end software platform for home and community care providers to manage the entire client lifecycle from referrals and intake to billing, payroll and beyond combining traditional in-home and virtual care solutions. AlayaCare is the parent company of Procura, Arrow, CIMS, and AcuteNet.

Today, more than 500 home and community care organizations around the world use its software to improve operational efficiencies. Since its launch, AlayaCare has expanded its operations in the US, Canada, and Australia and now employs nearly 500 staff with aims to hire an additional 300+ employees over the coming years.

FinSMEs

23/06/2021
BlackBerry IVY Innovation Fund, the fund established in March 2021 by BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) has begun its investment activity.

Along with other backers, the fund made its maiden investment in Electra Vehicles, Inc., a Boston, MA-based AI-based provider of a software platform that optimizes the performance of battery systems on any vehicle in the eMobility space. The company closed a $3.6M seed funding round overall.

BlackBerry IVY Innovation Fund aims to help data-driven automotive ecosystem providers develop their new solutions and applications and bring them to market using BlackBerrys Intelligent Vehicle Data Platform, BlackBerry IVY.

Announced in December 2020 as part of a multi-year, global agreement with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), BlackBerry IVY is a scalable, cloud-connected software platform that will allow automakers to provide a consistent and secure way to read vehicle sensor data, normalize it, and create actionable insights from that data both locally in the vehicle and in the cloud. Automakers can use this information to create responsive in-vehicle services that enhance driver and passenger experiences.

The BlackBerry IVY Innovation Funds mission is to accelerate the expansion of the BlackBerry IVY ecosystem with innovative transportation solutions. The Fund has initially allocated up to $50m to invest in startups focused on developing data-driven solutions that can benefit from BlackBerry IVYs AI insights and support from BlackBerry and AWS.

The fund provides portfolio companies with access to BlackBerrys automotive and cybersecurity domain expertise. They also have access to up to $100k in AWS credits through AWS Activate, a program that has helped hundreds of thousands of early stage startups accelerate their growth and development. This includes access to the Activate Console, a self-service platform that connects startups to insights, technical guidance, and more to help them build their businesses.

FinSMEs

24/06/2021
Firebolt, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based cloud data warehouse company, raised $127m in Series B equity funding.

The round, which brought total funding to $164m, saw the participation from new investors Dawn Capital and K5 Global and previous investors Zeev Ventures, TLV Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Angular Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds continue to further expand its product, engineering and go-to-market teams and its business reach.

Led by Co-founder and CEO Eldad Farkash, Firebolt is a cloud data warehouse company that provides tech companies with a modern data stack to analyze large data sets, create rich and fast analytic experiences, while requiring less computing power to reduce costs. Built on a modern decoupled storage and compute architecture, Firebolt allows its users to pair any workload with the right compute resources without having to deal with common challenges around storage and cluster management that typically require extensive engineering maintenance. It allows 100% programmatic control of its platform through APIs and SDKs for developers to create rich data applications. SQL can be used to control everything in the platform.

Since its $37m Series A in December 2020, Firebolt has gained traction with data engineers and software developers for a broad range of applications, spanning from internal BI to customer-facing and operational data applications.

Over the past six months, the company has doubled its employee headcount to 100 with plans to double again over the next 12 months. In addition to the growth in the U.S., Firebolt added 6 global sites with Munich, Zurich, London, Dublin, Kiev, and Cluj joining its site in Tel Aviv.

Keenan Rice joined to lead US operations as Firebolt GM to build its San Francisco HQ.

FinSMEs

24/06/2021
Illumio, a Sunnyvale, California-based Zero Trust Segmentation company, raised $225m in Series F funding round at a $2.75 billion valuation.

The round was led by Thoma Bravo with participation from Franklin Templeton, funds managed by Hamilton Lane, and Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl Capital.

Led by Andrew Rubin, CEO and co-founder, Illumio provides a SaaS-based Zero Trust Segmentation, platform that makes it easy to deliver automated enforcement in minutes, reducing risk by stopping cyberattacks and ransomware from moving to other applications, clouds, containers, data centers, and endpoints.

Illumio Core and Illumio Edge make it easy to segment your hybrid, multi-cloud IT estates and to secure workloads at any scale, from 100 to 100,000+ workloads. The solutions deliver intelligent visibility, a policy creation engine, and automated segmentation and enforcement in minutes.

Many Fortune 100 companies and hundreds of global enterprises are using Illumio, including the three top enterprise SaaS companies, five of the leading insurance companies, and six of the ten biggest banks in the world.

FinSMEs

24/06/2021
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries at the companys 44th annual general meeting (AGM), Reliance Jio announced the JioPhone Next 4G phone developed in partnership with Google. He said that it will ultra-affordable and will pack cutting-edge features. He added that it is a fully featured smartphone, supporting the entire suite of applications from both Google and Jio.

Jio has confirmed voice assistant support, automatic read-aloud of text and more features. Google said that the teams have optimized a version of Android OS especially for this device, and it will offer language and translation features, a great camera with HDR, Indian-specific Snapchat Lenses directly accessible from the camera, and support for the latest Android updates.

It is built for India, and it will open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the internet for the very first time, said Google.

The JioPhone Next will be available in market from Ganesh Chaturthi, 10th September. We should know more details about the phone in the coming weeks.

Speaking about the joint effort, Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google and Alphabet said:

Our vision is to bring affordable access to information for Indians in their own language, to build new products and services for Indias unique needs, and to empower businesses with technology. Im excited that today, we can announce the next steps in this vision, starting with a new, affordable Jio smartphone, created with Google. Our teams have optimized a version of our Android OS especially for this device. It will offer language and translation features, a great camera, and support for the latest Android updates. It is built for India, and it will open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the internet for the very first time.
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MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) -- A high-speed chase on Airport Boulevard crossed state lines on Wednesday afternoon.

It started around 3:15 when a Mobile Police officer spotted a black Mustang that was reported stolen in Baldwin County. The driver took off heading west and crossed into Mississippi.

The driver then turned around and headed back into Alabama where officers were able to use spike strips to flatten the car's tires.

The driver was taken into custody. She is identified as 34-year-old Cherie Summers. She's charged with attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, and receiving stolen property.
CHICAGO (Meredith/AP)  A Chicago couple has died after they were dragged from a car, beaten and shot in a gruesome attack caught on video.

Police said Yasmin Perez, 23, and her boyfriend Gyovanny Arzuaga, 24, were driving in Humboldt Park following the city's Puerto Rican Day Parade on Saturday when they were involved in a minor traffic crash.

Following the accident, a group of men ambushed the couple in the middle of the street. Video shows several people dragging Perez from an SUV with a Puerto Rican flag sticking out of a window. They beat her and then shot her, Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said during a news conference.

Police said Arzuaga, who had also been dragged from the car, tried to shield Perez from the attackers but was shot in the head.

Hes almost on top of her and then you see that second suspect clearly holding a gun and shooting him in the head  almost execution style, Deenihan said.

Arzuaga was taken to Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center and pronounced dead the day of the attack, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Perez died Tuesday morning at Stroger Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The couple leaves behind two children.

The deadly attack was captured on a video and shared widely online, drawing more national attention following violence that included a recent mass shooting in Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the shootings of Perez and Arzuaga horrific on Monday and vowed that authorities would track down those involved.

The fact that that happened in our city, and so many individuals stood around and seemingly were trying to take advantage of this moment is a horrific statement, Lightfoot said.

Arzuaga and Perez were among eight people fatally shot in Chicago from 6 p.m. Friday to late Sunday night. Those killed were among more than 50 shooting victims during that period, the Chicago Tribune reported.
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SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX Carolina) - The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office confirmed Friday that there were two people who died in the multi-agency, officer-involved shooting spree that happened in Spartanburg Thursday afternoon.
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This June 28, 2018, file photo provided by the Anne Arundel Police shows Jarrod Ramos in Annapolis, Md. Jury selection is set to begin Wednesday, June 23, 2021, for the second part of a trial in the case of Ramos, who killed five people at a Maryland newspaper in 2018.
Nona Elizabeth (Bridgman) Shell was born October 13, 1934 to Joe Wheeler Bridgeman and Lillie Leo Fergesen in Thackerville, OK. She had four siblings: Barbara, Bonnie, Larry, and Linda. Nona moved to Gainesville, TX at age 17 where she met the love of her life, F.D. (Boady) Shell. They were 
Galveston, TX (77553)

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[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

Japanese gaming furniture brand Bauhutte (Located in Osaka, Japan) will begin global sales of their Gaming Sofa Chair G-350 from Hong Kong starting in June 2021. The pre-orders that began in March received a favorable reception, so sales are being expanded on a larger scale. The Gaming Sofa Chair suits stylish rooms quite well as its a gaming chair designed to look like a sofa. The plush cushion has internal pocket coils, making it a soft, relaxing place to sit. This product was so popular in Japan that it sold out almost immediately and has caused a stir on social media. Please get your own Gaming Sofa Chair and upgrade your gaming area into something more fashionable and comfortable. [ Gaming Sofa Chair G-350 ] https://www.bauhutte-g.com/product/g350/ [ Images ] Please download the images from Dropbox  The Combination of a Gaming Chair and a Sofa What do you imagine when you hear the words gaming chair? A lot of people probably think of a black chair that has a bucket seat like a race car with a bright color as an accent. Thats the standard design for a gaming chair and its nice, but its hard to match with other furniture and often stands out poorly in a room. Bauhutte decided to redesign the gaming chair and developed this chair that looks and feels like a sofa. The simply shaped frame is covered in a stylish fabric. It comes in three colors that arent too bright -- black, white, and green -- so it can match any kind of room. The thick cushion is made with internal pocket coils, so its so comfortable that youll want to sit in it forever. This is a revolutionary new design that combines the functions of a gaming chair and the interior design sensibilities of a sofa.  Soft and Comfortable The 15 cm (5.9 in) cushion was made specifically in four layers. The pocket coils and urethane foam comfortably support your body with the perfect amount of flexibility. It feels like sitting on a sofa, so youre unlikely to feel soreness even if you sit in the chair for a long time. You can remove the seat cushion and adjust the depth of the seat. Its also a useful function for cleaning out any gunk that gets caught in the wedges.  A Wide, Relaxing Seat Back Making the frame flat made the chair spacious and comfortable. The back is reclinable, so you can relax. The seat is wide, so you can sit cross-legged in this chair. Armrests Gaming chairs are not complete without armrests to support your arms as you handle the controller. The positioning of these armrests can be adjusted to match your posture and playing style. The armrests are also made with urethane foam, so they are easy on your arms. Adjustable Seat Height The seat can be adjusted to 49-56 cm (19.3-22 in) above the floor. Please adjust the seat to match your height and your desk.  Other Merits The back can be reclined 135 and the seat also has a rocking function. For more information, please visit the Bauhutte official website.  Product Summary [Product Name] Gaming Sofa Chair G-350 [Color] Black, Green, White [Size] W 660  D 730~1140  H 1130~1205 mm, Height of the seat : 490~560 mm, Weight Limit : 100kg [Price] Various (Reference Price: HK$2,788.00) [URL] https://www.bauhutte-g.com/product/g350/  Shop Information [ Shop Name ] eSportsOMG [ URL ] www.esportsomg.com [ Address ] 742-7483A, HongKong (Google Map) A Gaming Sofa Chair is on display at the above address. Please check out how comfortable it is for yourself! < Looking for Distributors > Bauhutte is currently looking for distributors around the world. If you are interested, please contact us at the following URL. [ Inquiry Form ] https://www.be-s.co.jp/contact  About Bauhutte Bauhutte is a Japanese gaming furniture brand that proposes functional and dreamy gaming desks under the concept of "A Gamers Hideout". Please refer to https://www.bauhutte-g.com/concept/ for more details on Bauhuttes products.
Boston, MA, June 24, 2021 - Notable speedrunner Eric Omnigamer Koziel and business partner Kristopher Cost today announced that Game Ventures, a crowdfunding platform for video game challenge contests, has officially launched.

To celebrate their launch, Game Ventures has listed a special $2000 Bounty for Resident Evil Village on the platform. Players can attempt to claim the Bounty award by submitting a speedy performance for an Any% Village of Shadows difficulty playthrough. Fans can even offer additional contributions to boost the payout (and competition) further. For more information on the Bounty rules and parameters, or to help grow the award further, click here .

Game Ventures celebrates and promotes significant gaming achievements through a unique crowdfunding marketplace where any gaming fan can create a monetary award for any incremental gaming goal. These goals include completing a game in the fastest time, achieving the highest score, and more. Users create Bounties by specifying the goal and rules, then funding a monetary award towards its completion. Once the Bounty is listed publicly, other Game Ventures users are able to add to the award and raise the stakes for competition. A small fee is added to each funding contribution to cover platform operational costs and development.

Prospective challengers can browse through available Bounties and awards that theyd like to pursue as well as track progress of the competition via Twitch streams. Once a credible claim is made on a Bounty, the submitted video and other evidence is rigorously verified via public review. During this review, other competitors can submit new claims that exceed the current best time or score, which restarts the review period. This process places a large focus on community involvement and a fair, collaborative vetting process, which should ultimately lead to highly-optimized gameplay from the most skillful players.



To learn more about Game Ventures, including information on the latest Bounties, click here.
Licenses for dental therapists who complete accredited programs will be issued by the Oregon Board of Dentistry starting in 2025. They would have to spend at least half their time working with underserved populations, or in areas with shortages of health professionals.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald.

The Oregon Dental Association took no stand on the bill. But the Legislature's two dentist members opposed it.

Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod of Lyons, who is retired, recounted an incident during which a patient had to go to the hospital after what turned out to be an overdose of insulin and other drugs in an apparent attempt to take his own life.

"He wouldn't be alive today if that had been a dental therapist," Girod said. "So ask yourself this question when you vote: Would you go to a dental therapist? If the answer is no, then don't tell poor people to go to a dental therapist. Raise the reimbursement rate."

As a state representative back in 1993, Girod voted for initial funding of the Oregon Health Plan, which promised to reimburse medical providers more fully for their services. Girod said that although he accepted Oregon Health Plan patients, other dentists did not  and state reimbursement rates were inadequate to cover his costs.
Gettysburg, PA (17325)

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Gillette, WY (82718)

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Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Gillette, WY (82718)

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Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

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TORONTO, June 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX:K; NYSE:KGC) (the Company) announced today a temporary suspension of mill operations at its Tasiast mine due to a fire on June 15, 2021. There were no injuries reported due to the fire.



The Company will work with government authorities and is starting the process of investigating the cause of the fire. The Company is also assessing the damage and potential impact on the operation and will provide a further update once an assessment is completed.

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mauritania, Chile and Ghana. Our focus is on delivering value based on the core principles of operational excellence, balance sheet strength, disciplined growth and responsible mining. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).

Media Contact

Louie Diaz

Vice-President, Corporate Communications

phone: 416-369-6469

louie.diaz@kinross.com

Investor Relations Contact

Chris Lichtenheldt

Vice-President, Investor Relations

phone: 647-821-1736

chris.lichtenheldt@kinross.com





Source: Kinross Gold Corporation




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Atlantic students entering post-secondary studies recognized for community leadership and volunteerism

Nearly three-quarters of all scholarships nationally awarded to youth from equity-seeking communities

More than $725,000 in scholarships awarded to over 300 Atlantic Canadian youth in the five-year history of the program

MONCTON, New Brunswick, June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Congratulations, Class of 2021! Last night at a virtual ceremony, Rogers Communications surprised 26 Atlantic youth with a Ted Rogers Scholarship to support their post-secondary studies this fall, and in recognition of their community leadership and volunteerism. These scholarships help young leaders and changemakers overcome financial barriers to post-secondary education and achieve their highest potential.

For the second year in a row, traditional rites of passage for high school students  including in-person proms, seniors trips, and graduation ceremonies  have been muted by the COVID-19 pandemic. But for young Atlantic Canadians, there are vaccines, acceptance letters, scholarshipsand possibilities. And for 26 deserving students in the region awarded a Ted Rogers Scholarship, last nights virtual celebration was a moment to recognize their achievements and look forward to an exciting future.

Reports show youth from low-income households, equity-seeking groups, or remote communities are less likely to pursue post-secondary studies due to barriers like affordability. Ted Rogers Scholarships help reduce those education barriers, offering $2,500 renewable scholarships for up to four years or $10,000 to recognize young leaders nominated by our 18 community partnership organizations, including Indspire, Pflag and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. The program also offers entrance scholarships of $2,500 to eligible Rogers employees or their children.

Collectively, our Class of 2021 recipients represent more than 22 communities across Atlantic Canada including: Bedford, Bell Island, Charlo, Corner Brook, Dieppe, East Preston, Gillams, Glace Bay, Grand Falls-Windsor, Hammonds Plains, Hantsport, Islandview, Moncton, Norris Arm, Oromocto, Port Hastings, Quispamsis, Riviere-a-la-Truite, Saint John, Torbay, Upper Tantallon, and Valley.

Nearly three-quarters of recipients nationally self-identify as members of equity-seeking groups including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQ2S+, and young women. These scholars reflect a vibrant and diverse generation which will propel Canada forward with ideas and innovation, and power our growth and economy.

Ted Rogers believed that investing in youth and education is one of the most powerful ways we can build a stronger Canada. Since launching Ted Rogers Scholarships in 2017, Rogers has invested more than $725,000 to support over 300 Atlantic Canadian youth attending post-secondary studies, with the program now celebrating its first cohort of university and college graduates. Additionally this year to create more opportunities for young Canadians, OMNI Television launched a national scholarship program for post-secondary students pursuing third-language and ethnic journalism, Cityline created a new scholarship for BIPOC women, and we evolved the Rogers New Grad Leadership Development Program.

Rogers is proud to help remove barriers to education and keep young Canadians connected throughout their journey. In addition to scholarships, we empower youth through Ted Rogers Community Grants which provide mentoring and leadership programs for students in grades 7-12, have provided hundreds of devices and plans to Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada and Pflag to keep youth connected to mentors, and are the largest funder for Jays Care Foundation programs like Rookie League which helps more than 14,000 kids facing barriers develop important life skills, through the power of baseball.

QUOTES:

Rogers is proud to support this next generation of leaders and changemakers in Atlantic Canada by awarding scholarships that help deserving youth achieve their highest potential. By recognizing their volunteerism and community leadership, and reducing education barriers, we know this investment in their future is an investment for our region.

- Matt MacLellan, President of Atlantic Region, Rogers Communications

New Brunswicks youth have consistently demonstrated their resilience, ingenuity and leadership  particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to congratulate this diverse group of innovators on their excellent work within their communities and encourage them to continue showing the powerful role our young leaders have in supporting a strong and inclusive province for years to come.

- Hon. Dominic Cardy, New Brunswick Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

During these unprecedented times, we have all come to learn how important it is to pull together and support each other. I am so pleased that this deserving group of young people are being recognized for the leadership and dedication they have demonstrated within their schools and communities. I want to congratulate all of this years scholarship recipients and wish them the very best as they continue to pursue their educational goals.

- Hon. Derek Mombourquette, Nova Scotia Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

The recipients of this award have shown their commitment to support and develop their communities and it is wonderful to see their contributions recognized. Our youth have shown incredible resilience this past year and it is inspiring to know that Canada will move forward and grow with young leaders who have a vision for community, inclusivity and diversity.

- Paul Davidson, President, Universities Canada

We are proud to have partnered with Rogers over the past 5 years in recognizing the achievements of young leaders across the nation who are giving back to their communities in meaningful ways. The Ted Rogers Scholarship program empowers young people across Canada to succeed in their educational aspirations. Together, we can continue to ignite the power and potential of young people to achieve their brightest possible future.

- W. Matthew Chater, National President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

These Ted Rogers Scholarships represent a powerful opportunity for students from equity-deserving communities to achieve their educational dreams. The Scholarships are yet another instance of the many significant ways in which Rogers has supported students who are overcoming systemic barriers to their education. We have been proud to partner with Rogers on a number of important initiatives this year. Rogers has not only supported the Indspire Awards and our Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards program, it has also sponsored our Rivers to Success Indigenous Mentorship Program. And we were both pleased and proud to be one of the charities chosen to participate in the inaugural year of Rogers All IN initiative, which provided generous in-kind promotional support and which enabled us to reach even more First Nations, Inuit, and Metis learners. We would like to congratulate all of the Ted Rogers Scholarships recipients  and to recognize Rogers ongoing commitment to positive change.

- Mike DeGagne, President & CEO, Indspire

Since the 1970s PFLAG chapters across North America, have assisted LGBTQ2S people and their families by offering peer support and other resources. In 2017 this tradition of helping evolved when Pflag Canada became a community partner in the Ted Rogers Scholarship Program. Everyone at Pflag Canada is proud of our four recipients for 2021. We wish all recipients of the 2021 awards every success in their post-secondary studies.

- Ross Wicks, Board Member and Secretary, Pflag

About Rogers

Rogers is a proud Canadian company dedicated to making more possible for Canadians each and every day. Our founder, Ted Rogers, purchased his first radio station, CHFI, in 1960. We have grown to become a leading technology and media company that strives to provide the very best in wireless, residential, sports, and media to Canadians and Canadian businesses. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). If you want to find out more about us, visit about.rogers.com.

For more information:

Rogers, media@rci.rogers.com, 1-844-226-1338




Portland, OR, June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the India nano gold market was estimated at $201.4 million in 2019 and is expected to hit $499.7 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 17.0% from 2020 to 2027. The report provides a detailed analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive landscape, and evolving market trends.

Increase in demand for nano gold from the electronics and healthcare industries and advantages associated with gold nanoparticles drive the growth of the India nano gold market. On the other hand, government regulations toward environmental pollution impede the growth to some extent. However, rise in awareness & trend toward biological synthesis method along with R&D toward the use of nano gold in healthcare and electronics applications is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry.

Download Sample PDF (123 Pages PDF with Insights): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11707

COVID-19 scenario-

The ban on the export and import, especially during the first phase of the lockdown, gave way to decreased demand for nano gold across the country.

However, as the production activities in sectors such as construction and automotive have started off, the market is expected to recoup soon.

The India nano gold market is analyzed across type, diameter size, application, and end user. Based on type, the water soluble segment contributed to more than two-fifths of the total market share in 2019, and is anticipated to lead the trail by the end of 2027. The oil soluble segment, on the other hand, would register the fastest CAGR of 17.3% during the forecast period.

Request the Covid19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/11707?reqfor=covid

Based on diameter size, the less than 40 nm segment accounted for more than half of the total market revenue in 2019, and is expected to dominate by 2027. The same segment would also cite the fastest CAGR of 18.1% throughout the forecast period.

Based on application, the in vitro diagnostics segment held more than one-fifth of the total market share in 2019, and is projected to maintain the lions share by 2027. The same segment would also exhibit the fastest CAGR of 19.5% from 2020 to 2027.

The key market players analyzed in the India nano gold market report include Nanocomposix, Blacktrace Holdings Ltd, Indian Platinum Private Limited, Aritech Chemazone Pvt Ltd, Merck KGaA, Mincometsal, Nano Labs, Nanoshel LLC, Techinstro, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Interested in Procuring this Report? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/india-nano-gold-market/purchase-options

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SEATTLE, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WatchGuard Technologies, a global leader in network security and intelligence, multi-factor authentication (MFA), advanced endpoint protection, and secure Wi-Fi, today released its Internet Security Report for Q1 2021. Notable findings include that 74% of threats detected last quarter were zero day malware  or those for which a signature-based antivirus solution did not detect at the time of the malware release  capable of circumventing conventional antivirus solutions. The report also covers new threat intelligence on rising network attack rates, how attackers are trying to disguise and repurpose old exploits, the quarters top malware attacks, and more.

Last quarter saw the highest level of zero day malware detections weve ever recorded. Evasive malware rates have actually eclipsed those of traditional threats, which is yet another sign that organizations need to evolve their defenses to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threat actors, said Corey Nachreiner, chief security officer at WatchGuard. Traditional anti-malware solutions alone are simply insufficient for todays threat environment. Every organization needs a layered, proactive security strategy that involves machine learning and behavioral analysis to detect and block new and advanced threats.

Other key findings from WatchGuards Q1 2021 Internet Security Report include:

Fileless malware variant explodes in popularity  XML.JSLoader is a malicious payload that appeared for the first time in both WatchGuards top malware by volume and most widespread malware detections lists. It was also the variant WatchGuard detected most often via HTTPS inspection in Q1. The sample WatchGuard identified uses an XML external entity (XXE) attack to open a shell to run commands to bypass the local PowerShell execution policy and runs in a non-interactive way, hidden from the actual user or victim. This is another example of the rising prevalence of fileless malware and the need for advanced endpoint detection and response capabilities.

 XML.JSLoader is a malicious payload that appeared for the first time in both WatchGuards top malware by volume and most widespread malware detections lists. It was also the variant WatchGuard detected most often via HTTPS inspection in Q1. The sample WatchGuard identified uses an XML external entity (XXE) attack to open a shell to run commands to bypass the local PowerShell execution policy and runs in a non-interactive way, hidden from the actual user or victim. This is another example of the rising prevalence of fileless malware and the need for advanced endpoint detection and response capabilities. Simple file name trick helps hackers pass off ransomware loader as legitimate PDF attachments  Ransomware loader Zmutzy surfaced as a top-two encrypted malware variant by volume in Q1. Associated with Nibiru ransomware specifically, victims encounter this threat as a zipped file attachment to an email or a download from a malicious website. Running the zip file downloads an executable, which to the victim appears to be a legitimate PDF. Attackers used a comma instead of a period in the file name and a manually adjusted icon to pass the malicious zip file off as a PDF. This type of attack highlights the importance of phishing education and training, as well as implementing back-up solutions in the event that a variant like this unleashes a ransomware infection.

 Ransomware loader Zmutzy surfaced as a top-two encrypted malware variant by volume in Q1. Associated with Nibiru ransomware specifically, victims encounter this threat as a zipped file attachment to an email or a download from a malicious website. Running the zip file downloads an executable, which to the victim appears to be a legitimate PDF. Attackers used a comma instead of a period in the file name and a manually adjusted icon to pass the malicious zip file off as a PDF. This type of attack highlights the importance of phishing education and training, as well as implementing back-up solutions in the event that a variant like this unleashes a ransomware infection. Threat actors continue to attack IoT devices  While it didnt make WatchGuards top 10 malware list for Q1, the Linux.Ngioweb.B variant has been used by adversaries recently to target IoT devices. The first version of this sample targeted Linux servers running WordPress, arriving initially as an extended format language (EFL) file. Another version of this malware turns the IoT devices into a botnet with rotating command and control servers.

While it didnt make WatchGuards top 10 malware list for Q1, the Linux.Ngioweb.B variant has been used by adversaries recently to target IoT devices. The first version of this sample targeted Linux servers running WordPress, arriving initially as an extended format language (EFL) file. Another version of this malware turns the IoT devices into a botnet with rotating command and control servers. Network attacks surge more than 20%  WatchGuard appliances detected more than 4 million network attacks, a 21% increase compared to the previous quarter and the highest volume since early 2018. Corporate servers and assets on site are still high-value targets for attackers despite the shift to remote and hybrid work, so organizations must maintain perimeter security alongside user-focused protections.

 WatchGuard appliances detected more than 4 million network attacks, a 21% increase compared to the previous quarter and the highest volume since early 2018. Corporate servers and assets on site are still high-value targets for attackers despite the shift to remote and hybrid work, so organizations must maintain perimeter security alongside user-focused protections. An old directory traversal attack technique makes a comeback  WatchGuard detected a new threat signature in Q1 that involves a directory traversal attack via cabinet (CAB) files, a Microsoft-designed archival format intended for lossless data compression and embedded digital certificates. A new addition to WatchGuards top 10 network attacks list, this exploit either tricks users into opening a malicious CAB file using conventional techniques, or by spoofing a network-connected printer to fool users into installing a printer driver via a compromised CAB file.

 WatchGuard detected a new threat signature in Q1 that involves a directory traversal attack via cabinet (CAB) files, a Microsoft-designed archival format intended for lossless data compression and embedded digital certificates. A new addition to WatchGuards top 10 network attacks list, this exploit either tricks users into opening a malicious CAB file using conventional techniques, or by spoofing a network-connected printer to fool users into installing a printer driver via a compromised CAB file. HAFNIUM zero days provide lessons on threat tactics and response best practices  Last quarter, Microsoft reported that adversaries used the four HAFNIUM vulnerabilities in various Exchange Server versions to gain full, unauthenticated system remote code execution and arbitrary file-write access to any unpatched server exposed to the Internet, as most email servers are. WatchGuard incident analysis dives into the vulnerabilities and highlights the importance of HTTPS inspection, timely patching and replacing legacy systems.

 Last quarter, Microsoft reported that adversaries used the four HAFNIUM vulnerabilities in various Exchange Server versions to gain full, unauthenticated system remote code execution and arbitrary file-write access to any unpatched server exposed to the Internet, as most email servers are. WatchGuard incident analysis dives into the vulnerabilities and highlights the importance of HTTPS inspection, timely patching and replacing legacy systems. Attackers co-opt legitimate domains in cryptomining campaigns  In Q1, WatchGuards DNSWatch service blocked several compromised and outright malicious domains associated with cryptomining threats. Cryptominer malware has become increasingly popular due to recent price spikes in the cryptocurrency market and the ease with which threat actors can siphon resources from unsuspecting victims.

WatchGuards quarterly research reports are based on anonymized Firebox Feed data from active WatchGuard Fireboxes whose owners have opted in to share data to support the Threat Labs research efforts. In Q1, WatchGuard blocked a total of more than 17.2 million malware variants (461 per device) and nearly 4.2 million network threats (113 per device). The full report includes details on additional malware and network trends from Q1 2021, a detailed analysis of the HAFNIUM Microsoft Exchange Server exploits, critical defense tips for readers, and more.

Read WatchGuards complete Q1 2021 Internet Security Report here: https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-resource-center/security-report-q1-2021

About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. is a global leader in network security, secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication, advanced endpoint protection, and network intelligence. The companys award-winning products and services are trusted around the world by nearly 18,000 security resellers and service providers to protect more than 250,000 customers. WatchGuards mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for midmarket businesses and distributed enterprises. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit WatchGuard.com.

For additional information, promotions and updates, follow WatchGuard on Twitter @WatchGuard on Facebook or on the LinkedIn Company page. Also, visit our InfoSec blog, Secplicity, for real-time information about the latest threats and how to cope with them at www.secplicity.org. Subscribe to The 443  Security Simplified podcast at Secplicity.org, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

WatchGuard is a registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.

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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silo Wellness Inc. (Silo Wellness or the Company) (CSE: SILO) (OTC: SILFF) (FRA: 3K70), a leading global psychedelics company, today announced the launch of Marley One, the first global functional and psychedelic mushroom consumer brand, in collaboration with the family of legendary musician Bob Marley. The initial product offering will include a range of functional mushroom tinctures with unique blends highlighting the brands connection to Jamaica, including species such as cordyceps, lion's mane, chaga, reishi and turkey tail that offer a range of unique health and wellness benefits, from immunity and gut health to cognitive function and sleep enhancement. The Company intends to launch a psychedelic mushroom product line under the Marley name later this year, to be followed by additional functional mushroom products including gummies, capsules and cosmetics.



In March, Silo Wellness announced a multi-year licensing agreement with the family of global reggae icon Bob Marley for the exclusive worldwide rights to brand, market and sell a distinct product line of functional and psychedelic mushrooms.

Today is a significant milestone for our company as we introduce the world to Marley One, a portfolio of branded mushroom products with instant name recognition and global visibility honoring Bob Marleys legacy and connection to nature and plant-based wellbeing, said Silo Wellness CEO Douglas K. Gordon. We are building what will become the worlds first global functional and psychedelic mushroom brand, guided by our vision to help people achieve healthier, more fulfilling lives and become the best versions of themselves.

We know Bob would be proud of what were building with Silo Wellness and the Marley One brand, said Rita Marley. Our family has always revered the ancient history and transformative potential of natures gifts.

At launch, the Marley One product line includes:



One Mind : A coffee-flavored blend of lions mane and L-theanine designed to improve focus and cognitive function.



: A coffee-flavored blend of lions mane and L-theanine designed to improve focus and cognitive function. One Flow : A peppermint-flavored blend of cordyceps and ginseng designed to enhance physical endurance and mental function.



: A peppermint-flavored blend of cordyceps and ginseng designed to enhance physical endurance and mental function. One Harmony : A mango-flavored blend of chaga and ginger designed to stimulate gut health and improve digestion.



: A mango-flavored blend of chaga and ginger designed to stimulate gut health and improve digestion. One Body : A berry-flavored blend of turkey tail and astragalus designed to support immune health.



: A berry-flavored blend of turkey tail and astragalus designed to support immune health. One Rest: A vanilla-flavored blend of reishi and GABA designed to help reduce tension and stress and improve quality of sleep.



Founded in 2018, Silo Wellness is a spore-to-door vertically integrated company and the leading psilocybin cultivator and facilitator of psychedelic retreats in Jamaica, a jurisdiction where the cultivation, extraction, and consumption of psilocybin mushrooms is permissible. In 2019, the Company announced proof of concept of a patent-pending psilocybin nasal spray. In addition to its market-leading mushroom and psilocybin products, Silo Wellness conducts ketamine-assisted retreats in Oregon and recently expanded its psychedelic offerings to introduce 5-MeO-DMT-enhanced retreats across Jamaica.

Said Cedella Marley, CEO of Bob Marley Group of Companies, As a family, we seek to use our platform to inspire positive change, and the launch of the Marley One mushroom brand, in collaboration with a pioneering company like Silo Wellness, allows us to do just that by marrying ancient wisdom with modern science. Its our wish that these products will empower people to experience oneness with nature and the universe at large - and ultimately, achieve greater self-actualization.

For more information or to purchase Marley One products online, please visit www.marley.one .

ABOUT SILO WELLNESS

Silo Wellness is a growth-oriented holding company focused on functional mushroom and psychedelic opportunities that benefit from a unified ecosystem and exceptional leadership. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Toronto, Silo Wellness has operations in Jamaica and Oregon. Silo Wellness is a publicly traded company on the Canadian (CSE: SILO) and Frankfurt (FRA: CK70) exchanges and trading on the OTC market (OTC: SILFF).

Silo Wellness offers a diverse and growing portfolio of functional mushroom products, psychedelic wellness retreats in Jamaica and Oregon, cultivation of psychedelic mushrooms and truffles in Jamaica, development of a brick-and-mortar smart shop in Jamaica, and intellectual property, focused initially on the commercialization of its metered-dosing psilocybin nasal spray.

In March 2021, Silo Wellness announced a multi-year licensing agreement with the family of legendary musician Bob Marley for the exclusive worldwide rights to brand, market and sell a distinct product line of functional and psychedelic mushrooms. The Marley One line of functional mushrooms is available at www.marley.one.

For more information about Silo Wellness, please visit www.silowellness.com.

For further information, please contact:

Silo Wellness Media Relations:

hello@trailblaze.co

Silo Wellness Investor Relations:

(778) 383-6740

ir@silowellness.com

ABOUT MARLEY MERCHANDISING LLC .

The Marley brand honors the timeless values of Bob Marley by uniting people around the world under the banner of One Love. Marley Merchandising, LLC, a wholly owned Marley family entity, owns, licenses and markets a portfolio of Marley consumer brands globally, including: House of Marley, Marley Beverage Co, Marley Natural, Marley Kitchen, Marley Coffee, and Bob Marley. For more information, visit bobmarley.com and @bobmarley on social media.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the partnership with the Marley brand, the effects of Silo Wellness products and the business plans of Silo Wellness. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and the potential impact of COVID-19. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Silo Wellness assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.




English French

Helen Romano becomes Vice President of Nexity's residential real estate division and Stephane Dalliet joins the group as Deputy CEO of the division

Paris, June 24, 2021

As of June 24, Helen Romano has been appointed Vice President of the Residential Real Estate Division. She will be replaced by Stephane Dalliet, currently Chairman and CEO of Pitch Promotion, a subsidiary of Altarea, who will become Deputy CEO of the Residential Real Estate Division.

Helen Romano, began her career in the Eiffage Group in 1987. She joined Nexity in 2008 as Managing Director of the Grand Paris subsidiary (Fereal), becoming its President in 2012. She also became Regional Director and was then appointed Deputy Managing Director of Nexity's Residential Real Estate Division. Helen Romano holds a DESS in Economics and a DESS in Management from the Institut d'Administration des Entreprises de Paris.

As Vice President of the Residential Real Estate Division, Helen Romano will have a very broad delegation of authority from Veronique Bedague. In particular, she will be in charge of driving the ambitious transformation of Nexity's residential real estate businesses, focus on customer experience, low-carbon and biodiversity roadmap.

Stephane Dalliet is a graduate of the Ecole Speciale des Travaux Publics (ESTP) and holds a master's degree from HEC entrepreneurs. Development Director at Bouygues Immobilier until 2008, he became Development Director at Kaufman & Broad until 2011 and then became head of the Ile-de-France region for the group. In 2015, he was appointed Chairman of Cogedim Region Ile-de-France and then Chairman and CEO of Pitch Promotion in 2019.

As part of his duties, Stephane Dalliet will report to Veronique Bedague and will be responsible for some of Nexity's Paris subsidiaries (Seeri, Fereal) as well as those located in the Rhone-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur regions. Jean Benucci and Cyril Ferrette, also Managing Directors of the Residential Real Estate Division, will retain their functions in their respective areas.

I am very pleased that Helen Romano will become Vice President of the Residential Real Estate Division and that Stephane Dalliet will join the Nexity Executive Committee. Their extensive knowledge of the real estate business and customer expectations will enable us to continue and expand our profitable growth trajectory. Alongside Jean Benucci and Cyril Ferrette, Stephane will contribute to the deployment of Nexity's residential real estate offer throughout France and to the development of new offers and services for the benefit of all our customers," said Veronique Bedague, CEO of Nexity.

Nexity, La Vie Ensemble

With more than 11,000 employees and 4.9 billion in revenue in 2020, Nexity is Frances leading integrated real estate group, with a nationwide presence and business operations in all areas of real estate development and services. Our platform of services enables us to meet all the needs of our clients, individuals, companies, institutions and communities. Our raison d'etre, 'life together', reflects our commitment to creating sustainable spaces, neighbourhoods and cities for them, which enables them to weave and reweave bonds.

For the second year in a row, Nexity has been ranked as the number one project manager by the Low Carbon Building Association (BBCA), a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), and Best Workplaces 2021.

Nexity is listed on the SRD, Euronexts Compartment A and the SBF 120.

Contact

Veronique CREISSELS  Chief Communication Officier / +33 (0)1 85 55 34 91  vcreissels@nexity.fr

Julie MARY  Head of Press Relations  jmary@nexity.fr / +33 (0)1 85 55 32 35

Thierry CHEREL  Head of Investor Relations / +33 (0)6 68 31 29 05  tcherel@nexity.fr

Attachment
English French

Quadient Announces Agreement to Divest its Automated Packaging Solutions Business to Standard Investment

Agreement includes sale of the production facility based in Drachten, the Netherlands , and the gradual transfer of Quadients mid-range folders/inserters production to other Quadient industrial sites and suppliers

Deal will contribute significantly to Quadients industrial footprint optimization and further reducing the Additional Operations segment, in line with the Back to Growth strategy

Paris, 24 June 2021

Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a leader in helping businesses create meaningful customer connections through digital and physical channels, announced today it has entered into a sale agreement with Dutch private equity firm Standard Investment for the sale of its Automated Packaging Solutions (APS) business and production facility based in Drachten, the Netherlands.

Geoffrey Godet, Chief Executive Officer of Quadient, commented: As we continue building leading market positions in high-growth businesses that are synergistic with our foundational mail-related activities, we are happy to announce this agreement with Standard Investment, a proven high-profile and hands-on investor, committed to strongly supporting the automated packaging business and the Drachten teams in their journey in the fit-to-size packaging solutions space.

This transaction marks another important step in our Back to Growth strategy. On the one hand, it will further contribute to the refocus of our business portfolio. On the other hand, it will allow us to optimize our industrial footprint, which will support the high profitability of our Mail-Related Solutions in the future.

Amsterdam-based Standard Investment is a private equity firm focused on hands-on investments in medium-sized companies that can benefit from an active owner in relation to the complexities of carving-out from a corporate setting and positioning for strong future growth and opportunity in the market. Standard Investment will be fully acquiring the Automated Packaging Solutions business, which includes industry award-winning innovations CVP Impack and CVP Everest that can pack-to-size for e-commerce businesses. APS teams are mainly based in Drachten, where the production facility is located, but also in the US, Germany, Belgium, France and the UK.

Herbert Schilperoord, partner responsible for the acquisition on behalf of Standard Investment, explained: We have been very impressed by the know-how of the organization and the enthusiasm of the employees. The innovating technology they created is unique in its market, capable to generate custom fit-to-size packaging for every e-commerce order, making shipments more efficient, significantly reducing the use of cardboard and plastic filling material and contributing to reducing the carbon footprint of e-commerce deliveries. We look forward to working together with the management team in the coming months on how we can best transform the organization into an independently operating company  corporate carve-outs being one of the focus areas of Standard Investment.

The Drachten production site, which has about 240 employees, hosts sales, marketing, service, R&D and production teams for APS as well as for Document System (DS) mid-range folders/inserters, which Quadient will continue to market. As part of the transaction, mid-range DS production will be gradually transferred from Drachten to other Quadient industrial sites and suppliers, ensuring business continuity.

The completion of the transaction, which is subject to certain closing conditions, is expected in Summer 2021. The total selling price amounts to above 20 million. This transaction will lead to significant cost optimizations over time. After the sale of the Graphics business in Australia and New Zealand, this is the second divestiture in Quadients Additional Operations segment this year, which, taking into account those divestments, would have represented less than 6% of total revenue for full-year 2020 on a pro forma basis.

About Quadient

Quadient is the driving force behind the worlds most meaningful customer experiences. By focusing on three key solution areas, Intelligent Communication Automation, Parcel Locker Solutions and Mail-Related Solutions, Quadient helps simplify the connection between people and what matters. Quadient supports hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide in their quest to create relevant, personalized connections and achieve customer experience excellence. Quadient is listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and is part of the CAC Mid & Small and EnterNext Tech 40 indices.

For more information about Quadient, visit https://invest.quadient.com/en-US.

About Standard Investment

Amsterdam-founded Standard Investment is a North-Western Europe-focused investment firm with offices in Amsterdam, Brussels and Stockholm, dedicated to "hands-on investment in the mid-market. Founded in 2004, the firm operates with a philosophy of direct involvement with the companies in which it participates. Standard Investment has, among others, participations in Riedel, Synres, Aweta, The Future Group and Burger King Netherlands. With a team of 16 professionals, it manages a portfolio of 16 companies, spread over 4 countries with over 4,300 employees and a cumulative turnover above 1 billion.

Contacts

Laurent Sfaxi, Quadient

+33 (0)1 45 36 61 39

l.sfaxi@quadient.com

financial-communication@quadient.com

Caroline Baude, Quadient

+33 (0)1 45 36 31 82

c.baude@quadient.com OPRG Financial

Isabelle Laurent / Fabrice Baron

+33 (0)1 53 32 61 51 /+33 (0)1 53 32 61 27

isabelle.laurent@oprgfinancial.fr

fabrice.baron@oprgfinancial.fr

Attachment
Pune, India, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global geochemical services market is set to gain momentum from the surging investments by countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and India in the production of minerals. A study by the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) declared that the country produced 729.10 million tons of minerals in 2019. It produces 95 minerals, including 55 minor minerals, 3 atomic minerals, 23 non-metallic minerals, 10 metallic minerals, and 4 fuel-related minerals. As per a report by Fortune Business Insights, titled, Geochemical Services Market, 2021-2028, the market size was USD 0.95 billion in 2020. It is projected to grow from USD 1.01 billion in 2021 to USD 1.41 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Integration of Geotechnical Services to Surge Efficiency will Aid Growth

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe has severely affected this industry. Regulatory bodies of several countries have deployed strict norms to cope up with the new normal. They are also trying to mitigate operational risks and maximize efficiency by integrating geotechnical services. Our reports will help you choose the right strategy to increase sales.

To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market,

Please Visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/geochemical-services-market-100398

Segments-

Mineral & Mining Segment Generated 41.0% Share in 2020: Fortune Business Insights

Based on the end-user, the market is divided into oil & gas, mineral & mining, archeological survey, and others. Amongst them, the mineral & mining segment earned 41.0% in terms of the geochemical services market share in 2020. It is set to remain at the forefront because of the urgent need to identify ore deposits that are buried deep under the earths surface.

Request To Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/geochemical-services-market-100398

Report Coverage-

Our analysts have conducted qualitative and quantitative research, as well as a mixture of primary and secondary resources to gather information about the market for pesticides carriers. They have taken data from press releases, paid databases, company journals, and other sources to offer a complete picture of the market. To collect information about the competitive landscape they have conducted interviews with renowned personalities present in this industry.

Drivers & Restraints-

Increasing Commercial Construction in Italy and U.K. to Bolster Growth

The rising construction activities across utility, industrial, infrastructural, commercial, and residential sectors, especially in Europe and North America would propel the demand for geochemical services. Developed countries, such as Russia, Canada, France, U.K., and Germany have planned multiple construction projects that are yet to take place in the near future. At the same time, these countries are experiencing an increasing number of ongoing construction works to strengthen their infrastructural base. Besides, governments of these countries are offering subsidies to encourage investments in the construction industry. The commercial construction in U.K., Italy, Spain, and Canada to surge tourism would also drive the geochemical services market growth in the upcoming years. However, the high cost of monitoring equipment and geochemical instrumentation may hamper growth.

Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/geochemical-services-market-100398

Regional Insights-

Surging Investments in Oil & Gas and Mining Industries to Help Asia Pacific Lead

Regionally, Asia Pacific held USD 0.27 billion in 2020 in terms of revenue and is expected to dominate throughout the forthcoming years. This growth is attributable to the increasing norms put forward by government bodies to invest in mining and oil & gas sectors. In Europe, a large number of companies are supervising the deployment of effective geochemical services for various applications. Carbon Trust, for instance, issued new regulations for undertaking geotechnical surveying in April 2020. These norms would be able to streamline the operations of offshore wind farms by supporting the installation of subsea cables.

Competitive Landscape-

Key Players Focus on New Laboratory Development & Capacity Expansions to Compete in Market

The global market contains various geochemical service providers that are majorly focusing on expanding their sample processing capacities to cater to the high consumer demand worldwide. A few others are developing new facilities to broaden their geographic footprint. Below are the two significant industry developments:

July 2020 : SGS opened its new commercial geochemistry laboratory in Ghana to process approximately 50,000 to 60,000 samples every month. It is set to replace the current facility to surge the sample processing capacity.

: SGS opened its new commercial geochemistry laboratory in Ghana to process approximately 50,000 to 60,000 samples every month. It is set to replace the current facility to surge the sample processing capacity. August 2019: SGS opened its unique geochemical laboratory in Townsville, Australia. It will provide in-house analysis, increased capacity, new analytical technologies, and improved client services for mining and metal groups.

Speak to Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/geochemical-services-market-100398

A list of renowned providers of geochemical services present in the global market:

Fugro (Netherlands)

Schlumberger (United States)

Bureau Veritas Group (France)

SGS (Switzerland)

ALS (Australia)

Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia)

Capital Limited (Mauritius)

Intertek (United Kingdom)

FLSmidth (Denmark)

Chinook Consulting Services (Canada)

Quick Buy- Geochemical Services Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100398

Detailed Table of Content

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Emerging Trends  For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancement Regulatory Landscape Porters Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Analysis  Impact of COVID-19 Impact of COVID-19 on the Geochemical Services Market Steps Taken by the Government to Overcome the Impact Key Developments in the Industry in Response to COVID-19 Potential Opportunities and Challenges due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Geochemical Services Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Type laboratory-based Infield-based Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Service Type Sample Preparation Mixed Acid Digest Hydrogeochemistry Fire Assay X-ray Fluorescence Aqua Regia Digest Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-user Mineral & Mining Oil & Gas Archaeological Survey Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued 

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Geohazard Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Service (Site Investigation, Risk Assessment, Modelling, and Others), By End-User (Oil & Gas, Marine, Residential & Commercial, Infrastructure, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

Geotechnical Services Market Size, Share and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Underground City Space, Slope and Excavation, and Ground and Foundation), By End-user (Municipal, Bridge and Tunnel, Oil & Gas, Mining, Marine, Building Construction, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

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About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.

At Fortune Business Insights, we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faced with ongoing budget deficits, Maritime provinces can learn from fiscal reforms in Saskatchewan, which faced a similar fiscal situation but was able to turn things around, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan, Canadian public policy think-tank.



Policymakers in the Maritimes are facing large, long-term fiscal challenges including persistent budget deficits, mounting debt and the threat of rising interest costs. Reducing spending and balancing budgets needs to be a priority. Fortunately, there are lessons from elsewhere in Canada to learn from, said Alex Whalen, policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Fiscal lessons for Atlantic Canada from Saskatchewan.

Each Maritime province is dealing with persistent deficits. For example, PEI and Nova Scotia dont plan to balance the budget until at least 2024/25, while New Brunswick plans to run deficits for at least the next two years.

And again, each Maritime province was accumulating debt long before the pandemic. Like Saskatchewan, the region faces the economic challenges of persistent deficit, rising debt, and overall lack of economic opportunity.

For solutions, policymakers can look to Saskatchewan, which during the 1990s went from the brink of insolvency to relative fiscal health.

Specifically, Saskatchewan cut spending by almost 12 per cent over two years, in part by eliminating inefficient and unaffordable government programs, and balanced the budget in three years.

The sound financial foundation created by the spending reforms allowed the province to focus on tax competitiveness as a way to attract investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled labour. The province reduced both personal and business taxes.

If policymakers want to right the fiscal ship and accelerate the COVID recovery, they should consider the success of Saskatchewans spending and tax reforms, said Steve Lafleur, senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and study co-author.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Alex Whalen, Policy Analyst

Fraser Institute

Steve Lafleur, Senior Policy Analyst

Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:

Drue MacPherson, Fraser Institute

(604) 688-0221 ext. 721

drue.macpherson@fraserinstitute.org

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook
ZUG, SWITZERLAND, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Earth Association (https://www.earthwallet.io), today announced Earth Wallet, a self-custody wallet for the next generation of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), decentralized finance, (DeFi), and decentralized social networks built on Web3.0. Earth Wallet will launch with the first dedicated self custody crypto wallet for the Internet Computer Protocol, and be ready for Bitcoin Taproot, a major upgrade to the Bitcoin protocol scheduled for November 2021.

Earth Wallet aims to bring a familiar non-custodial wallet solution to newer blockchain protocols (such as Bitcoin Taproot, the Internet Computer, and Polkadot) that Ethereum veterans are familiar with, and provide an easy way to interact with and build smart contracts with lower transaction fees, and faster settlement using advanced cryptography like Schnorr Signatures. As new Web3.0 technologies begin to transform the internet with things like decentralized finance, governance, and NFTs, Earth Wallet aims to provide a user-friendly experience for both everyday non-tech users and blockchain veterans alike.

The infrastructure being released this year like Bitcoin Taproot and ICP really paves the way for an entirely new internet, in a way that just wasnt possible before due to scalability challenges. However, the user experience and developer tooling around these new protocols needs a lot of work to sustain the hype and valuations which they have received. said Sukhveer Sanghera, CTO of social.network. Earth Wallet solves a few key challenges that both developers and users face when building and using these new internet protocols.

Earth Wallet is currently undergoing security audits and extensive testing, with public launch to follow. All code will be open sourced, providing a transparent, fast, and easy way for anyone in the world to participate in the future of finance, and self custody their digital assets in a browser extension similar to MetaMask, a popular Ethereum wallet.

To get early access to the Earth Wallet register today at https://earthwallet.io.

About Earth Association

Earth Association is a tech for good association in Zug, Switzerland. The association provides a scalable governance framework for global scale collaboration on the problems that planet Earth faces. Earth Association, will leverage decentralized social, governance, and finance protocols through Earth Wallet, to incentivize the creation of a better planet for all life on Earth.

Media Contact:

Transform Group: earthwallet@transformgroup.com
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials methodology used to measure financed emissions



Disclosure is a first step toward Vancitys 2040 net-zero target

TERRITORIES OF MUSQUEAM, SQUAMISH and TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATIONS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vancity today announced its public disclosure of its financed greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)  those from the loans, as well as from the investments it manages on behalf of members. Applying the methodology from the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), Vancitys disclosure enables a greater understanding of its environmental impact within the framework of the Paris Agreement and lays the initial groundwork for setting its 2025 interim climate targets. This accounting allows Vancity to generate the foundational data needed to set its roadmap to net-zero.

A global partnership launched in 2019, PCAF standardizes GHG accounting for the financial sector, enabling a harmonized approach to the assessment and disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions financed by loans and investments. PCAF is used by asset owners, asset managers and financial institutions to support a broad range of climate initiatives and members of PCAF represent CAD$50 trillion from financial institutions globally. Vancity was the first Canadian financial institution to join PCAF as a working group member to contribute to the development of whats now the Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the Financial Industry.

Vancitys estimated financed and operational emissions for 2020 are as follows:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d183f2c-3f58-4bca-a902-f385f76ad63c

Key findings:

While these preliminary results are estimates, and mostly rely on sector, building or vehicle averages, they provide meaningful insights and a starting place for future disclosures. The results also underscore the need for better data availability sector-wide.

Financed emissions from Vancitys lending, as currently calculated, are 36 times more than its operational emissions. A Climate Disclosure Project report estimates that the average difference between lending and operations across the banking sector is closer to 700 times.

Vancitys commercial real estate portfolio (loans used to purchase and refinance commercial real estate) is responsible for the most emissions, while motor vehicle loans generate the highest emissions per dollar loaned.

Most emissions attributed to residential mortgages are generated by single detached homes and are related to natural gas usage.

A significant source of emissions generated from Vancitys general business loans is related to the construction and renovation of buildings, a sector with around 10 times the emissions of any other sector supported by the credit union.



While many financial institutions must contend with emissions from fossil fuels, Vancity does not lend or directly invest in that sector and most of its financed emissions come from its mortgage portfolio. The insights from this disclosure point to opportunities for the greatest reductions, such as developing products and partnerships, and making information available that will help members to affordably retrofit homes and replace gas-powered heating and cooling systems with more lower emitting solutions.

Tackling the climate crisis requires an urgent system-wide response, and financial institutions have to take ambitious action  even if that means shifting how we all do business. Credible climate accounting and disclosure are at the heart of the necessary shift, said Christine Bergeron, Vancity President and CEO.

What gets measured, matters, said Christine. When the financial sector decides that emissions are important, it becomes a priority in the wider economy. Climate targets must come with actions to reduce emissions. And to do that you need to know where you are starting from. Vancitys disclosure is voluntary, and well continue to report out every year, but Canadas financial system needs a standardized approach to climate risk metrics if were going to be able to understand the broader risks posed by the climate crisis, she continued.

Were pleased to see Vancity continue to set an example in the region as not only an early adopter of PCAF, but also one of the first North American financial institutions to measure and disclose their financed emissions using the PCAF Standard, said Nicole Labutong, PCAF North America Regional Lead.

Vancity will disclose its emissions annually while seeking to improve data quality and availability as it builds scenario-based interim targets, beginning with targets for 2025. The credit union has committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its lending portfolio by 2040.

Supporting information

Vancity set its net-zero by 2040 target in January 2021

In April 2021, Vancity became the first, and so far, only, Canadian financial institution to join the Net-Zero Banking Alliance

In 2020, Vancity declared its support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

In 2019, the credit union signed the Global Alliance for Banking on Values Climate Change Commitment and joined the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), committing to measure and disclose the climate impact of its loans and investments

Vancity is also a signatory to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiatives (UNEP FI) Collective Commitment to Climate Action, which requires signatories to set and publish targets for aligning their portfolios to strive for a 1.5 degree Celsius trajectory, based on scientifically established climate scenarios

Vancitys President and CEO, Christine Bergeron, represents North America on the UNEP FIs Banking Board

For more information about Vancitys climate disclosure and commitments, please visit rethink.vancity.com/climatedisclosures

About Vancity

Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 550,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and 55 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwakawakw people. With $30.5 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canadas largest community credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

About PCAF

The Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) was launched globally in September 2019. Currently, more than 130 banks and investors have subscribed to the PCAF initiative. PCAF participants work together to jointly develop the Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the Financial Industry to measure and disclose the greenhouse gas emissions of their loans and investments. By doing so, PCAF participants take an important step to assess climate-related risks, set targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and develop effective strategies to decarbonize our society.

For more information see https://carbonaccountingfinancials.com/

Media Contact:

Nora Eastwood | Vancity

mediarelations@vancity.com

T: 778-837-0394




METTAWA, Ill., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Navico, a global leader in marine electronics and sensors for $1.05 billion. As a result of this acquisition, Brunswick will add the industry leading brands of Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, and C-MAP to its Advanced Systems Group (ASG), which includes the leading Parts & Accessories (P&A) brands in power management, digital control and monitoring, and networked devices.

"The acquisition of Navico and its award-winning brands will immediately accelerate Brunswicks ACES (Autonomy, Connectivity, Electrification and Shared-Access) strategy, and support our vision to deliver distinctive new products and technology-enabled experiences, said Dave Foulkes, Brunswick Corporation CEO. We will continue to invest both in organic initiatives and acquisitions to maintain our position of global product leadership, and the addition of Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and C-MAP to our existing brand portfolio will further strengthen our ability to provide complete, innovative digital solutions to consumers and comprehensive, integrated systems offerings to our OEM customers.

Navico is a privately held global company based in Egersund, Norway and co-owned by Altor Fund IV and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. It is a leading provider of multi-function displays, fish finders, autopilots, sonar, radar, and cartography. Navicos strong brands serve most major powerboat and sailing markets for both recreational and commercial applications.

Navicos revenues totaled approximately $470 million for the trailing 12-month period ended May 31, 2021, with attractive revenue growth, a strong margin profile, and a capital efficient business model. Brunswicks P&A segment accounts for about $1.5 billion - or 35 percent of total 2020 annual revenues. With the addition of Navico, Brunswick expects its P&A businesses to have revenues on a run-rate basis exceeding $2.0 billion. Navicos significant aftermarket orientation and attractive margin profile further add to Brunswicks cycle resistant business profile.

After a strong period of growth, we are very excited about joining the Brunswick family to further strengthen our offering and support our customers going forward. said Knut Frostad, Navicos President & CEO. On behalf of everyone at Navico, we cannot wait to begin our journey with Brunswick and share our passion and dedication with their team. By working together, we will be able to deliver a unique and integrated customer experience.

Brunswicks Advanced Systems Group has unparalleled global reach and the addition of Navico solidifies our commitment to creating an unmatched boater and OEM experience, said Brett Dibkey, Advanced Systems Group president. We have a very broad product portfolio, ranging from general marine products to power management solutions and we will leverage the unique expertise of each brand to generate revenue and operating synergies to promote growth for both ASG and Navico. We are also adding a talented, experienced, and consumer-focused management team, which is expected to remain in place and play a major role in the execution of our strategy."

Brunswick will be using a combination of debt and cash on its balance sheet to fund the acquisition. Brunswick remains committed to maintaining its investment grade credit rating and at close expects its debt-to-EBITDA ratio to be approximately 1.7x on a gross basis.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Brunswick Corporation and is providing committed financing; Baker McKenzie and Schjdt are serving as legal counsel to Brunswick Corporation on the transaction.

Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, Sweden Bankfilial, and Carnegie acted as financial advisors to Altor, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Marine Innovations Group AS; Sullivan & Cromwell and Wiersholm provided legal advisory services on the transaction.

The closing of the transaction is anticipated during the second half of 2021 and is subject to usual and customary closing conditions as well as regulatory review and approval.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call today at 10:30 a.m. CDT hosted by David M. Foulkes, Chief Executive Officer, Ryan M. Gwillim - Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Brett Dibkey - Executive Vice President and President, Advanced Systems Group and Brent G. Dahl  Vice President of Investor Relations.

The call will be broadcast over the Internet at www.brunswick.com/investors. To listen to the call, go to the website at least 15 minutes before the call to register, download and install any needed audio software.

See Brunswicks website for slides used to supplement conference call remarks at www.brunswick.com/investors.

Security analysts and investors wishing to participate via telephone should call 877-900-9524 (No Password Needed). Callers outside of North America should call 412-902-0029 (No Password Needed) to be connected. These numbers can be accessed 15 minutes before the call begins, as well as during the call.

A replay of the conference call will be available through 1pm CDT Thursday July 1, 2021, by calling 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415 (Access ID: 13720906). The replay also will be available at www.brunswick.com/investors.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporations leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Advanced Systems Group, which includes industry-leading brands like MotorGuide, Attwood, Mastervolt, Blue Sea Systems, CZone, and ASG Connect system integrators; Land N Sea, BLA, Paynes Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Heyday, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club and Boat Class. For more information, visit brunswick.com.

About Navico

Navico is a leading marine electronics company selling products under the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, and C-MAP, brands and with 239 years of combined heritage. Navico has 2,000 employees globally and distribution in more than 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit navico.com.

About Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the worlds leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and marketoverseeing more than $2 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of March 31, 2021. Driven by a passion for our clients performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Follow us on LinkedIn.

About Altor

Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised some EUR 8.3 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in excess of EUR 5 billion in more than 75 companies. The investments have been made in medium sized companies in Northern Europe with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are Dustin, CTEK, Eleda, OX2, RevolutionRace, Rossignol, SATS, and Trioworld. For more information, please visit www.altor.com.



Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about Brunswicks business and by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Words such as may, could, should, expect, "anticipate," "project," "position," intend, target, plan, seek, estimate, believe, predict, outlook, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations as of the date of this news release. These risks include, but are not limited to: the effect of adverse general economic conditions, including the amount of disposable income consumers have available for discretionary spending; changes in currency exchange rates; fiscal policy concerns; adverse economic, credit, and capital market conditions; higher energy and fuel costs; competitive pricing pressures; the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including, without limitation, the impact on global economic conditions and on capital and financial markets, changes in consumer behavior and demand, the potential unavailability of personnel or key facilities, modifications to our operations, and the potential implementation of regulatory actions; managing our manufacturing footprint; weather and catastrophic event risks; international business risks; our ability to develop new and innovative products and services at a competitive price; our ability to meet demand in a rapidly changing environment; loss of key customers; actual or anticipated increases in costs, disruptions of supply, or defects in raw materials, parts, or components we purchase from third parties, including as a result of pressures due to the pandemic; supplier manufacturing constraints, increased demand for shipping carriers, and transportation disruptions; absorbing fixed costs in production; joint ventures that do not operate solely for our benefit; our ability to successfully implement our strategic plan and growth initiatives; attracting and retaining skilled labor, implementing succession plans for key leadership, and executing organizational and leadership changes; our ability to identify, complete, and integrate targeted acquisitions; the risk that strategic divestitures will not provide business benefits; maintaining effective distribution; adequate financing access for dealers and customers; requirements for us to repurchase inventory; inventory reductions by dealers, retailers, or independent boat builders; risks related to the Freedom Boat Club franchise business model; outages, breaches, or other cybersecurity events regarding our technology systems, which could affect manufacturing and business operations and could result in lost or stolen information and associated remediation costs; our ability to protect our brands and intellectual property; changes to U.S. trade policy and tariffs; having to record an impairment to the value of goodwill and other assets; product liability, warranty, and other claims risks; legal and regulatory compliance, including increased costs, fines, and reputational risks; changes in income tax legislation or enforcement; managing our share repurchases; and certain divisive shareholder activist actions.




VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A.I.S. Resources Limited ( TSX: AIS, OTCQB: AISSF ) (the "Company" or "AIS) announces that it has entered into an Option Agreement (the Agreement) with Spey Resources Corp. (Spey) dated June 23, 2021 to grant Spey an Option (the Option) to acquire a 100% interest in the Pocitos I and Pocitos II claims (the Property) located in Salta, Argentina.



AIS also announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.08 per unit for gross proceeds of $800,000 (the "Private Placement"). The proceeds will be used for general working capital and exploration of the Companys gold projects in Australia.

Each Unit consists of one common share and one transferrable share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the offering at a price of $0.12 per common share. The Company may pay finders fees of up to 8% cash and 8% finders warrants on a portion of the placement.

Pocitos I and II

The project is located approximately 10 km from the township of Pocitos where there is gas, electricity and telephone internet services. Pocitos I is 800 Ha and Pocitos II 532 Ha, both of which are accessible by road. AIS Resources has spent more than USD$1.5M exploring the project, including surface sampling, trenching, TEM geophysics and drilling two 400m holes, which had outstanding results. To date, Pocitos II has yet to be drilled and the locations have been identified for holes 3 and 4.

Fig 1. Pocitos I and II located in the Quinos Salar, Salta Province in the lithium triangle in Argentina

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f009af4-b179-4310-8122-3b30d23b4719

AIS did not pursue the property in 2018 due to the high magnesium content of the brines and the fact that the fractional crystallisation/ion exchange process could not process it, however, the Ekosolve lithium extraction process will help alleviate the magnesium situation. Lithium values of up to 125 ppm were recorded and the flow rate of the hole exceeded 75,000 Litres per minute and continued for more than 5 hours. Both drill holes had exceptional brine flow rates. Speys plan is to sample the current drill holes and drill a further two holes to estimate a NI 43-101 resource calculation and progress discussions to build a production pilot plant.

Pursuant to an option agreement, AIS has an option (the Underlying Option) to acquire the Property from the current owners. Upon the exercise of the Underlying Option by AIS, Spey will be able to exercise the Option and acquire a 100% interest in the Property from AIS by paying a total of US$1,732,000 (the Purchase Price) prior to June 23, 2022.

In order to maintain the Option in good standing under the Agreement, Spey must immediately pay AIS a total of US$100,000 and issue 2,500,000 Spey common shares. In addition, Spey must complete a US$500,000 exploration program on the Property within the next 12 months. Upon exercise of the Option and Speys acquisition of a 100% interest in the Property, AIS will retain a 7.5% royalty on the sales revenue of lithium carbonate or other lithium compounds from the Property, net of export taxes.

CEO and director Nader Vatanchi stated, Working with AIS and their team in Argentina has been very productive and we are fortunate that they have access to these projects to expand our lithium portfolio. Spey is still focused on moving our Incahuasi exploration program forward and aims to drill this summer now that we have the results from our TEM geophysics. Our new properties announced today, Pocitos I and II, are at an advanced stage and we look forward to drilling and completing a NI 43-101 report so that we can begin planning for potential production.

Martyn Element chairman of AIS stated, We are delighted to see our solid working relationship between AIS Resources and Spey Resources develop to include the Pocitos 1 & 2 properties which are at an advanced stage of exploration. Importantly the proprietary Ekosolve lithium extraction process helps alleviate the magnesium extraction problem which is the key to bringing lithium value to Pocitos 1 & 2.

Private Placement

Closing of the Private Placement is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws.

Certain directors and officers may participate in the Private Placement. Such participation is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The related party transaction will be exempt from minority approval, information circular and formal valuation requirements pursuant to the exemptions contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the gross securities to be issued under the Private Placement nor the consideration to be paid by the insiders will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. A material change report will be filed less than 21 days before the closing date of the transactions contemplated by this news release. The Company believes this shorter period is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances.

The Private Placement securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or under any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy such securities in the United States.

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol FAusIMM MAIG MAIMVA(CMV) who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the National Instrument 43-101.

About A.I.S. Resources Limited

A.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on precious and base metals exploration. AIS value add strategy is to acquire prospective exploration projects and enhance their value by better defining the mineral resource with a view to attracting joint venture partners and enhancing the value of our portfolio. The Company is managed by a team of experienced geologists and investment bankers, with a track-record of successful capital markets achievements. AIS owns 100% of the 28 sq km Fosterville-Toolleen Gold Project located 12 km from Kirkland Lakes Fosterville gold mine (subject to completion of certain exploration expenditures), a 60% interest in the 58 sq km New South Wales Yalgogrin Gold Project (with the right to acquire 100%), and 100% interest in the 167 sq km Kingston Gold Project in Victoria Australia near Stawell.

A.I.S. Resources Limited

For further information, please contact:

Phillip Thomas, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1-323-515-5164

Email: pthomas@aisresources.com

Or

Martyn Element, Executive Chairman

Tel: +1-604-220-6266

Email: melement@aisresources.com

Website: www.aisresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Private Placement. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The intended use of the proceeds of the Private Placement by the Corporation might change if the board of directors of the Corporation determines that it would be in the best interests of the Corporation to deploy the proceeds for some other purpose. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither 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 release.
San Francisco, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pipefy, the workflow management software that empowers doers and transforms the way teams work, today announced it has been selected as winner of the Employee Onboarding Solution of the Year award in the 2021 RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards conducted by RemoteTech Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout technology companies, products and services empowering remote work and distributed teams around the globe.

From collecting documentation through public forms, signing contracts and preparing technical infrastructure for a new employee, the employee onboarding process presents many opportunities for human error - especially if the process is manual and being managed across multiple channels like email, spreadsheets or chat tools, said Alessio Alionco, Founder and CEO at Pipefy. Pipefy breaks through the silos by empowering citizen developers within the HR organization to design and deploy automated and integrated employee onboarding processes without writing a single line of code. Congratulations to the entire Pipefy team for winning the Employee Onboarding Solution of the Year award.

The shift to digital work has put immense pressure on HR teams, said Ananth Avva, President and COO at Pipefy. Heavy-weight, legacy HCM systems of record are not keeping up with the times. Theyre expensive to maintain, difficult to customize and require a great deal of IT engagement. Pipefy has returned the power to HR professionals by offering an affordable and intuitive platform to automate HR processes and streamline work across teams and systems.

Pipefy's no code platform enables non-technical HR professionals to build a flexible, agile employee experience. Pipefy offers several features to empower teams to centralize and optimize their work. Shared inbox ensures that employee cases like transfer requests, PTO, review cycles, and escalations aren't missed. Employee portals provide a one-stop-shop experience where HR teams can quickly submit requests and/or find resources they need. With Pipefys automation engine, HR teams can scale effectively through templatized responses and/or dynamic forms so HR professionals can be more focused on people, not tasks. HR teams at VTEX, James Delivery and Carglass have already found success with Pipefys HR platform.

The RemoteTech Breakthrough Employee Onboarding Solution of the Year award follows Pipefys recent recognition by G2 as a leader in their Summer 2021 Best Business Process Management Software and Best Workflow Management Software categories, and on the heels of new offers - Forms, a solution that turns smart forms into workflows and Shared Inbox, that enables users to automate responses and improve shared email visibility. A new product focused on databases is expected to launch this fall.

As COVID-19 caused debilitating harm to many businesses who had not yet undergone digital transformation, Pipefy decided to offer their platform for free to teams with five or less users. This empowered HR teams to design and automate their onboarding processes without IT or budget impact, said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards. By automating manual tasks like notifications and emails, HR teams could then focus on what really matters: people. We are so thrilled to recognize Pipefy with this award.

The mission of the annual RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program is to conduct the industrys most comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the top technology companies, solutions and products in the remote technology industry today. This years program attracted more than 1,450 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world.

Share this on social: @Pipefy selected as winner of the Employee Onboarding Solution of the Year award in the 2021 RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards. #workflowmanagement #automation #hrautomation #nocode #citizendeveloper #hr

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About Pipefy

Pipefy is the workflow management software that increases team productivity, centralizes data and standardizes processes for teams like Finance, HR, Customer Service, and more so those requesting services, those processing the requests and those managing the operation are more efficient. Through automated workflows and a no/low-code platform, Pipefy enhances speed, increases visibility, and delivers higher quality outcomes with ready-to-use, customizable workflows. Digitally transform your team in a matter of hours, not weeks or months. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Try Pipefy today!

About RemoteTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in technologies, services, companies and products that empower remote work and distributed teams around the globe. The RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of technology companies and solutions in categories including messaging & communication, project management, virtual events, team collaboration, virtual offices, collaborative design and more. For more information visit RemoteTechBreakthrough.com.

Attachment
New York, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Teleradiology Services Market Research Report by Type, by Modality, by Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06088313/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Teleradiology Services Market size was estimated at USD 8.04 Billion in 2020 and expected to reach USD 10.11 Billion in 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) 26.08% from 2020 to 2026 to reach USD 32.31 Billion by 2026.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2026 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Teleradiology Services to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type , the Teleradiology Services Market was studied across Inhouse, Offshore, and Onshore.



Based on Modality, the Teleradiology Services Market was studied across CT, Mammography, MRI, PET-CT, Ultrasound, and X-ray.



Based on Geography, the Teleradiology Services Market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Teleradiology Services Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Teleradiology Services Market, including 4ways Limited, Africa Telerad Limited, American Imaging Consultants, Aris Radiology, Cerner Corporation, Everlight Radiology, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., McKesson Corporation, Medica Group, MEDNAX Services, Inc., Nautilus Medical Technologies, NightShift Radiology, ONRAD, Inc., Radiology Partners, Inc., REAL Radiology, LLC, Siemens Healthineers AG, StatRad, LLC, teleconsult Europe, TeleDiagnosys Services Pvt. Ltd, Telerad Tech Pvt Ltd, Teleradiology Solutions, Unilabs, USARAD Holdings Inc., Virtual Radiologic Corp, and WebRad TeleRadiology.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Teleradiology Services Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Teleradiology Services Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Teleradiology Services Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Teleradiology Services Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Teleradiology Services Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Teleradiology Services Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Teleradiology Services Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06088313/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Crestview Hills, Kentucky | Cincinnati, Ohio, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The month of June marks the 100th anniversary of the Flottman Company. What started in 1921 as a print job shop has now become a leader in commercial printing, pharmaceutical miniature folding and digital marketing. Currently a woman-owned business and part of the global Womens Business Enterprise National Council, Flottman Company is still privately held, family owned and operated. Now in its third generation, Flottman Company continues to grow and prosper.

It is an honor to lead the Flottman Company during this historic time and to carry our torch into another 100 years. We are privileged to have outstanding family, friends, partners, clients and employees, who over the years, made this event possible. Thank you all.

- Sue Flottman Steller, Third Generation, Co-Owner and President

F.E. Flottman founded the company with a focus on marketing and printing, and the commercial side of the business has grown nearly every year since 1921. In 1969 R.F. Flottman took over the reins and renewed the commercial printing focus. He moved the company from Cincinnati, Ohio across the river to Crescent Springs, Kentucky in 1973. The company moved to a new 20,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility in Crestview Hills, Kentucky in 1998, after transitioning to the third generation in 1992 when R.F. Flottman retired. Today, the company continues under the leadership of two of his children Sue Steller Flottman and Peter Flottman. Their success continues, and most recently, Flottman Company purchased the Canon imagePRESS, enormously enhancing their commercial print capabilities. With both offset and enhanced digital printing capabilities, Flottman Company can provide nearly any print solution.

Although Flottman Company has continued to provide quality commercial printing for 100 years, they truly began to differentiate themselves, solidifying their niche as a pharmaceutical and medical device insert provider in 1973. When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the inclusion of informative leaflets with all pharmaceutical packaging, Flottman Company became a pioneer in the industry and produced some of the first miniature folded physician (PPI) and patient inserts (PI). Flottman Company is now an industry leader in miniature folding and miniature printing for pharmaceutical, medical device, pet care, nutraceutical and commercial goods. In addition Flottman Company established the Rxperts Printed Packaging Group in 1996, in order to offer complete packaging solutions including folding cartons, labels and inserts.

The companys innovations didnt stop with the additions of the pharmaceutical inserts and packaging services. Nearly five years ago Flottman Company introduced FUSIONWRX Inc. as an intrapeneurial endeavor to create an independent media agency as a complement to the Flottman Company print abilities. The goal was to create a digital marketing firm that could market, advertise and promote businesses on a grand scale. In the past three years the FUSIONWRX team has experienced tremendous growth in clientele, sales and revenue. The Flottman Companys continuous growth and expansion to meet customer needs is what has allowed it to thrive for the past 100 years.

The Flottman Company name has become synonymous with quality. The companys skilled team excels at rapid production, error-free work and on-time delivery. Members of the highly trained staff and production teams share an average tenure of 12 years with the company. Every job that enters the door is held to the strict Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) rules and regulations for production. Flottman Company operates with comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), differentiating them from numerous other print facilities. Flottman Company employees are dedicated to the region, the company and the industry.

The multi award-winning print, design and marketing capabilities of Flottman Company are unparalleled. It is the companys commitment to growth, innovation and community that convinced the University of Cincinnati Goering Center for Family & Private Business to honor the Flottman Company in 2008 as Family Business of the Year and in 2010 as Family Business of the Decade.

While very few companies in any industry have withstood the test of time to celebrate their centennial, Flottman Company is honored to have reached this milestone. The Flottman Company family business is dedicated to success and upholding the quality of service initiated three generations ago, now with the goal of another 100 years of service.

###

About the Flottman Company: www.FlottmanCo.com

Flottman Company: www.FlottmanCo.com  Flottman Company is a privately held, family-owned, 100-year young print manufacturing facility headquartered in Northern Kentucky. Flottman Company is a Certified Womans Business Enterprise in its third generation of family leadership. Flottman specializes in commercial printing, the production of miniature folded and printed pharmaceutical literature and digital marketing. Flottman Company: One Company, Many Solutions is also home to FUSIONWRX Inc (Marketing Specialists) and Rxperts Group (Complete Pharmaceutical Packaging Solutions.) www.FlottmanCo.com.

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, visit our Behance page and learn more about Flottman Company at our website: www.FlottmanCo.com.

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New York, NY, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC (GREC), a leading owner and operator of sustainable infrastructure and energy efficiency projects, announced today that, through a wholly owned subsidiary, it purchased the Altamont Winds Project from funds managed by Castlelake, L.P., a global alternative investment manager focused on opportunistic investments in real assets, including mid-to-late stage renewable energy development and repowering projects, as well as specialty finance and aviation.- At 57.5 MW, it is the single largest asset in Greenbackers wind portfolio. The Altamont Winds ProjectGreenbackers second wind asset in Californiaboosts the companys total nationwide wind energy capacity to just over 300 MW.

Located in Alameda County, the project harnesses wind from the Altamont Pass, an area home to operating wind assets since the 1980s. The project is also near the Bay Area load pocket, giving it strategic value from the perspective of future energy usage and capacity needs.

The Altamont Winds Project, which is in final stages of commissioning, has a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with East Bay Community Energy, a community choice aggregator (CCA). CCA allow residents, businesses, and municipalities to procure power from an alternative supplier, while still using the transmission and distribution services of their local electric utility provider. This can help communities access cleaner, cheaper electricity than could otherwise be available.

Were thrilled to help expand Californians energy options and contribute to the growing CCA availability in the Sunshine State, said Charles Wheeler, CEO of GREC. Sizable wind facilities like Altamont Winds are increasingly necessary to meet our rising energy needs, and were happy to play a role in providing clean energy to the Bay Area.

Castlelake congratulates Greenbacker on its acquisition of the Altamont Winds Project, said Evan Carruthers, managing partner and chief investment officer of Castlelake. We are pleased to have played a part in bringing additional renewable energy capacity to the Bay Area through this development project.

Greenbackers purchase of Altamont is the most recent addition to its growing fleet of wind energy facilities. It follows the acquisition of Rippey Wind, a 50 MW operational wind farm in Iowa.

With the acquisition of this project, Greenbacker will own approximately 1.18 GW of generating capacity (including assets that are to be constructed), comprising 855.4 MW of utility-scale and distributed solar facilities, 300.1 MW of wind facilities, 16.0 MW of battery storage, and 12.0 MW of biomass facilities.

About Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC is a publicly reporting, non-traded limited liability energy company that acquires and manages income-generating renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, and other energy-related businesses. The projects in which we invest, such as solar and wind facilities, sell power under long-term contract to high credit worthy counterparties such as utilities, municipalities, and corporations. For more information, please visit www.greenbackercapital.com .

About Castlelake L.P.

Castlelake, L.P. is a global alternative investment manager focused on opportunistic investments in real assets, specialty finance and aviation. Founded in 2005, Castlelake manages approximately $20 billion of assets on behalf of its investors. The Castlelake team comprises more than 200 experienced professionals, including 89 investment professionals, across six offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.castlelake.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. Although Greenbacker believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. Greenbacker undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein to conform to actual results or changes in its expectations.

Media Contacts:

Greenbacker:

Jonlyn Freeman

VP, Marketing

(917) 499-2440

j.freeman@greenbackercapital.com Castlelake, L.P.:

Molly Blemker

Director, Corporate Communications

+1 (612) 851-3083

molly.blemker@castlelake.com

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FT. HOOD, Texas, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Liberty Institute today announced that the U.S. Army agreed not to issue a formal reprimand against Chaplain (Major) Andrew Calvert. The decision clears the way for Chaplain Calverts record to be cleared, resulting in the possibility of future promotions and assignments.



Were very happy for Chaplain Calvert and we commend the Army for making the right decision, said Mike Berry, General Counsel for First Liberty Institute. No service member should ever be punished because of their religious beliefs.

Chaplain Calvert said, I am grateful for this favorable decision, and I look forward to continue meeting the spiritual needs of the soldiers with whom I serve.

Chaplain Calvert had been threatened a career-ending formal reprimand due to comments he made from his personal social media account. Responding to a news article, Chaplain Calvert expressed his religious beliefs and his support for the Department of Defenses (DOD) prohibition against transgender service members. At the time of his post, Chaplain Calverts statements were fully consistent with and supportive of existing DOD policy. Nevertheless, an Army investigator concluded Chaplain Calverts religious beliefs violated Army policy and the Army suspended Chaplain Calvert from his duties as chaplain and considered issuing a formal reprimand. First Liberty successfully appealed the reprimand, likely saving Chaplain Calverts career and his reputation.

Chaplain Calvert has 16 years of service and has deployed to combat zones numerous times. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star and three Meritorious Service Medals.

About First Liberty Institute

First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

To arrange an interview, contact Lacey McNiel at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.

Contact: Lacey McNiel, media@firstliberty.org

Direct: 972-941-4453
SAN LEANDRO, Calif., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electriq Power, Inc. (Electriq) , a leading provider of intelligent and integrated home energy storage, management, and monitoring solutions, announced today that it has raised over $10 million in incremental funding. The financing, led by a co-investment vehicle managed by Greensoil PropTech Ventures (Greensoil), will provide incremental support for the companys rapid expansion and market penetration. The main capital provider in the co-investment vehicle is the indirect investment business of Grosvenor Group (Grosvenor), the privately owned international property company.



Frank Magnotti, CEO of Electriq Power, said: Were thrilled with the continued support and guidance of Greensoil. Were thankful to collaborate with investors who share our vision of providing intelligent storage solutions to any homeowner interested in taking control of their energy. Were especially grateful for the significant vote of confidence from Grosvenor, and we look forward to bringing the PowerPod 2 to even more homes and further innovating our energy storage technology.

Greensoil PropTech Ventures is a leading Toronto-based venture capital firm that invests in technology companies helping to decarbonize the built environment. Greensoil has been the largest investor in Electriq since 2018 and brought the current financing together through their network of real estate limited partners.

Jamie James, Greensoil Managing Partner and Chair of Electriqs board, said: The Electriq team has worked hard to position themselves as a leader in one of the most dynamic and impactful market segments in the energy transition. The response from our co-investors, particularly Grosvenor, is hugely validating and well deserved, and we are excited to continue supporting the company as it executes on an ambitious agenda to bring energy storage to homes across different geographies and demographics.

Electriq Power will use the additional funding to further enable the expansion of its existing operations and to accelerate the roll-out of its industry-leading PowerPod 2 residential battery system. Specifically, the company will look to:

Accelerate partnerships with distribution partners, like the one announced earlier this year to supply home energy storage systems throughout North America and the Caribbean.

earlier this year to supply home energy storage systems throughout North America and the Caribbean. Deliver on the PowerPod 2 sales and installation agreement recently signed with the Caribbean Utilities Company in Grand Cayman.

recently signed with the Caribbean Utilities Company in Grand Cayman. Deploy the PowerPod 2 through Parlier Home Solar to provide storage systems to residents of Parlier, California, demonstrating Electriqs commitment to removing the cost barrier to sustainable energy solutions.

to provide storage systems to residents of Parlier, California, demonstrating Electriqs commitment to removing the cost barrier to sustainable energy solutions. Pursue further opportunities to deploy its PowerPod 2 to homeowners at any income level.

Continue investment in its supply chain network to ensure the ability to meet the growing demand for its systems.



Electriqs flagship product is the PowerPod 2 home battery system. The PowerPod 2 was announced in November 2020 as an upgrade to the companys original energy storage system, the PowerPod. The PowerPod 2 includes a cobalt-free Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) battery, hybrid battery/solar inverter, home energy management system, and an energy consumption meter. The system offers resilient and responsive backup power, as well as a smart home energy software app to manage electricity use and optimize efficiency. Compared to the original PowerPod, the PowerPod 2 provides more power, improved power output, and is available in both AC and DC versions.

About Electriq Power

Electriq Power is an energy storage company developing ubiquitous hardware and software solutions for the clean energy transition. Based in California, Electriq designs, engineers, and assembles fully integrated energy management and storage solutions for homes and small businesses, with systems deployed across North America. Electriq Power is dedicated to moving the world to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. For more information visit www.electriqpower.com or contact info@electriqpower.com.

About Greensoil PropTech Ventures

Greensoil PropTech Ventures invests in high-performing PropTech companies that provide products, services and technologies to make real estate more productive, efficient and sustainable. GSPV focuses on early to mid-stage venture capital opportunities in North America, Europe and Israel. With approximately $100 million (USD) under management, GSPV is backed by real estate and institutional Limited Partners and has a successful track record of backing, scaling and exiting high-impact PropTech companies. For more information, visit gspv.vc or follow GSPV on Twitter and LinkedIn .

About Grosvenor Group

Grosvenor Group is a privately-owned international property company. With a track record of over 340 years, Grosvenor develops, manages, and invests with a purpose of improving property and places to deliver lasting commercial and social benefit.

Through the activities of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, Grosvenor Americas, Grosvenor Asia Pacific and Grosvenor Europe, the Groups property portfolio is diversified by geography, sector, activity, currency and management teams. The Indirect Investment business further diversifies the Groups property interests by backing specialist third-party management teams. It invests Grosvenors capital in Australia, Europe and North and South America.

www.grosvenor.com ; Twitter: @grosvenorGRP

Electriq Power Press Contact:

Eugene Hunt

Trevi Communications

gene@trevicomm.com

+1-978-750-0333

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57a784e5-3d79-4f65-8eed-f2845fe3d80c
Boston, MA, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mass General Brigham today announced that it will require its 80,000 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants approval of one of the three vaccines. More than 85 percent of Mass General Brigham employees have already been vaccinatedone of the highest rates nationwide among health care systems.



Over the past 16 months we have come together as a system to care for our patients and each other as never before and the efforts of our employees have been extraordinary and inspiring, said Anne Klibanski, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mass General Brigham. The evidence of COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness is overwhelming. Getting vaccinated is the single most important and responsible step each of us can take to put an end to this devastating pandemic and protect patients, families, and each other.



As the largest academic health system and private employer in Massachusetts, Mass General Brigham has administered more than 450,000 vaccine doses to patients and employees, helping to make Massachusetts among the top-vaccinated areas in the country. Clinical data and trends clearly demonstrate that the vaccines have proven central to reducing the spread of the virus, hospitalizations and deaths across the Commonwealth.



Mass General Brigham joins many other leading health care systems in the United States in making COVID-19 vaccination a requirement, ensuring that patients are being cared for in the safest clinical environment possible. The decision is consistent with Mass General Brighams approach to the flu vaccine, which became a requirement in 2018. As with other vaccines, employees will be able to request exemption for medical and religious reasons and employees who are pregnant or who intend to become pregnant may also request an exemption. A deadline for vaccination will be determined after FDA approval.



Since the beginning of the pandemic, Mass General Brigham has treated nearly 19,000 COVID-19 positive inpatients and administered more than 1.1 million COVID-19 tests. At the same time, Mass General Brigham researchers have worked around the clock to develop and assess new approaches to test for, treat, and prevent COVID-19.



About Mass General Brigham

Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic healthcare system, uniting great minds in medicine to make life-changing impact for patients in our communities and people around the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a non-profit organization that is committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nations leading biomedical research organizations and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org.

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CHICAGO, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hickory Farms , Americas favorite food gift retailer, announced today that it has made the sweet acquisition of Wicked Good Cupcakes . The online mason jar cupcake shop, started by a mother and daughter as a way to spend more quality time together, quickly became known for their delicious gourmet cupcakes in a jar and a successful debut on ABCs Shark Tank in 2013.



The founding story of Wicked Good Cupcakes is wickedly unique. In 2010, mother-daughter team Tracey Noonan and Danielle Vilagie began taking cake-decorating classes. Their passion quickly grew into a business as they launched their first store in Cohasset, Massachusetts. As their reputation grew, they found themselves getting hundreds of requests to ship their product across the country. However, they couldnt find a way to both effectively ship cupcakes and ensure they arrive fresh and intact. From this challenge, their signature mason jar cupcake was born. By filling jars with freshly baked layers of cake, frosting and filling, they were able to create an easily shippable product that would remain fresh for up to ten days without refrigeration. After being featured on Shark Tank and attracting the attention of Kevin O'Leary, a.k.a "Mr Wonderful", who called it "the best investment" he's ever made on the show, their business took off like a rocket ship.

Hickory Farms started with that same entrepreneurial spirit 70 years ago by offering cheese and farm-fresh products at Ohio farmer's markets, so the company can truly appreciate the story of Wicked Good Cupcakes. Following their amazing growth as a Shark Tank success story, the company is ready to bring their delicious baked goods to even more customers as part of the Hickory Farms family. Wicked Good Cupcakes will be an important part of Hickory Farms expanding assortment of food gifts for year-round gifting occasions, such as Birthdays, Thank You Gifts, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day.

We are extremely excited to add this wonderful company to the Hickory Farms family. said Diane Pearse, Hickory Farms CEO. We couldnt be more thrilled to offer these decadent and beautifully packaged desserts to Hickory Farms customers. Take one look at the website, and youll see the most delightful flavor choices including the Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcake, Cuckoo for Coconut Cupcake and so much more.

With the rise in demand for gifts containing both sweet and savory options, the addition of Wicked Good Cupcakes to Hickory Farms repertoire will give customers a new and exciting way to connect with loved ones through the gift of great taste.

When we started this company as a fun family endeavor 11 years ago, we never dreamed that it would take off like it did, said Tracey Noonan, Wicked Good Cupcakes co-founder. Weve been impressed with the transformation at Hickory Farms in the last few years, as theyve refreshed their brand, expanded the product offering, and grown with year-round occasions. To now be part of the Hickory Farms family, a company with a storied and respected past and exciting future, is truly a dream come true and will help us reach even more fans.

Hickory Farms plans to begin offering Wicked Good Cupcakes at hickoryfarms.com later in 2021, and the full assortment of cupcakes continues to be available at WickedGoodCupcakes.com .

ABOUT HICKORY FARMS, LLC

Since 1951, Hickory Farms LLC has been a leading retailer of food gifts and specialty foods available online, in catalogs, and in leading mass merchants, supermarkets, and a variety of seasonal retail shopping locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.HickoryFarms.com or join the conversation on Instagram ; Facebook ; Pinterest ; TikTok or Twitter .

Media Contacts:

Diana Davis

Hickory Farms

Email: Diana.Davis@hickoryfarms.com

Tel: 312.361.3469

Jeannie Evanchan

Praytell Agency

Email: jeannie@praytellagency.com

Tel: 317.385.5752

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b3686d2a-6f2c-4000-9632-6c9a00c12f99
ROSEMONT, Ill., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The start of summer means more tank tops and shorts, and for some people, a pesky new skin condition they may not have noticed before. Keratosis pilaris causes tiny, rough feeling bumps to appear on the skin, most often on the upper arms and thighs. According to dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology, this common and harmless skin condition affects people of all ages and races and occurs when dead skin cells clog the pores.



Some people say the bumps look like goosebumps, chicken skin or strawberry skin, while others mistake the bumps for acne, says board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, FAAD. While treatment isnt necessary for keratosis pilaris, if the itch, dryness or appearance is bothersome, there are things you can do at home to help.

To ease the symptoms and help you see clearer skin, Dr. Gohara recommends the following tips:

Keep baths and showers short. Spending too much time in the water can dry your skin and cause keratosis pilaris to flare. Limit baths and showers to five to 10 minutes and use lukewarm water.





Spending too much time in the water can dry your skin and cause keratosis pilaris to flare. Limit baths and showers to five to 10 minutes and use lukewarm water. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. This will help avoid irritation when washing your skin.





This will help avoid irritation when washing your skin. Gently exfoliate skin with keratosis pilaris once a week. You can exfoliate using a skin care product called a keratolytic  a type of chemical exfoliator. Look for one that contains one of the following ingredients: alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, a retinoid, salicylic acid, or urea. Take care to use the exfoliator exactly as described in the directions, as applying too much or using it more often than indicated can cause raw, irritated skin. In addition, avoid scrubbing your skin, which can make keratosis pilaris worse.





You can exfoliate using a skin care product called a keratolytic  a type of chemical exfoliator. Look for one that contains one of the following ingredients: alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, a retinoid, salicylic acid, or urea. Take care to use the exfoliator exactly as described in the directions, as applying too much or using it more often than indicated can cause raw, irritated skin. In addition, avoid scrubbing your skin, which can make keratosis pilaris worse. Moisturize your skin . Apply a thick, oil-free moisturizing cream or ointment immediately after bathing  when your skin is still damp  or whenever your skin feels dry. Look for one that contains urea or lactic acid. You can also use a humidifier to prevent dry skin. However, make sure to clean and disinfect your humidifier weekly to prevent the growth of harmful mold and bacteria.





. Apply a thick, oil-free moisturizing cream or ointment immediately after bathing  when your skin is still damp  or whenever your skin feels dry. Look for one that contains urea or lactic acid. You can also use a humidifier to prevent dry skin. However, make sure to clean and disinfect your humidifier weekly to prevent the growth of harmful mold and bacteria. Avoid shaving or waxing skin with keratosis pilaris. This can cause more bumps to appear. However, if you must shave the area, use a single-blade razor instead of a multi-blade razor.



For many people, keratosis pilaris goes away with time, says Dr. Gohara. However, clearing tends to happen gradually over many years. If the bumps still bother you after trying these tips, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist for a treatment plan that addresses your concerns.

These tips are demonstrated in How to Treat Keratosis Pilaris at Home, a video posted to the AAD website and YouTube channel . This video is part of the AADs Video of the Month series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails.

To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org/findaderm .

Contact

Nicole Dobkin, (847) 240-1746, ndobkin@aad.org

Julie Landmesser, (847) 240-1714, jlandmesser@aad.org

More Information

Keratosis pilaris overview

Signs and symptoms

Causes

Treatment

About the AAD

Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 20,000 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the AAD at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow the AAD on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology), Twitter (@AADskin), Instagram (@AADskin1), or YouTube (AcademyofDermatology).

Editors note: The AAD does not promote or endorse any products or services. This content is intended as editorial content and should not be embedded with any paid, sponsored or advertorial content as it could be perceived as an AAD endorsement.

To view this release in a media rich format, go to: https://aad.new-media-release.com/2021/keratosis_pilaris/
Philadelphia, PA, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beyond Celiac, the leading catalyst for a celiac disease cure in the United States, is honored to be presenting at the upcoming DIA 2021 Global Annual Meeting on June 28 alongside the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF). Salvo Alesci, MD, Chief Scientist and Strategy Officer of Beyond Celiac and Mary Stober Murray, MPH, NMQF Vice President of Collaborative Action Networks will address underdiagnosis as a factor in many diseases, especially for racial and ethnic minorities. The panel will discuss systemic reasons for these challenges and quantitative data-mining approaches to solve them.

The problem of underdiagnosis is complex and embedded in health care systems and society, said Alesci. The burden of connection does not lie with the patient. Patient engagement strategies need to work in tandem with Health IT to identify and include these underdiagnosed populations.

These issues are at the heart of why Beyond Celiac and NMQF, a research and educational organization dedicated to ensuring that high-risk racial and ethnic populations and communities receive optimal health care, forged an ongoing partnership last fall to examine and address health inequities in the diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease. This spring they co-hosted a virtual Town Hall discussion on diversity and disparity in celiac disease to further the conversation.

In addition to increasing awareness of the prevalence of celiac disease in the U.S. across various demographic groups, the two organizations are investigating the extent of undiagnosed celiac disease, particularly among non-Caucasians. They are using extensive research of underserved populations to inform development of interventions focused on the needs of all patients, including Black, Hispanic, Asian and underserved populations.

Finding underdiagnosed populations requires approaches where trust meets data, Murray explained. We need more organizations with similar goals and complementary expertise sharing resources to strengthen trust and develop data.

Celiac disease is a serious genetic autoimmune disorder that affects an estimated 1 in 133 Americans, more than half of whom are still undiagnosed. The disease causes damage to the small intestine, resulting in debilitating symptoms, and if left untreated, can lead to serious long-term health problems including infertility and some types of cancer.

About Beyond Celiac

Founded in 2003, Beyond Celiac is the leading catalyst for a celiac disease cure in the United States, serving as a patient advocacy and research-driven organization working to drive diagnosis and accelerate the discovery of new treatments. By engaging with the top scientists in the field, making the right investments in research and supporting the broad community of those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, Beyond Celiac envisions a world in which people can live healthy lives and eat without fear  a world Beyond Celiac. www.BeyondCeliac.org

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Search Minerals Inc. (Search or the Company) (TSXV: SMY), is pleased to announce that Search Minerals has been selected to participate in the Government of Canada Accelerated Growth Service (AGS) initiative, which supports high growth companies.



AGS, as a one-stop shop model, provides Search with coordinated access to Government of Canada resources as Search continues to move quickly to production and contribute to the establishment of a stable and secure rare earth element North American and European supply chain.

Under AGS, Search has been partnered with a designated AGS client lead, supported by one representative from each participating government department. The Search AGS team is led by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), which has invested in several Search Minerals projects over the past few years.

Greg Andrews, President/CEO, comments; We are extremely pleased to be accepted into the AGS program. The AGS program provides Search access to a team of experts in various government departments with a coordinated effort to advance our Critical Rare Earth Element project in Newfoundland and Labrador. The development of our resources along with advancement of our patented Direct Extraction technology, has positioned Search to be a secure supplier of rare earth elements from Newfoundland/Labrador. We are looking forward to working with our Innovation Advisors to identify funding opportunities for the next steps of our demonstration scale processing of material from our District.

Andrews added: There has been a coordinated effort among our ally countries for collaboration to establish a secure rare earth element supply chain, and Search is poised to capitalize on these government led initiatives.

Recent US and Canadian Government Announcements

June 8, 2021 - Canada and the U.S. have been collaborating under the CanadaU.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration, advancing mutual interest in securing supply chains for the critical minerals needed for important manufacturing sectors, including communication technology, aerospace and defence, and clean technology. A 100 day supply chain review report commissioned by President Biden stated: The United States and other nations are dependent on a range of critical minerals and materials that are the building blocks of the products we use every day. Rare earths metals are essential to manufacturing everything from engines to airplanes to defense equipment. Demand for many of these metals is projected to surge over the next two decades, particularly as the world moves to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/100-day-supply-chain-review-report.pdf





June 15, 2021 - Canada and European Commission builds on this commitment: a new strategic partnership on raw materials to help ensure the security of supply chains for the critical minerals and metals that are essential to the transition to a cleaner and digitized economy, including for use in electric vehicles and advanced battery storage. The new partnership will also advance collaboration on research and innovation in raw material extraction and processing and create new trade opportunities and private and public investment for our businesses. https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/06/15/prime-minister-concludes-productive-canada-european-union-summit



Search Minerals is making significant progress to close the gap in the rare earth supply chain from upstream producers to downstream customers.

For further information, please contact:

Greg Andrews

President and CEO

Tel: 604-998-3432

E-mail: info@searchminerals.ca

About Search Minerals Inc.

Led by a proven management team and board of directors, Search is focused on finding and developing resources within the emerging Critical Rare Earth Element (CREE) District of South East Labrador. The Company controls a belt 63 km long and 2 km wide including its 100% interest in the FOXTROT and DEEP FOX Projects, which are road accessible and at tidewater. Exploration efforts have advanced FOX MEADOW, AWESOME FOX and SILVER FOX as new CREE prospects very similar to and in close proximity to FOXTROT and DEEP FOX.

Search has continued to optimize our patented Direct Extraction Process technology with the generous support from the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from ACOA. We have completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate for separation and refining.

About Accelerated Growth Service

The Accelerated Growth Service initiative coordinates government support for high growth companies in areas such as financing, advisory support, export and innovation services.

Each participating company has a dedicated Accelerated Growth Service client lead supported by a team of representatives from each participating government department.

The Accelerated Growth Service team, in partnership with the company, identifies growth challenges and works collaboratively to resolve these challenges. The team can also connect the company to other departments and organizations with programs specific to their needs. Find out more here: The Accelerated Growth Service - Canada.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Project will develop novel pathway to reducing carbon content of global hydrogen supply



Converting renewable DME into hydrogen will solve vexing issues related to hydrogen production, transport and storage and open up new feedstocks for cost-effective renewable hydrogen production

SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A public-private partnership between Los Alamos National Laboratory (the Laboratory) and Southern California-based Oberon Fuels has secured funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Laboratory/Oberon project is expected to scale-up steam reforming technology to produce renewable hydrogen (rH2) from renewable dimethyl ether (rDME), an innovative approach to increasing the global renewable hydrogen supply.

The effort is funded by DOEs Technology Commercialization Fund, which supports mature, promising energy technologies with the potential for high impact and is also part of DOEs H2@Scale initiative to accelerate development of a hydrogen economy by funding advanced-technology research, development and demonstration (RD&D) with industrial partners.

Renewable DME has the potential to overcome the two largest barriers to widespread hydrogen adoption: the lack of cost-competitive, sustainable production and lack of energy-dense storage and transport.

DME is a hydrogen-rich molecule that can be produced from waste and/or renewable resources using Oberons modular production technology. Because DME handles like propane/liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), it requires minimal modifications to the existing global LPG distribution network and leverages the expertise of its existing workforce. This project will produce the final step  technology that can convert rDME into rH2 fuel at the point of use.

Our novel approach to generating hydrogen flips the current model on its head, said Rebecca Boudreaux, Ph.D., President and CEO of Oberon Fuels. We are producing a hydrogen-rich molecule, moving it using existing, low-cost infrastructure, and converting it to hydrogen fuel on demand. We are thrilled to partner with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Department of Energy to meet Secretary Jennifer Granholms vision for a hydrogen economy.

This project builds on a previous bench-top demonstration of a DME steam reforming process conducted by researchers at the Laboratory, which produced 0.018 kg of hydrogen per day. The goal is to boost production to 25 kg per daya greater than 1,300-fold increase in hydrogen production capacity. The modeling and experimental outcomes of this project will be used as the foundational underpinnings to further scale the process from 25 to 500 kg of renewable hydrogen per day, which exceeds what an average hydrogen filling station currently uses per-day for light-duty vehicles.

Based on the guidelines for alternative fuels, the DOE requirements for hydrogen carriers, our own thermodynamics analyses, and our bench-scale proof-of-concept validation, we believe DME is ideally suited for the H2@Scale effort, said Troy A. Semelsberger, Ph.D., a Technical Staff Member at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Earlier this month, Oberon began commercial production of the first-ever renewable DME in the U.S. at its facility in Brawley, Calif., using waste methanol from the pulp and paper industry. Other potential feedstocks include: biogas from dairy waste, food wastes, agricultural waste, as well as excess electricity and CO 2 .

The team at Los Alamos National Laboratory has already shown the advantages of DME-to-hydrogen reforming including lower reaction temperatures, which can reduce the operating costs and the system footprint. We cannot wait to build on this strong foundation to show that rDME can be a pathway to help decarbonize the transportation sector, said Elliot Hicks, Chief Operating and Technology Officer and an Oberon Fuels co-founder.

About Oberon Fuels

California-based Oberon Fuels is on a global mission to decarbonize transportation by producing a powerful, enabling molecule, dimethyl ether (DME). DME, which can range from being ultra-low carbon to carbon-negative, can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the transportation sector and beyond 1) as an energy-dense, cost-effective means to move renewable hydrogen, 2) as a blending agent for LPG, and 3) as a diesel replacement. Oberon has challenged the status quo by introducing innovative solutions to the transportation sector to reduce its carbon footprint, vehicle emissions and improve local air quality while creating economic opportunity for the communities where they operate. In 2013, Oberon Fuels refinery in Brawley, Calif., produced the first fuel-grade DME in North America, and in 2021 produced the first-ever renewable DME in the US. Oberons DME has powered vehicle demonstrations around the world with Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, Ford, among others. Founded in 2010, Oberon Fuels is privately held with both private and strategic investors, including Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.

More information about Oberon Fuels is available at www.oberonfuels.com.

About Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is managed by Triad, a public service oriented, national security science organization equally owned by its three founding members: Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle), the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), and the Regents of the University of California (UC) for the Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aa226c95-0b77-4f2b-9247-d333e082b660.




Industrys first commercial integration of OTS selector with oxide-based ReRAM

Key technology milestone achieved three months ahead of schedule

HOD HASHARON, Israel, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weebit Nano Limited (ASX:WBT), a leading developer of next-generation semiconductor memory technologies, is pleased to announce it has created the industrys first commercial integration of an oxide-based ReRAM (OxRAM) cell with an ovonic threshold switching (OTS) selector, a critical step in the companys commercialisation path for the discrete (stand-alone) memory market.

This achievement is a significant step towards broadening Weebits target market beyond embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) to include discrete memory technology, and will enable the implementation of 3D memory stacking and crossbar architectures in future developments. Weebit and its development partner CEA-Leti achieved this key milestone three months ahead of Weebits previously announced schedule.

A selector is a key element of a memory chip, enabling optimised cell access within a memory array. It assists in isolating memory cells so only the specific cells that should be accessed are, and all the other cells are not impacted. In the embedded space, a transistor is typically used as the selector device, but a transistor does not support the densities required for discrete chips. OTS is an ideal selector technology for discrete ReRAM chips as it enables the smallest ReRAM bit cell, as small as 4F2, as well as excellent endurance, low energy consumption, and high switching speed.

New markets like IoT, 5G and AI are driving needs for emerging NVM on advanced process nodes, said Jim Handy, Memory Analyst, Objective Analysis. Weebits combination of ReRAM with an OTS selector promises to scale to the advanced processes and high memory densities that new memory chips will need.

According to Gabriel Molas, Senior Scientist at CEA-Leti, Creation of an OTS selector is quite a complex endeavor given the concurrent requirements to achieve high endurance, reduce variability, and maintain characteristics at high temperature operation. As such, this selector is based on several years of research by a dedicated team. Were delighted to have worked with Weebit to achieve this milestone for its ReRAM technology more quickly than anticipated, and we look forward to continuing our joint R&D work with Weebit on further innovations.

Coby Hanoch, CEO of Weebit, said, This achievement demonstrates our commitment to addressing the discrete memory market as part of our mid-term strategy. We see a broad range of opportunities for discrete ReRAM, from NOR flash to storage class memory, in a range of segments. Given our 2024 target for a discrete solution, we anticipate that other opportunities will arise as well. We will continue to share our progress in meeting this mid-term goal, while we continue our near-term focus on the embedded memory module where we are making good progress.

Mr. Hanoch recently spoke about the future of semiconductor memory during the Leti Innovation Days event. To watch a video of his presentation, visit https://youtu.be/UGXHz_pMUJk.



Follow Weebit on its new Twitter account at: @WeebitNano

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Weebit Nano.

About Weebit Nano

Weebit Nano Ltd. is a leading developer of next-generation semiconductor memory technology. The companys ground-breaking Resistive RAM (ReRAM) addresses the growing need for significantly higher performance and lower power memory solutions in a range of new electronic products such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smartphones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 5G communications and artificial intelligence. Weebits ReRAM allows semiconductor memory elements to be significantly faster, less expensive, more reliable and more energy efficient than those using existing Flash memory solutions. Because it is based on fab-friendly materials, the technology can be quickly and easily integrated with existing flows and processes, without the need for special equipment or large investments. See: www.weebit-nano.com or follow us on https://twitter.com/WeebitNano.

Weebit Nano and the Weebit Nano logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Weebit Nano Ltd. in the United States and other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Explanation of Technical Terms

4F2: Memory cell sizes are measured using an nF formula where n is a constant derived from the cell design and F is the feature size of the process technology. For example, in a 130nm process node, F = 0.13 micron, and therefore 4F2 = 4 x 0.13 x 013 = 0.0676 square micron. For the same feature size, as the cell size becomes smaller, memory capacity increases.

Bit cell: A bit cell is the basic building block of a memory array, and in turn, of a memory chip. Each cell comprises a tiny circuit with a memory element and a selector element. The memory element stores data (either a 1 or 0) and the selector activates the cell when accessed.

For further information please contact:

Investors

Eric Kuret, Market Eye

P: +61 417 311 335

E: eric.kuret@marketeye.com.au

Media

Jen Bernier-Santarini

P : +1 650-336-4222

E: jen@weebit-nano.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/58ea20f0-1cab-4135-8b9d-62dfc0fd48f6
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a more steady rain in the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 56F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
GOSHEN [mdash] Thomas went to be with his Lord and Saviour early July 2. He was born to John W and Elizabeth (McNeilly) Detwiler on Jan. 14, 1949. He married D Sue (Shaum) on Nov. 27, 1969. He is survived by his wife, three children Thomas Edward (Wendy), Audra J (Scott) Hoover, and Anthony 
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living. She is also chair of Cardinal Dolans pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at klopez@nationalreview.com.
Governor Northam Announces General Assembly to Convene August 2

Special session to address state budget, including the allocation of federal relief funding

RICHMONDGovernor Ralph Northam today issued a proclamation calling the members of the General Assembly into special session on Monday, August 2. A special session is necessary to fill judicial vacancies and allocate more than $4.3 billion in federal relief funding.

With more Virginians getting vaccinated every day, we are turning the corner and building back stronger, said Governor Northam. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we have a unique opportunity to fund public schools, support small businesses, achieve universal broadband access, and make generational investments in our shared future. I look forward to working with legislators to get it done.

Earlier this summer, Governor Northam and legislative leaders issued a joint statement outlining their shared priorities for this federal funding:

Public health. Upgrade long-underfunded state and local public health services, boost affordable housing, and help Virginians with the cost of utilities.

Small businesses. Fully fund the Rebuild Virginia economic recovery program, invest in Virginia Tourisms work to recruit visitors back to the Commonwealth, and help the Department Housing and Community Development support Virginias main streets, small towns, and industrial revitalization.

Workers. Fund the Unemployment Trust Fund to support workers who lose their jobs and avoid increased costs on Virginia businesses, increase support for the Virginia Employment Commissionhistorically one of the lowest-funded unemployment systems in the countryto continue upgrading its computer systems and hire necessary staff.

Public schools. Modernize public school buildings across Virginia by rehabilitating and upgrading existing facilities, improving air quality and HVAC systems, and improving safety.

Broadband. Accelerate a 10-year plan to ensure universal broadband access within the next 18 months.





President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law in March, directing $350 billion in economic recovery funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. All Republican members of Congress voted against the law, including those representing Virginia.

The full text of Governor Northams proclamation is available here.

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Grand Haven, MI (49417)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 81F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low around 70F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Williams needs a total overhaul to bring it up to modern Formula 1 standards.

That is not the claim of a critical observer, but of the once-great British team's new technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison.

Better known as 'FX', Demaison was appointed by new team boss and former Volkswagen colleague Jost Capito in March - finally filling the place left open by Paddy Lowe in mid 2019.

Since he started work, Demaison has been getting his head around Williams' current operations.

He now tells France's Auto Hebdo: "Williams cannot continue to function in the same way."

Last year, the Williams family finally left Formula 1, selling the Oxfordshire based team to Dorilton Capital, a New York-based private investment firm.

Demaison has been charged with pulling Williams off the back rows of the grid from a technical perspective.

"In Grove there are many people who have worked together for a long time. Everything is built around them," he said.

"As someone who has come from the outside, it was easy for me to fill in the gaps with a focus on efficiency. Without erasing the past, there is a lot to change.

"We've been doing the same thing for 20 years and that has to change. What worked 20 years ago no longer works, especially in Formula 1," Demaison added.

"The big problem is that Williams hasn't evolved at the same pace as Formula 1. The sport has become very complex, but it seems that some people are using that complexity to protect one another.

"For them, it's a big culture change," he insisted.

"Experience is important and cannot be bought, but it still has to be used wisely. In many ways I think Williams is still under the shadow of the death of Ayrton Senna.

"At Grove, a car has to be safe before it can be fast, but it actually has to be both."

(GMM)
bp announced the safe start-up of the Manuel project in the US Gulf of Mexico, the fourth of five major projects expected to be delivered globally in 2021. Manuel includes a new subsea production system for two new wells tied into the Na Kika platform. The wells are expected to boost gross platform production by an estimated 20,100 barrels of oil equivant a day (boe/d).

The bp-operated wells, drilled to a depth of approximately 21,000 feet, are located on Mississippi Canyon block 520, east of the bp-operated Na Kika platform in 6,625 feet of water, approximately 140 miles off the coast of New Orleans. bp and Shell each hold a 50% working interest in the Manuel development.





bp is a leading producer in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, operating four production platformsThunder Horse, Atlantis, Mad Dog and Na Kikawith a fifth platform, Argos, expected to come online in 2022. bp anticipates growth in its production in the US Gulf of Mexico to more than 400,000 boe/d by the mid-2020s.

Manuel is exactly the type of high-value project that is critical to growing our business here in the Gulf of Mexico. bps focused and resilient hydrocarbons business is a key pillar of our strategy. This start-up is another example of our teams commitment to safe and reliable operations. Starlee Sykes, bp senior vice president Gulf of Mexico and Canada
Toyotas global brand for new mobility services, KINTO, is now introducing the Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle into its KINTO Share fleet in Sweden. Since KINTO started its Swedish operations one year ago, the mobility service provider has grown rapidly to almost 1.000 cars in operation today, covering almost all segments with models ranging from Yaris Hybrid to RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid and Lexus UX 250h.

With the introduction of the all new Mirai, KINTO Share aims to democratize the fuel cell technology and give all their customers the chance to experience the future of hydrogen mobility.





Sweden is still a bit behind other European countries regarding the hydrogen re-fuelling infrastructure, which limits the usability of the technology. However, by introducing the Mirai in KINTO Share, we want to make the hydrogen technology available for all our customers, no matter if they need it for a 1-hour or a 3-months drive. Johan Lundblad, Head of Mobility at Toyota Sweden

The cars are available in a new KINTO mobility station located at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and as all other KINTO-cars, bookable via the KINTO-mobile app.

KINTO is part of Toyotas global vision to provide all kinds of services related to the mobility of people, all around the world. KINTO Europe, established on 1st of April, was the latest step in the journey from mobility as a project to mobility as a business, with a view of truly delivering Mobility for All. In Europe, KINTO is already active in 10 countries: Germany, Italy, France, Spain, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Portugal and is expanding quickly.

Toyota Mirai was first introduced in 2014 in Japan and has been available in Europe since 2016. The second-generation Mirai was launched in Europe earlier this year and is equipped with Toyotas latest fuel cell technology, making it lighter, more compact, more efficient and even cheaper than before.
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GREENWICH  The Board of Education has appointed a former member to fill the vacancy left when Democratic member Meghan Olsson resigned last week, just shy of five months before her term expired.

The new board member is Gaetane Francis, a Democrat who served on the school board from 2015 to 2019 and for the last two years of her term as vice chair. Francis is a medical doctor who is a member of the staff at Brookside Gynecology in Greenwich. The school board voted her in at its Wednesday night special meeting.

I feel grateful that anyone whos no longer on this board would be willing to come back on, even if it is for a short period of time and particularly someone, again, whos thoughtful, knowledgeable, compassionate, board member Christina Downey said. I think were very lucky to then be able to operate as a full board until November.

Francis ran for re-election to the board in 2019, but was outpolled by Downey and board Secretary Karen Hirsh, both Democrats.

Olsson announced at the school boards June 17 meeting that she will be moving with her family to Massachusetts, closer to the Boston-area school where she teachers French.

According to Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein, according to state law, the school board had 30 days to fill the vacancy. If the school board failed to fill the role, the responsibility would have then gone to the Board of Selectmen.

The school board held a special meeting in executive session Tuesday night to discuss Francis appointment.

Bernstein, a Republican; Vice Chair Kathleen Stowe, Hirsh and Downey  all three of whom are Democrats  voted to approve Francis appointment.

Republicans Joe Kelly, Karen Kowalski and Peter Sherr abstained from the vote. Kowalski and Sherr both cited their inability to attend the Tuesday meeting as the reason for their abstention. Kelly said he didnt feel comfortable voting for a board member he didnt know personally. Despite their abstentions, all three board members spoke positively of Francis.

Francis was not present at the board meeting, which was held at Central Middle School. But she participated via Zoom and was sworn in immediately after the board vote.

I have been so proud of how the Greenwich Schools did during this pandemic, Francis said to her colleagues. It was something that I spoke to lots of people about. I think you guys did a fantastic job. And I just wanted to compliment all of you on that.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586
A normally placid panel that oversees the State Capitol complex erupted in opposition Thursday to a plan to remove the marble statue of an early English settler who led the massacre of hundreds of Native Americans in the 1637 Battle of Mystic.

The State Capitol Preservation & Restoration Commission bristled at plans by legislative leaders to take down the stone likeness of John Mason from the north exterior of the Capitol. By keeping the statue in its third-floor niche overlooking Bushnell Park, they insisted, the figure can become a learning tool whether or not it offends people.

Commission members warned that if Mason is removed from the high-profile perch above the Capitols north steps, other statues of early settlers, including slave owners, can be next. Its not going to stop at one thing, warned Mary Finnegan, a commission member who worked in the General Assembly for nearly 38 years.

The state budget that Gov. Ned Lamont signed on Wednesday includes a plan to move Masons likeness to the Old State House one mile away from the Capitol, as key lawmakers wanted it out of the collection of historic statues that ring the Capitol building.

Complicating the issue, the commission members, during their quarterly meeting, became confused over the possible timetable to remove the statue after legislative staff told them that money for moving Mason from the State Capitol was not actually included in the new state budget.

But right after the hour-and-20-minute-long commission meeting, state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, the powerful co-chairwoman of the legislative Appropriations Committee, said her plans to remove the statue indeed remain in the state budget that starts July 1.

It will show up in the budget books, Osten said in a phone interview. Theres no dollar write-up because it will be removed within existing expenditures. Osten had originally budgeted about $15,000 to take the statue off the third-floor exterior and truck it over to the Old State House Museum in the center of downtown Hartford.

Masons colonial troops joined with allies from the Narragansett and Mohegan tribes to the battle against the Eastern Pequot tribe in May of 1637, killing about 500 Native Americans. The massacre, which is also the subject of another commemoration on the Capitol, is an affront to Native Americans, said Osten, whose district includes the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal nations.

Osten said that those women, children and older Native Americans who were not killed in the massacre were tortured and became slaves. She said that the statue could be sent to the Old State House for permanent exhibition rather than taking a honored location at the Capitol.

Commission member William Morgan, the former longtime chief of the State Capitol Police, initially called for the commission to go to Superior Court for an injunction against the removal of the statue. But members led by Chairman Buddy Altobello of Meriden, a former longtime member of the state House of Representatives, agreed to take a wait-and-see attitude, with a possible public hearing on the issue during the next quarterly meeting in September.

Walter Woodward, an associate professor of history at UConn who serves on the commission and is an expert in early Connecticut history, joined in the defense of the keeping the statute in public view on the exterior of the 1878 Capitol.

One of the things that I know is that John Mason certainly, in that Pequot fort on that morning, did something that was horrendous to save his and his mens lives, said Woodward, who is also the Connecticut state historian, during the virtual commission meeting.

Woodward continued, The massacre at Mystic, as it is called now, was a desperate act by someone in desperate trouble, by someone trying to survive. And at that moment he and his men were fighting to save the colony of Connecticut as well. The reason the state of Connecticut honored him through those centuries, is because at a moment of great peril for this fledgling colony that was facing starvation and surrounded by enemies, he was the great risk-taker.

While the commission serves as an advisory group to the legislature, which runs the 14-acre Capitol complex as well as the Old State House, the state mandate guiding the preservation panel says The integrity of the location, design, setting, material, decoration and appearance of all exterior structure, surfaces, and finishes shall be maintained, whenever possible, as originally designed and created... There shall be no changes to the exterior structure, surfaces, or finishes without approval of the Commission on Preservation and Restoration of the State Capitol or its designated subcommittee.

Woodward described Mason as a complex man who after the Pequot War, became close friends with Uncas, who as the sachem of the Mohegans was the leader of that tribal nation. Woodward said it took him a long time to understand the complexity of their relationship.

When we project present values into the past, not only is it a slippery slope, but we lose what can be incredibly important milestone markers for our own future, Woodward told the commission. A person like John Mason, who the people of this state honored for centuries who may have been, without his actions, the state of Connecticut, the colony of Connecticut, might have ceased to exist. We should really be cautious in our own time about the assumptions we hold and the actions we take based on those assumptions.

In other business, the 12-member commission, whose members are appointees from legislative leaders and the governor, were told that the replica of the allegorical Genius of Connecticut, that has stood in the Capitol rotunda since 2009, may finally be hoisted to the top of the dome. The state budget includes $500,000 to perform the complicated installation.

The original 18-foot-tall statue was removed from the top of the dome after it was found to be damaged after the famous hurricane of 1938. The winged statue was melted down for munitions during World War II.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
At this point we're well into Android 12 public beta territory, following a few months of developer-only releases. And today Google has outed the Android 12 Beta 2.1, which, as the small increment implies, is all about fixing bugs in Android 12 Beta 2, released earlier.

The Beta 2.1 fixes issues such as one that prevented users from accessing things on the lock screen, for example swiping down the notification shade, swiping away notifications, or even swiping to unlock the phone. Next up, issues that caused weather and calendar event info to not appear in the At A Glance widget have been resolved, as has an issue that caused flickering or jittery animations when going into Recent apps when using gesture navigation.

The new mic and camera permission indicators introduced in Android 12 sometimes got stuck and disappeared completely until the phone was rebooted, but this is also fixed now. More importantly, a bug that kept users stuck on the setup wizard after installing the Beta and resetting the device is a goner too. And finally, an issue involving working in the Android Emulator has been fixed to what we assume are sighs of relief from app developers.

The new build is labeled SPB2.210513.011 and is headed to people who have Beta 2 installed, over-the-air. If you have an eligible Pixel and want to try the next Android release, all you need to do is enroll your handset into the Android Beta for Pixel program, and then you'll get the update.

Source
The Huawei nova 8i is a brand new phone confirmed to be released in Southeast Asia. The design of the handset is reminiscent of the Mate 30 Pro rather than the nova 8 5G, for example. Spec-wise, it's going to be positioned in the mid-range segment and aims to attract the young audience.

The handset itself is built around a 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel with FHD+ resolution and covers the full DCI-P3 color gamut. The display has a punch-hole for the front-facing camera. A Snapdragon 662 chipset is running the show coupled with a 4,300 mAh battery supporting Huawei's 66W SuperCharge. This should be enough to top up the battery in 38 minutes from flat.

The circular module on the back holds a 64MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture and is joined by an 8MP f/2.4 ultrawide camera and two more 2MP sensors - one used for depth information while the other is used for macro shots.

The phone will ship with EMUI 11 based on Android 10 out of the box but should be eligible for an update to HarmonyOS in the future.

The available colors are Moonlight Silver, Starry Black and Interstellar Blue. No specifics about a release date or pricing have been given, nor do we have any official images to share.

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Haiti - Justice : Death of Me Rene Sylvestre, President of the Court of Cassation and the CSPJ (Reactions)





Wednesday June 23, 2021, Me Rene Sylvestre (58) the President of the Court of Cassation (since February 2019) and of the Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ), tested positive for Covid-19, died of respiratory complications in Mirebalais University Hospital.



Originally from Saint-Marc, Me Rene Sylvestre, whose integrity has never been questioned, had a 28-year career in the Haitian judicial system.



A minute of silence was observed during the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.



The reactions were not long in coming :



President Jovenel Moise :

"The news of the death of the President of the Court of Cassation and of the Superior Council of Judicial Power (CSPJ), Me Rene Sylvestre, a statesman, faithful servant of the Republic, saddens me deeply. My condolences to his family and to all members of the judiciary."



Rockefeller Vincent Minister of Justice :

"I learned with deep sadness the news of the departure of the President of the CSPJ, the Honorable Magistrate Rene Sylvestre. I extend my condolences to his family, to the members of the CSPJ, to the Judges of the Court of Cassation and to all the other members of the Judiciary."



Joseph Lambert, President of the Senate :

"I learned with emotion of the disappearance of the President of the Court of Cassation of the Republic and of the Superior Council of the Judicial Power. My sincere condolences go out to the family and colleagues of the Honorable Magistrate Rene Sylvestre who left too early. Rest in peace !"



BINUH and the UN :

"The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the United Nations in Haiti have learned the sad news of the death of the President of the Court of Cassation and of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, Me Rene Sylvestre. A painful loss for the country. Our sincere condolences to his family, the judiciary and the Haitians. "



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





PNH : Operation at "nan Remy" 4 arrests

Wednesday June 23, following information from the Investigation Service of the Commissariat of Croix-des-Bouquets, an operation was carried out in the area called "nan Remy" commune of Croix-des-Bouquets against a gang led by Gilbert Joseph , which was dislodged from the said area by the "400 mawozos" gang. 4 individuals responding to the names of : Jimmy Thelusmond, Jean Claude Jean-Baptiste, Rose Camille Jean-Baptiste, Erique Dumeus were arrested. Two motorcycles and 1 generator were seized and a stolen Nissan Murano vehicle, gray color, registration TQ - 18403 was found.



Funeral of Inspector Myradel Adolphe

Wednesday June 23, 2021, at the amphitheater of the National Police School, during his intervention at the funeral of the Divisional Inspector, Myradel Adolphe killed on June 5 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33914-haiti-flash-5-police-stations-attacked-by-bandits-in-less-than-24-hours.html , Leon Charles the Commander-in-Chief of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) declared "The Haitian National Police is committed not to let this crime go unpunished. Those who committed it, will pay the price" saluting the sacrifice and the sense of duty of the Divisional Inspector, Myradel Adolphe, victim of his devotion, recalling "However, this new loss in our ranks, however cruel it may be, does not would know how to make us abandon the permanent fight for the restoration of security in Haiti" promising that peace and republican order will be maintained in the country... Note that Myradel Adolphe was posthumously elevated to the rank of Police Commissioner.



NOTICE : The Art Center will remain closed to the public

The Art Center, for health and safety reasons, will remain closed to the public for an indefinite period. Workshops scheduled for July are postponed to September, which will coincide with the start of our new class session. Follow our networks and stay in touch at 48 41 4231 and contact@lecentredart.org



Drinking water in 4 Southern comunes

Drinking water on tap for the population of four communes on the South Coast thanks to the Drinking Water Supply System (SAEP) of the Regional Office for Drinking Water and Sanitation South (OREPA): Roche-a-Bateau, Port-a-Piment, Les Anglais and Tiburon. These vital achievements result from the "Drinking Water and Sanitation in Sustainable Rural Areas" (EPARD) project financed by the World Bank.



Delmas : Road construction and rehabilitation

Despite the various socio-political, health and security problems, the municipal administration of Delmas was able to complete the construction of several road sections at Delmas 33, in particular strret Ade, strret flaubert, and Delmas 31 rue Barbe de marbois and rue maguana extended .



Message from the PM

Wednesday, June 23, World Civil Service Day, Prime Minister ai delivered a message to the Haitian Civil Service personnel : "I address to all of you, Haitian civil servants and civil servants, my warmest congratulations on your dedication and your unwavering commitment to public service, despite the misunderstandings and contempt of which you are too often the object. I encourage you to continue to work for the smooth running of the administrative apparatus of the State which, without question, rests on your shoulders and, through this, to contribute to the well-being and progress of the Nation. Happy birthday to you all !"



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2021/06/23 | Source

New poster added for the upcoming re-release of the Korean movie "Epitaph" (2007)

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Directed by Jeong Beom-sik, Jeong Sik

With Jin Goo, Kim Tae-woo, Lee Dong-kyu, Kim Bo-kyung, Ko Joo-yeon, Kim Eung-soo,...

Original release date: 2007/08/01

Synopsis

"In a modern hospital in 1941, doctors witness weird events and learn DEATH is the sole healer". In 1979, Dr. PARK receives an old photo album from his twenties in 1941 when mysterious things befell him and his colleagues. PARK was bound by his parents to marry a girl whom he never met, but fell in love with a dead woman who happened to be his arranged marriage. Meanwhile, a little girl who was apparently the only survivor a car accident was haunted by ghosts every night. After two doctors (a married couple) involved in these two stories return to their hospital from Tokyo, a series of serial murders occurs around them.

Release date in Korea : 2021/07/14
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Editor: I have to disagree with the editorial of Thursday concerning the commercia
Business owner Katybeth "Katy" Courtnage recently celebrated the grand opening of her shop, Wild Thistle Boutique, in Havre.

"It went really good. We had the (Havre Area Chamber of Commerce) down here, we did a ribbon cutting and then we were open until 6 p.m., and it was pretty busy all day. So we did really good," Courtnage said.

Located at 323 Second St. in Havre across the street from Cottonwood Cinema 4 in the south side of the Pizza Pro building, the business' goal is to empower women to be themselves and show confidence through their wardrobe.

Store advertising says the boutique carries the newest trends in fashion for the everyday woman without the expensive price tag.

Wild Thistle offers apparel, accessories and shoes. Business hours are 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturdays.

After originally going to school in Montana for elementary education, Cortnage decided to relocate and attend the College of Southern Idaho, where she earned her associate degree in business.

Courtnage was working for a manufacturing plant as an assistant controller during this time, but always had the idea of opening her own clothing boutique in mind.

Courtnage said on her website that each of her three siblings have opened successful businesses.

Following discussions with her family, Courtnage followed her siblings' lead in 2017, originally starting Wild Thistle as an online business.

She came coming up with the idea for the business during her family's annual week-long trip to Glacier National Park.

"So, I started online, doing Facebook selling and doing a lot of pop-ups and vendor markets in Idaho. And a lot of my customer base actually was over the internet with Havre people, and so when I would come back home for holiday visits, I would do pop-ups," Courtnage said.

Courtnage said she received positive feedback and knew she had a customer base in Havre. She had been in the process of opening a storefront in Idaho before those plans were put on hold for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After living in Idaho for nine years, she said, with the pandemic bringing those initial plans to a standstill, it felt like the right time to return home to Montana. She said she always knew she'd return; it was just a matter of when, and that turned out to be October 2020.

"I had a little bit of worry, but seeing that we're at the tail end (of the pandemic), and the mask mandate went away and people are starting to come out from, you know, being secluded in their homes and stuff, I thought, you know, might as well, you never know," Courtnage said.

"I had a lot of great feedback during my grand opening," she added. "A lot of women were excited just to have somewhere new to shop. I know there's a couple other boutiques in town, but it's always exciting when there's something new. And I am from Havre, so I had all that, you know, the support, the people knew me because I grew up here so it's good to give back I guess."

Courtnage said she is very proud to have her family involved.

"I put a lot of heart into my boutique. Everything in here we made, my family and I made all by hand," she said. "Every step of the way, I had my family behind me, so it's more of like a family thing that we did and then I like to cater to what the people in Havre want."

Courtnage said she's gotten feedback about what people are looking for in regard to styles, clothes and sizes and she's gotten feedback that she has exactly what people are looking for.

"I am hoping to be open for a long time and to continue to, you know, serve the community that I grew up in and hopefully to help the downtown get back, you know, growing and get back on its feet because a lot of things have had to shut down," Courtnage said.

"We do have our Fourth of July collection coming out," she added. "Hopefully, this week, we'll have a bunch of stuff for Fourth of July to wear, and then, you know, when the fair season comes out, we'll have some specials for then, too."

Additionally, in a June 18 Facebook post, Wild Thistle Boutique announced it is in search of local models to showcase its items. Model photos will be posted to the Wild Thistle Botique Facebook page.

Potential models are asked to send or bring in a picture showing their personality and style along with a brief write-up. People are encouraged to send the business a Facebook message or stop by during business hours.

Customers will soon be able to shop online as http://www.wildthistleboutique.com is currently under construction. Courtnage said Wild Thistle Boutique is a member of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce and accepts Chamber gift certificates.
On Saturday, June 19, community members gathered in downtown Hazard to celebrate Juneteenth with an informational meeting to recognize the recent declaration of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and to honor the history leading up to this point. Dee Parker, an organizer of the event, shared a history of Juneteenth to the people in attendance, and said they were also honoring the 100th year anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre.

June 2021, this year, President Biden signed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States, said Parker. We had this event to commemorate Juneteenth. Its been a state holiday in many states for several years and we just got recognized for a federal holiday. Juneteenth is a staple within the black communities as well as has been lots of contributing factors of Black Americans as far as farming and different invention.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation

Proclamation, declaring more than three million slaves living in the Confederate states to be free. However, it took more than two years for that information to travel to Texas, so many African Americans were unaware of their freedom until June 19, 1865. Upon learning that slavery had been abolished, many residents and former slaves began to celebrate with prayer, food, singing and dancing. In the years following that, several states began celebrating Juneteenth annually.

This is our Independence Day. This is when all the slaves were finally free so thats why we celebrate to hold onto their memory and let them know we havent forgot about them, said Parker. This year also commemorates the 100th year anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre so its very important for us to celebrate that as well.

Parker said that around May and June 1921, many black owned businesses and homes were burned down or looted and many African American people were shot or attacked in Tulsa, Oklahoma due to high racial tensions.

Becky Stacy, a community member who attended the Juneteenth celebration, walked two and a half miles in honor of the holiday.

I did two and a half miles in the park, a two and a half mile hike to represent the two and a half years it took for them to learn theyre free, said Stacy. Opal Lee does the two and a half miles every year to represent those two and a half years.

She said Lee has always been an advocate for equal right and was 89 years old when she started walking the miles.

Stacy said she has learned a lot over the past few years and is hoping to continue to broaden her experiences and knowledge and advocate for others.

I didnt learn this stuff growing up, I had no clue, said Stacy. I need to learn about my friends experiences. Ive had to re-evaluate my beliefs in the last few years.

The event, though small, was effective said Parker. Due to COVID, our planning for this event was a little less than we expected but we still had a nice little turnout of support. Its just great for the community to actually be aware of what Juneteenth is.

Parker said he hopes and plans for next years Juneteenth celebration to be bigger and better.
During the June 22 meeting of the Hazard-Perry County Chamber of Commerce, held at SYKES in Chavies, representatives of SYKES and their current client, Intuit, revealed some of the changes made during the recent renovation to the building.

Among the changes were changes to the lobby, breakroom and production areas to make them all more modern and inviting for employees and guests.

Its changed a lot in the last 20 years. We have different clients, different leaders and now we have this new renovated state of the art building, said Tracy Davis, a SYKES recruiter. Our Chavies location has been in the community for over 20 years. During this time SYKES has hosted numerous clients.

She said the building formerly housed Bank of America and Frontier Communications and is now housing Intuit.

The company, said Davis, is hoping to continue growing throughout the year.

SYKES currently has 250 employees with the goal of expanding to 450 employees by quarter one of 2022. As a recruiter, that is my goal, she said.

Erica Knight, community relations coordinator and a recruiter at SYKES, said the changes made to the building reflect the companys desire to create an atmosphere that is welcoming for people and show the companys goal of being more than a job.

This is obviously a new SYKES, said Knight. Were here not only as a client in your community, not only to be part of your employment, but were going to invest in your community in any way possible. Were always looking to be not viewed as just an employer, but we want to be viewed as a community partner. We dont want to be just a job and a place to work, we want to be a career for these folks. We want to be a place they want to come to work everyday. Thats our goal.
Pardee, BRCC commemorate first mass vaccination effort

BRCC nursing students vaccinated patients during the clinic on the campus.

Nearly 200 people gathered on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College Tuesday to commemorate the first Covid-19 mass vaccination clinic in Henderson County.

Volunteers and staff from both Pardee UNC Health Care and Blue Ridge Community College were invited to the official unveiling of a historical marker for the vaccine clinic, enjoy lunch and hear words of appreciation from Pardee and Blue Ridge leadership.

You helped make history was the theme of the day. Each speaker noted that the volunteers who helped staff the clinic set up by Pardee UNC Health Care on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College were part of an historic effort. The clinic, which vaccinated its first community member on Jan. 11, was the first in the county and was responsible for the vast majority of vaccinations before the clinic closed on May 8 and vaccines became more widely available through pharmacies and doctors' offices. More than 500 volunteers played supporting roles, and BRCC was an integral partner in the effort, providing not only the location but staff and nursing students to help with vaccinations.

BRCC President Laura Leatherwood welcomed attendees to the campus and noted that they were the first outside large group to be in the space since the vaccine clinic began in January.

"When asked if Blue Ridge Community College would provide space for a clinic, for as long as it was needed, to assist with the vaccination process, we did not hesitate, she said. She also proudly noted that more than 115 faculty, staff and students had volunteered in the clinic.

Jay Kirby, president and CEO of Pardee UNC Health Care recognized the contributions of Blue Ridge, all the volunteers in attendance and key Pardee team members who made the clinic possible.

There were numerous people on daily calls, pulled away from their main roles for months, to make this happen, he said. It is important that we recognize these team members and their hard work, ingenuity and dedication to our community. They were physically and mentally exhausted, but they continued to show up. Kirby then went on to recognize specific Pardee team members.



Kirby, along with Johnna Reed, Pardee's chief administrative officer, unveiled the historic marker before the crowd, noting that the plaque will be installed in its final, permanent location in the coming weeks. The plaque is inscribed with the following message:



First Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic

Henderson County

January 11  May 6, 2021






Hot dog cookout, live music, car show will benefit Sgt. Davidson

A fundraiser Saturday will help cover travel and medical expenses for Melinda Davidson, who is undergoing breast cancer treatment.

A hot dog, car show and live music benefit is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Saturday at West Henderson High School for Melinda Davidson, a Henderson County Sheriff's Office sergeant who is battling breast cancer.



Davidson has been battling Stage 3 breast cancer since December 2020. She recently finished chemotherapy treatments and is scheduled for surgery in Chapel Hill in July followed by radiation treatments. All money raised will go to medical and travel expensive.




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The Biden administration is expected to extend the federal eviction ban that was set to expire at the end of June by a month, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The extension, which is expected to come from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that issued the order, is anticipated ahead of the June 30 expiration of the current order as vaccination rates slow and the effects of the pandemic continue to linger.

President Joe Biden had been pressured by Congressional Democrats to keep the moratorium in place as the nation continues to emerge slowly from the pandemic. Administration advisers discussed the matter over the past week and decided that another month without evictions is needed to get the billions of dollars in federal assistance funds distributed to renters.

The Treasury Department is expected to issue new guidance on distributing billions of dollars in housing assistance that was included in the Covid relief package passed this spring.

This will mark the fourth time the deadline for lifting the ban has been pushed back. The CDC's order first went into effect last September and initially was set to expire at the end of 2020. But then, in December, the protection was extended until the end of January. As one of his first acts in office, President Biden called on the CDC to extend the ban until March 31. That deadline was pushed until the end of June.

While the challenge for much of the past year has been that there was not enough relief money to cover the back rent owed by tenants, an unprecedented amount of emergency rental assistance is now available. The current challenge is getting it to the people who need it before the eviction protection expires.

Have the money, need the time

Nearly $50 billion in federal rent relief money has been earmarked for renters through federal stimulus, including $25 billion from the December stimulus and $22 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act in March.

"Watching this impending eviction wave is hard because the solution is available," said Diane Yentel, head of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "The money to address the arrears is available. It is enough money. We just need more time to get it to the landlords and tenants that need it."

Yentel said extending the moratorium is the right thing to do. "Allowing evictions to proceed when there are tens of billions in resources to prevent them would be wasteful and cruel," she said.

"An extension provides immediate relief for six million families behind on rent and at heightened risk of eviction this summer, and gives states and cities more time to both increase vaccination rates in marginalized communities and get emergency rental assistance to tenants who need it to stay stably housed," Yentel said.

But getting relief money from the more than 400 state and local programs into the hands of struggling tenants and landlords has been complicated and uneven across the country, Yentel said, based on her organization's tracking of state and local programs.

Some states like Texas are getting money out quickly with 37% of its emergency rental assistance funds issued, Yentel said. But other states, like Arizona, have issued less than 4% of their funds.

Other states have taken the process into their own hands, like California, where Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing the state legislature to approve a plan to use $5.2 billion in federal pandemic relief money to pay 100% of unpaid rent owed by low-income residents.

Overall, pandemic-related economic hardship peaked in mid-December 2020, according to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities based on US Census surveys, and fell sharply in late March, following stimulus packages and continued improvement in unemployment. But throughout the pandemic, hardships like falling behind on rent have disproportionately impacted renters of color.

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While 14% of adult renters say they are behind on rent, 24% of Black renters say they are not caught up, according to the CBPP.

Communities that have lower vaccination rates are the same communities that have a higher number of households at risk of eviction, according to a recent report by the Eviction Lab, a research group at Princeton University.

"Until the rental assistance reaches the tenants and the vaccination rates are higher, there needs to be eviction protection in place," said Yentel.

Rent relief works for landlords and tenants

The extension puts many landlords, particularly mom-and-pop landlords, beyond the end of their rope.

"Each passing month further escalates the risk of losing an ever increasing amount of rental housing, ultimately jeopardizing the availability of safe, sustainable and affordable housing for all Americans," said Bob Pinnegar, the president and CEO of the National Apartment Association, a trade association for apartment owners and operators.

"Flawed eviction moratoriums leave renters with insurmountable debt and housing providers holding the bag as our nation's housing affordability crisis spirals into a housing affordability disaster," he said.

While some housing advocates have criticized landlords who refuse to accept rental relief money and instead opt to wait out the moratorium so they can evict tenants, Greg Brown, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Apartment Association said this narrative is the exception.

"We have members who are several hundred thousand dollars in the hole," said Brown. "There is nothing left. They are telling me they need to get paid in 90 days or they are going to have to sell their property or foreclose. There are many owners for whom the rental assistance will save the day."

Court cases challenging the eviction moratorium continue to work through the judicial system, with each side claiming some victories and seeing some setbacks.

The federal ban on eviction provides protection to struggling renters who have given their landlord a declaration that they are unable to pay rent. They must agree to make their best effort to pay what they can.

But the moratorium is not rent relief. Once the ban is lifted, renters will be expected to pay their entire back rent or set up a payment plan with their landlord. Otherwise, they could face losing their home.

What both sides can agree on now is rent relief.

"If tenants are back to work and have cash flow again, that may set them up to pay rent in the future, but you still need the relief to pay the arrears," said Brown. "The people who feel this the most are the small owners. Their income is the rental properties they have. They are the folks who are taking the most pain and suffering from the brunt of this experience. That's why we need this assistance."
Pastor and businesswoman Phyllis Hatcher will officially announce her candidacy for Georgias 10th Congressional District on Saturday, July 17, in three district locations. The announcements will begin at 9 a.m. at the Red Caboose in Auburn, 1361 Fourth Ave., followed by noon on the Clarke County Courthouse steps at 325 East Washington St., Athens, and conclude on the steps of the Hancock County Courthouse, 12630 Broad St., Sparta at 4 p.m.

I support Phyllis Hatchers candidacy for Georgias 10th Congressional District, said Carlotta Harrell, president of Georgia Federation of Democratic Women and chair of the Henry Board of Commissioners. We need more dedicated women and people of color representing us in Congress.

Hatcher, a Democrat who lives in Rockdale County, plans to spend the campaign season traveling Georgias 10th Congressional District listening to the concerns of residents and business owners in her family RV. Hatchers top priorities are jobs, health care, housing, schools, safety and justice.

Georgias 10th Congressional District is at a critical inflection point, said Hatcher. The people of this district deserve honest and bold leadership. Major parts of the district are lacking infrastructure improvements, access to good quality health care and high-quality opportunities for innovation. Its time for District 10 to have a representative who cares about the well-being of all the district and not just wanting to hold on to power.

Georgias 10th Congressional District stretches from Augusta west to include all or parts of more than 20 counties, including portions of Henry and Newton.

Hatcher has previously run for a seat on the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners and the state Senate District 17 seat.

U.S. Rep. Jody Hice is stepping down from the 10th Congressional seat to run for secretary of state in 2022. Other candidates in the field include Republicans state Revenue Commissioner and former Henry County tax commissioner David Curry, former congressman Paul Broun, businessman Mike Collins and businessman Matt Richards.

As Georgias 10th Congressional District representative Hatcher said she would make history as the first African American, the first female and the first District 10 congresswoman with an Emmy nomination.
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Provo, UT (84601)

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Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 96F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
From June 29th to July 3rd, America's largest labor union, the National Education Association (NEA) will vote on two motions attacking Israel -New Business Item 29 (NBI 29) and New Business Item 51 (NBI 51).

Urge your state and national NEA leaders to oppose this hate, and support mutual understanding and peace.

NBIs 29 and 51 are part of a larger pattern. In recent weeks, teacher's union leaders in San Francisco and Seattle passed resolutions endorsing the destructive Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. BDS systematically promotes national origin discrimination against Israelis, as well as antisemitism more broadly.

The purpose of the movement is not to change Israeli policy as some claim, but to isolate and pressure Israel until it ceases to exist. BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti has said, we oppose a Jewish state and that Jewish people are not entitled to self-determination. BDS also actively harms peace efforts by opposing cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. Finally, BDS tears apart communities and institutions around the world, promoting needless division and hate.

NBI 29 calls for one-sided, "support for the Palestinian struggle" and demands that the U.S. cut off support for Israel. The motion also promotes dehumanizing smears about "ethnic cleansing." In reality, the Palestinian population has grown by millions, and Israel's government has pledged nearly $1 billion to protect and improve lives in Arab communities. The motion never mentions the racist terrorist group Hamas and does not condemn its war crimes against Israelis and Palestinians. Instead, it glorifies a "heroic struggle" against Israel. This approach can only fuel more conflict, not justice and peace.

NBI 51 calls for the NEA to officially partner with a deeply misleading and problematic campaign, titled No Way to Treat a Child. This campaign is run by a group whose leaders have promoted violence and are closely tied to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S. designated terrorist organization. The PFLP is responsible for hundreds of terrorist attacks and has murdered many civilians. This includes a massacre in which terrorists killed 17 Puerto Rican tourists and 9 others at an Israeli airport. This campaign also ignores Palestinian leaders who constantly violate the rights of Palestinian children by recruiting them as child soldiers, digging military tunnels and storing weapons in schools, and using textbooks that promote hatred and violence.

States Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO StandWithUs, "These dehumanizing campaigns against Israel are anything but harmless. Anti-Israel narratives have fueled a shocking spike in hate crimes against Jewish communities across the United States, including assault, vandalism, and harassment Too many teachers and students are wondering whether or not they are safe and welcome, and NBIs 29 and 51 will only add more fuel to the fire."

Email NEA officials urging them to stand up and oppose these motions HERE: https://p2a.co/OHjUpK6
An egg cream was my father's kitchen claim to fame. He assembled them with great flourish - Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup, cold milk from a glass bottle, and a long, hard shpritz of seltzer followed by a vigorous stir. Even today, when I drink or think of it, it takes me back to my family's Brooklyn roots and him.

To my surprise, I have discovered that I am not alone in my nostalgic connection to this fancy-named but pedestrian drink. According to Pete Freeman, co-owner, co-founder and chief soda jerk at Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain, nostalgia is at least half of the egg cream's appeal. There was a time when every New York diner and ice cream parlor offered them. As Elliot Willensky wrote in his book "When Brooklyn Was The World: 1920-1957," "a candy store minus an egg cream, in Brooklyn at least, was as difficult to conceive of as the Earth without gravity."

In 2021, there aren't many candy stores or pharmacies with marble counters where you can still order an egg cream. But those eateries that offer the beverage do so with pride and purpose.

When Matthew Grogan partnered with Patsy and Carol Grimaldi to open Juliana's Pizza, rated best pizzeria in New York in 2017 by Zagat's, they crafted a menu that would bring back foods from the Grimaldis' youth: pizza made with fresh mozzarella in a coal-fired oven; seltzer from glass bottles and egg creams made with U-Bet chocolate syrup. Pre-pandemic, they sold about 40 egg creams a week to customers of all ages, many of them curious tourists.

Aside from nostalgia, though, what is the egg cream's appeal?

When you break it down, it's just carbonated chocolate milk with foam on top. If you're thirsty, Freeman said, it satisfies you on a physical level. But on a cultural level, "it is tied to being Jewish."

The egg cream was born in the poor and crowded Jewish communities of the Lower East Side and Brooklyn. According to Barry Joseph, author of "Seltzertopia," in the 1920s and 1930s Louis Auster - the Jewish immigrant credited with creating the egg cream - would report selling 3,000 egg creams a day. On hot days the number would soar with the temperature - up to 12,000!

Plus, two of the egg cream's three ingredients have strong Jewish connections.

Jews dominated the seltzer trade in New York City, and Jews loved to drink it. According to Sara Gardner in her article "Why Jews Love Seltzer," seltzer is a pareve beverage "beloved by Jews, observant and assimilated alike." It was "a welcome digestive aid to the heavy Eastern European fare" people ate in delis.

Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup was produced by a Jewish man, Herman Fox, in his Brooklyn tenement home at the beginning of the 20th century. Fox was a gambler who lost his money in a Texas oil well investment, but turned things around when he struck gold with his syrup. While his money stayed in Texas, the Texan term "you bet it's good" became part of his syrup's name.

In the 2018 documentary "Egg Cream," food historian Andrew Coe describes egg creams as a cheap copy of the soda fountain drinks from the fancier neighborhoods of New York. Coe said the drink "gave people a sense that they were having a fancy, uptown kind of drink for a very downtown kind of price." Even the name sounds rich, he says. But it's also misleading; the standard egg cream has no egg and no cream.

Some say the name is a bastardization of the Yiddish word "echt," which means genuine or real. Grogan, of Juliana's Pizza, heard that when Auster was making the drinks he would "call to his staff and ask them to bring up more of the [grade] 'A' cream which, given New York accents, morphed over time to 'egg cream.'"

Freeman of Brooklyn's Farmacy believes the original egg cream really was made with egg. In the '20s, he says, refrigeration was bad. Soda jerks would whip egg whites and dollop them on top of the chocolate soda. In so doing, they could turn a 2-cent chocolate soda into a 5-cent egg cream. Only later, he believes, was egg replaced by milk when good refrigeration became more widespread.

Just as there is no consensus on the origins of the name, there are myriad ways to make the drink. Freeman first mixes milk and seltzer for a white, foamy head; the purity of the foam is important to him. Then he adds the chocolate syrup. Grogan, however, makes his egg cream with - cream! He mixes the cream with Fox's U-Bet syrup and then adds Brooklyn Seltzer Boys seltzer for a thick, rich head.

For Freeman, the egg cream is not just a drink - it's a mission. When he and his sister opened Brooklyn Farmacy, the egg cream was disappearing from menus and people weren't giving it the attention he felt it deserved.

"Your legacy can only survive if one generation passes it down to the next," Freeman says. "You can bemoan that or do something about it. Parents and kids now come to our shop. Our egg creams are codified in those kids' memories. They will grow up and share it with their children. And the egg cream will live on."

This article originally appeared on The Nosher.

Editor's Note: If you are hankering for an egg cream after reading this article, TooJays makes a really good one, I am told.
A still from the promotional video for SoCal Jewish News, a Los Angeles-based Jewish publication run by former staff of the Jewish Journal that is aiming to launch.

(JTA) - A team of journalists once employed by the flagship Jewish newspaper in Los Angeles is trying to create an alternative news source for America's second-largest Jewish community.

SoCal Jewish News announced itself last month with a GoFundMe campaign and a July 19 target launch date. Without mentioning the 35-year-old Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, the new website emphasizes that it will be different from the Jewish news currently on offer in the city.

SoCal Jewish News is "committed to covering the entire community," the site says.

Its founding editor, Kelly Hartog, the Jewish Journal's managing editor until she was laid off in October, described SoCal Jewish News on Twitter as "a megaphone for Jewish news, all filtered through a lens of ethics, objectivity and professionalism." And a promo video announces, "You deserve a reputable news outlet" (emphasis theirs).

It's unclear whether SoCal Jewish News will get off the ground. Hartog declined to speak about the venture, and others involved referred inquiries to her. Meanwhile, after setting a crowd-funding goal of $200,000, the upstart venture scaled back its target by 95 percent after raising just $3,000 in donations over several weeks.

SoCal Jewish News has begun publishing stories via email newsletters and social media.

"I think it would be very challenging for another group to start another Jewish publication at this moment in time," Jay Sanderson, the president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "Competition is great, but Jewish journalism is a challenge to begin with."

Across the country, the number of journalism jobs at U.S. newspapers fell by nearly half over the last decade, according to the Pew Research Center. The Jewish Journal's staff has shrunk by two-thirds in the past several years since David Suissa took over as editor in chief, publisher and president in 2017 after running its business operations. In October, the paper also suspended its print edition, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jewish Journal is the institutional paper of the large and diverse Jewish community in Los Angeles, and a syndication client of JTA. Journal supporters say the staff decline and print suspension is the natural effect of a crumbling business model for local news, and Sanderson said he believes Suissa has led the paper admirably through stormy seas that included the abrupt disappearance of advertising revenue during the pandemic. Tabby Refael, a Journal freelance columnist, called Suissa "an intuitive and cherished mentor."

But a half-dozen former staffers said the staff reduction was driven by more than finances. They said that Suissa's management style alienated the staff, and that he made erratic hiring and firing decisions based on personal whims. Some staffers said they resigned over their differences with him.

Some of those critics are involved in the new venture, including Hartog, who told JTA in April that the Journal had been "the most extremely unpleasant and difficult newsroom I have ever worked in."

Other Jewish Journal critics said their concern is less about the paper's internal operations than about the product itself. They said the changes under Suissa's leadership have left Los Angeles Jews, particularly the politically liberal, needing something different.

Under Suissa, the paper has shifted its focus from original local reporting in favor of commentary, a shift that his critics say is disproportionately right wing. Suissa himself authors and hosts many of the Journal columns, podcasts and videos, and uses the space to decry progressive ideology, including in a video posted to Facebook Live last fall when he called Black Lives Matter "an anti-American movement."

A new section of the website titled "The Speech Project" aggregates an assortment of stories criticizing critical race theory and "wokeness," including pieces from right-wing outlets such as the Epoch Times and the New York Post, and has a subsection devoted to "Cancel Culture."

"I think the Jewish community is tremendously unserved by this kind of monotone or monochromatic perspective of the Journal in its current form," said David Myers, a professor of Jewish history at UCLA and president of the New Israel Fund who was a Jewish Journal columnist before Suissa took over.

Myers said he and other local community activists had been in conversation with the team behind SoCal Jewish News about starting an alternative publication, but that he was not involved in the new venture.

Los Angeles Jews tend to vote overwhelmingly Democratic and progressive, and the city is home to many large progressive synagogues. But the city also has substantive populations, including Orthodox and Mizrahi Jews, with more conservative political beliefs. (Suissa himself was born in Morocco.)

Rabbi David Bouskila said the Jewish Journal now offers a better match for his congregation, the Modern Orthodox Westwood Village Synagogue, than it did several years ago. In the Modern Orthodox and Sephardic communities, "the Jewish Journal previously was not very popular," he said. "I think [Suissa's] broadened the base."

Bouskila recently joined the Journal board, along with Rabbi Lori Shapiro, who heads the transdenominational Open Temple in Venice Beach and describes herself as a political progressive.

Shapiro said she believes the paper is committed to showcasing the diversity of opinions held by Los Angeles Jews and she was not troubled by the paper's editorial page. Suissa is "a critically thinking moderate with a love of Israel, which pushes him to the right camp," said Shapiro, who also donated $18 to the SoCal Jewish News' GoFundMe.

"If anything, he leans right out of a necessity to defend Israel's right to exist," she said.

Bouskila and Shapiro joined the board after several members resigned this winter, a move that former longtime board member Irwin Field attributed to a need for more digital expertise there. In a recent column, Suissa said the changes made him optimistic about the paper's future and promised a relaunched print edition this fall.

The paper also has found reliable support from one of its most generous donors, billionaire investor and Westfield real estate heir Peter Lowy, who remains the board chair. And Suissa credits Mitch Julis, a hedge fund manager who has donated to both Republican and Democratic politicians, with helping the Journal broaden its donor base during the pandemic.

Suissa declined an interview with JTA. But he wrote in an email statement that he welcomes the arrival of SoCal Jewish News.

"I always encourage people to follow their dreams, which is what I've always done," Suissa said. "I wish this new venture the best. As far as I'm concerned, the more Jewish journalism, the better."

If Los Angeles does gain a second Jewish news organization, it would not be the only American city in that position. In Minnesota, TC Jewfolk has seen success among younger Jews even as the Twin Cities' 109-year-old print newspaper, the American Jewish World, continues to publish. In Detroit, a new site for commentary, Nu?Detroit, launched earlier this year, though the Detroit Jewish News still stands.

But whether the city can sustain two publications is a question. The nonprofit group Jumpstart Labs is incubating and processing donations for SoCal Jewish News while the new venture seeks nonprofit status.

"We're working with SoCal Jewish News because we believe that it's important there be a robust and diverse press reporting on the Jewish community for it to understand itself, and the broader world to understand the Jewish community," Joshua Avedon, co-founder and CEO of Jumpstart Labs, told JTA. "Jumpstart views the L.A. Jewish community as being on the leading edge of where the Jewish community is headed in terms of its diversity and depth and creativity."

Suissa's predecessor at the Journal, Rob Eshman, who worked at the paper for 24 years and now is the national editor at the Forward, said Suissa was "the natural choice" to take over for him four years ago. He said the political bent of the paper is the prerogative of its editor - and that if community members want something else, they'll make that known.

"Whatever your conception of your Jewish community is, you are entitled to," said Eshman, whose regular column as editor expressed a more liberal bent. "It's your paper, you can do it. Whether it's good business sense, whether it resonates with the community you're trying to serve, that's an issue."
(JTA)  Organizers of an event celebrating immigrant chefs in Philadelphia removed an Israeli food truck from the lineup, citing the concerns of community that we love and serve.

But the bid to calm controversy by Eat Up the Borders, the organizer of the event on Sunday, backfired: After announcing the removal, thousands of people replied, with varying levels of vitriol, questioning why the group associated a chef living in Philadelphia to the policies of a country nearly 6,000 miles away. A congressman representing Philadelphia released a statement saying he was stunned and saddened by the Israeli food trucks removal.

On Sunday, around the time the event was supposed to begin, the host of the event announced that it had been canceled.

That announcement came soon after Eat Up The Borders had taken its Instagram account offline, early Sunday morning, under an onslaught of at least 4,200 critical comments, many from people directed to the page from various accounts devoted to chronicling and responding to antisemitism. At least one prominent account warned the organization to bulk up security at Sundays event.

Moshava, the month-old food truck and catering company removed from the roster of A Taste of Home, had attempted to defuse the situation, even as it said it believed that Eat Up the Borders had succumb[ed] to such antisemitic and dividing rhetoric.

We didnt share this with the intention to cancel or boycott anyone, Moshava wrote late Saturday night. The way we got canceled was terribly mishandled no doubt, but the point was to bring a positive and constructive dialog [sic] to the table not more hate and violence.

The incident encapsulates some of the dynamics that have characterized online discussions of Israel and antisemitism in the weeks since the violence in Israel and Gaza turned social media into a battleground of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Allies of the Palestinian cause have found unprecedented allyship online; meanwhile, Jewish social media users have increasingly sought to call out instances where they see criticism of Israel veering into antisemitism.

Neither Eat Up the Borders nor Moshava Philly replied to requests for comment late Saturday. But the saga is spelled out in Instagram posts from the last several days.

It began late last week when Eat Up The Borders announced the lineup for the third iteration of Taste of Home, billed as a curated event celebrating diversity through food and other activities. Along with eight other vendors including a Mexican restaurant and a tea company, Moshava was on the list for the second month in a row of the festival.

Launched last month by a chef named Nir Sheynfeld who came to the U.S. in 2015 to attend culinary school, Moshava serves Israeli street food such as falafel and sabich. Its first public event was at the last Taste of Home on May 16, during the recent conflict in the Middle East.

The post announcing the lineup quickly began attracting comments criticizing the inclusion of an Israeli truck.

Im absolutely disgusted by the cultural appropriation of Palestinian food in this event. I will definitely not be attending and telling all my friends the same, one user, @buzkashi, wrote in response to the announcement.

Initially, Eat Up the Borders indicated that it did not intend to relent to pressure.

We will not be private on our values, which are uplifting the immigrate [sic] voices, it said in an Instagram post Friday. Our concern is not where they have immigrated from but giving a platform to small businesses here in Philadelphia. Moshava responded with three applause emojis.

But on Saturday morning, the group reversed course.

In order to provide the best experience to all, we decided to remove one of our food vendors from Sundays event, it wrote on Instagram. This decision came from listening to the concerns of community that we love and serve. Our intent is never to cause harm. Were sorry, and we realize being more educated is the first step to preventing that from happening again.

Eat Up The Borders did not name the food truck it had removed. But Moshava filled in the details in a post on its own account in which it said it was deeply saddened not to be attending the event.

The organizers of the event heard rumors of a protest happening because of us being there and decided to uninvite us from fear that the protesters would get aggressive and threaten their event, the post said. We were really hoping that the organizers @eatuptheborders and @sunflowerphilly would step up to the plate and defend local, small and immigrant based businesses, no matter where they are from (as per their so called mission statement) but by the looks of it fear, violence, and intimidation got the best of them.

Moshava also said it believed that Eat Up The Borders had given in to antisemitism.

We really do hope that in the future you dont succumb to such antisemitic and dividing rethoric[sic] and keep true to your words of a safe environment for all religions and nationalities  not just all of them except Israeli and Jewish ones, the companys account posted.

By midday Saturday, the incident had gained attention among Jewish influencers, especially within the contingent of anti-antisemitism crusaders on social media. Some simply decried it, while others explained in comments why Eat Up The Borders decision was objectionable. A few likened Moshavas removal to the Nazi boycott of Jewish-run businesses in 1933, a precursor to the Holocaust.

Blake Flayton, a college student who is among a self-described group of New Zionists fighting antisemitism online, told his Twitter followers that he saw danger in the way Eat Up The Borders explained its decision. Notice how they word it  it sounds like justice. It sounds like inclusivity and openness. This is how antisemitism becomes mainstream.

On Instagram, he added another line tagging the events organizers. @eatuptheborders hire security if you want to ensure safety you clowns, he wrote late Saturday night.

It was as those comments rolled in that Moshava posted again, thanking its supporters but emphasizing that Eat Up The Borders does good work.

Lets not dim the light they shine on local, immigrant businesses, the company wrote, before announcing that it would be selling at a different event Sunday afternoon. On Sunday, it posted that it was meeting with both representatives of Eat Up the Borders and Sunflower Philly, the nonprofit that was hosting the event.

We do not believe the organizers intention came from an antisemitic place but the threats they were receiving to their event were, Moshava wrote. Our shared goal for the future is to steer away from violance (sic) and hatred and be able to share a platform with all members of our community and collectively share our cultures.

In a comment posted Saturday, a representative of Eat Up The Borders told one commenter that the saga had caught the event organizers by surprise.

We received more hate than I thought was possible for having an Israeli vendor, the representative wrote. They themselves never detracted from the event. The amount of uproar we received and legitimate threats forced our hand.

Several hours later, Eat Up The Borders was no longer active on Instagram. And on Sunday around noon, Sunflower Philly posted on Instagram that the event was canceled.

Due to the ongoing situation with one of our event partners @eatuptheborders and @moshava_philly we have decided to cancel the Taste of Home event today, the post said. We will continue to host events with people of all races, nationalities and sexual orientations who are aligned with our mission.
WASHINGTON (JTA)  A key Supreme Court decision on religious freedoms earned praise from Orthodox Jewish groups, and has more liberal groups breathing a sigh of relief that its scope was narrow.

On Thursday, the court issued a unanimous decision overturning Philadelphias policy of refusing to work with a Catholic agency that will not place foster children with same-sex parents. Jewish groups had filed friend-of-the-court briefs on both sides of the case, known as Fulton v. City of Philadelphia.

Orthodox groups, driven by concerns about religious liberty, sided with Catholic Social Services. Many cheered the ruling.

Todays historic ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is of critical importance to the American Orthodox Jewish community, Nathan Diament, the Orthodox Unions Washington director, said in a statement. As a minority faith community in the United States, the robust legal protection for religious practice is an existential issue for us. The Orthodox Union had joined a slate of Christian groups defending the agency.

Liberal and civil rights Jewish groups, meanwhile, expressed disappointment  but also relief that the courts decision was narrow and unlikely to impinge on other church-state separations.

This Supreme Court decision is a devastating loss for Philadelphia children in foster care, who are harmed when the religious beliefs of government-funded agencies override the best interests of the children, said a statement from the National Council of Jewish Women, one of several groups to file a joint brief on behalf of Philadelphia.

The case had been viewed as a potential watershed moment in which the courts expanded right-wing majority could deliver a sweeping win for the religious right by overturning a 1990 decision that allows the government to restrict certain religious practices as long as the governments intent is not discriminatory.

Instead, the decision in Fulton took care not to overturn decades of precedent, potentially allowing the three liberal justices to sign on; meanwhile, the courts three most conservative judges criticized the decision for its timidity in a concurring opinion. The majority opinion was authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, who has endeavored recently to preserve the courts reputation as above politics in a polarized society in which Democrats, in particular, are seething at Republican maneuvers to entrench the courts conservative majority.

Roberts wrote that because screening criteria vary among Philadelphias fostering agencies and the city allowed exemptions to its policies, singling out the Catholic agency for its specific criteria was discriminatory.

So long as the government can achieve its interests in a manner that does not burden religion, it must do so, Roberts wrote.

That conclusion heartened Orthodox groups that, like Catholic Social Services, may see requirements to serve LGBTQ families as infringing on their religious beliefs.

Philadelphias policy locked religious agencies out of the foster care system unless they were willing to openly violate their religious beliefs, and children who needed caring families paid the price, the Coalition for Jewish Values said in a statement.

Agudath Israel of America, which led a grouping of Orthodox groups in a friend-of-the-court brief, gave the decision qualified praise, noting that its narrow scope stopped well short of delivering the changes that conservative and religious organizations had hoped would happen.

We are gratified that the Court has ruled that the City of Philadelphia violated CSSs Free Exercise rights, said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, the groups executive vice president. But we are disappointed that the court did not use this opportunity to overturn Employment Division v. Smith. We can only hope that soon the court will revisit Smith, which has had a detrimental impact on religious freedom in America.

The 1990 Smith decision, upholding Oregons right to deny unemployment benefits to Native Americans who had been fired for ingesting peyote as part of a religious ritual, held that a government may apply laws that effectively discriminate against a religious practice as long as the laws do not specifically target religious practice. Two conservative justices on the court, in the concurrence with Roberts ruling, said that it should have gone farther and overturned Smith.

The O.Us Diament said in an interview that he too had hoped for Smith to be overturned, but that a unanimous decision encompassing the courts three liberal justices was no small thing.

A 9-0 First Amendment ruling very emphatically that religious liberty is of the highest constitutional value, we consider a pretty clear victory, he said.

Jewish groups that backed Philadelphia expressed disappointment but also noted with relief that Roberts ruled narrowly and did not touch Smith.

The Anti-Defamation League, which led an amicus brief that included Bend the Arc, Jewish Women International, Keshet, the National Council of Jewish Women and Truah, said the ruling underscored the urgency of passing bills under consideration that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ individuals seeking to adopt or foster children. Although this is a very narrow ruling, we must not lose sight of the fact that discrimination pervades the child welfare system throughout the country, the ADL said in a statement.

In 2018, the ADL took up the cause of a Jewish family in South Carolina barred by a state-sanctioned agency from fostering because of their faith.

The Reform movement, separately, said that it too was disappointed in the ruling but emphasized that it did not grant agencies a broad right to discriminate.

We continue to hold that social service providers should not be allowed to choose whom to serve when receiving government funding, as allowing discrimination to supersede provision of social services will endanger lives and harm the most vulnerable, it said in a statement.
(JNS)  U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday officially announced the nomination of Thomas Nides to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

Nides, 60, has held prominent roles in the private and public sectors.

From 2010-2013, he served as the State Departments Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. As part of the Obama administration, Nides played a key role in the administrations approval of an extension on loan guarantees worth billions of dollars for Israel.

He also led the push against Congresss efforts to defund the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the U.N. for Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

Before that, Nides worked in the financial sector. He was chief administrative officer, chief operating officer and secretary of the board at Morgan Stanley; president and chief operating officer at Burson-Marsteller in New York; and chief administrative officer at Credit Suisse First Boston in Washington, D.C.

Nides has also served as a chief of staff to U.S. Trade Representative Micky Kantor, as well as a senior advisor to former House Speaker Tom Foley and former House Minority Whip Tony Coehlo.

Nides was born in 1961 to Jewish parents in Duluth, Minn. His father, Arnold Nides, was the founder of the finance company Nides Finance, as well as served as president of the Duluth Jewish Federation and Temple Israel.

Currently, Nides serves on the board of Partnership for Public Service, the International Rescue Committee, the Atlantic Council and the Urban Alliance Foundation.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the former board chairman of the Woodrow Wilson Center by appointment of former President Barack Obama.

He holds a bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota and is a recipient of the Secretary of States Distinguished Service Award.

The nomination will now go to the Senate for confirmation.
(JTA)  Pro-Palestinian activists were swarming the social media comments sections of Ben & Jerry's to demand the company boycott Israel.

In response, Ben & Jerry's appears to have indeed entered a boycott - of social media itself.

The international ice cream brand with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales typically posts to its Twitter, Instagram or Facebook pages daily, including about the many progressive social causes that the company supports. But Ben & Jerry's fell silent on May 18 amid the deadly exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that also played out intensely on social media.

The company did not respond to a request for an explanation by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Those who waged a social media campaign against Ben & Jerry's because of its affiliated factory in Israel and the availability of its products in Israeli settlements are taking credit for the silence.

"Twenty days without online advertising means @benandjerrys knows they can't go back to business as usual without addressing their investments in Israeli colonization and land theft. Now is not the time to back down," a user named @princessmlokhia, an anti-Zionist account with nearly 15,000 followers, tweeted earlier this week. The movement even has a hashtag, #HasBenand JerrysTweetedYet.

The silence is atypical for a company famously founded by two Jewish hippies in Vermont. Ben & Jerry's, which launched in 1978, is known for its marketing strategy of appealing to social justice values. Last year, following the murder of George Floyd, the company added a special section of its website devoted to combating white supremacy.

"Silence is NOT an option," the site says.

But Ben & Jerry's has conspicuously refrained from weighing in on Israeli-Palestinian affairs. So while it has readily marked the anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling barring school segregation in the 1950s and condemned the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol illegal entry as a riot for white supremacy, the company did not mention Israel or Palestine even as the flare-up in May grabbed headlines around the world.

But on social media, users can respond even when nothing has been said. And each time a new Ben & Jerry's post appeared, a digital crowd formed to condemn the company.

For example, when Ben & Jerry's asked, "Any mint lovers out there?" user @husammunism spoke up - but not about favorite flavors.

Offering an opinion on the company's politics, this user wrote: "Will never buy Ben and Jerry's until I hear you all stop doing business in illegal settlements stealing Palestinian land and contributing to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine."

In other words, Ben & Jerry's was being repeatedly ratioed, which is internet slang for when replies to a post, typically negative, vastly outnumber "likes."

The criticism of the brand coalesced on May 19 with a call by a social justice group called Decolonize Burlington in Vermont for Americans to boycott the company, according to the Burlington Free Press. Local activists have been lobbying against Ben & Jerry's Israel ties since at least 2012.

"If Ben & Jerry's wants to profit off of anti-racist messaging, they need to be consistent," Decolonize Burlington said in its post. "The BLM movement has publicly supported the Palestinian cause. It's time for Ben & Jerry's to divest from their holdings in Israel."

Ben & Jerry's has not responded to the activists.

The last time Ben & Jerry's was caught up in Israeli-Palestinian politics on social media was in 2018, when the pro-Israel camp was attacking the brand for supporting left-wing activists such as Linda Sarsour, who has been accused of animus toward Israel.

The Israeli Ben & Jerry's, the brand's only independent licensee, is widely popular. It has produced special flavors for holidays, such as haroset for Passover and "mixed-up" for this spring's national election, and last year held a Purim costume party whose prize was a six-month supply of ice cream.

The Israeli Ben & Jerry's also did not post during the recent conflict. But the day after Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire, it resumed posting to its thousands of followers.

"The quality of a weekend is measured in a quality brunch," it said in Hebrew, "for example one that incorporates an ice cream sandwich."
(JTA)  Parents in Brazil are protesting a schools teaching of Anne Franks famous Holocaust diary, citing what they say is sexual content inappropriate for seventh graders.

In a letter sent to the management of the Sao Paulo branch of Escola Mobile, a network of private schools, more than 90 parents complained about Franks descriptions of female genitalia and her attraction to women, according to Revista Oeste magazine.

The parents were complaining about passages in the latest edition of the official diary of Anne Frank. Her father, who was the familys only survivor, left out the passages when he published in 1947 The Diary Of a Young Girl, a book based on several journals and writings Anne had left behind. The parts in question were left out because Otto was embarrassed by them, the Anne Frank Foundation told the Veja magazine last week. In 2017, the passages were included in a graphic-novel version of the diary.

The additions include Franks description of exploring her own body and of experiencing attraction to other girls during her early adolescence before going into hiding with her family just after her 13th birthday. I must admit, every time I see a female nude, I got into ecstasy. I wish I had a girlfriend, Frank writes in one passage.

The Brazilian parents wrote that they recognize the importance of Anne Franks writings to Holocaust education. But we disagree with teaching a version with pages with inappropriate sexual content to 12-year-olds, which for them obscures the main theme, which is the Holocaust.

The Anne Frank Foundation, which owns the familys archives, says Franks complete diary is important for understanding the full picture of the girl whose ordeal and murder have come to symbolize the tragedy of the Holocaust. Times change and there is a growing desire for get to know the many aspects of the real Anne Frank and so it was decided to publish after Ottos death the full diary, including for the first times parts that Otto took out, the foundation, known as the Fonds, told Veja Sao Paolo this week.

The passages in question were first published more than 30 years ago, in a book that was written for scholars titled The Diary of Anne Frank: The Revised Critical Edition, the Fonds noted.
JTA - Israel's new prime minister is probably the first one who has stuck a wad of chewing gum to his head right before a public event.

Naftali Bennett, who took office last week, is the first prime minister in the country's history to regularly wear a kippah, the Jewish ritual head covering (sometimes called a yarmulke or skullcap). Unlike his secular predecessors, he identifies as a religious Zionist and practices Modern Orthodox Judaism, which requires men to cover their heads.

He's also bald. That makes it a challenge to keep the small crocheted disc on top of his head. The traditional methods of securing a kippah - bobby pins and metal hair clips - are of no use to Bennett.

Yet it stays on. No matter where Bennett is - in Knesset, on the campaign trail, giving a news interview - the kippah is there, mounted on his scalp, or sometimes on the thin layer of buzzed hair that surrounds his bald spot.

Appearing on a comedy talk show in 2013, when he was a freshman lawmaker, Bennett said that he uses a mixture of tape and gravity to keep the kippah in place.

But once, he recalled, he had to give a speech outdoors in the wind and discovered that he was out of tape. So he took a piece of chewing gum (presumably ABC) and used it to glue the kippah to his head.

"I had to improvise," he said. "So we MacGyvered it."

Bennett doesn't use ordinary Scotch tape. His adhesive of choice is a product invented and sold beginning in 2013 by Haim Levin, a 65-year-old bus driver living in a largely Modern Orthodox suburb of Tel Aviv.

The product, called the Kipa Keeper, is made of reusable hypoallergenic double-sided medical tape, which allows the kippah to stick to heads with little to no hair. It's sold in packs of 40 and costs 40 shekels, about $12.50, including delivery. Levin declined to say how many he sells each year.

"It was Yom Kippur, when everyone in synagogue bows down [to the ground] and prostrates themselves, and I saw that 20 to 30 percent of the worshipers had their kippah fall to the floor," Levin, himself a bald kippah-wearer, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "I realized I had to come up with an idea for the kippah to stay on the head."

Levin doesn't remember exactly when Bennett began using his product - a source close to Bennett confirmed to JTA that the prime minister uses it - but says he got in touch with the future Israeli leader in the hope of boosting sales. They took a photo together in Bennett's office in 2015, when he was economy minister. Levin told JTA that Bennett last ordered the product a week and a half ago.

"It really helped," Levin told JTA regarding his outreach to Bennett. "There are still people who call them 'Bennett's stickers.'"

In Israel, where kippah choice often signifies religious and political identity, Bennett's personal style - a small crocheted kippah - signals that he's a religious Zionist. By contrast, a black velvet kippah would identify him as Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, while a larger crocheted or knit kippah, which might stay more readily on a bald pate, is favored by a subset of settlers who tend to be more religious, openly spiritual and nationalist. The fact that Bennett's kippah is small, and worn toward the back of the head, suggests that he's on the more "modern" end of the Modern Orthodox community.

Israel's kippah power

Regardless of how Bennett keeps it on, the kippah is an important part of his identity as well as a symbolic shift for Israel.

In the state's early decades, the ruling elite was composed of secular socialists from David Ben-Gurion's Mapai party, a precursor to today's Labor. Religious Jews - along with Jews of Middle Eastern descent and Arab Israelis - were generally excluded from positions of power in Israel's government and culture.

That began to change in 1977, when the right-wing Likud party led by Menachem Begin mobilized a coalition of conservatives and religious and Middle Eastern Jews to win power. And in the settlement enterprise that had begun following the 1967 Six Day War, religious Zionist Jews had a cause to rally around.

Since then, religious Zionists (who generally practice Modern Orthodoxy) have largely identified with the political right, which has led Israel's governments for most of the past 45 years. Haredi Israelis have historically not identified as Zionist, but in recent years have also gravitated to the Israeli right under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu, like his mostly male predecessors, dons a kippah at some ceremonies and at religious sites, but does not wear one on a regular basis.

When Bennett entered politics in 2012, he took the helm of Israel's religious Zionist party, the Jewish Home, and aimed to broaden its staunchly right-wing message to appeal beyond Orthodox Israelis.

Since then, he has tried to represent a fusion between Jews of all types of religiosity, even as he has pursued a right-wing agenda both domestically and in terms of Israel's settlement policy. In a 2019 Facebook post, Bennett defined his personal religious practice as "Israeli-Jewish."

"Israeli-Jewish can mean religious, traditional, secular, Haredi-nationalist or Haredi," he wrote. "Israeli Jews don't judge each other based on how strictly they observe mitzvot. Israeli Jews love and accept every Jew."

Bennett has described his personal religious observance along the same lines. He was born into a non-Orthodox family and became more observant of his own volition. His wife, Gilat, was secular when they met, and he has said that she was drawn to religious Judaism during the years they lived in New York City.

At one point he wore his kippah as a political choice. Bennett wrote last year that at the time Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995, he had stopped wearing a kippah for a few years. But he felt that because Rabin's assassin was an Orthodox Jew, the religious community was being blamed en masse for the murder. So, to make a statement, Bennett wrote, "I put the kippah back on my head."

Today he wears the kippah consistently and lives a religious life. Still, he has written that his family makes the same small compromises that many religious-secular couples in Israel do.

While they keep kosher and Shabbat at home, his wife's parents drive to their place on Shabbat, which is forbidden by Jewish law. And when they eat at the home of his in-laws, they don't check how strictly kosher the kitchen is beforehand.

Bennett has been shamed by Haredi politicians for purportedly posing as a religious Jew publicly while compromising on his private religious practice. But the source close to Bennett said that the prime minister sees his personal example as a bridge across a cultural and religious divide in Israel.

Bennett believes that "at least in theory, the crocheted kippah is and should be the middle ground," the source said. "He had his very solid belief about what it means to be religious, and so it didn't intimidate him when people tried to outflank him as nonreligious."

Levin said it's "a good thing" that Bennett uses his product, though he added that it doesn't make a difference to him whether the prime minister is a kippah-wearer. And he said he has yet to make up his mind about whether Bennett, who made political concessions in order to helm a narrow, fractious and controversial coalition, is the right person for the job.

But Levin is proud to have Bennett as a customer. And while he said he could not share a copy of the prime minister's most recent receipt, he promised that Bennett paid full price.
On June 14, at 7 p.m., an in-person and zoom meeting was hosted by Keith Dvorchik, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Orlando, and Aaron Weill, CEO of Central Florida Hillel, for a community discussion on "Israel and Antisemitism."

In front of a live audience of 10 people and over the Internet, via Zoom and a Facebook link, with 84 viewers, they held a discussion driven by the concern in the tremendous growth of antisemitism over the past two years. "Anti-Semitism world-wide has been increasing dramatically, and in the United States the rise is has been quite frankly, scary," Dvorchik said. "That's what were faced with now, it's real, it's here ... and the question arises ... what are we going to do about it?"

Weill brought a unique perspective on the rise of antisemitism on college campus today. Weil was in Israel during the recent rocket attack by Hamas and he told the audience what he saw and felt while he was in Jerusalem. "I actually felt safer in Israel than I do now in the United States," he said. "Jews in New York and the larger cities are questioning whether to take off wearing anything that will identify them as Jews." Dvorchik added, "I've heard from people in Central Florida who are afraid to be identified in public as Jews for fear of violence."

Weil stated, "We're in a time of terrific antisemitism with no signs of it abating. One statistic shows that antisemitic incidents were up 80 percent in the month of May throughout the United States. In the 1930s, it didn't matter if Jews were communist, or capitalist. Either side felt the wrath of antisemitism. Today, whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, if you're a Jew they will still hate you. Antisemitism is alive in both parties."

Weill continued, "The common denominator is they hate us because we're Jews. This was demonstrated after WWII when in Poland there were no Jews left, but antisemitism still resounds throughout the country."

Discussion was held concerning the recent rocket onslaught by Hamas in Gaza. The conflict occurred because of internal Palestinian Issues. The Palestinian Authority cancelled the elections, the first scheduled since 2006. The PA lost the last election 15 years ago and they are still in power. As a result of the PA cancelling the election, by firing missiles on Jerusalem Hamas showed the Palestinian people that they are the true champions of the Palestinian people.

When the media outlets around the world took the side of the Palestinians and showed the Israelis as the aggressor, Hamas saw a window of opportunity. They fired 800 missiles in the first day the largest amount ever fired on Israel. Hamas has about 15,000 missiles. Hezbollah has between 150,000 to 300,000 missiles. Ninety percent will be shot down by the Iron Dome, but with a deluge the Iron Dome has its limitations.

The New York Times promoted the Palestinian side. They used costly color photographs on their front page, showing the Palestinian destruction with no context. Most mainstream media outlets around the world did not report the Israeli side. There was no mention that the Palestinians fired the missiles first nor that Hamas used human shields in Gaza.

College students today get most of their news from social media. Fashion model Bella Hadid, with more than 43 million followers and her sister, Gigi, with more than 66 million followers, have more views on their sites than most traditional media outlets. More than 100-million people get information from these two sisters. Their anti-Israel positions are followed by millions around the world. This puts the Jewish college student in a difficult situation. They are asked to defend Israel and this is something that most 18-year-old college students didn't ask for nor do they have the tools to do.

Over the years, Jews have been social advocates for social issues supporting such things as women's rights, equal rights for African-Americans, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. There is a new term called PEPs. It means Progressive Except for Palestine. Progressive liberal Jews have been disinvited from left-wing organizations for the sole reason that they support Israel and are branded as PEPs. "Liberalism is not enough. If your liberal and support Israel, you're not welcome. If you believe Israel has a right to exist, you are viewed as oppressors," Weill said.

Dvorchik noted that not only are college students feeling the brunt of anti-Semitism, but it's actually getting into the middle schools and high schools. There have been instances where sixth graders have been asked to defend Israel by their friends and classmates.

Weill said, "Our world has changed. We have to be seriously concerned about security in everything that we do. Having armed guards wearing security vest is part of the planning when the conversation used to be what type of plates, silver wear and food will be served at an event."

What can be done? Dvorchik shared that the Federation has already held some events to help children and teens understand what's going on and to get better educated, and they are planning other events to help educate everyone in how to deal with antisemitism.

Additionally, the Federation just adopted the IRHA definition of antisemitism, which states: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

After taking several questions, the meeting concluded with agreement that we all need to be on guard. We are in a period that our ancestors experienced, but post-WWII generations haven't had to deal with antisemitism to any great degree. This generation is now forced to deal with it.
(JNS) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited a synagogue in South Florida on Monday to sign legislation that had the support of many in the Jewish community there.

At the Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside, Fla., a Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue north of Miami, DeSantis ensured that faith-based, volunteer first-responder services, like the Orthodox-run Hatzalah ambulance corp., can operate more fully, including using lights and sirens in an emergency if they meet specific criteria and have been operating for more than 10 years.

According to Rabbi Moshe Matz, executive director of Agudath Israel of South Florida, "Hatzalah of South Florida has been operating for 13 years as emergency responders but without permission to have emergency lights and sirens, as well as not being able to transport a patient if necessary. This limited Hatzalah's ability to give the best possible service to the community. With this bill, Hatzalah will be able to shorten their response time even more, better their operations and save more lives."

In speaking with JNS, he noted that the Orthodox community has been growing tremendously in South Florida in recent years and that this will really change the "level of care" they can receive from Hatzalah.

State Rep. Mike Caruso, who helped spearhead the legislation, said in a statement, "Hatzalah serves Jewish communities with religious sensitivities. Many of their community members follow strict Jewish guidelines, only speak Yiddish or Hebrew, and some are Holocaust survivors whose religious beliefs mean that their preference is to be transported and treated by a member of their community, someone they know."

DeSantis also signed into law a "Moment of Silence" to encourage children in public schools to reflect at the beginning of the day-a suggestion made by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, in the early 1980s. It was sponsored in the state House by Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) and in the state Senate by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala), and passed with bipartisan support, and welcomed by Chaba leaders in Florida.

Meanwhile, the state budget has included the allocation of $4 million to Jewish day schools for security funding, dollars that can be used for the first time to pay for professional security; $1.35 million for the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, which was vandalized two weeks ago; $400,000 for the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach; and more.

"Every family in our state should be able to send their children to school and know that they will be protected from harm, and be able to practice their faith," said DeSantis in a statement. "I will continue to make sure that in Florida we root out anti-Semitism, and that every day we show our support for Israel and our Jewish communities."
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikky Haley and CUFI founder and Pastor John Hagee tour damage to Israeli homes after Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel last month.

(JNS) - "Israel, you are not alone. ... We represent 10 million-plus people in America and these people say to you Israel, we have your back."

That was the message of Pastor John Hagee, chairman and founder of Christians United for Israel, the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States. Hagee was in Israel on a June 13-14 solidarity mission that included former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Haley, who served in that role from January 2017 to December 2018, stood out for her consistent defense of the Jewish state at the world body. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations at the time, Danny Danon, said her support led to a "change in Israel's status in the U.N."

Hagee and Haley met with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their trip.

The group visited Israel's south, viewing the damage in Ashkelon and Sderot, both of which suffered casualties during the 11-day conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip that began on May 10 and ended with a ceasefire on May 21. During that time, more than 4,000 rockets were launched towards Israeli population centers.

"We saw houses with six-inch concrete walls shattered by rocket fire," Hagee said during a press roundtable on Monday. "We saw houses 50 yards away from the blast center where the roof had been ripped off. We saw human hair plastered to the wall by the blast of those rockets. When people hear of a rocket, they don't think of how awesome its power is."

Hagee and Haley also stressed the importance of confronting Iran, noting that it supports Hamas and other terror groups in the region. (Hours after the May 21 ceasefire, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh thanked Iran for its financial and military assistance during the conflict.)

Haley sharply criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for attempting to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 nuclear deal that former President Donald Trump withdrew from in May 2018.

"Right now, you have multiple countries around the world, including the United States, looking to figure out how to redo this Iran deal. It's nothing more than a death wish for Israel, and eventually, a death wish for the world," said Haley.

"The reason it was so important in the Trump administration to pull out of that Iran deal was to make sure that everyone knew Iran's never going to change its ways. It's never going to stop saying, 'Death to Israel.' It's never going to stop saying, 'Death to America,' " said Haley, adding that the only way to bring change to Iran is to cut off its finances.

Haley also said the Biden administration's effort to re-enter the Iran deal undercuts the progress made during the Trump years to bring together Israel and the Arab states.

Biden should show the Arab states that he appreciates their steps towards normalizing ties with Israel, she said, referring to Israel's signing of the Abraham Accords in the fall of 2020 with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, followed by Sudan and Morocco.

She also noted that their decision to open ties with Israel was in part motivated by their fear of the Islamic Republic. "The one way to slap them in the face ... is to have talks with Iran ... . Actions speak louder than words, and the idea that [Biden's] falling over himself to get back in the Iran deal is pretty disgusting."

Asked by JNS if the traditional bipartisanship for Israel in Congress is fraying, Haley said, "I'm extremely disappointed with how the hate speech toward Israel has risen on the Democrat side."

"Certainly, not all Democrats have been against Israel but it seems like it's growing ... their voices are getting louder," she said, adding that Biden is appeasing the extremists in his party. "You call out hate every time you see it, regardless of who says it and you hold them accountable."

'We are standing with you'

JNS asked Hagee if evangelical Christians were united in their support for Israel, given recent reports concerning a split between conservatives and liberals in the Southern Baptist Convention, the country's largest evangelical denomination. (CUFI is nondenominational.)

Hagee was confident that any political disagreements would not impact Israel, as the issue transcends politics. "It all boils down to a matter of your commitment to the written scripture. The people who are committed to written scripture ... will be supportive of Israel because Israel is not a political issue; it's a Bible issue," he said.

"From Genesis to the end of Revelation, the Bible has a message of comfort and consolation towards the Jewish people: 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that loves you.' That's not a recommendation. That's a command to all believers. If you are a Bible-believing Christian, you will be a supporter of Israel. If you're not, you won't be. End of story."

In 1981, when Hagee held an inaugural "Night to Honor Israel," the event that led to the founding of CUFI, he initially encountered resistance, even death threats. CUFI has since grown to become a major political force on behalf of Israel.

"We can put 20,000 emails in any person's box in a 24-hour period because there are now thousands of Christians in every senator's, congressperson's district. These are people who believe the Bible and they go vote," said Hagee.

Haley affirmed her own support, noting that as ambassador, she made a promise to the Israeli people "that I would never stop fighting for Israel." She said she came on the trip "to make sure we let the Israeli people know we are standing with you, we will fight with you."
(JNS) - Groups of Jews and other community members in Arizona and Ohio gathered on Sunday to express their concern over the recent rise in anti-Semitism across the country and around the world.

In Cincinnati, hundreds attended the "Under the Tent, Standing Against Antisemitism" event to stand in solidarity against Jew-hatred in Ohio and elsewhere.

"We join together as Jews and allies to send a strong message that we will not tolerate hate and anti-Semitism in any form," said Gary Greenberg, former past president of the Jewish Federation, who said a university student was assaulted because he had Hebrew lettering on his shirt. "Sadly, we are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism and violent attacks against Jews in broad daylight in cities across America, including, unfortunately, in Cincinnati. We must also have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, just as we should have zero tolerance for any other form of bigotry."

The event was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Cincinnati; the Mayerson JCC; the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center; ish: Driving Cincinnati Jewish & Israeli Arts & Culture; and the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis.

Meanwhile, the rally in Tucson, Ariz., came after two local congregations were vandalized in recent weeks.

Some 200 people, including Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, State Rep. Alma Hernandez and others local dignitaries, assembled at the Chabad on River. Carrying blue-and-white posters that had a Jewish star on them and read "Tucson Jews for Justice," participants marched to the nearby Jewish Community Center.

"Anti-Semitism has no place in #Tucson or anywhere for that matter," Romero tweeted along with a photo of herself at the rally. "We have a moral imperative to speak out unequivocally against it in all of its forms."

The Chabad on River, one of several Chabad Houses in the region, was the recent target of anti-Semitic graffiti that included a swastika and the words "Dirty K*** being drawn on the building. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Also vandalized within the last month was Congregation Chaverim in Tucson, where Hernandez, the state legislator who helped organize the rally, is a member. Speaking during the rally, she said: "It's really sad to see that so many folks have used anti-Semitism to target the Jewish community for no other reason than us being Jews."
A billboard as part of the "Stop Antisemitism" media campaign in the Chicago area, sponsored by the Jewish United Fund, May 2021.

(JNS) - The Jewish United Fund is taking the fight over antisemitism to residents of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs with a major media blitz that included TV ads, billboards, social-media posts and more.

The "Stop Antisemitism" media campaign, which launched in late May, is being undertaken because of the rise of attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions across the country and in Western Europe. During Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza in mid-May, anti-Semitic attacks soared worldwide and continue to be reported on a daily basis.

"The purpose of this is to bring meaningful messaging that is positive and actionable, and to build awareness to stop anti-Semitism and eliminate hate," said Elizabeth Abrams, assistant vice president of communications for JUF.

JUF chose to use a variety of mediums to reach out to people-both Jewish and non-Jewish-including seven billboards, including three on major expressways leading in and out of the city; a television ad on the local NBC station; full-page ads in the May 30 Sunday edition of the two major daily newspapers, The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times; and a social-media campaign on Instagram and Facebook.

"We are using all available avenues from high in the sky billboards to Instagram and everything in between," said Abrams. "We've heard from a lot of people who were moved by the campaign. ... It really echoes what people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, feel, they want to come together and eliminate hate, which is really what it is doing."
The following virtual programs will be hosted by the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center.

The first on Sunday, June 27 at 3 p.m. is with Holocaust survivor Claire Soria.

Hear Soria's story as she remembers vividly, the tanks going down her street as the Nazis invaded Brussels. She recalls the armed soldiers marching into every government building to take down their precious Belgian flags and replacing them with flags with the swastika.

Soon after, Jewish children of every age were forbidden to go to school. Every Jewish family was told to sew a yellow star on their clothes. Restrictions such as walking on sidewalks, shopping after a dark, or participating in any kind of activity were violations of the law and punishable. People living in Brussels were told to report anyone they knew to the authorities or they would be punished as well.

Soria's father was a tailor and self-employed. He worked until he was arrested and deported to Auschwitz. He had gone to deliver important papers to a client who was trying to leave the country. Sadly, her father was tortured and killed in Auschwitz. He had taken part in the Belgium underground until his arrest. He received a post-mortem award from the kingdom of Belgium after the war.

Soria's mother, on the other hand, asked their neighbor if they would be willing to hide Claire in their apartment while she went into hiding with an aunt and uncle - only to be discovered by the gestapo and deported to Auschwitz. The wonderful Christian couple, Lea and Lambert Sabaux had been musicians and although Soria was forbidden to get an education, they took the time to teach her how to play the piano, something she enjoys to this day. The Sabaux cherished Soria and raised her as their own. After the war, the law required Soria to live with her aunt who would not allow her to see the "grandma and grandpa" she loved. Her aunt sent her away to summer camp to spend time with children her age, and then, at age 13, to the U.S. She didn't speak English and was several years behind in school. Soria recalls those as some of her darkest days.

Soria eventually married and had three children. She has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Grandma's piano lessons paid off. Soria followed in her footsteps and became a piano teacher.

The second program on Wednesday, June 30, noon, features Barbara Winton, daughter of Sir Nicholas Winton. Barbara Winton will join viewers live from England to share her father's fascinating story in this live virtual event June 30.

There are around 6000 people in the world today who owe their lives to Nicholas Winton. They are the descendants of a group of refugee children rescued by him from the Nazi threat in 1939.

One of those people is Kim Masters, editor-at-large of The Hollywood Reporter and host of KCRW's The Business. Her parents were rescued by Sir Nicholas Winton.

Join us as these two daughters, Barbara and Kim share an incredible story of heroism and gratitude for the good deeds of an incredible man. The discussion will be facilitated by Tamara Meyer. Tamara is an author, lecturer and media consultant and is a child of German Jewish parents who escaped Nazi Germany at the brink of World War ll. For the past two decades she has been lecturing and writing about her family legacy.

To register for these programs, please visit holocaustedu.org.
(Israel21c via JNS)  For the first time in 12 years, Israels Likud Party and its head, Benjamin Netanyahu, have moved from the prime ministers seat to the opposition in the Knesset.

The new government, sworn in Sunday night, brings into power a broad coalition of eight political parties, spanning the countrys political spectrum.

Heading Israels 36th government is Yamina Party leader Naftali Bennett, the 13th Israeli prime minister.

Bennett was sworn in along with Yesh Atid Party leader Yair Lapid, who will serve as alternate prime minister and foreign minister until becoming the countrys 14th prime minister in August 2023 for the final two years of the term  if all goes according to plan.

Here are 10 notable firsts in this 36th Knesset, formed with the intention of unseating Netanyahu and bringing change to Israel.

1. Bennett, 49, is the first prime minister from the high-tech world, having headed and sold two successful software companies, Cyota and Soluto. He also is the first to wear a kippah, a traditional Jewish skullcap.

2. The ruling coalition includes an Arab party, the Islamist Raam Party, while other parties representing Israels 21 percent Arab minority chose to remain in the opposition.

3. Incoming Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz was the first openly gay Knesset member to head a major party (Meretz).

4. The 36th Knesset includes two longtime disabilities activists: Shirley Pinto, Israels first deaf Knesset member; and Karine Elharrar, a veteran MK who has muscular dystrophy, as minister of energy.

5. There are nine female cabinet ministers (out of a total of 27), the highest number in Israels history: Yifat Shasha-Biton (education), Ayelet Shaked (interior), Merav Michaeli (transportation), Tamar Zandberg (environmental protection), Orna Barbivay (economy), Karine Elharrar (energy), Pnina Tamano-Shata (aliyah and integration) and Orit Farkash-Hacohen (science and technology).

6. There are two Arab cabinet ministers: Esawi Frej (regional cooperation) and Hamed Amar (finance).

7. Two new Knesset members hail from English-speaking countries: Cape Town-raised Ruth Wasserman Lande and North Carolina native professor Alon Tal. Counting Tal, the Knesset has had only eight American-born members in its 73-year history. (Bennett, like Netanyahu a fluent English speaker, was born in Haifa to American immigrants.)

8. Three former broadcast journalists are in the top echelon: Yair Lapid, Nitzan Horowitz and Merav Michaeli. Lapids late father, Tommy, was also a TV journalist-turned-politician. (A video made in 1994, recently recirculated on Twitter, shows Michaeli and Lapid emerging disheveled from behind a sofa. Now 54 and 57, respectively, they have shed their playgirl/playboy personas of the past.)

9. Incoming Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev is heading the same ministry, then called the Police Ministry, that was led by his late father, Haim Bar-Lev, from 1984 to 1990.

This article was first published by Israel21c.
(Israel Hayom via JNS) - Some 5,000 new immigrants from the United States and Canada are scheduled to immigrate to Israel by the end of 2021, according to new data published by the Nefesh B'Nefesh organization in conjunction with Israel's Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Kayemeth LeIsraelJewish National Fund USA.

Nefesh B'Nefesh has reported a spike in the number of immigration requests and files opened during the COVID pandemic. In 2020, the organization received 14,022 requests, compared to 4,582 in 2019.

Since January 2021, some 1,171 immigrants from North American have arrived in Israel, a 95 percent increase over the same time period in 2020 and 22 percent more than in 2019, the organization reported.

In 2020, a total of 3,168 immigrants from North America arrived in Israel through Nefesh B'Nefesh.

This year's immigration wave is expected to crest in August when more than 1,000 North American immigrants are slated to arrive.

One of the new immigrants, 19-year-old Max Goldman of Maryland, is planning to serve in the Israel Defense Forces as a lone soldier.

"After I finished my pre-army preparatory academy at Kol Amir, I started to feel how much Israel really is our country, and that I need to defend it. Israel is the main place that defends Jews all over the world, and being part of that and contributing to the country is something special," said Goldman.

"With that feeling and my connection to friends from Israel, the Israeli chutzpah and the way people live their daily lives, I knew that this would be my new home. I'm officially making aliyah, and I'm so excited to be returning home and living in the Land of Israel," he added.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, the co-founder of Nefesh B'Nefesh, said, "After a year of challenges in which Israel proved its strength and determination, this year we are seeing the fulfillment of the enormous growth of requests to make aliyah last year. Many olim are going to fulfill their dream of setting down roots in Israel, with the peak this summer, when there will be an 'air train' of dozens of groups of new immigrants from North American who will be landing at the gates of Israel."

This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.
Federation CEO and Executive Director Keith Dvorchik reached out to the Heritage about the Trader Joes incident saying that a lot more happened that wasnt included [in the article Heritage ran].

After learning of the anti-Israel discourtesy paid the shopper, Dvorchik reached out to Trader Joes CEO Dan Bane. Bane assigned the grievance to the regional manager, who failed to address the problem properly. It was then reassigned to their in-house council, who is the head of all Trader Joes legal issues and a top executive.

Dvorchik contacted Florida Representatives Randy Fine (R) and Michael Gottlieb (D). The three of them spoke to Trader Joes in-house council who admitted what happened was wrong and was against their policy. Dvorchik was told that Trader Joes was taking corrective action in the store, but, just as Idit Lotringer told Heritage, they were not at liberty to give details, only that the employee was no longer at that location.

[Trader Joes] took it very seriously once we escalated it with the bi-partisan help in Floridas House of Representatives and the Federation involvement. I dont think it would have had the outcome it did without the Federations involvement and being able to get bi-partisan support from Florida Legislators, Dvorchik stated.
Israeli and American Jews know little about each other, new study finds

By Shira Hanau

(JTA)  American and Israeli Jews dont know much about one another, according to a study released Monday.

Still, both groups expressed an affinity for the other in the poll by the American Jewish Committee.

Among American Jews, a total of 40 percent said their knowledge of Israelis was either nonexistent or weak, and another 21 percent ranked their knowledge of Israelis as medium, while 37 percent said they received a strong education about Israel.

Among Israeli Jews, a total of 69 percent said they did not receive any education about Diaspora Jews or it was not comprehensive, while 20 percent said it was so-so and 11 percent said it was comprehensive.

Among American Jews, 60 percent said being connected to Israel is important to their Jewish identity. Among the Israelis, 75 percent see a thriving Diaspora as vital to the future of the Jewish people.

Those Israelis who had learned more about Diaspora Jews in formal settings showed a greater interest in learning more about Diaspora Jews than those who had learned less.

The survey of Americans was conducted March 25-May 9 and the one in Israel in May. Both had 1,000 respondents. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

Zionist movement umbrella ousts rabbi at the center of harassment dispute

By Ron Kampeas

(JTA)  The World Confederation of United Zionists, one of several groupings within the World Zionist Organization, let go of its secretary-general, American-born Rabbi Dov Lipman, citing his dispute with two women who say he sexually harassed them.

Haaretz, which first broke the story of the harassment allegations, reported Monday that the confederations chairman, David Yaari, notified the World Zionist Organization of Lipmans departure last month after the allegations were made public.

Given the grave allegations against former MK Dov Lipman, it was decided to part ways in order to focus on CUZs vital work within the global Zionist forum, Yarri told Haaretz in a statement.

Lipman, who is from the Washington, D.C., area, is a former Knesset member from the Yesh Atid party.

He denied to Haaretz that he had been fired, saying he had left of his own accord to devote more time to helping new immigrants to Israel settle and assimilate, the work he is best known for.

Lipman has denied the harassment allegations, which first arose on a private Facebook page. He has sued the two women making the accusations, and they have countersued.

The two women, like Lipman, are members of the Modern Orthodox community in Beit Shemesh, a city near Jerusalem. They said the harassment occurred when they and Lipman were part of a movement to push back against haredi Orthodox harassment of Modern Orthodox women and girls in the city over modesty and other perceived religious infractions.

Swastika discovered on ark at Frankfurt airport synagogue

By Shira Hanau

(JTA)  A swastika was found scrawled on the ark at a synagogue at the Frankfurt International Airport in Germany Friday, according to the German publication Bild. It is unclear when the swastika was drawn, as the airport synagogue has been closed for several months due to the pandemic.

A German organization of Orthodox rabbis condemned the vandalism at the airport in a statement.

It is simply sad. This hatred of Jews must finally stop, the Orthodox Rabbinical Conference said, according to the Associated Press. The ugly grimace of antisemitism does not stop even in a highly secured area, at a place of encounter, silence and stopping, where people from all over the world meet briefly while traveling and are in transit.

The swastika was discovered less than a week after a fire was set outside a synagogue in Ulm, about 70 miles northwest of Munich, in what police suspect was an attempted arson attack. The vandalism comes on the heels of a wave of antisemitism following the conflict in Israel and Gaza last month and at a time when some European Jews are saying the fight against antisemitism in Europe is one that cannot be won.

TV broadcaster in Spain accuses Israeli swimming duo of cover for genocide

(JNS)  While two Israeli swimmers took to the podium to await the results in their final qualifying tournament before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a broadcaster with a TV station in Spain took the opportunity to make anti-Israel and anti-Semitic remarks. The competition took place from June 10-13 in Barcelona

According to Combat Antisemitism Movement, which posted about it earlier on Monday, instead of highlighting the achievement of these Israeli athletes, Spanish channel @tv3cats commentator blames them for the killing of Palestinians and accused them of serving as a cover for genocide. This inciteful rhetoric is a dangerous blood libel.

Eden Blecher and Shelly Bobritzky, who competed in the artistic-duets category, are ranked sixth after Sundays qualifying competition, according to FINA, which oversees several of the aquatic categories internationally.

They will be among nine artistic-duets teams to compete in the Tokyo Olympics in late July.

US embassy warns citizens to avoid Jerusalem flag march

(JNS)  The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem announced a Demonstration Alert on Monday evening, prohibiting its employees and their family members to join a planned flag march in the Old City on Tuesday, as possible counterdemonstrations are likely.

U.S. citizens can take this into account when making their own travel plans, read the embassy alert. As security incidents often take place without warning, U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness, it said.

It came as the Israel Defense Forces beefed up deployment of Iron Dome air-defense batteries throughout the country as tensions rise with the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip, a report by Kan news said on Monday evening.

Hamas and Fatah have called for a Day of Rage on Tuesday in Jerusalem and areas of the West Bank in response to the planned march.

IDF beefs up Iron Dome batteries ahead of Jerusalem flag march

(JNS)  The Israel Defense Forces have beefed up the deployment of Iron Dome air-defense systems throughout the country as tensions rise with the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip, a report by Kan News said on Monday evening, the day before a planned flag march in Jerusalem is set to go ahead.

The Israeli defense establishment assesses that Hamas is unlikely to launch rockets, according to the report, but that violent disturbances in Jerusalem and surrounding areas are also distinct possibilities.

Hamas and Fatah have called for a Day of Rage on Tuesday in Jerusalem and areas of the West Bank in response to the planned march.

Last week, Israel requested Egyptian intermediaries to calm Hamas down ahead of the march, said the report, adding that Israel said it reserved its right to hold the flag march in a non-provocative manner. Interior Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev approved the Jerusalem event following a situation assessment meeting held with security chiefs.

Thousands of police officers will fan out across the Jerusalem area and other potential hot spots on Tuesday in the north, as well as in Lod, which saw violent Arab-Israeli rioting last month during the 11-day conflict with Hamas.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said the military is prepared for the possibility of a resumption of fighting in the Palestinian arena, saying that the situation is explosive, according to a report by Walla.

As far as the IDF is concerned, the past is not what the future will be, Kochavi was quoted as saying in reference to IDF responses to future possible attacks by Hamas on Israel.

Republican voters likelier to see antisemitism when Ilhan Omars name is attached to a statement, poll finds

By Ron Kampeas

(JTA)  Republican voters are much likelier to regard a statement grouping Israel with Hamas as antisemitic if they know Ilhan Omar said it, according to a poll published Wednesday.

Asked to assess a tweet by the Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota, 36% of Republican respondents to the Morning Consult/Politico poll said they saw it as antisemitic without knowing Omar said it. That rose to 47% for Republican respondents who were told it was Omar.

The June 7 tweet said, We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.

Democrats were marginally less likely to think the statement was antisemitic if they were told Omar was being quoted. Among those who did not know Omar was being quoted, 31 percent said it was antisemitic, while 27 percent said the same if they were told Omar had said it.

Among voters overall, 31 percent thought it was antisemitic not knowing Omar had said it, while 35 percent thought it was antisemitic knowing she had said it.

The tweet set off days of tensions within the Democratic Party. Twelve Jewish lawmakers said it could be seen as covering for terrorism and asked Omar to clarify the statement. Omar did clarify what she meant, but also accused the Jewish Democrats of engaging in Islamaphobic tropes.

Omar explained that the tweet, which included a video of an exchange the same day with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was challenging the Biden administrations opposition to the International Criminal Court prosecuting alleged war crimes in the Gaza and Afghanistan conflicts, and was not likening Israel and the United States to the Taliban and Hamas.

Morning Consult said the June 11-13 poll of 1,994 voters had a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

Glasgow police charge Jewish anarchist cafe owner for displaying slogan that curses cops

By Cnaan Liphshiz

(JTA)  The Jewish owners of a cafe in Scotland decided to use their shop display to advertise their views on law enforcement.

For months, a bag emblazoned with the words f the police decorated the facade of The Pink Peacock in Glasgow, a hub for Jewish activists with an affinity for Yiddish and far-left causes, including anarchism.

It also features a Palestinian flag and the slogan Jews and Queers for a Free Palestine and a poster promoting a Yom Kippur Ball, a party that the owners threw in 2019 on the Jewish Day of Atonement because its feasting and rejoicing in the Jewish anarchist tradition, as the poster states.

On Monday, police in Glasgow addressed at least one provocative item: They confiscated the bag and charged one of the owners, 32-year-old Morgan Holleb, of committing a breach of the peace  a criminal offense in that part of the United Kingdom.

Two police officers seized the bag, calling it evidence, as Joe Isaac, another founder of The Pink Peacock, filmed the incident.

On Twitter, the founders wrote that the incident was an obvious attempt to intimidate us  and it wont work.

A police spokesperson told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Wednesday that the police were there following complaints by residents.

In the video filmed by Isaac, Holleb is seen replacing the English-language tote bag with another in Yiddish. It reads daloy polizei, which means down with the police.

The officers didnt seem to mind the Yiddish-language bag.

Brigade ready to liberate the Golan

(JNS)  The pro-Iranian Shiite Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement announced that its Golan Liberation Brigade is ready to embark on a campaign to liberate the Golan when the Syrian government gives the command, according to the Middle East Media Research Institutes Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor.

In an interview with Hezbollahs Al-Ahed News website, spokesman Naser Al-Shammari said the brigades fighters have received advanced training and have weapons that can attack deep inside Israel.

Shammari said that the Golan Liberation Brigade was established by the Al-Nujaba movement to serve as its main pathway to participation with the brothers in Syria in the campaign to liberate the Golan [Heights], which is drawing nearer every day.

He voiced support for the proposal by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that a violation in Jerusalem would mean regional war.

In a speech last month marking the anniversary of Israels withdrawal from Lebanon, he expressed his personal opinion that a new equation should be determined to deter Israel, according to which [a violation] in Jerusalem means regional war. He claimed that all resistance movements would join against the Jewish state.

The Al-Nujaba spokesman also said that such a war would include all territory controlled by the axis of resistance and would attack not only Israeli interests but those of the United States, in addition to others in the region that collaborate with America and Israel.

The militia said the brigade was formed in 2017.

IDF strikes targets in Gaza after incendiary devices flown into Israel

(JNS)  Just hours after a flag parade in Jerusalems Old City on Tuesday saw clashes between Jews and Arabs, marked by both injuries and arrests by police, the Israel Defense Forces said it had struck terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip early on Wednesday.

The airstrikes were also in response to a flurry of incendiary balloons launched by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad into southern Israel, causing a number of arson fires.

A short while ago, warplanes raided military compounds belonging to Hamas, which were used as camps and meeting sites for terrorist operatives in Khan Yunis and Gaza districts, the IDF posted on Twitter. Terrorist activities have taken place inside the compounds.

The IDF is prepared for all scenarios, including renewed fighting, in the face of the continuation of terrorist acts emanating from Gaza, the Israeli military said in a tweet.

It was the first resumption of attacks since a ceasefire was put into place on May 21 between Israel and Hamas after 11 previous days of fighting.

The strikes also came as a new government was sworn in on Sunday, replacing longtime Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of the Yamin Party.

Four fires in southern Israel caused by arson balloons sent from Gaza

(JNS)  Palestinian terrorists released arson balloons from Gaza towards Israel for the second day in a row on Wednesday, leading to four fires in agricultural areas in southern Israel.

The Israeli cabinet is deliberating on whether or not to respond to the latest arson attacks, Kan reported.

The incidents came just hours after the Israeli Air Force struck Hamas compounds in Gaza overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, in response to Tuesdays arson balloons.

In Tuesdays attacks, an estimated 120 dunams (about 30 acres) of forests were destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces reported that one of its soldiers fired on and hit a suspect who hurled an explosive device at Israeli forces south of Nablus in the West Bank on Wednesday.

The soldier spotted dozens of Palestinians approaching them in the area of Givat Eviatar, said the IDF Spokespersons Unit.

One of the Palestinians ran towards the soldier and hurled a suspicious object at him, which exploded adjacent to the soldier. In response, the soldier operated to stop the suspect by firing into the air and then by firing towards him. A hit was identified. No IDF injuries were reported, the military said.
Since I moved to the Deep South my cultural education gets a rough shock almost daily. From governors trying to undo a legal election to who is eligible to vote and where and when you can vote to the newest twist on an old subject to be taught in the coming school year called Critical Race Theory.

Now, I havent seen the textbook or any discussion guides. All I have learned so far is that it deals with attitudes on race and will modify the treatment of African Americans in our history so that periods like Reconstruction will not be taught so accurately. Reconstruction an...
A friend of mine and faithful reader of my column (I hope!) asked me to share with him my perspectives on the new political situation in Israel and the impact it will have on future relations between Israel and the U.S. government, American Jewish communities, and the Arab world.

I told him I would love to respond to his request, but in truth given the complexities of the Mideast and my lack of a crystal ball, the most accurate answer I could respond with is I dont know!

However, as a columnist I do have literary license to speculate on what might occur in the near future so here g...
(JNS)  Standing up to hatred is hard. When those who take a moral stand against it act together, however, it can be confronted to an impressive degree.

What started as four Jewish Democrats in Congress attacking the comments of Rep. Ilhan Omar and other colleagues, not by name, as anti-Semitic, grew to 12 members specifically criticizing Omar, who had posted a tweet comparing the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban, accompanied by a video in which she is seen questioning Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Americas opposition to the trying of American and Israeli...
(JNS)  Regular readers of my column know that I like to bring some historical perspective to current affairs that is missing from most reporting and analysis. I happened upon some interesting tidbits that may help us understand the recent fighting between Israel and Palestinian terrorists in Gaza, and the real reason peace is unlikely, if not impossible.

Israel has been complaining since the signing of the Oslo Accords (and before) about Palestinian incitement to violence against Israeli Jews. The Israelis and various outside analysts have repeatedly highlighted that young Palestinians a...
(JTA)  The COVID-19 epidemic proves you cannot just treat a plagues symptoms  you must root it out. Yet as incidents of Jew-bullying in the U.S. more than doubled in May compared to the same time period in 2020, too many American Jews complained about the symptoms while obscuring the cause. In a polarized polity, too many in the overwhelmingly liberal American Jewish community either ignore or cover up left-wing complicity in the New Antisemitism, meaning anti-Zionist Jew-hatred.

Call it Zio-washing: bleaching the anti-Zionism out of modern antisemitism.

Consider the Jewish Theolog...
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John McAfee, the creator of antivirus software McAfee, was found dead inside his prison cell in Spain shortly after receiving an extradition order that would have sent him back to the United States.

Authorities found the 75-year-old magnate lifeless on Wednesday at around 1:00 p.m. E.T. A Superior Court of Catalonia spokeswoman announced the death of the mogul and said an investigation was looking into the cause of death.

The Catalonia regional government Justice Department released a statement, saying prison medical personnel and guards performed life-saving procedures and tried to resuscitate McAfee. However, they were unsuccessful. They believed that early evidence suggested the victim committed suicide.

Tax Evasion Case

Before McAfee's death, a three-judge panel at Spain's National Court in Madrid ruled this week that he would be extradited to the United States and that he would face his criminal charges there. Court documents alleged the deceased failed to file taxes for four years between 2014 and 2018 despite earning millions from promoting cryptocurrencies, consulting work, speaking engagements, and selling the rights to his life for a documentary film. The indictment did not specify the amount that he owed, CNN reported.

Earlier this month, McAfee argued in a virtual hearing in a Spanish court that the charges of tax evasion against him were politically motivated. But in March, he was also indicted on a separate case for fraud and money laundering charges. Allegedly, McAfee and a business partner conducted a scheme where they profited over $13 million by falsely promoting cryptocurrencies to investors who were not aware of the market in its entirety.

The software creator disappeared for a short while in 2012 after police attempted to question him regarding the death of his neighbor in Belize. He later argued he was not involved with the incident and only fled his home in fear for his life.

Read Also: Republicans Set Eyes on 13 Democrat Incumbents to Regain Control of Virginia's State House of Delegates

McAfee was arrested and detained on October 3 last year at the Barcelona airport just before he boarded a flight heading to Istanbul, Spanish police said. He had a successful career, working with NASA, Xerox, and Lockheed Martin before he founded the first antivirus software in 1987. In 2011, he sold his company to Inter and was no longer involved with the business.

Despite selling off the antivirus, it still carries its name and has over 500 million users worldwide, Reuters reported.

McAfee's Imprisonment

Javier Villalba, McAfee's lawyer, noted that despite his client still being able to appeal his conviction, he could not stand another day in jail. The lawyer said the cruel system had no justifiable reason to keep McAfee locked up for so long. U.S. prosecutors would most likely ask the judge overseeing McAfee's tax evasion case to dismiss the charges due to his death.

In 2019, McAfee said not paying his taxes for eights was due to ideological reasons. He left the United States that same year to avoid trial, spending his days with his wife, four large dogs, two security guards, and seven staff on his megayacht.

He previously tried to help Cuba avoid a U.S. trade embargo using cryptocurrency. He also aimed to run for the American presidency under the Libertarian Party in 2020.

Related Article: Joe Biden Announces Zero Tolerance Approach, Investment in Law Enforcement to Combat Gun Violence, Crime

Related Article: Joe Biden Announces Zero Tolerance Approach, Investment in Law Enforcement to Combat Gun Violence, Crime

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Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the US southern border on Friday for the first time. Since the White House appointed her in March to deal with issues on migration, she has faced criticism as to why she did not immediately go to the US-Mexico border to witness the situation.

In the first months of the administration, Republicans blasted Harris and President Joe Biden for declining to visit the border in person amid the increasing numbers of migrants arriving there. Harris' spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement on Wednesday that the vice president would go to El Paso, Texas. Sanders stated that she would be accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Kamala Harris, Joe Biden chastised for refusing to visit the border

The White House stressed that Harris was tasked with the "root causes" of the border crisis. Former Trump officials asserted that she had to travel to the border to lead the discussions. Harris received criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for her handling of the issue They slammed Harris for her seemingly poor performance since she got appointed three months ago, Fox News reported.

The White House has justified Harris' decision not to visit the border, claiming that her mission is to enhance diplomacy and circumstances within Northern Triangle countries where people are fleeing. According to the White House, Kamala Harris is working with leaders in the Northern Triangle to find methods to combat corruption and the fundamental reasons of migration, as well as measures to address humanitarian issues in the nations.

The Vice President's visit comes less than a week before former President Donald Trump, who has hinted at candidacy for the White House in 2024, is set to visit the southern border. According to CNBC, Texas Governor Greg Abbott intends to accompany him. Later that day, Trump issued a statement in which he claimed responsibility for persuading Harris to make the trip: "If Governor Abbott and I weren't going there next week, she would have never gone!"

Read Also: Joe Biden Announces Zero Tolerance Approach, Investment in Law Enforcement to Combat Gun Violence, Crime

Trump announced to visit Us-Mexico border before Harris

Following the announcement, Trump attacked the Vice President in a statement. The former US president claimed that she "ignored" the situation for months and wished she could see the massive devastation and death that happened in the area.

Previously, Trump stated that it was a direct result of Biden abandoning his extremely strong but fair border policy. "Harris and Biden have been handed the most powerful border in American history," the former President said, as per The Sun.

Trump went on to argue that the United States moved from having "world-class border security to a lawless border" that is despised worldwide. He also criticized Biden and Harris for failing to visit the southern border or the ICE officers risking their lives to protect the nation at a time when the White House is doing all it can to make their jobs completely impossible.

Related Article: Kamala Harris' Online Fans Dubbed as 'KHive' Show Fierce Loyalty but Accused of Bullying, Harassment



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Scientists who are investigating the origins of the COVID-19 virus recently discovered that the genetic sequences of the disease from last year's early cases in Wuhan mysteriously disappeared from an online scientific database.

One Seattle researcher rummaged through files stored on Google Cloud and allegedly recovered 13 of the original sequences. The finding provides crucial new information for determining when and how the virus was able to transfer from a bat or another animal to human beings.

The analysis, which was released on Tuesday, supported the idea that different coronaviruses were spreading across Wuhan before the initial outbreaks related to animal and seafood markets in December 2019 emerged. While U.S. President Joe Biden's administration continues its investigations on the virus' origins, the new findings neither support nor discredit the lab leak theory.

Early COVID-19 Sequences

However, the analysis does put into light the alleged fact that Chinese officials deleted the sequences and questioned why they would do so. Scientists believe the finding could provide more information and that there could be more to discover on the internet.

The discovery of the deleted sequences is a major finding which greatly advances the effort to understand the origins of the COVID-19 virus, said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona, per The New York Times.

It is possible that Chinese scientists deleted the sequences to hide their existence, remarked Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Bloom and Worobey are among a group of outspoken scientists who have previously urged investigations into the pandemic.

Read Also: 6 Common Misconceptions About PTSD in Veterans

The World Health Organization (WHO) heavily relied on sequences of the coronavirus during the early stages of the pandemic. Bloom later researched the information regarding virus sequences submitted to the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) before March 31, 2020. He later found a study led by Ming Wang of Wuhan University's Renmin Hospital.

The study was posted as a preprint on March 6 on medRxiv and was published on June 24 in Small, a journal that focused on materials and chemistry. The paper included some of the earliest cases of COVID-19 in Wuhan and the viruses' specific mutations but was still incomplete.

Deleted Information

Continued research led Bloom to find SRA backups of information on Google Cloud. Sleuthing around the storage, he was led to the discovery of some of the earliest data submissions of Wang's team. Due to the lack of three mutations from the early sequences that Bloom found, he concluded the viruses Wang's team discovered were most likely progenitors, Science Mag reported.

The newly discovered sequences were three steps more similar to coronaviruses found in bats than the ones found in the Huanan fish market, Bloom said. The discovery suggested the original virus was spreading in Wuhan before the first reported cases at the seafood market, he added.

Bloom concluded that his study had several limitations, stating sequences he found were only partial and provided no information on when they were obtained or where they were collected from. Determining the time and place is vital in tracking the origin of the COVID-19 virus, Live Science reported.



Related Article: South America Flesh Eating Parasites Reported in the US, Researchers Say It Can Infect Many By 2080 as Another Epidemic

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Warren Buffett pronounced on Wednesday that he is donating an additional $4.1 billion to charitable organizations as he steps down as a trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, has resigned as a trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and has given half his income to charity after committing 15 years ago to give away his fortune, according to a published article in Reuters.

Warren Buffet To Donate Majority of His Wealth

In a recently published article in ABC News, Buffett's latest wealth transfer is said to be part of a 2006 promise to give away all of the shares he holds in Berkshire Hathaway, a Nebraska-based company he has headed since 1970.

Berkshire Hathaway owns over 60 companies including familiar brands like Geico, Dairy Quee, and Duracell.

Berkshire Hathaway shares account for about 99 percent of his net worth, and Warren Buffet said that he is "halfway" in giving away the bulk of his fortune, according to a published article in Yahoo Finance.

It was also reported that Buffett's donations will proceed to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named after his late wife, and to other charitable organizations established by his children.

Read Also: Bill and Melinda Gates Divorce: Is Bill Gates Tied With Jeffrey Epstein Fueling the $150 Billion Divorce?

Warren Buffet Resigns as a Trustee of the Gates Foundation

Buffett, 90, has served as a trustee of the foundation for 15 years. But said in a statement on Wednesday that he had been an "inactive trustee" at the foundation for years, completely backing Chief Executive Mark Suzman. He also said that their objectives were "100% in sync."

Meanwhile, Warren Buffet did not explain why he is retiring. It is not also clear if his decision to retire has a connection to the Bill and Melinda Gates divorce. The Gates are divorcing after 27 years of marriage.

Buffet and Bill Gates have had other charitable connections. In 2010, they put up the Giving Pledge which asks billionaires to promise to commit at least half of their wealth to charity.

Buffet's Donation has Reached $100 Billion

Since 2006, he has given away about $41.5 billion in Berkshire shares, including $32.7 billion to the Gates Foundation. Because Berkshire's stock price has increased, the entire amount is currently about $100 billion.

Buffet remarked, "[T]he easiest deed in the world is to give away money that will never be of any real use to you or your family," per The Washington Post.

He also added that the heroes of charity are those who offer their love and time to directly assist others, sometimes with the addition of a monetary contribution that forces them to forego the purchase of something important for their own use.

Buffet Assures To Continue His Financial Support

According to CEO Mark Suzman, Buffett is stepping down as a trustee but will continue to provide tremendous financial support, noting Wednesday's contribution as the biggest one to date, with his contribution of over $33 billion to the foundation.

Meanwhile, Bill Gates said that the foundation would always have a strong sense of responsibility to Warren, paying careful attention to progress as well as recording success and finding areas for improvement.

Related Article: ROFX IPO in 2021 - Is Warren Buffett Showing Interest?



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The American Families Plan proposed by President Biden would make two significant adjustments to the taxation of investment income such as long-term capital gains and dividends.

Proposed Tax Rate To Fund the Infrastructure Bill

Higher taxes on long-term capital gains is now a top priority in Washington after it was initiated by US Pres. Joe Biden. The plans include raising the highest tax rate on investment, Forbes reported.

Taxpayers subject to the net investment income tax already paid an additional 3.8 percent, and they would continue to do so if any of the proposed increases are implemented. However, this will only happen once Biden's proposed tax rate for wealthy individuals and corporations obtain traction both in the House of Congress and Senate.

To help finance the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, Biden proposed to raise the highest tax rate on long-term capital gains to 39.6 percent from the current 20 percent. This maximum rate would apply to families with a yearly income of more than $1 million, per CNBC News.

It can also be remembered that this proposal received negative reactions from the Republicans because of its potential adverse impact on the country's economy. The Republican Senators believed that this will discourage businessmen from investing in the country.

Read Also: Democratic Senators Say Infrastructure Plan of Pres. Biden Needs To Be Changed

How To Avoid the Impending Increase of Tax Rate?

It is not too early to plan what you to do. It is better to prepare before one of the proposals gains momentum in Congress. However, it is too early to speculate on the income level at which a higher rate might be beneficial.

As suggested by Tax Policy Center, here are some ways that businesses and individuals can avoid higher capital gains:

Owners of valued assets that take a long time to sell, such as small companies and real estate, should consider starting the selling process now and think about its closing by the end of the year. The greater your income, the more you will pay in capital gains taxes after 2021. More importantly, exploring alternatives for any highly valued assets in taxable accounts is essential.

The easiest and most apparent step is to sell any highly valued assets in 2020 as soon as possible to guarantee that profits are taxed at a maximum of 20% plus any state tax rate. Consider all of the tax consequences of including large capital gains on your return before proceeding.

Holding highly valued assets for the remainder of your life is the simplest and most advisable method to avoid capital gains taxes. Hand them over to your loved ones through your estate. The beneficiaries' tax basis in an inherited asset is increased to the fair market value on the date of your death under current legislation.

Giving valued assets to family members at lower tax rates is another option that may be feasible as part of your estate planning. They may sell the assets and pay reduced capital gains taxes as a result. This boosts the family's wealth after taxes.

These are just some of the steps that an individual or a company can take to avoid the impending tax rate. Smart advisers and lawyers will seek methods for their extremely affluent clients to avoid the new capital gains taxes, just as they have sought ways to minimize inheritance taxes.

However, the legislation to increase the corporate tax will somehow restrict the efficacy of tactics when it comes to avoiding huge taxes. This is to ensure that the President's infrastructure bill will be funded once it gets traction in the House of Congress and Senate.

Related Article: Biden's Corporate Tax Hike Would Cost 1 Million Jobs, New Study Shows



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The money for the Child Tax Credit is expected to be distributed next month, and individuals who want to opt out of direct payments must notify the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Child Tax Credit was boosted under the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion rescue package with the IRS directed to distribute payments monthly.

The granting of stimulus payments will commence on July 15. The IRS has launched two new tools for people to verify their eligibility and choose whether they want to get their credit in a lump sum when they submit their taxes next year. The IRS introduced the Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant on Wednesday, a tool that allows individuals to see if they are eligible for the higher credit.

To determine eligibility, taxpayers will need their 2020 tax return or their 2019 return or income statements if they haven't filed for 2020 yet. The Child Tax Credit Portal is the second tool that allows taxpayers to opt-out of monthly payments. Anyone may unenroll if he or she fears that they won't qualify for the credit due to a change in income, migration out of the country, or in a case where his kid is claimed by someone else. They may be compelled to repay the money if they do not do so.

The IRS tax credit portal is now available ahead of the July 15 deadline for the first monthly payments. Trish Walker said, "If they filed a tax return for 2020 and those children, they are claiming on that 2020 tax return. So they don't have to do anything. They are going to start getting it automatically."

These payments will be made only until the end of 2021. According to Mervin Jebaraj of the University of Arkansas, the new child tax credit will cut the child poverty rate in the United States in half, as per 5newsonline.

Read Also: Fourth Stimulus Check Not Coming? How to Get Bonus Payment Instead of Another Round of Reliefs

Some reasons why you may opt-out of the monthly payments

Dennis Linden, a certified public accountant, and director for the Northeast Ohio region of CBIZ MHM told Yahoo Money that the Child Tax Credit payments need to be paid if too much is given, unlike economic impact payments. Also, it may be unpleasant in April 2022 when the 2021 tax return is filed.

1. You may owe tax next year.

Households who qualify for the Child Tax Credit will get half of their entire credit for 2021 in advance payments starting July 15 and ending in December. However, if you usually owe the government money and use the CTC to reduce it, taking half of your 2021 credit as advance payments might result in a larger tax burden in April 2022.

The amount parents may claim in 2021 is also higher. This means families will likely receive a larger tax credit for the year. In 2021, the highest credit that taxpayers may receive is $3,600 for children under the age of six and $3,000 for children from six to seventeen. Previously, the highest tax credit for children under the age of 17 was $2,000 per child.

2. Your income exceeds the income eligibility thresholds.

If you get more than the income qualifying limits of the CTC this year, you might wish to unenroll. Selling the property in 2021, as well as other income gains, may affect your credit eligibility.

A single filer with children under the age of 17 who earns up to $75,000 will get the full payment for each kid while those who earn up to $90,000 would receive a reduced payment. Joint filers with children who earn up to $150,000 will receive the full credit, and those who earn up to $170,000 would receive a reduced amount.

3. A parent may owe money to the IRS.

Divorced parents should be cautious about making advance payments. Therefore, they should consider opting out of the program. The parent who claimed the child on the return in 2020 or 2019 will receive the advance payment.

This parent may owe the IRS money if the situation has changed. You also have to refund the amount of money you got in advance if you have resided outside the country for more than half of 2021.

Who needs to opt out of Child Tax Credit?

"Among the three new tools now available on IRS.gov to help families understand, register for, and track these payments, the Update Portal is a key piece," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said, Newsweek via MSN reported. Taxpayers can claim $2,000 for each qualifying child listed as a dependent on their tax return under the traditional Child Tax Credit.

Congress increased the Child Tax Credit to $3,600 for children under the age of six and $3,000 for children aged six to seventeen to assist in offsetting of financial burden brought about by the pandemic. The monthly stimulus payments will be worth one-twelfth of the total amount owing to a taxpayer.

They'll be worth $250 or $300 depending on the child's age, and they'll be available until December. After submitting a 2021 tax return next year, the remaining money due to a person will be reimbursed.

However, the increased tax credit is not available to all parents. Individuals must have an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 to qualify, and joint filers can only earn up to $150,000. People with incomes below $200,000 and joint filers with incomes below $400,000 will receive a reduced payment, but not below the standard deduction of $2,000 for individuals with incomes below $400,000, which is the income level for the deduction.

Related Article: Child Tax Credit: Here's How to Ensure You Get $3,600 New Stimulus Checks as IRS Sends Millions More Additional Payments



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Canada's Cowessess First Nation claims it has found hundreds of unmarked graves at a former residential school. The discovery confronts one of the darkest chapters of Canada's history.

According to a statement released Wednesday by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in the province, the Cowessess First Nation discovered the remains at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School. Ir is located in the southeastern part of the prairie province of Saskatchewan.

The latest unmarked graves discovery was the most significant incident

There was no information on how many graves were found, but the discovery appeared to be the most significant event to date in Canada. The unmarked graves may surpass the 215 indigenous children discovered on the grounds of British Columbia last month.

The discovery of the remains of 215 indigenous children weeks ago in Kamloops of British Columbia compelled Canadians to deal with the legacy of a system of abuse and assimilation through residential schools for indigenous children. Between 1831 and 1996, nearly 150,000 indigenous children were forcefully separated from their families as mandated by the residential school system in Canada.

In what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the nation dubbed "cultural genocide" in 2015, the indigenous children were starved and physically and sexually assaulted. Survivors who talked to Reuters recounted their constant starvation and awful loneliness.

The finding triggered demands on some of the 150 former residential schools throughout Canada to seek additional undiscovered graves. For more than a century, Canada has had a residential school system with approximately 150,000 indigenous children taken from their families.

Read Also: Boris Johnson Faces Fury Over Postponed Meeting to Fix Social Care System

Data reveals thousands of children died in Canada due to human rights abuses

The practice of transferring indigenous children to boarding schools, frequently by force or compulsion, where they were compelled to lose their culture and language, constituted cultural genocide, according to a 2015 report by Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. A revised data from the Commission's report showed an estimated 4,100 children died of disease or accident while in the system, although some indigenous leaders believe the number might be higher, as per The Wall Street Journal.

Murray Sinclair, an indigenous former judge and senator who led the panel, has estimated that the entire death toll may be in the region of 15,000 to 25,000 people, based on the number of bones discovered in Kamloops.

Meanwhile, First Nations students were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s as part of a campaign to integrate them into Canadian culture. They were coerced to convert to Christianity and were forbidden from speaking their languages, ABC News reported.

Many people were assaulted and verbally insulted, and up to 6,000 individuals are said to have died from the said abuse. In 2008, the Canadian government apologized to Parliament for the widespread physical and sexual abuse in schools.

Many students report being assaulted for speaking their native languages, which resulted in losing contact with their parents and cultural traditions. The root cause of epidemic rates of drug and alcohol addiction on reservations is a heritage of abuse and isolation, according to indigenous leaders.

Related Article: Trudeau Dares China for a Public Probe Over Uyghur Mistreatment as Beijing Attacks Canada's Human Rights Record



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Iran said it thwarted a sabotage attack on an atomic energy agency building on Wednesday. The sabotage happened following Iran's slamming of Washington's blockage of dozens of Iranian media sites as being not helpful for ongoing nuclear discussions.

According to state television, the foiled sabotage attack targeted a building belonging to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. They did not identify the operation's culprits.

Located Near Karaj

According to state media, the attack transpired near Karaj, an estimated 40 kilometers west of Tehran. Iran has gone through a series of suspected sabotage attacks targeting its nuclear program in the past few months, reported DW.

"On Wednesday morning, a sabotage operation against one of the (Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran) buildings was foiled" and the attack "did not cause any damage in financial or human terms," a broadcaster reported, per Dawn. The saboteurs were not able to execute their plan. There were no casualties or damage on the scene.

The news arose as discussions continue in Vienna between Tehran and world powers. The talks were aimed at reviving the hobbled 2015 nuclear deal, which was staunchly opposed by Israel, a country known to be at odds with Iran and a key ally of the US. The sabotage also came a day after the US Justice Department said it seized 33 Iranian government media websites. It alleged they were hosted on American-owned domains in contravention of sanctions, reported RTL.

Probing is underway to identify the perpetrators and to determine the facts surrounding the sabotage attack. There were rigid security precautions adopted, following similar acts of sabotage against Iranian nuclear scientists and sites.

Read Also: What To Know About Iranian President-Elect Ebrahim Raisi, New President Faces US Sanctions

Reports provided no further details on the nature of the sabotage or even information about the building.

In April 2021, Iran accused Israel of orchestrating a "small explosion" that hit its Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

Iran's outgoing President Hassan Rouhani cautioned on Wednesday that Washington's action was "not constructive" for the nuclear discussions. However, Germany's top diplomat Heiko Maas also remarked there was a "good chance" of reviving the deal in the future.

The developments arrived days after ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi was elected Iran's new president, who has said he will not meet with US President Joe Biden.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization indicated the Karaj facility was founded in 1974. It oversees the bolstering of the quality of water, soil, livestock production, and agriculture using nuclear technology.

According to public radio, the "small explosion" that hit Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment was courtesy of the Mossad spy agency. It cited unnamed intelligence sources.

The 2015 nuclear deal vowed Iran sanctions relief in return for restrictions on its nuclear program. However, it was torpedoed three years later when former President Donald Trump unilaterally backed out from it and reimposed punishing sanctions. Iran in response later progressively stepped back from its own commitments under the negotiation.

Related Article: Iran Nuclear Deal: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Cautions US to Wake Up Before Returning to Nuclear Agreement

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Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met with United States President Joe Biden at the US-Russia summit to discuss issues between the two countries.

The results of the political talk suggest the construction of Russia's controversial pipeline Nord Stream 2. The project is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year. When the pipeline is fully constructed, it is expected to transfer a massive 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia to Germany. The plant will carry the gas through the Baltic Sea to the rest of Europe. The endeavor is estimated to give Russia an annual income of $3.2 billion.

Since the passing of U.S. sanctions in 2019, Russia suspended the construction and funding of the plant for more than a year. In 2020, American officials expanded the sanctions, further hampering the plant's construction.

Global Bargaining Chip

Some Russian experts believe Biden was using the sanctions to bargain with Putin and pressure the Russian leader regarding several issues, such as the occupied territories in Ukraine and Georgia, support for Belarus' dictatorial regime, human rights violations in Russia, and the poisoning, imprisonment, and outlawing of political opposition, Yahoo News reported.

However, the White House lifted the sanctions on Nord Stream 2 one month before the summit amid criticism from a few US legislators and European partners. Several European gas companies and Russian company Gazprom, which is the largest gas supplier worldwide, are leading the joint-venture responsible for the construction of the pipeline.

Read Also: Discovery of Deleted COVID-19 Sequences Raises Suspicions About China's Secrecy

Putin will gain many benefits from the pipeline once it is finished. One of the foremost advantages is having a deeper influence on Europe by increasing their dependence on Russian energy. For decades, the Russian leader has relied on natural gas to assert global dominance. The new project gives Putin a direct and powerful line of control in Western Europe.

The new project came after a similar announcement that Putin made earlier this month regarding the launching of the Amur gas processing plant. The project will supply China with natural gas using the Power of Siberia pipeline. It also allows Russia to increase its share of helium in the global market, Reuters reported.

Natural Gas Advantage

Gazprom will also be responsible for handling the far eastern Russian plant, which is expected to process 42 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The plant will also be able to generate up to 60 million cubic meters of helium, about one million tons of propane, roughly 500,000 tons of butane, and 2.5 million tons of ethane.

Officials expect the plant to be fully operational and running at full capacity in 2025. It would become one of the largest gas processing plants worldwide. Russian authorities will export the majority of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) the plant produces, which comes out to about 1.3 million tons annually.

Putin will also be exporting the helium the plant produces to supply needs in the medical field and other sectors. Authorities will transport the gas inside special-purpose cryogenic containers at a hub at the Pacific port of Vladivostok.

Related Article: Joe Biden Announces Zero Tolerance Approach, Investment in Law Enforcement to Combat Gun Violence, Crime



Related Article: Joe Biden Announces Zero Tolerance Approach, Investment in Law Enforcement to Combat Gun Violence, Crime

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During a traffic stop early Wednesday, an Arkansas sheriff's deputy shot and killed a 17-year-old boy named Hunter Brittain, but officials have not revealed what led to the deadly shooting.

The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office said the investigation into the incident has been turned over to Arkansas State Police. The circumstances of the traffic stop and what prompted the deputy to fire his weapon at Brittain will be detailed in the investigation, said the state police.

Arkansas Deputy was put on leave while waiting for the investigation

State police said the shooting happened at an auto repair shop on Arkansas Highway 89 south of Cabot. The place is roughly 30 miles northeast of Little Rock and has a population of around 26,000 people.

Hunter Brittain was from McRae, a town of approximately 700 people about 15 miles northeast of Cabot, according to state police. Brittain was transported to a North Little Rock Hospital, where he later died.

Later Wednesday, Sgt. Michael Davis, who has been with the sheriff's office since 2013, was confirmed as the deputy involved in the incident.

Davis will be placed on administrative leave awaiting the conclusion of the state police investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that state police had initially spelled the teen's name as Britain, but later confirmed it was spelled, Brittain. The shop owner who was not present during the traffic stop or shooting told KARK that the truck was behaving recklessly due to transmission issues and may have possibly collided with the deputy's car. According to KARK, the owner's nephew was allegedly Brittain's friend and was present when the incident occurred.

On Wednesday evening, friends and relatives of the Arkansas teen shot by a Lonoke County deputy protested in front of the Sheriff's Office. Brittain's relatives said he was working on his vehicle before driving it down the road and was stopped by Davis.

The teen then came out of his truck with a quart of oil in his hand, according to Brittain's family, and the officer fired his gun. Jesse Brittain, Hunter's uncle, told Fox16, "He was never told to halt, he was never told to freeze, he was just shot. He loved working with his hands, he wanted to be a race car driver."

Read Also: Missing US Student, Ex-Marine Found Dead in Russia Days After Sending Cryptic Text to Her Mom

Brittain's family and friends seek justice

Hundreds of people gathered at the Lonoke Sheriff's Office, holding and raising signs that said "Justice for Hunter." Sheriff John Staley met with protesters and gave a healing prayer. Those in attendance began demanding answers almost immediately.

Others requested that Sheriff Staley disclose the shooting's body camera video. He claimed, though, that he had not seen it. Arkansas State Police said that they are still looking into the facts. They have not revealed why the teen was halted. His family has stated that they would continue to converge and protest outside the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office for the rest of the week.

Related Article: WATCH: Masked Gunman Seen Opening Fire on Young Children, Terrifying Scene Shows New York's Increasing Gun Violence



@YouTube

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Lately tension among the G7 nations and Russia has been felt, even before the conference in Cornwall of G7 leaders.

Russian vs Britain?

Reports by Russia state that it fired on the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender while in the Black Sea. However, the British Ministry of Defense (BMD) said no event occurred, reported the Mirror UK.

One account by Russian sources said that the HMS Defender strayed into their sovereignty and a jet was deployed to drop warning bombs in its path, with no intention to hit the warship. However, a statement from the BMD said that no warning shots were directed at the HMS Defender, cited the BBC.

One more statement added the Royal Navy ship was passing through Ukrainian territorial waters in following international law. Before entering the waters, it was mentioned that the passing of the UK warship was notified. This was to alert the Russian forces who were doing gunnery drills in the Black Sea. A spokesman from the Royal Navy said that the allegation of bombs dropped was denied, noted Bloomberg.

According to the Russians, the UK warship was soon on its way out of the contested waters. It was remarked that the foreign ship was inside three kilometers from the supposed borderline waters.

The argument is likely to focus on Crimea's territorial waters, which Russia acquired from Ukraine in 2014, resulting in Russia's removal from the G8. The presence of the British warship is an issue with the Russian military.

Read also: US Navy Wants a Next-Generation Destroyer Designed From the Ground Up

The Actual Report

A statement from Moscow said that at exactly 11:52 am, on 23 June, the HMS Defender of the British Royal Navy was sailing in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Its path had violated the border and got within three kilometers of Russian territory close to the region of Cape Fiolent, noted the Guardian.

At 2:06 and 12:08, Russia fired shots to warn the British ship. After firing the shots, at 12:19 a plane did a bombing run with high explosive fragmentation ordnance in the path of the ship. All the actions of the Black Sea Fleet and the FSB Border forces were intended to eject the HMS Defender. It eventually turned to leave the contested waters of Ukraine, which have been annexed as part of the Russian Federation.

The destroyer was doing operations in the Black Sea with the USS Laboon and the Dutch cruiser HNLMS Evertsen to show support for Ukraine after Putin's previous large military buildup close Ukraine's borders.

Moscow has publicly confirmed that it is keeping a close eye on the HMS Defender, which can lead to 56 Tomahawk cruise missiles at any given time. One picture takes by the Royal Navy Destroyer had a Russian frigate Admiral Essen trailing USS Laboon.

Former commander Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov, who commanded the Black Sea Fleet made it clear these ships are not welcome. He added they won't be guests of honor and will be under watch.

All ships, including the British warship, will be monitored from space and the air because they have been visiting the Black Sea too often. The Russian military commander said there is compliance with Montreux Convention.

Related article: Russian Destroyers and Fighter Jets Engaged in Drills Near Hawaii, Carrier Strike Group Deployed as a Response

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"A very active east African jet ... will bring more dust, but we cant tell at this point whether there will be any mega dust outbreaks like we saw last year. - AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
Copyright  2021 at Sun Newspapers. Digital dissemination of this content without prior written consent is a violation of federal law and may be subject to legal action.
Anchor/Multimedia Journalist

Hello! I am the weekend anchor as well as a reporter for Your News Now! You can reach me with news tips (or just to say hello!) at khonigford@wlio.com.
Oil edged higher above $73 a barrel in New York as falling stockpiles in the U.S. and China added to bullish sentiment around the global demand recovery.

Gasoline inventories in the U.S. unexpectedly fell last week, while nationwide crude supplies dropped for a fifth week, the longest run since January. Chinese stockpiles have also shrunk to the lowest this year, according to data provider Kayrros, with the market tightening as key consumers rebound from Covid-19.

Oil could be facing some near-term turbulence, however, with one technical indicator signaling that prices may have climbed too far, too fast. Crude is flirting with overbought territory on the 14-day relative strength index.

The recovery has accelerated as vaccinations are rolled out worldwide, boosting fuel consumption and helping to drain stockpiles that were built up during the height of the pandemic. The OPEC+ alliance is scheduled to meet toward the end of next week to discuss its production policy for August, and some nations are considering backing an output increase.

The current outlook is bullish, said Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM Oil Associates Ltd. in London. Storage tanks are draining all over the world.

The prompt timespread for Brent was 72 cents a barrel in backwardation -- a bullish structure where near-dated contracts are more expensive than later-dated ones. That compares with 85 cents at the start of the week.

U.S. crude stockpiles fell by 7.6 million barrels last week, while inventories at the storage hub of Cushing dropped for a second week, according to data from the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday. Gasoline supplies shrank by 2.9 million barrels, compared with a forecast increase in a Bloomberg survey.

Chinese crude oil inventories declined to about 974 million barrels in the week ended June 22, down from more than 1 billion barrels at the end of March, according to Kayrros. Stockpiles at the nations 190 terminals were at about 973 million barrels at this time last year, it said.

Meanwhile, U.S. negotiators are preparing to return to a seventh round of indirect talks with Iran on reviving a nuclear deal. A rejuvenated agreement may lead to the lifting of sanctions on Tehran and increased crude flows, although progress has been slow and complicated so far.
WASHINGTON  The oil industry's largest lobbying group released a voluntary climate reporting scheme Thursday, as governments increase pressure on oil and other polluting sectors increases amidst growing concern around climate change.

The announcement came as the Securities and Exchange Commission is considering requiring uniform greenhouse gas emission reporting across industries, allowing investors and the general public to compare companies and industries' emissions at a time of growing interest in business's ability to navigate a low carbon future.

The American Petroleum Institute released its "climate reporting template" Thursday as way to give investors apples to apples comparisons between oil companies on emissions. And while it would be voluntary, the group said it expected most of its roughly 600 member companies to participate beginning next year.

"We think we're taking an additional step here with the release of this template," said Frank Macchiarola, API's senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs. "We think it provides significant transparency and comparability within the industry."

RELATED: Biden looks at financial rules to deprive oil of capital, shift country on climate

Investors have been pressuring the SEC to establish uniform rules on climate exposure  the same way they do on profits and cash flow  to get better insight into which companies are at greatest risk from a shift toward clean energy.

But the framework proposed by API is unlikely to give investors a full picture of oil companies carbon footprint, most significantly by excluding indirect emissions that come from vehicle tailpipes as a result of the fuels oil companies sell - known as scope 3 emissions - said Andrew Logan, oil and gas director at Ceres, a non-profit that advises investors on climate.

"This template has the potential to raise the floor for disclosure in an industry where many companies, particularly private operators, disclose little or nothing about their GHG emissions," he said. "However, leaving out scope 3 emissions will make this template much less relevant for companies that want to do more than the bare minimum."

The prospect of uniform carbon reporting enforced by the SEC could be particularly problematic for the oil and gas industry. With no viable way to capture the huge volumes of emissions that come out of vehicles tailpipes, analysts have warned the oil and gas industry is at risk of losing access to capital in the years ahead.

At an event at the Houston Economic Club Thursday, API President Mike Sommers cautioned that "America was at a turning point," as the Biden administration takes steps to address climate change by halting federal oil and gas leasing and revising fiscal regulations to favor clean energy.

"We need to produce more oil and natural gas in the decades ahead," he said. "Renewables are an important and growing part of the energy pie but as population grows the pie itself is growing. We need more energy across the board."

API has been pushing back against the SEC's effort to require uniform carbon reporting, saying such a rule could violate companies' free speech rights and questioning the fairness of a one-size fits all approach.

The framework they put out Thursday would only be applied to oil companies, not other polluting industries like coal or agriculture, making comparisons' difficult. Also the reporting would only apply to companies' direct emissions, say from a refinery or an office building.

Such a method would seemingly be out of step with what investors want to see. So far this year shareholders at Chevron and Conoco Phillips have voted in favor of reducing not only direct emissions but those emissions from the energy products those companies sell.

Aaron Padilla, API's manager of climate policy, said they chose to only include direct emissions because, "those emissions they have direct control over and the most influence to reduce."
With limited travel options during the pandemic, a 10-hour road trip to Marfa  where she had never visited  for a photo shoot of her collection was a gamble that ultimately paid off, says Houston designer Christy Lee of Christy Lynn. The West Texas desert provided a magical, minimalist backdrop for her Italian lace dresses and flowing, luxe silk prints.

That was kind of a dream, actually, says Lee. Its rugged, its natural  everything has this very gray texture  a great juxtaposition of this super feminine but super minimalist, clean, modern setting for her eponymous collection. (Lynn is a middle name.)

After graduating from Rhode Island School of Design, where she studied fine art and fashion, Lee spent 12 years in New York in design jobs for brands including Nanette Lepore, Catherine Malandrino and Elie Tahari before relocating in 2018 to Houston with her now-husband. Soon after, their Napa Valley wedding provided a chance for Lee to experiment for the first time with her own designs, cutting, sewing and fitting dresses for her bridesmaids. In Tulum, Mexico, her bachelorette party doubled as a photo shoot, with her friends as the models in a lookbook for her first capsule collection.

The original silhouettes evoked the same very romantic, yet modern, feminine vibe evident in the four collections Lee, 37, now releases each year, including the bestselling Gemma dress that is still part of her line. Forging relationships from her previous fashion jobs, Lee uses lace from a mill in Como, Italy, and sources silks and linens from outside of Shanghai, China, growing in just two years to 35 specialty boutiques, including Tootsies, one of her first accounts and a dream retailer, she says.

Her ethereal, textured collection stands out in part, she says, because of the one-of-a-kind prints she introduces each season. Most are hand-drawn by her sister, who lives in New York  some based on 1930s French wallpaper and other archival art.

Social media has played a vital role in the rapid growth of her business. The story were trying to tell through our photos and videos  including those shot on the beach in Galveston for the soon-to-release fall collection  something is working.

This summer brings pop-ups at the Nolita and Malibu locations of hip hat brand Teressa Foglia and a trunk show in the Hamptons. Lee says she enjoys the chance to engage with customers when she visits retailers across the country. Where fashion is going, people want to know who made your clothes, where the fabric comes from and the story behind the collection.

Her team of three will prep for the trunk shows from their new offices at La Colombe dOr Hotel & Residences. Earlier this year, Lee and her husband, Christophe Chung, sold their home, where she was officing with her employees, in favor of two units at the new Hines development  they live in one. We needed to separate our work and life situation, Lee laughs. Theyve already outgrown the new offices, however, and a larger showroom is in the works.

For now, Lee is enjoying high-rise living. I get to be more social, she says, seeing residents in the elevators and common spaces and meeting friends at the hotel bar, without ever having to leave. Im still not used to driving.

$298-$698 at Tootsies, Golden and christylynn.com
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houstons Hockney-Van Gogh exhibition felt like the perfect early 2021 event  offering a radiant hint of spring with its bright yellows as winter came to a close. That show has closed, but now some big summer draws are beginning to open. Two much-anticipated shows coming to Texas this month are based around Impressionism, as museums open wide with works representing some ageless and beloved artists.

The MFAH presents works by masters from the French school of painting, while the San Antonio Museum of Art shows the effect their work had here in the United States, collecting pieces by American painters who fell under their spell.

With luck, a booming summer will restore museum traffic to its pre-pandemic state. Certainly, some of the exhibitions listed here are designed to maximize broad interest after a difficult year.

Houston

Monet to Matisse:

Impressionism to Modernism from the Bemberg Foundation

A thumbnail biography of Georges Bemberg sounds too far flung to be true: He was a native of Argentina, but born to a German family that made its coin in the beer brewing business. He studied piano at Harvard, but Bembergs great gift to the world was Fondation Bemberg, a lovingly curated and created environment in Toulouse, France, that housed works of art he collected by an arresting list of French school artists: Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edouard Vuillard and several others. Bemberg died a decade ago (at 95), leaving behind a treasure of a museum. The works inside rarely leave, but they will this year for Monet to Matisse: Impressionism to Modernism from the Bemberg Foundation, a rare opportunity for viewers to see this collection outside of France.

Among the works is Portrait of the Artists Son Jean, an 1869 oil on canvas by Claude Monet in which his child is presented with rosy cheeks and a sharp haircut, all the colors understated but for a hint of playfulness in his pink bow tie. The work is dramatically contrasted by Monets Boats on the Beach at Etretat, a brighter beach scene.

Through Sept. 5; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet, Houston; 713-639-7300, mfah.org.

San Antonio

Americas Impressionism:

Echoes of a Revolution

Massachusetts native Willard Metcalf headed to Europe in the early 1880s and quickly fell under the spell of the artists and landscapes he encountered. Though he was 18 years Claude Monets junior, Metcalf managed to paint some of the poppy fields in Monets home of Giverny a few years before the master got to them. Metcalf brings out the brightest of reds with his Poppy Field (Landscape at Giverny), included in Americas Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution, which also features works by others, such as Theodore Robinson and Theodore Wendel, who fell under Monets spell.

Americas Impressionism is as billed, an exhibition that reveals the ways an art movement moved far beyond its epicenter and radiated outward, as artists, including Daniel Garber and John Henry Twachtman, left the States to study abroad, only to return with their approach to painting fundamentally changed.

Through Sept. 5; San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave., San Antonio; 210-978-8100, samuseum.org.

Fort Worth

Buddha, Shiva, Lotus, Dragon

The title is a lot to work through, but so are the offerings on display in Buddha, Shiva, Lotus, Dragon: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection at Asia Society. The exhibitions name pretty clearly summarizes its contents: a collection of India Chola bronzes and East Asian ceramics, metalworks and sculptures collected by the noted philanthropists between the 1940s and the 1970s. Jennifer Casler Price, curator of Asian, African and Ancient American art at the Kimbell Art Museum describes every piece pulled from Asia Society Museums permanent collection as an absolute jewel. The exhibition will greet visitors in the most welcoming way possible, with a collection of Buddhist sculpture, a section full of bronzes and stone sculpture, including a stone Buddha head that dates to the late second or early third century in Gandhara.

Through Sept. 5; Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth; $14-$18; 817-332-8451, kimbellart.org.

Dallas

Devoted: Art and Spirituality in Mexico and New Mexico

The Dallas Museum of Art delved into its Latin American collection to curate the new exhibit, Devoted: Art and Spirituality in Mexico and New Mexico. Regionally, the title speaks for itself, but these two regions are part of larger cultural dialogues: between the devoted and their faith, and between cultures that are now divided by a border. The exhibition includes sculpture, paintings and other works of art that exist because of a spiritual conversation between artist and belief that then speaks to the connection between art and viewer.

Through Jan. 2, 2022; Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood, Dallas; free; 214-922-1200, dma.org.
An alarm rousing guests at 1 a.m. would be cause for concern at most hotels, but at Borealis Basecamp, guests welcome the wake-up call. On 100 acres of boreal forest 25 miles north of Fairbanks, the Alaskan glamping retreat is considered one of the best places on the planet to view the Northern Lights. And tonight, the aurora alarm has sounded, alerting guests that Mother Natures psychedelic light show has begun.

Aurora tourism has emerged as a niche market with a cult following. Viewing the swirling neon green, yellow and purple rays of the aurora borealis (also known as the Northern Lights) has become a bucket-list experience that many travelers peg far-flung trips around. The problem, however, is that Mother Nature can be fickle. Anyone who plans a vacation dependent on the whims of weather or wildlife risks disappointment. The waves may not be up for your dream surf trip, the snow may not cooperate for your once-in-a-lifetime heli-ski vacation, the Big Five might not appear on your African safari. In the past, Ive traveled to Alaska and Sweden solely for the purpose of viewing the Northern Lights, only to spend sleepless nights staring at a black sky. I returned home tired and disappointed.

Catching a glimpse of this natural phenomena takes luck. You must be in the right place at the right time to witness the dazzling explosion of auroral light that occurs when charged particles travel 90 million miles through space and react with gases in the atmosphere. In and around Fairbanks, aurora season runs from Aug. 21 to April 21, and the lights appear an average of four out of every five nights. Despite the odds being quite good, the owners of Borealis Basecamp have curated a roster of daytime adventures to ensure guests have a phenomenal trip whether the lights glow or not.

I visit in early April with zero expectations. The aurora forecast for the next few days is low, and a cloudy sky looms overhead, threatening snow the day I arrive. Though just a 40-minute drive from Fairbanks, Borealis Basecamp feels worlds away. The remote backcountry stay looks like a lunar colony with 15 white geodesic dome cabins that rival the aurora in terms of Instagram appeal.

On my first evening, I get the lay of the land on a sunset snowcat tour that traces the propertys firebreak. The sun is hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds, dashing hopes of a spectacular sunset and any evening light show, but our driver breaks out the champagne anyway. The man next to me guzzles his bubbles and then confides that hed planned to propose to his girlfriend beneath the aurora. Now on the third and final night of their stay, hes scrambling to find an equally romantic backup plan.

Latitude 65, the on-site restaurant, turns out to be a great substitution. Housed in a massive, craftsman-built yurt with windows overlooking the White Mountains, the setting is rustic-luxe and the food is five stars. Gourmet cooking was the last thing I expected at an off-the-grid lodge, but chef George Easter prepares three-course meals showcasing sustainably harvested Alaskan seafood, local game and produce from nearby farms. Next year, hell be able to source bison and heirloom vegetables from a 300-acre farm recently purchased by Borealis Basecamps co-owner. King crab legs and yak tenderloin with locally foraged mushrooms leave me in a blissful food coma that first night and with plenty of energy for a six-hour snowmobile adventure the following morning.

Nearly 1 foot of fresh snow fell overnight, and navigating the machines will take extra effort. My guide, Alyssa, is a tiny spitfire and, though barely 100 pounds, has no problem digging us out of the deep powder any time we get stuck. From camp, we follow a section of the 800-mile Trans Alaskan Pipeline to the entrance of the White Mountains National Recreation Area where the snowdrifts have nearly doubled in size. Alyssa makes a game-time decision and reroutes us to a satellite camp.

We still need to break trail, and after a few tries I get the hang of dislodging my sled when it tips into the snow by bouncing my weight on one side as I squeeze hard on the throttle. I am both exhilarated and exhausted when we reach the tent. Alyssa quickly makes a fire in the wood-burning stove to warm us and prepares tomato soup and buttery grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Smores-brownie pie cooked in a cast-iron pan is a well-earned dessert. Its not until the ride home that I realize we never saw another person the entire day. Anticipating that Ill have sore muscles from maneuvering the snowmobile, Alyssa has radioed ahead to have the sauna heated and waiting for me. Im not sure if even the aurora would have lured me out of the soothing, 110-degree heat.

Not all activities at Borealis Basecamp are so extreme. The next morning I feed the camps resident reindeer, Jim and Dwight, then get schooled in Alaskas quintessential sport: dog mushing. Just like Alyssa, the dogs are tiny but mighty. I stand on the sled behind my musher, Ron, and hold on tight as we fly along the snowy trails reaching speeds of nearly 15 miles per hour. A newly acquired helicopter can whisk guests to otherwise inaccessible natural hot springs and over historical gold mines. My flight doubles as a wildlife safari as my eagle-eyed pilot, Connor, spots a herd of caribou and a massive moose in the trees below.

My fourth and final evening, Im savoring house-made coconut cheesecake when the whispers of aurora potential begin. The clouds from earlier in the day have thinned to a fine veil, revealing a handful of twinkling stars. Guests start to crack bottles of wine and pull chairs by the windows of the yurt, settling in as if it were an auditorium and a space movie were about to begin. I linger until 10 p.m. then make the 10-minute trek back to my cozy igloo.

Im in a deep slumber when the alarm sounds three hours later. A panoramic viewing window stretches 16 feet across each dome, and when my eyes snap open I immediately see the inky sky has turned neon green as if a glow stick exploded into the atmosphere. I could ogle the aurora from bed, but I rush into my robe and slippers and out onto my deck, where the cold breeze slaps me awake.

Guests applaud and take selfies. Some have even hired Borealis Basecamps professional aurora portrait photographer to capture them in the moment. Eventually, the initial excitement turns into silent appreciation and awe. I return inside my dome and continue to sky-gaze from the comfort of my bed. Id been having so many best-day-ever experiences during the days that viewing the aurora almost became an afterthought. And I realize when you leave expectation behind and live in the moment, thats when the stars finally align.
The city of Dickinson has tapped its first city manager with a goal to focus on economic development.

Theo Melancon, the current city manager of Dayton, was approved by a unanimous City Council vote June 22. He is expected to take over in his new position on Aug. 2.

Mayor Sean Skipworth said that Melancons strong background in economic development worked in his favor.

He had a lot of economic development in the cities he has been at, Skipworth said. That was a real plus, and in particular it was cities that had not realized their real potential and I think we fall into that category; so it seemed like a good fit.

Besides Dayton, Melancon, who has a law degree and masters degree in public administration from Louisiana State University along with a bachelors degree in history from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, had previous stops in the Texas towns of Eldorado and Gladewater.

He is looking forward to coming to Dickinson.

Dickinson has some pretty interesting opportunities, especially with the natural beauty of (Dickinson Bayou) and its proximity to the amenities around the Houston metro area, Melancon said. I feel that there are some great community and economic opportunities here. Dayton was a great opportunity as well, and really helped me hone my skill set.

He intends to collaborate with City Council and the citys economic development corporation, municipal management district and developers.

I feel that it is a gem that just needs a little polish and I think we can do some great things here, Melancon said.

In Dayton, Melancon worked on multiple economic development projects, including planning a more than 2,000-acre tax increment reinvestment zone with an industrial park taking up a large portion of the footprint.

He also helped develop a downtown TIRZ and worked with developers so that 10,000 homes in two master-planned communities could be built in the next 15 years.

Weve been able to do some great things in Dayton, Melancon said.

He said his first goal is working on flood mitigation in Dickinson, but then there is something else close to the native Louisianans heart.

One of the things I am really looking forward to working on is how to turn Dickinson Bayou into more of an amenity, a sportsmans paradise-type feel while harnessing (things like) boutique shopping, he said. If we are going to compete with (other) larger municipalities we have to do it by having a unique feel.

Melancon will take his position as Dickinson is in a transition period. In December, former City Administrator Chris Heard saw his contract terminated after an arrest on child-abuse charge.

Former Santa Fe City Manager Joe Dickson came out of retirement to hold the reins.

Hes been here since December, and hes done a great job and kept things in order, Skipworth said. Weve been lucky.

In November, city voters also decided to move to a city council-city manager government, which can give the manager more say in Dickinsons direction, but that may not be the case in Dickinson.

For instance, the change means the city manager instead of the mayor will set the city budget. But that wont mean much of a difference, Skipworth said, since the mayor previously had delegated that job to the city administrator anyway.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.
Students earn $50K for artwork

Three Cy-Fair ISD students placed in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Program, and earned nearly $50,000 between them during the School Art Auction last month, a district press release announced.

Ravine Cohen, a Hamilton Middle School student, received one of 120 scholarships from The Museum of Fine Arts to the Glassell Junior School of Art and won Best of Show. Cohens painting, Sunkissed Stallions, sold for $30,000.

Cy-Fair resource guide: Food donations and distributions available for the summer

Jersey Village High School junior Amy Muery sold her painting Laying Hen, for $12,000 and earned the gold medal in the School Art Program high school division.

Cypress Woods High School freshman Magdalena Baughman sold her artwork, Bridger & Pico, for $7,000 and won best of show in the Monochromatic Drawing division.

-Contributed by Cy-Fair ISD

Student art to be featured in Texas calendar

Elementary and middle school Cy-Fair ISD students were selected for the 2022 Treasures of the Texas Coast Childrens Art Contest.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Cy-Fair area American Ninja Warrior siblings go all-in in premiere

Sampson Elementary student Alishia Yu, Truitt Middle School sixth grade student Rodrigo Cruz, Spillane Middle School sixth grader Gabriella Bartczak and Goodson Middle School sixth grader Jordan Hemphill were four of the 40 winners chosen for the contest. Their artwork will be included in the 2022 Treasures of the Texas Coast calendar.

I would like to thank the CFISD art teachers for encouraging their students to submit entries in the Treasures of the Texas Coast Childrens Art Contest, Lee Carrier, CFISD visual arts coordinator, said in a press release. With our community spending more time outdoors and on the beaches, this contest was a great activity for students to be conscious of keeping their neighborhood and community clean. When CFISD students use their artistic talents to create environmental awareness, it is a commendable act to be recognized for and I am proud of the participating students and those who received an award.

-Contributed by Cy-Fair ISD

Grads receive TASSP scholarships

Bridgeland High School class of 2021 graduates William Boucher and Reggie Bell both earned the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals awards and scholarships for their academic achievements.

Boucher received the TASSP Teens Serving Texas scholarship for $500, recognizing seniors for community service and leadership. Bell was named to the All-State Academic Excellence Team. Bell also received a $500 scholarship and was recognized for his SAT scores, GPA and essays.

We are so proud of both Reggie and William, Traci Underwood, Bridgeland director of instruction, said in a press release. Both of these awards speak to the excellence in both academics and community involvement that these Bears have exemplified in their time at Bridgeland. To be recognized by TASSP is an extraordinary honor.

-Contributed by Cy-Fair ISD

College students win library research awards

Three Lone Star College-CyFair students received the Student Research Award for nearly $1,000 in prize money for their honors class projects. The three were nominated by faculty.

Taking into account the tremendous student effort put into their research, writing and presentation material for class, this award goes a step further to recognize how effectively students communicated information found in library books and online databases in their research projects, LSC-CyFair Director of Library Services Susan Green, said in a LSC-CyFair press release. We are so proud of the quality and thought-provoking projects our students produce each year.

Business major Diana Tran won first place for her environmental science project Creating a Cost-Benefit Analysis Guideline from Ecological Economics: How Can this be Applied to Landfill Mining? Joseph Flores won second place for his English paper Submit to Sin: Contextualizing the Roman Empire in Augustines Detailing of Sexuality in Confessions.

Mechanical engineering major John Lentz won third place for his research project The Moral Engineer: Applying Kantian Deontology to Engineering Ethics Within the Scope of Identity.

To see my research that I worked hard on and lost sleep over make it this far is very fulfilling, Lentz said. Because of the lessons learned and receiving this award, I have not only gained confidence in my research abilities, but I have come to love the research process.

-Contributed by Lone Star College-CyFair

chevall.pryce@chron.com
After traveling to locations across the country, the Lake Conroe Queen paddleboat is making its permanent home on Lake Conroe.

Michigan residents Dale and Linda Shaver have recently launched the Lake Conroe Queen for tours and events on the lake and theyre happy to set sail with their retirement project near Lindas siblings and their daughter.

They had enjoyed the area for years while visiting Texas family and when Linda retired they decided to make the paddleboat their full-time passion.

They lived on Gull Lake in Michigan for 20 years and raised their children there. In retirement, Dale Shaver bought the paddlewheel boat from a businessman who also owned the Michigan Princess Riverboat.

The 60-passenger, double-decker boat is a reproduction of a 1860s riverboat.

The Lake Conroe Queen was built in 1986 in Grand Ledge, Michigan and has traveled to Indiana, Colorado and Louisiana with Dale as the host for a variety of cruises and events. It is run by two diesel engines, but it does feature a paddlewheel that slowly churns along in the water to add visual impact to the experience.

Upon Lindas retirement, she joined her husband in the paddleboat business and they brought the boat to Lake Conroe.

She said the top level of the boat folds down and the structure can then by hauled by a flatbed trailer.

They were hoping to launch the business in summer 2020, but the pandemic put a pause on that plan.

Now the boat is docked near Wolfies restaurant on the south end of Lake Conroe. The address is 14954 Texas 105 W Montgomery. The loading dock can be accessed by turning on the access road to Lake Conroe Park and Wolfies - which has recently been purchased by a new owner.

They have worked with Wolfies and also the owners of the Southern Empress - a larger paddle-wheeler that is docked near the Seven Coves area off FM 830.

Southern Empress owner Jeff Taggert struck up a friendship with the Shavers and theyve worked together to support both businesses by sharing referrals and more.

Theyre good people and it has worked out well, Taggert said.

The Lake Conroe Queen does lunch and dinner tours as well as private events, sunset tours and will have a Fourth of July fireworks boat tour.

Linda Shaver called Lake Conroe peaceful, but quite a bit warmer than Michigan summers shes used to.

Visit https://lakeconroequeen.com/ to book a tour online and for more about the paddleboat.

shernandez@hcnonline.com
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  During a particularly violent week in Connecticuts capital city, Andrew Woods was among a small number of anti-violence workers who rushed in to help victims families, offering condolences and referrals to services while trying to discourage retaliation.

Three people were killed and about a dozen others injured in shootings in Hartford over the week that began in late May  a large number in a small city of about 120,000 people, which left local anti-violence groups reeling.

The group that Woods leads, Hartford Communities That Care, has eight anti-violence workers. With more funding, he said he would quadruple that number to allow employees to work in shifts instead of being on call around the clock.

Were overwhelmed by the sheer number of shootings and then the follow-up that is involved in that, he said. Were on call 24/7, 365 days a year. Its unsustainable to have people working these kinds of hours.

A rise in gun violence seen in cities across the U.S. is testing the limits of anti-violence groups that have been calling for more government funding for decades.

President Joe Biden acknowledged earlier this year that community anti-violence programs have been woefully underfunded and proposed $5 billion in new aid for them in his massive infrastructure plan, along with hundreds of millions of dollars for them in other parts of the federal budget. In a statement in April, the White House said such programs have been shown to reduce homicides by up to 60% where they operate.

Cities across the country are experiencing a historic spike in homicides, violence that is greatest in racially segregated, high-poverty neighborhoods, the statement said. Black men make up 6% of the population but over 50% of gun homicide victims. Black women, Latinos, and Native Americans are also disproportionately impacted.

Historically, the bulk of government funding aimed at reducing gun violence has gone to law enforcement organizations.

It has to be well-rounded, said Paul Carrillo, director of the Community Violence Initiative at the Giffords Law Center. If youre going to hire more police, OK, it should be something to the effect where  whatever your police budget is, X% should also be toward this violence intervention work.

In the first three months of 2021, there were 983 homicides in 24 U.S. cities monitored by researchers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for reports prepared for the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice. The number was 193 higher than in the first quarter of last year and 324 higher than in the first quarter of 2019. Last years increase in homicides was likely due to the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest and other factors, according to a research report by criminal justice professor Richard Rosenfeld and graduate research assistant Ernesto Lopez Jr.

Researchers said the average homicide rate of the cities rose sharply after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, which sparked nationwide protests. The rate dropped in the fall and the beginning of this year, but is still higher than it was before the summer of 2020.

Among the groups responding to an uptick of gun violence in Chicago is BUILD, an organization that deploys intervention teams to canvas hot spots, a crisis response unit that supports survivors and families of victims, as well as therapists and case managers who support over 200 families.

An increase in funding would help us to increase capacity. To do that work it is very consuming, emotionally draining work. You need more people out there engaged, said Bradly Johnson, a BUILD spokesperson.

In Hartford, 55 people had been shot as of May 15, up from 45 during the same period last year, according to the latest data kept by city police. Eighteen people have died in homicides as of June 17, a number on track to surpass last years 25 homicides.

Community leaders in Hartford and other cities have applauded Bidens proposed new funding for anti-violence programs and are cautiously optimistic as the infrastructure plan is negotiated with Republicans on Capitol Hill.

We pray that the $5 billion will remain intact and is not diluted, Woods said. It would really be a shot in the arm for those of us who do this work across the nation.

Anti-violence groups around the country are reporting being overwhelmed during the spike in violence.

Iesha Sekou, chief executive of Street Corner Resources in the Harlem section of New York City, has had to adjust the schedules of its eight anti-violence outreach workers, including having staff come in later and work split morning-evening shifts.

Its become a little more challenging because we are responding more often to brutal beatings, stabbings and shootings and jumpings that come into the trauma unit of Harlem Hospital, said Sekou, whose group receives annual funding from the city through reimbursements but has struggled to secure the up-front funds.

In Connecticut, retired police officer Stacy Spell runs Project Longevitys New Haven program, a partnership between community groups and police aimed at reducing violence. His office only has four paid staff. In 2017 he said he went seven months without being paid because of a monthslong impasse on the state budget.

Like other anti-violence program leaders, Spell said he has had to lay off staff because of funding declines in previous years. Funding from government agencies and philanthropic groups has increased in recent years, but he said more is needed to adequately fight violence.

If were to move past addressing the violence that is happening not only in the city of New Haven, but happening in all the major cities of Connecticut as well as every urban city in the country  we need millions of dollars that go to grassroots organizations so they can play a more effective role, he said.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Melia contributed.
John McAfee, the outlandish security software pioneer who tried to live life as a hedonistic outsider while running from a host of legal troubles, was found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona on Wednesday.

His death came just hours after a Spanish court announced that it had approved his extradition to the United States to face tax charges punishable by decades in prison, authorities said.

McAfee, who was among other things a cryptocurrency promoter, tax opponent, U.S. presidential candidate and fugitive, who publicly embraced drugs, guns and sex, had a history of legal woes spanning from Tennessee to Central America to the Caribbean. In 2012, he was sought for questioning in connection with the murder of his neighbor in Belize, but was never charged with a crime.

McAfee's body was discovered at the Brians 2 penitentiary in northeastern Spain. Security personnel tried to revive him, but the jails medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

A judicial delegation has arrived to investigate the causes of death, the statement read. Everything points to death by suicide.

McAfee's death was confirmed after Spains National Court ruled in favor of extraditing McAfee, 75, who had argued in a hearing earlier this month that the charges against him by prosecutors in Tennessee were politically motivated and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the U.S.

The courts ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelonas international airport and had been in jail since then awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings. The arrest followed charges the same month in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based attorney defending him on those cases, said by phone that McAfee will always be remembered as a fighter.

He tried to love this country but the U.S. government made his existence impossible, Sanan said. They tried to erase him, but they failed.

Born in Englands Gloucestershire in 1945 as John David McAfee, he moved to Virginia as a child and grew up troubled, with a father who beat him mercilessly and killed himself with McAfees shotgun when the boy was 15, said Steve Morgan, who spent time with McAfee in Alabama in 2016 to talk about his life for a biography hed been contracted to write. Morgan is also the founder of market research firm Cybersecurity Ventures.

"He told me his father never showed him an ounce of affection, Morgan said, adding that recounting his fathers death was the only time during their long meeting that McAfee cried.

While McAfees tech legacy may have been overshadowed in recent years by his tumultuous life, Morgan said he sees his most lasting impact as a software and security pioneer.

I think thats how ultimately he really most like to be remembered. I think a lot of people will remember him as a very troubled soul. Some people will remember him as a criminal. It depends on your age and your exposure to him, Morgan said.

McAfee founded his eponymous company in 1987. At the time, Morgan said, he was operating a BBS, a bulletin board system that served as a precursor to the World Wide Web and working with his brother-in-law. When the first major computer virus, called Brain, hit in 1986, John instantly dialed up a programmer he knew and said, theres a big opportunity. We need to do something. You know, we want to write some code to combat this virus, Morgan said. He called the program VirusScan and the company McAfee Associates.

He was a true pioneer, not just as a security technologist but as one of the first companies to distribute software over the internet, Morgan said.

California chipmaker Intel, which bought McAfees company in 2011 for $7.68 billion, for a time sought to dissociate the brand from its controversial founder by folding it into its larger cybersecurity division. But the rebranding was short-lived, and Intel in 2016 spun out the cybersecurity unit into a new company called McAfee.

In the software industry, McAfees claim to fame was that he offered the first all-in-one virus scanner, said Vesselin Bontchev, a Bulgarian computer scientist and an early antivirus researcher. Prior to that, said Bontchev, researchers would only scan for one virus at a time. But there were only about a dozen computer viruses back then.

Technologically, as a scanner, it wasnt anything outstanding. It was just the general idea that was good. Not the implementation, said Bontchev, a senior researcher at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Bontchev said McAfee was a peculiar guy, even back then. He said he wrote McAfee asking for a part-time job about the time the Soviet Union was breaking up so he could work on a post-doctoral dissertation in the U.S.

In response, McAfee told Bontchev in a letter that the Bulgarian was believed to be a Soviet agent so they cannot work with me, he said. This is a really bizarre way to say no to somebody who is asking for a job.

The two later met in the U.S. at the annual Virus Bulletin conference, said Bontchev. I dont think he was a typical American. He was just weird.

McAfee twice made long-shot runs for the U.S. presidency and was a participant in Libertarian Party presidential debates in 2016. He dabbled in yoga, ultralight aircraft and the production of herbal medications.

In 2012 he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Gregory Viant Faull, who was shot to death in early November 2012 on the island in Belize where both men lived.

McAfee told AP at the time that he was being persecuted by the Belizean government. Belizean police denied that, saying they were simply investigating a crime about which McAfee may have had information. Then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressed doubts about McAfees mental state, saying, I dont want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers.

A Florida court ordered McAfee in 2019 to pay $25 million to Faulls estate in a wrongful death claim. He refused to pay it, writing in a statement posted on Twitter that he has not responded to a single one of my 37 lawsuits for the past 11 years." He claimed to have no assets, he wrote, making the order a mute point," a misspelling of moot."

In July of that year he was released from detention in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of traveling on a yacht carrying high-caliber weapons, ammunition and military-style gear.

Wired Magazine reporter Joshua Davis spent six months investigating McAfees tumultuous life in 2012, when he was living in Belize and being sought for questioning in connection with his neighbors murder. He described watching as McAfee took out a pistol to illustrate a point.

Lets do this one more time, he says, and puts it to his head, Davies wrote. Another round of Russian roulette. Just as before, he pulls the trigger repeatedly, the cylinder rotates, the hammer comes down, and nothing happens. It is a real gun. It has a real bullet in one chamber, he says. And yet, he points out, my assumptions have somehow proven faulty. Im missing something.

__

Associated Press writers Aritz Parra in Madrid, Renata Brito in Barcelona, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tenn., Matt O'Brien in Providence, R.I. and Frank Bajak in Boston contributed.
Steve Gonzales/Staff photographer

Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested a man accused of ramming his vehicle into a security gate at Houston's FBI building, officials said.

No one was hurt in the incident at around 12:30 p.m. at 1 Justice Park Drive in northwest Houston. The driver, who was not armed, was taken into custody. He was not identified.
OnSceneTV

A woman on Wednesday night shot and killed an acquaintance who tried to force his way into her Houston residence, police said.

Officers were dispatched shortly after 11 p.m. to a reported shooting on the 1900 block of Larchmont Road in the River Oaks neighborhood, said Lt. R. Willkens of the Houston Police Department.
Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Nearly half of Texas Republican voters say they do not plan to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, according to new polling released Thursday by Quinnipiac University.

All told, pollsters found, about one-third of Texas adults said they do not plan to get vaccinated, whereas about 70 percent said they have already received or are planning to get inoculated.
State Rep. Jarvis Johnson has long enjoyed the friendly rivalry between his alma mater Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University.

Hes watched the TSU Tigers and Prairie View A&M Panthers compete in football games and has debated which school boasts the best band. But this year, the Houston legislator finds himself firmly in Prairie Views corner.

The Democratic lawmaker from Houston has used the 87th Texas Legislatures session to highlight funding inequities within higher education, particularly with the states historically black colleges and universities.

What I see with how HBCUs are funded is a downright shame, Johnson said. Forgive me if I sound a little cynical, but when I think about where we stand today, I think theres no empathy and no understanding.

During the 2018-2019 biennium, Prairie View received $23 million in federal funding but only $4 million from the state  around 17 percent of what its supposed to be given. Meanwhile, Texas A&M received $94 million from the federal government and $196 million  more than double its share  from the state, according to TAMU officials.

UNDERFUNDED: 2 Houston universities opened in 1927. One exploded in growth, the other stagnated

Johnson, who served on the higher ed appropriations committee, has zeroed in on concerns for Prairie View A&Ms land-grant money.

The U.S. government designated multiple colleges focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts and allocated federal aid with the Morrill Act in 1862. Because education for Black students was excluded from this act, the second Morrill Act of 1890 gave 19 HBCUs, including Prairie View A&M, the same designation to help strengthen research and teaching, according to the government website. Federal funding is often expected to be matched dollar for dollar by the state unless an institution applies for a waiver or forfeits their funding.

Many HBCUs have yet to see their funding fully matched.

This inequity in funding to HBCUs by states has been well documented since the founding of these institutions, and funding at these schools was very poor and not equitable compared to white institutions. While all states are meeting the one-to-one matching requirement for their 1862 institutions, the majority of states do not meet this obligation for 1890 land-grant universities, according to a 2013 report from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Institutions.

The report showed that 61 percent of 1890 land-grant institutions did not receive their one-to-one-matching funds in full between 2010 and 2012. Prairie View A&M only received about half its match from the state during that period.

Were in this competition to battle for these dollars, and youre asking us to try to compete at the same high level of everyone else. But youre not giving me the books, any of the buildings, and on top of that youre giving me heavy shoes. I think thats by design, Johnson said.

Prairie View A&M President Ruth J. Simmons said despite the matching disparities, shes happy with where the HBCU is now and the support its getting from donors and the Texas A&M system.

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I want more, and more, and more  that goes without saying, Simmons said. But Im not here to tell the legislature what it should do. We can petition for resources and we go to them with the Texas A&M System (together). Well continue to advocate for support for the match.

A 2019 report from the Congressional Research Service said states could be forced or encouraged to increase their matches if the waiver threshold is increased beyond 50 percent or if the opportunity to apply for a waiver is eliminated altogether.

However, this change may result in other institutions becoming ineligible to receive any federal funds if their states do not increase their matching contributions, analyst Genevieve K. Croft wrote.

The longstanding Permanent University Fund, or PUF, is a point of contention for Johnson who has repeatedly questioned its legitimacy and equitability.

Established in the Texas Constitution in 1876, legislators approved the reservation of land in West Texas that only supports the University of Texas and Texas A&M system institutions. Leased to oil and gas companies and various other energy and agriculture-related activities, the land, which now amounts to 2.1 million acres, generates money for the fund.

Steve Collins, former associate vice chancellor and special counsel for the UT System, said the state had little vision or plans for public higher education.

The legislature established one school, the University of Texas, and set aside land for its construction in the constitution, said Collins, who also served as executive director and chief legislative counsel for the Texas Legislative Council. A&M, however, was physically built first in 1876 with the expectation that it would be a branch of UT.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Lack of funding, resources biggest challenges for athletics at historically Black colleges

Prairie View A&M came next as a colored branch of A&M. Both A&M institutions were added to the constitution, but beyond that, state leaders had little plans for expanding higher ed, Collins said. Though the landscape of higher education has drastically changed, the Texas Constitution in regard to state colleges has stayed mostly the same, allowing only Texas A&M and UT institutions to benefit.

A separate fund  the Higher Education Fund, or HEF  was created through amendments to allow state lawmakers to allocate money for other public institutions to share. In 2018-2019, UT was given $1.2 billion generated from the PUF, while Texas Southern shared $787.5 million with 29 other institutions from the Higher Education Fund, according to researchers.

Johnson said the PUF seems illegal.

Thats Texas money. Thats taxpayers land, and were only giving it to two university system institutions, he said. That should have changed 100 years ago when you started opening the door for other universities and colleges to become state colleges. Everyone should benefit from this oil rich land that we all pay taxes on.

TAMU System Chancellor John Sharp said Prairie View now receives more money from the PUF than Texas A&M. Still, dozens of other institutions are missing out, and many officials have argued that their institutions should benefit from the PUF.

Johnson said hes tried speaking with fellow lawmakers about the inequitable funding of HBCUs. Largely, he said, hes been met with confusion or puzzlement.

Every year, nothing has been done, he said.

But Black colleges around the country have challenged inequitable treatment by their state governments, and Johnson believes its time for Texas to take note and tackle the issues head on.

A months-long investigation by Tennessees legislature showed that the state owed its only public HBCU, Tennessee State University, up to $544 million for underfunding or not fully matching its land-grant money since 1950.

And after proving in court that the state failed to enhance HBCU programs, Marylands four historically Black colleges  Morgan State University, Coppin State University, Bowie State University and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore  are slated to receive $577 million in supplemental funding from the state legislature to the colleges over a decade.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas Southern's flight program prepares future pilots for a changing industry

Johnson said such a push for equitable funding is crucial considering Texas public HBCUs educate at least 17 percent of the states Black students and a large number of Hispanic students.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has reported that unemployment rates have increased in those same communities. And in Harris County, where Texas Southern is located, U.S. Census estimates have noted that 70 percent of people under the age of 20 are Black or Hispanic.

Its an opportunity for Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M to educate and prepare those populations as the future of the states workforce, Johnson said.

They are small enough and rooted with enough history and understanding of those types of students  the students that have to work, the students that dont have the history of education  and it needs a special type of institution that can embrace these students, Johnson said. But at the end of the day, its not happening.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Four days before Christmas last year, the patients at Sacred Oak Medical Center were abruptly asked to pack their bags. The employees were told to put down their headsets and shut down their computers.

And administrators scrambled to find a new home for the 20 psychiatric patients in their care.

A years-long battle with the state of Texas had just ended: The behavioral health hospital in Clear Lake was being closed, leaving the states strapped mental health system with even fewer beds than before. The state has not added enough publicly funded beds to keep up with its population, forcing Texans to rely on private psychiatric hospitals for care. But those often have a waitlist as well.

Officials with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which regulates psychiatric hospitals, said Sacred Oaks closure came when the hospital failed to achieve sustained compliance with state and federal rules and regulations after a year-long probationary period.

The Houston Chronicle examined thousands of pages of documents detailing state and federal violations, some of which were found on hospitalinspections.org, an Association of Health Care Journalists website created after the organization reached an agreement with CMS to post reports online.

More Information Read the Houston Chronicle's year-long investigation of how Texas treats people who are mentally ill at houstonchronicle.com/InCrisis. See More Collapse

The Chronicles analysis of more than 1,200 violations at 70 private psychiatric hospitals dating to 2014 found that the violations sustained at Sacred Oak were similar or less severe than many other hospitals allowed to remain open.

Sacred Oak is the only psychiatric hospital the state has shut down due to violations since 2014.

IN CRISIS: How Texas fails the mentally ill

After reviewing Sacred Oaks deficiencies, Elizabeth Sinclair, director of research for the Treatment Advocacy Center, said some violations showed a need for improvement, but they certainly were not severe.

Compared to what other hospitals are like in Texas that are still operating, its just a sad reality, this is the best of the bunch because of the so many other horrible things going on, Sinclair said. The center is a national non-profit in Virginia focused on improving access to treatment for individuals with severe mental illness.

In its three-year tenure, Sacred Oak was cited 74 times by the state and federal government. One Texas hospital, Cedar Crest Hospital in Belton, has had more violations.

But the Clear Lake facility was never cited for incidents that resulted in serious patient harm, unlike other hospitals across the state.

At Hickory Trail Hospital near Dallas, for example, a suicidal patient  who should have had constant, one-on-one supervision  was left alone for 11 minutes in 2017, enough time to wrench his left eye out of its socket and seriously damage the other, federal investigators found.

At the same hospital the following year, a staff member beat up an 83-year-old patient and put a video of the incident on SnapChat. The employee  who was eventually terminated  worked two full shifts after the incident was reported to a registered nurse, federal documents state.

At Austin Oaks in Austin, a man was given 10 times the ordered dose of Temazepam, a drug used to treat insomnia that can cause suicidal thoughts and hallucinations, in 2017 and had to be hospitalized, according to federal inspectors.

A woman at Cross Creek Hospital in Austin in 2017 banged her head against the wall and threatened to kill herself if she was discharged to her uncle. Hospital personnel released her anyway. As she walked to her uncles car, the woman ran away and hung herself at a construction site nearby, where she was found the next day, federal documents state.

Despite these and dozens of other violations at the three hospitals, they were allowed to keep their licenses and remain open.

Whats so troubling to me is that theres a universe of people out there willing to invest in psychiatric hospitals and thats smaller because of what the state has done, said Seth Nichamoff, an attorney for Sacred Oak. If I told you the state could take your license away for whatever reason it wanted, youre not going to be interested in putting $3 million into a building.

Since it opened, Sacred Oak has been cited for having hazardous objects and ligature risks  anything that can be used to attach an item like a rope, bedsheet or other material for strangulation or hanging  accessible to patients. So were 33 other hospitals in Texas.

Sacred Oak was punished for treatment plans that were not kept up to date. So were 33 other hospitals.

Sacred Oak was cited for not appropriately documenting and dealing with incidents that required restraint or seclusion. So were 29 other hospitals.

Fifteen other hospitals have been written up for having all three: hazardous items and ligature risks accessible to patients; problematic treatment plans; and failing to handle restraints and seclusions appropriately.

HHSC officials say they shut down Sacred Oak because of deficiencies found during a survey following the hospitals year-long probationary period. As part of the probation agreement, Sacred Oak waived its right to a hearing or appeal in relation to the commissions findings, said Danielle Pestrikoff, spokeswoman for the agency.

If the agency found the Clear Lake hospital had not achieved sustained compliance by the end of the probation, she said, the agreement stipulated that the commission could pull Sacred Oaks license.

As the regulatory authority for private psychiatric hospitals in Texas, our top priority is the health and safety of patients at these facilities, Pestrikoff said.

Hospital administrators have now sued the state, arguing that its due process rights were violated when the state revoked its license without an opportunity to correct the deficiencies or have a hearing on the matter.

A Travis County District Court judge in March ordered HHSC to reinstate Sacred Oaks license, putting the case on hold until an administrative hearing on the citations was held.

The state appealed.

Earlier this month, a 3rd District Court of Appeals judge upheld the trial courts decision, which required HHSC to reinstate the hospitals license while court proceedings continued, saying the alleged violations that led the state to yank the hospitals license never resulted in an immediate threat to the patients health or safety despite the states claims.

Sacred Oak remains empty. Kevin Munz, chairman of the hospitals board of governors, isnt sure how to convince its investors to dropdrop tens of thousands of dollars into reopening when they could lose and be forced to close again.

Its never enough: Texas lawmakers allocate nearly $400 million to state psychiatric hospitals

The hospitals closure comes as the state continues to struggle to keep up with demand for psychiatric beds. As of March, the states 10 public psychiatric hospitals had a waitlist of nearly 1,500 people, state data shows. Individuals waited an average of 180 days for a non-maximum security bed and 366 days for a maximum security bed.

Part of the problem is that the state has not added enough publicly funded beds to keep up with its burgeoning population. Advocates say states should have 50 public beds per 100,000 people. Texas has fewer than eight.

This year, state lawmakers pumped $400 million into projects that would add more than 500 public, inpatient psychiatric hospitals across the state, as well as revamp old hospitals for mentally ill Texans.

A hefty fine

The Clear Lake psychiatric hospital was eerily silent last month, save for the echoey footfalls of Kevin Munz and the panting of his service-dog-in-training, a French Bulldog named Margot, as she trotted behind him.

Patient rooms were unlocked, the beds stripped of linens. The group therapy room sat empty, chairs arranged in a circle as if the next patients were due to file in at any moment. Post-it Note reminders still clung to computer screens, and piles of unopened mail cluttered the mailboxes of since-fired employees. A lonely laptop sat in a patient locker, waiting to be claimed.

Five months had passed since Sacred Oak was forced to abruptly close. Going back never gets easier for Munz and his wife, Sandra.

The couple had owned a restaurant in the building previously. But when its general manager died unexpectedly in 2015, they decided to open a behavioral health hospital in its stead.

They had known there was a need for years  ever since a close friend was diagnosed with a mental illness and struggled to find an inpatient bed.

After rounding up investors and rehabbing the building, the couple opened a 20-bed behavioral health hospital in a refurbished restaurant building in spring 2017.

At the time Sacred Oak received its license from HHSC, there were more than 500 people waiting for one of the states 2,463 public psychiatric beds  an amount vastly below what advocates recommend is needed for a state of Texas size.

The beds filled up immediately, Kevin Munz said.

The demand was overwhelming, he said. The hospital was in the process of constructing an additional wing, which would add 24 beds.

IN CRISIS: Growing waitlist for psychiatric beds forces state to look for other options

But in June 2018, the state visited Sacred Oak to investigate an undisclosed complaint against the hospital. Over the next year, officials would return three more times, citing the hospital for 25 violations, including inaccurate patient records, failure to remove hazardous items and ligature risks from rooms housing suicidal patients and failure to grant clinical privileges to physicians caring for patients. Additionally, staff failed to secure a door leading to the outside, which resulted in a patient escaping.

The state fined Sacred Oak $475,650 and threatened to not renew its license. As part of a settlement with HHSC, that amount was reduced to $319,175. The hospital was put on probation for 12 months and ordered to hire an outside consulting firm to make monthly visits to ensure safety standards were being upheld and report their findings to HHSC.

Munz was shocked. The hospital was brand new, he said, meaning the fixtures and processes in place had just been approved by the state.

The fine levied by the state was significantly higher than other hospitals that had caused serious harm to patients and staff. At Millwood Hospital in Arlington, for example, a patient whod previously attempted suicide was admitted for just 35 hours in 2016 before hanging himself from the sprinkler system as several patients watched, state records show. The state fined Millwood $195,000 and threatened to suspend its license for 90 days. The fine was later reduced to $115,000.

Aspire Hospital in Conroe was fined $70,800 by the state for failing to both remove ligature risks from patient rooms and perform 15 minute rounds for patients  the required amount  which ended in a patient using contraband to kill themselves in 2015. That fine was later reduced to $55,200.

Munz went to his investors: We can quit now or come up with another $320,000, pay for a third party to come every month and move on.

They opted for the latter.

A loss of federal funding

But the state wasnt Sacred Oaks only problem.

Surveyors with HHSC provide regulatory oversight for the Medicare certification program and staff can conduct the federal and state investigations at the same time.

Between June 2018 and December 2018, state agency surveyors for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services visited the hospital four separate times, citing it for having hazardous objects in rooms  such as ink pens, a can of chewing tobacco, a bra and shampoo bottle that contained alcohol. Additionally, the hospital was cited for failing to install a lift for patients who could not navigate the steep staircase at the hospitals outpatient location. It was also flagged for failing to have anti-ligature hardware  hardware on doors and sinks, for example, with no protruding pieces where a patient could attach fabric or materials of any kind to strangle or hang themselves  throughout the hospital.

Munz said the hospital addressed each problem in turn: It started the permitting process for a lift, retrained employees on the contraband policy and removed ligature risks cited by the federal government.

But by CMS fifth visit, in March 2019,investigators gave the hospital an immediate jeopardy rating for ligature risks and hazardous items in nine of 10 patient rooms  many of which were different than those cited previously  as well as the facilitys continued failure to ensure patients could safely enter and exit the facilitys second floor outpatient location.

Immediate jeopardy means a providers noncompliance with rules and regulations has caused or is likely to cause serious harm, injury or death to a patient. Hospitals must correct the deficiency immediately or be placed on a Medicare program termination track.

In May 2019, the hospital was eliminated from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, meaning that it could no longer charge either program for services. Only one other psychiatric hospital in Texas has been eliminated from these programs involuntarily since 2014.

UNDER SCRUTINY: Timberlawn, Kingwood Pines hospitals face allegations of rape

That hospital, Timberlawn Mental Health System in Dallas, was eliminated in 2015 after the hospital accumulated a slew of state and federal violations between 2014 and 2015, including a patient reportedly being sexually assaulted by another, an unsupervised suicidal woman hanging herself on a doorknob, and an unsupervised man swallowing a piece of metal from a game in an effort to kill himself, according to hospitalinspections.org.

The hospital continued to operate and in 2016, a psychiatrist was attacked by a patient and died of her injuries, according to a 2018 Wall Street Journal article.

More state and federal violations were handed down to the hospital in 2017 and 2018, including a child patient being raped by another patient. Those violations resulted in the state levying a $600,000 fine and threatening to revoke the hospitals license in January 2018.

The hospital announced it was closing a week later, saying it did not have enough patients to remain open.

A new set of violations

Kevin Munz was getting frustrated.

Unsure of how long they could remain open without Medicare and Medicaid funds, the couple halted construction on the new unit.

Every month, they opened their doors to Courtemanche and Associates, a regulatory compliance and healthcare accreditation consulting firm in Conroe, Texas, which analyzed the hospitals operations, reviewed its ability to comply with regulations and ensure patient safety, recommended changes and reported the hospitals progress back to the state.

Munz felt the hospital was on track. It seemed like the entanglement with the state was behind them.

But when CMS state agency surveyors returned in December 2019, they found more violations, including ligature risks that hadnt been pointed out by investigators before. They said that six of the bedrooms had desks that did not butt up against the wall, leaving an opportunity for someone to attach a rope or a sheet and hang themselves.

The desks had not been cited by Courtemanche as a potential violation.

The desks are bolted to the floor, theyve been there since we opened, Munz said. How could it suddenly be a suicide risk?

By March 2020, Courtemanche determined that all ligature risks throughout the facility had been identified and fixed  and there was a process in place to ensure the environment remained safe.

All admitted patients at risk of self-harm in 2019 and so far in 2020 have been safely discharged to an outpatient therapy program, Courtemanche wrote in its monthly report. No patient harm has occurred in the facility.

Inspectors returned in October and November for HHSCs end-of-probation survey. They found a whole new set of 13 violations, many of which had not come up in the previous two years.

One patient was able to grab a pen from the nursing station and stab a staff member and another hopped the nursing station, broke a medication cart and assaulted a staff member. Both had to be restrained.

Additionally, inspectors found that the hospital wasnt documenting, tracking or handling incidents of restraint and seclusion appropriately, gave a patient the wrong medication, and failed to investigate patient complaints.

The state pulled Sacred Oaks license in December and ordered it to close immediately.

The hospital had to let all 80 of their employees go, Munz said. They had to find new facilities for all 20 patients receiving treatment.

Mentally ill Texans now had 20 fewer beds at their disposal, at a time when about 1,500 people were waiting for a public psychiatric bed and wait times, sometimes, stretched on for a year.

Because they had already been on probation and waived a right to a hearing as part of it, the state didnt provide an opportunity to correct the problems or for an administrative hearing to dispute the 13 violations levied against them, state and court documents show.

Munz and his attorneys felt HHSC should have.

They decided to sue.

An uncertain future

More than six months have passed since Sacred Oak was forced to close its doors and two courts have ordered HHSC to reinstate Sacred Oaks license.

But the doors to the hospital remain shuttered, its beds empty and its treatment rooms silent.

Munz doesnt know how to proceed. Sacred Oak requested an administrative hearing from HHSC, and that request was assigned a case number in January. A hearing hasnt happened, Munz said.

The state did follow the court of appeals order to reinstate Sacred Oaks license while the court deliberates. But reopening will be a hard sell for investors, Munz said, who will need to drop tens of thousands of dollars and the hospital could still be shuttered later.

The state is using taxpayer money to take away mental health care during a pandemic, when there is a mental health crisis, said Seth Nichamoff, the attorney for the hospital. HHSC is using the full force of the Texas taxpayer to come down to crush Kevin like a bug.

alex.stuckey@chron.com
Dog love

Regarding #AbbottHatesDogs? Well, governor's veto of anti-cruelty bill certainly wasn't love. (June 23): I was sickened to learn Gov. Abbott vetoed Texas Senate Bill 474 (The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act). In his defense, he claimed the bill would have compelled every dog owner to monitor things like tailoring of the dogs collar on pain of criminal penalties.

No, Mr. Abbott, if you bothered to read the bill, one component would have helped prevent animal cruelty by fining owners who tether their dogs on short, heavy chains without shelter or water in dangerously cold or hot weather.

Abbott concluded his defense with the trite proclamation, Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization. By default, our esteemed governor certainly made it clear that Texas will remain a place where animal cruelty often goes unpunished.

Alana Harrison, Houston

Not socialist

Regarding Peril and promise, (June 21): A letter by Richard King repeated the notion that President Biden and other Democrats advocate socialist policies that will send America down the road to further degradation. We use government to provide necessities (e.g. defense, infrastructure, education, Medicare, Social Security, law enforcement and even food stamps) when our vaunted free market economy is inadequate to meet the needs of much of the population. This is market remediation, not socialism.

The threat of socialism is strictly political talk from anti-government politicians who have been out of step with the economic needs of Americans since the Great Depression. Democrats are partly to blame since they have failed to justify their own economic policies by pointing out the many problems in our market economy. These include market irrelevancy (hence national defense and public infrastructure), the need for regulation (to insure law and order in the marketplace) and the inability of many hard working Americans to pay for all the necessities of life (because they are subjected to market-determined compensation that is often inadequate).

Michael Douglas Gilbert, Houston

Church and state

Regarding US to review Native American boarding schools' dark history, (June 22): Thank you for carrying AP writer Susan Montoya Bryans article about Interior Secretary Deb Haalands efforts to reveal the plight of the thousands of Indigenous children who were removed from their families to boarding schools to be reprogrammed by the government or religious organizations. It is tragic that we are so threatened by how other cultures choose to worship, dress, eat and live. Surely, there is enough land here to accommodate more than one way of being. Kudos to the Chronicle, Montoya Bryan and Haaland for bringing this history to light. When we know more, most of us care more and when we care more, we can do better going forward than we have in the past.

Kathryn Haueisen, Houston

Regarding Catholic bishops should listen to their pope, (June 23): Lawrence Madigans letter regarding US bishops possible rejection of the popes purported request not to rebuke Catholic politicians supporting abortion displays a sad ignorance of Catholic doctrine.

First, the popes primacy in matters of faith and morals does not extend to local political matters, particularly if the request was really that, a request.

And no, the bishops would not be condemning as sin a conscientiously held belief. But publicly and persistently supporting, promoting and enabling actions contrary to Catholic teaching are a different matter.

Finally, yes, if a Catholic priest or bishop who has committed, ignored or enabled sexual abuse of minors did not admit their abuses (sins), regret them and firmly resolve to do them no more, they would no longer be able to receive the Eucharist (and the other four sacraments of the living). It is not the sin alone but the refusal to admit, regret, and amend that prevents continued participation in the sacraments.

You might disagree with the Churchs positions on moral matters, but they are neither illogical nor inconsistent; and the bishops rebuke, if it comes about, is inconsistent with neither the Churchs internal hierarchy nor its principles.

Dan Flatten, Houston

Voting rights

Regarding Senate Republicans block voting bill that Democrats aimed at Texas, other GOP states, (June 22): I think the strategy used in the attempts to pass the For the People Act has been wrong. The majority of both parties support the bills goals. I think wed have far better success by breaking it down. The Get Money Out of Politics Bill, the End Politicians Picking Their Voters Bill, the All U.S. Citizens Get to Vote Act. Then bring these bills up one at a time.

Tanner Garth, Houston
For approximately one-quarter of uninsured Texans, there has been a solution that state leaders could have adopted since 2014  Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. While the states political leaders still refuse to embrace this straight-forward solution, theres a new opportunity for coverage expansion in Texas.

Texas has the highest number (more than 5 million) and largest percentage (18.4 percent) of residents without health insurance. The problems caused by these high numbers are well-documented. Uninsured Texans who lack access to basic preventive and primary care have poorer health outcomes. Then, theres the unsustainable financial pressure on health care providers and the shifting of costs of providing health care for the uninsured, often in expensive hospital settings, to those with insurance.

The political gymnastics underway to address this ongoing problem are reaching new heights.

First, there is a growing groundswell of support for expanding health coverage. Polling data shows that Texans support of coverage expansion has grown year over year, to 69 percent in 2020. For these reasons, just over half of Texas House members, including Democrats and some Republicans, signed on to a bill this year called Live Well Texas that would have required Texas to expand coverage through a 1115 Medicaid waiver. Despite this level of support, legislative leadership did not give a hearing to the bill.

For a decade now, Texas has been operating under a Medicaid 1115 waiver that was designed to prepare the health care delivery system for the influx of new patients who would become insured as the ACA was fully implemented in 2014. The waiver included funding for system innovation and a pool of funds to cover the costs of providing care to uninsured Texans, whose numbers were expected to decrease over time as more became insured. Next month, Texas will be applying to the Biden administration to extend the 1115 waiver.

This month, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission held hearings to obtain public input on the Medicaid 1115 waiver application. Dozens of speakers across Texas participated and advocated for the states application to include coverage expansion. I was one of the participants in a more than four-hour hearing on June 15 in which dozens of speakers advocated for the state to include coverage expansion as part of the waiver application. Those advocates included representatives of hospitals and clinics, physician organizations, the faith community, the disabilities community and regular Texans who want their leaders to allow their fellow Texans to obtain health insurance.

Second, congressional leaders and the Biden administration are intent on ensuring that Americans living in Texas and the other remaining 11 states that have not expanded Medicaid can obtain affordable health insurance. New incentives in the American Rescue Plan Act have made clear that Medicaid expansion is affordable for Texas. In addition, Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, has filed the COVER Now Act. If enacted, this bill would enable local governments to work directly with the federal government to expand Medicaid coverage locally even if their state declined to participate. Across Texas, county taxpayers provide billions of dollars through property taxes to support the costs of health care for uninsured residents who would be covered by Medicaid expansion. For this reason, many county leaders, Republican and Democrat alike, have advocated for Medicaid expansion. Other proposals under discussion at the federal level include allowing the lowest-income Americans in the non-expansion states to obtain subsidized coverage through the ACAs marketplace. Because coverage expansion is a priority for the Biden administration and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, we should expect to see more innovative ideas about how to solve the problems that Texans in the coverage gap continue to face.

Third, after the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act for a third time, by a larger margin than in the prior two cases, it is clear the ACA is here to stay. Its time for all of us, including Texas leadership, to accept this reality and do what we can within its framework to cover more Texans. Our leaders will have the chance to do that in the upcoming months as they work with the Biden administration to craft a new Medicaid 1115 waiver. Together, they can craft a Texas-specific coverage solution that will bring more than 1 million Texans affordable health insurance and protect our safety-net providers at the same time. These are complementary solutions to a Texas-sized problem.

Necessity is the mother of invention, the old saying goes. Were beyond the point of necessity. Whether expanding coverage comes about through Medicaid or a Texas-specific alternative by another name, whether through counties or the ACA marketplace, its time to turn to invention.

Marks is the president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation and a nonresident Fellow in Health Policy at Rice Universitys Baker Institute.
A press secretary with the Texas Attorney General's Office has resigned, claiming her security concerns were ignored when she was ordered to make a trip to the Mexico border to produce informational videos for the agency.

Kayleigh Lovvorn Date, who had been employed by the communications office for about five years, said in a formal complaint obtained by Hearst Newspapers that she had been asked in May to film video interviews of property owners in Brackettville, east of Del Rio, without a security detail or protective gear.

In her complaint, Date noted that First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster, who thought up the border video series, and Attorney General Ken Paxton had worn bulletproof vests during a portion of their visit to the border, but would not provide her and her team with similar protection.

The office has been known to create flashy videos promoting its work on immigration and other issues, often featuring dramatic music and video of interviews Paxton has done with Fox News. The Republican attorney general is seeking a third term in 2022.

Date, who did not respond to a request for comment, and others with concerns were told by superiors to just bring our guns if they felt unsafe, she wrote in the complaint. She said she doesnt have a handgun license or training.

Though Paxton and other Republicans have referred to the border as lawless  Gov. Greg Abbott is calling the same area overrun by gangs and smugglers  Date said her supervisors even denied a request to delay the video shoot for a week so she could work on a security plan.

BORDER VISIT: Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Texas border on Friday

Date put in her notice of resignation on May 26, citing in the complaint prioritization of my mental health and overall wellbeing. Her last day was June 11.

As of April 1, she was paid a $65,000 annual salary, according to the Texas Tribune salary database.

Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed many lawsuits on border security and takes border security and the safety of all Texans very seriously, Paxtons communications director, Alejandro Garcia, said in a statement. Law enforcement prepares security plans for all border trips. We do not release those plans to employees or the public as that could be a security risk for all individuals involved in those trips.

The attorney generals office handles legal matters related to immigration as it affects the state, and is part of a task force on border and homeland security formed by Abbott in June.

Paxton has filed multiple suits against the Biden administration already this year for policies he contends are harming Texans, such as an attempted pause of deportations that Paxtons suit stopped and more recently, COVID-19 protocols for immigrants taken into custody that he says could lead to spread of the virus to state residents.

Date wrote in her complaint that property owners from Brackettville had told communications staff that on a daily basis they witnessed cartel activity, car chases and hijackings, break-ins and property theft, and shots fired at themselves and their employees, including a recent instance of a property owner reporting sixty rounds fired at a location we were expected to visit and film.

After being given the assignment May 17, Date said she immediately raised concerns with peers. Three days later, she spoke with Garcia about those concerns and liability issues involved with traveling to the location with thousands of dollars in media equipment, according to the complaint. She said other communications employees agreed that security was a concern.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

But Webster, through Garcia, immediately denied her request, saying he did not believe security was necessary because he did not experience a need for security during his Rio Grande Valley border visit.

Allegations of bullying

On that trip, Date wrote, Webster was accompanied by Paxton's security detail of state troopers and other law enforcement personnel and, on one occasion, was provided with a bulletproof vest.

She refused to go without any security in place.

The morning of May 21, the day on which the border video trip was previously scheduled, Garcia called an emergency meeting of the team. Garcia told the employees that they had disappointed the executive division by refusing to go to the border and saying no to an assignment, Date wrote in her complaint.

According to Date, it was part of a pattern of bullying and threatening behavior from Webster that she also asked management to investigate.

Webster had been planning to call all communications officers to the office at 9 p.m. the day prior to reprimand them with severe consequences for tardiness or nonattendance, but Garcia said he convinced him to allow him to lead a disciplinary meeting instead, according to the complaint.

We were told that because Mr. Webster expressed willingness to travel to the properties and film interviews himself, our refusal to travel to these potentially dangerous locations without security on a tight timeline was embarrassing, Date wrote.

The team also learned at the meeting that Webster had envisioned not just the videos in question but a series of them involving them making additional trips to the border.

The communications team was then told that if these expectations and demands were too great, we should look for other jobs, Date wrote. As I personally consider the expectation that employees travel to potentially life-threatening locations without any form of security unreasonable, I am choosing to follow that recommendation.

Significant turnover

The office did not make Webster available for an interview with Hearst Newspapers on Thursday.

Enrique Varela, formal complaint officer with the AGs office, in a letter, told Date that after a June 10 phone call with her, the office was reviewing its safety protocols and procedures, according to a copy obtained by Hearst Newspapers.

Her complaint, he said in the June 23 letter, did not allow Varela to pursue a separate inquiry into Webster. He added that he learned that she did not report to nor work directly with Webster, nor did she attempt to speak with him about her concerns, so he closed the complaint.

Paxtons executive team has seen significant turnover in the last year, including eight top aides who either resigned or were fired after they reported Paxton to law enforcement for allegedly accepting bribes and abusing the power of his office by helping a friend and campaign donor.

Paxton hired Webster to replace one of those whistleblowers, former First Assistant Attorney General Jeff Mateer.

The FBI is investigating the whistleblowers claims; meanwhile, Paxton is already under indictment, and has been since 2015 as his court case stagnates, on felony securities fraud charges. He has denied all wrongdoing.

Staff writer Jay Root contributed to this report.
Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who werent vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day  now down to under 300  could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

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

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

On HoustonChronicle.com: Half of Texas Republicans say they won't get COVID-19 vaccine, new poll finds

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

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

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

Earlier this month, Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, suggested that 98% to 99% of the Americans dying of the coronavirus are unvaccinated.

And CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday that the vaccine is so effective that "nearly every death, especially among adults, due to COVID-19, is, at this point, entirely preventable. She called such deaths particularly tragic.

Deaths in the U.S. have plummeted from a peak of more than 3,400 day on average in mid-January, one month into the vaccination drive.

About 63% of all vaccine-eligible Americans  those 12 and older  have received at least one dose, and 53% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. While vaccine remains scarce in much of the world, the U.S. supply is so abundant and demand has slumped so dramatically that shots sit unused.

Ross Bagne, a 68-year-old small-business owner in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was eligible for the vaccine in early February but didn't get it. He died June 4, infected and unvaccinated, after spending more than three weeks in the hospital, his lungs filling with fluid. He was unable to swallow because of a stroke.

He never went out, so he didnt think he would catch it, said his grieving sister, Karen McKnight. She wondered: Why take the risk of not getting vaccinated?

The preventable deaths will continue, experts predict, with unvaccinated pockets of the nation experiencing outbreaks in the fall and winter. Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said modeling suggests the nation will hit 1,000 deaths per day again next year.

In Arkansas, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation, with only about 33% of the population fully protected, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are rising.

It is sad to see someone go to the hospital or die when it can be prevented," Gov. Asa Hutchinson tweeted as he urged people to get their shots.

In Seattle's King County, the public health department found only three deaths during a recent 60-day period in people who were fully vaccinated. The rest, some 95% of 62 deaths, had had no vaccine or just one shot.

Those are all somebodys parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, said Dr. Mark Del Beccaro, who helps lead a vaccination outreach program in King County. Its still a lot of deaths, and theyre preventable deaths.

In the St. Louis area, more than 90% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated, said Dr. Alex Garza, a hospital administrator who directs a metropolitan-area task force on the outbreak.

The majority of them express some regret for not being vaccinated, Garza said. Thats a pretty common refrain that were hearing from patients with COVID.

The stories of unvaccinated people dying may convince some people they should get the shots, but young adults  the group least likely to be vaccinated  may be motivated more by a desire to protect their loved ones, said David Michaels, an epidemiologist at George Washington University's school of public health in the nation's capital.

Others need paid time off to get the shots and deal with any side effects, Michaels said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration this month began requiring health care employers, including hospitals and nursing homes, to provide such time off. But Michaels, who headed OSHA under President Barack Obama, said the agency should have gone further and applied the rule to meat and poultry plants and other food operations as well as other places with workers at risk.

Bagne, who lived alone, ran a business helping people incorporate their companies in Wyoming for the tax advantages. He was winding down the business, planning to retire, when he got sick, emailing his sister in April about an illness that had left him dizzy and disoriented.

Whatever it was. That bug took a LOT out of me, he wrote.

As his health deteriorated, a neighbor finally persuaded him to go to the hospital.

Why was the messaging in his state so unclear that he didnt understand the importance of the vaccine? He was a very bright guy," his sister said. I wish hed gotten the vaccine, and Im sad he didnt understand how it could prevent him from getting COVID."

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Houston, MO (65483)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.
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The Retired Investor: Beware the Delta Variant

Airplanes are full, parkways are bumper to bumper, and restaurants are packed. The summer is in full swing, and for many, the coronavirus is a thing of the past. Let's hope it stays that way.

The last thing I want to do is spoil the re-opening party. Afterall, we deserve to feel good, go out, meet family and friends without a mask, even chance a hug now and then. The one fly in all of our ointments may be the onset of an extremely contagious, and virulent coronavirus mutation dubbed the "delta variant."

You have probably read about this super bug and its devastating impact on the population of India. It was first detected in that country in December 2020. To this point, it has spawned at least a dozen mutations. Some strains are vastly more contagious and lethal (as well as vaccine-resistant) than others. The virus effectively doubles the risk of a victim's hospitalization, and most delta-related cases occur in the under-50 age group. That unfortunately accounts for many who have yet to be vaccinated.

Since last December, the delta varient has spread throughout Southeast Asia, hopped over to Europe, and now has entered the U.S., where 10 percent of new cases have been identified as such. In the U.K., the number of cases is doubling every 11 days. In Ireland, the delta variant accounts for 50 percent of new cases.

The danger of spreading is so great that the United Kingdom has delayed the re-opening of their economy by at least another month. That delay will hopefully give the British government more time to get as many people vaccinated as possible. And therein lies the good news. The present vaccines appear to be effective (but not entirely) against this variant as well.

Most political leaders, including President Biden, understand that we are now in a numbers game to vaccinate as many people as possible before the spread of this mutation overwhelms hospitals, decimates the labor force, and damages the re-opening of the economy.

The good news for the U.S. is that more than half of all Americans are at least partially vaccinated (45 percent are fully vaccinated), and COVID cases are falling. It is the main reason why the country is resuming its pre-pandemic behaviors. In some states like New York and Massachusetts, 70 percent of the populations have been vaccinated.

Overall, 319 million doses of vaccine have been administered thus far in the U.S., but the rate of vaccination is dropping. The CDC data indicates from 3.3 million vaccinations a day two months ago to a little more than 1 million/day today. At this rate (assuming the vaccination rate does not decline further), it will take another five months before we reach 75 percent of the total population, which is the minimum number to attain for herd immunity. Folks, with the delta strain nipping at our heels, we are running out of time.

It is no surprise that the vaccination holdouts are split roughly along politically partisan lines. In at least 482 U.S. counties, less than 25 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Many of these counties are in rural red states, and/or low-income areas.

But the holdouts come in all shapes and sizes. My niece and her family refuses to get vaccinated. She "heard" the vaccines may jeopardize her chances of childbearing. A neighbor, as a matter of course, does not believe in any kind of vaccination, while a local dental hygienist refuses because she just doesn't like needles.

In the recent past, virus-related surges in Europe and other countries, have acted as an early-warning signal for what could be in store for the U.S. in the next few weeks. I have noticed that in the past week, President Biden, his Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Jerome Powell, and a slew of medical experts have expressed their concerns over the spread of the delta variant within the U.S

Most businesses and consumers seem to be ignoring these foreign red flags. Certainly, the stock market doesn't appear to care, or see the delta variant as a "clear and present danger." I hope I am wrong in sounding the alarm. The last thing the economy needs at this point is to experience a roll-back of our newly won gains.
Cheshire to Paint Mural on Route 8 Rest Stop

CHESHIRE, Mass.  A mural is being planned for the rest area off Route 8 to help beautify the town.

Maureen Riley-Moriarty presented the Selectmen on Tuesday with a minor update on the project, which is pending approval with the state of Massachusetts. The mural will be on a 438-foot-long concrete wall in a rest area off Route 8 near the Green Acres variety store.

Riley-Moriarty said the mural image has not been decided upon, but will likely have a natural theme. Some ideas she had included are wildlife or a reflection of the lake, which is just across Route 8 and the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail from the rest stop.

She plans to involve high school students in the painting of the mural. This would allow them to do something outside after the school year they have spent inside their homes, she said, "and also to build a sense of community for them." She hoped this latter point would deter any potential vandalism of the mural by other high school students.

Riley-Moriarty also assured the Selectmen that the mural would not be a distraction for drivers. Since it will be at a rest stop, drivers would have to pull over to really see it. Riley-Moriarty said this project will "make that shameful wall go away, and even uplift it, as part of a beautifying project for the town.

In other business:
Sri Lanka X-Press Pearl disaster: Fundamental Rights petition filed seeking compensation for fishermen

by Lakmal Sooriyagoda

June 24,2021 | Source: Daily News

Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda and two fishermen yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka seeking an order directing the authorities to award Rs. 500,000 per each fisherman severely affected by the X-Press Pearl disaster.



The petitioners had cited Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda, Minister of Ports and Shipping Rohitha Abeygunawardena, chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Marine Environment Protection Authority, X-Press Feeders Company represented by Its Local Agent Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and several others as respondents.



This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-Law Manjula Balasooriya.



The petitioners state that the X-Press Pearl Vessel was on its way from Indian port of Hazira to Singapore transporting 1,486 containers. The vessels cargo comprised of 25 tonnes of hazardous Nitric Acid, Caustic Soda, Sodium Methylate, Plastic, Lead Ingots, Lubricant Oil, Quick Lime and Highly Reactive and Inflammable Chemicals such as Sodium Methoxide, High Density Polyethylene, Low Density Polyethylene, Vinyl Acetate, Methanol, Bright Yellow Sulphur, Urea, Cosmetics etc.



This entire consignment consists of 46 different types of chemicals which are categorized as extremely dangerous goods under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. This ship also contained 300 tonnes of Bunker Oil as well.



The petitioners stated that the fishermen living in Negombo who are largely engaged in fisheries activities are thus severely affected by the contamination of sea areas and loss of fishing grounds due to the acts as well as omissions of the respondents.



The Petitioners state that there are 15 fisheries districts around the marine area of Sri Lanka. In the Western Province, fisheries activities are mainly focused on the areas of Negombo, Wellavidiya, Kudapaduwa, Panadura and Kalutara.



Nearly 6,000 fishermen and families live along the Uswetakeiyawa to Negombo coastal stretch and about 2,000 boats go fishing in the ocean on a daily basis. Around 7,753 fishing families have directly lost their total income as a consequence of the shipwreck while another 2,130 families who were employed in other fisheries related activities such as drying fish and fish netting have also lost their income.



The Petitioners further state that their livelihood is threatened due to this environmental restriction imposed by the Government as they upkeep their lives owing to their daily wages as fishermen who go to sea daily. Thus as a result of this they were unable to carry out their everyday fishing activities for nearly a fortnight. The petitioners fear that they will likely suffer this for years to come. The petitioners are seeking a declaration that the respondents have violated the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Article 12(1) and 14(1) (g) of the Constitution.

 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., 19952021. All rights reserved.

Theme(s): Others.
68 Indonesian fishermen facing trespassing charges abroad: Ministry

June 24,2021 | Source: Antara

Sixty-eight Indonesian fishermen have been charged with trespassing in other countries, the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has disclosed.



The number of Indonesian fishermen found trespassing the territories of other countries is still high, director of violation handling at the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Teuku Elvitrasyah, said in a press statement released in Jakarta on Wednesday.



"Some of our fishermen are facing legal process in Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea. Their number is about 68," he informed.



In the past three years, 140 Indonesian fishermen have been arrested in several countries, he said.



Therefore, the ministry has continued to implement different approaches to improve the fishermens understanding and awareness, he added.



One such approach involved familiarizing fishermen with the ban on trespassing the territory of other countries during a meeting held in Rayeuk, East Aceh district, Aceh province.



"This is our effort to nurture Indonesian fishermen so other countries will not arrest them any longer for violating state borders," Elvitrasyah said.



Many traditional Indonesian fishermen have been arrested abroad in the past because they did not clearly know Indonesia's sea borders with other countries, he pointed out.



This happened because they were not equipped with navigation and communication devices and did not have sea maps, he said.



"It is necessary for them to understand technical matters related to territorial borders so they will no longer violate the state borders," he added.

 www.antaranews.com Copyright  2021

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Brazilian fishing communities fight to stay in protected forest

June 24,2021 | Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation

Marcos do Prado was at the beach on Sao Paulo's coast checking if there was mullet to be fished when a convoy of officers from the state's environmental police told him his house in the nearby Rio Verde community was being demolished. Prado and his cousin had been calling on the government to recognise the rights of fishing families to live on what they consider to be ancestral land in Jureia-Itatins Ecological Station, a protected area of 84,000 hectares (207,570 acres) of dense forest.



But with one day's notice, police and agents from the Forestry Foundation (FF), which is responsible for environmental conservation in Sao Paulo state, tore down both of their homes on July 4, 2019. "It is a feeling of incapacity," Prado, 29, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation over the phone. "The Forestry Foundation doesn't respect the community. They call us invaders."



Now, the men are suing the government for permission to rebuild their homes, in a case that highlights what they say is the state's effort to clear Jureia of traditional fishing communities - known as caicara - in the name of conservation. According to the people living in Jureia, when it was established as a protected area in 1986 it was home to about 300 families - today, there are 100 left.



"The case of Jureia is an isolated and unique episode," the Forestry Foundation said in emailed comments. "(The FF) also clarifies that this episode does not reflect or alter FF's public policies," the statement continued, without providing details.



Villagers confirmed that the FF does not usually demolish homes in Jureia. But they said the government is pushing residents out of the area by refusing to recognise them as traditional communities and denying them the rights that go with that status.



Community members call it "expulsion due to tiredness," Prado said.



Andrew Toshio Hayama, the public defender representing the community members in their court case, said the state works by "criminalizing (their) ways of life, not maintaining public services." "It empties these spaces and doesn't take political responsibility to resolve the conflict," he said.



Jureia residents say authorities have closed schools and health centres that were in the area before it was protected and put restrictions on fishing and agriculture, making it impossible for them to sustain their livelihoods. For example, Prado said, families have to ask the FF for authorization to plant crops, but permission often comes too late to cultivate.



Requests to use wood from the surrounding forests to build a canoe or renovate a house are often denied, he added. He said the restrictions have prompted many people to give up fishing and farming and move out of the area to nearby cities, including his parents.



Toshio said the FF argues the caicara who had their houses demolished lost their right to remain in Rio Verde when their families left the community for a span of time. The FF said it "value(s) and support(s) traditional communities and their fundamental role in the conservation of socio-biodiversity."



But the Foundation did not respond to specific questions regarding the villagers' complaints of oppressive restrictions or provide any details on how it is supporting traditional communities. CONSERVATION CLASH



In a study published in May, the Pastoral Land Commission, an advocacy group linked to the Catholic Church, said Brazil is facing a record number of land conflicts since the association started gathering numbers in 1985. The study said there were more than 2,050 instances of land conflict in rural areas in 2020, an increase of 8% compared to 2019.



Rodrigo Ribeiro de Castro, an anthropologist at the University of Campinas who works in Jureia, said the Sao Paulo government has been clearing traditional communities out of the area for decades. The sustained campaign is "legitimized by talk of preservation (but), in the end, aims to establish who controls these territories and for whom", he said.



"There are different concepts of conservation operating in this conflict." In its report published in June, the Brazilian deforestation mapping initiative MapBiomas showed tree loss in the Atlantic Forest, a coastal biome covering the Brazilian seaside including Jureia, shot up 125% in 2020.



As a whole, the country lost 24 trees every second last year, the report said.



A report published in March by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted the role of traditional peoples in forest protection. "These communities often help to stop outside groups that destroy forests from entering their territories," said the author of the report, David Kaimowitz.

 2021 Devdiscourse

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Human rights body hosts forum in Taiwan on fishermen's rights, protocol against torture

by Chen Chun-hua and Chiang Yi-ching

June 24,2021 | Source: CNA

Taiwan's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday hosted a forum on the potential implementation of a United Nations protocol against torture, and discussed how the country can better protect the rights of far-sea migrant fishermen.



The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, known more commonly as OPCAT, has been ratified by 90 countries in the UN.



The OPCAT seeks to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment through the establishment of "a system of regular visits" to places of detention, carried out by "independent international and national bodies."



Although Taiwan cannot be an official signatory, due to its exclusion from the U.N., a proposal to adopt the protocol's rules in Taiwan is being discussed by the legislature, according to a statement released by the NHRC, a government body under the Control Yuan.



Wednesday's forum, therefore, was a way for members of the NHRC, scholars and human rights groups to discuss how the OPCAT could be implemented in Taiwan, with a focus on institutions that house children and youths who have been ill-treated or face difficult situations, the statement said.



The forum also featured a talk by officials from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman, two government bodies involved in upholding OPCAT in the country, the statement said.



On the topic of the rights of far-sea migrant fishermen, participants at the forum focused on their lack of protection under the law.



Migrant fishermen employed on distant-water fishing (DWF) vessels are not protected under the Labor Standards Act, unlike migrant workers on boats that fish in Taiwan's waters, which is unreasonable, said NHRC member Chi Hui-jung.



Shih Yi-hsiang, secretary-general of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, called for migrant fishermen on DWF vessels to also be covered under the act, and for the Taiwanese government to adopt the Work in Fishing Convention C188.



The convention entitles fishermen to written terms and conditions of employment, decent accommodation and food, medical care, regulated working time, repatriation, social protection and health and safety on board fishing vessels.



It came into effect in 2017, and has been signed by 18 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Argentina and Thailand.



Until concrete measures are taken, the human rights protections for migrant fishermen in Taiwan will continue to be weak, Shih said.

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Lao fishermen seek solution to river pollution

June 24,2021 | Source: The Star

Members of a large fishing community in Naxab village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane, are appealing to authorities to address the problem of farms dumping animal waste in the Khon River, which they say is creating a threat to fishing.



The polluted river affects some 1, 648 people who depend on fishing for their livelihood and also poses a threat to fish species.



Village representatives say the bad smells began in 2019 but have got worse this year.



There are pig and chicken farms by the river, whose owners dispose of waste directly into the river without prior treatment, they claim.



As can be seen, the river is very dirty compared to five years ago. Wherever you go, it smells bad,  one villager said.



Another resident said If we liken the river to a human being, its like an artery and is essential for fishing and the life of our community.



The Khon River has provided food as well as a source of income for local people for many generations. The river not only supports the local fishing community but is also used by thousands of people who come from nearby villages to fish.



Village representatives complained about the bad smell to the Nam Kieng village group in Naxaithong district last year. It was hoped the message would be passed on to district authorities and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, but the matter has still not been resolved.



Many farms continue to dispose of waste in violation of the Wildlife and Aquatic Law, ignoring the impacts on fishing and the risk of losing fish and other aquatic species.



According to a 2018 report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Laos has more than 500 indigenous fish species and is home to rare and endangered wildlife species found nowhere else in the world.



We have voices but lack the power to speak. So we hope those in a higher position will be able to help our community resolve this problem. We depend on the river, which will provide future generations with income and food, as well being a habitat for fish species,  a villager said.



If the problem continues, there are concerns that within the next two weeks, if the water level drops, fish and other aquatic species will die due to a lack of oxygen.



Villagers say that some fish species such as the giant snakehead as well as some types of shellfish have already disappeared from the river.



Environmental experts say that because the Khon River flows into the Nam Khem and Nam Ngum rivers in Vientiane, if polluted water reaches these rivers it could affect other aquatic habitats, as well as tourism, bathing and peoples way of life.

 1995- 2021 Star Media Group Berhad

Theme(s): Others.
Chinese fishing trawlers swamp Arabian Sea, Baloch fishermen in Pakistan protest

by Rahul Kumar

June 24,2021 | Source: Daijiworld

Pakistan has given fishing rights to China in the Arabian Sea near Gwadar port in Balochistan. Now, the sea on the Baloch coastline is dotted with hundreds of Chinese fishing boats.



Pakistan has given licenses to the Chinese trawlers causing resentment among fishermen in Gwadar. Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that hundreds of "fishermen, political workers and members of civil society staged a protest rally against the federal government for granting Chinese trawlers fishing rights in Gwadar by issuing them licences. The National Party and Baloch Student Organisation had called for the protest rally and sit-in in front of the Gwadar Press Club against the government's move".



The Baloch fishermen are feeling doubly cheated. They were earlier displaced from their land for the China-driven Gwadar port, which remains out of bounds for them due to security concerns. Despite China's billions of dollars of investment, the local people feel disenfranchised. Now, with the arrival of huge Chinese trawlers, they feel completely crushed.



What is adding to their worry is that the Chinese vessels are no ordinary boats. These are 'factory ships'--commercial ships which contain food processing units to process and preserve the catch from the ocean. As the Chinese trawlers have begun their large-scale operations, fishermen in not just Balochistan but all along Pakistan's nearly 1,000-km coast are now fretting about their livelihood.



The Chinese have swamped the Pakistani coastline.



Last year the Chinese trawlers were spotted at the Karachi port, spreading fear among the fisher folk in Sindh.



Trawlers are associated with destructive fishing as they drag large nets across the ocean floor to scoop up everything. The trawlers are equipped with narrow nets that not just catch the fish but even eggs and everything else as well. The fishermen retain what is useful commercially and throw the rest back into the sea.



The Pakistani fishing community is worried because each Chinese vessel can catch over ten times what a Pakistani boat can. The worry is that the entry of Chinese ships will lead to massive unemployment among the Baloch as well as the Sindhi fishermen.



What is also worrying the Pakistani fishermen is the fact that deep-sea trawling is not just large-scale but is also destructive. It not only catches the fish, but also kills the eggs, stirs up the ocean floor and deadens the marine food chain.



Pakistan has opened up its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to Chinese fishing companies. Abdul Berr, Fishermen's Cooperative Society (FCS) chairman, told Arab News that China will help upgrade Pakistani fishing industry and increase its exports. "Bringing Chinese trawlers for deep-sea fishing is in line with the government's deep-sea fishing policy and aimed at upgrading and modernizing fishing, besides providing job opportunities to local fishermen", Berr said.



What has brought Chinese fishing boats halfway around the globe to Pakistan? It is the need to feed the Chinese population. China's thousands of ships bring millions of tons of seafood back home--not just from near Pakistan but also from as far as African shores.



A report published by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in May 2020, just before the World Oceans Day on June 8 said that China's Distant Water Fishing (DWF) fleet was five to eight times larger than previously thought. ODI estimated the fleet at nearly 17,000 vessels.



The ODI report said: "The ownership and operational control of China's DWF fleet is both complex and opaque. ODI's analysis of a subsample of 6,122 vessels found that just eight companies owned or operated more than 50 vessels. ...Complicated company structures and a lack of transparency hamper monitoring and regulatory efforts. This makes it difficult for those responsible for malpractice to be held accountable".



By opening up its EEZ to Chinese fishing companies, Pakistan might be currying favour with the communist country for the latter's mammoth investment of $62 billion in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). But in doing so, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan just might turn its own people -- Sindhis and Balochistan, who are anyway fighting for independence -- against itself.

 2001 - 2021. All Rights Reserved. Published by Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd., Mangalore.

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Feedback sought on fisheries catch limits in New Zealand

June 24,2021 | Source: Scoop

Fisheries New Zealand is inviting people to have their say on proposed changes to catch limits and other settings across a range of fisheries for the new fishing year, beginning 1 October.



The consultation is part of a regular cycle of reviews that take place twice-yearly to ensure the sustainability of New Zealand's fisheries, says Emma Taylor, Fisheries New Zealands Director of Fisheries Management.



By reviewing the catch limits and other management measures of fish stocks, we help ensure their long-term sustainability for all New Zealanders to enjoy.



This review focuses on 15 fish stocks across the country, with proposals to change their catch limits and allowances.



Deemed value adjustments are also proposed for some of these stocks, as well as for an additional six fish stocks. Deemed values are rates paid by fishers for excess catch, and provide incentives for individual commercial fishers to stay within limits.



Our fisheries are important to everyone and, along with scientific information, we have developed the proposals with input from tangata whenua and stakeholders.



We use the best available scientific information to tell us whats happening in our fisheries and to identify what course of action to take. Where information suggests more fish can be harvested sustainably, we look to increase catch limits. On the other hand, if stocks arent as healthy, catch limits are reduced to help the fishery recover.



An example is the snapper fishery on the west cost of the North Island (SNA 8) which has shown positive changes. This follows cuts made to the catch limits in 2005.



The latest scientific assessment found that abundance of snapper has increased, and the fishery has recovered from historical lows. With more fish in the water, were proposing changes to the catch settings to make sure theyre set appropriately while maintaining the sustainability of this important shared fishery.



Once consultation closes, Fisheries New Zealand will analyse the submissions and make recommendations to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to make a decision. Most changes will come into effect from the new fishing year, beginning on 1 October 2021.



Consultation begins today and we encourage everyone who has an interest in these fisheries to have their say. Submissions can be made online by 5pm Tuesday 27th July 2021.



Details about the proposed measures and how to make a submission can be found on the Fisheries New Zealand website at: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/review-of-sustainability-measures-2021-october-round.

 Scoop Media

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.








INDONESIA

Lack of Transparency................4

COVID-19 lockdown measures have struck small-scale fishers in Indonesia

UNITED STATES

Relief Misdirected..................8

COVID-19 relief measures in the US have favoured industrial operators

BRAZIL

An Amazonian Wrangle..................15

COVID-19 threatens the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable indigenous communities in the Amazon

MALAWI

Unsung Heroes.................19

Fish is an unrecognized element of trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

GHANA

Small Fish, Big Solution............... 23

Access to affordable small fish will reduce hunger and improve nutrition in Ghana: study

INDONESIA

Dried, Tried, Tasted................26

The unique flavours of the East Java cuisine come from the traditional fish processing technique of pindang

TIMOR-LESTE

Strong Women, Strong Nation................29

The island nation of Timor-Leste is closing the gender gap while also providing food security

INDIA

The Future is Inland...............33

Managed sensibly, inland water bodies can provide India with sustainable food security

INDIA

A Twisted Trajectory...............38

The use of fishmeal to grow shrimp is exporting the precious nutrition that Indias children deserve
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Shown in the attached photo is an aerial view of the lime softening facility that is one of the components of the QWRU.
The Hong Kong edition of Apple Daily, published by the Hong Kong-based Next Digital media group, will print its last paper on June 24. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) express deep concern over the dark day for journalism and independent media in Hong Kong that saw government pressure shutter Apple Daily.

An Apple Daily journalist holds freshly-printed copies of the newspaper's last edition to be distributed to supporters gathered outside their office in Hong Kong. Credits: Daniel SUEN / AFP

Next Digital said in a statement on its website that Tomorrow (June 24) will be the last publication day for its print edition. In addition, digital content will no longer be available on any platforms and subscriptions to the paper will not be renewed. Apple Daily was the last major pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong.

In a joint statement on 23 June, a coalition of unions expressed anger and pain for the loss of this much valued multi-media press group that had long been pursuing and defending journalism. The coalitions also instituted a black dress code among its media members for June 24 to demonstrate unity with Apple Daily and its media workers.

To gather voices, the group is posting updates to social media using hashtags: #and #InSupportofJournalists

The signatories include The Hong Kong Journalists Association, Hong Kong Press Photographers Association, Independent Commentators Association, Journalism Educators for Press Freedom, RTHK Programme Staff Union, Ming Pao Staff Union, Next Media Trade Union and Citizen News Union.

Assets of Next Digital were frozen last week in an attack by Hong Kongs authorities that curtailed the publishers capacity to pay workers and suppliers. Mass resignations from media workers who feared for their physical and financial safety ensued.

The decision to shutter Apple Daily comes in the wake of a massive police raid on Next Digitals offices and the arrest of five executives on June 17. The executives were arrested under Article 29 of Chinas National Security Law, which prohibits collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

In worrying signs for democratic publications in the region, Apple Dailys print edition in Taiwan also ceased on May 18. The news came hours before the Hong Kong authorities announced the freezing of Next Digital shares held by its founder Jimmy Lai on national security grounds and thus preventedthe trading of Next Digital shares.

Jimmy Lai was detained in December 2020 on charges of fraud under Chinas repressive National Security Law. Lai and six other pro-democracy campaigners were found guilty of organising and taking part in an unauthorised assembly on August 18, 2019 as part of the wave of Hong Kong umbrella revolution.

The HKJA said, Well be wearing black in protest of the governments blow against freedom of press. We cannot take to the streets to express our dissatisfaction as we are bound by the group gathering ban, but it wont keep us silent.

The IFJ said: This is a devastating day for democratic institutions in Hong Kong. This decision by Next Digital is a result of the Chinese authorities consistent assaults on press freedom. We call on Apple Daily to negotiate with affected workers through their trade union and to guarantee decent treatment, fair severance packages and respect for all workers involved. We call on the Chinese government to repeal the National Security Laws and let freedom of expression flourish in Hong Kong.
Khaled Al Qudah, a journalist working for Al Rai newspaper and board member of the Jordanian Press Association (JPA), submitted testimony to the Jordanian Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC) over suspected corruption over the management of the public advertisement involving advertising agencies and top management of some newspapers. The IFJ demands a full investigation in this claim and protection for the journalist from retaliation.

On 3rd June, Al Qudah participated in Voice of the Mamlaka talk show aired on Al Mamalaka TV, one of two public broadcasters in Jordan, to discuss the crises facing print media in Jordan. He criticised a number of the existing contracts where the publishers gave the advertising agencies up to 50% discount on public advertisement income as unreasonable and unjustified.

Al Qudah criticised the government as well for accepting this arrangement. The annual public advertisement budget is estimated at 8 million Jordanian Dinars (9.5 million euro). The journalist said that he considers his views as a notification to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On June 13, he was invited to JIACC where he presented his testimony and evidence to the investigators, resulting in the opening of an official investigation. Al Qudah denounced pressures since his testimony and worried about retaliation from those involved in the investigation.

A struggling media sector

The Jordanian media sector has been struggling with the financial crises and many newspapers have closed in t

he last few years. The Covid 19 pandemic has deepened into the financial crisis of the few media still in circulation.

The three national newspapers receiving public advertisement currently employ 215 journalists. These journalists suffered a 25% pay cut when the pandemic began, while two newspapers, Al Rai and ADdostour, owe their staff six months of salaries. The delays in paying journalists' salaries and the uncertainty surrounding the future of their jobs are causing immense hardship and anguish to media workers and their families.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: We salute the courage of our colleague Khalid Al Qudan and warn against any retaliation against him. The IFJ also demands a full investigation into the management of the public advertisement budgets. It is outrageous that millions of public money are wasted while journalists and their families are the only ones paying the price of the crisis. In these times of hardship, public advertisement is the lifeline of many media organizations and must be administered by an independent commission to safeguard journalism from political interference and guarantee that public interest journalism survives to the economic crisis.
Federal Investigation Agencys Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad summoned journalist Muhammad Bilal Ghauri for questioning for alleged defamatory remarks made through his YouTube channel. The International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) urges authorities to cease the intimidation of journalists who have a right to freedom of expression and questioning attacks on their profession.

The summon notice issued on June 22 under the Pakistan Electronic Crime Act (PECA), ordered Ghauri to appear before the Cyber Crime Reporting Centre of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Islamabad at 11 am on June 25. But the notice failed to mention the specific accusation levelled against him.

According to a letter from M. Waseem Sikandar, a sub-inspector at the FIA, the summons was in response to a complaint filed by Syed Abbas Mohiuddin, a politician from Attock district and member of the provincial assembly. The letter warned that failing to adhere the notices order would result in further legal action under section 174 of Pakistan Penal Code.

Muhammad Bilal Ghauri, a contributor for the Urdu-language newspaper Daily Jang, has been on indefinite leave from his office since May 5 and he currently runs a show on YouTube about pertinent political and social issues. On June 21, he broadcast a show entitled Major General Manzoor Ahmed's Petition which is linked to the FIA.

The Pakistani military is documented as putting increasing pressure on media houses for reporting that is critical to the Pakistani military and a number of journalists have been put on leave following such pressure on media companies. The imposition of indefinite leave on Ghauri for his reporting and the subsequent summoning by the FIA points to a clear pattern of intimidation by the military.

On May 31, journalist and vlogger Asad Ali Toor was also summoned on accusation of defaming a government institution thorough a social media post. So too, television talk show host, Hamid Mir, was taken off air on May 31 after a speech deemed as critical of the Pakistani military.

The IFJ said: The pattern of intimidation of summonsing journalists and putting pressure on media outlets for reporting is a clear harassment tactic used by Pakistans military to thwart critical reporting against it. We condemn the gross misuse of the power and laws used against journalists. The IFJ urges the involvement of media, unions and human rights groups to strongly condemn this intimidation and to allow the normal functioning of the media.
The IFJ and NUJ continue to campaign on behalf of journalists working for the BBC Persian Service and Iran International who are being systematically targeted and harassed by the Iranian authorities because of their work as journalists.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: "We have seen the level of abuse and instances of harassment of NUJ members increase during the global health pandemic. Journalists based here in the UK are being harassed simply because of the work they do. Their families in Iran are being weaponised, causing enormous stress and strain for our members at the BBC Persian Service and Iran International. This outrageous and unacceptable abuse has to stop, and we are calling on the new government in Iran to stop these attacks on journalists and journalism.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "We stand in solidarity with journalists at BBC Persian Service, Iran International, Deutsche Welle and Radio Farda who are being persecuted by the Iranian regime in an attempt to silence them and deny citizens the right to a range of voices. The new government must act urgently to stop the threats and attacks."
Imperial Valley News Center

California Women Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud for Illegally Obtaining COVID-Related Jobless Benefits in Prison Inmates Names

Riverside, California - Three Inland Empire women have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges accusing them of using information belonging to other people  including California state prison inmates  to file for pandemic-related unemployment benefits, with each defendant causing at least $350,000 in losses.

Paris Denise Thomas, 33, of San Bernardino, pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging her with wire fraud. United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal has scheduled a September 13 sentencing hearing.

On Friday, Sequoia Edwards, 35, of Moreno Valley, and Mireya Ramos, 42, of Colton, each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. United States District Judge John W. Holcomb has scheduled an August 27 sentencing hearing for Ramos. Edwards sentencing hearing will be scheduled on a later date set by Judge Holcomb.

As a result of their guilty pleas, all three women face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law in March 2020 provided additional unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to qualified individuals and helped provide UI benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic to people who did not otherwise qualify, including business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those with a limited work history.

According to her plea agreement, from June 2020 to December 2020, Thomas submitted at least 47 fraudulent UI claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), which administers the UI program in California.

Thomas admitted to receiving the names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and other personally identifiable information of California state prison inmates and others, which she used to submit applications for UI benefits via the internet as if those persons were submitting the claims themselves. Thomas falsely represented to the EDD that the inmates were unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In exchange for cash payments, Thomas provided third parties with the electronic benefit payment debit cards which were loaded periodically with UI benefits and EDD website login credentials linked to the fraudulent UI claims.

In total, Thomas caused EDD to disburse approximately $477,000 in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits.

Edwards admitted in her plea agreement that, from July 2020 to August 2020, she submitted at least 27 fraudulent UI claims to the EDD using the information of California state prison inmates and other people, and falsely stating they had lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, Edwards caused the EDD to disburse approximately $456,218 in UI benefits from July 2020 to March 2021.

Ramos admitted that, from June 2020 to December 2020, she submitted approximately 37 fraudulent UI claims to the EDD using the personal information of California prison inmates and others, falsely representing to the EDD that the inmates were unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ramos entered false occupations for each applicant and created various email addresses so she could monitor the status of each application, according to her plea agreement.

In total, Ramos caused the EDD to fraudulently disburse approximately $353,532 in UI benefits from June 2020 to January 2021.

The United States Department of Labor  Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated these matters. Investigators with the California Employment Development Department and special agents from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation  Office of Correctional Safety provided substantial assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney Byron R. Tuyay of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting these cases.
Imperial Valley News Center

California Men Two South Bay Residents To Face Securities Fraud Charges While A Third Defendant Pleads Guilty

San Francisco, California - The office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California has filed securities fraud charges against Benjamin J. Wylam and Nathaniel A. Brown in connection with the illegal use of insider information obtained from Sunnyvale-based technology company Infinera Corporation. Each defendant was charged in a separate criminal information filed today. In related proceedings, Naveen Sood has pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud for engaging in transactions in Infinera securities after receiving material nonpublic information about the company. That guilty plea was made public today.

One criminal information was filed against Brown, 49, of San Jose. According to the Brown information, the defendant was a Senior Revenue Manager employed in Infineras finance organization from 2011 to 2017. During the period April 2016 through November 2017, Brown allegedly used deceptive or improper means to collect confidential information related to Infineras financial performance and financial projections. Once in possession of the nonpublic information, Brown allegedly used the messaging service WhatsApp, among other means, to share the information with an individual Brown knew would use it to execute securities transactions in Infinera stock.

Another criminal information was filed today against Wylam, 42, of San Jose. The Wylam information alleges that during the period April 2016 through November 2017, Wylam used WhatsApp, among other means, to receive confidential information from another individual about Infineras financial performance and financial projections. Wylam allegedly knew when he received the information that it had been obtained through deceptive or improper means but nevertheless used the information for his own use while executing securities transactions in Infinera stock. The Wylam information contains a forfeiture allegation seeking a money judgment of $999,000, alleging that that amount constitutes or is derived from proceeds that Wylam obtained as a result of the criminal violation.

On March 31, 2021, Sood, 49, of Campbell, Calif., signed a written agreement in connection with submitting his guilty plea. The plea agreement was accepted by the Honorable Edward M. Chen, United States District Judge, and today, the agreement was unsealed. According to the plea agreement, Sood admitted that he socialized with two individuals, one of whom he knew regularly had access to confidential information about Infineras quarterly financial results and financial prospects before that information became available to the public. In the plea agreement, Sood refers to the individuals as Individual 1, to whom Sood owned a debt in April of 2016 of more than $100,000, and Individual 2, who Sood concluded was an employee of Infinera and was the source of the confidential information. Sood acknowledged that in the spring of 2016, Individual 1 presented him with what was described as an opportunity to get cash to pay off the $100,000 debt by trading in Infinera stock. Individual 1 divulged that Infinera was going to report lower-than-expected revenues for the quarter. In addition, Sood admitted that thereafter, Individual 1 regularly provided him with material nonpublic information about Infinera and, over time, the material nonpublic information he received became more detailed. For example, in August of 2017, Individual 1 informed Sood via WhatsApp that Infinera was going to report actual revenues of $176.8 million and projected revenues of $188 million for the second quarter and third quarter of 2017, respectively. Knowing that these figures fell short of Wall Street analysts expectations, Sood purchased put options in Infinera prior to its earnings announcement and later sold the options for a profit of $36,455. Sood admitted that he used his own and another persons brokerage accounts to execute trades based upon material nonpublic information and that he acquired no less than $215,000 in criminal proceeds from the violations of the law described in the plea agreement.

In sum, Brown, Wylam, and Sood each were charged with one count of securities fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1348. The informations contain allegations only; Brown and Wylam are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Brown and Wylam face the same maximum statutory penalties as Sood; the maximum statutory penalties for a violation of 18 U.S.C.  1348 is 25 years in prison and the greater of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain made from the offense. The court also may order additional terms of supervised release, fines, forfeitures, and restitution; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C.  3553.

The next federal court appearance scheduled for Brown is on June 16, 2021, for arraignment and additional proceedings. The next federal court appearance scheduled for Wylam is on June 23, 2021, for arraignment and additional proceedings. The next federal court appearance scheduled for Sood is September 8, 2021, for a status conference.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a separate enforcement action against Brown, Wylam, Sood, and three others. The announcement of that action can be viewed here.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Waldinger is prosecuting the case with assistance from Kathy Tat. This case was investigated by the FBI. The Department of Justice appreciates the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Imperial Valley News Center

San Francisco CEO Pleads Guilty To Swindling Banks And Investors Out Of More Than $3.5 Million

San Francisco, California - Andrew Chapin pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud, bank fraud and securities fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.

Chapin, 33, of San Francisco, started a company in Boston that he moved to San Francisco in 2016 and renamed Benja Inc. Chapin was CEO of Benja. Benja was a digital advertising company that provided shoppable media by placing digital advertisements for companies with overstocked goods on websites which allowed shoppers to purchase products in the advertisement itself without being redirected to another website.

According to his plea agreement, from June 2019 to September 2020 Chapin was looking for additional investors and lines of credit for Benja. He told creditors and prospective investors that Benja generated $6,200,000 and $13,200,000 in revenue in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and had signed large contracts with numerous well-known national companies to place advertisements for their excess inventory. He admitted today in his plea agreement that he had no contracts with these companies, he falsified Benjas revenue, and he impersonated corporate representatives, or caused their impersonation, to bolster the appearance of company relationships that did not exist.

Chapin detailed in his plea agreement that he submitted false information about Benja to a victim bank to obtain lines of credit totaling $5,000,000. In one example, Chapin took advances on a line of credit and used the money to pay off creditors and investors as well as his personal credit cards, and he also transferred money to his cryptocurrency exchange account.

Chapin also admitted he made false statements to induce venture capital firms to invest in Benja. His false statements led to investments of $1,000,000 from a venture capital firm and $1,800,000 from a SAFE (simple agreement for future equity) fundraising round from multiple investors. To obtain these investments, he fabricated documents to reflect Benja had millions in revenue and account receivables from companies that never contracted with Benja.

In one example in his plea agreement, Chapin described that on March 23, 2020, he directed a New York venture capital firm to Benjas virtual data room that displayed a spreadsheet showing Benjas total 2019 revenue had exceeded $13,000,000 and listed contracts with well-known national sportswear companies that represented more than $7,000,000 of Benjas total 2019 income. However, Chapin admitted today that Benja had no contracts with the national sportswear companies and that he fabricated the spreadsheet. Chapin further admitted that for reference calls from the venture capital firm, he paid a Benja employee to impersonate a national running shoe companys representative and instructed another individual to impersonate a national sportswear companys representative. The venture capital firm relied on these representations and invested $1,000,000 in Benja. Chapin used that money to pay off a creditor.

Chapin also admitted defrauding individual investors. For example, in his plea agreement Chapin stated that in November 2018 he emailed false financial statements to an individual investor reflecting Benja had over $4,000,000 in revenue in 2018. Chapin further told the individual investor that a St. Louis, Missouri, venture capital firm was considering a $1,500,000 investment in Benja, although Chapin already knew the firm had declined to invest in Benja. Chapin also had a person impersonate the St. Louis venture capital firms manager during a reference call with the individual investor. In the call, the impersonator told the individual investor that a third party had verified Benjas financials and had also made customer reference calls about Benja that were positive. Chapin admitted he then provided false contact information for the St. Louis venture capital firms manager that allowed Chapin  not the venture capital firms manager  to respond to the individual investors questions about Chapins shareholder agreement. The individual investor signed the shareholders agreement, purchasing 1,278 shares of common stock in Benja for $100,000. Chapin admits he used that money to pay personal credit card bills and to transfer the funds to his personal bank and cryptocurrency exchange accounts.

Chapin agreed in his plea agreement that from June 2019 through September 2020, the total loss amount attributable to his fraud scheme exceeded $3,500,000.

Chapin was originally charged by federal complaint on November 23, 2020, and later by information on May 27, 2021. He pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney to bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1344, wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1343, and securities fraud in violation of 15 U.S.C.  78j(b) and 78ff, and 17 C.F.R.  240.10b-5. He remains out of custody on bond.

Chapins sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2021, before United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney in San Francisco. For bank fraud under 18 U.S.C.  1344, Chapin faces a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000. For wire fraud under 18 U.S.C.  1343, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. For securities fraud under 15 U.S.C.  78j(b) and 78ff, and 17 C.F.R.  240.10b-5, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $5,000,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C.  3553.

The case is prosecuted by the Corporate Fraud Strike Force of the U.S. Attorneys Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Attorneys Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation thank the San Francisco Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which conducted a parallel investigation.
Imperial Valley News Center

Leader of Oxy Bandits Crew Found Guilty of Federal Charges Related to the Armed Robberies of 15 Southern California Pharmacies

Los Angeles, California - A Lynwood man was found guilty of federal robbery charges for organizing and leading a crew that committed 15 armed robberies of independent, mom-and-pop pharmacies across Southern California, with the intent of illegally selling the stolen prescription medication.

Tyrome Lewis, 26, a.k.a. Boobie, was found guilty of all eight felony charges he faced after a two-day bench trial in April. Lewis has been in federal custody since his arrest in July 2019.

In a ruling issued today, United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt found Lewis guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, and two counts of knowingly using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to the evidence presented at trial, from May 2018 to July 2019, Lewis conspired with others to commit 15 armed robberies. Lewis selected the pharmacies to be robbed, targeting smaller pharmacies to steal oxycodone and other similar prescription medication. He also assigned the roles from the crew members, and then he served as a lookout while co-conspirators committed the robberies. Following the pharmacy robberies, Lewis and others would sell the stolen prescription medication on the black market.

The court found the Lewis-led armed crew  dubbed the Oxy Bandits by law enforcement  robbed pharmacies in Glendale, Bellflower, Paramount, Cerritos, Hawthorne, South Los Angeles, Pico Rivera, Huntington Park, Claremont, Westminster, Fullerton, Anaheim, and Riverside.

Each of the robberies shared a common modus operandi, including targeting smaller pharmacies, placing the stolen prescription drugs into the pharmacys trash bags or trash cans, using a black semi-automatic handgun to threaten and intimidate store employees, and forcing employees to open the medication vault.

Todays guilty verdict of Lewis for his role in this series of armed pharmacy robberies is part of a broader investigation of armed pharmacy robberies resulting from a partnership between the FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Through this partnership, the United States Attorneys Office has charged 21 individuals for their roles in various pharmacy robberies. Since the investigation began in 2019, 19 individuals, including Lewis, have been convicted for their participation in pharmacy robberies, while two defendants await trial.

Judge Kronstadt has scheduled a September 23 sentencing hearing, at which time Lewis will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department investigated this matter, with assistance from the Claremont Police Department and the Glendale Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Joseph D. Axelrad of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Peter Dahlquist of the Riverside Branch Office, prosecuted this case.
Imperial Valley News Center

Inland Empire Attorney Faces Federal Charge of Producing Child Pornography for Enticing Minor to Send Sexually Explicit Images

Riverside, California - An attorney with a law practice in Ontario was taken into federal custody Thursday on a charge of producing child pornography that alleges he paid a teenaged girl to send him sexually explicit images.

Sagi Schwartzberg, 38, of Fontana, was taken into custody by special agents with the FBI after the San Bernardino County District Attorney on Wednesday dismissed its child exploitation charges against him. Schwartzberg  who used the aliases Jason D, drunkesq_o64 and xocdrunkx on social media platforms  is expected to be arraigned on the federal charge this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside.

Schwartzberg is named in a federal criminal complaint, filed on April 27 and unsealed today, that charges him with production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

Schwartzberg was arrested February 17 in the state case, approximately three months after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children forwarded a tip from Kik, a mobile messaging application, to the Fontana Police Department. The tip indicated that a person later identified as Schwartzberg had uploaded suspected child pornography to Kik from two locations  later determined to be his residence and his law office  in October and November. The FBI later reviewed the videos, one of which depicts a girl who appears to be under the age of 10 being sexually assaulted, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint.

During a search on February 17, Fontana Police officers seized Schwartzbergs mobile phone, which had a hidden vault containing file folders, labeled with girls names, one of which contained sexually explicit images and videos of a girl who is now 15 years old, the affidavit alleges.

During a subsequent interview with police officers outlined in the affidavit, the girl said she had been solicited by Schwartzberg to send sexually explicit images via SnapChat starting 2019 and that she had received electronic gift cards in exchange. The victim reported that Jason asked her to meet up with him for sex but she never agreed to it, the affidavit states. Jason also asked her to introduce him to her other friends but [the victim] claimed that she did not introduce him to any of her friends.

Fontana Police also identified another victim, currently 17 years old, who had sent images to Schwartzberg via SnapChat when she was 16, sometimes in response to specific instructions, according to the affidavit, which notes authorities have identified at least two other minor victims who also sent images to Schwartzberg.

The FBI continues to work to identify other victims in this case. Anyone who may have information in this matter is encouraged to contact the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565.

This matter is being investigating by the FBI in conjunction with Fontana Police Department, as part of Inland Regional Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The Task Force also includes the Upland Police Department, the Rialto Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the Riverside County District Attorneys Office, the Riverside County Sheriffs Department and the Riverside Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Sonah Lee of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Imperial Valley News Center

Two Ex-O.C. Sheriffs Deputies Plead Guilty to Charges, Admit to Fraudulently Obtaining Military Leave Paid for by County Taxpayers

Santa Ana, California - Twin brothers  both former Orange County sheriffs deputies  pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges and admitted that they defrauded Orange County taxpayers by submitting approximately two dozen fraudulent military orders to obtain military leave from the Sheriffs Department so they would not be docked vacation days.

Taylor Morgan, 26, and Tyler Morgan, 26, both of Long Beach, each pleaded guilty in separate hearings to a single-count information charging them with unlawful possession of an authentication feature of the United States, a misdemeanor offense.

United States Magistrate Judge Autumn D. Spaeth sentenced each defendant to one year of probation. Taylor Morgan further was sentenced to six months of home detention and ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution while Tyler Morgan was sentenced to eight months of home detention and was ordered to pay $32,400 in restitution.

According to their plea agreements, Tyler Morgan was employed as a correctional service assistant and deputy with the Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) from August 2015 to January 2021. Taylor Morgan had the same job titles with OCSD from January 2017 to January 2020. Both men also were in reserve units for the United States Marine Corps in Camp Pendleton.

As part of their employment with OCSD, the defendants received 30 days of leave per year that could be used for vacations, military leave and other personal reasons. In addition to such leave, the defendants received an additional 30 days of leave per year when they had to fulfill their active duty obligations with their reserve units with the Marine Corps, including annual training.

From June 2017 to November 2019, Tyler Morgan submitted 24 fraudulent military orders to OCSD to obtain military leave from the department. From May 2017 to January 2020, Taylor Morgan submitted 25 fraudulent military orders to OCSD to obtain military leave from the department. In fact, neither had been ordered by the Marine Corps to fulfill active duty obligations with their reserve units.

Both defendants admitted that they defrauded the County of Orange to obtain wages paid for military leave by committing wire fraud using the fraudulent military orders. The defendants altered orders that appeared to be official notices requiring them to serve active duty at Camp Pendleton. The fraudulent orders appeared to have been authorized by a Marine Corps official and had the Department of Defenses seal on them.

The defendants submitted the fraudulent orders to OCSDs Professional Standard Division so they would receive military leave from the county on the dates listed on the orders and their vacation days would not be used. In most instances, the defendants were at inactive duty training (also known as drill), which OCSD did not compensate for military leave.

In at least one instance, Tyler Morgan did not inform OCSD that he was at drill or that the dates of his drill duties had changed, causing the County of Orange to incorrectly compensate him as if he had been on active duty. Tyler Morgan admitted to submitting a fraudulent military order that appeared to be from the Marine Corps requiring him to be on active duty for one week in late July 2019. In fact, he was on active duty for only part of that time period. Tyler Morgan did not inform OCSD that, during that week, he was also on drill, took a trip to Las Vegas, and spent one day at home playing the Call of Duty video game.

In total, Taylor Morgan received 48 days of military leave to which he was not entitled, resulting in a loss of $14,000 to the County of Orange. Tyler Morgan received 64 days of fraudulently obtained military leave, resulting in a loss of $32,400 to the County.

The FBI and the United States Department of Defense  Office of Inspector General investigated this matter. The Orange County Sheriffs Department provided substantial assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney Vibhav Mittal of the Santa Ana Branch Office prosecuted these cases.
Sometimes the ex-CEO is exactly what a brand needs for a fresh start.

That's exactly what happened at Tatcha with Victoria Tsai, the founder and CEO of the Japanese-inspired skin care line. After spending close to a decade building the premium beauty brand from the ground up, Tsai had stepped aside. The company had been acquired by Unilever in a blockbuster $500 million sale in 2019 and seemed to be headed in a new direction.

"When you go from small to bigger, it's so easy to lose your sense of focus and purpose and mission," says Tsai, who had worked at Starbucks earlier in her career. "I think most founders who step in as second-time CEOs, we tend to have had the same experience, which is that thing that made your company so special, that magic, that way of being, that mission. Sometimes when you bring in outside leaders, it doesn't always translate and stick."

Tatcha is among the Inc. 5000 alumni companies, having ranked at No. 21 in 2015. Tsai spoke to Inc. assistant editor Brit Morse during an Inc. Real Talk stream event about the lessons she is learning the second time around at the helm of her business.

Build for longevity

For Tsai, sitting on the sidelines and watching her company be run by others reinforced what her goals were for the brand. She wanted a company that loved its clients and built the best collection in the world for them. What's more, she wanted a company that could last for 100 years and outlive her.

While Tsai regrets stepping down, she says she learned a lot from the experience. That a company she spent nine years building could fall apart so fast under new leadership was a "wake-up call" of sorts.

"It's kind of like building a house when an earthquake comes. If it's well built, it shouldn't be able to fall down," she says. "Watching the cracks in the foundation and the peat chipping off the wall a little bit from the sidelines helped me realize as a leader, if I want this to last 100 years but I can't be the leader for 100 years, where do I need to reinforce the foundations of the company, so that it is built to last?"

Tsai ended up hiring an organization design firm to do assessments of Tatcha and interview people throughout the company. She then did what she called a "three-week listening tour," where she spoke to every single Tatcha employee.

"I said, 'Tell me what's going right, that you want to make sure I protect, and then what needs to be changed.' And that became my marching orders for coming back in," she says.

Differentiate your products

Tatcha doesn't try to keep up with the latest skin care trends. Part of this is due to the sheer amount of time the company takes to research and develop each product. The brand's signature sunscreen, for example, took four years to create. But if a soon-to-be-released product seems to coincidentally align with a new beauty fad, Tsai nips it in the bud.

"If somebody else is already doing it, then I'm not focusing or differentiated. And if it's trendy, it's not differentiated. So, no, I'll kill it," says Tsai. The founder estimates that she kills or shelves roughly 30 percent of what the company is working on.
Vote counts, pandemic stats, vaccination hesitancy. Fact-based consensus--commonly called truth--has become a gobsmackingly rare commodity in this divisive world of multiple and opposing "truths."

Honesty itself is in critically short supply these days. Heck, even the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner flunked his post-race drug test.

In the business world, today's quicksilver fluidity of "truth" has become a license to fake it till you make it for many in leadership roles. But others see the honesty shortage as a remarkable business opportunity. When the demand for a valued good exceeds supply, those who have it to offer find themselves in an enviable position.

In the book Make It, Don't Fake It: Leading With Authenticity for Real Business Success, C-suite adviser, entrepreneur, and communications expert Sabrina Horn gives leaders the tools to resist "short hacks," and the courage to lead with authenticity and integrity.

It's not just about having morals

Anyone can be tempted to exaggerate or minimize the truth, only to sabotage their own success and destroy their reputation. So instead of digging yourself out of a hole with damage control, Horn asks, "Why not steer clear of fakery by taking the path to real leadership, an authentic foundation, and enduring success?"

Horn shared the top three reasons as to why honesty really is the best policy and why you should build your business on it.

1. Honesty is a great brand, high in demand, and short in supply

When truth and truth-telling are scarce, consumers and customers will jump at the chance to do business with a company whose brand is honesty. Cutting corners--faking it--may seem (or actually be) expedient in the short term but building long-term success on dishonest business practices turns out to be nearly impossible. So, why would you do this to yourself, your employees, and your customers? Horn shares that "honesty is not a frill or a value added. It is the core and essence of any great brand. It differentiates the great brand from the rest. It creates demand. Real demand."

2. Honesty is reality.

Fake it till you make it is a meme broadcast through social media and pop culture and now bizarrely morphed into acceptable business advice. The problem with memes is that they require no connection to reality. They propagate from person to person without ever touching ground.

"We must make a hard descent back to the fertile earth of reality, where success is more than a function of 'getting away with something.' Honesty is reality," shares Horn.

"Faking it is a loser's game. It might take a minute, a day, or a year, but reality always wins in the end, and when it does, it ruins the reputations of those who run their companies on the thread of a meme," adds Horn.

Real value in business is an exchange of fair value for fair value. Reality-based leaders look for what they can give. Meme-based "leaders" look only for what they can take. That makes them frauds. For whom do you want to work? With whom do you want to do business?

3. Honesty is easier.

As the playwright, screenwriter, and movie director David Mamet likes to say, "Always tell the truth. It's the easiest thing to remember." The weight of morality, ethics, decency, and, yes, brand value are all on the side of honesty. If this seems like too much virtue to swallow, understand that honesty is always easier than weaving the tangled web of fable and deception.

"Telling the truth can be painful. It can be hard, sad, and scary. But inventing, then propagating, and then defending fakery is a grind that burdens the mind, wears down the soul, and burns holes in the gut. It may or may not kill you, but, quickly or slowly, it will surely kill your business," Horn shares.
Dir: Justin Lin. Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Ludacris Bridges, John Cena, Jordana Brewster. Cert 12A, 145 mins

In the deliriously, triumphantly stupid Fast & Furious 9, Tyrese Gibsons Roman Pearce wonders aloud whether his crew might be invincible. Theyve just sped across a minefield at 80mph in an attempt to outdrive death, while Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his wife Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) used the rope of a collapsing bridge to ping their car across a canyon like it was a Micro Machine. And yet, everyone departed the scene without so much as a scratch on their perfectly chiselled bodies.

Were they all injected with supersoldier serum as toddlers? Are they Elder Gods come to wreak automotive chaos on the planet? Are they trapped in a simulation, where anything is possible except drinking a brand of beer that isnt Corona? It doesnt really matter. That small moment of self-awareness feels like director Justin Lin has handed himself a catch-all permission slip. These stunts, of course, would not be possible in any dimension where the rules of gravity, military-grade weapons, or carbon-based lifeforms applied. But its a handy justification for the arch-vision hes been building since 2011s Fast Five  one which has transformed a pack of car thieves into adrenaline-addicted, international superspies embroiled in soap opera dynamics  while blasting the door of possibility open for both this film and any future instalments.

The plot of Fast & Furious 9 is delivered with a shrug: the team are sent an SOS from intelligence operative Mr Nobody (Kurt Russell). His plane, carrying captured cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) and part of a weapon that shouldnt exist for a half-century, was brought down somewhere in Central America. The culprit? Doms long-lost brother Jakob (John Cena), who hes failed to mention until this very moment.

At times, I couldnt help but sit back with a kind of slack-jawed awe as I contemplated the people, money and resources that had been poured into concepts such as big magnet, Helen Mirren drives a sportscar, and very long zip line  plus a third-act punchline that is simply too unbelievable to spoil. But thats the true joy of a Fast & Furious film. Its a clown, but a clown that believes sincerely in itself. When Vin Diesel bows his head with the solemnity of a priest delivering last rites, as he preaches once more about the saving grace that is family, it tethers the franchise to something almost noble in its sincerity.

The long-awaited return of fan favourite, formerly dead Han (Sung Kang) hands him an impressive welcome and almost nothing to do afterwards (Universal Pictures)

The Fast & Furious franchise has become a 21st-century, blockbuster iteration of the glory days of straight-to-VHS action films like Samurai Cop and Showdown in Little Tokyo  films that feel like they were created by a bunch of plucky underdogs high off their own childhood daydreams. And there are plenty of glaring weak spots in Fast & Furious 9. A natural goofball like Cena, so at home in Blockers or Trainwreck, feels miscast as the perpetually scowling, granite block that is Doms brother. Theron, one of Hollywoods greatest living action stars, has yet to throw a punch in these films. And the long-awaited return of fan favourite, formerly dead Han (Sung Kang) hands him an impressive welcome and almost nothing to do afterwards.

But the Fast & Furious franchise has never concerned itself with such flippant details as plot or character development. And, in this ninth instalment, its still delivering what audiences truly want: cars where cars absolutely should not be.
Jennifer Aniston has claimed that a Friends guest star thought he was above being on the show, and s*** on it during filming.

Speaking to US radio host Howard Stern, the actor claimed that the incident occurred in the shows first season.

It was as if they were just too above this, to be on a sitcom, Aniston said. And I remember when we were doing a network run-through, the network and the producers would just laugh. And this person would be like, Listen to them, just laughing at their own jokes. So stupid, not even funny.

It was just like, What are you doing here? Your attitude, this is not what were all about. This is a wonderful, warm place to be, and youre coming into our home and just s*** on it.

Aniston added that the actor did end up apologising about their behaviour years later, recalling: He just said, I was so nervous, to be honest, that I wasnt on my best behaviour.

While Aniston did not name the guest star in question, actor Fisher Stevens admitted earlier this year that he was kind of an a*****e while working on the series. Stevens guest starred in the shows first season as a snobby psychiatrist who dated Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow).

At that moment in my career, I had never done a sitcom before, Stevens told PeopleTV in February, recalling that he had flown from New York to Los Angeles to film the show, only to be told upon arrival that his lines had been rewritten.

Because thats what sitcoms did. And I didnt know that, he said. I was kind of an a*****e, I have to admit. What do you mean? So I have to relearn lines that youve written that are worse than what youd originally written? Yeah, I was a d***. Ive rarely seen any of those people on Friends again, but Im sure if you asked them about me, they would go, What a New York snob. Im sorry, guys. Im sorry I was a d*** to you all. I apologise. I was bad, I was wrong.

Friends stars Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston in 1997 (Getty Images)

Aniston recently reunited with the rest of the Friends cast for a high-profile reunion episode, in which they reminisced about their time on the series and revealed surprise secrets from the past.

One major revelation was that Aniston and David Schwimmer, who played her love interest Ross on the show, nearly had a real-life romance.
By now, you will probably be familiar with the pandemic revenge outfit. Perhaps youve seen the hashtag trending on Twitter alongside a picture of a chainmail halterneck top. Or a leopard print co-ord. Or a sequin cocktail dress. Whatever the image, they will all send the same message: this is not just any outfit.

For the uninitiated, the pandemic revenge outfit is characterised by a unique set of sensibilities: melodrama, extravagance, and unadulterated excess. Its the kind of outfit we havent had any place to wear for the last 18 months. One that, we hope, will make up for all of the time weve spent neglecting our wardrobes during lockdown, when dressing up meant donning a matching pyjama set. In short, its a sartorial f*** you to Covid.

The rise of the pandemic revenge outfit is supported by shopping data. According to global fashion search platform Lyst, weve all been craving going out clothing this year, with online searches for high heels and dresses up by 197 and 176 per cent respectively, while searches are also steadily rising for fluorescent green and pink items.

Post-lockdown, trends will be widely shaped by the type of experiences that we have missed over these past months Morgane Le Caer, Lyst

Additionally, there has been a surge in interest surrounding statement looks, like Marcias no underwear designs and Nensi Dojakas sculpting mesh mini dresses, which, with unusual cutouts on the bodice and sides, leave little to the imagination (the Albanian-born designers asymmetric mini dress was one of Lysts hottest products last quarter).

Such statement looks have certainly been the port of call on Instagram recently. Fashion writer and influencer Camille Charriere dubbed a mesh pair of stilettos with a flared heel by Parisian label Amina Muaddi the Revenge Heel in February, just a few months after she captioned a photograph of herself in a pair of black micro-shorts and black platform shoes a post corona revenge look. Elsewhere on the gram, Man Repeller founder Leandra Medine slipped into her own lockdown revenge look, comprising black shorts, Chanel tights, Manolo Blahnik pumps, and a Norma Kamali military jacket.

Meanwhile, Town and Country took the metaphor a bit literally by dedicating its entire May issue to the glamour of dressing up, featuring a photograph of the socialite Jill Kargman blowtorching her tracksuit bottoms. Yes, really.

After over a year of living in sweatpants, its clear that fashion lovers want to feel the joy of dressing up again, and it seems they have also taken advantage of this time spent at home to rethink and shatter the traditional codes of dressing, says Morgane Le Caer, content lead at Lyst. Post-lockdown, trends will be widely shaped by the type of experiences that we have missed over these past months, and we predict a comeback of body-con dresses and other going out clothes.

Similar trends have been noted over at luxury e-tailer Net-a-Porter, where Libby Page, senior market editor, has identified a rise in colourful patterned dresses from the likes of Chloe and Zimmerman. We predict a burst of feminine pieces and playful prints as customers embrace the joy of dressing up by experimenting with textures and colours that they typically havent tried before now, she tells The Independent.

Saisangeeth Daswani, head of advisory at trends intelligence company Stylus, describes this as an anti-domestic mindset. With more time on their hands, the pandemic has empowered consumers creativity, particularly on the social front, she adds. Similarly, consumers might not want to follow set trends going forward and prefer to use their clothing, style and dress sense to better express their identities.

It might seem only natural that, after spending a year wearing nothing but pyjamas and loungewear, wed want to dress up more  but theres a more deep-rooted psychological explanation to all of this. After a year of doom and gloom, putting more effort into the way we dress will spark a new relationship with our clothing. It is the first step to reclaiming our lives, says fashion psychologist Dr Dawnn Karen.

Given that the fashion industry relies on brands being one step ahead  designers showcase their collections six months in advance  it will come as no surprise that several labels predicted the current rise in f*** it fashion back in February.

Flamboyance was the theme-du-jour at 16Arlington, whose autumn/winter 2021 collection was bursting with its signature ostrich feathers, which found their way onto everything from leather gowns, puffer coats, and a show-stopping burnt orange coat complete with a black mesh overlay.

16Arlington autumn/winter 2021 (16Arlington)

The mood was just as dramatic over at Temperley London. Usually famed for its delicate sequin gowns, the brand took a different tact by producing leopard-print frocks with matching coats and standout tailoring in the form of velvet and leather three-piece suits.

Temperley London (left) and 16Arlington (right) autumn/winter 2021 (16Arlington - Temperley)

As any fashion fan will know, our clothes are not just things to wear, but a means of self-expression. And having been robbed of that for more than a year, many people will feel compelled to express themselves more boldly than ever before. As a result, Dr Karen predicts that any occasion will become an event to dress up, whether its going to a sporting event or getting on a plane. This is known as mood enhancement dress, she explains. People will dress for themselves as opposed to others.

Its not the first time that a global tragedy has inspired a wardrobe change. In many ways this carefree, devil-may-care attitude is similar to what happened just over a 100 years ago at the end of Spanish Flu in 1918, says fashion historian Lally MacBeth. The 1920s saw skirts rise, hair chopped short, and a new adventurous spirit of optimism and freedom. The underlying mood this time round, MacBeth predicts, will be characterised by a similar sense of liberation; when all restrictions lift, we will finally be free to do the things (like going out to nightclubs) that we havent been able to do for months. It makes sense, then, that all this would be reflected in the way we dress.

This carefree, devil-may-care attitude is similar to what happened just over a 100 years ago at the end of Spanish Flu in 1918 Lally MacBeth, fashion historian

There will, of course, be some people who find themselves veering in the opposite direction. Perhaps they have become so accustomed to their lockdown uniform, comprising tracksuit bottoms and an oversized T-shirt, that the thought of wearing anything else makes them shudder. There will be some people that will remain in their 2020 sartorial style, says Dr Karen. This special group of people will be stuck in a time warp due to the unexpected jolt this pandemic and lockdown gave us. They self soothed by wearing leisure looks and so will continue to dress for safety and functionality.

Whichever camp you sit in, there is no doubt that the pandemic will have sparked some sort of change in how you feel about the way you dress. Its inevitable after what has felt like a restrictive year in what we can wear, adds Page. Fashion sparks joy. So its natural to want to change our approach to clothing now that there is more purpose, more events, and a sense of occasion.

If youre unsure of what your post-pandemic self will look like, Dr Karen suggests performing an emotional temperature check. Use this to check in with how youre feeling and align that with your attire, she says. For those who cant wait to get back on the dance floor, that might mean donning your boldest and brightest glad rags everywhere from the supermarket to the post office. But for others, it might mean taking a more subtle approach to ease yourself back into this brave new world.

The important thing is simply to make sure that you feel comfortable. Incongruence and inauthenticity are the enemies of confidence, adds Dr Karen. The key to looking and feeling better is creating an alignment between who you are, how you feel, and who the world sees. And what better way to do that than through your clothes?
 Close UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures

Germany could lift travel restrictions on British travellers who have had both their Covid jabs in a foreseeable future, Angela Merkel has said.

Speaking on a visit to the UK the chancellor declined to immediately lift controls and pointed out that the UK had also imposed rules of its own on German travellers.

Meanwhile, cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus in the UK have risen almost four-fold in less than a month, new data shows.

On Friday, Public Health England (PHE) reported a total of 161,981 confirmed and probable cases of the Covid-19 Delta variant have now been identified in the UK - up by 50,824, or 46 per cent, on the previous week.

The increase in case numbers comes as the government has been reportedly discussing the possibility of reintroducing masks and social distancing for the winter.

Downing Street has publicly stated its hope that 19 July, when all measures are set to be lifted, will be the start of an exciting new journey for the UK.

But The Independent understands that government officials have been discussing the possibility of reintroducing baseline Covid restrictions for the winter in the eventuality of a significant wave of cases.
Rapper McKinley Mac Phipps has been released from prison after being granted parole in the case of a 2001 shooting at a south Louisiana nightclub.

The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported that Phipps was released late Tuesday, hours after parole was granted by the state parole board.

Phipps was serving a 30-year sentence after a St. Tammany Parish jury found him guilty in 2001 of manslaughter in the shooting death of a man at a nightclub in Slidell. At the time of the shooting, he was a 22-year-old rapper with a new record deal with the No Limit label.

Phipps has always maintained that he was wrongfully convicted. Witnesses told The Huffington Post in 2015 that their testimony was coerced, bringing new attention to his case.

Phipps, meanwhile, was drawing praise for mentoring young inmates. Board members noted that he had no disciplinary infractions in the last 18 years and that he would be eligible for early release for good behavior in 2024.

Under his current parole conditions, he must observe a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, avoid establishments which serve alcohol, perform six hours of community service a month with at-risk youth, and meet with his parole officer weekly.

Phipps wife and mother pledged to help him comply with his parole conditions. No one opposed the parole and the parole panel approved it unanimously.

I want to say thank you for this opportunity, Phipps added. I definitely want to say Im sorry to the family of the victim and to just anyone who was affected by this.

Gov. John Bel Edwards granted Phipps clemency in April, setting up Tuesdays hearing.
New Zealand nationals are being told they must leave the UK when their visas expire despite being unable to book travel home due to Covid restrictions.

Under New Zealands Covid rules, almost all inbound travellers, including those coming from Britain, are legally required to have a voucher confirming their place in managed isolation before boarding their flight.

Travellers must use an online portal called Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) to secure their place in a managed isolation facility before travelling to the country.

However, high demand on the MIQ portal has meant people wishing to leave the UK because their visa is due to expire have been unable to find a slot that corresponds with a flight.

Visa holders in Britain can apply to the Home Office for extensions on their stay if they can prove they cannot get home due to Covid restrictions, known as exceptional assurance.

However, the department has refused a number of individuals who have asked for this, saying it is currently only approving assurances until 30 June, and that for a further extension they must prove they have a flight booked at the earliest possible date.

This has left many New Zealand nationals in what they have described as a catch-22 because they cannot find a quarantine slot in order to book a flight, and as a result the Home Office is refusing to grant them an extension.

Many are fearful that they will become illegal overstayers through no fault of their own.

In one case, Caleb-Jade Teura has been refused a visa extension by the Home Office despite presenting evidence that she has booked a flight for October - the only time she was able to find a quarantine slot.

The 21-year-old, who currently lives in Devon working as a waitress, said she was extremely worried about her finances, as without a visa extension she will not be able to work  or live lawfully in the UK  from 30 June, but has nowhere else to go.

I am honestly mortified by all of this. I have rent and food to pay for, and Im very worried about becoming an overstayer. Its so stressful. Its like being in limbo, she told The Independent.

Ive asked multiple times all with this same email reply. I assumed they did it by a month to month basis but now Im hearing they just arent extending anymore.

Another New Zealander, Charlotte, 26, who has been in the UK for nearly two years and whose visa expires on 16 July, said she had been constantly looking for quarantine slots.

Im a wreck. Ive barely slept since last Tuesday. I cant stop crying and I cant focus on work. Im obsessively checking my emails and the booking system and Twitter alerts. Its like a full-time job, its ridiculous, she said.

Ive managed to get a few slots but they have been no good because there are no flights going at that time.

If I dont have assurance by 16 July, I will be stranded here without right to work. I will be an overstayer without an income.

A Home Office spokesperson said it did not routinely comment on individual cases, but added: Visa holders who are unable to leave the UK can request additional time to stay, known as exceptional assurance.

This is in place until the end of June and we will be providing individuals with further assurances in the coming days.

During the time in which a request for exceptional assurance is pending individuals will continue on the conditions of their recently expired visa.

A spokesperson for New Zealands High Commission in London said the MIQ booking system was experiencing high demand, but that more rooms were to be released for August, September and October.

We advise people who may be affected to persist in checking the system for available dates prior to their current leave in the UK expiring, they added.
 Close Related video: Watch as Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel make a joint statement

Angela Merkel has raised the prospect of fully vaccinated Britons visiting Germany after holding talks with Boris Johnson at Chequers, amid concerns over plans to restrict travel to the EU.

The German chancellor declined to immediately lift controls and pointed out that the UK had also imposed rules of its own on German travellers, but said restrictions may be eased for those who have had both doses of a Covid jab in the forseeable future.

We have adopted certain protective measures when we were not, as yet so familiar with a Delta variant, the chancellor told reporters at a press conference.

The chancellor also said she was optimstic about a solution being found to problems in Northern Ireland relating to the post-Brexit trading arrangement.

She said she believed that pragmatic solutions could be found so that both the integrity of the single market is maintained and acceptable solutions are created. I think Im optimistic that this can happen, she said.
Britons have been offered fresh hope of foreign holidays after Boris Johnson said the vaccination programme offers a real opportunity.

Just days after urging people to stay at home, the prime minister switched tack  hinting quarantine requirements will be lifted soon for visits to amber list countries.

I think that the real opportunity we all have now is to open up travel through the double jab, he said.

The comments come as the Balearic Islands, Malta and some Caribbean islands are expected to be added to the quarantine-free green list later today.

But, more significantly, the government wants fully vaccinated Britons  and their children  to be able to travel to amber list countries, without the need for isolation of expensive testing on return.

Hinting that move is not far away, Mr Johnson said: Weve got more than 60 per cent of our population have now had two jabs, 83 per cent have had one jab. Were really getting through it now.

However, he added: Im not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I dont want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.

He did not rule out a foreign holiday himself, saying: My plans at this stage are at the unformed stage, Im afraid. Im certainly not ruling it in or ruling it out.

Earlier, Angela Merkel threw a spoke in the wheel by calling for all EU countries to force holidaying Britons to go into quarantine  as Germany and Italy do.

The German Chancellor called for a united EU approach, after rocketing cases of the Delta variant in the UK put it at the top of the table for Covid infections.

She was criticised by George Eustice, the environment secretary, who claimed the move was unnecessary  despite the UK itself currently requiring 10-day isolation on arrival from all EU destinations.

Greece and Spain are among Mediterranean sunspots that have broken with Brussels to allow in British travellers without requiring them to isolate, but are now under pressure to rethink.

Mr Johnson ducked that controversy, but added: Im not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I dont want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.

He also defended UK actions after Russian jets and warships were involved in a dramatic confrontation with a Royal Navy destroyer in the Black Sea, off the coast of Crimea.

It was wholly appropriate to use international waters, he said on a visit to New Normandy Barracks in Aldershot.

And, by the way, the important point is that we dont recognise the Russian annexation of Crimea.

This is part of a sovereign Ukrainian territory, it was entirely right that we should vindicate the law and pursue freedom of navigation in the way that we did, take the shortest route between two points, and thats what we did.
India is warning of a new "Delta plus" mutation emerging from the Ganges River variant that the Centres for Disease Control says is seen in more than 20 per cent of all new cases in the United States.

CDC director Rochelle Walensky said during the White House Covid-19 briefing that the delta variant doubled in the past week to account for more than a fifth of new cases. It was just 3 per cent several weeks ago.

"This is concerning but expected, knowing what we do about how efficiently this variant spreads, and by what we saw in the United Kingdom with this variant," she said.

"We know our vaccines work against this variant, however, this variant represents a set of mutations that could lead to future mutations that evade our vaccine."

Her comments came as virologists began warning of the new mutation of a mutation to emerge from the subcontinent.

The so-called Delta Plus, or Ay.01 mutation, contains characteristics of the original Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and also of the mutation known as K417N, which was discovered in the Beta variant from South Africa.

Its well-established that the Beta variant of concern evades vaccines much better than the Alpha variant or even the Delta variant, Indian professor Shahid Jameel told India Today.

We hardly have cases to establish the Delta Plus variant as a variant of concern in the Indian population. In India, 20 cases out of 25,000 sequences are nothing. More sequencing is needed to determine, he added.

Delta Plus was first detected in India on 5 April but the mutation was not formally acknowledged until being publicly reported as K417N in a Public Health England bulletin on 11 June, when it identified 63 cases in Canada, Germany, Russia, Nepal, Switzerland, India, Poland, Portugal and Japan.

By 16 June that number grew to 197 cases with the most in the United States (83) and Britain (36), and new countries joining the list including Turkey,

The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement to Reuters theyre tracking the variant as with other "variants of concern".

"For the moment, this variant does not seem to be common, currently accounting for only a small fraction of the Delta sequences ... Delta and other circulating Variants of Concern remain a higher public health risk as they have demonstrated increases in transmission," the statement said.
The bodies of two young girls have been found in a South Florida canal within hours of one another, authorities have said.

WTVJ reported that investigators made the first discovery at around 12pm on Tuesday, while the second body was found at around 8.45pm the same day.

Police do not know yet what led to the deaths or if there is any connection between the two children.

"We cant determine at this point if theyre related, because its just, the juvenile was just found," Lauderhill police Lieutenant Michael Santiago said on Tuesday.

Mr Santiago said that the case is complicated with a lot of moving parts but detectives are trying to piece the puzzle together.

NBC News reported that police said authorities treat all death investigations as homicides until they are determined to be otherwise.

It is very alarming, you have a young child found in the water, it is very disturbing in the area and disturbing to the neighbourhood, Mr Santiago said according to WTVJ.

He added: So we just want to see what exactly happened to this child and see if she even lives in this particular area.

According to WPLG police said that both young girls were Black and around 10 to 13 years old.

WKMG-TV said investigators may have identified the first girl, but that they are not yet releasing her identity as family members have not been notified.

WTVJ reported that officials said they did not know how long the first girl had been in the canal, which is situated in Broward County.

A witness who spotted one of the bodies, Lawna Johnson, 51, told WKMG-TV that the situation was upsetting. She said: I see things on TV; I aint never seen something real like that.

It hurts. Its like you seen your own child floating in the water, Ms Johnson told WTVJ.

The Independent has contacted the Lauderhill Police Department for comment.
A New York State appellate court has suspended the law licence of Rudy Giuliani, accusing him of making demonstrably false and misleading statements in his quest to overturn Donald Trumps 2020 election defeat.

We conclude that respondents conduct immediately threatens the public interest and warrants interim suspension from the practice of law, pending further proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committee, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York wrote.

Mr Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, served as Mr Trumps personal lawyer during his presidency. After the former president lost the 2020 election, Mr Giuliani launched dozens of court cases challenging the results, often while invoking debunked conspiracy theories about voter fraud and corrupt voting machines.

On Thursday, the appellate court made it clear that Mr Giulianis false statements in those cases were what got his licence suspended.

We conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent [Mr Giuliani] communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former president Donald J Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trumps failed effort at re-election in 2020, the court wrote.

Under the courts order, Mr Giuliani will not be allowed to represent clients as a lawyer as long as the suspension remains in effect. He has not been disbarred, but some believe that could come next.

Given the First Departments opinion, its hard to imagine that Rudy wont be disbarred after a full hearing, the lawyer and political commentator George Conway tweeted. Its now almost inconceivable that he will ever set foot in a courtroom again as anything other than a defendant.

Mr Giuliani has been a lawyer since 1969. In 1983, he rose to the position of US attorney in Manhattan, where he and his team won important victories against organised crime. Those successes helped launch his political career, which saw him serve as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001 and stand as a presidential candidate in 2008.

It was his quixotic efforts in 2020 that led to his fall from grace. The vast majority of Mr Giulianis election cases were dismissed or defeated, often along with some harsh words from the judges who heard them.

This court has been presented with strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations, unpled in the operative complaint and unsupported by evidence, Pennsylvania judge Matthew Brann, a Republican, wrote as he dismissed one of Mr Giulianis cases with prejudice.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Giulianis lawyers for comment, but has not yet heard back.
On the day after the sharpest maritime confrontation in recent memory, Russias deputy foreign minister sent out a message that it would take out any foreign warship that tested its territorial claims.

"We can call people to respect common sense and international law," Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday morning, "but if that doesnt help, we can bomb not only the path [of a ship], but hit the target."

In its first public response since the incident, the Kremlin described the operation by HMS Defender as a deliberate act of provocation.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it would not rule anything out... in the legal defence of Russian borders.

Speaking with journalists in his daily briefing, Mr Peskov said Russia was very worried about the significance of such operations. They were, he claimed, unacceptable and inconsistent with international law.

The routing of HMS Defender from Ukraine to Georgia via a shipping channel off Cape Fiolent in Crimea on Wednesday has been the subject of claim and counterclaim.

Russia says it forcibly removed the British ship from its waters after firing warning shots and dropping highly explosive munitions from the air. The UK has refuted such claims, saying no such firing took place, and that the Defender was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

The essence of the dispute is the legal status of Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia claims not only the land, but maritime territory around the peninsula.

In April, Moscow also announced it was closing much of those waters to foreign shipping in a move that has raised suspicions about its future military intentions.

Britain, like most of the international community, does not recognise Russias claims to Crimean waters. The royal navy was, in effect, asserting that interpretation in a freedom of navigation operation that was always likely to anger the Russians.

Jonathan Beale, a BBC journalist embedded on board the Defender confirmed that the operation was a "deliberate move," entering Crimean territorial waters to "defend a recognised international shipping lane."

The reporter conceded Russian forces had  not unexpectedly  taken a different view, with as many as 20 fighter jets hovering above the British ship at one point. He also seemed to confirm warning shots were fired by Russian coastguards, albeit supposedly out of range, contradicting official UK Ministry of Defence claims.

In comments to journalists, deputy foreign minister Ryabkov said such differences of opinion would have severe consequences in the future.

"The territorial integrity of the Russian Federation is inviolable, an absolute imperative," he said. "We will stand guard over all this by diplomatic and political, and, if necessary, military means."
Cuba slammed Joe Biden for breaking an election promise to improve relations between the two countries after the US voted against a United Nations resolution to end the blockade of the island.

The Biden administration voted against the UN General Assemblys annual resolution to end the economic embargo despite the presidents campaign commitment to lift current restrictions on remittances and travel.

Cubas Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told the UN in New York on Wednesday that Mr Bidens "pernicious passivity" was due to the Democrats electoral ambitions in Florida.

"The electoral platform for the Democratic party around the election promised voters that it would rapidly reverse actions taken by the government of Donald Trump, and in particular that it would eliminate restrictions on travel to Cuba, remittances and the fulfilment of bilateral migratory agreements, including restrictions to the issuance of visas," Mr Rodriguez said.

"What will those that who voted for president Joseph Biden think of what is happening. Mr President, the human damage caused by the blockade is incalculable. No Cuban family has escaped the effects of this inhumane policy."

The Trump administration added more than 200 sanctions against the Communist-run government, with the State Department designating the country a state sponsor of terrorism just days before the former president left office.

Asked in March about the new administrations position toward the country, press secretary Jen Psaki said it was carefully reviewing policy decisions made by their predecessors.

A Cuba policy shift is not currently among President Bidens top priorities, Ms Psaki told reporters

It came after a group of 80 Democrats from the House of Representatives wrote Mr Biden to lift Mr Trumps "cruel sanctions and revert to the position of former president Barack Obama

With the stroke of a pen, you can assist struggling Cuban families and promote a more constructive approach, the letter said.

Despite pressure from within his own party, the US voted against the UN resolutions to lift the embargo for the 28th time  with the one exception in 2016 when Washington abstained under Obama.

The USs diplomat at the UN on Wednesday, Rodney Hunter, told the General Assembly that sanctions against Cuba were a "legitimate tool" in achieving its foreign policy objectives and to support the Cuban people.

"Sanctions are one set of tools in our broader effort toward Cuba, to advance democracy, to promote respect for Human rights, and help the Cuban people exercise the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights," he said.

"The United States opposes this resolution. We encourage this body to support the Cuban people in their quest to determine their own future," he added.

While the UN resolution passed with 184 votes versus two against (including Israel), it carries no binding consequence at lifting the embargo, which can only be done by the US Congress.
The government has confirmed its plan to allow fully vaccinated travellers to skip quarantine when arriving from amber-listed countries, although they will still be required to take a test.

It intends this change to take effect from later in the summer.

It follows speculation that fully-jabbed travellers could skip quarantine when returning from amber countries as early as next month.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said in an update: In recognition of our successful domestic vaccination programme, and as part of the Global Travel Taskforces checkpoint review, our intention is that later in the summer, arrivals who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine when travelling from amber list countries.

We expect this to occur in phases, starting with UK residents. They will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a test on Day 2, and any positive results will be sequenced to continue to manage the risk of importing variants.

More details will be set out next month, it said. Its unclear when the change might come into effect.

The DfT also said it would stop advising against travel to amber destinations at the same time.

Most of Europe remains on the amber list in the latest traffic light update, which mandates 10 days of self-isolation and two PCR tests.

However, Malta, Madeira and the Balearics were added to the green list, in a much-needed boost for holidaymakers.
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A new web series called Grahan has started streaming on Disney+ Hotstar today. However, the show has been making headlines for quite a long time -- and for all the wrong reasons.

Even before its release, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) demanded an immediate ban on the show. Twitter was also abuzz seeking a similar action.

Here's all you need to know about Grahan and why people want it to be banned.

YouTube

What is Grahan about?

The web series has been inspired by Satya Vyas novel Chaurasi. The plot of the show revolves around two interlinked stories in the aftermath of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.



The eight-episode series, directed by Ranjan Chandel, narrates how the country was shook after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and how mob attacked Sikh community and torched their homes.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots killed more than 3000 Sikhs in Delhi and about 8000 people across the entire nation. Also known as 1984 Sikh Massacre, the riots were a series of organised programs by anti-Sikh mobs against the Sikhs community post the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Sikh bodyguards.



Who stars in the show?

The web series stars Pavan Malhotra and Zoya Hussain, who play onscreen father and daughter. Anshuman Pushkar, known for his role as Rocky in Jamtara and Wamiqa Gabbi, who starred in Tu Mera 22 Main Tera 22 alongside Yo Yo Honey Singh, are also a part of the project. Teekam Joshi and Sahidur Rahaman are also playing pivotal roles.

#Grahan Webseries hurts Sikhs with its insensitivity & seems to be an attempt to protect influential people



We wont allow Grahan to be released. We wl take legal action in case @DisneyPlusHS went ahead with its release@SGPCAmritsar @republic @punjabkesari @IndiaTVHindi @ANI https://t.co/uwhmK7s88d pic.twitter.com/f3Dn2XABbn  Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) June 22, 2021

What is the controversy about?

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which manages Sikh places of worship in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh, has demanded a ban on the show for allegedly portraying a Sikh character in "objectionable manner".

The president of the commmittee, Bibi Jagir, said in a statement to press, "A Sikh character has been portrayed in an objectionable manner in web series Grahan based on the 1984 Sikh genocide that took place across the country during then Congress government. In the web series, charge of the genocide is being levelled against a Sikh character which is highly condemnable and fabricated."

Has legal action been taken yet?

Jagir also said that a legal notice has been sent to producer Ajay G Rai, Disney+ Hotstar head Sunil Ryan.



"Through this web series, work is being done to sprinkle salt on the wounds of Sikhs and hurt their sentiments. Such films also affect communal harmony in society. Therefore, the government should enact strict information technology (IT) rules to curb such sensitive and objectionable trends.," she said.



Watch the trailer of the show below.




The good news is a lake in Bengalurus Singanayakanahalli will be developed under the Hebbal-Nagawara Valley Project. The bad news is nearly 6,000 trees will be axed for it.

Last week the Forest Department issued a proposal to cut 6,316 trees for the development of the Singanayakanahalli lake in Yelahanka Hobli.

The proposed lake rejuvenation at #Singanayakanahalli must take place without destroying the ecology or the habitat. @Jhatkaadotorg @Namma_Bengaluru https://t.co/NeP2uEe9vC #save6316trees

Lake experts believe that lake rejuvenation can happen without cutting such trees pic.twitter.com/3WF1dLL86M  NBF (@Namma_Bengaluru) June 23, 2021

Hebbal-Nagawara Valley Project

The Hebbal-Nagawara Valley Project aims to fill 65 tanks in Bengaluru Urban, Rural and Chickballapur. Last February, Bagaluru lake became the first to receive treated water from the project and was meant to act as an impounded reservoir to supply water to 11 other lakes in the region. Though direct use of treated water for drinking and agricultural purposes has been prohibited, farmers in the area were largely optimistic of the project pushing up the water table.

The proposal has been met with stern opposition by environmentalists and a large section of the general population.

Fridays For Future (FFF) has launched an online campaign against the proposal. Several other activist groups have also launched similar campaigns to raise objection to the project.

By Thursday, the last day to submit objections the campaigns have gathered over 12,000 online signatures against the project.

Urban conservationist Vijay Nishanth along with members of the Namma Bengaluru foundation have been organizing Singarayanahalli sight visit for a team of conservationists, citizen scientists, artists, citizen activists, wildlife enthusiasts, wildlife photographers.

Indiatimes

Nishanth told Indiatimes that they came across several species of animals and birds in Singarayanahalli, who will be affected of the trees are cut.

Indiatimes

According to activists, apart from rich biodiversity consisting of foxes, snakes, birds, Singanayakanahalli is home to peacocks belonging to schedule 1 under the Wildlife Protection Act and the axing of trees there would affect their habitat.

#save6316trees Say NO2HebbalNagawara lake project.Look at the ecosystem,the birds, farmers taking their cattle to graze here.All lost without the trees forming mini forest.Stop govt from chopping more trees for stupid ideas. @BSYBJP @ArvindLBJP @Jhatkaadotorg @Namma_Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/SM5muFjUgR  Yogada Joshi (@YogadaJ) June 23, 2021

They also argued that lake rejuvenation can happen without cutting such a large number of trees.
A female student of Bengaluru's Christ University has shared screenshots alleging that an invigilator addressed her as "baby" during an online exam.

After sharing the purported screenshots of a conversation on a third-party platform, the female student claimed that after submitting her answers for her end-semester examination in a PDF format, she asked the invigilator if she could end her exam, the proctor responded by saying another 3 minutes baby.

This happened to a student who appeared in today's online examination conducted by @ChristBangalore. She asked if she could end as she was done and the proctor replied "three more minutes baby".

(1/n) pic.twitter.com/TiRQK3dDtd  NSUI Karnataka (@NSUIKarnataka) June 21, 2021

A student from the institution's Bannerghatta Road Campus told The Indian Express that chats on a third-party platform are sometimes "inappropriate and distracting."

"The behaviour of the proctor also made us feel extremely uncomfortable. He asked us to bend the camera down to a low angle saying he wanted to ensure that no malpractice takes place. But it gave us the feeling that we are being watched in an inappropriate manner," the student told The Indian Express.



Wikimedia Commons

Another student corroborated and alleged that the faculty has responded to the issue by supporting the proctors inappropriate action. She said that the institute had told them that it was an example of the proctor's caring approach and they were advised to take the matter in the right spirit.

Some students questioned the absence of a proper grievance redressal system and how the lack of it has caused problems to the students amid uncertainties posed by the pandemic. While others contended that the University has failed to acknowledge the problems being faced by the student community, including internet issues being faced by many while attending classes or writing exams online.

Representational Image/Shutterstock

A guideline has been passed by the University which states that ensuring stable internet connectivity will be the responsibility of the student, said another MBA student from the institution.



Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the situation, the Karnataka unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) has decided to approach the University Grants Commission with a detailed report on the incidents of alleged misconduct at Christ.

Many people took to Twitter to criticise the 'obnoxious' behaviour of the proctor.

Such a obnoxious behavior. Universities must avoid such platforms which grants anonymity to the proctor. Conventional Platforms like Google Meet must be used instead.The safety of the students must be taken care of and actions should be taken to avoid it instead of backing them.  Adarsh Bagaria (@Sabka_Adarsh) June 21, 2021

This kind of behaviour by @ChristBangalore official is disgusting and has to be condemned. Does the university brief its officials? Is this the way to treat Students? I urge the university to take action on its officials immediately and Apologise.  Manjunatha H S /    (@manjunathansui) June 21, 2021

Tired of seeing such news. Try to see student as student. Enough of this nonsense... Authorities should find him and strict action should be taken.  Siva (@cvaraman) June 23, 2021

Cringe level  Hush (@Lastone_square) June 22, 2021

Just exposes the over hype of these institutes but lack to bring in civilised practises!!!!!  Ttalkies (@Ttalkies2) June 23, 2021

The onus is now on authorities to ensure the matter is resolved in a transparent manner while keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issue.

Also read: 'Got Shot, Have COVID-19, Getting Divorce', Professor's Sends Mail Postponing Exam
Actor Ajay Devgn has been featured as the most searched Indian actor on YouTube. Other Indian superstars like Salman Khan, Allu Arjun, Amitabh Bachchan and Thalapathy Vijay also feature on this list. (Universal Communications PR photo)
We now offer lithium prices and coverage free for reference. Click here to read all about it. Join our growing community of participants who want to learn more about electrification and how this market is developing.
Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 80F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

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A Massachusetts man is suspected of stealing the identities of two people in an attempt to buy an $83,000 car, federal prosecutors said.

Brandon Brouillard, 27, of Worcester, was indicted last week on bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, according to a statement from the U.S. attorneys office in Boston.

Brouillard in February used the identity of a New Hampshire resident to open a bank account, then wired $108,000 to that account from another persons account, prosecutors alleged.

In April, he used a cashiers check in the amount of $83,000 to buy a new Chevrolet Camaro, prosecutors said.

Just days after taking delivery of the vehicle, the dealership learned that the account listed on the bank check provided by Brouillard was frozen. The dealership contacted Brouillard, who promised to wire $83,000 to pay for the car, prosecutors said.

An Arizona resident contacted police and reported an attempted fraudulent wire transfer of $83,000 from their bank account to pay for the car. The transfer was not approved.

Prosecutors allege fraudulent purchases worth about $500,000 were made from the Arizona residents accounts and shipped to Brouillards address.

An email seeking comment was left with Brouillards attorney.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mergers Auto Fraud Abuse Molestation Massachusetts
Two women linked to a mobile home fire in western Maryland last week have been charged with arson, according to Maryland fire investigators.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal announced that investigators determined that the women, aged 39 and 66, were involved with intentionally setting a Hagerstown mobile home on fire on June 15. Multiple witnesses saw the pair at the home and then observed smoke and flames a short time later, officials said. No one was home when the fire broke out at the home owned by the younger womans mother.

The older woman was arrested early and is being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center. The younger woman was arrested in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and is being held at the Eastern Regional Jail, awaiting extradition.

The women are both charged with first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, and destruction of property over $1,000.

Topics Abuse Molestation Maryland Arson
The Singapore Reinsurers Association (SRA) has re-elected three retiring members of its executive team, which resulted in an unchanged EXCO line-up for the 2021-2022 term.

The full line-up of the SRA EXCO is:

SRAs chairman is Marc Haushofer from Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Singapore Branch,

Deputy chairman is Kenrick Law from Allianz SE Reinsurance Branch Asia Pacific,

Honorary secretary is Theresa Wee from Singapore Reinsurance Corp. Ltd.,

Honorary treasurer is Ann Chua from XL Bermuda Ltd.

EXCO Members are:

James Beedle from Partner Reinsurance Asia Pte. Ltd.

Victor Kuk from Swiss Re Asia Pte. Ltd.

Richard Lim from China Reinsurance (Group) Corp., Singapore Branch

James Park from Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft, Singapore Branch

Christoph Spichtig from SCOR Reinsurance Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd.

Pavlos Spyropoulos from Lloyds of London (Asia) Pte. Ltd.

I am honored to have received the support and vote of confidence from my colleagues on the EXCO to continue to lead the association for another term, said Haushofer in a statement.

This past year has been exceptionally taxing for many of us. The SRA too has clearly been tested as well with most activities having to be organized virtually and remotely. A degree of uncertainty will become the new normal especially if this pandemic becomes endemic, he added. However, our industry has been dealing with the ambience of meager predictability since its early beginnings. Hence, I am convinced that we will successfully get through this eventually.

During the SRCs virtual annual general meeting on May 28, Haushofer discussed plans for the 17th Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC), which is scheduled for November.

With the global roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, we are cautiously optimistic that by the time the 17th SIRC is staged in November, some of the Safe Management Measures and travel restrictions that are currently in place will be eased so that we can welcome some of our loyal international supporters back to our shores, he said.

Hence, our secretariat is already drawing up plans for a hybrid event, combining a virtual segment similar to the SIRC 2020 Re-Mind event that was organized last year, with a scaled-down live event that will incorporate all health and safety protocols aligned with the prevailing SMMs mandated by the relevant authorities.

Established in 1979, the SRA now has a total membership of 54, comprising 29 ordinary, 20 associate, three affiliate and two honorary members.

All major non-life reinsurance companies with a presence in Singapore, as well as some direct insurance companies that write a substantial reinsurance portfolio are ordinary members of the SRA. In addition, several major reinsurance broking firms as well as some regional reinsurers are associate members.

Source: Singapore Reinsurance Association

Topics Reinsurance
Arch Reinsurance Ltd., a subsidiary of Arch Capital Group Ltd., announced it plans to acquire Somerset Bridge Group Ltd., Southern Rock Holdings Ltd. and Somerset affiliates, subject to regulatory approval.

The proposed acquisition will include Somersets motor managing general agent, distribution capabilities through direct and aggregator channels, affiliated insurer and fully integrated claims operation.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Arch Re is purchasing the company from UK insurance executive Arron Banks, who is the majority shareholder, and individual holders.

Banks, who co-founded the pro-Brexit group, Leave.EU, had been investigated in the UK for possible breaches of election laws. The investigation was later dropped. Banks brokerage, Eldon Insurance Services, was rebranded as Somerset Bridge in 2019.

Somerset has been a client of Arch Re for 11 years, which gives us significant insight and confidence in the business and the team, said William Soares, head of Specialty for Arch Re, in a statement.

This proposed acquisition supports our strategy of diversifying our sources of premium and allows for collaborative cycle management of the class over time, he added.

This transaction also anchors our UK motor co-insurance and reinsurance capacity with a fully integrated platform, he said.

Somerset brings strong product and distribution capabilities. Coupled with Archs analytical capabilities and capital management, the combination of our two firms will provide an enhanced proposition to our customers, stakeholders and third-party capital providers, Soares continued.

Bristol, England-based Somerset Bridge Group aims to build a sustainable and innovative business focused on underwriting, broking and claims handling of UK motor insurance, said the companys website.

Source: Arch Reinsurance Ltd.

Topics Mergers Reinsurance
Egypt expects to finalize an agreement next week for compensation over the giant ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March, according to the waterways top official.

The Suez Canal Authority will sign a deal with the owners and insurers of the Ever Given vessel around the middle of next week, SCA Chairman Osama Rabie said to local television late Wednesday.

Asked if the settlement amount was near the latest figure discussed, Rabie said: Yes, its near, thank God.

He declined to give additional details. Egypt had initially sought over $900 million  a figure that was subsequently amended to $550 million.

Japans Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., the owner, and the ships insurers initially offered $150 million.

Read more: Insurers, Owners of Seized Ship Reach Agreement in Principle with Suez Canal Authority

The SCAs compensation claim covered the loss of transit fees, damage to the waterway during the salvage efforts, and the cost of equipment and labor.

Taiwans Evergreen Line had chartered the vessel, which was traveling from China to Rotterdam. After being freed on March 29, the Ever Given was sailed to the Great Bitter Lake  about halfway along the canal  and has since been kept there by Egyptian authorities.

Photograph: Spectators watch as the Ever Given container ship moves along the Suez Canal towards Ismailia after being freed from the canal bank in Suez, Egypt, on March 29, 2021. Photo credit: Islam Safwat/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Talent
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales launched his Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) Insurance Task Force during a visit today at Lloyds.

The SMI Insurance Task Force, convened by Prince Charles and chaired by Lloyds, is comprised of executives from many of the worlds largest insurance and reinsurance companies, providing an influential platform for the sector to collectively advance progress towards a resilient, net-zero economy. (See below for a list of the members of the SMI task force).

The global insurance industry has a critical role to play as a result of its unique view of the climate crisis  via decades of providing support to communities, businesses and economies in the face of increasingly severe and frequent weather events, said Lloyds in a statement.

The SMI Insurance Task Force published its Statement of Intent, which commits to provide climate positive financing and risk management solutions to support and encourage individuals and businesses around the world to accelerate their transition to a sustainable future.

These actions include adapting and expanding coverage for offshore wind projects in response to rapid growth and new technologies, alongside the implementation of build back better claims clauses in home insurance policies to encourage customers to rebuild sustainably.

The SMI Insurance Task Force will also work with governments to establish a public-private disaster resilience, response and recovery framework, which will help protect developing nations from the evolving economic and societal impacts of climate change.

To support the rapid growth of green projects and innovation, the SMI Insurance Task Force will develop a framework to help unlock the more than $30 trillion in assets under management, increasingly directing capital towards investments that drive climate-positive outcomes in both developed and developing nations.

The insurance industry is exceptionally well placed to understand the impact of climate change and the damage it can cause to us all if we dont take action now, commented HRH the Prince of Wales. This is why I am so pleased that a large number of the worlds leading insurance companies have joined together to identify how the insurance industry can help put Nature, People and the Planet at the heart of our entire economy.

Lloyds Chairman Bruce Carnegie-Brown added: As the world begins to recover from a pandemic that has caused significant and far-reaching financial and societal challenges, it does so with an opportunity to build back with sustainability as a foundation and guiding principle. Although climate change poses unprecedented systemic risk, it is one which  through partnership and accelerated action  we have the means to address. As a task force, we are making a resolute commitment to be a catalyst for action to help create a more sustainable future through the risks we manage and the capital we invest.

During the visit by Prince Charles, the Lloyds Lutine Bell rang twice to mark the new and significant global insurance industry commitment to drive climate positive action, through a number of key initiatives for commercial and individual customers.

The Lutine Bell has traditionally been struck on the news of an overdue ship  once for the ships loss (or for bad news), and twice for the ships return (or good news). The bell more recently has been rung to mark special occasions. In 1858, the bell was recovered from the HMS Lutine, a ship that sank in 1799 off the Dutch coast.

The SMI Insurance Task Forces members are:

AIG: Peter Zaffino, president and CEO

Allianz: Oliver Bate, CEO

Amwins: Scott Purviance, CEO

Aon: Greg Case, CEO

Ascot: Andrew Brooks, CEO

AXA: Sean McGovern, CEO AXA XL

Beazley: Adrian Cox, CEO

Conduit Re: Neil Eckert, CEO

Direct Line Group: Penny James, CEO

Hiscox: Bronek Masojada, CEO

Howden Group: David Howden, CEO

Legal & General: Nigel Wilson, CEO

Lloyds: John Neal, CEO

Marsh McLennan: Dan Glaser, president and CEO

Munich Re: Joachim Wenning, CEO

Phoenix: Andy Briggs, group CEO

Tokio Marine Kiln: Brad Irick, CEO

Topics Mergers Market Climate Change New Markets
The grandmother of a Tennessee boy who was injured on a roller coaster in Missouri says doctors are concerned his legs might have to be amputated.

Aalondo Perry, who is visually impaired, was injured June 20 when he fell while getting off of The Branson Coaster during a visit to the southwest Missouri tourist town of Branson, said his grandmother Shelandra Ford.

Ford told WREG-TV in Memphis, Tennessee, that Aalondo tried to ride the coaster in one car with his 13-year-old brother but they were told he would be safe riding in a car alone.

Ford said she was told Aalondo fell when he tried to get off after the roller coaster stopped. When the ride restarted, he was trapped under the rails. It took the Branson fire department about 1 1/2 hours to rescue him, she said.

His legs and right arm were crushed, and doctors dont know if they will be able to save his legs, Ford said.

They are talking about amputation, said Ford. He has had two surgeries so far since (Monday) morning  skin grafts  and he is going have at least six or seven more before they can even see progress. Hes heavily sedated and in a lot of pain.

Ford, who is the Shelby County, Tennessee, register of deeds, said her grandson has Marfan syndrome  1 a genetic disorder that affects the bodys connective tissue. It can cause eye problems, among other things. Aalondo, who is from the Memphis suburb of Collierville, Tenessee, has just 15% vision in one of his eyes, according to his grandmother. He recently learned Braille and how to be mobile with his cane.

Ford said she is grateful Aalondo survived but she believes that if the brothers couldnt ride together, they should not have been allowed to get on it.

The Missouri Division of Fire Safety is investigating. Two inspectors who were in Branson have seven days to finish their report and the agency cannot comment while the investigation is ongoing, said Caty Luebbert, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Safety.

Ford said she has hired an attorney. She said she hopes to move her grandson to a childrens hospital in Memphis this week.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Missouri
School districts that allow employees to be armed must also require police-level training for those workers, a divided Ohio Supreme Court ruled on June 23 in a victory for a group of parents who challenged a local districts armed employee policy.

At issue before the court was a directive adopted by Madison Local Schools in southwestern Ohio after a 2016 shooting in which two students were shot and wounded by a 14-year-old boy. A group of parents sued the district in September 2018 to prevent teachers from being armed without extensive training.

A Butler County judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying that school staffers did not need such training because they are not law enforcement officers. The districts policy requires 24 hours of training for staff carrying concealed weapons.

The parents appealed to the 12th District Court of Appeals, which ruled last March that Ohio law requires anyone who carries firearms in schools to have undergone a minimum of 728 hours of law enforcement training.

Nothing in Ohio law allows districts to circumvent the laws training requirement, Chief Justice Maureen OConnor wrote for the four-justice majority.

The statute prohibits schools from employing someone who is armed while on duty unless the employee has satisfactorily completed an approved basic peace-officer-training program or has 20 years of experience as a peace officer, OConnor wrote.

Three justices dissented, saying they believed Ohio law does allow the arming of teachers without the extra training.

If the General Assembly had wished to prohibit nonsecurity personnel, like teachers, from carrying weapons while on school property without the required training, it could have done so and may still do so, wrote Justice Pat Fischer.

A bill pending in the Ohio House would exempt school employees from the training requirement.

Parents maintain the state appeals court made the correct decision, saying state law is clear that schools cant permit the arming of employees who dont go through police officer training.

The parents are concerned about the tragic and fatal accidents that could befall their children when armed school staff have insufficient training and are carrying firearms all day, every day, in their childrens classrooms and on the playground, attorneys for the parents said in an October court filing.

They noted that the parents dont oppose gun rights and that several are, in fact, gun owners.

The district maintains current law doesnt require the extensive training sought by the parents.

If the appeals court ruling is upheld, no school district can exercise the right to arm its staff unless it turns teachers into police officers, or police officers into teachers, lawyers for the district argued in a September filing. This is both entirely impractical and demonstrably wrong as a matter of statutory construction.

A message was left with the districts attorney office.

The decision was disappointing, said state Rep. Thomas Hall, a Republican whose district includes Madison Local.

The Ohio General Assembly has a responsibility to give our school districts the option to protect their students and staff by embracing local control and establishing appropriate baseline training requirements for educators to carry a firearm, Hall said.

The district lawyers argued that lawmakers required police training only for officers and left training and qualifications for armed teachers up to school boards.

The state Fraternal Order of Police, several gun training and safety experts and other school districts including Cincinnati and Columbus  Ohios largest district  filed arguments in support of the parents position.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican who is the states top law enforcement official, supported the district.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Training Development Ohio K 12
Corvus Adds Chief Insurance Officer and General Counsel

Data science and artificial intelligence-driven commercial insurance provider Corvus Insurance announced the appointment of Lori Bailey as chief insurance officer and Kori Johanson as general counsel. Bailey and Johanson each brings more than 20 years of global insurance industry experience to Corvus.

Baileys experience stems from over 20 years of working on both the carrier and broker sides of the insurance industry. Most recently, Bailey was the global head of Cyber Risk for Zurich Insurance where she implemented global underwriting strategies, governance and product offerings for all cyber risk exposures. She has previously served on committees for the World Economic Forum, Pan-European Insurance Forum and Institute for International Finance.

Johanson brings 25 years of global experience in legal, compliance and government affairs to Corvus, most recently serving as chief compliance officer and associate general counsel for IFG Companies. Johanson actively participates in industry relations groups including as a member of the Legislative Committee for the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA).

Corvus offers cyber, technology errors & omissions, and cargo insurance.

Founded in 2017, Boston-based Corvus is backed by Bain Capital Ventures, Hudson Structured Capital Management, MTech Capital, Obvious Ventures, .406 Ventures, and Telstra Ventures.

Former Munich Re Digital Partners CEO Brune Joins Insurtech Cover Genius

Cover Genius, an insurance company offering embedded insurance, has named Dave Brune as president for the Americas, as it continues its growth in the U.S., Canada and Latin American markets. Brune brings more than 30 years of property/casualty insurance experience to the role, where he will oversee strategic partnerships, finance and corporate development.

Most recently, Brune founded and served as the president and CEO of Digital Partners North America, a Munich Re company, which backed dozens of global insurtechs. Before joining Munich Re, he headed product management teams at Prudential Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Great American Insurance Co. and American Modern Insurance Group.

Cover Genius recently added a number of global brands to its network of global partners including retailers such as eBay, Wayfair and South East Asian firm, Shopee; Intuit QuickBooks, Priceline, Kayak and Booking.com and Automatrix.

Kin Insurance Expands Leadership Team

Catastrophe-risk-specialist home insurer Kin Insurance has announced key hires across marketing, engineering, product, finance, and legal  following a recent Series C funding round.

The new hires include Victor Lee, chief marketing officer; Heidi Helfand, vice president of Engineering Growth; Zachary Debelak, vice president of Product; Adam Sturt, vice president of Data Science; Michael Kelly, vice president of Financial Planning & Analysis; and Andrew Deckert, deputy general counsel.

As the new CMO, Lee will lead all efforts across customer acquisition, brand marketing and communications. Prior to his role at Kin, he served as CMO of RXBAR (a Kellogg company). He was also senior vice president of digital marketing at Hasbro.

Helfand, Kins new VP of Engineering Growth, will spearhead the technology hiring strategy, building an engineering organization that scales while efficiently delivering value to Kins customer base.

Debelak, Kins new VP of Product, is in charge of the technology product management team as Kin expands its insurance product offerings and national presence.

VP of Data Science Sturt will lead data strategy and analysis at Kin to improve how the company leverages analytics in insurance decisions. He is an actuary who brings nine years of prior experience from Allstate Insurance.

New VP of FP&A Kelly is responsible for building out the planning, forecasting, and reporting function, and driving insights through operational and management reporting. He brings six years of experience from CNA Insurance and four years at Allstate insurance.

The new Deputy General Counsel Deckert, will lead the companys claims and Insurance legal functions. He brings decades of insurance legal expertise, including many years at ASI/Progressive Home, Nationwide, and as an insurance litigator.

Kin currently operates in Florida, California, and Louisiana. Its priority regions for expansion include areas most affected by extreme weather. Kin offers homeowners, landlord, condo, and mobile home insurance through the Kin Interinsurance Network (KIN), a reciprocal exchange owned by its customers.

Snapsheet Promotes Cohen to President, Chief Operating Officer

Virtual insurance claims and appraisal specialist Snapsheet announced the promotion of Andy Cohen to president and chief operating officer.

In this expanded role, Cohen will lead go-to-market activities across the suite of Snapsheet Cloud products (claims, payments and appraisals) and Snapsheet Appraisal Services. Additionally, Cohen will continue managing the execution of Snapsheets end-to-end customer outcomes, service and experience.

Cohen brings more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry with a proven track record of driving growth, financial improvement and strategic leadership, working with carriers, insurtechs, TPAs, self-insureds and MGAs. Prior to joining Snapsheet, Cohen served in strategic and operational leadership roles at CNA Insurance and Travelers Insurance.

Snapsheet offers virtual appraisals and a cloud-native claims management software.
Colonial Pipeline Co. was sued by a gas station seeking to represent thousands more over the ransomware attack in May that paralyzed the U.S. East Coasts flow of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

EZ Mart 1 LLC, a two-pump station in Wilmington, North Carolina, buys its fuel from a distributor supplied by Colonial, according to a complaint filed Monday in federal court in Georgia. Colonials headquarters, in Alpharetta, is the site of the control center where the electronic ransom note was discovered, EZ Mart says in the lawsuit, in which it seeks to represent more than 11,000 gas stations and asks for unspecified monetary damages.

The hack occurred despite advance knowledge and warnings, and in the lead-up to the attack Colonial repeatedly ignored and rejected efforts by the applicable regulatory agency to meet with it so as to check on its cybersecurity, EZ Mart alleges.

A spokesperson for Colonial said the company doesnt comment on pending litigation but worked around the clock to safely restart our pipeline system following the cyberattack against our company.

Hackers gained entry to Colonials networks on April 29 through a virtual private network account, or VPN, through which employees could remotely access the companys computer network, a cybersecurity official who responded to the attack has said. The VPN account, which has since been deactivated, didnt use multifactor authentication, a basic cybersecurity tool, so the hackers could breach the network using just a compromised username and password. It isnt clear how they came up with the right credentials.

The hack affected 45% of the East Coasts fuel supply, driving up gasoline prices and sparking shortages at filling stations after the company shut down the roughly 5,500-mile pipeline on May 7.

Colonial had no plan in place for ransomware attacks and had left up a legacy VPN system without shutting off logins and passwords for old employees, which its own experts called a basic failure, the gas station alleges.

While apologizing for the massive disruption, Colonials chief executive officer, Joseph Blount Jr., has defended the companys response, including his decision to pay the hackers  an affiliate of a Russia-linked cybercrime group known as DarkSide  $4.4 million in ransom.

I believe with all my heart it was the right choice to make, Blount told U.S. lawmakers this month. In a hearing on Capitol Hill, they criticized Colonials cybersecurity practices, asking Blount why the company hadnt hardened its systems before an attack occurred.

In addition to the Colonial hack, Russia-linked criminal gangs have recently been blamed for a ransomware attack against meat supplier JBS SA, which disrupted operations in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

President Joe Biden last week said after a summit in Geneva that he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against further cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure. In the lawsuit, EZ Mart claims it has been clear for years that the sector is especially vulnerable to both conventional and cyber criminals. The complaint details a history of such warnings and attacks.

The case is EZ Mart 1 LLC v. Colonial Pipeline Co., 21-cv-2522, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta).

With assistance from William Turton.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Cyber
Allstate Corp. wants to buy more independent insurance agencies this year to build the business it acquired with its purchase of National General, Allstate Chief Executive Tom Wilson told Reuters on Wednesday.

But the agents will be there to talk to customers in depth, not punch data into a computer to get a quote, Wilson said at the Reuters Future of Insurance U.S.A. 2021 conference.

Theres no future in that  no need for a human modem anymore, Wilson said. Allstates strategy is to supply agents with customer data via computer to enable a real conversation, he said. What about your 16-year-old? Is your son or daughter at college actually driving the car? You can have a different kind of conversation. Thats what were trying to do.

Allstates strategy stands out after a year in which many insurance companies sped up their digital transformation in response to the world working from home during the pandemic, and are relying more heavily on website and mobile apps to interact with customers.

Earlier this year, Allstate sold its life and annuity businesses and bought National General Holdings Corp., greatly expanding its network of agents who sell products from a variety of companies, even as Allstates Web and telephone sales are showing substantial growth.

On the issue of climate change, Wilson said the U.S. government should, over a period of years, get out of the money-losing flood insurance program and shift coverage to the private sector. This would help risk to be better-priced and avoid rate decisions being embedded in some political process where some local congressperson fights against getting their rates raised because they want another 150 votes, Wilson said.

The National Flood Insurance Program, which is $20.5 billion in debt, is being partly overhauled this year.

However, Wilson said government can play a role in insuring big climate risks  those in which it is going to pay anyway.

If a Force 5 hurricane hits Dade County, Florida, for example, the state and insurers will need help. The federal government is going to have to come and figure out how to build the infrastructure, help people rebuild their houses, Wilson said.

The federal government should think about that in advance, as opposed to waiting for it to happen.

For more on the Reuters Future of Insurance USA 2021 conference please click here.

(Reporting by Alwyn Scott in New York Editing by Matthew Lewis)

Topics Agencies
Citing a concern over opening the floodgates to litigation, a federal judge has dismissed a flight attendants negligence lawsuit against her employer, Southwest Airlines, which she blamed for her husbands death from Covid-19.

The flight attendant, Carol Madden, claimed that she and others were exposed to Covid-19 as a result of Southwests failure to exercise a standard of care to prevent transmission of the virus during mandatory safety training on July 13, 2020.

Soon after the training, she tested positive for the virus and then her husband did also. He later died on Aug. 12 from the virus at age 73. Madden brought a wrongful death suit against Southwest.

A U.S. district court judge in Maryland has now granted Southwest Airlines motion to dismiss the suit.

Although there were multiple factors that favored a finding of duty by Southwest, there was ultimately no finding of a duty in this case. Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher in her opinion granting the airlines motion to dismiss the case found that Maryland courts have to balance the factors in favor of finding a duty against the fear of opening the floodgates to third- party plaintiffs, particularly in cases covering spousal relationships.

Cumulatively, Marylands third-party duty case law and its emphasis on limiting the class of prospective future plaintiffs heavily informs the Courts balancing, the judge wrote. In fact, it is the dispositive weight on the scale in favor of finding no duty here, despite the fact that the narrow majority of factors, including foreseeability, favor imposition of a duty. Maryland courts have made their priorities with regard to third-party duties clear, and the prospect of an unstemmed and ill-defined tide of third-party plaintiffs bringing suit predominates the duty analysis.

The judge agreed that it was reasonable to expect that ensuring flight attendants safety would be a natural corollary of Southwests promise to protect its customers, however she said the broader societal consequences of imposing that duty are harder to justify. Such a duty would significantly expand the field of potential liability, the judge wrote.

Madden alleged that during the training Southwest failed to implement reasonable safety and health protocols to prevent the participating flight attendants from contracting or spreading COVID-19. She alleged the failings included not screening flight attendants or instructors in the training session for COVD-19, not enforcing mask policies that would have lessened transmission, not implementing safe distancing requirements, not sanitizing equipment in shared and common use, and not implementing contact tracing after learning of employees exposure.

The case recalls an earlier lawsuit seeking to hold an employer responsible for a workers spouse getting sick with Covid-19.

In February, U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney in San Francisco dismissed what was considered the first-of-its-kind lawsuit.

In the California case, the judge ruled that most of the claims in the lawsuit are barred due to the exclusive remedy provisions of workers compensation, under which the husband is precluded from suing his company directly. Chesney also ruled that the couples suit did not meet the required threshold, or standing, to hold the employer liable for creating a public nuisance.

Topics COVID-19 Lawsuits Legislation Aviation
The U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement with a physicians group in El Paso over allegations of violating the false claims act.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas reported that El Paso Ear, Nose & Throat Associates (EPENT) has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicaid, Medicare and other federal healthcare programs by upcoding evaluation and management codes.

The government alleged that EPENT knowingly caused false claims to be submitted to federal healthcare programs by billing for services at a higher rate of reimbursement than they would be entitled to for the service actually provided. This scheme is commonly referred to as upcoding.

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) supports the delivery of TRICARE, the program that provides integrated, affordable, high-quality healthcare services to more than 9.6 million uniformed service members, retirees and their families. TRICARE was one of the government health programs that was defrauded in this case.

The matter was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Texas Attorney Generals Office Civil Medicaid Fraud Division.

The claims asserted against the defendants are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eduardo R. Castillo handled this matter.

Source: U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas

Topics Texas Claims
AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a (Excellent) of Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company of Jackson, Miss.

AM Best said the credit ratings reflect Mississippi Farm Bureaus balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings from said the outlook revisions are in response to adverse trends in the groups underwriting performance from 2019 through year-to-date 2021. The companys volatile results have pressured profitability metrics and are trending unfavorably when compared against writers with operating performance assessments of strong, AM Best said.

According to AM Best, the groups adverse performance has been driven by increased frequency of weather events across its territories.

The company has taken steps to improve performance, specifically by writing more business in its northern territories that are less exposed to coastal catastrophic storms, as well as implementing rate increases and lowering operating expenses.

Looking ahead, AM Best said the resolution of the negative outlook will be determined by the companys ability to mitigate weather losses, stabilize operating results and revert the combined ratio to pre-2018 levels .

Topics Trends Agribusiness AM Best Mississippi
Here is a selection of people starting new roles with Expleo, Cantec Group, Grant Thornton, Kepak, Emirates and GOAL.

Siobhan Smith has been appointed as global marketing manager with Expleo, technology services provider. She was most recently the companys head of marketing in Ireland. She joined Expleo Ireland (formerly SQS Ireland) in 2018 as a marketing coordinator, playing a key role in the rebrand to Expleo Ireland. She was then promoted to head of marketing for Ireland in January 2020. She will now devise and implement the marketing strategy for Expleo Groups Quality Management Consulting business unit. She will also lead a team of country marketing managers worldwide to achieve commercial and business targets for their respective regions. She holds a postgraduate degree in Marketing and Management from TU Dublin. She won the gold medal for first place on the Master of Science in Management and Marketing from DIT, 2018.

David Garrihy has joined Cantec Group, provider of integrated hardware and software solutions, as area account manager for Galway and Clare. He joins at an exciting time following the company's recent merger with SmartOffice Technology. He brings 23 years of experience in the evolving print and sales industry, notably in roles with PAGE Printing and Graphic Equipment, DBC Group, Real Print and Clare County Council. Founded in 1994, Cantec Group has grown to become an industry leader in technology solutions. Docutec, Cantec Groups managed print solutions division, supports clients in streamlining their document workflows, establishing a predictable cost-per-page, while enhancing employee productivity and reducing overall print costs. David will work closely with Docutec and SmartOffice. He said: Im delighted to join the team working with our clients in Clare and Galway.

Sara McAllister has been appointed as partner with professional services firm Grant Thornton, heading up its business risk services (BRS) team. She will lead the newly established BRS corporate and public sector team, which will meet the growth in demand for multi-faceted advice on all aspects of business risk management. She joined Grant Thornton in 2010 and has built out the firms business risk offering over recent years. Having qualified with KPMG and spending some formative years in roles with Campbell Bewley Group and Pfizer, Sara brings years of experience and knowledge to the role, coupled with ambitious plans for the team to grow. The promotion reflects the growth experienced by Grant Thornton Ireland over the past twelve months, as the firm responds to the challenges of Covid-19.

Prof Damien McLoughlin has been appointed as a non-executive director with Kepak Group, the Irish food company. He is Anthony C. Cunningham Professor of Marketing and Marketing Subject Area Head at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, specialising in agribusiness strategy and marketing. He is also a visiting professor at the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, the Indian School of Business, ESMT (Berlin), NYU Stern School and Tuck School at Dartmouth College. He has also contributed to senior executive programs in agribusiness at both Harvard Business School, IMD and Purdue University. He has developed agribusiness sustainability programmes in several countries, and helped develop Bord Bias acclaimed talent development programmes. He holds a Business Studies degree from DCU, an MBS from UCD, and PhD in Marketing from Lancaster University (UK).

Eimear McDonald has been appointed as cargo manager for Ireland with Emirates, the Dubai-based airline. She will head up the Emirates SkyCargo division in the Irish market; currently four Emirates Boeing 777 weekly flights out of Dublin can carry 25 tonnes of cargo including critical pharma, medical equipment, computer servers, seafood, dairy and other exports to global markets. A Dublin native, Eimear was appointed vice president of the Irish Air Cargo Institute in 2020 and joins Emirates from leading logistics provider Rhenus Air & Ocean, where she managed the fast-moving export pharma department. Eimear helped establish cargo offices at Dublin Airport for both Singapore Airlines and Airbridge International Agencies and has held senior roles in cargo operations with companies including Aer Lingus Cargo Operations, Lufthansa Cargo and UPS Supply Chain Solutions.

Barry OConnell has been appointed as chairman of the humanitarian aid agency GOAL. He takes over the chair from Vodafone CEO, Anne OLeary, who steps down after six years of dedicated service to the charity. Mr OConnell brings a wealth of global experience to the role, having spent more than 20 years working in a wide range of senior strategic roles around the world for Coca-Cola, driving growth and transformation in emerging and mature markets in Ireland, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia/Singapore. He was also previously head of research and planning for Saatchi & Saatchi in Ireland. He holds a BA in Business Adminisatration and Marketing from UL, and qualifications in Strategic Management from IMD Switzerland and Supply Chain for General Managers from Cranfield School of Management.
HarperCollins Ireland has announced that it will publish a new book by Richard Chambers later this year.

The publishing house made the announcement today, after acquiring the rights to 'A State of Emergency', the broadcaster's first book.

As news correspondent with Virgin Media News, Chambers has made a name for himself among Irelands most recognisable journalists. The Clare native was named a breakout star of the pandemic by a recent Irish Examiner article, along with colleagues Zara King and Gavan Reilly.

A State of Emergency, which will be published in October, will look back on Irelands response to the Covid-19 pandemic and feature a range of interviews with cabinet members, health officials, and frontline workers.

 Hi Twitter, I'm absolutely delighted to announce I've written my first book!



A State Of Emergency' tells the inside story of Ireland's #COVID19 crisis.



It's in stores October 28th from @HCinIreland 



Available to Pre-Order NOW: https://t.co/fEg8bazuf6  Richard Chambers (@newschambers) June 23, 2021

Chambers hopes the book will serve as a living history of the pandemic.

"This past year has changed all of our lives. The opportunity to try to give people a new understanding of what happened in Ireland's Coronavirus crisis is a very exciting one, Chambers said.

From the tense meetings, the crucial decisions and the moments the State's response came close to breaking point.

The former Newstalk reporter also added that it was a privilege to speak with the countrys frontline staff and to be in a position to share the experiences of our health workers who battled fatigue, PPE shortages and devastating surges to save as many lives as possible.

Publisher Conor Nagle called the work a riveting" and "important" read. Find in bookstores from October 18.
It was almost Christmas and 15-year-old Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud was staying with his grandparents in France. His father woke him in the middle of the night with the shocking news that his mother, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, had been killed at her holiday home in West Cork.

It is a heart-rending moment he relives in a new documentary, describing it as like an electric shock I was a little boy, an only child. I was extremely close to mum. It was a sudden transformation from childhood to adulthood. . A little part of us all crumbled.

Almost 25 years later, Pierre-Louis is speaking to me from his home in Paris about the Netflix documentary series Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, which explores the brutal killing of the 39-year-old Frenchwoman at her remote cottage outside Schull and the tumultuous train of events that followed. Her murder remains unsolved but it has been at the centre of several court actions involving English man Ian Bailey, who was a suspect in the case and continues to deny any involvement. Bailey has never been charged in Ireland.

Pierre-Louis and other members of Sophies family, including her parents, brother and aunt, gave full co-operation to the Netflix documentary, from Oscar-winning producer of Searching for Sugar Man and Man on Wire, Simon Chinn. In recent days, it was reported that the family was unhappy with another documentary on the killing by film-maker Jim Sheridan, screened on Sky, and that the broadcaster had agreed to their request to remove interviews with them from the series.

Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, from top left, Dermot Dwyer, a former garda on the case; Marie-Madeline Opalka, aunt of Sophie Toscan du Plantier; local resident Ian Bailey.

In the Netflix documentary, Sophies parents Georges and Marguerite Bouniol, movingly recount seeing their daughters body when they came to Ireland to bring her back to France, and the suffering they endure to this day is plain to see. It is a powerful reminder that behind all the media headlines and lurid speculation was a mother, daughter, sister, and a woman whose potential was snuffed out in a savage act.

As her brother Bertrand points out in the documentary: Sophie is at the centre of this story but it is true, that for 23 years, its often forgotten who my sister was.

Pierre-Louis says the family agreed to collaborate with the three-part Netflix series because of the high-calibre team behind it and the fact that Sophie herself would be at the heart of the story.

Netflix take a lot of time to make beautiful pictures and in a sense, that was a kind of warranty for us, that it would be a high-quality project, he says. They wanted to show my mother how she was and to make sure she was, maybe not in the centre, but a good balance between Bailey and Sophie and how we live with that.

Unsurprisingly, Pierre-Louis found the documentary a difficult watch, partly because he did not know what new information he would discover and also because it included home movie footage of his mother at the cottage. It had a powerful effect on him.

I was a little bit frightened because I did not know if I could have learned something new. There are videos from my mother and that was the first time since my mother died that I had seen them, he says.

Pierre-Louis has often returned to the house, where he had spent time with his mother as a child. While he has not been there in recent years, he says watching the documentary has made him want to return.

For the last two years I did not come to Ireland, I used to come three or four times a year. Having watched the documentary, I feel I want to come back.

Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud, son of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, in the Netflix series Sophie: A Murder in West Cork.

Pierre-Louis says the documentary has succeeded in portraying his mother as a person, not a victim, reclaiming her from the swirl of speculation and rumour that has surrounded her death.

For me, it is really not like a crime series. It is not only when my mother was killed  that is a few minutes when it happened. It is also who she was. You can see her as a little girl, a daughter, having fun. It is important to not see her as a phantom or a legend, she was a girl like all the others.

Because of her marriage to top French film producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier, Sophie was often viewed in the context of a glamorous Parisian lifestyle. However, the documentary shows a deep, reflective and intelligent woman, a film-maker in her own right, fascinated by Irish literature and lore.

Pierre-Louis says her true self was reflected in her love of Ireland and the west Cork landscape.

You can see from the images in the documentary, she was not a star on a red carpet when she was in Ireland, she was just walking in the rain, with her strong feelings for the land.

Pierre-Louis says he cannot fully comprehend the obsessive interest in his mothers murder but the fact it has remained unsolved means it is important to keep it in the public eye. He believes the Netflix documentary gives a comprehensive survey of the case and raises questions as to why there has been no resolution.

I do not totally understand why [the fascination]. My mother was just a woman married to a French producer, she was not Brigitte Bardot or Claudia Schiffer. But I think all the evidence around this murder with no finality makes it a strong thing. I am really happy [with this documentary] because Irish people, you live with this story for 25 years, and every few years, months or weeks, new information is coming into the public media. But when you see the Netflix project, and in three hours, you can feel and understand all the evidence. you say, well, okay, there is a problem.

Georges and Marguerite Bouniol, parents of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, in Netflix show Sophie: A Murder in West Cork.

In the documentary, Pierre-Louis says justice has no time limit  the person who did this will have to take responsibility.

When I ask him where he finds the energy to keep fighting, he sighs and pauses.

I need justice  and justice for Irish women. I am feeling these things very strongly. The more I feel it, the stronger I feel. When you go in a fight, the more you fight, the more you need the end of the fight. I am very confident we will get justice.

He says he hopes as many people as possible see the Netflix documentary and that it will help move the line in terms of the case.

I hope that people will ask the Irish Government for answers  at least give us answers, he says.

In the meantime, he looks forward to returning with his family to the house in West Cork where he shared many happy memories with his mother.

It is the place I used to go with her and it is the best link I could have between my kids and my mother. She was a quiet and peaceful woman. Showing her as a French movie producer woman, this was only a very little part of her. This part was definitely smaller than the love she had for Ireland. We have to show it to the people.

Sophie: A Murder in West Cork is on Netflix from Wednesday, June 30
The head of the HSE has reminded the Government of the "dark days" of January amid growing concern the Delta variant of Covid-19 will sweep across the country if society opens too quickly.

HSE chief executive Paul Reid described the rise of the Delta variant as a worrying trend  a fifth of new Covid-19 cases in Ireland are the Delta variant, which was first identified in India.

The variant is between 40% and 60% more transmissible than the original virus and associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation.

'Vaccines are definitely winning'

"The vaccines are definitely winning against the virus, but by any stretch, it's far too early to be declaring victory, or indeed taking a lap of honour at this stage," Mr Reid said.

From the health service perspective, the truth is we don't really know precisely how the Delta variant and other possible variants will affect us at this stage."

But he said the HSE was administrating about 300,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines every week and was now on a firm trajectory to end what has been a "bleak" period.

He also told the briefing that the HSE would be outlining the latest data to the Government to assist its decision-making process when it comes to the easing of restrictions.

The Cabinet is to decide next Thursday whether it will give the green light for the further easing of Covid-19 restrictions next month.

Indoor hospitality is due to resume on July 5.

"We don't envy them," Mr Reid said. "It's not an easy job, as they have to balance a range of considerations and inputs they will get.

"We all do want to keep everyone safe and well. And at the same time, we all want a normal life restored as quickly as we possibly can."

But Mr Reid warned the "dark days" of what happened to the health service in January and February cannot happen again.

We will be doing everything possible in our power to protect all of the great gains that we've made over recent weeks."

Dr Colm Henry told a HSE briefing that the 14-day incidence is 92 per 100,000, now the lowest it has been since August/September last year.

The HSE's chief clinical officer said there were no outbreaks of the virus across nursing homes, community hospitals, and acute hospitals in the past week.

He described the uptake of vaccines to date in Ireland as "very high" and to the "envy" of many other countries.

Almost two-thirds (62%) of the eligible adult population have received one dose of a vaccine and almost 37% are fully protected.

210 cases of Delta variant

Discussing the Delta variant, Dr Henry said a total of 210 cases have been identified in Ireland to date.

"It's going to go up for sure," he said.

"There's no way it's going to stay at this figure. There's no reason why we would be any different from other countries in seeing this take off."

Some 27% of the Delta cases are travel-related, while half of them are a close contact of a case.

Earlier, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said international travel would resume on July 19 as planned despite concerns over the Delta variant.

He said he believed Nphet's advice next week would focus on the planned easing on July 5 of indoor dining.
Re-opening indoor dining should be delayed to the end of July, Dr Nuala OConnor, Irish College of General Practitioners lead on Covid-19, has said, because of the "concerning" rise in the Delta variant.

Dr OConnor, a GP in Douglas in Cork City, said: If we could delay indoor dining until the end of July I think it would be very wise.

I dont want to be a killjoy. We have done so well, why would we risk going backwards for the sake of three or four weeks?

Dr OConnor, a member of the High-Level Task Force on Covid-19 Vaccination, said the virus spreads more easily where people are indoors in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces, where alcohol is involved and people are chatting aloud and laughing and singing.

She hosts a weekly webinar for thousands of GPs around the country on all aspects of Covid-19 through the ICGP.

For the last number of weeks Ive been warning them, she said.

Ive been saying everything is going in the right direction. But we do have this Delta variant, and what has been on every summary slide is that we need to get to the end of July for sufficient population protection from vaccination.

She said we need to remember what happened in December when the Alpha or B.117 variant was starting to emerge in Ireland.

We were at this point (low case numbers) in December. Then our numbers shot up from all the mixing and then they shot up even more because we got more UK variant, she said.

The numbers are averaging more now than they were at the start of December so this could take off.

The average number of cases now is about 310 per day, she said, and it is known the Delta variant is up to 40% more transmissible than the Alpha variant.

In the meantime, she advised unvaccinated people to socialise outdoors and to continue wearing masks when indoors or in crowded situations.

Doctors in the UK have reported the Delta variant is not typically associated with a cough, and that symptoms appear initially more like a head cold than the standard Covid-symptoms, she said.

Referring to infections among children, she said: We have noticed is a big decrease in school-going age childrens incidence of Covid, as the adults become vaccinated. Dr O Connor said: The evidence has always been it is not the children give it to the adults, it is the adults give it to the children.

"So as the adults get vaccinated any Covid incidence in schools is falling off, that is a positive impact of vaccinations.
People in Cork are calling for a change in how anti-social and criminal behaviour by children and teens is handled by authorities.

The outcry follows reports of children as young as six engaging in anti-social behaviour, young teens drinking in the city and a busy bonfire night in Cork city.

There are children who are causing criminal damage to cars and houses  breaking windows, scratching cars  as well as snatching purses and handbags, according to Sally Hanlon, director of Support After Crime Services on Anglesea Street.

Local councillor Ken OFlynn said there are people who are afraid in their own homes due to anti-social behaviour and burglaries in their area.

In the northside of the city, a group has reported that 10- and 12-year-olds are responsible for most of the degradation in their estate.

Mr O'Flynn said there is a lack of respect for society among these children and has called for a tightening-up of laws.

He has called for the city to adopt a curfew for under-18s similar to what is in place in Iceland where children aged 12 and younger are not permitted to be out in public unaccompanied after 8pm.

The independent councillor said Cork should introduce curfews after 10pm and a parent or guardian has to be with children under the age of 18.

Where a child is found to be breaking the curfew, a fine would be issued and taken directly out of the parent/guardian's wages or social welfare payment.

Such a system only works if there is also greater investment in clubs and facilities for young people, said Mr O'Flynn.

Gang-related

Many of the difficulties are gang-related, he said, and people are intimidated and frightened to report them for fear of becoming a target.

Young children, some aged eight or 10, are being recruited by gangs of older teens to throw stones and break windows.

"There are kids going to doors and saying 'Can I use your toilet, please? I'm stuck.' and then they are opening windows for other people to get in through," Mr O'Flynn told The Neil Prendeville Show on RedFM.

Speaking on the same show, Ms Hanlon agreed that parents should be held responsible when it comes to the actions of their children.

She said that where a child, who is too young to be prosecuted themselves, has caused damage or stolen something, the parents or guardians should be financially responsible for it.

Victims of these incidents are left feeling frustrated that there is little that can be done when the person responsible is underage.

Ms Hanlon said parents need to be aware of where their children are at all times and who they are spending time with. This is especially true in the case of younger children  those aged under 14 years.

Peer pressure

Some children are mimicking behaviours they see from older teens and may be misbehaving due to peer pressure to fit in with them.

"You look at children aged eight or nine, their mind isn't developed enough to know the impact that they are causing. It's a bit of fun," said Ms Hanlon.

"They don't know and then there are no consequences."

If the children are not taught what is right and wrong and they get away with things on a continuous basis then they will see nothing wrong with their actions and it is the victim who is left to deal with the consequences and costs, Ms Hanlon said.

She told the story of one woman who has been targeted recently with sewage being thrown at her door and was left "extremely distressed" the other day after a six-year-old used "foul and filthy" language when speaking to her.
Britain has accused Russia of disinformation after Moscow claimed its forces fired warning shots at a Royal Navy warship in waters off Crimea.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) denied shots were fired by a Russian patrol boat towards HMS Defender and that a warplane dropped four high explosive fragmentation bombs in its path during its passage through the Black Sea.

The British ambassador Deborah Bronnert was later summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow after Russia accused the Type 45 destroyer of straying into its territorial waters.

But appearing before the Commons Defence Committee, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace insisted the ship had stuck throughout to an internationally recognised traffic separation route.

He acknowledged it had been shadowed by Russian forces during its transit from Odessa in southern Ukraine towards Georgia but played down the incident saying it was routine practice.

However, a BBC reporter aboard the HMS Defender said at times there had been 20 Russian warplanes monitoring its progress and that the sound of gunfire had been heard, although it was believed to be out of range.

Defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said throughout its passage the crew had been on high alert, at one point donning their white flash protective equipment in case there was an exchange of fire.

He said a Russian coastguard vessel had attempted to make it change course but it stayed with the recognised shipping lane and that even after it was past Crimea, Russian jets continued buzzing it.

In a statement, the MoD said the shots heard by the crew appeared to have related to a gunnery exercise of which the Russians had given advance notice to the maritime community.

Mr Wallace said it was not the first time the Russians had made false claims about British warships operating in the area, having previously claimed to have chased out another Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dragon.

These are the things that come and go with Russia. Disinformation, misinformation is something that we have seen regularly. We are not surprised by it, he said.

We plan for it and we take all steps to make sure we are not escalatory or provocative.

However we will not shy away from upholding international law and our rights on the sea.

The latest flare-up comes amid months of tensions between Moscow and the west following a build-up earlier this year of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine.

The Kremlin  which annexed Crimea in 2014  has been riled by the movement of Nato warships in the Black Sea seen as offering support to Ukraine.

HMS Defender is part of the UK Carrier Strike Group currently heading to the Indo-Pacific region.

However, it was announced earlier this month that it would be temporarily breaking away from the group to carry out its own set of missions in the Black Sea.

In a statement reported by the Interfax news agency, the Russian Defence Ministry said: The destroyer was warned in advance that weapons would be fired in case of a violation of the Russian state border. It disregarded the warning.

As a result of joint actions of the Black Sea Fleet and the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service, HMS Defender left the territorial sea of the Russian Federation.
The United States plans to evacuate tens of thousands of Afghan interpreters and others who worked with American forces during the war while their applications for US entry are processed.

A senior Biden administration official said planning has accelerated in recent days to relocate Afghans, and their families who assisted Americans during the nearly 20-year-old war to other countries or US territories.

The administration intends to carry out the evacuation later this summer, probably in August.

Both officials added that no country or countries for the planned temporary relocation have been settled on. Evacuating Afghans to a US territory, however, is seen as complicated because it could lead to the visa applicants having greater legal rights as they are vetted.

The White House has begun briefing lawmakers on the outlines of the plans.

US military forces are set to complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan by September (Rahmat Gul/AP)

The administration has begun to identify a group of interpreters to be relocated outside of Afghanistan before US completes its drawdown by September, said a senior administration official.

Those individuals have already begun the process of applying for special immigrant visas available to Afghans who have worked with the US.

The official stressed that administration relocation efforts would comply with U.S. consular law and would be coordinated with Congress.

The White House is planning for a variety of scenarios including additional relocation or evacuation options if necessary, the official said.

With US and NATO forces facing a Sept 11 deadline to leave Afghanistan, the Biden administration has faced increased pressure from lawmakers, veterans and others to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked as interpreters or who otherwise helped US military operations there in the past two decades.

We have a moral obligation to protect our brave allies who put their lives on the line for us, and weve been working for months to engage the administration and make sure theres a plan, with few concrete results, Republican congressman Peter Meijer of Michigan said during a House hearing last week.

Despite unusual bipartisan support in Congress, the administration has not publicly gone on record in support of an evacuation as it unwinds a war that started after the 911 attacks.

I want to see an operational plan to know how this is going to unfold and have confidence that it will be successful Seth Moulton, US congressman

The Biden administration and US military officials have spoken carefully about relocation  and largely sidestepped talk of a mass evacuation  amid growing concerns about the precarious security situation for the Afghanistan government in the face of diminished US military presence.

In part, US officials have been concerned that word of an evacuation could trigger a panic in Afghanistan, not to mention further complicate the present security situation.

The Taliban issued a statement earlier this month saying those who worked for US and western interests would not be targeted.

Still, for many the runaway corruption, deep insecurity and fear of violence from Taliban and from the many heavily armed US-allied warlords has many Afghans seeing the special immigration visas as their last chance to leave their war-tortured nation.

As part of its plan, the White House will also push to surge resources to help process special immigration visa applications to help those who remain in Afghanistan after the US military drawdown but want to leave for the US, according to the official.

The official added that the administration is looking to work with Congress to find quick fixes to make the application process more efficient including eliminating paperwork and adjusting requirements that do not impact national security.

The move to accelerate plans to relocate Afghans who helped the US effort comes as Biden is set to meet on Friday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation.

Congressman Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat who has been pushing the administration to move more quickly on the issue, said on Thursday he had not yet seen details of the White House plan.

As a Marine, I want to see a specific plan, Moulton said. I want to see an operational plan to know how this is going to unfold and have confidence that it will be successful.

The stepped-up relocation effort was first reported by The New York Times.
Over 600 Cases in Two Weeks for Yangon as Myanmar Sees Third Wave of COVID-19
Burma Junta Chief Says Hes Trying to Bring Honesty Back to Myanmar Politics

Myanmar coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the Moscow Conference on International Security on Wednesday. / Cincds

In his latest attempt to justify the Myanmar militarys internationally condemned takeover, coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in Russia on Wednesday that his regime was simply trying to bring honesty back to democracy in the country, repeating his claim that the previous government won last years election by rigging the vote.

In a more than 13-minute-long speech on The Asia Pacific Region in the Context of Global Politics at an international security conference in Moscow, Min Aung Hlaing said the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi made a mockery of democracy by committing electoral fraud, referring to the NLDs landslide victory in Novembers election.

Our government just took measures to bring honesty back to our democracy because of the NLD governments dishonesty, he said, according to a video of the speech.

Since the day of the coup on Feb. 1, Min Aung Hlaing has repeated his rigged vote mantra to anyone who will listenfrom military subordinates and their families to junta officials and international visitors. The last time he made the accusation outside the country was at an ASEAN summit in April.

His claims have been rejected by international election monitors.

For all his accusations, in the wake of the coup millions of people took to the streets in anti-regime protests across Myanmar, shouting slogans such as Respect Our Votes! As part of his attempt to bring honesty back to our democracy, Min Aung Hlaing ordered his troops to open fire on protesters, killing not only demonstrators, but also bystanders and children. As of Wednesday, 877 people had been killed, and thousands more have been detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP-Burma), which monitors the regimes crackdowns. The international community, including the UN, US and EU, have condemned the coup and the regimes response to the protests. The US and EU have imposed sanctions against the regimes members.

Over four months on from the coup, Min Aung Hlaings regime is still unable to bring the country under its control. Formerly peaceful protesters are now taking up arms in response to military rule and deadly bombings and shootings targeting the regime are now taking place weekly.

Acknowledging the chaos, he said in Moscow on Wednesday: Currently, Myanmar is trying to be politically stable and peaceful.

Strengthening bilateral ties

During his stay in Russia, Myanmars coup leader on Tuesday met with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who described Myanmar as Russias time-tested strategic partner and reliable ally in the Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific Region, adding that the two countries intend to exert further effort to strengthen the bilateral ties.

The minister, at whose invitation Min Aung Hlaing attended the Moscow conference, said the Myanmar military is equipped with modern arms and military vehicles.

This is, without doubt, your personal achievement, Mr. General, Shoigu told the Myanmar junta chief, according to Russian news agency Tass.

Russia is the number two military exporter to Myanmar after China and has stood steadfastly behind the Myanmar regime, along with China, at every UN meeting.

In turn, at the meeting, Min Aung Hlaing thanked the defense minister for the Russian aid that has helped to make the Myanmar military one of the strongest in the Asia-Pacific region.

The meeting confirmed that the Myanmar-Russian friendship continues and becomes even stronger, he said.



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Burma Kachin Independence Army Calls Myanmars People to be Alert

Kachin Independence Army troops in Mai Ja Yang. / The Irrawaddy

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has urged people to stay alert to political and military developments as fighting can erupt at any time in urban or rural areas.

Though fighting previously only took place in forests and other rural areas between Myanmars military and ethnic armed groups, clashes can also take place in towns any time as civilians take up arms against the military, said KIA information officer Colonel Naw Bu.

We are concerned about the people as clashes are taking place. So I urge the people to follow the news more carefully than ever before. The country is seeing increasing instability, said Col. Naw Bu.

Renewed clashes broke out between Myanmars military and the KIA in Hpakant Township after the armed forces shot dead two anti-regime protesters in state capital Myitkyina in early March, despite the KIAs request not to harm protesters.

The armed group has since attacked military and police outposts in Kachin and northern Shan states. In its latest assault on the junta, two police officers were injured when KIA troops attacked a checkpoint at a bridge across the Ayeyarwady River linking Myitkyina and Waingmaw townships on Wednesday.

Following the regimes crackdowns on protests, formerly peaceful protesters are now branding themselves as the Peoples Defence Force (PDF) and taking up arms in response to military rule and conducting bombing and shooting attacks on the regime in urban areas.

On Tuesday, fighting between the PDF and regime troops broke out in Mandalay, leaving casualties on both side and killing a junta lieutenant colonel. Deadly shootouts are occurring in Kayah State.

The military regime is stockpiling food and recruiting in Kachin State, said Col. Naw Bu, suggesting the military is preparing for nationwide clashes.

While the KIA is battling junta troops in northern Shan State and Kachin states, it is also helping politicians wanted by the regime, striking civil servants and young people preparing to fight the junta. The regime has accused the KIA of providing military training to young activists.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Police Wounded in KIA Attack

The Balaminhtin Bridge, which spans the Irrawaddy River, seen from the Myitkyina side. / Kachin Wave

Two junta police were injured on Wednesday night when ethnic armed group the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) attacked a checkpoint just outside Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital.

Troops from the KIAs Brigade 5 attacked the checkpoint at Balaminhtin Bridge, which links Myitkyina and Waingmaw townships, around 7.40pm. The KIA said its fighters withdrew after attacking for around 15 minutes.

There are security outposts on both sides of the bridge. The checkpoint attacked on Wednesday is on the Waingmaw side near Mong Nar village-tract. The checkpoint along with an office is collectively run by military personnel, police, immigration and customs officials.

Two policemen at the checkpoint were injured and are receiving treatment probably at the military hospital. We heard they would tighten security at the office and the checkpoint. We are concerned that the regime will harm the people in retaliation instead of the KIA, said a resident of Mong Nar village-tract.

Following the KIAs attack, the military regime shelled areas around Mong Nar village-tract, as well as Laiza and Mai Ja Yang, which are under KIA control, and KIA outposts in Hpakant.

Junta troops blocked the road after the attack until 7am Thursday and searched passers-by as it re-opened the road. Locals told The Irrawaddy at noon that they saw the office at the checkpoint closed.

Clashes between Myanmars military and the KIA have intensified since early March, after junta forces shot dead two anti-regime protesters in Myitkyitna despite the KIA warning them not to harm pro-democracy protesters in Kachin State.

Since then, the KIA has attacked military and police outposts in a number of Kachin State townships, including Hpakant, Injangyang, Shwegu, Momauk, Mansi, Tanai and Putao.

The armed group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it is striking at the military and police because they are harming the people.

Civilian resistance fighters operating as Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) under the parallel National Unity Government have also taken up arms against the regime in some Kachin State townships.

The regime has been searching for young people who have received military training and are working to form PDFs in their respective townships. Over 60 young people have been arrested by the junta in Myitkyina, Waingmaw, Mohnyin, Putao and Nawngmun townships.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Reorganizes Legal Team for ICJ Rohingya Genocide Case

Regime Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin

The Myanmar military regime has organized a new legal team led by its foreign minister, U Wunna Maung Lwin, to present the defense in the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The regimes order restructuring the committee, which was previously led by detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was announced in a bulletin published by the Myanmar Gazette on Thursday.

The panel has eight members. Among them are two former military officersU Wunna Maung Lwin, who will serve as chairman; and the regimes planning, finance and industry minister, U Win Sheinand two serving lieutenant generals: Yar Pyae and Adjutant General Myo Zaw Thein.

The other members of the panel are the juntas minister for international cooperation, U Ko Ko Hlaing, as vice chairman; its new union attorney general, Daw Thida Oo; its deputy foreign minister, U Kyaw Myo Htut; and Daw Khin Oo Hlaing, who is said to be an international criminal law expert and also a member of a seven-member advisory board to the regime.

After a brutal military crackdown in the western state of Rakhine in 2017 that forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to neighboring Bangladesh, the African nation of Gambia in November 2019 brought a case at the ICJwhich is an organ of the UN and is also known as the World Courtaccusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi defended the country against the charge in December 2019.

Gambias legal team submitted a list of the Myanmar militarys atrocities against the minority Muslim group in northern Rakhine state. These included mass rapes, the burning of families in their homes and the killing of dozens of Rohingya children. As the case could take years, Gambia asked the ICJ to order Myanmar to take provisional measures to prevent more violations.

Going further than the measures requested by Gambia, the ICJ ordered Myanmar on Jan. 23 to report on its compliance with the provisional measures in four months and then every six months thereafter. The Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government submitted two reports prior to its ouster by the military in a coup on Feb. 1.

The deputy foreign minister for Myanmars parallel National Unity Government (NUG), U Moe Zaw Oo, said during an online press conference on June 4 that the civilian government would no longer offer a defense in the case. It vowed to work with the ICJ and said it would accept the courts decision in the case.

The NUG also said it is considering accepting the exercise of jurisdiction by a separate international court, the International Criminal Court, over the killings, torture and other crimes against civilians committed by the Myanmar junta since the coup on Feb. 1. The Myanmar military seized power from the democratically elected National League for Democracy government, detained civilian leaders and abolished the new Parliament on the day it was scheduled to convene.

Since the coup, the Myanmar regime has killed at least 877 people and arrested more than 6,200, of whom 5,088 remain in detention, according to advocacy group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

At least 25 civilians have been tortured to death after being arrested by regime forces since the military takeover.



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Specials Myanmar Junta Propaganda Books Hope to Rewrite History

Left: Propaganda books published since the coup in February. Right: Propaganda books published under military rule after 1988.

Some two months after the military takeover in February, the junta-controlled Ministry of Information started publishing books that denounced the anti-regime movement and praised the juntas State Administrative Council.

Since the coup by late military dictator General Ne Win in 1962, all the information ministers, including the current minister U Chit Naing, have been ex-military officers, except under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government when the minister was U Pe Myint, a writer.

Therefore, support for military rule has been complete and ministers have viewed calls for democracy as rebellion.

The junta-controlled ministry has already published three books of coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaings speeches. The books are a collection of the military chiefs public addresses, speeches at the meetings with regime staff and military personnel and on national days to ethnic minorities in Myanmars states.

The books do not mention the juntas killing of over 800 civilians who opposed military rule and the upheaval caused by the coup. Instead, they repeatedly justify the coup, claiming the military had to take over because the NLD rigged the 2020 vote.

The prefaces of the books blame the NLD for the coup. They say: Although Myanmars democracy foundation shaped by the Tatmadaw [Myanmars military] since 1988 is making certain progress, the democratic journey is delayed by voter-list errors and poor transparency in the 2020 election and the failure to handle the Tatmadaws statements on the election.

Another book, It is Time for People to Differentiate Between Right and Wrong, Justice and Injustice features more than 90 articles, mostly published in junta-controlled daily newspapers Myanma Alinn and Kyemon.

The articles argue the military would not have intervened if the election had been fair. Satirically calling the anti-regime movement the revolution to bring back vote-cheaters, the articles blame social influencers for instigating the protests, saying people died and were arrested because of them.

The NLD, the elected lawmakers from the 2020 general election who still oppose the junta, the civil disobedience movement and pro-democracy protests, are completely in the wrong, argue the articles.

Myanma Alinn and Kyemon announced that other books are on the way.

After the pro-democracy uprising in 1988, the military regime of the time did the same thing.

The juntas governing bodies, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and the State Peace and Development Council, published hundreds of books, including the collected speeches of dictators, Saw Maung and Than Swe, books praising the Tatmadaws history, books of newspaper articles blaming the pro-democracy movement, a series of books of military press conferences accusing the NLD of being controlled by the Communist Party of Burma, books responding to the allegations broadcast by the BBC and Voice of America, criticizing the NLD, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, former prime minister U Nu, the parallel government in exile and ethnic armed groups.

In his autography, NLD leader U Win Htein, who has been detained since the coup, wrote: The SLORC has published many books. I assume it intends to condemn the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. For political prisoners like us, we couldnt help gnashing our teeth whenever we read those books. They were trying to distort history.

The dictators many books ended up at the secondhand book market on Pansondan Street in Yangon, available for tiny amounts.

The books recently published to praise Min Aung Hlaing and his regime are likely to follow a similar path.



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June 23, 2021

A new integrated mental health clinic is now open at Idaho State University in Meridian, with telehealth services statewide.

The new clinic will offer services to the community and train students in psychopharmacology , where clinical psychologists can use both traditional therapy and medication to help clients.

Also available at Meridian or via distance learning is the Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology , a post-doctoral program designed to provide licensed psychologists with training in the use of medication as part of the treatment of psychological disorders. Students are licensed psychologists who have earned a doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited program and institution.

Overall, I hope the clinic will provide much-needed mental health services not only in the Treasure Valley, but statewide, said Eric Silk, program director of clinical psychopharmacology at Idaho State. Telehealth services will help us connect with rural areas of the state.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), clinical psychopharmacology is a professionally recognized specialty field within clinical psychology dedicated to the study and therapeutic use of psychotropic medication, in addition to traditional psychological interventions, for the treatment of mental disorders and promotion of overall patient health and well-being.

The clinical psychopharmacology program at Idaho State was also formally granted APA designation.

This makes ISU one of five programs in the country to achieve APA designation, and is professional recognition that ISUs education and training program meets the highest level of academic and training standards, Silk said.

Many people are involved in this new venture at Idaho State. Nicole Moses is the new clinic medical director, and will focus on providing clinical care supervision to the clinical psychopharmacology students, all of whom are licensed psychologists training in the clinic. Ryan Manwaring, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and Lucy Wilkening, a psychiatric pharmacist, are two faculty members that will be providing clinical services. The ISU clinical psychopharmacology program is the only program in the United States that is operating entirely within a college of pharmacy.

We will collaborate with other clinics for services and referrals (medication, therapy management, counseling, etc.), Silk said.

Along with the clinic opening, the program has had some major accomplishments as of late. Two clinical psychopharmacology students, Dawn Cureton and Patrick Bartos, were recently awarded the American Psychological Foundations Walter Katkovsky Scholarship. Offered annually, these highly competitive $5,000 scholarships support early career psychologists obtaining training in psychopharmacology .

After shifting the clinical psychopharmacology training program online during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will now be taught with either in-person or distance learning options. For distance learning, campus visits are required during the program.
Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX, talked about the company's plans on providing global internet coverage via Starlink by September. She shared the company's expectations, initiatives, and the project's current status at a Macquarie Group technology conference.

SpaceX Starlink Internet

Engineered by Elon Musk's SpaceX, Starlink is a string of satellites launched into space to provide high-speed, low latency broadband internet. Starlink also claims to deliver high-speed broadband to rural and remote communities.

The Starlink initiative is expecting to launch a "constellation" of 42,000 satellites into low-earth orbit by mid-2027 to provide Internet access all over the world, Business Insider says.

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."

Currently, 11 countries are operating the beta Starlink; this includes the US, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, Shotwell says.

With the chain of satellites, it is hard to miss in the night sky when it's making its orbit. But they do mention on their website that they are working with astronomers and engineers to make the satellite generally invisible to the naked eye.

They want to minimize Starlink's impact on astronomy by darkening satellites not to saturate observatory detectors. It is quite a feat, coordinating the dance of nearly 1,800 satellites in orbit.

Read Also: SpaceX Starlink Satellites Location Tracker: Where and When to Find Its Train of Lights in the Sky

Global Starlink Internet by September

Shotwell says SpaceX has successfully deployed about 1,800 Starlink satellites. Once all the satellites have reached their operational orbit, continuous global coverage will be attainable.

She says September would be the likely time frame for its global debut.

SpaceX also plans to deploy 12,000 more satellites.The space missions would cost roughly $10 billion.

The extensive coverage of Starlink's service could mean more and more rural and underserved communities can get fast broadband. But before operating in any given country, SpaceX needs regulatory approval to provide telecoms services, Reuters reports.

Once worldwide service coverage is achieved, users could expect internet speeds of up to 209.17 megabits per second, which was the fastest speed recorded by a beta-test subscriber, Business Insider says.

Some SpaceX Starlink satellite internet ground station dishes arrived today in Starbase:



1:24 pm 6/22/21 pic.twitter.com/wJhrJEKSh3  Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) June 23, 2021

U.S. News adds that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceX's plan to deploy some Starlink satellites at a lower earth orbit than planned. The goal is to provide high-speed broadband internet services to areas and people currently lacking access.

In May, more than half a million people placed their order for Starlink or put down the $99 deposit fee. The deposit fee is fully refundable, the company notes, but setting a deposit does not guarantee service.

All orders are fulfilled on a first-come, first-serve basis as well.

A monthly subscription to Starlink currently costs $99. However, if you want to purchase the kit, which includes a tripod, Wi-Fi router, and terminal to connect to the satellites, it will set you back $499.

Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Satellite Internet Service Gets 500000 Orders: How To Pre-Order Starlink Starter Kit
We all know our smartphone isn't just for taking calls and sending text messages anymore. We stream music and movies,play online games, and talk to friends on a video call. We can do so much with it, and that's the beauty of a smartphone.

To be able to do all of those things, our phones need to be connected to Wi-Fi. And when your phone is having problems connecting to a Wi-Fi network, it can get frustrating.

with that said, we're listing down a few things you can do when your Samsung Galaxy doesn't connect to the network and you are unable to browse the web.

5 Fixes to Do When Your Samsung Galaxy Phone Is Not Connecting to Wi-Fi

Similar to other smartphone issues, it might be hard to pinpoint what exactly causes the problem. However, there are several ways you can try to fix it, regardless.

5. Performing a Soft Reset of Your Device

Doing a soft reset of your Samsung is pretty much the first thing you should try to do if you're encountering any issues with your phone. It's quick, easy, and usually does the trick.

You simply need to press the Power and Volume Down buttons and hold for around 10 to 15 seconds, Samsung said. Your device will restart. Once it's back on, try connecting to Wi-Fi again.

I am now happy that my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra phone started not doing some things properly.



After a soft reset, not only were the problems resolved, but my phone responds way faster!



Perhaps a soft reset is in order every few months?  Crusader (formerly Andrew Exler)  (@crusader666) May 30, 2021

4. Check Your settings

Some settings on your device can prevent it from connecting to Wi-Fi. Go ahead and check that the settings are correct to allow for Wi-Fi connectivity. Open your quick settings by swiping down twice from the top of the screen. Make sure that the Wi-Fi setting is turned on, which will be marked by a blue icon. If it is turned off, the icon is gray. Next, check and see to it that the Airplane Mode is turned off. Power saving mode should be turned off as well.

Once those settings have been changed, try connecting to Wi-Fi again.

3. Check Your Wi-Fi Network

The problem could be with your Wi-Fi itself. First, check the strength of the signal by looking at the icon and see if it's got full bars. If your other devices, such as other smartphones, tablets, or your computer, all seem to be getting a strong signal, then the problem might be with your smartphone alone.

On the other hand, if all the devices have trouble getting a good signal, then it could be a problem on your Internet Service Provider's side.

Guiding Tech also suggested going to Fast to check your Wi-Fi's bandwidth speed. You can try switching your Wi-Fi router off and wait two to three minutes before turning it back on. See if that helps with either the signal or the connectivity.

Samsung also advised to check if you can connect your device to a different Wi-Fi connection. If you can join, the problem could be with your ISP's side, and you should contact them for assistance.

No changes in my sluggish data speeds with @TMobileHelp @TMobile #TMobile I had to get wifi service in my home location to use my #SamsungGalaxy #TMobile smartphone... so sad  https://t.co/yygqBGbKgz pic.twitter.com/EODlH8urkD  Charlie (@WhatUpCharlie) June 17, 2021

2. Forget Network

If you're having trouble joining a network you've previously connected with, you can forget the network then reconnect, Samsung says.

Simply go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi. Find the Wi-Fi network you are having trouble with and tap the Settings icon next to it, which would be a gear. Tap Forget, and now you've erased any saved information about the connection like its password.

Try reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network again, entering the password if it has one.

1. Connecting in Safe Mode

Samsung explained Safe Mode can be used as a primary diagnostic tool to run your device at the basic interface without any third-party apps. Doing so will help determine if the issue you face is due to an installed app.

To enter Safe Mode, press and hold the Power Button or the button combination you use to turn off your device until the power off screen appears. Tap and hold the Power off icon until the option for Safe Mode appears. Tap Safe Mode, and your device will restart and open in Safe Mode. Try connecting to your Wi-Fi.

If your device is still unable to connect, one of your apps may be the one causing the issue. Samsung suggested deleting apps, starting from the most recently installed until you find the one causing the problem.

You can always reinstall the apps that were mistakenly deleted.

Samsung users, if you press and hold on the Power off button, you can get an option to restart in Safe mode. pic.twitter.com/GqnhPNDzWi  Bryce Smith  (@bsmit_ty25) April 28, 2021

Read Also: Why Is Samsung Not Downloading Apps From Google Play Store? 8 Ways to Fix the Issue

If Your Samsung Can't Connect to Wi-Fi Properly After Updating to Android 11

Samsung acknowledged that there is an issue with Wi-Fi connectivity with Samsung phones after updating to Android 11. They will soon release an improved software version, but the availability date depends on the country or mobile carrier. It is still recommended that you keep the software on your device updating to the latest software.

Until the new software update, Samsung said to the following:

Registering the Wi-Fi again after resetting the network settings: You can do this by opening the Settings app. Tap General Management > Reset > Reset Network Settings > Reset Settings to confirm.Register your Wi-Fi network again to reconnect.

You can do this by opening the Settings app. Tap General Management > Reset > Reset Network Settings > Reset Settings to confirm.Register your Wi-Fi network again to reconnect. Re-entering the Wi-Fi password: In the Settings app, tap Connections > Wi-Fi. Select the Wi-Fi network you want to join, enter the password.

These fixes should help with the problem in the meantime.

Related Article: Samsung Galaxy MWC Virtual Event Date, Time, and Live Stream: Next Generation Smartwatch, Wear OS Teased!
Apple expressed its vehement opposition to a Congressional move seeking the Cupertino-based tech giant to open up to third-party app stores and provide third-party software makers access to its technologies, undermining App Store security.

Apple App Store Downloads to Protect Users from Scammers, Safeguard Privacy

On its website, Apple said that its policy of having users download apps from its App Store would protect them from scammers, hackers and cybercriminals, safeguard their privacy, and offer a viable business ecosystem for accredited developers. All these perks would vanish if the legislation succeed in allowing users to download apps to iPhones from unsafe third party app stores or sideload apps from questionable websites or PCs, a Fortune report said.

The U.S. House judiciary committee on Wednesday opened discussions on anti-trust bills, including the legislation authored by House anti-trust subcommittee chairman and Rhode Island Democrat Representative David Cicilline. It pushes to have Apple accommodate third-party app stores in its iOS, Bloomberg said in its report. Cicilline stressed in his bill that it would be "unlawful" for persons or business entities, such as Apple to impede a user from accessing or interoperating on the hardware, software, operating system or platform it offers as part of its product offerings and lines of business.

Read Also: Apple 'Sherlocking' Highlighted in Antitrust Probe-Google Also Questioned Over 'Firewall'

In a letter to U.S. lawmakers, Apple said it fears such proposals would compromise consumer privacy, device security, and innovation. The iPhone maker then urged House justice committee to disapprove the bill in its present form as it would engage with lawmakers on the matter.

According to Apple, allowing users to sideload degrades iOS platform security, risking user privacy on both the third-party app stores and the App Store, a post on Mint said.

With the immense amount of sensitive personal data of a massive base of iPhone users, such as location data, photos, health and financial information, sideloading would lead to new investment for cybercriminals to launch attacks into the platform, which it said incentivizes scammers and hackers in an unprecedented scale.

Apple App Store Security: Sideloading to Wipe Out Privacy Features

Sideloading and downloading from third-party app stores, Apple added, would put to waste years of developing privacy features in the iOS, hampering the growth of the app economy which would then adversely affect both users and developers.

Cicilline's bill if passed into law would also compel Apple to share more of its key technologies to third parties, Bloomberg added. While Apple does open access to its technologies through application programming interfaces to enhance usability of the iPhone, allowing wider access would compromise the safety of important personal data such as health and financial information.

While this legislation might not pass the House justice committee in its current form, salient provisions of this bill show that politicians are now targeting tech giants and their dominance in the market to ascertain anti-trust enforcement. However, practicality and user and developer interest should temper the scene and offer a more realistic approach.

Related Article: Apple Includes Antitrust Risk on the Company's Proxy Statement
On Tuesday June 29, 2021 Betty Sue Ramage, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior at the young age of 95 years. She was born youngest of six in Gatesville, Texas. Betty will be forever remembered by her children Susan Bockhorn, Martha 
Ithaca, NY (14850)

Today

Light rain early with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 56F. Winds light and variable.
The fast-growing Australian company has more than 800,000 users globally, having experienced record growth in 2020 with COVID-19 accelerating the shift to eCommerce. Sendles Australian shipping business has doubled in size during the pandemic, with parcel volumes increasing by 103% over 2020. In the US, where Sendle launched in 2019, it has experienced equally strong growth with parcel volumes increasing tenfold.



Sendle has ambitious plans in the US to reshape parcel delivery for small businesses and compete with incumbent monopoly providers as it has done in Australia. Funds raised from the Series C will drive investment in a powerful logistics network, providing value and opportunity for small businesses across the country.



James Chin Moody, CEO and co-founder of Sendle said: Were incredibly excited to have the backing of AP Ventures not only for the experience they bring but also the great alignment between Sendle and Afterpay. Sendle and AP Ventures share a deep knowledge of the eCommerce ecosystem and an understanding of how to create value for small businesses.



As we gear up for further growth in the United States, AP Ventures brings valuable experience in international expansion through Afterpays own success in North America as the number one buy-now-pay-later service. With the eCommerce opportunity exploding right now, funds from Series C will go a long way towards ensuring we are well-positioned for our next phase of growth.



AP Ventures, in which Afterpay is the largest shareholder, invests in high-growth, scalable companies with proven revenue models. It has a particular focus on retail innovation, consumer, finance and data with a preference for businesses that are or can expand globally. As part of its investment, Chief Executive Officer Hein Vogel will join the Sendle board.



Parcel delivery is the backbone of todays eCommerce ecosystem as more people than ever now shop and sell online. As this trend continues to grow, so will the importance of small business shipping in helping online sellers create a meaningful competitive advantage so they can thrive in the age of eCommerce, Vogel said.



James and the team at Sendle have built an incredible business with a loyal customer base. Were impressed by the strong growth and high potential for scaling successfully internationally. Were thrilled to be onboard as Sendle enters its next phase of growth and becomes another Australian success story in the United States.



Since launching in 2015, Sendle has recorded remarkable and consistent year on year growth marked by product innovations and strategic partnerships. It integrates with all leading eCommerce platforms including Poshmark, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, Squarespace and WooCommerce to offer online sellers simple and streamlined carbon neutral shipping.
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Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado.
June 23, 2021

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Honored for COVID-19 Communications Efforts

The Communications and Marketing team in the Office of External Affairs at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has won three awards in recognition of its work across content platforms and with the media during the COVID-19 pandemic.



The COVID-19 special edition of the Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine earned a Gold Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The Bloomberg Schools Public Health On Call podcast, launched in March 2020 during the escalation of the pandemic, won a CASE Silver Award in the category of digital communications. Rounding out the trifecta of awards, the Audience Reach and Engagement team was named the 2021 Public Relations Professional of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for its 24-7 war-room efforts in media relations and social media engagement during the pandemic.

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

Public Relations Professional of the Year

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Audience Reach and Engagement Team

The pandemic provided an unprecedented opportunity not seen since the Schools founding a century ago to share our public health experts insights with audiences eager to learn as much as possible about this new virus, the disease it causes, and ways to mitigate, prevent, and treat it. To meet this urgent demand, the Communications and Marketing team hosted virtual expert panel events for the public and media, launched a daily podcast, launched an Expert Insights newsletter, and produced a COVID-19 special issue of the Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine.

The Audience Reach and Engagement team (which includes media relations, research promotion, social media, and community management) engaged new audiences by sharing the Schools scientific and policy expertise over various media platforms with a world eager to understand COVID-19 and its impact. The PRSA Public Relations Professional of the Year Award honors an individual or group who represented the best in public relations as outstanding communicators, establishing or reinforcing the mutually beneficial relationship between an organization and the public. In its announcement, the PRSA judges said: The Bloomberg School has been cited and quoted in countless publications over the course of the pandemic and has become a household name to get the most up-to-date and reliable information on the pandemic. We are confident this trend will continue for years to come.



The social media team deployed new approaches, including monitoring and amplifying faculty Twitter posts, developing easy-to-understand content for the general public, and using illustrations and animation to supplement explanations. Throughout the pandemic, the team also continued to promote experts, research news releases, and content in other important areas of public health, including racial health disparities, malaria, gun violence prevention, and opioid addiction.

On the earned media side, media placements of the School and its faculty increased 440% in the past year compared to 2019, with more than 4,300 media mentions for the School and its experts in 2020. Social media impressions increased by more than 770% year-over-year across all platforms. Since March 2020, the team has also grown the School's social media followers by 77% and earned more than 121 million impressions on social media. As part of their award acceptance, the team produced a short video about their work.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Gold, Magazine - Special Issues

Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Special COVID-19 Issue (pdf)

CASEs Circle of Excellence Awards showcase outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising, and marketing. The Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health magazine COVID-19 Special Issue highlights not only short-term research findings from early in the pandemic, but lasting stories that provide insights into the virus and document societys plight and the challenges that lie ahead.



The magazines pandemic coverage drove increases in reader engagement: Pageviews on the magazine website in 2020 were up 87% over 2019 numbers, and pageviews for the COVID-19 special issue were 82% higher than for the previous issue. The magazines Gold Award indicates [an] entry that meets or exceeds all of the judging criteria; exceptional in nature.



In their announcement, CASE judges noted: Compelling collage cover, opening, and overall structure that emphasizes the breadth of whats covered. Wonderful illustrations. It stands out that they highlighted the views of truly marginalized peoplesex workers, incarcerated people, Native Americansrather than just quoting professors.

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Silver, Digital Communications - Podcasts (Frequent)

Public Health On Call Podcast

The Public Health On Call podcast debuted in the early days of the pandemic to make credible, scientific expertise accessible to the public in quick, clear, and informative conversations. Hosts Joshua Sharfstein, vice dean of Public Health Practice at the Bloomberg School, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Marylands Health Department, and Stephanie Desmon, director of public relations and marketing at the Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs and a former journalist, speak regularly with experts from Johns Hopkins and beyond about complex topics. Guests have discussed evolving guidance and emerging evidence throughout the pandemic, and policies around everything from evictions to school reopenings to vaccine rollouts, bringing real-world perspectives and countering misinformation. In its first year, the podcast team produced more than 260 episodes, which were collectively downloaded more than 4 million times.

The podcasts Silver Award indicates [an] entry that meets or exceeds most of the judging criteria; superior or outstanding in nature. In their announcement, CASE judges wrote: Doing a daily show is very impressive and reflective of the time and resources theyve devoted to making this possible. As their download numbers attest, they are serving a large audience. We look forward to seeing if/how theyll keep the show going as the country slowly settles into a new normal.



The Bloomberg School, founded in 1916, has long been a leading source for public-health information and guidance. The School has been ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report since the rankings were introduced in 1994, including most recently in March 2021.

# # #

Media contacts: Carly Kempler at ckemple2@jhu.edu and Barbara Benham at bbenham1@jhu.edu.
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FILE- In this Nov. 5, 2019 file photo, Kevin Strickland is pictured in an interview room at Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Mo. Strickland is serving a life sentence for a 1978 triple murder that he claims he did not commit. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says addressing the clemency petition Strickland isn't a "priority," even though prosecutors say Strickland didn't commit the triple murder. The Kansas City Star reports that Parson has a backlog of about 3,000 clemency requests and says that cases drawing attention don't necessarily jump to the front of the line.
As the U.S. emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, Missouri is becoming a cautionary tale for the rest of the country: It is seeing an alarming rise in cases because of a combination of the fast-spreading delta variant and stubborn resistance among many people to getting vaccinated
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a public charity. It can be found at missouriindependent.com.
Toriane Graal said while reigning as Miss West Virginia she enjoyed being able to visit children in hospitals and schools, as it related to her social impact initiative  childhood cancer and leukemia  and adapted to virtual visits as COVID-19 closures occurred.
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Susan covers the towns of Somers and Ellington. She joined the JI in May 2021 and graduated from Skidmore College. She recently completed docent training for the Wadsworth Atheneum and hopes to start giving tours some time next year.
I am left with the remorse and deep regret that during my period as minister many, many mothers () lost their children. This should have never happened, Juan Manuel Santos gravely stated. This was the end of an almost two-hour speech in which Colombias president between 2010 and 2018 detailed how he became aware that civilians were being murdered by military officials and unlawfully passed off as rebels killed in combat, and how he took steps to put an end to these atrocities. I acknowledge this and I ask forgiveness from the depths of my soul to all the mothers and the families who were victims of this horror. May this never, ever happen again, were the final words of Santoss remarks.

As he left the lectern and sat down, a visibly shaken Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) chairman struggled to translate his emotions into words. It is very rare for a president of the Republic to ask for forgiveness, to personally acknowledge responsibility, to feel moral responsibility and the pain of victims, Jesuit priest Francisco de Roux said.

A President before the TRC

Santos, who was Defence Minister before his 2010 election, voluntarily went to the TRC to address his role during a tragedy that has appalled Colombians for over a decade and that became euphemistically known as false positives. Behind that misnomer lays a macabre practice: at least 6.402 civilians were murdered by state agents between 2002 and 2008, according to recent preliminary findings by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the judicial arm of Colombias transitional justice, which have sparked outrage in the country.

Even though it was Santos who signed the landmark 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and has been a staunch defender of the transitional justice system stemming from it, it is still much rarer for former presidents and other civilian political leaders to admit their responsibility than for soldiers and former combatants.

I have come to tell you my truth

Santoss speech, poignant at times and self-centred at others, illustrates his own complexities. As he said at the outset, I have come to tell you my truth. He also settled some political scores in the process, underscoring how different his views on the armed conflict were with then president Alvaro Uribe, his erstwhile boss and political godfather turned into his nemesis. He characterised Juan Carlos Pinzon, his now estranged former private secretary and a vice-minister at the time, as having been in favour of denying all wrongdoing within the Colombian Army. While that may be true, it doesnt explain why Santos would later name him chief of staff, ambassador in Washington and, of all things, Defence Minister for four years  right during the peace negotiations.

Spotlight on corrective steps

The brunt of Santoss appearance before the TRC was devoted to explaining, in painstaking detail, the corrective measures taken by him, his vice-minister Sergio Jaramillo and his team of advisors. In his words, an account of how we investigated, denounced and put an end to false positives.

A key aspect of the Colombian TRCs mandate is to identify moral actions and positive transformations carried out by victims, communities and institutions during the conflict. This task was included in the peace deal in a bid to ensure that the commission would not only investigate wrenching episodes, but also document inspiring and empowering stories. Unfortunately, the TRC has so far made little headway on this, according to a recent congressional report.

Over two hours, Santos described the different changes that took place after he entered Uribes government. First, inspectors were named in every single of the Armys divisions to facilitate internal investigations and the Defence Ministrys human rights office was elevated in rank. The first human rights and international humanitarian law policy for the military was drafted, bringing in operational legal advisors to counsel commanders during the planning of military operations. The Ministry also drafted Colombias first ever operational law handbook detailing rules of engagement and overhauled incentives, scrapping body counts and favouring demobilisations and arrests over kills. The length of training and rest periods was reformed after being deemed insufficient. And dozens of military officers were ousted, including three generals and four colonels.

A peak of false positives was reached in 2007. Three of the JEPs primary database sources  the Attorney Generals Office (yellow), the National Centre for Historic Memory (grey) and the coalition of human rights organisations (orange)

 reflect similar extrajudicial executions patterns over time.  JEP / JusticeInfo.net

Many of these changes were instituted with help from outside, most notably from the UN Human Rights Office and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), whose officials were allowed to tour military units to contrast information. This array of corrective measures  which in hindsight might have legally saved both Uribe and Santos  may explain why, as Colombias special peace tribunal highlighted in its prioritisation plan, there was a significant 92% drop in cases between 2007 and 2009. I genuinely believe that the fundamental goal of ending false positives was achieved, Santos said, at one point displaying the JEPs graph, while admitting that despite having done everything humanely and legally possible, we werent able to end them at once.

Unsung heroes

A particularly poignant part of Santoss account focused on highlighting the roles played by persons who, far from public scrutiny, made great and often overlooked efforts to bring these crimes to justice.

One of them was General Carlos Arturo Suarez, who was tapped to lead a fact-finding mission that investigated several emblematic cases and whose findings  known as the Suarez Report  laid the ground for reforms. One episode he detailed was the murder of a dozen youngsters from the city of Soacha, who were duped with fake job offers by state agents and murdered 635 kilometres away from their homes, some of them deliberately targeted because they had mental health illnesses or problematic drug use.

Another anonymous hero was Luz Marina Gil, who in September 2006 became the first civilian  and woman  to lead the military justice system. The daughter of a general, this former Defence Ministry attorney transfered hundreds of investigations into human rights violations to the ordinary justice, following a Constitutional Court ruling that had been rarely observed before.She was the first to enforce an order bringing in civilian judicial police investigators to process combat zones as crime scenes, before anyone else came along.

Finally, there is Carlos Franco, a former Popular Liberation Army (EPL) rebel who signed a peace deal in 1991 and who headed the human rights office in the Vice-Presidency. He managed to establish that nine of the Soacha youngsters reported as missing were presented as combat kills days later in northeast Colombia. His inquiries paved the way for the uncovering of one of the most disturbing patterns of the scandal.

What Santos left out

Given Santoss focus on numbering scores of directives and decisions, many Colombians saw his appearance as somewhat staged and detached. For several observers, his reconstruction of corrective measures is very valuable, but fails to address the policies that rendered them necessary in the first place.

Were still finding missing pieces in this puzzle, says Maria Emma Wills, a former National Centre for Historic Memory researcher. Any public policy has three key moments: when it is conceived, when it becomes ingrained within an institution and when its monitored. Beyond the documents, who took part in discussions about such a discredited policy like body counts and how did they unfold? What were the arguments? Did anyone follow-up on its results?

Santos did mention some likely causes, including perverse incentives such as body counts and prizes, a sustained pressure to increase combat kills (which he dubbed the original sin) and president Uribes belief that the FARC had to be obliterated, instead of driven to a negotiation table. But he only addressed the causes superficially. Its a fact that there was an exponential increase in these executions, which means something had to trigger it. Yet that something is still not clear, says Silvia Serrano, an international human rights law expert who teaches at Georgetown University.

Santoss description of false positives as something inconceivable, is problematic in Serranos view. In particular, she cites a 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling against Colombia, which determined that in five extrajudicial executions dating back to the 1990s, public institutions had warned about evidence of feigned combats. Saying that its so hard to imagine this could happen that it wasnt believable, is not plausible when youre an experienced public servant, says Serrano, who worked for 14 years as an attorney at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The contextual information was there: when Santos realised, upon arriving, that these incentives and pressure to increase combat kills existed, he should have known that they could lead to these consequences.

Who gave the order?

Santoss speech underscored how difficult it will be to meet many victims expectations. A few have reacted negatively to his words. Luz Marina Bernal, one of the mothers of Soacha whose 26-year-old son Fair Leonardo Porras was murdered in January 2008, described it as a cold, calculating and imposed request for forgiveness only meant to cleanse his image.

Id like him to explain how it can be that a widespread criminal practice that has been going on since the 1980s, denounced in Colombia and abroad, backed by court rulings, could in 2006 only be  in his words  rumours supported by weak evidence, she said. Her organisation, the Mothers of False Positives, has been using the rallying cry Who gave the order? and painting murals throughout the country, elevating the pressure to identify those most responsible for their sons murders. In her view, Santos and Uribe should both be tried.

Sorpresa matarife. Aqui estamos!

En la calle 80 con cra 30 estamos recordandole al mundo que sabemos quien dio la orden. Te podras librar de la justicia de los hombres pero no de la justicia divina. Mafapo no se rinde carajo! pic.twitter.com/ct0FI1GkkA  Madres Falsos Positivos de Colombia (@MAFAPOCOLOMBIA) March 5, 2021

Although Porrass murder came to light in August 2008, it was a different case which Santos cited as the moment when he said he understood the full scope of what was happening. Some weeks before, Santos recounted, the UN had facilitated a meeting between the then minister, his top military commander General Freddy Padilla and a soldier, who told them the tragic story of how his 67-year-old father Aicardo Ortiz had been murdered and presented as a dead rebel. For the first time, the reality of false positives stared us in the face, he said, underscoring how it took the case of a victim from within the Army to drive the point home.

To Maria Emma Wills, Santoss testimony underscores how Colombian institutions often ignore or discredit those voices who warn about major problems, a reality compounded by the fact that the country doesnt encourage or protect whistle-blowers. In her view, this is one of the key takeaways to ensure non-recurrence of violence in the future. Who you believe has to do with with those constructed loyalties and instilled mentalities: we need to understand where they come from and how they operate, she argues.

Will other presidents come forward?

Santoss appearance before the TRC inevitably kicked off another question: will his predecessor  and the peace deals most formidable critic  Uribe do so too?

In an interview last week, Uribe ruled out speaking to the truth commission, defended his corrective measures and emphasised that he had already asked the mothers of Soacha for forgiveness. Anyhow, Father de Roux reiterated the TRCs openness to listen to him.

Ernesto Samper, one other former president had already gone before the TRC, but the value of his truth-telling is far from clear. On two occasions, Samper tried to appear forthcoming and defended truth as a necessary contribution to national reconciliation. But he shied away from detailing the controversial aspects of his presidency between 1994 and 1998, including the judicially proven links between the Cali drug cartel and his electoral campaign, or what led to the strong uptick in Colombias number of victims, which more than tripled during his term to over 300,000 per year.

A ticking clock

In a sign of how urgent these missing truths are, one of the better-known victims of false positives died of Covid-19 one day after Santoss speech. For over a decade, pedestrians in downtown Bogota became used to the sight of an old Dodge truck plastered with photos and press cutouts. It was 73-year-old greengrocer Raul Carvajals way of calling attention to the plight of his son, corporal Raul Antonio Carvajal, who he believed was murdered by fellow soldiers in 2006 after refusing to participate in extrajudicial executions.

Officially considered to have died in the middle of a combat, his father Don Raul  as Bogotanos affectionately called him  sought information that would help him prove what really happened. The kind of truths that the TRC is hoping to shed light on, although its clock is also quickly winding down towards the end of its three-year mandate in November.
More than a dozen influential Liberian organisations presented lawmakers Thursday with shovel-ready legislation to establish a war crimes tribunal, almost 20 years after back-to-back civil wars.

An estimated 250,000 people died in 14 years of appalling bloodshed, but very few of those responsible have faced trial, an issue now back on the political agenda in the country.

On June 18, a Swiss court sentenced former warlord Alieu Kosiah to 20 years in prison after he became the first participant to be convicted of war crimes.

No one has been prosecuted in Liberia itself however, with many of the most guilty still powerful figures there.

On Thursday, the Liberia Bar Association and the Civil Society Group comprised of religious groups, a student union and womens and legal associations, among others, petitioned the legislature to create a tribunal for the country.

We have not only drafted the law, we have made 176 copies for each member of the legislature to have one, bar association chairman Tiawon Gongloe told reporters.

The draft called for trials of the most notorious criminals and warlords, one of whom recently attained a high-level position in the Liberian Senate.

In May, Prince Johnson was elected head of the Liberian Senate Committee on Defense and Intelligence, drawing a sharp rebuke from the United States.

Meanwhile, cases against former commanders are underway in Finland, France and Switzerland.

The question of a Liberian war crimes tribunal was also raised this week during hearings by a committee of the US House of Representatives.

It is not a mistake that this week we have presented a draft to you, this week there is a hearing in the US Congress, Gongloe noted, before adding: The world wants peace for Liberia.

Liberias two civil wars from 1989 to 1997 and from 1999 to 2003 were characterised by a litany of abuses attributed to all sides including massacres of civilians, torture, rape and drafting of child soldiers.

The country  one of the poorest in the world  was brought to its knees before being ravaged by an Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Washington is a traditional ally of Liberia, which is Africas oldest republic, founded in 1847 by freed US slaves.

Liberian representative Gontue Kargon received the petition in good faith, he said, adding that if the document is in the best interest of this nation, I am sure that the speaker will push it forward.
Thursday marked the first international Holocaust Survivor Day, a chance to recognise those who made it out alive alongside the memorial days that already honour the millions killed in the Nazi genocide.

Of course we wanted to celebrate them and to honour them, said Jonathan Ornstein, the days founder and the executive director of the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow.

Lets hope that well be able to not only thank them but where they need help, to actually make sure that they can live the rest of their lives with dignity and honour and comfort, he added during an online panel to mark the occasion.

Israel already commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day, while January 27 was designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the United Nations to honour the memory of the six million European Jews and the millions of other victims of the Nazi genocide.

But these days are mainly directed at the tragedy, Ornstein and Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum argued in an op-ed for The Jerusalem Post earlier this year.

Holocaust survivors deserve a day of joy; a day of celebration. Not a day to share with condemnation of the Nazis, they added.

Ornstein chose June 26 for the holiday so that it would coincide with the birthday of Polish Holocaust survivor Marian Turski, who will turn 95 this month.

Because the day falls on the Sabbath this year, the inaugural edition was held early, on Thursday.

In addition to Turski and other survivors, those who spoke at the online festivities included Schindlers List director Steven Spielberg.

He called the day a long overdue celebration of living witnesses, many of whom Ive had the pleasure of knowing.

Spielberg in 1994 established a foundation that video recorded 55,000 testimonies of Holocaust survivors and witnesses.

It is just a joy for me to see more than 60 organisations come together today to celebrate the bravery, the sacrifices, the lives of the most courageous people Ive ever known, he added.
Philadelphia will pay $125,000 to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit that claims that the citys prisons did comply with the requirement that inmates leave their cells for at least three hours a day.

This Class actionIn April 2020, 10 imprisoned individuals submitted strong opposition to the extreme conditions in Philadelphia prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic. It drew on consistent reports from Philadelphia prisoners who said they did not get enough time outside the cell on a regular basis.

In January of this year, a court order stipulated the three-hour requirement, when the second coronavirus surge resulted in a new epidemic among inmates in four Philadelphia prisons.

The lawsuit alleges that prisoners were deprived of time to shower, call, exercise or get adequate relief from the psychological stress of imprisonment. The prisoners also stated that they did not receive soap and hand sanitizer regularly; shared facilities in the prison, such as telephones, were not regularly disinfected; and that appropriate COVID-19 mitigation procedures had never been implemented.

As of this month, Philadelphia has Report There are 1,776 COVID-19 cases among inmates in the citys prison system, including 305 symptomatic cases and 1,471 asymptomatic cases. The citys four prisons hold approximately 4,837 prisoners, a number that has dropped by approximately 40% since July 2015.

At the beginning of the pandemic, as asymptomatic transmission became an important issue in prisons and other gathering places, prisoners and correctional staff were worried that COVID-19 would spread uncontrollably.Sometimes, the prison will deal with the epidemic and Implementation of the Asylum-in-Place policy That restricted movement.

The plaintiff in the federal lawsuit argued that the limited time outside the cell could lead to the spread of the virus in urban prisons, especially considering the lack of sanitation procedures and supplies by prisoners.

A kind Partial settlement of litigation The agreement reached earlier this month resolved several hygiene issues  such as the provision of free soap, clean towels, the implementation of COVID-19 safety agreements, and the opportunity to shower every day  but the issue of extracellular time was not resolved until Wednesday .

The settlement agreement allows the city to avoid possible contempt of court decisions by the judge handling the case. Before the settlement, a hearing is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

Several plaintiffs in the case reported that they suffered from asthma, cancer, hepatitis C, vascular disease and other disabilities, which put them at risk of serious complications from COVID-19.

The lawsuit argues that the overall conditions of the prison increase the possibility of prisoners contracting COVID-19 and becoming seriously ill. The plaintiff argued that the Philadelphia Department of Prisons violated its Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, its 14th Amendment due process rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The citys settlement will result in an equal payment of $62,500 to the Philadelphia Bail Fund and the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund. These two non-profit organizations pay bail money for poor prisoners who would otherwise be locked up in jail for failing to pay.

We will use these funds immediately to release more people, said Malik Neal, executive director of the Philadelphia Bail Fund. But to be clear: we are not the solution to this problem. The solution is for local officials to take the necessary measures to end the human rights violations in our prisons.

According to the terms of the agreement reached on Wednesday, the city must make all reasonable efforts to increase the release time beyond the time required by the current court order by July 12.

The goal of the settlement is to develop a new timetable that will provide 4 1/2 to 5 hours of out-of-cell time for all vaccinated units in the citys prisons. The goal of other ordinary housing units is to have 3 1/2 hours of time outside the cell each day. Prisoners in the isolation unit have 3 hours a day, and prisoners in the isolation unit have 1 hour a day.

After living in harsh conditions, including severe lockdown conditions, for more than a year, we hope that this huge sum of money can persuade New York City to provide people with the necessary time to get out of prison for their health and humanity, Su Mingye said . Plaintiffs representative and executive director of the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project.

Failure to meet these benchmarks may result in the city facing further lawsuits in federal court. The city will also be required to submit a report detailing its plan to resume pre-pandemic operations.

The lawyer representing the plaintiff in this case, David Rudovsky, called the bail settlement funds a fair solution.

It (provides) a measure to alleviate overcrowding conditions, allowing the release of people awaiting trial, usually for minor crimes, who are unable to pay the required bail and initiate a procedure so that the prison system can finally return to the prison safely Before.-Epidemic programming, visits and normal extracellular time.
According to many news reports and Al Jazeera news, the former president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III, died after a long illness.

According to news reports, Aquino has undergone dialysis for at least five months and has recently undergone heart surgery. According to ABS-CBN News, he was hospitalized early on Thursday.

Jamela Alindoan of Al Jazeera reported from the capital Manila that sources confirmed Aquinos death.

Aquino, 61, Served as the 15th President of the country From 2010 to 2016, he was succeeded by the current President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aquinos family has not yet issued an official statement, but his former spokesman Abigail Walter told reporters in Manila that a statement will be issued on Thursday.

Deep sadness

Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, appointed by Aquino in 2012, said in a statement: I am deeply saddened to learn that former President Benigno Aquino III has passed away this morning. .

I know he is a kind person, driven by his enthusiasm for serving the people. I saw him earning his title with dignity and integrity, added Leoning, who also served as Aquino and Peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Harry Roque, Dutertes spokesman, stated that the country thanks to the former president for his contribution and service to the country.

The European Union Office in Manila said in a statement: We mourn a friend who pushed to deepen our relationship.

The German Embassy in Manila also issued a separate statement praising Aquino for his role in strengthening the relationship between the Philippines and Germany during his tenure.

The Charge daffaires of the US Embassy in Manila, John Rowe, expressed condolences to Aquinos family and added that his government will always thank us for our partnership with the Philippines.

Aquino (right) filed a lawsuit with the Court of International Arbitration, questioning Chinas claims in the South China Sea, arousing Beijings anger [File: Wally Santana/Reuters]

The highs and lows of the office

It was during Aquinos administration that Manila contended with China and filed a lawsuit with the Hague International Court of Arbitration over disputes over the South China Sea.

One month after Aquinos retirement in 2016, the Philippines won this landmark case.

Witnessed by his six-year tenure The countrys economy grows steadily.

But he also faces controversy, including allegations of mismanagement after Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people in 2013.

Although known as a personal integrity, his name was tarnished after criticism and opposition Release of reallocated public funds To his allies in Congress.

He also approved a controversial government action that resulted in the death of 44 commandos while hunting down a wanted Malaysian armed leader in southern Mindanao.

In the absence of official announcements and orders, the flags of public and private places were lowered to half mast. When the public loses the passing moment, so in the final liquidation, they undoubtedly know the people who have served them faithfully and honorably. pic.twitter.com/0spMVtsaRb  Manuel L. Quezon III (@mlq3) June 24, 2021

That incident undermined the peace agreement reached between Aquino and Muslim rebels during his tenure.

Aquino is also nicknamed Noynoy in the Philippines, and is the only son of two democratic icons in the country.

After dictator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown in 1986, his mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino, took power. During the failed military coup in 1989, he escaped the assassination of rogue soldiers while trying to protect his mother.

Aquinos father and former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr of the same name were killed at Manila International Airport after returning from exile in 1983. The assassination was seen as the driving force for the popular uprising and Marcoss step down three years later.

Before being elected president in 2010, Aquino served as a senator from 2007 to 2010, and from 1998 to 2007 as a member of Congress representing Tarak.

His mother died at the end of 2009, which caused Aquino to become president in the 2010 election.

After leaving office in 2016, Aquino has kept a low profile because Dutertes allies continue to criticize him. Facing legal charges Related to the killing of commandos in 2015. He was also the target of online attacks by Duterte supporters.

Aries Arugay, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, said in an interview with Al Jazeera that Aquinos death is worth reminding that the Philippines needs to find the true northdemocracy and human rights.
Last year, 13 gene sequences were mysteriously deleted from online databases-isolated from people infected with COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic in China, but they have now been recovered.

Jesse Bloom, a computational biologist and virus evolution expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discovered that these sequences have been deleted from online databases at the request of scientists in Wuhan, China. But through some Internet investigations, he was able to restore a copy of the data stored on Google Cloud.

These sequences have not fundamentally changed scientists The origin of COVID-19 -Including the worrying question of whether the coronavirus naturally spreads from animals to people or escapes in laboratory accidents. But their deletion has increased concerns that the Chinese governments secrecy has hindered the international communitys efforts to understand how COVID-19 emerged.

Blooms research results are published in Preprinted paper, Which has not been peer-reviewed by other scientists, and was released on Tuesday. I think this must be consistent with the attempt to hide the sequence, he told BuzzFeed News.

After Bloom learned of the deleted data Read papers A team led by Carlos Farkas from the University of Manitoba in Canada, on some of the earliest gene sequences of SARS-CoV-2. Farkas paper describes a sequence of samples taken from hospital outpatients by Wuhan researchers in a project to develop a virus diagnostic test.But when Bloom tried Serial read archive, An online database run by the National Institutes of Health, he received error messages indicating that they have been deleted.

Bloom realized that a copy of the SRA data was also maintained on a server run by Google, and was able to figure out that the URL of the missing sequence could be found in the cloud. In this way, he recovered 13 gene sequences that may help answer questions about how the coronavirus evolved and where it came from.

Bloom discovered that, like other sequences later collected outside the city, the deleted sequence was more similar to the bat coronavirus (presumably the ultimate ancestor of the virus that caused COVID-19), rather than the sequence related to the Wuhan South China Seafood Market . This adds to the earlier suggestion that the seafood market may be an early victim of COVID-19, rather than where the coronavirus first spreads from animals to people.

This is a very interesting study conducted by Dr. Bloom. In my opinion, the analysis is completely correct, Farkas told BuzzFeed News via email. Scott Gottlieb, the former director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also praised the discovery on Twitter.
After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the royal family of racial discrimination, Buckingham Palace released the racial composition data of its staff for the first time.

The royal family said on Thursday that 8.5% of its employees are from ethnic minorities, and the target for next year is 10%. The latest census data shows that ethnic minorities account for about 13% of the British population. Staffing data is released as part of the Royal Financial Annual Report.

A senior court source said that these figures are released to ensure greater accountability, because if the diversity goal is not met, there will be nowhere to hide. The source acknowledged that more work needs to be done.

Despite our efforts, we are still not where we want, said the source, who requested anonymity in accordance with the practice of royal officials. This is not to say that we did not promote diversity and inclusion initiatives during this period, but that the results were not what we wanted.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, after Prince Harry and Meghan made comments, Buckingham Palace worked hard to quell the criticism. This interview is the most important one since the couple left their royal duties and moved to California.

On September 25, 2019, British Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, hold their son Archie. Megan said a senior member of the royal family raised concerns about the skin color of her baby when she was pregnant. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

Worries about babys skin color

Megan is a mixed-race child, and she said that before she gave birth to her first child, an unidentified member of the royal family raised concerns about the color of her childs skin. The couple also claimed that Megan was a victim of merciless treatment during her work as a family member.

The palace responded at the time that the allegations concerning race were particularly worrying and would be resolved privately by the family. But critics said that the 61-word statement issued on behalf of the Queen was too little and too late.

Watch | Prince William answers questions about racism:

The Duke of Cambridge spoke briefly on the racial issues raised in Prince Harry and his wife Meghans interview with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday. William denied that the British royal family is racist. 0:13

When Harrys brother Prince William was visiting a school in East London, he was forced to respond after reporters yelled at him for comment.

We are not a racist family, William said as his wife Kate walked by his side.

Data on ethnic minorities are released together with employment data on the palace. As of March 31, public funds paid the salaries of 556 Crown employees, down from 580 in the same period last year. Although the total number of employees is divided by gender, men dominate in senior positions. Of the 34 senior employees, 25 are men.

These figures are part of the annual report and sovereign grants, which are public financing mechanisms that provide funding for the Queens and her familys public activities.

The report shows that Harry and Meghan paid 2.4 million pounds (4.1 million Canadian dollars) to compensate the royal family for refurbishing their houses near Windsor Palace, which was funded with public funds when they were members of the royal family. When they decided to withdraw from royal duties, they were asked to repay the money.

Last year, the Queens official spending increased by 26% to 87.5 million pounds (150 million Canadian dollars). This includes 31.6 million for the restoration and renovation of Buckingham Palace, almost double the amount last year. Work on this 10-year, 369 million (635 million Canadian dollar) project has accelerated as most public events have been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Sovereign grants are public funds that fund the official work of the royal family. It is calculated as a percentage of the profit generated by Crown Estates, which is a lucrative real estate asset owned by the Queen because of her role as a monarch and must be passed on to her successor. In return for the grant, the profits of Crown Real Estate were turned over to the State Treasury.

According to current regulations, this grant is equivalent to 25% of the estates profits two years ago, of which three-fifths of the funds are used for basic expenditures, and two-fifths of the funds are used for the Buckingham Palace project.

Sovereign grants increased by 4.2% last year to 85.9 million pounds (147 million Canadian dollars).
Jakarta/Kudus, Indonesia  For Puji Aprianis family, this should be a time of celebration  she is pregnant with her second child, only a few weeks before delivery.

But her family did not welcome a new life, but mourned.

I miss her. She is healthy and her pregnancy is normal. Suddenly, she is gone, her sister Ery Jurniastuti said.

The family lives in Kudus, Central Java, which is one of the most affected areas in Indonesia by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

She felt out of breath and was still coughing. She also felt her stomach contract, Eli said.

Kudus has nearly 900,000 people, and cases have increased by 7,594% since the beginning of this year.

After a sharp increase in cases this month, overwhelmed hospitals were forced to shut out patients.

After being rejected by the two hospitals, Puji was finally admitted, and her oxygen level rose slightly.

But it was too late. Her condition deteriorated and she died in the hospital.

She died first, and then they checked the babys heart. The baby was still inside and they didnt take it out. It died there.

Puji Apriani was infected with COVID-19 when she was pregnant and only a few weeks before delivery.Now, her family is not celebrating the newcomer, but on the morning of the death of Puji and her child [Jamaah/Al Jazeera]

Doctor vs Delta Air Lines

At the Loekmono Hadi General Hospital in Kudus, Dr. Abdul Aziz Achyar said he was surprised by the magnitude of the surge, which brought the hospitals bed occupancy rate to over 90%.

During Ramadan, it was very quiet. We only had 18 patients. But when it startedI was hospitalized myself, he told Al Jazeera.

His 153 colleagues also contracted the virus and two of them died.

Indonesias ability to track mutations is limited, but doctors believe that the current Kudus outbreak is partly due to the spread of the Delta mutation, which was originally discovered in India.

We sent cases from the health center [for genome sequencing]From 72 samples, 62 are new variants, said Dr. Abdul.

At Aisyiyah Kudus Hospital, Dr. Najib Budhiwardoyo said his hospital is fully operational.

We are full of COVID patients. The second wave started after Eid al-Fitr, he said.

All hospitals in Kudus have encountered this problemthere is a shortage of oxygen. We must be selective; we can only use oxygen for patients with very low saturation.

The swamp became a cemetery

Not only the hospitals in Java are close to capacity, but so are the cemeteries.

In the Indonesian capital, designated COVID-19 cemeteries that opened in the first few months of the pandemic, such as Pondok Rangon Cemetery, are full.

The cemetery staff told Al Jazeera that they are trying to keep up with their workload.

Before COVID, I used to dig 10 graves a day. But yesterday, we dug 46 graves. The previous day was 51 years old, said 20-year-old gravedigger Dassiman.

We are tired. We work from morning to night.

Gravedigger Dassiman for 20 years, waiting for Vayudin to finish writing on the wooden tombstone [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

In Rorotan, North Jakarta, a new burial site for COVID-19 victims was opened a few weeks ago-more than 800 people have been buried there.

As the death toll continues to rise, finding space for the dead in this densely populated city is becoming a challenge.

The land of Rorotan was once an empty swamp-the families of the deceased had to trek in the mud to pay tribute to their loved ones.

This is a new cemetery The other places are full. There are so many cases of new coronary pneumonia, so they have to bring them here, Dassiman said.

It has been raining, so muddy. It is very sad to see the funeral here, even the ambulance got stuck trying to come in.

Tombstone writer Vasyudin said that due to the pandemic, his workload has increased-working in the cemetery will bring emotional loss.

I feel very sad to see so many tombs. Seeing those families crying, I think of my own family, he said.

Before COVID, I also made a tombstone, but I am busier now. So many people died.

There is very little time to restjust like a worker puts a plastic-wrapped coffin underground, more ambulances arrive, and more dead have to be buried.

India should be our lesson

This week, Indonesias confirmed cases of the coronavirus exceeded 2 million, and the death toll exceeded 55,000.

Dr. Nadia Siti, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health, said that the increase in cases is not surprising.

We know that if there are holidays or activities, more and more people will relocate and travel from other cities, she said.

Rorotans cemetery was built in what was once a swamp in northern Jakarta [Fakhrur Roz/Al Jazeera] Rorotans cemetery has only been open for a few weeks and more than 800 people have been buried [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

The government imposes restrictions on Mudic. This is the tradition of Muslims visiting their hometowns. [during Eid Al Fitr]In spite of this, there are still four to six million people traveling. 

The situation in Kudus and the capital is of particular concern to the Ministry of Health, where bed occupancy rates are high, and hospital staff have been crushed by the crisis.

In Jakarta, the bed occupancy rate is close to 80% to 90%. We instruct hospitals to convert their beds to COVID-19 services so that patients can use them, she said.

The last strategy is to establish a field hospital under the coordination of the army or the police.

Long before the pandemic, Indonesia lacked medical professionals-people were worried about how its strained medical system would respond. The infection is expected to peak in July.

With existing doctors, paramedics and nurses, this may not be enough. We may need an experienced doctor to supervise five to ten new doctors who have no experience in caring for patients, said Dr. Nadia.

We do hope that we will not face the same situation as India. What happened in India should be our lesson.
Aboriginal Services Minister Mark Miller said today that if Ottawa provides more housing before the outbreak, the COVID-19 outbreak in remote Aboriginals in northern Ontario will not be so severe.

Kashechewan is a Cree community located off the west coast of James Bay. There are approximately 1,800 people. Last month, more than 300 members were reported to be infected with COVID-19.

Leo Friday has repeatedly blamed the crisis on overcrowding, which was driven by the spread of the highly spread Alpha variant.

He is absolutely correct, Miller said.

There is investment. Obviously not enough.

It was said on Friday that as many as two dozen people share the same house in Kashechewan and 200 people are on the housing waiting list.

He said that if there were more houses, the virus would not spread so fast, and the current emergency could have been avoided.

We tried and tried to get more housing, said Friday. I would like to invite the minister to visit our community and see how it is going.

Minister called the number of infected young people horrible

Millers office said that the Canadian Indigenous Services Department has provided Kashechewan with more than 4.3 million Canadian dollars this year to meet housing needs and is funding a new 20-unit housing project.

It also stated that the department spent more than US$49 million to build 52 elevated duplex houses between 2015 and 2017 to replace flood-damaged houses and reduce overcrowding.

But Friday said the urgent need for housing exceeded the funding provided.

Miller said that as of Tuesday, Aboriginal Services Canada is aware of 87 active cases and 215 recovered COVID-19 cases in the community. He said that since June 15th, Kashechewans cases have been reduced by more than 65%.

The vast majority of people who test positive in the community are unvaccinated young people.

This is terrible, Miller said.

The Canadian Armed Forces set up an isolation dome at Kashechewan First Nation. (Leo Friday/Provided)

It was said on Friday that many young people who were infected had asthma because they lived in moldy houses.

I am particularly worried about my children because there are too many people in my family, said Friday.

Additional military support was deployed to the community last week. Miller said the ground personnel included 17 nurses, 4 paramedics, 10 mental health providers, 16 Canadian Red Cross team members, 14 Canadian Rangers and 13 Canadian Armed Forces soldiers.

Miller said the military has set up temporary isolation units, including six medical domes used to isolate and treat patients.

It said on Friday that the military is delivering mail and drugs to communities that are still under lockdown.

The COVID-19 outbreak broke out in person on Friday. His 40-year-old nephew was in a coma after being infected in a hospital in Sudbury, Ontario.

He may not succeed, and the doctor doesnt know what will happen, said Friday.

The chief is still waiting for the coroners report on whether a man in his 40s died on Tuesday due to COVID-19.

Friday said that at least 15 community members were airlifted out of Kashechewan for treatment.

Chief wants to speed up the relocation plan

Evacuation is common in the community and is threatened by flooding caused by the spring ice burst of the Albany River every year.

For decades, Kashechwan has been calling for relocation. Has selected a location approximately 30 kilometers south of its current location.

community Signed framework agreements with Ottawa and Ontario in 2019 Plan to relocate.

Millers office stated that it is discussing the transfer of provincial lands to Canada in order to designate them as Kashechewan reservations with the province and neighboring natives of Fort Albany.

The department also stated that it is working with the community to hire a project manager for the detailed planning phase.

Kashechewan Chief Leo Friday (middle) hopes that the federal government will provide more housing. (Canada Media/Adrian Wilder)

A statement from Millers office said: In the context of seasonal flooding and COVID-19, the health and safety of Kaschevan and Fort Albany is our top priority.

We remain committed to working with the two communities on their respective priorities.

Miller said he was in talks with Friday to speed up the relocation plan, which was slowed down by the pandemic.

On Friday he said he would like to see the government take faster action.

It wont go anywhere, said Friday. Its really difficult for people who want to move to a better place to live.
Subways tuna sandwiches were placed under a microscope and new accusations were fabricated, claiming that they were full of mysterious meat.

After two women filed a class-action lawsuit accusing the hero chain of providing fish-free tuna submarines, laboratory tests analyzing tuna sandwich spoons from three different locations in Los Angeles could not determine the ingredients.

5 A laboratory tested three samples of Subway tuna sandwiches purchased from three different locations in Los Angeles, but was unable to determine the type Credit: Getty Images-Getty

5 The fast food giant disputed the laboratory results, claiming that the DNA tests were unreliable and that these tests could not prove that the Subway tuna sandwich submitted to the laboratory was not fish, and that it was also cooked Credit: Getty

New York Times Pay 500 USD for one time PCR or polymerase chain reaction test, It is essentially detecting genetic material and identifying DNA sequences.

After waiting for more than a month after submitting the Ziploc bag full of frozen Sepperk Tuna Sandwich, the laboratory results came back.

There is no amplifiable tuna DNA in the sample, so we did not obtain amplification products from the DNA, the results showed, according to the Times.

Therefore, we cannot determine the species.

5 The test was launched after two Northern California women filed a class-action lawsuit in January, which accused Subway of selling anything but tuna sandwiches. Credit: Getty Images-Getty

A Subway spokesperson dismissed the laboratory findings, arguing that DNA testing is an unreliable method of identifying processed tuna, according to New York Post.

DNA testing is not a reliable way to identify denatured proteins, such as Subways tuna, which is cooked before the test.

She also pointed out that the Subway Tuna Sandwich submitted to the laboratory is not a fish, and there is no conclusion.

What it says is that the test cannot confirm tuna, which is what people expect from DNA testing for denatured proteins, the spokeswoman told the Post.

5 A Subway spokesperson argued that its restaurant serves 100% wild-caught cooked tuna mixed with mayonnaise for freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads. Credit: Getty Images-Getty

Then, she strengthened the high-quality ingredients of the menu items.

In fact, Subway restaurant serves 100% wild-caught cooked tuna, which is mixed with mayonnaise and used in freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads for guests to enjoy, she said.

The taste and quality of our tuna makes it one of Subways most popular products. These unfounded accusations may harm our franchisees, small business owners, who work tirelessly to maintain Subways products. All products (including tuna) set high standards. 

The laboratory analyzing the Subway sandwich tuna determined that there may be other factors at play.

One, it has gone through such a heavy processing, no matter what we can take out, we cant identify it, a laboratory spokesperson told the New York Times, noting that the company refused to be named because of fear of sandwich The leader fell out.

Or we got some, but there is no tuna there, the laboratory spokesperson added.

This effort came after Northern Californians Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the fast food giant.

5 Subways menu lists their tuna sandwiches, which are 100% wild-caught tuna mixed with creamy mayonnaise Credit: Getty Images-Getty

Independent testing has repeatedly confirmed that the product is not made from tuna, The court documents filed in January said.

Subway is fighting back with a torpedo lawsuit, claiming that their tuna is made from simple ingredients.

Subway provides 100% cooked tuna to its restaurants, they replied.

They say their tuna is mixed with mayonnaise and used in freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads for guests to enjoy.

The taste and quality of our tuna makes it one of Subways most popular products.

according to Metro website, Its tuna sandwich contains 100% wild-caught tuna mixed with creamy mayonnaise.

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But Dhanowa and Namin claimed that the fish sandwich was made from various mixtures that did not make up tuna, but the defendant mixed them together to mimic the appearance of tuna.

According to the Washington Post, the couple appeared to have avoided the unexpected allegations of tuna and filed an amended complaint in June accusing Subway of selling sustainably caught bonito and yellowfin tuna, but in fact it was Contains any unhealthy fish.

Subway initially stated that it would fight against these allegations because it defended itself against unfounded misrepresentation and defilement of the quality products provided to customers by Subway and its franchisees The lawsuit constitutes a threat to the Subway brand and goodwill Reckless and improper attacks, and the livelihoods of its California franchisees.

Indeed, there is no legal or factual basis for the plaintiffs claim.
Opinion analysis

after Carla La Roche





11:25 p.m.

in Boden v. United States, The Supreme Court analyzed Armed Professional Crime ActThe force clause or element clause. According to ACCA, a person convicted of three violent felony counts and then convicted for possession of a firearm will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. In this case, the court must decide whether the term violent felony includes crimes committed with recklessness.

in a Decide On June 10, the five judges agreed that according to ACCA, reckless crime is not counted as a violent felony, but they made this decision with different reasoning. Justice Elena Kagan wrote the majority opinion of the four justices, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gossac ( Justice Neil Gorsuch also joined this opinion. Justice Clarence Thomas only wrote a personal opinion in the judgment. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a dissenting opinion, and Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito and Amy Corny Barrett joined.

The case was submitted to the court after Charles Borden Jr. admitted to violating federal law prohibiting a felony from owning a firearm. When sentencing, the government sought improvements based on ACCA; it claimed that Bodens three previous felony convictions were violent felonies. Boden objected. He asserted that one of the felonies cited by the government included recklessness and was therefore not a violent felony.In Bodens view, ACCA needs a higher culpability mentality, or Patriarchal, Than reckless. The district court ruled for the government, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit agreed.

For plural writing, Kagan defines four mental states related to element clause analysis, in the order of decreasing guilt.A kind Patriarchal The purpose is equivalent to the consciously desired result. To show informed behavior, it is necessary to prove that the person knows that something will happen due to their behavior. Recklessness means that a person consciously ignores major and unreasonable risks and seriously deviates from the norm. Finally, acts of negligence occur when a person should be aware of but not aware of the significant and unreasonable risk of serious deviation from accepted standards.

According to ACCA, a violent felony is a felony that uses, attempts to use, or threatens to use force against another person as an element.Kagan reviewed the analysis in her majority opinion Leokal V. Ashcroft with Voisine v. United States Decide whether a criminal offence involving recklessness can be classified as a violent felony.

in LeokalIn a case in 2004, the court analyzed the violent crime statute similar to the ACCA element clause and found that negligent conduct was excluded from the term. Kagan explained that in doing so, the court focused on the wording against the person or property of another person in order to discover that Congress intends to punish higher guilt than negligence.

in neighborIn a 2016 case, the court held that misdemeanor of domestic violence included crimes with a reckless mental state.Kagan emphasized that the relevant laws and regulations neighbor Does not include those applicable to ACCA and LeokalIn the absence of such language, the court focused on the word use in the use or attempt to use force in the statute prohibiting persons convicted of domestic violence from owning firearms. In doing so, the court concluded that the use of force by someone was sufficient to count as a misdemeanor of domestic violence.

In reconciling these two situations, Kagan explained that the combination of against others language and the term use of force requires actions directed at the other person. These two phrases together impose a higher degree of behavior than recklessness. Therefore, the reckless behavior does not comply with the targeted behavior that is necessary for the enhanced sentencing stipulated by ACCA.

After criticizing the arguments in Kavanaughs objection (discussed below) as illogical and infeasible, Kagan emphasized the background and purpose of ACCAs element clauses. The purpose of enacting the law by Congress is to punish those who commit violent crimes and pose a danger to the public. Kagan believes that ACCA does not treat all crimes that a person may commit as violent felonies. Failure to do so will result in imposing mandatory minimum penalties for actions that are less dangerous than what Congress attempts to punish. Kagan warned that the court should not define violent felonies more extensively than Congress expected, which is the result if the court includes reckless crimes in the element clause.

In his consent, Thomas made it clear that he believes that Boden deserves a heavier sentence and that his previous felony was a violent felony. However, he explained that Bordens previous reckless conviction does not apply under ACCAs element clauses. Thomas will find that recklessness is not applicable through the language of use of force. He believes that the clause requires deliberate action.

Thomas argued that the government and courts tried to use element clauses too widely because the courts improperly invalidated the catchall part of ACCA, the remaining clause.in Johnson v. United StatesIn a 2015 case, the court reviewed the definition of a violent felony as involving[d] Carry on the current[ed] The serious potential risk of causing personal injury to others, and that the clause is unconstitutional and vague. He reasoned that the remaining clause would make the penalty applicable to Bodens previous criminal convictions. Thomas believes that the court should overturn it. Johnson.

In his dissent, Kavanaugh emphasized that people facing mandatory minimum sentences must commit three felonies and own a gun. He repeatedly reminded most people that most state laws include reckless criminal liability, and Congress acted with this in mind when passing the ACCA element clause. In his dissent, Kavanaugh also criticized the imprecise analysis and choice of wording of pluralism.

Kavanaugh provided two reasons that the majority partys decision was incorrect. First of all, he believes that the term person who is directed at others-the term most people hold means that violent felony requires targeted action-is an artistic term that has nothing to do with a persons mentality. On the contrary, Congress uses persons against others only to distinguish other types of crimes, such as crimes against property. By including persons against others, Congress indicated the types of crimes that apply under ACCA.

The second reason Kavanaugh objected was that he believed that the ordinary meaning of the element clause included reckless behavior.After defining intentional/purposeful, knowing and reckless behavior, Kavanaugh clarified that the difference between recklessness and knowledge is thin and that recklessness is the accepted minimum. Patriarchal To pursue criminal responsibility. He went on to say that if Congress intends to rule out reckless behavior under ACCA, it will make it clear.

Next, Cavano questioned the analysis of complex numbers neighbor with LeokalHe noticed that the court clearly included language against family relations when describing the statute. neighbor, Even though most people now claim that the wording does not exist.For Kavanaugh, in neighbor Opinion means that the court understands that the ordinary meaning includes reckless behavior against someone.The meaning of the law neighbor Kavanaugh believes that even if the wording is different, ACCA is the same.

in spite of LeokalKavanaugh explained that the courts analysis includes the legal language against the person or property of another person and the court only discusses whether the negligent act is a violent crime. Leokal He emphasized that it has not been determined whether recklessness applies.

Finally, Kavanaugh believes that the background and purpose of ACCA ensure that reckless behavior is included in the element clause. He pointed out that reckless assaults and reckless killings are violent crimes, and people should be punished if they have been convicted three times before. Kavanaugh seems to be worried that most peoples interpretation of ACCA stems from judges dissatisfaction with mandatory minimum standards.

Kavanaugh put an end to his dissent by listing the collateral consequences that he predicted the court decision will produce.He warned that ACCA will not punish serious violent crimes, including second-degree murder and manslaughter; attempts and threats will be included in ACCA, but unfinished reckless assaults and reckless homicides; if sentencing courts rely on them, people will seek them out Review of the verdict neighbor Including reckless crimes; people will be released from prison earlier than Congress expected; and those released early will have a higher crime rate than others.

Ultimately, holding Boden Because of the combination of Kagans majority decision and Thomass consent to the verdict, reckless crimes are now excluded from ACCAs element clauses. However, the ACCA case in court is unlikely to end.Both Kagans diverse views and Kavanaughs objections seem to point the way for the future Patriarchal Court dispute: extremely reckless. Although Kagan reserved his judgment on the application of ACCA to the question of extreme recklessness, Kavanaugh clearly believed that ACCA contained this mentality.
As the Ukrainian community complained that the name evokes memories of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, Ontarios provincial alcohol retailer no longer sells Russian vodka brands.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) is selling Stalinskaya Silver Vodka online and in its stores.

The vodka companys website states that the name was inspired by the Russian word stal-meaning steel. Stalinskaya, it said, means strength.

But for Ukrainians, the memory evoked by using this name is by no means positive.

Our first reaction was shock and disappointment, said Nick Krawetz, one of the many people in the Ukrainian community in the province, who contacted LCBO and asked to remove the brand.

Considering history, this is definitely offensive.

Joseph Stalin ruled from 1927 to his death in 1954, sent approximately 1 million citizens to labor camps and executed approximately 700,000 people. His agricultural collectivization campaign led to a famine in the early 1930s, killing millions of people in Ukraine and other parts of the Soviet Union.

Krawetz stumbled upon the brand of vodka while browsing the LCBO website.

This definitely caught my attention. [It] It just seems strange that such a product will even appear on that website. So it surprised me, he said.

I tend to reach out and express my concerns because I dont think the product has a foothold in Ontario or any province or region of our country.

Ukrainian community expressed their concerns

The Ukrainian Canadian Parliament (UCC) sent a letter to LCBO urging the cancellation of the vodka brand.

I think any mention of Stalin needs to be placed in the context of him now recognized as a brutal dictator, who used his communist regime to kill millions of people in Ukraine and other parts of the Soviet Union, said UCC CEO and Director Ihor Michalchyshyn.

LCBO responded to these concerns, stating that it has stopped selling Stalinskaya online and in stores.

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (Josif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, 1879-1953). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Based on feedback from some of our customers, LCBO further reviewed Stalinskaya Silver Vodka and found that it did not meet the LCBO name and label standards, and was no longer sold through LCBO, the statement read.

CBC Toronto has contacted Stalinskaya but has not yet received a response.

UCC says the use of Soviet symbols is very inappropriate

UCC stated that it wants all companies to pay attention when using symbols or names related to the Soviet Union.

Unfortunately, we have seen people, various companies or individuals trying to use the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union as fashionable, cool or ironic brands, Michalchyshyn said.

For us and many other communities suffering from the Soviet Union, we dont think so. We see [as] Very inappropriate. 

UCC hopes to review LCBOs community and product standards to ensure that such incidents do not occur again.

Our job is to educate people about Stalin, the impact of his terror on the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian people, and, frankly, the descendants of Canadians. Mihalchisin said.
The EU has imposed extensive economic sanctions on Belarus in response to what the EU calls escalation of serious human rights violations, including the detention of Roman Protasevich.

Thursdays sanctions are aimed at the economy, but they are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.

On May 23, the Belarusian flight controller ordered a Ryanair jet to fly from Greece to Lithuania. After landing in Minsk, the journalist and activist Protasevich was arrested along with his girlfriend.

The latest sanctions target industries, including potash (a common fertilizer ingredient), tobacco and oil, and are much stricter than the measures imposed in the past.

Petroleum products trade, potassium chloride [potash], Commodities used to produce or manufacture tobacco products are restricted, the European Union said in a statement.

The sanctions also include prohibiting the sale of equipment and software that can be used to monitor the Internet and telephones to Belarus.

Belaruss access to the EUs capital markets will also be restricted, and the European Investment Bank will stop making payments to the countrys public sector.

EU increases pressure on Minsk

Since Lukashenko won his sixth term in controversial elections in August last year, the EU has gradually increased its sanctions.

This 27-nation group believed that Lukashenkos victory last year was a fraud. Since the Ryanair incident, it has taken a tougher stance and put pressure on neighboring Lithuania for allegedly using immigrants and refugees. Belarusian opposition figures provide a safe haven and are one of Lukashenkos most outspoken critics.

The diplomat told Reuters that the decision to impose tougher sanctions was made extremely quickly, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

On Monday, the EU Foreign Minister imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on 78 Belarusian officials and frozen the assets of eight entities, usually companies, banks or associations.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated that these measures are aimed at economic areas of particular importance to Belarus and the regimes income.

Currently, a total of 166 people and 15 entities in Belarus are subject to EU restrictions.

Since the flight scandal on May 23, the European Union has banned its airlines from flying over Belarusian territory and expelled Belarusian Airlines from its airspace.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have also imposed sanctions on senior Belarusian officials.

Economic War

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus stated that these measures will harm ordinary people and border the declaration of economic war. It warned that Minsk would be forced to take retaliatory measures, which would harm Western companies.

Belarus was shaken by months of protests triggered by Lukashenkos re-election.

The authorities responded with a massive crackdown and tens of thousands of people were arrested. Most opposition leaders have been sentenced to prison or forced to leave the country.

Since being pulled off a Ryanair flight in Minsk, Protasevich has been marching on national television, apologizing tearfully for his behavior and praising Lukashenko.

His parents, members of the opposition, and others in the West believed that he was speaking under duress, and some said he showed signs of being beaten.

In another development, the opposition to Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya) was jailed for her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky (Sergei Tikhanovsky). The trial began on Thursday.

Qihanusskaya, who was arrested in May last year and accused of organizing large-scale riots, once wanted to participate in the presidential election.

His trial is not open to the media.
An interesting thing about marijuana law is how much it relates to the first principles or the basic principles of the U.S. Constitution. Our lawyers write about transactions and prosecutors (always with good reasons) and defend clients (which is always nonsense) every day, so we rarely re-examine the first principles.But these principles include very important things, such as the legal conflict between the supreme cause of the constitution (in favor of the federal government) and the reserved rights of the states. According to the Tenth AmendmentAs far as todays blog post is concerned, the constitutional issue is the dormant commercial clause (DCC) related to cannabis residency requirements.A federal court in Missouri just Freeze these requirements.

Before starting, I want to confirm that I am not a litigation lawyer, and certainly not a great constitutional scholar.The closest I got to these two things are: 1) writing the difficult letter before handing over the documents to a very smart litigator we are lucky enough to have in the law firm, and 2) teaching one Marijuana Law and Policy Course At the local law school. In addition, I mainly provide people with business advice and help them solve out-of-court problems.

In any case, DCC is a fascinating little legal point that we have been discussing on this blog At least since 2015. DCC is derived from the U.S. Constitution, but it is not actually written there. On the contrary, DCC is a judicial doctrine inferred by the court from the (non-dormant) commercial clause in Article I. In short, DCC prohibits state legislation that discriminates against interstate or international commerce. Our favorite example? Residential requirements for cannabis business ownership.

In addition to thinking that these nativist requirements are legally problematic, our position is usually that restricting residency rights is a bad idea. They are difficult to draft (and usually by lawyers without a commercial seal); they are more difficult to enforce; they rarely achieve the protectionist results they want. People play them like crazy! But if your goal is to prevent someone from borrowing from their out-of-state grandmother to start a small business, or if you want to ensure that minority communities with limited access to funds have a lower chance of success, then the residency requirement, I think, Great.

When we do find ourselves working in states that require residence (such as Washington), we usually find that lawyers and regulators work more, and the industry is affected.In my opinion, Oregon was basically a fiasco until The residency requirement was abolished in 2016. Everyone should follow suit. Ultimately, they will; Ultimately, the cannabis program residency requirements will follow the federal cannabis ban.

In any case, back to the ruling of this federal court. In view of what I wrote above, I am very happy to see this important decision come to an end a few days ago. On June 21, the Central Chamber of the District Court for the Western District of Missouri initially prohibited (prevented) local regulators from implementing the states poorly conceived 51% residential ownership requirements. The basic reason of the court is that the plaintiff Mark Togo, the plaintiff who sued to cancel the residency requirement, is likely to win the case on the grounds of DCC at the end of this lawsuit. As a result of this ruling, the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) cannot enforce residency requirements on Mr. Togo or anyone else until the case is fully decided or resolved.

I would like to know whether DHSS pursues the long-standing management strategy of slow trading while the lawsuit is pending, or whether the institution will abandon this bozo rule. The latter course of action was followed by Maine last year. The state has also been sued for the DCC theory of residency requirements. In response, the country (according to the advice of its lawyers) Decided to stop execution Complete residency rules. Presumably, Maine is now like Oregon or California or Nevada or any other common sense state that does not discriminate against neighbors.

Will the Missouri lawsuit eventually succeed? Hard to say. Like I said, the ruling is promising because the court believes that Mr. Togo may win the case (and the court only requires him to pay a security deposit of $10,000, which is very small for these matters). In other words, other plaintiffs in other states have all failed.For example, in Oklahoma, a federal judge recently Dismissed one of the DCC lawsuits It was filed by the Washington plaintiff that the state is protected from litigation by the Eleventh Amendment. Therefore, as the litigation lawyer said, we may be ready to split the circuit.

We will release information on this interesting topic for you in time. In the meantime, for more information about cannabis and DCC, check out the following blog posts:
Exorcism rituals can be held in some places, and exorcism rituals can be avoided in some places.

Guess where is the timber aisle at Home Depot?

A police report from Dixon, Lakwana County this week has attracted attention. Strange description An incident that happened on Monday.

3:26 pm: Commerce Blvd. @Home Depot, exorcising dead trees on Timber Island (sic) for disorderly people, the authorities wrote. They were escorted out of the building.

The phone call to the Dixon City Police caused a police officer to chuckle.

There are two people hanging out in the timber department, doing their trivial exorcism, the official said. Some people in the store started to realize that something unusual was happening. The police were called into the store and they were escorted out of the building.

The official said that the persons involved will not be charged.

For the deceased, this is a kind of surrender, he said.

An employee who answered the phone at Home Depot said the store would not comment on the matter.

The real shame is that in this day and age, when every unwelcome encounter in a business is filmed and shared online, no one seems to have enough awareness to get a shot of what happened.

Exorcism is a terrible thing, whether its something you see in a fictional narrative of a real story, such as the Call of Souls series, or a documentary exploring the possession of a demon, such asDemon and Father AmosOn Netflix.

However, can trees be possessed? Can they be used for spiritual healing and punishment? M. Knight Shamaran Have some discussion about this In his 2008 ecological destroyer Whats Happening, but this is purely fictitious.

It sounds strange, Benjamin Franklin and Antio Lavasser Conducting placebo-controlled medical experiments In 1784, the treatment method devised by Franz Mesmer was debunked. Considering the sordid history of the European debate about the devil in previous centuries, this study was established at the request of Louis XVI, who established a royal commission to find out the truth.

Hypnotism stems from an effort to prove that animal magnetism-a natural transfer of energy between living things and inanimate objects-can be summoned and participated without religion as a cornerstone. Franklin conducted this research to determine whether Mesmer discovered a new physical force, or fluid in Mesmers vocabulary.

One patient in the experiment was sensitive to the presence of hypnotized trees, and passed out when he came into contact with the tree that was told to be treated, even though it did not actually exist. Earlier, according to Mesmers treatment, the patient had no response to a tree that was secretly hypnotized. The Royal Commission concluded that Mesmers liquid was fake, but the experiment did not seriously study whether hypnotism can cure peoples problems.

There is also the Devil Tree in New Jersey, where there are various legends, and there is an evil oak tree on a large area of ??Bernards Town.Strange New Jersey Reader Shared some of their supernatural experiences On the tree. They all sound ridiculous.

We might even try to explain this behavior. The only lesson learned is that you can buy almost anything at Home Depot, but wood does not exist for exorcism.
An outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority, who intended to participate in parliamentary elections before being cancelled earlier this year, died when he was arrested by the Palestinian Authority on Thursday.

Nizar Banat, 44, severely criticized the Palestinian Authority, which manages parts of the West Bank occupied by Israel, and called on Western countries to cut off aid to them because of its Authoritarianism and human rights violations are getting worse.

In a brief statement, Hebron said Banats health condition has deteriorated because the Palestinian army arrested him earlier on Thursday. It said he was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

The specific circumstances of his death are unclear.

According to his family, Banat was in bed when about two dozen Palestinian police broke into his home in Hebron and began beating him. Local media quoted them as saying that he was dragged away screaming.

In early May, the gunman fired bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at his home near the city of Hebron in the West Bank. His wife and their children were at home.

He blamed the attack on the Fatah party of President Mahmoud Abbas, who dominates the security forces, saying that only they can obtain tear gas and stun grenades.

Europeans need to know that they are indirectly funding this organization, Barnett said in an interview with the Associated Press at his hiding home in May.

They shot into the air during Fatah celebrations, shot into the air when Fatah leaders were fighting with each other, and shot people who opposed Fatah.

The Wave of Criticism

Banat also accused prominent Fatah supporters of inciting campaigns against him on social media. They accused him of cooperating with Israel-a serious accusation that amounts to treason in the Palestinian territories. He denied the accusation.

Earlier this week, Palestinian security forces detained a well-known activist and detained him overnight after he launched a wave of criticism of the Palestinian Authority on Facebook. Issa Amro is an outspoken critic of Israel and the Palestinian Authority and has been detained by both parties in the past.

A recent poll showed that Abbass approval rating plummeted. He cancelled the first election in 15 years in April, when his Fatah party seemed to lose again to Hamas, which rules Gaza.

Hamas expelled troops loyal to Abbas when it seized power in Gaza in 2007 after democratic elections in 2006. In the 11-day Israeli attack on Gaza last month, the Palestinian president was mostly marginalized.?.

Western countries continue to regard Abbas as an important partner in the long-dying peace process. Over the years, the European Union has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

Earlier this week, the European Union signed an agreement to provide $425 million in loans to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Bank to help them deal with the economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Relentless excessive force

At the same time, Amnesty International report The news released on Thursday stated that Israeli police had committed a series of crimes against the Palestinians in Israel and the occupation of East Jerusalem.

It accused the police of carrying out discriminatory repressive campaigns, including mass arrests, the use of illegal force against peaceful protesters, torture and other ill-treatment of detainees.

Based on the testimony of numerous eyewitnesses and 45 videos and other forms of digital media, the report recorded more than 20 violations by the Israeli police between May 9 and June 12.

The organization stated that its findings showed that the Israeli police also failed to protect Palestinian citizens in Israel from premeditated attacks by armed Jewish nationalist groups.

According to the Palestinian human rights organization Mossawa, as of June 10, Israeli police had arrested more than 2,150 people, 90% of whom were Palestinian citizens in Israel or residents of occupied East Jerusalem.

Some of the cases recorded in the report include Mohammad Mahmoud Kiwan, 17, who was shot in the head near Umm el-Fahem in northern Israel on May 12 and died a week later.

It also records the case of 15-year-old Jana Kiswani, who was shot in the back on May 18 when she entered Sheikh Jarrahs home.

Her father Muhammad told Amnesty International that her vertebrae had been broken and the doctor did not know if she could walk again.

The evidence collected by Amnesty International paints a terrible picture of the discrimination and relentless excessive force of the Israeli police against Palestinians in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, said Saleh Hijaz, deputy director of Amnesty Internationals Middle East.

This discriminatory suppression is a well-planned act of retaliation and intimidation designed to suppress pro-Palestinian demonstrations and silence those who condemn Israels institutionalized discrimination and systematic oppression of Palestinians.

Amnesty International called on the UN Human Rights Councils Commission of Inquiry to investigate violations of Palestinians by Israeli police.
Tirana, Albania- The prospect of Albania joining the European Union has lost its luster to Jonara Hoxha.

Six years ago, she chose to study medicine in Tirana instead of accepting her foreign university.

I really thought if I left, I would lose [my] In my country, she told Al Jazeera. Sometimes I think I will lose my place even in my family. So I stay here, I regret that decision of mine. 

After finishing her final year of study, she wants to become a general surgeon in Germany.

Its not just that the starting salary in Germany is many times higher than her monthly salary of $600 in Albania.

To her disappointment, many of her professors never showed up in class, letting the students make a living.

She said that Albanian doctors are often under suspicion and suffer verbal and physical attacks.

We should all help change these things, and I am willing to help, but I dont want to be disappointed again, she said. I want to work hard for myself and grow into something bigger, but I cant do it here I feel like Im losing hope.

In the past ten years, 423,700 Albanians have migrated to the west for work, education and healthcare-14% of the total population.

After the fall of communism, immigrants were mainly manual workers, and now they include educated professionals who can strengthen the countrys middle class and economy.

Immigration over the years:

2014  46,525

2015  41,443

2016  32,532

2017  39,905

2018  38,703

2019  43,835

2020  23,854

Source: Albanian Statistical Institute

Reporter Enton Ablekaj said that work is one of the main reasons for the overwhelming support of Albanians for joining the European Union. Corruption is another.

They dont trust elections, they dont trust politicians, and they think our government will gain more control from the outside after joining, Ablekaj said. Thats why they really want us to join.

Albanias energetic prime minister, Edi Rama, tried to clean up Albanian politics during his second term. He set up a special corruption court and allowed all Albanian Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges to go through a review process. Determine their source of wealth.

Now starting his third term, Rama plans to focus on university reforms and equip the Higher Education Commission with diaspora Albanians. Their task is to prepare a system of mergers and joint projects with foreign universities to internationalize the spirit of Albanian higher education.

When asked about the high immigration rate, Rama said: You cant, just cant, blame a little kidwant to get what he or she wants now.

What we have done over the years is not to waste more time, speed up the pace of reforms, speed up the pace of modernization, and let the country run its system. Then the trend may change.

He also formulated ambitious plans for the tourism industry in Albania, inviting tenders to build four ports and four airports along the Adriatic coast of Albania.

When I became prime minister, it was impossible to make serious investments in tourism. It is impossible to imagine that five-star hotels or high-end investment would be considered. Now Albania is on their map, Rama told Al Jazeera.

If Albania started negotiations in 2009, the EU, which it applied to join, all of these processes could be accelerated.

The European Commission has been encouraging the EU to do so for three years. Last year, the European Council of Government Leaders agreed to do so in principle.

Since then, Albania has been waiting for the start date. However, experts say that the Security Council meeting on June 24 is unlikely to release it.

The first problem is that the invitation from Albania is linked to the invitation from North Macedonia, whose bid was blocked because Bulgaria claimed to have the Macedonian language.

Bulgaria wants the country to say that it speaks the Bulgarian dialect.

North Macedonia recently overcame Greeces opposition to its membership of the Republic of Macedonia in 2018 and agreed to modify it.

Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said last month that Albania and North Macedonia can be decoupled, but this will bring credibility costs to the EU, which may be seen as trampling on the promise of not letting North Macedonia fall behind.

I think there will be positive voices because the EU does not want to be seen as indifferent in this process, but they may not be of much significance on the ground, said James Pettyfer, who teaches Balkan history in the Balkans. Oxford university.

He saw two other elephants in the room.

One is the illegal marijuana industry in Albania, he said, permeates all aspects of the economy.

Tourists in Tirana are often impressed by the number of luxury cars and frenzied high-rise buildings, but this seems to be inconsistent with the countrys 12% unemployment rate, large numbers of immigration and an average monthly salary of $600.

The new mosque in Tirana is located next to the parliament and is funded by Turkey [John T Psaropoulos/Al Jazeera]

Another elephant is the growing friendship between Rama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as what Petiver calls the soft power aspect of Ankaras foreign policy, which includes funding Mosques were built in the Muslim-majority Balkan countries.

Mr. Erdogan has a long-term vision, Pettyfer said. Especially for many unemployed young people, the clubs attached to these mosques are very attractive, and they also provide some pretty good scholarships.

I think Rama has always hoped that in the eyes of the EU, Albanian Islam will not become an obstacle to joining the EU Of course, in more right-wing EU member states, especially in France and Hungary, in fact, the population will be excluded at all. Membership of Albania.

Rama firmly believes that he will continue to lead Albania to the west.

We have completed our homework, and we should officially start, Rama said. I dont think this will be resolved in June, but it may be resolved in the fall. But if not, we will wait.
The author said that Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys leaks are still a problem because the royal family thinks Oprahs chat will end

One author claimed that although the royal family hopes their public conversation with the American host Oprah Winfrey will mark a new beginning, Meghan and Harrys explosive interview with the royal family is still a problem.

Robert Lacey, a history consultant for Netflixs The Crown, believes that if the couples friends continue to intervene and continue to leak secrets, the family will not be able to conduct serious negotiations.

Lacey said on the British Good Morning show today: You just let their friend Gail King speak on TV.

I think when it comes to Oprahs interview, that feelingalthough terrible, but all these family revelations were broadcastthats it, its a new beginning, and then the family suddenly found out, okay In fact, their friend Gail King had more to say, and then Oprah said more, feeling that if you were to talk on American TV the next day, you would not be able to engage in serious family negotiations.

This is still a problem.
This is a human rights issue, Fan said

Van Marisa Cooper, a 28-year-old from Los Angeles, exclusively told The Sun that he was able to attend the court hearing as one of the lucky few free Britney protesters.

This is crazy. I love Britney, but honestly, when I heard about regulators, I liked her better. Its a human rights issue, Marissa said.

I just think her team can get away with justice for such a long time. Its crazy. It really shows that there are huge flaws in the system. It made me watch all these documentaries about guardianship and supervision. A lot of people are happening. This situation, the fan continued.

Just knowing that she doesnt have human rights, she compares her situation to sex trafficking-its terrible, she said. I hope everyone now sees that if they are not allowed to be their own people, anyone will go crazy.

Marisa said that Britneys team has an agenda.

Of course, they make her look miserable and crazy. They need her to keep order, she said.

In the beginning everyone was saying,As long as Jamie Spears is gone. But it has gone so far. Hope she can control her life freely and they can end supervision, she added. I hope they dont let her have an evaluation.
India-controlled Kashmir Srinagar -After canceling the special status of the disputed area two years ago, senior pro-Indian politicians from India-controlled Kashmir will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time.

After the abolition of Article 370 and Article 35A in August 2019, Modis hardline stance in the region was deemed to be a departure from Modis hardline stance in the region, followed by a long and severe military and communications blockade. To stifle any opposition to the governments controversial measures.

Two constitutional provisions give a certain degree of autonomy to Muslim-majority regions. However, after the cancellation of its special status, the area was divided into two federally managed territories.

As part of the crackdown, thousands of Kashmiri politicians, anti-India separatists, activists and lawyers were arrested, including some former chief ministers of the region scheduled to meet with Indian leaders on Thursday.

Both India and Pakistan claim full sovereignty over the Himalayas of Kashmir. Since the two countries gained independence from British rule in 1947, they have ruled parts of the region.

In the early 1990s, India began an armed rebellion, demanding independence from India or merger with Pakistan. Separatists who made the same demands through non-violent means continue to be detained or placed under house arrest.

Muslim-majority regions also have a small group of pro-Indian politicians and political parties who participate in national and regional elections.

Why invite Kashmir leaders?

More than a dozen leaders from these pro-Indian parties have been invited to New Delhi to meet Modi and his trusted Interior Minister Amit Shah.

Although the agenda of the meeting is not yet clear, there are speculations that the federal government wants to restart the political activities that have been stopped in the region and restore the state status that was deprived of it two years ago.

As the region lost its national status, the pro-Indian parties that had dominated the regions politics since 1947 became the target of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

The three former chief ministers of the region-83-year-old Farouk Abdullah, his sons Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti-were arrested under the controversial Public Security Act (PSA). The law is called lawless law by the human rights organization Amnesty International.

Senior Abdullah was released in March last year after being detained for eight months, his son was released shortly afterwards, and Mufti was released in October after being under house arrest for 14 months.

But the decision of the right-wing federal government on August 5, 2019 has changed the political and geographic realities of the region.

To challenge this, the two main parties in the region-the National Conference led by the Abdullah family and the Mufti Peoples Democratic Party-have united for the first time under an umbrella group of smaller parties. And named it as the Gupkar Declaration Peoples Union (PAGD).

The alliance, also known as the Gupka Alliance, aims to restore the limited autonomy and state status of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

After the regional alliance between the PDP and the BJP collapsed in 2018, there has been no elected government in the region. New Delhi is managed directly or through its carefully selected administrators.

In the past two years, the BJP has also made several controversial changes to the regions laws, including allowing outsiders to settle permanently in the region, which the locals fear will change its predominantly Muslim character.

What did the leaders of Kashmir say?

Before heading to New Delhi, the leaders stated that they did not know the agenda for the meeting with Modi.

We hope we can show our position in front of the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, Farouk Abdullah told reporters at a press conference after PAGD members met in the main city of Srinagar on Tuesday.

Mehbooba Mufti (left) standing next to Farooq Abdullah after meeting with local leaders [Tauseef Mustafa/AFP]

The chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party and the last chief minister of the region, Mufti, stated that the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue requires dialogue. New Delhi has humiliated mainstream politicians in the past two years.

No matter what is taken from us, we will talk about it. Without restoring our rights, we will tell them (the government) that they cannot bring peace to the region, she said, referring to the 370th Article.

At the same time, the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to put the pro-India Kashmir parties aside by labeling them as dynasty and corruption. In a tweet last year, the Minister of the Interior Shah referred to the PAGD alliance as the Gupkar gang, sparking outrage in the region.

The government also tried to introduce new faces and new parties to the political arena in the region, but failed to obtain results in a local opinion poll held in December last year.

Most of the seats in the polls are won by the PAGD coalition, although elected representatives have little power in federal territory.

Manoj Joshi, a political expert at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi, said that local opinion polls cannot bypass the authority of traditional political parties and force the government to contact them.

I think this is a planned move, Josh told Al Jazeera.

In the past two years, the government has reorganized the state government and established a demarcation committee, which may change the balance of political power in any emerging state, he said.

Nirmal Singh, the former BJP minister from the region, also plans to attend Thursdays meeting. He told Al Jazeera that the meeting was part of Modis promise.

The Prime Minister promised at the Red Fort that he would start the political process in Kashmir, he said, referring to the annual Independence Day speech delivered by the Indian Prime Minister on the walls of the Mughal fortress in New Delhi.

It took some time, but we hope this is a golden opportunity to maintain our views, Singh added.

Talks due to pressure from the United States?

Ruhula Mehdi, a former national conference lawmaker in the region, told Al Jazeera that the Modi government may have agreed to dialogue with Kashmir leaders after the secret meeting between India and Pakistan mediated by the United Arab Emirates earlier this year.

In April this year, Reuters reported that senior intelligence officials of the two countries held secret talks in Dubai in January to calm military tensions in the disputed Himalayas.

I think it has more to do with international dynamics than domestic dynamics, Mehdi said, adding that the Biden administration in the US wants India to be more democratic on Kashmir.

The United States has mentioned the Kashmir issue many times. Now this step is to save face, because the BJP has realized that it needs to contact Kashmirs political leaders.

After the secret talks, India and Pakistan issued a rare joint statement reiterating their decision to abide by the ceasefire agreement reached along the Line of Control (LoC) in 2003, which is the de facto boundary between the two countries.

For five months, the firearms has remained silent on the LoC. In 2020, more than 8,000 ceasefire violations occurred, resulting in hundreds of deaths on both sides.

Are there geopolitical factors behind the decision?

Some experts also said that New Delhis unexpected proposal of dialogue coincided with Indias two major geopolitical concerns: the unresolved border crisis between the Ladakh region and China, and the progress of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Tensions with China last year for several months triggered the specter of a full-scale war between two nuclear-armed Asian adversaries.

In June last year, at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a conflict in the Galvan Valley of Ladakh-the first combat loss on a disputed border in more than 40 years. China admitted earlier this year that it also lost four soldiers in the battle.

In February of this year, thousands of soldiers from both sides deployed on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were evacuated, and after the hotline between the foreign ministers of the two countries was announced, the tension eased in February of this year.

Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a political analyst based in the disputed area, said that New Delhi is restoring bridges with Kashmirs old parties because it is worried about developments in Afghanistan.

One of the factors is that the United States is retreating from Afghanistan, and India is worried because Kabul is much closer to Srinagar than Delhi. They are worried and they have to do something about it, Hussein said.

But he also called the talks a marketing event.

We dont know the result. New Delhi has retreated because they used to portray them (Kashmiri politicians) as a group of thugs, he said.

Hussein said that Modi and former US President Donald Trump reached an understanding.

He (Modi) is like Trumps election agent. He has a different relationship with the Biden administration, which includes the Cold War hawks, who are eager to regain the support of early allies such as Pakistan and Turkey, he said.

But analyst Josh ruled out any international pressure behind New Delhis decision to talk to Kashmir leaders.

I dont think there is any special international pressure. The situation in the valley is not so shocking to attract international attention, he told Al Jazeera.

Although Josh admitted that the Biden administration has issued a critical statement about depriving people of Internet access, he said, in its own way, it has little effect on the government.

Normal conditions (in the Kashmir region administered by India) are still far away, but yes, resuming the political process can help restore normalcy, he said.
In late May, the Austrian government Publish The addresses of more than 620 mosques and Muslim associations in Austria. According to the Ministry of Integration, its purpose is to combat political ideology, not religion.

This is the latest in a series of measures taken by the Austrian government to combat political Islam, and it has identified it as one of the main threats facing the country. In the process, the Austrian authorities began to target the real and imaginary Muslim Brotherhood.

Although various expert analyses claim that the organization does not pose a terrorist threat, its long unarmed history and other Western governments conclusions that it is not worthy of being classified as a terrorist organization, the Austrian government still regards it as a national security threat.

But banning the Brotherhood or convicting it will not make this country safer. This became especially apparent when the Secret Service was unable to prevent the homicide attack on November 2, 2020 due to its preoccupation with investigating the so-called Brotherhood members.

An Islamic Renaissance Organization

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 by Hasan al-Banna, a school teacher in Egypt, as a religious revival movement that emphasizes education and social services. Albanna advocated the establishment of a more Islamic government and society and challenged colonial rule.

By the 1940s, the Brotherhood had more than one million members in Egypt. In the 1950s and 1960s, this movement influenced the establishment of other Islamic movements, and ultimately affected political parties in Muslim-majority countries such as Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, and Syria.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, some members, Sayyid Qutb (Sayyid Qutb), began to advocate for armed resistance against Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser (Gamal Abdel Nasser) against dissidents After the brutal suppression, the Muslim Brotherhood officially announced its abandonment of violence. In the following decades, it participated in the political process in Egypt, sending candidates in parliamentary elections. In the Gulf region, members of the Brotherhood were welcomed and lived freely, and even established branches in countries such as Bahrain and Kuwait.

In European countries, exiled members of the Brotherhood began to participate at the local and pan-European level, but never established an organization formally controlled by the Brotherhood leadership in Egypt. As a result, some institutions were influenced by the founding members but did not become formal affiliates.

The Arab Spring of 2011 opened up the political arena in some Arab countries, allowing the Muslim Brotherhood to participate in free elections. In Tunisia, the Baath Party, which is part of the Brotherhood, and in Egypt, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) became the ruling power.

The overthrow of the dictatorship with the participation of the Muslim Brotherhood and the call for greater political freedom alarmed some Gulf monarchies, who began to see it as a threat and took action to stop the wave of democracy sweeping the region.

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia banned the Brotherhood on their territories and supported counter-revolutionary forces in Egypt and elsewhere, which led to a coup against the elected FJP President Mohamed Morsi. At the same time as the anti-fraternity movement in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and the Egyptian general Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also began lobbying Western countries to ban the organization. Prior to this, the organization It was not considered a threat to the West.

They insist that the Brotherhood is a terrorist organization, even though terrorist organizations like the Islamic State publicly call the organization and its leaders apostates.

There is no terrorist title in the West

One year after Egypts coup against the Brotherhood, British Prime Minister David Cameron asked Sir John Jenkins, the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, to lead a government review of the organization to assess its beliefs, especially its belief in extremism and violence Position. The purpose of this report is to inform the British government of the Brotherhoods policy.

The report was released in 2015 and concluded that although the Brotherhood pursues non-violent incremental political change, it may still be willing to use violence to achieve its goals. Jenkins conclusions were severely criticized by the British Foreign Affairs Special Committee, especially since it did not consider the coup against Morsi and the violent suppression of the organization. Despite the tremendous pressure from the Saudi and UAE governments, the report did not lead to any ban or terrorist designation of the Brotherhood.

Washington is also lobbying against the organization, and in 2015, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Mario Diaz-Barat introduced a bill to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. The legislation was not passed in Congress, but during Trumps presidency, the problem reappeared.

According to Daniel Benjamin, the former counter-terrorism coordinator of the State Department, the government investigated it in 2017 and 2018, but concluded that such a designation had no basis. Experts from the CIA also objected that such naming may encourage extremism, while civil rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union worry that such actions may lead to government attacks on American Muslim civil society.

Austria opposes Political Islam

After launching the review of the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States and the United Kingdom in the mid-2010s, Austria followed suit. The Austrian Integration Fund and the Federal Constitutional Protection and Counter-Terrorism Office commissioned Lorenzo Vidino to write a report, George Washington Director of the University Extremism Program, he is known for his conspiracy theories against Islamic organizations. It concluded that the Brotherhood promoted a narrative that created a fertile environment for radicalization through the use of victims and violent defense.

The alliance between the Austrian Peoples Party (OVP) and the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) came to power in December 2017, four months after the report was published. Within a few months after taking office, they decided to extend the extremist symbolism law to foreign radical and non-radical organizations including the Muslim Brotherhood. This effectively places the Brotherhood at the same threat level as Al-Qaida, Islamic State, and the PKK and other organizations designated as terrorists.

November 2020, succeeding predecessor Sympathy for the Islamic State After 4 people were killed and 23 injured in Vienna, the Austrian police launched an operation code-named Luxor to crack down on the allegedly Muslim Brotherhood network, attack homes, businesses and associations, and arrest several people. ten people.

This operation has nothing to do with the attack by armed elements, because it was the result of a large-scale intelligence collection that lasted more than a year and did not lead to any convictions. It may be because the prosecutors have not found specific evidence to prove that the criminal act was committed by the targeted person. Nevertheless, Austrian Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer described it as a success.

After the attacks and actions, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Announce A package of measures to combat terrorism includes depriving suspects of their citizenship, closing mosques, and criminalizing political Islam. However, an independent committee set up by the government found that the Austrian Secret Services attention to Operation Luxor prevented them from focusing on the attackers and called the plan to ban political Islam superfluous. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have also criticized the move.

Although OVPs conservative ideology provided most of its support for its anti-Muslim movement, such intelligence operations may be related to foreign lobbying. The investigative reporter pointed out that although Operation Luxor was supposed to fight terrorist threats in Austria, the police were ordered to find money instead of weapons and explosives.

The prosecutors document authorizing the raid mentions actions that may cause serious or long-term interference to public life in Egypt, the Gaza Strip, and Israel, or seriously damage economic lifein Egypt, the Gaza Strip, and Israel, but not Austria. This begs the question, why the Austrian security agencies obeyed the orders of their Egyptian and Israeli colleagues when they could have tried to deal with actual terrorist threats on Austrian territory.

Marginalized Muslim Civil Society

The governments anti-Muslim policies, especially Austrias campaign against political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood are disturbing because they may have devastating consequences for Muslim civil society and human rights organizations currently challenging Islamophobia in Europe.

If Austrian agents continue to use mainstream Muslim organizations as advocates of political Islam, such as the legally recognized Muslim religious groups in Austria, this will inevitably lead to growing differences between the Austrian state and the Muslim population. If activism and academic research on Islamophobia continue to be seen as threatening or conspiracy of some kind-as Vidino suggests-it will further marginalize Muslims and anti-racist activists and scholars .

The designation or de facto recognition of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization in European countries will set a precedent and encourage similar official terrorist designations in other parts of the European continent. This development will legitimize the brutal suppression of political opposition in many Muslim-majority countries, including the killing and imprisonment of democratically conscious individuals.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
The success of "Penthouse" has been nothing but a wonderful stepping stone for actor Park Eun Seok, who continues to showcase his acting skills, English fluency, and impress fans all over the world with his interesting character developments and reveals. However, a recent character is causing a string of controversy amongst international fans.

Logan Lee, one of the first shocking chracter reveals of this "Makjang" (meaning overly dramatic in Korean) drama, was an unexpected surprise by viewers - especially because no one anticipated it to be done by popular theater actor Park Eun Seok.

Logan Lee was considered to be quite the authentic and enjoyable character due to him being shrouded in ambiguity and displaying rather... eccentric features one would not expect a rather wealthy jet-setter to maintain.

Without revealing too many show spoilers, let's just say this character has a unique appearance that once shed off, like the skin of a snake, reveales a completely different character with an even more entertaining motive.

However, despite the success of Park Eun Seok's character, his latest return as Alex Lee, the brother of Logan Lee, in Season 2 of "Penthouse" has left fans confused, bewildered and some even hurt.

Unfortunately, the director seemed to have enjoyed the wave of popularity that came with having such a character with an astonishing identity concealed under a comical gag-like character too much - too much to the point they played themselves by overusing the concept.

The creation of Alex Lee is problematic with viewers and fans abroad due to the extensive culture appropriated appearance of his style.

Check out the photo below.

What do you think? Shocking, huh?

Alex Lee has little to no effort put into disguising the true character within, while boasting dreadlocks, grills on his teeth, and an abundance of obnoxious tattoos. Again, it felt more comical and less-unique as Logan Lee himself.

After the airing and seeing the negative reactions from fans, Park Eun Seok apologized publicly on his SNS for the mistake he made, the discomfort his character caused, and that he was unaware that the character he portayed would not be portrayed well and viewed as mockery rather than comical and appreciated.

Although, for some, it is hard to believe the statments issued as one would easily notice that Logan Lee himself is a comically overdone character fit for a makjang drama, so it would be expected that Alex Lee would represent the same thing - a mockery of everyday visuals and characters.

In the end, Park Eun Seok left the following messages to fans:

"I'd like to apologize to the people who took offense by the character's appearance. It was more admiration of the culture than mockery but now I'm aware that the approach was more CA [cultural appropriation]. It was wrong attempt for character development," he said.

"I as a minority myself should've known better. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to grow in awareness," he said, and reiterated that the character's appearance was done out of admiration for African-American culture, and not intended as mockery.

Despite the issue, Park Eun Seok was still able to open up and discuss the thoughts and difficulties of playing his character roles on "Penthouse." He also discussed his role in the short-film "The Brave New World" that debuted VIVE Studios latest development in green screen technology, alongside KARD's BM for his solo debut "Broken Me" from his EP 'The First Statement.'

Check out that interview with KARD's BM HERE!

When asked about his character, he stated, "It is fun for an actor to create a character, especially if the appearance is different from the actor."

He continued to say that although the makeup, fake teeth, wigs and more weren't difficult to use, he found it fun!

"In this case, I had to play something opposite and hide my features. It was also kind of theatrical because you would probably do something like that in theatre."

When told fans were impressed by his English and unique accent, Park Eun Seok laughed and said "Growing up in Long Island will do that. Thank you so much - haha!"

Check out the rest of our exclusive interview below and see what he found most interesting about these characters.

What did you think of Park Eun Seok's thoughts on his characters? Do you also find the appearance and reveal of Alex Lee to be offensive or just a ridiculous joke for dramatic reasons?

Share your thoughts in the comments down below! Stay tuned for more future interviews and updates on "Penthouse"!
South Korean heartthrob Kim Bum, who just finished his legal drama "Law School," is already in discussions to make his small screen return.

On June 23, Kim Bum's agency King Kong by Starship confirmed that the Tale of the Nine-Tailed actor had received an offer to be part of the upcoming series "Ghost Doctor" and play the role of Go Seung Tak.

Kim Bum Positively Considering the Offer to Star in Rain's New Drama "Ghost Doctor"

Addtionally, an agency official representative shared a statement, saying, "Actor Kim Bum is currently in discussions to appear in the drama 'Ghost Doctor' and he is also positively considering the offer."

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 5 Handsome K-drama Villains You Can't Simply Hate

Uee Also Received a Cast Offer to Join the Series

On the same day, After School member and "My Only One" actress Uee was reported to also star in the show. In response, Uee's agency Lucky Company stated that the idol-actress is positively reviewing the offer as well.

If the "Marriage Contract" star accepts the offer, she will play another leading role in "Ghost Doctor."

Similarly, singing sensation and Korean icon Rain previously confirmed his participation in "Ghost Doctor."

In fact, he will play the lead role of a smart doctor named Cha Young Min.

YOU MIGH ALSO LIKE: K-drama Actors Who Slayed the Role of Gumiho

Meanwhile, director Boo Sung Chul who helmed the romance drama "Heirs" will be the person in charge to do "Ghost Doctor." The medical series depicts the story of two professional doctors who have exactly the opposite personalities. One day they wake up and will find themselves entangled in an unexpected situation.

"Ghost Doctor" is a fantasy-medical series that will tell the emotional stories of ghost doctors who cannot leave their patients behind even if they are already spirits.

Kim Bum Dazzles in Recent Photoshoots

TThe "Law School" actor recently participated in a sundry of fashion magazine shoots. And basing it on the many times he'd projected himself on cam, it really seems Kim Bum is camera-ready type of person.

His portraits are stunning and mesmerizing, as always.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Rain Rakes Multi-Million Capital Gains After Selling his Real Estate in Seoul

Can't wait to see Kim Bum in a new drama, which is possibly Ghost Doctor? Don't forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins
Oh Man Seok opened up about his experience in "Youth of May'' as he stuns in the cover of Arena Korea.

In his latest appearance in the magazine for the publication's June issue, the 46-year-old actor transformed from being the drama villain to a stunning debonair

The Oh Man Seok posed with his fierce eyes while donning an earth-toned ensemble.

In a black-and-white photo, the actor looked away from the camera, flaunting his strong side features.

SEE OH MAN SEOK's PHOTOS HERE

Oh Man Seok Shares Thoughts on his "Youth of May" Role

During the interview with Arena Korea, Oh Man Seok spoke about the character in "Youth of May."

In the melodrama, he plays the terrifying Hwang Gi Nam, who was in charge during the Gwangju Uprising.

Interestingly, he defends himself from his drama role and says that he is much different from Hwang Gi Nam, adding "I'm not that bad of a person."

Contrary to his "Youth of May" character, who was described as the quick-tempered and power-obsessed father of Hwang Hee Tae, played by Lee Do Hyun, Oh Man Seok revealed that he does not get mad easily and can control his emotions, unlike Hwang Gi Nam.

"When I'm angry, I get rid of it quickly, and I'm not meticulous enough to carefully control it from behind."

READ MORE: 'Youth of May' Star Go Min Si Dazzles in Runway Ready Outfit for Vogue Korea + Talks about Her Character Kim Myung Hee

"Youth of May" Director Praised Oh Man Seok's Actig Skills as Hwang Gi Nam

Following the successful "Youth of may" finale, the drama villain received a positive response from the public, lauding his impressive portrayal as the head of defense military and anti-protestors, who is consumed by his status and power.

In a previous interview of "Youth of May" director Song Min Yeob expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards Oh Man Seok for his astounding work.

He pointed out that the role of Hwang Gi Nam was not an easy character to play, but he aced the part and gave justice to the role.

"He's one of the people I'm grateful towards in many aspects. It wasn't an easy role to portray, and there were many difficult scenes."

In addition, the PD also noted that the actor managed to use satoori or a Korean word for regional dialect, despite not being included in the script.

"When he was angry or emotional, he used satoori," the "Youth of May" director explained, adding "He expressed it well to the point that it was scary."

On the other hand, PD Song Min Yeob knows about how scary Hwang Gi Nam is but shares that this contradicts Oh Man Seok in real life and even described the 46-year-old actor as his "older brother."

Moreover, lauded how "cheerful" and opinionated he is on the set.

Oh Man Seok to Appear in Musical "Hedwig"

After the success of his recent drama, "Youth of May," fans would get to see the different side of Oh Man Seok in the upcoming musical "Hedwig."

He will work alongside the powerhouse cast including Jo Seung Woo, Lee Kyu Hyung, Go Eun Sung, and Nu'est's Ren.

ALSO CHECK: 'Youth of May' Director Explains Go Min Si's Heartbreaking Death + Lauds Oh Man Seok's Portrayal of Hwang Gi Nam





KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
The director and screenwriter of the much-awaited spinoff "Kingdom: Ashin of the North," starring Jun Ji Hyun, introduced the thriller drama in a different light.

With just a month away from the premiere, the personalities behind the K-zombie drama spill the details behind the Hallyu star's mysterious character.

"Kingdom: Ashin of the North" Director Spoke About the Main Character, Ashin

According to a South Korean outlet, director Kim Sung Hoon and screenwriter Kim Eun Hee shed light on Ashin and the chaos that surrounded several towns under the Joseon Era.

In the interview, the "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" PD shared that the highly anticipated sequel will focus on Jun Ji Hyun's character and the origin of the mysterious purple flower known as the resurrection plant.

Moreover, Kim Sung Hoon, who also directed the first two seasons of smash hit K-zombie "Kingdom," revealed why Ashin harbors deep resentment towards others.

"Ashin is the person whose emotions are the most concentrated," he mentioned.

Based on the official trailers, the spinoff will represent how the northern regions of Joseon were run down by flesh-eating creatures and the involvement of the resurrection plant.

Interestingly, the "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" teaser also showed Ashin's curiosity about the resurrection plant and how she wanted to help his dying mother.

This raises questions about her connection to the mysterious plant and the uncontrollable spread of the virus.

To recall, in the "Kingdom 2" finale, Crown Prince Lee Chang and Seo Bi found the plant near the Chinese border and were told by the villagers that someone from China was selling it.

It was followed by a scene where Ashin was smiling mysteriously, prompting that she might be spreading the virus on purpose.

READ MORE: 'Kingdom: Ashin of the North' Starring Jun Ji Hyun Reveals Horrifying Teaser Featuring Ashin's Identity

Screenwriter Kim Eun Hee Compares the Previous Seasons of "Kingdom" to the Upcoming Spinoff

On the other hand, screenwriter Kim Eun Hee revealed that "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" is the starting point for future stories and is set to illustrate the bigger scale that surrounds the much-awaited series.

"If "Kingdom" season 1 served as the cornerstone, "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" is more than that. It is a stepping stone to go beyond that."

Why You Shouldn't Miss "Kingdom: Ashin of the North"

First on the list is its powerhouse cast.

Aside from the Hallyu queen Jun Ji Hyun, "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" cast members includes Park Byung Eun, who will be returning as Royal Commandery member Min Chi-rok which later became the Head of the Royal Commandery Division, working alongside Crown Prince Lee Chang, played by Joo Ji Hoon.

Meanwhile, "The House of Us" actress Kim Shi Ah will take the role of the young Ashin.

Apart from the roster of the astounding cast, "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" is set to tell the story behind the great chaos that engulfed towns where several people turned into flesh-eating monsters.

As mentioned above, the spinoff will unravel the origin of the mysterious plant that sets the northern part of Joseon in great distress.





KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
MEDFORD, Ore.  A deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office has been cleared of any wrongdoing arising from a shooting near Wimer in May that left one man dead, according to the county District Attorney's office.

On the morning of May 18, a man named Gordon Purslow called 911 to report that his adult son, Rodney Purslow, had attacked him. Gordon said that he "thought his son was going to kill him," according the DA's office narrative. He told dispatch that he had escaped from the property to get away from his son, but Rodney remained at the house with access to guns.

Deputies started responding to the house on Queens Branch Road near Wimer while dispatch told Gordon to wait outside until officers arrived. A short time later, Gordon called 911 again to report that Rodney had left the house in a silver Jetta, heading toward Ditch Creek Road.

The first officer on the scene was Deputy Travis Cote, a veteran law enforcement officer who has been with Jackson County for 3.5 years. Cote got in contact with Gordon and noticed injuries on the man's face and neck  learning in the process that Rodney could be armed and had made statements threatening "suicide by cop," according to the DA's office.

While Gordon went to secure his dogs on the property and Cote waited out front, a silver Jetta pulled into a dirt area in front of the property. Cote tried to signal the driver to wait.

"Deputy Cote saw at this point that Rodney Purslow had a rifle pointed in his mouth, and starts giving him directions to 'put it up,'" the DA's office said. "During this time, Rodney Purslow drives the car closer to Deputy Cote, stops and starts to rev the engine. Deputy Cote stated he was focused on Rodney Purslow's hands and the rifle was now lowered."

Cote reported seeing that Rodney was manipulating the bolt-action, then seeing the man raising the gun.

"With the information that Deputy Cote had regarding the assault to Gordon Purslow, the threats of suicide by cop, the lack of verbal or physical response by Rodney Purslow to Deputy Cote's commands, and the firearm being raised by Rodney Purslow, Deputy Cote believed his life and the life of Gordon Purslow were at risk, and responded to Rodney Purslow's action by firing his duty weapon eight times through the windshield of the car; in a matter of two seconds," the DA's office said.

Cote radioed to other deputies that shots had been fired, pulled Rodney out of the car, and requested a medical response. Rodney died at the scene, and it was later determined via autopsy that he'd been hit seven times in the torso.

"During the investigation a phone was found in Rodney Purslow's car that had a message sent to a doctor stating, 'You might want to cancel my appointment Friday because I will more than likely be dead by then, thank you goodbye,'" the DA's office said.

Investigators who searched the Jetta found a short-barreled .22 caliber rifle with a round in the chamber.

Grand jury proceedings commenced on Thursday. After 25 minutes of deliberation, the Jackson County grand jury determined that Deputy Cote's actions were "fully justified" and in compliance with Oregon law.
SALEM, Ore.  A bill passed by the Oregon legislature on Wednesday will tweak how mail-in ballots are accepted and counted in the state, a cause championed by Democrats that saw push-back from Republican lawmakers.

Currently, Oregon law mandates that ballots must be received by election officials no later than Election Day. House Bill 3291 stipulates that ballots mailed on or before Election Day must be accepted and counted if they are received within seven days, meaning that votes could continue to be counted for a week following Election Day proper. That said, final results generally are not certified for several weeks after an election.

Oregonians should be given every opportunity to have their say in our elections, and they should be allowed to mail their ballots on Election Day, said Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner. As elected officials, we should be doing all we can to make certain every eligible ballot is counted.

The bill also allows county election officials to open and begin counting ballots as soon as they are received, relieving some of the Election Day sprint.

Life circumstances, busy schedules, caretaking responsibilities and travel can inhibit eligible and engaged voters from getting their ballots through the mail system on time, said Senator Wagner. House Bill 3291 will give voters with mobility issues, who lack transportation, who live in rural locations, or have exceptional responsibilities and busy lives are granted all opportunities to cast their ballot and participate in democracy. We create a more representative democracy when more participate in the process.

Senate Republicans tried to substitute their own versions of the bill, claiming that the original would "open up more possibilities of fraud" by allowing voters to turn in ballots up to seven days after Election Day regardless of whether they'd been postmarked, as the bill allows for ballots with missing postmarks to be counted if received by mail.

The longer and more drawn out the process, the greater chance for bad actors to tamper with votes, said Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod. There are decent parts in this bill, but these two provisions provide a freeway to fraud. How many letters does each of us get in the mail with a missing postmark? It's not an insignificant number. We need to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat. This bill makes it easier to cheat.

Though Oregon election officials do not publicly provide any election results prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Republicans alleged that "politically motivated" election officials would play favorites and give some campaigns updates on the vote returns up to two weeks prior to the date. HB 3291 also does not clarify how election observers could attend ballot counts if the counting begins immediately upon receipt, Republicans said.

Passing the Senate in a 16-13 vote, the bill now heads to Governor Brown's desk for a signature.
The last person who asked me that is still missing.

If you need me, I'll be underwater.

It's a dry heat.

You call this hot? Bring it on.

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I was looking forward to March 2020. My boyfriend and I had a long-awaited vacation to Aruba we were looking forward to. Everything is packed, plans are finalized, and the world shuts down three days before our trip. Frustrated, we refuse to believe that a virus is worthy of shutting the world down. Whats the difference between this and anything else? Who cares? Its just a virus?! I am still going away; they cant really shut the world down were all things I said myself. I went out that St. Patricks Day weekend and was in an apartment in Boston with probably 50 others sharing drinks and having a great time. There was no concern. The pandemic didnt exist.

I work as a rapid response nurse through our ICU. I went into work that week without a mask for the last time, probably ever, unbeknownst to me. That was the beginning of the hysteria. The fear of the unknown was starting to creep into the hospital walls, and talks of disaster plans were starting. Those just in case plans seemed so ridiculous. It humored me. I am a good nurse who routinely cares for sick patients. This wont be any different.

Come April, our ICU turned into what looked like an abatement zone. Plastic walls up around the nurses station, allowing for those in the clean zone to see the shadows on the other side, bustling around, banging on the walls, and trying to yell through their masks and over the HEPA filters, vents, CRRT machines, and cooling blankets when they needed supplies, help, or a sip of water. We thought, This cant last long, This is overkill. But then our first COVID patient died, making us all second guess our preconceived notions around the virus.

Those rooms became filled, and with no other choice, our single-patient rooms were turned into double rooms. No curtains, second call bell, second TV, or space. It didnt matter, considering they were all on life support anyway, so we were told. This meant that there was also no second central monitor. Transport monitors were set up at the bedside for the less sick patient in the room. I laughed. They were all sick.

One day I went into the hot zone to see if anyone needed any last-minute help before the day shift came in. Yes, please, I havent peed all night! I hear from Rebecca. I sat in her room, cleaning up, taking the trash out, while whistling along to keep myself awake after a long night. I hear the bedside monitor alarm for the patient in bed 2 and see that their heart rate went from 120s to 30, 20. I watch the a-line go flat. I couldnt reach the code button because it was blocked by the other patient, the two vents, and one CRRT machine. I jump on the bed and begin chest compressions. Im yelling through my mask for help, sweating under the PPE, feeling the seal of my mask breaking. Im scared, and I dont get scared. Why is no one coming? Cant they see whats happening? but then I realize they couldnt; this patient was not on central monitoring. No one knows this is happening but me. The opaque wall prevented anyone from seeing in. The ridiculous noise in the hot zone meant no one could hear my screams. Anxiety settles in.

After what felt like hours, Rebecca came to the room, climbed over the prone patient in bed 1, and pressed the code button. No one came. They couldnt even hear the alarm. The emergency room staff and ICU charge nurse ran into the ante-room to gown up and help me. Everyone in the COVID ICU was confused, considering they could not see or hear what was happening behind those opaque walls or over all the noise. Once they got in, I jump off the bed, my arms shaking and my breathing heavy. I lean up against the wall and watch as they get a pulse back. I feel relieved.

This situation was a prime example of the unsafe and traumatizing environment we were forced to work in, at no fault to anyone. These measures were put into place to protect us while we care for some of the sickest patients I have ever seen. But the fear behind those walls was real. The isolation you felt as you gowned up and stepped back there was overwhelming; limited supplies, limited help, and difficulty communicating in such a crazy environment. Not only was it stressful to care for COVID patients, but the hot zones that were created to allow nurses to stay in PPE while walking from room to room did also more mental trauma in the long run.

It felt like the trauma followed me even out of the hot zone. Working as the rapid response nurse at night in a community hospital, I felt like the angel of death. If you saw me in your patients room, something bad was happening. If you need me, it means your patient was decompensating. Rapid response after rapid response, I run up to the COVID telemetry units to attempt to stabilize patients that needed it. Usually, this meant I was the one caring for them with no orders, help, or resources. The hospitalist was nowhere to be found, caring for others that may need it or simply refusing to step into the precaution rooms, If you think they need to go, just take them they would text me as I am begging them for help or guidance as its just me in the room with these other scared floor nurses looking to me for answers. I had to buck up and stay confident, composed, all while being arguably more scared than them, considering I knew what kind of path was headed for this patient. I would lie: Youre going to be okay, I am from the ICU, I will help We just want to watch you a little closer Stay calm I will make sure nothing bad will happen as you watch their face full of the fear that comes with true shortness of breath.

I saw these people when they were admitted maybe on room air or a little oxygen via nasal cannula. I talked to them night after night. I watched them decline until they were proven sick enough for me to transfer them to the ICU; tachypneic, hypoxic, tachycardic, febrile. Nothing we did helped them. I felt their fear and their pain that I could not relieve. I would take them to the ICU just in time to go back to the floors for another person who needed me. Only to come back and find the patient intubated and sedated.

I think about them often. It haunts me: Should I have taken them sooner? Did I do something I shouldnt have? Should I have given them the false hope that I did on our elevator ride down?

I tried my best, but I was the angel of death.

Emily DAmelio is a rapid response nurse.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
EUGENE, Ore. -- A Coos Bay man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing sexually explicit images and videos of a 3-year-old child.

According to court documents, Keith James Atherton, 33, was taken into federal custody back in 2018 after an undercover agent suspected him of live streaming acts of child sex abuse on a video chat website.

Investigators seized more than 10 digital devices from Atherton that contained at least 35,000 images and 8,000 videos depicting abuse of infants, toddlers and young children.

On Feb. 24, 2021, Atherton pleaded guilty to using or attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct.

Atherton was sentenced on Wednesday in federal court in Eugene to the maximum prison term of 30 years followed by a life term of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender.
EUGENE, Ore. -- On Wednesday, the Eugene City Council weighed possible options for reparations for residents that are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

RELATED: EUGENE CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS REPARATIONS WEDNESDAY

"The history that Oregon has with white supremacy and other discriminatory practices, that history is part of the fabric of Eugene," said Jason Dedrick, the policy analyst for the city.

Dedrick said when considering options for reparations, or what he referred to as "reparative justice," local context should be considered.

The council appeared to largely be on board with the decision to implement some sort of reparative justice but didn't seem to make much progress in regard to what type. The concept of reparations is typically associated with financial compensation, but this meeting introduced more infrastructure-level changes, like housing and income equality.

"I'm looking for a way for us to begin to move forward from the not-so-distant past," councilor Greg Evans said.

During the session, they discussed some of the strategies other cities across the country used to provide compensation for the history of racial prejudice in the United States.

Many of the members said speaking the truth about the past is the first step.

"Having an idea of a commission to discuss our history in real terms is very important," councilor Mike Clark said.

This was the first of two sessions on the matter.
EUGENE, Ore.  Parts of Oregon and Washington are facing the possibility of all time record high temperatures this weekend.

The heat is likely to hit triple digits Saturday, and Sunday will bring even warmer temperatures with highs closer to 110 degrees.

STORMTRACKER 9 FORECAST

This comes as the west coast has dealt with low rain and snowfall over the past year, leaving the area in a historic severe drought and at a high risk for wildfires. Lane County recently declared a drought emergency.

President Joe Biden has reportedly met with the Federal Emergency Management Agency this week and will hold another meeting next week with governors of western states to discuss the extreme weather conditions.

Stay with KEZI 9 News for the latest forecast and for local impacts. To download the KEZI 9 News app and the KEZI 9 StormTracker app on your Android or Apple device, CLICK HERE.
EUGENE, Ore. -- As Oregon faces potentially record-breaking temperatures this weekend, here's a look at what to expect the rest of the summer.

Experts at the Climate Prediction Center say that temperatures this summer will be hotter than normal, and precipitation amounts will be lower than normal. This means the severe drought which is already plaguing the west will worsen in the coming weeks.

STORMTRACKER 9 FORECAST

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After a record-breaking fire season in 2020, this is not the news Oregonians want to hear.

Here are two maps which show the forecast through Aug. 30. The brown highlights areas that will see abnormally dry conditions, and the orange highlights areas that will see temperatures surge above normal.

Keep in mind, July and August are the two driest months of the year with an average precipitation of 0.71 in the Willamette Valley for the two months combined. If this forecast verifies, we will likely see rain values well below this moving forward.

The drought is forecast to go from bad to worse this summer too. Heres a map of the areas currently undergoing a drought. The brown shows that the drought is likely to persist, whereas the yellow highlights areas that drought development is likely.

Meteorologist John Saltenberger, whos the Fire Weather Program Manager for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, says hes been in contact with fire crews on the ground, and they say fire season is well ahead of schedule.

Our consultation with fire managers across both Oregon and Washington tells us that what they see on the ground, with the dryness and fire danger, is running about a month ahead of time," Saltenberger said.

This means that the typical fire danger that we see in mid to late July is happening now. He says there are several factors that make this fire season worrisome, the first of which is that we are entering this season much drier than last season.

At this point in 2020 we were undergoing cool and wet weather. The problem with fire season 2021 is not only is it expected to be warm and dry, but much of the northwest and elsewhere is also unusually dry," he said.

MORE: EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON OREGON WILDFIRE CONDITIONS

At this point in 2020, the Willamette Valley had already received 17.20 of rainfall from Jan. 1 through the end of June. This year weve only had 14.48 so far.

Saltenberger says that due to the extreme drought across the other western states, there will be a competition for outside firefighting resources.

This may be one of those years where we tap Canada for help, we tap Australia for help, in sending extra man power to our region to help us with any fire that happen to occur.
EUGENE, Ore.  Local band High Step Society canceled a concert scheduled for Wednesday night after they say members of the anti-vaccination community threatened the venue, Thinking Tree Spirits on Jackson Street in Eugene.

It's incredibly heartbreaking that a community celebration was derailed because a small group of people decided it was their place to impose their opinions and fault this business for following state guidelines which they are required to follow, the band wrote on Facebook.

According to the event details, attendees of the concert were expected to show proof of vaccination in order to enter the venue without a mask. There did not appear to be an alternative section for guests who are unvaccinated.

In a Facebook post, Thinking Tree Spirits called the situation unfortunate and said their highest priority is the safety of staff and the community.

This negative response was based on our decision to host a full capacity vaccinated event, the business said.

In May, the Oregon Health Authority released new guidance allowing businesses to host events where guests are not required to wear masks, but the business must then check for proof of vaccination.

Its unclear if High Step Society plans to schedule another event in Eugene. The band is scheduled to perform in several cities and states in the coming months.
Former Security minister Gen Elly Tumwine says he will advise President Museveni to prepare a smooth transition of power.

While handing over the security office to Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi on Wednesday, Gen Tumwine said this will be the first thing he will do as senior presidential advisor.

As take on my new advisory role, I will advise @KagutaMuseveni to prepare for a smooth transition of power for a long-term stability of our country, tweeted Gen Tumwine.

Gen Tumwine added that he will support the new security minister, Jim Muhwezi in executing his duties.

I promise my resolute commitment to you in executing your official duties at the Ministry. I am humbled to have served my country. I will forever be grateful to President Museveni for being a visionary and excellent leader of the revolution, Gen Tumwine said.
A six month jail term has been imposed on a man convicted of having heroin and tablets for sale or supply.

Andrew Houlihan, 11 Mountain View Square, Knockmay, Portlaoise, pleaded guilty to charges of being in illegal possession of drugs and to having the drugs for sale or supply, at a rented room in Castlecomer.

Evidence was heard at Kilkenny District Court, from Sergeant Morgan OConnor, that on May 14 last gardai obtained a warrant to search a premises on Kilkenny Street in Castlecomer.

Gardai gained entry to the premises by forcing a door. Mr Houlihan was resenting an upstairs room and in that room the gardai found 700 of diamorphine in three bags, 2500 tables, 865 in cash and other drugs paraphernalia.

When he was interviewed by gardai Mr Houlihan made full and frank admissions. He said the cash was the proceeds of drug sales. He cooperated with the investigation.

The court heard from Mr Houlihans solicitor that her client was not long returned from England, where he had lived for a time. He returned to Ireland because his father was ill.

Mr Houlihan had some historical debts and he quickly became involved in the supply of drugs. She said the gardai had actually assisted her client in getting out of drugs.

Two close family members have died from drug related matters and he hopes to take up a residential treatment place to learn how to say no to intoxicants.

Mr Houlihan consented to the forfeiture of the money found but asked that it be donated to cancer charity, the court heard.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said Mr Houlihan did appear to have detoxed and she wished him well in that regard.

On the first charge of having diamorphine (heroin) for sale or supply Mr Houlihan was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment. On the second charge he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months on condition he sign a peace bond and engage with the Probation Service.

Two charges of being in illegal possession of drugs were taken into account.

A destruction order was issued for the seized drugs and Judge Carthy directed the money seized be donated to the local cancer society.
Regional radio station Beat 102-103 is celebrating its 18th birthday in style with two huge promotions.

The South East regional broadcaster will be whisking two friends off to the White Isle in Ibiza Uncovered before giving away 1,800 in cash in what will be the culmination of its Birthday Bucks promotion.

The South-Easts No 1 youth radio station made headlines at 1.02 pm on July 1, 2003, by becoming the first regional radio station in Irish broadcasting history. Since then, Beat has become a household name across the South-East and beyond, thanks to its reputation as a music-first broadcaster that prides itself on quirky content and showstopping promotions.

Since 2003, Beat has consistently increased its audience reach and share, with 159,000 people tuning in every week and close to 900,000 people following online.

With ongoing Covid restrictions hampering any in-person celebrations, Beat decided to go big on air and on social to celebrate its birthday.

Ibiza Uncovered continues Beats longstanding reputation for eccentric promotions. Looking to scratch that vacation itch while serving as the perfect link to its 18th birthday celebrations, Beat is asking listeners parents to confess their most embarrassing stories from when they were 18 live on air  all to win an Ibiza getaway for their child.

The single day Birthday Bucks promotion will take place across all of Beats daytime shows on Thursday, July 1. Listeners are encouraged to compile four smash hits from 2003 played on air across the day to be in with a chance of taking home 1,800 in cash!

Speaking on the upcoming birthday promotions, Beat CEO Gabrielle Cummins said:

We love to create content that gets our listeners excited and engaged. Cash giveaways are always well received so Ive no doubt there will be a huge reaction to the nostalgic Birthday Bucks Competition. In terms of Ibiza Uncovered, lets face it; were all dreaming of a holiday abroad so this latest promotion from Beat helps bring that dream closer for our audience. Two lucky listeners can look forward to a trip of a lifetime when its safe to do so. A huge thank you to Murphy Furniture and Audi Waterford for partnering with us on these exciting giveaways.

Head of Station Sound and Beat Breakfast presenter Niall Power (pictured) details how Beat has adapted ever-changing listener demands.

Weve been sparking water-cooler conversations for the last 18 years & one of the highlights for us is coming up with the next big idea to present to our listeners. Their reaction to all our hard work behind the scenes, is priceless," he said.
The Asthma Society of Ireland has shared the findings of a patient and carer survey, which estimates that a staggering 80% of people in Ireland have hayfever.

Despite experiencing multiple hayfever symptoms, the survey revealed 30% of respondents had not sought advice from their healthcare provider on managing their allergies.

Of those who have been diagnosed with allergies the most common allergies were to pollen (63%) or house dust mites (56%). Over 33% of respondents reported a diagnosis of allergy to pet or animal hair whilst over a fifth had confirmed allergies to certain foods.

Sneezing, stuffy nose and runny nose were commonly experienced amongst the 655 patients surveyed. Of the symptoms most frequently experienced 92% cited urge to sneeze or sneezing fits, 91% runny nose/rhinitis, 88% stuffy or itchy nose and 74% of respondents reported itchy burning eyes.

79% of respondents also report experiencing fatigue associated with allergies; for some patients, tiredness can be caused by certain antihistamines and not the condition itself.

The findings are concerning for the asthma population in Ireland as while all of those surveyed reported experiencing asthma symptoms, 30% had not sought advice from their healthcare practitioner in managing their symptoms, said Dr Marcus Butler, Respiratory Consultant at St Vincent's University Hospital, and Medical Director at the Asthma Society of Ireland.

While the symptoms are frustrating for many, unmanaged hayfever or allergies can cause asthma symptoms to heighten and escalate into an asthma attack. An asthma attack is a respiratory emergency that should be taken seriously by patients and carers. Allergies and hayfever with asthma can be fatal. At least one person dies every week as a result of asthma.

Our research showed that 50% of those surveyed had had an asthma attack in the past year. 14% had experienced an attack in the past four weeks alone, 19% in the past six months and a further 16% in the past 12 months. So good hayfever management is crucial in preventing an asthma emergency.

We really encourage patients to kickstart an improvement of their hayfever symptoms and better asthma control by flagging these symptoms with their GP. The results of this survey indicate that there would be a real value to all GPs routinely asking the following question with an asthma patient  and, what about the nose. If patients and GPs dont discuss these symptoms, then they cant create a plan for managing them.

Top Tips to Manage Hay Fever Season include:

Speak to an experienced respiratory nurse from the Asthma Adviceline service on 1800 44 54 64 and put a hayfever management plan in place.

Whatsapp message the Asthma and COPD patient support service on 086 059 0132 for any questions/queries on asthma, hayfever and COVID-19 symptoms.

Speak with a healthcare professional about taking medication to prevent/reduce symptoms. Dont wait until you feel unwell. Early action is key to prevent an escalation of symptoms.

Keep windows closed at night time or when the pollen count is high.

Monitor the pollen tracker and minimize time spent outdoors when the pollen count is high.

Stay away from areas with freshly cut grass and dont keep fresh flowers in the house.

Apply vaseline around nostrils when outdoors in order to trap pollen.

Wear wraparound sunglasses to minimize levels of pollen irritating your eyes. Splash your eyes with cold water to help flush out pollen and soothe and cool your eyes.

Shower, wash your hair and change your clothes if you have been outdoors for an extended period of time.

Exercise in the morning rather than the evening when there are higher rates of pollen falling.

Avoid drying clothes outdoors and shake clothes outside before bringing them inside  particularly bedclothes.

Minimise contact with pets that have been outdoors and are likely to carry pollen.

Ruth Morrow, Respiratory Nurse Specialist at the Asthma Society of Ireland said: The Asthma Society wants to provide practical support for alleviating unpleasant hayfever symptoms. Hayfever is a blanket term used to describe seasonal allergies, often stemming from pollen in the air. It is important to clarify that it is not related to hay and fever is not actually an associated symptom. Usual symptoms include runny nose with clear or pale-coloured mucus, sneezing, red, watery eyes and itching around the nose, mouth or eyes.

"If untreated, it can lead to nasal congestion, postnasal drip, coughing, lower respiratory problems, sore throat, headache, decreased sense of smell, ear or sinus infection, puffiness or dark circles under the eyes, and fatigue.

"Spring and Summer are the peak times for people with hayfever with 51% reporting increased symptoms at this high pollen time, that can really impact on quality of life and asthma management. Lying in bed at night and being close to meadows, fields or trees can further aggravate symptoms.

"The ALK supported pollen tracker on asthma.ie helps us to highlight when periods of high pollen or bad weather are coming up so people with hayfever can better manage their symptoms. We have also put together a number of practical tips for management of hayfever symptoms.
Kilkenny Community Traveller Movement was today announced as one of seven organisations nationally that will take part in a 1million pilot community development programme.

The aim of this pilot programme is to trial community led interventions that address poverty, social exclusion and inequality as well as promote human rights.

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe OBrien TD, announced the news in Longford today.

"It is hugely important that those voices that are most marginalised in society are given opportunities to engage and help develop activities that they know will help enhance their lived experiences and bring their voice to the table when decisions are being made," he said.

"Its clear from the number and quality of applications for this programme that there is a strong need among marginalised communities across the country for the supports to build a better life for themselves.

"My officials will be engaging with the projects that were unsuccessful this time to explore other ways of supporting their proposals.

"This is an initial step in recasting a grassroots community led approach to tackling disadvantage that will complement other local and national government measures to address social exclusion."

The Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) has also welcomed todays announcement.

Speaking at todays announcement in Longford Community Resources, ILDN CEO Joe Saunders said: I am encouraged to see our members in Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Kilkenny and Longford amongst the Community Development Projects announced today by Minister OBrien.

"The funding confirmed today will assist our LDCs support groups engaged with important social inclusion, anti-poverty and equality-based work with Traveller, Migrant and Roma Communities and other cohorts in need of assistance."

Applications to take part in the programme were received from over 120 community development organisations.

The projects chosen are based here in Kilkenny, Donegal, Clare, Dublin, Longford, Wexford and Meath/Louth, providing supports to Travellers; women living in poverty, migrants and people with disabilities.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - There's only four days left of Rochesterfest and organizers are staying positive with the turnout they've had so far.

The executive director, Brandon Helgeson, said he's happy with how the crowd has been, especially coming out of a non-operational year. The week-long celebration is funded through a variety of different partners, including the city and several outside organizations.

This is Helgeson's first year as the executive director and he's hoping to reach some goals he set. "I think that we'll do alright," he explained. "Me personally, I was really looking to try and set some records coming out of a pandemic and obviously to put a little bit of money back in the bank account, so that we can go even bigger for 2022."

But Helgeson wasn't anticipating some competition. A carnival is opening up Thursday at the Apache Mall, which means it's going to be here the last weekend of Rochesterfest. So, it's raising some questions about why the carnival is happening.

Gopher State Expositions is based out of St. Cloud and we're told this will be the first time they're setting up at the Apache Mall. The general manager of the mall, Kim Bradley, said it just happens to be a coincidence they wanted to come the same weekend as Rochesterfest. "You know, this is so new and we really just look at it as an extension of Rochesterfest because they're right across the way from us," she explained.

However, Helgeson feels differently. "All I can do is just make sure that we deliver the best events that we have going on down here. It wasn't a good thing considering we were coming out of a non-operational year. I get that they probably were too, obviously. But we are the cities festival," he explained. "We've been here almost 40 years! It's a little tough to see something like that when it's something fairly direct competition coming in."

The carnival starts Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and will last through Sunday, which is also the last day of Rochesterfest.
ZWINGLE, Iowa  A federal fugitive who had been on the loose for a year was finally arrested Wednesday afternoon in eastern Iowa.

The U.S. Marshals Service says Untavious Davenport, 39 of Illinois, was apprehended near Zwingle, a community just south of Dubuque. Law enforcement had been looking for Davenport since he was indicted in June 2020 by a federal grand jury in Missouri for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

The U.S. Marshals Service says Davenport was initially tracked to the greater Chicago area and over the next several months, he was pursued through numerous states. In mid-June, members of the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, working with the Dubuque Drug Task Force, found a likely location for Davenport in a rural setting just north of Zwingle.

After days of surveillance, Davenport was identified outside a farmhouse and Marshals from Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri arrested him, with the assistance of the Dubuque County Sheriffs Office and the Dubuque Drug Task Force.

Davenport was taken to the Linn County Correctional Center to await extradition to Missouri.
ALBERT LEA, Minn.  Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative (FMEC) held a ribbon cutting event Wednesday to celebrate the opening of its new $17 million facility.

Located in the 33000 block of Bridge Avenue, just north of Interstate 90, the new FMEC building is about 97,000 square feet and sits on about 25.6 acres of land.

The new facility provides much-needed additional space, improved security, updated technology, and enhanced operational efficiencies. All of our equipment, trucks and employees are now in one location, said Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative President & CEO, Jim Krueger.

The ribbon cutting was attended by community leaders, representatives from Market & Johnson, and River Valley Architects, local sub-contractors and Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, and staff.

Market & Johnson and River Valley Architects were professional and completed the project on time, says Krueger. Constructing a facility of this size was beneficial to our community as we were able to hire several local sub-contractors and this project brought in additional contractors over the past year to stimulate our local economy.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - A criminal charge has been filed against a former surgeon at Mayo Clinic.

Ahmad Maher Abdel-Munim Alsughayer, 28 of Saginaw, Michigan, has been charged in Olmsted County District Court with unauthorized computer access, a gross misdemeanor.

In December 2020, the Rochester Police Department says it was notified of a possible invasion of privacy at Mayo Clinic. A former patient told investigators her medical records had been inappropriately accessed by a hospital employee. The victim said she got a letter from Mayo stating her medical records had been looked at in May 2020 "without a business need." The letter also stated images of the victim taken in February, March, and May 2020 were among the information wrongly accessed.

The victim told investigators she asked for her medical records and became upset because it appeared as though nude images of her had been viewed.

Rochester police say they identified the hospital employee who accessed the medical records as Alsughayer. Court records also state Mayo Clinic sent a report to police saying Alsughayer had accessed protected patient information in a way unnecessary for his job as a doctor.

A criminal complaint was filed against Alsughayer in April. His initial court appearance is set for June.

In addition to this criminal charge, Alsughayer has been named as a co-defendant in two civil lawsuits against Mayo Clinic. A breast cancer patient and two dermatology patients accuse Alsughayer of unauthorized access of their medical records, including nude images, and that Mayo Clinic could have prevented that access but failed to do so. A trial for a lawsuit filed in October 2020 is scheduled to start on August 22. No trial date has been set for the lawsuit, which was filed in May.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Iowa will send up to 30 state police officers on a two-week deployment to Texas after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds agreed to a request from GOP governors to help fight crime at the U.S.-Mexico border.

A statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety did not say when the deployment of the officers would begin or how they would be chosen.

The officers will assist the Texas Department of Public Safety. Reynolds said she agreed to the deployment, following similar moves by Republican governors in Nebraska, Florida and Idaho, after receiving assurances from the department that their absences will not compromise our ability to provide all the necessary public safety services to Iowans.

My first responsibility is to the health and safety of Iowans and the humanitarian crisis at our nations southern border is affecting all 50 states, said Gov. Reynolds. The rise in drugs, human trafficking, and violent crime has become unsustainable. Iowa has no choice but to act, and its why I am honoring Texas Emergency Management Assistance Compact following assurances from the Iowa Department of Public Safety that it will not compromise our ability to provide all necessary public safety services to Iowans.
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kongs sole remaining pro-democracy newspaper published its last edition Thursday after five editors and executives were arrested and millions of dollars in its assets were frozen as part of China's increasing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.

The board of directors of Apple Daily parent company Next Media said in a statement Wednesday that the print and online editions would cease due to the current circumstances prevailing in Hong Kong.

The silencing of a prominent pro-democracy voice was the latest sign of China's determination to exert greater control over the city long known for its freedoms after huge anti-government protests there in 2019 shook the government. Since then, Beijing has imposed a strict national security law  used in the arrests of the newspaper employees  and revamped Hong Kong's election laws to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.

Apple Daily was founded by tycoon Jimmy Lai in 1995  just two years before Britain handed Hong Kong back to China  and initially was a tabloid known for celebrity gossip. But Lai also portrayed the paper as an advocate of democratic values and said it should shine a light on snakes, insects, mice and ants in the dark," according to the paper.

It grew into an outspoken voice for defending Hong Kongs freedoms not found in mainland China, and in recent years it often criticized the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for limiting those freedoms and reneging on a promise to protect them for 50 years after the handover. While pro-democracy media outlets still exist online, it was the only print newspaper of its kind left in the city.

In a post on Instagram, the paper thanked its readers.

Even if the ending is not what we want, even if its difficult to let go, we need to continue living and keep the determination we have shared with Hong Kong people that has remained unchanged over 26 years, Apple Daily wrote.

The newspaper said it planned to print 1 million copies for the final edition, up from the usual 80,000, and people lined up to buy them.

The paper's announcement coincided with the start of the city's first trial under the year-old national security law that is being closely watched as a barometer of how strictly the courts will interpret the legislation.

The widely expected move to close Apple Daily followed last weeks arrests and crucially the freezing of $2.3 million of the papers assets. Its board of directors wrote a few days ago to ask Hong Kongs security bureau to release some of the money so the company could pay wages, but its not clear if it got a response. The paper also said it made the decision to close out of concern for employees safety.

The editors and executives were detained on suspicion of colluding with foreigners to endanger national security. Police cited more than 30 articles published by the paper as evidence of a conspiracy to encourage foreign nations to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. It was the first time the national security law had been used against journalists for something they published.

On Wednesday, police also arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of foreign collusion to endanger national security, according to Apple Daily, which cited unidentified sources. The paper said the man wrote editorials for it under the pseudonym Li Ping.

Lai, the newspaper's founder, faces charges under the national security law for foreign collusion and is currently serving a prison sentence for his involvement in the 2019 protests.

The move against Apple Daily drew criticism from the U.S., the EU and Britain.

The forced closure by Hong Kong authorities is a chilling demonstration of their campaign to silence all opposition voices, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a Twitter post. It is clearer than ever that the (national security law) is being used to curtail freedom and punish dissent.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Adebahr called the closure a hard blow against press freedom in Hong Kong.

Amnesty International Asia-Pacific Regional Director Yamini Mishra said the police action against Apple Daily will send a shiver down the spine of all media outlets operating in Hong Kong.

The forced closure of Apple Daily is the blackest day for media freedom in Hong Kongs recent history," Mishra said. The paper has been effectively banned by the government for publishing articles that criticized it, and for reporting on international discussions about Hong Kong."

The law, imposed last year, criminalizes subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign collusion. Chinese and Hong Kong officials have said the media must abide by the law, and that press freedom cannot be used as a shield for illegal activities.

The first person to stand trial under the law, Tong Ying-kit, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of terrorism and inciting secession by driving a motorcycle into police officers during a 2019 rally while carrying a flag with the slogan Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times. Several officers were knocked over and three were injured.

That slogan was often chanted during the 2019 demonstrations, which began as protests against a bill allowing Hong Kong residents to be extradited to China for trial but burgeoned into broader calls for greater democratic freedoms. China was shaken by the breadth of the protests and responded with tough measures, including the national security law, which makes calls for Hong Kong's independence illegal.

Tong's trial will set the tone for how Hong Kong handles national security offenses. So far, more than 100 people have been arrested under the law, with many others fleeing abroad. The result is that it has virtually silenced opposition voices in the city.

A court ruled last month that Tong will stand trial without a jury, a departure from Hong Kong's common law traditions. Under the national security law, a panel of three judges can replace jurors, and the citys leader has the power to designate judges to hear such cases.

The law carries a maximum penalty of life in prison for serious offenses. Tong is on trial at the High Court, where sentences are not capped.
MASON CITY, Iowa - A Mason City man is facing a first-degree burglary charge in connection to a break-in and stabbing.

Nicolas Duarte, 22, is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $25,000 bond in connection to a June 18 incident in the 400 block of N. Madison Ave.

Police said Duarte forcefully kicked open the door to an apartment while in possession of a knife and had the intent to stab the resident.

Duarte is accused of attempting to stab the victim in the chest and did stab the victim in the arm. The stabbing resulted in a serious injury.

Duarte was arrested in 2020 after smashing windows out at multiple Mason City businesses. He pled guilty to those criminal mischief charges.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - It's summer travel season and thanks to a decline in COVID-19 cases and a rise in vaccinations, more people are packing their bags.

Mayo Clinic experts stress it is safe for you to travel if you're fully vaccinated and healthy, but it gets more complicated if you're not vaccinated, are immunocompromised, or have other health concerns.

Dr. Gregory Poland explains the CDC's travel recommendations are meant to be broad, so if you're immunocompromised or have any other questions about your health and risk for COVID, you're encouraged to talk to your healthcare provider before traveling. They'll be able to guide you to make the most safety-conscious decision.

You're advised to know the travel requirements of places you're traveling to and from. Unvaccinated people are discouraged from traveling. But if you must, you're encouraged to wear a mask and avoid destinations with high virus transmission.

Dr. Poland believes airlines are doing as much as they can to keep passengers safe, but he still encourages people to mask up regardless of their vaccination status. "They've really done a good job with that and kudos to them. Nonetheless, if you're not vaccinated, if you're not fully vaccinated, if you don't have a healthy immune system and quite possibly even if you do... the cost to wear a mask is so minimal as to be nonexistent and I personally do wear a mask," he says.

As kids under 12 are not yet able to be vaccinated, travel by means of crowded spaces such as planes, buses, and public transportation is not recommended for them. Whether you or your kids are unvaccinated, Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse encourages you to avoid areas with high COVID-19 spread.

Children should continue protective practices such as wearing masks, especially in indoor and crowded places, or stay away from those places altogether.

Dr. Rajapakse acknowledges kids have had to miss out on a lot over the past year, but suggests some lower risk vacation activities this year. "I think there are certain things families can think about when they're planning what they're doing this summer, certain safer options, including especially considering outdoor activities. We know the virus does not spread well outdoors. Activities like camping or hiking for example with children who are unvaccinated might be a nice option for the summer both for exercise and to get outdoors," she explains.

Although kids under 12 are not yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Rajapakse reminds you to keep your kids up to date on their other immunizations such as for measles, mumps, and whooping cough. Many kids fell behind on these shots during the pandemic and she warns we may see outbreaks in the future.

As we enter the fall season, Dr. Poland believes it will be the most risky and dangerous period of the pandemic for unvaccinated people because of the variants that are circulating. Currently, it is extremely unlikely for a vaccinated person to be affected by the delta variant.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  A three-year review by Iowa's attorney general has found that Roman Catholic priests sexually abused minors across the state for decades while church leaders covered it up, but reforms implemented since 2002 have ended the crisis.

A report issued Wednesday by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said the number of complaints, victims and the duration of the abuse was overwhelming and the cover-up was extensive." But it found that only five Iowa priests have been accused of misconduct since 2002.

The report said bishops who participated in concealing past problems are no longer in charge in Iowa. Miller said that key reforms implemented since 2002 are working, reducing the number of complaints.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Missouri... Osage River near Mari-Osa Campground. Missouri River at St. Charles. Missouri River at Washington. Missouri River at Hermann. Missouri River near Chamois. Missouri River at Jefferson City. River forecasts are based on observed precipitation and forecast precipitation for the next 24 hours. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Rainfall heavier than forecast could cause river levels to rise even higher than predicted. The National Weather Service will monitor this developing situation and issue follow up statements as conditions change. This product, along with additional weather and stream information, is available at https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lsx. && ...The Flood Warning is now in effect until late Sunday evening... The Flood Warning continues for the Missouri River at Jefferson City. * Until late Sunday evening. * At 7:45 PM CDT Friday the stage was 25.4 feet. * Flood stage is 23.0 feet. * Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. * Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 7:45 PM CDT Friday was 26.1 feet. * Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage tomorrow afternoon and continue falling to 10.3 feet Wednesday evening. && Fld Observed Forecasts (7 pm CDT) Location Stg Stg Day/Time Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Missouri River Jefferson Cit 23.0 25.4 Fri 7 pm 22.8 19.4 15.3 12.0 10.3 &&
Rembrandt's famed "Night Watch" is seen back on display for the first time in 300 years, in what researchers say is its original size, with missing parts temporarily restored in an exhibition aided by artificial intelligence at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, June 23. Reuters-Yonhap



It's one of the great acts of art vandalism. In 1715 large chunks of Rembrandt's masterpiece "The Night Watch" were cut off in order to fit the colossal canvas into a new home.



Now for the first time in more than 300 years, visitors to Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum can see the painting in its original form thanks to a stunning reconstruction of the lost pieces.



Based on a small 17th century copy of "The Night Watch", scientists used artificial intelligence to recreate the missing sections, which have been printed and mounted around the famed artwork.



"It's very exciting to see," Rijksmuseum director Taco Dibbits told AFP.



"Because you know the painting since you're a child, and you feel that suddenly you've taken a step back in time for 300 years."



The reconstruction has revealed the true dynamism of Rembrandt's original composition, with the two key people at the center of the painting, Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch, now offset to the side, said Dibbits.



The lost figures of two men and a small boy have meanwhile been restored to the left hand side where a 60-centimetre (24-inch) strip was cut off the painting, which even in its smaller form measures a huge 3.79 meters by 4.36 meters (12 feet, five inches by 14 feet, four inches).



The Rijksmuseum, which recently reopened after the relaxation of coronavirus measures, will keep the panels in place for three months, as part of a huge restoration of the painting launched in 2019.





Museum director Taco Dibbits explains how Rembrandt's biggest painting the Night Watch just got bigger with the help of artificial intelligence in Amsterdam, June 23. AP-Yonhap
A sign board on the sidewalk in front of South Side Elementary reminded parents and students that masks are required for students amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the first day of school in the 2020-21 school year last August. This coming year masks will be optional for students at East Noble.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A mainly sunny sky. High 81F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 66F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Area pediatricians said parents of young children may want to think twice before letting them go maskless.

With news of the highly contagious Delta variant likely in Buchanan County coupled with the county's low vaccination rate of 20.7%, some parents of young kids may be concerned as protection for children against COVID-19 is minimal.

For kids under the age of 12, they're still not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccines.

Parents, although they might be vaccinated, their children are not. So, we still need to be practicing some safe practices, said Dana Kapp, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for Peacock Pediatrics.

Pediatricians said with the rise of the Delta variant, responsible for half the new cases in Missouri and doubling every two weeks, they're worried kids will become the unprotected target of this spread.

There's no great way to protect them other than good handwashing, avoiding being around someone who might be sick, as well as crowded places. There's a very good possibility that they will be the new vulnerable group," said Kapp.

In an interview with CBS This Morning, Dr. Facui said because the Delta variant is more contagious, children under 12 are more likely to catch the new strain first detected in India.

Dr. Fauci said, It isnt that they (children under 12) are more susceptible, but this virus is more transmissible. Therefore, children are more likely to get infected with this than the alpha variant.

Local pediatricians said the new variant is appearing to show slightly different symptoms. Kapp said these are the signs parents should look at for, It seems to be a little less coughing with this new variant. Fever, sore throat, runny nose and fatigue."

Kapp reminds parents if they're suspicious their child may be ill, primary care providers are still providing COVID tests and encourage parents to take advantage.

Health experts said while kids under 12 cannot get the shot, parents can still keep them safe by following safety practices such as avoiding large crowds, staying home if sick and continuing to wear masks in large crowds.

However, health professionals said the one thing going to keep children from catching the virus, is if those who can get vaccinated do.

As much as some people dont want to hear it, I think the key is vaccination. Thats our best chance at getting back to a pre-COVID state. Thats really the only known thing thats going to help us get through this and get back to life as we knew before the pandemic, said Kapp.

Kapp encourages parents and the community to utilize the St. Joseph Health Department's Facebook page for COVID-related information and kid safety tips.
BRESCIA, JUN 21 - Two German tourists have been placed under investigation in the deaths of two Italians after their boat was hit by the tourist's powerboat on Lake Garda early Sunday morning. The tourists are accused of manslaughter and failing to stop and help after hitting the wooden boat containing Umberto Garzarella, 37, from Salo, and Greta Nedrotti, 25, resident at Toscolano Maderno. Garzarella, who was sleeping, was killed instantly while Nedrotti was knocked into the water and drowned. The tourists, who have not been named, told police they did not feel anything hit their powerboat. "It was dark," they said of the pre-dawn crash. The victims had gone to Salo, the lakeside town that served as capital for the Nazi puppet Italian Social Republic from 1943 to '45, to see the Mille Miglia vintage car race pass through the town. Police are awaiting the results of blood alcohol tests on the 52-year-old tourists. They have been allowed out on bail but cannot return to Germany. (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 24 - Italian engineer Giovanni Cali has been released after being kidnapped at the start of June in Haiti, the foreign ministry has said. The 74-year-old from Catania, who was working on the construction of a road in the Caribbean country, was taken captive by a local criminal gang. (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 24 - A 16-year-old girl was found safe and well on Thursday in the area of Nocera Umbra, near Perugia, following a big search after she went missing late overnight. The girl disappeared after a domestic row, source said. (ANSA).
NAPLES, JUN 24 - A 30-year-old man was shot to death in Naples on Thursday, local sources said. The man, Antonio Avolio, was shot dead in Via Teano on the outskirts of he southern Italian port city. Police said he had been approached by two strangers who shot him. Police are at the scene and trying to reconstruct what happened. An autopsy has been ordered. (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 24 - Former Italy and AS Roma great Francesco Totti said Thursday that Italy could win the European championshios this year for the first time since the Azzurri's only previous triumph, in 1968. "Things have gone right up to now," Totti said at a meeting to announce that he has become one of the ambassadors for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics. "I'm not saying anything because I don't want to bring bad luck, but we are united as a team and the team is uniting the country. "Let's hope that we go as far as possible because it has been a long time since Italy won the Euros. "I think this could the right year". The Azzurri face Austria at Wembley on Saturday after winning all three of their group games and equalling the 30-match unbeaten record achieved by Vittorio Pozzo's team in the 1930s. (ANSA).
PARIS, JUN 24 - Two young women were arrested in Paris Thursday on suspicion of driving the electric scooter that hit a 32-year-old Italian woman on June 14 and inflicting injuries form which she later died in hospital, AFP reported. The young woman fled the scene after hitting Miriam S,. born in Rome and resident in Paris, while she was speaking with a friend in the streets of the French capital. The fatal crash took place shortly after midnight on June 14 on the banks of the Seine, where over 50 people had gathered. After being hit on Monday night last week, Miriam died of her injuries in a hospital in the French capital on Saturday. The two young women have been charged with vehicular homicide. Witness said the scooter was "going at full pelt", Parisian media reported. Miriam fell and hit her head so hard on the pavement she suffered injuries that led to her being declared brain dead. She had been taken to the Pitie' -Salpetrie' re Hospital where doctors immediately said they were very pessimistic about her chances. The incident fed a row over the lack of rules over scooters and segways in Paris. Miriam worked in a bistro in the Latin Quarter. (ANSA).
MILAN, JUN 24 - A 56-year-old man of Albanian origin was arrested at Gorgonzola near Milan Thursday on charges of raping his two daughters starting when they were four and five and continuing for years, police said. He was also charged with domestic abuse after years of allegdly beating up his wife. (ANSA).
ROME, JUN 24 - A man who killed a man in a central Rome street two nights ago was caught in Naples Thursday after police tracked his phone GPS. The man, a 27-year-old Armenian, was arrested and taken to Poggioreale Prison. Police said CCTV footage showed him stabbing the victim in the neck after a row, walking away, then returning to stab him some more and leave the knife stuck in the back of his neck. (ANSA).
President Joe Biden unveiled strategies on curbing the uptick of gun violence across the United States. The crime prevention strategy was announced by the president himself on Wednesday at the White House, revealing the strategy will be addressed in five key areas.

President Biden's announcement of his strategy came as states like Colorado passed their legislations that will also address the gun violence in their community.

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President Joe Biden's Gun Violence Strategy

NBC News reported that the key areas the strategies will address are stemming the flow of firearms used to commit violence, community violence interventions, providing law enforcement with more resources, expanding employment opportunities and summer programs, and bringing back formerly detained individuals to their communities.

"It's an American issue. We're not changing the constitution, We're enforcing it, being reasonable," said President Biden in USA Today.

President Biden also highlighted that the strategy will focus on the gun dealers. The president underscored that cracking down "rogue gun dealers," whom Biden labeled as "merchants of death," is a way White House can deal or address the flow of guns.

"We will make sure you can't sell death and mayhem on our streets," said Biden.

During the White House announcement, the president also emphasized the new focus that the Justice Department will execute, which was to stop the illegal sale of firearms.

Moreover, the Justice Department would allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Explosives to revoke the licenses of gun dealers who would sell firearms to those who are not allowed to avail them, those who failed to run required background checks to the buyer, and those who falsified firearm transaction forms or other records.

It can be remembered that the Republicans pinned the blame on President Biden as gun violence continued to surge, over the past 18 months, amid the coronavirus pandemic. USA Today underscored that homicide increased up to 24 percent, while the gun-related deaths escalated to 21 percent over last year.

President Biden acknowledged the rise in crime this summer may escalate this year.

"We've been seeing it in our country for far too long, and it has spiked since the start of the pandemic over a year ago," said President Biden.

American Rescue Plan in Addressing Gun Violence

President Biden also announced that the $350 billion in state and local funding included in the "America Rescue Plan" can be used in curbing gun violence. The president noted that the fund may be used to hire more law enforcement officials and acquiring equipment that would allow departments to respond better to gun violence.

An administration official confirmed with NBC News that states and local government will determine how they want to spend funds allocated as part of the "American Rescue Plan", whether they want to solely use it in hiring more police officers or not.

President Joe Biden tapped the Treasury Department to issue new guidelines on Wednesday to make it clearer that communities who experience an uptick in gun violence can use a part of the "American Rescue Plan" in addressing the issue.

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WATCH: President Biden Announces Plan to Fight Gun Violence - From ABC News
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday, June 25, according to the White House.

Republicans have criticized Harris for refusing to go to the border until now since U.S. President Joe Biden had tasked her with addressing the root causes of migration influx at the southern border, according to a CBS News report.

Harris had earlier visited Guatemala and Mexico this month. She was asked why she was not visiting the border, which she answered by comparing not visiting the border to not visiting Europe.

Senior adviser Symone Sanders said in a statement that Harris will travel to El Paso, Texas.

READ MORE: Guatemala President Blames Joe Biden's Policies for Border Crisis, but Kamala Harris Says Climate Change Drives Increased Migration

Criticisms on Harris Visiting The Border

Despite the announcement of her scheduled visit, many of her Republican critics were still not satisfied.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that El Paso is not "the locus of the crisis." He added that Harris is going where the height of the problem is not, according to a CNBC report.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump also commented on Harris visiting the border, claiming that he pushed Harris to make the trip.

Harris will be going to the southern border a week before Trump.

Trump said that if Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and he were not going there next week, Harris would never visit.

A Texas Democratic congressman who represents a part of the border sent a letter to the vice president, encouraging her to see the situation at the southern border firsthand.

Rep. Henry Cuellar said that he believes Harris must get to meet with local stakeholders and residents, considering their concerns, according to a USA Today report.

Cuellar added that the administration needs to take a proactive approach to create a sustainable system of aid and relief.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Harris' visit is part of the coordinated effort between her office, her work, and the Department of Homeland Security.

She also denied that the vice president's trip was a political decision as determined by the former president visiting the border.

Guatemala and Mexico Visit

Harris told migrants in Guatemala not to come during her visit to the Latin American country, which pushed a new round of criticism.

Immigration advocates had accused the vice president of undermining immigration law, as well as Biden's promise to restore an asylum-processing system at the border, according to The New York Times report.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Harris for saying undocumented immigrants from Guatemala should not come to the U.S.

Ocasio-Cortez said that seeking asylum at any U.S. border is a 100 percent legal method of arrival. She added that they cannot help set someone's house on fire and blame them for fleeing, according to The Guardian report.

She also visited Mexico City, saying that there was no question that her work in Central America would have a positive effect on the region.

Harris noted that it is not a new issue for the United States to feel the root causes on their shores.

READ NEXT: Kamala Harris Finally Sets Date for Long-Awaited Trip to Mexico, Guatemala

WATCH: Harris to make first trip to U.S.-Mexico border Friday to assess situation with migrants - from Los Angeles Times






Drake Bell from Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh" pleaded guilty to attempted child endangerment, a crime that the actor allegedly committed in Cleveland in 2017.

KIRO 7 reported that the verdict was served on Wednesday, June 23. The Nickelodeon star pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to endanger children as well as a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

Judge Timothy McCormick presided over the court hearing that happened at a conference meeting via Zoom.

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Nickelodeon's 'Drake and Josh' Star Pleads Guilty

According to McCormick, there was a plea agreement that Drake Bell would plead guilty to both of the charges.

Because of the deal, the judge said the consequences will include six to 18 months imprisonment and fines up to $5,000 for pleading guilty to attempted child endangerment. Meanwhile, the second charge would imprison the actor for up to six months and a fine up to $1,000, according to a report from People.

When asked by the judge if the actor understood the potential penalties, Drake Bell answered, "I do Your Honor, Yes."

However, the judge noted that after Bell's release, he would undergo three years of post-release control that may restrict his activities. The judge confirmed that Drake Bell would go back inside the jail if he would violate the restrictions. Details on the restrictions were not furthered.

Despite Bell's decision of pleading guilty to the charges, the lawyer of the "Drake and Josh" star did not reveal the reason behind the defendant's decision.

Ian Friedman, Drake Bell's lawyer, noted that questions about Bell's decision in entering his plea would be answered.

"All questions about this case will be answered at sentencing," said Friedman. The Nickelodeon star pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month.

Cuyahoga County spokesperson, Tyler Sinclair, confirmed that the case Bell faced involved a then 15-year-old who contacted the Toronto Police in 2018. The spokesperson underscored that Drake Bell "violated his duty of care" and created a risk of harm to the victim.

Authorities from Toronto contacted the Cleveland police, which prompted the investigation on the "Drake and Josh" star.

Drake Bell was scheduled to be sentenced on July 12. The judge said the victim will be given a chance to read a "victim statement" if she wanted to on the same day of Bell's sentencing.

Drake Bell's Encounter With the Victim

People reported that the charges filed against Drake Bell stemmed out in 2017 when the Nickelodeon actor performed in Cleveland. Sinclair noted that several years before the concert or performance, the then 15-year-old developed a relationship with the actor online.

The Cuyahoga County spokesperson alleged Bell of making the teenager send "inappropriate social media messages."

Apart from the charges Drake Bell faced, the actor's ex-girlfriend also accused him of physical and verbal abuse. However, Bell denied his ex-girlfriend's accusation in a statement.

Before pleading guilty for his misconducts, Drake Bell appeared on all the 56 episodes of Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh" that aired from 2004 to 2007. He also starred in two "Drake and Josh" movies and "The Amanda Show."

READ MORE: Michael B. Jordan Agrees to Rename His New J'Ouvert Rum After Accusations That the Name Appropriated Caribbean Culture

WATCH: Former Nickelodeon Star Drake Bell Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving 15-year-old Girl - From WKYC Channel 3
Military leaders fired back at Rep. Matt Gaetz during a House hearing on Wednesday, June 23, after the Florida lawmaker had raised concerns on critical race theory being taught to the country's soldiers.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Gaetz that they do not teach critical race theory nor embrace it, adding that he thinks that is a false conversation.

Austin added that they are focused on extremism behaviors and not ideology, people's thoughts, and people's political orientations, according to an NBC News report.

Matt Gaetz claimed that he has heard from other soldiers who have raised concerns about the subject being taught. Lloyd Austin replied to Gaetz's anecdote and said that he trusts his leadership from top to bottom.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also replied to the accusations. Milley said he has read Mao Tse-tung, Karl Marx, and Lenin. However, he said that it does not make him a Communist.

The general added that what is wrong with understanding and having some situational awareness of the country that they are here to defend.

The Army general said that it is important for leaders to be open-minded and well-read on a wide range of subjects. He also noted that he wanted to understand "white rage," especially after the Capitol riot last January 6.

Matt Gaetz can be briefly seen shaking his head as the general briefly explained civil rights laws in the United States from before the Civil War to the present day.

He later responded on Twitter, saying that it is no wonder that they have fought considerably more wars than the U.S. has won, Huff Post reported.

READ NEXT: Homeland Security Warns Public About 'Heightened Threat Environment' in the Coming Weeks

Matt Gaetz's Tweets

Matt Gaetz had also posted a tweet calling for Democrats to defund the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the midst of an FBI investigation.

The Florida Republican then quickly removed the tweet, according to a Washington News Today report. The tweet had said that if the Democrats want to defund the cops, they should start with the FBI.

FBI is looking into Gaetz's alleged role in child sex trafficking after his companion had pled guilty to charges of having sex with a kid and implicated others. Matt Gaetz had denied having sexual relations with a minor.

The Justice Department has reportedly been investigating the Florida lawmaker since last year over whether he had sex with a 17-year-old girl and paid her to travel with him.

Relations With A Minor Allegations

The investigation also reportedly involved Joel Greenberg, who is an associate of Gaetz and former county tax collector in Florida, Vice News reported. Greenberg pled guilty to six federal charges, which included sex trafficking a minor.

Harlan Hill, a spokesperson for Gaetz, said in May after Greenberg's plea, that the representative does not seem to be named nor referenced in Greenberg's plea.

Matt Gaetz also claimed that FBI operatives organized and participated in the January 6th Capitol riot. He also questioned whether the FBI animated some of the criminal conduct during the Capitol riot.

READ MORE: Controversial Social Network Parler Is Back From Its Abrupt Shutdown

WATCH: VIRAL MOMENT: Sec. Austin FIRES BACK at Matt Gaetz After Heated Exchange on Critical Race Theory - From The Hill






Antivirus creator John McAfee has been found dead in a Spanish prison cell in an apparent suicide Wednesday, June 23. The tech tycoon earlier said that if "I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd."

Authorities said the creator of McAfee antivirus software was found dead in his jail cell hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the U.S. to face tax charges punishable by decades in prison.

John McAfee has been arrested by Spanish authorities after the U.S. Department of Justice requested his arrest for alleged tax evasion, Breitbart News reported.

Local reports said that prison officials have found the 75-year-old tech tycoon hanging in his cell in Brians 2 penitentiary near Barcelona.

The medical personnel in prison gave him medical attention but were unable to save his life. McAfee's body is still pending an autopsy, El Pais reported.

Javier Villalba, McAfee's lawyer, said the antivirus pioneer's death was due to suicide as his nine months in prison brought him to despair. Villalba further noted that McAfee's death was also the result of a cruel system that had no reason to keep him in jail for so long.

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John McAfee's Arrest

The antivirus creator was arrested last October 3 at Barcelona-El Prat's international airport. He has been spending his time in jail since then.

John McAfee was also awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings. His arrest was due to charges in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements, and sold the rights of his life story for a documentary.

The said criminal charges served a prison sentence of up to 20 years, according to Associated Press. On Monday, Spanish National Court ruled in favor of extraditing the tech expert to the U.S., arguing that the charges against him by prosecutors in Tennessee were politically motivated.

The court had also said that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the U.S. Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based lawyer of McAfee, said he will always be remembered as a fighter.

Sanan noted that John McAfee tried to love his country, but the U.S. government had made his existence possible. The lawyer added that the U.S. government tried to erase McAfee but failed.

John McAfee had repeatedly said that he did not feel safe and that there is a plot against him by the U.S. government. He had been saying these sentiments since 2011.

John McAfee Says U.S. Government is Coming For Him

Breitbart reported that John McAfee earlier tweeted of getting subtle messages from U.S. officials, saying they are coming for him.

In 2019, before he was arrested in Spain, he was apprehended in the Dominican Republic when his ship docked in the country and authorities found weapons, ammunition, and cash on it.

He was also wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Gregory Viant Faull, who was shot to death in early November 2012 on the Belize island.

John McAfee earlier said that he was being persecuted by the Belizean government. Belizean police denied his claims and said that they were simply probing a crime that he might have had information about.

Meanwhile, a McAfee company spokesperson, Jaime Le, said in a statement that although McAfee had founded the company, he has not been associated with the company in any capacity for over 25 years.

California chipmaker Intel had bought the company in 2011 for $7.68 billion. The tech mogul was also known to be friends with Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking.

READ MORE: Ghislaine Maxwell Seen With 'Black Eye' in First Pic From Prison

WATCH: Antivirus Pioneer John McAfee Found Dead in Spanish Prison - From CNBC Television






The White House is sending Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines to Brazil on Thursday, June 24, as the country continuously experiences an uptick in COVID cases.

A White House official confirmed that at least 3 million doses of the one-shot vaccine will be sent to the South American nation, Reuters reported.

The donation of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine came after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro requested Pfizer to speed up the delivery of the vaccines they ordered, to quicken the inoculation among Brazilian citizens.

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White House to Send Johnson & Johnson Vaccine to Brazil

The three million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine that will be sent by the White House were part of the 80 million vaccine doses pledge by the United States government to Brazil. The vaccine doses are expected to depart Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday evening via Azul Airlines.

The White House noted that scientific teams, as well as legal and regulatory authorities from both countries, worked together to ensure swift delivery of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines from the U.S. to Brazil.

Brazil has extended the validity of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to four and half months. The extension prolongs its shelf life from three months to give the country more time to use the first batch that arrived last week.

Brazil's extension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine's validity reflects the U.S. FDA's validity extension.

"We are sharing these doses not to secure favors or extract concession," said the unnamed official, adding that the Johnson & Johnson vaccines from the U.S. "do not come with strings attached."

The official further noted that they will send the vaccine doses to Brazil to save lives. The officials also said that the vaccines they will send to the South American nation are safe and effective against the notorious diseases.

It can be recalled that last April, the production of Johnson & Johnson vaccines in their Baltimore plant was stopped due to a production error. Because of this, millions of Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses were ruined.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines that the White House will give to Brazil will be brought to Campinas, a Brazilian city 62 miles away from Sao Paulo.

More Than 100,000 New COVID Cases in Brazil

Brazil has recorded more than 100,000 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours. Brazil's health ministry confirmed on Wednesday, June 23, that there are at least 115,228 new COVID cases in the country.

Brazil was also hailed to have the highest COVID death toll outside the United States. The country's health ministry also revealed that there are more than half a million lives lost due to the coronavirus.

Apart from the data on the death toll, the health ministry of Brazil also said that only 12 percent of Brazilians were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But some states have accelerated their inoculation, such as Sao Paulo with the prediction of immunizing all of their adults by September.

READ MORE: WHO: Delta COVID Variant Potentially More Lethal

WATCH: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine: Effectiveness, Side Effects and Differences Between Vaccines - From UC Davis Health
A Louisiana woman had allegedly recruited a group of teenage boys to kill her ex-girlfriend's new partner. However, the plot failed when one of the teens bailed out.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office said that Mykia Tyson and the four teens involved were all arrested this month in connection with the murder-for-hire scheme, New York Post reported.

A detective said that Mykia Tyson had solicited 19-year-old Delester Magee and three minors to kill the man after finding out that her ex-girlfriend was dating someone new.

The Louisiana woman had allegedly driven the squad to her ex-girlfriend's boyfriend's house in Lacombe to carry out the crime.

However, Delester Magee had apparently decided not to follow through with the plan and intentionally missed the target. He fired multiple shots at the home instead.

Mykia Tyson was arrested in June for aggravated criminal damage, drug possession, and contributing to the delinquency of the juveniles, WAFB reported.

On June 21, a count of solicitation for murder was added to the list of her charges. The three minors recruited by the Lousiana woman were released on a custodial agreement after being arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal damage, The Daily Best reported.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith said thankfully no one was hurt during the said crime that could have very easily not been the case.

Smith noted that gunfire is not the answer, adding that they will continue to take crimes like this very seriously in their department.

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Crimes in Louisiana

Louisiana has been reported to be the nation's highest murder rate for straight 31 years. Some of the factors that could help explain Louisiana's ranking include disproportionate racial segregation, poverty, and job discrimination that turns minorities toward underground activities, The New York Times reported.

Louisiana and Mississippi also tend to rank among the poorest states in the country. Louisiana has ranked in the bottom five in the poverty rate in 37 of the last 40 years.

The state also has the highest or second-highest incarceration rate in each of the last 19 years based on Bureau of Justice Statistics data.

Flozell Daniels, the chief executive of the Foundation for Louisiana, said that when you expose people to violent environments, it is much more likely that they are going to have picked up violent practices to survive.

In addition, a huge portion of murders has been committed through firearms in Louisiana. They also have the highest rate of firearms recovered and traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

This suggests a high rate of illegal or stolen weapons in the state. Marc Morial, who served as mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002 and is now the National Urban League president, said that lots of illegal or stolen weapons produce this lethal situation.

Morial further noted that the state's response is more of the same rather than addressing what's causing it. Meanwhile, violence in the state can be traced back to history. Historian Gilles Vandal said that even before the Civil War, Louisiana was notorious for its frequent feuds, street fights, and outbursts of violence.

READ MORE: 18 Dead After Gunmen Storm City Near U.S.-Mexico Border

WATCH: Covington-Area Woman Arrested, Accused of Soliciting Teens to Murder Ex's New Boyfriend - From WDSU News






California Governor Gavin Newsom may soon face his recall, as the secretary of state confirmed that enough signatures were gathered to trigger the election. The office of the secretary of state confirmed the movement on Wednesday evening, according to a report from Fox News.

The said recall petition against Governor Newsom garnered more than 1.7 million signatures, which was over the threshold to trigger the recall election, amounting to nearly 1.5 million signatures.

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Secretary of State Confirms California Governor Gavin Newsom's Recall Election

Because of this, the Secretary of State notified California's Department of Finance about the recall effort through a letter.

"The proponents of the recall effort against Governor Gavin Newsom, have submitted a sufficient number of valid signatures to initiate a recall election," said California's secretary of state, Shirley Weber, in a letter addressed to Keely Bosler, the director of the Department of Finance.

The Hill reported that the total number of gathered signatures was 1,719,900 after 43 signatures were withdrawn from the recall petition. The removal of signatures was possible due to the 30 day-period awarded to California voters from April 26 to June 8, where they can request county officials to remove their signature if they wish to do so, from the recall petitions.

The next step before holding the recall elections against California Governor Gavin Newsom is to wait for the estimation of the state's Department of Finance on the costs of the recall election and determine whether it will be held as a special election, or if it will be held on the next regularly scheduled elections.

California's Department of Finance is expected to include expenses such as things to be used in verifying the signatures, printing of ballots and voter information guides, as well as operating polling places. The Hill noted that the Department of Finance will be given at least 30 business days to accomplish the cost estimations or calculations.

After the calculations, another 30 days will be given to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for them to review the estimation of the DOF. The final step will be the secretary of state certifying the signatures then allowing the lieutenant governor of the state to schedule a date for the recall election, whether 60 or 80 days later.

California Gubernatorial Candidates on Gavin Newsom's Recall Election

Once the date for Gavin Newsom's recall election was scheduled, the California governor will be replaced by several gubernatorial candidates. To date, more than 50 gubernatorial candidates will fight for the post of California's governor.

John Cox, Representative Doug Ose, Caitlyn Jenner, Kevin Faulconer are among the candidates who can be mounted by Californians as their governor. ABC 7 noted that Gavin Newsom was not allowed to run as a replacement candidate.

Moreover, ABC 7 also noted that the recall petition against Governor Gavin Newsom was established in February last year, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Newsom's recall election will mark California's second time in history that a recall effort triggered a ballot.

READ NEXT: California Gov. Gavin Newsom Offers Vacation Incentives to Further Promote COVID Vaccinations

WATCH: California Gov. Newsom recall effort: Who is Behind it, who Signed it and why? - From ABC7 News Bay Area
The Palimiu region inside the Amazon rainforest in Brazil is being plagued by armed violence linked to illegal gold mining. Indigenous tribes are already helping one another as they face attacks against them.

BBC News reported that Dario Kopenawa, an indigenous leader from the Yanomami tribe, said he is used to hearing pleas for help from communities in the Amazon rainforest. However, this time, he said it is different.

Kopenawa noted that illegal gold miners attacked them and almost killed them. Dario Kopenawa was told that the "garimpeiros" or illegal gold miners had arrived on seven motorboats. He said some of them were carrying automatic weapons and started shooting indiscriminately.

Kopenawa noted that he learned that a bullet grazed the head of an indigenous man and four miners were injured during the attack. The illegal gold miners threatened to come back for revenge before leaving the village after half an hour.

Mining is illegal in Palimiu since it is a protected area in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. But Dario Kopenawa said that illegal gold miners have always found ways to do their work. Kopenawa noted that he avoids going to areas where the illegal gold miners are due to death threats.

A team of federal police traveled to Palimiu on a small plane following the attack and were joined by Junior Hekukari, who heads the local indigenous health council.

According to Hekukari, even the police were being attacked. He noted that the illegal gold miners fired multiple times at the village even with the presence of the officers who responded. He said the group of armed men left five minutes later.

No one was hurt. However, Hekukari noted that none of his people was safe if even the police officers were being attacked. The Palimiu region, where seven Yanomami communities are located, has a population of around 1,000.

READ NEXT: Italian Drug Lord Rocco Morabito Arrested in Brazil Years After Escaping Jail

Armed Violence and Indigenous Group in Brazil's Amazon Rainforest

Last month, illegal gold miners opened fire using automatic weapons on an indigenous community inside Brazil's Amazon Rainforest, according to another BBC News report.

One of the groups who responded to the attack was the Yanomami group. They fired back with bows and arrows, as well as shotguns.

One indigenous person and four miners were injured in the incident. Reports said the intrusions by illegal gold miners in indigenous reserves have intensified under the Bolsonaro government.

Around 20,000 illegal gold miners are in the Yanomami area, which is Brazil's largest protected indigenous reserve. Hekurari said the half-hour shootout happened in the Palimiu community, near the border of Venezuela.

Transcripts of audio messages shared in groups used by illegal miners and published by the non-profit group Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) suggest the village was attacked after they seized petrol that was to be sent to a mining camp.

The messages also hinted that the attackers were allegedly connected to a criminal group. Experts believe that the area is controlled by members of the Sao Paulo-based Primeiro Comando da Capital, which is Brazil's largest criminal group linked to drug and arms trafficking.

Brazil's Government Response on Illegal Gold Mining

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro had promised the Yanomami community last month that he would respect their wish to keep mining out of their reservation in the Amazon rainforest, according to a Reuters report.

However, he said he would continue to seek access to other indigenous lands for commercial agriculture and mining.

During their meeting, the local indigenous leaders in Maturaca, an Amazon village at the Yanomami reservation, asked Bolsonaro to protect their lands from the threat of mining.

A Yanomami warrior presented a bunch of long arrows that Bolsonaro held as he spoke to the community. Jair Bolsonaro said their wishes will be respected if the group does not want mining in their area.

However, he noted that other indigenous people in the Amazon and outside the Amazon wanted to mine their land and grow crops, and "that right of theirs" will also be respected.

Jose Mario Goes, head of the Yanomami Association of the River Cauaburi and Tributaries, told Reuters that it was good that Bolsonaro made a speech stating that their territory is not threatened by mining.

For the first time since he became the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro has visited two indigenous reservations in the Amazon rainforest last month.

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WATCH: Brazil Gold Rush: Illegal Mining Threatens Amazon Tropical Rainforests - From WION






The Northwest utilities revealed that the region had a higher power consumption during summer compared to winter, but Portland General Electric (PGE) stated that their power grid is prepared and there will be no planned blackouts.

No Blackouts in Northwest

Due to the potential record-setting heat wave approaching, Northwest residents were concerned if they will be having enough electricity to survive the heat but Portland General Electric assured them that there will be no power outage.

According to KGW8, PGE spokesperson, Andrea Platt, stated that there would be enough power. Platt mentioned they have not found any indication that it will become an issue for them.

Moreover, Platt shared that they were monitoring closely the issue. So far, based on her statement they do not see any issue in continuing to serve their customers. PGE currently serves 900,000 customers located in the greater Portland area.

Meanwhile, Pacific Power, another electric company that serves around 650,000 customers, mentioned that they were ready. Spokesman Drew Hanson confirmed that the utility is ready for the upcoming surge in power consumption.

In addition, Hanson stated that heatwaves were something that Pacific Power prepares for every year and it is not new for them. The spokesperson also mentioned that because of their preparedness they were not anticipating any interruptions in their power supply because of the heat waves.

Also, Hanson pointed out that Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp. It means that the utility could get extra electricity from other utilities located in 10 different states.

Last October, PGE shut down its plant in Boardman, Oregon that converts coal into electricity. The said move was lauded by environmentalists in the state.

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Considering 'Not Too Comfortable'

The Boardman, Oregon plant shutdown took out a reliable source of electricity from Portland General Electric as it could supply half a million homes. Currently, to make up for the difference, the company is buying more hydropower.

Furthermore, Platt shared that if PGE will be facing shortages in the upcoming days, it is ready to tap into the backup generators of big companies that are part of a plan. Platt stated that they will make sure that they've got all resources on standby which includes their dispatchable generation resources.

PGE's spokesperson also said that they also worked with their large customers and institutions to potentially tap their generators if they will be needing additional power to the grid.

Platt also reminded everyone regarding power usage. She mentioned to consumers that there are house chores that could be done at night. Platt said that doing things at night and doing small changes will not only lower the power bill for not using cooling appliances but also have the chance to enjoy the cool nighttime air.

PGE also offered a power-saving program that involves what was known in the industry as 'demand-response.' The program focused on asking customers if they would allow the utility to control their smart thermostat. If granted, the company can then increase the temperature in the home during the hottest part of the day which lowers the need for power across the system.

Platt also reminded consumers to have backup sources, especially those individuals with a medical condition that can be affected by heat, KPTV reported.

Both utilities recommended to their consumers that they keep their thermostat at 78 when they were at home and turn it up to about 85 when will be leaving, KOIN reported.

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Portland General Electric


The Guatemalan man, who is the second extradited defendant in the Colombia-to-America cocaine conspiracy, pleaded guilty in the United States District Court to charges related to the scheme.

The 40-year-old man from Guatemala, Jose Luis DeLeon-Baltazar, was extradited to Columbus from Bogota, Colombia in March 2020.

According to justice.gov, which is the United States Department of Justice website, Jose Luis DeLeon-Baltazar pleaded guilty that he conspired and distributed at least five kilograms or more of cocaine on the high seas. It is a federal crime that is punishable by at least 10 years of imprisonment. DeLeon-Baltazar also admitted that he was part of numerous drug shipments to the U.S.

Moreover, DeLeon-Baltazar confessed as part of his plea that he conspired with others in shipping hundreds of kilograms of cocaine that were produced in Colombia. The 40-year-old Guatemalan then revealed that they were shipping it via sea and land through Central America and Mexico to cross the U.S.

DeLeon-Baltazar known as "Enano" in the drug trafficking scene was indicted in September 2018.

Based on the court documents, as part of the conspiracy, individuals would use what they call "load" coordinators to assist with the logistics of cocaine shipments. They also need to locate drivers and boat operators for narcotic-laden vehicles and vessels. Conspirators also secured the shared investments from multiple co-conspirators depending on specific cocaine shipments.

Aside from them, Fishermen and other commercial maritime laborers were allegedly recruited by conspirators to transport cocaine and others for purpose of refueling. Also, the conspirators allegedly paid taxes or fees if their cocaine shipment that needs to be delivered would go through areas controlled by a different cartel or drug trafficking organization.

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Other Conspiracy Actors

In addition, the court documents also mentioned that members of the conspiracy allegedly shared information on the activities and locations of law enforcement and military personnel who were assigned to interdict narcotics shipments. It is the alleged co-conspirators who also sheltered individuals or members who were at risk of extradition to other countries.

They also set up Low-level co-conspirators to allegedly take responsibility for an entire load of seized cocaine to free higher-level members of the drug trafficking organization.

The court documents also revealed DeLeon-Baltazar's participation. The document stated that the 40-year-old Guatemalan received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported on go-fast speed boats from Colombia into Guatemala. Once the cocaine arrived in Guatemala, DeLeon-Baltazar hid the cocaine in buildings in Tecun Uman, Guatemala until the cocaine was transported across Guatemala's northern border into Mexico.

However, on May 19, 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the go-fast boat that they were using. During the interception, it contained 880 kilograms of cocaine and was intercepted approximately 400 miles south of Guatemala/Mexico. The said shipment was to be received by DeLeon-Baltazar in Guatemala which he supposed to store until it was to be transported to Mexico but it was seized.

Furthermore, there were additional cocaine shipments that were seized in the conspiracy. It includes the 720 kilograms of cocaine seized by the U.S. Coast Guard in the northwest of the Galapagos Islands on Aug. 18, 2017; and the 34 kilograms of cocaine seized by the Guatemalan Policia National Civil in San Marcos, Guatemala on or about Nov. 26, 2017.

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A teenager who was waiting for his girlfriend in her backyard was hit with a stun gun by a Florida state trooper, according to a statement from the boy's mother on Wednesday.

Racially Motivated

According to the Washington Post, the incident was caught on a private video, where the 16-year-old boy was seen in the backyard of his girlfriend's home on June 16th. This was when the Florida Highway Patrol trooper arrived and asked the boy to put his hands behind his back.

The video also revealed that the trooper tased the teenager after the teenager ignored his orders. Jack then fell and hit his back and head on a fire pit.

Kristina Rodeman, the mother of 16-year-old Jack, described her son as biracial. She also speculated that her son was profiled by the trooper because he was black and he was wearing black clothes.

Rodeman also stated that her son did not do anything that should have caught the trooper's attention and that he was only waiting for his girlfriend.

In addition, Rodeman stated that she was hurt when Jack's girlfriend's family showed her the videos of the incident.

Meanwhile, highway patrol officials are yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the incident. However, a report by WBBH stated that the department is now conducting an internal investigation in connection to what happened.

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'Suspicious Clothing in a Private Neighborhood'

According to NBC News, Jack's mother also provided what the trooper, who tased her son wrote in the probable cause statement of the arrest.

Based on the written statement, Florida trooper George Smyrnios reported that he saw a teen who was in suspicious clothing as he was patrolling into a private neighborhood called Timber Lake. The report stated that the defendant was dressed in all black, from top to bottom. Smyrnios also stated that the teenager ran away and hid in a thick shrub upon seeing the patrol vehicle, which added to his suspicions.

Smyrnios also wrote that the body language and behavior of the teenage "appeared to be a burglar." He then stated that it was like the boy committed or was about to commit a crime.

According to Jack's attorney, Derek Tyler, Jack mentioned that he was tased by the Florida trooper at least four times. However, the exact number of times remains unclear since the written statement of Smyrnios states that he only fired the stun gun twice.

Tyler also stated that Jack took the same path he took every day when he goes to his girlfriend's house.

Smyrnios arrested Jack with charges of resisting without violence, failure to obey a lawful order, and possession of marijuana.

According to Jack's mother, the marijuana was not illegal as it was her prescription which Jack took without permission.

The teenager is now being held in a juvenile detention center. It was stated that he was suffering from back pain as a result of his fall after he was tased.

On the other hand, a retired police chief from the former Bergen County Police Department in New Jersey, Brian Higgins stated that the trooper used unnecessary deployment of a weapon, and made questionable decisions.

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Restorative Justice schemes which are working in Tallaght and Tipperary should be started in Laois, says Laois Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley.

He has urged Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to start such a scheme in Laois which encourages criminals to financially compensate and apologise to victims and can break the cycle of crime.

Judge Mary Martin was very strong on this. Results can be better than imprisonment. .

I don't imagine it as a silver bullet but they have to pay recompense. It can help the victims and the offender, to feel some of the wrongs were undone, he said.

"It breaks the revolving door. It means the perpretrator has to step up and make good their actions, and it is more cost effective.

Deputy Stanley put his question to the Garda Commissioner at the meeting of the Laois Joint Policing Committee held on June 21.

Commissioner Harris replied that he is in favour of restorative justice, "with an offender you can still make an impression on".

"It's pretty successful in diverting young people away from crime," he said.

He said that restorative cautions increased from 125 in 2019 to 716 in 2020 with new schemes in Tipperary and Tallaght in Dublin.

We have made it an important way of juvenile diversion. A national rollout is in the programme for Government. It allows offenders to face up to the consequences of their actions. It is intensive in time but we have showed it does work in prevention of future crimes. It is a good deal cheaper than sending someone to prison, and obviously if it prevents further offending, he agreed.
Irish organised criminal gangs and their damaging effect on society has been outlined by the Garda Commissioner, in a meeting in Laois this week.

Commissioner Drew Harris said that organised crime and drugs and their extended negative consequences are his greatest concern.

Organised crime groups and their involvement in drugs, and the amount of money it creates and the amount of violence and intimidation.

How much it corrupts our societal life, between corrupting businesses, the introduction of drugs, the effect that has on peoples health and their life expectations. The effect its having on peoples mental health.

A lot of domestic abuse is seen as being partner type abuse but often it is intergenerational with families and there is an element which is driven by the abuse of drugs.

All this goes back to organised crime gangs and their drive to suck the money out of local communities. It drives so much of what is ill in our society.

We put a lot of work into working with international groups on big national gangs and we have invested in local drug units and that has all made a difference.

But Im very concerned over Covid that organised crime gangs really took the opportunity of Covid to amass their crimes and their money making, Commissioner Harris said.

He added that a large amount of drugs has still got into Ireland recently despite very little travel being allowed in and out of the country.

Rathdowneys Cllr John King had asked the Garda Commissioner what concerned him the most in current crime activities.

Commissioner Harris was at the Laois Joint Policing Committee meeting last Monday June 21, to explain how the national Garda force is adapting and growing.

Latest crime statistics for Laois given at the meeting show that the number of drug and weapon related crimes has dropped by 15% this year, from 35 to 24.

These were serious incidents, so very concerning, Garda Chief Superintendent John Scanlan said in his report on latest Laois crime statistics.

The rate of crime on possession of offensive weapons rose from 10 to 13, while cases of simple possession of drugs dropped from 83 to 72, from January to April 2021, when compared to the same period last year.
The annual Reek Sunday Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick, which was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will be going ahead this year albeit in a much extended format from Wednesday to Saturday, July 1-31.

The Catholic Church has issued the following advice to those making the trip to the Mayo mountain near Wesport.

For this year only, the Reek Pilgrimage is to be extended to four days per week for the month of July.

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation will be available on the summit at 11am; Mass to be celebrated at 12pm

Saturdays Mass will be celebrated at 10am; Confessions at 11am.

The Masses will be limited to the numbers permitted for outdoor gatherings at that particular time, which currently apply to 100 people up to 4 July and 200 people from 5 July.

The Reek Pilgrimage normally takes place on the last Sunday in July, however the indulgence for the pilgrimage extends throughout the summer months up to the end of September.

This is the first time in the history of the pilgrimage that such an extended pilgrimage programme is offered in order to facilitate those wishing to fulfill the obligations of the pilgrimage on the mountain.

The QR code on the poster can be scanned for daily updates on the pilgrimage, particularly in relation to weather conditions.

Details of how to fulfill the spiritual requirements of the pilgrimage are available on www.westportparish.ie and on signage in the carpark at the start of the ascent.

Priests with a Celebret or letter from their bishop or superior are both invited and welcome to take part in the pilgrimage, to celebrate Mass and hear Confessions, the commitment will be for three hours on the summit on a given day.

Priests who wish to participate in the Sacraments must contact Father Charlie McDonnell in advance on frchaz@me.com or +353 (0) 86 819 3884.

Pilgrims are asked to plan their trip to Croagh Patrick as early as possible and keep in mind that mid-week is traditionally a quieter time to climb.

Please remember that pilgrimage is a journey with others and an opportunity for respect and support.

Each days pilgrimage is weather dependent and may have to change at short notice.

Pilgrims are asked to park in a careful manner and should not cause obstruction.

Please respect the local community and the environs.

Please be familiar with the Leave No Trace policy on the mountain.

It is a difficult climb please be prepared.

Please familiarize yourself with advice on www.westportparish.ie www.mayomountainrescue.ie and www.mountaineering.ie as well as checking the weather on www.met.ie

Please remember that all Covid-19 guidelines and precautions followed on the ground must also be followed on the mountain.

Administrator of Westport Father Charlie McDonnell announced the pilgrims were welcome back to Mayo.

Its been a different and a difficult year, a year in which we have had to hand so much over to the Lord, to place so much in His hands. Pilgrimage has always been a strong vehicle for both petition and thanksgiving and, in 2021, above any year, we are delighted to offer and extended Reek Pilgrimage acknowledging and giving thanks for the fact that we journey very much under the protective hand of God.

Each year, while all of the spiritual benefits of the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage have been available to pilgrims from June to September, up to now the Sacraments have only been available on Reek Sunday. This year, due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, it would be impossible to facilitate the pilgrimage on one day only so I am arranging to greatly extend provision of the Sacraments for pilgrims throughout the month of July. It is my dear hope that this unprecedented and adventurous undertaking will provide all those who wish to come to Irelands Holy Mountain as pilgrims to do so safely and in their own time.

For generations, the annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage has held a central place in the life of the Church in Ireland and I am delighted that an extended version will be available next month. Reek Pilgrimage 2021 is an exciting and ambitious project to undertake and will require great generosity on the part of lay volunteers and priests alike. It is wonderful to be in a position to go ahead under very clear health management guidelines and I encourage all pilgrims to enter into it in a way that makes it a success for all involved.

I am especially grateful that, as in previous years, Archbishop Michael Neary will celebrate Mass at 6.30pm on the eve of Reek Sunday, 24 July, in Saint Marys Church, Westport. I would like to appeal to priests from all over the country to become involved so as to make Reek 2021 a truly national pilgrimage. The extended plan this year will involve three times the number of priests than would normally be needed, so help is very much required throughout July. It is important that all priests who wish to participate in the pilgrimage book in as early as possible and they can do so on frchaz@me.com.

To be safe, I ask that pilgrims take care to plan their pilgrimage well in advance and try as best they can to choose a day that would traditionally be quieter on the mountain. Parishioners throughout the country are by now well familiar with restrictions and while this will apply in the same way it will involve numbers allowed for outdoor gatherings.

Father McDonnell concluded: As we have all come through so much over the last fifteen months, I anticipate that the 2021 Reek Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick will be particularly memorable from a faith perspective. I offer this prayer of thanksgiving to God as the pilgrimage will be extended throughout the month of July: 'In His Hand are the depths of the earth, the heights of the mountains are His also (Psalm 95:4).
Dangerous trees should be cut down and any red tape delaying this should be cut through to accelerate removal, Laois county councillors have demanded.

The nearly unanimous view of public representatives, some of whom are in parties that share power with the Greens, was also that 'people are more important than trees'.

Laois Fine Gael councillor John King led the demand for action at the Borris-in-Ossory Municipal District meeting.

He tabled a motion calling on Laois County Council to contact the landowner at Johnstown Glebe near Belady cemetery in Rathdowney. He claims trees pose a risk to life of those visiting the graves of friends and relatives.

Cllr King wants the trimming and removal of what he claimed were dangerous decaying trees. He said the are a serious danger and could result in "loss of life to people walking this road on the way to the cemetery.

He wanted to know what action the council will take.

We don't seem to be doing anything about it and the landowners are not willing to play their part. People are more important than trees...I dont see why we put trees before people, he said.

He insisted that trees beside roads must be made safe. He called for a survey and the council to seek powers to fell the trees if the landowner refuses to act.

Cllr James Kelly, Independent, gave his full support. He said he was familiar with the area and said it is busy cemetery.

Some of those trees would look good in the horror movie. They are so decayed that they shouldn't be there at all, he said.

He also wanted to know what could be done by the council to force the issue.

If we can CPO a house we can do something for trees that are very dangerous, he said.

Cllr Ollie Clooney, Independent, added his voice to the call for action.

I think human beings are more important than trees, he said.

Cllr Clooney said there are problems in his area of Laois.

We have big beech trees. If there is a storm, one or two will always fall. It's a miracle that it hasn't caused a fatality. So what is the price of a life? If the trees are dangerous, we should cut through the red tape. If the owner does not want to remove them the council should, he said. More below link.

Cllr Seamus McDonald, Fianna Fail, backed the motion saying there were similar dangers at the Roseallis cemetery.

Edmund Kenny Senior Executive Engineer said Laois County Council will arrange to meet the Cllr King at the site to assess the impact of the trees on the public road.

Director of Services Donal Brennan said a cautious approach would be taken because the property owner has rights. However, he said notices to act can be issued after engineering assesses the situation. He added that there are provisions for trees that overhang roads.
Public Accounts Committee chairperson Brian Stanley TD has launched a report which calls for an independent investigation into a special tax agreement signed by Revenue with the courier sector, which it is claimed has potentially impacted thousands of workers and lost the state millions in PRSI through bogus self-employment.

The report was launched by the PAC today and focuses on providing recommendations around bogus self-employment, a process whereby employers avoid paying tax to the state and entitlements to workers.

The Laois Offaly Sinn Fein TD issued a statement on its publication.

The PAC has made some very strong recommendations in this report around bogus self-employment, and specifically around the role of Revenue.

During our committee's investigation, we were provided with evidence of a special tax agreement signed by Revenue with the courtier sector at the Burlington Hotel in 1997, which made all workers in the sector de facto self-employed.

This deal has potentially cost the state hundreds of millions over the last two decades through uncollected PRSI and thousands of workers have gone without entitlements such as sick pay, annual leave and pension contributions," he said.

Dep Stanley says the PAC has called for an independent investigation into the financial and sectoral implication of this deal signed by Revenue.

The investigation should examine the magnitude of revenue lost to the State; the number of workers impacted by the agreement, and the financial loss to the workers.

We want this investigation to be carried out by a firm outside of the States control, possibly even a firm outside of Ireland, to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest.

Bogus self-employment is a blight upon workers rights which is reportedly costing the State 1b a year in uncollected PRSI.

During our investigation we uncovered that 166m was collected through site investigations in the construction sector alone between 2016 and 2018.

Our report calls for a substantial increase in announced site visits across all sectors, with a minimum of 4,000 per year," he said.

The Sinn Fein TD says the committee has also called for the Government to bring forward legislation to replace the existing Code of Practice to provide stronger and more comprehensive protection for workers.

As far as the PAC is concerned, this is only the start to our examination into bogus self-employment. We will be following up with Revenue to ensure that there are no delays to establishing the requested investigation and that the terms of reference are suitable.

The PAC will also be continuing our own examination into the matter with a focus on other sectors affected by bogus self-employment such as the media, third-level institutions and IT, concluded the statement.
The reality that many learner drivers face months more waiting to sit a driving test is all but confirmed in a new annoucement from the Department of Transport.

In it, the Department confirms that the validity of learner driver licences has been extended for another 10 months in response to the level 5 restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A statement said permit step is in response to restrictions on accessing many of the services delivered by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), as a result of Covid-19, some learner permit holders could not avail of driving lessons, sit the driving test or renew their learner permit.

The Department says this means a driver whose learner permit is or has expired between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2021 is being extended by 10 months. This is in addition to previous extensions granted. Therefore:

Permits that expired between 1 March and 30 June 2020 that were previously extended by 8 months will now be extended by a further 10 months, so 18 months in total.

Permits that expired between 1 July to 31 October 2020 that were previously extended by 4 months will now be extended by a further 10 months, so 14 months in total.

Permits that expired or will expire between 1 November 2020 and 31 July 2021 will be extended for 10 months.



By way of example of the above, the Department said that where the date of expiry on the physical learner permit, which can be seen at opposite number 4b on the permit shows

5 March 2020, the new expiry date is 5 September 2021.

5 July 2020, the new expiry date is 5 September 2021.

5 December 2020, the new expiry date is 5 October 2021.



Drivers who are affected by the extension are encouraged to check the new expiry date of their learner permit by using the expiry date calculator on www.ndls.ie. Enter the expiry date printed on your learner permit into the calculator and it will tell you the new expiry date.

MORE BELOW LINK

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton provided more details in the announcement made on Thursday June 24.

Providing this further 10 month extension to the expiry date to Learner Permits will allow for peace of mind to many learner drivers as they continue to work towards passing their driving test in the months ahead. Those who will benefit from this extension dont need to do anything, our systems will update their records automatically.

"A new learner permit will not be issued to drivers with the new expiry date, rather the electronic driver record will be updated to reflect the new expiry date.

"This means that a person whose learner permit expired on 10 March 2020 will have the life of this permit extended to 10 September 2021, while a person whose permit expires on 15 August 2020 will have a new expiry date of 15 October 2021.

"If you have already renewed your permit, and it had an expiry date between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2021 the extension will not apply, and the expiry date of your permit will be as shown on your new permit. The RSA has also told Insurance Ireland and An Garda Siochana about the new expiry date of learner permits, she said.
The death has occurred of John Shaughnessy

Minches Terrace, Athy, Kildare



John Shaughnessy, late of 2 Minches Terrace. Athy. Passed away peacefully on 22nd June 2021, at home surrounded by his loving family after a long illness. Deeply regretted by his partner Mary, much loved dad, daddy of J, Mark, Karen, stepchildren Richard and Anita, adored grandad, gaga and gg by his grandchildren. Loved by his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, extended family, wide circle of friends, great caring neighbours and work colleagues.

Funeral cortege will leave his home on Saturday, 26th June, at 12 noon, walking to Railway Bridge, via Woodstock, Duke and Leinster Streets. People are welcome to stand along the route with Strict Social Distancing being observed at all times. From the Railway Bridge Johns Funeral will travel onwards for a Private Family committal.

The family would like to thank you for your help and understanding at this sad and difficult time.

The death has occurred of Patrick (Pat) Behan

Greenfields Close, Maynooth, Kildare / Johnstown, Kildare



Behan, Patrick (Paddy), Greenfield Close, Maynooth and late of Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kidare, June 20th 2021, suddenly at home, beloved son of the late Patrick and Bridget, deeply regretted by his loving brother Eddie, sister-in-law Brigid, niece Marion, nephew Barry, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and friends,.

Rest In Peace

Due to current government guidelines, a private family funeral will take place for Patrick (limited to 50 persons). Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to the current restrictions cannot, please leave a personal message for the family in the condolence's section below.

Patrick's Funeral Mass can be viewed on Saturday at 11am by clicking on the following link :http://maynoothparish.org/live-streaming/

Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues.

Patrick's Funeral Cortege will be leaving Reilly's Funeral Home, Leinster St., Maynooth, on Saturday at approx. 10.40am to arrive at St. Mary's Church, Maynooth for 11am Funeral Mass, followed by burial in St. Corban's Cemetery, Naas, travelling via his residence in Greenfield Close, Maynooth. Those who would like to line the route, may do so in a safe and socially distanced manner.

For all enquiries, please contact Oliver Reilly Ltd. Funeral Directors on (045) 868230.

The death has occurred of Mary Conway (nee Dempsey)

Leinster Lodge, Ballyroe, Athy, Kildare



Peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, in the loving care of the staff of Naas General Hospital. Wife of the late Paddy and mother of the late George. Deeply regretted by her loving daughters Teresa, Mary, Joan and Anne, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Rest in Peace

Requiem Mass will take place at 2pm on Thursday afternoon (24th June) in St. Michael's Parish Church, Athy, limited to 50 people. The Mass will be livestreamed, see www.parishofathy.ie. Burial afterwards in St. Michael's New Cemetery, Athy.

Those who would have liked to attend the funeral but cannot due to current restrictions may leave a message in the 'Condolences' section below.

The death has occurred of John Roche

Stony Point New York /, Foxford, Mayo / Newbridge, Kildare



Formerly of Foxford, County Mayo and Milltown, Newbridge, County Kildare. Peacefully surrounded by his family at his home in New York. Deeply regretted by his loving wife Ann, family Sean, Aidean, Erin and Glen, brothers and sisters Margaret, Paddy, Nora, Michael (deceased), Pauline, Eileen, Gerald and Simon, his adoring grandchildren, the extended family and friends.

Rest In Peace.

John's Funeral Mass to take place in St Aedan's Church, Pearl River, New York on Friday morning at 10am (3pm Irish Time).

You can leave your condolences on the online Condolence Book below.

The family would like to thank you for your help and understanding at this sad and difficult time.
A man has been charged in connection with a Newbridge drugs haul said to be worth 494,000, at Naas District Court today.

Mark Harris, 25, whose address was given as Clongorey, Newbridge, faces three counts of alleged possession of the drugs for the purpose of sale or supply at Clongorey yesterday (June 23).

Det Gda Seamus Doyle told of arresting the defendant at Newbridge garda station and charging him at 11.30PM yesterday.

He said the defendant remained silent when charged.

Read more County Kildare news

He told the court of going to Clongorey with a search warrant and discovering 220,000 worth of cannabis herb, 214,000 worth of cannabis resin and 60,000 worth of cocaine.

He also alleged he found cash to the value of 22,450.

Gda Doyle said the drugs were found in a temporary dwelling - a mobile home.

He added that the substances would be sent to Forensic Science Ireland today for analysis.

Referring to the money, Det Gda Doyle said it was more a case of the defendant minding it than owning it.

The case was adjourned December 9 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on the application of Sgt Brian Jacob, who said the reason for the lengthy adjournment was because FSI is working on a week on week off basis as a result of Covid-19.

Defending solicitor Matt Byrne said he will expect that directions will be available on that date.

Gda Doyle said he had no objection to bail, which was fixed 5,000 in cash and the defendants bond of 5,000.

The defendant has to sign on daily at Newbridge garda station, observe a curfew between 9pm and 8am and reside in Clongorey.
A Kildare man who was convicted of murder last year has gone against the advice of his lawyers and withdrawn an appeal against his conviction.

Calvin Cullen (22) of Greenhills, Athy, Co Kildare was convicted last September of murdering David Boland (34) on November 1, 2018.

His barrister Brendan Grehan SC today, Thursday, told the three-judge Court of Appeal that his client no longer wishes to proceed with the appeal. Mr Grehan added: "For what it's worth, this is in the teeth of the legal advice that has been provided."

Mr Grehan said a single ground of appeal had been lodged which was based on the trial judge's refusal to allow the jury to consider provocation as a partial defence.

Counsel said Cullen had indicated some weeks earlier that he had concerns about going ahead with the appeal but Mr Grehan and Cullen's solicitor "advised him strongly to continue." Cullen today, Thursday, confirmed he did not wish the appeal to go ahead.

Mr Justice John Edwards asked Cullen, who appeared via video link from Mountjoy prison, if he was "completely certain" that he wished to withdraw. Cullen said he was and that he was happy with the legal advice he had received. Mr Justice Edwards permitted the withdrawal.

Cullen was convicted of murder following a trial last year at the Central Criminal Court in Kilkenny in which he pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. Judge Tara Burns sentenced him to life imprisonment following the unanimous jury verdict.
The Work on Manorhamilton's multi-million euro Public Realm Improvement Scheme is set to being this Summer. This project owes its foundation to a number of proposals put forward over the last 20 years for improving the heart of Manorhamilton.

All the work carried out during this period helped to inform the Manorhamilton REDZ plan, which identified priority actions needed to create a sustainable and attractive town for the future.

This led to the creation of the Public Realm Improvement Scheme which incorporates the provision of additional car parking as well as the enhancement of access for the existing employment lands on Park Road.

The project also focuses on the heart of the historic town, concentrating on Main Street, the backlands to the Sligo Road and Sraid Sheain Mhic Dhiarmada.

The scheme aims to act as a catalyst for the economic rejuvenation of the town centre in the short to medium term and also forms the basis for its sustainable redevelopment in the longer term.

Manorhamilton Chamber of Commerce spokesperson, Scott Coombs, points to the groundwork carried out by the urban planner and architect as part of the REDZ project as critical in identifying the potential of Manorhamilton.

This helped us to see that the raw materials for the broader vision to reunify the town split by the Sligo road, were there, and also helped us to see what was needed, he acknowledges.

The Public Realm Improvement Scheme is the next step in addressing this.

Enhancement of the existing public spaces such as Main Street, Market Square and Church Street/The Big Brae, are central to the plan and coupled with increased pedestrian use and the supported re-purposing of existing vacant buildings on the Main Street are all important elements.

The idea is to make Manorhamilton a more attractive place to work and live.

Scott says that this sort of reinvigoration of the town is all the more important following the multiple lockdowns seen following the arrival of Covid-19.

The pandemic was a bit of a gut punch for the town, he admits, but there is also a growing sense of renaissance, of renewal in Manorhamilton, despite the pandemic.

He says that it is important to acknowledge the difficulties faced by the business sector in not just Manorhamilton but around Ireland.

There are businesses that have not been able to survive. We cannot ignore that, but we can work to ensure that Manorhamilton has a strong future, he says.

Scott points out that in the 1990s Manorhamilton had enjoyed a re-emergence with the creation of the Organic Centre, the Glens Centre and the Leitrim Sculpture Centre amongst other amenities, noting here we are (today) doing the same thing.

He points out that the Public Realm Improvement Scheme in Manorhamilton will be one of the most visible and most galvanising projects in the town.

However he stresses this is just one facet of the projects set to become a reality in the town.

There is a strong sense of renaissance in Manorhamilton. This is about not giving up on what has been achieved in the past few years and continuing to do the groundwork.

The things you see in the Public Realm Improvement Scheme, or the Greenway, or the opening of the new carpark, these things dont have the night before the ribbon is cut, he points out.

They happen on a night in the middle of winter at a kitchen table, when people are tired and under pressure.

We cannot forgot the work that has gone into bringing things like this to Manorhamilton.

There is a strong sense of doggedness behind each project. People have worked tirelessly to make these projects happen.

Places like the W8, ManorHUB, things like the VillagePod app, they are all helping this process of renewal, he points out.

There is so much potential in Manorhamilton but the pathways to developing the town are hidden. This project will help to address that.
Tenders for the appointment of a design consultant for the public realm works in Mohill are due back in mid July with detailed designs expected by early 2022.

This means that a consultant should be appointed by the third quarter of 2021 with the detailed design of the project expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

A tender for works is expected by February/March 2022 with works expected to take nine months after the appointment of the construction contractor.

The update came following a query by Independent councillor, Enda Stenson, who said that people were looking for more information on when the works were expected to take place.

Speaking at the June Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District meeting, Director of Services, Joseph Gilhooly, said We are on target at this stage and probably more advanced than we are with other schemes.

Pier at the Church of Ireland

In a separate motion, Cllr Thomas Mulligan asked that works be carried out by the Council on the restoration of a stone pier at the Church of Ireland in Mohill.

Cllr Mulligan noted this pier supported a historic cast iron gate and the current state of the pier meant that the gate could not open or close properly at this location.

Council staff noted that this pier was part of church property but said that restoration of the pier will included as part of the urban renewal works planned in the town.
Are you a creative practitioner who is or would like to work with a community group, venue or organisation or vice versa?

If so this may be an opportunity for you.

A central theme of Creative Ireland is collaboration in order to facilitate an ecosystem of creativity and to nurture the creative imagination through active engagement with the arts and culture.

This is the second of two calls for projects this year in Leitrim Creative Ireland Leitrim Open Call 2 2021 .

Throughout 2020 and 2021 the Creative Ireland programme has proven to be an invaluable means through which groups and individuals across the county developed innovative approaches to how communities could engage with each other in creative ways. Projects demonstrated how creativity could be a vital lifeline and even an opportunity when faced with unprecedented challenges to try radically new and different things.

In many instances, projects will be designed specifically to mitigate the isolation felt by different communities and now to celebrate the ability to meet again inline with restrictions. These applications are very much welcome, particularly where they address communities impacted the most  older people, young people missing the strong social connections with their peers, and communities that were already experiencing isolation because of a variety of physical, social, cultural, economic or geographic reasons, that became more acute because of Covid-19.

The approach, purpose or subject matter of a project can start from any interest or concern that the applicants share. It can be about the nature of the group itself: being young; being old; being from a particular place. It can be to do with an interest shared by the group for our future; our past; the environment; technology; for how we interact with each other, and how or whether people have the opportunity to express themselves.

Who can apply?

Applications must be developed by a community group, venue or organisation in partnership with individuals with professional expertise in any creative or cultural arena such as visual or performing arts, literature, heritage or other culture and creativity area. A group may approach the professional practitioner with a view to developing a project or visa-versa.

We particularly welcome project proposals that involve groups that have had little or no previous involvement in creative projects for whatever reason; and in such cases we will endeavour to give whatever advice and assistance we can to ensure such projects can achieve the best possible experience for everyone involved.

First time applicants may decide to apply initially to research an idea for a project, rather than commit to a longer, more involved and complex process. In these instances, the Creative Ireland programme can cover the costs of doing that, particularly the costs of professional practitioners to work with groups.

If you have an idea for a project or need assistance or further information just to get started, please contact Alice Dixon, Creative Ireland Project Manager, on creativeleitrim@gmail.com or contact Leitrim County Council on 071 96 21694.

Full Guidelines and Application forms are available on the Leitrim County Council Arts webpage

Completed application forms must be marked Creative Leitrim Open Call 1 2021 and returned before midnight on Friday the 23rd of July by email using the file transfer platform www.wetransfer.com to leitrimartsoffice@gmail.com or by post to Leitrim County Council, Aras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
THE Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert, Dr Kenneth Kearon is to retire this autumn.

Bishop Kearon will step down in October, and a warm tribute has been paid from the Catholic Bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy.

He said that Bishop Kearon had served many people, not only in Ireland but across the world when he was secretary general of the Anglican Communion.

I have greatly admired Bishop Kenneths wise, astute and effective leadership since his consecration as Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe in 2015. It has been a joy for me to renew our acquaintance as I had worked previously with Bishop Kenneth when he was the director of the Irish School of Ecumenics, he said.

I will miss him. We have enjoyed a personally warm relationship, keeping in regular contact, praying together, chatting about aspects of contemporary ministry, issuing common messages and taking part in events and ceremonies, radio interviews and St. Patricks Day parades, added Bishop Leahy.

He said one particular highlight which stands out was the hosting of the Church of Ireland synod by his counterpart.
Fuel prices were hiked yet again on Thursday to near the psychological mark of 100 in more state capitals.

After remaining steady for a day, petrol got costlier by 26 paise in the national capital, while diesel rose by 7 paise, according to price notification by the oil retailers.

The thirteenth increase of this month took the cost of petrol in Delhi to 97.76 per litre while diesel is currently retailing at 88.30. In Mumbai, petrol is being sold at 103.89 per litre, whereas diesel has reached 95.79 per litre.

Further, Bihar's capital city Patna and Thiruvananthapuram -- the capital of Kerala -- are on the verge of joining the list of state capitals where the auto fuel has crossed the 100-mark.

Patna is currently selling petrol at 99.80 per litre and diesel at 93.63 per litre. In Thiruvananthapuram, the fuels cost 99.74 and 94.82, respectively.

Bhopal had last month become the first state capital to breach the 100-mark in petrol prices. It was followed by Jaipur and then Mumbai. Hyderabad and Bengaluru also saw petrol retailing above 100 last week.

Petrol has already crossed 100 mark in nine states and union territories -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha and Ladakh.

The hike on Thursday was the 29th since 4 May, when state-owned oil firms ended an 18-day hiatus in rate revision they observed during assembly elections in states like West Bengal.

In 29 increases, the price of petrol has risen by 7.36 per litre and diesel by 7.57 a litre.

Here are the latest rates in your city:

Delhi: Petrol prices  97.76 per litre; diesel prices  88.30 per litre

Mumbai: Petrol prices  103.89 per litre; diesel prices  95.79 per litre

Kolkata: Petrol prices  97.63 per litre; diesel prices  91.15 per litre

Chennai: Petrol prices  98.88 per litre; diesel prices  92.89 per litre

Bengaluru: Petrol prices  101.03 per litre; diesel prices  93.61 per litre

Hyderabad: Petrol prices  101.60 per litre; diesel prices  96.25 per litre

Thiruvananthapuram: Petrol prices  99.74 per litre; diesel prices  94.82 per litre

Jaipur: Petrol prices  104.44 per litre; diesel prices  97.35 per litre

Patna: Petrol prices  99.80 per litre; diesel prices  93.63 per litre

Chandigarh: Petrol prices  94.02 per litre; diesel prices  87.94 per litre

Bhopal: Petrol prices  105.99 per litre; diesel prices  97 per litre

Bhubaneswar: Petrol prices  98.53 per litre; diesel prices  96.23 per litre

Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan near the India-Pakistan border was the first place in the country to see petrol hitting 100 a litre mark in mid-February. Last week, it also earned the distinction of diesel breaching 100.

Currently, a litre of petrol is being sold at 108.94 in the small city while diesel is retailing at 101.48.

Rates of diesel, the most used fuel in the country, ave crossed the same mark in Malkangiri (petrol at 103.60 diesel at 101.14 per litre) and Koraput (petrol at 102.90 diesel at 100.47 a litre) in Odisha.

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The capital of the United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday that it will not allow tourists flying into the emirate to receive coronavirus vaccines, days after a government app suggested anyone with a tourist visa could get the shot.

The UAEs government-run media office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Earlier this week, the Abu Dhabi health authoritys phone application showed updated criteria for vaccine access, saying visitors to the Emirati capital could now get the Pfizer-BioNTech or Chinese state-backed Sinopharm jab by presenting their passports.

But after that notice was shared online and widely reported by international media, the Abu Dhabi media office issued a statement clarifying the city was offering free COVID-19 vaccines only to those with valid or expired residency visas, which does not include include holders of valid tourist or visitors visas."

The health provider's phone app also changed its vaccine appointment booking page, requiring users to input their residency card before proceeding.

The federation of seven sheikhdoms boasts one of the fastest vaccination campaigns in the world, with 14.7 million individual doses already administered to its population of over 9 million, which includes some 1 million Emiratis. The remaining 8 million are foreigners living and working in the UAE. Vaccines such as Pfizer's and Sinopharm require two shots.

Dubai, the regional financial hub home to long-haul carrier Emirates, has not announced any plans to vaccinate tourists.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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An illustration of the tyrannosaur Nanuqsaurus with its babies, standing near a horned-dinosaur skull.

Baby dinosaurs toddled around the chilly region that is now the Alaskan Arctic about 70 million years ago, according to the "unexpected" discovery of more than 100 baby dinosaur bones and teeth there, a new study reports.

It was surprising to find evidence of a prehistoric nursery in such a cold place, the researchers said. Even during the warm Cretaceous period (145 million to 66 million years ago), Alaska had an average monthly temperature of about 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius), and for about four months of the year, the dinosaurs would have lived in permanent darkness and dealt with snowy weather, they said.

The Prince Creek Formation of northern Alaska, where the fossils were found, is "the farthest north that dinosaurs ever lived," study co-lead researcher Gregory Erickson, a paleobiologist at Florida State University, told Live Science. "I don't think it was possible for them to live any farther north," as what is now Alaska was shifted closer to the North Pole than it is today. "It's right up there with Santa Claus," he said.

After analyzing the babies' teeth and bones, the research team determined that the remains belonged to seven different dinosaur species. The discovery indicates that dinosaurs likely lived in this frigid region all year, as the babies would have been too small for annual migrations shortly after hatching, Erickson said. If these wee dinosaurs and their parents stayed in Alaska year-round, they were likely warm-blooded, or endothermic  a feature that would have allowed them to stay active even when temperatures dropped, he added.

Related: Album: Discovering a duck-billed dino baby

Researchers have known that dinosaurs lived in polar regions since oil workers found dinosaur bones there in the 1950s, Erickson said. In the following decades, scientists with the University of Alaska Museum of the North discovered the remains of teensy baby dinosaurs in the state.

"Our work is like panning for gold, finding little bones in a sea of sediment," said study co-lead researcher Patrick Druckenmiller, a professor of geosciences and the director of the University of Alaska Museum of the North. Undergraduate and graduate students have contributed thousands of hours of work to the project, which uncovered baby dinosaurs belonging to several herbivorous species of duck-billed dinosaurs, ceratopsians (horned dinosaurs), thescelosaurids (small, bipedal ornithopods) and pachycephalosaurids (dome-headed dinosaurs). They also found baby remains from carnivores, including tyrannosaurids, deinonychosaurs (maniraptoran dinosaurs) and ornithomimosaurians (ostrich-like dinosaurs).

"The most recent surprise was the smallest ceratopsid tooth of which I am aware in North America, or anywhere really," Druckenmiller told Live Science in an email.

Image 1 of 7 Researchers dig in the bluff at the Prince Creek Formation on a cloudy day. (Image credit: Patrick Druckenmiller) Image 2 of 7 Researchers work on a dig shelf at the Prince Creek Formation in northern Alaska. (Image credit: Patrick Druckenmiller) Image 3 of 7 Paleontologists chisel out a dinosaur fossil in northern Alaska. (Image credit: Patrick Druckenmiller) Image 4 of 7 Greg Erickson and Pat Druckenmiller protect a fossil with a plaster jacket by the Colville River in northern Alaska. (Image credit: Kevin May) Image 5 of 7 Paleobiologist Greg Erickson excavates fossils along the Colville River in northern Alaska. (Image credit: Patrick Druckenmiller) Image 6 of 7 The research team set up camp on the banks of the Colville River on Alaska's North Slope. (Image credit: Patrick Druckenmiller) Image 7 of 7 Just like the Cretaceous-age dinosaurs that lived in what is now the Alaskan Arctic, the researchers there encountered snowy weather. (Image credit: Gregory Erickson)

The winter months in the Alaskan Arctic at the time were probably the toughest, especially for the herbivores, whose food would have been either covered in snow or dead, Erickson said.

"How they pulled it off, we don't know," Erickson said. Some small dinosaurs might have burrowed and hibernated, but larger dinosaurs  such as duck-billed dinosaurs and tyrannosaurs  weren't able to burrow. "Maybe they just had to stick it out like a moose or musk oxen. Somehow, they got through," Erickson said.

Staying put and staying warm

Based on knowledge of dinosaur life cycles, the researchers concluded that these baby dinosaurs stayed put after hatching, as they wouldn't have had time to mature before winter set in. That's partly because dinosaur eggs took a long time to incubate  anywhere from three to six months, Erickson and colleagues determined in a 2017 study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

These long egg-hatching times , "combined with the fact that you had a very short growing season up there to flourish before the winter set in, [baby dinosaurs] just did not have time" to grow big enough before migrating southward, Erickson said. "There's no way that these tiny dinosaurs made the march down to Alberta to escape the winter."

Image 1 of 3 This photo shows baby dinosaur bones and teeth from the Prince Creek Formation on a 19-millimeter wide penny. (Image credit: Patrick Druckenmiller) Image 2 of 3 The baby dinosaur teeth, laid next to a pencil for size. (Image credit: Jeff Richardson) Image 3 of 3 Comparative sizes of baby and adult dinosaur teeth from Prince Creek Formation in northern Alaska. (Image credit: Patrick Druckenmiller)

There is evidence that some long-necked sauropod dinosaurs and duck-billed dinosaurs at lower latitudes of western North America migrated, but it's likely that the Alaskan dinosaurs, especially the smaller individuals, stayed put, the researchers said. Spending the winter in polar conditions would be challenging for cold-blooded, or ectothermic, creatures. In fact, paleontologists haven't found ectothermic animal fossils  such as those from crocodilians , lizards or snakes  at Prince Creek Formation, Druckenmiller said. Moreover, there's only one ectotherm known from the Alaskan Arctic today: the wood frog , which essentially turns into an ice pop in the winter.

Based on this, as well as endothermy results from other studies analyzing dinosaurs' rapid growth rates , it's "likely dinosaurs had some degree of endothermy to cope with winter conditions, particularly the low/no light and cold temperatures," Druckenmiller wrote in the email.

The study was published online Thursday (June 24) in the journal Current Biology .

Originally published on Live Science.
Conservationists in Tasmania may be ruing the decision to introduce endangered Tasmanian devils to a small island, after a new survey revealed that the alien invaders have wiped out the entire colony of little penguins living there.

Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), the world's largest carnivorous marsupials, were introduced to Maria Island  a 45-square-mile (116 square kilometers) island east of Tasmania  by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) in 2012. The government agency hoped to create a new devil population to prevent the species from being wiped out by a deadly disease that has decimated their numbers in Tasmania.

However, the introduction of one species has meant the end of another: The new DPIPWE survey showed that the introduction of devils to the island wiped out 3,000 breeding pairs of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) living on the island, according to The Guardian .

Related: 15 of the largest animals of their kind on Earth

Critics are now blaming the DPIPWE's decision to introduce the devils to Maria Island and the department's subsequent handling of the situation.

"This was a predictable and avoidable outcome," Eric Woehler, an ornithologist at the University of Tasmania and head of conservation group BirdLife Tasmania, told Live Science.

A pair of little penguins walk along a beach on mainland Tasmania. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Insurance policy

The International Union for Conservation of Nature, which maintains a list of threatened species, classifies the Tasmanian devil as endangered. One major threat to the species is the emergence of a rapidly transmissible form of cancer known as devil facial tumor disease, which has killed 90% of their population (which is mostly confined to Tasmania) since the disease first appeared in 1990, Live Science previously reported. DPIPWE scientists believed the only way to prevent a devil extinction was to create isolated populations of healthy individuals away from Tasmania.

In addition to keeping the devils safe on Maria Island, conservationists thought the transplanted individuals would help control the island's population of small predators, such as feral cats and possums; traditionally, officials had instead culled the predators to protect bird populations, according to The Guardian.

Similar attempts to introduce Tasmanian devils to the Australian mainland have been successful, and wild devils were recently born there for the first time in over 3,000 years, Live Science previously reported. However, the new population on Maria Island quickly grew out of control from 28 individuals, introduced between 2012 and 2013, to more than a hundred by 2016, according to The Guardian.

"The devil population is currently managed to achieve a population-size range of between 60-90 individuals," a DPIPWE spokesperson told Live Science, which they claim is the current estimated carrying capacity to "reduce impacts to island ecology."

Conservation nightmare

With that population boom, Tasmanian devils became the dominant predator on Maria Island, and some endemic species, such as the little penguin, could not adapt fast enough to survive the onslaught.

"The devils ate the adults and young," Woehler said. "The penguins that were not predated abandoned the colony in the face of predation pressure," most likely joining up with other colonies in Tasmania, Australia or even New Zealand.

The devils also killed and ate short-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris), significantly reducing the birds' numbers on Maria Island, according to a study published in 2020 in the journal Biological Conservation .

A short-tailed shearwater flying off the coast of New Zealand. (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Other bird species at risk from the devils' appetite include the Cape Barren goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) and the Tasmanian native hen (Tribonyx mortierii), Woehler said. "All ground-nesting and ground-feeding bird species are at potential risk," he added.

Avoidable outcome

One of Woehler's and others' biggest criticisms of the project is that until now, the DPIPWE had not properly monitored the penguin population, so the organization had "no idea" what was happening as a result, Woehler said. "Parks staff undertook no monitoring for 12 years, and that's when they discovered no penguins remaining," Woehler said.

A lack of monitoring also means it is unclear if Tasmanian devils had any impact on predator populations as was hoped, Woehler said.

However, the DPIPWE claims that monitoring has been carried out on Maria Island, even though it doesn't seem to have done them any good.

"The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP) continually monitors, evaluates and reviews the devil population and program activities," a DPIPWE spokesperson, told Live Science. "All effective conservation programs are adaptive and the STDP will continue to evolve in line with new knowledge in science and emerging priorities."

Proper monitoring might have been able to save the penguins, but the project should never have gotten a green light in the first place, Woehler said.

In 2011, before Tasmanian devils were introduced to Maria Island, the DPIPWE released a report that predicted the introduction of the carnivorous marsupials would have "a negative impact on little penguin and shearwater colonies on Maria Island through devil predation," according to The Guardian.

However, the desire to save the iconic Tasmanian devils from devil facial tumor disease led to the rash decision to introduce them regardless, Woehler said.

"The outcome was predicted by many people," Woehler said. More research should have been carried out before the devils were introduced to help inform the DPIPWE's decision, he added.

Ironically, new studies suggest that the native population of devils on Tasmania is now likely to survive the devil facial tumor outbreak, as the disease is starting to spread much more slowly, according to a study published in 2020 in the journal Science . Therefore, the introduction of Tasmanian devils to Maria Island was ultimately unnecessary.

Not too late

Although the introduction of Tasmanian devils to Maria Island has caused a huge amount of ecological damage, there is still hope that the problem can be remedied.

By removing the devils from the island, there is a chance that the little penguins will return home, Woehler said.

"They are responding to predator pressure," Woehler said. "Remove the pressure, and the birds will return."

However, there is no indication of a devil removal project being carried out anytime soon, Woehler said.

Originally published on Live Science.
In the cat world, there's a saying that you should keep your humans' friends close and your humans' enemies  just as close. That's the takeaway of a new study that shows that cats, unlike dogs , will gladly accept food from people who are not nice to their owners.

While dog lovers may rejoice at the chance for another study suggesting dogs are more loyal than cats, the conclusion is not that simple. It might not be that cats are disloyal; rather, they may be too socially clueless to understand when someone is not being nice to their owners, according to the new study, which was published in the February issue of the journal Animal Behavior and Cognition .

For the study, a group of researchers from Kyoto University in Japan tested the loyalty of domestic cats by adapting a technique previously used on dogs. The experiment involved a container, 36 domestic cats (13 were house cats and 23 lived in cat cafes) and their owners.

Related: 20 weird dog and cat behaviors explained by science

The researchers set up two groups: the "helpers" and the "non-helpers." The cats watched as their owners tried in vain to open a container and take out an object. In the helper group, a second person, an actor, helped the owner open the container  in other words, they acted as a friend to the owner. In the non-helper group, the actor refused to help and turned away  making them a foe. To act as a point of comparison, a third person just sat there throughout both conditions, neither helping nor refusing to help.

After the skit, the actor and the neutral person from each trial offered the cat a piece of food, and the experimenters recorded which person the cat took the food from. After four trials, the conclusion was clear: The cats did not care who they took the food from. Previously, the research team showed that dogs undergoing the same experiment avoided people who refused to help their owners.

So does this mean dogs are loyal and cats are selfish?

Not quite. "It is conceivable that the cats in this study did not understand the meaning or goal of the owners' behavior," the authors wrote. No studies have investigated if cats can recognize others' goals or intentions from their actions, they wrote. "But even if they did understand the owner's goal or intention, they might have failed to detect the negative intention of the non-helpful actor."

In other words, they may not have realized the other person was not helping their owner open the container.

"We consider that cats might not possess the same social evaluation abilities as dogs, at least in this situation, because unlike the latter, they have not been selected to cooperate with humans," the authors wrote in the study. (Throughout the years, dogs were breeded, or artificially "selected" for more cooperative traits.)

Calling cats selfish based on this study would be an "anthropomorphic bias," Ali Boyle, a research fellow in the Kinds of Intelligence project at the University of Cambridge, wrote in The Conversation . They're not "furry little humans," but "creatures with their own distinctive ways of thinking," wrote Boyle, who was not involved in the new study.

It's more likely that cats don't understand our social relationships as much as dogs do, because dogs were domesticated much earlier, she wrote. What's more, the ancestors of dogs lived in social packs, whereas cats were solitary hunters, which could mean dogs already had existing social skills that were hyperdeveloped when they were domesticated.

It's also not clear if these findings extend to all house cats. "About two thirds of our subjects were from cat cafes, which makes us cautious about generalizing the results of this study to all domestic cats," the researchers wrote in the study. Though the house cats and the cafe cats didn't show differences in behavior, they could have a different bond to their owners. Cafe cats, for example, may spend more time socializing with strangers and may have less individual interactions with their owners than house cats would, they wrote.

Originally published on Live Science.
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The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the jury for the competition, which will be powered by a majority of women, including American actor-filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal, French actor-helmer Melanie Laurent, French-Senegalese actor-director Mati Diop, Austrian director Jessica Hausner and cult French singer Mylene Farmer.

Spike Lee will presider over the jury which will also include French actor Tahar Rahim, Brazilian helmer Kleber Mendonca Filho and South Korean actor Song Kang-ho. Its a history-making jury, with a first-time Black president and a ratio of five women to three men.

Gyllenhaal, who just made her directorial feature debut with The Lost Daughter, is best known for her roles in Donnie Darko, Secretary, and Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight. She earned her first Oscar nomination with Crazy Heart and won a Golden Globe for her performance in the miniseries The Honourable Woman. She went on to produce and star in the HBO series The Deuce and the thriller The Kindergarten Teacher.

As an actor, Laurent has worked Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds), Mike Mills, Denis Villeneuve, Angelina Jolie and most recently Alexandre Aja. Shes also a well-established filmmaker, who made her feature debut with The Adopted, and followed with Breathe which premiered at Cannes Critics Week. She went on to make her English-language filmmaking debut with Galveston, and recently shot Le Bal des folles, adapted from Victoria Mas short story.

Diop made her feature debut with Atlantics which competed at Cannes in 2019 and won the Grand Prize. It went to be shortlisted in the Oscars international film race. She received the Lincoln Center of New Yorks Martin E. Segal  Emerging Artist Award. As an actress, Diop has appeared in Claire Deniss 35 Shots of Rum, among others.

Farmer is a French music icon whose career spans 35 years. Farmers visually bold shows underscore her love for cinema. Over the years, she has enlisted high-profile artists and filmmakers, such as Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts and Abel Ferrara, to direct the music videos of her cult songs, notably Libertine, Sans contrefacon, California, LAme-Stram-Gram and Pourvu quelles soient douces. Farmer also starred in Pascal Laugiers movie Ghostland in 2018.

Hausner made her feature debut with Lourdes which was selected at Venice and won the FIPRESCI Prize, and the European Film Award for best actress for Sylvie Testud. She made her sophomore outing with Amour which played in Un Certain Regard. Her fifth film, Little Joe, competed at Cannes in 2019 and won the best actress for Emily Beecham.

Mendonca Filho, meanwhile, made his feature debut with Neighboring Sounds played at Rotterdam and was Brazils candidate in the international film race at the Oscars. His 2019 film Bacurau, which was co-directed by Juliano Dornelles, competed at Cannes and won the Jury Prize.

Rahim, who recently a BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for his performance in Kevin Macdonalds The Mauritanian and earned critical acclaim with his work on The Looming Tower and The Serpent, broke through the international scene with his performance in Jacques Audiards A Prophet. Rahim returned to Canness competition with Asghar Farhadis The Past. He will soon be starring in Rebecca Millers She Came to Me.

Kang-Ho is the South Korean star of Bong Joon-hos Oscar-winning Parasite. The movie won the Palme dor at Cannes in 2019 and went on to win four Oscars. Kang-Ho has so far starred in more than 40 films, including Memories of Murder, The Host, and Snowpiercer. He recently finished filming Emergency Declaration by Han Jae-rim, and Broker by Hirokazu Kore-eda.

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WASHINGTON  Democracy dies live on C-SPAN.

Thats how it felt on Tuesday as the public watched Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and 49 other Senate Republicans use the filibuster to block any debate on the For the People Act, an 800-page mega-bill intended to combat dark money, voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other ills plaguing American democracy. The parliamentary maneuver by McConnell and crew denied any opportunity to offer compromises on the floor and doomed the bill to defeat even though all 50 Senate Democrats voted in favor of the motion.

But House and Senate Democrats are undeterred. They insist that Tuesdays vote was the first step in a larger strategy. We had to explore whether theres any potential for bipartisan support for this kind of critical legislation, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), who introduced the House version of the For the People Act, says. We learned yesterday that its just not there. The lines have been drawn very clearly at this point.

In interviews with Rolling Stone, lawmakers and staffers who work on voting rights and democracy reform described a multi-part, months-long game plan that will play out this summer and fall. The aim is to pass a new version of the For the People Act as well as a companion measure to be named after the late civil-rights leader and congressman John Lewis. That bill, known as H.R. 4, would restore a key pillar of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act to prevent future voting-rights discrimination.

H.R. 4 builds the firehouse to put out fires in the future, Sarbanes says. [The For the People Act] is what we need in this moment to put out the fire thats raging now.

But is there a path forward for either bill with the filibuster as it now stands? And can Democrats agree on any specific reforms to the filibuster that could make democracy reform possible?

For the People Act 2.0

Minutes after Republicans filibustered the For the People Act, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced that the Senate Rules Committee, which she chairs, would soon hold a series of hearings on the urgent need to pass critical voting, campaign finance, and ethics reforms. Klobuchar said the Rules Committee planned to travel to Georgia, where the state legislature passed restrictive new voting laws in March, to hear firsthand how Congress could help protect the right to vote in that state.

Lawmakers and aides say these new hearings will be used to gather evidence that will go toward writing an updated, compromise version of the For the People Act. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) remains a pivotal vote on any future voting-rights reforms, and the three-page white paper he released last week will also help shape that compromise legislation, aides said.

In the weeks ahead, the Biden White House is also expected to take a more proactive role in pushing for new voting rights legislation. In a statement after Tuesdays defeat, President Biden said the fight for voting rights was far from over and that we are going to be ramping up our efforts to overcome again  for the people, for our very democracy.

Biden has tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with spearheading the administrations effort to pass new voting restrictions at a time when Republicans have passed nearly two-dozen voter-suppression bills at the state level, mostly on party-line votes. Some voting-rights activists have criticized the Biden administration and congressional Democrats for not playing a more aggressive role: I have yet to see Democrats act like this is the No. 1 priority on their agenda, and I suspect that we will start to see that after today, Nse Ufot, head of the New Georgia Project Action Fund, told the New York Times.

But a senior congressional aide says the White Houses engagement will ramp up considerably in the next phase of the campaign to protect voting rights as Democrats give up on trying to win over Republicans and instead focus on writing a compromise bill that, paired with changes to the Senates filibuster rules (more on that later), would give the For the People Act a path to passage.

Sarbanes tells Rolling Stone the next two months will be critical in finding that path. For the bill to take effect in time for the 2022 midterm elections, it needs to get out of Congress and onto President Bidens desk before Congress takes its summer recess. We cant go home in August without this, he says. We want [the bills reforms] in place for redistricting, and we want them in place for voters who show up in 2022.

The Battle to Restore the Voting Rights Act

Eight years ago this Friday, the Supreme Court issued its 5-4 decision in Shelby County v. Holder. The ruling struck down a central provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the civil rights movements landmark victories. Section 4 of that law created a program known as preclearance. Under preclearance, states with a documented history of racial discrimination at the ballot box had to get approval from the federal Justice Departments civil rights division if they wanted to make changes to their voting laws. If the feds deemed those changes discriminatory, the Justice Department denied those proposed changes.

In his 2015 opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts deemed Section 4 unconstitutional. He argued in essence that policies that accounted for racial discrimination were just another form of discrimination themselves. He also deemed the problem of racial discrimination in voting as a thing of the past, and that evidence marshaled in Shelby was not sufficient to continue to let the Justice Department approve or deny new policies by the states.

House Democrats have a plan to restore Section 4. In the last session of Congress, they introduced H.R. 4, or the Voting Rights Advancement Act. They now intend to draft an updated version of that bill in the current session and name it after John Lewis. Never did I think that the cause for which the Foot Soldiers marched so many years ago would become new again, but since the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013, lawmakers have ramped up their efforts to enact restrictive, anti-voter laws across the country, Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), a leader on the effort, tells Rolling Stone. My bill, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, would restore, strengthen, and modernize the VRA and prevent policies that restrict access to the ballot box. She added, Our democracy is at stake.

The push to restore the Voting Rights Act is playing out on several fronts. This week, the House Administration Committee will convene the last of a series of field hearings held nationwide to collect evidence of the persistence of racial voter discrimination. Such evidence, the bills supporters say, will come in handy if the bill ultimately passes, faces a legal challenge, and winds up in front of the Supreme Court again. This process is for a greater goal, that H.R. 4 is litigation-proof, says Chris Kosteva, a spokesman for Rep. Sewell. We want to make sure this bill is iron-clad constitutionally.

The other front is the drafting of the John Lewis bill itself. Once the House Administration Committee submits its final report with the evidence it found about continued racial voter disenfranchisement, the House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings and then begin writing the new John Lewis voting rights bill. Kosteva says its possible the bill will be introduced in September after the August recess.

But the fate of both this bill and the For the People Act hinges on whether Democrats can unite behind a plan to remove the parliamentary obstacle standing in their way: the filibuster.

Filibuster  or Bust

Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are the two names that sit atop nearly every list of Democratic senators who oppose changing or abolishing the filibuster. Manchin has written op-eds and granted interviews in which he said he wouldnt gut the filibuster. Sinema published a Washington Post op-ed the night before Tuesdays For the People Act vote making the same argument as Manchin. In their view, doing away with the filibuster wouldnt pave the way for democracy to flourish; it would, instead, do grave damage to Americas democratic system.

But behind closed doors, House and Senate aides say, there are more Democrats who oppose changing or abolishing the filibuster, possibly as many as seven or eight members. Democrats used the filibuster hundreds of times during the Trump years, and some are hesitant to give up the tool should they need it the next time Republicans have control of Congress.

The senior congressional aide says outright abolishing the filibuster is out of the question. But there are several options for more modest reforms under discussion in Congress. The first is enacting reforms that moderate Democratic senators have supported in the past. Manchin, for instance, has supported proposed rule changes in previous Senate sessions that would have lowered the threshold to 50 votes for a motion to proceed to debate, and that would force senators to take the floor and speak in order to sustain a filibuster, which would make filibusters far more laborious for those doing the filibustering and thus in theory a less attractive option.

Another filibuster change with some support in the Democratic caucus would force the minority party to have at least 41 members physically present on the Senate floor to sustain a filibuster. And the final  and most dramatic change  would be to create a carve-out in the existing Senate rules so that issues related to voting and election could pass the Senate on a simple majority vote.

Outside pressure is mounting on Democratic senators to take up some of these reforms. A group of former congressional chiefs of staff circulated a letter calling on the Senate to change the filibuster so that bills like the For the People Act can pass. Like any tool, the filibuster may be used to good ends, the letters organizers write. We know that repealing or reforming the filibuster rule will someday lead to policy outcomes that we deeply dislike. They go on to write, But we believe in a Senate where the peoples business can be done. The Senate is now faced with a choice between functioning and the filibuster.

Groups focused on filibuster reform say they plan to ramp up their efforts in the hopes of clearing the way for democracy reform before the end of the summer. The Republican commitment to unrepentant obstruction of even bipartisan proposals is on full display, Tre Easton, a senior adviser with the anti-filibuster group Battle Born Collective, said in a statement. The Democratic response cannot be unilateral disarmament.
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Justin Timberlake is sending a public message of support to his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, just hours after she made a passionate statement in court, pleading with a judge to end her controversial conservatorship.

After what we saw today, we should all be supporting Britney at this time, Timberlake tweeted on Wednesday evening. Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it waswhats happening to her is just not right. No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body.

Timberlakes social media statement continued: No one should ever be held against their willor ever have to ask permission to access everything theyve worked so hard for.

Speaking on behalf of himself and his wife, Jessica Biel, Timberlake wrote, Jess and I send our love, and our absolute support to Britney during this time. We hope the courts, and her family make this right and let her live however she wants to live.

Timberlakes reference to Spears not being able to make decisions about her own body is in direct response to Spears testimony in court on Wednesday, where she made numerous explosive allegations against her father and those who, she says, have wrongfully and abusively controlled her life since the conservatorship was put in place in 2008, at the time of her public breakdown. Aside from claiming that she was forced to go on tour in 2018 and to go on medication, which she did not react well to, Spears stated that she wanted to have a child and wants to get married, but is unable to because she has an IUD and is not allowed to take herself to the doctor.

Im not able to get married or have a baby, I have an [IUD] inside of myself right now so I dont get pregnant, she told the judge. I wanted to take the IUD out so I could start trying to have another baby. But this so-called team wont let me go to the doctor to take it out because they dont want me to have any more children.

Timberlake and Spears were in a highly publicized relationship in the late 90s and early 2000s when they were catapulted into global superstardom as teen icons. Timberlake, the then-frontman for boyband *NSYNC, first met Spears when they were kids in their early showbiz days on Disneys The Mickey Mouse Club. The pair were tabloid magnets, with the public obsessing over their relationship  and then, their breakup.

Spears, a hyper-sexualized teen pop star, was slut-shamed by the media and portrayed as unfaithful and the sole reason for her and Timberlakes breakup.

At the time, Timberlake had said in an interview that he had slept with Spears  whose virginity was a point of sick obsession in the press. Later, he vaguely accused Spears of cheating on him, and that narrative played out in the music video for his 2002 song Cry Me a River, which featured a Spears lookalike.

This scene played out in FX and Hulus documentary Framing Britney Spears, which was produced by the New York Times. Following the docs release, Timberlake received a considerable amount of pushback, and then apologized for his actions and words back in the day.

Ive seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond, Timberlake said this past February, after the documentary aired. I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racismI specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.

Timberlake is one of many celebrities who lent their support to Spears on Wednesday following her testimony in court. Mariah Carey, Rose McGowan and Brandy have also spoken out, standing by the star.

Spears has been under a court-ordered conservatorship for nearly 13 years with her father, Jamie Spears, as the sole conservator. While she had previously voiced her concerns over her father, with her lawyer stating that she was afraid of him in past court documents, Wednesday is the first time Spears has publicly asked for the entire conservatorship to be terminated.

Ive lied and told the whole world Im OK and Im happy. Its a lie. Ive been in denial, Spears told a judge on Wednesday in the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse. Ive been in shock. I am traumatized. Fake it til you make it, but now Im telling you the truth, OK? Im not happy. I cant sleep. Im depressed. I cry every day.

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My Emptiness and I,The Barbaric, and Saudade Became Home Inside has all won big at a key industry section at Spains Malaga Festival, its Work in Progress, which first shone a light on such titles as The Platform, Netflixs most-watched movie in the U.S. for some days last year.

This year, at the 4th Malaga Work in Progress Awards, which ran May 20  June 11, all three titles scooped a trio of prizes.

The third feature of Adrian Silvestre, whose The Objects of Love took a Fipresci award at 2016s Seville Festival, My Emptiness and I won Arachne, Abycine Lanza, and REC prizes. The story of Raphi, an androgynous diagnosed with gender dysphoria who begins a gender transition, the film is produced by Javier Perez Santana, one of the producers behind Agusti Villarongas The Belly of the Sea, the Malaga Fest main competition winner this year.

Seen at Ventana Surs Copia Final competition last year, its director having participated at the TIFF Filmmaker Lab, Argentine Andrew Salas The Barbaric, took the Latido Award, given by sales agent Latino Films to a film with the best prospect for distribution worldwide. Prior Latino Award winners include The Platform and Ane is Missing, a standout at last years San Sebastian Festival.

Salas follow-up to his first solo feature Pantanal, The Barbaric plumps socio-economic tensions in rural Argentina as a young man investigates why the cows on his fathers ranch are being killed.

Saudade Became Home Inside by Brazils Haroldo Borges snagged Malagas Ibero-American Jury, Yagan and Damita awards. Saudade marks Borges second feature after Son of Ox.

The directorial debut of DP Pablo Lago, Animas won both the prize of the Buenos Aires Doc Film Festival (FIDBA) and Spanish Jury award. Produced by Diana Toucedo Films, the label of director Toucedo (Thirty Souls), Animas captures Alicia and her grandson in a Galician villages winery famed for making aguardiente brandy. The set up serves to contrast two generations and depict an ancient craft, which is about to disappear.

Malagas co-production forum also highlighted some of its most promising projects with prizes.

Directed by first timer Laura Basombrio, a former cellist, The Souls scooped two of its most notable plaudits, the DOK Leipzig and Sanfic Industry awards, adjudicated by Germanys preeminent documentary festival and one of South Americas key film-TV industry events.

Produced by Anahi Farfan at Argentinas Arde Cine, it turn on Estela, who lost her mother a some years before, but still feels her presence every day and night.

Marisa Crespo and Moises Romeras Youre Not Me (Spain, Portugal) and Juan Vicente Manriques Stray Bullet (Mexico) won other awards granted at the Malaga Festival Fund & Co-Production Event (MAFF).

Our main concern has been to support Latin American and Spanish filmmakers to help them face up to the problems caused by COVID-19, especially given the uneven reaction public-sector film bodies in the region, Malaga WIP coordinator Walter Tiepelmann told Variety.

He added: Some film institutes sought to serve their industries. Most most of them didnt, however, and left their producers and filmmakers high and dry. Supporting the completion of these ongoing movies was a matter or urgency.

Tiepelmann also announced that the WIP showcase would be expanded to cover new formats, such as series and documentaries.

The WIP strand will also be broadened to take in more mainstream propositions such as comedy or suspense dramas, without abandoning a film which experiment with narrative structures.

2021 MALAGA WORK IN PROGRESS AWARDS

Arachne Award- Post-production

My Emptiness And I, (Spain, Adrian Silvestre)

Latido Award  International Distribution

The Barbaric, (Argentina, Andrew Sala)

Yagan Award  Sound Post Production

Saudade Became Home Inside, (Brazil, Haroldo Borges)

Damita Award  Domestic Distribution

Saudade Became Home Inside

Abycine Lanza Award

My Emptiness And I

Cine Y Tele Award

Tolyatti Adrift, (Spain, Laura Sistero)

FIDBA Award

O Auto Das Animas, (Spain, Pablo Lago Dantas)

REC Festival Award

My Emptiness and I

Like A Little Leaf, (Spain, Manel Raga)

SANFIC Award

The Barbaric

LatAm Cinema Award

Periphery Woman, (Argentina, Sol Bolloqui)

Music Library & SFX Award

Fenomenos de Marte(L) (Spain)

The Barbaric

Ibero-American Jury

Saudade Became Home Inside

Spanish Jury

O auto das animas, (Spain, Pablo Lago Dantas)

MAAF AWARDS

Bolivia LAB

Stray Bullet, (Juan Vicente Manrique, Mexico)

Cinema 226

Youre Not Me, (Marisa Crespo, Moises Romera, Spain, Portugal)

DOK Leipzig Co-Pro Market Accelerator

The Souls, (Laura Bosombrio, Argentina)

SANFIC Industry

The Souls

FIDBA

The Art of War, (Grecia Barbieri, Gonzalo Benavente Secco, Peru)

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Running July 2-10, the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) will mark its 20th edition this year with a nod to the past, as organizers look to commemorate the lakeside festivals rise from modest fan gathering to one of Switzerlands leading film events. Fueling the festivals ascent has also been the explosive growth of genre fare, which in ways big and small the very festival has helped usher from the periphery of the international film business right to the center.

I like to think that the evolution of the genre market and the growth of the NIFFF are in response to one another, Neuchatel artistic director Loic Valceschini tells Variety. Its a dialectic. On one side, the festival built its identity on offering the widest possible vision of fantastic films, while at the same time the genre itself was diversifying  diversifying in terms of content, but also in terms of production and consumption.

Thats why I wanted to return to this subject for the festivals 20th edition, says Valceschini, who organized two panels dedicated to the subject and offered past directors and co-founders Anais Emery and Olivier Muller and incoming director Pierre-Yves Walder  due to take the reins after this years edition  a carte blanche to program films from previous years they felt marked the festivals unique stamp.

The founders didnt want to recreate another pure and simple genre festival, Valceschini explains. Thats what has distinguished the NIFFF for many years. At other festivals people say to us, Oh, NIFFF youre the arty festival! And its true, without turning our noses up at anything, we do try to show the full spectrum of the fantastic, to show how it can work in other forms of production.

Carving an identity in the European genre circuit alongside longer established festivals in Sitges and Brussels, NIFFF built a brand on unconventional programing and high-profile guests, hosting the likes of George R.R. Martin, David Cronenberg and John Carpenter in recent vintages. Both plans of action helped to bolster a loyal audience, which topped at 49,000 attendees at the festivals most recent physical edition in 2019.

NIFFF has also partnered with the Swiss Film Archive on a traveling program of 13 films that showcase genre standouts from the past two decades.

Theyve chipped away at an established film culture that is intensely conservative in Switzerland, says Todd Brown, head of international acquisitions at the production and sales outfit XYZ Films. They really did have a role in changing that conversation [around taste and funding] by coming in early, betting on people while theyre still making shorts, championing them and being a voice in the ear of funders to say, Look, there is an audience for this. Look whos coming.

Neuchatel has been a real voice for change, trying to get people to understand that there are more kinds of art than just a family sitting around a dining room table talking about sad thing, he adds.

As Brown sees it, by building and sustaining loyal bases of attendees, festivals like Neuchatel, or Montreals Fantasia or Austins Fantastic Fest (for which Brown was a programmer) have succeeded in breaking genre fare out of a niche ghetto. But he also cites more proactive measures from further up the supply chain coming from that same genre circuit. Brown point to the Frontieres Market, a co-production initiative developed by the Fantasia Film Festival, as one illustrative example.

This particular festival community  especially those who started during the early 2000s  really did come in as outsiders. So theres a certain type of positive tribalism where they want to find and take care of their people, and this is a natural way of doing it.

Theyve embraced new opportunities and responsibilities and really actively looking to [fill the gaps in the market], Brown continues. They started off as being pure fan celebrations and now theyre really actively taking a hand at driving things forward, leveraging their relationships [to do so].

Over the past decade, Neuchatel has sat in pole position within this growing network remaking the current landscape. Frontieres current executive director Annick Mahnert, for example, started at Neuchatel in 2003, programming shorts and then features for the Swiss event until 2011. Through her NIFFF programming work, Mahnert met Frontieres founder Stephanie Trepanier, who later invited Mahnert to join the co-pro market as a mentor and project evaluator in 2013.

One of Mahnerts first pet-projects at Frontieres was Julia Ducournaus Raw, a title Valceschini, Brown, and Mahnert all cite as one that broke barriers and created new opportunities for genre fare on the international stage. (Indeed, Ducournaus genre friendly follow-up, Titane, will launch in competition in Cannes next month.)

With the success of Raw, the bigger sales agents started to be interested in genre, Mahnert explains. Suddenly the film goes to Cannes, Toronto and Sundance and all bigger companies starting to do it. It all kind of exploded when one film had this [intense success].

As Neuchatel continues to build out its industry offering under the NIFFF Extended banner, Mahnert believes that it must also continue banging the drum for genre fare as loud as can be. We need to give these films visibility, she says. Whatever buzz comes out of the festival, the industry hears it, because there comes a point where they cant ignore it anymore So its an important actor. It brings films to Switzerland that arent being bought and dont have distribution.

Switzerland is not very big, she adds. So word travels very quickly.

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With The Deep House, the French director duo Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo have revamped the haunted house genre by shooting almost the entire film under water.

The buzzy title, which was produced by Radar Films with Logical Pictures and is releasing in French cinemas next week, caught the eye of Jason Blums horror film powerhouse Blumhouse. The company acquired U.S. rights to the indie film, and Epix will release it domestically.

Well-liked in the industry for their happy-go-lucky personality and sense of humour, Maury and Bustillo, who are both in their 40s, have become the leading lights of a new wave of French horror cinema with their first two acclaimed features, Livid and Inside, which played at Cannes Critics Week.

The Deep House, which marks their follow up to Leatherface [The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel] revolves around a couple of YouTubers who go diving in a remote French lake and discover a house submerged in deep waters. Their adventure turns into a nightmare when they understand the house harbors atrocious crimes and find themselves trapped with hardly any oxygen left. Their presence has awakened a dark spirit haunting the house.

The movie is repped by Pulsar and XYZ. The Deep House combines an amazing concept as well as massive technical challenges that were not made easier by the Covid pandemic, said Pulsar Contents co-founders Gilles Sousa and Marie Garrett. The result is a great achievement from the whole team we cannot wait for the film to conquer international audiences, said Sousa and Garrett.

The sales team at XYZ, meanwhile, said they have been huge fans of Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo ever since they made their debut with the iconic Inside, and (were) thrilled to have the chance to bring the film to audiences across America with partners as strong as Blumhouse and Epix.

Maury and Bustillo are constantly brainstorming ideas and like to walk together for hours in the streets of Paris to come up with original concepts. The idea for The Deep House came out of their shared love for the aquatic universe and haunted house films. We were drawn by the idea of combining these two sub-genres, say the filmmakers.

We just wrote down four sentences with our concept and illustrated it with a photo of a diver and Clement Miserez, our producer, went for it, says Maury. Bustillo concurs, he had the flair and the craziness to come on board with just this concept of aquatic horror film.

But filming down there proved highly challenging. Shooting a film underwater is like making a movie for the first time. All the technical aspects had to be done differently there, and it forced us to reinvent the mise en scene process and the way shots are organized, says Bustillo.

Every sequence under water takes three times longer to shoot than a sequence above it  even a shot reverse shot takes a long time to set up, says Maury.

The helmers explain that directing the actors under the water presented another level of difficulty because they couldnt be fully wired and theres no wifi down there, points out Bustillo. We had an engineer who took months to create a system where we had antennas placed in the water which were connected to one another. This unique system required us to work with unusual crew members and allowed us to see the dailies on the monitors above water, says Maury.

This unique process was costly both financially and in terms of time, says Maury. The production also got impacted by Covid-19. They had to go into lockdown and still had five more days to shoot underwater. The delay bumped the budget by 300K to 5 million euros.

The pair explained that the house was built on large grids and progressively plunged into a nine-meter deep water tank that was 20 meters wide. Near the water tank was a warehouse where the decors were being fabricated.

We couldnt leave the whole house in the water for days at a time because the decors would have been ruined, so we would immerse only parts of the house under water, and were shooting scenes floor by floor; we could only immerse one meter per hour, which represented six meters, says Bustillo.

The whole process was crazy, and we owe it to Jacques Ballard, who is a master of underwater filming. Ballard notably created Beyonces aquatic music video Runnin,' says Maury.

In order to create the muddy look of the water and give it some density, the directors said some food items, such as mashed Brussels sprouts, were thrown in it. Bustillo says he wanted the picture to be beautiful as well as nightmarish.

It was a risky shoot  having the actors and some of the crew go six-meter deep was very uncommon and difficult to insure. Maury and Bustillo were not allowed to go down there and were following the shoot across five or six monitors and four cameras. Directing actors who have their faces hidden by the diving masks was another unusual aspect. We needed the actors to be able to let strong emotions be reflected in their eyes, which we found with Camille Rowe and James Jagger.

The prolific helmers also have Kandisha lined up. The movie had its world premiere at Stiges last year but had its theatrical release canceled due to the pandemic. It will come out on VOD and DVD/Blu Ray in July. An exorcism-themed movie, Kandisha is set during the summer break and revolves around a powerful and vengeful demon.

The pair works as a mini-studio and always have a several projects in the pipeline. Their movies ofter deliver twists on staple horror concepts. We never put all our eggs in the same basket, we know it takes time to get a project greenlit and sometimes we can develop something for years in vain  we had eight projects in development when we signed Kandisha and The Deep House,' says Maury.

The duo is currently in Paris promoting The Deep House and is working on three different projects. Were ready to dive back in soon in an exotic location, they say.

The movie was produced by Miserez and Matthieu Warter at Radar Films, and co-produced by Logical Pictures, Apollo Films Distribution and Forecast Pictures, with support from Umedia.

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After one round of voting, one Laredoans chances toward having a NASA moonikin named after him took a giant leap forward.

A heroic figure in the history of both Laredo and in NASA, Arturo B. Campos is headed to the semifinals of the NASA Artemis contest.

The contest featured eight names which are competing for the honor of being recognized by having a moonikin  a mannequin which will also be used to gather data on the vibrations that human crewmembers will experience  to bare their name on an upcoming trip to the moon aboard Artemis I. The mission is set to send the first woman and person of color to the lunar surface.

Campos is one of eight submissions for the contest that NASA provided which will be determined by voting in a tournament-like system. The field features significant people in NASAs history or references to NASAs past or the Artemis program. The contests final winning announcement will be June 29.

(Im) extremely proud, said Leticia Campos Maddix, the daughter of the deceased Campos. I would love for them to announce him as the winner on what would've been my mom's 86th birthday. It feels right.

Campos, whose last name was chosen for the contest, is famous for his work as an engineer. He saved the Apollo 13 craft and helped it land successfully on April 17, 1970 after suffering several technical difficulties prior to entering the Earths atmosphere.

In the opening round, Campos went up against Shackleton  a crater on the moons south pole and a reference to famous Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. A Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft previously returned data ice may make up as much as 22% of the surface material in the crater.

But Campos did well in the contest, accumulating 56.2% of the 4,734 votes compared to Shackletons 43.8% on Twitter. And on Facebook, Campos received 586 votes compared to Shackletons 161.

With the success, Campos family is extremely proud of the accomplishment as they want people to continue voting.

I am super elated that he made it to the final four, said Oscar Campos, a cousin of Arturo Campos. I, of course, think his name should be the winner.

He did so well they cut it short and called the winner yesterday morning, Campos Maddix said. The others had a whole day and until 4 p.m. the following day. It just feels right for my dad to win this.

As Fathers Day was also celebrated Sunday, Campos Maddix stated that having her father compete for a posthumous award and recognition was the best gift he could receive. She said that it was always difficult for her to know what was the perfect gift to get a man who did not ask for much, and now she is pushing to get others to vote to get him a gift he deserves.

It was always hard to buy a gift for him, Campos Maddix said. I can't buy this gift, but I can give it my all. I've sent links to vote for Campos to family and friends who don't do social media.

According to Campos Maddix, she states that this contest has helped connect the family once again after many years and also allowed them to share new stories that she previously did not know. One of the most telling was from her aunt who stated that at Campos funeral in 2001, she was told by an astronaut that it was thanks to him they were able to be there at the moment because he helped saved their lives by helping land Apollo 13 successfully in 1970.

My Dad's sister, my aunt, told me yesterday that at the funeral one of the astronauts pulled her aside and told her, ... He was why we were able to get home. I didn't know that.

Even though Campos easily won the first round bracket of the competition, the contest is far from over.

Campos moves on to face Rigel in the semifinals, which is named after the giant superstar in the Orion constellation. Rigel is one of the 10 brightest stars in Earths sky, and the name is a nod to the Orion spacecraft, which the moonikin and astronauts will be riding aboard.

Rigel defeated Montgomery, a reference to Julius Montgomery, who was the first African American ever hired at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The winner will face the other semifinal victor in the finals. That matchup will feature Ace against Delos. Ace stands for Artemis Crew Explorer and Delos is in regards to the island where Apollo and Artemis were born in Greek mythology.

Ace defeated Wargo in the opening round, with the latter referring to Michael Wargo, the agencys first Chief Exploration Scientist. And Delos beat Duhart, with the latter referring to Irene Duhart Long, a chief medical officer at Kennedy Space Center.

Campos is the only name which refers to an individual left in the contest after all three others lost in the opening round.

If NASA continues to follow its schedule of voting, the first semifinal bracket is expected to start on Thursday, June 24 and the second semifinal with Campos begins on Saturday. The final will then take place on June 28 with the winner announced the next day.

Due to the need for votes to advance, Campos family continues to advocate for people to continue voting and stay up to date on any updates from NASA.

We are very grateful to all the people of Laredo who voted, but it's not over yet, Oscar Campos said. I urge all to vote in the semifinal to make the final bracket.

Even though his family, work and other activities he participated in can be considered part of his legacy, Campos Maddix states that Apollo 13 is the real legacy he left to the world as his power mechanism helped the shuttle fly to the moon.

The Houston Chronicle attributed him in a 2001 article as being one of the sole reasons for the rescue of NASAs ill-fated Apollo 13 moon mission in 1970.

According to NASA, Campos was asleep on April 13, 1970 when Apollo 13 was heading to Earth in a crash trajectory rather than a normal landing. The native Laredoan learned after waking at his home that a service module oxygen tank aboard the Apollo spacecraft had ruptured. The command module's normal supply of electricity, light and water were lost as he found out, which left Astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise stuck in a crippled spacecraft about 200,000 miles from Earth.

Campos also helped establish the first League of United Latin American Citizens in NASA and in the Houston area, and he helped recruit engineers and other specialists of Hispanic background into the aeronautics industry.

If he wins, it will be a long overdue recognition of his contribution as an Hispanic NASA engineer, Oscar Campos said. His role in the rescue of the Apollo 13 astronauts was little known outside the then-NASA community. This is an opportunity for Laredoans to recognize his contribution, a fellow Laredoan and Hispanic of humble beginnings.

His victory would be a victory for all Hispanics. He worked for the promotion and hiring of Hispanics by NASA. For me as a Campos, a declaration announcing his name on the moonikin will be celebratory enough.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
Laredo, Texas  The City of Laredo has completed its investigation into the photographs that circulated on social media channels Monday evening regarding the Laredo Animal Care Services (LACS) shelter.

As information was obtained during the investigation, City officials found that some of these images were not taken at the LACS shelter, some were taken last year during a previous administration, and some of the pets were surrendered to the shelter in an ailing state due to animal cruelty they endured with their owner.
An FBI agent applied for a federal warrant in 2018 to seize a fabled cache of U.S. government gold he said was stolen during the Civil War and hidden in a Pennsylvania cave, saying the state might take the gold for itself if the feds asked for permission, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.

The newly unsealed affidavit confirms previous reporting by The Associated Press that the government had been looking for a legendary cache of gold at the site, which federal authorities had long refused to confirm. In any case, the FBI said, the dig came up empty.

The AP and The Philadelphia Inquirer petitioned a federal judge to unseal the case. Federal prosecutors did not oppose the request, and the judge agreed, paving the way for Thursdays release of documents.

"I have probable cause to believe that a significant cache of gold is secreted in the underground cave" in Dents Run, holding one or more tons belonging to the U.S. government, wrote Jacob Archer of the FBI's art crime team in Philadelphia.

Archer told the judge he needed a seizure warrant because he feared that if the federal government sought permission from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to excavate the site, the state would claim the gold for itself, setting up a costly legal battle.

I am concerned that, even if DCNR gave initial consent for the FBI to excavate the cache of gold secreted at the Dent's Run Site, that consent could be revoked before the FBI recovered the United States property, with the result of DCNR unlawfully claiming that that cache of gold is abandoned property and, thus, belongs to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the affidavit said.

Archer also revealed allegations against a legislative staffer who, he wrote, tried to get some of the loot for himself.

In 2013, the affidavit said, the legislative staffer contacted a pair of treasure hunters who had identified the likely site of the gold. The staffer corruptly offered to get the treasure hunters a state permit to dig in return for three bars of gold or ten percent of whatever they recovered. The staffer said he was acting on behalf of others in state government, according to Archer, including someone who controlled money going to DCNR and someone working in the Pennsylvania governor's office.

No one has been charged in connection with the case, and federal prosecutors say they consider the matter closed. A spokesperson for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources declined comment.

The FBI had long refused to explain exactly why it went digging on state-owned land in Elk County in March 2018, saying only in written statements over the years that agents were there for a court-authorized excavation of what evidence suggested may have been a cultural heritage site.

According to the affidavit, the FBI based its request for a seizure warrant partly on the work done by the treasure hunters, who had made hundreds of trips to the area. The father-son duo told authorities they believed they had found the location of the fabled Union gold, which, according to legend, was either lost or stolen on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia in 1863.

After meeting with the treasure hunters in early 2018, the FBI brought in a contractor with more sophisticated instruments. The contractor detected an underground mass that weighed up to nine tons and had the density of gold, the affidavit said.

That amount of gold would today be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Archer wrote that he also spoke with a journalist, identified as Person 3," who had done extensive research on a Civil War-era group called the Knights of the Golden Circle. The KGC, Archer wrote, was a secret society of Confederate sympathizers that had purportedly buried secret caches of weapons, coins, and gold and silver bullion, much of which was stolen from robberies of banks, trains carrying payroll of the Union Army during the Civil War and from northern army military posts, in southern, western and northern states."

Archer said that a turtle carving found on a rock near the proposed dig site was very likely ... a KGC marker for that site."

Archer wasnt able to confirm the U.S. Mint had actually missed any expected shipments of gold because the Mint did not have records for the Civil War period, the affidavit said.

The FBI apparently did not indicate to the judge, in writing, what it found at the site, according to the documents unsealed Thursday. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia said that no such document was filed with the court because the dig came up empty.

Dennis and Kem Parada, co-owners of the treasure-hunting outfit Finders Keepers, have said they believe the FBI found gold at the site. They are seeking thousands of pages of FBI documents about the investigation as well as video files of the dig.

Their attorney, Bill Cluck, said the court documents revealed Thursday simply raise more questions.

He noted the warrant granted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Lloret gave FBI agents permission to dig from 6 a.m to 10 p.m. But residents have told of hearing a backhoe and jackhammer overnight  when the excavation was supposed to have been paused  and seeing a convoy of FBI vehicles, including large armored trucks.

In addition, it is telling that the FBI never checked back with the contractor whose sensitive instruments had indicated the possible presence of gold to ask what went wrong, said Warren Getler, the journalist identified as Person 3 in the affidavit.

Did the science really go wrong? I am not so sure about that," said Getler, author of Rebel Gold, a book exploring the possibility of buried Civil War-era caches of gold and silver.

Why did they send four or five armored cars after the fact?" he asked. "Why did they work under cover of darkness? Why did they kick us off the mountain at 3 p.m. that day when we were supposed to be working as partners?

The FBI assertion of an empty hole is insulting all the credible people who did this kind of work, Dennis Parada previously told the AP. It was a slap in the face, really, to think all these people could make that kind of mistake.
3 1 of 3 Google Maps/Street View Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google Maps/Street View Show More Show Less 3 of 3





A 6-month-old boy involved in a two-vehicle crash on June 9 along Bob Bullock Loop has died, according to Laredo police.

Baby Ivan Camacho passed away in San Antonio, police said. The day after the crash he was declared with no brain activity. He was on life support for a day or so and was eventually taken off life support, authorities said.
Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol

Armed smugglers dressed in camouflage brandished their weapons on an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent and his family who were fishing along the Rio Grande by the Mines Road area in northwest Laredo.

On Tuesday, the agent and his family were fishing on the river near the Lago del Rio, off Mines Road. Three armed individuals approached the agent and identified themselves as Federales, according to Border Patrol.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

View Results
Longfords hospitality industry is bracing itself for a potential delay to the reopening of indoor dining after a government minister conceded there was increasing worry posed by the rising spread of the delta variant.

Joe O'Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, said the was heightening concern within the corridors of Leinster House over a strain of coronavirus which has led to a recent outbreak in Athlone.

Mr OBrien said the Government were keeping a daily watch on suspected cases linked to the variant and would delay its decision on pressing ahead with the planned reopening of indoor hospitality for as long as possible.

We are worried and we will be monitoring the developments over the next week very, very closely, he said.

There will be a decision this day next week but we are giving ourselves as much time as we can to make the best decision we can.

We still remain hopeful we will be able to stick to that date but as everyone knows over the last 15 to 16 months, its a constantly changing situation so we have to make our decisions based on the most accurate and up to date information and thats why the decision day has been pushed as close as we can to the planned reopening.

Mr OBriens remarks follow similar comments made by Taoiseach Micheal Martin who spoke of a sense of inevitability about the progress of the Delta variant earlier today.

The junior minister was in Longford this morning to launch a 1m Community Development Programme at the offices of Longford Community Resources.

The local integrated development company was one of seven successful applicants nationwide to benefit from the State backed initiative.

The LCRL proposal, which is aimed at underpinning and enhancing integration for members of the Roma community in Longford, will also see two new support staff roles being created.

It was a number of factors really, said Mr OBrien, when asked by the Leader as to what set the LCRL submission apart from over 120 other applications across the country.

It was a well organised proposal but the core of it really was the base we are working from here in Longford. There is a lot of good work being done by Longford Community Resources.

There is a lot of connections already with members of the Roma community and this project in particular is focused on working with and engaging with members of the Roma community.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Paul Ross described the funding announcement as a great day for Longford and LCRL as he paid tribute to the local organisations dedicated staff.

CEO of LCRL said the investment would go a long way towards aiding the company in its attempts to foster closer ties and support the needs of both Longfords Roma and other multicultural diaspora.

As part of the work we do and have done down through the years we have always looked to undertake a community development approach using community development values and principles, he said.

This project will really bring community development values back on the ground in Longford.
The owner of a chain of pharmacies who fraudulently obtained payments from the HSEs Primary Care Reimbursement Service has been ordered to complete 240 hours of community service.

John Corr (55) was the owner of five pharmacies which made duplicate claims for reimbursement from the scheme, which is responsible for making payments to healthcare professionals like GPs, dentists and pharmacists for the free or reduced costs services they provide to the public.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the accused man has made full restitution.

Corr of Vergemount Hall, Clonskeagh, pleaded guilty to seven counts of dishonestly inducing the HSE scheme to make a reimbursement at locations in Co. Dublin and Co. Louth on dates between July 15, 2016 and July 30, 2016. He has no previous convictions.

At a previous sentencing hearing in April, last, Judge Martin Nolan said that to say this is a perplexing case is an understatement.

Judge Nolan said Corr had been a pharmacist for 31 years and by reason of his actions has lost his business. He said the court is at a loss why, at this point in his life, the accused did what he did.

He said Corr was in a position of trust and that the HSE is entitled to trust pharmacists to be honest in their dealings. He said the loss was not substantial in this case and that the accused was lucky the loss to the State was not more.

Judge Nolan adjourned the matter to today's/yesterday's (WEDS) date in order to give the Probation Service time to assess whether Corr is suitable for community service.

On Wednesday, Judge Nolan ordered that Corr complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of two-and-a-half years imprisonment.

During a previous sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Darren Hughes told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that duplicate claims were made by five pharmacies owned by Corr located in Clonskeagh and Clarehall in Co. Dublin and in Clogherhead, Blackbull and Mell in Co. Louth.

Det Gda Hughes said that duplicate claims occur when the same claim is made by more than one pharmacy in the same group. He said an investigation was launched after above average payments were noticed being made to the pharmacy in Mell.

All five pharmacies were inspected and found to have made duplicate claims. 94 patients were identified to have had duplicate claims made in relation to them in July 2016, including patients with Dublin addresses having had claims made on their behalf in Co. Louth.

The total amount reimbursed on foot of duplicate claims was 8,075.37. The court heard that the amount of money the accused was charged with obtaining by deception was 3,988.79.

Det Gda Hughes agreed with Remy Farrell SC, defending, that full restitution had been made. He agreed with counsel that his client lost his community pharmacy contract with the HSE as a result of the offences.

Mr Farrell said his client was no longer in business as realistically a pharmacy cannot operate without a community pharmacy contract.

Counsel said he did not have a good reason for the offending of his client, saying that there may have been some perception by his client of underpayment in some other areas.

Mr Farrell said his client is a board member of a charity and has gone above and beyond in providing addiction services over the years. He said his client was supported in court by family members and employees.
A man who was caught in possession of over 80,000 of cocaine along with drug dealing paraphernalia has been jailed for three years.

Justin Byrne (50) was prevailed upon to allow his premises to be used to store the drugs after he had gotten into debt with certain people.

Byrne of Clarinda Park East, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his address in Dublin on September 5, 2020. He has one previous conviction for assault.

Garda Shane McGrath told Fergal Foley BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question, gardai searched the accused man's home and that Byrne was the only person present during the search.

Gda McGrath said that during the search, gardai found quantities of both cocaine and heroin. Gardai also discovered a quantity of a cutting agent, a hydraulic press, weighing scales and packages used for the sale or supply of drugs.

The total value of the cocaine was 82,090, while the total value of the heroin was 2,300.

The court heard Byrne has not come to any garda attention since this offence.

Gda McGrath agreed with Paul Carroll SC, defending, that his client made admissions in interview that he had gotten into debt with people and was asked to allow his premises to be used in this way.

Mr Carroll said there was an element of some cocaine abuse. He said his client was in debt and was prevailed upon to use his premises.

Counsel said that as bad as it was, as wrong as it was, as offensive to society as it was, it seems his client's actions were very much out of character going by his past and what has happened since. He asked the court to be as lenient as possible.

Judge Martin Nolan said it seems Byrne was holding the drugs and probably cutting up the drugs for onwards distribution.

Judge Nolan said he accepts that within this drug dealing operation, the accused man was at the lowest level. He said that obviously for this operation to be efficient, it needs people like him holding and cutting drugs.

He said a non-custodial sentence should only be considered for offences of this kind in exceptional cases. He said that Byrne has very good mitigation, but the case is not in the exceptional category and he will have to suffer a custodial term.

Judge Nolan sentenced Byrne to three years imprisonment.

WATCH: History made as Longford elects first African woman to lead Municipal District A new chapter in Longford's political history has been made this evening on foot of the election of Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi as municipal district cathaoirleach.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: June 24 2021

"New York has zero tolerance for utility employees who violate the law in order to line their own pockets," Governor Cuomo said.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that the New York State Department of Public Service has commenced an investigation into National Grid's downstate gas business after several former National Grid employees were charged in a bribery and kickback scheme involving contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.

"New York has zero tolerance for utility employees who violate the law in order to line their own pockets," Governor Cuomo said. "We're launching an investigation into this allegedly egregious conduct to ensure we get to the bottom of it immediately and that justice is served. Our investigation will thoroughly examine and determine if the company failed to have the appropriate safeguards in place to prevent criminal activities on the part of employees, and if not, the utility will be held accountable."

A federal complaint unsealed in Brooklyn against five former National Grid managers employed in the company's facilities department with conspiring to violate the Travel Act by accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for steering contracts to certain Long Island-based contractors with whom the company did business. One contractor, according to the complaint, secured more than $50 million in facility maintenance contracts from the company during the time that the contractor was paying bribes to the defendants.

"As a result of this alleged criminal activity by employees of a regulated utility, the Department has launched an immediate investigation into this matter to determine if the utility's customers were financially harmed by this scheme and, if so, to seek full restitution on behalf of the customers," said DPS CEO John B. Howard. "The company stated that the contracts did not involve critical gas infrastructure, so public safety is not at risk. The Department's investigation will work to confirm that fact."

The investigation into National Grid's contracts will likewise focus on identifying any financial impacts of the criminal activity on ratepayers, securing recovery of such costs for ratepayer benefit, determining how the activity was not uncovered for such a long period of time, and identifying changes that must be made at National Grid to ensure that such a situation does not arise again.

The Department has conducted investigations of utilities involving similar employee misconduct. In early 2009, ten Con Edison supervisors and employees and one retired supervisor were arrested by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for arranging to have the utility pay inflated claims by a contractor in return for more than $1 million in bribes and kickbacks to the employees over a nine-year period ending in 2009. Con Edison was not aware of the illegal activities. In response to the arrests, the Public Service Commission launched an investigation. That case eventually resulted in PSC securing $171 million for Con Edison's customers.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of earnings by London-listed companies, issued on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News:







Alpha Financial Markets Consulting PLC - London-based consultancy for asset and wealth management industry - Pretax profit for 12 months to March 31 comes in at GBP9.0 million, slipping 3.2% from GBP9.3 million a year prior. Revenue rises 7.9% to GBP98.1 million from GB90.9 million. "We are delighted with the performance of the group over the financial year, with the second half of the year creating further momentum and a very strong pipeline of new business," company says. Hikes payout to 6.95p per share, more-than-tripled from 2.10p a year before. "Alpha's diversified, resilient and growing business model, complemented by strong levels of utilisation and an excellent global pipeline, support the board's confidence in the further growth of the group," says company.







James Latham PLC - timber and panel products distributor - Posts pretax profit for year to end March of GBP18.6 million, rising 18% from GBP15.7 million a year before. Revenue inches up 1.3% to GBP250.2 million from GBP247.1 million. Declares final dividend of 15.5p per share, up 55% from 10.0p a year prior. "The strong demand seen towards the end of this financial year, has continued into the new financial year, with margins also improving. Global demand for timber products is very strong, being driven primarily by North America, but also from the construction sector worldwide. Many manufacturers have introduced an allocation system limiting the ability for us to grow our volumes... The outlook is difficult to predict, but the current challenging supply situation looks set to continue through 2021, but visibility beyond that is much more uncertain, but we know that the market will change at some point," says company.







Ethernity Networks Ltd - Israel-based networking and security solutions provider - Sees pretax loss widened to USD6.3 million in 2020, from USD4.5 million in 2019. Revenue rises 46% to USD1.9 million from USD1.3 million. Research & development expenses increase to USD4.0 million from USD2.9 million. "The current year will be both challenging and exciting as the company continues to increase and capitalise on customer engagements, continues to develop and deliver its strategy as well as face the particular challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic in India and the shortage of components, to grow the revenue delivery from current modest levels, into milestone new contracts," says company.







SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust PLC - investment company - Posts net asset value per share at March 31 of 102.5p, up 1.5% from 101.0p a year prior. Pretax profit rises sharply to GBP32.4 million for the year ended March 31 from GBP11.6 million a year prior. Total payout for year comes in at 5.5p, up 10% from 5.0p. Targets payout of of 5.62p per share for year to March 2022. Says it will continue to seek to build a diversified portfolio for the company "and, particularly, to further diversify in terms of technologies that are compatible with a pathway towards decarbonisation. Beyond combined heat and power, solar, storage and district energy, the Investment Manager is evaluating investments in heat pumps, micro grids, cooling, low carbon fuel for transport (including green gases as well as well as electricity) and hydrogen".







Keras Resources PLC - mine development in Togo, West Africa and US state of Utah - Reports pretax loss of GBP560,000 in half-year ended March 31, narrowed from GBP809,000 a year before. Revenue comes in at GBP31,000 compared to nothing a year before. Does not declare an interim dividend, unchanged year-on-year. "We have one of the highest-grade organic phosphate mines in the US producing six different fully certified organic products. Our job now, in addition to mining and processing, is to create and cultivate our place in the burgeoning US organic phosphate industry and build our market share turning our initial customers into long-term sales partners. We can adapt our premium, higher-grade phosphate resources to deliver customised products for the specific needs of local soil, climate, and crops with the ultimate aim of generating higher crop yields for our customers," says Chief Executive Russel Lamming.







First Property Group PLC - property fund manager - Posts pretax loss in year to end March of GBP5.1 million, swinging from a pretax profit of GBP5.5 million a year prior. Revenue slips 26% to GBP12.1 million from GBP16.3 million. Forgoes final dividend, compared to 1.22p per share a year ago. "The outlook is improving but is far from certain. Quantitative easing will no doubt begin to buoy asset values soon; there are signs of it now, even with income under pressure. But the gravitational pull of economic adversity is going to continue for some time yet," says company.







XPS Pensions Group PLC - pure pensions consultancy - Reports pretax profit for year to end March of GBP11.4 million, up 2.7% from GBP11.1 million a year prior. Revenue increases to GBP127.9 million from GBP119.8 million, driven by strong client demand across all Pensions divisions. Declares full-year dividend of 6.7p, up marginally from 6.6p. "The outlook for the business is positive as we continue to invest in our people and services. In particular, we anticipate strong demand as we help clients address the challenging regulatory environment, including the pending overhaul of funding regulations, GMP equalisation and the consequences of the finalised CMA Review. Our growing new business pipeline also provides an opportunity for us to continue growing our market share," says Co-CEO Ben Bramhall.







iEnergizer Ltd - IT service management company - Reports pretax profit for year ended March 31 of USD53.5 million, rising 1.7% from USD52.6 million a year before. Total income increases 2.8% to USD200.3 million from USD194.9 million. Pays out 14.12p per share for entire year, up 3.8% from 13.6p. "As we look into fiscal 2022 and beyond, we see a sizeable project pipeline, in both enterprise solutions across the group. These relate to continued development of the course material and Learning Management Systems for the Off-The-Shelf content service, combined with continued solid momentum in our Business Process Outsource segment. We expect the business to continue to deliver on its strategy, and we continue to keep a close eye on our costs, as the revised structure and new initiatives continue to take effect in the content delivery segment. The operational leverage in the business model enables us to capitalise substantially on revenue growth opportunities presented in the pipeline," says company.







Dekel Agri-Vision PLC - West Africa-focused agriculture company - Posts pretax loss of EUR2.2 million in 2020, narrowed from EUR3.3 million a year before. Revenue rises 7.7% to EUR22.5 million from EUR20.9 million. Does not declare any dividends. "The momentum behind the business continues to build in the current year: our palm oil operations are on course to post another improved set of financial results for the first half; the cashew purchasing programme has commenced in anticipation of the plant at Tiebissou commencing processing in the coming weeks; the post period end long term debt refinancing has extended the maturity of our debt profile and strengthened our balance sheet; and the planned completion of the RSPO certification process for our palm oil operations later this year will potentially highlight the attractiveness of our project and open up export routes," says company.







Sigma Capital Group PLC - build-to-rent housing provider - Reports pretax profit for six months to end March of GBP4.1 million, up sharply from GBP1.0 million for six months ended June 30 last year. Revenue rises 32% to GBP6.6 million from GBP5.0 million. Does not intend to propose an interim dividend in line with prior years. "These results reflect Sigma's continuing good progress. The recent offer for Sigma by PineBridge Benson Elliot LLP was unanimously recommended by Sigma's Independent Directors as in the best interests of staff, partners and shareholders as a whole, and is now following due process," says company.







Path Investments PLC - energy and natural resources investment company - Reports widened pretax loss for 2020 of GBP377,103 from GBP317,647 a year prior. Loss per share widens to GBP0.19 from GBP0.16. "In March 2021 the company was delighted to receive the welcome support of new shareholders and certain existing holders in a fund raising with gross proceeds of GBP3.85 million received to accelerate the company's investment strategy. We are currently focussed on one opportunity in particular and anticipate updating shareholders in due course," says company.







By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
MILAN, June 24 (Reuters) - An Italian appeals court on

Thursday overturned jail sentences handed down to Nigerian Emeka

Obi and Italian Gianluca Di Nardo for their part in a graft case

involving Eni and Shell in Nigeria.

In a decision taken behind closed doors but read out to

reporters afterwards, the three judges quashed the convictions

and said there was no case to answer.

The prosecution itself had asked for the sentences to be

overturned after a court in March acquitted the two energy

groups in a long-running case revolving around the acquisition

of a Nigerian oilfield for about $1.3 billion.

The judges dismissed the charges against the companies and

defendants saying there was no case to answer.

Obi and Di Nardo, both accused of being middlemen and taking

illegal kickbacks, were convicted in a fast-track trial back in

2018 separate from the main one. They were both sentenced to

four years in jail, but had not started to serve them.

Under Italian law a fast-track trial, which is based only on

documents with no hearings or witnesses, allows sentences to be

cut by a third.

"An unjust sentence by the court of first instance

conditioned by a macroscopic violation of the law," Obi's lawyer

Roberto Pisano said, referring to the original conviction.

Earlier this month Italy's justice ministry ordered an

inquiry into the conduct of two prosecutors in the main case

involving Eni and Shell.

The three judges on Thursday also lifted orders seizing

assets worth $98.4 million from Obi and more than 21 million

Swiss francs ($23 million) from Di Nardo.

($1 = 0.9192 Swiss francs)

(Reporting by Alfredo Faieta Writing by Stephen Jewkes

Editing by Mark Potter)
(Alliance News) - Fully vaccinated travellers from amber list countries may no longer have to self-isolate, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Thursday as he opened up holidays to several Mediterranean hotspots.

Shapps followed the administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland in adding Malta and Spain's Balearic islands to the ranks of green list countries.

The list a from which returning travellers are not required to self-isolate a has also been extended to a number of Caribbean destinations including Bermuda, Antigua, Barbados and Grenada.

Shapps said the UK government would continue to take a "cautious" approach to reopening foreign travel.

However, he said the rollout of the coronavirus vaccination programme meant they could start to look at plans for easing restrictions on travel from amber list countries as well.

"Thanks to our successful vaccination programme, our intention is that later in the summer UK residents who are fully vaccinated will not have to isolate when travelling from amber list countries," he tweeted.

"We'll set out further details next month."

The changes to the green list destinations will come into effect at 4am on June 4.

source: PA

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(Sharecast News) - A shareholder revolt at JD Sports Fashion has resulted in the head of the company's remuneration committee being voted off the board over anger at the retailer's pay policies.
Westminster Group Plc

('Westminster', the 'Group' or the 'Company')

AGM Statement and Board Change

Westminster Group Plc (AIM: WSG), a leading supplier of managed services and technology-based security solutions worldwide, will hold its Annual General Meeting today at 11am (BST) at the offices of PKF Littlejohn LLP, 15 Westferry Circus, London, E14 4HD.

Ahead of the AGM Westminster's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Fowler, has issued the following statement.

"In our 2020 Annual Report issued on 30 April 2020 I was pleased to report that, despite the considerable challenges created by the Covid-19 global pandemic, we kept all our people safe, maintained our global operations, albeit some on reduced levels, and delivered some notable successes. Our revenues held up well considering the unprecedented challenges, largely due to the strength of our multiple revenue stream business model and the early actions taken by management.

"The global uncertainty and travel restrictions did of course impact our business by delaying the signing and / or delivery of certain projects, such as the Palace of Westminster contract we secured in 2020 but which we were only able to commence operations in April 2021. As noted in the Company's 30 April 2021 announcement, these disruptions and delays continued into 2021, with travel restrictions still in place in many parts of the world, resulting in further 'right-shifting' of certain expected contracts and revenues, which have impacted H1 2021 financials. Despite this, we are pleased to re-confirm that, with the expected easing of restrictions, recently secured contracts and a strong pipeline, we still believe we can meet full year expectations at the revenue and PBT level.

"Notwithstanding these challenges and the continuing global uncertainty, we remain excited about our future growth. We continue to pursue the many large-scale project opportunities we are developing around the world. There are encouraging signs that travel restrictions may at last be beginning to ease in a number of regions and that some of our delayed projects may once again begin to move forward.

"In our 2020 Annual Report we stated one of our key goals for 2021 was to secure at least one more long-term managed services contract and in that respect, I am delighted that, with an easing of restrictions, we have not only been able to secure one, but two, significant new long-term contract wins.

"In December 2020 we announced we were in the advanced stages of securing a long-term contract for 5 airports in an African country. We had been pursuing this opportunity since our acquisition of our French business Euro Ops in 2019 and we expected to secure this contract in 2020 but due to the various lockdowns and travel restrictions in place things were delayed. I was delighted therefore to be able to announce on 15 June that we had secured a 20-year manged services contract to provide security services to 5 airports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ('DRC'), Central Africa. This was a very significant achievement and not only means we will now have an established presence in a new region of Africa but also the project offers substantial growth opportunities.

"In addition, on 16 June I was delighted to announce that we had been awarded another long-term managed service contract to provide port screening services in West Africa. We had been pursuing and developing this opportunity for over two years and it is another important win for the Company that further extends our footprint and profile in the port screening sector.

"Both of the important new contract wins above demonstrate, as we have stated on a number of occasions, that large-scale projects such as these do take time to develop and negotiate and equally demonstrate that we have the skills and resources required to successfully deliver on such opportunities. Together these two new contracts alone will add, once fully operational, several million-pound step changes to our annual revenues and together with our other managed services and recurring revenue contracts, underpin confidence in our future forecasts and growth.

"As previously advised, we have established Westminster Arabia in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia jointly with our partners Hazar International but have been delayed from finalising licences due to travel restrictions. I am pleased to report however that with some easing of restrictions we are now preparing to re-enter the Kingdom to finalise matters. This will be an important step in enabling us to formally bid on the many medium and large-scale opportunities we have been developing there.

"In the UK our contract with the Palace of Westminster has commenced well and we are already looking at possible extensions to this project.

"In addition to these important new contracts we are encouraged in the recovery and growth of our existing operations.

"Our West African Airport managed services operation continues to be ahead of our expectations (currently 62% of pre-COVID levels) although we do not expect to see a full recovery to pre-Covid levels until 2022. It is encouraging however that this operation is recovering faster than the average African and European airport traffic.

"Our port managed services operations in Ghana have not been materially affected by Covid-19 and continue to perform well. With a 4th berth due later in 2021, we expect to see further growth with this important project.

"We continue to experience healthy enquiry levels and so far in 2021 have delivered products and services to over 40 countries around the world and we are beginning to see encouraging signs of recovery in our guarding and training businesses with recent new contract awards.

"We continue to develop new opportunities and initiatives such as our partnership with Certific in their new Covid testing programme for which Westminster are providing verification services. Whilst it remains too early to judge the potential scale and impact of this initiative, we are encouraged by the increasing interest Certific are receiving for their services including from large scale event organisers.

"As previously announced on 28 May 2021 Mr Charles Cattaneo will be leaving the Board today at the end of the Annual General Meeting. It is a pity he could not be with us today in person but on behalf of the Chairman and the rest of the Board I would like to thank him for his support and service to the Company and we wish him well for the future. We expect to update the market shortly on his replacement.

"Also, as previously announced on 28 May 2021, our Non-Executive Director, Mr Mawuli Ababio, was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Company. I am especially pleased to report that Mawuli was recently honoured by being Knighted by the French Ambassador in Ghana, on behalf of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, at a ceremony held at the Residence of France in Accra, Ghana, on 17 June 2021. The ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries including the President of Ghana and at which Mawuli was presented with France's 2nd highest award, the French National Order of Merit. On behalf of the Board and all at Westminster I would like to publicly congratulate him on this well-deserved award.

"In the last few years, we have achieved a lot and it is rewarding to see the quality of our services and our many achievements being widely recognised. I am extremely proud that in April 2021 Westminster were granted the Queen's Award for Enterprise in recognition of outstanding achievement in international trade. The award ceremony and Westminster's open day will now take place at Westminster House on 3 September 2021. In November 2020 the London Stock Exchange selected Westminster as one of a 1,000 companies to inspire Britain and in May 2020 and again in April 2021 the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) graded our aviation training business as 'Outstanding in all Areas'. These are all important accolades for our business and a testament to the skill and hard work of all our people."

For further information please contact:

Westminster Group Plc Media enquiries via Walbrook PR Rt. Hon. Sir Tony Baldry - Chairman Peter Fowler - Chief Executive Officer Mark Hughes - Chief Financial Officer Strand Hanson Limited (Financial & Nominated Adviser) James Harris 020 7409 3494 Ritchie Balmer Arden Partners plc (Broker) Richard Johnson (Corporate) Tim Dainton/Simon Johnson (Broking) 020 7614 5900 Walbrook (Investor Relations) Tom Cooper 020 7933 8780 Paul Vann Nick Rome Westminster@walbrookpr.com

Notes:

Westminster Group plc is a specialist security and services group operating worldwide via an extensive international network of agents and offices in over 50 countries.

Westminster's principal activity is the design, supply and ongoing support of advanced technology security solutions, encompassing a wide range of surveillance, detection (including Fever Detection), tracking and interception technologies and the provision of long-term managed services contracts such as the management and running of complete security services and solutions in airports, ports and other such facilities together with the provision of manpower, consultancy and training services. The majority of its customer base, by value, comprises governments and government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and blue-chip commercial organisations.

The Westminster Group Foundation is part of the Group's Corporate Social Responsibility activities. www.wg-foundation.org

The Foundation's goal is to support the communities in which the Group operates by working with local partners and other established charities to provide goods or services for the relief of poverty and the advancement of education and healthcare particularly in the developing world.

The Westminster Group Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, CIO, registered with the Charities Commission number 1158653.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO. 596/2014 ("MAR") WHICH IS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
LIVONIA, MICH.  On June 9, 2021, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) announced that Katie Alexander, Madonna University's director of special events, and Madonna University were winners of a prestigious 2021 Circle of Excellence Award.

Kudos to Alexander who walked away with a Silver Circle of Excellence Award in the category of Events on a Shoestring, for her innovative approach to hosting a safe and inclusive President's State of the University Address and Welcome Back Social event last August, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, CASE received almost 3,000 entries from 27 countries. Those entries came from 530 institutions for consideration across 100 categories. CASE is especially thankful for the 360 volunteers who selected more than 500 award-winning entries. That means only 16-17 percent of the entries submitted received an award. Madonna was one of only four Michigan schools to garner an award this year.

These peer-selected and adjudicated awards honor institutions worldwide whose talented staff have advanced their organizations through their resourcefulness and ingenuity. Winners are selected based on several factors, including overall quality, innovation, use of resources, and the impact on the institution or its external and internal communities, such as alumni, parents, students, and faculty and staff.

The judges had this to say about Alexander's award-winning event, "This was a very detailed program to keep people safe during a pandemic, while also honoring members of their university. Very well thought-out and budget-friendly. A beautiful message and event for all involved."
About 23,000 Gibraltarians are called to vote on Thursday in a referendum to ease one of the strictest abortion bans in the region.

Criminal law in the British enclave bans abortion in all circumstances and carries penalties that can go up to life imprisonment though not a single woman or a doctor has ever been convicted, a Gibraltar government spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"Abortion simply doesn't happen," she said. Gibraltar inhabitants can easily travel to Spain or elsewhere, she added.

Still, the referendum campaign has been at times heated and divisive as the wording was understood by opponents as too permissive.

Voters will be asked to approve an amendment to the criminal law that allows pregnancy termination carried out by registered physician within the first 12 weeks if the pregnancy carries more risk than termination and, afterwards, under certain circumstances such as when the foetus suffers from fatal abnormality.

The wording of the law is "too extreme" and could be interpreted as allowing abortion "all through the full nine months of pregnancy," Gibraltar Pro-Life Movement said on its Facebook page.

"Everything that happens after the 12th week (of pregnancy) is about saving the life of the mother or a fatal, fatal foetal abnormality," said Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's chief minister, who supports the "yes" camp, in an interview on local GBC TV station.

The referendum was originally scheduled for March 2020, but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The enclave, which is located on Spain's southern tip, has been a leader in terms of COVID-19 vaccination and has been of Europe's first territory in scrapping the mask obligation outdoors.
The Balearic Islands are set to be added to the UKs Green List for safe travel later today, according to British media reports.

The UK Government will reveal which countries will move from Amber to the coveted quarantine-free Green list in the coming hours.

The announcement from Britain will be welcomed locally, but the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel has dropped a bombshell. She is calling for all arrivals in the EU to be forced to quarantine, which could scupper holiday plans for Brits.

"In our country, if you come from Great Britain, you have to go into quarantine - and that's not the case in every European country and that's what I would like to see," Angela Merkel told the Bundestag.

Malta is also tipped to be green-listed today.
Editor

Darren Marcy, a journalist since 1992, is the editor of the Manchester Journal. A New Mexico native, he previously worked for newspapers in the Land of Enchantment before moving to Vermont in 2004. He joined the Journal in October 2018.
I remember being asked in some questionnaire here at the newspaper that was going to be used in our local campaign and one question asked what makes this area unique.

I had a really hard time with this, not just because I had just moved here shortly before the question, but also because Manistee is one that is hard to pin down and put into words.

To be honest, even though many revere the beaches hare, it was not the beaches. You can find great beaches aplenty all along Lake Michigan.

It wasn't the town or the architecture or the personality, although I'm sure many would argue with me on that.

It wasn't the food or culture scene. It wasn't the natural landscape or recreational opportunities.

I still dont know exactly what that thing is that is Manistees word or descriptor that makes it stand out as uniquely Manistee.

But as I was thinking that, one angle popped out as a bit of an enigma to me.

This one smallish detail really stood out from everywhere else I've been, except maybe in Japan.

I've never lived somewhere that had just so many people who were born and raised in the area  and I've lived in a lot of places and even places that still have that small town feel that many attribute to the Manistee area.

I meet these folks all the time through my work reporting and I find this aspect of the area to be so interesting. I'm someone who has lived in different Michigan towns, other states and even Japan for a time, and it is such a rarity to have an area with so many who identify as being born, raised and still residing in one location.

I'll be honest, I never vacationed here or even had visited Manistee before joining the News Advocate. I moved here because of the newspaper's credentials, location in the region and have been slowly getting to know the area. To be fair, I'm not one to easily be smitten with an area. I have more of a slow, layered process where I warm up to somewhere before I feel attached and part of things.

But one part of that, one conundrum to me is that in my experience it seems very hard to entice those people who are from here out into the community to do things outside of their normal routines.

After helping to start an outdoorswomen group last year and from my other interactions, I noticed that basically everyone who tended to show up was a transplant like me who was just looking for fun things to do.

None of them who I remember actually originated from here and never left.

I've also been on the receiving end and found that those people who hear that I'm looking to go hiking and such and invite me along are also typically transplants.

Even when I'm on some of the longer hiking trails like the North Country Trail or Manistee River Trail which are essentially in our backyard, I rarely meet people who are from this area.

Granted, weve been going through a pandemic most of the time Ive been here, but too often I made what I thought was a decent passing connection with a born-and-raised Manistee local, only to have my invitations to do things turned down again and again.

I would think it was just my personality was off putting if it wasnt for all the transplants who do take me up on adventuring, volunteering or meet ups.

It makes me wonder if its a difference in tastes, or something else.

Is it because people who are transplants are more likely to be on the move, looking for the next thing?

Are the born-and-raised crowd simply drawn to more static relationships that are reliable in their routineness?

I wonder if I maybe just click more with people who also have a hard time answering that tedious question of "where are you from?"

I never know what people are looking for in that question. Where was I born? Thats one place. Where was I raised or go to school? That's two or three or even four answers depending on if we mean K-12 or college or university.

I guess it also just makes me wonder what the born-and-raised group tends to do in their freetime.

After I had pretty much wrapped up this column, I stumbled on Ken Grabowskis column titled Forest Festival is the start of the light at the end of the tunnel.

He talked about how There have been many occasions over the years where many of us longtime residents have likened Manistee to a veteran boxer who has spent many years in the ring.

The point of that was not about longtime residents compared to transplants, but it did make me stop and think more about the topic I had been muddling over for some time now.

Ken also talked about the joys of the Manistee National Forest Festival and how people can look forward to the old joys like fireworks and such.

Do longtime residents tend to have other interests that I'm not involved with and so I have yet to see them out and about outside of work hours when they let their hair down?

Is it simply that few are into the outdoors and I have just yet to meet them or really connect in a meaningful way?

Do they tend to enjoy other things that I am simply not interested in or have little access to like family time with tight family units or church groups they established years ago?

When I lived in Japan that was something that stood out to me as well was that people often lived in an area for a long time, perhaps their lifetime, and they had long established relationships that were fairly consistent. Sometimes it was difficult for someone new to a town there to enter a new friend group where the ties had been forged in childhood and early adulthood connections like school and college.

It may seem silly to point out these differences Ive noticed, but I'm genuinely curious about what draws out the longtime residents and new transplants alike.

What do you think?

Arielle Breen is the assistant editor for the Manistee News Advocate. She can be reached at arielle.breen@pioneergroup.com or by leaving a message at (231) 398-3109.
It's become a global world that exists today on all fronts so the success or failure of any nation can be determined on how well it fits into that worldwide scheme of things.

That is why it was good to see the United States step forward two weeks ago and become not only an active participant in the G-7 summit in the United Kingdom, but take on a leadership role as well. As the old saying goes, You can either lead, follow or get the heck out of the way, and it was good to see America take up the leader torch among a group of longtime allies.

Trying to go it alone in todays global world is something that would be difficult for any country. So many things are interconnected in the world today that there needs to be an effort made to get as many people from all countries on the same page.

What also comes into play is as the world continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic the dynamics could very well shift for those who opt to sit on the sidelines in lieu of being active in in participants. Issues like COVID vaccines, climate change, Chinas global rise, ransomware attacks and NATO were all discussed at the summit.

Although there weren't any Earth shattering decisions made on those subjects it was important for the rest of the world to realize America is back being an active participant at the global table. It is why the eyes of the world were definitely focused on Americas position in those areas at the summit and it was vital to show the lines of communication are open.

Strategic stability is also important in know that countries dont need to worry about where another one stands when an issue pops up. That isnt the time to make a list where everyone stands on a particular issue, but one for quick action.

The worldwide economy will also come into play as COVID fades from the scene and having a strong American economy that can compete at a worldwide level is going to be beneficial in not only getting our business and industry back on line, but making them stronger than ever.

However, you first need a seat at the worldwide table to accomplish that task and secondly need to be a nation that the world can count on for being there with a stable policy that can be trusted. That doesnt mean being the nation that bails the others out, but being the one that leads the way by example into the future.

Mixed in to the worldwide equation that was discussed at the summit is the unknowns like Russia and China who are always looking to destabilize the democracies around the world with their actions. Strength often comes in numbers in dealing with those disruptive forces and that is needed more than ever now to keep them in line.

One part of the message that didnt change was it needs to be a group effort in terms of cost sharing with things like NATO and more of an overall team effort of all members of the G-7 summit. However, what was different this time around was the body language of the leaders, as the tense feeling seemed to be gone and replaced with a unity spirit that existed for decades in the past.

What was also evident from the body language present was it just wasnt being done for the cameras and media who were in attendance. It appeared that the leaders not only saw eye-to-eye on many of the issues discussed, but that they actually liked and are willing to support each other.

Watching President Joe Biden interact with Britains Boris Johnson, Germanys Andrea Merkle, Frances Emmanuel Macron, Canadas Justin Trudeau showed a group of leaders who knew the importance of the G-7 and the impact it has on the world.

In the big picture will what was discussed at the summit make any dramatic changes in any particular area? Not likely, but knowing that the door is open for discussion on issues and America has returned to a leadership position were the big takeaways from the conference.

If the pandemic taught the world one big lesson it is that the world is becoming a smaller place with the passing of every year. Many times the issues that come up impact all of us on the planet like the pandemic did and still do to this day.

That is why it is better to have good relations with these other nations so we can know what to expect from them and how we can all work together to make it a better world for all of us. Lets face the facts in that the world and the people in it arent perfect, but if we are willing to talk in a non-offensive matter maybe, just maybe something positive can come of it all.

At least we can hope for that beyond when we talk again next Monday.

Ken Grabowski is the retired associate editor of the Manistee News Advocate who worked for more than 36 years in the newspaper business.
MANISTEE  Manistee City Council will continue to interview candidates for the city manager position.

During a special meeting Tuesday evening at the Ramsdell Theatre, the council held a discussion to determine the next steps in the search.

"I would like to open up the interviews again. I would also like to reinterview one of the candidates we already interviewed and then figure out what we're going to do," said councilmember Jermaine Sullivan. "If we're going to do it two nights, do it Tuesday and Wednesday and then pick somebody Thursday  not right after we interview the last person. I don't think that went very well last time."

During public meetings on May 12 and 13, five candidates were interviewed for the city manager position. Greg Elliott, a Manistee native who currently serves as administrator for the City of Adrian, was given a conditional offer for the position by the city council after its final round of interviews on May 13.

Council took action on June 15 on several measures surrounding the search for city manager Thad Taylors replacement, including naming Manistee's Chief Financial Officer Ed Bradford for the interim position, which will take effect at 5 p.m. on July 2.

The first measure was unanimously in favor of allowing Taylor to schedule additional interviews with potential candidates and the second action was to deny an employment agreement with Elliott.

Council voted 5-2 against approving a contract with Elliott as it was presented. Councilmembers Lynda Beaton and James Grabowski were the supporting votes.

During the discussion before the vote, both Councilmembers Dave Bachman and Sullivan stated reasons against Elliott specifically.

Im not comfortable with the way that things have played out, Sullivan said during the June 15 meeting. We authorized the city manager, the staff to negotiate the contract and the emails that went back and forth that didnt include the city manager I thought they were in very poor taste and sets a bad tone. And it kind of says to me that this candidate might have a problem following councils agendas.

Mayor pro-tem Mick Szymanski stated that he was focused on the specifics of the proposed contract and that the terms did not seem fair. He noted that he was not necessarily rejecting Elliott as a candidate by objecting to the contract terms as presented.

In an interview with the News Advocate, city manager Taylor said the council decided to move on from Elliott and seek out new candidates instead.

"He is (out of the running). Council elected not to approve his offered employment agreement," Taylor said. "Then council decided to exercise the next steps, and that's why we met (Tuesday): for council to decide what direction they wanted to go."

On Tuesday, Bachman said the best course of action would be to explore candidates who had already applied before opening up the position to more applicants.

"I'd like to look at people who applied who we haven't interviewed yet and maybe do some interviews there," he said. "Part of me wants to run the ad again and leave it open until (the position) is filled, but it's kind of a disservice to the people who apply if we do an interview and fill it. It's kind of backward, so maybe we should interview the people who applied and if we don't find a candidate just open it until it's filled."

Council entered a closed session to discuss candidates who were not interviewed and whose request for confidentiality must still be maintained.

Upon returning from the closed session, the council took action to have the Michigan Municipal League contact two candidates to see if they would be interested in interviewing for the position.

The city council voted in February to approve a $17,000 contract with the MML to help identify Taylors replacement.

Councilmembers also decided to have the MML contact William Gambill to set up a second interview. Gambill previously interviewed on May 13.

"He's got an excellent resume, and I think he was just having an off night," Beaton said. "I think Dave might have caught him off guard."

"I liked him a lot," Bachman said. "He just didn't have the right answers for the hard questions, but maybe he rethought them."

City council's next meeting is slated for July 6 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall.

SEE ALSO:

New interim Manistee city manager OK'd, council rejects primary candidate's contract

Complaints, investigation surround prospective city manager
EDITOR'S NOTE: In honor of Pride Month, the News Advocate is featuring a series on people who are within or involved with the LGBTQ community. Part one highlights PFLAG Manistee, an organization working for support, education and advocacy for the area's LGBTQ population and their families. In part two we will hear from parents of LGBTQ people as they share their stories.

MANISTEE COUNTY  Linda Karle-Nelson, a founding member of PFLAG Manistee, said the organization's mission has three parts.

"The national and the local organizations all have three focuses: support of LGBT people and their families, educating people in the community about who they are and advocacy  to work for a greater welcoming and supportive atmosphere locally and nationally," she said. "There's lots of work to do there these days."

Karle-Nelson and her husband, Tom, built a home in the area in 2008 and began looking for a way to be active in the community.

"Around 2008 or 2009, and I ran across Susan Mencarelli, who had started some sort of an organization. She had gathered some people together who were interested in doing some work in the community, and at the first meeting I gave my background, told the group why I was there and all about PFLAG," Karle-Nelson said. "Susan told me about a gentleman in town who was a gay man who had expressed an interest in starting a PFLAG group, but didn't have anybody else to do it with. She gave me his name, I contacted him and he and his partner gathered some people together."

And thus, PFLAG Manistee was born.

"We started looking around for a place to meet and Holy Trinity Church invited us to meet in their facility. ... (My husband and I) started going to Holy Trinity and I guess we must have told them about PFLAG," Karle-Nelson said. "They were so open, supportive and welcoming  and still are. We've lived through three different pastors there now and they still are welcoming to our group and to our meetings. We've marched in the parades with some people from Holy Trinity as well."

Karle-Nelson said PFLAG originally started in New York City in the 1970s.

"It was started after the time of what was called the Stonewall Riots or Rebellion. That was kind of the catalyst for the gay liberation movement in the United States," she said. "PFLAG began as a family support system. ... It was started by a mother who wanted to support her son who's gay. They marched together in a parade in New York City and that was the beginning of PFLAG."

Karle-Nelson said PFLAG Manistee meets monthly to discuss ways to make a difference.

"We support not just families of LGBT people but also gay, lesbian, bi, trans and queer people  however they identify," she said. "I don't think we've achieved great notoriety in terms of people knowing who we are, but we have done some things that I think have been effective in terms of education of the community."

Karle-Nelson said PFLAG Manistee has been quite busy over the past decade.

"We have held a number of workshops sponsored by Michigan State for staff and administration at Manistee County schools  that was a few years ago. We also developed a poetry contest about six years ago in which we invited all of the students from grades nine through 12 in the Manistee County schools to submit poetry or art of some kind discussing or demonstrating their reaction to bullying," she said. "It was really an effort to get at the bullying that was going on and continues to go on of LGBT kids in schools. We had quite a good reaction and lots of entries. We turned those entries  the poetry  into placements, which were distributed to restaurants throughout the county."

Karle-Nelson said the group's most recent project involved donating LGBTQ-inclusive books to area elementary schools.

"We supplied at least six books to elementary schools in the county. ... We met with principals and superintendents and after a little discussion they agreed  the Manistee administration was on board right away and served as kind of a role model for us to offer to other superintendents," she said. "They received at least six books that were LGBT-themed and age-appropriate for elementary school kids. I think that was a pretty successful project, although we didn't get a chance to follow up because COVID hit.

"We were going to go back last May and ask to get some results  how many books were taken out, how many books were used," Karle-Nelson continued. "That hasn't happened yet, but it was a widely popular project. I hope it makes some difference. That was our most recent widespread project."

PFLAG Manistee has nine board members, as well as visitors who attend the monthly meetings, but Karle-Nelson would love to see more people participate, as there is a lot of work that needs to be done before everyone feels accepted regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

"We would love to get some younger people here. We're a rather elderly group of board members and it's really hard to get younger folks interested," she said. "We would like to get their parents to join us because we certainly need help to extend support in the community to LGBT people.

"It's pretty conservative here, but relatively speaking, it's probably less conservative than other communities in the area," Karle-Nelson continued. "In fact, we had the Zoom meeting (on June 10), 'Meet your LGBT Neighbors,' and we found out there have been attempts to establish a (Gender-Sexuality Alliance) in the high school in Ludington, but it's been rebuffed a couple of times, so there's work to do. It's ridiculous in this day and age having that kind of reaction. It's difficult not to get angry."

Those interested in getting involved with PFLAG Manistee can email pflagmanistee@gmail.com.

SEE ALSO:

Youth Advisory Council awards grant to PFLAG Manistee
MANISTEE  Munson Healthcare President and CEO Ed Ness announced recently that Alicia Maitland has been named chief financial officer for Munson Healthcare.

She will be taking over the role from Mark Hepler who is retiring at the end of month.

Maitland joined Munson Healthcare in August 2012 as the director of financial planning and operations. In 2015, she was promoted to corporate controller and then promoted again in 2016 to vice president of finance and corporate controller for Munson Healthcare and chief financial officer for Munson Medical Center, according to a news release.

Prior to joining Munson Healthcare, she spent 11 years at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago where she held various corporate leadership roles and seven years at Deloitte in the tri-state region (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) and Chicago metropolitan area, where she specialized in the healthcare industry.

Alicias progressive experience and broad expertise have positioned her well for this role, Ness said in a news release. I am confident that her leadership will help drive our strategic vision and goals forward in this continually changing industry.

Maitland is a certified public accountant and received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management at Boston College. She is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and serves on the board of Venture North, a community development financial institution in Traverse City.

I am thrilled to take on this expanded role at Munson Healthcare, an organization that has such a proud history, Maitland said. In this rapidly evolving environment, my job will be to make sure the complexities of healthcare finance are understandable to all and we are financially positioned to drive thoughtful positive change so we can continue to make an impact in northern Michigan. It is a privilege to be part of this team and serve our communities.
SOMERSET, N.J.

June 24, 2021

Germany

Juergen Weisser

Julien Meissonnier

Manja Boerman

Belgium

Texas

Maryland

Europe

$3 billion

Somerset, New Jersey

Chris Halling

Richard Kerns

/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Catalent, the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire RheinCell Therapeutics GmbH, a developer and manufacturer of GMP-grade human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Upon completion, the acquisition will build upon Catalent's existing custom cell therapy process development and manufacturing capabilities with proprietary GMP cell lines for iPSC-based therapies. The deal will enable Catalent to offer the building blocks to scale iPSC-based cell therapies while reducing barriers to entry to the clinic for therapeutic companies and is expected to close before the end of 2021, subject to customary conditions. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.iPSCs are cells that can be differentiated into various cell types to address a wide range of therapeutic indications. Founded in 2017, RheinCell has undertaken significant research and development of full GMP human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched cell banks with superior genomic integrity, as well as investing in development-scale operational capabilities. RheinCell is based in Langenfeld, near Dusseldorf,. Upon closing, RheinCell's current employees will join Catalent's Cell & Gene Therapy business."We formed RheinCell based on our deep scientific and regulatory expertise in the promising field of cell-based therapies," commented, Chief Executive Officer, RheinCell Therapeutics. He added, "We are convinced Catalent will be able to substantially accelerate RheinCell's future growth and help to support customers around the globe that are interested in our GMP-grade iPSC lines and iPSC-based services to feed their development pipelines in this exciting and highly demanding new therapeutic field.""By offering a renewable, and standardized, source of cells for further product development, iPSCs have the potential to be a disruptive technology that could fuel the development of the next generation of cell therapies and substantially enhance the ability to manufacture at scale," said, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Catalent. He added, "Catalent is committed to building a full-scale value chain for emerging modalities and accelerating their path to market through expertise and innovation. This acquisition further strengthens Catalent's position in these new therapeutic areas, by pioneering tools and techniques to substantially advance scale-up to meet the demands of clinical and commercial manufacturing.""This latest acquisition fuels the extraordinary growth of Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy, and the expertise and deep knowledge in iPSC cell lines that RheinCell brings will immediately boost our cell therapy portfolio, allowing us to offer iPSC banks to our customers as a premium source for their therapeutic development pathway," said, Ph.D., President, Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy. She added, "The addition of the RheinCell team to our growing cell therapy network will create an opportunity to share cutting-edge expertise across our global centers of excellence."Since 2020, Catalent has invested in its cell therapy capabilities with four strategic expansions at its Gosselies,, campus  the location of its European Center of Excellence for cell and gene therapy. Together with its U.S. cell and gene therapy facilities acrossand, Catalent continues to increase its clinical and commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities across the full range of cell and gene therapy activity.About RheinCell Therapeutics GmbH RheinCell develops and manufactures GMP-grade human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for the next generation of cell therapies. Its production pipeline focuses on high immune compatibility and low rejection potential, with a spotlight on solutions for off-the-shelf, allogenic therapeutics. RheinCell provides exclusive access to clinically approved and consented cord blood cells, proprietary cell reprogramming protocols, state-of-the-art cleanroom and cell culture facilities, GMP-compliant manufacturing processes, and a first-class community of iPSC workflow experts who also develop GMP-compliant differentiation protocols in close cooperation with customers. For more information, visit http://www.rheincell.deAbout Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy is an industry-leading technology, development, and manufacturing partner for advanced therapeutics. Its comprehensive cell therapy portfolio includes a wide range of expertise across a variety of cell types including CAR-T, TCR, TILs, NKs, iPSCs, and MSCs. With deep expertise in viral vector development, scale-up and manufacturing for gene therapies, Catalent is a full-service partner for plasmid DNA, adeno-associated viral (AAV), lentiviral and other viral vectors, oncolytic viruses, and live virus vaccines. An experienced and innovative partner, Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy has a global network of dedicated, small- and large-scale clinical and commercial manufacturing facilities, including an FDA-licensed viral vector facility, and fill/finish capabilities located in both the U.S. andAbout Catalent Catalent is the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products. With over 85 years serving the industry, Catalent has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable global clinical and commercial product supply. Catalent employs over 15,000 people, including approximately 2,400 scientists and technicians, at more than 45 facilities, and in fiscal year 2020 generated overin annual revenue. Catalent is headquartered in. For more information, visit http://www.catalent.comMore products. Better treatments. Reliably supplied., Catalent, +447580041073, chris.halling@catalent.com, Northern Exposure Public Relations, +441617285880, chris.halling@catalent.comSOURCE Catalent
* Varicocele: This condition is responsible for 1 in 5 male secondary infertility cases. Varicocele is an enlargement of veins in the scrotum or the sac of the skin encasing the testicles.This is one of the most common condition causing decreased sperm production and infertility in men. About 30 per cent of the infertile men may have varicocele. A heated environment can be deadly for sperm, causing them to diminish and die.* Reduced or decreased testosterone levels: Testosterone or male sex hormone as it is commonly referred to plays a key role in sperm production. Levels of testosterone can be decreased due to aging, injury to genital or urinary organs or certain medical conditions as genitourinary infections, thyroid disease, DM, TB, Mumps, Small Pox, Stress or surgery of the genital tract.* Unhealthy Habits: Tobacco, drugs and alcohol can make life hard for your little swimmers. Its one thing to have got healthily pregnant on these the last time around, but a build-up of toxins in your body may eventually catch up with you, masquerading as secondary infertility.* Poor semen quality: As the age advances the quality of semen (that carries sperm) tends to decline. After the age of 40 years poor quality semen is one of the most common cause of secondary infertility in males.* Stress: Stress can unleash a torrent of setbacks -- premature age lines, insomnia, chronic anxiety and perhaps worst of all, infertility. Even if you were under just as much stress before your first child was born, it's possible that the mental pressure has now snowballed into a physical manifestation.* Prostate enlargement or prostate removal: Prostate enlargement causes low sperm count and may hinder ejaculation. Prostate removal due to cancer or other conditions can cause retrograde ejaculation and hence infertility.* Use of drugs: Some antibiotics and few medications used to treat high blood pressure for example can affect the sperm count and quality. Also chemotherapy or radiotherapy used for most of the cancers will decrease the sperm count and quality.* Use of commercial sexual lubricant: These non-toxic, natural lubricants including peanut, safflower and vegetable oils and petroleum jellies are toxic to sperms and hence decrease fertility.* Exposure to chemicals: Pesticides, lead, industrial chemicals and excessive heat or cold can impact a man's fertility. In the world we live in, we are unwittingly exposed to toxins every day. But some toxins are even more damaging than others. Lead-laden products, pesticides, harmful chemicals and radiation are vicious for sperm.* Excessive weight gain decreases the levels of testosterone and increases estrogen levels. Obesity, overweight and type 2 diabetes are common causes of infertility. Often, an increase in weight disrupts the hormonal equilibrium, leading to hampered sperm production and quality."Regardless of whether infertility is primary or secondary treatment options remain quite similar. Most of the times ruling out the cause and treating the cause of infertility wins the battle and solves the problem. However the treatment of secondary infertility in males depends upon the count and the cause leading to the same," says the doctor.* Diagnostic Investigation: The easiest, most convenient and the best diagnostic investigation for a male suffering with secondary infertility is a semen analysis done after 48-72 hrs of abstinence at a good infertility centre. According to WHO (2010) guidelines/criteria the normal count for sperms in a male is count of more than 15 million per ml.If the count is more than 15 million per ml -- Antioxidants and anti-aging supplements can increase fertility in men. Drug treatment can also improve semen quality.* IUI (Intrauterine insemination) as an option for planning a pregnancy: If the count is between 10-15 million per ml -- IUI (Intrauterine insemination) which involves surgically placing sperms inside woman's uterus to increase the chance of fertilization.* In-Vitro Fertilization: If the count is less than 10 million per ml -- IVF which involves stimulating the ovaries of female to retrieve eggs and taking husband's sperm for fertilization with eggs in a lab to make embryos and transferring the embryos back to uterus helps to conceive.However if the sperm count is nil that is azoospermia the cause of azoospermia again needs to be ascertained."Infertility can be devastating with a high emotional toll on individuals and couples. If treatments for secondary infertility fail, couples might suffer from a range of emotions, including anger, sadness, grief, guilt and loneliness.They might experience a lack of empathy from family members and friends, who may tell them they should be thankful to have one child. The key to coping with secondary infertility is to open communication channels with those that are close to you. Lean on your partner and open your heart to them about how you feel."Knowing you're in this together can lend strength to your bond and prepare you both for medical intervention. Turn to close family and friends to help you navigate your headspace.There are myriad online support groups for secondary infertility that you can also draw inspiration from. For professional guidance, it is a good idea to meet a counsellor who can help you on the path to conception.Source: IANS
KRK has been making headlines for the past few weeks after doing a review on Salman Khans film Radhe.

Now, KRK has claimed that he is yet to receive a copy of the court order as it was said that he has been temporarily restrained from uploading any defamatory content against Salman Khan.

KRK also expressed that he has never said anything derogatory against Salman Khan and only shares honest reviews of his films.

Recently, Salman Khan sued Kamaal R Khan for defaming him. However, KRK claimed it to be a retaliation for his review of Salmans movie Radhe.

But, Salmans lawyers cleared it out by saying that it is a response to allegations of corruption and money laundering against Being Human.

According to PTI, a Mumbai court on Wednesday temporarily restricted KRK from sharing any post or defamatory videos on Salman Khan. The court said, A good reputation is an element of personal security and is protected by the Constitution equally with the right to the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property.

The court further said, If the defendant (Kamaal Khan) is permitted to continue the use of such defamatory words against the plaintiff (Salman Khan) they will cause irreparable loss to the image of plaintiff in the society.

In response to the same KRK took to Twitter and said, Till now, I have not received Court order copy but I read in media reports that court has asked me to not say anything defamatory against #Salmankhan! I have never said anything defamatory in the past and I wont say in the future also. I just review films honestly and I will do.

Till now, I have not received Court order copy but I read in media reports that court has asked me to not say anything defamatory against #Salmankhan! I have never said anything defamatory in the past and I wont say in the future also. I just review films honestly and I will do.  KRK (@kamaalrkhan) June 23, 2021

He wrote in another tweet, I just want to inform media that I havent received court order copy till now. But if the order will be unsatisfactory, then I will go to High Court and even supreme Court. I will fight to protect my rights of freedom of speech. Thanks!

I just want to inform media that I havent received court order copy till now. But if the order will be unsatisfactory, then I will go to High Court and even supreme Court. I will fight to protect my rights of freedom of speech. Thanks!  KRK (@kamaalrkhan) June 23, 2021

Woah, arent you tired of KRK tweets on Twitter? Let us know in the comments section below!
At its annual general meeting, Reliance announced the worlds cheapest smartphone that will be available in India from 10th September 2021. The smartphone has been made in collaboration with Google that will feature all of the key Google and Jio apps pre-loaded on the smartphone. It will be the worlds cheapest 4G smartphone according to Mukesh Ambani.

 Reliance Jio

"JioPhone NEXT is powered by an optimized version of Android OS jointly developed by Jio and Google. It is ultra-affordable and packs cutting-edge features. It will be available in the market from Ganesh Chaturthi i.e.10th September Mr Ambani said during the launch event.



The smartphone features an optimised version of Android which will support the entire suite of apps from Google and Jio. The smartphone will also feature the Play Store for users to download other applications. The smartphone will also have support for a voice assistant and augmented reality filters in the camera.

 Reliance-AGM

Google CEO Sundar Pichai also made an appearance at the digital event and said that the phone will have support for the latest Android updates, translation features and a smart camera. The smartphone has been designed specifically for users who will be going online for the very first time.

 Reliance-AGM

The price of the affordable 4G smartphone has not been announced yet but we do know that the JioPhone Next will be available on occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. The company also announced that over 37.9 million new customers joined the Jio network and has now amassed over 425 million subscribers in the country. The company also registered a 45% growth in data usage in India and the company is expecting to add 200 million new customers.

As of now, it is not known whether the JioPhone Next will be locked to the Jio network or whether it will be accessible to users who are currently subscribed to competing network providers. We should know soon about the upcoming smartphone in the coming months as we get closer to the launch date of 10th September.
EGLE to host virtual public meeting to discuss proposed major modification of Wayne Disposal Inc.'s hazardous waste facility operating license

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2021

Christine Matlock, EGLE Hazardous Waste, MatlockC2@Michigan.gov, 517-290-4612

Jill A. Greenberg, EGLE spokesperson, GreenbergJ@Michigan.gov, 517-897-4965

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will host a virtual public meeting June 29 to give community members an opportunity to learn about Wayne Disposal Inc.'s (WDI) modification request to its hazardous waste facility operating license.

The modification request seeks to change the landfill liner design, and currently is under review by EGLE. WDI operates a hazardous waste landfill located at 49350 North I-94 Service Drive in Belleville, Michigan. This meeting will take place virtually to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and give community members an opportunity to engage with EGLE.

The meeting will allow attendees to hear directly from EGLE staff, and have questions answered. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. It will include an EGLE presentation covering WDI's modification request, and EGLE's licensing process. A question-and-answer session with EGLE staff will follow the presentation.

Individuals interested in attending can pre-register or join when the meeting starts without registering using the pre-registration link. After registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For those without internet access or who would like to join by phone, call 636-651-3142, and use conference code 374288.

To learn more in advance of the meeting, go to Michigan.gov/USEcologyWDI. Anyone interested in receiving electronic updates on progress related to EGLE's oversight and applications review is encouraged to subscribe to the US Ecology Michigan Disposal Waste Treatment Plant and Wayne Disposal Inc. Hazardous Waste Landfill.

Individuals needing language assistance or accommodations for effective participation at the meeting should contact Christine Matlock at 517-290-4612, or MatlockC2@Michigan.gov, as soon as possible to request language, mobility, visual, hearing, translation and/or other assistance.

EGLE does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, disability, political beliefs, height, weight, genetic information, or sexual orientation in the administration of any of its programs or activities, and prohibits intimidation and retaliation, as required by applicable laws and regulations.

###

The US Ecology Michigan Disposal Waste Treatment Plant (MDWTP) and Wayne Disposal, Inc. (WDI) are located at the same address and licensed separately. MDWTP is licensed to store and treat hazardous waste, while WDI is licensed to operate a hazardous waste landfill at the site; both are located at 49350 North 1-94 Service Drive, Belleville, Michigan. Join the GovDelivery list for "US Ecology Michigan Disposal Waste Treatment Plant and Wayne Disposal Inc. Hazardous Waste Landfill" to receive updates related to web resources, new license actions, public hearings and meetings related to hazardous waste operations at the site.
Bodies Found at Unregistered Ypsilanti Crematory Removed from Facility

Bodies Found at Unregistered Ypsilanti Crematory Removed from Facility

Media Contact: LARA Communications (517-335-LARA (5272))

Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov

June 24, 2021 - Today, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) confirmed that all of the bodies have now been either cremated or removed from Tri-County Cremation Services, L.L.C.'s crematory facility located at 1106 E. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti. This was no small feat and involved the cooperation and participation of multiple licensed funeral establishments, county medical examiners, and the State Vital Records Office, all coordinated by LARA with the assistance of the Department of Attorney General, in a matter of days. LARA and the Department of Attorney General are grateful for the prompt and efficient assistance of those organizations and individuals in authorizing, overseeing, and achieving the final disposition of so many loved ones.

LARA initiated its administrative action against Tri-County Cremation Services, L.L.C. under the Cemetery Regulation Act on June 4, 2021. On June 16, 2021, LARA also initiated administrative action under the Occupational Code against Comfort Cremation Services LLC, an entity on file with LARA's Corporations Division with a registered office located at 101 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 1400, in Troy, and its members, O'Neil Swanson, a/k/a O'Neil D. Swanson, II, and George A. Drosis. Investigations concerning both matters remain ongoing.

On June 11, 2021, O'Neil Swanson and Dianne E. Swanson were ordered by the Ingham County Circuit Court to stop violating a cease and desist order issued by LARA on June 4, 2021, prohibiting them and Tri-County Cremation Services, L.L.C., under their ownership and operation, from engaging in activities that require a crematory registration under the Cemetery Regulation Act. On June 17, 2021, O'Neil Swanson, Dianne Swanson, and Comfort Cremation Services, LLC were ordered by the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, in a separate civil proceeding commenced by Ypsilanti Township, to refrain from participating in the removal of human remains from the crematory facility. LARA successfully intervened on an ex parte basis in that proceeding to enforce the requirements of its June 4, 2021 Cease and Desist Order against Tri-County Cremation Services, L.L.C. and the Swansons.

In 2019, O'Neil Swanson was convicted of conversion of funds under the Prepaid Funeral and Cemetery Sales Act. In 2018, his mortuary science license and the mortuary science establishment license previously held by Swanson's Funeral Home, Inc. in Flint were revoked based on violations of the Occupational Code and other health and safety laws.

Members of the public who have questions or concerns regarding these matters should contact LARA at (517) 241-7000 or by email at CSCLonline@michigan.gov. LARA is a regulatory agency with no criminal enforcement powers. When LARA determines that one of its regulatory actions could result in criminal charges under a law it administers, those cases are referred to either the Michigan Department of Attorney General or local law enforcement.
FREE SOIL  The Michigan Second Cavalry Civil War reenactors return at 8:15 a.m. for Mass on Sunday, July 4 at St. John Cantius Church in Free Soil.

There will be a presentation of the American flag before Mass. Taps and other patriotic music will be played during the services.
Consumers Energy today announced a sweeping proposal to stop using coal as a fuel source for electricity by 2025 15 years faster than currently planned. The plan would make the company one of the first in the nation to go coal-free and provide a 20-year blueprint to meet Michigans energy needs while protecting the environment for future generations.

We are proud to lead Michigans clean energy transformation and be one of the first utilities in the country to end coal use, said President and CEO Garrick Rochow. We are committed to being a force of change and good stewards of our environment, producing reliable, affordable energy for our customers while caring for our communities during this transition.

The plan, which requires regulatory approval, ensures we will:

Be among the first utilities in the nation to go coal-free by 2025;

Use 90% clean energy resources by 2040;

Build nearly 8,000 megawatts of solar energy to power Michigans homes and businesses by 2040;

Stay on the path to achieve net zero carbon emissions, and

Save customers about $650 million through 2040.

If approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, the updated plan would speed closure of our three coal-fired units at the Campbell generating complex near Holland.

Campbell 1 and 2, collectively capable of producing more than 600 megawatts of electricity, would retire in 2025  roughly six years sooner than their scheduled design lives.

Campbell 3, capable of generating 840 MW, would also retire in 2025  roughly 15 years sooner than its scheduled design life.

The updated proposal also calls for moving up closure of Karn 3 and 4, units that run on natural gas and fuel oil and can generate more than 1,100 MW to meet peak demand, to 2023  about eight years sooner than their design lives.

Consumers Energy is committed to a just transition away from coal as a fuel source for electricity, said Brandon Hofmeister, senior vice president for governmental, regulatory and public affairs. We supported employees and communities impacted by our 2016 coal retirements by finding new roles for workers who wanted to stay, fulfilling our environmental responsibilities at the sites and helping local leaders pursue new economic possibilities. We plan to follow the same philosophy to help those affected by the proposed Campbell and Karn retirements.

By 2040, clean, renewable fuel sources such as solar and wind will comprise more than 60% of our electric capacity. Combining that growth with advances in energy storage and customer efficiency will allow us to meet customers needs with 90% clean energy resources. The rapid transition to clean, renewable sources includes the addition of nearly 8,000 megawatts of solar power. Our solar ramp-up has started and will continue throughout the 2020s. Consumers Energy currently operates solar power plants at Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and in Cadillac and purchases solar generation from several sites in Michigan.

To ensure continued reliable, affordable energy for Michigan and the Midwest during this historic transition away from coal generation, Consumers Energy proposes buying four existing natural gas-fired power plants in the state: Covert Generating Station in Van Buren County; Dearborn Industrial Generation in Wayne County; Kalamazoo River Generating Station in Kalamazoo County; and Livingston Generating Station in Otsego County. The proposed purchases require state and federal regulatory approvals. The Kalamazoo River and Livingston plants are smaller and used primarily to meet peak demand.

These natural gas plants  along with Consumers Energys current natural gas-fired power plants in Zeeland and Jackson  would supply steady, reliable electricity for homes and businesses as the company invests more heavily in renewable energy and continues to explore emerging technology to minimize impact on the environment.

The plan creates price stability and, by using natural gas as a fuel source to generate baseload power, will save customers about $650 million through 2040 compared to the current plan. Further, the increased use of demand management tools such as energy waste reduction programs will give customers more control over their monthly energy bills, equipping them to save energy and money over the long term.

Visit ConsumersEnergy.com/change to learn more about the Clean Energy Plan.

Consumers Energy, Michigans largest energy provider, provides natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the states 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
Mark Lloyd Prescott, 52, of Bad Axe died after being hit by a utility trailer while riding his bicycle near Bad Axe June 23.

According to the Michigan State Police Caro Post, troopers responded to a traffic crash around 11:20 a.m. that occurred at the intersection of North Van Dyke Road and Barrie Road in Colfax Township.
JERUSALEM (AP)  An outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority who was a candidate in parliamentary elections called off earlier this year died after Palestinian security forces arrested him and beat him with batons on Thursday, his family said.

Nizar Banat was a harsh critic of the PA, which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and had called on Western nations to cut off aid to it because of its authoritarianism and human rights violations. Earlier this week, another prominent activist was detained by the PA and held overnight after criticizing it on Facebook.

The crackdown on dissent comes as the internationally-backed PA faces a growing backlash from Palestinians who view it as corrupt and increasingly autocratic, a manifestation of a three-decade peace process that is nowhere close to delivering Palestinian independence. Hundreds took to the streets in protest after word spread of Banat's death.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was elected to a four-year term in 2005, has little to show after more than a decade of close security coordination with Israel. The 85-year-old leader has been powerless to stop the expansion of Jewish settlements, home demolitions, evictions in Jerusalem and deadly Israeli military raids, and was largely ignored during the recent unrest in Jerusalem and the 11-day Gaza war.

Western nations nevertheless view the PA as a key partner for rebuilding Gaza, which is ruled by the militant Hamas group, and eventually reviving the moribund peace process.

Mohammed Banat, a cousin who witnessed the arrest, said a group of men, some wearing masks, burst into the house where Nizar was staying and sprayed everyone with pepper spray.

They beat Nizar with batons on his head and body, he told The Associated Press. "They did not identify themselves and we did not recognize them. They arrested Nizar and disappeared.

In a brief statement, the Hebron governorate said Nizar's health deteriorated when Palestinian forces went to arrest him early Thursday. It said he was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The United States, the European Union and the United Nations called for an investigation, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced the formation of an investigative committee.

Dr. Samir Abu Zaarour, a forensic pathologist for the Independent Commission for Human Rights who attended the autopsy, said the death was unnatural and ruled out a heart attack or stroke. He said final results will only be available after further testing. Pictures of the body released by the family appear to show bruising on his head and legs.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the West Bank city of Ramallah and tried to march to the PA's headquarters, chanting The people want the downfall of the regime" and "Abbas, you are not one of us, take your dogs and leave.

Palestinian security forces fired tear gas at the marchers and beat people with wooden batons.

Tahani Mustafa, an analyst at the Crisis Group, an international think thank, said there's been increasing repression" since the PA was sidelined and widely derided during the Gaza war. At this point the PA cant really afford any level of criticism," she said.

She added that the international community, which has trained and equipped Palestinian security forces, needs to take some responsibility and push for accountability and change.

In early May, gunmen fired bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at Nizar Banat's home near the West Bank city of Hebron, where his wife was inside with their children. He blamed the attack on Abbas' Fatah party, which dominates the security forces.

The Europeans need to know that they are indirectly funding this organization, he told The Associated Press in May in an interview at a house where he was hiding out. "They fire their guns into the air at Fatah celebrations, they fire their guns in the air when Fatah leaders fight each other and they fire their guns at people who oppose Fatah.

The EU delegation to the Palestinians tweeted that it was shocked and saddened" by Banat's death and called for a full, independent, and transparent investigation." The U.N.'s Mideast envoy, Tor Wennesland, said the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

The U.S. State Department echoed those calls. In a statement, it expressed serious concerns about Palestinian Authority restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression by Palestinians and harassment of civil society activists and organizations.

Earlier this week, Palestinian security forces detained a prominent activist and held him overnight after he took to Facebook to criticize the PA's arrest of another individual. Issa Amro is an outspoken critic of both Israel and the PA, and has been detained by both in the past.

I feel that my life is in danger like Nizar Banat. I don't feel there is anyone who can protect me from attacks by outlaws affiliated with some security authorities," Amro said. Unfortunately, there's a state of security chaos since the cancellation of the elections.

A recent poll showed plummeting support for Abbas, who cancelled the first elections in 15 years in April when it looked like his fractured Fatah party would suffer another humiliating defeat to Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas' forces in 2007.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Abbas when he visited the region after the Gaza war last month, and the Biden administration is working to bolster the PA after relations fell to an all-time low under President Donald Trump.

The European Union has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to the PA over the years. Earlier this week, it signed an agreement to provide $425 million in loans to the PA and Palestinian banks.

Mustafa, of the Crisis Group, said such initiatives will be incredibly ineffective unless the U.S. presses for political renewal that allows the Palestinians to choose their own leaders.

Any pursuit toward the peace process will not be accepted by the majority of Palestinians if its being done on behalf of a small cluster of people that they do not see as being representative or acting in their own interest, which is what we are seeing now," she said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  Leaders of Indigenous groups in Canada said Thursday investigators have found more than 600 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school for Indigenous children  a discovery that follows last month's report of 215 bodies found at another school.

The bodies were discovered at the Marieval Indian Residential School, which operated from 1899 to 1997 where the Cowessess First Nation is now located, about 85 miles (135 kilometers) east of Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan.

A search with ground-penetrating radar resulted in 751 hits,'' indicating that at least 600 bodies were buried in the area, said Chief Cadmus Delorme of the Cowessess. The radar operators have said their results could have a margin of error of 10%.

We want to make sure when we tell our story that were not trying to make numbers sound bigger than they are, Delorme said. I like to say over 600, just to be assured.

He said the search continues and the radar hits will be assessed by a technical team and the numbers will be verified in coming weeks.

Delorme said that the graves were marked at one time, but that the Roman Catholic Church that operated the school had removed the markers.

On Twitter, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was terribly saddened to learn of the latest discovery.

My heart breaks for the Cowessess First Nation following the discovery of Indigenous children buried at the former Marieval Residential School, he said, adding that we will tell the truth about these injustices.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the entire province mourns the discovery of the unmarked graves.

Don Bolen, Archbishop of Regina, Saskatchewan, posted a letter to the Cowessess First Nation on the archdioceses website.

The news is overwhelming and I can only imagine the pain and waves of emotion that you and your people are experiencing right now, Bolen wrote.

Bolen said two years ago he apologized to the Cowessess people for the failures and sins of Church leaders in the past.

I know that apologies seem a very small step as the weight of past suffering comes into greater light, but I extend that apology again, and pledge to do what we can to turn that apology into meaningful concrete acts - including assisting in accessing information that will help to provide names and information about those buried in unmarked graves, he said.

Florence Sparvier, 80, said she attended the Marieval Indian Residential School.

The nuns were very mean to us, she said. We had to learn how to be Roman Catholic. We couldnt say our own little blessings.

Nuns at the school were condemning about our people and the pain inflicted continues generations later, Sparvier said.

We learned how to not like who we were, she said. That has gone on and its still going on.''

Last month the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, were found buried on the site of what was once Canadas largest Indigenous residential school near Kamloops, British Columbia.

Following that discovery, Pope Francis expressed his pain over the discovery and pressed religious and political authorities to shed light on this sad affair. But he didnt offer the apology sought by First Nations and by the Canadian government.

An apology is one stage in the way of a healing journey, Delorme said.

This was a crime against humanity, an assault on First Nations, said Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous First Nations in Saskatchewan. He said he expects more graves will be found on residential school grounds across Canada.

We will not stop until we find all the bodies, he said.

From the 19th century until the 1970s, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools, the majority of them run by Roman Catholic missionary congregations, in a campaign to assimilate them into Canadian society.

The Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual abuse was rampant in the schools, with students beaten for speaking their native languages.

In the United States, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced this week that the federal government is launching an investigation into its past oversight of Native American boarding schools. She said the work will include compiling and reviewing records to identify past schools, locate burial sites and uncover the names and tribal affiliations of students.
State Sen. Rick Outman on Thursday joined Senate Republicans in announcing major investments in public water systems across the state, and measures to aid with dam repairs and protect Michigans natural resources.

Weve made a lot of investments in recent budget cycles toward ensuring residents have safe, clean drinking water in their homes, stated Outman, a Six Lakes Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. This federal funding will help us take another major step toward our goal of getting clean water to all Michigan residents  and it will do so using existing money instead of raising taxes.

Senate Bill 565 would provide $680 million for the creation of grant and loan programs to repair the most critical of Michigans dams, which would help mitigate or avoid costly catastrophes like what Midland experienced in 2020.

These funds serve as a major investment in public safety as well as the reliability of the states dams and water infrastructure, Outman stated. Its important we take a hard look at where repairs need to be made to prevent another situation like we saw in Midland. Repairs now could save us much larger and costlier repairs down the road.

In addition to dam repair, the supplemental funding also focused on water systems throughout the state and efforts to clean up and protect the environment.

Included in the funding measure is a $600 million matching grant program for the replacement of lead pipes across the state, $700 million to upgrade local drinking water and wastewater facilities and $85 million to ensure students have access to safe water by installing filtered water stations inside schools. The plan would repurpose $290 million in bonds to assist communities with upgrading and replacing water treatment infrastructure, along with establishing a loan program for homeowners to replace failing septic systems.

Also included is an additional $25 million to conduct surface water monitoring, including $10 million for wetland mitigation, and $20 million to implement recommendations included in the Groundwater Use Advisory Council Report. The plan also addresses the harmful impacts of PFAS chemicals and would dedicate $100 million in grants to remove the chemicals from orphaned sites.

This one-time federal funding will be a great asset as we work toward a cleaner, safer Michigan but there is more work to be done, Outman noted.

The Midland Daily News reached out to State Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, who was not immediately available for comment.
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Brian Williams didnt shy away from criticizing Matt Gaetz, the controversial U.S. Representative from Florida and ally of President Donald Trump, after Gaetz launched his own criticism of the U.S. military.

In the closing minutes of his MSNBC political news show The 11th Hour on Wednesday night, Williams aired a clip of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley discussing the teaching of critical race theory at West Point, the U.S. federal service academy.

Republicans, as you know, have decided were in a crisis of some sort where our military is both soft and woke, and our kids are being taught dangerous things like white rage and critical race theory, Williams said. When asked about the curriculum at West Point, Milley made clear he wasnt having it.

In the clip of his testimony, Milley said, First of all, on the issue of critical race theory, a lot of us have to get smarter on whatever the theory is, but I do think its important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open minded and be widely read. And the United States military academy is a university, and it is important that we train and we understand. I want to understand white rage  and Im whiteSo what is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America? What caused that? I want to find that out. I want to maintain an open mind here and I do want analyze it. Its important that we understand that.

Tonight's #LastThingBeforeWeGo? GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz seems to have met his match squaring off in a debate with Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Watch more: https://t.co/pObBGBszRK#11thHour pic.twitter.com/6h9Y6BGZHb  11th Hour (@11thHour) June 24, 2021

Gaetz is seen shaking his head in disagreement in the video. Later on, he tweeted With Generals like this its no wonder weve fought considerably more wars than weve won.

Easy enough to lob a comment like that from the cheap seats, Williams said on his show. To be fair, Gaetz  the same Matt Gaetz who faces potential sex trafficking charges, which he denies  did also tweet today to free Britney Spears, which kind of makes him a freedom fighter.

Williams has served an anchor of The 11th Hour since 2016, after he was suspended for six months and demoted from NBC Nightly News for exaggerating events he claimed to occur while he was reporting on the Iraq War in 2003.

Variety has reached out to MSNBC for comment.

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
REDDING  Charles Schaubs resignation from his job as an English teacher at Joel Barlow High School is pending following his arrest in late April. Schaub has been on administrative leave since the school district learned of the arrest in early May.

The 29-year-old was arrested and charged with public indecency and second-degree breach of peace on April 30, both of which have been categorized as class B misdemeanors.

Neither Schaub nor his attorney responded to requests for comment from The News-Times.

Days after the arrest came to light, the Easton-Redding-Region 9 school district sent Schaub a letter obtained by The News-Times stating he was on administrative leave with pay pending investigation of the matter in question.

The letter dated for May 4 outlined the terms of Schaubs leave, advising him on what he may and may not do during that time.

Schaub was advised to refrain from contacting any students, parents and staff except for central office administrators and his union representative, but to remain accessible to the administration during the workday as a staff member might try to contact him over the phone.

He was also instructed not to report to work or be on the premises of any Easton-Redding-Region 9 school or administrative building, nor act on behalf of the district in any way or access its computer systems, per the letter.

On June 21, Vicki Cram  the districts human resources manager  told The News-Times Schaubs resignation is pending but did not provide further details about him nor the process.

Schaubs arrest

State police arrested the 29-year-old when responding to a report of a male party who had exited his vehicle nude and exposed himself to three females at a Southbury shopping plaza, according to a police arrest summary.

The responding officers found Schaub wearing no pants in the vehicle matching the description given by a caller, the arrest summary stated. He was arrested and released from custody on a $5,000 non-surety bond.

Schaub hasnt entered a plea and is scheduled to appear at a Waterbury courthouse on Aug. 4 at 10:00 a.m.
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For many overdose victims, the gateway drug was OxyContin

In the past 25 years, Purdue Pharmas OxyContin has played a devastating role in the countrys epidemic of opioid addiction and overdoses, according to lawsuits and victims families.
Bigelow Tea president, CEO honorary degree receiver

Cindi Bigelow, president and third-generation CEO, (Chief Executive Officer,) of the family-owned Bigelow Tea company, recently received an honorary degree from Housatonic Community College at the schools 54th commencement exercises, which had 565 total graduates.

The company, and the Bigelow family, have been strong supporters of the school for about 20 years. In addition to supporting students through general scholarships, the colleges Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center and VentureLab, Bigelow Tea helped fund the launch of the colleges Equity Project in January 2021. Bigelow employees have served on the HCC Foundation Board. The tea company was inducted into the schools American Manufacturing Hall of Fame in 2017, the same year Cindi Bigelow was inducted into the HCC Foundation Hall of Fame.

The tea company is located at 201 Black Rock Turnpike, and pioneered the specialty tea category about 75 years ago.

Beach stickers available

Fairfield residents can buy their 2021 beach/transfer station stickers for the 2021 summer season. The stickers can also be renewed at https://www.fairfieldct.org/, by fax at (203) 256-3145, by mail, or in person at the Fairfield Parks & Recreation Department at 75 Mill Plain Road in the town.

State bonding grant-in-aid funding package announced

The Connecticut house, and senate recently passed a $334,558,500 total state bonding package. The package is called H.B. No. 6690, and funds a number of projects including necessary infrastructure updates, municipal aid, school construction, and additional needs statewide.

Fairfield received money for Operation Hope and to clean up the contaminated fill pile in town as part of the package, which goes into effect July 1.

Visit https://cga.ct.gov/ to read more about the legislation.

Ann Cole Day happening

The Bigelow Center for Senior Activities in Fairfield is having a special celebration at noon on June 25 for the centers Social Services Secretary Ann Cole, who died last year. The center, along with people who attend the event will plant a memorial tree in Coles honor, and have ice cream. The center is located at 100 Mona Terrace.

Community theater hosting classic movie series

The Sacred Heart University Community Theatre is hosting a Wednesday Classic Movie Summer Series now through August as part of its summer preview and soft opening. The series began June 23. The 3 p.m. classic matinee screenings are hosted by Sturges Ridge of Fairfield along with the theater and all seniors are free.

General admission is $5 and children tickes are $2.50.

The theater is located at 1420 Post Road in Fairfield.

Caregiver honored again

Caregiver Linda Papaspliliotopulus, of Meriden, was recently honored again by Assisted Living Services, Inc., which has locations in Fairfield.

The Platinum Caregiver Award comes with a check for $5,000, crystal statue and a certificate of merit. When Papasplitiotopulus planned to take her family on a trip to Italy whe she won last year.

Homecare Pulse, a third-party survey company that measures customer satisfaction, contacts ALS clients at random to rate the services and quality of care that is being provided. Clients and families can acknowledge caregivers who went above and beyond when caring for them or their loved one. The caregiver with the highest quality score earns the prestigious and well-deserved recognition for their outstanding work.
If you adopted a pet with your significant other, what happens if you break up?

Some couples are creating agreements called "petnups" or getting special mediators for their divorce proceedings, the Associated Press reports.



Neighboring New York is the latest state to propose a bill to consider pets part of the family, as a result of legal battles. It joins a number of state governments that are intervening. Alaska, California and Illinois, "have enacted laws giving judges the leeway to consider the best interest of pets, not unlike what they do for children,"according to a recent article by the Associated Press.

Connecticut does not have a special pet law, but the law considers pets to be personal property when there is a dispute between two people who share a pet's ownership. One factor that affects the judge's decision on who gets ownership is who has the "best interest" in the pet. In other words, which of the two people involved has cared for the animal most.



"The problem here [with the law] is the judge can't split it in half," said Thompson Page, a Connecticut Attorney who specializes in Animal Law. "You can't take the dog or cat and split it to give an equal share."

In the last few years, pet custody lawsuits have become more frequent, according to Page. "People are becoming more attached to their animals. They value their relationships and they value these animals," he said. In his experience, Page has seen many cases ranging couples who share custody of a dog while living in two states to one person deciding to take the pet without the other person's consent.



In Connecticut, if there is an argument and one person takes away the pet, the other person can file a lawsuit under the Replevin law, which is "maintained to recover any goods or chattels in which the plaintiff has a general or special property ... and which are wrongfully detained from him in any manner."

A way to avoid going to legal battles, recommended Page, is to make a written agreement when a couple gets a pet. Enter the "petnup."



Adam Citron, a New York lawyer, told the Associated Press that he finds petnups helpful in divorces, but believes more pet custody laws are needed.

In states like Connecticut, which haven't taken the new approach, "Citron suggests agreeing at the time a pet is acquired during a marriage whose name will appear alone on registration or adoption papers. That person should pay any costs out of a separate bank account. Such measures are especially helpful if one party is trying to weaponize a pet in exchange for other coveted property," the Associated Press reports.
Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin's sentencing Friday in George Floyd's death will hardly be the last word in the case, with federal civil rights charges still pending, appeals expected and three more officers facing trial.

Even as that case grinds forward, many other cases are being closely watched as the U.S. grapples with the racial injustice exposed anew by Floyd's death. Most involve killings by police, although some  like Ahmaud Arbery's death in Georgia  are being scrutinized for other reasons.

Here's a rundown of some of the most high-profile cases:

AHMAUD ARBERY

Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was chased and fatally shot by three white men who spotted him running in their Georgia neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020. Glynn County police were widely criticized for making no arrests. Charges didn't come until the state took over the case more than two months later. Jury selection for the three men, charged with malice murder and other counts, is scheduled in October, and federal authorities have charged the men with hate crimes.

ANDREW BROWN JR.

Brown, 42, who was Black, was fatally shot in April by sheriff's deputies in Elizabeth City, N.C. They were serving drug-related warrants at Brown's home when they surrounded Brown's car; he backed up and moved forward before several shots were fired at and into his vehicle. Attorneys for Brown's family say he was trying to get away, while authorities have said he was using his car as a weapon. The deputies were cleared by a prosecutor who agreed with authorities. An FBI probe is ongoing.

MA'KHIA BRYANT

Bryant, 16, who was Black, was shot four times in April by a white Columbus, Ohio, police officer as she swung a knife at a young woman. Police were responding to a 911 call from Bryant's foster home about a group of girls threatening to stab members of the household. Bryant's family has said the teen and her younger sister were the ones who called for help. The city's mayor invited the Justice Department soon afterward to review the police department for any possible racial disparities.

DAUNTE WRIGHT

Wright, 20, who was Black, was shot during a traffic stop in April in a Minneapolis suburb in the midst of the Chauvin trial. A white police officer, 26-year veteran Kim Potter, is charged with manslaughter. Body camera video shows Wright attempting to pull away from officers, and Potter shouting Taser! Taser! Taser! just before shooting Wright. The city's police chief said he believed Potter mixed up her Taser with her handgun; both he and Potter resigned two days after the shooting. Wright's family and activists have rejected the Taser explanation and called for more serious charges.

ADAM TOLEDO

Toledo, a 13-year-old who was Latino, was fatally shot in March by a white police officer in Chicago. Body camera video shows the teen appearing to drop a handgun less than a second before the officer fired his gun. A civilian police accountability board hasn't yet made a recommendation on whether the officer should be charged.

ANTHONY ALVAREZ

Alvarez, a 22-year-old Latino man, died March 31 after being shot by a Chicago police officer during a foot chase. Police said Alvarez brandished a gun while being chased. Body camera video showed Alvarez had his back turned and appeared to be holding a gun when Officer Evan Solano fatally shot him. The citys independent police review board recommended that the officer be stripped of his police powers until an investigation concludes.

RONALD GREENE

Greene, a 49-year-old Black man, died in 2019 in Louisiana in the custody of state troopers, but his case drew new attention in May after The Associated Press obtained and published body camera video of his arrest that appeared to contradict at least one trooper's statement. The trooper said Greene was a threat even after restrained and that his behavior was the reason troopers used force. The video shows troopers stunning, beating and choking Greene after a car chase. He also was placed facedown on the ground for more than nine minutes while restrained. Activists have called for the troopers to be fired and charged with crimes.

MARVIN SCOTT III

Scott, a 26-year-old Black man , died in March while struggling with detention officers at a Texas jail. Scott was arrested at a mall on a charge of marijuana possession, then taken to a hospital because he was reportedly acting erratically. After he was released, he was taken to the Collin County jail, where he exhibited what the sheriff called some strange behavior." Jailers put him on a restraint bed, used pepper spray and covered his face with a spit mask. He eventually became unresponsive and died of what the medical examiner's office called fatal acute stress response during restraint struggle with law enforcement. Seven jailers were fired and one resigned. Scott's family called for their arrest. A grand jury in June declined to indict the jailers but called for a work group to study Scott's death.

LINDANI MYENI

Myeni, a 29-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by Honolulu police in April after they responded to a 911 call. Tourists staying at a home called police after a stranger  Myeni  walked into the home and acted oddly, according to their attorney. Police said Myeni violently attacked responding officers, leaving one with a concussion, and released clips of body camera video showing him ignoring commands to get on the ground and being unaffected by a stun gun. Myeni's widow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit saying he likely mistook the home for a temple next door.

WINSTON SMITH JR.

Winston Boogie Smith Jr., a 32-year-old Black man, was fatally shot in a Minneapolis parking ramp by members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force. Authorities said they were trying to arrest Smith on a weapons violation and that he showed a handgun. The state investigative agency said evidence shows Smith fired the gun. A woman with Smith said through attorneys that she never saw a gun on Smith or in his vehicle. The two sheriff's deputies who shot Smith weren't wearing body cameras, saying the Marshals Service told them they could not. The lack of video in the city where George Floyd died contributed to anger over Smith's death, sparking several days of protests.

DANIEL PRUDE

Prude, a 41-year-old Black man, died in Rochester, New York, in March 2020, several days after encountering police after he was released from a hospital following a mental health arrest. He ran naked from his brother's home and was seen breaking store windows; his brother Joe testified that he warned an officer who came to his home not to kill his brother. His death drew new attention six months later when his family released body camera video obtained through a public records request that showed Prude handcuffed and naked with a spit hood over his head as one officer pushed his face against the ground and another pressed a knee to his back. The officers held Prude down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing. A gran d jury declined to indict any officers in February. An internal investigation may still result in disciplinary charges.

ANDRE HILL

Hill, a 47-year-old Black man, was visiting a family friend when he was fatally shot by a white police officer in Columbus, Ohio, in December as he emerged from a garage holding a cell phone. Officer Adam Coy was fired and has pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless homicide charges. The police chief was forced out and the city agreed to pay a $10 million settlement to Hill's family.

CASEY GOODSON JR.

Goodson, a 23-year-old Black man, was shot in the back five times by a white sheriff's deputy in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 4. The deputy, Jason Meade, was working for a U.S. Marshals Office task force and just finishing a search for a fugitive when he shot Goodson, who was not the subject of the search. U.S. Marshal Peter Tobin first said Goodson drove past the deputy and waved a gun, then withdrew the comments as based on insufficient information. Relatives said Goodson was opening the door to his grandmother's house when he was shot. Two special prosecutors were appointed in June to examine the case.

RAYSHARD BROOKS

Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, fell asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane of a Wendy's restaurant in Atlanta in June 2020. Police body camera video showed him struggling with two white officers who told him he'd had too much to drink to drive and tried to arrest him. Brooks grabbed a Taser from one of the officers and fled, firing it at Officer Garrett Rolfe as he ran. Rolfe fired his gun, hitting Brooks twice in the back. Rolfe is charged with murder and was fired after the shooting, though that dismissal was reversed on the grounds the city hadn't followed its procedures.

MANUEL ELLIS

Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, died March 3, 2020 after he pleaded for breath under an officer's knee in Tacoma, Washington. Ellis was Tasered, handcuffed and hogtied, with his face covered by a spit hood. A medical examiner said he died from lack of oxygen caused by restraint, with an enlarged heart and methamphetamine intoxication as contributing factors. Tacoma police officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins are charged with second-degree murder after witnesses reported they started beating Ellis without provocation. The officers say he attacked them. A third officer, Timothy Rankine, is charged with first-degree manslaughter for allegedly kneeling on Ellis back and shoulder as he repeatedly said he couldnt breathe.

___

Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
The U.S. Air Force notified lawmakers that it has approved Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to host its F-22 Raptor formal training unit, a move three years in the making. But don't expect to see more fifth-generation jets there just yet.

The service last week told Congress it had completed the necessary environmental analysis and signed a record of decision approving the base as its top pick to host the formal training unit, or FTU, Air Combat Command spokeswoman Alexi Worley told Military.com. Langley is already home to the 1st Fighter Wing, an F-22 combat unit.

The FTU is part of the 325th Fighter Wing and was originally housed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The unit was relocated to Eglin Air Force Base, roughly 60 miles from Tyndall in Florida's panhandle, after the base sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018.

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The decision "does not approve moving the 325 Fighter Wing to Langley, it approves Langley as the final location for the F-22 FTU mission," Worley said in an email. According to the environmental assessment, 28 F-22s and 16 T-38 Talons would eventually relocate to Langley.

The service is awaiting the completion of its "TacAir study," which will assess how future fighter concepts fit into the current mix of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, before setting timelines for planned force structure moves related to the F-22, Worley added.

The Air Force must make key decisions about which aircraft, and how many, it wants to sustain long term. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown has said the service intends to go with a "four plus one" model as it downsizes from its current seven fighter or attack aircraft fleets.

During a panel discussion last month, Brown said the "four" are the F-35 Lightning II; F-16 Fighting Falcon; the F-15EX Eagle II, which entered the service's inventory in the spring; and the Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, program, which defies the traditional categorization of a single platform, featuring a network potentially including an advanced fighter aircraft alongside sensors, weapons or drones. The venerable A-10 Warthog remains as the "plus one."

Noticeably absent from Brown's list were the F-22 stealth fighter and F-15E Strike Eagle, hinting that their retirements are on the horizon. When the F-22 retires will be decided by how quickly NGAD can be fielded, said Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration and requirements.

If the service can secure enough funding for the NGAD in the fiscal 2022 and future budgets, and subsequently prove the technology prior to 2030, F-22s will start heading to the aircraft boneyard, he said in an interview with Military.com last month.

"All those things are interrelated," he said.

The Air Force has struggled with its F-22 fleet. While the F-22 is the dominant air superiority platform in the service's inventory, officials have admitted there are shortfalls, especially in maintenance.

The jet "has some limitations to it that you just can't modernize your way out of," Hinote said.

The program also has seen rising costs: The unit cost for the F-22 was around $150 million in 2009, but some estimates put the per-plane cost at closer to $250 million in current dollars.

The Raptor fleet also saw a reshuffling following Hurricane Michael. After the storm damaged most structures at Tyndall as well as dozens of stealth jets, the Air Force moved its remaining F-22 fleet, dividing the aircraft between Langley-Eustis; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

In 2018, the Government Accountability Office issued a study that found that the Air Force was not utilizing the F-22 to the fighter's full potential due to maintenance challenges, inadequate opportunities for pilot training, and an inefficient organizational structure for the fleet.

The service, which last conducted an F-22 organizational review in 2010, chose to divide the fleet into smaller units, with "18 or 21 primary mission aircraft per squadron and one or two squadrons per wing," according to the report. Fewer jets per unit meant there is an imbalance of personnel and resources when units deploy, the GAO found.

The Defense Department announced in 2009 that it would cap its F-22 inventory at 187, taking delivery of the last aircraft in 2012.

The Air Force currently has 186 of the stealth fighters.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Air Force Could Ditch Oldest F-35 Jets as Part of Fighter Downsizing, General Says
When Cmdr. Frank Azzarello was removed from his post on the destroyer Forrest Sherman, days before his change-of-command ceremony, the Navy said it was over a "loss of confidence in his ability to command." His lawyer said it was over his decision to make a plaque out of an AK-47 commemorating his crew's major weapons seizure in the Middle East.

However, a recently released command investigation report on Azzarello paints a picture of a commanding officer who regularly doled out verbal abuse, threatened to tank careers, and made racial and sexist remarks.

Prior to taking command of the Forrest Sherman in September 2019, Azzarello was a rising star who was lauded by his superiors.

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One fitness evaluation, provided to Military.com by Azzarello's lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, said that he was "performing flawlessly as ... Executive Officer." His captain in 2017, Mark Oberley, wrote that Azzarello was a "brilliant leader, mentor and manager" in the same evaluation. In a later 2018 evaluation, Capt. Robert Thompson said that he had "the easiest job in the Navy because Frank Azzarello is my XO." Both men noted that Azzarello was headed for his own command.

When Azzarello took charge of the Forrest Sherman on Sept. 4, 2019, he had only three hours before it left Virginia to escape Hurricane Dorian, Navy records released with the investigation show. The ship then deployed 10 days later.

That November, the crew of the Forrest Sherman intercepted a dhow carrying a new kind of Iranian missile. U.S. Central Command would "laud the professionalism" of the crew, and Azzarello's boss noted that the commanding officer's performance during the mission "was beyond comparison" in a 2020 evaluation.

It was this very seizure from which Azzarello would take the AK-47 that he later used to make a plaque.

However, in July 2020, the Navy Inspector General received its first complaint about the climate aboard the Forrest Sherman. A second one followed in November.

Investigators acknowledged in a letter to Azzarello's superiors that "because the IG used an incorrect email address, [the first complaint] was not properly referred ... for action" until the second one came in.

The released investigation documents show that investigators were able to corroborate "multiple specific allegations" from the July complaint by Dec. 14, 2020.

In written statements provided to investigators, officers reported being called "useless," "stupid" and "retards." One officer recalled being told to "get your hands out of your pockets when you speak to me, you son of a bitch."

Azzarello did not recall many of these allegations when speaking to investigators. His lawyer Parlatore, a former naval officer who attended Surface Warfare Officer school with Azzarello, didn't deny that he used "rough language," but noted that it was more common when he was a young officer.

"When I was a junior officer, my captain used to call us a------s all the time," Parlatore explained.

Reports and allegations within the report suggest that Azzarello had trouble controlling his anger and his personality could swing dramatically.

"Some people get it worse than others on the ship or just because of his mood that day," one officer wrote to investigators.

"One second he may be asking about your family and the next he will be telling you he hates sound of your voice, that you're f---ing retarded, or threating [a Letter of Instruction]," another wrote.

Several officers detailed an incident to investigators in which the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation officer told Azzarello that there was not enough beer for the ship's beer day because 18-year-olds were now allowed to drink at sea.

"The bridge team, including myself, thought the CO was going to hit her," one officer wrote. "It looked like he was winding up."

The investigation also reviewed a 2018 incident when Azzarello was the XO of the cruiser Vella Gulf. The complaint alleges that he "repeatedly poked" a junior officer "in the collarbone area while alone in his cabin following an issue" over maintenance. Azzarello also berated a chief petty officer from the same division.

"When we were dismissed [the chief petty officer] and I went to the focsle and talked," the officer wrote in a statement to investigators. "[The chief petty officer] was in tears and said he wanted to get off the ship and hated his job."

Thompson, who was Azzarello's CO at the time, told investigators that he once spoke to his XO about his "passion bordering on anger," but didn't recall the specific incident.

One officer, whom Azzarello detached for cause in June 2020, said his behavior "gives SWOs a bad name" and described him as "Holly Graf like."

Capt. Holly Graf was one the Navy's most well-known toxic leaders. As commanding officer of the cruiser Cowpens, she was relieved in 2010 for allegedly demeaning and humiliating crew members, exploding with fury and aiming a seemingly bottomless trough of expletives in tirades at subordinates.

Another major finding of the investigation revealed that Azzarello "excessively" used Letters of Instruction, or LOIs -- documents normally used to inform an officer of shortcomings while offering a path for improvement. He wrote at least 46 such letters for 22 officers, sometimes "in rapid succession" to a single officer. The report suggested that the practice "created an unnecessary level of mistrust and fear in portions of his wardroom, contributing to an undesirable hostile environment."

One officer told investigators that Azzarello wrote him about 10 LOIs and threatened to fire him on numerous occasions in the 13 months the two served together. Another told investigators that Azzarello told her he "would use that [LOI] to kick me out of the Navy."

Investigators reported that 15 LOIs were made into applications to "detach for cause," or letters removing surface warfare officers from the community.

The report notes that one department head was detached for cause after being "issued five LOIs over a ten-week period."

Parlatore noted that "the investigator went through [all the LOIs Azzarello wrote] and was unable to identify a single one that was inaccurate or excessive." However, he did concede that Azzarello could have combined some of the letters.

The lawyer also argued that Azzarello was set up for trouble by the Navy.

"He got shoved into this command where every other destroyer commander has had 18 months of turnover -- he has four hours," Parlatore said.

In his 90-day command assessment, Azzarello wrote to his superiors that the ship "let training and standard slip in almost every other area" except air warfare -- the role the ship historically played in the strike group.

"I assess my overall training and proficiency of my crew as average to slightly below average," he wrote.

The letter also described a long list of empty billets in senior enlisted positions and a ship with questionable materiel readiness even as it was underway on its second deployment in a year.

Ultimately, Azzarello's boss, the commander of Destroyer Squadron 28, agreed with the findings and recommendations of the IG investigation on Jan. 26. He was removed from command the next day.

At the admiral's mast, which was held April 14, Azzarello faced two charges stemming from the AK-47 plaque and one charge of conduct unbecoming an officer from the allegations made by his crew, Parlatore said.

Azzarello pled guilty to the two weapon-related charges, telling the admiral that his "failure was in not contacting the [staff judge advocate] for guidance," according to a copy of his prepared remarks given to Military.com by Parlatore.

However, he argued that his treatment of the crew came from his own experience responding to the collision of the destroyer Porter, as well as being a division officer instructor in the wake of the collisions of the Fitzgerald and McCain.

"All of these sobering experiences drove my strict compliance to established procedures on the bridge," he said in his statement.

"In the face of every single one of these junior officers, he saw the substantial risk that he was going to have to write 20 letters to parents apologizing for the loss of their loved one," Parlatore added.

Azzarello did not apologize for the language or behavior he displayed with his crew, however. Instead, he admitted that he could be "passionate, intense, aggressive, sarcastic, direct, and sometimes use colorful language."

Parlatore said that Azzarello was found guilty of all three charges at the admiral's mast and had a punitive letter placed in his record. He was not detached for cause. Parlatore said that "the admiral recommended that he not have to show cause for retention at a board of inquiry" and that he was allowed to execute new orders.

Cmdr. Ashley Hockycko, a spokesperson for the commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet, told Military.com that Azzarello has been temporarily reassigned to the staff of Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

"His performance as commanding officer will be considered along with his entire record of service when making decisions on any future assignments," she added.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com.

Related: Navy Destroyer Fired After Trying to Make His Crew a Plaque with Seized AK-47
In January of this year, the Pentagon quietly demanded the resignations of the 21 volunteer members of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, a roster that included eight retired generals and admirals. The ink was barely dry on the committee's 70-year historical review, a 58-page document that described how DACOWITS had advocated on behalf of military women since 1951 on issues ranging from their right to fly fighter jets and serve in combat to the fit of body armor and online harassment.

The committee's hollowing out was part of a sweeping move by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to dissolve all 42 DoD advisory committees pending a cost and efficiency review. The Defense Business Board, which had been populated with those loyal to Donald Trump in the final throes of his presidency, got the most attention in this move.

But DACOWITS, which had been wrestling with timely issues such as the effect on women of the new gender-neutral Army Combat Fitness Test, was an unseen casualty. While no decision has been made yet on how and when to bring back the vacated advisory committees, an April memo obtained by Military.com shows that the Defense Department's Manpower and Reserve Affairs office has recommended not bringing back DACOWITS in its current form. Rather, it wants to merge the historic committee with another yet-to-be-launched group to create a broader Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that would address everything from military extremism and opportunities for minority service members to ill-fitting uniforms and availability of child care.

Read Next: Beyond the Seized AK-47: The Real Story of the Forrest Sherman CO's Downfall

But those affiliated with DACOWITS fear bundling such a wide range of issues under a single advisory entity would make it very difficult to get meaningful work done -- and would shove women-specific military issues, such as hair regulations and anatomy-appropriate flight suits, far to the sidelines.

Cari Thomas, a retired rear admiral who was wrapping up a four-year term on the advisory committee, said she understood Austin's desire to eliminate waste by conducting a zero-based review of the committees.

"However, I do have an issue, because DACOWITS has been around for a very long time and has been instrumental in advocating for women service members since the 1950s," she said. "In a post-'Me Too' environment, working on [topics like] sexual assault, the timing did not feel right to me."

Thomas wrote a letter in February to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., urging him to act on behalf of the committee and preserve not only its format, but its institutional knowledge and expertise.

"Losing momentum, expertise and initiative will have a deleterious impact on the critical work that the Committee does in service to the Secretary of Defense and Homeland Security," she wrote. "This is particularly important because the Marine Corps still does not have a fully gender integrated boot camp, the full opening of all combat positions to women is still under study, and women of color far lag behind their peers to promotions to the highest ranks in the services."

A query to Kaine's office did not receive an immediate response, but other lawmakers have signaled their interest and concern, despite the press of other priorities, including the fiscal 2022 budget.

The office of Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., confirmed that she and the office's military legislative assistant are looking into the matter. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told Military.com she hadn't been tracking the matter, but didn't have an issue with a new, merged committee as long as it serves the same function as the previous one.

The April 22 memo from Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Virginia Penrod said the proposed Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would indeed be able to do that.

"There is concern that the merger of DACOWITS with [the yet-to-be-formed Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion] will diminish the [DoD's] focus on, or signal a lessening in the Department's commitment to addressing issues unique to women in the services," Penrod wrote. "To the contrary, such a merger would offer the Department the opportunity to develop a broader over-arching committee with a more diversified skillset, providing for a holistic view of, not only issues related to women, but to all gender-related concerns including those faced by transgender members of the Armed Forces."

Those close to DACOWITS, however, said it's logistically improbable, if not impossible, that the merged committee would be able to cover all previous issues and new ones in appropriate depth. DACOWITS has a full-time staff of four, including two military members. Penrod's proposal would add just two additional staff for the hybrid committee, which she said would realize a "significant cost avoidance" when compared with setting up two separate committees.

In the scheme of military spending, though, the savings would be relatively minimal. A memo to the Defense Department from DACOWITS staff, which was included as an attachment to the Penrod memo, showed a budget of roughly $1 million annually since 2016 -- although that number dipped to $929,000 in 2020 amid the zero-based review. Committee members are uncompensated and reimbursed only for travel, which accounts for less than 10% of the budget. The rest largely consists of salaries for the staffers. If the two detailed military members' salaries are subtracted from the annual total, it dips to around $600,000, barely a rounding error for the military.

Lory Manning, a retired Navy captain who now works as the director of government operations for the Service Women's Action Network, said she has been attending quarterly DACOWITS meetings since the 1980s, when she was still on active duty.

She recalled an effort during the George W. Bush administration in 2004 to diminish the committee's work by cutting its funding and reducing staffing and membership. Notably, this took place as the committee fought to eliminate the long-standing ban on women in combat. That Combat Exclusion Policy was ultimately lifted in full in 2013.

Manning said she feels similarly about efforts to denature DACOWITS now, albeit for other reasons. Manning said LGBT issues in the military and continuing racial and ethnic divides need to be addressed in full.

"Women are involved in all those communities," she said. "My concern is if they merge it, as too often happens, the women's issues will become secondary to other particular issues. There are still things going on that only DACOWITS has been able to bring to public attention."

Thomas, the retired admiral, noted that the Marine Corps had started sending the four-star assistant commandant, Gen. Glenn Walters, to DACOWITS meetings following the Marines United scandal in which investigative reporting revealed veterans and service members were sharing nude photos of female troops online. She said that DACOWITS had provided detailed recommendations about better monitoring social media behavior before the scandal ever came to light.

"Without that kind of third-party group of independent people providing input to the secretary of defense, how are you going to make decisions?" she asked.

Manning listed an incident earlier this year in which Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked an image of an airman wearing a maternity flight suit as proof that female troops still need advocates and defenders. And women in the military often have concerns that are overlooked, she said.

"Sexism is still alive and well in the military, and a lot of it is inadvertent," she said. "I don't think the military set out to build an Army Combat Fitness Test that was skewed against women. DACOWITS was one of the groups that called them out on that and called them in to brief. Until [the committee] was disbanded, they were still working on that."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Related: Nearly Half of Female Soldiers Still Failing New Army Fitness Test, While Males Pass Easily
Cedar Ross got a word of advice before Marine Corps boot camp from a family member who knows a thing or two about the service himself.

His great-grandfather is Hershel "Woody" Williams, 97, the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II and a retired chief warrant officer.

"The only advice I think I gave him was to do the very best that he could and then do a little more," Williams said in a CBS Evening News interview.

Going "above and beyond the call of duty" at the risk of his own life earned Williams the country's highest medal for combat bravery during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, while he was serving with the 3rd Marine Division.

Marine tanks were maneuvering in vain to clear a path for the infantry through a network of reinforced concrete pillboxes when Williams, then a corporal, volunteered his services, the award citation says.

"Covered by only 4 riflemen, he fought desperately for 4 hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flamethrowers," it says.

He struggled back, "frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements," to wipe out seven machine guns, one-by-one.

At one point, he mounted a pillbox and inserted the nozzle of his flamethrower through an air vent, "killing the occupants and silencing the gun."

At another point, he charged Japanese riflemen who tried to stop him with bayonets and "destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon."

Williams is the namesake of the expeditionary sea base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams, currently deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet to support operations in Europe and Africa.

Ross was about halfway through boot camp before his drill instructors realized he was the descendant of the legendary Marine, CBS News reported.

"The chief drill instructor told me, 'Ross, you're going to have big shoes to fill,'" Ross said in an interview seated beside his great-grandfather. "I said, 'Yes, sir. Thankfully, I wear size 15.'"

Williams laughed. Last week, he visited Parris Island, S.C., to watch his great-grandson and some 350 other new Marines cross the parade deck during a boot camp graduation ceremony.

For his efforts during the rigorous 13-week training, Ross earned a meritorious promotion to private first class, a program for the event indicated.

Friday's ceremony was the first that family members were allowed to attend in-person since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and Williams was decked out in his dress blues to honor the newest Marines.

"They have said by their taking that oath, 'You may take my life, but you cannot take my country or my freedom," Williams said.

Addressing the graduating Marines, Lt. Col. Robert M. Groceman, commanding officer of the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, told them to take pride in themselves, their uniforms and their accomplishments Friday.

"But tomorrow is no longer about you," he said. "Tomorrow is about those Marines who came before us, whose legacy you are now a part of. Tomorrow is about those Marines to your left and to your right who are depending on you."
The Biden administration has finalized a plan to evacuate tens of thousands of Afghan interpreters, drivers and other allies and their families to a third country while their visas are processed.

An official confirmed that the administration has told lawmakers it has a plan for helping Afghans who have assisted the United States over the last two decades.

And a senior administration official told Military.com that the government is planning to relocate Afghans who served as interpreters and translators and are already in the Special Immigrant Visa process out of Afghanistan before the military's drawdown is complete in September.

"We've long said we are committed to supporting those who have helped U.S. military and other government personnel perform their duties, often at great personal risk to themselves and their families," the senior administration official said. "We are actively working on every possible contingency to make sure that we can help those who have helped us."

These Afghan allies and their families now may be at risk of death or other reprisal from the Taliban once the U.S. finishes its withdrawal, and advocates are concerned that time may be running out.

Read Next: Military Leaders Fire Back at Lawmakers as Critical Race Theory Debate Erupts on Capitol Hill

Further information on how the evacuation might work is scarce.

The New York Times, which first reported the news, said that the Afghans would be evacuated, but it was not immediately clear what their third-country destination will be.

Advocates have grown increasingly vocal in recent weeks about the danger faced by Afghan allies and ratcheted up pressure on the administration as the military's withdrawal gathered steam. The White House set a Sept. 11 deadline by which the military must be out of Afghanistan, but it is likely to be finished much earlier.

In a conference call with reporters last week, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, pitched the idea of temporarily housing Afghans and their families in a territory held by a NATO nation. This, he said, would give them a safe place to stay while their visa applications are worked through.

King and other supporters of Afghan allies argue that allowing them to be killed by the Taliban would be a historic national shame -- one that would haunt the United States for generations. The senator said that if the U.S. does not support those who put themselves at risk to help Americans, no one will be willing to help the nation in future conflicts.

"I want the White House's hair on fire" over the need to safeguard Afghans, King told reporters June 15. "The time is short and getting shorter all the time."

Other advocates have called for temporarily housing Afghans on Guam, a U.S. territory that is also the home of Andersen Air Force Base.

There is a backlog of roughly 18,000 Afghan allies still waiting for Special Immigrant Visas, which would allow them to come to the United States. The visa process is notoriously slow, bureaucratic and short-staffed, with applicants often waiting nearly three years to be cleared.

In a budget hearing Wednesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the House Armed Services Committee that the military is ready if called upon to support an evacuation effort by the State Department.

"I am confident that we'll begin to evacuate some of those people soon," he said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley said the military has the capability to assist the Afghans.

"I consider it a moral imperative to assist those who have served along our side," he said.

In a briefing with reporters Thursday afternoon, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby suggested that non-military charter aircraft might play a role in the evacuation.

"Not all such evacuation operations require military aircraft to conduct," he said. "It's not like we haven't done this before using ... commercially leased aircraft or chartered aircraft. ... There are lots of ways to facilitate transportation out of Afghanistan."

The State Department is in charge of the interagency planning, Kirby said, and the Defense Department has been taking part.

It remains unclear whether all SIV participants will come to the U.S., Kirby said, or whether some will end up in other countries. He said those decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

But he stressed how important the Pentagon views the need to save these Afghans' lives.

"We know we have a sacred obligation -- and we don't use those phrases lightly here -- to help those who have helped us," Kirby said. "We're taking this extremely seriously."

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: Why Failing to Help Our Afghan Interpreters Would Be a Disaster
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed they brought down two U.S.-made drones this week over central Marib province, the scene of heavy fighting between the Iran-backed rebels and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government.

The U.S. military said it wasn't aware of any lost drones in the Mideast and added that it did not operate any aircraft above Marib.

On Wednesday, the Houthis' media arm released a video claiming to show the two drones after being shot down. The rebels identified the wreckage as showing ScanEagle drones.

One of the drones appeared less damaged than the other. The video at one point shows a sticker that correctly bears the Commercial and Government Entity, or CAGE, number for Insitu, the Bingen, Washington, company that builds the drone. Insitu is a subsidiary of Boeing Co.

Boeing said the drone wreckage shown did not belong to a ScanEagle, but declined to comment further.

Lt. Col. Karen Roxberry, a U.S. military Central Command spokeswoman, said Wednesday there were no downed CENTCOM assets in the region. We are not flying over Marib, she said.

The ScanEagle is an unmanned reconnaissance drone made by Boeing that is launched by a catapult, costs over $3 million and can fly for more than 20 hours, according to the U.S. Air Force. Multiple American military services fly the aircraft, as do other countries.

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's exiled government since 2015 isn't immediately known to fly the drone, though there are many copycat systems like it.

Other drones operating in the region include the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.

Since February, the Houthis have sought to capture energy-rich Marib to try to gain full control over northern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition, government forces and others allied to them have held the area.

Yemen has been convulsed by a civil war since 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital of Sanaa and much of the northern part of the country. That forced the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia.

Despite a relentless air campaign and ground fighting, the war has morphed into a regional conflict that has deteriorated into a stalemate, killing some 130,000 people and spawning the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

The Biden administration had withdrawn its backing for the coalition earlier this year but said the U.S. would continue to offer support to Saudi Arabia as it defends itself against Houthi attacks.
When it comes to conspiracy theories, the belief that big government would go out of its way to pull off a massive hoax isnt limited to the lunatic fringe. A lot of people tend to believe in one conspiracy theory or another.

For example, 28% of Americans believe a secret elite power is trying to rule the world. Thats more than 84 million people. This would require more than two million pounds of tinfoil just to make enough hats to keep the Illuminati from reading their minds. That same poll found that four percent of Americans believe that secret elite power is run by shapeshifting reptile aliens.

While it might be fun to joke about the strange beliefs people hold, the pervasive belief in strange conspiracies is actually more reflective of their mistrust in their own government or authority in general. And the most widespread theories about the U.S. government illustrate that mistrust.

1. The U.S. Helped Hitler Escape Germany.

The United States emerged from World War II a completely changed nation. The war effectively ended the Great Depression and ballooned the size of the federal government in ways the American people had never seen. Suddenly the U.S. went from a third-rate power to global superpower. It was a lot of change in a short period of time.

Global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the United Nations were created and headquartered inside the country. The exclusive meetings that established these bodies, like the Bretton Woods Conference, are exactly the kind of fodder conspiracy theorists need to get their minds rolling.

So almost as soon as the war ended, Americans were ready to believe the Soviet disinformation that it wasnt Hitlers body found outside a Berlin bunker, but that of a body double. American newspapers repeated the assertion, made by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, and Americans were ready to believe it.

Add in the very real operation to bring hundreds of former Nazi scientists and technicians to the U.S., codenamed Paperclip, and it doesnt take long to see how a skeptical public could believe Hitlers survival was engineered by U.S. intelligence. Studies have since shown that the remains discovered by the Red Army were, in fact, Hitlers.

2. Fluoride in Water is a Communist Plot.

The debate over forced COVID-19 vaccinations should be a good reminder that Americans do not trust the government when it comes to taking medication. Anyone whos tried to explain the benefits of a flu shot to their elderly parents have been having this debate for years. Whether or not water fluoridation is a good or bad thing, the idea of adding fluoride to water supplies started kicking around in the years after -- you guessed it -- World War II.

In the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove, Gen. Jack D. Ripper suggests that adding fluoride to the water was destroying our precious bodily fluids and leaving the U.S. weak and ready for a communist takeover. Ripper was just parroting one of many widely held beliefs about fluoride at the time. Another theory is that fluoride makes Americans apathetic, which if youve ever seen anything political in the past 20 years, makes little sense.

3. The CIA Assassinated John F. Kennedy.

Jack Ruby shoots Lee Harvey Oswald. Winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for Photography. (Robert H. Jackson)

The death of President Kennedy and its aftermath had all the makings of a Hollywood-baked conspiracy thriller, and Americans watched it all play out on television. On top of the shocking event itself, justice was never carried out against the man who pulled the trigger as local strip-club owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald during a jail transfer.

Responsibility for JFKs assassination has been linked to the CIA, Cuba and the KGB, because Oswald earlier had defected to the Soviet Union. Claims of a Russian body double for Oswald forced the government to exhume his body to confirm his identity.

Ruby was known to be involved in the Dallas underworld of racketeering and prostitution, and the Kennedy White House was targeting New Yorks mafia families. But even Ruby would be unable to say whether he was silencing Oswald for the KGB or the Mafia, because he died of a pulmonary embolism in jail.

A former KGB officer named Vasili Mitrokhin who defected to the West brought with him an archive of secret KGB documents. They revealed the KGB propagated the conspiracy that the CIA was involved, using forged documents made after the assassination.

4. The Moon Landing Was Faked.

Probably the most well-known conspiracy theory in America, short of the Kennedy assassination, is that the moon landing never happened. Some say it was staged on a Hollywood backlot and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

NASA, they say, staged the landings to get increased funding. The U.S. government went along with the hoax for fear of being eclipsed by the Soviet Unions space program, to accomplish Kennedys assertion that the U.S. would land a man on the moon within the decade and to distract the public from the Vietnam War.

All of these reasons have been debunked in some form from actual high-resolution images of the moon landing sites, to congressional hearings to declassified Soviet archives. Why the myth endures is anyones guess, but one physicist developed a mathematical model that says it would require a conspiracy of 411,000 people to keep a staged moon landing secret, and that it would have been revealed in fewer than four years anyway.

It probably doesnt help that NASA accidentally erased all the original tapes of the Apollo 11 mission. And dont mention it to Buzz Aldrin -- the last time someone tried that, Aldrin punched him in the face.

5. Chemtrails Are Used to Control the Population.

(U.S. Air Force)

When jet aircraft reach cruising altitude, the combination of temperature, exhaust particles and water vapor can form condensation trails in straight lines behind the jet engines. These are known as contrails. Depending on the humidity, they usually dissipate in minutes to hours after forming, according to the FAA.

The Chemtrail conspiracy posits that some of these trails arent water vapor at all, but top-secret chemicals used by the federal government on Americans to some nefarious effect. These chemical trails are said to be anything from mind-control agents to weather and even population control.

It first emerged after the U.S. Air Force was accused of forming bizarre contrail patterns, which some believed were spraying Americans with unknown substances. The accusation was linked to a USAF paper called Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025, which basically discussed weather manipulation scenarios in wartime.

The U.S. already experimented with wartime weather modification in the Vietnam War with Operation Popeye, which led to the 1977 Environmental Modification Convention, outlawing its use in combat. The Air Force paper was purely speculative. Subsequent government investigations by the FAA, EPA, NASA and NOAA found that there are no such things as chemtrails.

6. Birds Arent Real.

By far, the most outlandish conspiracy on the list is the idea that all birds have been systematically exterminated and replaced with exact-replica drones. The Birds Arent Real movement says it's been around since 1976. Like many great conspiracy theories, it brings together many other theories to form a grand, unified theory of government surveillance, Birds Arent Real.

The CIA used poison gases (chemtrails) to kill off all live birds in the country in an operation called Water the Country. They then were replaced with drones built at Area 51 to watch people and monitor their behavior. They believe Kennedy was assassinated because he refused to implement the bird watching program. The engineers who built the birds were sent to Vietnam and were captured by the Viet Cong.

(Ismael Olea)

In the past few years, Bird Brigades have popped up in six cities to form a movement to inform the American people about their avian overseers.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Samuel Dickstein was everything a politician from the Tammany Hall political machine was supposed to be: a New York City alderman, a New York state assemblyman, a congressman representing New York City and fiercely loyal to the party.

Unlike other Tammany Hall politicians, Dickstein wasnt so loyal to the United States. Today, we know the congressman was also a spy for the Soviet State Security agency, then known as the NKVD.

A little strip of New York City real estate between East Broadway and Grand Street in southern Manhattan is still named for Dickstein, despite what we know about the former congressman today. When it was named for him, however, there was no hint that he passed sensitive information to the Soviet Union.

He was born in the former Russian Empire, in what is today Lithuania, to Jewish parents. The family emigrated to the United States in 1887, escaping the anti-Jewish sentiment pervasive under Russian Tsar Alexander III.

Dickstein went to law school in New York City, got a job at a prestigious law firm and soon got involved in local politics. His ascent was astonishing. In less than a decade of public service, he found himself elected to Congress.

Things back in Russia had not improved over the course of Dicksteins life. Since his familys escape, Tsar Alexander had died and passed the throne to Nicholas II. Nicholas II abdicated during the February Revolution of 1917, and by the end of that year, the Bolsheviks came to power. A month after Dickstein was elected to represent New York in the House of Representatives, the Soviet Union was founded in 1922.

Once in Congress, Dickstein was vehemently opposed to fascism and aggressively attempted to root out any un-American, fascist propaganda directed at the citizens of the United States. Long before Sen. Joseph McCarthy began the red scare, Dickstein railed against subversives attempting to overthrow the government.

A small plaza in southern Manhattan is named for former Rep. Samuel Dickstein.

No one was safe: American supporters of the Nazi movement, fascists overseas and even communists took the brunt of Dicksteins rhetoric.

Despite all of his bluster, Dickstein began securing American passports to give to Soviet agents trying to work inside the United States -- for a price. It cost roughly $3,000 to secure a passport through Dickstein, equivalent to more than $55,000 in todays dollars.

He then offered his services to the NKVD, precursor to the Soviet KGB, for $1,250 per month (around $23,000 in 2021) to deliver information gleaned from his congressional committee. If his prices seem high, youre not alone. Even the Soviet Union thought so. They gave Dickstein the codename Crook.

Still, according to a 1999 book from authors Alexander Vassiliev and Allen Weinstein, the Soviets paid him. What they got in return isnt known, however. What is known is that Dickstein is the only known member of Congress to be working as an agent for a foreign government.

Dicksteins fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives didnt trust him or like him very much. Not because they would ever suspect him of being a spy. They didnt like him because he threatened to fight witnesses who testified before his committee. They also hated his exaggerations, which only were eclipsed by McCarthy in the years to come.

By 1945, theyd had enough. Dickstein was stripped of his committee seat and left Congress soon afterward. He finished his career as a justice on the New York Supreme Court, where he spent the rest of his life. Manhattans Dickstein Plaza wasnt named for him until 1963, almost a decade after Dickstein died, ostensibly to honor the old jurist.

The Soviets stopped paying Dickstein when he left Congress in 1945, but his service to the USSR went unnoticed until 1999, when Weinstein and Vassiliev published The Haunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America -- the Stalin Era.

The book had unprecedented access to old KGB archives, which revealed the extent to which Dickstein had aided the Soviet Union. But more than 20 years later, Dickstein Plaza is still named for a KGB spy.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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They served beside U.S. troops and wore the very same uniform. But now 18,000 Afghan interpreters fear for their lives as the American government completes a military withdrawal from the country. How we treat our closest allies tells a story about who we are as Americans: the meaning of "no man left behind," and the value of friendship, loyalty and honor. Steve Miska, a retired Army officer and the author of Baghdad Underground Railroad, joins Left of Boom to discuss what it will take to stay true to our interpreters.

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Mentioned in this episode:

No One Left Behind

Iraqi and Afghan Interpreters

The Guam Option

Special Immigrant Visas

The Baghdad Underground Railroad

The Fall of Saigon

The following is an edited transcript of this episode of Left of Boom:

Hope Hodge Seck 0:00

Welcome back to Left of Boom. I'm your host, Military.com managing editor Hope Hodge Seck. There's one overarching ethos that governs the way U.S. troops operate on the battlefield: It's the concept of no man left behind. That's why so many veterans have dug deep to invest time and money to help their Afghan and Iraqi interpreters obtain visas and safe passage to the United States, following their time working with the military. But now the U.S. is rapidly withdrawing all remaining American troops from Afghanistan, and still some 18,000 interpreters remain behind, many of them facing threats to their own lives and their families from the Taliban. We're joined today by Steve Miska, a retired Army officer who worked to bring dozens of Iraqi interpreters to safety. We'll talk together about what the United States owes his allies in this crucial moment. Steve is the author of Baghdad Underground Railroad, which was published earlier this year.

Steve Miska, welcome to the show.

Steve Miska 1:07

Thanks, Hope, It's a pleasure to be here.

Hope Hodge Seck 1:09

So I will dive right into the thick of things. What was the Baghdad Underground Railroad?

Steve Miska 1:18

When I was in Baghdad at the end of 2006, and then pretty much all of 2007, it was the height of sectarian cleansing. And we realized as our interpreters started being targeted and in some cases killed, because they were working alongside of us, that we really needed to try to help them and everybody was coming after them. Al-Qaida in Iraq, Jaysh al-Mahdi Shia militia, even sometimes people in the government. And so as a result, we decided to try to get them out. And at that point, the Special Immigrant Visa had just been passed by Congress. And it was expanded from 50, which was the original allocation to 500 in 2007, thanks to the the advocacy of Ambassador [Ryan] Crocker and others. So we decided, Okay, no Iraqi is going to figure out our bureaucracy. So let's try to do it. And it took my team about three months to navigate the bureaucracy, but the underground railroad aspect of it came in because Embassy Baghdad had closed its doors to Iraqis citing security concerns, and directed them to go to Amman, Jordan. Well, the Jordanians had closed the border to Iraqis because of a refugee crisis. So it was a built-in Catch-22. So we helped them go from Baghdad to Amman, and then on to the United States, if they were fortunate enough to be accepted. And in the U.S., we made sure that there were sponsors ready to receive them, because we knew how challenging the transition would be coming from a cash-based society and trying to land in the U.S. and get their feet on the ground.

Hope Hodge Seck 3:02

So this sounds really like an initiative that you undertook because you realize the importance. What was the role of U.S. military leaders? I mean, how were they responding to what you were doing? Were they supportive? You know, what, how did that play out?

Steve Miska 3:18

They were supportive. But you've got to imagine at the time, it was extremely chaotic. You know, this was, as surge forces are coming in to Baghdad, and Iraq, it was just really, it was lethal for us. But it was extremely lethal for anybody on the streets, the civilians out there. And so senior leadership knew that we were doing it and was supportive of the idea. It just, you know, it wasn't something that I think rose to the top of the priority list, with all the other challenges we were dealing with at the time. And quite frankly, you know, my mandate was to the American moms and dads, right, to try to be the best leader I could for their sons and daughters who were there in combat. But I just ,we knew on my team that if we didn't make an effort, nobody would. And that's where the impetus came from. And really, it was a spark from George Packer's seminal article in The New Yorker, which was titled "Betrayed," and it was just a scathing indictment of the lack of U.S. policy, attempting to safeguard our most trusted partners.

Hope Hodge Seck 4:35

How long was this Baghdad Underground Railroad in place, and ultimately, how many interpreters were able to get out through this mechanism?

Steve Miska 4:45

So it was in place for about one year, and I will say about three dozen were able to escape. They all did not leave at that time, and I detail some of those instances in the book. Ronnie, in particular, his case was just incredible, he decided to stay. This is an example of the type of people that we're talking about. He got approved for a special visa, which most interpreters thought of as winning the lottery. It was so, you know, think about it, 500 visas, and that was between Afghanistan and Iraq. So it's a small number. And Ronnie gets approved. And he comes to me, and he says, I'm not going to go to the U.S. And I thought, You're crazy. It's so dangerous, you should go now. And he said, I don't want to arrive and have to rely on anybody. So I'm going to stay here and save up money because I want to be self-sufficient when I get to the U.S. And he ultimately left in 2009. So two years later, I was already redeploying back into Iraq at the time, and went down to Diwaniyah, and Najaf provinces. And so I was able to reunite with Ronnie and help him on his second go-round with the SIV at that time, because he had some adventures. But we don't know exactly how many, even the interpreters lost track of each other. And, you know, I went back to Germany, and immediately turned around and started getting redeployed back to Iraq. And so I couldn't really keep tabs on what was happening with all the sponsors in the U.S. and and how many eventually made it. I do know, six of them enlisted in either the U.S. Army or Marines when they arrived in the US, and then deployed back to combat as American combat linguists. Right. I mean, that's just the the caliber of people that we're talking about, they were so amazing.

Hope Hodge Seck 6:46

That's neat to hear a little bit about Ronnie's story. And also, you know, him taking that initiative to say, I want to support myself in this new country. Are there any other -- I'm sure there are many stories -- but what other stories of interpreters you were able to help stand out to, you stay with you?

Steve Miska 7:07

George, so -- and by the way, we use their nom de guerre's, right, it was extremely dangerous for them to use their real name, because if you knew their real name, you could figure out where they were from in Iraq and possibly track down their family. And that's even the case today. So I had to maintain all the nicknames in the book. And in some cases, I changed the names of characters to prevent them from coming under harm as well. But George was, his story was just amazing. He had worked with us for about two and a half years, I think, and was doing a lot of logistics for us, basically helping with contracting and work both on the Iraqi military side, because we lived on an Iraqi base. And we just had a small American enclave in this Iraqi base. So George was doing work for the Iraqi army, as well as for the U.S. Army at the time. And his family -- and this was not unusual -- but his mom came into the garage, and she found outside there, where they parked their car, she found a piece of paper, she didn't know what it said, because she didn't read. And his brother grabbed it and saw that it was a death threat directed against him for collaborating with the Americans. And so his brother luckily hid that from his mom ao she wouldn't be overly concerned. But when they spoke, George knew he couldn't go home anymore. And many of the interpreters would go home at least once a month, because it's a cash-based society. And that was how they were taking care of their families to give them money. But George pretty much figured out other ways to take care of the family. They would meet clandestinely with his brother or others, and try to avoid the eyes that were always watching in the neighborhoods where they transited.

Hope Hodge Seck 9:14

What is your take -- So we've been sort of admiring this problem for well over a decade of getting these interpreters who have served the US so faithfully -- What is your take on why it's been so difficult and frustrating to get these Afghan and Iraqi interpreters out of harm's way and safely to the U.S.?

Steve Miska 9:32

Hmm, that's a really good question. So I spent 14 months in Iraq, and I came to D.C. after my last tour in Iraq with this burning issue, and I thought it was going to be the Special Immigrant Visa. And I realized very quickly that it's bigger than that. It's a strategic challenge. It's logical for our enemies to fight from a position of weakness and target what I call our soft networks. The real blinding flash for me was I spent a year as a counterterrorism fellow just focused on this problem at National Defense University. And when I ended up doing a deep dive in history, I was studying the American Revolution. And I realized that we did this to the British, we were targeting loyalists to the crown and bringing them into the public square to recant their loyalty to King George, we were riding people out of town on rails, tarring and feathering people. This was a strategy that somebody fighting from a position of weakness logically executes. And it happened to us, you know, way before Afghanistan and Iraq, it happened in Vietnam, it happened in other conflicts, especially the lower intensity ones. So, if that's the case, then I started trying to figure out, how do we do better? How do we, and why is it that no administration really has done a good job of it. And I think part of it is, the level of interagency coordination required is super challenging. And really, what you need to do is you need to, you need to approach it proactively, right? As we go into the conflict, the first step is, let's try to protect the identities of all of the local national partners that we're working with, to the extent we can, both in the cyber realm as well as in the physical realm. And there are lots of things we can do along those lines. And we need to inform them that they need to do that because a lot of times they inadvertently give information away, say, post on Facebook, not a good idea. The media does a really good job of this, Hope. I don't know if you've worked with a lot of local national stringers, were fixers in your time abroad. But you understand, you know, that's one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. So is working alongside the military as an interpreter or in some other capacity, or our diplomats for that. And it's not just an American problem. It's a Western problem. In many cases, Britain, Germany, all of the the NATO countries that participate in Afghanistan, have this same problem, and they're trying to address it to varying degrees.

Hope Hodge Seck 12:24

The most mystifying thing to me is the near-universal agreement that we should help these interpreters. I mean, you've got members of Congress who have stories of losing interpreters in combat or actually going through the SIV process. So there's that personal experience. So at this point, you know, we've got the situation we've got, and yet it seems like there's so much political will, and relatively little action to to fix this problem. What's the missing piece here?

Steve Miska 12:58

Yeah, it's, you know, as you point out, it's rare to have bipartisan agreement on the hill. This is one of those issues that has had it ever since I've been involved. I mean, when I was pretty much going to help advocate on behalf of the SIV legislation that usually gets rolled into the NDAA every year. I mean, if Republicans and Democrats were all in agreement, we should take care of these folks. I think that right now, where we're at it, it's a very similar situation, as we were in in Vietnam, when we were withdrawing. And the State Department is in charge in terms of the security situation and any potential evacuation that could occur. And they're really concerned about a couple different things, I believe, that are the reservations. One is, this administration currently has, you know, tens of thousands of kids they've removed from the Mexican border. And they've got a really sticky problem that doesn't seem to have a good downstream policy solution. And so they see the 18,000 Afghan interpreters plus the 70,000 family members that they represent as being a another problem like that. Right. And if they relocate them somewhere, I know a lot of advocacy groups have talking about the Guam option. I think relocating them somewhere safe, if that's the immediate problem. But I think the administration one is concerned about what happens after that, what if people fail the security checks, and because of all the inefficiencies in the SIV, those failures are extremely high relative to how they should be for some of the most vetted refugees in the world. And that's due to bureaucracy and the way we go to conflict. And I'm happy to chat about that if you wan,t but the other one and the more important one which really ties it to the Vietnam case study is the optics. Right. And I heard Ambassador Khalilzad mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, I'm sure you noted that, in his remarks was, if we were to do this, it could give the impression that we believe that government is collapsing, or could precipitate the collapse. And that was the same argument used in Vietnam. And what happened was, we ended up waiting too long in Vietnam. And then it was a mad rush for the door. Now, the difference with Vietnam that's really important for policymakers to note is, there were plenty of seaports, and that was where the majority of people actually were evacuated from, we do not have that option in Afghanistan. So you've got a lot of incremental approaches to try to fix a system that is not going to be sufficient in the time that's remaining. And so I think it's really up to the Secretary of State and the president, to make this call. I hope that they will realize that you know, nothing good is going to happen from allowing 18,000 interpreters to be slaughtered by the Taliban, or ISIS or the other actors.

Hope Hodge Seck 16:20

So you mentioned this plan, this proposal to move interpreters to Guam and buy them a little bit more time. I know, you're affiliated with No One Left Behind, which has been an advocate for this proposal. Can you explain a little bit more in depth about what this would look like how it would work?

Steve Miska 16:37

I've been with No One Left Behindd for years, I'm on the advisory board of IRAP, the International Refugee Assistance Project, and have just been really working in this entire ecosystem, right, on on both ends, to make sense of it and try to provide the research that will help policymakers get better in this space. Guam is, you know, really, nominal, from the perspective of the nonprofit organizations in particular, are asking for a U.S. territory, because it alleviates some of the legal challenges. If we go to another country, I would suspect and I don't know what DoD is planning, I would think DoD and maybe the administration, if they were to execute, it might want to go a different way. Guam is an awfully long way from Kabul. You know, it's over a day's flight with a couple stops, and other options are allow for some direct flights. And really, I think the primary concern is get them to a safe location where then we can conduct the vetting process appropriately and to the standards that are expected without the security situation deteriorating around, and us losing our influence, quite frankly, to do it in Afghanistan. And it's not the right thing that we should attempt to ask the Afghan government to do this on our behalf. I really don't see it in their interest to do that. So it's got to be led by the US and other Western countries.

Hope Hodge Seck 18:13

You mentioned the, I guess, counterargument that you might get stuck with people at some third location, that you can't look forward to the US and you can't send back and they're kind of stuck there. Is there a response to that? Or is that just a problem that hasn't been solved yet?

Steve Miska 18:30

So you know, my response is, that's still not a good argument for not doing the evacuation, first and foremost. That said, if you look back historically, at the numbers, whether it be Vietnam, whether it be the Kurds in 1996, whether it the Kosovars in 1999, we are talking about a very small number. So we've done a lot with thorny issues like that in the past, right, we've gotten prisoners from Guantanamo to go to third countries, right? That's called diplomacy. And I really don't think that people who have gone on patrol with us and saved our lives, in many cases, are going to fall into that category. But let's say there is some small number less than 1%. I think that's a problem that's very manageable for our career diplomats who are used to doing those types of negotiations around the globe.

Hope Hodge Seck 19:31

You alluded to some lessons that have been learned mainly having to do with security in masking identities, and making sure interpreters have a level of safety from the start. But can you build on that, you know, what else have we learned that we can carry with us into the next conflict? And you know, how can we better give foreign nationals who helped the U.S. assurances that we won't leave them to die when the conflict ends?

Steve Miska 19:58

I'm not sure we've learnend all of those lessons you just cited, other than the hard way. And the important thing, right, is to institutionalize them in some way. And I'm not sure that has occurred. So that's part of the policy development and research work that I do with my consulting practice, it's called The Project to Strategically Protect Soft Networks. And we've been doing it for years, with researchers from all over the country, looking at best practices, both from non-government organizations, say the media, for example, to government organizations that do this very well. So domestic witness protection, right? And how do you do that? And then how do you protect identity in a way that allows us to continue the mission in those conflicts zones with these vital partners who we could not do without? And then should that fail, right, should those checks break down. Then how do we relocate locally if possible, so that we can keep them in the fight and keep them and not uproot them to some culturally extreme environment. So that's part of the thinking in terms of how to move forward. And really what we've we were able to do with a very generous grant from the Smith Richardson Foundation, in partnership with the Pacific Council on International Policy, we were able to create a policy development process that the National Security Council could lead, and to get the whole of government to really take a hard look at this, and develop the policies and standards, basically, within government as well as in the government contracting community. Because they're a huge part of this problem. They're the ones who do the letting of those contracts, and hiring of our interpreters and others. And that's one of the reasons why the research is so challenging, is because the data is not readily available. It's very hard to come by from the government contracting community. And we're working with partners in that space to try to resolve that. So those are are some of the the lessons learnrd from the contemporary space. But I would also like to note, because we're really deep into the the other case studies of evacuations right now, in Vietnam, when we finally realized we've got a problem and we needed to evacuate, the president appointed a task force, a special interagency task force, that was working from Guam all the way back to the United States in reception camps, and helping coordinate the actions of the nine different resettlement agencies that work in different capacities across the country to help resettle refugees when they arrive. But also linking them up with veterans who wanted to sponsor their family members, in many cases would step up and sponsor, as well as other civil society groups, churches, and rotary clubs and other organizations. And we have the benefit of some pretty robust nonprofits now, with organizations like No One Left Behind, and IRAP, and Miry's List in LA and Veterans for American Ideals, that links a veteran organization across the country to surge on issues like this. So those are some of the things that we are prepared to do in the coalition that is prepared to receive these refugees, should the administration make the call to evacuate.

Hope Hodge Seck 23:47

What are the chances, do you think, of the administration making that call and setting up such a task force?

Steve Miska 23:52

I think the chances are really good, Hope. And I don't think we control the conditions that will bring about those chances. And that's why so many of us are advocating, do it earlier rather than later. Even if the president were to nominate somebody prominent to lead that task force and stand up, it's basically buying an option for the future, right? Maybe you don't have to execute that option. Maybe it's just there as insurance policy. But should you you've got the apparatus already in place, you've got the coordination going on. Because it's super important to have the right people in place, both in uniform as well as in the civilian sector, and having those relationships already established. And once that's the case, then I think we'll be much better off in that some of the lessons learned that come from from cases like Vietnam.

Hope Hodge Seck 24:49

One thing that has really stayed with me, in the process of reporting several stories on this issue, is just how powerless a lot of veterans have felt to help even their own interpreters come to safety through the SIV process. In fact, I've talked with some veterans who had a little bit of political pull, and were able to call congressional hearings, or make those happen. And that was what it took to get one interpreter back. So that said, at this point, what can ordinary Americans or ordinary veterans do to help?

Steve Miska 25:26

Yeah, that's a great question. And and that's one of my frequent talking points, right, when I talk to policymakers about this, is we've got so many young men and women taking off their uniform from their time and service. And they feel like they're violating an ethos, because that ethos is we inculcate in them in the military of leave nobody behind. And then they feel like they're violating that, and they feel ashamed of our country for not addressing this problem. And so my question to the policymakers, it this how we want our young men and women going home and talking to, you know, their hometown, high schools, who are the potential next generation of recruits coming into the military? You know, I don't think so. And we can do better. This is not a Biden administration problem. This is an American problem. We need the President and the Secretary of State to make the decision. But I believe the American people have shown the propensity to rise to the occasion. And my book is a microcosm of that, right? These just courageous women, opening their doors to these young Iraqi men who are arriving in the U.S., and helping them get their feet on the ground. And I'll give you an example. Madonna, from Tucson. She's a widow, with her only son deployed to combat in Iraq. And he calls her up. And he says, Mom, I need some help. I need you to sponsor Ronnie when he gets to the U.S.. And of course, her son's asking, so she says, absolutely. And she goes to work the next day, and all of her girlfriends think she's gone nuts. Are you gonna let some strange Arab male come live in your house? And she responded, you know, I know my son wouldn't put me in danger. But of course, you know, she's got those reservations in the back of her mind. And she told me when I interviewed her, or writing the book, she said, You know, when I first saw Ronnie, and when I picked him at the airport, I knew he was going to be like a second son to me. And of course, he was, and still is. And he did what all sons do to their moms, he broke her heart, he enlisted in the Army and deployed back to Iraq. And so both her sons were in combat, right. And so that's the spirit of the American people, every one of those sponsors from the book when I talked to them. Number one, I had no idea what I was asking them to do, how hard it was going to be. And it was absolutely hard. But they all say they would do it again, it was one of the most meaningful things they've ever done in their life. And they would do it again. So that's the spirit that I hope comes through in the last third of the book. That's where it's focused on is this spirit of the potential the possibilities of our country, and the overwhelming generosity that people are willing to display.

Hope Hodge Seck 28:12

So where can people find your book and learn about your journey?

Steve Miska 28:18

So it's currently on Amazon and all the major virtual retailers and you can find it there. I am doing talks are right now pretty much in D.C. and Southern California. But where I go, I try to bring copies of book right to have on hand, in case people don't have it, and they want to get it right then. But I'd also like to point out, the big thanks to the U.S. Veteran's Artists Alliance, they have the publishing imprint Onward Press, and proceeds of the book support that veteran nonprofit. And they're all about helping veterans and family members tell their stories better. And they support a lot of aspiring screenwriters and other vets. So a wonderful organization. So please, if you're, if you're worried about where the money goes, it goes to a really good cause.

Hope Hodge Seck 29:10

Fantastic. Well, thank you so much for your time. It's been a pleasure to speak with you and to learn more about this important work.

Steve Miska 29:18

Thank you, Hope. It's been an honor.

Hope Hodge Seck 29:27

Thank you once again for joining us for a very important and timely episode of Left of Boom. This is also my last episode hosting this show. I am leaving Military.com to care for my family and pursue other projects. Left of Boom will likely go on hiatus for a little while, but I'm sure we'll be back soon with a new host and exciting new topics to tackle and conversations to have. In the meantime, thank you so much for being a listener. And as always, you can still find all the news and information you need about your military community every day at Military.com. Signing off.
5:58PM: The Braves officially announced the roster moves.

5:50PM: Tanner Roarks contract has also been selected, MLB.coms Mark Bowman reports (Twitter link). Roark inked a minor league deal with Atlanta shortly after the Blue Jays released him in early May. The veteran righty is looking for a fresh start after posting a 6.75 ERA over 54 2/3 innings for Toronto since the start of the 2020 season. In corresponding moves, Atlanta optioned right-handers Kyle Wright and Ty Tice to Triple-A, while catcher Alex Jackson and lefty Tucker Davidson were moved to the 60-day IL to create space for Chavez and Roark on the 40-man roster.

12:26PM: The Braves will select the contract of right-hander Jesse Chavez to start a bullpen game against the Reds tonight, tweets Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Chavez signed a minor league pact with the Braves back in April.

It was already known that Atlanta would be going with a bullpen game Thursday after recently placing Max Fried on the injured list due to a blister and playing a pair of doubleheaders this week. The Braves have yet to formally announce the move themselves, though that announcement  and a corresponding 40-man roster move  figures to come along shortly.

Chavez, 37, is a 13-year Major League veteran wholl now be in his second stint as a member of the Braves. He pitched in 28 games for Atlanta back in 2010 when he was still working to solidify himself as a viable big league arm. Things didnt pan out the first time around, but Chavez has gone on to have a solid career as a well-traveled swingman. From 2013-19, he split time between the As, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Angels, Rangers and Cubs, working to a combined 4.12 ERA in 738 2/3 innings (77 starts, 230 relief outings).

The 2020 season was an ugly one for Chavez, who was tagged for 13 runs in 17 innings out of the Rangers bullpen. Hes bounced back with a strong showing for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2021, logging 20 innings of 2.25 ERA ball with a 27-to-8 K/BB ratio. Hes been particularly sharp of late, rattling off six straight shutout innings and punching out 11 of his past 22 opponents.

Chavez hasnt thrown more than two innings or topped 35 pitches in any of his 13 appearances with Gwinnett this season, so its unlikely hell be tasked with pitching any more than three innings unless he makes particularly quick work of the Reds the first time through the order. Todays outing figures to be a spot start, but Chavez has a solid overall track record in the Majors and could stick around to give the Braves some depth in the bullpen if he fares well.
In what can be termed as contempt of the Madras High Court order in early May, directing the central information commission (CIC) and state information commissions to spare three to four hours per day on second appeal hearings related to COVID-19, the CIC, after abiding by it for a few weeks, has abandoned the practice.

Saurav Das, journalist and transparency activist whose petition in the Madras High Court had led to the order, has filed a complaint through a letter last week to chief central information commissioner, Yashovardhan Kumar Sinha.

In the letter he says, As you know, seeing the urgency and the utmost public interest involved in such pandemic related matters, the Madras High Court on my public interest litigation (PIL) had recommended this commission to hear such matters on an urgent basis, for at least three to four hours a day, daily. However, far from three to four hours a day and very far from 'daily' hearings that were recommended, you have now stopped hearing any such cases altogether. Further, no cases are being heard on Fridays every week. From 8th July onwards till 19th July, you will not be hearing any cases, for what looks like a long leave. Leaving those aside, there is nothing stopping this commission from hearing such important and urgent matters before you go on a leave.

Mr Das in his letter has appealed Mr Sinha to restart hearing the pandemic related cases on an urgent basis, in the right spirit of the Madras HCs recommendation; to ensure that such matters continue to be heard by the next senior-most information commissioner of the commission during the time of your long absence, and to ensure that this commission and your kind self, sit for longer hours, as recommended by the commission, to hear such cases that relate to our lives.

In the meanwhile, former central information commissioner and right to information (RTI) activist Shailesh Gandhi has filed a complaint under Section 18 (1)(f) of the RTI Act with Sumit Mullick, Maharashtra state chief information commissioner (SCIC).

In the complaint, Mr Gandhi says, It is well known that many RTI applications are being filed with a request that information be provided within 48 hours on matters relating to COVID. In most cases the information is not provided and courts have also suggested that commissions hold urgent hearings on these. It will serve the purpose and relieve the load on public information officers (PIOs) and the commission if such information was displayed and updated every day on the website of the government. I am sure the administration must be getting such reports daily. All that is being requested is, that it be displayed on the website where citizens can access it.

Mr Gandhi, who is steering the campaign through the RTI Katta, has listed the information related to COVID-19, which must be suo motu uploaded on the websites of the relevant public authorities. This must include

List of hospitals and available beds (including the number of beds available for the below poverty line (BPL) in charitable hospitals) (with classification -- oxygen beds, non-oxygen beds and ventilator beds).

Stock of various life-saving medicines required in Covid and mucormycosis treatment

Daily distribution of various vaccines to vaccination centres.

Daily availability of various vaccines i.e. Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik, and Pfizer at all vaccination centres.

Daily hospitals vaccination completed and daily cumulative figures.

Wardwise/village wise datatotal population and population vaccinated with percentage.

Total amount from budget allocated funds spent on date and till date.

Details of allocation on purchase of all vaccines on date and till date.

Projected date wise supply vs actual doses supplied on and till date.

Planned Vs supply of vaccines supplied to states.

In 2017, the then SCIC Ratnakar Gaikwad had given a stern order on the complaint of Mr Gandhi regarding opacity in information of public welfare schemes that are directly concerned with the common man.

SCIC Gaikwad had immediately taken cognisance of Mr Gandhis complaint. In the order, Mr Gaikwad stated the Commission views this lapse on the part of the public authorities with serious concern. It is sad that after a lapse of more than 11 years since the RTI Act came into force, public authorities by and large have shown a lackadaisical attitude towards proactive disclosures as laid down under Section 4 of the Act.

Mr Gaikwad invoked the following sub-sections of Section 4 of the RTI Act in support of his directive:

Section 4 (1) (b) of Right to Information Act, 2005 is the heart and soul of the RTI Act, which makes it mandatory for all public authorities to disclose information about 17 aspects of public authorities which, inter alia, covers schemes implemented by public authorities, and list of beneficiaries to be displayed on the websites of the respective public authority.

So also Section 4(1)(c)(d) mandates that all decisions, administrative/quasi-judicial, taken by public authorities, and material/facts based on which such decisions are taken, must be suo motu communicated to the affected persons forthwith by public authorities. All welfare schemes implemented by the government are obviously covered under the above provisions of the RTI Act. But, unfortunately, no department yet has implemented in letter and spirit the above provisions, with the result that there is hardly any transparency and accountability in the implementation of various welfare schemes implemented by the government.

The former central information commissioner has requested Mr Mullick to refer to the order and immediately direct the concerned public authorities to proactively upload COVID-19 related information on their websites.

Mr Das, in his letter to the central information commissioner, rues It is sad and extremely unfortunate, sir, that people have to first rush to the court to enforce their fundamental right to know, then constantly seek urgent hearings in the deliberate absence of an automatic system, and to again write letters to your kind self, reminding you about our rights and seeking to get our fundamental right to information enforced.
The union finance ministry has asked the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to constitute a seven-member task force to look into the technical issues facing the new income-tax (I-T) e-filing portal developed by Infosys.

In line with the directive, the ICAI has constituted a team to analyse the issues, it said in a statement.

The finance ministry on Tuesday organised a meeting to review the glitches and issues related to the new I-T e-filing portal. The new portal has been facing issues ever since its launch on 7th June.

The meeting was chaired by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and was attended by minister of state for finance Anurag Thakur, revenue secretary Tarun Bajaj, and CBDT (central board of direct taxes) Chairman Jagannath Mohapatra among others.

"We believe this process will be almost complete in a phased manner and the problems will be resolved on a daily basis. For tax audit report, which is awaited by CAs, utility shall be available by the first week of July," the ICAI statement said.

During the meeting, ICAI was asked to provide its continuous support and inputs to the CBDT and Infosys for resolving the issues as early as possible.

The finance minister exhorted Infosys, the service provider, to work on the tax portal to make it more humane and user-friendly and expressed her deep concern on the various problems being faced by the stakeholders in the new portal, which was expected to provide a seamless experience to the taxpayers, said a statement by the finance ministry.

Ms Sitharaman also asked Infosys to address all the issues without further loss of time, improve its services and redress the grievances on priority as they impact the taxpayers adversely.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Prominent tech figure John McAfee, who founded the leading antivirus software provider McAfee, has been found dead in his cell in Spain, the media reported.

According to The Guardian, McAfee was found dead hours after the country's highest court approved his extradition to the US, where he was wanted on tax-related criminal charges that carry a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Catalan's regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, confirmed a report in El PaAs that McAfee, 75, had been found dead in the Brians 2 prison near Barcelona, late on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Catalan justice department said that prison officers and medics had tried to save the life of a 75-year-old man but had been unsuccessful. After attempts to save him failed, he was pronounced dead.

"Judicial staff have been dispatched to the prison and are investigating the causes of death," the statement said, adding that "Everything points to death by suicide."

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelona's international airport as he was about to board a flight to Istanbul.

At that time, a judge ordered that McAfee should be held in jail while awaiting the outcome of a hearing on extradition.

The arrest of the entrepreneur came a day after authorities had made public the US indictment stemming from his alleged tax offence.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
We had mentioned in Wednesdays closing report that Nifty, Sensex continue to be directionless. On Thursday, the indices opened higher and ended with decent gains. On the NSE, there were 778 advances, 1,184 declines and 58 unchanged.

The trend of the major indices on Thursdays trading are given in the table below:

Reliance Industries AGM: Google and Jio announced launch of a new smartphone called JioPhone Next coming later this year. Chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani unveiled the strategy and roadmap for its New Energy and New Materials business with an investment of Rs 60,000 crore over a period of three years.

Adani Group's Australian mining division Bravus Mining & Resources has struck coal in the much controversial Charmichael project in Queensland.

Apollo Hospitals reported consolidated net profit of Rs 169.89 crore for the Jan-Mar 2021 quarter compared to Rs 209.60 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Consolidated revenue declined to Rs 2,867.95 crore compared to Rs 2,922.43 crore YoY.

Hornbill Orchid India Fund, a Mauritius-based hedge fund, acquired a 1.95% stake in Nureca.

Jagan Lamps Limited has received orders worth Rs. 22.50 crore for supplying automotive lamps.

Orchid Pharmas promoter Dhanuka Laboratories will sell its 8.04% stake on June 24 and June 25 via an offer for sale.

DCW credit ratings were upgraded by India Ratings & Research to BBB+ with a stable outlook.

Vardhman Special Steels completed price negotiations with OEMs. The price increase is in the range of Rs 5,000 - 6,000 a tonne.

Sharda Motors consolidated profit grew four-fold to Rs 25.91 crore compared to Rs 6.19 crore YoY. Revenue jumped to Rs 604.16 crore from Rs 237.07 crore YoY. The company approved the joint venture between Sharda Motor Industries and Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions.

Speciality Restaurants made a profit of Rs 8.43 crore against a loss of Rs 37.11 crore in the same period last year. Revenue fell to Rs 65.42 crore from Rs 75.41 crore YoY.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
O'FALLON, Mo. (AP)  Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church will pay restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit that accuses the TV pastor of falsely claiming a health supplement could cure COVID-19.

Missouri court records show that a settlement agreement was filed Tuesday. It calls for refunds to people who paid money or gave contributions to obtain a product known as Silver Solution in the early days of the pandemic.

The settlement also prohibits Bakker and Morningside Church Productions Inc. from advertising or selling Silver Solution to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure any disease or illness. Bakker, in the agreement, does not admit wrongdoing.

Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued Bakker and Morningside in March 2020. Schmitt sought an injunction ordering Bakker to stop selling Silver Solution as a treatment for COVID-19 on his streaming TV program, The Jim Bakker Show. The lawsuit said Bakker and a guest made the cure claim during 11 episodes in February and March of 2020.

Schmitt said in a news release on Wednesday that Bakker has already made restitution to many consumers, and must pay back another $90,000 to others.

The hour-long Jim Bakker Show is filmed in southwestern Missouri. The consent agreement notes that during the program, Silver Solution was offered to those who agreed to contribute $80 to $125.

Baker's attorneys  Derek Ankrom and former Democratic Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon  said in a joint statement that Bakker and Morningside Church Productions are pleased to put the matter behind them so they can continue the important work of Morningside Church. They noted that the agreement includes no findings whatsoever that our clients violated any laws or misled consumers.

Nixon had previously claimed that Bakker was being unfairly targeted by those who want to crush his ministry and force his Christian television program off the air," and that Bakker did not claim that Silver Solution was a cure for COVID-19.

The lawsuit cited a discussion on the program on Feb. 12, 2020, in which Bakker spoke with Sherrill Sellman, referring to her as a naturopathic doctor and a natural health expert."

This influenza that is now circling the globe, youre saying that Silver Solution would be effective? Bakker asks. Sellman, according to the lawsuit, replies: Well, lets say it hasnt been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it has been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours.

Yeah, Bakker says.

Totally eliminate it, kills it. Deactivates it, Sellman replies, according to the lawsuit.

Also in March 2020, U.S. regulators warned Bakkers company and six others to stop selling items using what the government called false claims that they could treat the coronavirus or keep people from catching it. Letters sent jointly by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission warned the companies that their products for treating COVID-19 were fraudulent, pose significant risks to patient health and violate federal law.

Silver Solution, a form of colloidal silver, consists of silver particles suspended in a liquid. The solution is often described by manufacturers as having the power to boost the immune system and cure diseases. But it has no known benefit in the body when ingested, according to officials with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a federal scientific research agency.

Experts say ingesting colloidal silver can have serious side effects. The NCCIH says it can turn skin blue when silver builds up in the bodys tissue.

Nixon, who served two terms as governor from 2009 to 2017 and is now a partner at the Dowd Bennett law firm in St. Louis, said Bakker immediately complied with orders to stop offering Silver Solution on his show and ministry website after receiving the warning letters from the FDA and FTC.

Meanwhile, Arkansas' attorney general filed a lawsuit similar to Missouri's in June 2020. That case is still pending.
Jarritos, the classic Mexican soda in a bottle, is forming an alliance with Duolingo (the language learning app on your phone that youve been meaning to revisit).

The two forces are giving away 100 3-month premium Spanish lesson subscriptions, with one fortunate subscriber winning an all expenses paid four-night trip for two in Mexico.

READ ALSO: How you can drink wine at charity event with Jose Altuve and wife Nina

The trip will be to the Mexican destination of the winners choice, anywhere from Cabo San Lucas to Cancun.

"Since Jarritos is flavored by culture and rooted in rich Mexican tradition, partnering with Duolingo allows us to further celebrate our heritage by focusing on the language of our brand's birthplace," says Eric Delamare, director of marketing for Jarritos in a press statement. "Something as simple as learning that the letter 'J' is pronounced like an 'H' in our brand name can unlock a whole new world of learning through language.

With 13 flavors ranging from mandarin, tamarind, guava and grapefruit, a cold Jarritos (HA-reetos) is a summer-time favorite. Even if you already know how to pronounce the beverage correctly, you can still enter to win.

Those seeking to brush up on their Spanish through lessons or take an immersive language vacation must complete several tasks to enter the drawing.

Courtesy of Brianna Hernandez, Jarritos

First, follow both Duolingo and Jarritos on Instagram. Then, on either brands account, tag one friend who youd want to join you on a trip to Mexico. Then, if you havent already, download (or re-download) the Duolingo App and follow the link online to finalize your entry by sharing your name, email, address, Duolingo and Instagram handles.

The deadline to enter is July 20, 2021.






HOUSTON (AP)  A long-running corruption probe sparked by a 2019 Houston police drug raid in which a couple was killed has ended with new indictments against two officers already charged in the case, authorities announced Wednesday.

Former Officer Gerald Goines and Officer Felipe Gallegos, who were part of the narcotics squad that carried out the deadly raid, were indicted Wednesday for their roles in an alleged scheme to claim overtime payments for work they did not perform. Each is charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

Authorities began investigating the narcotics squad after the January 2019 drug raid in which Dennis Tuttle, 59, and his wife, Rhogena Nicholas, 58, were killed.

A dozen officers tied to the squad have been indicted since then. Most of the officers face charges related to the alleged overtime scheme, allegations of falsifying documentation about drug payments to confidential informants or for allegedly lying on police reports.

Goines, 56, and Gallegos, 33, are the only officers charged with murder in the raid. Goines, who was indicted on seven counts in state court, is also facing federal charges. If convicted of murder, Goines and Gallegos could each face up to life in prison.

Prosecutors allege Goines, who led the raid, lied to obtain the warrant to search the couples home by claiming a confidential informant had bought heroin there. Goines later said there was no informant and that he bought the drugs himself, they allege. Police found small amounts of marijuana and cocaine in the house, but no heroin.

We are honored to stand behind Mr. Goines. We are eager to see the evidence in this matter and very much look forward to vigorously defending this good man in court, Nicole DeBorde, Goines attorney, said Wednesday.

Rusty Hardin, an attorney for Gallegos, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said the indictments mark the end of the corruption probe.

Now its time to get this case to trial before a jury of Harris county residents, so the public can learn exactly what occurred on January 28, 2019, and determine whether or not these defendants will be held accountable for their crimes, Ogg said.

Prosecutors have dismissed more than 160 drug convictions tied to Goines and they are still reviewing other cases connected to him and the narcotics squad.

Earlier this month, Patricia Garcia became the first person sentenced in the case for making false 911 calls that resulted in the drug raid.

In January, the families of Tuttle and Nicholas filed federal civil rights lawsuits against the city and 13 officers.

Michael Doyle, one of the attorneys for Rhogena Nicholas family, has been critical of the district attorney's office investigation.

The Nicholas family remains disappointed that the District Attorneys Office did not fully investigate what happened before, during and after the murderous raid," Doyle said.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
BUCARAMANGA, Colombia (AP)  Men and women who were kidnapped by Colombians biggest guerrilla group during a decades long internal conflict met face to face with their captors Wednesday during an event meant for the rebels to admit their responsibility, a step toward reconciliation contemplated in a peace deal signed in 2016 by the government and the combatants.

The emotional meeting between the victims and members of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC, was convened by a commission with no judicial powers but responsibility for helping clarify what exactly happened during the conflict.

I would never have imagined in the depths of my captivity that one day I would have the possibility of a human dialogue with my former captors, said former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was kidnapped for six years and four months. ... We can say that love is greater, that there is hope, and if there is hope, there is a future.

Former FARC members have previously asked for forgiveness from victims and acknowledged the kidnappings of more than 21,300 people throughout the South American nation, but the Truth Commission and victims, including Betancourt, saw Wednesdays event as an opportunity for ex-leaders of the group to admit their actions without cynicism or justifying them as a response to the conditions of war.

Colombians remain divided over who should be held to account for the decades of violence that only diminished with the peace accord that called for the disarmament of the FARC. The agreement also established a tribunal that offers perpetrators reduced sentences if they help with investigations and are willing to provide reparations to victims.

Betancourt was kidnapped in February 2002 while she was campaigning. She was rescued in June 2008 when the Colombian army deceived the FARC with a fictitious humanitarian operation after infiltrating secret communications. Three members of the U.S. military and 11 individuals with the Colombian armed forces who had been kidnapped for up to a decade were also rescued.

The FARC in 2019 recognized for the first time its responsibility for the kidnapping, and in April rebels accepted before the postwar tribunal the accusation for crimes against humanity.

We present ourselves here, with our heads bowed and our hearts in hand, said Rodrigo Londono, the last FARC commander and now leader of a political party made up of ex-combatants. ... We are truly sorry and hope that some time they can forgive us for the unspeakable damage inflicted.

The investigations by the tribunal have concluded that the FARC subjected its victims to torture, sexual violence, forced displacement and attacks on their personal dignity. The kidnappings were used to finance their operations with the ransom they demanded from families of the victims, force the exchange of imprisoned guerrilla members and control territories.

Roberto Lacouture, who was kidnapped in 1989, was visibly moved during the event. He said he disagrees with the peace accord but decided to attend the meeting to ask the FARC to tell the truth.

I suddenly cannot forgive ... I dont know what will happen, but what I am not going to do is forget all the atrocities that have been committed, Lacouture said.

Betancourt, who now lives in France, said after the meeting that she had expected more explanations and repentance from the ex-combatants.

I must confess that I am surprised that we, on this side of the stage, are all crying, and that on the other (side), there was not a single tear, she said.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is defending his decision to send state patrol troopers to the U.S.-Mexico border at the request of fellow Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and using it as an opportunity to rail against the Biden administration.

Ricketts announced Saturday that he would send 25 troopers to Del Rio, Texas, this week for a deployment to last as long as 16 days. The troopers will partner with the Texas Department of Public Safety, although it's not clear what they'll be doing or how much the mission will cost.

Other GOP-led states, including Florida, have committed law enforcement agents to Texas as well, arguing that the federal government isn't doing enough to stop illegal immigration.

The White House announced Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris would travel to the U.S.-Mexico border. The visit comes amid criticism from Republicans and even some fellow Democrats that Harris has declined to visit the area despite her role leading the Biden administration's response to a sharp increase in migration.

This is a huge failure on the federal government's part, and that leaves states to try to come up with whatever solution they can to try to stem these sorts of crises, Ricketts said in an interview posted Wednesday with the Fox News Rundown podcast.

Ricketts pointed to an increase in unauthorized southern border crossings over the last year. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 180,000 encounters on the Mexican border in May, the most since March 2000. But the numbers were boosted by a pandemic-related ban on seeking asylum, which encouraged repeated attempts to cross the border because getting caught carried no legal consequences.

Critics questioned the need to send Nebraska law enforcement agents to the border.

Rose Godinez, a legal and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, said federal officials have more than enough resources to patrol the border.

We see this as an effort by Gov. Ricketts to politicize this issue, Godinez said.

She said the border crossings are a symptom of the federal government's failure for years to pass broader changes to the U.S. immigration system.

It adds to the question of why the state patrol is needed down there, she said. This is not the best use of their time.

Ricketts' announcement, which blasted the federal government's immigration polices as disastrous, comes as the conservative positions himself as a vocal critic of President Joe Biden. Ricketts has railed against various administration proposals in nationally broadcast interviews, including a goal to conserve nearly one-third of Americas lands and waters by 2030 that Ricketts paints as a federal land grab.

A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that the agency continues to leverage our longstanding relationships with state and local law enforcement," but deferred questions about state decisions to the governors.

Texas requested assistance from Nebraska through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a partnership of state emergency management agencies.

Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said the agency won't know how much the deployment will cost until it's complete. He noted that under the multi-state compact Nebraska has been reimbursed for similar services before.

Nebraska sent 11 troopers to North Dakota on two separate occasions during protests over the Dakota Access pipeline. The state also sent 23 state patrol personnel to Minnesota to help provide security during the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd.

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Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte
It took months of pressure from those of us in Congress and Texans along the border to finally convince Border Czar Vice President Harris to visit the border first-hand. The carnage many Texas communities know all too well will hopefully convince the vice president to reinstate President Trumps strong border policies.

When the vice president arrives, I hope she takes the time to talk to border patrol agents, law enforcement officers and border families who feel abandoned. I sincerely hope this visit leads to policy changes and an end to the Biden Border Crisis. The border must be secured.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russia is prepared to target intruding warships if they fail to heed warnings, a senior Russian diplomat declared Thursday after a Black Sea incident in which a British destroyer sailed near Crimea in an area that Russia claims as its territorial waters.

Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of British destroyer Defender on Wednesday to drive it away from waters near the Crimean city of Sevastopol. Britain denied that account, insisted its ship wasnt fired upon and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

The incident marked the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, underlining the rising threat of military collisions amid Russia-West tensions.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday that the inviolability of the Russian borders is an absolute imperative, adding that it will be protected by all means, diplomatic, political and military, if needed.

He sarcastically suggested the British navy should rename its destroyer from Defender to Aggressor and warned that those who try to test our strength are taking high risks. Asked what Russia would do to prevent such intrusions in the future, Ryabkov told reporters it would stand ready to fire on targets if warnings don't work.

We may appeal to reason and demand to respect international law, Ryabkov said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. If it doesnt help, we may drop bombs and not just in the path but right on target, if colleagues dont get it otherwise."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov deplored what he described as a "deliberate and well-prepared provocation by Britain and seconded the tough warning.

If unacceptable provocative actions are repeated, if those actions go too far, no options to legitimately protect the borders of the Russian Federation could be excluded, Peskov told reporters.

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said a patrol ship fired warning shots after the HMS Defender had ignored a notice against intrusion and sailed 3 kilometers (1.6 nautical miles) into Russias territorial waters near Sevastopol, the main Russian naval base in Crimea. It said a Russian Su-24 bomber also dropped four bombs ahead of the vessel to persuade the Defender to change course. Minutes later, the Defender left Russian waters, the ministry said.

Britain denied the Defender had been fired on or that bombs were dropped in its path. It insisted the ship was making a routine journey through an internationally recognized travel lane and remained in Ukrainian waters. The U.K., like most of the world, recognizes Crimea as part of Ukraine despite the peninsula's 2014 annexation by Russia.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not say whether he had personally approved the Defenders voyage but suggested the Royal Navy was making a point by taking that route.

The important point is that we dont recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea, this is part of a sovereign Ukrainian territory, Johnson told reporters Thursday during a visit to an army barracks in England. It was entirely right that we should vindicate the law and pursue freedom of navigation in the way that we did, take the shortest route between two points, and thats what we did.

He denied that U.K.-Russia relations were at a historic low, noting that I can remember times in my own lifetime when things have been far worse."

On Thursday, British Ambassador Deborah Bronnert visited the Russian Foreign Ministry, which lodged a formal protest.

It was particularly emphasized that if such provocations are repeated, the British side will bear full responsibility for their possible consequences, the ministry said.

The Russian navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said Thursday that the British destroyer's move was clearly provocative, noting that it ignored the warnings in a bid to test Russia's resolve.

They came to see how we act," he told reporters in St. Petersburg. "And they only reacted to the power of weapons. Our navy acted in a competent and safe manner to stop the provocation.

In April, Russia declared a broader area off Crimea closed to foreign naval ships until November, a move that drew strong protests from Ukraine and the West.

U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a written statement to Parliament that what he described as a Russian live fire gunnery exercise was out of range of the Defenders position and posed no danger to her. He added that she was also overflown by Russian warplanes, some of them flying as low as 500 feet and making maneuvers that were neither safe nor professional.

Wallace admitted that at one point the Defender maneuvered to avoid a hazard presented by a Russian coastguard vessel before re-assuming her intended course.

A BBC report from HMS Defender did not show bombs being dropped but showed the ship being buzzed by Russian military aircraft and receiving a threat over the radio to change course or be fired upon.

Footage filmed from a Russian warplane and a drone that was released by the Russian Defense Ministry also showed Russian jets flying close to the Defender but didn't feature any bombs dropped or warning shots fired. Another video released Thursday showed a Russian coast guard vessel firing warning shots with the Defender seen at a distance.

Mikhail Khodaryonok, a retired Russian army colonel who works as a military analyst in Moscow, said the Russian warplane apparently dropped bombs miles away from the British ship. He charged that the British denial that Russia had fired warning shots and dropped bombs to chase the Defender away was an attempt to save face.

They couldn't admit that they were forced to change course, that they were aware of a threat that weapons would be used against them, Khodaryonok said in a telephone interview. The former ruler of the seas couldn't allow for a loss of face by admitting that they submitted to the demands of the Russian side to change course.

___

Associated Press journalists Jill Lawless in London and Daniel Kozin in Moscow contributed to this report.
MADRID (AP)  John McAfee, the creator of McAfee antivirus software, was found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona in an apparent suicide Wednesday, hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the United States to face tax charges punishable by decades in prison, authorities said.

The eccentric cryptocurrency promoter and tax opponent whose history of legal troubles spanned from Tennessee to Central America to the Caribbean was discovered at the Brians 2 penitentiary in northeastern Spain. Security personnel tried to revive him, but the jails medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

"A judicial delegation has arrived to investigate the causes of death, it said, adding that everything points to death by suicide.

The statement didnt identify McAfee by name but said the dead man was a 75-year-old U.S. citizen awaiting extradition to his country. A Catalan government official familiar with the case who was not authorized to be named in media reports confirmed to The Associated Press that it was McAfee.

Spains National Court on Monday ruled in favor of extraditing McAfee, 75, who had argued in a hearing earlier this month that the charges against him by prosecutors in Tennessee were politically motivated and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the U.S.

The court's ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelonas international airport and had been in jail since then awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings. The arrest followed charges the same month in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based attorney defending him on those cases, said by phone that McAfee will always be remembered as a fighter.

He tried to love this country but the U.S. government made his existence impossible, Sanan said. They tried to erase him, but they failed.

The lawyer said Spanish authorities have not given his legal team a cause of death, and he wants to know if there were video cameras in McAfees cell or in the prison.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Memphis declined to comment.

Tennessee prosecutors had argued that McAfee owed the U.S. government $4,214,105 in taxes before fines or interests for undeclared income in the five fiscal years from 2014 to 2018, according to a Spanish court document seen by AP. But in this weeks ruling, the National Court judge agreed to extradite him only to face charges from 2016 to 2018.

Born in England's Gloucestershire in 1945 as John David McAfee, he started McAfee Associates in 1987 and led an eccentric life after selling his stake in the antivirus software company named after him in the early 1990s.

McAfee twice made long-shot runs for the U.S. presidency and was a participant in Libertarian Party presidential debates in 2016. He dabbled in yoga, ultralight aircraft and producing herbal medications.

In 2012 he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Gregory Viant Faull, who was shot to death in early November 2012 on the Belize island where the men lived.

McAfee told AP at the time that he was being persecuted by the Belizean government. Belizean police denied that, saying they were simply investigating a crime about which McAfee may have had information. Then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressed doubts about McAfees mental state, saying, I dont want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers.

A Florida court ordered McAfee in 2019 to pay $25 million to Faulls estate in a wrongful death claim.

In July of that year he was released from detention in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of traveling on a yacht carrying high-caliber weapons, ammunition and military-style gear.

McAfee told Wired Magazine in 2012 that his father, a heavy drinker and very unhappy man, shot himself when McAfee was 15. Every day I wake up with him, he told Wired.

He lived for a time in Lexington, Tennessee, a rural town of about 7,800 some 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Memphis. In a 2015 interview with WBBJ-TV, McAfee said he only felt comfortable when armed. The TV station reported that he chose to be interviewed with a loaded gun in each hand.

Very little gives me a feeling of being safe and more secure other than being armed in my bedroom with the door locked, McAfee told the station.

In one of his last known media interviews, with British newspaper The Independent last November, McAfee said his prison experience in Spain was a fascinating adventure and he planned never to return to the U.S.

I am constantly amused and sometimes moved," he was quoted as saying. "The graffiti alone could fill a thousand-page thriller.

He also told The Independent that prisoners and guards had recognized him and some asked for his autograph.

McAfee said his main point of contact outside the prison was his wife, Janice McAfee. The last post from his Twitter account was a retweet of a Fathers Day message from her.

These eight months John has spent in prison in Spain have been especially hard on his overall health both mentally and physically, as well as financially, but he is undeterred from continuing to speak truth to power, it said.

California chipmaker Intel, which bought McAfee's company in 2011 for $7.68 billion, for a time sought to dissociate the brand from its controversial founder by folding it into its larger cybersecurity division. But the rebranding was short-lived, and Intel in 2016 spun out the cybersecurity unit into a new company called McAfee.

Jaime Le, a McAfee company spokesperson, said in a statement: Although John McAfee founded the company, he has not been associated with our company in any capacity for over 25 years. That said, our thoughts go to his family and those close to him.

A spokesperson with the U.S. Embassy in Madrid said it was aware of the reports about McAfee's death but would not comment for privacy reasons.

___

Brito reported from Barcelona and Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal. Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tenn., Barbara Ortutay in Oakland, Calif., David Hamilton in San Francisco and Matt OBrien in Providence, R.I., contributed.
On Monday, a special advisor to Gov. Greg Abbott gave conservatives in Midland tough love.

The lessons included Texas isnt as solidly red as some here in West Texas would believe and Republicans dont win statewide without Hispanics.

Steve Munisteri, who served in the Trump White House, offered the following about Hispanic turnout and why organizations like the Midland Republican National Hispanic Assembly will mean so much moving forward.

With one-third of the Hispanic vote, you will not win the state, Munisteri told conservatives at the monthly meeting Monday. The audience included Midland Mayor Patrick Payton and two members of the Midland County Commissioners Court Terry Johnson and Randy Prude.

Munisteri said the numbers show Hispanic turnout for Republicans in Texas is increasing. President Donald Trump went from 33 percent in 2016 to 41 percent. George W. Bush is the high-water mark for GOP presidential candidates at 49 percent. Abbott and Cornyn also are above 40 percent.

Moving forward, Hispanic turnout above 40 percent will have to be the norm in Texas, one of four states in the national that will be traditional majority minority when the next Census numbers are unveiled.

Democratic Party autopsy: GOP had the better turnout program

One thing lost in another Republican sweep in November was that Democrats actually had their best turnout.

Joe Bidens 5.2 million votes in 2020 was 1 million more than Republican U.S. Sen Ted Cruz received when he won statewide in 2018. It also was more than a half-million more than Trump received in 2016.

Turnout compared to previous years wasnt the Democrats problem, he said. It was just the GOP had a better program  probably inspired by the poor showings at the top of the ticket by Cruz, who won by 2.56 percent and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who won by 4.8 percent in 2018.

In 2019, Munisteri was hired to run U.S. John Cornyns campaign. It was one year after Abbott collected 4.7 million votes. However, he learned turnout of 6 million was expected in 2020.

Cornyn received 5.962 million votes and won by 9.64 percent; Donald Trump collected 5.890 million and won by 5.58 percent.

It was good news/bad news, Munisteri said. The good news is Texas stayed Republican and expanded victory margins compared to 2018 mid-terms.

The bad news was the spread cemented Texas a lean Republican state.

The percentage difference in victory had fallen from just less than 16 percent in 2012 to 8.99 percent in 2016 to 5.88 percent in 2020.

That decline, he said, served as a reminder to conservatives, that Republicans must show up. It also showed Texas support for Trump wasnt what he enjoyed elsewhere. Texas ranked 23rd of the 25 states that the president won (in terms of margin of victory).
CARROLLTON  A Greene County city is among the latest recipients of an Illinois Connected Communities grant in support of efforts to increase internet broadband access and use.

The grant is part of the second group of funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office of Broadband program, which was created to help some of the most under-served areas of the state build broadband capacity.
Kristopher Templin

One house was destroyed and several others were damaged when an explosion and ensuing fire rocked Meredosia on Wednesday night, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Dozens of residents reported hearing the blast, which shook houses for several blocks, according to social media reports.
RUSHVILLE  Health officials have confirmed an outbreak of new COVID-19 cases and said dozens of confirmed cases of the virus have been traced to a camp in Rushville.

Schuyler County Health Department reported Tuesday that there had been a public exposure at The Crossing Camp from June 13 to June 17. Pike County Health Department said Wednesday that there have been more than 50 cases reported.

The facility provides Christ-centered camps for youths from kindergarten through high school.

It is being recommended that anyone who was at the camp during this time be tested for the coronavirus, even if they are not experiencing any symptoms, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Symptoms can include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever or chills, a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, a new loss of sense of taste or smell, a sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

The camp is working on guidance from Schuyler County Health Department and following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to mitigate any risk for its summer youth programs and is cleaning and disinfecting the facility, according to the health department.

The camps operator, The Crossing Church, said in a social media post that a fourth- and fifth-grade camp originally scheduled for this week has been postponed until mid-August.

Health officials recommend getting vaccinated and also taking precautions to control the spread of the virus by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands frequently with soap and water, staying home when sick, and wearing a mask if not vaccinated.

Pike County Health Department offers vaccination clinics every Thursday by appointment by calling 217-285-4407 or online at pikecountyil.org. The website vaccines.gov also provides locations at which the COVID-19 vaccine is available to those 12 and older.
Bipartisanship is the broccoli of politics.

Everyone knows its good for us, but few of us love it.

When I was elected to Congress in 2010 I became a member of the new House majority, facing a Democratic majority in the Senate and the Obama administration in the executive branch. The only way to pass legislation was through bipartisanship.

In the summer of 2011, Republicans who had been elected in the tea party wave were sorely challenged when it became necessary to raise the ceiling on the national debt. The very idea of countenancing, let alone authorizing, an even more massive burden on American taxpayers, and on successive generations without a vote to weigh in on this depredation against them, was repugnant.

Many of us, including me, had inveighed vehemently in the public record against raising the debt ceiling, and even vowed (ignorance is bliss!) to vote against so doing. But the heady days of campaigning against the leftward juggernaut of the first two Obama years were long over, and, as the grayer (no wonder!) heads advised us, we were now obligated to govern.

The relatively small number of House Republicans who represented swing districts were in the best political position, given the composition of our constituencies, to work across the aisle. Mine was one of those districts.

With superb assistance by my legislative team, I hosted a briefing for fellow members to lay out the potentially devastating consequences of even a technical default. We became acquainted with the tough reality that ending the spiral of profligate spending and confiscatory taxation would require finesse and patience  and bipartisanship.

Enough of us came around to pass the package negotiated by teams from the House and Senate majorities and the White House, but not before a contingent of Republicans most adamantine about their tea party pledges sent everyone back to the drawing board and engendered a last-minute cliffhanger vote that gave us the sequester of domestic  a GOP condition  and military  a Democratic condition  expenditures that has vexed both sides ever since.

That, of course, is the essence of compromise, in the immortal words of then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: No one got what they wanted, and I always find  if people walk out of the room and parties are all dissatisfied, thats a pretty good settlement.

In my own frequent, and not infrequently heated, discussions of the debt-ceiling deal, I urged the word cooperation be used as an alternative to compromise, because in the latter case everyone loses, but in the former everyone wins.

The vogue for positive thinking about bipartisanship I hoped this reasoning might inspire failed, sadly, to materialize. Its the gastronomy of politics: if you go into an election envisioning cake and ice cream, getting broccoli instead feels like a letdown.

Today the palatability of bipartisan compromise  cooperation!  is being contemplated afresh, this time by Democrats on whose side the ascendant energy is for radical transformation of our election system, our economy, our energy portfolio and our courts.

And, as in the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis, it falls on those members of Congress and senators whose districts and states are most politically balanced to lead the way forward, with smaller and more gradual steps than their respective parties aspire to take.

While its true that bipartisan politicians tend to have a particular type of resilience, namely a tolerance for friendly (or less so) fire from their own side, their existence and survival depend almost entirely on whos electing them. West Virginia senator Joe Manchin, the Democrat who has become the de facto leader of the bipartisan coalition on Capitol Hill, represents one of the most Republican states in the country, and that, more than anything else, is what stiffens his spine against his partys leftward lean.

The relevance of the political composition of constituencies acquires extra prominence every 10 years, when congressional district lines are redrawn according to census results. A combination of advancing polarization and gerrymandering, an impulse to which both sides of the political spectrum have understandably yielded, has decimated the bipartisan species over the past couple of decades  though efforts to curb gerrymandering via nonpartisan (this, as does beauty, obtains in the eye of the beholder) vehicles in various states may temper this decline.

Were in the midst of a redistricting cycle now, and its implications for Washingtons behavior will be known in 2022.

In the meantime, a nation whose dessert preference is evenly divided would be well-advised to develop an appreciation for the healthy benefits of broccoli.

Nan Hayworth is a former congresswoman for New Yorks 19th Congressional District. She is a member of the board of directors at Independent Womens Forum. She wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Soderbergh, Cheadle return to Detroit in No Sudden Move View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  During the pandemic, Steven Soderbergh has shot two feature films, released a pair of movies, written a sequel to his first film (1989s Sex, Lies and Videotape), re-edited some of his older movies (mostly for fun) and co-produced the Academy Awards.

Its an amount of accomplishment that really puts to shame the 1,000-piece puzzle some of us are still proud of assembling last May.

Yet at a time when much of Hollywood is going through profound change, Soderbergh has, like few others, seized an uncertain moment.

I think its fair to say that Im the cockroach of this industry, he said smiling on a recent interview by Zoom. I can find a way to survive in any version that Im confronted with.

Soderbergh has averaged a film every one of his 35 years in movies, amassing a nimble, frenetic body of work spanning experimental iPhone indies (High Flying Bird, Unsane) to commercial crowd-pleasers (Oceans Eleven, Erin Brockovich, Magic Mike). His latest,No Sudden Move, nearly didnt happen. It was initially scheduled to begin shooting in April 2020. The pandemic scuttled those plans but by early fall, after he helped create return-to-set safety protocols, Soderbergh remounted it  albeit without one star, George Clooney, who withdrew out of health concerns for his asthmatic son.

Still, No Sudden Move, which debuts July 1 on HBO Max, doesnt lack for stars. And while Clooneys presence would have reinforced a spirit of get-the-band-back-together, No Sudden Move remains a cousin to one of Soderberghs most celebrated movies: 1998s Out of Sight, the slinky, sublime caper adapted from Elmore Leonard.

That film opened in Miami sunshine but descended into wintery Detroit. Twenty-three years later, No Sudden Move returns Soderbergh to the Motor City with Don Cheadle, who memorably played Maurice Snoop Miller in Out of Sight. Since then, Cheadle has co-starred in four more films with Soderbergh (Traffic, the Oceans movies). But hes front-and-center this time.

This was designed as vehicle for Don, whether he wanted it or not, Soderbergh says. Literally: I wanted to see this guy walking, walking, walking  and we parachute into this story.

No Sudden Move opens with Cheadle, as Curt Goynes, strolling through 1950s Detroit. Soderbergh and screenwriter Ed Solomon conceived of the film from the start as a heist movie with a trio of thieves brought together not unlike those in Robert Wises electric 1959 noir Odds Against Tomorrow. (That was one inspiration. The classic 70s crime film The Friends of Eddie Coyle was another.)

But while working on the script, Solomon came upon the history of the automotive industrys efforts to avoid emissions controls. No Sudden Move begins with three hired guns (Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Kieran Culkin), but in a multiplying series of double-crosses, expands in scope to encapsulate some of Detroits original sins, a little like how Chinatown does for Los Angeles. The rest of the cast includes Bill Duke, Jon Hamm, David Harbour, Julia Fox, Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon and Ray Liotta.

We were able to talk about redlining and community and the devastation of Detroit and the greed of the car manufacturers without proselytizing or hitting it on the head, says Cheadle. It was all part of the narrative intrigue. It felt in a lot of ways like Out of Sight 2.0 or 1.0, 30 years beforehand  revisiting that kind of energy.

Cheadle wasnt necessarily eager to return to a film set at the time. But he also realized that if he didnt, a-stuck-at-home Soderbergh would probably keep writing and sending him scripts. The director managed the shoot without incident by frequent testing in two mobile COVID-19 testing units that were personally paid for. The central cast and crew members were kept in a quarantine bubble.

I know that I put Steven through some version of hell in my uncertainty about coming back, Cheadle says. I lost family members to COVID. I was really gun shy about even leaving my house.

Cheadle smiles. I also blame him for Contagion,' referring to Soderberghs prophetic pandemic drama from 2011. I think hes Patient Zero.

In April, Soderbergh led an effort to mount an in-person Oscars despite COVID-19 protocols. The telecast was handsomely shot, opening with a fluid tracking shot of Regina King, and it made an often impersonal ceremony warmly intimate. But it was also talky, with lengthy introductions and speeches, and one gambit to rearrange the final awards ended awkwardly.

Overall, Soderbergh is pleased with the show. The broadcast did what it set out to do: pull off an in-person Oscars safely while experimenting with an often inflexible format.

As far as I know, were the first show in a long time where nobody ever got played off, and Im proud of that. This is what happens when you hire the director of a movie called Let Them All Talk, he jokes, referring to his 2020 film for HBO Max, with Meryl Streep, shot largely on an ocean liner crossing.

But Soderbergh did walk away from the experience  a satisfying and unique one, he says  with a gnawing sense of a larger existential crisis for movies. Ratings, like they have for most pandemic award shows, plummeted.

I just look at it as a larger issue than the specifics of what our show looked like, and that is: How do we make people care about the movies the way they used to? Soderbergh says. To me, this is the real question that needs to be confronted.

But the conditions, and the opportunities of streaming, are also ripe for a protean, fast-working filmmaker like Soderbergh. He recently shot his third film for HBO Max, KIMI, a pandemic-set thriller with Zoe Kravitz. No Sudden Move, a period crime film for adults, is very much the kind of movie that before the streaming flood gates opened would have been unlikely to get made.

Its a really good time for somebody who makes things. I honestly would not like to be running these companies. Nobody knows whats coming. Nobody knows whats a cyclical thing as opposed to a real secular change, says Soderbergh. I have a long history with Warner. We both seem to be in sync with the purpose of my deal which is for me to be really busy.

Other things never change. No Sudden Move is Soderberghs sixth heist film, a cycle begun with Out of Sight that includes the three Oceans films and Logan Lucky, a self-financed meta-heist movie in that it sought to pull one over on Hollywood, too. The genre, the director says, encourages a filmmaker to bring something to the table  to style it up. Its just made for the movies, he says.

As time wound down before Soderbergh and Cheadle had to leave for the Tribeca Festival premiere of No Sudden Move, he wondered if returning to the scene of his first crime movie was pushing his luck.

Ive had two really good experiences in Detroit and gotten out of there with two movies Im really happy with, said Soderbergh. The question is: Should I just let that go?

Cheadle didnt hesitate. Tee it up! Go to the well! he encouraged. Spin the wheel!

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

___

This story has been updated to correct spelling of Brendan Frasers last name.

By JAKE COYLE

AP Film Writer
CABOT, Arkansas (AP)  An Arkansas sheriffs deputy shot and killed a 17-year-old male during a traffic stop early Wednesday, but authorities arent saying what led to the fatal shooting.

The Lonoke County Sheriffs Office said it has turned the investigation of the shooting that occurred at about 3 a.m. over to Arkansas State Police. State police say the circumstances of the traffic stop and what led to the deputy to fire his gun at Hunter Brittain will be documented in the investigation.

Brittain was driving the truck that was stopped by the deputy, state police said.

The shooting occurred outside an auto repair shop along Arkansas Highway 89 south of Cabot, state police said. Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people, is located about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.

State police said Brittain was from McRae, a city of about 700 located about 15 miles (24.14 kilometers) northeast of Cabot.

Later Wednesday, the sheriffs office identified the deputy as Sgt. Michael Davis, who has been with the sheriffs office since 2013.

The sheriffs office says Davis will be on administrative leave pending the outcome of the state polices investigation.

Brittain was transported to a North Little Rock hospital, where he later died.

State police had initially spelled the teens name as Britain, but a state police spokesman later confirmed it was spelled Brittain.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the last name of the teen who was killed was Brittain, not Britain.
Regional human rights body condemns Nicaragua crackdown View Photo

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP)  The president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said Wednesday that Nicaragua had entered a new phase of repression with at least 20 opposition figures arrested in recent weeks and constant human rights violations.

Antonia Urrejola told members of the Organization of American States Permanent Council that the crackdown appeared to be part of a government strategy to snuff out internal dissidence ahead of the Nov. 7 elections, in which President Daniel Ortega will seek a fourth consecutive term.

An extended de facto state of exception in Nicaragua has intensified the closure of democratic spaces, she said.

In the past month, the regional human rights body has received 27 requests for protective measures for people persecuted or threatened in Nicaragua, virtually the same number as in all of 2020.

Urrejola said many of the recent arrests involved the use of force and raids of homes without judicial orders. Some people were taken to secret hearings without legal representation. Authorities refuse to tell relatives where they are being held or the state of their health.

Ortegas government has maintained that massive street protests sparked by a change to the social security system in April 2018, were an attempted coup that received foreign backing.

At least 328 people were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded as the government put down those protests in the following months, according to the commission.

Many of those arrested in recent weeks face allegations of crimes against the state, often involving receiving funding from overseas.

Nicaraguas representative at the OAS, Ricardo Alvarado, described the commissions report as fallacious and bad intentioned. It charged that the commission was used as the tip of the spear by the United States against Nicaragua.

Alvarado accused the U.S. and other countries of interfering in Nicaraguas upcoming elections. He called Ortegas opponents terrorist groups, mercenaries and traitors directed and financed by the (U.S.) government.

Late Wednesday, in a televised speech Ortega railed against U.S. interference and said those arrested were not targeted because they were presidential hopefuls, but rather because they were allegedly plotting to overthrow his government as he claimed they tried in April 2018.

It was the first time Ortega had spoken of the latest wave of arrests.

The president said investigators had identified a network of people and organizations that had conspired to organize the massive street protests of April 2018 and the protests over the governments slow response to a massive wildfire in a nature reserve earlier that year.

Ortega said Nicaragua had survived far more difficult moments than this one. There will be no step back, only forward.
Gibraltar votes on whether to ease its strict abortion law View Photo

GIBRALTAR (AP)  Gibraltar was holding a referendum Thursday on whether to introduce exceptions to the British territorys ban on abortion.

Abortion is illegal in Gibraltar, unless it is needed to save the mothers life. Abortion is legally classified as child destruction and is punishable by up to life in prison. It is one of Europes most restrictive laws on pregnancy termination.

Gibraltars just over 23,000 registered voters are being asked whether they agree with a 2019 decision by parliament to allow exemptions on health grounds to the abortion law.

If enacted, the changes would allow pregnancies to be terminated up to the 12th week if doctors deem the pregnant womans physical or mental health to be at risk or if there is a substantial risk that the fetus is suffering from a fatal fetal abnormality.

Gibraltar is a speck of British land on Spains southern tip. Many locals live and work across the border. In Spain, abortion is allowed upon request up to the 14th week of pregnancy.

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, who heads the government, said it was an important  seminal referendum on womens reproductive rights.

I very much look forward to this day being a day that goes down in history, whatever the result, Picardo, who heads the Socialist Labour Party, told reporters.

Most political parties have united behind a yes vote. The leaders of the two parties in Gibraltars governing coalition, the Socialist Labour Party and the Liberal Party, have joined with the Together Gibraltar party in urging voters to back the change. The leader of the main opposition Social Democrats is against the proposed alterations.

The question on voting cards at 15 polling stations is, Should the Crimes (Amendment) Act 2019, that defines the circumstances which would allow abortion in Gibraltar, come into force?

Results were expected after midnight.

About 80% of Gibraltarians are Catholic, and the Bishop of Gibraltar has spoken out against the proposed changes. The Gibraltar Pro-Life Movement has run a Save Babies, Vote No campaign. It argues that in practice the legal change amounts to introducing abortion on demand, because the mental health proviso can be misused.

We are aware that some of the laws regarding abortion has to change, like life in prison and things like that, but this law its too wide and too extreme, said voter Katy Hall.

Campaigners for the Gibraltar for Yes group say women should have the right to decide about terminating their pregnancy in the public health care system.

Women have the right to  privacy and they also have the right to not be subject to inhumane and degrading treatment when they are forced to continue a pregnancy against their will, said Nicole Vanda, who supports the Gibraltar for Yes movement.

The referendum was postponed from March last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal.

By BARRY HATTON and SERGIO RODRIGO

Associated Press
Bargainers say have policing framework, but issues remain View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  Congressional bargainers said Thursday theyve agreed to a bipartisan framework for overhauling policing procedures, producing an upbeat but bare-bones statement that provided no details, conceded that disagreements remained and left uncertain their prospects for crafting a compromise that has eluded them for a year.

Negotiators vaguely described the status of their talks with three sentences released around dinner time Thursday as the Senate left town for a two-week recess. It came 13 months after George Floyds killing and with the shadow of next years elections lengthening over Congress work.

After months of working in good faith, we have reached an agreement on a framework addressing the major issues for bipartisan police reform, the statement read. There is still more work to be done on the final bill, and nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. Over the next few weeks we look forward to continuing our work toward getting a finalized proposal across the finish line.

Aides of both parties said they could provide no detail about what exactly was in the framework. It was also unclear why only three of the five negotiators names were on the release: Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. The names of Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., did not appear, though Durbin endorsed its thrust in comments to reporters.

When you get to this level, the little things are the big things, he said. We want to make sure that we clear them up.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki released a brief statement offering President Joe Bidens thanks to the bargainers, adding, He looks forward to collaborating with them on the path ahead.

Scott, the chief GOP negotiator, had set a June or bust goal for producing results last month. But by Thursday morning, senators of both parties said it was unlikely a deal would be reached by days end because some details would have to be resolved when lawmakers return to Washington next month.

According to people familiar with the talks, the two most divisive issues have been Democrats efforts to make individual police officers accused of abuses liable for civil penalties and whether to make it easier to bring criminal cases against officers for excessive use of force. The legislation is to be aimed at curbing the use of force by police and making them more accountable for abuses.

A failure to nail down a full agreement Thursday was a further blow to bargainers efforts, draining away more time as they address an issue that came to the forefront last year with Floyds killing. Lawmakers have already spent months trying to resolve differences, reflecting the complex web of issues and political imperatives that have prevented action so far.

Lawmakers already missed a May 25 deadline set by Biden. That date marked one year since Floyd, a Black man, died under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer, who has since been convicted in his killing.

The further into the year the talks remain unresolved, the more next years elections for congressional control will make bipartisan cooperation harder. Efforts to curb police practices are entwined with public concerns about race and crime, and all are potent, emotional issues for both parties to use as they appeal to their most ardent base voters.

Floyds death, which ignited racial justice protests across the country, was a campaign issue during President Donald Trumps failed reelection bid and prompted debates over crime and authorities use of force that rage still. An agreement would let each party assert it has addressed a consuming national problem, while a stalemate would let each blame the other and fuel next years political campaigns.

The Democratic-led House approved a wide-ranging bill in March thats gone nowhere in the 50-50 Senate, with Republicans arguing it goes too far. Democrats blocked a Senate GOP measure last year, saying it was too weak.

Other provisions would curb police use of chokeholds, bolster national data systems of complaints against officers and limit the types of military equipment that police departments can obtain.

The talks painfully slow pace has fueled partisan distrust, though not among the bargainers themselves, who appear to have retained harmonious relationships.

Some in each party voice suspicions that rather than an agreement, some of their political opponents would rather have policing and crime left intact as campaign issues. Each side denies that motive, though some openly assert that should the talks collapse, they could effectively use the issue in next years elections.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who leads his partys Senate campaign committee, said if the talks fail, it would help Republicans accuse Democrats of wanting to defund the police, a progressive proposal that Biden and many Democrats have disavowed.

Republicans are known for supporting law enforcement. Were known for trying to bring crime down, Scott said.

Democrats said deadlock would anger their supporters, bolstering election turnout.

Were doing the right thing, and theyre trying to stop it, said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., who heads House Democrats political organization. And if they pay a political price for that, well, thats how politics should work.

The talks have been closely watched by powerful outside groups representing police and sheriff organizations, civil rights organizations and Floyds relatives, who have met with Biden and members of Congress.

By ALAN FRAM

Associated Press
LONDON - British lawmakers are demanding a meeting with tech giant Amazon's country manager after an investigation at a warehouse in Scotland revealed that thousands of unsold or returned items - including televisions, books, sealed face masks and laptops - were being destroyed by the company.

Footage from the undercover investigation by ITV News at a warehouse in the Scottish town of Dunfermline, also showed drones, headphones, jewelry and countless other high-value products being placed into boxes labeled "destroy," before huge trucks were followed carrying the stock to landfill sites and recycling centers. The investigation said it amounted to the destruction of millions of products each year.

READ MORE: Why does Jeff Bezos want to go to space?

One ex-employee told ITV News that workers were expected to get rid of an estimated 130,000 items a week. The broadcaster described the practice as "waste on an astonishing level."

As outrage grew on social media, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised that he would look into the allegations, which he said were "incredible." Climate activist Greta Thunberg slammed the footage on Twitter.

"This is just ONE warehouse. If you have a system where this possible - and even profitable - that's a clear sign that something is fundamentally wrong," Thunberg wrote.

Amazon operates 175 centers worldwide, spanning more than 150 million square feet of space where employees prepare items to be shipped and delivered to customers around-the-clock.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.

In a statement released Tuesday, the company said it prioritizes the reselling and donating of unsold goods.

"As a last resort, we will send items to energy recovery, but we're working hard to drive the number of times this happens down to zero," a spokesperson told British media.

According to ITV, John Boumphrey, Amazon's country manager for the United Kingdom, said the number of items being destroyed by the company was "extremely small."

Since the original investigation was shared, another whistleblower who was previously employed by the company at a large warehouse in Hertfordshire, England, said that "lots of things from brand new iPhones to PlayStations" were destroyed, along with books that had never been read.

The man, who has not been identified, also reported that people working at other Amazon centers across the country had similar accounts of usable products going to waste.

READ ALSO: Jeff Bezos says will pass baton to new Amazon CEO on July 5

ITV News noted that the reason for the destruction of the goods may be attributable to Amazon's business model. Companies worldwide store items in warehouses owned by the online shopping giant. However, if the items fail to sell, they are charged rising fees that some may struggle to pay, leading to piles of goods that need to be stored - or dumped - elsewhere.

Lawmaker Siobhain McDonagh of the opposition Labour Party said it was "appalling" that the company had destroyed items that could have benefited many children across the country - especially amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many families struggle to educate their children from home during the outbreak, often with inadequate or limited digital equipment.

The coronavirus has ravaged Britain, causing more than 128,000 deaths and three nationwide lockdowns that forced schools across the country to close.

Many Britons, also concerned by the investigation, demanded to know why items that appeared to be in good condition were being dumped when vulnerable people or charities could have used the goods.

A recent report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) called on the British government to stop what it called "digital exclusion" of young people in Britain. It said digital access was "no longer a luxury" but a necessity that "must be seen as the cornerstone to ensuring social justice and equitable life chances for every child."

Allegations of Amazon's destruction of products are not new.

In 2019, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that Amazon destroyed an estimated 3.2 million unsold products in 2018. "Amazon, seller of mass destruction," the headline at the time read.
MADRID (AP)  John McAfee, the creator of the McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his cell in a jail near Barcelona, a government official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Hours earlier, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of his extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges.

READ ALSO: Can Texas wind turbines melt in the summer heat? We checked.

Security personnel at the Brians 2 penitentiary near the northeastern Spanish city tried to revive McAfee, who was 75, but the jails medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

The statement didnt identify the U.S. tycoon by name, but said he was a 75-year-old U.S. citizen awaiting extradition to the country. A Catalan government source familiar with the event who was not authorized to be named in media reports confirmed to the AP that the dead man was McAfee.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.

MADRID (AP)  Spains National Court has approved the extradition of detained antivirus software entrepreneur John McAfee to the United States, where he is wanted on tax-related criminal charges that carry a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

The decision can be appealed and the final extradition will need to be approved by the Spanish Cabinet.

READ ALSO: Spears set to make rare remarks to conservatorship judge

Tennessee prosecutors charged 75-year-old McAfee with evading taxes after failing to report income made from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consultancy work, as well as income from speaking engagements and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary.

The charges refer to the three fiscal years from 2016 to 2018, according to the Spanish court's ruling on Wednesday.

The entrepreneur was arrested last October at Barcelonas international airport. A judge ordered at that time that McAfee should be held in jail while awaiting the outcome of a hearing on extradition.

In a hearing held via videolink earlier this month, McAfee argued that the charges against him were politically motivated and said he would spend the rest of his life in prison if he was returned to the U.S.
Click here to read the full article.

Britney Spears told a judge on Wednesday that she wants to end the conservatorship that has governed her life for the last 13 years, calling it abusive and denouncing her father for exerting control over her life.

I told the whole world Im OK and Im happy  its a lie, she said. Im not happy. I cant sleep. Im so angry its insane, and Im depressed.

Spears spoke uninterrupted for 24 minutes, telling Judge Brenda Penny that she wants her own attorney, that she wants to scale back her therapy appointments, and that she wants the freedom to get married and have a baby. She also said she wanted to sue my family for the way she has been treated. Twice, the judge had to tell her to slow down so the court reporter could transcribe it all.

She recounted an episode where she said she had failed a psych test, after which her father, Jamie Spears, ordered her to go to a rehab program.

I cried on the phone for an hour, and he loved every minute of it, she said. The control he had to hurt his own daughter, 100,000 percent, he loved it.

She also said that her ignorant father and others who are involved in the conservatorship should be in jail.

I shouldnt be in a conservatorship if I can work and provide money for myself and pay other people, she said. The laws should change.

Spears asked that the hearing be held in public, marking the first time that she has been heard on the subject in years.

All I want is to own my money, for this to end, and my boyfriend to drive me in his fucking car, she said.

She also said that the conservatorship prevents her from getting married or having a baby.

I have a (IUD) inside of myself right now so I dont get pregnant, she said. I wanted to take the (IUD) out so I could start trying to have another baby, but this so-called team wont let me go to the doctor to take it out, because they dont want me to have children. So basically this conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good. I deserve to have a life.

Spears also asked that her therapist be allowed to visit her in her own home, rather than her having to go to therapy appointments and be exposed to paparazzi.

I dont feel like I can live a full life, she said. I dont even believe in therapy. I think you take it to God.

Samuel Ingham, Spears court-appointed attorney, told the court that Spears has not directed him to file a motion seeking to terminate the conservatorship, but that he would do so if asked. He declined to go into further detail, citing attorney-client privilege.

Penny suggested that Jodi Montgomery, the conservator who is responsible for Spears medical issues, should file a care plan with the court that might adjust her treatment regimen.

I have to be in agreement to this care plan, Spears interjected. I cant be forced to do what I dont want to do.

Attorneys for Spears parents, Lynne and Jamie Spears, each praised Spears for her courage in addressing the court. Vivian Thoreen, who represents Jamie Spears, gave a brief statement on his behalf after a break.

He is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain, she said. Mr. Spears loves his daughter and misses her very much.

After the break, Ingham said that Spears wants the proceedings to be sealed in the future. He said that he would discuss with Spears whether to file a motion to terminate the conservatorship and whether she should have a private attorney.

I will abide by whatever decision she makes in that regard, Ingham said.

Toward the end of the hearing, Penny expressed concern that a confidential report from the case had been leaked to the media. She also shut down a live audio stream of the hearing after learning that it was being broadcast online.

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By July, P. Terry's first San Antonio location will be fired up in Medical Center, marking a milestone for the 16-year-old Austin burger brand.

A post-concert trip to P. Terry's in August 2017 has been etched in my foodie memory ever since. Admittedly, I was apprehensive  my allegiance to Whataburger had never wavered. I don't remember which burger I had back then, but I know I've been craving the fresh patties and cheap prices ever since.

Unfortunately, Austin trips are such quick turnarounds, I haven't had the chance to stop by again, adding years to my yearnings. That will all change by the first week of July, when the Alamo City gets its first P. Terry's. The company has restaurants in areas around Austin, including New Braunfels, but San Antonio marks P. Terry's first move to a major market.

RELATED: San Antonio's fourth Stout House location is now open

The company hosted a sneak preview for influencers and media on Wednesday with CEO Todd Coerver in attendance. He tells MySA the Medical Center burger stand is the first of three P. Terry's that will open by the end of this year. The other locations will be at at Loop 1604 and Blanco Road and in Stone Oak.

Coerver says growing into San Antonio was a "natural choice" for P. Terry's. Coerver, who was a San Antonio resident for eight years before joining the company, says it's like "coming home." P. Terry's founders Patrick and Kathy Terry are just as excited to make San Antonio part of the family and have been discussing adding the Alamo City to its list of locations since Coerver stepped up as CEO a few years ago.

"We just said, this just felt like the natural, right answer and we've discovered there's a lot of people here that already know P. Terry's from just going to ACL or going to Austin for fun," he tells MySA.

READ MORE FROM MADALYN: Owner of rapidly growing vegan chicken chain is 'so proud' to be based in San Antonio

The CEO recognized San Antonio is a stronghold for Whataburger and Burger Boy, but says he's looking forward to giving residents more options.

"What's different for us is a combination of two things: One, everything's all natural here. We have all natural Angus beef for our burgers, no hormones, no antibiotics, all natural chicken, all natural veggie burgers, so the whole menu start to finish," he says. "And we feel like we offer it at a ridiculous value. Our burgers are less than three bucks, combo meals are less than $7. Go find that somewhere else, I dare you."

Keep reading for just a bite of what's to come at 8443 Wurzbach Road.

On the menu P. Terry's is eyeing the first week of July for the big reveal of San Antonio's first location of the Austin burger brand. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com The most-expensive menu item at P. Terry's is the grilled or crispy chicken burger with cheese combo for $8. The other four burgers, including a veggie option, range from $6.40 to $7.75. The quick and to-the-point menu also includes breakfast, milk shakes and the option to customize burgers with pickles and onions, which can be grilled. Carb-conscious customers can also opt for lettuce wraps or bun-less burgers.

What I tried P. Terry's is eyeing the first week of July for the big reveal of San Antonio's first location of the Austin burger brand. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Guests at the preview event were first offered the No. 2, which is a single black angus beef patty topped with American cheese. It was a perfect, quick bite for $2.90 ($6.65 if you add fries and a drink). However, had I known the double cheeseburgers (No. 5 on the menu) would also be served later in the evening, I would've held out. About 20 minutes after I finished my cheeseburger, I saw guests going up to the counter for seconds. This time, the No. 5, the option my heart was initially set on, was being served. All that was left of my first serving was a cheese-crusted white wrapper, but I couldn't resist the double patty, ooey gooey stack that the No. 5 is. I snuck up and snagged it and indulged in a few extra bites and saved the rest for later. Even the stifling June heat couldn't flatten my reunion four years in the making. I'm not saying my Whataburger fanship has been forgotten now that P. Terry's is in town  there's enough love to go around  but trips to the Medical Center will include a certain pit stop in the future.
Three journalists with Al Jazeera who were tear-gassed during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri, after Michael Brown's death in 2014 have settled a lawsuit with the county whose SWAT team fired the tear gas.

St. Charles County agreed to pay $280,000, according to the law firm Lathrop GPM, which represented the journalists.

The St. Louis suburb of Ferguson became a focal point for the racial injustice movement after 18-year-old Brown, who was Black, was fatally shot by a white police officer during a street confrontation on Aug. 9, 2014. The officer, Darren Wilson, was not charged with a crime but resigned in November 2014.

The shooting led to months of protests that drew media from around the world. The Al Jazeera America journalists  correspondent Ash-har Quraishi, producer Marla Cichowski and photojournalist Sam Winslade  were preparing for a live broadcast when the St. Charles County SWAT team officers fired tear gas toward them. Those officers were among several from the St. Louis region who were brought to Ferguson during the demonstrations.

The law firm said video evidence contradicted police claims that tear gas was used in response to protesters throwing bottles and rocks at officers. The firm said several videos showed that there were no protesters in the area and no one was throwing anything at police.

St. Charles County spokeswoman Mary Enger said a SWAT team deputy fired the canister to clear an area near what he did not know at the time was an Al Jazeera news crew. She said the county and the deputy continue to maintain that the deputy exercised proper judgment in firing a single tear gas canister during a period of unprecedented public disorder in the region.

Bernie Rhodes, the attorney for the journalists, said the award was much larger than other settlements involving journalists in Ferguson because those settlements were reached before George Floyd's death in Minneapolis in May 2020, which was captured on video. Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, faces sentencing Friday after being convicted in April in the death of Floyd, who was Black.

The jurys verdict finding Chauvin guilty of George Floyds murder represents a turning point in America: jurors will no longer rely on law enforcements version of what happened, especially where there is video that affirmatively disproves the police, Rhodes said in a news release.
(RNS)  The Southern Baptist Convention has trouble with a capital T  and that stands for trust.

The lack of trust was palpable during the SBCs recent annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, where local church messengers often overruled Baptist leaders from the meeting floor.

As far as trust in leadership  that is one thing that came through loud and clear, James Pittman, pastor of New Hope Community Church in Palatine, Illinois, told Religion News Service in a phone interview after the annual meeting. Theres no trust.

The SBCs leadership has gotten pushback in recent months over a statement against critical race theory made by the presidents of six SBC seminaries, costing the support of prominent Black pastors, as well as over its slowness to get a handle on sexual abuse cataloged in a 2019 Houston Chronicle report.

These controversies have been exacerbated by two high-profile departures  that of influential Bible study teacher Beth Moore, who disagreed with the SBC leaders attachment to former President Donald Trump, and the denominations chief ethicist, Russell Moore. The latter, who is not related to Beth Moore, was a champion of sexual abuse survivors, and in a letter leaked just weeks before the annual meeting he criticized the leadership for silencing him.

All of these internal pressures are playing out against the larger backdrop of decline: The SBC has lost more than 2 million members since 2006.

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This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story.

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The person charged with helping lead the convention forward is a soft-spoken Mobile, Alabama, pastor, Ed Litton, best known for his work on racial reconciliation. Litton was elected SBC president in a hotly contested election, winning over Georgia pastor Mike Stone in a runoff.

Stone is a founder of the Conservative Baptist Network, which contends the convention has become liberal and woke. His share of the presidential vote shows that many in the rank and file share the CBNs concern.

Litton rejects those claims but has said he wants to work with all Southern Baptists to iron out our differences.

I want to be clear that my goal is to build bridges and not walls, he said during his first news conference.

Doing that will take a lot of work.

Litton was candid about the challenges facing the SBC during an interview two days after his selection. Dressed in jeans and a sport coat, he described himself as a local church pastor who deals mostly with the real-life issues of people, rather than as a denominational influencer.

There are some people who fly at a 40,000-foot level  they see everything, he said. Im a crop duster.

He said he has faith in the people of the SBC, who he said love Jesus and want to love their neighbors. Just after he was elected, he said that outgoing President J.D. Greear, a North Carolina megachurch pastor, told him he would be blown away by how kind people would be to him, especially ordinary church members.

Still, he said, he knows there will be troubles in trying to help Southern Baptists continue to work together. Its not an easy task.

Despite being the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., with about 14 million members, the SBC is a remarkably flat organization: Southern Baptists often say that the headquarters of the denomination is the local church.

While they cooperate on missions, evangelism, disaster relief, education and other ministries  all that cooperation and is voluntary, and often up for debate.

RELATED: SBC resolutions reflect passion on issues of race, abortion

Nathan Finn, a Baptist historian who serves as provost of North Greenville University in South Carolina, said the recent annual meeting was an example of the SBCs long history of insider versus outsider battles. And for the most part the insiders lost in Nashville, he said.

Messengers from local churches overruled SBC leaders at several points, most notably over an investigation into how the denominations Executive Committee has treated sexual abuse survivors and handled allegations of abuse. The Executive Committee wanted to oversee the investigations. Messengers were having none of that.

I think the Southern Baptists have said loud and clear that our leaders are denominational servants and we intend to hold our denominational servants accountable, said Finn.

Despite Littons victory over Stone, Finn does not see the Conservative Baptist Network or other critics of current SBC leaders going away. There is this perennial tension over, why are we cooperating and who do we trust to navigate the ship, he said.

Pittman, the pastor at New Hope Church, left Nashville unsure of whether his congregation could remain in the SBC.

I dont see a path forward with the convention, he said, adding that he and other New Hope leaders would meet soon to decide what to do next.

New Hope, founded in the 1950s as the First Baptist Church of Palatine, has been part of the SBC for nearly seven decades. When Pittman arrived in 2014, the church had a handful of older members and was on the brink of closing.

We got down to almost nobody, he said. We stayed around and said, lets see what God will do with this.

New Hope has grown in recent years, transforming from a mostly white congregation to a diverse church. He said church members have been concerned about critical race theory and its effects on the SBC. Pittman, who is Black, is mistrustful of CRT too, calling it a different gospel that assigned guilt to people based on the color of their skin.

Pittman, a first-time attendee of the annual meeting, was disappointed that messengers did not specifically reject CRT. He felt that Southern Baptist leaders didnt always follow their own rules. His church, he said, cant partner with an organization whose leaders do that.

Evan Stewart, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, said the SBC reflects a bigger trend of public distrust of religious institutions.

In recent decades, he said, confidence in organized religion has dropped, according to the General Social Survey. In the 1970s and 1980s, he said, about 30% of Americans had a great deal of confidence in organized religion. Today, thats dropped to about 20%, he said.

Its hard to tell if that decline is from folks who say I have no confidence in organized religion or if folks are saying I am just a little more tempered in my confidence, he said.

For his part, Litton said Southern Baptists have to decide whether they want to work together despite their differences.

I think Southern Baptists have to ask themselves, or Great Commission Baptists have to ask themselves, do we really want to glorify God, by cooperating? he said, using an alternate name for Southern Baptists.

To cooperate, he said, they will have to exercise what he called their compassion muscles by loving their neighbors. He said Southern Baptists are known for their theology but have neglected that part of the faith.

Litton told Religion News Service that he is ready for the challenge ahead. But he knows things could get ugly, and he worries that his church in North Mobile might not be ready for the criticism he will face. I feel the need to brace them for the social media, he said. I dont think they have a clue whats coming.

Southern Baptists, he said, have to be tender with those who are suffering and mercy, merciful for those who need the gospel.

Being tender, in Littons eyes, is not a sign of weakness. His approach to ministry, especially in recent years, has been shaped by personal tragedy. His first wife, Tammy, was killed in a car wreck after 25 years of marriage.

Her death shook him. Litton said God was with him as he grieved and the experience of grieving made him stronger and more empathetic to others. (In a twist of fate, Litton played a pastor who comforts a grieving father whose daughter was killed in a car crash in the 2011 Christian movie Courageous.)

That experience, he suggests, will give him what it takes to restore faith in the SBC.

Ive always been told as a pastor that I had empathy, he said. But the reality of pain means I have credibility.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A Chinese company that produces a key ingredient in solar panels will be barred from the U.S. market as part of a broader effort to halt commerce tied to the country's repressive campaign against Uyghurs and other minorities, the Biden administration said Thursday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will immediately halt shipments from the Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries under a law that bans the import of goods produced with forced labor.

In addition, the Commerce Department will add six Chinese entities involved in the production of raw materials and components for the solar industry to a blacklist restricting their access to the American market, the administration said.

The moves target a relatively small slice of the U.S. import market, but it is notable given the administration's renewable energy goals. It also reflects an escalation of efforts to use economic leverage to pressure China over its use of forced labor as part of its campaign against ethnic minorities in the country's far wester Xinjiang region.

"Our environmental goals will not be achieved on the backs of human beings in a forced labor environment, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. "We are going to root out forced labor and we are going to use alternative products that are manufactured legitimately in keeping with our values and our commitment to a fair market place.

CBP found evidence that workers there intimidated, threatened and their movement was restricted in its investigation of the of the polysilicon industry in Xinjiang, officials said at a news conference.

The U.S. previously banned cotton and tomato imports from Xinjiang amid evidence of forced labor as part of China's forced assimilation campaign targeting predominantly Muslim minorities in the region, which the Chinese government has denied.

The effort to put increased economic pressure on China over the situation in Xinjiang has been gaining momentum in recent months. Canada and Britain have moved to restrict imports over the issue and the Group of Seven major industrial nations agreed at its recent summit to ensure global supply chains are free from goods made under conditions that are akin to modern slavery.

China denies allegations that it uses forced labor in Xinjiang or elsewhere and has broadly rejected the consistent and well-documented reports that Uyghurs and other minorities have been detained under brutal conditions, subjected to indoctrination and intensive surveillance intended to force them to assimilate into the dominant Han culture.

Members of Congress have for months urged the U.S. to ban Xinjiang-sourced polysilicon, which is used to manufacture the cells that are assembled into solar panels, and some type of enforcement action was expected.

CBP is still investigating the extent of Hoshine's involvement in the U.S. market but direct shipments over the past 2 1/2 years totaled about $6 million while finished goods that include material from the company were about $150 million, said Ana Hinojosa, who runs the agencys trade enforcement team.

That's a relatively small amount. Solar panel imports totaled about $7 billion last year, comprising about three-quarters of the overall U.S. market, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Chinese panel manufacturers have largely been shut out of the U.S. market by tariffs. Imports predominantly come from Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. Those panels, however, could still include wafers made with polysilicon from Xinjiang, though the industry has been working to audit and remove the material from the supply chain, said John Smirnow, general counsel and vice president of market strategy for the association.

The end customers want to make sure that the solar panel that's going up on their roof is free of forced labor," Smirnow said.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that the trade group's name is the Solar Energy Industries Association, not the Solar Energy Industry Association.
Lions and bears didn't make the cut as stars on the new San Antonio Zoo parking garage, but a giant tiger, behemoth butterflies and a towering giraffe tower might make passersby say "Oh my."

The installation of the massive animal graphics on Tuesday marked the completion of the $11.75 million parking garage. The structure, which provides 612 more parking spaces for the zoo, has been in the making since 2017, when city voters approved a bond to pay for the addition. October 2019 was the first time zoo guests were able to access the much-needed parking spaces, but the just-added decor makes the addition official.

The eye-catching structure will be hard to miss for drivers heading north on U.S. Highway 281 towards the zoo. A larger-than-life Sumatran tiger, four monarch butterflies and a three reticulated giraffes (the largest towering nearly 50-feet high) greet guests as they exit for the highway for their animal adventure.

3 1 of 3 Courtesy, San Antonio Zoo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy, San Antonio Zoo Show More Show Less 3 of 3





RELATED: First look: The start of P. Terry's San Antonio expansion in Medical Center

Unlike other zoo stars, like Timothy the Hippo, the additions haven't been officially named yet, but spokeswoman Hope Roth says she's heard families already welcoming the decorative animals to the city with nicknames.

The new garage cements the zoo's presence on the other side of the highway. Roth says many visitors don't realize that the zoo's property extends west of the freeway.

"That is the zoo's foot print. Most people think of the zoo only being on one side of 281," she adds. "The other side is going to be the future expansion of the zoo behind the new parking garage."

The new parking garage isn't alone on the piece of land. The zoo's extended exhibit, a medieval-themed "Dragon Forest" is also at the spot on Tuleta Drive.

READ MORE FROM MADALYN: San Antonio City Hall simultaneously recognizing Pride, Fiesta with new light display

Though spliced by the highway, Roth says the parking garage is the same distance from the zoo entrance as the Train Depot lot is.

The giraffes aren't the only ones standing tall amid the big reveal. Zoo CEO Tim Morrow is, too.

"I stand by my belief that we have created the most beautiful parking garage on the planet, and I hope that this garage inspires and delights everyone that sees it," his statement reads.

Roth says there are some fun "Easter eggs" hidden in the graphics of the giraffe. If you spot them, let us know!
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed 20 bills that were passed during this years legislative session, including two criminal justice priorities of the House speaker, legislation that would have banned tethering dogs outside with heavy chains and a bill that would have required students to be taught about the perils of domestic violence.

The 20 bills in total that were vetoed mark the fewest made by Abbott since 2005. There were 1,073 bills passed by the Texas Legislature in total.

Abbott vetoed 13 bills authored by Democrats and seven by Republicans. 12 of the vetoes targeted bills that originated in the House, and eight were from the Senate.

RELATED: Abbott sets July 8 date for special legislative session on voting bill, other issues

His most explosive veto came Friday when he signed the state budget but used his line-item veto to reject funding for the Texas Legislature, its staffers and legislative agencies. The move was retribution after Democrats broke quorum in the final days of the session to block the passage of Senate Bill 7, a GOP elections bill that would have overhauled voting rights in the state.

Abbotts office declined comment for this story.

Criminal justice priorities

Among the bills Abbott vetoed over the weekend was House Bill 686, which would have allowed for earlier parole eligibility for inmates convicted of certain crimes if they were younger than 18 years old when the crime was committed. The bill would have required parole panels to consider the inmates age and mental state at the time of the crime, among other factors, when determining parole eligibility.

HB 686 was authored by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, and included in Republican House Speaker Dade Phelans bipartisan criminal justice priority package called Smarter Justice, Safer Texas.

In his veto statement, Abbott said that while he commends the bills author for encouraging and recognizing rehabilitation among young inmates, he felt the bill conflicted with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which would result in confusion and needless, disruptive litigation.

Moody and Phelan declined comment for this story.

Another House criminal justice priority bill vetoed was Senate Bill 281 by state Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, which called for the ban on using statements obtained through hypnosis in a criminal court. If passed, the bill would have helped bring an end to a controversial practice that law enforcement in Texas used close to 1,800 times over the course of 40 years, according to a Dallas Morning News investigation.

Abbott said he objected to a late amendment to the bill that would have barred statements that a person makes long after the hypnosis from being used as evidence in a criminal trial. He said that change would dramatically expand its scope in an unacceptable way.

Hinojosa could not be reached for comment.

Protection for Dogs



Another bill that fell victim to Abbotts veto was Senate Bill 474, known as the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act. The bill would have made it illegal to chain up dogs and leave them without drinkable water, adequate shade or shelter. It also called for a ban on tethering dogs with heavy chains.

Im disappointed in the governor, said Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville. I don't agree with everything he does, but I respect him when it comes to quality of life and protecting life. I want to include dogs in that issue.

Abbott said Texas already has the statutes in place to protect dogs from animal cruelty, and the penalties proposed in Lucios bill seemed excessive

Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization, he said in the veto statement.

Shelby Bobosky, executive director of Texas Humane Legislation Network, a nonprofit that lobbies in support of animal rights, said the organizations members are devastated by the veto, and the bill would have clarified the vague language that makes the statute completely unenforceable.

All the elements Governor Abbott cited as micromanagement were carefully negotiated compromises that addressed concerns from lawmakers in both parties to strike the right balance for our diverse state, she said in a statement. The passage of the bill in both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support from rural, urban, and suburban members was the result of six years of tireless effort by THLN and all stakeholders who care for dogs inhumanely restrained outdoors.

Animal-loving Texans created the hashtag #AbbottHatesDogs on Twitter to express their disdain for the veto.

It's not a political issue with me  it's a humane issue, Lucio said. We need to do our best to take care of them.

Rural Broadband

A key issue of the legislative session was protecting and expanding broadband access particularly in rural Texas. House Bill 2667 would have provided universal service fund assistance for Texans.

Abbott named broadband access as one of his priority items for the legislative session, but he shot down the bill, saying it wouldve imposed more taxes on Texans everywhere.

The bill proposed that those receiving assistance through the Texas Universal Service Fund  which helps those in the states receive basic telecommunications services  be charged a universal fee for services. An analysis of the bill stated that recent decisions from the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which funds the TUSF, has placed customers in rural areas at risk of losing telephone services or paying high costs for services.

What a lot of people dont understand is that there are still parts of Texas, including parts of the rural district that I represent, where you dont have access to internet, some areas dont have access to cell service and even some areas don't have access to landline phones, said state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo.

He also said broadband expansion was also signed into law through other measures, such as Senate Bill 5. This established the creation of the State Broadband Development Office, designed to expand broadband internet access, through The University of Texas System.

Other bills

Abbott also vetoed Senate Bill 1109, which would have required middle school and high school students to learn about child abuse prevention, family violence and dating violence. He said in his veto explanation that he opposed the legislation because it doesnt give parents the option to opt out of instruction.

He also vetoed Senate Bill 237, which would have reduced penalties for criminal trespassing by allowing police to cite and release individuals instead of arresting them. Abbott said this change would have a troubling impact on businesses and homeowners in Austin that count on criminal trespass arrests from homeless people who refuse to leave their properties. He said it would also go against making arrests in border communities.

It would allow [and tempt] agencies to categorically mandate cite-and-release for this crime, taking away an important tool for officers to keep Texans safe, Abbott wrote.

All of Abbott's veto statements that were released Monday are available here.

Disclosure: University of Texas System has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Correction, June 22, 2021: A previous version of this story mistakenly said Rep. John Smithee represents the Dallas area. He represents the Amarillo area.
CEO Cory Basso Joins Two Established Texas Consulting Firms

San Antonio, Texas, June 1, 2021 - Award-winning marketing and advertising executive Cory Basso, CEO of Basso360 Marketing & Advertising, today announced the addition of five clients and the focuses of their campaigns. Basso is bringing 37 years of brand building and marketing strategy to Texas Beer Company, The Witte Museum, Morgans Wonderland Inclusion Foundation, Janicek Law, and Rubiola Realty & Mortgage. In addition, Basso has joined two consulting firms: The CMO Consulting Group in Austin and Advanced Operations Partners in San Antonio.

Basso360 created a cause-based marketing campaign for Texas Beer Companys new craft beer, K9 Lager, set to launch in June. The beverage is a new addition to Texas Beer Companys line of award-winning craft beers and will support nonprofit K9s For Warriors, the nations largest provider of trained Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from service-related trauma. Based in Florida, K9s For Warriors is building a new facility in San Antonio, which will open this Fall.

We are proud to launch K9 Lager to help support disabled veterans suffering from PTSD and other service-related trauma. The military is a major part of Texas and we look forward to doing our small part to those who have given so much to our country, stated Ian Davis, CEO of Texas Beer Company.

Basso360 collaborated with Plot Twist Creativity in Dallas to design a brand-new campaign for The Witte Museum with a launch date coinciding with the beginning of summer. The strategy created by Basso360 will help us communicate the many wonders of The Witte highlighting our numerous exhibits and inviting families to Rediscover the Renewed, Rejuvenated, Remarkable Witte, said Marise McDermott, CEO of The Witte Museum. And the creative campaign created by Plot Twist will help create a brand-new personality for the museum.

For Morgans Wonderland Inclusion Foundation (MWIF.com), Basso360 will enhance their Mission of Inclusion in addition to promoting their many Ultra Inclusive , fully-inclusive entities  Morgans Wonderland, Morgans Wonderland Inspiration Island, the brand new Ultra-Inclusive Morgans Wonderland Camp, The Multi-Assistance Center at Morgans Wonderland (The MAC), and Morgans Wonderland Sports.

Were proud to work with Cory Basso, a long-time supporter of our group, who is especially active in our community through several organizations that support individuals with special needs, said Gordon Hartman, Founder of Morgans Wonderland Inclusion Foundation.

The most recent additions for Basso360 are Rubiola Realty & Mortgage and Janicek Law. Basso360 will generate awareness for Rubiolas unique low-cost transaction fee of $499 offered to agents instead of the thousands of dollars Agents pay Brokers today. Basso360 will also develop a brand awareness campaign for their realty and mortgage services. For Janicek Law, Basso360 will devise a strategy to help bring clients who have experienced physical, sexual, or mental abuse while under the care of a nursing home, assisted living home or home healthcare as well as Medical Malpractice Clients to Janicek Law, which has been helping victims of abuse and Medical Malpractice for over 25 years.

About Cory Basso

Cory Basso has 37 years of advertising and marketing experience working with some of the largest brands in the world including Toyota USA, Famers Insurance, Mazda, Coors Light, Heineken Worldwide, Molson, Capital One Credit Cards, and Sony USA among others. Most recently, Basso led H-E-Bs marketing and advertising efforts for 17 years. His experience spans many industries comprising automotive, beverage distribution, electronics, financial services, retail, and professional sports marketing Bassos expertise includes brand transformation and building, digital transformation, and product brand development. He has garnered hundreds of awards including the Innovation and Leadership in Advertising Award from the American Advertising Federation. Contact Cory Basso at Basso360 Marketing & Advertising by calling 210.663.4030 or emailing cb360consulting@gmail.com.
Its Wednesday, which means now  no, not two days from now  is when you should be packing for your weekend away. It doesnt matter where youre going or how long youll be there. Now is the time. Why? Because weve all gotten hilariously, maddeningly bad at traveling.

After 14 months without flying anywhere, Ive now taken two airplane trips in two months: Sonoma County to Hollywood-Burbank and Oakland to southern Baja. Both trips were short, two and four days, respectively  the kinds of trips that I could have packed for blindfolded in my pre-pandemic life as a working travel writer.

But both times I made ridiculous mistakes: bringing multiple bottles of facial sunscreen but no face wash or moisturizer on a trip to the desert, for example, or packing multiple pairs of socks when none of my shoes required them, or bringing multiple pairs of sandals when one would have been plenty. Clearly, Im out of practice.

When I asked friends and colleagues if they also felt oddly overwhelmed by the prospect of packing, the consensus was yes, weve all gotten very incompetent at leaving our homes.

There are two distinct, but related, schools of travel packing screw-up.

The first is the most clear-cut: after being at home with all of our belongings for such a protracted period, its easy to forget things we use regularly. Things like tweezers, a laptop charger, or the medication you keep next to the coffeemaker so you remember to take it each morning. These are the obvious things  and their obviousness makes us take them for granted.

If youre going on a beach vacation, youre probably not going to forget your swimsuit, flip flops and sunscreen. Thats because, as you fill your bag with sundresses and Hawaiian shirts like some kind of extra in a Gidget movie, youre fantasizing about your toes in the sand, the sun on your face. Youre not imagining yourself in the horribly lit hotel bathroom, flossing your teeth and popping your nightly medication. Youre not picturing the moment when you want to listen to music on your phone by the pool, but dont have headphones. Or, for that matter, the moment you have to run to the closest big box store to pick up the things you forgot and realize that place is air conditioned to near-arctic temperatures and you didnt bring a single article of warm clothing.

The routine, day-to-day items that are just there  next to the bathroom sink, tucked into your office drawer, in your hall closet  are unsexy and wildly forgettable.

The opposite problem, Ive found, is more amusing: on my very quick recent trip to Mexico, I managed to bring four pairs of shoes. One pair per day. Three of those pairs were sandals, one were slip-on leather flats, none were walking shoes. What else did I bring a bunch of? Socks. Because nothing screams vacation like wearing socks with your sandals. I credit this kind of overpacking, and just generally wacky packing, to frantically throwing things in my bag at the last minute. After 15 months of enduring the fear and trauma of living through a pandemic, a moment of pre-travel panic seems fairly natural. It also makes for terrible packing decisions  if not similarly disastrous life choices. Learn from me, so you wont be me.

Check the weather where youre going

This seems as basic as advice comes, but after being in the same place for over a year, watching weather change with our temperate seasons, the usual shifts from our drizzly Bay Area winters to windy spring and warm, dry summers, Id all but forgotten how extreme weather can be elsewhere. It snowed in Tahoe two weeks ago. At the same time, it was nearly 100 degrees in Baja. There are summer thunderstorms with drenching rainfall in the northeast.

And, yes, even when your destination is blazingly, record-breakingly hot, youll likely still need at least one lightweight, packable jacket, overshirt or sweater for those air conditioned places that are inexplicably 62 degrees when its sweltering outside.

Bring the right bag

For years, I swore by a soft sided two-wheeled Eagle Creek (RIP) carry-on, but in the last couple years have become a four-wheeled hardshell Delsey enthusiast. I prefer the latter because the four wheels really do make it much easier to speed through an airport without feeling it the next day. And, folks, the airports are packed, security is slow, and everyone's a little on edge. Give yourself plenty of time to make it through the airport.

But the biggest benefit of a hard bodied bag, for me, is the fact that they make it virtually impossible to overpack and end up with a bag that wont be allowed onboard as a carry-on. With my soft-sided bag, Id often find myself shoving items into the external pockets and filling the bag until it was bursting at the seams. A suitcase simply doesnt allow for that nonsense. They also protect their contents and nothing sours an arrival like a squashed bottle of shampoo or, worse, a broken bottle of mezcal.

But whatever your bag of choice, choose wisely. Its a gnarly travel world out there right now and lugging an overstuffed duffle along on the ride is setting yourself up for failure.

Dont wait to pack until the night before

In a perfect world, my suitcase is out and mostly packed three days before a trip. That way, when my mind flashes to something I might forget, I can easily add it right then and there. Similarly, this strategy helps me resist my impulse to overpack. Each time I walk past that bag overflowing with more wardrobe changes than a beauty pageant, Im reminded of who I am, how I travel, and what Ill actually need. Which is to say, I am not Imelda Marcos and I do not need multiple pairs of shoes for a four-day trip.

What I do need, its clear, is to leave my home more. I need to get out often enough that my atrophied travel muscles slowly regain their pre-pandemic strength and I can once again be trusted to catch a flight without leaving necessities  and possibly my mind  behind.
Yves here. The press and pundits have expressed concern about Covid in the global South, both its current level and the high odds of that continuing in many nations. These observers also pumped for more vaccine distribution, either via patent waivers or charity shipments from advanced economies. However, to the extent that these stories have looked at country-specific conditions, theyve tended to look at horrorshows rather than on-the-ground containment efforts. Sierra Leone is doing relatively well, and this post focuses on the measures it has taken.

Note this interview ranges beyond Covid and includes energy and development issues, which also serves to put the Covid response in a broader context.

By Camilla Toulmi, INET Associate and Senior Associate, International Institute for Environment and Development; and Folashade Soule, Advisor, Commission on Global Economic Transformation and Senior Research Associate in International Relations, University of Oxford. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website

Dr Kandeh Yumkella is a development economist, founder and CEO of The Energy Nexus Network (TENN), a regional hub for sustainable energy solutions and serves as a Member of Parliament in Sierra Leone. Previously Dr Yumkella served as Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and founding chief executive officer for the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Initiative (20132015). He also served as Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO, 20052013), mobilising global consensus for SDG7 and 9. He is a member of the High-Level Group of the Africa-Europe Foundation, co-chair of the Africa Europe Foundation Strategy Group on Energy, and member of various international advisory bodies, boards, and commissions.

As you are the member of Parliament for Kambia in the northwest of Sierra Leone, tell us how this part of the country has been hit by the COVID pandemic and how it has managed to cope over the last 12 months.

When COVID started we were really scared in the northwest, in Kambia and its region. The fact is that our neighbour, Guinea, and its capital Conakry had large COVID numbers even before we had the first case in Sierra Leone. We were concerned for two reasons. Kambia is one of the closest points to Guinea and is only 2-3 hours from Conakry. Its the main crossing point between Sierra Leone and Guinea. So, our proximity to Guinea scared the hell out of us. Second, we remembered our bad Ebola experience which we inherited from Guinea, which made us panic further.

As Member of Parliament for the Kambia region, I and my MP colleagues started quickly with a programme of sensitization, even before the first case was logged in Sierra Leone. My constituency, in particular, is very porous. We have over 40 crossing points into Guinea and a lot of them are no more than bush paths. We had to set up youth groups to help control the crossing points and, despite the worry, we did not actually get large numbers of infections. Somehow those initial measures counted, helped by the fact that Sierra Leone closed the borders.

To deal with the large number of illegal crossing points, we mobilised quickly the military and police, and organised trips with them to go to the different crossing points. I sensitised villages and chiefs along the length of the border, so they became aware of the problem. And the military on both sides were very vigilant. In spite of those scares, our numbers stayed relatively low, and they remain low. We dont know how to explain this  perhaps that early sensitization work, the handwashing, plus the social distancing. The Ebola experience probably made people a little bit more compliant with instructions and regulations from government. Kambia had a curfew imposed long before any other place in the country, from 6pm in the evening till 7am in the morning. This stayed in place for quite a long time, so much so that some of my constituents were complaining and asking for it to be lifted. But we didnt allow it because we were watching the numbers in Conakry, which were really high in comparison with Sierra Leone.

On the health front we have fared relatively well so far, but the economic impacts have been more serious because of the lockdown. Farming was affected and we will have to wait to see the survey numbers to see how badly farming has been hit. There is no doubt the lockdown brought hard times. We have the largest international market in the country in Kambia, which attracts traders from Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Liberia. This market which they call Barmoi Luma. Luma means community market in my home language. On a good day we estimate more than 20,000 people come and mingle. There are huge trucks from Mali and Senegal buying our produce. People still do barter trade of commodities. Shutting the border and restrictions on movement badly affected people there in terms of jobs and incomes.

It is mainly an agricultural area growing rice and because there is a very long coastline, there is a lot of fishing too. My constituency has 67,000 people and Kambia District as a whole 350,000 residents. While we rely a lot on fish for food and proteins, there are also groundnuts, maize, cashew, cassava  the second main staple  and palm oil. Vegetables matter too, and we grow a lot of peppers and aubergine. These vegetables find their way to Conakry, which some people estimate may have as many as 3.5 or 4 million people, so its a really big market, almost 50% of Sierra Leones total population and were close by. As a result, a lot of what we grow, most of all our rice, fish and palm oil goes to Conakry.

What is the situation in Sierra Leone with vaccine availability? And are people willing to be vaccinated or it there a lot of hesitancy?

There is both hesitancy and denial as regards COVID and the vaccine, because our numbers are so low. A recent US travel advisory note put us amongst the four lowest worldwide in terms of prevalence. A lot of people in my constituency dont believe COVID is real. They also joke that it is a white mans problem and it cannot affect them. So there is denial that COVID even exists. I myself also wanted to wait a few months until the vaccines were proven. I finally got my first vaccine this week. Rollout started three months ago, and it is only now I have chosen to have the vaccination. Look at me  I am well-educated, well-aware of the trade-offs and have good information. I was certainly a bit hesitant. I am not sure about the absolute numbers but all of the vaccine we have here came in through COVAX, the initiative of the World Health Organisation. We got AstraZeneca through this channel, then the Chinese brought their own vaccine in, and we then got a second lot of AstraZeneca from COVAX. The President and the Ministers did well to take it at State House, in a televised ceremony. Some of us sceptics did not show up. The rollout has been smooth because the numbers of people volunteering for injections are few so far. They have done a reasonably good job in putting supplies in each of the main district headquarters. Even Kambia has its share. While it has been a small amount to start with, well need a lot more now.

Part of what pushed me to take mine, as a member of the elite, is because people like me have now become scared of the Indian (or Delta) variant. They had been saying our hot climate protects us from COVID. But the experience of India and Brazil kills the myth about hot weather. It has been fear of the Indian variant that scared us to go and get it done. Second, is the worry that we will be faced with the need to get a vaccine passport for travel, and this made some of us realise we need to get vaccinated now. I have friends who say hey, if I dont get it now, I may not be able to travel for business or other reasons to Europe, US or Asia. The roll out is going well but we need a lot more. Weve had a miniscule supply, and there are also concerns about cold-storage. When I took mine, I had two days of fever but nothing really serious, and the third day, it cleared, and I now feel fine and well. But there has been fear about proper storage. And that links to the energy system, as we have power outages for as many as 6 hours a day. There is a big worry about efficacy of the vaccine if the storage system is not good.

You mention energy which has been at the centre of your work over the last 15 years. Has the COVID crisis made you re-think your focus on energy?

The COVID crisis has given even more impetus to all of the energy-related issues that I have been advocating over the last nearly two decades. Fifteen years ago, we had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, and the highest infant mortality rate in the world. My cousin who was doing a survey for DFID ten years ago showed that much of this was due to lack of electric power in some of the clinics, while a lot of deliveries were done at night without electric light  they use candlelight. When COVID hit, you could immediately see the potential link between sickness and vaccine cold-chains, powered by grid electricity or renewable energy, to keep temperatures sub-zero. Weve been telling the world for the last two decades that energy is critical to achieving all the other SDGs, especially health service delivery. The COVID pandemic has, if anything, inspired me further. I did an article in February arguing that effective vaccine delivery was closely tied to the availability of renewable energy, because I cannot see how they will store the vaccines in my village without solar power. And because it came out just after the US Presidents inauguration, I said President Biden, this could be your new foreign policy. If you want to democratise vaccine distribution, you also need to drive the spread of renewable energy to all corners, all communities.

How has the rollout of investment in energy been affected by the COVID crisis and associated economic downturn?

The COVID pandemic has had several impacts on the energy sector. The first impact, even before any cases actually hit Africa, was an immediate drop in demand for oil and gas. So those countries, like Nigeria, Angola and others, were immediately hit, in the first few weeks of COVID appearing in Asia, Europe and America. Demand immediately dropped which also then affected related investments in prospecting and expansion of the oil and gas industry. Second was lowering of the demand for electricity, especially in the more industrialised African countries. Factories shut when there is a lock down. Third was the inability of consumers to pay their bills. In neighbouring Guinea, the president offered to pay peoples utility bills because lockdown meant people did not have any money. We did not do that in Sierra Leone, but a number of other countries considered that measure. Lockdown has badly hit utility companies. Investments have also not been coming in. The International Energy Agency estimated already by January or February this year that there had been a 30% drop in energy investments in Africa, and this is for a continent with the lowest rate of access to energy already in the world. As a result, you can imagine how these multiple factors have impacted the energy sector. We hope things may improve in the post-COVID period. We hope that governments in Africa and elsewhere can understand the critical nexus between access to energy and social service delivery  clean water and health services  as well as food and agriculture. We hope it has made them understand the connections. But there is another bigger problem. 85% of people in sub-Saharan Africa (outside South Africa) rely on charcoal and fuelwood for cooking, which is causing household air pollution and pulmonary problems. We worry that underlying pulmonary problems for women, children and men as well could make them more vulnerable to another wave of COVID. The WHO has been doing studies in India and elsewhere to see if there is any correlation between air pollution in general and COVID susceptibility. Well see what comes out in the next few months and from household studies in Africa.

How might you get more investment, both domestic and foreign, coming into energy generation and distribution?

In my own country, and others I know well, corruption is very high. Energy sector governance has to be re-vamped. Thats a big catch-all phrase which covers many things, like honesty around running the power utility well. This includes revenue collection, billing processes, and pay as you go  digitalisation could help all of these as it did for mobile phones. Regulations and public policy all have to be consistent, predictable and long term. The government has to have commitment to longer term solutions, instead of relying on a fire-brigade quick fix. My country is so guilty of quick fixes  were still relying on emergency power provided by Turkeys Karpowership. which the government party criticised when in opposition, but theyve done just the same. Theyve extended the contract. As a result, were going to have emergency power supply in Freetown for ten years. But if you look at those last ten years, Rwanda more than doubled access to electricity in that time, because they were focused on long term solutions. The energy sector is so corrupt, you need to go in for brutal governance reforms to bring effectiveness and transparency into the sector. Successive governments want to do quick fixes and make money under the table. We must have sector governance reform  if you fix it, there is predictability and maybe some companies will come and partner with you.

Second, we need to get the utilities to perform. They are such big gatekeepers in the system that when they are corrupt and inefficient, they mess up everything else in the energy sector. Third, we must find ways to support the regulators, many of whom are new in sub-Saharan Africa. Many have been operating for less than ten years, so theyre still trying to learn their role as regulators. The unbundling process for energy supply is recent and not complete in a number of African counties. Another critical factor is proper planning. A number of us are advocating for an integrated energy planning framework. This is an idea we have been pursuing in the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty launched by the Rockefeller Foundation, African Development Bank and MIT. A number of us from Africa are part of this Commission and promoting the idea of a good energy framework for planning the integration of energy systems across several dimensions. For example, make sure that when you plan for on-grid, you plan for off-grid too, including mini-grids. Good geo-spatial mapping is a big help, so that potential investors can come in and see, for example, that they can deliver to the whole northern region. Population densities are known, and income levels are known, so the investor would not need to do detailed background research himself.

Integration is also critical for developing other sectors properly. If were going to do sector-coupling, which is so essential for a country like mine which relies on minerals. When we design mining policy for a country like mine, let the Energy Minister be part of the negotiations and consider how those mining companies can become anchored centres for energy demand, or potential private sector power producers. Because every mining company which comes to Sierra Leone also builds their own power-generating plant. But with good planning, they could be part of a private companys energy supply under a guaranteed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and meanwhile they can also supply the community. Maybe out of corporate social responsibility they could even cross-subsidise energy access for the communities around the mining site. So, we need integrated public policy for energy and mines, energy and health which we were discussing earlier, and strategic planning for energy utilities so that they think about the likely future demand from using electricity for cooking, as an additional demand centre.

Finally, one of the neglected areas which we have tried to document in the Global Commission to End Energy Poverty and the work I did two years ago for the European Commission is the lack of investment in distribution systems. We have that situation here in Sierra Leone. The president made a speech a few weeks ago in which he stated that, under his administration, over the last three years he has increased significantly the availability of electricity in the capital. Even in the well of parliament, we all started laughing. Why? We have more power outages today than we had a month ago, or 6 months ago. He went on to explain that the reason there have been problems is that we inherited an antiquated distribution network. In the reports we have been doing, we say lets find ways to bring investment into independent power producers, and its probably also time we develop business models for independent distribution providers. Some countries are making big investments in power generation, but the transformers and the power lines are not there. The interconnections between our cities do not exist. In Sierra Leone we have one of the worst inter-district connections  in fact we only have 3 lines  in a country where you have 14 districts, each of which has its own independent connection. Distribution has been a neglected area for a long time. And of course, finally, finance matters. Getting more investment in, de-risking these investments using ODA, all of that depends on good sector governance.

Foreign direct investment is one obvious source of capital for energy. But what about domestic sources of capital? How can you tap into these?

We need to strengthen the capacity of local banks to invest in the energy sector. I can speak for my own country  we dont have banks able to support energy investment, whether its renewables, mini-grids or whatever. Maybe its different in some of the biggest economies like Nigeria. Capacity building and seed financing are needed. Lets put this in context. When the Iron Curtain fell, the European Investment Bank had to train bankers in eastern Europe how to structure deals and energy efficiency projects. Thats how they grew that market. When I was leading SE4ALL, I was with EBRD and they would tell stories about the first few banks they were training in eastern Europe to retrofit peoples apartments, and also start financing industrial energy efficiency measures. After a few years other banks came into the market. And its a $40b market now. A group of funders had to invest in capacity building  KFW, EBRD and EIB  it took time to help make those markets grow. Its the same in Africa. We need to help build capital markets with deep pockets that are able to take the risks to expand power production, and power trade.

One issue which I need to mention is encouraging power trade. Some of our countries are too small to bring in big investments in power generation. Twelve years ago, I was talking to a rich European investor, who had major assets in North Africa and Asia. We met at an event and I said hey my president is looking for people to invest in 50MW of energy generation. And he said Mr Yumkella, 50MW may be big for your country and your president but thats not big enough for me to open an office. He was thinking 500MW or even 1GW  that scale would give him grounds to open an office. And preferably in a place like Cote dIvoire with good internet and power connections which allow you to trade power, as also happens a lot in Europe. A number of us are advocating for power trade, and my country is building its first interconnection backbone due to be operational at the end of this year. But that deal took seven years to negotiate. It took another 3 years to set up the company that will run it and provide power between Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Cote dIvoire. But with this kind of experience, we now believe we can negotiate these deals in 3 years not 7. And companies then know that instead of supplying Sierra Leone, youll be supplying 45 million people. The AfCFTA would certainly help with this. There is also a recent study by the Tony Blair Institute and PowerAfrica which shows how much money each country could save if they had good interconnections and energy trading through the power pool. The AfCFTA would certainly make the trade easier and were advocating for this with Power Africa.

You were formerly DG at UNIDO before SE4ALL, with a particular focus on industrialisation. How does the industrialisation debate look for Africa today? Has the COVID pandemic changed the strategy?

I have made the case for 25 years that Africa has no choice but to industrialise otherwise were doomed to be poor for another 50 or 100 years. This is a major reason why I went into the energy space. We were on a call with Secretary Ernest Moniz  Obamas secretary for Energy  with the Global Commission and he made the case for why there is a strong nexus between energy and industrialisation in Africa. We cannot talk about energy transition in a utopian sense as if Africans will suddenly jump into solar. Many people dont want to talk about using gas for power, but its an injustice for Africa. Moniz and I were on the same page as we both argue that gas is an important transition fuel to enable Africas industrialisation ambitions but also enable greater deployment of renewables. In many cases, its not just about energy transition, its about energy access. My country has 15-20% energy access, so we should certainly look for gas to power solutions. The government here is looking at gas  both liquid natural gas, and liquid petroleum gas  how can anyone tell us not to do that? The bigger context is that Africas emissions represent 2% of the global total so if you start to talk about carbon budgets, as will be the discussion at COP26, lets remember in Africa were only using 4% of the global total. So this means that Africa should have some degrees of freedom to use fossil fuel technologies to save lives and power our economy. Well make very little impact even if we do use gas. Industrialisation is key. COVID has made us realise even more the importance of this. It has also made us think about the manufacturing of drugs. In our parliament debate is going on about a convention were supposed to ratify about harmonising standards across Africa for drugs. As leader of UNIDO, I certainly invested a lot of time on this topic, supported by the Germans above all. At that time, we were supporting generic drugs production for HIV medicines. Industrialisation is a must. The context is even more difficult now  some estimate Africa must generate 20 million jobs per year, in my country youth unemployment is 60%, which everywhere is a very big timebomb, which will hit and destabilise us. John Kerry used to talk about this a few years ago, when he was secretary of state. The youth bulge in Africa is scary. And unless we focus on industrialisation, diversification and digitalisation, I see instability accelerating across a lot of countries. And when you look at more and more draconian governance systems across Africa, I think part of it is fear of the youth. The youth will revolt. I just pray that some of us dont become collateral damage. I spoke about this back in 2008 at the African Union. I told them then that youth are angry, in a very angry undiplomatic speech. Kenya had just had the post-election riots in which theyd massacred almost 1,000 people. That day Ghaddafi had moved to suspend discussion of industrialisation, despite the fact that we had prepared for months. Luckily, other African leaders backed the industrialisation debate.

How do you see the role of countries outside Africa in this industrialisation process? Some people say China is the best model, others go for the US, or for Europe? Who can be the best partner?

Africa needs all partners. We need to be smart and eclectic, picking what works for us depending on time and context. We need all markets  Chinese, European, American. We want to sell and be part of global value chains, picking our niches of course. One of my friends is Paul Collier and together we have been advising the Lagos Business School Forum. We went back to look at some of the work Paul did for me when I was at UNIDO. The industrialisation we need now is not to produce entire products but to be part of a value chain where you do one bit of a larger chain. There was a big splash when we launched that study. Paul had just produced the book The Bottom Billion and we produced some case studies which included one village in China that produces 75% of the buttons that they use in garments in the rest of the world. So dont think you have to produce the whole jacket, just buttons and labels. They were so good at it, Italians started dismantling their own factories and bringing them to that one location. Africans should look at niche markets producing specialised components that others will buy. Rather than just selling commodities. Our industrialisation has to be by making ourselves relevant in certain value chains and this will vary by geography. It depends on which country, on your human capital, on your natural resources.

If we go back to energy now, Africans should ride the green wave and become producers of components within some technology value chains. Were sitting on 40-50% of the worlds cobalt plus manganese, both of which are needed for batteries. South Africa has 70% of the worlds platinum group of metals which are needed for fuel cells. All of these metals plus rare earths are critical for the worlds transition to clean energy. In short, some of the key metals we need for driving a clean energy revolution, say in hydrogen, are sitting in Africa. If were talking about a just and fair transition as is being proposed for COP26, it has to consider Africas ability to supply many of the key metals needed for the green energy revolution. Whether it is battery storage systems, solar panels, wind turbines or other components. We need to be part of the first and second stage in refining and processing metals, such as coltan, zircon and tantalum. It would be unjust if, with this new green revolution, Africa is left out, or used merely as a source of raw materials. Its not a conspiracy to leave us out but more a question of whether we Africans are ambitious enough to ride this green wave and capture market share. We dont want to be left behind.

About the COVID-19 and Africa series: a series of conversations conducted by Dr. Folashade Soule and Dr. Camilla Toulmin with African/Africa-based economists and experts about their perspectives on economic transformation and how the COVID situation re-shapes the options and pathways for Africas development  in support of INETs Commission on Global Economic Transformation (CGET)
The tide is turning against Louisianas proposed $2 billion Mississippi River sediment diversion project, that supporters say is needed to save the coast from rapid land loss due to subsidence, damage done by the oil and gas industry, extreme weather events, and sea level rise quickened by climate change.

The proposed Mid-Barataria sediment diversion project, is a key part of the states $50 billion master plan to restore the rapidly eroding coast. If constructed, the diversion is designed to let the rivers natural land building process restore Louisianas disappearing marshland.

The state says it must be built, as it is the best chance for restoring the coast. A growing number of opponents of the project, however, see it as a risky, expensive experiment that, rather than creating the meaningful coastal restoration, will degrade the countrys most productive estuary, harming dolphin populations and the regions fishing industry.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency responsible for issuing a permit for the project, released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on March 5 which is largely supportive of the diversion project. The Corps found that the projected benefits of creating up to 28 miles of self-sustaining marsh in the rapidly eroding Barataria Basin outweigh the likely negative impacts. This includes increasing flooding for those who live near where the project is slated to be constructed, including the Black community in Ironton, and killing off a large portion of bottlenose dolphins along with brown shrimp and oysters in the countrys most productive estuary.

The Army Corps is part of the problem, Acy Cooper, head of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, said at a recent meeting about the project. He doesnt think the agency should play a role in making a decision about it; he blames the Army Corps for what he describes as the mess at the mouth of the Mississippi River where there is rapid land loss and a growing deadzone where the rivers polluted river water enters the Gulf.

The diversion project was designed by the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), a state agency formed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and tasked with developing a master plan to rebuild and protect the states rapidly eroding coast. It plans to open a section of the Mississippi River levy on the West bank of lower Plaquemines Parish and build a channel through it that will reconnect the Mississippi River to Barataria Bay, an area where the river previously deposited land-building sediment before levees were built over a hundred years ago. The diversion will have a controlled, gated system that allows operators to control the flow of water and sediment from the river into Barataria Bay. It will mimic the spring floods that were common before levees were built to contain the river  floods and sediment that built the Mississippi Delta in the first place.

Though the concept that nature will correct itself sounds good, scientist Moby Solangi, the president and executive director of the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport Mississippi, said when I met up with him at the Institute on June 7, a manmade problem cant be cured by nature.

Fossil Fuel plant in Venice, Louisiana, where sea level rise is a constant threat. Credit: Julie Dermansky

Solangi, who is strongly opposed to the diversion project, told me he thinks that misnomer is why many have accepted the CPRAs narrative that the diversion project is the best way to counter Louisianas alarming land loss rate without questioning it. But he is hopeful that the EIS will get people to ask more questions.

The CPRA projects that the diversion will create at least 21 square miles of submerged land in the marsh in Barataria Bay over a 50 year period based on elaborate models developed with a team of scientists. The new land will create a barrier to reduce the impact of storm surges and protect the fastest eroding part of the states coast. The success of the CPRAs land building projections are reliant on the agencys predictions about the level of nutrients in the diverted water, the amount of silt deposited and the rate of sea level rise over the next 50 years.

Theres no way to rely on predictions of whats going on 50 years out, Solangi said, especially when you have hurricanes with increasingly strong impacts due to climate change. That isnt how science works.

I asked CPRA for a response to this claim but didnt get an answer before publication.

Louisiana State University (LSU) Boyd Professor R. Eugene Turner and his LSU co-authors Erick Swenson and Michael Layne, and Dr. Yu Mo from the University of Maryland, published a peer reviewed study in 2019 that challenges the CPRAs models. The scientists analyzed two existing Mississippi river diversions using two different kinds of satellite analyses and found an increased land loss in both areas. The land loss caused may be due to the increased nutrient availability for organic soils, greater flooding and physical scouring.

Using river diversions for wetland restoration is relatively new, complex and expensive, so knowing the long-term consequences makes it important to develop management plans, Turner said, according to PHYS.ORG

The river wont do what it used to do, Solangi said. He pointed out the river that exists today isnt like the river it was when it was created. Studies show there is much less sediment in the Mississippi Rivers water than there used to be due to a century of manmade water controls and that the river is the second most polluted river in the country. The river carries with it nitrogen, mostly from fertilizers and manure, and other chemicals that are released into the river upstream by 32 states and two Canadian provinces; these chemicals then flow to Louisiana where the contaminated river water has already contributed to a massive dead zone at the mouth of the river.

Since the project was proposed in 2012, it has seen wide support by state leaders and environmental advocacy groups including the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, the Audubon Society, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana remains.

But in the last couple of years some state representatives including Louisianas Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and three of the states parish governments, have come out against the project. Nungesser describes it as a costly experiment that will likely end in failure.

Some of those opposing voices are reflected in the more than 41 thousand comments received by the Army Corps to the EIS draft before the public comment period closed on June 3. The Corps is expected to release its final EIS in 2022 after reviewing all of the comments.

In that mix are comments submitted by the Marine Mammal Commission, an independent government agency charged by the Marine Mammal Protection Act to further the conservation of marine mammals and their environment. They state that the diversion is expected to have immediate, permanent, and major adverse impacts on the dolphins. The commission is calling for the project to be revamped or stopped completely due to the harm it will cause the dolphin population in the diversions path.

There is also a joint comment from the Animal Welfare Institute, the Humane Society of the United States, the Oceanic Preservation Society, the International Marine Mammal Project of the Earth Island Institute, Ocean Conservation Research, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, Cetacean Society International, and the New York Whale & Dolphin Action League, that states a desire to dispel past media mischaracterizations indicating that the NGO community is fully supportive of this project. We support Gulf of Mexico restoration, but in light of the information presented in the DEIS, we cannot support the proposed sediment diversion, it states.

Two days before the public comment period closed on the EIS statement, I attended a June 1 CPRA public meeting in Buras, Louisiana, a small town reliant on the seafood industry near the tip of Plaquemines Parish. The Parish is on a thin peninsula that the Mississippi River spans to its end in the Gulf of Mexico.

The CPRAs notice for the meeting said it was conceived to foster a discussion about mitigation solutions to the impacts of the diversion project. The agency has so far earmarked $305 million for mitigation if the project is approved  money that could be spent on a variety of things including programs that might elevate roads, ways to help commercial fisherman transform their business in ways to address the diversions impact, providing funding to upgrade boats with refrigeration and more efficient engines to make longer trips possible if the nearby waters of Barataria Bay are no longer suitable to catch anything.

At the meeting, the CPRA encouraged the handful of people that came to fill out questionnaires asking what they wanted mitigation money for but its unclear whether anyone did.

Instead of sharing ideas about how the CPRA might help mitigate negative impacts to the community, the discussion at the meeting focused on the communitys desire for the CPRA to come up with an alternative plan to protect the coast.

The Buras community members from Plaquemines Parish at the meeting were united in their belief that dredging is a much more reliable solution to build land and protect the coast than the diversion project. They are calling for a massive dredging project that will build land much faster than the diversion project and wont destroy the estuary.

Brian Lezina, CPRAs chief of planning, reminded those who attended the meeting that the CPRA is already working on dredging projects that are part of its master plan for coastal restoration, but argued that without diversion projects, the coast cant be saved.

In an opinion piece published by the Advocate on May 31, Louisianas Lt. Gov. Nungesser made a case against the diversion project and also called for dredging. We can build over 200 miles of land much quicker and safer for our wildlife and our culture than with the billions CPRA is proposing. He cited a dredging project that he oversaw when he was president of Plaquemines Parish that helped protect the coast from oil that was washing up from the BP oil disaster in 2011.

A couple days later Gov. John Bel Edwards expressed support for the CPRAs diversion project in a piece also published by the Advocate. While we have made and will continue to make massive strides through dredging, he wrote, it cannot address the extent of the problems were facing. This process, while effective in building land, doesnt sustain itself long-term and results in a continuous need for more time, money, and sediment to sustain these projects. This is the same argument that the CPRA continues to make.

Brad Barth, the CPRAs diversion program manager, told the community members at the June 1 meeting, who overwhelmingly oppose the project, that they would have to agree to disagree on the best way to save the coast, but pointed out at least there was one thing they all agreed on: the need for coastal restoration.

Kindra Arnesen, who runs a family fishing business and has been a fierce advocate for her community since the BP oil spill, thanked Barth for acknowledging that the community members at the meeting support coastal restoration. She pointed out that until recently, anyone who makes their living from the seafood industry who spoke out against the project were labeled greedy, with a mindset of use it to we lose it which is the furthest from the truth, she said.

Arnesen asked how $305 million for a mitigation funds could possibly be enough to compensate what the shrimpers in her community will lose if the diversion is built. She compared that figure to the $254 million mitigation fund that was set aside for one seasons damage to the fishing communities impacted by multiple openings of the spillway in 2019.

Dead dolphin in the Breton Sound in the spring of 2019 after the opening of the Bonne Carre Spillway. Credit: Julie Dermansky

In 2019, unusually high levels of water in the Mississippi River prompted the U.S. Army Corps to open a spillway just north of New Orleans, twice in one year, diverting trillions of gallons of the rivers water into the Breton Sound, which feeds into the Mississippi Sound. The influx of river water in the brackish wetlands reduced salinity levels and increased nutrients leading to the deaths of about 330 dolphins and devastating crabs, oyster, and brown shrimp in those areas.

Arnesen and others, including Solangi, see that occurrence as an indicator of what will happen if the Barataria Bay diversion project goes ahead because it will release the same river water into the nearby Barataria Bay.

If we cant stay here and make a living, are you here today to be prepared to tell me that you can come buy my house buy my boats, buy all of my equipment, buy all of my permits, pay for me to move and set me up somewhere else for $305 million. Me and all of my colleagues in this parish that houses the largest commercial fishing fleet in the lower 48, Arnesen demanded to know. When we are sitting here with a dead fishery, and have a bunch of bills to pay, how are you going to mitigate those damages? she continued.

She also questioned why it was possible for the project to get a waiver from the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the federal law that protects species like dolphins by protecting their habitat. She pointed out that the diversion project also needs waivers for the Endangered Species Act (covering sea turtles) and the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Act (covering essential fish habitats) and said any project that needs so many waivers from federal laws should be suspect.

Plaquemines Parish councilman Mark Hobbo Cognevich, representing District 9 where the meeting was held, asked the CPRA representatives if they know how much money was paid to former Senator Mary Landrieu to get Louisiana a waiver from the Marine Mammal Protection act. Brian Lezina, Chief of Planning for the CPRA, shrugged and said he didnt know.

The CPRA has paid at least $70,000 to the Washington, D.C.-based environmental lobbying firm Van Ness Feldman, where Landrieu is a lobbyist, to help expedite the permitting of the diversion project. The agency got Congress to pass a one-paragraph waiver to the Marine Mammal Protection Act that now only requires the state of Louisiana to monitor the diversions impact on dolphins instead of protecting them.

Retired U.S. Army Major Tracy Riley, president of the NAACPs Algiers/Gretna/Plaquemines Parish chapter, asked the CPRA representatives what was being done to protect the lower income Black community of Ironton that is located about a mile south of where the diversion project is slated to be built.

There are human remains  three grave sites  that Im concerned about, Riley said. If you are going to put that project through there [Ironton] Im concerned about that. Those considerations need to be looked at. CPRAs Lezina responded that there is no displacement or relocation of the community of Ironton.

That surprised Riley because the Corps EIS states: The project is expected to cause minor to moderate permanent adverse impact on economy, population, housing and property values, tax revenues and public service and community cohesions in communities near the immediate outfall area (within 10 miles north and 20 miles south) outside of flood protection due to increased tidal flooding and outmigration, an area that clearly includes Ironton.

Shrimper with his catch in Buras, LA. Credit: Julie Dermansky

Riley told the CPRA representatives that she wants to make sure that there is equality and justice for all, and expressed concern that she didnt see anyone taking notes or recording the conversation despite the CPRA asking those who attended to help with solutions to the project.

While you dont see us feverishly scribbling right now, Lezina explained, it is because no one at the meeting had yet talked about solutions when it comes to mitigation. We havent heard anything other than [complaints] about the project  but we are here to hear about solutions.

In a call with me after the meeting, Riley said that it appeared little has been done to include members of the Black community that make their living in the seafood industry in the conversation. The absence of a Vietnamese translator at the meeting also troubled her, as she assumes the CPRA is aware that Plaquemines Parish has a sizable Vietnamese community that relies on the seafood industry.

Rocky Ditcharo, owner of a shrimp dock and an outspoken critic of the project who has a large financial stake, alluded to conflicts of interest and probable corruption of those involved in the project, a concern that echoed Lt. Gov Nungesser who wrote that he is deeply concerned that the diversion project, as proposed, is nothing more than another insider deal designed to provide a few well-connected powerbrokers with huge contracts at the expense of every Louisianan.

Rocky Ditcharo, at his shrimp dock in Buras, LA. Credit: Julie Dermansky

On June 12, I met with Ditcharo on his dock while shrimp boats were bringing in their catch. He told me that he is confident the blanket acceptance of this project is a thing of the past. A regular at all of the meetings related to the diversion projects, he noticed at the June 1 meeting that the tone of the meeting was more defensive than usual and the fact they held it during shrimp season is telling. They knew if they did that, almost no one would show up.

Ditcharo made that accusation at the June 1 meeting, demanding to know who chose the date. Lezina took responsibility for choosing the date but pointed out that there was nothing sinister about it, reminding Ditcharo that they have had plenty of meetings in the Parish about the project already.

I also met up with Cooper, on Ditcharos dock, who also regularly attends public meetings about the diversion project. The CPRA made the mistake of thinking we are stupid, Cooper said. The harder they try to push this on us, the more they spend on PR, the more we know we are winning.

Shrimping is his familys heritage, something he intends to pass on to his grandchildren. Packing up and moving away isnt a viable option for him or many others in the seafood industry.

Some people assume that the dolphins can just move to another area when their habitat starts getting inundated with polluted river water but it doesnt work like that. Cooper said. They are territorial animals that live in pods, and will remain in the same place even if doing so kills them.

Dolphin expert Solangi, told me the same thing. Dolphins, like people, dont move away just because a new danger is introduced into their environment. He used the Gulf Coast as an example pointing out how many people rebuild in the same place after storms destroy their home instead of moving away.
Atmospheric water vapor in the city of Tel Aviv is suitable for drinking Phys.org (RM). See also.

Californias Drought Is So Bad That Almond Farmers Are Ripping Out Trees Bloomberg

Fire Monks Defend Tassajara Zen Monastery From Wildfire NYT (DL).

CBDCs now seem a matter of when not if FT (vlade). If you already have a well functioning, retail fast payments system that already ticks the boxes in terms of serving the public interest, data governance, with all the safeguards you need on know-your-customer, then the additional mileage a national financial system would get from having a fully fledged retail CBDC, its not that great. If, on the other hand, you are a jurisdiction where you have a lot of very influential Big Tech companies, that are already a very large part of the financial landscape, . . . here a CBDC will be useful. Vlade: So instead of regulating Big Tech, you try to out-tech them? Seemed like a good idea at the time coming shortly afterwards. Hackers already licking their chops and sharpening their knives, because thats where the money is.

Wirecard: a record of deception, disarray and mismanagement FT

Life sciences is poised to be Bostons dominant industry. Has the area become the Silicon Valley of biotech? Boston Globe. Not without externalities.

Government minister hopes cannibalism at sea no longer needed thanks to new technology Sky News. Theres good news tonight!

#COVID19

China?

How the coronavirus pandemic puts businesses at higher risk of being linked to modern slavery South China Morning Post

U.S. to Block Some Solar Materials Made in Xinjiang Region Bloomberg

Myanmar

Indonesias omnibus law: a red flag for investors? China Dialogue

India

UK/EU

New Cold War

Russia claims it fired at Royal Navy destroyer off Crimea FT

Biden Adminstration

Police State Watch

Imperial Collapse Watch

Big US banks to employees: Return to the office vaccinated AP (KW). Yves: This could get interesting. They dont have a liability shield, unlike Big Pharma or the parties that administer the shots.

Do Chance Meetings at the Office Boost Innovation? Theres No Evidence of It. New York Times. But how much of this is due to horrid office architecture? Professor [Ethan S. Bernstein, who teaches at Harvard Business School] found that contemporary open offices led to 70 percent fewer face-to-face interactions. People didnt find it helpful to have so many spontaneous conversations, so they wore headphones and avoided one another.

Class Warfare

Can Interior Design Help Beat the Heat? This House Does It Right Mansion Global. The classism makes my back teeth itch, but there are some interesting tips buried beneath the signature lived-in, English cottage aesthetic.

Wild Rice Waters Places Journal

Which living thing is the best mascot for long-term thinking? The Long-Termists Field Guide

Interview: Marc Andreessen, VC and tech pioneer Noah Smith, Noahpinion

Antidote du Jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
(Natural News) The Chinese regime is not as strong as its portrayed to the outside world, and many internal problems plaguing the regime will lead to its demise, says a former British diplomat and China expert.

(Article by Jan Jekielek and Frank Fang republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

These problems have been recognized by some high-level Chinese officials themselves, and they could lead a coup detat to remove current Chinese leader Xi Jinping to protect their own interests, according to Roger Garside, author of China Coup: The Great Leap to Freedom, in a recent interview on Epoch TVs American Thought Leaders program.

They can see better than most people can see, that this regime is outwardly strong but inwardly weak. And that its in a state of political decay, Garside said.

And that their best hope for preserving their own wealth and power, as well as the best hope for China, is to lead a coup detat to remove Xi Jinping and to launch China into a democratic transition.

These problems are not caused by external forces or anti-China forces, which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) often blames for Chinas woes. Instead, the problems have been created by the communist regimes own political system, a totalitarian dictatorship, Garside said.

They [the Chinese regime] are weak inwardly because there is a moral crisis in China. There is a system of corruptionthe system is corrupt from top to bottom, from left to right. And I could go on, but the single greatest area of weakness is, curiously enough, the economy, Garside said.

The moral plunge in China began when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lost its moral authority after the Tiananmen Square Massacre, according to Garside. To replace the lost authority, Garside said the regime began the biggest privatization campaign the world has ever seen, in order to use material incentive so people would be loyal to the CCP leadership.

In June 1989, the Chinese regime ordered its troops to open fire on student protesters and unarmed civilians in Tiananmen Square. The CCP denies having initiated a violent crackdown, and any discussion about the protest movement is considered taboo in China.

Unnamed sources within the CCP said that at least 10,000 people were killed that day, according to declassified British cable and declassified U.S. documents.

There certainly is moral decay and a moral vacuum; no trust, no truth, Garside said.

Beijings privatization effort didnt lead to a market economy, but a command economy that has paved the way for rampant corruption in China.

Theres an absence of clarity of ownership in China today on the huge state-owned companies: who controls them, who really owns them, even the private ones, who really owns and controls them. This is all very opaque, and where there is opacity in economic and financial affairs, then youll get corruption, Garside said. And that allowed power holders at every level [in China] to become rich and powerful.

In recent years, many high- and low-ranking CCP officials have been charged with graft and embezzlement, as well as senior executives of Chinas state-owned companies. One of the biggest names implicated in corruption was Zhou Yongkang, a former security chief who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015.

Underscoring all of Chinas problems was its economy, which is not as strong as the Chinese regime has touted, according to Garside.

Since 2008, they [the Chinese regime] have relied upon pumping billions of credit into the system in order to maintain an artificially high growth rate. And this flood of money has led to a great deal of distortion, false economic activity, un-economic activity, and fragility within the financial system, he said.

Rather than sitting on the side and wait for political changes in China, the United States and its allies should be proactive such as helping to bring down the Chinese regimes Great Firewall, which blocks access to many foreign websites and social media sites, Garside said.

The communist regime is vulnerable. But I do not believe that the totalitarian regime will be destroyed solely by dynamics within China. I think its absolutely essential that the U.S. and its allies go onto the offensive, he said.

Because China and the United States are deeply connected, particularly on economic and social fronts, the United States cant just sit idly in the face of growing Chinese threats. If we dont counterattack against this ambitious and dangerous regime, we are going to lose our freedom, Garside said.

We cannot just sit back and say, we have right on our side, we will make a better job of running our own countries. Yes, weve got to do that. But weve also got to find the vulnerabilities. Weve got to educate our people of the peril which faces us.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com and CommunistChina.news.
(Natural News) A lot of white people who are forced into CRT-based training, and forced to confess to being racist because of their race, do not realize that they are protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, and disability, explained the retired professor.

(Article by Ella Kietlinska republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

White people are protected in the same way that black people are by civil rights laws, she said. Were not a country where its acceptable to bully and shame people because of the color of their skin.

Such acts create a hostile environment at work or may cause psychological harm to children at school, the award-winning author explained, adding that parents have reported depression, trauma, or other problems in their children who had been told that, because of their whiteness or the fact that their ancestors inflicted harm, they are also guilty of oppression.

Moreover, the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees certain protections to all people, even non-citizens.

If a public institution such as a school tries to restrict peoples speech or behavior, it may be also a First Amendment violation, Swain said.

Private schools have more freedom to discriminate than public ones, but students whose rights are infringed can use other bases, such as the student handbook that guarantees students certain rights, to fight discrimination, she added.

Swain suggested that students facing discrimination can also seek help from organizations defending students or individuals freedom of speech, association, and religious liberty, such as The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) or the Christian Legal Society.

Another way to counter discrimination at schools is publicity, the professor advised. Students can write articles about discrimination cases and publish them in student media like The College Fix or Campus Reform as there have been cases of universities backing down due to the public outcry over the reports of unfair treatment, according to Swain.

She also recommended that students always document things that are discriminatory and use that evidence when the time is right.

History of Race Relations

I think America has been so important to the world, that the true history of its founding, as well as the mistakes that were made and just how we address those mistakes, are things that enrich people. And it is something that should not be hidden, and certainly not something that would be a cause of shame, Swain told Crossroads.

The true story of America is a story of blacks and whites working together to overcome that tragic part of our history.

During the period following the end of slavery, it was white philanthropy that set up schools across the South, that set up those historically black colleges and universities, and trillions of dollars have been donated since the end of slavery to try to address the past and present effects of slavery, explained the co-chairwoman for former President Donald Trumps 1776 Commission.

The civil rights movement itself is a moment in history where whites, blacks, people of other races and ethnicities came together for a cause. That was powerful, she continued.

Swain was born during the time of systemic racism in the segregated South. She witnessed the collapse of institutional racism and benefited from the opportunities created for black Americans like herself.

My love of country came about because when I was in school, we were taught civics and patriotism. And I felt like I lived in the greatest nation in the world, Swain said.

Racism was dying in the United States before President Barack Obama was elected, she said. At that time, the country was portrayed by legacy media as being a post-racial society. I think that because we were making so much progress, the political left and those that benefit by racism and keeping us divided  they had to act.

This was the time when the racial tensions, which divided people, restarted and when standards in classes, especially in public schools, were lowered owing to CRT and the restorative justice agenda being pushed, she added.

Opportunities for black people have never been better than today and ultimately, success depends on a persons attitude, she said.

Swain shared that as one of 12 children, she had dropped out of high school, married at 16, and had three small children by the time she was 21. Despite that, she went back to school, got a high school equivalency, and went to a community college where she got the first of her degrees.

She pointed out that she was able to achieve success and overcome the circumstances of her birth because she believed that hard work mattered and applied herself as such.

I did not see myself as handicapped because I was black, poor, a woman, the professor said. I took advantage of what America offered.

Among todays youth, minorities are being crippled in their minds because theyve been told by the political left what they cant do and they are being handicapped, she warned.

Theyre not even being held to the same standards that people of my generation were held to at colleges and universities. And as a consequence, they do feel inferior. A lot of what is crippling them is what they have been indoctrinated with.

In her view, the racism coming from the political left is a forced re-segregation, and the lowered standards being pushed out for racial, ethnic minorities are impeding the development of their fullest potential.

Racism Serves Political, Financial Interests

Inciting racism serves the political interests of the Democrats who use the CRT to sow divisions between races in order to secure the black votes that they need to maintain their power, Swain said.

Any time some progress is made with race relations, an incident is found to play up in the media to get Americans all worked up and divided by race. And its very easy to do because theres always something happening somewhere, she added.

She pointed to the many incidents like police shootings that have been played up by the media, acting to inflame peoples emotions and distract the public during a time when theres something in the news that is not favorable to the progressive agenda.

It makes black people keep feeling like there is so much racism and blames Republicans or white people for being guilty of this racism, Swain continued.

They are creating a very dangerous situation in this country because theyre demonizing all white people, including themselves and their own children, she said, adding that hatred, once unleashed, cannot be easily put back in the box.

Black Lives Matter (BLM), an openly Marxist organization, was able to capitalize on the publics reaction to George Floyds death and raise millions of dollars for progressive black causes, Swain said. People around the world who care about black people were shocked by the video of Floyds death, which was played over and over again in the news and many then donated money to the organization because they believed in the slogan Black Lives Matter.

Black lives do matter, all lives matter, she said. But that money did not go into black communities. It didnt change black lives.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Black Lives Matter for comment.

Swain went on to encourage Americans to counter the negative impact of CRT by becoming informed about CRT and where it comes from, and how it operates, and how its contrary to the Constitution, and the Equal Protection Clause and civil rights laws.

If people become equipped by knowledge and have the courage to stand up on principle, to fight for principles they believe in, theres no way that this radical agenda can take down our nation, she said.

You should know the truth and the truth shall make you free, Swain said, citing the Bible.

If people, however, allow CRT to advance through the nations institutions of power and reshape the way the society functions, then state-sanctioned discrimination will soon be instituted by the U.S. governmentby the highest echelons of powerweakening and destroying the nation from within, she warned.

The remedy is the American people standing on principles, standing on values, standing on their history, and being courageous enough to fight back, said Swain.

Joshua Philipp contributed to this report.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com and RaceRelations.news.
(Natural News) Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed new legislation on Tuesday that will require public schools to teach students about the evils of communism.

(Article by Dillon Burroughs republished from WesternJournal.com)

The sad reality is that only two in five Americans can correctly name the three branches of government, and more than a third of Americans cannot name any of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, DeSantis said at a news conference.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces he is signing a bill requiring high school students to learn about the "evils of communism and totalitarian ideologies." The bill also creates a library that allows students to learn about "real patriots" who escaped communism and socialism. pic.twitter.com/x9cvBv5jXK  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 22, 2021

It is abundantly clear that we need to do a much better job of educating our students in civics to prepare them for the rest of their lives, he added, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Education.

One of the three bills included a requirement to specifically teach about the negatives of communism.

The bill also expands our previous efforts in civics to add a requirement for the high school government class that students receive instruction on the evils of communism and totalitarian ideologies, DeSantis said.

We have a number of people in Florida, particularly southern Florida, whove escaped totalitarian regimes, whove escaped communist dictatorships to be able to come to America, DeSantis said.

The governor tweeted on Tuesday a video of Ana Abaunza, who escaped social regimes in Nicaragua and Venezuela before coming to the United States, according to the news release.

Today, I signed HB 5 alongside Ana Abaunza, who escaped socialist regimes. Her story spotlights the necessity of teaching our youth why we have and will continue to fight for freedom. Read more: https://t.co/I5h8k1zft6 pic.twitter.com/6avyv1KliZ  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 22, 2021

The specific bill teaching against communism is House Bill 5: Civic Education Curriculum.

It states, in part, It further expands required instruction in high school to include a comparative discussion of political ideologies that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States, such as communism and totalitarianism, according to The Daily Wire.

DeSantis has signed several recent bills related to education in Florida. Last week, the governor signed a bill that will require public schools to hold a moment of silence at the beginning of each day.

The bill will give students the opportunity to reflect and be able to pray as they see fit, WJXT-TV reported.

The idea that you can just push God out of every institution and be successful, Im sorry, our Founding Fathers did not believe that, DeSantis said.

HB 529, which will go into effect on July 1, will put in place one- to two-minute moments of silence in the classrooms of the Sunshine States public schools.

The Legislature finds that in todays hectic society too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily life, the bill reads, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The Legislature finds that our youth, and society as a whole, would be well served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.

First-period teachers will be required to institute the moment of silence in public schools, WJXT reported.

The law states that teachers arent allowed to make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence, WJXT reported, and students may not interfere with other students participation.

Read more at: WesternJournal.com and PublicEducation.news.
(Natural News) John Ratcliffe, former Director of National Intelligence under former President Donald Trump, claimed that the UFOs spotted by the military were neither operated by China nor Russia because the objects were far too advanced.

A lot of people say its Russia or China, Ratcliffe said in an interview on Fox News on June 7. But we know for a fact in the intelligence community that things like trans-medium properties and hypersonic speeds  Russia and China clearly did not have those in 2004 when these things were sighted and reported.

In 2004, Navy pilots spotted what they described as a Tic Tac-shaped aircraft flying off the coast of San Diego. Retired Navy Master-at-Arms Sean Cahil, who was at the scene when the sighting happened, told journalist Christ Cuomo last month that the craft was able to travel at hypersonic speeds even though it had no visible signs of propulsion.

Other unidentified objects spotted by the military were trans-medium, meaning they could travel both in the air and underwater. In 2019, Navy personnel witnessed a spherical craft flying off the coast of San Diego disappear into the sea below. A video of the UFO was leaked last month and was confirmed to be real by the Department of Defense.

Such vehicles were suspected to be technologies developed by Americas rivals, such as China and Russia. They could also be top secret inventions made by the U.S. military.

But Cahil said that the Tic Tac UFO constituted a piece of technology that outstripped American arsenal by up to 1,000 years. And when asked to give a possible explanation for UFOs, he said that he doesnt believe they were within the arsenal of any human technology at the moment.

In any case, Ratcliffe noted that intelligence agencies should get to the bottom of what these mysterious objects were for the sake of national security. If someone is bigger, faster, stronger out there, we need to know about it, he said.

UFO report: Some UFOs might be from China and Russia

The upcoming UFO report that was prepared by the Pentagon and other intel agencies appeared to dispute Ratcliffe and Cahils remarks. The report will be submitted to Congress on June 25, but officials who were briefed on it disclosed key details to The New York Times.

While the report did not rule out an extraterrestrial explanation, it also stated that at least some of the UFOs spotted by the military might be experimental technologies from a rival power, according to the officials.

One informant disclosed that intel and military officials were worried that China or Russia might be experimenting with hypersonic technology. Both nations are developing hypersonic weapons, with Russia believing that the weapons would allow it to evade American missile-defense systems.

Administration officials said that if the militarys sightings were Chinese or Russian aircraft, that would suggest that the two countries hypersonic research had far outpaced American weapons development.

Pundits also speculated that the U.S. government is purposely ambiguous about its findings on UFOs to cover up an ongoing arms race. David Clarke, a Briton who curates official UFO records for Britains The National Archives, went as far as to say that the UFO report was commissioned to distract the public from a secret war between the U.S and its rivals.

If you are military intelligence, what better way of covering up this secret war thats been going on  the new Cold War, which is effectively what it is  than have everyone going on the false trace looking for aliens? he told Daily Star. (Related: Are the recent UFO disclosures setting us up for a mass deception of epic proportions?)

The curator opined that if Russia and China were using their hypersonic drone technology to spy on the U.S., then the latter was probably doing the same thing to the two countries. And to keep its operations covert, it chose to stay silent about its rivals surveillance activities, according to Clarke.

They dont want to blow the gaff by saying, Oh yeah, we know that the Russians are doing it on us,' he said.

Visit WeaponsTechnology.news to learn more about the weapons being developed by China, Russia and the U.S.

Sources include:

DailyStar.co.uk 1

Edition.CNN.com

LiveScience.com

NYTimes.com

DailyStar.co.uk 2
(Natural News) 246 years after the U.S. Army was established, todays Department of Defense appears to be distracted from its national defense mission. Media commentators and service members alike have lamented the militarys drift toward becoming a testing ground for social policy experimentation.

(Article by Mike Berry republished from WashingtonExaminer.com)

As perhaps the only conservative participant on the Pentagons newly formed Countering Extremism Working Group, I can confirm the Pentagons full embrace of wokeism.

For starters, President Joe Biden recently declared that white supremacy poses the greatest threat to Americas national security. The Pentagon is taking the commander in chief at his word. Instead of monitoring external threats, the Pentagon is on a mission to identify and remove whomever it labels as extremists from Americas armed forces. Ironically, the CEWG has yet to define what it means by extremism. Extremism is usually defined as the threat or use of violence to achieve an ideological agenda. But the Pentagon is now poised to expand upon that definition to include constitutionally protected speech. In other words, sticks and stones may break our bones, but words are the biggest threat.

This should be alarming to everyone, no matter their political persuasion. If the Constitution no longer presents an impediment to appeasing the woke commissars on the far Left, it wont be long before speech that has always been protected by the First Amendment suddenly becomes criminal. My law firm, First Liberty Institute, is already seeing some disturbing signs.

An Army chaplain used his personal social media account to express support for then-existing policy banning those who identify as transgender from serving in the military. The Army relieved him of duty and accused him of illegal discrimination. Meanwhile, service members publicly protested that same policy, in uniform, and nothing happened. If the CEWG does not adequately account for service members constitutional rights, we can expect many more struggle sessions to follow.

Thats right, the American government now monitors social media activity in order to ensure service members dont post, share, or like something extreme. If this sounds eerily familiar, its because China has been doing it for years.

Eradicating the scourge of actual extremism is a noble undertaking. But instead of focusing on what divides us, the Biden administration should focus on what unites the public. Instead of sending the message that conservatives, evangelicals, and Catholics are unwelcome in the military, we should reinforce to Americas young men and women what makes America exceptional. The values that drove me to join the Marine Corps many years ago were love of country, pride in service, and respect for selfless service and sacrifice.

Those are the timeless principles upon which America was built. Or so I thought. Sadly, adherence to those principles is more likely to get me and others labeled as extremists and kicked out of todays military.

Several years ago, the Department of Defense produced a document that labeled those who believe in states rights, individual liberties, and how to make the world a better place as potential extremists. Apparently, I was mistaken for thinking those were the things I was defending as a Marine. And despite data showing that religious people are the most likely to serve, we are now declaring them undesirable extremists.

All of this is a recipe for disaster. America has real enemies who seek to harm us, and those enemies are likely giddy with every woke pronouncement that America will continue to pour yet more valuable time, energy, and resources into its cold civil war.

Some have warned me that simply writing this article will likely result in my removal from the CEWG, or possibly even the Marine Corps, in which I continue to proudly serve as a reservist. But I love my country too much not to sound the alarm. And if my love of America is what leads to my removal, then so be it, as long as my discharge papers state discharged for love of country.

Read more at: WashingtonExaminer.com and Wokies.news.
(Natural News) The Biden administration took down dozens of Iranian-linked websites at a critical moment in nuclear negotiations and less than a week after Iran elected a new president.

Several of the sites were back online within hours with new domain addresses.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday, June 22, it seized the domains of 36 websites for violating U.S. sanctions. Many of the websites were associated with either disinformation activities or violent organizations, said one national security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Today, pursuant to court orders, the United States seized 33 websites used by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU) and three websites operated by Kataib Hizballah also known as Kataib Hezbollah (KH), in violation of U.S. sanctions, the department said in a statement.

KH is one of the main Iraqi militia groups aligned with Iran and has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.

Domains owned by U.S. company

Among the websites that were taken down were the state-owned Press TV, the Iranian governments main English satellite television channel, and Al Alam, its Arabic-language equivalent. Both came back online using Iranian domain addresses Alalam.ir and Presstv.ir.

According to Iranian news media, websites for the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen and satellite and TV news channels dedicated to reports from the holy Shiite city of Karbala, Iraq have also been taken down.

The DOJ said the 33 domains used by IRTVU are owned by a U.S. company and that IRTVU did not obtain a license from the Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control before using the domain names. The domains operated by KH were also owned by a U.S. company that also did not obtain a license.

Notices appeared early Tuesday on a number of Iran-affiliated websites saying they had been taken down by the U.S. government as part of law enforcement action. Similar notices also appeared on the website of Lualua TV, an Arabic-language Bahraini independent news channel that broadcasts from the UK, and Yemens Masirah TV, run by Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

The notice on the website of the Arabic-language Masirah TV stated: The domain almasirah.net has been seized by the United States Government in accordance with a seizure warrant  as part of a law enforcement action by the Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Masirah TV quickly opened up a new website at www.almasirah.com.

U.S. takes down sites at critical moment in nuclear negotiations

The U.S. took down the sites just two days after envoys for Iran and six world powers  the U.S., the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany  adjourned high-stakes talks on reviving their tattered 2015 nuclear accord. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs to its nuclear program.

We are now closer than ever to an agreement but the distance that exists between us and an agreement remains and bridging it is not an easy job, said Iranian diplomat Abbas Araqchi.

In 2018, then-President Donald Trump kept a campaign promise and unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA. Trump also reintroduced sanctions on Iran that had been previously lifted. (Related: BACK TO THE TABLE: Iran expects US return to Obama nuclear deal under Biden.)

Just a few days ago, Iran held a presidential vote on June 18 to install Ebrahim Raisi, an Iranian conservative and the countrys former chief judge, as its top elected official. The U.S. has accused Raisi of human rights abuses and has imposed sanctions to prevent any official dealings with him.

Hassan Rouhani, Irans outgoing president, was seen as a reformist open to deals with the U.S. and other Western powers. But Raisi is expected to take a more nationalistic and hardline tone, said Barbara Slavin, director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council.

In his first news conference on Monday, June 21, Raisi said his priorities would be to improve ties with regional neighbors and revive the 2015 nuclear deal. He also ruled out meeting with President Joe Biden.

Iranian news agencies condemn U.S. move

The Iranian state-run news agency IRNA called the takedowns an illegal act and terroristic policy against independent media. The semi-official Iranian news agency YJC said the U.S. move demonstrates that calls for freedom of speech are lies. (Related: United Nations now targeting free speech on a global scale, under the banner of fighting hate speech.)

The spokesman for Irans mission to the United Nations, Shahrokh Nazemi, said the U.S. was trying to muzzle free speech. While rejecting this illegal and bullying action, which is an attempt at limiting the freedom of expression, the issue will be pursued through legal channels, Nazemi said.

The Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), accused the American government of targeting websites that belonged to the so-called axis of resistance, which is how Tehran and its allies describe proxy militia groups in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria that receive training and funding from Iran.

Its not the first time that the U.S. has seized the domain names of sites it accuses of spreading disinformation.

American prosecutors in October took down a network of web domains they said was used in a campaign by the IRGC to spread political disinformation around the world.

The DOJ said at the time that it had taken control of 92 domains used by the IRGC to pose as independent media outlets targeting audiences in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Follow JoeBiden.news for more news and information related to Joe Biden and his administration.

Sources include:

News.Yahoo.com

BusinessTimes.com.sg

CNBC.com

NBCNews.com

NYTimes.com
(Natural News) Under the governorship of Gavin Newsom, the state of California is planning to use federal covid relief funds to help state residents back pay the rent they owe due to Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdowns and business closures.

With the eviction moratorium soon coming to an end, Newsom will be awarding renters who are struggling with money to pay missed rent along with electricity and water bills.

Unlike many other states, California currently has a budget surplus of $75.7 billion. This is separate from the $26.6 billion the Golden State received from the federal government to help struggling residents pay their bills.

California is planning rent forgiveness on a scale never seen before in the United States, Newsom wrote in a tweet.

Though the plan is not officially set in stone yet and still has to finish working its way through the state legislature, the expectation is that it will soon pass and start churning out cash to the tune of $5.2 billion as part of a much larger $100 billion pandemic recovery package.

The new program will forgive 100% of unpaid rent incurred by low-income Californians during the pandemic, reports Deseret. The program will help landlords break even while giving renters a clean slate.

Tenants will qualify for the program if they make no more than 80 percent of the median income in their area and are able to show that they suffered some kind of pandemic-related financial difficulty.

A $5.2 billion program in final negotiations at the State Legislature would pay 100 percent of unpaid rent that lower-income Californians incurred during the pandemic and would be financed entirely by federal money, reported The New York Times.

The state is also proposing to set aside $2 billion to pay for unpaid water and electricity bills.

California to return $12 billion in budget surplus back to residents

In addition to helping tenants and landlords get back on track, California is also planning to give back some of its budget surplus to state residents in the form of stimulus checks.

Roughly two-thirds of the states middle-class population is expected to receive a series of $600 checks, though the actual number is unclear. State legislators are also planning to extend the moratorium on evictions past its current expiration date of June 30.

Interestingly, some areas of California have been unable to distribute available funds for rent relief as residents are simply not applying for it. Some of them may not even know it is available, while others may have found relief funding from other sources.

The San Diego Union-Tribune paper reported that the states bureaucracy has also been slow to process applications, in some cases adding cumbersome rules that make it difficult for people to get what they need.

One theory among local economists is that public officials overshot the need for rental assistance, the paper reported. With several rounds of pandemic-related stimulus money, renters may have found a way to pay rent despite job uncertainty.

Other states such as Idaho and Utah also had unexpected budget surpluses this year due to receiving federal Chinese Virus aid, and they, too, passed similar rent relief bills to help struggling renters. It does not appear, however, that any of that extra cash in those states was returned back to the taxpayers through stimulus checks.

California has decided to use the surprise cash to aid in pandemic recovery, such as the rent forgiveness program, reported Deseret.

According to the latest figures, the median home value in California is currently $700,000. And more than one-quarter of all renters in the state spend more than half of their pre-tax income on rent.

More related news can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) On Wednesday, President Joe Biden blamed guns, fantasy white supremacists, MAGA terrorists, and everything right-wing for the rise in crime, violence, and mayhem in Americas largest cities, all of which are run by members of his own party and have been for decades.

But one of the little-mentioned hard-core realities that he refused to own up to, as usual, is this: His partys extreme left-wing anti-police, pro-criminal agenda is directly responsible for creating nightmarish, hellish scenarios on city streets, where people can now be dragged out of their cars and shot in plain sight of hundreds of witnesses.

And then told they had it coming.

If you doubt any of this, NBC News detailed why crime has ratcheted up all over the country without really saying the words:

In late May and early June 2020, looters smashed storefronts in the Bronx and Manhattan boroughs of New York City.

Many were caught on tape, some with their faces visible. Others even posted their own videos of their actions those nights on social media. Hundreds were arrested.

But a review of NYPD data by the investigative team at WNBC, the NBC owned station in New York, shows that a large percentage of the cases  particularly in the Bronx  were dismissed, and that many convictions were for counts like trespassing that carry no jail time.

I was in total shock that everything is being brushed off to the side, noted Jessica Betancourt, owner of an eyeglass shop that was destroyed by BLM thugs in the Bronx last year.

Data show that 118 people were arrested in the Bronx after every night of looting and rioting, the worst of which took place in early June. But according to the NYPD, the Bronx district attorney  a vehement leftist  as well as the courts in the city have dismissed a majority of those cases, or 73 thus far.

Eighteen cases remain open and there have been 19 convictions for mostly lesser counts like trespassing, counts which carry no jail time, NBC News reported.

Betancourt, who is also president of a local merchants association, said those numbers are disgusting (we have a few stronger words to describe it). She also says that local business owners like her are angry and frustrated that more people are not being charged with more serious crimes, many of which occurred in the upscale Manhattan region of Soho.

Law enforcement officers are bearing the brunt of this grotesquely irresponsible behavior on the part of DAs and court officers, all of whom have sworn an oath to uphold the law. But since theyre not, the dregs of society  the cruelest, most soulless, most depraved  are no longer being kept at bay and have figured out they are essentially free to resort to their most base, violent behavior without suffering any consequences.

And the end result here will be nothing short of deadly and catastrophic.

My closest friends are either in law enforcement or either active or retired members of some of the most elite military forces in America. And from our greatest warriors to our everyday citizens I can tell you the underlying fear that so many are thinking about  and thats the seemingly inevitable collapse of society if we dont make some monumental changes, writes Kyle Reyes, the national spokesman for Law Enforcement today.

As a Christian, I believe we are in the middle of some serious spiritual warfare. But you dont have to be a Christian to understand that the very soul of America is under attack right now. And the rapid erosion of the Thin Blue Line has us sitting on a powder keg, he said.

Reyes, as a businessman, travels all over the country and is seeing whats going on first-hand. He hears from cops and citizens alike on a daily basis; he understands what is happening and is trying to sound the alarm.

The dearth of actual enforcement of our laws is leading to an awful place most Americans dont want to be but have no idea is just around the corner. Brace yourselves. And get ready; because the collapse of police will be the first casualty.

Sources include:

LawEnforcementToday.com

NBCNews.com

NewsTarget.com
(Natural News) On Monday, June 21. the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies slid further after Chinas central bank ordered the countrys largest banks and payment processors to play a bigger role in curbing cryptocurrency trading and related activities.

The Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) on Monday summoned representatives of multiple financial institutions  including Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Agricultural Bank of China and the state-owned Ant Groups Alipay  and told them to strictly implements recent notices and guidelines from authorities that effectively prevent Chinese banks from engaging in cryptocurrency-related transactions.

Following the PBOCs order, the price of various cryptocurrencies started to slide.

Bitcoin slipped to $31,850, down 10 percent from Friday. This marked the coins lower price since late January. Ether, the Ethereum blockchains cryptocurrency and the second-biggest by market value lost 14 percent to move down to $1,920. Dogecoin, the meme crypto started as a joke in 2013 before shooting up in price earlier this year, slid 27 percent to about 21 cents in its eight consecutive daily decline.

PBOC orders banks to investigate customers that trade in crypto

In addition to blocking cryptocurrency transactions, the PBOC also ordered the financial firms to go through their systems and identify and investigate customers with accounts at virtual-currency exchanges that trade in crypto in the over-the-counter market. In these cases, the institutions must cut off the accounts ability to send or receive money for the transactions.

Beijing is stepping up its nationwide campaign against virtual currencies and crypto. This comes after a powerful superregulator pledged to crack down on cryptocurrency trading and mining in the country.

The crackdown follows a spike in the price of Bitcoin, which traded at nearly $65,000 in mid-April. This surge was spurred on by celebrity advocates, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a longtime crypto evangelist. It has lost close to half its value since then.

Efforts to restrain the production or mining of bitcoin stem from concerns over its energy use. Mining uses banks of power-hungry computers to solve the complicated algorithms needed for a cryptocurrencys creation. (Related: BITCOIN GREENWASHING: No, Bitcoin mining isnt mostly powered by clean, renewable energy, but the cult-like self-delusion of Bitcoin apologists is itself a fascinating science experiment.)

In addition, Beijing is likely also unhappy with cryptocurrencys intrinsically uncontrollable, decentralized nature, especially as the country seeks to launch its own, centrally-controlled, virtual currency.

China has tried to crack down on crypto before

This isnt the first time China has cracked down on cryptocurrencies. Several years ago, authorities imposed bans on domestic cryptocurrency exchanges and digital-currency fundraisings, known as initial coin offerings. Payment providers and banks were also instructed by authorities to stop providing virtual currency trading and related services, while also closing crypto mines.

But despite Beijings best efforts, China remains a hotbed for cryptocurrency mining.

Up to three-quarters of the worlds bitcoin supply has been mined in China. At the same time, the Chinese people have continued to trade in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through peer-to-peer transactions involving direct money transfers between accounts.

Some crypto trading platforms operating offshore have also been facilitating trades between those who want to buy bitcoin with Chinas yuan. Here, buyers use accounts at banks or digital-payment providers to transfer money to people selling cryptocurrencies, without having to disclose the purpose of the transfer.

Peer-to-peer transactions, in particular, are difficult to track because they tend to be small-scale and anonymous. Jeffries analyst Chen Shujin says that this will make it harder for authorities to shut down these types of transactions.

This will make it harder [for people to trade], but it wont be able to completely shut down this type of transactions, she said, adding that some individuals could try to get around the rules by remitting funds overseas and conducting cryptocurrency transactions offshore in other currencies.

Follow Risk.news for more on Chinas regulatory moves against cryptocurrencies and what it means for the industry.

Sources include:

WSJ.com 1

CoinDesk.com

SCMP.com

WSJ.com 3
(Natural News) Every medical authority who is going along with the governments Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine agenda must be under some kind of hypnotic spell because it was known pretty much since day one that there are already safe and effective remedies for the Chinese Virus that do not require dangerous experimental injections.

In a recent interview, Dr. Peter McCullough from Baylor University explained that the entire world is now being subjected to a form of medical bioterrorism as a result, all thanks to the systematic suppression of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and other early treatments for the Wuhan Flu.

McCullough says that the medical establishments rejection of already available remedies for the Chinese Virus was tightly linked to the development of a vaccine, the insinuation being that jabs were part of the agenda all along.

Rather than allow people to protect themselves with HCQ, or encourage them to use a natural remedy like green tea, the powers that be have instead pushed everyone to get needled with mRNA chemicals that stand to permanently reprogram their DNA and possibly kill them  and millions of people are going along with it.

According to Dr. Reiner Fuellmich, the German trial lawyer who interviewed McCullough, the pandemic was planned long in advance and is a crime against humanity. Fuellmich is calling for a second round of Nuremberg trials to deal with the career criminals like Tony Fauci and Bill Gates who foisted this nightmare upon us all.

McCullough: Coronavirus was little more than a common cold for most people

McCullough believes that there are two waves of bioterrorism associated with the plandemic: the coronavirus itself and the rollout of dangerous Operation Warp Speed vaccines, which may have already killed upwards of 50,000 Americans.

McCullough is fully credentialed to make such a claim, by the way. He practices internal medicine and cardiology, and is also the editor, senior editor and editor, respectively, of Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, the American Journal of Cardiology, and Cardiorenal Medicine. He is also president of the Cardiorenal Society.

The first wave of bioterrorism is a respiratory virus that spread across the world and affected relatively few people  about one percent of many populations  but generated great fear, McCullough explained during a recent Oval Media webinar with other doctors.

McCullough further added that the Chinese Virus targeted mostly the frail and the elderly, but for otherwise well people it was much like having the common cold.

McCullough has personally treated many patients who tested positive for the Wuhan Flu, and says he even had the disease himself. Someone in his family also died after testing positive for it.

Every single thing that was done in public health in response to the pandemic made it worse, McCullough says, noting that the government took full advantage of the situation to spread fear, allowing it to ratchet up the tyranny.

McCullough: Covid vaccines are phase two of a bioterrorism operation

Early on in the plandemic, McCullough came up with his own treatment regimen that he says helped reduce hospitalizations by about 85 percent. He began to publish papers on it before being met with resistance at all levels from his colleagues.

Because of his clout, McCullough was still able to get two of his papers published. However, his were the only two in the entire medical literature that made it into the annals, which is a sad testament to the corruption of modern science.

The purpose behind the plandemic was never to eradicate some supposedly deadly virus, but rather to keep the population in fear and isolation, preparing them to accept the vaccine, which appears to be phase two of a bioterrorism operation, McCullough warns.

These injections, he says, deliver to the human body synthetic spike proteins [which is] the gain of function target of this bioterrorism research.

What we have learned over time is that we could no longer communicate with government agencies, McCullough says about how he has had to be careful what he says on television due to all the propaganda surrounding the issue.

We actually couldnt communicate with our propagandized colleagues in major medical centers, all of which appear to be under a spell, almost as if theyve been hypnotized.

Many good doctors, McCullough laments, are now mindlessly injecting biologically active messenger RNA into the bodies of pregnant women, for instance, completely rejecting all common sense in favor of joining the herd.

I think when these doctors wake up from their trance, theyre going to be shocked to think what theyve done to people, he says.

McCullough continues to do whatever he can to try to encourage people to avoid the shots and learn how to take care of themselves at home, should they test positive for the Chinese Virus. It is certainly an uphill battle, though.

More on the Chinese Virus deception that continues to plague both media and politics can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

HumansAreFree.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Desegregation busing was first implemented in America for the 1971 school year, helping Blacks attend White schools as a way to undo racist practices. Many Blacks were poor, next to homeless, and could not afford the cost of transportation or fees for private schools, of which the Whites began chartering many more. Now Kamala Harris wants to bus (rideshare or free uber) inner-city Blacks and Black country folk, who just cant get a ride, or a train, to the nearest human-sterilizing vaccine outlet to get their dirty Covid jabs. Theyre so unfortunate.

Harris is canvassing herself on her pulpit, trying to help Biden and the CCP reach their July 4th goal of having as many POOR and homeless people as possible jump on the 70 percent vaccinated bandwagon so they can suffer blood clots and Covid Variant Syndrome.

Vaccine passports are RACIST because voter ID was racist, remember?

So obviously, after fake VP Kamala buses all the poor Blacks and poor Hispanics to get injected with gene-altering, prion-creating mRNA jabs and vaccine protein-payload inoculations, she wants every other American to go canvassing around their neighborhoods, knocking on doors and talking these hesitant non-vaxxers into getting the God-forsaken jabs for the Wuhan lab-created China Flu.

This couldnt be about population control, now could it? Being that the Democrat Party started the KKK, and now they want all those people who want reparations to get vaccinated with a jab thats SILENTLY killing thousands of people around the world? If the Atlanta vaccine centers are as FILTHY as the disgusting J&J Baltimore vaccine center, then theres no telling the side effects Atlanta sheeple will suffer.

Democrats killing American Blacks dates back to 1865, so follow the bouncing ball everybody. Are you a Left-wing activist, because Kamala wants you to help with the door-to-door genocide campaign. This is all on the video embedded below, because you cant make stuff like this up. Its just too rich.

The Biden Regime wants that 70 percent kill ratio (completely vaccinated for China disease) by July 4th, the holiday they already erased from the history books and replaced with randomly violent BLM/Antifa-style metro-city warfare called Juneteenth. Theyre using a Black woman to round up all the poor Blacks to get toxic injections.

Why are we forcing vaccines and vaccine passports/I.D. cards on Blacks and Hispanics when the Democrats have been complaining for years about voter IDs being racist? Its forced medication and Draconian rule offered as a free service by the evil empire.

Harris tells vax-activists how to overcome objections and sell dirty vaccines to poor people in Atlanta

You want paid time off at work to go get a dangerous injection? Kamala says employers need to pay you to go get jabbed. Theres your bus fare. Democracy made easy. Stupid simple. Get it? Pharmacies have been told by the fake US government to stay open 24 hours on Fridays in June to stab the bused minorities, mostly Blacks and Hispanics in America, with gene-altering, prion-creating Covid-19 (and 20 and 21) inoculations.

Go and sell your neighborhood on getting this violent, experimental medical procedure done. Thats what the Democrat Party is campaigning on right now. These are the folks who introduced mail-in ballots and Dominion Voting systems.

These are the folks who support inner-city violence, including vandalism, murder, rape, theft and arson (think every BLM/Antifa rally).

Want some free childcare, forever? Kamalas got your back. Once you drop your kid or kids off at YMCA, Learning Care Group or KinderCare (paid for by KKK-founding Democrat Party), you can go get shot up with technology for free that causes your blood to clog and clot. Isnt that a great deal? The Democrat Party wants to meet you where youre at (meaning, your own gravesite).

You might run across people as youre out talking and knocking, folks might say, I dont have a car or theres no public transportation or bus that comes by my house. And thats fair, because how can we expect them to get to a vaccination site? Ok Kamala, are we still living in 1865? Or is it 1971, I cant remember with all this mercury in my brain and these blood clots in my brain veins.

Watch this: Start at the 10-minute mark and listen to this psychopath fake VP round up the homeless and poor minorities for blood-clot-causing-gene-therapy shots:

Visit CovidVaccineReactions.com if you already got a toxic Covid jab or two and you are experiencing side effects, blood clots or other adverse events. Then tune your internet frequency to Pandemic.news for updates on these crimes against humanity being delivered under the guise of inoculation.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

NaturalNews.com

TruthWiki.org

GlobalJustice.org

NOQReport.com

TheGateWayPundit.com
(Natural News) More Tony Fauci emails have come to light showing that Americas doctor was offered resources and money by Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, who appears to have played an important role in unleashing the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The partially redacted emails show Fauci acknowledging the bribes from Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg also apparently asked Fauci for assistance in building a Coronavirus Information Hub on Facebook to spread the word about the plandemic.

I will write to or call Mark and tell him that I am interested in doing this, Fauci wrote in one of the emails, apparently accepting the offer that was made to him by Zuckerberg.

One of Zuckerbergs emails to Fauci, dated March 15, 2020, explains that Facebooks goal at the time was to make sure people can get authoritative information from reliable sources, as well as encourage people to practice social distance and give people ideas for doing this using internet tools.

Zuckerberg also requested a video from Fauci because he thought it would be more effective at swaying Facebook users to go along with the plandemic agenda as opposed to hearing from just a bunch of agencies and political leaders.

Im also doing a series of livestreamed Q&As with health experts to try to use my large following on the platform (100 million followers) to get authoritative information out as well, Zuckerberg further wrote.

Id love to have you do one of these Q&As. This could be the video we put in the Coronavirus Hub or it could be a different thing that we distribute separately, but I think it could be effective as well.

Fauci says everything he did during the plandemic was innocent

When questioned by Sway host Kara Swisher about these incriminating emails during a recent podcast appearance, Fauci of course denied any wrongdoing, claiming that every single one of them can be explained in a way that is perfectly normal, perfectly innocent and completely above board.

In his usual whiny defensiveness, Fauci scoffed at the idea that he did anything illegal, even though it is a crime for a private organization, in this case Facebook, to offer cash or resources to a government employee.

In any other world, this would be constituted as a form of a bribe towards a government official, write Raheem Kassam and Natalie Winters for The National Pulse.

Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline agrees, having stated that this whole thing is like having private interests stuffing money into the pockets of the umpire before he calls the first ball or strike.

Fauci is also playing dumb about the whole thing concerning his leaked emails and the random portions of some of them that are redacted for unknown reasons. He told Swisher that it is all completely out of my control, suggesting that he is the victim in all of this.

Hey, big scoop. Here we go. Mark said, hey, is there anything that we can do to help out to get the messages out, the right public health messages? Fauci scoffed sarcastically during the interview.

I have a very important medium here in Facebook. Can I help? As a matter of fact, if you guys dont have enough resources and money to do some of the things you want, just let us know.

Nice try, Fauci, but we all know the truth. You are hardly fooling anyone anymore except your devoted cult followers who will double and triple down forever, even when you eventually  hopefully  have to stand before a judge, jury or military tribunal to make a case for your crimes against humanity. Good luck.

Big Tech played a powerful role in swaying the world to obey the Chinese Virus agenda. To learn more, visit Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) During one of his shows earlier this month, Fox News host Tucker Carlson dissected a report from Revolver News indicating there is strong evidence to suspect that The FBI had assets and operatives inside an effort to organize the Jan. 6 Capitol protest that wound up with several hundred supporters of President Donald Trump being arrested and the Biden regime claiming that MAGA backers are all domestic terrorists and as such are the No. 1 threat to the country.

Carlsons report came on the heels of a claim by Attorney General Merrick Garland accusing the white race of being the top domestic violent extremist threat in the country, using the Capitol false flag incident as proof.

He, like most people you see on television, wants you to believe, and wants history to record, that Jan. 6 was an attempted insurrection by white supremacist revolutionaries bent on taking over this country, Carlson stated during the segment.

We came this close, Merrick Garland said. And thats why We must adopt a broader societal response to tackle the problems deeper roots.

But it turns out that it is very likely  very likely  that the FBI was involved in setting up the false flag incident.

Without fail, the government has thrown the book at most people who were present in the Capitol on Jan. 6, Carlson stated. There was a nationwide dragnet to find them. And many of them are still in solitary confinement tonight.

But, strangely, some of the key people who participated on Jan. 6 have not been charged. Look at the documents. The government calls those people unindicted co-conspirators. What does that mean? Well, it means that in potentially every single case, they were FBI operatives.

Is Carlson just making this stuff up as he goes? Hardly; and a recent investigative study backs him up.

Published by the Columbia [University] Human Rights Review, the report, The Anatomy of a Federal Terrorism Prosecution: A Blueprint for Repression and Entrapment, published in December 2020, lays out in great detail the myriad of FBI operations utilizing deep cover operatives whose job it is to set up otherwise innocent Americans as terrorists to then justify persecuting entire segments of our society.

The bureau was responsible for this during the War on Terror, targeting many innocent Muslims, and now the Biden regime appears to be using the same blueprint to entrap and persecute MAGA-supporting Trump followers.

The events of September 11th sparked a massive transformation in both the shape and scope of United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) surveillance and counter-terrorism operations. In the wake of September 11th, the FBI shifted from being an agency that investigated past or ongoing crimes to one focused on proactively gathering information to prevent future crimes, the report begins.

The FBI not only developed a new framework for identifying likely future terroriststhe so-called radicalization spectrumbut also created new investigative tools, expanding the strategies of surveillance and entrapment that it had honed during the Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) era, it added.

While many have highlighted the diagnostic flaws and political implications of the FBIs use of the radicalization spectrum as an analytical tool, the report says, not many have attempted to draw lessons and conclusions from improper use of the tactic to entrap and prosecute people who otherwise would not have attempted to commit an act of terrorism.

President Donald Trumps May 2020 announcement that the United States would declare Antifa (short for Anti-Fascist) a domestic terrorist organization is only the most recent example of the FBIs widening aperture for domestic terrorism, and follows on the heels of prior revelations regarding the targeting of other communities and activist movements, including the Black Lives Matter and immigrants rights movements, the report states.

And now, its being expanded again by the Biden regime  to white Trump supporters. This includes otherwise unconstitutional surveillance practices that are conducted covertly, without a proper court order, and increasingly with the assistance of big tech.

[[A] hypothetical FBI agent could initially insert themself into a group or community using a fake name or back-story, and then attend meetings, recruit informants, collect and look through the groups trash, and take photographic and video surveillance of the group members, all without any factual predicate (i.e. any factual basis for suspecting criminal activity), the report states.

Researchers were sure to note that this kind of unconstitutional surveillance hasnt just happened a couple of times  it has happened tens of thousands of times in recent years.

The FBI has used these assessment tactics extensively since their authorization, massively expanding its network of informants and surveillance, the report states.

The most recent statistics from FBI documents released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that, between 2009 and 2011, the Bureau opened 82,325 assessments [our emphasis] of different individuals and communities, only 1,986 of which resulted in factual predicates necessary for a preliminary or full investigation, said the report.

But the FBI isnt the only agency involved here. In fact, you could say violating Americans privacy rights now involves a whole of government approach.

Not only has the FBI made it easier for its own agents to surveil community members without factual justification, but, in recent years, it has also enjoyed increased access to information held by other agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the National Security Administration (NSA), and local police departments, says the report, adding that fusion centers serve as a sort of one-stop shop for various local, state, and federal law enforcement.

But how to get convictions? Easy, as the report explains:

Mass surveillance and profiling through SARs and assessments, combined with enhanced inter-agency information-sharing through the fusion centers, has provided the FBI with an engine to dramatically expand its web of confidential informants and agent provocateurs.

According to investigative journalist Trevor Aaronson, there are roughly ten-times as many confidential informants in the FBIs network now as there were at the peak of COINTELPRO.

And for each of the fifteen thousand registered informants, there are as many as three unofficial ones, known in FBI parlance as hip pockets.

These hip pockets are used in contravention of FBI and Guidelines mandates so [the agents] will not have to complete the paperwork, obtain required approvals, or risk disclosing their informants identities to prosecutors or others, according to the Office of the Inspector General.

Without question, Americans have lost control of their premier federal law enforcement agency, which is now actively deployed against the very citizens its agents have sworn to protect.

Its time for the FBI to be disbanded, period. Its gone rogue, and no one is being held accountable.

Sources include:

Law.Columbia.edu

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Google appears to have automatically installed the coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure notification app for Massachusetts on some Android phones.

We have been working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to allow users to activate the Exposure Notifications System directly from their Android phone settings, the tech giant said in a statement.

The app, called MassNotify, was launched in Massachusetts on June 15. Since then, a number of Android phone users in the state reported that the app had been automatically installed on their phones without warning or consent.

But Google noted that the notifications are enabled only if a user proactively turns on the app.

This functionality is built into the device settings and is automatically distributed by the Google Play Store, so users dont have to download a separate app. COVID-19 Exposure Notifications are enabled only if a user proactively turns it on. Users decide whether to enable this functionality and whether to share information through the system to help warn others of possible exposure, Google said.

Users claim app was installed without any notification

Android users in Massachusetts claimed on Reddit, Hacker News, and in Googles app reviews that the service was installed without them knowing.

In a 1-star review on Google Play Store, one user wrote: Absolutely did not install this on my phone and added that it was silently installed without any notification.

According to the user, the Exposure Notifications System doesnt have an app icon  you have to go through settings and view all apps. This is a huge privacy and security overstep by [Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker] & Google.

Ghost installed on my phone without my consent. While I believe in what this app was meant to do, installing it without so much as a notification is extremely alarming, another user wrote in a Google Play Store review.

One woman described the program as spyware, alleging that it seems to want to track my location, and noted that it uses Bluetooth. (Related: Google continues to track users even after location tracking is turned off.)

Its pure madness that Play Services comes with this sort of backdoor. This is clearly what I would consider a deliberate  vulnerability, wrote one user on Hacker News.

MassNotify uses Google and Apples Bluetooth-based system to let users who test positive for COVID-19 alert strangers whose phones have been nearby that they may have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes disease. It was built using the Exposure Notifications Express program, which allows states to sidestep the laborious process of building their own app. Instead, their health departments can specify how and when someone should receive an alert about possible exposure, and the companies generate the software.

On Android phones, that express process automatically creates a custom app for a state. Its supposed to then alert Android users in the state that an application is available that they can download and install. In this case, users said that it was downloaded automatically without getting that notice.

According to reports, the Exposure Notifications System resides in Androids Settings menu. Users can access it by going to Settings, then Google, then COVID-19 Exposure Notifications  where one can turn on tracking or report having COVID-19.

Apple and Google introduced exposure notification tool in 2020

Massachusetts is the 29th state to debut an app using the Google and Apple exposure notification tool. Around 500,000 residents signed up in the first two days after its release.

In May last year, Apple and Google rolled out a system to help trace who has COVID-19. As such, local health agencies no longer have to create individual apps and just rely on Apple and Google to do most of the technical work. (Related: Google, Apple APPROVE Saudi app that tracks women as slaves owned by their husbands, but bans independent media apps for being offensive.)

When two people are in close range, their phones will exchange and record anonymous Bluetooth identifiers as part of the exposure notification system. If an individual gets diagnosed with COVID-19, they can have their device transmit a list of everybody theyve been in contact with.

To help boost usage, Google and Apple later introduced the Exposure Notifications System. The goal was to quickly and easily create a system by having health agencies submit a configuration file to the two companies. This file contained basic information on how and when notifications should be triggered and the next steps after getting an alert. Other requested information includes an agency logo and text that appears to a user.

As part of this, Google created an Android app on behalf of health agencies. It starts with the Google Play Store alerting users that a local application is available. After that, users could install the app through a process similar to how its done today, but you they would have to agree to additional permissions. The system is fully compatible with existing apps. Washington D.C., Maryland, Nevada and Virginia were the first states to adopt the system.

In Massachusetts, however, Google apparently forgot the first step  which is alerting users that a local application is available.

Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TheVerge.com

9to5Google.com
(Natural News) A new report has found that Google funded research conducted by Dr. Peter Daszaks charity, the EcoHealth Alliance. Daszak and his charity openly collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in its research regarding coronaviruses.

The EcoHealth Alliance is a nonprofit that supposedly supports research regarding emerging diseases. Daszak, EcoHealths president, became infamous last year when he led the World Health Organizations Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) investigative team on a strictly guided tour of Wuhan.

Daszak and his EcoHealth Alliance have been instrumental in discrediting the lab leak origin theory of the coronavirus. This theory suggests that the coronavirus was engineered in a lab in the WIV, where it leaked after it infected one of the institutes personnel.

The EcoHealth Alliance is also guilty of funneling potentially millions in taxpayer dollars from Dr. Anthony Faucis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to the WIV, supposedly to conduct studies on bat-borne coronaviruses.

Google funded WIV research into coronaviruses through EcoHealth Alliance

Googles charity arm, Google.org, has been funding the EcoHealth Alliance since at least 2010. This is according to various scientific studies procured by The National Pulse between 2010 and 2018.

One 2010 study, involving bat flaviviruses, lists Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance Vice President Jonathan Epstein as the authors. It thanks Google.org for providing funding for the study. A 2014 study authored by Daszak regarding henipavirus spillover was also partially supported by Google.org.

Daszak and Epstein are also listed as the authors of another paper from 2015. This paper said it was supported by funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Google.org.

The USAIDs funding for the EcoHealth Alliance reportedly came from the Department of Defense. The Pentagon, through USAID, gave EcoHealth Alliance $39 million between 2013 and 2020. Some of this money even went to the WIV for its coronavirus research.

More importantly, a paper authored by EcoHealth Alliance researchers and funded by Google.org looked into the perceptions associated with transmission of pathogens with pandemic potential in highly exposed human populations at the animal-human interface.

According to The National Pulse investigative reporter Natalie Winters, this paper appears to be laying the groundwork for the natural origin theory of the coronavirus. It tries to support the possibility of SARS-like animal-borne coronaviruses being passed on to humans naturally through sites like wet markets.

Google funding of WIV considered one of the biggest scandals today

Political commentator and Fox News host Steve Hilton called The National Pulses report one of the biggest scandals he has heard of in a century. I cant think of a bigger one, he said.

Its a really shocking story, and it just adds to this increasingly big mountain of evidence that we have got a massive establishment cover-up going on because the people at the heart of this know what they did, said Hilton. Theyre covering it up because they know theyve got a guilty conscience.

Hilton explained that Google has been working around the clock since last year to discredit the lab leak theory and try to direct people towards what they call the natural origin theory  for which there is literally zero evidence.

They have been looking for evidence all over the world for the last year  and have found no evidence of [the natural origin theory]. Thats what Google has been pushing, especially YouTube, a division of Google, added Hilton. And now we know why, because they are implicated.

A spokesperson for Google said on Tuesday, June 22, that the allegations being leveled against the company are ludicrous and baseless conspiracy theories.

The one-off philanthropic grants referenced are years old and had nothing to do with COVID, the spokesperson said. We have engaged precisely zero times with this organization on any work related to COVID or the Wuhan lab.

Learn more about the lab leak theory by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheNationalPulse.com

FoxNews.com
(Natural News) Despite claims by Joe Biden that alleged man-made global-warming and supposed systemic racism are the greatest threats to America, one of Americas best-known evangelical pastors says neither of those even exist. Instead, Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church, who influences millions of Christians around the world, argued that the government itself is actually now the greatest threat to the nation.

(Article by Alex Newman republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

The comments are especially noteworthy because MacArthur for decades has been known for vigorously urging Christians to submit to the government. In fact, his views on the subject were so strict that he has even accused Americas Founding Fathers of being in sin for declaring independence from their colonial rulers in London. He has also chastised Christians for being too attached to their constitutionally protected rights.

In a recent sermon delivered at his Southern California mega-church headlined When Government Rewards Evil and Punishes Good, Pastor MacArthur mocked Bidens claims about the imagined threats facing America. Our president said in the last month that the greatest threat to America, he said, on one occasion, is systemic racism, which doesnt exist, the pastor argued. He said white supremacy, which doesnt exist with any power. And then he said global warming, which doesnt exist either, and if it does, Gods in charge of it.

The congregation giggled as the pastor summarized Bidens increasingly unhinged views about the alleged threats facing America. But then MacArthur dropped a bomb shell.

In reality, he said, the greatest threat to this nation is the government.

Citing Romans 13, a key chapter in the Bible explaining the purpose of government from a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the fledgling church in Rome, MacArthur shed light on why he believes out-of-control government authorities in the United States now represent the most significant danger to the nation. In short, they are now doing the opposite of what they are supposed to be doing: Instead of punishing evil and protecting good, government in America is increasingly punishing good and rewarding evil.

The role of the government is to restrain evil, and when it functions to restrain evil, it is fulfilling its God-ordained purpose, MacArthur explained, citing verses 1 and 2 in Romans 13. That government is from God, by God, of God. It is designed as a necessary restraint in a world of sinners.

Because Romans 13 calls on Christians to submit to the government, it has been frequently abused and perverted by totalitarians  including Adolf Hitlers National Socialists (Nazis)  to promote slavish obedience to any and all evil decrees. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was even caught creating a Clergy Response Team that would deploy the chapter in crises to convince Americans to blindly obey.

And yet, as MacArthur explained in his sermon, when government fails to do what God created it to do, it yields up its authority, just like a father would forfeit his authority if he began leading his family into evil.

The man who wrote that, the Apostle Paul, was in violation of the government more often than any other person in the entire new testament, continued MacArthur. And when he went to preach the Gospel, he was very often thrown in jail. Ultimately he was executed by the government that he refused to obey when it no longer functioned to protect good behavior and punish evil behavior.

While MacArthur has always recognized the admonition in Acts 5:29 that it is better to obey God than men, he has historically been among the most zealous American preachers of the Christian duty of submission to government  even when it involves brutal dictatorships. In fact, MacArthur has even condemned Americas Founders for resisting the tyranny of King George and the British Parliament, as well as American patriots working to protect their God-given rights enshrined in Americas founding documents.

However, since the start of the liberty-shredding government response to the COVID19 pandemic, the California pastor appears to have taken a somewhat different approach to the issue. After complying initially with Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsoms edicts purporting to shut down churches for health reasons, MacArthur eventually became openly defiant, noting that Jesus Christ  not the governor  is and always will be the head of the Christian Church.

In a letter explaining his decision to defy Newsom and his decrees, MacArthur laid out his biblical reasoning. Christ is Lord of all. He is the one true head of the church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18). He is also King of kings  sovereign over every earthly authority (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16), the letter said, providing plenty of scriptural footnotes. Grace Community Church has always stood immovably on those biblical principles.

That means God must be obeyed first and foremost. As His people, we are subject to His will and commands as revealed in Scripture, continued MacArthur. Therefore we cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings. Compliance would be disobedience to our Lords clear commands.

The popular and extremely influential California pastor noted that it is beyond the civil governments prerogative to ban, modify, or mandate worship. In fact, Caesar gets no say in that question, because God has issued His own decrees in that area, putting it outside the realm of government jurisdiction, MacArthur argued. While everyone is required by God to render to Caesar what is Caesars, the things that are Gods are outside of that scope, he said.

The biblical order is clear: Christ is Lord over Caesar, not vice versa. Christ, not Caesar, is head of the church, added MacArthur in his letter. Conversely, the church does not in any sense rule the state. Again, these are distinct kingdoms, and Christ is sovereign over both. Neither church nor state has any higher authority than that of Christ Himself, who declared, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

In response to government threats that he would be prosecuted and jailed for opening his church and defying Newsoms COVID decrees, MacArthur responded by casually noting that he would simply start a jail ministry if imprisoned for his faith. Authorities were not amused, relentlessly terrorizing his church and its members with threats, fines, and even an effort to revoke his authority to use the parking lot.

While MacArthur has always shunned politics, he was becoming more and more outspoken as evil grew in government even before the COVID lockdowns came for his church. For instance, after the Supreme Court issued its unconstitutional opinion purporting to invent a right to a homosexual marriage, MacArthur vowed: We will not bow.

The two greatest attacks of terror on America were perpetrated by the Supreme Court, he thundered from his pulpit, pointing to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision purporting to legalize the murder of unborn babies and the 2015 Obergefell decision pretending to establish a right to a so-called same-sex marriage. Our country is being terrorized by the people most responsible to protect it.

In his recent sermon on government punishing the good and protecting evil, MacArthur warned that the recent assault on the Church waged under the pretext of fighting COVID was a test. By closing their doors and mindlessly obeying anti-biblical decrees from mayors and governors, many churches failed the test, he said. There will be more tests coming, and many churches will fail those tests as well.

Despite escalating social-media censorship, Catholic priests such as Fr. James Altman who have been speaking out against government tyranny and complicit Christian leaders have also been going viral online. Clearly, there is a deep hunger among Christians of all denominations for truth on current events  especially amid the dramatic and unprecedented trends that seem to be accelerating.

Despite the shadow banning, over 115,000 people watched MacArthurs latest sermon on Youtube just in the first few days after its release. Many more undoubtedly heard it on his churchs popular website, and many more will hear it in the weeks to come. Large numbers of those around the world influenced by MacArthur are themselves pastors and leaders in evangelical churches. The significance of that sermon will likely be felt worldwide for years to come.

During the war for Americas Independence, pastors such as those in the Black Robe Regiment led the way. First, they prepared their congregations by preaching what the Bible says about government. Then, in many cases, pastors such as Rev. Peter Muhlenberg and Rev. Jonas Clark literally led the men of their churches in battle.

If liberty and morality are to survive in America, the nations pastors and pulpits must be on the front lines.

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com and DeepState.news
(Natural News) The U.S. Navy has been forced to swap more than 1,600 parts in its new Virginia-class submarines since 2013 to ease maintenance bottlenecks as components wear out decades sooner than planned.

According to data from the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Congressional Budget Office, parts for the $166 billion nuclear fast-attack submarines are being shuttled regularly among the vessels so that they can return to operation.

Navy cannibalizing parts to keep subs afloat

Built by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries, the 48-vessel Virginia class is meant to serve as the pillar of the Navys undersea strategy moving into the 21st century. Its meant to counter Chinas growing surface fleet, with each succeeding model or block receiving increasing firepower. The subs can stay on patrol underwater for months, able to strike and surface vessels or land targets with Tomahawk cruise missiles and fight against enemy submarines with torpedoes. (Related: China unveils new nuclear submarine that can strike any city in America.)

The perceived effectiveness and importance of the Virginia class is such that Congress has continually pushed the Navy to increase construction rates for the submarines from two vessels a year to three.

But even the most advanced warships require periodic maintenance. The Navy is finding out that the Virginia class requires more frequent maintenance than originally projected as parts originally meant to last 33 years are wearing out decades before theyre supposed to.

There are parts on the Virginia class that we thought were going to be life-of-the-submarine parts, and they are failing more quickly than we originally envisioned so we have to go back and find alternate sources for those parts, explained acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker during a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing.

Whats more, if a part isnt available for a sub thats under maintenance, shipyard workers may be forced to borrow, or cannibalize, that part from another submarine entering maintenance to reduce delays. Most of the cannibalized parts are for electronic systems not related to the subs nuclear propulsion systems, but the Navy declined to specify which, citing operational security.

The number of cannibalized parts for the submarines, the first of which entered service in 2004, has increased from 100 in 2013 to 171 in 2016, 201 in 2018 and 452 in 2019 before declining to 318 last year. In total, the Navy has had to swap over 1,600 parts since 2013.

Navy, other services facing supply chain issues

The shortage of parts is a readiness issue that goes in line with concerns that the Navy is not investing enough in maintenance, supply chains and shipyard infrastructure, says Bryan Clark, a former special assistant to the chief of naval operations.

The Navy may have been too slow to act on indications that some components were wearing out faster, added Clark, whos now a naval analyst with the Hudson Institute.

For his part, Harker admitted that the Navy was having supply chain issues.

The Navy is aware there are some challenges with some of the Virginia-class supply chains, said Harker to the Senate Armed Forces Committee during the hearing.

While the parts wearing out much faster than expected is the main culprit in the subs maintenance issues, theyre being compounded by the supply chain issues brought about by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The supply chain disruptions brought about by COVID-19 have highlighted just how dependent the U.S. supply chain is on products from adversarial nations.

Those of us who have understood the vulnerability within the supply chain, the pandemic only heightened it and made us aware of the amount of reliance weve had on our adversaries, stated Katie Arrington, Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

During the National Defense Industrial Associations Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict conference last year, Arrington confirmed that the Pentagon was currently working to scale back its reliance on nations of concern by positioning our supply chains and our capabilities in allied partners countries  that serve not just our [military] needs, but our commercial needs as well.

Whether these efforts will help speed up maintenance on the Virginia class subs soon is unknown. That said, the Navy is projecting that the number of parts being cannibalized to keep the subs running will drop to 82 between this year and next.

Follow MilitaryTechnology.news for more on the supply chain issues being faced by Americas armed forces.

Sources include:

MSN.com

News.Yahoo.com

NationalDefenseMagazine.org
(Natural News) Peter Daszak, head of the New York-based nonprofit the EcoHealth Alliance, has been recused from the COVID-19 commissions being set up by medical journal the Lancet.

The Lancet COVID-19 Commission describes itself as focusing on analyzing data on all of the theories put forward on the origins of COVID. Daszak had originally been appointed as chairman of the task force, but has now been recused from Commission work on the origins of the pandemic, the commissions website states.

The COVID-19 commission is organized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Daszak recused after conflict of interest discovered

On Monday, June 21, the Lancet stated that Daszak, one of the leading virologists who signed a letter published last year essentially debunking the COVID-19 lab leak theory, failed to disclose competing interests as required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

Daszak was one of 27 scientists who signed a letter Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19.

In this letter, Dazak and his fellow signatories condemned conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin. It became one of the most influential documents early in the pandemic that shaped discussion on the coronavirus origin.

According to the Lancer, when it had invited all 27 signatories to reevaluate their competing interests, Daszak submitted an updated disclosure statement noting that his remuneration came solely in the form of a salary from the EcoHealth Alliance.

The EcoHealth Alliance has worked directly with Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) on gain-of-function research on coronaviruses. In particular, it received $3.7 million in funding from Dr. Anthony Faucis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), of which at least $600,000 was diverted to the WIV. (Related: New book details Dr. Faucis involvement in Wuhan and the Chinese militarys dangerous gain-of-function coronavirus research.)

Gain-of-function research includes altering the DNA of viruses to give them characteristics, including greater transmissibility and resistance to vaccines. This is done with the intention of better understanding current and future pandemics.

Daszak played key role in suppressing lab leak theory

Daszak had played a key role in suppressing the debate on whether the WIV could be connected to the pandemic. On top of orchestrating the letter that condemned discussion on COVID-19s links to the WIV as conspiracy theories, he was the only U.S. citizen allowed to participate in the World Health Organizations (WHO) investigation into the diseases origins in China earlier this year.

As part of the WHOs investigative team, Daszak vouched for the WIV. This meant that the team did not even ask to see deleted databases containing information on the over 16,000 virus samples it had studied prior to the pandemic.

Daszak later said that U.S. intelligence on the WIV should not be trusted after he and his colleagues concluded that it was highly unlikely that COVID-19 came from the lab.

But in recent weeks, numerous media outlets have published stories supporting the legitimacy of the lab leak theory after having denigrated it as baseless conspiracy last year.

On May 23, the Wall Street Journal reported that three WIV researchers were hospitalized in November 2019 with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. As part of this, the newspaper cited unnamed U.S. government sources familiar with a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report.

Following this, on May 26, President Joe Biden ordered instructed the U.S. intelligence community to begin an investigation into the lab leak theory, giving them a 90-day deadline while asking them to redouble their efforts.

Since then, more evidence of the coronavirus laboratory origins has surfaced, including genetic proof that it was subject to gain-of-function research.

Follow Pandemic.news for more stories about the lab leak theory of the Wuhan coronaviruss origin.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

CarolinaCoastOnline.com

WSJ.com
(Natural News) From Planned Parenthood to Satanism, AmazonSmile encourages shoppers to donate to some extreme charities  at least 216 different groups. But multiple prominent conservative groups arent even allowed to participate.

(Article by Kayla Sargent republished from NewsBusters.org)

Amazon, which is on track to be Americas largest retailer next year, launched its charity program AmazonSmile in 2013. The company has banned multiple conservative organizations since then, because it relies on the anti-conservative Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to decide what groups qualify for the program.

WORLD News Group reported in 2020 that Liberty Counsel, Family Research Council (FRC) and the American College of Pediatricians are not allowed on Amazon Smile. Alliance Defending Freedom was reportedly removed from the site as well. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter, and The Satanic Temple are all free to collect donations from the program.

The AmazonSmile program is fairly simple. Shop at smile.amazon.com and well donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to your favorite charitable organizationno fees, no extra cost, the website explained. However, Amazon will not let just any charity into the program. Organizations that engage in, support, encourage, or promote intolerance, hate, terrorism, violence, money laundering, or other illegal activities are not eligible to participate. Amazon relies on the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Southern Poverty Law Center to determine which registered charities fall into these groups, AmazonSmiles about page said.

The SPLC, which is one of the organizations you can donate to on AmazonSmile, is a left-wing organization with an apparent vendetta against conservative organizations, like the FRC. The SPLC labels groups it opposes as hate groups under the Hatewatch section of its website. Its hate labeling of the FRC had violent consequences  a politically motivated shooter confessed to choosing his targets according to SPLCs hate map in an act of terrorism against FRCs headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2012.

The gunman, Floyd Lee Corkins II, intended to kill everyone in the building, but was tackled to the ground by an unarmed security guard, stated in an open letter written by FRC and signed by MRC President L. Brent Bozell. Corkins told FBI agents that he identified the Family Research Council as anti-gay on the Web site of the Southern Poverty Law Center, according to The Washington Post.

Former SPLC president Richard Cohen defended the designation of conservative groups like FRC, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) or ADF as hate groups in an interview with The Washington Post in 2018. Not only did Cohen defend the decision to lump these groups in with actual hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, he went on to say:

The fact that a group like the FRC or a group like FAIR can have congressional allies and can testify before congressional committees, the fact that a group like ADF can get in front of the Supreme Court  to me that makes them more dangerous, not less so.  Its the hate in the business suit that is a greater danger to our country than the hate in a Klan robe.

Four Satanism and Witchcraft Groups

Amazon shoppers can donate to no less than four different satanic and witchcraft organizations. Apparently, devil worship is fine, according to Amazon. Shoppers can donate to The Satanic Temple, the Temple of Witchcraft, Lilith Grotto of the Church of Satan and the Satanic Ministry. The Satanic Temple, specifically, mentioned an abortion ritual on its website. The ritual: involves the recitation of two of our tenets and a personal affirmation that is ceremoniously intertwined with the abortion. The Satanic Temple also asserts its religious right to treat human tissue as medical waste. But apparently, defending a biblical view of marriage or the right to life for unborn babies, it appears, is not OK.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America and 64 of Its Affiliates

Amazon willingly donates money to organizations that tears babies limb from limb in their mothers womb. By Planned Parenthoods own count, the organization performed 354,871 abortions in 2020. One woman in Planned Parenthood report bragged: I still think about my abortion and who I would be without the resources of Planned Parenthood behind me. Not only can AmazonSmile shoppers donate to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, but they can donate to an additional 64 Planned Parenthood affiliates.

14 Additional Abortion Charities

If a shopper does not want to donate to Planned Parenthood specifically, AmazonSmile has at least an additional 14 pro-abortion charities to choose from. The charites include the National Abortion Federation, National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) Pro-Choice Texas Foundation, and the Womens Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP). AmazonSmiles description of WRRAP stated that the organizations mission is to ensure women* of all ages, genders, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds have access to safe, legal abortion care and emergency contraception. The description went on to state that WRRAPs definition of women included transgender, genderqueer and non-binary people who are woman-identified. The definition may leave shoppers wondering why a biological man would need an abortion, or birth control for that matter.

Three Socialist Groups

AmazonSmile also allows users to donate to at least three different socialist organizations. The Democratic Socialists of America Fund, which Rep. Alexandria Occasio-Cortez (D-NY) is a member, Black Socialists of America, and Union for Radical Political Economics (URPE). URPE described its mission as: Continuing Left Critique Of The Capitalist System And All Forms Of Exploitation And Oppression While Helping To Construct A Progressive Social Policy And Create Socialist Alternatives. According to AmazonSmile, a group can advocate for the destruction of the capitalist system, but not for a biblical view of marriage.

107 Church of Scientology Affiliates

AmazonSmile similarly allows users to contribute to The Church of Scientology. Forbes Magazine, and even the German government, have referred to Scientology as a cult. Vox pointed out that Former members have recounted abuse  mental, physical, and sexual  at the hands of senior members of the church. AmazonSmile, however, appears unphased by these allegations. Users can donate to at least 47 churches associated with Scientology, as well as an additional 47 Church of Scientology missions. AmazonSmile also included a list of no fewer than 13 Narconon groups, an anti-drug organization directly affiliated with Scientology. The groups methods have been criticized by unnamed experts as having no scientific basis, reported The Guardian. Narconon has also prompted criticism that it is a front used to convert people to the religion, which some former devotees have labelled a cult.

21 Black Lives Matter Groups

Shoppers can also take their pick of at least 21 different Black Lives Matter groups to give donations. The openly Marxist organization perpetuates the idea that America is a systematically racist country. Again, pro-life and pro-family organizations like the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom were booted from AmazonSmile. However, openly Marxist groups can receive donations from the program.

PETA

In addition to organizations that kill hundreds of thousands of babies every year, AmazonSmile shoppers can also donate to an organization that has killed thousands of animals, all while pretending to be vegan. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) published an article telling Animal Crossing: New Horizons players not to fish or catch bugs in the game because it isnt vegan. Meanwhile, Newsweek reported that In 2019, of 2,421 dogs and cats received at PETAs Norfolk shelter, 1,578 were euthanized, according to the most recent report from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).

Read more at: NewsBusters.org and JeffBezosWatch.com
(Natural News) Todays Situation Update podcast offers a 40-minute gear review segment, focused on lithium-ion solar generators, tools and vehicle batteries. You can also skip ahead to the 39 minute mark to jump into news headlines, economics and national security.

At about 1 hour and 10 minutes into the podcast, I cover vaccine news, revealing how the Biden administration is now on track to fail its 70% vaccination goal among US adults. According to a source who spoke to me several weeks ago, this means Biden will be deemed a failure by the globalists running the planet-wide extermination campaign, and Biden will be removed from power. (Not instantly, but his removal will be irreversibly set into motion.)

Globalists are disappointed in Bidens inability to exterminate the required number of Americans

According to the CDC, only 56.1% of US adults are now fully vaccinated, a number thats far from the 70% goal demanded of Biden. This goal was handed to the Biden / Harris regime in the same way similar goals have been demanded of other nations, including Canada, Australia, etc. As part of their global depopulation / extermination agenda, globalists have demanded that nations meet high vaccination uptake rates by specific deadlines. The deadlines are intended to ensure that billions of people are fully vaccinated before the masses come to realize the vaccines are biological weapons containing spike protein nanoparticles which are designed to cause deaths and infertility as part of a twisted globalist agenda to save the planet.

The truth cant be covered up forever, and just today the FDA announced it would add a warning on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines due to the risk of deadly heart inflammation that continues to strike young, healthy men.

The sheer desperation of Biden and Harris is now obvious in their own actions, with Kamala Harris begging democrat voters to harass unvaccinated people by knocking on their doors and demanding they all get vaccinated. This is a kind of coercion by proxy that seeks to recruit obedient sheeple to be vaccine enforcers. This effort has failed, of course, which means Biden has just a few weeks remaining to ratchet up the vaccine tyranny and push for more aggressive means of vaccine compliance, possibly including forced vaccines at gunpoint (if they dare take it that far).

If he triggers that approach, however, the backlash will be swift. Americans wont accept being forcibly injected at gunpoint with an experimental medical intervention. Thus, the Biden / Harris regime will clearly fail to reach its 70% goal. Once this is confirmed on July 4th, it means things will be set into motion to remove Biden from power. Watch for Biden to be forced to step down due to health reasons.

Try as they might, anti-human, anti-American globalists cant convince conservatives and Christians to commit vaccine suicide

This doesnt necessarily mean that what comes next is any better, of course. The anti-human globalists currently running the Joe Biden Alzheimers presidency will only support a replacement that they believe can somehow convince tens of millions of conservatives across America to be injected with deadly spike protein bioweapons. Kamala Harris clearly isnt that person, as she is the very opposite of charismatic and tends to invoke reviled hatred in every person she attempts to lecture.

Convincing conservatives across America to be injected with a deadly bioweapon will likely require the assurances of a trusted conservative who already has high standing in the minds of the conservative masses. Is that person Trump? Possibly, but its too early to tell. In my assessment, the globalists are going to fail in this because any conservative that starts urging people to get vaccines will instantly lose credibility and be seen as a backstabbing traitor. (Mike Pence sounds perfect for that role.)

Thus, the next question becomes: What do the globalists unleash next, after America fails to meet the 70% vaccination target?

The likely answer is they move ahead with the next phase anyway.

The vaccine deaths were just a softening-up phase, preparing for the final war to take down America

That next phase, according to my sources, is likely to include a combination of economic and cyber warfare against America, the aggressive pushing of internal strife and race wars (via the journo-terrorist media), and targeted assassinations of pro-America patriots (McAfee, anyone?). The cyber warfare component is likely to target the power grid infrastructure in an attempt to plunge America into darkness and chaos. I fully expect a heightened number of cyber warfare attacks on America within the next 90 days.

Once America is sufficiently weakened from within, both Chinese and Russian troops will be activated within America, combined with troops stationed in Mexico pouring northward, across the southern border. Their orders will be to destroy Americas military infrastructure and seize control over entire towns and cities, executing mayors and any resistance fighters, then claiming ownership over the new occupied America.

Note that some analysts Ive interviewed, such as Jeffrey Prather, believe China will not even need to escalate this to ground warfare because they have already infiltrated and control nearly every institution of power in the United States. So opinions do vary on whats next, but yesterday I received intel from another source that told me Russia is currently engaged in paying Mexican drug cartels to smuggle weapons across the border, depositing them in staging sites in the continental United States in preparation for war activation.

To be clear, what Ive learned over the last two years is that some of the weapons pre-staged on U.S. soil for use by Chinese and Russian troops include:

Fully-auto AK-47s

Mobile mortars (probably 60mm or similar)

RPGs

Explosives

They are also staging police uniforms, communications gear, rifle suppressors and other equipment that will be used in open war against the American people. We also believe that China-linked left-wing extremist groups such as Black Lives Matter have successfully stolen several armored vehicles from military bases over the last few years. Those vehicles will resurface in the coming war, of course.

Note, too, that China is believed to be behind the mysterious drones that are surveiling US energy infrastructure targets and military bases.

TheDrive.com has produced extensive reporting on this stealth drone phenomenon, and you can read their latest story at this link.

Based on what I know right now, every American should be preparing for the USA to be invaded with foreign troops. Hence the mad rush by Democrats to disarm all Americans via weapons confiscation (ATF operations, banning AR braces, etc.) in order to make it easier for China and Russia to conquer the continental United States.

I believe we are on the verge of World War III, and in fact Chinas covid bioweapons assault on America was only the first phase, aided by Fauci and his cohorts who have long served as puppets of anti-American globalists.

Learn more in todays detailed Situation Update podcast:

Brighteon.com/5f9ee8f3-605f-4663-bb35-87cc0081cb5c

Find a new podcast each day at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport


Norfolk's Jamie set to run for Ethiopia charity Norfolk's Jamie set to run for Ethiopia charity

It has been a tough year for Ethiopia, but Norfolk-based Hospice Ethiopia UK is doing its utmost to keep up the financial support. Sue Mumford reports.

Jamie Mumford (Hospice Ethiopia UK Trustee) is continuing with his training (cheered on by the family), for the 10k course at Holkham Hall on Saturday July 3. This is the furthest he has ever run (and may be his last time). If you havent sponsored him yet, there is still time. Please give him plenty of encouragement by sponsoring him via this link .



The money raised will go towards paying for the Ethiopian nurses working at Hospice Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. As you may have seen from the news, it has been a tough few months for Ethiopians. In 2020 the government declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic; this resulted in many liberties being curtailed and the poor and sick in particular found it difficult to earn enough money to buy essential food. Although the state of emergency has been lifted, Covid is now widespread, with many deaths going unreported. The vaccination programme is very slow and there is a lot of vaccine hesitancy due to the paucity of information about the huge benefits of being vaccinated.



In addition, the conflict in Tigray is smouldering on. We understand that the main towns and cities are quiet but there is insurgency in the vast rural areas of northern Ethiopia. The parents of Ephrem (the Director of Hospice Ethiopia) had to flee for their lives a couple of months ago. They live 225km north of Addis Ababa; their village was attacked by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, and they lost everything, including his mothers cafe business.



Recent national elections appear to have passed off smoothly although not all areas of Ethiopia have been able to vote due to political unrest. The preliminary results will be known in 5 days time.



Hospice Ethiopia UK has been supporting Hospice Ethiopia for 10 years. From small beginnings we now transfer 30,000 a year to support their running costs. As for many charities raising this amount has been an exceptional challenge over the last year but due to the generosity of our donors, we have so far managed to raise enough money to fulfil our obligation to them.



Save the date: Mannington Hall Charity Day September 5, 2021, 11 am - 5 pm.



Entrance 6. Children free. A great day out in beautiful surroundings. For more information www.hospiceethiopia.org.uk



Pictured above is Jamie Mumford

Eldred Willey, 24/06/2021
By Online Desk

The world's cheapest smartphone is set to be launched in India shortly.

On Thursday, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani said the all-new JioPhone Next, developed in partnership with Google, will go on sale from September 10, Ganesh Chaturthi day.

"Our teams have optimised a special version of Android specifically for this phone. It is built for India and for users who will experience a smartphone for the first time," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said .

"At a time when so many aspects of our lives and work are moving online, it's even more important to make technology accessible and helpful for everyone. This goal is at the heart of our partnership with Reliance Jio," Pichai added.

The phone will be first sold in India and then taken to the rest of the world.

The launch of the phone comes at a time when Indians seem to be less interested in cheaper smartphones.

The Techcrunch website had quoted research firm Counterpoint as saying that sub-$100 smartphones accounted for just 12% of the Indian smartphone market - with demand falling from 18% in 2019 and 24% in 2018.

Sub-$50 smartphones were even less in demand, accounting for just 0.3% of the entire market in 2020, falling from 4.3% two years ago.

The price of JioPhone and other details are awaited...
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Tata Motors on Wednesday said Guenter Butschek will step down as its MD and CEO with effect from June 30. However, he will continue as a consultant to the company till the end of this fiscal year.

The auto major also said it has elevated Girish Wagh as executive director with effect from July 1, 2021. Wagh currently heads the company's commercial vehicle operations.

In a late night statement, the auto major noted that Butschek, who had informed about his desire to relocate to Germany at the end of the contract for personal reasons, will therefore be stepping down from his role as CEO and MD from June 30, 2021.

"I would like to thank Guenter for leading Tata Motors successfully over the last five years and creating a strong foundation for the future. I look forward to his continued inputs as a consultant to the company," Tata Motors chairman N Chandrasekaran said.

Butschek, the former Airbus chief operating officer, had joined Tata Motors as managing director and chief executive of local operations in 2016, filling up the positions left vacant after the death of Karl Slym in January 2014.

Since then, he has been on a mission to turn around the bleeding domestic business of the home-grown auto major.

Currently, Tata Motors' domestic business has successfully transitioned to a business unit structure, with the commercial vehicles division headed by Wagh and the passenger vehicle division headed by Shailesh Chandra.

Wagh, President - Commercial Vehicles, Chandra, President - Passenger Vehicles and Thierry Bollore, CEO - Jaguar Land Rover will continue to work closely with Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Tata Motors said.

In February this year, Tata Motors had announced the appointment of Marc Llistosella as its chief executive officer and managing director with effect from July 1. However, a month later, the company announced that he will not be joining as its CEO and MD.

Tata Motors is a USD 35 billion organisation. The Mumbai-headquartered firm produces cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses.

Part of the USD 113 billion Tata group, the company is India's largest auto maker with operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia through a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 10 associate companies, 3 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2020.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Gautam Thapar and his company CG Power and Industrial Solutions for alleged bank fraud involving Rs 2,435 crore. The FIR was lodged on a complaint by the State Bank of India.

The CBI on Thursday conducted raids at the premises of the accused and his company offices at Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram.

The State Bank of India in its complaint has alleged that Thapar, his company CG Power and other culprits had cheated the SBI and other consortium member banks by way of diversion of bank funds, sham transactions with related parties, borrowing funds from the bank by misrepresentation, falsifying/fabricating books of accounts, entries, vouchers & financial statements, etc.

ALSO READ | It's official! Reliance to go green, will bet Rs 75000 crore on new energy



Other banks who were part of the consortium cheated included Bank of Maharashtra, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Corporation Bank, Barclays Bank, IndusInd Bank etc.

Apart from Gautam Thapar, the FIR also named KN Neelkanth, the then CEO and MD of CG Power and Industrial Solutions, Madhav Acharya, the then ED and CFO, B Hariharan, the then Director, Omkar Goswami, the then non-executive director, Venkatesh Rammoorthy, the then CFO and unknown public servants and unknown others.

ALSO WATCH | Demons and Genies: Yemen's mysterious 'Well of Hell'
Jonathan Ananda By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani's address to shareholders at the 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company on Thursday has made it clear that the company, which once derived the majority of its business from the petroleum sector, is preparing for a world without fossil fuels. After having forayed successfully into telecom with Jio, Ambani announced that Reliance will now begin a new clean and green energy business.

The company, which had announced a collaboration with US tech giant Google to build an affordable smartphone last year, is also ready to launch the product. One Ambani said "will be extremely affordable". While no other specifics on its pricing have been disclosed, the Jio Phone Next -- operating on a specially designed Android operating system -- will be launched on Ganesh Chaturthi this year, September 10.

New energy venture

While the Jio-Google developed mobile is expected to challenge the status quo in India's smartphone market dominated by foreign manufacturers, Reliance's new clean energy venture is arguably the more transformative announcement.

According to Ambani, Reliance will spend Rs 75,000 crore on the new energy business over three years and has already begun work on building a 5,000-acre hub in Jamnagar, Gujarat. "Jamnagar was the cradle of our old energy business," Ambani said, "Jamnagar will also be the cradle of our new energy business."

The Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex will be amongst the largest integrated renewable energy manufacturing facilities in the world, he claimed, and will support Reliance's three-phase plan for its new venture.

ALSO READ | Google and Reliance Jio launch world's cheapest smartphone, to go on sale on September 10

As part of its strategy, Reliance is planning to build four "Giga factories": a solar manufacturing units, a fuel-cell manufacturing facility, a battery factory to enhance energy storage, and an electrolyzer unit to produce green hydrogen. All these facilities will be provided infrastructure and utility support from the planned green energy complex.

Reliance will invest Rs 60,000 crore in these facilities over the next three years, with an additional Rs 15,000 crore investment planned for developing the value chain, into partnerships, and future technologies, including upstream and downstream industries. "Reliance will thus create and offer a fully integrated, end-to-end renewables energy eco-system," Ambani said.

RIL's new energy strategy will also involve the creation on two more supplementary divisions: a dedicated Renewable Energy Project Management and Construction Division, and a dedicated Renewable Energy Project Finance Division. The company is planning to set up 100 GW of solar energy capacity by 2030. Ambani had made a commitment last year that Reliance will be net carbon zero by 2035.

"The age of fossil fuels, which powered economic growth globally for nearly three centuries, cannot continue much longer," Ambani told shareholders.

Ambani also said that the new venture will only enable the legacy oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business to transform into a sustainable one.

"First, we will use solar energy on an economically attractive basis to decarbonise our existing O2C business and accelerate our journey to become net carbon zero. Second, we will use Green Hydrogen and CO as raw materials to develop a road map for new Green Chemicals, Green Fertilizer, and e-fuels. Third, we will commercialise with global partners our own world-beating proprietary Multi-zone Catalytic Cracking (MCC) Technology to optimise the fossil fuel transition to sustainable chemical and material building blocks," he said.

Reliance's revenue from its oil-to-chemicals business stood at Rs 3,20,008 crore in FY21, down 29.1% compared to the previous year, and the unit's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the period fell 29 per cent to Rs 38,170 crore, according to its annual report for the year.

"We will transform our legacy business into sustainable, circular and net zero carbon materials business. One that will provide growing returns over several decades. And we will do this by repurposing our existing assets to extend their economic life and earning capacity. In doing so we will have no legacy asset write-downs in the coming years," he said.



Jio Phone Next

The new smartphone announced on Thursday, meanwhile, is set to enhance Jio's muscle in the telecom market at a time when competitors have begun catching up, in terms of both user additions and revenue shares. According to Ambani, the smartphone will be "ultra-affordable", run on an extremely optimised version of the Android Operating System, and support the entire suite of applications from both Google and Jio.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai told Reliance shareholders that the phone "will offer language and translation features, a great camera, and support for the latest Android updates".

"It is built for India And it will open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the internet for the very first time," Pichai said.

Pichai also said that the two companies will be taking their collaboration further with a "new 5G partnership between Google Cloud and Jio". However, while Ambani asserted that Jio will be the first to launch a 5G network in India, no firm timelines were disclosed for its commercial launch.




Yathiraju By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court, in an interim order on Thursday, restrained the Uttar Pradesh police from taking any coercive action against Twitter Indias Managing Director Manish Maheshwari on a notice issued to him over a viral video that had taken a communal twist.

However, the court said if the police want to question him or require him for investigation, they may do so virtually.Justice G Narendar passed the interim order after hearing a petition filed by Maheshwari, a resident of Whitefield in Bengaluru, while adjourning the matter to June 29.

The Loni Border Police in UP had registered an FIR against Twitter Inc and TCIPL (accused No. 8 & 9) on June 15 under Sections 153, 153-A, 295-A, 505, read with 120-B and 34, of the Indian Penal Code. The video, posted on Twitter, showed an elderly man belonging to a minority community being assaulted in Ghaziabad, allegedly to incite communal tensions.

Maheshwari moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the notice issued by the UP police under Section 41-A of the Criminal Procedure Code, subsequent to the summons issued to him in connection with the FIR.Maheshwari contended that he is neither the Managing Director of Twitter India Communications Pvt Ltd (TCIPL) nor a board member of TCIPL within the ambit of the Companies Act.

Manish Maheshwari claimed that he is merely the revenue head, in charge of advertising and sales, but the designation of Managing Director was given as he is a senior employee of the company. Senior Counsel C V Nagesh, representing Maheshwari, argued that the latter had neither uploaded the alleged video nor had he any control over the alleged content uploaded on the company platform of which the petitioner is an employee. Although Maheshwari had replied to the police summons of June 17, a notice was issued to him, he argued.

He further argued that the petitioner, in his reply to the UP police, had clarified that neither TCIPL nor its employees have any control over the services offered by Twitter Inc., a company incorporated in the USA. Therefore, the petitioner is not the relevant person to provide any details of the case under investigation. Despite this, if the investigation agency requires the petitioners presence, he will be available over video conference as he is residing in Bengaluru and not in the jurisdiction of the Loni Border Police.

Nagesh told the court that the police had turned down Maheshwaris request and issued a notice on June 21 under Section 41-A of the Criminal Procedures Code (CrPC), putting him virtually in the shoes of the accused, to appear before them at 10.30 am on June 24. The police had cautioned Maheshwari that his absence will be considered as resistance to the procedure established by law and an attempt to derail the investigation, and further action will be taken accordingly.

Neither Section 160 nor Section 41-A of CrPC empower the police to issue notice to the petitioner, who is a resident of Bengaluru, Nagesh argued. However, advocate P Prasanna Kumar, representing the UP police, justified the action. He said the petition was not maintainable and the Karnataka High Court has no jurisdiction to entertain it as the FIR was registered in Uttar Pradesh.

FIR for not complying with new IT rules

The first FIR was filed against Twitter in UP after the social media platform likely lost the intermediary status due to non-compliance with the countrys new information technology rules and became liable for prosecution.

ALSO READ: Ghaziabad police slaps second notice on Twitter India MD, cautions him of prosecution
Harish Murali By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the central government to file a report by Friday explaining why only one pharmaceutical company, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, was chosen for the production of the 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) drug by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The two-member bench comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and TV Thamilselvi admitted the plea moved by D Saravanan, a resident of Chennai, and ordered the central government to file a detailed report by Friday.

According to the petitioner, DRDOs Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) had launched the oral powder 2-DG and also obtained emergency use authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India.

However, the licence for manufacturing the drug had been granted only to Dr Reddys Laboratories, which planned to sell it for a price of Rs 990 per sachet containing 2.34 grams of the oral powder.

The petitioner said that giving the licence to several medical companies might bring the price down. He sought the court to direct the authorities to provide the licence to multiple pharmaceutical companies.

The counsel for the petitioner argued that DRDO should share its expertise with multiple companies to bring down the price of the drug to treat COVID infected patients.

The bench questioned why the premier research agency DRDO did not issue licences to other reputed laboratories to increase the production capacity of the oral powder that has been approved in treating moderate to severe COVID-19 patients.

When lakhs of people died in the first two waves and also a third wave looming large, the central government should aim to boost the manufacture of the life-saving drug, observed the bench.

The court then directed the central government standing counsel to seek the response of the Ministry of Defence, DRDO and the Union Health Ministry and file a report by Friday.
Somrita Ghosh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: To ensure no one gets left out of the vaccination exercise against COVID-19, the North West Delhi district administration has set up a four-day camp dedicated to vaccinating transgenders. The camp, set up at Sultanpuri, has been initiated by the District Magistrate Cheshta Yadav. So far, more than 120 transgenders have got the jabs in the camp within two days.

"On Wednesday, more than 80 turned up to get vaccinated till Wednesday evening, On Tuesday, 45 beneficiaries got the jab. The response has been good so far and we hope that more transgenders will come to get vaccinated. This is a campsite because they will not keep coming permanently. We will modify it when required. As of now it is for four days and when required again, we will start it," said the DM.

Talking about sensitising the team, Yadav noted that the staff providing the vaccines at the special camp have been given one-day orientation. "We are in touch with an NGO and the team is sensitised, a team of teachers who are themselves very sensitised about the community so they are not facing any issues as such. The number of those who took the jab is an indication that they wanted the centre and has been helpful for them. Word has reached the transgenders," she added.

Dr Satendra Singh, organisational head, Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change, had earlier written to the Delhi government requesting special attention for vaccination of transgenders.

Dr Singh said that gender dysphoria in public places, lack of government identification cards, historical abuse in medical establishments, poor internet access, misinformation, and stigma have so far disproportionately affected health care as well as vaccination in the community.

"Rather than reducing existing disparities, we are creating new ones by the digital divide and emphasis on CoWin App/website. On the app, government is still using the 'others' option. The number of people availing this service is still low. It is largely because Delhi government has not yet created Transgender Welfare Board. It could have fast-tracked the drive," he added.
By PTI

KOLKATA: Some of the "vaccines" seized from the office of the arrested fake IAS officer, who had organised several camps to inoculate people, are actually antibiotic injections used for a number of bacterial infections, a Kolkata Police official said on Thursday.

It was also revealed during investigation that the arrested man opened several bank accounts in the names of senior Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials using fake documents, the official said.

"Debanjan Deb's office was raided this afternoon from where we have seized a large number of vials of Amikacin injections. We have also recovered fake labels of Covishield from there. Several documents and computers have been seized," he told PTI.

It was found in his office at Kasba area in Kolkata that fake labels of Covaxin were pasted on the vials of Amikacin injections.

"Deb used to purchase Amikacin from chemists stating that he is an official of the KMC," he said adding that dates of manufacture and expiry were not printed on the vials.

Besides Amikacin, other "medicines" were also seized from his office.

Samples of vials seized from the vaccination camp from where he was arrested on Wednesday and from his office on Thursday were sent for tests, the official said.

If Amikacin is administered in a small amount, chances of any major negative impact are slim unless the person concerned is suffering from a severe renal problem, Dr Sanjeeb Bandyopadhyay of the Beliaghata ID Hospital, a state-run facility, told PTI when contacted.

"It is suspected that around 2000 people were inoculated in camps organised by him," the official said.

The KMC has started spotting people who have taken Covid vaccines from his camps.

"After identifying all of them, we will consult doctors after evaluating their health conditions," a senior KMC official said.

The police found "forged seals and papers" of the KMC from Deb's office.

The police arrested the 28-year-old man on Wednesday for allegedly posing as an IAS officer and organising a COVID-19 vaccination camp in Kasba area, where actor and Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty had also got her jab.

Chakraborty, who was invited to attend the camp, said she became suspicious about the vaccination process as she did not receive the customary SMS that is sent to people after they are administered a dose, and informed the police.

Asked what was the actual purpose of Deb in holding such free camps and who had been helping him, the IPS officer said, "It's yet to be known. The accused has not yet spoken on this."

The probe revealed that Deb had also conducted another vaccination camp in a college in the northern part of the city's Amherst Street where several teachers and students had taken the vaccine.

"He had also distributed masks and sanitiser, besides inoculating people in these areas," the official said.

Sleuths are also looking for the people who funded the camps and from where he had procured the vials.

"We need to know what else he had done using this fake identity and who else are associated with him. One person cannot single-handedly organise such programmes," the police official said.

He used to introduce himself as a joint commissioner of the KMC and travel in a large car with the logo of the state government.

During the probe, the police found that Deb had opened a couple of bank accounts in the names of senior officials of the KMC in a private bank using forged documents and a complaint was lodged at the New Market police station on Thursday.

"We found that money was deposited in the accounts," the police officer said.

Deb might have political connections that helped him in organising the vaccination camps, the officer said.

Meanwhile, several photographs in which the arrested man is purportedly seen with senior Trinamool Congress leaders have surfaced on Thursday.

The official said the police are checking whether the photographs are genuine or fake.

Deb had sought personal security guards from the state Information and Cultural Affairs Department after identifying himself as an OSD of the central government, he said.
Aathira Haridas By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The constant human intervention as a part of various developmental activities have led to coastal degradation affecting the fisherfolk adversely. The consequent rehabilitation of the fishers, however, has only displaced them from the coastal belt, which hampers their livelihood. Such a rehabilitation strategy must change and it is high time it was carried out by taking into account the priorities of the community, said a study by Coastal Watch, an NGO that focuses on the coastal belt of Thiruvananthapuram.

In its report, Displaced coastal communities: Problems and solutions, the organisation has said that the families that are being rehabilitated should be considered as an ecosystem community and they should be given suitable financial compensation proportional to the loss they are facing. The rehabilitation of the fisher community should only be carried out in such a way that their livelihood isnt affected, the report reiterates.

Coastal degradation

The report submitted to Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian points out how using hard structures for coastal protection are, in turn, detrimental to the coastal belt and lead to further ecological damage. The construction of sea walls, groynes and tetrapods are to be avoided at any cost as these lead to various issues such as end erosion, which is the erosion of sand from beaches at either end of the seawall. The government needs to resort to soft structures such as geotubes, the study says. The coastal protection measures and strategies should be formulated after understanding the unique beach system in an area. The NGO has asked the government to re-evaluate its project, Punargeham, to rehabilitate fishers living within 50 metres from the tidal area.

Compensation not enough

As per the state governments rehabilitation programme for fisherfolk, `10 lakh is being given to those living in coastal regions facing threat. This is inadequate, says Dr Tito DCruz, a fisheries expert who prepared the study report. The study has observed that most of the fishers who live in the coastal regions facing threat often do not come forward as they fear getting displaced to makeshift shelters when they are living in houses that are worth Rs 20 to Rs 50 lakh. Suitable compensation needs to be provided to those getting displaced and it is the right of the community to live in dignity.

The amount of `5,300 crore allocated in the budget for coastal protection through hard structures should be used for the rehabilitation of the fishers. When the fishers are rehabilitated, they need to be relocated near the coastal belt itself so that their livelihood isnt affected, he adds. The fishers should get to live with dignity. Wherever there have been human interventions like harbours, there has been coastal erosion. Whenever the fishers are rehabilitated, their needs arent considered and are forced to move into flats.

They should be relocated in a dignified manner where their livelihood isnt affected and not in shacks or slum-like areas. Any rehabilitation measure should ensure complete collaboration from the community, says Kerala Paristhithi Aikya Vedi convener Sridhar Radhakrishnan. He also reiterates the need to stop using hard structures. A panel report led by marine scientist Dr Bijukumar and the community-based report by Dr Tito reiterate beach itself is the best coastal protection measure or rather sand. So we need to replenish the area with sand and this requires natural remedies and engineering. The thrust should be on bringing back our beaches, he adds.

Study carried out by Coastal Watch asks govt to rehabilitate affected community near shores, rather than in faraway slum-like areas or flats, so that they are not denied livelihood

They must be given adequate compensation. Using hard structures to protect beaches/ shores will only aggravate erosion

Efforts must focus on replenishing sand on eroded beaches
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The coronavirus pandemic didn't just delay the work on "Sherni", a satirical thriller on conservation, but also helped the team realise that they wanted to go for a different ending, one that would act as a wake-up call to the audiences, says director Amit Masurkar.

Lauded for its nuanced exploration of man-animal conflict and patriarchy in society, "Sherni" follows Vidya Vincent (Vidya Balan), a forest officer who is tasked with capturing a man-eating tigress alive and relocating her.

Masurkar, known for the National Award-winning "Newton" and "Sulemani Keeda", said it was writer Aastha Tiku's idea to end the film with a haunting picture of a potential future if humans don't mend their ways.

"There are no easy solutions to these problems. In a film about conservation, we have to leave the audience with a question - what are we doing to others and to ourselves? "We had a happy ending in an earlier draft, but when the pandemic happened, Aastha thought that the film had to end with a wake-up call. She had visited the taxidermy section of the museum in Mumbai once and felt that it was the right location to film the scene," the filmmaker told PTI in an email interview.

The idea to make a film about conservation also came from Tiku, Masurkar added.

"We were discussing several ideas on the topic for the last three-four years. We wanted to say that, to destroy nature is easy, but to conserve it requires a lot of effort from an entire community."

The film also explores the duality of human nature and the director said no character can be simply labelled as "black or white".

"Everyone has shades of grey. And we humans are part of nature - we are connected and have to coexist," he said.

The workings of the bureaucracy and its systemic rot seem to be one of the underlying themes in Masurkar's films and in the case of "Sherni", he tackles patriarchy and sexism too.

According to the director, it was a "coincidence" that both Newton (starring Rajkummar Rao) and Vidya's Vidya Vincent are government officers.

"It gives me an opportunity to explore the intricacies of power and various dynamics that arise out of it. Patriarchy and sexism - these are themes that are seen in every film as they are part of the society we live in. How the filmmaker chooses to explore it, is their choice."

Quite like his previous film, the acclaimed dark comedy "Newton", filmed in the forests of Chhattisgarh, "Sherni" is also shot on location in jungles, this time in the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

Asked if the two movies are connected in any manner, Masurkar said both films are set in the jungle but are on different topics.

"While 'Newton' dealt with democracy, 'Sherni' deals with conservation and cooperation. 'Sherni' is set in an area near the jungle where a tigress (Sherni is the Persian and Hindi word for tigress) who has been displaced from her original habitat is trying to settle. She comes in contact with human inhabitants of that area and this sets a chain of unfortunate events," he explained.

Shooting on the film had come to a halt in March 2020 in the wake of the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown.

The cast and crew shot two thirds of the film after the lockdown was lifted, under strict COVID-19 protocol.

"We wore PPE (personal protective equipment) suits and face-shields during indoor scenes since the actors were unmasked during takes. We were in a bio bubble, and anyone who joined us had to be tested and quarantined. Post-production too was done remotely and we only met at the very end when we were finalizing the color grade and sound mix," Masurkar said.

Due to these measures, there were zero COVID-19 cases on the set, he added.

"Sherni" also features a stellar cast in Vijay Raaz, Brijendra Kala, Sharat Saxena, Neeraj Kabi, Ila Arun, and Mukul Chadda, and the director said they were lucky to have this incredible ensemble of actors.

"Vidya came on board immediately, when Aastha and I shared the story with her. We had Sharat Saxena in mind for the hunter and Brijendra Kala for Vidya's boss at the writing stage. The other actors were suggested by the casting directors. Vijay Raaz and Neeraj Kabi are both passionate about nature. They are geniuses and can play any part!" Masurkar said.

He also credited casting directors Romil and Tejas for getting the right mix of actors for the film.

"Their associates conducted acting workshops for interested locals and created a pool of talent to cast from."

About releasing "Sherni" on Amazon Prime Video amid the pandemic, Masurkar said with theatres being shut, the streamer was the "best option".

"The film reaches more than 200 countries simultaneously. The response is great," he added.

Next up for the director is a web series, which reunites him with Tiku.

"Aastha Tiku and I are creating an OTT Series. It's being written as we speak."
Murali Krishna CH By

Express News Service

Bollywood actor Sonakshi Sinha has now landed in Telugu with an out-and-out mass entertainer. The Dabangg actor will be seen as the leading lady opposite Chiranjeevi in his upcoming film directed by KS Ravindra (Bobby).

Bobby has recently narrated the script to Sonakshi over phone and received a go-ahead from her. She was quite impressed with the script and her character in the movie and is equally excited to debut in Telugu alongside Chiru. She is looking forward to the shoot and will sign the dotted line soon, says a source close to the development.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the film is expected to go on floors in October. Now that the female lead and the script are locked, Chiru wants to complete this film first and move on to the Telugu remake of Lucifer, the source adds.

Besides this film, Chiru also has Acharya and the Telugu remake of Vedalam up his sleeve. Sonakshi, on the other hand, is awaiting the release of Bhuj: The Pride of India wherein she shares screen space with Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Opposing a dialogue with Pakistan till it stops "exporting" terror into Jammu and Kashmir, a BJP delegation led by J&K president Ravinder Raina at an all-party meet here on Thursday said those seeking engagement with the neighbouring country should meet the victims of violence to understand their pain.

The meeting, which was held to chalk out the future political course of action in Jammu and Kashmir, was convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it had in attendance 14 leaders from the Union Territory.

The delegation called for intensification of efforts to root out the "sense of Pakistan, separatism and terrorism" from Jammu and Kashmir to provide a peaceful atmosphere to its people who are Indian to the core of their "heart, blood and DNA", Raina told PTI at the end of the meeting.

He said the three-member BJP team, which also comprised of two former deputy chief ministers  Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta - also pitched for constitution of an apex committee to hold dialogues with representatives of the Kashmiri migrant pandit community for their dignified return and rehabilitation in the Kashmir Valley at the earliest.

The BJP leader said he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his sincere efforts to end the political deadlock by holding the dialogue with prominent leaders from Jammu and Kashmir.

"The prime minister knows the heartbeat of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as he has lived among them for a long time, and knows their pain as well. Those talking about holding dialogue with Pakistan should know that India enjoys good relations with every country except Islamabad which has bled J&K for the past 35 years by exporting terror," Raina told the meeting.

He said training camps for terrorists are still active in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan, and in such a scenario, the policy of the Indian government is clear that gun and dialogue cannot go together.

"Those demanding dialogue with Pakistan should understand the pain of those who are the victims of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. They should meet them and ask whether we should hold dialogue with Pakistan and see their reaction," the BJP leader said.

"We have to root out sense of Pakistan, separatism and terrorism, and in this direction, efforts should be intensified," Raina said.

He said that "Kashmiri pandits, Sikhs and nationalist Muslims had to flee their homes in the Valley in 1990 due to the Pakistani gun and migrate to different parts of the country".

"We suggest the constitution of an apex committee to hold dialogue with the representatives of Kashmiri pandits for their dignified return and rehabilitation in the valley. The pandits are the ambassadors of the Indian nationalism," Raina said.

He said the delegation also spoke about residents of Jammu and Kashmir who are living in areas under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.

The government should pay special attention to them and become their voice as they are suffering the "worst kind" of human rights violations, Raina said.

Praising the prime minister, Raina said he understands the pain of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and is putting balm on their wounds ever since he came to power at the Centre.

"He was there among the people at Srinagar city centre Lal Chowk on Dilwali when they were hit by the worst ever floods in 2014 and announced Rs 80,000 crore special package for the development of J&K," he said and listed various developmental projects in different sectors including health, education, roads, power and railways.

Defending the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, Raina said that he told the meeting that the decision ended "grave injustice" of over 70 years with different communities including daughters of J&K, PoK refugees, West Pakistani refugees, Gorkha Samaj and Valmiki Samaj who were denied citizenship rights in the erstwhile state.

Raina also praised Modi for strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions and said for the first time, elections to District Development Councils and Block Development Councils took place to strengthen grassroot democracy.

"People of Jammu and Kashmir are very happy after the abrogation of the Article 370 and expressed their faith by taking part in the democratic exercise which is evident from the 80 per cent turnout in the elections," he said.

The BJP leader said he demanded addressing all issues being faced by Special Police Officers and Village Defence Committee members who have played a key role in anti-insurgency operations.

Raina said in the meeting he talked about the over one lakh casual labourers, daily wagers and need-based workers who are providing their services in 28 government departments for the past several decades and are demanding regularisation of their services.

The BJP delegation also thanked the prime minister for announcing a delimitation commission for Jammu and Kashmir, he said, adding they are quite sure that the process would be completed within the stipulated time and to the satisfaction of the people.

The delegation also hailed the Centre for strengthening the anti-corruption mechanism, Raina said, adding people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy as the move has tightened the noose around corrupt officers and politicians.

"We also thanked the Prime Minister for providing free vaccination against Covid-19," he said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Caregiving is never easy.

And when it's a pandemic and caregivers themselves are either unwell or at risk of contracting the infection, the stress and strain is not just compounded but also complicated in many different ways.

As the devastating second wave of the Covid pandemic dips in several parts of the country, those tasked with looking after the ill, often spouses, children or parents, are still grappling with the physical, emotional and mental strain.

In many cases, Covid patients were forced to turn caregivers for the more critical members of their family as the health infrastructure crumbled with no hospital beds, medicines or even life-saving oxygen.

Notwithstanding their rising temperatures, and mind numbing head and body aches, for weeks on end they cooked and cleaned, fed their 'patient' and took them to the washroom.

And most of all stayed alert in case things went south.

"The biggest challenge of being a COVID-19 positive caregiver was staying sane in the chaos," said 34-year-old Bhushan Shinde whose father Madhukar tested positive less than a week after him.

The isolation due to the infectious nature of the disease and the fact that no friend or extended family could help only added to the burden.

While both started with mild symptoms like low grade fever, cough and body ache, his 65-year-old father's condition deteriorated soon after, said the Mumbai-based Bhushan.

"Initially his CT score was in the mild category, but when it increased, we decided to get him hospitalised," he said.

The most stressful period was when he had to scramble for remdesivir injections, not just for his father's treatment but also for his 83-year-old uncle and his cousin who too fell sick around the same time.

Running around frantically at a time when his body needed complete rest did not help, he said.

"With the whole rush for remdesivir, I had to keep aside my physical and mental condition and it took a toll on my body."

It's been over two months since Covid panic took over the Shinde household, but the struggle is far from over.

Bhushan and Madhukar are still dealing with the challenges of post Covid symptoms.

When the going gets tough, COVID-19 specialist Suchin Bajaj recommends caregivers remember to take a break.

"There are many cases of caregivers becoming patients, and patients becoming caregivers because they do not have a choice, and during the second wave, it was very common to see entire households getting infected.

"The risks when you are taking care of a Covid patient and you are a Covid patient yourself is that you may exacerbate your disease. The complications may be much more. To minimize this risk, it is important to rest as much as possible," said Bajaj, founder director of Ujala Cygnus Group Hospitals in Delhi.

Many COVID-19 caregivers, because they are young, also have no experience at this job.

With the suddenness of the pandemic, they did not have the time to prepare either.

According to a study conducted in September-October 2020 by pharma giant Merck, 39 per cent Indian millennials surveyed took up caregiving roles during the pandemic for the first time.

The trauma of dealing with the illness lasts much longer than the illness itself, said psychiatrist Jyoti Kapoor.

"This has taken a toll on the psychological health of most caregivers with longer lasting symptoms similar to PTSD. There has been an increase in instances of acute stress reaction, panic attacks, psychosomatic manifestations and psychosis in Covid patients."

"One of my clients, a 26-year-old woman, continues to get palpitations even a month after she lost her father to COVID-19 on hearing the beeping sounds of the monitoring devices in hospitals," said the psychiatrist.

She added that the first steps towards dealing with such problems would be to acknowledge one's vulnerability, and seek professional help.

Mansi Arora* and her husband often talked about caregiving when their parents eventually got old.

But COVID-19 hit like a "bomb", said the 28-year-old with her father-in-law and mother-in-law getting infected within days of each other.

"From just having fever, in less than five days they went into a state where we weren't sure if they would make it," she said.

And then Mansi* and her husband also tested positive.

The couple had a harrowing 20 days during which her father-in-law was first admitted in a Covid care centre in Delhi, and then moved to a hospital.

While the Covid care centre had all the provisions, medicines, oxygen, food -- it seemed to function as a self service facility even for patients who were dependent on oxygen.

"We hadn't slept in days, eating was a challenge with the loss of taste and smell, and our anxiety levels were shooting through the roof. But our health was not a priority at the time."

"My husband admitted himself at the centre too while I was travelling back and forth from our home getting supplies. During the two days my father-in-law was there, there was barely any medical assistance. We even dragged an oxygen cylinder weighing 100 kg by ourselves," she said.

What followed was a frantic search for a hospital bed and oxygen cylinders, and after several calls and help from a few friends, he was hospitalised.

Kolkata-based Ravi Sharma*, who also tested positive along with his parents, said it was very difficult to see them struggle to walk even a few metres.

"I am sure I could have helped them more, and made the process a little easier, if I wasn't unwell myself," the 25-year-old said.

The pandemic also brought to the fore the challenge of isolating in most Indian homes that are small, the trauma of the disease and its aftermath straining the family fabric.

Kolkata-based Shruti Purkait, 25, was the first to test positive in her family.

She handled most of the work for her 57-year-old father and grandparents (above 80), so it was almost inevitable they would catch the virus.

And they did.

"Thankfully, none of us had to be hospitalised," she said.

There was enormous panic though.

Her father, overcome with fear, turned to astrology and the stress within the household would often lead to squabbles, eventually hampering recovery.

"Things became really stressful when my father started panicking about my grandparents and started directing his anger at us. He became superstitious and began relying on astrological factors rather than believing in medical science and logic," Purkait said.

According to Union Health Ministry data on Thursday, 3,91,981 people have lost their lives to Covid.

Too many caregivers have lost their loved ones to this disease despite their best efforts, and doctors warn against blaming oneself, whatever the outcome.

"Do not overdo things and remember that you are not Superman or Superwoman, and most of all remember that you are not to blame for it," Bajaj said.

(*names changed to protect identity)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the ongoing delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir has to happen quickly so that polls can be held to install an elected government that gives strength to its development trajectory.

In a series of tweets after a three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting with 14 political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said the deliberations were an important step in the ongoing efforts towards a developed and progressive Jammu and Kashmir where all-round growth is furthered.

"Our priority is to strengthen grassroots democracy in J&K. Delimitation has to happen at a quick pace so that polls can happen and J&K gets an elected Government that gives strength to J&K's development trajectory," he said.

The prime minister said it was the biggest strength of Indian democracy that people can sit across a table and exchange views.

"I told the leaders of J&K that it is the people, specially the youth who have to provide political leadership to J&K, and ensure their aspirations are duly fulfilled," he said.

The prime minister chaired the meeting at his official residence here.

During the three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting, almost all the 14 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir demanded that its statehood, which was removed in August 2019, should be restored, he said.

According to official sources, the main focus of the meeting was to strengthen the democratic process and the prime minister said that the government was fully committed to it.

This is the first interaction between the central leadership and the mainstream parties since August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated it into union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

ALSO READ | PM said he wants to remove 'dil ki doori and Dilli ki doori': Omar after meet on J&K

Modi stressed that holding assembly elections, just like the successful conduct of the District Development Council polls, is a priority and that the polls can happen soon after the delimitation exercise, the sources said, adding that by and large most participants expressed willingness for it.

The prime minister stressed that an atmosphere of safety and security needs to be ensured for all sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir and he wanted to remove 'Dilli ki Duri as well as 'Dil Ki Duri' (distance from Delhi as well as distance of heart), according to the sources.

"The meeting was very cordial and very positive, very dignified. We all agreed that we must work for the democracy. The prime minister has assured that he will do everything to make Jammu and Kashmir a zone of peace rather than a zone of conflict," People's Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig told reporters after the meeting.

Baig said the government side conveyed that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held after the completion of the ongoing delimitation process.

"We were conveyed that the delimitation process will be completed first and thereafter a call will be taken on holding the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

However, he said, no time frame has been given on holding the polls.

ALSO READ | Restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood must to rebuild trust: Farooq urges PM

"Almost everyone at meeting raised the demand for restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir," he said, adding the prime minister carefully listened to every issue raised by the political leaders.

This is the first interaction between the central leadership and mainstream parties since August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state who participated in the discussions were Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Four former deputy chief ministers were in attendance too - Congress' Tara Chand, People's Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig and BJP's Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta.

ALSO READ | Snatching away Kashmir's statehood, vaccine issue brought shame to India: Mamata

CPI-M leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) chief Altaf Bukhari, Sajjad Lone of the People's Conference, J-K Congress head G A Mir, BJP's Ravinder Raina and Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh also formed part of the delegation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, and Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh were in attendance too.

Today's dialogue came seven months after the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said that the prime minister noted that the security forces themselves could not change the situation and called upon all the leaders to personally involve themselves in stopping needless loss of lives.

In the backdrop of establishment of a three-tier Panchayati Raj System through election and the constitution of block and district development council, there were detailed deliberations on how to give a further fillip to the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The prime minister assured all parties that they would be an integral part of the delimitation process and their views would be taken on board. Accordingly, he urged them to participate in the process to ensure early completion," a source said.

ALSO READ | BJP delegation opposes dialogue with Pakistan at meet in PM's residence on J-K

The source also said, "The prime minister assured that assembly elections would be held expeditiously after the delimitation process was completed. He specially noted that a bureaucratic government was no substitute for one run by public representatives."

The issue of restoration of statehood was raised by several participants in the meeting.

"The prime minister and the home minister reiterated their previous public commitments to restoring Jammu and Kashmir to its status as a state. Their assurances were taken on board by the participants," the source said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday said its stand on COVID-19 vaccine exports has been that it would depend on its domestic needs and asserted that right now the priority remains utilising made-in-India jabs for its own inoculation drive.

The assertion by Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came at an online media briefing in response to queries on media reports on possible exports of vaccines from India to Bangladesh.

"Our position on the issue of vaccine exports has been consistent and clear. We have always stated that overseas supply of vaccines from India would depend on vaccine availability and our domestic vaccination programme," Bagchi said.

"For the moment our priority remains on utilising made-in-India vaccines for our own vaccination programme which as you know has received a boost with the new phase of vaccination that was launched earlier this week on June 21," he said.

Bagchi said India is also making efforts to further increase its domestic vaccine production.

Asked when would Pfizer's vaccine be available in India, the MEA spokesperson emphasised that the government of India is making all efforts to augment vaccine availability in the country be it through domestic production or imports.

"As regards the specific vaccines and the status of their imports into India, this is a matter for the concerned regulatory authorities," he added.

Bagchi also said India hopes that as the Covid situation in the country continues to improve, other nations would take steps to normalize travel with India.

"We have seen some initial steps in this regard. The government will continue to prioritise this issue," he said.

To a separate question on emergency use authorisation for Covaxin from the World Health Organization (WHO), the MEA spokesperson said, "We are closely following the developments regarding efforts by Bharat Biotech to obtain emergency use listing authorisation from the WHO.

" Asked which countries have shown interest in using or adapting the CoWin application, the digital platform that helped India launch and implement a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme, Bagchi pointed out that during his intervention at the recent G-7 meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had offered to share India's experience and expertise in the successful use of open source digital tools in contact tracing and vaccine management.

"In pursuance of this, the National Health Authority proposes to organise an event with partner countries across the world to share details of the indigenously developed CoWin app, which has been at the centre of our vaccination drive," he said.

"We will provide further updates once the details of the event have been firmed up," Bagchi added.

Asked about the Ebrahim Raisi being elected as the president of Iran, sanctions by the US and the situation in bilateral ties, he said India has been closely monitoring the recent developments regarding Iran and its conversations with other countries.

"We will continue to look at this closely. I don't have an immediate response on that, we have seen some positive sentiments. We will continue to see how these progress," Bagchi said.

He also highlighted the congratulatory messages from the Indian leadership to the newly elected Iranian president.

Asked when would India host the BRICS Summit this year, Bagchi said he does not have any update regarding the proposed dates for the summit as yet.

On a proposal of India and South Africa for a temporary waiver of certain intellectual property rights provisions in the TRIPS Agreement to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Bagchi said talks are on with many countries at various levels, but added that for details, the Commerce Ministry should be contacted.

In October 2020, India and South Africa had submitted the first proposal suggesting a waiver for all WTO members on the implementation of certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement in relation to the prevention, containment or treatment of COVID-19.

In May, a revised proposal was submitted by 62 co-sponsors, including India, South Africa and Indonesia.

The agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights or TRIPS came into effect in January 1995.

It is a multilateral agreement on intellectual property (IP) rights such as copyright, industrial designs, patents and protection of undisclosed information or trade secrets.

India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 30.72 crore as per a provisional report till 7 pm on Thursday, the Union Health Ministry said here.

According to the report, the total count was 30,72,46,600, it stated.

As the new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from June 21, more than 54.07 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Thursday, as per the 7 pm provisional report.

It said 35,44,209 first vaccine doses and 67,627 second doses were given in the 18-44 years category on Thursday.

Cumulatively, 7,43,45,835 people in this group across 37 states and union territories have received their first dose and 15,70,839 have received their second dose since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive, the report showed.

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have administered more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the 18-44 years age group the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the ministry said in its statement.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested four students from Ladakh in connection with the Israel embassy blast case here, sources said on Thursday.

According to sources, they were taken to Delhi on transit remard.

A minor IED blast had taken place outside the Israeli Embassy in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi on January 29.

There were no casualties.

Some cars were damaged in the blast that took place near the pavement outside the embassy on APJ Abdul Kalam Road, a very high-security zone in the national capital.
By PTI

JAIPUR: Nagaur MP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party convener Hanuman Beniwal on Thursday hit out at BJP general secretary Arun Singh for saying that his party was not credible.

"Arun Singh has no mass base and he could not even fight the election of sarpanch. He has no right to raise questions on the credibility of the RLP because the RLP has been fighting on the issues of public interest," he said.

During a recent visit to Jaipur, Arun Singh, who is the BJP's national general secretary in-charge for Rajasthan, had stated that the RLP has no credibility.

Beniwal, a former BJP leader, said his party supported the BJP during the floor test last year.

The Nagaur MP said that his party had contested the 2019-Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the BJP and the saffron party got its benefit on several seats.

Beniwal quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in December last year over the issue of farm laws.
By PTI

PANAJI: The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday adjourned till July 29 an appeal filed by the Goa government against the acquittal of journalist Tarun Tejpal in a 2013 rape case.

A division bench of Justices M S Sonak and M S Jawalkar allowed the government to amend their appeal and serve a copy of the same along with all related documents to Tejpal.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, told the bench they would require some time to prepare.

ALSO READ | Tarun Tejpal acquittal likely to deter other victims from reporting sexual assault cases: Activists

The bench then said it would hear the appeal on July 29.

It directed the government to amend their petition within one week and serve a copy of the same in one week thereafter.

On May 21, Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi acquitted Tejpal, the former editor-in-chief of the Tehelka magazine, in the case where he was accused of sexually assaulting his then colleague in a lift of a five-star hotel in Goa in November 2013 when they were attending an event.

The trial court had in its judgement questioned the victim's conduct, holding that she did not exhibit any kind of normative behaviour such as trauma and shock, which a victim of sexual assault might plausibly show.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Ahead of the all-party meet, the Centre's first political outreach to J&K after the revocation of Article 370 that begins in a few hours, the J&K Congress chief has said that they will inform the Prime Minister, who will be chairing the meet, of what the Jammu and Kashmir people lost after August 5, 2019.

J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir told The New Indian Express that the invitation for the all-party meet was extended without an agenda. "This has never happened before," he observed.

The all-party meet to be chaired by PM Narendra Modi will be held in New Delhi at 3 pm on Thursday. At least 14 J&K leaders including four former CMs have been invited.

"Our effort will be to first listen to the agenda of the PM. If he wants to listen, we will tell him what they (government) and the J&K people lost after Article 370 revocation. We will give him a powerpoint presentation on it," Mir said.

"The PM is misleading the world by saying that they 'brought stars to the earth' after Article 370's revocation. We live here and we will inform him about the true picture and the impact on people," he added.

Mir said they will inform the PM that J&K people are in shock for the last two years after the Centre scrapped "our special status, snatched out statehood and bifurcated the state into two UTs. They have handed over J&K to the bureaucracy."

On August 5, 2019, the Centre scrapped Articles 370 and 35A, which granted special status to J&K and special privileges to J&K residents, and bifurcated J&K state into two Union Territories.

"We will be representing the aspirations and wishes of the J&K people at the all-party meet. We cannot ignore the aspirations of people of J&K," Mir said.

In response to a question, J&K Congress chief said he feels that there is a realisation at the highest levels that whatever was done on August 5, 2019 has not achieved anything on the ground.

He, however, said in the next five to six months, Assembly elections in some states are set to be held and when these Assembly elections and LS polls are held, J&K always is brought to the centrestage. "When elections are held in any state, the reference is made of J&K."

"It could be possible that to hide his government's failure in managing Covid and to face polls in other states, the PM may try to prepare the ground for it from J&K," Mir said.

Asked why the Centre is convening an all-party meet, the J&K Congress chief said they will come to know about it through the posturing and language of the PM.

"We too want to know why for two years they were speaking different languages. They were labeling somebody as Chinese, somebody as Pakistani and somebody as separatists and now all of a sudden how they have realised that they all are part of this country. The body language and agenda will make it clear," Mir said.

Kashmir Pandit group demands restoration of statehood with special status

Satish Mahaldar, chairman of Kashmiri Pandit group -- Reconciliation Return & Rehabilitation of Migrants -- said the PM's all-party meet with J&K leaders is an important step in building political confidence in J&K, which lost its statehood on August 5, 2019.

"It is an opportune time to give back what is rightfully ours. The statehood to J&K should be announced as early as possible. But, along with statehood, special status should be restored to J&K," he said.

Mahaldar said the fact is that J&K is surrounded by two hostile countries -- Pakistan and China --- and witnessing militancy. So, it becomes imperative to accord special status to J&K.

The Kashmir Pandit group also demanded guaranteed and protected rights to minorities and disadvantaged communities; preference to locals in jobs, educational institutions and setting up of industries, and protection of land and representation of the minorities in the J&K Assembly.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that Chinas troop deployment along the border with India and uncertainty over fulfillment of its promise of troop reduction still remains a challenge confronting the two countries.

The issue is whether China would live up to the commitments it has made written commitments about both countries not allowing a large armed force at the border, the external affairs minister said at the Qatar Economic Forum, adding that the India-China issue pre-dated the formation of the Quad.

The US, India, Japan and Australia have come together on a common agenda which includes maritime security and connectivity. Answering queries relating to the border situation with China in Ladakh, the minister said this particular issue goes back a long way.

Jaishankar also urged the US and Europe to boost vaccine production. A lot of the supply chain relating to vaccines originates in the US. A lot of it comes from Europe as well. I think, the US and Europe need to step forward if India has to ramp up its own production.

The world doesnt have enough vaccines. Patents are one part of it, but production is the other part. And in India we are producing the AstraZeneca vaccine. There are six other vaccines which are expected to come on stream in the coming months, the minister added.
By PTI

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand High Court has granted protection to executives of Max Corporate Services from arbitrary arrest in connection with the alleged fake Covid testing scam during the Haridwar Kumbh Mela and asked the agency to join the investigation.

Justice N S Dhanik on Wednesday granted protection to the accused from arbitrary arrest in the scam after the Delhi-based agency's partner Mallika Pant went to the court on behalf of the agency challenging the FIR against it, the petitioner's counsel Kartikey Hari Gupta said.

However, the court asked the agency to cooperate in the investigation and appear before the investigation officer in the case on Friday, he said.

ALSO READ | Kumbh testing scam: Sleeping at the wheel

An FIR has been lodged against Max Corporate Services and two ICMR-accredited labs it had engaged -- Nalwa Laboratories and Dr Lal Chandani Labs Limited -- for allegedly conducting around one lakh fake COVID-19 tests during the Haridwar Kumbh Mela using random phone numbers.

The Haridwar police had filed the FIR under several sections of the IPC, the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act.

A special investigation team (SIT) has been set up to probe the matter.

"Protection from arbitrary arrest was granted to my client in the light of the Supreme Court's ruling in Arnesh Kumar vs the State of Bihar case placing checks and balances on the powers of the police before an arrest," Gupta said.

Max Corporate Services had argued before the court that it was just a "service provider", and the collection of samples and data entry were not its responsibility but that of two ICMR-accredited labs it had engaged.

The agency had also expressed its willingness before the court to cooperate with the investigation.
By PTI

MUMBAI: More than 13,000 prison inmates in Maharashtra have so far been vaccinated against coronavirus and the number of active COVID-19 cases among them has reduced significantly, the state government told the Bombay High Court on Thursday.

The high court noted that there had been a "substantial improvement" in prisons of the state in the implementation of steps to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni that currently, 23,372 inmates are lodged in 47 prisons across the state.

"Out of them, 13,567 inmates had received the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 3,641 staff members at these prisons had also been vaccinated," he said.

Kumbhakoni also told the court that the prisons department had implemented recommendations of the state high-power committee on decongesting prisons, and granted interim bail to 2,700 inmates and emergency parole to another 518 inmates.

"We have managed to de-congest prisons to some extent. The rate of vaccination of inmates as well as staff has also increased and this has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of active COVID-19 cases among inmates," he said.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation that it had initiated suo motu (on its own) earlier this year to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection among prison inmates.

Noting that there had been a "substantial improvement" in prisons in the implementation of steps to curb the spread of COVID-19, the HC posted the matter for further hearing to July 22.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: In the government's first outreach to Jammu and Kashmir's political leadership in almost two years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a crucial meeting with 14 leaders, including four former chief ministers, to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory.

The prime minister, accompanied by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, received the leaders from eight parties, including the National Conference, the PDP, the BJP and the Congress, at his residence.

This is the first interaction between the Central leadership and the mainstream parties since August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla were among those who attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds meeting with Jammu and Kashmir leaders in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Mga0TmnORz  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

The four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state who participated in the discussions were Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Four former deputy chief ministers were in attendance too  Congress' Tara Chand, People's Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig and BJP's Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta.

CPI-M leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) chief Altaf Bukhari, Sajjad Lone of the People's Conference, J-K Congress head G A Mir, BJP's Ravinder Raina and Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh also formed part of the delegation.

"I will keep my agenda in the meeting and then talk to you," Farooq Abdullah said before the meeting started.

Asked about PDP chief Mehbooba's comments that India should initiate dialogue with Pakistan, the NC leader said, "Mehbooba ji is the president of her party. She has the right to speak. I have my own. I don't want to bring in Pakistan. I am going to talk to our own prime minister."



"If India can talk to the Taliban in Doha (Qatar), why not Pakistan," Mehbooba had said earlier.

With no agenda announced for the meeting, the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir said they have come with an open mind.

"We have not been given an agenda. We will be attending the meeting to know what the Centre is offering," said Tarigami, who is also spokesperson of the six-party People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) that was formed in the aftermath of the August 2019 decisions.

Officials said the Centre is keen on holding assembly elections in the union territory as early as possible, maybe in December this year or March 2022 after the Delimitation Commission headed by Justice (retd) Ranjana Desai completes its task of redrawing constituencies in the next few months.

The Commission was granted one year's extension in March this year.

BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit president Raina said Thursday's interaction convened by the prime minister is in accordance with the wishes of heads of various political parties who have been seeking time from him for a long time.

The meeting seems to be the result of the back-channel talks held with all the parties from the union territory to chart out a roadmap.

The Union Home Minister, while tabling the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 in Parliament, had given an assurance that the Centre would grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time.

Today's dialogue comes seven months after the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The PAGD had surged ahead of the BJP and its allies, including the JKAP, by bagging 110 seats out of 280 with the National Conference emerging stronger with 67 seats within the alliance.

The BJP was the single largest party with 75 seats.

Jammu and Kashmir's political mainstream, especially those with a strong base in the Valley, has been critical of successive administrations of the union territory for allegedly neglecting the demands of the people.

It has raised questions on development initiatives since August 2019.

Several leaders, including the Abdullahs and Mehbooba, were detained after the August 2019 decisions.
By PTI

SURAT: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared before a magistrate's court in Surat on Thursday to record his statement in a criminal defamation suit filed by a Gujarat MLA, and denied making any defamatory remarks on people with 'Modi' surname.

The suit was filed by Surat BJP MLA Purnesh Modi over Gandhi's alleged remark on the 'Modi' surname.

In his statement before Surat's Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) A N Dave, Gandhi denied making any defamatory remarks on people with Modi surname during a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

When the magistrate asked Gandhi if he had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Rs 30 crore to an industrialist, Gandhi told the court that being a national leader, he keeps raising issues of corruption and unemployment in his addresses in the interest of the nation, and it is his right to raise do so.

When the court asked if he had said all people with Modi surname are thieves, Gandhi claimed he never said such words.

Besides, to most of the remaining questions related to the evidence and statements of witnesses in the case, Gandhi said "I don't know".

After recording the statement, the magistrate kept the case for next hearing on July 12.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had appeared before the court in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty for his comment.

Legislator Purnesh Modi filed a complaint against Gandhi in April 2019 under Indian Penal Code Sections 499 and 500, that deal with defamation.

A week back, CJM Dave directed Gandhi to remain present on June 24 to record his statement in the case.

In his complaint, the MLA had alleged that Gandhi defamed the entire Modi community by saying "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" while addressing a poll rally in 2019.

During an election rally held at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, Rahul Gandhi had reportedly asked, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi....how come they all have Modi as the common surname? How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" He was the Congress president when he had made this alleged remark.

Purnesh Modi has also moved the Gujarat High Court, seeking to call Kolar district collector and a videographer, who recorded the speech, as witnesses in the case.

The high court is expected to hear the matter on Monday.
Sumi Sukanya dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: After a swift decline in Covid-19 cases over nearly a month and a half, daily numbers in India again seem to be slightly rising over the last two days. Experts, however, say that this is too early to see a pattern and the numbers need to be watched for the coming few days to reach a conclusion.

On Wednesday, 54,069 new cases were reported in the country. On Tuesday, this was 50,848. In comparison, on Sunday 42,640 fresh cases were registered, the lowest single day tally in nearly three months. The weekly rolling average of Covid test positivity rate, on the other hand, was 3.2% on Sunday and 3.1% on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

While about 54,000 cases reported on Wednesday are still lower than the cases recorded on various days last week, the concern is that the last two days so far are occasions when the cases have risen in comparison to previous days.

In Maharashtra, total cases reported on Wednesday were 10,066 the highest since June 17. In Kerala, which is leading the states in daily infections, 12,787 cases were recorded, also highest since June 17.

These two states are among the five so far, apart from Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where the Delta Plus variant, which has been associated with immune evasion, has been detected in limited numbers of samples.

Some experts cautioned that while the pandemic has been on a downward trajectory for a while, signs like this should be taken seriously, in the context of new information. Given that the slight increase in cases is from states that saw early rises in previous surges, it would be prudent to be prepared and ensure optimal testing to be able detect simillar transmission signals across the country, said public health researcher Oommen John.

Health systems and public policy specialist Chandrakant Lahariya, on the other hand, said it should be seen as a normal pattern. We need to remember that in a pandemic, especially when we know that the virus is still around and circulating, it is unlikely that cases would decline every single day, he said, adding that the country has reached a stage when weekly rolling average of new daily Covid-19 cases would stabilize gradually.

Fall unlikely to be steady and uniform

Health systems and public policy specialist Chandrakant Lahariya thinks cases will not keep declining rapidly. Now onwards, the decline would be relatively slower and we may see a few days when cases would go up and a few days when cases go down, Lahariya said, while pointing out that at this stage, the key would be to focus on the districts concerned rather than national and even state averages.
By PTI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that snatching away of statehood from Jammu and Kashmir by the BJP-led central government has brought shame to the country, as did the Covid-19 vaccine imbroglio.

Banerjee made the comment in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with leaders of various political parties of Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi.

"I have no knowledge about this meeting. I don't even know the agenda of the meeting," she told reporters.

Snatching away the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation did not help the country in any way, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, claimed.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

In the government's first outreach to Jammu and Kashmir's political leadership since then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a meeting with 14 leaders, including four former chief ministers, to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory.

"What was the need to take away the statehood (of J&K)? This has not helped the country at all. For the last two years, tourists could not travel to Kashmir. It became a question of the country's prestige."

"The autocracy there has brought enough disgrace to the country, similar to what the (Covid) vaccines have done," she said.

Though Banerjee did not elaborate on the vaccine issue, she has earlier spoken out protesting low supplies of vaccines, differential pricing and lack of universal vaccination policy.

She has also attacked export of vaccines at a time when stocks in India were low.

The chief minister also claimed on Wednesday that Covaxin is the brainchild of the PM and asked him to get it approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or take steps so that the vaccine is accepted globally.
By PTI

KOTA: Two Indian workers, who alleged that they were held captive by their employer in Yanbu city of Saudi Arabia for months after their work agreement expired, returned to Rajasthan on Thursday.

The two were handed over tickets to Jaipur on Tuesday evening, Congress' Bundi district vice president Charmesh Sharma told media after receiving them at the airport.

Gaffar Mohammed (49) of Bundi district and Vishram Jatav (46) of Bharatpur district had gone to Saudi Arabia over three years ago on a work agreement, which expired in November 2020.

The two alleged that they were held captive in an abandoned quarter without adequate food, despite an assurance by authorities that they would be allowed to return home by April-end.

Earlier, Sharma had said that the two labourers "somehow managed to survive on leftovers given to them by other labourers out of pity".

"We have never thought of return to homeland. We were subjected to severe inhuman treatment.....kept under tin shades during day time without electricity in around 50 degrees Celsius," Mohammed said upon his return to homeland.

In February this year, the two victims uploaded a video on social media and pleaded for help, said Sharma.

The issue was brought to the notice of the central government, he added.

On March 20, Sharma lodged a complaint with Ministry of External Affairs and also wrote to the PMO and the President's office, urging to ensure a safe return of the two.

According to Sharma, the Indian embassy in Riyadh swung into action after reports of their captivity came out in the media few days ago.
By PTI

INDORE: With Madhya Pradesh reporting five cases of the 'Delta plus' variant of COVID-19 so far, a top health department official on Thursday said the vaccines currently being administered to people are effective against the highly contagious strain.

Delta plus has already been declared a variant of concern by the Centre.

Madhya Pradesh is among a handful of states where the cases of 'Delta plus' variant have been found.

"Among the five people found infected with the Delta plus variant, three are already vaccinated and even after getting affected with the new varaint, there was no need for them to rush to hospital, which means the vaccine is effective against it (the new variant) also," additional chief secretary (health) Mohammad Suleiman told reporters.

He quoted an official of the Delhi-based National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as saying that the Delta plus variant's severity is comparatively more (than existing strains), but at present there are not many cases of this variant in the country.

Therefore, it is not possible to predict what will be its impact on the population, Suleiman said, quoting the NCDC official.

The state is on alert and testing will be enhanced to know whether people are getting infected by the 'Delta plus' variant, Suleiman said.

Madhya Pradesh is among the five states where genome sequencing facilities will be started by the NCDC, the senior bureaucrat said.

This decision followed chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's discussions with NCDC officials, he said.

Suleiman said people are enthusiastic about getting vaccines and those residing in tribal areas are also coming forward to receive doses.

Expressing happiness over Indore vaccinating a record 2.25 lakh people on Monday, he said, "If we are able to arrange adequate stock of vaccines, then the entire eligible population of Indore district can be inoculated by mid-July."

He informed the state government has set a target to administer at least the first dose to all eligible people by September-end.

The state on Thursday added 62 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 fresh deaths, pushing its infection tally to 7,89,561 and the toll to 8,849, the state health department said.

Of total 52 districts in the state, 31 districts did not record any new coronavirus case in the last 24 hours, it stated.

A total of 255 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the count of recoveries in Madhya Pradesh to 7,79,432, the department said.

The number of active cases in the state stands at 1,280, it said.

With 10 new cases, Indore's caseload went up to 1,52,798, while that of Bhopal rose to 1,23,073 with the addition of 15 infections.

Indore reported one death, taking the toll to 1379, while no fatality was reported in Bhopal, whose coronavirus toll remained unchanged at 972, the department said.

Indore is left with 239 active cases, while Bhopal has 362 patients under treatment, it said.

With 68,453 new tests, the total number of samples examined for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh rose to 1,16,66,850, the department said.

Coronavirus figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 7,89,561, new cases 62, death toll 8,849, recovered 7,79,432, active cases 1,280, number of tests so far 1,16,66,850.
By PTI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hinted that it is unlikely that local trains will start operating even if the ongoing restrictions are relaxed a bit after June 30, as that might spread the Covid-19 infection.

People blocked railway tracks in several stations in the state for around three hours on Thursday demanding that they be allowed to board staff special stations.

"We are not running the trains to keep the contagion under check. It is natural that stopping the service causes problems for the people. If we run trains now, everybody will be infected by Covid. What will you do then?" she told reporters.

Banerjee claimed that the restrictions imposed by her government are not like those in several other states.

"Shops, vegetable markets and all are almost open. Organisations are providing transportation to bring employees. People are working from home in several offices," she said.

The West Bengal government has imposed certain restrictions in the state from May 16 to May 30 to combat a surge in Covid-19 cases and extended it twice later.

The ongoing curbs are scheduled to come to an end on June 30.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, West Bengal's Covid-19 toll rose to 17,516 after 41 deaths were recorded in the state, the health bulletin said.

The tally went up to 14,89,286 as 1,923 more people tested positive for the virus.

The number of active cases is now 22,308 while 1,952 recoveries were registered.

At least 55,679 samples were tested in the state in the last 24 hours for coronavirus, the bulletin said.

Altogether 3,11,043 people were vaccinated in West Bengal on Thursday, a health department official said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Thursday asked Twitter to make public the legal notice, which it said it had received from Indian law enforcement, against violations by him on the micro-blogging site.

Gandhi also tweeted a screenshot of an email that he said he had received from Twitter, informing him of "a request from Indian law enforcement" regarding his account.

The BJP leader said it claimed that his account had violated the laws.

"I am certain I have violated no law and that no law agency would have found anything offensive in my tweets. Twitter should clarify their basis for such correspondence. Shocked by their behaviour," said Gandhi, who represents Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit constituency in Parliament.

He also said that the micro-blogging site should not become an ostracising platform.

Underlining that he had not violated any law, Gandhi said Twitter is "bullying" Indian citizens and alleged that the social media giant has an agenda.

"For too long now, Twitter has indulged in online bullying of our citizens for their diversity of political views to make us conform with their 'woke' propaganda. It should stay a platform, not an ostracising tribunal. This harassment of Indians will not fly with the law of the land," he tweeted.

The MP said he is making these remarks after enquiring from all possible avenues connected with Indian law enforcement within the government.

"If Twitter really has received a complaint regarding my content, let it share the said legal notice and its provenance in the interest of transparency," he said.

This comes amid a tussle between the BJP government at the Centre and Twitter over various issues ranging from complying of new IT rules to terming tweets by the party leaders as manipulated media.
Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan By

How did ancient empires in India maintain law and order, sans the so-called technological advancements?

Simple and easily accessible judiciary procedures seem to have helped the Chola monarchs in maintaining law and order across their burgeoning kingdom. Upholding dharma, as described in traditional Indian texts, seems to be the virtue held foremost by the Cholas. Citing Manu and Sibi Chakravarti in their illustrious list of ancestors, they unabashedly boasted of their tradition of upholding justice at all times and ensuring fair trials. The Chola inscriptions have captured several incidents that throw light on how the legal framework functioned.

Local courts were as powerful as the local administration consisting of learned scholars. Those well versed in smriti texts and dharmaasana bhattas were identified and appointed as interpreters of the codified manuals on dharma and its practice. There were no lawyers to argue cases and individuals were allowed to defend themselves in the Chola judicial system. The local jury in concurrence with the interpreters (though this does not seem to be a mandate) of dharma sastras would hear the plea and examine witnesses and testimonies if any before passing a verdict. Segregating cases as civil and criminal apparently did not exist and the jury seems to have conducted all trials together. Involvement of the king or other prominent people in power seems to have been rare, depending on the severity of the crime and its consequences. The concept of appealing to higher courts was mostly unheard of and the word of the local sabha was accepted as final.

Here are some interesting episodes from the inscriptions, thanks to a remarkable system of documentation that meticulously recorded them for posterity.

Sequestration of property and deportation from the country seem to have been the ultimate punishments. Crimes like rioting or bothering the common public invited the above-mentioned punishments. A detailed record from the times of Kulotthunga III from Kilayur, a village near Thanjavur, describes in length the enquiry and punishment given to two individuals for rioting and public nuisance. The record goes on to say that the list of crimes includes causing trouble to the Brahmins, Vellalas and the temple there. Considered a serious offence, the local court punished them both with a penalty of 1,000 kasu. As they had no money, their properties were confiscated and sold to the temple at an estimated amount of 1,060 kasu. The extra amount was accounted as the penalty for delay in paying the fine. This incident was considered a worthy precedent and a royal order was passed warning about a fine of upto even 20,000 kasu if such offenses were committed in the future.

In another interesting verdict, the local administrative unit held a woman guilty for not settling her pending tax dues. The charges were however denied by the woman but she was accused in a public trial in full view of her relatives and neighbours. Unable to withstand the humiliation, she committed suicide. The dharmaasana bhattas who constituted the administrative unit were likely deemed guilty and unfit to continue the enquiry, and the situation required the intervention of scholars and dharma adhikaris from other regions and districts. So, we find that a committee of such scholars discussed further and levied a fine of 32 kasu on the man especially responsible for humiliating her.

Common offences including cattle lifting and petty thefts were investigated, with the punishment ranging from penalty to be paid to confiscation of property. Endowments to burn perpetual lamps in temples seem to be the most popular way of punishing culprits. The standard chart of offerings gives a choice of 96 sheep, 64 cows or 32 buffalos as donations to maintain one perpetual lamp. The cattle thus donated to the temple are leased to the local cowherds and they in turn are required to provide oil to burn the lamp. In return, they can make an income through other dairy products but had to ensure that the cattle count was never less than what was provided by the temple. This can be understood more as a means to repent for the crime than one to be endured as punishment.

Surprisingly, homicide cases where there was no premeditation too appear to have been dealt with similarly; the accused proven guilty was imposed a fine of burning one or more perpetual lamps in a temple. One singular case involved a juvenile offender charged with the murder of another juvenile in the times of Kulothunga I. While cutting wood with a sickle, the boy accidently hurt the other youngster and the latter succumbed to his injuries; the local jury, after enquiry, ordered the formers father to create an endowment to burn half a perpetual lamp. In a very similar case but from the times of Kulothunga III, two men were punished in the same manner for beating to death a buffalo that was grazing their fields.

Imprisonment, corporal punishment or death penalty dont seem to have been popular practices at these village or district-level courts. Serious offences like harming members of the royal family, indulging in acts that cause riots or instigating rebels against the government have led to confiscation of property of the offender and his family, and sometimes the extended family too. The property was then auctioned in public and the money deposited in the coffers.

In general, a case was tried not on face value but by applying interpretation of dharma sastras to the events leading to it, taking into account the circumstances and more importantly awarding judgement to uphold dharma rather than chastise. The approach seems to have been more on the side of dharma and repentance than one that focused on punishment and retribution.

Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan, Architect, serves on the govt-instituted panel for conservation of temples in TN (madhu.kalai0324@gmail.com)
Makarand R Paranjape By

No Indian should have any confusion or doubt about the importance of Jammu and Kashmir to the nation. Nor what was really at stake in Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting on the afternoon of June 24 with the so-called democratic leaders from the region. I say so-called because not only have the democratic credentials of some of them been called into question, but so has their nationalism and patriotism.

No surprise that on the eve of the talks, Mehbooba Mufti, PDP leader and former chief minister, called on our government to talk to Pakistan. Does this mean that she ignores or absolves the latters continuing cross-border terrorism or its three wars with India over Kashmir? Or that she takes seriously the Pakistani precondition for peace, which is the restoration of J&Ks statehood, if not special status, which the modification of Article 370 of the Constitution effected?

Or, to shift the focus to the ruling party itself, how can the BJP forget the sacrifice of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the first president of its predecessor party, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh? Mookerjee had popularised the slogan, Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan aur do nishan nahi challenge, nahi challenge (You cannot have, cannot have two legislatures, two heads, and two flags in one country). He offered satyagraha against Article 370 by entering Kashmir on 11 May 1953 without a permit.

Mookerjee was arrested and imprisoned, first at the Central Jail in Srinagar and then placed under house arrest when his health deteriorated. On June 23, he died under what have been described as suspicious circumstances. He was not yet 52 years old. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004 had called his arrest and death a Nehru conspiracy. Given that Modis meeting with the Gupkar Alliance happened just a day after Mookerjees 48th death anniversary, it would be impossible to ignore its symbolic and political import.

Whatever has transpired in the June 24th talks, purposely held without an agenda, only reiterates that the reinstation of Article 370 or 35A and J&Ks special status is not on the table. But, whether for strategic or political reasons, that is exactly what several members of the Gupkar alliance have demanded as a minimum condition. If this is not an echoing of the Pakistan line, it is, at the very least, an admission of just how much some of these politicians resist the full integration of J&K into the Union of India.

Pakistan, on its part, is watching and waiting with bated breath if its role in the region can somehow be legitimated or strengthened after the dialogue. It found itself upstaged, short-changed, and marginalised by the swiftness and decisiveness with which Union Home Minister Amit Shah steered the amendment of Article 370 and reorganised the erstwhile state into two Union territories, J&K and Ladakh, with effect from 31 October 2019. Surely, the government would do nothing to undo its own radical efforts to bring about a full integration of the province into India and to put an end to the ongoing separatism and violence.

That the talks have not produced a breakthrough, let alone a consensus of how to move ahead in J&K, was expected. One might also wonder why the Kashmiri Pandits, forcibly evicted from their homeland, were not part of the dialogue. But the talks do send out a powerful signal that the Modi government is committed to the democratic process. Reports coming in the aftermath of the meeting indicate that the Gupkar Alliance is sticking to its demandsrestoration of statehood before delimitation, abrogation of constitutional amendments (though they dont mind that demand being pressed through the Supreme Court), state civil services restored so that those in power can appoint locals, and reunification of J&K and Ladakh.

The Centre, on the other hand, has made no promises, although it is being widely touted that the talks took place in a cordial and positive atmosphere. The real X-factor might be Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was denied a ticket to the Rajya Sabha. Perhaps, a new political alliance might be brewing in the state. If so, it wont be the first time that the Congresss loss is the BJPs gain. Or, at the very least, what the talks have accomplished is to apply a democratic glaze over a constitutional coup.

To invert what one commentator said rather astutely, the talks are a rinse and repeat of Delhis mantra on 370, 35A and deferred statehood. What is under the table, of course, is another matter, but the immediate restoration of statehood to the Union territory was also not on offer. As to the reiteration of the Centres commitment on this front, it was nothing new. For restoring statehood, the precondition would be the delimitation of electoral districts, which is what the meeting was really about.

Kashmir is the very crown of India and a region of enormous strategic and ecological importance. Territory, political power and prestige are at stake here, as we all know. But the loss of Kashmir would be much more devastating than we can imagine. It would mean that the civilisational continuity and intellectual unity of India might be permanently impaired. As to unrest, it is nothing new to that part of our subcontinent. In his 12th century masterpiece, Rajatarangini, Kalhana describes its people as kindly or cruel, faithful or faithless, single-minded or ambitious in turn and the place itself as a country which delights in insurrection!

Jawaharlal Nehru designates himself, in his Foreword to his brother-in-law, Ranjit Sitaram Pandits translation completed in Naini Jail as, a lover of Kashmir and all its entrancing beauty, because perhaps, deep down within me and almost forgotten by me, there is something which stirs at the call of the old homeland from whence we came long, long ago; and because I cannot answer that call as I would, I have to content myself with dreams and fantasies...

We must not succumb to the temptation of contenting ourselves with dreams and fantasies but use adroit realpolitik to ensure that the accession of J&K to India is complete and irreversible. Those who live there deserve not only development or vikas, but peace and freedom from fear. Needless to add, the Hindus driven out and others from the rest of India should be free to return or resettle there.

Going back to Kalhana, we must place, as he recommends, prajaanupaalanam (welfare of citizens) as opposed to their harassment (prajaapeedanam) at the centre of our decision-making process on J&K. Only saaf niyat, sahi vikas will work to resolve the current imbroglio. We can be sure that the current national leadership is well aware of this.

(Views are personal)

Makarand R Paranjape, Director, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla

(Tweets @MakrandParanspe)
By PTI

BENGALURU: With the state government considering opening higher educational institutions, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Thursday said all college students above 18 years, their teaching staff and non-teaching staff will be considered as a priority group to administer COVID vaccine.

The DCM, who also holds the higher education portfolio, said vaccination for the above groups would be taken up in July in the respective colleges as per the guidelines of the central government after consulting with the officers.

"Inoculation campaigns will be arranged in the colleges. Validation letters issued by the respective institutions need to be submitted before getting vaccinated. Head of the institution and another officer will be appointed as nodal officers in every institution," he was quoted as saying by his office in a release.

In response to a question, Narayan said offline classes will be started once all the students are vaccinated with the first dose.

"Teaching, learning process has not stopped and it is being continued through digital mode and attendance is mandatory for online classes also," he informed.

The DCM said existing vaccines are effective against Delta plus variant of the virus also.

The state has reported 3,979 new cases of COVID-19 and 138 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 28.23 lakh and toll to 34,425, the health department said on Thursday.

The day also saw 9,768 discharges, continuing to outnumber the fresh cases, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 26,78,473.

Out of 3,979 new cases reported, 969 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 3,176 discharges and 14 deaths.

Total number of active cases in the state is at 1,10,523.

While the positivity rate for the day stood at 2.46 per cent, case fatality rate (CFR) was at 3.46 per cent.

Out of 138 deaths reported on Thursday, 22 were from Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada 15, Bengaluru Urban 14, Ballari and Dharwad 10, Hassan 9, followed by others.

Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru Urban accounted for 969, Dakshina Kannada 498, Mysuru 404, Hassan 336, followed by others.

Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 12,09,073, followed by Mysuru 1,64,018 and Tumakuru 1,14,265.

Cumulatively a total of 3.33 crore samples have been tested in the state so far, out of which 1,61,287 were tested on Thursday alone.
Unnikrishnan S By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state is back in a familiar situation -- it leads in infection rate and new Covid cases among the states in the country. Health experts say these show the pandemic spread has plateaued and it will continue for a couple of more months as had happened after the first wave.

According to them, the slow rate of decline in new cases is a result of the strategy of delaying the peak. However, reducing the testing numbers and the presence of fast-spreading virus variants could harm a sizable number of susceptible population.

A sharp rise and fall in TPR is an indication that your control system is a failure and you allowed the wave to continue without any checks. The TPR falls rapidly when there are fewer people left to get infected. It has not happened in Kerala. We checked the spread that could have made the healthcare system collapse. So it is natural that the duration of the epidemic will be longer, said Dr Anish T S, assistant professor at the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.

A high TPR led the Centre to dispatch expert teams to visit the state twice and recommend ways to reduce it. During the period, the pandemic strategy of the state was also questioned, but the health department and other experts justified the strategy.

The daily infections plateaued at around 5,000 since December last year after the peak of the first wave in October. However, the days after the peak of the second wave in mid-May has seen daily new cases almost doubling from the days after the first wave. A few health experts maintained that the state could improve its testing and contact tracing for better control over the TPR and daily cases.

The detection rate is high mainly because the people here have a more health-seeking behaviour as compared to other states. There will be a plateau situation at least for three months before tapering off. However, we could still reduce the TPR to around 5% from the 11-12% we see these days, said Dr N M Arun, internal medicine specialist and a public health expert.

While health department officials said the testing numbers could not be increased due to weak demand, its strategy of contact tracing has been questioned by experts. Those who tested positive for Covid still get at least four calls from authorities. But there is not much thrust given to follow up the testing of primary contacts, said Dr Arun.

Over 10,000-12,000 people test positive for Covid everyday and it indicates that the state still has a large number of susceptible people. The plateauing of daily cases will continue as was the situation after the first wave. However, the major difference now is that the virus has mutated. The state should focus on contact tracing when fast-spreading variants such as delta plus are present, said immunologist and public health expert Dr Padmanabha Shenoy.
R Kirubakaran By

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: In most cases, family members of Covid patients fleeced by private hospitals avoid lodging a complaint against the hospital. They fear such a move will impact the treatment for the patient. In some cases, they withdraw the complaint when the hospital management agrees to give them a discount.

Only rarely does such a complaint reach the health department. One such complaint was from a private-company employee here. He was not swayed by the discount proposal, and the subsequent investigation led to the hospitals getting barred from treating Covid patients.

The incident

32-year-old Nassar*, employee of an oil company in Coimbatore, and his 63-year-old father contracted Covid in May. Both of them were admitted to a private hospital in Saravanampatti. But, Nassars father, according to the hospital, died 21 days later.

Nassar, however, said the hospital concealed the death of his father and continued to charge for his treatment. The final bill came close to Rs 18 lakh for the treatment of both. But, the daily-charge limits fixed by the district administration for Covid treatment in this hospital are Rs 5,000 for ordinary bed; Rs 18,500 for oxygen bed; Rs 36,500 for ICU bed.

The complaint

Seeking justice, Nassar lodged a complaint with the district administration and the Chief Ministers Cell. Consequently, an investigation was launched and action was taken against the hospital. I did not lodge the complaint just for me. Many like me were forced to pay higher fees to the hospital during our treatment. Hence, I sought justice for all of them, said Nassar.

My father was treated for 21 days with a ventilator. They collected Rs 2.5 lakh in advance. After the treatment, they issued us a letter that put the cost of my fathers treatment to Rs 15 lakh and mine to Rs 2.5 lakh (for seven days of treatment in a normal bed), said Nassar, who alleged that the hospital hid the death of his father to charge them more.

They (the hospital) charged Rs 2.5 lakh as doctor fee and Rs 80,000 as doctors opinion fee for my fathers 21-day treatment. After I complained to the collector and the Chief Ministers Cell, they (the hospital) offered me a concession and asked to pay Rs 11.5 lakh for my fathers treatment and Rs 2.3 lakh for mine. We paid only Rs 4.3 lakh so far, out of which Rs 2.85 lakh was claimed through insurance, Nassar added.

Name changed

Grave allegation

Nassar, however, said the hospital concealed the death of his father and continued to charge for his treatment. The final bill was Rs 18 lakh
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has begun remediation work at the mercury-contaminated site in Kodaikanal, while civil society activists claim the company has violated the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and doesn't have some of the statutory approvals required. The activists have petitioned Tamil Nadu environment minister Siva V Meyyanathan to stop the alleged illegal handling of mercury wastes by the company.

Denying the allegations, a HUL spokesperson told The New Indian Express that the soil remediation was being conducted after both the NGT and the Supreme Court agreed that the company could carry it out. "All activities at the site are being carried out in full compliance with all guidelines, applicable standards and permissions as issued by the NGT, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Further, all the required statutory clearances have been obtained. At present, commissioning trials are being carried out after receipt of the consent to operate. Full-scale remediation will begin once the commissioning is completed satisfactorily and Covid-related restrictions are lifted."

In 2018, the NGT issued two directions saying the clean-up should be done only after obtaining all valid authorisations from TNPCB and that an extensive site assessment and ecological risk assessment study should be done. Activists allege that, so far, no study has been carried out and HUL has been allowed to excavate highly toxic soil and process and handle mercury wastes without a valid authorisation under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016. The unauthorised work has been ongoing since December 2020.

Chennai-based activist Nityanand Jayaraman said photographs sent by local residents show what appears to be excavated soil stored in the open exposed to the monsoon rains. The consent to operate issued by TNPCB clearly stipulates that soil should be stored on an impervious surface inside a closed room. Such open dumping is a certain recipe for disaster. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and is particularly dangerous in its organic form and when it enters the aquatic environment.

"The factory shares a boundary with the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary and drains into the Pambar Shola through the Pambar stream which feeds the Vaigai. Soil-bound mercury is continuously draining into the Pambar shola, and will build up along the aquatic food chain and to dangerous levels in fish-eating and insectivorous birds and animals. Samples of fish caught from a pond in the Periakulam plains fed by Pambar stream were analysed by IIT-Hyderabad over two years. All samples had mercury at levels of concern, especially for pregnant women as mercury could cause harm to the developing fetus," Jayaraman said.

The HUL spokesperson said the utmost care was being taken to prevent any release of soil outside of the factory boundary supported by the retaining walls and silt traps that have been set up. Any hazardous waste generated during remediation will be disposed of only after receiving the Hazardous Waste Authorisation. Following the NGT order to conduct a site assessment study, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) initiated the study in 2019. However, the study got delayed due to the nationwide lockdown because of Covid. "The site assessment study report is in the final stages of processing by NEERI. HUL is committed to completing full-scale remediation strictly in accordance with the standards and norms approved by TNPCB and the courts."

HUL said the experts studies quoted by the complainants were placed before the NGT and the Supreme Court. In March 2019, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition and allowed the soil remediation to proceed at the approved remediation standard of 20mg/kg.

Navroz Mody, a Kodaikanal resident and member of the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee-appointed Local Area Environment Committee, and other activists have urged the Tamil Nadu government to take urgent action to stop the illegal excavation, revoke the consent to operate, commission an extensive study as stipulated by the NGT and prosecute Unilever and its executives for continuing to disrespect the laws of the land. The company must immediately remove the soil dumped in the open and store it inside closed premises.

In March 2001, after residents and social activists exposed Unilevers illegal mercury dumpsite in the centre of the town, TNPCB shut down the factory citing violation of Hazardous Waste Rules. Twenty years later, the company continues to violate these rules.

Sources told The New Indian Express that a TNPCB team has inspected the remediation site based on instructions from environment secretary Supriya Sahu.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday sought the Opposition AIADMKs support to abolish NEET and he further informed the Assembly that the government will take appropriate steps to abolish the exam for the admission of MBBS in the State.

Leader of principal Opposition party Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday, when he spoke on a motion to thank the Governors address, questioned the DMK members over NEET and said the students of the State are in confusion over whether NEET will be held this year.

Responding to him, Stalin said, Till the DMK was in power there was no NEET in the State. After the then Union government brought in the NEET Act, the DMK government got a stay at the Supreme Court and we prevented NEET. But, during the last AIADMK-led government, two resolutions were passed against NEET.

But the President of India rejected the resolution. The same was not disclosed to the Assembly, he charged. He further added that he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi against holding NEET when he had met the latter recently.

On the AK Rajan committee appointed to study the impact of NEET, Stalin stated that to abolish the exam through legal procedure, the government has formed it. He added that appropriate steps will be taken to abolish NEET in the State.

He further assured, We will surely get exemption from the NEET. And the answer for the question on whether NEET will take place in the State is the same as the answer of the then AIADMK-led government when the issue was raised in the Assembly last year, he underlined.

He further urged AIADMK to extend cooperation to the ruling party to get exemption from NEET. Immediately, Palaniswami replied to the Chief Minister that the AIADMK party will cooperate on this issue.
By Associated Press

MADRID: John McAfee, the creator of McAfee antivirus software, was found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona in an apparent suicide Wednesday, hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the United States to face tax charges punishable by decades in prison, authorities said.

The eccentric cryptocurrency promoter and tax opponent whose history of legal troubles spanned from Tennessee to Central America to the Caribbean was discovered at the Brians 2 penitentiary in northeastern Spain.

Security personnel tried to revive him, but the jail's medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

"A judicial delegation has arrived to investigate the causes of death," it said, adding that "everything points to death by suicide."

The statement didn't identify McAfee by name but said the dead man was a 75-year-old US citizen awaiting extradition to his country.

A Catalan government official familiar with the case who was not authorized to be named in media reports confirmed to The Associated Press that it was McAfee.

Spain's National Court on Monday ruled in favour of extraditing McAfee, 75, who had argued in a hearing earlier this month that the charges against him by prosecutors in Tennessee were politically motivated and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the US.

The court's ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelona's international airport and had been in jail since then awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings.

The arrest followed charges the same month in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary.

The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based attorney defending him on those cases, said by phone that McAfee "will always be remembered as a fighter."

"He tried to love this country but the US government made his existence impossible," Sanan said.

"They tried to erase him, but they failed."

The lawyer said Spanish authorities have not given his legal team a cause of death, and he wants to know if there were video cameras in McAfee's cell or in the prison.

The US Attorney's Office in Memphis declined to comment.

Tennessee prosecutors had argued that McAfee owed the US government USD 4,214,105 in taxes before fines or interests for undeclared income in the five fiscal years from 2014 to 2018, according to a Spanish court document seen by AP.

But in this week's ruling, the National Court judge agreed to extradite him only to face charges from 2016 to 2018.

Born in England's Gloucestershire in 1945 as John David McAfee, he started McAfee Associates in 1987 and led an eccentric life after selling his stake in the antivirus software company named after him in the early 1990s.

McAfee twice made long-shot runs for the US presidency and was a participant in Libertarian Party presidential debates in 2016.

He dabbled in yoga, ultralight aircraft and producing herbal medications.

In 2012 he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Gregory Viant Faull, who was shot to death in early November 2012 on the Belize island where the men lived.

McAfee told AP at the time that he was being persecuted by the Belizean government.

Belizean police denied that, saying they were simply investigating a crime about which McAfee may have had information.

Then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressed doubts about McAfee's mental state, saying, "I don't want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers."

A Florida court ordered McAfee in 2019 to pay USD 25 million to Faull's estate in a wrongful death claim.

In July of that year he was released from detention in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of travelling on a yacht carrying high-caliber weapons, ammunition and military-style gear.

McAfee told Wired Magazine in 2012 that his father, a heavy drinker and "very unhappy man,"shot himself when McAfee was 15.

"Every day I wake up with him," he told Wired.

He lived for a time in Lexington, Tennessee, a rural town of about 7,800 some 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Memphis.

In a 2015 interview with WBBJ-TV, McAfee said he only felt comfortable when armed.

The TV station reported that he chose to be interviewed with a loaded gun in each hand.

"Very little gives me a feeling of being safe and more secure other than being armed in my bedroom with the door locked," McAfee told the station.

In one of his last known media interviews, with British newspaper The Independent last November, McAfee said his prison experience in Spain was a "fascinating adventure" and he planned never to return to the U.S.

"I am constantly amused and sometimes moved," he was quoted as saying.

"The graffiti alone could fill a thousand-page thriller."

He also told The Independent that prisoners and guards had recognized him and some asked for his autograph.

McAfee said his main point of contact outside the prison was his wife, Janice McAfee.

The last post from his Twitter account was a retweet of a Father's Day message from her.

"These eight months John has spent in prison in Spain have been especially hard on his overall health both mentally and physically, as well as financially, but he is undeterred from continuing to speak truth to power," it said.

California chipmaker Intel, which bought McAfee's company in 2011 for USD 7.

68 billion, for a time sought to dissociate the brand from its controversial founder by folding it into its larger cybersecurity division.

But the rebranding was short-lived, and Intel in 2016 spun out the cybersecurity unit into a new company called McAfee.

(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
By Associated Press

LAHORE: Pakistani authorities on Thursday conducted raids across different cities of the Punjab province and took into custody several suspects in connection with the explosion outside the house of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind and chief of the banned Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Saeed here.

At least three people were killed and 21 others injured in the blast that took place at a police picket outside Saeed's residence at the BOR Society in Johar Town at around 11:00 am on Wednesday.

Some police officers guarding his house also suffered serious injuries. The windows and walls of Saeed's house were damaged from the impact of the blast. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

According to a Geo TV report, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab Police on Thursday conducted raids across different cities of Punjab in connection with the blast. Quoting sources, the report said CTD has taken into custody several suspicious persons.

CTD and intelligence agencies have collected the evidence from the crime scene, the sources said, adding that ball bearings, pieces of iron and the vehicle's parts have been preserved.

Investigative agencies have also started geo-fencing the area to help with the blast probe, the report said.

In geo-fencing, a virtual geographic boundary around an area is created by means of Global Positioning System (GPS) or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, enabling software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves the area.

The 71-year-old radical cleric has been serving a jail sentence at the high-security Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore for his conviction in terror financing cases. The blast sparked rumours that Saeed was present in the house.

Meanwhile, condemning the terrorist incident, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned that Pakistan could see an increase in such attacks due to the 'flawed Afghan policy' of the current government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Addressing the media at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Wednesday, Bilawal said such incidents could increase as Pakistan's policy in Afghan peace process 'is not correct' and added that some terrorist organisations are also active across the border, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

"I had demanded on the floor of the (National) Assembly that whatever this government is doing covertly and through the backdoor should be brought before the representatives of the people. The government should tell us what its policy is," he said, referring to Pakistan's role in brokering the peace deal between Afghan Taliban and the United States.

Saeed, a UN designated terrorist whom the US has placed a USD 10 million bounty on, has been convicted for 36 years imprisonment in five terror financing cases. His punishment is running concurrently.

Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. He was listed under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008.

The global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is instrumental in pushing Pakistan to take measures against terrorists roaming freely in Pakistan and using its territory to carry out attacks in India.
By Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS: Russia previewed a showdown with the United Nations, United States and Western nations Wednesday over the delivery of humanitarian aid to rebel-held northwest Syria from Turkey, rejecting their warnings that closing the only border crossing will leave more than 1 million people without desperately needed food and cause people to die because they lack medicine.

Stressing the importance of strengthening Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia insisted that aid can and should be delivered across conflict lines in Syria, and accused the UN and the West of doing nothing to promote such deliveries during the past year.

Unless Western nations "both in words and deeds prove their commitment to this goal," he warned that there is no point in speaking about renewing the mandate for the one remaining border crossing from Turkey to northwest Idlib which expires on July 10.

In this April 19, 2020, file photo, shows a large refugee camp on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey, near the town of Atma, in Idlib province, Syria. (Photo | AP)

"We still have some time before the 'D-Day'. Hopefully it will not be wasted," Nebenzia said. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who visited the Turkish border crossing at Bab Al-Hawa in early June, said the United States is willing to work to expand aid to Syrians across borders and conflict lines.

ALSO READ | At least 18 killed in hospital attack in opposition-held Syria town: Monitor

But right now, "without cross-border access, more Syrians will die," thousands of children will be denied food and be permanently stunted in growth and cognitive development, and millions of people will have reduced access to clean water, medical supplies and COVID-19 vaccines, she said.

"There is no Plan B," Thomas-Greenfield stressed.

"The Plan B is to continue to push for the extension of the mandate. Plan B means that we have failed, and hopefully we don't fail."

"So, I'm going to work on this every single day until it's accomplished," she said.

Wednesday's showdown in the UN Security Council came ahead of its consideration of a draft resolution to keep the Bab al-Hawa crossing open, likely for a year instead of the current six-month mandate, and possibly reopen two others.

The council had approved four border crossings when deliveries began in 2014.

Nebenzia said Russia agreed to that because Syria "was being torn apart by terrorism."

He said Damascus since then has liberated almost 90 per cent of its territory and was trying to improve the Syrian people's lives.

"In these conditions, the cross-border mechanism is a mere anachronism," he said.

In 2020, Russia used its veto threat in the council to score victories for its close ally Syria, to halve the mandate and limit humanitarian aid deliveries to just the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a virtual briefing to the council, said more than 70 per cent of the population requires assistance, and almost all of them are "in severe need" of help to survive.

He stressed that cross-line operations "will never be able to replace cross-border assistance at the present levels," pointing to the more than 1,000 trucks that move through Bab al-Hawa every month.

"A failure to extend the council's authorization would have devastating consequences," Guterres warned.

ALSO WATCH | Demons and Genies: Yemen's mysterious 'Well of Hell'
By PTI

LAHORE: Pakistani security agencies on Thursday arrested two suspects involved in the car bomb blast outside the house of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind and chief of the banned Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Saeed, an official said.

The Crime Investigation Department (CTD) has arrested two suspects, one of them a Christian, who had a connection with the sale and purchase of the car used for the blast, a CTD official said.

The official did not disclose the identity of the suspects. However, the AP named one of the arrested as David Peter.

ALSO READ: Car bomb blast outside Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's house kills 3 in Lahore

Intelligence agencies have arrested a man from the Lahore airport on the suspicion of his involvement in the blast, Geo News reported.

Quoting police sources, the report said the man was asked to get off a Karachi-bound flight a few minutes before departure. He was taken to an undisclosed location for further investigation, the report said.

"We are getting a lead from the arrested persons to the main culprits," the CTD official said, adding that different teams have been formed to probe the matter.

The arrests came after the security agencies conducted raids across different cities of Punjab in connection with the blast. An FIR has been registered against 'unknown terrorists' under terrorism and other charges, said police.

Three persons were killed and 21 others injured when the powerful car bomb exploded outside Saeed's residence at the Board of Revenue (BOR) Housing Society in Johar Town on Wednesday morning, resulting in serious injuries to some police officers guarding his house.

The windows and walls of Saeed's house were damaged from the impact of the blast. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The CTD official told PTI that it was a remote-controlled device installed in a car parked at the police picket near Saeed's house.

"Some 15 kilograms of explosives were planted in the car that was stolen from Gujranwala. Through the CCTV it was seen that the car driver reached the police picket and parked it there and left 15 minutes before the blast," the official said.

Although Saeed's residence remained safe with some windows and glass damaged, a number of other houses and shops falling within 100 square feet radius of the blast site were damaged.

Two houses and four shops were completely damaged. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has promised to compensate those affected by the blast.

Meanwhile, police and Rangers personnel have been deployed outside and in the vicinity of Saeed's residence. Security has also been put on high alert in Lahore.

Earlier on Thursday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Punjab police are close to arresting the culprits responsible for the blast outside Saeed's residence. "Officials have achieved great success during the investigation process. Punjab police will soon arrest the suspects and give good news to the people," Rashid tweeted.

Inspector General Police Punjab Inam Ghani had said that hostile intelligence agencies could be involved in this blast.

The CTD and intelligence agencies have collected the evidence from the crime scene, the sources said, adding that ball bearings, pieces of iron and the vehicle's parts have been preserved.

Investigative agencies have also started geo-fencing the area to help with the blast probe, Geo TV reported.

In geo-fencing, a virtual geographic boundary around an area is created by means of Global Positioning System (GPS) or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, enabling software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves the area.

The 71-year-old radical cleric has been serving a jail sentence at the high-security Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore for his conviction in terror financing cases. The blast sparked rumours that Saeed was present in the house.

Meanwhile, condemning the terrorist incident, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned that Pakistan could see an increase in such attacks due to the 'flawed Afghan policy' of the current government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Addressing the media at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Wednesday, Bilawal said such incidents could increase as Pakistan's policy in Afghan peace process 'is not correct' and added that some terrorist organisations are also active across the border, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

"I had demanded on the floor of the (National) Assembly that whatever this government is doing covertly and through the backdoor should be brought before the representatives of the people. The government should tell us what its policy is," he said, referring to Pakistan's role in brokering the peace deal between Afghan Taliban and the United States.

Saeed, a UN designated terrorist whom the US has placed a USD 10 million bounty on, has been convicted for 36 years imprisonment in five terror financing cases. His punishment is running concurrently.

Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. He was listed under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008.

The global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is instrumental in pushing Pakistan to take measures against terrorists roaming freely in Pakistan and using its territory to carry out attacks in India.
Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
The College of Medias first Deans Fellow for Diversity takes us for a guided, virtual tour of some of his favorite places and spaces on and around campus, from the second floor of the main library to the Quad at 1 p.m. on a spring day (in non-pandemic times).
A rare genetic defect that affects the so-called ALG2 gene can cause serious metabolic diseases in humans. It does so through the defective formation of proteins and sugar molecules. Until now, its rareness and complexity made it difficult to study this congenital glycosylation disorder.

A research team led by Prof. Dr Joachim Wittbrodt and Dr Thomas Thumberger from the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) of Heidelberg University has finally succeeded in introducing the underlying mutation in the ALG2 gene in a fish model, thus allowing the causes of these complex diseases to be studied at the molecular level.

Human cells are kept alive by the activity of millions of proteins. As they mature, these proteins must be modified in a myriad of ways, such as through the addition of sugar molecules - a crucial change for proper function. Defects in this sugar-adding process, also known as sugar decoration, are often lethal at the very early stages of development.

As Prof. Wittbrodt explains, in rare cases a genetic defect causes sugar-addition deficiencies, which then manifest as congenital disorders of glycosylation. "Correct protein glycosylation requires a number of enzymes functioning together like clockwork," states the researcher. The ALG2 gene has an especially important task in this process. It codes an enzyme needed for the correct branching of the sugar chain. If this process is disturbed, patients appear unaffected at birth but develop problems in different organs, such as the eyes, brain, and muscles, during early childhood.

The team led by Prof. Wittbrodt and Dr Thumberger used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing scissors to introduce an ALG2 mutation in a fish model, the Japanese rice fish or medaka. "Fish are particularly good models for these disorders because they develop outside the mother, making them very suitable for studying early embryonic defects," explains Dr Thumberger. In addition, the genome of the Japanese rice fish can be edited efficiently and precisely. "Our fish are genetic twins, so to speak, so the effect of individual changes can be directly identified as compared to non-genetically altered fish."

Although the evolutionary distance between humans and fish is vast, the researchers report many of the same symptoms in the fish model that appear in ALG2 patients, including specific neuronal defects. They were surprised by the results yielded by the analysis of the total medaka organism, which took into account the full spectrum of different cell types. "Although all cells of the fish showed the same reduced ALG2 activity, some cell types were more affected than others," states Prof. Wittbrodt. In the retina of the fish eye, cone cells needed for colour-sensing were unaffected, but there was a progressive loss of rod cells needed for vision in low light, thus rendering the fish night-blind. Now the researchers hope to identify the proteins that cause the rod cells to die off because of diminished sugar binding.

Our studies on the medaka fish model showed that all symptoms could be prevented by supplying fully functional ALG2 mRNA - the blueprint for producing the correct ALG2 enzyme. We were able to effectively reverse the genetic defect in the fish model. That means that we can now systematically analyse the individual function areas of the ALG2 enzyme. We are particularly interested in the cell type-specific response in the context of the whole organism." Prof. Dr Joachim Wittbrodt, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University

Building on this research, the Heidelberg research team plans to study the molecular mechanisms and causes for the development of such complex metabolic diseases in humans.
Only 1 in 10 older adults in a large national survey who were found to have cognitive impairment consistent with dementia reported a formal medical diagnosis of the condition.

Using data from the Health and Retirement Study to develop a nationally representative sample of roughly 6 million Americans age 65 or older, researchers at the University of Michigan, North Dakota State University and Ohio University found that 91% of people with cognitive impairment consistent with dementia told questioners they had a formal medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

"(The discrepancy) was higher than I was expecting," said Sheria Robinson-Lane, study co-author and assistant professor at the U-M School of Nursing.

When proxy reporters (generally, family members) responded, the prevalence dropped from 91% to around 75%, which is still very significant, she said. While many people may have been diagnosed and remain unaware or forgot about their diagnosis, what's concerning is that cognitive assessment, specifically dementia screening, isn't routine during annual well visits for older adults.

COVID-19 gives these numbers heightened significance because people with dementia have higher risk for hospitalization and death following an infection, Robinson-Lane said. COVID-19 also causes long-standing neurological effects in some people, perhaps increasing risk for future dementia-related diagnoses.

Now more than ever, these routine screenings and assessments are really critical. I think it's particularly important to have some baseline information available to providers of patients over 65." Sheria Robinson-Lane, study co-author and assistant professor, U-M School of Nursing

Co-author Ryan McGrath, an assistant professor at North Dakota State University, suggested that the migration to telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic further underscores the importance of cognitive assessments.

"We recommend that health care providers screen for low cognitive functioning during routine health assessments when possible," he said. "A telemedicine option may reduce clinic time and expand reach."

The prevalence of not having reported a dementia-related diagnosis, despite being identified as living with a cognitive impairment consistent with dementia, differed by gender, education and race.

People who identified as non-Hispanic Black had a higher estimated prevalence (93%) of no reported diagnosis, as did males (99.7%) compared to females (90.2%) The estimated prevalence of no reported diagnosis for non-high school graduates was about 93.5%, compared to 91% for those with at least a high school education.

"There is a large disparity in dementia-related treatment and diagnosis among Black older adults, who are often diagnosed much later in the disease trajectory compared to other racial and ethnic groups," Robinson-Lane said.

Education is often a proxy for socioeconomic status, so throughout life, wealthier individuals have more access to resources that affect both risk and disease progression, she said. And, evidence suggests that education may influence cognitive testing performance.

The Medicare visit is supposed to include a cognitive screening, but it can be difficult to ascertain a cognitive concern in a 20-minute annual visit, she said. Adding a specific cognitive assessment can also take up visit time.

Often, Robinson-Lane hears from concerned family members who don't know next steps, or the family member they're concerned about wants to maintain independence and privacy, and doctors can't share information without the patient's consent.

She encourages open communication and reminds families that they can still share information with the loved one's provider directly or through a nurse or medical assistant.
A new observational study has begun to evaluate the immune responses generated by COVID-19 vaccines administered to pregnant or postpartum people. Researchers will measure the development and durability of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in people vaccinated during pregnancy or the first two postpartum months. Researchers also will assess vaccine safety and evaluate the transfer of vaccine-induced antibodies to infants across the placenta and through breast milk.

The study, called MOMI-VAX, is sponsored and funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. MOMI-VAX is conducted by the NIAID-funded Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC).

Tens of thousands of pregnant and breastfeeding people in the United States have chosen to receive the COVID-19 vaccines available under emergency use authorization. However, we lack robust, prospective clinical data on vaccination in these populations. The results of this study will fill gaps in our knowledge and help inform policy recommendations and personal decision-making on COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and in the postpartum period." Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., NIAID Director

Pregnant people with COVID-19 are more likely to be hospitalized, be admitted to the intensive care unit, require mechanical ventilation, and die from the illness than their non-pregnant peers. Severe COVID-19 during pregnancy also may put the infant at risk for complications such as preterm birth. Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding can choose to receive authorized COVID-19 vaccines, and studies to gather safety data in these populations are ongoing. So far, COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe in these populations. The NIAID study will build on these studies by improving the understanding of antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines among pregnant and postpartum people and the transfer of antibodies to their infants during pregnancy or through breast milk. Experience with other diseases suggests that the transfer of vaccine-induced antibodies from mother to baby could help protect newborns and infants from COVID-19 during early life.

Investigators will enroll up to 750 pregnant individuals and 250 postpartum individuals within two months of delivery who have received or will receive any COVID-19 vaccine authorized or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Their infants also will be enrolled in the study. Vaccines are not provided to participants as part of the study protocol. Currently, three COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States under emergency use authorization: the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccines and the Johnson & Johnson adenoviral vector vaccine. The study is designed to assess up to five types of FDA-licensed or authorized COVID-19 vaccines, should additional options become available.

Participants and their infants will be followed through the first year after delivery. To assess the development and durability of vaccine-induced antibodies overall and by vaccine type and vaccine platform, researchers will analyze blood samples collected from pregnant and postpartum participants. These samples will be collected at study enrollment; at delivery for participants who enrolled during pregnancy; and two, six, and 12 months after delivery. Pregnant participants enrolled in the study prior to receiving the vaccine will have blood drawn at enrollment as well as approximately one month after vaccination. To assess transfer of antibodies through the placenta and the levels and durability of antibodies in infants, researchers will perform antibody testing on samples from umbilical cord blood collected at delivery and blood samples collected from infants two and six months after delivery.

Investigators also will assess the potential effects on maternal immune responses and transfer of antibodies across the placenta according to the mother's age, the trimester of pregnancy during which the vaccine was received, the mother's health, and the mother's COVID-19 risk status. Additionally, mothers will have the option of providing breast milk samples at approximately two weeks, two months, six months, and 12 months after delivery. The investigators will evaluate breast milk antibodies to assess the potential for protection against COVID-19 in breastfed infants. Study staff also will gather information on COVID-19 illnesses in pregnant and postpartum participants, birth and neonatal outcomes, and COVID-19 illnesses in infant participants.

The work is led by principal investigators Flor M. Munoz, M.D., of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and Richard H. Beigi, M.D., of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The study will be conducted at up to 20 clinical research sites nationwide. More information about the study, including a list of sites, is available on the IDCRC website.

NIAID conducts and supports research--at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide--to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.
Black patients with cirrhosis - late-stage liver disease - are about 25% more likely to die compared to non-Hispanic white patients and four times less likely to receive a liver transplant, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

Estimates of racial disparity in cirrhosis have been limited by a lack of large-scale longitudinal data, which track patients from diagnosis to death and/or transplant.

The paper is one of the first to link all seven large liver centers in Chicago with the death registry and transplant registry to examine racial disparities in cirrhosis on a population level. Previous surveillance of outcomes by race has been through the transplant registry alone, which only captures about 2% of those with cirrhosis, and therefore does not lend itself to understand the true disparity affecting patients with cirrhosis.

The findings underscore broader societal issues of access to health care for our Black patients. We need to support our Black community to find the way to optimal care, including offering transplants at the same rate as all other patients." Dr. Daniela Ladner, senior study author, professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine transplant surgeon

The study did not examine the cause of the disparity, but other research has shown the reasons are a combination of structural (lack of resources such as medical specialists, pharmacies, transportation, safe housing) and institutional (policies and practices that disadvantage or prioritize certain groups over others).

The paper was published recently in Hepatology.

Cirrhosis is a common disease thought to affect more than 600,000 people in the U.S. and is a leading cause of death in adults. It is caused by chronic viral infections of the liver (hepatitis B and hepatitis c), fatty liver disease and alcohol use disorder.

Previous research has addressed the small group of patients who are listed for liver transplant (<2% of patients with cirrhosis) and found there were no disparities in outcomes by race. The new study results encompass a broader group, specifically patients in Chicago with cirrhosis regardless of transplant eligibility. The study found persistent issues with patient outcomes by race. This finding persisted despite controlling for severity of liver disease and complications, co-morbidities (such as heart disease, kidney disease, cancers) and socioeconomic factors.

"The findings from this study should prompt quality initiatives at each of the liver centers in this study to examine what barriers to care are contributing the most to the disparities we found," said co-lead author Dr. Nikhilesh Mazumder, a Northwestern Medicine transplant hepatology fellow. "Further research is needed to verify these results on a national level, so we can address this disparity nationwide."

One remedy, the authors said, is targeted interventions to facilitate health care access for Black patients such as the African American Transplant Access Program at Northwestern Medicine. This program is directed by transplant surgeon and co-lead author Dr. Dinee Simpson, assistant professor of surgery at Feinberg and a Northwestern Medicine transplant surgeon.

"We must recognize that health equity is not attainable for everyone if we treat them the same, because different groups face different barriers," Simpson said. "We must research the barriers our Black patients face and be willing to address them with creative solutions. This must happen at the institutional level and the structural level for better health to be realized in this community."

Among patients listed for liver transplants, there were no differences among patient outcomes, the study found.

It is also important to continue to study Black disparities to find the best solutions to resolve them, the authors said. Population-based cohorts such as the Chicago Area Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Network, spearheaded by co-author Dr. Abel Kho, that combine electronic health records from 10 health care systems, allow for these population-based studies.
Three members of the University of Colorado Cancer Center and a longstanding supporter of the campus are part of a group of more than 200 researchers nationwide who were recognized in April with the Team Science Award from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

The CU researchers -- Terry Fry, MD, Lia Gore, MD, and Amanda Winters, MD, PhD, all of whom practice at Children's Hospital Colorado, along with patient advocate Kevin Reidy -- are part of the St. Baldrick's Foundation Stand Up To Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, a group of some 200 researchers across 10 leading children's hospitals and childhood cancer-focused research programs who are helping to develop new immunotherapy approaches for high-risk childhood cancers. The collaboration has resulted in 319 peer-reviewed published manuscripts, 44 patent applications, the generation of more than $118 million in additional grant funding, the creation of a new pediatric clinical trials network, and the treatment of more than 1,113 children through early-phase clinical trials.

"I have been privileged to be a member of the Stand Up To Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team since its inception and am delighted to partner with Dr. Gore in leading efforts at Children's Hospital Colorado, CU Cancer Center, and CU Anschutz," says Fry, who is an expert in CAR T-cell therapy, a process by which a cancer patient's immune cells are extracted, genetically modified and stimulated to recognize tumors and to fight cancer when reinfused into the patient's body. Fry is also the mentor to the newest CU Dream Team member, M. Eric Kohler, MD, PhD, who is working to develop CAR T-cells for several different cancers.

As a group of leading pediatric cancer programs, the SU2C Pediatric Dream Team has been able to ensure the rapid translation of immune-based therapies from Dream Team laboratories into children with cancer facilitated by innovative science and a highly collaborative spirit. I am proud of the major contributions the CU campus has made to these efforts." Terry Fry, MD, CU Researcher

Winters' research focuses on pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, and how to detect and target a disease that persists after therapy. Using a technology called digital PCR, Winters can detect AML-specific gene mutations to identify persistent disease down to one leukemia cell in 1,000 to 10,000 normal cells. She also is focused on identifying pediatric AML cells that are therapy-resistant through single cell analysis technologies in order to design targeted therapies, including immunotherapies, against these cells.

"For me, being a part of this team has enabled me to learn from really smart and successful scientists and to see the power of collaboration," Winters says. "When all of us are focused on developing better therapies for children with cancer, we can accomplish much more than any of us can alone. The AACR Team Science Award is a recognition of the successful outcome of these collaborations."

Gore, co-director of the CU Cancer Center's Developmental Therapeutics Program and section head of pediatric hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant-cellular therapeutics at Children's Hospital Colorado, has had great success in developing trials for children using monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapies that target leukemia cells.

She was senior author of a paper that described the first use of a bi-specific T-cell engaging strategy to treat the most common form of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and has led the development of that strategy in the Children's Oncology Group for the past few years. She also mentored the development of two other antibodies for leukemia and lymphomas for other uses in different childhood cancers.

Gore says the AACR award is a testament to the true team nature of the group. "This is another milestone in the mark we are making as a campus in immunotherapy."
A team of UK-based scientists has developed and validated a DNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that encodes both spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid of the virus as vaccine immunogens.

The vaccine demonstrates high potency in stimulating antibody-mediated and cell-mediated immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic prompted a global response that saw hundreds of laboratories across the globe developing and testing potential vaccination candidates to prevent infection and COVID-19 disease. Among currently available vaccines, mRNA-based and adenovirus vector-based vaccines have shown high efficacy in preventing both SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptomatic COVID-19 disease. However, since these vaccines have been developed against the original, previously circulating strain of SARS-CoV-2, there remains a global concern about the efficacy and longevity of vaccine-induced protective immunity against newly emerging viral variants with multiple spike mutations, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P1, and B.1.617.2.

In the current study, the scientists have evaluated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy of a DNA vaccine that contains both SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and nucleocapsid as immunogens.

Because of high immunogenicity, the spike protein has been incorporated in most of the vaccine development platforms to induce strong neutralizing antibody and T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2. However, in many COVID-19 recovered patients, a robust immune response against viral nucleocapsid protein has also been observed. The nucleocapsid protein, which is highly conserved between coronaviruses, plays a vital role in viral replication and packaging of the viral genome into virions.

Given the importance of nucleocapsid in inducing robust natural immunity, scientists have incorporated it in the DNA vaccine to induce a broad range of immune responses. They have linked the nucleocapsid sequence to a modified fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain of human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) to increase the binding strength between antibody and antigen.

Important observations

Multiple DNA constructs were produced by fusing spike RBD sequence with IgG1 Fc domain, fibritin timer domain, or disulfide bridge motif, as well as fusing nucleocapsid sequence with IgG1 Fc or modified Fc domain. The characterization of these DNA constructs revealed that functional RBD and nucleocapsid proteins are produced as both secreted and extracellular forms. Both proteins are capable of inducing robust humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

Immunization of mice with DNA constructs revealed that nucleocapsid linked to modified Fc generated the strongest CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses specific to nucleocapsid. Importantly, these T cells demonstrated cross-reactivity to both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.

The comparison of RBD-specific immunity revealed that DNA constructs containing RBD monomer induce higher frequency T cell response than full-length spike-containing constructs.

To determine the immunogenicity of bivalent DNA construct, mice were immunized with DNA constructs containing RBD alongside modified Fc-linked nucleocapsid.

A high-frequency CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses specific to RBD and nucleocapsid was observed in all immunized mice. Regarding humoral immunity, the bivalent DNA construct exhibited high potency in stimulating robust neutralizing antibody titers against spike RBD. However, comparatively lower antibody titers were observed against the nucleocapsid protein.

Importantly, vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies exhibited cross-reactivity to spike variants containing mutations commonly observed in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. However, the reactivity to spike protein of B.1.351 variant was significantly lower than that observed against wild-type spike. In contrast, a comparable reactivity was observed between wild-type and B.1.1.7 spike variants.

To further emphasize the significance of a DNA-based vaccine platform, a vaccine variant was developed by incorporating B.1.315 RBD sequence alongside modified Fc-linked nucleocapsid protein.

The characterization of the vaccine variant revealed higher neutralizing antibody titers against the B.1.315 spike than that against the wild-type spike. Interestingly, comparable antibody titers against wild-type and mutated nucleocapsid were observed in response to the vaccine variant. Moreover, the vaccine variant showed high potency in inhibiting the interaction of wild-type RBD or B.1.351 RBD with human ACE2.

Study significance

The study highlights the importance of DNA-based platforms for the cost-effective and rapid development of potential vaccines. Moreover, the study reveals that bivalent DNA vaccines containing both spike and nucleocapsid proteins can induce broad-spectrum antibody and T cell responses against both wild-type and mutated SARS-CoV-2.

A relatively straightforward process of incorporating mutated immunogens makes DNA platforms a valuable strategy to target newly emerging viral variants.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Although James Toussaint has never had covid, the pandemic is taking a profound toll on his health.

First, the 57-year-old lost his job delivering parts for a New Orleans auto dealership in spring 2020, when the local economy shut down. Then, he fell behind on his rent. Last month, Toussaint was forced out of his apartment when his landlord  who refused to accept federally funded rental assistance  found a loophole in the federal ban on evictions.

Toussaint recently has had trouble controlling his blood pressure. Arthritis in his back and knees prevents him from lifting more than 20 pounds, a huge obstacle for a manual laborer.

Toussaint worries about what will happen when his pandemic unemployment benefits run out, which could happen as early as July 31.

"I've been homeless before," said Toussaint, who found a room to rent nearby after his eviction. "I don't want to be homeless again."

With coronavirus infections falling in the U.S., many people are eager to put the pandemic behind them. But it has inflicted wounds that won't easily heal. In addition to killing 600,000 in the United States and afflicting an estimated 3.4 million or more with persistent symptoms, the pandemic threatens the health of vulnerable people devastated by the loss of jobs, homes and opportunities for the future. It will, almost certainly, cast a long shadow on American health, leading millions of people to live sicker and die younger due to increasing rates of poverty, hunger and housing insecurity.

In particular, it will exacerbate the discrepancies already seen in the country between the wealth and health of Black and Hispanic Americans and those of white Americans. Indeed, new research published Wednesday in the BMJ shows just how wide that gap has grown. Life expectancy across the country plummeted by nearly two years from 2018 to 2020, the largest decline since 1943, when American troops were dying in World War II, according to the study. But while white Americans lost 1.36 years, Black Americans lost 3.25 years and Hispanic Americans lost 3.88 years. Given that life expectancy typically varies only by a month or two from year to year, losses of this magnitude are "pretty catastrophic," said Dr. Steven Woolf, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and lead author of the study.

Over the two years included in the study, the average loss of life expectancy in the U.S. was nearly nine times greater than the average in 16 other developed nations, whose residents can now expect to live 4.7 years longer than Americans. Compared with their peers in other countries, Americans died not only in greater numbers but at younger ages during this period.

The U.S. mortality rate spiked by nearly 23% in 2020, when there were roughly 522,000 more deaths than expected. Not all of these deaths were directly attributable to covid-19. Fatal heart attacks and strokes both increased in 2020, at least partly fueled by delayed treatment or lack of access to medical care, Woolf said. More than 40% of Americans put off treatment during the early months of the pandemic, when hospitals were stretched thin and going into a medical facility seemed risky. Without prompt medical attention, heart attacks can cause congestive heart failure; delaying treatment of strokes raises the risk of long-term disability.

Much of the devastating public health impact during the pandemic can be chalked up to economic disparity. Although stock prices have recovered from last year's decline  and have recently hit all-time highs  many people are still suffering financially, especially Black and Hispanic Americans. In a February report, economic analysts at McKinsey & Co. predicted that, on average, Black and Hispanic workers won't recover their pre-pandemic employment and salaries until 2024. The lowest-paid workers and those with less than a high school education may not recover even by then.

And while federal and state relief programs have cushioned the impact of pandemic job losses, 11.3% of Americans today live in poverty  compared with 10.7% in January 2020. A federal eviction moratorium, which has helped an estimated 2.2 million people remain in their homes, expires June 30. Without protection from evictions, "millions of Americans could fall off the cliff," said Vangela Wade, president and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Justice, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Being evicted erodes a person's health in multiple ways. "Poverty causes a lot of cancer and chronic disease, and this pandemic has caused a lot more poverty," said Dr. Otis Brawley, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies health disparities. "The effect of this pandemic on chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, will be measured decades from now."

Nineteen million adults recently have had trouble putting food on the table. The inability to afford healthy food  which is usually more expensive than salty, starchy fare  can cause both short-term and long-term harm. People with low incomes, for example, are more likely to be hospitalized for low blood sugar toward the end of the month, when they run out of money for food.

In the long term, food insecurity is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, depression, anxiety and other chronic diseases, especially in children.

"Once the acute phase of this crisis has passed, we will face an enormous wave of death and disability," said Dr. Robert Califf, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who wrote about post-pandemic health risks in an April editorial in Circulation, a medical journal. "These will be the aftershocks of covid."

Less wealth, poorer health

American health was poor even before the pandemic, with 60% of the population suffering from a chronic condition, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart failure. These four conditions were associated with nearly two-thirds of hospitalizations from covid, according to a February study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Deaths from some chronic diseases began rising in lower-income Americans in the 1990s, Woolf said. That trend was exacerbated by the Great Recession of 2007-09, which undermined the health not just of those who lost their homes or jobs but the population as a whole. Still, the Great Recession, and its resultant health effects, did not affect all Americans equally. Black people in the U.S. today control less wealth than they did before that recession, while the gap in financial security between Black and white Americans has widened, according to a Nonprofit Quarterly article published last year. And the unemployment rate among Black workers did not recover to pre-recession levels until 2016.

Researchers have developed a better understanding in recent years of how chronic stress  such as that caused by poverty, job loss and homelessness  leads to disease. Unrelenting stress causes inflammation that can damage blood vessels, the heart and other organs.

Research shows that people with low incomes live an average of seven to eight years less than those who are financially secure. The richest 1% of Americans live nearly 15 years longer than the poorest 1%.

People who are poor tend to smoke more; have higher risks of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease and mental illness; and are more likely to become victims of violence.

The stress of the pandemic also has led many people to smoke, drink and gain weight, increasing the risk of chronic disease. Fatal drug overdoses spiked 30% from October 2019 to October 2020.

Jennifer Drury, 40, has struggled with substance abuse, particularly prescription painkillers, since her 20s. She blames the isolation and stress of the pandemic for causing her to relapse  and leading several of her friends to fatally overdose.

"Idle time is not good for addiction," said Drury, who fell behind on rent and was evicted from her previous home. She said drug dealers are never far away, especially at the New Orleans motel where she and her husband are now staying. "Drug dealers don't care about pandemics."

Women losing ground

The American Rescue Plan, which provides $1.9 trillion in pandemic relief, was designed to help displaced workers and cut child poverty rates in half. The actual benefits of the law may prove less sweeping.

Twenty-five states have opted to cut off additional federal unemployment payments, citing concerns that such generous benefits pay people more to stay home than to work.

Many women say they would like to return to work but have no one to take care of their children. Nearly half of child care centers have closed and others have reduced the number of children they serve.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis concluded that "economic recovery depends on child care availability." A March report from the National Women's Law Center estimates "women have lost a generation of labor force participation gains," which could leave them and their children financially disadvantaged for years.

Ruth Bermudez is one of millions of women who have left the workforce in the past year. Bermudez, who was laid off from her job as a behavioral health caseworker in New Orleans last year, said her child care needs have prevented her from finding work. The care of her 6-year-old daughter became her full-time job after the pandemic closed schools.

Although her daughter has returned to class, Bermudez said school shutdowns due to covid outbreaks have been frequent and unpredictable.

"I had to be the teacher, the lunch lady, the school bus driver, all at one time," said Bermudez, 27. "It is exhausting."

Life-altering evictions

James Toussaint had just two weeks to find a new place to live after a judge ordered him evicted. His family was unable to take him in.

"I've got family, but everybody has their own issues and problems," said Toussaint, who had to throw away all his clothes and furniture because they had become infested with bedbugs. "Everyone is trying their best to help themselves."

Toussaint is now renting a room in a boarding house with no kitchen and a shared bathroom for $160 a week. He's had to buy cleaning supplies with his own money in order to sanitize the bathroom, which he said is often too dirty to use.

Sharing communal space is often unsanitary and increases the risk of being exposed to the coronavirus, said Emily Benfer, a visiting professor at Wake Forest University School of Law. Even moving in with family poses risks, she said, because it's impossible to isolate or quarantine in crowded homes.

Benfer co-wrote a November study that found covid infection rates grew twice as high in states that lifted moratoriums on evictions, compared with states that continued to ban them. About 14% of tenants have fallen behind on rent  double the rate before the pandemic.

Toussaint's annual lease expired during the pandemic, leaving him to rent on a month-to-month basis. While some states require landlords to show "just cause" for eviction, Louisiana landlords can evict tenants for any reason once their annual lease has expired.

Property owners have filed for more than 372,000 evictions during the pandemic in just the five states and 29 cities tracked by Princeton University's Eviction Lab. A growing body of evidence shows that eviction is toxic to health, causing immediate and long-term damage that increases the risk of death. Studies show that evicted people are more likely to be in poor general health or have mental health concerns even years later.

"This singular event alters the course of one's life for the worse," Benfer said. "If we don't intervene" to prevent mass evictions when the moratorium ends, "it will be catastrophic for generations to come."

Eviction's harms can be measured at every stage of life:

When pregnant women are evicted, their newborns are more likely to be born early or very small and have a higher risk of dying in the first year. Women who are evicted are more likely to suffer sexual assault, Benfer said.

Kids who are evicted are at greater risk of lead poisoning from substandard housing, Benfer said. They're also more likely than others to be hospitalized.

Evicted adults report worse mental health and are more likely to be hospitalized for a mental health crisis, studies show. They also have higher mortality rates from suicide. Although the causes of addiction are complex, research shows that counties with higher eviction rates have significantly higher rates of drug- and alcohol-related deaths.

People who are evicted often move into substandard housing in neighborhoods with higher crime rates. These homes are sometimes plagued by mold and roaches, lack sufficient heating, or have plumbing that doesn't work. Landlords have no incentive to make repairs for tenants who are behind on their rent, Benfer said. In fact, tenants who request repairs or report safety hazards risk eviction.

Although middle-class Americans take their kitchens for granted  and rely on them to cook healthful meals  more than 1 million homes lack complete kitchens, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

New Orleans doesn't require that rental units include stoves, said Hannah Adams, also a lawyer with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. Toussaint's new room is equipped with a microwave and small refrigerator, but no sink, oven or stove. He washes dinner dishes in the bathroom. His landlord doesn't allow residents to have electric hot plates, so most of his meals involve cold cereal, deli sandwiches or meals he can heat in the microwave. His doctor has urged Toussaint, who is borderline diabetic, to lose weight, eat less salt and starch, and stop smoking.

Toussaint, who lived on the street for two years, said he's determined not to return there. He hopes to apply for disability insurance, which would provide him with an income if his arthritis prevents him from finding steady work.

Woolf said he hopes Americans won't forget about the suffering of people like Toussaint as cases of covid decline. "My worry is that people will feel the crisis is behind us and it's all good," Woolf said. His research connecting four decades of declining economic opportunity with falling life expectancy shows "we are in really big trouble, and that was true before we knew a pandemic was coming."

The pandemic doesn't have to doom a generation of Americans to disease and early death, said Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. By addressing issues such as poverty, racial inequality and the lack of affordable housing, the country can improve American health and reverse the trends that caused communities of color to suffer. "How the pandemic will affect people's future health depends on what we do coming out of this," Besser said. "It will take an intentional effort to make up for the losses that have occurred over the past year."
Accessible and affordable healthcare is one of the topics of Healthcare Automation and Digitalization Congress. It will take place in Zurich, Switzerland on the 22nd - 23rd of March, 2021. At the Congress, top-management from healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies, healthcare professionals, IT managers, and heads from technology companies will discuss the developing ways of the remote access to medical services.

Image Credit: AUTOMA+ Healthcare Edition 2021

Access to medical care is widely discussed in the healthcare industry. There is no need to place every person to a hospital because most of the patients are able to take care of themselves with the help of the distance consultation and wearable devices. People use mobile soft, watches, trackers, and other wearables to measure vitals, and these technologies help lots of people to analyze their lifestyle in order to prevent health problems. But these technologies are only the tip of the iceberg: there is always a high need in more qualitative devices that can track the vitals and supply the drugs if the patients are not able to visit a hospital at the moment.

The global healthcare market needs to evolve its mechanisms to provide end-users with better solutions. Remote medical technologies will increase the availability of instant help by connecting the outlying regions, facilitating access to the narrow specialists, and reducing the consultation and treatment price. Healthcare digitalization can also affect the mental health level, that is an important matter to every country's public health policy.

The Congress session dedicated to accessible and affordable healthcare will raise the topics of Telehealth and mHealth, home-based care, micro-hospitals, and digital devices for personal usage. These and many other questions will gather worldwide experts of the health digitalization at the AUTOMA+ Healthcare Edition.

Request the full business program: https://bit.ly/3frMLq1
Current American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, and UK National Health Service guidelines recommend a 5-yearly health checks for screening of individuals at high cardiovascular disease risk. These health checks include measurement of major risk factors, such as systolic blood pressure, cholesterol profile, blood glucose, and smoking status.

If lifestyle interventions are unsuccessful in reducing risk factor levels, prevention guidelines recommend initiation of preventive medication therapies such as statins. However, current guidelines advice only using the latest risk measurement and do not use information from individual's risk factor history.

Faster risk progression should be identified in health checks

According to a Finnish-English study published in the Lancet Digital Health, individuals whose risk levels increase faster than expected based on ageing should be identified to inform decisions on preventive interventions. If the initiation of preventive interventions was delayed, these individuals can lose 2 to 6 cardiovascular disease free life-years, depending on their risk progression rate.

"Our study shows that individual risk history may provide important information for primary care to better identify individuals at high risk of cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, information allows to identify individuals who manage to reduce their risk levels between the health check and thus are at lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.

In the UK, approximately 160,000 die from cardiovascular disease every year and it has been estimated that 80% of them would be preventable by timely interventions, so even small improvements in the prevention system can have large impact." Joni Lindbohm MD, PhD, Study Lead Author, University College London and University of Helsinki

The study followed over 7000 men and women over two decades

The study was based on the Whitehall II cohort of 7000 British adults. Following current guidelines, their risk factor levels were screened every five years over a 22-year follow-up. The participants were linked to electronic health records from NHS registries including records on cardiovascular disease events.

The investigators found that accelerated risk progression was most detrimental among the youngest participants aged between 40 and 50. Similarly, the benefits of risk reduction were highest in this group.

Based on their results the researchers developed an online tool that can be used to study how risk history modifies estimated cardiovascular disease risk.

Additional study is needed

"These results are promising, but national guidelines are rarely changed based on a single study. The benefits of using additional information on risk history in health checks should be further studied in randomized control trials, emphasises Professor Mika Kivimaki, University College London, who is director of the Whitehall II study and one of the study authors.

Cardiovascular disease risk can be easily estimated with an internet-based risk calculator

Currently UK residents can determine their individual cardiovascular disease risk with the QRISK3 calculator that includes questions about age, sex, smoking, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, diabetes status, and variety of medical conditions.
Backtracking infection models suggest the first COVID-19 case occurred earlier than previously thought.

Researchers from Kent University in the UK have shown that the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient likely dates back to October 2019. They also found that the spread to other continents of its causative pathogen  the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)  occurred faster and sooner.

Image Credit: iunewind / Shutterstock

Earlier origin and faster global spread of COVID-19

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have attempted to retrace the infectious routes of the SARS-CoV-2. Key questions have focused on the dates the virus arrived in different countries. The first officially identified case occurred in early December 2019, but new research is now showing the first cases likely occurred sooner.

Researchers from Kent University led by David Roberts published their findings on the likely beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens.

Using a mathematical model initially developed for conservation science examining species extinction events based on sightings, Roberts and colleagues repurposed models using scenarios to retrace the COVID-19 timeline.

To date back to the origins of COVID-19, the team reversed the mathematical models and used data from the earliest known cases across 203 countries.

Findings indicated that the first case occurred in China between early October and mid-November 2019. The most likely scenario showed that the first case arose on November 17, and the disease spread globally by January 2020.

Additionally, models also identified when COVID-19 spread to the first 5 countries outside of China.

Estimates show that the first case beyond China was in Japan on January 3, 2020, and the first European case was in Spain on January 12, 2020. In North America, the first case of infection occurred in the US on January 16, 2020.

This suggests that the pandemic arose sooner and spread faster as well as further than previously recognized.

Adapting interdisciplinary methods, but with caution

The adaptation and use of extinction-based models to understand the current pandemic is particularly insightful as viral infection patterns may possess similar characteristics to population extinctions. This includes data on population dynamics, genetic diversity, and environmental factors involved.

The method we used was originally developed by me and a colleague to date extinctions, however, here we use it to date the origination and spread of COVID-19. This novel application within the field of epidemiology offers a new opportunity to understand the emergence and spread of diseases as it only requires a small amount of data." David Roberts, lead author of the study.

However, caution must be used when interpreting the results of such analyses as correlations and causations may be confounded by the difference in the nature of the data. Nevertheless, computational models across different disciplines of science may provide new information for studying epidemiological dynamics.

The scientists noted that this novel method could be further applied to understand the spread of COVID-19 across other countries and in tracing the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants as well. The quality and quantity of data available will improve model accuracy to examine patterns of infection in hindsight, which can then be used to project potential patterns into the future.

A better understanding of the exact origins of COVID-19 could improve the knowledge of how the virus spreads, and how fast it is able to do so. This, in turn, can help shape policies of containment.
A new tool to help conserve one of the UKs most threatened mammals has been released today, with the publication of the first high-quality reference genome for the European water vole. The genome was generated by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in collaboration with animal conservation charity the Wildwood Trust, as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.

The genome, published today (24 June 2021) through Wellcome Open Research, is openly available as a reference for researchers seeking to assess water vole population genetics, better understand how the species has evolved and to manage reintroduction efforts.

The European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) is a small semi-aquatic mammal that lives on the banks of freshwater habitats and in wetlands. The species is native to Europe, west Asia, Russia and Kazakhstan. While the water voles conservation status is least concern worldwide, populations in the United Kingdom have declined to such an extent that the species is considered nationally endangered. Habitat loss and predation by the American mink, an invasive alien species, have reduced the UK population from 7.3 million in 1990 to an estimated 132,000 in 2018.

Water voles gained full legal protection in the UK in 2008. There have been a number of conservation projects in the UK aimed at supporting water vole populations, including efforts at habitat restoration and to control the population of American mink. There are also efforts to reintroduce the water vole in a number of restored urban and wild habitats, as well as mitigate the impact of new development.

European water voles returned to Britain from ice-free refuges in Iberia and Eastern Europe after the last ice age, with these two clades contributing to genetic diversity in UK populations. This diversity may be apparent in certain traits, such as the black fur of Scottish water voles, which is distinct from those in England that tend to have brown fur. But the full wealth of genetic diversity cannot be estimated by appearance alone. It is also unknown how much diversity has been lost as a result of the recent population crash.

Hazel Ryan, Senior Conservation Officer at the Wildwood Trust, said: Water voles are amazing animals and we dont fully understand what ecosystems lose without them. They are industrious habitat managers, almost like miniature beavers in the way they fell stems, make burrows and alter the landscape. We suspect that some water vole populations have become inbred in recent decades owing to shrinking numbers and the fragmentation of populations through habitat loss. The reference genome offers us a way to better understand genetic diversity for reintroductions and consider mixing individuals to ensure populations have the best chance to thrive.

To sequence the European water vole reference genome, a blood sample was taken from a live male A. amphibius individual that was part of the captive breeding population of the Wildwood Trust in Kent, UK. DNA was extracted from this sample and sequenced by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute on Pacific Biosciences SEQUEL I and Illumina HiSeq X instruments.

Understanding the genetic diversity and structure of water vole populations is an important aspect of their conservation in the UK, and is central to international guidelines on the movement of wildlife for conservation management. The release of the water vole genome provides a comprehensive set of genetic tools to support the future sustainability of the species in the UK. Rob Ogden, Professor and Conservation Science Director, University of Edinburgh

The water vole genome is published as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project, which will see partner organizations sequence and assemble the genomes of 70,000 animal, plant, fungal and protist species across Britain and Ireland.

Professor Mark Blaxter, Programme Lead for the Darwin Tree of Life project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: The European water vole is a prime example of a British species whose genetic diversity were in danger of losing before weve had chance to fully record it. This high-quality Arvicola amphibius reference genome will allow us to do that, as well as support ongoing conservation efforts to preserve existing populations and reintroduce new ones in a way that ensures these populations are genetically robust.
PerkinElmer Inc. (PKI) agreed to buy SIRION Biotech GmbH, a provider of viral vector-based technologies that drive improved delivery performance for cell and gene therapies. The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of 2021.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, privately held SIRION has about 50 employees based in Germany, the U.S. and France.

The deal will complement PerkinElmer's Horizon Discovery portfolio which includes gene editing and modulation tools for CRISPR, CRISPRi and RNAi, custom cell lines for bio production and base editing technologies, PerkinElmer said in a statement.
A Bayesian analysis of the RECOVERY trial suggests the immunosuppressive drug tocilizumab can reduce deaths in hospitalized COVID-19 patients taking corticosteroids as well as patients on oxygen or non-invasive ventilation and likely increases hospital discharge rates. However, it is not clear if patients on invasive ventilation also benefit.

Preliminary trial data suggested that the arthritis drug tocilizumab might effectively improve outcomes for patients severely affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A randomized controlled trial called the Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) compared the use of the drug in hospitalized patients. The results suggested that the drug reduced deaths and provided benefits to all subgroups of patients tested, including those receiving respiratory support and corticosteroids.

The trial was designed and analyzed using the null hypothesis significance testing. But, this analysis method has limitations in subgroup analysis, and the consistent results obtained across all subgroups can be refined further to provide a better understanding and differences among the subgroups.

An alternative is to use a Bayesian approach. This method can include results from other randomized controlled trials and can directly address the question of how effective tocilizumab is in different patient subgroups.

Researchers from Brazil, the USA, and Canada reanalyzed the tocilizumab data using Bayesian methods to obtain better insights into its effect on different patient subgroups. They published their results on the medRxiv* preprint server.

Prior, RECOVERY, and posterior distributions for each subgroup on the mortality outcome. Panel A shows results for subgroups regarding use of corticosteroids. Panel B shows results for subgroups regarding respiratory support. Point estimates depict the median and interval bars depict 95% highest density intervals. Using conjugate normal analyses, these distributions were originally combined in the log-odds ratio scale (Methods section). They were transformed into the odds ratio scale for this figure to aid visual interpretation.

Analyzing benefits

The RECOVERY trial was conducted on 4,116 adults hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, exploring if the drug could reduce deaths and hospital stays. The team reanalyzed deaths and discharge from hospital within 28 days in two specific subgroups: patients receiving or not receiving corticosteroids and the effect of tocilizumab as a function of respiratory disease severity.

Posterior distributions and probabilities using evidence-based priors on the mortality outcome. Panel A shows the posterior distributions and Panel B shows the cumulative posterior probabilities on subgroups regarding the use of corticosteroids. Panel C shows the posterior distributions and Panel D shows the cumulative posterior probabilities on subgroups regarding respiratory support. Panels A and C: Point estimates depict the median and interval bars depict the 95% highest density intervals. Panels B and D: Cumulative posterior distributions correspond to the probabilities that the risk difference (RD) is lower than or equal to the effect size on the X-axis. The colors in Panels B and D match the ones used in Panels A and C

One component of the Bayesian analysis is choosing evidence-based priors, and there are many ways of doing that. Here, the authors used data from other tocilizumab COVID-19 randomized control trials to create priors based on evidence for each subgroup.

The analysis showed tocilizumab is especially beneficial for patients on corticosteroids and those not requiring ventilation. When looking at mortality, in patients not using corticosteroids, the probability of a risk difference benefit was about 19%. In patients using corticosteroids, a risk difference benefit probability was more than 99%, a striking difference. There is about a 96% probability that tocilizumab saved at least three lives in patients receiving corticosteroids.

Patients on non-invasive ventilation showed the most significant benefit from tocilizumab. There was also a benefit for patients receiving only oxygen. The least certainty of any benefit from tocilizumab was seen in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, with a 77% probability of any benefit, highlighting that there is insufficient evidence of any benefit of tocilizumab in this subgroup.

Posterior distributions from sensitivity analyses using different priors on the mortality outcome. Panel A shows posterior distributions on subgroups regarding use of corticosteroids. Panel B shows posterior distributions on subgroups regarding respiratory support. Point estimates depict the median and interval bars depict the 95% highest density intervals.

Benefits differ based on other treatments used

In the original analysis of RECOVERY data, the authors stated that they observed similar results across all subgroups. However, the authors of this new study write, Here, we present a more in-depth analysis and interpretation of these results, casting doubt about the claim of tocilizumabs universal benefit across subgroups.

The probabilities of small and significant benefits are very different between patients receiving or not receiving corticosteroids. In subgroups receiving respiratory support, the probabilities of larger effect sizes are different, in contrast to the original RECOVERY analysis. This suggests more evidence is needed for the benefit of tocilizumab in patients with invasive mechanical ventilation.

The results here are different from other studies that have analyzed the effect of tocilizumab. This is likely because of the different statistical models used here, which provide a better understanding of how tocilizumab benefits patients in different subgroups.

Other studies have also found that corticosteroids without tocilizumab can also reduce deaths, especially in patients with severe disease. Here, the authors found that tocilizumab has a more significant and more certain effect in reducing deaths in people with less severe disease. In addition, there is a low probability of tocilizumabs benefit in patients not on corticosteroids.

Tocilizumab also increases the hospital discharge rate, according to the analysis. Thus, tocilizumab most likely provides a relevant clinical improvement in patients at different clinical severity, except for the invasive ventilation group and the non-corticosteroid users where additional data are needed, write the authors.

*Important Notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
A major factor contributing to the ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been the emergence of new variants. Because the mutations of the original virus make variants more transmissible, there is more potential for the contagion to spread through social mixing due to the easing of lockdown.

The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was first identified in India at the end of April 2021 and has since been the variant that has steadily started to replace the UK Alpha variant (B.1.1.7). This subsequently resulted in a delay of the final stage of easing lockdown within the UK, which consisted of another four weeks from the original release date of 21st June, to the new date of 19th July.

A large group of UK-based researchers contributed to a study investigating the results of the REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission-1 study (REACT-1) involving a random sample of the population of England.

A pre-print version of the paper is available on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

REACT-1 study

The REACT-1 assessment involved inviting the participants to take part in the study and provide a nose and throat swab in order for RT-PCR tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The participants were also asked to complete a questionnaire online, and due to this study taking place for 12 rounds, the 12th round results were compared to the results from the 11th round results. The 11th round of tests were collected from 15th April to 3rd May 2021 and the 12th round of tests were obtained between 20th May 2021 and 7th June 2021.

The results of the 12th round consisted of 135 positive PCR tests for the virus from a sample of 108,911 valid swabs that were provided. This subsequently provided an overall prevalence of 0.15% compared to 0.10%, which seen in the 11th round of testing. This illustrates the increase in positive testing for the virus, which occurred between the 11th and 12th rounds.

The researchers had used constant growth rate models in order to analyze these results and found that there was substantial evidence to suggest a recent increase in R to 1.44 with an estimated doubling time of 11 days during the 12th round of testing. The possible turning point for this rise of positive tests was found to be approximately 13th May, as after this time point, the prevalence of these positive PCR tests from the swabs had increased.

Prevalence of national swab-positivity for England estimated using a P-spline for all twelve rounds with central 50% (dark grey) and 95% (light grey) posterior credible intervals. Shown here for the entire period of the study with a log10 y-axis. Weighted observations (black dots) and 95% binomial confidence intervals (vertical lines) are also shown. Note that the period between round 7 and round 8 (December) of the model is not included as there were no data available to capture the late December peak of the epidemic.

The replacement of the Alpha UK variant by the Delta Indian variant was observed by the researchers between 15th April to 7th June, which was across the 11th and 12th rounds of testing for the study. During the 12th round, the Delta variant was identified in more positive tests, from approximately 60% to 90%. This variant was only detected in London in two swab samples within the population during round 11. However, the prevalence of this variant increased to the point of being the sole lineage of the virus detected in many UK areas, such as North West, East Midlands, South East and London.

Weighted prevalence of swab-positivity by region for rounds 11 and 12. Bars show 95% confidence intervals.

Prevalence factors

The prevalence of these Delta variant-related positive tests was found to be within the younger age groups, such as from 5-12-years-old, as well as being found in young adults, 18-24 years old. This variant was predominantly found in younger ages compared to those aged 65-years-old or higher, with a 2.5-fold higher rate found in populations below 50-years-old.

Geographical distribution of swab-positives in round 12. A Jittered location of all 135 positive samples detected. B Neighbourhood smoothed average prevalence by lower-tier local area. Neighborhood prevalence calculated from nearest neighbors (the median number of neighbors within 20 km in the study). Average neighborhood prevalence displayed for individual lower-tier local authorities. Regions: NE = North East, NW = North West, YH = Yorkshire and The Humber, EM = East Midlands, WM = West Midlands, EE = East of England, L = London, SE = South East, SW = South West.

This increase could reflect the social nature of the younger populations, from school, jobs, to extracurricular social mixing due to the ease of lockdown, which allowed six people from different households to gather at a time.

The older populations were the priority to be vaccinated and are more likely to spend longer time indoors. However, due to the vaccinations now being available and provided to the ages of 18-years and older, the spread and effect of the Delta variant may decrease.

An extremely significant risk factor in the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 variant consists of areas of deprivation, with there being an approximately 2-fold increase in swab-positivity of participants within deprived areas when compared to non-deprived areas.

This risk is due to an amalgamation of various factors such as working conditions, housing, overcrowding as well as having access to available outdoor areas.

These factors are essential in the spread of the virus and reflect the results of the REACT-1 study; deprived areas are always the most sensitive target for infectious diseases and this can prevent the progress out of this pandemic, as well as in preventing future pandemics.

The REACT-1 study has reported the exponential growth in the Delta variant found in the UK within positive tests from participants across England, and younger populations may have mainly propagated this. In order to progress out of the pandemic and overcome the challenge that is presented by the Delta variant, younger populations require monitoring, and with the vaccine roll-out, along with further research into monitoring SARS-CoV-2, the infection rates can hopefully be reduced across the UK.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Whether telehealth will continue to be used by doctors following the COVID-19 pandemic will depend heavily on resourcing and policy, a Flinders University-led review has found.

In Australia, telehealth services  where doctors and clinicians speak to patients via the phone or over the internet  were encouraged during the early stages of the pandemic to minimize the risk of community transmission of the virus.

The service is also highly beneficial for people in rural and regional areas where physical medical services may be harder to access.

A team of researchers, including Dr Alan Taylor, Dr Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Professor Anthony Maeder and Professor Paul Ward from Flinders University, surveyed 91 health professionals to understand their uptake and experience of telehealth services during the pandemic.

The clinicians reported that positives included the legitimization of telehealth as a mode of service, increased confidence in providing the service and the increased availability of human and financial resources.

While clinicians felt the change to telehealth was essentially forced by the pandemic, we found the uptake of telehealth was dependent on mechanisms that would allow for the above-mentioned benefits, while at the same time having the available technology, said lead author Dr Alan Taylor from Flinders Universitys College of Medicine and Public Health and Member of the Australian Telehealth Society Committee.

Whether telehealth will continue following the pandemic is a complex mix of clinical practices and policies, including whether government funding for telehealth services will continue post the pandemic, added Dr Taylor.

Due to the pandemic, the adoption of telehealth to enable physically separated care may mark a new normal or it could be that once the pandemic passes, previous policies and practices will re-assert themselves and curb support for telehealth-enabled care. Dr Alan Taylor, Lead Author, Flinders Universitys College of Medicine and Public Health

How Australian Health Care Services Adapted to Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Telehealth Professionals is published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.648009

Dr Alan Taylor has also led a project developing a new international standard for telehealth services.

A project within the International Standards Organization Health Informatics Committee, the group has recently published a new ISO Standard - ISO 13131:2021 Health informatics  Telehealth services  Quality planning guidelines.

International standards are a cornerstone for world trade in goods and services and with the vastly increased use of telehealth service, the maintenance of the quality of telehealth services is important, said Dr Taylor.

These guidelines will be extremely useful for healthcare organizations, including primary care providers who wish to apply risk management processes to develop quality objectives and procedures for the operations of telehealth services including.

The standard includes:

management of telehealth quality processes

strategic and operational process management relating to regulations, knowledge management (best practice) and guidelines

healthcare processes relating to people such as healthcare activities, planning, and responsibilities

management of financial resources

management of information management and security

processes related to the planning and provision of human resources, infrastructure, facilities and technology resources
UK charity makes huge breakthrough in the battle against one of the worlds oldest known diseases

Whilst the world continues its battle against COVID-19, a state in India has taken a giant step forward in eliminating one of the worlds oldest known, deadliest diseases - rabies, which still kills a child every nine minutes.

A third of all deaths occur in India and there are 4.5 million exposures every year. The disease takes a huge toll on the country, but today the state of Goa has been declared a Rabies Controlled Area  becoming the first State in Indias history to achieve this. The announcement from the Government of Goa comes after zero human rabies deaths have been reported across the state since 2018. The achievement is the result of an eight-year partnership with a Dorset-based veterinary charity, Mission Rabies.

Mission Rabies has been working with the Government of Goa to control this deadly disease since 2013. Mission Rabies established its programme in India to demonstrate how new methods of rabies prevention could save lives. The charity developed a model based on dog vaccination and education that could save 60,000 lives every year across the world. Over 99% of human rabies cases are caused by an infected dog bite so the vaccination of dogs is the most effective way to stop its spread amongst dogs and people. The campaign began with vaccinating 61,143 dogs against rabies in just 30 days. At this time, the charitys surveillance teams were picking up approximately 1 rabid dog every 3 days in Goa. Through mass-scale vaccination of owned and stray dogs, that number has now been reduced to 1 rabid dog being detected every other month, with most of those animals having arrived in Goa from other states.

The campaign in Goa now vaccinates around 90,000 dogs every year and does not only benefit the people living there. Dogs in rabies hotspots are often feared as carriers of this deadly disease, which can lead to mistreatment and inhumane culls, but through effective vaccination campaigns these dogs are not only protected against disease, they are no longer seen as a threat, allowing people and dogs to live happily side by side.

Dr Luke Gamble, CEO and Founder of Mission Rabies, and a UK Veterinarian, explains the work that has taken place for Goa to become a Rabies Controlled Area.

Weve now delivered 540,593 vaccinations against rabies in dogs and educated nearly one million people in dog bite prevention across Goa, as well as set up 24-hour rabies surveillance, involving an emergency hotline, rapid response team, and a support team for dog bite victims. All of this led to Goa becoming the first state in India to stop all human deaths from rabies in 2018. An incredible achievement weve been able to support thanks to the leadership and strategic direction of the Government. It is fantastic that weve now hit the next milestone in terms of controlling the disease in animal populations.

State-wide rabies control has been the result of a global collaborative effort. Animal welfare charity Dogs Trust Worldwide, global health care company MSD Animal Health, and the University of Edinburgh have contributed massively to the achievement through funding campaigns, donating canine vaccines, and conducting research based on real-time data collected on the ground to guide the work in Goa.

Dr Marwin Lopes, Deputy Director and Nodal Officer for Rabies Control from Government of Goa praises the impact rabies control has made across the state, especially with respect to tourism, the economy, and the safety of people.

Now after years of work we are able to say that Goa is the first Rabies Controlled Area, and we hope other states will follow our example and work to achieve this too.

The declaration is a significant breakthrough in the fight against rabies in India as it provides the state government with the authority to enforce dog vaccination and reporting of suspect cases. Dr Murugan Appupillai, Director of Education at Mission Rabies explains.

Stringent measures, which have never been implemented in India before, will be now put in place to stop rabies re-emerging. Government officials will have authority to prevent unvaccinated animals entering the state via road, ship, air, or train, and even question the status of animals within it. Rabies vaccines will also be available  equally accessible and affordable  for all pet owners. Dr Murugan Appupillai, Director of Education, Mission Rabies

Mission Rabies runs projects around the world from the small village of Cranborne in Dorset, including Malawi, India, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Tanzania, Cambodia, and Thailand.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its COVAX partners are working with a South African consortium comprising Biovac, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a network of universities and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish its first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub.

The move follows WHO's global call for Expression of Interest (EOI) on 16 April 2021 to establish COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hubs to scale up production and access to COVID vaccines. Over the coming weeks, the partners will negotiate details with the Government of South Africa and public and private partners inside the country and from around the world.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the full extent of the vaccine gap between developed and developing economies, and how that gap can severely undermine global health security. This landmark initiative is a major advance in the international effort to build vaccine development and manufacturing capacity that will put Africa on a path to self determination. South Africa welcomes the opportunity to host a vaccine technology transfer hub and to build on the capacity and expertise that already exists on the continent to contribute to this effort."

This is great news, particularly for Africa, which has the least access to vaccines. COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of local production to address health emergencies, strengthen regional health security and expand sustainable access to health products." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

The announcement follows the recent visit to South Africa by the President of France, Mr Emmanuel Macron, who said his country was committed to supporting efforts in Africa to scale up local manufacturing capacity of COVID-19 vaccines and other medical solutions.

"Today is a great day for Africa. It is also a great day for all those who work towards a more equitable access to health products. I am proud for Biovac and our South African partners to have been selected by WHO, as France has been supporting them for years," said President Macron. "This initiative is the first of a long list to come, that we will keep supporting, with our partners, united in the belief that acting for global public goods is the fight of the century and that it cannot wait."

Technology transfer hubs are training facilities where the technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development performed. Interested manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries can receive training and any necessary licenses to the technology. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients.

The technology transfer hub will benefit from the Medicines Patent Pool's (MPP's) vast experience of intellectual property (IP) management and issuing of IP licenses. MPP is also assisting WHO to negotiate with technical partners and supporting in the governance of the hubs.

Biovac is a bio-pharmaceutical company that is the result of a partnership formed with the South African government in 2003 to establish local vaccine manufacturing capability for the provision of vaccines for national health management and security.

Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines is a biotechnology company focuses on product development, bulk adjuvant manufacturing and supply and distribution of key biologicals to address unmet healthcare needs.

The organizations complement one another, and can each take on different roles within the proposed collaboration: Afrigen will act as developer, Biovac as manufacturer and a consortium of universities as academic supporters providing mRNA know-how, and Africa CDC for technical and regional support.

The South African consortium benefits from having existing operating facilities that have spare capacity and because it has experience in technology transfers. It is also a global hub that can start training technology recipients immediately.

Other hubs in the pipeline

WHO's April call for expressions of interest has so far generated 28 offers to either provide technology for mRNA vaccines or to host a technology hub or both. There have been 25 expressions of interest from low- and middle-income country respondents who could receive the technology to produce mRNA vaccines.

Over the coming weeks, WHO will continue the rolling evaluation of other proposals and identify additional hubs, as needed, to contribute to health security and equity in all regions.

Through the COVAX partnership, WHO will continue its assessment of potential mRNA technology donors and will launch subsequent calls for other technologies, such as viral vectors and proteins, in coming months.

WHO is also hosting the Local production forum this week, to identify strategies to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in low- and middle-income countries for COVID-19 and other priority diseases.
(Newser)  A bipartisan bill in Texas meant to protect dogs from abuse easily passed the state House and Senate with backing from law enforcement, animal control officers, and animals rights activists before landing on the desk of Gov. Greg Abbottwho then vetoed it. Friday's surprise move spawned the trending hashtag #AbbottHatesDogs and a wave of criticism directed at the Republican governor, who claimed state statutes already protect against animal cruelty, per the Guardian. The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act would've made it illegal to restrain dogs on short leashes and heavy chains, or with other restraints that might cause pain or injury to the animal, and without drinking water and adequate shade or shelter, with proposed penalties of $500 to $2,000 in fines and up to six months in jail. In his veto, Abbott said this amounted to "micro-managing and over-criminalization."

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He said dog owners would be forced to monitor how much time a dog spends in a truck bed, for example. The governorwho owns two golden retrievers, one of which has a Twitter accountadded: "Texans love their dogs, so it is no surprise that our statutes already protect them by outlawing true animal cruelty." But Shelby Bobosky, executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, says the bill would've "clarified the vague language that makes the statute completely unenforceable," per the Guardian. "The bill had a lot of favorable things to help us enforce the law in which people weren't properly taking care of their pets," adds Brian Hawthorne, the sheriff of Chambers County and legislative chair of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas, per the Houston Chronicle. Abbott vetoed 20 bills in all on Friday, reports the Texas Tribune. Another would've required students to learn about child abuse prevention and domestic violence. (Read more Greg Abbott stories.)
(Newser)  Princess Latifa of Dubai, the subject of much international concern since 2018 when she attempted to flee the sheikhdom, has apparently released a statement through lawyers who submitted it to Reuters and other outlets. "I recently visited 3 European countries on holiday with my friend. I asked her to post a few photos online to prove to campaigners that I can travel where I want," it reads, an apparent reference to an odd social media post that cropped up this week. "I hope now that I can live my life in peace without further media scrutiny. And I thank everyone for their kind wishes," it concluded. This is the first time the 35-year-old has been quoted since her escape attempt three years ago, the Guardian reports.

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Reuters could not independently verify the truth of the statement or the circumstances under which it was issued, but one of Latifa's close friends tweeted earlier this week that she was happy to see her friend traveling, and the Free Latifa group says it does indeed appear Latifa is being allowed more freedom. Latifa has reportedly been in contact with some members of the group, as well as other friends. Free Latifa says it is now "seeking guarantees" that would help "secure the present day and future safety and wellbeing of Latifa." But it remains unclear how free she really is, and whether she'll be forced to return to Dubai, a source says. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum is accused of having his daughter abducted when she tried to escape, and a video surfaced this year in which she allegedly said she was being held captive. (Read more Princess Latifa stories.)
(Newser)  A Nickelodeon star charged with child endangerment has reached a plea deal. Drake Bell pleaded guilty in a virtual court appearance Wednesday to two charges: attempted child endangerment and disseminating material harmful to juveniles. The Drake & Josh actor, 34, was arrested and charged this month in Cleveland, People reports. The endangerment count is a fourth-degree felony that could result in a six- to 18-month prison sentence, the judge told Bell, and the other is a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a possible six-month jail term.

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If he serves a prison sentence, the judge told Bell, he could go back behind bars if he violates the terms of his release. Prosecutors said the case involves a girl who met Drake online, then went to his concert in Cleveland in 2017. She was 15 at the time, per NBC. In a statement to People on Wednesday, Bell's lawyer, Ian Friedman, said, "All questions about this case will be answered at sentencing, including why Mr. Bell chose to enter his plea." The judge told Bell that the girl is entitled to read a victim statement at sentencing, which is scheduled for July 12. (Read more Drake Bell stories.)
(Newser)  A nonprofit watchdog group has counted 881 Secret Service employees who tested positive for the coronavirus between March 1, 2020, and March 9, 2021. Of those, 477 belonged to the special agent division, whose duties include guarding the president, vice president, and their families, the Washington Post reports. In its report issued Tuesday, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington assessed blame for the infections, pointing to the large rallies former President Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence held in violation of public health guidelines and the Trump family's continued travel during the pandemic. "Its impossible to overstate the risk the Trump administration put on Secret Service agents," the group wrote. The Secret Service confirmed the nonprofit's numbers, which were obtained under a Freedom of Information request.

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The group put particular emphasis on Trump's appearance in October outside Walter Reed Medical before supporters, "in a car with secret service agents while being treated for COVID, further putting agents in danger." Secret Service Director James Murray explained that decision to lawmakers last month, per CNN. He said it was made after "extensive conversation" with medical professionals. It's not up to the Secret Service to decide whether an excursion is wise, Murray said, just whether it's feasible. The agency said in a statement that its mission required it to be in contact with members of the public during the COVID-19 outbreak. "With the pandemic raging during the campaign, Trump appeared to be deliberately putting the lives of Secret Service agents at risk in order to portray himself as tougher than the coronavirus," the watchdog said. (Read more Secret Service stories.)
(Newser)  An Indiana woman on Wednesday became the first defendant to be sentenced in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol and avoided time behind bars. And a member of the Oath Keepers extremist group pleaded guilty in a conspiracy case and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a major step forward for the massive investigation. The two developments signal that the cases against those charged in the deadly siege are slowly advancing, the AP reports, even as the US Department of Justice and the courthouse in Washington, DC, struggle under the weight of roughly 500 federal arrests across the nation. And it comes as Republicans attempt to play down the violence committed by members of the mob supporting former President Trump. Graydon Young, who was accused alongside 15 other members and associates of the Oath Keepers of conspiring to block the congressional certification of President Biden's electoral victory, pleaded guilty to two counts: conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding.

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It was the first guilty plea in the conspiracy case against members of the group. The second charge calls for up to 20 years in prison, but US District Judge Amit Mehta said federal sentencing guidelines call for Young to serve 5 to 6 years. Prosecutors may seek less time in exchange for his cooperation against other defendants. Young, 55, of Englewood, Florida, was arrested in February and charged in the conspiracy case accusing members of the Oath Keepers of coming to Washington prepared to use violence and intent on stopping the certification of the vote. Anna Morgan Lloyd, 49, of Indiana, was ordered by a federal judge to serve three years' probation, perform 120 hours of community service, and pay $500 in restitution after admitting to unlawfully entering the Capitol. She pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge under a deal with prosecutors. After the riot, Lloyd described Jan. 6 on Facebook as the best day ever." On Wednesday, she apologized to the court, her family and "the American people," saying she went to Washington that day to peacefully show her support for Trump.

(Read more Capitol attack stories.)
(Newser)  John McAfee's lawyer has confirmed what was originally suspected when the antivirus software pioneer was found dead in his Spanish prison cell: McAfee, 75, died by suicide. According to his lawyer, McAfee hanged himself, Reuters reports. But, as the New York Post reports, months-old tweets from the prolific social media user were sparking conspiracy theories online. On Oct. 15 of last year, McAfee tweeted of his cell, "I am content in here. I have friends. The food is good. All is well. Know that if I hang myself, a la [Jeffrey] Epstein, it will be no fault of mine." And in November of 2019, he tweeted, alongside a photograph of a tattoo reading "$WHACKD," "Getting subtle messages from US officials saying, in effect: 'We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself'. I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd."

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McAfee had also posted about Epstein in the past, saying in 2019 that he did not believe the disgraced financier killed himself. A hashtag similar to the one that cropped up after Epstein's death started appearing on Twitter Wednesday#JohnMcAfeeDidntKillHimself. Adding fuel to the fire: An image showing a black "Q" on a white background was uploaded to McAfee's Instagram page (which since appears to have been taken down entirely) shortly after his death was announced, which, as the Daily Beast reports, spurred speculation related to the QAnon conspiracy theory. McAfee had, in the past, written what DB refers to as "trollish" posts implying he knew Q's identity, and had posted about other conspiracy theories. McAfee was to be extradited to the US to face tax evasion charges, was suspected in the death of a neighbor in Belize, had been accused of drugging and raping a former employee, and faced a wrongful death lawsuit in the 2006 death of his nephew. (Read more John McAfee stories.)
(Newser)  South Carolina state police say information gained in the investigation into the double murder of a prosecutor's wife and son now has them looking at a teenager's unsolved death. The State Law Enforcement Division confirmed Tuesday that it has opened an investigation into the 2015 death of 19-year-old Stephen Smith, whose body was found on a road about 10 miles from the Murdaughs' 1,700-acre Islandton property. Paul Murdaugh, 22, and his 52-year-old mother Maggie were found shot to death on that property on June 7. Family members say Murdaugh had faced death threats after he was implicated in a 2019 boat crash that killed a 19-year-old woman, per the New York Times. He had yet to face trial on charges including boating under the influence resulting in death. Rumors spreading on social media suggested "Murdaugh was somehow also connected to the death of Smith," per the Daily Beast.

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Smith was found dead on a Hampton County road on July 8, 2015. FITSNews describes "a 7.25-inch gaping hole on the right side of his forehead." Investigators initially said he may have been shot before deciding he'd been killed in a hit-and-run while getting out of his vehicle, which had run out of gasa story Smith's mother didn't buy. In a 2015 interview, she said she believed several youth from prominent families had killed her son for being gay, per the Augusta Chronicle. "Rumors hinting at a cover-up and the possible involvement of one or more members of the Murdaugh family" had spread soon after Smith's death and again after Mallory Beach's death in the 2019 boating accident, per the outlet. (Read more double murder stories.)
(Newser)  Three millennia ago, a hunter-gatherer ventured to Japan's inland sea in search of a meal. He then became one himself. Researchers believe this Neolithic man, found buried in the Tsukumo Shell-mound cemetery site near the Seto Inland Sea, is the earliest known victim of a shark attack on a human, which predates the next earliest known attack by some 2,000 years, per CNN. Oxford University researchers J. Alyssa White and Rick Schulting were at Kyoto University examining violent trauma in skeletal remains when they noticed an adult male in extremely rough shape, with "at least 790 deep, serrated injuries" to his arms, legs, chest, and abdomen, according to a release for a study published Wednesday in Journal of Archeological Science: Reports. Additionally, his left hand had been torn off, his right leg was missing, and his left leg had been placed on top of his body.

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Researchers came to suspect a shark attacka rare find in archaeologyafter ruling out human conflict and other animal predators or scavengers, per a release. After turning to George Burgess, director emeritus of the Florida Program for Shark Research, for help studying forensic shark-attack cases, they determined the man likely died between 1370BC and 1010BC when he was attacked by a tiger shark or white shark. Schulting tells CNN the man may have been diving for shellfish or fishing from a boat with companions, who were able to recover his body. "Perhaps they were even hunting sharks," he says, noting shark teeth have been found at sites from the era. Researchers believe the man was alive initially and may have lost his left hand while defending himself, per CNET. The next earliest evidence of a shark attack on a person, in Puerto Rico, dates to AD1000. (Read more discoveries stories.)
(Newser)  An American researcher says files that could shed more light on the origins of COVID-19 were mysteriously deleted from a database last year. Seattle virologist Jesse Bloom says genetic sequences from more than 200 early COVID cases in Wuhan were submitted to an online database by Chinese researchers in March 2020 and removed at their request in June of that year, the New York Times reports. Database managers were reportedly told the sequences would be updated and then submitted to another database, but Bloom can't find any evidence that happened. But he did manage to recover some deleted files from Google Cloud and reconstruct partial sequences from 13 samples. He says the samples appear to be more similar to coronaviruses found in bats than samples collected from the outbreak at a Wuhan seafood market, suggesting COVID-19 had been circulating for some time before it reached the market.

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Analysis "suggests that the Huanan Seafood Market sequences that are the focus of the joint WHO-China report are not fully representative of the viruses in Wuhan early in the epidemic," Bloom writes in a paper, posted at bioXriv, that has not been peer-reviewed. It "seems likely that the sequences were deleted to obscure their existence," he writes. Bloom tells CNN that his study doesn't provide strong evidence for or against the theory that the virus leaked from a Wuhan lab. Other researchers, including evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey, say the recovered samples will advance work to understand the origins of COVID-19. Bloomwho notes that Chinese authorities destroyed some early COVID samplessays the deletion seems suspicious. "It certainly is strange at face value and really demands an explanation," Worobey says. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
(Newser)  Police are looking into reports that the mother of two young girls found dead in a South Florida canal was offering to baptize people in the canal a day earlier. Lauderhill police Lt. Mike Bigwood identified the sisters during a Wednesday evening news conference as 7-year-old Daysha Hogan and 9-year-old Destiny Hogan. Investigators identified the girls mother, Tinessa Hogan, as a possible person of interest. She has been taken into custody, but no criminal charges have been filed, the AP reports. Destiny's body was spotted Tuesday afternoon outside a condominium complex in Lauderhill, which is near Fort Lauderdale. Daysha's body was found just before 9pm, not far from where the first body was located.

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Bigwood confirmed that the family had lived in the area where the bodies were found. There were no records of child welfare workers responding to the home. At first, authorities did not suspect foul play because the first girl showed no signs of trauma. After the first body was found, detectives walked the length of the canal that runs behind the Habitat II Condominiums, but did not find anything else. Then, at 8:45pm, police received a 911 call from someone who spotted the second child's body. On Tuesday afternoon, detectives knocked on doors in the neighborhood, asking neighbors for help. Several residents told investigators about a woman, later identified as Tinessa Hogan, who was offering to baptize people in the canal on Monday. The girls were last seen near the canal with their mother Monday evening, Bigwood said.

(Read more Florida stories.)
(Newser)  Sydney is going through one the "scariest" times of the pandemic as a cluster of the highly contagious Delta variant infects more people, an Australian state leader said on Thursday. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she tested negative for the coronavirus after state Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive Thursday. Health Minister Brad Hazzard is self-isolating as a close contact of a suspected COVID-19 case in Parliament House. Sydney tightened pandemic restrictions on Wednesday, but Berejiklian said Australias largest city did not yet need to lock down further, the AP reports. "Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through," Berejiklian told reporters.

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Authorities say the cluster spread from a Sydney airport limousine driver who tested positive last week. He was not vaccinated, reportedly did not wear a mask, and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew. The cluster had grown to 36 cases by Thursday. Police are considering charging the driver and his employer with a range of offenses, Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said. Marshall tested positive after dining with three government colleagues on Monday at a Sydney restaurant after an infected diner. Australian states have closed their borders to travelers either from parts of Sydney or from anywhere in New South Wales. And New Zealand has stopped quarantine-free travel from New South Wales for at least three days.

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
(Newser)  Forty cows made a break for freedom and stampeded through a California neighborhood after a slaughterhouse gate was left open. Video shows the cows running through streets in Pico Rivera, around 11 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Police say they shot and killed one of the animals after it charged at a family, the Los Angeles Times reports. Four people suffered minor injuries. Many of the cows were recaptured within hours of the Tuesday evening escape after they gathered in a cul-de-sac, where some of them were seen grazing on a front lawn. Authorities managed to get many of the animals onto horse trailers, but the last ones weren't recaptured until Wednesday.

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The surviving cows were returned to the Manning Beef Company facility, which says it is investigating the incident. Residents say they hope the company will pay for damage caused by the cows, including trampled fences. Area ranchers who heard about the escape joined efforts to recapture the cows, with varying degrees of success. "I tried holding it down a bit, and it was too heavy, so it dragged me a couple hundred feet, rancher John Pitones tells CBS Los Angeles. "Once they start running, they get scared, they get anxious and they just dont want to stop running." (Read more cows stories.)
(Newser)  A runaway beagle inadvertently led authorities to rescue 14 others in an international incident that started in Western New York. WGRZ reports on the adventures of Scooby Doo, who escaped from his home in Niagara Falls, NY, at some pointthat outlet says it was last weekend, though a Sunday Facebook post from the Sherlock Bones dog recovery group reports that Scooby went missing on May 29. Whenever the breakout was, Scooby is said to have made his way into Canada by crossing the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge along the bridge's railroad tracks. On Sunday, he was captured on the Ontario side of the bridge by rescue officials, Amy Lewis, executive director of the Niagara County SPCA, tells WGRZ. Scooby was covered in dozens of ticks but otherwise seemed to be doing fairly well.

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On Monday, after the beagle's Canadian "spa treatment" of a bath, plush bed, and relaxing music, Officer David Bower of the Niagara Falls Police Department returned him to his home back in the Stateswhich is when Bower heard many other dogs barking inside, per the Buffalo News. The owner revealed there were 16 dogs living there but wouldn't grant entrance. A search warrant was obtained, and on Wednesday, police officers and SPCA workers entered the residence to indeed discover 16 canines, mostly beagles. A Sherlock Bones rep says they were in generally good health but covered in fleas and with untrimmed nails. "They loved the dogs, but they were in over their heads," Lewis says of the owners. They were allowed to keep two dogsScooby and a German shepherdwhile 11 female beagles and three males were taken out of the home (which was condemned), evaluated, and treated. Those suitable for adoption will be offered next week. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
(Newser)  An appeals court suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in New York because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Donald Trumps loss in the presidential race, per the AP. An attorney disciplinary committee said in its motion to suspend Giulianis license that there was uncontroverted evidence that Giuliani made false statements to the courts, the public, and lawmakers as he pushed theories that the election was stolen through fraud. This country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, the committee wrote. The hallmark of our democracy is predicated on free and fair elections. False statements intended to foment a loss of confidence in our elections and resulting loss of confidence in government generally damage the proper functioning of a free society.

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The ruling, signed Thursday, will prevent Giuliani from representing clients as a lawyer. In the decision, the committee wrote that Giuliani communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large as a lawyer for Trump. Giuliani had claimed that the investigation into his conduct violated his First Amendment right of free speech and that he did not knowingly make false statements, according to the decision. The court rejected those arguments, noting that in Pennsylvania, Giuliani failed to provide a scintilla of evidence for any of the varying and wildly inconsistent numbers of dead people he factually represented voted in Philadelphia during the 2020 presidential election. A message seeking comment about the ruling was sent Thursday to Giuliani and his lawyer. (Read more Rudy Giuliani stories.)
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NEWTOWN - A distributor of automotive, electrical and chemical supplies wants to establish its northeast headquarters off Route 25 in the factory that Hubbell closed two years ago, if the town agrees to a tax break package.

Kimball Midwest, a family-owned company based in Ohio that serves the private and public sector, has already bought the 40-acre former Hubbell property for $4.4 million. The company plans to spend another $2 million on repairs and improvements if Newtown agrees to a three-year abatement on its real estate taxes.

Kimballs interest in the 140,000-square-foot industrial facility is the first good news Newtown has had about the site since 2019, when Hubbell relocated its electrical components factory and its 140 jobs to Puerto Rico. Newtown was Hubbells largest factory in Connecticut, which has been shedding manufacturing jobs.

A Kimball executive on Thursday said it was too soon to say whether the distributor and town leaders would strike a deal to bring 30 jobs to Newtown.

5 1 of 5 H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Newtown GIS Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 5 of 5









I dont think we will bring 140 jobs but we are going to bring some of those jobs back, said Brendan McCurdy, associate director of purchasing for Kimball. Were excited.

Newtowns Economic Development Commission signed off on the three-year tax break package last week, clearing the way for town leaders to review the business incentive deal during a joint session of the Board of Selectmen and the Legislative Council on July 7.

Wes Thompson, chair of the nine-member Economic Development Commission, called Kimball the Amazon of the industrial business sector and added this continues to be a competitive situation as they are looking at other locations in Connecticut.

The short version of the business incentive package proposed for Kimball is a 30 percent break on real estate taxes for three years once property investments are made. Kimball would save an estimated total of $16,000 in real taxes over three years, in return for its investment to clean up the property, repair the roof and improve the buildings interior, according to town documents.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal in informal talks with a company executive signaled his interest in recruiting Kimball in March, shortly before the company bought the factory from Hubbell on a deeply discounted price.

I believe we conveyed  our interest in recruiting (this) business to Newtown, Rosenthal wrote in a March 24 letter to the EDCs Thompson. [I]ncluding my offer to pursue the use of the business incentive program for any resulting improvements to the property.

If town leaders agree to the business incentive in July, it would mark the second time this year that Newtown has courted an out-of-state business to invest in a vacant industrial property.

In May, Newtown approved a seven-year tax break package for a Vermont-based RV dealer that plans to convert the former Georgia-Pacific distribution center on South Main Street into a $7 million showroom and service center.

If leaders can strike a deal with Kimball, Newtown would become the companys fifth warehouse location. The hope is to complete renovations in time to open the distribution center by early 2022, McCurdy said.

Kimball likes the Newtown location because of its proximity to New York City, where the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is an important customer, and to New England, which allows for next day service to customers in the northern point of Maine, McCurdy said.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
ST. LOUIS (AP)  She screamed and cried, banged on the dashboard, begging her husband to drive faster, faster, faster toward her brother lying face-down on his bedroom floor.

Craig Elazer had struggled all his life with anxiety so bad his whole body would shake. But because he was Black, he was seen as unruly, she said, not as a person who needed help. Elazer, 56, had started taking drugs to numb his nerves before he was old enough to drive a car.

Now his sister, Michelle Branch, was speeding toward his apartment in an impoverished, predominantly Black neighborhood in north St. Louis. His family had dreaded the day he would die of an overdose for so long that his mother had paid for his funeral in monthly installments.

It was September, and as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified Americas opioid addiction crisis in nearly every corner of the country, many Black neighborhoods like this one suffered most acutely. The portrait of the opioid epidemic has long been painted as a rural white affliction, but the demographics have been shifting for years as deaths surged among Black Americans. The pandemic hastened the trend by further flooding the streets with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, in communities with scant resources to deal with addiction.

In the city of St. Louis, deaths among Black people increased last year at three times the rate of white people, skyrocketing more than 33%. Black men in Missouri are now four times more likely than a white person to die of an overdose.

Dr. Kanika Turner, a local physician leading the charge to contain the crisis, describes the soaring death rate as a civil rights issue as pressing and profound as any other. The communities now being hit hardest are those already devastated by the war on drugs that demonized Black drug users, tore families apart and hollowed out neighborhoods by sending Black men to prison instead of treatment, she said. Even today, Black people in the United States are more likely to be in jail for drug crimes and less likely to access treatment.

Last year, George Floyd died in Minneapolis under a police officers knee. He had fentanyl in his system and some of the officers defenders tried to blame the drugs for his death. The world exploded in rage.

That incident on top of the pandemic rocked the boat and shook all of us. It ripped the Band-Aid off a wound that has always been there, said Turner, who grew in the same neighborhoods where Elazer lived, beset by addiction, poverty and one of the highest murder rates in America. Were undoing history of damage, history of trauma, history of racism.

Pastors are now marching into the city jail to train inmates how to survive once they get outside. They host mobile treatment centers in their parking lots. They make an appeal to their congregations: Do not numb the pain of violence and racism with drugs. Dont let the next funeral be for you.

Branch for decades begged God to deliver her brother from addiction. She would lie awake at night imagining him dead in a ditch or dark alley, with nothing in the world but the clothes on his back.

She was hysterical by the time she arrived at his apartment.

The cousin who found him said he was sorry; Elazer had been alone and dead for hours. They tried to convince her not to go inside, but she wanted to see him.

As Branch looked down at his body, she felt calm come over her.

Society failed him, she said. And I had a sense that hed finally been set free.

____

When the Rev. Burton Barr drives to the city jail, he passes a corner store with a sign painted on its side: Drugs ... the new slavery!

Thats true, Barr said.

He calls himself the hoodlum preacher and he goes to the jail twice a week to try to save people from the addiction that consumed his life for 22 years.

He was swept up when heroin inundated Black communities in the 1960s and transitioned to cocaine in the 1980s. The face of addiction then was inner-city Black people like him, and they were criminalized. Barr once tried to tally the number of times he went to jail, and he stopped counting at 30.

It was not a war on drugs. It was a war on us, said Barr, in recovery since 1991. It devastated our communities.

Harsh sentencing laws passed in the 1980s were far more brutal on crack cocaine users, who were more likely to be Black, than they were for powder cocaine users, who were more likely to be white. A person convicted of possessing five grams of crack got the same sentence as someone with 100 times more powder. Black men went to prison by the tens of thousands.

Addiction was not widely accepted as a public health crisis  with a focus on treatment instead of incarceration  until recent years, only once it started killing white teens in the suburbs, Barr said.

The timeline of the current opioid epidemic begins in the late 1990s, and unfolds in three waves. The first arrived when pharmaceutical companies campaigned to expand prescribing painkillers and addiction spread through struggling, predominantly-white communities like Appalachia.

The second came when the government cracked down on prescriptions and many turned to heroin; then the third when fentanyl, 50 times more potent than heroin, was laced into opioids sold on the street.

Some researchers believe the nation is entering a fourth wave. The drug supply is so messy and unpredictable that people overdosing have multiple drugs in their system: dangerous cocktails of fentanyl, a depressant, and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.

A lot of illicit fentanyl is manufactured in Wuhan, China, where COVID-19 was first unleashed. Lockdowns initially disrupted the supply, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings Institute fellow who studies trafficking.

In St. Louis, the drug trade became even more chaotic: People who used to know where their drugs were coming from no longer did. Fentanyl for a time was hard to find, and some turned to less-potent heroin.

But the Chinese laboratories rebounded and resumed shipping the chemicals to Mexico, where cartels process them, Felbab-Brown said. Pandemic border closures presented cartels with added incentive to traffic fentanyl: It is incredibly potent and profitable. The equivalent of a trunkful of heroin or cocaine can be carried across the border in a small suitcase.

Mexican soldiers are finding people at checkpoints ferrying tens of thousands of fentanyl pills. Navy personnel caught two men on a boat on the Sea of Cortez trying to smuggle 100,000. Mexican authorities raided a fentanyl factory in Chalco, a slum on the outskirts of Mexico City, where the drug was processed by the tons, so much they needed a forklift to move it.

In St. Louis, fentanyl flooded back to the streets. The death count exploded early last summer, said Rachel Winograd, a professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis who tracks the states overdose data. In the first six months of 2020, deaths increased 64% among Black people from the same period the year before, and 40% among white people.

Other cities saw a similar pattern. Doctors in Philadelphia found that in the first few months of the pandemic, overdoses increased more than 50% for Black people while decreasing for whites. In Massachusetts, health officials announced that overdose deaths among Black men soared in 2020 by nearly 70%.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 92,000 Americans died of overdose in the 12 months ending in November, the highest number ever recorded. That data is not broken down by race.

But researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, analyzed emergency medical calls nationwide and found an overall increase of 42% in overdose deaths in 2020. The largest increase was for Black people, with a spike of more than 50%.

One day last summer in St. Louis, Lynda Brooks went into a bathroom to smoke what she thought was crack. She felt strange, sat down and remembers only darkness. Once she was revived from a fentanyl overdose, she wondered if shed been in hell.

She was so scared that for days she kept the lights on to try to resist going to sleep.

Brooks, a 55-year-old grandmother, had been addicted to crack for decades. She was often homeless and life out there was hard. She was assaulted, spit on, her husband died. So she took more drugs to escape feeling sad or scared or worthless.

Soon after she overdosed, she went to a community center. She told them if she didnt get help she knew she would die.

Brooks has been in recovery now for seven months, and she prays to remain scared of the drugs. She got a job and an apartment, and proudly keeps her new keys dangling from a shoelace around her neck. Her family told her they are proud of her. She said that feels like heaven.

___

Pastor Marsha Hawkins-Hourd smiled at Brooks from the sidewalk.

You make me so happy, called Hawkins-Hourd, who runs the Child and Family Empowerment Center that helped Brooks find treatment and housing. A lot of people fail. And it hurts when they fail. But you wipe all that away.

She is part of a network of faith leaders and grassroots activists trying to overcome the distrust people have for the systems that typically address addiction but are infested with systemic racism, she said.

She looks at block after block of falling-down buildings in the north side of the city. She sees them as a symbol of her neighbors who were deeply traumatized, then abandoned with limited access to treatment.

At some point, these houses were filled with hope and life, she said. Then society left them to crumble as men were sent to prison and families buckled. Now the windows are broken out, their roofs caving in, weeds choking their insides.

Mass incarceration and the war on drugs are the roots and all of this is the thorns, she said. It is a set-up for failure, a set-up to continue in the same cycle of poverty and death.

Jerry Simmons sometimes imagines himself lying in one of those vacant houses where he sleeps, dead for days from an overdose before anyone discovers him.

He arrived in a church parking lot before dawn to be first in line for a mobile treatment van scheduled to arrive as part of a new state-funded effort to reach people like him.

I just want to be a normal person back in society, working, living, loving, playing with my grandkids, making my kids be proud of me, said Simmons, 49, whos been addicted for 30 years, homeless and in and out of prisons.

When he climbed into the van, it had been about eight hours since he last snorted fentanyl, at 1:37 a.m. The crippling withdrawal symptoms would set in soon, he knew: aches down to the bone, diarrhea, shakes, insomnia.

To give himself strength, he wore a T-shirt printed with the face of his friend, killed in a hail of bullets 30 years ago. Simmons grew up near this church on the most murderous mile of road in one of Americas most dangerous cities.

Theres death all around here, he said. Three friends have died in the last month, two to gun violence and one to overdose. The drugs, at first, helped him escape.

He sat down across from a recovery coach from Hawkins-Hourds organization, which partnered with a treatment provider to usher people here.

In the past 30 days, have you experienced serious depression? she asked him.

Yes.

Have you neglected family because of your use of drugs?

Yes.

Have you lost a job because of drug use?

Yes, he said again. Addiction has taken everything from him.

Im tired.

He was there to enroll in a treatment program that includes a prescription for the medication buprenorphine, which has been found to greatly reduce the likelihood of overdose death. But researchers have found that white patients are far more likely than Black patients to receive it. Black people instead tend to be steered toward methadone, which is distributed in highly regulated programs that often require standing in line daily before dawn.

That is the worst form of segregation: one for the white, well-to-do people, one for the rest, said Dr. Percy Menzies, president of Assisted Recovery Centers of America, the company stationing mobile units on street corners and church parking lots. The tsunami of fentanyl is absolutely frightening, and they have virtually no safety net.

Addiction is treatable with medication and therapy, he said. But he knows they cant expect to show up in white lab coats and ask people to trust them right away.

He started going to Black churches to bring pastors on board.

Minister Lacha Hughes heard him speak at her church on a Saturday, and the next day her niece, Natisha Stansberry, called her hysterical. Most of her life, Stansberry, 30, used drugs to self-medicate her mental distress. She was raped as a child and attempted suicide. In 2016, her 23-year-old brother was murdered. Stansberry wished it would have been her instead.

I wanted to be the best I could be, but I went down the drain, she said. I want to get myself together.

She was weeping into the phone that she was scared of dying; two of her friends had overdosed, one was dead and one in the hospital. Hughes ushered Stansberry into Menzies clinic. Until now, all she ever knew to do for her was pray.

It had felt to her like they'd had no help. In a crisis, many here are even hesitant to call 911 because they fear the police.

Now all over town, people walk around wearing little red backpacks, passed out by activists like Jerome Anderson, trying to saturate the streets with the overdose reversal medication Narcan so they can save each other.

He calls at passers-by: Hey, take some Narcan. Save a life. Im tired of going to family funerals.

Anderson, in recovery for 26 years, sang at three cousins funerals in the last six months, all dead from overdose. He works for a grassroots public health group called Williams and Associates and his mission is to keep people alive so that one day they can find their way to recovery.

He carries around a cover letter that lets people know hes not a cop. Sometimes drug dealers let him stand next to them, to hand their customers his kits.

Jamilia Allen has used Narcan to revive her friends, more than once. Shes terrified of fentanyl, but shes tried and tried to shake her heroin and crack addiction.

Its designed to kill us, and thats what its going to do. It takes your soul. If it dont kill you physically, its going to kill you emotionally, kill all your dreams, she said. I really want my life back, but I cant grasp it.

Allen, 31, was once an honor roll student and the captain of her high school cheerleading squad, and back then she judged people desperate for drugs.

She went to Walmart recently and was jealous of a woman buying a shower curtain. She wants a life that simple, and she fantasizes about someone sending her to a place like Malibu, where the rich white people go to kick addiction.

She was for a long time ashamed of her life: prostitution, being raped, beaten, thrown out naked in the snow. But now, she said, she wants people to know.

Im not going to let this kill me, and if I can help anyone else, she said, "then thats one less person like me.

___

All Michelle Branch has left of her brother fits into a little green shopping bag.

The Bible she bought him one time when he got sober and wrote One Day at a Time on the title page.

Theres the baby book her mother put together, with so much hope when she taped a lock of his hair to the pages. There are report cards chronicling a bright child, loved by teachers but struggling to focus.

By third grade, he could read as well as a sixth-grader. He and his mother, a teacher, would read the newspaper cover to cover. He liked cowboy stories.

But he was anxious and jittery. Had he been diagnosed and treated, Branch believes he would be alive today.

But they didnt catch hyperactivity or bipolar back then, especially not in little Black kids. We were just unruly, undisciplined, this much removed from being an animal, Branch said, pinching her fingers so there was little space between them.

Branch worked in the school system when the opioid epidemic began, white people were dying and pundits on TV said they needed to be saved from this public health tragedy. She wondered where theyd been when her brother was swirling into addiction.

Their mother raised them alone and they didnt have a lot of money. He told Branch he started drinking when he was 12, and soon progressed to drugs. He lived transiently, sleeping under overpasses, on dirty mattresses in dark alleys.

She cant count the number of times he tried to get sober.

Their mother always worried he would die. She wrote on little slips of paper and left them all over the house: pinned to her bedroom lampshade, taped to the kitchen wall. God is working this problem out for me, they said.

She got sick with cancer, but lingered for years. Her family believed she was holding on out of fear of what would happen to her son.

She died worried about him.

He was in and out of jail, mostly for petty offenses. But several years ago, an acquaintance alleged he sexually assaulted her while using drugs. His lawyer told them the odds were against him as a Black man accused of assaulting a white woman, Branch said. He pleaded guilty and spent three years in prison.

He was released in May 2020, as the pandemic bore down.

He couldnt find a job. There were no recovery meetings in-person and hed been so transient all his life he didnt know how to use a smartphone. He was alone most of the time, with his 10-pound dog, Rico.

One night they couldnt reach him. His cousin, Carleton Smith, looked through the mail slot and saw him lying there.

The first responders gathered over his body pointed to a paper plate on his bed with a pile of white powder. Fentanyl, they said.

When Branch sat down to write his obituary, she decided to tell his truth.

She wrote that he was a gentle soul but addiction destroyed him.

It would devastate his family, make him homeless, cause him to beg for money on the street, take his freedom, his sparkle and smile, she wrote.

It would take and take and take until it took his life.

__

AP reporter Mark Stevenson contributed from Mexico City and Jim Salter from St. Louis.
RIDGEFIELD  The Ridgefield High School community has finished installing a Bens Bells mural on campus, a project theyve worked on for the last two school years.

The green mosaic-tiled mural has the words be kind painted across the center, meant to be a daily reminder for students to be kind-hearted toward others.

Kindness wins at the end of the day, thats what everyone needs, said Jennifer DeJulio, an RHS social studies teacher and the student government faculty adviser.

This piece was created and fashioned with the Bens Bells organization, an Arizona-based nonprofit working to infuse kindness into communities. The organization was founded by Jeannette Mare in 2003 after her 3-year-old son suddenly died.

Mare became adamant about helping other communities heal and started educational programs and mural installations to spread the message.

DeJulio thought about installing the mural at Ridgefield High about five years ago, but it didnt gain traction until about two years ago when students and staff started working at it.

Students and staff took shifts in sculpting the clay tiles, painting them and eventually installing them on the wall with help from some Bens Bells team members.

Anshuman Suryawanshi, a student involved with the project said it was amazing to see everyone gather together to lend a hand. He recalls students bring speakers and food to the installation and it being a good time.

Kate Bucci, a recent graduate and former student body president, agreed. She said it was exciting to watch the once blank wall come together into this truly beautiful piece, covered in bright paint and tiles.

All in all, I think it summed up what Bens Bells is about, kindness flowing, Suryawanshi said.

The pandemic delayed the murals installation, but it was finally placed onto a wall in the campus courtyard  the heart of the school  last week. It was a lot of work but a moment that was really rewarding, DeJulio said.

Sitting near the student center, the high schoolers will be able to see it every day as they head to lunch.

Its always important to reinforce simple values like that, [such as] kindness, especially in times like these when we live in a really polarized society, Suryawanshi said. I want the students of RHS to always just remember that when theyre walking past the student center. Its the right thing to do to be kind.
RIDGEFIELD  Ridgefield students will have to continue wearing masks while inside school buildings or buses next year, district officials announced Thursday as part of the schools safe return plan, which was shared in draft form.

Classrooms will allow three feet of social distancing between students , and up to six feet where possible, according to the draft copy of the plan. It notes, however, that three feet distance may not be feasible in all environments/classrooms. But unlike the past school year, students will not be divided up into cohorts.

The district will return fully to in-person learning, according to the plan, with no virtual or hybrid model offered to families.

Those students who have medical complications whose doctors believe are unable to physically attend school may consult with their school administration and nurse regarding learning program options, the draft plan reads.

If case trajectories change, a hybrid model may be revisited.

The district will restore 40 minutes cut from the beginning and end of the school day to allow student arrivals and dismissals to be staggered.

In a letter to Ridgefield Public Schools families and staff Thursday, Superintendent Susie Da Silva said the draft is only the beginning of the districts plans for the school year. She said creating the plan is a requirement for districts that want to apply for funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

Schools must publish the document for public feedback, she wrote, and said the plan is based on requirements under the Connecticut Department of Education and Department of Public Health.

Ridgefields plan comes amid growing pushback to mask-wearing in schools, and more than a month after the state eliminated its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people. A judge in Hartford upheld the school mask requirement in a ruling last month, in a lawsuit filed by the CT Freedom Alliance and parents of school children challenging the rule, the Associated Press reported.

So far, state health officials have not said whether students will be required to wear masks indoors in the fall.

The Department of Education eased mask requirements outdoors during recess and other activities last month as Connecticut eased other restrictions, but said mask requirements indoors would continue for everyone.

Ridgefield students will still be required to wash their hands regularly, and day and evening cleaning of school buildings will continue.

The district will continue to conduct contact tracing for cases of COVID-19 and publish case data on its tracker website. But students and staff who are vaccinated will no longer have to isolate if they come into contact with someone who is infected.

The schools will not conduct testing, but will communicate with community members opportunities locally for testing, according to the plan.

The district will survey parents regarding the plan over the summer, and families can share feedback via email at safereturn@ridgefieldps.net.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Europe is on thin ice in its battle against COVID-19, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday as EU leaders agreed that vaccinations should be sped up to fight the highly contagious delta variant.

A stronger response to the pandemic was a main topic of discussion among European Union heads of state and government leaders at a meeting in Brussels, where they also acknowledged that the bloc's borders should be reopened in a cautious way.

In what might have been her last government declaration to the German parliament, Merkel noted that the number of COVID-19 cases in the 27-nation bloc continues to decline, while vaccination rates climb.

But even though there is reason to be hopeful, the pandemic isn't over, in particular in the world's poor countries, she said. But in Germany and Europe, we're also still moving on thin ice.

We need to remain vigilant, Merkel added. In particular, the newly arising variants, especially now the delta variant, are a warning for us to continue to be careful.

Upon his arrival in Belgian capital, French President Emmanuel Macron also urged European countries to remain vigilant in order to properly tackle the delta variant, and to adopt a coordinated approach when reopening their borders to third countries.

In a report issued this week, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control projected that the delta variant would account for 90% of all coronavirus infections across the continent by the end of August. The Stockholm-based agency said people who had only received one shot of vaccine were still vulnerable to the delta variant and that about 40% of people over 60 have yet to receive both vaccine doses.

The ECDC said its modelling scenarios estimate that any relaxation of the COVID-19 protocols currently in place could lead to a fast and significant increase in daily cases in all age groups, potentially reaching a similar peak to the surge last fall.

In their conclusions on COVID-19, EU leaders insisted on the need to continue vaccination efforts and to be vigilant and coordinated with regard to developments, particularly the emergence and spread of variants."

Germany has pressed for EU countries to form a joint position on quarantines for travelers from areas where named variants are particularly prevalent. This includes England, where the delta variant  first detected in India  already makes up a majority of cases.

EU leaders also praised the adoption of COVID-19 certificates ahead of the summer holiday season, with many calling for its coherent implementation across the bloc.

The EU has devised a joint digital travel certificate for people who are fully vaccinated, freshly tested, or recently recovered from the coronavirus. The free certificates allow people to move between European countries without having to quarantine or undergo extra coronavirus tests upon arrival.

Several EU countries are already using the system, including Belgium, Spain, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Poland. The rest are expected to start using it July 1.

___

Jordans reported from Berlin.

___

Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at h ttps://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
PROSPECT  While Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday signed the bill to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, town officials last week voted to at least temporarily ban any recreational facilities from opening up here.

Robert Chatfield, who has served as Prospects mayor for 44 years, said the towns Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously on June 16 to prohibit any recreational establishment from opening shop.

The unanimous vote came a day before the state Senate voted on the final approval of the bill on June 17. Chatfield said the decision is a six-month moratorium, following the passage of the bill.

Since recreational facilities would not be able to open in Connecticut until late 2022, its not clear if the commission is planning to extend the ban.

Planning & Zoning officials could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

Lamont signed the legislation Tuesday, legalizing possession and use of marijuana for adults ages 21 and older. The new law goes into effect in phases, starting July 1, when it will become legal for adults 21 and older to have an ounce-and-a-half of weed, as well as another five ounces in a locked container. The bill indicates retail sales are targeted to begin at the end of 2022.

While the Prospect Republican mayor said he wasnt involved in the Planning & Zoning Commissions decision, he does support it.

Im not in favor of it being in town, Chatfield said Tuesday, referencing recreational marijuana.

He said he fully supports the states medical marijuana program.

I have no problem with that, he said. Chatfield said he feels its more regulated and he appreciates that its helping those struggling with chronic issues or illnesses.

Under the bill, the states medical marijuana program  which began in 2012 and now has about 55,000 registered patients  will continue. Those patients are able to grow up to six plants at home starting later this year.

Chatfield said he understands that even if dispensaries are banned from opening up in Prospect, that people in town could go elsewhere to buy the product.

The mayor said he hopes the ban will lessen the number of driving under the influence incidents in connection with marijuana. He said he also hopes the ban will keep the drug away from people under the age of 21.

Chatfield said he is planning to ask the towns police force to focus more on marijuana education through their D.A.R.E. programs taught to students in school.

Now that its right here, right around the corner, we might have to spend a little more time on that, Chatfield said in terms of educating students on the possible effects of the drug.

But this isnt the end of Prospects discussion on recreational weed in town. Chatfield said additional hearings on the issue are expected sometime later this year, either in September or October.
The security forces in Jammu from LOC to Lal Chowk have been kept on the high alert before the commencement of the meeting. The all-party meet hosted by the Prime Minister commenced at 3 PM today. PDPs Mehbooba Mufti, National Conferences Farooq Abdullah, Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad assembled for the PMs meeting in Delhi. The first meeting with the Centre saw various reactions of eminent political leaders. Many political faces arrived for the meeting at the Prime Ministers residence and the crucial meeting with 14 leaders also includes the former chief ministers of J&K.

#BreakingNews | The all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins at Lok Kalyan Marg. PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad, and other leaders of Jammu and Kashmir are present at the meet. pic.twitter.com/hYUAP8sEbs  NewsX (@NewsX) June 24, 2021

I am going to the meeting. I will keep the demands there and then I will talk to you. Mehbooba Mufti is the president of her party, why should I speak on what she said: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, ahead of the all-party meeting called by PM Narendra Modi today pic.twitter.com/kNW1pR3GM7  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

The scheduled meeting with J&K leaders and PM Narendra Modi will talk about new developments after the stripping of the special status in J&K. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also been invited to the meeting. Farooq Abdullah before reaching the PMs residence briefed media persons that he will be going to the meeting and will keep the demands there. Farooq Abdullah did not reveal his expectations from the meeting with the Centre.

Delhi: Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Tara Chand arrive at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg  Prime Minister's official residence  for the all-party meeting of J&K's political parties called by PM Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/wzOHB5uPpO  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

Yosouf Tarigami, CPI (M) also attended a meeting on the invitation of the Centre. He stated that developments in J&K not within the limits of the constitution and expects from the Prime Minister to reconsider the scrapping of the Article 370. He further added to his statement that the leaders expectations are that it should be a good beginning to resolve issues, concerns of the people of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh.

Ghulam Ahmed Mir, J&K Congress President briefed about the meeting at former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azads residence and that he would raise the issue of statehood in the meeting with PM. He also highlighted that the situation of people in the state left them aghast of the decisions which were made in 2019.
On the status of J&K, all party gathering will be held on Thursday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Centre has invited all the mainstream politicians as well as former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir.

On the status of J&K, all party gathering will be held on Thursday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM will mark his presence in the meeting from his residence, New Delhi around 3 pm today afternoon. After removal of Article 370 that grants the special status to J&K, it will be Centres first step to reach out to the parties after it was scrapped 2 years ago. The scrapping of the special status led to the bifurcation into three union territories, Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Delhi: The all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad, and other leaders of Jammu and Kashmir are present at the meet.  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

I am going to the meeting. I will keep the demands there and then I will talk to you. Mehbooba Mufti is the president of her party, why should I speak on what she said: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, ahead of the all-party meeting called by PM Narendra Modi today pic.twitter.com/kNW1pR3GM7  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

The meeting will be attended by conventionally established grand old parties of Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre has invited all the mainstream politicians as well as former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir. Meeting will be attended by four well known political leaders Mehbooba Mufti, Farooq Abdullah, and Gulab Nabi Azad. Meanwhile Kashmir Pandits have make specific demands seeking representation in J&K. Pandits were upset over no invitation to the PMs all party meet today.

Delhi: Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Tara Chand arrive at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg  Prime Minister's official residence  for the all-party meeting of J&K's political parties called by PM Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/wzOHB5uPpO  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

J&K Congress President, Gulam Ahmad Mir stated No specific agenda for todays meet. As we are told it is a free and open debate. The Centre hasnt considered Ikjutt Jammu for the meeting raising questions on inviting the Gupkar parties in the meet. Ikjutt Jammu, Jammu based political party is planning for the protest if such ignorance will be continued from the Centre.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Pennsylvanias plans for its share of coronavirus relief and a potential boost in education funding are among the issues being negotiated as lawmakers and the governor entered the final week of their budget year on Thursday.

Leaders said the 2021-22 budget could wrap up this weekend, but details were scanty as high-level negotiations continued inside the Capitol.

House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, sounded an optimistic tone about the end game.

I dont think theres anything tough left to do, its just all part of a process, theres a lot of intricate parts, Benninghoff said.

Rep. Peter Schweyer, a veteran Democratic member from Lehigh County, said its always a good bet that budget talks will take longer than projected.

This time of year the Harrisburg rumor mill is the Harrisburg rumor mill, Schweyer said. It could be anything from a happy, kumbaya budget thats going to fund education to everythings catastrophically bad. And Ive heard both, depending on who you talk to.

Wolf in February asked the Republican-controlled Legislature to boost state spending to $37.8 billion for the 2021-22 fiscal year starting July 1. Including a supplemental cash request of more than $1 billion to cover cost overruns in the current fiscal year, Wolf is seeking authorization for nearly $6 billion more in new spending, or almost 18% more than this years $33.1 billion approved budget.

Stronger-than-expected tax collections turned last years projections of a multibillion-dollar deficit into a multibillion-dollar surplus. Budget analysts now project a surplus of just above $3 billion for the 2020-21 fiscal year ending June 30, or a total of just over $40 billion.

The Pennsylvania House Democrats are fighting very hard to make sure we fairly fund the schools with the $3 billion dollar surplus, said House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, adding that they also want hazard pay for front-line workers.

The current years $33.1 billion approved budget was balanced with more than $3.3 billion in federal pandemic aid and transferring more than $500 million from off-budget state accounts. Counting the federal pandemic aid, spending was almost $36.5 billion. In other words, using the federal pandemic aid lowered the reliance on state tax dollars from $36.5 billion to $33.1 billion.

The 2021-22 fiscal year budget also will rely on federal money that lowers the reliance on state tax dollars, its just a question of how much. Many Republicans want a big slice of it set aside for the coming years.

Wolfs proposal carries what could approach $2 billion extra for public schools, an increase of more than 20%, although there are indications the Republican approach may be closer to $300 million.

The biggest part of Wolfs request, $1.35 billion, would be distributed to schools to pay for their primary operations, such as teacher salaries, operating costs and supplies, on top of the $6.8 billion they currently receive.

The majority of that $8.1 billion total would go out through a 6-year-old school funding formula designed to iron out inequities in how Pennsylvania funds the poorest public schools. A portion of it  about $1.1 billion  would ensure that no school district receives less than it does now.

Pennsylvania barely uses that funding formula, and Wolfs proposal comes as a trial nears in a lawsuit filed in 2014 by a handful of school districts that accuses the state of inadequately funding public education.

The final days of budget talks invariably are accompanied by deals on other issues. On Thursday, lawmakers were actively working on a deal to reauthorize mixed-drinks to go for restaurants.
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP)  Authorities have started releasing cold water from a northern Idaho dam to keep Snake River water temperatures cool to help migrating salmon and steelhead.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started increasing releases of the 43-degree Fahrenheit (6-degree Celsius) water at Dworshak Dam on Tuesday ahead of an expected heat wave with temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees (38 Celsius). The agency typically waits until the July Fourth holiday to start the releases.

The Lewiston Tribune reports the agency will up the flows to 12,400 cubic feet per second. The water travels down the Clearwater River and joins the Snake River at Lewiston.

The goal is to keep the temperature of the Snake River from exceeding 68 degrees (20 Celsius) at Lower Granite Dam, the uppermost of four dams on the lower Snake River.

Temperature above 70 degrees (21 Celsius) can be harmful to salmon.

In 2015, about 90% of the 510,000 sockeye salmon that entered the Columbia River died when an unusual combination of low water and an extended heat wave pushed water temperatures past 70 degrees (21 Celsius). Those conditions had not occurred in the basin since at least the 1950s and are lethal for cold-water sockeye.

That same year an estimated 4,000 Snake River sockeye entered the Columbia River in what managers expected would be one of the best-ever returns to high mountain lakes in central Idaho. But only about 1 percent survived the 900-mile (1,450-kilometer) journey to Idaho. Snake River sockeye are listed as endangered.

Water managers have said they have little ability to influence water temperature in the Columbia River, but that Dworshak can supply enough water to make a difference in the Snake River.

The reservoir is usually full when the agency starts releasing the cool water, but this year it was about 3 feet (1 meter) below full pool. The releases are expected to continue into mid-September, bringing the reservoir down to about 80 feet (24 meters) below full pool.
VERNON -- The effects of the fatal punch Edi Rapo threw at University of Connecticut junior Jafar Karzoun of Milford in the early morning hours of April 23, 2010, were never clearer Friday morning.

More than 125 people crammed into a small courtroom awaiting Rapo's sentencing, evenly divided among family and friends of both Rapo and Karzoun.

Rapo, 20, of East Hartford, was sentenced to nine years in prison, suspended after 4 years served, and five years' probation.

Rapo on July 1 pleaded no contest to second-degree manslaughter in the death of Karzoun, also 20, a graduate of Milford's Jonathan Law High School. Under a no contest plea, a defendant neither admits nor denies guilt. He could have received a maximum of 5 years in prison, but Superior Court Judge Terence Sullivan reduced the period of incarceration by one year.

Rapo had no prior criminal record, and numerous speakers and letters attested to his character by saying he had a history of helping the elderly and special needs children.

"I am sorry," Rapo told the court. "There is not one day that I don't think about what happened to Jafar. I'm very sorry, and I take full responsibility for what happened."

After the sentencing, Karzoun's parent's, Basem and Loryan, spoke.

"The sentencing itself was not what we wanted, and we were reluctant to accept that, but now he is in jail and he's a felon," said Karzoun's father, Basem Karzoun. "I hope he will never see the sun again. The pain is still inside us and we will have the pain the rest of our lives."

Loryan Karzoun said the outpouring of support shows how much her son was loved. Her huband said the tears Rapo shed Friday weren't for his son.

"He was crying because he knew he was going to jail. He never cried before," Basem said. "He's laughed at me. He made bad looks at me, and now he's crying. Edi Rapo had no remorse. He meant to kill my son. He killed my son."

During the 90-minute sentencing, the facts of what transpired that fateful April night remained in question. Rockville State's Attorney Matthew Gedansky said Rapo approached Karzoun from the side.

"It was a sneak attack, a sucker punch," Gedansky said. "It was not a face-to-face assault. The victim died because the defendant hit him in such a (sneaky) way. The defendant was not able to defend himself."

The fatal punch occurred during spring weekend festivities at UConn, which attracts tens of thousands of students and leads to criminal activity and alcohol consumption, the prosecutor said. Rapo was not a UConn student.

Rapo's attorney, William T. Gerace, said his client is "not a crazy person," and wouldn't punch someone without provocation. He said someone who was with Karzoun assaulted one of Rapo's friends earlier in the evening, and Rapo was taunted by someone in the same group, who threatened to kill him.

"Edi would never hurt anybody," Gerace said. "Something provoked him to do something like this."

But the Karzoun family's attorney, Donald Altschuler of West Haven, said one of Rapo's friend's was upset at being shown up by Karzoun, but Karzoun played peacemaker during the initial verbal dispute. Rapo's friend claimed he was going to beat up Karzoun, the attorney said. Later in the evening, Rapo's friend pointed out Karzoun to Rapo, who ran up to him and "sucker punched" him.

Sullivan said he had been studying the case for a couple of weeks, and it kept him awake last night. The judge said Rapo's behavior the day of the incident was "both aggressive and unjustified."

"Jafar Karzoun was not a threat to him," Sullivan said. "There was no rational reason to do him bodily harm. It was an intentional assault."

Gedansky said there was a verbal dispute between two groups, which included Rapo and Karzoun. He said it was broken up without incident. As the evening was winding down and all of the students were being ushered back to campus, Karzoun stood on the side of the road looking at his phone. Rapo approached from the side, and threw one punch at Karzoun.

Karzoun remained in a coma for eight days before dying May 1, 2010. He suffered brain injuries and a broken jaw, Gedansky said.

Rapo went into a pizzeria, removed his shirt and hid it in a bush, but was identified by numerous witnesses, Gedansky said. When questioned by police, Rapo initially denied any involvement, but in a second interview admitted striking Karzoun with a left hand, the prosecutor said.

Gedansky said there was no evidence Rapo stalked Karzoun, and it was nothing more than a "random chance encounter."

Gerace said Karzoun was at twice the legal limit for alcohol consumption, and that Rapo also admitted to having a couple of beers.

Gerace sought a 2-year prison sentence for Rapo, who received therapy and prayed every night for Karzoun to live, his attorney said.

"Edi still lights prayer candles for Jafar," Gerace said. "He lived an exemplary life except for that one punch."

Karzoun's best friend, P.J. Lofgren of Milford, 22, told the court Rapo "destroyed something beautiful from us."

"He forever left a scar around our hearts. He's a coward," Lofgren said.

Karzoun's college friend, Steve Jagoda, told the court Rapo's actions were an "unprovoked malicious ambush." Karzoun's sister, Raya, 18, choked back tears, saying her brother was her "hero, redeemer and role model."

"My last words to my brother were, 'Jafar don't let go, I need you,'" Raya said.

A 5-minute DVD featuring pictures of Karzoun throughout his life was played in the courtroom just prior to sentencing. A wrongful death suit has been filed against Rapo and will soon be filed against UConn by the Karzoun family, Altschuler said.

Call Brian McCready at 203-789-5719 and follow me on Twitter @nhrbmccready. To receive breaking news first, text the word nhnews to 22700. Standard msg+data rates may apply.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)  Ethiopias military on Thursday said it was responsible for a deadly airstrike on a busy marketplace in the countrys Tigray region. Health workers said the attack killed at least 64 people, including children, but the military insisted only combatants were targeted.

A doctor who managed to reach the market in Togoga village after Ethiopian soldiers blocked medical teams from responding to Tuesday's attack described a horrible scene of badly wounded people lying on the ground, crying in pain with no medical care.

It was very traumatizing, he told The Associated Press. I think most of the patients, they died because we were late there, because care wasnt available.

Most of the patients taken to regional hospitals werent critical, he said: The critical patients were already dead. Like others, he spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

A military spokesman, Col. Getnet Adane, told journalists that fighters supporting the Tigray regions former leaders had assembled to celebrate Martyrs Day when the airstrike occurred.

The Ethiopian air force uses the latest technology, so it conducted a precision strike that was successful, he said.

But the doctor who reached the scene said most of the patients we found were mothers, children and elderly fathers. There were few young men.

The airstrike wounded more than 100 people, half of them seriously, a regional health official said. Health workers said Ethiopian forces blocked medical teams from responding and shot at a Red Cross ambulance trying to reach the scene.

Bodies were still being pulled from the rubble and dozens of survivors were still arriving at regional hospitals with shrapnel and blunt trauma wounds two days after the airstrike, said a doctor in the regional capital, Mekele. The International Committee of the Red Cross called the transport of seriously injured to Mekele a matter of life and death.

Even on Thursday, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the U.N. still hasnt been able to reach the scene. Between the fighting and different groups on the ground we need clearance to go and weve just not been able to get it, he said.

The airstrike, one of the worst massacres of the war, came amid some of the fiercest fighting in Tigray since the conflict began in November as Ethiopian forces, supported by neighboring Eritrea, pursue Tigrays former leaders.

The Ethiopian military spokesman denied Tigray fighters claims of gains in recent days, saying Ethiopian forces had been deployed to other locations for Mondays national election.

The United States and the European Union have condemned the airstrike in Togoga that left children, including a 1-year-old baby. screaming in pain.

A reprehensible act, the U.S. State Department said. Denying victims urgently needed medical care is heinous and absolutely unacceptable. We urge the Ethiopian authorities to ensure full and unhindered medical access to the victims immediately. We also call for an urgent and independent investigation.

The U.S. also called for an immediate cease-fire in Tigray, where thousands of civilians have been killed and 350,000 people are now facing one of the worlds worst famines in years.

At least 33,000 children in inaccessible parts of Tigray are severely malnourished and face imminent death without immediate help, the latest U.N. humanitarian update said Thursday.

Ethiopia claims that aid is being delivered to most of Tigrays 6 million people, but aid workers have said they have been repeatedly denied access to several parts of the region by soldiers.

With Ethiopia recently declaring Tigrays former ruling party a terrorist group, concerns have been widespread among Tigrayans, aid workers and others that anyone seen as linked to Tigray fighters, including civilians, could be targeted.

Tigrayans were appalled by Ethiopias assertion that the airstrike was aimed only at combatants.

Its an insult to the people and adding salt to the wounds, you know? said Hailu Kebede, a former Togoga resident and official with the Salsay Woyane Tigray opposition party. He described how his brother, who has a shop in the market, ran for his life while his nearby home was destroyed.

We know the area. I grew up there. There were no combatants, Hailu said. The destroyed homes are those of my friends and my family.

One of his friends lost a child in the airstrike while another child had her hand amputated, he said.

The real death toll from the airstrike could be even higher because some people likely took the dead home to their nearby villages and buried them without telling regional officials, Hailu said.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin faces sentencing Friday in the death of George Floyd, with a judge weighing a prison term experts say could be as much as 30 years.

Chauvin, 45, was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyds neck for about 9 1/2 minutes as the Black man said he couldnt breathe. It was an act captured on bystander video, which prompted protests around the world.

Here's what to watch for in a hearing that could run as long as two hours:

WHAT'S POSSIBLE?

Under Minnesota statutes, Chauvin will be sentenced only on the most serious charge of second-degree murder. That's because all of the charges against him stem from one act, with one victim.

The max for that charge is 40 years, but legal experts have said there's no way he'll get that much. Case law dictates the practical maximum Chauvin could face is 30 years  double what the high end of state sentencing guidelines suggest. Anything above that risks being overturned on appeal.

Of course, Judge Peter Cahill could sentence Chauvin to much less. Prosecutors have asked for 30 years, while defense attorney Eric Nelson is seeking probation.

Mark Osler, a professor at University of St. Thomas School of Law, said both sides have staked out extreme positions, and the gulf is huge between them. I don't think that either side is going to end up getting what they want."

WHAT'S REALISTIC?

Minnesota has sentencing guidelines that were created to establish consistent sentences that don't consider factors such as race or gender. For second-degree unintentional murder, the guideline range for someone with no criminal record goes from 10 years and eight months to up to 15 years. The presumptive sentence is in the middle, at 12 1/2 years.

Cahill last month agreed with prosecutors that aggravating factors in Floyd's death warrant going higher than the guidelines. The judge found that Chauvin abused his position of authority, treated Floyd with particular cruelty, and that the crime was seen by several children. He also wrote that Chauvin knew the restraint of Floyd was dangerous.

The prolonged use of this technique was particularly egregious in that George Floyd made it clear he was unable to breathe and expressed the view that he was dying as a result of the officers restraint, Cahill wrote last month.

Osler said Cahill's finding of aggravating factors showed his willingness to go above the guidelines. But he said those guidelines still function like a tether, and the further Cahill moves from the guidelines, the more the tether stretches. He said a 20- or 25-year sentence is more likely than 30.

Joe Friedberg, a Minneapolis defense attorney who has been watching the case, agreed. He cited a U.S. Supreme Court case, Koon v. United States, in which the court said a judge could consider that a former police officer would likely spend much of his sentence in isolation for his own safety. Cahill might take the harder time into consideration to give Chauvin a little less, Friedberg said.

WHAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE?

Minnesota sentencing data for the five years through 2019 show that of 112 people sentenced for the same conviction as Chauvin, only two got maximum 40-year sentences. Both cases involved children who died due to abuse; both defendants had prior criminal records and struck plea deals.

The longest sentence during that time period for someone with no criminal history like Chauvin was 36 years, in another case involving the death of a child due to abuse. The sentence was appealed but upheld, with an appellate court finding it was not excessive when a 13-month-old child was beaten to death.

WHAT'S EXPECTED AT THE HEARING?

Attorneys on both sides are expected to make brief arguments. Victims or family members of victims can also make statements about how they've been affected, but none have said publicly that they will.

Chauvin can talk if he wants, but it's not clear if he will. Experts say it could be tricky for Chauvin to talk without implicating himself in a pending federal case accusing him of violating Floyd's civil rights.

While some experts say Chauvin won't talk, Mike Brandt, another defense attorney watching the case, said he thinks Chauvin will speak, and that he can say a few words without getting himself into legal trouble. If I was him, I think I would want to try and let people know that Im not a monster.

Community members can submit impact statements online, and they may become part of the public record.

WHAT WILL CAHILL CONSIDER?

Cahill will look at arguments submitted by both sides, as well as victim impact statements, community impact statements, a pre-sentence investigation into Chauvin's past, and any statement Chauvin might make.

When judges hear from defendants, they are typically looking to see if the person takes responsibility for the crime or shows remorse. Friedberg, the defense attorney, said he doubts any statement from Chauvin would affect Cahill's sentence.

In state court sentencing in Minnesota it just doesnt seem to matter to the judges what anybody says at the time of sentencing, Friedberg said. When they come out on the bench they will have already decided what the sentence will be.

HOW LONG ACTUALLY BEHIND BARS?

No matter what sentence Chauvin gets, in Minnesota its presumed that a defendant with good behavior will serve two-thirds in prison and the rest on supervised release, commonly known as parole.

That means if Chauvin is sentenced to 30 years, he would likely serve 20 behind bars, as long as he causes no problems in prison. Once on supervised release, he could be sent back to prison if he violates conditions of his parole.

Since his April conviction, Chauvin has been held at the state's only maximum security prison, in Oak Park Heights. That's unusual  people don't typically go to a prison while waiting for sentencing  but Chauvin is there for security reasons. He has been on administrative segregation for his safety and has been in a 10 foot-by-10 foot cell, away from the general population. He has meals brought to his room, and is allowed out for solitary exercise for an average of one hour a day.

It wasn't immediately clear where he would serve his time after he is sentenced. The Department of Corrections will place Chauvin after Cahill's formal sentencing order commits Chauvin to its custody.

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Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
We know now what a certain segment of the population was doing last summer as the rest of the country was talking about race. They were seething.

The best way to make sense of the current frenzy over Critical Race Theory  a phrase thats being used as a catch-all for any race-related talk some activists dont like  is to recognize it as an inevitable backlash to whatever progress was made last year in taking on the nations longstanding racial wounds.

That progress was itself overstated, as much of what resulted from the George Floyd protests could best be described as half-measures. But at least there was a public conversation. And that was enough to provoke outrage.

The result is that anything gained in the past year, such as an understanding on the part of white people of what everyone else in this country can face daily in terms of suspicion, discrimination or worse, has been cast into doubt.

Its been most visible in school systems, which have been the focus of intense criticism over what they may have been teaching on the subject of race. Greenwich got the most attention, but its come up all over, including in Redding, where objections have been raised over an anonymous survey asking questions about race, and in Guilford, where a group said children were being punished for sins they did not commit, and for a democratic infrastructure and way of life they had no part in building.

Theres no indication anything like that is happening. Instead, people are apparently upset that previously verboten truths about our nations history are now up for discussion.

School systems reacted to last summers protests in different ways. Like a lot of companies did, some formed committees to look at their own racial makeup, and to ask why things look the way they do. A general agreement that diversity and equity should be encouraged started to take hold. That has proven temporary.

What was most striking about last years protests in Connecticut wasnt just their size, but where they happened. Some of the whitest towns in the state were home to multiple Black Lives Matter rallies. It led to questions about race in policing, housing and medical care, some of which were taken up by the state Legislature. One outcome was that more people became aware of the realities of our nations history in terms of race relations, and its inherent ugliness.

Our nation is hardly alone there, but we seem uniquely determined to pretend everything weve done has been with the best of intentions. Teaching the truth of our countrys past and all its messiness is in conflict with the desire to always see this country on the right side of history, which helps explain the current pushback.

Outraged parents, goaded by activists nationwide, have taken this fight to local school systems. But last years marches were defined by a desire for a greater understanding: Why are things the way they are? And you cant get anywhere on that question without knowing the history. If were ever going to understand why restrictions on voting, to name one example, remain a concern in 2021, then knowing about our past is necessary.

This is why education is so important, so that we can better recognize the patterns at play. Because this was always going to be the result of last summers protests. Whenever theres progress on questions of race, the backlash is inevitable. Just as surely as Barack Obama led to Donald Trump, so Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 led to outrage over Critical Race Theory in 2021.

We dont need to do this every time. But because we seem so determined to ignore the lessons of the past, here we are again.

Hugh Bailey is editorial page editor of the Connecticut Post and New Haven Register. He can be reached at hbailey@hearstmediact.com.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A timeline of key events that began with George Floyd's arrest on May 25, 2020, by four police officers in Minneapolis:

May 25, 2020  Minneapolis police officers respond to a call shortly after 8 p.m. about a possible counterfeit $20 bill being used at a corner grocery and encounter a Black man, later identified as George Floyd, who struggles and ends up handcuffed and face down on the ground. Officer Derek Chauvin uses his knee to pin Floyd's neck for about nine minutes while bystanders shout at him to stop. Bystander video shows Floyd crying I can't breathe multiple times before going limp. He's pronounced dead at a hospital.

May 26  Police issue a statement saying Floyd died after a medical incident, and that he physically resisted and appeared to be in medical distress. Minutes later, bystander video is posted online. Police release another statement saying the FBI will help investigate. Chauvin and three other officers  Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao  are fired. Protests begin.

May 27  Mayor Jacob Frey calls for criminal charges against Chauvin. Protests lead to unrest in Minneapolis, with some people looting and starting fires. Protests spread to other cities.

May 28  Gov. Tim Walz activates the Minnesota National Guard. Police abandon the 3rd Precinct station as protesters overtake it and set it on fire.

May 29  Chauvin is arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. President Donald Trump tweets about thugs in Minneapolis protests and warns: When the looting starts, the shooting starts. Protests turn violent again in Minneapolis and elsewhere.

May 30  Trump tries to walk back his tweet. Protests continue nationwide and some turn violent.

May 31  Walz says Attorney General Keith Ellison will lead prosecutions in Floyd's death. The nationwide protests continue.

June 1  The county medical examiner finds that Floyd's heart stopped as police restrained him and compressed his neck, noting Floyd had underlying health issues and listing fentanyl and methamphetamine use as other significant conditions."

June 2  Minnesota's Department of Human Rights launches a civil rights investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.

June 3  Ellison files a tougher second-degree murder charge against Chauvin and charges the other three officers who were involved in Floyd's arrest.

June 4  A funeral service for Floyd is held in Minneapolis.

June 5  Minneapolis bans chokeholds by police, the first of many changes to be announced in coming months, including an overhaul of the police department's use-of-force policy.

June 6  Massive, peaceful protests happen nationwide to demand police reform. Services are held for Floyd in Raeford, North Carolina, near his birthplace.

June 7  A majority of Minneapolis City Council members say they support dismantling the police department. The idea later stalls but sparks a national debate over police reform.

June 8  Thousands pay their respects to Floyd in Houston, where he grew up. He's buried the next day.

June 10  Floyd's brother testifies before the House Judiciary Committee for police accountability.

June 16  Trump signs an executive order to encourage better police practices and establish a database to track officers with excessive use-of-force complaints.

July 15  Floyds family sues Minneapolis and the four former officers.

July 21  The Minnesota Legislature passes a broad slate of police accountability measures that includes bans on neck restraints, chokeholds and so-called warrior-style training.

Oct. 7  Chauvin posts $1 million bond and is released from state prison, sparking more protests.

Nov. 5  Judge Peter Cahill rejects defense requests to move the officers' trials.

Jan. 12, 2021  Cahill rules Chauvin will be tried alone due to courtroom capacity issues. The other officers will be tried in August.

Feb. 12  City leaders say George Floyd Square, the intersection blocked by barricades since Floyd's death, will reopen to traffic after Chauvin's trial.

March 9  The first potential jurors are questioned for Chauvin's trial after a day's delay for pretrial motions.

March 12  Minneapolis agrees to pay $27 million settlement to Floyd family.

March 19  Judge declines to delay or move the trial over concerns that the settlement could taint the jury pool.

March 23  Jury selection completed with 12 jurors and three alternates.

March 29  Opening statements are given.

April 11  Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, is fatally shot by a white police officer during a traffic stop in suburban Brooklyn Center, sparking successive days of protest.

April 12  Judge declines request to sequester Chauvin jury immediately due to Wright shooting.

April 15  Testimony ends.

April 19  Closing arguments. Jury begins deliberations.

April 20 -- Jury convicts Chauvin on murder and manslaughter charges.

May 7  Federal grand jury indicts Chauvin, Lane, Kueng and Thao on civil rights charges in Floyd's death.

May 25  A street festival, musical performances and moments of silence are held in Minneapolis and elsewhere to mark the one-year anniversary of Floyd's death, and Floyd family members meet with President Joe Biden in Washington to talk about continuing pursuit of police reforms.

June 25: Cahill sentences Chauvin to 22 1/2 years in prison, beyond the 12 1/2-year sentence prescribed under state guidelines but short of the 30 years prosecutors had requested. Earlier in the day, the judge denied a new trial for Chauvin.

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Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
NEW HAVEN  A lack of adequate laboratory space has often been identified as a challenge for the citys biotechnology sector over the years.

Now, a non-profit, independent research institute located in the city has announced it will be doing its part to address that issue. Officials with the John B. Pierce Laboratory said that they will be opening a new incubator for Connecticut bioscience startups in October.

The so-called New Haven Innovation Labs will be a 7,630 square-foot facility will be located inside the Pierce Laboratory building at 290 Congress Ave. in New Haven. The laboratory is right in the midst of the campus for Yale Universitys School of Medicine.

The New Haven Innovation Labs space will include a mix of private and shared wet labs and offices.

Dr. John Geibel, director of the Pierce Laboratory, said the new lab space blends nicely with the longstanding commitment to design, develop and implement new technologies and innovations for the betterment of mankind.

We are very excited to create a novel space that can support startup companies that arise from the Yale University School of Medicine community along with other startups looking to create a footprint in New Haven and Connecticut, Geibel said in a statement.

Vincent Pieribone, the director emeritus of the Pierce Laboratory, said the New Haven Innovation Labs will be fully outfitted and ready for companies to move in and get right to work.

Tenants will have access to the scientists within the Pierce Laboratory, giving them additional chances for discussions, Pieribone said in a statement.

Pierce Laboratory officials worked with the BioCT trade group to get its plans off the ground.

BioCT successfully launched a wet lab incubator, The Innovation Commons, in Groton, five years ago. Officials with the group will manage the New Haven incubator.

The bio industry is growing rapidly in Connecticut, thanks in large part to the innovations coming out of Yale and startup success in New Haven and the surrounding area, Dawn Hocevar, president and chief executive officer of BioCT, said in a statement.

Hocevar said the No. 1 need is and has been infrastructure/lab space to support all the phases of growth from startup to graduation.

The funding for the New Haven Innovation Lab is coming from a private investment from the Pierce Laboratory as well as a grant from CTNext, a state resource for entrepreneurship and innovation.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Republican lawmakers voted Thursday to stop a $300 weekly federal supplement that is added to unemployed workers' benefits in Michigan, though the measure is expected to be vetoed when it reaches Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The GOP-controlled Legislature passed the bill on party lines, 19-16 in the Senate and 59-49 in the House. It would require the $300 pandemic benefit to end July 31.

Supporters have said the supplement, which is on top of the maximum state benefit of $362 a week, discourages people from rejoining the workforce. It is due to cease Sept. 4 under federal law. About half of states, nearly all of them with Republican governors, have opted to end the extra benefit early.

It doesn't make any sense for the federal government to pay people not to work when we've moving moving the state back to normal, Rep. Beth Griffin, a Mattawan Republican, said last week, days before Michigan's COVID-19 capacity restrictions and mask requirements were lifted.

Whitmer, however, has said a lack of child care is a bigger barrier to filling jobs and wants to expand a state workshare program so employers can hire new workers who, while working, would still get the $300 weekly benefit.

This isn't the time to be taking money away from people who are struggling to find work, Democratic Sen. Paul Wojno, of Warren, said Thursday.

Interest groups applauded and criticized the legislative vote.

"Retailers have waited over a year to operate at 100% capacity but need employees to help meet that demand, said William Hallan, president and CEO of the Michigan Retailers Association.

But the Michigan AFL-CIO called it a political stunt, noting that even if the governor signed the bill, the change would not occur until 2022 because Democrats did not agree to give it immediate effect.

"The Legislature should be working to make sure every Michigander shares in the gains from the state's economic and fiscal recovery, not launching attacks on people who were hit hardest... and trying to ship unemployment aid funds back to Washington, D.C., said president Ron Bieber.

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Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
SEATTLE (AP)  A Nigerian information technology worker has been indicted on federal wire fraud and identity theft charges, after authorities said he and his co-conspirators filed false claims for pandemic-related unemployment benefits in 17 states.

Chukwuemeka Onyegbula, using the name Phillip Carter, was linked to at least 253 fraudulent filings for unemployment benefits, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in Seattle.

Onyegbula has been detained in Nigeria, but prospects for his extradition to the U.S. were unclear. Onyegbula works for Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited, according to the Seattle U.S. Attorney's Office. Court documents did not list an attorney who might comment on his behalf.

Washington, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Nevada, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin paid out a total of nearly $290,000 on claims related to the case. Additionally, the federal Small Business Administration paid out $54,000 in COVID-19 economic disaster claims filed by Onyegbula and his co-conspirators, prosecutors said.

Washington state was severely victimized by fraudulent claims for pandemic-related benefits. It likely paid out more than $647 million in such fraudulent claims, though $370 million was recovered, according to state officials.

Onyegbula is the second Nigerian national charged with such fraud in U.S. District Court for western Washington. Abidemi Rufai, 42, a suspended Nigerian government official, has been accused of filing $350,000 in fraudulent claims in Washington and other states, with $288,000 making it into a bank account he controlled. He also sought to bilk the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $1.6 million, according to federal prosecutors.

Rufai was arrested May 14 as he tried to travel from New York to Nigeria. A federal court in New York ordered him released on bond pending trial, but federal prosecutors in western Washington have been seeking to make sure he remains in custody, saying he poses a severe flight risk, is facile with fake identities, and that hes unlikely to ever be extradited if he makes it back to Nigeria.

A hearing is set for Friday to determine whether Rufai might be released pending trial. In a court filing Wednesday, assistant U.S. attorneys said that a recorded conversation between Rufai and his brother revealed that Rufai did not really know a woman who had offered to act as his custodian should he be released.

The recorded conversation also suggested that Rufai had significantly more money than he led the court to believe, prosecutors said.

In a response filed Thursday, one of Rufai's attorneys, Michael C. Barrows, called the government's reading of the conversation an absolute fabrication.

The family friend who offered to act as custodian attended the christening of Rufai's son five years ago, Barrows said. Rufai often visited her when he traveled to New York, and nothing in the conversation  which occurred in English, Rufai's second language  could be understood to mean he didn't know her, Barrows said.

Further, the comments Rufai made about money referenced the fact that he could raise funds for his bond from friends and supporters  not that he had hidden assets, Barrows said.
HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina man is accused of killing his girlfriend, taking her body to Tennessee and asking a friend to help him dispose of it, police said.

High Point police said officers were called to check on Gianna Rose Delgado, 19, after getting information that she was assaulted, news outlets reported.

Court documents in Tennessee said Michael Louis Cadogan, 24, contacted a friend, admitted strangling Delgado during an argument and needed help with disposing of Delgados body and car. That friend then contacted police.

During a later call between Cadogan and the friend, who was at the Kingsport Police Department, the friend agreed to meet Cadogan at a marina in Carter County to put Delgados body and car in Watauga Lake. A police lieutenant listened in on the call, officials said.

A Carter County sheriffs deputy spotted and stopped Cadogan, who was driving Delgados car, near the marina, authorities said. Delgados body was found inside the car.

Cadogan is charged with first-degree murder, concealment of death and tampering with a corpse. He is being held without bond in Tennessee, and there's been no word on his possible extradition back to North Carolina.

Pam Haynes, a spokesperson for High Point University in North Carolina, said Delgado had just completed her freshman year at the university. Though High Point police had earlier said Cadogan was a student at High Point University, Haynes said the man was never enrolled there.

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This story has been corrected to show that Cadogan was never a student at High Point University, according to university spokeswoman. High Point police had said he was a student at the university.
Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A Silver Alert was issued late Wednesday for an 11-year-old reported missing from New Haven.

Jamal Glasgow is described as a Black youth with brown hair and brown eyes, officials with the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection said in the alert.
WEST GREENWICH, R.I. (AP)  Police in Rhode Island are investigating the shooting of an 18-year-old man by an off-duty Pawtucket officer, West Greenwich Chief Richard Ramsay said.

The chain of events started at about 8 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 95 and ended up off the highway outside a West Greenwich pizza shop, Ramsay said. Both men were in separate vehicles.
HAMILTON, Mich. (AP)  State police have identified an unarmed man who was fatally shot by a state trooper in southwestern Michigan after what police called a prolonged and violent struggle between the men.

Virgil Taylor, 31, of Zeeland, was shot by the trooper in Allegan Countys Heath Township near Hamilton. An autopsy showed Taylor died of a single gunshot wound, state police Lt. DuWayne Robinson said Wednesday in a statement.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russia said one of its warships in the Black Sea fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs Wednesday to force a British destroyer out of an area near Crimea that Moscow claims as its territorial waters, but Britain denied that account and insisted its ship wasn't fired upon.

It was the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting the growing risk of military incidents amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a patrol ship fired warning shots after the HMS Defender had ignored a notice against intrusion and sailed 3 kilometers (1.6 nautical miles) into Russias territorial waters near Sevastopol, the main Russian naval base in Crimea. It said a Russian Su-24 bomber also dropped four bombs ahead of the vessel to persuade the Defender to change course. Minutes later, the Defender left Russian waters, the ministry said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the rude British provocation that defies international law, and said Londons ambassador was being summoned. The Defense Ministry said it also called in the U.K. military attache in Moscow to protest the destroyers dangerous move and urged British authorities to investigate the crews actions.

Britains Ministry of Defense denied the Defender had been fired on or was in Russian waters, but had been in Ukrainian waters.

No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender, it said in a statement. The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law."

Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, a move not recognized by most countries, gaining access to its long Black Sea coast. Russia has chafed at NATO warships visiting near Crimea as destabilizing. In April, it declared a broader area off Crimea closed to foreign naval ships.

We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior warning of their activity," the British Ministry of Defense said. No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognize the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the Defender carried out a routine transit from Odessa towards Georgia across the Black Sea.

As is normal for this route, she entered an internationally recognized traffic separation corridor, he tweeted, adding that HMS Defender exited the corridor safely at 9:45 a.m. BST (0845 GMT; 4:45 a.m. EDT).

"As is routine, Russian vessels shadowed her passage and she was made aware of training exercises in her wider vicinity, he added.

Speaking to Parliaments defense committee, Wallace again denied Russias version of events.

These are the things that come and go with Russia, he said. Disinformation, misinformation is something that we have seen regularly. Were not surprised by it; we plan for it.

Asked if Defender's crew had seen or heard anything, he said initial reports say they did hear or observe training noises somewhere to the rear of her but beyond visual range.

We saw the reports this morning, said Max Blain, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Its incorrect to say either that it was fired on or this ship was in Russian waters. HMS Defender was taking the most direct and internationally recognized route between Ukraine and Georgia.

He emphasized that Britain, and much of the international community, does not recognize Russias annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said it was clear proof of Ukraines position: Russias aggressive and provocative actions in the Black and Azov seas, its occupation and militarization of Crimea pose a lasting threat to Ukraine and allies.

We need a new quality of cooperation between Ukraine & NATO allies in the Black Sea, Kuleba tweeted.

In November 2018, Russian coast guard ships fired on three Ukrainian gunboats trying to pass from the Black Sea into the Azov Sea and captured them along with 24 crewmembers. It returned the crew and the boats the following year.

HMS Defender, a Type 45 destroyer, is part of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group heading to the Indo-Pacific region. It was announced earlier this month that it would be temporarily breaking away from the group to carry out its own set of missions in the Black Sea.

Just before Wednesday's incident, Defender stopped in the Ukrainian port of Odessa, where Ukrainian and British officials and industry representatives signed an agreement to collaborate on boosting Ukraines naval capabilities.

NATO members Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria border the Black Sea. Warships from the U.S., U.K. and other NATO allies also have made increasingly frequent visits in support of Ukraine.

Speaking before the incident, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, sharply criticized the deployment of NATO warships near Russian waters.

The moves by warships of the U.S. and its allies have been clearly provocative, Gerasimov said at an international security conference in Moscow organized by the Defense Ministry. It creates preconditions for incidents and doesn't help ease tensions in the military sphere.

He charged that the British destroyer HMS Dragon intruded into Russian waters near Crimea in October, and the U.S. destroyer USS John S. McCain violated the Russian border in the Sea of Japan in November.

In April, Russia imposed restrictions on foreign naval movements near Crimea until November in a move that drew strong complaints from Ukraine and the West. Russia rejected the criticism and noted the restrictions wouldnt interfere with commercial shipping.

Earlier this year, Russia also bolstered its troops near the border with Ukraine and warned Kyiv against using force to reclaim control of the country's eastern industrial heartland, where a conflict with Russia-backed separatists has killed more than 14,000 people in seven years. Moscow withdrew some of its forces after maneuvers, but Ukrainian officials say many of them remain.

Speaking earlier Wednesday via video to participants of the security conference, President Vladimir Putin expressed concern about NATO forces near Russia.

We arent striving for a decisive, unilateral military advantage to tip the balance of forces in our favor, Putin said. But we will never allow anyone else to tip that balance.

Russias relations with the West have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War, following Moscow's annexation of Crimea, accusations of Russian interference with elections, hacking attacks and other tensions.

In a speech at the same conference before Wednesday's incident, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the situation in Europe is explosive, and accused NATO of stonewalling Russian proposals to enhance security by refraining from military exercises near the borders of Russia and alliance members.

He said the world is rapidly sinking in a new confrontation, which is much more dangerous than during the Cold War times.

___

Lawless reported from London.
avid_creative / Getty Images

NORTH HAVEN  A New York man died after crashing into a guardrail on Interstate 91 North in North Haven late Wednesday, according to state police.

Gabriel E. Ramos, 33, of Carmel, N.Y., was driving a 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle on I-91 north about a mile south of Exit 9 when he struck the right hand guardrail, Trooper Daniel B. McCue said in a summary of the crash.
DEPOSIT, N.Y. (AP)  A New York state trooper was shot in the arm while responding to a reported domestic dispute near the Pennsylvania border, police said Thursday.

Trooper Ryan Thorp was shot shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Delaware County town of Deposit. The three-year veteran of the force underwent surgery overnight at a local hospital and was in stable condition, state police said in a news release.
WEST HAVEN  When Mayor Nancy Rossi took office four years ago, she soon began to shrink the size of city government  a decision she said she was effectively forced to make.

In 2018, Rossi was faced with a $2 million carryover deficit from the 2017 fiscal year after $16.14 million of an $18.14 million deficit was refinanced by the prior administration.

I had to cut $2 million in a budget (year) that was already half over, she said. We had to do a lot of cutting.

That included cuts to some City Hall positions, such as the citys legal services and its human resources departments. But in the recently-approved budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year, the number of City Hall positions is 297  the same as it was in the 2018 budget, before is was slashed by seven positions for the following two years.

Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media file /

I feel that shows the progress the city has made, said Rossi. The cuts we made were drastic and we had no choice, but the finances are definitely improved and were moving in the right direction.

Included in the net growth of five positions on the citys payroll in the fiscal 2021-22 budget are a human resources generalist in the personnel department  intended to take on some duties handled by retired city government veteran Beth Sabo for years.

There also will be a reshuffling of roles in the comptrollers office, leading to one more position, a supervisory role in the information technology department, one more detective for the Police Department and an extra position to manage the human services department.

Two years ago or three years ago, we didnt have any money to hire people, said Rossi.

We had to cut and leave it that way. Our unions were a great partner  I dont think they get enough credit, Rossi said. They ended up with four zeroes: no one got a raise in the last four years, and that was tough for the families to take.

In addition to hiring some new positions, the city increased the pay of some employees that were paid comparatively less than people in similar positions in other municipalities  such as the citys legal services department.

We didnt go out and hire 10 to 15 people; we are doing it little by little over time, so these positions were key, Rossi said. We have to have supervision of departments, and IT is really a big thing with us because we did have a breach back in 2018 and we know how crippling that can be, so this is well worth the money were spending on the extra position.

File photo by Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media / File photo by Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

City Council Chairman Ron Quagliani, D-At Large, said the hires are consistent with the five-year plan that the city submitted to the state oversight board that has maintained some approval power over the citys finances since the debt refinancing in 2017.

We are addressing the lack of proper systems and processes that have existed for more than a decade, Quagliani said. Unfortunately, staffing was reduced so much due to budget problems in the past that basic management processes and systems were spotty and inconsistent.

Quagliani said that the decrease in staffing to City Hall was also beginning to cost the city by creating inefficiencies.

I believe the FY22 budget finds that balance which significantly funds infrastructure improvements including process enhancement, all of which directly translates into improved services for our community, he said.

Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media /

Challengers

Rossis opponents in this years mayoral election, however, are critical of how the citys public sector hiring has been done.

I think 300-303 (positions) seems to be the sweet spot as far as employees needed to make West Haven safe, clean and attractive, said former Mayor Ed OBrien, who is running for his old job this year. There are a lot of factors to look at when talking about employee count. If you decrease employees too low, you run the risk of overtime being increased or incurring costs associated with outsourcing.

OBrien said he believes certain services are not being offered in the city  such as effective park maintenance. He said contractors, instead of public works employees, poured cement on the boardwalk earlier this month.

Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo

Funny how in an attempt to save money we reduced the staffing numbers but each of the last four years our taxes increased, he said. Its my opinion that the staffing levels were slashed to make a point and now the administration is finding out how devastating that has been to the city and only now are realizing that they made a huge mistake.

The citys tax rate did increase annually from a static 31.25 mills between fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2017 to a high of 37.48 mills in fiscal 2021. The fiscal 2022 budget drops the tax rate to 34 mills, and the tax rate fell in all three fire districts as well. Each mill represents $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Rossi said the city has had business relationships with contractors to supplement the work city officials do for years.

This isnt some kind of nuance under my administration, she said.

Democratic mayoral candidate John Lewis, OBriens former executive assistant, said the staffing levels are not his biggest concern.

While I believe staffing levels are within reason, Im far more concerned with the qualifications of the staff than the numbers, he said, noting he thinks this makes an impact on economic development. 

.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Barry Lee Cohen, a Republican city councilman and a candidate for mayor, also criticized the citys economic standing.

In order to hire qualified individuals that can create value for our city, it all starts with increasing our revenues through true economic development that engages businesses to grow and thrive in West Haven, he said.

Cohen said many residents are unhappy that their tax bills increased; although the citys tax rate went down; some residents had their properties revalued at a higher amount, leading to an overall increase in what they pay in taxes to the city.

Contributed photo /

There are sorely understaffed departments, such as our police, as well as some other areas where the lack of operational efficiencies is glaringly apparent, Cohen said.

According to city budgets, staffing of the Police Department is 132 positions for the fiscal 2022 year; one position less than in 2015.

Cohen said he believes the city should also invest in technology and public-private partnerships to increase productivity.

Technology enhancements will also enable existing staff to better serve our public while optimizing productivity and the unwavering pride each takes in serving our great city, he said.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
WEST HAVEN  A structurally-deficient bridge supporting Interstate 95 over the Metro North Railroad tracks is scheduled for maintenance in about two years, according to the state.

A state Department of Transportation spokesman said the state-owned bridge, which is located approximately 1,300 feet east of First Avenue, is tentatively scheduled for maintenance in summer 2023 to address structural deficiencies to the bridges superstructure. The state said the bridge is safe.

For the project, state officials are planning a widening of the bridge for a total estimated cost of $14.5 million in federal and state money.

According to DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick, inspectors rated the superstructure of the bridge a four out of nine, an indicator that the superstructure is in poor condition.

However, he said that rating is not alarming or worrisome and the construction project is typical to address aging infrastructure.

It is expected and anticipated that over the long life of a bridge, that it will eventually at some point fall into the category of being structurally deficient, he said. This is the aging process of a bridge structure; when you reach that point, a mechanism is engaged to rehabilitate or replace that structure.

(W)e want to minimize and mitigate, to the greatest extent possible, impacts to I-95 traffic flow during the project, Nursick said.

Contributed photo / Connecticut Department of Transportation

Nursick said DOT inspects all of the structures to make sure they are safe every 2 years at least.

According to an overview of the planned construction, the existing West Haven bridge  constructed in 1956 and rehabilitated in 1985  consists of a simply supported, six-span, steel multi-girder superstructure with a reinforced concrete deck and a bituminous concrete wearing surface.

The purpose and need for the project is to address the structural deficiencies and functionally obsolescence of Bridge No. 00162, the overview said, referring to the name of the West Haven bridge.

The bridge is structurally deficient due to the poor condition of the superstructure and functionally obsolete due to the inadequate deck geometry, the report states.

Contributed photo / Connecticut Department of Transportation

A state report says the bridge consists of three 12-foot travel lanes, a 4-foot left shoulder and a 4-foot right shoulder in both the northbound and southbound directions and had an estimated daily ridership of 136,900 vehicles in both directions according to a 2017 study cited in the report.

The project involves the removal and replacement of the six-span simply supported superstructure, piers and abutments with a three-span curved steel composite continuous superstructure, piers and abutments, which will be supported on existing and proposed concrete piles, according to the project overview.

The structure will be widened to accommodate three 12-foot travel lanes, a 12-foot operational lane, a 16-foot left shoulder and a 12-foot right shoulder in the southbound direction; the northbound direction will consist of three 12-foot travel lanes, a 16-foot left shoulder and a 12-foot right shoulder, the state report says.

Connecticut Department of Transportation Presentation

West Haven Mayor Nancy Rossi said her office has not yet been contacted by the state about traffic mitigation efforts, although usually they do. She said she supports a widening of the bridge while maintaining several lanes of traffic to prevent an influx of cars traveling through the city during busy periods.

If I-95 backs up, everybody hops off there, she said. Its rough with the traffic.

According to the project overview, there will be construction on an estimated 2,200 feet of roadway. A PowerPoint presentation from the CTDOT indicates plans to keep three lanes of traffic open during peak hours.

Connecticut Department of Transportation Presentation

Nursick said two seasons of construction are expected to complete work to the bridge, which would mean a tentative completion date of late 2025. Nursick said traffic type and volume, and climate conditions make an impact, in a winter weather state, our bridges take a little more abuse.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
President Joe Biden vowed on Thursday that Afghans who helped the U.S. military are not going to be left behind" as his administration stepped up planning to evacuate thousands of Afghan interpreters while their applications for U.S. entry are processed.

A senior administration official said planning has accelerated in recent days to relocate the Afghans and their families to other countries or U.S. territories while their visa applications are sorted. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the unannounced plans.

The administration intends to carry out the evacuation later this summer, likely in August, before its September deadline to withdraw U.S. forces, according to a second official familiar with the deliberations but not authorized to discuss them publicly.

Both officials added that the administration has not settled on a country or countries for the planned temporary relocation. Evacuating Afghans to a U.S. territory is seen as complicated because it could lead to the visa applicants having greater legal rights as they are vetted. Asked if he had determined where Afghans would be relocated as they await U.S. visas, Biden said he did not know.

Theyre going to come," Biden said in an exchange with reporters after an event to highlight a bipartisan agreement reached on infrastructure legislation. Weve already begun the process. Those who helped us are not going to be left behind.

The White House has begun briefing lawmakers on the outlines of the plans. The evacuation planning could potentially affect tens of thousands of Afghans. Some 9,000 Afghans who worked for the U.S. plus their family members  are already in the application pipeline for special immigrant visas.

With U.S. and NATO forces facing a Sept. 11 deadline to leave Afghanistan, the Biden administration has come under i ncreased pressure from lawmakers, veterans and others to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked as interpreters or who otherwise helped U.S. military operations there in the past two decades.

Despite unusual bipartisan support in Congress, the administration hasnt publicly gone on record in support of an evacuation as it unwinds a war that started after the 9/11 attacks.

The Biden administration and U.S. military officials have spoken carefully about relocation  and largely sidestepped talk of a mass evacuation  amid growing concerns about the precarious security situation for the Afghanistan government in the face of diminished U.S. military presence. In part, U.S. officials have been concerned that word of an evacuation could trigger a panic in Afghanistan, not to mention further complicate the present security situation.

The Taliban issued a statement earlier this month saying those who worked for U.S. and Western interests would not be targeted. Still for many the runaway corruption, deep insecurity and fear of violence from the Taliban and the many heavily armed U.S.-allied warlords have many Afghans seeing the special immigration visas as their last chance to leave their war-tortured nation.

The move to accelerate plans to relocate Afghans who helped the U.S. effort comes as Biden is set to meet on Friday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation.

The administration has begun to identify a group of interpreters to be relocated before the U.S. completes its drawdown by September, the senior administration official said.

Those individuals have already begun the process of applying for special immigrant visas available to Afghans who assisted Americans during the nearly 20-year-old war. The White House is planning for a variety of scenarios including additional relocation or evacuation options if necessary, the official said.

As part of its plan, the White House will also push to have additional resources devoted to processing special immigration visa applications to help those who remain in Afghanistan after the U.S. military drawdown but want to leave for the U.S, according to the official.

The official added that the administration is looking to work with Congress to find quick fixes to make the application process more efficient, including eliminating duplicative paperwork and adjusting requirements that do not affect national security.

Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Twitter the evacuation plan was great news but urged Biden to push his effort to secure a safe 3rd country to host them into high gear."

Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat who has been pushing the administration to move more quickly on the issue, said Thursday he had not yet seen details of the White House plan.

Moulton on Thursday unveiled a detailed plan supported by veterans that would use Guam as a way station as they go through the visa application process. He noted there is precedent for using the island, a U.S. territory where refugees were processed after the Vietnam and Gulf wars.

We dont want a single Afghan ally to die because we cant find a third country or the program is moving too slowly, he said.

Advocates, including former interpreters living in the U.S., applauded the news, but remain concerned the backlog of applicants was too great to overcome even with measures to accelerate the process.

Khalil Arab, who spent five years working for the coalition forces as an interpreter, fled Afghanistan in 2010 after receiving threats from the Taliban. His younger brother, who also was a translator, was nearly kidnapped. Both are in the United States now, but they fear for those left behind.

Every Afghan ally, every man and woman serving for the United States government under whatever capacity, whatever their title, they are in peril, he said. Make no mistake. Time is running out.

___

AP Radio Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani, AP military writer Robert Burns and AP reporters Julie Watson and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Kristen H. Emes, 73, of Niagara Falls, NY, passed from this life on June 25, 2021. Born on May 8, 1948 in Niagara Falls, NY, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Helen Elizabeth "Betty" (nee Long) Emes. Kristen was a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls, NY, and graduated from Stella Nia
Charles Soludo, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has won the Anambra governorship primary election of the All Progressi...





Charles Soludo, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has won the Anambra governorship primary election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The total number of accredited delegates who participated was 795 while 792 votes were cast.

Soludo secured 740 votes to defeat other challengers.

He will represent the party in the governorship election scheduled to hold on November 6.

The primary election took place on Wednesday in Awka, Anambra state capital.

Willie Obiano, Anambra state governor, and other stakeholders of the party were present at the event.

The former CBN governor had in February announced his intention to run for the governorship of Anambra state.





While throwing his hat in the ring, Soludo had promised to use his international network to transform the state.

He also praised the administration of Willie Obiano, incumbent governor of Anambra, describing him as one of the best in the country.

Anambra is doing well under Obiano and my mission is to continue and complete all the legacy projects of the governor, he had said.

Weeks after declaring his interest in the governorship election, Soludo was attacked by gunmen at an interactive town hall meeting in Isuofia, Aguata LGA of Anambra state.

Three police officers providing security for him were killed in the attack, while Emeka Ezenwanne, the Anambra commissioner for public utilities, was abducted.




Students of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo state on Thursday grounded academic activities o...





Students of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo state on Thursday grounded academic activities over incessant robbery and rape of female students by hoodlums.

The students partially blocked the Okitipupa-Igbokoda expressway, impeding free-flow of traffic to register their grievances.

Mr Damilola Okunomo, President, Student Union Government of the institution said that the students were tired of the level of insecurity in the area.

He said that the hoodlums rob students of their valuables like phones, laptops, gadgets and rape female students at gunpoint.

Okunomo added that four female students were raped two weeks ago, alleging that the institutions management was not doing enough on the security of lives and properties of students.

We are tired of this insecurity, armed hoodlums usually come to our off-campus hostels, rob students at gunpoint and also rape our female students.

The school management is not to doing enough as we are the ones securing ourselves by working as vigilantes most times, the situation is terrible.

We urge the school management to do its best in securing us and complete all the uncompleted hostel accommodations in our campus as this will also guarantee our security, Okunomo said.

Reacting, Prof. Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, Dean of Students Affairs of OAUSTECH, said that the school management was doing its best to secure the lives and properties of the students.

He said the university authority was having a security meeting with the Police, other security agencies and traditional rulers towards addressing the situation.

He assured the students that their security was paramount to the institutions management.

We have been holding several security meetings over these issues but we cannot expose the meeting and I think the students are aware of this too.

Presently, the management, the board council are having security meeting with the police, other security agencies and traditional rulers to arrest the situation and I am assuring the students that they will be secured.

I urge the students not to take laws into their hands and allow the management to resolve these security issues amicably, Oguntimehin said.

He appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to complete their respective hostel accommodations in the institution in order to enhance the security of students.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended governors of the south-east for denouncing the agitations for secession in the region. ...

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended governors of the south-east for denouncing the agitations for secession in the region.





In a statement released after its regional meeting on June 20, the governors condemned the activities of violent secessionist groups in the south-east and other parts of the country.

The governors said they are commitment to a united Nigeria, adding that the impression that south-east leaders are silent about the agitations for secession is incorrect.

Commending the position of the governors in a statement issued on Wednesday, Audu Ogbeh, ACF chairman, said the group is satisfied with the decision.





According to the statement, the ACF expressed satisfaction that the Igbo elders have finally disowned the agitators, and called on the elders to take concrete measures to ensure that such agitations come to an end.

Ogbe said the northern leaders will also ensure the security of Igbo indigenes living in the north as requested by governors, adding that sometimes they enjoy security which even northerners do not enjoy.

He asked the governors to also ensure that northerners living in the south-east are safe.





On the other hand, we have received reports on a daily basis of northerners, ordinary citizens, who are earning their daily life as nail cutters, suya makers, shoe shiners, onion sellers are being bullied, beaten and even killed, he said.

We hope these ordinary northerners are given the same protection we have given the south-easterners in our midst.

Ogbe said the forum is working on meeting with leaders of Ohanaeze, Afenifere and groups in the south-south to discuss issues fuelling ethnic crisis in the country.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Rain showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
A taste for seafood, or a taste for the unusual? Either way, get out and enjoy the weekend.

Festivities return to the town of Jean Lafitte Friday to Sunday for the annual Jean Lafitte Seafood Festival. Food, carnival rides, arts and an impressive list of live music highlight the fun at the Jean Lafitte Auditorium and Grounds, 4953 City Park St. 6 to 11 p.m. Friday ($10), 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday ($15) and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday ($15). Tickets and more here.

A gathering at the 141 Chartres St. marker to the victims of 1973's night club blaze will mark the 48th Anniversary of The Up Stairs Lounge Fire at 7 p.m. Thursday. The candlelit remembrance is sponsored by the Crescent City Leathermen on the site of the massacre that killed 32 and galvanized the LGBTQ+ community. Information here.

Need a fix for live theater and classic musical numbers? Summer Lyric Theatre has the answer with "A Grand Night for Singing," a showcase performance of songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein, from the powerhouse classics "Oklahoma!," "South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music," to the seldom-seen "Allegro," "Flower Drum Song" and "State Fair." Summer Lyric returns to its traditional stomping grounds in Dixon Hall on the Tulane University St. Charles Avenue campus Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. Tickets here.

A part of the legendary musical family, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and his Quintet take to the stage at Snug Harbor Friday at 8 p.m., 626 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, for a set. Frequently sold out, Marsalis draws crowds with his jazz around the world. Tickets $35. Get the beat here.

Feeling a bit sassy this weekend? Crank it up at 7 p.m. Friday at the Broadside at 600 N. Broad St., New Orleans, at Sass Fest, a birthday bash featuring Valerie Sassyfras and the Sasshay Dancers with special guest The Quickening. There's more with carnival food, specialty drinks, a pinata, Ava the Fire Eater and Hugo the Magician. The dancers will offer lessons in the "Girls Night Out" dance, with a chance to perform with Valerie on stage. Colors de jour are red, white and blue. Tickets $15. Get the tix here.

For a taste of the bizarre, unusual and sometime macabre, head over to the Alario Center at 2000 Segnette Blvd. in Westwego Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the Oddities & Curiosities Expo. The gathering is a showcase for purveyors of the strange, antique, artistic and collectible items that are "weird." There's even a taxidermy class (for an extra charge). Tickets are $10-$15. Come this way.

The monthlong gustatory gala A Taste of Covington reaches a zenith Saturday at 7 p.m. at A Grand Tasting at Bogue Falaya Park Pavilion, 213 Park Drive with live music, wine tasting and light fare. Tickets are $65 and a limited number will be sold. Champagne and mimosas will flow on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., at a brunch at Pyre Provisions Restaurant, 70437 La. 21, No. 100. $50, all-inclusive. Get a taste here.

Pandemic cabin fever got you feeling a bit down? Pop back to the '80s and get a taste of Reagan-era rock with The Molly Ringwalds at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Southport Hall, 200 Monticello Ave., Jefferson. This group blends a heady concoction of tunes from AC/DC, Depeche Mode, Belinda Carlisle, Madonna, Twisted Sister and REO Speedwagon, to name a few. Tickets $12.50 to $140. Head back for tunes here.

Hot Summer Celebration will be keeping it warm Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Broadside at 600 N. Broad St. in New Orleans for a benefit for House of TULIP. It's a celebration of the first year of the nonprofit collective creating housing solutions for transgender and gender-nonconforming people in Louisiana. Performers and entertainers include Neverending Nina, Tonya Boyd-Cannon, Katey Red, Indya Moore, Luka Kain and more. Food and nonalcoholic beverages are included. Info and tickets here.

The history of Economy Hall, the famed Treme meeting spot, will be the centerpiece of a free virtual event by the Louisiana Creole Research Association at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. "Assemblee! A Celebration of the History and Legacy of Economy Hall" will include presentations by authors Mark Roudane and Fatima Shaik, with music by OperaCreole, Don Vappie and Dr. Michael White. Register here.

Want your event considered? Email events@theadvocate.com.
The pushback continues against Mayor LaToya Cantrells foolhardy proposal to relocate City Hall to Municipal Auditorium. Earlier this week Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer announced her intention to ask the full council to hold up the proposed move pending public input about the auditoriums future. Whether its Palmers idea or some other formal step, the City Council must preserve all possible alternative options.

No one doubts that the current City Hall is an unsightly mess, but New Orleans seat of municipal power and authority has no place in Congo Square, a sacred space and a symbol of Black resistance, defiance and cultural identity.

Despite reassuring words from Cantrell in recent weeks, her administration continued to move forward with her plan to relocate City Hall to Armstrong Park.

On June 21, just three days after Cantrell hinted that she may accept alternatives, the city released a revised Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from architects and engineers for bringing back the auditorium  as the new City Hall.

The only change from the previous RFQ was a new deadline for submissions. Days later, after more pushback, Cantrell said the city is not locked into any final use despite the RFQs language. Given the mayors abuse of the public trust during last years library funding fight, we are not convinced.

Cantrell insists that time is of the essence, claiming if we dont meet an impending deadline the city will lose $38 million in FEMA money. Her statements also have suggested a lack of alternative proposals, but thats not the case. Municipal Auditorium has been a top issue for Treme residents since Hurricane Katrina, and many options have been discussed. One option which merits serious  and immediate  consideration is turning the space into a dual civil rights museum and cultural learning center.

Commentary: No City Hall in Treme Mayor LaToya Cantrell this week ramped up an aggressive social media campaign to counter the growing opposition to her plan to move City Hall 

New Orleans has played a prominent if often dark role in America's struggle for racial equality. Decades before the Civil War, our city had both a large slave market and one of the nations largest Free Black populations. Louisiana had Americas first Black governor in P. B. S. Pinchback. The landmark Plessy v. Ferguson civil rights case originated in New Orleans. And in 1957, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference at New Zion Baptist Church in Central City.

New Orleans connection to the broader struggle for justice also stems from our culture. Born in the streets of Treme, jazz was the soundtrack of Black resistance to white supremacy and Jim Crow for much of the 20th century, before giving way to New Orleans-rooted funk and soul sounds of Black Power and liberation. No Limit in the 90s, and more recently Curren$ys Jet Life have helped blaze trails for Black artists to control both their art and their economic circumstances.

Creating a museum and cultural school in Municipal Auditorium is just one idea. In charting the auditoriums future, city leaders should seek to honor Armstrong Parks namesake as well as the history and cultural significance of Congo Square. Putting City Hall there would do the opposite.
A 25-year-old man was fatally shot Wednesday night in the West Lake Forest area, New Orleans police said. His name has not been released.

The shooting was reported to police at 6:05 p.m. in the 6700 block of Bundy Road (map).

Police said the 25-year-old approached a man armed with a pistol and the gunman fired at him. Emergency Medical Services took the injured man to a hospital, where he later died.

Someone has been detained for questioning, police said Wednesday night, but there was no word if an arrest had been made as of Thursday morning.

Police did not immediately release other details, including a possible motive or a description of a suspect.

Staff writer Carlie Kollath Wells contributed to this story.
The bridge on La. 22 is as much a part of Madisonville as the Tchefuncte River that runs beneath it, the distinctive span providing a scenic and familiar backdrop in the small community.

But as residential construction along the La. 22 corridor in western St. Tammany and neighboring Tangipahoa Parish has surged in recent years, it has put a strain on La. 22. And the frequent openings of the bridge for marine traffic often create vehicle slowdowns that can stretch for miles along the two-lane road  and even longer during morning and evening rush hour.

Its a source of frustration for motorists, more than 2,000 of whom have posted complaints and selfies from stalled traffic on a Facebook page called Madisonvilles Stupid Bridge.

Hoping to provide some relief, the town of Madisonville has asked the U.S. Coast Guard to consider adjusting the bridges opening schedule. On Thursday, Madisonville officials will host a public meeting at the Madisonville Town Hall at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposed change.

The opening every half-hour has outlived its need, Madisonville Mayor Jean Pelloat said of the formal opening schedule, every hour and half-hour except from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, when it's every hour. Today the river is used 99.5% of the time for pleasure boating. Theres no need for commercial openings.

Area residents complain that the La. 22 traffic can add as much as an extra hour to their commutes. The problem worsens during the school year, when students drive from Madisonville, where there isnt a high school, to schools elsewhere in the parish, Pelloat said.

A bridge tender on Wednesday said it typically only follows the opening schedule when marine traffic dictates.

The town has asked that the bridge, which is owned and operated by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development but subject to Coast Guard regulations, have a revised schedule with fewer openings, and none at all between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Doug Blakemore, a Coast Guard official, said the town's request would be evaluated.

We want to make sure the vessels have the ability to use the bridge according to the law, he said, noting that the Coast Guard would not approve the change if studies, including a possible 30-day test, show that it would cause an unreasonable and unsafe delay for boaters.

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But if boat owners dont voice objection to the change, theres a good chance well approve it, he said.

Frustrations with the bridge aren't new. In 1935, a bridge first replaced the ferry system across the river, sparking complaints among residents, The St. Tammany Farmer reported at the time. The current bridge was built in 1980.

For some Madisonville residents, change can't come soon enough.

We plan our movements around that in the warmer months, Andrew Zeringue said of bridge openings, which seem to take longer during the summer months when the river is busy. Its just part of life.

He said he canceled his membership to a gym in nearby Mandeville because it took him too long to drive there, even though it's only five miles away. It just wasnt worth it, he said.

As the owner of a fishing boat that cant fit under the bridge during high tide, he understands both sides, he said.

I try to look at it holistically, he said. I do live here and deal with the horrific traffic but I also go on the water. The change would help incrementally, but at this point we need all the incremental things to help the traffic around here.

Pelloat acknowledged that changing the bridge schedule won't be a full solution to the traffic problems. At a community meeting in Mandeville Monday night to discuss ongoing traffic projects, larger-scale ideas were floated, including adding a high school in Madisonville or building a toll bridge across the Tchefuncte River.

Our No. 1 issue in western St. Tammany Parish is Highway 22, state Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, said at the traffic summit. Ive made the mistake of trying to bypass the interstate to get to Mandeville through Madisonville and it's taken me an hour and 22 minutes. ... The timing of the bridge opening and synchronizing the lights are great but we need to look at how were going to address Highway 22 on a much broader scale.
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration has extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help tenants who are unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but it said this is expected to be the last time it does so.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium until July 31. It had been scheduled to end June 30. The CDC said Thursday that this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.

Replay: Louisiana experts talk housing inequities, discrimination, evictions in Juneteenth panel Though the worst of the coronavirus pandemic appears to be behind Louisiana, housing instability, evictions and inequities are still a reality

The White House had acknowledged Wednesday that the emergency pandemic protection will have to end at some point. The trick is devising the right sort of off-ramp to make the transition without massive social upheaval.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the separate bans on evictions for renters and mortgage holders were always intended to be temporary.

This week, dozens of members of Congress wrote to Biden and Walensky calling for the moratorium to be not only extended but also strengthened in some ways.

The letter, spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Jimmy Gomez of California and Cori Bush of Missouri, called for an unspecified extension in order to allow the nearly $47 billion in emergency rental assistance included in the American Rescue Plan to get into the hands of tenants.

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Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy resigns over eviction attempt in uniform A Jefferson Parish sheriffs deputy has resigned while awaiting discipline over allegations that he tried to force a pregnant tenant from a Ke

Ending the assistance too abruptly, they said, would disproportionately hurt some of the same minority communities that were hit so hard by the virus itself. They also echoed many housing advocates by calling for the moratoriums protections to be made automatic, requiring no special steps from the tenant in order to gain its protections.

The impact of the federal moratorium cannot be understated, and the need to strengthen and extend it is an urgent matter of health, racial, and economic justice, the letter said.

Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, called an extension of the eviction ban the right thing to do  morally, fiscally, politically, and as a continued public health measure.

But landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it in court, are against any extension. They have argued the focus should be on speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.

By ASHRAF KHALIL, Associated Press.
Robbers ended the life 21-year-old Taylor Friloux for just $1,000 cash -- the take in a holdup of the Kenner Raising Cane's restaurant where she was a shift manager, according to authorities. A former employee is accused of brutally stabbing Friloux eight times -- seven as she lay motionless on the floor.

"I just want to know why?" Friloux's mother, Jamie Reavis, 46, asked Thursday (June 30) as she prepared to plan her daughter's funeral. "I mean, if you're going to rob a place, take the money and go. But why, why such a vicious act?"

Reavis, surrounded by relatives Friday afternoon, discussed Friloux's death, her daughter's infectious and playful personality as well as the crime that robbed her of more time with her youngest child.

"There's so much to say about her. She was loved by everyone. She was the sweetest person that I knew, so kind and generous," Reavis said.

Friloux was fatally stabbed by former employee Joshua Every, 23, of LaPlace, who police say, planned for a month to rob the Raising Cane's at 3344 Williams Blvd. Every executed the plan early Wednesday morning, ambushing Friloux as she and two other employees took out the trash through a backdoor, Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser said.

Every and an unidentified second robber forced Friloux to opened the locked backdoor after stabbing her once in the chest, police said. The men then looted the business' safe. Friloux collapsed to the ground.

Video surveillance shows Every stood over her and stabbed her several more times before he fled the restaurant to a waiting car, Glaser said. Though taken to a local hospital, Friloux did not survive her injuries.

Kenner police arrested Every and accused accomplice, Mark Crocklen Jr., 24, also of LaPlace. Both have been booked with first-degree murder and armed robbery. Authorities have a third unnamed suspect in custody -- another suspected former Cane's employee -- and are searching for a fourth suspect, a woman who was in the vehicle with Crocklen.

Friloux began working at Raising Cane's when she was enrolled at Archbishop Chappelle High School in Metairie, her mother said.

"It was tough on her, but she was very dedicated. They could always rely on her to come in," Reavis said.

Relatives had never heard of Every before and could not think of anything that would have prompted such a heinous act.

"I keep asking myself that over and over in my head. Why would someone do this to someone, especially her of all people?" Reavis said.

While Friloux was definitely a quiet person, she had quite the personality when it came to family and close friends. Always smiling, sarcastic, selfless and happy-go-lucky, she could be quite loud, in a joyful way, relatives said.

Reavis' partner, Suzy Geurin, smiled as she recalled Friloux's fondness for practical jokes.

"She was a ham," Reavis said.

Friloux would teasingly move her grandfather's beers around the house "every time I set it down," James "Pampaw" Reavis chuckled.

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Friloux was afraid of clowns and blanched when Reavis and Guerin left one outside on the front porch after catching the stuffed doll at a St. Patrick's Day parade. When she finally got the nerve to walk up to the house -- after 30 minutes of sitting in her car -- Friloux strung up the clown with Mardi Gras beads and hung it in front of her mother's doorway.

"She said, 'That's what you get,'" Reavis laughed, recalling how she was startled the next morning when she walked face first into the doll.

Friloux loved camping and the outdoors and took great pride in being the official family wood splitter, grandmother Julie "Mamaw" Reavis said. The family took an annual Thanksgiving trip to Kisatchie National Park outside of Alexandria to sleep on cots out by the fireside under the stars.

"My girls wouldn't have it any other way," Reavis said.

Still, Friloux hated bugs. She did, however, have a passion for animals. She had two cats, Capser and Charlie, and loved dogs.

"She could be a girly-girl when she had to be and she could split those logs," Guerin said.

In addition to her mother, grandparents and Guerin, Friloux is survived by her sister, Terri Morgan; her brother-in-law, Timothy Morgan; her aunt, Jennifer Helmstetter, and her 1-year-old niece, Madison. Terri Morgan is pregnant with her second child, due in January, another heartbreak for relatives who said Friloux doted on her young niece.

Friloux was headed back to college this fall to work on a degree in business management, her mother said. Friloux's dream was to own a bar, according to her boyfriend, Mack Keys, 23.

"She's very brave," he said, "and she was the hardest working person I know."

Relatives have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from the community.

"Everybody has had nothing but good things to say about her, and it makes me proud because she was really a good person," Reavis said. "She was a very good person, and she did not deserve this. Not at all."

Reavis and her family members would like to see all of those involved prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. First-degree murder is punishable by death in Louisiana.

"As much as I hate to say it, because enough lives have been lost, but I feel it's necessary," Reavis said. "A man should not be allowed to do this to anyone else. He shouldn't have been allowed to do this to my daughter."

Friloux's death has been like a nightmare for her relatives who sadly know there's no waking to a different reality.

"You see these things on TV and now I'm one of those moms, and I keep asking myself, 'Why?" Reavis said. "I'm never going to see her again, and I'm so sad. My heart aches, and my body is just numb."
NOPD and U.S. Marshals Service have arrested a man accused of killing a 35-year-old woman during a domestic dispute at Algiers Point in April.

Sharod Williams, 36, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. He was confirmed by NOPD as a suspect in a shooting that claimed the life of a woman in the 1100 block of Verret Street on April 30.

Police officers arriving at the residence found the woman with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

NOPD's Violent Offender Warrant Squad, along with U.S. Marshals, located Williams and took him into custody Wednesday without incident.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact NOPD Homicide Detective Christopher Puccio at 504-658-5300 or call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP, police said.
Joshua Every, the accused mastermind behind the deadly robbery at a Kenner Raising Cane's in June tried to procure guns for himself and an accomplice, according to authorities. But when that effort failed, Every told a co-defendant, "I guess we're gonna have to go old school," Kenner Police Department Detective Brad Ricke testified Monday afternoon (Aug. 8) during a preliminary hearing.

Authorities say Every, 23 and co-defendant Gregory Donald, 18, were armed with a knife and a black and yellow box cutter, respectively, when they forced their way into the Raising Cane's located at 3344 Williams Blvd., Kenner, on June 29. Every is accused of fatally stabbing manager Taylor Friloux, 21, during the holdup, even as other witnesses recognized him as a former employee, according to Ricke.

The detective revealed those and other new details about the robbery and homicide during a 2-hour hearing Monday that included all four defendants and their attorneys before a crowded Jefferson Parish courtroom. The other suspects present were alleged getaway driver Mark Crocklen Jr., 24, and Ariana "Lou" Runner, 22, who is accused of recruiting Gregory to the scheme.

Magistrate Commissioner Paul Schneider found probable cause to hold all four defendants in the case and set bond.

Every and Donald ambushed Friloux and two other employees at the restaurant as they were taking out the trash about 1:15 a.m. Investigators believe Every targeted Friloux's shift at the Raising Cane's because she was known to take out the trash at night, against Raising Cane's policy, according to Ricke.

Garbage is usually kept inside the business and taken out in the morning, Ricke said.

Every, a former employee of Raising Cane's, had worked with Friloux, authorities and friends have said. None of the suspects indicated they intended to kill anyone, let alone Friloux, during the planning of the robbery, according to Ricke.

Every and Donald approached a single, male employee as he began emptying the trash and had him call out Friloux, the detective testified. The pair ordered the employees onto the ground and began asking about security measure inside.

They grabbed a third employee who happened to walk outside during the robbery, a woman who immediately recognized Every, despite the fact that he and Donald, another former employee, were wearing bandannas covering the lower portions of their faces and dark-colored hooded shirts.

"She said, 'Josh, what are you doing?'" Ricke testified.

Holding Friloux by the arm, Every walked her to the back door, followed closely by Donald, according to Ricke. She knocked and waved through a window to get someone's attention. Inside, there were two other employees and two contractors who where there to clean the carpets.

As an employee inside opened the door, Every can be seen on surveillance camera lunging twice at Friloux, the knife in his right hand, Ricke said. She was stabbed twice in the chest.

As the three went into the restaurant, the two employees by the dumpster took off running for help. They unwittingly headed straight for the getaway vehicle with defendant Crocklen behind the wheel. A 13-year-old girl sat in the driver's seat, Ricke said.

The girl didn't learn about the planned robbery until she was in the vehicle with Crocklen, Every and Donald, Ricke said. Defendant Runner did not accompany the others to the restaurant and is not accused of directly taking part in the robbery, according to authorities.

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The 13-year-old wasn't involved at all, according to Ricke.

"Once she learned of it, she demanded to be let out of the vehicle," Ricke said. "Every refused. He threatened to kill her, to stab her. They held her against her will."

Once inside, Every forced Friloux to open the safe. Donald grabbed a money bag containing about $1,000 out of the safe and ran out of the store, according to Ricke.

Before leaving, Every is seen on camera crouching over Friloux as she lay on the ground and repeatedly stabbing her in the neck, head and chest, Ricke said. One of the knife thrusts almost severed her ear. Every then slipped on a puddle of water before dashing out of the restaurant.

Investigators recovered some of the stolen money in the form of a roll of coins found on the floor of a Mercedes seized at the LaPlace home of Every's mother, Ricke said. Every told investigators he gave he cut of the stolen cash to Donald to hold.

In addition to his confession, three employees positively identified Every as a suspect in the robbery, Ricke testified. Each of the defendants admitted taking part in the crime and identified the others to authorities, though Every and Donald tried to minimize their involvement.

Every told authorities Donald stabbed Friloux, Ricke said. Donald told investigators he was the getaway driver. The gold Toyota Highlander used to flee the scene belonged to mother of Donald's girlfriend, Ricke said.

Runner recruited Donald because Every needed another accomplice and a getaway vehicle, according to the detectives. Every told Runner he'd found one unidentified man to participate, but things didn't work out when the man's girlfriend demanded a cut of cash in exchange for her silence about the robbery, Ricke testified.

"Mr. Every stabbed her," Ricke said of the man's girlfriend, whom police have not been able to locate.

Donald, Runner's co-worker at a Kenner Wal-Mart, expressed interest in robbery after being told that they could score about $10,000 on a slow night, Ricke said. Investigators allege Runner knew all about the robbery because she took Every to Donald's home and the two discussed their plan in her vehicle while she was inside.

Runner's attorney, David Belfield III tried to argue the charges of second-degree murder, armed robbery and aggravated burglary were inappropriate because his client didn't take part in either the robbery or the homicide. But Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney Tommy Block argued she was a principal to the conspiracy and the crime.

"In for a penny, in for a pound," Block said.

Donald's attorney, Paul Fleming, argued his client's first-degree murder charge was inappropriate because there's no indication of intent to kill Friloux. The evidence may show that was the case for Every, but not for Donald, he said.

Block argued that Donald saw Every stab Friloux twice just before they entered the restaurant and he still continued with the plan.
Joshua Every will face the death penalty if he is convicted of killing Taylor Friloux, the 21-year-old manager of a Kenner Raising Cane's restaurant who was brutally stabbed to death during a robbery in June.

A Jefferson Parish grand jury handed up an indictment of first-degree murder against Every, 23, of LaPlace, on Thursday (Oct. 27), according to the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office.

"After meeting with Ms. Friloux's family and consulting with my staff, I have decided my office will seek the death penalty," District Attorney Paul Connick said in a statement.

Authorities accused Every of ambushing employees of the Raising Cane's located at 3344 Williams Blvd., Kenner, on June 29 with co-defendant Gregory Donald, 18. Every stabbed Friloux multiple times while as he was leaving the restaurant and after the pair got cash from a safe, investigators said.

Every can be seen on surveillance video crouching over an already wounded Friloux as she lay on the ground, authorities said. He stabbed her repeatedly in the head, neck and chest, almost severing her ear, authorities said.

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In addition to first-degree murder, the grand jury charged Every with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.

Donald was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.

The accused getaway driver, Mark Crocklen, Jr., 25, of LaPlace, was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.

Ariana Runner, 22, of Reserve, accused of recruiting Donald to join Every, was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and obstruction of justice.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was six years overdue when it issued new Clean Air Act rules in 2020 to strengthen protection for communities against air pollution from chemical plants. But after urging from the industry, the agency has now agreed to reconsider how it assessed the cancer risk posed by one toxic air pollutant found in Louisiana: ethylene oxide.

Deemed a likely human carcinogen by the EPA, ethylene oxide is produced while manufacturing ethylene glycol, a raw material used to make a number of products such as antifreeze and polyester fibers for plastic. As of 2018, 13 of the 15 Louisiana plants that fall under EPA's rule release enough ethylene oxide that they must report it to the agency's Toxics Release Inventory public database.

The American Chemical Council, an advocacy group, argues that the EPA overestimated ethylene oxide's cancer risk when issuing the new rules. The council points to a Texas Commission for Environmental Quality assessment that suggests the EPA erred in evaluating the chemical. Using a different predictive model, the Texas agency found the cancer risk to "be 4,000 times lower" than EPA found, the American Chemistry Council said.

The Texas agency and the chemistry council pushed EPA to use the Texas study, and the federal agency agreed June 17 to reevaluate its rule. Should the EPA revise the rule, it could led to less regulation on the industry.

Environmental advocates and some scientists have raised concerns about the Texas study, which focused on ethylene oxide's role in causing lymphoid cancer while dismissing its role in causing breast cancer. The Texas commission said it found the data insufficient to deem causation.

Jennifer Jinot, a former EPA scientist who contributed to the agency's 2016 cancer assessment of ethylene oxide, said the Texas study's findings "dramatically underestimate" potential cancer risks due to its exclusion of breast cancer and the type of model used to estimate lymphoid cancer risk - a model that the EPA had rejected during its own assessment.

The Texas agency is also tied up in a legal battle with the Sierra Club over its refusal to release the documents that it relied on to determine risk value.

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A timeline for the EPA's new review is not certain, but it will result in a decision on the validity of the Texas findings.

Eleven environmental groups from across the country - including RISE St. James, the Louisiana Environmental Network and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade - have also petitioned the EPA for changes to its rule. They say the rule doesn't go far enough to protect people living near plants from the health risks associated with the emissions, and they call for measures such as requiring fenceline monitoring and removing loopholes for pollutants released during equipment malfunctions.

The EPA has not decided whether to accede to their requests.

Earthjustice senior attorney Emma Cheuse said this will be one of the first tests for President Joe Biden's EPA. Biden made campaign promises to strengthen environmental justice protections for communities facing air pollution, specifically offering his support to those living in Louisiana's heavily industrialized chemical corridor along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

+6 New EPA rules reducing emissions of toxic ethylene oxide won't apply to most Louisiana plants This article was produced in partnership with The Times-Picayune and The Advocate, which is a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network.

"Five months into the new administration, we are still waiting to see whether EPA will take strong, definitive action to protect fenceline communities and public health from chemical and petrochemical plants pollution," Cheuse said. "EPAs review should be completed quickly and should end with affirmation of EPAs ... cancer risk value as the best available science, and with stronger rules based on this science."
Addressing "repeated and widespread flooding" in St. Tammany Parish will require a $4 billion combination of levees, pump stations, channel improvements and home elevations, an Army Corps of Engineers study released Wednesday says.

Citing historic flooding in Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and more recent river floods in 2016, the study that started in January of 2020 initially looked at more than 200 possible measures before settling on the combination of structural and nonstructural solutions.

(See the study here.)

The most expensive component would be raising 6,643 structures up to 13 feet and flood-proofing another 1,885 structures. That's projected to cost $2.2 billion, the study shows.

That would be voluntary, the report said, and to be eligible properties would have to be outside the protection of other elements of the plan, including a levee system.

The second-most expensive item is the $1.7 billion South Slidell and West Slidell Levee and Floodwall System, designed to address storm surge flooding. It includes 14 miles of levee, 2.3 miles of floodwall and pump stations and floodgates.

The flood study also calls for improvements to two waterways, Bayou Patassat, a tributary of Bayou Bonfouca in Slidell, and Mile Branch in Covington.

Bayou Patassat would be cleared and desnagged between the Bayou Vincent Pump Station and U.S. 11 at a cost of just under $1 million.

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A 2.15-mile section of Mile Branch starting at U.S. 190, crossing U.S. 190 Business and ending at the Tchefuncte River, would be cleared and grubbed and the channel bottom would be lowered by 5 feet. That project would cost an estimated $26 million.

The study itself won't be completed until 2023, and funding will depend on Congress.

The Corps is about halfway through a three-year assessment, according to Jamie Mobley, a public affairs specialist.

When the public comment period closes on July 26, the comments will be incorporated as the tentatively selected plan is developed into a final report that will be sent to Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., for inclusion in a report to Congress, Mobley said.

"At that point, the recommended project would require Congressional authorization and funding to begin," she said.

Suzanne Krieger, who chairs the St. Tammany Levee Drainage and Conservation District board, urged residents to email comments and questions to the Corps at sttammanyfs@usace.army.mil noting that the deadline is July 26.

She said the board would vote on its response at its July 21 meeting.
Just over a year after work began to widen a congested and dangerous stretch of Interstate 12 in western St. Tammany Parish, Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a supplemental spending bill that includes $38 million more to finish the massive project's third and final phase.

The first two phases, currently under construction, are being covered mostly by federal funds, with some state and parish money added in.

Overall, the project, which will add new lanes on I-12 between La. 59 and La. 1077, will cost nearly $154 million. No dates have been set for bids on the newly-funded phase.

State Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, announced the new state money with little fanfare at a traffic panel hosted this week by Mandeville Mayor Clay Madden, causing a ripple of surprise among other panelists.

McMath said that while 17 projects were considered for inclusion in the state supplemental spending bill, only nine were chosen, including the I-12 work between La. 21 and La. 1077.

In the meantime, work is progressing on the first two phases of the project, with an anticipated completion date of late 2022, according to Larry Sharp, district engineer administrator with the state Department of Transportation and Development.

Sharp said that work is 62% complete on the first phase, $55 million in work to add a lane in each direction to a 3.26-mile section between U.S. 190 and La. 59 in the Covington and Mandeville area, bringing the total number of lanes from four to six.

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Crews have been building the new lanes in the median since construction began last May. Sharp said that by September, traffic will switch over to the new lanes to allow crews to begin overlay work on the existing lanes. That phase also includes widening bridges over U.S. 190, the Ponchatolawa Creek and the Tammany Trace.

Work is about 15% complete on Phase 2, which adds lanes to three miles from La. 21 to U.S. 190, Sharp said.

That phase is the most expensive, at $60 million, and includes widening the bridge over the Tchefuncte River bridge, a chronic traffic chokepoint.

Widening I-12 had been long discussed, but the work took on new importance in the wake of a fiery, multi-vehicle crash in 2018 that killed four people. At that point, the widening, which had been on the state's drawing board, was anticipated to begin in 2023.

But area officials worked together to tap several funding sources  state, local and federal  to move the start date up several years.

In addition to the safety concerns, McMath said that the rapid population growth in western St. Tammany helped get the project into the supplemental bill.

Panelists at the traffic meeting in Mandeville noted the high number of crashes on I-12  900 between La. 21 and La. 190 since 2013, according to an aide for U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.
Contractors are expected to erect netting around the Plaza Tower over the course of the next week to catch any debris that might fall from the building in the future, paving the way for the reopening of nearby streets.

The netting is the final step in securing the derelict building in downtown New Orleans after a panel was blown off its upper floors last month, injuring a passing bicyclist.

After Plaza Tower panel strikes bicyclist, officials to require fencing, netting around building New Orleans officials will require the owners of the Plaza Tower put more fencing around the building and use netting to prevent debris from f

Cantrell administration spokesperson Beau Tidwell said during a weekly briefing on Tuesday that efforts to install the netting around the top floors of the vacant 45-story building had been delayed by Tropical Storm Claudette's passage through the region last week. So far, glass had been removed from all the broken windows and contractors were expected on site this week to begin setting up netting around the building, Tidwell said.

Roads around the Plaza Tower have been closed since the shortly after debris careened off the building on May 20. Those closures, aimed at preventing more debris from striking another pedestrian or vehicle, could be lifted when the net is put in place, something officials expect could be completed by next week, Tidwell said.

"Hopefully at that point the streets will be able to reopen," he said.

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The distinctive Plaza Tower was one of the first skyscrapers in New Orleans when developers began work on it in 1964. It ran into trouble almost immediately, with its original owner running out of money before it was finished and ended up taking five years and $18 million  nearly twice as much money as expected  to build.

+12 From troubled development to falling debris, the story of New Orleans' abandoned Plaza Tower Plaza Tower, the hulking concrete monolith on Loyola Avenue that most city residents would rather forget, came crashing back into their collec

By the early 2000s, toxic mold, broken elevators and the discovery of asbestos shut down the building, which had been used as apartments and offices.

Hotelier and developer Joe Jaeger, who bought the building a half-decade ago, said earlier this month that he still hopes to rehabilitate the tower, with plans for a 190-room hotel taking up most of the building and about 90 apartments on its upper floors.

That proposal was getting moving last year when the pandemic hit, putting such projects in limbo, he said.

+14 Plaza Tower owner plans to build hotel, luxury apartments, if financing arrives The owner of the Plaza Tower, the 45-story eyesore that became a public hazard last month when windblown debris hit a passing cyclist, says he
Brian Gwinner poses for a photo with his 2018 Pruis Prime. State officials are refusing to say how much money an electric vehicle company will receive in return for agreeing to build its first manufacturing plant in Pryor.
Staff Writer

Reese Gorman covers elections, local politics and the COVID-19 pandemic for The Norman Transcript. He started as an intern in May of 2020 and transitioned into his current position as a staff writer in August of 2020.
Cheswick, Pa.  State officials recently met at Eichenlaub Inc. in Allegheny County, to provide an update on the state of the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania, and the path to beating the invasive species.

The spotted lanternfly has spread throughout Pennsylvania since its discovery in Berks County in 2014. It feeds on the plant sap of many different plants including grapevines, maples, black walnut, and other important plants in the state.

Eichenlaub Inc., a landscape business, is one of more than 26,000 businesses that have stepped up to the responsibility of holding a spotted lanternfly permit. While he hasn't seen spotted lanternfly on his properly, Dan Eichenlaub, president, has traps for the bad bug around his property and maintains vigilance with inspections to ensure they're not contributing to the spread of spotted lanternfly to new areas of the state or nation.

Related reading: Meet Lucky, the lanternfly-sniffing dog who just graduated from the University of Pennsylvania

"The spotted lanternfly is the worst bug in the commonwealth and capable of causing real damage to Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry," said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. "Over the past seven years, we've seen lanternfly travel from east to west in the commonwealth. We've seen vineyards devastated. It's invasive environmentally, socially, and economically.

Pennsylvania's spotted lanternfly quarantine zone now covers 34 counties. Eight new ones were added to the zone last in early Spring, including Cambria, Cameron, Franklin, Lackawanna, Montour, Pike, Wayne, and Westmoreland Counties.

Related reading: Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone expands for 2021

"There is good news," said Redding. "Pennsylvania is home to 12.8 million people who are part of the solution. Working together, we can slow the spread. Working together, we can stomp out the threats of this invasive pest."

According to a study by economists at Penn State, if not contained, the spotted lanternfly potentially could drain Pennsylvanias economy of at least $324 million annually. The Penn State Extension offers information on spotting, identifying, and reporting spotted lanternflies.

If you see one, help stop it in its tracks! To report a sighting, use Penn State Extension's reporting tool here or call the hotline at 1-888-422-3359.




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Local

Finance committee backs lower millage rate, but individual city tax bills likely to go up

Residents of Rome can look forward to paying slightly higher property taxes this fall.

The overall tax digest, the taxable value of property in the city, increased by 10.26%, more than $124 million, pending appeals.

We used to hope for 5% growth, said Finance Director Toni Rhinehart at a meeting of the city Finance Committee on Wednesday.

The bulk of that increased property value inside the city limits was commercial real estate.

At the beginning of this year we sent out a letter to all commercial property owners, letting them know that this was taking place, so we gave them a little bit of warning, said Chief Tax Appraiser Danny Womack.

Residential property values inside the city were up somewhere between 3% to 5%.

The city Finance Committee, chaired by Commissioner Sundai Stevenson, agreed to hold the line on the citys maintenance and operation tax levy at 8.151 mills.

They also agreed to roll back the capital budget tax levy from 1.935 mills to 1.826 mills, which will generate the same amount of revenue since property tax values have increased. The city schools levy will remain at 17.450.

A mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.

If someone had a property, commercial or residential, inside the city limits that was assessed at $200,000 last year, they would have paid $2,202.88 in city taxes. If that property value increased by 10% this year, they would pay $2,413.58.

City Manager Sammy Rich and Rhinehart are expecting to be able to use some of the American Rescue Plan Act money from the federal government, about $11.5 million, to offset some of the city capital budget needs.

Were still kind of clamoring to figure that out (where the city can spend ARP money), Rich told the committee.

Half of the those funds, approximately $5.75 million, will be allocated to the city this year with the remainder distributed in 2022. According to the ARP rules, the money must be spent, or at least encumbered, by the end of December 2024.

Because the amount of revenue being generated by the tax levies will go up from last year, the state mandates the city hold three public hearings for input into the levy.

Those have been scheduled for July 12 at the regular 6:30 p.m. city commission meeting, a special 10 a.m. meeting on July 15 and a final hearing and vote scheduled for July 26.

City taxpayers will also have to add their county tax levy, a figure which has not been set yet.

The 2021 city finances through the month of May are in good shape, according to Rhinehart. Special purpose, local option sales tax collections are running $558,642 ahead of last year.

Total operating revenues are up by more than $700,000 as compared to the same five month period a year ago.
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North American Renewable Integration Study Highlights Opportunities for a Coordinated, Continental Low-Carbon Grid

Multiyear Analysis Shows Increasing Electricity Trade Between Countries and Expanding Interregional Transmission Can Support a Reliable Future Power System

June 24, 2021

The North American electric power system is undergoing significant change, with renewable resources now contributing more generation than ever beforea transformation that is poised to continue given decreasing technology costs and ambitious decarbonization goals at the federal, state, local, corporate, and consumer levels.

With a series of reports released today by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the North American Renewable Integration Study (NARIS) aims to inform grid planners, utilities, industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders about challenges and opportunities for continental system integration of large amounts of wind, solar, and hydropower to support a low-carbon future grid. The NARIS project began in 2016.

"We used a suite of models to study a range of future scenarios and gain insightsincluding potential impacts on costs, emissions, resource adequacy, and the specific technologies that help enable the transition," said Greg Brinkman, NREL energy analysis engineer and principal investigator for NARIS. "Our analysis focused in particular on the potential role of cooperation across North America and between regions within each country, and how transmission can support sharing of supply and demand diversity across the continent."

NREL has released a report on the U.S. perspective in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and a companion report describing a Canadian perspective in coordination with Natural Resources Canada.

Results show that a future low-carbon North American grid can be achieved through multiple pathways that can balance supply and demand using a variety of flexible resources. The study also shows that increasing electricity trade and expanding transmission could have significant benefits, highlighting opportunities for a coordinated, low-carbon continental grid.

First-of-a-Kind Power System Modeling for the Entire Continent

With input from the NARIS Technical Review Committee, NREL developed and evaluated a set of four scenarios to understand the impacts of future renewable technology costs, emission constraints, and growth in electricity demand on key study outcomes. The scenarios were informed by the goals set in 2016 for the Paris Agreement in each country, with up to 80% carbon reductions continent-wide by mid-century.

Leveraging NREL's high-performance computing capabilities, NREL evaluated the scenarios using a variety of models, including NREL's Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS), Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen) model, and Probabilistic Resource Adequacy Suite (PRAS), as well as Energy Exemplar's PLEXOS tool. All modeling was sourced by consistent data sets through the NREL Renewable Energy Potential (reV) model, National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB), and WIND Toolkit.

"NARIS builds on decades of previous work studying power systems with high levels of renewable generation, including the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, Eastern Renewable Generation Integration Study, Interconnections Seam Study, and Pan Canadian Wind Integration Study," Brinkman said. "Here, we analyzed the entire continent in detail while studying higher renewable generation than these previous studies."

Four key findings emerged from the analysis.

Finding 1: Multiple Pathways Can Lead to 80% Power-Sector Carbon Reduction Continent-Wide by 2050

Steeper cost reduction of wind and solar technologies can lead to a faster and less costly transition, and carbon targets can still be achieved with conservative wind and solar cost assumptions. When it comes to total system costs of achieving 80% power-sector emissions reductions, wind and solar cost trajectories have a more significant impact than carbon policy assumptions.

Projected U.S. (left) and Canadian (right) power sector annual CO emissions trajectories through 2050 in the four core NARIS scenarios.

Finding 2: The Future Low-Carbon Power System Can Balance Supply and Demand in a Wide Range of Future Conditions

For each core NARIS scenario, NREL estimated the number of hours in a year where supply would not be expected to meet demand in a region, as well as shortages that may occur due to generator or transmission outages. For both the United States and Canada, these metrics compare favorably with the North American Energy Reliability Corporation's projections for the contemporary grid, meaning the scenarios analyzed in NARIS would not fundamentally impact the power system's ability to balance supply and demand.

In the United States, between 1,200 and 2,000 gigawatts of renewable energy can be deployed to produce 70%80% of U.S. electricity by 2050 while meeting planning reserve requirements. Thermal generation (nuclear, gas, and coal) contributes significantly to the future power system's ability to balance supply and demand in all scenarios, even when most of the energy generation comes from wind and solar. Storage can also help provide capacity to the system.

In Canada, hydropower, gas, and wind technologies contribute most to the future system's ability to balance supply and demand. Thermal generation provides 5%10% of energy in all scenarios in 2050, but still contributes more than a quarter of winter planning reserves in most scenarios. However, existing market structures may not support these generators operating in this manner. Some of this contribution from thermal generation could be replaced by new hydropower or storage. Hydropower continues to provide approximately half of Canadian planning reserve needs by 2050and hydropower expansion could potentially contribute more, especially in a future with higher electricity demand.

Finding 3: Interregional and International Cooperation Can Provide Significant Net System Benefits Through 2050

Allowing international transmission expansion provides $10 billion to $30 billion (2018 $US) of net value to the continental system between 2020 and 2050 in all but the business-as-usual casethe most conservative of the core scenarios. This demonstrates some of the potential benefits of international collaboration.

Expanding transmission between regions of a country provides $60 billion to $180 billion in net system benefits. Although these values are a small percentage (less than 4%) of the total $5 trillion to $8 trillion total system costs (which include all capital and operating generation and transmission system costs), transmission plays an important role in minimizing costs.

NARIS shows significant value in expanding transmission across North America to support sharing of supply and demand diversity. These values are estimated by comparing the total system cost in each core scenario in model runs with and without allowing additional transmission expansion (either interregional or international). Note the difference in the y-axis for the first chart compared to the second and third charts.

"Transmission expansion benefits are higher with more electrification and more wind and solar, which is a trend that could continue in lower-carbon scenarios or longer-term futures," said Josh Novacheck, NREL electricity system research engineer and coauthor of the study. "Transmission can also provide reliability benefits and enable exchanging load and renewable generation diversity between regionsduring normal conditions as well as in extreme events."

Finding 4: Operational Flexibility Comes From Transmission, Storage, and Flexible Operation of All Generator Types

The results show the future low-carbon power system will benefit from many different forms of operational flexibility. In the United States, this includes flexible operation of natural gas and hydropower, curtailment (i.e., purposeful reduction) of wind and solar generation, and storage (mostly pumped storage hydropower). International imports, enabled by transmission buildouts, also help to balance the grid.

In Canada, hydropower, wind, solar, and thermal generation are key sources of flexibility. On days when Canada has high energy demand but lower wind energy output, Canada imports electricity from the United States. For days with higher Canadian wind output, the Canadian grid exports electricity to the United Stateseven when electricity demand peaks in both countries in the evening.

Hydropower provides a zero-carbon source of energy, capacity, and flexibility to the grid. In comparing similar scenarios with and without the ability to adjust power output from U.S. and Canadian hydropower generators, annual system costs are $2.3 billion higher without this flexibility.

Forging a Path for Future Research

"In addition to highlighting several opportunities for a coordinated, continental low-carbon grid, NARIS created open-sourced data and methods for future studies to build on," Novacheck said. "We also identified several priorities for future research to expand on our findings."

Follow-on work could focus on studying the stability aspect of power system reliability, analyzing new scenarios that reflect today's emissions reduction goals as well as technology costs, understanding the impact of different market structures on building new transmission and generation, and refining how we model electricity demand patterns and sources of flexibility under future widespread electrification.

Learn More

For the full NARIS findings, read the U.S. and Canadian reports and executive summaries.

The NARIS webpage also includes links to additional information, including an interactive data viewer.

Primary funding for the U.S. and Canadian reports was provided by Natural Resources Canada and the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office, Water Power Technologies Office, and Solar Energy Technologies Office.

Learn more about NREL's energy analysis and grid modernization research.
To find out more about Erick Erickson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com.
The woman told police Navarrete refused to stop and the advances progressed to a point where he licked her face, according to court documents.

The woman hit Navarrete in the face, and he placed his hands around her neck before pulling out a gun, records allege.

The woman told police Navarrete fired one round, which missed her and went through the windshield, and made comments about killing her and the driver.

After the woman got into the cargo van, the van's driver followed the Ford F-250 to Navarrete's home in the 8900 block of Branton Avenue in Highland, records state.

Another fight occurred outside the home, and the woman knocked Navarrete unconscious with a ladder she retrieved from the cargo van, according to court documents.

A male co-worker admitted he fired his gun into the air. The group took Navarrete's gun and went to a Highland gas station, where they later met with police.

When police arrived at Navarrete's home, he initially refused to come out. He eventually surrendered, but yelled expletives at police and threatened to kill them, records allege.

Police found 28 grams of suspected cocaine on Navarrete, records state.
Prosecutors spent much of the past four weeks attempting to convince jurors that Silva, 20, of Hamlet, aided Kerner in the attempted robberies that resulted in the deaths of Thomas Grill, 18, of Cedar Lake, and Molley Lanham, 19, of St. John.

Kerner, 20, was found guilty in October for his role in the crime and later sentenced to 179 years behind bars, which the judge acknowledged was a "de facto" life sentence. Kerner since has appealed.

Silva faced two counts of aiding in murder that occurred during the perpetration of a robbery and two counts of aiding in attempted robberies.

Prosecutors told jurors during closing arguments Wednesday that Silva sat in the basement as a backup man, holding a handgun and waiting to ambush as his friend Kerner attempted to carry out a robbery that ended with the two Lake County teens murdered.

"The defendant did much more than just sit there and let things happen," Hammer said.

But as jurors prepared to begin deliberating, defense attorneys attempted to paint their client as scared and hiding in the basement of the Boone Township home on Feb. 25, 2019, after seeing Kerner with a gun and realizing things were becoming "real."
CROWN POINT  A Lake Criminal Court judge refused Wednesday to release a man from jail following his arrest earlier this week because he didn't show up for trial on murder charges.

Darren Taylor, 41, was arrested Monday afternoon at Community Hospital by Lake County sheriff's police on a bench warrant issued earlier that day.

Taylor had been scheduled to stand trial beginning Monday on charges linked to the homicides of Temia Haywood, 35, and her 13-year-old son, Lavell Edmond, on March 23, 2019, at Haywood's home in the 6800 block of East Third Avenue in Gary.

Taylor was being held without bail at the Lake County Jail.

Taylor's attorney, Lakeisha Murdaugh, filed a motion Tuesday seeking Taylor's release from jail and return to home detention with GPS-monitoring services at the county's expense.

Taylor was admitted to the hospital Sunday for a previously diagnosed medical condition, according to court filings.

Murdaugh wrote the detainer warrant issued Monday by Judge Diane Boswell was "to be executed after the defendant was discharged form the hospital."
HAMMOND  A man made his first appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court on allegations linked to a deadly bank robbery June 11 in Calumet Township, records showed.

James A. King Jr., 24, of Miami, appeared in federal court in Hammond hours after facing a judge in Lake Criminal Court in Crown Point, where he learned his state charges were dismissed.

U.S. District Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich scheduled King's arraignment and detention hearing for June 28.

Federal prosecutors also advised the court King is eligible for the death penalty, records showed.

King was indicted Thursday in federal court on charges of armed bank robbery and murder resulting from the use and carrying of a firearm during the robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney Tina Nommay said.

Security guard Richard Castellana, 55, of Tinley Park, was ambushed and fatally shot during the robbery at the First Midwest Bank at 1975 W. Ridge Road, authorities said.

Lake County Sheriff's Department K-9s tracked two suspects and caught one of them, later identified as King, in the woods near 43rd Avenue and Garfield Street in Gary, police said. The location was less than a mile from the bank.
The State Budget Committee authorized spending on two Northwest Indiana public safety projects Wednesday that together will contribute nearly a half-billion dollars to the Region's economy in the years ahead.

The larger project is the $400 million rebuilding of the Westville Correctional Center in LaPorte County.

The budget committee approved $12 million for the Department of Correction (DOC) to begin architectural and engineering design work ahead of construction potentially starting in 2022.

According to DOC, nearly all of the 76-year-old prison, which originally was constructed as a mental health center, will be demolished and rebuilt on the 117 acre property in Westville, including inmate housing, administration, programming and treatment facilities.

The agency said the age, design and weathering of the prison housing 3,700 medium security offenders made renovation of the existing buildings unfeasible. Though the newer high-security unit will be retained, DOC officials said.

Funding for the $400 million project was included in the 2022-23 state budget adopted in April by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and signed into law by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.
HAMMOND  The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is suing Porter County Education Services (PCES) on behalf of a teacher's aide who was fired for talking with a student after school hours about artwork on decks of tarot cards.

According to a news release Thursday, Daniel Carter  a special education aide at Chesterton Middle School who worked for PCES from 2012 to 2015 and again since 2017  was fired for speaking to a student outside of class time, but still on school property about a matter unrelated to school.

The lawsuit, Carter v. Porter County Education Services, filed Thursday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, alleges PCES violated Carter's First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing him freedom of speech, the release said.

Carter volunteered to assist with two after-school clubs and noticed a student looking through a deck of tarot cards at a club meeting and had a conversation with them about the artwork, the release said.

The following week Carter brought a tarot deck his wife owned to the school and engaged in a five-to-ten minute conversation regarding the artwork with the same student, the release said. This happened after the conclusion of the school day, but while they were still on school property.
Attorney General Todd Rokita is encouraging Hoosier parents to engage their local school boards in conflicts over critical race theory and other controversial topics that recently have roiled education officials in other states.

On Wednesday, the Republican spontaneously issued a 16-page "Parents Bill of Rights" that purports to detail the legal rights of Indiana parents to participate in their child's education.

Portions of the document simply explain how Indiana education standards and school curriculum are established, how parents can participate in a school board meeting, and the roles of superintendents and principals.

But at least one-seventh of the document focuses on the topic of critical race theory (CRT) that Rokita contends is "consistently being backdoored into Indiana classrooms, contrary to state and federal law."

According to Rokita, CRT is "an ideological construct that analyzes and interprets American history and government primarily through the narrow prism of race."

The Munster native also claims CRT is connected to "Marxist ideologies" and seeks to "abolish individual rights and redistribute wealth."
Councilwoman Angie Deuitch, D-At-Large, heads the Public Safety Committee. She noted the city has precedent for treating residents different from nonresidents when it comes to fees. Residents are allowed to obtain parking stickers for Washington Park at no cost.

The $150 fee helps the city recover costs for detectives who have to redact videos to protect minors privacy, block nudity, hide information on laptop screens and block license plates, Campbell said.

There is a cost to our department. Thats manpower, thats hours, Campbell said. The department would need to hire another full-time employee to comply with requests for footage if the proposed ordinance passes as written, he said.

Fitzgerald questioned the need to heavily redact videos of police actions outside. In public, theres no expectation for privacy, he said. In a home, thats different.

Campbell said there were 42 requests for footage in 2020 and 32 requests so far this year.

Resident Rodney McCormick said the fees for footage are supposed to go into a specific fund. He presented a reply from City Controller Yvonne Hoffmaster showing no funds in that account until 2021, when a total of $453 was added.
CROWN POINT  COVID-19 was Susan Gadzalas calling.

The pandemic hit only a few years after she retired as a full-time paralegal for a Chicago law firm. Gadzala said, I didnt want to sit around and do nothing.

She volunteered to work on the sewing floor at Merrillvilles TradeWinds service center along with its crew, making masks, gowns and other personal protection gear.

I liked having an obligation to fulfill and feel I was helping out. This is just how my parents raised me, she said.

TradeWinds honored Gadzala Wednesday with its Volunteer of the Year award during its annual luncheon at the White Hawk Country Club.

Jon Gold, CEO of TradeWinds Services for 20 years, said, We had an excellent year, despite all the adversities.

TradeWinds has provided sheltered work, residential group homes, respite for caregivers, deaf services and other services since 1967.

Its board of directors presented 24 other awards Wednesday to its administrators, staff, its businesses partners and those whose lives have benefited from those services.
Two Gary men are set to plead guilty to federal charges in the 2019 attempted robbery and homicide of a pizza delivery driver.

Terryante A. Flournoy, 22, and Ciontay J. Wright, 21, both of Gary, signed plea agreements Wednesday, a week before they had been scheduled to stand trial on murder and attempted robbery charges.

The two men are prepared to admit in open court they called for a pizza delivery to an abandoned house Nov. 24, 2019 in Garys Glen Park neighborhood and Flournoy fatally shot the delivery driver, David J. Shelton, 30, of Portage.

They are both pleading guilty to attempted robbery. Flournoy also is pleading guilty to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.

Flournoy has prior felony convictions for theft and battery.

The U.S. Attorneys office has agreed to drop the murder charges against the pair in exchange for the defendants changing their plea to guilty.

They are giving up their rights to a jury trial in return for the U.S. Attorneys office recommending they receive a more lenient prison sentence.
Katz' attorney, Stacy Uliana, told the Supreme Court that while she in no way excuses Katz's "stupid" conduct, she said it's going too far for the state to criminalize behavior she likened to showing a photograph to a friend while sitting side by side at a kitchen table.

"This case is about drawing a line between inconsiderate and selfish speech, and a crime," Uliana said. "Not every invasion of privacy is substantial or intolerable to the point that it can be criminalized consistent with the Constitution."

To that end, Uliana observed the statute is so broad that it fails to distinguish between intimate images taken in private locations or public locations, potentially allowing charges to be filed against someone who uses a mobile phone to photograph a person wearing a thong swimsuit at the beach and electronically messages that photo to a friend.

Deputy Attorney General Caryn Szyper defended the statute by referencing the severe emotional and reputational trauma suffered by tens of thousands of women who have discovered intimate images never meant to be shared were posted online without their consent.
Europes summertime vaccination push

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has called for all E.U. residents to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as quickly as possible this summer, as concerns grow that the contagious Delta variant will sweep across the bloc.

Though preliminary data show that the variant can infect partly vaccinated people, it is unlikely to pose much risk to those who have been fully vaccinated, particularly those who have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, experts said.

After a sluggish start, the E.U. has ramped up vaccine distribution, though about 30 percent of people over 80 and around 40 percent of those over 60 have yet to be fully vaccinated. Most E.U. countries have not yet fully vaccinated even one-third of their total populations: The average is about 27 percent.

By the numbers: The Delta variant is in 23 European countries. It is responsible for more than 66 percent of new cases in Portugal and 90 percent of new cases in Moscow, according to the local authorities.
BuzzFeed, the digital publisher known for quizzes, listicles and a news division that won its first Pulitzer Prize this month, is close to reaching a merger deal that would take the company public, a person with knowledge of the company said Wednesday.

An announcement could come as soon as this week, the person added. BuzzFeed declined to comment.

Led by its founder and chief executive, Jonah Peretti, BuzzFeed has been in talks to merge with an already public shell company, 890 Fifth Avenue Partners, in what is known as a SPAC deal. (The acronym stands for special purpose acquisition company.)

Hatched out of a small office in New Yorks Chinatown in 2006, BuzzFeed started as an experiment in creating content meant to be shared on the web, back when Mr. Peretti was the chief technology officer of The Huffington Post. He left what is now HuffPost in 2011, after AOL bought it for $315 million, and ended up transforming his project into a stand-alone media company with the help of $35 million from investors.

BuzzFeed soon became one of the fastest-growing digital publishers, eventually raising $500 million at a valuation of $1.7 billion, and was hailed as the future of news media. But in recent years it has missed ambitious revenue targets, and some of its investors have agitated for a sale.
But even by those standards, the meeting on Wednesday was a surreal scene. It was held virtually for the second year in a row, and the two members of the board who represent tenants attended it from a rally, joined by renters and housing groups. Immediately after the vote, chants at the rally drowned out the voice of David Reiss, the boards chairman; then the representatives microphones appeared to be muted.

A slim majority of renters in New York City pay market-based rents, which are still among the highest in the United States even after asking rents for those units dropped to 10-year lows during the pandemic.

Esteban Giron, who lives in Crown Heights with his husband, said that they used to pay about 30 percent of their monthly income toward rent. Now, it is closer to 75 percent after his husband lost his job during the pandemic.

It will be a long climb back for families like mine, Mr. Giron, a tenant advocate, told the members of the Rent Guidelines Board at a public hearing last week. The board should stop entertaining the notion that this is in any way an even or balanced fight here.

The vote came during a momentous period for renters not just in New York City but across the country. On Wednesday, the federal government signaled it would extend the moratorium on evictions imposed during the pandemic, which were supposed to expire this month. They would now lapse in July, while a moratorium put in place by New York State ends in August.

While most evictions are on hold, landlords can still file eviction cases in New York City Housing Court. Since the start of the pandemic, they have filed more than 57,000 cases, according to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. But those cases, which cannot proceed until after the moratorium is lifted, could take many months, if not years, to be heard before a judge.

This month, New York State also started accepting applications for tenants to receive rent relief through $2.7 billion largely funded by the federal government. Tenants can receive up to a years worth of past-due rent and a years worth of utility arrears. About 110,000 completed applications from across the state have been submitted so far, according the states Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which is overseeing the assistance program.
And on the front where issues of crime and race met, and in many cases were conflated, one could argue that the mood in the city was just as bad, if not worse.

The city had just come off the arrests of the Central Park Five, and Donald Trumps full-page newspaper ad calling for New York State to adopt the death penalty after the attack. In that ad, Trump also wrote: Let our politicians give back our police departments power to keep us safe. Unshackle them from the constant chant of police brutality. All five suspects would be wrongly convicted while Dinkins was in office.

It was after George H.W. Bush won election in 1988 on an anti-crime campaign in which he cited the death of an N.Y.P.D. officer, Edward Byrne, who had been ambushed and killed by a drug gang. Crack had exploded onto the scene in cities across the country. The pump was being primed for unleashing law enforcement to crack down in the city, whatever the cost.

Even the departing Democratic mayor, Ed Koch, would say in 1989, speaking of Byrnes killing and the killings of other officers, The pendulum protecting those who violate the law has swung too far.

Adding to this were the Crown Heights riots of 1991, in which Black residents and Orthodox Jewish residents collided, and Bill Clinton, running for president, attacking Black N.Y.C. rapper Sister Souljah during Jesse Jacksons National Rainbow Coalition conference, remarks that opened a public dispute with Jackson, which in fact helped Clinton, as he knew it would.

Dinkins tried to institute some police reforms, but the police rebelled. As The New York Times reported in 1992, more than 10,000 off-duty police officers gathered at City Hall to protest. Then the rioting began: A handful of people, then hundreds, then thousands, broke through police barricades and surged onto City Halls steps. From there, the protest degenerated into a beer-swilling, traffic-snarling, epithet-hurling melee that stretched from the Brooklyn Bridge to Murray Street, where several politicians helped stoke the emotional fires.

Rudy Giuliani, then running to unseat Dinkins, was at the protest, leading the crowd in chants, and as The Times reported, offering a rousing condemnation of Mayor Dinkinss treatment of police issues.
Eight Buddhist monks working to defend the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center near Big Sur, Calif., from a nearby wildfire have relied not only on the training they have received from professional firefighters but also on their Zen practice.

The crew of fire monks, as they are called, has been clearing brush and running a sprinkler system that the center calls Dharma rain to protect the monastery from the Willow fire, which has burned about 2,800 acres in Los Padres National Forest since it began on June 17.

As they prepare for the fire, the monks are mindful of a basic Zen tenet about the importance of meeting the moment as it is, not as you wish it were, said Sozan Miglioli, the president of the San Francisco Zen Center, which runs the monastery.

These kinds of situations require equanimity and patience, a lot of the things we try to cultivate in our practice, Mr. Miglioli said. So its both a big service that these monks are doing for the Zen Center, and it becomes an expression of our practice.
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Biden administration from making loan forgiveness payments to minority farmers as part of a $4 billion program intended to address a long history of racial injustice in American farming.

The judge, Marcia Morales Howard of U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, in Jacksonville, found that Scott Wynn, a white farmer in Jennings, Fla., who had challenged the program in a lawsuit in May, was likely to succeed on his claim that the program violates his right to equal protection under the law.

Known as Section 1005, the program was created as part of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package that Congress passed in March. It was intended to provide debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers  defined by the government as those who are Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander.

Section 1005s rigid, categorical, race-based qualification for relief is the antithesis of flexibility, Judge Howard wrote. The debt relief provision applies strictly on racial grounds irrespective of any other factor. Every person who identifies him or herself as falling within a socially disadvantaged group who has a qualifying farm loan with an outstanding balance as of January 1, 2021, receives up to 120 percent debt relief  and no one else receives any debt relief.
WASHINGTON  President Biden said on Wednesday that states could draw from $350 billion in federal stimulus money to shore up police departments and vowed to crack down on gun dealers who fail to run background checks, as the White House seeks to combat the alarming rise in homicide rates in Americas cities.

Mr. Bidens speech made clear that he intends to approach crime prevention by investing in, rather than defunding, the police  wading into a national debate about whether the government should give police departments more resources, or spend the money on mental health and other social services instead.

The president tried to appeal to both sides on Wednesday, saying from the White House that this is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement or our communities.

Under Mr. Bidens new plan, state and local governments will be allowed to use their designated $350 billion of coronavirus relief funds for programs such as hiring police officers to prepandemic levels, paying overtime for community policing work and supporting community-based anti-violence groups. City governments struggling with high crime will be able to go even further, hiring even more officers than they had before the pandemic.
Irans Atomic Energy Agency said on Wednesday that an attack on one of its facilities early in the morning had been foiled, with no casualties or structural damage to the site.

The agencys statement did not reveal the name of the site, but the targeted building was one of Irans main manufacturing centers for the production of the centrifuges used at the countrys two nuclear facilities, Fordow and Natanz, according to an Iranian familiar with the attack and to a senior intelligence official.

The attack on the facility near the city of Karaj, on the outskirts of Tehran, was carried out by a small quadcopter drone, according to Iranian media and the Iranian familiar with the attack.

While no one claimed responsibility for the attack, the centrifuge factory, known as the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company, or TESA, was on a list of targets that Israel presented to the Trump administration early last year. The Israeli government did not comment on the attack on Wednesday.
The rigors of protecting a president, a vice president and their families in an election year amid a pandemic placed a heavy burden on the Secret Service, with nearly 900 employees testing positive for the coronavirus, a watchdog group said this week.

The group, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, faulted former President Donald J. Trump for continuing to hold large campaign rallies, which it said had contributed to the infections.

It obtained the Secret Service data from the federal government as part of a public records request under the Freedom of Information Act. The cases were recorded from March 2020 to March of this year, according to the group, but the data did not include details of the assignments of the agents who were infected. The government also did not disclose what percentage of the total number of Secret Service employees had contracted the virus.

The employees who tested positive included 477 special agents, 249 members of the uniformed division and 131 staff members working in administrative, professional and technical positions, according to the group. The Secret Service is the main federal law enforcement agency charged with protecting U.S. political leaders, including the president, and the families.
In addition to staging exhibitions, the museum also puts on workshops for teachers and parents focused on how to discuss the sensitive topic of conflict with children at home and in the classroom. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the education system is fragmented, and many children either do not learn about the war, or learn conflicting narratives crafted by politicians rather than historians. In its programs for children, the museum focuses on peace building.

The museum is now growing, thematically and geographically. This month, two new exhibitions opened in Sarajevo: One documents the stories of children born of wartime rape and of women who survived wartime sexual violence; a second displays items from child asylum seekers who were traveling along the so-called Balkan Route from the Middle East and North Africa into Western Europe and are stuck in Bosnia.

The museum recently opened new offices in New York City and Kyiv, and is planning one in The Hague. Halilovic said he hoped to open an exhibition that would travel across the United States starting in 2023, and to expand the museums operations to include all lives touched by war. In the United States, it seeks to collect items donated not only by people who survived conflict during their childhoods, but also by the children of war veterans and war reporters.

I believe this museum can change the way we see conflicts, and the way we see children, he said.

Everyone had a childhood  regardless of whether it was during war or peace, he added. Regardless of their individual experiences, this allows the museum to communicate.
The star here is the consummate Agnolo Bronzino, who became one of Cosimo Is court painters in 1539, and made more than half of the 49 paintings on view. His works appear in the shows six galleries, dominating whole walls.

Nearly all his paintings are the height of Mannerist distortion and unbalanced elegance, androgynous sensuality, with an astonishingly consistent perfection of hauteur and surface. It is as if Bronzino studied the porcelainic purity of Raphaels and Botticellis Madonnas and gave it to everyone, all over. His mostly nude Saint John the Baptist (1560-61) is a luscious young man whose peaches and cream complexion extends to his toes. Nearby a half-length painting of Saint Sebastian reimagines its subject as an almost foppish youth with auburn hair and a single arrow piercing his smooth torso.

The exhibition is episodic and unpredictable, in a good way. Its focus changes gallery by gallery. An impressive combination of history, art history, back stories and gossip is fueled visually by continual tensions between naturalism and artifice: Contrasting with Bronzinos treatment is the softer, more forgiving style of Francesco Salviati, a lesser known Mannerist and the second most represented artist in the exhibition. He is one of its revelations, moving in and out of Bronzinos orbit, but ultimately it seems that he cant quit naturalism.
I think I am always surrounded by ghosts, said Taja Cheek, the songwriter who records as LRain. I like to be haunted. Ive been revisiting the past to try to understand where I am now.

Yet in a video interview from her home in Brooklyn, LRain was cheerfully down-to-earth. Behind her was a bright-colored tapestry she had picked up long ago in a department store. I like bringing weird ideas to mainstream places, she said. Thats what I look for in culture.

Cheek, whos in her 30s, chose her stage name to honor her mother, Lorraine, who died while Cheek was recording her 2017 debut album; the album cover shows its title, LRain, tattooed on her forearm. On her second album, Fatigue, which arrives this week, Cheek continues to ponder self-doubt, remembrance, bewilderment, regret, mourning and anxiety while trying, somehow, to persevere. In Find It, she sings, My mother told me, Make a way out of no way.

That line, intoned like a mantra in a low, quiet voice, is at the core of the album. Her mother, she recalled, had an amazing sense of play, and I hope that I can approach experimentalism in my music through that lens of just playing and trying things out. She was always true to how she was feeling, but she was also really good at trying to find joy or find a bright side.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.

Whos the Fairest of Them All

Republicans blocked a far-reaching voting rights bill, known as the For the People Act, in the Senate on Tuesday.

The Republicans instead supported the For Some of the People  We Cant Say It Out Loud, but You Know Which Ones We Mean  Act, Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday night.
The White House announced steps on Thursday to crack down on forced labor in the supply chain for solar panels in the Chinese region of Xinjiang, including a ban on imports from a silicon producer there.

A significant portion of the worlds polysilicon, which is used to make solar panels, comes from Xinjiang, where the United States has accused China of committing genocide through its repression of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

In one of the newly announced actions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection banned imports of silica-based products made by Hoshine Silicon Industry Company as well as goods made using those products. The agency has information reasonably indicating that Hoshine uses forced labor to produce its silica-based products, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, said at a news conference.

The action was notable given the Biden administrations push to expand the use of solar power in the United States to help achieve its climate goals. China dominates the global supply chain for solar power, producing a significant amount of the materials and parts needed for solar panels. Cutting off access to some imports could make it harder or more costly for the United States to expand solar use domestically.
An influential watchdog group said on Thursday that the British government was doing far too little to carry out the ambitious pledges it had made on tackling climate change.

Although the government has promised to cut its greenhouse emissions to net zero by 2050, it has failed to take interim steps  such as tax incentives for reducing emissions  essential to meet that goal, according to a report by the group, the Committee on Climate Change.

The trouble is the action, the delivery has just not been there, said John Gummer, chairman of the committee, which is funded by the British government to advise lawmakers on environmental policies.

The criticism may prove uncomfortable for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has made leadership on climate diplomacy a key pillar for the post-Brexit Britain that he is trying to shape.
As a single mother with one child, she worried about an unexpected repair on her six-year-old car and signed up with Drivers Protection of St. Louis. She fooled me. I bought it, she said.

After she paid about $2,000 in premiums, the cars check-engine light came on. She was pleased that she had the policy because the engine was supposed to be covered. But the company said that the specific engine parts needed were not listed in the contract. So she took out a $550 loan to get her car fixed. The company did not respond to her request for a refund. Officials at Drivers Protection could not be reached at either at the companys phone number or through its Facebook page.

More and more customers like Ms. Latham are interested in vehicle service contracts. The business is expected to grow to involve billions of dollars in sales, according to a 2019 report by Colonnade Advisors, an investment banking firm based in Florida.

The reason for the growth: People are keeping their vehicles longer, and they worry about repair costs  particularly during the pandemic. The last thing people wanted to do was taking public transportation or being without a vehicle, said Gina Cocking, Colonnades chief executive. Having a vehicle service contract was a pitch that resonated with a lot of people.

Service contracts are also becoming more familiar, Ms. Cocking said. People buy them for smartphones and refrigerators and increasingly see them on television. Those commercials are coming on all the time. When you see those, it starts to normalize the product, she said.

While business is increasing, so are complaints, according to the B.B.B. In 2019, the Better Business Bureau in the United States and Canada got about 6,700 complaints about companies offering service contracts. Last year, that increased 21 percent to almost 8,200.

That may not seem like a large number nationwide, but a small number of complaints is not necessarily a gauge of consumer satisfaction, said Amy J. Schmitz, a law professor at the University of Missouri, where she specializes in consumer protection. A 2004 survey by the Federal Trade Commission found that only about 8 percent of unhappy consumers filed complaints with state or federal officials.
In Washington, the universal nature of the proposed allocation has stirred up opposition from Republicans, who argue that it would burnish the finances of American adversaries like China, Russia and Iran while doing little to help poor countries.

Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, this month introduced a bill that would block special drawing rights allocations from going to perpetrators of genocide and state sponsors of terrorism without approval from Congress.

The Trump administration opposed the proposal on similar grounds, while the Biden administration has embraced the idea as a means of aiding developing countries at no cost to taxpayers.

Debt is at the center of concerns about low-income countries, given that many entered the pandemic already straining under severe burdens.

In 2019, 25 countries  most of them in Africa and South Asia  were spending more on debt payments to major financial institutions in wealthy nations than on education, health care and support programs for impoverished communities, according to a UNICEF study.

Zambias external debt payments have surged to nearly 34 percent of its total government revenues this year, from less than 2 percent in 2011, according to data tabulated by the Jubilee Debt Campaign, an international advocacy group that argues for debt forgiveness. Pakistans external debt payments have soared to 35 percent from less than 10 percent over the same period.

The pandemic has drastically worsened the situation, destroying revenues at the same time that it has increased demand for government services.
The Biden administration has defended a contentious pipeline project that would carry hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil through Minnesotas delicate watersheds, urging in a court brief that a challenge brought by local tribes and environmental groups be thrown out.

The closely watched filing in federal court was the latest in a series of actions taken by the administration to back Trump-era approvals of oil and gas infrastructure, despite President Bidens pledge to aggressively cut emissions from fossil fuels, a major driver of climate change. The pipeline, which is known as Line 3 and is being built by Canadian pipeline company Enbridge Energy, has been the focus of mass protests in recent weeks.

Mr. Biden could still decide to withdraw the federal permits that the pipeline depends upon for construction to proceed. But for now, the administration is defending a decision by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to issue those permits. That decision was made in the closing days of the Trump Administration.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

As of this morning, programs written by New York Times developers have made more than 10 million requests for Covid-19 data from websites around the world. The data were collecting are daily snapshots of the viruss ebb and flow, including for every U.S. state and thousands of U.S. counties, cities and ZIP codes.

You may have seen slices of this data in the daily maps and graphics we publish at The Times. These pages combined, which have involved more than 100 journalists and engineers from across the organization, are the most-viewed collection in the history of nytimes.com and are a key component of the package of Covid reporting that won The Times the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for public service.

The Timess coronavirus tracking project was one of several efforts that helped fill the gap in the publics understanding of the pandemic left by the lack of a coordinated governmental response. Johns Hopkins Universitys Coronavirus Resource Center collected both domestic and international case data. And the Covid Tracking Project at The Atlantic marshaled an army of volunteers to collect U.S. state data, in addition to testing, demographics and health care facility data.

At The Times, our work began with a single spreadsheet.

In late January 2020, Monica Davey, an editor on the National desk, asked Mitch Smith, a correspondent based in Chicago, to start gathering information about every individual U.S. case of Covid-19. One row per case, meticulously reported based on public announcements and entered by hand, with details like age, location, gender and condition.
Few institutions notoriously resist change like the Roman Catholic Church, which to this day upholds rules of celibacy and continues to forbid the ordination of women. So for some, it may be surprising to learn that the churchs iron-fisted rule has long been met with resistance.

Such a struggle is captured in Rebel Hearts, Pedro Koss feel-good documentary about a particularly gutsy group of nuns who took inspiration from the social upheavals of the 1960s to fight against exploitation by their male superiors.

Combining archival footage with paper doll-esque animation and a flurry of talking-head interviews gathered over two decades by Shawnee Isaac-Smith, one of the films producers, this documentary traces the controversies and trailblazing feats of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, whose social activism and participation in civil rights and workers protests upended notions of the fragile, cloistered nun.
As Maya Wiley fought to unite progressives to catch the presumed front-runner, Eric Adams, in the New York City Democratic primary for mayor, Brad Lander was doing the same in another citywide contest, for comptroller.

Members of the citys progressive movement have had success in capturing City Council, state legislative and congressional seats over the past few years, but they have struggled to stretch that influence across the five boroughs in citywide races.

As Primary Day approached, that trend seemed to apply to the comptroller race: A recent poll showed Mr. Lander, a councilman from Brooklyn, trailing Corey Johnson, the speaker of the City Council and a late entrant into the race, by nine percentage points; 44 percent of likely voters, however, were undecided.

But after the first round of first-place votes was counted on Tuesday night, Mr. Lander had an almost nine-point lead over Mr. Johnson. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC anchor, was in third, another nine points behind Mr. Johnson, with seven other candidates finishing in the single digits.
Two days after Eric Adams emerged as the likely Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, he made it clear that he would revamp New Yorks approach to dealing with crime and suggested that other big cities and the national Democratic Party would be wise to follow suit.

Speaking in the tones of a mayor-elect, Mr. Adams laid out a middle road between progressives and conservatives: Fight racism in policing, but step back from a progressive movement that has seen cities slash police budgets, ban police chokeholds and allow more people charged with crimes to be released without bail.

On gun control, he called for changing the national focus from assault rifles  which capture attention for their use in mass shootings, especially in suburban schools  to handguns. They are the main weapons in shootings in cities from New York to Atlanta and Detroit, he said, but because most of the victims, like most of the shooters, are Black and brown, weve decided its not an issue.

If the Democratic Party fails to recognize what we did here in New York, theyre going to have a problem in the midterm elections, and theyre going to have a problem in the presidential election, Mr. Adams said at a news conference outside Brooklyn Borough Hall.
The standings could still change. But overcoming Mr. Adamss commanding lead would be tough.

[Read more from my colleague Andy Newman on how the race could shake out.]

Heres what to know:

Ms. Wiley and Ms. Garcia still have a path  a challenging one.

If Ms. Wiley makes it to the final round of the ranked-choice playoff process and is ranked ahead of Mr. Adams on about 60 percent of all ballots where neither is ranked first, she could be victorious.

Ms. Garcia would need to do the same by a few percentage points more to win.

Those scenarios are not especially likely. Mr. Adamss popularity among voters who did not rank him first would need to be particularly low, and at least one poll before Primary Day suggested that was not the case.

Wait, what about the uncounted ballots?

Many first-round votes still have not been tallied: in-person votes from about 15 percent of precincts and tens of thousands of absentee ballots.
With its corporate logos, television coverage and please-the-crowds spirit, the NYC Pride March  even in its abbreviated format this year  is not for everyone. Real pride is not rainbow capitalism, said Sarah Hallonquist, an entrepreneur and activist who described the term real pride as one for queer people, by queer people, planned by queer activists, and one that embraces all socio-economic groups, including working-class people. Every single person has a voice in whats being said.

For Ms. Hallonquist and many others, the NYC Dyke March, which takes place every year on the last Saturday in June  the day before NYC Prides main event  is the place to be. Since 1993, the Dyke March has united up to 10,000 participants, whether they identify as lesbians, queer or trans. Everyone who identifies as a dyke is welcome, said Nate Shalev, one of the dozens of organizers of the march, which goes down Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Washington Square Park.

Its a very peaceful march, said Marlene Colburn, 68, who remembers the first event 29 years ago, when the Lesbian Avengers, an activist group, rolled a bed down Fifth Avenue. Organizers of the protest have never requested a permit, preferring for volunteer marshals to link arms at crosswalks and direct traffic themselves. Many on-duty police officers who monitor the crowd are L.G.B.T.Q. To date, there has been only one known arrest.

Its empowering, and were scrappy, said Valarie Walker, 55, a longtime volunteer. Drummers and groups like Dykes on Bikes rev up the energy, and marchers lead the way with a banner that has been repainted for nearly three decades (this years theme: Black Dyke Power).
TEL AVIV  Variations of the phrase Hitler was right, appeared in more than 17,000 tweets from May 7 to May 14, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Jewish college students have been attacked and threatened on online forums for expressing their values. Student governments have posted one-sided statements placing full blame for the conflict in the Middle East on Israel and have shunned American Jews and Israelis on their campuses. Jewish students have been made to feel excluded in their own communities.

None of this is acceptable, though online hate  often protected by freedom of speech rules  may seem the least pernicious of these manifestations of anti-Semitism. It is not. College students learn, work and socialize online. With the physical isolation brought about by the pandemic, virtual life has become real life for many of them. In recent weeks, the spread of hate online has become an epidemic of its own that must be confronted immediately by university leaders.

The hatred being displayed online has been accompanied by hateful activity in the physical world. An identifiably Jewish student at Princeton was reportedly subject to verbal harassment over commencement weekend. A Jewish student at the University of New Mexico was beaten and subjected to anti-Semitic slurs while wearing a shirt that said Just Jew It.

At the University of Michigan, [expletive] Israel and red handprints were painted near the Hillel building. And 60 percent of Jews in America have witnessed, either online or off, behavior or comments they deem anti-Semitic since hostilities between Israel and Hamas reignited in May.
Its more complicated: Because ranked-choice voting is unfamiliar to most Americans, some argue it could confuse voters and discourage participation. Several Black members of New Yorks City Council attempted to block the adoption of ranked-choice last year for that reason. Some progressive white folks got together in a room and thought this would be good, but its not good for our community, Hazel Dukes, the president of the N.A.A.C.P.s New York state chapter, told The Times last year.

Others found the argument insulting. Let me say it plainly, said Bertha Lewis, president of the Black Institute. Black voters are not stupid. Interviews with New York voters this week suggest that the fears of confusion and disenfranchisement may indeed have been overblown.

Still, it remains to be seen whether ranked-choice voting will deliver on its promise of transformative change. Take the claims about its potential to produce more civil campaigns: The system may give life to more strident candidates hoping to siphon first-place ballots from extreme voters who will give second preference to whichever major party is closest to them, Simon Waxman, a former managing editor of Boston Review, wrote in 2016. This could result in more comity between the major-party candidates, as fringier competitors blot the airwaves with attacks. Or it might produce strategic coalitions sniping at each other, leaving us effectively back where we started.

Its also not uncommon in ranked-choice races for candidates to use the system to sow doubt about election integrity, as the mayoral candidate Eric Adams has done: When two of his rivals campaigned together in opposition to him last weekend, Adams baselessly characterized the alliance as an effort to disenfranchise Black voters. No one is going to steal the election from me, he said.

Such tactics reflect a problem not so much with ranked-choice voting per se so much as with American politics. But they get to the heart of a broader critique of the push for its adoption: When a democracy is ailing, theres only so much technocratic fixes can do to heal it.

In the midst of a presidential campaign that has unmasked deep and dangerous fissures in American politics, concerned citizens are looking to procedural minutiae as their savior, Waxman wrote five years ago. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that voters are grasping for a solution as simple as the problem is daunting.

Do you have a point of view we missed? Email us at debatable@nytimes.com. Please note your name, age and location in your response, which may be included in the next newsletter.
In the most significant legal decision involving education in decades, the Supreme Court on Wednesday declared that public school students typically retain broader free-speech protections when they are away from campus, rather than in school settings. The underlying dispute arose when a Pennsylvania school handed a cheerleader, Brandi Levy, a yearlong suspension from the team after she posted a vulgar Snapchat message from a convenience store parking lot one weekend. For First Amendment proponents, the opinion should elicit two  but only two  hearty cheers.

The primary reason for celebrating stems from the simple fact that the Supreme Court declared victory for a high school student in a free-speech case at all. The last time that such a speaker won at the court happened way back in 1969. In that landmark case, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the court found that educators acted impermissibly when they suspended two siblings, John and Mary Beth Tinker, along with Christopher Eckhardt for wearing black armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War. Since then, the court has issued three major decisions involving student speech. In each instance, it upheld school censorship over student freedom.

This trend of hostility to student speech proved so alarming that some perceptive commentators have asserted that the protection established in Tinker has, in effect, been eroded altogether.

It was far from assured that Brandi Levys case would interrupt this distressing anti-speech streak. After all, Ms. Levy was suspended not from school, but from only the cheerleading team. On this theory, some might believe it should be permissible for educators to hold students who participate in extracurricular activities to the most exacting standards of conduct. Relatedly, Ms. Levys series of Snapchat f-bombs did not protest anything so lofty as American foreign policy. The court might have been tempted to construe the First Amendment as too momentous  too consequential  to vindicate a disappointed teenagers salty outburst after being cut from the varsity cheer squad. Fortunately, though, it resisted that temptation. It is particularly commendable that the court did not permit the ubiquity of speech in the age of social media to distort its analysis. The opinions protection for off-campus speech is heavily qualified and studiously avoids articulating anything like a clear rule. But the fact that it afforded even some protection in this context should not be overlooked.
The hot dinosaur has captured the public imagination. Our favorite prehistoric giants are often depicted roaming dry savannas or munching on tropical leaves.

But some dinosaurs had a chiller lifestyle. Deposits of baby dinosaur bones and teeth in northern Alaska, reported Thursday in Current Biology, suggest that a number of species survived year-round above the Arctic Circle  enduring freezing temperatures, food shortages and four straight months of darkness, as well as the occasional snowstorm.

The first polar dinosaur footprints were found in 1960, stomped into the Svalbard archipelago. Over the following decades, evidence of dinosaurs at both Arctic and Antarctic latitudes emerged. This led to curiosity about how they managed  especially in the northern regions, which, while warmer than they are today, still turned into frozen landscapes of perpetual night during winters.

How the heck did they do that? said Patrick Druckenmiller, a paleontologist at the University of Alaska Museum of the North who worked on the new study. Perhaps the dinosaurs were snowbirds, spending summers up there before migrating south, he said. Or did they somehow tough it out? Or do something crazy, like hibernation?
When a random new mutation happens to provide resistance to a virus, it can swiftly become more common from one generation to the next. And other versions of that gene, in turn, become rarer. So if one version of a gene dominates all others in large groups of people, scientists know that is most likely a signature of rapid evolution in the past.

In recent years, Dr. Enard and his colleagues have searched the human genome for these patterns of genetic variation in order to reconstruct the history of an array of viruses. When the pandemic struck, he wondered whether ancient coronaviruses had left a distinctive mark of their own.

He and his colleagues compared the DNA of thousands of people across 26 different populations around the world, looking at a combination of genes known to be crucial for coronaviruses but not other kinds of pathogens. In East Asian populations, the scientists found that 42 of these genes had a dominant version. That was a strong signal that people in East Asia had adapted to an ancient coronavirus.

But whatever happened in East Asia seemed to have been limited to that region. When we compared them to populations around the world, we couldnt find the signal, said Yassine Souilmi, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Adelaide in Australia and a co-author of the new study.

The scientists then tried to estimate how long ago East Asians had adapted to a coronavirus. They took advantage of the fact that once a dominant version of a gene starts being passed down through the generations, it can gain harmless random mutations. As more time passes, more of those mutations accumulate.

Dr. Enard and his colleagues found that the 42 genes all had about the same number of mutations. That meant that they had all rapidly evolved at about the same time. This is a signal we should absolutely not expect by chance, Dr. Enard said.

They estimated that all of those genes evolved their antiviral mutations sometime between 20,000 and 25,000 years ago, most likely over the course of a few centuries. Its a surprising finding, since East Asians at the time were not living in dense communities but instead formed small bands of hunter-gatherers.
Mountains look solid. But that just might be a mirage. On extremely long timescales, natural landscapes are creeping and flowing like viscous streams.

Until recently, most scientists would have said that things like burrowing animals, falling trees, earthquakes and lightning strikes were responsible for deforming much of the worlds terrain. But new experiments that involve shooting ultraprecision laser beams at sand piles instead suggest that creep is an inherent part of any environment and would occur even in the absence of all other action.

Everything is moving all the time, said Nakul Deshpande, a geophysics doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. Its not just an analogy. Its real, its whats happening.

Mr. Deshpande, who studies the science of scenery, has recently taken a careful look at creep (the geological process, not the Radiohead song). Researchers have long known that loose, weathered soil persistently moves, slumping and changing at a rate of centimeters per year.
WASHINGTON  Six bills that could reshape the power of the tech industry passed an important hurdle in the House. But the outcomes of the votes, and the debates before they took place, also showed divisions among lawmakers  and underscored why final passage of the package is expected to be difficult.

In a marathon session of debate and voting that started Wednesday morning and continued into Thursday, the Judiciary Committee advanced the suite of bills, which are meant to weaken the dominance of Big Tech. The bills would bulk up antitrust agencies, make it harder to acquire potential rivals and prevent platforms from selling or promoting their own products to disadvantage competitors.

Democrats, who have had the most say over the bills and who overwhelmingly support the proposals, are focused on the market power of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, the Democratic chairman of the committee, said the votes pave the way for a stronger economy and a stronger democracy for the American people by reining in anticompetitive abuses of the most dominant firms.

A handful of Republicans joined Democrats in approving the proposals. Those Republicans argue that the proposals would help address one of their main concerns: the power that social media companies have over speech, and what they argue is political bias and censorship of conservative voices.
That helped to cement a mostly bipartisan consensus  although not always for shared reasons  that Washington needed to be less hands-off with technology companies. And antitrust law is now perceived as a way to address a set of perceived problems with tech, including for some Republicans perceptions of bias against conservative voices and views.

Did Big Tech companies mess up and create too many enemies in Washington, or was it inevitable that they would be targeted for new laws and regulation?

Both. From my conversations with lobbyists at big tech companies, theres some regret that the companies misjudged how much good will they had with politicians and regulators. And tech companies Washington policy offices may not have fully articulated to their bosses on the West Coast how much lawmakers had turned against Big Tech.

But look, a handful of technology companies are the most valuable companies in the country and influence the economy, labor practices, how people find information and the ways we live. That exposes the companies to scrutiny.

How are the companies responding to these bills?

Their central message is that lawmakers risk creating far more problems than they might solve. Apple says, for example, that people will be exposed to sketchy apps if Congress requires the company to let people download iPhone apps outside its official store. Lobbyists have said that Amazon might be forced to stop Prime delivery for some products.

Is there a united front among Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple?

Not necessarily. There are some disagreements about policy. Facebook seems open to one of the proposals that would make it easier for people to take their data from one app to a competitor. Google is against it, and says it exposes people to scammers.

Theres also visceral anger. Quite a few tech companies, not just the biggest ones, resent Facebook for what they believe the company has done to tarnish the entire industry. A lobbyist told me that its difficult for Facebook to push back against antitrust legislation after many scandals. Apple, which is at odds with Facebook in almost every way, is effectively lobbying lawmakers on behalf of it and Facebook.
PARIS  Brexit, Britains protracted disentanglement from the European Union, was always bound to appear onstage. It didnt take long for productions to reference it in London or in Edinburgh. With Exit, a new show at the Theatre de la Huchette here, the political drama has now reached French theaters  in the form of an effervescent mini-musical.

There are sung poll numbers, trips across the English Channel, and plenty of French and British stereotypes. Yet Exit, which was co-written by Stephane Laporte and Gaetan Borg, doesnt dwell on politics. Instead, Brexit provides a backdrop and a metaphor for the plays cross-border love triangle and journey of self-discovery.

It is a mighty premiere for a tiny theater. The Theatre de la Huchette boasts only 85 seats, and because of Covid rules, it can currently be only 65 percent full. (The restriction is tentatively set to be lifted next week.) It is best known for its cult, long-running productions of two absurdist plays by Eugene Ionesco, The Lesson and The Bald Soprano. Both have run for over six decades, with the pandemic the longest interruption in the theaters history.

Since 1981, however, La Huchette has also presented a third production after its Ionesco double bill. There is a touch of absurdity to Exit, too, most notably in the story line that brings the three main characters together.
WASHINGTON  Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Thursday that she would move to create a select committee to further investigate the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, promising a meticulous look into the riot and its root causes after Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan push to form an independent commission to do so.

The effort came after Ms. Pelosi had signaled for weeks that she planned to take matters into her own hands after Republicans thwarted attempts to scrutinize the storming of the Capitol by a mob of Trump loyalists who sought to disrupt Congresss counting of electoral votes to formalize President Bidens victory. It would require the approval of the Democratic-controlled House.

Jan. 6 was a day of darkness for our country, Ms. Pelosi told reporters. Our temple of democracy was attacked by insurrectionists. The gleeful desecration of the Capitol resulted in multiple deaths, physical harm to over 140 members of law enforcement and terror and trauma among staff, workers and members.

Ms. Pelosi had maintained that she preferred that the Senate follow the Houses lead and approve a bill to form a bipartisan commission, modeled after the one that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But with Republicans opposed and many G.O.P. lawmakers working to downplay the riot, she conceded that no longer seemed possible. Fewer than 10 Republicans  the number needed to overcome a legislative filibuster  supported such an inquiry when it came to a vote in the Senate this month.
WASHINGTON  President Biden said on Thursday that his administration would begin relocating thousands of Afghan interpreters, drivers and others who worked with American forces outside the country in an effort to keep them safe while they apply for entry to the United States.

Those who helped us are not going to be left behind, Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House.

With the American military in the final phases of withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years of war, the White House has come under heavy pressure to protect Afghan allies from revenge attacks by the Taliban and speed up the lengthy and complex process of providing them special immigrant visas.

On Wednesday, administration officials started notifying lawmakers that they would soon begin what could be a wholesale move of tens of thousands of Afghans. Officials said the Afghans would be relocated outside Afghanistan, possibly to Guam or somewhere else with close ties to the United States, to await the processing of their visa requests to move to the United States.

The officials declined to explicitly say where the Afghans would wait, and it was not clear whether third countries had agreed to take them. Guam, which is a U.S. territory, is the most likely possibility, officials said. The opportunity to move will be given to people who have already begun the application process.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday approved a one-month extension of the national moratorium on evictions, scheduled to expire on June 30, as officials emphasized this will be the final time they will push back the deadline.

The moratorium, instituted by the agency last September to prevent a wave of evictions spurred by the economic downturn associated with the coronavirus pandemic and extended earlier this year, has significantly limited the economic damage to renters and sharply reduced eviction filings.

On Thursday, the C.D.C. director, Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, signed the extension, which goes through July 31, after a week of internal debate at the White House over the issue.

Local officials and tenants rights groups have warned that phasing out the freeze could touch off a new, if somewhat less severe, eviction crisis than the country faced last year during the height of the pandemic.
They may not win Gracie Mansion, but theres always Buffalo. And Rochester, too.

For progressives in New York State, primary elections on Tuesday night brought a number of victories, even as the biggest apple of them all  New York Citys mayoralty  may elude their grasp.

Though Eric Adams amassed a sizable lead over Maya D. Wiley, his top rival, in first-choice votes, liberal candidates celebrated victories in down-ballot races in New York City and in the states second and third largest cities, wins that they argue demonstrate their ascendancy at the grass-roots level even as they are struggling to flex their power in Washington.

In perhaps the biggest upset of the night, India B. Walton, a democratic socialist, defeated a four-term incumbent in the Democratic mayoral primary in Buffalo and cast her victory as a threat to the longtime party establishment.

Ms. Walton had promised to safeguard undocumented immigrants, place a moratorium on new charter schools and cut millions from the Police Department budget by ending the role of officers in most mental health emergency calls.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Thursday that she would create a select committee to further investigate the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, after Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan effort to form an independent commission of experts to look into the riot.

Jan. 6 was a day of darkness for our country, Ms. Pelosi told reporters. Our temple of democracy was attacked by insurrectionists.

The move came after Ms. Pelosi had signaled for weeks that she planned to take such a step to scrutinize the storming of the Capitol by a mob of supporters of President Donald J. Trump, who sought to disrupt Congresss counting of electoral votes to formalize President Bidens victory.

On Tuesday, Ms. Pelosi told top House Democrats that she planned to announce her decision on a select committee this week. She has maintained that her preference was for the Senate to approve a bipartisan commission, modeled after the one that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But with Republicans opposed and many G.O.P. lawmakers working to whitewash and downplay the riot, she has conceded that no longer seemed possible. Fewer than 10 Republicans  the amount needed to overcome a legislative filibuster  supported such an inquiry when it came to a vote in the Senate this month.
WASHINGTON  In the summer of 1947, a top-secret U.S. military balloon developed to spy on the Soviet nuclear program crashed in the desert near Roswell, N.M. The military gave only incomplete accounts of what happened, sowing decades of conspiracy theories (and a tourism industry) that built up around Roswell as the site of an alien crash landing.

Since then, Americans passion for alien visitation has proved tough to shake, even when the evidence is clear that no spaceships have touched down or crash landed. After the Cold War, a pair of Air Force reports that aimed to come clean about the experiments near Roswell did little to debunk any belief in the potential for aliens.

The governments latest report on U.F.O.s, which the Pentagon now wants to call unidentified aerial phenomena, is unlikely to settle anything. Due out on Friday, the reports expected assertion that no classified American programs exist to explain the observations will most likely be dismissed by those primed to disbelieve government pronouncements. Its failure to find affirmative evidence of alien spaceships will largely be ignored by those most passionate about theories of extraterrestrial visitation.

It will also serve as the latest in a history of efforts by the government to confront public eagerness to know more about U.F.O.s. Officials have sometimes sought to be transparent about what they know, according to documents and interviews, but in other instances allowed confusion and conspiracy theories to take root as a useful cover-up for top-secret military programs.
Good morning.

Across much of California, you might not blink at a Pride flag flying outside a home, business or civic building. A proclamation honoring Pride Month by elected officials? Usually not breaking news.

But there are places in the state where the raising of the rainbow flag has become, like so many things, a source of partisan political conflict.

That surprised Jewel Hurtado, a 22-year-old City Council member in the Fresno County hamlet of Kingsburg, who in May proposed that the city recognize Pride Month with a proclamation and by flying the flag.

My story isnt any different from anyone elses in the Central Valley  thats why I brought this Pride proclamation to the table, Hurtado, who identifies as bisexual, told me. I know these experiences and lived struggles.
CALGARY, Alberta  For decades, the Indigenous children were taken from their families, sometimes by force, and housed in crowded, church-run boarding schools, where they were abused and prohibited from speaking their languages. Thousands vanished altogether.

Now, a new discovery offers chilling evidence that many of the missing children may have died at these schools: The remains of as many as 751 people, mainly Indigenous children, were found at the site of a former school in the province of Saskatchewan, an Indigenous group said on Thursday.

The burial site, the largest one to date, was uncovered only weeks after the remains of 215 children were found in unmarked graves on the grounds of another former church-run school for Indigenous students in British Columbia.

The discoveries have jolted a nation grappling with generations of widespread and systematic abuse of Indigenous people, many of whom are survivors of the boarding schools. For decades, they suggested through their oral histories that thousands of children disappeared from the schools, but they were often met with skepticism. The revelations of two unmarked grave sites are another searing reminder of this traumatic period in history.
KYIV, Ukraine  When the British destroyer H.M.S. Defender sailed near the coast of Crimea on Wednesday, it was supposed to be quietly demonstrating that the waters legally belonged to Ukraine despite Russias annexation of the Black Sea peninsula seven years ago, which has never been recognized internationally.

To Russia, however, which claims those waters as part of its territory, the ships course was an intolerable provocation.

The conflicting narratives erupted into an international incident after the Russian Navy claimed it had fired warning shots at the British destroyer and dropped bombs in an effort to make it alter course. The British government promptly denied both claims, and said that the Russians had merely been conducting naval exercises nearby.

And things might have ended there, except that a BBC correspondent, Jonathan Beale, happened to be on board the Defender and published video footage showing as many as 20 Russian warplanes buzzing the ship and a Russian Coast Guard vessel drawing close alongside.
The most widely used coronavirus vaccines are designed as two-shot inoculations, and nearly everyone worldwide who has had both doses has received the same vaccine both times.

But that is changing, as more countries are allowing  and even, in some cases, encouraging  mix-and-match inoculation, with people receiving a first shot of one vaccine, and then a second shot of a different one. On Tuesday, Germanys government revealed that Chancellor Angela Merkel had received two different shots, adding to the growing interest in the practice.

Some nations have tried that approach out of necessity, when supplies of a particular vaccine ran short; or out of caution, when questions were raised about the safety of a shot after some people had already received their first doses. U.S. regulators so far have been reluctant to encourage the practice.

But scientists and health policymakers are interested in the possibility that giving different shots to the same person could have significant advantages.
ATHENS  A 37-year-old Greek priest was to face a prosecutor on Thursday over an acid attack during a disciplinary hearing at an Athens monastery. Seven bishops were injured, as were a police officer, two lawyers and a secretary.

The attack took place at the Petraki Monastery, the de facto headquarters of Greeces Orthodox Church, where clerics had gathered to rule on whether the priest should be defrocked over accusations of a drug offense dating to 2018, according to local media reports. The priest was arrested at the scene.

On Wednesday evening, as the church tribunal announced its decision to reject his appeal against his defrocking, the suspect, who has not been named by the police, pulled out a bottle from his bag and started splashing liquid from it across the room at the clerics, according to witnesses.

Bishop Kallinikos of Arta, who suffered skin and eye injuries, told Greek television that he initially thought the suspect had planned a symbolic protest.
JERUSALEM  Israel has been a trailblazer in the post-pandemic world, largely returning to normal in May following one of the worlds fastest vaccination drives.

But dozens of new cases recently emerged at schools in two cities, Modiin and Binyamina, leading to hundreds of people being quarantined. Israel has made 12- to 15-year-olds eligible for vaccination, but many have yet to get shots.

Despite the new outbreak, the countrys current death rate remains close to zero, and only 26 of 729 active coronavirus patients were hospitalized, according to data released by the Health Ministry. And the overall daily caseload remains far from the countrys peak in mid-January, when the average hit more than 8,000 daily cases.

The containment effort has struggled to have an impact as the virus continues to spread through several cities. Many of those who contracted the virus had been vaccinated, according to the director general of the Health Ministry, Prof. Chezy Levy, though he did not specify if they had had one or two doses.
JABAL SUBEIH, West Bank  When Israeli settlers took over a windswept hilltop in the West Bank last month, it became the latest of about 140 unauthorized settler outposts built there in recent decades. Aside from the Palestinian villagers who could no longer reach olive groves there, the encampment initially attracted little attention.

Since then, the rapidly expanding settlement, Evyatar, and the huge protests it has begun to attract, have become an early stress test for the fragile new Israeli government.

The settlement is illegal under Israeli law, and the Israeli Army has ordered it razed, subject to the approval of the government.

If the new right-wing prime minister, Naftali Bennett, backs the settlers, he will alienate the leftist and Arab members of his coalition. If he permits them to be evicted, he will allow the Israeli right to paint him as a turncoat. An eviction could come as soon as Sunday, but could be delayed by legal proceedings.
The city of San Francisco said on Wednesday that it would require all 35,000 of its employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or risk losing their jobs, making it one of the largest U.S. municipalities to impose a vaccine mandate for public workers.

The requirement will take effect once a Covid vaccine receives full authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccines are currently being used in the United States under emergency authorizations.

City officials said that the requirement would promote safety in municipal workplaces and among the general public, given that police officers, firefighters, building inspectors and other city workers come into regular contact with members of the community.

With those two things in mind  the safety of our employees and the safety of the public we serve  we made this decision, said Carol Isen, San Franciscos director of human resources. We believe this step is a simple one to take. Its safe, its very effective, and its going to guarantee the safety of all.
A Chinese LEGO enthusiast recently unveiled his most impressive project yet  a scale model of the Forbidden City in Beijing made out of 700,000 LEGO bricks.

The 4-meter-long by 2.4-meter-wide model of the Forbidden City was created by a Guangzhou-based LEGO fan named Li Zhining, over an entire year. It features all the elements of the world-famous palace complex, including the iconic Meridian Gate, the over 70 palaces and 9,000 houses of the three main halls of the Forbidden City, the moat and all the turrets. Even more impressive is the fact that the LEGO artist didnt use any custom made bricks, instead relying only on his huge collection of standard pieces.

Li Zhining told Chinese reporters that he fell in love with LEGO in 2008 and has been obsessed with it ever since. His impressive collection currently numbers more than 100 million individual pieces, which collectively weigh around 11 tons. He didnt say where he stores all those bricks, but admitted that some people call him a LEGO maniac.

Li named his work I am Chinese and said that he hoped it would show the world the spirit of the Chinese people and the power of Chinese originality. Probably not the best choice of words, considering we are talking about a replica, but whatever.

I am Chinese is only the latest addition to this dedicated LEGO fans portfolio of impressive creations. In the past he reportedly built LEGO models of Notre Dame cathedral, Westminster Palace, Canton Tower and an iconic World of Warcraft setting, among others.
Bob Gold & Associates adds Commit USA, a global technology services company specializing in custom software and IoT solutions. The agency will help drive awareness for Commit USA and support the companys expansion into North America. Founded in 2005, Commit has offices in New York, Israel and Ukraine, working with clients in such sectors as fintech, medtech, martech and consumer goods. To date, the company has designed over 1,200 projects for more than 1,000 companies, ranging from small startups to global brands like IBM, Salesforce and Citi. BG&As empirical methods, tailored processes and award-winning team provide the optimal resources to tell our story, said Commit USA CRO & managing director Max Nirenberg.

PSC-PR is named marketing and PR lead for Wildflower, a new restaurant operated by SVT Hospitality. PSC-PR will be handling media relations for the July 1 Wildflower launch, including brand development, executive media interview/presentation training and messaging, as well as influencer engagement. Led by Chef Jonathan Shepard, who previously oversaw operations inside such New York City restaurants as Michelin-starred Le Coucou, Momofuku, Nobu and Donatella, Wildflower offers a menu that blends classic American fare with Dominican, Puerto Rican and Korean influences. PSR-PRs client roster also includes American Dream, Amazon Studios, Bacardi, Guinness and Dr. Sheffield's.

Reach Global Marketing of Toronto wins Canada PR duties of Travel South USA, the official destination marketing organization of southern state tourism offices. Reach is tasked with representing Travel South USA partner states and elevating TSUSAs Canadian presence through public relations, social media and influencer promotions, and strategic partnerships. In 2019, we saw 2.89 million Canadians to the region, said Travel South USA president & CEO Liz Bittner. We know we need to strengthen our presence and enhance our strategy in preparation of the borders reopening and the shifts in consumer behavior.
Look for an exodus of PR people from Hong Kong in the aftermath of todays forced closure of Apple Daily, the free-wheeling pro-democracy tabloid, by the Chinese government.

PR thrives in an atmosphere that encourages debate and the lively exchange of free expression.

Hong Kong, which had a judicial system based on British law, served as a safe haven for PR people targeting mainland China.

Beijings introduction of a draconian security law in Hong Kong on June 30, 2020 marked the beginning of the end of PR in the city.

The demise of Apple Daily, which was a thorn in the side of the communist government, seals the deal.

The US State Dept. on June 17 strongly condemned the arrest of five Apple Daily executives on trumped up charges of collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

Spokesperson Ned Price warned that killing media freedom and restricting the flow of information not only undermines democratic institutions but also hurts Hong Kongs credibility and viability as an international hub.

The Financial Times editorialized on June 23 that the Apple Daily shutdown will lead to self-censorship by other publications.

The Chinese government crackdown goes beyond journalism.

A PR firm, for instance, could be skittish about taking on a client who criticizes Chinese policies or competes with state-owned companies. Why risk a hefty jail sentence?

Meanwhile the first show trial has begun for the more than 100 people who were arrested under the security law.

A 23-year-old man, who crashed his motorcycle into riot police while flying an anti-government protest flag, has been charged with terrorism and inciting secession. He could get life in prison.

Do PR people want to operate in a place that imprisons the freedom of ideas?

Eric Adams is no friend of the press. The Brooklyn borough president, who is leading the New York City Democratic mayoral primary contest, barred two reporters from his victory party held at a hotel in Williamsburg on June 22.

Ross Barkan and David Freedlander have written critically about the thin-skinned Adams.

Freedlander profiled Adams as the candidate of the old political machine in a piece for New York.

The Adams people claimed Barkan and Freedlander were denied entry to the ericadamsfornyc party because of space constraints.

Juan Benitez, a reporter for New York One, shot down that notion, reporting there was a lot of available space at the inn.

Barkan blogged that he has never been banned from any kind of election party or campaign event.

In 2016, he covered election night parties in New Hampshire and Florida for president Trump, a guy who views the press as the enemy of the people.

After being banned from Adams party, Barkan and Freelander strolled over to cover Kathryn Garcias election night event.

In NYCs new ranked voting set-up Garcia still has a shot to become mayor.

I got my fingers crossed.

Amazon faces the PR battle of its life as the powerful International Brotherhood of Teamsters union declares Jeff Bezos' behemoth public enemy No. 1.

The Teamsters, the No. 1 union of warehouse and logistics workers, view Amazons low wages and harsh working conditions as a threat to their superior pay and benefits that were gained over the years via brass-knuckled collective bargaining.

Rather than pursuing the traditional route of organizing a union vote at Amazon warehouses, the Teamsters are opting for a PR strategy centered on protests, strikes and boycotts to hike the pressure on Amazon.

Randy Korgan, Teamsters national director for Amazon, wrote in Salon that his union must engage members, forge strong community-labor alliances and integrate transformative social justice organizing into their work.

We must expand these efforts over time because it is the only chance we have to combat the threat Amazon poses to Teamsters, our families and our communities, he wrote.

At their international convention on June 23, the Teamsters cited Amazon in urging the House Judiciary Committee to toughen antitrust laws.

Amazon, according to Teamsters general president Jimmy Hoffa, uses its dominant position in AWS, retail e-commerce and anticompetitive practices to become the dominant firm in the last-mile-delivery portion of the logistics industry.

Amazon also abuses its market power in e-commerce to restrict third party sellers options of last mile delivery and logistics firmsand in the process is destroying middle class jobs, he said.

Happy Amazon Prime Day, indeed.
Kimberley Goode

Kimberley Goode has signed on as chief communications and social impact officer at BMO Financial Group, which is North America's eighth-largest bank with $950B in assets. She will join the Toronto-headquartered bank in August.

Most recently, Goode was at Blue Shield of California, where she was senior VP of external affairs. She previously served as VP, communications and corporate affairs at Northwestern Mutual.

At BMO, Goode will lead a new team combining the communications practice areas of employee communications, media relations, and government relations with the purpose and community giving teams.

"Kimberley brings to BMO an exceptional skillset and reputation as a seasoned communications executive," said chief strategy & operations officer Cameron Fowler. "She has successfully led transformations focused on driving business results through integrated communications encompassing reputation management, brand building, corporate social responsibility, culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion."

BMO was founded in 1817 as the Bank of Montreal.
Brunswick Group, Sard Verbinnen & Co. and Trident DMG were named the top PR & communications firms offering litigation support in this years rankings from Chambers.

All three were placed in Band 1, the top tier of the rankings, which evaluate firms based on technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence and commitment. They all were in Band 1 last year as well.

Brunswick received kudos for being particularly good at distilling complex issues into digestible statements useful for customers and others, SVC was praised for having a great reputation among the editorial boards of major top-tier media, and Trident DMG was called particularly effective in navigating communications strategies adjacent to litigation.

Ripp Media, Finsbury Glover Hering and FTI Consulting took spots in the Band 2 category. Band 3 includes PRC Haggerty, Reevemark, Sitrick And Company, The Levinson Group, Edelman and Infinite Global.

Lanny Davis of Trident DMG and Sitrick And Companys Mike Sitrick were named Senior Statespeople in Chambers individual rankings.

Ellen Moskowitz of Brunswick Group placed in Band 1, while Ripp Medias Allan Ripp, SVCs George Sard and Paul Holmes of FGH were in Band 2.

Chambers ranks firms and individuals from Band 1 to 6 and stresses that being ranked in any of the bands is a significant achievement.

See the complete list of ranked firms and individuals.
Declan Kelly

Teneo CEO Declan Kelly was dropped from the board of Global Citizen after he became drunk and exhibited inappropriate behavior during a fundraising event in May.

The Teneo co-founder has temporarily reduced his workload at the firm and is committed to sobriety, a spokesperson for Kelly told the Financial Times.

He is also receiving counsel from a healthcare counselor.

Kellys drunken behavior occurred May 2 during a party linked to a Global Citizen concert chaired by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World was in support of wider distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. It featured messages from Pope Francis and Joe Biden.

Global Citizen axed Kelly from its board on May 3.

Chris Stadler, managing partner at CVC Capital Partners, is co-chair of Global Citizen. CVC made a $350M investment in Teneo in 2019.

Doug Band, president/co-founder of Teneo and ex-confidante to president Clinton, stepped down in December.

His departure followed a devastating article in Vanity Fair called Confessions of a Clintonworld Exile that outlined his split with the former president and the Clinton family.

Kelly, whom Hillary Clinton appointed to serve as the state departments special envoy to Northern Ireland, was US CEO of Financial Dynamics and executive VP at FTI Consulting.
PR firms angling for a piece of Morgan Stanleys business better have their pitch team drop by Walgreens for a COVID-19 shot before heading to the financial services giants 1585 Broadway headquarters.

Beginning July 12, Morgan Stanley will ban any employee, client, vendor or visitor from its New York City and Westchester facilities who has not received the COVID-19 vaccine.

That dictum may rub the PR community the wrong way.

An ODwyer poll that ran from June 5 through June 14 found a solid majority of respondents were against mandatory vaccine requirements.

Nearly six in ten (57 percent) of respondents said deciding to get the shot is a personal decision, not one that should be required by PR firm management.

An overwhelming majority of Morgan Stanleys staff in the metro New York is vaccinated, according to chief human resources officer Mandell Crawley.

It all comes down to whats good for the goose is good for the gander. If PR people dream of landing the golden goose (e.g., Morgan Stanleys PR), they better get the shots.

Meritocracy rules at the Trump Organization... Prosecutors in the office of Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance have told Donald Trumps former bodyguard Matthew Calamari and his son Matthew Jr. to lawyer up.

Investigators are probing whether the Calamaris received tax-free fringe benefits as part of the companys alleged scheme to dodge taxes.

Neither of them has been charged with any wrongdoing.

The senior Calamari caught Trumps eye after he tackled a heckler who was taunting The Don during the 1981 US Open.

He is now COO of the Trump Organization and had been deemed home-run, grand slam people by the boss.

The younger Calamari followed his dads footsteps and became a bodyguard for the one-term president following graduation from high school in 2011.

He is now director of corporate security.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the elder Calamari lived for years at Trump Park Ave, while his son resides in Trump Parc East across from Central Park.

The Calamaris retained the services of Nicholas Gravante, Jr. of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

He represented Hunter Biden and his uncle, James.

How rich is that?

Meanwhile, Trumps former lawyer is now temporarily banned from practicing law in the Empire State.

A court ruled that Rudy Giuliani made demonstrably false and misleading statements while spreading the Big Lie that the 2020 election was fixed.

My favorite part of the court document notes that Rudy said at various times that 65,000 or 66,000 or 165,000 underage voters voted in Georgia.

The Secretary of State investigated his claims and found zero underage people voted. Georgia did find that four underaged people requested ballots for the elections, but they had turned the legal voting age of 18 on Election Day.

Rudy based his wild claims on a blogger that he called an expert, though the Court determined that the guy has zippo in qualifications on election law.

The Court document also critiqued Rudys epic press conference at Philadelphias Four Seasons Total Landscaping.

That was a doozy.

The rich got richer. Credit Suisse reports that that pandemic 2020 minted 5.2M millionaires, upping the global total to 56.1M.

The rampaging stock market, soaring residential property valuations and favorable government policies drove the growth of the rich.

Ninety percent of millionaires are worth less than $5M. More than 215K of the bunch have a net worth of more than $50M.

Credit Suisses report said the contrast between what has happened to household wealth and what is happening in the wider economy has never been more stark.
24/06/2021 - The Global Forum published today new peer review reports assessing the legal and regulatory framework against the international standard on transparency and exchange of information on request (EOIR) for Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, the Russian Federation, South Africa and Ukraine.



Travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic having prevented the assessment teams from performing on-site visits to evaluate the practical implementation of the standard, the new reports only cover the first phase of the assessment. Ratings for each element and overall ratings will be attributed later, once on-site visits are carried out and full reviews have been completed.



Key findings and recommendations include:

Antigua and Barbudas peer review recognises the improvements made towards ensuring that accounting records are maintained by international business companies (IBCs) for a minimum of five years. Since its last review, Antigua and Barbuda significantly expanded its exchange of information relationships network by becoming a Party to the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (multilateral Convention). Whilst progress was achieved, remaining flaws in the regulatory framework may undermine the availability of beneficial ownership information for legal entities and arrangements. Further, the legal framework does not fully ensure that an agent is in possession of, or has control of, or has the ability to obtain the accounting records of IBCs. Antigua and Barbuda should ensure that all accounting information is available in relation to IBCs and international limited liability companies that re-domicile to other jurisdictions. Read the report Argentinas legislative and regulatory framework covers almost all the elements of the EOIR standard. The entry into force of the multilateral Convention in 2013 allowed Argentina to expand its network of exchange of information relationships significantly since its previous peer review. The only legal and regulatory improvement needed is to ensure that beneficial ownership information on bank account holders is available in all cases, in accordance with the standard, as the new requirements under tax law and commercial law may not cover all of them. Read the report The Russian Federations legal and regulatory framework generally ensures the availability, access and exchange of relevant information for tax purposes. The main legal improvement since its previous peer review relates to the enhancement of its international network of exchange of information relationships, after the entry into force of the multilateral Convention in 2015. The interplay of the recent obligation for all Russian entities to keep information on their beneficial ownership and anti-money laundering provisions does not yet fully cover the requirements of the standard and should be improved. Improvements are also required on the availability of ownership and accounting information of relevant foreign entities. Read the report South Africas legal and regulatory framework generally ensures the availability, access and exchange of all relevant information for tax purposes in accordance with the international standard. The peer review report underlines the scope for improvement in respect of beneficial ownership information, especially in the case of partnerships and trusts. Further, accounting information on companies that domicile out of South Africa may not be available due to some ambiguity in the existing law. South Africa is thus recommended to address these issues suitably. Read the report Ukraines peer review points out a number of important improvements since its last review in 2016, such as the tax authoritys ability to obtain information directly from financial institutions without seeking a court order, when responding to an exchange of information request. However, deficiencies previously identified regarding the availability of legal ownership and accounting information continue to exist. In addition, although Ukraine has a centralised register for collecting legal and beneficial ownership information for all legal entities and arrangements, gaps persist and the availability of beneficial ownership information may not be ensured in line with the standard. Read the report The Peer Review Group of the Global Forum has also approved the requests from Anguilla and Barbados to be subject to supplementary reviews to assess progress made in implementing the standard. These reviews will encompass an onsite visit and their launch therefore depends on travel restrictions. They will take place as soon as the assessment teams can visit these jurisdictions.

 Read more about the peer review process

 Access all peer review reports published to date



The Global Forum is the leading multilateral body mandated to ensure that jurisdictions around the world adhere to and effectively implement both the EOIR standard and the standard of automatic exchange of information (AEOI). These objectives are achieved through a robust monitoring and peer review process. The Global Forum also runs an extensive technical assistance programme to support its members in implementing the standards and help tax authorities make the best use of cross-border information sharing channels.



For further information, journalists should contact Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (+33 1 45 24 91 08) or Zayda Manatta, Head of the Global Forum Secretariat, (+33 1 45 24 82 29).
Money was tight in the 1950s.

When a business wanted to expand it would first try to do so on its own premises. If it was on a main street and there was space at the front, then the simplest answer was to build out to the back of the path without breaking the building line. In Tullamore at that time, there was no adopted town plan or preservation legislation, so you could effectively do what you liked, as long as you didnt create a fire hazard.

That is what Dermot Kilroy did when he built a new shop front across what had been the Charleville Estate Office on High Street and what Dick Conroy did when he converted his house on Colmcille Street to a garage and extended it out to the road. In the straitened circumstances of the time, both structures were utilitarian and unsophisticated and added little to the architectural quality of the town.

As a young and enthusiastic architectural student, I protested fruitlessly against the building of the Kilroy shop front which I felt would compromise the facade of a fine building which today is attributed to the great architect Richard Castle, the designer of Leinster House. But the Tribune wouldnt print my anguished and probably intemperate letters and the Council didnt want to know.

Almost sixty five years later, I am gobsmacked to discover that the compilers of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage now rate these two mundane extensions as part of the glories of the architectural heritage of Tullamore and deserving of the same level of statutory protection as the Market House in OConnor Square.

Dick Conroys Garage, they believe, provides a view that is fast disappearing throughout Ireland. Small scale urban garages and mechanics are now under threat from generic multi-national forecourts, while the Mr Price shop front is appealing with its arcaded timber pilasters and recessed round-headed doorway with double wrought iron security gates.

These NIAH recommendations owe more to a misplaced nostalgia for times past than an objective architectural critique. Just like myself, something isnt necessarily any good simply because it is old.

The planners in Offaly County Council accepted and promoted the NIAH evaluations, but following objections, they have now decided to review the Mr Price designation, while the Councillors forcefully and correctly rejected the listing of Dick Conroys garage, describing it as a derelict eyesore.

The planners were sensible enough not to go along with the NIAHs other surprising recommendation that the very derelict building in Church Street whose removal is essential to provide the long promised link between the Square and Church Street, be preserved as a Structure of Regional Importance also.

Placing an individual building on the list of Protected Structures creates a stringent obligation to conserve every single element, internal as well as external. No changes whatsoever can be made without obtaining consent and the burden of maintenance falls on the unfortunate owner. Grants are meagre and access to them costly and frustrating. Those with an interest in historic or beautiful buildings will willingly take on the work and costs of restoration, but for many it may be beyond their means or abilities. The preservation of a building should only be proposed therefore as an integral element of an overall plan.

Under its Town Centres First programme, the Government will provide significant funds for urban regeneration. While the 1979 Tullamore Town Plan listed only five buildings for preservation there are today two hundred and six Protected Structures, of which three quarters are located in the historic centre of the town. Some are sadly semi-derelict, and many might provide new uses, particularly as dwellings, but their listed status along with other bye- law restrictions does not encourage flexibility. This dilemma requires resolution.

We now need an integrated plan for the town centre of Tullamore which embraces its real and valuable architectural heritage and identifies the role it can play in its future



Fergal MacCabe is an architect and town planner
After months of speculation and uncertainty the ESB has this week announced in a press release that it will definitely demolish the 240 million Power Station in Shannonbridge.

In its statement the ESB said that, following the closure of the power stations in Shannonbridge and Lanesborough, ESB engineering teams engaged with the Just Transition Commissioner Kieran Mulvey and County Councils to consider alternative uses for the existing plant and equipment. Unfortunately, having considered commercial and climate action realities in particular, no viable solution was found to repurpose the plants.

The company said the large industrial power plants have to be demolished in order to comply with the relevant planning obligations. The company said it's exploring how other buildings on the sites could be handed over for use by community groups.

It announced that it is developing plans to use cutting-edge technologies in Lanesborough and Shannonbridge that will facilitate ever-more renewable electricity on Irelands grid and, in turn, help the country achieve its climate goals by 2030.

Following a comprehensive feasibility study in recent months, both our sites at Shannonbridge and Lanesborough have the potential for providing energy services which would facilitate the growth in renewable generation. This position was validated by an external engineering consultancy.

In this context, the ESB is currently developing planning applications for both station sites as renewable energy centres, in anticipation of future competitive tenders to be held by EirGrid and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The proposed technology includes synchronous condensers and energy storage capabilities at both locations. Detailed environmental assessments will be carried out in support of those applications.

Should these applications be successful, the ESB says its plans would then enable the company to successfully develop these sites within the appropriate regulatory, environmental and planning timelines.

The ESB said it remains committed to the Midlands through the development of these projects, its 5m contribution to the Just Transition fund and its Networks operations which employ over 400 highly skilled engineers, technicians and office workers in the region - as well as its National Training Centre for Network Technicians.

The ESB's press release was greeted with considerable scepticism and some annoyance by local councillors during Monday afternoon's meeting of Offaly County Council. Cllr John Carroll said more information is needed about the synchronous condensers and the energy storage capabilities. Cllrs Peter Ormond and John Clendennen said the ESB should have contacted the Councillors first before releasing last week's press release.
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Samimul Islam Shahed is a Bangladeshi Musician, Composer, Actor, & founder of SIS Media. He was born on 23 November in Dhaka. Samimul Islam Shahed has started his music carrier in 2019. He used to sing a little bit from his childhood. His Brother was the first music teacher of his life. After learning a little from his Brother, in 2019 he became the first in a song 
Report: Clergy abuse in Iowa was 'overwhelming' but now rare

A three-year review by Iowa's attorney general has found that Roman Catholic priests sexually abused minors across the state for decades while church leaders covered it up, but reforms implemented since 2002 have ended the crisis
A House panel is pushing ahead with ambitious legislation that could curb the market power of Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple and force them to sever their dominant platforms from their other lines of business
John McAfee, creator of McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona in an apparent suicide, hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the United States to face tax charges punishable by decades in prison
CELINA [mdash] Doyle Eugene Brittain Doyle Eugene Brittain was called to the lord on Wednesday, June 9th of 2021 in Mckinney, Texas. Doyle was born in Sigourney, Iowa and one of six children to the late Alfred and Bertha Brittain. His late siblings were Verle, Orbie, Eldon, Ruby, and Vera. H
WASHINGTON (AP)  A bipartisan group of senators reached a tentative framework on a $953 billion infrastructure deal Wednesday ahead of a crucial meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Bidens top aides met with senators for back-to-back meetings on Capitol Hill and later huddled with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as the president reaches for a signature domestic achievement with his sweeping $4 trillion infrastructure plans. While the plan from the group of 21 senators is far less, with $559 billion in new spending, it would launch a broader process this summer that could open the door to Biden's big proposals.

Were very excited about the prospect of a bipartisan agreement, Pelosi said.

The group of senators, Republicans and Democrats, had been narrowing on a smaller but still sizable $1 trillion package of road, highway and other traditional infrastructure projects. The tentative framework is now $20 billion less after a shift in funds for broadband internet, according to details from a person familiar with the proposal who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations. They have struggled over how to pay for the new spending.

Biden invited members from the group of senators to the White House on Thursday.

The group made progress towards an outline of a potential agreement, and the President has invited the group to come to the White House tomorrow to discuss this in person, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said late Wednesday.

One member of the group, Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, said it was time for the group to do outreach to get more senators on board with their plan.

In good faith, we tried to get there. We didnt agree on everything, but we were able to get there, Portman told reporters on Capitol Hill as he left an evening meeting with the other senators and White House team.

Biden has sought $1.7 trillion in his American Jobs Plan, part of nearly $4 trillion in broad infrastructure spending on roads, bridges and broadband internet but also the so-called care economy of child care centers, hospitals and elder care.

With Republicans opposed to Bidens proposed corporate tax rate increase, from 21% to 28%, the group has looked at other ways to raise revenue. Biden rejected their idea to allow gas taxes paid at the pump to rise with inflation, viewing it as a financial burden on American drivers.

Psaki said the senior staff to the president had two productive meetings with the bipartisan group at the Capitol. The White House team was huddled late into the evening with the Democratic leaders.

The White House said Pelosi and Schumer and the top administration aides agreed on Biden's goal of infrastructure investments without raising taxes on anyone who makes under $400,000.

According to a White House readout of the meeting, the leaders talked with Budget Acting Director Shalanda Young, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and Domestic Policy Council Director Susan Rice, and they discussed the two-track approach ahead  a reference to the smaller bipartisan deal emerging from the group alongside a more sweeping plan of Democratic priorities that Congress is now drafting.

Schumer said the leaders support the concepts they have heard from the bipartisan negotiations.

The Democratic leaders also insisted on the two-part process ahead, starting with initial votes in July to consider the bipartisan deal and to launch the lengthy procedure for the Democrats' proposal, now drafted at nearly $6 trillion.

The Democrats' bigger proposal would run through the budget reconciliation process, which would allow passage of Biden's priorities by majority vote, without the need for support from Republicans to overcome the Senate's 60-vote threshold. It would require multiple rounds of voting that are likely to extend into fall.

Schumer said, One cant be done without the other.

That's a signal to both parties of the road ahead. Liberal Democrats have been wary of the bipartisan effort because they see it as insufficient and worry it will take the place of Biden's bigger plan. Republicans are also skeptical of passing a bipartisan bill only to be faced with an even bigger Democratic plan.

We got our framework. Were going to the White House," Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., told reporters. We wouldnt be going to the White House if we didnt think it has broad-based support.
CABOT, Arkansas (AP)  An Arkansas sheriffs deputy shot and killed a 17-year-old male during a traffic stop early Wednesday, but authorities arent saying what led to the fatal shooting.

The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office said it has turned the investigation of the shooting that occurred at about 3 a.m. over to Arkansas State Police. State police say the circumstances of the traffic stop and what led to the deputy to fire his gun at Hunter Brittain "will be documented in the investigation.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Iowa will send up to 30 state police officers on a two-week deployment to Texas after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds agreed to a request from GOP governors to help fight crime at the U.S.-Mexico border, officials said Thursday.

A statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety did not say when the deployment of the officers would begin or how they would be chosen. The officers will assist the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Critics said the deployment was a political boondoggle that would accomplish little, other than diverting dozens of officers at a time when they were desperately needed in Iowa. They noted that Reynolds in April declined a federal request for help housing migrant children who had crossed the border, saying: This is not our problem.

Reynolds said she agreed to the deployment, following similar moves by Republican governors in Nebraska, Florida and Idaho, after receiving assurances from the department that the absences will not compromise our ability to provide all the necessary public safety services to Iowans.

Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona earlier this month requested help at the border from other states under an interstate compact to provide mutual aid during emergencies and disasters.

My first responsibility is to the health and safety of Iowans and the humanitarian crisis at our nations southern border is affecting all 50 states, Reynolds said in a statement. The rise in drugs, human trafficking, and violent crime has become unsustainable. Iowa has no choice but to act."

The deployments will affect about 5% of the state's approximately 550 sworn officers and come in an unusually difficult year for Iowa public safety.

Earlier this month, state patrol officials warned that traffic fatalities were spiking on Iowa roadways due to increasingly dangerous driving and vowed that they would step up enforcement. The state has also recently agreed to help Davenport fight a rise in gun violence.

The year has also seen the first trooper shot and killed in the line of duty in decades, an exhaustive search for a missing boy that remains ongoing, an attack in which inmates killed two prison workers, and a shooting that wounded a Linn County deputy.

Manny Galvez, a social justice activist in North Liberty, said that Reynolds should welcome migrants to the state rather than send police to the border.

This is crazy, Galvez said. How shameful and an absolutely irrational waste of state resources.
HONG KONG (AP)  The final edition of Hong Kong's last remaining pro-democracy paper sold out in hours Thursday, as readers scooped up all 1 million copies of the Apple Daily, whose closure was yet another sign of China's tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city.

Across the densely populated metropolis, people lined up early in the morning to buy the paper, which in recent years has become an increasingly outspoken critic of Chinese and Hong Kong authorities' efforts to limit the freedoms found here but not in mainland China. The paper was gone from newsstands by 8:30 a.m.

The newspaper said it was forced to cease operations after police froze $2.3 million of its assets, searched its office and arrested five top editors and executives last week, accusing them of foreign collusion to endanger national security.

This is our last day, and last edition, does this reflect the reality that Hong Kong has started to lose its press freedom and freedom of speech? an Apple Daily graphic designer, Dickson Ng, asked in comments to The Associated Press. Why does it have to end up like this?

The paper printed 1 million copies for its last edition  up from the usual 80,000. On the front page was splashed an image of an employee in the office waving at supporters surrounding the building, with the headline Hong Kongers bid a painful farewell in the rain, We support Apple Daily.

While pro-democracy media outlets still exist online, it was the only print newspaper of its kind left in the city.

The pressure on the paper reflects a broader crackdown on Hong Kongs civil liberties, ramped up after massive antigovernment protests in 2019 unsettled authorities. In response, they imposed a sweeping national security law  used in the arrests of the newspaper employees  and revamped Hong Kongs election laws to keep opposition voices out of the legislature.

The result is that dissenting voices have been almost completely silenced in the city long known as an oasis of freedoms on mainland China's doorstep. The increasing restrictions have come despite China's promise to protect Hong Kong's civil liberties for 50 years after the city's 1997 handover from Britain.

The closure of Apple Daily raises the specter that other media outlets  though none as outspoken  will become even more cautious, such as the more than 100-year-old English-language South China Morning Post. The paper, while identified with the political and business mainstream, has thus far continued to report on controversial issues in Hong Kong and on mainland China, even after its owner, internet business titan Jack Ma, dropped from sight last year after publicly criticizing Chinese government policies.

Apple Dailys closure marks a dark day for press freedom in Hong Kong, said Thomas Kellogg, executive director of the Georgetown Center for Asian Law.

Without Apple Daily, Hong Kong is less free than it was a week ago. Apple Daily was an important voice, and it seems unlikely that any other media outlet will be able to fill its shoes, given growing restrictions on free speech and freedom of the press, he said.

Taiwan's Cabinet agency responsible for China issues also lamented the paper's closure as a heavy blow to media freedom in Hong Kong. The island is a self-governing democracy that split from mainland China in 1949 but that Beijing continues to claim as its territory.

This shows the international community that the Chinese Communist Party, in its exercise of totalitarian political power, will stop at nothing to use extreme means to wipe out dissenting opinions, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in an emailed statement. Humankinds quest for freedom, democracy and other universal values will not be lost to history, but history will remember the ugly face of the power behind the suppression of freedom.

Beijing has dismissed such criticism as interference in its internal affairs, and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Thursday lashed out at foreign officials who have criticized the legal actions against Apple Daily.

Press freedom is not an excuse of impunity and whoever disrupts Hong Kong has no extrajudicial privileges, Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing.

On Wednesday night, over 100 people stood outside Apple Dailys office building in the rain to show their support, taking photographs and shouting words of encouragement.

Inside the building, associate publisher Chan Pui-man told staff who gathered around the newsroom to big applause: Youve done a great job, everyone! Chan was one of the five arrested last week.

In the early hours of Thursday, residents in the citys Mong Kok neighborhood in the working-class Kowloon district began lining up hours before the paper hit the stands.

Apple Daily's Hong Kong website contained only a notice on Thursday that read: We are sad to inform you that Apple Daily and Next Magazines web and app content will no longer be accessible at 23:59, 23 June 2021, HKT.

We would like to thank all of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, and Hongkonger(s) for your loyal support," the notice read.

A similar message was posted on its news app.

In the wake of the announcement of the paper's closure, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said authorities were using the national security law to curtail freedom and punish dissent, calling the paper's closure "a chilling demonstration of their campaign to silence all opposition voices.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Adebahr said the closure was another sign that pluralism, freedom of opinion and freedom of the press in Hong Kong are subject to erosion."

Last week's arrests of the Apple Daily employees represented the first time the national security law had been used against journalists for something they published.
Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, hosted a special guest Tuesday at the state Capitol in Lansing. Visiting was Evan Burdick, a junior at Meridian Early College High School in Sanford. Burdick has an interest in public administration and politics and has been involved locally, volunteering in cleanup efforts and assisting with the Sanford War Memorial dedication. Glenn was thankful that Burdick took the time and interest in job shadowing her  her first job shadow since the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo provided)
On Monday, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2021 Kids Count Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data analyzing how families have fared between the Great Recession and the last year before the COVID-19 crisis.

In response, the Michigan League for Public Policy also released its own version of the report, centered on Michigan and the counties within. The national Data Book analyzes national and state data on child well-being and the Michigan Data Book examines state, regional, county and some city data, the two reports being complementary.

The national Data Book uses 16 indicators to measure four areas: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health and Family and Community Context. Those are then used to assess child well-being. It also tracks whether those indicators have been improving or declining in each state, comparing 2010 to 2019, the most recent accessible year, data and ranks states in each domain and in overall child well-being.

For the 2021 Data Book, Michigan was ranked 28th in the nation in overall child well-being, an improvement from its ranking of 32nd last year. Michigans best national rank in the four categories was 22nd in Health, followed by its rankings of 24th in Economic Well-Being and 29th in Family and Community Context. Michigan continues to rank lowest in Education, this year at 41st in the country.

Some factors brought into consideration in this ranking was that in 2019, 371,000 children lived in households below the poverty line in income. Also, 125,000 children were not in school between 2017 and 2019, 78,000 children did not have health insurance in 2019 and between 2015 and 2019, 295,000 children lived in high-poverty areas.

Michigan children and families should be at the forefront of every policy decision, and all children should be given the same opportunities to thrive," said Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, in a statement. "No childs well-being should be based on their race, ethnicity, family income or zip code. The Kids Count data help ensure lawmakers know how kids are doing in our districts and what policies can help improve the lives of our young people. As a state senator and as a mom, securing the well-being of Michigans kids is the most important part of my work.

The Michigan League for Public Policy looks at four similar criteria as the national Data Book including Economic Security, Education, Health and Safety and Family and Community to assess child well-being. Some individual indicators and sources vary, but the Michigan Data Book also compares data from 2010 to 2019 along with data from the most recent year for additional indicators.

The Michigan Data Book also found that Michigan worsened in less than adequate prenatal care from 2010 to 2019, and children in investigated families went up (worsened) from 2010 to 2020, and the number of 3- and 4-year-olds in school stayed the same from 2010-2019. The Michigan Data Books Education indicators have different year ranges due to testing changes and methodology, but the state improved in eighth graders proficient in math between 2015 and 2018 and students graduating high school on time from 2010 to 2020. The state worsened in third graders proficient in English Language Arts from 2015 to 2019.

In the Huron, Manistee, Mecosta and Midland counties, while the child population declined from 2010 to 2019, children experiencing poverty declined from 2010 to 2019 and those experiencing food insecurity declined from 2009 to 2018. The percentage of children covered by some form of health insurance also went up in all four counties.

There were some concerning trends. In Manistee, the percentage of students not graduating on time, a count that includes dropouts, worsened from 2011 to 2020, as the percentage of dropouts jumped from just 5.3 percent in 2011 to 23.7 percent in 2020. In each of the other three counties, the percentage of those not graduating on time fell in the time frame, per the report.

Also concering was that both ELA proficiency at the third-grade level and math proficiency at the eighth-grade level declined in several counties, as ELA worsened in Huron, Manistee and Midland and math worsened in Huron and Mecosta. The percentage of children experiencing confirmed cases of abuse also went up in Huron and Midland from 2011 to 2020 while declining during the same time in Manistee and Mecosta.

While the report includes the most recent information available for the state, it does not fully capture the impact of the past year. Additional survey data from the last year that are included in the books add to the story of Michigans children and families in this moment, looking at the struggles with economic, food and housing security; educational challenges; and mental health strain of the pandemic on kids and parents.

Our efforts to build a college-going culture in Michigan are greatly helped when children receive the support they need to succeed from cradle to campus, including access to quality health care, strong families and communities, economic security, and equitable education opportunities, said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, Michigan College Access Network executive director in a statement. The Kids Count in Michigan Data Book is an incredible resource to help find and address equity gaps and improve outcomes for all children, especially for children of color and children from low-income backgrounds. We applaud the work the Michigan League for Public Policy is doing to advocate for better futures for Michigans youth.

There are some concerns that Michigan's improvement over the past decade in relation to child well-being could be impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic. The figures of children impacted by that will be measured as soon as 2020 numbers are available.

As we look at the things Michigan has done well to better support kids and parents over the last decade, the improvements weve seen in childrens health and economic security are now the very areas still being threatened by COVID-19, and the pandemic stands to make Michigans existing struggles in education outcomes even worse, said Kelsey Perdue, Michigan Kids Count director in a statement. We have seen the progress we can make with a concerted effort, sound policy decisions and related investments, and policymakers need to follow that same formula to offset COVIDs impact, especially with the increased state and federal funding available right now.
SRINAGAR, India (AP)  Indias prime minister held a crucial meeting with pro-India politicians from disputed Kashmir on Thursday for the first time since New Delhi stripped the regions semi-autonomy and jailed many of them in a crackdown.

No major decision was announced after the meeting and many Kashmiri leaders said they reiterated their demand that New Delhi should reverse its 2019 changes.

Experts say the meeting was meant to ward off mounting criticism at home and abroad after Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist government in August 2019 downgraded the region's status, split it into two federal territories  Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir  and removed inherited protections on land and jobs for the local population.

Since then, Indian authorities have imposed a slew of administrative changes through new laws, often drafted by bureaucrats, that triggered resentment and anger as many likened the moves to the beginning of settler colonialism. Modi has called the changes overdue and necessary to foster economic development and fully integrate Kashmir with India.

Muslim-majority Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, which both claim it in its entirety. Rebels have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel goal that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.

Modi chaired the meeting in New Delhi attended by the Himalayan regions 14 political leaders, including Modis own party members. India's powerful home minister, Amit Shah, and New Delhi's administrator in the region, Manoj Sinha, also attended the meeting.

Among those invited were Kashmir's former three top elected officials: Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, who was a regional coalition partner of Modis Bharatiya Janata Party for nearly two years after the 2016 state elections.

Despite being pro-India and seen by many in Kashmir as New Delhis collaborators, Shah last year labeled them a gang while some others called them anti-national elements. Some senior ruling party leaders also dubbed them political untouchables who were rendered redundant by the 2019 decision.

The three and a few other invited leaders were among thousands arrested and held for months in 2019. They have criticized Indias policies in Kashmir and formed an alliance with four other parties to fight them, calling them spitefully shortsighted and unconstitutional.

Shah said the government stressed to strengthen the democratic process in the region.

But the alliance spokesman, Yousuf Tarigami, told reporters after the meeting that they did not get any concrete assurances from Modi and Shah, although they heard our concerns, demands and aspirations.

The Kashmiri alliance stuck to their demands and said they told Modi during the meeting that the regions semi-autonomous powers should be restored.

Indias unconstitutional, illegal and immoral changes in the region are not acceptable to us, Mufti, the region's former chief minister, told reporters after the meeting.

Mufti said she told the Indian leaders that New Delhi should also talk to neighboring Pakistan and find a solution to the dispute.

Several other leaders, however, steered away from demanding a restoration of the special status and said they instead stressed an early restoration of statehood, the holding of an election and land and employment security for people.

The meeting follows the reaffirmation of a 2003 cease-fire accord between India and Pakistan in February as part of a peace deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

Sushant Singh, a senior fellow at the Center for Policy Research, a public policy think tank in India, said geopolitical reasons forced Modis hand for an outreach towards Kashmiri political leaders. In a tweet, he said Tuesday that the UAE-brokered backchannel talks led to certain commitments from the Modi government on Kashmir.

International pressure, particularly from U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, has also been piling on the Indian government to reverse some of its recent changes.

Dean Thompson, acting assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, told a congressional hearing early this month that although New Delhi had taken some steps such as the release of prisoners and the restoration of 4G internet access in the region, there are other electoral steps wed like to see them take and that we have encouraged them to do and will continue to do so.
SYDNEY, Australia  A state government minister has been infected with COVID-19 and another minister is in isolation as a cluster in the Australian city of Sydney worsens.

New South Wales Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said he was told on Thursday that he had tested positive after dining with three government colleagues on Monday at a Sydney restaurant after an infected diner.

All four lawmakers had been attending Parliament as recently as Tuesday.

Health Minister Brad Hazard said he was self-isolating after being exposed to a potential case at Parliament House.

Hazzard said while standing next to Premier Gladys Berejiklian at daily pandemic media briefings, that he thought she was fairly safe.

Pandemic restrictions tightened in Sydney on Thursday as a cluster of the Delta variant increased and states banned travel from either parts of Sydney or from anywhere in New South Wales.

The cluster began last week when a Sydney airport limousine driver tested positive. He was not vaccinated and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew. The cluster had grown to 31 cases by Wednesday.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

 Italy is banking on a huge windfall of EU pandemic recovery funds to revamp its lagging economy. The future of the eurozone may depend on how well it does.

 Due to the pandemic, Tokyo is shaping up to be the no-fun Olympics

 Colombia hits 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, president blames antigovernment protests

 US finds deaths among Medicare patients in nursing homes soared by 32% last year

 WHO plans technology transfer hub for coronavirus vaccines in South Africa

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Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

JERUSALEM  Israels government has postponed the planned reopening of the country to vaccinated tourists over concerns about the spread of the infectious delta variant of the coronavirus.

Israel was set to reopen its borders to vaccinated visitors on July 1, after having largely closed the country during the pandemic. It had already started allowing groups of vaccinated tourists to enter in May. All visitors will need to be tested before boarding flights to Israel and show proof of vaccination.

But after a rise in infections in the past week, the government said Wednesday that it would be pushing that date until Aug. 1. Israels Health Ministry recorded 110 new cases of coronavirus in the past day.

Israel has suffered a major economic blow due to the coronavirus pandemic, but even as the country has gradually recovered after a speedy vaccination campaign, the tourism industry has remained blighted.

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ALBANY, N.Y.  New York will lift more COVID-19 restrictions when the state of emergency expires later this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.

New Yorkers will still have to wear masks on public transit, hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities and homeless shelters, in accordance with federal guidance.

But Cuomos announcement Wednesday means public meetings, for example, no longer must occur virtually.

Fighting COVID & vaccinating New Yorkers are still top priorities, but the emergency chapter of this fight is over, Cuomo tweeted.

Its the governors latest announcement about lifting COVID-19 restrictions at a time when rates of new positives are dipping to record lows as more New Yorkers get vaccinated. And it follows months of pushback from Republicans and business groups who have called for Cuomos executive power to be reined in.

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BERLIN  Germanys disease control center says the delta variant accounted for more than 15% of coronavirus infections in the country by mid-June, with its share roughly doubling in a week.

The Robert Koch Institute said in a weekly report Wednesday that the more contagious delta variants share in sequenced samples rose to 15.1% in the week ending June 13. That compares with 7.9% a week earlier.

The alpha variant, first detected in Britain, remained dominant in Germany, though its share declined to 74.1% from 83.5%.

Overall cases in Germany have declined to their lowest level in months. On Wednesday, the disease control center said that 1,016 new cases were reported over the previous day  a rate of 7.2 new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days.

Authorities have relaxed many restrictions but are pointing to surges in Britain, Portugal and Russia driven by the delta variant, first detected in India, as illustrating the need to remain vigilant.

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MADRID  Spain is scrapping its requirement to wear face masks outdoors, as long as people can remain at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart, from next Saturday.

Health Minister Carolina Darias said masks will still be needed at large gatherings, such as concerts, when people are on their feet instead of sitting on distanced chairs.

Masks remain mandatory indoors in public places and on public transport.

She said Wednesday that face coverings have been tremendously efficient and useful in helping curb the spread of COVID-19.

She noted that 32% of Spaniards have had two vaccine doses and 50% have had a single doses so far, allowing a relaxation of mask rules.

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BERLIN  A spokesman for Angela Merkel says the German Chancellor received two different vaccines in a conscious effort to encourage people not to be afraid if they are advised to get a mix of shots.

Merkels office confirmed Tuesday that the 66-year-old received a first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine on April 16. For the second shot, she received the Moderna vaccine.

Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Merkel intentionally opted for the initial AstraZeneca shot at a time when there were concerns about possible serious side effects.

And so she can now perhaps take away the fears of people...who were or are worried about this so-called cross-vaccination, he said.

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BOISE, Idaho  Just over half of Idaho adults have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine  about two months after the 50% mark was reached nationwide.

Idaho Public Health Administrator Elke Shaw-Tulloch said during a press conference Tuesday that the state is unlikely to meet the national goal of at least 70% of adults with at least one vaccine dose by July 4.

Still, she said the state continues to make slow gains in vaccination rates. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Idaho has the eighth lowest adult partial COVID-19 vaccination rate in the U.S.

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ANKARA, Turkey  Turkeys health minister says anyone 18 years old and older will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines as of Friday, as the country ramps up its vaccination campaign.

Speaking after a meeting of the countrys scientific advisory council on Wednesday, Fahrettin Koca said the government aims to administer at least one dose to around 70% of the 55 million people that are eligible to be vaccinated, by mid-July.

So far, close to 30 million people in a population of 84 million have received their first dose and 14.6 million people have received both doses.

Meanwhile, Koca said 40,800 people would be involved in the late-stage trial of Turkeys first local COVID-19 jab, which had been named TURCOVAC. The vaccine that uses the inactivated virus technology, was developed by Turkeys Erciyes University.

Some volunteers would be administered the vaccine developed by Chinas Sinovac pharmaceutical instead of a placebo, allowing researchers to compare the two inactivated vaccines safety and efficacy, the minister said. Volunteers in Hungary, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan would also be involved in the trials.

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MOSCOW  Buryatia, a republic in Siberia, became the first Russian region on Wednesday to announce a lockdown because of a surge in coronavirus infections.

The lockdown will take affect on Sunday and last for two weeks, during which only essential services such as grocery shops, pharmacies, utility companies, public transport and media organizations will be allowed to operate.

Coronavirus infections in Russia have surged in recent weeks, with the daily tally of new cases growing from approximately 9,000 in early June to over 17,000 last Friday.

Buryatia is the only Russian region so far that imposed several lockdowns since the beginning of the pandemic. Last November, the regions governor also closed all non-essential businesses for two weeks in an effort to cope with a resurgence of the outbreak.

Russia had only one, six-week nationwide lockdown last spring, and most coronavirus restrictions in the country were lifted over the summer. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday no plans to reimpose another nationwide lockdown were being discussed by authorities.

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LISBON, Portugal  The Lisbon regions recent surge in COVID-19 cases is powering ahead, with new infections pushing Portugals number of daily cases to a four-month high.

Portugal on Wednesday reported almost 1,500 new cases, with two thirds of them in the region of the capital where some 2.8 million people live.

The national 14-day cumulative Covid-19 case notification rate per 100,000 people has risen to 130.

The pressure on hospitals remains manageable, with just 437 virus patients admitted and 100 in intensive care.

The Portuguese government has already banned travel into and out of the Lisbon region at weekends. Experts blame the Delta variant for the virus spread there.

It is widely expected to announce new restrictions for Lisbon after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

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GENEVA  Swiss authorities are vastly easing measures aimed to combat COVID-19 and relaxing some key requirements facing incoming travelers, as case counts and deaths from the pandemic have plunged in Switzerland in recent weeks.

Among the new steps effective Saturday, the Federal Council said work-from-home rules and the requirement to wear masks outdoors will be lifted. Restaurants will also no longer have to limit the number of patrons that can dine together.

The Swiss government said people from the European Schengen area  a vast zone that allows visa-free travel between countries  will no longer be required to quarantine upon entry to Switzerland.

Rules limiting entries of people from abroad will focus on countries with worrying levels of coronavirus variants in circulation.

The council  Switzerlands executive branch  is also extending the estimated duration of vaccine effectiveness for mRNA vaccines like those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to 12 months, from six months.

Swiss health authorities said Wednesday that 154 new cases and 2 new deaths were recorded from Tuesday to Wednesday in the country of about 8.5 million. Overall, Switzerland has tallied over 700,000 cases and 10,000 deaths linked to COVID-19.

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PARIS  France is adding Russia to its red list of countries from which travels are banned unless imperious motives because they are struggling with virus surges and worrisome variants.

French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said Wednesday that Russia, Namibia and Seychelles are being added to the list of now 21 countries.

The red list notably includes India, South Africa and Brazil and implies that vaccinated travelers arriving in France must justify their trip, show a negative test and self-isolate for a week. Those not vaccinated must go on a quarantine for 10 days, risking a 1000-euro fine, equivalent to $1,194.

Attal also called for enhanced vigilance about the more contagious delta variant, first identified in India.

The delta variant is estimated to represent 9 to 10% overall in France, he said. But authorities are closely monitoring the situation in a region of southwestern France, the Landes, where 70% of confirmed infections are due to the delta variant, he added.

The epidemic situation in France has rapidly improved in recent weeks, with about 2,300 new daily infections reported each day, down from 35,000 in the March-April peak.

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BRUSSELS  Teenagers in Belgium aged from 12 to 15 with underlying conditions will be able to get vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The move was adopted Wednesday following a meeting of the countrys health ministers.

They said COVID-19 shots will be offered to youngsters affected by pathologies such as leukemia, Down syndrome or liver and kidney diseases because the risk they face to develop a severe form of coronavirus requiring a stay in hospital higher than the general population.

A decision has yet been taken on the vaccination of others in that age group.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  A telephone line set up to allow people in the Netherlands to book a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination has been overwhelmed with callers.

Health Minister Hugo de Jonge tweeted Wednesday that more than 130,000 people had attempted to call the line a total of more than 2 million times on the first morning that the government allowed anybody over the age of 18 to make an appointment for a J&J vaccination.

The J&J single-dose shot has largely been removed from the Dutch COVID-19 vaccination program because of the tiny risk of an extremely rare blood clotting disorder.

However, the government has about 200,000 J&J shots available over the next two weeks and is making them available to the public on a first-come-first-served basis.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin.

Tuesday, June 22:

11:41 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence regarding a domestic assault. A 27-year-old male was assaulted by his 27-year-old wife during an argument. The female was subsequently arrested for domestic assault. The female was transported and lodged at the Midland County Jail without incident. This report will be sent to the Midland Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

8:06 p.m.  Officers responded to a case of fraud on Eastlawn Drive.

7 p.m.  A deputy responded to a Lee Township residence to talk with a 13-year-old male about his unruly behavior at the request of his 35-year-old mother. Information was provided to the mother for community resources.

3:40 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on North Saginaw Road.

2:44 p.m.  Officers responded to a case of fraud on Countryside Drive.

1:30 p.m.  A 63-year-old Mt Haley Township female reported the larceny of a private street sign valued at $60. No suspects are currently known.

1:08 p.m.  A 57-year-old Jerome Township male reported someone stole his Republic Waste Management container. He suspects mischievous teenage boys, but does not have any proof.

12:49 p.m.  Animal Control Deputy dispatched to the area of Laporte Road and M-30 reference two loose horses. Horses were located and were secured back in their barn.

11:37 p.m.  Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the area of Booknes Street and Eastman Avenue.

10:41 a.m.  An animal control deputy responded to check on an injured/sick raccoon on the back deck of a home in the city of Midland. The raccoon was removed from the area.

9 a.m.  Referral from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding alleged inappropriate contact between a 9-year-old boy and another child. Contact was made with the 9-year-olds mother, who was aware of the situation. The mother advised her child is currently in counseling, and she is going to share this incident with the counselor. The mother advised she has no concerns about her son and does not currently need law enforcement assistance.

8:57 a.m.  Officers responded to a case of larceny on Gordon Street.

2:42 a.m.  Officers revoked a license in the area of Isabella Street and West Main Street.

Monday, June 21

11:17 p.m.  A deputy responded to a Jerome Township residence and spoke with a 49-year-old male who said he left for work in the morning and when he returned home in the evening, he noticed the front window screen had been pried open. The male entered the residence to investigate and noticed that someone entered through the window and stole a bottle of prescription medication from the bedroom. No suspects are currently known.

8:50 p.m.  A 43-year-old Jerome Township female requested a deputy check the wellbeing of her 13-year-old son while he was at his 45-year-old father's residence in Jerome Township. The female advised that her son messaged her saying he was scared because the father was yelling at him. The deputy contacted the son, who advised that he was fine and all set. The deputy provided the father with parenting advice.

8:43 p.m.  Deputies responded to a Jerome Township residence after an 18-year-old Jerome Township woman and her 37-year-old mother were in an argument. The 18-year-old was found to be suicidal and transported to ER for a mental health evaluation.

8:12 p.m.  Deputies responded to a Lee Township address to serve a personal protection order. The 73-year-old male respondent was served, and he left the premise without incident. The male was given a copy of the order.

6:40 p.m.  A deputy answered civil questions for a 44-year-old Warren Township male regarding an eviction and moving out of his residence.

6:29 p.m.  A 70-year-old Warren Township male reported an unknown male had come to his residence demanding a package that was supposedly delivered to the residence by mistake. The complainant advised he did not receive his package and the male left prior to reporting the incident to the sheriff's office.

5:24 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched with EMS and Mills Fire regarding a 42-year-old male having an anxiety attack after an argument. Both the man and the 42-year-old woman whom he was arguing with reported there was no assault and it was only verbal. They both advised they were all set.

4:00 p.m.  Officers responded to a driver operating with a suspended license in the area of Jerome Street and West Buttles Street.

2:42 p.m.  Officers responded to disorderly conduct and an assault on South Saginaw Road.

12:01 p.m.  An 84-year-old Lee Township male reported his catalytic converter was stolen from his 2015 Toyota Prius.

11:32 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a vehicle engine revving at all hours. The deputy spoke to a 26-year-old man and 50-year-old woman at the property about the concerns. The 26-year-old man said he works on cars to sell them but tries to be respectful of the time of day. They were also spoken to about the burn out marks in front of the driveway and they both advised they request friends not to drive that way.

10:57 a.m.  Officers responded to a driver with no license in the area of Eastlawn Drive and Carolina Street.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Canada on Thursday backed the Sudanese Prime Minister's position on the need for reform and drastic action to steer the country through the transitional period into election and a democratically elected government
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A Libyan coast guard patrol boat on Wednesday rescued 19 illegal migrants of various African nationalities off the Libyan coast after the the a rubber dinghy in which they were travelling sank on its way to the European coast
Illinois Wesleyan University President Georgia Nugent was the speaker at Shepard Park in Normal. She said she was proud of her faculty, who learned how to teach online in only two weeks when they realized the students wouldnt be returning from spring break 2020. She also commented that the world has changed forever in many ways, and we will never go back to always being together.
CHICAGO  One of four men convicted and later cleared of the 1994 rape and murder of a Chicago woman has been shot to death, the Cook County medical examiner's office revealed Wednesday.

Michael Saunders, 42, of Homer Glen died of a gunshot to the head. Authorities in Calumet Park, were the shooting occurred Monday, haven't revealed the circumstances of the crime, deemed a homicide.

Saunders, Harold Richardson, Vincent Thames and Terrill Swift spent more than a decade in prison before DNA evidence exonerated them in 30-year-old Nina Glover's death. They were later cleared and granted certificates of innocence. They were teenagers at the time of Glover's death.

In 2011, tests showed that DNA found on Glover's body matched that of Johnny "Maniac" Douglas, who was one of the first people the police interviewed in Glover's killing and who later was convicted in another killing. Douglas was shot to death in 2008.

In 2017, the city of Chicago paid $31 million to settle a wrongful-conviction lawsuit filed by Saunders and the three others. Two years later, Cook County paid $24 million to settle claims by Saunders, Richardson and Thames. Swift separately settled his case against Cook County for $5.6 million.

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SPRINGFIELD  Lawyers for an Illinois man sentenced to 130 years for a murder when he was 16 years old are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify how life sentences for juveniles should be reevaluated. That's in light of recent decisions by the high court against that practice.

Ashanti Lusbys lawyers petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court last month to hear Lusbys case challenging his sentence as unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment, based on two recent U.S. Supreme Courts decisions, Miller v. Alabama in 2012 and Montgomery v. Louisiana in 2016.

In the Miller case, the court ruled that mandatory life sentences without parole for juvenile homicide offenders are unconstitutional because it qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment. The court decided that children are different than adults for the purposes of mandatory life sentences because such sentences pose too great a risk of disproportionate punishment.

In the Montgomery case, the court clarified that its decision in the Miller case can be applied retroactively, and requires a sentencer to consider a juvenile offenders youth and attendant characteristics before determining that life without parole is a proportionate sentence, according to the opinion.

Lusbys 130-year sentence for the 1996 rape and murder of elementary school teacher, Jennifer Happ, in Joliet was not a mandatory sentence, but it is a de facto life sentence because it amounts to a lifetime in prison.

In October, Lusby exhausted his legal avenues in Illinois when the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in a 6-1 decision that his 2002 sentencing hearing did not violate U.S. Supreme Court case law because the sentencing judge sufficiently considered his age and factors related to his youth.

In their petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, Lusbys lawyers argued that the court should clarify the procedures for reconsidering actual and de facto life sentences for juvenile offenders who were sentenced before the protections in the Miller and Montgomery cases were established.

Since those decisions were issued, state courts have varied widely in their application of the precedents on sentences imposed before 2012, the petition states.

For example, in 30 states and Washington, D.C., all juveniles sentenced to life in prison without parole prior to Miller are now either automatically entitled to a new sentencing hearing or have become eligible for parole or judicial modification of their sentence.

In other states, juvenile homicide offenders are not eligible for parole and are not afforded automatic review of their sentences. Those states also have differing approaches for handling juvenile resentencing in cases decided before 2012.

Two years ago, the Illinois General Assembly changed the law to allow certain offenders under age 21 to be eligible for parole after 10 years, and certain individuals convicted of murder to be eligible for parole after 20 years.

However, the law does not apply retroactively.

Applying Miller and Montgomery, juveniles must be given some sort of process by which they can present and the court can consider factors related to their youth in light of what we now know based on Miller, Lusbys lawyers wrote in their petition to the U.S. Supreme Court. The practice of Illinois and other States that does not require that the record show that the trial court who sentenced a juvenile homicide offender to (life with the opportunity for parole) prior to Miller actually considered the offenders youth and attendant characteristics fails to ensure that basic constitutional mandate.

At the time of the crime, Lusby had a criminal record that included violent offenses and was expelled from school due to his participation in a gang. His sisters were also involved in crime, and their father was absent from their lives, the petition states.

These details about Lusbys home life and background should have received greater scrutiny from Lusbys sentencing judge and carried more weight in determining Lusbys sentencing, his lawyers argued.

But, again, nothing about Lusbys background  or his inability to extricate himself from those surroundings as a 16-year-old  was considered by the court before sentencing Lusby to die in prison, the petition states. A proper Miller hearing would take into account this evidence, unlike the hearing received by Lusby prior to Miller.

Lusby is represented by lawyers with the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender, including Douglas R. Hoff.

A spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office, which represents the state in this case, did not comment.

The states response to Lusbys petition is due July 2.

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On the heels of a statewide action plan that calls for greater investment in Black college students, a new coalition will examine racial equity at University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and offer strategies to improve diversity.

The 18-month effort, funded by the Joyce Foundation, will focus on the states flagship public university, where just under 6% of students are Black, 11% are Latino and well under 1% identify as Native American or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, under-representations of the states population, according to school data. The largest demographic groups are white students at 41% and Asian American students at 16%.

Strategies to increase access and opportunity for students of color are often too generalized and exclude key voices from the conversation, making them ineffective, according to a news release from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonprofit spearheading the coalition.

The effort is dubbed The REASON Project. REASON is an acronym for recruitment, equity-in-practice, accountability, social-inclusion, opportunity culture and networks.

U. of I. is engaging in the process but theres no official partnership between the university and the Lawyers Committee, according to a spokesman for the organization. University representatives did not provide immediate comment.

In Illinois, Black student enrollment in colleges and universities dropped by 29% between 2013 and 2018, according to a recent state report. About 61% of Black undergraduates receive financial aid grants from the state to attend public universities compared with 24% of white students.

For students of color who do enroll at U. of I., outcomes are also worse. Compared with their white peers, graduation rates in 2020 lagged by about 12% for Black students and 9% for Latino students at the campus.

The Lawyers Committee coalition brings together students, grassroots organizations, civil rights groups and alumni. A total of 15 organizations will participate, with representatives from the Illinois League of United Latin American Citizens, the NAACP Illinois State Conference and the Chicago Urban League.

At the end of the 18-month process, were producing a set of student and alumni recommendations and new policy proposals for greater racial equity on campus, said Ivanley Noisette, a legal fellow leading the project. We hope that the university will adopt some of those policies and practices.

Noisette said the Lawyers Committee and the Joyce Foundation are focusing on the University of Illinois because of its prominence as a flagship campus and will embark on a similar initiative with the Ohio State University. U. of I. is the states largest university and funded by taxpayer dollars, serving more than 32,000 undergraduates every year.

They have a platform, they have the resources and they have the ability to demonstrate a clear commitment to racial equity, which they have done, but these coalition members are interested in helping to support them, Noisette said.

Jaydon Brown, a rising junior studying sociology and African American studies, will be a student advocate on the coalition to help lead engagement with campus groups and students.

Brown, 20, of Evanston, said the University of Illinois has taken recent steps to improve equity, but the disparities begin long before students arrive on campus. He said college recruiters came to him at Evanston Township High School, but he learned that some of his peers didnt get the same attention at their high schools.

Getting into university is one thing but being able to stay in and graduate is another, he said. Sometimes UIUC doesnt have the most hospitable environment when you get in that facilitates success for students from underrepresented communities.

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100 years ago

June 24, 1921: Holder farmer John McBarnes offered $100,000 to McLean County toward funding a war memorial building in downtown Bloomington. The building (still standing on the site of Bloomingtons first store) must be furnished to meet needs of all soldiers of all wars, he said.

75 years ago

June 24, 1946: Sixty-eight candidates and honoraries received degrees from IWU. Ferde Grofe, composer of the Grand Canyon Suite, got an honorary degree. He placed a wreath at the memorial to John Wesley Powell, IWU professor who first explored the canyon in the 1860s.

50 years ago

June 24, 1971: Fire wiped out the stock of the Silhouette Ceramic Studio in El Paso, just seven weeks after the business opened. Loss was set at $2,000 to the building and $15,000 to the contents. The cause is unknown, and the state fire marshal is investigating.

25 years ago

June 24, 1996: The old Santa Fe depot at Roanoke will have a new owner. The business association will transfer the building to the park district, thereby getting out from under the high cost of insuring it. Theres work to be done, beginning with repairs to the old stations roof.

Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com.
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FanMilk PLC  Ghanas leading producer of nutritious and refreshing milk-based and dairy-based food products - announces the opening of a new corporate head office in Accra.



The new ultra- modern office housed in the same building as the factory represents the vision, mission and leadership behaviours of the Fan Milk PLC as a truly Danone Company.



The building project was executed in two phases  a initial structure that housed the Sales department, and the recently finished phase which now houses the entire head office bringing the project to completion. The two-storey building is located at the North Industrial Area in Accra and comes fitted with state of the art coworking rooms, millennial inspired brainstorm rooms, solo connectivity pods, facility for group coworking, recreational area, modern canteen, hot desks and other modern communication facilities.



Commenting on the opening of the office, Corine Tap, Danones President for Asia, Africa and Middle East said: The global Covid-19 crisis revealed the powerful role that businesses like ours can play in society. This facility provides ample evidence of Danones commitment to local manufacturing and demonstrates our continuous desire to grow the business, impact society and invest in the economy and its people for the long term.



The Managing Director of FanMilk Ghana Plc, Yeo Ziobeieton, speaking at the event also remarked; Today we are here to inaugurate this exciting new office as part of our ambition to build a stronger and more agile team devoted every day to enriching the lives of millions of West Africans by making tasty nutritious food available to all. This office will, therefore go a long way to help our pursuit.



According to Mr Ziobeieton, the office is only the first step of many investments to come. In the coming months, the company will also unveil major green projects in the factory.



We are already at various completion stages of major developments to install a world class waste-water treatment plant, a biomass boiler, and solar power installation. Together these investments elevate Fan Milk PLC a clear leader in sustainable manufacturing to deliver nutritious products to west African families, while having a positive impact on our environment, said Mr Yeo.



Fan Milk PLC has been in existence since 1962 and is currently engaged in the production and distribution of quality refreshing milk and fruit-based products. The company is the leading player in the frozen yoghurt, frozen flavoured milks, and ice cream categories with beloved brands like FanYogo, FanChoco, FanIce, SuperYogo, and GoSlo.



The company recently launched NutriDay, Ghanas innovative fortified yoghurt and developed to meet the growing demand for healthy nutrition that supports the immune system.









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 Commercial Court in Accra has declared the appointment of Nii Amanor Dodoo as receiver of Unibank Ghana limited as a breach of the specialized deposit-taking institution's act (act 930).



The court also ruled Mr Amanor Dodoos acceptance of the job is in breach of the Act. The court subsequently struck out all matters on the docket regarding the case.



The court made the declaration Thursday, June 24,20201 when it granted an application by Dr Kwabena Duffuor to strike out a writ of summons issued by the receiver for illegality and a consequent lack of capacity in the takeover of Unibank.



The court presided over by Justice Afi Agbanu-Kudemor held that Nii Amanor Dodoo ought not to have accepted the appointment as a receiver when he acted as a member of the team of accountants from KPMG who were appointed by BOG as the official administrator of Unibank as his acceptance of the appointment was a clear case of conflict of interest and therefore illegal.



Lawyers for Dr. Duffuor declined to comment on the ruling after the hearing.



Background



uniBank went into official administration on March 20, 2018, and was eventually collapsed by the Bank of Ghana on August 1, 2018.



The local bank was one of five banks merged by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) into the Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited.





Official Administrator, KPMG, in the course of its audit discovered that about GHS5.7 billion was owed by shareholders of uniBank as of March 20, 2018.



The GHS5.7 billion was the focus of a previous suit by Nii Amanor Dodoo who was acting as the Receiver.



Among other things, the banks interest income and other sources of income were said to be insufficient to cover the associated cost of funds of underlying borrowings and liabilities, as well as overheads of about GHS0.31 billion per annum.



These claims have, however, been challenged by the banks directors and Dr. Duffuor also sued to get the court to declare the license for the Consolidated Bank null and void.









Source: Starrfmonline.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.

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An aspiring Presidential candidate of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, has appealed to members of the Association to elect a presidential candidate who would work to reposition the GJA and the media landscape in Ghana.



He said the many years of experience garnered in the media landscape as an employee, employer and an executive of the Ghana Journalists Association, has thought him so many lessons.



These useful, and eye-opening lessons, he underscored, would be applied to assist him adopt the right leadership approach as President of the GJA, if he emerges winner of the impending GJA national elections.



Addressing members of GJA at TV3, a member of Media General group, on Monday, as part of his campaign activities, the aspiring presidential candidate, justified the negative impact of lack of resources in hampering activities of the Association.



He therefore urged members to consider his vast experience, professional acumen and entrepreneurship qualities during the polls.



These unique qualities possessed, he emphasized, would be used judiciously to secure opportunities for journalists.



Again, he said the same qualities would be applied appropriately to galvanize resources required to position the group.



According to him, the Association in its current state, form, and structure, requires serious resource mobilization to carry out effectively all its activities.



Consequently, he said anybody vying to lead the organization, must be prepared to bring something to the table and not take from the table since the GJA was a voluntary organization.



For effective management of the Association and its activities, he suggested that members must consider candidates with entrepreneurship background to work with them for the sake of securing funding opportunities activities of the GJA.



As part of his determination to revive the fortunes of the GJA, he said, he would lead the group to secure funding opportunities, sponsorship packages, and other obvious benefits that would accrue to improve the structure of the Association and general welfare of members.



In line with this, Albert Dwumfuor promised to roll out an insurance package for all members of GJA including retirees.



The pilot phase of the insurance package, he announced, had already been activated during the last general elections.



Consequently, he assured that it would subsequently be rolled out nationwide when he emerges winner of the GJA elections.



The Star General, as many of his admirers call him, said he would partner banks, and other relevant financial institutions to offer all regional branches of GJA operational vehicles.



These vehicles, he explained, would be branded with GJA and sponsors images to promote activities and ultimately the mutual interest of the organizations at the local and national levels.



The barter trade deal, he revealed, has already been secured and awaiting implementation when he takes office.



He said as part of the broader implementation of attractive social policies to enhance the welfare of members, he would introduce scholarship packages for journalists intending to continue their education to do so with ease.



According to Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, his administration would also focus on building the capacity of members in various sectors of interest.



The capacity building, he said, would assist journalists to develop interest in specialization and professionalism.



Aside that, he said he would foster unity among journalists through an effective public private partnership program to create synergy in the media landscape while leveraging on the strengths of both sectors for the benefit of members of the Association.







In addition, he would create bonding between retirees, senior Journalists who are well established in the system and young ones doing very well to close the gap between the three fringes of the inky fraternity.



The Assignment Editor of TV3, Rowland Walker and members of staff of the company, who are GJA members in good standing, enumerated a number of challenges they would like the GJA to address.



These included membership drive, opportunities for all, rebranding and repositioning of the GJA as the main vehicle for development of the country's media landscape.



In response, Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, an organizing secretary of the GJA, then assured them of his commitment to work with Tom Dick and Harry.



He would also endeavor to deliver all his campaign promises as contained in his message.



In doing so, he said he would reach out to members for these concerns raised to be received and factored into the holistic approach required to achieve results in the development of the Association.





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
Kids Prosper Kids (KPK), a-non-governmental organisation based in the United States of America (USA), has cut the sod for the construction of a US$2,038,025.66 vocational and technical training institute at Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North District in the Ashanti Region.



The school, to be named Prosper Life Career Institute (PLCI) when completed, will help provide employment opportunities for young adults through practical hands-on training.



The institute will offer courses in sewing, carpentry, masonry, bakery, welding & fabrication, and subsequently introduce health related courses such as dental assistance.



The group is in consultation to partner the Council for Technical and Vocational Educational Training (COVET) and other licensing bodies to help facilitate the accreditation of programmes that are relevant in todays work market.



Event



The Founder of Kids Prosper Kids, Madam Kimberli Brackett, last Monday led a delegation from the US to officially cut the sod for the project which has already commenced and is currently at foundation level.



Also present at the ceremony were the Ankobeahene of Tepa, Nana Amoateng Tuffuor; the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Mrs Matina Appiah-Nyantatyi, and some members of the Ghana Board of Kids Prosper Kids.



The project is expected to be completed by 2023.



Founder



Madam Brackett in a short speech commended the Tepa Traditional Council for releasing a 10-acre plot of land free of charge for the construction of the institute.



The Founder, a Class Five Mathematics tutor in the US, said the initiative to set up the school was born out of her pupils generosity towards deprived children in Ghana, hence the establishment of Kids Prosper Kids in 2017.



She explained that the institute sought to provide innovative technical training to develop entrepreneurship with relevant employment skills.



This will create leaders of influence who will positively transform the people and future of Ghana, she said.



MCE



For her part, Mrs Appiah-Nyantatyi said she was grateful to the group for choosing Tepa for the establishment of such an educational complex.



She gave an assurance that the assembly would continue to render the needed assistance to ensure that the projects came to fruition.



The MCE used the opportunity to appeal to the KPK to include headgear and soap making in their courses, adding that those two were demand-driven in the area.



There is enough raw material here to make soap, she noted and added that because of lack of expertise those materials were exported to Benin and other neighbouring countries for pea nuts.



Commendation



Reading a speech on behalf of the Tepamanhene, the Ankobeahene of Tepa, Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem, commended the NGO and said vocational training was key and relevant in todays world.



He urged the youth of Tepa and its environs to take up the opportunity by enrolling at the school to learn employable skills.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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Atik Mohammed has commended the government's effort to digitize land administration in Ghana.



The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has underscored an initiative by the government to formalize all sectors of the Ghanaian economy to stimulate economic growth.



Delivering a speech at a national symposium organized by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with other land use administrators in Accra on Wednesday, 23rd June, 2021, Dr Bawumia emphasized the key role of digitization in the implementation of the new Land Act to ensure sanity and security in land administration.



The importance of an effective and efficient Land Sector in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. Every economic activity undertaken by man has a relation to land, and therefore, land remains pivotal to National Development.



It is worth noting that successive Governments have tried resolving the challenges in our Land Administration system, but these efforts have often come with various complications, and inefficient deployment of resources. Governments after governments, bank loans after bank loans, our fundamental problems in land administration persist, seemingly unsolvable, and citizens complaints get louder and louder.



To address these critical challenges in the land sector and to optimize the contribution of land to the socio-economic development of Ghana, the Government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is committed to change through the application of technology.



Ghana can only make the much-needed strides in development when technology becomes the driver for all sectors of the economy.



Therefore, as part of the digitization agenda of the Government, I have established in my office a Liaison Unit which is fervently working to assist the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in expediting the digitization of its processes," the Veep said.



Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Atik Mohammed was excited that, ''at least, there's this effort to digitize our land administration. It's something that is very good. So, when we add the new Lands Act 1036 to it, we will go a long way because now, someone who sells lands would now realize that double grant is a serious offence and you can be jailed if found culpable''.



He called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to "partner with the media to broadcast it, simplify the Act for everyone's understanding, particularly the relevant provision dealing with the problem we're discussing now, so that no Chief will have an excuse to say he has no idea about it".



Atik Mohammed called for the prosecution of any Chief or person who engages in double land grant or land fraud believing it will help deter others from replicating such behaviour.



"We should annouce it and make all the Chiefs understand that if you do a double sale of land, you can be in jail," he stated emphatically.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Queen Elizabeth II has lost 10million in her finances as a result of the pandemic. Buckingham Palace revealed on Wednesday, June 23, that it had lost just over half its annual income outside of Government funding after closing its gates to visitors.



Income plunged from 20.2million in 2019/20 to 9.4million in 2020/21.



Meanwhile, its property maintenance bill soared from 38.4million to 49.5 million as part of its planned upgrade of the Queen's official residence. The sovereign grant, money given to the monarch by the UK Government which is based on the income surplus from The Crown Estate two years ago, increased by 3.5million to 85.9million during 2020/21.



It was comprised of a core element of 51.5million that funds the Queen's official duties and her household, plus an additional 34.4million to pay for reservicing costs at the palace.



In all, the monarchy cost the British taxpayer 87.5million in 2020/21, an increase of 18.1million from the previous financial year.



Meanwhile an unexpected 2.4million payment from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle saved the palace from having to dip into its savings more than it feared.



Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, said on Wednesday that palace staff had 'tightened their belts', cutting costs across all areas without job losses, including a pay and recruitment freeze.









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The police in Ondo state have arrested and paraded a 27-year-old armed robber, Gbenga Kikiowo, who said his dream was to be an international armed robber like Ishola Oyenusi and Shina Rambo.



The state Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, who paraded the suspect before newsmen, said Kikiowo and one Aladeloye Tope aged 25, were arrested at Oke-Aro, Akure metropolis during a robbery incident.



When interrogated, Kikiowo said he is an ex-convict and went back to robbery after he couldn't find a job when he left prison.



I started committing crime since I was seven years old. I dont have any genuine reason to what led me to crime because I was born into a rich family.



I suddenly started stealing from my parent, my parent believes in traditional religion that is what they practice, so the more they use spiritual solution to my criminal act, the more I stole and that led me to Ghana. From there, I brought my gang to Nigeria and we were arrested during an operation in 2015 and remained in the Olokuta Prison in Akure.



My father died in 2015, so there was nobody to help me because they believed Im a criminal. I then saw crime as a perfect way for me to survive after my fathers death and when there was no one to cater to me.



My fathers name was Kikiowo Ayodele. He married six wives and gave birth to 24 children. He was a native of lgbara Oke, in Ondo State, he is well known; a retired soldier and a farmer.



I once followed a man to a Divisional Police Station in Akure to bail a motorcycle, the motorcycle was released in a way that surprised me, the man told them his motorcycle was arrested so they asked him the documents of the motorcycle and he gave them only N1,500 and it was released to him even without the knowledge of those officers who collected the motorcycle.



So, I started using that technique and it worked for me. Once I discovered that those on morning duty had left, I will go there and point at any new and neat motorcycle, give them N1,500 and it will be given to me and I will disappear.



I was arrested in 2011, the woman Judge who presided over my case liked me and took me to the welfare so that they could encourage me with the word of God but I escaped in 2012 and got involved in another case involving the stealing of motorcycles at A-Division. I was released on the 2nd of February, 2019.



During the last time I was in prison, I joined the prisoners fellowship that preach the word of God from there, I listened to their preaching and I got some assistance from them.''

Speaking further, he said



''I later had a dream, where I saw Daddy Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, praying for me, so, not long, I was discharged and acquitted. Upon my return, I went to Redeem Christian Church in Akure and gave a testimony that I had changed after spending four years in prison



They took me to the Redemption Camp where they planned to take me to a rehabilitation centre. But thats not what I needed, what I wanted was to find a job that will be fetching me money but they were saying I was into drugs and must first be rehabilitated. So, l decide to leave after six month because that was not what I needed.



From there, I stole their pastors tricycle, also known as Keke Maruwa and escaped to Ile- Ife. He ask me to return it but I said no, and I decided to sell the tricycle but was arrested.



After some months I called the Pastor to come and take his tricycle because it was no longer useful to me. Throughout my life, I have never achieved any good thing but sorrow. The gun the police arrested me with was my last hope. I had decided to leave all this local crime to go international. That was why I took the risk to look for a gun.



I wanted to become an international armed robber like Ishola Oyenusi, Shina Rambo and Mufu Olosha Oko because I wanted my name to reign. I believed that it was through crime that I can be popular.



If not for the gun, there was no way they could have arrested me. After my fathers death, I heard about Ghana, upon getting there, I found my colleagues and we started highway robbery and after the operation, they found me competent and from there we started operation.



Highway robbery is the best we can do in Ghana we cant do any other operation, from there I invited them to Nigeria after convincing them that I have the key point of Nigeria that we can operate successfully.



ln Nigeria, we went for first, second operations and the third one, I was arrested and I landed in prison. I urge the government to tamper justice with mercy and help me. I have decided to stop crime because I have not gained anything from it.''

Source: LIB









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Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has revealed that immediate steps are being taken to ensure the passage of anti-gay laws in Ghana.



Mr Bagbin revealed that stakeholder consultations are currently underway to that effect. Urgent actions are being taken to pass a law to eventually nib the activities of these groups in the bud.



Stakeholder consultations are ongoing and the results will feed into a Bill that will eventually be passed into law by Parliament, Mr Bagbin said in answer to a question filed by a political activists in the Eastern Region Emmanuel Abankwa Kesse.



Recently the Speaker told the Australia High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Andrew Barnes that Ghanas culture prohibit against Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) activities.



Mr Bagbin said when the High Commissioner paid a working visit to him that the same way Ghana cannot impose certain practices on other countries, the West African county cannot also accept this culture from other countries. The issue of the LGBTQI+ that is something that we see as an abomination, the speaker said. He added It is something that we abhor and therefore we will continue to go according to our culture.



We will definitely will not want to go to Europe and try to impose on them something like polygamy, we will not do that. For his part, Mr Barnes said We are not trying to promote or encourage LGBTQI+ in Ghana. We do believe that sometimes culture is going to adapt to change.







Source: 3news.com









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Private Legal Practitioner, Gary Nimako Marfo has said that the attacks by the NDC against the Chief Justice are unjustifiable and unwarranted.



According to him, the NDC should just have advised Dr. Dominic Ayine on the need to eat a humble pie and possibly apologize for the distasteful comment against Justice Anin-Yeboah.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that the NDC could not prove in court whether indeed they won the 2020 general elections.



"You went to court to say that no one won the 2020 general elections and that the court should order for second elections but you were unable to prove your claims in the court yet you want to prove that the highly respected Judges of the Supreme Court erred in their ruling in the election petition."



"Why do they want us to believe that what Dr. Ayine said about the Judges is sacrosanct and that they have been cheated."



"I believe that their approach is wrong and that they are causing more harm than good for my good friend and lecturer, Dr. Dominic Ayine," he said.



The largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding that the Chief Justice withdraws a petition to the General Legal Council (GLC) to investigate the Bolgatanga East MP over his comments about the Apex Court.



Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the General Secretary of the party, said the attempts by Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah to silence NDCs legal minds, such as Dr. Dominic Ayine, amounts to intimidation.



Addressing the press in Accra on Monday, he said NDC lawyers will not be cowed by the whims and caprices of the judiciary, and they will speak freely.



 . . Even as the action taken against Dr. Ayine is unjustified, it is but a symptom of a larger problem. It is no coincidence that virtually all the lawyers who have been reported to the Disciplinary Committee of the Council by the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, in recent times are aligned to the NDC."



What is the Chief Justices personal interest in the punishment of NDC-affiliated lawyers, that he is so keen to initiate unwarranted actions against them? he quizzed.



Watch video below





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Former Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko under whose tenure Ghana terminated a power purchase agreement with Ghana Power Generation Company (GCGP) which has resulted in a $170 million judgment debt has disagreed with suggestions that he should be held liable.



A Commercial Court in London slapped Ghana with the $170 million judgment debt for unlawful termination of the power purchase agreement with GCGP.



The agreement was cancelled by the Akufo-Addo government based on a recommendation from a committee set up by the Ministry of Energy on orders of the Office of the President to review all power agreements.



Some persons, including the Ranking Member on Parliaments Energy Committee, Mr John Jinapor, have suggested that the former Minister in the person of Mr Agyarko should be held responsible for causing the $170 million judgement debt to the state.



But Mr. Agyarko reacting in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 said he cannot be held responsible for the cancellation, given that he was only acting on the orders of the Cabinet at the time.



It is an act of ignorance and stupidity [to make such suggestions]. When a Cabinet decides on a matter, how does it become the personal decision of the individual who has to do the representation of Cabinet? To think like that means you are not even fit to participate in governance an obviously exasperated Boakye Agyarko said.



A Cabinet takes a decision based on a report produced by a technical committee and the sector Minister is asked to go and implement the report then you say that it is the sector Ministers personal liability?



There are suggestions that the then Energy Minister failed to engage extensively on exploring other options instead of a cancellation of the agreement, but Mr. Agyarko dismissed this claim, insisting that his hands were tied at the time because he had no power to alter Cabinets decision.



I know that when I was in office, some people tried to get me to vary the report as approved by Cabinet and my position was clear that if you are a sector Minister and Cabinet approves, it does not lie within your remit to alter the decision by Cabinet. You cannot do that  so it amazes me that some people can stick their mouth and say that because I was Minister, I should be personally charged with the responsibility of that liability. It is ludic.



Ghana better off with $170m judgement debt, couldve been worse  Agyarko



Meanwhile, the former Energy Minister, has justified the governments decision to terminate the power agreement with independent contractor.



We have paid almost over $1 billion for excess capacity. The review committee estimated that the contract as they were if they were allowed to stand, the country will be paying at the end of the 13th year $7.2 billion in excess capacity charges. Now if the country is going to be saddled with $7.2 billion for excess capacity, we needed to rethink. In the PPA review, what it said was that if we could get the termination and the management of all the excess capacity, the liability that we will be faced with is about $600 million out of pocket.



Now $600 million in year one compared to $7.2 billion, now even if you do the next present value calculation and bring the $7.2 billion into a one-year payment, we are still better off. I dont understand why the people whose time these excess capacity contracts were signed now have the guts and the audacity to accuse people who are trying to manage the mess they created.

The Case



The GPCC dragged the government of Ghana to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) after an official termination in 2018, demanding compensation from the government for a breach of the contract.



The court subsequently awarded the company an amount of $170 million to be paid by Ghana.



Ghana challenged the arbitration award in a UK court, but could not meet the deadlines to file its case citing the COVID-19 pandemic among others as reasons for the delay.



The Attorney General, Godfred Dame, has stated that processes are underway to thoroughly probe circumstances that led to Ghana being slapped with the $170 million judgement debt, although he noted that the cancellation saved Ghana a lot more.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Minority in Parliament is set to move a motion for a bi-partisan Parliamentary inquiry into the award of a contract to Frontiers Healthcare Services Limited for COVID-19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport by the government.



The Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah a fortnight ago told Parliament Frontiers has so far made $16million from COVID-19 testing at the Airport.



The Minority addressing the media on Thursday morning alleged many breaches of Ghanas laws necessitating investigations.



According to Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, formal notice has been given to the Speaker for consideration.



Were concerned about the government not being sensitive to the plight of poor Ghanaians who may be returning home to the country as a result of job losses because of COVID only to be charged for COVID only to benefit a private player and not the republic. We are concerned about it and we think that we probe further into this matter. This transaction was characterized by the Nana Addo-led government lack of transparency and accountability. When you ask them they say COVID, emergency, so under emergency our procurement laws must standstill, is that the case? 



The Procurement Law, our Health Institutions and Facilities Act and the Fees and Charges Act have all been breached. Were not a lawless country, we are a country governed by law and simply our procurement laws must be respected. So weve found a motion we pray that the Speaker admits the motion. Well call for a bi-partisan probe into the matter, the report if its revealing well call for heads to roll on this matter without any hesitation, Haruna Iddrisu added.





Source: kasapafmonline.com









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Ghanaian ace actress and TV presenter, Nana Ama McBrown, has been sighted in a video on social media thanking Ghanaians and displaying several awards that have been won by McBerry Biscuits at the 5th edition of the 2021 Ghana Manufacturing Awards.



These awards are very well deserved for a company whose aim is to work hard to be the number one Biscuit producing company in Africa.



The awards were Confectionery Products Manufacturing Company of the Year bestowed on the Mcberry Biscuit brand.



McBerry is one of Ghanas leading Biscuits brands manufactured by Twellium industries, that has been making major waves with its new products and over 40 SKUs within two years of operations.



The Factory production, has greatly helped in the growth of Ghanas economy by increasing Ghanaian exports to the rest of West Africa.



This Mark has been made to mar the influx of foreign products like Soda Crackers, Bourbon biscuits, Digestive biscuits, among others, which has for ages been imported from foreign countries, monopolised and sold at exorbitant prices in the market as was done in the past to meet demands of biscuit lovers in Ghana.



Thanks to McBerry, the Ghanaian market psyche has changed to patronising Made in Ghana products in order to embrace domestication and support national policies aimed at protecting local industries.



The McBerry Biscuits brand has sought to encourage Ghanaian Farmers by buying their cash crops including Cashew and Milk which has been blended into the freshly baked biscuit products.



Biscuit and Beverage giant, Twellium Industrial Company Limited has been certified with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to affirm its conformity to world-class standards of safety and premium quality making every product match able to international products.



This has created an alternative for Made in Ghana products, satisfying the snack cravings and desires of consumers.



With a reach arching over the remotest villages of Ghana and major cities across the world, the Mcberry brand has grown to become the most trusted biscuit brand globally.













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The Acting President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Mr. Bessa Simons, has disclosed that the Association will endeavor to promote standardization in the music profession through the organization of training and workshop programs for its members.



According to him, the workshop would be centered mainly on how to write good music content and bringing it out, its promotion and sales among others in this era of advancement in technology and digitization to enable musicians meet international standards.



He was speaking at the commemoration of World Music Day and also a General Meeting for MUSIGA members in the Ashanti Region, where the Association also honored two radio presenters in Kumasi, for their outstanding performance and contribution to promoting local and indigenous music.



"....the work of musicians and that of radio stations and its presenters' interplay, hence the need to encourage and motivate them to enable them help elevate the industry to higher level," Bessa Simons added.



Mr. Dennis Mac Caulley popularly known as Bonshayka, host of Hello Fm's drive time show, (Ekwanso Brebre) was honoured with a citation which partly read "Musicians Union of Ghana Ashanti Region, recognizes and value all that you have given to support the growth and wellbeing of the music industry.



An elated Mac Caulley expressed his appreciation to the MUSIGA for the recognition and reiterated his commitment to contribute his quota to the development of Ghanaian music across the globe.











Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Actor, Prince David Osei, has admitted that times are hard in Ghana. This comes after months of living in self-denial and calling on Ghanaians to fix themselves rather than urge the government to make things right.



Prince David Osei making this known in a tweet said I know times are tough everywhere but things will get better Keep believing.



His acknowledgement that times are hard is a shock to many considering the fact that he urged the people of Ghana to rather fix themselves. The youth in Ghana are complaining of the times. Fuel prices keep increasing every fortnight and that has affected prices and the standard of living across the country.



The government blames the hardship on COVID-19 and its accompanying financial commitments for the suffering but however, turn around to blame the citizens for not fixing themselves as the cause of the countrys problems.



Although there are efforts to demonstrate, these efforts have been thwarted by the Ghana Police Service who has decided to take the issue to court to restrain the citizens from registering their displeasure.





Source: twitter/mynewsgh









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A video making rounds online has shown moment a Zambian TV news presenter went off script and demanded for his salary and that of his colleagues during a live news report. According to social media users, the incident occurred last weekend. Shortly after giving a roundup of the top stories during a live broadcast, Kabinda Kalimina who works with KBN TV said;



Away from the news, ladies and gentlemen, we are human beings. We have to get paid. Unfortunately, on KBN we havent been paid. People are getting instruments on KBNSharon and everyone else havent been paid, including myself . We have to get paid.



However, he was cut off almost immediately.



Reacting to this, management of the TV station alleged that Kaliminas antics has brought the station into disrepute. They also accused him of exhibiting a drunken behavior



In the statement released by Kennedy Mambwe, owner and chief executive officer of KBN TV, it was gathered that the management is investigating how Kalimina found himself on air on Saturday night. Mambwe also said that anyone who had assisted Kalimina in his "outrageous stunt" would face disciplinary action.



The statement read;



As KBN TV, we are appalled with the drunken behaviour exhibited through a video clip that has gone viral on social media and staged by one of our part-time presenters during what should have been the main news bulletin last night. As a young television station, we work with a very highly talented and professional team, with a noble character and we owe the success of unbroken broadcasting for the last two years to such gallant men and women. Members of the public may wish to know that KBN TV like any other institution, has very well-established grievance procedures for all members of staff through which they can channel their complaints.



Therefore, last nights behaviour by Kabinda Kalimina is out of character and does not represent who we are as a station. We strongly condemn that despicable behaviour and urge members of the public to treat that One-Night stunt of Fame with the contempt it deserves.

As management, we are carrying out investigations to determine how a drunken part-time presenter found himself on air unabated and disciplinary action will be taken against anyone who may have been party to the scheme."

VIDEO-









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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a debate in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The Liberal government is asking the Federal Court to prohibit disclosure of documents related to the firing of two scientists at Canada's highest-security laboratory. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
People get their COVID-19 vaccines at the Palais de Congress COVID-19 vaccination clinic, Thursday, May 13, 2021 in Montreal. For the first time since mid-September, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Quebec dropped below 150.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
The last thing you expect to see while spending a quiet day fishing is a Bigfoot moving about on the shoreline and throwing rocks. A Kentuc...
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The vice chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff in a letter dated Tuesday said his greatest infrastructure concern is any delay that translates to missed deadlines for plutonium pits, nuclear weapon cores to be produced, as proposed, in both South Carolina and New Mexico.

As our nuclear weapon stockpile ages, it is essential that we continue to modernize our aging DOE infrastructure, Gen. John Hyten wrote to U.S. Rep. Michael Turner, an Ohio Republican and member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Achieving production rates of 30 pits per year in 2026 and 80 pits per year in 2030, Hyten suggested, is essential to address the stockpiles aging components, support modernization, and improve safety and resiliency for an uncertain future.

The glaring predicament, though, is that the National Nuclear Security Administration no longer believes the broader demand for plutonium triggers can be satisfied on time.

The prospective Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site, where at least 50 of the warhead components are expected to be made, could come to fruition as late as fiscal year 2035, and all of the pit work cannot be accomplished at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, according to Dr. Charles Verdon, the acting boss of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

President Joe Bidens nominee to lead the weapons-and-nonproliferation agency, Jill Hruby, a former Sandia National Laboratories director, in late May said 30 pits per year at Los Alamos was on track for 2026. Verdon, in congressional testimony Thursday, corroborated that timeline.

Older National Nuclear Security Administration environmental reviews have stated both sites could boost production and staffing to meet the 80-pits-per-year demand. But exactly when  how soon  isnt clear.

Even with a potential surge in production at Los Alamos, there remains uncertainty about that capability, especially with their history of outages, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, told the Aiken Standard this month. I plan on continuing frequent dialogue with both NNSA officials and military leadership to address the best strategy to mitigate this risk.

Hyten, previously the leader of U.S. Strategic Command, has described the resurrection of plutonium pit production as the National Nuclear Security Administrations highest infrastructure priority.

Our national requirement, supported by numerous studies and analyses, requires no fewer than 80 war-reserve pits per year by 2030, the general testified in February 2019. I support the NNSA plan to achieve this.

He reiterated his support in the missive to Turner: The tandem approach, repurposing the failed Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility footprint and bolstering Los Alamos, he wrote, gives us the best chance for meeting the requirement.

Verdon on Thursday said the two-site production strategy remains the most cost- and time-efficient, despite higher-than-expected price tags and a schedule slip.
Jaylin Cox attends Carnes Crossroads Church of God with her family, where they have been doing much of the fundraising for the conference.
The grand opening ribbon cutting for the Volvo Car University campus was held on June 23, at the company's site in Ridgeville.
South Carolina homebuyers shelled out $42,000 more in May they did one year earlier, but skyrocketing prices did little to cool the red-hot residential market.

The median price of a house in the Palmetto State surged to $275,000 in May, with sales up 36 percent to 9,700.

Through the first five months, statewide home transactions soared almost 30 percent above the same period last year to more than 44,000, while the median price jumped 15 percent to $265,000.

The COVID-19 outbreak cut into sales in the early months of the pandemic as the economy shut down and agents and sellers figured out a virtual option of showing properties last year. But by May 2020, buyers came back, and sales haven't stopped climbing.

"Robust buyer demand, fueled by low mortgage rates, continues to outpace supply, which remains near historic lows," the S.C. Realtors Association said in its monthly report.

Homes across South Carolina now stay on the market an average of 48 days. Some regional markets are reporting less than a month before a seller is lined up. Others are seeing properties snapped up the day they were listed, along with multiple offers above the list prices.

The housing crunch is not expected to ease any time soon.

Homes are being bought about as fast as they are built, and rising lumber and labor costs, combined with supply constraints lingering from the height of the pandemic, are pushing prices higher.

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"While the warmer temperatures, rising sales prices and the reopening of the economy may draw more sellers to the market, historically low levels of homes for sale are likely to continue for some time," S.C. Realtors said.

Home buyers in South Carolina continued to spend the most on Hilton Head Island, where median price was $410,000 in May. It was followed by the Charleston area, at $335,000.

For comparison, buyers in Charleston last month paid nearly $52,000 more than a year ago. Hilton Head purchasers forked over $85,000 more.

For buyers seeking the lowest-cost houses in South Carolina, the median price in Orangeburg and neighboring counties came in at $165,200 in May.

For the year, Charleston's sales are up 40 percent. Myrtle Beach reports 52 percent higher transactions, and Hilton Head shows a nearly 65 percent surge.

"It was at the end of April 2020 when we began to see the influx of buyers into the Hilton Head area and that trend continues one year later," said Cindy Creamer, president-elect for S.C. Realtors and an agent at Dunes Real Estate on Hilton Head. "While buyer interest remains high, both buyers and sellers have become more aware of the inventory challenge and are making decisions to list or buy based on their urgency."

Columbia and Greenville posted 19 percent higher sales through May.

Statewide, the Charleston and Myrtle Beach areas account for more than 19,000 sales, or about 44 percent of all transactions so far in 2021.
COLUMBIA  MUSC Health University Medical Center is expected to purchase Providence Health's Columbia hospitals as well as other Midlands medical centers.

The board of South Carolina's second-largest hospital system will vote June 25 on an agreement to purchase the hospitals owned by the Tennessee-based, for-profit LifePoint Health, according to several state lawmakers. This includes Providence's two Columbia hospitals, KershawHealth in Camden and an emergency room in Fairfield County, House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith told The Post and Courier.

Smith said approval for the purchase by state-owned MUSC Health is expected to come before a funding authority led by Gov. Henry McMaster on June 29. The State Fiscal Accountability Authority oversees all major state projects.

The purchase of Providence Health is just the latest in MUSC's major expansion outside of its Charleston base, where it had been contained for nearly 200 years before it branched outside the area for the first time with the acquisition of four community hospitals in 2019. The public, nonprofit health system receives financial support out of the state budget.

MUSC did not confirm the purchase plans.

MUSC leaders are continually exploring options that enable us to reinforce our commitment to serving the community  across our state, region and beyond," MUSC spokeswoman Heather Woolwine said June 24.

The expected deal comes months after Prisma Health, the state's largest health care system terminated its own agreement to purchase LifePoint's facilities. Prisma, which operates three major hospitals in Columbia, abandoned its efforts April 9 after it was plagued for more than a year by legal and regulatory challenges.

Had the purchase been finalized, it would have taken the Columbia area down to two hospital systems  Prisma and Lexington Medical Center. And it would have made the state's largest system even larger, taking it to 3,263 patient beds across its Midlands and Upstate footprint, according to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control data.

By comparison, MUSC has half that number, with 1,600 beds across its system, according to its website. The LifePoint deal would take that bed number above 2,000.

Efforts to reach LifePoint and Prisma officials were not successful.

MUSC's proposed purchase also marks competition between the state's two medical schools.

The deal comes as the University of South Carolina tries to expand its medical school. The state's flagship university is seeking funding for a proposed $300 million health sciences campus, partnering with nearby Prisma Health, that would move the school from outdated facilities at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital to a state-of-the-art complex in Columbia's developing BullStreet District.

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USC Board of Trustees on March 12 unanimously recommended the school spend $4.2 million on a development plan for the proposed 16-acre site. State lawmakers also have approved $55 million in funding for the USC project in recent years.

Smith, a Sumter Republican, voiced his support for the MUSC deal saying he had also been supportive of Prisma's bid because of the need for rural health care in the state.

"Unfortunately, Lifepoint has made a decision they just are not going to continue to operate in South Carolina. So if Prisma can't do it, I can't think of a better system to provide those services than MUSC," said Smith, whose father sits on the MUSC board.

"Again, here MUSC is fulfilling that mission of providing access to rural areas and also having opportunities of expanding their footprint in the Columbia market," he added. "I think this is going to be beneficial to citizens of the Midlands and more importantly to the two rural counties which are dependent on those health care services."

Rep. Kirkman Finlay, R-Columbia, said he is also supportive of the deal as it means keeping a third health care provider and maintains a level of competition that controls cost in the Columbia area.

Rep. Leon Howard, D-Columbia, said he looks forward to MUSC coming to Columbia after the merger of Greenville Health System and Columbia-based Palmetto Health created Prisma. The company chose to have its headquarters in Greenville.

"I think the citizens of South Carolina, particularly Richland County, are truly going to be winners with MUSC," said Howard, chairman of the House's medical and public affairs committee. "They've demonstrated credibility with their success records. Prisma has turned its back on Richland County and pretty much only seem to care about Greenville. I appreciate MUSC being a viable alternative to the citizens of South Carolina."

Previously, MUSC announced it would buy the hospitals in Chester, Florence, Lancaster and Mullins from publicly traded Community Health Systems for $137 million.

Since then, MUSC has also announced plans to build new hospitals in rural Williamsburg County for $39 million and another in Lancaster County, near the North Carolina border, for a price tag of $235 million.

Providence Health is MUSC's first purchase in a competitive market, however. Prisma Health and Lexington Medical Center both serve the Columbia area.

In Berkeley County, another competitive region, MUSC also intends to build a new $325 million hospital, the plans for which were originally announced in 2017. The project has been tied up in legal challenges since mid-2018.
GEORGETOWN  In April, Georgetown County Council approved a 2,500-acre solar farm off of Saints Delight Road, and Santee Cooper and its biggest wholesale customer have now taken the next step to make it a reality.

In separate announcements, the Moncks Corner-based utility and Central Electric Cooperative announced June 23 the purchase of new power from four statewide solar projects, amounting to 425 megawatts.

The power will be added to the Santee Cooper system in 2023, and the largest project among the four is in Georgetown County, at 200 megawatts.

The two-pronged project called Lambert I and Lambert II is being developed by Nashville-based Silicon Ranch, which describes itself as one of the largest independent power producers in the country. It is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2023.

At 425 megawatts, or about 40 percent of the solar capacity currently installed in South Carolina, Santee Cooper said the deal expands its solar energy commitments drastically. The other three projects are in Aiken, Williamsburg and Dorchester counties, all amounting to 75 megawatts each.

We are incredibly pleased to be working with an excellent group of solar developers as we transform our power supply to one that is significantly more sustainable and less expensive," said Santee Cooper CEO Mark Bonsall in the press release.

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Silicon Ranch said it was attracted to this specific plot because of its ability to support the necessary infrastructure, its environmental makeup, community sustainability and its sheer size.

A key benefit of this project is the $300,000 per year in tax revenue it will produce for the city, said Brian Tucker, economic development director for Georgetown County.

If we were to generate $300,000 a year of new revenue in single family homes, then we would be adding that many more cars to the streets, we would add that many more students going to schools that would then be utilizing government services, Tucker said. And we want that, but if we can get revenue that doesnt tax our services, thats even better.

This group of solar projects, Santee Cooper said, represents the first of three phases it is planning as it transforms its generating portfolio to a leaner, greener mix. Other phases, totaling about 500 megawatts each, are scheduled for later this decade and in early 2030s.

Silicon Ranch and the Georgetown project will likely have to go through county planning commission and county council once more before ground can be broken later this year, Tucker said.
GREENVILLE  A circuit court judge signaled that the Greenville County Planning Commission must take into account Article 3.1 of its existing land development regulations when it evaluates rezoning and subdivision requests, even as the county seeks to rewrite the regulation and make it less vague.

Thirteenth Circuit Judge Edward Ned Miller issued an order June 22 that sent the approved Fews Crossing subdivision along Fews Chapel Road in northern Greenville County back to the planning commission. He ordered the commission to make comprehensive written findings to delineate the reasoning of its approval of the subdivision in light of Article 3.1.

The planning commission doesnt normally issue written findings for its subdivision decisions. It hadnt in the approval of Fews Crossing, which was approved by a 5-4 vote on June 24, 2020.

Miller said he could not fully review the commissions decision because the commission didnt provide stated reasons for its approval.

Millers order stopped short of rejecting the subdivision but marked a small victory for the numerous groups of residents, particularly in unzoned areas, who have banded together to stave off developments they see as too dense or out of character for their rural communities.

Millers order, in fact, came the day before Thirteenth Circuit Court Judge Perry Gravely heard appeals June 23 in two other related cases that involve approved subdivisions. Those cases, brought by a number of homeowners in rural southern Greenville County, appealed planning commission decisions to approve two subdivisions that adjoin each other along Highway 86/Bessie Road. Both were submitted by John Beeson of Mark III Properties in early 2021 and were approved by the commission. Cottonwood Ridge would add 459 houses on 183 acres while Cloverdale Hills would add 63 lots on 33 acres.

The legal moves marked the latest turn in a lengthy battle to determine the future of development in the countys unzoned regions. Greenville County Council may repeal Article 3.1 and replace it with a new version that is under consideration.

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In 2020, after the planning commission approved Vicars Constructions plan to build a 24-home subdivision on Fews Chapel Road, a group of landowners formed Northern Greenville County Rural Landowners and appealed the decision in circuit court.

Miller heard oral arguments June 1 where he criticized the rule as vague and questioned its constitutionality, but he has held off so far in ruling on the merits of the subdivision application itself. He didn't ask the commission to reconsider its vote but to spell out in writing its reasons for voting.

As part of its written findings, Miller ordered the commission to specifically take into account the three sections of Article 3.1 that subdivisions must meet. Those include whether there is adequate existing infrastructure and transportation to support the project; whether it is compatible with surrounding land-use density; and whether it is compatible with the sites environmental conditions, such as wetlands, flooding, endangered species, historic sites and cemeteries.

Michael Martinez, an attorney with the Upstate branch of the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, which represented the residents in the case, saw the order as a win for rural residents.

Judge Millers order affirms the planning commissions obligation to apply the law and specifically address all three of the criteria listed in Article 3.1 when it issues a decision, including whether a project is compatible with the surrounding land use density, Martinez said in a written statement. The courts ruling is a significant win in SCELPs ongoing effort to preserve the character of Greenville Countys rural communities and ensure development does not harm sensitive environmental features or exacerbate the risk of flooding.

The county has 30 days to decide if it will ask the court to reconsider its order. Miller did not specify a timeframe for the planning commission to issue its written reasons for approving the Fews Crossing subdivision.
On June 24, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed 140 cases of COVID-19, about a third of which were concentrated in the Midlands.

Fifty cases were confirmed in Richland County alone, while just 15 were found in the tri-county area.

One new death from COVID-19 was reported, in an adult 65 or older.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 140 confirmed, 87 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 492,833 confirmed, 103,199 probable.

Percent positive: 2.8 percent.

New deaths reported: 1 confirmed, 0 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 8,627 confirmed, 1,178 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 68 percent.

S.C. residents vaccinated

DHEC's vaccine dashboard shows 47.8 percent of the state's residents have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Hardest-hit areas

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In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Richland County (50), Sumter County (14) and Greenville County (12) saw the highest totals.

What about tri-county?

Charleston County had four new cases on June 24, while Berkeley County had three and Dorchester County had eight.

Deaths

The death from COVID-19 confirmed June 24 was a patient age 65 or older.

Hospitalizations

Of the 146 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of June 24, 42 were in the ICU and 21 were using ventilators.

What do experts say?

DHEC on June 23 warned a variant of the COVID-19 virus that originated in India poses a renewed threat to people who haven't gotten a shot. The Delta mutation is now considered a "variant of concern," and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the variant is responsible for 20 percent of COVID-19 cases in the country.

"It's about doubled in two weeks time," said Dr. Jonathan Knoche, a DHEC physician.

He noted that while DHEC has only confirmed four cases of the variant in South Carolina, sampling for the mutation is done randomly and the number of cases attributable to the variant is likely much higher.
The Medical University of South Carolina has warned its employees that unless they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have submitted an exemption form, they will be fired at the end of the month.

MUSC spokeswoman Heather Woolwine said about 26 employees as of June 23 were impacted by the decision. Employees were told about the decision June 15, and they have until June 30 to get vaccinated or submit a religious or medical exemption waiver.

"Ultimately, if they do not have a religious or medical exemption and choose not to get the vaccine for another reason, we will respect that individual decision and must also do whats best for the safety of our care team members, patients, patients families and visitors," Woolwine said.

MUSC was one of the nation's first health care systems to require its approximately 17,000 employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which has killed nearly 600,000 Americans and over 8,600 in South Carolina since last spring, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Woolwine said the health care system's policy on COVID-19 vaccinations was put into place in April and was very similar to its other vaccine policies for influenza, tetanus or hepatitis B.

Employees can opt out of vaccination by submitting a religious or medical exemption form. Woolwine said approximately 2,000 employees have filed for exemption.

Andy Lyons, spokesman for Roper St. Francis Healthcare, which employs about 6,000 people across the Lowcountry, said the company wanted as many of its employees vaccinated as possible.

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He said the company was looking at MUSC's decision closely.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare held a town hall on June 10 to address employees' concerns about the vaccine. About 70 percent of the company's employees are vaccinated, Lyons said, including 99 percent of its physicians.

Houston Methodist, a Texas-based hospital system, faced protests after it announced April 1 its staff would need to be vaccinated to keep their jobs.

After a federal judge dismissed an employee's lawsuit over the vaccine requirement, 153 employees at the hospital system were fired or resigned.

Other hospital systems around the country, including in Washington, D.C., Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania and most recently, New York, have followed Houston Methodist and have also received pushback.

Legal experts say such vaccine requirements, particularly in a public-health crisis, will probably continue be upheld in court as long as employers provide reasonable exemptions, including for medical conditions or religious objections.

The COVID-19 vaccine has proven to be safe and effective since it began to be administered in December, with serious health problems rare, according to the CDC.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reporter

Jay has been in the communication industry for more than 20 years, having spent half of his career in the Myrtle Beach area. He can be reached at (843) 834-0419. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRod_MB.
Children looked on with curiosity as Charleston police, community leaders and residents met June 23 to celebrate a new community center in Gadsden Green.

Dubbed The Gathering Center, its intended as a hub for neighborhood meetings, events and an educational and recreational space for youth. It's also a substation for the Charleston Police Department.

The center was created from two converted housing units turned over to police by the Charleston Housing Authority last year, part of a larger effort to reduce crime in the area and improve police relations with residents.

"We didn't want this to just be another substation," Charleston Police Department Sgt. Louis Staggers said at the centers ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Arthur Milligan Jr., chief operating officer for the Charleston Housing Authority, said the center will be a place where police have more face-to-face time with residents.

"We don't want the police to be visitors," Milligan said.

Half of The Gathering Center is set aside for neighborhood events and meetings. It will also be a resource for residents  a place where they can go for help finding jobs, for example, Staggers said.

The other is specifically for children, featuring a lounging area and rooms with desks, computers, books and board games so they can study or hang out. Staggers said the center will also have volunteers come in for tutoring and mentorship.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, community members and visitors toured the new facility and mingled with officers.

Pastor Bobby Prioleau, a resident of Cross, has ministered in Gadsden Green community for three years. She said she's grateful to see new outreach to the neighborhood, and thinks the center is a space residents  especially children  will rally behind.

"I think it will enlighten the community and give them hope," Prioleau said.

The move also comes amid demands for more community-oriented policing and other reforms after the death of Jamal Sutherland in Charleston County jail in January, and George Floyd and others by police last year. The strategy aims to promote relationships and cooperation between police and the community members.

Arthur Lawrence, former president of the neighborhood association for the West Side, said he helped gather input from families for how the center could best meet the community's needs.

"We've been working for years to get the center in," he said.

He hopes The Gathering Place will help give Gadsden Green a police presence that will help prevent crime instead of just reacting to it.
SUMMERVILLE  Lisa Wallace was approved to be the new Summerville town administrator following the weekend termination of Rebecca Vance.

During a special called meeting June 23, Town Council voted 5-1 to hire Wallace for the position. Councilwoman Kima Garten-Schmidt was absent for the vote.

Councilman Bob Jackson was the only "nay" vote against both terminating Vance and hiring Wallace. He said his decision has nothing to do with him being against Wallace.

"I don't agree with the situation," he said. "I just believe Rebecca was doing a good job."

Wallace will start her new position duties on July 8 with an annual salary of $170,000.

Vance's contract with the town was terminated June 19 with officials citing management style differences for the termination. During the June 23 meeting, Jackson further clarified on what some of those differences were.

He said some of his fellow council members had issues with Vance being vocal about town decisions and ordinances. If she felt officials were potentially making the wrong decision, she spoke up about it, he said.

"She was not going to be intimidated," he said.

Jackson said there was also a lot of debate over the town's unified development ordinance. According to Jackson, Vance was very vocal during those conversations. The document consist of 300 pages of town development guidelines.

Officials have recently debated whether the guidelines were too restrictive and if they should be dropped. The town's planning commission is split on dropping the ordinance.

The guidelines took four years to develop and cost the town $250,000 to complete. It was approved in October 2019 prior to the town hiring Vance in January 2020.

On the day Vance's contract was terminated, Jackson said she was in Myrtle Beach being elected president of the South Carolina City and County Management Association. He said he was also uncomfortable ending her contract while a statewide entity was recognizing her work.

"The vote had nothing to do with Lisa," he said.

Mayor Ricky Waring declined to comment on the termination. But in a press release he said Wallace's previous work with the town gave him and the council a sense of familiarity.

"I'm proud to welcome her back to Summerville," he said in a release.

During the meeting, Councilman Terry Jenkins said Wallace was the town's first choice in 2020 when they were looking for a town administrator. She wasn't hired because she pulled her name from the running.

When Vance's termination was announced, he said Wallace reached out to Waring to learn more about the situation. It was during that conversation that he said Waring asked if she would be willing to accept the position and she said yes.

"That is why we are back here so quickly on this matter," Jenkins said.

He also said the council wasn't legally required to do a search for a new administrator.

Prior to serving as Myrtle Beach's current assistant city manager, Wallace spent 20 years working with Summerville.

"I appreciate the trust and confidence in being selected for this position and will work to maintain and improve the outstanding quality of life we have in Summerville," Wallace said in a release.

During her previous time with Summerville, she served as the town clerk, assistant town administrator, the director of administrative services and special assistant to the mayor.
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.
South Carolinians should never make the mistake of thinking government officials cant be any more arrogant about hiding public information from the public. Theres always someone to prove us wrong.

The latest reminder comes courtesy of the Lexington-Richland District 5 School Board, which traditionally has attracted superior superintendents and overseen superior schools in a well-off corner of suburban Columbia.

Last week, a trustee emerged from a closed-door meeting and resigned in protest, later explaining that the other trustees had just forced Superintendent Christina Melton to resign so they wouldnt have to take a public vote to fire her. The Post and Couriers Adam Benson reports that Dr. Melton wept while announcing her resignation without stating a reason.

After a wave of criticism from public education supporters for getting rid of the state superintendent of the year and charges that it had violated the states open meetings law by refusing to release the agreement that it had approved in secret, the board issued a statement haughtily condemning the former trustee for blowing the whistle.

The statement called it disappointing that the news was shared in this careless way and without consideration of the Districts staff and students as we near the end of the 2020-21 school year and prepare to celebrate our graduates and end-of-the-year achievements. It denounced former Trustee Ed White's public display of contempt and disdain for the situation, which stripped Dr. Melton of the ability to address her staff, students, and the community about her plans and completely undermined her authority to share her future in the manner that she deserved during this transitional period for our District.

Yes, you read that right: A school board that made the decision to force out the states superintendent of the year and decided when to take that action and when it would take effect said the one person who refused to go along was to blame for making life difficult for the superintendent. Which takes an awful lot of gall. And contempt for the public.

It might be true that the board didnt act illegally, since the agreement involved an employment contract, which the S.C. Freedom of Information Act allows boards to discuss in private, and technically could have been changed up until this week. But it certainly acted inappropriately  not just in terms of the politics but also in a larger way that reflects a statewide problem.

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The politics are deeply disturbing. Dr. Melton was ousted after a year when a vocal fraction of parents grew increasingly antagonistic over the districts slow return to in-person classes and then to five-day-a-week in-person classes and finally over its refusal to let their children put other peoples children at risk of COVID-19 infections by going to school without masks. More significantly, it came seven months after people who never took COVID-19 seriously got elected to the school board. Although we cant say for sure, since no one is addressing it head on, all signs point to Dr. Melton being forced out at least in part because of her desire to protect the public health.

What's even more inappropriate is the idea that its OK to go into a backroom and force a school superintendent to either resign or be fired and then spring that on the public without any advance notice or any warning.

Indeed, the boards haughty statement included a lecture on the obligation it says board members have to just quietly go along with efforts to shut the public out of significant decisions that the public ought to be privy to. It also suggested that school boards have not just a right but an obligation to fire superintendents in secret, noting that Settlement agreements and contractual negotiations" are, "by their nature, confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege.

While we havent seen it spelled out so clearly before, weve seen this attitude in action far too many times, as school boards have gone into closed-door meetings and fired superintendents, county councils have fired administrators, state agencies have fired directors, all with no advance warning and no explanation.

What this attitude overlooks is the fact that state law allows boards to fire top employees through contractual agreements. It doesnt require them to do that. And even if thats what they choose to do, it allows them to keep the negotiations secret. It doesnt require them to do that.

These unexplained decisions make it impossible for members of the public to make their opinion known in advance. More significantly, it makes it impossible for voters to make an informed decision about whether or not the board made a good choice. And too often, that seems to be the goal.

Although there's probably no way to legally require board members to give substantive explanations for their decisions, maybe South Carolina needs a law that would require them to make a choice: Either notify the public in advance when you're going into "contract negotiations" to get rid of top officials, or else conduct those negotiations in public. Of course, we wouldn't need such a law if public officials actually cared about serving the public.
COLUMBIA  With federal pandemic unemployment benefits set to end in South Carolina in the coming days, Gov. Henry McMaster justified his decision to cut off the payments early as a way to encourage the state's residents to get back to work.

After speaking at a career fair in Columbia on June 24, McMaster said there is a wide array of job openings available for people who previously had been receiving weekly $300 payments on top of state unemployment benefits, which Congress approved during the coronavirus pandemic as a way to help people make it through job losses.

"I've heard from business owners and employers around the state, as well as in other states, and they're all saying the same thing: We don't want to be paying people for not working," McMaster said.

"We want to encourage people to come in, accept these jobs and get some new training if they want because it's available through our technical college system," he said.

McMaster's decision in May to stop South Carolina's participation in the federal pandemic unemployment programs drew criticism from some Democrats, who described it as an attack on the state's most vulnerable people in a trying time.

But with new cases of the coronavirus continuing to decrease as more people get vaccinated, the governor said now is the time to propel the transition back into employment. The move came as many employers reported difficulties filling vacancies in the aftermath of the pandemic.

"At the last count, we had around 80,000 jobs that are open out there, so there's plenty of work for people," McMaster said. "So we want them to understand that it's time to get back to work because the work's there for them."

The week ending June 26 will be the last one for which unemployed South Carolinians will be able to claim the federal benefits.

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The program included $300 weekly payments, an extension of unemployment benefits beyond the traditional 20-week maximum, aid for people who have been unable to work as a direct result of COVID-19 and a $100 weekly benefit for people who are eligible for regular unemployment payments but also earn self-employment income.

Beginning June 27, the state will return to its normal unemployment benefit program, which allows claimants to receive up to 20 weeks of benefits. Eligible claimants receive a weekly benefit amount ranging from $46 to $326 based on their previous earnings.

South Carolina's unemployment rate fell from 5 percent to 4.6 percent in May, as nearly 15,000 residents found jobs, according to data released June 23. But the state's hard-hit leisure-and-hospitality industry continued to lag in hiring, and the state's labor force participation rate remains one of the lowest in the country.

McMaster said he expects those statistics to improve as the state makes its way through a "transition period."

"I believe that things will settle down and people will get back to work because South Carolina never shut down, we just slowed down and now we're blasting off," McMaster said. "It's time to get back to work."

Employers at the Columbia career fair included several state agencies, city governments and law enforcement offices, as well as major corporations such as Waffle House and Lowe's.

The first hour of the fair was limited to military service members before opening up to the broader community throughout the day.
AQUINO: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III salutes while singing the national anthem during a handover ceremony for the new armed forces chief at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on July 2, 2010. Erik de Castro/Reuters
DEMONSTRATION: A pro-democracy demonstrator holds a portrait of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, at at gathering at Democracy Monument to demand the release of four protestors who were charged under a lese majeste law, in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 7, 2021. Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters
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Joe Biden is doing what Donald Trump promised to do but never quite got around to. Hes pulling our military forces out of Afghanistan.

The U.S. military presence is small  only 2,500 to 3,500 troops, according to the Washington Post. U.S. casualties are minimal. Ten American servicemen died in Afghanistan last year, only four them in action.

Yet, this low level of commitment has blocked the Taliban from gaining control of significant chunks of Afghanistan. It has thereby prevented that bloodthirsty Islamist outfit from taking vengeance on populations that cast their lot with the U.S. in our war against terrorism. In addition, it has ensured that Afghanistan wont be a staging ground for attacks on America, as it was when the Taliban ran the country in 2001.

No longer, though. As our troops leave, the Taliban swoops. In the past month or so, it has seized control of more than 50 of Afghanistans 370 districts. Many of these districts surround provincial capitals. When Americas withdrawal is complete, if not before, the Taliban will likely take these capitals.

Mazar-e-Sharif is Afghanistans fourth largest city and the capital of Balkh province. For nearly two decades, it has been impregnable to the Taliban. Now, according to the Washington Post, it is in serious danger of falling.

A great nation doesnt abandon an ally it has enlisted to fight terrorism when the alternative is to keep 2,500-3,500 troops on hand.

But Bidens actions (or inaction), at least to date, are worse than that. According to the Post, he has failed to take measures to protect the Afghan interpreters, translators, and others who directly assisted U.S. and NATO forces.

A minimally decent nation doesnt abandon those who served shoulder-to-shoulder with its personnel in wartime.

By virtue of a law enacted in 2009, the Secretary of State is required to make a reasonable effort to offer protection or to remove such Afghans if they are facing imminent danger. As our troops leave, we are no longer offering protection to interpreters, translators, etc., and they are now in imminent danger. Soon, they will be at the mercy of the Taliban.

Their only way out right now is through a special immigrant visa. But as the Post shows, the process for issuing these visas is hopelessly bogged down.

The solution is to evacuate these people now. To this end, Rep. Peter Meijer, a Republican, is calling on the administration to bring them to Guam (as we brought Vietnamese there after the fall of Saigon). There, they can wait in safety while their visa applications are processed. The governor of Guam has told Biden he is on board with this proposal.

Biden has yet to get on board. He needs to. As the Post says:

The United States has a profound obligation to take care of those who risked their lives to serve alongside its troops. It cannot leave their fate to chance or ill-prepared afterthought.

The general bloodbath that awaits Afghans whom the Taliban has it in for will be bad enough. A bloodbath of those who directly assisted America would be beyond disgraceful.
Yes, no matter what

Yes, but it depends on variety

No, for medical reasons, uncertainty

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given approval to Chaka Technologies Ltd. to operate a digital platform for buying and selling of local stocks.

Efe Ebelo, Head, Corporate Communications, SEC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Lagos, that the companys application was approved last week by the commission.

She added that the company was licensed to operate as sub-broker (digital) trading on local stocks.

NAN reports that Chaka Technologies, with the approval, becomes the first to acquire the digital sub-brokers license introduced by SEC in April.

The approval came after months of uncertainty regarding regulations of digital trading in Nigeria.

Confirming the approval, Tosin Osibodu, Co-founder & CEO, Chaka Technologies, said in a statement that the company was pleased with the achievement.

Chaka is pleased to announce its recent acquisition of the digital sub-broker/sub-broker serving multiple brokers through a digital platform.

This makes Chaka the first recipient of this newly created license by the SEC, as part of the commissions efforts to foster regulation within the investment-tech space, to ensure the safety of the investing public while encouraging innovation within the sector, Mr Osibodu said.

He said the company was honoured to be the foremost fintech company to receive SECs first Fintech license in Nigeria, the digital sub-broker license.

For us, this is an important step toward achieving our vision to level the playing field for African investors, and a defining moment for the future of digital investments in Nigeria, and Africa at large.

Receiving this new license will enable us to continue to power on our mission to enable digital investing for businesses and individuals in the country and beyond.

As Nigeria remains an attractive hive for fintech innovation, this new license from the SEC is the much-needed guide to help safeguard the investing public amid the ever-evolving landscape, said Mr Osibodu.

He added that the license represented a significant milestone for all players within the industry, and that it would strengthen efforts towards fostering further growth and transformation of the industry.

We are proud to set this precedent and are excited for the long-term impact of this new regulation and what it signals for the future.

We are also thankful for the continued trust from our investors and partners, as we remain committed to fulfilling their needs, he added.

He said Chaka.com is a platform implemented by Chaka Technologies to provide technology services, marketing, customer service and operations to brokers on behalf of their customers.

Chaka is powering borderless investing for business and individuals in Africa. We provide unrestricted access to over 4,000 stocks trading on capital markets, said Mr Osibodu.(NAN)
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Aliko Dangote, Africas most affluent person, is betting on the Cameroonian energy sector for now to deliver the diversification his groups investments in the Central African nation need, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

We have plans to expand our investment to other sectors beginning with oil and gas, Mr Dangote told journalists on Wednesday in Yaounde after talks with President Paul Biya without giving further details.

The chair of Dangote Group said his cement unit would accelerate production by two times its current rate in Cameroon, where it launched a 1.5 million-tonne cement-grinding facility more than six years ago, a move halting four decades of four decades of French monopoly in the sector.

It has set itself a target to export four million tonnes of clinkers by the end of next year.

The cement-maker hopes to raise production in its home market Nigeria, where it produces three of every five bags of cement, by a third following a construction boom in the country as the economy revives from a recession.

Shares in Dangote Cement were trading at N230 per unit at 02:13 pm in Lagos on Thursday, recording no movement.

The groups biggest bet yet, a 650,000 barrels per day refinery situated in Lagos, is due this year. At completion, it will rank as the largest on the continent and the biggest single-train facility in the world.
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Lagos has once again topped the daily coronavirus infection chart with 32 out of the 44 new cases recorded in Nigeria on Wednesday.

This is according to a post on the official Facebook page of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The update revealed that the 44 new cases raised the total number of infections in the country to 167,375.

Nobody died from the disease on Wednesday as the countrys total fatality toll still stands at 2,118.

Breakdown

A breakdown of the latest figures from the NCDC revealed that apart from Lagos, two other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) contributed to the total tally on Wednesday.

Rivers reported eight new cases while the FCT and Plateau State recorded two cases each.

Of the over 167,000 of total infections in the country, 163,917 have been discharged with about 1,599 cases still active.

The disease centre noted that Nigeria has tested a total of 2,266,591 samples from its roughly 200 million people.
Alieu Kosiah, sentenced last week to 20 years in prison for atrocities committed when he was a commander of the rebel group Ulimo during the Liberian civil war, has lashed out at the justice activists who helped bring the case against him.

In a WhatsApp message to New Narratives, Dimitri Gianoli, Mr Kosiahs lawyer, said his client was very disappointed by the decision of the Federal Criminal Court in Switzerland where he was convicted of all but four of the 25 charges brought against him by seven Liberian victims.

The three-judge panel found the former rebel commander had ordered or committed 19 murders, organised several forced transfers of people, tortured seven people and committed one rape.

Mr Kosiah had denied all the charges claiming throughout the trial that he was not on the scene where the crimes took place. Despite those claims, his defence team was not able to offer alibis to establish that defence.

Mr Kosiah was cleared of attempted murder of a civilian, accessory to the murder of a civilian, an order to loot and recruitment of a child soldier. The court said that the 20-year sentence was the maximum it was allowed to give under Swiss law. It will be reduced in recognition of six and a half years Mr Kosiah has been in detention awaiting trial. He will be banned from Switzerland for 15 years after his release.

Defence lawyer Mr Gianoli claimed the court had dismissed without reason the multiple demonstrations that were made during the debates on the inconsistencies of the prosecutions case, on the lack of credibility of the complainants, on their multiple contradictions and even lies.

Mr Gianoli repeated an assertion that Mr Kosiah has made since he was first arrested in 2014: that Global Justice Research project and Civitas Maxima, the two justice activist organisations that have helped investigators gather evidence in Liberia, have coerced victims into lying.

Mr. Alieu Kosiah remains convinced that Civitas Maxima has distorted the events and history of the first civil war in Liberia in order to make a profit, Mr Gianoli said.

Accusations of coercion and bribery of witness by Civitas Maxima and GJRP, headed by Liberian Hassan Billity, have featured in the defence case of every trial of former combatants in Liberias civil war since 2017. The two organisations have worked with investigators and prosecutors in many jurisdictions in the US and Europe to find witnesses and evidence to build cases against accused war criminals living in exile. In each case under resourced and overwhelmed defence teams have found themselves with little else to defend their clients from an onslaught of harrowing and emotive evidence from prosecution witnesses

Defence lawyers have hoped that by muddying the credibility of the witnesses they will establish the legal concept of reasonable doubt about the defendants guilt in the minds of judges and juries.

The role of the two organisations has featured heavily in the ongoing trial of Gibril Massaquoi, the former Revolutionary United Front commander from Sierra Leone charged with war crimes allegedly committed in Liberia. The court in Finland, where Mr Massaquoi was living when he was arrested in 2020, is in its final weeks of hearings in Finland after spending three months hearing witnesses in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Defence lawyers have claimed that dozens of Liberian witnesses were coerced into lying about Mr Massaquois involvement in the alleged crimes by Civitas Maxima. The claims have led the court to add additional witnesses and consider a return to Liberia.

Former American chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Alan White, one of several former officials of the Special Court to oppose the prosecution of Mr Massaquoi in Finland, had also questioned the motives of the two groups.

Mr White said Mr Massaquoi should not have been prosecuted for his role in Liberia because he had been granted immunity from prosecution for crimes in Sierra Leone in return for his testimony against key figures including Charles Taylor.

Mr White speculated to justiceinfo.net last year that those behind Mr Massaquois arrest may have had possible political motivations, or the desire of some individuals to get publicity.

But in every case so far  that of Thomas Woewiyu, Mohammed Jabbateh and Moses Thomas  judges and juries rejected defence claims of a conspiracy between the organisations and witnesses to lie. A criminal complaint along the same lines filed by Mr Kosiah against Alain Werner of Civitas Maxima was dismissed by the Geneva Public Prosecutors Office and then by the Federal Criminal Court.

As of writing, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court had not published its reasoning in Mr Kosiahs conviction. New Narratives was not in the court but according to Werner and justiceinfo.net Court President Jean-Luc Bacher said the judges had found the victims trustworthy. Justiceinfo.net quoted the judge as saying they had no reason to believe that there was collusion between lawyers and NGOs on the one hand and the plaintiffs on the other.

Indeed, the judge found Mr Kosiah lacked credibility. Kosiah showed cynicism and arrogance during the trial and even sometimes hostility towards the witnesses, justiceinfo.net quoted the judge as saying. The court also reproached him for adapting his story as the proceedings progressed. The court said his claim that he was not at any of the crimes was not very credible in the eyes of the court which questioned the honesty of the defence witnesses and their obviously prepared and oriented accounts. Another element that the judges found unconvincing was Kosiahs claim that he never witnessed any of the crimes committed by Ulimo, whose violence is well documented.

In response to New Narratives requests for evidence of his clients claims against Civitas Maxima and Global Justice Research Project, Mr Gianoli provided nothing credible. New Narratives investigations have not found evidence to support the claims.

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In response to New Narratives questions, Mr Werner again rejected the accusations.

For years alleged war criminal commanders associated with ULIMO, NPFL and other factions have been united together in denying any crime, and also accusing Civitas Maxima and the Global Justice and Research Project of committing themselves criminal acts to subvert the course of justice in its attempt to find justice for victims of war crimes committed in Liberia, Mr Werner said by email.

We have never answered any of these specific baseless accusations made over and over against us because we believe it should for judges to evaluate evidence, and any accusation against us should be made in court, not in newspapers.

We believe this historical verdict sentencing Alieu Kosiah for over 20 counts of war crimes and its oral summary answer all the libellous accusations made against us. We will not be intimidated and we will carry on our mission on behalf of the Liberian victims of war crimes.

Mr Gianoli said his client, will continue his fight so that the justice to which he is entitled can be done.

This story is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project.
Nigerias human rights record is very poor and is worse than [the] average in sub-Saharan Africa, a new report by an international organisation states.

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) said, in the report, that Nigerias score for economic and social rights falls within a very bad range.

The report, which tracked the human rights performance of most countries, stated that Nigerias mismanagement of resources is largely responsible for the countrys unfortunate human rights crises.

Millions of Nigerians could have better lives, HRMI said in the report made public on Thursday. If Nigeria were to operate at its full potential given its current resources, we would expect an additional 12 million children under five to grow well and not be stunted.

If Nigeria were operating at best practice, we would expect an extra 3.6 million additional children to reach their fifth birthday, HRMI said.

It also noted that if Nigeria used its resources efficiently, an additional 122 million people could have access to basic sanitation and an extra 143 million people could have access to water on site.

The HRMI 2021 Rights Tracker is the first global report to assess the 13 different human rights contained in United Nations treaties for around 200 countries.

The report adopted two different methods for appraising a countrys performance; with the first benchmark being income adjusted.

Using the income adjusted benchmark, the report compared countries with other countries of a similar income level, to evaluate how effectively each country is using its available resources.

The second benchmark is global test. This benchmark evaluates country performance relative to the best performing countries at any level of resources, it said.

Each assessment standard uses a set of indicators that are commonly available and most relevant for these countries, HRMI said. Every country gets assessed on both standards to the extent the information is available in international databases.

A careful examination of the report by PREMIUM TIMES conveys a picture at odds with the human rights record Nigerias government repeatedly claimed has improved.

On fundamental issues about harsh economic realities, the report said, If Nigeria were operating at its full potential given its current resources, it could lift 118 million people out of absolute poverty.

President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech on Democracy day claimed his government has lifted 10.5 million Nigerians out of poverty in the last two years, a statement described by a PREMIUM TIMES fact checker as grossly misleading.

The civil and political rights data, and the peoples risk responses were collected in February and March 2021, about events in the year 2020, HRMI said, an indication the Nigerian governments clampdown on EndSARS protesters in October 2020 may have counted against the country.

The economic and social rights data are based on figures from international databases and provide scores for every year from 2007  2018, HRMI said.

Sadly, the report noted, Nigerias scores for all four of these economic and social rights fall within the very bad range.

Nigeria scored 54.6 per cent for right to food; 48.2 per cent for right to health; 31.7 per cent for right to housing and 32.0 per cent for right to work.

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For all the four rights, Nigeria performed worse than most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Taking each countrys income into account, the report said Nigeria is in the bottom fifth in Africa for all four rights.

When we look at raw performance, it does slightly better  people in Nigeria have a higher standard of living than in some other very poor countries  but even then it is below average.

On the right to health, the report ranked Nigeria 41st out of 42 countries it reviewed in Sub-Saharan Africa; sitting just behind Equatorial Guinea.

On the right to food, Nigeria ranked 37th, sitting above Sudan, Niger, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Burundi on the log.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Wednesday announced the deployment of female officers to schools across the country to protect students and teachers from frequent invasions by bandits.

The Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, ordered their mobilisation and a one-month intensive training programme and proper kitting of female squads in all the 36 State Commands and the Federal Capital Territory for this purpose.

He noted that the deployment was in line with the safe school initiative project of the Ministry of Interior and the Minister, Rauf Aregbesola who has charged him as a matter of urgency to develop a template to end this nightmare.

Female agents to the rescue

According to Mr Audi, following the spate of attacks and kidnapping of students in schools from different parts of the country, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has conducted a vulnerability survey of all schools in the country according to the six geopolitical zones, states, senatorial districts, and local governments.

This survey, he said showed a very high level of vulnerability of some schools in different parts of the country. However, he said he is confident the data obtained from the survey is a veritable tool for the Corps in carrying out this serious assignment.

The Commandant General made this known while briefing personnel at the national headquarters, Abuja on his policies and programmes to reenergise the service.

There is a need to roll out policies and programmes that will constantly boost the morale of personnel to put in their best. I will make sure that all entitlements and operational allowances for the Rapid Response Squad, Female Squad, and any other assignments given to any personnel are paid so that we can prove to Nigerians that we are back again, he said.

Additionally, he promised that all outstanding promotion arrears will be paid and personnel will have cause to smile again.

Nigerians will start seeing the Female Squad in action as the Corps is planning to work with the Federal Ministry of Education to work out modalities for providing adequate security coverage for all schools in the country to checkmate the incessant attacks and invasion of schools by bandits and kidnappers in different parts of the country.

This is a very serious assignment and there is a need for effective execution across board. I shall ensure effective deployment of personnel to protect our schools and restore the confidence of students, teachers, and parents alike; the glory of our educational system must be restored because upon this lies the future of this country.

Mr Audi stated that the Corps will work in synergy with other sister agencies because synergy and collaboration is a necessary mechanism in winning the war against insecurity as no organisation can work in isolation and achieve anything tangible.

He advocated intelligence sharing among security agencies of government as a panacea to nipping crime and insecurity in the bud and also charged fellow Nigerians to assist security agencies to succeed with timely releases of credible information to help fight crime in the society.

Ugly spike

Kidnapping in Nigeria has become worrisome as not a month goes by without reports of abductions for ransom.

Sadly, school children especially in Northern Nigeria have become the primary targets.

The country has witnessed at least 11 cases of kidnapping of pupils and students from their schools since 2014. Over 700 students and pupils have been kidnapped since December 2020.

Some of these students have returned, while others may never be seen again due to the lethargy displayed by the authorities in rescuing them.

Just before sunset last Thursday, gunmen attacked the Federal Government College Birnin-Yauri, a secondary school in Kebbi State, and abducted dozens of students from their dormitories.

In Kankara, Katsina State, last December, 300 boys were abducted from a boarding school.

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A PREMIUM TIMES report shows a timeline of these events to date.

The Nigerian government had on several occasions charged the nations security and intelligence agencies to expedite efforts towards the rescue of kidnapped students and arrest of culprits.

But the security situation is now worse across the nation than it was before the Muhammadu Buhari administration got elected in 2015
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A court has granted bail to a popular Nigerian actor accused of sexually assaulting a teenager.

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja granted Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly called Baba Ijesha, bail on Thursday afternoon.

The actor was arraigned before the Special Offences Court in Lagos on charges of sexual assault, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault by penetration.

Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million.

Mrs Taiwo said bail is a constitutional right and not a discretionary right.

She said granting him bail is to release him from the custody of the law and entrust him to appear for trial when required to.

The freedom is temporary in the sense that it lasts only for the period of trial.

The defendant is thereby granted bail in sum of N2million and two sureties in like sum. One of the surety must be a blood relation of the applicant with clear proof of this relationship and must be resident in Lagos State and shall present evidence of having paid income tax in Lagos State in the last three years.

The second surety shall be a legal practitioner as suggested by the defence counsel. The surety shall present evidence of bar and shall swear a oath to affidavit, Mrs Taiwo said.

She added that the legal practitioner must have a residence and an office address in Lagos and enter a monetary bond of N1 million to be deposited with the chief registrar who shall approve the surety.

Baba Ijesha has been in detention since April 22.

The trial was adjourned to July 27.
The trial of Farouk Lawan had a chequered history, the judge, Angela Otaluka, said in her judgement sentencing the former federal lawmaker to seven years in prison on Tuesday.

Ms Otaluka, a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja, who jailed Mr Lawan for bribery and corruption, said the trial, from inception, had issues which ended up elongating it for eight years.

Mr Lawan was jailed for corruptly demanding $3million and eventually taking $500,000 bribe while serving as the chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the fraud around fuel subsidy in 2012.

The ex-lawmaker demanded and took the bribe from a Nigerian billionaire oil mogul, Femi Otedola, to remove the businessmans Zenon Oil and Gas Ltd from the list of firms indicted for fraud in the fuel subsidy regime in 2012, the judge ruled.

In her judgment, Ms Otaluka relied heavily on the testimony of Mr Otedola, who described giving the $500,000 to Mr Lawan in a sting operation planned with the State Security Service (SSS) to obtain evidence of extortion against the lawmaker.

A video clip showing Mr Lawan receiving a big swollen envelope, which the prosecution said contained the $500,000, from Mr Otedola, was tendered as an exhibit and played in the open court during the trial that spanned over eight years.

Chequered history

In her concluding remark, while delivering judgment in the case on Tuesday, Ms Otaluka said Mr Lawans trial suffered needless adjournments as it went back and forth among other four judges before the final judgement day.

Before coming to the conclusion of this judgement, I must observe that this case has had a chequered history from its inception in 2013; as it sojourned from one court to another before landing at my doorstep in 2015.

It was fraught with several needless adjournments, but then the curtains are now being closed in this trial court, Ms Otaluka who was the fourth judge to handle the matter, said.

Her comment speaks to the pattern of delay most high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria usually suffer. This is due to a number of loopholes in the countrys criminal justice system.

First judge

In Mr Lawans case, his long journey through the courts began in 2013, when he was arraigned before Mudashiru Oniyangi, then a judge of the FCT High Court.

Months after the bribery scandal broke out in 2012, the Attorney-General of the Federations office arraigned the Kano-born politician alongside the former Secretary of the House committee on fuel subsidy fraud, Boniface Emenalo, before Mr Oniyangi on February 1, 2013.

The AGF office arraigned the defendants on seven counts of seven of bribery and corruption, offences that were said to violate section 17 (1) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act, 2000 and punishable under section 17 (1) of the same Act.

Both Mr Lawan and Mr Boniface, a National Assembly staff member, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But the trial had barely made any progress when the trial judge, Mr Oniyangi, was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench, prompting the need to re-assign the case to another judge of the FCT High Court.

Second judge

In 2014, Mr Lawans trial was reassigned to Adebukola Banjoko. Mr Lawan and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty again when they were rearraigned before Ms Banjoko,

Not long into the trial, Mr Lawan lodged a petition against the new judge, Ms Banjoko.

He accused Ms Banjoko of bias, asking the then Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Ishaq Bello, to transfer the suit to another judge.

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On being informed of the petition, Ms Banjoko announced her voluntary withdrawal from the case in open court on November 18, 2014.

Third and fourth judges

The case was then reassigned to Ms Otaluka sometimes in 2015.

But before the prosecution started calling witnesses, it amended the charges, pruning down the number of counts from seven to three, and turning Mr Lawans co-accused, Mr Emenalo, into a prosecution witness.

Mr Lawan, who faced trial till the end as the sole defendant, maintained his innocence as he was rearraigned before Ms Otaluka.

Between 2015 and 2017, the prosecution led by Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, called four out of its five proposed witnesses.

As Mr Awomolo was getting to the point of calling the fifth and last prosecution witness, Mr Lawan, again, sent a petition of bias against Ms Otaluka in 2017.

Following the petition, the Chief Judge of the court, Mr Bello, abruptly withdrew the case from Ms Otaluka and reassigned it to Yusuf Halilu in June 2017.

Dissatisfied with the transfer, however, the prosecution filed a motion before Mr Halilu attacking the legality of the reassignment of the case to him.

But in a ruling delivered on October 17, 2017, Mr Halilu dismissed the prosecutions application affirming the legality of the reassignment of the case to him by the Chief Judge.

The prosecution immediately went on appeal against the ruling, arguing that withdrawing the case from Ms Otaluka after four out of the five proposed prosecution witnesses had testified, violated section 98(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2011.

But before the appeal could be heard by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the Chief Judge rescinded his decision by returning the case to Ms Otaluka.

The matter then continued before Ms Otaluka in January 2018 till she delivered judgement on Tuesday.

Postscript

After being through the trial process for over eight years, Mr Lawan was, on Tuesday, ordered by the judge to serve the next seven years of his life in prison.

The convicts countenance could not be gauged by our correspondent as Mr Lawan wore a black face mask, perhaps indicative of the sad days that lay ahead for him at Kuje Correctional Service.

He was surrounded by prison officials as he made his way out of the courtroom after the guilty verdict was handed down against him.

The convict was led to the waiting van of the prison services. As he made his way into the steaming Hilux van, he adjusted his multi-layered flowing gown.

This reporter saw how officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service from Kuje in Abuja, drove him away from the court in their Hilux van at about 4: 30 pm on Tuesday.
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Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari will proceed to London on Friday for what his office described as a scheduled medical follow-up.

The Nigerian leader and members of his family routinely travel to the UK for medical treatment amidst the insufficient and poorly equipped hospitals in the oil-rich country.

Despite public criticisms of his previous trips, including one at a period doctors in Nigeria were on strike, the Nigerian leader, who has spent six years in office, appears unperturbed by what critics have described as medical tourism.

Femi Adesina, the presidents spokesman, confirmed the latest trip in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

He is due back in the country during the second week of July, 2021, the presidential aide stated; indicating the Nigerian leader will spend about two weeks in London for the medical attention.

The president returned from his last medical trip to London in April.

He had travelled on March 30 and returned to the country two weeks later.

Before the April trip, Mr Buhari had also gone to London for medical checkup in May 2018.
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The police in Jigawa State have arrested a housewife for allegedly killing her husband in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.

The acting police spokesperson in the state, Lawan Adam, on Wednesday, said Hadiza Musa, 25, a resident of Maradawa village in Kazaure council area, attacked the deceased with a wooden pestle.

The police said the suspect was arrested on June 17 following a complaint by Usman Mai-rago, 70, a resident of Karaftayi village in the same council area.

The police spokesperson also identified the deceased as Isah Muhammad, 50, adding that he died while on admission in Kazaure General Hospital.

Following the complaint, the suspect was taken into custody for investigation, the police spokesperson added.

Post mortem examination was conducted on the decesed while the case has been transferred to the states commands Criminal Investigation Department to investigate for upward prosecution, the acting spokesperson also said.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, over looted Benin artifacts that are to be returned from abroad.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the governor said the state government in collaboration with partners had completed arrangements to set up a museum for the artifacts in the state.

He expressed optimism that when completed, the museum would be a tourist attraction and source of revenue for the state.

He said, I just decided to pop in to see the Chief of Staff and to just touch base on a few issues, particularly as it relates to the artifacts.

Im sure you know that weve been in conversations with the federal government on the artifacts. Lots of Benin artworks that are in Europe and the Americas.

Weve had conversations on how to return these works, particularly as some countries have indicated their interest and desire to return the works.

I just came to brief the Chief of Staff on the steps that have been taken on the level of collaboration with the federal government, and the plans to build a museum in Benin that will host these works.

On the readiness of the state government to receive the artifacts, the governor stated, Like I said, a lot of work has been done. We have the legacy restoration trust, which is currently obtaining resources from very, very interested donors across the world.

We expect that by the last quarter of this year working with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, we should begin the construction of a pavilion, a world class pavilion that will meet all the conditions required by which these works can be kept.

And as you know, many of them are very fragile and very old, but they have to be kept in protective conditions.

According to Mr Obaseki, museums have become catalysts in the evolution and development of cities.

There is a city called Bilbao in Spain, and that was the head of the Basque separatist movements many years ago.

The investment by the Guggenheim foundation, by the Guggenheim family museum in Bilbao, has changed the economic fortunes of that city.

Today, Bilbao earns more than a billion dollars from just the presence of that museum in that city. Because everybody wants to come in to see whats in that museum.

So, bringing back these works, this world cherished works, bringing the originals back to their home, I mean, you can imagine for years to come, people, children unborn, all over the world want to come and see these pieces.

Cultural district

He revealed that his administration was designing a whole cultural district for Benin, saying that the proposed museum would be situated within the cultural district.

As I speak the planners from Latin America are in Benin City, looking at work and doing the surveys. That process should end about August.

We believe that the museum is going to be a series of, you know, buildings, you have the pavilion where these works will be brought in initially and will be kept.

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We also undertaking more archeological excavations, and whatever we find will be kept in the pavilion.

We have a national museum that currently exists. And thats going to be refurbished, then we have the main Edo Museum of West African arts. And the construction for that will take another one or two years to begin.

(NAN)
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A group, United Nations-Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC), has appointed Tijjani James as an International Peace Advocate.

The award conferred on Mr James, a Nigerian industrialist known for his humanitarian roles, was disclosed in a statement seen by PREMIUM TIMES Thursday.

The statement was signed by the Director-General of UN-POLAC Foundation, Halo Eton.

Mr Eton said the appointment was in recognition of Mr James proven integrity and commitment to the ideals of altruism, promoting universal moral values, strong family life, social harmony, inter-religious and ethnic cooperation, and the culture of peace.

The appointment recipient is the group head of Commercial Services, Notore Chemical Industries Plc.

An indigene of terrorism ravaged Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Mr James was said to have played a pivotal role in the mobilising efforts towards rebuilding schools and other basic amenities destroyed by insurgents in the area.

This has earned him the recognition of UN-POLAC, the award letter said.

UN-POLAC is a group that describes itself as an international autonomous institution, established in the year 2001 following the United Nations General Assembly Resolution declaring 2001-2010 as a decade of peace and non-violence.

The award letter issued to Mr James says, In addition to acknowledging these special qualities, the appointment encourages these individuals to be role models in community services and peace-making.

In view of the foregoing, the trustees of POLAC recognise that you exemplify these qualities and wish to convey you their decision to appoint you an International Peace Advocate/Volunteer.

Benefits of award

Part of the benefits of the award, according to the award letter include, UN-POLAC Certificate of Appointment; UN-POLAC International Identity Card; Investiture Apparel; UN-POLAC Flag of Authority to be hoisted at any place of your choice and UN-POLAC Special Vehicle Plate Number in collaboration with the FRSC. (Available on request).

As an International Peace Advocate, you can be called upon for peace making, conflict resolution and other activities that encourage peace and positive living in line with the best international practices, it added.

POLACs mandate is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and UNESCO culture of peace project, particularly the maintenance of peace and security and the restoration of human dignity.

Other Nigerians previously appointed by UN-POLAC include Paul Santus Ofana, a rising agribusiness entrepreneur and producer of Ogoja Rice, whom the UN agency said was appointed because of his commitment to peace initiatives, and achievement in food security and sufficiency in the country.

The board chairman of the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority, SRRBDA, Hassan Danbaba, was also appointed as an International Peace Advocate by the UN agency last September.
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Oil prices gained for a second day on Thursday after draw-downs in U.S. inventories and accelerating German economic activity bolstered confidence in the fuel demand recovery.

Doubts about the future of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that could end U.S. sanctions on Iranian crude exports further supported prices.

Brent crude futures rose 45 cents or 0.6 per cent to $75.64 a barrel by 0847 GMT, after increasing 0.5 per cent on Wednesday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 40 cents or 0.54 per cent to $73.48 a barrel, after rising 0.3 per cent on Wednesday.

Both benchmarks hit their highest since October 2018 on Wednesday.

But they pared gains later in the session as energy traders locked in profit after the U.S. inventory report, Edward Moya, senior market analyst at brokerage OANDA, said in a report.

Further stoking expectations of a European fuel demand recovery, data from Germany showed the largest upward leap in retail conditions since German reunification more than three decades ago.

Across the Atlantic, U.S. crude inventories fell by 7.6 million barrels in the week to June 18 to 459.1 million barrels, their lowest since March 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.

The drawdown was nearly double analysts expectations in a Reuters poll for a 3.9 million-barrel drop.

U.S. gasoline stocks fell by 2.9 million barrels in the week, against analysts expectations for an 833,000-barrel rise.

The data was encouraging since not only crude stocks, but also gasoline inventory dropped, suggesting healthy demand and tight supply, said Tetsu Emori, CEO of Emori Fund Management Inc.

Unless OPEC+ decides next week to increase output more than expected for August and later, oil prices are expected to stay at the current high range for a while, he said.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+), which meet on July 1, have been discussing a further unwinding of last years record output cuts from August but no decision has been made, two OPEC+ sources said on Tuesday.

Brent has gained more than 45 per cent this year on supply cuts led by the OPEC+ and recovering demand as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

Some industry executives have talked of crude returning to $100 for the first time since 2014.

Iran said on Wednesday the U.S. had agreed to remove all sanctions on Irans oil and shipping but Washington said nothing is agreed until everything is agreed in talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. (Reuters/NAN)
The President of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), Amanda Asagba, has called for stronger laws to protect widows rights in Nigeria.

Mrs Asagba made the call on the International Widows Day celebration, observed every June 23, to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanise the unique support that they require.

The theme for this years widows day is tagged: Invisible women, Invisible problems,

In a statement on Wednesday, Mrs Asagba called for urgent action to protect widows against various forms of violence, including harmful widowhood practices.

A majority of widows are subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment after the loss of their spouses, which consequently, makes it imperative for favourable policies to be implemented to safegaurd their rights.

For many women around the world, it is a devastating loss and that loss is magnified by a long-term struggle for basic needs, as well as their human rights and dignity.

They may be denied inheritance rights to the piece of land that they relied on for livelihood or evicted from their homes, forced into unwanted marriages or traumatizing widowhood rituals and subjected to other harmful cultural practices.

They are stigmatized for life, shunned, shamed and isolated. and many of these abuses go unnoticed, even normalized.

Therefore, this theme of Widows Day 2021, urges us to identify those women and make their problems visible to society, she said

According to her, the purpose of celebrating International widows day is the acknowledgement by the UN, that widows are invisible to policy makers.

Policies focus upon common citizens, labourers, jobless youths, and other suffering segments of society; however, nothing is specifically discussed about widows in policy-making meetings.

Such an ignoring attitude means that issues of more than 258 million widows worldwide remain unaddressed, she said

Mrs Asagba noted that in many Nigerian cultures, widows are often accused of killing their spouses, until they proved their innocence through some forms of traditional rituals like sleeping in a room with their husbands corpse, drinking the bath water of their husbands corpse, and many other demeaning practices.

These widowhood practices are acts of trauma which has negative impact on her children because when a widow is denied her inheritance rights, the children become homeless, she said

She noted that there exists the legal framework to protect widows such as the Constitution, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) described as an international bill of rights for women.

She added thhat there is also the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, popularly known as the Maputo Protocol as well as the Childs Right Act which protects the woman and children.

She, however, observed that while all these laudable legislations exist, there is the problem of enforcement.

Yes, we have the laws but how accessible are the widows to justice?

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We at AWLA lend our voices to say, stop the violence against widows, dont abuse widows, dont stigmatise widows, dont oppress widows, widows are not witches, widowhood is not a curse.

We advocate for subsidised accommodation, school fees, legal aid and welfare packages for widows and their children.

We advocate for the establishment of a specialised agency for widows- to follow up on them and ensure theyre protected and given access to benefits available for them and their children, she said

Mrs Asagba said that AWLA is properly poised to render free legal services to widows and would go the extra mile to stop indignity to women and children. (NAN)
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Founders of Africrypt, a cryptocurrency trading platform, Ameer and Raees Cajee, have reportedly vanished with Bitcoin worth $3.6 billion from their cryptocurrency investment platform.

A Cape Town law firm hired by investors disclosed that they could not locate the two South African brothers and that the matter has been reported to the Hawks, an elite unit of the national police force, a Bloomberg report said on Thursday.

Also, it said the development has been escalated to all crypto exchanges across the globe should any attempt be made to convert the missing digital coins.

Africrypt was launched in 2019 by the Cajee brothers promising investors prolific Returns on Investment (ROI).

In April, amidst a significant spike in the prices of the worlds most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Ameer Cajee, Africrypt Chief Operating Officer, announced that the company was a victim of a hack, leading to the disappearance of about 69,000 coins that was worth more than $4 billion at the April peak.

He also asked investors not to report the incident to authorities, explaining that doing so would slow down the process of recovering the funds.

Investors hired the Hanekom Attorneys law firm to investigate the incident, as it was conceived to represent the biggest-ever loss in a cryptocurrency scam.

We were immediately suspicious as the announcement implored investors not to take legal action. Africrypt employees lost access to the back-end platforms seven days before the alleged hack, Hanekom Attorneys was quoted to have said.

Investigators noted that Africrypts pooled funds were transferred from its South African accounts and client wallets, and that the coins went through tumblers and mixers or to other large pools of bitcoin in order to make them essentially untraceable.

Also, it was reported that calls to a mobile number for Cajee were immediately directed to a voicemail service.

Similar ordeal

This is not the first of such incidents in South Africa. A South African Bitcoin trader, Mirror Trading International, had collapsed in 2020.

In what was described as the biggest crypto scam of that year, it recorded a loss of about 23,000 digital coins worth $1.2 billion, according to a report by Chainalysis. However, Africrypt investors stand to lose three times as much now.

While this incident subsists, it is believed that it has the potential to spur regulators efforts to impose stringent orders on the market amid rising cases of fraud.

The price of Bitcoin has slumped by 15.23 per cent in the last seven days, and has touched a low of $28,893.62 and oscillated to a high of $39,513.67 within this period, before settling at $33,321.55 as of Wednesday 10.43 AM Nigerian time.
The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Thursday, dismissed Cape Verdes application for the reversal of its earlier judgment on Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab.

In the earlier judgment delivered on March 15, the regional court declared illegal the arrest and detention of the Venezuelan diplomat.

It also ordered his release from custody, quashed the extradition proceedings (meant to take him to the United States) and awarded him $200,000 reparation for the violations of his human rights by Cape Verde.

Mr Saab was arrested at the West Africa archipelago countrys airport in June 2020 at the request of the United States Government over alleged financial crimes.

In reaction to his arrest, the Venezuelan government said Mr Saab was on a humanitarian mission to Tehran, Iran, when he was arrested and accused the U.S. of attempting to suppress the Nicolas Maduro-led administration by targeting the diplomat.

The development attracted legal and diplomatic tussles between the two countries, with Cape Verde at the centre of it.

Despite the March 15 judgement, Cape Verde, a member of ECOWAS, has continued to detain Mr Saab. The Venezuelan diplomat also continues to challenge his planned extradition to the U.S.

Determined to remove any legal hurdle to the extradition, the Cape Verdean government, on April 15, filed a motion praying the regional court to review its earlier judgment.

Cape Verdes lawyer, Henrique Borges, wanted a review of the judgment on the grounds that the ECOWAS court lacked jurisdiction to hear Mr Saabs case.

He also argued that the courts earlier finding that Mr Saab was arrested before a red alert for his arrest was issued, was based on miscalculation of time differences.

Mr Saabs legal team opposed the application.

Latest ruling

The court , in a ruling delivered by the Januaria Costa-led panel on Thursday reaffirmed its earlier judgment. It upheld the opposition of Mr Saabs legal team led by Femi Falana and Jose Monteiro, to the Cape Verdean governments argument.

PREMIUM TIMES was not in court. But Tte ECOWAS courts Head of Information and Communication, Ugoh Sunday, confirmed the ruling of the court dismissing Cape Verdes motion.

Saabs lawyer reacts

Speaking with our reporter, Mr Falana said, There was no miscalculation of time zones when considering when the Interpol Red Notice was received by the Republic of Cape Verde and it had no bearing on the illegality of the arrest and subsequent detention.

He said the court was competent in terms of jurisdiction to rule on the matter.

He also called on the Cape Verdean authorities to comply with the decision and release the detained diplomat.

I am delighted that in dismissing Cape Verdes applications, the honourable court has underlined that its decision of March 15, in terms of the illegality of Ambassador Saabs detention must be respected by Cape Verde.

The defence team now calls upon the competent authorities of Cape Verde to comply with the ECOWAS Courts decision, immediately release Alex Saab and end the politically motivated extradition, Mr Falana said.

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Saab, U.S. fugitive

The U.S. authorities had on July 25, 2019 instituted a $350 million money laundering charges against Mr Saab at a Southern District Court of Florida.

The U.S. government asked Cape Verde to help extradite Mr Saab to answer to the charges.

On August 26, 2019, about a month after the charges were filed, the Southern District Court of Florida designated him a fugitive.

Mr Saab, through his legal team, subsequently filed a motion challenging the charges filed against him, and asking the U.S court to set aside the fugitive designation.

Ruling on the application on March 18, 2021, the court dismissed Mr Saabs motion, declaring that he would not be allowed to challenge his fugitive status and the validity of the charges 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, the court ruled.

But Mr Saab has since appealed against the courts ruling.
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A man has been sentenced to 12 years in imprisonment in Calabar, Cross River State, for raping two minors.

One of the girls was seven years, while the other was five when they were serially raped by the man, Godswill Brownson, said to be about 25 years old, before he was busted and arrested in November 2017.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in imprisonment on Wednesday by the Chief Judge of Cross River State, Akon Ikpeme.

The case was prosecuted in a family court in Calabar.

The convicted man lived in the same neighbourhood with the children who were living with their mother and their grandmother. The man took advantage of the children because of his closeness to the family.

The man is an acquaintance in the neighbourhood. So sometimes, unsuspecting, youll just allow your children to be with everybody around. It was multiple (sexual abuse), it wasnt just once, said James Ibor, a lawyer and principal partner of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, a non-governmental organisation in Calabar which invited the police to investigate the rape case.

Mr Ibor thanked the Chief Judge, Mrs Ikpeme; the Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Kayode Sikir; the Attorney General of the state, Tango Ashang; the prosecutor, Blessing Egwu; and the workers at the NGO for the successful prosecution of the case.

Another man, Emmanuel Thompson Udo, 47, was similarly sentenced to 22 years in Calabar in January for raping his 14-year-old daughter.
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The Canadian government has announced that it is providing $26.95 million in new humanitarian assistance funding to help meet the basic needs of conflict-affected populations in North-east Nigeria.

The Canadian government said this in a statement by its embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday evening.

This funding will help provide food assistance, treatment for acute malnutrition and other critical health care, safe water and sanitation, and protection services.

The decade-long conflict in north-east Nigeria has led to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with 8.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2021.

An alarming 4.4 million people are expected to need food assistance during the current lean season, the embassy said.

Read the full statement below.

The decade-long conflict in north-east Nigeria has led to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with 8.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2021. An alarming 4.4 million people are expected to need food assistance during the current lean season. This includes an estimated 775,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity, with an elevated risk of famine in areas that are cut-off from assistance due to high levels of insecurity and targeted attacks on humanitarian workers.

In response, the acting High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Nicolas Simard, is pleased to announce that Canada is providing $26.95 million in new humanitarian assistance funding to help meet the basic needs of conflict-affected populations. This funding will help provide food assistance, treatment for acute malnutrition and other critical health care, safe water and sanitation, and protection services. Canadas support is being provided through experienced humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and non-governmental organizations. This assistance is in line with commitments made under the G7 Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises Compact, which notes north-east Nigeria as being at immediate risk of famine.

Canadas funding is focused on supporting gender-responsive humanitarian action, recognizing that women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by the ongoing conflict. This includes improving access to sexual and reproductive health care, preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence, and supporting the leadership, participation, and decision-making of women and girls in humanitarian action.

To complement its humanitarian assistance, Canada is also providing $5.5 million to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to help conflict and pandemic-affected households in the north-east regain and strengthen their livelihoods. This funding aims to help restore the self-sufficiency and resilience of affected communities, with a focus on womens empowerment.

In fiscal year 2019/20, Canada provided over $123 million in international assistance to Nigeria, making it the 6th largest recipient of Canadas international assistance worldwide.

Quotes

The conflict in north-east Nigeria continues to exact a terrible toll on vulnerable populations, with women and girls suffering the worst effects of the crisis. Amidst the ongoing conflict, the safety and security of civilians and humanitarian workers must be ensured so that life-saving assistance can reach those in need without delay.

Acting High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, H.E Mr. Nicolas Simard
A baby delivered in prison while her 18-year-old mother, Kemisola Ogunniyi, was being detained in connection with the October 2020 #EndSARS protest, has been christened.

The childs naming ceremony held on Wednesday at Vera Christian Assembly, Ayedun Quarters, Akure, Ondo State capital.

The name given to the baby boy, who was delivered on June 16, exactly one week after his birth, include Elijah, Eriaanu, Oluwadarasimi, Okikiaanu, and Oluwajomiloju Temitope.

The wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Ogunwusi, who was present at the ceremony, gave various baby items and foodstuff to the babys family.

Mrs Ogunwusi promised to always support the family.

When I heard the news, I was very happy, I was touched to hear that the lady gave birth in the prison custody. That was why I am here today. The baby is a special boy. I will stay with the family, she said.

Ms Ogunniyi subsequently said, I thank God for my life and I also appreciate the government and all who participated in my case. God will be all of you.

Her lawyer, Tope Temokun, has also announced that a UBA bank account has been opened to support Ms Ogunniyi and her baby. The account name is Ogunniyi Kemisola Alaba while the account number is 2205643040.

He also told our reporter that a medical doctor in Akure, Wilson Ikubese, offered the baby scholarship from nursery to secondary school level.

Backstory

Ms Ogunniyi was arrested by soldiers after the violence that erupted in the wake of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.

She was randomly picked up on the streets of Akure for allegedly having connections with persons who torched the All Progressive Congress (APC) secretariat in Akure, Ondo State, during the nationwide #EndSARS anti-police brutality protest last year.

She was about two months pregnant when she was arrested along with three others on October 22, 2020.

Those with whom she was arrested were Ayodele Bukunmi, Ojo Samuel, and Ani Obinna.

They were all charged with conspiracy to commit arson, riotous assembly, stealing and malicious damage, and later remanded in Surulere Prison in Ondo West local government area of the state.

She gave birth in prison on June 16, prompting Nigerians to take to social media platforms, particularly Twitter, to campaign for her release.

Her lawyer, Mr Temokun, on June 17, wrote separate letters to the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, and Chief Judge, Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, demanding her release.

Mr Titiloye in a statement, on Sunday, confirmed the hope expressed by her lawyer on Saturday that she would be released soon.

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She was granted bail by Ondo State High court and released on Tuesday.
The absence of a witness who was to testify in the defence of alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (also known as Evans) on Wednesday stalled his trial before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Evanss counsel, Oyekunle Falabi, informed the court that the witness, whose name was not provided, could no longer be reached via phone.

Mr Falabi is from Victor Okpara and Co. Chambers.

My lord, ordinarily we are ready to go on, but Im surprised that the first defendants (Evans) witness is not in court.

My lord, we have even put her through as a witness and I am surprised that she is not here.

I have been trying to reach her on phone but her line is switched off. I am praying that the court should give us a short date, he said.

Counsel to Evanss five co-defendants also agreed with Mr Falabis request for an adjournment.

Responding, Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until June 29 for the continuation of defence.

All other defendants should bring their witnesses on that day so that the day will not be wasted, Mr Oshodi said.

NAN reports that Evans while testifying in his defence on January 22 denied being a kidnapper.

Led in evidence by lead defence counsel, Victor Okpara, Evans denied all allegations of kidnapping levelled against him by the Lagos State Government.

He insisted that he was a legitimate businessman.

He said that his nickname was not Evans and that he was coerced into admitting being a kidnapper after the police, in a bid to make him confess, extra-judicially killed four individuals in his presence.

I live at Fred Shoboyede Street, Magodo Phase II, Lagos. I am a businessman and I deal on ornaments and Horlicks.

My lord, my name is not Evans and I dont have a nickname, he said.

He said that prior to being apprehended by the authorities, he had never met his five co-defendants.

He said that he met his co-defendants for the first on the day they were paraded as members of a kidnap syndicate by the police at Area F Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos.

His co-defendants are  Uche Amadi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba.

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NAN reports that the six defendants were arraigned before Justice Oshodi on August 31, 2017, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

They are accused of kidnapping Donatus Dunu, the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

According to the prosecution, Dunu was kidnapped on Ilupeju Road, Lagos State, on Febuary 14, 2017.

The defendants allegedly collected 223,000 Euros as ransom from Mr Dunus family. (NAN)
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John McAfee, the founder of the McAfee antivirus software, is dead.

He reportedly died by suicide in his prison cell in Spain.

His death came hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the U.S. on tax evasion charges on Wednesday.

Mr McAfee apparently hanged himself, his lawyer told Reuters news agency.

The Catalan justice department said prison officers and medics had tried to resuscitate him but were not successful.

It added that everything indicates McAfee had taken his own life.

The 75-year-old British-American entrepreneur was arrested at Barcelona airport in October last year for allegedly failing to pay taxes on years of income.

He was alleged to have deliberately failed to file tax returns between 2014 and 2018, despite earning millions from consulting work, crypto-currencies and selling the rights to his life story.

In a tweet on June 16, he said the U.S. authorities believed he had hidden crypto. I wish I did  My remaining assets are all seized. My friends evaporated through fear of association. I have nothing. Yet, I regret nothing.

BBC reported the U.S. justice department saying Mr McAfee evaded tax liability by having his income paid into bank accounts and cryptocurrency exchange accounts in the names of nominees.

He was also accused of concealing assets, including a yacht and real estate property, also in other peoples names.

The entrepreneur, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, first came to prominence in the 1980s when he founded his tech company and released McAfee VirusScan.

Although a pioneer of computer security, he once admitted to the BBC that he never actually used the software on his own computers  or any anti-virus software for that matter.

I protect myself by constantly changing my IP [internet protocol] address, by not attaching my name to any device I use, and by not going on to sites where you might pick up a virus.

In April, he tweeted:

Which came first  The lies our government tells us, Or the lies we tell ourselves?
Fulani leaders in Kebbi State have denied involvement in the recent abduction of some staff and students of the Federal Government College, Yauri.

The state governor, Atiku Bagudu, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Bagudu was at the State House to the president on the incident.

Most bandits are believed to belong to the Fulani tribe who are mostly found in forests due to their pastoral nature.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how armed bandits stormed the unity college last week and abducted an undisclosed number of staff and students.

Aside from the kidnap, the bandits killed a security personnel during an exchange of gunfire.

The heavily armed bandits, who came on motorcycles, reportedly entered the town from the neighbouring Rijau forest in Niger State.

Few days after the abduction, the army later announced the rescue of about 10 students and three staff of the learning institution.

Condemnable act

Mr Bagudu stated that the Fulani leaders in the state have since come out to condemn the abduction from the group he described as a renegade.

He said their condemnation followed his call to all groups in the state to cooperate with security agencies to fish out the armed bandits.

He added that the Fulani leaders have pledged to assist government in every way possible to apprehend the assailants.

Our stand, I have made it very clear this is condemnable, this should not happen and all people of goodwill, all good people should mobilise to confront evil and evil elements and criminal elements in our society. Its not just a job for the security agencies, we have to support them. We have to mobilise.

Since I made that statement, which I meant by every stretch of imagination, many groups have come out to demonstrate similar supports and yesterday we have seen mobilisation by the Niger State governor and I believe well see more in the coming days.

Nigerians should unite so that we confront criminality. Even yesterday, Fulani leaders in Kebbi State all visited Government House, Kebbi, even though I was not there to receive them, to condemn and to distance themselves from those renegade groups, or renegade criminal elements and to offer to support in whatever role the security agencies will want them to play, he said.

Thriving banditry

Niger State, where the bandits, came from, has witnessed more attacks from bandits recently despite heightened security measure in the area. The state shares boundaries with Kebbi State.

Aside from Niger, other states like Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto experienced attacks and kidnap by bandits.

The most recent incident was the abduction of 21 students of Greenfield University in Kaduna State.

The students of the private university in Kaduna State were abducted on April 20 after bandits invaded their hostels. Five of the abducted students were later killed by the bandits.

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The federal government says it has so far paid N24.8 billion as stipends to the beneficiaries of its Special Public Works Programme.

The Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, announced this at the weekly ministerial briefing organised by the presidential communication team on Thursday.

He said beneficiaries were paid N20,000 a month for three months.

The Special Public Works Programme was introduced in October 2019, following President Muhammadu Buharis approval.

The programme is domiciled in the National Directorate of Employment, a parastatal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The programme seeks to address the problem of unemployment across the country, especially in the rural areas, thus making the unemployed youth more useful to themselves and society.

As of this morning people have started receiving their payment of N40, 000 each; that is for those who have received N20, 000 before but for those who had not received before and have finished their work, the minister said.

We are paying them N60, 000 each. So you will hear jubilation across the country because of that and this N60, 000 will save so many lives across the country

This is surely going to reflate the economy because we have designed it in a way that all the Local Government Areas will benefit. It is going to boost the economy from the very bottom because the beneficiaries are going to add this money to their businesses, Mr Keyamo said.

He said, as of this morning, we have so far paid 413, 630 persons out of the 774, 000 so we have achieved about 60 percent.

All of these people received N60, 000 each and the total we have paid is N24, 817, 800, actual money given to Nigerians for them to cushion the effects of COVID-19 from the grassroots, he said.

Mr Keyamo however said the entire targeted 774, 000 beneficiaries may not be achieved because of the peculiarities of the screening process.

In a large programme like this, we may not achieve the 774, 000 to the last number but for me, if we are able to achieve and pay up to 600, 000 persons, we would have achieved a lot, he said.

He noted that the remaining balance would return to the governments coffers if we cannot have real people who will come and be entitled to that. I mean real people with real identity and correct Bankers Verification Number (BVN) so that we will not resort to paying ghosts, we will return the balance.

He assured Nigerians that the programme will not go down the drain at the expiration of the tenure of the current administration in 2023 because it has been approved by the Federal Executive Council.

This programme has been approved about four or five weeks ago by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). This is one of the various programmes that the government will be implementing every year and people will be enrolled into the programme every year.

It is a very good programme and we will keep improving because it is a huge programme that will take a lot of logistics especially when you want to execute it to perfection.

I may not be here tomorrow as a Minister but we have set a template that subsequent managers of the programme will follow in future to ensure that it is water tight in terms of the selection.

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As part of the larger package of governments poverty reduction programme that FEC approved, the President is very serious about lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years and we are looking at different strategies to adopt in achieving that.

I assure you that it will not go down the drain because there is a FEC approval already for the Special Public Works Programme to be an annual event, he added.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, unfolded its plans towards ensuring the success of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR), which resumes on Monday.

The exercise, which was last conducted before the 2019 General Elections, was slated to resume in the first quarter 2020, but was abruptly halted due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission was not only ready to proceed with the exercise but has also made arrangements to ease the process for both Nigerias citizens and its staff.

He said the commission had launched its portal where potential voters could commence the registration process online by filling the forms and other documents before completing the exercise at available offices.

He also disclosed the commissions plan to deploy 5,346 staff to the 2,673 registration centres nationwide.

We are now ready to resume the CVR on Monday next week. We have acquired all the equipment for the exercise, updated our registration software and planned for the deployment of 5,346 staff to the 2,673 registration centres nationwide.

Among the equipment for the exercise is a new registration machine called the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED). This device is built around the concept of a Tablet computer and will replace the lap-top based old Direct Data Capture Machine (DDCM).

I am glad to say that our engineers designed the IVED in-house before it was fabricated abroad. It is more mobile and efficient than the DDCM and could also be deployed to other activities, particularly the accreditation of voters during elections. The new machine will be unveiled at this press conference, Mr Yakubu said.

The commission broke a 25 years jinx barely last two weeks ago when it announced the successful creation of additional 56,872 Polling Units (PUs) to the initial 119,974 PUs in the 36 states and Nigerias Capital City, Abuja.

Nigeria now has 176,846 full-fledged PUs, a development many believe could improve voters access and reduce disenfranchisement of voters across the country.

While the development seems pleasant to some, Mr Yakubu noted the fear of others as the countrys electoral process struggles for more technologically-inclined process.

On this note, let me allay the fears expressed by some Nigerians that many citizens may be disenfranchised by the new digital arrangement, Mr Yakubu said.

The Commission is aware that not all Nigerians have computers, smart phones, access to the internet or residing in urban and sub-urban areas. Some citizens may also have one form of disability or another to make it impossible for them to register online.

The Commission is also aware of its responsibility under the law to provide every eligible Nigerian the opportunity to register irrespective of where they live or other circumstances of life.

I wish to assure you that in addition to the online registration portal, there will be some 2,673 centres where citizens can register physically nationwide.

Furthermore, the exercise will be carried out continuously over a period of at least one year thereby providing enough time for the Commission to reach all the nooks and crannies of the country. No eligible Nigerian will be disenfranchised.

Mr Yakubu described the now subsided incessant attacks on the commissions properties in some parts of the country as plots of the attackers to undermine the Commissions capacity to organise elections and other electoral activities, including the CVR. Luckily, only buildings, equipment and materials have been destroyed.
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The National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ekiti State said it had seized 87.88 grammes of cocaine in the state.

The Ekiti NDLEA commander, Gaura Shedow, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday that the seizure was the largest quantity in the history of the state.

He said the command had been battling with fighting Indian hemp cultivation, but that in recent time seizing such amount of quantity of cocaine was worrisome.

Speaking on the celebration of the 2021 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the NDLEA commander decried the alarming rate of drug abuse in the society.

He said the cultivation of Indian hemp, also known as Cannabis sativa, has always topped the list in Ekiti since 2004.

He, however, said the recent seizure of large numbers of cocaine in the state had become a thing of concern to the command.

Mr Shedow added that the command between July 2020 and May 2021 seized a total of 1,605.33 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in Ekiti.

Within this period under review, we seized 1,516.3kg of Cannabis; Cocaine  87.88 grammes; and Heroine  1.1 grammes.

It is worrisome that we recently seized 87.88 grammes of Cocaine, the largest number in the history of Ekiti.

Also, 29 suspects were arrested, 27 males and 2 females, and we secured two convictions at the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti.

We carried out 25 sensitisation programmes at schools, communities and motor parks as well as five Drug Free Clubs in secondary and tertiary institutions, he said.

He called on parents to assist the agency with necessary information of the wards in the fight against the drug abuse in the country and Ekiti in particular.

NAN reports that the 2021 United Nations fight against drug abuse with the theme, Share Facts on Drugs, Save Live was aimed at combating the misinformation and sharing of facts on the danger of drug abuse.

Mr Shedow, however, restated the commitment of the officers and men of the agency to combating illicit drugs and trafficking.

(NAN)
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Heritage Bank applied a new approach of recovering an impaired loan Monday when its staff protested at the home of a former senator asking him to pay up.

The former lawmaker, Andy Uba, who represented Anambra North, is currently a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC in his state.

Videos of bank workers at his property emerged Monday, showing at least a dozen officials at the entrance to Mr Ubas Abuja home. A voice explained that the staff were there for a peaceful meeting to ask Mr Uba to pay his outstanding debt.

Senator Uba has been owning the bank for a couple of years now, and we are here for a peaceful meeting with him, a very peaceful meeting. To ask him to kindly repay those loans, because they are depositors funds, the unidentified speaker said.

Those monies, if they are not repaid, will throw the number of the people you see here, with their families out of work. And we know the situation of the economy now. If this number of people are thrown out of work, you know what it means. So that people will not lose their job!

Mr. Uba did not respond to calls and text messages from PREMIUM TIMES. But on Wednesday, he threatened to sue the bank and demanded N5 billion. He claimed the move was politically motivated.

This is more so, as you deliberately picked the rather inauspicious period immediately preceding the forthcoming gubernatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress [APC] for Anambra State slated for the 26th of June 2021, wherein our client is the leading candidate to clinch his Partys ticket, to stage this smear campaign against him, he said in a letter signed by his lawyer, Ahmed Raji.

The spokesperson of Heritage Bank, Fela Ibidapo, denied the claim.

That was not planned at all, the bank naturally will go and do recovery, if you check Mr. Andys letter through his lawyer, he never said he didnt owe the bank, he told PREMIUM TIMES, referring to the video going public.

Everything is not political, unfortunately the timing for him seems as if it will affect his primaries, we could care less about that because it was just on our schedule to go to his place at that certain time.

He said Mr. Uba has been evading the banks effort to recover the loan. He however, did not give the figures of the loan.

But, officials told the newspaper that Mr Uba got about N5 billion in 2015 from the then defunct Enterprise bank. The loan was then bought over when Heritage bank acquired Enterprise bank.

Officials said when interest is considered, the total amount owed now would be over N10 billion.

They said the bank could not take over the collateral for loan, in Banana Island in Lagos, as the building is heavily guarded by security.

The collateral we have not had access to, it is heavily guided by security. And of course, we have tried repeatedly, writing him through lawyers, trying to take the matter to court but he keeps frustrating all the effort, one source said.

All the efforts to retrieve the loan from him over the years have proved abortive which is the reason why the bank which he took the loan from, took some staff from the department of recovery to protest peacefully.

The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will field chairmanship candidates in only six of the 27 locals councils of Jigawa in Saturdays local government elections in the state.

The chairman of the party in the state, Ibrahim Babandi, said its candidates in the other councils could not afford the exorbitant fees for the nomination forms set by the states electoral commission.

The commission fixed N500,000 for the nomination form for the chairmanship election and N200,000 for the councillorship elections.

Mr Babandi said the exorbitant amount was meant to deny members of the opposition their constitutional rights to participate in the electoral process.

We have severally engaged the states electoral commission to reduce the amount to enable our candidates to participate in the election but we learnt that the action was deliberate because the ruling APC is afraid of losing to the PDP in the state.

They fixed N500,000 for chairmanship candidates in 27 council areas and N200,000 for councilors in 287 political wards of the state. How can we afford that? This is undemocratic and abuse of political rights, Mr Babandi said.

He said the sale of nomination forms by the state electoral commission is against democratic principles, noting that INEC did not sell nomination form for the just concluded bye-election in the Gwaram Federal Constituency.

Premium Times tried to speak with the head of the state electoral commission, Adamu Ibrahim, but he could not be reached on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for his comment.

But the states deputy governor, Usman Namadi, told reporters on Thursday that opposition parties are participating in the election and assured that the process will be credible and fair.

Mr Namadi said the APC has not failed in the state because it has delivered the dividends of democracy for the residents.

The loss by APC in Zaria in Kaduna State portrays the beauty of democracy and is a credit for the ruling APC because it allowed the will of the people to prevail.

Jigawa is an APC state and the governor, Muhammad Badaru, has given an order that the election must be credible and fair for all the parties, the deputy governor said.
Titilayo Benson, a 38-year-old woman who had been held at the Female correctional Facility, Kirikiri, for about 10 years without trial, regained her freedom on Thursday.

Mrs Benson was set free by a judge at the Lagos State High Court, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, following a plea bargain between the state government and the defendant.

She has been in custody for over 10 years without arraignment, a representative of the Directorate of Public Prosecution told the judge.

How did that happen? How can anybody be in custody in 10 years without being in court? It is not possible, a visibly shocked judge asked.

Responding to the judge, O.A Bajulaiye-Bishi, a representative of the office of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice, explained that there is evidence of production warrant but the defendant was not brought to court, and it is most likely the production warrant was not delivered.

Background

Mrs Bensons journey to jail began on February 8, 2010, when she fought with Blessing Imade, her friend and housemate, PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported.

While Ms Imade cut her with a razor blade, Mrs Benson retaliated by stabbing her with a broken bottle. Her friend died after a month, while still receiving treatment for the injury she sustained.

Mrs Benson was, thereafter, arrested and detained for months at the State Criminal Intelligence Department (SCID) Panti, before being charged to court.

She was charged before an Ebutte-Meta Magistrate Court for causing the death of another  a matter which the magistrate court has no jurisdiction over.

Olatunji Isaac, the magistrate, gave a holding order that she be remanded in Kirikiri prison, pending the DPPs advice. The DPP advised in 2013 that she be charged with murder.

A murder charge with suit number LD/92/13 was filed against Mrs Benson before Mrs Taiwos court. However, she was never produced before the judge, who later struck out the case in 2017 for lack of diligent prosecution.

Mrs Benson was never arraigned, tried, or convicted by any court. Yet, she remained in prison for years.

Plea Bargain

Following PREMIUM TIMES report, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Lagos swung into action to correct the convoluted legal process in the case of Mrs Benson.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Justice on February 26, the state said it would explore plea and sentence bargain.

I am directed to inform you that the Hon. Attorney General is willing to concede to a plea and sentence bargain for the offence of manslaughter and time spent as a sentence, the Ministry of Justice responded in a statement.

The period for the plea bargain was however prolonged due to the two months strike embarked on by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

Presenting the plea bargain to the court on Thursday, Mrs Bajulaiye-Bishi said the defendant agreed to plead to the offence of manslaughter with a lesser sentence for term spent in custody.

In the copy of the plea bargain obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Benson is to plead guilty to a lesser charge  manslaughter and sentenced to imprisonment for the period spent in custody.

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The facts of the case are that the Defendant on the 8th of March, 2010, in the course of a fight stabbed one Blessing Imade on her shoulder and the deceased died. The defendant was never produced for arraignment until the matter was struck out on 01 March 2017.

The Defendant was initially charged before this Honourable Court with the offence of murder contrary to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, to which she pleaded not guilty.

The Defendant Titilayo Benson however through a Plea Bargain application dated the 22nd of January, 2021 applied and concluded to change her plea, upon which the information against her be amended to the offence of Manslaughter contrary to Section of 227 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, the document partly reads.

With the plea bargain, the years the defendant has spent in custody will be converted as the sentence for the offence.

Judgment

Giving judgment on the matter, Mrs Taiwo said the defendant, who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter-with no intention to murder- was earlier charged before her court.

The defendant was not produced in court for arraignment, court eventually struck out the case for lack of diligent prosecution. It was later discovered that the defendant was in custody at the female Correctional Centre Kirikiri since March 2010.

In the light of this, the DPP filed and enlisted the case and amended the charge with that of manslaughter. Defendant applied for plea bargain which was approved by the Honourable Attorney General of Lagos State, Mrs Taiwo said.

She said she had received the plea bargain filed on June 23 and accepted the terms.

This court accepts the plea bargain which states the defendant has served a prison term of sentence of terms spent in custody from date of remand on 10th of March 2010.

In view of this, the defendant has served 10 years imprisonment and is therefore free to go. I hereby order her immediate release from the prison custody, she said.

Mrs Taiwo also commented on the failure of our criminal justice system, saying in Mrs Bensons case, the defendant in custody was not brought to appear before the court for trial.

Efforts by all stakeholders must be intensified to ensure that production warrants are correctly served and prisoners produced whenever the court requires his or her appearance in court.

I commend the efforts of prosecution and defence counsels in facilitating the plea bargain and the production of the defendant in court today, she said.

Meanwhile, production warrant for Mrs Benson to appear in court on Thursday was not served on the correctional facility.

We didnt bring Titilayo, we didnt receive any warrant, a correctional officer earlier told the counsel to the defendant, Francis Akinlotan.

Through combined efforts, Mr Akinlotan and Rose Obakpolor, counsels to the defendant reached out to the correctional facility for her to be produced on Thursday on the order of the court.

Mrs Benson, whose case had earlier been stood down because she was not yet in court, was escorted into the court premises by prison officials around 1:30p.m.
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Going by its political precedence and antecedence, the All Progressives Grand Alliance is the party most primed to retain political power in the State, not only because it has been the ruling party since 2006, but also due to its legacy of visible achievements.

The process has started in ernest; the battle to occupy the topmost political position in the State known as the home for all. That the exercise of this democratic franchise in the gateway State of the South-East is keenly followed is a no-brainer. This is not to say that similar electoral contests in other States in the country are no less important. They all are. Its just that that of Anambra State has its own set of uniqueness that seems to set it apart. For one, the sheer amount of money set aside by the political gladiators across the divide is usually mind-numbing and ends up provoking anew, the oft-repeated complaint and debate by Nigerians about the obscenely expensive nature of the presidential political system in practice in the country. But it is not just an Anambra thing. In fact, the quantum of money on display during elections (regardless of the status and level of the contested positions), makes nonsense of the electoral guideline on campaign financing.

Secondly, it will be interesting to see if, and how, the current security instability, vis-a-vis the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the geo-political zone will affect the entire electoral process in the State. This worry and concern come against the backdrop of warnings in recent times by IPOB to Anambra people to shun all electoral exercises. And although the separatist organisation has shown the capacity to influence and compel South-Easterners to obey its sit-at-home directives, happily enough, it has yet lacked the capacity to influence political exercises such as elections. IPOBs failure to truncate the last governorship election in the State in 2017 is perhaps the clearest indicator that the incoming governorship election will hold without hindrance.

As at the last count, about 60 candidates across party lines have indicated interest in replacing the current governor, Willie Obiano. Of the many political parties that will lock horns in the election, it is almost obvious that the usual suspects will dominate the processes leading to the D-Day. These are the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Any other party that would make waves and achieve some level of visibility will only be able to do that on the back of the prominence of its candidate.

So far, as at the time of writing this piece, only APGA has successfully conducted its screening of candidates. The partys screening committee, sitting in Abuja, cleared Okolo Damian Chibuzo, Dr Charles Soludo, Ibeh ThankGod Kenechukwu Christopher, and Ezenwankwo Okwudili Christopher to contest for the party ticket in its primary election.

The PDP, on its part, has screened 10 aspirants, namely: Uche Ekwunife, Obiora Okonkwo, Chris Azugbogu, Winston Udeh and Valentine Ozigbo. Others are Chidi Onyemelukwe, Ifedi Okwenna, Tony Nwoye, Walter Okeke and Godwin Ezeemo.

For the APC, in contention for screening are the following: Andy Uba, Chidozie Nwankwo, George Moghalu, Paul Orajiaka, and Geoffrey Onyejegbu. Others include Johnbosco Onunkwo, Amobi Nwokafor, Ben Etiaba and Azuka Okwuosa.

Obviously, the contest leading to Government House is between the APGA, PDP, and the APC, in that order of likely acceptability. Going by its political precedence and antecedence, the All Progressives Grand Alliance is the party most primed to retain political power in the State, not only because it has been the ruling party since 2006, but also due to its legacy of visible achievements, a phenomenon first started by Chris Ngige, a former governor under the Peoples Democratic Party, and subsequently till date, under APGA governors Peter Obi and Willy Obiano.

Indeed, it was under the governorship of Peter Obi that Anambra State climbed the pedestal of education excellence in the country and has remained firmly perched at the summit ever since. Results from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as well as the West African Examination CounciI (WAEC) bear testimony to the educational status of the State.

Road infrastructure, though still lacking in many communities, is another area of remarkable achievement. A new cargo airport is another first, attributed to the APGA-led government in the State. It is these, and some other milestones laid by the ruling party in power, that other contestants will try to downplay and designate as insignificant, just to make inroad into the hearts and minds of the people, in order to turn them away from APGA as a party worthy of their votes.

Perhaps the biggest reason for being optimistic about an APGA guber victory is the well known fact that in Nigeria today, governorship elections favour the incumbent and his party about 90 per cent of the time  a formidable and overwhelming statistic. An outgoing governor who has consolidated his political grip on his state and party for eight years is certainly the prime politician to deliver the state to his party-afiliated successor.

As it is, the screened and cleared quartet of APGA candidates  Okolo Damian Chibuzo, Dr Charles Soludo, Ibeh ThankGod Kenechukwu Christopher, and Ezenwankwo Okwudili Christopher  must be feeling confident that, post-APGA primary, the winner of that primary will stand a great chance to replace Willy Obiano as governor. Though ThankGod Ibeh, a businessman and graduate of the Lagos State University is a relatively unknown figure, one can never rule anything out in politics. Ezenwankwo Okwudili, a serving member of the House of Representatives, is another person eyeing the big one in Awka. The once president of the traders association in Anambra State is likely going to discover that running for governor is a different kettle of fish in comparison to where he is coming from.

Of the four, Charles Soludo, by virtue of his position as former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is the most visible nationally  a quality that is crucial for electability, provided that all other variables are equal. But then, the November election in the State is not a national election. This is where Charles Soludo, who has contested once for governor might come unstuck. There is a widely accepted maxim that all politics is local. This fact alone makes it imperative for any politician worth his salt to build his base in his community before launching out to the wider country. It is precisely because of this grassroot popularity and recognition that Okolo Damian Chibuzo stands a very good chance of upsetting the apple cart. The Onitsha based chartered estate valuer and surveyor, and a business man, is very much a grassroots man and seems to understand the rudiments of people-centred politics.

Perhaps, the fact that he has never held a political position before might weigh heavily in his favour, as Nigerians increasingly become disillusioned with the performances of both elected and appointed political office holders. Except for a few exceptional ones, the general verdict among Nigerians is that new blood, whenever possible, is needed to revamp the polity at all levels of government in the country. Okolo Damian Chibuzo, certainly seems like a breath of fresh air blowing in Anambra state. These advantages, combined with his well known philanthropic activities, his successes in his chosen professional activities and his general success in the world of private business and entrepreneurship might perhaps, more than the others, push him to the seat of power in Awka.

Achike Chude, a public affairs commentator, lives in Lagos.
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When undertaking revolutionary projects that seek to correct societal ills of such endemic nature, regular evaluation along the line of established key performance indicators is an indispensable requirement. There has to be credible and effective feedback and redress mechanisms. Drivers cannot afford to stand aloof.

For the past few decades in Nigeria, phrases like providing an enabling environment, and ease of doing business have become cliches, due to the general realisation that government cannot turnaround and prosper the economy without the active participation of the private sector. Governments role is to provide infrastructure and make policies that enable private sector players to invest and grow the economy, but it had paid lip service to this responsibility over the years, until the economy plunged into an abyss. The need to grow and diversify the Nigeria economy has become an emergency now.

There is a thin line between providing an enabling environment and ease of doing business. Both involve the summation of activities and policies of government towards facilitating/catalysing economic activities in a country. While providing an enabling environment could, among other things, involve the provision of infrastructure and policies that enable businesses to flourish, the ease of doing business, on the other hand, involves a set of government regulations and actions that allows for the easy setting-up of businesses. These measures aim at getting rid of anti-progress red tapes and bottlenecks that bedevil the system. I must also add that these bottlenecks have been the bread and butter of corrupt government officials and they serve to only extort and frustrate intending investors.

President Muhammadu Buharis Democracy Day broadcast is yet another reminder of the governments numerous unfulfilled promises and an acknowledgement of this hydra of a problem that continues to work against our economic growth.

Politicians are aware that the challenges of an enabling environment and ease of doing business are the most pressing issues on the mind of the average Nigeria business person, as such every campaign season they promise to bring lasting solutions but only as campaign gimmicks. The sooner they get elected into office, their priorities change and nothing is done to check or improve the system. It is therefore no surprise that this situation has gotten worse with successive governments. Although we point fingers at politicians in top government positions as chief culprits, it is important that I point out that the responsibility involved cuts across policy/decision-makers at the very top and civil servants, down to the lowest level. In a few exceptional cases, good policies and actions have been taken at the top level but are thwarted at the lower level. I will get back to this in a bit.

Recent government policies suggest a gradual response to cumulative pressures by critics and the worsening economic indicators. The policy of process automation in some ministries and parastatals is one of the positive responses by the government, aimed at removing unnecessary bottlenecks and stemming corruption.

The emergence of social media has given greater voice and presence to advocacy groups and critics that now pressure the government to act on burning issues of general interest. Peer review reports by International organisations like the World Bank have also added pressure to governments of countries that are lagging behind to do something to improve their situations. The World Bank currently ranks Nigeria 131st out of 190 economies that were studied.

Recent government policies suggest a gradual response to cumulative pressures by critics and the worsening economic indicators. The policy of process automation in some ministries and parastatals is one of the positive responses by the government, aimed at removing unnecessary bottlenecks and stemming corruption. Places where processes have been automated include the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), to mention a few. However, the activities of operators in these agencies conflict with the core aim of this policy and can be best described as sabotage. So, you do not need to look far to see why we are in this state of all action, no movement.

Having worked for many years as an administrator in the organised private sector, I am one of those who applauded this government for coming up with the automation policy, as I know from experience how effective it can be to control risks with technology. I was so excited and I thought that we were finally making real progress by improving the turnaround time for business transactions, ridding the system of extortion, establishing auditable trails for tracking government revenue, and a long list of benefits. It was a rude shock to realise that rather than sanitising the system and making progress, operators have only been armed to up their game (through greater extortion).

A friend once told me of a case where an investor seeking regulatory approval to start a new business was required to provide a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) as part of his application. Through his auditor, he made the necessary payments and submitted his application via the FIRS portal. The statutory standard for issuing the TCC is two weeks from the date of application but it took about three months to process this, for the mere reason that the network was down. It is hard for me to believe that the server of the FIRS network, which is supposed to be governments primary source of revenue, would be down for that long without repair, but the investor later realised that not all applicants suffered this fate and that the network comes up and goes down, on the basis of tips. One can only imagine the frustration of this investor when he realised that in the process of waiting for his TCC to be issued, one of the other documents in his application expired and he had to go back to the extortionists for a renewal. Valuable time and money had been lost, just as had confidence in the system.

Who is responsible for monitoring the progress/impact of these policies and how effective are the feedback mechanisms? Hearing President Muhammadu Buhari, during his Democracy Day broadcast, assuring Nigerians that anyone found guilty of corruption in his administration would be eased out quickly, I couldnt help the feeling of same old, same old.

If one thinks that the above example was just an isolated case, then one needs to think again. At the NIMC, the same excuse of the network being down is used to extort between N1,000 and N2,000 from desperate applicants who need their temporary cards to open bank accounts or to pursue other businesses that require national identification. In some cases, there has been a complete bypass of the system and processes are still pretty much manual. The DPR website has clear instructions on how requests can be processed online. It even has a specified turnaround time for each transaction, yet the process still feels pretty much manual. The story goes on and on and on.

When undertaking revolutionary projects that seek to correct societal ills of such endemic nature, regular evaluation along the line of established key performance indicators is an indispensable requirement. There has to be credible and effective feedback and redress mechanisms. Drivers cannot afford to stand aloof. Old habits, they say, die-hard, and unless there is very close monitoring, operators will naturally want to stay with their old ways, more so when it brings a little extra money into their pockets.

Who is responsible for monitoring the progress/impact of these policies and how effective are the feedback mechanisms? Hearing President Muhammadu Buhari, during his Democracy Day broadcast, assuring Nigerians that anyone found guilty of corruption in his administration would be eased out quickly, I couldnt help the feeling of same old, same old. However, as the saying goes, the next best time to start is now.

Anthony Agbo is the CEO of Unigas Global Energy Limited and a certified accountant. He can be reached via his email: anthonyaagbo@gmail.com
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Diplomacy is tact. It is a skill in managing negotiations, handling people, etc, so that there is little or no ill will. Theres an Igbo proverb for that: agbakoo aka nyuo mamiri, o gbaa ufufu. It is not only the Igbo people who can pee together, as a matter of fact, but we also need the help of others so that the urine will foam very well.

A few months ago, I asked about Okonkwo , and unfortunately, most Igbo people think he was a hero . Newsflash, he was not. Okonkwo was that person who didnt have the ability to think. Even Professor Achebe once said that hed prefer if we were like Obierika.

So, the lesson: First, what is diplomacy?

Diplomacy is tact. It is a skill in managing negotiations, handling people, etc, so that there is little or no ill will. Theres an Igbo proverb for that: agbakoo aka nyuo mamiri, o gbaa ufufu. It is not only the Igbo people who can pee together, as a matter of fact, but we also need the help of others so that the urine will foam very well. Let us go back to our darkest moment as a people  1967 to 1970.

Why did we lose the war? Hubris.

There was an advert that used to run on Radio Biafra, Enugu, just before war broke out, and its tag line was, Whether they come from the land, sea or air, we will beat them.

History tells different, and two main things are to be considered here: First, the state creation of 1967 was a strategic masterstroke. It immediately removed the incentive for the minority ethnic groups in the Eastern region to support ndi Igbo because their yearnings of decades were addressed with that move. We were blind and deaf to that. The result was that when indeed war broke out, the federal side always had guides from non-Igbo groups, those who have an historical axe to grind with us. Everywhere there was a massacre of Igbos, it was the Southern minorities who pointed out the first people who were shot.

Why?

Secondly, let us stop propagating Ikedi Ohakims myth that the South-East is not landlocked. It is. Deal with it. Landlocked doesnt mean you dont have rivers. It means you dont have direct access to the ocean. No one is going to spend billions of dollars to dredge 80 kilometres to Azumini. When you are the bigger group in an arrangement, it behoves you to be that much more considerate towards your smaller counterparts. It helps for good relations. It helps even better when the smaller partners have significant leverage over you.

Sadly, and this is the third thing, our attitudes towards our neighbours with access to the sea, haughty in the main, did not help. We never stopped to ask what was offending these people. We have not stopped to ask till this day.

When you are the bigger group in an arrangement, it behoves you to be that much more considerate towards your smaller counterparts. It helps for good relations. It helps even better when the smaller partners have significant leverage over you. In this case, the significant leverage that our smaller neighbours have over us anyi bu ndi Igbo, is geography. First, the fact is that Kogi State is larger than the South-East. If we put the South-East as a single state, it will be the 14th largest state in Nigeria by landmass.

The following states are each larger than the South-East: Niger, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kwara, Kebbi, Benue, Plateau and Kogi. If we add Anioma to ani Igbo, we move up to just above Benue. This densely populated region is a challenge, like it or not.

How is it a challenge?

It is a challenge because, in addition to the huge population density, the quality of the land has seen, for whatever reason, a significant deterioration since Olaudah Equianos time. Why? I dont know yet, but it is what it is.

To be truly successful as a people, we must listen to that and adapt to our realities. We must understand that Ikpe aghahi ima ochicha ebe okuko nuo. So we must learn to be less abrasive, and more conciliatory, especially to our near abroad.

The reason that ndi Igbo are such great traders is not that we are genetically superior, but because our situation demands that we move about. Our geography makes us what Hubert Blalock called a middleman minority. We must live among others; our geography demands it.

But this is where our republican nature works against us. Because culturally, we do not have leaders, we tend to be very abrasive. We do not listen to our own admonition that Eneke si na kemgbe dinta ji muta mgbagbu na ofu mgba, o muta ife ma adaghi nala.

To be truly successful as a people, we must listen to that and adapt to our realities. We must understand that Ikpe aghahi ima ochicha ebe okuko nuo. So we must learn to be less abrasive, and more conciliatory, especially to our near abroad. The same rain that is beating us is beating Ndi mili na Ndi ugbo. So we must embrace them, not antagonise them by calling them Fulani slaves all the time, then turning around and expecting them to work with us.

Oh, and for Ndi mili, we should stop looking down on the pain they suffered during the war. Some of our boys did really nasty stuff between 1967 and 1970. The same way we cry about what Ndi ugwu did to us, we should be charitable towards Ndi mili.

Cheta Nwanze is a partner at SBM Intelligence.
Well, I watched the light-hearted joke with a bit of a heavy heart. What does the drama say of Ramaphosa? He is just human. The risk, however, is that the next time he cries wolf, hes unlikely to be taken seriously.

Awkward moments are human, and hardly call attention when mere mortals are involved. But when the high and might trip, they make the headlines.

Both experts and lay people sometimes feel obliged to ask if such awkward moments may not, indeed, like the Freudian slip, mean more than meets the eye. And quite often their suspicions are right.

Take former U.S. President, Donald Trump, for example. In his four-year Presidency, awkwardness was not the occasional accident, it was the defining thing, the essential Trump.

From telling the wife of French President Brigitte Macron that she was in good shape, to tossing paper towels into a crowd of hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico and shoving the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dusko Markovic, aside in Brussels for a group photo, Trump was king of awkwardness.

He did not care and could not be bothered: It was, by a number of documented accounts, a character flaw. Unfortunately, not just Trump, but the U.S. and the world, were the worst for his congenital, often malicious, awkwardness.

Some awkwardness is uninvited, unintended. Like the recent case of French President, Emmanuel Macron. The had president bounded over to have a handshake with onlookers during a pulse-taking tour of the country, only for an attacker to take the Presidents hand gingerly and give him a slap in the face in return.

Within days of the incident, the attacker, Damien Tarel, was jailed four months. Even in court, he was unremorseful, boasting that Macron knew he was performing so badly, if he challenged him to a duel at sunrise, he would not show up.

The assailants effrontery is hard for me, an African, to imagine. Im still wondering what would happen if an unarmed protester disguised as a fan of President Muhammadu Buharis, for example, suddenly did what that fellow did to Macron.

I cant imagine, much less write what fate would befall him, and possibly, all those who know him, dead or alive. Whether he was on cheap drugs or possessed by holy anger or the demons from his village, that is the day his madness would have been cured  and that would be long before he would ever dream of having his day in court!

But Macron, though initially shaken, took the slap in his stride, while security hustled away the assailant, just the way you might have tackled a wayward fellow at a playground. Im not so sure how that awkward moment would, in future, affect Macrons warmth toward even the most well-intended exuberant supporter. Would he now engage with a 10-foot pole?

I must say quickly, however, that presidents in the so-called advanced countries dont have a monopoly of awkwardness. Two of Africas regional superpowers  Nigeria and South Africa  have produced their own extraordinary moments of presidential faux pax that could win global prizes, too.

President Joe Biden, gifted for gaffes, has had a couple of awkward moments in his six-month presidency. Trump always taunted him as Sleepy Joe, insinuating, in fact, that his presidency would be ruined by poor health and possibly, dementia.

An awkward moment that got even the staunchest Biden supporters worried was when he tripped up twice on the stairwell of Air Force One. The President picked and dusted himself up gingerly but doubts about his fitness and presence of mind linger on, highlighted by his double Syria-Libya mix-up during the recent NATO Summit in Brussels.

But you would be mistaken to assume that presidential awkwardness is purely gerontocratic. It is not. President Justin Trudeau of Canada is only 49, but he topped the global Awkward Moment League a few years ago when it came to light that this same man who loves to pose as sympathiser-in-chief of blacks and racial minorities had mocked them serially by dressing up in blackface a number of times in the past.

In another incident infamously known as the Kokanee Grope, Trudeau handled one female reporter inappropriately and a few days later reportedly told the reporter, Im sorry, if I had known you were reporting for a national paper, I would never have been so forward.

I must say quickly, however, that presidents in the so-called advanced countries dont have a monopoly of awkwardness. Two of Africas regional superpowers  Nigeria and South Africa  have produced their own extraordinary moments of presidential faux pax that could win global prizes, too.

Five years ago, during a visit to Germany, Nigerias President Buhari, while responding to comments about his wifes criticisms of his government, said First Lady, Aishas comments should be ignored, because, I dont know which party my wife belongs to. But she belongs to my kitchen, and my living room and the other room.

He said this with a straight face, setting the Twittersphere on fire with #TheOtherRoom, and leaving German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who was standing beside him to carry the weight of the shame.

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Fear of what Buhari might say in public  or how he would say it  has shackled his media team for years, leaving them to either second-guess him or manage access to him as tightly as possible.

On Tuesday, South Africas President, Cyril Ramaphosa, gifted the world with a most awkwardly hilarious moment when he declared, just as he was about to give a speech on improvements in that countrys ports, that his iPad had been stolen!

As he came up to the podium, the president declared in a confused, stricken voice, I am looking for my iPad. Somebody stole my iPad. Somebody decided they want to dispossess me of my iPad, so I want that. Can I have my iPad, please? They stole it!

From the video, as an embarrassed, awkward murmur swept the room, I waited in frozen anticipation to see how it would all end. Was this a joke or what? Was the presidents iPad really stolen and what might the thief be looking for?

He didnt stop there. Forlorn and stranded, he lamented that his predicament was the sort of thing that happens when you give your gadgets to others to keep for you, instead of carrying your own stuff!

From the video, as an embarrassed, awkward murmur swept the room, I waited in frozen anticipation to see how it would all end. Was this a joke or what? Was the presidents iPad really stolen and what might the thief be looking for?

Would there be mails in there about the controversial donation to the presidents campaign, an incident that caught him in embarrassing flip-flops before his election? Or files about the fractious and tumultuous rise to the presidency of the former tycoon, worth about $675 million and ranked eight years ago by Forbes as one of Africas richest men?

Or perhaps some salacious state secret destined to rock the country? Or as one tweet said, What if Cyril Ramaphosas stolen iPad has the pin to the countrys bank account?

What, exactly, was this thief looking for? And how did he even get close to the First iPad, in the first place?

According to The South African, in a July 2018 report, Ramaphosa has 81 bodyguards, drawn from an elite force of 1,382 protection officers, which according to the police annual report of 2017, cost taxpayers R693 million (about $49 million).

So, how could a petty thief get past such formidable security and whisk off a presidential iPad, from a president who had his iPad in his hand, without notice? If an iPad now, what next?

I was contemplating all sorts when after what seemed like eternity, his spokesperson, Tyrone Seale appeared in the video and whispered something to the President, after which he relented and resumed his seat.

How did it end? An iPad appeared from somewhere, bringing the dramatic delay to a fuzzy ending. Seale said, There was no question of the iPad being missing or stolen in the first place. The president was making a light-hearted joke while waiting for his iPad to be brought to him.

Well, I watched the light-hearted joke with a bit of a heavy heart. What does the drama say of Ramaphosa? He is just human. The risk, however, is that the next time he cries wolf, hes unlikely to be taken seriously.

Azu Ishiekwene editor-in-chief of LEADERSHIP.
Hope is a powerful force and probably the most important factor when it comes to overcoming lifes biggest challenges especially in a society as challenging as ours.

Without hope, everything is lost.

Hope, like a seed, is sown through many sources. Some hope implicitly on government to address their needs. Some rely on family members and some hope on God to provide them with a man who will allow himself to be used as an instrument to change the lives of his people.

For the people of Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, especially those in Adiasim Community, their light of hope began sparkling at the establishment of a Foundation called Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation in 2015.

The name of the man behind the Foundation gives a clue of the glad tidings in stock for the people.

Oliver, a name believed to be taken from biblical olive tree, symbolises fruitfulness, beauty and dignity. In fact, extending an olive branch signifies an offer of peace. Fruitfulness of the land, beauty in health and dignity of persons through human capital development has been the experience of the people of Adiasim since the advent of the Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation.

Far-Reaching Footprint in Education

Although throwing a few millions around to make public show thus win mass affection has defined philanthropic gestures these days. That has never been the narrative of Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation.

Ebong chooses to channel his altruistic gesture towards causes in education and health as well as soft loans and grants to small-scale entrepreneurs.

Comprehending the truism of the words of Brad Henry, former Governor of Oklahoma, United States of America that, No other Investment yields as great a return as the investment in education. An educated workforce is the foundation of every community and the future of every economy, Ebongs footprint on education investment was conspicuously stamped in 2016 when he donated 500 modern school desks to pupils in five different primary schools in Adiasim.

This was accompanied by 100 tables and chairs to teachers of these schools. The Foundation went a step further to donate free exercise books to several schools across Essien Udim LGA in support of the free and compulsory education policy in Akwa Ibom State.

Those in secondary and tertiary institutions are not left behind.

Yearly, the Foundation ensures that not less than 30 privileged students across the community are given scholarship and bursary to aid their educational pursuits.

Currently, 25 students are under the full sponsorship of the Foundation in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

Be that as it may, not everyone will want to make their livelihood through the route of formal education. What provision does the Foundation have for them?

Phenomenal Imprint in Skills Development/Entrepreneurship

The prevailing indices in world economies offer clear indications that the skilled jobs and entrepreneurship may just be the needed pedestal towards hitting the accelerating gear of industrialisation ongoing in the Akwa Ibom State, coupled with other envisaged economic fortunes.

In fact, according to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) account for more than 84 percent of total jobs in the country.

The Ministry also notes that the MSME enterprises in Nigeria also account for about 48.5 percent of the gross domestic product, GDP, as well as about 7.27 percent of goods and services exported out of the country.

Most economies, particularly those of developing societies like Akwa Ibom State, march on the shoulders of small and medium-sized businesses. This is because MSMEs are characterized by dynamism, innovations, efficiency, and their small size allows for a faster decision-making process.

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Understanding the imperative of this sector to the growth of a Community like Adaisim and the State at large, the Foundation saw the need to train the people of Adaisim community on how best to explore this sector.

Impressively, about 30 persons have so far received business grant from the Foundation in order to boost their business while some who were yet to have one are given capital to commence theirs. Also, about 50 persons are undergoing skills acquisition trainings in various vocations, 20 of whom have already received startup empowerment from the foundation.

Indeed, the foundation understands that there is no better time for them to assist the people to tap into the enormous opportunities in the Nigerian skill and business sector other than now!

The aforementioned benevolent gestures are just a tip of the iceberg about the beneficent nature of the man, Oliver Ebong.

The Foundation does not fail to contribute to the sector that serves as the proverbial fulcrum of other sectors-health.

Epochal Mark in Health

The Foundations footmark on health development was loudly engraved in the community on July 28, 2018 at the commissioning of a healthcare facility in Adaisim community which was remodeled and donated by the Foundation, in partnership with Engr. Onur Kumral, a Turkish businessman and investor. Of course, birds of a feather flock together.

The commissioned healthcare centre, originally a colonial era built dispensary, was demolished, expanded and rebuilt with modern facilities by Engr. Oliver Ebong. The healthcare centre was now equipped with Childrens ward, Womens ward, Maternity ward and Examination room.

Interestingly, the Foundation went further to establish a routine of supply for drugs and other medical consumables, thus provide free medication to the people of Adiasim community and its environs.

To crown his effort in healthcare service, the Foundation has partnered with Pro-health International to provide free healthcare services to infants and the aged, no matter the ailment.

Since the commencement of the gesture in 2018 till date, the people of Adaisim community and her neighbours have been privileged to enjoy enhanced medical care.

Oliver Ebong Foundation understands that investing in African health systems is an opportunity to accelerate economic development and growth, contribute to saving thousands of lives, prevent life-long disabilities, and move our society closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africas Agenda 2063.

Interventions

What is more, Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation is not concerned about projects alone. The Foundation is renowned in stepping in the gap to help where and when it matters most.

For instance, when some communities in Essien Udim had security challenges leading to some Communities finding solace at Internally Displaced Persons Camps, the Foundation donated food items, among other household items to support those affected.

Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation in the Eyes of the Public

The benevolence of the Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation has been greeted by commendation across the State.

Governor Udom Emmanuel who commissioned the healthcare centre commended Oliver Ebong for his numerous supports to education, health and human capacity development.

Represented by the then Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and currently, a Member of the House of Representatives, Onofiok Luke, the Governor said, This is a testament that you love and value your people. You understand that Government cannot do it alone and that is the reason you have decided to make these sacrifices. The seeds of kindness you sow shall grow big and bear great fruits of blessings to your community and yourself.

The Foundation has defied the story of the proverbial prophet who is not respected at home.

Mrs. Alice Inyang, a trader in Adaisim community said, We are very happy that Engr. Oliver Ebong has demonstrated love by giving back to the society from the little he has.

In the past, plenty of our aged and infants have lost their lives because of lack of adequate medical facility and care. With the provision of his free healthcare services in a world-class health facility, things have changed positively.

Ekpeyong Asukwo, one of the beneficiaries of the Oliver Ebong Foundation scholarship scheme, have this to say about the Foundation: I really do not know how miserable my life would have been and how I would have further my education if not for the scholarship given to me by Engr. Oliver Ebong Foundation.

Now I am a final year student of civil engineering and will be graduating next year. This foundation has given my life a direction. May God Almighty bless him and his family.

For Obong Paulinus Mkpa, a traditional father in Adiasim, Engr. Oliver Ebong is among the greatest philanthropists the State has ever had.

He said, We as a people are so proud to have him as a son. The philanthropic works he has done will help define the future of our community. We pray Gods blessing upon him and the grace to succeed in all his endeavours.

In long years to come, the tales of the great works of Oliver Ebong will continue to permeate every nook and cranny of our society thus show the veracity of the words of American Broadcast Journalist, Germany Kent, who said: Live your life in such a way that youll be remembered for your kindness, compassion, fairness, character, benevolence, and a force for good who had much respect for life, in general.

The Driving Spirit behind Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation

Indeed, the vision of giving hope and opportunities in challenging society led Engr. Ebong to set up the Oliver Ebong Okon Foundation in 2015 which has given his growing humanitarian service a structure.

As Ebongs business footprint expands, so has his appreciation of the challenges facing the society and his desire to do something about it at a larger scale.

2016 and 2018 marked a watershed for the Foundation, when Ebong joined hands with International Partners like Pro-health and business friends like Engr. Onur Kumral, a Turkish businessman and investor to address education and health needs of his people.

This partnership is gradually giving the foundation the wings to fly and contribute to other parts of the State.

The development and vision necessitated a restructuring and realignment within the operations of the Foundation and how it works to deliver on Olivers vision with Mrs. Annastacia Oliver Ebong serving as the Chairperson of the Foundation.

Oliver says his drive is simply to see a self-sufficient society where there is peaceful coexistence.

He said, We want to see self-sufficiency, self-dependence, good health, security, peaceful and healthy coexistence in our society. Our target is especially the underprivileged.

Government cannot do everything, thats an established fact. Even when we had economic boom, government was still challenged not to mention now that we are in perilous times. This is the time that individuals who have been blessed should contribute their quota so that the underprivileged can have a little sense of comfort and hope.

A comfortable person who is surrounded by people who are not comfortable, that comfort can never be sustainable. It is only a matter of time before they pour their frustration on you and your immediate family.

Yet, there is a deeper reason to his benevolence to the people  love for humanity.

I get very disturbed to see disadvantaged people around me. The inequalities can be assuaged if we love humanity and be ready to share the little we have, Ebong noted.

Glaringly, through the great footprints of his Foundation, Oliver Ebong has lived the call by Canadian based Philosopher and Entrepreneur, Matshona Dhliwayo who said, Use your mind to solve problems for others; your heart to feel compassion for others; your mouth to speak for others; your hands to help others; your feet to visit others; your ears to listen to others, and your life to better others.
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The shareholders of Jaiz Bank Plc have approved a total dividend of N883.9m representing 3 kobo per share for the 2020 financial year at the 9th Annual General Meeting of the Bank, held at Fraser Suites, Abuja on Wednesday June 23, 2021.

Speaking at the AGM in Abuja, Chairman of the Bank, Umaru Abdul Mutallab, said the bank worked assiduously towards ensuring that the dividend payment is made to the shareholders to meet their aspirations. He added that, despite the challenging economic environment that was aggravated by COVID 19 pandemic, Gross Earnings rose by 33% from N14.70 billion in 2019 to N19.60 billion in 2020.

According to the audited financial results for the 2020 financial year, Jaiz Bank Plc recorded a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N3.10 billion, a 45% increase over the N2.11 billion recorded in the previous year. Similarly, there was an increase in the Profit After Tax from N2.44 billion in the preceding year to N2.90 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, which reflects the continuous growth in profitability witnessed by the Bank over the last 3 years.

Similarly, the Banks Total Assets during the year under review grew to N233.66 billion as against N167.33 billion realized in the previous year, representing a 40% growth.

Earnings Per Share increased from 8.29 kobo in 2019 to 9.85 kobo in 2020, while Return on Equity for the year under review stood at 17%, securing a place for the Bank among the top-4 quoted banks with the highest return to shareholders in the country.

In his speech, the Managing Director/CEO Hassan Usman said the Bank has demonstrated financial resilience by remaining profitable during a tumultuous year and assured stakeholders of the Bank of the Boards commitment to continue to sustain the positive trend.

He said: This Sterling performance is reassuring and gives us confidence to pursue our vision to be the clear leader in ethical banking in sub-Saharan Africa.
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The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has provided an update on the federal governments intervention to prevent another strike in Kaduna State.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on Tuesday said it would resume its suspended industrial action in the state, alleging a breach of the agreement it signed with the state government to end the action in May.

Although the union did not state the date the strike would resume, it said the states councils and affiliate unions had been directed to mobilise and officially communicate to all employers of labour in the state to get ready.

However, Mr Keyamo said the federal government is trying to ensure that the state government complies with the agreement signed with the union.

I said, I discussed with the president of NLC yesterday night, and he was asking for this kind of intervention, to ensure that that agreement is respected, the minister said at the weekly ministerial media chat at the State House Abuja, on Thursday.

We have heard of the threats to resume the strike. We intervened at some points, we call both parties together. There was actually a memorandum of understanding with the Kaduna State Government, we are just conciliators.

He also explained that the ministrys team are conciliators, not the disputants.

So dont think the Ministry of Labour is actually the disputants every time you see strike, it doesnt mean we are quarreling with everybody.

When the doctors are on strike, the disputants were the Ministry of Health and doctors, we called both parties fighting together to our office to say, what is the problem let us hear you. When you hear teachers on strike and lecturers, it is the Ministry of Education and the teachers that are the disputants. And so were hardly disputing with anybody as Ministry of Labour.

Both the Kaduna State Government and NLC have been on a warpath following the decision of Governor Nasir El-Rufai to lay off civil servants.

The governor claimed the wage bill was gulping too much of the states revenue.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the NLC in protest of the governments decision, embarked on a five-day warning strike on May 18, paralysing business activities in the state.

The state government, in its reaction, threatened to lay off the protesting workers and not to back down from the planned mass disengagement of civil servants.

But following the intervention of the federal government, the NLC suspended the strike after two days and went into negotiation with the government to resolve the matter.
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) on Wednesday, gave N20,000 cash benefit each to 1000 widows across the state.

The act was in commemoration of the 2021 International Widows Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Widows Day, marked every June 23, is dedicated to women who suffer exploitation, deprivation, persecution as a result of their husbands demise.

Speaking during the event held at Alausa, Ikeja, the Wife of the State Governor, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, reiterated the state governments zero-tolerance to all forms of violence against women, especially widows.

Mrs Sanwo-Olu, represented by the wife of Ojo Local Government Chairman, noted that various forms of abuse on widows and their children was one of the major violation of human right.

This day is set aside to focus on effective actions and advocacy on widows plight as well as their children around the world, who suffer from poverty, illiteracy, HIV/AIDS, conflict and socio-economic injustice.

All the various forms of abuse on widows and their children constitute one of the most serious violations of human rights and obstacles towards development.

From being subjected to gruesome funeral rites such as forced purification through sexual violence, rape, being bequeathed to male relatives of their deceased husbands and many more are exerted inhumane treatment endured by widows.

Today, as we celebrate Widows day, I want to reiterate Lagos zero-tolerance to all forms of violence against women and remind everyone that the Sanwo-Olus administration will not relent on its efforts to protect the right of all categories of womenfolk, including the widows.

Several measures are in place to ensure the protection of women in the state through the Office of the Public Defender, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Citizen Mediation Centres and the Domestic Violence Unit of WAPA are many of the platforms available to you all, she said.

She urged women, regardless of their status, to take advantage of the short and long term skills acquisitions programmes organised by the state government through WAPA, to be self-reliant.

Mrs Sanwo-Olu commended WAPA for aligning with the THEMES agenda of the Sanwo-Olu led government to ensure a sustainable environment for women in the state.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada, said that the challenges faced by widows were quite grievous and pathetic.

Mrs Dada noted that some of these challenges could only be rectified through access to good healthcare systems, qualitative education and decent form of livelihood free from violence and abuse.

Many widows had to go through dehumanising experiences in the name of customs, others are sexually abused, forced into unwanted marriages and are cut off from inheriting their spouses property.

The widows in our society carry the brunt of economic deprivation, denial of rights, social and economic neglect, dis-empowerment and lack of access to shelter, health and other basic needs of life.

The state government, in line with T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, is determined more than ever before, to protect the rights of the citizenry, especially women which also includes the widows in our society, she said.

The commissioner said the beneficiaries were selected across the local government and local council development areas of the state.

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One of the beneficiaries, Lara Yusuf, a blind widow, thanked the government for the initiative and appealed to the government to come up with more programmes that would help widows overcome some of their challenges.

I am happy with what Lagos State has done for me and other widows here today, we hope they will continue to support more widows with such initiative, she said.

Also, Olufumilayo Abdul, a member of the National Council of Women Societies of Nigeria, said the cash benefit to the widows was timely.

I hope beneficiaries like me will channel the money to proper use and it is coming at the right time for us. We are grateful to the government.

(NAN)
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An Ikeja Magistrates Court on Thursday ordered that a 56-year-old man, Abiodun Abdulahi, should be remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre for allegedly defiling his 12-year-old daughter.

The police charged Mr Abdulahi, who resides in Ilado Badagry, Lagos State, with defilement.

Magistrate M.O. Tanimola, gave the order, following a motion moved by the Prosecutor, Victor Eruada, that the matter be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

The magistrate, who did not take the plea of Mr Abdullahi, also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for advice.

She adjourned the case until July 27.

Earlier, Mr Eruada said that Mr Abdullahi committed the offence on May 31 at his residence.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, which stipulates life imprisonment on conviction.

(NAN)
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Students of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, on Thursday grounded academic activities over incessant robbery and rape of female students by hoodlums.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students partially blocked the Okitipupa-Igbokoda expressway, impeding free-flow of traffic to register their grievances.

Damilola Okunomo, President, Student Union Government of the institution told NAN that the students were tired of the level of insecurity in the area.

He said the hoodlums rob students of their valuables like phones, laptops, gadgets and rape female students at gunpoint.

Mr Okunomo added that four female students were raped two weeks ago, alleging that the institutions management was not doing enough on the security of lives and properties of students.

We are tired of this insecurity, armed hoodlums usually come to our off-campus hostels, rob students at gunpoint, and also rape our female students.

The school management is not to doing enough as we are the ones securing ourselves by working as vigilantes most times, the situation is terrible.

We urge the school management to do its best in securing us and complete all the uncompleted hostel accommodations in our campus as this will also guarantee our security, Okunomo said.

Reacting, Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, Dean of Students Affairs of OAUSTECH, told NAN that the school management was doing its best to secure the lives and properties of the students.

He said the university authority was having a security meeting with the Police, other security agencies and traditional rulers towards addressing the situation.

He assured the students that their security was paramount to the institutions management.

We have been holding several security meetings over these issues but we cannot expose the meeting and I think the students are aware of this too.

Presently, the management, the board council are having security meeting with the police, other security agencies and traditional rulers to arrest the situation and I am assuring the students that they will be secured.

I urge the students not to take laws into their hands and allow the management to resolve these security issues amicably, Mr Oguntimehin said.

He appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to complete their respective hostel accommodations in the institution in order to enhance the security of students.

(NAN)
Prosecutors from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) on Thursday opposed the bail application made by counsels to Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha.

Mr Omiyinka was arraigned before Oluwatoyin Taiwo, a judge of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos.

The lead state prosecutor, Olayinka Adeyemi, who is also a director at the DPP, opposed the bail application, saying there is likelihood that Mr Omiyinka would jump bail if granted, considering the consequences of the offences, if convicted.

Mr Omiyinka was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child, and attempted sexual assault by penetration.

Count one of the charge reads that Olanrewaju James a.k.a Baba Ijesha sometime in 2013-2014, around Joseph Harrison Street, Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos, in the Ikeja Judicial Division, did aexually assault one Ajose Oluwabukumi (5) aged 7 years by penetrating her vagina with your car key.

Count two states that within the aforementioned period, the defendant indecently treated the minor by placing her on his laps and rubbing his penis on her body.

Other counts against Mr Omiyinka include touching the minors body indecently, sucking her fingers, and touching her in a sexual manner.

While the prosecution was led by Mrs Adeyemi and comprised officials of the DPP and the states Justice ministry, the defence was represented by Babatunde Ogala and Dada Awosika, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANS), and 17 other lawyers.

Proceedings

Mr Omiyinka informed the court he would prefer that the charges be read to him in Yoruba.

Thereafter, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Mrs Adeyemi sought an adjournment in the case to enable them bring a medical report to tender as evidence in the matter.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Ogala, opposed the application for adjournment, saying the matter is not yet for trial and there is an application for bail for defendant.

If they insist on seeking an adjournment, he should be given bail and the party can come counter later, he said.

The judge said she would hear the bail application of the defendant.

Bail application

Mr Ogala told the court that Mr Omiyinka through his legal counsels have brought another application seeking his release from custody.

The popular actor has been in detention since April 22.

His counsel said the application for bail is brought pursuant to sections 115 and sections 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State and sections 35 and 36 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The said application is supported by 29 paragraph affidavit deposed to one Akinbowale James Omiyinka, the younger brother of the defendant based on personal knowledge and facts supplied to him by the defendant (applicant).

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I would wish to note that the issue of bail especially in an offence of this nature is a constitutional right. We need not even give any medical reason, since the right that the defendant enjoyed which he has been deprived of in the past months where he was unlawfully held by the police, Mr Ogala said.

He urged the court not to allow the continuous detention of the actor given that section 36 subsection 5 of ACJL clearly states that every person charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The lawyer urged the court to keep the accused out of incarceration until found guilty in a court trial as this will grant him free access to his lawyers and adequate preparation for his defence.

Making reference to the counter affidavit filed by the prosecution team, Mr Ogala said they were not enough reasons to deny the actor bail.

Other than a feeble attempt in paragraph seven which says the offense for which the defendant is said to have committed is now rampant in the society. The counter affidavit supports that the defendant ought to be granted bail, he said.

Mr Ogala submitted that part of the offences listed against his client is the defilement of a minor seven years ago, for which there was no investigation, report or medical examination.

I urge the court to grant the applicant bail and discountenance the opposition as nothing has been shown as to why he should not be granted bail, he submitted.

Bail opposition

The lead prosecutor, Mrs Adeyemi, opposed the bail application for Mr Omiyinka, saying there is likelihood that he would jump bail if granted, considering the consequences of the offences of convicted.

The state wrote a 14 paragraph counter affidavit and a written address dated June 23.

The nature of the offence  sexual assault by penetration which carries live imprisonment and that is a serious offence.

Grant of bail is not constitutional right, it is a discretionary right. Granting of bail must be granted judicial and certain conditions must be met, she said.

Mrs Adeyemi said part of the considerations of the court is the nature of the offence committed.

The prosecutor disclosed there are six witnesses in the case and one of them is in court.

There is a Prima Facie case against the defendant and due to the rampancy of the crime charged against the defendant, bail should not be granted.

Our submission this morning is that my Lord, based on all our arguments charged before this court and evidence supporting the charge and the fact that the offense carries a very serious punishment and the rampancy of this offence, bail should be denied, she submitted.

Mrs Taiwo stood down the matter for ruling.
A student of the University of Lagos on Thursday told journalists how she fatally stabbed the chief executive officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, at an apartment in Lekki, Lagos.

Chidinma Ojukwu, 21, a 300-level Mass Communication student, while being paraded by the police at the state command in Ikeja said she began a romantic relationship with Mr Ataga four months ago.

The police in a statement said Ms Ojukwu, on June 15 at about 5 p.m., allegedly murdered Mr Ataga, 50, by stabbing him several times with a sharp object.

According to the police, the suspect had booked the apartment two days earlier and left the scene of the alleged murder at about 5.30 p.m.

The police said the suspect was arrested on Wednesday night at her home in Alagomeji, Yaba.

During search, the prime suspect was caught with a blood-soaked cloth, ostensibly worn on the day of the incident, the police statement read.

The suspect confessed to have stabbed the deceased with a kitchen knife after a struggle. She further confessed to have taken the knife away while leaving the scene and disposed same in a dust bin at her residence.

It has also been revealed that the suspect equally stole the deceased iPhone.

How it happened

Ms Ojukwu narrated to journalists the events that led to the alleged murder.

We were in the lodge smoking. He was trying to make advances on me. I was tired and he became violent on it. I let him have his way, said Ms Ojukwu, according to Punch newspaper.

Towards afternoon, he ordered roofies. We took it together and ate food. He became high. I was still not happy with the first one (sex) that we had, so, I was staying on my own, smoking and drinking. He, too, was on his own.

He came to me and I was like I am not happy with what he did. I was like, You dont help me, you dont assist me with anything, you are just playing with me around. He was like, Take my ATM and withdraw what you want.

The suspect said Mr Ataga then became violent towards her and she kept fighting back.

At some point, he hit my head on the wall and I also retaliated, she said.

At some point, he was chasing me around the kitchen cabinet. I took a knife and stabbed his neck. I approached the door and he followed me. I stabbed him twice on the neck side. I threw the knife to the bed and he was going for it but I also went for it. He dragged the knife with me and it broke and he fell on the floor.

The suspect said she used Mr Atagas ATM card to withdraw N380,000 from his account after the incident.

The police said the matter would be charged to court at the end of their investigation.

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The police also said the deceaseds bank account has been blocked to stop further withdrawals and that the owner of the lodge where the incident took place is in custody.
Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile of a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday sentenced one Ibrahim Saleh to 16 years in prison for stealing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Saleh was first arraigned on August 14, 2014.

He pleaded not guilty then and was remanded.

The case went on trial and prosecution called some witnesses.

Mr Saleh was re-arraigned on Thursday after a plea bargain agreement, and pleaded guilty.

In her judgment, the judge, Mrs Okikiolu-Ighile,held that the sentence was in line with Section 76 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The court has ascertained from the defendant that he entered into the plea bargain agreement on his own free volition.

In the light of the defendants plea, I have taken into consideration the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and I have considered the voluntariness established by the defendant in court.

I find the defendant guilty as charged.

In sentencing, I have looked deeply into the plea bargain agreement, and I am satisfied that Saleh understood why he pleaded guilty.

Having been found guilty of the charge, I hereby sentence you to 16 years imprisonment starting from the date of remand, which is August 14, 2014, she held.

Mrs Okikiolu-Ighile ordered that the convict should be returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre to complete his jail term.

Earlier, prosecution counsel, A. O. Odusanya, told the court that convict committed the offence in March 2014 at 8:45 p.m. at D3, HFP Close, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi. Lagos.

Mrs Odusanya said Mr Saleh broke into the house of the complainant, Uche Iwuamadi, and stole his valuables.

She listed items stolen to include six gold wristwatches, four mobile phones, one television set and four pairs of shoes

According to Mrs Odusanya, the other stolen items include a wallet containing Automated Teller Machine cards, and a 1998 model Honda Accord with registration No. LSR 197 DX.

The counsel said the convict also attempted to steal from his victim, gold trinkets and one Mitsubishi SUV marked KSF 115 BF.

Mrs Odusanya, however, noted that prosecution had entered into a plea bargain agreement with Mr Saleh.

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We are aware that this court is not bound by the plea bargain agreement.

In view of plea of guilt of the defendant and the plea bargain agreement, we urge the court to accept same and make it the judgment of this court, the counsel submitted.

She noted that the offence contravened Section 296 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Counsel to the defendant, J. I. Osagiede, aligned with the submission of the prosecution counsel, and urged the court to accept the plea bargain agreement.

(NAN)
The Oyo State government says it is planning to integrate banks close-circuit television (CCTV) into the states security network to improve security within and outside the banking environment.

Governor Seyi Makinde stated this while receiving the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) team, led by its President, Bayo Olugbemi, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Ibadan on Thursday.

He added that his administration would collaborate with CIBN on physical development and capacity building for its relevant workforce in the state.

Mr Makinde commended the efforts of the institute and indeed, the banking industry for its various contributions to the development of the state, especially towards ensuring an efficient and effective security system.

He said that his administration would continue to support the institutions activities.

On the request for members of the civil service here to take advantage of the training and retraining from the institute, we will look into that.

I know that one thing this administration has done is to give opportunities to our people to up their game.

So, this actually fits into our efforts in that direction, and we will take advantage of that.

Also, we will be willing to share our own experiences dealing with governance at both the state and local levels.

So collaborating with CIBN is given and I will always look for a situation where both sides have benefits to take out of such interactions.

As an administration, we are pushing really hard on the security of lives and property, and you will agree with me that banking environments are places that are prone to attacks.

We have, through the Executive Assistant on Security, tried to reach out to banks around here to install CCTV cameras and basically integrate them into our own security network, the governor stated.

He promised to make land available for the institute to build its secretariat in the state so as to allow CIBN contribute to the expansion of the economy of the state.

Earlier, in his remarks, the CIBN President said the banking sector would continue to partner with the state government towards achieving its goal of taking the state to greater heights.

He said that CIBN was ready to collaborate with the state government in organising a yearly seminar on banking and allied matters for the state judiciary.

According to him, CIBN will leverage on its over 20 years experience of running similar programme for all judges in the country, in collaboration with National Judicial Institute.

He said that the institute would be willing to partner with relevant ministries in the state to enhance the capacity of their personnel in the areas of banking and finance.

Mr Olugbemi appreciated the state government for supporting the banking industry, particularly in the provision of effective security, as this had provided a conducive environment for the industry to thrive in the state.

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(NAN)
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The governments of Ondo and Osun states on Thursday held a meeting designed to resolve disputes brewing along their borders.

The meeting was attended by the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Osun State Attorney General, Olufemi Akande, who represented the Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi.

According to parties present at the meeting in Akure, the main cause of the disputes was illegal tree felling in areas close to Ile Oluji and some disputed areas despite the warning by both governments against felling of trees that could undermine peace in the areas.

Mr Aiyedatiwa urged the people of the disputed communities to live harmoniously till the National Boundary Commission (NBC) sorts out the issues of the boundary as it affects both states.

He urged all at the meeting to think only about the welfare and development of the people in the disputed area by separating politics from sentiments.

I want us to look at issues objectively, look into the welfare of our people, especially those living in the disputed boundary areas. We should put politics aside, peaceful coexistence, development of the area should be considered first.

I noticed that people in the disputed areas are cut off from the dividends of democracy and most governments do not always want to invest. We as leaders must look for a way to bring development and security of lives and properties, he said.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, however, urged the NBC to quickly resolve various pending boundary issues spanning decades.

On his part, Mr Akande, speaking on behalf of Mr Alabi, noted that the boundary dispute dated back to the 1970s.

He said it is worrisome to be receiving reports on weekly basis of brewing disputes along the borderlines of the two states.

He said people from both states spoke the same language, have the same culture and tradition, the need for crisis along our borderlines does not therefore arise, bearing in mind that we have been neighbours for so many years and ages.

The two states later agreed to meet regularly and resolve some ambiguity in the duties of the joint caretaker committee administering the disputed boundary areas.

(NAN)
With gas prices likely soaring for the holiday weekend, are you planning to travel or stay close to home?

You voted:
A Celebration of Life Service for David J. Tallman, NK2Y, will be held at the Plattsburgh United Methodist Church, 127 Beekman Street, Plattsburgh, NY on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at 3 P.M. on the front lawn of the church, weather permitting. It will be moved to the sanctuary for inclement we
In collaboration with large industrial businesses such as NTUC FairPrice and DHL, the robot is currently in service for parcel and grocery delivery. Camello is user friendly, featuring an ergonomic cargo space and sleek design  optimal for Singapore's urban environment. Yasuhide "Yasu" Yokoi, cofounder of design and technology firm Final Aim, Inc.: "3D printing enabled us to bring our numerous ideas to life. The Ultimaker S3 is very easy to handle which gave me extra time to work on new designs while printing. Compared to other common prototyping methods, we found 3D printing to be much more efficient for prototyping".

For the Camello to be a success, its design had to be intuitive and accessible at first glance. 3D printing enabled stakeholders to see and touch a physical product, deepening their understanding of the Camello's concept and design  while streamlining and speeding up the decision-making process.

William Lee, Channel Director at Ultimaker: "It has been truly magical to witness the teamwork between Final Aim Inc, OTSAW and our partner Brule to bring this robot to life. This solution contributes to an improved logistic ecosystem for smooth and efficient delivery to customers, while increasing profit margins for those businesses that use it. I am proud that our Ultimaker S3 contributed to the realization of this ambitious project."

Ultimaker

Established in 2011, Ultimaker is on a mission to accelerate the world's transformation to flexible, empowering and sustainable solutions. 380 employees deliver a platform that enables customers to take full advantage of the unique Ultimaker Ecosystem that offers the largest diversity of 3D printing products and services in the industry. Ultimaker provides a seamless integration of hardware, software and materials that simply works.

Read more

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1537851/Yasu_from_Final_Aim_Inc_next_to_the_Ultimaker_S3.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1488711/Ultimaker_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Ultimaker
CINCINNATI, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Textile Co., Inc. and Kucukcalk today announce they have entered into a joint venture agreement. The joint venture agreement brings together the specialized expertise and knowledge of two leading textile manufacturing companies to expand their product portfolio and accelerate growth in the healthcare, hospitality, and consumer markets.

Kucukcalk is a premier global textile manufacturing company with key operations in Turkey and Egypt. From fiber production to weaving to finishing, the company produces apparel, bedding, drapery, and other decorative products for the consumer market. The company opened its first weaving mill in 1990 and added dyeing and printing factories in 1992. In 2019, Kucukcalk created a new sustainable yarn from discarded PET bottles using advanced spinning technology. The company is listed among the top 500 companies in the Turkish industrial sector.

"We are pleased to announce this new joint venture for Standard Textile," stated Gary Heiman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Textile. "We have admired Kucukcalk's world class facilities in Turkey and Egypt, and this joint venture allows us to both expand our global footprint and leverage their technology and expertise in fiber extrusion. Their innovative fiber extrusion and texturizing operations provide new opportunities for our research and development teams to collaborate in designing and developing sustainable products using recycled fiber to meet the needs of current and future customers."

Standard Textile manufactures bed, bath, and decorative products, serving the healthcare, hospitality, and consumer markets. It has manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The company received recognition in 2016 for creating a model for advanced textile manufacturing in the United States with their operations in Thomaston, Georgia and Union, South Carolina headlined in major news publications.

Earlier this year, Standard Textile was credited with the "Best Health Care and Medical Innovation" by Ohio Business Magazine for developing a uniquely American-made reusable cover gown to help protect frontline medical workers responding to the global pandemic; and most recently, the company was selected as a 2021 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams.

"We are very happy to be able to continue our long-lasting friendship and existing trading relationship with Standard Textile now as co-shareholders. We are confident that this partnership will add significant value to Kucukcalk by allowing us to expand in markets where Standard Textile is particularly strong," said Yasar and Ylmaz Kucukcalk, the shareholders of Kucukcalk.

About Standard Textile

Founded in 1940, Standard Textile has developed a culture of innovation, quality, and service. With more than 80 patents, its products are engineered to deliver durability, longevity, and value. A vertically integrated company, Standard Textile is a leading global provider of total solutions in the institutional textiles and apparel markets. Leveraging textile design, manufacturing, and laundry expertise, and its global infrastructure, this company serves customers in the healthcare, hospitality, interiors, workwear, and consumer markets worldwide. For more information visit standardtextile.com.

About Kucukcalk

Founded as a trading company in 1940, Kucukcalk opened its first weaving mill in 1990. Kucukcalk is known for its innovative and high fashion products for the apparel and home textile markets and is also the first company to have received ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certification in the embroidery sector in Turkey. Kucukcalk caters to a wide range of customers such as fabric editors, design studios, converters, wholesalers and retailers, including specialty stores, department stores, and well-known retailers with global coverage. For more information visit kucukcalik.com.tr.

Contact:

Judy Sroufe

Vice President, Brand Marketing and Communications

Standard Textile

jsroufe@standardtextile.com

(513) 761-9256, ext. 2243

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/545235/Standard_Textile_Co_Logo.jpg

Related Links

https://www.standardtextile.com/



SOURCE Standard Textile
ASPEN, Colo., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aspen International Mountain Foundation (AIMF) is pleased to announce that it has been selected, along with the State of Colorado and the City of Aspen, to host the Sixth United Nations Mountain Partnership Global Meeting September 25-28, 2022.

AIMF board member, Altaire Cambata, at the fifth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership held December 11-13, 2017 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. Photo Credit: FAO/Roberto Cenciarelli Over 220 participants attended the fifth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership December 11-13, 2017 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, under the theme 'Mountains under pressure: climate, hunger, migration.' Photo Credit: FAO/Roberto Cenciarelli

"Seventy percent of the world's fresh water comes from mountains," explains AIMF President Karinjo DeVore. "Sustaining mountain environments and the availability of this vital resource is critical to resolving the global climate crisis. This meeting of Mountain Partnership members is an important opportunity to develop and share action plans to protect mountains and the global environment."

The Mountain Partnership is a United Nations voluntary alliance of sixty mountain countries and over 400 intergovernmental organizations and NGO's dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples and protecting mountain environments around the world. Founded in 2002, the Mountain Partnership addresses the challenges facing mountain regions by tapping the wealth and diversity of resources from and between its members to stimulate concrete initiatives at all levels that will ensure improved quality of life and environments in the world's mountain regions.

The year-long evaluation period, conducted by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat in Rome, yielded four finalists: AIMF, the Canadian Mountain Network, Eurac Research in Italy and the Romanian National Agency for Mountain Areas. AIMF's proposal was selected after receiving 71 percent of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee's vote.

The two-and-a-half day global meeting, to be held at the Aspen Institute campus, will establish the Mountain Partnership agenda and high-level advocacy goals for the next four years. In addition to member sessions, the meeting will feature daily side-events on topics related to sustainable mountain development, including climate change, ecotourism and water conservation. US policy makers and outdoor industry executives will be invited to participate and develop action items in concert with key officials from North America and around the world. The gathering will culminate with a public keynote address and panel discussions with representatives from throughout North America and globally. Afterwards, members will travel to Telluride where the Telluride Institute will introduce them to its global sustainability initiatives and Colorado's Ute indigenous culture.

Founded in 2001, AIMF is a nonprofit and is based in Aspen, Colorado. AIMF's mission is to promote sustainable development in mountain environments and communities. The organization's projects, initiatives and fora support sustainable mountain development and promote mountain life and culture in Colorado and around the world. AIMF was instrumental in developing the mountain-related actions within the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) and participated in the Paris Accords. AIMF is co-chair of the Steering Committee of the UN Mountain Partnership and represents North and Central America and the Caribbean region.

For more information about this meeting, visit the AIMF website, aimf.org, or contact Karinjo DeVore at 970-319-9273 or [email protected]

SOURCE Aspen International Mountain Foundation
Rosol, who has been with Inteva since 2016, will assume her new position and take responsibility for Inteva's global financial operations on July 16. She succeeds Bill Dircks , who has elected to retire on July 16, 2021, after 6 years with Inteva Products. They have worked together over the last several months to ensure a successful transition.

"Besides Alana's experience with Inteva, her 25 years of financial experience in the manufacturing and automotive sectors make her an ideal choice," said Gerard Roose, President and CEO. "I believe she will bring a valuable perspective to our executive leadership team."

Prior to joining Inteva, Rosol's experience included serving as assistant corporate controller with Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based TriMas Corporation. She has also been a plant controller for Durr Systems, Inc. and an audit and business assurance practice manager with Arthur Andersen in their Detroit office.

She graduated from Michigan State University with honors with a bachelor of arts in Accounting and is a certified public accountant.

Dircks, who joined Inteva in 2015, is retiring after a long, successful career. Prior to joining Inteva, Dircks served in a variety of roles both in and out of the automotive sector, including with Avon Automotive, Lear Corporation, Honeywell International and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"Bill has been an invaluable part of our success over the last six years, and we wish him the best in retirement," said Roose.

Rosol added, "I am excited to step into my new role and build on the strong foundation Bill's leadership has provided."

About Inteva Products

Inteva Products is a leading global automotive supplier providing innovative, reliable, environmentally friendly products that enhance vehicle quality, safety and performance. Inteva has global resources for design, engineering, manufacturing and customer service for Closure Systems, Interior Systems, and Motors & Electronics. Formed in 2008, the tier-one supplier is focused on achieving sustained global growth, providing excellent customer service, and driving innovation. Inteva was founded on innovative solutions and the use of applied technology to drive value-based solutions. The company employs more than 8,000 people in 30 sites and maintains its World Headquarters in Troy, Michigan USA. For future company updates, please visit the Inteva Products website, or the company's Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram pages.

SOURCE Inteva Products

Related Links

www.intevaproducts.com


LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aledade, Inc. and the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP), a leading provider of medical professional liability protection in California, today announced a new collaboration designed to support CAP member physicians in the transition to value-based care. Aledade's physician-led accountable care organization (ACO) model and support services will be offered to CAP's more than 12,000 members through CAPAdvantage, CAP's suite of no-cost or discounted practice management programs to help physicians run their most successful practice.

"As a physician-owned organization, CAP has demonstrated its commitment to helping California physicians access the resources necessary to thrive during a transformational time in health care, and our new joint effort will ensure that they can continue to do so as our system shifts to value-based care," said Farzad Mostashari , MD, co-founder and CEO of Aledade. "We look forward to providing CAP members with the services and supports needed to achieve shared savings by delivering the best possible care to their patients."

CAP members enrolled in Aledade's ACO model will receive access to Aledade's comprehensive range of capabilities that include cutting-edge data analytics, user-friendly care management and outreach tools, unparalleled regulatory expertise, strong payer relationships, and local, hands-on support. Together, CAP and Aledade will also provide additional educational materials to CAP members to support them as they enter value-based contracts, including webinars, events, and articles.

"Understanding the ever-changing financial and regulatory issues physicians must navigate, CAP welcomes the opportunities that Aledade offers to help our members' practices increase revenue and improve patient outcomes," said CAP CEO Sarah Scher. "CAP and Aledade have a shared commitment to bolster the medical community's ability to provide excellent patient care while supporting the viability of independent physician practices. Aledade's proven value-based care programs and associated benefits present a number of solutions that can address new and ongoing challenges California physicians are experiencing."

Across the country, Aledade ACOs have reduced preventable hospital stays, emergency room visits, and unnecessary medical services, driving more than $400 million in health care cost reductions from 2014 to 2019. Aledade's collaboration with CAP represents the company's continued commitment to helping California physicians succeed in value-based care. Aledade provides practice transformation support services to physicians enrolled in Aledade's ACO network in the state.

As part of its mission to support California physicians with outstanding medical malpractice coverage and a wide array of supplemental risk management and practice management benefits, CAP identifies industry-leading vendors who are able to save medical practices time, money, and energy through the CAPAdvantage program.

About Aledade

Founded in 2014, Aledade partners with independent practices, health centers, and clinics to build and lead Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) anchored in primary care. Through these practice networks, Aledade empowers physicians to stay independent, focus on their patients, and thrive financially by keeping people healthy. Aledade offers a comprehensive range of capabilities at scale, that includes cutting-edge data analytics, user-friendly guided workflows, unparalleled regulatory expertise, strong payer relationships, and local, hands-on support from attentive experts. Together with more than 7,800 participating providers in 31 states, Aledade shares in the risk and reward across dozens of value-based contracts representing more than 1 million patient lives under management. To learn more, visit www.aledade.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.

About CAP

The Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP), established in 1975, provides medical professional liability coverage to some 12,000 of California's finest physicians through the Mutual Protection Trust. In 2013, CAP organized CAPAssurance, a Risk Purchasing Group, to offer liability insurance coverage to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and large medical groups. Based in Los Angeles, CAP also has offices in San Diego, Orange County, and Walnut Creek. For more information, visit www.CAPphysicians.com. CAP is licensed as a California surplus lines broker (License No. 0B72723). The insurance products provided under the CAPAssurance, a Risk Purchasing Group, program are issued by a "non-admitted" or "surplus line" insurer that is not licensed by the State of California.

For more information:

Aledade

[email protected]

(540) 761-9786

Cooperative of American Physicians

Ernest R. Khirallah

213-473-8737

[email protected]

SOURCE Aledade
TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V): LIT

Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE): OAY3

OTCQB Venture Market (OTC): PNXLF

VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSXV: LIT) (FSE: OAY3) (OTC: PNXLF), ("Argentina Lithium" or the "Company") announces that the Company has appointed Dr. John Gammon to its board of directors. Dr. Gammon has 40 years of experience in mineral exploration and management, including international positions with Falconbridge, Assistant Deputy Minister Mines and Minerals with the Government of Ontario and, since his retirement, as a consultant working with industry, governments and universities. In addition to Dr. Gammon's mineral exploration experience he has also spent a significant amount of time on aboriginal community and environmental issues. His knowledge of the Spanish language and South American culture and societies brings a depth, in addition to his industry experience, that can assist the Company with the advancement of its projects in Argentina.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Gammon to Argentina Lithium's board of directors,' said Nikolaos Cacos, President and C.E.O. "His extensive experience in geological and ESG matters makes Dr. Gammon a tremendous asset to our company."

Darren Urquhart is also resigning from the Company's board of directors. Mr. Urquhart will continue to serve as the Company's Chief Financial Officer. The Company thanks Mr. Urquhart for his brief term of service as a director.

About Argentina Lithium

Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp is focused on acquiring high quality lithium projects in Argentina, and advancing them towards production in order to meet the growing global demand from the battery sector. The management group has a long history of success in the resource sector of Argentina, and has assembled a first rate team of experts to acquire and advance the best lithium properties in the world renowned "Lithium Triangle". The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Nikolaos Cacos"

_______________________________

Nikolaos Cacos, President, CEO and Director

Neither 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 release.

SOURCE Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp.
DALLAS, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prospera Financial Services, Inc. (Prospera) is proud to announce its partnership with Reed Wealth Management. Located in the New England region in Colchester, Connecticut, the firm brings over two decades of experience and adds $100M in AUM. Prospera, a privately held company, is a Texas-based financial firm founded in 1982 as a full-service, boutique broker-dealer and support organization for successful independent financial professionals across the country.

Brendan Reed Lewis, President and Founder, has been helping clients make educated investment decisions since 1999. He began his financial career with Morgan Stanley / Dean Witter, training in their Manhattan home office and then serving clients in the Hartford, Connecticut area. In 2001, he accepted an offer from Edward Jones to build their Colchester branch and spent the ensuing decade developing his understanding of the community and its investment needs. From the outset of his career, however, he had always looked forward to establishing his own wealth management practice through which he could give his clients the broadest array of investment options. Thus, in 2011, he opened Reed Wealth Management.

Brendan holds multiple registrations including his Series 7, 66, and 24, as well as the Accredited Asset Management designation. He also has his Connecticut Insurance license in health, life, and variable contracts.

"I am thankful for all the partnerships I've had over the years. As a financial advisor, it is so important to have business relationships with individuals who understand the value of your work. My partnership with Prospera continues to support my passion of helping each and every client of Reed Wealth Management," said Brendan Lewis.

Working as an advisor with Brendan is Tyler Lewis, a Bryant University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Psychology. Tyler holds his Series 7 and Series 66 and has worked at the firm handling various roles over the years. Lindsey Flynn supports the firm as the administrative assistant. She has been with Reed Wealth Management for almost two years and has enjoyed learning and striving to meet the needs of all clients as the business continues to grow.

About Prospera Financial Services

Founded in 1982, Prospera Financial Services, Member FINRA, SIPC and a registered investment advisory, offers the flexibility and resources only found at some of the nation's largest broker-dealers. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, Prospera was named Broker-Dealer of the Year by Investment Advisor Magazine in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019. The firm supports independent financial advisors nationwide. For more information about Prospera, visit www.joinprospera.com.

Media Contact:

Tarah Mattia Williams

Chief Administrative Officer

Prospera Financial Services, Inc.

(972) 581-3015

[email protected]

www.joinprospera.com

SOURCE Prospera Financial Services

Related Links

http://www.prosperafinancial.com


WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating Pride Month, Bushwick Kitchen - the beloved Brooklyn-born artisan sauce company - pledges to donate 100% of profits from BushwickKitchen.com online purchases to the LGBTQ Freedom Fund starting Friday, June 25 and ending Sunday, June 27 at 11:59PM ET. The LGBTQ Freedom Fund is doing essential work to support and uplift member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

"We are more than excited to team up with the LGBTQ Freedom Fund to help preserve liberty for the LGBTQ community and beyond," said Dan Doll, CEO of Bushwick Kitchen. "No person should be unfairly treated based on their identity, which is why we wanted to align ourselves with an organization that goes above and beyond in ensuring safety and freedom for all."

The promotion aligning with many pride festivals nationwide is valid for all Bushwick Kitchen products purchased online through BushwickKitchen.com. Bushwick Kitchen prides itself on creating a platform for creativity and uniqueness making Pride Month a close to heart cause for the brand celebrating love for all no matter their differences or orientation.

Bushwick Kitchen's line of artisan sauces expands to unique formulations of honey, maple syrup, sriracha and new plant-based pancake & waffle mixes launched earlier this year. With so many elevated pantry staples to choose from, the company helps consumers unlock their creativity and adventurous side when it comes to cooking. Bushwick Kitchen makes cooking a fun and flavorful experience for all.

To learn more about Bushwick Kitchen, visit bushwickkitchen.com.

About Bushwick Kitchen

Bushwick Kitchen is a sauce company that's here to serve up finger-licking, flavor-addicting sauces and condiments for every kitchen creative and foodie looking to elevate their meals or share a unique culinary gift to inspire friends and family. Bushwick Kitchen was founded in January 2014 by an entrepreneur and a culinary enthusiast with the ambitious goal of launching a business from concept to finished product in 30 days. The first product, Bees Knees Spicy Honey, was born. By the end of the first year, Bushwick Kitchen shipped over 9,000 bottles of honeyall bottled, one at a time, by hand, in Brooklyn, NY to every state in the USA and 27 countries. Since then, the line has grown to 15 lip-smacking, tongue-drooling products with our Trees Knees maples, Weak Knees srirachas and our Bees Knees honey collection.

About LGBTQ Freedom Fund

LGBTQ Freedom Fund fights the criminalization of LGBTQ folks, who are much more likely in the U.S. to be incarcerated than other individuals. We work as a nonpartisan advocacy, education and policy outfit to mobilize the public and policymakers to address the disproportionate impact of incarceration on LGBTQ individuals.

Media Contact

Karey Cavaney

BLAZE PR

[email protected]

(310) 395-5050

SOURCE Bushwick Kitchen
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chelsea Financial Services announced that their website, CHFS.com, was recently updated with new ADA Compliance Software, allowing those with disabilities and/or visual impairments to quickly change design elements of their website, making the site more accessible.

Chelsea Financial Services CHFS.com Website Homepage Displaying ADA CompliaSite Logo for Increased Accessibility for the Disabled or Visually Impaired

"We recently updated our website with the express goal of making our site compliant with the laws and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)." stated John Pisapia, President of Staten Island-based Chelsea Financial Services. "However, we didn't want to just be more complaint with the ADA Act; we also wanted to make our site more friendly and accessible to our clients and visitors with disabilities in general." added Pisapia.

After extensive research comparing various vendors and software solutions, Chelsea Financial Services purchased and installed an ADA Compliance software solution from Nth Degree Media and Management Group, Inc. (Nth Degree Group / nthdegreegroup.net). Their software solution allows visitors to redesign the site in an instant for better readability and accessibility, especially helpful for those with visual impairments or any other disabilities that would otherwise limit access. "A visitor simply clicks on the handicapped icon floating left-screen-center on every page. With just a couple of clicks, users can change the colors, make text larger, turn the site black and whiteEven have the page read aloud to them, and so much more." added Christopher (Chris) Vetrano, Registered Representative at Chelsea Financial Services.

"After configuration, implementing the software is very easy. A snippet of code is placed on each page that enables the ADA CompliaSite (adacompliasite.com) software, allowing any user or visitor to make instantaneous changes to the site's design aspects, making the site much more accessible." described Pisapia. "There was some additional work to provide descriptions in the tags (code) for every image and graphic, which Nth Degree Group handled as well. Also, we wanted to make any complaints or feedback about accessibility easy to send via a new Contact form. Besides those two steps, the software automatically takes care of the rest of the details, allowing the site to be customized to fit any particular visitor's needs."

SOME HISTORY ON ADA COMPLIANCE FOR BUSINESS WEBSITES

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 and prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, ensuring that they have equal rights and opportunities. Software like Nth Degree Group's ADA CompliaSite software assists websites in following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

About Chelsea Financial Services

Chelsea Financial Services is a national full-service Broker/Dealer. The firm opened its first brokerage office in Staten Island, New York in 1999. Celebrating its 22nd Anniversary, Chelsea currently provides financial services to clients in 51 States and Territories. Clients receive investment, retirement and financial planning advice from over 73 Registered Representatives based in 20 States. Visit chfs.com for more information.

The company is currently recruiting nationally for Registered Representatives and Independent Brokers, and locally in Staten Island for a Compliance Assistant (Series 24 required) and a National Recruiter (Series 7 required). Visit JoinChelsea.com for more information.

About Nth Degree group & ADACompliaSite

Nth Degree Media and Management Group, Inc. (nthdegreegroup.net) is a Digital Marketing Agency, Software Sales and Software Developer based in Miami, Florida. Their ADA CompliaSite (adacompliasite.com) software is an affordable option to help ensure a site's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Media Contact for Chelsea:

John Pisapia

[email protected]

(866) 898-5800

242 Main Street, Staten Island, NY 10307

Media Contact for ADA CompliaSite / Nth Degree Group:

Barry Lippold

[email protected]

(305) 615-1033

153 E Flagler St #330, Miami, FL 33131



Related Links

https://www.chfs.com

https://adacompliasite.com

https://nthdegreegroup.net

SOURCE Chelsea Financial Services
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Reinforcing its commitment to expanding innovation in pediatric care, Children's National Hospital is joining with the Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI), and collaborators Resonance Philanthropies and Digital Infuzion, to launch the 2021-2022 Innovate Children's Health Challenge to encourage the commercialization of technologies that improve children's health care. This year's event, Innovate Children's Health II, focuses on technologies that address pandemic resiliency and prevention in the pediatric population and seeks to advance diagnostics, therapeutics and digital health tools that address pediatric mental health.

Led by CAI, a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the initiative matches entrepreneurial talent with breakthrough inventions to launch startups and connect them with capital. For this challenge, more than 15 startups will compete for the opportunity to commercialize promising mental health solutions from a variety of research partners, including Children's National. Nationally recognized for its expertise and commitment to innovation in pediatric care, Children's National will contribute to the clinical validation of selected technologies.

"In addition to our role in providing clinical validation, this initiative provides the opportunity for intellectual property (IP) developed by leading clinicians at Children's National Hospital, as well as other great pediatric institutions, to be considered for partnership with entrepreneurs who can help bring these technologies to market," says Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., M.B.A., P.M.P., vice president and chief innovation officer at Children's National. "Our mission is to improve children's health care and Innovate Children's Health II is a great way to harness this trifecta model  innovation, talent and capital - in order to develop breakthrough solutions that address the unique needs of pediatric patients."

There are three ways to participate in Innovate Children's Health II:

Entrepreneurial-minded people  alone or as members of multidisciplinary teams  may compete to commercialize vetted inventions, selected out of patents and patent applications from CAI's research partners by a committee of industry experts and potential investors.

Existing startups may enter the challenge with other public health-related inventions, including their own and/or others to which they have access.

Participants may submit ideas that they believe will improve emergency preparedness and pandemic response. CAI will help ideators create a business model to advance their solutions.

Eskandanian highlights the unique model of this challenge, which matches intellectual property with ambitious entrepreneurs and capital, as a critical step in leveraging existing patents that would help improve care for pediatric patients but, under traditional industry conditions, would not make it to market.

Inventors and technology licensing officers may submit inventions to be evaluated and made available for licensing to challenge winners. Innovate Children's Health II will accept invention submissions until Sept. 1, 2021. Anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit and interest in stopping current and future pandemics is invited to sign up to learn more about the challenge. Teams may also enroll in the challenge to choose a featured invention, bring in a third-party invention or get matched with an invention based on area of interest.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has made our children anxious, depressed and pessimistic about their futures. Through Innovate Children's Health II, CAI and our strategic partner Children's National, we will strive to give our children hope," says Rosemarie Truman, founder and CEO of CAI. "We are grateful to Digital Infuzion and Resonance Philanthropies for their support, which makes this challenge possible."

Eskandanian adds that supporting and expanding pediatric innovation is a key focus of the new Children's National Research & Innovation Campus, the first-of-its-kind focused on pediatric health care innovation, with the first phase currently open on the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus in Washington, D.C. With its proximity to federal research institutions and agencies, universities, academic research centers, as well as on-site incubator Johnson and Johnson Innovation  JLABS, the campus provides a rich ecosystem of public and private partners which will help bolster pediatric innovation and commercialization.

About Children's National Hospital

Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds for children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation's top 10 children's hospitals. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the fifth straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2021, the Children's National Research & Innovation Campus opened, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. Children's National has been designated three times in a row as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation's seventh-highest NIH-funded children's hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About The Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI)

The Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI) is a global public-private partnership, non-profit focused on creating a virtuous circle of innovation and driving growth breakthroughs through novel, creative paradigms, and models. CAI's mission is to accelerate and increase the volume of technology commercialization to ignite entrepreneurship, bolster the global economy, and maximize the potential of promising inventions. CAI's award-winning challenge-based accelerator, rigorous evidence-based due diligence, and capital-efficient lean management models serve to hyper-accelerated "gazelle" high-performing startups for outsized investor returns. For additional information about CAI, please visit http://www.thecenterforadvancinginnovation.org.

SOURCE Children's National Hospital
With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase in 2021 as compared to 2020.

This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to:

Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in.

to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines.

making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations.

to mitigate future crisis situations. Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds

Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates

Major Three Data Center Construction Market In Southeast Asia Participants:

ABB Ltd.

ABB Ltd. offers data center solutions, that are space-saving, time-saving, energy-saving, cost-saving, and infinitely scalable.

AECOM

AECOM offers data center and mission-critical facilities, that cover a wide range of roles and responsibilities, from conducting site evaluation surveys to serving as lead consultant on design and project management.

Eaton Corporation Plc

Eaton Corporation Plc offers data center solutions such as Eaton s Visual Capacity Optimisation Manager (VCOM), an intuitive remote monitoring and management software that provides business intelligence from both IT and facilities power infrastructure.

Data Center Construction Market in Southeast Asia 2021-2025: Segmentation

The data center construction market in Southeast Asia is segmented as below:

Geography

Singapore



Malaysia



Thailand



Indonesia



Rest Of South-East Asia

Construction Components

Electrical Construction



Mechanical Construction



Consulting And Other Services



Integrating Software

The data center construction market in Southeast Asia is driven by the increase in investment in data centers. In addition, the rise in IoT solutions is expected to trigger the data center construction market in Southeast Asia toward witnessing a CAGR of almost 12% during the forecast period.

Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of the data center construction market in Southeast Asia, Request Free Sample @

https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR70623

Related Report on Information Technology Include:

Data Center Construction Market in Western Europe- The data center construction market size in Western Europe is segmented by construction type (electrical construction, general construction, and mechanical construction) and geography (the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the rest of Western Europe).

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Data Center Cooling Market in Southeast Asia- The data center cooling market in Southeast Asia is segmented by technique (liquid-based cooling and air-based cooling), architecture (room cooling and rack and row cooling), cooling system (air conditioners, economizers, cooling towers, chillers, and others), and geography (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Rest of South-East Asia).

Download FREE Sample Report

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Report Page: https://www.technavio.com/report/data-center-construction-market-industry-in-southeast-asia-analysis

SOURCE Technavio

Related Links

https://www.technavio.com/report/data-center-construction-market-industry-in-southeast-asia-analysis?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=vendor-v2_wk26_005_&utm_content=IRTNTR70623


LAS VEGAS, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "The released UAP Task Force report is a great official addition to the thousands of UFO sightings reported around the world for the past decades, and even if the Pentagon isn't acknowledging their extraterrestrial origins, it becomes impossible to ignore them," said Daniel TurcotteRaelian Guide and head of both The Embassy for Extraterrestrials Project1 and The Alliance for Extraterrestrial Diplomatic Contact2. "It is time for the U.N. to discuss a protocol to welcome the human beings who have patiently and peacefully showed their presence to the public for decades now," he added.

Recent news publications also report about China having its own UAP task force involving AI detection and analysis. "According to these recent publications about China's involvements into UFO research, Chinese officials are intending to address UFOs at the United Nations," explained Turcotte.

These publications are in line with the global awareness campaign organized by the International Raelian Movement since last April, seeking the support of the citizens worldwide to request their permanent representatives to the United Nations to support a diplomatic protocol for an Embassy for Extraterrestrials.



"Our task is to have the United Nations adopt an addendum to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations entitled 'Optional Protocol concerning Embassies for Extraterrestrials'," Turcotte said.

The UN Secretary-General's office has stated that the Secretary-General could open a debate on the issue if asked by a sufficient number of UN member states ambassadors. The International Raelian Movement has launched a worldwide campaign to make it happen.



"The International Raelian Movement also denounces any attempts made by some experts to use the UAP task force report as evidence of threat to national security and to our planet. Those who control these unidentified vehicles obviously want to be seen and have a technology that is far beyond our own, including our weapon's technology. Our main teachings state that these human beings coming from another planet are the scientists who created all forms of life on Earth a long time ago, and who were mistaken for gods by our ancestors. They wish to be welcomed back to Earth now that we can understand that life can be created scientifically," Turcotte continued.

1The Embassy for Extraterrestrials Project was initiated by Rael, leader of the International Raelian Movement whose two-fold mission is to disseminate the Message he received from this Extraterrestrial civilization, the Elohim, and to build an Embassy to welcome them officially and respectfully.

2The Alliance for Extraterrestrial Diplomatic Contact is an international network founded in 2020 with the goal of promoting the idea that it is essential to have an Optional Protocol Concerning Embassies for Extraterrestrials and to provide authoritative advice and information to governments so they can assist their ambassadors, military, and policymakers understand the nature and significance of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations, as well as promote the development of appropriate policies.

SOURCE Raelian Movement

Related Links

http://www.rael.org


During the meeting, the Sustainable Lady Fund was presented as part of the Smart Lady program. The Fund's objective is to support innovative green projects of Bulgarian women entrepreneurs and it was created by First Investment Bank in partnership with Mastercard.

As of July 23, ladies who want to become part of the Fund will be able to apply fully online through the Smart Lady website, and a competent jury will evaluate their proposals. The top ranking projects in two categories will receive funding, each in the amount of BGN 5,000, for implementation of the boldest and most sustainable projects. The lucky winners will be announced at a special ceremony in October in the capital Sofia. A month later, the organizers are also planning to launch a socially responsible initiative in support the Fund's activities for 2022, so that it can lend a hand to even more innovative ideas aimed at environmental protection.

"The Sustainable Lady program will be further developed and upgraded in order to meet the needs of our customers and of their innovative, environmentally friendly businesses. Never before has it been so important to show responsibility not only to each other but also to future generations and our bank will make a point of doing this. Every day!", were the comments from First Investment Bank.

Mastercard believes that innovation is meaningless unless it radically improves the wellbeing of people and of the planet as a whole. In 2020 Mastercard made a commitment to support 25 million women entrepreneurs around the world, so that they may be included in the digital economy by 2025. The joint project with Fibank is part of this long-term global commitment. Sustainable Lady is also among the first initiatives of the green network of global and local projects of Mastercard in support of the environment.

"The age of digitalization has changed not only us, but also the way we do business. I am here to support women entrepreneurs who have the courage to start something new, something of their own. We at Mastercard encourage new ideas, and even if they are focused on environmental protection, we stand firmly behind them," said Vanya Manova, Mastercard manager for Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1134349/Fibank_Head_Office_Bulgaria.jpg

SOURCE Fibank (First Investment Bank)
SEATTLE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthtech startup bttn. announced it closed a $1.5M seed round from a group of technology and supply chain leaders. The Seattle based startup is aimed at being the future of medical supply, by bringing technology, web based application ordering and big data insights to the archaic order processes that healthcare providers are forced to use by legacy GPO's and Medical Distribution incumbents. In addition, bttn.'s model eliminates the need for exclusive and restrictive contracts, in order to truly democratize access to these critical products for essential service providers. bttn. can save healthcare providers 20-40% on their medical supply bills, and dramatically improves shipping and delivery speeds.

"The pandemic showed us that the medical supply chain was incredibly fragile. We have turned 1000's of customer and vendor feedback discussions into a purpose-built company that is on a mission to reduce healthcare costs for all and disrupt the traditional medical distributors. Customers are asking for price transparency and technology enabled solutions in all areas of healthcare, especially in procurement. We see bttn. as the e-commerce enabled medical supply procurement solution for the future." Says JT Garwood , CEO & Co-founder of bttn.

Amol Deshpande, CEO & Co-Founder of Farmers Business Network (FBN), anchored the seed round for bttn."bttn. is bringing much needed transparency to the healthcare industry, and through their innovations, increasing competition and reducing costs for SMB healthcare organizations. I am proud to support JT and Jack in such an important mission as an investor and advisor." The investment was also supported by ex-Google and Verizon executives who are still actively advising the company.

In its first 90 days of operation, the startup has secured more than 300 customers nationwide with over half a million dollars in sales. Based on it's strong value proposition and technology, bttn. was recently awarded a multi-million dollar annual contract with a major city in the state of Washington. In addition, bttn. has announced strategic partnerships with 11 major healthcare associations, including hospitals, dentists, physicians, and veterinarian groups with 20 more in the pipeline. This gives the startup access to thousands of new customers. bttn. will use the funds to expand their technical, sales and operations teams.

For more information, please visit - www.bttnusa.com

Media Contact: JT Garwood, [email protected]

SOURCE bttn.

Related Links

www.bttnusa.com


NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange County residents who are suffering medication-resistant epilepsy can now access a pioneering, minimally invasive surgical procedure to relieve seizures. Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute (PFNI) at Hoag is one of only three sites in the western U.S. to offer the procedure, MRI-guided laser ablation, through a clinical trial.

For nearly 50 years, there were few options for patients who suffer from medication-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. The most effective procedure was temporal lobectomy, a highly invasive surgery that involves removing a large section of the brain and can result in loss of vision, speech, memory and neurocognitive abilities.

The SLATE clinical trial will study the effectiveness of minimally invasive laser surgery using the Medtronic Visualase system. This approach uses an MRI-guided laser probe, approximately the width of a guitar string, to target and destroy the scar, tumor, or malformation that causes seizures. The procedure is revolutionizing the surgical treatment of epilepsy, previously a large and invasive surgery with numerous potential side effects, which may now be performed in a minimally invasive procedure requiring an overnight hospital stay.

"We are privileged to be on the forefront of offering minimally invasive, safer options for patients who wish to avoid large, open surgery," said Chief of Epilepsy Surgery and Hoag neurosurgeon Vik Mehta, M.D., who is the principal investigator of the trial. "In order to meet the needs of people with epilepsy, we need to modernize approaches that are more patient-friendly. This is one of the promising options to replace an invasive approach that had a lot of side effects, and we are excited by the data so far."

Hoag is the only site in the national study to employ Surgical Theater, which combines the use of virtual reality and augmented reality to "rehearse" surgery. This ensures the safest and most effective approach during the procedure.

Of the 14 patients that Hoag has treated with the Medtronic Visualase MRI-guided laser ablation system, 11 are completely seizure-free. One of these patients, Lisa Egli, suffered from temporal lobe seizures since childhood, but is now seizure-free for more than a year since undergoing laser ablation surgery with Dr. Mehta. She has been steadily reducing the amount of anti-seizure medication she takes under the direction of David Millett, M.D., Ph.D., Epilepsy Program Director at Hoag.

"At work, I stand up in front of people and present, and I was always paranoid about having seizures. I am not anymore," she said. "I feel like my memory has improved, as well. I've been surprised how much better the quality of my life is." Indeed, early data also suggest that laser ablation also drastically reduces the risk of side effects.

Nearly one million people who have epilepsy either don't respond to anti-seizure medication or find medication gradually becomes ineffective at controlling their seizures. For these patients, temporal lobectomy has proven effective, but it is so invasive that only a small fraction of patients elects to undergo the surgery. Hoag's multidisciplinary epilepsy program at the PFNI is using this new minimally invasive approach to open a new avenue of effective treatment to patients who have had limited options.

"Over time, people with medication-resistant epilepsy become progressively more disabled. They're not able to keep their jobs, or drive or maintain relationships," said Dr. Millett. "If we can cure them of their seizures, we can give them their life back."

The PFNI at Hoag has consistently ranked among the top one percent of hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery. The hospital has been designated a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery (COERS) from the Surgical Review Corporation. And Hoag is accredited by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a level 4 epilepsy center, meaning it has the professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.

The hospital's track record of excellence is one reason Hoag was chosen to participate in the study.

"Patients need a well-trained epileptologist to tease out what types of seizures they are having and what treatments they need," said Dr. Millett. "For some patients, surgery is the best option. Hoag was chosen to participate in this study because our expertise in identifying and treating epilepsy is among the most trusted in the nation."

Drs. Millett and Mehta said they hope the study will result in a sea change for patients whose epilepsy cannot be controlled by medication.

"The goal is to achieve high rates of seizure-freedom with minimal side effects, a very low risk profile and short hospital stay," Dr. Mehta said. "We are excited to be a part of this study and to pioneer an effective option for patients with seizure disorders."

For more information about the clinical trial, please contact [email protected].

ABOUT PICKUP FAMILY NEUROSCIENCES INSTITUTE

Compassionate Care, Clinical Excellence, Creative Intelligence

Hoag and the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute were ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Orange County and No. 27 nationally in Neurology & Neurosurgery, placing it in the top 1% of neuro-specialist programs across the U.S., and the only one in the top 30 without a formal university residency curriculum. Delivering a personalized, integrated approach using best-practice guidelines, the most advanced technology, and integration of medical specialists in the most appropriate facilities, the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute (PFNI) at Hoag provides world class care for patients with specific conditions of the brain and spine such as stroke, aneurysms and vascular malformations, brain tumors, epilepsy, movement disorders, memory and cognitive disorders, pain, minimally invasive spine surgery, multiple sclerosis, addiction medicine and sleep disorders, as well as the mind-body interface of mental health. Many of Hoag's PFNI programs have received high acclaim.The Hoag Stroke Program was the first in Orange County and the second in California to be named a Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center by DNV GL Healthcare and was awarded the American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement for stroke care. And as one of the first centers in the U.S. to offer the most advanced radiosurgical treatment system available, Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion, the PFNI brain tumor program is the largest in Orange County and is also among the top volume programs in the western United States. Hoag has been recognized as a designated Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. The PFNI's memory and cognitive disorders program is nationally recognized.

ABOUT HOAG

Hoag is a nonprofit, regional health care delivery network in Orange County, California, that treats more than 30,000 inpatients and 480,000 outpatients annually. Hoag consists of two acute-care hospitals  Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, which opened in 1952, and Hoag Hospital Irvine, which opened in 2010  in addition to nine health centers and 13 urgent care centers. Hoag has invested $261 million in programs and services to support the underserved community within the past five years, including areas like mental health, homelessness, transportation for seniors, education, and support for single mothers. Hoag is a designated Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Hoag offers a comprehensive blend of health care services that includes five institutes providing specialized services in the following areas: cancer, heart and vascular, neurosciences, women's health, and orthopedics through Hoag's affiliate, Hoag Orthopedic Institute , which consists of an orthopedic hospital and two ambulatory surgical centers. In the 2020 - 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Rankings, Hoag is the highest ranked hospital in Orange County and the only OC hospital ranked in the Top 10 in California. For an unprecedented 23 years, residents of Orange County have chosen Hoag as one of the county's best hospitals in a local newspaper survey. Visit www.hoag.org for more information.

SOURCE Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Related Links

http://www.hoag.org


IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTOM, curator of the nation's premier property database, today released its second-quarter 2021 U.S. Home Affordability Report, showing that median home prices of single-family homes and condos in the second quarter of this year are less affordable than historical averages in 61 percent of counties across the nation with enough data to analyze. That was up from 48 percent of counties in the second quarter of 2020, to the highest point in two years, as home prices have increased faster than wages in much of the country.

The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed to meet monthly home ownership expenses  including mortgage, property taxes and insurance  on a median-priced single-family home, assuming a 20 percent down payment and a 28 percent maximum "front-end" debt-to-income ratio. That required income was then compared to annualized average weekly wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (see full methodology below).

Compared to historical levels, median home prices in 347 of the 569 counties analyzed in the second quarter of 2021 are less affordable than past averages. The latest number is up from 275 of the same group of counties in the second quarter of 2020 - a backslide that developed amid a 22 percent spike in the median national home price over the same period last year to a record of $305,000.

While major ownership costs on median-priced homes do remain within the financial means of average workers across the nation in the second quarter of 2021, the percentage of counties where affordability is worse than historical averages has hit its highest point since the second quarter of 2019.

The latest pattern  home prices still manageable but getting less affordable  has resulted in major ownership costs on the typical home consuming 25.2 percent of the average national wage of $63,986 in the second quarter of this year. That is up from 22.7 percent in the first quarter of 2021 and 22.2 percent in the second quarter of last year, to the highest point since the third quarter of 2008. Still, the latest level is within the 28 percent standard lenders prefer for how much homeowners should spend on mortgage payments, home insurance and property taxes.

Those mixed trends in the second quarter have developed during a 12-month period in which a glut of home buyers chasing a tight supply of homes for sale has spiked prices in most parts of the nation. The surge has come amid rock-bottom home-mortgage rates and a desire of many households largely untouched by the financial damage caused by the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic to seek the relative safety of a house and yard and more space for developing work-at-home lifestyles. Mortgage rates below 3 percent have helped cushion the impact of rising prices, but not enough to prevent the cost of home ownership from getting closer to the unaffordable benchmark.

"Average workers across the country can still manage the major expenses of owning a home, based on lender standards. But things have gone in the wrong direction this quarter in a majority of markets as the national housing market boom roars onward," said Todd Teta, chief product officer with ATTOM. "While super-low mortgage rates have certainly helped in a big way, prices have simply shot up too much to maintain historic affordability levels. The near future of affordability remains very uncertain, as it has throughout the pandemic. ATTOM continues to watch those trends closely. For the moment, the situation is a mix of positive and negative trends."

View Q2 2021 U.S. Home Affordability Heat Map

A majority of markets still require less than 28 percent of wages to buy a home

Major ownership costs on median-priced homes in the second quarter of 2021 consume less than 28 percent of average local wages in 327 of the 569 counties analyzed in this report (57 percent).

Counties requiring the smallest portion are Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) (5.5 percent of annualized weekly wages needed to buy a home); Bibb County (Macon), GA (8 percent); Cambria County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) (8.2 percent); Macon County (Decatur), IL, (9.1 percent) and Peoria County, IL (10.4 percent).

Among the 43 counties in the report with a population of at least 1 million, those where home ownership typically consumes less than 28 percent of average local wages in the second quarter of 2021 include Wayne County (Detroit), MI (10.7 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (12.9 percent); Philadelphia County, PA (18.1 percent); Harris County (Houston), TX (20.2 percent) and Franklin County (Columbus), OH (21 percent).

A total of 242 counties in the report (43 percent) require more than 28 percent of annualized local weekly wages to afford a typical home in the second quarter of 2021. Counties that require the greatest percentage of wages are Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (100.8 percent of annualized weekly wages needed to buy a home); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) (81.4 percent); Santa Cruz County, CA (76.2 percent); Queens County, NY (68.7 percent) and Monterey County, CA (outside San Francisco) (65.9 percent).

Aside from Kings County, NY, and Queens County, NY, counties with a population of at least 1 million where home ownership consumes the highest percentage of average annualized local wages in the second quarter include Nassau County, NY (outside New York City) (63 percent); Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (59.2 percent) and Alameda County (Oakland), CA (54 percent).

Home prices up at least 10 percent in almost two-thirds of country

Median single-family home prices in the second quarter of 2021 are up by at least 10 percent from the second quarter of 2020 in 348, or 61 percent, of the 569 counties included in the report. Counties were included if they had a population of at least 100,000 and at least 50 single-family home and condo sales in the second quarter of 2021.

Among the 43 counties with a population of at least 1 million, the biggest year-over-year gains in median prices during the second quarter of 2021 are in San Bernardino County, CA (up 25 percent); Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC (up 24 percent); Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ (up 21 percent); Hillsborough County (Tampa), FL (up 20 percent) and Middlesex County (outside Boston), MA (up 20 percent).

Counties with a population of at least 1 million that have the smallest year-over-year increases (or price declines) in the second quarter of 2021 are New York County (Manhattan), NY (down 21 percent); Wayne County (Detroit), MI (down 2 percent); Bronx County, NY (up 2 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (up 3 percent) and Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (up 4 percent).

Price gains outpace wage growth in almost three-quarters of markets

Home-price appreciation is greater than annualized wage growth in the second quarter of 2021 in 409 of the 569 counties analyzed in the report (72 percent), with the largest including Los Angeles County, CA; Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles).

Average annualized wage growth is outpacing home-price appreciation in the second quarter of 2021 in 160 of the 569 counties in the report (28 percent), including Cook County (Chicago), IL; Kings County (Brooklyn), NY; Bexar County (San Antonio), TX; Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA, and Wayne County (Detroit), MI.

Annual wages needed to afford median-priced home exceed $75,000 in less than 20 percent of markets

Annual wages of more than $75,000 are needed in the second quarter of 2021 to afford the typical home in just 104, or 18 percent, of the 569 markets in the report.

The top 20 highest annual wages required to afford the typical home are all on the east or west coasts, led by San Mateo County (outside San Francisco), CA ($246,090); Marin County (outside San Francisco), CA ($245,914); San Francisco County, CA ($237,588); New York County (Manhattan), NY ($212,246) and Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA ($220,850).

The lowest annual wages required to afford a median-priced home in the second quarter of 2021 are in Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) ($9,055); Cambria County, PA (outside Pittsburgh) ($12,688); Bibb County (Macon), GA ($13,415); Robeson County, NC (outside Fayetteville) ($16,951) and Chautauqua County, NY (outside Buffalo) ($17,977).

Homeownership less affordable than historic averages in almost two-thirds of counties

Among the 569 counties analyzed in the report, 347 (61 percent) are less affordable in the second quarter of 2021 than their historic affordability averages, up from 48 percent of the same group of counties that were less affordable historically in the second quarter of 2020.

Counties with a population of at least 1 million that are less affordable than their historic averages (indexes of less than 100 are considered less affordable compared to historic averages) include Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC (index of 77); Dallas County, TX (80); Oakland County, MI (outside Detroit) (81); Fulton County (Atlanta), GA (82) and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), TX (82).

Counties with the worst affordability indexes in the second quarter of 2021 include Delaware County, PA (outside Philadelphia) (index of 48); Rankin County (Jackson), MS (52); Canyon County, ID (outside Boise) (59); Montgomery County (Dayton), OH (63) and Gaston County, NC (outside Charlotte) (67).

Among counties with a population of at least 1 million, those where the affordability indexes worsened annually are Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC (index down 14 percent); San Bernardino County, CA (down 14 percent); Wake County (Raleigh), NC (down 11 percent); Hillsborough County (Tampa), FL (down 11 percent) and Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ (down 11 percent).

Roughly 40 percent of markets are more affordable than historic averages

Among the 569 counties in the report, 222 (39 percent) are more affordable than their historic affordability averages in the second quarter of 2021, down from 51 percent of the same group in the second quarter of last year.

Counties with a population of at least 1 million that are more affordable than their historic averages (indexes of more than 100 are considered more affordable compared to historic averages) include New York County (Manhattan), NY (index of 159); Montgomery County (outside Washington, D.C.), MD (118); Suffolk County, NY (outside New York City) (113); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (109) and Fairfax County, VA (outside Washington, D.C.) (108).

Outside of New York County, NY, counties with the best affordability indexes in the second quarter of 2021 include Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) (index of 201); Macon County (Decatur), IL (175); Ontario County (outside Rochester), NY (157) and Bibb County (Macon), GA (155).

Counties with a population of least 1 million residents where affordability indexes improved the most, year over year, are New York County (Manhattan), NY (index up 40 percent); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (up 10 percent); Wayne County (Detroit), MI (up 8 percent); Bronx County, NY (up 4 percent) and Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (up 3 percent).

Report Methodology

The ATTOM Data Solutions U.S. Home Affordability Index analyzes median home prices derived from publicly recorded sales deed data collected by ATTOM Data Solutions and average wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 569 U.S. counties with a combined population of 250.8 million. The affordability index is based on the percentage of average wages needed to pay for major expenses on a median-priced home with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage and a 20 percent down payment. Those expenses include property taxes, home insurance, mortgage payments and mortgage insurance. Average 30-year fixed interest rates from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey were used to calculate the monthly house payments.

The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed for major home ownership expenses on a median-priced home, assuming a loan of 80 percent of the purchase price and a 28 percent maximum "front-end" debt-to-income ratio. For example, the nationwide median home price of $305,000 in the second quarter of 2021 required an annual wage of $57,594, based on a $61,000 down payment, a $244,000 loan and monthly expenses not exceeding the 28 percent barrier  meaning households would not be spending more than 28 percent of their income on mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance. That required income was less than the $63,986 average wage nationwide based on the most recent average weekly wage data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making a median-priced home nationwide affordable for average workers.

About ATTOM

ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID  the ATTOM ID. The 20TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, and more. Also, introducing our latest solution, that offers immediate access and streamlines data management  ATTOM Cloud.

Media Contact:

Christine Stricker

949.748.8428

[email protected]

Data and Report Licensing:

949.502.8313

[email protected]

SOURCE ATTOM Data Solutions

Related Links

https://www.attomdata.com


LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jerry Garcia Music Arts label has partnered with the ecologically conscious Aerial to release the legend's first ever music art NFT. The cryptoart or NFT (non-fungible-token) will be available on the SuperRare platform on July 12. The title of the one-of a-kind piece will be announced upon its release.

The visionary Garcia, an innovator of the 1960's psychedelic San Francisco sound, well known as the guitarist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, was also a pioneer in the visual arts, being the first of his contemporaries to create digital art.

Jerry Garcia Photo credit: Elliot Newhouse Jerry Garcia Photo credit: Elliot Newhouse

As a teenager, he studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and worked with various media, including oil, watercolor, and pen and ink. Later, his art toured in galleries and museums throughout the United States and the world.

In January 2015, the Jerry Garcia Foundation launched an ongoing charity arts program in his honor, one focused on supporting environmental, artistic and humanitarian causes.

Jerry Garcia's youngest daughter Keelin, a producer on the project, comments, "I tend to think my dad would love the concept of NFTs. This feels like a new, revolutionary space where artists and collectors can interact in a more meaningful way, and NFTs are so unique and unlike anything we have ever seen. I like to imagine the ethos of this movement would resonate with my dad's philosophical views."

A three percent donation of NFT net proceeds are to be donated to the Jerry Garcia Foundation. Gift grant funds will be allocated to support 1960s music legend Jorma Kaukonen's Psylodelic Gallery located in Pomeroy, Ohio. The nonprofit gallery, cofounded by Jorma and his wife Vanessa, presents ever-revolving art shows focused on the "Summer of Love" spirit.

Another charitable element of this project will support the Jerry Garcia Foundation's ocean preservation fund. Jerry Garcia frequently traveled to the Hawaiian Islands, and it was his love of scuba diving that helped foster his passion for ocean preservation.

This project also utilizes the carbon offset tools made available by Aerial  an environmentally conscious company focused on mitigating humanity's carbon footprint.

For more information, please visit the SuperRare website.

About SuperRare

Founded in 2017 by John Crain, SuperRare is an online, peer-to-peer gallery for NFTs built on the Ethereum cryptocurrency. It was created as a social environment for buying and selling artwork that is authentically created and tokenized as digital items that can be owned and traded.

About Aerial

Aerial is a sustainability platform that builds tools to manage carbon footprints across NFTs, transportation and other emission sources. Developed by entrepreneurs Andreas Homer, Ari Sawyers and Ebby Amir, Aerial tracks your emissions, offers simple ways to act and gives exclusive insights from credible science writers on how to live more sustainably. Aerial makes climate action easy and fun.

About the Psylodelic Gallery

The Psylodelic Gallery is a center for art and culture, nestled on the grounds of Fur Peace Ranch in Pomeroy, Ohio. It houses Jorma's personal collections of artifacts, photographs and posters from his long career as a musician, from Jefferson Airplane to Hot Tuna.

About the Jerry Garcia Foundation

The Jerry Garcia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports environmental, artistic and humanitarian causes through the beauty of music and art. Jerry's daughter, Keelin, and his wife, Manasha, established the foundation in 2015 in honor of the musician, artist and visionary. Staying true to Jerry's vision, the foundation embraces the idea that music and art bring great healing to the world.

About Jerry Garcia Music Arts

Jerry Garcia Music Arts is a mission-based music and arts services company inspired by musician Jerry Garcia. The company engages in conscious plastic-free environmental practices and is receptive to partnerships with creatives of like mind.

Contact:

M MG

[email protected]

SOURCE Jerry Garcia Music Arts
STOCKHOLM, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Funds advised by KLAR Partners Limited ("KLAR Partners" or "KLAR") have signed an agreement to acquire QMG, one of Finland's leading players in technical installation and services within electricity, heating, ventilation, sprinklers and automation. The acquisition is the next step in KLAR Partners' ambition to create the Nordic region's leading player in technical installation and property services.

QMG offers technical installation and services within electricity, heating, ventilation, sprinklers and automation. With around 1,000 employees in almost 30 locations, the company is one of the largest installation companies in Finland. In 2020, QMG had sales of approximately EUR 200m.

Together with Sandbackens, an existing KLAR portfolio company, QMG will form one of the Nordic region's leading players in technical installation and property services. The two companies, within the newly formed group, will continue to operate as separate units  Sandbackens on the Swedish market and QMG on the Finnish market. Kimmo Liukkonen remains President of QMG and joins the Group's management team with Mikael Matts, group President and CEO and Johan Henriksson, group CFO.

"We have followed QMG for a long time as the company fits well into KLAR's investment strategy. With QMG and Sandbackens, we have the market's most skilled employees and a world-class management team. It gives us a powerful Nordic platform for continued growth", said Fredrik Brynildsen of KLAR Partners.

"I look forward to participating in the creation of a leading Nordic player in installation and services that is based on a decentralized structure with local presence and entrepreneurship, paired with the larger company's network and combined expertise", said Johan Karlstrom, the new group's chairman of the board.

"I am pleased to welcome QMG as a partner to Sandbackens, and thereby establish one of the leading players in the Nordic region. The companies have a similar corporate culture and shared values. This is something we must nurture and preserve while we develop the companies' successful and decentralized structure. Together, we can develop further through synergies and sharing of best practices, and we have the strength to accelerate our growth, both organically and through acquisitions," said Mikael Matts, the new Group's President and CEO.

"KLAR Partners is an owner with deep sector expertise and experience in developing companies in our industry. We also look forward to forming a significant Nordic player together with Sandbackens, which gives us the best conditions for our continued growth journey", said Kimmo Liukkonen, CEO of QMG.

KLAR Partners Funds' acquisition of QMG is conditional upon customary approvals from the competition authority in Finland.

For more information:

Fredrik Brynildsen

[email protected]

+44 7388 439 890

Mikael Matts, CEO, Sandbackens

[email protected]

+46 76-850 16 03

About KLAR Partners

KLAR Partners is a European private equity firm focused on investments in companies operating in business services and light industrials. The companies in which KLAR invests each have an annual turnover of approximately EUR 50-500m and are headquartered in the Nordics, Benelux or DACH regions. With investment professionals located in London, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Brussels, together with a broad international network in the industry, KLAR has a proven business model to support, develop and grow companies. KLAR's senior professionals have worked together for many years and have more than 50 years of combined investment experience in KLAR's industry-specific and geographical focus area. KLAR Partners is a signatory of United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. More information about KLAR can be found on the company's website at www.klarpartners.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/klar-partners/r/klar-partners-funds-take-the-next-step-in-building-the-nordic-region-s-leading-technical-installatio,c3373561

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/19608/3373561/1436393.pdf Press Release https://news.cision.com/klar-partners/i/230621-qmg-kuusitunturi-lahti-web-3,c2929181 230621-QMG Kuusitunturi Lahti-web-3

SOURCE KLAR Partners
AUSTIN, Texas, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PPE manufacturer Armbrust American today is announcing the launch of its consumer mask testing and reviews database. Part of the company's overarching goal is to ensure that consumers can protect themselves with the highest quality PPE, which means providing the best information possible.

Database shows that many popular masks on Amazon make fraudulent claims

Laboratory tests show one mask blocked just 13% of particulates

Almost 40% of tested masks offered less than 90% protection

A Paw Patrol mask designed for children provided just 77%

Using the same laboratory equipment used for industry-standard testing to determine the quality and effectiveness, masks in the Armbrust Reviews Database are assigned a letter grade based on four different categories. Armbrust American's Mask Reviews Database consists of over 100 competitor tests, including nearly every available mask on Amazon.

The Mask Reviews Database consists of over 100 competitor tests, including nearly every available mask on Amazon . Using the same laboratory equipment used for industry-standard testing to determine the quality and effectiveness, masks are assigned a letter grade based on four different categories: Filtration Protection, Breathability, Construction, and Smell. Additionally, helpful information such as the country of origin where the mask was manufactured is also available, with new mask reviews being added to the database every day.

"There are hundreds of different brands selling masks making all kinds of claims on Amazon, and it's impossible for people to know what they're actually getting. Our masks are independently tested to meet rigorous standards, which means a lot more than a random four-star review," said founder and CEO Lloyd Armbrust. "A good mask protects you against viruses, mold, and other toxic particles in the air. It will literally save your life, but a subpar mask could kill you."

Since Amazon and other marketplaces aren't vetting the claims made on their site, Armbrust is providing the necessary testing based on the following criteria:

Protection - Particulate Filter Efficiency (PFE) measures how many small particles are filtered by the mask.

- Particulate Filter Efficiency (PFE) measures how many small particles are filtered by the mask. Breathability - Air flow resistance is tested in Pascals (pa) to determine how breathable the mask is.

- Air flow resistance is tested in Pascals (pa) to determine how breathable the mask is. Construction - Assesses things like ear loop strength, build quality, and comfort.

- Assesses things like ear loop strength, build quality, and comfort. Smell - What (if any) odor is the mask giving off.

For more information and video reviews for a variety of masks, visit armbrust.com/mask-database . (Raw data available upon request.)

About Armbrust American

Armbrust American's mission is to bring strategic manufacturing back to the U.S. Armbrust is the only vertically integrated PPE factory in America with no reliance on global supply chain, ensuring reliable production output and predictable pricing. Founded in 2020 by Y-Combinator alumni Lloyd Armbrust, the company currently operates a factory out of Pflugerville, Texas utilizing a proprietary mix of materials and manufacturing innovation to provide the highest quality PPE at a competitive cost.

Media Contact:

Tom Cheredar

(512) 831-4409

[email protected]

SOURCE Armbrust American
VAIL, Colo., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Manna Tree, a Vail, CO-based investment firm committed to improving human health, is pleased to announce it has doubled in size, announcing several additions to its management, investor relations and operations teams. Most notably, Sylvio Petto Neto will join as Director, and Shannon Flahive and Ben Tabah as Vice Presidents.

"Manna Tree is experiencing meaningful deal flow and overall firm growth. To continue making high-quality, impactful investments in human health, we need to further build on the strong foundation our existing team has created. We believe we have the right people in the right places supporting our portfolio companies and overall operations in every corner of the organization," said Brent Drever, President and Co-Founder, Manna Tree Partners. "The new team additions will help fuel us as we source new deals and also build off of the momentum we have observed, in particular, in the functional beverage and nutrient dense foods spaces."

The new management team members are:

Sylvio Petto Neto, DirectorSylvio brings over 25 years of international experience in the food and agriculture sectors. His career experience includes operational and business development roles with Cargill, Syngenta, portfolio management with the Wheatsheaf Group and his own consulting company, Green Prairie Consulting. Leveraging his consulting and industry skillset, Sylvio will lead Manna Tree's efforts to support and manage its portfolio companies, including tracking growth initiatives, connecting appropriate service providers and advisors and more.

Shannon Flahive, Vice PresidentShannon comes to Manna Tree with more than a decade of strategy consulting and investing experience. Her career included time as a consultant with various firms including Cambridge Associates, Boston Consulting Group, Treacy & Company and Egg Strategy. Most recently, she was with Blackhorn Ventures where she supported impact investment deal flow with financial modeling and business model and market analysis. At Manna Tree, she is working with the investment team to systematize and lead deal sourcing efforts, as well as continuing to build the network of service-providers and subject-matter experts who can support Manna Tree's portfolio companies.

Ben Tabah, Vice PresidentBen joins Manna Tree's investment team to lead deal due diligence, supporting the investment process from initial conversations to close. He began his career doing sell-side M&A advisory with Macquarie Capital in New York City. He then joined Wellspring Capital where he was a member of the investment team and engaged in the evaluation, execution and oversight of leveraged buyout transactions totaling over $1 billion in enterprise value.

Manna Tree has also made a number of internal promotions and further additions to its operations and investor relations teams.

Allyson Patterson has been promoted to Managing Director. Allyson heads the firm's legal and compliance, manages fund operations and communications, and oversees the management company's operations.

Charlotte Forfang has joined the investor relations team as an Analyst to support fundraising and investor relationships.

Associate Lindsay Nistler has joined to lead investor services, including management of new partner onboarding, drawdowns and distributions, and investor reporting.

Makayla Brown has joined as Executive Assistant supporting Co-Founders Brent Drever and Ross Iverson, as well as overseeing office administration.

For additional information on Manna Tree, please visit www.mannatreepartners.com.

About Manna Tree

Manna Tree is a Vail, Colorado-based investment firm committed to improving human health through nutrition. The firm invests in and actively partners with growth-stage companies. We believe the future of health, well-being and longevity is attainable through innovation in food. Manna Tree has made six investments to date: Evolve Biosystems, Vital Farms, Verde Farms, MycoTechnology, Nutriati, and Gotham Greens. www.mannatreepartners.com.

CONTACT: Lisa Aldape

JConnelly

973 525 6550

[email protected]

SOURCE Manna Tree
HONOLULU, Hawaii, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Matson, Inc. ("Matson" or the "Company") (NYSE: MATX), a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, today declared a third quarter dividend of $0.30 per common share. The dividend represents a seven-cent, or 30.4%, increase over the prior dividend and will be paid on September 2, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 5, 2021. The Board also approved a share repurchase program totaling three million shares, or approximately seven percent of outstanding common shares. As of June 24, 2021, the authorization represents approximately $190 million of potential repurchases.

"We are pleased to announce this return of capital to shareholders," said Matt Cox, Matson's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The substantive increase in the dividend and the initiation of a new share buyback program reflects our Board's confidence in long-term free cash flow growth. Last May we successfully launched a second expedited ocean service from China to the U.S. West Coast, the CLX+, to accommodate overwhelming demand for our original expedited China-to-Long Beach service. The success of the CLX+ service is expected to continue to be a driver in free cash flow growth."

Mr. Cox added, "After re-setting our dividend to this new level and providing maintenance capital expenditures to support ongoing operations, we will maintain our investment-grade balance sheet while also continuously seeking to acquire businesses and drive organic growth opportunities that meet our investment criteria. We will be both disciplined and opportunistic in our capital allocation, including the execution of share repurchases and aligning dividend decisions with growth in our long-term free cash flow. As always, we remain committed to return excess cash to shareholders as another means to create additional shareholder value over the long term."

Shares will be repurchased in the open market from time to time at the Company's discretion, based on ongoing assessments of the capital needs of the business, the market price of its common shares and general market conditions. The Company may enter into Rule 10b5-1 plans to facilitate purchases under the program. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

About the Company

Founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates two premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, provides service to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Dutch Harbor to Asia. The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout the continental U.S. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, Asia supply chain services, and forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement, including but not limited to, statements about free cash flow growth, the success of the CLX+ service, capital allocation plans, liquidity, dividend decisions, and the timing, manner and volume of repurchases of common shares pursuant to the repurchase program. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This release should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC through the date of this release, which identify important factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this release. We do not undertake any obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations inquiries: Lee Fishman Matson, Inc. 510.628.4227 [email protected] News Media inquiries: Keoni Wagner Matson, Inc. 510.628.4534 [email protected]

SOURCE Matson, Inc.
"We are proud to work with Mesmerize to provide verification of their printed campaigns," said Ken Shultz, senior vice president of audit services for the Alliance for Audited Media and PoC3 board member. "Participating in the audit and certification process demonstrates Mesmerize's commitment to providing advertisers with the highest level of assurance and data they can trust."

"Mesmerize prides itself on transparency and is pleased to have third-party assurance from the Alliance for Audited Media that Mesmerize's campaigns meet the highest industry standards as defined by the PoC3 Verification & Validation Guidance," said Gregory Leibert, Mesmerize CEO. "We value AAM's meticulous audit standards with the outcome of our audit and certification solidifying Mesmerize's position as an organization that represents trust, integrity, and compliance with industry best practices."

The Point of Care Communication Council is an organization that advocates for the effective use of the point of care channel to advance health and healthcare outcomes. PoC3's Verification and Validation Guidance is designed to define industry best practices and engender trust among those who transact at the point of care. The PoC3 certification is a result of Mesmerize's ongoing participation in a series of independent, third-party audits from AAM, the industry's recognized leader in media verification, to provide their clients with the highest level of media assurance and raise the level of accountability in the point of care market.

ABOUT MESMERIZE

Mesmerize is an out-of-home advertising company specializing in point of care, point-of-sale, and transit, and is headquartered in New York, NY. Mesmerize provides targeted educational materials including digital and static wallboards, literature distribution and branded medical essentials to patients and caregivers in waiting rooms, exam rooms, and other high traffic areas of doctors' offices, community-based organizations, AIDS service organizations and independent pharmacies. For more information, visit https://www.mesmerize.com.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA

The Alliance for Audited Media powers transparency and collaboration between North America's leading media professionals. AAM is the industry's recognized leader in media verification with unparalleled audit expertise across platforms including web, mobile, out-of-home, email and print. More than 4,000 publishers, advertisers, agencies and technology vendors depend on AAM's independent, third-party media audits, technology certification audits and data-driven insights to transact with trust. To learn how AAM brings trust and transparency to today's point-of-care ecosystem, visit auditedmedia.com.

SOURCE Mesmerize

Related Links

https://www.mesmerize.com/


MIAMI, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For another consecutive year, Haber Law is pleased to announce that multiple attorneys at the Firm have been named as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars on the prestigious list of highly regarded attorneys in the State of Florida. The recognition includes a cross-section of the Firm's expertise, spanning construction litigation, real estate, general litigation, and business litigation.

The following Haber Law attorneys are recognized as 2021 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars:

David Haber  Top Rated Attorney in Construction Litigation

 Top Rated Attorney in Construction Litigation Roger Slade  Top Rated Attorney in Business Litigation

 Top Rated Attorney in Business Litigation Frank Soto  Top Rated Attorney in Construction Litigation

 Top Rated Attorney in Construction Litigation Lauren Fallick  Rising Star in General Litigation

 Rising Star in General Litigation David Podein  Rising Star in Real Estate

 Rising Star in Real Estate Rebecca Casamayor  Rising Star in Real Estate

"Our attorneys are sharp, dedicated, and innovative, and I'm pleased that those qualities are showcased again this year with our Super Lawyers recognition," says Managing and Founding Shareholder David B. Haber. "Our work in construction law, real estate, and commercial litigation has grown year after year thanks to our Firm's dedication to our craft and commitment to our clients."

Florida Super Lawyers is an attorney rating system owned by Thomson Reuters. Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Florida using a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation. No more than 5% of licensed attorneys can be designated a Super Lawyer and no more than 2.5% can be Rising Stars. The Rising Stars list is similarly selective and honors lawyers who are under 40 or have been practicing less than 10 years. The process is designed to find the best attorneys in their field of practice.

For more information on Super Lawyers, visit www.superlawyers.com .

About Haber Law

Haber Law is a 16-attorney boutique Law Firm based in Miami, Florida that focuses on construction law, including design and construction defects litigation, complex business litigation, condominium and homeowners association law, and all aspects of real estate law. Additional practice areas include aviation law, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, and family law. The Firm is committed to its core values of integrity, service, dedication, innovation, diversity, and success. Haber Law is located on the internet at www.haber.law and can be reached at 305-379-2400.

Media Contacts

Velocitas Interactive Marketing + Public Relations

Patricia Beitler / Abbi Sierra

[email protected] / 305-735-9845

SOURCE Haber Law
BETHESDA, Md., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HeroX, the social network for innovation and the world's leading platform for crowdsourced solutions, today launched the crowdsourcing competition the "Air You Wear Challenge" on behalf of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Challenge seeks to develop more portable, easy-to-use options for outpatients on supplemental oxygen.

HeroX

Over 1.5 million Americans are prescribed supplemental oxygen for a range of medical conditions. Yet current options for the use of home oxygen do not fully address the needs of people who rely on this resource. When asked, patients on supplemental oxygen consistently express the following wishes: having the oxygen supply be lighter and more portable, making it last longer, and ensuring the "flow rate" is readily available.

"The demographic of those needing supplemental oxygen is much broader than many people may think," said Josh Fessel, MD, PhD, Program Director at the NHLBI. "People using home oxygen can be any age. They might need long-term supplemental oxygen because they're living with chronic lung disease, a heart condition, or sleep-related breathing issues. Or, they might only need it temporarily because they're recovering from an acute illness, a blood clot in the lung. We want to help these 1.5 million Americans live their best life."

At a time in history when breathing has never been more in focus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHLBI and HeroX hope innovators will feel motivated to team up to make a big difference in people's lives.

"This is the perfect opportunity to tap the global network to solve a problem that affects so many people," said Christian Cotichini, CEO, HeroX. "The options currently on the market don't live up to our innovative capacity: oxygen cylinders are heavy and cumbersome, and oxygen concentrators have limited battery life, precluding some patients from being able to use them. So many people stand to gain from advancements in this area, and it is ripe for innovation. And that is our problem-solvers' specialty."

The Challenge:

The two-phase challenge will award a total prize purse of $500,000.

In Phase 1, up to eight teams proposing the most compelling and impactful solutions will each receive up to $50,000 to help develop a working prototype and/or demonstration of the proposed approach during the Phase 2 development period.

At the end of Phase 2, up to three teams will be awarded first, second and third prizes of $60,000, $30,000 and $10,000 respectively for the best prototypes/demonstrations.

Teams are invited to submit their proposals to the website below.

Eligibility to Compete and Win Prizes:

The challenge is open to anyone aged 18 or older. Individual participants must be US citizens or permanent residents. International applicants can participate on a team with a US team lead. Some restrictions apply.

To accept the challenge, and for more information, visit www.herox.com/AirYouWear.

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a social network for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com.

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

[email protected]

250.858.0656

SOURCE HeroX

Related Links

http://www.herox.com


THUNDER BAY, ON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 200 000 residents in Northwestern Ontario will have free access to vital drug-related emergencies, and mental health and wellness information with the launch of Lifeguard Digital Health's overdose prevention Lifeguard App on June 23rd, 2021.

NorWest Community Health Centres, with the support of The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board is the first in Canada to partner with Lifeguard Digital Health, after the successful launch of the Lifeguard App in BC last year.

NorWest Community Health Centres

As part of NorWest's comprehensive response to the overdose crisis, the Lifeguard App supports people who use drugs with a direct link to emergency responders if an overdose occurs. The Lifeguard App also provides life-saving information for communities to help each other, including alerts on local supply contaminants, a Naloxone guide, CPR instructions, locations of supervised injection sites, opioid treatments, detox services, drug testing facilities and more.

"Since the Lifeguard App trials and launch in 2020, it has been successfully activated over 50,000 times and saved 33 lives in BC from accidental overdoses and deaths from drug toxicity," says Lifeguard DH Founder and CEO Jeff Hardy. "Our hope is that through Lifeguard's partnership with NorWest Community Health Centres and The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board we can effect positive change and start saving lives immediately in Northwestern Ontario."

The Lifeguard App is activated by the user before they take their dose, with a one-minute timer. The alarm time can be extended up to five minutes but if the user fails to hit the stop button, the alarm will grow louder until a text-to-voice call goes to emergency medical dispatchers alerting them of a potential overdose. This crucial connection to Emergency Medical Services can be the difference between life and death. The Lifeguard App also connects users with residential recovery programs and residential treatment programs.

"Lifeguard gives power and respect back to individuals who use drugs," says Kyle Arnold, Harm Reduction Outreach Worker at NorWest Community Health Centres. "It recognizes that people use alone and also the need for the community to respond without stigma during times of crisis or in case of overdose."

Wayne Gates, Chief of Superior North Emergency Medical Services says, "Superior North EMS is pleased to support NorWest Community Health Centres in launching the Lifeguard App. This initiative will improve critical access to supports and ultimately help to save lives. Lifeguard is a positive step forward, increasing safety and protecting members of our community."

Bill Bradica, CAO of TBDSSAB, says, "We are pleased to support NorWest Community Health Centre in launching this important, life-saving initiative to protect members of our community."

TBDSSAB's financial support for this initiative is part of one-time funding provided by Ontario's Ministry of Health through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

About Lifeguard Digital Health

Lifeguard Digital Health creates digital health solutions (applications) that reduce harm, prevent involuntary deaths, and improve quality of life. The company integrates technology innovations on its evan platform, including artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), permission blockchain, and informatics. Complying with the highest levels of security and privacy regulations, it works closely with health authorities and emergency health services. For more information, please visit www.lifeguarddh.com

About NorWest Community Health Centres

NWCHC delivers primary health care along with allied health services in the City and District of Thunder Bay. NWCHC's mission is to respond to individual and local community needs by providing a range of services that will improve the health and well-being of people and their communities. NWCHC's aim is to improve accessibility through holistic, integrated and comprehensive care for those facing systemic barriers to accessing services, including Indigenous and racialized communities. Its priority populations are individuals experiencing health disparities. For more information please visit www.norwestchc.org

About The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board

The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) is the service system manager for Child Care and Early Years programs, Community Housing, the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative and manages delivery of Ontario Works for the District of Thunder Bay. For more information, please visit www.tbdssab.ca

Media Contacts

Lifeguard Digital Health

Colleen Kirk

Canada: 604-992-0838

US: 310-251-0030

[email protected]

NorWest Community Health Centres

Esa Keltamaki: 807-626-7875

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Lifeguard Digital Health

Related Links

http://www.lifeguarddh.com


MILWAUKEE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Milwaukee residents are taking action to build stronger, healthier and safer communities by raising awareness of available health resources in their community, improving housing conditions and providing youth with educational programming. Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, is continuing to partner with residents to enhance community-led efforts by contributing $1.9 million in grants to 33 nonprofit organizations.

2021 Northwestern Mutual Neighborhood Grant Recipients

Since 2013, the company has invested in these neighborhoods by working directly with residents to identify specific areas of need and partnering with organizations dedicated to fostering safe neighborhoods, healthy and thriving youth and quality education. Each of the organizations receiving funding is committed to driving sustainable change and creating long-lasting impact in Milwaukee's Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way neighborhoods.

"Meaningful and lasting change happens when priorities and goals are shaped by the people living in those communities," said Eric Christophersen, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "Our efforts in these neighborhoods build upon the residents' knowledge and experiences to ensure our support remains focused on residents and their vision of the future."

Northwestern Mutual partners with designated neighborhood anchor organizations, Dominican Center, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges and Milwaukee Christian Center, to help residents as they lead revitalization efforts in Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way. Each anchor organization's revitalization plans emphasize the neighborhoods' priorities, goals and strategies.

Partner spotlight: Ezekiel Community Development Corporation

One of this year's grant recipients and community partner in Northwestern Mutual's Amani Housing Strategy is Ezekiel Community Development Corporation (CDC). Ezekiel CDC is an organization dedicated to improving housing conditions in Milwaukee's inner city by rehabilitating homes in collaboration with local businesses and organizations. As part of the restoration process, Ezekiel CDC provides residents with on-site job training to learn transferable skills for the trade industry and helps foster homeownership in neighborhoods.

Of the 2,500 housing units in Amani, nearly two-thirds were built before 1939. Older housing can require more extensive maintenance, be more costly to heat, and are more likely to contain lead-based paint, which can cause serious health issues.

Earlier this year, Ezekiel CDC received an additional grant on behalf of Northwestern Mutual through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago's Targeted Impact Fund program. Ezekiel CDC will use the grant funds to continue revitalizations efforts through the Amani Housing Strategy, which launched in 2019.

The community and neighborhood partners listed below are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents, families and children in Milwaukee neighborhoods.

To be eligible for funding, all grant recipients are required to demonstrate measurable impact and program outcomes.

Locally, Northwestern Mutual collaborates with partners to improve education and make Milwaukee a great place to live. Nationally, the company funds research to find better treatments and cures for childhood cancer, along with supporting families currently undergoing treatment and survivors living with the lasting effects.

About Northwestern Mutual Foundation

The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in need. The Foundation has given more than $400 million since its inception in 1992 and is designed to create lasting impact in the communities where the company's employees and financial representatives live and work. We accomplish this by combining financial support, volunteerism, thought leadership and convening community partners to deliver the best outcomes. Our efforts are focused nationally on curing childhood cancer, and locally on education, neighborhoods and making our hometown of Milwaukee a great destination. Visit Northwestern Mutual Foundation to learn more.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years. Through a holistic planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With $308.8 billion in total assets, $31.1 billion in revenues, and $2 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.75 million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. The company manages more than $200 billion of investments owned by its clients and held or managed through its wealth management and investment services businesses. Northwestern Mutual ranks 90 on the 2021 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2021.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance).

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual
DALLAS, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Perennials and Sutherland, LLC, leader in the international design industry and the preeminent provider of luxury furniture, performance textiles and accessories, has announced the expansion of Perennials Textiles Mexico (PTM). The epicenter of Perennials' 100% solution dyed acrylic yarn production, PTM houses state-of-the-art facilities that feature safe and sustainable practices. The Company approved a physical expansion, doubling the amount of operational space, as well as an additional hundred full-time positions.

"We are calling this investment, Megalodon Project, due to its immense impact in creating a brighter future," says Miguel Maciel, the General Manager of PTM who is spearheading the onsite operations. "We are pleased that Perennials continues to grow in San Luis Potosi, which will provide direct benefits to our community and the state. This would not be possible without the commitment and quality of workforce within our operations, which continues to transcend borders."

PTM's innovative space provides room to meet the rapid increase in product demand, where electronically controlled looms can produce thousands of yards of fabric per month. The expansion represents a multi-million dollar investment by the Company and is well underway, with full operations expected to commence by Q-1 2022. "This significant investment represents the strength of the Perennials brand and the confidence that we have in our Perennials Textiles de Mexico management and staff," states Chief Operating Officer Chris Morris.

The expansion demonstrates Perennials' resolve to supply the domestic and global market with the highest quality 100% solution dyed acrylic performance textiles available to the trade as well as select retail partners, such as Restoration Hardware and Serena and Lily.

"PTM is a genuine reflection of the solid partnership we have in Mexico," says Ann Sutherland, CEO, of Perennials and Sutherland, LLC. "For 25 years, we have continued to meet our growing production needs, and our Mexican production has played a huge part in increasing Perennials' global sales."

Perennials Fabrics and Rugs are available to interior designers and architects through fine showrooms and studios worldwide.

About Perennials and Sutherland, LLC

The Perennials and Sutherland, LLC companies are icons and acknowledged leaders in the international design industry. David Sutherland and Ann Sutherland share an ingenious talent for creating the finest interior and exterior collections of luxury furniture, fabrics, rugs and accessories. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company is comprised of Sutherland Furniture, Perennials Luxury Performance Fabrics and David Sutherland Showrooms.

Sutherland Furniture is a world leader in luxury outdoor furniture for modern lifestyles. The company has created the preeminent furniture brand through partnerships with the world's leading designers. View the full collections at sutherlandfurniture.com.

David Sutherland Showrooms are full-service, multi-line showrooms which serve the professional design market across the world. David Sutherland Showrooms and Sutherland Perennials Studios are located in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dania, London, San Francisco, Atlanta, Laguna Niguel, Seattle, Scottsdale, Denver, Washington, D.C., Boston, Paris, Munich, and Mexico City.

Perennials Fabrics and Rugs is recognized by interior designers and high-end retail customers as the leader in luxury performance fabrics. Perennials Fabrics and Perennials Luxury Performance Rugs combine the look and feel of high quality, natural materials with the superior performance properties of their genuine 100% solution-dyed acrylic fiber technology. View the full collections at perennialsfabrics.com.

SOURCE Perennials and Sutherland, LLC

Related Links

http://www.perennialsandsutherland.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) will hold a conference call on Thursday July 29, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time) to discuss its second quarter results. The public can access the conference call through a simultaneous webcast. The link is provided below and will also be available from the PG&E Corporation website.

What: Second Quarter 2021 Earnings Call



When: Thursday July 29, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time



Where: http://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx

A replay of the live conference call and webcast will be archived through August 5, 2021 at

http://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx.

Alternatively, a toll-free replay of the conference call may be accessed shortly after the live call through August 5, 2021 by dialing (800) 585-8367. International callers may dial (416) 621-4642. For both domestic and international callers, the confirmation code 8244484 will be required to access the replay.

Please contact Investor Relations at [email protected] if you have any questions.

PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

SOURCE PG&E Corporation

Related Links

http://www.pgecorp.com


GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ProStar Holdings Inc. ("ProStar" or the "the Company") (TSXV: MAPS) (FSE: 5D00), a world leader in Precision Mapping Solutions, is pleased to announce that Canadian Patent No. 3,034,837, prepared and prosecuted by Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP , one of the United States leading intellectual property law firms, has been granted to ProStar. The patent is a pioneer patent and directed to mobile devices used for the data collection processes that capture information about utility assets, create data records, and transmit the information to the cloud from the mobile device. The patented device and method provide critical utility asset data in a more timely and efficient manner which helps to prevent damages to utilities and the environment during infrastructure construction, repair, and groundbreaking activities.

"ProStar is a pioneer in precision utility locating, precision utility mapping, as well as digital management and distribution of utility information," said Raymond R. Tabandeh, the LRRC partner who prosecuted the patent. "This is ProStar's 20th issued patent and further buttresses ProStar's extensive U.S. and Canadian patent portfolio," added Tabandeh.

ProStar's issued patent covers the system and methods for generating a precise location of a buried utility, as well as displaying the information and sharing the information in real time. The patent is comprehensive and includes information about the topography of a region and the utilities located within the region. The patented method and system covers critical information that is required, including providing information about the topography of the region; receiving information about a user collecting data related to one or more utilities in the region; receiving information about time and date of the collected data; receiving information about each of the utilities; receiving information about the location of each of the utilities; receiving information about the manner of collecting data; receiving information about revisions made to the information about the map; and integrating the received information with the information about the topography of the region into a geospatial data transaction. The information may then be displayed with reference to imagery of the area in real-time.

ProStar's Chief Executive Officer and a coinventor of the issued patent, Page Tucker, stated, "It is a major milestone to have been issued our 20th patent. Not only does this issuance validate that we are the pioneer in utility mapping, but this issuance also puts us in a strong position supported by a very extensive IP portfolio to start prosecuting any patent infringements."

About Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP

Ranked in the Top 50 Patent Firms in the U.S. by Juristat, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie's patent attorneys have an undergraduate degree in science or engineering, and many of the attorneys have graduate degrees, enabling them to have a deeper understanding of clients' technology. Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie serves clients along the full spectrum of disciplines mathematics, chemistry, physics, computer science, electrical engineering, even naval architecture. Extensive patent services include: Patent Prosecution, Patent Litigation, Design Patents, International Patent Protection, Patent Opinions & Evaluations, Prior Art Searches & Evaluations, and PTAB Proceedings.

About ProStar (TSXV: MAPS) (FSE: 5D00)

ProStar is a world leader in Precision Mapping Solutions. ProStar's flagship product, PointMan, is natively cloud and mobile and is offered as a Software as a Service (SaaS). ProStar's solutions seamlessly connect the field with the office and provides the ability to precisely capture, record, display, and manage critical infrastructure data in real-time, including roads, railways, pipelines, and utilities. Some of the largest entities in North America have adopted ProStar's solutions, including Fortune 500 construction firms, subsurface utilities engineering (SUE) firms, utility owners, and government agencies.

ProStar has strategic business partnerships are with the world's leading geospatial technology providers, data collection equipment manufacturers and their dealer networks, including Trimble, Juniper Systems, Bad Elf, Vivax-Metrotech, Radiodetection, and Subsite Electronics.

The Company has made a significant investment in creating a vast intellectual property portfolio that includes 20 issued patents in the United States and Canada, with more pending. The patents protect the methods and systems required to digitally capture, record, organize, manage, distribute, and display the precise location of critical infrastructure including buried utilities and pipelines.

ProStar's Executive management team has extensive experience in the management of both early stage and Fortune 500 technology companies in the private and public sectors. The leadership team includes Vasa Dasan, former CTO of Sun Microsystems, Carl Lashua, previous Chief Information Officer of HSBC Canada and Europe, and Matthew Breman, prior Executive for Disney.

For more information about ProStar, please visit: www.prostarcorp.com.

Contact

Alex Moore

Investor Relations Support

[email protected]

970-242-4024

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms and conditions of the Company's future plans. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; the state of the technology sector; recent market volatility; the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Company's recent Information Circular filed on SEDAR on November 20, 2020 for a more complete discussion of applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company's issuer page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE ProStar Corp

Related Links

prostarcorp.com


PANAMA, Republic Of Panama, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

New Local Treasury Bonds (Bonos del Tesoro) Offering

The Republic of Panama (" Panama "), rated Baa2/BBB/BBB-, hereby announces that yesterday it priced a new Treasury Bonds (Bonos del Tesoro) offering of U.S. $1,250,000,000 aggregate amount of its 3.362% Treasury Bonds due 2031 (the " New Treasury Bonds " and such offering of New Treasury Bonds, the " New Treasury Bonds Offering ").

The aggregate principal amount of the New Treasury Bonds is intended for general budgetary purposes and to fund the purchase of outstanding debt in the concurrent Tender Offer described below. The amount of the repurchase may be adjusted based on the final acceptances in the Tender Offer. The settlement of the New Treasury Bonds Offering is expected to occur on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., and Valores Banistmo S.A. served as initial purchasers for the New Treasury Bonds Offering.

The New Treasury Bonds Offering was made only to investors who are either (i) qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or (ii) outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The New Treasury Bonds Offering was made solely by means of a separate offering memorandum related to that offering. Copies of the offering memorandum may be obtained by contacting: HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., by calling +1 (888) HSBC-4LM (U.S. toll free); Santander Investment Securities Inc., by calling +1 (855) 404-3636 (U.S. toll free); Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., by calling +1 (833) 498-1660 (U.S. toll free); or, solely for investors within Panama, Valores Banistmo S.A., by calling + (507) 321-7458.

Application will be made to list the New Treasury Bonds on the Panama Stock Exchange. The New Treasury Bonds will not be listed on any stock exchange outside Panama.

Tender Offer

Panama previously announced an offer to purchase for cash (the " Tender Offer ") its outstanding 4.000% Global Bonds due 2024 (CUSIP No. 698299 BD5, ISIN US698299BD54, Common Code 111287791) (the " Old Bonds ") in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in an aggregate Purchase Price that exceeds an amount determined by Panama in its sole discretion (the " Maximum Purchase Amount "), subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, dated June 23, 2021 (the " Offer to Purchase "). The Tender Offer expired as scheduled, with respect to the Non-Preferred Tenders, at 12:00 p.m., New York City time, and with respect to the Preferred Tenders, at 2:00 p.m., New York City time, yesterday. All capitalized terms used but not defined under the heading "Tender Offer" in this communication have the respective meanings specified in the Offer to Purchase.

Panama has instructed Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. as the billing and delivering bank for the Tender Offer (in such capacity, the " Billing and Delivering Bank ") to accept subject to proration and other terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, valid Preferred Tenders and Non-Preferred Tenders in the aggregate principal amounts as set forth below.

The Maximum Purchase Amount is U.S. $412,965,000.

The aggregate principal amount of Preferred Tenders and Non-Preferred Tenders and the aggregate principal amount of Preferred Tenders and Non-Preferred Tenders that have been accepted are shown in the table below. The Billing and Delivering Bank has accepted Old Bonds with appropriate adjustments to avoid purchase of Old Bonds in principal amounts other than Permitted Tender Amounts.

Old

Bonds Aggregate Principal

Amount of

Preferred Tenders Aggregate Principal

Amount of Preferred

Tenders Accepted Aggregate Principal

Amount of Non-

Preferred Tenders Aggregate Principal

Amount of Non-

Preferred Tenders

Accepted 4.000%

Global

Bonds

due

2024 U.S.$171,677,000.00 U.S.$171,677,000.00 U.S.$402,148,000.00 U.S.$241,288,000.00

The settlement of the Tender Offer is scheduled to occur on Friday, June 25, 2021 (the " Tender Offer Settlement Date "), but is subject to change without notice. Failure to deliver Old Bonds on time may result, in Panama's sole discretion, in any of the following: (i) the cancellation of your tender and your becoming liable for any damages resulting from that failure, and/or (ii) the delivery of a buy-in notice for the purchase of such Old Bonds, executed in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities, and/or (iii) in the case of Preferred Tender Orders, the cancellation of your tender and your remaining obligated to purchase your allocation of New Treasury Bonds in respect of your related Indication of Interest.

The Tender Offer is subject to Panama's right, at its sole discretion and subject to applicable law, to extend, terminate, withdraw, or amend the Tender Offer at any time. Each of Panama and the Dealer Managers reserves the right, in the sole discretion of each of them, not to accept Tender Orders for any reason.

The Offer to Purchase may be downloaded from the Information Agent's website at www.dfking.com/panama or obtained from any of the Dealer Managers.

The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer are:

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. Santander Investment Securities Inc. Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. Attn: Global Liability Management Group Attn: Liability Management Group Attn: Liability Management Group 452 Fifth Avenue 45 East 53rd Street 250 Vesey Street New York, New York 10018 New York, New York 10022 New York, New York 10281 Collect: +1( 212) 525-5552 Collect: +1 (212) 940-1442 Toll-Free: +1 (833) 498-1660 Toll-Free: +1 (888) HSBC-4LM Toll-Free: +1 (855) 404-3636



The Billing and Delivering Bank for this Tender Offer is: Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to the Dealer Managers at the above contact.

* * *

The New Treasury Bonds Offering was made only to investors who are either (i) qualified institutional buyers ("QIBs") within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or (ii) outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (each investor meeting such criteria, a "Qualified Investor"). The New Treasury Bonds was made solely by means of a separate offering memorandum related to that offering, which is available only to Qualified Investors. The initial purchasers for the New Treasury Bonds Offering, the Dealer Managers or the Information Agent, as the case may be, will arrange to send you the offering memorandum related to the New Treasury Bonds Offering if you request it by calling any one of them at the numbers set forth above.

Important Notice: The distribution of materials relating to the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer and the transactions contemplated by the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the New Treasury Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer come into a holder's possession, such holder is required by Panama to inform himself or herself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Treasury Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the New Treasury Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the New Treasury Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate on behalf of Panama in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

Belgium

In Belgium, the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer are not directly or indirectly, being made to, or for the account of, any person other than to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers/investisseurs qualifies) within the meaning of Article 2(e) Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC. (Reglement (UE) 2017/1129 du 14 juin 2017 du Parlement europeen et du Conseil concernant le prospectus a publier en cas d'offre au public de valeurs mobilieres ou en vue de l'admission de valeurs mobilieres a la negociation sur un marche reglemente, et abrogeant la directive 2003/71/CE / Verordening (EU) 2017/1129 van het Europees Parlement en de Raad van 14 juni 2017 betreffende het prospectus dat moet worden gepubliceerd wanneer effecten aan het publiek worden aangeboden of tot de handel op een gereglementeerde markt worden toegelaten en tot intrekking van Richtlijn 2003/71/EG), as amended or replaced from time to time (Belgian Qualified Investor), that do not qualify as consumers (consumenten/consommateurs) within the meaning of Article I.1, 2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law of February 28, 2013 (Wetboek van economisch recht/Code de droit economique), as amended or replaced from time to time (Consumers). A Consumer within the meaning of Article I.1, 2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law is any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside their trade, business, craft or profession.

As a result, the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer do not constitute a public takeover bid pursuant to Articles 3, 1, 1 and 6,  1 of the Belgian law of April 1, 2007 on public takeover bids (Wet op de openbare overnamebiedingen/Loi relative aux offres publiques d'acquisition), as amended or replaced from time to time.

Consequently, the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer and any material relating thereto have not been and will not be, notified or submitted to, nor approved by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autoriteit voor Financiele Diensten en Markten/Autorite des Services et Marches Financiers) pursuant to the Belgian laws and regulations applicable to the public offering or tendering of securities.

The New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer as well as any materials relating thereto may not be advertised, nor distributed, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than Belgian Qualified Investors acting for their own account who are not Consumers, and may not be used in connection with any offering in Belgium except as may otherwise be permitted by law.

Canada

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of the New Treasury Bonds or the Tender Offer in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. The offering of the New Treasury Bonds will be made only by means of the offering memorandum and in Canada, under applicable exemptions from any prospectus or registration requirements.

The New Treasury Bonds may be sold and the Tender Offer is made in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations, and who are not individuals. Any resale of the New Treasury Bonds must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws.

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the EEA, no offer of the New Treasury Bonds to the public may be made in that Member State other than under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation: (a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; (b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the initial purchasers for any such offer; or (c) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of the New Treasury Bonds shall result in a requirement for Panama or any of the initial purchasers to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires any of the New Treasury Bonds or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with Panama and the initial purchasers that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of the New Treasury Bonds to the public" in relation to any of the New Treasury Bonds in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the Offer to Purchase or the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the New Treasury Bonds to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any of the New Treasury Bonds and the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended.

United Kingdom

Neither this communication, the Offer to Purchase nor any other offer material relating to the Tender Offer or the New Treasury Bonds Offering has been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"). This communication, the Offer to Purchase and the offering memorandum are only being distributed to and are only directed at (i) persons who are outside the UK or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, (as amended, the "Order") or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such other persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which the Offer to Purchase or the New Treasury Bonds Offering relates will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the same will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. The New Treasury Bonds will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the New Treasury Bonds will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the Offer to Purchase, the offering memorandum or any of their contents.

No offer of the New Treasury Bonds to the public may be made in the United Kingdom other than under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation: (a) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation; (b) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the initial purchasers for any such offer; or (c) in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the FSMA, provided that no such offer of the New Treasury Bonds shall result in a requirement for Panama or any of the initial purchasers to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 86 of the FSMA and each person who initially acquires any of the New Treasury Bonds or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with Panama and the initial purchasers that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of the New Treasury Bonds to the public" in relation to any of the New Treasury Bonds means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the Offer to Purchase or New Treasury Bonds Offering and the New Treasury Bonds to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any of the New Treasury Bonds and the expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

Germany

The Tender Offer is made in the Federal Republic of Germany ("Germany") to existing holders of the Old Bonds only.

The offering memorandum does not constitute a prospectus compliant with the Prospectus Regulation and does therefore not allow any public offering in Germany. No action has been or will be taken in Germany that would permit a public offering of the New Treasury Bonds, or distribution of an offering memorandum or any other offering material relating to the New Treasury Bonds. In particular, no prospectus (Prospekt) within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation and the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz) or any other applicable laws in Germany has been or will be published in Germany, nor has any prospectus or the prospectus supplement been filed with or approved by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) for publication in Germany.

The offering memorandum is strictly for use of the person who has received it. It may not be forwarded to other persons or published in Germany.

Hong Kong

With respect to persons in Hong Kong, the New Treasury Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer are only made to, and are only capable of acceptance by, "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the "SFO") and any rules made thereunder. No person or entity may issue or have in its possession for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, any advertisement, invitation or document relating to the New Treasury Bonds, Old Bonds or the Tender Offer, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the Old Bonds which are or are intended to be tendered, or New Treasury Bonds which are intended to be purchased, only by persons outside Hong Kong or only by "professional investors" as defined in the SFO and any rules made under thereunder.

Japan

The New Treasury Bonds have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended, the "Financial Instruments and Exchange Act") and each manager has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell any New Treasury Bonds, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (as defined under Article 6, Paragraph 1, Item 5 of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan (Act No. 228 of 1949, as amended)), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, this announcement has been prepared on the basis that the offer of the New Treasury Bonds and the Tender Offer will be made pursuant to an exemption under Article 1 (4) of the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.

Malaysia

Nothing in the offering memorandum constitutes the making available, or offer for subscription or purchase, or invitation to subscribe for or purchase, or sale, of the New Treasury Bonds in Malaysia. No approval, authorization or recognition from, or registration with, the Securities Commission of Malaysia ("SC") has been or will be obtained for the making available, offer for subscription or purchase of, or invitation to subscribe for or purchase, or sale, of the New Treasury Bonds or any other securities under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 to any persons in Malaysia. Neither the offering memorandum or any amendment or supplement, disclosure document or other offering document has been or will be approved by, or registered or lodged with, the SC, Registrar of Companies, or any other authority in connection with the offering or invitation in Malaysia. Accordingly, no offering or invitation in respect of the New Treasury Bonds or any other securities is or will be made in Malaysia pursuant to the offering memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto. The offering memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto or any other offering document in relation to the New Treasury Bonds may not be circulated or distributed in Malaysia, whether directly or indirectly, for the purpose of making available, or offer for subscription or purchase, or invitation to subscribe for or purchase, or sale, of the New Treasury Bonds, and no person may offer for purchase any of the New Treasury Bonds directly or indirectly to anyone in Malaysia. The New Treasury Bonds will only be made available or offered or sold exclusively to persons outside Malaysia.

Panama

The Tender Offer, the offering memorandum, the Old Bonds and the New Treasury Bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Superintendency of Securities Markets of the Republic of Panama under Decree Law 1 of 1999, as amended, as they are exempt from registration. Therefore, the Old Bonds and the New Treasury Bonds may be publicly offered and sold in the Republic of Panama to any investor pursuant to registration exemptions applicable to government securities.

Singapore

The New Treasury Bonds Offering offering memorandum and the Offer to Purchase have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The Offer to Purchase does not constitute an offering of securities in Singapore pursuant to the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the " SFA "). The New Treasury Bonds will not be offered or sold or cause that such New Treasury Bonds to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell such New Treasury Bonds or cause such New Treasury Bonds to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, the offering memorandum or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of such New Treasury Bonds, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018 of Singapore or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the New Treasury Bonds are subscribed or purchased in reliance on an exemption under Sections 274 or 275 of the SFA, the New Treasury Bonds shall not be sold within the period of six months from the date of the initial acquisition of the bonds, except to any of the following persons:

an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA);

a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA); or

any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, unless expressly specified otherwise in Section 276(7) of the SFA or Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore .

Where the New Treasury Bonds are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the New Treasury Bonds pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or (in the case of such corporation) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in 276(3)(i)(B) of the SFA or (in the case of such trust) where the transfer arises from an offer referred to in Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

where the transfer is by operation of law;

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore .

South Korea

The New Treasury Bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Services Commission of the Republic of Korea ("Korea") for public offering in Korea under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act of Korea and its subordinate decrees and regulations. None of the New Treasury Bonds may be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea (as defined under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law of Korea) except pursuant to applicable laws and regulations of Korea. In addition, no tender offer for any bonds in exchange for the New Treasury Bonds may be made, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea except pursuant to applicable laws and regulations of Korea.

Switzerland

The offering memorandum is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the New Treasury Bonds described therein in Switzerland, except as permitted by law. The New Treasury Bonds may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") and will not be admitted to any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland.

Neither the offering memorandum nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Treasury Bonds constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to the FinSA, and neither the offering memorandum nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Treasury Bonds may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

United Arab Emirates

The offering memorandum is being provided at written request and is not intended to constitute an offer, sale or delivery of bonds or other securities under the laws of the United Arab Emirates. The New Treasury Bonds have not been and will not be approved or licensed by the UAE Central Bank, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE, and accordingly does not constitute a public offer of securities in the UAE in accordance with the UAE Commercial Companies Law (Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 (as amended)), SCA Resolution No. 3 R.M. of 2017 Regulating Promotions and Introductions or otherwise. Accordingly, the New Treasury Bonds may not be offered to the public in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Market)

Contact information:



D. F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, NY 10005

E-mail: [email protected]

Call Collect: +1 (212) 269-5550

Call Toll-Free: +1 (866) 829-1035

Website: www.dfking.com/panama

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR AFTER THIS MESSAGE ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

SOURCE Republic of Panama
NEW YORK, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Volkswagen AG (OTC: VWAGY) between March 29, 2021 and March 30, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important June 29, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action commenced by the firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Volkswagen securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Volkswagen class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2072.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 29, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience or resources. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuits, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) "Voltswagen" was never going to be used by the Volkswagen, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. ("VWoA"), or on any relevant vehicle; (2) Volkswagen, VWoA, and their spokespeople purposefully misled reporters regarding the now-purported "joke" and/or "promotion"; and (3) as a result, defendants' public statements and statements to journalists were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Volkswagen class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2072.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

Related Links

www.rosenlegal.com


BERLIN, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- We're thrilled to be able to announce that the government of Ecuador has informed us that the rollout of Covid vaccines to the Galapagos Islands population has now been completed. Because of this, the entry requirements for visitors from 1st July 2021 have now been greatly simplified.

From then, if you have completed a COVID vaccination course at least 14 days before your trip you will no longer have to have negative PCR tests before you can travel. Simply show your vaccination certificate at your point of arrival in Ecuador.

For those travelers who are not yet fully vaccinated the entry requirements have also been simplified. You will now simply have to show proof of a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before you travel.

These positive changes are fantastic news for everyone, and we are delighted that the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism has been leading the way in reopening these beautiful islands safely. At Galapatours it's our mission to help people discover the "cradle of evolution", and we've been working with the Ministry and with all our cruise ship operating partners to ensure they are ready to welcome everyone safely.

Our Galapagos Travel experts are always ready to answer any of your questions and can give you more details about the new simplified entry requirements, as well as the full range of Galapagos cruise vessels and itineraries that are available from 1st July 2021 onwards.

After a challenging period for the global travel industry, we're proud to be involved in leading the way in bringing people back to the Galapagos and rediscovering the joy of travel and the stunning wildlife and landscapes of these islands.

Please remember, in normal times Galapagos cruises often sell out more than a year in advance, so now is the perfect time to book your 2022 Galapagos adventure. If your plans are more flexible, why not contact us right now for details of any late availability deals for Galapagos cruises in the next few weeks and months?

To see all available Galapagos exploration cruises filtered by your precise requirements and to reserve your cabin free of charge visit https://www.galapatours.com/ or call one of our Galapagos travel experts for help planning your perfect trip on +1 347-674-0913 (10am to 6pm EST Monday to Thursday, 7am to 3pm EST Friday).

For further inquiries please send an email to [email protected].

Contact

Johanna Schroter

[email protected]

+493046722641

SOURCE Galapatours

Related Links

https://www.galapatours.com/


"While 2020 was a year that tested us all, at Subaru, we rose to the challenge to make meaningful differences in our communities. As we look back on 2020, I'm proud of how the Subaru of America family stepped up to meet the moment and bring our Love Promise to life," said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc. "This report provides us with a platform to engage with our stakeholders and deepen trust with our local communities."

This recognition of Subaru of America as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States by Points of Light is another example of the automaker's leadership in corporate impact. In addition to this honor, Subaru is the first automaker to be named Most Trusted Brand for seven consecutive years by J.D. Power and was ranked in the top 15 in the Axios Harris Poll 100 reputational study.

By receiving the Civic 50 honor, Subaru joins other companies selected based on four dimensions of citizenship and social impact  investment of resources, integration across business functions, institutionalization through policies and systems, and impact measurement.

These four dimensions of social impact and civic leadership are reflected throughout the Subaru 2020 Corporate Impact Report. Highlights from the report include:

Living Our Values

Mobilization of Employee Resource Groups to support local communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a charitable donation of over $10,000 by the Subaru Armed Forces Resource Group to Veterans Affairs facilities and first responders.

by the Subaru Armed Forces Resource Group to Veterans Affairs facilities and first responders. Announcement of an updated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, including investments in five key areas within Subaru of America: Personnel, Retailer Network, Philanthropy, Marketing & Advertising, and Procurement.

Recognition as a top corporate citizen, including receiving a perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's 2020 Corporate Equality Index and being named "Company of the Year" by the National Association of Women Business Owners South Jersey.

Love Promise Customer Commitment

Recognition for key automotive awards.

Enrolled the one-millionth subscriber into SUBARU STARLINK Connected Services, helping to ensure quick access to roadside assistance, when needed, and automatic crash notifications.

Love Promise Community Commitment

$26.2 million in charitable donations from Subaru of America and its participating Subaru retailers resulting from the 2020 Subaru Share the Love  Event.

in charitable donations from Subaru of America and its participating Subaru retailers resulting from the 2020 the Love Event. Commitment from Subaru Corporation toward the creation of a carbon-free society, including increasing the ratio of electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid cars to at least 40 percent of the gross number of vehicles sold globally by 2030.

Continued partnership with REI to place TerraCycle  Zero Waste Boxes  in retail locations, resulting in a total collection of 458,303 pieces of hard-to-recycle waste in 2020.

Zero Waste Boxes in retail locations, resulting in a total collection of 458,303 pieces of hard-to-recycle waste in 2020. Over $522,000 in philanthropic support and 390 hours of volunteer work to support the Camden, New Jersey community where Subaru of America is headquartered.

The report includes many more successes, as well as reviews the automaker's continued commitment to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The full Subaru of America 2020 Corporate Impact Report can be found and downloaded here: OurImpact.Subaru.com.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $200 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 63,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Dominick Infante

Director, Corporate Communications

(856) 488-8615

[email protected]

Diane Anton

Corporate Communications Manager

(856) 488-5093

[email protected]

SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.subaru.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonkean, the Operating System for Business Operations, today announced it has raised $50m in Series B funding, led by Accel. The funding will allow Tonkean to scale up hiring to its engineering and go-to-market teams and invest further in its no-code orchestration platform for business operations.

With Tonkean, business operations teams can compose their own business logic using reusable building blocks called "Enterprise Components".

Lightspeed Ventures, who led Tonkean's $24 million Series A round last year, is also participating along with previous investor Foundation Capital. This funding round also includes investments from several prominent tech leaders: Atlassian co-CEO Scott Farquhar, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, as well as executives from UiPath, all of whom recognize Tonkean as the leader of a new category of enterprise software centered on business operations teams. Accel, who previously led early investments in UiPath and guided their rise to dominance in the RPA market and recent public offering, will be represented on the Tonkean board of directors by Partner Miles Clements.

"Tonkean's no-code platform will fundamentally change how enterprise software is built, delivered and maintained within every enterprise, just as Slack did with communication tools and UiPath did with RPA," said Miles Clements, Partner at Accel. "We're excited to partner with the team as they shift the future of business operations."

Delivering no-code solutions at scale requires a bridge between business and IT to drive business agility while still ensuring compliance and security. With Tonkean, business operations teams can compose their own business logic using reusable building blocks called "Enterprise Components". These components are pre-approved and controlled by IT, enabling key capabilities like interacting with existing systems, coordinating with people, or leveraging advanced technologies like NLP & OCR. Tonkean allows operations teams to safely create solutions that work on top of their current tools and align with the way people actually like to work.

"Building software is still only a privilege for the few. The world needs more makers," said Sagi Eliyahu, CEO and Co-Founder of Tonkean. "Business processes are complex, and today's options of 'build vs buy' are not enough. Tonkean is challenging this status quo. We are creating a new alternative in enterprise software. Instead of just buying more applications, relying on engineering, or forcing new behavior - operations teams can now solve business problems faster, by composing their own solutions."

Today, enterprises like Instacart, Grubhub, Crypto.com, EVERSANA, and others rely on Tonkean to optimize and align their operations across functionsincluding sales, marketing, customer support, legal, finance, and more.

"I have seen first-hand the impact that Tonkean can make in transforming complex processes at enterprise scale, resulting in millions of dollars saved from removing time-consuming manual tasks and eliminating other one-off solutions," said Mary O'Carroll, former president of CLOC and head of legal operations at Google. "Empowering an operations team to be innovative while reducing change management is a game changer."

"Tonkean has helped us to quickly solve unique business process problems at scale, bring new products and services to market faster, and start delivering on the promise of citizen developed automation," said Chris Giddings, Manager, Digital Automation & Intelligent Systems, EVERSANA.

Today's announcement builds on an eventful year for Tonkean, who has already tripled its headcount since the beginning of 2020. With the support of this funding round, Tonkean will be hiring across departments, including for its go-to-market team based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and its engineering and product teams based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Prospective interviewees should visit https://tonkean.com/careers for details on open positions.

About Tonkean

Tonkean is the OS for Business Operations, transforming operations teams from facilitators into makers with an enterprise-grade, no-code process orchestration platform. By abstracting the technical knowledge required to automate, monitor, and manage mission-critical business processes, while still maintaining compliance and security, Tonkean enables enterprises to accelerate operational velocity at scale. Founded in 2015, Tonkean is headquartered in San Francisco with R&D in Tel Aviv. To learn more, visit www.tonkean.com, or follow Tonkean on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Accel

Accel is a global venture capital firm that is the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Atlassian, Braintree, Cloudera, Crowdstrike, DJI, DocuSign, Dropbox, Etsy, Facebook, Flipkart, Freshworks, Jet, Pillpack, Qualtrics, Slack, Spotify, Supercell, Tenable, UiPath, and Venmo are among the companies Accel has backed over the past 35+ years. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit www.accel.com or www.twitter.com/accel.

Contact: Frank Bauch, [email protected]

Related Images

tonkean.png

Tonkean

With Tonkean, business operations teams can compose their own business logic using reusable building blocks called "Enterprise Components".

sagi-eliyahu-ceo-and-co-founder.jpeg

Sagi Eliyahu, CEO and Co-Founder, Tonkean

SOURCE Tonkean
SYLMAR, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It is a Tik Tok, doing it for the "Gram", pay the easiest way generation, and Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company is taking steps to move into the Cryptocurrency galaxy with the rest of the world!

Starting on June 18, 2021, Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company began to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. What is significant about this, you ask? No other toy company in the industry is doing it.

Changing with the times. Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company first in the industry to offer crypto currency.

Not only does Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company want to make quality toys and get them into the hands of children, but to be leaders of the industry while doing so. For Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company, this means being ahead of the rest. The toy company believes that acclimating to the sensation that is cryptocurrency will take them to the next level with their customers.

David Socha, founder of the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company said, "We are always trying to lead the way in our category, and we wanted to make it easier for our customers."

Based in southern California, the 26-year-old Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company prides itself on the mastery of creating wholesome toys with incredible quality. You will find them on the shelves of most of your big box stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco. But you can also find pieces on stuffedanimals.com that you cannot find in stores. This is where cryptocurrency will be utilized to the fullest.

As the popularity and demand for digital alternatives grow, "Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company wants their customer to be able to transfer assets online, without the necessity of banks," says Jamie Emmick, Director of Special Marketing. "At customplush.com, you can create your own design, order it in mass quantities, and pay in crypto!" The wide variety of products that can be made or supplied, then purchased with cryptocurrency is endless for Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company.

"Crypto takes out the middle-man. The whole purpose is efficiency and safety. These are two things we strive to achieve"-Socha. So, while other companies are fighting to keep up, Socha is choosing to take his company farther, "Crypto and the blockchain are the future!"

Media contact:

Jamie Emmick

[email protected]

716-748-8623

SOURCE Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company
NANJING, China, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Triastek, Inc. (Triastek), a global leader in 3D printed pharmaceuticals, has completed its Series B financing, raising US$ 50 million (RMB 330 million). This round of investment was co-led by Matrix Partners China and CPE, with participation from Shanghai Sci-Tech Innovation Center Capital (SSICC) and existing investors, Morningside Ventures, Dalton Venture and Yunqi Partners. In addition to supporting the ongoing development of the first IND-approved product in clinical trials, the proceeds will also be used to expand the 3D printed drug product pipeline and advancing Triastek's vision of creating a new era of global intelligent pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Triastek co-founder and CEO Dr. Senping Cheng said, "We appreciate the support from Matrix Partners China, CPE, SSICC and our existing shareholders. It is Triastek's unrelenting goal to develop cutting-edge therapeutics that address unmet patient needs, revolutionize pharmaceutical manufacturing and improve human health. We will leverage the advantages of 3D printing of pharmaceuticals as a digital manufacturing technology and incorporate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to lead off a new era in advanced, intelligent pharmaceutical manufacturing."

Matrix Partners China partner Dr. Eric Yu added, "Triastek's breakthrough 3D printing pharmaceutical technology platform can create almost all types of target drug release profiles. We are optimistic that in the future, through its technology platform, Triastek will continue to bring forth innovative drugs for patients with unmet clinical needs. "

CPE executive director Jing Wu commented, "We have always been focused on emerging technologies in the field of pharmaceutical development. We firmly believe that Triastek's 3D printing pharmaceutical technology will be a platform with global influence and become a development and manufacturing leader for the whole industry. Triastek's contributions will accelerate the realization of digitization and intelligent manufacturing across the pharmaceutical industry."

SSICC executive vice president Dr. Zhide Yuan said, "Triastek has multidisciplinary teams in pharmaceutical sciences, mechanical engineering, material sciences, etc.,rich experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing and strong interdisciplinary execution ability. We are optimistic about the company's technology and team capabilities and look forward to more extensive application of the company's technology in drug R & D and production."

Founded in 2015 as the first 3D printing pharmaceutical company in China, Triastek is committed to building a novel 3D printing pharmaceutical technology platform with its comprehensive proprietary technologies encompassing dosage form design, digital pharmaceutical product development, and intelligent manufacturing. With its proprietary Melt Extrusion Deposition (MED) 3D printing technology, the company is the first Chinese pharmaceutical company to be accepted into the US FDA's Emerging Technology Program. Triastek's technology provides customized solutions for most oral solid dosage forms. Compared to the traditional iterative drug development process and tablet compression methods, MED 3D printing provides a paradigm shift in pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing. The versatility of the tablet structure resulting from 3D printing technology permits precise and programmed control of the drug release profile, thereby optimizing the PK profile of new and existing drug products.

Using MED 3D printing technology, Triastek has built a product pipeline including new formulations and new combination product candidates intended to meet specific clinical needs and thereby improve drug therapy outcomes. In January 2021, the company received IND approval from the US FDA for its first product T19, being developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The company's second product T20 received positive pre-IND feedback from the US FDA in March 2021 and an IND application submission for T20 is planned for the end of this year.

In addition to the development of in-house products, Triastek is collaborating with leading multinational and Chinese pharmaceutical companies to explore a variety of application scenarios for the MED 3D printing technology, such as developing formulations to provide solution for the poor water soluble new chemical entities as well as extending the lifecycle of approved/developed products. Through these collaborations, Triastek provides a significant value proposition for partner companies through the development of novel, unique and competitive pharmaceutical products in combating the challenges of developability of new compound and fine-tuning PK profile in early product development to shorten the time for human study.

For more information, please visit Triastek's website https://www.triastek.com

Business Development and Public Relations:

Eric Tsai

Business Development Director

[email protected]

+86-18502118450

SOURCE Triastek, Inc.

Related Links

www.triastek.com


Wasabi, the hot cloud storage company, today announced the expansion of its Asia-Pacific presence with the opening of its Japanese headquarters. Tweet this

"Like many regions across the world, the disruption of the last year has influenced companies across the Asia-Pacific region to revisit their technology strategy with a focus on business resilience and pandemic preparedness. Cloud infrastructure technology and services investments are critical components of this change," said Andrew Smith, Research Manager, Cloud Infrastructure Services at IDC. "As a result, according to IDC's Public Cloud Services Tracker, we expect revenues associated with public cloud IaaS in APJ to grow 36% in 2021, to $28.3 Billion  a growth rate that is faster than any other global region."

This continued expansion into APAC allows Wasabi to continue its mission of redefining the way businesses think about cloud storage with a solution that is 1/5th the cost of Amazon S3, has zero fees for egress or API requests and requires no vendor lock-in. It's an ideal product for the channel because every organization needs to store data and it's simple to understand, bundle with other products, and to sell. Wasabi's customer base is rapidly expanding around the world, storing data ranging from backups, disaster recovery and archiving to surveillance video, medical imaging, scientific research, education, genomics, AI/ML data lakes, blockchain, television, movies and government data.

"The Asia Pacific market is one of the most important in the world. The appetite for inexpensive, fast, and reliable cloud storage is nearly insatiable. In Japan specifically, our strategic partnership with NTT Communications has grown rapidly as they sell Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage to their customers and partners. So Japan is the logical place to open our APAC headquarters. From Japan, we can expand into other Asia markets," said David Friend, CEO and Co-Founder of Wasabi.

For more information please visit our website and our new Japan portal.

About Wasabi Technologies

Wasabi provides simple, predictable and affordable hot cloud storage for businesses all over the world. It enables organizations to store and instantly access an infinite amount of data at 1/5th the price of the competition with no complex tiers or unpredictable egress fees. Trusted by tens of thousands of customers worldwide, Wasabi has been recognized as one of technology's fastest-growing and most visionary companies. Created by Carbonite co-founders and cloud storage pioneers David Friend and Jeff Flowers, Wasabi has secured nearly $275 million in funding to date and is a privately held company based in Boston.

Follow and connect with Wasabi on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and our blog .

Wasabi PR contact

Nick Brown

Inkhouse for Wasabi

[email protected]

SOURCE Wasabi Technologies

Related Links

https://wasabi.com/jp/


MIAMI, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For over 40 years, Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen has received accolades as one of Florida's premier trial law firms. Adding to this recognition, six of the firm's attorneys have been selected to the 2021 issue of Florida Super Lawyers list, including two appearing in the Top 100 List: 2021 Miami Super Lawyers and one in the 2021 Rising Stars list.

The Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen attorneys honored in the 2021 Super Lawyers register were listed as follows:

Boca Raton, FL

Gary M. Cohen in PI Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff (10+ years Super Lawyers)

Coral Gables, FL

Having earned some of the highest scores out of all Super Lawyers candidates, Attorneys Grossman and Yaffa were also named to the Top 100: 2021 Miami Super Lawyers list. Both Attorney Grossman and Yaffa have been featured in previous Top Lists.

As for 2021 Rising Stars, Attorney William P. Mulligan was recognized for his work in Coral Gables, FL in the category of PI General.



No more than 5% of all practicing attorneys and 2.5% of all early career attorneys in the U.S. are listed in Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, respectively. The above Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen attorneys listed are veteran listees who deserve celebration and congratulations.

A Thomson Reuters organization, Super Lawyers is the driving force behind both the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars registers. Attorneys must undergo a rigorous multiphase review of their careers and backgrounds to obtain a listing in either of these registers. The only difference between the two is that Rising Stars is reserved for early career attorneys, which Super Lawyers defines as being no older than 40 years of age or in practice for no more than a decade.

Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen was founded in 1988 to help Florida residents recover their full and fair compensation through civil litigation. To date, its legal team has helped countless clients get back to what matters most after another's negligence upended their lives. The firm serves clients in Miami, Boca Raton, and nationwide in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, corporate fraud, mass casualties, and more. To find out more, visit grossmanroth.com. For additional information about Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, visit superlawyers.com.

SOURCE Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen

Related Links

https://www.grossmanroth.com


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spohrer Dodd's founding partners, Attorneys Robert F. Spohrer and Roger J. Dodd, have been selected for inclusion in 2021 Super Lawyers for their success in representing Jacksonville, Florida clients in three areas of the law:

Robert F. Spohrer

Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff



Aviation and Aerospace



Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff

Roger J. Dodd

Transportation/Maritime



Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff



Aviation and Aerospace

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, requires attorneys to undergo a meticulous multiphase review process before they can be listed in the annual register. Each candidate must be nominated by a third party, evaluated on a dozen different aspects of their career, and then reevaluated by their top-rated peers in a Blue Ribbon Review.

No more than 5% of all practicing lawyers throughout the U.S. achieve Super Lawyers selection each year. Thus, even a single listing is a significant accomplishment. This is the 16th year in a row in which Attorney Spohrer has been selected, and the 13th for Attorney Dodd.

Backed by more than 45 years of legal experience, Attorney Spohrer has recovered over $100 million for his Jacksonville clients and has worked on more than 1,000 cases. He is acclaimed by Best Lawyers, Lawdragon, and the Florida Justice Association, among others.

Similarly, Attorney Dodd has 45 years of legal experience under his belt. He is a board-certified civil trial specialist and former board-certified criminal trial specialist. To date, he is recognized by Best Lawyers, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Martindale-Hubbell, and more.

In addition to vast legal experience and knowledge, another thing Attorneys Spohrer and Dodd have in common is their commitment to uplifting their community through legal advocacy. They genuinely care about recovering clients their full and fair compensationthey never back down, no matter how complex the case may seem. This has resulted in a total of over $1 billion in recoveries for injured individuals who have turned to Spohrer Dodd for legal help.

Spohrer Dodd is an award-winning private practice headquartered in Jacksonville. The firm accepts cases in Florida and from coast to coast. If you have been injured, visit Spohrer Dodd online at sdlitigation.com today to learn more about your legal rights and schedule a free consultation. Additional information about Super Lawyers can be found at superlawyers.com.

SOURCE Spohrer Dodd

Related Links

https://www.sdlitigation.com


NEW YORK, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) invites media worldwide to submit entries for its 25th anniversary of the UNCA Awards for best print, broadcast (TV & Radio) and online, web-based media coverage of COVID-19, climate change and the United Nations, UN agencies and field operations.

While the UNCA Awards 25th anniversary was put on hold in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year the UN Correspondents Association will return to hosting the annual event in December, honoring excellence in journalism around the globe.

Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2021.

The awards are open to all journalists anywhere in the world.

The Awards are:

The Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize for coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, sponsored by the Alexander Bodini Foundation. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV & Radio). The Prince Albert II of Monaco and UNCA Global Prize for Coverage of Climate Change. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV & Radio). The Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize for coverage of the United Nations, UN agencies and field operations, sponsored by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV & Radio)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS:

Work in print, broadcast (TV & Radio) and online coverage must be published between September 2019 and August 2021.

The judges will look for entries with impact, insight, and originality, and will consider the courage and investigative and reporting skills of the journalists. Entries from the developing world media are particularly welcome.

Entries can be submitted in any of the official UN languages (English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Russian), however a written transcript in English or French is necessary to facilitate the judging process.

Each candidate can submit to no more than two (2) prize categories, with a maximum of two (2) stories in each. Joint entries are accepted.

Electronic files and web links uploaded to the online Entry Form are required.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

Entries are submitted online by completing the UNCA Awards Entry Form.

On the first page, please complete your personal information and upload your photo.

The following page is where you will submit your work electronically by uploading web links and/or files directly to the Entry Form.

** Electronic entries are mandatory **

All entries must be received by September 15th, 2021



For Questions regarding UNCA Awards & entries please contact:

The UNCA Office, 1-212-963-7137.

Or send an email to [email protected]

CLICK ON THE ENTRY FORM BELOW TO GET STARTED:

ENTRY FORM

http://unca.com/unca-awards-call-for-submissions-form/

UNCA Awards Committee: Valeria Robecco (UNCA President), Giampaolo Pioli (Awards Chairman), Tuyet Nguyen (Awards Selections Coordinator), Sherwin Bryce-Pease (UNCA Executive Member), Edith Lederer (UNCA Executive Member), Linda Fasulo (UNCA Executive Member)

SOURCE United Nations Correspondents Association

Related Links

http://unca.com


SEATTLE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Teamsters celebrated the announcement of a $3.4 million settlement agreement with Uber over alleged violations of the City's groundbreaking Gig Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance.

Over 15,000 drivers will benefit from the largest settlement agreement in the history of the Seattle Office of Labor Standards.

"When I needed to take time off work to help my wife through emergency surgery, I wasn't paid for sick days that I had earned," said Papa Diawara, an Uber driver who will receive payment under the paid sick days settlement agreement . "Today, I am so happy we have strong advocates ensuring our rights as essential workers during this pandemic are protected and enforced."

Drivers were joined by Teamster-endorsed elected officials Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, and Seattle City Council President and Mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez.

Councilmember Mosqueda championed the legislation to make Seattle the first and only city in the nation to pass paid sick day protections for Uber and Lyft drivers during the pandemic.

"Gig workers have been left out of many labor standards, including basic paid sick and safe leave that protects not only gig workers and their families, but customers and our community at large," said Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda . "I was proud to work with Teamsters 117 and other worker rights organizations to provide paid sick leave for these workers last year who were providing essential services -- like groceries and rides -- to our elders, healthcare workers, and more. Today's announcement shows how important it is not to just pass policies, but also, to enforce those policies."

"My administration will fight for working people, not corporate CEOs," said City Council President and Mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez . "I started my career as a civil rights attorney going after greedy corporations for wage theft, and as Mayor I will make sure we use every means available to claw back stolen wages and stolen time because working people should have the means to take care of, and spend time with, those they love."

The paid sick days ordinance is one of a series of nation-leading labor protections won by Uber and Lyft drivers organizing in Seattle.

"First paid sick days law, highest minimum wage, historic deactivation protections, a driver support center  each of these labor victories on their own have set new national gold standards," said John Scearcy, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters 117 . "Taken together, all of these victories combined undeniably put Seattle at the center of progress for labor's strategy to raise standards for gig workers. Today's settlement putting $3.4 million back into the pockets of hard-working immigrant drivers shows the importance of electing pro-labor candidates."

Under the settlement agreement, 15,084 Uber drivers will be paid one sick day if they have unused paid sick days accrued before April 1st, 2021. In addition, 2,329 drivers will receive higher payments that include settlement of claims for back wages, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties.

Eligible drivers will be paid within 30 days by direct deposit or by check, under the terms of the settlement.

Contact: Joshua Welter, 206-383-1857

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 117
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Access Ready Reporter Issue 16 - The Reporter Newsletter is a service of Access Ready Inc., which is a nonprofit cross disability advocacy organization promoting a policy of inclusion and accessibility across information technology through education and best practices. The Board of Directors of Access Ready has deemed inaccessible information technology to be a clear, growing, and present danger to the civic, economic, and social welfare of people with disabilities.

Anyone can use the avalanche of information based digital technology as long as they do not require accessibility. Millions of people with a vast range of disabilities are being left out of this information revolution. Read More

BILL WOULD EXPAND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS TO DIGITAL SPHERE Read More

MAKING TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL END UP MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR EVERYONE Read More

NO ONE LEFT BEHIND: WHY BRANDS SHOULD PRIORITIZE ACCESSIBILITY

Most people take social media for granted as a part of their everyday lives. But for people with disabilities, participating in the online conversation isn't always easy. Read More

ACCESSIBILITY OVERLAYS MAY NOT MAKE YOUR SITE MORE ACCESSIBLE

For a long time, accessibility has been pretty far down on most web developers' priority lists. But that negligence is starting to haunt website owners as the number of lawsuits over web accessibility grows. Read More

FEDERAL WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY LAWSUITS INCREASED IN 2020 DESPITE MID-YEAR PANDEMIC LULL

The numbers are in for total website accessibility lawsuit filings in federal courts in 2020, and to our surprise they show a significant increase from 2019. Read More

ELECTION ACCESSIBILITY - SPONSORED BY VOTEC

VIRGINIA TO NOW PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE ABSENTEE VOTING OPTION FOR VOTERS WITH PRINT DISABILITIES

Virginia will now permanently make its elections accessible and safe for voters with print disabilities. Starting with the June 2021 primaries, those who cannot mark a paper ballot privately and independently due to disabilities such as blindness can now cast their ballot more accessibly with a secure remote absentee voting option. Read More

VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES SPEAK OUT AGAINST STATE VOTING BILLS

Two Wisconsin voting bills are a source of concern for disability rights advocates, including a local Hudson man. Read More

MICROSOFT'S ACCESSIBILITY CHIEF ON THE BENEFITS OF CLOSING THE 'DISABILITY DIVIDE 'Read More

MICROSOFT'S FIVE-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLEDGE BEGINS WITH AI IMPROVEMENTS FOR OFFICE AND MORE Read More

DOUBLING DOWN ON ACCESSIBILITY: MICROSOFT'S NEXT STEPS TO EXPAND ACCESSIBILITY IN TECHNOLOGY, THE WORKFORCE AND WORKPLACE Read More

MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES, 'DOUBLING DOWN' ON PRIORITIZING ACCESSIBILITY AND NARROWING THE DISABILITY GAP Read More

LAWMAKERS SAY IT'S PAST TIME OMB ISSUED IDEA ACT GUIDANCE

More than two years after Congress passed a law requiring federal programs to meet minimum usability standards for their websites and digital services, lawmakers are asking the Biden administration to give agencies real implementation guidance. Read More

DISABILITIES ADVOCATES CITE UNEQUAL ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINE, PONDER REMEDIES Read More

FEDERAL REPORT CALLS FOR DOJ, HHS ADOPTION OF FEDERAL ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT Read More

TECHNOLOGY IS FOR PEOPLE

If you think the Internet and digital technology have opened the world to everyone who can connect to it, you'd only be partly right. Read More

BLIND PEOPLE, ADVOCATES SLAM ACCESSIBE FOR CLAIMING TO MAKE WEBSITES ADA COMPLIANT Read More

AVOID ACCESSIBE & OTHER COMPANIES CLAIMING QUICK & EASY AI ACCESSIBILITY Read More

ACCESSIBILITY ADVOCATES SIGN OPEN LETTER URGING PEOPLE NOT TO USE ACCESIBE AND OTHER OVERLAY PRODUCTS Read More

Sponsored by Commonlook

Content Curation sponsored by Microassist

Circulation sponsored by eReleases

Contact

Douglas Towne

727-531-1000

[email protected]

SOURCE Access Ready Inc.
AdTheorent's programmatic marketing platform uses market-leading data science and machine learning (ML) capabilities to deliver advertiser-specific business outcomes for top brands. AdTheorent's proprietary suite of tools and methodologies maximize campaign performance and ROI for advertisers, while operating in a privacy-first manner. AdTheorent stood out from others in the space because AdTheorent's performance focus is centered around ingesting non-personalized data signals and using statistical data for modeling and targeting, making the company well suited for the cookieless future.

"AdTheorent's approach relies on predictive targeting using statistical models instead of profile-based advertising or cookie-based retargeting -- which is often limited in scale, can miss new customer opportunities and even create real privacy concerns," said James Johnson, managing director, AI Breakthrough. "The company's ML platform is the most powerful system in the advertising market today with tools that make it possible for digital advertisers to realize unprecedented and measurable results. Congratulations, for the fourth year in a row, to AdTheorent for winning our 'Best AI-based Solution for Advertising' award."

AdTheorent's ability to use AI/ML to deliver on complex KPIs for advertisers was also recognized as a key differentiator. AdTheorent's platform and custom solutions are tailored to drive advanced KPIs, ranging from prescription fills/lift, online and offline sales, visitation/incremental visitation, new customer acquisition, vehicle sales lift, charitable donations, insurance quote completes and many more. AdTheorent's data scientists have deep experience using proprietary software and leading ML tools such as Python, R., Scala and Spark to build and manage thousands of individual ML models at any given moment to drive best-in-class performance. For each campaign, AdTheorent's data scientists build custom ML models tailored to drive real-world business outcomes, with each model deployed into AdTheorent's platform for automated execution and optimization.

"AdTheorent's success is the result of our unique ability to drive business value for our customers, based on the tangible business metrics that they care about," said Jim Lawson, CEO of AdTheorent. "Our platform was built to leverage the power of machine learning to accomplish difficult things in a privacy-forward manner. We are truly honored, once again, to receive this award from AI Breakthrough."

The mission of the AI Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of AI and machine learning related categories, including AI platforms, Deep Learning, Smart Robotics, Business Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, industry specific AI applications and many more. This year's program attracted more than 2,850 nominations from over 17 different countries throughout the world.

About AdTheorent

AdTheorent uses advanced machine learning technology and solutions to deliver impactful advertising campaigns for marketers. AdTheorent's industry-leading machine learning platform powers its predictive targeting, geo-intelligence, audience extension solutions and in-house creative capability, Studio A\T. Leveraging only non-sensitive data and focused on the predictive value of machine learning models, AdTheorent's product suite allows advertisers to identify the most qualified individuals coupled with the optimal creative experience to deliver superior results, measured by each advertiser's real-world business goals. AdTheorent's award-winning platform and capabilities are also available through a first-of-its-kind Direct Access offering. Direct Access gives brands and agencies user access to the AdTheorent platform to self-optimize KPI performance, delivery and costs, supplemented by a level of service not typically provided by self-service solutions.

AdTheorent is consistently recognized with numerous technology, product, growth and workplace awards. AdTheorent was awarded "Best AI-Based Advertising Solution" (AI Breakthrough Awards) and "Most Innovative Product" (B.I.G. Innovation Awards) for four consecutive years. Additionally, AdTheorent is the only five-time recipient of Frost & Sullivan's "Digital Advertising Leadership Award". AdTheorent is headquartered in New York, with fourteen offices across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit adtheorent.com.

About AI Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough , a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including AI Platforms, Robotics, Business Intelligence, AI Hardware, NLP, Vision, Biometrics and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com .

SOURCE AdTheorent, Inc.
BOSTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerogami is announcing the launch of DigiVaxDoc, a mobile technology that allows users to save a digital record of their COVID-19 vaccination card on their phone. The technology prioritizes ease-of-use, user security, and data privacy with a process that ensures users own their data.

Users in partnering states can create their own digital vaccine copy with DigiVaxDoc by going to their state's dedicated DigiDoc site to verify their COVID-19 vaccination record and upload a copy of their CDC-issued vaccine card. Once complete, users save a secure digital copy of their vaccination record directly on their phone without the use of an app. The digital copy is accessible from the homescreen of the smartphone and can be unlocked by users at any time. Best yet, it is unhackable; Aerogami deletes all records of the copy from their servers, making the information impossible to access for anyone but the user.

Aerogami is introducing DigiVaxDoc during a marked time of public distrust in technology companies. According to Edelman's 2020 Trust Barometer for the tech sector, trust in technology is at a low. Between 2019 and 2020, Edelman reports that American's trust in technology companies dropped 12 points  the biggest drop on record. Yet, technology is not going away. This enforces the need for simple yet secure technology solutions to serve our country's needs.

"Aerogami has always prioritized security and simplicity with our solutions and we're excited to bring these principles to our DigiVaxDoc product," says Bradley Adams, Managing Director at Aerogami. "Once a digital copy of a vaccine record is made with DigiVaxDoc and verified with state records, the user's vaccination records are wiped from our database. Neither Aerogami nor any hackers can access that information on our servers. Aerogami holds a record of a unique key created during the digital copying process that only our server and the user's device will recognize to ensure no unauthorized user is able to access the copy on the user's phone."

DigiVaxDoc is designed this way for two reasons: to maximize user privacy with their data and to ensure minimal cyber risk for state agencies. "When we determined the flow for DigiVaxDoc, it was critical that we didn't create a future problem that could put millions of vaccinated adults records in a compromising position. Although there are many great strategies for protecting user data, what works today doesn't always work tomorrow. Even blockchain, which was at once considered unhackable, has been found to be less secure than initially thought," says Adams.

With this solution, Aerogami is hopeful that vaccinated adults who prioritize their privacy will have an option for carrying a digital version of their CDC-issued COVID-19 vaccine card. To learn more, head to DigiVaxDoc's website https://www.digi-doc.us/digivaxdoc

About Aerogami: Aerogami is a mobile development company specializing in duty-of-care solutions for insurers and risk managers. Aerogami offers a SaaS platform that includes easy-to-use communication tools and online tools for distributing emergency resources. Aerogami's solutions are unique because they are not app-based, despite operating on mobile devices. This makes their solutions more accessible and easier to use for everyone.

About Aerogami

Aerogami is a mobile development company specializing in duty-of-care solutions for insurers and risk managers. Aerogami offers a SaaS platform that includes easy-to-use communication tools and online tools for distributing emergency resources. Aerogami's solutions are unique because they are not app-based, despite operating on mobile devices. This makes their solutions more accessible and easier to use for everyone.

Press Contact:

Ali Bozzuto

603-531-3211

https://www.digi-doc.us/

SOURCE Aerogami
LA JOLLA, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sci-Fi Alien UFO movie "AI The Plan to Invade Humanity was originally released on April 24, 2020 on Twitter. Within 3 days of its release, the public received confirmation that we have had off-world alien technology land on earth. This Sci-Fi movie is based on true events. Watch this thought provoking, alternative universe film that is based on Cyrus A Parsa, of The AI Organization's secret R&D on UFO and Alien scans.

AI The Plan to Invade Humanity Official Trailer The Alien UFO movie by Cyrus that spooked the Pentagon during the pandemic and started a chain of reaction to declassify UFO files. Find out why every human being is special and what the AI Alien Master Plan as disclosed by Cyrus 20 years of hidden R&D is. Cyrus claims he was shown in 2003 top-secret files and images of on not only UFO's, but actual aliens. 4-24-2020, Cyrus Tweets movie to Potus, Pentagon, CIA, FBI, Space Force, Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey, and military Generals at height of pandemic. Within 3 days, on April 27, 2020, the Pentagon confirms for first time in history UFO's, starting a chain reaction. Movie got the Pentagon and CIA talking. Later in the year, on December 8, 2020, Cyrus put out another tweet asking for complete declassification of Alien and UFO files. Within days, the order was put to give DNI 6 months to brief congress.

After 335, 362 views U Tube Views as of 6-21-2021, we have put it on private and re-released it in its raw original form, digitally remastered, available for only $3.99. New Addition commentary at end of Movie

Watch Full Film Digitally Remastered in its Raw Form for Immediate Viewing at: https://theaiorganization.com/ai-the-plan-to-invade-humanity-movie-spawned-pentagons-alien-ufo-disclosures-on-april-24-2020/

Direct Rental

Watch AI The Plan to Invade Humanity Online | Vimeo On Demand on Vimeo

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/alienaimovie

https://alienaimovie.com

Official Website

https://theaiorganization.com

The original Tweet occurred on

https://twitter.com/CyrusAParsa1/status/1253725082947514369

Original Trailer via You Tube

AI: THE PLAN TO INVADE HUMANITY OFFICIAL TRAILER---Cyrus A. Parsa, The AI Organization - YouTube

The Aliens had a plan with their Quantum Crafts to colonize earth without the inhabitants realizing that they were being invaded. One day they come, one day they go, takes only two days to span 100 years to invade in our dimension through AI technology. Yet, their plans are exposed, as the Creator has another plan.

AUDIENCE REVIEWS

"This may be the most important movie I've ever seen as far as humanity is concerned and that's no hyperbole. I'm gonna share it wide but the sad thing is that most people will dismiss it as fantasy or conspiracy. Thank God I'm not plugged into the ""Matrix"" anymore." Blake Salmons

"A stunning video. The best yet that I've heard on the subject. I'll spread this as far as I can. Thank you Cyrus" Olemolokoplus

"Greatest movie I've ever watched in my life. Thank you. You have ignited my spirit for life. " Blossom Queen

"After listening to the whole video I've got to say, Finally, someone who has the whole picture and not just pieces, thank you!!!!!!" Nancy Smith

"You get my nomination for most important documentary of the century sir!! Thank you." Elisa T

Original Movie Release

AI The Plan To Invade Humanity - THE AI ORGANIZATION

CONTACT:

[email protected] or [email protected]

1-805-996-0135

Corporate Twitter: The AI Organization (@AiOrganization) / Twitter

Founder & CEO, Cyrus A. Parsa Social Media:

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/CyrusAParsa1/

Instagram:

@CyrusAParsa1 and @AIORGANIZATION

Telegram: @CyrusAParsa1

https://t.me/CyrusAParsa1

Parler:

@CyrusAParsa1 and @aiorganization

Facebook

https://www.Facebook.com/THEAIORGANIZATION/

Theaiorganization.tv

Amazon Book Link Kindle and Paperback:

Amazon.com: The Great Reset: How Big Tech Elites and the World's People Can Be Enslaved by China CCP or A.I. eBook: Parsa, Cyrus, The AI Organization: Kindle Store

"Cyrus A. Parsa, and The AI Organization support and respect all people of faith, race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, and political belief. The mission is to support humanity at large, all people. The AI Organization specializes in AI, Biosecurity, Quantum, China and UFO R&D for the safety and betterment of humanity at large" said Cyrus A. Parsa.

SOURCE The AI Organization
NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amateur traders who invested using the Robinhood platform are eligible to be compensated for losses of up to $10,000 per account by the cryptocurrency platform NINT Coin. Compensation will occur on a first-come-first-served basis, from a pool of 100 million cryptocurrency NINT Coins.

NINT Coin acknowledges the depth of knowledge trading on the stock market requires. While many Robinhood users experienced huge gains on meme stocks like GME and AMC, and in the ongoing Bitcoin frenzy, others lost their hard-earned money fast.

"We are giving every individual who lost money while trading without experience on the stocks or options markets a second chance to recover their losses by owning NINT Coins free of cost," said the team at NINT Coin. "They can hold the coins for future gains or sell right away."

NINT Coin states that Robinhood, which is planning its IPO in 2021, is welcome to accept its coin on their platform. The goal is to make it easier for users to track and trade their investments in a secure and stable manner.

To this end, NINT Coin is not only encouraging retail investors to recover their losses, but highlighting the notion that cryptocurrency is in many ways superior to fiat alternativesand that the fiat-alternative cryptocurrency blockchain ecosystem features vast potential.

Retail investors can submit their compensation claims by visiting www.nintcoin.com.

About NINT Coin

NINT Coin is a unique cryptocurrency blockchain platform. Unlike other projects, the startup is building its own ecosystem to replace fiat currencyby providing solutions and capital for new and innovative companies in the fiat-alternative ecosystem.

NINT will release its stable coin at $1,000 per NINT Coin, as it grows and reaches the milestones set forth by the soon-to-launch Ctreet Cryptocurrency Exchange.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Nint Coin

Related Links

https://nintcoin.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AppZen , the leader in modern Finance AI software, today announced the launch of the AppZen AppStore, which enables finance teams to easily automate universal expense reviews and approvals, to comply with company policies and regulations. This is the only Finance AI AppStore built specifically for finance teams, based on the thousands of expense reports AppZen's Mastermind AI has processed for 1,800+ customers. These apps will be made available to all global customers, so they can quickly and easily automate expense policy management based on changing business needs.

"AppZen's products are uniquely purpose-built to address the distinct intricacies and needs of finance teams," said Kunal Verma, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of AppZen. "We have years of learning from our global customer base and have turned that knowledge into technology accessible to all of our customers. We understand that different companies have unique needs around policy and compliance  that's what the AppZen AppStore delivers."

The AppStore includes multiple, easy-to-install Mastermind AI-powered apps that solve complex expense issues, eliminating unnecessary spend, ensuring compliance, and decreasing finance workload while improving finance decisions. Customers can seamlessly and immediately integrate these apps into their existing Expense Audit solution, without the need for costly development or a drain on IT resources. The AppStore includes more than a dozen custom-designed apps, including:

Monitor alcohol spend in specific grants or project based-work: Any expense software can talk about alcohol spend. Mastermind AI goes beyond table stakes and actually looks at the complex details of grants, such as at a university or research institution, to figure out compliance based on stipulations.



Any expense software can talk about alcohol spend. Mastermind AI goes beyond table stakes and actually looks at the complex details of grants, such as at a university or research institution, to figure out compliance based on stipulations. Detect U.S. sales tax: During the pandemic, teams had more local and regional expenses for shorter domestic trips. AppZen's MastermindAI can read and understand these expenses, and capture the appropriate tax by location.



During the pandemic, teams had more local and regional expenses for shorter domestic trips. AppZen's MastermindAI can read and understand these expenses, and capture the appropriate tax by location. Rental car upgrades: With more employees driving instead of flying for business, Mastermind AI reads receipts and compares line items to specific rental car company programs, to uncover hidden charges for upgrades.



With more employees driving instead of flying for business, Mastermind AI reads receipts and compares line items to specific rental car company programs, to uncover hidden charges for upgrades. Fapiao validation: For companies operating in China , Mastermind AI checks and flags missing or incorrect fapiao details to ensure that companies qualify for applicable business expense tax deductions.



For companies operating in , Mastermind AI checks and flags missing or incorrect fapiao details to ensure that companies qualify for applicable business expense tax deductions. Sign-in sheet detection: Mastermind AI ensures compliance with the Sunshine Act by detecting and flagging missing sign-in sheets. It validates, for example, that life sciences employees are documenting attendance when they entertain health care providers.

AppZen will continuously update the AppStore with new offerings to help customers create greater efficiencies. By leveraging patented Mastermind AI, these apps help refine unique policies and workflows to achieve maximum levels of compliance and accuracy.

"The pandemic showed the need for quick policy adjustments based on new and unique circumstances. We helped our customers address many important issues early on, like managing remote work and safety or health expenses, and we are now making customization options more widely accessible. Post-pandemic, the changing work environment will continue to evolve, and the AppZen AppStore makes that easier to support at scale," added Verma.

For more information about the AppZen AppStore, click Here.

About AppZen

AppZen is the leader in Finance AI software designed to deliver the only autonomous Expense and AP processing software AI for modern finance teams. Our patented Mastermind AI accurately and efficiently processes intelligence from thousands of data sources so that organizations can better understand internal spend and make smarter business decisions. It seamlessly integrates with existing Expense and AP workflows to read, understand, and make real-time decisions based on your unique spend policies, leading to faster processing times and fewer instances of fraud or duplicate spend. Over 1,800 global enterprises, including one-third of the Fortune 500, use AppZen's Expense Audit and Autonomous AP products to replace manual finance processes, and accelerate the speed and agility of their business. To learn more, visit us at www.appzen.com .

Media Contact:

Penny Desatnik

Head of Global PR

[email protected]

SOURCE AppZen

Related Links

https://www.appzen.com/


SARASOTA, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 Sarasota MOD Weekend, Nov. 12-14, will celebrate the launch of Architecture Sarasota and the vision of Philip Hanson Hiss, the primary catalyst of the modern architecture movement in Sarasota. The three-day festival will celebrate Hiss's forward-thinking ideas and how they gave rise to the origins of the Sarasota School of Architecture (SSA). Hiss, a visionary civic, education and design leader, will also be celebrated in Architecture Sarasota's exhibition, The Vision of Philip Hiss, which opens in October.

Hiss Studio photo: Jenny Acheson Illustration By: John Pirman

MOD Weekend is known for inspiring visitors to immerse themselves in Sarasota's modern architectural treasures. Celebrating Hiss's role as catalyst in creating those treasures is a fitting way to launch Architecture Sarasota, a union of the vision and mission of Center for Architecture Sarasota and the Sarasota Architectural Foundation. Hiss's appreciation that good design could make a difference in how people engaged with civic buildingssuch as schools, colleges and municipal buildingscaused him to run for the Sarasota County School Board, establish New College and involve himself in local government. Notably, Hiss set up a competition to design New College's campus, attracting 10 of the most renowned architects of the day and awarding I.M. Pei the commission. The Paul Rudolph-designed Riverview High School and Sarasota High School and Victor Lundy's Alta Vista Elementary School are just a few examples of Hiss's design leadership.

In 1958, Time Magazine celebrated Sarasota's public-school renaissance, led by Hiss, writing that Sarasota "can top any community in the U.S. in school architecture." Hiss felt strongly that good design and educational outcomes were integrally connected and envisioned New College as a place of "complete freedom of inquiry".

In addition to MOD Weekend, Hiss's enduring vision and legacy will be celebrated through an ongoing series of events and exhibitions throughout the Fall and Winter.

Stay tuned for the full MOD Weekend schedule in early July. Details will be available on SarasotaMod.com

About Architecture Sarasota

Architecture Sarasota stewards the legacy of the Sarasota School of Architecture and provides a forum for the education, advocacy and celebration of good design in the global built environment. Architecture Sarasota was established in 2021, when the Center for Architecture Sarasota and the Sarasota Architectural Foundation united to form a shared mission and vision to lead Sarasota forward, using our rich and globally recognized design heritage as a catalyst. Through exhibitions, public programming, events and thought leadership, Architecture Sarasota engages our community in partnership to use good design principles to bring about a more enlightened world.

CONTACT:

Allison Moore

Tel: 941-961-3708

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Architecture Sarasota
DURHAM, N.C., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ArchiveSocial, the leading provider of social media archiving software for government agencies, law enforcement officials, and K-12 school districts, today announced the acquisition of NextRequest, the leading provider of FOIA software that empowers governments to easily manage public records requests.

"We are excited to have NextRequest join the ArchiveSocial family," said Ray Carey, CEO ArchiveSocial. "We have a common heritage through Code for America and have remained steadfast with the goal to improve our communities through open dialogue and trusted, transparent communication."

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an "everything virtual" culture and accelerated the role social media plays in government. This crucial communication tool has become imperative for agencies to serve efficiently, scale cheaply, and adapt quickly. But with this increased digital focus comes increased risk and demand for greater public records compliance. The acquisition expands ArchiveSocial's offerings to provide complete public records coordination, processing and request management capabilities.

"With the accelerated growth in public records requests, it is crucial to have tools to ease the burden on both the requester and the government agencies that fulfil the requests," said Reed Duecy-Gibbs, CEO and Founder of NextRequest. "We look forward to joining forces with ArchiveSocial, bringing together our complementary services and technologies."

Together ArchiveSocial and NextRequest bring peace of mind to agencies across the globe, from small cities and school districts to Federal agencies and Presidential administrations, by automating records retention to effectively meet compliance obligations and streamline the access to public records.

All NextRequest employees will remain onboard and ArchiveSocial plans to continue hiring both locally in North Carolina and remotely to support the growth of both offerings.

Financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

About ArchiveSocial

ArchiveSocial works with thousands of government agencies, school districts, and private companies to capture and archive in-context records of information shared on social media. The company helps public and private agencies comply with record-keeping regulations and mitigate risk related to social media.

About NextRequest

NextRequest is the country's leading FOIA software empowering governments to easily manage public records requests. State and local governments of all sizes rely on NextRequest to coordinate records requests cross-departmentally, to increase compliance, and to decrease costs associated with request management. Agencies save time and increase transparency with our secure and easy-to-use software.

Contact: Nancy Vodicka, ArchiveSocial, [email protected]

SOURCE ArchiveSocial

Related Links

https://archivesocial.com


GREEN BAY, Wis., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) today announced it will release second quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, July 22, 2021, after market close. The Company will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on the same day.

Interested parties can access the live webcast of the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://investor.associatedbank.com. Parties may also dial into the call at 877-407-8037 (domestic) or 201-689-8037 (international) and request the Associated Banc-Corp second quarter 2021 earnings call. The financial tables and an accompanying slide presentation will be available on the Company's website just prior to the call. An audio archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately fifteen minutes after the call is over.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $35 billion and is Wisconsin's largest bank holding company. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from more than 220 banking locations serving more than 120 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and commercial financial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes any statements regarding management's plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "should," "will," "intend," "target," "outlook," "guidance," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include those identified in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings. Such factors are incorporated herein by reference.

Investor Contact: Ben McCarville

Vice President | Director of Investor Relations

920-491-7059 | [email protected]

Media Contact: Jennifer Kaminski

Vice President | Public Relations Senior Manager

920-491-7576 | [email protected]

SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp

Related Links

https://www.associatedbank.com


DUBLIN, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market by Type (Air-cooled, Liquid-cooled), Position(Integrated, Standalone), Design(Tube & Fin, Bar & Plate), Fuel Type(Gasoline, Diesel), Vehicle(PC, LCV, Truck, Bus), Material, Sales Channel & Region-Global Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Automotive charge air cooler market is estimated to be USD 2.8 Billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to USD 3.9 Billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period.



Today, the automotive industry is taking significant steps toward more stringent emission regulations and fuel consumption, which has resulted in increased demand for components and modules to control air intake temperature in conventional vehicles. This factor is expected to drive the demand for charge air coolers significantly during the forecast period.

Automotive charge air coolers are used to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in combination with turbocharging. These components maintain and improve power output and torque in vehicles.

As the degree of turbocharging increases, the necessity of cooling the heated air grows. Thus, charge air coolers play a critical role in cooling the engine. With the trend of engine downsizing in the automotive industry, automakers and manufacturers are focused on reducing fuel consumption and increasing efficiency of vehicles.

In vehicles, charge air coolers primarily function on increasing engine combustion efficiency. Government regulations of carbon emissions and rising performance demand for ICE vehicles is growing significantly. Companies such as MAHLE GmbH, Modine Manufacturing Company, and Dana Incorporated are some of the leading manufacturers of thermal systems like charge air coolers, battery coolers, coolant pumps, and EGR coolers in automotive and other industries. The latest stage of development at MAHLE includes indirect cascaded charge air cooling integrated into the intake pipe. This system provides minimal pressure loss and significant packaging advantages. It produces charge air temperatures close to that of the coolant by using a two-stage cooling process.

"ADVANTAGES OVER LIQUID-COOLED CHARGE AIR COOLERS TO DRIVE THE SEGMENT"

Air-cooled charge air cooler, as the name suggests, uses air as a medium for cooling the charged air coming from the turbocharger. This type of charge air cooler works by passing the charged air through a network of small tubes, followed by a series of cooling fins. The heat is transferred from the hot compressed air into the cooling fins that are further cooled by the airflow coming from outside of the vehicle.

Air-cooled charge air coolers are more popular than liquid-cooled charge air coolers. Some of the prominent advantages of air-cooled coolers include design simplicity, low cost, lightweight, easy function, and higher reliability. This makes these charge coolers suitable for use across all vehicle segments. In addition, the cooling provided by these air coolers is fairly good, making them the preferred choice of OEMs. Thus, operational and cost advantages, along with fairly high efficiency, would ensure steady growth for air-cooled charge air coolers during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is the largest market for air-cooled charge air coolers, accounting for over 56% of the total air-cooled segment. The market here is primarily driven by China, India, Japan, and South Korea, which have high automotive production of passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles. With the growing penetration of turbochargers in gasoline vehicles, along with the price-sensitive nature of the region, Asia Pacific would retain its dominant position in the air-cooled automotive charge air cooler market.



"INCREASING ADOPTION OF HVAC SYSTEMS TO DRIVE THE FIN & TUBE SEGMENT"

A fin & tube heat exchanger typically has tubes with fins attached to the outside. In this type of charge air cooler, the heat transfer rate is greater due to the liquid flowing through the inside of the tubes for heat transfer and the additional heat transfer surface area due to the fins. Fin & tube type is the most widely used heat exchangers in the automotive domain. This type of heat exchanger is used in car radiators and condensers and evaporator coils of HVAC systems. The increasing adoption of HVAC systems in developing countries is driving the market for fin & tube charge air coolers.

Asia Pacific leads the fin & tube segment of the automotive charge air cooler market. These charge air coolers are mostly used in passenger cars and some LCVs. Due to high production of passenger cars, especially in China, Asia Pacific is expected to continue dominating the market throughout the forecast period. North America is expected to register the highest growth rate due to the growing penetration of turbochargers in gasoline passenger cars, thereby driving the fin & tube segment.

"GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGEMENT TO REDUCE EMISSIONS TO DRIVE THE GASOLINE SEGMENT"

Gasoline engines are mostly used in passenger cars and light-duty vehicles. The usage of gasoline in heavy commercial vehicles is virtually zero. North America and Asia Pacific are the largest markets for gasoline passenger cars. The use of turbochargers in gasoline vehicles is a new trend to reduce emissions and increase the efficiency of the vehicle. The application of turbochargers in passenger cars in North America and Europe is high because of strict emission regulations.

Stringent environmental norms on vehicle emissions have led to the adoption of gasoline systems. The governments of various countries plan to phase out diesel vehicles in the long term. With plans to phase out diesel cars, gasoline cars are expected to gain more prominence during the forecast period. In addition, increasing turbocharger usage would ensure continued demand for charge air coolers in the years to come.

The usage of gasoline engines is projected to increase at a substantial rate due to the decrease in the price of technology and new emission regulations, which will encourage OEMs to increase the penetration of turbochargers in gasoline passenger cars.

Research Coverage

The report segments the automotive charge air cooler market and forecasts its size, by value and volume, on the basis of type (air-cooled charge air cooler and liquid-cooled charge air cooler), fuel type (gasoline and diesel), design (fin & tube and bar & plate), vehicle type (passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses), position (standalone and integrated), material [aluminum, stainless steel, copper, others (plastic, reinforced fiber etc.), sales channel (OEM and aftermarket) and region. It also covers the competitive landscape and company profiles of the major players in the automotive charge air cooler market ecosystem.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of revenue and value for the automotive charge air cooler market and its sub segments.

This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

The report will also help the market players understand the impact of COVID-19 on the automotive charge air cooler market.

The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

5 Market Overview

6 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Type

7 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Position

8 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Design

9 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Fuel Type

10 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Vehicle Type

11 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Material

12 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Sales Channel

13 Automotive Charge Air Cooler Market, by Region

14 Competitive Landscape

15 Company Profiles

16 Recommendations

17 Appendix

Companies Mentioned

AKG Group

AMI Exchangers Ltd.

Applied Cooling Technology LLC

Banco Products ( India ) Ltd.

) Ltd. Boyd Corporation

C, G, & J Inc

Cooper Standard

Dana Incorporated

Delphi Technologies Aftermarket

Denso Corporation

EJ Bowman

Hanon Systems

Kelvion Holding Gmbh

Mahle Gmbh

Marelli

Mishimoto

Modine Manufacturing Company

Sanden Holdings Corporation

Sterling Thermal Technology

T. Rad Co. Ltd.

Valeo

Vestas Aircoil

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cjnrct

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE AMERICAN: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") announces an update on the Menankoto exploration permit (the "Menankoto Permit"), which forms a part of the Anaconda area and is located 20 kilometres north of the Fekola Mine license area. The Company's Malian subsidiary, Menankoto SARL ("Menankoto") has formally commenced international arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Mali in accordance with Article 36 of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes Between States and Nationals of Other States ("ICSID Convention") and the Rules of Procedure for the Institution of Conciliation and Arbitration Proceedings (the "Institution Rules"). The arbitration has been commenced pursuant to the arbitration clause set out in Section 31 of the Menankoto mining convention (the "Convention") governed by the 2012 Malian Mining Code ("2012 Mining Code"), on the basis that the Republic of Mali breached its obligations to Menankoto under the Convention and under the 2012 Mining Code. Based on the terms of the Convention, the arbitration will be conducted by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Paris, France.

Menankoto originally filed an extension application for the Menankoto Permit in October 2020 in accordance with the requirements of the Convention and the 2012 Mining Code, under which the Menankoto Permit was originally issued. Under the Convention and the 2012 Mining Code, Menankoto was entitled to a further one-year extension of the Menankoto Permit. The application was refused on the basis that, according to the Malian authorities, the 2019 Malian Mining Code ("2019 Mining Code") allegedly now applied to the Menankoto Permit. Menankoto complied in good faith with the instructions of the Malian authorities, without prejudice to its rights under the Convention and the 2012 Mining Code, and was the first applicant to submit an application for a new exploration permit covering the Menankoto Permit area under the 2019 Mining Code. Under the 2019 Mining Code, Menankoto, being the first applicant for the new permit, was entitled to the new exploration permit in accordance with the "first come, first served" principle of the 2019 Mining Code.

Menankoto was advised in early March 2021 that the new permit would not be granted, and subsequently advised that a third party had been granted a new exploration permit covering the perimeter of the Menankoto Permit. Menankoto formally notified the Malian Government of the dispute on March 15, 2021, as required under the Convention, including the Company's intention to exercise all available legal rights to correct the improper issuance of a permit covering the Menankoto Permit area to a third party. On May 21, 2021, the Company was advised that the then current Malian Prime Minister had withdrawn the Menankoto exploration permit decree issued to the third party, resulting in the Menankoto permit once again being available for issuance. B2Gold welcomed this decision which was consistent with the rule of law. On May 31, 2021, based on the guidance from the Mines and Geology National Directory ("DNGM"), Menankoto submitted a reiteration of its original Menankoto Permit application, without prejudice to the original application. However, on June 18, 2021, Menankoto received a letter from the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water incorrectly rejecting the application due to the fact that the application had been the subject of a court decision against Menankoto.

Menankoto had previously initiated two legal proceedings in the Malian Supreme Court. The first proceeding was an emergency injunction requesting the suspension of the refusal to review the Menankoto application and the suspension of the permit granted to a third party until the court has made a final decision. The second proceeding was a request for the cancellation of the refusal to review the Menankoto application and cancellation of the permit granted to a third party. The emergency injunction was not granted by the Malian Supreme Court, but no ruling was made on the substantive merits of the action or the second proceeding. Following the Prime Minister's decision outlined above to withdraw the Menankoto exploration permit decree in favour of a third party, on May 24, 2021, Menankoto withdrew from the second court proceedings as the basis of the claim no longer existed, that being issuance of a permit covering the Menankoto Permit area was no longer granted to a third party.

The Company strongly believes that Menankoto is entitled to a renewal of the Menankoto Permit under applicable law and accordingly is pursuing a legal remedy under the Convention and may pursue, as required, all other available legal remedies, including international arbitration under the Canada-Mali Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. Notwithstanding the commencement of this arbitration, the Company is committed to continuing discussions with the Malian Government to resolve this issue.

The operations at the Fekola Mine, which is situated on a separate mining license 20 kilometres from the Menankoto Permit and projected to produce 530,000 to 560,000 ounces of gold in 2021, continue normally and have not been impacted by the dispute relating to the Menankoto Permit. In addition, the Fekola Mine has not included the Mineral Resources from the Anaconda area (comprised of the Menankoto Permit and the Bantako North permit) in the current Fekola life of mine plan. The Bantako North permit area contains a significant portion of the Mamba deposit saprolite material, and preliminary planning by the Company has demonstrated that a pit situated on the Bantako North permit area could provide for saprolite material for 1.5 to 2 years to feed the Fekola mill commencing in 2022 subject to obtaining all necessary permits and completion of a final mine plan. This additional feed to the Fekola mill would benefit all stakeholders, including the State of Mali, B2Gold's 20% partner at the Fekola Mine.

The Company has conducted extensive exploration on the Menankoto deposit part of the Anaconda Area) for the past seven years, with a considerable investment to date of approximately US$27 million, detail of which were reported on a quarterly basis to the DNGM. The Company had planned a 2021 exploration budget for the Menankoto deposit of $8.3 million, out of a total Mali exploration budget of $26.4 million. B2Gold is one of the largest Canadian investors in Mali and the Fekola Mine is a flagship investment in the country's mining sector. In 2020, B2Gold produced 622,518 ounces of gold, an estimated 27% of Mali's industrial gold production, from the Fekola Mine, generating approximately US$300 million in revenues for the State of Mali, comprised of taxes and dividends. Since the Fekola Mine commenced production in 2017, it has generated approximately US$580 million in revenues for the State of Mali.

The Company's total investment in Mali to date is more than US$1 billion and B2Gold is a significant employer with more than 2,200 employees, of which more than 93% are Malian nationals. The Company paid approximately US$64 million in employee salaries and benefits in 2020. Through its investment, B2Gold has provided major economic benefits including job creation, training, capacity building and community investments, including a recently announced US$10 million Signature Agricultural Business Community Project to benefit local communities and provide sustainable livelihoods going forward.

Since the Company commenced its investment in Mali, B2Gold has always enjoyed a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the Government of Mali. Most recently, B2Gold partnered with the Government of Mali to assist the people of Mali facing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its impact on the mining sector. B2Gold continues to explore additional ways in which it might help the Government deal with the impact of the pandemic.

About B2Gold Corp.

B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines and numerous exploration and development projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia, Burkina Faso, Finland and Uzbekistan. B2Gold forecasts total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,030,000 ounces in 2021.

On Behalf of B2GOLD CORP.

"Clive T. Johnson"

President & Chief Executive Officer

For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website at www.b2gold.com or contact:

Ian MacLean Katie Bromley Vice President, Investor Relations Manager, Investor Relations & Public Relations 604-681-8371 604-681-8371 [email protected] [email protected]

The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news release.

Production results and production guidance presented in this news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2021 for a discussion of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and AISC, and budgets

on a consolidated and mine by mine basis; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B2Gold's operations, including any restrictions or suspensions with respect to our operations and the effect of any such restrictions or suspensions on our financial and operational results; the ability of the Company to successfully maintain our operations if they are temporarily suspended, and to restart or ramp-up these operations efficiently and economically, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's workforce, suppliers and other essential resources and what effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our business, our planned capital and exploration expenditures; future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, ore processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, permitting and other activities or achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation: total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,030,000 ounces in 2021; gold production from the Fekola Mine of between 530,000 and 560,000 ounces in 2021, and the Bantako North permit area providing saprolite material for 1.5 to 2 years to feed the Fekola mill commencing in 2022 subject to obtaining all necessary permits and completion of a final mine plan. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to: the duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of preventative measures and contingency plans put in place by the Company to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, social distancing, a non-essential travel ban, business continuity plans, and efforts to mitigate supply chain disruptions; escalation of travel restrictions on people or products and reductions in the ability of the Company to transport and refine dore; the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippines, Colombia and Burkina Faso and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's reputation; risks affecting Calibre having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE B2Gold Corp.
-- Total company revenue of $174 million.

-- IoT revenue of $43 million.

-- Cyber Security revenue of $107 million.

-- Licensing & Other revenue of $24 million.

-- Non-GAAP loss per basic and diluted share of $0.05; GAAP loss per basic and diluted share of $0.11.

WATERLOO, ON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today reported financial results for the three months ended May 31, 2021 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP, except where otherwise indicated).

"This quarter we aligned the business around the two key market opportunities  IoT and Cyber Security. In IoT we are pleased with the strong progress of the auto business, despite global chip shortage headwinds. Design activity remains strong, the number of vehicles with QNX software embedded has increased to 195 million, and royalty revenue backlog grew by 9% year-over-year. Tangible progress continues to be made with BlackBerry IVY, including the launch of the IVY Advisory Council and the first investment by the IVY Innovation Fund," said John Chen, Executive Chairman & CEO, BlackBerry. "On the Cyber Security side, we announced two new significant product launches as part of our XDR strategy  BlackBerry Gateway and Optics 3.0. We continue to see strong pipeline growth for our new UES products."

First Quarter Fiscal 2022 Financial Highlights

Total company revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $174 million .

. Total company gross margin was 66%.

IoT revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $43 million , with gross margin of 84% and ARR of $86 million .

, with gross margin of 84% and ARR of . BlackBerry QNX royalty revenue backlog increased from $450 million in Q1 FY21 to $490 million in Q1 FY22, a 9% increase year-over-year.

in Q1 FY21 to in Q1 FY22, a 9% increase year-over-year. Cyber Security revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $107 million , with gross margin of 57% and ARR of $364 million .

, with gross margin of 57% and ARR of . Licensing and Other revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $24 million as negotiations for the sale of a portion of the patent portfolio continue.

as negotiations for the sale of a portion of the patent portfolio continue. Non-GAAP operating loss was $23 million . GAAP operating loss was $58 million .

. GAAP operating loss was . Non-GAAP loss per share was $0.05 (basic and diluted). GAAP loss per share was $0.11 (basic and diluted).

(basic and diluted). GAAP loss per share was (basic and diluted). Total cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments were $769 million .

. Net cash used by operating activities was $33 million .

Business Highlights & Strategic Announcements

Volvo Group selected BlackBerry QNX operating system and hypervisor as foundation for its 'Volvo Dynamic Software Platform', to meet the needs of the 'whole truck'.

WM Motor, a Chinese electric carmaker, chose BlackBerry QNX to power its W6 all-electric SUV.

BlackBerry QNX and BiTECH Automotive (formerly Bosch Car Multimedia Wuhu Co. Ltd) jointly developed a digital LCD instrument cluster for Changan's UNI-K SUV.

BlackBerry QNX is now embedded in over 195 million vehicles, increasing from over 175 million vehicles last year.

BlackBerry launched BlackBerry IVY Advisory Council to drive use case generation using BlackBerry IVY. Initial members include Geico, Cerence, HERE, Telus and Amazon.

BlackBerry's IVY Innovation Fund made its first investment in Electra Vehicles, a start-up that will use data from BlackBerry IVY in its AI-driven platform to optimize battery performance.

BlackBerry announced appointment of Mattias Eriksson as President of IoT business unit.

as President of IoT business unit. BlackBerry announced BlackBerry Optics 3.0, its next-generation cloud-based endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution.

BlackBerry further built out Extended Detection and Response (XDR) strategy with launch of BlackBerry Gateway, the company's first AI-empowered Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) product.

BlackBerry's AI-driven, prevention-first BlackBerry Protect product demonstrated to block both DarkSide ransomware and Conti ransomware, even using the 2015 version of the product.

Outlook

BlackBerry will provide fiscal year 2022 outlook in connection with the quarterly earnings announcement on its earnings conference call. The earnings call transcript will be made available on our website and on SEDAR.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The tables at the end of this press release include a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures used by the company to comparable U.S. GAAP measures and an explanation of why the company uses them.

Conference Call and Webcast

A conference call and live webcast will be held today beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET, which can be accessed by dialing +1 (877) 682-6267 or by logging on at BlackBerry.com/Investors.

A replay of the conference call will also be available at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET by dialing +1 (800) 585-8367 and entering Conference ID #2676452 and at the link above.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including more than 195M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security, endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.

BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.

For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.

Investor Contact:

BlackBerry Investor Relations

+1 (519) 888-7465

[email protected]

Media Contact:

BlackBerry Media Relations

+1 (519) 597-7273

[email protected]

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding BlackBerry's plans, strategies and objectives including its expectations with respect to BlackBerry QNX and BlackBerry IVY and increasing and enhancing its product and service offerings.

The words "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "could", "intend", "believe", "target", "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by BlackBerry in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that BlackBerry believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to, BlackBerry's expectations regarding its business, strategy, opportunities and prospects, the launch of new products and services, general economic conditions, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, competition, and BlackBerry's expectations regarding its financial performance. Many factors could cause BlackBerry's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks related to the following factors: BlackBerry's ability to enhance, develop, introduce or monetize products and services for the enterprise market in a timely manner with competitive pricing, features and performance; BlackBerry's ability to maintain or expand its customer base for its software and services offerings to grow revenue or achieve sustained profitability; the intense competition faced by BlackBerry; the occurrence or perception of a breach of BlackBerry's network cybersecurity measures, or an inappropriate disclosure of confidential or personal information; the failure or perceived failure of BlackBerry's solutions to detect or prevent security vulnerabilities; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; BlackBerry's continuing ability to attract new personnel, retain existing key personnel and manage its staffing effectively; BlackBerry's dependence on its relationships with resellers and channel partners; litigation against BlackBerry; network disruptions or other business interruptions; BlackBerry's ability to foster an ecosystem of third-party application developers; BlackBerry's products and services being dependent upon interoperability with rapidly changing systems provided by third parties; BlackBerry's ability to obtain rights to use third-party software and its use of open source software; failure to protect BlackBerry's intellectual property and to earn expected revenues from intellectual property rights; BlackBerry being found to have infringed on the intellectual property rights of others; the substantial asset risk faced by BlackBerry, including the potential for charges related to its long-lived assets and goodwill; BlackBerry's indebtedness; tax provision changes, the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities; the use and management of user data and personal information; government regulations applicable to BlackBerry's products and services, including products containing encryption capabilities; the failure of BlackBerry's suppliers, subcontractors, channel partners and representatives to use acceptable ethical business practices or comply with applicable laws; regulations regarding health and safety, hazardous materials usage and conflict minerals; acquisitions, divestitures and other business initiatives; foreign operations, including fluctuations in foreign currencies; the fluctuation of BlackBerry's quarterly revenue and operating results; the volatility of the market price of BlackBerry's common shares; adverse economic, geopolitical and environmental conditions.

These risk factors and others relating to BlackBerry are discussed in greater detail in BlackBerry's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" section of BlackBerry's MD&A (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). All of these factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BlackBerry's forward-looking statements. Any statements that are forward-looking statements are intended to enable BlackBerry's shareholders to view the anticipated performance and prospects of BlackBerry from management's perspective at the time such statements are made, and they are subject to the risks that are inherent in all forward-looking statements, as described above, as well as difficulties in forecasting BlackBerry's financial results and performance for future periods, particularly over longer periods, given changes in technology and BlackBerry's business strategy, evolving industry standards, intense competition and short product life cycles that characterize the industries in which BlackBerry operates. BlackBerry has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

BlackBerry Limited Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario (United States dollars, in millions except share and per share amounts) (unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Operations





For The Three Months Ended

May 31, 2021

February 28, 2021

May 31, 2020 Revenue $ 174



$ 210



$ 206

Cost of sales 60



58



63

Gross margin 114



152



143

Gross margin % 65.5 %

72.4 %

69.4 % Operating expenses









Research and development 57



48



57

Selling, marketing and administration 73



92



90

Amortization 46



45



46

Impairment of goodwill 







594

Impairment of long-lived assets 



22





Debentures fair value adjustment (4)



258



1



172



465



788

Operating loss (58)



(313)



(645)

Investment loss, net (2)









Loss before income taxes (60)



(313)



(645)

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes 2



2



(9)

Net loss $ (62)



$ (315)



$ (636)

Loss per share









Basic $ (0.11)



$ (0.56)



$ (1.14)

Diluted $ (0.11)



$ (0.56)



$ (1.14)













Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (000s)









Basic 567,358



566,089



557,839

Diluted 567,358



566,089



557,839

Total common shares outstanding (000s) 566,248



565,505



555,623



BlackBerry Limited Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario (United States dollars, in millions) (unaudited) Consolidated Balance Sheets









As at



May 31, 2021

February 28, 2021 Assets







Current







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 339



$ 214

Short-term investments

364



525

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $9 and $10, respectively

153



182

Other receivables

26



25

Income taxes receivable

10



10

Other current assets

61



50





953



1,006

Restricted cash equivalent and restricted short-term investments

29



28

Long-term investments

37



37

Other long-term assets

15



16

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

59



63

Property, plant and equipment, net

46



48

Goodwill

850



849

Intangible assets, net

732



771





$ 2,721



$ 2,818

Liabilities







Current







Accounts payable

$ 22



$ 20

Accrued liabilities

164



178

Income taxes payable

8



6

Deferred revenue, current

208



225





402



429

Deferred revenue, non-current

57



69

Operating lease liabilities

85



90

Other long-term liabilities

6



6

Long-term debentures

715



720





1,265



1,314

Shareholders' equity







Capital stock and additional paid-in capital

2,834



2,823

Deficit

(1,368)



(1,306)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(10)



(13)





1,456



1,504





$ 2,721



$ 2,818



BlackBerry Limited Incorporated under the Laws of Ontario (United States dollars, in millions) (unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended

May 31, 2021

May 31, 2020 Cash flows from operating activities





Net loss $ (62)



$ (636)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:





Amortization 49



50

Stock-based compensation 7



13

Impairment of goodwill 



594

Debentures fair value adjustment (4)



1

Operating leases (3)



(3)

Other (3)



(1)

Net changes in working capital items





Accounts receivable, net of allowance 29



1

Other receivables (1)



(6)

Income taxes receivable 



(2)

Other assets (6)





Accounts payable 2



15

Accrued liabilities (14)



(18)

Income taxes payable 2



(7)

Deferred revenue (29)



(32)

Net cash used in operating activities (33)



(31)

Cash flows from investing activities





Acquisition of long-term investments 



(1)

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2)



(1)

Acquisition of intangible assets (6)



(8)

Acquisition of short-term investments (209)



(299)

Proceeds on sale or maturity of restricted short-term investments 24





Proceeds on sale or maturity of short-term investments 369



270

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 176



(39)

Cash flows from financing activities





Issuance of common shares 4



4

Net cash provided by financing activities 4



4

Effect of foreign exchange gain on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash

equivalents 3





Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents

during the period 150



(66)

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of period 218



426

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, end of period $ 368



$ 360



As at May 31, 2021

February 28, 2021 Cash and cash equivalents $ 339



$ 214

Restricted cash equivalents and restricted short-term investments 29



28

Short-term investments 364



525

Long-term investments 37



37



$ 769



$ 804



Reconciliations of the Company's Segment Results to the Consolidated Results

The Company reports segment information in accordance with U.S. GAAP Accounting Standards Codification Section 280 based on the "management" approach. The management approach designates the internal reporting used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker for making decisions and assessing performance of the Company's reportable operating segments.

The following table reconciles the Company's segment results for the three months ended May 31, 2021 to consolidated U.S. GAAP results:



For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2021

(in millions) (unaudited)

Cyber Security

IoT Licensing and

Other Segment Totals

Reconciling

Items

Consolidated

U.S. GAAP Revenue $ 107



$ 43



$ 24



$ 174



$ 



$ 174

Cost of sales (1) 46



7



6



59



1



60

Gross margin $ 61



$ 36



$ 18



$ 115



$ (1)



$ 114

Operating expenses















172



172

Investment loss, net















2



2

Loss before income taxes



















$ (60)



______________________________

(1) See "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures with the Nearest Comparable U.S. GAAP Measures" for a reconciliation of selected U.S. GAAP-based measures to adjusted measures for the three months ended May 31, 2021.

The following table reconciles the Company's segment results for the three months ended May 31, 2020 to consolidated U.S. GAAP results:



For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2020

(in millions) (unaudited)

Cyber Security

IoT Licensing and

Other Segment Totals

Reconciling

Items

Consolidated

U.S. GAAP Revenue $ 119



$ 29



$ 58



$ 206



$ 



$ 206

Cost of sales (1) 47



6



8



61



2



63

Gross margin $ 72



$ 23



$ 50



$ 145



$ (2)



$ 143

Operating expenses















788



788

Loss before income taxes



















$ (645)



______________________________

(1) See "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures with the Nearest Comparable U.S. GAAP Measures" for a reconciliation of selected U.S. GAAP-based measures to adjusted measures for the three months ended May 31, 2020.

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures with the Nearest Comparable U.S. GAAP Measures

In the Company's internal reports, management evaluates the performance of the Company's business on a non-GAAP basis by excluding the impact of certain items below from the Company's U.S. GAAP financial results. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide management, as well as readers of the Company's financial statements, with a consistent basis for comparison across accounting periods and is useful in helping management and readers understand the Company's operating results and underlying operational trends. In the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company discontinued its use of software deferred revenue acquired and software deferred commission acquired adjustments in its non-GAAP financial measures due to the quantitative decline in the adjustments over time. For purposes of comparability, the Company's non-GAAP financial measures for the three months ended May 31, 2020 have been updated to conform to the current year's presentation.

Readers are cautioned that adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin percentage, adjusted operating expense, adjusted operating loss, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating loss margin percentage, adjusted EBITDA margin percentage, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted income (loss) per share, adjusted research and development expense, adjusted selling, marketing and administrative expense and adjusted amortization expense and similar measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in the context of the U.S. GAAP results.

Reconciliation of non-GAAP based measures with most directly comparable U.S. GAAP based measures for the three months ended May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020

A reconciliation of the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for the three months ended May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020 to adjusted financial measures is reflected in the tables below:

For the Three Months Ended (in millions)

May 31, 2021

May 31, 2020 Gross margin

$ 114



$ 143

Stock compensation expense

1



2

Adjusted gross margin

$ 115



$ 145











Gross margin %

65.5 %

69.4 % Stock compensation expense

0.6 %

1.0 % Adjusted gross margin %

66.1 %

70.4 %

Reconciliation of operating expense for the three months ended May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020 to adjusted operating expense is reflected in the tables below:

For the Three Months Ended (in millions)

May 31, 2021

May 31, 2020 Operating expense

$ 172



$ 788

Restructuring charges





1

Stock compensation expense

6



12

Debenture fair value adjustment

(4)



1

Acquired intangibles amortization

32



33

Goodwill impairment charge





594

Adjusted operating expense

$ 138



$ 147



Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP net loss and U.S. GAAP basic loss per share for the three months ended May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020 to adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted basic earnings (loss) per share is reflected in the tables below:

For the Three Months Ended (in millions, except per share amounts)

May 31, 2021

May 31, 2020







Basic

earnings

(loss) per

share





Basic

earnings

(loss) per

share Net loss

$ (62)



$(0.11)

$ (636)



$(1.14) Restructuring charges









1





Stock compensation expense

7







14





Debenture fair value adjustment

(4)







1





Acquired intangibles amortization

32







33





Goodwill impairment charge









594





Adjusted net income (loss)

$ (27)



$(0.05)

$ 7



$0.01

Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP research and development, selling, marketing and administration, and amortization expense for the three months ended May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020 to adjusted research and development, selling, marketing and administration, and amortization expense is reflected in the tables below:

For the Three Months Ended (in millions)

May 31, 2021

May 31, 2020 Research and development

$ 57



$ 57

Stock compensation expense

2



3

Adjusted research and development

$ 55



$ 54











Selling, marketing and administration

$ 73



$ 90

Restructuring charges





1

Stock compensation expense

4



9

Adjusted selling, marketing and administration

$ 69



$ 80











Amortization

$ 46



$ 46

Acquired intangibles amortization

32



33

Adjusted amortization

$ 14



$ 13



Adjusted operating loss, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating loss margin percentage and adjusted EBITDA margin percentage for the three months ended May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020 are reflected in the table below.

For the Three Months Ended (in millions)

May 31, 2021

May 31, 2020 Operating loss

$ (58)



$ (645)

Non-GAAP adjustments to operating loss







Restructuring charges





1

Stock compensation expense

7



14

Debenture fair value adjustment

(4)



1

Acquired intangibles amortization

32



33

Goodwill impairment charge





594

Total non-GAAP adjustments to operating loss

35



643

Adjusted operating loss

(23)



(2)

Amortization

49



50

Acquired intangibles amortization

(32)



(33)

Adjusted EBITDA

$ (6)



$ 15











Revenue

$ 174



$ 206

Adjusted operating loss margin % (1)

(13%)



(1%)

Adjusted EBITDA margin % (2)

(3%)



7%



______________________________

(1) Adjusted operating loss margin % is calculated by dividing adjusted operating loss by revenue (2) Adjusted EBITDA margin % is calculated by dividing adjusted EBITDA by revenue

SOURCE BlackBerry Limited

Related Links

https://www.blackberry.com


HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (the "Company") (NYSE and OSE: "BORR) advises that the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Company was held on June 24, 2021 at 09:30 ADT at 2nd Floor, The S.E. Pearman Building, 9 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2020 were presented to the Meeting.

The following resolutions were passed:

To re-elect Paal Kibsgaard as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Tor Olav Trim as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Alexandra Kate Blankenship as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Georgina E. Sousa as a Director of the Company. To re-elect Neil J. Glass as a Director of the Company. To approve the increase of the Company's authorized share capital from US$14,500,000.00 divided into 290,000,000 common shares of US$0.05 par value each to US$18,000,000.00 divided into 360,000,000 common shares of US$0.05 par value each by the authorization of an additional 70,000,000 common shares of US$0.05 par value each. To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors and to authorize the Directors to determine their remuneration. To approve remuneration of the Company's Board of Directors of a total amount of fees not to exceed US$1,200,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 .

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/borr-drilling-limited/r/borr-drilling-limited---2021-agm-results-notification,c3374128

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Butler/Till , a women-owned, employee-owned, results-driven marketing agency, today announced that it has acquired Digital Hyve, a digital marketing agency ranked among Adweek's 100 Fastest Growing Agencies and one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. The acquisition makes the collective entity one of the largest independent marketing and media agencies in the country, diversifies Butler/Till's capabilities, and expands its reach within the small and mid-size business market and into new verticals, including retail, automotive, food and beverage, government, education, travel, tourism, and hospitality. It also strengthens the agency's commitment to 100% employee ownership, a model proven to boost productivity, retention rates, and workplace culture.

Under the terms of the agreement, Digital Hyve will retain its brand and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Butler/Till. Kimberly Jones, appointed President & CEO of Butler/Till in 2020, will serve as President & CEO of the combined agency. Also, Digital Hyve employees will join Butler/Till's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

"Digital Hyve is a natural fit with our culture. They, too, share a passion for their people and are committed to creating a caring, compassionate workplace. Like our employees, they embrace innovation, cutting edge technology and provide top-notch client service," said Jones. "Butler/Till has been committed to continually making strategic investments to expand service offerings for our clients and strengthen a culture of agility and adaptiveness. The acquisition of Digital Hyve is an exciting opportunity for employees and clients of both organizations as we continue to usher in a new era of growth, innovation, and transformation."

Butler/Till is a certified B Corporation, one of 3,500 for-prot companies certied to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. It remains committed to those standards and in creating a collaborative, caring corporate culture which has enabled it to grow despite numerous industry challenges.

"Digital Hyve has experienced tremendous growth because of its amazing employees. Partnering with Butler/Till and joining their ESOP rewards our crew's efforts and empowers us to work together to meet our clients' most pressing challenges and deliver game-changing results," said Jeff Knauss, Co-founder and CEO, Digital Hyve. "Butler/Till's purpose-driven approach, reflected in its engaged, award-winning culture, aligns perfectly with our core tenets of integrity and client satisfaction. Together we can deliver the specialized expertise and dedication businesses of all sizes demand."

Continued Commitment to Innovation and Growth

As Butler/Till and Digital Hyve work to integrate their businesses, they are committed to providing digitally focused and business-transforming marketing solutions to clients of all sizes and industries, developing opportunities for employees, and investing back where their headquarters are located in upstate New York communities. They will continue to operate in Rochester, Syracuse, and New York City.

In the past year, Butler/Till broke ground on its new headquarters in downtown Rochester and achieved double-digit growth. Other accomplishments and milestones include hiring 60 new employees; growing its analytics and media capabilities; impressive account wins from Greenwich Biosciences, Takeda, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Global Blood Therapeutics; and significant organic growth with existing clients, including Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Ferring, Bausch Health Companies, and Rigel. The company also won numerous awards and earned record-high employee satisfaction, reflected in its annual Employee Engagement Survey.

About Butler/Till

Butler/Till is a women-owned, 100% employee-owned, results-driven marketing agency. It's built on a passionate, collaborative ownership culture that reduces turnover, increases productivity, and greatly improves results. A certified B Corporation, Butler/Till meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Capabilities include media, analytics, and creative content. For more information, visit butlertill.com .

About Digital Hyve

Digital Hyve is a do-it-all, get-it-done digital marketing shop, growing brands and getting measurable results that matter. It believes in creating quantifiable, business transformational results that form strong bonds between brands and customers. The agency has scaled 13,000% over the past seven years and has won numerous awards, including Inc. 5000 for four consecutive years and Adweek's 100 Fastest-Growing Agencies in the World for two consecutive years. Its service offering includes paid digital advertising, social media marketing, video marketing, retargeting, content and SEO marketing, reporting and analytics, creative, and market research. Digital Hyve operates with a singular focus: Doing the right thing. For more information, visit digitalhyve.com .

Media Contact

Shannon Wojcik

585-831-6267

[email protected]

SOURCE Butler/Till

Related Links

https://digitalhyve.com/


"As the parent of a daughter living with autism, I cannot think of a more fulfilling role." - Stacy Palmer Barton Tweet this

"I am honored to join a team of professionals dedicated to the important work of providing meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities," said Palmer Barton. "As the parent of a daughter living with autism, I cannot think of a more fulfilling role."

Palmer Barton comes to SourceAmerica with a deep understanding of Capitol Hill, having served for 17 years as Chief of Staff to three members of Congress, including Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. In that role, she supported the congressman's efforts to protect the jobs and mission of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the largest single site employer in the state of Ohio. Most recently, as Chief of Staff to Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), she helped coordinate legislative activities, including the congressman's work as Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, which convened public hearings on the important role people with disabilities play in the small business economy.

In addition to having a daughter living with autism, Palmer Barton was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005 and is a passionate advocate for raising awareness around the disease.

A graduate of St. Mary's College of Maryland, Palmer Barton was honored in 2011 for her exemplary leadership and commitment to public service by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

"Stacy's depth of knowledge and experience working with Congress is a tremendous asset to SourceAmerica. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating job opportunities and upward mobility for people with disabilities," said SourceAmerica Interim President and CEO Richard Belden. "We are delighted to have Stacy on board to support our mission for this talented sector of our nation's workforce."

About SourceAmerica

SourceAmerica connects government and corporate customers to a national network of nonprofit agencies that hire a talented segment of the workforce  people with disabilities. Established in 1974, SourceAmerica is committed to increasing economic and social inclusion and advocating for a more accessible future of work for people with differing abilities. As a leading job creator within the disability community and distinguished as an AbilityOne authorized enterprise, SourceAmerica harnesses the momentum and boosts the capability of its network and customers. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org and follow the organization on Facebook (@SourceAmerica), Twitter (@SourceAmerica), Instagram (@SourceAmerica), and LinkedIn (@SourceAmerica).

SOURCE SourceAmerica

Related Links

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The new findings, based on studies of mouse models, represent an important milestone in a long effort to prevent or even reverse cardiac atrophy, which can lead to fatal heart failure when the body loses large amounts of weight or experiences extended periods of weightlessness in space. Detailed findings were published online June 24, 2021 , in Nature Communications .

"NASA is very interested in cardiac atrophy," says Jeffery Molkentin, PhD, Co-Director of the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's. "It might be the single biggest issue for long-period space flights and astronaut health, especially when re-entering a higher-gravity situation, whether that's arriving at Mars or returning to Earth."

Astronauts and cosmonauts have been exercising in orbit to minimize loss of muscle mass ever since doctors observed years ago that returning spacefarers have often been barely able to walk upon returning to Earth. Along the way, clinicians also have observed increased risk of heart trouble during the recovery period.

The new findings from Molkentin and colleagues help explain why the heart also is affected by muscle-wasting conditions, which in turn suggests potential new ways to prevent or treat the problem.

A three-pronged attack on heart cells

The research team studied mouse models in several ways to trace the withering of heart cells to a three-step molecular process.

Like skeletal muscle, the heart can either grow larger or smaller depending on workload. The new research identifies a process whereby the gene thrombospondin-1 can result in a dramatic loss of heart mass.

The overexpression of thrombospondin-1 in the hearts of mice lead to rapid and lethal loss of heart mass, called atrophy, by directly activating the signaling protein called PERK. Excessive PERK activity, in turn, triggers a response from the transcription factor ATF4, which together directly program the atrophy of heart muscle cells.

The longer these genes are active, the more severe the atrophy becomes. Eliminating or reducing the activity of these genes would block or reduce the atrophy response, which could be an attractive new strategy for addressing loss of heart muscle during extended periods of space travel.

"Our findings describe a new pathway of muscle mass loss," Molkentin says. "More research is needed to develop methods or drugs that can interrupt this signaling pathway through these genes to stop cardiac atrophy once detected."

Next steps

Researchers still need to confirm that the process observed in mice also occurs in people. More work also is needed to determine whether drugs exist (or need to be developed) that can safely manage the molecular activity the research team has identified.

In humans, even though we lack the ability to replace lost heart muscle tissue, it should be possible to rehabilitate weakened or atrophied heart muscle cells back to their original state.

About this study

In addition to Molkentin, Cincinnati Children's researchers contributing to this study include co-first authors Davy Vanhoutte, PhD, and Tobias Schips, PhD, (now at Janssen Pharmaceuticals); Alexander Vo, BS, Kelly Grimes, PhD, Tanya Baldwin, PhD, Matthew Brody PhD, (now at the University of Michigan), Federica Accornero, PhD, (now at the Ohio State University), and Michelle Sargent, BS.

Funding sources for this study include the National Institutes of Health to Molkentin (2R01HL105924) and a grant from the German research foundation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to Schips (SCHI 1290/1-1).

SOURCE Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

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LANSING, Mich., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the Michigan Senate put the Legislature's final stamp of approval on legislation that will save Michigan taxpayers nearly $200 million per year without impacting state tax revenues. The Michigan Chamber has spearheaded this initiative and made passage a top priority.

"This is a great opportunity to provide Michigan's job providers necessary tax relief," said Dan Papineau, Director of Tax Policy and Regulatory Affairs. "It is very rare that taxpayers get the opportunity to benefit from this level of financial relief without affecting state tax revenues and the budget."

The legislation will allow taxpayers to bypass the $10,000 cap in state and local taxes that can be deducted from their income thereby allowing them to claim a larger deduction on their federal taxes.

Thirteen states, including surrounding great lakes states, with a state income tax have already adopted the measure while ten states, including Michigan, have legislation making its way through the process.

"We urge Governor Whitmer to sign the bill and allow much needed relief for hundreds of thousands of small businesses all across Michigan, many of whom have been struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," continued Papineau. "The Michigan Chamber thanks Representative Tisdel's for his leadership on this critical issue and his dedication to supporting small businesses in his district and all across Michigan."

"We are encouraged with the strong bi-partisan support as it illustrates that the Legislature can work together on important issues. We thank all legislators who voted yes on this commonsense legislation," concluded Papineau.

The Michigan Chamber is a statewide business organization that represents approximately 5,000 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. It was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. www.michamber.com

SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Related Links

https://www.michamber.com


FORT WAYNE, Ind., June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the increase of cyberattacks in recent weeks, and the expectation for many more to come, companies and organizations need to make sure their businesses and members are safeguarded today and in the future. Even the Biden administration recently urged the private sector to more heavily invest in countering cyberattacks.

"We need to realize the Internet has no boundaries, and attacks can come from any direction, at any time. Just as a house needs locks on its doors, every organization needs security and barriers in order to protect it," said Kurt Boller, founder of Bronze Bow Software, a computer company who's serviced companies' computer systems for more than thirty years--and performs security assessments and secures systems against cyberattacks.

Emails are one of the primary tools hackers use to gain access to a system, and employees are the gatekeepers to stop these emails. While most companies have many levels of cybersecurity already in place, the most basic level is where employees are exposed to emails that use some form of deception to gain a foothold into the system. Some of these are:

The sender's name may be correct; however, the email address is not.

A legitimate contact has been hacked, and there are multiple spelling and grammar errors.

There's an unexpected or unrequested attachment with the email.

There are links in the body to an unrelated webpage.

The sender gives direction to contact tech support and provides a phone number.

A cyberattack is only a mouse click away. To download the detailed document "Cybersecurity Checklist for Employees: 10 Critical Points for Evaluating Every Incoming Email," go to Bronze Bow Software's website, https://bronzebow.com -- a company dedicated to promoting cybersecurity and providing critical risk assessments to protect customers from cyberattacks.

CONTACT:

Kurt Boller

President

Bronze Bow Software, Inc.

(260) 672-9516

This release was issued through WebWire. For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com.

SOURCE Bronze Bow Software, Inc.
SAN RAMON, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CMG Financial, a privately-held, well-capitalized mortgage banking firm specializing in joint venture partnerships, and Seven Gables Real Estate, one of Orange County's largest real estate brokerages, announced the launch of a new joint venture partnership, Primco Mortgage. With the operational support of CMG Financial and the local expertise of Seven Gables, Primco Mortgage will guide buyers through a streamlined mortgage process.

CMG Financial

Seven Gables believes in helping people maximize their full potential, from the buyer searching for the perfect home to the agent building their business. The brokerage equips its agents with the tools they need to serve clients efficiently and exceptionally. Its agents are consistently more productive than other agents in their markets, outperforming competitors by an average of 30% per agent for dollar volume sold.

"By combining the values and strategies of our organizations, we have established a valuable resource for our clients, borrowers and our team of advisors. It is the perfect, symbiotic relationship adding value to our mutual quest of outperforming the competition on every level," said Mike Hickman, President and CEO, Seven Gables Real Estate.

CMG Financial provides a simplified mortgage experience for its clients and loan officers. CMG is a leader in the joint venture space because of its unique offerings and expansive coverage. CMG's joint venture partners get access to dedicated processors and underwriters that can close loans more efficiently and proprietary programs like HomeFundIt, the down payment gifting platform, and the All In One Loan, the first-lien HELOC to pay off a mortgage faster.

"As we continue to grow in the joint venture space, we are excited to combine forces with Seven Gables. We have formed a true partnership that pushes the boundaries to build a better mortgage experience for all parties involved. That shared passion will drive the success of Primco Mortgage," said Chris Harris, Senior VP, National Joint Venture Manager, CMG Financial.

Primco Mortgage will redefine the mortgage environment by focusing on improving the transaction for all parties involved, leveraging innovative technology and a strategic operational network. Primco will create a better overall lending experience for California home buyers.

About CMG Financial

CMG Financial is a well-capitalized, privately held mortgage-banking firm founded in 1993. The company makes its products and services available to the market through three distinct origination channels including Retail, Wholesale, and Correspondent. CMG Financial currently operates in all states, including District of Columbia, and holds federal agency lending approvals with HUD, VA, RHS, GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC. CMG Financial is known for responsible lending practices, industry and consumer advocacy, product innovation, and operational efficiency. Learn more at www.cmgfi.com.

About Seven Gables Real Estate

Seven Gables Real Estate is one of Orange County's largest real estate brokerage firms with some 465 agents serving 27 major communities throughout Southern California. Nationally recognized for innovation by Inman News, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, RISMedia and REAL Trends, Seven Gables leads its competitors in local experience and market knowledge with the most productive team of agents in its primary markets, outperforming all competitors by an average of 30% per agent for dollar volume sold. As a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Seven Gables is able to market local properties to over 500 top local real estate brokerage websites, connecting to 120,000 real estate professionals in more than 50 countries. Learn more at sevengables.com.

Media Contact:

Madelynn Graham

Phone: 443.455.1137

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE CMG Financial
DALLAS, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank's Texas Economic Activity Index increased in April to 117.5. April's index reading was 18.4 percent above the recent low of 99.2 set in June 2020. The index averaged 112.1 points for all of 2020, 13.5 points below the average for 2019. March's index reading was revised to 115.4.

Our Texas Economic Activity Index increased by 1.8 percent in April, continuing the economic rebound from the February freeze out. Seven out of nine sub-indexes were positive for the month, including nonfarm employment, unemployment insurance claims (inverted), house prices, drilling rig count, total state trade, hotel occupancy and state sales tax revenue. The housing starts and industrial electricity demand sub-indexes both contracted for the month. Higher-than-expected oil prices will motivate increased oil field activity in Texas this summer. Some analysts are forecasting $100 oil by the end of the year. If that happens, that would certainly pull capital back into the Texas oil industry. By the third week of June, the Texas rig count had improved to 221 active rigs, more than double the level from a year earlier. The Texas COVID-19 full vaccination rate of about 40 percent as of June 21 leaves a significant amount of the state population exposed to the COVID-19 D variant which is rapidly gaining traction in many parts of the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the D variant spreads more easily and causes more severe symptoms than other variants. So COVID-19 remains a significant risk to public health in Texas and other states through the remainder of this year. At this time, we do not anticipate a return to strict social mitigation policies in Texas this year.

The Texas Economic Activity Index consists of nine variables, as follows: nonfarm payroll employment, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, house price index, industrial electricity sales, Texas rotary rig count, total trade, hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue. All data are seasonally adjusted. Nominal values have been converted to constant dollar values. Total index levels are expressed in terms of three-month moving averages.

Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $86.3 billion at March 31, 2021.

To subscribe to our publications or for questions, contact us at [email protected]. Archives are available at http://www.comerica.com/insights. Follow us on Twitter: @Comerica_Econ.





SOURCE Comerica Bank

Related Links

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With a proven track record in high-stakes intellectual property litigation, helping inventors tackle the unique challenges they face, and working with companies to protect their brands, Brinks has developed enduring client relationships, which range from large multinationals with sophisticated IP portfolios to emerging companies advancing business-forward innovations. Gustavo Siller , president of Brinks Gilson & Lione, will co-chair the firm's Technology & Intellectual Property Department with Cheryl A. Falvey , one of the principal architects of Crowell & Moring's digital transformation and technology practice and former general counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Crowell & Moring has a long-established global regulatory, litigation, transactional, and public policy platform that provides guidance to clients ranging from Fortune 500 enterprises to start-up companies across the broad spectrum of issues that accompany digital transformation and other advancements at the intersection of business and technology. The firm's cross-disciplinary approach helps leading companies and entrepreneurs protect, commercialize, and bring new innovations to market, compete in the increasingly data-driven economy, mitigate risk, resolve disputes, and navigate a dynamic regulatory environment. With the addition of the Brinks team, Crowell & Moring becomes among the most active technology protection firms in the nation, as measured by patent activity tracked by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Brinks team also brings experience helping clients with IP issues in international jurisdictions. They will deepen and extend Crowell & Moring's global IP practice, which includes a team in the Brussels office that is consistently recognized for the sophisticated work they do for clients.

Joining Crowell & Moring are 61 lawyers, including 27 partners, 11 senior counsel, 23 counsel and associates, 5 registered patent agents, and 2 scientific advisors. This outstanding team of lawyers and professionals possesses more than 60 technical degrees. Their deep scientific knowledge strengthens the firm's ability to support clients seeking to pursue technology and innovation-driven opportunities and enhances the firm's marquee trial, litigation, and arbitration practices, both before the PTO and ITC, and across U.S. and international court venues.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to expand our reach with one of the most highly respected IP firms in the nation. We are particularly excited about enhancing and extending our collective ability to advise clients on the rapidly-evolving areas of their businesses that are affected  and increasingly transformed  by technology and innovation," said Philip T. Inglima, chair of Crowell & Moring. "Brinks Gilson & Lione has earned a reputation for protecting well-known corporate brands and complex intellectual property assets in the U.S. and across the globe. The firm provides exceptional value to clients because of their deep experience in cutting-edge technology and the sciences, and their ability to deliver practical solutions to the most complex IP challenges."

One of the nation's top-tier intellectual property law firms, Brinks Gilson & Lione advises clients in a wide variety of industries, including medical devices, industrial manufacturing, electronics, software, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, consumer goods and services, and transportation. The firm has helped clients develop and protect cutting-edge innovations in the areas of AI, autonomous vehicles, software, wireless/5G, and blockchain. The firm has been ranked by Chambers USA as one of the top firms in Illinois for intellectual property for 18 consecutive years. In recognizing Brinks Gilson & Lione with its Gold Band for Illinois, World Trademark Review 1000 described the firm as "the preferred protector for a host of A-list companies with famous and valuable brands."

"We recognized the significant benefit to our clients and to our practice of joining forces with Crowell & Moring -- a firm with shared values and a commitment to exceptional client service," Siller said. "We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues to offer clients strategic capabilities that align with their complex legal needs at a time of such rapid business change and innovation. With a collective team of more than 100 intellectual property and technology lawyers and scientific professionals, we are well-positioned to handle the widest array of clients' IP protection, commercialization, litigation, trial, and counseling matters."

This move builds on Crowell & Moring's strategic growth in the United States and around the globe, and represents the firm's first presence in the Midwest. Over the past three years, the firm has added close to 90 lateral partners and 21 senior counsel. In April, 24 lawyers from the storied Wall Street boutique, Kibbe & Orbe joined the firm's New York, London, and Washington, D.C. offices, including 13 partners. In addition, last year, the firm established an office in Doha with the addition of an infrastructure development and controversy team, opened an office in Shanghai, and through C&M International, its global government relations, public policy, and public affairs affiliate, launched an office in Singapore.

As the result of joining forces with Brinks Gilson & Lione, Crowell & Moring will have more than 625 lawyers in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. The firm will immediately add offices in Chicago and Indianapolis. In addition, Crowell & Moring has initiated the process with the Chinese government to open an office in Shenzhen, widely regarded as "China's Silicon Valley," with Brinks Gilson & Lione's Shenzhen-based professionals. Brinks Gilson & Lione's Shenzhen office was established in 2017.

"By joining forces, we create a powerful network of talent that will strengthen our combined technology practices," Falvey said. "With doctorates in life sciences, computer science, and electrical engineering, Brinks lawyers know the science inside and out. They will be an exceptional resource for clients when it comes to the technical side of litigation, but they also bring exceptional peoplelawyers and professionalswho are as committed to delivering superior client service and developing a diverse culture as we are."

Consistent with the firm's continued implementation of its strategic growth plan, Crowell & Moring will focus on adding talent in Chicago in areas that speak to client needs in this dynamic and opportunistic business environment, including corporate and transactional, technology, litigation, white collar and regulatory investigations, advertising and media, health care, and environmental.

"Both Crowell & Moring and Brinks Gilson & Lione have invested heavily in expanding their technology-oriented practices," said Laura Lydigsen, a member of Brinks Gilson & Lione's executive committee. "Clients will benefit from the strong synergies between Brinks' technology depth and Crowell's broad regulatory, litigation, and transactional experience in numerous technology sectors."

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia that represents clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional and corporate matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and government-facing matters, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Contact:

Rebecca Carr

Director of Communications

+1 202.508.8835

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP

Related Links

http://www.crowell.com


TORONTO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- d1g1t Inc., the first provider of an enterprise wealth management platform powered by institutional-grade analytics and risk management tools, today announced it has closed a new fundraising round worth $16 million (CAD). The round was led by returning d1g1t investor CI Financial Corp. and included two new institutional investors: National Bank of Canada's corporate venture capital arm NAventures and U.S.-based fintech venture capital firm MissionOG.

d1g1t will leverage the funding to expand the capabilities of its platform, advance product innovation, scale operations and add to its sales and marketing teams  all with an eye toward supporting its continued growth and cementing its presence in the U.S. wealth management market.

Dr. Dan Rosen, d1g1t's co-Founder and CEO, said, "The company is both humbled and delighted that it continues to attract investment from some of the most prominent names in wealth management throughout North America. The confidence they have placed in us validates our unique value proposition and highlights that d1g1t's platform is fast becoming the preferred choice for firms eager to empower advisors with the most sophisticated technology offering in the industry."

The announcement comes as the company continues to experience explosive growth. Despite a global pandemic, d1g1t doubled revenue and grew its headcount by over 50% in 2020. Launched in 2016, d1g1t now has over 60 employees supporting some of the top wealth management firms, multi-family offices, registered investment advisors (RIAs) and broker-dealers in North America serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth investors.

FUNDRAISING ROUND PARTICIPANTS

An early investor in d1g1t and strategic partner, CI Financial is a global asset and wealth management firm. Since January 2020 , CI Financial has been an active acquirer of U.S. RIAs, building a U.S. wealth management business with $73 billion (CAD) in assets (as of May 31, 2021 ).





, CI Financial has been an active acquirer of U.S. RIAs, building a U.S. wealth management business with (CAD) in assets (as of ). NAventures is National Bank of Canada's corporate venture capital arm that takes equity stakes in start-ups and growing businesses. National Bank of Canada , together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups.





corporate venture capital arm that takes equity stakes in start-ups and growing businesses. National Bank of , together with its subsidiaries, forms one of leading integrated financial groups. Philadelphia -based MissionOG is an experienced fintech investor with an impressive history of partnering with high-growth B2B companies.





-based MissionOG is an experienced fintech investor with an impressive history of partnering with high-growth B2B companies. In addition, most current d1g1t investors also participated in this round, including Purpose Financial, Illuminate Financial and the company's angel investors.

Darie Urbanky, CI Financial's President and Chief Operating Officer and a d1g1t board member, said, "We see the sophistication and scalability of d1g1t's platform as a strong enabler of our growth strategy in Canada and the RIA market in the U.S. This latest investment in Dan and his team represents our enduring belief that the strategic alliance between our companies provides us a competitive advantage as we continue to execute our ambitious plans for growth."

Philippe Daoust, Managing Director of National Bank of Canada's NAventures said, "d1g1t's technology is nothing short of transformational, and we have seen a strong demand in the industry for this type of solution. We are excited to invest in the company and are proud to contribute to its tremendous growth, both in Canada and beyond."

MissionOG managing partner Andy Newcomb further noted, "We have successfully backed a number of wealth tech companies and are particularly impressed with d1g1t's team and market approach. The company's rapid growth and early adoption by some of the top U.S. wealth management firms is a true testament to its unique value proposition to provide advisors with the digital tools and analytics to create more meaningful advice and client experiences. We are excited to support the company's growth as they further expand into the U.S."

About d1g1t Inc.

d1g1t is the industry's first enterprise wealth management platform powered by institutional-grade analytics and risk management tools that allows firms to elevate the quality of their advice and demonstrate its value to clients. Through a single integrated solution that covers the entire advisory lifecycle, d1g1t provides wealth management firms with a whole new set of capabilities they've never had before. Headquartered in Toronto, the company was founded and is led by an experienced financial technology team who have developed leading enterprise portfolio systems for many of the world's banks, institutional asset managers, hedge funds and regulators. Visit d1g1t.com to learn more and also follow on LinkedIn.

About CI FINANCIAL

CI Financial Corp. is an independent company offering global asset management and wealth management advisory services. CI managed and advised on approximately $288.3 billion in client assets as of May 31, 2021. CI is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under CIX and on the New York Stock Exchange under CIXX. Further information is available at www.cifinancial.com.

About National Bank of Canada

With $351 billion in assets as at April 30, 2021, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. National Bank has more than 26,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow National Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About NAventures

NAventures, the corporate venture capital arm of National Bank of Canada, takes equity stakes in startups and growing businesses to foster growth in companies that will shape the financial institutions of the future. Follow NAventures activities at nbc.ca/naventures.

About MissionOG

MissionOG partners with high-growth businesses that have proven models in segments where we have had success as operators and investors, including financial services and payments, data platforms, and software. We apply our experience and capabilities to a group of highly skilled and passionate entrepreneurs whose businesses are on the cusp of exponential growth. The firm is managed by operators and investors who have effectively built early to growth stage businesses and guided them through successful acquisitions. MissionOG is headquartered in Philadelphia. For more information visit www.missionog.com.

d1g1t, Inc. Media Contacts

Michael Dugan or Joseph Kuo

Haven Tower Group LLC

424 317 4852 or 424 317 4852

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE d1g1t Inc.

Related Links

http://www.d1g1t.com


AMSTERDAM, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EclecticIQ, a leading global threat intelligence, hunting, and response technology provider, today announced the launch of the new EclecticIQ Platform, which puts "Intelligence at the core" of cyber defense. The new open and extensible platform, built on the company's robust threat intelligence solution (TIP), delivers endpoint detection and response (EDR) functionality, curated intelligence feeds, threat hunting and collaboration capabilities. It will be further enhanced later this year with extended detection and response (XDR) tools.

EclecticIQ Platform is designed to help customers stay ahead of the rapidly changing threat landscape and vastly expanded attack surface and to alleviate staffing shortages by running cyber threat intelligence and security operations more efficiently. By adopting EclecticIQ Platform, organizations can detect cyber threats earlier, remediate them more rapidly, and scale up their analyst function.

"Using intelligence to understand the threats facing your organization is important  but it's only the first step," said Joep Gommers, CEO of EclecticIQ. "You need to apply that understanding in practical ways to strengthen your security posture, especially with today's growing attack surface of cloud and work from home. The new EclecticIQ Platform is not only built on high-value threat intelligence, it allows you to operationalize that intelligence to seek out, detect, and defend against attacks. With this platform and our new vision, we are re-imagining how threat intelligence is delivered to and used by security teams to overcome challenges in scale, speed, and effectiveness."

Intelligence at the core

Unlike traditional security practices and tools that treat intelligence as an add-on or a "nice to have" feature, EclecticIQ Platform integrates rich intelligence throughout the solution stack to inform threat analysts and hunters about known and unknown threats. This intelligence focuses on attackers' tools, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)  not just indicators of compromise (IOCs)  to reduce alerts and reveal asymptomatic threats that may lurk in the environment. Collaboration is another vital aspect of intelligence. To reduce isolation and encourage sharing of insights and findings, the platform provides tools that promote collaboration internally - within security operations, across teams  and externally across organizations and industries.

Open and extensible

EclecticIQ Platform is built with an open design and easy extensibility through powerful APIs and SDKs. It aligns with open standards such as Structured Threat Information Expression (STIX), Trusted Automated eXchange of Intelligence Information (TAXII), the MITRE ATT&CK framework, and OSQuery.

As a fully open and extensible solution, EclecticIQ Platform allows organizations to select the most appropriate solutions and products. Customers may choose to focus on the trusted threat intelligence solution to enhance security operations or cyber threat intelligence functions, adopt the new EDR solution for improved endpoint visibility and threat response, or add the upcoming XDR capability.

New look, new website

As part of the launch of the new EclecticIQ Platform, the company has unveiled a completely updated corporate website with a new brand image. The striking visual design centers on cyberthreat intelligence and enriches the signature black and yellow EclecticIQ color scheme with colors and icons of leading threat intelligence entities.

About EclecticIQ

EclecticIQ is a global provider of threat intelligence, hunting, and response technology and services. The company puts "Intelligence at the core" of its cybersecurity platform to help customers stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats and outmaneuver attackers. The most heavily targeted organizations in the world, including governments and large enterprises, use EclecticIQ Platform to operationalize threat intelligence; strengthen hunting, detection, and response capabilities; and accelerate collaboration for enhanced security team efficiency. The company supports customers with a global partner ecosystem and a design philosophy based on modularity and open standards. Founded in 2014, EclecticIQ operates worldwide from offices and teams in Europe, the United Kingdom, North America, and India, and through value-added partners.

For more information, visit eclecticiq.com

Photo(s):

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SOURCE EclecticIQ
Smart Phone Shot , where entrants submit photos taken on their iPhone or similar;

, where entrants submit photos taken on their iPhone or similar; Observatory Views , which features the Empire State Building's iconic views taken from one of its Observatories;

, which features the Empire State Building's iconic views taken from one of its Observatories; Sunrise/Sunset , which features photos of or from the Empire State Building during the golden hours;

, which features photos of or from the Empire State Building during the golden hours; Weather Shot , which captures the building under rain, sleet, snow, or rainbow;

, which captures the building under rain, sleet, snow, or rainbow; Photoshop/Edit , which allows entrants to get creative with edits from unique backgrounds to starry night skies;

, which allows entrants to get creative with edits from unique backgrounds to starry night skies; Amateur Entry , a new category in which photo newbies show their best shots;

, a new category in which photo newbies show their best shots; ESB x City Wide , a new category for shots that show off the building surrounded by large parts of the city;

, a new category for shots that show off the building surrounded by large parts of the city; General Entry, where contestants can enter if they don't fit any of the above.

To participate, entrants must submit their photos on www.esbphotocontest.com, or via a public Instagram or Twitter account using both #ESBPhotoContest21 and #contest hashtags. Each category winner will receive a $500 check.

"As a global icon and a must-see attraction in New York, the Empire State Building is the most photographed building in the world," said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. "We can't wait to see this year's entries from our talented visitors."

Winners will be prominently featured with credit in a window display located in the building's landmark Fifth Avenue lobby, the Observatory Experience on the Empire State Building's 80th floor, and on the Empire State Building's social channels.

Submissions must be entered by 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 19, 2021. After finalists are chosen, the public is invited to vote for the grand prize and second prize winners on Instagram and Twitter, and the category winners on www.esbphotocontest.com.

Entrants must be over the age of 18 and legal residents of the United States, excluding California. For official rules and additional information about the photo contest, please visit www.esbphotocontest.com.

About the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building , "The World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop-culture. Learn more at www.esbnyc.com. 2021 is the 90th anniversary year of the building which officially opened on May 1, 1931. Declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, as well as the world's most popular travel destination by Uber and the #1 New York City attraction by Lonely Planet it welcomes more than 4 million annual visitors from around the world.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors primarily house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn, Shutterstock, and Global Brands Group, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

About Empire State Realty Trust

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the "World's Most Famous Building." The company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of March 31, 2021, which consists of 9.4 million rentable square feet across 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and two in Westchester County, New York; as well as approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.

Empire State Realty Trust is a leader in energy efficiency in the built environment and sustainability space, with 76 percent of the eligible portfolio ENERGY STAR certified and 100 percent fully powered by renewable wind electricity. As the first commercial real estate portfolio in the Americas to achieve the evidence-based, third-party verified WELL Health-Safety Rating for health and safety, ESRT additionally earned the highest possible GRESB 5 Star Rating and Green Star recognition for sustainability performance in real estate and was named a Fitwel Champion for healthy, high-performance buildings. To learn more about Empire State Realty Trust, visit esrtreit.com and follow ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Category: Empire State Building

SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Emtiro Health, LLC, a North Carolina-based population health company, announced its partnership with leading healthcare technology company, Innovaccer Inc. to prepare for the North Carolina Managed Medicaid Care launch and deliver the best care to the Medicaid population. Together, they have developed a platform to support North Carolina's transition to Managed Care, specifically Advanced Medical Homes (AMH) and providers that participate in value-based payment arrangements for Medicaid populations. Powered by the Innovaccer Health Cloud, Emtiro's Population Health Analytics Platform will meet the AMH Tier 3 requirements for providers across North Carolina.

Innovaccer Inc.

Emtiro deploys a flexible model that puts providers at the center of the decision-making process with a population health platform that supports the delivery of care management, allowing providers to leverage existing resources more efficiently. Emtiro's platform utilizes Innovaccer's industry-leading Data Activation Platform to bring disparate data sources into a single record to provide a complete picture of a patient's health. Emtiro's platform supports AMH Tier 3 care management for its provider partners, either through licensing of the analytics suite, deploying a hybrid model for care management, or through providing a comprehensive care management solution including complex care management, chronic care management, transitional care management, care coordination, and prevention and wellness services.

In addition to the population health platform and care management services, Emtiro Health supports providers through its Practice Optimization team. This team of experts works one-on-one with provider offices to evaluate workflows, enhance operations, and excel at value-based transformation and success in quality payment programs.

"Emtiro Health has found a true partner in Innovaccer. We are proud to combine Innovaccer's powerful Data Activation Platform, which brings together many disparate data sources, with our expertise in North Carolina's Advanced Medical Home model to drive improved outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries across the State," said Kelly Garrison, Emtiro Health President & CEO. "We know that the partnership will bring tremendous value to patients, providers, Prepaid Health Plans, and the State, and we are eager to utilize this experience as we expand our reach and ability to support providers across the US in their drive to improve outcomes among their Medicaid population."

"We're honored to help Emtiro Health support providers and Medicaid beneficiaries," said Abhinav Shashank, CEO at Innovaccer. "Emtiro's Population Health Analytics Platform will help providers and care teams improve clinical outcomes for their Medicaid beneficiaries. With the combined power of Emtiro's platform and the Innovaccer Health Cloud, we can enhance the quality of care for the Medicaid population, reduce costs, and increase overall member and provider satisfaction."

About Emtiro Health

Emtiro Health, LLC is a North Carolina-based population health management company committed to partnering with and empowering individuals, providers, payers, systems, and communities with unparalleled expertise, rigorous data/analytics, and bold, inspired solutions in population health management to address barriers to health and wellbeing. The company was founded in 2017 and brings together 23+ years of knowledge and experience in population health, emphasizing the Medicaid population.

With a near-term focus on supporting North Carolina in the transition to Medicaid Managed Care taking place in July 2021, Emtiro Health will be working with providers across the State and empowering their care teams' ability to work seamlessly with Medicaid beneficiaries.

About Innovaccer

Innovaccer Inc. is a leading San Francisco-based healthcare technology company committed to helping healthcare care as one. The Innovaccer Health Cloud unifies patient data across systems and settings and empowers healthcare organizations to rapidly develop scalable, modern applications that improve clinical, operational, and financial outcomes. Innovaccer's solutions have been deployed across more than 1,000 care settings in the U.S., enabling more than 37,000 providers to transform care delivery and work collaboratively with payers and life sciences companies. Innovaccer has helped organizations integrate medical records for more than 24 million people and generate more than $600 million in savings. Innovaccer is recognized as a Best in KLAS vendor for 2021 in population health management and a No. 1 customer-rated vendor by Black Book.

For more information, please visit innovaccer.com.

Press Contact

Sachin Saxena

Innovaccer Inc.

415-504-3851

Related Images

image1.png

SOURCE Innovaccer Inc.
ATLANTA, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax (NYSE: EFX) is helping credit card issuers expand access to credit with the new Insight Score for Credit Cards. This industry-specific credit risk score combines traditional credit data with differentiated data that only Equifax can provide utility, pay TV, Internet and wireless phone payment history for more than 430 million accounts from the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE). Layering NCTUE data with traditional credit information can provide a more complete financial picture of card applicants, helping lenders expand their view into consumers with little to no credit history and approve more customers who might previously have been turned down for a credit card account.

More than 30 million consumers are not scorable by credit data. By adding NCTUE data to the credit decisioning process, Equifax estimates that 5.5 million U.S. consumers would be able to move from unscorable or subprime into prime or near-prime offers. Reaching these consumers is critical to helping lenders reach new customers and foster greater financial inclusion within the U.S. economy.

"With Insight Score for Credit Cards, card issuers are able to score more consumers who may have faced credit-related barriers in the past," said Mark Luber, Chief Product Officer for United States Information Solutions (USIS). "This is another way that Equifax is helping lenders say 'yes' with more confidence. While credit reports remain a strong indicator of credit history and past financial reliability, alternative data from NCTUE has the potential to help open up more financial opportunities."

Equifax operates and manages the NCTUE database as a vendor on behalf of NCTUE. Insight Score for Credit Cards layers NCTUE data, traditional credit data and patented Equifax NeuroDecision Technology. NeuroDecision Technology provides more predictive insights with models designed exclusively for the credit card industry, enabling lenders to minimize risk in their portfolios and approve 5 to 7 percent more card applicants, according to Equifax data.

The Insight Score for Credit Cards offering is one of several Equifax solutions designed to promote greater access to credit at a time when many Americans need it most. Equifax is committed to removing barriers to financial inclusion, supporting a number of industry initiatives designed to provide underserved populations with the same opportunities to succeed and benefit from the nation's financial system as others.

For more information on Insight Score for Credit Cards, visit Equifax.com .

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kate Walker for Equifax

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

Related Links

http://www.equifax.com


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Contact

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Email: [email protected]

+1 855-897-5880

Website: https://www.bizvibe.com/

SOURCE BizVibe
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Fallen Journalists Memorial (FJM) Foundation announced it is working with AECOM, the world's leading infrastructure consulting firm, and Pulitzer Prize winning architecture critic and consultant Paul Goldberger, to assist with the site selection and design processes for the Fallen Journalists Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Foundation has also engaged strategic communications firm The Levinson Group (TLG), founded by communications strategist and former news executive, Molly Levinson, to drive communications, fundraising and stakeholder engagement.

"We are thrilled to have the expertise of AECOM, The Levinson Group, and Paul Goldberger to help us create the first memorial on federal land in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the importance of a free press and to the journalists who've given their lives to bring critical information to the public," said Barbara Cochran, President of the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation. "This team will strive to build a memorial that will raise awareness and educate visitors about threats to a free press and journalists globally."

AECOM is the premier planning, design, and environmental analysis firm in the Washington, D.C. area over the last 30 years, with unparalleled experience in site selection, process support, design coordination, agency approvals, and regulatory compliance for important projects in the nation's capital.

Paul Goldberger is a Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair, who served as the Architecture Critic for The New Yorker and The New York Times, and currently holds the Joseph Urban Chair in Design and Architecture at Parsons School of Design in New York City. He brings a lifetime of experience with architectural design and a consulting portfolio, which includes the new Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in New York and the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. He also serves as a design consultant to the Port Authority of New York on the new LaGuardia Airport, and worked as an advisor on architect selection and design for Glenstone, a museum of modern and contemporary art in Potomac, Maryland.

Based in Washington, D.C., TLG is a prominent strategic communications and public affairs firm with deep knowledge of the news media and journalism communities, and extensive experience working on behalf of threatened or harmed journalists and those fighting to support them.

AECOM will complete a study in 2021 to help determine an appropriate site in Washington, D.C. based on several criteria including universal accessibility, program suitability, tranquility, site prominence and visibility, resiliency and sustainability, security and maintenance, and transportation access.

"The Fallen Journalists Memorial is the culmination of dedicated work by the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to honor the reporters, photojournalists, producers, editors, and others in the field, who have died while performing their jobs as journalists," said Claire Sale, AECOM's project manager overseeing the memorial. "We are honored to have a role in bringing this memorial to life."

Mr. Goldberger will provide perspective on the site selection process, oversee the selection of an architect, and develop a process for determining the overall design of the Memorial.

"As a journalist for most of my career, I am especially moved by the urgent message of the Fallen Journalists Memorial. And as an architecture critic and consultant, I am excited by the challenge of helping the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation give shape and form to this powerful project and bring it to realization. It is an honor to be a part of the extraordinary team the Foundation has assembled, said Mr. Goldberger."

Molly Levinson, CEO of TLG, said, "It has never been more important to honor and affirm America's commitment to a free press, as threats to media freedom around the world increase. TLG is proud to work with dedicated and talented journalists every day and our firm is honored to partner with the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation in its mission to create a permanent memorial to members of the press who have lost their lives in service to the public."

Learn more about the Fallen Journalists Memorial and how to support this work at www.fallenjournalists.org or follow us at @FJMemorial .

About Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation

The Fallen Journalists Memorial (FJM) Foundation was authorized by Congress in December 2020 to build a memorial on federal land in Washington, DC to commemorate America's commitment to a free press by honoring journalists who have sacrificed their lives in service to that cause. The Foundation is led by former U.S. Representative David Dreier and former news executive and journalism professor Barbara Cochran. The Foundation is supported by numerous leaders from all segments of the journalism community who serve on its Board of Advisors, including editors and publishers, news anchors, and photojournalists. The Foundation operates under the auspices of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, which is the non-profit educational affiliate of the National Press Club.

Contact:

Kylie McKenna

The Levinson Group

[email protected]

(202) 848-1034

SOURCE National Press Club

Related Links

http://press.org


WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Free to Learn Coalition launched with an initial seven-figure national ad campaign of well over $1 million advocating for classrooms independent from political influence.

The ad will air nationally on cable and in local markets in New York, Virginia, and Arizona, as schools across the nation have become increasingly political while the U.S. falls behind other nations in basic skills like reading, writing, math, and science. The ad specifically calls out Grace Church School in New York, Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, and the Peoria Unified School District in Arizona.

The Free to Learn Coalition is a non-partisan organization established to support parents, caregivers, and community organizations in their advocacy for quality K-12 education. The coalition supports the basic principle that students should be Free to Learn: Free to ask questions, free to develop individual thoughts and opinions, free to think critically of ideas and concepts, and free to achieve. All while being free from pressure or requirements to subscribe to a singular worldview. This principle is the backbone for adequately preparing students for life outside the classroom.

"After a year of virtual learning and having a front-row seat in the classroom, parents are waking up to the increasingly political climate in their children's schools," said Alleigh Marre, President of the Free to Learn Coalition. "As we grow our partnerships with parent and community groups, the Free to Learn Coalition will provide a platform and tailored resources to those ready to take on political activism by school boards and administrators."

You can view the ads here:

SOURCE Free to Learn

Related Links

http://www.freetolearn.org/


KANNAPOLIS, N.C., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GENIXUS , a pharmaceutical company focused on transforming acute and critical care medicines, today announced the addition of 6 new members to its advisory team: Luci Tira, Michael Gerard, Jeremy Sohn, Brent McCallum, Gordon Walton, and Martin Kelleher.

"We are thrilled to welcome this group of noted professionals to the GENIXUS team" said Seth Coombs, Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer of GENIXUS. "They each bring a wealth of experience across their respective disciplines and beyond, which will provide guidance and support for us as we continue to grow."

About the advisors:

Luci Tira: Executive Director with HPS Investment Partners specializing in public credit investing with focus across the capital structure and risk spectrum. Prior to joining HPS, Luci served in various roles with The Carlyle Group and Lazard, Freres & Co.

Michael Gerard: Associate General Counsel with Spark Therapeutics. Prior to joining Spark, Michael spent 7 years with Sandoz, leading a team of attorneys supporting Business Development & Licensing, Strategy & Innovation, Supply Chain & Technical Operations.

Jeremy Sohn: Venture investor, advisor, and serial entrepreneur. Most recently, Jeremy served as VP, Global Head of Digital BD&L, Partnerships, & Innovation at Novartis where he led multiple first-in-pharma business transformation initiatives and oversaw their dRx Capital venture fund.

Brent McCallum: Managing Director of Make Believe, a global storytelling consultancy. Prior to this, Brent was Head of Innovation for Novartis US and held senior marketing roles for Novartis internationally.

Gordon Walton: Founder and President, NXT Innovations, a pharmaceutical and biotech industry consultancy focused on organizational transformation, therapeutic area planning and product commercialization. Prior to NXT, Gordon was Co-founder and Managing Director of Clarion Healthcare and previously served as co-head of Braun Consulting's healthcare practice group.

Martin Kelleher: Founder and CEO of MyCFOandMore.com, Martin has spent over 15 years helping Founder/CEOs and their leadership teams achieve their business goals. In addition, Martin is an experienced COO and CFO and has served in these roles across multiple companies including Kymanox, Brooks Bell and Monster.com.

About GENIXUS



GENIXUS is a development stage pharmaceutical company working to transform acute and critical care medicines through advanced manufacturing and innovative delivery systems. Leveraging the highest-quality biopharmaceutical manufacturing standards and innovative point-of-care design, GENIXUS is changing care delivery and helping healthcare professionals to achieve better quality outcomes for patients. For more information, visit www.genixus.com and follow the company on LinkedIn .

SOURCE GENIXUS

Related Links

https://www.genixus.org


"Never could I imagine all that we would accomplish at Gift of Life when I began here in 1978 as one of three employees. I am proud and humbled to have served alongside dedicated leadership, hospital partners, volunteers and our staff of now more than 270 extraordinary professionals who work tirelessly every day, 24/7, to save lives," said Nathan. "I am honored and excited about the many opportunities to further advance our mission as Executive Director of the Transplant Foundation. Having worked side-by-side with Rick for nearly three decades, I know that no one is better positioned to lead and accelerate Gift of Life's tremendous growth and impact on those we serve."

Nathan has been with Gift of Life, one of the oldest and largest organ procurement organizations in the United States, for the past 43 years and has served as CEO for 38 years. Since 1974, the program has coordinated more than 53,500 organs for transplantation and more than 2 million tissue transplants.

"Howard has dedicated his life and career to the Gift of Life Donor Program and its critical mission of saving lives. A masterful relationship builder and influential voice, Howard has grown Gift of Life to be the largest and most active organ donation program in the country," said Gift of Life Governing Board Chair, Barbara Wadsworth, DNP, RN, the Chief Operating Officer of Main Line Health System. "We are thrilled to continue learning from Howard and see the impact internationally as he leads the Transplant Foundation as its Executive Director beginning in 2022."

Nathan leads Gift of Life with Hasz and Jan L. Weinstock, Vice President of Administration and General Counsel. Together, they have more than 90 years of experience with Gift of Life. Both Nathan and Hasz began their careers as Transplant Coordinators, working directly with grieving families in the hospital considering giving others a second chance at life through organ donation. Weinstock joined Gift of Life in 1999, after serving as a partner at a leading Philadelphia law firm where she specialized in health law.

"The Governing Board is excited and abundantly confident in the succession plan," Wadsworth added. "Rick is nationally and internationally recognized for his expertise and contributions to the field. The processes, systems and outreach programs developed and employed by Gift of Life's Clinical Services team under Rick's leadership are widely acknowledged as best practices and are reflected in Gift of Life's outstanding outcomes. Under Rick's leadership, the donor program has coordinated the most organ donors nationally since 2008 and the tissue program has grown significantly to provide healing to tens of thousands of patients. Rick has spearheaded strong, innovative partnerships not only throughout the Gift of Life network of 128 donor hospitals and 15 transplant centers, but with medical leaders across the country."

As Vice President of Clinical Services, Hasz leads day-to-day clinical operations for the most active OPO in the United States, with clinical programs that include Transplant Coordination, Hospital Development, Organ Preservation, Quality Assurance, Tissue Recovery, Eye Bank and Donation and Transplant Analytics. Under his stewardship, the team works 24/7 to address the critical need for organs for transplant, working daily with donor families, medical professionals, hospital administrators and others in the donation and transplant community to promote and increase donation opportunities.

"I am tremendously honored to serve as the next President and CEO of Gift of Life and to continue to work alongside the Governing Board, Jan, the leadership team, our dedicated staff and incredible volunteer network," said Hasz. "As we look to the future, I know this team will continue to be the best advocates for the thousands of patients who are awaiting a second chance at life while simultaneously honoring organ donors and comforting their families. Howard's role at the Foundation will allow us to further share learnings, promote research and continue to challenge ourselves until no one dies waiting for an organ. As a mentor to me and to so many other organ donation professionals, I've had the privilege to witness first-hand Howard's commitment and compassion for our mission and the people who make donation possible. His contributions to our field and to me personally have changed countless lives, and empowered future generations of OPO leaders to improve our donation system."

Gift of Life Notable Achievements

Operating the largest and most active OPO in the country. The Gift of Life Donor Program has led the nation in the most organ donors for the past 13 years.

Establishing the Gift of Life Family House in 2011 which serves as a "home away from home" for transplant patients and their families by providing temporary, affordable lodging, and supportive services to those who travel to Philadelphia for transplant-related care.

for transplant-related care. Launching the Gift of Life Institute in 2004, an international training center for organ and tissue donation professionals offering comprehensive, interdisciplinary resources to increase donation outcomes, including skills-based learning, continuing education, collaborative research, and consulting services.

Collaborating with transplant surgeons, critical care physicians and other medical leaders on pioneering and innovative work to advance donation and transplantation. Gift of Life has been at the forefront of groundbreaking research on advancements such as Donation After Circulatory Death and Vascular Composite Allograft donation and transplantation. In recent years, they have coordinated donations for uterine transplants and the nation's first bilateral pediatric hand transplant, first United States African American face transplant and first successful bilateral hand and face transplant.

Championing landmark legislation on organ donation and donor referral in Pennsylvania , Delaware and New Jersey that has saved thousands of lives and served as a model nationally.

Howard M. Nathan

Nathan joined Gift of Life Donor Program in 1978 as a Transplant Coordinator and has led the organization as its President and CEO since 1984. He also serves as President of the Transplant Foundation, Founder and President of Gift of Life Institute, and Founder and President of Gift of Life Family House. Nathan is the longest-serving CEO of any OPO in the United States.

Recognized as one of the nation's leading authorities on organ and tissue donation, Nathan is a regular presenter at regional, national, and international organ and tissue procurement, transplantation, and medical/healthcare conferences. He has published more than 400 scientific papers and abstracts in his 43-year tenure and has traveled to more than 30 countries to share best practices. Nathan helped draft and advocated for Pennsylvania's routine referral of all deaths organ donation law in 1994 which served as a model for national legislation.

Nathan serves or has served on numerous national leadership boards including United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), Coalition on Donation (now Donate Life America), International Society for Organ Donation and Procurement (ISODP), Pennsylvania Governor's Organ Donation Advisory Committee, National Disease Research Interchange (NDRI), North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO), Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance (ODTA), LifeLogics, Inc., MTF Biologics, among others. He received an appointment from the Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation.

Nathan has received many outstanding achievement awards from multiple national organizations for his important contributions to the donation and transplantation field. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Juniata College, and received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Juniata College when he delivered the commencement address in May 2021.

Richard D. Hasz, Jr.

Hasz has served as Gift of Life's Vice President of Clinical Services since 1999. His career encompasses more than 30 years of life-saving work in the organ donation and transplantation field. He has delivered lectures for more than 60 professional organizations across the world and participated in publishing hundreds of scientific papers about donation and transplantation. He was recently elected to the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) Executive Committee and has served as President of the American Board for Transplant Certification. He has contributed to numerous United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) committees, including serving as chair of the Operations and Safety Committee.

Hasz has worked jointly with numerous investigators from a host of prestigious government, academic medical and nonprofit institutions on innovative research, including serving as lead investigator with the National Disease Research Interchange Genotype-Tissue Expression Project for the National Institutes of Health. His work has led to pioneering protocols supporting Vascular Composite Allograft donation and transplantation, including bilateral pediatric hand transplants, uterus donation, the first United States African American face transplant and the world's first successful face and bilateral hand transplants.

Hasz regularly shares his expertise with government and other national organizations, including serving as a faculty member for the HRSA Breakthrough Collaborative and providing expert testimony for the National Academy of Sciences, HHS and CMS. He holds memberships in the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization, The American Society of Transplant Surgeons, The American Association of Tissue Banks, and the City of Philadelphia, Department of Public Health's Institutional Review Board.

Hasz has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Forensic Science from George Washington University. He holds certifications as Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC) and Certified Transplant Preservationist (CTP).

Gift of Life Donor Program

Gift of Life Donor Program is the non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization, working with 128 acute care hospitals and 15 transplant centers to serve 11.3 million people in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. Thanks to its compassionate community, for the past 13 years, Gift of Life has coordinated the most organ donors in the United States. Its annual donation rate, most recently 55 organ donors-per-million-population, ranks among the highest in the world. Since 1974, Gift of Life has coordinated more than 53,500 life-saving organs for transplant, and more than 2 million tissue transplants have resulted from the generosity of donors and their families. One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, and a tissue donor can improve the lives of more than 100 others.

Transplant Foundation

Transplant Foundation supports research, education and services to advance donation and transplantation. Its Gift of Life Institute has trained more than 11,000 professionals from 33 countries. Transplant Pregnancy Registry International has published more than 200 papers informing treatment guidelines for post-transplant pregnancies. The Foundation offers grants to fund innovation, quality and safety through scientific research, social and behavioral interventions or alternate approaches to existing processes and protocols. In recent years, it has funded over 18 biomedical research trials.

For more information or to register, visit donors1.org.

CONTACT:

Karen Muldoon Geus

Gift of Life Donor Program

610-864-1840

[email protected]

Media Library

SOURCE Gift of Life Donor Program

Related Links

https://www.donors1.org


DUBLIN, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Real Estate Crowdfunding Market Outlook 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global real estate crowdfunding market registered is anticipated to grow with a magnificent CAGR of 33.4% during the forecast period, i.e., 2020-2028.



Real estate crowdfunding is a new and revolutionary way for business owners to raise money for their business. The process involves reaching out to a large pool of small investors who contribute a small amount of money in real estate projects instead of asking one investor for a huge investment.

Factors such as the rising number of real estate activities, along with the increasing favorable regulations of government of nations worldwide for crowdfunding in the real estate sector, are anticipated to contribute to the market growth during the forecast period.

Additionally, factors such as the growing adoption of IT technologies, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning and others, in the real estate sector for sourcing funds, coupled with the increasing globalization and industrialization, and the favorable government initiatives for crowdfunding, are anticipated to drive the market growth in the coming years.



The global real estate crowdfunding market consists of numerous segments, which are segmented by investors, model, real estate sector, and by region. The crowdfunding model segment is further bifurcated into lending and equity crowdfunding. Out of these segments, the lending crowdfunding segment registered the largest market share in the year 2019.

In addition, the real estate sector segment is further bifurcated into residential and commercial sectors. Out of these segments, the residential sector is projected to grab the largest market share by the end of 2021.



Based on region, the global real estate crowdfunding market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa, out of which, the market in North America is projected to hold the second largest share of close to 30% by the end of 2021, and is primarily driven by nations such as the United States and Canada.



Some of the prominent players in the global real estate crowdfunding market are CrowdStreet, Inc., RM Technologies LLC, RealCrowd, Inc., Groundbreaker Technologies, Inc., Groundfloor Finance Inc., DiversyFund, Inc., EstateGuru OU, AHP Servicing LLC, Crowdestate AS, and Fundrise, LLC.



Key Topics Covered:



Global Real Estate Crowdfunding Market



1. Introduction

1.1. Market Definition

1.2. Market Segmentation

1.3. Product overview



2. Research Methodology

2.1. Research process

2.1.1. Primary research

2.1.2. Secondary research

2.1.3. Market size estimation



3. Executive Summary-Global Real Estate Crowdfunding Market



4. COVID-19 impact on Global Real Estate Crowdfunding Market



5. Policies and Regulations Landscape



6. Analysis of Fundraising Model in real estate crowdfunding market

6.1. Fixed Model

6.2. Flexible model



7. Market Dynamics

7.1. Drivers

7.2. Restraints

7.3. Opportunities

7.4. Trends



8. Assessment of Use Cases of Real Estate Crowdfunding Market



9. Analysis of Operating Costs Incurred in Real Estate Crowdfunding Market

9.1. Platform Fees

9.2. Equity (additional) Fees

9.3. Marketing Costs

9.4. Project Specific Costs

9.5. Realization Costs



10. Assessment of Tax Implications in Real Estate Crowdfunding

10.1. Income tax

10.2. Capital Gains Tax

10.3. Depreciation Recapture

10.4. State Taxes



11. Focus on Investor Perspective



12. Analysis on volume of crowdfunding: P2P lending and equity crowdfunding



13. Number of crowdfunding platforms



14. Global perspective on crowd funding platform



15. Analysis on Institutional investors



16. Impact of block chain technology in Real estate crowdfunding market



17. Overview on Bitcoin crowdfunding



18. Block chain in Real estate crowdfunding- Use case analysis



19. Elaborate analysis on third party verifiers and other service providers- opportunities in the ventures



20. Competitive Landscape



21. Global Real Estate Crowdfunding Market Industry Outlook (2019-2028)

21.1. By Investors

21.1.1. Individual investors, 2019-2028F (USD million)

21.1.2. Institutional investors, 2019-2028F (USD million)

21.2. By crowdfunding model

21.2.1. Lending crowdfunding, 2019-2028F (USD million)

21.2.2. Equity crowdfunding, 2019-2028F (USD million)

21.3. By real estate sector

21.3.1. Residential2019-2028F (USD million)

21.3.2. Commercial, 2019-2028F (USD million)



22. Regional Real Estate Crowdfunding Market Industry Outlook



Companies Mentioned

CrowdStreet Inc.

RM Technologies LLC

RealCrowd Inc.

Groundbreaker Technologies Inc.

Groundfloor Finance Inc.

DiversyFund Inc.

EstateGuru OU

AHP Servicing LLC

Crowdestate AS

Fundrise LLC.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/odkh0t

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


GOAT's business has continued to deliver strong performance with rapid growth in multiple categories, achieving Gross Merchandise Value of $2 billion in the last 12 months and year-over-year GMV increase in sneakers over 100%, as well as year-over-year GMV increase in apparel of 500%.

"GOAT's growth is accelerating across every channel and category due to the powerful global technology platform we have developed and the premier customer experience we deliver, which resonates with younger consumers around the world," said Eddy Lu, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at GOAT Group. "GOAT is creating a leading, highly differentiated luxury and lifestyle brand that is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the primary and resale markets, enabling us to increase our share of a large and expanding total addressable market in our core sneakers business and newer verticals." added Mr. Lu.

"We are delighted to be investing in GOAT. We are excited by its distinct value proposition to customers," said Tyras Bookman, Portfolio Manager at Park West Asset Management. "GOAT's combination of premier e-commerce and brick-and-mortar assets, which include the iconic GOAT and Flight Club brands, enable it to engage its global community in unique ways and capture huge market opportunities across multiple lifestyle categories, while remaining authentic and true to its values." added Mr. Bookman.

"GOAT's founders and leadership team have a compelling vision, and we believe they have built a strong brand and platform with significant competitive advantages," said Jodi Love, Investment Analyst at T. Rowe Price. "We look forward to working with the company as they continue on their path to durable growth."

GOAT will use the proceeds from the financing round to help further invest in growth in its sneaker business as well as its rapidly growing apparel and accessories verticals, and to increase its global footprint of 13 facilities with the addition of Chicago, China, Japan and Singapore. The company will also continue its focus on providing a trusted end-to-end experience to its 30 million members and 600,000 sellers by making additional, significant investments in its technology and brand.

About GOAT Group

GOAT is the global platform for the greatest products from the past, present and future. Since its founding in 2015, GOAT has become the leading and most trusted sneaker marketplace in the world, and has expanded to offer apparel and accessories from select emerging, contemporary and iconic brands. Through its unique positioning between the primary and resale markets, the company offers styles across various time periods on its digital platforms and in its retail locations, while delivering products to over 30 million members across 170 countries.

About Park West Asset Management

Park West Asset Management is an investment management firm headquartered in Larkspur, CA. Founded in 2002, it invests in public and private companies, primarily in technology, consumer and healthcare.

SOURCE GOAT Group

Related Links

https://www.goat.com


WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/  The impact of COVID-19 has been felt around the Globe, an impact also endured by Advatix's own team, including employees in India and the US. Inspired by the company's own crusade against the pandemic and the recent surge in Covid cases in India, Advatix has been on a mission to help families in India over the last several weeks. Advatix logistics teams, good Samaritans, doctors and teenagers from both US and India teamed up to set up a hotline in New Delhi and get oxygen concentrators from Los Angeles, California straight to homes in India for anyone needing help. The units are being delivered by Advatix logistics to support as many homes as possible.

There is still much more to do, and we are requesting others join and support this mission by selecting either of the donation links detailed below.

It started with Advatix team members both in the U.S. and India testing positive for COVID-19. A reminder that the pandemic is a common enemy, regardless of region, citizenship, color, race, religion, age, or gender.

While the US was on a path to recovery, India was hit with a truly devastating second wave. In a very short span of time, hundreds of thousands got sick, including Advatix team members and their families. While most team members recovered, many of them lost their loved ones. Each day, news of more people getting impacted kept pouring in.

As the US team members got discharged from hospitals, members in India could not find beds at hospitals, forcing them to self-quarantine while hoping to receive treatment at home. To make matters worse, an acute shortage of medical oxygen spread throughout India, leaving thousands without the necessary medical supplies to receive sufficient care. This resulted in many preventable deaths.

The Advatix team  The Advatix US team started to hunt for oxygen concentrators in Los Angeles, CA and upon securing units, promptly tested each unit and shipped them to India. The Advatix India team repurposed the Advatix logistics command center into a COVID-19 hotline for families in need. The command center is also managing the distribution of the oxygen concentrators. A team of volunteer physicians from various states in India also joined to help the patients remotely.

The Volunteer Physicians  Dr. Gunjan Puri led the mission on the ground and was joined by his colleagues from the Indian state of Gujrat. Dr. Puri said, "we were just doing our duty in helping families and it was very fulfilling. With the help of Advatix, we were able to make a difference, even though it was in a different state and could have easily even been in a different country". Dr. Puri and the team of volunteer physicians, worked around the clock, and helped patients in New Delhi and surrounding areas, as families reached out through the Advatix hotline.

The NGO  Damini Dutta from BG Foundation, a local NGO in India, launched an initiative titled "Umeed Ki Kiran"  meaning "A Ray of Hope." Damini and her team reached out to partner, support, and add food supplies. They ran a campaign for "Food, Oxygen and Live Support," for what had now turned into a call for those involved to join the crusade.

"We were already helping the families with food and supplies. When we heard about the initiative by Advatix, we reached out and partnered with them, so we could serve the people better. Our experience as an NGO helped tap into the existing channels of serving," said Damini.

The teenagers from India and the US  To expand the effort further, a team of teenagers helped promote awareness and raise funds for the supplies. Navya Chadha (16) from India started the Ketto fundraiser, while Garv Kapoor (16), Romir Kapoor (16) and Aarav Malhotra (17) spread the word in the US with flyers and promoted the GoFundMe campaign.

This team wants to do more and welcomes further support.

For anyone interested in helping please donate today using the links below:

GoFundMe (USA): https://gofund.me/3cc7cd77

Ketto (INDIA): https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/mission-oxygen

About Advatix

Advatix, Inc. is headquartered in Westlake Village, CA and is one of the world's leading providers of eCommerce Supply Chain and Logistics solutions. For more information, visit www.advatix.com or email [email protected].

Media Contact

Gerry Mercure

[email protected]

+1 (805) 267-1214

SOURCE Advatix Inc.

Related Links

http://www.advatix.com


SINGAPORE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a year of quarantine, readers and writers at GoodNovel have turned to fictional stories, in order to look for ways of spiritual connection and sharing. GoodNovel is becoming a more trusted online space to gain financial support as well as professional guidance on writing, especially at this time of immense insecurity.

Jane Doe, an American amateur fiction writer, discovered GoodNovel during the lockdown and started her entry to the international writing contest that the platform hosted. "Writing for GoodNovel gives me a flexible schedule and all the room I need to flourish creativity. They encourage every idea I have and work to help me make my novels better," she said. At GoodNovel, the professional teams are devoted to helping both rookie and experienced writers with book covers, suggestions on promotion, and tips to improve their writing.

As one of GoodNovel writers has said, "quarantine has given me time to come up with novel ideas and GoodNovel helps me to try them in my work." For writers like Jane, the writing platform GoodNovel has emerged as a diversified zone to develop their fantasies and share their creativity. While, for others, GoodNovel becomes a livelihood, since it provides financial security when writers lack income.

Laure came to GoodNovel as a young writer with little experience in fictional stories. Benefited from the writers supporting program, she gradually became a popular writer with tens of thousands of readers loving her stories. Unfortunately, Laure lost one important family member who was the sole breadwinner for the whole family during the pandemic.

Thankfully, her monthly income at GoodNovel has been higher than the average monthly income of an ordinary local office worker, bringing new hope to her family. With the support of the GoodNovel team and the love of her readers, Laure has continued writing and has already become the financial provider for her entire family.

Lisa W. lives in Southeast Asia and works as one of local editors with GoodNovel now. When the pandemic started spreading, she shed her permanent editing job out of necessity to keep healthy and safe, but that lead her to end up living in insecurity, e.g. no benefits and unpredictable income, until she discovered GoodNovel.

She updated stories on GoodNovel as a beginning and soon was employed as an editor by the platform. "It has not only provided me with a stable income but also helped me to keep my anxiety at bay," she said. GoodNovel has established its local teams in the US, Indonesia, Spain, the Philippines and India to work on indigenous contents. The international platform believes this helps to expand the range of existing stories to resonate better with local readers.

GoodNovel receives users' feedbacks daily, in which they express the moral inspiration and emotional comfort they get from the great stories on the platform, especially during the pandemic. GoodNovel and its professional team are committed to bringing wonderful stories, convenient reading and writing products to readers. Also, they look forward with anticipation to working with readers and authors, so as to expand the possibilities of literature in the new era.

Check out ongoing writing contests at GoodNovel and be the next big winner:

https://www.goodnovel.com/goodnovel-ultimate-writing-contest-2021-with-cash-awards

About GoodNovel

GoodNovel is an online story platform and community based in Singapore that is dedicated to creating a new generation of classic novels and a free zone of imagination powered by technology.

SOURCE GoodNovel

Related Links

https://www.goodnovel.com/


Following recognition for Project of the Year and Commercial Building of the Year at the inaugural RICS Social Impact Awards, the Here East Impact Report 2021 outlines the social impact of the campus, highlighting the continued positive contribution to society through programmes and initiatives led by Here East and tenants to increase access to education and employment for local communities.

With a continued commitment to creating job opportunities for young people across the campus, the growth of tenants during the pandemic has created new jobs for local people in East London. Here East is actively recruiting local talent, offering job placements for young people through its Scholarship Programme and there are also 13 tenants recruiting for local talent  making the campus one of the biggest employers in the local area.

Education is also central to the Here East Social Impact Report 2021, as Here East has launched a Scholarship Programme in partnership with Staffordshire University London and LMA to support three local students to enter higher education every year for the next five years.

The Report has also highlighted the campus's commitment to increasing access for people with disability. Here East is now home to the East London Inclusive Enterprise Zone, which promotes startups developing disability-led innovation as well as Scope, the disability equality charity and the Global Disability Innovation Hub.

The Impact Report also reveals the first list of Humans of Here East, individuals whose work during the global health pandemic has provided invaluable support to local communities. These heroes include Nana Badu, whose company, Badu Sports, delivered free meals throughout the pandemic to local families.

Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, comments, "Making a difference is built into the DNA of Here East. Over the past 12 months, Here East's community has continued to grow, and in turn, so too has our impact on East London and beyond. This is a campus that is ready to serve the evolution of London and is doing so today. We have seen job creation and business growth for companies that will define the next decade of economic growth in London. Not from traditional City sectors, but from the new creative and emergent areas like esports, immersive experiences and technologies, and digital entrepreneurs developing emerging technologies.

"As we wrote this year's Impact Report, what emerged was an extraordinary story of the Here East team, and members of our campus community coming together to provide more support for each other, for local people and the local economy than ever before."

Lyn Garner, LLDC Chief Executive, said: "It's been great to work alongside Here East on what is a great success story for London and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It has established itself not just as a hub for innovation and enterprise but also a close-knit community of individuals and organisations who have played a huge role in supporting local communities during the past year."

Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, said: "As our plans to ensure a fair recovery beyond the pandemic gain momentum, having anchor institutions and employers like Here East committed to this approach, which ensures local people and businesses are the first to benefit from economic growth, is essential.

"This report captures the impact of the pandemic and shows how Here East and their tenants rose to that challenge and how they are providing new opportunities around jobs, training and skills for people living and working in Hackney Wick and the borough. Collectively this work is unlocking social value and supporting our ambitions to create a more inclusive economy. We will keep working together to ensure these vital opportunities continue and we do even more."

SOURCE Here East
Investors, occupiers and increasingly, communities, are asking the commercial real estate industry to do far more than it ever has. To meet those challenges, Hines is leveraging its global scale and abilities as an integrated investor, developer and operator to inform its perspective on how to solve complex issues facing the industry, while positively shaping the built environment.

To lead the firm's strategies, Hines has appointed Senior Managing Director Peter Epping as Global Head of ESG. For the past eight years, Epping served as fund manager for Hines' European Core Fund (HECF). He was instrumental in HECF being recognized by GRESB as the most sustainable fund in Europe of all diversified portfolios and as a GRESB Global Sector Leader for an unprecedented four years in a row, with the most recent being 2020. In addition, HECF recently won the inaugural Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) Real Estate Investment Management ESG award in the open-end fund category, beating all 59 competing funds.

In addition to Epping, the firm established a dedicated new global ESG team for to lead its focus on furthering ESG commitments across Hines' investments, properties, communities and stakeholders. A new Hines ESG Leadership Council also includes Global Head of Management Services Adil Noorani; Chief People Officer Steph Biernbaum; Chief Legal Officer Richard Heaton and Global Sustainability Officer Clayton Ulrich. This council will work holistically to drive innovation and positive change including new initiatives focused on addressing carbon emissions and social equity across the built environment.

Hines' commitment to delivering future-proofed, sustainable, buildings has been deeply rooted in the firm since Gerald D. Hines founded the firm more than six decades ago. Today, Hines believes investors and developers must approach post-pandemic opportunities by creating more livable environments and contributing to better life experiences through new standards of flexibility in workplaces, homes and communities of the future.

"We all have a part to play in one of the largest challenges of our collective lifetime as we strive to create a healthier, inclusive and more sustainable planet," said Hines Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Hines. "Our long-term vision is to continue leading the industry by further embedding ESG excellence across the companyfrom our people, through our investments, construction, management and engineering around the globe."

"I'm honored to lead our new global ESG platform as we build on such a strong foundation," commented Hines Global Head of ESG Peter Epping. "We have a long-term commitment to ensure ESG leadership and innovation are at the heart of our entire business, enabling us to remain on the leading edge and meet the extraordinary challenges ahead of us. Our scale allows us to implement our innovative approach across a large number of new projects and existing properties around the world. We believe, that will have a significant positive impact on spaces, people, communities and climate while making good business sense too."

"We are bringing together our best ideas, people and influence," Ulrich added. "Our core focus will continue to be carbon reduction through the way we design, build and operate real estateand we look forward to sharing our exciting plans in the coming weeks."

Working with Regional ESG Leaders in Asia, Europe, North America and South America, Epping will relocate to New York, reporting to Global Chief Investment Officer David Steinbach. Adam Slakman, global sustainability manager, will report to Epping.

"Investors and occupiers alike are looking to enhance their approach to ESG with the knowledge that immediate action needs to be taken. As stewards of the built environment, we recognize the pivotal role we play in meeting the generational challenge of climate change and at the same time delivering destinations that are healthy, sustainable, and truly connected to the communities in which we operate," said Steinbach. "Peter's passion and focus on ESG is deep and longstanding, and he will be stepping into his new role at this exciting moment for the firm as we ramp up our ESG focus even further."

Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 240 cities in 27 countries. Hines oversees a portfolio of assets under management valued at approximately $160.9 billion, including $81.7 billion in assets under management for which Hines serves as investment manager, and $79.2 billion representing more than 172.9 million square feet of assets for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired approximately 1,450 properties, totaling over 485 million square feet. The firm has more than 180 developments currently underway around the world. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to ESG, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.

1. Includes both the global Hines organization as well as RIA AUM as of December 31, 2020.

SOURCE Hines

Related Links

www.hines.com


Dr Istvan Szabo, Vice President for Science and International Affairs of National Research, Development and Innovation Office, responsible for international research infrastructure memberships in Hungary said, "I would like first to thank BBMRI-ERIC for the warm welcome of the Hungarian biobanking and biomedical community to their European family. I am proud that we have excellent research teams who collaborate world-wide and I am convinced we should further strengthen our policies and instruments in support of our bright minds and the research and innovation development in the country.

"In 2020, with initiative from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office the four major universities (Semmelweis University, University of Szeged, University of Debrecen, University of Pecs), a healthcare provider (Central Hospital of Southern Pest) and a private sector company (Richter Gedeon Plc.) formed a consortium that would best represent Hungary when applying to BBMRI-ERIC as a National Node. The parties involved with the consortium all have significant experiences in biobanking and presently hold up to ca. 500 000 samples aggregate.

"In this Hungarian biobank network, the main focus is on the following fields: cardiovascular disorders, Oncological disorders, rare disorders (especially neurogenetic, ophthalmological and metabolic disorders and genodermatosis), neurodegenerative disorders, pancreatic disorders, haematological disorders, asthma, inflammatory bowel disorders and traumatic brain disorders, and COVID-19 infections. A large longitudinal biobank with vast amount of structured datasets and with 800 samples is dedicated to the schizophrenia research. The biobank network supported several research programs and publications. In the last five years within 116 research programs, 295 PhD students graduated, and 424 publications were published in topics related to our biobanks.

"Nowadays in the biomedical field nobody can work anymore in silos, a well-established network is the basic requirement for innovative research of high-quality. We hope that by joining BBMRI ERIC the Hungarian Node can enter the largest European biobank network and participate in international research programs, focused trainings and quality management programs.

"Joining BBMRI ERIC, we can achieve better, more efficient treatment and recovery of patients with higher quality samples, data storage and support for biomedical research. Hungary is committed to continuing its efforts to contribute to the European Research community and our common goals."

BBMRI-ERIC's Director General Jens Habermann: "It is with such a great pleasure I welcome Hungary to BBMRI-ERIC. Hungarian biobanks are now connected to the world like never before. At the same time, researchers and biobankers will have access to additional knowledge, IT tools, and tailor-made guidance by BBMRI-ERIC that will support their current development.

"In this pandemic time, this is also a major milestone for European research in general and we greatly acknowledge Hungary boosting the development of its biomedical sector", Prof. Habermann commented.

Prof. Habermann concluded saying: "Biomedical research does not take place in a vacuum: it requires a multidisciplinary approach. That is why we are increasing our collaboration with other ERICs to ensure that, in the future, research infrastructures further excel biomedical research.".

BBMRI-ERIC brings together more than 700 biobanks from its Members and one international organisation. The BBMRI-ERIC Directory, the largest sample catalogue in the world, allows users to search millions of samples online, meeting BBMRI's main mission to facilitate access to biological samples, data and biomolecular resources.

BBMRI-ERIC is an international organisation established under EU legislation. Its headquarters are located in Graz, Austria.

BBMRI provides support and services to local biobanks via its National Nodes (one per country). The National Nodes are fully involved in the day-to-day management of BBMRI-ERIC and provide feedback from the national level. BBMRI-ERIC services and research activities cover three main areas: ethical, legal and societal issues (ELSI), quality management, and IT solutions that allow users to search collections and biomolecular resources online and request access.

www.bbmri-eric.eu

Editor's Note:

BBMRI-ERIC Members: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and United Kingdom

BBMRI-ERIC Observers: Cyprus, Lithuania, Switzerland, Turkey and IARC/WHO

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1549901/BBMRI_ERIC_Szabo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1549900/BBMRI_ERIC_Logo.jpg

SOURCE BBMRI-ERIC
AUSTIN, Texas and BOSTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyde Park Ventures ("Hyde Park"), a private management company, has announced the acquisition of seven Five Guys franchises and a new development territory across northern Colorado making its restaurant holding company, Hyde Park Burgers, the third largest Five Guys franchisee in the United States.

In total, Hyde Park now owns 42 Five Guys franchises in Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Through this acquisition, Hyde Park continues its mission to build a high performing, cutting-edge restaurant operating platform. Hyde Park also owns a net lease real estate investment business as well as a franchise advisory practice.

"Colorado is one of the strongest markets in the country with its appealing climate, business friendly culture and growing population. We're excited to set up shop in the state and continue to grow our presence in the West," said Jody Goehring, Managing Partner, Hyde Park Ventures.

Fifth Third Bank, Hyde Park's sole lender, provided the debt financing for the transaction.

"Hyde Park has built a very successful portfolio quickly, and proven their ability to create a scalable model, hire the right talent, and invest in the right deals," said Greg McGinley, vice president and corporate banking executive director at Fifth Third. "When we began our relationship with Hyde Park in 2018, we saw the opportunity to back a young investment team with a clear focus, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth."

Hyde Park's platform approach enables the company to work with large institutional investors interested in the franchised restaurant space. It provides a scalable, full-service operating leadership team and comprehensive back-office system with the flexibility to work across brands and geographies.

About Five Guys

Five Guys is a family owned and operated franchise restaurant group that focuses on serving high-quality burgers and fries in a clean, no frills atmosphere. Five Guys was established in 1986 in Arlington, VA. In 2003, Five Guys opened its first franchised location and with the help of loyal franchisees, Five Guys has expanded from five to 1,550 locations worldwide. Five Guys continues to be awarded "best" burger across various markets and ZAGAT Survey said, "there are no better burgers." For more information, visit www.fiveguys.com .

About Hyde Park Ventures

Hyde Park Ventures is a vertically integrated private investment management company with a 10-year history of generating value-added returns in various asset classes and geographies. Hyde Park acquires, develops, invests in, advises, and operates multi-unit restaurant franchises and real estate assets. With considerable local expertise and a critical national perspective, Hyde Park covers the full spectrum of restaurant investment, development, value enhancing asset management, operations and re-positioning. Hyde Park applies institutional analysis and disciplines to the local businesses of restaurant franchising and real estate. It seeks opportunistic and cyclical entry points in asset-based and market investment strategies to yield superior investment returns for its investors.

Hyde Park Ventures' portfolio includes Boston-based Five Guys franchisee Hyde Park Burgers, and Hyde Park Properties, an Austin-based net lease real estate firm.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of March 31, 2021, Fifth Third had $207 billion in assets and operated 1,098 full-service banking centers and 2,383 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of March 31, 2021, had $464 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $58 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

SOURCE Hyde Park Ventures
FRANKLIN, Tenn., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- i2i Population Health has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by The Tennessean Top Workplaces. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

i2i Named Winner of Top Workplaces 2021 Award by Tennessean

"This award speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication of our employees. At i2i, we are passionate about changing healthcare for the better, and we would not be where we are without our team. Each of our valued employees lives out our mission of Serving Others for Healthy Communities on a daily basis. I am proud to be a part of the i2i Family," states Justin L. Neece, CEO of i2i Population Health.

"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."

ABOUT i2i POPULATION HEALTH

i2i is the nation's largest population health technology company serving the underserved, safety net market, through community health centers (FQHCs), critical access and community hospitals, primary care associations, and managed care organizations. With over 20 years of experience spanning 37 states and 30 million lives, i2i was ranked #1 by Black Book for end-to-end population health technology in 2020. The i2i platform powers an advanced data integration and aggregation engine that publishes normalized clinical and administrative data through expansive quality management and care coordination applications. Improving outcomes through better quality program performance is a core competency of i2i. The mission, Serving Others for Healthy Communities, drives the company's vision, culture, and actions to bring better health solutions to all communities.

For more information and the latest news from i2i Population Health, visit i2ipophealth.com or follow @i2iPopHealth on Twitter, and @i2i Population Health on LinkedIn.

ABOUT ENERGAGE

Making the world a better place to work together.

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

SOURCE i2i Population Health

Related Links

http://i2ipophealth.com


The partnership will complement the depth of the Incedo services portfolio and provide tools to meet the growing needs of life sciences clients globally. Aurochs' flagship tools combined with Incedo's deep life sciences data and business expertise will provide the necessary support to clients in the life sciences commercial space. Incedo will support global implementations of Aurochs flagship Incentive Compensation Solution suite and will also provide clients support to manage their ongoing operations, analytics and reporting needs. This partnership will help clients evolve the way they manage their sales incentives and deliver end-to-end automation without compromising on flexibility, timeliness and quality of incentive pay-outs.

Aurochs cloud native platforms complement Incedo's extensive cloud practice with deep Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure partnerships which aid implementation in a client's cloud environments.

The Incedo and Aurochs teams are led by life sciences commercial operations leaders with decades of extensive consulting experience working with commercial organizations of leading companies.

Shashank Arya, Incedo's Chief Delivery Officer said, "I am excited to partner with Aurochs software, so that we can now also bring world class incentive compensation tools to our life sciences clients across geographies."

Aurochs Software's Amit Jain, Co-founder & Director of Operations, mentioned, "With this partnership, our services will now have global reach, scale and can unlock new possibilities for our cloud capabilities in the commercial pharma domain."

Aurochs comprehensive solution suite consists of cloud platforms that support the entire sales incentive process flow:

Incentive Manager: Calculation engine with an intuitive interface, standard IC plan components, metrics, data structures, quality, approval and auditing framework, modelling capability, multi-country deployments with cross-country reporting

Field Engagement Manager: Multi-device compatible web reporting platform out-of-the-box performance report, "what-if" calculator, internationalization, integrated acknowledgment /approval/ operational workflows, distribution and communication boards

Quota Manager: Quota/goal setting tool with built-in quota setting methodologies using sales and non-sales based parameters and consultative workflow with test territory-product level goals using out-of-the-box analytics and visualizations

MBO Manager: Integrated self-service module to set, track rate and approve non-sales based subjective KPIs based on guard rails with built-in discussion / commenting capability

IC Health Tracker: Plan fairness audit tool to perform assessment of IC plans using descriptive summary statistics, visualizations, industry standard performance indicators

Roster Manager: Manage sales personnel, territories, alignments including flexible work arrangements, temporary assignments, terminations and leave tracking

About Incedo

Incedo is a US based digital transformation consulting, data science and analytics, and technology services and solutions firm. We help our clients achieve competitive advantage through End-to-End Digital Transformation and work across Financial Services, Telecom, Life Science and Healthcare and Product Engineering sectors. Our uniqueness lies in bringing together strong engineering, data science and design capabilities with deep domain understanding, and blurring the boundaries between services and products to maximize business impact from emerging technologies.

Incedo has over 2500 professionals across 7 offices in the US, Canada, and India with a focus on Pharmaceutical data management, reporting, analytics and data science capabilities combined with strong AWS and Microsoft Azure partnerships. Incedo is an AWS Advance consulting partner with Migration competency and a Microsoft Azure Gold partner.

About Aurochs

Aurochs is a new age company that provides cloud platforms, information management solutions and advanced analytics services specifically for the life sciences industry. Aurochs' flagship IC Solution Suite is a comprehensive suite with the capability to manage different needs of incentive program management from setting sales targets/quotas, managing non-sales objectives, calculating field sales incentives, providing access to sales and pay-out performance, engaging salesforce and proactively performing post hoc IC plan analytics for timely actions.

Aurochs is headquartered in Pune, India and has more than 50 employees all based out of India. Aurochs has global clients based out of the US and Europe.

SOURCE Incedo Inc.
DUBLIN, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "India Organic Food Market, By Product Type (Organic Fruits and Vegetables, Organic Beverages, Organic Cereal & Food Grains, Organic Meat, Others), By Distribution Channel, By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, FY2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Indian Organic Food Market is projected to grow from USD177.14 million in FY2020 to USD553.87 million in FY2026 advancing with a CAGR of 21.00% by FY2026, on account of favorable government policies supporting organic farming coupled with rising land area under organic cultivation.

Online availability of organic food products and shifting consumer preference towards organic food are among the major factors expected to boost the demand for organic food products in India during the forecast period. Expanding marketing and distribution channels coupled with increasing number of health-conscious people are also anticipated to fuel organic food consumption in India until FY2026.

Furthermore, increase in awareness regarding the food people eat has resulted in the uplift of the organic food market. Consumers in India have started paying attention to their health, the quality and nutrient content of the food they eat. Due to health concerns, consumers are shifting towards the organic food gradually, which is further giving boost to the organic food market in India.



During to COVID-19, there was a shortage of workers working in organic process industry, as people were forced to stay at home for some time. So, the organic food processing companies were unable to gather sufficient workers for processing organic products. Also, farmers have faced difficulties in order to source the agricultural inputs due to the closure of the vendor stores.

Thus, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the organic food products market, in India. However, a rise in the demand for organic food products during the pandemic has been observed across the country as they are considered healthier in comparison to the inorganic products. In India, a paradigm shift of consumers, post lockdown, towards preventive health management practices is fueling the growth of the market and is expected to drive the market of organic food in future as well.



Organic fruits and vegetables dominated the demand for organic food in the country in the historical period and the segment is anticipated to continue dominating the market through FY2026. The certified land under organic farming increased to 5.21 million hectares in 2012-13 from merely 1.08 million hectares in 2009-10, which is expected to increase the overall organic food production in the country.

The western region is the highest revenue contributor for the country's organic food market, followed by the southern region. The major organic food producing states in India include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Considering high distributor margins, organic food companies are collaborating with leading retail chains, which is expected to increase the availability of organic food products in the future.



Some of the major players operating in the Indian Organic Food Market are

Suminter India Organics Private Limited

Nature Bio-Foods Limited

Organic India Private Limited

Sresta Natural Bioproducts Pvt. Ltd.

Phalada Agro Research Foundations Pvt. Ltd.

Mehrotra Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd.

Morarka Organic Foods Pvt., Ltd.

Nature Pearls Pvt Ltd

Conscious Food Private Limited

Nourish Organics Foods Pvt. Ltd.

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: FY2016 - FY2019

Base Year: FY2020

Estimated Year: FY2021

Forecast Period: FY2022 - FY2026

Key Target Audience:

Organic food manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and other stakeholders

Organizations, forums and alliances related to organic food

Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policy makers

Market research and consulting firms

Report Scope:



India Organic Food Market, By Product Type:

Organic Beverages

Organic Cereal & Food Grains

Organic Meat, Poultry & Dairy

Organic Spices & Pulses

Organic Processed Food

Organic Fruits & Vegetables

Other Organic Food Products

India Organic Food Market, By Distribution Channel:

Modern Retail Channel

Traditional Retail Channel

E-commerce

Institutional/Direct Sales

India Organic Food Market, By Region:

North

West

South

East

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Analysis of the major companies operating in the Indian Organic Food Market.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bmtdv9

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Oak Capital Markets, LLC, an alternative investment distributor, announced today that financial industry veteran Gene Sullivan has joined the company as senior regional vice president, where he is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with financial intermediaries throughout eight states in the Northeast.

"We continue to receive tremendous support from broker-dealer partners that feel our platform is poised for resiliency and continued growth," said Mick Manning, chief executive officer of Pacific Oak Capital Markets. "Gene has consistently been recognized as a top performer throughout his career, and we are confident that his contributions will further the growth of our platform."

Sullivan brings to his role deep experience and relationships developed during the past 20 years wholesaling mutual funds, separate accounts and real estate alternatives in the wirehouse, RIA and independent broker-dealer channels. Most recently he was vice president of sales at Black Creek Group, where he was recognized as a top 1031 producer in each of the past two years. He has also held roles with LaSalle Investment Management, John Hancock Funds and Bank of America/Columbia Management Group.

Sullivan earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from State University of New York College at Oswego and holds his FINRA Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 licenses as well as his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) certification.

About Pacific Oak Capital Markets

Pacific Oak Capital Markets is a wholesaler and managing broker-dealer for alternative investment offerings. Pacific Oak Capital Markets is committed to representing products where financial professionals can match capital with opportunity for their clients. The Pacific Oak Capital Markets team focuses on providing financial solutions to financial advisors and registered investment advisors. Its investment professionals are dedicated to delivering offerings that produce compelling risk-adjusted returns through real estate, private equity, and other alternative investment products. For additional information, please visit pacificoakcapitalmarkets.com.

Contact:

Jennifer Franklin

Spotlight Marketing Communications

(949) 427-1385

[email protected]

SOURCE Pacific Oak Capital Markets
DALLAS, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE:J) was awarded a new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Kansas City District Architecture and Engineering (AE) contract to support the planning, design and construction of facilities and infrastructure in service of the Air Force's B-21 mission. The Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) supports AE requirements primarily at Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, Dyess AFB, Texas, Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and other locations as the Air Force determines support for the B-21 program.

USACE values the shared contract capacity at $200 million, with individual task order limits of $50 million. The contract has an initial five-year base period with a two-year option period. AE services include master planning, investigation and studies, and preparation of construction documents, including, but not limited to, training, squad operations, weapons training and engine test shop facilities.

"The next generation B-21 aircraft will bring cutting-edge technology to U.S. defense capabilities," said Jacobs Federal & Environmental Solutions Senior Vice President and retired USAF Major General Tim Byers. "By leveraging smart, innovative lessons learned from our defense clients across the world, we can enhance a more sustainable and resilient platform and provide cutting-edge solutions to another important mission within the United States military."

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $14 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

# # #

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related reaction of governments on global and regional market conditions and the company's business. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 2, 2020, and in particular the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 2, 2021, and in particular the discussions contained under Part I, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Part II, Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors, as well as the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.

For press/media inquiries:

Kerrie Sparks

214.583.8433

SOURCE Jacobs

Related Links

http://www.jacobs.com


"IEEE is now at the center of a global conversation to understand the power and promise of quantum computing."  Travis Humble, Oak Ridge National Labs

Also known as IEEE Quantum Week, QCE21 is unique by integrating dimensions from academic and business conferences and will reveal cutting edge research and developments featuring quantum research, practice, applications, education, and training.

QCE21's Keynote Speakers include the following quantum groundbreakers and leaders:

Alan Baratz  D-Wave Systems, President & CEO

 D-Wave Systems, President & CEO James S. Clarke  Intel Labs, Director of Quantum Hardware

 Intel Labs, Director of Quantum Hardware David J. Dean  Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Director Quantum Science Center

 Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Director Quantum Science Center Jay Gambetta  IBM Quantum, IBM Fellow & VP Quantum Computing

 IBM Quantum, IBM Fellow & VP Quantum Computing Sonika Johri  IonQ, Senior Quantum Applications Research Scientist

 IonQ, Senior Quantum Applications Research Scientist Anthony Megrant  Google Quantum AI, Lead Research Scientist

 Google Quantum AI, Lead Research Scientist Prineha Narang  Harvard University & Aliro Quantum, Professor & CTO

& Aliro Quantum, Professor & CTO Brian Neyenhuis  Honeywell Quantum Solutions, Commercial Operations Leader

 Honeywell Quantum Solutions, Commercial Operations Leader Urbasi Sinha  Raman Research Institute, Bangalore , Professor

, Professor Krista Svore  Microsoft, General Manager Quantum Systems

Through participation from the international quantum community, QCE21 has developed an extensive conference program with world-class keynote speakers, technical paper presentations, innovative posters, exciting exhibits, technical briefings, workforce-building tutorials, community-building workshops, stimulating panels, and Birds-of-Feather sessions.

Papers accepted by QCE21 will be submitted to the IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and the best papers will be invited to the journals IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering (TQE) and ACM Transactions on Quantum Computing (TQC).

QCE21 is co-sponsored by IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Communications Society, IEEE Council of Superconductivity, IEEE Future Directions Committee, IEEE Photonics Society, IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society, IEEE Electronics Packaging Society, IEEE Signal Processing Society (SP), and IEEE Electron Device Society (EDS).

The inaugural 2020 IEEE Quantum Week built a solid foundation and was highly successful  over 800 people from 45 countries and 225 companies attended the premier event that delivered 270+ hours of programming on quantum computing and engineering.

The second annual 2021 Quantum Week will virtually connect a wide range of leading quantum professionals, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, champions, and enthusiasts to exchange and share their experiences, challenges, research results, innovations, applications, and enthusiasm, on all aspects of quantum computing, engineering and technologies. The IEEE Quantum Week schedule will take place during Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).

Visit IEEE QCE21 for all event news including sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

QCE21 Registration Package provides Virtual Access to IEEE Quantum Week Oct 18-22, 2021 as well as On-Demand Access to all recorded events until the end of December 2021 featuring over 270 hours of programming in the realm of quantum computing and engineering.

Register here to be a part of IEEE Quantum Week 2021.

About the IEEE Computer Society

The IEEE Computer Society is the world's home for computer science, engineering, and technology. A global leader in providing access to computer science research, analysis, and information, the IEEE Computer Society offers a comprehensive array of unmatched products, services, and opportunities for individuals at all stages of their professional career. Known as the premier organization that empowers the people who drive technology, the IEEE Computer Society offers international conferences, peer-reviewed publications, a unique digital library, and training programs.

About the IEEE Communications Society

The IEEE Communications Society promotes technological innovation and fosters creation and sharing of information among the global technical community. The Society provides services to members for their technical and professional advancement and forums for technical exchanges among professionals in academia, industry, and public institutions.

About the IEEE Council on Superconductivity

The IEEE Council on Superconductivity and its activities and programs cover the science and technology of superconductors and their applications, including materials and their applications for electronics, magnetics, and power systems, where the superconductor properties are central to the application.

IEEE Electron Device Society (EDS)

The IEEE Electron Device Society fosters professional growth of its members by satisfying their needs for easy access to and exchange of technical information, publishing, education, and technical recognition and enhancing public visibility in the field of Electron Devices. The IEEE EDS promotes excellence in the field of electron devices for the benefit of humanity The EDS field-of-interest includes all electron and ion based devices, in their classical or quantum states, using environments and materials in their lowest to highest conducting phase, in simple or engineered assembly, interacting with and delivering photo-electronic, electro-magnetic, electromechanical, electro-thermal, and bio-electronic signals.

About the IEEE Electronics Packaging Society

The IEEE Electronics Packaging Society is the leading international forum for scientists and engineers engaged in the research, design, and development of revolutionary advances in microsystems packaging and manufacturing.

About the IEEE Future Directions Quantum Initiative

IEEE Quantum is an IEEE Future Directions initiative launched in 2019 that serves as IEEE's leading community for all projects and activities on quantum technologies. IEEE Quantum is supported by leadership and representation across IEEE Societies and OUs. The initiative addresses the current landscape of quantum technologies, identifies challenges and opportunities, leverages, and collaborates with existing initiatives, and engages the quantum community at large.

About the IEEE Photonics Society

The IEEE Photonics Society forms the hub of a vibrant technical community of more than 100,000 professionals dedicated to transforming breakthroughs in quantum physics into the devices, systems, and products to revolutionize our daily lives. From ubiquitous and inexpensive global communications via fiber optics, to lasers for medical and other applications, to flat-screen displays, to photovoltaic devices for solar energy, to LEDs for energy-efficient illumination, there are myriad examples of the Society's impact on the world around us.

IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS)

The IEEE Signal Processing Society is an international organization whose purpose is to: advance and disseminate state-of-the-art scientific information and resources; educate the signal processing community; and provide a venue for people to interact and exchange ideas. The Signal Processing Society is a dynamic organization that is the preeminent source of signal processing information and resources to a global community. We do this by: being a one-stop source of signal processing resources; providing a variety of high-quality resources to a variety of users in formats customized to their interests; adapting to a rapidly changing technical community; and being intimately involved in the education of signal processing professionals at all levels.

About the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society

IEEE TEMS encompasses the management sciences and practices required for defining, implementing, and managing engineering and technology. Specific topics of interest include, but are not limited to: technology policy development, assessment, and transfer; research; product design and development; manufacturing operations; innovation and entrepreneurship; program and project management; strategy; education and training; organizational development and human behavior; transitioning to management; and the socioeconomic impact of engineering and technology management.

SOURCE IEEE Computer Society

Related Links

www.computer.org


"Lauren has truly distinguished herself in senior administrative leadership roles at top NCI-designated cancer centers and non-profit organizations around the country," said Edward Chu, M.D., M.S.S. , director of AECC; vice president of cancer medicine at Montefiore Medicine; and professor of medicine and of molecular pharmacology, and the Carol and Roger Einiger Professor of Cancer Medicine at Einstein. "She has more than two decades of experience as a mission-driven executive and is accomplished at bringing diverse people and teams together to create and maximize the organizational capabilities of complex, collaborative research institutions. Lauren's unique skills will help us advance our operations and usher in a new era at the cancer center."

At AECC, Ms. Hackett will have oversight and authority over the administrative team and structure, running all aspects of its operations. A key part of her role is partnering with the senior leaders at AECC, Einstein, and Montefiore to align and implement strategic priorities across its cancer enterprise.

As COO at the Allen Institute, a private, non-profit research institute in Seattle, WA, she led the Institute through the COVID-19 pandemic and co-developed the Institute's comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. She also partnered with colleagues to integrate scientific strategy and planning efforts throughout administration and operations teams across the Institute.

Previously, Ms. Hackett served for more than seven years as the executive director for administration and chief business officer at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) in Nashville, TN. Under her leadership, she played an integral role in supporting the translation of discovery research into clinical practice at Vanderbilt and helped to transform VICC into one of the elite cancer centers in the U.S. She also served as the executive director for administration at NYU Cancer Institute for seven years and held similar roles with the Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center. Additionally, she was the director of sponsored programs at Rockefeller University.

Ms. Hackett continues to serve on numerous NCI-designated cancer centers' external advisory boards as well as peer-review site visit teams and committees for the NCI.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2020-21 academic year, Einstein is home to 721 M.D. students, 178 Ph.D. students, 109 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2020, Einstein received more than $197 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit einsteinmed.org, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook , and view us on YouTube.

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and close to 200 outpatient care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Related Links

http://www.einsteinmed.org


PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trial attorneys from Saltz, Mongeluzzi, & Bendesky, P.C. (SMBB), global authorities on catastrophic building collapses, such as the fatal 12-story condominium tower partial collapse near Miami Beach, Florida, today are now available to discuss the incident with members of the media.

SMBB lawyers Robert J. Mongeluzzi, Andrew R. Duffy, and Jeffrey P. Goodman, partners in the Philadelphia-based firm, and their colleagues extend their deepest sympathies to all those impacted by devastation that authorities report is responsible for one death and numerous injuries.

"It will take time to determine the specific cause, but from decades of past experience it is likely investigators will find no acceptable excuse for this catastrophe," stated Mr. Mongeluzzi today after examining detailed images and video of the scene in Surfside, just outside Miami.

Mr. Duffy said, "Multi-story structures just don't suddenly "pancake", a word many have used to describe the partially collapsed residential tower, and there is no preliminary indication of natural disturbances, such as seismic activity." And Mr. Goodman added, "Every safety plan, safety system developed for that building will be placed under a microscope along with every maintenance and construction project from basement to rooftop, past and present."

Mr. Mongeluzzi is among the leading structural-collapse, negligence/liability lawyers in the world. He was lead counsel in that 2003 Tropicana Atlantic City, N.J. collapse that killed four workers and the 2013 Philadelphia Salvation Army collapse that killed seven. The cases resolved for a combined $328 million. The firm presently represents the 72 victims of the 2017 London Grenfell Tower fatal fire.

Based on their extensive experience litigating complex, catastrophic construction-related cases, including those involving various types of structural collapse and equipment/mechanical failures, Mr. Mongeluzzi and his team frequently lecture and publish regarding the legal aspects of building/human failures, including safe construction practices to prevent catastrophic incidents.

SOURCE Saltz, Mongeluzzi, & Bendesky, P.C.

Related Links

http://www.smbb.com


The new state of the art 3.7m antenna paired with high performance baseband processing hardware add important additional coverage for Leaf Space's customers, allowing satellite operators expanded opportunity to communicate with spacecraft, sending and receiving critical data to support each mission. With these additional ground stations, Leaf Space now fully owns and operates 12 stations globally.

"These three stations build upon our already robust network and improve our ability to deliver industry leading GSaaS solutions to our customers," said Jonata Puglia, CEO and co-founder of Leaf Space. "Ownership of our own proprietary network offers customers complete management and flexibility to customize operations and scale quickly. We are continuing to pursue additional expansion to support the daily increases in demand from our customers and are on schedule to activate three more stations in Q3, with the goal of doubling our global network to 19 total this year."

Leaf Space's new ground station in Sri Lanka will expand the range of missions the company can support, adding equatorial orbit to the company's list of capabilities. Further distributing Leaf Space's medium-latitude network provides customers with a strategic advantage as it helps to mitigate the risk of interference, band saturation and licensing as well as overlapping, providing customers with more capacity using fewer antennas.

The station in Northern Scotland also adds a desirable high northern latitude location to Leaf Space's distributed ground station network, positioned on the 61st parallel.

"Our expanding ground station network is further powered by our end-to-end network orchestration and management software, the Network Cloud Engine, which optimizes automatic scheduling and data transfer for customers, guaranteeing efficiency, eliminating the risk of conflicts and leveraging at scale cloud services," added Puglia.

Since Leaf Space's inception in 2014, the company has focused on developing robust ground segment services and technology with the goal of creating disruptive GSaaS solutions available in the modern space market. Leaf Space pioneered the concept of GSaaS for NewSpace satellite and launch vehicle operators around the world and has achieved great success working in partnership with more than 20 customers to increase performance and availability of crucial data while simultaneously lowering costs and decreasing latency.

In addition to announcing the expansion of the company's distributed ground station network this week, Leaf Space will also be supporting 14 new spacecrafts from six different international customers on SpaceX's Transporter-2 dedicated Falcon 9 rideshare mission, scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral on Friday, June 25. This launch will signal an important milestone for Leaf Space as the company will be supporting its largest number of customers in a single launch to date.

About Leaf Space

Leaf Space is pioneering the concept of ground segment as-a-service (GSaaS) for forward-thinking satellite and launch operators around the world. Since its inception in 2014, Leaf Space has focused on developing the highest quality ground station services and technology with the goal of creating the most efficient and valuable ground segment solutions available on the modern space market. Leaf Space is based in Lomazzo, Italy and is funded by RedSeed Ventures, Whysol Investments, and Primo Space. For more information, please visit: leaf.space .

SOURCE Leaf Space

Related Links

http://leaf.space/


INDIANAPOLIS, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today launched the Leonard Award to recognize diverse champions dedicated to advancing diabetes management through innovative thinking and novel approaches. Nominations are being accepted now until August 31, 2021 at Lilly.com/LeonardAward.

The Leonard Award is inspired by the life of Leonard Thompson, the first person with diabetes to be treated with insulin in 1922, and looks to celebrate ongoing achievements in the diabetes community. The Award is open to eligible participants from the following categories:

Teen/young adult: 18- to 25-year-old living with diabetes or with a strong personal connection to someone impacted by diabetes

18- to 25-year-old living with diabetes or with a strong personal connection to someone impacted by diabetes Advocate/advocacy professional: Active advocate for people with diabetes, either through personal channels or with an established organization

Active advocate for people with diabetes, either through personal channels or with an established organization Endocrinologist/primary care physician: Health care professional specializing in endocrinology or who acts as a primary care physician to people with diabetes

Health care professional specializing in endocrinology or who acts as a primary care physician to people with diabetes Diabetes educator/nurse: Diabetes educator and/or nurse specializing in the care of people with diabetes

Diabetes educator and/or nurse specializing in the care of people with diabetes Researcher: Research professional dedicated to research in the field of diabetes care (therapeutics, technology or otherwise)

"The Leonard Award will recognize a variety of strides made in diabetes management, while looking ahead to future, and continued, innovations," said Leonard Glass, M.D., F.A.C.E., vice president of Lilly Diabetes Global Medical Affairs. "Each submission to the Leonard Award will represent the strength and dedication of a broad community, and we are eager to hear from individuals who have made a positive impact through their commitment to people living with diabetes."

Five winners  one from each category  will be selected, and Lilly will give $20,000 in recognition of each winner ($100,000 total) to Life for a Child, a non-profit organization that provides access to care, education, and lifesaving medicines and supplies to children and young people with type 1 diabetes in less-resourced countries.

"We're honored to receive such a donation from Lilly and look forward to learning more about the individuals who are addressing important needs within the diabetes community. This donation supports our shared vision to build a healthier world and continued mission of supporting children and youth with type 1 diabetes," said Graham Ogle, general manager of Life for a Child.

To be considered for the Leonard Award, nominees will be required to submit an original project, innovation, or effort  beyond drug or device therapy  that addresses either an important need or challenge in the management of diabetes or aims to support the community. Winners will be selected by an external judges' panel comprised of esteemed leaders in diabetes care, and Dr. Glass will represent Lilly on that committee. The five Leonard Award winners will be announced in November in advance of World Diabetes Day.

Nominations and submissions for the Leonard Award are being accepted now through August 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To learn more, nominate someone you know, or complete a submission, visit Lilly.com/LeonardAward. The Leonard Award is free to enter. Official eligibility criteria and terms and conditions can be found on the website.

About Diabetes

Approximately 34 million Americans1 (just over 1 in 10) and an estimated 463 million adults worldwide2 have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type internationally, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases in the United States alone1. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin.

About Lilly Diabetes

Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research, collaboration and quality manufacturing we strive to make life better for people affected by diabetes and related conditions. We work to deliver breakthrough outcomes through innovative solutionsfrom medicines and technologies to support programs and more. For the latest updates, visit http://www.lillydiabetes.com/ or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes and Facebook: LillyDiabetesUS.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom. P-LLY

Copyright  2021 Eli Lilly and Company. All rights reserved.

Lilly Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about Lilly's Leonard Award, including its objectives, selection criteria, nomination process, intended donations, and related activities, and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. There can be no assurance that the Leonard Award will achieve Lilly's objectives or that Lilly will execute its strategy as planned. For further discussion of risks and uncertainties relevant to Lilly's business, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edn. Brussels, Belgium : 2019. Available at: http://www.diabetesatlas.org . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf . November 2017 .

Refer to:

Becky Polston; [email protected]; 317-796-1028 (Media)

Kevin Hern; [email protected]; 317-277-1838 (Investors)

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Related Links

http://www.lilly.com


RICHMOND, Va., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid ongoing COVID-19 concerns, state and local governments saw new fiscal pressures around a remote workforce and technology needs according to Cherry Bekaert LLP's 10th Annual Local Government Survey. The survey is administered to state and local government finance and accounting professionals, reflecting on how they are responding, or planning to respond, to a wide range of issues from workforce and benefits, impacts on budgets, to the use of technology and the effects of COVID-19.

Workforce Needs

The survey revealed shifts altering traditional governments' workplace culture. More than 50% of survey respondents have telecommuted, and are likely to continue doing so for the next 12 months. Some entities will allow a hybrid work environment even after the pandemic is over, providing employees with greater flexibility.

State and local governments are struggling to attract new finance and accounting employees, and a virtual work option would help offset or mitigate losses from an aging workforce by attracting attention from younger generations wanting more flexibility in their work structure. The survey also revealed the greatest turnover for government employees was retirement.

Healthcare and other benefits were positively received this year by survey-takers, with two-thirds of respondents indicating governments have implemented measures to lower the healthcare costs for both the entity and employees, including adding wellness programs and better incentives.

Use of Technology

The survey confirms technology continues to be a main priority as governments advance their own internal efficiency, connectivity and productivity. The majority of respondents believed the increased use of technology will be necessary to keep costs under control. In larger entity respondents (of $250M+ in revenue), there was a decrease in overall IT-related full-time employees' year-over-year.

Most respondents (70%) felt only somewhat prepared for a cyber-attack. In looking at data breaches, 68% of respondents experienced an actual or attempted data breach of some type, and 71% were deliberately perpetrated by an external party.

Other Key Findings

Although 82% of respondents believe the increased use of technology will be necessary to keep costs under control, 51% of the respondents still require paper based or manual steps for internal administrative processes.

While insufficient budget or funding was identified as the main barrier to implementing new technology, respondents were almost twice as concerned about having enough budgeted funding for the replacement of aging city infrastructure.

45% of the respondents received less than $10M in Coronavirus Relief Funds.

in Coronavirus Relief Funds. 74% of respondents have not started or have just begun the implementation process of GASB 87.

"As the federal government enacts new mandates in response to COVID-19, the trickle down affect is considerable on state and local levels. Local government entities will need to continue to transform the way they budget and oversee their workforce and operations," said John Gilberto, Government Services Leader.

For the full report and findings, please visit www.cbh.com/localgovsurvey.

About the Survey



The 10th Annual Local Government Survey, conducted by Cherry Bekaert, provides insight into how US government entities are responding, or planning to respond, to a wide range of issues such as: workforce, benefits, budgets, technology and impacts of COVID-19. This year almost 100 government employees responded, of which 31% were CFOs and Financial Directors, 53% Controllers, Finance and Accounting Managers and 16% other professionals. Participants work for municipalities, counties, schools, authorities, commissions or other government entities with annual revenues as follows: Less than or equal to $50M (31%), $50-250M (32%), and greater than or equal to $250M (37%).

About Cherry Bekaert

Ranked among the largest audit, tax and advisory firms in the U.S., Cherry Bekaert LLP offers solutions in the areas of transaction advisory, risk assurance and advisory, digital solutions, cybersecurity, specialty tax, benefits consulting, and wealth management. With clients in all 50 states and internationally, we have industry knowledge in technology, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, private equity, real estate and construction, professional services, hospitality and retail, government and not-for-profit. We exercise a deliberate curiosity to know our clients' industries and work collaboratively as one team to guide them forward.

Cherry Bekaert LLP is a founding, independent member of Baker Tilly International, a top-ten global accountancy and business advisory network. Visit us at cbh.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

 2021 Cherry Bekaert LLP. All Rights Reserved.

SOURCE Cherry Bekaert LLP

Related Links

https://www.cbh.com


C$ unless otherwise stated

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

TORONTO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife has been notified of an unsolicited mini-tender offer made by Obatan LLC (Obatan) to purchase up to 500,000 Manulife common shares, or approximately 0.026% of the common shares outstanding, at a price of USD$12.00 per share.

Manulife is in no way associated with Obatan and does not recommend or endorse acceptance of this unsolicited offer.

Manulife cautions shareholders that the mini-tender offer has been made at a price below the current market price for Manulife shares. The offer represents a discount of 38.11% and 38.02%, respectively, below the closing prices of Manulife common shares on the TSX and NYSE on June 18, 2021, the last trading day before the mini-tender offer was commenced, and a discount of 38.07% and 37.98%, respectively, below the closing prices on the TSX and NYSE on June 23, 2021.

Mini-tender offers are designed to seek less than 5% of a company's outstanding shares, avoiding disclosure and procedural requirements applicable to most bids under Canadian and U.S. securities regulations. The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have expressed serious concerns about mini-tender offers, including the possibility that investors might tender to such offers without understanding the offer price relative to the actual market price of their securities.

The SEC states that "bidders make mini-tender offers at below-market prices, hoping that they will catch investors off guard if the investors do not compare the offer price to the current market price."

According to Obatan's offer documents, there is no right to withdraw a tender of shares once it is received by the depositary.

Shareholders should carefully review the Obatan offer documents and current market price for Manulife shares, and consult their investment advisors regarding any offer they may receive and review with their advisors all options for their investment in Manulife shares.

Manulife has stock transfer agents providing shareholder services in Canada, the United States, Hong Kong and the Philippines. These local agents provide services directly to our registered shareholders and can provide information on share account management, direct deposit of dividends, dividend reinvestment and share purchase plans. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Manulife requests that a copy of this news release be included in any distribution of materials relating to Obatan's mini-tender offer for Manulife common shares.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we operate as Manulife across our offices in Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. We provide financial advice, insurance, and our global wealth and asset management segment, Manulife Investment Management, serves individuals, institutions and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2020, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 118,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 30 million customers. As of March 31, 2021, we had CAD$1.3 trillion (US$1.0 trillion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made $31.3 billion in payments to our customers. Our principal operations are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served customers for more than 155 years. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong.

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation

Related Links

http://www.manulife.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Marxent, the leader in 3D Commerce for furniture and home improvement, announced a new addition to their senior leadership team.

Marxent is the #1 3D Solution for the Furniture Industry - Every 3D App, Under One Roof Formerly of Carvana, Tom Woiteshek joins Marxent as new Head of Growth

Tom Woiteshek will serve as the company's Head of Growth, charged with new strategic initiatives. Most recently part of Carvana's strategy team, Tom has a strong background in private equity, growth capital, and corporate development. He will use his background in finance and online business strategy to drive the next stage of new business development at Marxent. Woiteshek is a graduate of Duke's Economics program and holds an MBA from Stanford.

"3D has matured, consumer shopping behavior has changed, and retailers are ready for a new approach to selling configured products. Marxent's 3D applications are at the center of the retail customer experience for high-value, configurable furniture and DIY projects," said Beck Besecker, Marxent's CEO and Co-Founder. "We are poised for growth and Tom will help us take maximum advantage of the opportunities at play," he said.

"This is an exciting time to be joining Marxent," Woiteshek said. "The home improvement and furniture industries combined do over $1 trillion in annual revenue and it is clear that 3D selling strategies are key to the future of both industries."

"The company is in a dominant market position and is primed for growth," he said.

Marxent is hiring! View open jobs here.

About Marxent

Marxent is the global leader in 3D e-commerce for furniture, kitchen, bath, outdoor, and office furniture. Marxent's 3D Cloud platform allows retailers and brands to build endless applications from a single 3D product catalog. With 3D Cloud, 3D content is created, managed, and published to all 3D applications from a single source of truth for consistency across every touchpoint in the customer journey. Applications that run on 3D Cloud include 3D Product Configurators, 3D Sectional Configurator, 3D Room Planner with Design from Photo, 360 Product Spins, 3D Renders, Augmented Reality retail apps, and Virtual Reality retail apps. Marxent has offices in Miamisburg, Ohio and St. Petersburg Florida as well as an international presence with offices in London, England; Paris, France; Leipzig, Germany, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Clients include Lowe's Home Improvement, Macy's, HNI Corporation, La-Z-Boy, Joybird, and John Lewis and Partners. Every 3D App, Under One Roof. For more information, visit www.marxent.com. We are hiring! View job listings here.

Marxent Press Contacts

Sonia Schechter

Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE Marxent

Related Links

http://www.marxent.com


In fiscal year 2021 (FY21) which comprised the 12 months ended on March 31, over 1,400 campuses across the U.S. participated in Inclusive Access programs with McGraw Hill, up from 1,100 a year prior. The U.S. Department of Education paved the way for Inclusive Access programs by adopting a regulation that allows institutions to offer students a choice to acquire more affordable course materials on or before the first day of class. During FY21, students using McGraw Hill course materials via Inclusive Access saved more than $150 million. This supports the continuing years-long trend of students in higher education acquiring high-quality course materials at a significantly lower cost.

The past year also saw continued increased demand for McGraw Hill eBooks, a cost-effective alternative to print textbooks that further reduced students' course material costs. McGraw Hill's flagship digital learning platform for higher education, Connect, also saw significant growth in FY21 with a 27% year-over-year increase in student activations to more than 6 million globally last year.

To read more about McGraw Hill's Q4 and fiscal 2021 full year results, visit: https://investors.mheducation.com/

"McGraw Hill's strong performance during this challenging year reflects our continued commitment to delivering the best possible educational materials and experiences for students, whether they are learning in a classroom, remotely via digital platforms or some combination," said Simon Allen, CEO of McGraw Hill. "Throughout the last year, we worked hard to successfully meet the increased demand for digital products brought on by the pandemic. McGraw Hill continues to adapt to the changing times by delivering learning tools that are not only cutting-edge but also affordable and accessible."

Additional results in the fiscal year 2021 report include:

Digital billings were up 10% year-over-year across the entirety of the company's business

McGraw Hill reached an inflection point where growth in digital billings outpace decline in print billings

Inclusive Access sales reached $167 million , representing a 58% increase year over year

Throughout this fiscal year, McGraw Hill announced a series of updates to its offerings designed to help students succeed in a remote learning environment. These included:

Virtual Labs, an online or hybrid lab solution for college science courses that thousands of instructors used to help them continue their lab courses online during the pandemic.

ALEKS, the artificial intelligence-enabled learning and assessment platform for math and chemistry, added new functionality that makes it easier for instructors to integrate into a wider range of teaching approaches.

McGraw Hill Rise, a grades 3-8 assessment solution designed to help educators identify and address learning gaps for students.

A partnership with the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) through which McGraw Hill faculty consultants and staff are certified to help instructors build effective OLC-aligned courses.

McGraw Hill

McGraw Hill is a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that drive results for students, parents, educators and professionals. We focus on educational equity, affordability and learning success to help learners build better lives. Headquartered in New York City, McGraw Hill has offices across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions for PreK-12, higher education, professionals and others available in more than 80 languages. Visit us at mheducation.com or find us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn or Twitter .

Contact:

Tyler Reed

McGraw Hill

(914) 512-4853

[email protected]

SOURCE McGraw Hill

Related Links

https://www.mheducation.com


WINNIPEG, MB, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Medicure Inc. ("Medicure" or the "Company") (TSXV: MPH) (OTC: MCUJF), a company focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products for patients and prescribers in the United States market, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. David Gurvey (CPA, CMA, B.Sc.) as Chief Financial Officer, effective June 28, 2021.

Mr. Gurvey is an accomplished finance leader with an established track record of strong financial stewardship and strategically building company value. He previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer for DiaMedica Therapeutics, where he was involved in key strategic transactions contributing to growth in company value from $2.4 million to $40 million. He has the capabilities and qualifications to accelerate Medicure's growth and business strategy.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, Albert D. Friesen, PhD, CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors, stated, "We are pleased to have David join Medicure. His experience and gift of translating strategic vision into operational execution will further strengthen our ability to achieve Medicure's corporate goals and vision."

About Medicure Inc.

Medicure is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the U.S. cardiovascular market. The present focus of the Company is the marketing and distribution of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride) injection and ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin) tablets in the United States, where they are sold through the Company's U.S. subsidiary, Medicure Pharma Inc. Medicure also operates Marley Drug, Inc. ("Marley"), a pharmacy located in North Carolina that offers an Extended Supply mail order drug program serving 49 of 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Marley is committed to improving the health status of its patients and the communities they serve while reducing overall health care costs for employers and other health care consumers. For more information visit www.marleydrug.com. To learn more about The Extended Supply Generic Drug Program call 800.286.6781 or email [email protected]. For more information on Medicure please visit www.medicure.com. For additional information about AGGRASTAT, refer to the full Prescribing Information. For additional information about ZYPITAMAG, refer to the full Prescribing Information.

To be added to Medicure's e-mail list, please visit:

http://medicure.mediaroom.com/alerts

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 release.

Forward Looking Information: Statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "may", "plans", "will", "estimates", "continues", "anticipates", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. federal securities laws (such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are hereinafter collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements, include estimates, analysis and opinions of management of the Company made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors which the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances. Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company's ability to predict or control that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others, the Company's future product revenues, expected results, including future revenue from P5P, the likelihood of receiving a PRV, expected future growth in revenues, stage of development, additional capital requirements, risks associated with the completion and timing of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market the Company's products, the ability to protect its intellectual property, dependence upon collaborative partners, changes in government regulation or regulatory approval processes, and rapid technological change in the industry. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about: general business and economic conditions; the impact of changes in Canadian-US dollar and other foreign exchange rates on the Company's revenues, costs and results; the timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for the Company's research and development projects; the availability of financing for the Company's commercial operations and/or research and development projects, or the availability of financing on reasonable terms; results of current and future clinical trials; the uncertainties associated with the acceptance and demand for new products and market competition. The foregoing list of important factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of factors, other than as may be required by applicable legislation. Additional discussion regarding the risks and uncertainties relating to the Company and its business can be found in the Company's other filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities or the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and in the "Risk Factors" section of its Form 20F for the year ended December 31, 2020.

SOURCE Medicure Inc.

Related Links

www.medicure.com


TITUSVILLE, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, and the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority join Space Perspective, the world's first luxury spaceflight experience company, in celebrating the first space launch from the Space Coast Air and Spaceport, located in Titusville, Florida. On June 18, 2021, Space Perspective's Neptune One spaceship test vehicle successfully flew to its target altitude and traversed the Florida peninsula before splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico and being recovered.

Michael Baker has served as the Airport's Engineer and General Consultant since 2008. In 2020, the firm partnered with the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority to achieve a Spaceport Launch Site Operators License, allowing the Authority to conduct launches from the Space Coast Air and Spaceport. This marked only the 12th Licensed Spaceport Launch Site approved in the United States.

"Florida has long established itself as the center of space travel," said Aaron McDaniel, South Florida Operations Manager at Michael Baker. "We are excited for this milestone in our partnership with the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority and look forward to continuing the development of new and innovative infrastructure to keep pace with the ever-evolving needs of the space industry. "

"With this launch, we have confirmed the capability and functionality of the Space Coast Air and Spaceport to serve as a center of space flight. We congratulate Space Perspective on this historic day as they kicked off an extensive test flight campaign with the ultimate goal of flying customers to space for an unrivaled experience and perspective of our world," said Justin Hopman, Interim Executive Director at the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority. "Our entire Space Coast Air and Spaceport team is dedicated to growing our area's burgeoning space businesses by offering the ideal location for these operations to take place. We anticipate that the launch will be the first of many exciting developments in the space industry to take place at this location."

To support the Spaceport's activities, the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority is planning several large-scale construction projects, including a 4,000-square-foot hangar to produce and develop horizontal spacecraft and storage for rocket-grade kerosene and oxidizers, a 4,000-square-foot apron between the hangar and taxiway and a 350,000 square-foot parking lot. The area also offers more than 700 acres of developable access to SR 407, making it an ideal location for space businesses.

About Michael Baker International

Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services. The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design, civil engineering, planning, architecture, environmental, construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner, providing comprehensive services and solutions to commercial clients and all branches of the military, as well as federal, state and municipal governments. Embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations  like intelligent transportation and design-build project delivery  Michael Baker is an industry leader that delivers expertise and quality. The firm's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

About Space Perspective

Space Perspective is the world's first luxury spaceflight experience company. It invites more people than has historically been possible to experience a thrillingly new and visceral perspective that expands the human consciousness  the incredibly exhilarating panoramas and scale of Earth in space. Our atmosphere stretches for 100s of miles into space, Spaceship Neptune flies above 99% of it.

Setting a new bar in out-of-this-world thrilling experiences, as soon as late 2024 Space Perspective will escort Space Explorers gently to space inside Spaceship Neptune's pressurized capsule propelled by a high-performance spaceballoon that doesn't use rocket fuel, where Explorers see the world anew through its vast windows. The ultra-comfortable, accessible and gentle six-hour journey redefines what space and wonder travel means for the modern traveler.

Based out of Kennedy Space Center, Space Perspective is led by industry luminaries Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, and their expert crew who have been integral to all human spaceballoon flights in the last 50 years. Poynter and MacCallum have been dubbed 'Masters of the stratosphere,' by Bloomberg Business Week, and MacCallum served as Chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. For more information, visit SpacePerspective.com. Follow Space Perspective on social media for updates, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact: Julia Covelli

[email protected]

(866) 293-4609

SOURCE Michael Baker International

Related Links

http://www.mbakerintl.com


TAMPA, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Marcus J. Michles II of Michles & Booth has been chosen for inclusion in the 2021 edition of Super Lawyers, a highly respected legal ranking guide developed by the Thomson Reuters subsidiary of the same name.

At Michles & Booth, Attorney Michles serves as managing partner. Prior to founding the Florida firm, he was a Captain in the U.S. Army, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, Third Special Forces Group and the First Special Operations Command. There, he often worked as lead trial counsel for classified federal government trials. When he returned to civilian life, he took on a job as a defense lawyer for medical professionals accused of malpractice. He realized he could help far more people if he worked on the other side of the courtroom; thus, Michles & Booth was born. To date, Attorney Michles has won some of the top medical malpractice verdicts in Northwest Florida.

For his success in representing injured Florida residents, Attorney Michles was listed in 2021 Super Lawyers for the following practice areas in Pensacola:

Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff

Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

This year marks yet another year of acclaim for Attorney Michleshe was also chosen for Super Lawyers from 2006 to 2018 and in 2020. He is recognized by The National Trial Lawyers and American Inns of Court, among others, and is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the Florida Bar.

No more than 5% of all U.S. practicing attorneys pass final selection for Super Lawyers each year. This is due to the rigorous multiphase selection process each and every attorney must go through to obtain a listing, which comprises the following:

Third-party nomination

Independent review by Super Lawyers

Blue Ribbon Review by top-rated attorneys

Thus, not only does Super Lawyers recognize attorneys with objectively impressive careers, it also requires these attorneys to hold the respect of their peers. Designed to be a practical guide for those seeking legal counsel, it lists a representative number of attorneys from small, medium, and large firms who serve clients in over 70 areas of legal practice.

Michles & Booth is a premier plaintiff's trial law firm that serves clients throughout the state of Florida, with offices in Pensacola, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Tampa. Its attorney team is known for taking on all types of complex cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, and Social Security Disability Insurance. To learn more about how Michles & Booth can help you, visit michlesbooth.com. To visit Super Lawyers, go to superlawyers.com.

SOURCE Michles & Booth, P.A.

Related Links

https://www.michlesbooth.com


SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Bio , the life sciences company delivering single-cell resolution multi-omics tools to accelerate discoveries and improve time-to-market for new therapeutics, revealed that a recently published paper in Cancer Cell made use of its Tapestri Platform to profile samples taken from melanoma for the first time. This milestone comes on the heels of another paper demonstrating Tapestri's use in solid tissue, recently published in Nature , and further demonstrates the continued growth in use of Tapestri protocols for solid tissue analysis.

"Mission Bio was founded on a commitment to eliminate cancer in all its forms  and with recent studies proving the Tapestri Platform's value in solid tissue and solid tumor analysis, we are seeing the capabilities of our tools expand to further support that commitment," said Yan Zhang, CEO, Mission Bio. "We are continuing to develop and support new applications of our Tapestri technology, and look forward to seeing more progress made from our customers at the frontier of solid tumor studies as our capabilities grow."

The study, led by Jean-Christophe Marine, PhD, Science Director at the Centre for Cancer Biology, VIB, Belgium, looks at the role genetic and non-genetic mechanisms of resistance play in BRAF-mutant melanoma after treatment with the combination therapy dabrafenib-trametinib. To understand the genetic mechanisms of resistance, the team performed bulk sequencing, as well as single-nuclei sequencing from melanoma samples, using the Tapestri Platform. The team found the presence of an acquired NRAS resistance-conferring mutation in one sample. Tapestri analysis confirmed that this mutation was not pre-existing, but acquired during treatment.

"These findings have significant implications for the potential treatment of therapy-resistant melanoma," said Marine, "and could lead to personalized therapies, which may be the best way to treat minimal residual disease. Single-cell analysis using the Tapestri Platform played a vital part in helping us assess mechanisms of resistance in melanoma."

To learn more about Mission Bio and how its Tapestri Platform is helping enhance cancer and rare disease research and unlock pathways to new treatments, please visit missionbio.com .

About Mission Bio

Mission Bio is a life sciences company that accelerates discoveries and cures in oncology by equipping researchers with the tools they need to improve how we measure and predict our resistance and response to cancer therapies. Mission Bio's multi-omics approach improves time-to-market for new therapeutics, including innovative cell and gene therapies that provide new pathways to health. Founded in 2014, Mission Bio has secured investment from Novo Growth, Cota Capital, Agilent Technologies, Mayfield Fund, and others.

The company's Tapestri Platform gives researchers around the globe the power to interrogate every molecule in a cell together, providing a comprehensive understanding of activity from a single sample. Tapestri is the only commercialized multi-omics platform capable of analyzing DNA and protein simultaneously, from the same sample at single-cell resolution. The Tapestri Platform is being utilized by customers at leading research centers, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics companies around the world to develop treatments and eventually cures for cancer and other rare diseases. To learn more, visit missionbio.com .

Media Contact

Consort Partners for Mission Bio

[email protected]

SOURCE Mission Bio
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MOONVU Inc., a company that democratizes access to data once available only to major Wall Street firms, will debut its platform by releasing exclusive data on a Tesla production plant later this month.

MOONVU specializes in collecting observable data for investors, using video and other technology to gather information on publicly traded companies. For example, MOONVU can track foot traffic at a store or output at a factory, often providing investors with insight ahead of company reports.

Thanks to our powerful video data of TESLA's Fremont site, MOONVU has critical and exclusive US TESLA car production counts by model type that will help investors make more informed decisions before the public release of TESLA's production report.

Known as "alternative" or "external" data, this information has been available to Wall Street firms for decades. MOONVU is making it available to all investors, at a fraction of the cost. The company will debut its platform June 30 with an online event releasing data on Tesla's plant in Fremont, California.

"We are excited to show the investing community what we can do," said CEO Sanders Partee. "Wall Street firms spend billions of dollars every year to get a jump on revenue-related data. That puts the average investorwho doesn't have a team of analystsat an incredible disadvantage. Our platform levels the playing field."

Partee is a pioneer in building two-sided marketplace applications. As the founder of Taxi Magic (now Curb), he created the first marketplace for on-demand ground travel two years before Uber. Partee sees a huge opportunity for MOONVU to transform an industry where many fragmented suppliers serve relatively few large enterprise buyers.

The June 30 event will reveal MOONVU's data on Tesla's Q2 production (by model type) at the Fremont facilitybefore Tesla releases its second-quarter production report. More data releases are planned in coming months, and Partee says the community forming on the MOONVU platform will create a robust market for alternative data among investors of all kinds.

"We believe that when investors and transparency advocates work together, we can create a massive marketplace for data transactions," Thaddeus Bayston, co-founder said.

To sign up for the Tesla online data release event, please click here .

About MOONVU

MOONVU is a business intelligence and alternative data platform provider dedicated to delivering new and valuable insights to all investors. Specializing in the collection and analysis of observable data, MOONVU uses artificial intelligence and other proprietary technology to provide information on public companies. The MOONVU platform connects a global network of investors and transparency advocates interested in sharing data.

CONTACT:

David Jack

MOONVU, Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE MoonVu

Related Links

www.moonvu.com


MADISON, Wis., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of the Rural Coalition, the Intertribal Agriculture Council, the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project and 23 additional farm, rural, environmental, health and civil rights groups, the Southern Poverty Law Center filed an amicus brief yesterday asking a federal court in Wisconsin to allow the distribution of $4 billion in loan forgiveness set aside by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to correct decades of injustice, systemic racism and admitted discriminatory behavior by the federal government.

The assistance package was part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) signed into law by President Joe Biden in March. On June 10, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) subverting the will of Congress and stopping relief to over 17,000 Black, Indigenous and other farmers of color who have suffered historic, systemic and ongoing discrimination in USDA lending programs.

"Debt relief is something that minority farmers desperately need as they try to recover from the damage that COVID-19 has disproportionately inflicted on their businesses and families," said Keisha Stokes-Hough, senior supervising attorney for the Economic Justice Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center. "Congress granted this relief because farmers of color have borne the brunt of the economic downturn due to systemic and current discrimination. As a result, farmers of color are at the greatest risk of failure. The American Rescue Plan is an important first step in addressing decades of lending and aid discrimination in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the will of Congress must not be subverted."

The USDA has a decades-long track record of discriminating against Black, Indigenous and other farmers of color. For example, USDA distributed $9.2 billion in aid to farmers in 2020 under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Less than 3% of that relief went to a category of producers defined by the USDA as being underserved by federal farm programs and which includes farmers of color. With this loan forgiveness plan, Congress directed the USDA to provide relief to socially disadvantaged farmers. The groups supporting the brief say delaying the distribution of these funds puts more BIPOC farmers in danger of going out of business or falling even further behind their white counterparts. The brief includes statements from BIPOC farmers who will experience irreparable harm from this delay in federal support.

Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a preliminary injunction to further delay the relief to BIPOC provided by Congress in the ARPA. This decision and the additional lawsuits that are continuing to be filed only seek to further put our producers of color further in financial peril, take them off their lands, and inhibit their centuries long struggle for equity in agriculture. Our representative organizations will be exploring further action to protect our BIPOC producers' rights, as well as their equity and inclusion to receive the relief they have long been denied.

More than 200 groups have signed a statement in support of immediately distributing the relief, saying that this landmark piece of legislation is desperately needed to correct ongoing systemic discrimination and to restore the rights of BIPOC farmers to pursue landownership and agriculture on an equal playing field.

Organizations joining the Rural Coalition, the Intertribal Agriculture Council and the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project on the brief include:

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund

National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association

American Indian Mothers, Inc.

Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation

Cottage House Incorporation

Family Farm Defenders

Kansas Black Farmers Association

Land Stewardship Project

National Young Farmers Coalition

Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc.

Operation Spring Plant , Inc.

, Inc. Texas Coalition of Rural Landowners

World Farmers

Farm Aid

The Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor (HEAL) Food Alliance

National Family Farm Coalition

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

The Rural Advancement Foundation International- USA

California Farm Link

Community Farm Alliance

Women, Food and Agriculture Network

Steward Holdings

SOURCE Rural Coalition
OKOTOKS, AB, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX: MTL) Mullen Group Ltd. ("Mullen Group", "We", "Our" and/or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the closing of the previously announced acquisition of APPS Transport Group Inc. ("APPS") and the businesses: APPS Cartage Inc. and APPS Cargo Terminals Inc. following the successful receipt of all regulatory approvals. Also in June, Mullen Group closed the acquisition of Mississauga, Ontario, based Tri Point Intermodal Services Inc. ("Tri Point").

APPS (www.appsexpress.com), a well-established transportation and logistics company founded in 1985, provides less-than-truckload ("LTL") along with truckload, intermodal and some warehousing services primarily from their head office in Mississauga, Ontario, with services extending into five locations throughout western Canada. Through a combination of company trucks, independent owner operators, and interline partners, APPS and its dedicated group of 300 plus employees, service the commercial supply; food & beverage; and retail & consumer sectors which supports the business-to-business (B2B) along with the business-to-consumer (B2C) E-Commerce space.

APPS will operate within Mullen Group's Less-Than-Truckload segment ("LTL segment") and it is expected to generate annualized revenue of approximately $90.0 million and operating income before depreciation and amortization ("OIBDA") margins consistent with the LTL segment.

"Today's announcement is another very important milestone for our organization. We have been very clear with our shareholders as it relates to our strategy of building one of Canada's most comprehensive transportation and logistics networks. After a long process of engagement with the regulatory authorities, I am delighted that we have closed the acquisition of APPS, one of Canada's largest independently owned and operated transport companies. APPS will be an excellent fit in our organization expanding the service offering to shippers and consumers throughout and across Canada. But the real opportunity for Mullen Group shareholders is the synergies that can be achieved across our entire network. Collaboration is the key to finding the synergies and with Rob McDonald, founder of APPS, at the helm of APPS, I have no doubt these will be realized upon. Rob will continue to lead an experienced senior management team and quality workforce, driving growth and innovation. Exciting times!" commented Mr. Murray K. Mullen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Tri Point (http://tripointintermodal.com/), established in 2005, provides container drayage service within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and southern Ontario through a combination of company trucks, owner operators and a fleet of approximately 190 chassis trailers. In addition, Tri Point provides container storage in the Vaughan, Ontario region.

Tri Point will operate within Mullen Group's Logistics & Warehousing segment ("L&W segment") and is expected to generate annualized revenue of approximately $10.0 million and OIBDA margins consistent with the L&W segment.

"Concurrent with the announcement of the closing of APPS, we are pleased to announce that we successfully closed the acquisition of Tri Point in June as well. Tri Point is an intermodal service provider transporting containers between the rail terminals and customers in southern Ontario. Intermodal is, and will continue to be, an important part of transporting consumer goods within Canada. Never has this been more relevant than today with the supply chain under stress from increased demand and bottlenecks. Rail can provide the long-haul part of the supply chain but a local carrier is a critical part of servicing the first and final mile to the customer. Tri Point will continue to be operated as a stand-alone business within our organization and will be led by the founder Michael Lamanna. Michael has built an excellent company with a history of providing quality service.

"Two acquisitions, both what I refer to as great companies, that will add annual revenues of over $100.0 million to the Mullen Group. We are expanding our service coverage just as the economy is poised to recover from the mandated business closures related to the COVID-19 health crisis. But we cannot provide service without a dedicated and engaged workforce, which is an important part of the acquisition of both APPS and Tri Point. Welcome all to our growing network!" commented Mr. Mullen.

About Mullen Group Ltd.

Mullen Group is a logistics company that owns a network of independently operated businesses. The Corporation is recognized as one of the leading suppliers of trucking and logistics services in Canada providing a wide range of service offerings including less-than-truckload, truckload, warehousing, logistics, transload, oversized and specialized hauling transportation. In addition, we provide a diverse set of specialized services related to the energy, mining, forestry and construction industries in western Canada, including water management, fluid hauling and environmental reclamation. The corporate office provides the capital and financial expertise, legal support, technology and systems support, shared services and strategic planning to its independent businesses.

Mullen Group is a publicly traded corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MTL". Additional information is available on our website at www.mullen-group.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Contact Information

Mr. Murray K. Mullen - Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President

Mr. P. Stephen Clark - Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Richard J. Maloney - Senior Vice President

Ms. Joanna K. Scott - Corporate Secretary & Vice President, Corporate Services

121A - 31 Southridge Drive

Okotoks, Alberta, Canada T1S 2N3

Telephone: 403-995-5200

Fax: 403-995-5296

Disclaimer

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation relating to the acquisition of APPS and Tri Point. Forward-looking information in this news release is identified by the words "will", "anticipates" and "expects" and includes suggestions of future outcomes, including about the future expansion of our business in eastern Canada; synergies that may be achieved across our network; annualized revenue and operating income before depreciation and amortization that may be realized by us from the acquisition of APPS and Tri Point; and the importance of intermodal services within Canada.

Developing forward-looking information involves reliance on a number of assumptions and consideration of certain risks and uncertainties, some of which are specific to Mullen Group and others that apply to the industry generally. The risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the trucking/logistics business; risks applicable to the overall economy; business and consumer trends and demand for goods and services; our ability to integrate and realize synergies from APPS and Tri Point; and risks relating to current and future adverse impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Additional risks and uncertainties applicable to our business may be obtained in our annual management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and our annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020, both of which are filed on our profile at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of current and historical conditions. Although Mullen Group believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied.

The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and Mullen Group disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Mullen Group Ltd.

Related Links

www.mullen-group.com


"We have grown exponentially in the past couple of years, and Sapana's experience will greatly help us continue to drive and manage this growth," said Steve Denton, CEO of EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. "Her global background in developing brand strategies, enabling effective sales, and driving purposeful communications will help EPIC further unlock the full potential of our brand."

"EPIC has always been a brand that's ahead of the curve and adding Sapana to this innovative position in alignment with Galway Holdings will result in a focused agenda by utilizing her experience in scaling high-growth organizations to support our rapid expansion," said John Hahn, Executive Chairman of Galway Holdings and Co-Founder of EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants.

"I'm thrilled to be joining such an experienced leadership team and look forward to building upon a strong foundation with inspiring new ideas," Nanuwa said. "Our goal will be to focus on deepening our brands' relevance, connections with clients, and scaling performance marketing operations via Galway Holdings to achieve our business goals."

About EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, a retail insurance brokerage, has more than 2,600 team members operating from more than 80 offices across the U.S., providing Property and Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs, and Private Client solutions to clients. EPIC ranks among the top 15 retail insurance brokers in the U.S. www.epicbrokers.com

About Galway Insurance Holdings

Galway Insurance Holdings (Galway Insurance or Galway), the holding company for EPIC Brokers & Consultants and Jencap Holdings, is a diversified insurance brokerage distribution platform with retail, wholesale, program administration and managing general agent capabilities. In total, Galway manages over $7 billion of insurance premiums and operates over 100 offices serving all 50 states.

Media Contact:

Nicole Conley

Tanis Communications

831-713-9076

[email protected]

SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NAS Investment Solutions (NASIS), a national sponsor of high-quality real estate investment properties, has acquired two Class-A office buildings sited on a 6.38-acre campus setting in North Little Rock, AR. Recent improved market conditions and favorable financing terms enabled the firm to revise their original projected 10-year effective cash-on-cash return to investors from 6.35% upward to 6.5%, and the year one cash-on-cash return was adjusted upward from 5.9% to 6.05%.

NAS Investment Solutions (NASIS), a national sponsor of high-quality real estate investment properties, has acquired two Class-A office buildings sited on a 6.38-acre campus setting in North Little Rock, AR. NAS Investment Solutions was established to leverage National Asset Services' vast experience in investment property management by identifying, acquiring, and enhancing commercial real estate investments across all sectors of the real estate industry.

Located approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Little Rock, the buildings total 47,627 square feet and are 100% leased to Garver, a national multi-disciplined engineering, architectural, and environmental services firm. Founded in 1919, Garver is an employee-owned, award-winning company with more than 800 employees located in 34 offices in 13 states. The North Little Rock location serves as Garver's national headquarters.

"Our exhaustive underwriting process and adherence to conservative projections of investment returns, allows us to under promise and over deliver on many of our investment properties," commented Karen E. Kennedy, President and Founder of NAS Investment Solutions and National Asset Services. "We are extremely pleased to announce to our clients invested in the Garver property - that we are now projecting a return that's higher than we originally projected."

A fast-closing window of opportunity still exists for accredited investors to own a fractional interest in the Garver investment offering structured as a DST. The property is a "trophy-class" asset with a long term absolute NNN lease in place. Investment positions start at $100,000. The property is 1031 Exchange ready for investors who are in immediate need of a quality replacement property and is also a good choice for an alternative investment for self-directed IRA investors.

Accredited investors interested in this investment should contact Karen E. Kennedy at [email protected] or at 310.988.4240 as soon as possible.

NASIS has a nationwide reputation for acquiring elite commercial real estate with investment grade tenants. Garver headquarters is the fourth industrial/office investment property acquired in Arkansas by the company. Other Arkansas locations include 2200 Bentonville, 100% leased to The Clorox Company and a multi-building, campus location in Springdale that serves as the North American Headquarters for BNSF Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

Assuming responsibilities for asset management and property management for the newly acquired property is National Asset Services (NAS), one of the Nation's leading commercial real estate companies.

About National Asset Services (NAS)

Since 2008, NAS has served 2,520 investment clients and has established an impressive track record for investment property management. The track record includes generating over $585 million in cash distributions to property investors and managing a commercial real estate portfolio of 168 diverse commercial properties, comprised of 24.34 million square feet, in 30 states. The overall value of NAS' managed portfolio in the company's 11-year history, totals $3.3 billion.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, NAS manages a wide range of diverse commercial real estate: Office, medical office, multifamily, retail, student housing, assisted living and industrial flex properties. The company manages sole-owned and multi-owner properties. NAS offers a wide range of asset management capabilities. They include property management; project management; lease administration; acquisition and disposition services; real estate strategy analysis; long-range business objectives; monitoring changing market conditions; investor relations; real estate and investor accounting; loan modification and workout solutions; exit and hold strategies; leasing & marketing; tenant retention plans; research studies; site selections; feasibility studies; insurance risk management; capital improvement planning and tracking; property tax appeal services and cost segregation services.

About NAS Investment Solutions (NASIS)

NAS Investment Solutions was established to leverage National Asset Services' vast experience in investment property management by identifying, acquiring, and enhancing commercial real estate investments across all sectors of the real estate industry. The company is differentiated from other property investment sponsors by:

Investing in the property alongside investor clients

Managing the sponsored investment through National Asset Services, making the company accountable throughout the entire hold period

Maintaining high acquisition standards and executing an exhaustive, transparent due diligence process

Thoroughly vetting potential property investments, utilizing professionals that have extensive experience in acquiring and managing real estate

A proven track record of closing properties on time

Ensuring investment properties are 1031 exchange eligible and qualify for self-directed IRAs

For more information about National Asset Services and NAS Investment Solutions, visit nasassets.com or nasinvestmentsolutions.com.

Contact:

JW Robison

310-795-8985

[email protected]



SOURCE National Asset Services
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced four new additions to the agency's senior staff Thursday.

Shahra Anderson Lambert will serve as senior advisor for engagement and Bale Dalton will serve as the deputy chief of staff. Nelson also announced Bryan Gulley as media relations specialist and Justin Weiss as deputy press secretary.

Lambert comes to NASA after serving as director of strategic initiatives for Nicole "Nikki" Fried, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Prior to that, Lambert spent 15 years as a regional director for Nelson during his service as a U.S. senator from Florida. She began her career working for then Sen. Bob Graham of Florida as a constituent advocate in his Tallahassee office. Lambert then transitioned to state government, working for State Rep. Bruce Antone of Orlando as his chief of legislative affairs.

She received a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Mercer University and a master's degree in Spanish and Latin American and Caribbean studies from Florida State University.

A native of Orlando, Florida, Bale Dalton was previously director of Navy programs at Air Center Helicopters, Inc., an expeditionary aviation services provider headquartered in Burleson, Texas.

Dalton served as military legislative assistant to Sen. Nelson and as a foreign service officer at the Department of State working in the Office of Global Partnerships. Dalton is a commissioned naval officer and designated Naval Aviator, with multiple deployments in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Now a reservist, he previously commanded the special operations support squadron HSC-85 and continues service as commander of Training Airwing Five Reserve Component.

Dalton graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in ocean engineering, and from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master of Public Policy in international and global affairs. He is a Master of Business Administration candidate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Bryan Gulley joins NASA after nearly two decades of service in the United States Senate. He spent time as the communications director for the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the Special Committee on Aging, serving under the leadership of Sen. Nelson. Prior to his committee work, Gulley served as press secretary in Nelson's Senate office. More recently, Gulley served as a senior analyst with Imbue Group, supporting the Department of Defense's Office of Small Business Programs and the Defense Production Act Title III program.

Gulley received a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of South Carolina.

Justin Weiss most recently served as communications director for U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Weiss worked in the congressman's personal office and partnered closely with the committee. Previously, he was employed by the public relations firm Rational 360 to run campaigns for advocacy coalitions, trade associations, and nonprofits. Prior to that role, Weiss worked in public affairs at Forbes Tate Partners and federal advocacy at LNE Group.

Weiss is an Ohio native and earned a bachelor's degree in both communication and French from Denison University.

For more information on NASA and agency activities, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


CHICAGO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National Louis University, a leading Minority Serving Institution, is excited to announce a new partnership with over 20 community colleges. NLU's new Direct to Success (D2S) program will officially launch as a seamless transfer experience for students interested in any of NLU's sixteen Bachelor's degree pathways. Students who transfer to NLU with an Associate's degree will be guaranteed junior standing and will receive a scholarship mitigating their tuition fees.

"We are approaching this new initiative with an equity lens in mind," said Dr. Nivine Megahed, President of National Louis. "There are not enough affordable transfer opportunities that meet the unique needs of Associate-degree earning students. Ensuring that we provide a transfer-receptive culture and act proactively to dismantle barriers to Bachelor's degree attainment and sustainable employment are our top priorities in launching D2S," Dr. Megahed added.

The development of D2S came out of an industry need to better support transfer students in their transition to 4-year universities. A leaky transfer pipeline leaves on average 4.4 million students nationwide without a clear transfer pathway to Bachelor's degree attainment. In the local Chicagoland market, this means that there is the potential to serve 10,000 additional transfer students. Furthermore, data shows that for students who began their postsecondary education at a community college in fall 2013, lower-income students were half as likely as their higher-income peers to have transferred to a four-year institution (24% vs. 40%) and to have attained a bachelor's degree (10% vs. 21%) within six years of first entry.

After a year of disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, the program is launching at a portentous moment for higher education in America. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center this week reported that 476,000 fewer students enrolled at U.S. community colleges this spring, a decline of 9.5 percent. The nation's overall postsecondary decline was 603,000 students, or 3.5 percent, with undergraduates accounting for all of the decrease.

Moreover, recent research shows that compared to the previous year, the number of young people from the high school class of 2020 who enrolled in college after graduation dropped by an unprecedented 7 percent. The decrease was greater among graduates at high-poverty high schools.

Direct to Success takes aim at these disparities in order to level the playing field by making the road to a Bachelor's degree equally available to all aspiring students, regardless of socioeconomic background and chosen career paths.

NLU is forging partnerships with college success organizations such as One Million Degrees, a leadership and professional development program operating at all seven City Colleges of Chicago. "NLU's Direct to Success program is an amazing opportunity for our students, who are all currently pursuing their Associate degrees, to have an affordable option they can transfer to and continue their education," adds Xavier Mann, Senior Manager of Program Supports at OMD.

Through D2S, NLU's goal is to significantly increase the number of students with Associate's degrees transferring to a 4-year program to achieve their postsecondary goals. According to national data, 80% of community college students want to transfer to a four-year institution, but only 25% do.

Supporting transfer students to transition successfully, graduate, and achieve their career goals is of utmost importance. Jennifer Robin, Director of Transfer Strategy at NLU, adds: "Transfer students on their way to a Bachelor's degree face many challenges, especially those who come to college from underrepresented communities. We are excited that D2S will support these students and provide a well-defined pathway to help them move forward. Supporting transfer students is key to increasing diversity in the workforce. We are creating an experience where they receive the mentoring, career support, and real-world project experience necessary to succeed."

Currently, direct transfer students at NLU are outperforming national benchmarks: their 4-year graduation rate at NLU is 55%, while the national average is 38%. Lisa Downey, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Educator Preparation, adds, "Students interested in becoming teachers will have a streamlined, affordable way to complete their degrees and get into classrooms with children as soon as possible--exactly where we need them! As we prepare the next generation of teachers and train teachers as agents of change, providing access to students of color is our priority, so they can go into their communities and create change one student and one classroom at a time. D2S will provide more opportunities for the students who need it most."

Students of color are more likely to attend a community college upon high school graduation. Supporting equitable transfer and ensuring positive degree attainment and employment outcomes is thus a social justice issue. "Ensuring opportunities for transfer students is of utmost importance right now. Through D2S, NLU is committed to building a strong pipeline of transfer students and equipping them to earn their Bachelor's degree and launch into upwardly mobile employment," says Aarti Dhupelia, Vice President and Dean of the Undergraduate College at NLU. NLU is currently the most popular four-year private institution destination for Chicago Public School graduates, and NLU now seeks to become the top broad access four-year institution for local community college transfer students. NLU launches D2S in Fall 2021, building on its commitment to bettering Chicago's communities.

The full list of participating community colleges in the D2S partnership can be accessed here. Applications for fall are still being accepted, and to learn more students can visit transfer.nl.edu or email Jennifer Robin at [email protected].

About National Louis University: National Louis is a nonprofit, non-denominational university focused on preparing the diverse workforce of tomorrow and widening access to quality educational and career opportunities for all learners. NLU offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the fields of education, business, computer science and information technology, management, human services, social work, counseling, public policy, culinary, hospitality and other fields in career and professional development. NLU serves approximately 10,000 students annually at locations in Illinois and Florida as well as online. Visit nl.edu for more info.

SOURCE National Louis University

Related Links

https://www.flipsnack.com/NationalLouisUniversity/direct2success-brochure/full-view.html


Before joining NewLink, Mr. Zeng served as CFO of LexinFintech, where he led the company to an IPO on NASDAQ. Prior to this, Mr. Craig Yan Zeng served as CFO of YeePay. From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Zeng served as Vice President of Hop Hing Group Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Zeng served as Executive Vice President of Vance Info Technologies Inc., a NYSE-listed company. Prior to 2010, Mr. Zeng served as the Financial Director at Microsoft (Greater China), and was COO and CFO of Venustech Group Inc. Mr. Zeng holds a bachelor degree from Beijing University of Chemical Technology and an MBA degree from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

"Craig is an experienced CFO with a successful career gained in both public and private businesses. His rich experience in global finance and operations will be critical as we enter our next phase of growth," commenting on the appointment, NewLink's founder and CEO Zhen Dai said. "With deep functional expertise and technical knowledge in all aspects of corporate finance, financial planning and operations management, I believe that he will be a valuable member of the team that adds and complements the talents of existing management structure that will further enable us in achieving our long-term strategy of building intelligent energy networks, transforming energy market, and aiming Carbon Neutrality."

"I am very excited to be joining Newlink. The company has staked out a key role in the landscape of China's energy market," said Craig. "The energy revolution in China just took off, the company has a tremendous opportunity to help accelerate the digitalization of China's energy ecosystem. As an innovator and vanguard, Newlink has developed a competitive product mix to increase efficiency and promote digitalization of the energy value chain. I look forward to working with the team to help the company create value for its customers and support China's Carbon Neutrality Initiative. "

Newlink is the leading technology company that offers innovative solutions to promote digitalization in the transportation energy ecosystem. By using Newlink's two leading apps "Tuanyou" and "Kuaidian", drivers have exclusive access to deals across Newlink's network of 25,000 gas stations (22% of total number of gas stations in China) and 700,000 charging piles (90% of total number of EV charging piles in China) in more than 1,800 cities and towns across the country. Newlink creates a seamless, engaging customer experience by digitalizing the entire journey, from providing information on promotion deals while the driver is en route to the site to supporting easy mobile payment on the driver's way out.

Newlink's supply chain network will reduce inefficiencies in traditional gas stations and charging stations' purchasing process. Newlink SaaS will digitize the entire operation of partner stations with its suite of SaaS, payment and IoT solutions. The company also offers products and services to help gas station owners to make smart moves to leverage their real estate - adjusting their service mix based on consumer demand, such as expanding offerings of alternative fuels and charging facilities, providing auto maintenance services and car washes, and selling coffee, snacks through convenience store.

Newlink made the list of 2020 Global Top 500 New Energy Enterprises. The company's shareholders include Bain Capital, Joy Capital, CICC Capital, CMB International, Xiaomi Group, Korean Investment Partners, National SME Development Sub-Fund, and Nio Capital.

For more information, please visit NewLink's website.

SOURCE Newlink Group

Related Links

www.newlink.com


JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla., Jun 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NewSight Reality, Inc. today announced the successful demonstration of breakthrough core technology at the heart of its Transparent Optical Module (TOM). NSR will begin public demonstrations of the core technology in July. NSR continues its collaboration with United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in advancing the development and capabilities of TOM.

NewSight Reality, Inc.

TOM is a proprietary near-eye display that takes a completely new and simple approach to augmented reality (AR)/mixed reality (MR) displays (XR). Integrating all the elements of augmented reality, TOM replaces the light engine and optical engine with a multi-layer, hermetically sealed transparent module. This technology is fundamentally different from existing AR technologies by providing innovative and disruptive features, such as:

Weight < 2 grams based on scalability desired

Thickness < 2mm, embeddable into prescription or planar glasses or headsets

Transparency ~90%

Curved, monocular or binocular applications

Field calibration not required if dropped (hermetically sealed)

Highly efficient - energy usage and heat dissipation permit high brightness in daylight application

"We are not competing with the large manufacturers or enterprise integrators that are building XR solutions," said Phil Garfinkle, CEO of NewSight Reality. "We are providing next-generation display and optics that will integrate with and improve XR products and solutions to deliver the true promise and value the market expects."

NewSight Reality has reimagined the display from the ground up, creating a sleek, single package that dramatically improves the functionality and usability of augmented reality in both enterprise and consumer application environments.

In conjunction with NewSight Reality's latest milestone achievement, the company will be seeking its first round of strategic investment to help further accelerate the delivery, scale, and market development of its proprietary TOM solution. The company is targeting a raise of $10 million to $20 million for this round and will be scheduling private demonstrations of the TOM technology as part of the process.

About NewSight Reality, Inc.

NewSight Reality, Inc. (NSR) has established a world-renowned team of experts to deliver and navigate its technology into modular plug-in solutions for the next generation of XR displays. NewSight Reality currently has seven patents issued in the United States and around the world, with another 30+ applications pending. NSR's recent contract award from the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Directorate of Science and Technology is helping to drive the advanced development and testing of a prototype of its Transparent Optical Module (TOM). NSR has established national and international partnerships to speed the development, integration, and testing of its near-eye display technology.

To learn more about NewSight Reality, Inc., please visit www.NewSightReality.com.

Media Contact

Jessica Smith

[email protected]

Phil Garfinkle

[email protected]

Related Images

newsight-reality.png

NewSight Reality

SOURCE NewSight Reality, Inc.
WARREN, Ohio, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brian Kirk, grandson of Niles murder victim Marie Belcastro , will hold 13 separate events to protest Senate Bill 256 , the new Ohio law that could free Belcastro's killer. SB256, effective since April, mandates parole eligibility for almost all juvenile criminals, forcing victims to endure traumatizing parole hearings every five years. Kirk, along with other survivors, is working to amend or repeal the law through the legislature, courts, and Ohio Constitutional amendment.

Beneficiaries of the bill include Gavon Ramsay , who murdered and sexually assaulted 98-year-old Margaret Douglas in Wadsworth and Jacob Larosa, who attempted to rape and then murdered 94-year-old Marie Belcastro in 2015.

"SB 256 is devastating to victims, as it forces us to endure traumatizing parole hearings, robs us of closure, and betrays our faith in the justice system. Victims' devastation is enhanced by lawmakers' apparent disregard for us," said Patty Sacco, great-niece of Margaret Douglas.

Kirk and Sacco have written hundreds of letters to Ohio lawmakers, including a five-page hand-written UPS Next Day Air letter to Gov. DeWine. "He never wrote back, never called, and I've known him for 31 years. Of Ohio's 132 legislators, many of whom I know very well, only four have responded to our letters and phone calls. Four."

Kirk is crowd-funding the tour. He and his family will meet with voters, fellow victims, media, and lawmakers. "Ohioans passed Marsy's Law with 83% of the vote," said Kirk. "When voters learn what their leaders did with SB256 in a lame duck session, they'll demand change. We're coming back to Ohio to shine a bright light on this pro-killer, anti-victim law."

The tour will include Kirk filing a petition for injunction against the bill in Trumbull County, as well as a final event at Capital Square in Columbus. Other stops include Bowling Green, Lima, Wapakoneta, Findlay, Kettering, Xenia, Delaware, Marion, Mansfield, Ashland, Wooster, Warren, and finally Columbus. The tour is Monday June 28-July 2, and July 9 ( Complete Itinerary).

The Ohio Coalition for Safety and Fairness was founded to speak up for surviving victims of juvenile murderers in Ohio. We are NOT a non-profit, as we often advocate in the political realm. For more: www.OhioCSF.com

SOURCE Ohio Coalition for Safety & Fairness

Related Links

Https://www.ohiocsf.com


EFFINGHAM, Ill., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund announces a growth-stage investment in Northern Feed and Bean. Headquartered in Lucerne, Colorado, Northern Feed and Bean has been serving bean growers and livestock producers since 1952. With a network of more than 300 growers across Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska, Northern Feed and Bean has established itself as the leading provider of premium pinto, mayocoba and black beans  marketed and distributed in the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic under the Frontier brand. The company is also a Certified Expert distributor for Purina and one of the nation's largest Purina dealers, offering a complete line of Purina products for livestock and companion animals.

In tandem with Northern Feed and Bean's management team and Fenix Equity Group, Open Prairie will work to leverage Northern Feed and Bean's nearly seventy-year legacy of grower relationships and innovation. Jay Ewald, CEO of Northern Feed and Bean stated, "Building upon the multi-generational foundation and leadership that Northern Feed and Bean has created with the Frontier brand, we are excited about navigating the plethora of opportunities in partnership with the Open Prairie team as we embark on the company's next phase of growth."

Key initiatives for Northern Feed and Bean include development of new bean varieties, introduction of commercial programs targeting the plant-based food sector, acceleration of expansion into growing international markets and establishment of new distribution channels through retail, food service and e-commerce platforms. The core of Northern Feed and Bean's strategy will have significant emphasis on the implementation of diversity, sustainability and environmental stewardship initiatives through all facets of company operations. John Marsh, Managing Director at Fenix Equity Group, will work with management to oversee the execution of this strategy as Chairman of the Board of Northern Feed and Bean.

With the investment from the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund, Lee Strom, Partner at Open Prairie, will become a member of the Northern Feed and Bean Board of Directors. Mr. Strom commented, "Northern Feed and Bean is another great rural American business and is uniquely positioned to expand the Frontier brand as consumers and food companies continue to demand high quality, plant-based proteins as integral ingredients for a growing variety of products."

About Open Prairie

Open Prairie, based in the heartland of America with headquarters in Effingham, Illinois, is a multi-faceted private equity fund management firm with deep roots in rural America. For more than twenty years, Open Prairie has consistently focused on facilitating capital accessibility in underserved markets. The Open Prairie team has managed funds ranging from technology-based venture capital to farmland portfolios. Through its expertise across all functional business disciplines and an extensive network of professionals, Open Prairie works in partnership with its portfolio companies to accelerate growth while providing top tier returns to its investors. For more information about Open Prairie, please visit www.openprairie.com.

About the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund

The Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund is an $81 million private equity fund licensed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC). With a collaborative partnership comprised of investors from Farm Credit institutions, commercial and community banks, strategics, family offices and high net worth individuals committed to advancing rural America, the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund is focused on providing debt and equity capital of $2 - $10 million to growth companies in food and agriculture. For more information on the Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund, please visit www.openprairie.com.

About Northern Feed and Bean

Northern Feed and Bean is a provider of services to growers and livestock feeders throughout the Western United States. With a legacy spanning more than sixty-five years, Northern Feed and Bean has become a leader in premium pinto, mayocoba and black beans. The Frontier brand of beans, synonymous with quality and consistency, is one of the most recognized brands in the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Northern Feed and Bean is also a Purina Certified Expert distributor of Purina. To learn more about Northern Feed and Bean and the Frontier brand, visit www.northernfeedandbean.com.

About Fenix Equity Group

The Fenix Equity Group is a leveraged buy-out partnership organized to acquire companies with existing operations, significant recurring revenue opportunities, and competitive strategic positioning within the agricultural and consumer package goods value chains. The combined Fenix team has executed domestic and international transactions and acquisitions totaling more than $2.7 billion USD with senior executive experience within public and private companies. For more information on Fenix Equity Group, visit www.fenixequity.com.

SOURCE Open Prairie

Related Links

http://www.openprairie.com


SEATTLE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimize Health, a pioneer in the rapidly growing Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) industry, today announced that Neha Ajmera has joined the company as their first Senior Vice President of Operations. The former Lyft General Manager joins Optimize Health to develop and launch new tech-enabled service programs aimed at driving stronger adoption of and engagement with RPM amongst the company's rapidly growing patient and provider base.

Over the course of her 4+ year tenure at Lyft, Ajmera led the rollout of a number of new ventures for the ride-sharing leader, most recently as their Head of Fleet Service Operations. Prior to her time there, she served as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey with a focus on corporate and product strategy, sales enablement, and pricing in the SaaS and telecommunications industries. She also helped spearhead McKinsey's annual Women in the Workplace study and remains a passionate advocate for gender parity in the workforce.

"We are thrilled to have Neha's experience building high-performing teams and scaling tech-enabled services as we build out our clinical operations," said Jeff LeBrun, CEO of Optimize Health. "As healthcare providers look to add or expand RPM to their patient delivery models, there is a significant need for customizable tech-enabled services that fit into their unique care settings and meet their patient populations where they are. With her depth of expertise scaling consumer-centric services, Neha will play an important role in laying the foundation for long-term, successful RPM programs."

Total telehealth industry revenue is projected to grow at an annualized rate of 8.3 percent, to $4.8 billion by 2025, demonstrating the important role remote care is going to play in the future of U.S. healthcare.

"Today's technology (coupled with the acceleration of digital healthcare due to COVID) is enabling us to democratize healthcare, making it easier for all of us to more proactively improve and manage our own health," said Neha Ajmera, SVP of Operations at Optimize Health. "Ultimately, I'm excited by the opportunity to make a real impact on patient outcomes, experience, and satisfaction by bringing together product and people in a way that makes sense for both providers and patients. I look forward to working with the Optimize Health team and our customers to do just that."

Ajmera's addition comes on the back of a noteworthy year for Optimize Health. In 2020, the company saw 400% year-over-year revenue growth and raised a $15.6 million Series A financing round. This year, the organization looks to build upon these gains even further by adding new devices to their portfolio, expanding upon their interoperability functionality, launching a patient mobile application, and overhauling their monitoring-as-a-service offering.

ABOUT OPTIMIZE HEALTH

Optimize Health makes it easy for healthcare providers to offer patient-centric, reimbursable remote patient monitoring. Our solution offers a wide selection of affordable devices, which integrate seamlessly with its easy-to-use technology platform, empowering patients and providers alike to improve health outcomes and contain costs.

To learn more about the company's remote patient monitoring solutions for healthcare providers, visit https://www.optimize.health/.

For media inquiries, contact:

Kristin Faulder (on behalf of Optimize Health)

(586) 419-4652

[email protected]

SOURCE Optimize Health
Located in the heart of Beverly Hills Triangle, the Roxsan Medical Tower consists of 11 stories, and approximately 58,000 sq. ft, of premium Class A medical office space currently 100% leased to top tier medical tenants. The building also offers excellent views, with exposure and easy parking access along S. Santa Monica Boulevard.

A multi-million dollar renovation of the building was completed in 2013 by award winning architecture firm Kanner Architects, and the latest refinance comes on the heels of substantial further improvements, including a seismic-retrofit throughout the building.

K. Joseph Shabani, Principal at Optimus Properties noted that, "Optimus continues to diligently implement its proven investment plan and management strategy. We continuously and rigorously review financial terms for our entire portfolio to identify opportunities to provide greater returns to our investors by augmenting terms." The company returned 100% of capital with the refinance proceeds. Continental Real Estate arranged the financing.

Optimus has been aggressively taking advantage of the current rate environment. In addition to two other refinances currently being negotiated, the company recently refinanced a portfolio of 6 properties with proceeds in excess of $20.4M, along with a loan on three urban shopping centers.

It has also been steadily expanding its Southern California commercial portfolio, closing on the acquisition of a Bank of America leased property back in May. The company is currently in the midst of closing on 6 additional assets, including 3 throughout the Hollywood area, and is looking for further opportunities in the distressed note space.

About Optimus Properties

Optimus Properties, LLC is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and is engaged in the acquisition, development, leasing and management of multi-family, retail and commercial real estate. The Company employs a disciplined investment approach focused on value creation and capital preservation. The Company's investments are characterized by direct principal involvement and a meaningful contribution of its principals' capital. The Company's current portfolio consists of retail, office, medical office and multi-family properties in California, Washington and New Mexico.

SOURCE Optimus Properties, LLC
BANGALORE, India, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pickup Truck Market is Segmented by Type (Full-Size Pickups, Small/Midsize Pickups, Other), Application (Individual Use, Commercial Use). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecasts from 2021 to 2026. It is published in Valuates Reports in the Automotive Industry Category.

The global Pickup Truck market size was valued at USD 166,210 Million in 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 207,720 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% during the forecast period 2021-2026. Moreover, the pick-up truck market is expected to witness a sale of 8.85 Million units of pickup trucks by the end of 2025.

Major factors driving the growth of the global pickup truck market are:

A combination of style and technical improvements such as advanced driver assistance systems are pushing consumers into trucks.

Increasing consumer preference for online shopping is in turn necessitates the use of pickup trucks to transport these products.

Another factor fueling the pickup truck market's growth is rising customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles for outdoor activities such as boating and camping, as well as a growing preference for pickup trucks over SUVs.

Browse the full report with Table of Contents and List of figures at: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-1753/global-pickup-truck

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE PICKUP TRUCK MARKET

The incorporation of technological improvements to enhance the comfort of the drive is expected to increase the growth of the pickup truck market. Modern pickup trucks are equipped with features such as Bluetooth connectivity, all-wheel drive (AWD), automatic transmissions, and DVD players, among others. Furthermore, pick-up truck manufacturers are focusing on enhancing the drive experience by incorporating advanced driver assistance systems including blind-spot alarms and rear cross-traffic warnings, as well as a variety of camera perspectives. This in turn is expected to open to wider customer acceptance thereby driving the pick-up truck market size.

The demand for pickup trucks is expanding due to an increase in product transportation due to the growth of e-commerce and SMEs. Additionally, increasing the use of pickup trucks since they provide a better value proposition and can seat more passengers while still carrying freight is expected to boost the pick-up truck market growth.

Another driver fueling the expansion of the pickup truck market is increasing customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles that are suitable for both on and off-road. The pickup truck is outfitted with wheels that easily navigate muddy, damp, and rocky terrains, making it ideal for activities such as fishing and hunting. The vehicle's cab is elevated above the axle, giving the driver more view, which is advantageous for off-road driving as well as city traffic jams.

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PICKUP TRUCK MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Based on region, because of increased truck manufacturing and a higher preference for pickup trucks in the region, North America and Europe are expected to maintain a substantial proportion of the pickup truck market share during the forecast period. This is attributed to the change in consumer preference for a pick-up truck and the increase of small and medium-sized businesses that utilize pick-up trucks for transporting their shipments.

Pickup Truck Market Production by Region

United States

Europe

China

Japan

South Korea

India

Other Regions

Inquire for Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-1753/Global_Pickup_Truck_Market

Major Players in the PickupTruck Industry

Ford

GM

Toyota

FCA

Isuzu

Nissan

Mitsubishi

Mahindra & Mahindra

Volkswagen

Great Wall Motors

Jiangling Motors

ZXAUTO

Tata Motors

Ashok Leyland

Foton Motor

Others

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SIMILAR REPORTS

Electric Pickup Truck Market contains segmentation By Type (Small/Mid-size Pickup Truck, Full-size Pickup Truck), By Application (Individual Use, Commercial Use) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026.

contains segmentation (Small/Mid-size Pickup Truck, Full-size Pickup Truck), (Individual Use, Commercial Use) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026. Hybrid Pickup Truck Market contains segmentation By Type (Plug-in Hybrid Pickup Truck, Mild Hybrid Electrical Pickup Truck, Full Hybrid Electrical Pickup Truck), By Application (Commercial Vehicle, Personal Vehicle) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026.

contains segmentation (Plug-in Hybrid Pickup Truck, Mild Hybrid Electrical Pickup Truck, Full Hybrid Electrical Pickup Truck), (Commercial Vehicle, Personal Vehicle) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026. The global electric truck market size was valued at USD 422.5 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1,893.1 Million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 25.8% from 2020 to 2027. Asia-Pacific accounted for the highest share in the global electric truck market in 2019, and LAMEA is anticipated to exhibit remarkable growth rate during the electric truck market forecast period.Politically imposed measures to contain the virus, such as stopping factories, dealerships, and offices, resulting in the layoff of short-term workers, and fear of recession, are expected to result in a major drop in new vehicle sales. These elements are expected to have a substantial impact on the electric truck market.

size was valued at in 2019 and is projected to reach by 2027, registering a CAGR of 25.8% from 2020 to 2027. accounted for the highest share in the global electric truck market in 2019, and LAMEA is anticipated to exhibit remarkable growth rate during the electric truck market forecast period.Politically imposed measures to contain the virus, such as stopping factories, dealerships, and offices, resulting in the layoff of short-term workers, and fear of recession, are expected to result in a major drop in new vehicle sales. These elements are expected to have a substantial impact on the electric truck market. Full-size Pickup Truck Market contains segmentation By Type (4 Doors Pickup Truck, 2 Doors Pickup Truck), By Application (Individual Use, Commercial Use) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026.

contains segmentation (4 Doors Pickup Truck, 2 Doors Pickup Truck), (Individual Use, Commercial Use) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026. Heavy-duty Pickup Truck Market contains segmentation By Type (Electric, Non-electric), By Application (Individual Use, Commercial Use) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts Report 2026.

contains segmentation (Electric, Non-electric), (Individual Use, Commercial Use) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts Report 2026. Used Truck Market contains segmentation By Type (Light Truck, Medium-duty Truck, Heavy Duty Truck), By Application (Construction, Oil & Gas, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026.

contains segmentation (Light Truck, Medium-duty Truck, Heavy Duty Truck), (Construction, Oil & Gas, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts 2026. Electric Commercial Vehicle market size is projected to reach USD 178560 Million by 2026, from USD 110540 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.3% during 2021-2026. The requirement for fuel-efficient and emission-free vehicles, as well as the growing demand for electric commercial vehicles such as electric trucks in the logistics industry to reduce the added liability of fuel prices, are some of the primary drivers of this market. New revenue opportunities may arise as EV battery capacity improves, allowing electric commercial trucks to transport heavier cargo over longer distances. Oil firms pushing against EVs, restricted battery power, and lengthier charging times are only a few of the worldwide market's hurdles.

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STERRETT, Ala., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Medjugorje is the small village in the former Yugoslavia where the Virgin Mary started to appear to six youth on June 25, 1981. The Virgin Mary has continued to appear daily for 40 years. Over 50 million pilgrims have visited Medjugorje since 1981.

The Virgin Mary identified Herself as the Queen of Peace. Hundreds of millions around the world have followed the messages Mary has given.

Medjugorje visionary Marija Pavlovic, one of the six visionaries of Medjugorje witnessing her vision of Mary at her chapel in Medjugorje, on August 5, 2011. The Virgin Mary has been appearing daily in Medjugorje for 40 years. Marija Pavlovic, on September 16, 2014, in the Colafrancesco home at Caritas of Birmingham, in Alabama. Caritas of Birmingham is the site of 204 apparitions of the Virgin Mary through Marija. Pilgrims have said that Caritas is the, "Medjugorje of the west."

The Virgin Mary has told three secrets. These "secrets" will be released to prove to the whole world Her apparitions are real. The 40th anniversary, June 25, 2021, is believed to be a marker for the secrets to be released sometime in the near future.

The six people known as the "visionaries," said that God sent Mary to the world to tell us God exists.

Caritas of Birmingham, in Sterrett, Alabama, is the largest center in the world propagating these apparitions. Caritas has been fondly referred to by pilgrims as "Mejabama," meaning "Medjugorje Alabama."

Because of coronavirus and travel regulations, pilgrims from across the United States began to gather this week at Caritas of Birmingham, celebrating the Medjugorje 40th Anniversary.

In 1988, one of the Medjugorje visionaries Marija Pavlovic, came to Birmingham and stayed in the home of Terry and Annette Colafrancesco. Marija was in Birmingham to donate a kidney to her sick brother.

While Marija was staying in the Colafrancesco home for two and a half months, she witnessed her apparitions of the Virgin Mary every day. People came from every state and other nations to venerate the Virgin Mary at the Colafrancesco home and in a nearby field.

After one such apparition, Marija relayed that the Virgin Mary wanted a community to start at the site.

Now, a community of believers prays and works at the site surrounding the Colafrancesco home. Since 1988, Caritas of Birmingham has become the destination for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.

Terry Colafrancesco, founder of Caritas of Birmingham said, "We do not try to convince people about what has happened here. You will feel it when you come. The proof is that this was nothing but a cow pasture. Now, it is the largest Medjugorje center in the world. Only God can do that."

Some of the media outlets that have covered the Medjugorje phenomenon are: ABC 20/20, the BBC, Reader's Digest, National Geographic and Life Magazine. The 20/20 segment, Life Magazine, and a special Martin Sheen documentary on Medjugorje were produced with the help of Terry Colafrancesco.

Numerous scientific studies of the Medjugorje apparitions culminated in a final scientific declaration released on March 10, 2010, which stated that the visions are "absent of deceit."

The Roman Catholic Church has yet to make a formal statement on the apparitions, but the faithful are free to venerate and promote Medjugorje.

According to the Diocese of Birmingham, Terry Colafrancesco and the Caritas Community are Catholics in good standing.

Ruth McDonald, a spokesman for Caritas said, "Caritas of Birmingham has been considered a place of conversion for thousands through the years. What has taken place here has been even beyond what God did at the Fatima and Guadalupe apparition sites. Those two places had 11 apparitions combined. Here in Alabama, there have been 204 apparitions."

People wanting to pray at Caritas for the Medjugorje 40th anniversary, are encouraged to come for the daily Rosary at 11:00 AM, the time that the Medjugorje visionaries will witness their vision of the Virgin Mary.

Other talks will also be held throughout the two days. Updates are posted on Medjugorje.com, the official Medjugorje/Caritas website.

For media inquiries or footage, contact:

Jessica Ross and Reyes Silva

[email protected]

205-672-2000

SOURCE Caritas of Birmingham
MIAMI, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) announced today that Silvia Garrigo will join the company June 28 as Senior Vice President and Chief Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Officer, reporting to Chairman and CEO Richard Fain.

Silvia Garrigo, Senior Vice President and Chief Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Officer

"I am thrilled to have Silvia join to help us continue our leadership and commitment to ESG," said Fain. "Silvia has advised several companies on purpose-driven and practical ESG strategies and programs, and she understands the interplay of legal, geo-political, social and environmental issues in a global business context. Bringing her to Royal Caribbean Group affirms our commitment to going above and beyond for the health and success of our planet and our people."

Royal Caribbean Group is the first in the cruise industry to name a senior leader dedicated specifically to these efforts, demonstrating Royal Caribbean Group's "pioneering spirit and leadership in the cruise industry and how we hold ourselves to a higher standard," according to Fain.

Garrigo will be responsible for overseeing a companywide ESG framework and a long-term strategy for Royal Caribbean Group to support the company's core business objectives as well as for developing strategic partnerships and relationships with stakeholders. In partnership with the leadership team, she will also lead the integration of environmental and social issues into the company's governance and enterprise risk management.

"I share Richard's and the executive committee's values and vision of continuous improvement and am honored to be part of a company culture that has demonstrated resilience and determination to come back stronger," Garrigo said. "We are facing increasing expectations for ESG performance and reporting, and I am excited to join a team that already has a very strong record of ESG work and a longstanding commitment to making a positive difference."

With experience providing legal and sustainability counsel to senior executives of global publicly held companies, Garrigo joins the Royal Caribbean Group from Millicom International, where she was responsible for developing and executing Millicom's global environmental, social and governance, and social investment strategy. Prior to that, Garrigo was senior legal and sustainability counsel for Morrison Foerster and Cuba Strategies Inc. And for more than a decade, she held various executive and senior legal positions at Chevron Corp., where she guided the company on corporate responsibility policies and practices as well as shareholder engagement on ESG issues.

Garrigo serves on the Advisory Board of the University of California Berkeley Boalt Law School's Business and Society Institute; the University of Miami Business School's Advisory Board; the American Bar Association's Human Rights Working Group; and the United Nations' Global Compact, Human Rights Working Group. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston College.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group is the operating business name for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three global cruise vacation brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands operate 59 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 15, 2021. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group

Related Links

http://www.rclcorporate.com


MCCORMICK, S.C., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Saluda Law, LLC is proud to announce the opening of the firm's second location in McCormick, South Carolina. Located at 119-A North Main Street, McCormick, SC 29835, the new office provides new opportunities for Saluda Law, LLC to serve the people of McCormick and the surrounding areas. The new location is the first expansion of the Saluda Law, LLC physical footprint as it provides services to the people in the 11th SC Judicial Circuit and the surrounding counties.

Photo of Judah VanSyckel of Saluda Law, LLC. Mr. VanSyckel is an Attorney whose practice areas include criminal defense and whistleblower representation.

Attorney Judah VanSyckel of Saluda Law states, "It's exciting to be able to open this new office to provide services to the people of one of the historically underserved rural communities in South Carolina." Saluda Law, LLC has already started supporting the community by sponsoring one of the recent lunch and learn programs put on by the McCormick Chamber of Commerce. Saluda Law, LLC looks forward to continuing to partner with local organizations as part of the firm's commitment to the community.

The firm focuses on criminal defense and whistleblower matters for its core practice areas. As a former prosecutor and as a former public defender, Mr. VanSyckel brings the knowledge and experience he gained in public service to assist his clients in private practice. Mr. VanSyckel has experience practicing in both State and Federal Court. Matters outside the firm's core practice areas are considered on a case by case basis.

The phone number for the new firm location is 864-465-4092. The new location is currently open by appointment. Appointments are available by video-conference, telephone conference, and in-person meetings. Parking is available. Mr. VanSyckel's principal office, located at 137 E. Main Street, Office 1, Lexington, SC 29072, remains open and can be reached by phone at 803-939-6927. More information about the firm can be found at www.saludalaw.com.

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Attorney Judah VanSyckel of Saluda Law, LLC

Photo of Judah VanSyckel of Saluda Law, LLC. Mr. VanSyckel is an Attorney whose practice areas include criminal defense and whistleblower representation.





SOURCE Saluda Law, LLC
LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a wide-ranging "fireside chat" before American Jewish Committee (AJC) Los Angeles and national leadership, Douglas Emhoff discussed his history-making and evolving role as the nation's first Second Gentleman and first Jewish spouse of any U.S. president or vice-president.

Emhoff addressed the recent surge in antisemitic incidents across America, including violent assaults on the streets of Los Angeles and New York. He declared his commitment to the well-being of the Jewish community and allied communities facing a rise in acts of hate and bigotry. And he reflected on several "firsts," including a virtual White House Passover Seder last April that drew an audience of thousands.

"We are grateful to the Second Gentleman for his unwavering commitment to the safety and security of the Jewish community," said AJC Los Angeles Director Richard Hirschhaut. "We are fortunate that Mr. Emhoff's lifelong pursuit of justice and fairness has led him to this unique position and high calling of public service."

Emhoff was the featured speaker for the Neil Sandberg Memorial Program, part of the AJC Los Angeles 76th Kaufman Family Annual Meeting. Sandberg was the longtime AJC Los Angeles Director. Emhoff's remarks last evening came during a conversation with Scott Edelman, Immediate Past President of AJC Los Angeles, and a partner at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Watch the full 15-minute Emhoff-Edelman conversation here.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


WATERLOO, Ontario, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWatch Space Applications Inc. ("SkyWatch"), a Waterloo-based space technology startup, announced today it has signed an agreement to deliver data management capabilities to SpaceJLTZ, a commercial satellite company headquartered in Puebla, Mexico.

Founded in 2020, SpaceJLTZ is on a mission to democratize access to space technology to solve problems in the economic, social, and government sectors. Recognizing that there has historically been inequity in access to the satellite data for emerging regions, SpaceJLTZ, a member of the HyperActive consortium, is committed to using Earth observation data to improve life on Earth around the globe, starting in Mexico.

Agriculture plays a significant role in Mexico's economy, with over 12% of the national workforce employed in the agriculture industry in 2020, and agricultural exports amounting to nearly $29 billion USD in 2019. While a small percentage of exports originate from large, export-oriented agri-businesses, the majority of Mexican farms are small-scale operations, struggling to access the technological advances that would allow them to compete in lucrative export markets.

"We believe that enabling small-scale farmers with Earth observation data to practice precision agriculture and increase crop yields will improve the economic and social situations for many people in Mexico," says Jose Luis Terreros Corrales, CEO at SpaceJLTZ. "Commercial agri-business has been wonderful for the country as a whole, and has strengthened our economy and our export relationship with the U.S. and other consumers of Mexican agriculture exports. However, it has also increased income disparity between workers in the agricultural sector, and we believe that our technology can help level the playing field."

SkyWatch's TerraStream platform will provide data management, ordering, processing, and delivery services for SpaceJLTZ's upcoming mission. The turnkey data management platform allows satellite operators to focus on developing core intellectual property while scaling a business with analysis-ready data and reduced time to market. Integration with SkyWatch's EarthCache platform, which provides application developers and GIS specialists with satellite imagery at scale, allows TerraStream customers to expand their market reach and add a new revenue stream to their business from day one.

"We're honored to partner with SpaceJLTZ," says James Slifierz, CEO at SkyWatch. "We share the mission of democratizing access to Earth observation data. Together, we will distribute high-quality and affordable hyperspectral data into the hands of more people who need it, substantially improving life for those in Mexico and around the world. We look forward to working with SpaceJLTZ as they embark on this important work."

ABOUT SKYWATCH

SkyWatch (www.skywatch.com) is on a mission to make Earth Observation data accessible to the world. Hundreds of trillions of pixels of our planet are captured from space every day. Utilizing our past experience in space data aggregation software, our team is building the infrastructure to connect satellite data operators and application developers. EarthCache is the simplest way to get satellite data for an application. TerraStream is an integrated data management solution for satellite data operators that handles all data-related operations from ground station to customers. For more information, visit www.skywatch.com.

ABOUT SPACEJLTZ

SpaceJLTZ is an innovative space company, democratizing the use of space technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Earth Observation (EO) and space mission design, construction, launch, and operation. SpaceJLTZ is driven by a sense of social responsibility, and is constantly seeking better outcomes for our clients, through custom solutions for the educational, economic, social and government sectors. To learn more, visit jltz.space.

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

SkyWatch: [email protected]

SOURCE SkyWatch
EGG HARBOR, N.J., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spencer's is proud AF to continue its commitment to fighting for social justice, civil liberties, and LGBTQ+ rights. Since 1963 when Spencer's first opened their doors, the company has championed guests and associates to celebrate who they are and what they believe in. From June 5th  13th, in honor of Pride month, Spencer's ran a "round-up" campaign to raise funds for, and raise awareness of, the ACLU. Customer response was epic bringing the total donation to $323,000 with 100% of the proceeds raised going directly to the ACLU.

"At Spencer's, one of our core values is "We Are All Human," and we have always embraced Spencer's nation, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, race, background, or how they look," said Steven Silverstein, CEO, Spencer's. "That is why we support the ACLU and their mission to ensure that in our America, "We the People" means all of us."

Spencer's Pride campaign encouraged fans and associates to give back, demand social justice, fight for LGBTQ+ rights and stop hate. Funds donated help the ACLU vigorously defend people's civil liberties  from fighting for LGBTQ+ equality, resisting assaults on voting rights, defending attacks against reproductive healthcare, protecting the rights of immigrants and refugees, and so much more.

Visit https://www.aclu.org/action/ and find out how your voice can still make a difference. Share your support on social media and tag @ACLU and @spencers.

For all things Spencer's, follow @spencers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Visit www.spencers.com, where die-hard fans can shop anytime, anywhere.

About Spencer's

Spencer's is the ultimate destination to find the latest edgy, outrageous, and unique accessories and apparel. For more than 70 years, Spencer's has celebrated, embraced, and created current trends through T-shirts, accessories, jewelry, drinkware, sexual health and wellness, and more. Founded in 1947 as a mail-order catalog in Pennsylvania, the company opened its first brick-and-mortar store in 1963 and has since grown to more than 680 retail locations in addition to an online presence. To find the latest products and styles, or to locate the nearest store, visit spencers.com.

Media Contact:

Erin Springer

[email protected]

609.645.5619

SOURCE Spencers

Related Links

http://www.spencers.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American travelers are flocking to the Caribbean like never before due to ongoing border closures. Caribbean countries comprise 8 of the top 10 summer travel destinations, according to travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth.com.

However, an influx in travel to hurricane-prone tropical destinations, combined with an above average hurricane season and lingering impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic, could make for the perfect storm of travel disruptions.

Squaremouth Analytics identifies four key travel trends, along with travel insurance recommendations for trips this summer.

Caribbean Travel Stats and Highlights:

Turks and Caicos is the fastest-growing Caribbean destination , with a 2000% increase in travelers since 2019

, with a 2000% increase in travelers since 2019 US travelers are averaging $3,500 on trips to the Caribbean this summer, with the most expensive trips being spent in The Bahamas , and the least expensive in Costa Rica

Caribbean Travel Insurance Requirements

3 of these 10 Caribbean destinations now require tourists to purchase travel insurance prior to entry: Costa Rica , Turks and Ciacos, The Bahamas

, Turks and Ciacos, The Squaremouth maintains a list of destinations that require travel insurance here: https://www.squaremouth.com/help-center/general-questions/countries-that-require-travel-insurance

Travel Insurance Trends for Hurricane Season

Despite being hurricane season, coverage for Covid-19 continues to be the most in-demand benefit travelers are searching for

continues to be the most in-demand benefit travelers are searching for Of travelers buying a policy for trips during hurricane season, 32% specifically searched for coverage for Covid-19, while Hurricane and Weather coverage dropped to 4.3%

Travel Insurance Tips for Summer Travel:

Squaremouth recommends the following benefits for travelers visiting the Caribbean this hurricane season:

Look for a short Travel Delay threshold. This benefit can kick in anywhere from 3 to 12 hours after a traveler is delayed, reimbursing for meal and lodging expenses. Travelers with a shorter time requirement are more likely to be able to use this coverage.

This benefit can kick in anywhere from 3 to 12 hours after a traveler is delayed, reimbursing for meal and lodging expenses. Travelers with a shorter time requirement are more likely to be able to use this coverage. Purchase a policy before a storm is named. Most Cancellation policies include coverage for inclement weather that delays or prevents travel, but all policies require the policy be purchased before the storm is named. Otherwise, it is considered a known event and is excluded from coverage.

Most Cancellation policies include that delays or prevents travel, but all policies require the policy be purchased before the storm is named. Otherwise, it is considered a known event and is excluded from coverage. Understand what coverage for Covid-19 is available. In most cases, the only travel insurance coverage for Covid-19 relates to contracting the virus. For other impacts, like a new quarantine requirement or border closure, Squaremouth recommends a Cancel For Any Reason policy. Travelers can search for coverage related to Covid-19 here .

Notes to editors

Available Topic Expert: Megan Moncrief , Squaremouth CMO and data specialist is available for comment and interview. [email protected] +1 (727) 378-0938

Other Relevant Research:

Top Caribbean Destinations for Travel in Summer 2021:

Mexico

Costa Rica

Turks and Caicos

Dominican Republic

US Virgin Islands

Jamaica

Bahamas

British Virgin Islands

Helpful Links:

Research Methodology: Squaremouth.com hosts the largest number of travel insurance providers and policies that offer coverage related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Squaremouth Analytics studied data from thousands of policies purchased between 1/1/2021 and 6/7/2021, and compared traveler behavior to the same period from previous years to identify changes and trends in travel insurance this hurricane season. If you would like a copy of the raw data, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]

ABOUT SQUAREMOUTH

Squaremouth compares travel insurance policies from every major travel insurance provider in the United States. Using Squaremouth's comparison engine and third-party customer reviews, travelers can research and compare travel insurance policies side-by-side. More information can be found at www.squaremouth.com .

SOURCE Squaremouth

Related Links

http://www.squaremouth.com


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Organization, a vertically integrated private equity real estate firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, is pleased to announce that Greg Moross, a founding Principal of the firm, has been promoted to firm President. In his role, Mr. Moross will oversee the firm's Capital Markets group, its Asset & Fund Management teams, and will spearhead the firm's development group that executes on the firm's more complex redevelopment projects.

Sterling Organization

"I have worked closely with Greg for more than two decades, and we have been partners for a large majority of that time. It is with great excitement and optimism that Greg will take on the role of firm President as we look to continually upgrade and build out a best-in-class management team while we drive to consistently exceed the expectations of our investment partners. The promotion is well deserved and a testament to Greg's leadership, the firm's growth, and our belief in a bright future ahead. To those who know Sterling, it goes without saying that our whole team looks forward to working with Greg in his new role for many years to come," said Brian Kosoy, Managing Principal and CEO of Sterling Organization. Mr. Kosoy relinquished his role as President to Mr. Moross but maintains the role of firm CEO.

"I wholeheartedly embrace this organic move to President of the Sterling Organization. I am honored to be part of the Sterling team and the success we have achieved thus far. I see this as another step in our ever-evolving and expanding business and continue to remain devoted to performing for our investor partners," added Greg Moross.

Sterling Organization is a vertically integrated private equity real estate investment firm whose national platform is focused on investing in consumer-centric real estate assets that serve the LAST HOUR function within the retail supply chain. Sterling Organization's LAST HOUR is a combination of services that includes the investment in, planning for, development of, and/or operation of real estate assets and physical networks that include shopping centers, other traditional brick and mortar retail properties, Neighborhood Fulfillment CentersTM, micro-fulfillment centers, logistics facilities and urban distribution centers that focus on and enable the efficient and rapid inventorying and distribution of consumer products to the ultimate customer resulting from their location or proximity to the population base they serve. From coast to coast, the West Palm Beach, Florida-based firm, and its principals, own more than 12 million square feet of real estate approaching $2.2 billion in value.

Dana Verhelst

Sterling Organization

[email protected]

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Greg Moross

SOURCE NEWSWIRE.COM LLC (RESELLER ACCOUNT)

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The 3M Young Scientist Challenge asks students in grades 5-8 to identify an everyday problem in their community or the world and submit their ideas for a solution in the form of a one- to two-minute video explaining the science behind their solution. An esteemed and diverse group of judges evaluates entries based on creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication effectiveness. The competition event will take place from October 18-19, 2021, at the 3M Innovation Center in Minneapolis.

Empowering young minds to solve the world's challenges through STEM is what the Young Scientist Challenge is all about.

"The 3M Young Scientist Challenge demonstrates the transformative power of young minds to address global challenges by combining their unique and diverse perspectives on innovation, creativity, and a passion for a better world," said Denise Rutherford, senior vice president and chief corporate affairs officer, 3M. "The 2021 finalists, honorable mention recipients, and state merit winners prove the efficacy of STEM thinking. We are proud of this year's competitors and remain committed to building greater STEM-equity that unlocks the power of people, ideas and science and imagines what's possible."

The top 10 2021 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists include students from public and private schools across the U.S. Each finalist will receive $1,000, along with a virtual mentorship with a 3M scientist. All 10 finalists will be evaluated on a series of challenges, including a presentation of their completed innovation. Each challenge will be scored independently by a panel of judges. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000, a unique destination trip, and the title of America's Top Young Scientist.

The top 10 2021 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists are as follows in alphabetical order by last name:

Abhinav Anne , Naperville, Ill. , Clifford Crone Middle School , Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204

, , , Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 Samarth Mahapatra , Marietta, Ga. , Dodgen Middle School , Cobb County High School Area 1

, , , Cobb County High School Area 1 Snigtha Mohanraj , West Haven, Conn. , Engineering and Science University Magnet School, New Haven Public School District

, , Engineering and Science University Magnet School, New Haven Public School District Veda Murthy , Herndon, Va. , Rachel Carson Middle School , Fairfax County Public School District

, , , Fairfax County Public School District Viraj Pandey , San Jose, Calif. , Bret Harte Middle School , San Jose Unified School District

, , , San Jose Unified School District Sarah Park , Jacksonville, Fla. , Bolles School-Bartram , Private

, , , Private Moitri Santra , Oviedo, Fla. , Jackson Heights Middle School, Seminole County Public School District

, , Jackson Heights Middle School, Seminole County Public School District Danielle Steinbach , San Jose, Calif. , Harker Middle School , Private

, , , Private Aadrit Talukdar , San Jose, Calif. , Basis Independent Silicon Valley, Private

, , Basis Independent Silicon Valley, Private Sydney Zhang, San Diego, Calif. , Mesa Verde Middle School, Poway Unified School District

Additionally, there are 30 State Merit Winners, selected for their passion, innovation, and superb communication skills. Each State Merit Winner receives special recognition on the challenge website, along with a technology prize pack.

The 2021 3M Young Scientist Challenge State Merit Winners are listed below in alphabetical order by state:

[Alabama] Sophia Al-Halaseh, Fort Payne Middle School, Fort Payne City School District

[Arizona] Prisha Shroff, Accelerated Middle School, Chandler Unified School District

[California] Connor Chin, Ocean Grove Charter School, Private

[Connecticut] Xander Shavers, Beecher Road School, Woodbridge School District

[Florida] Noah Richardson, Oakstead Elementary School, Pasco County School District

[Georgia] Christina Jordan, Centennial Academy, Atlanta Public School District

[Iowa] Kalyani Bhat, Prairie Ridge Middle School, Ankeny Community School District

[Illinois] Aarushi Tiwari, Aptakisic Junior High School, Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102

[Indiana] Rohan Bhosale, Carmel Middle School, Carmel Clay School District

[Kentucky] Karthika Hariprasad, Jessie M Clark Middle School, Fayette County Public School District

[Louisiana] Maya Trutschl, Caddo Middle Magnet School, Caddo Parish Public School District

[Massachusetts] Amy Sun, Raymond J Grey Jr High School, Acton-Boxborough Regional School District

[Maryland] Annika Balaji, Takoma Park Middle School, Montgomery County School District

[Michigan] Shreyas Ikare, Novi Meadows Elementary School, Novi Community School District

[Minnesota] Nithila Meganathan, Prairie View Elementary School, Eden Prairie Independent School District 272

[North Carolina] Prithu Kolar, Davis Drive Middle School, Wake County Public School Northwestern District

[Nebraska] Anuj Singh, Peter Kiewit Middle School, Millard Public School District

[New Hampshire] Nikhil Shokeen, Elm Street Middle School, Nashua School District

[New Jersey] Raunak Singh, Memorial Middle School, Fair Lawn School District

[Nevada] Vera van der Linden, Sage Ridge School, Private

[New York] Matthew James, Clear Stream Avenue Elem School, Valley Stream 30 Union Free School District

[Ohio] Kaavya Tatavarty, Seven Hills School, Private

[Oregon] Vihaan Paliwal, Carden Cascade Academy, Private

[Pennsylvania] Alexander Wang, Germantown Academy, Private

[South Dakota] Malya Chakravarty, George S Mickelson Middle School, Brookings School District 5-1

[Tennessee] Nipun Rajan, Houston Middle School, Germantown Municipal School District

[Texas] Arya Catna, Coppell Middle School West, Coppell Independent School District

[Virginia] Kriesh Tivare, Cooper Middle School, Fairfax County Public School District

[Washington] Alexander Lui, Odle Middle School, Bellevue School District 405

[West Virginia] Dhruvika Soltani, Suncrest Middle School, Private

For the first time in competition history, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge will also recognize entrants with an honorable mention award. These projects were selected for their unique and innovative concepts and effective communication skills. The four 2021 3M Young Scientist Challenge honorable mention recipients are as follows in alphabetical order by last name:

Srinija Chukkapali , Tampa, Fla. , Richard F Pride Elementary School, Hillsborough County School District - Area 8

, , Richard F Pride Elementary School, 8 Varini Kadakia , San Jose, Calif. , Chaboya Middle School, Evergreen School District

, , Chaboya Middle School, Evergreen School District Anika Pallapothu , San Jose, Calif. , Harker Middle School , Private

, , , Private Ella Reeves , Petersham, Mass. , Petersham Center School, Petersham Center School District

"Empowering young minds to solve the world's challenges through STEM is what the Young Scientist Challenge is all about," said Lori McFarling, president of corporate partnerships and social impact at Discovery Education. "We celebrate each of the finalists and honorable mention recipients and look forward to the final event at 3M's global headquarters October 19th."

In its fourteenth year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discovering real-world solutions. America's Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named Time Magazine's first Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Business Insider, and on national television programs such as Good Morning America, CNN's Cuomo Prime Time, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and more.

The award-winning 3M Young Scientist Challenge supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program  Young Scientist Lab  which provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around them. Additional digital resources, content, and professional resources are available through 3M's Science at Home series, an array of videos showcasing 3M scientists and guests performing simple, at home experiments for kids aged 6-12. All the resources are available within Discovery Education's K-12 learning platform and at YoungScientistLab.com.

To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet this year's finalists, visit YoungScientistLab.com.

About 3M

At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to global challenges at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, immersive STEM experiences and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education's services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the U.K. and reach over 5 million educators and 51 million students in more than 90 countries. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.

SOURCE 3M

Related Links

www.3m.com


VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Surge Copper Corp. (TSXV: SURG) (OTCQX: SRGXF) (Frankfurt: G6D2) ("Surge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that as part of its ongoing board renewal initiative, it has appointed Leif Nilsson to the Board of Directors effective immediately.

Dr. Shane Ebert, President and Director, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Leif to the Surge Board. Since being recruited to the CEO role earlier this year, he has done an exemplary job in executing on the Company's strategy. His strategic leadership and expertise in the mining industry and capital markets will continue to be a huge benefit to the Company and the Board. Leif's appointment fits with Surge's overall strategy to broaden and strengthen the Board's skill sets moving forward."

The Company also announces that the board has approved the grant of 2,725,000 options to certain employees, executives, directors, and consultants of the Company. The options have been granted pursuant to the Company's option plan, are subject to vesting provisions, have an exercise price of $0.42 per share, and expire five years from the date of grant.

About Surge Copper Corp.

The Company owns a 100% interest in the Ootsa Property, an advanced stage exploration project containing the East Seel, West Seel and Ox porphyry deposits located adjacent to the open pit Huckleberry Copper Mine, owned by Imperial Metals. The Ootsa Property contains pit constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured and Indicated categories.

The Company is also earning into a 70% interest in the Berg Property from Centerra Gold. Berg is a large, advanced stage exploration project located 28 km northwest of the Ootsa deposits. Berg contains pit constrained 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured and Indicated categories. Combined, the adjacent Ootsa and Berg properties give Surge a dominant land position in the Ootsa-Huckleberry-Berg district and control over four advanced porphyry deposits.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Shane Ebert"

President and Director

http://www.surgecopper.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements, including but not limited to the Company's plans regarding the Berg Property and the Ootsa Property. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking-statements. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals, the ability to obtain adequate financing to conduct its planned exploration programs, inability to procure labour, equipment and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown, impacts of the current coronavirus pandemic, and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

SOURCE Surge Copper Corp.

Related Links

https://surgecopper.com/


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, June 24, the teen entrepreneurs of finlit, a JA Student Company from Canton, Ohio, representing Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, were selected from among 15 JA student companies as the JA Company of the Year while participating in Junior Achievement's (JA) 2021 National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS). The competition took place virtually.

Finlit's mission is to instill financial literacy in every child and empower them with the skills they need for a successful future. Finlit's product is "Budget or Bust," a fun interactive, and engaging board game designed to teach kids financial literacy.

In addition to winning the JA Company of the Year title, the teens representing the first-place student company were each awarded a $3,000 JA Company of the Year Scholarship. To the five students representing the second-place team, all were awarded $1,500 scholarships, and $1,000 scholarships were awarded to each of the five students representing the third-place team. All scholarships were awarded by the Achievement Foundation.

Junior Achievement's National Student Leadership Summit is a contest of business skills, ingenuity, and innovation that focuses on the accomplishments of the U.S. JA Company Program  students, ages 15-19, during the 2020-2021 academic year. JA Company Program students start and run a real business enterprise under the guidance of a volunteer from the local business community. They devise and market a product or service that fills an unmet consumer need and recruit investors for their company.

The student companies competing at the NSLS were assessed on both their business performance as well as the personal and professional development of individual team members. Scored elements of the competition include a self-produced annual report and commercial, a live virtual presentation to a panel of business leaders, and interviews with judges.

"Junior Achievement is empowering these teen entrepreneurs to own their economic success through business proprietorship. It is an exciting opportunity for Junior Achievement students to demonstrate the teamwork, leadership, and innovative thinking that will help them drive success in the business world," said Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA.

The following awards were presented during virtual ceremonies by Junior Achievement USA. The 2021 JA National Student Leadership Summit awards that were presented include:

JA Company of the Year : Awarded to the student businesses that most effectively demonstrated their companies' achievements, as well as the personal development of each team member.

: Awarded to the student businesses that most effectively demonstrated their companies' achievements, as well as the personal development of each team member. First Place  Finlit , representing JA of North Central Ohio ( Canton, OH , Area)

, representing JA of North Central Ohio ( , Area)

Second Place  Inventor's Adventure , representing JA of Southeastern Pennsylvania ( Philadelphia, PA , Area)

, representing JA of ( , Area)

Third Place  Dulicious Co. , representing JA of Southeast Texas ( Houston, TX , Area)

, representing JA of ( , Area) Delta Social Impact Award : Awarded to the student team that created a solution to address a local, national, or global social concern.

: Awarded to the student team that created a solution to address a local, national, or global social concern. Dulicious Co. , representing JA of Southeast Texas ( Houston, TX , Area)

, representing JA of ( , Area) EY Innovation Award : Presented to the student team that effectively demonstrated how its product, service, strategy, or process is an innovative solution to an existing problem.

: Presented to the student team that effectively demonstrated how its product, service, strategy, or process is an innovative solution to an existing problem. Finlit , representing JA of North Central Ohio ( Canton, OH , Area)

, representing JA of North Central Ohio ( , Area) FedEx Global Possibilities Award : Awarded to the student company that best exhibits the principles of global connectivity.

: Awarded to the student company that best exhibits the principles of global connectivity. Finlit , representing JA of North Central Ohio ( Canton, OH , Area)

, representing JA of North Central Ohio ( , Area) ICE NYSE Foundation Best Financial Performance Award : Awarded to the student team that demonstrated the best financial results, including profitability, investor expectations, employee earnings, product quality, leadership, and operational efficiency.

: Awarded to the student team that demonstrated the best financial results, including profitability, investor expectations, employee earnings, product quality, leadership, and operational efficiency. 13 Visionaries, representing JA of Central Upstate New York ( Rochester, NY , Area)

The 15 finalist teams that participated were:

13 Visionaries , representing JA of Central Upstate New York ( Rochester, NY , Area)

, representing JA of Central Upstate New York ( , Area) Baba Blankets , representing JA of Greater Washington ( Washington, DC , Area)

, representing JA of ( , Area) ClippedNotes , representing JA of South Florida ( Fort Lauderdale, FL , Area)

, representing JA of ( , Area) Complete Comfort , representing JA of Greater Washington ( Washington, DC , Area)

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, representing JA of ( , Area) TUB, representing JA of Northern New England ( Boston, MA , Area)

About Junior Achievement USA (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 3 million students annually in 105 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

SOURCE Junior Achievement USA

Related Links

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ATLANTA, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than two months after launching, The After Bar has received its first award as a category-disrupting CBD edible. At the USA CBD Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, The After Bar was voted the single "Best CBD Edible" by consumers and esteemed judges participating in the show's Excellence Awards.

Etera Foods

This award, presented in front of the event's 7,000+ attendees and 280+ vendors, demonstrates The After Bar's commitment to innovation in CBD edibles. The taste, texture, ingredients, and quality of CBD were all factored into consideration of this award. The After Bar stood out for its delicious superfood ingredients, carefully curated macronutrient ratios, and inclusion of 20 mg per bar of PureForm CBD  the highest quality, citrus-derived CBD.

The growing category of CBD edibles presented exceptional competition for this award. The After Bar, in its infancy, demonstrates the great potential for edibles to act not only as a vehicle for CBD, but a holistic tool for muscle recovery and overall wellness.

"I speak on behalf of everyone at Etera Foods and The After Bar team when I say that we are incredibly thankful to all those who voted and to the judges for awarding us this high honor," said CEO and Founder Blake Godlove. "For such an esteemed award after launching The After Bar only a month and a half ago, we are so humbled."

The After Bar is available on The After Bar website to buy a sampler pack of 6 bars at $24.99.

Learn more about Etera Foods and The After Bar at theafterbar.com.

About Etera Foods

Etera Foods is a Beverly Hills-based food company founded on the principles of creating delicious, functional snacks by leveraging nature and innovative technology.

Their products represent the highest level of quality and integrity to yield maximum results while supporting the goal of providing full transparency of their ingredients.

Press Contact

KBERG Media

Ross Kleinberg

[email protected]

917-770-0351

Related Images

usa-cbd-expo.png

USA CBD EXPO

SOURCE Etera Foods
SAO PAULO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and B3: GOLL4), Brazil's largest domestic airline, invites you to its Investor Roundtable - The Future of Flying, to celebrate its 17 years as a listed company on the NYSE and B3. The event will be held today via videoconference (https://webcastlite.mziq.com/cover.html?webcastId=0ad38e8c-a633-4873-8367-32eafe0dd271), June 24, 2021, at 2:30 pm (US EDT).

Date

June 24, 2021

Agenda (US EDT)

2:30 pm - Company Presentation

3:00 pm - Roundtable Discussion

3:55 pm - Closing Remarks

4:00 pm - NYSE Closing Bell

Videoconference Platform: https://webcastlite.mziq.com/cover.html?webcastId=0ad38e8c-a633-4873-8367-32eafe0dd271, to access the presentation and Q&A session.

Investor Relations

[email protected]

www.voegol.com.br/ri

+55 (11) 2128-4700

About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.

GOL serves more than 36 million passengers annually. With Brazil's largest network, GOL offers customers more than 750 daily flights to over 100 destinations in Brazil and in South America, the Caribbean and the United States. GOLLOG's cargo transportation and logistics business serves more than 3,400 Brazilian municipalities and more than 200 international destinations in 95 countries. SMILES allows over 16 million registered clients to accumulate miles and redeem tickets to more than 700 destinations worldwide on the GOL partner network. Headquartered in Sao Paulo, GOL has a team of approximately 14,000 highly skilled aviation professionals and operates a fleet of 127 Boeing 737 aircraft, delivering Brazil's top on-time performance and an industry leading 20-year safety record. GOL has invested billions of Reais in facilities, products and services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. GOL's shares are traded on the NYSE (GOL) and the B3 (GOLL4). For further information, visit www.voegol.com.br/ir.

SOURCE GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.

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CINCINNATI, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Institute & University and The Institute for Educational Studies (TIES) are joining forces to offer a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with majors in Integrative Learning and Montessori Integrative Learning. This dynamic new partnership will combine the unique strengths of Union and TIES to provide high-quality graduate education to individuals who aspire to advance their teaching skills and knowledge. The degrees will be awarded by Union Institute & University.

Union Provost and Vice President Nelson Soto said, "The new Master of Education (M.Ed.) with majors in Integrative Learning and Montessori Integrative Learning brings two great strengths - new areas for degree programs not previously offered at Union and an experienced faculty who are experts in the fields of Montessori education and Integrative learning. These degree programs will be of value to those who have a specific interest in Montessori education as well as those who want to expand their understanding of what education might encompass."

TIES' experience in delivering graduate-level education within a dynamic online learning community aligns with Union's philosophy and practices. Students who enroll in these programs will benefit from an environment that encourages continual growth, innovation and skill development.

Within the partnership, Union will provide academic oversight and institutional support. TIES will deliver academic content for both programs, which are designed to build graduate-level expertise through experiential learning and teacher-oriented research methods. The programs aim to meet the individual needs and creative interests of graduate students, with an emphasis on exploring subject matter from the contexts of universal justice  both social and ecological.

Warren Moliken, Development Director for TIES, added, "Union's philosophy of independent learning, its strong sense of community and its commitment to social justice align well with TIES' eco-cosmological worldview. A deep appreciation of our dialogue-based model and respect for our unique online teaching platform were also key considerations in establishing the partnership. The partnership will also open opportunities for previous TIES graduates to pursue doctoral studies with Union. Students can seamlessly transition into either an Ed.D. or Ph.D. while carrying a significant amount of credit from their TIES studies. Transfer credits will, of course, reduce both time and tuition."

To learn more about the M.Ed. program and available majors, visit https://www.ties-edu.org/union-institute-and-university/ or call 800-457-5672.

About Union Institute & University

Union Institute & University offers educational programs for busy adults who want to achieve their professional goals and pursue a lifetime of learning, service and social responsibility. Since its founding in 1964, Union has been a leader in the development and delivery of outstanding distance education undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs, in addition to a variety of new certificate programs. Students can choose to complete their studies online, through low residency, or site-based, depending on the program and location.

A private nonprofit university, with international outreach, Union Institute & University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and has satellite centers located in Ohio, Florida and California.

To learn more about Union Institute & University, visit www.myunion.edu or call 800-861-6400.

About The Institute for Educational Studies

A few months after receiving his Ph.D. from Union Institute in 1987, Philip Snow Gang founded The Institute for Educational Studies. TIES embraces a revisioning of education that adopts a holistic-integrative approach to teaching children and adults as well as a new form of teacher education based on contextualized learning, dialogue and universal justice. In 1996 TIES launched its M.Ed. programs in Integrative Learning and Montessori Integrative Learning. It is one of the earliest totally online graduate programs and utilizes an innovative platform designed to promote the development of learning communities. TIES has enrolled over 400 students and graduates from 42 countries.

To learn more about TIES, visit www.ties-edu.org or call 800-457-5672.

SOURCE Union Institute & University

Related Links

https://myunion.edu


OMAHA, Neb., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) will release second quarter 2021 financial and operating results on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. ET. The company's management team will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Parties interested in participating via teleconference may dial 877-407-8293. International callers may dial 201-689-8349. A live webcast of the presentation and materials will be available in the investor relations section of Union Pacific's website at www.up.com/investor. A replay of the audio webcast will be available shortly thereafter.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com.

www.up.com

www.facebook.com/unionpacific

www.twitter.com/unionpacific

SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation

Related Links

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DUBLIN, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "US Tissue Diagnostics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Technology & Product (IHC, Primary & Special Staining), Application (Breast Cancer, NSCLC), and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The U.S. tissue diagnostics market size is estimated to reach USD 2.81 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 3.91% over the forecast period.

Pivotal factors supplementing the market growth include continuous rise in the cases of cancer, growth in organ transplantation & donation, and increased acceptance toward personalized medicine & companion diagnostics in the U.S. Increase in the number of research activities targeted toward the development of novel tissue diagnostics solutions is also expected to drive the market.



The field of anatomic pathology has witnessed a paradigm shift, which can be attributed to the exponential growth in cancer incidence in the U.S., thereby expanding the clinical pathology industry. Also, steady convergence of molecular pathology with anatomic pathology, steep adoption of novel biopsies for cancer detection, and integration of digital technologies is expected to collaboratively make a positive impact on market growth.



Tissue analysis provides significant information, which is difficult to understand using conventional molecular techniques. Currently, companion diagnostic tests are rapidly being adopted by pharmaceutical companies for obtaining first-line therapy designations/approvals for their products. In addition, their use in the identification of patient cohorts, which are likely to benefit from targeted therapeutics, has increased the significance of tissue diagnostics in the development of precision medicine.



In addition, the field of tissue diagnostics has witnessed gradual evolution with the introduction of upgraded technologies, including Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Immunofluorescence (IF), comparative genomic hybridization, and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).

Key players are focused on identifying novel biomarkers and developing assays for advanced cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, companies are conducting biomarker pathologist training programs to boost the adoption rate of modern pathological solutions.

U.S. Tissue Diagnostics Market Report Highlights

The IHC segment held the highest revenue share of over 28% in 2020. The segment's dominance is attributed to the wide acceptance of IHC across clinical laboratories for different workflows

These workflows include tissue examination targeted toward disease prognosis and anticipating therapeutic response among patients with cancer

The digital pathology segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period mainly due to heavy investments in infrastructure as well as an onsite server for image digitization

In addition, the lack of skilled pathologists has propelled the demand for automated systems in disease diagnosis, thereby boosting the segment growth

An increase in the prevalence of breast cancer along with the launch of novel products dedicated to breast cancer detection have led to the dominance of this application segment

Moreover, the advent of genomic technologies aimed at gaining a better understanding of the genetic markup of a tumor is further offering lucrative growth opportunities to companies

The market players are investing significantly in novel product development and acquisition of small players to increase their revenue share

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Segment Outlook

2.2 Market Summary



Chapter 3 U.S. Tissue Diagnostics Market: Market Variables, Trends, and Scope

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.2 Market Trends & Outlook

3.3 Market Dynamics

3.4 COVID-19 Impact Analysis

3.5 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping for Applications, 2020

3.6 U.S Tissue Diagnostics Market-SWOT Analysis, By Factor (Political & Legal, Economic and Technological)

3.7 Industry Analysis - Porter's



Chapter 4 U.S. Tissue Diagnostics Market: Technology & Product Business Analysis

4.1 U.S. Tissue Diagnostics Market: Technology & Product Movement Analysis

4.2 Immunohistochemistry

4.3 In situ Hybridization

4.4 Primary & Special Staining

4.5 Digital Pathology and Workflow

4.6 Anatomic Pathology



Chapter 5 U.S. Tissue Diagnostics Market: Application Business Analysis

5.1 U.S. Tissue Diagnostics Market: Application Analysis

5.2 Breast Cancer

5.3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

5.4 Prostate Cancer

5.5 Gastric Cancer

5.6 Other Cancers



Chapter 6 Company Profile

6.1 Strategy Framework

6.2 Market Participation Categorization

6.3 Company Profiles

Merck KGaA

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Abbott Laboratories

Siemens Healthineers AG

Danaher

bioMerieux SA

QIAGEN

Becton, Dickinson & Company (BD)

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

General Electric Company (GE Healthcare)

BioGenex

Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.

Bio SB

DiaGenic ASA

Sakura Finetek Japan CO., LTD.

Abcam plc

Enzo Life Sciences, Inc.

VITRO SA (Master Diagnostica)

(Master Diagnostica) TissueGnostics GmbH



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wlv2fg

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

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NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In its latest partnership, Unqork , the leading enterprise no-code platform, added the City of Chicago to its more than a dozen states, counties and municipalities, leveraging its no-code Rent Relief solution to support the City's third round of rental assistance since the onset of the pandemic. The Chicago Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) application portal closed having received more than 25,000 applications with residents applying to receive up to 15 months of rental assistance including 12 months of past due payments and three months of future rent. Chicago's ERAP was open between May 24 and June 15 and in addition to seeking rental payments, applicants also requested utility assistance through the site.

"Since we opened our first round of rental assistance grants in March 2020, we've seen the need for additional assistance continue to grow and threaten an eviction crisis," said Marisa Novara, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Housing. "I would like to thank Unqork for its creativity and diligence in creating this customized platform that will allow us to get these funds directly to those who are most in need."

Unqork Rent Relief gives state and local governments a way to effectively and securely manage ERAP funding and distribute support to the millions of households unable to pay rent and utilities due to the pandemic. Unqork is the only truly end-to-end solution in the market that includes: eligibility assessment, application submission, application review and quality control, payments, auditing, and reporting to the US Treasury and other regulators. Because of Unqork's flexible nature, the application can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of each jurisdiction while quickly and accurately getting funds to citizens in need, at scale. To date, Unqork Rent Relief is supporting the management of more than $430M of ERAP funding at a total cost of less than $3.2M across all state, city and county customers.

Unqork's enterprise no-code platform was built to support the complexity, scale and security that mission-critical applications in regulated industries require, all without creating a single line of code. Using Unqork's visual drag-and-drop interface, customers are able to build, deploy and manage solutions significantly faster than traditional coding methods.

"We are proud to support the City of Chicago and the Department of Housing, along with all of our state, city and county Rent Relief customers, to ensure that families in need can stay in their homes," said Cas Holloway, Head of Public Enterprise, Unqork. "COVID-19 has greatly accelerated the need for virtual public services, creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize the way the government meets the most critical needs of the people they serve."

More than a dozen states, counties and municipalities are leveraging Unqork's no-code Rent Relief solution. In Santa Clara County and the City of San Jose, rent relief funds are being distributed through the countywide Homelessness Prevention System, a partnership between public agencies and local nonprofits, led by Destination: Home and Sacred Heart Community Service. They have used Unqork's Rent Relief application to manage the full ERAP program to benefit the lowest income County residents.

Unqork has a proven track record of swiftly addressing government needs with secure, flexible no-code solutions. Last spring, Unqork supported a number of digitization efforts to help governments support their residents during the pandemic, including the support of COVID hubs for New York City and The District of Columbia . Unqork partnered with Deloitte to build and launch in one week an application enabling lenders to efficiently process loan requests through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Unqork and KPMG worked with The Community Preservation Corporation to rapidly build and launch a mortgage forbearance solution to support new challenges in the housing industry caused by COVID. Unqork's Virtual Government Services offering has enabled government agencies to digitize everything from family benefits to marriage licenses, building permits or vehicle registration.

Before Unqork, this kind of transformation would require teams of software developers and expensive retainer contracts to handle future changes. Using Unqork's no-code platform, government CTOs, CIOs and their teams can work with the agencies they serve to quickly get reliable solutions to market--and easily make future updates without generating any code.

To learn more about Unqork's solutions for the Public Sector, visit Unqork.com .

About Unqork

Unqork is the industry pioneer no-code enterprise application platform that helps large companies build, deploy, and manage complex applications without writing a single line of code. Organizations like Goldman Sachs, Liberty Mutual, the Cities of New York, Chicago and Washington, DC and Maimonides Medical Center are using Unqork's drag-and-drop interface to build enterprise applications faster, with higher quality, and lower costs than conventional approaches. To learn more, please visit: https://www.unqork.com.

SOURCE Unqork
RAPID CITY, S.D., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Unstable subsurface mines that have forced evacuations in the Hideaway Hills neighborhood extend farther than previously disclosed and pose a broader risk to the region, including potentially a stretch of Interstate 90, according to recent independent geophysical studies.

Data from soil-resistivity studies indicate that unstable mines that caused an April 2020 sinkhole in Hideaway Hills extend to the north, east and south of the Blackhawk-area neighborhood. Western Engineers & Geologists and other consultants commissioned by the Fox Rothschild law firm have previously concluded that flooded voids exist under a portion of Interstate 90. Now a separate analysis by Montana Technological University using Electrical Resistivity Tomography has provided more data about those voids.

"The state has been aware of these findings but continues to deny the extent of the problem," trial lawyer Kathleen Barrow , of the Fox Rothschild law firm, said. "Too many families are already suffering because of the state's long history of disregard for these abandoned mines. These latest findings confirm that urgency is needed in the state's response."

Separate soil-resistivity studies reached similar conclusions about the extent of gypsum mining undertaken by the state of South Dakota starting in the 1910s. The Fox Rothschild law firm represents Hideaway Hills homeowners who were forced to evacuate because of the sinkhole and increasingly unsteady ground shifting. The lawsuit charges that the state failed to properly remediate the mines before the surface rights were sold to developers who built the Hideaway Hills neighborhood.

The Fox Rothschild complaints are the only lawsuits to survive legal challenges, and the legal team is now working to consolidate them in class-action litigation. The case is Andrew Morse and John and Emily Clarke et al. v. State of South Dakota et al., No. 46CIV-20-000295 in the Circuit Court, 4th Judicial District, County of Meade, South Dakota.

Fox Rothschild has grown to a 950-lawyer national law firm with 27 offices by focusing on client service and responsiveness and by attracting bright and creative lawyers who know how to deliver. More information at foxrothschild.com .

Media Contact:

Mark Annick

[email protected]

800-559-4534

SOURCE Fox Rothschild
Vakharia joins USAA after a 10-year tenure with Truist Bank where he held strategy, product management and omnichannel leadership roles and served on the bank's operating council. Most recently, he served as executive vice president of retail strategy, products and omnichannel experiences where he oversaw retail strategy and transformation, retail platforms and client engagement, contact centers, enterprise complaints, retail analytics, small business, and personal deposits product management.

Prior to Truist, Vakharia was an associate principal at McKinsey & Company where he was a leader in the North American Financial Service Practice advising senior executives on key issues within strategy, sales/distribution, operation and corporate finance. In addition, Vakharia has served as a board member of the Bank Administration Institute since 2017.

"We are are excited to welcome a leader of Ameesh's caliber to USAA," said Peacock. "His deep experience in financial services will help us as we advance our mission to serve military families well into our second century. His leadership acumen and focus on service to members and employees further enhances our commitment to USAA's strong culture."

Vakharia has a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a master's degree in international accounting and finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

"USAA occupies a special place in the financial services industry," said Vakharia. "Our unwavering focus on doing what's right for the member and their financial security has and will continue to set us apart. Working alongside this team to chart our way forward is an exhilerating opportunity that I'm excited to take on."

Vakharia will be based at USAA's new Charlotte, North Carolina offices. Opening later in 2021, the company anticipates having approximately 750 employees working there in the coming years.

USAA

Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, TX, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 35,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.

Contact: USAA Media Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE USAA

Related Links

http://www.usaa.com


BETHESDA, Md., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has hired Managing Directors Matt Barnett, David Potarf, and Dan Woodward and Senior Director Jake Young to its property sales team in one of the strongest performing markets in the country, Denver, Colorado.

Executive Vice President of WDIS Kris Mikkelsen commented, "Adding Matt, David, Dan and Jake to our team is a huge win for W&D! We enter the Denver and Mountain West markets with a prolific team that has a fantastic track record with institutional and middle market clients across the country. We remain focused on growing our annual multifamily property sales volume to over $25 billion by 2025, and the addition of this team adds momentum to our recruiting efforts that have allowed us to enter seven key markets over the past twelve months."

"We are very excited to join Walker & Dunlop's growing property sales platform," stated Mr. Barnett. "The company's leadership position in the multifamily industry as the #1 capital provider, combined with its market-leading technology and well-respected brand, will be hugely beneficial to our business and clients. We are eager to begin growing the WDIS presence in Denver and the Mountain West."

Prior to joining Walker & Dunlop, Messrs. Barnett, Potarf, Woodward, and Young were part of the Capital Markets group at CBRE where they focused on multifamily investment sales in the Denver region for institutional and private clients. The team members have an average of twenty years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and has closed a cumulative $12.8 billion of transaction volume during their careers.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is the largest provider of capital to the multifamily industry in the United States and the fourth largest lender on all commercial real estate including industrial, office, retail, and hospitality. Walker & Dunlop enables real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities  where Americans live, work, shop and play  to life. The power of our people, premier brand, and industry-leading technology make us more insightful and valuable to our clients, providing an unmatched experience every step of the way. With over 1,000 employees across every major U.S. market, Walker & Dunlop has consistently been named one of Fortune's Great Places to Work and is committed to making the commercial real estate industry more inclusive and diverse while creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities.

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.walkerdunlop.com


DRAPER, Utah, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As signs of hearing loss build over time, frequent misses and mistakes can take a toll on workers and their employers in the form of reduced productivity. In its first annual "Hearing in the Workplace" survey1 TruHearing, the market leader in hearing benefits, surveyed working individuals and explored the impact of untreated hearing loss on their productivity. The study found that almost all respondents reported significant challenges to doing their jobs prior to wearing hearing aids.

Types of productivity issues varied, with "asking co-workers to repeat what they said'' topping the list (87%), followed by "frequently missing parts of the conversation" (84%), "difficulty in trying to hear" (78%) and "difficulty following conversation" (77%). 37% of those surveyed said they lost more than five hours a week making up for these types of challenges, and nearly 20% said they lost more than 10.

"Seeing the impact of untreated hearing loss in terms of hours lost reinforces the strong argument for employers to offer hearing health benefits, and to provide encouragement for employees to seek help," said Tommy Macdonald, CEO, TruHearing. "When employees get the hearing treatment they need, it boosts the employee's health and well-being, and the employer's bottom line through productivity gains."

According to a recent survey by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), more than half (51%) of adults report having hearing problems, but only 11% of those respondents have sought treatment. TruHearing's survey identified barriers to seeking care by exploring concerns faced by employees prior to their treatment. By far, the top concern was cost (85%), followed by adjustment to the hearing aids (45%) and stigma (28%). Only 12% were concern-free, demonstrating a valuable opportunity for employers to step in with education and resources to make the process of obtaining hearing loss treatment more readily accepted, easier, and within reach financially.

According to Hearing Tracker research2, the average price paid for hearing aids was $4,744 per pair. TruHearing offers a range of hearing benefit options through its health plan partners and directly to employers  all of which provide significant savings on hearing exams and hearing aids to both employers and employees. For more information, visit https://www.truhearing.com/for-health-plans-benefit-administrators/ .

About TruHearing

TruHearing is the leader in hearing healthcare benefits serving more than 160 million people nationwide. With a highly qualified network of hearing care providers combined with the most extensive and technologically advanced hearing aid selection, white-glove service, and pre- and post-care support, TruHearing delivers the best value and service to payors and people with hearing health challenges. Headquartered in Draper, Utah, TruHearing has been improving lives by making hearing healthcare more affordable for more than 18 years and has been recognized as a "Top Workplace" in the state for five consecutive years. For more information, visit: https://www.truhearing.com/for-health-plans-benefit-administrators/ .

CONTACT:

Rebecca Hansborough

Gatesman

rhansborough @gatesmanagency.com



1 Online survey conducted by TruHearing of 270 employed consumers with hearing loss, May 2021.

2 Survey of 2,000 people conducted by Hearing Tracker in 2018. https://www.hearingtracker.com/how-much-do-hearing-aids-cost

SOURCE TruHearing

Related Links

https://www.truhearing.com/


CLEARWATER, Fla., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wood Partners, a national leader in multifamily real estate development, celebrates the grand opening of its newest luxury property, Alta Clearwater. Located at 1320 Sands Terrace East on the Old Tampa Bay side of Clearwater, the expansive property features meticulously landscaped grounds and a total of 314 residences in ten buildings.

Alta Clearwater's true differentiator is its amenities package. The outdoor spaces feature a resort-style pool with shaded pavilion and private poolside cabanas, outdoor kitchen and grilling area, outdoor fitness area, hammock park, and a pet park complete with pet wash. Step inside for the complimentary coffee bar and stylish clubhouse for socializing and entertaining. A game room with TV wall, pool table and foosball table are available, and the 24/7 fitness studio features weights and a virtual training room. A cyber space and conference room cater to business needs.

The community yields a modern take on organic textures, giving each sleek residence - and the property as a whole - an old-world charm. The residences themselves are offered in one, two and three-bedroom floorplans. Kitchens feature white quartz countertops, soft-close cabinetry with under-cabinet LED lighting, white tile backsplashes and matte black finished hardware. A low-profile stainless-steel Whirlpool appliance package completes the chef-inspired space. Wood-inspired plank flooring stretches from entryways through living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Bathrooms feature premium Moen fixtures, framed mirrors and modern pendant lighting. Select units feature oversized balconies, double vanities and other premium touches. Smart Lock keyless entry systems add a seamless touch of modern technology.

"Alta Clearwater delivers on a commitment Wood Partners has made to develop properties that are tailored to the evolving needs of the communities we serve across Florida," said Charles Barrus, Executive Managing Director for Wood Partners. "With 11 properties across the state and three properties along the Gulf Coast, we genuinely understand the rapidly evolving wants and desires of our current and future residents. Alta Clearwater caters to a discerning crowd, while at the same time providing access to those things that draw people to Clearwater, such as the nearby beaches and the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail."

Alta Clearwater is managed by Wood Residential. Additional information on the property and the surrounding community is available at www.altaclearwater.com .

About Wood Partners

Wood Partners is a national real estate company that acquires, develops, constructs and manages multifamily communities. The company has been involved in the acquisition and development of nearly 90,000 multifamily homes with a combined capitalization of $16.5 billion nationwide. The company currently owns 70 properties across the United States with a combined total of more than 20,000 homes. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the company has offices in 21 major markets across 14 states nationwide. The company also operates Wood Residential, an award-winning, full-service property management group that proudly operates properties developed both by Wood Partners and third-party developers. In 2020, Wood Residential ranked No. 1 nationally for online reputation in the J Turner ORA Power Rankings (Division III). For more information, visit www.woodpartners.com.

Media Contact

Nick Fischer

[email protected]

678-997-7928

SOURCE Wood Partners
The inspirational event presented a diverse and inclusive display of local talent, including Slovenian ex professional tennis player Nina Kolar, professional Lithuanian dancer Raidas Petrauskas and famous Slovakian director and film producer Peter Altof, all of whom capture the essence of local fashion culture. The reveal formed a visually striking representation of Zalando's intention to bring the world's most-loved fashion to its new markets

Peter Altof: "It feels special to be part of Zalando's launch in my own city with such a diverse group of creatives, all expressing who we are, in one single moment. Zalando has empowered us to show our individuality in the best way we know how; through self-expression."

Showcasing everything from iconic designers to streetwear drops, kidswear to more sustainable dressing, Zalando is touching down in new European markets to shine a light on local fashion culture. Home to the most comprehensive fashion assortment in each market including the likes of Weekday and Vivienne Westwood, Diane von Furstenburg and Victoria Beckham, Zalando aims to become Europe's Starting Point for Fashion, harnessing the individuality of local fashion lovers.

Natalie Wills, VP Marketing, says: "Zalando is beginning its fashion stories in these new European markets as part of a long-term expansion that will see us arrive in more markets before the end of 2021. By creating fashion-inspired moments brought to life through the joy of self-expression, we're celebrating individuality and allowing everyone to express themselves in whichever way they wish. That's why we wanted to produce a diverse and inclusive showing in each market, putting local culture at the heart of our message. We welcome our new customers to say hi to their new favourite wardrobe!".

The launch campaign celebrates the start of Zalando's ambitious expansion into new European countries, which sees the fashion platform launch in Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia in early summer, Croatia, Latvia and Estonia in late summer 2021, and Hungary and Romania in 2022. The move comes as part of the brand's continued growth, which currently serves about 42 million active customers in 20 markets. Zalando's app allows access to Europe's most comprehensive fashion assortment, (available via the App Store and Google Play Store), as well as offering free delivery and free returns. In the month since the App has launched, Zalando is No1 App in Android devices in Slovakia according to App Annie.

Watch the Slovenia TVC here

Links: www.Zalando.com | https://www.zalando.si/ | https://www.zalando.sk | https://www.zalando.lt/

Hashtags: #MyCityMyStyle #ZalandoStyle

Notes to Editors:

About Zalando:

Zalando ( https://corporate.zalando.com ) is Europe's leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle. Founded in Berlin in 2008, we bring head-to-toe fashion to about 42 million active customers in 20 markets, offering clothing, footwear, accessories, and beauty. The assortment of international brands ranges from world famous names to local labels. Our platform is a one-stop fashion destination for inspiration, innovation, and interaction. As Europe's most fashionable tech company, we work hard to find digital solutions for every aspect of the fashion journey: for our customers, partners and every valuable player in the Zalando story. Our vision is to be the Starting Point for Fashion and a sustainable platform with a net-positive impact for people and the planet.

COVID 19:

All images and video content have been shot according to local government COVID-19 guidelines, specific to each country at the time of capture. All safety measures were put in place on all shoot locations worldwide to ensure every person featured was respecting COVID safety measures.

Instagram: @Zalando @zalando_beauty @zalando_man

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zalando.slovenija | https://www.facebook.com/zalando.slovensko | https://www.facebook.com/zalando.lietuva

SOURCE Zalando

Related Links

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NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeel, a leading technology platform providing health and wellness services to the home and office, announces that it has expanded its partnership with the City of New York. Anyone over the age of 12 is now eligible to be vaccinated at home through the city's groundbreaking outreach program.

The in-home vaccination program is free to all residents of the five boroughs and is supported entirely through the New York City Vaccine Command Center.

"We are thrilled to provide this critical service and honored to be working for our great city," said Samer Hamadeh, CEO and co-founder, Zeel. "We feel fortunate to be involved and will continue to dispatch the hard-working nurses on the Zeel platform to as many locations as possible for as long as it takes, until everyone who wants to be is fully vaccinated."

Zeel dispatches up to 20 teams of three -- a licensed nurse, a driver and an administrator -- to each home and is capable of vaccinating up to 200 residents per day. The company expects to vaccinate up to 8,000 individuals between now and late summer.

Raymond Estrada, a former Captain in the FDNY and nurse on the Zeel platform, said he has been personally moved by the outpouring of gratitude, "When we arrive at their door, they feel like there's hope, a real light at the end of this terrible tunnel."

Eligible New York City residents are encouraged to sign up for the program at www.zeel.com/vaccine or by calling 646-586-3593.

About Zeel:

Zeel is an in-home healthcare, wellness and medical testing company, providing medical services through ZP Medical Services, PC, a licensed medical practice, lab partners, and a nationwide network of health and wellness practitioners. These trusted, vetted providers offer on-location COVID-19 PCR testing, massage therapy, physical therapy, and nursing care. All services are booked safely and securely using Zeel's industry-leading, HIPAA-compliant technology and award-winning customer service team. For more information, visit www.zeel.com.

Media Contact

Beth Amorosi

917-208-7489

[email protected]

SOURCE Zeel

Related Links

http://zeel.com


"Some of our delayed projects may once again begin to move forward"

( ) said easing Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions, new contracts and a strong pipeline can help the global security and managed services group meet expectations this year at the revenue and pre-tax profit level.

In a statement ahead of its AGM, chief executive Peter Fowler said the pandemic uncertainty had delayed the signing and delivery of some projects but there were encouraging signs that travel restrictions may, at last, be beginning to ease in a number of regions and that some of our delayed projects may once again begin to move forward.

In particular, Fowler said a security contract at the Palace of Westminster has now started after a COVID-19 delay and was going well.

The group also recently won contracts to provide security at five airports in the Democratic Republic of Congo and container screening services at a port in West Africa.

In existing operations, West African Airport managed services operations are running ahead of expectations (currently 62% of pre-COVID levels) although a full recovery to pre-COVID levels is not expected until 2022.

The port managed services operations in Ghana have not been materially affected by COVID-19 and continue to perform well with a 4th berth due later in 2021.

In Saudi Arabia, pandemic restrictions are also easing and Westminster is now finalising arrangements with joint venture partner Hazar International.

Fowler added: "We continue to experience healthy enquiry levels and so far in 2021 have delivered products and services to over 40 countries around the world and we are beginning to see encouraging signs of recovery in our guarding and training businesses with recent new contract awards.
It is in talks with potential strategic equity investors, debt financiers and providers of alternative finance (such as royalties and streams)

The need to feed the worlds rapidly increasing population is driving demand for potash. Photo credit: Emmerson PLC

( ) said the environmental approval process for its Khemisset potash project in Morocco is nearing completion.

The company is waiting to be called for an evaluation meeting with the Environmental Evaluation Committee (EEC), expected to be received imminently, although the timing is subject to Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in Morocco.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment approval will be granted following the EEC meeting.

Emmerson has also lodged applications for renewal for the remaining research permits that were not part of the mining licence area with a positive outcome expected in the third quarter of this year.

"Excellent progress has been made on many fronts as we look to fast-track the project to production and take advantage of the strong potash market fundamentals, particularly in Africa given we are ideally located to supply this market, said chief executive Graham Clarke.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team and our consultants for the exceptional work that has brought our ESIA application to the final step of approval, particularly when the impact of COVID on the ability to conduct face to face meetings is taken into account, he said.

"Notably, we are also continuing positive discussions with strategic investors and due diligence for the wider project debt finance, as we focus on achieving our overall timeline to commence early construction works in Q4 2021."

It said it was in talks with potential strategic equity investors, debt financiers and providers of alternative finance (such as royalties and streams).

Negotiations have continued towards securing the strategic equity investor. The company confirmed that there are several interested groups, any one of which could have a transformational effect on the overall financing of the project.

The company expects to be able to provide a more substantial update on this, as well as the project debt and broader financing process in the second half of 2021.
A look at some of today's main headlines from the Proactive newswire

( ) said it can now begin to roll out its Microtox PD water contamination system to enable early detection of coronavirus hotspots, after successful completion of field trials and agreement with a third-party installer.

( ) announced a partnership with Waymark Tech to add Waymark's Wayfinder product to the KRM22 Global Risk Platform.

( ) announced it has acquired a 9,016 square feet industrial unit on Knowsley Business Park, Liverpool.

( ) has seen growth accelerate in the second quarter and now expects full-year results will be ahead of expectations.

(LON:IMM, Euronext Growth Brussels:ALIMM) said its US partner has received a positive response from the American drug regulator ahead of a pharmacokinetic (PK) assessment of its lupus treatment.

( ) said operating profit was strong and expected to be well ahead of market expectations as it updated the market on current trading.

( ) has updated investors on recent developments within its existing portfolio.

( ) said its subsidiary Pharm 2 Farm Ltd (P2F) has signed a deal with Indian firm Vivek Kohli Enterprises (VKE) to distribute P2Fs anti-viral face mask under the Pro-Larva brand.

( ) has raised 50,000 through an issue of 20mln shares to chairman and chief executive Jeremy Asher. The subscription price of 0.25p per share was a 2% premium over yesterdays closing price. Ashers stake in the junior oiler rises to 20.5%.

( ) announced that its payment system has expanded the availability of an Xbox Game Pass telecoms bundle into the Netherlands.

( ) has secured its electronic money institution (EMI) licence and its AMLD5 registration from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The company also said its payments and rewards solution has been launched on devices using the Android operating system in a public BETA.

( ) said it has appointed David Bull to the board as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect.

( ) said it has been granted a further 30-day extension under an exclusivity agreement to assess the potential acquisition of the Elizabeth Hill silver tailings project in Western Australia.

( ) said its performance during the pandemic has demonstrated it can thrive, even in the face of extraordinary challenges.

Zephyr Energy Plc ( ) is clear to drill the State 16-2LN-CC well in the Paradox basin project in Utah after securing the final necessary approvals from authorities.

( ) spudded the WR-B1 well at the West Rustavi field in the Republic of Georgia.

( ) said it intends to increase its stake in Energy Link Infrastructure (ELI), the owner of the Alternative Crude Oil Evacuation System (ACOES) project which is being built to connect the OML 18 asset to a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The company also confirmed that it is in discussions with Midwestern Oil & Gas Co about acquiring its indirect interest in the OML 18 oil and gas block located onshore in Nigeria.

( ) told investors that latest analysis of samples from the Merlin-1 well, drilled earlier this year on the North Slope of Alaska, definitively demonstrates the presence of hydrocarbons.

( ) said the environmental approval process for its Khemisset potash project in Morocco is nearing completion.

( ) has started trials for a machine that detects COVID-19 particles in the air.

( ), an AIM-listed exploration and development company operating in Europe, said it has been granted an extension of up to three months to file its 2020 financial results as COVID-19 travel restrictions have hampered its auditing process.

( ) said reconnaissance and sampling work has indicated the potential for high-grade manganese deposits at its Kanye project in Botswana.

( ) has won a new contract at an Italian designer outlet centre with McArthur Glen for its BRICKLIVE Nick Jr concept.
The cash injection will support Firefinch as it accelerates exploration, resource and reserve development and expansion drilling at Morila the Gorilla and prepares to demerge its lithium business, creating a new ASX-listed entity.

Firefinch will use the fresh capital to fast-track activities across its gold and lithium assets.

Firefinch Ltd (ASX:FFX) is out to raise nearly $47 million to drive ramp-up activities at its Morila Gold Mine in West Africa and meet overheads across its gold and lithium businesses.

The gold miner and lithium developer entered a trading halt earlier today as it prepared to announce the details of its latest equity raise prior to market close.

To bring in the funding, Firefinch intends to issue around 117 million new FFX shares to institutional investors at 40 cents each.

The costing represents an 11.1% discount to the last closing price of Firefinch shares and a 13.7% markdown on the five-day volume-weighted average price.

Placement to maintain momentum

Firefinch managing director Dr Michael Anderson said: The successful completion of the placement will allow Firefinch to continue our significant momentum in both our gold and lithium businesses as we progress towards becoming a 200,000 ounce per annum gold producer by 2024 at Morila, and finalise completion of the JV transaction with Ganfeng to develop Goulamina.

Since taking on the managing director role in early April 2021, my enthusiasm for the opportunity presented at Morila has continued to grow.

Firefinch has systematically progressed Morila from a tailings retreatment operation to a West African gold mining operation of scale with demonstrated production credentials and significant upside.

Gold business ramp-up

Firefinchs primary goal is to become a 200,000-ounce gold producer at the Morila Gold Mine in Mali, West Africa, by 2024.

To accomplish this, the gold miner has identified two near-term targets to accomplish at its flagship gold operation with the help of fresh funding.

First, the ASX-lister wants to achieve gold production increases at Morila, primarily by mining the regions nearby satellite pits to produce up to 50,000 ounces of gold per annum.

Firefinch also intends to conduct mining at the Morila super pit in the second half of next year, rapidly growing gold production to 120,000 ounces per annum.

From there, it intends to reach 170,000 ounces of gold production in 2023 before reaching the 200,000-ounce mark in 2024.

Simultaneously, Firefinch wants to ramp up activity to reach its second target: deliver on exploration and resource development at Morila the Gorilla.

This involves drilling out the Morila Super Pit, exploring for extensions at depth, evaluating the projects 650 square kilometres of regional tenure and aiming for a significant increase in resource inventory and an extension in mine life beyond the current 10-year plan.

Speaking to the activity at Morila, MD Anderson said: The team has delivered a life of mine plan, commenced dewatering at the Morila Super Pit, commenced mining at Morila Pit 5, recommissioned the communition circuit, and most recently appointed international contractor, Mota-Engil, and the Malian-owned Inter-Mining Services, as the mining contractors for Morila.

In summary, the Firefinch team has demonstrated an ability to accomplish our stated goals on time and in a high-quality manner.

Goulamina Lithium gears up for demerger

While the fresh capital will go a long way at its flagship gold asset, Firefinch also has plans to utilise the funding as it prepares to spinout its Goulamina Lithium Project.

Just weeks ago, the materials stock inked a watershed partnership with world-leading lithium producer Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co Ltd (known as Ganfeng) to substantially fund the asset to production.

Under the joint venture agreement, Ganfeng has agreed to provide US$130 million in equity funding to support Goulaminas development, as well as up to US$64 million in debt funding.

The deal includes a significant offtake agreement with Ganfeng and primes the West African lithium asset to become the worlds next lithium mine of scale, according to Firefinch Chairman Alistair Cowden.

Once the transaction is finalised, the ASX-lister will spinout Goulamina into a separate lithium-focused entity to be listed on the ASX.

Anderson concluded: The placement will also provide working capital to support completion of the recently announced Goulamina JV Transaction and the proposed demerger of Goulamina into a separate ASX-listed lithium company to create further value for Firefinch shareholders.


Patna, June 24 : Three persons have died during the rescue operation of a cattle in Bihar's Gaya district.

The incident occurred in Bigha village under Gafa Panchayat on Wednesday when Birendra Manjhi (35), Ravindra Manjhi (23) and Jitendra Manjhi (22) jumped in a well in a bid to rescue a cattle, accidentally fell in it.

Ramesh Sharma, a resident of Gafa told the local media that a cattle accidentally fell into a well, located in agriculture field.

"One man jumped in it in a bid to save the cattle. As he was unable to rescue the cattle, another jumped in it. As the well is having swamp, both of them were unable to hold their position... after a while another man also jumped into it in a bid to rescue them. All three eventually drowned in it," Sharma said.

"As they did not return till the afternoon, villagers searched them in the the places where they went in the morning. They managed to locate the well wherein three dead bodies were lying," he said.

The villages finally rescued all the dead bodies from the well and sent for the postmortem.
Bengaluru, June 24 : Kempe Gowda International Airport's police inspector, T. Mutturaj received a threat message to blow up two aircraft in Hindi language on Sunday late night and lodged complaint with the Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) police station for a probe into the message on Monday.

The message turned out to be hoax and the complaint by the Inspector has come in the public domain on Wednesday late night.

According to a FIR copy, Mutturaj stated in his complaint that he had received threat message from +447868820235 (United Kingdom number) on his Whatsapp at 22:04 hours in Hindi subsequently Google translated Kannada message of the same landed on his number 22:10 hours warning that unless their demands were not met then there will be trouble in Bengaluru International airport, keep watch on two aircraft that are going land in morning and evening.

"I had received this message when I was at home, I had seen my phone but saw this message only Monday (June 21) at 7:20 a.m. as soon as I saw this message, immediately alerted to t airport terminal manger, Sampreet, who in turn alerted his higher-ups at all levels," said the inspector in his complaint.

He has appealed to CEN police station to probe in detail about the veracity of this message as well as the number from which the message has come to him.

The CEN police has registered a cases and investigation is also on.
Dhaka, June 24 : A ship loaded with Iranian bitumen, labelled as UAE product, has been tactically offloaded from Chattogram Port in Bangladesh.

There is no bitumen company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Chinese ship Guangzhou Wan sailed off to Chattogram from Hamriyah port near Sharjah in UAE on May 9. The ship contained 11,220 tonnes of bitumen for two Bangladeshi companies. Some 6,773 tons are for the Bay Terminal and Distribution Company Limited, a sister concern of PHP Group. And the remaining bitumen was for MEB Group.

An investigation shows that the bitumen has come from Iran which is facing an international trade ban. The label was changed in UAE's Sharjah Port. Then the bitumen was sent to Chattogram Port by another ship. However, a government circular strictly prohibits the release of any imported goods without following the standard procedures announced by the experts.

The bitumen laden ship was seeking ways for anchorage at the jetty of the Chattogram Port. The concerned authorities seized the ship following an order of the High Court. But both of the importer companies managed to take the seized ship under their possession. The concerned authorities were astonished by the incident.

However, Chittagong port officials confirmed to IANS on Wednesday evening, the Chinese ship was waiting at the outer anchorage on Sunday. However, it moved directly to the depot of the respective importer companies and the product was released.

Omar Faruk, secretary of Chattagram Port, told IANS: "We don't know how the seized ship has gone to the depot of the importers. Rather, it is not our duty to follow, but only concerned Customs officers can explain this." Later, replying to their role about any incident, he said, "Yes, if any incident is there, we have to care." Besides, the customs commissioner, assistant commissioners couldn't provide information to IANS about the bitumen loaded ship.

The ship arrived at Chattogram port within 11 days on May 20.

In a recent circular, the government directed the customs authority of the country that any imported bitumen cannot be released without a quality test certificate from respective authorities. However, the two companies did not follow the directive, according to the investigation.

Meanwhile, the Mercantile Marine Department of Bangladesh government seized the ship following a direction of the High Court on June 9. The department's principal officer captain Giasuddin Ahmed said the authorities seized the ship following the Court order.

Concerned officials said the importer companies tried to ignore the directives of the High Court by bypassing the standard procedures. However, the seized product reached the depot of importers finally, defying the government's ban and the latest directives on bitumen import.
Kabul, June 24 : A hospital in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province was damaged in a rocket attack, according to a top officials.

According to provincial governor Mohammad Iqbal Sayed, several rockets were fired at the city of Asadabad city on Wednesday and one of them hit the hospital, causing damages to facilities and burning the vaccine depot, reports Xinhua news agency.

City health officials said that Covid-19 and polio vaccines were kept at the depot.

Two more rockets struck Asadabad's residential area and damaged some houses, Governor Sayed added.

Militants fighting against the Afghan government launched rocket and mortar attacks on Asadabad city from Tuesday, he said.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Kunar province haven't claimed responsibility for the attack.
London, June 24 : A senior official of the UK's National Health Service (NHS) has raised the alarm over the increasing number of Covid-19 patients on ventilators amid a recent resurgence of new cases in the country.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said the number of coronavirus patients in hospital on ventilation beds had increased by 41 per cent in the last week to 227.

It was a strong indication coronavirus was having an impact on health services, Xinhua news agency quoted Cordery as saying to the BBC on Wednesday.

"Trusts on the frontline are really coming under huge pressure, they have plans in place to tackle the backlog, but with more Covid cases and demand for emergency care going up, that's really challenging." Cordery said NHS leaders were very concerned about a potential surge that could collide with other winter illnesses such as flu and respiratory viruses later in the year, posing "a significant challenge" to the health system.

"I think we need to look at this sudden rise in the demand for emergency care as well, so you know we are seeing record levels of demand for that kind of care." The UK has so far reported 4,683,925 coronavirus cases and 128,291 deaths.

The latest available data showed the number of patients in hospital at 1,378, similar to early May, but still below the peak of 4,077 on January 24.

Meanwhile, recent data published by the Public Health England showed the AstraZeneca vaccine is 92 per cent effective against the Delta variant after two doses, and the Pfizer vaccine is 96 per cent effective after two doses.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
June 24 : Action star Vidyut Jammwal of Commando series fame has signed up with the reputed Hollywood talent management agency Wonder Street. The Hollywood talent management agency represents international action heroes like Tony Jaa, Michael Jaa White and Dolph Lundgren.

Known for his martial arts and stunts in Bollywood action films, Vidyut will be represented by Christine and Mark Holder at Wonder Street. Following the footsteps of legends like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li, Vidyut is recognized as one of the world's top martial artists. The actor is excited to start off his journey in Hollywood soon.

Known for his roles in action films like Commando series, the actor is a trained martial artist, who studied the art of Kalaripayattu since the age of three. Vidyut will be now officially the only Indian action hero to have been signed by the reputed Wonder Street. Since last year, the actor has been holding his digital chat show X-Rayed By Vidyut, where he interacts with action icons from across the world. He has also been promoting the Indian martial art form of Kalaripayattu through his chat show.

Vidyut, who was seen in Khuda Haafiz and Junglee, has ventured into film production this year with his banner Action Hero Films. He is reportedly in talks with prominent Hollywood producers for a collaboration with his production house.

Meanwhile, on the work front back home, Vidyut Jammwal has Sanak and Khuda Haafiz Chapter II in the pipeline. Sanak is backed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Kanishk Varma. According to Kanishk Varma, the audience will see a different side of Vidyut in Sanak. The actor was earlier seen as a commando or special force person but in Sanak he will fight as a common man. Vidyut has just finished shooting for Sanak.
Prayagraj : , June 24 (IANS) The Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) -- the apex body of the 13 akharas (religious orders) -- has summoned a meeting of all the akharas to decide on the steps to be taken to check religious conversions.

The meeting will be held soon, said akhara sources.

The development comes close on the heels of the arrest of two persons on charges of converting over 1,000 persons.

ABAP president Mahant Narendra Giri said, "We have to find a solution and provide an equal opportunity to all so that such incidents could be stopped.

"There are not only external factors for this but there are fault-lines within us also. Experiences have shown us that those who have been neglected in the mainstream or those who have been treated as outcasts, tend to take refuge in other religions.

"We will request the Hindus to rise above the considerations of caste and treat everyone with dignity, share mutual respect and avoid circumstances wherein someone changes his or her religion." The Mahant said that soon, a meeting of the representatives of all the 13 akharas would be held and the agenda would be to ask disciples and common Hindus to rise above the caste system and mull over steps for bringing back to the fold those who have changed their religion.

Chief patron of Juna Akhara -- the largest of 13 akharas in terms of membership -- Mahant Hari Giri said, "We have always advocated welcoming back those who have switched over to other religions. Seers and disciples would be given the task of convincing people to rise above the narrow considerations of the caste system." The ABAP, two days ago, supported the introduction of a legal draft for population control.

Mahant Narendra Giri, in a press statement, had said that the seers have always demanded that the ever-increasing population in the country should be controlled. He had said that under the Population Control Act, it should be ensured that couples, irrespective of their religion, should have only two children.

He said that if the population growth in the country is not stopped by bringing a law, then there may be a big population explosion in the coming days.
Beijing, June 24 : A herd of 14 migrating wild Asian elephants in China has travelled further south in Eshan county, Yunnan province, authorities said.

The herd headed 15 km south between 6 p.m. on Tuesday and the same time on Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The rainy weather in Eshan has added to the difficulty of monitoring and tracking the herd, according to the headquarters in charge of monitoring the elephants' migration.

A male elephant, which strayed 18 days ago, is now 32.5 km away in Jinning district in Kunming, the provincial capital.

On Wednesday, a total of 132 people were mobilised for the work, 957 local residents were evacuated, and 400 kg of food was provided to the elephants.

The tuskers have travelled about 500 km north from their forest home in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, reaching Kunming on June 2.

For over a month, authorities have sent police to escort the herd, evacuated roads to facilitate their passage, and used food to distract them from entering densely populated areas.

Asian elephants are primarily found in Yunnan and are under A-level state protection in China.

Due to enhanced protection efforts, the wild elephant population in the province grew to about 300, up from 193 in the 1980s.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Tehran, June 24 : The Iranian government has slammed the US' move to seize dozens of website domains as "a systematic attempt to undermine global freedom of expression and silence independent voices in the media".

In a statement on Wednesday, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, criticised the upholding of "double standards" regarding freedom of expression by Washington as "shameful", reports Xinhua news agency.

"The current administration of the US has followed exactly the path of the previous administration, which will result in nothing but a double defeat for Washington," Khatibzadeh said in the statement.

Iran, he added, rejects the US' "illegal and bullying action", and will follow up the issue through legal channels.

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice in Washington announced the seizure of "33 websites used by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU) and three others operated by Kata'ib Hizballah (KH), in violation of US sanctions".

The Department said that both IRTVU and KH, a Shia militia group operating in Iraq, had been designated by the American government and prohibited from obtaining website and domain services in the US without a license.

The websites of the Iranian state-owned news channel Press TV and Al-Alam were among those being blocked, while both were running again later in the day by using Iranian domains.
Seoul, June 24 : North Korea has ruled out the "possibility of any contact" with the US, according to a state media report.

"We are not considering even the possibility of any contact with the US, let alone having it, which would get us nowhere, only taking up precious time," Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon said in a statement on Wednesday released by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Ri also said his Ministry "welcomes the clear-cut press statement issued by the vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, which is to brush off hasty judgment, conjecture and expectation of the US", Xinhua news agency reported.

He was referring to a statement on Tuesday by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who said Washington's expectation of resuming talks with Pyongyang was wrong and "would plunge them into a greater disappointment".

On Sunday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Kim Jong-un's comments of preparing both dialogue and conflict with Washington as an "interesting signal".

The remarks made during a key Workers' Party meeting on June 17 in Pyongyang marked the first time that Kim Jong-un spoke of the US since President Joe Biden took office in January.

Sullivan added the US will "wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward".

The Biden administration at the end of April completed its policy review towards North Korea.

Kim Jong-un and former US President Donald Trump held their first summit in Singapore in June 2018, agreeing on a complete denuclearization of and a lasting peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

Denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have been stalled since the second Kim-Trump summit ended without agreement in February 2019 in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.
Puducherry, June 24 : With Puducherry chief minister N. Rangasamy handing over the list of probable ministers of the NDA to the Lieutenant Governor Tamilsai Soundararajan on Wednesday, the impasse over the cabinet expansion of the union territory has come to an end. However, the chief minister refused to divulge the names of the ministers to the media.

Sources in Puducherry Raj Bhavan told IANS that the swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on June 27.

Even after chief minister N. Rangasamy was sworn in on May 7, the confusion prevailed between the All India NR Congress and the BJP over the sharing of cabinet berths, Speaker and Deputy Speaker's posts, and also the post of the chief whip.

Relationship between the chief minister and the BJP leadership soured after the saffron party nominated three of its leaders as legislators even as Rangasami was convalescing in a private hospital at Chennai for Covid-19 treatment. There were reports that the BJP was trying to garner the post of chief minister through back-door as three independents among the 6 elected also pledged their support to the BJP. The BJP has six elected legislators, 3 nominated legislators and with the support of three independents, the party could reach a tally of 12 with the AINRC having only 10. The Puducherry chief minister, according to information, did not speak to BJP leaders and it was after a lot of pressure that he spoke to the BJP leader in charge of the UT, Rajeev Chandrashekar, which set the ball rolling.

The BJP had demanded three ministerial berths and deputy chief minister's post along with the crucial post of the Speaker. However, the party had to contend with two ministerial posts and a Speaker's post while the chief minister announced that the deputy chief minister post could be created after approval from the union home ministry.

The BJP, it is learnt, has finalized the name of A. Namassivayam, who quit the Congress ahead of the assembly elections and joined the saffron party. The party leadership is likely to induct Sai J. Saravankumar as the other minister resisting stiff objection from A. John Kumar who is camping in New Delhi for a ministerial berth. His supporters had even damaged the BJP flags and had picketed the party office demanding a cabinet berth.

The AINRC is likely to induct K. Lakshminarayanan who had also left the Congress ahead of the assembly elections. The other two names of the AINRC are not clear while the chief minister has told his close confidants that Scheduled Caste representation is likely from the list of AINRC legislators.
Srinagar, June 24 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday dismissed rumours that the Internet facility was being shutdown or downgraded in view of the all-party meeting being held in Delhi.

Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) set at rest rumours about Internet shutdown or reducing its speed in the union territory in view of the meeting being chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"There will be no Internet shutdown or downgrading of speed", Vijay Kumar told some reporters.

The clarification came amid rumours about possible Internet shutdown.

This had caused worry to businessmen and students who are dependent on the Internet for businesses and online classes due to the pandemic-related curbs.
Moscow, June 24 : Russia's Black Sea Fleet and Federal Security Service have expelled a British warship that "violated" the country's territorial waters, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said.

The British destroyer HMS Defender crossed Russia's border in the northwestern part of the Black Sea at 11.52 a.m. on Wednesday after going 3 km beyond the sea border in the area of Cape Fiolent, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry.

The vessel ignored warnings on the possible use of weapons from the Russian side, causing a Russian border patrol ship to fire warning shots, it added.

At 12.19 p.m., Russia's Black Sea Fleet Su-24M aircraft dropped bombs along the destroyer's path as a warning.

The warship left the Russian territorial waters at 12.23 p.m., the Ministry added.

In a statement later in the day, the British Ministry of Defence's Press Office said that "no warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender".

"The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law," it said.

The Press Office further said: "We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity.

"No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path."
Stockhol, June 24 : The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that the Covid-19 Delta variant is expected to account for nearly all new cases in the continent by August.

In its latest threat assessment report, the ECDC said on Wednesday that since the Delta variant is 40-60 per cent more transmissible, it is projected to cause 70 per cent of the new infections in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) by early August.

By late August, this figure could reach 90 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Centre as saying.

The ECDC also warned that the daily number of new cases, hospitalisations and deaths, could increase to the late 2020 levels if non-pharmaceutical measures, such as physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, use of face masks, are relaxed.

The ECDC said the Covid-19 vaccination campaigns must be accelerated and the second doses should also be administered as early as possible.

"Unfortunately, preliminary data shows that (the Delta strain) can also infect individuals who have received only one dose of the currently available vaccines," ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said.

"It is very likely that the Delta variant will circulate extensively during the summer, particularly among younger individuals who are not targeted for vaccination. This could cause a risk for the more vulnerable individuals to be infected.

"They could experience severe illness and death if they are not fully vaccinated," she said.

Nevertheless, Ammon stressed that there is still hope.

"The good news is that having received two doses of any of the currently available vaccines provides high protection against this variant and its consequences.

"However, about 30 per cent of individuals older than 80 years and about 40 per cent of individuals older than 60 years have not yet received a full vaccination course in the European Union," she added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tel Aviv, June 24 : Israel has postponed the planned entry of individual tourists for at least a month until August 1 after a recent rise in daily Covid-19 cases in the country, the government said.

The announcement by the office of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday came just a day after he said that Israel is facing a new coronavirus outbreak fuelled by the Delta variant, reports Xinhua news agency.

Under a Health Ministry guideline, Israel began reopening its borders in May to groups of vaccinated tourists and planned to begin reopening to individual tourists on July 1.

Groups of vaccinated tourists will still be allowed to arrive in Israel, according to the statement.

Also on Wednesday, the government approved the renewal of the work of the Coronavirus Cabinet.

"In order to protect the State of Israel from the global outbreak of the Delta variant while maintaining a proper daily routine for the citizens of Israel, the government approved the establishment and composition of the Coronavirus Cabinet," said the government statement.

Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of the public health services at the Health Ministry, said during a briefing on Wednesday that 891 coronavirus cases have been diagnosed in Israel over the past month and about half of them were fully vaccinated.

Some 55 per cent of Israel's 9 million population have been vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Ministry.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
San Francisco, June 24 : With an aim to offer more space for a larger battery and other components, Apple Watch Series 7 is likely to feature a smaller "S7" chip, the media reported.

According to a paywalled preview of a DigiTimes report accessed by MacRumors, next-generation Apple Watch models will adopt double-sided System in Package (SiP) packaging from Taiwanese supplier ASE Technology.

On its website, ASE Technology confirms that its double-sided technology allows for module miniaturisation, paving the way for a smaller "S7" chip.

Apple Watch Series 7 models are expected to be released in September, in line with the past several generations of the device.

The next Apple Watch could also feature a new flat-edged design and a new green colour option, tipster Jon Prosser said earlier.

This seemingly means that the Apple Watch Series 7 will feature a flat-edged design similar to the iPhone 12, iPad Pro and iPad Air.

The report describes the Apple Watch version of this design as being "more subtle" than what we've seen on other products.

The Genius Bar podcast also indicated that the Apple Watch Series 7 will come in a new green colour option for the first time, similar to the green that Apple uses on the AirPods Max.

Advanced health features like body temperature sensing and blood glucose monitoring have also been rumoured for a future Apple Watch, but these features are considered unlikely to be ready for Series 7 models this year, the report said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Ankara, June 24 : Turkey will lower the Covid-19 vaccination eligibility age to 18 starting from Friday onwards, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

The government aims to administer at least the first doses of vaccine to 70 per cent of its population before mid-July, Koca said at a press conference here on Wednesday after a meeting of the coronavirus scientific board.

Turkey started mass vaccination against Covid-19 on January 14 after the authorities approved the emergency use of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine, reports Xinhua news agency.

More than 29,904,000 people have been vaccinated till date.

Turkey has so far reported 5,387,545 and 49,358 deaths, while the total recoveries climbed to 5,248,862.

The rate of pneumonia in Covid infected patients stands at 2.9 per cent and the number of seriously ill patients is 763 in the country, said the Health Ministry.

Turkey reported its first Covid-19 case on March 11, 2020.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Gandhinagar, June 24 : Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and the minister of state for home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja on Thursday, performed puja of the Jalyatra, which marks the beginning of preparations for Lord Jagannath's annual rathyatra held on every Ashadhi - Bij.

The Lord Jagannath rathyatra has been conducted every year for the past 143 years, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic restrictions.

Although the state is yet undecided on the rathyatra procession due to the prevailing coronavirus situation, the state government and Ahmedabad city police have granted permission for Jalyatra.

Nitin Patel and Pradeepsinh Jadeja were at the Ahmedabad's famous Lord Jagannath temple on Thursday morning where they performed puja and aarti.

"The holy ritual of Jalyatra began today with the holy waters of Sabarmati, which also contains Narmada river waters. This is not just a holy place only for religious worship but it's a place of importance for health too, as the temple trust carries out so many activities like treatment of coronavirus patients, holding vaccination drives, food distribution etc. Pradeepsinh is also present during this ritual, him being an MLA and the minister of Ahmedabad," said Nitin Patel.

"Looking at the situation regarding Covid-19 and maintaining the protocols, the temple trust will decide on the upcoming programs related to the rathyatra, with the cooperation of the state government," added Patel.

The state had granted permission for the Jalyatra where only 50 members were allowed to participate in the ritual.

Moreover, instead of 108 kalash, only five were carried out to bring water from the Sabarmati river and instead of a herd of elephants to lead the procession, there were only five elephants.

The state government will now be mulling over granting permission to three upcoming religious festivities -- Lord Jagannath rath yatra, Muharrum and Ganesh Chaturthi.

For the first time in the temple's 143 years history, last year, the rathyatra procession was not allowed and it was carried out by priests inside the temple premises.
New Delhi, June 24 : One of the world's most sought-after, aesthetics experts, Dr Barbara Sturm will debut her high performing, ingredient science focused skincare brand on India's leading beauty & fashion destination, Nykaa. The brand is a favourite amongst celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Katie Holmes, Priyanka Chopra, Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian West, Emma Stone, and Elsa Hosk, to name a few.

The discerning Indian consumer will get access to yet another luxurious skincare brand launched at the Global Store on the Nykaa App. The Global Store has been designed to democratise the access of international brands by giving choice, inspiration, authenticity, and convenience to users in India.

Every Dr. Barbara Sturm product is filled with ideas! Dr. Sturm's skin care regimens are simple, but the products are not. There are three pillars of Dr. Sturm's skincare philosophy: fundamental nutrition and hydration, healing the skin matrix rather than harming it with aggressive approaches, and lastly, reducing visible signs of irritation. A German aesthetics doctor, widely renowned for her anti-inflammatory philosophy and her non-surgical anti-aging skin treatments, Dr. Sturm began her medical career in orthopedics as part of the team that developed cutting-edge treatments for inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis. Dr. Sturm then translated science from her clinical research and orthopaedic practice into the field of aesthetics and opened her own medical clinic. As she continued to innovate and revolutionize the field, she became one of the most sought-after beauty doctors in the world.

Driven by cutting edge ingredient science, Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics is the amalgamation of scientifically driven aesthetic medicine and nature's reparative contributions. Her products merge innovation and performance to provide hydration, nutrition and regeneration glow and use ingredients that are healthy, healing, safe and nurturing to the skin. Innovative ingredient science is at the core of Dr. Sturm's brand -- effective, key-ingredients that have been widely clinically studied for their properties and efficiency. Now shop for cult favourites including Glow Drops, Anti-Pollution Drops, Hyaluronic Serum, Darker Skin tones Hyaluronic Serum, Face Cream, Face Mask, Balancing Toner, Cleanser and Enzyme Cleanser and get ready to flaunt the #SturmGlow.

Anchit Nayar, CEO - Nykaa.com says, "We are thrilled to launch Dr Barbara Sturm, an iconic skincare brand on the Global Store to cater to our astute customers who are always looking for the best of beauty solutions. Not only is the brand backed by ingredient science and a minimalistic approach to the skin but also known for its innovative and inclusive regimens for diverse skin types and needs. The Global Store will be a first-of-its-kind platform which will aim to effectively bridge the gap between global brands trying to tap the Indian market and the evolved beauty enthusiasts who have a desire to shop for them. We cannot wait for customers to get clicking and stock on their favourite brands, starting with the celebrity favourite, Dr Barbara Sturm." Dr. Barbara Sturm says, "We are super excited to be launching with Nykaa, India's biggest online beauty destination, via The Global Store on their app. The Global Store on Nykaa is a great cross-border platform for us to be able to reach our Indian customers and offer them the full Molecular Cosmetics collection (except the supplements), including some of our most popular products, the Darker Skin Tones Hyaluronic Serum, Face Cream, Sun Drops and the FACE Fask".

A truly one-of-a-kind, cross-border e-commerce platform, the Global Store is currently offered only on Nykaa's mobile application and makes, otherwise hard-to-reach, international brands, easily accessible to Indian beauty buffs. Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics has been available on the Global Store on the Nykaa Mobile App from 8th June 20201 onwards.

(IANSlife Features can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Houston, June 24 : At least 153 staff at a hospital in the US city of Houston who refused to comply with the Covid-19 vaccine mandate have resigned or were fired, the media reported.

In a report on Wednesday, The Texas Tribune said that the Houston Methodist, one of the first facilities to require the vaccine, has terminated or accepted the resignations of 153 workers, Xinhua news agency.

In April, Houston Methodist announced the requirement of its staff to get the vaccine by June 7 in order to keep their jobs, reports said.

While 24,947 workers did get vaccinated, the hospital suspended 178 workers who had failed to do so by the deadline, giving them two more weeks to prove they had been immunised.

Twenty-five of those employees did get vaccinated, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Earlier this month, a federal district court judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by one of those employees who alleged the policy was unlawful.

Houston Methodist CEO Marc Boom applauded the ruling, saying that "employees and physicians made their decisions for our patients, who are always at the center of everything we do".

Following Houston Methodist's action, a growing number of healthcare organisations in the US have opted to impose vaccine mandates.
London, June 24 : A single dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine offers around 60 per cent protection against infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19, in adults aged 65 years and above, according to a new study published in the The Lancet Infectious.

The study, led by researchers from the University College London, in the UK showed that the protective effect of a single dose of vaccination is evident from four weeks to at least seven weeks after vaccination, which provides some evidence to support extension of the interval between doses beyond three weeks, in line with UK policy.

"However, even beyond four weeks, a single vaccine dose does not eliminate infection risk, highlighting the continued importance of non-pharmaceutical measures to control transmission within long-term care facilities," said Madhumita Shrotri and Laura Shallcross, from the UCL Institute of Health Informatics.

The study will be critical to inform policy decisions regarding revaccination schedules in this vulnerable population and the disease control measures needed in the short, medium, and long term to protect long-term care facilities from future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the team said.

The team analysed 10,412 care home residents aged 65 years and older from 310 facilities, with a median age of 86 years. Of these 1,155 residents had evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A total of 9,160 (88 per cent) residents received at least one vaccine dose during the study period, of whom 6,138 (67 per cent) received AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1) and 3,022 (33 per cent) received Pfizer (BNT162b2).

Between December 8, 2020 and March 15, 2021, there were 36,352 PCR tests carried out, with 1,335 PCR-positive infections detected (713 in unvaccinated residents and 612 in vaccinated residents).

The risk of infection was 56 per cent lower in vaccinated residents after 28 to 34 days, days, and 62 per cent lower at 35-48 days. Similar effect sizes at 35-48 days were seen for the AstraZeneca vaccine (68 per cent reduced risk of infection) and the Pfizer vaccine (65 per cent reduced risk).

The study will be presented at the 2021 European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) to be held from July 9-12.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Helsinki, June 24 : Finland's Parliament has endorsed a healthcare reform, which according to Prime Minister Sanna Marin is "historic".

According to the bills, the reform accentuates the role of the public sector as the health care provider while defining that of the private sector as auxiliary, reports Xinhua news agency.

Besides, the reform taking effect in 2023 will transfer the responsibility of providing health and social services to the provincial level from 320 municipalities.

At the provincial level, there will be 21 welfare regions plus the capital Helsinki area.

The current government is planning a provincial tax system to finance the services.

The overall taxation level would not increase, though.

One of the underlying needs for the reform was the slow access to public primary medical care.

The inefficiency has reportedly delayed diagnosis, at times with fatal impact.

Efforts to amend the Finnish health and welfare system had continued since 2006, but no reforms had reached the parliamentary vote stage due to constitutional law problems or political disagreements.

Following Wednesday's parliamentary vote, Marin hailed the reform as "historic".

However, the opposition criticized the reform for lack of incentives for the public sector to become more efficient.

The influential think tank EVA said the public sector does not have the resources to improve primary care.
Gaza, June 24 : A senior Hamas official has said that the Palestinian Authority's decision to postpone the elections has hindered the efforts to end the internal split.

Saleh Arouri, the Hamas' deputy chief who is in charge of the reconciliation issue, said in a statement on Wednesday that the failure to achieve a breakthrough in the previous rounds of dialogue was a result of postponing the elections, which were initially slated for May 22, reports Xinhua news agency.

The decision not to hold the elections "was made without consultations with the partners or the guarantors", Arouri added.

On April 29, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the postponement of the 2021 legislative elections.

Abbas' announcement came after Israel refused to allow the Palestinian elections to be held in East Jerusalem.

Reaffirming that East Jerusalem as "a red line", Abbas had said the general elections could not be held if Palestinians in East Jerusalem can't participate.

The Palestinian leadership insists on holding the general elections in occupied East Jerusalem, just like the two previous legislative elections in 1996 and 2006 and the 2005 presidential elections.

In January, Abbas announced that the 2021 general elections would include the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the elections of the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on August 31.

Abbas chaired a meeting for his ruling Fatah party's revolutionary council on Monday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, calling on the Palestinian factions to launch a serious dialogue to end the internal split.

The internal Palestinian split began when Hamas routed the security forces of Abbas and forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

All efforts to end the split have so far failed.
Bengaluru, June 24 : The police here opened fire at a criminal Mohammed Saleem to immobilise and arrest him in the early hours of Thursday after he attacked a constable who was part of a police search team.

The police said that this incident took place adjacent to the railway track in Govindapura police limits and after he was shot on his knee, the accused was immediately rushed to hospital for treatment.

According to the police, Saleem was on the run after committing a murder of another criminal Kareem Ali on Tuesday.

The police added that Ali was an associate of notorious gangster Rasheed Malbari alias Rasheed Hussain Sheikh, who is a close aide of gangster Chota Shakeel. Malbari is at present lodged in the Mangaluru prison facing several charges murders, extortion and even hatching conspiracy to execute BJP leader Varun Gandhi and Sri Ram Sene Chief Pramod Mutalik and others.

The police said that after a tip off special team including sub-inspector, Imran and constable Hamza Bilagi, who were in forefront in the rounding up operations, Saleem attacked Bilagi with a machete and in response to this attack, Imran had to open fire at Saleem on his knee, who was attempting to flee.

Malabari operated his gang in south India by setting up his base in Kasargod district of Kerala which shares its border with Mangaluru, where a major port of the state is located, the police said.

The police have registered a case and investigation is on.
Johannesburg, June 24 : The South African woman who claimed of giving birth to 10 babies was not pregnant in the past months, the Gauteng provincial government alleged in a statement.

According to local media, Gosiame Sithole, 37, claimed that she gave birth to 10 babies on June 7 at a local hospital in Gauteng province, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The Gauteng provincial government conducted a thorough check with all hospitals in the province to establish the veracity or otherwise of reports," the statement issued on Wednesday said.

"None of the hospitals in the province, public and private, had any records of such birth at their facilities." Sithole was taken to hospital on June 18 where several examinations were conducted.

"It has now been established by medical practitioners that Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times.

"It is also been established that she was not pregnant in recent times," Gauteng Provincial government spokesperson Thabo Masebe was quoted as saying in the statement.

He said the government will continue providing medical, psychological and social support to the woman.
United Nations, June 24 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the expansion of humanitarian aid to Syrians, as more than 70 per cent of the population in the country's northwest were in urgent need.

Despite the UN's massive response in Syria and across the region, more humanitarian access is required to reach those most in need and it is important to maintain and expand access, including cross-border and cross-line operations, he told the Security Council on Wednesday.

"We are in dialogue with Turkey and groups in control of the area, and I have strong hopes that it will be possible to start cross-line operations soon. But we must recognise that they will never be able to replace cross-border assistance at the present levels," said the UN chief.

In the past 12 months, the UN has been carrying out massive cross-border operations from Turkey into northwest Syria, with more than 1,000 trucks moving through a single crossing point per month, he said, calling for consensus among the members of the Security Council on the renewal of the authorisation of cross-border operations.

"A failure to extend the council's authorization would have devastating consequences. The Syrian people are in dire need, and it is essential to mobilize all our capacities, along all channels," said Guterres.

For many of Syria's people, the situation today is worse than at any time since the conflict began, he said.

As many as 13.4 million people across Syria need humanitarian assistance and some 12.4 million people are food insecure. Gross domestic product has plummeted by 60 per cent since 2011.

Jobs have disappeared, prices have skyrocketed, and goods are scarce, Guterres said, adding that people are coping by reducing meal sizes or forgoing them altogether.

The economic crisis is now compounded by drought.

"The coping strategies of the Syrian people are at their absolute limit." The UN humanitarian operation in Syria is the biggest in the world.

The world body is seeking $4.2 billion to ease the country's plight, while another $5.8 billion is being requested to support refugees in the region.

Till date, $636 million for the Syria response and $600 million for the regional response have been recorded.
Kolkata, June 24 : Kolkata Police have arrested a man allegedly for running a fake vaccination in Kasba area in the southern fringes of the city based on a complaint by Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty.

The actor-turned-politician found the camp suspicious when she received no official confirmation after taking the vaccine from the camp on Wednesday evening and so lodged a complaint with the police.

Police immediately arrested one Debanjan Dev in south Kolkata, who allegedly pretended to be an IAS officer and supervised thousands of vaccinations.

The fake vaccination camp is now turning into a bigger investigation amid questions about whether the jabs given to hundreds of people were genuine.

Chakraborty said that he was approached by the man requesting her to become the chief guest in the camp and she took the Covid shot to encourage people to vaccinate themselves and help check the spread of the virus. Around 250 people were vaccinated at the camp.

"I took Covishield vaccine at the camp to motivate people for taking jabs. But I never received a confirmation message from CoWIN," she said.

She said she noticed that no Aadhaar card details were taken for people to register with CoWIN, so no one received any message after the shot.

The police are now investigating the shots given to people and whether they were vaccines past their expiry date. Kolkata Police and KMC who are jointly investigating the fake vaccine case have come to know that Dev had organised another camp in Amherst Street city college where 70 people, including the professors and their families were vaccinated.

Police have also come to know that this Kasba New Market camp was running for the last 12 days and more than 1,000 people were vaccinated.

A team of doctors and healthcare workers have reached Kasba New Market where the vaccination camp was organised and they will go to every family to see whether the vaccine had any side effects.

"The people told us they were given Covishield and Sputnik V but we cannot understand from where they got the vials. The KMC didn't make an allotment," a KMC official said.

"We have sent the vials for clinical tests and are waiting for the report. We are not sure what has been injected into the people. If we have not allotted any vial then from where did he get the vials. These are questions that need to be answered," the official added.

Interrogating Dev, police found out that he posed as Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and moved with an armed bodyguard.

"We have come to know that he had taken interviews of some people promising jobs in KMC. We are trying to find whether he was the only man in this racket or there are some people involved," a senior police officer of Kolkata Detective Department said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, June 24 : Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood was seen selling eggs, bread, chips, and daily grocery items on a cycle, calling it 'Sonu Sood ki Supermarket' in his latest video on social media. The gesture was meant to promote small businesses.

Sonu posted a video of him on a cycle with the grocery items on Wednesday night. In the video, he says "you don't need to go to a mall to buy grocery items", adding that the most important supermarket is ready to deliver your daily items on your doorstep. He stressed the importance of buying from the local vendors as he said: "This market is a hit." He captioned the video, "Free home delivery. 1 bread free with every 10 eggs #supermarket #supportsmallbusiness."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 24 : Full service carrier Vistara has now joined other airlines in offering sops to air travellers anticipating demand pick with easing of second wave of Covid-19. The airline on Thursday announced a 48-hour 'Monsoon Sale' across its domestic network that offers a one-way all-in fare starting Rs 1099.

To make the most of the expected pick up in air travel, Vistara is offering its promotional fare for all three classes of travel (Economy, Premium Economy and Business).

Bookings under the sale will be open only for 48 hours starting June 24 for travel between August 1 and October 12, 2021.

"The unfortunate second wave of Covid-19 compelled many to put their travel plans on hold. As the situation begins to gradually improve and demand starts to return, we are happy to invite travellers to fly the airline that India trusts the most to their destinations, at these attractive fares," Vistara's offering comes a day after low cost carrier announced a 10 per cent discount on its base air fare for vaccinated people. Other airlines are also looking to grab the most out of expected rise in air travel by coming up with promotion schemes and incentives.

The Vistara's promotional offer is giving tickets for Rs 1099 on Delhi-Chandigarh sector in economy class. Delhi-Lucknow and Delhi-Varanasi fare in the same class for one-way travel has been kept at Rs 1,699 and Rs 1,749 respectively. Business class travel between Dibrugarh and Bagdogra has been priced at Rs 5,999.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Washington, June 24 : Appointed by former President Donald Trump, US Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott announced that he was stepping down from the position.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Scott said that he had received a directed reassignment letter, which provides recipients the option to relocate, resign or retire, reports Xinhua news agency.

The 29-year veteran added that would remain in his current position for about 60 days.

"A huge thank you to all those who have reached out, prayed and supported me and my family, especially over these last few crazy months," Scott wrote in the post.

Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz is expected to succeed Scott on an acting basis, media reports said on Wednesday citing sources within the White House.

Scott, who began his career with the US Border Patrol in 1992, assumed the post in February 2020.

Under him, the border patrol handled a record-breaking surge of unaccompanied minors arriving at the US-Mexico border, which is experiencing a 20-year high in crossings.
Hyderabad, June 24 : The Telangana High Court on Thursday ordered judicial probe into the alleged custodial death of a Dalit woman in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district on June 18.

The court directed Aler magistrate to conduct the probe and submit the report to the court in a sealed cover. The magistrate was also directed to exhume the body of the deceased and conduct re-postmortem, if necessary.

A bench of Justice M. S. Ramachandra Rao and justice T. Vinod Kumar ordered the probe while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking inquiry into death of the Dalit woman Mariamma in Addaguduru police station under Rachakonda police commissionerate.

The court also wanted to know why no CCTV cameras were installed in the police stations despite the directions of the Supreme Court.

Mariamma, who was working as a maid at a pastor's house in Addagudur and faced robbery charges, died in the police station on June 18 station because of alleged police torture.

Jaya Vindhyala, General Secretary, People's Union for Civil Liberties, filed the PIL seeking judicial probe. She alleged that Mariamma's son Uday Kiran was also tortured by police and he was admitted to a private hospital.

The petitioner also sought orders to the state government to pay Rs.5 crore compensation to the victim's family.

Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat had on Tuesday ordered suspension of three police officers at Addagudur for negligence in handling investigation allegedly leading to the 'custodial death'.

Station sub-inspector V. Maheshwar, constables Rasheed and Janaiah were suspended.

A delegation of Telangana Congress leaders led by its president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy Wednesday met the DGP M. Mahender Reddy and sought further action against the policemen involved in the alleged custodial death.

They alleged that the police was trying to project the death as a case of heart attack in the Addaguduru police station and demanded a fair inquiry into it.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said Mariamma and her son were whisked away from their home in Komatlagudem in Khammam district by policemen in plain clothes on June 15 in connection with a theft case. They were brought to Addaguduru police station, where they were tortured.

Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka urged Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan to ensure action against those responsible for the custodial death.
United Nations, June 24 : Acting UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ramesh Rajasingham has informed the Security Council on the dire economic situation in Syria, exacerbated by water shortages and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Daily life in Syria is becoming less and less affordable, he told the Council in a briefing on Wednesday.

Across Syria, prices remain at record high levels, and goods and services are becoming scarcer, he said.

The UN Population Fund has observed in recent months an increase in child and early marriage in Northwest Syria.

Desperate living conditions have led many families to marry off their daughters at a very young age and the vulnerabilities of children, especially girls, grow exponentially under such difficult conditions, he said.

In May, a nationwide survey found that a growing percentage of the population faces challenges in accessing basic health services.

Syria is facing critical water shortages, especially in the northeast, said Rajasingham.

The water deficit in the Euphrates basin is the worst in memory, he said adding that the Tishreen and Tabqa dams will stop generating electricity if the water levels become any lower, with far-reaching impacts.

Nearly 5.5 million people face reduced access to drinking water. Three million people, as well as hospitals and other vital infrastructure, may lose access to electricity.

The potential long-term consequences are severe, he said, urging all parties concerned to find a solution.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 transmission rates are high, with the actual spread likely exceeding official records.

An already weak health system is overstretched. Shortages of materials and trained personnel continue to be reported, he said.

Vaccinations are underway across Syria.

Till date, more than 97,000 people have received their first dose in government-controlled areas and the northeast.

But the first COVAX delivery is only sufficient for about 0.5 per cent of Syria's people. The total delivery from the facility is expected to cover only 20 per cent of the entire population, he warned.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 24 : Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday expressed anguish over the unprecedented rise in the prices of edible oil, pulses, household goods, fuel prices, saying it is causing intolerable burden and widespread distress.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a tweet said, "Congress president expresses anguish and dismay at the unprecedented rise in prices of edible oil, pulses and household goods. Sonia Gandhi also conveys the pain of the common man from back breaking rise in price of Petrol-Diesel and profiteering from daily increase in prices." She made the remarks at the meeting of the Congress general secretaries and in-charges of the party.

Surjewala also said that the Congress chief also expressed deep concern on the pace of vaccine, placing the need to prepare for the third wave of Covid-19 including protecting the children.

Addressing the party leaders, Sonia Gandhi said that party general secretary K.C. Venugopal has sent four important circulars to all of them recently. "Three of them dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic and the one dated June 7 concerned the rise in the fuel prices." She said that very specific programmes for Congress had been suggested and "I am confident that you have followed up in your respective states".

Talking about the role of the party, Sonia Gandhi said, "On the pandemic let me say that it is absolutely essential that our party plays an active role in ensuring full vaccination coverage. At the national level, the daily rate if vaccination has to treble so that 75 per cent of our population gets fully vaccinated by the end of this year." She further said that no doubt, this is dependent entirely on the adequacy of vaccine supply. "We must continue to put pressure on the union government which has at our party's insistence, finally taken on the responsibility for this," she said.

She also said that at the same time we have to ensure that registration takes place, that vaccine hesitancy wherever evident is overcome and vaccine wastage is minimised. "There are two additional points on the pandemic that I wish to make. Experts are already talking of a possible third wave a few months from now on. Some of them have been pointing to the vulnerability of children in the coming months. This too requires our urgent attention and we must take proactive measures so that they are spared this calamity," Sonia Gandhi said.

She also said that we have to take steps to be better prepared if and when this strikes, "The second wave of these past four months has been devastating for lakhs and lakhs of individual families all over the country. We must learn from this traumatic experience so that we do not have to experience it yet again." Discussing the party's White Paper released on Covid mismanagement by the party, Sonia Gandhi said that it is very detailed and needs to be disseminated widely. "I hope this gets done urgently," she said.

Citing the rise in the fuel prices, Sonia Gandhi said, "You all are aware of the intolerable burden being imposed by rising fuel prices. Agitations have been organised to highlight how it is hurting farmers and millions of families. But quiet apart from fuel, prices of many other essential commodities like pulses and edible oils too have skyrocketed causing widespread distress." "This price rise is taking place at a time when livelihoods are being lost in unprecedented numbers, when there is mounting unemployment and when economic recovery is not a reality," she said.

The Congress leader said that "I want to place on record our deep sense of appreciation for the efforts of so many of our colleagues in extending and mobilising relief during these past troubled months".

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
June 24 : Ranveer Singh, who recently resumed work, shared a bunch of pictures today, looking intense and thoughtful. Ranveer, who is known for his quirky fashion sense, is, of late, appearing in sober and classy avatar. His latest post attracted many comments from industry colleagues and his fans, but the best was from his wife Deepika Padukone.

In the pictures on his Instagram profile, the Gully Boy actor can be seen wearing a black T-shirt with an intense expression on his face. While the post went viral. Arjun Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Himesh Reshammiya, Vishal Dadlani and others reacted to the post with fire and heart emojis. While Arjun called him a stallion, Himesh thought he looked fabulous. Vishal commented, All this intensity, and yet all I can hear is our chat from the parking lot yesterday! You're a madman, @ranveersingh! and added a laughing emoji.

Image Source: Instagram/ranveersingh Ranveer Singh drops pics with intense expression, Deepika Padukone claims, his Mine

Deepikas comment attracted all attention as she became a little flirty and after seeing fans and colleagues complimenting Ranveer, she wrote MINE as she staked her claim on him. The Padmaavat actress also dropped several emojis, including heart and heart-eyes along with her romantic comment.

After the lockdown was relaxed in Maharashtra, Ranveer resumed shooting early this week. While he appeared at the set in a classy three piece blue suit with pink tie, it is not know what was the project he was shooting for. Reportedly, the actor was shooting for a huge project that has been kept under wraps.

On the work front, Ranveer is awaiting the release of Kabir Khans 83 alongside Deepika. The film, which was slated to release in theatres this summer, was postponed owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The actor is also shooting for Rohit Shettys Cirkus, where he plays a double role. He is also awaiting the release of his film Jayeshbhai Jordaar.
Mumbai, June 24 : The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has sought President Ram Nath Kovind's intervention to 'Save Agriculture and Save Democracy' on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Emergency and the completion of seven months of the ongoing farmers' agitation, a top farmer leader said here on Thursday.

"We are sending a memorandum from all over India to the President, expressing our deep anguish and indignation, and appeal to him to protect both our agriculture and democracy," said All India Kisan Sabha President and SKM leader Dr. Ashok Dhawale.

The Indian society calls farmers as 'annadaatas' and in the past 74 years since Independence, they fulfilled that responsibility.

"When India became Independent, we used to feed 33-crore citizens, today in the same extent of land, we manage to feed around 140-crore Indians. During the coronavirus pandemic, while the other sectors in the economy decelerated and slumped, we achieved record production in agriculture, ensured that our granaries were overflowing and risked our lives," said the memorandum to the President.

However, in return for this service to the entire country, "the Government of India has thrust the 3 anti-farmer black laws" which will destroy our farming as well as our future generations, snatch agriculture from our hands and hand it over to big corporations, it said.

There are other swords hanging on the farmers' heads -- penalties or jail for stubble burning in a new Ordinance related to Delhi's air pollution and subsidy withdrawal through the Electricity Amendments Bill, 2020, said Dr. Dhawale.

The memorandum -- which would be sent to the President through various state Governors and other channels -- terms the three Central farm laws as 'undemocratic', created without consultations with the farmers, thrust in the form of Ordinances, tabled in Parliament before sending to Committees for further study or debates, and while pushing the Bills voting by division was not allowed in Rajya Sabha, etc.

Dr. Dhawale added that as the first guardian of our Constitution created by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and others, the farmers had hoped that the President would refuse to give assent to such unconstitutional and undemocratic anti-farmer laws, but he (President) did not.

Seeking justice in the form of remunerative returns for their hard work and toil, the memo said that the farmers are in debt, farming has become an unviable profession and over 4-lakh peasants were compelled to commit suicide in the past 30 years.
Amaravati, June 24 : Following the shocking gang-rape of a woman on the banks of Krishna river recently, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy called for a door to door campaign to ensure all women download Disha app, a women's safety app.

"Going door to door to ensure the app is downloaded by all women and to create awareness on the app through volunteers and women police in village and ward secretariats," emphasized Reddy on Wednesday in a high-level review on women's safety in the state.

He called for training volunteers and women police on awareness campaigns who should go on to explain how the app will be useful in dangerous situations.

Reddy said the initiative should be taken as a drive, including educating students in colleges and institutions on the utility of the app.

"By creating proper awareness, usage of Disha App will be increased. Upon getting any alarm through the app, Disha police stations and local police stations should be alerted and a quick action must be initiated," the Chief Minister noted.

Similarly, he directed officials to equip all police stations with the required number of patrolling vehicles.

Home Minister Mekathoti Sucharita, Director General of Police (DGP) Gautam Sawang, intelligence chief K.V. Rajendranath Reddy and other officials attended the meeting.
Manila, June 24 : Former Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino III died on Thursday morning at the age of 61, a top government official said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque sent his condolences to the Aquino family, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Aquino family is yet to issue an official statement on his death.

Local media reported that Aquino was rushed to a hospital in the Quezon City suburb on Thursday morning, where he died of heart failure.

Aquino served as the 15th President of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016.

He was a fourth-generation politician as part of the Aquino family, and was the son of politician Benigno Aquino Jr. and President Corazon Aquino.
Panaji, June 24 : The Bombay High Court in Goa on Thursday granted state advocate general Devidas Pangam one week's time to furnish copies of relevant documents, including an amended appeal memo filed against the acquittal of former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal to the latter's lawyers.

The case will be heard next on July 29.

The Court directive followed after counsel for Tejpal, Kapil Sibal told the division bench comprising of Justices MS Sonak and MS Jawalkar, that he had not been neither served a copy of the appeal filed by the state government challenging Tejpal's acquittal, copies of the relevant transcripts or annexures related to the case.

Sibal also read out some portions of the amended appeal application filed by the Goa government, which stated that a copy of the judgement was not available.

The Court also granted the state advocate general (AG) leave to make further amendments to the application of appeal filed in the Tejpal case.

"The AG said that the copies of amended appeal memo, along with all the annexures which are proposed to be relied upon, will be furnished to the learned counsel for the respondent within a period of maximum one week thereafter," the Justices said in their order.

Tejpal was charged against under sections 376 (rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (criminal assault), of the Indian Penal Code, after a junior colleague accused him of rape at a five star resort in Goa in 2013.

On May 21, he was acquitted by the trial court in Goa citing "benefit of doubt", following which an appeal was filed by the state government.
Varanasi, June 24 : An advanced security system will soon be in place for the Kashi Vishwanath Dham (Corridor) project, which will bring world class facilities to pilgrims from across the globe at the shrine which also houses the Gyanvapi mosque.

According to Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agrawal, "The project includes a vast CCTV network for monitoring every nook and corner of the site, including the highly sensitive Kashi Vishwanath temple and Gyanvapi mosque. Other movable security components like door-frame metal detectors (DFMD), hand-held metal detectors (HHMD), female frisking booths and x-ray baggage scanners are also a part of the project." A proposal for procurement of 31 DFMDs, 19 female frisking booths, 47 HHMDs and 11 X-ray baggage scanners worth Rs 5.43 crore has been forwarded to the state government last week.

He said that, "Advanced DFMDs and female frisking booths will be placed at all the entry points of the KV Dham, while X-ray baggage scanners will be placed at the entry points of the pilgrim facility centres on its campus.

All the procurements will be done through the government e-Marketplace.

With the beginning of Ayodhya temple movement in '90s, the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi complex was declared a highly sensitive site and a standing committee on its security came into existence after 1992.

After the city witnessed terror attacks between 2005 and 2010, the sensitivity of this complex increased and security plans were revised to meet the challenges in case of a terror attack.

The government is spending crores of rupees annually to pay the salary of the security forces deployed at this site and also arranging for technical resources.

Three-layered security is in place at this site under the supervision of an additional SP rank officer. The temple and mosque are guarded by the Central paramilitary forces in the red zone (inner cordon) while the civil police perform the role of frisking and crowd regulation.

"The highly sensitive site already has a huge network of CCTVs, security gadgets, power sliding gates, dedicated units of bomb disposal squad, fire brigade along with a control room inside the complex. All the existing equipment of the site will also be utilized along with new gadgets on the expanded campus," said the commissioner.

The KV Dham project began with the formation of Yogi Adityanath government.

Around 396 buildings were purchased and removed to implement the over Rs 700 crore KV Dham project, which is expected to be completed by November end.

Police commissioner A. Satish Ganesh said, "The current security plan is being maintained as per the guidelines of the standing committee. Any change like assessing requirement of manpower will be taken only after the structures proposed in KV Dham area are completed."
Kabul, June 24 : Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has embarked on a two-day visit to Washington where he will meet his US counterpart Joe Biden, other administration officials and lawmakers, the government in Kabul said on Thursday.

Ghani, accompanied by First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, head of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib and other government officials, left Kabul on Wednesday night.

According to the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Ghani will discuss with the US side about the new chapter in relations between the two countries, strengthening of diplomatic relations and support of Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).

The two sides will also discuss cooperation of the US in Afghanistan's economic and development sectors and the joint fight against terrorism, according to the Palace.

The trip came as violence lingers in war-torn Afghanistan as the US and NATO troops have been leaving the country.

About 3,500 US forces and 7,000 NATO troops will be withdrawn before September 11.

Since the withdrawal began, about 70 districts has been fell to the Taliban.
Seoul, June 24 : South Korea's antitrust regulator on Thursday said that it has decided to fine five affiliates of Samsung Group a combined 234.9 billion won ($206 million) for their alleged unfair business practice over an in-house cafeteria business.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) also said it will file complaints with the prosecution against Samsung Electronics Co. and its former executive Choi Gee-sung over alleged unfair support for Samsung Welstory Inc., the group's food service affiliate.

Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display and two other Samsung units are alleged to have unfairly supported Samsung Welstory since 2013 by allowing it to run their in-house cafeteria business for them, reports Yonhap news agency.

The regulator said Samsung Electronics and four other units, including Samsung Welstory, will face the largest-ever fine imposed for an unfair internal trading case.

Samsung Electronics, the group's crown jewel, will face a 101.2 billion-won fine, also the largest-ever one for a single company.

Established in 2013, Samsung Welstory is a wholly owned affiliate of Samsung C&T Corp., the group's de facto holding company. Lee Jae-yong, the apparent heir of Samsung Group, is the largest shareholder of Samsung C&T.

The commission said the four Samsung units helped Samsung Welstory continue to maintain high profitability by unfairly supporting labor and other costs.

The KFTC said Samsung Welstory has served as a "cash cow" for the group's founding family as large amounts of net profits by the cafeteria business affiliate were provided to Samsung C&T as dividends.

Internal trading is blamed here for allowing owner families of conglomerates to easily net large profits by having subsidiaries award lucrative contracts to each other, undermining the principle of fair competition.

Earlier this month, the KFTC rejected the Samsung affiliates' proposed measures to address their unfair business activity, including lowering the entry barrier for it's cafeteria business to non-affiliated firms.
Jaipur, June 24 : Women inmates in jail! The sudden utterance of these words often bring to fore a scene from a Bollywood flick with a lady wearing a white saree! However, Rajasthan is making a fresh start in this direction by changing the colour of the uniform of these women jail inmates who will drape a blue coloured saree instead of white one, said Rajasthan jail DG Rajeev Dasot.

Speaking to IANS, he said that the decision will be implemented with effect from June 30.

"All women convicts in Rajasthan Jails will wear sky blue coloured saree. There will be no white coloured sarees for women prisoners any more. The white coloured saree brings in depression among women prisoners and hence the decision," he told IANS.

The women prisoners are already sad after coming to jails, missing their families and kids and white colour adds more to their miseries and hence comes a change, he said.

Besides this decision, many other reform measures are being taken by jail administration.

First among it is the opening of six petrol pumps in the state which will be operated by jail inmates. This decision has been taken to turn jail inmates self-reliant, said Dasot.

Next in series is the allotment of barracks for prisoners on the basis of their alphabets. Earlier, the inmates were given barracks on the wish and will of jail administration.

However, from now onwards, the prisoners will be allotted barracks on the basis of the alphabetical order, he added.
Gandhinagar, June 24 : Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, in his statement to Surat magisterial court in a defamation case, said that in his poll speech he had indeed mentioned Modi surname, but that was specifically referring to prime minister Narendra Modi and had no intention to defame any particular community or anyone else.

Rahul Gandhi was in Surat on Thursday to record his statement with the Surat magisterial court in 'Modi surname' defamation case filed by BJP MLA from Surat West, Purnesh Modi.

"Rahul Gandhi recorded his final statement with the court today. He said that his mentioning of the Modi surname was just to show the misdeeds of PM Narendra Modi and not to defame anyone else or a particular community. Besides, as far as he knew, there wasn't any community named Modi," Kirit Panwala, Gandhi's advocate told the IANS.

"Gandhi said to the court that as a leader from the opposition it was his duty to highlight the misdeeds of the prime minister and that indeed he did by mentioning his surname, but as far as any other Modi was concerned, he never had any intention of defaming him or her," added Panwala.

"The complainant tried to stall this recording of Gandhi's final statement by filing three different applications, all of which were rejected by the court. The court observed that those contentions had been addressed in another application filed by the complainant in the Gujarat High court," added Panwala.

Earlier in the day, the Congress leader arrived at the Surat court to record the final statement. Soon after his submission, Rahul Gandhi left for Delhi.

The Surat West legislator from BJP, Purnesh Modi had filed a complaint against Gandhi in April 2019 under IPC sections 499 and 500, alleging that Gandhi had defamed the entire Modi community by his remarks during a poll campaign rally in Kolar, Karnataka.

Purnesh Modi had alleged that Rahul Gandhi had defamed the entire Modi community by saying, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" while addressing the poll rally.

A week ago, Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat A.N. Dave had directed Rahul Gandhi to remain present on June 24 to record his final statement in the case.

"The magistrate has scheduled the next hearing in the case on July 12, where the arguments will begin, as the recording of the statements of the witnesses and the accused is over," informed Panwala.
New Delhi, June 24 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed the country's largest naval infrastructure project -- Project Seabird at Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka.

He will also review construction of indigenous aircraft carrier in Kochi.

Singh left New Delhi on a two day visit to Karwar and Kochi earlier in the day.

"Shall review the ongoing infrastructure development at Karwar and also the progress of construction of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) at Kochi. Looking forward to this visit," tweeted Defence Minister before leaving for Karwar.

Both the projects are extremely critical for Indian Navy's capabilities and strategy in future.

The Karwal base visit will give the defence minister a first hand update of the infrastructure project important for future operations on the western front.

The first phase of the naval base called Operation Seabird was completed in 2005 and the second phase started in 2011. A 3,000 feet long runway, docking space for 30 warships, hangars for aircraft are part of the Rs 19,000 core project spread over 11,000 acres of land.

At Kochi, he will review construction of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant which has faced many delays since work started on it in 2009.

An additional aircraft carrier is key in wake of growing Chinese forays in the Indian Ocean Region. While INS Vikrant awaits completion even after 11 years since work on it started, China's first indigenous carrier was commissioned in 2018 within 3 years of starting construction.

India currently has INS Vikaramditya as the only operational aircraft carrier while INS Vikrant is under construction and the Indian Navy has been pressing for the third one but faces resistance from the government and military planners.

Vikrant is in an advanced stage and is expected to sea trials soon and be fully ready by later 2022 or early 2023.

After Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Virat was decommissioned it is left with one functional carrier.

On the other hand the Chinese Navy has two functional aircraft carriers with a third one expected to hit the seas soon but will take a while for it to be fully operational and a fourth one is also in the pipeline.
New Delhi, June 24: Pakistan has given fishing rights to China in the Arabian Sea near Gwadar port in Balochistan. Now, the sea on the Baloch coastline is dotted with hundreds of Chinese fishing boats.

Pakistan has given licenses to the Chinese trawlers causing resentment among fishermen in Gwadar. Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that hundreds of "fishermen, political workers and members of civil society staged a protest rally against the federal government for granting Chinese trawlers fishing rights in Gwadar by issuing them licences. The National Party and Baloch Student Organisation had called for the protest rally and sit-in in front of the Gwadar Press Club against the government's move".

The Baloch fishermen are feeling doubly cheated. They were earlier displaced from their land for the China-driven Gwadar port, which remains out of bounds for them due to security concerns. Despite China's billions of dollars of investment, the local people feel disenfranchised. Now, with the arrival of huge Chinese trawlers, they feel completely crushed.

What is adding to their worry is that the Chinese vessels are no ordinary boats. These are 'factory ships'--commercial ships which contain food processing units to process and preserve the catch from the ocean. As the Chinese trawlers have begun their large-scale operations, fishermen in not just Balochistan but all along Pakistan's nearly 1,000-km coast are now fretting about their livelihood.

The Chinese have swamped the Pakistani coastline.

Last year the Chinese trawlers were spotted at the Karachi port, spreading fear among the fisher folk in Sindh.

Trawlers are associated with destructive fishing as they drag large nets across the ocean floor to scoop up everything. The trawlers are equipped with narrow nets that not just catch the fish but even eggs and everything else as well. The fishermen retain what is useful commercially and throw the rest back into the sea.

The Pakistani fishing community is worried because each Chinese vessel can catch over ten times what a Pakistani boat can. The worry is that the entry of Chinese ships will lead to massive unemployment among the Baloch as well as the Sindhi fishermen.

What is also worrying the Pakistani fishermen is the fact that deep-sea trawling is not just large-scale but is also destructive. It not only catches the fish, but also kills the eggs, stirs up the ocean floor and deadens the marine food chain.

Pakistan has opened up its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to Chinese fishing companies. Abdul Berr, Fishermen's Cooperative Society (FCS) chairman, told Arab News that China will help upgrade Pakistani fishing industry and increase its exports. "Bringing Chinese trawlers for deep-sea fishing is in line with the government's deep-sea fishing policy and aimed at upgrading and modernizing fishing, besides providing job opportunities to local fishermen", Berr said.

What has brought Chinese fishing boats halfway around the globe to Pakistan? It is the need to feed the Chinese population. China's thousands of ships bring millions of tons of seafood back home--not just from near Pakistan but also from as far as African shores.

A report published by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in May 2020, just before the World Oceans Day on June 8 said that China's Distant Water Fishing (DWF) fleet was five to eight times larger than previously thought. ODI estimated the fleet at nearly 17,000 vessels.

The ODI report said: "The ownership and operational control of China's DWF fleet is both complex and opaque. ODI's analysis of a subsample of 6,122 vessels found that just eight companies owned or operated more than 50 vessels. ...Complicated company structures and a lack of transparency hamper monitoring and regulatory efforts. This makes it difficult for those responsible for malpractice to be held accountable".

By opening up its EEZ to Chinese fishing companies, Pakistan might be currying favour with the communist country for the latter's mammoth investment of $62 billion in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). But in doing so, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan just might turn its own people -- Sindhis and Balochistan, who are anyway fighting for independence -- against itself.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
Wellington, June 24 : The New Zealand government has reached a significant milestone with NZ$500 million ($353 million) in cash and assets seized from gangs and criminals over the past four years, Police Minister Poto Williams said on Thursday.

"Gangs should not be making money from exploiting our communities," Williams said.

He added that the government will not tolerate organized crime and gangs and is working hard to disrupt them, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Today's milestone furthers our commitment to hitting gangs where it hurts - their pockets," the Minister said.

Williams claimed that in the last four years alone, approximately NZ$1.6 billion have been removed from the illicit economy.

The government will also amend the Proceeds of Crime legislation so those involved in organized crime would have to demonstrate their assets were obtained through legitimate means or lose them, the Police Minister said.
New Delhi, June 24: Pakistan appears to be returning to its default position -- of establishing "close and intimate" ties with its estranged ally, the United States. The fruits of a rekindled romance are already dangling before its eyes; a financial bonanza for the Generals in Rawalpindi, plus state-of-the art military hardware, worth $ 20 billion-macho toys that always excite the uniformed. A sizzling second honeymoon with the Americans appears irresistible.

Pakistan's army chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa deserves all the credit for making the early courtship moves with the US. It is still not clear whether the fresh outreach, when the colourless Chinese were pouring over projects in Balochistan under the flag of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), took place in consultation with the Rambo Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Perhaps not. And there is a precedent. After all, the "ekla chalo" Bajwa had surprised the civilian government by going ahead with an effective ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu-Kashmir as well as the International Border.

He also managed to successfully convince the Joe Biden administration about his country's intentions for "peace' with India. He visited Saudi Arabia to renew a previously warm relationship, which had been messed up by the garrulous and intemperate foreign minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi.

It is believed that Bajwa, in some ways had picked up a pro-west strategy from his mercurial but charismatic predecessor Parvez Musharraf. That brings into question whether there has been a grand bargain with the Americans. Despite starting to depart from Afghanistan from May 1, the American want to keep their foot in the door in the badlands of AfPak. There are reports that the Americans are looking for a base in Jacobabad.

Compulsively economical with the truth, the civilian government in Pakistan says they never even heard of any such proposal. Yet it is mass public knowledge that US aircraft have been using the Pakistani bases for refuelling and other purposes.

Aware of the big picture, Bajwa is also making extra efforts to convince the Afghan Taliban that Pakistan's cooperation with the US is part of an effort to help American forces to leave the region-an argument that syncs well with the free-spirited Afghans.

Given his western orientation, how does Bajwa deal with the Chinese who are now heading full throttle in a Cold War with the Americans? At this time, Bajwa's relations with the Chinese are not that hot. In fact, China has already communicated its "unhappiness'" through various diplomatic channels. The Chinese reaction to the renewal of US-Pakistani strategic relations has all the markers of a "jilted lover", who was readying for a prolonged honeymoon, but found itself suddenly abandoned in the bone dry and unforgiving mountains in Baluchistan.

The recent statement by Imran Khan on the CPEC praising Beijing are considered a belated attempt to assuage the feelings of the high browed leaders occupying the Middle Kingdom.

To enable Bajwa's turnaround towards Washington, back-room diplomacy marshalled by the US special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has played a key part. Khalilzad recently told lawmakers at Capitol Hill that, "It is too pessimistic to predict that the Kabul government or Afghan military will be quickly overrun by the Taliban once US and coalition forces withdraw." Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Defence Department officials have acknowledged that thousands of vehicles, weapons and other military items from Afghanistan will be in danger of being seized by the Taliban. The equipment may now be shifted to Pakistan, but remain under the American supervision-a decision that would not have been possible without Bajwa's consent. Brig.Gen. Matthew Trollinger, Deputy Director of politico-military affairs for the Joint Staff, told the Senate lawmakers during a recent hearing on Afghanistan that, "We will be transferring facilities, some vehicles and other equipment that the Afghan national defence forces can utilize in their on-going efforts to secure the country." He further stated: "We will be retrograding equipment that we're able to bring back to bases and stations in the continental United States as well as elsewhere." The officials from US Central Command have said that the military drawdown between 13 per cent and 20 per cent from Afghanistan has already been completed. Much more will happen in the days and months ahead.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
Washington, June 24 : The US National Institutes of Health has deleted gene sequences of early Covid-19 cases from a key scientific database at the request of Chinese researchers, claimed a Seattle-based virologist.

Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, described the removal of the sequencing data in a new paper posted online on bioRxiv on Tuesday.

The paper, which hasn't been peer reviewed, flags concerns that lack of the key gene sequences may dent the current probe into the origin of the pandemic by scientists.

The paper claims that Chinese researchers took virus samples from some of the earliest Covid patients in Wuhan in January and February of 2020, then posted the viral sequences to a widely used US database. After three months the genetic information was removed to "obscure their existence", an editorial in the journal Science reported on Wednesday.

"Here I identify a data set containing SARS-CoV-2 sequences from early in the Wuhan epidemic that has been deleted from the NIH's Sequence," Bloom posted on bioRxiv.

"I recover the deleted files from the Google Cloud, and reconstruct partial sequences of 13 early epidemic viruses. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences in the context of carefully annotated existing data suggests that the Huanan Seafood Market sequences that are the focus of the joint WHO-China report are not fully representative of the viruses in Wuhan early in the epidemic.

"Instead, the progenitor of known SARS-CoV-2 sequences likely contained three mutations relative to the market viruses that made it more similar to SARS-CoV-2's bat coronavirus relatives," Bloom wrote.

Meanwhile the US NIH has confirmed that it deleted the sequences after receiving a request from a Chinese researcher who had submitted them three months earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

"Submitting investigators hold the rights to their data and can request withdrawal of the data," the NIH said in a statement.

The scientist "indicated the sequence information had been updated, was being submitted to another database, and wanted the data removed from SRA to avoid version control issues," NIH said.

Bloom said he started his research into the origins of the pandemic, after a team led by the World Health Organization submitted its report early in March this year. It was heavily criticised by many scientists who deemed it "extremely unlikely" that SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a laboratory.A Bloom's search led him to a study which listed all SARS-CoV-2 sequences submitted before March 31, 2020, to the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) -- a database overseen by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a division of NIH. But when he checked SRA for one of the listed projects, he couldn't find its sequences, the Science report said.

Further research led him to another study by Ming Wang from Wuhan University's Renmin Hospital, China, which was published in a journal Small. While the paper lists some of the earliest Wuhan Covid patients and the specific mutations in their viruses, it doesn't give the full sequence data.

Additional internet sleuthing led Bloom to discover that SRA backs up its information in Google's Cloud platform, and a search there turned up files containing some of Wang's team earlier data submissions.

The paper in Small makes no mention of any corrections to viral sequences which might explain why they were removed from SRA, which led Bloom to conclude in his preprint that "the trusting structures of science have been abused to obscure sequences relevant to the early spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan", the report said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 24 : Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has reached Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence for all party meet. Few minutes earlier, Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Sajad Lone also left for the meeting from Jammu and Kashmir House in Delhi.

The three BJP leaders - Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta - of Jammu and Kashmir also reached the PM's residence.

Other leaders, including Farooq Abdullah, have left from their places for the Prime Minister's residence.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also left to attend the meeting which will begin at 3 p.m. Earlier in the day, Shah had briefed Modi about the security situation in the Valley.

The prime minister has invited 14 leaders of mainstream political parties from Jammu and Kashmir for the all-party meeting.

Sources said that there is no official agenda for the meeting and it would be a freewheeling discussion. However, Jammu and Kashmir leaders have indicated that they will press for restoration of Article 370 and full statehood.

Nearly two years after the revocation of J&K's special status, Prime Minister is all set to chair the all party meeting of the Valley leaders in New Delhi.

This is the first outreach initiative from the Centre since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two union territories.
New York, June 24 : While eating milk chocolate every day may sound like a recipe for weight gain, starting the day with a concentrated amount of chocolate may help the body burn fat and decrease blood sugar levels, finds a study.

Researchers from the Brigham collaborated with investigators at the University of Murcia in Spain, examined the effects of eating milk chocolate in morning hours on a small group of postmenopausal women.

The study published in The FASEB Journal showed that morning or nighttime chocolate intake did not lead to weight gain. On the contrary, eating chocolate in the morning or in the evening showed to influence hunger and appetite, microbiota composition, and sleep.

A high intake of chocolate during the morning hours can also help to burn fat and reduce blood glucose levels and evening or night intake of chocolate altered next-morning resting and exercise metabolism.

"Our findings highlight that not only 'what' but also 'when' we eat can impact physiological mechanisms involved in the regulation of body weight," said Frank A.J.L. Scheer, Neuroscientist from the Department of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital.

"Our volunteers did not gain weight despite increasing caloric intake. Our results show that chocolate reduces ad libitum energy intake, consistent with the observed reduction in hunger, appetite and the desire for sweets shown in previous studies," said Marta Garaulet, also from the hospital.

For the study, the team conducted a randomised, controlled, cross-over trial of 19 postmenopausal women who consumed either 100g of chocolate in the morning (within one hour after waking time) or at night (within one hour before bedtime). They compared weight gain and many other measures to no chocolate intake.
Tokyo, June 24 : Five Japanese doctors were found liable for causing the death of a two-year-old toddler due to over-administering a strong sedative, the Tokyo District Court ruled on Thursday.

The doctors were found to be negligent and liable to pay around 60 million yen ($541,269) in damages for the boy's death in 2014, reports Xinhua news agency.

The amount fell short of the parents' claims for damages of 180 million yen against the five doctors.

The parents also claimed damages against two other doctors at the Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, but these were rejected by the court as the hospital had already compensated the parents, according to local accounts.

The sedative propofol was administered by the doctors to the victim following the toddler undergoing neck surgery in February 2014.

The use of propofol for children who have been intubated and are on ventilators or other machines essential for their breathing is, in principle, banned in Japan.

In January this year, two anesthesiologists out of the seven doctors were indicted without arrest.

They were charged with negligence resulting in the boy's death.

Following a seven-minute procedure to remove a non-cancerous tumour in the boy's neck on February 18, 2014, the toddler was administered large quantities of propofol while he was in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital and died three days later, the ruling stated.

Of the five doctors who were found to be negligent, two who were indicted and another anesthesiologist were found by Presiding Judge Satoko Otokozawa to have "violated their duty of care by prescribing high amounts of sedative for a long time without carefully considering the amount and the time of sedative use".

Otokozawa said the other two doctors "failed to fulfil their duties to sufficiently explain the risk of the sedative use to the parents".

Otokozawa concluded that the doctors' negligence and the boy's death were causally related.
New Delhi, June 24 : A crucial all-party meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and politicians of different parties in Jammu and Kashmir to discuss the road ahead has begun here in the national capital after almost two years of the erstwhile state lost its special status and was downgraded into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one.

However, there is no specific agenda for the meeting that started at PM's 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence at 3 p.m. Leaders participating in the first such meet initiated by the Central government earlier said, "agenda is very clear about restoration of statehood".

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his Cabinet colleague Jitendra Singh are also present in the meeting.

Four former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers are among the 14 leaders participating in the meeting on Prime Minister's invitation to them last week. Three of them, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti, were jailed for six months to one year from August 5, 2019, when the changes were enforced.

There are reports that the meeting may focus on the delimitation exercise to redraw the boundaries of the Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Assembly elections.

Three National Conference MPs, including Farooq Abdullah, who had boycotted meetings of the Delimitation Commission, have indicated that they will join the proceedings if the chairman of the Commission addresses their concerns since a case is pending before the Supreme Court.

The National Conference and other parties have challenged the August 5 decision and the delimitation exercise before the Supreme Court.

Some groups in Jammu have been strongly opposing the delimitation exercise because Census 2011 will only favour the Kashmir Valley.

Ahead of the Prime Minister's meeting with political parties, the Delimitation Commission on Wednesday held virtual discussions with all 20 deputy commissioners of the UT on physical, demographic and administrative issues concerning their districts. The data is to be utilised for redrawing the Assembly segments.

The new legislature in Jammu and Kashmir will have 90 seats, seven higher than the previous Assembly.

Delimitation is a prerequisite for the conduct of Assembly polls -- something which the authorities and the political class are looking forward to as they seek to kick the political process into a higher gear, an objective which, along with speeding up of development, is expected to dominate the agenda of the meeting.

The leaders of the Gupkar alliance, a group of seven parties led by Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have said to forcefully raise the issue of Article 370 with PM Modi and they have "no red lines" for any discussion during the meeting.

The all-party meeting is taking place alongside reports that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with his Pakistan counterpart in a third country.

In the last 22 months, Kashmir has gone through the world's longest Internet blockade, strict curfew for months and an unprecedented clampdown in which thousands of people were jailed to prevent any protest against the abrogation of Article 370.

Before the historic changes, Jammu and Kashmir was India's only state with its own separate constitution and flag.

The BJP and the central government defended the decisions saying they would bring prosperity and development in a "Naya (New)" Kashmir.

Kashmiri leaders have said that they would stick to their stand on the restoration of special status.

"I am here as I'm invited (to join the All-Party Meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi). The statehood of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored," Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party's President, Bhim Singh, said after reaching Delhi.

Among other Jammu and Kashmir leaders participating in the meeting are Peoples Conference (PC) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Sajad Lone, Kashmir National Panthers Party's President Bhim Singh and BJP's three leaders -- Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta.

People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a group of five parties in Jammu and Kashmir, are also present in the meeting.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Kabul, June 24 : A total of 130 Taliban militants surrendered to the Afghan government in Herat province on Thursday, a local government spokesperson confirmed.

The former militants surrendered to the personnel of provincial directorate of National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's national intelligence agency, spokesperson Jilani Farhad told Xinhua news agency.

They also brought 85 AK-47 guns, five PK guns, five rounds of rocket propelled grenade launchers together with amount of ammunition, he said.

With the former insurgents' surrender, peace and stability would be further strengthened in Herat, the official said.

The Taliban militant group is yet to comment on the development.
Mumbai, June 24 : Amyra Dastur is donating to Covid relief amid the ongoing second wave of the pandemic. The actress is deeply affected by how the pandemic has left people devastated and displaced families across the nation.

"Covid-19 has devastated so many in our country and displaced so many families. It's because of this that we all really need the children of today to be able help create a better world for tomorrow," Amyra said.

The actress also feels we should educate our children about the reality of our country so that they learn to donate for those in need.

"Children shouldn't be living in a bubble. Poverty is a huge humanitarian issue in India. Kids need to know this reality so that when they grow up they can help and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than them," she suggested, adding, "As a child my mother worked with The Red Cross as a volunteer on and off. I learnt so much and became so grateful for what I have," she said.

Amyra prefers donating to smaller NGOs which are working to aid Covid affected families in India.

Explaining why she chooses to donate to smaller NGOs, the actress shared: "The bigger NGOs already have big names attached and great consistent donations. The smaller NGOs need support and awareness spread on their behalf to be able to grow. I also believe the smaller NGOs give more attention and focus to a smaller group of people, thereby enhancing a better way of life for these people that they solely concentrate on." "I have personally seen the progress that has taken place and I feel proud of what these small NGOs have managed to achieve, especially during this pandemic," she added.

Urging all to donate whatever they can, Amyra said: "You can even donate food instead of money in the form of ration kits containing basic commodities like rice, vegetables, cooking oil, etc. Money isn't the only way to help. Something simple to you can be worth so much to families who don't have it." On the work front, Amyra will feature alongside actor-choreographer-filmmaker Prabhu Deva in the upcoming Tamil film "Bagheera".

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Raipur, 24 June : Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has directed officials to take utmost precautions and preventive measures to keep a close watch on the movement at inter-state borders to check the spread of Delta Plus variant of coronavirus which has been found in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Samples were sent from AIIMS Raipur and Raipur Medical College's Virology Lab to Bhubaneswar AIIMS and other cities for the advanced study to detect Delta Plus variant in the new cases of coronavirus being found in the state. So far, the Delta Plus variant has not been found in any of the samples collected in Chhattisgarh.

Baghel has also appealed to citizens in the state to take utmost caution for their own safety and safety of others. Baghel has requested people to strictly follow the Covid appropriate behaviour i.e. use of masks, hand-hygiene and social and physical distancing.

As many as 40 cases of Delta Plus Covid variant have been detected in India -- the strain which the government has tagged as a "Variant of Concern".

A total of 21 cases of the new strain have been found in Maharashtra, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, two in Karnataka and one each in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu, said sources.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday informed that the Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 was found in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri and Jalgaon; Kerala's Palakkad and Pathanamthitta; and Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and Shivpuri.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kanpur Dehat : , June 24 (IANS) In a major development, a two-year-and-8-month-old girl has been administered the Covid vaccine in Kanpur Dehat during the ongoing trial of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on children.

The girl is the daughter of a doctor in Kanpur Dehat.

The spokesperson of the Prakhar hospital, where the girl was vaccinated, said on Thursday that around five children, including three girls and two boys, in the age group of 2-6 years were given the vaccine at the hospital in Kanpur.

The children were kept under observation for two hours before they were allowed to go home, said the spokesperson.

A safety profile of the children, who have been vaccinated, will be prepared.

In May, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had granted permission to Bharat Biotech to commence phase 2-3 trials of Covaxin on children as young as two.

Several hospitals, including AIIMS Delhi and Patna have also commenced Covaxin trial on kids.
Lucknow, June 24 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has written to all the 'gram pradhans' (village heads) requesting them to intensify preventive measures in view of a possible third Covid-19 wave.

Adityanath has made a four-point appeal, saying, "We have to save people's lives as well as their livelihoods." The Chief Minister has written that Uttar Pradesh has been able to control the second wave of Covid and he has called upon the village heads to ensure proper surveillance through the 'surveillance committees' in timely identification and isolation of Covid patients to curb further spread of the virus.

Adityanath has also advised the village heads to engage in mass plantation drives across their respective villages to ensure no land is left vacant.

The letter asks the village heads to ensure 'Mera Gaon Corona Mukt Gaon'.

He has said that sanitation and hygiene go a long way in promoting wellness.

The CM also urged the village heads to create awareness about vaccination and ensure that all the people in the village get the jab.

"It is requested that every village head must ensure supply of clean potable water, usage of masks and frequent washing of hands," the letter adds.

The letters, signed by Adityanath, are being hand-delivered to the pradhans through respective authorities in the districts.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Chennai, June 24 : The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) and their office bearers from issuing boycott calls in the future.

The CCI in its June 22 order also said, their boycott call issued in 2018 following a dispute with digital service providers like Qube Cinema Technologies Pvt Ltd and UFO violated the Competition Act.

"Considering the nature/duration of and level of participation in the strike/boycott call as also considering the submissions that movies continued to be released during the period of strike, on a holistic and comprehensive assessment, the Commission refrains from imposing any monetary penalty upon the associations with a firm warning that any such future conduct would be construed as recidivism with attendant aggravated consequences," the CCI said.

The CCI also directed the two film producer associations to ensure that the platform of trade associations is not utilised for anti-competitive behaviour and they are advised to conduct events educating their respective members about the awareness of competition law and the consequent need for competition compliance.
Chennai, June 24 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday said the government will set up Post Covid Clinics to attend to complications that may arise in patients who had suffered the disease.

Speaking in the Assembly, Stalin said that the budget to be presented in the House will contain the government's programmes, its journey towards that, the hindrances and the challenges and steps to overcome those hindrances.

Stalin said the Governor's address is like a movie trailer containing the policies of the government for a year. It cannot contain the government's five year plans and programmes.

Listing the various measures taken by the DMK government, Stalin said the first task of the government is to set right its treasury which is now in a bad shape.

Citing the adage 'those with patience will rule the land' Stalin said the DMK had waited for 10 years and has come back to power now.

"We will fulfil all our poll promises and there need not be even a small doubt," he said.

On the Covid-19 pandemic Stalin said it is a people's problem and not a political or a party problem and the government has set up a committee with lawmakers from all parties for it.

Stalin said in order to attend to post Covid-19 complications, Post Covid Clinics with specialist doctors will be set up in the state.

He announced the coming up of two big industries -- one in Cheyyar and one in Tindivanam -- providing employment to a large number of people and the withdrawal of cases filed against anti-Kudankulam/Neutrino/Methane/8 lane Expressway protestors.

The Chief Minister said an allocation of Rs 100 crore will be made for repairing old temples and temple cars.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 24 : Taking strong notice of the death of a 'Dalit' woman in police custody due to alleged torture, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued notice to the government of Telangana.

NCSC has issued notice to Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police District Bhongir, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police Telangana asking them to submit a detailed report related to the case within seven days with inputs of the facts and information on the action taken on the matter.

NCSC Chairman Vijay Sampla cautioned the officers that if action taken report is not received within the stipulated time, the Commission would exercise the powers of the civil courts conferred on it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India and issue summons for personal appearance before the commission in Delhi.

"As Chairman I am duty-bound to secure the rights of Scheduled Castes and ensure that they get justice in all respects," concluded Sampla.

As per the information available with NCSC, the Dalit woman, Mariamma, used to cook in a house. She was arrested along with her son Uday Kiran on the complaint of theft filed by the owner. It is alleged that the woman later died in Addagudur police station lock-up of in Bhongir district due to alleged police torture.

It is reported that Mariamma was beaten up for four days in the presence of her daughter. It is learnt that the police torture continued in spite of Mariamma's daughter's request not to beat her mother.
Chennai: Persons engaged in essential services nominated by the State government have been allowed to travel in 'workmen specials' services in Chennai suburban routes from today i.e Oct 5, 2020. Before this only the railway and other Central governme Image Source: IANS News

Chennai: Persons engaged in essential services nominated by the State government have been allowed to travel in 'workmen specials' services in Chennai suburban routes from today i.e Oct 5, 2020. Before this only the railway and other Central governme Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, June 24 : Women will now be allowed to travel in suburban trains in Chennai without any time restrictions. Women will also be allowed to purchase return tickets for their travel while men working in non-essential services will be allowed travel only during non-peak hours from 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

A press release from the Southern Railways said that the new rules will be implemented from Friday onwards.

Passengers with reserved tickets in mail/express trains will be allowed to travel in suburban trains to reach railway stations to board long distance trains. People who reach the city by mail/express trains will also be allowed to board suburban trains.

People who work in state or Union government departments, public sector undertakings, courts, and the private sector will be allowed to travel for duty with a permission letter from the higher officials and an identity card.

A fine of Rs 500 will be imposed upon anyone who is seen at railway stations or in the trains without a face mask. Southern Railway will run more train services in a few days time.
Mumbai, June 24 : Actress Karishma Tanna on Thursday shared a glimpse of what just another day looks like for her.

Karishma posted a picture on Instagram, where she is seen dressed in a white T-shirt paired with ripped jeans, sneakers and sunglasses.

"Just another day. Ssup?" she wrote as caption, tagging her post with #mood and #potd.

The actress was last seen in "Lahore Confidential", Kunal Kohli's spy drama that dropped digitally earlier this year. Last year, her dance number "Basanti" in the comedy release "Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari" also became popular.

Karishma made her debut with "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" in 2001. She made her film debut in Bollywood with "Dosti: Friends Forever". In 2013, she was seen in Indra Kumar's successful comedy "Grand Masti" and was also seen in the 2018 hit "Sanju".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Tirupati, June 24 : Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) executive officer (EO) K.S. Jawahar Reddy on Thursday took oath as the chairman of specified authority.

Along with Reddy, additional EO, A.V. Dharma Reddy has also taken oath as convener of specified authority.

"Jawahar Reddy and additional EO, Dharma Reddy have taken oath as chairman and convener of specified authority respectively on Thursday in front of Sri Venkateswara Swamy," said a TTD official.

Initially, Dharma Reddy administered oath to the EO at 'Bangaru Vakili' (golden door) in front of the deity and later he took oath as convener.

Following their oath, both of them participated in Jyestabhishekam programme at Sampangi Prakaram.

Later, the temple priests bestowed vedic blessings on the senior officers and offered 'theertha prasadams' (consecrated food).

"With the blessings of Swamyvaru (deity) I was appointed as TTD EO last year, and now the government of Andhra Pradesh has given me the opportunity to serve as chairman of specified authority also while additional EO has been made convener," said Reddy.

The AP government on Wednesday appointed specified authority for TTD following the expiry of TTD's board of trustees tenure.

Jawahar Reddy said the previous board took several developmental programmes for the welfare of pilgrims and the public.

"Some were completed while some are under progress. We will definitely look towards the completion of these works before the new board is constituted, especially with a special focus on the propagation of Hindu Sanatan Dharma," he added.
Kolkata, June 24 : The Calcutta High Court single judge bench of Justice Kaushik Chanda, whose recusal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sought from hearing her election petition, on Thursday reserved judgement on her plea, asking her lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi that if he withdraws, wouldn't it be giving in to the media trial.

The Chief Minister has objected to Justice Chanda hearing her petition citing "likelihood of bias "due to the associations the judge had with the BJP during his days as a lawyer".

Banerjee's election petition challenges the election of BJP candidate Suvendhu Adhikari, who defeated her in Nandigram in the recently-held West Bengal Assembly polls.

Banerjee, who was present during the trial virtually, had already written to Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal seeking recusal of Justice Chanda few days back which is presently pending. Referring to the application, Justice Chanda asked whether he should wait for an administrative order or should he proceed judicially.

To this, Singhvi said: "It is your Lordship's prerogative to decide the matter on the judicial side. If you see a ground, you may recuse at your own discretion. A request pending before the CJ is irrelevant after your Lordship is judicially seized of the matter." Justice Chanda then asked Singhvi: "This case was listed before me on (June) 18th. That day no one said that petitioner has sought re-assignment apprehending bias? Is it not the duty of counsel to point this out? You appear in courts across the country, Dr Singhvi, what is the standard practice?" in response, Singhvi replied that since a formal application was yet to be filed, there was no mention of recusal on the earlier date.

Stating that there was a "clear conflict of interest" in the matter, Singhvi said that Justice Chanda has been "closely associated with BJP" and that he was earlier the head of legal cell of the BJP and has also appeared previously on behalf of the BJP in various cases.

Showcasing some instances gathered from public sources showing Justice Chanda's "close, personal, professional, pecuniary and ideological relationship" with the BJP, he submitted that Justice Chanda is yet to be appointed as a permanent Judge of the High Court and that Banerjee has conveyed her objections and reservations to such confirmation.

"It is the duty of the court to see that proceedings are free from any partiality. Justice must not only be done but seen to be done. If fair minded people are likely to prejudge the case, they will not have confidence in the justice system," Singhvi submitted.

Singhvi also relied on the tweets of lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien showing pictures of Justice Chanda, as a lawyer, participating in some BJP meetings. On this, the judge confirmed that the pictures shown in the tweets were his.

As Justice Chanda also said that it was not uncommon for lawyers to have political affiliations, noting Singhvi is himself is associated with the Congress, Singhvi said: "Judgeship is a divine role of doing justice. It is different from being a lawyer." Urging the judge to "recuse graciously", he said: "Please take it that what I argued today was said on June 18. Would it have looked nice for me to say all this without an affidavit?" At this, the judge said: "There is a media trial already ongoing before this issue came up before the Court. Hundreds of tweets have already been posted saying he should recuse. If I recuse now, will I be giving in to this media trial?" Singhvi responded: "What is it worth to continue in a case like this with so much controversy? I am not saying that your Lordship's shoulders are not broad enough to bear it. But what is the worth? Public opinion doesn't matter. I can show 100 tweets in your support. But what is the worth to get involved in a controversy?"
Chennai, June 24 : Tamil Nadu's Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports E.V. Velu on Thursday opposed the Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021. He said the current system with regard to the powers of the state governments in matters of minor ports should not be disturbed.

Speaking at the 18th Maritime State Development Council held through video conferencing, Velu said, the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) is at present an advisory body.

The provisions of the draft bill are such that it would start functioning as a regulatory body for the minor ports. Further, the composition of the MSDC is being modified with the addition of the officials of only the central government and not the state governments, Velu said.

Pointing out that the rule making power with regard to minor ports at present vests with the state governments, Velu said, as per the draft bill, this power will go to the central government.

"At present, the appellate powers against the orders of the State Maritime Board lies with the respective state governments. However, as per the draft bill, this power will go to the Appellate Tribunal which has been constituted by the central government basically for the major ports," he added.

Velu said the Tamil Nadu government will send its detailed comments after due scrutiny of the draft bill.

According to him, under the provisions of the Indian Ports Act, 1908, the minor ports in the country have developed well. The draft bill will totally dilute this good system.

"I would like to express the government's opposition to the move of diluting the powers of the state government and converting MSDC into a regulatory body. I would like to request that the present system with regard to the powers of the state governments in matters of minor ports should not be disturbed in any manner," Velu remarked.

Velu also requested the union minister of state for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired the meeting, that the Sethusamudram Ship Canal project be taken up by the central government and also expand the V.O. Chidambaranar Port into a transhipment hub.

Recently Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin urged his counterparts in eight coastal states and the Union Territory of Puducherry to oppose the Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021 proposed by the central government.

In a letter to the chief ministers of Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Puducherry, Stalin also proposed joint action to check moves to dilute the powers of the states.
Hyderabad, June 24 : The Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Thursday confirmed that two of its top leaders died of Covid.

A day after the police's claim, the CPI (Maoist) issued a statement to the media confirming the death of its Telangana State Committee secretary and the party Central Committee member, Yapa Narayana alias Haribhushan and Indravati Area Committee member Siddaboina Sarakka alias Bharatakka. It said both suffered from Covid-19.

Haribhushan, who also suffered from asthma and bronchitis, died on June 21 while Bharatakka died on June 22. The Maoist outfit said their last rites were conducted in the presence of a number of people and a meeting in their memory was held on June 22.

The confirmation came a day after Khammam district Superintendent of Police (SP) Sunil Dutt said that Haribhushan, died of cardiac arrest on June 21.

The SP said they had credible information about Haribhushan (50) being sick for the past few days as he was infected with Covid-19.

Haribhushan's death is a huge blow to the Maoists. Police claimed that the extremists have lost their presence in Telangana.

Carrying a reward of Rs 40 lakh on his head, he was one of the most wanted Maoist leaders and was trying to revive Maoist influence in Telangana.

He is believed to have succumbed in Bastar forest in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

The police had earlier claimed that several Maoist leaders had tested positive for Covid.

The police also got information that Maoist leaders Kookati Venkanna, Sharada, Sonu, Vinod, Nandu, Iduma, Deve, Mula Devender Reddy, Damodar and Bhadru, were suffering from Covid and other health problems.

Maoist Central Committee leaders Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju and Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Abhay had earlier released statements claiming that no one in the party was infected with coronavirus, The police official said the Maoist party's top leadership should take responsibility for the death of Haribhushan, Nandu, Soubrai and other leaders. He said the Maoist party leaders and members who were infected with Covid were dying as they were unable to get proper treatment.

The SP said the Maoist leadership was committing human rights violations by preventing the party leaders and members who were keen on leaving the party.

The police appealed to the Maoists who are suffering from Covid to surrender and seek better treatment. The official assured all possible help from the government to the surrendered Maoists.

Last month, Dakshina Bastar tech team commander Kursam Ganga alias Aithu alias Rammaiah died of Covid-19 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Khammam.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Manali, June 24 : Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of various road projects costing Rs 6,155 crore for Himachal Pradesh and assured that within two years the travelling distance between Delhi and Kullu would be reduced to seven hours.

In the presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here, Gadkari dedicated the four-lane Parwanoo-Solan section of national highway (NH) 5, having a length of 39.14 km and constructed at a cost of Rs 1,303 crore.

The Road Transport and Highway Minister laid the foundation stones, among others, of four-lane of the Kangra bypass to Bhangbar section of NH-88, having a length of 18.13 km to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,323 crore; four-lane of Kiratpur to Nerchowk section having a length of 47.75 km to be constructed by spending Rs 2,098 crore; four lane and two lane of Paonta Sahib to Hewna section of 25 km length to be constructed at a cost of Rs 273 crore; and two lane of Hewna to Ashyari section of 25 km with an outlay of Rs 243 crore.

Gadkari said better roads in the state would go a long way in tourism promotion.

He said in the next two years the travelling distance between Delhi and Kullu would be reduced to seven hours. This would give a big boost to tourism in the state.

The Minister assured that all roads and projects whose foundation stones were laid by him on Thursday would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

He said road projects of Rs 15,000 crore would be awarded to this state this year. The detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of 40 km left bank road project in Manali would be prepared at the earliest.

Gadkari said that the Union government would provide all possible assistance to the state for the construction of alternative mode of transportation such as cable car and for strengthening the road networks in the state.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said being a hilly state roads are the only mode of transportation.

He said the state has about 40,000 km road length, but being a hilly state a lot more needs to be done.

Thakur thanked the Union Minister for dedicating and laying the foundation stones of road projects.

He said the state government has succeeded in getting sanction of 997 projects from the Centre in the last three and a half years.

During this period, the government connected 305 villages by roads as compared to 261 roads connected during the tenure of the previous Congress government.

The Chief Minister urged Gadkari for the construction of the Bhuboo Jot tunnel and for double laning of the left bank road for Manali.

Union Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways V.K. Singh, who connected with the programme virtually, said road projects worth Rs 2,000 crore have been completed in the state and work was in progress on projects of Rs 7,000 crore.

Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, while addressing the event virtually, said the road infrastructure in the country has witnessed unprecedented expansion.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Thursday arrested four students hailing from Jammu and Kashmir in connection with its probe into the blast near the Israel Embassy here on January 29.

According to sources, they were brought on transit remand to Delhi from J&K's Kargil area, and after several rounds of questioning, they have been put under arrest.

The source, however, refused to share the details of the students who have been arrested.

A low-intensity bomb blast had occurred on January 29 near the Israel Embassy on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, less than 2 km from the Vijay Chowk, where the Beating Retreat ceremony was on, sending the security establishments into a tizzy.

The Beating Retreat ceremony was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

The Special Cell had registered a case following the blast. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had taken over the case on February 2 this year.

On June 15, the NIA had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for any information on the two suspects involved in the bomb blast. It had also issued the photographs and videos of the alleged suspects seen in the CCTV video footage captured outside the embassy.

The blast had shattered the windscreens of three parked cars, and had coincided with the 29th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Israel.
New Delhi, June 24 : Taking a dig at opposition parties and others who are critical of the Central Vista project, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said the evening ice cream experiences of 'Vidvaans' (learned) are going to get even better. Puri, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, visited the Central Vista Avenue and New Parliament project sites.

After his visit he shared pictures of the construction site on Twitter and said, "Toil and perseverance of our workers is giving shape to architectural heritage for the future generations. I visited the Central Vista Avenue and New Parliament sites to take stock today. Happy to inform the 'Vidvaans' that their ice cream evenings are going to get even better." Referring to reports of relocation or felling of Jamun trees to another location, Puri said, "All the false narratives about Central Vista Avenue are coming crashing down. The fruit laden Jamun trees stand tall as the landscape around them is being redeveloped and upgraded. There were rumours that these have been cut down. No tree was felled, all standing. In another tweet, Puri said, "Work is on schedule. Quick progress being made. The new look Central Vista Avenue, with a judicious mix of modern with traditional will redefine the heart of the city. More public spaces. Easier public access. Greener and better." "Delighted to interact with the workers giving shape to our future heritage. They come from different parts of the country. Pity that the Congress ecosystem wanted to snatch away the livelihood of these hardworking women & men. I thanked them for their sweat and toil," Puri said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, June 24 : Bollywood superstar Salman Khan engaged in a conversation over video call with veteran actor Kabir Bedi on Thursday, about the latter's autobiography, "Stories I Must Tell".

"I have shared a lot of the glories that I have seen but I have also told of the mistakes that I have made and I hope everyone can learn from that," said Bedi, about his book.

Salman replied, speaking in Hindi and English: "That is the most difficult thing... to own the mistakes that one has done. Everyone denies that. I am one of those persons sitting right in front of you. I always said, 'yeh maine nahi kiya (I haven't done this)'. But if you have said that 'yes, I've done this mistake and I've tried to rectify it this way', that takes a lot of courage." "There are times when I have made mistakes. I have come and said sorry. Mistakes do happen but then repeating the same mistakes again is not okay," he added.

Talking about why honesty is important while penning a book, Salman said: "When you write a book, the most courageous thing is to go look deep inside your soul. When you are writing, whether I should write this or not... And then you say, to hell with it, I am just going to be honest with myself and honest to everyone, and I am going to write the honest truth what all has happened with me." Replying to Salman, Bedi said: "That's the journey that I had to go through. And I have explored many things in this book -- career, successes, triumphs, failures, love relationships..." Interrupting him with a smile, Salman said: "Now this is something that I should learn from you sir!"

Sharing the video clip on his Instagram, Kabir Bedi wrote: "Salman Khan and I talk about what it took to tell the story of my life honestly, and how I wrote my book in the pandemic. #StoriesIMustTell seems to have touched many of you and that's a great gift for a debut author. I thank you ALL for your love and appreciation. Thank you @beingsalmankhan."
Thiruvananthapuram, June 24 : The CBI on Thursday registered an FIR in the infamous ISRO spy case in the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrates court against 18 people, including two top former Kerala police officers.

The charges that have been listed against the ex-officers include conspiracy and fabrication of documents.

Things changed for the main victim S. Nambinarayanan, then a top ISRO scientist, after numerous long drawn court battles when the Supreme Court last year appointed a three-member committee headed by retired judge Justice D.K. Jain to probe if there was a conspiracy among then police officials to falsely implicate Nambinarayanan.

The apex court which went through the report ordered the CBI to conduct a new probe.

Based on this directive, the CBI in April this year began the probe and on Thursday filed the FIR which implicates former Kerala DGP Siby Mathews who led the Kerala Police probe.

The list of accused includes former Gujarat DGP and then IB Deputy Director R.B. Sreekumar besides other police officials which includes S. Vijayan, Thampi S. Durgadutt, K.K. Joshua, who were all from the local police, which first registered the case.

The ISRO spy case surfaced in 1994 when Nambinarayanan was arrested on charges of espionage along with another senior official of ISRO, two Maldivian women and a businessman.

The CBI cleared him in 1995 and since then he has been fighting a legal battle against Siby Mathews, Vijayan and Joshua who probed the case and falsely implicated Nambinarayanan.

Siby Mathews took VRS, months before he was to have superannuated and became the Chief Information Officer of Kerala and has since retired from the post, is now settled in the state capital.

Incidentally the case emerged amid a factional feud in the Congress party between then CM K. Karunakaran's faction and the A.K. Antony faction that was at its zenith and Karunakaran had to quit office in 1995 after it was found that he was shielding his close aide and senior police officer Raman Srivastava who later became the state police chief and after retirement, he till recently was the advisor to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Nambinarayanan by now has received compensation of Rs 1.90 crore from various agencies including the Kerala government which last year handed him Rs 1.30 crore and later an award of Rs 50 lakh as directed by the Supreme Court in 2018 and another Rs 10 lakh as directed by the National Human Rights Commission.

The compensation was because he had to suffer wrongful imprisonment, malicious prosecution and humiliation.

In 2019, Nambinarayanan was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whenever he visits the state for political rallies, often refers to the travails faced by Nambinarayanan and how the BJP treated him with respect and consideration.
New Delhi, June 24 : Even as India improved its ranking on the World Banks Ease of Doing Business list and put in place the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, it needs to focus on removing ground level bottlenecks as several foreign investors and companies look for diversification and de-risking exercise amid the changing geopolitics.

While India's overall rank improved significantly from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2020, doing business in India still is still fraught with handicaps that need to be addressed jointly by the Centre and states Consider this. There are about 750 Korean companies operating in India. But the number is about 7000 in Vietnam.

South Korea's Ambassador to India Shin Bongkil last year said that Korean companies are keen to invest in India but problems need to be resolved further.

Bongkil said that carrying out economic activities in Vietnam is far easier compared to India. The country has also been offering a host of incentives to companies with a view to woo investors.

Amid changing geopolitical and geo-economic contours, several other Asian countries including Vietnam have started offering huge incentives to companies wishing to set up factories.

"Doing business or even setting up one is cumbersome on the ground level. Issues relating to customs clearances in case of imported raw material or even finished products remain. The situation has become more tedious in recent times as the mandatory requirement of certificates of country of origin are scrutinised with a fine tooth comb and even if there are no gaps, most businessmen find it difficult to navigate through the process," a person familiar with the process told India Narrative.

In India, sources said issues related to red tape, bureaucracy and a culture of inspector raj continue to plague the business community.

In March Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Guruprasad Mohapatra, who passed away just a few days ago had noted that the Narendra Modi government identified as many as 6,000 burdensome compliances which are linked to both central and states levels.

"A systematic exercise across the Centre and states is being undertaken to eliminate or reduce compliances which have an adverse impact on time and cost of businesses," Mohapatra had said.

Ease of doing business boost: 6,000 compliances to be eased Economists said that the government needs to take up these issues "on a priority basis." At an India Narrative roundtable, Nirupama Soudararajan, Senior Fellow and Head of Research of Pahle India Foundations said that the Centre must work towards ironing out these issues to ensure that new investments flow into India. "We need to focus on resolving the roadblocks so that we don't lose out on investment opportunities to other countries. A conducive environment needs to be created for investors," she said.

Meanwhile, a senior member of an industry body also noted that India needs to take note of the social and cultural issues that would make the expatriates comfortable.

On the softer issues of culture and food, several cities including Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai among others have evolved.

Grocery stores and restaurants catering for Japanese and Koreans are mushrooming in the National Capital Region. "Availability of food is no longer a problem, we get everything that we need. We even get frozen fish and meat products," a Korean expat living here said.

Aeryoun Jeon, who hails from South Korean has made Gurugram her adopted home. She runs three grocery stores - Epicure-- in the millennium city. Jeon's stores are doing brisk business. Jeon has integrated with the Indian society. She employs several locals at her stores, which are equally popular among the Indian customers.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
New Delhi, June 24 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the PM addressed Toycathon-2021 and advised the country's gaming and toy industry to play a big role in this sector.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Thursday, "Today, MSME sector employers are themselves facing unemployment. PM is distracting India's present with theatrics and 'toying' with the future." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed on focusing on "toyconomy", advising the country's gaming and toy industry to play a big role in this sector.

By focusing on the toy and gaming sector, the Prime Minister said that crores of rupees going outside the country can be saved.

"Today, we import around 80 per cent of our toys as well. That is, crores of rupees of the country are going out on these. Today, the world wants to understand the present potential of India, the art-culture of India, the society of India in a better way. Our toys and gaming industry can play a big role in this," the Prime Minister said while addressing participants of Toycathon-2021 via video conferencing.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 24: When it comes to Pakistan and its etched-in-stone terror links, there is no black -and- white. Islamabad, instead seems "content" with a position in the "grey" list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Of course, it shuns the watchdogs "Black", lest it is lined up in the rogue gallery, shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of North Korea and Iran.

At the FATF headquarter in Paris where a crucial meeting is going on, Pakistan's balance sheet-- of measures taken to curb money laundering and terror financing is being drawn up.

After a threadbare stock taking on the steps taken and not taken by Islamabad to stop money laundering and terror financing, the feared terror-monitor will take a decision on whether to keep Pakistan on its grey list, or move it in the direction of the black list. There is also an impossible third option--declare that Pakistan has finally come clean, and include it in the white list as a badge of honour.

Meanwhile, the German media DW Urdu, quoting its sources, is reporting that even this time, Pakistan will not be liberated from the shameful grey list.

Quoting its sources in Paris, the channel says that European countries, especially the host country France, would recommend keeping Pakistan on the grey list and that position would be adopted by all other European countries.

Even Pakistan has an apprehension about its grey fate. This was evident in the statement made on Wednesday by its garrulous foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, fresh out a grilling by the Afghan television station, Tolo News, where he ably demonstrated that he suffers from the foot-in-the-mouth disease.

"There is no longer any justification to keep Pakistan on the grey list as the country has fulfilled 26 out of 27 action items of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)," the minister said two days after FATF's five-day virtual meeting began in Paris.

While FATF will make its findings public on June 25, Qureshi once again has started blaming India, "India is making attempts to misuse the forum for political purposes, as it has indulged in continuous anti-Pakistan propaganda. Pakistan has taken concrete steps to curb money-laundering and terrorist financing." Obviously, the learned assemblage in Paris would not be impressed by Qureshi's chronic scapegoating of India.

Pakistan has been in the grey list since 2018. That year, in February, FATF decided to lodge it in the infamous roster, giving it four more months - up to June 20, 2021 - to complete its full action plan.

Pakistan has been trying to convince the world that the main leadership of the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, al-Qaida, and so-called Islamic State global terrorist groups is based in Afghanistan with sufficient funds available to them.

Pakistan's Imran Khan government also "tried" to show the world that it has taken action and banned UN designated terror organisations like Lashkar e Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e Mohammad (JEM) through tough ordinances. Islamabad's bury-its-head in sand argument claims LeT is defunct and terror financing cases have been registered against most of the identified leaders of Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat foundations, and LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has been sentenced and jailed for 10 years. Another terrorist leader, JeM's chief Masood Azhar has a serious medical condition and is bed-ridden in Bahawalpur.

But the world knows that all those terror leaders are roaming freely in Pakistan. Pakistani soldiers are fighting along with Taliban and Islamic State against the Afghan government. Terrorists of LeT and JeM are quite active in Jammu and Kashmir.

Qureshi meanwhile has gone into yet another paroxysm of skewed reasoning. He points out that Pakistan "inherited" the problem of the FATF grey-listing from the previous regime, and the incumbent government has done its best to bring the country out of it.

Pakistani based analysts say that for Pakistani government, only the black list matters. Imran Khan knows the US and its allies won't like to put Pakistan in the black list for their own reasons. As far as Pakistan is concerned, when in the last meeting, FATF extended Pakistan's grey listing till June 2021, Qureshi, the verbal gymnast celebrated the decision, saying that India had failed to push Pakistan into FATF's black list!! Qureshi, living a full life in his "mungerilal ke haseen sapne" bubble believes that it is difficult to keep a country like Pakistan on the grey list forever. Pakistan would get off after a decent interval and a spate of superficial measures. Keep dreaming janab and watch the world pass by.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/
New Delhi, June 24 : Alert Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) troops on Thursday rescued 15 children from the clutches of a child-trafficking gang by arresting a couple from the Ranchi Airport.

Sub-Inspector Panna Lal Thakur of the CISF noticed suspicious activities of a passenger accompanied by a lady and 18 children -- all minors -- at about 8.40 a.m. on Thursday while checking their tickets at the departure gate of the airport. They were to catch a Delhi bound GoAir flight (No. G8-146) at 11.15 a.m.

On enquiry, the passenger revealed his identity as Raju Ganju and said that he was accompanied by his wife, three wards and 15 other children who were supposed to travel to Delhi.

"As the 15 children seemed underage, he was tactfully questioned. On questioning, he disclosed that the 15 children were being taken for work purpose," an official said.

Senior officers of the CISF and the local police were immediately informed about the matter.

Soon the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of Jharkhand Police arrived at the spot, and Ganju along with his wife and all the children were handed over to them in the presence of local police for further legal action in the matter.
Patna, June 24 : The Bihar Education Department continues to figure in controversies, with now Malayalam actress Anupama Parmeshwaran shown qualifying in the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET).

In results published by STET, the certificate of Anupama Parmeshwaran went viral on social media, though it has only her photo while the name of the candidate is of a male person - Rishikesh Kumar, son of Ripusudan Prasad, and the date of birth is given as July 20, 1991.

'Anupama' has achieved 77.7 out of 150 in maths paper 1, and 95.4 in maths paper 2.

Highlighting the latest example, Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, attacked the state government and the STET.

"After Sunny Leone topped in the junior engineer examination, Malayalam actress Anupama Parmeswaran passed the STET examination. Nitish Ji (Chief Minister Nitish Kumar) is involved in examination and recruitment scams and destroying the future of youths in the state. He takes a decade to complete the recruitment process of one job and it happens with scam and irregularities," Tejashwi claimed.

Image Source: IANS News

This is not the first case in Bihar where such an irregularity appeared. In the past, the Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Muzaffarpur, has issued a certificate to a candidate passed the BA part 2 examination. The certificate mentions Bollywood actor Emran Hashmi as the father of candidate and actress Sunny Leone as the mother, while the address is shown as a Muzaffarpur "red light" area, called Chaturbhuj Sthan.

Similarly, the state Public Health Engineering Department had published the result of junior engineer examination two years ago wherein Sunny Leone was the topper with 98.5 marks.

After the result of STET was published in Bihar, many students protested against the board, claiming irregularities in the selections. Opposition parties have also alleged a scam.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Massive protests erupted over the naming row of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, here, on Thursday, as police deployed tight security Image Source: IANS News

Massive protests erupted over the naming row of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, here, on Thursday, as police deployed tight security Image Source: IANS News

Massive protests erupted over the naming row of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, here, on Thursday, as police deployed tight security Image Source: IANS News

Massive protests erupted over the naming row of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, here, on Thursday, as police deployed tight security Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, June 24 : Thousands of people staged a protest over the delicate issue of naming the upcoming greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), a day after the Maharashtra government handed it over to the Adani Group for operations, here on Thursday.

People in Navi Mumbai have been clamouring for it to be named after veteran local leader and Parliamentarian, the late D.B. Patil, while the Shiv Sena is keen on naming it after the party's founder, the late Balasaheb Thackeray.

The protests erupted a day after the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), which is the nodal agency for NMIA, said that the airport would be run by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), an entity of Adani Group.

Besides those in Navi Mumbai, thousands of people have marched in from Palghar, Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts since the past couple of days to converge under the banner of the All Party Action Committee (APAC).

They have been supported by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party, even as the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi allies -- Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress -- remained aloof.

Anticipating a large turnout, Maharashtra Police had made elaborate security arrangements in Navi Mumbai and its surroundings areas, blocking several approach roads besides deploying a huge posse of personnel to thwart any untoward incidents.

On Thursday evening, the organisers of the protest gave an ultimatum to the state government till August 15 to name NMIA after the late D.B. Patil, failing which they would hinder work at the airport, which is expected to launch operations in 2023-2024.

The CIDCO has already approved a proposal to name it after the late Balasaheb Thackeray, and senior Sena leader and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde had also stated that the NMIA would be named after the late Sena founder.

While Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has refrained from making any comments on the issue, his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray had stated recently that since the NMIA is an extension of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, the same name should be continued for the new airport.

Besides these, two other prominent names have been floated by various groups and online campaigns in favour of the late J.R.D. Tata, the father of civil aviation in India, while a BJP leader has demanded it to be christened after the late Vasantrao Nail, the state's longest-serving Chief Minister.
New Delhi, June 24 : Reliance Jio and Google on Thursday shared more details about their jointly developed 'Made for India smartphone -- JioPhone Next -- which will be available in the country from September 10.

Announcing the launch at the annual general meeting of Reliance Industries Limited on Thursday, RIL CMD Mukesh Ambani said that JioPhone Next will be available in the market from the auspicious date of Ganesh Chaturthi on September 10 this year.

The smartphone features premium capabilities, including language and translation features, and support for the latest Android and security updates.

"Our vision is to bring affordable access to information for Indians in their own language, to build new products and services for India's unique needs and empower businesses with technology," Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google and Alphabet, said in a statement.

"Our teams have optimised a version of our Android OS especially for this device. It will offer language and translation features, a great camera, and support for the latest Android updates," Pichai added.

Based on an optimised OS that is leveraged from Android and Play Store with features that are built specially for JioPhone Next, the two technology organisations have worked closely to create a smartphone experience aimed at addressing the unique needs of millions of smartphone users across India.

According to the CEO, it is built for India and it will open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the Internet for the very first time.

"While being ultra-affordable, JioPhone Next is packed with cutting-edge features like the Google Assistant, automatic read-aloud of screen text, language translation, smart camera with augmented reality filters and much more," said Mukesh Ambani.

"This is testimony to a global technology company and a national technology champion working jointly to make a breakthrough product," Ambani added.

Along with support for the latest Android releases and security updates, this experience will keep getting better with new features and customisations, all delivered over the air.

With Google Play Protect built-in, it has Google's world-class security and malware protection. And with the Google Play Store, users will have access to millions of apps that people across the world use and enjoy.
Washington, June 24 : Covid-19 pandemic decreased life expectancy in the US by 1.87 years, between 2018 and 2020, a drop not seen since World War II, according to new research.

The numbers are even worse for people of colour. On average, whereas life expectancy among white Americans decreased by 1.36 years in 2020, it decreased by 3.25 years in Black Americans and 3.88 years in Hispanic Americans, revealed the research published in the journal of the British Medical Association.

"It's like nothing we've seen since World War II. 1943 was the last time the US had such a large decrease in life expectancy," said lead author Steven Woolf, and director Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Center on Society and Health.

Other countries also saw declines in life expectancy between 2018 and 2020, but the loss of life expectancy in the US was 8.5 times that of the average for 16 peer countries. The declines for minority populations were 15 to 18 times larger than other countries.

The US had among the world's highest per-capita mortality rates due to Covid. Black and Hispanic communities were hit harder than white populations. The US death toll has surpassed 600,000, according to Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center.A Life expectancy trends in the US were already "very worrying," Woolf said. Since the 1980s, improvements in life expectancy in the US have not kept pace with peer countries. Around 2010, life expectancy in America plateaued and then decreased for three consecutive years. It continued to climb in other countries.

"The disorganised handling of the pandemic in the US had a lot to do with governance," said Woolf.

"Our Constitution delegates public health authority to states, so we had 50 response plans. Many lives were lost because so many decisions were driven by politics and ideology. Covid-19 exposed a lot of the systemic problems that have been fuelling the long-term decline in the health of Americans," he noted.

It is well-known that Covid-19 had a disproportionate impact on people of colour, but the effect on life expectancy for those groups was "jolting," Woolf said. Life expectancy in Black men in particular reached its lowest level since 1998.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
San Francisco, June 24 : Following a debate, the US House Judiciary Committee has advanced all but one of the bills before it that focus on curbing Big Tech and its ability to promote its products and services over others -- and the last one will likely get the nod on Thursday.

After a Wednesday approval of a bill to increase the antitrust enforcement budget, the committee has now also backed all but one of the bills concerning Big Tech market dominance.

The bills have advanced despite lobbying efforts from Google and Apple, which included CEO Tim Cook reportedly phoning Speaker Nancy Pelosi directly, AppleInsider reported.

Central to the package is the American Choice and Innovation Online Act, which is concerned with preventing dominant platforms from unfairly promoting their services.

According to the Wall Street Journal, it was approved by a vote of 24 to 20.

The Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching, or Access, Act, was passed from 25 to 19.

This bill aims to give the FTC extensive new powers to set standards for large tech companies, the report said.

Rep. Jim Jordan was among those objecting to extending the FTC's powers. He argued that gave unprecedented power and even the ability to impose a political agenda on the firms.

Broader concerns regarding all of the bills were reportedly also debated by both Democrats and Republicans. Reportedly, issues were raised over the fairness of targeting only the largest technology platforms.

At the same time, the Wall Street Journal said that lawmakers questioned whether Microsoft had successfully lobbied to be excluded from the proposed legislation.

Rep. David Cicilline denied that any firm was exempted and separately a Microsoft spokesperson claimed there had been no lobbying.

"At its core, this issue is fundamentally about whether or not we have an economy where businesses fighting for economic survival can actually succeed," said Cicilline.

He claimed that the unchecked power of the largest technology firms was a threat to the economy, and even to American democracy.
Mumbai, June 24 : Veteran actress Shabana Azmi took to social media on Thursday evening to complain against fraudsters who cheated her using the name of an online alcohol shop in the city.

"Finally traced the owners of @living_liquidz & it turns out that the people who cheated me are fraudsters who have nothing to do with Living Liquidz! I urge @mumbaipolice and @cybercrime to take action to stop these crooks from using names of legitimate businesses & scamming us," Shabana Azmi tweeted, tagging Mumbai Police.

It all started after the actress tweeted earlier in the day alleging she had been cheated by an alcohol shop, which received online payment from her, didn't deliver the goods and stopped taking her calls.

"BEWARE I have been cheated by them. #Living Liquidz I paid upfront and when the ordered item didnt turn up they stopped picking up my calls! I paid Account no.91917198****. IFSC- PYTM0123***Name living liquidz. Paytm payment bank," Azmi tweeted on Thursday morning.

Commenting on her tweets, netizens suggested the actress to place order using the shop's app and make the payment after delivery.
Kochi, June 24 : The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday approached the Kerala High Court with a petition seeking the court's intervention to cancel the judicial probe ordered by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against ED officials who pressurised two prime accused in the gold smuggling case to confess against Vijayan.

In their petition it states that Vijayan has violated his official position by ordering this judicial probe and the Kerala government has no right to do so.

Even though the probe was announced during the fag end of the first Pinarayi Vijayan government, the orders appointing Justice (retd) V.K. Mohan came after Vijayan retained power in the April 6 assembly polls, but before he was sworn in a second time.

The Commission had given an advertisement asking those who want to give a statement to do so.

The BJP has expressed concern over the manner in which Vijayan has gone ahead and set up the Commission, which they termed an attack on the federal structure.

The premise of this judicial probe is based on a complaint by two women police officials that they were allegedly being pressurised to testify that the gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh was coerced into giving statements implicating Vijayan in the case.

According to the two women police officials, who were providing security to Swapna Suresh when in judicial custody, that they had heard of the ED pressurising her to name Vijayan.

Incidentally when Vijayan went about this by registering a case through the Crime Branch and then announcing a judicial probe, Union Ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman among others had slammed such a move by the Kerala government.

In April, Vijayan suffered a setback after the Kerala High Court quashed the two FIRs registered against the Enforcement Directorate officials by the Crime Branch unit of the Kerala police in the very same case.
New Delhi, June 24 : After the Prime Minister's meet on Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress said that it has put forward five demands including restoration of statehood.

Former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad speaking to reporters at his residence said, "We have made five demands including grant of full statehood, conduct of assembly elections to restore democracy, release of political prisoners and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and domicile rules." He said that Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government is committed to statehood. Most of the leaders demanded restoration of statehood.

The crucial all-party meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and politicians of different parties in Jammu and Kashmir was held in Delhi on Thursday. It discussed the core issues almost two years after the erstwhile state lost its special status and was split into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without one.

Four former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers were among the 14 leaders who participated in the meeting on the Prime Minister's invitation to them last week. Three of them, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti, were jailed for six months to one year from August 5, 2019, when the changes were enforced.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 24 : The Congress and the BJP in Kerala have demanded the immediate ouster of state Women's Commission chairperson M.C. Josephine for her "rude and curt behaviour" towards a woman complaining about domestic abuse meted to her at her husband's home.

In a TV channel organised phone in programme, Josephine, responding to a woman who had called to complain about the harassment that she has been facing at her husband's home, but added that she had not given a police complaint, said: "If you have not done (that), then you continue to suffer." In the one to one talk between Josephine and the hapless woman, Josephine behaved in a "very rude and curt manner, where she was seen expressing her displeasure all through the talk" and at the end, the caller disconnected, opposition parties said.

Senior Congress leader Bindhu Krishna said it is "a shocking response" from a person who has to take care of the harassed and since that has not happened, she has to quit.

"I have raised a complaint against Josephine at the Kerala Women's Commission demanding action against her for her intimidatory response to a hapless woman. The complaint has been emailed," said Krishna.

New Congress president K.Sudhakaran said Josephine should quit and if she does not, she should be removed as this is not the way a responsible person should behave.

Senior BJP leader and former Commission member Pramila Devi said it is a shameful that a person who has to take care of rights and protection of women in Kerala reacts in such a brash manner.

"The Pinarayi Vijayan government should dissolve this present Commission, as she is a shame for Kerala," she demanded.

Meanwhile, Josephine defended herself, saying that they all are also human beings and going through various issues and "I never ever meant what I said".

"I am not appointed by the Youth Congress to this post and am ready to listen whatever the government says," she said.

This episode comes amid numerous cases of young married women committing suicides after being harassed at their husband's home for more dowry being reported across the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also stepped in and appointed a special officer and also announced a special helpline for harassed women to call in and complain.
New Delhi, June 24 : A new tracker has been launched to help Commonwealth countries monitor progress towards halving malaria cases by 2023 and ultimately eradicating the disease by 2030.

Developed by a group of malaria experts and the Commonwealth Secretariat, the tracker was due to be launched this week at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases taking place on the margins of the now-postponed Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The tracker supports a new report on progress towards the malaria commitment made by Commonwealth leaders in 2018 to halve malaria across endemic countries by 2023.

This reduction would prevent millions of malaria cases and save thousands of lives.

The report shows significant progress with nearly one-third of malaria-endemic Commonwealth countries on track to halve their case incidence and mortality rate from the disease by the end of 2019.

Despite country-level progress, as a grouping, the Commonwealth is currently not on track to reach the 50 per cent reduction target. The report calls on countries to accelerate action in the coming years to reach the historic target in the face of severe disruptions in malaria services caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ahead of the launch, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: "Although Covid-19 has seized the world's attention and resources, it is equally important for us to maintain focus on our pre-pandemic commitments and also sustain gains in malaria and other health conditions.

"Allowing ourselves to be distracted would result in irreparable damage to major health gains and human security." Last month, the tracker and report were presented at the annual meeting of Commonwealth Health Ministers, who endorsed both resources in their joint statement and agreed to accelerate action on the halving target as well as on their regional and global commitments to end malaria by 2030.

After the meeting, Rwanda's Minister of Health, Daniel Ngamige said: "It is clear from discussions at the Health Ministers meeting that we must get back on track to meet the commitment to halve malaria by 2023 and accelerate progress towards elimination in line with our global and regional commitments will be vital." Investment in defeating malaria will not only save 217,000 lives in the Commonwealth every year, he added, but will also have an add-on effect on strengthening overall health systems that are well equipped to tackle outbreaks and protect all citizens.

"Rwanda is committed to lead by example in reducing the Commonwealth's malaria burden. To achieve this, we need a constant dialogue between states and partners on how we can learn from each other on defeating malaria.

"We look forward to working with our Commonwealth partners to ensure the next CHOGM is a key milestone, both for our mutual accountability on the commitment and accelerating progress on defeating malaria," Ngamige added.

The digital tracker offers an interactive display to assist member governments in monitoring targets in graphs and maps as well as in identifying areas for improvement.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 24 : The Delhi Police have challaned the vehicle of Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for dangerous and negligent driving.

According to a senior Delhi Police officer, a challan was issued on Vadra's car after it was hit from behind on the Barapullah flyover in south-east Delhi, apparently after sudden application of break.

The officer said that Vadra was going to his office on Wednesday morning while his security personnel were accompanying him in another vehicle.

"Suddenly Vadra applied brake, which resulted in the vehicle of his security team hitting his car from behind," the officer said, adding that the traffic police issued a challan following the incident.
New Delhi, June 24 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday demanded restoration of statehood and Article 370 in the Valley, constitutionally and legally.

Coming out of the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said that she had told the Prime Minister that Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally and without taking the local government into confidence. "It was done illegally. It was a 70-year-old BJP agenda and they fulfilled it," she said.

Mufti added that she conveyed to the Prime Minister that if they wanted to abrogate Article 370, they should have done it keeping people in the loop.

Since abrogation of Article 370, there is fear among the people as law enforcement agencies are putting common people behind bars on mere suspicion.

She demanded compensation to the people who suffered due to the lockdown after Article 370 abrogation.

The former chief minister said that India should also start engagement with Pakistan as they did to stop ceasefire violations. "The government should start talks with Pakistan to initiate business at the borders," she said.

The leaders from Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stressed on the restoration of the political process in the Valley.

The all-party meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg lasted for three and a half hours. It was attended by 14 leaders including veteran politician and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.
New Delhi, June 24 : The Special Cell of Delhi Police said on Thursday that it has detained four persons hailing from Kargil in connection with its probe into the blast near the Israel Embassy here on January 29.

According to Delhi Police, the Special Cell in a joint operation with a central intelligence agency and the Kargil Police has detained four persons from Kargil in connection with the conspiracy to plan and execute terror activities in the national capital.

The four persons detained have been identified as Nazir Hussain, 26, Zulfikar Ali Wazir, 25, Aiaz Hussain, 28, and Muzammil Hussain, 25, all residents of Kargil in Ladakh.

An official said that they have been taken on remand and brought to Delhi for questioning.

A low-intensity bomb blast had occurred on January 29 near the Israel Embassy on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, less than 2 km from the Vijay Chowk, where the Beating Retreat ceremony was on, sending the security establishments into a tizzy.

The Beating Retreat ceremony was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

The Special Cell had registered a case following the blast. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had taken over the case on February 2 this year.

On June 15, the NIA had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for any information on the two suspects involved in the bomb blast. It had also issued the photographs and videos of the alleged suspects seen in the CCTV video footage captured outside the embassy.

The blast had shattered the windscreens of three parked cars, and had coincided with the 29th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Israel.
Shillong, June 24 : With one more body retrieved on Thursday, so far two bodies from among the five trapped miners have been recovered from a flooded coal pit in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills, where they were trapped in the mine 26 days ago, officials said.

State Disaster Management Authority Executive Director Ibashisha Mawlong said that the second body was retrieved from the 152-feet deep pit by Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers after the first body was recovered on June 16.

"The rescuers despite inclement weather, low visibility and other hurdles continued their efforts to recover all the five bodies from the coal mine," Mawlong told IANS over phone.

She said that the high water level in the coal mine hindered the rescue operations.

Mawlong, who is also Meghalaya's Joint Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, said that rescue operations involving the NDRF are going on since the five workers got trapped inside the coal mine on May 30.

A 13-member Indian Navy team also joined the rescue operation on June 12 with remotely operated vehicles (ROV), Diver Hand Held Navigation System (DHNS) and other equipment, she said.

A Navy diver was also seriously injured during the risky operations.

Over 50 personnel comprising NDRF, State Disaster Response Force, Fire and Emergency Service and the police personnel have been deployed at the site to conduct the crucial task of searching and retrieving the bodies of the miners.

According to Fire and Emergency Service officials, the vertical depth of water inside the pit is nearly 152 feet. Other rescuers said the depth of the rat hole mine would be more than 500 feet.

Following the accident at the mine at Umpleng Elaka Sutnga, East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, had said these workers got trapped due the sudden rush of water inside the mine after the dynamite blast used to split the coal pit and within no time, the mine was inundated.

Of the five miners, four were from Assam while one is from Tripura. Six co-workers managed to save themselves as they were on the outer side of the mine then and have returned to their homes in Assam.

Police earlier arrested mine owner, Shining Langstang, and charged him with violation of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order banning unscientific mining and transportation of coal.

The 'Sordar' (mine manager and head of the workers) is on the run and a lookout notice has been issued since he had brought the workers from Assam and Tripura to work in the illegal mine.

At least six people, who hailed from Assam's Karimganj district, were killed when they were working inside a coal mine in East Jaintia Hills on January 21 this year.

The latest incident on May 30 is a grim reminder of the December 2018 tragedy in the same district when 15 migrant miners from Assam died inside in an abandoned coal mine. The 15 miners had been stuck in the coal mine at a depth of nearly 370 feet after a tunnel was flooded with water from the nearby Lytein river. But their bodies could not be retrieved.

In April 2014, the NGT had banned the indiscriminate and hazardous rat hole coal mining in Meghalaya. But mining continued illegally with the authorities turning a blind eye, allege environmental activists in Meghalaya and Assam.
Mumbai, June 24 : With the threat of a Covid-19 'third wave' looming on the horizon, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday set a target of producing 3,000 tonnes per day liquid medical oxygen.

Currently, the state's LMO production is barely 1,300 tonnes daily and he called upon the oxygen manufacturers to hike their oxygen production and storage facilities on a priority basis.

Unveiling the 'Oxygen Swavalamban Yojana' before the representatives of major oxygen manufacturing companies in the state, Thackeray said that the industry has been given several incentives to enhance the capacity and appealed to them to put in place extra production and storage capabilities within the next 3-4 weeks to meet the LMO requirements of the possible 'third wave'.

Some of the oxygen manufacturing companies officials present at the virtual meet included Linde India Ltd. Managing Director M. Banerjee, JSW Techno Project President G. Rathore, Inox Air Products Director Siddharth Jain, Tia Nippon Sansui India's MD N. Vaidyanathan, Air Liquid India Holdings MD Bertrant Moni, Kolhapur Oxygen & Acetylene's CEO R. Gadwe and All India Industrial Gas Manufacturers' Association President Saket Tiku among others.

The CM said that during the second wave, the demand for LMO had increased tremendously, and despite a respite, in some districts the number of Covid-19 patients is still high.

"A third wave of Covid-19 is expected. A new variant of the coronavirus has been detected. But we do not know its lethality. Given the potential risks, it is important to make ourselves self-sufficient in oxygen while we still have the time to make preparations," Thackeray urged.

While reiterating that the first priority is to save peoples' lives, the CM admitted that owing to the lockdown, even the industries are suffering but the restrictions are being eased slowly.

He called upon the LMO industry to make storages at full capacity and also set up projects in the remote areas of the state to make oxygen easily available to the patients there, for which the state government would give full cooperation.

This would include transportation with adequate number of oxygen tankers, increasing the number of oxygen filling points, converting nitrogen carrying tankers into oxygen tankers, etc.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru, June 24 : The Karnataka High Court on Thursday granted interim relief to Twitter Managing Director Manish Maheshwari, in connection with the FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police over the Ghaziabad attack video.

Justice G. Narendar restrained the UP Police from taking any coercive action against Maheshwari and also directed it to conduct their inquiry through virtual mode.

Senior advocate C.V. Nagesh, appearing for Maheshwari, submitted that his client had no role to play in the circulation of the videos as he is only the revenue head looking after advertisement and sales.

Moreover, it was submitted that the UP Police first served summons to Maheshwari under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to appear as a witness. To this notice, Maheshwari had replied that he was not in a position to travel to Ghaziabad from Bengaluru and had requested recording of his statement through online means. Citing the Vinod Dua case, it was contended that the Supreme Court had allowed the recording of statements through online mode.

Subsequently, the UP Police had served notice under Section 41A CrPC, threatening he would be arrested if he failed to turn up at Loni Police Station, Ghaziabad.

Advocate Prasanna, appearing behalf of the UP Police, objected to maintainability of the writ petition, raising the issue of lack of territorial jurisdiction.

Justice Narendar, however, observed that the question of maintainability can be decided later. "As the petitioner is apprehending arrest in Bengaluru, the question of interim relief needs to be considered," he said.

The bench posted this matter on June 29 for next hearing.

An FIR was registered against Twitter and others against the backdrop of a video wherein an elderly Muslim man was asked to shave his beard and was forced to chant "Vande Mataram" and "Jai Shri Ram".

However, the Uttar Pradesh Police ruled out any "communal angle", and said that Sufi Abdul Samad, the elderly man, was attacked by six men who were unhappy over the taweez (amulets) he had sold them.

The FIR stated that the accused circulated a video of the incident on their Twitter handles without checking its authenticity, and that they gave the video a communal angle and intended to incite communal hatred between religious communities.

Maheshwari had filed a writ petition before the Karnataka High Court against the notice issued by UP Police in relation to this FIR, under Section 41A CrPC.
Srinagar June 24 : With an aim to provide financial succour to their families, J&K Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh has sanctioned Rs 1.45 crore as Special Welfare Relief for Next Of Kin (NoKs) of martyred/deceased police personnel and also to the NoKs of special police officers (SPOs) who expired while in service, officials said on Thursday.

Special welfare relief of Rs 20 lakh each has been sanctioned in favour of dependents/legal heirs of deceased police officer/personnel.

Deputy Director, Prosecution, Parshotam Lal and Nursing Orderly Farooq Ahmad Shah passed away due to illness while in service. Head Constable Mulk Raj and Constable Rashpaul expired in a road accident and Constable Waseem Ahmad and Showkat Ahmad attained martyrdom in a terrorist attack.

A sum of Rs 1 lakh each has been already paid to the families/NoKs for performing the last rites as immediate relief by the PHQ through their concerned units. The financial assistance has been given out of the Contributory Police Welfare Fund.

Besides, special relief of Rs 5 lakh each has been sanctioned in favour of dependents/legal heirs of deceased SPOs Kulbushan Kumar, Mohd Imran, Naresh Kumar, Mehmooda Akhter. and Shakeel Hussain who expired during the course of their engagement in the department.

A sum of Rs 50,000 each have been already paid to the families/NoKs of these SPOs for performing the last rites as immediate relief by the PHQ through their concerned units. The financial assistance has been given out of the Contributory Welfare Fund of SPOs.

Police headquarters under different welfare schemes is providing financial assistance to all the ranks of Jammu and Kashmir Police including the wards of martyred police personnel and POs.
Amaravati, June 24 : Andhra Pradesh has opposed the Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2021, at the 18th meet of the maritime development council that was held in virtual mode, on Thursday.

Conveying the state's reservations over the proposed Bill to union shipping minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Andhra Pradesh's infrastructure and investments minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy said that the state government would revert in a month, after studying the Draft Bill.

Speaking to the media later, Reddy said that the proposal to bring management of minor ports under the purview of the central government, goes against the states' interests, and the federal spirit of the country.

Reddy said that the state would set up an expert committee to study the Draft Bill. "If necessary we will join hands with other coastal states to protect our interests," he added.

At Thursday's meeting, neighbouring Tamil Nadu also opposed the draft Bill.

Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged his counterparts in eight coastal states and the Union Territory of Puducherry to oppose the Draft Indian Ports Bill 2021 proposed by the central government.
Telangana urges Centre to step up efforts for UNESCO tag for Ramappa temple Image Source: IANS News

Telangana urges Centre to step up efforts for UNESCO tag for Ramappa temple Image Source: IANS News

Telangana urges Centre to step up efforts for UNESCO tag for Ramappa temple Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad/New Delhi, June 24 : The Telangana government on Thursday urged the Centre to step up its efforts to get the UNESCO heritage tag for the famous Ramappa temple located at Palampet village in Mulugu district.

A high-level delegation led by state Tourism and Culture Minister, Dr V. Srinivas Goud on Thursday met senior officers of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India in New Delhi.

A team of UNESCO officials had inspected the historic Ramappa Temple in 2019.

The delegation has requested for speeding up of restoration works at Ramappa and the thousand-pillar temple of Warangal.

It also discussed pending sanctions for the state in the Culture Ministry.

The officers of ASI were requested to take up the development works of monuments and forts in the state and proposals of upgradation, refurbishment and renovation of museums in Warangal, Hyderabad, and Karimnagar.

The delegation has requested speedy disposal of shifting the Golkonda sound and light show from the existing place to new panoramic view of the fort, and central financial assistance for development of cultural complexes in the state under "Tagore Cultural Complex" Scheme.

After the formation of Telangana state, the ministry had accepted extending financial assistance for renovation of Karimnagar Museum and revised DPRs are submitted for approval.

The minister also requested the officers of Ministry of Culture and the ASI for the rare antiques and artifacts shifted from Nagarjuna Sagar museum to be brought back to the state and assured the state support for building world class museum in Hyderabad to showcase these.

The delegation also included state ministers Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Satyavathi Rathod and MPs MPs Banda Prakash and Kavitha Maloth.

Later, Srinivas Goud submitted a memorandum to Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh for approval of new projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Further, the minister requested for sanctioning two projects under Prasad scheme for development of Sri Venkateshwara Swami Temple, Manyam Konda with Rs 50.1 crore and Sri Sitarama Swami Temple at Badrachalam with Rs 50 crore.

He also requested for upgradation of the sound and light show and creation of World Class Interpretation Center at Golkonda Fort, which attracts large number of international tourists.
Chennai, June 24 : Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK are fighting, both within the house and outside, over credit for controlling the Covid pandemic in the state.

Former minister and AIADMK spokesman D. Jayakumar set off the clash when he, on Monday, said that it was the party's K. Palaniswami government that developed the health infrastructure in the state, while Medical and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian said that it is the DMK government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin who helped the state recover from the second wave of the pandemic by focused intervention.

The Assembly also witnessed a major spat on the issue of containment of Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Palaniswami told the house that his government had taken several initiatives including conducting 9.4 lakh fever clinics which benefited 4.85 crore people since March 2020.

He said that his government opened 267 laboratories for quick testing of patients during the initial days.

"Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, and social activists did not have any idea about the disease and were scared. The government arranged PPE kits, stocked adequate drugs, N95 masks, and was even recognised by the Prime Minister in the all Chief Ministers meetings held virtually." He said that it was his government that brought the situation under control in state.

Refuting the claims, Subramanian said: "The DMK government under Thiru M.K. Stalin has taken the initiative to increase the per day testing from 85000 to 1.7 lakh a day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a recent meeting had said that Tamil Nadu was a role model and the efforts taken in Chennai should be a model for other corporations in the country." Political observers, however, say that both Dravidian parties should not have stooped to this level, taking credit for controlling a pandemic that has claimed the lives of many.

"Bringing down Covid-19 fresh and active cases is the duty of the government. It is immaterial as to who rules the state and who is in opposition," Madurai-based journalist-turned-political analyst S. Sivashankar said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru/Haveri, June 24 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday said that he has directed the police to arrest, within 24 hours, the people who killed a BJP local woman leader in broad daylight.

Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a review meeting on the progress of the Bengaluru Suburban railway project (BSRP) here, he said that police already has clues about the murderers and he was sure that culprits will be behind bars within 24 hours.

Echoing Yediyurappa's statement, Revenue Minister R. Ashoka said that the police has definite clues about this murder. "Rekha's husband S. Kadiresh's killers were out on bail just couple of weeks ago and there are multiple leads available to attest the fact that these accused had played a major role in this murder too," he said.

The minister added that BJP Dalit leader Kadiresh was also murdered under similar circumstances in 2018.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters in Haveri that he had directed the police to investigate the murder case thoroughly. "It is too early to comment on anything about any politician's role in this case. The police will shortly arrest the culprits, as the police has all the clues about this murder too," he said.

Congress MLA, Zameer Ahmed Khan, who had been accused by the BJP top brass of sheltering killers of Kadiresh, said that though Rekha was in a different party but he had shared a very good personal rapport with her.

"I treated her like my sister. We may have been in different parties for different reasons, but it never came in our personal relationship like a brother and sister," he said.
Gurugram, June 25 : A man, who received turtles smuggled from Uttarakhand to Delhi to sell on to customers in Gurugram, has been arrested and 23 turtles seized from him, an official said.

The man was identified as Bhavya, 25, a resident of Sector-7, and the turtles were of two different species - ten Indian Tent Turtles and thirteen Black Spotted Pod Turtles.

"A team of the Haryana Forest and Wildlife Department had nabbed the accused from MG Road in Gurugram after a tip-off. The accused had received a box containing 23 turtles from a courier boy on Wednesday," a Wildlife Department official in Gurugram said.

The accused was also produced before an environment court in Faridabad on Wednesday and it sent him to police custody for further investigation.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that he has been involved in the business of smuggling turtles for the past one year, and that a WhatsApp group was also created by the smugglers for this purpose.

He said he usually sells one turtle for anything between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000.

The officer said turtles are in much demand these days as people believe that they bring prosperity.

"The accused also revealed that some people, in touch with him, raise turtles as a hobby. Some people buy turtles as they think their presence is auspicious and will bring them a fortune in professional and personal life," he said.
Our collaboration with UCI Health is an important step in bringing precision medicine closer to our local communities and ensuring there is equity of access to cutting-edge treatments. This is especially important for our underserved patients...

OPN Healthcare has signed an agreement with UCI Health, the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, to provide patients of OPN network physician groups with access to clinical trials being conducted by UCI Health.

Offering the 2.6 million enrollees that OPN serves with improved access to oncology related clinical trials is an integral component of OPNs comprehensive population health platform for cancer care. OPN believes that this partnership with UCI Health will offer more community oncology patients the ability to participate in leading edge clinical research normally limited to a restricted population. By giving them improved ways to participate in these trials, OPN will expand opportunities to receive new and innovative therapies for many underserved communities, and ensure patients receive off-labeled treatments in an IRB-approved, safe and protected environment.

Payers will also see notable benefits from expanded clinical trials as these programs often result in lower costs and improved patient outcomes. Significant research suggests that oncology patients do better when they participate in clinical trials due to improved healthcare provider access and more structured monitoring for treatment response and adverse effects. OPNs Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anthony Lam, believes that, Our collaboration with UCI Health is an important step in bringing precision medicine closer to our local communities and ensuring there is equity of access to cutting-edge treatments. This is especially important for our underserved patients, many of whom face social, logistical and financial barriers to higher-level care.

As Dr. Lam notes, OPNs own clinical trials program has been successful in bringing new studies to community oncologists, but no single program will have access to all applicable studies. By building bridges to other programs that offer innovative and promising new therapies, OPN will provide the best opportunities for all the patients in the OPN system.

This is part of a much larger effort by OPN to expand clinical trial access to the patients of its network physician groups. OPN has relationships with other leading academic research institutions on a similar basis as the UCI Health agreement. Patients today have OPN coordinated access to 44 clinical trials, 10 of which are currently being conducted at UCI Health.

OPN Healthcare is a technology enabled specialty healthcare services company focused on cancer care. A leading oncology physician network, OPN fosters sustainable relationships between payers, physicians and patients. Established in 1999 and headquartered in Southern California, it manages over 2.6 million enrollees in four states. OPN provides infrastructure, insights and knowledge to manage and align networks via an IPA model for medical oncology care within its community-based oncology networks.

For more information, contact George Skarpelos at (323) 301-6406 or georges@opnhc.com.
Co-founders Marc Fischer and Rob Pope Over the past decade, weve helped hundreds of companies bring their digital products to life.

July 24th, 2021, Dogtown Media celebrates its 10th year in business. Headquartered in Southern California, Dogtown Media has grown to build a dynamic global workforce spread across twelve time zones on three continents. The companys mission is to accelerate innovation and build sci-fi digital experiences to disrupt digital health, FinTech, robotics, and legacy industries alike.

For the past ten years, our team of top-tier user-centric designers and full-stack software engineers have helped over 250 organizations bring their digital products to market. Said Co-founder and CEO Marc Fischer.

From growing VC-backed organizations to the Fortune 500; companies such as Google, Redbull, and Lexus have trusted Dogtown Media with the development of their future-thinking mobile applications. Today, Dogtown Media has built their reputation as a leader in the mobile health space, integrating with the 5 largest health providers and most impactful global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in the United States. The digital health solutions that Dogtown has brought from inception to commercialization are actively used in clinics across the globe, saving thousands of lives per year.

Dogtown Media has received numerous accolades and awards including making the INC 5000 list for fastest-growing companies in America three years in a row. Every year since 2014 Dogtown Media has also been named a top mobile app developer on earth by Clutch Research. This emphasis on disruptive design has allowed Dogtown Media to help startups bring concepts to the market enabling organizations to go on and raise over one billion dollars in venture capital and create thousands of high-paying jobs across the country.

Outside of disruptive design, Dogtown Media has prioritized outreach and philanthropy, raising significant funds for charitable foundations, and promoting STEM education to thousands of students in the United States, Japan, and Latin America. Further, Dogtown Media has partnered with government institutions to formulate smart policy and accelerate the adoption of telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and digital health innovation within health systems across the nation.

Based in California, Dogtown Media is a mobile technology studio that leverages disruptive design strategies and dynamic development to deliver industry-leading apps. To date, Dogtown Media has created over 250 mobile apps in industries including Healthcare app development, IoT, and Artificial Intelligence.
AiRANACULUS, a private, Massachusetts-based technology company providing early stage research, development, prototyping and consulting services, announced it has been awarded a second NASA Small Business Innovation Research contract for development of an advanced space communications system to support upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars.

Under the new contract, AiRANACULUS will develop a first-of-its-kind Intelligent Network Slicing and Policy-based Routing Engine solution (INSPIRE) to manage diverse traffic across shared satellite networks. The project leverages Network Slicing features in 5G networks to logically partition and securely manage multiple application services. In addition, INSPIRE will enable new levels of policy control. Given the long transmission distances for moon and interplanetary satellite missions, communication functions and operations currently have to be planned well in advance. The AiRANACULUS solution will use continuous assessment of the ambient RF environment to feed machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to make routing decisions without having to wait for ground-based assessment and control of anomalous situations.

The project will provide NASA a unified traffic management architecture for both space and ground communications, dramatically simplifying control of these complex networks, said Dr. Apurva N. Mody, Founder and CEO of AiRANACULUS. The self-adjusting communications network will introduce new levels of ultra-high availability and efficiency with significant benefit for commercial and military terrestrial networks in the future.

AiRANACULUS was previously awarded a NASA contract for development of a next-generation, cognitive communications network called CLAIRE. The CLAIRE system incorporates innovative network sensing and machine learning mechanisms to autonomously detect, learn from and adapt to changes in transmission spectrum utilization to optimize mission communications.

For more information, please visit http://www.airanaculus.com.

About AiRANACULUS

AiRANACULUS (http://www.airanaculus.com) is at the forefront in Intelligent RF and Networking Solutions for applications ranging from Space communications to Smart Cities. The company has assembled the worlds leading experts to provide algorithms, reference architectures and products in signal processing, cross-layer analysis, cybersecurity and networking to create spectrum aware technologies capable of re-configuring radio and sensor systems for optimal performance in congested and contested environments.
AIS Network, a leading IT and cybersecurity provider to the Commonwealth of Virginia, has announced that two of its cybersecurity experts will present How to Investigate and Prevent Cyber Attacks this morning at 2021 Cybersecurity Reboot, the commonwealths sold-out virtual conference for government security professionals.

AISN Chief Cybersecurity Engineer Oran Dillon will join Chief Operating Officer Eddie McAndrew in discussing the key to both preventing and investigating cyberattacks and how assessing your organizations security posture is intrinsic to developing the foundation for a sound security program.

The conference is limited to state government employees. Its agenda is built around the theme of "2021 Cybersecurity Reboot - Tools for building a cyber resilience" and is targeted to those responsible for managing or assessing information security in state agencies, local government and higher education. Virtual conference participants will have the opportunity to earn up to five continuing professional education (CPE) credits.
Akia is happy to announce a direct integration with SkyTouch Technology, a provider of cloud-based hotel management tools. The integration between Akia and SkyTouchs /CONNECT platform enables hoteliers to intelligently manage their hotel operations. Akia aligns with SkyTouchs vision to support hotels in maximizing efficiency and increasing revenue. This important integration will empower more hotels to focus on providing the best possible guest experiences.

With this integration, SkyTouch will automatically sync with Akia to provide all relevant information about guests. Akia can then allow hotels to engage with guests via text message, saving time and personalizing the guest experience even more.

We are looking forward to working with SkyTouch, an organization that is deeply committed to modernizing hotel operations and personalizing their service to each clients individual needs. We are excited to be able to serve more hotels together as we move forward into a new age of hospitality, said Ryan Kanoknukulchai, Director of Partnerships at Akia.

Integrating with Akia using the SkyTouch /CONNECT technology platform will provide our customers hotel staff with a seamless solution that enables touchless communication with the guest to personalize their stay. says Peggy Paulic, SkyTouch Technology Product Manager.

As the guidelines around travel and social distancing continue to change over the course of this year, Akia and SkyTouch aim to support hotels as much as possible in the overall recovery process. Helping hotels effectively recapture demand and smoothly adapt to the changing hospitality landscape is both Akias and SkyTouchs top priority. Akia and SkyTouch have high hopes for this year, and we look forward to the future together.

For more on the SkyTouch x Akia integration, please visit https://www.akia.com/integration/skytouch

ABOUT SKYTOUCH

SkyTouch Technology is the provider of a widely used cloud-based property management system. Built in the cloud by hotel professionals for hotel companies, the SkyTouch hotel operations platform is designed to help hotel executives meet their most important strategic objectives: to enhance the guest experience, advance performance, and achieve growth while evolving with changing market needs. Accessible from anywhere, the SkyTouch PMS provides visibility and control of operations through real-time, impactful business analytics that help improve hotel guest experience, operational decision-making, and financial results for todays hotelier. SkyTouch provides an integrated approach to online hotel reservations that fits any size property. For more information about SkyTouch Technology, visit http://www.skytouchtechnology.com

SkyTouch, SkyTouch Technology, and SkyTouch Hotel OS are proprietary trademarks and service marks of SkyTouch Solutions, LLC.

ABOUT AKIA

Akia is an artificial intelligence-powered hotel messaging service that enables hotels to streamline operations and facilitate contactless options for check-in, on-property communications, reputation management, and revenue optimization. Akia was founded in 2018 by a team of former Facebook engineers with backgrounds in machine learning and consumer messaging.
For law firm leaders, strategists, and consultants, this is the type of in-depth, actionable intelligence which should drive expansion strategy. Said Patrick Fuller, Vice President and GM of ALM Intelligence.

ALM Intelligence is pleased to announce the release of the first two in its new series of Legal Market Analysis Reports, Austin/Dallas/Houston and the San Francisco Bay Area. These comprehensive market analysis reports blend legal and economic data and feature a scorecard that measures and benchmarks relative market attractiveness against other major US legal markets.

The San Francisco Bay Area Market Report contains data, insight, and analysis about the markets legal landscape and business climate. In addition, the report measures the drawing power of the market for lawyers and law firms. Featured cities include San Francisco, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Walnut Creek, San Jose, Oakland, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and more.

The Texas Market report is an extensive study of the current economic conditions and the unique law firm dynamics that make Texas an ongoing target for corporate and law firm expansion. Additionally, the report identifies the fastest-growing firms within the strategic legal markets and the conditions necessary to sustain continuous growth.

For law firm leaders, strategists, and consultants, this is the type of in-depth, actionable intelligence which should drive expansion strategy, said Patrick Fuller, Vice President and GM of ALM Intelligence. As firms evaluate the competitive legal landscape and broader business environment of key domestic and international markets, the exhaustive data and analysis in these comprehensive reports will be an invaluable resource for firm leadership.

Some of the key takeaways from these reports are:



The Bay Areas high cost-of-living and heavy market saturation are significant reasons why Am Law 200 & NLJ 500 attorney headcount in the region remains relatively flat, yet firms continue to open offices

While some high-profile businesses and executives relocated to lower-cost markets with lower tax rates, some of the worlds most profitable tech companies remain rooted in the market due to the influx of venture capital funding

The low lawyer-per-capita ratio in Texas is conducive to expansion by firms headquartered outside the state, which have increased their presence by 44% over the last six years

Texas attractive cost of living index and rebounding unemployment rate make the state an attractive destination for corporate relocations and business start-ups

Some of our findings were surprising, said Caitlin Kennedy, Legal Analyst, ALM Intelligence. However, we can conclude that the Bay Area remains an attractive place for law firms to do business, especially as more firms continue to enter the market.

Whats interesting about these markets is that while they share few similarities, both are attractive markets for law firm expansion based on a completely different set of variables as determined by the ALM Intelligence scorecard. Mark A. Moore, JD, Legal Analyst, ALM Intelligence.

To learn more about the Texas Report go to:

http://at.alm.com/TexasLegalMarket

To learn more about the San Francisco Bay Area Report go to: http://at.alm.com/SanFranciscoBayAreaLegalMarket

These are available to download for our Legal Compass subscribers, if you are a Legal Compass subscriber download them today by logging into your account: https://legalcompass.intelligence.alm.com/

About ALM Intelligence

ALM Intelligence provides proprietary data, analysis, tools, and knowledge that empower our clients to succeed. The product suite and vast data repository arm professionals with the critical business information required to make the most impactful and informed decisions possible. The exhaustive data repository and product functionality enable professionals to combat competitive challenges head-on with the confidence to remain ahead of the field. The depth of ALM Intelligences expertise across the benefits, insurance, consulting, and legal industries provide a broad spectrum of actionable intelligence to facilitate and execute strategy. Visit http://www.alm.com/intelligence/ for more information.

About ALM Media, LLC

ALM, an information and intelligence company, provides customers with critical news, data, analysis, marketing solutions, and events to successfully manage the business of law. ALM serves a community of over 6 million business professionals seeking to discover, connect, and compete in highly complex industries. Please visit http://www.alm.com for more information, and visit http://www.alm.com/events/ to learn about our upcoming events. Please follow us on Twitter at @ALMMedia.
An architect and contractor team was able to design a Modern Farmhouse look with TandoStone as the foundation cladding. With TandoStone, the low upkeep and fact that it's impervious to moisture is a huge selling point, and since this property is within 200 yards of the water, proven product performance was essential. -- Chris Moye, owner of Moye Construction

Architect Mark Milby, of Coastal Cottages and Chris Moye, owner of Moye Construction collaborated to select a composite stone solution to cover the foundation wall for an Outer Banks homeowner in North Carolina.

The duo selected TandoStone, manufactured by Derby Building Products (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. TandoStone is the top-selling composite stone in the industry, with innovative Tando TruGrit texture that gives it the authentic feel and look of real stone. The high-tech composite construction is impervious to moisture and can be installed at ground level.

Acting as general contractor for Milbys design, Moye explained, Traditional masonry can be very costlyif you can even find someone to do the work. It takes more time, and weather conditions can delay the process. And with the elevated flood zone properties, masonry is not a viable option. With TandoStone, the low upkeep and fact that it's impervious to moisture is a huge selling point, and since this property is within 200 yards of the water, proven product performance was essential.

Stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to Currituck Sound and Ginguite Creek, Southern Shores is a premiere residential community near Kitty Hawk on North Carolinas Outer Banks. Realtor Tammy Russell knows the area well, and wanted her dream home built in the community. A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Russell had a clear vision for the propertya light-colored modern farmhouse design situated on a beautifully manicured property. According to Russell, Chris and Mark helped bring my vision to life.

The home's cladding was comprised of a composite siding with a horizontal lap-style on the lower portion with board and batten on the top.

Russell explained, I had Chris space the batten strips 16" apart so it was not too busy. I chose a crisp white paint for the body of the house with black windows. I painted the trim around the windows black to make them pop (black trim is a known Modern Farmhouse color trend). Chris did a louvered underpinning that we painted in a dark charcoal gray under the front porch, which created a simple contrast for the stone look of the foundation.

After completing the top exterior of the house, Moye contacted Rob Mielke, veteran sales contractor with Guy C. Lee, who provided Moye and Russell with several TandoStone colors including Glacier Bay, Sedona Buff, Santa Fe, Chestnut Hills, and Lewiston Crest.

As an Outer Banks property, Russells home was built on pylons to comply with National Flood Insurance guidelines. Over the years, pylons have created a design challenge for architects and builders, both functionally and aesthetically.

Moye noted, We wanted to stay away from the lattice work that many area homes have adopted to cover the pylons.

Russell agreed explaining, With the Modern Farmhouse look, it would have interfered with the design aesthetic, so we needed some different options.

She recalled, Rob Mielke laid out the TandoStone panels in various shades and styles and let me live with them for a few days. I ended up with the Stacked Stone in Lewiston Crest. The gray stone color really pulled the house together and grounded it. Its is not something you see often in this area.

The fact that traditional masonry was not required, allowed Moye and his crew to install the stone composite panels using carpentry skills instead of subcontracting.

The builder recalled, I retrofitted the siding, so it looked like it was covering the stone. I installed a vapor barrier to protect the plywood and attached the panels directly to that with stainless steel trim screws and fasteners of the same color. There were no J-channels, and the TandoStone corners are terrificthey create a seamless look. The result was a beautiful, authentic look.

The Outer Banks region, steeped in history and geographical diversity, has been shaped and reshaped by weather events over the years. Locals have always had a great respect for the formidable storms that have reconfigured the landscape and have gradually adapted to the practicalities of living near water.

As a 35-year veteran builder, Moye has seen a shift in consumer attitudes regarding composite materials, which started with deck trim and railing, then moved to cladding, and most recently, stone veneer.

According to Moye, The stone look for exteriors is starting to catch on here and Im seeing more of it in stock. When installed properly, people cant tell that its not real stone. I would recommend TandoStone to any client who wants to create a realistic stone look. With all new home builds up on pylons, weve had to adjust our approach. People are more willing to consider composite materials when they factor in the durability and authentic look.

Over the years, Moye has earned a reputation for integrity and fine craftsmanship in the Eastern North Carolina region. According to Russell, Chris was on the job every day. His attention to detail is amazing, and he was open to my ideas. I felt like we were partners throughout the process. He takes tremendous pride in his work. My neighbors saw his work and hired him to complete their addition.

She added, We absolutely love the place. The authentic stone look added to the overall exterior aesthetic. Ive had people stop and say, I love your home and I love the stone. They thought it was real stone!

About Tando

The Tando brand of exterior building products leverages innovation and manufacturing technology to solve market challenges such as labor shortages, long lead times, and moisture concerns all while meeting consumer demand for mixed material exteriors and low maintenance. From launching the first polymer shake over 40 years ago to developing the #1 brand of Composite Stone, Tando has a proven history of creating new categories, including TandoStone, Beach House Shake, and TandoShake. For more information, please visit http://www.beachhouseshake.com or http://www.tandobp.com.


With the opening of summer camps and the end to social distancing, head lice will once again migrate from one head to the other. In response, O.C.s Hair Police is pleased to offer their Absolute Clear non-toxic head lice removal enzymes.

Caregivers can experience sudden panic upon realizing a loved one has a possible head lice infestation. Before anxiety sets in, contact O.C.s Hair Police for guidance on this common summer camp challenge.

O.C.s Hair Police uses non-toxic Absolute Clear proprietary enzymes to kill lice and get rid of their nits (eggs). The non-toxic Absolute Clear multi-enzyme-based head lice treatment mix is non-abrasive, hypoallergenic, and free of parabens. Absolute Clears naturally sourced materials are formulated with surfactants and other biologically stimulating ingredients to provide a healthier option to removing head lice.

The enzymes in Absolute Clear destroy the louses exoskeleton which results in their total elimination. The enzymes are extremely efficient, as well, in loosening the glue-like substance that adheres the nit to the hair shaft making nit removal much easier. Viable nits must be within  or, 3 cms, of the head in order to receive the necessary heat from the scalp to incubate. If a nit is not within this region but still found farther down in the hair, they will not hatch and therefore are not viable.

According to a spokesperson from O.C.s Hair Police, Our priority has always been the health and well-being of our patrons. Absolute Clear can be used daily without harmful side effects and when used properly is 100% effective. Head lice have developed nearly 80% immunity to chemically based OTC and prescribed solutions because head lice have evolved to be able to sustain the chemical levels that are in these products. Keep in mind any product on the skin will be absorbed into the blood stream. Head lice can never become resistance to the non-toxic enzymes in Absolute Clear. We are proud to promote a product that eradicates head lice in a healthy manner!

O.C.s Hair Police encourages caregivers to allow their loved ones to enjoy an end to social distancing and a sense of normalcy while at summer camp. Simply, be proactive upon their return home and check for head lice every other day for one week. Examine behind the ears and the base of the neck within 1/2 or, 3 cms, of the scalp for nits. Nits are tiny, whitish, yellowish-brown to solid brown oval eggs firmly attached to one side of the hair shaft at an angle. They cannot be blown or flicked off nor will they crumble in your hand. Nits are firmly secured to the hair.

If a head lice infestation is detected, O.C.s Hair Police advises following their 3-Step 11-Day process using their Absolute Clear non-toxic enzymes coupled with diligent combing. Shop online @ their official website http://www.hairpoliceliceline.com/shop/ for all your product needs.

O.C.s Hair Police is a head lice removal company that has successfully removed head lice from hundreds of heads since 2012. They team with Orange County camps and schools using a proven head lice removal method inclusive of 100% naturally sourced non-toxic enzymes.

For further information about O.C.s Hair Police call or email at 949.631.2675 or lousearrest@hairpoliceliceline.com. For all you need to know and do regarding head lice infestations, visit their website @ http://www.hairpoliceliceline.com.

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There are several steps to take when a bicyclist is injured in an accident. Austin, Texas personal injury attorney Joel A. Levine details what cyclists should do following an injury.

Call the Police

Even if an accident or injury seems minor, Levine advises that cyclists call the police and wait for them to arrive. A police report should be filed regardless of the severity of an injury, as its common for injuries to emerge hours or even days after an accident has occurred. If a motorist or another cyclist was involved in the accident, victims should not attempt to negotiate with them or accept a payment at the scene in exchange for not filing a report.

Ensure Police Get All Sides of the Story

Its important for cyclists to get their version of the events into the official police report, rather than letting the officer rely on only the motorists side of the story. Even minor injuries should be reported to the officer in case they become more severe over time.

Collect Witness Information

Levine suggests getting the contact information of the motorist involved and any witnesses who saw what happened. Police do not always take this step, so its important for accident victims to be proactive. Cyclists who are too injured to collect this information should ask a bystander for help.

Document Relevant Information

As time passes, most victims will forget important details of their bicycle accident, so its critical that they take time the day of the accident to write down their account, including what happened, where it happened, how, when, and the weather, road, and traffic conditions. Injuries should also be documented in writing and with photographs. Levine recommends keeping a journal with daily descriptions of any symptoms and how they impact day-to-day activities. Evidence should be preservedvictims should not get their bicycle repaired, throw away their damaged helmet, or even wash their clothes.

Get a Case Evaluation

Bicycle accident victims should contact a skilled personal injury attorney for a case evaluation. An attorney can provide advice on how to proceed, negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of the injured party, and represent the victim in a lawsuit.

About the Law Office of Joel A. Levine

The Law Office of Joel A. Levine is a Texas law firm that specializes in personal injury and construction defect cases. Founded by attorney Joel A. Levine, the firm represents clients who have been injured in bicycle accidents, car accidents, dog bite incidents, nursing home abuse, and slips and falls. To learn more, visit https://injurylawyeraustintx.com, call 512-982-1510 to schedule a free case evaluation, to visit the Law Office of Joel A. Levine at one of its four locations:

Austin

1515 W. Koenig Ln., Suite 100

Austin, TX 78756

Dallas

12700 Park Central Drive, Suite 520

Dallas, TX 75251

Houston

6575 West Loop South, Suite 500

Bellaire, TX 77401

San Antonio

401 East Sonterra Boulevard, Suite 375

San Antonio, TX 78258
The CALLing: a poignant story of unfathomable loss, personal courage, and an inspired mission to honor their daughter through service to others. The CALLing is the creation of published author Michael L. Straley, a former newspaper journalist who became a communications/marketing/fundraising executive after teaming up with his wife, Robin, to create the Leahs Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2019 in memory of their beloved daughter, Leah Renee. He and Robin share Leahs story of addiction and theirs as grieving parents to women in recovery and with parents who are struggling over the loss of a loved one. Their candid stories and the presentation of a purple Leahs Legacy bag help with the healing process. Its their way of providing necessities, cheer, and love to those who are in a sober-living environment.

Mike and Robin Straley were scheduled to have dinner with their daughter Leah on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at a Delray Beach restaurant. Instead, they held a memorial service for their daughter in Hagerstown, MD. Leah died of fentanyl poisoning on February 14, 2018 while visiting a friend in the small city on Floridas southeast coast. When the call was received by Mike to meet two Pennsylvania State Troopers in the lobby at his workplace on that Valentines morning, he had no idea about the news he was about to receive. It was devastating. It left a large void in their small family. Not to mention the grief, despair and emptiness. So many questions about addiction, the opioid crisis and their daughters struggles with it all. Read about what Mike and Robin are doing to honor their daughter. How Leahs actions helped others in the sober-home living environment and now how the two have meshed to form a community outreach effort.

The CALLing is a heartfelt piece that takes you on an emotional journey of parents struggling to understand their daughters battle with addiction, the grief of losing a child and their valiant efforts to make a difference in the lives of others fighting the same addiction.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Michael L. Straleys new book is a heart-wrenching memoir of unbearable loss and an inspiring story of hope

View a synopsis of The CALLing on YouTube.

Consumers can purchaseThe CALLing at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The CALLing, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


The Agony of Rejection: a potent exploration of bullying. The Agony of Rejection is the creation of published author, Sarah Kihu, a loving wife and mother of two who was born in Limuru Division, Nairobi, Kenya.

Kihu shares, Growing up in a humble, well-respected family, Anita and her family seemed to have it all. This was the case until one dreadful autumn when everything changed. Illness and misery befell the family all at once, leaving them wounded and brokenhearted. The family suffered from rejection and bullying that led to scary outcomes. The journey was tough and lonely. Could they ever recover from the hate they faced?

"Although the family was suffering as a whole, Anita was hit especially hard; faced with depression, heartbreak, and addiction, she felt abandoned by those she trusted and loved and for a long time saw no end to her despair. Could she find the heart to forgive them and maybe even forgive herself? Would she ever find the true love that she yearned for, or was she destined for loneliness?

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Sarah Kihus new book is an engaging narrative of familial distress and the toll that takes upon each family member.

This unique tale of a familys struggle with illness, loss of friendship, and uncertainty of the future is a thought-provoking narrative from start to finish. Kihu eloquently expresses the anguish of social rejections through this poignant fiction.

View a synopsis of The Agony of Rejection on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase The Agony of Rejection at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The Agony of Rejection, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
FaithMoves in Forty Days: a compelling work designed to allow readers to deepen their faith and grow closer to Jesus. FaithMoves in Forty Days: Closer to Him is the creation of published author, Teri Gallo Blackadar, who lives in Maine with her yellow lab, Joe. She has a passion for Jesus, faith, family, and friends. Her nursing career provided deep insights into the various stages and seasons of life. She has also written assorted essays on nursing, beloved dogs, addiction, and recovery.

Author Teri Gallo Blackadar writes, Such love as this! In the cyclic movement of our earth and its seasons, we receive nourishment when the Son, light of His Spirit, feeds our hearts. Regardless of where you are, look and see the artwork of our Creator in the diverse landscapes of our world even in cities where architectural beauty can envelope the surroundings. God gave all men creative abilities. Such is the wonder of our minds! How He loves us!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Teri Gallo Blackadars new book provides useful insight and relevant guidance to steer readers in the right direction as they seek to invigorate their faith and become closer to Jesus. The book encourages readers to move spiritually each day in various ways to activate faith.

View a synopsis of FaithMoves in Forty Days: Closer to Him on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase FaithMoves in Forty Days: Closer to Him at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about FaithMoves in Forty Days: Closer to Him, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Shipshape is a company on a mission to make homes smart enough to take care of themselves by providing homeowners with the ability to monitor and manage all of their homes' critical systems.

BDry Alabama, a reputable foundation repair and waterproofing company, today announced that it has partnered with Shipshape Solutions to provide home assistant and monitoring solutions to Alabama homeowners.

Shipshape is a company on a mission to make homes smart enough to take care of themselves by providing homeowners with the ability to monitor and manage all of their homes' critical systems.

We want to be leaders in our industry and believe that Shipshapes cutting edge solutions have the ability to deliver extraordinary value for our customers to help them save time, money and improve the health of their homes, said BDry Alabama Director David Fievet.

In this partnership, BDry will join Shipshapes Service Provider Network as well as offer Shipshapes sump pump and dehumidifier upgrade solutions to its customers. In addition, the partnership will run co-marketing and other incentive campaigns to BDry and Shipshape customers.

Shipshapes next-gen intelligent features include:



Service Provider Network  Network to maintain relationships with local service providers and facilitate a seamless connection to those service pros when homeowners need help.

The HomeHealth Record - Complete performance history for each system in the home.

MyCoverage - Warranty and maintenance plan information is stored in the Shipshape App to facilitate a seamless connection to service pros.

Proactive AlertActions  Notifications that offer actionable recommendations to help the homeowner reduce risks and/or improve performance associated with the homes critical systems.

Shipshape Assisted Maintenance aka SAM  A virtual assistant that helps resolve issues and connects homeowners to service pros when needed.

We want to help local businesses grow and thrive, they are the experts at home services and we are the experts at technology. Our job is to help homeowners by empowering them with information to make smarter decisions with their maintenance or repair needs, while simultaneously lifting up the businesses of our partners, said Dale Johnson, Director of Service Provider Marketing Programs at Shipshape Solutions Inc.

This partnership offers Alabama homeowners a complete solution to protect their crawl spaces and basements.

About Shipshape Solutions Inc.

Shipshape is on a mission to make homes smart enough to take care of themselves. Shipshape believes every home should be safe, reliable, efficient and well maintained. The company operates a first of its kind proprietary smart home predictive maintenance platform that offers solutions to homeowners to reduce the costs of home maintenance and operations. The Shipshape platform integrates an ecosystem of smart home hardware to enable advanced analytics and recommend actions that will reduce risks and improve system performance. Shipshapes software platform unlocks the value of sensor data to enable a whole new era of the smart home.

Shipshape is based in Austin, TX. For more information, visit http://www.shipshape.ai (https://www.shipshape.ai/).


Big Blue Swim School, one of the nations fastest-growing swim school franchises, is coming to Boston and Eastern Massachusetts following a signed agreement for nine pools with local investment company Blue Zebra, led by Boston entrepreneur Gary Cohen. The first of these pools is slated to open in 2022.

Blue Zebra signed on as a franchise partner with Big Blue after learning about the high-quality investment opportunity and best-in-class consumer offerings provided by the franchise.

The exceptional team at Big Blue has created a mission-driven organization with a proven business model that utilizes a highly-trained, dedicated team of swim associates using proprietary technology. We plan to teach children how to be confident and safe in and around the water in a fun and engaging way, said Cohen, who grew up in Massachusetts. I could not be more excited about bringing Big Blue to our Greater Boston and Massachusetts communities.

What makes Big Blue so special is that we are teaching children a vital life skill, said Chris DeJong, Big Blues founder and president. With Garys passion for Boston and Massachusetts and knowledge of the market there, we know hell dive in and make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children.

A seasoned business leader and investor, Cohen served as a director at Microsoft and a Senior Principal at The Parthenon Group in addition to holding a variety of senior-level positions within the financial services sector. After carefully analyzing the numbers for a variety of business investment opportunities, he said Big Blue stood out.

Big Blues attractive economic model allows our team the ability to make this mission-driven offering accessible to families across Massachusetts. We are going to invest at least $25M building Big Blues specially-designed teaching pools in major shopping locations within the daily travels of millions of Massachusetts residents, Cohen said. I cannot wait to open our first locations, so that the community can experience first-hand what makes us so excited about Big Blue.

Since opening in 2009, Big Blue has changed the way swim lessons are taught. Everything we do is focused on showing kids they can achieve anything through the magic of weekly swim lessons, said DeJong. This mission drives every operational decision at Big Blue, and we think Gary and his team with Blue Zebra will deliver on that mission with passion and enthusiasm.

Backed by Level 5 Capital Partners, Big Blue signed 65 new franchise agreements across the country last year. With a goal of reaching 150 units sold by 2021, the brand is uniquely positioned to be the leader in the $3 billion learn-to-swim industry.

Big Blue Swim School franchise opportunities are still available in key markets across the country. To learn more, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com.

ABOUT BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL

Big Blue Swim School was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong. The first location opened in Wilmette, Illinois, followed by four additional Chicagoland schools. In 2017, Level 5 Capital Partners acquired a stake in the brand, and pools are now open in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Northern Virginia. Big Blue is currently growing through franchising with plans to have a minimum of 150 pools sold by the end of 2021. Big Blue Swim School's real estate expertise, strong brand, proprietary technology, and leadership support, coupled with its best-in-class consumer offerings, position its franchise partners for long-term success. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com.
California Connections Academy Celebrates Class of 2021 California Connections Academy has allowed me to prioritize both my schoolwork and my passion for dance, and keep a good balance on both. The teachers are incredibly caring. I could not have gotten through keeping up my schoolwork and my busy dance schedule without their support.

California Connections Academy, a tuition-free network of online public schools serving students in grades TK-12 across 32 counties in California since 2004, celebrated nearly 900 graduating seniors on June 23. Despite the challenges of the last year with the ongoing pandemic, school administrators and teachers were still able to honor the graduating class with proper pomp and circumstance during the virtual graduation ceremony.

The California Connections Academy Class of 2021 is comprised of graduates from six California schools: California Connections Academy Central, California Connections Academy Central Coast, California Connections Academy Monterey Bay, California Connections Academy North Bay, California Connections Academy Ripon and California Connections Academy Southern California, with students residing in 32 counties across the state. Among the graduating class, 62 percent plan to attend two- or four-year colleges or universities, 10 percent plan to enter the work force and 7 percent plan to attend vocational or technical school. Collectively, the graduating class earned more than $1.9 million in scholarship funds and students have been accepted to notable in-state and out-of-state universities including Dartmouth, United States Military Academy West Point, University of California Berkeley, Columbia University, among many others.

Among the graduates is California Connections Academy Southern California student Ashley Lew, an Irvine resident and award-winning ballet dancer. California Connections Academy has allowed me to prioritize both my schoolwork and my passion for dance, and keep a good balance on both, said Lew. The teachers are incredibly caring. I could not have gotten through keeping up my schoolwork and my busy dance schedule without their support.

I am continually proud of the hard work and dedication of our graduating class. Despite the challenging year we all experienced, our students leveraged their experience with online learning and were able to continue aiming high and conquering goals, said Dr. Richard Savage, California Connections Academy Executive Director. These students kept their focus and their heads up through it all, and I am excited to see them become the next generation of successful and thoughtful leaders.

As a Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited, online public school with 17 years of expertise, California Connections Academy provides more than 6,500 students with the continuous support of highly-skilled, state-credentialed teachers and curriculum that focuses on both academics and social-emotional learning. The schools teachers are specially trained to bring their skills and personality to the virtual classroom and emphasize the importance of fostering meaningful connections with students and their families. A students daily learning activities are flexible to meet their needs and families can decide in which order to complete the assigned work.

California Connections Academy students represent a diversity of backgrounds and education histories, ranging from those who are academically ahead or struggling in a traditional school setting to those who experience health challenges or bullying. At California Connections Academy, students have access to advanced courses and flexible daily scheduling that helps them to take ownership of their own educational journey. Students who choose to enroll in the school join a collaborative community of their fellow students and educators that provides a welcoming, distraction-free learning environment.

For additional information about online education and enrollment, the school is hosting free events for families to learn more. To learn more about California Connections Academy and begin the enrollment process, visit the schools website.

About California Connections Academy

California Connections Academy is a network of six tuition-free, online public schools, serving students in grades TK-12 throughout 32 counties. Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), we know how to create a high-quality educational experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe, virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers focus on emotional well-being and social development, working closely with families to help students learn how they learn best. Here, students gain the skills and confidence they need to direct their own educational journey, learning to thrive in the real world by first learning how to be resourceful and resilient. For more information, call 1-800-221-2720 or visit the schools website.
This latest ClearAngel recipient reflects our own mission to provide early-stage businesses with mentorship and networks in addition to capital. - Andrew DSouza, CEO, Clearco.

Clearco, the worlds largest e-commerce investor and the company revolutionizing the way founders grow their businesses, today announced that its ClearAngel program is funding Carolily Finery, a high-end, Canadian jewelry brand specializing in handcrafted statement necklaces, bracelets and earrings. ClearAngel provides early-stage founders with access to revenue share capital, data-driven advice, and Clearcos extensive network of apps, agencies, and investors.

Founded in 2015 by artist Donna Scheven and her daughter Danielle, Carolily Finery was crafted through a fusion of Donnas inspirational designs and Danielles digital marketing background and passion for human connection. Together, they created a shift from fast fashion to meaningful, small batch jewelry pieces that celebrate artistry and individuality while also giving back to their local community and Canadian not-for-profits. With ClearAngels support, Carolily Finery plans to expand its wholesale network, serve women across the nation and work towards becoming Canadas premier jewelry brand.

ClearAngel is a new, equity-free, flexible capital option for early-stage founders who dont have the network to raise an angel round or join exclusive accelerators. The program has already funded over 250 companies since its February 2021 launch.

Were thrilled to support Carolily Finery and its mission to provide statement jewelry that encourages confidence and self-expression, said Kent Fenwick, Vice President of Growth, Clearco. This latest ClearAngel recipient reflects our own mission to provide early-stage businesses with mentorship and networks in addition to capital.

Supplementary to $10,000 of flexible capital, Carolily Finery will also get access to a network of over 500 investors, growth teams, agencies, apps, lawyers, and buyers; and data-driven advice designed to help scale and hit new revenue milestones. Carolily Finery is now on track to exceed revenue expectations and has just launched a summer jewelry collection with soft, feminine colours. The jewelry company can unlock more funding as it completes these achievements.

Aligning with ClearAngel has been an invaluable experience for Carolily Finery, propelling our brand to new heights. said Donna Scheven, co-founder, Carolily Finery. Were excited to scale our handcrafted jewelry and inspire even more women to express their individuality, said Danielle Scheven, co-founder, Carolily Finery.

To learn more about Carolily Finery and view the brands handcrafted jewelry, visit http://www.carolily.com.

ClearAngel is currently onboarding E-commerce and product companies, and has limited spots available for SaaS, Apps, marketplace and stealth companies. To learn more about applying, visit angel.clearbanc.com.

About Clearco:

Co-founded as Clearbanc in 2015 by Michele Romanow from Canadas Shark Tank (Dragons Den), Andrew DSouza, Ivan Gritsiniak, Charlie Feng, and Tanay Delima, Clearco offers the most founder-friendly capital solutions for e-commerce, mobile apps, and SaaS founders as well as a full suite of products and access to a powerful global network, insights and data, and recommendations. Clearco has invested over $2 Billion in over 4,500 companies to date, including Leesa Sleep, fashion-rental service Le Tote, home goods company Public Goods, shirtmaker UNTUCKit, online speech therapy practice Expressable, and digital real estate marketplace SetSchedule. For more information visit clear.co and @getClearco.
The 2021 Honda Accord is now available at Capital Honda. It has a new grille design, a sculpted front end, an available heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and a variety of safety features.

Drivers in the Charlottetown area who are looking for a new sedan that has a stunning exterior design will like what the 2021 Honda Accord has to offer. It has a new grille design, a sculpted front end, an available heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and a variety of safety features.

The 2021 Honda Accord is available in six trim levels which include the SE, Sport, EX-L, Touring, Sport 2.0 and Touring 2.0. There are two engine options available depending on the trim level that is chosen. The first is a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.

The exterior of the 2021 Honda Accord has some great features that will cause heads to turn as it goes down the road. Some of the exterior features include heated power door mirrors, a chrome grille, LED headlights, LED taillights and so much more.

Getting behind the wheel of the 2021 Honda Accord will be quite a treat for drivers. There are luxury materials found throughout the sedan. Some of these include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, heated steering wheel and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

The 2021 Honda Accord will do its part in keeping its occupants safe. The sedan comes standard with Honda Sensing Technologies which include the following driver-assist systems: Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist System, Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning and Road Departure Mitigation.

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the 2021 Honda Accord that is now available at Capital Honda can do so by visiting https://www.capitalhonda.com/. Potential customers who have questions and would like to speak to someone from the dealership can do so by calling 902-566-1101. Finally, for those who would like a more personal experience, Capital Honda is conveniently located at 40 Lower Malpeque Road.
Daniel Maher, a medieval history buff, has completed his new book Shawn of Sherwood: an adventurous new take on the well-loved classic story of Robin Hood.

Having been fortunate to live in Germany during the early sixties, where his father was stationed while in the Air Force, Maher was inspired from a young age. He grew up playing in nearby castle ruins with his friends during a period when Robin Hood stars Errol Flynn and Richard Greene entertained them on their televisions. Since then Daniel developed a lifelong fascination with Robin Hood, Prince Valiant, and the Arthurian romances. Channeling his fond childhood memories while practicing his archery, Maher let his imagination take him back to Sherwood, hunting the kings deer, and so his vision was born.

Published by Page Publishing, Daniel Mahers intrepid tale combines rip-roaring adventure with suave romance to twist a notorious tale in a new light.

During the early thirteenth century, under the rule of King John, England fell into chaos. Rebellious barons were siding against the king, leaving many neutral nobles to fend for themselves against power-hungry knights and mercenaries. The peaceful and prosperous manor of Dorsey is forced to fight for its existence against the large mercenary army under the evil rule of Sir Gilbert. Shawn Fletcher, a young archer living in Dorsey, rises to the occasion as he, his friends, and the small Dorsey military contingent battle against great odds. When several skirmishes culminate in an action-packed epic battle pitting good against evil, Shawn is faced with the challenge of his life. In a tale of adventure and romance the notable Sherwood Forest comes alive once again, where outlaws are kings and the longbow reigns supreme!

Readers who wish to experience this exciting work can purchase Shawn of Sherwood at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
mytwocents: Volume 3: a thought-provoking deliberation of the Gospel. mytwocents: Volume 3 is the creation of published author, Dr. Steve Edge, a retired educator and devoted husband.

Dr. Edge writes, Whether you are a new believer or have been a Christian for many years, mytwocents is designed to assist you in your walk with Christ. One of the indispensable keys to spiritual growth is time spent studying the Bible. Scripture gives us sound instruction on how to live our lives as well as how to enjoy the love, joy, and peace that come from a personal relationship with Jesus.

Section 1: What are godly attributes? How do we know whether we are living consistently with what God desires for our lives? This examination of 2 Peter 1:58 will help us in our understanding about the character and nature of God as well as assist us in assessing our lives, checking to see if we are truly exhibiting godly attributes.

Section 2: The shortest of all the Gospels, Mark wastes no time in bringing us face-to-face with the truth found in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Mark has the ability to transform our thinking, allowing us to align our minds and hearts with the power found in the good news of Jesus. Reading just a chapter a day, we can move through this Gospel in a little over two weeks.

This book can be used as a personal daily devotional or a group Bible study. Whether it is the examination of one specific passage or a walk through an entire book of the Bible, these studies will bring biblical insight, allowing for a deeper understanding of Gods Word. May God richly bless you as you make the study of Scripture a priority in your life!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dr. Steve Edges new book is a motivating discussion that encourages readers to actively participate in Bible study.

Using a lifetime of enjoying the Bible as a basis, Dr. Edge offers readers a straightforward approach to experience a richly spiritual life.

View a synopsis of mytwocents: Volume 3 on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase mytwocents: Volume 3 at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about mytwocents: Volume 3, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Dragonfly providing network connectivity at PATRIOT Rahul Tiwari, CEO of Spooky Action, notes, The fact that Dragonfly was able to provide immediate connectivity in an operational deadzone is a testament to the success of the operation and the working relationships that Exercise PATRIOT fosters.

Spooky Action Inc. and Wisconsin Telelift Inc (WiscLift) are excited to announce successful flight operations of the Dragonfly Flying Cell Tower at Exercise PATRIOT 21 at Volk Field, on June 14-17.

Dragonfly is a hardened version of the Spooky Action Telelift UAV, which has been used for event and disaster response communications globally. Wisclift, in conjunction with Air Force Research Lab, has integrated this system into command and control vehicles for rapid deployment. Dragonfly provides the fastest post-disaster response capability on the market and allows first responders to establish connectivity in a disaster zone within hours.

The National Guards PATRIOT exercise demonstrates response readiness for domestic operations, including natural disasters and civil disturbances, and was a valuable testbed for the capabilities of Dragonfly. At the exercise, Dragonfly was able to provide Verizon network capability to first responders, connected with Satellite-based backhaul via a DH Wireless Portable Data Network. These exercises prove and optimize the ability of the National Guard to respond alongside state and local emergency responders, while successfully partnering with industry, says WiscLift founder Scott LB Williams. The AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is responsible for bringing innovative commercial technologies like Telelift into formal military programs like Project Dragonfly. It was the only commercial drone platform authorized to fly at the event.

Rahul Tiwari, CEO of Spooky Action, notes, We are excited to support Wisclift and the Air Force in their effort to provide rapid-deployable communications to US and Allied armed forces. The fact that Dragonfly was able to provide immediate connectivity in an operational deadzone is a testament to the success of the operation and the working relationships that Exercise PATRIOT fosters.

About WiscLift: WiscLift is a Wisconsin-based company with the expertise and association to develop & capture the rapidly emerging dynamic network market. WiscLift leverages its reach to provide local manufacturing, sales, service, application, and upfitment of Spooky Actions Telelift System.

Website: https://wisclift.com/

About Spooky Action: Spooky Action is a Minnesota-based robotics company that builds flying cell towers. Their flagship product, Telelift, has been deployed globally for disaster and event connectivity by the leading global network operators.

Website: https://spookyactionrobotics.com/telelift/


More community-minded than ever, with 84 outreach initiatives in 2021.

This unique day showcases the full spectrum of Edenreds Ideal corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy, with initiatives such as serving meals to disadvantaged people, cleaning natural areas and reaching out to talk with people experiencing hardship.

For the fifth Idealday, 84 community outreach initiatives will be held across the world, in cities as wide-ranging as Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, London and Brussels.

At Corporate Spending Innovations in the U.S., teams will split up to carry out various projects. Some will help organize donations at Harry Chapin Food Bank in Naples, Florida. Others will work alongside local non-profit organizations such as Community Cooperative Southwest Florida and the Bonita Springs Assistance Office.

Among initiatives carried out in other parts of the world, Edenred Singapore will hold a beach clean-up for its staff, while Group employees in Romania will pick up trash in the woods in Bucharest. Teams from Edenred Belgium will train small retailers in digital technology so they can develop their businesses, while 1,000 employees in Brazil will organize both in-person and online activities to help young people into the job market, chat with the elderly and support local non-profits.

Check out Edenreds Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts for all the latest on employee #Idealday initiatives on June 25, 2021

A symbol of Edenreds social commitments.

Launched in 2017, Idealday gives Edenred employees the chance to get involved in outreach initiatives falling under one of the three pillars of the Groups CSR policy: Idealpeople, which aims to improve quality of life; Idealplanet, which works to preserve the environment; and Idealprogress, which seeks to create value responsibly. Idealday also reflects the Group's purpose, unveiled at the Edenred General Meeting on May 11: Enrich connections. For good.

In 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Edenred employees stepped up to the plate to celebrate Idealday  in strict compliance with local public-health guidelines.



Edenred is a leading digital platform for services and payments and the everyday companion for people at work, connecting over 50 million users and 2 million partner merchants in 46 countries via more than 850,000 corporate clients.

Edenred offers specific-purpose payment solutions for food (such as meal benefits), mobility (such as multi-energy, maintenance, toll, parking and commuter solutions), incentives (such as gift cards, employee engagement platforms) and corporate payments (such as virtual cards).

True to the Groups purpose, Enrich connections. For good., these solutions enhance users well-being and purchasing power. They improve companies attractiveness and efficiency, and vitalize the employment market and the local economy. They also foster access to healthier food, more environmentally friendly products and softer mobility.

Edenreds 10,000 employees are committed to making the world of work a connected ecosystem that is safer, more efficient and more responsible every day.

In 2020, thanks to its global technology assets, the Group managed close to 30 billion in business volume, primarily carried out via mobile applications, online platforms and cards.

Edenred is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and included in the following indices: CAC Next 20, FTSE4Good and MSCI Europe.

The logos and other trademarks mentioned and featured in this press release are registered trademarks of Edenred S.E., its subsidiaries or third parties. They may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written consent from their owners.



CONTACTS

Communications Department

Emmanuelle Chatelain

+33 (0)1 86 67 24 36 emmanuelle.chatelain@edenred.com

Media Relations

Matthieu Santalucia

+33 (0)1 86 67 22 63

matthieu.santalucia@edenred.com

Investor Relations

Cedric Appert

+33 (0)1 86 67 24 99

cedric.appert@edenred.com

Loic Da Silva

+33 (0)1 86 67 20 67

loic.dasilva@edenred.com
Following one of the most challenging school years, this strategic partnership will provide families who choose to learn virtually with the confidence that students are getting a strong education, while also enabling Bristols teachers to focus on in-person instruction

Edgenuity, a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K12 market and a flagship brand of Weld North Education, today announced that the Region VII Virtual Academy in Southwest Virginia has chosen Edgenuity as one of its virtual learning options for students. The state of Virginia recently passed new legislation recommending that all school divisions provide a virtual learning option for the upcoming 20212022 school year. Of the 17 participating school divisions, 12 selected Edgenuity as their provider for digital curriculum and instructional services. Edgenuity was an original Virginia Department of Education Multidivisional Online Provider, serving school divisions across the state since 2008.

We are proud to have been chosen as Region VII Virtual Academys virtual learning provider, said Sari Factor, Vice Chairman & Chief Strategy Officer of Weld North Education. Through this partnership, we will support the Academy with our comprehensive, customizable curriculum and talented instructional staff to meet the needs of their students. We look forward to providing guidance and support to students and families that choose a virtual learning experience.

The new virtual academy is designed to provide a quality, flexible learning option for families that have concerns with students returning to school in person. Students enrolled in the virtual academy will complete the program with the guidance of Edgenuitys certified, high-quality instructors.

We are excited to expand our relationship with Edgenuity in conjunction with the Region VII Virtual Academy, said Dr. Keith Perrigan, Division Superintendent and Region VII Virtual Academy Steering Committee Member. Following one of the most challenging school years, this strategic partnership will provide families who choose to learn virtually with the confidence that students are getting a strong education, while also enabling Bristols teachers to focus on in-person instruction.

In addition to over 300 courses with engaging content and explicit instruction, Edgenuity will provide on-demand tutoring seven days a week for virtual academy students. The Region VII Virtual Academy serves over 73,000 students and educators through 19 school divisions.

About Edgenuity

Edgenuity, a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K12 market and flagship brand of Weld North Education, is in use by more than 20,000 schools nationwide, including 20 of the 25 largest school districts, to meet academic goals and improve student outcomes. Edgenuitys full suite of solutions is aimed at helping students, educators, and districts achieve success in their online and blended learning programs. For students, Edgenuity offers learning solutions including initial credit courses, honors and Advanced Placement courses, credit recovery, intervention, and test readiness. Edgenuity additionally supports educators through high-quality digital-first core curriculum provided by LearnZillion, as well as professional development solutions to help educators plan and deliver powerful, lasting learning experiences. For more information, visit http://www.edgenuity.com.
Engel & Volkers Sponsors Trail Restorations in Roaring Fork Valley At Engel & Volkers we take pride in our state and the natural beauty that comes along with it. We feel that its not only our responsibility as a company, but also as individuals, to maintain the forests and mountains so we can all share in Colorados majesty

Engel & Volkers recently participated in their annual Volunteer Day with its partner, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV), to help mitigate the damage to the trails and wilderness left behind after the recent Grizzly Creek Fire in 2020. With the mission BeliEVe, EVolve, PersEVere, associates of the company set out to clean, clear, and restore trails and frontcountry areas near trails that have been affected by some of the worst wildfires Colorado has seen in years. In addition to the cleanup, E&V strives to help keep the wild open for everyone to explore and cherish. Managing trails and their upkeep is a commitment the company holds dear, as Colorado and its mountains are defined by their beauty and accessibility.

At Engel & Volkers we take pride in our state and the natural beauty that comes along with it. We feel that its not only our responsibility as a company, but also as individuals, to maintain the forests and mountains so we can all share in the majesty that is Colorado, said Summer Berg, Managing Broker/Owner. Engel & Volkers has maintained a close relationship with RFOV over many years and intends to continue this partnership for years to come by offering our time and resources to help with trail clean up and restoration, and provide assistance with fire mitigation and relief.

RFOVs theme for 2021 is Renewing Landscape and Community through Collective Action and to address these critical needs, Engel & Volkers has adopted the Lower Three Gulch Trail at the bottom of Mushroom Rock/Red Hill in Carbondale. This trail is one of the most visited trails by locals and visitors alike because of the rocky mountain views in all directions while overlooking the Town of Carbondale and majestic Mount Sopris.

"The outdoors are our greatest regional asset, and healthy landscapes make for healthy people. By participating regularly in RFOV conservation projects, the Engel & Volkers Aspen/Roaring Fork team not only accomplishes the necessary work of post-fire and trails restoration, but also advances a culture of stewardship that ensures our outdoors will remain vibrant for years to come. We're proud of our partnership with Engel & Volkers because a commitment to RFOV is a commitment to stewardship," said Jacob Baker, Engagement Manager, RFOV.

About Engel & Volkers

Engel & Volkers is a global luxury real estate brand. Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1977, Engel & Volkers draws on its rich European history to deliver a fresh approach to luxury real estate in the Americas with a focus on creating a personalized client experience at every stage of the home buying or selling process for todays savvy homeowner. Engel & Volkers currently operates approximately 225 shop locations with 4,200 real estate advisors in the Americas, contributing to the brands global network of over 12,000 real estate professionals in more than 30 countries, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services, including real estate and yachting. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and platforms; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings, and market data. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. For more information, visit http://www.evrealestate.com.
MedLearn Media Logo This is a first-class organization with an unmatched commitment to the financial integrity of its clientele  and it shows in the many organizations that have been MedLearn customers from the very beginning.

In 1991 Mike Rogge followed through on his vision of a consulting firm that would offer healthcare organizations a faster, more efficient way to audit their coding, billing and regulatory compliance. The result was first, Medical Resources, Inc, then Medical Learning (MedLearn), Inc., a company that grew and evolved into what is now known as MedLearn Media with its three distinct brands: MedLearn Publishing, ICD10monitor and RACmonitor.

Because of his extensive background in radiology, including experience as a radiology department director, Rogge decided to target that area of healthcare for his new consulting business.

Back then  and its still true today  there was enormous revenue potential for radiology departments and practices. But this potential came with substantial risks due to miscoding, inappropriate billing and lack of documentation to support charges, explains Rogge, now Chairman and Director of MedLearn Media. Radiology practices and departments needed a better way to uncover missed revenue opportunities and avoid costly compliance pitfalls.

MedLearn developed an innovative approach to auditing that streamlined and accelerated the auditing process. But even more important to the early success of MedLearn, Rogge contends, were the individuals he brought on board to handle a growing workload. The company recruited people who possessed deep clinical experience, coupled with a keen understanding of the business side of healthcare.

One of MedLearns first hires was Jeff Majchrzak, BA, RCC, CIRCC, who arrived with a wealth of experience at the time as both a registered and certified radiologic technologist and nuclear medicine technologist. Having experience in both government and private sector healthcare institutions such as the VA Medical Center, Allina and HealthEast Systems added a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences in both teaching institutions like the VA as well as traditional healthcare settings like Allina and HealthEast. As a MedLearn consultant, Majchrzak brought his clinical and business office expertise to bear on the challenges of radiology practice and administration, but eventually specialized in the area of interventional radiology, helping both hospitals and physicians across the nation navigate through the ever-changing rules and regulations.

I couldnt have been luckier to have had this opportunity. Having the chance to work with Mike, and for him through the different iterations of MedLearn, has been an immense pleasure over the past three decades, says Majchrzak, now Vice President at Panacea Healthcare Solutions, a Besler company. This is a first-class organization with an unmatched commitment to the financial integrity of its clientele  and it shows in the many organizations that have been MedLearn customers from the very beginning.

Starting in 1994, when MedLearn expanded into publications, Majchrzak served as the primary contributor to Interventional Radiology Coder, the bestselling MedLearn Publishing book year after year.

Since 1991 MedLearn has employed or partnered with numerous other top subject matter experts who have helped the company broaden its focus to other healthcare disciplines, including cardiology, infusion and injection services, laboratory and respiratory therapy. Over time, MedLearn also has evolved its knowledge delivery mechanisms to meet changing customer needs and demands. Encompassing three brands, the portfolio of MedLearn Media products ranges from books, charts, newsletters and blogs, to webcasts, podcasts, streaming services and information web portals.

When you look at how we provide value to our customers, MedLearn Media has changed dramatically over the years and we have more coming, says Angela Kornegor, Executive Director, who joined the company in 2003. But some things remain constant, including the remarkably talented people like Mike, Jeff and many others who have been part of our organization since the beginning. To me, that extraordinary continuity shows how constantly needed and deeply important the work that we performed was, and is, and will continue to be tomorrow.

About MedLearn Media, Inc.

Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, MedLearn Media, Inc., and its family of brands  MedLearn Publishing, ICD10monitor and RACmonitor  offer trusted expertise to the healthcare industry in the areas of coding, reimbursement and regulatory compliance. MedLearn Medias industry-leading resources include online news and special reports, blog articles, print and digital books, visual charts, newsletters, webcasts, seminars and on-demand content. For 30 years, healthcare organizations of all types have depended on MedLearn Media to guide them to fiscal integrity, regulatory compliance and peace of mind. For more information, visit http://www.medlearnmedia.com.
We wanted to help companies shift gears during the COVID pandemic and increase their revenue. Our database of talented freelancers made becoming fully remote an easy transition. - Michael Brooks, Founder and CEO, goLance

RemoteTech Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout technology companies, products and services empowering remote work and distributed teams around the globe, today announced that goLance, an online freelance marketplace with more than 600,000 global users, has been selected as winner of the Virtual Remote Co-working Platform of the Year award in the 2021 RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards Program.

The goLance platform empowers businesses to recruit, screen, hire, manage, and pay remote global online freelancers efficiently and cost effectively. Freelancers can even build their own teams of freelance subcontractors for larger jobs and manage them from anywhere in the world. Clients can manage their unlimited companies with a single sign on under one account and easily hire freelancers for hourly or fixed-bid contracts. Both clients and freelancers have full transparency on rates, payments, and projects, and clients easily gain visibility into freelancers work.

Freelancers are able to make use of the platforms goMeter app and Work Diary, which tracks activity and time as well as message contacts on the platform. Its easy to apply for jobs and access reports, and goLance is one of the few companies offering advance payment options to freelancers, tracked and managed by the platform. goLance also uniquely offers live chat customer support 24x7.

The platform utilizes powerful software solutions, integrations, and best practices such as automated skills testing and online profiles to showcase work samples.

Many businesses in the United States rely on global freelancers who want to be paid quickly and in their preferred currency. The platform offers the unique capability to pay and manage subcontractors along with communicating project status, collaborating, reporting, time tracking and other functions, says Michael Brooks, Founder and CEO, goLance. We wanted to help companies shift gears during the COVID pandemic and increase their revenue. Our database of talented freelancers made becoming fully remote an easy transition. We thank RemoteTech Breakthrough for this award, especially as remote work has been part of our mission from the beginning.

The mission of the annual RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program is to conduct the industrys most comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the top technology companies, solutions and products in the remote technology industry today. This years program attracted more than 1,600 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world.

goLance was built for what companies are going through today. By putting the focus on creating a powerful remote culture supported by a team of highly skilled freelancers, businesses can find new ways to cut costs and still deliver high-quality products or services to their customers, said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards. With quality work and payments in the same platform, goLance truly values remote teams. Congratulations on winning our Virtual Remote Co-working Platform of the Year - especially in such a competitive year as the one we just had.

About RemoteTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in technologies, services, companies and products that empower remote work and distributed teams around the globe. The RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of technology companies and solutions in categories including messaging & communication, project management, virtual events, team collaboration, virtual offices, collaborative design and more. For more information visit RemoteTechBreakthrough.com.

About goLance

goLance provides innovative software that empowers businesses to recruit, screen, manage, optimize and pay global online freelance talent efficiently and cost effectively. It also enables freelancers to pay and manage subcontractors when they need additional talent for assignments. The goLance platform has more than 600,000 users. Learn more about goLance at https://golance.com/.
Dry Creek: a poignant historical narrative about a certain family residing at the Dry Creek community in the northwest of Georgia. This a family journey that will draw different kinds of emotions from the readers as they go through the pages. Dry Creek is the creation of published author Harlan Parsons, a boy who was raised at the farm and the fourth of eleven children. He worked in the textile industry at the age of sixteen and dedicated more than four decades of his life in the industry prior to his retirement.

Parsons shares, The events you are going to read are based on true events, to the best of the authors knowledge. The Dry Creek community located in northwest Georgia was a typical farming community with amazing relationships between families. This story starts in the 1930s and continues today, June 2020. This is through the eyes of the author with significant assistance from family and friends.

Not all was perfect, but certain events seemed historically significant enough to warrant preserving for those who would appreciate a hopefully inspiring and true story. Some are entertaining, some are sad, and some are very happy.

A family of whom the dad was an only child and the mom from a family of nine children, find out how many children this couple were parents of.

If you like history, drama, fun, bad times, good times, information, and too much informationthis is the book for you. The authors initial intention was to preserve family history, but this amazing community could no way be left out. It seemed to the author that sharing would hopefully be entertaining, interesting, and inspiring.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Harlan Parsonss new book is an informative opus recounting the genealogy of the authors family in hopes to enlighten the younger generations about the life before them.

View a synopsis of Dry Creek on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Dry Creek at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Dry Creek, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
"We are working to connect our readers to the people and resources that can put them in a better position to accelerate their strategic initiatives.

The 2020 pandemic completely altered the way healthcare facilities work, provide care, and get reimbursed for services rendered. As trends like telehealth, outpatient settings, and home-based work become the new norm, healthcare leaders are forced to rethink their strategies.

In response to these wholesale changes, HealthLeaders is excited to announce the launch of two new e-newsletters delivering weekly news and analysis for HR and payer executives, respectively, to help them lead their organizations through these challenges.

The Payers newsletter, which launched on June 7, provides a solutions-based focus on the top issues and challenges facing health insurance companies. Their editors speak with top executives in the health insurance and healthcare sectors, government agencies, and clinical care to get their perspectives on how the payer-provider relationship will change as the nation emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talent, the new HR newsletter, which launched on June 23, offers its subscribers insights and the latest information on talent management and HR leadership development.

"HR leaders are now dealing with whether virtual work is here to stay, the employee experience, digital skills, staffing and retention, and employee mental health," says Erika Randall, Content Manager at HealthLeaders. "Our Talent newsletter will provide them with insight into staying connected to team members and building resilience in a changed workplace."

The editorial team at HealthLeaders is committed to keeping executives informed about developments and trends in the healthcare industry. "We are working to connect our readers to the people and resources that can put them in a better position to accelerate their strategic initiatives," says Randall.

To learn more about the new Payers and Talent e-newsletters, and other HealthLeaders publications, visit https://interactive.healthleadersmedia.com/subscribe.

###

About HealthLeaders

HealthLeaders, a brand of HCPro under the parent company Simplify Compliance, is a multi-platform media company dedicated to meeting the business information needs of healthcare executives and professionals. We offer an extensive and integrated series of leadership publications, products, research, and events devoted to the business of healthcare. Visit https://www.healthleadersmedia.com.

For over 34 years, HCPro, a division of Simplify Compliance LLC, has specialized in providing the latest healthcare regulatory information through industry-leading publications, continuing education, online coding platforms, instructor-led training, events, consulting services, and more to deliver consistent training, achieve compliance, and maximize workflow efficiencies, resulting in measurable performance and financial improvements. Visit http://www.hcpro.com/.

About Simplify Compliance

Simplify Compliance, Leeds Equity Partners-backed portfolio company, helps its customers learn, comply, and succeed by providing mission-critical regulatory and business information, analysis, and tools. Serving a range of industries, including healthcare, human capital management, and communications, Simplify Compliance provides time-saving products and solutions that help businesses, and their employees monitor compliance, optimize financial performance, and create and implement best practices. Visit https://simplifycompliance.com.
i-payout, the worlds leading provider of customized SaaS software for on-demand, global disbursements and related payment management solutions, is celebrating its 15th year in operation and Q1 growth of over 38% between 2020 and 2021.

"Among the keys to our rapid growth in Q1 are the plethora of global payment options we provide in over 180 countries, our truly custom payment solution and personalized customer support that is 24/7 365 days a year. We have earned our reputation by delivering on our promises for over 15 years. Our prospects become clients and quickly learn that we really do deliver on our promises, in turn, they enthusiastically refer us to others," commented Eddie Gonzalez, President and C.E.O. at i-payout.

"Additionally, Sherif Gabriel - who joined i-payout in April of 2021, as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer - is ramping-up i-payout's go-to-market strategy overall and is successfully placing special emphasis on marketplaces and the global payroll verticals. We'll see the benefits of that in the Q3 and Q4 of this year," Mr. Gonzalez continued.

Mr. Gabriel noted that, "When it comes to the Marketplaces vertical, some buyers and sellers have limited ways to move funds related to their transactions. In over 180 countries, we provide over 20 payment options including traditional and non-traditional payment methods. So, whether they are banked, underbanked or unbanked, we can help them buy and sell." "As for the Global Payroll vertical, I am particularly excited about how our unique white labelled platform can assist Global Payroll organizations in delivering payroll on time, not only in local currencies in every continent but also in a variety of non-traditional methods. This provides a great competitive advantage in paying employees everywhere and in emerging markets in particular.

In addition to expanding its Executive team, the Company is rapidly bringing on experienced fintech professionals at all levels at its global offices. This is being done to ensure that i-payout can continue to provide the 24/7/365 white glove support, another one of its pillars of success. "I'm very encouraged about the way our value proposition is being embraced in the Marketplace and Global Payroll verticals. We are seeing good traction and I believe our increased penetration there will make 2021, by far, our best year yet," Mr. Gonzalez emphasized.

About i-payout



With its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and offices and Customer Support centers in Vancouver, Mexico City, London, Copenhagen, Hong Kong and Manilla, i-payout is recognized for its highly adaptable software platform. It enables the Company to fully customize payment solutions to the specific needs of each client. i-payout supports a diverse group of verticals including gig networks, insurance companies, eSports, global payroll, royalties, marketplaces, clinical trials, direct sellers, and more. The Company was founded by Edwin Gonzalez, President & C.E.O. Mr. Gonzalez has held leadership roles within the financial software industry for over 20 years. At i-payout, he collaborates with a highly accomplished group of payment professionals, many of which have decades of experience in the fintech space.

For more information write to discover@i-payout.com  http://www.i-payout.com
Dr. Michael J. Davis, MD, FASRS "I was proud to once again represent the American Society of Retina Specialists as a Delegate," Dr. Davis said. "It is my hope that my contributions lead to better outcomes for patients and strong, effective public health policy for the country."

Acuity Eye Groups Michael J. Davis, MD, FASRS was honored to attend the annual American Medical Association (AMA) meeting as a Delegate for the American Society of Retina Specialists. Dr. Davis, along with other medical professionals in a variety of fields, discussed and established policy on medical, health, professional, and governance matters within the AMA.

The American Medical Association strives towards creating the best possible outcomes for patients and creating solutions to confront our countrys greatest public health challenges. This event was held virtually from June 11th - June 16th.

Issues discussed this year included:



Social medias role in medical misinformation, and actions social media companies can take to mitigate its spread.

The ongoing suicide crisis in teens and young adults.

Equitable distribution of care, ensuring access for minorities and other marginalized communities.

A way forward on COVID-19 vaccinations, including a public health campaign to reach herd immunity while respecting personal bodily autonomy.

Delegates also modified an existing policy that calls on the AMA to support COVID-19 vaccination and information programs. According to the amended policy, the AMA will counter misinformation by providing the public with up-to-date, evidence-based information regarding COVID-19, as well as the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The AMA will also work to educate physicians and other health care professionals on means to disseminate accurate information and methods to combat medical misinformation.

"I was proud to once again represent the American Society of Retina Specialists as a Delegate," Dr. Davis said. "It is my hope that my contributions lead to better outcomes for patients and strong, effective public health policy for the country."


During challenging times and times of rapid change, were proud to have been able to adapt and continue to take day-to-day worries off our institutional clients plates, as well as engage and support our individual clients in their holistic financial wellbeing.

Millennium Trust Company, LLC (Millennium Trust or the Company), a leading provider of retirement and institutional services, has been recognized by Crains Chicago Business on the 2021 Crains Fast 50 list as one of Chicagos fastest-growing companies for the fourth consecutive year. From starting as a specialized IRA custodian in 2000 to becoming a leader in the industry and expanding its offerings to a suite of institutional and financial wellness solutions, Millennium Trust has proven to be a key partner to its institutional and individual clients.

To be recognized for a fourth consecutive year, and as the only retirement and institutional custody services company this year, is really exciting and rewarding for us, said Gary Anetsberger, CEO. During challenging times and times of rapid change, were proud to have been able to adapt and continue to take day-to-day worries off our institutional clients plates, as well as engage and support our individual clients in their holistic financial wellbeing.

Millennium Trust earned the 32nd spot on this years Crains Fast 50 list, which recognizes companies in the Chicago metro area that have achieved impressive revenue gains over a five-year period. The list reflects Chicagos diverse range of industries, most with a technology focus.

Having only recently joined the Company, Ive had to jump in and quickly learn the culture and have immediately recognized why it is able to produce this kind of success, said Karyn DeFalco, Chief Human Resources Officer. Millennium Trusts core values and vision truly bring everyone together and cultivate a collaborative environment where each team member has the tools needed to deepen client relationships through adaptive creativity. Were empowered to move quickly to solve for our clients needs.

Millennium Trust has produced an average of greater than 35% annualized revenue growth since 2016. With the help of its evolving team and technology, the Company continues to work toward its goal of being the go-to resource for a variety of institutional solutions  from retirement plan solutions to investment and fund custody  to not only solve clients business needs, but also help them better service their clients or employees. For individual clients, Millennium Trust provides choice in how they want to invest, with options ranging from stocks, mutual funds and ETFs to alternative assets, such as private equity, hedge funds and real estate, as well as the tools and resources to help them on their retirement journey.

Alongside revenue growth, the Company has grown its client and partner list, product portfolio and talent. Over the years, Millennium Trust has built strong relationships with over 140,000 plan sponsors in order to provide former participants with solutions that support their retirement journey, from when they enter the workforce to when they reach retirement. The Company has also seen record levels of growth in its institutional custody services and self-directed IRA businesses.

The Company recently launched its Emergency Savings Fund solution for employers to offer as a workplace benefit, which can increase employee productivity and engagement by reducing financial stress, while helping employers attract and retain talent. Millennium Trust also continues to build out an enhanced client experience through the MTC Investment Platform and other service portals.

The Companys Crains Fast 50 recognition is a reflection of the hard work and output of a rapidly growing team dedicated to providing trusted expertise, exceptional service and access to solutions that help clients accomplish their business and investment goals. Millennium Trusts workforce has grown by one-third in the last three years. The Company offers a suite of health insurance options, as well as 401(k) match, student debt repayment assistance, pet insurance and other wellness perks.

About Millennium Trust Company

For more than 20 years, Millennium Trust Company has been a trusted provider of specialized retirement and institutional custody services with over $33 billion of assets under custody. We began by focusing on building unique solutions where no one else would or could. As our industry has evolved and the competitive landscape has changed, Millennium Trust has grown, too.

Today, were known for our ability to help employers, advisors and institutions solve complex business problems  while ensuring individual investors are empowered with tools and resources to be successful on their retirement journey.

Millennium Trust Company performs the duties of a directed custodian, and as such does not provide due diligence to third parties on prospective investments, platforms, sponsors or service providers and does not offer or sell investments or provide investment, legal, or tax advice. For more information about Millennium Trust Company, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
NAPCO, Ltd. Nichols continued leadership at NAPCO over the past 25 years has been an important piece to our domestic and international success as a company.

Dani Nichols, President of North American Polymer Company, Ltd., better known as NAPCO, is marking her 25th year with the bathroom and kitchen refinishing training and manufacturing company. Ms. Nichols joined NAPCO in 1996, starting out as a customer service representative, then serving as Vice President for 14 years until she was promoted to President in 2018.

It was NAPCOs focus on their people and superior customer service that made the business an excellent cultural fit for Nichols in 1996. Within a short time of her initial role as a customer service representative for NAPCO, Nichols was leading the department. The emphasis that NAPCO places on growth for employees and trainees, paired with her own focus and attention on the internal teams and people, laid the groundwork for Nichols leadership role to evolve.

Nichols continued leadership at NAPCO over the past 25 years has been an important piece to our domestic and international success as a company, noted Steven Coven NAPCOs former president and CEO. During Danis time with the company, she has served in several key leadership roles, and quickly worked her way up within the company. Not only did this earn her a well-deserved reputation in the industry as an insightful leader, but it also proved her selflessness and dedication in helping everyone be the best version of themselves. Her loyalty and ability to shift gears when necessary are the qualities that have contributed most to our current success and continuous innovation, he added.

NAPCOs growth during the past 42 years has allowed the company to take a leading role in both training and manufacturing innovation. Much of the companys success is largely in part to Ms. Nichols leadership. The company, with international distributors on four continents, and trainees across the world, manufactures and distributes hundreds of refinishing products at its headquarters in suburban Chicago.

# # # # #

About NAPCO

Since 1979, NAPCO, Ltd. (North American Polymer Company) has provided products, supplies, and training to professional bathroom and kitchen refinishers. NAPCO is headquartered just outside of Chicago, in Skokie, IL and services all 50 states and 5 foreign countries. If you are interested in refinishing your tub, tile, or counter top instead of replacing, call 1-800-888-1081 or visit https://www.napcoltd.com today.
Bryan Abdallah, who curates the VERSATEX Community states, Our focus is simple: to bring the construction and design community together online."

Launched this spring to weave together education, creativity, growth and innovation throughout residential design and construction, the online VERSATEX Community is sponsored by VERSATEX Building Products. VERSATEX is one of the nations leading manufacturers of premium cellular PVC trim.

CEO John Pace likens the Community to a town square where members of every trade and profession can rub elbows. Our company has always been an advocate for learning and collaboration. Early on, we understood that sharing knowledge is a key to success for our customers, our industry peers and ourselves. And, lately, the various social media platforms have made it clear that theres an endless thirst for virtual interactions that generate useful information.

Bryan Abdallah, who curates the VERSATEX Community and manages social media marketing at VERSATEX, adds, Our focus is simple: to bring the construction and design community together online. Its our way of bridging resources and tools to the industry now and to the next generation. We provide experiences that educate people not only about VERSATEX trimboard, but also about other, complementary building materials through best practices for installation, design and custom fabrication.

Further, we want to give something back to an industry that can only prosper if it attracts a new wave of young people. Thats why we foster mentorships and knowledge-based programs for high schools and trade schools.

Meanwhile, working professionals describe the Community as a wellspring of ideas, technical tips and networking opportunities. Says Maryland-based homebuilder David Parraguirre, One big reason I joined the VERSATEX Community is for inspiration. But its also a great source of practical knowledge, and its even given us leads for new business.

An online content creator in his own right, Mr. Parraguirre is widely known for his plainspoken YouTube channel, The Mexican Carpenter. He credits Mr. Abdallah with encouraging his successful, Spanish-language foray into social media.

A visit to the VERSATEX Community website shows its ambitious scope:



An introduction to the VERSATEX Scholars Program details a collaboration with a Washington, D.C., high school devoted to architecture, construction and engineering. The Program prepares young people for fulfilling careers by exposing them to real-life tradecraft, mentorships and decision-making perspectives.

A podcast library highlights Mr. Abdallahs revealing conversations with industry professionals. Typical is a dialog with Robin Carroll of KARP Associates, a custom homebuilding firm based in New Canaan, Conn. Ms. Carroll shares insights on the demands of constructing modern-style dwellings, and stresses the importance of keeping pace with innovations in products and technologies.

Under Learn Something New, website visitors will find video segments detailing best practices as well as new tools and techniques.

A Social Feed section offers links to hundreds of short-form videos. They range from glimpses of hands-on, classroom presentations by industry veterans to scenes from news-you-can-use events like the VERSATEX Road Show, in which expert deck builder Bobby Parks brings practical training sessions to dozens of regional building-materials dealerships. Prefer to drop in and comment via TikTok, Instagram or Facebook? The community is active there, too.

Our Community welcomes everyone, says Mr. Abdallah. We want to empower all of you to be better builders, better business people, better designers and better students, as you work with better materials and processesand form better relationships with one another.

https://www.versatexcommunity.com

About VERSATEX

VERSATEX was founded in 2004 by industry professionals dedicated to bringing exceptional building products to the marketplace. Our unmatched quality and consistency generate PVC trim options that meet and exceed the needs of builders, architects, fabricators and homeowners. At the same time, our market-back approach focuses new-product development on customer requirements and innovations that make a real difference in efficiency and design.
Niles Housing Commission joins the MITN Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information.

The Niles Housing Commission announced today that it has joined the MITN Purchasing Group, a regional purchasing group that helps local governments post, distribute and manage RFPs, quotes, addendums and awards online. bidnet directs MITN Purchasing Group provides notification to registered vendors of new relevant solicitations, any addenda and award information from over 250 participating agencies from across Michigan. The Niles Housing Commission invites all potential vendors to register online with https://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn to access its upcoming solicitations.

The Niles Housing Commission joined the purchasing group in June. In joining, the Niles Housing Commission has become the 253rd participating local government agency utilizing the system to streamline the purchasing process. The MITN Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides local Michigan government agencies a method to minimize costs and time delays associated with the procurement process. The Niles Housing Commission was distributing bids and managing the procurement process manually before joining the system. In joining, the Niles Housing Commission looks to save time, increase competition and achieve cost savings over the traditional paper-based bid process.

The Niles Housing Commission now has access to an extensive vendor pool, thereby enhancing competition without increasing distribution costs. In addition to the existing vendors on the MITN Purchasing Group, all vendors looking to respond to bids with local government agencies can register online: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/mitn. The Niles Housing Commission invites all current vendors not already registered on the purchasing group to do so today. Vendor registration is easy and takes only a few minutes online.

Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information. In addition, the MITN Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their industry, all addenda associated with those bids and advance notice of term contract expiration. A robust NIGP code category list allows vendors registering to find the correct codes and receive matched bids.

bidnet directs vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2. Other local Michigan government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the MITN Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution.

About the Niles Housing Commission:

The Housing Authority of the Niles Housing Commission, hereafter referred to as the NHC, was organized in 1968, under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. We are governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, which includes one tenant commissioner and four appointed by the county board of supervisors. Our main purpose is to provide affordable housing to low and moderate income families, senior citizens and disable/handicapped individuals. We also provide self-sufficiency programs and non-discriminatory housing assistance services.

About bidnet direct:

bidnet direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. bidnet direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the MITN Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
The Pet Wants team makes the donation to the Akron-Canton Regional FoodBank. Pet Wants was founded on the idea of community. Everything we do centers on providing solutions for local neighborhoods, and it is always an honor and pleasure to give back to the communities we serve. Its what makes us who we are. - Ed Evans

Pet Wants, a Cincinnati-based franchise focused on delivering fresh food to the bowls of pets in local communities across the US and parts of Canada  donated nearly 10,000 pounds of pet food to the Akron-Canton Regional FoodBank on June 22.

Furry friends are important members of our families. For some people, ensuring their pet has adequate nutrition, in addition to themselves, can be difficult, said Dan Flowers, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank president and CEO. Rather than families making difficult choices about feeding their pets, were excited to offer pet food to our hunger-relief partners through a very generous donation from Pet Wants. This new partnership will help distribute pet food within our eight-county area, helping alleviate the tough decisions families sometimes have to make.

This donation is one of many recent contributions offered as part of Pet Wants The Pack Gives Back initiative, which has seen over 15,000 pounds of food donated since the beginning of 2020, largely in relation to the franchises focus on Covid-19-relief efforts.

The Pack Gives Back offers the owners of Pet Wants 110 franchise locations, a corporate-backed way to give back to their local communities by aiding local food banks, rescues, adoption facilities, shelters, and other pet-focused organizations.

Pet Wants was founded on the idea of community, said Ed Evans, Pet Wants President. Everything we do centers on providing solutions for local neighborhoods, and it is always an honor and pleasure to give back to the communities we serve. Its what makes us who we are.

For more information on Pet Wants, visit http://www.Petwants.com. For more information on Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, visit http://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org.

About Pet Wants: Pet Wants was founded in Cincinnati in 2010 to bring fresh, natural and conveniently delivered pet food to pet families. Their mission is to enhance the health, vitality and life of pets. They offer high-quality food and advice from a Pet Nutrition Specialist on staff at each location. Since 2015, Pet Wants has expanded into a national presence and grown to 110 locations.

The company prides itself on offering food that goes from cooking in small batches, to arriving in pet food bowls within weeks, as opposed to the many months of most popular brands. Pet Wants private-label pet food formulas are slow-cooked and contain no added sugar, fillers, animal by-products, corn, wheat, soy or dyes. Product offerings include multiple blends of dog and cat food formulas, as well as healing salve, calming balm, anti-itch spray, paw wax and more.


We are thrilled to join forces with other fantastic Columbus doctors and leverage the pool of resources that PGP provides to further elevate patient care in our community.

Podiatry Growth Partners (PGP), a leading management and growth partner to podiatry clinics throughout the country, today announced strategic partnerships with Step Lively Foot and Ankle Centers (Step Lively) (http://www.steplivelyfootandankle.com) and Feet First Podiatry (Feet First), two leading podiatry practices in Columbus, Ohio.

Led by Doctors Timothy Holmes and Richard Weiner, Step Livelys four doctors provide first-class foot and ankle care to patients at five Columbus-area locations. Feet First Podiatry, led by Doctor Eugene Zoog, similarly provides the highest quality patient care to the Columbus market with its two doctors at its two locations. Both practices are committed to growth plans that will allow them to serve more patients in the coming years.

Our team of physicians are proud to partner with Podiatry Growth Partners and its growing team of foot and ankle care leaders in Central Ohio, said Dr. Holmes. We are thrilled to join forces with other fantastic Columbus doctors and leverage the pool of resources that PGP provides to further elevate patient care in our community.

Dr. Zoog added, Feet First Podiatry is excited to join Podiatry Growth Partners and its syndicate of leading physicians. This partnership will allow us to continue to provide excellent patient care while also investing in new equipment and additional services as well.

The Step Lively and Feet First teams will be fantastic additions to the PGP family of practices, said David Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Podiatry Growth Partners. These practices are leaders in one of the fastest growing and most economically resilient markets in the country. Its doctors and staff are dedicated professionals who abide by the highest professional and ethical standards. With PGPs assistance, Step Lively and Feet First will continue along their successful paths -- and will add new capabilities, too.

Weiss continued, With partnerships with leading practices in Denver, Louisville, and Columbus, PGP is well on the way to building the preeminent national, integrated group of podiatry practices in the country. If you are a growth-oriented podiatrist who is interested in exploring a partnership with Podiatry Growth Partners, please email us at info@podiatry-partners.com.

About Podiatry Growth Partners

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, and backed by private equity investors Compass Group Equity Partners (http://www.cgep.com), VSS (http://www.vss.com), Siguler Guff (http://www.sigulerguff.com), and SunGate Capital, Podiatry Growth Partners is a leading growth partner to podiatry clinics throughout the country. The Company is actively seeking to partner with growth-oriented independent podiatrists and podiatry groups. For more information about joining the Podiatry Growth Partners team, please visit http://www.podiatry-partners.com.
Proov Logo "We are so excited to finally be able to offer Proov technology to the European market. Our CE approval is testament to Proov's dedication to bringing safe, accurate, and high quality testing to women everywhere. - Amy Beckley - MFB Fertilitys founder and CEO.

Proov, a science-based hormone testing company and the leader in testing urine for PdG to confirm ovulation, is announcing today that it has received CE marking approval for sales of its patented and patent pending PdG tests in Europe. The new European approval will help Proov address the long-awaited arrival of PdG tests by European consumers.

Prior to commercialization, medical devices such as Proov PdG tests in the European Union were required to undergo a conformity assessment to demonstrate that they met legal requirements to ensure they are safe and perform as intended. A typical assessment involves an audit of the manufacturers quality system and, depending on the type of device, a review of technical documentation from the manufacturer on the safety and performance of the device. Because it passed its conformity assessment, Proov has been approved to place a CE (Conformite Europeenne) mark on its PdG test products, a critical step in bringing its product to Europe.

Proovs tests are now the first PdG test device to be CE marked for self testing and become widely accessible to a woman, instead of through a medical professional. This is important to give women more direct and seamless access to answers sooner so she can be empowered with critical information about her cycle before she is permitted to seek out medical care, which unfortunately can often take up to a year to schedule.

Proov PdG tests evaluate for the presence of PdG, an analyte of Progesterone produced in urine. Progesterone is a critical hormone produced by the ovary after ovulation. One of the main roles of progesterone is to prepare the uterine lining for implantation. Without enough progesterone after ovulation, it can be more difficult for implantation to occur. However, prior to Proov - the only FDA-Cleared and now CE-marked for self-testing urine PdG test - no diagnostic test could assess ovulation quality to determine if a woman produced enough progesterone to confirm a healthy ovulation, giving her the best chance at successful conception.

MFB Fertilitys founder and CEO, Amy Beckley adds "We are so excited to finally be able to offer Proov technology to the European market. Our CE approval is testament to Proov's dedication to bringing safe, accurate, and high quality testing to women everywhere.

Proov Tests are currently available at Amazon.co.uk and proovtest.com and will soon expand to additional e-tailers. They are non-invasive and cleared for home use, making fertility diagnostics more accessible to patients.

To learn more about Proov, visit proovtest.com, and to learn more about PdG and the benefits of tracking it, visit https://proovtest.com/pages/faq.

About MFB Fertility, Inc.

MFB Fertility, Inc. developed Proov, an at-home PdG test that measures the presence of progesterone metabolite PdG in urine to help a woman confirm that she has ovulated successfully. Originally co-founded in Boulder, Colo. by two women who both struggled to conceive, MFB Fertility was created to empower women to know more about their menstrual cycles, ovulation health, and PdG levels. Don't just predict ovulation, Proov it! For more information, please visit https://proovtest.com/.

Media Contact

Kristen Mondshein

kristen@kmmcommunications.com
Worlds Apart: The Secular and Spiritual Worlds Examined: a thought-provoking exploration of two separate schools of thought. Worlds Apart: The Secular and Spiritual Worlds Examined is the creation of published author Roy Jenkin, a native of South Africa who studied for the ministry in London, England. He immigrated to the United States in 1994 to take a position as pastor in Abbeville, Louisiana, until retirement.

Jenkin shares, The title of the book, Worlds Apart, is an accurate description of both the secular and spiritual worlds in which we live. There exists a great dearth today of true biblical understanding of what it means to be a born-again believer and those who have a mere profession. It is hoped that the reader will discover for him or herself the distinct difference between what it means to be a child of heaven who enjoys all the wonderful benefits of a spiritual life and someone who just exists on a secular plane.

It is a sad indictment that the great majority of mankind through the ages have lived and died without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Truly the words of Jesus impart to us the awful reality that the way is narrow that leads to life and that the way is broad that leads to destruction, and few there be that find the narrow way. The depiction of Christian in John Bunyans marvelous book The Pilgrims Progress where he is presented as fleeing the city of destruction is so true of the situation today.

It is the authors fervent hope that this book will bring joy to believers and an awakening to those who seek to find that narrow way.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Roy Jenkins new book is a testament to the authors faith and life-long study of the Bible.

Jenkin writes in hopes of inspiring others to evaluate what they are doing to strengthen faith and seek God on a daily basis.

Consumers can purchase Worlds Apart: The Secular and Spiritual Worlds Examined at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Worlds Apart: The Secular and Spiritual Worlds Examined, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


Sanity allows rich content models Sanity has created the hero product for building innovative product experiences. We're excited to support the Sanity team as they enter this next phase of growth. -- Doug Pepper, general partner at ICONIQ Growth

Sanity, the platform for structured content, has raised $39 million in Series B funding less than a year after its $9.3 million Series A raise in October 2020. Nearly 100,000 developers, marketers, content creators and product professionals use Sanity to manage and launch customer-facing digital initiatives, including brands like National Geographic, Puma, InVision, Datastax and Brex. In the past year, the company tripled its customer base, doubled revenue, and more than doubled its team.

The round, led by ICONIQ Growth with venture capital firms Lead Edge Capital, Threshold Ventures, Heavybit, and Alliance Venture, brings the companys total funding to $51.8 million since its founding in 2018. ICONIQ Growth General Partner Doug Pepper has joined the board.

In an era of digital globalization, companies must rapidly deliver complex, multi-channel, and engaging digital experiences to reach customers wherever they are. This is forcing them to rethink the CMS. At the same time, developers are increasingly leading the adoption of new technologies and holding the keys to adapt effectively to this shift, said Doug Pepper, general partner at ICONIQ Growth. Sanity has created the hero product for building innovative product experiences, with an impressive developer-oriented approach to content delivery and a personalized product experience that breaks down silos for content creators, marketing and developer teams. We're excited to support the Sanity team as they enter this next phase of growth.

A fast-growing alternative to the traditional CMS, Sanity succeeds by uniquely treating content as data. By storing resources in the Sanity Content Lake organizations unify their content, making it available both for collaboration and for global distribution. The benefits of having a single source of truth are many, but a typical outcome is velocity as businesses use actual product data to drive digital efforts. Teams are unblocked and free to work on content, design and code in parallel to ship better products faster. Editors work efficiently in customized editing environments built on top of Sanity Studio, an open-source authoring layer that developers are free to customize.

Sanity has played a key role in helping us scale our content engine. It's changed the way we think about structuring content, giving us more flexibility to experiment with new ways of driving the customer experience," said Isaac Martin, senior software engineer at Brex. Our team loves being more self reliant, with the creative freedom to get work done without a constant back-and-forth with engineering."

"Sanity has been a great partner in helping our team scale and launch digital initiatives faster. We've gotten high praise internally for how Sanity has empowered our content teams to get more done without leaning on engineering," said Jon Wheeler, senior product marketing engineer at InVision. "We're always working to push the bounds of what we can do with dynamic and personalized content, and Sanity has enabled us to accelerate those projects."

Sanity has made it possible for us to build virtually anything we dream up. It's really increased the level of innovation and creativity we can bring to web projects, said Eric Johnson, principal web developer at Cornerstone OnDemand. Weve been able to offload a lot of work from the developer team by building powerful and flexible page builder tools.

Sanitys vision to provide structured content comes as businesses look to redefine their digital customer interactions, breaking silos to move faster and deliver better digital experiences to extend their core products. According to Deloitte, 75 percent of customers expect consistent experiences across departments. Yet, 58 percent feel like theyre interacting with a number of different divisions instead of a single company.

"Creating incredible digital product experiences for customers has never been more important, and that means we need a better framework for content that scales across marketing, product, and engineering," said Magnus Hillestad, CEO and co-founder of Sanity. "Content can no longer be confined to a publish model. Sanity breaks those restrictions so anyone can build a rich experience for customer interaction that keeps pace with technology advancements.

About Sanity

Sanity is the platform for structured content that lets teams build exceptional digital experiences. By treating content as data, modern organizations use our APIs to build optimal editing workflows and share content between systems to increase digital velocity. Our mission is to be the most versatile system for creating and distributing digital content to any device, application or channel. Dual-headquartered in San Francisco and Oslo, Norway, Sanity is used by thousands of companies including Unilever, Puma, National Geographic, and Conde Nast. Sanity is backed by ICONIQ Growth, Threshold Ventures, Lead Edge Capital, Heavybit, Alliance Venture, Monochrome Capital, and prominent angel investors like Twitter and Medium co-founder Ev Williams, Netlify co-founder Matthias Biilmann, ex-CEO of Heroku Adam Gross and Vercel founder Guillermo Rauch. Learn more at http://www.sanity.io.

About ICONIQ Growth

ICONIQ Growth partners with exceptional entrepreneurs and leaders who drive global impact and change. We are inspired by visionaries defining the future of their industries by building company cultures that endure. Our unique investment platform harnesses the power of ICONIQ Growths vibrant ecosystem of founders, pioneers, and business leaders with the goal of delivering tangible value and amplifying our portfolio companies success from early growth stage to IPO and beyond. ICONIQ Growths portfolio of innovators include Adyen, AirBnB, Alibaba, Alteryx, Automattic, BambooHR, Braze, Chime, Collibra, Coupa, Datadog, DocuSign, GitLab, Marqeta, Miro, Procore, Red Ventures, Relativity, ServiceTitan, Snowflake, Sprinklr, Truckstop, Uber, Wolt, and Zoom, among others. For more information and a complete list of portfolio companies, please visit ICONIQGrowth.com.
SimpleCom - Cradlepoint's First 5G Partner In The U.S. Becoming Cradlepoints first 5G Partner in the country is a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication from our team and I could not be more proud.

SimpleCom today announced that it has achieved 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization from Cradlepoint, the global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions. The 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization identifies and recognizes partner organizations that are leaders in positioning and selling Cradlepoints 5G for business solutions by meeting a series of sales, technical, and business proficiency criteria.

By receiving the specialization, SimpleCom will support Cradlepoints efforts of selling the industrys most comprehensive portfolio of 5G solutions to meet the business imperatives of availability, interoperability, security, and manageability. For over two decades, SimpleCom has helped both carriers and customers simplify their fixed and mobile communication challenges by offering real-world solutions for a variety of applications. Based out of Harrisburg, NC, SimpleCom has deep experience and solution deployments for IoT (internet of things), VoIP, Public Safety, Business Continuity, Education, and Transportation.

Says Brian McKeon, President of SimpleCom, Through almost twenty years as a VAR and channel partner within the cellular community, we have never had the type of attention and support that we receive from Cradlepoint. Far and away they have the best channel program we have ever experienced. Becoming Cradlepoints first 5G Partner in the country is a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication from our team and I could not be more proud.

By combining its NetCloud platform with a clean-sheet-of-paper design for its new 5G modems and antenna systems, Cradlepoint is the first to deliver comprehensive 5G solutions for business. Specific capabilities include: combining LTE, Gigabit-Class LTE, and 5G in a single wireless WAN, supporting all 5G spectrums, interoperating with existing customer SD-WAN and router infrastructures, and simplifying the entire network management lifecycle.

Cradlepoint is committed to leading the evolution of Wireless WAN and 5G and is both the first and best choice for customers in this space, said Eric Purcell, senior vice president of global partner sales at Cradlepoint. Our reseller, service provider, and technology partners play a crucial role in this mission. The addition of SimpleCom to our 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization program is another important step in leading the path to 5G for business.

For more information on SimpleComs work in the industry, please visit http://www.simplecom.pro. For more on Cradlepoints 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization and the Cradlepoint Partner Program, please visit https://cradlepoint.com/partners/for-partners/.

About SimpleCom

In a world where businesses and organizations continue to struggle to keep up with technology, SimpleCom steps in to help. Providing practical, real-world solutions, SimpleCom has served over a thousand clients, by simplifying their fixed and mobile communication challenges. Working with partners and customers to make sure they have the solution that is the right fit - both technically and financially, SimpleComs team of engineers and project managers completely manage and oversee their customers deployment through planning and scheduling, hardware and software provisioning, on-site installation and after-sale support. For over two decades SimpleComs philosophy that form follows function has allowed them to become a leader in the information technology industry. To learn more visit https://simplecom.pro.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplecompro/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimpleCom-100702408251572

About Cradlepoint

Cradlepoint is a global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions for branch, mobile, and IoT networks. Cradlepoint NetCloud, the personification of the companys Elastic Edge vision, is a subscription-based service with purpose-built endpoints that delivers a pervasive, secure, and software-defined Wireless WAN edge to connect people, places, and things over LTE and 5G cellular networks. More than 22,000 businesses and government agencies around the world rely on Cradlepoint to keep critical sites, points of commerce, field forces, vehicles, and IoT devices always connected and protected, including 75% of the worlds top retailers, 50% of the Fortune 100, and first responder agencies in 25 of the largest US cities. Major service providers use Cradlepoint solutions as the foundation for innovative managed services. Founded in 2006, Cradlepoint is a privately held company headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with a development center in Silicon Valley and international offices in the UK and Australia.

SimpleCom Media Inquiries

Michael Aldea

SimpleCom

Michael@simplecom.pro

+1 (704) 960-8208

Cradlepoint Media Inquiries

HOLLY LANGBEIN

Highwire PR

cradlepoint@highwirepr.com

+1 (916) 769-2199
Were excited for the opportunity to partner with Dr. Barrera and work with him and his team to support their practice and provide a cohesive patient experience, from in-office treatments to at-home care.

SkinCeuticals is thrilled to announce the opening of its San Antonio flagship location, RejuveMD, in partnership with Dr. Jose Barrera, continuing its mission to implement integrated skincare programs in partner practices across the country. The goal of these centers is to help physicians provide the best patient outcomes, combining state-of-the-art medical procedures and SkinCeuticals scientifically proven, premium skincare in a clean, comfortable environment.

Since its inception in 2012, Jose Barrera MD has aimed to provide the highest quality of reconstructive and aesthetic surgery to all patients, and to promote both educational and research programs that advance the standards of patient care and improve the quality of life. As the practice has grown, it has added non-surgical cosmetic services in response to patient demand, guided by the philosophy that those services remain closely aligned with plastic surgery and are always provided under the supervision of a physician.

On the partnership, Dr. Barrera says,

The non-surgical market is growing exponentially, and SkinCeuticals is now the clear skincare market leader. Rejuve MD MedSpa and its partnership with Skinceuticals allows our practice to fulfill the needs of our existing patients through non-surgical procedures and state-of-the-art skincare products while attracting skincare consumers who have the potential to become surgical patients.

The SkinCeuticals brand philosophy is closely aligned to this mission statement; the brands core belief is that their physician partners and an integrated skincare program are key to providing patients with the best experience possible. SkinCeuticals develops its products with in-office procedures in mind, formulating them to help maximize immediate and long-term patient results.

Matthew Curtis, SkinCeuticals Vice President of U.S. Business Development, stated,

Were excited for the opportunity to partner with Dr. Barrera and work with him and his team to support their practice and provide a cohesive patient experience, from in-office treatments to at-home care. We believe investing in the medical community is key, and the opening of our first San-Antonio SkinCeuticals flagship is a thrilling step forward in our vision for integrated skincare.

Founded by dermatologist Dr. Sheldon Pinnell, the foundation of SkinCeuticals has always been in the physicians office. With the ongoing rollout of SkinCeuticals Advanced Clinical Spas and Aesthetic Centers, the brand continues to create environments where in-office procedures and skincare are seamlessly combined for physicians and patients.

About SkinCeuticals

Founded in Dallas, TX in 1997, SkinCeuticals discovers, develops, and delivers an advanced line of scientifically-backed cosmeceutical treatments. As leaders in antioxidant and sun protection technology, SkinCeuticals products have been shown to dramatically improve skin health by protecting skin from environmental damage and visibly improving skin clarity, tone, and texture to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For more information, visit the brand on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or at http://www.skinceuticals.com.

About RejuveMD MedSpa

Founded in San Antonio, TX in 2012, RejuveMD MedSpa and Barrera Plastic Surgery has published over 70 scientific articles, book chapters, and abstracts in the field of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Barrera speaks internationally as a Clinical Professor in the Field of Surgery, Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. As leaders in skincare and rejuvenation, Rejuve MD is a multidisciplinary MedSpa of Plastic Surgeons and Facial Plastic Surgeons. Rejuve MD offers facials, minimally-invasive fat reduction, laser resurfacing, facial fillers, Botox, Dysport, PRP, and Hair Loss Restoration, and more. For more information, visit the brand on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @drjosebarrera, or at http://www.drjosebarrera.com.
Since inception, Sundance Bay has been championing diversity, standing for equality, and fostering inclusion as its core values.

Sundance Bay is pleased to announce that it has become a signatory to the Institutional Limited Partners Association's ("ILPA") Diversity in Action initiative. Through its participation, Sundance Bay reaffirms its commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion ("DEI") in the real estate private equity industry.

"Since inception, Sundance Bay has been championing diversity, standing for equality, and fostering inclusion as its core values." said Stan Ricks, co-founder, and Partner of Sundance Bay. "Our team works to create a more inclusive world daily, and we are proud to be a member of ILPA's Diversity in Action initiative. As investors, we strive to promote and advocate for long-term progress and equity in our Firm, across our portfolio and in our communities."

The Diversity in Action initiative is a means for private equity general partners and limited partners to promote greater diversity, equity, and inclusion practices through engagement, accountability, and action, both within their organizations and in the industry more broadly. Signatories of the initiative set intentions and are held accountable to such through regular assessments and actionable steps across talent management, investment management, and industry engagement.

"When an organization embraces diverse perspectives and reflects a just, inclusive community, we all benefit," said Ines Leung, Head of Capital Markets & Investor Relations. "At Sundance Bay, we believe that prioritizing DEI leads to better business outcomes and contributes to a society that empowers people to be their best, authentic selves. Today marks an important milestone in Sundance Bay's ongoing efforts to promote and advocate for progress and equity at our Firm and in our communities."

More information on ILPA's Diversity in Action initiative can be found on ILPA.org and SundanceBay.com.

About Sundance Bay

Sundance Bay is a private real estate investment firm headquartered in Salt Lake City. With over $1 billion of assets under management, Sundance Bay specializes in middle-market multifamily investing, net lease investing, and debt lending. Across its different verticals, Sundance Bay seeks to create lasting value for the Firm's investors and communities in which they invest. For more information about Sundance Bay, please visit SundanceBay.com.

About ILPA

The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) empowers and connects limited partners to maximize their performance on an individual, institutional and collective basis. With over 550 member institutions representing more than $2 trillion USD of private equity assets under management, ILPA is the only global organization dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of LPs and their beneficiaries through best-in-class education, research, advocacy, and events. For more information, please visit https://ILPA.org.
SVR Tracking Here at SVR we pride ourselves on developing cutting edge products that best serve the customers needs. Our SVR502 exemplifies that with its compact size, long battery life, and market leading performance

SVR Tracking, a leading asset tracking provider, is set to showcase their new SVR502 GPS tracking devicewhich utilizes SmartPower to deliver high performance battery power managementat the upcoming NIADA Conference.

This robust device comes in two versions, the SVR502-MP and SVR502-MD. Both are built to last for up to 3 years and continue peak performance through severe weather and poor network conditions. The SVR502-MP offers three different tracking modes while the SVR502-MD offers four. For the SVR502-MP this includes:



Pulse: Device logging twice a day (every 11.5 hours). Submits GPS fix and reports it to the server

Sleep: An ultra-low power management, perfect for shipping and storing

Recovery: Initiated by the user to identify the exact location of an asset for its recovery

The modes for the SVR502-MD include:



Sleep: (Identical to MP version)

Discovery: Reports the first 144 locations events to collect Top Stops and for easy address verification

Active: Daily check-in mode reporting every 12.5-hours while preserving battery life

Recovery: (Identical to MP version)

Other features in both versions of the SVR502 include a self-powered battery (no wires necessary), small and compact design, environmental seal that withstands dust and water immersion, and enhanced LTE Cat M1 coverage.

Here at SVR we pride ourselves on developing cutting edge products that best serve the customers needs. Our SVR502 exemplifies that with its compact size, long battery life, and market leading performance, said Mark Wells, CEO of SVR Tracking.

This product will be highlighted at the upcoming 75th annual NIADA convention in San Antonio from August 24th-26th. SVR Tracking will be located at booth 835.

For more information on the product visit: SVR502 Product Page

About SVR Tracking-

SVR Tracking is an established, undeniable pioneer in innovative services, high-quality manufacturing, and global sourcing of the most reliable components. We offer leading technologies that boast superior performance and enhance that offering with localized service and support systems. These local support teams allow for an incomparable long-term value to our customers, helping them reinvent their business.
Our commitment to innovation and leading customer experience sets us apart from the competition - and we look forward to welcoming you to our new location.

Title Alliance, Ltd., a family of full-service title insurance and escrow agencies, is pleased to announce an expansion in New Mexico. Title Alliance Advantage, a partnership with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, is the companys second joint venture in the state and is part of Title Alliances strong success in establishing innovative partnerships in the Southwest.

Title Alliance recently celebrated our five-year anniversary of arriving in the Southwest, and our team in New Mexico exemplifies the service and integrity our customers enjoy when trusting us with their real estate transactions, said Jim Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of Title Alliance. We are thrilled to announce a continuation of our strong track record in this amazing area of the country and are charting the course for a bright future in New Mexico, Arizona and the region as a whole.

Title Alliance Advantage joins Title Alliance of New Mexico in serving the state. Along with the New Mexico location, Title Alliance is celebrating the opening of Title Alliance Northwest, a partnership with Keller Williams Puyallup in Washington, and two new offices in Arizona with locations in the Phoenix metro area communities of Mesa and Gilbert.

With its fast-paced housing market and vibrant communities, growing our services in New Mexico is an exciting next step for Title Alliance, said Lindsay Smith, Chief Strategy Officer for Title Alliance. Ramping up our presence in the state allows us to serve additional home buyers, Realtors, lenders and builders with our efficient and profitability-boosting joint ventures. Our commitment to innovation and leading customer experience sets us apart from the competition - and we look forward to welcoming you to our new location.

About Title Alliance:

Title Alliance, Ltd., has been forming successful single and multi-state joint ventures with lenders, Realtors and builders since 1983. We work with our partners to establish in-house title and settlement operations, dramatically enhancing their customer service and increasing their profit. Started and headquartered in Media, Pa., Title Alliances family of companies are currently in 11 states and across 60 offices. More information at http://www.titlealliance.com.
With a little bit of effort, you can save money on car insurance. Installing safety devices and maintaining a clean driving record will help you lower the insurance premiums, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Car insurance policies can cost as much as several thousands of dollars per year. It might not look much, but for many families, car insurance can be a burden. Some are even considering dropping coverage.

Drivers who consider dropping coverage should follow the next tips on how to save on car insurance:



Graduate a defensive driving course. Very young drivers are charged extra on their insurance policies. Insurance providers consider than teens are high-risk drivers because they lack driving experience. Also, statistics show that teen drivers are more likely to be involved in car accidents. Teen drivers can lower their insurance rates by enrolling and graduating a defensive driving course.

Clean driving record. Drivers who manage to avoid parking tickets, speeding tickets, at-fault accident convictions, DUI incident convictions, and other traffic violation penalties for a period that is between three to five years can get a safe driving discount. However, drivers who got some tickets present in their driving records should talk with a lawyer and check if they can be expunged.

Install safety devices. Many modern vehicles come equipped with the latest safety devices. Drivers who do not own a modern vehicle can improve the safety of their vehicles by installing aftermarket safety devices. Rear cameras, safer seatbelts, tracking devices, and other devices will help policyholders save money on car insurance. However, policyholders should ask their insurers what safety devices are approved and how much money they can save after installing them.

Get a low-mileage discount. Drivers who are using their vehicles to commute to work on short distances can qualify for a low-mileage discount.

Obtain a loyalty discount. Policyholders who are loyal to the same insurance provider for a number of years can get a loyalty discount upon renewing the insurance contract.

Bundle policies with the same insurer. Policyholders who insure two or more vehicles to the same provider can gain a multi-car policy discount. Also, policyholders can insure their cars policies with different insurance products like homeowner's insurance, life insurance, health insurance, or even boat insurance. In this case, drivers who insure two or more different insurance products will get a multi-policy discount.

For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
To stay competitive these days, you have to be serious about ESG regardless of your size. Its impacting smaller firms and not just PE. Hedge funds are seeing the same pressure from LPs [limited partners].

The Martec Group, a global market research and consulting firm, recently partnered with Goby, The ESG Platform, to study and advance ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) solutions for private equity (PE) firms.

In a recent study conducted by Martec and Goby, one respondent said:

To stay competitive these days, you have to be serious about ESG regardless of your size. Its impacting smaller firms and not just PE. Hedge funds are seeing the same pressure from LPs [limited partners].

ESG progress and outlook

The overall outlook is very positive for ESG-related solutions as general interest in ESG goals and data has spiked in the past 12  18 months and is not expected to slow. Further, management solutions, specifically ESG software, have been experiencing significant demand in the PE space over the past 12 months. Expectations are that the recent spike in demand will continue to accelerate and expand as LPs focus on ESG and other similar initiatives.

The number of firms seeking ESG investments is vast

The macro-overview of the market indicates a high likelihood of success for companies advancing ESG solutions, in particular software solutions.

For example, a recent search in the PitchBook database yielded ~2,000 firms that state they are seeking ESG investments. This includes PE buyout, asset managers, venture capital, impact investing, and real estate firms leading the way.

Whats driving interest in ESG solutions

Capital Sources  public-facing LPs are requesting ESG information, including government agencies, public pensions, banks, and insurance companies.



These businesses typically send questionnaires for general partners (GPs) to fill out

PE firms repeatedly point to LPs as the primary drivers for increasing ESG initiatives

o In our research, the two most frequently mentioned types include pension funds and endowments

Geographical Focus  the EU is far ahead of the US in terms of ESG and likely to enact more regulations that will drive issues even further.

Market Focus  environmental issues have been taken into consideration for many years for deals that focus on environmentally sensitive markets (e.g., oil & gas).



Societal and governance issues are increasingly important for specific sectors (e.g., services and labor-intensive markets)

B2B, B2C, and information technology (IT) companies are showing the highest levels of interest in ESG solutions

Regarding market focus, its important to know what investors have in place so that a firm can better report disclosures. If investors in the market follow CDP guidance, chances are climate risk and carbon emissions are very material to the industry and that might be something to investigate. Similarly, in the real estate market, GRESB might be the right framework to use. Goby and Martec consultants can help PE firms gain a better understanding of which frameworks are predominantly used in the industry.

Other key areas of focus impacting interest in ESG solutions are fund size and investment philosophy. A firms investment philosophy can play a key role as motivation levels are changing across the ecosystem.

Middle market firms (companies with annual revenues between $500 million  $2 billion) may benefit most from ESG software solutions. These firms have seen the most dramatic change to their process and an intensifying need for ESG management solutions. Organizing sustainability initiatives and ESG data with a cloud-based solution, like Goby, could work well for firms in this space.

Lower middle market firms are next

Lower middle market firms (companies with annual revenues under $500 million) see a less urgent need to implement ESG initiatives. However, respondents in this group believe the importance of ESG will increase in the next 3 to 5 years. One respondent said:

[There is] a lot more talk in the media than in boardrooms currently. But this is growing in importance, and were definitely talking more about ESG before, during, and after deals.

Expect to see more Social Sustainability and Sustainable Governance

Growth can be more about the S&G (social, governance) than the E (environmental) for PE firms.



EH&S (environment, health, and safety) has been a focal point for many years

S&G is growing due to cultural shifts, increasing investment in human capital businesses, and more socially responsible investing and impact investing

Goby and Martec study findings point toward the bulk of ESG growth in PE being S&G focused  with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives.

Regardless of where a firm may be today, ESG initiatives and data will continue to factor into future financial investments and performance. Goby and Martec can help firms of all sizes, but particularly the middle market, complete ESG and due diligence (DD) engagements.

Goby and Martec will be reviewing the results of this research as well best practices and trends in an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, July 14. Sign up here.

###

Contact info:

Chuck Bean, Martec Group Partner/CMO

(248) 327-8005

tmginfo@martecgroup.com

martecgroup.com

https://twitter.com/themartecgroup

Danna Hileli, Goby/VP, Marketing

(734) 730-5746

dhileli@gobyinc.com

gobyinc.com

https://twitter.com/gobygreen
Woolpert Director of Design Tony Martin (left) and Woolpert Design Lead Will Tufts present the Proscenium model. This has been an amazing project, and were excited to see this unique vision come to fruition.

Woolpert was honored with an International Making Cities Livable award for its design of Proscenium at the 57th IMCL conference. Proscenium is a more than $60 million, mixed-use development that is planning its grand opening for this fall in downtown Carmel, Ind.

For its 2021 urban design awards, the IMCL sought well-designed, suburban revitalization projects that embodied a natural fitness to purpose and that were socially and environmentally responsible. These projects took advantage of the opportunities of urban life, while reflecting, respecting and enhancing their place, culture and community.

Proscenium offers 200 apartments, 26 condominiums, parking for 490, 85,000-square-feet of office space, and 25,000-square-feet of restaurant and retail space across seven acres, which was repurposed from industrial and retail use in this upscale suburb of Indianapolis. The site includes a community green and a pedestrian promenade, which creates additional outdoor space for residents and the community. It also provides convenient connections to an adjacent government complex, a new public park, Veterans Way and the Monon Trail.

Woolpert Director of Design Tony Martin and Design Lead Will Tufts were responsible for both the planning and architectural design for the project, from the 10,000-foot view to the brick detailing. Martin said Proscenium embraces the urban reinvention of Carmels traditional, suburban community and provides an inviting threshold to the towns rapidly densifying downtown.

Proscenium has benefited from strong local leadership, a rails-to-trails backbone and an innovative, citywide master plan by acclaimed urbanist Jeff Speck to emerge as this vibrant, walkable and desirable community neighborhood, Martin said. We thank IMCL for this honor, as well as Novo Development Group and the city of Carmel for their inspiration, leadership and support. This has been an amazing project, and were excited to see this unique vision come to fruition.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is an ENR Top 150 Global Design Firm, recently earned its fifth-straight Great Place to Work certification and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been Americas fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has over 1,100 employees and 42 offices in three countries. For more, visit woolpert.com.
Prolific childrens book author Patricia Reilly Giff, widely known for her Newbery Honor-winning novels Lilys Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods, as well as humorous series including the Kids of the Polk Street School, died on June 22 at her home in Fairfield, Conn., following a long illness. She was 86.

Patricia Reilly Giff was born April 26, 1935 in Brooklyn, N.Y., to William J. and Alice Reilly. As a child she was surrounded by stories, some told by her relatives or read to her by her father, as well as the ones she read on her own. I spent most of my childhood with a book in my hands, she told Something About the Author in 1983. After school, Id sit in the kitchen, leaning against the warm radiator, dreaming over a story, she recalled. And I always wanted to write.

Following high school, she enrolled at Marymount College where she initially majored in English and then changed to history before receiving her B.A. in 1956. Giff has said she fell into teaching when her college dean suggested it might be a good place for me. She began teaching in the New York City public school system and also continued her studies at St. Johns University, earning an M.A. in history in 1958. Giff then married James A. Giff, a detective, in 1959. The couple would eventually welcome three children.

In 1964, Giff accepted a position as a teacher in the Elmont Public Schools in Elmont, N.Y. She taught reading and was a reading consultant in grades three through six at various times and also expanded her credentials when she received a professional diploma in reading from Hofstra University in 1975.

It was that same year, at age 40, that Giff first tried to write a book of her own. She said that her experience working with remedial students, who often faced difficult circumstances and had unhappy faces, was a big inspiration for her. With my husbands encouragement, I decided to say something to all these children. I began to write, she told SATA. Giff also wanted to make her students laugh. Her husband spurred her on and even converted two adjacent closets in their apartment into a small writing studio where she could work. For several years she snatched time to write before school and slowly and painfully, Giff recounted, she crafted her first book, Today Was a Terrible Day, which was discovered in the slush pile and published by Viking in 1980.

Giff had found her writing voice, and clearly had much more to say to the students she was addressing in her books; she had published 10 books by 1984 when she stopped teaching and decided to write fulltime. That change coincided with another new chapter, when she and her husband moved to Weston, Conn.

For years she often produced multiple titles annually, creating the Kids of the Polk Street School series and two spin-off series, and a number of humorous novels. It wasnt until the 1990s, when she had already written more than 60 books for young readers, that Giff embraced a shift in tone. The wonderful publisher Craig Virden [then publisher of Delacorte Press] said he believed I had a serious book in me, Giff said in a q&a for Scholastic.com. And so I began, tentatively at first, and soon loved writing seriously. Lilys Crossing (Delacorte, 1997) was my first, which Craig ended up publishing! Lilys Crossing chronicles the experiences of a girl on vacation in the Rockaways during the summer of 1944 as her best friend moves away and her father goes to war overseas. Giff has said that she drew from personal memories for this story and that it took her four years to finish. The book received a 1998 Newbery Honor citation, the first of two that Giff would win. The second came in 2003 for Pictures of Hollis Woods (Random House/Wendy Lamb).

In all, Giff produced more than 100 books for young readers. But in addition to her writing, Giff combined her expertise and love of books to reach people in other ways, too. She served as educational consultant for Dell Yearling and Young Yearling Book and was an adviser and instructor to aspiring writers. In 1990, she and her husband and children opened a childrens bookstore in Fairfield, Conn., called The Dinosaurs Paw, a name taken from the title of one of Giffs Kids of the Polk Street School books.

Giffs surviving children, William and Alice, honored her this way: "Our mom was a warm, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A mentor to a generation of writers, she inspired everyone with her humor, positivity and friendship. She made everyone feel special."

Mary Cash, v-p and editor-in-chief at Holiday House, was a longtime editor of Giffs books, including her most recent works, which included the novel A Slip of a Girl (2019) and the Mysteries on Zoo Lane series. She paid tribute to Giff with these words: One of the things that made Patricia Reilly Giffs work extraordinary was how thoroughly she understood the emotional lives of childrenwhat they loved most, what frightened and troubled them, and what truly mattered to them. She was also able to give her characters the compassion and forgiveness they could not yet give themselves, and I think that this is why readers often found her work reassuring. The lovely thing is that she was just as generous and compassionate in her personal relationships, which is part of what made it such a joy to work with her.

Kathy Dunn, director of publicity at Random House Childrens Books, recalled a favorite anecdote about the author she had worked with for many years. Pat Giff was a true one-of-a-kind. She was the first author I ever traveled with as a publicist 20+ years ago, and when I mentioned that my mother still asked for my flight numbers and hotel info (at age 25), she made sure she walked me to my hotel room door and that I was safely inside. Her love and kindness radiated from within and I will forever remember all of the laughter, phone calls, emails, and desserts (Pats favorite) that we shared together. She solidified my love for books, authors, and the childrens publishing world.

And Wendy Lamb, Giffs longtime editor at Delacorte and the Wendy Lamb Books imprint, offered this remembrance: Pat Giff has been a shining presence in our community for generations. I met her at Viking in 1978, when an editorial assistant found Pats first book in the slush. What a hilarious, loving, generous spirit she was. How deeply she understood children, and her readers. She cared about other writers, and gave a mountain of blurbs. Today, her books move young people to enter our field, and so, Pat will continue to inspire us.
Read the story of Monica Brown and three more health-care workers on the front lines of COVID-19, whose stories are attached to this article, as told to Natalie Fedor, summer reporter.
Courteney Cox says maintaining a long-distance relationship with Johnny McDaid amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard.

The Friends star spent lockdown in California while the Snow Patrol rocker was in Europe, and Courteney has now said she found it difficult to spend months away from her partner.

Courteney  who is now in London at her boyfriends apartment  said: "People from the UK, they still can't come to America. You're not allowed in still, which is crazy. He's been vaccinated and he can't come in. I don't understand it. People can go from Florida to Los Angeles, no quarantine. I don't get it. I don't know why they can't come to America and quarantine the way I did.

"I've been on this five-day test and release. I'm going out tonight, can't wait. I don't mean out, just to a restaurant. I just want to go out - literally, out of the apartment. I have not left [McDaid's apartment] except to get a nose swab at Heathrow [Airport]."

But the 57-year-old actress insisted she and Johnny, 44, never engaged in Zoom intimacy while spending time in different countries.

She told SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show: "Zoom intimacy? We're very intimate, but I don't know how to do that [on Zoom]. There's other kinds of intimacy.

Back in October, Courteney said she hadnt seen her partner for 150 days, after he jetted back to his home in London just after the US began to implement lockdowns.

She explained at the time: Let's say it's been 150 days - I've cooked 145 of them. And I haven't seen John in that many days.

He left the next day [after] the whole country shut down - or at least [when] California did. I think maybe New York was before us. I've had these two friends ... they were gonna quarantine with me - which is great, because if I can't be with John, I don't wanna be just by myself with [my daughter] Coco. I'm a little chicken."
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"As always, I denounce racism and I would ask us, as a board, to make a stand against it."

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I explore how our lives are shaped by our relationship to the land, water and air. Have a question you want me to answer? Email me.
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A cicada on a picnic table in front of the Nolde Mansion. In front of the Nolde Mansion at the Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center in Cumru Township, PA Monday morning May 24, 2021 where Brood X Cicadas are emerging after 17 years underground.
Otto von Bismarck and his dogs Tyras II und Rebecca; Friedrichsruh, 6. July 1891. Photo by Strumper & Co., Hamburg, ( Wikipedia

As a result, the accepted set of assumptions about great power competition rests on an anomalous period of world history during which ideology drove great power politics rather than calculated national interest. To challenge those assumptions, strategists must broaden the set of historical analogies from which they draw lessons for the twenty-first century. Instead of relying on examples from American history and analogies that resemble that experience, strategists should consider analogies that look starkly different from great power politics during the twentieth century; specifically that of the German experience during the nineteenth. Otto von Bismarcks Germany experienced great power competition that was limited, controlled, and non-ideological, while Americans during the twentieth century experienced ideologically-driven total competition, inspiring a maximalist set of assumptions that overlooks the possibility of a limited and sustainable competitive posture toward China in the twenty-first century.

Bismarcks strategy to unify ethnic Germans into a single nation governed by an efficient Prussian state began in 1864 with efforts to resolve the Schleswig-Holstein Question, which began in the realm of diplomacy but culminated in war between Prussia and Denmark for control of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. Bismarck managed to prevent an uncontrolled escalation to total war by pursuing limited war aims, ensuring that military strategy served diplomatic goals, and remained non-ideological. Through careful diplomacy, Bismarck kept other European states out of the war to prevent further escalation.[4] As such, the Schleswig-Holstein War neatly fit the Clausewitzian concept of politics by other means.

Bismarck repeated his success in 1866 during the Astro-Prussian War. Once again, effective diplomacy prevented third-party military intervention. Limited war aims and the absence of ideology prevented escalation. Prussia did not seek regime change in the Astro-Hungarian Empire, nor did Bismarck view such maximalist military objectives as necessary to achieve Prussian domination of the confederation of German states.[5] During the 1871-1872 Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck achieved a similar result. Even when a unified Germany laid siege to Paris, the war did not escalate because Bismarcks priority remained on diplomatic aims. In pursuing peace, Bismarck negotiated the Treaty of Frankfurt am Main, which provided Germany with limited territorial acquisitions and financial reparations.[6]

Bismarcks drive to unify Germany upended the power balance in Europe. However, Bismarck achieved his strategic goals without inadvertently starting a world war. He used nationalism to drive a domestic narrative, but in advancing foreign policy he remained non-ideological. After diplomacy failed and Bismarck resorted to war, throughout hostilities he ensured that military objectives served diplomatic ends, and ultimately ended conflicts through diplomatic resolution.[7]

If strategists relied solely on the experience of Bismarcks Germany during the nineteenth century, they might assume that competition with China will be limited by narrowly defined national interest. Furthermore, while competition may escalate to hostilities, a strategist might assume that a war would be manageable and limited in scale based on the German experience.

A very different set of assumptions is generated by the American experience of great power politics. During the twentieth century, the confluence of technological developments and political ideologies shattered traditional norms of great power competition. Total war was not unheard of before the twentieth century, but it was exceedingly rare. After the treaty of Westphalia in 1648, warfare was characterized by limited diplomatic aims achieved by small, professional armies. By 1918, however, the old norm of non-ideological great power politics had given way to a new norm of scorched earth competition driven by ideological considerations.

World War I began as a nineteenth century great power competition but ended as a twentieth century total war

Three major events shaped twentieth century great power competition, and to follow the progression of these events is to observe the breakdown of traditional geopolitics. World War I began, as many nineteenth century wars had, as a non-ideological conflict fought over imperial ambitions.[8] Escalation driven by technological progress that outpaced operational and tactical thinking resulted in an industrialized style of warfare, inflating what began as a normal great power conflict into a total war that fundamentally reshaped the international order. As such, World War I began as a nineteenth century great power competition but ended as a twentieth century total war characterized by complete societal mobilization that culminated in the destruction of empires and a new, albeit short-lived, world order.[9] Furthermore, while ideologies did not influence the beginning of World War I, by the end of the conflict they had come to drive the peace process as Woodrow Wilson pursued his fourteen points that would make a world safe for democracy and Tsarist Russia fall to a communist revolution.[10]

During World War II fascism, communism, and liberal capitalist democracies competed for preeminence on the global stage. Driven by ideology, competition escalated to total war as whole societies mobilized.[11] The German objective during World War II was not simply to retake Alsace-Lorraine, but rather to topple regimes and impose a new world order. Those objectives may have overlapped, but the distinction highlights the difference between nineteenth and twentieth century great power politics. Whereas Nazi Germany sought the maximalist goal to conquer and occupy France, Bismarcks Prussia consistently pursued limited territorial acquisitions subservient to diplomatic goals. Likewise, the allies would not accept a diplomatic resolution that upheld the status quo world order, but instead sought unconditional surrender.[12]

Ideology, industrialization, and total war made great power politics during the twentieth century aberrant from the norm of historic competition between powerful states.

After the fall of Berlin and the subsequent bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the marriage of convenience between the liberal-capitalist camp and communism broke down and the third event to reshape great power politics calcified in the form of the Cold War. Once again, ideology drove great power competition, not narrowly defined national interest. As the U.S. and the Soviet Union jockeyed for influence around the globe, the competition resembled the great power politics of the nineteenth century on the surface. However, with the driving undercurrent of ideology, the prospect of total war loomed.[13]

Ideology, industrialization, and total war made great power politics during the twentieth century aberrant from the norm of historic competition between powerful states. The degree to which that distinction matters today is visible in how the twentieth century shapes contemporary American assumptions about the future of competition with China. Of course, the U.S. was never totally insulated from great power politics. It was embroiled in the Quasi-War with France and Britain shortly after winning independence and was a key player in a number of diplomatic disputes during the nineteenth century.[14] However, Americans began to participate in competition to a greater degree in the twentieth century than ever before.[15]

The American experience during the twentieth century is not representative of the broader history of great power politics.

The U.S. entered the arena during the final act of traditional competition only to be subsequently embroiled in the norm-shattering events that followed. As a result, the American perspective of great power politics is shaped by the American experience during an aberrant period of strategic competition that played out during the twentieth century. That perspective generates maximalist assumptions that strategists rely on to anticipate and comprehend the emergence of competition in the twenty-first century, driving the belief that hostilities with China could not possibly be limited in scope, geography, or scale, but must inevitably escalate to total war. Those assumptions are not necessarily wrong, but neither do they offer a complete understanding of the nature of great power politics, or a full picture of how competition may play out with an emergent China.
Congress and the Administration have taken several positive steps to improve Americas infrastructure and build a stronger, cleaner, more affordable power grid. Renewable resources and reliable, low-carbon natural gas generation plants are at their lowest cost ever in competitive power markets, greening the grid through private investment without passing costs to consumers and encouraging reliability to keep the lights on. But growing efforts to extend billions of unnecessary taxpayer dollars to bail out existing, profitable nuclear power plants undermine progress in reducing carbon emissions, investing in new clean technology, and building back better. Whats more  the plants dont need the extra cash to stay open. Voices across the political and ideological spectrum  from Friends of the Earth to The Heritage Foundation  are raising alarm.

Over the weekend, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee released the Energy Infrastructure Act discussion draft. Overall, the discussion draft is a positive step and will facilitate much-needed investment in Americas aging energy infrastructure. However, the draft also includes a subsidy program for existing nuclear power plants. The proposed program would cost $1.2 billion each year from 2022 through 2026, granting credits to existing plants. This follows President Bidens new budget proposal including $1 billion annually in nuclear tax credits.

Bidens proposal came just two days after Sen. Ben Cardin withdrew an amendment to attach a $50 billion bailout to the Clean Energy for America Act. Friends of the Earth decried the proposal as wrong for taxpayers, wrong for ratepayers and wrong for the environment.

These federal nuclear bailout proposals are not new; five states have enacted legislation to subsidize nuclear resources with little to no transparency into whether financial assistance is actually needed. When Americans are finally beginning to recover from the economic impacts of a once-in-a-generation pandemic, every wasted dollar matters.

Three points  and the facts  illustrate why bailouts to existing resources undermine the effort to Build Back Better.

First, there is no crisis  and power plant owners dont need a handout from taxpayers. Expert analysis shows no nuclear units are at risk of retirement  with profits even expected to exceed $279 million in 2021. Well dig into those numbers further down.

Second, a dollar spent on the old diverts money from new clean energy. As I outlined in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, providing cash payments to legacy resources will leave private developers of new low- and zero-emissions resources with little to no incentive to invest in and build the electric generation necessary to reliably and affordably decarbonize the economy.

Third, nuclear owners have already been bailed out time and again  and had the opportunity to earn ample revenue in competitive markets  with consumers paying higher costs as a result. At the advent of electric restructuring, in almost every case, competitive nuclear asset owners were nearly fully paid for stranded cost recovery (by consumers). Upon joining competitive markets, those same plants earned high profits until the shale revolution ushered in lower cost energy options. Yet now, they seek a cash bailout, saying that as zero-emission resources the plants are necessary to avoid harmful increases in carbon emissions. The claim ignores the reality.

Before heading down a costly road, a look into the profitability of existing nuclear resources is warranted. A 2020 independent assessment found that none of the sixteen nuclear reactors in the largest regional grid in the U.S.serving over 65 million peopleare at risk of retirement. They are in fact quite profitable, many to the tune of tens of millions of dollars each year, as demonstrated in charts from Monitoring Analytics 2021 State of the Markets Report. For those already receiving subsides at the state level, profits are expected to exceed $279 million in 2021. Hardly justification for additional bailouts from the American people.

Additionally, policies that pick winners and losers can harm consumers and the political process. They are often fraught with misaligned incentives that can lead to less-than-ideal behavior on the part of the companies standing to benefit from the subsidy. In Ohio, lawmakers repealed a troubled nuclear subsidy after it was revealed that the company standing to benefit donated millions in dark money to the then-speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives to pass the legislation.

EPSA is not opposed to nuclear energy; it is reliable, affordable, and produces no emissions. Our member companies own and operate competitive nuclear facilities. However, unjustified bailouts are not the answer.

Theres a better solution. An economy-wide price on carbon will ensure that consumers get the best deal, innovation is encouraged and all resourcesincluding existing nuclearcan compete to reduce Americas carbon footprint. Consensus is growing around this path, which economists have long known to be the most efficient approach to reducing emissions. Alternatively, if designed correctly, a Clean Energy Standard can approach the efficiency of a carbon price and provide a market-based alternative to carbon reduction and clean energy goals.

In the end, handing out taxpayer money to profitable private companies to retain specific assets and undermine the development and deployment of new and innovate technologies gets us no closer to the affordable, reliable and cleaner energy future we all want. Competition is building it  better, faster, and cheaper.

Todd Snitchler is president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), the national trade association representing Americas competitive power suppliers providing about 150,000 MW of electric generation from all resources including natural gas, renewables, and nuclear.
Thanks to fracking in the Marcellus shale, Pennsylvania has led a U.S. natural gas revolution since 2007. The states production has exploded almost 40-fold, to over 7,300 billion cubic feet, or 20% of the national total. Pennsylvania now ranks second only to Texas on this measure and yields more gas than any other country, except Russia and Iran. The rise of shale has been critical because natural gas is easily Americas main source of electricity, at 40% of all generation. The International Energy Agency credits the use of cleaner gas  and its displacement of much higher-emission coal  for Americas achievement in cutting CO 2 emissions the most in the history of energy. Experts at Wood Mackenzie and elsewhere conclude that gas demand will remain resilient, even in a policy environment that seeks to keep the human-induced rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius or less.

Pennsylvanias shale production has helped families economically and given businesses a competitive advantage. With Pittsburgh long eager to replace its fleeing steel industry, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, a Democrat and strong Joe Biden supporter, says that fracking really saved us. The University of Pennsylvanias Kleinman Center for Energy Policy reports on the economic benefits from shale development: it has led to a decline in the states gas and electricity prices of 40% and 80%, respectively, over the first decade alone, saving families thousands of dollars a year. Jobs, government revenues, and royalties for landowners are among the many benefits of shale development. Current numbers tell the story: compared to over $10.00 per MMBtu in Asia, gas prices at Marcelluss Dominion hub in mid-June were below $2.10. Such affordable energy explains why civil rights leaders like Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton support natural gas.

And there is much more to look forward to. The Marcellus is the largest producing field in the world, appraised at hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of supply. Ongoing coal retirements and the closing of Three Mile Island nuclear plant should extend gass current 5055% share of Pennsylvanias power generation. Data from the Department of Energy indicate that this shift from coal to gas has cut the states CO 2 emission rate for electricity a staggering 75%, to 720 pounds per megawatt hour.

Not particularly sunny or windy, Pennsylvania currently has 23,200 megawatts (MW) of gas capacity versus just 1,500 MW for wind and 90 MW for solar. And with the states paltry 30 MW of battery-storage capacity, its clear that gas will remain essential to compensate for the inherent intermittency of renewables and ensure grid reliability. Indeed, its telling that the most green-leaning states, such as California, New York, and Massachusetts, are all gas-dominant.

In tandem with Shells coming ethane-cracker plant in Beaver County, a huge but low-cost shale resource gives Pennsylvania a chance to rival the Gulf Coast as a manufacturing hub, now strongly bolstered by Act 66. The $6 billion Shell project is set to start operations in 2022 and create 600 permanent jobs. Politico reports that natural gas offers some of the highest-paying energy jobs in the country  paying $30.35 per hour versus $24.50 for solar, adding up to $12,000 more per year for each worker.

All this explains why Governor Tom Wolfs plan to push Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is so disconcerting. The cap-and-trade scheme has snared New York and the New England states, which now have the highest electricity prices in the country, a key reason why Chief Executive magazine regularly ranks them among the worst states for business. Pennsylvania would be the only major energy producer in the RGGI, with the irony being that the others are highly dependent on the Keystone States shale supply. Thus, the RGGI, made worse by Wolfs $4.5 billion proposal for a severance tax, could be a serious blow to a gas industry already burdened by the after-effects of Covid-19. Such shoot yourself in the foot energy policies could also push companies to move to competing states, such as Ohio and West Virginia, doing their best to entice the industry to develop further its Marcellus and Utica shale plays.

Pennsylvania also stands to benefit from the rapid emergence of the U.S. as potentially the worlds premiere exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Huge amounts of American shale are being sought to help Asian coal-based economies reduce their CO 2 emissions and clear hazy city skies. Exporting a modern fuel like natural gas is not only a quick win environmentally but also a moral imperative: six of every seven human beings live in still-developing countries, where energy poverty blocks progress at every turn. LNG exports can also combat the influence of Russias Gas Exporting Countries Forum, which wants OPEC-like control over the globalizing gas market. Afraid of losing his stranglehold on Europes energy supply, Vladimir Putin has conducted an extensive anti-shale campaign. A LNG export terminal in the Philadelphia-New Jersey region, for instance, would help our European partners rein him in.

Finally, it often goes unmentioned that the U.S. natural gas industry continues to get cleaner and more efficient, across the entire value chain. Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show that from 1990 to 2019, annual greenhouse gas emissions from gas distributors plunged about 70%, even as utilities added more than 788,000 miles of pipeline to serve 21 million more customers. Pittsburgh-based EQT, the countrys largest gas producer, supports the Biden administrations goal of regulating the industrys methane emissions to fight climate change. One international study credits the Marcellus gas industry as best in class for reducing CO 2 emissions. Companies are looking to deploy carbon-capture and sequestration technologies and make substantial investments in hydrogen to help meet emission-reduction goals, while also examining ways for renewables to power their operations. In particular, European climate performance standards for natural gas should give Marcellus LNG a competitive edge.

Its no surprise, then, that Pew Research finds that nearly three-quarters of American adults support more natural gas development. Shale supporters stand on the right side of history.

Jude Clemente is editor at RealClearEnergy and lives in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, with his wife and their three daughters.
In the wake of a recently introduced House bill that would allow American victims of COVID-19 to sue China, international relations experts dont foresee U.S. courts becoming a battleground for litigious warfare with Beijing.

At issue for the bipartisan bill are four significant hurdles: whether legal precedents allow private citizens to sue China, partisan political considerations in Congress, the preferred approach to U.S.-China relations by the Biden administration, and definitive evidence on the origins of the coronavirus.

Introduced by Pennsylvania Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (pictured), a Republican, and Democrat Conor Lamb, the legislation would also require an investigation of the World Health Organization, place an international ban on so-called wet markets, and create an international disease surveillance database.

When Fitzpatrick first sponsored the bill in June 2020, at least 14 lawsuits had been filed by businesses, individuals, and states against China for its presumed culpability for the pandemic (the lawsuits are still plodding through the legal system). Other members of Congress also introduced multiple bills intended to curtail Chinas sovereign immunity -- a fundamental principle of international law that prevents countries from being sued by other countries and their citizens. These measures were all introduced by Republicans.

While the Congressional Review Service expressed doubt about the lawsuits potential for success, its May 15, 2020 report was less skeptical that Congress would make exceptions to Americas sovereign immunity law -- which Fitzpatrick and Lambs bill would do regarding countries that have intentionally misled the international community on the outbreak of a health concern that leads to a pandemic.

The bill also represents a bipartisan development in pushback against China. It was introduced alongside another bipartisan bill that would establish a 9/11-style commission to investigate the pandemics origins and create mechanisms to ensure future pandemic preparedness in the public and private sectors.

If they pass, Beijing will almost certainly perceive this development as a significant and perilous turn in U.S.-China relations, Titus C. Chen, deputy director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan, told RealClearPolitics. It is most likely that China will respond in kind.

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, passed in 1976, prevents most lawsuits from being brought by citizens of one country against another. This is meant to encourage diplomacy and avoid turning domestic courts into an outlet for international relations.

But the FSIA includes two major exceptions. A commercial activities exemption occurs when a foreign state carries out a commercial activity on U.S. territory or elsewhere that has a direct effect on the United States. And a territorial tort exception occurs when a foreign state commits a wrongful act on American soil resulting in death, personal injury, or damage to and loss of property. If a lawsuit succeeds, enforcement of any ruling typically involves the seizure of foreign assets, which is what happened when kidnapped American journalist Terry Anderson was awarded a multimillion-dollar settlement in frozen Iranian assets in 2002.

The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act added another exception. The 2016 bill, passed by the Senate in the only veto override of Barack Obamas presidency , allows victims of international terrorism to sue foreign sponsors of those actions. This allowed victims of 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia for any role it played in the attacks.

In a statement on his bill, Fitzpatrick said that the Chinese Communist Party has been intentionally and maliciously misleading the rest of the world about the scope and spread of the novel coronavirus. Although Beijing was accused by former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo of covering up the outbreak, the verdict is still out on its origins: The two leading theories are that COVID-19 emerged from a wet market in Wuhan or escaped, intentionally or not, from a virology lab in the city. In May, President Biden announced a 90-day intelligence inquiry to probe the coronaviruss origin. The report is expected to be made public.

The announcement of the probe followed a Wall Street Journal revelation of previously undisclosed information that three employees of the Wuhan Institute of Virology contracted a severe illness and were hospitalized in November 2019. It also comes on the heels of  deep concerns  held by the Biden administration about the WHOs findings on COVID-19s origins and Chinas influence on the organization. Beijing has rejected efforts to allow other nations to conduct independent investigations in the country.

Experts doubt that Fitzpatricks legislation will get traction. According to Daniel Blumenthal, former senior director for China and Taiwan policy in the George W. Bush administration, even if it passes we need things like blood samples from lab workers, which we will never get, he told RCP. He instead proposed an alternative approach: We should stop cooperation in biotechnology with the CCP.

Blumenthal, who is also the director of Asian studies at the American Enterprise Institute, believes America should lead an international effort to thwart Chinas ambitions to become a global power in scientific developments and biotechnology. He also believes the U.S. needs a surveillance institute in Taiwan to vet all information about the spread of viruses from and in China'' early on.

Since China has destroyed and covered up all evidence that would point to a lab leak from WIV, it will be very difficult to successfully sue anyone in the CCP, he said.

In an interview with RCP, Robert S. Ross, a professor of political science at Boston College, rejected claims of a cover up, saying, We have no evidence of that.

The best the CIA can offer discounts the possibility that it was a lab release, Ross added. The WHO report, which faced scrutiny from the Biden administration, and the Defense Intelligence Agency reiterate this view. Ross doesnt believe the 90-day probe will produce a different conclusion from what is already known.

He described the Fitzpatrick/Lamb bill as political posturing and suggested that taking a hard line with China would backfire. Beijing authorities will only become increasingly skeptical of the possibility of cooperating with the Biden administration when they can see what direction the Congress is going.

Ross suggested the government find ways to minimize the likelihood of another pandemic and maximize cooperation to reduce its potential spread. As long as you are calling the Chinese leadership liars, youre not going to get their cooperation, he said. Dr. Anthony Fauci recently echoed this view on MSNBC , saying that if America wants Chinese cooperation, dont be accusatory.

On concerns about the WHOs integrity, Ross said that the reality of international organizations is that governments control access.  Of course its political. Its better to have limited access than no access, and America needs the WHO if it wants to be able to operate in another country.

If you think the WHO did a poor job, the answer is to stay within it and reform it than to walk away, Ross said. And until the pandemic is over, the organization can play a vital role distributing vaccines. It has already played a key role in enhancing collaboration with scientists around the world and educating countries about pandemics, he said.
Good morning, its Thursday, June 24, 2021, another lovely weather day on the East Coast. On this date 179 years ago, Marcus Aurelius Bierce and his wife, Laura Sherwood Bierce, welcomed the 10th of their 13 children into the world. For some reason, the Bierces gave all of their children names beginning with the letter A. The one whose birthday we observe today, Ambrose Bierce, would become a decorated Union Army soldier, as well as a renowned poet, wit, author, and San Francisco newspaperman. His brilliant and searing columns for the San Francisco Examiner inspired generations of California newspaper writers. (A Bierce column about the legislature opened this way: If nonsense were black, Sacramento would need gas lamps at noonday.)

His 1864 memoir, What I Saw of Shiloh, remains a classic of wartime literature. But Bierce never lived long enough to write What I Saw of Pancho Villa -- or whatever he intended to call his later reporting south of the border. Bierce never returned from Mexico, dying circa 1914 either covering the Mexican Revolution or trying to join it. His death is still a mystery more than a century years later.

I still think of him from time to time, not only because of my roots in Bay Area journalism, but also because of a caustic classic he wrote called The Devils Dictionary. (Think: Safires Political Dictionary for cynics.)

Ill pass along some of my favorite entries, but not until tomorrow. Today, Id point you to our front page, which aggregates, as it does each day, an array of columns and stories spanning the political spectrum. We also offer a complement of original material from RCP reporters and contributors, including the following:

* * *

The Problem With Bidens Child Allowance. Sen. Marco Rubio calls the feature of the American Rescue Plan, which kicks in next month, as an ill-advised giveaway that re-creates the very welfare system then-Sen. Joe Biden opposed in the 1990s.

Bill Allowing U.S. Citizens to Sue China Faces Hurdles. Henry Kokkeler reports on the uphill battle faced by Americans hoping to hold Beijing accountable for harms inflicted by the coronavirus.

Taiwans Vaccine Problem Is Americas National Security Problem. At RealClearPolicy, Seth Cropsey and Harry Halem argue that the U.S. must counter China and the WHO, which have prevented Taipei from purchasing Western vaccines.

An Election Reform Worth Considering: Approval Voting. Also at RCPolicy, Chris Raleigh spotlights an alternative to vote-for-one and ranked-choice methods.

Bidens Troubling Nominee to Head Civil Rights Office. At RealClearEducation, R. Shep Melnick and Peter Schuck detail complaints against Catherine Lhamon when she held the same role in the Obama administration.

Do Nuclear Plants Need a Taxpayer Subsidies? At RealClearEnergy, Todd Snitchler tallies the cost of promoting nuclear power in the newly drafted Energy Infrastructure Act.

Impact of Pennsylvanias Natural Gas. Also at RCE, Jude Clemente reports that the states surge in production is responsible for substantial U.S. reductions in CO 2 emissions.

Saluting Leigh Perkins and the Genius of Private Equity. RealClearMarkets editor John Tamny writes that the head of Orvis, who died last month, did more than build his company into a powerhouse retailer of fishing, hunting and sporting goods.

* * *

Carl M. Cannon

Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics

@CarlCannon (Twitter)

ccannon@realclearpolitics.com
Soaring consumer prices and stubbornly high unemployment are the hallmarks of the Biden economy.

The reasons are as obvious as they were predictable, especially for those who dare to venture outside Washington, D.C. For months, I have warned that President Bidens gigantic American Rescue Plan included needless government stimulus that would have devastating ripple effects.

While most critics focus so far has been on the plans extension of federal unemployment benefits, which effectively pay people not to work (and which states like Florida are thankfully ending), the packages radical expansion of the federal welfare state has been relatively overlooked. That wont be for long, as the plans new handout -- Bidens so-called child allowance program -- will begin in July.

For the next six months, the Child Tax Credit, claimed by working families every year at tax time to keep more of their hard-earned money, will be transformed into an anti-work welfare check. Parents will receive monthly payments of $300 per child under 6 and $250 per child age 7 to 17. By next tax season, some households with no working adults will receive more than $10,000 in these payments. No work required. Just free money on top of Americas existing safety net.

Its all part of a pattern of President Biden spending recklessly on a liberal policy wish list, at risk to the economy.

When Biden first proposed the American Rescue Plan, even Obama administration economists admitted the package was too much. Former Council of Economic Advisers chair Jason Furman warned that the Biden stimulus was definitely too big for the moment, noting, I dont know any economist that was recommending something the size of what was done. Fellow Obama alum Steven Rattner even said, We need to trim stimulus now!

But the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress want to do the exact opposite. Unlike their unemployment benefits, they intend to make Bidens cash handouts to non-working parents permanent.

Despite Democrats claims, this is not a pro-family plan. It would re-create the failed welfare system that President Clinton and then-Sen. Biden opposed in the 1990s, when there was a bipartisan consensus that the goal of welfare should be to encourage work and marriage rather than dependency.

Today, Democrats have apparently abandoned that guiding principle.

In the floor debate over the Biden stimulus, Republicans unanimously voted to support my and Sen. Mike Lees amendment to once again expand the Child Tax Credit for working families, just as we did in 2017. Democrats rejected the expansion in favor of Bidens welfare program for non-working, unmarried parents.

Now, as their program begins, the American people will witness the dangers of this radical plan. These handouts will take away the incentives for single parents to work and get married. It will go to parents with histories of crime or substance abuse, with no questions asked or help provided.

And as we saw with unemployment benefits, the American people know the culturally destructive influence of paying people not to work and how it can derail an economic recovery, just as it did during the Obama years.

Whats more, the Democrats know Bidens plan is unpopular. Why else would they keep calling this program tax relief when it goes to people who pay no taxes?

Though the Democrats downplayed this program to get it passed earlier this year, theyre no longer holding back. When President Biden calls his child benefit program a signature achievement in the months to come, the American people should see right through it.
56, of Traverse City, died, June 25, 2021. He is the son of Elizabeth Yates and brother of Marcia Emery. Scott was preceded in death by his brother, James McCann. Services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, July 2, 2021 at the Greensky Hill Indian Methodist Church, 8484 Greensky Hill, Charlevoix.
A few years ago I made an excursion up to Bayfield, Wisconsin, and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in late June. Ive been wanting to share that experience with readers, and the time of year seemed appropriate.

Its an enchanting land of forests, large hills, craggy shorelines and islands as far as the eye can see. The New England look-alike village of Bayfield is nestled into hillsides along the upper east side of the peninsula of the same name. The Apostle Islands fan out 28 miles into Lake Superior from the town.

Its a very doable day drive, a little over 460 miles. I choose to stay in nearby Ashland, 22 miles south of Bayfield, also on the shore of the big lake locals call, The Lady. The drive up to the village hugs the shore offering many delightful lake views. I found a larger choice of motel accommodations to choose from. Bayfield is mostly B&Bs, converted Victorian mansions erected during the lumbering boom in the late 1800s, and a couple of hotels.

On the Trail A collection of columns from Record-Eagle Outdoors Columnist Mike Terrell:

Touring the Apostle Islands by boat, kayak and bike was the point of my visit, but I found touring the charming village and a visit to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Visitors Center worthwhile and informative. The beautiful old mansions that adorn the town are worth a walk around. Just be advised it is hilly.

The closest of the islands is Madeline, which is just a short 20-minute ferry ride away. You can take you car to drive around the 14-mile long island. Its the largest of the 22 islands, but not part of the National Lakeshore. It has a community on the west end. Big Bay State Park with its mile-long beach is a popular stopping spot along the southern shore. I choose to take my bike and ride around the island. Its an easy scenic ride, much of it along the appealing bay.

I had no desire to try biking around the mainland village. I drove to some of the upper street views, which are panoramic on a clear day. The islands stretching out into the blue waters of Lake Superior, and a hint of the mountainous western UP shoreline in the far distance. A drive on WI 13, the main road through the village, around Bayfield Peninsula is also very scenic. Cut across the top of the peninsula through old-growth forests on county roads instead of following the highway all the way around.

There are daily excursion boat trips offered by a number of companies, which will get you up close to a number of the famous lighthouses located on the islands. Its the largest collection of lighthouses anywhere in the National Park system.

The first lighthouse started operating during the Civil War. Some of the islands permit wilderness camping, which you have to register for a spot. You can catch a ride to the larger islands with some of the excursion boats. Others kayak over to the islands.

But, you had better know what you are doing before venturing across Superior, as the excursion boat captain told me on our trip around the islands.

The kayak portion of my trip, the main point to my visit, was to visit the well known caves along the north shore of the peninsula. I was going with an experienced outfitter that I had chosen for a guided trip. They furnished a sea kayak with PFD, a wetsuit, and paddle.

The day I had chosen for the guided excursion turned out a bit foggy in the morning, but proved no problem for hitting the open water. I was with a group of kayakers, maybe six or seven. The air temperature was in the low 60s and water temperature in the 40s, but in the wetsuit I was very comfortable. The fog provided a surreal effect as we glided underneath weather-worn red rock bluffs. Eons of wind and waves have eroded the soft sandstone bluffs leaving behind a Swiss-cheese-like shoreline of arches and tunnels.

We were able to paddle through several small caves, the smooth rock wrapping around you like a musty cocoon. Occasional gentle swells would pass beneath you and create a loud boom as it sloshed against the back of the cave and retreated. I almost jumped out of the kayak at the first totally unexpected boom. My guide forgot to warn me. At times we would paddle back into longer caves. A couple had a room at the end with an open well-like entrance to the top of a bluff well above you.

It was a trip Ill never forget. The sea kayak cave exploring is rated the top adventure draw around the Great Lakes. Well worth the drive.
As Athens restaurants, bars and eateries adjust to changing policies and conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, their operations change frequently. Heres this weeks roundup of restaurant news. Dont forget to stay up to date on hours of operations, service options and contact information with our comprehensive restaurant guide.
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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Steady light rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities will require the COVID-19 vaccine for students this fall.

The Board of Regents for Higher Education voted Thursday to require that all students who participate in on-campus activities at CSCU institutions be fully vaccinated against the virus.

The vaccines that are currently authorized in the United States are safe, effective, and critical to resuming normal operations at our campuses this fall, Jane Gates, interim president of CSCU, said in a statement.

Now is the time for students planning on attending college this fall to get vaccinated, she said. With more infectious, more severe variants becoming more and more prevalent, getting your shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and our communities.

CSCU students can request exemptions for both medical and non-medical reasons. The university system, which includes public state colleges and community colleges, is still developing procedures to assess possible religious and philosophical exemptions, according to Leigh Appleby, CSCU spokesperson.

Students granted exemptions will be required to follow mitigation protocols including continued masking and physical distancing, Appleby said.

CSCU campuses, which each hosted at least one clinic before the end of the spring semester, plan to help connect students before the fall with vaccines on or near campus.

We are providing outreach to students to help them find a vaccine before the beginning of the semester, said Appleby. We also expect to hold additional clinics on campus in coming weeks.

The state system is the latest in a string of colleges and universities in Connecticut to consider, then mandate, the shot. UConn, the states other public higher education system, announced its requirement earlier this month. Wesleyan University was among the first in the state to require the vaccine in April, with Yale University and Quinnipiac University since following suit.

The policy was born out of a working group formed in May to assess the feasibility of a vaccine mandate. The group was headed by the vice chair of the faculty advisory committee, and included faculty, staff and students.

As of this week, CSCUs policy did not extend to all employees, though a statement from the university system said it does give the CSCU president the authority to impose such a requirement if they see fit. The Board of Regents acknowledged that there will be required discussion with the unions on the topic, if the system chooses to mandate the jab for faculty and staff.

Evaluations are ongoing, read the statement.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP)  When temperatures are sweltering in Arizona's desert areas, people head to the forests to camp, hike, fish and just cool off.

But options for finding respite from the heat will be slim now that all but one of Arizona's national forests are enacting broad shutdowns amid high fire danger and as firefighting resources run thin with blazes already burning across the state.

Portions of forests in other western states also are off-limits. But the shutdowns in Arizona are the most widespread and, by Friday, will include land owned and managed by the state.

Kathy Howard set out for a hike in Sedona on Wednesday a couple of hours before the Coconino National Forest closure went into effect. She crossed a creek where she enjoys listening to water gently roll over the rocks, turned right and was greeted with caution tape.

Her plans were dashed.

I have to say I'm glad that they did close the forest because we don't want to lose our trees and all the flora and fauna out there, said Howard, who splits her time between Scottsdale and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Arizona has been a hotbed for wildfires so far this year, with more large fires burning than in any other state and across all terrain. The fires have forced rural residents from their homes and sent motorists on sometimes lengthy detours.

Firefighters got help Wednesday with cooler weather and the hope of rain, however short-lived it might be with a warming trend in the forecast later this week. Still, they were on alert for thunderstorms that could produce lightning and touch off more blazes.

The Coconino and Kaibab national forests in northern Arizona closed Wednesday. Apache-Sitgreaves, Prescott and Tonto were set to close later this week. Tonto near Phoenix will leave most of its lakes open for recreation.

A previous, full closure of the Coconino forest 2006 lasted nine days. A 2002 shutdown lasted nine weeks, encompassing the Memorial Day and July 4 holidays.

There's no telling when the latest closures, which don't affect state or national parks, will be rescinded.

We know the public wants to get outside," said Tiffany Davila, spokeswoman for the state Department of Forestry and Fire Management. But it comes down to public and firefighter safety and making sure we can get people to the next incident, if and when it occurs."

Coconino forest employees were scattered throughout the forest Wednesday, letting campers, hikers and locals know about the closure, posting signs and providing information on social services to people who regularly camp in the forest.

Keith Buchli drove to Flagstaff from Scottsdale to escape the heat, knowing the forest would be closed, but checked some roads just in case. Instead of his planned mountain bike ride, he rode on the highway shoulder. Exercise is exercise, he said.

It's so much nicer here, he said. I just love getting out into the woods.

Nearby, the road that leads to a ski resort that operates a scenic chairlift in the summer also was closed.

To the southwest in Prescott, a summer camp for kids will have to nix horseback riding and camping in the nearby forest. Kevin Nissen, co-director of Friendly Pines, said the camp has plenty of room on its own property for other activities.

Hopefully the rains will come and this will all get lifted, he said.

Beyond inconveniencing campers and hikers, the forest closures are felt by businesses that rely on tourists, hunters, ranchers and researchers who can't conduct studies. Forest thinning also could be delayed.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina would end offering supplemental benefits from the federal government to the state's unemployed in roughly a month under legislation finalized Wednesday by Republicans in charge of the General Assembly.

But House and Senate Democrats voted almost unanimously against the compromise hammered out by GOP leaders from both chambers, signaling a possible veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

The legislation would do away with the $300-a-week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit for at least 200,000 displaced workers in the state. That's on top of their other state or federal aid. A $100-a-week additional payment for self-employed workers also would end.

Both coronavirus aid programs already are set to expire nationwide in September, but Republicans have agreed with business owners' concerns that the extra benefits are a disincentive for some to return to the workforce after being months at home. Twenty-six states, all but one with Republican governors, have already decided to withdraw early from the program, according to the National Employment Law Project.

By ending the $300 weekly supplement benefit, the final legislation sides with what the House approved earlier this month.

With a severe labor shortage, now is no time to pay people extra money not to work, Sen. Chuck Edwards, a Henderson County Republican, said in a news release. "The pandemic is largely behind us, and our state shouldnt be stuck in mid-pandemic policies.

Coopers office didnt immediately respond to an emailed request late Wednesday for comment on the bill. But one Democrat, Rep. Wesley Harris of Mecklenburg County, said during floor debate that he anticipated Cooper would veto it. The bill would direct the state to stop administering payments within about 30 days of the measure becoming law.

Edwards had previously pitched a proposal to keep benefits in place through the summer, but combined it with a program to create bonuses of up to $1,500 who returned to work within 60 days. This bonus idea, which would have required federal approval, was left out of the final product.

The final measure did retain a House provision that would spend $250 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid on eliminating the individual waiting list for government subsidies for child care. Paying for day care is considered a major stumbling block for mothers to return to work. And there are more work-search requirements, which if not followed could result in the denial of benefits.

But that wasn't enough of a sweetener for Democrats, who pointed out that eliminating weekly payments will harm people still struggling in a post-pandemic economy. The $300 benefit equates to at least $60 million entering the state's economy each week.

These are people who are looking for work or otherwise can't return to work because of circumstances," said Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Guilford County Democrat.

All Democratic senators and all but three House Democrats in attendance voted against the final bill.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  A $1.7 billion wave of federal pandemic relief money has arrived at New Mexico's state treasury amid a power struggle between a Democratic governor running for reelection and leading Democratic lawmakers who draft the state budget.

State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg confirmed the deposit of $1,751,542,835 from the federal government. The money is linked to the American Rescue Plan Act that comes with broad discretion on shoring up state finances and the local economy.

In early April, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed the Legislature's suggestions on relief spending worth $1.1 billion that included tourism marketing, infrastructure projects and $600 million to replenish a depleted unemployment insurance account.

The governor has wagered an initial $5 million in relief money on a sweepstakes drawing of cash prizes for people who get vaccinated to stem the spread of COVID-19.

She also has voiced support for replenishing the unemployment insurance trust to stave off future tax increases on businesses. The governor has not yet disclosed publicly other priorities for the new relief funds.

Democratic Senate finance committee Chairman George Munoz of Gallup said Wednesday that time is of the essence as the state attempts to avoid missteps that led to a painstakingly slow recovery from the Great Recession.

New Mexico always lags behind other states in recovery, he said. If we can end that cycle and speed that process and get it out the door ... then we become efficient.

He said legislators are attuned to the challenges of spending one-time federal relief without expanding programs that can't be supported financially later.

Eichenberg said that the state treasurer's office has asked the Lujan Grisham administration for a rough timetable on relief spending. A $65 million portion of the federal deposit will be forwarded to municipal and county governments.

Munoz said legislators could resort to litigation to assert their authority over federal relief and state spending decisions.
GUILFORD  As organizers affiliated with a group opposing lessons on systemic racism say they expect a big crowd at a forum Thursday, another group says they plan to protest the event outside the community center.

The forum, scheduled for 7:30 pm, advertises speakers who have written in opposition to critical race theory, a controversial academic framework through which to view systems of racism and oppression in America.

Its alleged presence in schools has been the source of debate in the last year and has polarized people in Guilford, as well as nationally. Guilford Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman has denied that critical race theory is taught in the towns schools.

The events organizers from the group Truth in Education opposed the creation of an equity and social justice initiative for Guilfords school district, calling it indoctrination.

Parents of students in Guilford schools have claimed the movement is just a word salad of terms that promotes the unequal treatment of students.

Truth In Education, the Connecticut chapter of No Left Turn In Education, is calling the event a much-needed informational forum on critical race theory, which is rapidly being implemented in our Guilford School Community under the guise of equity and social justice.

The forum will include guest speakers Mike Breen, Dan Richards and Guilford High School alum Tony Dinse, according to organizers.

Breen is the New Hampshire state director for No Left Turn in Education, a group that opposes leftist agenda sweeping into public education.

Richards leads Global Rescue, a company that provides medical, security, intelligence, and crisis response services to corporations, governments and individuals.

In promotional materials for the event, Richards condemns critical race theory, a decades-old academic concept, as akin to the totalitarian ideologies yours and my ancestors fought against.

The group also said Dinese, a 2013 Guilford High School grad, will speak at the event.

Organizers said the town is limiting the space to 200 people, potentially with an overflow room of 100 people.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
The state Senate unanimously passed a bill to increase the transparency of Pennsylvanias vaccine rollout by requiring the Department of Health to make public the amount of vaccine doses that have been wasted, according to state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township.

This bill gives the public information they deserve, Argall was quoted in a news release on Tuesday after the 50-0 vote. There is absolutely no reason why the state Department of Health should ever withhold this information from the public.

Senate Bill 559, which is sponsored by Argall, comes after media organizations across Pennsylvania expressed frustration throughout the pandemic about the administrations refusal to release details about wasted coronavirus vaccine, citing a decades-old disease prevention law.

In late May, the Wolf administration reversed course and made public how many doses have been discarded by providers and why.

The release came two months after the Department of Health initially denied Spotlight PAs public records request for the information, citing the 1955 Disease Prevention and Control Law that gives the state wide authority to keep information related to contagious diseases, including details that could identify individuals, confidential. But it has been used more broadly over the past year to withhold all kinds of information, Spotlight PA reported.

At the time of release, the data showed just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses given to hospitals, pharmacies and other providers through May 21 were not used. Of the 18,644 discarded doses, providers reported spoilage as the cause in more than 37% of cases. Spoiled vaccines typically include those that have expired or those that were not stored at correct temperatures due to conditions like equipment failure, state health officials said.

Like with the wasted vaccines, state health officials initially cited the law in refusing to release the number of COVID-19 tests the state was conducting and the number of cases in specific nursing homes. After criticism, the Wolf administration reversed course in both instances, Spotlight PA reported.
SCRANTON  A Frackville man is headed to federal prison after a judge sentenced him Wednesday for trafficking methamphetamine in 2019 in and around Schuylkill County.

Shaquane Scott, 31, must serve six years in a federal correctional institution, U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion ruled.

Scott previously pleaded guilty to distribution of crystal methamphetamine. Scott admitted distributing between 50 and 150 grams of highly pure crystal meth during several weeks in February and March 2019, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler.

A federal grand jury indicted Scott and his girlfriend Samantha Blume, 28, also of Frackville, in September 2019 in connection with the meth trafficking. The charges against Blume are pending, according to Brandler.

The Schuylkill County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police and FBI investigated the matter.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. OHara is prosecuting the case.

The federal government brought the case against Scott and Blume as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safe for everyone.
Fire damages Frackville home

FRACKVILLE  Fire damaged a home in the borough early Wednesday morning.

Frackville firefighters were called to 311 S. Broad Mountain Ave. just before 1:30 a.m. and were met by smoke coming from the third floor of the building.

Crews were able to contain the fire to the attic portion of the home. At daylight, no visible fire damage could be seen on the home, only a missing window of the attic.

Firefighters from Frackville, Altamont, Mahanoy City and Englewood responded to the call with all units clearing the scene around 2:30 a.m.

No injuries were reported.

Couple charged with assault

ASHLAND  A husband and wife were charged by state police at Frackville after a domestic disturbance at 58 Dutch Road in Butler Township around 6 p.m. June 16.

Police said during the incident, both Michelle Walnock, 51, and Michael Walnock, 46, reported suffering injuries.

Police said both were charged with simple assault and recklessly endangering another personwith unsecured bail set at $10,000 for Michael Walnock and $25,000 for Michelle Walnock.

Man involved in crash after avoiding a deerPORT CARBON  A 60-year-old New Philadelphia man suffered non-life threatening injuries when the 2013 Toyota Tacoma he was driving crashed on Route 209, just east of Coal Street in Blythe Township, around 1:10 a.m. Friday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said James Zembas was northbound when he swerved to avoid a deer, lost control and went off the road where his truck struck several trees, causing disabling damage.

Zembas was taken to a hospital by Schuylkill EMS for treatment, police said.

2 men escape injury after SUV crashMINERSVILLE  Two North Carolina residents escaped injury when the 2010 Honda Pilot they were in crashed on the southbound lanes of Interstate 81, near mile marker 117.9 in Cass Township, around 7:40 a.m. Friday.

State police at Frackville said John Silvernail, 56, of Grimesland, was southbound when he reported falling asleep and going off the road and down an embankment.

Once down the embankment, police said, the vehicle traveled about 300 feet and struck several trees before coming to a stop, but not before it sustained damage to the windshield and entire front end with air bags deployed as well.

Silvernail and his passenger  Thomas Silvernail, 18, also of Grimesland  were unhurt, police said, adding that as a result of the crash, John Silvernail was cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Woman charged with harassment

SHENANDOAH  A 33-year-old Shenandoah woman was charged with harassment by state police at Frackville after an incident on West Washington Street around 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Police said April Briones became involved in a domestic disturbance with a 49-year-old Shenandoah man and struck him during an argument.

The charge against Briones was filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, police said.

Police investigate 5-vehicle accident

HAMBURG  State police at Hamburg investigated a five-vehicle accident that occurred in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 78, in the area of mile marker 34, in Greenwich Township, Berks County, around 1:10 p.m. Saturday.

Police said the crash happened in a backlog due to construction when Charles White, 65, of East Berlin, was driving a 2012 Nissan Frontier when he sideswiped a vehicle that was in the right lane and then slammed into the back of another vehicle that was in the left lane. The impact set off a chain reaction involving two more vehicles, police said.

Of the five vehicles involved in the crash, four were towed from the scene, police said, adding that of the 12 people involved in the crash, nearly half were transported to a hospital for precautionary measures.

Police said that all indications led them to believe that White had not been paying attention to the numerous advisories regarding the construction and will be cited for careless driving.
100 years ago  1921

Street paving in Pottsville during the year 1921 appears at this time about as probable as the election of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll as the successor of Gov. Sproul. City Council held a special meeting Tuesday evening where the paving problem was the main consideration.

75 years ago  1946One of the two firms negotiating for acquisition of the Cressona Ordnance Plant is expected to reach a settlement with the War Assets Administration over details of the plants purchase within the near future. Reliable sources indicated today that sale or lease of the plant may take place within the next two weeks.

50 years ago  1971

Elmer Johnson, chairman of Schuylkill County Commissioners, who is engaged in a political life and death struggle with Charles Dimmerling, paid $2,500 for Republican Party endorsement in the May 18 Primary. Dimmerling, current Register of Wills, who sought but did not get official party blessing, spent $1,000 of his own money and $1,200 donated by supporters to challenge for the seat held by Johnson or that by Leonard Thomas.

25 years ago  1996

Richard W. Maurer will never forget May 14, 1996. In fact, that single span of 24 hours will be added to a short list of other dates that changed the future of his apple orchard for a season. It was the day temperatures dropped below 28 degrees and destroyed his hope for a fruitful harvest. As near as I can tell, about 75 percent of my crops are damaged, said Maurer, who owns a 75-acre apple orchard in Valley View. Well weather the storm, but it sets you back another year. Maurer said his older trees were the ones hit the hardest  including red and yellow delicious as well as Macintosh apples. Damaging May frosts havent hit his apple orchard since May 19, 1962, and then again in May 1963 when the temperatures dropped below freezing. Years like that you dont forget, he said. I know I wont forget this year.
Summer is here, and so are fireworks and, inevitably, complaints about their misuse in neighborhoods across the commonwealth.

Ever since the Legislature passed a law in 2017 that ended the states absurdly restrictive and convoluted rules covering consumer fireworks, many local governments statewide have complained that the new regime might not be restrictive enough.

As often is the case, lawmakers were motivated at least as much by revenue prospects as by a desire for simple, straightforward state policy. They imposed a 12% tax on consumer fireworks sales on top of the standard 6% sales tax. So far in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, the 12% tax has generated about $7.5 million.

The price for the state revenue largely is paid at the local level, where people live. Philadelphia alone recorded 8,500 fireworks complaints between June 2019 and June 2020.

Pittsburgh and York have established special police units to deal with fireworks complaints.

Public safety also is an issue. U.S. hospitals treated more than 10,000 fireworks injuries last year, about 75% on and around Independence Day. On Friday, a man in Centre County suffered serious injuries when year-old fireworks exploded in his car.

Its pretty clear that the state government needs to give local governments greater authority over fireworks use. State Rep. Robert Freeman, a Northampton County Democrat, has introduced a bill to do so. It would allow governments to establish restrictions on fireworks use as long as they do not conflict with state law. And it would amend the state law to limit fireworks to between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with exceptions for major holidays including New Years Eve and July 4.

The state law already precludes fireworks within 150 feet of structures.

It also would establish fines for violations that would increase for multiple offenses.

To help protect neighborhoods and promote safety, the Legislature should approve the changes.
I see the gaffer in chief did it again. He is at the G-7 Summit and he keeps talking about Libya when actually he meant Syria. God help us. This president doesnt even know what country the Russians were helping. I just dont see any future for this country with this man in charge and the one behind him is even worse.

Frackville



The women pictured in the pro-choice rally are an embarrassment to many women. It doesnt matter how you try and spin this, abortion is plain and simple murder.

Pine Grove



I am sick of hearing that it is perfectly legal for billionaires to stiff us on taxes. I dont care who is responsible for this outrage, fix it.

Mahanoy City



Four-hundred billion dollars lost to unemployment compensation fraud. The government did such a good job with that program, I am sure mail-in ballots to everyone will work just as well.

Shenandoah



The president was over in Europe saying that everything is going well, according to the media. My question is how much is it going to cost the taxpayers for him to go over there and probably give things away because our allies are not our allies unless we pay them. If you remember our former president got out of all these programs because we were paying the majority of the money to do so.

Tamaqua



Now that everything is opening up, I wish the churches would post signs that remind parishioners that if they did not get the vaccine, they should still be wearing a mask. It is very dangerous because I see people without masks that I know did not get the vaccine.

Pottsville



I was very happy to see Toby Renninger displaying his Air Force military sash at Blue Mountain commencement exercises in last Sundays newspaper. What school board members voted against wearing the sash?

Pottsville



I see all these stories about Donald Trump are actually untrue, so Donald Trump was really not a liar. Joe Biden, he is the real liar just like all the Democrat people who support abortion and say they are a Catholic. They are liars, too.

Orwigsburg



I see in the paper that they had UTVs donated to the police department by Reading Anthracite. They would be nice to use but you would have to have more than one or two police officers on a shift in order to enable that to work properly.

Saint Clair



FYI Gordon, violent BLM protesters were arrested by local cops. The FBI pursues criminals who crossed state lines or commit federal offenses. Bank robbers, kidnappers and those who brag about their crimes on Facebook fall under the FBIs jurisdiction.

Mahanoy City



Congratulations to these young men from Blue Mountain who signed to go into the military, but they made it about them. The military is not about them. The military is about sacrifice, discipline and following orders. What are they going to do when they have to get up early in the morning and go for a run?

Pottsville



Asking Argall to be fair when it comes to redistricting is like asking a weasel to guard the hen house. The man is the king of gerrymandering. All he does is waste the taxpayers money on chasing the steal, which has been proven by the Supreme Court to be false.

Pottsville



Question for the five Democratic Womens League pro-abortion girls on the front page of the June 13 paper: If people are pronounced dead when their hearts stop beating, why arent babies pronounced alive when their hearts start beating?

Orwigsburg
India, along with 183 countries voted in favour of a General Assembly resolution that demanded ending the US economic blockade against Cuba, with New Delhi underlining that the continued existence of this embargo undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the UN itself.

The US and Israel were the only nations voting against the resolution, which has been overwhelmingly approved by the international community every year since 1992 when the General Assembly began voting on the issue each year.

The resolution, approved for the 29th year in a row on Wednesday, demands ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba. Last year, the resolution was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colombia, Ukraine and Brazil abstained on the resolution which once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the steps necessary to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime. Counsellor Mayank Singh in Indias Permanent Mission to the UN said at the UNGA session: The international community needs to intensify its efforts to promote an environment free from sanctions and embargoes. India hopes that the embargo will be withdrawn at the earliest. India supports the draft resolution moved by Cuba. There can be little doubt that the continued existence of this embargo, in contravention of the overwhelming world opinion as expressed by this Assembly, undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the United Nations itself, he said.

Singh said that as the world's largest democracy with an abiding faith in multilateralism, India stands in solidarity with the General Assembly in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having an extraterritorial impact.

Such embargoes have the effect of impeding the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected country, in particular women and children," Singh said.

"They also hinder the full enjoyment of human rights, including the right to development, food, medical care and social services, among other things, he said.

Singh noted that successive reports of the Secretary-General have established that the embargo, particularly through its extraterritorial effects, has adversely affected the Cuban people and the developmental efforts of the country, with particularly devastating effects owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acknowledging the notable socio-economic and developmental achievements of the Cuban people, India said that in 2015, while launching the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders had strongly urged all states to refrain from any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

The continued embargo would severely impact Cubas ability to implement the comprehensive 2030 Agenda. Cuba's expertise in healthcare, achieved despite such conditions, enabled it to respond quickly and effectively, in a substantial manner, to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, Singh said.

According to a UN News article, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said that the blockade was a massive, flagrant and unacceptable violation of the human rights of the Cuban people.

The article quoted him as saying that the embargo is about "an economic war of extraterritorial scope against a small country already affected in the recent period by the economic crisis derived from the pandemic". He estimated 2020 losses to be USD 9.1 million.

He added that the sanctions have made it harder for his country to acquire the medical equipment needed to develop COVID-19 vaccines as well as equipment for food production.

"Like the virus, the blockade asphyxiates and kills, it must stop, he said.

Political Coordinator in the US Mission to the UN Rodney Hunter said Washington stands with the Cuban people and seeks to support their pursuit of freedom, prosperity, and a future of greater dignity but added that Cubans, like all people, deserve the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and culture.

No government should silence its critics through violations of their human rights. We celebrate the diverse backgrounds and ideas of Cuban artists, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, and environmental activists  just a few of the many people in Cuba with a strong voice and a desire to be heard, he said.

Hunter said that as with the other member states, the United States determines its conduct of economic relationships with other countries in accordance with its national interests.

Sanctions are a legitimate way to achieve foreign policy, national security, and other national and international objectives, and the US is not alone in this view or in this practice, he said.

Sanctions are one set of tools in our broader effort toward Cuba to advance democracy, promote respect for human rights, and help the Cuban people exercise the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We, therefore, oppose this resolution, he added.

The embargo against Cuba was imposed in 1960 following the revolution led by Fidel Castro and the nationalisation of properties belonging to US citizens and corporations.

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Emphasizing New Delhi's commitment to peace in neighbouring Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) swiped at Pakistan's own influence in Kabul amid the ongoing withdrawal of US troops from the subcontinent after nearly 20 years of battle with Taliban insurgency. Retaliating to Islamabad's recent statement against India's role in Afghanistan, the MEA pointed out India's efforts to bring electricity, dams, schools, healthcare and community projects to Afghanistan. In a sarcastic but stern message, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi added that the world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan in contrast to New Delhi.

"India has brought electricity, dams, schools, healthcare, and community projects to Afghanistan. And the world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan," the MEA spokesperson said on Thursday.

Bagchi also stated that New Delhi supports peace initiatives and remains in touch with various stakeholders including regional countries. Bagchi's swipe at Pakistan comes after Imran Khan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Indias presence in Afghanistan is larger than it ought to be. Ironically, Qureshi's comment came on the same day as he admitted Pakistan's role in funding terrorism albeit blaming it on previous governments.

India, for long, has held Pakistan accountable for creating a safe haven for terror groups operating Afghanistan, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani Network, not to mention the fact that Osama Bin Laden hid for years in Pakistan within a kilometre of a Pakistani Army base. In his address to the media on Thursday, the MEA spokesperson made mention of Foreign Minister S Jaishankars statement at a UN Security Council debate on Afghanistan which laid out Indias concern at the upsurge in violence and the vision for Afghanistans future as US troops pull out of the region, a process that is expected to culminate by September 11 this year.

India supports all peace initiatives and has a long-term commitment to the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan. In this context, we remain in touch with various stakeholders including regional countries: MEA on Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/FYU58CUxhW  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

S Jaishankar presses for comprehensive ceasefire

During a UN Security Council debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar pressed for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in the war-torn nation to ensure immediate reduction in violence and protection of civilian lives.

"For enduring peace in Afghanistan, terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries must be dismantled immediately and terrorist supply chains disrupted. There needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including its cross-border one, he said in a reference to Pakistan.

Noting that the intra-Afghan talks have not resulted in a reduction of violence in Afghanistan, Jaishankar said, "It is therefore crucial that the international community and, in particular, this Council presses for a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to ensure immediate reduction in violence and protection of civilian lives."

"A durable peace in Afghanistan requires a genuine double peace. That is peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan. It requires harmonizing the interests of all, both within and around that country," he said.

Meanwhile, a panel of UN experts said this month that violence perpetrated by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan continues to hamper the peace negotiations with the Afghanistan government. The U.N. experts, who monitor sanctions against the Taliban, predicted more violence in the run-up to their departure, raising a significant question as to how would the Afghanistan military manage without any external support. A peace deal that Washington brokered with the Taliban and signed in February 2020 was aimed at bringing American troops home and ending more than four decades of relentless wars following the 1979 Afghan invasion by forces from the former Soviet Union.
(Adds details) Karwar (Karnataka), Jun 24 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the naval base being developed here under "Project Seabird" should be Asia's biggest, and he would try to get budget allocation enhanced for it, if required.

He also said India should aim to be among one of the top three naval powers in the world in the next 10-12 years time.

"I had a curiosity before visiting Project Seabird to see and understand it...I'm happy seeing Karwar closely and can say that my confidence level has increased towards this naval base," Singh said.

Addressing the Indian Navy officers and sailors, he said, with the completion of the project, not only India's defence preparedness will be strengthened, but also the country's trade, economy and the humanitarian assistance that it provides will also get more strength.

"It is said that this will become India's largest naval base, but I have said not only India's, our wish is that this should become Asia's biggest naval base, and I will try to get budget allocation increased if required for this," he added.

Singh, accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, undertook an aerial survey of project area and sites, prior to arriving at INS Kadamba Helipad here.

Stating that during the aerial survey of the project, he could see its future, the Defence Minister said, the future of this naval base is "very bright" and the credit for this has to go to the officers and sailors.

"I have also seen the country's first sealift facility, which will improve our maintenance compared to earlier...so I say this naval base is different from the rest," he said.

Noting that India's strength is growing, Singh said, "..India is now among the five major naval powers in the world, we should aim to be among the top three in the next ten to twelve years." Indian Navy's contribution in maritime and national security is immense, Singh said.

Not only him, but those with the knowledge on security-related issues are of the view that the Navy will play the most important role in the country's security in the future, he added.

Citing the role played by the navy in the past like the liberation of Goa, and India-Pakistan wars, among others, he said there is Navy's role in improving diplomatic relations and recalled the service rendered by it during the COVID pandemic, which has gained appreciation from other countries too.

"Some countries have come close to us, it is because of you," he said, adding, in this way not only as a defence power, the Navy has also safeguarded the country's global interests.

Highlighting the Navy's role in improving trade and cultural ties with other countries, Singh said, "we have 7,500 km of coastline, 1,100 islands, 25 lakh sq km of exclusive economic zones that can play an important role in the development of the world with the help of our capabilities and capacity." "Sometimes we forget our own capability in front of other global powers.....with courage we can achieve things, victory can be achieved during a fight with courage and not only because of ammunition." "You might have seen, we have proved it (victory with courage).. this time, I don't want to take any names, you are aware of it, it is in our defence forces," he said.

Noting the Navy's role in maintaining peace and development in the Indian Ocean Region, and in realising the PM's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security & Growth for All in Region), Singh said, at the time when economic and political relations are fast changing, there is a need for Indian Navy to be strengthened further.

"We have to be prepared for the future, we will have to improve our capacity and capability," he said.

There are no shortcomings in mutual coordination between the country's tri-services, "but we have thought about further improving it." Singh said that the Defence Ministry is also taking up certain reforms.

Speaking on self-reliance in the defence sector, he said 64 per cent of the capital procurement budget will only be for domestic procurement and several changes have been made in the defence acquisition procedure.

As many as 46 out of 48 ships and submarines being procured are being built in Indian shipyards, Singh said, adding, Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikrant will be completed soon and is likely to be commissioned as the country completes 75 years of Independence.

The Defence Minister is also scheduled to visit Kochi to review the progress of construction of the indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) there.PTI KSU RS BN BALA BN BALA

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Indian Naval Ship Shardul which was deployed for the supply of oxygen from UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar in May returned to Mumbai on Thursday with 7,640 filled Oxygen Cylinders, 2 oxygen containers of 20 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) each, and 15 Oxygen Concentrators. The deployment is being undertaken as part of Operation Samudra Setu II, launched by the Indian Navy in support of the national effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

#HarKaamDeshKeNaam

INS Shardul carrying 7,640 filled O2 cylinders, two ISO containers of 20 MT LMO each & O2 concentrators from Kuwait & Qatar arrived at Mumbai today, as part of #IndianNavy Op #SamudraSetu2.#Unite2FightCorona #IndiaFightsCorona @indiannavy @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/IfEQF1MQBZ  PRO Defence Mumbai (@DefPROMumbai) June 24, 2021

Earlier on May 27, INS Shardul had arrived at Kochi with 80 MT of liquid medical Oxygen As India was struggling in the second wave of COVID-19, The amphibious ship was designed as the first of the Shardul class, to carry tanks, trucks and troops. Both Indian Navy and Indian Air Force are working with strengthening efforts to help India recover from the devastating effects of the global pandemic. Last year when COVID-19 had initially started spreading in India, the Indian Navy in an official statement had said that three Naval warships have sailed out to bring back Indian citizens from Maldives and United Arab Emirates (UAE) who are stranded due to the pandemic.

Operation Samudra Setu-II

As per the Indian Navy, Operation Samudra Setu-II was launched for shipment of medical Oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment from various countries in support of the nations fight against COVID-19. The deployment of frontline warships including destroyers, frigates, tankers and amphibious ships of the Indian Navy for Operation Samudra Setu-II forms a significant part of the multiple lines of efforts, by the Government of India (GoI) and the Indian Navy to supplement the Oxygen requirement in the country.

India COVID-19 cases

In last 24 hours, India reported 54,069 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the total tally to 3,00,82,778. A total of 1321 patients lost their lives bringing the toll to 391981. As per the health ministry, total recoveries improved to 2,90,63,740 with 68885 discharges in the latest tally. Currently, India has 627057 active coronavirus cases and the positivity rate is 2.08. The recovery rate is at 96.61 however Thursdays case count is 3,221 more than that of Wednesdays when 50,848 cases were recorded.
Bhubaneswar, Jun 23 (PTI) The Odisha government has asked district authorities and municipal corporations to administer COVID-19 vaccines to nationals from Nepal, who are employed in the state, even if they do not possess registration-related documents.

The state government's move was based on recommendations of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).

Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, P K Mohapatra has written a letter to the district collectors, municipal commissioners and chief district medical & public health officers in this regard.

Mohapatra said the Nepalese nationals, who are engaged as labourers/workers may not have any prescribed identity card for registering their names on the CoWIN portal.

Therefore, the state government has decided to vaccinate them in accordance with the standard operating procedures for Covid vaccination of people without an identity card, he said.

Earlier, the Odisha government had directed district administrations to vaccinate vulnerable people, even if they don't have the required identity proof.

The state has vaccinated more than one crore people so far. PTI AAM SBN RBT RBT

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Cracking down on the 1994 ISRO espionage case, the CBI on Thursday, has filed an FIR at the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Magistrate Court, naming 18 persons in the conspiracy including former deputy director of IB RB Sreekumar and SP KK Joshua. The CBI has named several former Kerala cops - S Vijayan (Pettah Circle inspector), Thampi S Durgadath Pettah Sub-Inspector), V R Rajeevan (Trivandrum CP), Siby Mathews (ex-DGP) have been named as prime accused. The FIR has been filed after the Supreme Court ordered a high-level CBI probe into the role of the erring cops in the case relating to ISRO scientist Narayanan.

CBI files FIR in ISRO spy case

Moreover, one of the accused PS Jayaprakash- an ex-Deputy intelligence Officer has filed for bail plea in Kerala HC against CBI making him an accused. The court has ordered the CBI to not arrest him till Friday and sought their reply to his plea.

1994 espionage case involving ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan: PS Jayaprakash, retired Deputy Central Intelligence Officer files anticipatory bail plea in Kerala HC against CBI making him an accused. Court orders to not arrest him till Friday, also seeks CBIs view on the petition pic.twitter.com/Tbbc5ux0wr  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

On April 15, SC ordered an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the 1994 espionage case against former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan and to file a report in 3 months. This transpired after an inquiry panel formed by the Supreme Court in 2018 submitted its report and the Centre pushed hard for action to be taken against those who framed Nambi. Narayanan, who had been acquitted in the case, was eventually awarded Rs 50 lakh as compensation by the Supreme Court in 2018.

ISRO spy case

The Kerala police had registered two cases in October 1994, after Maldivian national Rasheeda was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram for allegedly obtaining secret drawings of ISRO rocket engines to sell to Pakistan. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the case - then ISRO director Nambi Narayanan, then ISRO deputy director D Sasikumaran and Fousiya Hasan, a Maldivian friend of Rasheeda. Three months later i.e. in 1995, when Narayanan was released on bail, he had approached the National Human Rights Commission seeking compensation from the Kerala government, for the mental agony that he had suffered in the process. The CBI later dismissed the allegations against him as false.

Terming the police action against the former ISRO scientist "psycho-pathological treatment", the apex court had, in September 2018, said his "liberty and dignity", basic to his human rights, were jeopardised as he was taken into custody and, eventually, despite all the glory of the past, he was compelled to face "cynical abhorrence". The SC appointed a three-member panel headed by former judge D K Jain, while the Kerala government was directed to give Narayanan a compensation of Rs 50 lakh, as he underwent "immense humiliation.
Shortly after India's NSA Ajit Doval and his Pakistan counterpart Moeed Yusuf pledged cooperation in the joint fight against "international terrorism, extremism and separatism", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that the meeting discussed issues of international security, countering terrorism, extremism and radicalism, countering illicit trafficking of drugs and also the preparations for the SCO Summit of Heads of State, which is scheduled to take place in Dushanbe, hopefully in September 2021.

Meeting discussed issues of int'l ional security, countering terrorism, extremism &radicalism, countering illicit trafficking of drugs & also the preparations for SCO Summit of Heads of State which is to take place in Dushanbe, hopefully in Sept this yr: MEA on SCO NSAs' meet pic.twitter.com/xbfseFunXj  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

MEA on SCO meet

Giving out further details of the meeting attended by NSA Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart, the External Affairs Ministry said that an outcome document, in the nature of a protocol, was adopted. MEA Joint Secretary Arindam Bagchi said, "I understand that as per practice, the SCO Secretariat will make public this document on its website sometime later."

At NSA meet, India proposes bringing Pak Terror Groups LeT & JeM under SCO framework

NSA Ajit Doval attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) NSA's meeting on Wednesday at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. During the meeting, NSA Ajit Doval has proposed an action plan against Pakistan-based terror organisations LeT and JeM as part of the SCO framework. The NSA condemned terrorism in all forms and asserted the need to bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice. In addition, he has also pushed for the full implementation of UN resolutions and targeted sanctions against the UN-designated terrorist individuals and entities. The SCO meeting was also attended by Pakistan.

NSAs of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) discussed international terrorism, extremism, separatism, radicalism, risks of increasing transnational organized crime, arms & drug trafficking, at the meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, yesterday.



NSA Ajit Doval also attended it. pic.twitter.com/wEz5evprdG  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

NSA Ajit Doval attended the SCO meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Moeed Yusuf. Both of them were part of the discussion on several issues like international terrorism, extremism, separatism, radicalism, risks of increasing transnational organized crime, arms & drug trafficking. Both NSAs were joined by other counterparts from SCO nations.

(Image: ANI)
In contrast to Mehbooba Mufti's stern and unwavering resolve to restore Article 370, which she claims to have expressed uncompromisingly at the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside her fellow Jammu & Kashmir politicians on Thursday, in reality, the PDP chief only raied the matter obliquely, sources have informed Republic. Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah did not raise Article 370 in the meeting either, sources added. Sajad Lone and Ghulam Nabi Azad, both in attendance, while speaking to media after the meeting, also affirmed that the matter of Article 370 was not discussed as it remains sub-judice with the case pending before the Supreme Court.

Inside sources report that Mehbooba Mufti did not mention Pakistan during the duration of the meeting as well while she claimed that she called for talks with Islamabad to restart train services between the two countries. On the issue of Pakistan, Sajad Lone said that it is to be dealt by the Ministry of External Affairs whereas Congress' representative Ghulam Nabi Azad had a 'statesmanly' approach throughout the key meeting even as he placed five demands before the Centre, sources informed.

As per Azad, there were no restrictions in the meeting and representatives were allowed to bring up any issue and speak freely without any time constraint. Divulging details of the meeting to the media, Azad asserted that all parties univocally demanded a 'full-fledged restoration' of statehood. He also remarked that the Prime Minister said that he wanted to hold such a meeting earlier but was forced to delay it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Azad revealed that both, the Prime Minister and Home Minister, promised that elections will be held once the delimitation process is completed and statehood will be restored.

#KashmirPolicyWins | Mehbooba Mufti mentioned Article 370 obliquely, did not mention Pakistan in the meet, contrary to her public byte...: Republic's Sr Executive Editor @itootweet with the inside track on the J&K meet pic.twitter.com/uo8XwMh6WY  Republic (@republic) June 24, 2021

What did Mufti say at the meeting with PM Modi? As per her own account...

Issuing her first statement following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with mainstream Jammu & Kashmir political parties, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that she expressed the feelings of the people of J&K at the 3.5-hour-long meet on Thursday. The former Chief Minister said that the people of Jammu & Kashmir are angry and upset after Article 370 was abrogated by the Centre in an 'unconstitutional, illegal and immoral' manner. Mufti reiterated that the government should hold discussions with Pakistan to restore train services between the two countries, which had been a source of employment for many.

In a stern tone, while addressing media persons after the meeting, Mufti remarked that the people of J&K will struggle to restore Article 370 even if takes months or years, adding that the special provisions weren't given by Pakistan, but by 'J&K's own country, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabbhai Patel'. Significantly, Mufti claimed that she demanded an economic package for the people of J&K who have sustained financial losses due to the abrogation of Article 370, and that all political prisoners should be released.

Priority to strengthen grassroots democracy in J&K: PM Modi

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet after the meeting, said that the Centre is committed to ensuring all-round development of J&K. He asserted that Indian democracy's biggest strength is the ability to sit across a table and exchange views. As per sources, the PM in the meeting, also said that he aims at removing 'Dilli ki Duri' along with 'Dil ki Duri'

"I told the leaders of J&K that it is the people, specially the youth who have to provide political leadership to J&K, and ensure their aspirations are duly fulfilled," PM Modi tweeted. Similarly, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in the Parliament.
Moscow, Jun 24 (PTI) National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has met his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on the sidelines of the SCO meeting in Tajikistan during which they discussed plans for the Russia-India interaction in the security sphere and cooperation among the security and law-enforcement agencies, according to a media report.

The two leaders also exchanged their opinions on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and the Asia-Pacific region during the meeting, Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday.

Doval is in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of national security chiefs.

Patrushev, the Secretary of Russias Security Council, and Doval discussed in detail "further plans of the Russia-India interaction in the security sphere, cooperation among the security and law-enforcement agencies," the report quoted Patrushev's office as saying.

Tajikistan, the current president of the SCO, is hosting the meeting of the top national security officials of the eight-nation grouping on June 23 and 24.

According to the press service of the Russian Security Councils office, the annual meeting of secretaries of SCO on Wednesday focused on the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath.

"It was stressed that the social and economic consequences of the novel coronavirus infection pandemic may catalyse the spread of threats of terrorism, extremism, drug trade and organised crime," the press service said in a statement.

The Beijing-based SCO is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China and the four Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. PTI NSA AKJ NSA NSA

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On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) NSAs' meeting, India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev. As per reports, the duo discussed plans for the Russia-India interaction in the security sphere and cooperation among the security and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries. Besides, they also exchanged opinions on a gamut of issues, including the evolving situation in Afghanistan and the Asia-Pacific region during the meeting.

PM Modi- Putin had decided on 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the Foreign and Defence Ministers in April

It is pertinent to mention here that the leaders of the two countries, PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have had at two high-profile sit-down bilateral summits aborted during the COVID pandemic, while Putin last visited India in 2018. Putin was supposed to come to India, but the pandemic scuttled it, while Modi was also to visit Russia but Rajnath Singh attended instead as the Nation was amidst the height of the first wave of the pandemic then. They, however, conversed on call during the devastating second wave of COVID-19 in India. Amidst the crisis, Russia announced that it will be sending a large consignment of aid to India by an urgent flight of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, which it did, and it comprised of oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and anticancer drugs, and other necessary medical and pharmaceutical products.

In a statement, Russia said, The leadership of the Russian Federation made a decision, in the spirit of friendship and a particularly privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India, and in order to combat the sharp increase in the incidence of new coronavirus infection. PM Modi in reply thanked the country for 'help and support'.

The two leaders also reviewed diverse bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of space exploration and renewable energy sector, including in the hydrogen economy. Further, they agreed to establish a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the two countries, much like India has with the US. The date of the same has not been finalized, but at this juncture, the meeting between Doval and Patrushev holds significance, especially after Biden-Putin Summit (16 June) and interactions between Patrushev-Sullivan and Patrushev-Yang Jeichi meetings (both in May 2021).

Focus on COVID-19 aftermath at SCO meet-day 2

The current president of the SCO, Tajikistan is hosting the meeting of the top national security officials of the eight-nation grouping on June 23 and 24. According to the press service of the Russian Security Councils office, the annual meeting of secretaries of SCO on Wednesday focused on the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath. It was stressed that the social and economic consequences of the novel coronavirus infection pandemic may catalyze the spread of threats of terrorism, extremism, drug trade, and organized crime," the press service said in a statement.

(Credit-AP/PTI)
PM Eyes Restoration Of Democracy In Structured Talks

In his opening remark, PM Modi outlined that there is a need to focus on how smoothly democracy can be restored in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on developmental aspects, as part of which, he also talked about the engagement of youngsters of the valley by providing them employment. Moreover, he also talked about the initiative of Skill India.

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At NSA Meet, India Proposes Bringing Pakistan Terror Groups LeT & JeM Under SCO Framework

NSA Ajit Doval attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) NSA's meeting on Wednesday at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. During the meeting, NSA Ajit Doval has proposed an action plan against Pakistan-based terror organisations LeT and JeM as part of the SCO framework. The NSA condemned terrorism in all forms and asserted the need to bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice.

Read full story here

Shiv Sena Urges Rahul Gandhi To Learn From Pawar But Says 'no Outcome From Anti-BJP Meet'

Playing down Sharad Pawar's 'Rashtra Manch' meeting of anti-BJP leaders, Shiv Sena on Thursday, claimed that it failed to offer a strong opposition leadership to counter the BJP. Sena, via its mouthpiece Saamana, said that while no lead Opposition has emerged from this meeting, the anti-BJP gathering chaired by Sharad Pawar gave an idea to a combined Opposition against BJP.

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ISRO Spy Case: CBI Names 18 Ex-IB Officers & Kerala Cops In FIR; Accused Moves HC For Bail

Cracking down on the 1994 ISRO espionage case, the CBI on Thursday, has filed an FIR at the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Magistrate Court, naming 18 persons in the conspiracy including former deputy director of IB RB Sreekumar and SP KK Joshua. Moreover, one of the accused PS Jayaprakash- an ex-Deputy intelligence Officer has filed for bail plea in Kerala HC against CBI making him an accused. The court has ordered the CBI to not arrest him till Friday and sought their reply to his plea.

Read full story here

WB CM Mamata Banerjee Seeks PM Modi's Intervention In COVAXIN's Impending Approval By WHO

While talks between Bharat Biotech and the World Health Organisation (WHO) continue over the approval of COVAXIN, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to fast track the process. Citing the difficulties faced by students and individuals travelling abroad as COVAXIN has not been recognized by the global health body, the Bengal CM has sought PM Modi's help in the matter.

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Indian Naval Ship Shardul Arrives At Mumbai With Medical Supplies From Gulf Countries

Indian Naval Ship Shardul which was deployed for the supply of oxygen from UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar in May returned to Mumbai on Thursday with 7,640 filled Oxygen Cylinders, 2 oxygen containers of 20 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) each, and 15 Oxygen Concentrators. The deployment is being undertaken as part of Operation Samudra Setu II, launched by the Indian Navy in support of the national effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read full story here

EAM Jaishankar Lauds Efforts Of Govt Staff For Timely Delivery Of Passports Amid COVID-19

In an address at an event to mark "Passport Seva Diwas" on June 24, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lauded all government officials and staff who are involved in timely issuance of Indian passports to citizens notwithstanding the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Jaishankar particularly mentioned maintenance of "high standards" of Indian passport services by the Ministry of External Affairs and other agencies albeit devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Twitter India MD Skips Police Summons; Moves Karnataka HC Seeking Pre-arrest Bail

In the latest development in the Loni matter, Twitter India MD Manish Maheshwari has moved the Karnataka High Court seeking protection from arrest. The counsel of Twitter MD through their counsel replied to Ghaziabad Police's investigation official that since they were busy in the preparation before Karnataka High Court, they were not able to join the investigation.

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Kerala HC Suspends Govt's Order Allowing Hospitals To Fix Room Charges For COVID Patients

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday suspended the LDF government's order allowing private hospitals to fix room rates for treatment of COVID-19 patients. A division bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Kauser Edappagath was hearing a review petition filed by the Kerala Private Hospitals Association against the direction to the state to fix COVID-19 treatment charges amid complaints of overcharging in private hospitals.

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UK Blasts China For New Law To Stifle Free Speech After Apple Daily Announces Closure

Hong Kongs pro-democracy Apple Daily tabloid on June 23 announced its closure after its assets were frozen, in a major blow to media freedom in the city. Hours later, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab blasted the Carrie Lam administration for forced closure of the outspoken anti-Beijing newspaper. I

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Ahmedabad, Jun 24 (PTI) The police in Vadodara city of Gujarat got the custody of Canadian drug dealer Xie Jeng Fang alias Richard, who had fled from police custody 10 years ago and was extradited from Hong Kong, on Thursday, an official said.

The NCB had nabbed Richard along with two others for alleged possession of methamphetamine, a psychotropic drug, worth Rs 12 crore on the outskirts of Vadodara city in November 2008, inspector S G Solanki of Vadodara Special Operations Group (SOG) said.

The accused was then lodged in Vadodara Central Jail, and on April 28, 2011, he was taken to SSG Hospital for treatment, from where he managed to escape, the official said, adding that a case was registered at Raopura police station at that time.

"Richard first went to Surat and then fled to Canada via Nepal. He later entered Hong Kong using a bogus passport, but was eventually arrested there in a money laundering case. He was sentenced to four years of imprisonment by the Hong Kong authorities. We learnt about Richard's whereabouts and his imprisonment in 2012," Solanki said.

With the Centre's intervention, the Vadodara police sent an extradition proposal seeking Richard's custody, he said.

Although the authorities had ordered his extradition after the completion of his sentence there, Richard had filed an appeal in Hong Kong challenging the order, Solanki said.

"However, his appeal was dismissed in May this year. As directed by Hong Kong's Consulate General, two of our officials travelled to Hong Kong and brought Richard back. He will be handed over to Raopura police and the NCB for further processing," the official added. PTI PJT PD ARU ARU

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Just a few hours ahead of the highly anticipated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's all-party meet, former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister, Kavinder Gupta, spoke exclusively to Republic TV and said that the meet is aimed to discuss moving ahead as one democratic country. Kavinder Gupta said, "After the revocation of Article 370, there has been confusion and conflict of opinion among parties".

He added, "This meeting after 2 years of revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, can break fears and help the leaders of the party to function towards India's democracy".

When asked about Mehbooba Mufti's comment on involving Pakistan too in the discussions, he said, "This India's internal matter. No need to discuss this with them".

Prime Minister's all-party meet

Narendra Modi has organised the first interaction with all the political parties of Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir special status in 2019.

National Conference, People's Democratic Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, People's Conference, and the Panthers Party are the six mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir that have joined to form the PAGD (People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration ). The Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has invited all the party leaders over a phone call to the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti are some of the invitees included in the list.

The participants of the meeting are requested to carry a COVID negative report to avoid the risks of Coronavirus infections.

Mehboob Mufti arrives in Delhi

Ahead of PM's all-party meet, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti arrived in Delhi on June 23.

Earlier, Mufi had said, "If they (India) can go to Doha and talk to the Taliban, they should have a dialogue with us and with Pakistan too in order to bring about a resolution

She further added, Mufti Mohd Syed always batted for dialogue. The Prime Minister called for a meeting on J&K, we do not know their agenda, but we know our agenda. What happened on August 5, 2019, and J&Ks special status was abrogated unconstitutionally, people have fallen apart.

(Image credit: PTI)
Walking out of 7 Lok Kalyan Marg after a 3.5-hours-meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside mainstream Jammu & Kashmir political parties, former Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Congress has placed five demands before the Centre. Azad, who was aided by his Congress companions Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Tara Chand, said that the meeting took place in a conducive environment and that there was no hostility. Azad also revealed that there were no restrictions in the meeting and representatives were allowed to bring up any issue and speak freely without any time constraint.

Divulging details of the five demands placed by Congress, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that restoration of statehood is first and foremost. The second demand is to conduct elections to the legislative assembly as the environment is now conducive, considering the ceasefire at LoC and the smooth conduct of DDC polls. The third demand, he said, was to restore domicile laws held by citizens of Jammu & Kashmir and the fourth is that the Centre should assist the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley, who have been in exile for over 30 years now. The fifth Congress demand is that political prisoners detained in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370 should be released.

"In the meeting today, we put forth the views of Congress. We objected to the dissolvement of J&K statehood which was done without consulting state representatives. In the end, after everything was presented, we placed five big demands. One statehood should be restored. We highlighted that the PM and HM had assured in Parliament to restore statehood and we pointed out that the environment was conducive with the ceasefire with Pakistan and elections of councils," said Ghulam Nabi Azad while speaking to media persons, flanked by his two Congress aides at the meeting.

Congress' five demands at PM Modi Kashmir meeting:

Restoration of statehood

Conduct Assembly Elections in Jammu & Kashmir

Re-implement domicile laws

Assist return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley

Release political prisoners detained in the aftermath of Abrogation of Article 370

Parties univocally demanded full-fledged statehood for J&K: Azad

Azad, who was once the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, said that most representatives agreed that since the abrogation of Article 370 was sub-judice and before the Supreme Court, it should not be discussed. He asserted that all parties univocally demanded a 'full-fledged restoration' of statehood. Azad also remarked that the Prime Minister said that he wanted to hold such a meeting earlier but was forced to delay it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Azad revealed that both, the Prime Minister and Home Minister, promised that elections will be held once the delimitation process is completed and statehood will be restored.

When asked if he was satisfied with the meeting, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "I will be satisfied when elections are done and statehood returns."

PM Modi invites J&K mainstream leaders to 7LKM

Marking a first since the abrogation of Article 370, PM Modi invited top Kashmiri political parties - NC, PDP, Congress, Apni Party, CPM to come to New Delhi for talks to bolster political activities in the Union Territory. The meeting held on June 24 at 3 PM, was chaired by PM Modi and attended by Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha, Home Minister Amit Shah, Home Secretary, amongst others. 14 politicians namely - NC chief Farooq Abdullah, NC vice-prez Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, CPI(M) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Tara Chand, J&K Apni party Syed Altaf Bukhari, JKPC chief Sajad Lone, Muzaffar Baig, Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh, BJP leaders Ravinder Raina, Kavinder Gupta, and Nirmal Singh were also invited.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is receiving massive flak and protests are currently underway against her for her recent statements which implied that she batted for talks with Pakistan. Mehbooba Mufti, in her statement, said that Pakistan should be included in India's internal matters. Mufti had suggested that Pakistan should be invited in order to reach a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir issue. The protests come hours before a major all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Protests against PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu

The Dogra Front is protesting against Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu for her statements. Many people were seen waving the Indian tricolour and raising slogans against the former J&K Chief Minister. In addition, they have also demanded that Mufti should be behind the bars for her statement. In addition, a banner showing Mufti behind the bars was also displayed by the protestors. Speaking to Republic TV, one of the protestors said that Mufti should be jailed in Tihar as she remarked that Pakistan is a stakeholder in the Kashmir issue. Moreover, he opined that Mufti's statement will cause ramifications and tarnish India's image in the United Nations.

J&K: Dogra Front stages protest against Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu



"This protest is against Mufti's statement which she gave after Gupkar meeting that Pakistan is a stakeholder in Kashmir issue. She should be put behind bars," says a protester pic.twitter.com/Mea8if43se  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

"Kashmir is an internal matter which has been resolved after the abrogation of Article 370. Just look at the ramifications of her statement. J&K CID Police Officer Parve Ahmed Dar was killed and yesterday a mobile shop owner in Habba Kadal was killed. Whenever she makes any statement like this, Pakistan has started raising the issue. It was earlier nullified from the whole issue. Pakistan will point out Mehbooba's statement and raise it in the United Nations," the protestor added.

Mehbooba Muti bats for dialogue with Pakistan

The PDP chief had said that Pakistan should be included in the talks to resolve the Kashmir issue. Citing India's talks with the Jammu and Kashmir leaders in India and with the Taliban at their office in Doha, Mufti said that the Indian government should similarly have a dialogue with all parties, including Pakistan for a resolution on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

"They say there are engaging in dialogues with us, we say they are doing dialogues with Taliban in Doha. Then in Jammu and Kashmir, they should do dialogues with everyone including Pakistan to reach a resolution." said Mufti

However, hours after her statement, Mufti changed her stand and said that she will speak about J&K during the all-party meeting and not Pakistan.

PM Modi calls for an all-party meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting on Thursday. The meeting will include all opposition parties and alliances, including the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). Ahead of the meeting, the Gupkar Alliance held a meeting to discuss the strategy and agenda for the all-party meeting. The Gupkar alliance has said that it will meet the PM and put forth certain demands before him. The meeting will be the first-ever all-party meeting between PM Narendra Modi and the political parties of the union territory since the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meeting an all-party delegation of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to deliberate on the final roadmap for the restoration of Statehood to the union territory that was carved out from the erstwhile State, following the abrogation of Article 370. The meeting comes two days after the BJP marked the death anniversary of Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, whom the party and the extended RSS family consider the first martyr in the cause of integration of the Muslim-majority state with India.

While this might be incidental, it explains the ideological moorings of the August 5, 2019 move of the Modi government. The RSS, BJP, and its erstwhile avatar Jan Sangh historically believed Article 370 to be an impediment in the complete integration of the State with India. Having removed it from the Statutes, and brought in many other enabling legislations, the Modi government can claim to have capped one of the troikas of what constituted the core agenda of the RSS family. Ram Temple (decks cleared and under construction) and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) being the other two.

Since it was never going to be easy  not just Kashmir-based parties, but even Congress has been opposed to the move  and anticipating trouble from across the border, the government had imposed a strict clampdown on the valley. Thousands of Kashmiri leaders were put under arrest, including the entire top leadership of mainstream parties like the National Conference, PDP, and PC among others. Harsh measures had to be put in place to make sure there was no trouble as it could have had global repercussions. Parallelly, the entire separatist leadership under Hurriyat was made redundant with a massive crackdown and anti-corruption measures.

The pictures of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval taking rounds of parts of the valley and mingling with commoners was part of the plan to tell the world Kashmir was calm and in India was in control. Over a period of time, well-thought measures were taken to restore normalcy, including a massive logistics operation to make sure essential supplies were not affected. Center-backed NAFED bought the highest tonnage of apples from the valley in 2020.

The most important aspect of restoring normalcy was the holding of local bodies' elections, both at village and city levels. Another feather in the cap of the center was the holding of block-level elections, thus creating a new tier of democracy in the State. As of today, thousands of panchayat, block, and district-level leaders are present in the valley, who have been adequately empowered to work for the development of their respective jurisdictions.

Kashmir is today by and large peaceful, weekly Friday stone-pelting has not been heard for over a year, separatists have become irrelevant, and but for occasional terror incidents orchestrated to keep the pot on the boil, the valley can look towards a better future. The restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir has to be seen in the light of these progressive moves towards normalcy. The step has been a public commitment made both by the Prime Minister from the ramparts of Red Fort, and Home Minister Amit Shah, who promised it on the floor of Lok Sabha while introducing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act itself. Part 5 of the Act calls for delimitation to happen before elections are held. Delimitation exercise is also going to pan out nationally as per the Delimitation Act of 2002 (the reason why a new parliament building is being made to accommodate more members).

Parallel developments, both along the borders and globally have also nudged the Modi government to move in this direction. The standoff with China, the thaw with Pakistan, coming of a Democrat administration in America have all played their role. While the Modi government would have liked coming up of a new leadership, failure of attempts to achieve that has brought focus back on the old guard over the last six months. Hence the re-engagement with Mufti and Abdullahs and others. The invite list includes three leaders each from the BJP and Congress, apart from both Omar and Farooq Abdulla, Mehbooba Mufti, Sajjad Lone, Altaf Bukhari, Bhim Singh, and MY Tarigami.

It would be interesting to see how the Modi government engages with them. By accepting the invite and trooping down to Delhi, the valley leadership has shown a welcome flexibility. Remember this is the same Farooq Abdulla who had sought Chinas help in restoring Kashmirs special status. Talks are welcome.
NASA is sending a mannequin into space onboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft ahead of the first flight with crew on Artemis II. The suited Manikin, or Moonikin will be launched in November which will pave the way for sending the first woman and the first person of colour to the lunar surface.

The anatomical model that will journey to space simulates the human physique and is commonly used in training for emergency rescues, medical education, and research. Manikin will travel for Artemis I and will be equipped with two radiation sensors, one under the headrest and another behind the seat, to record acceleration and vibration throughout the mission as Orion travels around the Moon and back to Earth. Now, NASA needs help in being able to name it.

[Credit: NASA]

Manikins space mission will help NASA scientists to understand better how to best protect crew members for Artemis II and beyond. The space agency already has eight names that it has shortlisted to choose from. And it is now asking people on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to pick a name each and the final two names will compete with one another until the final showdown on Monday, June 28. The final name of the Moonikin will be announced on Tuesday, June 29.

[Credit: NASA]

The male-bodied mannequin was previously used by NASA for Orion vibration tests. Space radiation is one of the biggest hazards crews face during Deep Space missions. So NASA signed a contract with Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to conduct an experiment to test the AstroRad radiation protection vest on Artemis I.

For this, Manikin will be fitted with two model human torsos, called phantoms, made from materials that mimic human bones, soft tissues, and also organs of an adult female. These phantoms will be supporting NASAs Matroshka AstroRad Radiation Experiment (MARE), which will provide data on radiation levels during missions to the Moon.

"It's critical for us to get data from the Artemis I manikin to ensure all of the newly designed systems, coupled with an energy dampening system that the seats are mounted on, integrate together and provide the protection crew members will need in preparation for our first crewed mission on Artemis II," Jason Hutt, NASA's lead for Orion Crew Systems Integration, said in a statement.

Name the Artemis Moonikin Challenge

The Manikin is already named Zohar and Helga, by the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). But below are the eight other names with meaning that NASA wants to choose from. Click here to vote. More information about the names can be learnt here.
#KashmirPolicyWins 24th June 2021

PM Modi's all-party meet with J&K leaders deals a big blow to Pakistan

Parties from J&K which once demanded talks with Pakistan and separatist leaders maintained silence on the matter in all-party meet
17 soldiers died in a helicopter crash in Kenya on Thursday, police said.

They were on a training exercise when the helicopter came down in Kajiado County outside the capital, Nairobi.

Six people on board were seriously injured.

"It started making a funny noise, not that of the propeller, it sounded like an ambulance," said eyewitness Morris Kirai Emerit.

"After 10 seconds it turned and tried to land but it couldn't."

The helicopter "suddenly turned and hit the ground," he added.

Emerit helped to rescue two injured soldiers.

Kenya's military confirmed the crash but did not give details.

The police official said there were 23 soldiers inside the helicopter when it crashed.

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Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, following an international conference in Berlin about the country's future.

During the conference on Wednesday, Libya's transitional government underlined its commitment to holding elections on Dec. 24.

The meeting, which brought together 17 countries in the German capital, followed up on a January 2020 gathering where leaders agreed to respect an arms embargo and to push Libya's warring parties to reach a full cease-fire.

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The Japanese owner and insurers of the enormous container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March have finally reached a settlement with Egyptian authorities, Associated Press reported on June 23. Since the incident, Cairo has grounded the colossal Ever Given ship until financial claims worth roughly US$ 1 billion were settled. However, on Wednesday, the UK P&I Club, one of the insurers of the ship disclosed that the authorities have allowed the ship to complete its remaining journey.

The UK P&I Club said that once the settlement is formalized, the ship Ever Given would be allowed to move ahead. The insurance group, however, did not reveal the amount of settlement or any other details. It is imperative to note that the sum claimed by Egypt does not cover the disruption to worldwide shipping, including delayed cargo and costs to other shipping lines, which experts have said could ultimately soar into the hundreds of millions.

Following extensive discussions with the Suez Canal Authoritys negotiating committee over the past few weeks, an agreement in principle between the parties has been reached, said a statement from the insurer UK P & I Club. Together with the owner and the ships other insurers we are now working with the SCA to finalize a signed settlement agreement as soon as possible.

Ever Given impounded

Soon after its salvage, the gigantic Ever Given was seized by Egyptian authorities controlling the canal. At present, it lay impounded in the Great Bitter Lake, a natural body of water that connects the section of the canal where the ship was stuck to the next segment. Initially, the Suez Canal authorities had demanded $916 Million but later reduced the demand by $300 million. But vessel and cargo insurers were sceptical about the claim, arguing that the total costs were closer to $150 million.

Image: AP
Yemeni officials and fighters say they are in a strong position in the fight for the strategic city of Marib.

Heated battles have taken place in recent days between forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government and the country's Iran-backed rebels around Marib.

The rebels, known as the Houthis, have been trying to seize the area for months

Yemeni military officials and tribal leaders from the area said they estimate dozens of fighters have been killed or injured in the recent fighting.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, and tribal leaders asked that their identity be concealed for their own security.

Meanwhile, a Houthi official said that they have deployed hundreds of additional fighters to the frontline near Marib in recent days.

He also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

Yemen has been convulsed by a civil war since 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital of Sanaa and much of the northern part of the country.

That forced the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia.

Despite a relentless air campaign and ground fighting, the war has morphed into a regional conflict that has deteriorated into a stalemate, killing some 130,000 people and spawning the worlds worst humanitarian crisis

"Marib is facing a vicious war from this militia which is trying to control this city," said Marib's governor, Sultan al-Arada.

"It's been trying every once in a while, for six years, but this last battle has been intensifying for a while now, and they (the Houthis) have paid with the lives of many people, especially young men and children."

The Houthis have been attempting since February to capture Marib to complete their control over the northern part of Yemen.

But they have not made substantial progress and suffered heavy losses amid stiff resistance from government forces aided by the Saudi-led coalition supporting them.

Now, Yemeni fighters and military officials say they are making progress over the Houthis.

"By God's will and his power we were able to get rid of them (the Houthis), and now the frontline is almost on the border with Marib fully, and we will keep moving forward and keep advancing God willing," said 21-year-old Yemeni fighter Hassan Hamad Saleh.

Saleh is fighting alongside his 19-year-old brother Saeed at the Kassarah frontline

Last week, Houthi forces launched attacks on several frontline areas in the outskirts of Marib, said Lieutenant General Saggeer Azeez, chief of staff for the military of Yemen's internationally recognized government.

"Marib is not in danger and we do not fear for Marib," he said.

"We pushed back the Houthi advances from the past few months and now the Yemeni Armed Forces, the Yemeni National Army, the Popular Resistance, and the supporting tribes have all moved from a defensive to an offensive position."

Soldiers fighting on Marib's frontline were armed with rifles, some Russian made, and ammunition.

Many, including high-ranking officials however said they needed rifles, thermal control equipment, and technology to match their enemy's.

They complained they are not getting help from the Saudis who are leading the coalition.

"The world has some reservations about arming Yemen in the current time. Even our brothers in the Arab coalition have the same reservations and doubts that these arms might end up falling in the hands of others," al-Arada said.

But back at the Kassara frontline, Saleh loads up the rifle he has for now and prepares for another battle with the Houthis, saying he's not fearful of dying for his country.

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Across the world, governments are struggling to offer their citizens various incentives to get locals to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In the US, lottery incentives of up to $1 million is offered by the government, in Thailand, villagers can receive a cow if they show proof of vaccination; in one of the most expensive cities-Hong Kong- a $1.4 million apartment is also assured for selected winners.

Pakistan's vaccine dilemma

However, Pakistan appears to be taking a different approach: Instead of incentives, the government is threatening to cut cell service, extend travel restrictions, withhold travel and even deny jobs to unvaccinated people. Human rights groups have unsurprisingly questioned the policies, arguing that this form of coercion is unjustifiable, but the Imran Khan-led government seems to disagree.

Pakistan authorities say the population is still largely reluctant and that they "need the extra push." For many in Pakistan, vaccination is a controversial subject for many reasons. And it remains one of the two countries in the world (the other one being Afghanistan) that hasn't completely eradicated the naturally-occurring Polio. It must be noted that local and international vaccination teams are frequently attacked and targeted by various terrorist and radical groups in the groups

Why are Pakistanis hesitant to get vaccinated?

One source of the reservation stems from the US' campaign in the 2010s to find Osama Bin Laden, during which, America's premium investigation agency organised an elaborate Hepatitis B vaccine scheme with the goal of getting a DNA sample that could potentially prove Bin Laden was in a compound in Abbottabad that both US and Pakistan were monitoring.

The CIA to this effect, enlisted Shakeel Afridi, a doctor who was tasked with collecting samples in the neighbourhood, although it is unclear whether the team was able to get a blood sample. The doctor was also arrested weeks after Bin Laden's death and has been in jail since.

As soon as the news of CIA's grand ploy broke out, it added fire to existing conspiracies surrounding vaccinations. And as a consequence, Pakistan leaders urged people not to vaccinate their kids and had various existing teams banned, The Taliban even issued a Fatwa against vaccination programs and to this day, rally against vaccination programs and see them as western "spying programs".

The scepticism around it grew over time despite studies revealing a 39% decline in polio and measles cases in the country since the CIA initiated vaccination programs.

Pakistanis believe COVID-19 not lethal

Another reason for refusing vaccine appears to be that many Pakistanis see COVID as overblown. The vast majority of the country is young, therefore many are at relatively low risk and less inclined to take time off work. So far Pakistan has recorded slightly over 9.5 cases, with a daily average of less than 1000, It has so far lost over 22,000 people to COVID-19.

With the new restrictions and demands, presently, it looks as though the government is achieving its goal slowly; while is health ministry updated that 6% of its population has been vaccinated so far, early reports suggest that there is a surge in vaccine recipients. However, in a country with a controversial vaccine history, forcing people rather than convincing them to get the shot run the risk of having the plan backfire completely.
Around 100 protesters gathered by Bangkok's Democracy Monument on Thursday to renew their demands that the prime minister step down, Thailand's constitution be amended to make it more democratic, and the monarchy be reformed to make it more accountable.

With their numbers growing, they marched to Parliament which was due to vote on several amendments to the Thai constitution.

The proposed changes, however, fall far short of their demands.

The protests are being held in spite of a ban on large gatherings, one of several measures in place to fight a virulent third wave of COVID-19 in Thailand that shows little sign of abating.

The protests had paused for some months due to pandemic concerns and the jailing of protest leaders, who have since been released on bail.

Parit Chiwarak, a key protest leader who was jailed, said Thursday the protesters are standing by their original demands but perhaps shifting their focus.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's government faces widespread criticism that it has botched plans for recovery from the pandemic by failing to secure timely and adequate vaccine supplies.

The march coincided with the 89th anniversary of the overthrow of Thailand's absolute monarchy.

The date has become an annual rallying point for protesters.

The monarchy is widely considered to be an untouchable bedrock element of the Thai nation. Defaming key royals is punishable under a lese majeste law by up to 15 years in prison.

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NSA Ajit Doval attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) NSA's meeting on Wednesday at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. During the meeting, NSA Ajit Doval has proposed an action plan against Pakistan-based terror organisations LeT and JeM as part of the SCO framework. The NSA condemned terrorism in all forms and asserted the need to bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice. In addition, he has also pushed for the full implementation of UN resolutions and targeted sanctions against the UN-designated terrorist individuals and entities. The SCO meeting was also attended by Pakistan.

Here are the key messages that were given by NSA Ajit Doval

Some of the key messages that Ajit Doval gave at the SCO meeting include the need for a plan of action against Pakistan-based terrorist organisations LeT and JeM as part of the SCO framework. Additionally, he also stated that new technologies that are used by terrorists should be monitored. The NSA highlighted the instances of weapons smuggling using drones and usage of the dark web, artificial intelligence, blockchain and social media.

Though India became an SCO Member in 2017, it has physical, spiritual, cultural and philosophical inter-linkages for centuries with countries that now make up SCO.

Need to preserve gains made in last two decades in Afghanistan and give top priority to welfare of its people. India fully supports SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan, which should be more active.

Greater connectivity including through initiatives like Chahbahar, INSTC, Regional Air Corridors, Ashgabat Agreement always leads to economic gains and building trust. However, connectivity must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations. Perpetrators of terrorism including cross-border terror attacks should be expeditiously brought to justice.

Need for full Implementation of UN resolutions and targeted sanctions against UN-designated terrorist individuals and entities.

Proposed action plan against LeT and JeM as part of SCO framework. Emphasised adoption of international standards to counter terror financing including an MOU between SCO and FATF.

Need to monitor new technologies used by terrorists including drones for smuggling of weapons and misuse of the dark web, artificial intelligence, blockchain and social media.

NSA Ajit Doval shares stage with Pakistani counterpart at SCO meet

NSA Ajit Doval attended the SCO meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Moeed Yusuf. Both of them were part of the discussion on several issues like international terrorism, extremism, separatism, radicalism, risks of increasing transnational organized crime, arms & drug trafficking. Both NSAs were joined by other counterparts from SCO nations.
Amidst a surge in COVID cases, the Hong Kong administration has announced that it will ban passenger flights from Indonesia starting June 25, deeming arrivals from the country as extremely high risk. Hong Kong successfully curbed the spread of the deadly contagion initially but has reported multiple imported cases in recent weeks. Additionally, it registered its first local case involving the lethal delta variant on Wednesday, sending authorities into alert. On the other hand, Indonesia with its pandemic fatigue is witnessing a continuous surge in its COVID caseload.

Announcing the ban on visitors from Indonesia, Hong Kong officials said that the number of imported COVID-19 cases from Indonesia crossed thresholds set by them. Responding to the same, Jakarta said that the ban was temporary and advised migrant workers affected by the suspension to contact their employers. The Chinese controlled city-state has already banned flights from four countries including India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Vaccination

Hong Kong has registered 11,899 cases, out of whom 210 have died and 11,619 have recovered. As many as 2,026,134 people in Hong Kong have received at least their first dose while 1,322,064 people been fully inoculated. On the other hand, Indonesia has reported 2,033,421 cases out of whom 55,594 have lost their lives and 1,817,303 have recovered, as per the latest tally by worldometers.

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered authorities to ramp up the country's vaccination campaign as the World Health Organization warned of the need to increase COVID-19 restrictions in the country. In an effort to vaccinate its citizens against COVID-19, Indonesian authorities announced that they would give live chicken to elderly people getting vaccinated in rural areas of Indonesia. The vaccination program has been started in Cianjur regency, West Java to vaccinate people aged 45 and above. The Southeast Asian has approved Sinovac, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines for mass inoculation. The Chinese developed jabs triggered scepticism after over 350 health workers in Indonesia tested COVID positive even after being inoculated using Sinovac shots.

Image: AP
An influential firebrand cleric in Indonesia was sentenced to another four years in prison on Thursday for concealing information about his coronavirus test result.

The three-judge panel at East Jakarta District Court, which was under heavy police and military guard, ruled that Rizieq Shihab had lied about his COVID-19 test result, which made contact tracing more difficult.

Authorities blocked streets leading to the court as thousands of Shihab's supporters tried to stage a rally to demand his release.

Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd. Hundreds who refused to leave were detained.

Shihab has been facing a series of criminal trials since returning from a three-year exile in Saudi Arabia last November.

Last month he was sentenced to eight months in jail for violating health protocols by holding a religious gathering and the wedding of his daughter, both attended by thousands of supporters during the coronavirus outbreak.

The indictment said Shihab's false statement that he was healthy, which was aired by several news network and went viral on social media, put the community at risk.

Shihab, 55, was the leader and grand imam of the now-defunct Islam Defenders Front, widely known by the Indonesian acronym FPI, which was once on the political fringes.

It has a long record of vandalizing bars, hurling stones at Western embassies and attacking rival religious groups, and wants Islamic Shariah law to apply to Indonesia's 230 million Muslims.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Kathmandu, Jun 24 (PTI) Questioning the impartiality of President Bidya Devi Bhandari in the May 22 dissolution of the House of Representatives, lawyers representing petitioners against the move have argued that her actions make it clear that she didnt want anybody except K P Sharma Oli as prime minister.

A five-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana on Wednesday began the hearing process, starting with the writ jointly filed by 146 lawmakers backing Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba's claim to Prime Ministership.

At the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, President Bhandari dissolved the lower house for the second time in five months on May 22 and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19.

Prime Minister Oli is currently heading a minority government after losing a trust vote in the 275-member House.

Bhandaris rejection of Deubas claim makes it clear that she didnt want anybody except K P Sharma Oli as prime minister, The Kathmandu Post quoted advocate Govinda Bandi as saying while arguing on behalf of the petitioners against the House dissolution.

Six of the lawyers arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs presented their arguments for four hours on Wednesday.

As many as 30 petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court against the move.

The Constitutional Bench has said it would first settle the petition filed by Deuba, which is backed by 146 lawmakers, including 23 of Olis CPN-UML, of the dissolved House.

The President gave extra-constitutional justification to invalidate the claim of Nepali Congress President Deuba who had the support of 149 lawmakers, said Bandi.

The plaintiffs lawyers claim that the President endorsed the House dissolution well past midnight despite knowing that Deubas claim was valid, the paper said.

The dissolution was a result of an ill-intention, said senior advocate Khamba Bahadur Khati.

Lawyers argued that the signatures of 149 lawmakers were enough for Bhandari to appoint Deuba as prime minister and if she had doubts about the misuse of the signatures, she could have left the matter to the House to decide, it said.

Before the final hearing began on Wednesday, the Office of the President and the Prime Minister in their written replies to the court had justified their move to dissolve the House.

Asserting that the House of Representatives was dissolved as per the constitutional provisions, Bhandari told the Supreme Court that it cannot overturn her decision on the matter or subject it to a judicial review.

On his part, Oli told the court that it is not up to the judiciary to appoint a premier as it cannot undertake the legislative and the executive functions of the state.

Lawyers of the plaintiffs, however, said on Wednesday that the President had encroached upon the jurisdiction of the legislature by rejecting Deubas claim to form a government.

Senior advocate Shambhu Thapa said that nobody has the authority to bar the peoples representatives from staking claim to form a government.

Who are you [to reject] when 149 lawmakers signed for Deuba? he asked, referring to the President. There is a floor test in Parliament to decide if someone holds a majority. Senior advocate Mahadev Yadav said argued that the provision of Article 76 (5) was introduced in the Constitution of Nepal to allow individual lawmakers to make efforts to form a government so that the House doesnt face untimely dissolution.

However, when Chief Justice Rana asked if there was any documentation of discussions in the Constituent Assembly on the article, so as to know the legislative intent, Yadav said he was unaware of it.

The two sides have been allotted 15 hours each to present their cases. The four members of the amicus curiae have 30 minutes each to give their expert opinions.

The hearing will continue on Thursday and will go on until all arguments are complete.

The plaintiffs lawyers will conclude their arguments in the next two days, Kishwor Poudel, a communication expert at the Supreme Court, told the Post.

Then comes the turn of the defendants, he said.

The petitioners say the President should have left it for the House to test if Deuba had a majority or not. Had he failed to prove a majority, he would have been unseated, thereby leading to the automatic dissolution of the House.

Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

In February, the apex court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister Oli who was preparing for snap polls.

Oli repeatedly defended his move to dissolve the House of Representatives, saying some leaders of his party were attempting to form a "parallel government". PTI NSA AKJ NSA

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Sharing a stage for the first time since the abrogation of article 370, NSA Ajit Doval and Pakistan NSA Moeed Yusuf attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting on Wednesday at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. They were part of the discussion on international terrorism, extremism, separatism, radicalism, risks of increasing transnational organized crime, arms & drug trafficking with other SCO nations' NSAs. The two did not hold a separate meeting. The SCO comprises major Asian powers such as China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

NSAs attend SCO meet

The meeting discussed cooperation between member states in ensuring reliable information security, the joint fight against cybercrime, and the issues of biological security and food security in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting also stressed on SCO's regional anti-terrorism structure playing an important role in ensuring regional security and strengthening ties between member states in combating threats & challenges of the modern world. The meeting was held in-person unlike the virtual meeting last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NSAs of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) discussed international terrorism, extremism, separatism, radicalism, risks of increasing transnational organized crime, arms & drug trafficking, at the meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, yesterday.



NSA Ajit Doval also attended it. pic.twitter.com/wEz5evprdG  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

Last year, Doval furiously stormed out of the SCO meeting last year following Pakistan's act of showing a 'distorted' map violating the agenda of the gathering. In a statement after the meeting, the External Affairs Ministry had said that the Pakistani NSA deliberately projected the map which showed Kashmir, Siachen, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Junagarh as part of Pakistan. This was in blatant disregard to the advisory by the host against it and in violation of the norms of the meeting. After consultation with the host, the Indian side left the meeting in protest at that juncture, he said.

Pakistan's India flip-flop

While Pakistan has continuously criticised India over the revocation of Article 370, CAA, Kashmir, terrorism, COVID-19 management, on February 25, India and Pakistan reiterated the existing mechanisms of hotline contact and border flag meetings, agreeing to a ceasefire. Moreover, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa called for India to 'bury the past and move forward' as the peace between the two neighbours would help to 'unlock' the potential of South and Central Asia. Immediately, Pakistan PM Imran Khan backtracked maintaining that no talks can be held with India till Article 370 is restored.
Countries bordering Russia expressed concern Thursday about a Franco-German plan to resume official meetings with President Vladimir Putin, likening the move to an attempt to talk a bear out of trying to steal honey. "If without any positive changes in the behavior of Russia we start to engage it will send very uncertain and bad signals, for example to eastern partnership countries," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters at an EU summit in Brussels.

"It seems to me like we try to engage a bear to keep a pot of honey safe", he added. Nauseda's call for caution was supported by Latvia's prime minister, Arturs Krisjanis Karins. "The Kremlin does not understand free concessions as a sign of strength," Karins said. But President Emmanuel Macron of France insisted that dialogue with Putin was the right approach.

The European Union is deeply divided in its approach to Moscow. Russia is the EU's biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in a series of international conflicts and key issues, including the Iran nuclear deal, and conflicts in Syria and Libya. Germany has strong economic interests there, notably the NordStream 2 undersea pipeline project. And a number of countries, including France, are reluctant to continue waging a sanctions battle with Russia, including over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Colombo, Jun 24 (PTI) Sri Lanka on Thursday released 93 prisoners, including 16 LTTE terror suspects held without charges, after they were pardoned by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The prisoners were released on the presidential pardon on the occasion of Poson Poya, an annual festival celebrated by Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority to mark the arrival of Buddhism in the country.

Prison spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya said the suspects belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were among the 93 who had received the presidential pardon.

They have been released from the prison in the northern town of Jaffna and the north-central town of Anuradhapura. They were arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Sri Lankan presidents on significant Buddhist days use their executive authority to release prisoners after necessary recommendations from authorities.

The main Tamil party, the TNA, has been pressing along with rights groups to seek the release of Tamil political prisoners, who have been held without charges for over 10-20 years.

The European Parliament early this month adopted a resolution calling for the repealing of Sri Lanka's PTA.

TNA sources said nearly 100 Tamil political prisoners are being held without charges. The Sri Lankan government maintains there are no political prisoners in jail.

The LTTE ran a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. PTI Corr NSA AKJ NSA NSA

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on June 24 hinted that Britain was close to permitting unrestricted travel abroad for fully vaccinated people. While speaking at a press briefing, Johnson said that he was not ruling out going abroad for his summer holiday. He added that there would be an announcement later on Thursday regarding the changes to the countrys green list for quarantine-free travel.

"I think that the whole double jab process is offering the real prospect of opening up to travel, and we'll be setting out a bit more later on," the UK PM told reporters.

Asked if he would take a trip abroad, he replied: Im going to see how we get on, and Im certainly not ruling it in or ruling it out.

Now, if and when unrestricted travel will be allowed, it would be a huge boost for airlines and holiday companies that has been brought to their knees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The summer season is when airlines make almost all of their profits. If the government decides to allow people who are fully vaccinated to avoid quarantining on their return to the UK, then the travel industry could witness a huge relief and could return to something resembling normal.

UK govt being cautious

Ahead of an announcement on whether a narrow list of quarantine-free travel destinations would be expanded, Britains Environment Secretary George Eustice told SkyNews that the government wants to allow people to have holidays abroad again. But he also added that it is wary of the risks. Eustice said that the UK government is being cautious. He further went on to says that there was a risk of new variants emerging in other countries which are more resistant to vaccination.

It is worth noting that UKs Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to reveal whether any new destinations are added to Englands green list for quarantine free travel amid speculation that restrictions could be eased for Spanish islands such as Ibiza. Currently, there are just 11 green destinations. Malta and the Portuguese island of Madeira have also been touted as possible additions, and airlines have said they will be ready to go should new destinations open.

Meanwhile, amid the spread of COVID-19, the National Health Services (NHS) has sounded alarmed over the surging cases of coronavirus patients on ventilators in the UK. Speaking to BBC News, Saffron Cordery, the deputy chief of the British health body revealed that the number of patients on ventilator rose by 41 per cent to 227 last week. Despite a robust and successful vaccination drive, Cordery said that rising coronavirus cases were having an impact on the countrys health services. According to the latest tally by world meters, Britain has reported over 4,667,870 cases of coronavirus, out of whom 128,027 have lost their lives. The country has recorded an increase in the cases of the more transmissible Delta strain of COVID in recent weeks, leaving experts across the European continent worried.

(Image: AP)
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Thousands of Hongkongers lined up from the early hours of Thursday morning to buy the last ever print copy of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, after the paper was forced to close after running afoul of the city's draconian national security law.

The print run for the paper's final edition ran to a million copies, with local residents forming long lines at news kiosks and convenience stores across the city.



"Painful partings in the rain," ran the banner headline, with a photo of supporters gathered outside the paper's headquarters late on , emblazoned with a quotation that read simply: "We support Apple."



Staff and supporters lit up their phone flashlights and waved to each other through the evening, with dozens of vehicles lining the street outside the paper's headquarters in Tseung Kwan O.



An article posted to the paper's website on titled "Apple's final chapter after 26 years of fighting the good fight" looked back at the paper's inception, just two years before Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule on , 1997.



"Please believe that all is darkest before dawn," the article said.



Journalists' unions spoke out against the latest "government blow to the freedom of the press" in Hong Kong, which saw the Apple Daily and its parent company Next Media forced to shut down operations after national security police froze H.K.$18 million in assets.



"In face of continuous government oppression, the 26-year-old media organization ceased operation ," the Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) said in a joint statement with other media unions on .



"The HKJA expresses anger and pain for the loss of this much valued multi-media press group that had long been pursuing and defending journalism," it said.



Employees of the Apple Daily newspaper shine phone torches from an office balcony and shout thanks to supporters down on the street below in Hong Kong, June 23, 2021. Credit: AFP The unions, which included the Next Media union and the RTHK Programme Staff Union, called on members to wear black in protest at a government attack on press freedom.



"We cannot take to the streets to express our dissatisfaction as we are bound by the group gathering ban [due to COVID-19], but it wont keep us silent," the statement said.



The closure of the Apple Daily came after an op-ed writer widely known by his penname Li Ping, was arrested by national security police on on suspicion of "collusion with a foreign power," under a draconian national security law imposed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Hong Kong from , 2020.



National security police had earlier descended on the headquarters of Next Digital in Tseung Kwan O on , confiscating computers and journalistic materials police said was "evidence" of collusion with foreign forces under the national security law, and arresting five of its executives.



Chief editor Ryan Law and Next Digital CEO Cheung Kim-hung have since been charged with "collusion with foreign powers," while three other executives have been released on bail without being charged.



Meanwhile, the company's landlord, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park Corp., has served notice for Next Digital to quit their premises.



A notice on the former Apple Daily website said: "We are sad to inform you that Apple Daily and Next Magazines web and app content will no longer be accessible at 23:59, , HKT."



"Good luck, and goodbye," the message said.



A foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing warned that no media organization would be allowed to "endanger national security" in the name of press freedom.



"The authority of the National Security Law can't be challenged," the spokesman said, calling on critics in U.S. and other "Western" nations to stop interfering in China's internal affairs.
Democratic Taiwan, which has repeatedly rejected a Hong Kong model for 'unification' with China, says it will stand by the city's people.

The democratic government of Taiwan on Thursday condemned the forced closure of a Hong Kong newspaper as at attack on press freedom, as Hongkongers came to terms with the loss of the Apple Daily, an often sensationalist, sometimes hard-hitting daily founded by jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai.

"Im deeply saddened by the forced shutdown of #AppleDailyHK," Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen said via her Twitter account as the last-ever print edition of the paper hit the newsstands on Thursday.

"But despite this setback, I want to tell the people of #HongKong that #Taiwan will always stand with you in your struggle for freedom," Tsai said. "Your dreams of democracy are the seeds of a better future for Hong Kong & the world."

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) hit out at the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for stamping out press freedom in once-freewheeling Hong Kong.

"The unfortunate incident not only sounded the death knell of Hong Kong's press freedom and freedom of speech, but also showed the international community the Chinese Communist Party's extreme ways of oppressing dissidents," the MAC said in a statement.

New Power Party lawmaker Chen Jiau-hua said Beijing had failed to keep its promise to allow Hong Kong to retain its economic and administrative systems after the handover to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

"The fall of Apple Daily in Hong Kong again demonstrated to Taiwan and the world that the Chinese Communist Party stands against human rights and has no credibility," she said.

The newspaper's demise is "a sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement, calling for the release of detained Apple Daily executive and journalists.

"Intensifying repression by Beijing has reached such a level that Apple Daily, a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong, has now ceased publishing. Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views," he said.

"Beijing is denying basic liberties and assaulting Hong Kongs autonomy and democratic institutions and processes, inconsistent with its international obligations," Biden added.

U.K. foreign secretary Dominic Raab called the paper's closure "a chilling blow to freedom of expression in Hong Kong."

"It is crystal clear that the powers under the National Security Law are being used as a tool to curtail freedoms and punish dissent  rather than keep public order," Raab said in a statement on his ministry's website.

"The Chinese government undertook to protect press freedom and freedom of speech in Hong Kong under the UK-Sino Joint Declaration. It must keep its promises, and stand by the commitments it freely assumed," Raab said.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman warned that no media organization was exempt from following the law, which "cannot be challenged," and told foreign countries not to interfere in China's internal affairs.

'More will be targeted now'

In Hong Kong, a former Apple Daily reader who gave only his surname Chan said the paper, for all its quirks, was best able to reflect the different voices of Hong Kong's seven million people.

"I think that more and more media organizations will be targeted now, and what freedom of speech we have left will disappear," Chan told RFA. "The dark ages have officially begun."

A recent secondary school graduate surnamed Chan said she had been standing in line since shortly after midnight on Thursday to ensure she got her hands on a copy of the last Apple Daily edition to roll off the presses, one of a record print run of one million.

"It holds the memories of the people of Hong Kong, and a record of the changes that have taken place in recent years," she said. "Something that was always there before has now suddenly been lost."

Guan Zhongxiang, communications professor at Taiwan's National Chung Cheng University, said the paper could have a limited afterlife as a smaller media organizations based overseas, out of the reach of the CCP.

"I think in that way at least they can at least keep the idea of freedom and democracy alive," Kwan said. "It's very important to remind people in Hong Kong of their importance: the spark should be kept alive."

A landmark event

In the U.S., exiled pro-democracy activist and veteran dissident Wei Jingsheng said the demise of the Apple Daily was the end of Hong Kong as it once was.

"The Apple Daily incident is a landmark event. Freedom of speech in Hong Kong is a thing of the past," Wei said. "This shows that the CCP has managed to complete its goal of turning Hong Kong into another part of mainland China."

A lawyer surnamed Pei from the central Chinese province of Hunan said the closure of the Apple Daily, which had its assets frozen and several staff members arrested for violating the national security law, hadn't come as a surprise, although it happened sooner than he had expected.

"Everything has changed now," Pei said. "We saw the change in the rule of law in the court system after the national security law was imposed."

"Now, the freedom of the press is gone, too. It's dead."

U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet hit out at the jailing of the Apple Daily's founder Jimmy Lai for exercising his rights, criticizing the tycoon's detention as his pro-democracy tabloid printed its last edition.

Lai is serving jail time for attending peaceful protests judged illegal by the authorities, and awaiting trial for "collusion with foreign powers" under the national security law.

The closure of the Apple Daily came after an op-ed writer widely known by his penname Li Ping was arrested by national security police on Wednesday on suspicion of "collusion with a foreign power."

National security police had earlier descended on the headquarters of Next Digital in Tseung Kwan O on June 17, confiscating computers and journalistic materials police said was "evidence" of collusion with foreign forces under the national security law, and arresting five of its executives.

Chief editor Ryan Law and Next Digital CEO Cheung Kim-hung have since also been charged with "collusion with foreign powers," while three other executives have been released on bail without being charged.



Reported by Lu Xi, Lau Siu Fung, Carmen Wu, Malik Wang and Qiao Long for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The military claim the men opened fire on troops, but relatives said they were trying to escape a firefight.

Four people who died after their vehicle crashed into a power generator as security forces battled militia members in Myanmars second city were ordinary civilians in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to relatives who rejected claims by the military that they had fired on troops before the accident.

Open warfare broke out Tuesday morning between troops loyal to Myanmars junta and members of the Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militia in downtown Mandalay, leaving at least five people dead after troops raided a PDF office in the citys Chanmya Tharzi township. The clashes marked the first in the cosmopolitan city of more than 1.7 million people since the military took over the government in a February coup, prompting widespread protests.

In a statement issued later that day, the military said that at some point during the fighting, the occupants of a white Pajero SUV fired at troops, prompting a chase that ended when the vehicle crashed into a power transformer, killing all four of the occupants.

The occupants of the car were later identified as ethnic Taang nationals Mai Nai Tun Kyi, Mai Naing Lai, and Mai Chit Shwe, as well as Mandalay native Arr Ti.

On Wednesday, RFAs Myanmar Service spoke with members of the victims families who dismissed the militarys allegations that the four were members of the PDF. Instead, they said, the young men were friends who collectively owned a poultry farm in Mandalays Singu township.

According to the relatives, the four had been conducting business downtown and were returning to Singu by car when they realized that they were driving into a firefight. They stopped the car, turned around and sped off, the family members said, but troops fired on them, and the vehicle slammed into the generator.

Mai Anai, the father of Mai Naing Lai, who was married earlier this month, said the four men were still alive after crashing their vehicle.

They had nothing to do with PDFthey just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, he said.

When they turned back from the scene of fighting, the soldiers opened fire at them  I heard that they were fired at with a kind of a rocket or grenade.

Mai Anai said the bodies of the four are still at the hospital and that he was unsure whether the military would return them to their families.

Shadow government warning

In separate fighting to the west of Mandalay, sources said that at least two officers were killed Tuesday when a militia group known as the Myingyan Township ZERO Guerillas raided a police station in Mandalay regions Ngazun township, while a PDF member was killed the same day during a clash with military troops in Sagaing regions Yinmabin township.

Residents of Kayin states Myawaddy township, on the border of Thailand, told RFA that a local ward administrator was killed by unidentified gunman in a shooting on Wednesday morning that may have been related to reports he was feeding information about anti-junta activities to the military.

RFA was unable to independently verify the number of casualties in the incidents and attempts to reach junta spokesman General Zaw Min Tun for comment went unanswered on Wednesday.

In the aftermath of Tuesdays clashes, Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) issued a national level warning instructing every household to ready supplies that include a first aid kit, batteries, drinking water and dry rations, as well as a plan to access safe shelter and trustworthy information, in the case of an emergency.

Attempts by RFA to contact NUG Defense Minister Yi Mon for comment on the reason behind announcing a state of emergency went unanswered Wednesday.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has killed at least 877 people since it orchestrated a coup on Feb. 1, claiming that the ruling National League for Democracys (NLD) landslide victory in the countrys November 2020 election was the result of widespread voter fraud. The junta has yet to present evidence of its claims and security forces have responded to nationwide protests with deadly force.

AAPP says some 5,088 people have been detained, charged, or sentenced in the five months since the coup.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Observers say Min Aung Hlaing hoped to obtain recognition and a new channel for securing arms.

A visit by Myanmars junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to Russia this week is likely part of a bid to secure recognition and military equipment from Moscow amid widespread international condemnation of his overthrow of the democratically elected government, analysts said Wednesday.

Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Moscow on June 20 to attend a three-day international security conference, marking his second trip abroad since he ordered Myanmars military to orchestrate a takeover of the Southeast Asian nation on Feb. 1.

The junta alleges that a landslide victory by Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) party in the countrys November 2020 elections was the result of voter fraud. But it has yet to provide evidence for its claims and has responded to mass protests against the coup with violent crackdowns that have claimed at least 877 lives and resulted in more than 5,000 arrests.

Despite facing criticism of his rule at home and abroad, Min Aung Hlaing told a news conference in Moscow that the military under his control is working to reform what he called a degraded democracy in Myanmar.

On Tuesday, the junta leader met with Russias Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who called Myanmar a time-tested strategic partner and a reliable ally and praised Min Aung Hlaing for improving the countrys military. Shoigu said Russia plans to expand ties with Myanmar, with a particular focus on cooperation in the military and military-technical field.

Shoigu and Min Aung Hlaing last met during a January visit by the Russian minister to Myanmar, 10 days before the coup. At the time, observers questioned why Shoigu would hold private talks with the military chief without meeting with then State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi or President Win Myint, who were re-elected for a second term in November.

Min Aung Hlaings trip to Moscow follows a visit he made to Jakarta, Indonesia in April to attend an emergency summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called in response to ongoing violence in Myanmarone of the blocs members. At the conclusion of that summit, he agreed to a framework that would end the bloodshed in his country, but few of the measures have since been implemented.

Asked why the junta chief would attend a security conference in Russia when his country is mired in chaos, Thein Tun Oo, the executive director of the pro-military Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told RFAs Myanmar Service that the visit was to build diplomatic relations and had nothing to do with the current situation in Myanmar.

Military cooperation with Russia is a really important international issue, especially for peace in the Asia-Pacific region, which will be important to Myanmar in the future, he said.

Myanmar and Russia are also strategic partners in military cooperation for the region. This is an international concern, and our internal affairs are not that important.

Thein Tun Oo noted that Myanmar and Russia have signed a military alliance agreement and suggested that Min Aung Hlaings visit would further economic and security cooperation between the two nations going forward.

Successive military regimes in Myanmar have enjoyed long-standing relations with Russia and the former Soviet Union. Defense cooperation has notably increased in recent years, with Russia providing various kinds of military training to the junta, scholarships for thousands of soldiers to attend Russian universities, and arms sales.

In search of support

However, other analysts suggested that the junta chief was likely on a mission to shore up what little international support he can gather for his unpopular regime.

The U.S. and the EU have recently imposed visa bans on high-ranking members of Myanmars militaryincluding Min Aung Hlaingciting human rights abuses in the country, while the U.N. General Assembly recently condemned the coup and adopted a resolution on prevented the flow of arms to the junta.

At a time when the United Nations has decided to curb the flow of arms and many countries are putting pressure on the junta, I see [Min Aung Hlaing] trying to build better ties with and obtain more support from China and Russia, which already have given him much support, said Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a political and human rights researcher.

Hes not thinking of protocols or anything, but to get continued support from them, he said, adding that the other aim is likely to restore a path for the flow of arms.

Political analyst Than Soe Naing said Min Aung Hlaing personally attended the meeting in Russiausually attended by defense ministersbecause he sought international recognition.

Actually, this is not a meeting for heads of state, it is a meeting of defense ministers, he said.

When the chief of the regime attends instead of the defense minister, it means hes seeking international recognition. He wants this recognition so badly that he had to attend a meeting of ministersa level lower than his.

The analyst added that Min Aung Hlaing has been relying heavily on China for military assistance since taking power, and likely hoped to obtain a channel for equipment from Russia as well.

Attempts by RFA to reach Zin Mar Aung, the foreign minister of Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG), for comment on the visit went unanswered Wednesday.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Rinchen Tsultrim was accused of 'working to split the country,' a charge often leveled against Tibetans resisting assimilation into China's dominant Han culture.

Rinchen Tsultrim, a Tibetan monk held incommunicado before being tried for his writings on social media, is shown in an undated photo.

A Tibetan monk held incommunicado in custody following his arrest two years ago on suspicion of working to split the country was sentenced in a closed trial and is serving a four-and-a-half year prison term, family members say.

Rinchen Tsultrim, 29 at the time of his arrest, was taken into custody on July 27, 2019 in Sichuans Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) county for peacefully expressing his thoughts on Tibetan political and social issues on social media, RFA was told in earlier reports.

He was then held without word given to his family on his whereabouts until earlier this year, Tsultrims sister Kunsang Dolma told RFA, speaking from her home in exile in India.

On March 23, 2021, my family in Tibet was informed by the Chinese authorities that my brother Rinchen Tsultrim was given a four-and-a-half year prison sentence without a fair trial and is now being held in [Sichuans] Mianyang Prison, she said.

He had been warned three times by the Chinese authorities for expressing his thoughts and writings on a range of Tibetan political, social, and cultural issues before he was arrested in 2019, Dolma said, adding, At one time he was also compelled to sign some documents.

Tsultrim's ongoing contacts with Tibetans living in exile were another important factor leading to his arrest, a Tibetan living in exile in India told RFA's Tibetan Service in an earlier report.

Separatism, or working to split the country, is an accusation often leveled by Chinese authorities against Tibetans opposing the assimilation of Tibets distinctive national and cultural identity into Chinas dominant Han culture, and scores of monks, writers, educators, and musical performers have been arrested under the charge in recent years.

Communication clampdowns

Chinese authorities in Tibet continue to tighten controls over information flows in the region, arresting Tibetans for sharing news and opinions on social media and for contacting relatives living in exile, sometimes with news of anti-China protests, according to rights groups and other experts.

Particular targets of censors and police are images of the Dalai Lama shared on mobile phone and calls for the preservation of the Tibetan language, now under threat from government orders to establish Chinese as the main language of instruction in Tibetan schools.

Security is now being tightened in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China in the lead-up to the July 1 centenary celebration of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, said Golok Jigme, a former Tibetan political prisoner now living in exile in Switzerland.

As the 100th founding anniversary of the CCP approaches, access to websites is being tightly controlled, and social media platforms are being especially closely watched, Jigme said, citing sources in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai.

Anyone suspected of involvement in any kind of rebellious act is being taken into custody, because the Chinese government doesnt want to take any chances.

With Tibetans fearing the consequences of attention from the police, it has now become even more difficult than usual to receive news or other information from inside Tibet, Jigme said.

A formerly independent nation, Tibet was taken over and incorporated into China by force nearly 70 years ago, following which the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India, and Beijing maintains a tight grip on Tibet and on Tibetan-populated regions of western Chinese provinces.

Reported by Sangyal Kunchok and Lobe for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on key sectors of the Belarusian economy and major revenue sources for the regime of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka, including potash fertilizer exports, the tobacco industry, petroleum, and petrochemical products, following the forced diversion of a passenger flight to Minsk last month that allowed for the arrest of a dissident journalist and his girlfriend.



The new restrictive measures were introduced on June 24 "to respond to the escalation of serious human rights violations in Belarus and the violent repression of civil society, democratic opposition and journalists, as well as to the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk on 23 May 2021 and the related detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega," the Council of the EU said in a statement on June 24.



Lukashenkas regime has been under international pressure since it launched a brutal crackdown on the political opposition and independent media in the wake of a disputed election in August 2020.

The protesters have said that election was rigged, while the EU, the United States, and other countries have refused to recognize the official results of the vote and do not consider Lukashenka to be the country's legitimate leader.



The crisis hit a new level on May 23 when Belarusian authorities scrambled a military jet to escort an Athens-Vilnius Ryanair flight to land in Minsk in what many countries regarded as a "state hijacking." After the plane, which was diverted just before it left Belarusian airspace, landed, law enforcement immediately arrested opposition blogger Pratasevich and Sapega, his Russian girlfriend.

EU foreign ministers signed off on the new EU targeted economic sanctions against Belarus earlier this week.

They include "the prohibition to directly or indirectly sell, supply, transfer or export to anyone in Belarus equipment, technology or software intended primarily for use in the monitoring or interception of the internet and of telephone communications, and dual-use goods and technologies for military use and to specified persons, entities or bodies in Belarus."

The trade of arms, petroleum products, potassium chloride, which is used for potash fertilizers, and goods used for the production or manufacture of tobacco products will be restricted.



Financial sanctions include restrictions on access to EU capital markets for the Belarusian government, as well as Belarusian state-owned financial institutions and entities, and a prohibition on providing insurance and re-insurance to the government, public bodies, and agencies.



Any disbursements or payments by the European Investment Bank (EIB) relating to existing agreements between the EIB and Belarus or any public authority will be prohibited.



EU member states are "required to take actions" to limit the involvement in Belarus of multilateral development banks of which they are members.



The European Union, the United States, Britain, and Canada have previously slapped sanctions on Belarus over the diversion of the Ryanair flight, including asset freezes and visa bans imposed against dozens of officials, lawmakers, and ministers from Lukashenka's administration and his family members, as well as Belarusian entities.

The EU has also denied permission to any aircraft operated by Belarusian air carriers to land in, take off from, or overfly EU territories.



Previous rounds of Western sanctions also hit individual institutions and Lukashenka's inner circle over the brutal crackdown on the opposition by the Belarusian authorities in the wake of last years disputed presidential election.
Acting Bulgarian Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov has said that the authorities are investigating 14 cases of foreign nationals receiving illegal kidney transplants in Bulgaria.

"Initial evidence indicates gross breaches of the law and good medical practice," Rashkov told reporters on June 24. "The culpable persons need to be identified and brought to prosecution and trial."

The inquiry was prompted by statements made by Health Minister Stoicho Katsarov earlier this month.

Katsarov said on June 3 that at least for some of the transplants carried out between 2019 and April this year at the state-run Lozenets Hospital in Sofia, the recipients of the kidneys were registered under false identities and documents to prove their relation to the donors.

In all 14 cases, young Moldovans and Ukrainians were identified with false documents as relatives of kidney recipients from Israel, Germany, and Oman, among other countries, Katsarov said. Under the Bulgarian law, donors must be family members of the recipients.

Following a notice from Interpol warning about fraudulent transplants, Bulgarian authorities conducted identity checks that proved that documents presented were not genuine.

Rahskov told reporters that Bulgarian investigators had been in contact with Moldovan authorities about the cases.

Katsarov fired the hospital director over the operations as well as other shortcomings earlier this month, although Lozenets Hospital has denied any wrongdoing.

Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest member, has been under fire from Brussels for rampant organized crime and endemic corruption.

With reporting by Reuters
It goes without saying that it's going to be scorching hot in Central Asia in June.

But this year, many places are setting new records for high temperatures and -- adding to the misery -- drought is setting in and taking a toll that can only be fully known in the coming weeks.

The upstream countries -- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan -- are facing difficulties with too little water and some want to keep more of it while the downstream countries -- namely Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan -- are seeking guarantees and offering deals for ample supplies of water to continue flowing.

Record Heat

June in Uzbekistan started with a warning from the State Meteorological Agency, Uzgidromet, that June 3-7 would see a drastic climb in heat with temperatures seven to 10 degrees hotter than usual.

The temperature in the capital, Tashkent, was 42.6 degrees Celsius on June 6, easily surpassing the previous highest temperature for that day, which was registered in 1811 when the temperature was 38.5 degrees Celsius.

The next day was slightly cooler at 40.8 degrees Celsius, still enough to top the previous record for that day that was set in 1894.

According to Uzgidromet, the hottest temperature ever recorded for Tashkent was on July 18, 1997, when thermometers reached 44.6 degrees Celsius.

On June 8, the director of Tajikistans meteorological center, Jamila Baydulloeva, told RFE/RLs Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, that during the first week of June there were days when the thermometer hit 45 degrees Celsius in the capital, Dushanbe, and in the southern Khatlon region. It was the hottest temperature seen in early June in decades.

The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, was also experiencing temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius in June.

And summer is only beginning. Usually, July and August are the hottest months of the year.

The Drought

For several months it has been obvious Central Asia was heading into a period of severe drought.

The massive Toktogul Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan is a bellwether for 2021 in Central Asia.

Already in March, officials in Kyrgyzstan were warning the level of water in the reservoir was alarmingly low -- 8.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) -- well below the capacity of 19.5 bcm.

The reservoir takes water from the Naryn River, which itself eventually feeds into the Syr Darya, the longest river in Central Asia that brings essential water from its headstream in Tajikistan to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Toktogul is also the location of Kyrgyzstans largest hydropower plant (HHP), which supplies some 40 percent of the countrys electricity.

There has been talk in Kyrgyzstan about closing the floodgates and allowing the reservoir to replenish itself, though Kyrgyz Energy Minister Doskul Bekmurzaev said on June 16 that the water level had risen to 10.9 bcm.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are obviously against the idea of closing the floodgates at Toktogul.

Both are negotiating electricity for water deals that would have Kyrgyzstan keep the water flowing from Toktogul and, in return, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan would supply electricity to Kyrgyzstan to temporarily lessen its dependence on the Toktogul HHP for domestic power.

For Kazakhstan, the need for water in the Syr Darya is already clear.

The Kazakh meteorological agency is already forecasting severe drought for areas in six of the countrys 14 provinces: Aqmola, Aqtobe, East Kazakhstan, Mangistau, Kyzylorda, and Kustanay.

In Kyzylorda, which draws much of its water from the Syr Darya, local officials reduced the number of rice fields under cultivation this year, but the situation with fodder for livestock animals is grim and the heat is taking its toll on the animals.

The same is true further west, in Mangistau Province. Kazakh officials are already saying more than 2,000 animals, most of them horses, have died for lack of water and food in Kyzylorda and Mangistau provinces.

The situation is the same in the Yavan district of Tajikistans Khatlon region, where shepherd Abroriddin Haydarov told Ozodi there is almost no grass for his animals to graze on.

Kazakh officials are promising to bring in hay and water from other areas of the country and dig more wells in Mangistau, where a video posted by a local resident showed some farmers forced to feed their camels and horses with cardboard, and another of a horse being fed dirt.

The rush by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to procure hay for livestock is having an effect in Kyrgyzstan where the drought is just as severe in some areas.

The price of hay in Kyrgyzstan increased in the second week of June, for some by 50 percent.

Crop Failure

In Kyrgyzstan's Chui Province, some farmers are predicting a total loss of crops this year.

The lack of water coupled with aging canal systems badly in need of repair are leaving some fields dry.

Kyrgyz Agriculture Minister Almazbek Sokeev noted that water levels in many small reservoirs and rivers in the province are at less than half their normal amount, which perhaps led to him receiving a reprimand on June 14 .

Farmers in Chui Province met outside a government building in Bishkek on June 14, demanding state action be taken to save their crops.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov promised help for farmers.

Despite the budget deficit, we are trying to pay for the damage, Maripov said on June 17. But he also noted that Kyrgyzstan is strapped for cash and it is difficult to see where money will come from to compensate farmers, especially with a possible food crisis looming.

The drought is also devastating agriculture in Turkmenistans eastern Mary and Lebap provinces, with many of its farmers also predicting large-scale crop failures.

But Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov once again predicted a successful harvest at a June 2 session of the government, calling on officials to ensure farmers are provided with all the seeds, fertilizer, modern equipment, and water that they need.

Farmers in the Karakum district of Mary Province told RFE/RLs Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk, that their cotton crops are already ruined.

From the very beginning our fields were left without [enough] water and fertilizer and now, because of the fierce heat, the cotton plants that were just turning green have dried up, said one farmer. This is the first time we have seen so much cotton dry up.

The local water reservoir has apparently fallen into total disrepair, and several farmers told Azatlyk that local officials seemed clueless about how to rectify the problem.

It is perhaps not surprising that farmers in Mary Province do not have water for their fields as a separate Azatlyk report said many areas in the capital, Ashgabat, are without water for most of the day in temperatures that sometimes reach 45 degrees Celsius.

The Turkmen government is often accused of gross mismanagement and, in what can only be described as its latest own goal, the government ordered famers in Mary Provinces village of Peshanay to burn the straw left over from the last wheat harvest.

Officials offered no reason for ordering farmers to destroy the straw, which many depend on to feed their farm animals. Officials also did not offer to provide farmers with other fodder for their animals.

The Consequences

Food prices are already rising sharply in many places across Central Asia.

The global coronavirus pandemic that hit the region early in 2020 crippled supply chains and this years drought in Central Asia guarantees food shortages in the months to come.

RFE/RLs Current Time program aired a segment about the rising prices for fruits and vegetables in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakh Trade Minister Bakhyt Sutanov is headed to Tashkent to talk about the export of Uzbek carrots and potatoes to Kazakhstan.

In Turkmenistan, the price of a kilogram of meat is 65 manats, or nearly $20 at the official rate, and five liters of cooking oil is 250 manats, slightly more than $70 at the official rate.

In eastern Tajikistan, people are also complaining that prices for basic food items in their less-developed, remote areas are on par with the prices for staples in shops in Moscow.

So far, good relations between the Central Asian governments are being maintained despite the problems and Uzbekistan in particular seems to be playing a key role in supplying neighbors with food, water, and electricity. It is, however, curious that the Uzbek media has not been reporting the same problems in Uzbekistan connected to drought that the country's neighbors are experiencing.

How long amicable ties between the five countries can be preserved under difficult circumstances is an important question, as is the patience of the people in those countries who seem to feel their governments should be doing more to help them.
Several activists from Oral city in west Kazakhstan and Shymkent in the south of the country have joined a hunger strike announced on June 20 by a group of activists in Almaty and Nur-Sultan. The protesters are demanding a ban on activities by the opposition Koshe party and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement (DVK) be lifted, as well as the release of activists.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Dozens have rallied in front of a district police station in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, demanding the immediate release of a man who was sentenced to 15 days in jail for taking part in the pickets in front of the Chinese Consulate for more than four months to demand the release of relatives held in China.

Around 30 protesters on June 24 gathered in front of the headquarters of the Medeu district police chanting "Freedom! Freedom!" in support of Baibolat Kunbolat, who was found guilty of "organizing an unsanctioned rally" and handed his sentence two days earlier.

Police officers met with the protesters and asked them to leave the site saying that Kunbolat is serving his sentence in another location.

The protesters refused to leave and later on a district prosecutor came to the site telling the demonstrators that their rally was illegal.

The protesters ignored the prosecutor and signed a petition addressed to President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev and the United Nations, demanding their right to publicly request that China respects their demands to release their relatives.

In recent years, many protests have taken place in Kazakhstan, with demonstrators demanding Kazakh authorities officially intervene in the situation faced by ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang.

The U.S. State Department has said that as many as 2 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and members of Xinjiang's other indigenous, mostly Muslim, ethnic groups have been taken to detention centers.

China denies that the facilities are internment camps but people who have fled the province say people from the groups are undergoing "political indoctrination" at a network of facilities known officially as reeducation camps.

Kazakhs are the second-largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang after Uyghurs. The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Hui, also known as Dungans. Han, China's largest ethnicity, is the second-largest community in Xinjiang.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted the U.K. Navy was "entirely right" to defend freedom of navigation following an incident with Russia in the Black Sea, while Moscow warned it was prepared to fire on warships entering territorial waters it claims around Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

Speaking at an army barracks on June 24 a day after the incident, Johnson reiterated that Britain didn't recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and said the Royal Navy destroyer was sailing "the shortest route between two points" from Ukraine to Georgia.

"It was illegal, these are Ukrainian waters, and it was entirely right to use them to go from A to B," Johnson said.

Russia claimed that its vessels on June 23 fired warning shots and a military plane dropped bombs in the path of the British destroyer HMS Defender to force it to change course from the area near the Crimean city of Sevastopol.

Britain's Defense Ministry denied the HMS Defender had been fired upon, saying that Russia was carrying out a previously announced "gunnery exercise" in the area.

Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014, sending in troops and staging a referendum denounced as illegitimate by at least 100 countries after Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted amid a wave of public protests.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reiterated during a visit to Singapore that "no shots were fired" as the British ship was "conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters."

"We were doing so in accordance with international law and the Russian characterization is predictably inaccurate."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on June 24 that British Ambassador Deborah Bronner was summoned and warned in a demarche that Britain would be fully responsible for any consequences if a similar incident occured again.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was ready to consider all manner of responses to what he called "provocative actions."

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov ratcheted up the rhetoric, saying that Russia would use "all means," including diplomatic, political, and military, to defend what he claimed were Russia's borders.

"We may appeal to reason and demand to respect international law," Ryabkov said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. "If it doesn't help, we may drop bombs and not just in the path but right on target, if colleagues don't get it otherwise."

Cabinet member George Eustice said on June 24 in a televised interview that British warships could sail again through the disputed waters around Crimea because Russia's occupation of Crimea was illegal.

"What was actually going on is the Russians were doing a gunnery exercise, they had given prior notice of that, they often do in that area," he said.

"So, I think it's important people don't get carried away," he said, and that the Royal Navy would do it again.

"We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters," Eustice said.

With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters
Buryatia in eastern Siberia has ordered a lockdown to help slow the spread of coronavirus, and France is adding Russia to its "red list" of countries from which travel is severely restricted because it is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.



Authorities in Buryatia said the lockdown will begin on June 27 and last two weeks. It will affect all enterprises except essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies. A notice spelling out the restrictive measures is to be published on June 24.



There has been a sharp increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in Russia this month, with the daily tally of new cases growing from approximately 9,000 in early June to over 17,000 on June 18, and a number of regions are again tightening quarantine measures to slow the spread of the disease.



Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced an extension of restrictions imposed early last week until June 29. He had already announced the closure of Moscows Euro 2020 fan zone and a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.



Buryatia, however, is the only Russian region that has imposed several lockdowns since the beginning of the pandemic. Last November, the regions governor also closed all nonessential businesses for two weeks in an effort to cope with a resurgence of the outbreak.



According to official statistics, 1,071 people have died from the pandemic in the region and 42,177 cases have been identified.

French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal said on June 23 that Russia, along with Namibia and the Seychelles, were being added to its red list, which now has 21 countries.
MOSCOW -- A jailed postgraduate mathematics student at Moscow State University and his former co-defendant, who were found guilty of charges rights groups have called politically motivated, have married in a detention center.



The official marriage ceremony for Azat Miftakhov and Yelena Gorban was held in Moscow's Butyrka detention center on June 23.



In January, the 28-year-old mathematician was sentenced to six years in prison after a court in Moscow found him guilty of involvement in an arson attack on the ruling United Russia's office in Moscow in 2018.



Miftakhov has denied the charges, which his lawyers say stem from his anarchist beliefs and support for political prisoners.



Miftakhov was arrested in early 2019 and accused of helping make an improvised bomb found in the city of Balashikha near Moscow.



He was released several days after the initial charge failed to hold, but was rearrested immediately and charged with being involved in the attack on an office of the United Russia political party in January 2018.



The Public Monitoring Commission, a human rights group, has said that Miftakhov's body bore the signs of torture, which the student claimed were the result of investigators unsuccessfully attempting to force him to confess to the bomb-making charge.

Gorban was one of Miftakhov's co-defendants. She was also convicted in the case and handed a suspended sentence.



Gorban told RFE/RL after the wedding ceremony that her parents supported her decision to marry her jailed fiance.



Miftakhov's mother, Gulnur Khusainova, told RFE/RL that she too was happy the two could marry.



The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has recognized Miftakhov as a political prisoner, while some 2,500 mathematicians from 15 countries had signed a letter urging the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) to assist in Miftakhov's release.



Earlier in June, the American Mathematical Society urged Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State, Lisa Peterson to include Miftakhov's case on the agenda of the summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin that was held on June 16 in Geneva.
MOSCOW -- A founding member of the Russian protest group Pussy Riot, Maria Alyokhina, has been sentenced to 15 days in jail on a charge of "disobeying police" amid a crackdown on the group's members in recent days.



The court sentenced Alyokhina on June 24, two days after she was detained for questioning while traveling to get a vaccination against COVID-19. Police said they took her into custody because they had information "about her plans to perform an unsanctioned protest action on the day of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's attack on the Soviet Union."



It is not clear where the police got that information and the next day the charge was changed to disobeying police.



A day earlier, three other members of the protest group were sentenced to 15 days in jail after a Moscow court found Lyusya Shtein and Anna Kuzminykh guilty of disobeying police orders, while Aleksandr Sofeyev was sentenced for minor hooliganism.



Another Pussy Riot member, Nika Nikulshina, was sentenced on June 21 to 15 days in jail on a similar charge of "disobeying police."



Pussy Riot came to prominence in 2012 when Alyokhina and other members of the group, including Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, burst into Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral to protest against ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.



Their protest, the performance of a song they described as a "punk prayer," took place as Putin was campaigning for his return to the presidency.



Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova were convicted on a charge of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" and sentenced to two years in a penal colony.



They were close to completing their sentences when they were granted an amnesty in December 2013.



The pair dismissed their amnesty as a propaganda stunt aimed at improving Putin's image abroad ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.

With reporting by Mediazona
U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan has returned to Moscow, two months after leaving amid worsening relations between the United States and Russia.

"Arrived back in Moscow today. Ready to work with...Russia on our goal of a stable and predictable relationship between our countries," Sullivan said in a statement shared on Twitter by the embassy spokesman.

Sullivan was recalled for consultations in April as the United States and Russia announced tit-for-tat sanctions and diplomatic expulsions.

In an interview with Interfax, Sullivan said the two countries would communicate on a range of issues.

"We should cooperate where it is in our mutual interest, and where we have disagreements -- and we have significant disagreements -- it is important to have an open and frank dialogue," Sullivan said.

After their June 16 summit in Geneva, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin announced their ambassadors would soon be returning to their missions in a bid to lower tensions.

Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov returned to the United States on June 20, telling Russian media that he was optimistic and wanted to help build "equal and pragmatic" relations.

Antonov was recalled in March following a comment by Biden indicating he agreed that Putin is a "killer."

Relations between Russia and the United States have deteriorated further since Biden took office in January, with Washington imposing sanctions on Moscow over cyberattacks, election meddling, and the poisoning and jailing of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny.

But Biden has also said the United States wants a "stable, predictable" relationship that allows Moscow and Washington to work together on common issues like strategic stability, arms control, and climate change.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
MINSK -- The trial of Belarusian video blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski and several other defendants, including former presidential candidate Mikalay Statkevich and popular blogger and RFE/RL consultant Ihar Losik, has begun inside a detention center in the southeastern city of Homel.



Tsikhanouski, a leading opposition figure who was arrested after expressing his willingness to challenge Alyaksandr Lukashenka in last year's disputed presidential election, is accused of organizing mass disorder, inciting social hatred, impeding the activities of the Central Election Commission, and organizing activities that disrupt social order.



If found guilty of the charges, which are widely considered to have been trumped-up, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

The others on trial include opposition activists Uladzimer Tsyhanovich, Artsyom Sakau, and Dzmitry Papou.

RFE/RL correspondents reported from the site that traffic police and riot police cordoned the building of the detention center and a street close to the detention center were cleared late on June 23.



Early on June 24 a riot police bus and a vehicle with men in civilian clothes appeared at the site. All streets leading to the detention center, except one were blocked.



Several diplomats from European Union nations came to the site at around 10 a.m., but it was not clear whether they were allowed in.



Only journalists working for state media were allowed to enter the building.



Lyudmila Hladkaya of the state publication Belarus Today published a video which showed the defendants entering a cage in the room where the trial is taking place.

Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent.

Statkevich greeted everyone in the room by saying "Zhyve Belarus!" (Long Live Belarus!), while Tsikhanouski exclaimed "What a closed process!" when seeing many state media reporters in the room.



Tsikhanouski was the owner of a popular Belarusian YouTube channel called "The Country for Life" when he announced his willingness to run against Lukashenka after using the channel to challenge and criticize Belarusian authorities.



He was arrested in May 2020 shortly after election officials rejected his candidacy. He has remained in pretrial detention since then.



His wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, took over the election campaign and became the main challenger to Lukashenka, who has been the autocratic ruler of the country since 1994. Tsikhanouskaya and her supporters claim the election was rigged, insisting that she won the vote.

The official results handing Lukashenka a landslide victory sparked months of mass protests and a violent crackdown on the opposition and demonstrators. Thousands of people, including journalists working to cover the developments, have been detained.



Many have been injured and there are widespread allegations of systemic torture within Belarusian detention centers. More than 1,800 criminal cases have been filed against demonstrators.

Tsikhanouskaya and other leading opposition figures have left the country fearing reprisal. Tsikhanouskaya currently lives in Lithuania with her children.



Losik, who is among hundreds of political prisoners caught up in the crackdown, has been in pretrial detention since June 2020. He was initially charged with allegedly using his popular Telegram channel to "prepare to disrupt public order" ahead of the August election.



In April, he tried to slit his wrists and launched a four-day hunger strike after being informed of new, unspecified charges. He had previously launched a six-week hunger strike to protest the original charges.

RFE/RL President Jamie Fly on June 24 called Losik's trial a "mockery of justice," and reiterated his call for Belarusian authorities to release him "immediately and without condition."

"As his wife Darya has so eloquently stated before, Ihar has faced unimaginable physical and psychological pressures over the past year, to include two debilitating hunger strikes. Instead of forcing Ihar to take part in this contemptible mockery of justice, Belarusian authorities should release him immediately and without condition, so that he can be reunited with his family," Fly said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has imposed sanctions against Dmytro Firtash, a powerful tycoon indicted by the United States for corruption.

In a decree signed on June 24, Zelenskiy also slapped sanctions on dozens of businessmen and enterprises with alleged links to Russia's defense sector.

The world's largest titanium producer, VSMPO-AVISMA, was hit with sanctions as was the Russian-based company's director Sergei Chemezov and his deputy, Mikhail Shelkov.

Ukraine's National Security Council last week announced the sanctions against Firtash, accusing him of selling titanium products that are used by Russian military enterprises.

The sanctions against Firtash and his Group DF include an asset freeze, ban on capital withdrawal, revocation of licenses, restriction of resource transit, and other restrictions.

He is currently living in Vienna while fighting extradition to the United States.

Zelenskiy also extended for another three years sanctions against dozens of Russian banks for their alleged support of Kremlin-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

A three-year extension was also decreed for similar sanctions against Russian tycoons, including Arkady Rotenberg, Russian energy giant Gazprom chief Aleksei Miller, and oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
LEXINGTON  Lexington Local Schools will not offer a fully-remote learning platform next school year, superintendent Jeremy Secrist said.

In terms of learning formats, the district will return to pre-pandemic norms with most students learning in the traditional classroom.

Lexington will continue to offer a blended learning option for students with extenuating circumstances, but the district is not recommending it for elementary students.

Were just returning to what we did before prior to COVID," Secrist said. "Prior to COVID, we did not have a blended learning program for K thru 5."

Secrist said the district will continue making accommodations for students as necessary, but that its vital for elementary-age students to be back in the classroom.

We did what we had to do this year and it worked well. Our teachers went above and beyond, Secrist said. But when you have a kindergartener, first grader, second grader and a teachers trying to teach a kid to read, they need to be here."

The district transitioned its blended learning program, the Lexington Digital Academy (LDA), to an all-remote option during the 2020-2021 school year.

Next year the program will be renamed the Lexington Learning Lab and include a combination of online and in-person learning consistent with district and state guidelines.

The State of Ohio requires students in a blended learning program to have some in-person connection to the district, whether its reporting to a school building to take tests, taking some classes in-person or participating in extracurricular activities.

Tucker Bacquet, the junior high and high school curriculum director, said he expects enrollment for the Lexington Learning Lab to return to pre-pandemic levels this fall. Admission to the learning lab program will be limited to secondary students with unique circumstances that prevent them from succeeding in a traditional classroom.

We want our students back in school as much as possible," Secrist said.

Multiple parents attended Wednesday's school board meeting to voice concerns about whether the district will continue practices like mask-wearing, contact tracing and quarantining next school year.

Secrist stated that all state health orders have been removed, but that Richland Public Health will still have jurisdiction over quarantine and isolation guidelines.

Board Vice President Keith Stoner said area schools haven't been informed of any health guidelines for next school year.

Were not hearing a lot from the health department right now," Stoner said. "Theres not a lot of discussion."

Secrist said district leaders will continue to emphasize that parents should keep students home if they don't feel well.

We will work with you if your kid is absent," he said.

The heightened cleaning regimens inside school facilities and buses will also continue.

Secrist said the district would continue to follow any state health orders, which led parents to ask where the district would "draw the line" in regards to health authorities' recommendations.

I dont think that decision can be made as we sit here today," he said. Its our intent to come back as 2019."

The district also approved a payment in lieu of taxes school compensation agreement with Charter Next Gen as part of the company's Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) agreement with the village of Lexington.

Under the agreement, Charter Next Gen will compensate the district for funds lost as a result of its proposed tax abatement from the village.

According to treasurer Jason Whitesel, the district will receive $62,982 in compensation every year for 15 year duration of the tax abatement.
SHELBY  At their June meeting, members of the Shelby Area Democratic Club cheered and applauded in celebration.

They celebrated the U.S. Supreme Courts recent 7-2 decision regarding the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The high court slapped down an attempt by Texass GOP attorney general and other Republican attorneys general to overturn the law.

The gathering was a hybrid meeting  held both in person and via Zoom. Many items of business were discussed and decided:

Members received an update about Board of Elections happenings and about HB294, the GOP proposed overhaul of Ohio election laws.

The club plans an entry in the Shelby Bicycle Days Parade on July 10.

Richland County Fair is from Aug. 8 to 14. The club will cover the booth on Wednesday.

The club will celebrate the 53rd anniversary of its founding with a potluck picnic on Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Girl Scout House.

The annual Truman-Kennedy Society Breakfast will be held in October.

Dr. Christina Collins, our member on the State Board of Education, will be the guest speaker at the July meeting.

August 4 is the filing deadline for village, township, and school board candidates.

The Shelby Area Democratic Club will next meet on Thursday, July 15.
FREDERICKTOWN  The Fredericktown Police Department on Wednesday released video footage of the officer-involved shooting that took place June 17.

The footage, which was obtained by Knox Pages through a public records request, was captured by Patrolman Josh Jones' body-worn camera. It shows the incident from start to finish.

Six seconds of audio was redacted, as it contained "information of a person who is not arrested, cited, charged, or issued a written warrant by a peace officer," Chief Kyle Johnson said. Ohio law allows this information to be redacted.

Click below to watch the video (Warning: This video includes content some viewers may find disturbing.)

The video begins with what appears to be a routine traffic stop, conducted by Jones on Upper Fredericktown-Amity Road, near the Armentrout Road intersection.

As Jones approaches the maroon Pontiac sedan parked midway up the hill, he sees a man pointing what appears to be a gun out of his driver's-side window. Jones appears to pivot, retreat, then fire several shots.

Seven shots appear to be fired during the exchange. It's unclear if the man in the maroon Pontiac unloaded any rounds.

After gunfire is exchanged, the red Pontiac speeds off up the hill. Jones gets back in his cruiser and follows.

"42! Shots fired!" a dispatcher can be heard saying on Jones' radio. "42," Jones confirms. "They're going at a high rate of speed towards Amity."

The traffic stop occurred at 2:46 p.m., according to Jones' body-worn camera. Over the next two minutes, he chases the maroon Pontiac north on Upper Fredericktown-Amity Road, eventually losing sight of it near the Richland County line.

Jones describes the vehicle and its passengers to dispatchers during the pursuit, and also says "I did get some shots off."

He aimed a .40 at me and I discharged," Jones said. "Im not sure if he got any rounds off.

Jones was asked multiple times during the pursuit about his status.

"I don't believe I'm hit," Jones told dispatchers, later adding, "I don't see any blood."

The pursuit reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, Jones told dispatchers. Other units from agencies across the area can be heard joining the pursuit via radio.

Jones continued to trace Knox County's backroads in search of the vehicle, but to no avail. He asked dispatchers to notify Fredericktown Mayor Jerry Day of the incident at 2:56 p.m., then officially terminated the pursuit.

Jones then traveled back to the scene of the shooting to receive medical care from the Fredericktown Community Joint Emergency Ambulance District.

The maroon Pontiac was found abandoned in Richland County at approximately 5 p.m., according to Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer. In the hours that followed, state and local agencies sought the public's assistance in locating the individuals who occupied the vehicle.

Public tips and private investigative tactics allowed police to identify the male in the vehicle as Darren L. Price, 38, of Howard, on Tuesday. The Knox County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for his arrest.

But neither Price nor the female allegedly riding in the passenger's seat had been apprehended as of Wednesday.

"Price should be considered armed and potentially dangerous. He may have altered his appearance after the incident," Shaffer said in a statement. "Anyone with information is asked to contact the dispatch center at 740-397-3333 ext. 1."

Jones was placed on administrative leave following the incident, per department policy. The incident remains under investigation by the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Fredericktown Police Department, and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Berea City Administrator David Gregory steps down from his position on July 31, 2021. Gregory served with city for nearly 23 years, having been a police officer, police chief, then city administrator, beginning in 2019.
State Auditor Beth Wood is going to appear on a local television show today after City Councilman Andre Knight early this week phoned the stat
Rutland, VT (05701)

Today

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Danvers, MA (01923)

Today

Periods of rain. High 59F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low 56F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Chatham County Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Dasher presents recently retired Chatham County Deputy County Manager Vicki McConnell with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, the highest civilian honor in North Carolina.
Fireworks at a previous Fourth of July celebration at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
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Scientists from Cornell University and the American Museum of Natural History have discovered 2,034 neighboring star systems - all within 326 light-years of Earth - that may locate us just by observing our pale blue dot crossing our sun.

Since the dawn of human civilization roughly 5,000 years ago, there have been 1,715 star systems that could have sighted Earth, with 319 more expected in the next 5,000 years.

According to researchers who published their findings in Nature, exoplanets orbiting these neighboring stars have a cosmic front-row seat to discover if Earth has life. Their study is titled "Past, Present and Future Stars That Can See Earth as a Transiting Exoplanet."

"Seventy percent of all known exoplanets have been found by transits so far," study lead author Lisa Kaltenegger, an astrophysicist and director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, told Space.com.

This finding prompted Kaltenegger to speculate about which stars might be able to observe Earth. Last year, she and her colleagues discovered over 1,000 neighboring stars where the faint blue dot of Earth may currently cross in front of the sun. Next, she began to ponder how Earth's viewpoint points may vary throughout time.

Astronomers Detect Star-Systems That Could Have Spotted Earth

The scientists used the European Space Agency's Gaia database to discover which neighboring stars might have seen Earth pass in front of the sun in the past or might do so in the future. The mission's observations include a map of the locations and motions of more than 331,000 stars within 325 light-years of the sun, which began in 2013 and is still ongoing.

"Our solar neighborhood is a dynamic place where stars enter and exit that perfect vantage point to see Earth transit the sun at a rapid pace," study co-author Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist and senior scientist at the American Museum of Natural History, said in a statement. "Gaia has provided us with a precise map of the Milky Way galaxy, allowing us to look backward and forward in time, and to see where stars had been located and where they are going."

The researchers discovered 1,715 stars that could have seen Earth transits since around 5,000 years ago when civilizations first emerged on the planet. Although 313 of them are no longer able to witness Earth pass in front of the sun, 1,402 can still. In the next 5,000 years, another 319 should enter this "Earth transit zone."

The scientists discovered that 75 of the 2,034 total stars studied during 10,000 years were within 100 light-years of Earth, close enough for human-made radio waves to have passed over the star since commercial radio stations on Earth began broadcasting almost a century ago.

ALSO READ: Is the Universe Infinite? Big Bang Theory Says Its Expanding, Speeding Up





Other Planets Also Found Within Goldilocks Zone

Other reports claim that rocky planets are not only widespread in the Milky Way. They are also frequently found in the habitable or "Goldilocks" zones, where a planet may keep liquid water on its surface. The researchers calculated that 29 of the 75 stars could have rocky worlds in their habitable zones based on previous studies.

Seven of the 2,034 stars are known to contain exoplanets that have had or will have the opportunity to detect the planet in the same way Earth's scientists have. K2-65, K2-155, and K2-240 are three of the seven exoplanetary systems that can currently observe Earth.

If life arose there as well, and if it did so at a similar technological level to ours, Kaltenegger believes that such insignificant observers could have detected or will spot life on our own globe.

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and other telescopes will search for exoplanets near the 2,034 stars found by the researchers in the future - hopefully many in the habitable zones. Once such planets are discovered, Kaltenegger's team will model them and. Assuming they have life, determine how much time the James Webb Space Telescope will require to find them, and apply for that time.

RELATED ARTICLE: New Planet Discovered? Scientists Find Water Clouds in Exoplanet With Earth-Like Temperature

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
Last week, award-winning baker and popular pop-up entrepreneur Ben Campbell announced that his Bens Bread will be putting down permanent roots in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood this fall, and hidden behind the announcement is more excitement for Phinney Ridge food lovers.

The upcoming bakery from Campbell and his wife, Megan, is set to open this fall at 7009 Greenwood Ave. N, and will serve the sourdough and focaccia breads that earned Campbell his stellar reputation. They plan to open 8 a.m.3 p.m., with breakfast sandwiches, doughnuts, and toasts in the morning, sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls at lunch time, and drinks including espresso, kombucha, and takeaway beer and wine. In the evenings, they hope to use the space for pop-ups, a supportive nod to the businesss own path. But looking further back on Bens Breads journey offers additional clues as to what brought Bens Bread to Greenwood, and why locals can hope for more spots of a similar style soon.

Campbell previously headed up the bread program for Sea Creatures, the group best known as Renee Ericksons restaurants. But Erickson co-owns the group with a few other people, including business manager Chad Dale  who happens to be not only the developer behind Bens Breads building, but also a future resident.

The property at the corner of Greenwood Avenue North and North 7th Street has been in the works for many years as the developers first had to do an environmental cleanup from when a dry-cleaning facility spilled chemicals decades ago, contaminating soil as deep as 30 feet. More recently, it was the site of an Oroweat Bakery Outlet. In 2018, Dale and his team won a drawn-out, extremely controversial battle to get the building permitted to 55 feet tall, rather than the 40 feet it was initially zoned for, giving the building his crowning touch  the top floor on which he plans to live.

Courtesy of Ben's Bread

As my wife and I returned again and again to conversation around how to align our personal values and priorities with in-city living, we wondered if we could bring to life a new vision for urban lifestyle, explains Dale. His family, along with a small group of others, designed the building for what he calls a shared roof model of multi-family living. The ground floor boasts about 5,000 square feet of retail space  of which Bens Bread will use 1,400  which open up into a courtyard. The second through fifth floors hold 35 family-sized apartments like the top floor ones Dale and his fellow developers plan to live in. Our aim was to create a space of thoughtfully curated spaces  maximizing the intersection of quality, aesthetic, cost, proximity, diversity, sustainability, community, inclusion, and long-term contribution.

The results of this buzzword soup goal remain to be seen, but for now it benefits the citys food lovers to have someone involved in the citys best restaurants with such a vested interest in what goes in downstairs. Dale calls the retail portion of the building an extension of their intentions, and says they are curating a very special group that complements each other and the community extremely well, with more announcements over the next few months.

Courtesy of Ben's Bread

Our retail partners are part of our community, connected to one another, and curated (a bit selfishly) in consideration of how we live and what we hope to contribute to the neighborhood, he says. Reading into the way Bens Bread is part of the extended Sea Creatures family tree might be torturing the metaphor, but it shows what the future might hold on Phinney Ridge: other former Erickson employees include Brandon Petit of Delancey, Michelle Magidow of Union Saloon, and Joe Sundberg and Rachel Johnson of Manolin/Old Salt.

But Sea Creatures restaurants themselves have long found success in shared spaces as with Walrus and the Carpenter and The Whale Wins, and with multi-unit complexes like the strip with Bateau, General Porpoise, and Boat Bar (formerly Bar Melusine). Even before looking elsewhere, Dale and Ericksons restaurants hold a deep slate of talent that could be ready for their own spot, like Taylor Thornhill and Justin Legaspi, the chef and sous chef at Bateau, respectively  after all, the restaurants Instagram hinted at a new project coming soon.
This weekend is shaping up to shatter records for heat in Western Washington with temperatures potentially in the triple digits. And instead of baking in the heat  likely in homes and apartments without air conditioning  many city dwellers are looking to the state's waterways to cool down.

If you do plan on taking a dip to escape the heat, remember that hot air doesn't mean the water will be warm. Many of the region's rivers and creeks are still dangerously cold from snow melt runoff, with some in the upper 30s to the mid-40s. Officials are urging boaters and swimmers to use caution and wear life jackets to avoid "cold water shock" that could lead to hypothermia and drowning.

"One of the best ways for boaters and paddlers to stay safe on the water during excessive heat is to wear a life jacket," said Rob Sendak, boating program manager for Washington State Parks, in a news release Wednesday.

With your water bottles and towels packed, keep reading for nine swimming holes and waterfalls near Seattle where you can take a dip and cool off.

Steven Pavlov

Whatcom Falls (1.5 hours north of Seattle)

Greet a humble stone bridge in Bellingham and embark upon a mossy 4-mile expanse of 20- to 25- foot cliff jumping, an eight-foot cascade, and visitors of all ages taking a dip in the deep pools of Whatcom Falls.

While the park provides multiple miles of traversing, the falls are just 100 yards from the parking area, which require no pass or entry fee.

GRANT HINDSLEY/SEATTLEPI.COM

Eagle Falls (1 hour east of Seattle)

Secluded with slabs of rocks for sun bathing, the falls are just a few steps from the side of Stevens Pass Highway in Snohomish County. The pools are known for attracting groups of swimmers, climbers, kayakers, and tube-floaters in high spirits, but take care in maneuvering through the rocks prior to reaching the pools.

Also remember to park legally: last summer, the Washington State Patrol announced it would tow cars illegally parked of Highway 2 as they can block access for emergency vehicles.

"If you are parking in no parking zones or over the fog line in the roadway you may return from the river one of these hot summer days to find your vehicle towed," WSP Trooper Heather Axtman stated.

U.S. Forest Service

Lewis River Falls (4 hours south of Seattle)

Lewis River Falls is a lengthier 8.8 miles roundtrip hike, but a nod-worthy deal amid a myriad of waterfalls, viewpoints, and swim options. Additionally, you climb less than 500 feet in the trek's entirety. Stroll alongside massive moss-cloaked cedars and firs, kaleidoscopic wildflowers, and carpets of vanilla-leaf or bursts of Gnome plants.

Along the way, you'll encounter the 43-foot Lower Lewis Falls, the 32-foot Middle Lewis Falls, and the 58-foot Upper Lewis Falls. It's tucked within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and requires a Northwest Forest Pass.

Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Fall City (30 minutes east of Seattle)

Looking for a more leisurely tubing experience? Fall City Floating offers reservations for floating along the Snoqualmie River and has officially opened for the summer season. Fall City Floating even provides a shuttle service and rental services to make floating on the river more safe, fun, and sustainable. If you already own a tube or would like to purchase from their selection of tubes, they can inflate it and transport you upstream.

If you are looking to rent, they also have river tubes and coolers. Their store is now online and items are ready for pickup when you arrive for your float  from tubes, to water shoes, to sunscreen.

gmc3101/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Green River Gorge (50 minutes southeast of Seattle)

Shed any preconceptions you might have about this infamous river, because it offers a multitude of secluded swimming spots and shaded picnicking area for those looking for an escape from the city. Some areas are loved by local anglers for fishing.

Plume Productions / 500px/Getty Images/500px Plus

Moulton Falls (3 hours south of Seattle)

Serene Moulton Falls is a four miles roundtrip hike with less than 100 feet of elevation gain, and no entry or parking fee. The falls stretch alongside the volcanic rock formations of the Clark County Scenic Drive.

After snapping a few Christmas card-worthy photos atop the arch bridge and taking a dip alongside copious amounts of rocks for jumping and sunbathing, treat yourself to a tasting at one of the many wineries nearby.

Patrick Treadway/Getty Images/500px Plus

Dougan Creek Falls (3 hours south of Seattle)

After taking a trip down Interstate 5, branch onto the scenic state Route 14 for another half hour. It's well worth the trek, as the Columbia River eventually leads you just left of Beacon Rock State Park and up to the famed Dougan Falls.

Popular for it's impressively clear water tumbling 19 feet into a deep pool of relaxing swim space, Dougan Falls offers a variety of shallow waters atop the falls, picnic tables, and parking nearby. Though the journey from Seattle is lengthy, the opportunity for sunbathing and ease of access far outweighs the travel time.

A Discover Pass is required, however, which can be purchased for $30 annually or $10 daily. The falls rest just a few minutes beyond the Dougan Creek Campground.

Ian O'malley / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

Rocky Brook Falls (2.5 hours west of Seattle)

Less than two and a half hours from Seattle within the Olympic mountains lies a 229-foot cascade into an often uncrowded swimming oasis: Rocky Brook Falls.

It's shallow and small, but far less traveled than many other popular swimming holes. A short hike and easily maneuvered, Rocky Brook is popular among locals and truly a hidden gem.

timnewman/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Cooper Lake Swimming Hole (2 hours east of Seattle)

This lake oasis sits approximately 15 minutes away from the sleepy town of Roslyn and offers plentiful space for swimming, picnicking and even rope swinging for the more daring. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking.
LHASA, China (AP)  The name Tibet conjures up images of snowy peaks, vermillion temples and prayer flags snapping in the Himalayan wind. Those features remain, but the religious and cultural foundations underpinning them appear to be coming unstuck.

Long defined by its Buddhist culture, the region is facing a push for assimilation and political orthodoxy under Chinas ruling Communist Party. Tibetans and other minorities are seeing the use of their languages downgraded in schools and old ways of living eroded for the promise of better quality of life through mobile phones, online shopping, higher education and improved health care.

Political conformity is enforced through relentless surveillance of peoples social interactions in actual life and online. Religious practices that once dominated the region have been excised from daily living and the aging Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet who has lived in exile since 1959, is portrayed as a figure of scorn, when hes even acknowledged at all.

Chinese tourists have flocked to Lhasa, the capital, and its environs, despite the high altitude that requires many to rely on canned oxygen. They mix with Tibetans making rare pilgrimages that include devotional laps around Jokhang Temple, the cathedral of Tibetan Buddhism.

A must-go spot for visitors is the stone-paved square at the base of the Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama and his predecessors that is now a museum. As tourists pose and college graduates use it as a backdrop for class photos, its inert status serves as a reminder of the political issues enveloping Tibet.

Over the centuries, Tibet evolved from a collection of kingdoms to something like a unified state that accepted suzerainty under successive Chinese imperial dynasties that ruled until 1912. Full Chinese control came after the Communist Party took power in 1949 and sent troops to overcome Tibets feeble defenses in 1951.

The government says it has brought development to a region long left behind. Critics say the exploitation of Tibets natural resources, environmental degradation and an influx of migrants from Chinas majority Han ethnic group cannot be sustained.

Lhasa has seen a burst of new construction, nomads have been settled in model villages and the militarys presence has been boosted to assert Chinas claim to territory held by India, with whom China last year came to blows over their disputed frontier on Tibets southern border.

On a rare government-led tour of Tibet, Associated Press journalists saw modernization of highways and a railway to the Chinese heartland, schools that teach in Chinese under portraits of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and signs of an emerging urban middle class including both Tibetans and Han Chinese.

Under myriad pressures, Tibets identity faces possibly the greatest threat in its history. Like the flapping prayer flags, its fate lies in the wind.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP)  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday it would conduct an extensive review of Enbridge Energy's plan to build an oil pipeline tunnel beneath a Great Lakes channel in Michigan, which could significantly delay the project.

The tunnel would house a replacement for a portion of Enbridge's Line 5 that crosses the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, a roughly 4-mile-long (6.4-kilometers-long) waterway connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has issued a permit for the $500 million tunnel, but approval from the Army Corps also is needed. The federal agency would consider potential effects on the straits and adjacent wetlands.

The Corps could have settled for a narrowly tailored examination of needs and purposes for the tunnel before making its ruling. But it opted for an environmental impact statement, which involves a more comprehensive study, including consideration of reasonable alternatives.

I have concluded that an EIS is the most appropriate level of review because of the potential for impacts significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, said Jaime A. Pinkham, acting assistant secretary of the Army for civil works.

Thousands of comments from the public and indigenous tribes justified the deeper investigation, Pinkham said, adding that navigation in the busy shipping channel also was also a consideration.

Enbridge had pledged to complete the tunnel by 2024 but is evaluating the timeline in view of the government's decision, which will hold up construction, spokesman Ryan Duffy said.

Placing a pipeline in a new Great Lakes tunnel will provide extra layers of safety and environmental protection and make what is currently a safe pipeline even safer, while creating Michigan jobs and securing the needed energy for consumers in Michigan and the region, Enbridge said.

The Canadian company, based in Calgary, Alberta, reached a deal in 2018 with former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder to construct the tunnel. It came amid pressure from area tribes, tourist businesses and environmental groups to shut down Line 5, which carries oil and natural gas liquids between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario.

Critics contend the underwater section  two parallel pipes laid in 1953  is vulnerable to a spill that could pollute hundreds of miles of waters and shorelines. Enbridge, backed by industry and labor groups, says it is in good condition and has never leaked.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Line 5's underwater pipes closed by mid-May, a deadline the company ignored. A lawsuit is pending in federal court. Canada, which has described continued operation of the pipeline as non-negotiable, is pushing the Biden administration to intervene.

The proposed tunnel is a separate regulatory matter. In addition to the Army Corps, Enbridge also awaits approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission.

We are encouraged to see that the Army Corps of Engineers heeded our call to undertake a more rigorous analysis" of the project, said Whitney Gravelle, chairwoman of the Bay Mills Indian Community. The tribe, which has treaty-guaranteed fishing rights in the straits, is very concerned that the pipeline threatens our way of life, she said.

Drilling through bedrock and soils beneath the straits would violate numerous environmental protection laws, said David Holtz of Oil and Water Don't Mix, an anti-Line 5 coalition.

It is difficult to imagine how Enbridges tunnel project can survive the kind of thorough, independent evaluation that is now possible with todays Army Corps decision, Holtz said.

Enbridge said it would continue working with the Corps on its review of company's application and towards a successful conclusion to this process.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Asian Americans, veterans and civilians in the U.S. and the Philippines are campaigning to name a Navy warship for a Filipino sailor who bravely rescued two crew members when their ship caught fire more than a century ago, earning him a prestigious and rare Medal of Honor.

Supporters say naming a ship for Telesforo Trinidad would honor not just the only Asian American in the U.S. Navy granted the nation's highest award for valor, but the tens of thousands of Filipinos and Americans of Filipino descent who have served in the U.S. Navy since 1901, when the Philippines was a United States territory.

I dont believe it's a long shot at all; it may be a long timeline, but were hoping its not," said retired Navy Capt. Ron Ravelo and chair of the campaign. We're going to be making Navy ships into the foreseeable future, and theres no reason one of those can't bear the name of Telesforo Trinidad.

Trinidad, who died in 1968 at age 77, was so eager to join the U.S. Navy that he stowed away on a lifeboat from his home island of Panay to the main island to enlist, said grandson Rene Trinidad. In 1915, while on patrol on the USS San Diego, he risked his life and suffered burns to rescue two crewmates when boilers exploded, killing nine. He received the medal that year, at a time when the honor could be awarded for noncombat valor.

Rene Trinidad, a real estate agent in Southern California, recalls his grandfather was a man of few words.

He let his actions speak for himself, he said, and I suppose thats why he did what he did.

The campaign has grassroots enthusiasm, and support from Democratic Congress members who sent a letter last month to Thomas Harker, acting secretary of the Navy.

Traditionally, different types of ships have different naming conventions, but there are exceptions, said Samuel J. Cox, retired rear admiral and director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, which suggests names and has previously submitted Trinidads for consideration. The secretary of the Navy has final authority and discretion to name and rename ships, he said.

Some memorialize states, U.S. cities, Navy heroes or distinguished Americans. The number of Navy ships receiving names varies widely by year but averages roughly to about eight, of which three or four are named for people, Cox said.

There simply are far too many heroes compared to the number of ships to be named, he said.

Norman Polmar, author and naval analyst, agrees.

And I hate to say this, Im getting a little pain when I say this: Increasingly it becomes political  what party youre in and whos in the White House, and occasionally the White House gets involved, Polmar said.

Former U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus drew controversy after naming naval ships for former U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords; the late gay civil rights leader Harvey Milk of San Francisco; and the late farmworker activist Cesar Chavez. The honoring of Giffords broke more modern traditions that the person be dead or old.

Critics also said there were plenty of heroic service members to choose from. Mabus said his picks also demonstrated heroism.

In January 2020, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly named a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier after Doris Dorie Miller, an African American enlisted sailor who received the Navy Cross for his actions during Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

The naming did not sit well with critics who say Miller deserves to have a ship named after him, but not an elite aircraft carrier bearing the names of presidents. There's also ongoing debate over ships named for the Civil War Confederacy.

Cecilia Gaerlan, Trinidad campaign board member, said they would like a Navy surface combatant, such as a destroyer or frigate, named for the fireman second class. The naming would be a symbol of the Navy's commitment to "diversity, equality and inclusion during this time of national racial tensions and unwarranted violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs of California, in a May letter to Harker signed by 10 others.

There are other Navy vessels named for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, including the USS Daniel Inouye, a destroyer. The former U.S. senator received the Medal of Honor as part of the celebrated 442nd Infantry Regiment, made up of Americans of Japanese descent whose families were incarcerated in camps during World War II.

There was a U.S. Navy a ship named for a Filipino person, but Gaerlan says the USS Rizal, a destroyer in service from 1919 to 1931, was donated by the Philippine Legislature and honors Jose Rizal, a national hero who never served in the military.

More than two dozen Asian and Pacific Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor since its creation during the Civil War, mostly in the U.S. Army, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. There are roughly 3,500 recipients.

Telesforo Trinidad, born in 1890, enlisted in 1910 in the Insular Force established by then-President William McKinley and served in both world wars. More than 250,000 Filipino soldiers served in World War II, and thousands died during the brutal 1942 Bataan Death March in the Philippines.

Rene Trinidad, 65, said it goes against his cultural upbringing to call attention to his grandfather's heroism, but his late father wanted the recognition for his father, who overcame hardship, merited a medal and worked hard to provide for his family. Two sons followed him into the U.S. Navy.

The bottom line is that Filipinos be recognized for their contribution to the United States, and that every Filipino should be proud of that as well, he said.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  An Australian judge on Thursday dismissed a womans appeal against extradition to Chile, where she is wanted on kidnapping charges dating to Augusto Pinochets military dictatorship in the 1970s.

Adriana Rivas had appealed a magistrates decision in October that she could be extradited on allegations that she kidnapped seven people in 1976 and 1977, including Communist Party leader Victor Diaz and party member Reinalda Pereira, who was five months pregnant.

Rivas was an assistant to Manuel Contreras, the head of the DINA secret police during Pinochets dictatorship. Rivas, 68, denies ever meeting the alleged victims, who have never been found.

Federal Court Justice Wendy Abraham in Sydney ruled that Rivas could be extradited on the seven charges of aggravated kidnap and ordered her to pay the Chilean governments court costs. She can appeal the judgment before a full bench of the Federal Court.

Abraham said there was no substance to Rivas submission that the lower court had engaged in a rubber stamping exercise in approving her extradition.

Rivas faces potential maximum penalties of a life sentence on each of five charges, and 20 years on each of the remaining two counts.

Her lawyers argued Rivas was not a DINA agent and her work was mundane. Her tasks included collecting laundry, making coffee and translating, they said.

They also contended the alleged victims were detained following arrests, not kidnapped, and that those actions were carried out by the state, not by an individual.

Abraham said she did not have to determine Rivas guilt or innocence in deciding whether she could be extradited.

Rivas lawyers had argued the magistrate was mistaken in finding that Rivas ought to have known the detentions were unlawful and would lead to torture and murder.

They also argued the magistrate should not have accepted the recharacterization of events from the 1970s that ignored the historical background.

Chilean-born lawyer Adriana Navarro, a Sydney-based advocate for Pinochets victims, said victims families welcomed the court ruling.

Theyre elated, very emotional. Many of them had a lot of trouble sleeping last night wondering what will happen, so for them it is extremely important, Navarro told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Its the second time Rivas has been told your arguments dont have merits, she added.

Navarro said several of Rivas accomplices had already been convicted and sentenced in Chile.

Rivas moved to Australia in 1978 and was detained in Chile during a visit to see family in 2006. She was released after some months on probation and fled to Australia in 2009.

She lived quietly in Sydneys wealthy eastern suburbs, working as a part-time nanny and cleaner until her arrest in February 2019 on a Chilean Supreme Court extradition order.

Several court attempts for provisional release during the extradition hearing have failed. Australia and Chile have had an extradition treaty since 1993.

In 2014, Rivas told Australias Special Broadcasting Service that she was innocent of the charges, but defended the use of torture in Chile at the time as necessary.

They had to break the people  it has happened all over the world, not only in Chile, she said.
CALEXICO, Calif. (AP)  The chief of the U.S. Border Patrol was forced out of his job Wednesday, after less than two years in a position that lies in the crosshairs of polarizing political debate.

Rodney Scott wrote to agents that he will be reassigned, saying he will continue working hard to support you over the next several weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

Scott told top agency officials during a call to discuss budgets and other issues that he had 60 days to decide whether to be reassigned or retire, according to an official with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was not intended for public release.

He said he was undecided. Raul Ortiz, Scott's deputy, will serve as interim chief, Scott told officials on the call.

Scott, a career official, was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020 and enthusiastically embraced then-President Donald Trump's policies, particularly on building a U.S.-Mexico border wall. President Joe Biden has canceled wall construction, one of his predecessor's top priorities.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Border Patrol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Scott hasn't responded to a text or phone message.

It isn't the first time a Border Patrol chief has left with a change in presidential administration. Trump ousted Mark Morgan, a former FBI agent and the first outsider to lead the agency in its 97-year history, during his first week in office. It came less than a year after Morgan took the job during the Obama administration.

After his ouster, Morgan became a familiar face on cable television, fiercely defending Trump's border policies and getting back in the president's good graces before Trump brought him back to the administration. As acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Morgan appointed Scott to lead the Border Patrol.

The head of the Border Patrol leads an agency of nearly 20,000 agents, is appointed by the CBP commissioner and not subject to Senate confirmation. In April, Biden nominated Chris Magnus, the police chief of Tucson, Arizona, to lead the Border Patrol's parent agency.

Scott, who spent much of his career in San Diego, became an agent in 1992 when San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona, where thousands have died in the heat.

San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scotts belief that barriers work.

It wasnt, Do it in San Diego and stop, he told The Associated Press in a 2019 interview. It was, 'Lets prove what works and then lets copy it on the southwest border so we can improve security for the whole United States.

When Scott was named San Diego sector chief in 2017, he devoted most of his remarks at a change-of-command ceremony to how the area evolved from the early 1990s. He shared the same story, in abbreviated form, with Trump on live television when the president toured border wall prototypes four months later. Trump often cited San Diego as a model of what he hoped to achieve along the border.

Scott refused to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like illegal alien in favor of descriptions like migrant."

His relatively short tenure as chief was largely dominated by COVID-19 and a pandemic-related ban on seeking asylum that was introduced in March 2020 and remains in place.

U.S. authorities recorded more than 180,000 encounters on the Mexican border in May, the most since March 2000. But the numbers were boosted by the ban, which has encouraged repeat attempts to cross because getting caught carries no legal consequences.

Biden has exempted unaccompanied children, allowing them to pursue humanitarian protection in U.S. immigration courts. Nearly 19,000 unaccompanied children were picked up along the border in March, by far the highest month on record. April was second highest and May was third highest.
St. Louis (AP)  She screamed and cried, banged on the dashboard, begging her husband to drive faster, faster, faster toward her brother lying face-down on his bedroom floor.

Craig Elazer had struggled all his life with anxiety so bad his whole body would shake. But because he was Black, he was seen as unruly, she said, not as a person who needed help. Elazer, 56, started taking drugs to numb his nerves before he was old enough to drive a car.

Now his sister, Michelle Branch, was speeding toward his apartment in an impoverished, predominantly Black neighborhood in north St. Louis. His family had dreaded the day he would die of an overdose for so long that his mother had already paid for his funeral in monthly installments.

It was September, and as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified Americas addiction crisis in nearly every corner of the country, many Black neighborhoods like this one suffered most acutely. The portrait of the nations opioid epidemic has long been painted as a rural white affliction, but the demographics have been shifting for years as deaths surged among Black Americans. The pandemic hastened the trend by further flooding the streets with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, in communities with scant resources to deal with addiction.

In the city of St. Louis, deaths among Black people increased last year at three times the rate of whites, skyrocketing more than 33% in a year.

Dr. Kanika Turner, a local physician leading efforts to contain the crisis, describes the soaring death rate as a civil rights issue as pressing as any other. The communities being hit hardest are those that were devastated by the war on drugs that demonized Black drug users and hollowed out neighborhoods by sending Black men to prison instead of treatment, she said.

Last year, George Floyd died in Minneapolis under a police officers knee. He had fentanyl in his system and some of the officers defenders tried to blame the drugs for his death. The world exploded in rage.

That incident on top of the pandemic rocked the boat and shook all of us. It ripped the Band-Aid off a wound that has always been there, said Turner. Were undoing history of damage, history of trauma, history of racism.

Harsh sentencing laws passed in the 1980s were far more brutal on crack cocaine users, who were more likely to be Black, than they were for powder cocaine users, who were more likely to be white.

Many who work with Black drug users say that addiction was not widely accepted as a public health crisis  with a focus on treatment instead of incarceration  until the current opioid epidemic began in the late 1990s when addiction to prescription opioids took root in struggling, predominately-white communities.

When white people started dying and people on TV talked about how they needed to be saved from this public health tragedy, Branch wondered where theyd been when her brother was swirling into addiction.

She cant count the number of times her brother tried to get sober.

Even today, Black people are more likely to be in jail for drug crimes and less likely to access treatment.

White people are far more likely than Black patients to receive the medicine buprenorphine, which has been found to greatly reduce the risk of overdose death. Black people instead tend to be steered toward methadone, distributed in highly regulated programs that often require standing in line daily before dawn.

Over the last several years, the drug supply has grown so unpredictable that people overdosing have multiple drugs in their system: dangerous cocktails of fentanyl, a depressant, and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.

Deaths began surging among Black Americans. The pandemic intensified that trend by further flooding the streets with fentanyl.

Other cities saw a similar pattern.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 92,000 Americans died of overdose in the 12-month span ending in November, the highest number ever recorded. That CDC data is not broken down by race.

But researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, analyzed emergency medical calls nationwide and found an overall increase of 42% in overdose deaths in 2020. The largest increase was for Black people, with a spike of more than 50%.

Craig Elazers family had dreaded his death for decades.

He was a bright child: By third grade, he could read as well as a sixth grader.

But he was anxious and jittery. Had he been treated, Branch believes he would be alive.

But they didnt catch hyperactivity or bipolar back then, especially not in little Black kids. We were just unruly, undisciplined, this much removed from being an animal, Branch said.

He started drinking when he was 12, and progressed to drugs.

Their mother got sick with pancreatic cancer, but she lingered for years. Her family believed she was holding on out of fear of what would happen to her son.

She died still worried about him.

He was in and out of jail, mostly for petty offenses. Several years ago, an acquaintance alleged he sexually assaulted her while using drugs and alcohol. His lawyer told them the odds were against him as a Black man accused of assaulting a white woman, Branch said. He pleaded guilty and spent three years in prison.

He was released in May 2020, as the pandemic bore down.

He couldnt find a job. There were no recovery meetings in-person. He was alone most of the time.

One night they couldnt reach him. His cousin looked through the mail slot and saw him lying there.

Branch sped toward his apartment, and was hysterical by the time she arrived.

They tried to convince her not to go inside, but she wanted to see him.

As Branch looked down at his body, she felt calm come over her.

Society failed him, she said. And I had a sense that hed finally been set free.
CAMP HILL, Ala. (AP)  Caring for abused and neglected girls is Candice Gulleys life work, and that's what she was doing when she helped load vans from an Alabama childrens home for a trip to the beach. The kids walked on the sand, ate seafood and threw an early, dinosaur-themed fourth birthday party for her son, Ben, during a week on the coast.

With Gulley behind the wheel of a van headed back to the home as Tropical Storm Claudette blew through the South, the trip ended in a cataclysmic crash. The van was caught in a chain-reaction wreck on a rain-slick interstate that involved 17 vehicles, seven of which caught fire  some reduced to twisted, burned-out hulks. Two of Gulley's own children and two nephews were among the 10 dead.

The lone survivor in her van, Gulley was recovering from her physical injuries Tuesday, which would have been Bens birthday. One relative made an appeal on social media for people to pray for Gulley; another posted a video of the little boy as a tribute.

Gulley said last month that she had a tough childhood which left her clinging to God after her father's suicide when she was just 8, but the added emotional trauma of the crash is hard to fathom.

Social work is a notoriously tough job, but Gulley relished the challenge at the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch, a Christian-based group home where she and her husband, Tommy, began working and living a decade ago after years in youth ministry in Mobile, their hometown.

They are like my second parents, former ranch resident Therese Meshall Crawford said Wednesday of the couple, who were her house parents a decade ago. The best way to explain Candice and Tommy is they are the most open-hearted people ever. Candice, she will do anything for you."

Crawford, 26, said she knew the Gulley's two children who were killed in the crash for much of their lives.

It broke my heart. I cried for hours. I still cry, " Crawford, now a mother herself and an aspiring nurse.

Gulley has a God-given ability to relate to children in a positive way, said Jerry Ferguson, a pastor who worked with the ranches for 30 years and hired the Gulleys as house parents.

She was genuine. She had the ability to relate to children at their level, that was very important," Ferguson said

Often known as mom and pop to the girls, the couple would play games with their charges, take them on trips and horse rides, all while pushing them to excel in school and showing unconditional love and support, he recalled. For some of the girls, he said, it was the first taste of a supportive family life.

"Lots of our kids were in situations where the people who were supposed to love them the most did the most harm to them, Ferguson said.

In a Facebook live interview in May, Gulley described both her own life and the ranch, which she said is different from other foster care operations.

"Really, I think what sets us apart is its a family. Kids come and they go, but once they set roots down at the ranch, were your family, Gulley said. In a way, the beach trip was like a family vacation: girls from troubled homes who often come to consider one another sisters traveling with stand-in parents.

The wreck killed Gulleys 16-year-old daughter, Isabella, and 3-year-old Ben. Her two nephews, 12-year-old Josiah Dunnavant and 8-year-old Nicholas Dunnavant, who lived near Mobile, also were killed.

"They were just all sweet loving children, Candice Gulley's aunt, Desiree Bishop, told FOX10.

Its a high price to pay. It just comes in waves of grief, just waves of grief, she said.

Authorities havent said what caused the wreck, which also killed four ranch residents whove not been publicly identified, as well as Cody Fox of Tennessee and his 9-month-old daughter, Ariana. But witnesses said the road was wet because of Claudette, and authorities said vehicles may have hydroplaned.

Someone pulled Gulley out of the wreckage on Interstate 65, but no one else in the van could be saved. She was hospitalized afterward.

Gulley, who has five children including a daughter adopted from the ranch, took over as director in 2019 after her predecessor departed for another position. Shed previously worked as a house parent, serving as a fill-in mom and mentor to girls who arrived at the home because of abandonment, abuse or neglect.

Sometimes families are too broke to care for a child; other times a girl must be removed from her home because of drug abuse by parents, said Michael Smith, chief executive of Alabama Youth Homes. But Gulley is there for them all, helping teach the importance of well-done chores and finished schoolwork while sharing her own steadying faith in God.

As director, she oversees ranch management, staff and helps with fundraising.

We create an environment that has structure, that has stability, she said in the Facebook interview.

After missing out on events including annual beach trips because of the pandemic, the girls and ranch workers looked forward to the break at the coast, Smith said. They all packed into two vans and loaded a trailer with suitcases for the trip to Gulf Shores, where Smith said he met the group for lunch four days before the crash.

They get to pick the place they want to go out eat, he said. We had a really good time. The girls had a ball.

The crash sent shockwaves through Camp Hill and Reeltown, the rural communities closest to the home located on a two-lane road about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northeast of Montgomery.

Terrie Webster, who works at a store near the ranch, said a woman she knows who works as a house parent at the home would have been on the van if not for a late change of plans. Webster said she can't begin to understand the pain caused by the wreck.

Its awful. I cant even imagine, Webster said.

Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, who worked with Gulley over her nearly 11 years at the ranch, said Gulley always worries about her girls and their accomplishments are her proudest moments.

Words cant express what she is going through, he said. Knowing Candice like I do, she is worried about the girls and the ranch, too.

___

Chandler reported from Montgomery, Alabama.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP)  The president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said Wednesday that Nicaragua had entered a new phase of repression with at least 20 opposition figures arrested in recent weeks and constant human rights violations.

Antonia Urrejola told members of the Organization of American States Permanent Council that the crackdown appeared to be part of a government strategy to snuff out internal dissidence ahead of the Nov. 7 elections, in which President Daniel Ortega will seek a fourth consecutive term.

An extended de facto state of exception in Nicaragua has intensified the closure of democratic spaces, she said.

In the past month, the regional human rights body has received 27 requests for protective measures for people persecuted or threatened in Nicaragua, virtually the same number as in all of 2020.

Urrejola said many of the recent arrests involved the use of force and raids of homes without judicial orders. Some people were taken to secret hearings without legal representation. Authorities refuse to tell relatives where they are being held or the state of their health.

Ortegas government has maintained that massive street protests sparked by a change to the social security system in April 2018, were an attempted coup that received foreign backing.

At least 328 people were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded as the government put down those protests in the following months, according to the commission.

Many of those arrested in recent weeks face allegations of crimes against the state, often involving receiving funding from overseas.

Nicaraguas representative at the OAS, Ricardo Alvarado, described the commissions report as fallacious and bad intentioned. It charged that the commission was used as the tip of the spear by the United States against Nicaragua.

Alvarado accused the U.S. and other countries of interfering in Nicaraguas upcoming elections. He called Ortegas opponents terrorist groups, mercenaries and traitors directed and financed by the (U.S.) government.

Late Wednesday, in a televised speech Ortega railed against U.S. interference and said those arrested were not targeted because they were presidential hopefuls, but rather because they were allegedly plotting to overthrow his government as he claimed they tried in April 2018.

It was the first time Ortega had spoken of the latest wave of arrests.

The president said investigators had identified a network of people and organizations that had conspired to organize the massive street protests of April 2018 and the protests over the governments slow response to a massive wildfire in a nature reserve earlier that year.

Ortega said Nicaragua had survived far more difficult moments than this one. There will be no step back, only forward.
NEW YORK (AP)  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union that represents 1.4 million workers, is setting its sights on Amazon.

On Thursday, it will vote on whether to make organizing Amazon workers its main priority. The Teamsters accuse the nations second-largest private employer of exploiting employees by paying them low wages, pushing them to work at fast speeds and offering no job security.

There is no clearer example of how America is failing the working class than Amazon, says the resolution that will be voted on by representatives from 500 Teamsters local unions Thursday.

The resolution is expected to be approved and would allow the Teamsters to fully fund and support" efforts to unionize Amazon workers and create a division to aid them and protect the standards in our industries from the existential threat that is Amazon. It declined to say how much money it will spend on the efforts.

Any attempt to unionize Amazon is likely to be an uphill battle. None has been successful in the companys 26-year history, including the most recent one at an Alabama warehouse where workers overwhelmingly voted against joining a union.

But the Teamsters said it will try a different strategy. Randy Korgan, the Teamsters National Director for Amazon, wrote in Salon earlier this month that unionizing one facility at a time doesnt work because companies like Amazon have the money and legal resources to squash those efforts from the inside. Instead, Korgan wrote that organizing Amazon workers will take shop-floor militancy, such as strikes in warehouses and in city streets.

Amazon didnt respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

The online shopping behemoth had pushed hard against unionizing efforts at the warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. Amazon argued that it paid workers at least $15 an hour and already offered the benefits unions want. It hung anti-union signs throughout the warehouse, including inside bathroom stalls, and held mandatory meetings to convince workers why the union is a bad idea, according to one worker who testified at a Senate hearing.

When the votes were counted in April, nearly 71% of the more than 2,500 valid votes counted rejected a union.

The organizing in Bessemer was led by the New York-based Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 100,000 workers at poultry plants; cereal and soda bottling facilities; and retailers such as Macys and H&M.

The Teamsters is much larger. The union has been around since the early 1900s when goods were delivered by horse-drawn wagons. It now represents 1.4 million truckers, UPS employees and other types of workers, including nurses and warehouse mechanics.

Theyre a strong, successful union, said Alex Colvin, the dean of Cornell Universitys School of Industrial and Labor Relations, who added the Amazon workers reflect the type of members it already represents. Theyre a formidable adversary for Amazon to face."

The Teamsters is targeting workers in Amazon's fast-growing delivery network, such as drivers and warehouse workers who pack and ship orders. In the past couple of years, Seattle-based Amazon has been working to deliver most of its packages itself and rely less on UPS, the U.S. Postal Service and other carriers.

It has built several package-sorting hubs at airports, opened warehouses closer to where shoppers live and launched a program that lets contractors start businesses delivering packages in vans stamped with the Amazon logo. In January, it bought 11 jets that it plans to use to deliver orders to shoppers faster.

The Teamsters said in its resolution that Amazon's delivery network has become a dominate force in the logistics industry in a short amount of time and the way it treats workers could threaten the working standards it has set at UPS and at other parcel, freight and delivery companies.

_____

Follow Joseph Pisani on Twitter: @ josephpisani

___

This story has been updated to clarify that not all 1.4 million Teamsters members are delivery workers.
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The family of one of the two victims killed by a motorist in a San Francisco crosswalk on New Years Eve is preparing to sue the city for wrongful death.

A law firm representing Hanako Abes parents filed a preliminary claim preceding an expected lawsuit on Wednesday.

They intend to argue that the citys criminal justice system  particularly the San Francisco District Attorneys Office  failed their daughter when it did not keep the man accused of killing Abe and Elizabeth Platt behind bars for prior offenses.

Troy McAlister, the man accused of killing Abe and Platt after speeding through a red light in a stolen car, has pleaded not guilty to an array of charges, including vehicular manslaughter and remains jailed, according to city records.

Abes parents also intend to argue District Attorney Chesa Boudin created a conflict of interest in the case, since he briefly represented McAlister in 2015, while Boudin was a deputy public defender.

Rachel Marshall, a spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office, said that Boudin was never assigned to McAlisters case, but that he once briefly appeared in court solely to request a new hearing date on behalf of a colleague in the public defenders office who was assigned to McAlisters case.

John Cote, a spokesperson for the San Francisco City Attorneys Office, said that the city was reviewing the claim and will respond to it within the required timeframe.

McAlister, 45, had been on parole for nine months at the time of the deadly crash, and had been arrested for various crimes during that time, including for possessing stolen property, methamphetamine and burglary tools, on suspicion of auto burglary and for violating the terms of parole, records show.

Before that, McAlister was arrested in July 2015 on suspicion of robbing a San Francisco store with a gun, court documents show. In a sworn deposition in that case, McAlister said he had three prior felony convictions, including one for robbery and another for attempted carjacking.

On the afternoon of New Years Eve, officials contend McAlister was speeding down Mission Street in a stolen gray Honda when he ran a red light and struck and killed Abe, 27, and Elizabeth Platt, 60, who were both walking on Second and Mission streets. Prosecutors believe McAlister had methamphetamine and alcohol in his system and was armed with a pistol at the time of the deadly collision, and claim he attempted to flee the scene on foot.

Boudin said that, prior to the deadly crash, his office referred each of McAlisters previous arrest cases to state parole agents, who can seek to imprison those who violate the terms of their release, rather than charging McAlister with new crimes itself. He said he believed this way, there was a greater likelihood of him being held accountable and having the kind of intervention that would protect the public and break this cycle of recidivism.

He later acknowledged that clearly, it was a mistake to think parole supervision would be adequate.

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which runs parole, pointed back to prosecutors repeated decision not to file charges.

The Abe familys claim seeks to reconcile this kind of miscommunication between law enforcment agencies, which they said contributed to McAlisters release, according to a press release. The family claims that after McAlister was arrested again in December, a missed email between the DAs office and the police department regarding McAlisters parole led to McAlister being released despite the arrest and parole violation.

Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Twitter: @DanielleEchev Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com
The new and much-anticipated national monument in Santa Cruz County, Cotoni-Coast Dairies, will open to the public as soon as next summer, according to a plan released Wednesday by the federal Bureau of Land Management.

The long-awaited debut of the sprawling coastal hills and redwood forests is the culmination of a decades-long effort to turn what was once private ranching, logging and mining land into a high-profile public destination and preserve.

The Bureau of Land Managements plan for the nearly 6,000-acre monument calls for two entrance points along Highway 1 that welcome hikers, bikers and horseback riders to 27 miles of new trails. Construction of the primitive visitor facilities is expected to begin this fall with a portion completed by next summer.

The opening of this monument is more important now than it has ever been, said Sara Barth, executive director of the conservation group Sempervirens Fund, one of the organizations that has been advocating for the national monument. Theres a huge demand for recreation, and Covid has showed us that. Places like this are hugely important. Its time.

Cotoni-Coast Dairies, whose name reflects both its agricultural legacy and the native Ohlone group that lived on the land, was acquired by the Bureau of Land Management in 2014. The San Francisco-based Trust for Public Land gave the property to the federal government after securing it amid a controversial push to develop luxury housing on the site.

In January 2017, President Barack Obama designated the site a national monument, making it part of the larger California Coastal National Monument. The classification generally brings greater environmental protections and status to the area. The Bureau of Land Management has since been working on a plan for operating the property, which has remained off-limits to the public.

Among the concerns of county residents, highlighted when a draft of the management plan was circulated last year, was whether the rural area could accommodate the crowds the national monument might draw.

The management plan responds, calling for regularly maintained restrooms and garbage cans at the sites main parking areas, one near Davenport and one south of Bonny Doon Road, as well as a full-time ranger patrolling the monument.

As the property opens to the public, I anticipate well be spending a lot more time there from a law enforcement perspective, Ben Blom, Central Coast Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management, told The Chronicle.

Another concern was hunting. At the direction of the California Coastal Commission, the Bureau of Land Management will hold off on allowing hunting until after the monument has opened and federal managers have more time to decide how to proceed.

Currently, the agency is considering restricting hunting to archery and allowing it no more than five weekends each year. One weekend would be for hunting deer, an animal native to the area, and the other weekends would be for hunting nonnative animals such as wild boar and turkeys.

Under the management plan, which also allows livestock grazing, about half of the monument would be prioritized for wilderness. Plans for restoring natural areas, which have been disturbed by mining and logging, are already in the works, Blom said, as is fire prevention work.

Operations will be paid for from a mix of federal funding, conservation groups and possible parking fees.

I feel like weve struck a good balance between providing opportunity for recreational activities while protecting the natural resources, Blom said.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
Famed film director Francis Ford Coppolas eponymous Sonoma winery is set to be acquired by Napa wine giant Delicato Family Wines, the two wineries announced Thursday.

The deal, which is still pending approval from the Federal Trade Commission, involves the directors two Sonoma County facilities, namely the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and the Virginia Dare Winery. Both are located in Geyserville.

Coppolas historic Inglenook winery in Rutherford and Domaine de Broglie Winery, outside of Portland, Oregon, are not part of the deal.

The acquisition is intended to strengthen the companies position in mass market wine. If approved, the deal will make Delicato the third largest exporter of California wines and the fifth largest supplier of wines in the above $11 category.

Both Coppolas winery and Delicato declined to provide any additional information beyond the acquisition announcement until the FTC approval comes through. Financial details of the deal currently remain under wraps but Coppola will join Delicatos board of directors and have an equity stake in that company.

Courtesy of Delicato Family Wines

Its not yet clear how the deal will impact Coppolas Sonoma wineries and whether business will continue as usual. Thursdays announcement by the wineries states that two companies are still ironing out those details.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Delicato, based in Napa, is known for being one of Californias biggest producers of wine, with common grocery store finds such as the boxed wine Bota. Started in 1924 by Italian immigrant Gaspare Indelicato, the winery business is still run by the Indelicato family. Coppola meanwhile acquired the Sonoma County property in 2006 and debuted the new winery there in 2010.

Tanay Warerkar is the San Francisco Chronicles assistant food and wine editor. Email: tanay.warerkar@sfchronicle.com
San Franciscos employee unions snapped back against an order that city workers receive a coronavirus vaccination on penalty of firing, calling for a more collaborative approach, while an advocacy group warned that Black workers could be disciplined more often than others under the mandate.

The Service Employees International Union Local 1021, which represents 20,000 San Francisco employees, called the policy a threatening mandate Thursday. SEIU and other unions said the city would have to negotiate it with unions rather than imposing it unilaterally.

The responses came a day after city officials announced that all 35,000 city employees would need to be vaccinated once the Food and Drug Administration fully approves a vaccine. The city said medical and religious exemptions would be allowed, but that employees who refused vaccinations without obtaining an exemption would be subject to discipline including firing.

Any such change in work rules is subject to collective bargaining, said the unions and the advocacy group Black Employees Alliance and Coalition Against Anti-Blackness, which called the citys policy insensitive to Black workers.

Mawuli Tugbenyoh, chief of policy for the citys Department of Human Resources, which announced the mandate, agreed Thursday that unions have the right to work out any of their concerns through negotiations.

Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton sounded a sympathetic note to the concerns of the Black employees group, which was founded in 2018 after dozens of Black city workers testified about on-the-job discrimination at a city hearing. Walton said requiring the vaccines under threat of firing does seem harsh.

Three COVID-19 vaccines are being administered in the U.S. under emergency authorization, and full FDA approval for at least one is expected within a few months. Under the policy San Francisco officials announced Wednesday, city employees would have 10 weeks after a vaccine is approved to get their shots. Starting Monday, employees would have 30 days to report to the city their current vaccination status, including showing proof of vaccination.

San Francisco would be the first city or county in California, and possibly the U.S., to mandate COVID vaccinations for all government employees.

On Wednesday, Carol Isen, San Franciscos director of human resources, said the policy was a decision for the health and safety of our employees and was necessary to protect the city as an employer from unacceptable risk.

In an email to Mayor London Breed and the supervisors, the Black employees advocacy group said, There is something quite disturbing about a government entity requiring employees to undergo medical procedures that would force them to either take the vaccination, release private medical information to be exempted from receiving the vaccine, or be fired from their jobs.

Co-founder Dante King, director of workforce equity strategies and programs at the citys Department of Public Health, said the policy must be bargained with labor unions.

Whenever the city wants to change work conditions, all of the unions have to agree to it, King said.

An umbrella group representing 28 construction unions said it had concerns about the policy.

Rather than focus on punishment, we should approach essential public workers with the same education and outreach as we do the public, while being sensitive to those who have reservations, said Rudy Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council.

He suggested that the states model of encouraging, rather than requiring, vaccination is a more positive and forward-thinking approach (that) should be applied to the heroes that got us through this crisis.

Shon Buford, president of the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798, told The Chronicle that while we question the need to threaten discipline or termination, especially as the city approaches herd immunity, were consulting with our employment lawyers and working with our labor partners to make sure that any mandate is implemented in a fair manner.

SEIU Local 1021 said in a statement that vaccines protect lives. ... However, we do not support a threatening mandate. The union added that the new policy overlooks the cultural, religious and health factors that have deterred certain workers from getting the vaccine.

The Black Employees Alliance and Coalition Against Anti-Blackness said it had received a barrage of concerns from Black and other nonwhite employees about the compulsory vaccination policy. It said the policy was harsh, insensitive, and is anticipated to have disproportionate impacts to the citys Black employees.

The group cited two events in history that it said contributed to the reluctance of many Black people and families to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

One, known as the Tuskegee study, took place from 1932 to 1972 as researchers funded by the U.S. Public Health Service withheld treatment from Black men with syphilis.

The group also cited decades of compulsory sterilizations of disadvantaged or disabled Black people in the U.S., which the University of Michigan reports continued into the 21st century and affected more than 60,000 people in 32 states.

Walton, the board president, told The Chronicle he sympathizes with the critics.

I am in contact with medical professionals to understand if the policy is supported by data around health impacts, Walton said. My non-medical opinion is that it does seem harsh.

A spokesperson for Breed referred questions to Tugbenyoh, who said, We know the vaccine is safe and effective, and were focusing on outreach with all of our employees to make sure they have all the information they need about it.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
San Francisco will require all 35,000 city employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus once a vaccine receives full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, city officials said Wednesday.

The new policy makes San Francisco the first city or county in California  and probably the U.S.  to mandate COVID vaccinations for all government employees.

San Francisco previously announced that it will require employees to be vaccinated in high-risk settings, including hospitals, nursing homes and jails, regardless of whether they work for the city. The new policy will mandate vaccinations for all city employees, from police and firefighters to Muni operators and City Hall clerks and custodians. It does not cover teachers, who are school district employees.

City workers who refuse to be vaccinated and dont get a medical or religious exemption could be fired.

Employees will have 10 weeks after a vaccine is approved by the FDA to get their shots. The three vaccines used in the United States currently are under emergency authorization by the FDA, but they are expected to be fully approved within a few months.

Starting Monday, employees will have 30 days to report to the city their current vaccination status, including showing proof of vaccination. As of Wednesday, about 55% of city employees have said they are at least partially vaccinated, according to the Department of Human Resources. About 5% of employees have said they are not vaccinated. The vaccination status of the remaining 40% is not known.

Its really a decision for the health and safety of our employees and our public that we serve, said Carol Isen, San Francisco director of human resources. Its about protecting the city as an employer from what we deem to be unacceptable risk.

Employees will report their vaccination status through the citys payroll system, Isen said. They must provide proof by uploading a photo of their vaccination card or the QR code generated by the states digital verification system.

Mawuli Tugbenyoh, chief of policy for the Department of Human Resources, said that repercussions (for refusing vaccination) go all the way up to termination. But were focused on the education and outreach part of it now.

San Francisco has among the highest vaccination rates in the state, with about 80% of residents 12 and older who are eligible for vaccines having received at least one dose. But about 60% of city employees live elsewhere in the Bay Area, where vaccination rates may be lower, Tugbenyoh said.

The city is the second-largest employer in San Francisco after UCSF. Although San Francisco appears to be the first city or county in the U.S. to mandate vaccinations for its employees, institutions like hospitals, universities and nursing homes have announced similar policies. Most, like San Francisco, are requiring vaccination only after the vaccines are formally approved.

A health care system in Texas caused an uproar among its staff in April when it required all workers to be vaccinated ahead of FDA approval. This week, about 150 staff members were fired or quit after refusing to be vaccinated.

Tugbenyoh said he was aware of the fallout in Texas and expected some San Francisco employees to have reservations about a mandate.

But were saying only after the FDA approves it, he said.

He noted that San Francisco would allow exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

Officials with several San Francisco city workers unions said Wednesday that they had only just heard of the vaccine mandate and did not yet have a comment. But Tracy McCray, vice president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said that we appreciate that the citys mandate goes into effect after full FDA approval and that they have provided the appropriate medical and religious exemptions for those city employees who need them.

Isen said she hoped to work with unions to encourage employees to get vaccinated ahead of the mandate.

We want to do everything we can to help our employees get over whatever hurdles, physical or emotional or psychological, that theyre having to getting vaccinated, she said.

Vaccine mandates are important for protecting public health, especially for people who work in high-risk settings, said Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York Universitys Grossman School of Medicine. For example, flu vaccine mandates are common among health care workers and nursing home staffers, even those who dont work directly with residents.

Mandates may also be key for keeping critical workforces  like police and firefighters  healthy and intact. In some parts of the country, vaccine uptake has been notably low among emergency workers. That puts the people they come into contact with at risk and could be devastating if an outbreak meant many workers were too sick to do their jobs, Caplan said.

Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said protecting the workforce was especially important with the highly infectious delta variant gaining traction across the United States. Although hes pleased that 80% of San Francisco residents are at least partially vaccinated, the fact is there are still thousands who are not vaccinated, he said.

Given that the delta variant is here and likely to increase in terms of its prevalence across the city, we need to do everything we can to protect our city workforce and the public we serve, especially as the city reopens, Colfax said. The last thing we want to do is have to slow or curtail city services because of an increase in cases.

Once the FDA approves the vaccines, Caplan said, Youre going to see more hospitals, nursing homes, home care programs move to mandate. Followed pretty quickly by the military, then some private employers and people with big overseas sales forces. And then maybe some local governments.

But I dont think county or city governments are going to be first in line, even if San Francisco was the first to do it, he added.

Colfax said he hoped that other cities or counties would join San Francisco.

Its not the first time in the pandemic that (San Francisco) has continued to push ahead, push things forward, he said. We think from the broader public health lens that this is absolutely important and the right thing to do.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
San Francisco will require all city workers to be vaccinated, or risk getting fired. Cases of the highly infectious delta coronavirous variant are rising fast in California, more than tripling in one Bay Area county in the past month. And San Franciscans struggling to pay rent will get another six-month reprieve after officials extended a city eviction moratorium that mirrors the states protections. The Biden administration on Thursday extended the federal eviction ban until July 31.

Resources on COVID-19 and Californias reopening: For detailed maps and new city-by-city Bay Area data, check out The Chronicles Coronavirus Tracker. See a visual guide to what will and wont change here. To get regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter.

Latest updates:

Biden stumps for vaccination: President Biden said Thursday that eventually the U.S. may give 1 billion doses of COVID vaccine to countries that need it. Hes announced half that amount will ship out this year or next. During a visit to Raleigh, N.C., he said its important to let the world know when it comes down to lifesaving initiatives ... if they come from us, we should share them with the world. Biden also called on Americans to reach out personally to others to ensure they get vaccinated, as his administration steels itself to miss his goal of getting 70% of adults at least one dose by July 4. He uurged people to do everything in our power to walk that extra mile, to knock on that door, to pick up the phone, and give friends and neighbors rides to vaccination sites.

More than 603,000 Americans now dead of COVID: The nations COVID-19 death toll on Thursday crossed the 603,000 mark, the worlds most fatalities, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University. As of early afternoon, 603,068 Americans had lost their lives to the persistent killer, even as new infections wane with more people getting vaccinated. In California 63,124 people have died, and the Bay Area has lost 6,273 lives.

Opioid deaths during pandemic hit Black neighborhoods hardest: As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified Americas opioid addiction crisis across the country, many Black neighborhoods suffered most acutely, the Associated Press reports. The opioid epidemic has long been painted as a rural white affliction, but the demographics have been shifting for years as deaths surged among Black Americans. The pandemic further flooded the streets with fentanyl in communities with scant resources to deal with addiction. UCLA researchers analyzed emergency medical calls nationwide and found an overall increase of 42% in overdose deaths in 2020. For Black people, the spike was more than 50%.

S.F. schools discussing possible employee vax mandate: San Francisco schools could require teachers and other staff to get COVID shots, following the citys lead in mandating that its 35,000 government workers are eventually vaccinated. District officials confirmed to The Chronicle on Thursday that they are discussing the possibility of requiring all 9,700 staff members  including administrators  to get the shots.

Israel to reinstate indoor mask rule next week amid spike in cases: Despite Israels successful vaccination effort, an indoor mask mandate will be reinstated next week over concerns about spread of the highly contagious coronavirus delta variant, coronavirus czar Nachman Ash announced Thursday. Government data show 169 new cases recorded Thursday, the highest daily tally in months, the Times of Israel reported. With 54% of people fully vaccinated, Israel ranks fourth globally for vaccination progress. I call on the public to consider whether traveling abroad is essential, Ash said, adding, This is not the right time to fly with children who are not vaccinated. Israel was set to reopen its borders to vaccinated visitors on July 1, but the government has now postponed that plan.

Advocacy group attacks new S.F. vax mandate as unfair to non-white employees: An advocacy organization said it has received a barrage of concerns from Black and non-white San Francisco employees following Thursdays disturbing announcement that all city workers will have to undergo COVID vaccination or face firing. The Black Employees Alliance and Coalition Against Anti-Blackness wrote to the mayor and Board of Supervisors that, given historical examples including the Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male, Eugenics and the compulsory sterilizations of Black females and males through the 1960, 70s, and 80s, etc., you can understand that many Black people and families are against, and do not want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The new mandate is quite harsh, insensitive, and is anticipated to have disproportionate impacts to the Citys Black employees, the group wrote. It predicted some Black employees will be non-compliant due to their personal and religious beliefs (understanding there are exceptions for religion), and potentially be subjected to a higher rate of discipline. Read more here.

Fauci, Jill Biden campaign for vax uptake in Florida: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert, joined first lady Jill Biden in Florida on Thursday in a bid to boost coronavirus vaccination rates there. They visited a vaccination clinic in Kissimmee before heading to an event in Tampa where people could get their shots on the ice at Amalie Arena. In Florida, about 64% of adults have gotten at least one shot, the Orlando Sentinel reports. week of April 9, more than 1.3 million doses were administered statewide, but thats dropped to about 373,000 shots the week of June 11.

Nearly all COVID deaths in US are now among unvaccinated: An Associated Press analysis of government data from May shows that breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Thats about 0.1%. And only about 150 vaccinated people were among the more than than 18,000 COVID-19 deaths in May  about five deaths per day on average. Daily deaths  now down to under 300, from a peak of more than 3,400 in mid-January  could be near zero if everyone eligible got the shots, the report indicates. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said this week that nearly every death, especially among adults, due to COVID-19, is, at this point, entirely preventable by vaccination.

WHO said to anticipate annual boosters for the vulnerable: The World Health Organization predicts annual COVID-19 booster shots will be needed for those most vulnerable to the coronavirus, like the elderly and immunocompromised, according to documents obtained by Reuters. The documents suggest that booster shots may be needed for the general population every two years as new variants of the virus emerge.

Man tests positive for nearly a year: A 72-year-old British man who tested positive for coronavirus for 305 days straight is thought to be the worlds longest ever COVID patient, news accounts say. Dave Smith, from Bristol, said he had been ready to give up on life, but recently celebrated his COVID negative test with champagne. He told The Guardian: Whenever I went bad, I went really bad  down to deaths door. My wife started to arrange a funeral five times. He joked, I called all the family in to make my peace with them. I wish Id kept my mouth shut now.

Loss of smell returns within a year for most COVID patients: Anosmia, or loss of the sense of smell, has been a tell-tale sign of coronavirus infection. A study of patients in France with COVID-19related anosmia finds that most cases resolve within a year. Out of 97 people assessed, 45% recovered their sense of smell in four months and 96% at 12 months, according to the study published Thursday by JAMA Network. Persistent COVID-19related anosmia has an excellent prognosis with nearly complete recovery at 1 year, the researchers write.

NYC to spend $30 million to lure tourists back: New York City is bent on letting tourists  a key economic driver for the city  know that the Big Apple is back and open for business. Armed with $30 million in federal aid, the citys tourism promotion agency is developing an aggressive campaign to overcome New Yorks image as the original epicenter of the U.S. pandemic, and plead for visitors to rush back, the New York Times reports. They hope to lure 10 million visitors between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The biggest foreign sources of visitors, including China and Brazil, still are mostly barring trips to the U.S.

San Jose night clinic offers shots: Working all day shouldnt deter people from getting their COVID shots, at least in Santa Clara County. The county announced a night clinic on Thursday 7 p.m.-11 p.m. at San Pedro Square Market in San Jose for drop ins. Details are at http://sccFreeVax.org.

Rare statement from Japans emperor with concern over Olympics: Japanese Emperor Naruhito is concerned the Olympics in Tokyo could cause a coronavirus spike, the head of the Imperial Household Agency said Thursday. His majesty is very worried about the current infection situation of the COVID-19 disease, Yasuhiko Nishimura told a press conference, Kyodo News reports. I suppose that he is concerned that while there are voices of anxiety among the public, the event may lead to the expansion of infections. It is rare for the 61-year-old emperor to comment on controversial topics. His words will not likely change plans for the Games. A Kyodo News survey shows about 86% of residents concerned about the risk of another COVID surge.

S.F. tallies vax success: In San Francisco, 81% of eligible residents now have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine, and nearly 72% are fully vaccinated, city data shows. Among those 65 and older, 91% have received at least one shot. The citys 7-day average number of new coronavirus cases was 10 as of June 15. Hospitalization numbers in the past month have been the lowest since the pandemic began, city officials said.

Mass vax sites in S.F. to close with shift in focus: Mass vaccination sites at City College of San Francisco and Moscone Center will close on Saturday and July 14, respectively, the city announced Thursday. Other neighborhood and mobile sites, clinics and pharmacies will continue to provide shots in a pattern better fitting needs in the highly vaccinated city. Mass vaccination sites were an important part of the distribution network, as vaccines initially rolled out, said Mayor London Breed, but the city now is focusing on getting to residents who are harder to reach or may have challenges getting to one of our many vaccination sites.

Teens pot and drinking patterns held steady during pandemic: Marijuana use and binge drinking among teens didnt change much during the pandemic, despite record decreases in the substances perceived availability, a University of Michigan survey of U.S. 12th graders found. The findings, released Thursday in Drug and Alcohol Dependence online, challenge the idea that limiting supply can curtail teen usage. With teens at home full time during the pandemic, said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse which funded the study, It is striking that ... usage rates held steady for these substances. This indicates that teens were able to obtain them despite barriers caused by the pandemic and despite not being of age to legally purchase them.

Deta variant comprises half of new infections in some states: The delta variant is now accounting for more than 20% of new coronavirus variants in the United States and half of new infections in the regions that include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The highly transmissable variant is vulnerable to vaccines, however, which is intensifying calls by health officials at all levels for everyone to get vaccinated.

U.S. sending 3 million vax doses to Brazil: The United States was sending 3 million doses of Johnson & Johnsons COVID vaccine to Brazil on Thursday as part of President Bidens promise of 80 million doses for hard-hit nations by the end of the month, a White House official said, according to the New York Times. The country is fighting a renewed virus surge, its death toll second only to that in the U.S.. Less than a third of the countrys population has had at least one shot.

Biden team extends ban on evicting tenants: The Biden administration has extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help tenants who are unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic. The administration said Thursday, however, that this extension, until July 31, is the last. The moratorisum had been scheduled to end June 30. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the eviction bans were always intended to be temporary.

Brazil passes 500,000 deaths: Brazil has recorded more than 500,000 deaths from COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Across the world, only the United States has recorded more COVID-19 deaths, which are now nearing 603,000.

COVID cluster in Sydney prompts travel ban: An outbreak of 49 new COVID-19 cases in Sydney, Australia, prompted officials to issue a travel ban and a return to compulsory mask-wearing, The New York Times reported. The outbreak reportedly began after an unvaccinated Sydney airport limo driver tested positive for the delta variant.

S.F. will require all city workers to be vaccinated: San Francisco will require all 35,000 city employees be vaccinated against the coronavirus once a vaccine receives full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, city officials said Wednesday. Read the full story here.

High-profile S.F. parent advocate abandons public schools over sons pandemic learning loss: San Francisco mom Naomi Laguana has spent the better part of 11 years dedicated to the citys public schools. Laguana was all in when it came to supporting the school district. Now, she is out. After her son fell behind during distance learning, and his school appeared to have no specific plan to address learning loss in the fall, she and her husband decided to make the move to private school. Read the full story here.

FDA poised to add vaccine heart warnings for young people: Federal health regulators anticipate adding warnings for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in light of reports of heart inflammation in a small number of adolescents and young adults after vaccination. Read the full story here.
San Francisco schools could require teachers and other staff to get a coronavirus vaccine, following the citys lead in mandating that its 35,000 government workers be eventually vaccinated.

District officials confirmed to The Chronicle on Thursday that they are discussing the possibility of requiring all 9,700 staff members  including administrators  to get the shots.

San Francisco announced Wednesday that it wont require the shots for its workers until a vaccine gets full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The three vaccines used in the United States now are under emergency authorization by the FDA but are expected to be fully approved within a few months.

The citys policy, the first of its kind in the state and possibly the country, could result in the firing of workers who refuse to be vaccinated and dont get a medical or religious exemption.

I support the citys position to require vaccinations for all adult workers given that city employees are often public facing, said Dr. Monica Gandhi, a UCSF infectious disease expert. Requiring vaccination will allow us to continue to approach herd immunity to keep even the unvaccinated (children who dont qualify for the vaccine yet) safe.

San Francisco Unified does not currently require vaccinations of any kind for workers. State law requires day care workers to be annually vaccinated against the flu, unless they sign a declaration declining one. So far, 3,800 SFUSD staff members have confirmed they are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The teachers union did not immediately return requests for comment.

Presumably, once the vaccines are fully approved by the FDA, the legal argument would no longer apply.

In San Francisco, as of Monday, workers will have 30 days to report to the city their current vaccination status, including showing proof of vaccination.

So far, just over half of city employees have said they are at least partially vaccinated, according to the Department of Human Resources. About 5% of employees have said they are not vaccinated. The vaccination status of the remaining 40% is not known.

Staff writer Erin Allday contributed to this story.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
The Sonoma City Council voted unanimously Monday to curb water usage starting next month, escalating water-saving measures amid punishing drought conditions in the Bay Area only expected to worsen in the coming summer months.

The council declared an official water shortage and authorized a 20% reduction in water usage compared to what the city used last year.

Our region is facing the second consecutive year of drought, said Sonomas public works director, Colleen Ferguson, at a recent city council meeting. I think weve all heard statewide, and especially in our county, how dire the water situation is this year.

Starting in July, Sonoma residents and businesses are barred from using city water for a range of uses, including:

 Filling or refilling swimming pools, except for necessary maintenance of pool pumps and filtration.

 Ornamental fountains

 Washing personal vehicles with a hose that doesnt have a shutoff nozzle.

 Fire hydrant water for anything other than fighting fires

 Use of water for dust control at construction sites

 Irrigation from 6 am to 8 pm

Its city staffs intent to urge voluntary compliance as much as possible, Ferguson added. While there are enforcement mechanisms available in the city code, we do want to do friendly reminders.

The mandatory restrictions are a step up from voluntary recommendations the council made on June 7.

On June 14, Californias Water Resources Control Board ordered the Sonoma County Water Agency, which supplies water to eight cities including Sonoma, to reduce the amount of water it diverts to customers from the Russian River by 20%.

About 90% of Sonomas water comes from the Sonoma County Water Agency, Ferguson said at the councils meeting on Monday.

We are essentially pumping 20% less water from the Russian River to our customers, including the city of Sonoma, said Brad Sherwood, a spokesperson for the Sonoma County Water Agency.

Conservation efforts ultimately help preserve water levels in Lake Sonoma, the countys primary reservoir, he added.

Saving water at home and our business, thats whats going to get us out and through this drought, Sherwood said. We must have conservation and theres just no water to waste. Were encouraged that conservation measures are being adopted throughout the county.

Omar Shaikh Rashad is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: omar.rashad@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @omarsrashad
University of California Regents, facing criticism for contracts with religious hospitals that refuse to provide abortions, sterilizations or transgender surgery, adopted a new policy Wednesday that retains the contracts but requires the hospitals to let UC physicians perform those procedures when patients cant be transferred safely to another hospital.

The university is fighting legislation by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, that would require it to end contracts with religious health facilities  like Dignity Health, Californias largest hospital chain  unless the hospitals changed their policies or did not apply them to UC physicians and students working there.

Wednesdays regents vote moves in that direction, though it does not require termination of any of the contracts the university says it has with 77 hospitals and other health facilities in California. UC officials say the contracts allow its medical staff to provide care for 35,000 patients, many of them low-income Californians with little access to hospital treatment.

We should have greater ability to serve more patients, but in a way that is in compliance with the policy we adopt today. Were against discrimination, said regents Chair John Perez, author of the resolution the board approved by a 22-0 vote.

The action allows new contracts only with health care providers that offer their services to all patients, without discrimination, Perez said. It would not require the hospitals own staff to perform all medical procedures, but would allow UC personnel at the facilities to do so. And if a patient needed a procedure, such as a hysterectomy or delivery of an ectopic pregnancy, and could not be safely transferred, UC staff would be allowed to perform it at the hospital.

The university would also have to terminate existing contracts with hospitals that do not comply with the policy by the end of 2023, Perez said.

UC President Michael Drake, who initially proposed less-extensive changes to the current contracts, endorsed Perezs amendments. So did Wiener.

It has the potential to significantly expand access to reproductive and gender-affirming care and to ensure UC physicians can exercise their own professional judgment in providing care, the senator said in a statement after the vote.

Dignity Health, formerly known as Catholic Healthcare West, owns hospitals that include St. Marys Medical Center and St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco and Sequoia in Redwood City. UC San Francisco, which has contracts with all three hospitals, dropped plans to expand the contract to cover more facilities and medical services in 2019 after protests from UC physicians and hospital staff members.

During public comments that preceded Wednesdays vote, Dignitys chief executive officer, Lloyd Dean, said the hospital chain and the university have been saving lives with their 20-year partnership.

Dignity Health services everyone, no matter who they are, including lesbian, gay and transgender patients, Dean told the regents. We have learned from UC and UC has learned from us.

But the board also heard from Evan Minton, a transgender man who had been scheduled for a hysterectomy in 2016 at Dignity Health-affiliated Mercy San Juan Medical Center. After learning Minton was transgender, the hospital refused to perform the procedure. State courts ruled that the refusal was illegal health discrimination, and Dignity has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Being so devastated, I collapsed to the ground, Minton, 35, told the regents. Dignity Health is arguing right now in the U.S. Supreme Court that it has the constitutional right to discriminate against me and other transgender people.

Another speaker, identified only as Hannah, said she was diagnosed with a reproductive disorder four years ago, as a UCLA student, and was taken to a Dignity Health-affiliated Catholic hospital, which refused to perform surgery.

I almost died, she said.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle
Wednesdays certification of Californias second attempt to recall a governor finally makes the dreary choice facing voters official. We can endorse the status quo in the form of an overly financed, endlessly triangulating, vaguely annoying establishment Democrat. Or we can mistake our forgivable lack of enthusiasm for doing so as justifying the incalculable risk of handing power to an untested reactionary supported by an electoral minority.

Sound familiar?

Granted, the parallels between the 2021 gubernatorial recall and the 2016 presidential election are not precise. Californias governor, albeit a powerful executive running an eighth of the country, wields nothing near the potentially ruinous power of the presidency. And unlike pre-presidency Donald Trump, at least two of Gov. Gavin Newsoms would-be replacements have held public office  though that works out to less than 2% of them if the field turns out to be as unwieldy as it was in 2003.

But the recall does spring from the same reckless impulses that drove too many Americans to vote for Trump  or not vote for his opponent.

Like Hillary Clinton, Newsom hasnt earned our votes so much as the alternative hasnt. The governors own campaign acknowledges as much by focusing on the fringy characters who populate the recall effort, abandoning all pretense that many of us are eager to cast an extra ballot for him.

Clinton made the infamous mistake of (accurately) characterizing some of her opponents supporters as a basket of deplorables. Because a California recall is about as difficult to enter as a role-playing game, a good portion of our own wacky wicker receptacle isnt just going to cast ballots but also appear on them.

Sure, Newsoms potential successors include a former mayor and a onetime House member. But another prominent candidate is riding a bus around the state with a bear. Yet another is threatening to fly around it with Sean Hannity. A recall could elect whichever of these characters secures a scant plurality of the Californians willing to spend an evening with a mail-in ballot instead of going to a bar for the first time in 15 months.

Even for a politician, Newsom suffers from a remarkable compulsion to play all sides and leave everyone peeved. He undermined his relative success controlling the spread of the coronavirus by changing his own reopening rules so often he apparently lost track of how many lobbyists he was allowed to dine with. He set a preposterously ambitious housing production goal but failed to show any such energy for legislation that might do something about it. Instead of taking ownership of bureaucratic and policy disasters such as the state unemployment agency, he deployed a plethora of strike forces to distance himself from them.

All that and more deserve serious consideration at the normally appointed time, which is next years general election. But barring dramatic revelations as to the governors gross unfitness compared with his opposition, theres no reasonable case for revoking the year or so remaining in Newsoms regular term just to replace him with another standard-issue pol at best or an ignorant dilettante at worst.

Newsom is only the fourth governor in American history to face a recall election. He isnt, however, one of the four worst to run a state any more than hes one of the four best. He is, like most of us, just OK. And under the circumstances, voters would do better to be OK with that. Insisting that our leaders be heroes or villains is a recipe for perpetual disappointment and disorder, especially when doing a difficult job with a semblance of competence has become rare.

Of course we should ask that our leaders live up to high standards. But when they fall short, as most politicians and people will, we shouldnt get so carried away with punishing them as to take revenge on ourselves by electing someone off the TV or the street.

As a political manifesto, keeping California so-so doesnt possess the inscrutable power of making America great. Many voters will resent having to dutifully check the box to reaffirm our election of a governor were not particularly excited about. Thats fine as long as enough of us do it anyway.

Josh Gohlke is The Chronicles deputy opinion editor.
San Franciscos homelessness department is pushing to continue an expensive tent encampment program that it says is crucial for keeping people off the sidewalks, despite its high price tag of more than $60,000 per tent, per year.

The city has six so-called safe sleeping villages, where homeless people sleep in tents and also receive three meals a day, around-the-clock security, bathrooms and showers. The city created these sites during the pandemic to quickly get people off crowded sidewalks and into a place where they can socially distance and access basic services.

The program currently costs $18.2 million for about 260 tents. Unlike the citys homeless hotel program, the tent villages are not eligible for federal reimbursement. Some of the sites have been run by nonprofits Urban Alchemy, Dolores Street Community Services and Larkin Street Youth Services.

The department is now asking the city for $15 million in the upcoming fiscal year for a similar number of tents, which amounts to about $57,000 per tent per year. If the funding is approved, San Francisco will pay about twice the median cost of a one-bedroom apartment for people to sleep in tents for the second year in a row.

The department plans to close some sites this year, but said it will look for new ones to replace them. Officials said they plan to significantly ramp down the program in fiscal year 2022-2023, when it expects to need $5 million to fund the program.

Several supervisors said at a Wednesday budget hearing that the cost must be re-examined, especially as the city winds down its COVID-19 emergency response.

It is a big deal to have showers and bathrooms, and I dont dispute that, Supervisor Hillary Ronen said at Wednesdays Budget and Finance Appropriations Committee meeting. But the cost just doesnt make any sense.

Gigi Whitley, the homeless departments deputy director of administration and finance, said the bulk of the costs at the sites come from the 24-hour security, three meals a day, and the rented shower and bathroom facilities.

Whitley said she hopes the department can control costs as it takes over the program from the citys COVID-19 Command Center.

The tent program is entirely paid for through Proposition C, a 2018 business tax measure that collects money for homeless services. The cost accounts for only a fraction of the more-than $1 billion that the city expects to spend on homelessness over the next two years, mostly due to Prop. C.

Still, Supervisor Ahsha Safai said it seemed like an exorbitant amount for a program that would be phased out as the COVID-19 emergency comes to an end.

The discussion comes as the city prepares to wind down its homeless hotel program, which is currently sheltering about 2,000 people. While the homeless department has promised that every hotel resident will be offered a housing placement, the city is still grappling with a tight housing market and limited shelter options for the thousands on its streets.

Shireen McSpadden, director of the department, said group shelters are still not allowed to operate at full capacity, despite Breed lifting all other COVID-19 restrictions on June 15.

The department said it is still reviewing federal shelter health guidelines and waiting on state public health guidance to finalize the local shelter reopening plan and timeline. The capacity reductions are significant: For example, there are currently only 91 guests allowed at the 200-bed Navigation Center on the Embarcadero, the department said.

Because of the shelter limitations and the upcoming closure of some hotels, McSpadden said she feels strongly that the city should maintain the tent program at its current level.

We need it as just another tool in our toolkit as we bring people out of the hotels, she said.

The boards Budget and Finance Committee will decide whether to approve the proposal next week, before the entire budget moves to the full board for a vote. Then it will return to the mayor for her approval at the end of the summer.

Supervisor Matt Haney, chair of the committee, was also critical of the programs cost Wednesday. He said the committee will decide next week whether it wants to reduce the money given to the tent sites and instead direct the funds to other, more cost-effective investments to get people off the streets.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
When the Supreme Court issued its historic June 2020 ruling banning job discrimination based on either sexual orientation or gender identity, the author, Justice Neil Gorsuch, cautioned that the court was not considering arguments that hiring an LGBTQ worker would violate an employers religious beliefs.

Those arguments may arrive soon. And some commentators think they will find sympathetic ears on a court that has issued a series of decisions in the past year exempting religiously affiliated institutions from rules governing secular bodies.

For example, the court ruled in a California case in July that religious schools were not bound by civil rights laws in hiring and firing teachers. In another California case this February, the court struck down Gov. Gavin Newsoms ban on indoor worship services during the coronavirus pandemic, which were similar to restrictions covering other large indoor gatherings.

And last week the justices ruled unanimously that Philadelphia had violated religious freedom by denying foster-family funding to a Catholic agency that does not place children with same-sex couples. The decision was narrow, based on the citys own rules to exempt foster-placement agencies from its equal-treatment standards, but three justices said the court should go further and exempt religious institutions from all such requirements that violate their beliefs.

The ruling in Fulton vs. Philadelphia shows that this court is interested in finding ways to liberate religious entities, including employers, from the need to abide by antidiscrimination provisions protecting LGBTQ people, said Cary Franklin, faculty director of UCLA Law Schools Williams Institute, which focuses on gay and transgender issues. There are more Fultons to come in various spheres.

The recent rulings indicate a majority of the justices would exempt religious employers, and those with religious beliefs, from any law that protects lesbian, gay or transgender employees from discrimination, said Steven Green, a law professor and director of the Center for Religion, Law and Democracy at Willamette University in Salem, Ore. He said Gorsuch gave that signal in the closing passage of last years employment ruling.

Erin Schaff/Getty Images

While declaring for a 6-3 majority that the ban on sex discrimination, under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, protects LGBT employees and job applicants, the conservative justice said the 1964 law could be overridden by a super-statute, the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. That law, known as RFRA, prohibits the government from substantially burdening someones exercise of religion, Gorsuch noted, unless it was the only way to protect a compelling governmental interest.

How these doctrines protecting religious liberty interact with Title VII are questions for future cases, Gorsuch said.

In other words, Green said, Gorsuch was assuring fellow conservatives who consider LGBTQ protections a violation of religious freedom, Ive got your back, when a better case comes forward.

One who anticipates such a case is John Bursch, a lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious conservative nonprofit. There is no need for the court to search for a religious exemption to employment discrimination laws, Bursch said, because the federal government already created one with RFRA.

Religious liberty protection can coexist with members of the LGBTQ community, Bursch said. He said he knows of no employer who is unwilling to hire someone because of his or her sexual orientation, but there are some who would refuse to recognize an employees same-sex marriage or grant marital benefits.

The court would rule in the employers favor, Bursch predicted, just as it did in the 2014 Hobby Lobby case that allowed corporate employers to deny birth control coverage to female employees because of religious objections.

RFRA applies only to federal laws, so a ruling that relied on that law to overturn protections for LGBTQ employees would not affect those employees rights under laws in California and other states. But both state and federal discrimination laws would be set aside if the court found gay rights protections violated an employers constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.

There is no such case yet on the docket for the courts 2021-22 term, which begins in October. Not all commentators expect one.

I think the justices understand that most Americans have accepted the idea that LGBTQ people have rights and they should be protected by law, said Joel Paul, a constitutional law professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco. He said the court has gradually increased religious institutions exemptions from civil rights laws, as in the cases on teachers at religious schools, but its hard for a private employer to argue that theres a religious obligation to discriminate.

Paul noted that the ruling in the Philadelphia foster-care case had been written narrowly, applying only to the city and its programs, and had drawn an indignant response from Justices Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who wanted the court to go much further. He said Chief Justice John Roberts, author of the ruling, was clearly trying to create some consensus on the court and moderation on the court in order to protect the courts legitimacy.

The three justices want the court to overrule its 1990 decision in Employment Division vs. Smith, which said neutrally written laws that apply equally to people of all faiths do not violate freedom of religion. That ruling was written by one of the courts most conservative members, the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and upheld Oregons refusal to allow unemployment benefits to American Indians who were fired for their religious use of peyote.

In response, Congress passed RFRA with nearly unanimous support three years later, allowing people to challenge laws that interfered with their religious practices and did not serve a vital government interest. Recalling the laws history  its lead sponsor was Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.  attorney Jennifer Pizer of the gay rights nonprofit Lambda Legal winced at Gorsuchs description of the 1993 law as a super-statute that might override LGBTQ legal protections.

Its true, Pizer said, that a majority of the Supreme Court appears to embrace the idea that conservative Christians are under attack in this country. But she said some of those justices may not be ready to abandon past precedents, noting that Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, both appointees of former President Donald Trump, had signed a separate opinion in Fulton advising against writing a judicial blank check to claimants of religious discrimination.

I dont know if the court will roll back protections for LGBT employees and job applicants, Pizer said, but were doing our best to raise a red flag.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
A San Jose man was told to cover up a Filipino pride tattoo by security at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Father's Day.

Mark Devera has tattoos on each of his biceps that together read "Pinoy Pride"  a sentiment common among many Filipino American men. He told KPIX that he was kicked out of the boardwalk, where he was spending Father's Day with his son, by a security guard for his tattoos, which the guard allegedly said were "gang-related."

Its an expression of me being proud to be Pinoy, a Filipino gentleman, he told the TV station. Im proud of my country, you know, Im proud of who I am.

In footage shared by KPIX, two security guards are seen in front of Devera, who's off-camera.

"This gentlemen was telling me to get out of the park basically because I have tattoos," he said in the clip.

Devera said that a manager later permitted him to stay in the boardwalk, but he was told to cover up the tattoos  despite other people at the park having tattoos, he said. He added that his son cried following the confrontation.

I felt embarrassed, he told KPIX. Im being harassed here and violated. I felt like Ive been stripped of my First Amendment [rights]."

A representative for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk denied security telling him to leave the premises, but they did admit to requiring him to cover up his tattoos since they "may cause negative or aggressive reactions from some guests"  despite the tattoos being an expression of pride for the Philippines.

"We did engage him in a dialogue and asked him to cover his tattoo out of an abundance of caution," spokesperson Kris Reyes told SFGATE. "After a lengthy discussion he agreed and remained at the park."

Reyes did not confirm whether security guards believed the tattoos to be gang-related but said that an "internal investigation and discussion" is underway following this incident.
A massive ship carrying a new, giant crane to the Port of Oakland made narrow passages under the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge this morning and is heading for the Ben E. Nutter Terminal.

The Zhen Hua 26 from China is 764 feet long, just a tad shorter than San Francisco's iconic Transamerica Pyramid. The crane stands more than 300 feet tall on the ship, and the crew made preparations to allow the crane to fit under the bridges on its final leg from China.

The ship passed under the Golden Gate Bridge just before 6 a.m. with more than 10 feet of clearance and then headed under the Bay Bridge with a mere 5 to 10 feet of clearance.

Anyone who saw it pass under one of the bridges witnessed a dramatic sight.

It is just awe-inspiring to watch our local tug crews, pilots and U.S. Coast Guard crews to pull this complex operation off without a hitch," said Pablo Fernicola, who photographed the ship this morning and posted images on his Instagram page @ship_spotting_oak_sfo. "The modernization of the Port of Oakland keeps it and the Bay Area competitive in the global marketplace.

Instagram: @ship_spotting_oak_sfo

The port said in a statement that the crane will allow it to continue to attract and handle the largest vessels calling North America.

"Ultimately, infrastructure, like this new crane at Oaklands waterfront, contribute to growing the maritime business in Northern California and generating jobs in the region," the Port said.

After the crane is fully assembled in operation, it will be able to lift cargo up to 170 feet.

This is the fourth-largest crane the Port of Oakland has received in 2021. It was purchased by Everport Terminal Services.

"When you see a crane like this know that it symbolizes thousands of jobs and economic vitality for our region," said Marilyn Sandifur, a spokesperson for the Port of Oakland.
If you ask Stephen Menendian why his research at UC Berkeleys Othering & Belonging Institute is important, he wont hesitate.

It matters to me because society has only begun to grapple with the inequalities of race, but we have not fully acknowledged the role segregation plays in undergirding those inequalities, Menendian, assistant director and director of research at the institute, told me by phone Wednesday.

During the pandemic, America did some soul-searching regarding its racist past and present. Discussions covered racial inequality, racist policing, unequal health care  but all of these issues, he says, are undergirded by racial segregation.

We have lost sight of that fact, Menendian said. Segregated schools, for example, are caused by segregated housing.

Menendian is the lead author of a new report, The Roots of Structural Racism, published Monday by the Othering & Belonging Institute.

The publication is part of a larger project that began in 2018 with a study looking at segregation and racial inequality in the Bay Area.

The fourth part of the project, Racial Segregation in the San Francisco Bay Area, contended that high levels of segregation for nonwhite neighborhoods correlate with low incomes and poverty.

The new study expands outward, taking a national view of segregation in the U.S. It found that 81% of metropolitan regions with more than 200,000 residents were more segregated in 2019 than they were in 1990. The bottom line: Racial segregation is increasing across the country. The West was the third most-segregated region in the nation, behind the Middle Atlantic and the Midwest.

As in the Bay Area study, segregated communities of color were found to have high neighborhood poverty (21% compared to 7% in segregated white neighborhoods). While Black children raised in integrated neighborhoods were shown to earn nearly $1,000 more as adults per year  and $4,000 more when raised in white neighborhoods  than kids who grew up in highly segregated neighborhoods.

As Menendian noted in our interview, the study intentionally omits the whys and the hows of segregation. The intention, rather, was to focus on the fact that its not only happening, but increasing  and nearly everywhere.

For the national study, we said we're not going to look at why and not look at solutions, Menendian said. We wanted to stay away from why, because in the academic literature, not even our study, there's no consensus on why segregation exists.

Menendian offered a few possible reasons, but stressed that there is no consensus yet. Some of the theories, boiled down, include: different neighborhood preferences for different races; economic differences between racial groups that allow different groups to buy into different neighborhoods; housing discrimination in housing markets; and segregated local knowledge, meaning different communities have different knowledge regarding where theyd consider moving.

But, Menendian said, there is no one model that explains racial segregation here.

The report rather breaks down American segregation on a granular level. It was published alongside an interactive map, which lets you zoom in and out of different areas across the U.S. The San Francisco-Oakland area is red on the map, meaning it has high levels of segregation.

The models use whats called a divergence index, which Menendian says is a more accurate and precise measurement of segregation than other quantitative measures. It works by comparing a smaller geography, such as a census tract, to a larger geography, such as a city.

Suppose you have a tract thats 25% Asian, Black, white and Hispanic, but that neighborhood is in a city thats 2% Black, 50% white, 40% Asian and 8% Hispanic. The calculated divergence score will be higher here because the tract differs so immensely from the city. The higher the divergence score, the greater the segregation in that area.

There are some possible solutions, which the institute outlined in the fifth part of the project. Some of the solutions listed included rent control, mobility strategies, inclusionary zoning, construction of affordable housing and curtailing restrictive land zoning.

Past government policy and discrimination has a long tail, Menendian said. Even after antidiscrimination laws have been enacted, there is no real mechanism to desegregate our neighborhoods.
BANGKOK (AP)  British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab met with business leaders and officials in Singapore on Thursday as he wrapped up a three-nation trip to Southeast Asia aimed at strengthening his country's ties to the region.

Raab's trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore is part of a policy tilt toward the Indo-Pacific region recommended by a recent British government review of defense and foreign policy in response to Chinas growing influence on the world stage.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate is still aggressively buying back its own stock to make use of some of its huge pile of cash.

Berkshire has repurchased roughly $6.5 billion of its own shares so far in the second quarter. That follows $6.6 billion of repurchases in the first three months of the year and roughly $25 billion in repurchases last year.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  A panel led by Republican Gov. Doug Burgum took no action Thursday on settlement offers from some of the energy companies that owe North Dakota millions of dollars in unpaid oil and gas royalties, the biggest portion of which is meant to support public education.

The five-member Land Board met with lawyers and other officials to discuss the settlement offers for about an hour. The board also includes the attorney general, secretary of state, state superintendent and state treasurer  all elected Republicans.

Burgum referred reporters to a statement that said the panel is willing to consider all reasonable offers, saying he would not comment further.

Land Commissioner Jodi Smith said before the closed-door meeting that 19 companies had submitted settlement offers but that only five would be discussed.

The Department of Trust Lands leases rights for grazing and oil, coal and gravel production from state lands. The agency manages several state trust funds including a fund that benefits public schools.

Smiths agency notified more than two dozen energy companies last year that they must pay money they had deducted from royalties owed to the state for developing its minerals. An earlier audit found that some oil companies took improper deductions for transportation, processing and other costs out of royalties owed to the state, Smith said.

Smith said hundreds of millions of dollars are owed to the state but did not provide an exact sum. She said almost 30 companies, most of them natural gas firms, owe the state for unpaid royalties.

The North Dakota Supreme Court in 2019 sided with the state in a lawsuit filed by an operator after the state determined that companies were taking improper deductions.

Burgum signed industry-pushed legislation this year that reduces the amount of interest and penalties the state can charge companies for unpaid oil and gas royalties, from 30% to 15%. The law, which sailed through the GOP-led Legislature and takes effect in August, also does not allow the state to collect unpaid royalties before August 2013.

Smith said the legislation will cost the state about $70 million in royalty reimbursements.

Its unclear how the new legislation will affect future negotiations for unpaid royalties.
At Don Castro Regional Park in Hayward, you dont have to venture far for a dip. The swimming hole  its called the lagoon  is just steps from the parking lot, which was altogether empty on an early morning this week, save for a few fishers hoping to reel in a big catch before lunchtime.

I decided to put in some legwork on my visit before venturing to the manmade lagoon, which is pin pricked by umbrellas and picnic tables ideal for a Saturday afternoon barbecue and covered in a cozy layer of yellow sand.

The voyage started early for me  I wanted to get to the park using only public transit and my legs. It turned out to be a relaxing, pre-hike ordeal. I started at 24th Street BART in the Mission, caught the Richmond train to Oakland 12th Street Station and transferred to the Berryessa line, which dropped me off squarely in Hayward. From there, I caught the 95 bus line to Maud Avenue and Kelly Street, dropping me off just 15 minutes by foot from the park entrance. Its about a 3-mile walk from the Hayward Station to the park, so I opted for the bus to rest my legs before my hike.

The whole trip took me just under two hours one way  not bad for a venture into altogether undisturbed nature. By car, it takes about 40 minutes from my house in San Francisco. Would I BART again? Probably not (Im a car owner). But for people without access to a motor vehicle, getting to Don Castro on public transit is entirely doable  and perhaps even a peaceful start to a hot hiking day. I got to exercise my mind by reading my book on the train before digging my heels into the dusty path.

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

Don Castro Regional Park straddles 101 acres between Hayward and Castro Valley. The swimming hole was built in 1964, when the local water district dammed San Lorenzo Creek, which flows through the park.

After my early morning BART trip, I decided to take it easy on the trails. I opted for a 1.5-mile loop around the reservoir  a separate entity from the lagoon  which wound through the park and ascended only lightly.

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

For those looking for something more strenuous, there are multiple 5-mile treks and one 10-miler that offers sweeping views of the hills surrounding Hayward and the fishing-friendly Don Castro Lake, where I was lucky enough to spot an egret and a turkey vulture take flight. To complete my assimilation into the grassy habitat, a tiny brown rabbit even skittered past my feet in the short time I was there. Im told lucky pole-wielders are known to catch bass, trout, catfish and bluegill.

Upon entering the park, youre greeted by majestic live oaks, nonnative eucalyptus and glorious willows, which gently dip their shimmering boughs into the sometimes smelly reservoir. The algae stink wafting off the water didnt bother me much  my olfactory senses were already overwhelmed by a subtly sweet, wheaty scent drifting off the many natural grasses blanketing the park, which seemed to shimmer in the breeze.

And for budding naturalists such as myself, theres plenty of native (and not-so-native) flora to keep the eyes and mind abuzz. On my short walk, which wove gently around the reservoir, I spotted a bounty of poison hemlock  its tall, flowered stems reaching to the sky  purple-petaled wild radish and enough blackberry bushes to fill ones coffers (though theyre not in season quite yet, as they typically ripen between late June and August).

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

But beware of where you stick your hands. I also spotted a massive growth of poison oak along the trail  were talking huge bushes, not scattered plants. I advise blackberry pickers to be especially cautious given the itchy plants ubiquity.

The real draw of Don Castro Regional Park isnt necessarily the hiking, however. Ill admit you can hear the rush of cars on the freeway from the trail I took, and fencing along the path was a bit of an eyesore.

What I would go out of my way for is the lagoon. Its about the size of a small lake and deep enough for short laps and wading. Though I didnt get to swim this time  the lifeguards werent on-duty yet  I have in years past taken a dip in the lagoons green, tree-lined waters. I remember the water being warm and gentle  especially for someone accustomed to the rough, freezing Pacific at Ocean Beach.

The lagoon area itself is family-friendly, with a roped-off section just for children. Theres also a lawn area for games and relaxation, as well as three reservable picnic tables for munching. A bathhouse on site has bathrooms and showers to rinse off sandy feet.

On weekends, the lagoon is known to get packed. To mitigate this issue, East Bay Regional Parks instituted a reservation system for weekends, which you can find on its website. There are even lifeguards on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day during the summer.

Michelle Robertson/SFGATE

There are some fees required for this trip. If you drive, youll have to pay $5 at the tollbooth to park  another plus for taking public transit! And swimming costs $3 for those age 16 to 61, and $2 for children one and up, as well as seniors (over 62) and disabled people. Children under one are free.

Since Don Castro is just a 40-minute drive from my house, I expect to visit again (though Ill be taking my car next time). If I had been better prepared for this trip, I would have packed barbecue supplies and a swimsuit and spent the day laying on the sand people-watching between bites of hamburger. A warm swimming hole, no hike required? Ill take it just about any day.
LATEST June 24, 10 a.m. San Francisco police said a 28-year-old man who suffered multiple gunshot wounds early June 22 remained in critical condition Thursday.

The incident is under investigation.

June 23, 2:51 p.m. A 28-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds early Tuesday in a shooting near Douglass Park in Noe Valley, officials said.

The San Francisco Police Department responded to a report of shots being fired at 1 a.m. at the intersection of Douglass and 27th streets, which is near the park's dog play area.

Officers provided aid to the victim and called medics to the scene. The victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The department couldn't provide an update on the victim's status Wednesday.

Many people living in the neighborhood expressed shock over the incident on the neighborhood website Nextdoor and said they heard multiple loud shots.

"Everyone is shaken up here," Jeff Parker, a longtime Noe Valley resident, told SFGATE. "We are shaken that one of our neighbors was shot in the street and that this kind of thing can happen in San Francisco."

Parker added: "Criminals beware. There's a network of cameras and private security up here that will catch you. There is some citizen policing going on at a level that people don't understand. We are in touch with each other and we compare notes and we compare videos. We are on the job. Don't expect to get away with it."

The department said it can't provide additional information on the incident as this remains an active investigation.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call the SFPD 24-hour tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.

This is a developing story.
DEAR ABBY: I met my husband on the job when we were one year out of school. We are both 36. We dated for three years and were compatible in every way. Ten years later, we have two kids (7 and 5), own a home and are financially secure.

When we dated, we discussed our "history," and he told me that he'd had five prior girlfriends. I had three boyfriends in college. Well, I learned a few months ago -- at his reunion -- that he completely "forgot" the part about his competitive frat-boy past with hook-ups and one-night stands. He now estimates that he was with over 50 different girls during college, but says it "shouldn't bother me" because it was meaningless sex and in the past. He said he told me "five" because they were the ones he counted as relationships.

Now I see women on his social media who went to the same school and I obsess about how they fit into his past. It's driving me crazy, and I feel like just a number now. I know if this situation were reversed, he'd flip out about it.

I wish I had never found this out because I see him differently now, and no longer want to be close to him. He's a good father and husband, but I'm struggling with how to accept this new information, and I need some guidance. -- WISH I DIDN'T KNOW

DEAR WISH: People usually lie because they aren't proud of the truth. You say he has been a good husband and father. This is why you need to find it in your heart to forgive him. If you have caught him in lies since then, you have a reason to be reacting the way you have. However, if you haven't, please consider talking with a licensed marriage and family therapist until you have worked it through. The resentment you feel could destroy your marriage. Please do not let that happen.

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I recently moved in with my grandmother, partly to help out and partly because I lost my job due to underlying health conditions that made dealing with COVID incredibly difficult. Now that we're close to family again, some of them think they need to dictate what we do. The biggest topic is whether I should try going back to work now.

My husband is adamant that he wants me home until it's safer for me to go out again, but my father thinks it's not a good idea, and insists that my husband doesn't understand "everything." I don't want to make either of them angry, but I feel like I need to stick with my husband, and I don't know how to get my father to understand because he's stubborn. Any advice? -- TORN, AND TIRED OF IT

DEAR TORN: Your husband is protective, and for that I applaud him. If you can't work because an underlying health condition makes you more vulnerable to COVID, then as much as your father would like you out of the house and working during the day, you cannot do it. Your life could be at risk. What does your doctor have to say about this?

You are no longer a little girl. It's time for a family discussion to iron this out, including what your father meant when he said your husband doesn't "understand." If it can't be resolved in a mature and respectful manner, you and your husband may need to make other living arrangements.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
NEW YORK (AP)  During the pandemic, Steven Soderbergh has shot two feature films, released a pair of movies, written a sequel to his first film (1989's Sex, Lies and Videotape), re-edited some of his older movies (mostly for fun) and co-produced the Academy Awards.

It's an amount of accomplishment that really puts to shame the 1,000-piece puzzle some of us are still proud of assembling last May.

Yet at a time when much of Hollywood is going through profound change, Soderbergh has, like few others, seized an uncertain moment.

I think its fair to say that Im the cockroach of this industry, he said smiling on a recent interview by Zoom. "I can find a way to survive in any version that Im confronted with."

Soderbergh has averaged a film every one of his 35 years in movies, amassing a nimble, frenetic body of work spanning experimental iPhone indies ("High Flying Bird," Unsane) to commercial crowd-pleasers ("Ocean's Eleven," Erin Brockovich," Magic Mike). His latest, "No Sudden Move," nearly didn't happen. It was initially scheduled to begin shooting in April 2020. The pandemic scuttled those plans but by early fall, after he helped create return-to-set safety protocols, Soderbergh remounted it  albeit without one star, George Clooney, who withdrew out of health concerns for his asthmatic son.

Still, No Sudden Move, which debuts July 1 on HBO Max, doesn't lack for stars. And while Clooney's presence would have reinforced a spirit of get-the-band-back-together, No Sudden Move remains a cousin to one of Soderbergh's most celebrated movies: 1998's Out of Sight, the slinky, sublime caper adapted from Elmore Leonard.

That film opened in Miami sunshine but descended into wintery Detroit. Twenty-three years later, No Sudden Move returns Soderbergh to the Motor City with Don Cheadle, who memorably played Maurice Snoop Miller in Out of Sight." Since then, Cheadle has co-starred in four more films with Soderbergh ("Traffic," the Ocean's movies). But he's front-and-center this time.

This was designed as vehicle for Don, whether he wanted it or not, Soderbergh says. Literally: I wanted to see this guy walking, walking, walking  and we parachute into this story.

No Sudden Move opens with Cheadle, as Curt Goynes, strolling through 1950s Detroit. Soderbergh and screenwriter Ed Solomon conceived of the film from the start as a heist movie with a trio of thieves brought together not unlike those in Robert Wise's electric 1959 noir Odds Against Tomorrow. (That was one inspiration. The classic 70s crime film The Friends of Eddie Coyle was another.)

But while working on the script, Solomon came upon the history of the automotive industrys efforts to avoid emissions controls. No Sudden Move" begins with three hired guns (Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Kieran Culkin), but in a multiplying series of double-crosses, expands in scope to encapsulate some of Detroit's original sins, a little like how Chinatown does for Los Angeles. The rest of the cast includes Bill Duke, Jon Hamm, David Harbour, Julia Fox, Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon and Ray Liotta.

We were able to talk about redlining and community and the devastation of Detroit and the greed of the car manufacturers without proselytizing or hitting it on the head, says Cheadle. It was all part of the narrative intrigue. It felt in a lot of ways like Out of Sight 2.0 or 1.0, 30 years beforehand  revisiting that kind of energy.

Cheadle wasn't necessarily eager to return to a film set at the time. But he also realized that if he didn't, a-stuck-at-home Soderbergh would probably keep writing and sending him scripts. The director managed the shoot without incident by frequent testing in two mobile COVID-19 testing units that were personally paid for. The central cast and crew members were kept in a quarantine bubble.

I know that I put Steven through some version of hell in my uncertainty about coming back, Cheadle says. I lost family members to COVID. I was really gun shy about even leaving my house."

Cheadle smiles. I also blame him for Contagion,'" referring to Soderbergh's prophetic pandemic drama from 2011. I think hes Patient Zero.

In April, Soderbergh led an effort to mount an in-person Oscars despite COVID-19 protocols. The telecast was handsomely shot, opening with a fluid tracking shot of Regina King, and it made an often impersonal ceremony warmly intimate. But it was also talky, with lengthy introductions and speeches, and one gambit to rearrange the final awards ended awkwardly.

Overall, Soderbergh is pleased with the show. The broadcast did what it set out to do: pull off an in-person Oscars safely while experimenting with an often inflexible format.

As far as I know, were the first show in a long time where nobody ever got played off, and Im proud of that. This is what happens when you hire the director of a movie called Let Them All Talk," he jokes, referring to his 2020 film for HBO Max, with Meryl Streep, shot largely on an ocean liner crossing.

But Soderbergh did walk away from the experience  a satisfying and unique one, he says  with a gnawing sense of a larger existential crisis for movies. Ratings, like they have for most pandemic award shows, plummeted.

I just look at it as a larger issue than the specifics of what our show looked like, and that is: How do we make people care about the movies the way they used to?" Soderbergh says. To me, this is the real question that needs to be confronted.

But the conditions, and the opportunities of streaming, are also ripe for a protean, fast-working filmmaker like Soderbergh. He recently shot his third film for HBO Max, KIMI," a pandemic-set thriller with Zoe Kravitz. No Sudden Move, a period crime film for adults, is very much the kind of movie that before the streaming flood gates opened would have been unlikely to get made.

Its a really good time for somebody who makes things. I honestly would not like to be running these companies. Nobody knows whats coming. Nobody knows whats a cyclical thing as opposed to a real secular change, says Soderbergh. I have a long history with Warner. We both seem to be in sync with the purpose of my deal which is for me to be really busy."

Other things never change. No Sudden Move is Soderbergh's sixth heist film, a cycle begun with Out of Sight" that includes the three Ocean's films and Logan Lucky, a self-financed meta-heist movie in that it sought to pull one over on Hollywood, too. The genre, the director says, encourages a filmmaker to bring something to the table  to style it up. It's just made for the movies, he says.

As time wound down before Soderbergh and Cheadle had to leave for the Tribeca Festival premiere of No Sudden Move," he wondered if returning to the scene of his first crime movie was pushing his luck.

Ive had two really good experiences in Detroit and gotten out of there with two movies Im really happy with, said Soderbergh. The question is: Should I just let that go?

Cheadle didn't hesitate. Tee it up! Go to the well! he encouraged. Spin the wheel!

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

___

This story has been updated to correct spelling of Brendan Frasers last name.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  A Dutch consumer group is launching a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) claim against TikTok over what it alleges is unlawful harvesting of personal data from users of the popular video sharing platform.

The Consumentenbond and a foundation called Take Back Your Privacy demanded Thursday that TikTok pay damages to 1.2 million to 1.6 million Dutch children who use the app.

The conduct of TikTok is pure exploitation, Consumentenbond director Sandra Molenaar said in a statement. The company earns hundreds of millions per year on the backs of children. And that while privacy law prescribes that children should receive additional protection.

TikTok is hugely popular with teenagers and young adults, who use it to post and watch short-form videos.

The consumer organization and privacy foundation are demanding that TikTok pay damages to Dutch children and delete what they call unlawfully collected personal data. They say if TikTok does not comply, they will take the company to court.

TikTok responded in an emailed statement saying the company is committed to engage with external experts and organisations to make sure were doing what we can to keep people on TikTok safe.

It added that privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users, and our teenage users in particular."

In February, TikToks Chinese parent company ByteDance, agreed to pay $92 million in a settlement to U.S. users who are part of a class-action lawsuit alleging that the video-sharing app failed to get their consent to collect data in violation of a strict Illinois privacy law.

The social media app also is facing complaints in the European Union.

Late last month, the EU's executive, the European Commission, gave TikTok one month to answer complaints from a European consumer group over its commercial practices. The Commission said some contractual terms in TikToks policies could be considered misleading and confusing for consumers, adding that concerns relating to issues including hidden marketing and advertising strategies targeting children were raised.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Bones found in an Israeli quarry are from a branch of the human evolutionary tree and are 120,000 to 140,000 years old, scientists reported Thursday.

A team of anthropologists spent years analyzing the fragments of a skull, lower jaw bone and tooth that were uncovered in Nesher Ramla in 2010, comparing them to hundreds of fossils around the world from different eras.

The researchers determined that the fossils likely came from a hominin group closely related to Neanderthals and sharing many of their features, such as the shape of the lower jaw. The scientists also believe that there are enough similarities to link this group to other populations found in prior cave excavations in Israel dating to around 400,000 years ago.

The teeth have some unique features that enable us to draw a line between these populations, said Tel Aviv University dental anthropologist Rachel Sarig, a co-author of the paper published Thursday in the journal Science.

This group probably inhabited the region from around 400,000 to 100,000 years ago, said Tel Aviv University physical anthropologist Israel Hershkovitz, another co-author. He said the remains found at Nesher Ramla are likely from some of the last survivors of a once very dominant group in the Middle East.

Prior research has shown that homo sapiens  modern humans  also lived in the region at the same time.

Many scientists believe that the arrival of homo sapiens in Europe presaged the decline of Neanderthals there, but the story may have been different in the Levant region  the crossroads between North Africa and Eurasia.

The new findings add to research showing that homo sapiens and Neanderthal-like groups overlapped in the Middle East over a significant amount of time, probably tens of thousands of years.

There were likely cultural and genetic exchanges between the groups, the paper authors suggest. The Neanderthal story can no longer be told as a European story only. Its a much more complicated story, said Hershkovitz.

Sheela Athreya, a Texas A&M University paleoanthropologist who was not involved in the study, said the new research "gives us a lot to think about in terms of the history of population groups in this region, and how they may have interacted with populations in other regions, in Europe and North Africa."

The Nesher Ramla fossils look like something on a lineage heading toward Neanderthal," said Eric Delson, a paleoanthropologist at Lehman College in New York who was not involved in the study. He characterized the findings as "fossils of what appears to be an intermediate variety  this group may be predecessors to Neanderthals in this area."

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Authorities said Thursday they have arrested four more suspects in the weekend shootings in the northern Mexico border city of Reynosa that killed 19 people, 15 of whom appeared to be innocent bystanders.

Another suspect was detained earlier after being wounded during the apparently random gun attacks Saturday.

Prosecutors in the border state of Tamaulipas said the latest arrests came during raids that also freed 18 kidnap victims, four of whom are believed to be U.S. citizens.

In one raid on a house east of Reynosa, police found 10 kidnap victims, two of them Americans. One man had ben abducted three weeks ago and was still being held even though relatives had paid a ransom for his release, authorities said.

A U.S. woman and her 3-year-old daughter from Edinburgh, Texas, were found in a raid on another house. They had been kidnapped when they entered Mexico to search for the woman's husband, who had disappeared earlier.

The other 14 kidnap victims were Mexican citizens, ranging from nurses and an engineer to store and business employees, prosecutors said.

Pickup trucks with home-made welded steel plate armor were also found in the raids, which targeted the Scorpions and Cyclones factions of the Gulf Cartel.

The Scorpions were once a specialized security force for cartel leaders, Now they and the Cyclones operate their own smuggling, trafficking and extortion territory east of Reynosa, in Rio Bravo and Matamoros.

The two groups apparently joined up to attack Reynosa on Saturday in an apparent bid to weaken the rival Metros faction. The Metros have long dominated Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas. The area is a lucrative corridor for trafficking contraband and migrants across the U.S. border.

All three factions  the Metros, the Scorpions and the Cyclones  were part of the Gulf Cartel, but struggles over leadership and territory have raged since the arrest of drug lord Osiel Cardenas Guillen in 2003 and the cartels split with its former henchmen, the Zetas, around 2010.

State prosecutor Irving Barrios said Tuesday that investigations suggested that pickup trucks carrying gunmen from the Scorpions and Cyclones drove into Reynosa and opened fire to destabilize Reynosa and gain territory there. He said their aim was to create terror in a portion of the public so they could come in and take control.

There is evidence that the groups of hitmen riding in a half-dozen pickup trucks sought to sow panic and also robbed people. Four of the suspects were killed in confrontations with the police and National Guard.

Federal prosecutors have said they are taking over the case, and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has pledged a thorough investigation.

Lopez Obrador also said Thursday that another suspect had been detained in the 2019 ambush slayings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens near the northern border, bringing to 22 the number of arrests in the case.

Practically all of those who participated (in the killings) have been detained, the president said.

Adrian LeBaron, the father of one of the murdered woman, wrote in his Twitter account that the suspect arrested was known by the nickname Tolteca and was a leader of the gang, adding, Today there is one criminal less on the streets.

The three women and six children from the extended Langford, LeBaron and Miller families were ambushed and slain by suspected drug gang assassins on Nov. 4, 2019.

Initial investigations suggested a squad of gunmen from a drug gang that originated in the border city of Ciudad Juarez set up the ambush to kill members of a rival cartel. However, relatives of the victims say that at some point, the gunmen must have known who they were killing.

While Lopez Obrador cast the arrests as proof the Mexican law enforcement system works, the killings in Reynosa, and the latest nationwide homicide figures, suggest presidents hugs not bullets crime strategy is doing little to decrease deaths.

There were 2,963 homicides in May, the latest month for which figures are available, higher than May 2020 and well above the numbers that prevailed when Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP)  A 9-year-old boy died Thursday after being shot in Kalamazoo, authorities said.

The child was pronounced dead at a Kalamazoo hospital on Thursday afternoon, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley said.

The childs name and the circumstances leading to the shooting were not immediately released.

Representatives from Pastors on Patrol, the Northside Ministerial Alliance and the NAACP were at the scene of the shooting, speaking to community members and encouraging people to help bring an end to the gun violence in the southwestern Michigan city, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported.

This is just appalling, its heartbreaking and it has got to stop, NAACP President Wendy Fields said. If theres any witnesses, any quote-unquote snitches, anybody who knows anything; they need to step up now.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Africa is facing a devastating resurgence of COVID-19 infections whose peak will surpass that of earlier waves as the continent's countries struggle to vaccinate even a small percentage of the population, top health officials said Thursday.

The third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, hitting harder," Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said Thursday

"With rapidly rising case numbers and increasing reports of serious illness, the latest surge threatens to be Africas worst yet, she said in a weekly briefing. Africa can still blunt the impact of these fast-rising infections, but the window of opportunity is closing. Everyone everywhere can do their bit by taking precautions to prevent transmission.

New cases have been rising since the beginning of May and the resurgence will surpass previous waves by early July, according to WHO Africa.

Decreased observance of public health measures, increased social interactions without masks and new variants have contributed to more cases. Moeti encouraged governments to do more to provide populations with easier access to masks and hygiene facilities.

The delta variant that has devastated India has been detected in at least 14 African countries including Congo, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda.

The delta variant may have played a very significant role, in the very devastating third wave of COVID-19 in at least 20 countries across Africa, the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, said Thursday.

The third wave is extremely brutal, he said, adding that more and more health centers are saying they are overwhelmed. African countries urgently need vaccines to help battle the disease, he said.

We are completely lagging behind, we just dont have vaccines, Nkengasong said.

Africa has more than 5.2 million confirmed virus cases including more than 139,000 deaths, according to the Africa CDC.

Critically, only 1% of the continents 1.3 billion people have been vaccinated, according to WHO and the CDC. Globally, around 2.7 billion vaccine doses have been administered, of which less than 1.5% have been given in the continent, according to WHO Africa.

The U.N.-backed COVAX initiative to provide vaccines to low- and middle-income countries, has not met its goals of equal access, said officials.

More than 80% of COVAX vaccine supplies have been used by just 18 African countries, with eight running out of stocks.

Our work in COVAX has been hugely challenged by the vaccine availabilities, Moeti said, adding that WHO is willing to consider all available vaccines and will do everything possible to ensure that the vaccines become available at the global level.

Our objective is really to get the vaccines out there and reduce the inequity that is the situation at present, she said.

She criticized restrictions that may also exacerbate the inequities, arguing that Africans should not also face more travel restrictions because they are unable to access the same vaccines available elsewhere.

Lets not add injury to injustice, she said. Vaccine shortages are already prolonging the pain of COVID-19 in Africa.
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP)  Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerrad offered his resignation Thursday following June 12 parliamentary elections, but was mandated to stay in office until a new government is formed.

During a meeting, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune asked him to keep handling affairs until the new government is in place, a task that must be completed within 30 days.

The election saw the North African nations oldest party  the National Liberation Front, thought to have been out of favor with the electorate  win the most seats.

A boycott called by Hirak pro-democracy protesters and traditional opposition parties contributed to a record low turnout of 23% in what were billed as high-stakes elections.

The new prime minister would normally be chosen from the ranks of the nationalist FLN, which until 1989 was the country's only political party.

The FLN lost ground in the elections, but still won 98 of the 407 seats in the lower chamber, Algeria's Constitutional Council announced Wednesday after verifying the results, slightly lowering an initial count. Independents won 84 seats. The moderate Islamist party Movement for a Peaceful Society won 65 seats.

Tebboune, who called the elections as part of his bid to build a new Algeria, had suggested that he wants a government of national consensus. Putting a new, younger face on Algerias parliament, where seats were trafficked in the past in widespread electoral fraud, was among the aims of the early elections.

Tebboune became president after Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in 2019 after two decades in office, under pressure from weekly marches of the Hirak movement. However, Hirak protests have been all but banned under Tebboune, who claims the movement has been infiltrated by movements seeking to bring down Algeria.

Dozens of Hirak protesters have been jailed. So have former officials who grew rich under Bouteflika in rampant corruption schemes, including former FLN ministers.
NEW YORK (AP)  The New-York Historical Society is creating a new archive which will focus on marginalized communities and inclusive voices in New York City over the past quarter century.

The Diamonstein-Spielvogel Institute for New York City History, Politics, and Community Activism will chronicle important political, social, and cultural moments from the mid-1900s to the present, the historical society announced Thursday.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Kentucky spent $1.4 billion of its share of federal pandemic aid passed in early 2020 and had $150 million left unspent through March of this year, the state auditor's office said.

Auditor Mike Harmon's report Wednesday focused on Kentucky's use of CARES Act funding.
NEWPORT, R.I. (AP)  An exclusive Rhode Island beach club tied to Democratic U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has broken its silence to defend itself from claims that its for white people only after the controversy garnered national attention.

Baileys Beach Club in Newport said in a statement Wednesday that the recent characterizations are inaccurate and false," The Providence Journal reports.

The organization, known formally as the Spouting Rock Beach Association, said its members and their families include people of many racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds from across the globe, though it declined to elaborate.

Jack Nolan, the club's general manager, told the newspaper the club's membership information is private.

WPRI-TV also reports the clubs president, Alexander Auersperg, also sent a message to members Wednesday in which he stressed the club does not discriminate against any race, religion, or ethnic background when it comes to our membership process or to the hiring of our staff.

Whitehouse, who was first elected in 2006, has faced criticism for years for being a member of the exclusive club as the scion of a wealthy family.

The latest flare up came after a local website, GoLocalProv, asked him recently whether the club was all-white. Whitehouse said the club was still working on diversifying membership and that he was sorry it hasnt happened yet.

He's since stressed the club does include non-white members and that the website's original assertion that it's all-white was incorrect.

Whitehouse has also said hes not officially a member, though his wife, Sandra, is a prominent member of the institution, which dates to the 1800s and whose members over the years have included royalty and Gilded Age families like the Vanderbilts and Astors.

On Wednesday, the senator also disclosed he belongs to a sailing club in Newport which doesnt have a diverse membership. He apologized for not pushing that organization, which he didn't name, to do more to address it.

I commit to working with the club and the community to build a more inclusive membership and to better connect with the local community, Whitehouse said, according to the Journal.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  Local communities would be stripped of most control over where and how power lines from offshore wind energy projects come ashore under a bill that received final approval Thursday in the state Legislature.

It now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

The bill would give wind energy projects approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities authority to locate, build, use and maintain wires and associated land-based infrastructure as long as they run underground on public property including streets. The BPU could determine that some aboveground wires are necessary.

It appears to be an effort to head off any local objections to at least one wind power project envisioned to come ashore at two former power plants, and run cables under two of the states most popular beaches.

After officials in some shore towns objected to the bill last week during a hearing in the state Assembly, a provision was added that would require a public hearing on a proposed project.

There's going to be a high level of seriousness given to local concerns, said Assemblyman John Burzichelli, a southern New Jersey Democrat and sponsor of the bill.

But he said the goal of the bill is to give power lines from offshore wind projects the same level of presumptive approval as those from other energy sources.

There is some misunderstanding with a small group trying to make sure offshore wind won't happen at all, Burzichelli said. We're way past that now.

A project planned by Orsted and Public Service Enterprise Group, a New Jersey utility company, would connect to the electric grid at decommissioned power plants in Ocean and Cape May Counties.

Cables running from the wind farm, to be located between 15 and 27 miles (24 to 43 kilometers) off the coast of Atlantic City, would come ashore at one of three potential locations in Ocean City, and would run under a roadway to a former power plant in Upper Township.

Cables also would need to cross Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, running under the dunes and beach  and possibly existing parking lots  out into Barnegat Bay. They would come ashore either at the former Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in the Forked River section of Lacey, or in Waretown, also known as Ocean Township in Ocean County.

Orsted also proposes a second project off New Jersey, and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US LLC, also proposes an offshore wind farm off the states coast.

In addition, a Massachusetts company plans to build a high-voltage line to bring electricity from a future New Jersey offshore wind farm onto land, and connect it to the power grid. Anbaric, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, has already obtained several permits from New Jersey environmental regulators for what it calls its Boardwalk Power Link project.

The bill entitles a qualified wind energy project to obtain easements, rights-of-way or other property rights from any level of government that are necessary to build the project. The BPU would make a final decision if such approvals are withheld by governments.

No state, county or local government would be able to prohibit or charge a fee for the use of a street or other public property other than a road opening permit. If these governments refuse the permit for any other reason than legitimate public safety concerns, the state utilities board would be required to issue an order granting the necessary approval.

If a company's project impacts land that had previously been preserved as open space, the company would have to provide money to acquire three times the amount of affected land as a replacement.

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Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Congressional bargainers said Thursday they've agreed to a bipartisan framework for overhauling policing procedures, producing an upbeat but bare-bones statement that provided no details, conceded that disagreements remained and left uncertain their prospects for crafting a compromise that has eluded them for a year.

Negotiators vaguely described the status of their talks with three sentences released around dinner time Thursday as the Senate left town for a two-week recess. It came 13 months after George Floyds killing and with the shadow of next years elections lengthening over Congress work.

After months of working in good faith, we have reached an agreement on a framework addressing the major issues for bipartisan police reform," the statement read. There is still more work to be done on the final bill, and nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. Over the next few weeks we look forward to continuing our work toward getting a finalized proposal across the finish line.

Aides of both parties said they could provide no detail about what exactly was in the framework. It was also unclear why only three of the five negotiators' names were on the release: Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. The names of Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., did not appear, though Durbin endorsed its thrust in comments to reporters.

When you get to this level, the little things are the big things, he said. We want to make sure that we clear them up.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki released a brief statement offering President Joe Bidens thanks to the bargainers, adding, He looks forward to collaborating with them on the path ahead.

Scott, the chief GOP negotiator, had set a June or bust" goal for producing results last month. But by Thursday morning, senators of both parties said it was unlikely a deal would be reached by day's end because some details would have to be resolved when lawmakers return to Washington next month.

According to people familiar with the talks, the two most divisive issues have been Democrats efforts to make individual police officers accused of abuses liable for civil penalties and whether to make it easier to bring criminal cases against officers for excessive use of force. The legislation is to be aimed at curbing the use of force by police and making them more accountable for abuses.

A failure to nail down a full agreement Thursday was a further blow to bargainers' efforts, draining away more time as they address an issue that came to the forefront last year with Floyd's killing. Lawmakers have already spent months trying to resolve differences, reflecting the complex web of issues and political imperatives that have prevented action so far.

Lawmakers already missed a May 25 deadline set by Biden. That date marked one year since Floyd, a Black man, died under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer, who has since been convicted in his killing.

The further into the year the talks remain unresolved, the more next year's elections for congressional control will make bipartisan cooperation harder. Efforts to curb police practices are entwined with public concerns about race and crime, and all are potent, emotional issues for both parties to use as they appeal to their most ardent base voters.

Floyd's death, which ignited racial justice protests across the country, was a campaign issue during President Donald Trumps failed reelection bid and prompted debates over crime and authorities use of force that rage still. An agreement would let each party assert it has addressed a consuming national problem, while a stalemate would let each blame the other and fuel next years political campaigns.

The Democratic-led House approved a wide-ranging bill in March that's gone nowhere in the 50-50 Senate, with Republicans arguing it goes too far. Democrats blocked a Senate GOP measure last year, saying it was too weak.

Other provisions would curb police use of chokeholds, bolster national data systems of complaints against officers and limit the types of military equipment that police departments can obtain.

The talks' painfully slow pace has fueled partisan distrust, though not among the bargainers themselves, who appear to have retained harmonious relationships.

Some in each party voice suspicions that rather than an agreement, some of their political opponents would rather have policing and crime left intact as campaign issues. Each side denies that motive, though some openly assert that should the talks collapse, they could effectively use the issue in next years elections.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who leads his party's Senate campaign committee, said if the talks fail, it would help Republicans accuse Democrats of wanting to defund the police, a progressive proposal that Biden and many Democrats have disavowed.

"Republicans are known for supporting law enforcement. Were known for trying to bring crime down, Scott said.

Democrats said deadlock would anger their supporters, bolstering election turnout.

Were doing the right thing, and theyre trying to stop it, said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., who heads House Democrats' political organization. And if they pay a political price for that, well, thats how politics should work.

The talks have been closely watched by powerful outside groups representing police and sheriff organizations, civil rights organizations and Floyds relatives, who have met with Biden and members of Congress.
Francisco Seco/AP

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  A closed trial for the husband of Belarus opposition leader began Thursday at a jail in the city of Gomel. Siarhei Tsikhanouski faces a sentence of up to 15 years on charges that include organizing mass unrest and inciting hatred.

Tsikhanouski, a prominent video blogger and activist, aimed to run against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in the August 2020 election. He was widely known for the anti-Lukashenko slogan Kill the cockroach. He was arrested two days after he declared his candidacy that May.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Retired police officers hired by Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are being paid $3,200 a month to investigate potential irregularities and/or illegalities" in the 2020 presidential election, contracts obtained by The Associated Press show.

The investigators will be paid $9,600 each over three months to conduct the probe, according to the documents provided Thursday to the AP by the Assembly chief clerk's office under the open records law. Vos signed two contracts in recent days and has said he intends to hire a third investigator and an attorney to oversee the probe.

Vos last month announced plans to have officers investigate the election results as part of the Republican response to former President Donald Trump's narrow loss in Wisconsin. Republicans have also ordered a review by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and they have passed several bills tightening rules for absentee voting, measures Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is all but certain to veto.

In Wisconsin, local election officials identified just 27 cases of potential voter fraud out of nearly 3.3 million votes cast in the November election that they forwarded to prosecutors. No charges have been brought in any of the cases.

Republicans in other states are also conducting audits and reviews after Trump made unproven and discredited allegations of widespread voter fraud and abuse. Several Wisconsin Republican lawmakers recently traveled to Arizona to observe an audit being conducted there. Vos has said he does not anticipate a similar review in Wisconsin, citing his hiring of the retired investigators instead.

The investigators hired to date are Mike Sandvick, a retired Milwaukee police detective with ties to the GOP, and Steve Page, who Vos has said previously worked for the city of Eau Claire. Page's name had not been made public prior to the AP obtaining the contract.

Vos has not named the other two people he intends to hire, but has said the other retired officer used to work for the Brown County Sheriffs Department and investigated former Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt over election law violations.

Vos spokeswoman Angela Joyce did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the contracts signed or the status of the other agreements. Vos signed the contract with Sandvick on June 16 and the one with Page on Wednesday.

The terms of the contracts are identical. Sandvick and Page have been hired for June, July and August and are to be paid $3,200 a month by taxpayers.

They are tasked with following leads and allegations submitted to the Assembly elections committee, raised in the media, provided to members of the Legislature or generated during the course of the probe. The final report is to be submitted to Vos.

The contract does not discuss gaining access to the actual ballots, as was done in the Arizona audit. Vos said this week that its unlikely that would happen in Wisconsin because of the Legislative Audit Bureau review that's underway and audits of ballots already conducted per state law.

Democrats have been highly critical of the effort, which they say is meant to perpetrate the discredited lie that Trump won the 2020 election. Vos has defended it as a way to address concerns raised that have undermined confidence in the election process.

Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Gordon Hintz called the investigation a witch hunt.

Speaker Vos and Assembly Republicans are wasting taxpayer dollars on a sham investigation that validates and prolongs the Big Lie, undermines our democracy, and perpetuates the type of rhetoric that led to the January 6th insurrection," Hintz said in a statement.

Sandvick's hiring drew particular scorn from Democrats because of his prior work related to elections.

A 2008 report Sandvick wrote about the 2004 presidential election recommended that Wisconsin election laws be changed in light of what he called voter fraud. That report has since been referenced by conservatives as evidence of unchecked fraud. However, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorneys office and the FBI all disavowed the report.

In 2013, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman did not allow the report to be admitted as evidence in a lawsuit over Wisconsins voter ID law, saying it was not trustworthy.

Sandvick later worked on an election integrity committee established by the Wisconsin Republican Party and was briefly state director for True the Vote, a Texas group focused on voter fraud aligned with the tea party movement.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  A highly contagious coronavirus variant that is contributing to a surge of cases in Missouri first gained a foothold in rural areas of the state where vaccinations rates are low, a pattern not seen previously, state health officials say.

The delta variant, first detected in India, is becoming the predominant strain detected in wastewater in some parts of the state, particularly in the southwest corner, where COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise. And it is spreading much differently than the alpha variant, which first was detected in the United Kingdom, said Jeff Wenzel, who oversees the wastewater surveillance program for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

With the U.K. variant," he said, we started seeing that in the larger cities and we saw that spread out into smaller communities, and we are seeing the opposite now with this delta variant."

The delta variant also has turned up in wastewater samples in the Kansas City and St. Louis area. But Wenzel said, In the larger cities, it just doesnt seem, we just arent seeing it as readily as we are in some of the smaller communities."

Officials aren't yet sure why the spread has been so different but are exploring the possibility that lower vaccination rates in rural areas of the state are playing a role.

In St. Louis County, for instance, 48.4% of residents have received at least one dose. But the percentage is half that across a large swath of southwest and northern Missouri, where the biggest rise in cases have been reported, state data shows.

The variant is worrisome because it is not only more contagious, but also more likely to lead to hospitalizations.

Dr. George Turabelidze, the state epidemiologist, said that Missouri was vaccinating about 50,000 people a day in March and April but that the number has since fallen to about 10,000 a day, making the state's vaccination rate among the lowest in the country.

That is concerning because this new emerging variant is highly transmissible and the primary target is unvaccinated people," he said in a video posted on the health department's website Wednesday night.

Missouri now leads the nation with most new cases per capita. Over the past 14 days, it has recorded 144.9 new cases for every 100,000 residents, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for the health department, said the agency is exploring a variety of incentive options at the state level. But she said Thursday that she had no details.

An email message left for Republican Gov. Mike Parson's communications staff was not immediately returned.

Besides inundating hospitals, cases are again causing problems for schools. In St. Joseph, the school district had to shift summer classes online last week at two schools because about 50% of the students were out sick with COVID-19 or another illness, quarantining or vacationing, said Bethany Clark, director of elementary education for the St. Joseph school district.

She said that wasn't what she envisioned when the district was planning for the summer. Case numbers were so low this spring that the district even decided to make masks optional for summer school.

I really thought, Things are looking good. Summer school is a great option for opening up some of our restrictions. Lets see how things work and we can return to as close to normal as we can in the fall,'" she recalled thinking. And then yeah these cases. It was a hard hit because we really wanted, we really want to be post-pandemic."

But the district is in Buchanan County, where just 20.8% of residents have received at least one shot.

What you are looking at now is, Where is the virus most able to circulate?" said Dr. Bill Powderly, the co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington Universitys School of Medicine. Where are the pockets of vulnerability? And the pockets of vulnerability across the United States are those communities with very low vaccination rates because that means they have lots of people who are susceptible to the virus and therefore the virus is much more likely to circulate."

He noted that younger people are more likely to get sick than with earlier strains. But it is unclear whether even that will drive more vaccinations.

If you are in a rural community where maybe a couple people got infected and nobody got sick, you think it is overblown and your political leaders are telling you it is no big deal, he said. You can understand why people start off the way they do, but I dont want people to die in order to convince the rest of the population that they need to be vaccinated. I so hope that people will start to realize that this is not trivial.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Cyprus wants the European Unions border agency Frontex to step in and prevent the flow of migrant arrivals from Turkey that authorities say have stretched the eastern Mediterranean island nations asylum system to its limits.

Its also asking the EU to activate all available mechanisms to help the country manage the arrival of Syrians either directly from Syria  especially the port of Tartus  or from Lebanon or Turkey.

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry says Turkey hasnt included Cyprus in its program to halt migrant flows into the 27-member bloc since the deal was signed five years ago.

The country of around 1.1 million people is also asking the EUs executive arm to help relocate a significant number of Syrian asylum-seekers who have been granted international protection.

Their numbers have reached such levels that their integration into local communities is realistically unsustainable, the ministry told the Associated Press on Thursday.

According to official figures, 1,337 Syrians have reached Cyprus by sea since 2019  and one-third of them came in the last three months.

More significantly, 3,896 Syrians have reached Cyprus from Turkey in the last two years, usually flying into the islands breakaway Turkish Cypriot north before crossing a porous, U.N.-controlled buffer zone into the south where they seek asylum with the islands internationally recognized government.

Cyprus was split along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup aimed at union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and maintains more than 35,000 troops in the north. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 but only the south enjoys full membership benefits.

The ministry suggested other EU member states could help take in some of these migrants in line with a relocation scheme agreed a few years ago for Greece and Italy.

The Cypriot government will also formally request additional EU funding to build a new accommodation center to house asylum-seekers as well as a pre-departure center for those who have had their asylum applications rejected.

The number of migrants who have either received or have applied for international protection in Cyprus now accounts for 4% of the countrys population.

Cypriot authorities say controlling the flow of migrants from the north into the south is exceedingly difficult because the buffer zone isnt a recognized border where authorities can take strict measures to curtail peoples' movement. There are nine crossing points along the 180-kilometer (120-mile) buffer zone, but most of it is unregulated.

The Foreign Ministry said Cypriot police carries out daily patrols along the buffer zone and thermal cameras will soon be installed to monitor crossings in remote areas.

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Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
PRAGUE (AP)  Czech police have said they are sorry about the death of a Roma man who died after an officer responding to a call about an altercation knelt on his neck, but said the preliminary investigation showed no link between the police intervention and the mans death.

We are sorry about the loss of any human life, the local police chief, Jaromir Knize, said.

Under the current circumstances I stand behind the officers but of course, Im sorry about the death of the person, thats for sure. Nobody wishes anything like that to happen. He said, however that in his opinion the policemen acted in line with law and their training.

We can clearly rule out any link between the police intervention and the death, his deputy Zbynek Dvorak added. Police said the cause of death was an overdose of crystal meth.

Three police officers were involved in Saturdays incident in the northern city of Teplice.

Video footage shows one of them kneeling on the mans neck for several minutes. The man, who has not been officially named, later died in an ambulance.

Roma activists reject the police explanation and are planning a protest rally on Saturday in Teplice.

I'm angry, Jan Duzda, a music producer who is a Roma told The Associated Press in an interview in English I'm angry because this is not for the first time. It's really strange, Duzda said. My question is why he died?

Duzda said that when he looked at a video of the incident, he wondered why they needed to restrain the man for so long. "There's really something wrong.

He said that attacks on his embattled minority are common in the country, adding: Treatment from the police side is very, very bad.

Roma have long suffered racism and discrimination in eastern Europe and continue to face huge hurdles in employment and education.

Some compare the incident to the killing of George Floyd, a Black American man who died when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.

Europes main human rights body, the Council of Europe, Amnesty International and the governments envoy for human rights all called for a thorough and independent investigation while the countrys deputy ombudsman said she will launch a separate probe into it.

While police have not concluded their own probe, an independent government agency that investigates crimes committed by police said on Thursday that after assessing available information, it didnt consider the police action illegal and therefore will not open a criminal investigation, the General Inspectorate of Security Forces said in a statement.

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Associated Press Central and Eastern Europe News Director Amer Cohadzic contributed.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  Dartmouth College has relaxed many of its COVID-19 rules, such as no longer requiring people who are fully vaccinated to wear masks, and lifting physical distancing and dining restrictions.

Provost Joseph Helble said Wednesday that Dartmouth was easing restrictions in light of the fact that 83% of the students who will be on campus this summer have been vaccinated, the Valley News reported. The college announced in April that all students will be required to be vaccinated ahead of the fall term.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  Education officials on Thursday released recommendations to address deficiencies at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, including a plan to consolidate the schools.

The Department of Education released a 39-page report following an on-site review at the schools in Romney. The schools offer educational programs for hearing impaired and visually impaired students.

The review resulted in issues of noncompliance in areas such as student care, facilities, finance, school leadership and transportation, the department said in a news release.

We will always focus on what is best for the children of our state, especially those in vulnerable circumstances, state Board of Education President Miller Hall said in a statement. The Board is committed to the process of restoring the vision and mission of the school so that it can best serve this important role. It is going to take some time; however, it is essential that we understand the magnitude of the issues in order to begin implementing the necessary measures.

The schools currently house 93 students and 24 teachers. During a change in administration at the schools, the department provided increased support through the 2020 school year. But more concerns came up, prompting a special review. Staff members conducted classroom visits, facility tours and examined financial records and student files in late April.

In addition to areas of noncompliance, the review found the need for improved documentation, family communication and the utilization and maintenance of facilities.

Consolidation of the two schools will begin this summer.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin's most-visited park, is soon to be getting larger.

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board on Wednesday unanimously approved purchasing a 220-acre property for $1.64 million to add onto the park, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

It is truly a great potential addition to Devils Lake State Park, Jim Lemke, real estate section chief at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, told the board. The land is very useful. Its beautifully wooded with mature hardwoods and has potential of many different opportunities for public use.

The parcel is located on the southwestern edge of the park and could be used for hunting and wildlife watching, and could also be developed into hiking and mountain biking trails, according to a memo on the proposed purchase.

The money to purchase the land would come from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which the state uses to purchase new land for parks and recreation areas.

Located outside of Baraboo and 45 minutes north of Madison, the approximately 9,200-acre Devils Lake was created in 1911 and is the third-oldest state park. There were 2.1 million visitors to Devils Lake last year, making it Wisconsins most popular park.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Legislative analysts say New Mexico is the only top oil-producing state to have recovered to pre-pandemic levels of production, but they warned Wednesday that the market remains volatile.

Staff members with the Legislative Finance Committee suggested that the panel of lawmakers take care not to grow the states budget based on current forecasts that suggest more favorable revenues from the oil and gas industry over the short term.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP)  A premier public high school in northern Virginia has dramatically increased the number of Black and Hispanic students offered admission under a new application system that some Asian American parents say discriminates against their children.

On Wednesday, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County released demographic data on the 550 students who were offered admission to the school this fall as incoming freshmen. The percentage of Black students increased from 1% last year to 7% this year. Hispanic representation increased from 3% to 11% and white representation increased from 18% to 22%.

Asian American representation decreased from 73% to 54%.

Across the county school system as a whole, about 38% of students are white, 27% are Hispanic, 20% are Asian and 10% are Black.

TJ, as the school is commonly known, routinely ranks as one of the best public schools in the country  it was named best school in the country in the most recent rankings from U.S. News and World Report. For decades, though, Black and Hispanic students have been underrepresented under an admissions system that relied heavily on standardized testing.

This year, the county school board overhauled the admissions process, eliminating the standardized testing and application fees. Slots were set aside for the top students at each of the county's middle schools, replacing a system where a handful of top-performing middle schools dominated the process.

The drop in Asian American representation was anticipated: a group of parents has sued the school board in federal court, claiming the new procedures discriminate against Asian American students who thrived under the old system. The judge hearing the case declined to issue an injunction barring the new rules from taking effect, but made clear in his comments that he has concerns about the school system's new policies.

He sounded skeptical when lawyers for the school system insisted the new system is race neutral.

"Everybody knows the policy is not race neutral, and that its designed to affect the racial composition of the school, Judge Claude Hilton said. You can say all sorts of beautiful things while youre doing others.

In an interview Thursday, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand insisted the new policies are race neutral, and said he expects them to withstand legal scrutiny. He compared the new admissions process to one used by public universities in Texas, which guarantees admission to the top 10% of students at high schools across the state. That system has withstood legal challenges from applicants who argued the geographical set-asides function as a proxy for racial quotas.

If it's good enough for Texas universities, it's good enough for FCPS, Brabrand said.

Asra Nomani, a TJ parent and member of the parent group Coalition for TJ that filed the discrimination lawsuit, said the sharp drop in Asian American enrollment is exactly what the school board wanted.

The numbers validate the argument that they've launched a targeted attack on Asian Americans, Nomani said, noting that all other racial groups, including whites, saw their proportional representation increase under the new system. There are so many deserving students that were gerrymandered out of this school by geographic quotas and socioeconomic factors that were used as a proxy for race.

The debate over TJ admissions mirrors a national one, with high-profile magnet schools in New York and California engaged in similar discussions about increasing Black and Hispanic enrollment at schools with majority Asian student bodies.
BRUSSELS (AP)  European lawmakers approved Thursday a climate law making the bloc's commitment to reach climate neutrality by 2050 a binding obligation.

The deal had been agreed with member states in April and EU legislators approved it with 442 votes to 203, and 51 abstentions.

Under the law, the EU will also commit itself to an intermediate target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The 2030 target had been 40%, but under the pressure of increasing evidence of climate change  and a more environmentally conscious electorate  it was pushed up.

The European Parliament had initially proposed an even greater 60% reduction in emissions.

I would have preferred to go even further, but this is a good deal based on science that will make a big difference," said Parliament rapporteur Jytte Guteland. The EU must now reduce emissions more in the next decade than it has in the previous three decades combined, and we have new and more ambitious targets that can inspire more countries to step up.

World leaders agreed six years ago in Paris to keep the global warming increase to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and ideally no more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 F) by the end of the century. Scientists say countries will miss both of those goals by a wide margin unless drastic steps are taken to begin cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Once approved by the Council, the EU institution representing member states, the regulation will become a law entering into force 20 days later.

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Follow all AP coverage of climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/Climate
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union slapped economic sanctions on Belarus on Thursday in response to what the bloc called the escalation of serious human rights violations including the detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich.

The sanctions target the economy but are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.

Lukashenko raised the prospect of imposing martial law in response to the sanctions, but it was not clear what the aim would be of such a move.

We must show these scoundrels on the other side of the border that their sanctions are their impotence, he said, according to a report on the presidential website.

Pratasevich, a dissident journalist, was arrested May 23 after Belarusian flight controllers ordered a Ryanair jet traveling from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk.

The sanctions agreed upon Thursday target industries including potash  a common fertilizer ingredient  tobacco industry exports and petroleum products.

Trade in petroleum products, potassium chloride (potash), and goods used for the production or manufacturing of tobacco products is restricted, the EU said. The sanctions also include a ban on sales to Belarus of equipment and software that can be used to monitor the internet and phone calls.

The sanctions also restrict Belarus' access to EU capital markets and halted payments to the country's public sector by the European Investment Bank.

The EU has gradually ratcheted up sanctions since Lukashenko  dubbed the last dictator in Europe  won a sixth term last August in elections the bloc called fraudulent.

The 27-nation bloc has taken a tougher line since the Ryanair incident, and over the countrys alleged use of migrants to pressure neighboring Lithuania, which has provided a safe haven to Belarusian opposition figures and is one of Lukashenkos most vocal critics.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 78 Belarus officials and froze the assets of 8 entities, which are usually companies, banks, or associations. A total of 166 people and 15 entities in Belarus are now under EU restrictive measures. The United States, Britain and Canada also slapped sanctions on senior Belarus officials.

Independent political analyst Alexander Klaskouski told the Associated Press that the economic sanctions are much stricter and more painful than the previous measures, which consisted only of blacklists of Belarusian officials and had practically no effect on Lukashenkas behavior."

He said the EU imposed the sanctions despite fears the measures could push Belarus towards Russia and make Lukashenko easy prey for the Kremlin.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said earlier that the economic sanctions would take aim at "economic areas that are of particular significance for Belarus and for the regimes income.

That provoked an angry reaction from Belarus, with the country's foreign ministry saying they would hurt ordinary people and border on the declaration of an economic war. The ministry warned the that the country would be forced to take retaliatory measures that would hurt Western companies.

Belarus has been shaken by months of protests fueled by Lukashenkos re-election. The authorities responded with a massive crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police. Most opposition leaders have been jailed or forced to leave the country.

Since he was pulled off the Ryanair flight in Minsk, Pratasevich has been paraded on state TV, tearfully apologizing for his actions and praising Lukashenko. His parents, members of the opposition and others in the West believe he spoke under duress, with some saying there were signs he had been beaten.

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Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP)  A U.S. judge in Texas on Wednesday sentenced a former governor of a northern state in Mexico to three years in prison following his guilty plea last year in a money laundering scheme, prosecutors said.

Former Coahuila state Gov. Jorge Juan Torres Lopez, 67, had pleaded guilty to money laundering in June 2020 in Corpus Christi.
ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP)  After being missing for 60 years, the gravesite of Louisiana Gov. Joseph Walker has been found in Rapides Parish in the central part of the state.

Walker was the 13th governor of Louisiana, serving from 1850 to 1853.

Local historians found the gravesite off Bayou Rapides Road in the city of Alexandria after searching for the landmark since the 1950s, KALB-TV reported.

They are hoping a historical marker will be placed at the site.

The fact that the graveyard had been missing for so long is because the tombstone or the markers that we know from that time period are not where they used to be, said Benjamin Fuselier, a metal detectorist.

When Walker died in 1856, he was buried in a family graveyard located on his property in Rapides Parish. In 1864, his home burned to the ground. A century later, nobody could find the grave.

Something happened around 1960 in which the graveyard was plowed under to use for cultivation of plants. It is a great loss to our states history, said local historian Michael Wynne.

Historians said that aerial maps, artifacts and witness statements helped pinpoint the location of Walkers burial site several weeks ago.

The finding of this grave for Governor Walker is very important in our states history, Wynne said. In fact, he is the youngest governor that we never knew where the grave was. His graveyard has been missing for 60 years, and we have now found it.
LONDON (AP)  Google will delay by nearly two years the phase out of Chrome web browser technology that tracks users for ad purposes, saying that it needs more time to develop a replacement system.

The tech giant on Thursday moved its deadline to remove so-called third-party cookies to late 2023 rather than January 2022 as was initially planned.

We need to move at a responsible pace, allowing sufficient time for public discussion on the right solutions and for publishers and the advertising industry to migrate their services, Vinay Goel, the director of privacy engineering for Chrome, said in a blog post.

Third-party cookies are snippets of code that log user info and are used by advertisers to more effectively target their campaigns, thereby helping fund free online content such as newspapers and blogs. However, theyve also been a longstanding source of privacy concerns because they can be employed to track users across the internet.

Google is retiring third-party cookies as it overhauls Chrome to tighten privacy, but the proposals have shaken up the online advertising industry, raising fears that replacement technology will leave even less room for online ad rivals. European Union and British regulators have been investigating Google's plans, known as Privacy Sandbox.

To resolve the U.K. probe, the company has offered the country's competition watchdog a role overseeing the cookie phaseout. It has also promised not to discriminate against rival digital advertising companies when designing the new technology and pledged to give the U.K. competition watchdog 60 days notice before removing third-party cookies.

Goel said Google aims to have the new technology available by the end of 2022 for developers to start adopting, which would allow third-party cookies to be phased out of Chrome over three months ending in late 2023. That timeline is in line with the commitments Google has made to the U.K. competition watchdog, Goel said.

One of the leading ideas to replace third-party cookies is a technique that hides users in large online groups based on their interests while keeping web browsing histories on devices to maintain privacy.

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For all of APs tech coverage, visit https://apnews.com/apf-technology

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Follow Kelvin Chan at https://www.twitter.com/chanman
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A GOP-backed bill aiming to expand the definition of obstructing justice in Ohio to include failure to follow a lawful order or diverting a law enforcement officers attention moved forward Thursday.

Republican lawmakers voted the House bill out of committee after weeks of intense testimony, where critics said the anti-protest proposal will be selectively enforced and disproportionately impact Black people.

If Derek Chauvin had been distracted by the crowd, "maybe George Floyd would still be here, Marsita Ferguson, of the Black Lives Matter chapter in Lake County, wrote in her opponent testimony. This is just a scare tactic to stop us from making change.

The bill, introduced by GOP Reps. Jeffrey LaRae and Shane Wilkin, is one of four proposals by the majority party aimed at criminalizing or increasing penalties associated with behavior at protests in the wake of mass demonstrations that swept across Ohio last year in response to Floyd's killing.

The events that have transpired over the course of these past several months have demonstrated a necessity to amend our states obstruction of justice law that will further protect law enforcement officers and members of the general public, Wilkin said upon introducing the proposal in March.

The bill has also received a lot of pushback from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, who have called it an effort to discourage free speech and the right to protest.

LaRae said previously that the intent of the bill is not to infringe upon those rights but, violence is not a protected right and should not be tolerated.

Beyond Ohio, a number of states, most notably Florida, have decided to respond to the last year filled with racial injustice protests over police brutality by clamping down on protesters and providing police with more power and authority.

The Ohio bill would make failure to follow an officer's order as well as diverting their attention a second-degree misdemeanor unless it creates the risk of physical harm to any person, in which case it would be a fifth-degree felony.

Many opponents of the bill also said the bill language was too vague and broad in its definition and could in turn be used to punish protesters or bystanders who take photos or videos of a police encounter or taunt an officer.

As a result of the criticism, a substitute version of the bill removed the words harass and annoy and added an amendment to clarify that it does not prohibit a person from using audio or video recording equipment to record a law enforcement officer in the course of their duty.

But advocates in the Black community, like Joe Mallory, president of the Cincinnati NAACP, said the legislation is unnecessary and counter-productive to ongoing efforts and achievements toward better police and community relations.

"This is a solution looking for a problem, he added.

Earlier this month, the Senate passed a GOP bill that would increase penalties on protesters for alleged offenses against law enforcement. The bill will now work its way through the House criminal justice committee.

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Farnoush Amiri 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.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  A defrocked Greek Orthodox priest was charged Thursday with multiple counts of causing grievous bodily harm over an acid attack that injured seven senior bishops and three other people.

The 37-year-old Greek man was led to court in lay clothing, handcuffs, and under a heavily armed police escort.

He was arrested by a police guard late Wednesday after he allegedly threw acid at the bishops following their announcement, at a disciplinary hearing, that he had been formally removed from the clergy for alleged misconduct.

The victims of the attack were hospitalized with burns, two in more serious condition. The arresting police officer was also hospitalized with burns. Most were released Thursday.

Photographs of the scene of the attack in central Athens, shown on state ERT TV, showed bloodstains and acid burns on the walls of the room where the hearing was held and on small desks where the bishops had been seated.

Discarded black robes thrown off by the bishops and attending clergy also had bloodstains and burn holes.

The governing Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church described the attack as abhorrent and unprecedented, confirming that the suspect had been removed from the priesthood after holding the lower rank of deacon.

Church officials said he was removed for ecclesiastical and criminal offenses including fraud and illegal possession of drugs, adding that he had made threatening posts on social media ahead of Wednesdays hearing.

The attack was also condemned by Greece's government, President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I who is based in Istanbul, Turkey.

Police have not said what caustic substance was used in the attack but the suspect's lawyer described it as acid when talking to reporters outside a courthouse where the charges were being prepared.

The suspect ... is a psychiatric patient who is taking strong medication, his lawyer Andreas Theodoropoulos said. He did not fully comprehend the consequences of his action ... but was responding to a perceived injustice.

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Follow Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos
MOBILE, Ala. (AP)  Health officials are warning people not to swim in two south Alabama rivers.

The Mobile County Health Department is advising no one to swim in Dog River and Fowl River due to poor water quality.

Local health officials and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management routinely collect water samples from 25 coastal recreational sites throughout Mobile and Baldwin Counties to test water quality, Al.com reported. The testing process looks for enterococci bacteria.

State officials say an increase in bacteria in Dog and Fowl Rivers could be due to recent rainstorms, which cause overflowing sewage, malfunctioning septic systems and storm water runoff.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are set to decide whether to hear a case filed by Maine families who want to use a state tuition program to send their children to religious schools.

The case concerns a Maine Department of Education rule that allows families who live in towns that don't have public schools to receive public tuition dollars to send their children to the public or private school of their choosing. The program excludes religious schools, and families who want to send their children to Christian schools in Bangor and Waterville sued to try to change that.

The justices were slated to meet Thursday to consider whether to hear the case. It was unclear when they would issue a decision about whether the case can go forward.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit rejected the lawsuit last year, and the families appealed to the high court. They face the possibility of taking their case to a Supreme Court that has shifted in a conservative direction since they first filed in federal court three years ago.

Conflicting rules about the subject of public tuition assistance have led to confusion in lower courts, so the Supreme Court should take up the case, said Michael Bindas, the lead attorney for the families and a lawyer with the libertarian public interest firm Institute for Justice.

Only the Supreme Court can provide that clarity, and make sure students aren't being treated differently based on where they reside, Bindas said. The government shouldn't be able to deny those parents the ability to send their children to the best available education for them.

The lawsuit was first filed after the Supreme Court ruled that a Missouri program was wrong to deny a grant to a religious school for playground resurfacing. The issue of public funding for religious schools has also come up in other states.

The Supreme Court ruled in a Montana case last year that states have to give religious schools the same access to public money that other private schools benefit from. Vermont has also faced lawsuits over a voucher program for students who live in locales that don't have their own schools. The issue has also been raised in New Hampshire.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine has filed court papers in support of Maine's law that excludes religious schools from the tuition program. States aren't obligated to fund religious schools, ACLU of Maine legal director Zachary Heiden said.

Religious views infuse everything, as part of their curriculum and how they are dedicated to training future religious leaders, Heiden said. Which is absolutely something they can do, but it's not something the government should be required to fund.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP)  The revenge of the cows heated up Thursday with yet another instance of a herd getting loose in a U.S. community.

This time a cattle-hauling truck rolled over along Interstate 64 in West Virginia, and an emergency dispatcher in Cabell County said a bridge connecting Huntington to Lawrence County, Ohio, also had to be shut down temporarily.

The dispatcher, who cited policy in declining to give his name, said authorities were trying to determine how many cattle were on the truck. However, they took off in several directions, including onto the nearby bridge.

The dispatcher said police in Ohio told him that theyre running up and down the highway there, too.

Firefighters were dispatched to assist the westbound truck, which ended up in the highway's median. The driver was trapped for nearly two hours before being removed from the truck with minor injuries, Huntington Fire Chief Jan Rader told The Herald-Dispatch. The accident forced the interstate to be shut down in both directions for several hours.

Huntington is home to Marshall University, whose nickname happens to be the Thundering Herd.

It marked at least the third time that week that cows have gotten loose and prompted responses in U.S. cities, including the second time this week in West Virginia.

On Wednesday, 40 cows escaped a California slaughterhouse and ended up in a Los Angeles suburb where one was killed after charging a family.

Three loose cows roamed the streets of Bluefield, West Virginia, on Monday. Trains had to be stopped as authorities tried to coax the animals off of railroad tracks.
REGINA, Saskatchewan  A Canadian Indigenous group on Wednesday announced the horrific and shocking discovery of the remains of hundreds of children at the site of a former school in the province of Saskatchewan, the largest such discovery to date.

It came weeks after the remains of 215 children were found in unmarked graves on the grounds of another former boarding school in British Columbia.

Both schools were part of a system that took Indigenous children in the country from their families, sometimes by force, and housed them in boarding schools. A National Truth and Reconciliation Commission called the practice cultural genocide. Many children never returned home and their families were given only vague explanations of their fates, or none at all.

In a statement, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations said that the latest remains numbered in the hundreds and were the most significantly substantial to date in Canada. It did not give an exact figure.

The discovery was made by the Cowessess First Nation at the Marieval Indian Residential School, about 87 miles from the provincial capital, Regina. The federations chief, Bobby Cameron, said that the group planned a formal announcement Thursday.

There was always talk and speculation and stories, but to see this number  its a pretty significant number, Cameron said. Its going to be difficult and painful and heartbreaking.

The latest findings are likely to deepen the nations debate over its history of exploiting Indigenous people. The discoveries will refocus attention on the horrors of the schools where sexual, physical and emotional abuse were common, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found.

When Justin Trudeau took office as the prime minister in 2015, he placed taking up the commissions 94 recommendations as his top priority. But progress has been slow, in part because some of them are beyond the federal governments control. Cameron and several other Indigenous leaders say that they hope the discovery of the childrens remains will accelerate the process.

The investigations into the fate of the missing children are a vindication for Canadas Indigenous people, whose oral histories suggesting that thousands of children had disappeared from the schools had often been met with skepticism.

Theres no denying this: All of the stories told by our survivors are true, Cameron said. This is what the Catholic Church in Canada and the government of Canada of the day forced on our children.

It is unclear how many children were sent to the schools, never to return home. Disease, including the Spanish flu outbreak a century ago, often swept through the overcrowded school dormitories. Some children died from exposure after escaping. And testimony by former students to the commission included accounts of the incineration of bodies of infants born to girls who had been impregnated by priests and monks.

The commission estimated that about 4,100 children vanished. But an Indigenous former judge who led the panel said in an email earlier this month that he now believed the number was well beyond 10,000.

The remains of the 215 children were discovered at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia through the use of ground-penetrating radar. Much like an MRI scan, the technology produces images of anomalies in the soil.

An official at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations said the latest analysis, which relied on the same technology, began about three weeks ago, not long after the announcement of preliminary findings about the Kamloops school by Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation.

The search at the Kamloops school is still continuing and the First Nation leaders say they expected a final report would increase the number of graves found.

When the commission attempted to look into the question of missing Indigenous children, the Conservative government at the time turned down its request for money to finance searches. Now, several federal governments have offered to fund searches after the Kamloops discovery. On Tuesday, the government announced that it would provide just under 4.9 million Canadian dollars (about $3.9 million) to Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan to search for graves. The provincial government previously committed 2 million Canadian dollars ($1.6 million).

In a statement, Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, predicted that remains of more children would be found elsewhere.

Sadly, other Saskatchewan First Nations will experience the same shock and despair as the search for graves continues, he wrote.

Like Kamloops, the Marieval school, which opened in 1899, was operated for most of its history by the Roman Catholic Church for the government of Canada. A marked cemetery still exists on the grounds of the school, which closed in 1997 and was subsequently demolished. The commission, relying on testimony from former students and archival materials, listed the Marieval school as a likely site for unmarked graves.

The commission called for a papal apology for the role of the church, which operated about 70% of the schools. (The rest were run by Protestant denominations.) But despite a personal appeal from Trudeau to the Vatican, Pope Francis has still not taken that step. By contrast, the leadership of the United Church of Canada, the countrys largest Protestant denomination, apologized for its role in running schools in 1986.

Former students of the Saskatchewan residential schools were particularly active in litigation against the government, resulting in financial settlements and the establishment of the commission, which heard testimony from more than 6,700 witnesses over six years.

Since the Kamloops announcement, Cameron said, he has been traveling around the province, where farming and mining are major industries, looking at former school sites.

You can see with your plain eye the indent of the ground where these bodies are to be found, he said of some locations. These children are sitting there, waiting to be found.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  As California's wildfire season looms, threatening once again to break records for destruction, tens of thousands of rural homeowners risk facing the flames without enough insurance to rebuild if their homes burn.

Insurers have been taking a hard look at the millions of Californians who live in areas with a very high risk of wildfires, especially in recent years when a series of costly fires incinerated thousands of rural homes.

From 2015 through 2019, insurers dropped property coverage for more than 143,000 customers in 13 counties, according to California Insurance Department figures reported by the Sacramento Bee.

In the Sierra Nevada foothills, more than 25,000 customers lost their insurance in Nevada and Placer counties alone.

Every buyer in Nevada County is scared about that, Tiffni Hald, a Nevada City real estate agent, told the Bee. Every buyer is worried about, Can I get insurance? Theres nobody writing (coverage) up here at all.

The number of people whose policies weren't renewed climbed sharply in areas where wildfires caused massive damage. Replacement insurance coverage is limited and usually much more costly.

During the same 2015-2019 period, tens of thousands of people enrolled in California's FAIR Plan, an insurance pool that provides basic fire insurance coverage for high-risk properties that traditional insurers won't cover, according to its website. It is considered the state's insurer of last resort."

Last September, the Glass Fire destroyed more than 650 homes in Napa and Sonoma counties in California's wine country, including as many as one-third of the homes in Deer Park. Even before the fire, insurers had dropped insurance for many residents of the community, which is in an area that the state fire agency, Cal Fire, designates as a wildfire hazard severity zone.

I know a lot of people are deciding, if they do rebuild, can they get insurance? Roger Lutz III, the Deer Park fire chief, told the Bee.

Last year, state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a moratorium that barred insurance companies from non-renewing or cancelling residential property policies for homes near or in areas that burned in 2020 wildfires. However, the mortatorium  the second in two years expires in November, bringing a renewed threat of cancellation to more than 2 million policyholders while the summer-through-fall fire season is still in swing.

Lynn and Kirk Grace of Deer Park lost their home in the Glass Fire. The couple saved their dog and two horses but lost a cat and chickens, along with oak and fir trees.

The Graces were covered by the FAIR Plan but the couple told the Bee it won't pay enough to rebuild their home, a project their contractor estimates will cost at least $800,000.

We will be hundreds of thousands of dollars short, Grace said. A number of our neighbors are questioning whether theyre going to be able to do this.

But the family, as with many others, plans to remain in the dangerous fire area.

We would have to completely uproot ourselves and go somewhere strange in our golden years, said Grace, 59. My familys been here since the 1850s ... This is our new reality and were going to make it work.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Eli Lilly is nearly ready to take another shot at getting approval for a possible Alzheimers drug.

The drugmaker said Thursday that it plans to submit its potential treatment donanemab to the Food and Drug Administration later this year.

The announcement comes a few weeks after the FDA approved a treatment from rival Biogen, despite warnings from the agencys independent advisers that it hasnt been shown to help slow the brain-destroying disease.

The agency approved Biogens Aduhelm based on study results showing it seemed reasonably likely to benefit Alzheimers patients. Its the first new Alzheimers drug in nearly 20 years and the only therapy that U.S. regulators have said can likely alter the course of the disease, rather than temporarily ease symptoms like thinking problems, memory lapses and anxiety.

Both Aduhelm and Lillys potential treatment, donanemab, help clear a protein called beta-amyloid from the brain.

Lilly said Thursday that it will seek approval for donanemab based on results from a mid-stage clinical study of the drug involving 272 patients with an early form of the disease. Researchers said donanemab showed signs of slowing a decline in cognition and daily function for patients who took it compared to those who took a placebo or fake drug.

The FDA gave donanemab a breakthrough therapy designation, which is intended to speed the development and review of drugs that show signs of being an improvement over established treatments.

Lilly may be able to file its application for approval in the next two or three months since the drugmaker appears to have all the data it needs, said Dr. Vamil Divan, an analyst who covers the company for Mizhuho Securities USA.

The Indianapolis company also will examine the drug in a larger, late-stage study. A spokeswoman said Lilly plans to complete enrollment in that study by the end of the year, and an 18-month treatment period will follow.

Biogen said Wednesday that another experimental Alzheimers treatment it developed with Japans Eisai Co. also received a breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA. Researchers are examining that drug, lecanemab, in a late-stage study.

The companies gave no time frame for when they might seek regulatory approval.

Some 6 million people in the U.S. and many more worldwide have Alzheimers disease, which gradually attacks areas of the brain needed for memory, reasoning, communication and basic daily tasks.

Lilly and several other drugmakers have previously failed in attempts to find a treatment that slows the progression of the mind-robbing disease.

More than four years ago, Lilly said another potential drug it developed called solanezumab did not work better than a placebo in a study of over 2,100 people.

That drug also aimed to clear potentially harmful protein from the brain.

Eli Lilly and Co. shares jumped $15.87, or 7.3%, to close Thursday at $232.97, while the Standard & Poors 500 index climbed less than 1%.

Shares of Biogen fell 6.1%, or $22.74, to end the day at $349.16.

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Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: @thpmurphy
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP)  A longtime leader of the Havasupai Tribe who fought to protect its resources by lobbying against mining around the Grand Canyon and snowmaking at an Arizona ski resort has died.

Services for Rex Tilousi begin Friday with a traditional wake at the familys home in the village of Supai, followed by public events and burial over the weekend at the Grand Canyon, where Tilousi retired as a cultural interpreter for the national park.

Hes going to be there to protect it for eternity, so that provided some comfort to the family, said his niece, Carletta Tilousi.

Rex Tilousi died last week of natural causes with his family at his side, she said. He was 73.

Tilousi served as a tribal leader for more than 30 years, including multiple stints as chairman and vice chairman of the small tribe whose reservation lies deep in a gorge off the Grand Canyon.

He also was a spiritual leader, working to preserve the tribes way of life, its songs and the Grand Canyon that was home to the Havasupai before it became a national park, the tribe said. Friends, family and co-workers remembered him as a peaceful, kind-hearted man with a warm and welcoming spirit.

When Tilousi wrapped up interpretive talks at the Grand Canyon, visitors would follow him yearning for more, said Jan Balsom, a senior adviser at the park.

I joked about him being a buddha, she said. He had this effect on people. As they listened to him, they were brought into his world and his way of understanding the Grand Canyon.

As an advocate, Tilousi sought to keep companies from mining near the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park and joined other tribes in speaking out against snowmaking at the Arizona Snowbowl outside Flagstaff. In both cases, he feared the tribes water resources could become contaminated and the tribes spiritual practices negatively affected.

The work took him to the Arizona Legislature and across the country and world, raising the profile of the Havasupai Tribe.

He was very committed to voicing concerns on behalf of the animals and the water and the people, Carletta Tilousi said. He committed all his time to public service, and that was very impressive.

The federal government ultimately approved snowmaking with reclaimed water. Uranium mining has been at a standstill while companies wait for prices to rebound.

Stephen Hirst, the author of a book on the Havasupai called I am the Grand Canyon, had been working with Tilousi to write down stories and remembrances, and record songs so that Havasupai children could have them.

We didnt get that project finished, unfortunately, but there are some amazing stories, Hirst said.

Roger Clark recalled one of the first conversations he had with Tilousi, who asked Clark why he should trust him as a conservationist. Clark acknowledged that Tilousi had no reason to trust him as an outsider but said he cared about the Grand Canyon and could learn a lot from Tilousis connection to the land.

He smiled and said, OK, Roger Ramjet, Clark said, referencing a classic cartoon character who was out to save the world.

That really started our relationship in a humorous, compassionate and respectful way, and it got richer, from my point of view, from then on, Clark said.

On the Havasupai reservation, Tilousi hunted, rode horses and shared Havasupai stories and culture that he had to learn later in life. Hirst said many tribal stories were passed down during the winter when children, including Tilousi, were away at boarding school.

It was hard for him, Hirst said. So he became determined to do that  he learned old songs.

Tilousi graduated from Phoenix Indian School in 1967. He later attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas.

Tilousi and his wife, Rosella Sinyella Tilousi, had two daughters and four grandchildren. Tilousi and his wife, who died last year, will be buried alongside each other and near other Havasupai tribal members at the cemetery within Grand Canyon National Park.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Xavier Bettel is a jaunty, sharply-dressed man with a keen sense of humor who leads one of Europe's smallest but richest countries. But on Thursday, Luxembourgs first openly gay prime minister looked deflated and disappointed.

Not for the first time, Bettel felt compelled to speak out in public about his sexuality. This time because of a new law in Hungary that bans the sharing of content about LGBT issues with minors. Hungary says the law protects children. Critics say it links homosexuality with pedophilia.

Being gay is not a choice. You know, I did not just wake up one day after watching some advertising or Modern Family and just become gay. That is not how life is. Life is it is in me. It is not something I chose, Bettel said, ahead of a European Union summit.

Accepting yourself is already very hard, so being stigmatized is it is very far reaching, said Bettel, before he was due to come face to face with the driving force behind the bill, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, around the EUs top table in Brussels.

The parliamentary bill was signed into law on Wednesday by Hungarian President Janos Ader. Widely condemned by human rights groups, it prohibits sharing content on homosexuality or sex reassignment to people under 18 in school sex education programs, films or advertisements.

Bettel, who married his husband six years ago, believes thats out of touch with reality.

The most difficult thing for me was to accept myself when I realized that I was in love with this person of my sex, it was hard to say to my parents, hard to say to my family, Bettel said. I see how many young people kill themselves because they do not accept that.

Bettel complained bitterly about the mixing of pedophilia, of homosexuality, of pornography.

I was young, I was a homosexual. I am a homosexual. I am not so young now, but I do not consider myself to be a danger, the 48-year-old former TV talk-show host told reporters.

To be nationally blamed, to be considered as not normal, to be considered as a danger for young people it is  it is not realizing that being gay is not a choice. But being intolerant is a choice and I will stay intolerant to intolerance, and this will be today my fight, Bettel said.

Arriving at the summit, Orban ruled out withdrawing the law. He said it had already been published and defended himself as a champion of gay rights.

I (was) a freedom fighter in the Communist regime. Homosexuality was punished and I fought for their freedom and their rights. I am defending the rights of homosexual guys. But this law is not about them, its about the rights of the kids and the parents, Orban said.

Things need to be said. I used to have respect for Mr Orban, Bettel said. He said that joining the EU is not a one-way street. Europe is not just about laws and subsidies, its also about rights and obligations.

Its not the first time Luxembourgs premier has taken a stand. At an EU-Arab League summit in Egypt in 2019, Bettel told Arab leaders that he was married to a man and would probably face capital punishment in many of their countries.

Saying nothing was not an option for me, Bettel wrote later in a tweet.

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Sylvain Plazy in Brussels contributed to this report.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP)  A man who helped save his colleagues during a mass shooting in Virginia has received a posthumous medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that Ryan Keith Cox got the Carnegie Medal.
BOSTON (AP)  Three major Massachusetts hospital systems said Thursday they will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, even those who do not have direct contact with patients.

Leadership at Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health and Wellforce said requiring vaccinations for employees is critical to halt the spread of the coronavirus and save lives.

The evidence of COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness is overwhelming," Dr. Anne Klibanski, president and CEO of Mass General Brigham said in a statement posted on its website. Getting vaccinated is the single most important and responsible step each of us can take to put an end to this devastating pandemic and protect patients, families, and each other.

The inoculation requirement will kick in once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants full approval to a vaccine. Three are currently being administered in the U.S. under Emergency Use Authorization.

Mass General Brigham is the largest private employer in the state with about 80,000 employees, about 85% of whom have already been vaccinated.

The three systems have about 130,000 employees total.

Dr. Kevin Tabb, chief executive of Beth Israel Lahey, said in a video message to employees that they have a responsibility to protect each other and their patients.

I think it would be very hard for any of us, either individually or collectively as an organization, to live with ourselves knowing that we have put our patients at risk and exposed them and potentially caused harm or death if we can avoid it. And we can avoid it, Tabb said.

Hospital systems in other states have announced similar mandates.

Workers can request exemptions for medical and religious reasons.

Some other hospital systems in the state said they expect to have vaccine mandates.

The UMass Memorial Health Care system in central Massachusetts eventually plans to mandate the vaccine for its workers when they get full FDA approval, CEO Dr. Eric Dickson told The Boston Globe.

Baystate Health, which operates several hospitals in western Massachusetts, is currently not mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for employees and will be evaluating our plans going forward, president and CEO Mark Keroack told Masslive.com.

Many hospitals in the state already mandate flu vaccinations as a condition of employment.

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VIRUS BY THE NUMBERS

The number of new daily cases of COVID-19 increased by nearly 80 on Thursday while the number of newly confirmed coronavirus deaths in Massachusetts rose by four.

The new numbers pushed the states confirmed COVID-19 death toll to 17,622 since the start of the pandemic, while its confirmed caseload rose to more than 663,400.

The true number of cases is likely higher because studies suggest some people can be infected and not feel sick.

There were about 100 people reported hospitalized Thursday because of confirmed cases of COVID-19, with about 30 in intensive care units.

The average age of those hospitalized was 60. There were an estimated 1,600 people with current active cases of COVID-19 in the state.

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IMMUNIZATIONS

More than 8.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Massachusetts as of Thursday.

That includes more than 4.3 million first doses and more than 3.8 million second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

There have been more than 272,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered.

More than 4.1 million people have been fully immunized.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  The mayor-elect of a small town in Mexico has been arrested for allegedly masterminding the killing of the candidate he replaced in the June 6 elections, prosecutors said Thursday.

Omar Ramirez Fuentes won the election in the town of Cazones because of the popularity of Rene Tovar, who was shot to death two days before the vote. Ramirez Fuentes served as Tovars campaign manager and was officially listed as his substitute from the start of the race.

Prosecutors in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz said Thursday that Ramirez Fuentes had his boss killed so he could take over as mayor.

There has been some evidence that drug cartels may have been behind many of the killings of three dozen candidates murdered in the run-up to the June 6 elections for mayorships, governors and Congress.

Most of the victims were running for local posts, and experts said the cartels want to co-opt local police and government because it makes it easier to operate kidnapping, drug and extortion schemes.

But the killing in Cazones, a town of about 24,000 near the Gulf shore, suggests that motives in the killings may have been varied.

Tovar and Ramirez Fuentes were running on the ticket of the small Citizen's Movement party. Another suspect has been detained who may have been the triggerman in the hit.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador referred to the case during his news conference on Thursday, saying, According to the investigations, one of the possible suspects was his (Tovar's) campaign manager, so that he could take over the candidacy and win.

We don't want this, this horror, Lopez Obrador said,

The Veracruz state election board will meet in the next few days to decide how to fill the mayoral post.

Lopez Obrador also said Thursday that another suspect had been detained in the 2019 ambush slayings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens near the northern border, bringing to more than 20 the number of arrests in the case.

Practically all of those who participated (in the killings) have been detained," the president said.

Adrian LeBaron, the father of one of the murdered woman, wrote in his Twitter account that the suspect arrested was known by the nickname Tolteca and was a leader of the gang, adding, Today there is one criminal less on the streets.

The three women and six children from the extended Langford, LeBaron and Miller families were ambushed and slain by suspected drug gang assassins on Nov. 4, 2019.

Initial investigations suggested a squad of gunmen from a drug gang that originated in the border city of Ciudad Juarez set up the ambush to kill members of a rival cartel. However, relatives of the victims say that at some point, the gunmen must have known who they were killing.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Executives with NBCUniversal celebrated the opening of a new production facility in New Mexico on Thursday, as state and local officials touted efforts by the film and television industry to find ways to work through the challenges that stemmed from the coronavirus pandemic.

The executives were joined at a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.

Despite the pandemic, weve had one of our best and most productive years  if not our very best year ever  with the film and television industry, the governor said in a statement. This industry has leapt back to life because they have put safety first  and they will help our state recover economically as we put the pandemic behind us.

NBCUniversal had announced in 2019 that it would build a state-of-the-art television and film studio in a warehouse district just north of downtown Albuquerque as part of a plan to expand its footprint in one of the fastest growing film production hubs in the country. The company also committed to $500 million in direct production spending over 10 years.

The media giant received more than $10 million in state and local economic development funds as incentives for locating the production facility in New Mexico.

This summer, MacGruber, a comedy series for Peacock by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, will begin filming in the facility through August 2021. It will star Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe.

Meanwhile, Netflix is moving ahead with plans to expand its operations on the southern edge of Albuquerque.
FRANKFORT, Ky (AP)  Almost all coronavirus cases reported in Kentucky during the last four weeks have been in unvaccinated residents, the states public health commissioner, Dr. Steven Stack, announced Thursday. Roughly 99% of those hospitalized were also unvaccinated.

The bottom line is, these vaccines work, they work against every known variant of concern and interest out there right now, he said a press briefing. If you get vaccinated, youve essentially got a 90% plus reduction in your risk for death and serious disease and going into the hospital.

Stack pointed towards Kentuckys low test positivity rate of 1.85% as a sign that vaccinations continue to ward off an uptick in new infections. And though Kentucky has reported a seven-week decline of cases, he added, unvaccinated residents are vulnerable to the fast-spreading delta variant.

The delta variant now accounts for more than 20% of new COVID-19 infections in the U.S., doubling in just two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Tuesday.

Though 2.2 million, about 49% of Kentuckians, are vaccinated, rates vary sharply among different age groups. For instance, while 82% of Kentuckians 65 and up are vaccinated, only one-third of young adults 18 to 29 have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

The new delta variant is dangerous, its more dangerous for younger people than previous versions, Stack said. We are going to see more younger people get hurt.

In order to persuade more people to get the vaccine, Kentucky launched a Shot at a Million Vaccine Incentive lottery earlier this month. Some 472,938 Kentuckians have entered to win and 26,636 have signed up for the chance to win college scholarships.

Kentuckians are eligible for the drawing if they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The first round of winners will be announced on July 2.

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Hudspeth Blackburn 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.
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP)  Jurors found a New Mexico man not guilty of a murder charge and deadlocked on two other felony charges in the 2018 rape and strangulation death of a 6-year-old girl.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that jurors at Leland Husts trial deadlocked on the charges of child abuse resulting in death and criminal sexual penetration of a child. Prosecutors plan to seek a new trial on those charges.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  The Republican-led New Hampshire Legislature on Thursday passed a two-year state budget that includes not only $13.5 billion in spending but tax cuts, abortion restrictions and controversial education programs and policies.

When Democrats controlled both chambers two years ago, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed the budget and forced the state to operate under a temporary spending plan until a compromise was signed into law three months later. And though Republicans won control of both the House and Senate in November, that didnt ensure a smoother path this year.

Divisions among House Republicans had threatened to derail the process, with some objecting to the inclusion of Sununus paid family and medical leave proposal and what they viewed as insufficient limits on the governors power during a state of emergency. But in the end, the House approved the spending bill on a vote of 208-172 as well as companion legislation that includes both related and unrelated policy changes on a vote of 198-181. The Senate vote on both bills was 14-10, and Sununu is expected to sign them.

Historic tax cuts, property tax relief and Paid Family Medical Leave delivered all in one sweeping action is a win for every citizen and family in this state, he said in a statement.

The compromise legislation approved Thursday spends about $300 million less than what Sununu proposed in February and roughly $150 million less than what the House initially approved in March. Republicans touted the budget as both fiscally responsible and responsive to the needs of the state as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been a tough year for all of us. Lets give the people of New Hampshire a bright light and optimism for the future, said Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford. With passage of this bill we send a signal to our people and the world: New Hampshire is coming out of this pandemic stronger, more free, more affordable, more generous and more fun than ever before.

Democrats, meanwhile, argued the budget ignores the states neediest residents while including tax cuts that will help wealthy citizens and corporations, along with $10 million to reimburse reckless investors who lost money in a Ponzi scheme. The proposal includes lowering the meals and rooms tax, reducing the business enterprise tax and increase the threshold for filing and reducing the business profits tax. It also includes the first step toward phasing out the interest and dividends tax.

Are we stealing from the poor and giving to the rich? I think so! said Sen. Lou DAllesandro, D-Manchester. Robinhood in reverse is the image thats pervasive in New Hampshire today.

Heres a look at some of the other key provisions:

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ABORTION

The budget would prohibit abortions beyond 24 weeks gestation, with exceptions only to save the life of the mother. Health care providers who provide abortion after 24 weeks gestation would face felony charges that carry penalties of up to seven years in prison.

We are only one of seven states in this country that does not put any kind of a limit on abortions, said Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry. Forty-three states in this country have agreed that at some point you have to consider the life of the infant.

Under the bill, anyone seeking an abortion procedure would be required to have an ultrasound. Sen. Tom Sherman, D-Rye, expressed his opposition to that provision by displaying a vaginal ultrasound probe, while Rep. Marjorie Smith, D-Durham, said lawmakers should not be making such mandates.

I am not a doctor, but I have never understood how a 424-person Legislature could fit in a doctors office and insert themselves between doctor and patient, ordering medical procedures such as ultrasound without regard to medical necessity, patient safety or cost, she said.

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EDUCATION

The budget includes the creation of voucher-like education freedom accounts that can be used toward private or home school expenses. It also includes much-debated provision related to education and race. An earlier version, echoing a now-rescinded Trump administration order, sought to ban discussion of divisive concepts in schools. The approved language, pitched as an effort to strengthen anti-discrimination laws, would prohibit teaching children that theyre inferior, racist, sexist or oppressive by virtue of their race, gender or other characteristics.

Opponents said the provision robs young people of an inclusive education.

True history, if we are honest, we can agree it was painful, harmful and worth of examination, said Rep. Latha Mangipudi, D-Nashua. This refusal of truth is insidious because it denies the reality we see with our own eyes and experience ourselves. Living in denial of our past makes us doomed to repeat it in the future.

Rep. Safiya Wazir, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Afghanistan, said the provision undermines what makes America a place of freedom.

We call ourselves the greatest country and we should allow discussion, she said.

One notable omission from the budget was Sununus sweeping proposal to combine the states 11 community colleges and four-year colleges and universities into one seamless system students. Lawmakers kept their finances separate in the budget for the next two, with the goal of revisiting the idea next year.

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EMERGENCY POWERS

Under current law, the governor can declare a state of emergency and renew it every 21 days as long as he or she finds it necessary to protect public safety and welfare, though the Legislature can still vote to terminate it. Thats what Sununu did when the pandemic began and continued the renewals until earlier this month.

The budgets trailer bill includes new language that would require the governor to address a joint session of the Legislature 90 days from the declaration of a state of emergency and every 90 days after that. The Legislature shall then vote on whether to terminate the state of emergency by a resolution adopted by a majority of members voting.

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Associated Press Writer Kathy McCormack contributed to this report.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A shouted tip to a state trooper about an impaired driver  "That lady is drunk!"  was enough to justify the woman's subsequent arrest, a unanimous Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a case involving constitutional protections from illegal search and seizure.

At issue before the court was the 2017 arrest of a woman in Hamilton County whose blood-alcohol levels tested at more than twice the legal limit. Lower courts sided with the woman's arguments that the tip, from an unidentified man at a gas station, was anonymous and didn't give the trooper cause to investigate.

Prosecutors said the trooper was justified in stopping the woman  Sherry Tidwell  arguing that the Department of Homeland Security's directive, If you see something, say something, applies to stopping drunken drivers just as it does to terrorist attacks.

State Patrol Sgt. Jacques Illanz did exactly what we want and expect police to do, Philip Cummings, an assistant Hamilton County prosecutor, argued in an August court filing. And indeed his quick action may have saved lives.

The court agreed, ruling that the trooper had reasonable suspicion to investigate whether the woman was driving drunk based on the tip and the trooper's own observations.

That the reliability of the unidentified customers tip "cannot be quantified with mathematical precision does not mean that it lacked investigative value, Justice Michael Donnelly wrote for the court. Based on the totality of the circumstances then confronting the officer, we hold that his investigatory stop of Tidwell was reasonable and thus did not violate the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Court records show that Illanz was finishing up a traffic crash report at a gas station in southwestern Ohio on Nov. 11, 2017, when a man walked out of the station and shouted at the trooper: Hey, you need to stop that vehicle. That lady is drunk!

The trooper stopped Tidwell as she backed out of her parking space. He said he smelled alcohol in the womans car, noted that her eyes were bloodshot and glassy and her speech was slurred, according to court records. The woman denied drinking.

Tidwell had a blood-alcohol level of 0.213% following a test by a Hamilton County sheriffs deputy who arrived at the scene, according to Supreme Court filings. The legal limit in Ohio is 0.08%. The tipster left the scene and was never identified.

Tidwell was charged with driving under the influence but successfully argued to lower courts that the stop was unconstitutional because it was based on an anonymous, unreliable tip.

Even when the trooper did stop the woman as she backed out of her parking space, his contention that her blank stare justified stopping her was misplaced, said defense attorney Tad Brittingham in a September court filing.

He also argued that the That lady is drunk! tip amounts to hearsay, since the man was relying on information told to him by the store clerk, Brittingham said. A message was left with Brittingham Thursday about the court decision.

Hamilton County appealed lower court rulings siding with Tidwell to the state Supreme Court.

The state Public Defender's Office filed a motion siding with the driver, while the Ohio Attorney General's Office is asking the high court to allow the tip to be used.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Polands state commission for fighting sex abuse of minors said Thursday it has asked the Vatican for data on abuse by the clergy in Poland because Polands church is not providing the requested information.

Commission head Blazej Kmieciak said some 30% of cases of abuse of persons aged under 15 that the commission is analyzing relate to the clergy.

He said, however, that despite written requests made earlier this year to regional leaders of Poland's Catholic Church and of other churches, only one bishops' court made its files available to the State Commission for Cases of Pedophilia.

We are receiving no documents, no information from Poland's Episcopate Conference that would allow for a substantive analysis of the cases that we need to clarify, Kmieciak told a news conference.

As a result, the commission sent a letter to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith asking, among other questions, how many cases of alleged abuse by the Polish clergy it reviewed in 2000-2020, how many ended with convictions, what the punitive measures were and how many clergymen have been removed from the church.

Commission spokeswoman Ivetta Bialy told The Associated Press the letter was sent Wednesday.

In recent years the Vatican punished and suspended a number of Polands Catholic bishops and archbishops over neglect of reports of abuse of minors by the clergy in their area of responsibility.

The commission was established in 2019 and endorsed by parliament in 2020 with the task to review reports and cases of abuse of minors under the age of 15, ensure punishment for the perpetrators and work out preventive and educative measures. It is reviewing the cases of 330 individuals and has also analyzed files of over 260 court cases that have led to convictions.

Meanwhile, a retired archbishop who was punished by the Vatican in March for failing to properly react to reports of alleged abuse of minors in his Gdansk diocese has successfully run for the lay office of the head of a district in the village of Bobrowka, where he was born 75 years ago.

The retired archbishop, Slawoj Leszek Glodz, moved to Bobrowka, in eastern Poland, after the Vatican banned him from church and lay ceremonies and ordered him to leave the Gdansk diocese.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  A judge on Thursday set a preliminary hearing for a Wisconsin man charged with killing three people and wounding three others in a shooting at a crowded bar.

Rakayo Vinson, 24, of Kenosha, faces three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and three counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the April 18 shooting at Somers House Tavern in the village of Somers in Kenosha County. He would face life in prison if convicted on any of the counts.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Roman Catholic priests who victimized Iowa children decades ago cannot be prosecuted despite a new law eliminating the statute of limitations for child sex abuse, the state attorney general says.

The law, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds last month, does not apply to cases in which the statute of limitations has already expired, Attorney General Tom Millers office said in its report Wednesday that found the amount of abuse in the Catholic Church overwhelming.

That means victims of childhood abuse who are currently 33 and over will not be able to have their abusers prosecuted because they missed the deadline to report. They also can't sue perpetrators and officials who concealed the abuse because the law didnt change the civil statute of limitations.

At least nine retired or defrocked priests and one retired nun have recently been accused of decades-old abuse in Iowa and are still alive, according to summaries of victims' complaints received by Miller's office. They include the Rev. Jerome Coyle, who allegedly admitted in 1986 to sexually abusing dozens of Iowa boys before church officials transferred him to New Mexico.

Three of Coyles victims reported to Miller's office that he abused them when he was a priest in Sanborn or Armstrong in the 1970s and 1980s. One said church officials did nothing after his mother told them in 1981 that Coyle was a sexual predator. The church provided Coyle financial assistance for years and in 2018 quietly moved him to a senior center near a Fort Dodge school.

Another man reported that he was a boy when the Rev. George McFadden sexually abused him in the early 1980s in LeMars  just one of at least 48 credible allegations against McFadden.

Both Coyle and McFadden, who was removed from the priesthood in 2001, no longer live in Iowa, according to the report.

Others who cannot face prosecution include a former priest at a state institution for troubled juveniles who was accused of sexually abusing teens in the 1980s and 1990s and fired for indecent contact. An administrative law judge later found the allegations were undetermined and church officials accepted that finding. The priest, who was not identified in the report, is retired but still has duties with the Dubuque diocese.

Two retired Cedar Falls priests who were accused of raping a boy in the 1990s and a retired Rockwell priest accused of drugging and sexually abusing a teen in the 1980s are among several others who cannot face prosecution.

The report noted that more than 100 clergy in Iowa's four dioceses have been found by the church to have been credibly accused of abusing minors over the last century. Church officials determined that allegations against dozens of others either werent credible or the conduct didnt qualify as abuse  determinations Millers office said it didnt always accept.

During its three-year review, Millers office received 45 complaints of sexual misconduct against clergy or others involved in the Catholic Church dating from the 1930s to 1997.

Sixteen were against priests or others who are not listed on the credibly accused lists, and three involved active priests. Several victims came forward for the first time. In each case, the statute of limitations already expired, the report said.

The report praised those who reported abuse and noted they had access to counseling and other resources.

No matter how old the accusation, these reports can lead to healing and reforms, the report said.

Iowa was the 14th state to eliminate the statute of limitations for child sex abuse.

During an April debate, Iowa Senate President Jake Chapman, a Republican from Adel, said abusers should not get a free pass simply because the victim did not come forward before an arbitrary deadline.

Sen. Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, called the bill a step in the right direction but warned it would still create a distinction between those who can seek justice and those who cannot. She said that should be fixed by changing the law to allow older victims to file civil lawsuits.

I wish I had better news ... for all of the people that are baby boomers that arent covered, and Gen Xers who arent covered and half of Gen Y wont be covered by this, she said.
SEATTLE (AP)  A 20-year-old Seattle man pleaded not guilty Thursday to a federal charge that he tried to join the Islamic State group.

Elvin Hunter Bgorn Williams was arrested late last month at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as he checked in for a flight to Cairo, according to federal prosecutors. A complaint filed in U.S. District Court said members of a Seattle-area mosque who had been trying to de-radicalize Williams were the ones who tipped off the FBI that he continued to espouse violence and extremism.
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP)  A judge will be asked to throw out the murder convictions of a southwestern Michigan man who is serving a life sentence for three slayings in 2005, the attorney general's office said Thursday.

Corey McCall's hearing in Berrien County court was scheduled for Friday.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP)  Police in the Kansas City suburb of Independence are investigating after a teenage girl was found shot to death.

Police responding to a call found the victim Wednesday afternoon inside a home. Her name and age have not been released. No arrests have been made.
TOWSON, Md. (AP)  Towson University has decided to remove the names of slave owners from two dormitories following a vote by the University System of Maryland board of regents allowing the school to rename them.

The university created a 10-person committee comprised of students, faculty and staff a year ago that assessed whether changing the names would comply with university guidelines, The Baltimore Sun reported. It unanimously recommended renaming Carroll Hall and Paca House. Now that the university system has given its approval, the committee will suggest how to change them.

Charles Carroll was one of Marylands first U.S. senators and William Paca served as the states third governor. Both signed the Declaration of Independence.

Paca owned at least 100 slaves when he died in 1799 and Carroll had as many as 500  ranking them among the Marylanders who owned the largest number of slaves, according to a January report by the renaming committee.

Towson University president Kim Schatzel wrote in a letter to the board of regents that the schools leadership didnt consult with students or faculty when the buildings were named.

Both opened before Towson codified its facility naming policy in 2017. The committee concluded that honoring the slave owners wouldnt meet the current guidelines. It determined that Carroll and Pacas disregard for diversity and equity doesnt align with the universitys values.

Students have called on school officials for years to change the building names. A group called Tigers for Justice collected more than 6,700 signatures demanding their removal.

Schatzel acknowledged the mens contributions as founding fathers but questioned in a letter how we can ask our students to accept living and sleeping in a residence hall that, as one student told me, was named after a man that enslaved my ancestors and tortured them as part of his daily life.

She said in a message to the university community on Monday that the process to rename the buildings will begin in the fall. The universitys shared governance bodies  the Academic Senate, Staff Senate and Student Government Association  will be required to offer input.

Towsons renaming guidelines say the buildings could be named after notable Marylanders, state landmarks or alumni and faculty who have left the university system at least a year prior.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish and U.S. military officials met in Turkeys capital on Thursday to discuss plans for Turkish troops to continue securing Kabuls airport after the withdrawal of the U.S. and other NATO troops from Afghanistan.

Turkey, NATOs only majority-Muslim member, has offered to protect and run the Hamid Karzai International airport  the main gateway into Afghanistan  after the alliance pulls out of the country. The country, which has around 500 non-combat troops in Afghanistan, is however, seeking U.S. and other allies support for the mission.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a NATO summit, that Turkey was looking for diplomatic, logistic and financial assistance from the United States to protect and operate the airport. Turkey also wanted Pakistan and Hungary to be involved in the mission, he said.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said a technical delegation from the United States had arrived for talks.

We will continue to take on the responsibility of operating the Hamid Karzai International Airport, which we have been doing for the past six years, if the necessary conditions are met, Akar said Thursday. Discussions on this matter are continuing. No decisions have been reached for now.

Akar said: We want to achieve the best result for the interests of our country and for those of Afghanistan. Thats what we are working for. Our aim is to continue working for the security, peace and welfare of our Afghan brothers.

Critics see Turkeys offer to operate the airport as being part of an effort by Erdogans government to mend ties with the United States which have deteriorated over an array of disagreements. Those have centered on Turkeys purchase of Russian weapons and U.S. support to Syrian Kurdish fighters which Ankara says are linked to a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey. They question the safety of the Turkish non-combat forces there.

Mr. Erdogan, let whoever brought Afghanistan to this situation, pick up the pieces, Meral Aksener, leader of the opposition, nationalist Good Party, said in parliament Wednesday.

Dont be so eager to sacrifice your own soldier to save the life of an American soldier, she said.

Around 2,300-3,500 remaining U.S. troops and roughly 7,000 allied NATO forces are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by Sept. 11, ending nearly 20 years of military engagement. There are concerns that the Afghan government and its security forces may be ill-prepared for the withdrawal and that the country may descend into chaos.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan until ousted by a U.S.-led coalition after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in America. In recent weeks Taliban fighters have overrun several districts in southern and northern Afghanistan, convincing government security forces to surrender and seizing their weapons and military vehicles.
JONATHAN HAYWARD/AP

REGINA, Saskatchewan (AP)  A First Nation in southern Saskatchewan said Wednesday that it has discovered hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of another former residential school for Indigenous children.

A statement from the Cowessess First Nation and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous First Nations, which represents Saskatchewans First Nations, said that the number of unmarked graves will be the most significantly substantial to date in Canada.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The United States, Britain and France accused Russian mercenaries on Wednesday of operating alongside Central African Republic forces and committing human rights violations against civilians and obstructing U.N. peacekeeping -- charges immediately denied by Russia which denounced the Western nations for engaging in an anti-Russia political hit job.

The exchanges took place at a U.N. Security Council meeting after the U.N. special representative for the conflict-wracked Central African Republic, Mankeur Ndiaye, expressed serious concern at the military counter-offensive by the countrys security forces and bilateral forces and other security forces against a coalition of rebel groups which supports CARs former president Francois Bozize.

Ndiaye called the situation in CAR among the most dangerous in the world, saying violations of human rights and international law allegedly committed by CAR forces and bilateral and other personnel ...have never equaled those recently committed and detailed by MINUSCA, the 15,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in the country.

As one example, he said, the number of sexual violence-related incidents in the first quarter of 2021 was five times higher than the number reported in the last quarter of 2020.

While Ndiaye didnt identify the bilateral forces and other security forces, Russia has troops in CAR training its military at the invitation of the government.

A recent report to the council by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticized CARs security forces and bilateral forces for an unprecedented increase in hostile threats and incidents targeting U.N. peacekeepers and alleged human rights abuses. He said people in the country continue to face an unacceptably high level of violence.

The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013. A peace deal between the government and 14 rebel groups was signed in February 2019, but violence blamed on former president Bozize and his allies threatens to nullify the agreement.

It erupted after the constitutional court rejected Bozizes candidacy to run for president in December. Faustin Archange Touadera won a second term with 53% of the vote, but he continues to face opposition from rebel forces linked to Bozize.

U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills noted secretary-general Guterres report of a 28% increase in incidents of human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law over the past four months. He said the United States is deeply concerned at the increased targeting of Muslims, and the alarmingly sharp increase in abuses committed by national and bilateral personnel.

I think we need to be clear about these bilateral personnel -- the individuals committing what many are now referring to as atrocities are not independent actors -- they are operating as extension of Russias Ministry of Defense, he said.

Mills said the Biden administration is deeply disturbed that Russia has failed to prevent its mercenaries from impeding MINUSCAs freedom of movement on a daily basis. He condemned an appalling incident in which these bilateral Russian actors threatened MINUSCAs deputy special representative and a U.N. delegation on a humanitarian mission to Bang, , which is close to CARs border with Chad and Cameroon, on May 28.

Frances U.N. Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere called the situation in CAR dramatic, pointing to extrajudicial executions, gang rapes, torture, occupation of schools and violence particularly targeting Muslim communities, as shown by the murder of a traditional chief a few days ago.

Let us be clear: Central African armed groups are no longer the only threat to the Central African population, De Riviere said.

He said reports by the secretary-general and U.N. experts monitoring sanctions against CAR point to the responsibility of a new actor, who is operating alongside the Central African armed forces and whose status is a mystery.

Some will try to deny the presence of the Wagner company, De Riviere said, calling on MINUSCA to provide details of who the men are fighting in CAR and who they are accountable to for their actions. The Wagner Group is a Kremlin-backed security company that was implicated in the conflict in Libya.

Britains deputy ambassador James Roscoe said the armed groups are fomenting instability, frankly, in order to line their own pockets.

And now, a new factor of instability: Russian private military companies acting in concert with the national armed forces to obstruct MINUSCA and to violate the rights of the civilians and citizens of the Central African Republic, he said.

Roscoe said human rights violations, including acts of sexual violence, are not only being committed by armed groups but also by members of the national armed forces and the Russian private military personnel accompanying them.

He said the Russians will deny this, but the evidence is increasing and overwhelming, and I hope they will reflect on the role they want to play in the Central African Republic and their responsibilities as a permanent member of this council.

Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Anna Evstigneeva countered that Russian instructors are successfully enhancing the professional expertise of the Central African security forces without taking part in military actions against illegal armed groups.

She said there are constant dubious attempts to discredit them without any evidence, especially in the U.S. and French media which use anonymous sources.

This looks more like an anti-Russian political hit job, Evstigneeva said.

As for the unfounded allegations coming from the US, theyre not done by chance, she said. Our colleagues seem to see Russian instructors or mercenaries everywhere."
SALINAS (BCN)

A Monterey County jury found 39-year-old Ignacio Ramirez guilty of sexually assaulting three people, including two who are family members who were children at the time of the attacks.

For two of his victims, the assaults occurred multiple times over a period of several years, according to a news release from the office of Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni.

The jury found Ramirez, of Salinas, guilty of 20 felony counts, including having sexual intercourse with a minor 10 years of age or younger, forcible rape of a minor under 14 years of age, forcible lewd acts upon a minor under 14 years of age, forcible rape, first degree burglary, sexual battery by restraint, and lewd acts upon a minor under 14 years of age.

Of these, 19 counts are violent felonies and are considered strikes under California's Three Strikes law, officials said. Ramirez faces up to 259 years and 8 months to life in state prison at his Aug. 17 sentencing.

Judge Rafael Vazquez presided over the trial. The case was investigated by Det. Sgt. Bryan Hoskins, Det. Rosio Silva and other detectives from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, as well as District Attorney Investigator Pablo Andrade.

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.
By Victoria Franco

Bay City News Foundation

A former Stockton resident was sentenced Tuesday to six years and three months in prison for a scheme of mail fraud and identity theft against the California Employment Development Department, according to the U.S Attorney's Office.

Robert Maher, 42, was found guilty of filling at least 72 fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits from November 2010 to February 2018 that total up to $739,535, federal prosecutors said.

A second defendant, Michael Herron, had pleaded guilty in 2019 to counts of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft and was also sentenced to six years and three months in prison.

The EDD paid out approximately $609,335 of the $739,535 that Maher and Herron claimed under the insurance benefits claims.

According to court documents, Maher and Herron created fake companies and employees in order to apply for unemployment benefits. The two men were able to do so by using real identities of individuals, some of whom were not aware of the fraud being committed and some who did.

Maher and Herron filed the unemployment claims and falsely stated that the employees had been laid-off or fired.

The unemployment benefits were then deposited onto debit cards that were mailed to addresses controlled by Maher, Herron and other associates taking part in the fraud.

After the benefits got to the mailing addresses, Maher and Herron would transfer the card's benefits to Maher's personal bank account.

U.S. District Judge John Mendez ordered Maher to pay restitution to the EDD in the amount of $609,335 after giving him the prison sentence.

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.
It's hard to find a local elected official more polarizing than San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

A progressive prosecutor, child of Weather Underground radicals and subject of a recall campaign, Boudin has become a lightning rod for criticism and the face of the general perception that San Francisco has devolved into lawlessness.

He also has his defenders. Last week, Boudin was part of a national news story after Washington Post opinion writer Radley Balko alleged that a KGO (ABC7) report on Boudin's handling of a carjacking incident contained inaccurate information, and that the reporter's news-gathering process was questionable. (KGO has since updated the story, albeit after a long delay. For more on that odd saga, click here.)

In the article, Balko, a criminal justice reform advocate himself, defended Boudin's record by highlighting a handful of statistics regarding crime in San Francisco. In the days after publication, Balko noted the unusually vitriolic nature of Chesa Boudin discourse, tweeting, "Dont recall ever getting this fanatical a response over a local politician."

While a few prevailing narratives dominate discussion of Boudin's record, an examination of important statistics suggest a reality more nuanced than the dueling ones presented by his most outspoken critics and loyal defenders.

In his defense of Boudin, Balko writes that the notion that crime exploded under Boudin is largely untrue. That much is generally fair, according to an SFGATE data analysis of figures from the San Francisco Police Department. Homicides have remained mostly flat under Boudin (though there was a noticeable uptick in the back half of 2020), and violent crime actually decreased in 2020, Boudin's first year in office.

However, burglaries and car thefts dramatically increased under Boudin, a trend that has continued into 2021.

Boudin's critics have blamed the increase on his policies, which include the elimination of cash bail and the reduction of pretrial incarceration, the latter of which his opponents refer to as "catch and release." Boudin has argued that the aforementioned surge is attributable to economic conditions brought on by the pandemic, while also blaming San Francisco police for only solving 10% of reported crimes.

"There is no way we are going to lock up our way out of a problem when police are only clearing 10% of reported crimes," he said.

It is worth pointing out that San Francisco's burglary surge far outpaces other cities. The University of Pennsylvania's Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice keeps a database of crime statistics across several American cities, and found that San Francisco saw a larger increase in burglaries in 2020 than other major cities in the country.

While the burglary rate increased over its baseline, San Francisco's total crime rate was down in 2020, as was the case in most cities. The dip in total incident reports is largely attributable to the early months of the pandemic bringing life to a near standstill. However, some have argued that using homicide rates is the best way to measure general crime levels in a city, since homicides are the least likely to go unreported.

And as it turns out, San Francisco's homicide increase in 2020 was nowhere near as pronounced as the increases in other cities that are also frequent subjects of rising crime stories such as Minneapolis, Portland and Seattle.

Beyond crime rates, defenders of Boudin  including Balko  often point to the fact that the district attorney has filed charges at a rate similar to his predecessor George Gascon. That much is true, as Boudin and Gascon both filed charges in 45-55% of cases, while "taking action"  which the DA's office defines as additional measures beyond prosecution of a suspect including the revocation of parole or probation  occurs in 60-68% percent of cases.

What is often not discussed, however, is San Francisco's charging rate compared to other cities. Gascon, who now presides over Los Angeles County and is facing a recall campaign over progressive policies himself, is not necessarily the best baseline against which to gauge Boudin's charging rates.

San Francisco's charging rate lags well behind two other cities under a single prosecutorial jurisdiction  Chicago and Philadelphia  that made charging rate data available to SFGATE. Los Angeles County did not provide SFGATE with the records requested.

Anecdotally, there are several examples of Boudin's seemingly lax policies  especially ones related to the release of repeat offenders  leading to tragic outcomes. Statistically, the idea that violent crime exploded under Boudin finds no basis, but there are certainly arguments to be made against Boudin's record as it relates to property crime and charging rates.

It seems likely that discourse surrounding Boudin will remain polarized and acrid for the duration of his tenure, however long it may last. But as with many hot-button issues, there's important nuance seldom conveyed by the loudest voices on either side of said issue.

SFGATE news reporter Joshua Bote contributed to this report.
Bebeto Matthews

As Congress is set to consider a series of antitrust bills that would curb the power of big tech companies such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, tech executives have reportedly launched a "forceful and wide-ranging pushback" that includes Apple CEO Tim Cook directly calling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Citing five individuals familiar with the conversation, the New York Times reported that Cook called the San Francisco Democrat about the six bills in question, and argued they were "rushed," "would crimp innovation," and "would hurt consumers by disrupting the services that power Apples lucrative iPhone."
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.
Connecticut this week joined three other New England states where recreational marijuana is legal. New Hampshire and Rhode Island are the remaining holdouts.

Rhode Island could be next. Its state Senate passed a cannabis legalization bill this week, advancing it to the state House for consideration ahead of the June 30 adjournment date.
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The official told Xinhua news agency on Wednesday that the clashed erupted over the control of key areas on the northern part of the Marib.

Sanaa, June 24 (IANS) At least 84 people were killed as fighting intensified between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi militia in oil-rich province of Marib, an official has confirmed.

He said the Houthis launched a major attack on the military positions of government forces, and that their attacks were repulsed.

He confirmed that the clashes were ongoing on all fronts in the north, northwest and west of the government-controlled province.

He said the fighting left 28 members of the government forces and nearly 56 fighters of the Houthi rebel group dead during the past 48 hours.

The Houthi media outlets reported that the the Saudi Arabia-led coalition carried out 27 airstrikes against the group's positions in Marib.

During the past hours, the Houthis renewed their missile attacks on Marib, weeks after a relative calm on all fronts of fighting in the strategic Yemeni province.

The Houthi rebels began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army in February to capture Marib, which hosts over 2 million internally displaced people from across the country's northern provinces.

The UN has repeatedly warned that the assault on Marib could lead to a major humanitarian catastrophe.

According to the UNOCHA, the continued conflict across Yemen, including in Marib, has displaced 6,292 families, or about 37,753 individuals, so far in 2021.

Previous UN-brokered negotiations between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties have failed to produce any agreement of ceasefire.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

--IANS

ksk/
Pakistan has given licenses to the Chinese trawlers causing resentment among fishermen in Gwadar. Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that hundreds of "fishermen, political workers and members of civil society staged a protest rally against the federal government for granting Chinese trawlers fishing rights in Gwadar by issuing them licences. The National Party and Baloch Student Organisation had called for the protest rally and sit-in in front of the Gwadar Press Club against the government's move".

The Baloch fishermen are feeling doubly cheated. They were earlier displaced from their land for the China-driven Gwadar port, which remains out of bounds for them due to security concerns. Despite China's billions of dollars of investment, the local people feel disenfranchised. Now, with the arrival of huge Chinese trawlers, they feel completely crushed.

What is adding to their worry is that the Chinese vessels are no ordinary boats. These are 'factory ships'--commercial ships which contain food processing units to process and preserve the catch from the ocean. As the Chinese trawlers have begun their large-scale operations, fishermen in not just Balochistan but all along Pakistan's nearly 1,000-km coast are now fretting about their livelihood.

The Chinese have swamped the Pakistani coastline.

Last year the Chinese trawlers were spotted at the Karachi port, spreading fear among the fisher folk in Sindh.

Trawlers are associated with destructive fishing as they drag large nets across the ocean floor to scoop up everything. The trawlers are equipped with narrow nets that not just catch the fish but even eggs and everything else as well. The fishermen retain what is useful commercially and throw the rest back into the sea.

The Pakistani fishing community is worried because each Chinese vessel can catch over ten times what a Pakistani boat can. The worry is that the entry of Chinese ships will lead to massive unemployment among the Baloch as well as the Sindhi fishermen.

What is also worrying the Pakistani fishermen is the fact that deep-sea trawling is not just large-scale but is also destructive. It not only catches the fish, but also kills the eggs, stirs up the ocean floor and deadens the marine food chain.

Pakistan has opened up its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to Chinese fishing companies. Abdul Berr, Fishermen's Cooperative Society (FCS) chairman, told Arab News that China will help upgrade Pakistani fishing industry and increase its exports. "Bringing Chinese trawlers for deep-sea fishing is in line with the government's deep-sea fishing policy and aimed at upgrading and modernizing fishing, besides providing job opportunities to local fishermen", Berr said.

What has brought Chinese fishing boats halfway around the globe to Pakistan? It is the need to feed the Chinese population. China's thousands of ships bring millions of tons of seafood back home--not just from near Pakistan but also from as far as African shores.

A report published by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in May 2020, just before the World Oceans Day on June 8 said that China's Distant Water Fishing (DWF) fleet was five to eight times larger than previously thought. ODI estimated the fleet at nearly 17,000 vessels.

The ODI report said: "The ownership and operational control of China's DWF fleet is both complex and opaque. ODI's analysis of a subsample of 6,122 vessels found that just eight companies owned or operated more than 50 vessels. ...Complicated company structures and a lack of transparency hamper monitoring and regulatory efforts. This makes it difficult for those responsible for malpractice to be held accountable".

By opening up its EEZ to Chinese fishing companies, Pakistan might be currying favour with the communist country for the latter's mammoth investment of $62 billion in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). But in doing so, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan just might turn its own people -- Sindhis and Balochistan, who are anyway fighting for independence -- against itself.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative/
Pakistan's army chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa deserves all the credit for making the early courtship moves with the US. It is still not clear whether the fresh outreach, when the colourless Chinese were pouring over projects in Balochistan under the flag of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), took place in consultation with the Rambo Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Perhaps not. And there is a precedent. After all, the "ekla chalo" Bajwa had surprised the civilian government by going ahead with an effective ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu-Kashmir as well as the International Border.

He also managed to successfully convince the Joe Biden administration about his country's intentions for "peace' with India. He visited Saudi Arabia to renew a previously warm relationship, which had been messed up by the garrulous and intemperate foreign minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi.

It is believed that Bajwa, in some ways had picked up a pro-west strategy from his mercurial but charismatic predecessor Parvez Musharraf. That brings into question whether there has been a grand bargain with the Americans. Despite starting to depart from Afghanistan from May 1, the American want to keep their foot in the door in the badlands of AfPak. There are reports that the Americans are looking for a base in Jacobabad.

Compulsively economical with the truth, the civilian government in Pakistan says they never even heard of any such proposal. Yet it is mass public knowledge that US aircraft have been using the Pakistani bases for refuelling and other purposes.

Aware of the big picture, Bajwa is also making extra efforts to convince the Afghan Taliban that Pakistan's cooperation with the US is part of an effort to help American forces to leave the region-an argument that syncs well with the free-spirited Afghans.

Given his western orientation, how does Bajwa deal with the Chinese who are now heading full throttle in a Cold War with the Americans? At this time, Bajwa's relations with the Chinese are not that hot. In fact, China has already communicated its "unhappiness'" through various diplomatic channels. The Chinese reaction to the renewal of US-Pakistani strategic relations has all the markers of a "jilted lover", who was readying for a prolonged honeymoon, but found itself suddenly abandoned in the bone dry and unforgiving mountains in Baluchistan.

The recent statement by Imran Khan on the CPEC praising Beijing are considered a belated attempt to assuage the feelings of the high browed leaders occupying the Middle Kingdom.

To enable Bajwa's turnaround towards Washington, back-room diplomacy marshalled by the US special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has played a key part. Khalilzad recently told lawmakers at Capitol Hill that, "It is too pessimistic to predict that the Kabul government or Afghan military will be quickly overrun by the Taliban once US and coalition forces withdraw."

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Defence Department officials have acknowledged that thousands of vehicles, weapons and other military items from Afghanistan will be in danger of being seized by the Taliban. The equipment may now be shifted to Pakistan, but remain under the American supervision-a decision that would not have been possible without Bajwa's consent. Brig.Gen. Matthew Trollinger, Deputy Director of politico-military affairs for the Joint Staff, told the Senate lawmakers during a recent hearing on Afghanistan that, "We will be transferring facilities, some vehicles and other equipment that the Afghan national defence forces can utilize in their on-going efforts to secure the country." He further stated: "We will be retrograding equipment that we're able to bring back to bases and stations in the continental United States as well as elsewhere."

The officials from US Central Command have said that the military drawdown between 13 per cent and 20 per cent from Afghanistan has already been completed. Much more will happen in the days and months ahead.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative/
Former Infosys CEO S D Shibu Lal has been appointed as chairperson of a three-member task force formed to help the government in bringing major bureaucratic reforms through its ambitious Mission Karmayogi". Besides Lal who is founder of ShikshaLokam and founder and ex-CEO of Infosys Limited, Govind Iyer, Consultant at global management consulting group Egon Zehnder, and Pankaj Bansal, Co-founder and Group CEO of HR tech company PeopleStrong, will be part of the task force, according to a Personnel Ministry order.

Adil Zainulbhai, chairman designate, Capacity Building Commission, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will be a special invitee to the discussions of the task force, it said. The Centre has recently approved the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building  Mission Karmayogi to effect a transformational shift from rule based training to role-based capacity development of all civil services in the country so as to enhance citizen experience for government services and improve availability of competent work force.

To effectively roll out this competency driven mission, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), namely Karmayogi Bharat, would be set up as a not-for-profit company, the order said. It will be set up under section 8 of Companies Act, 2013 as a 100% government-owned entity. The SPV will be responsible to deliver and manage design, implement, enhance and manage a digital platform and infrastructure, manage and deliver competency assessment services, and manage governance of telemetry data and ensure provision of monitoring and evaluation, it said. It has been decided to constitute a task force comprising leading experts to draw a clear road map for the guidance and operationalisation of the Karmayogi Bharat, the SPV, the order said.

The task force will be free to constitute working groups, co-opt additional members/experts/special invitees, and consult national and international leaders in the field, it said. The task force shall submit its recommendations on organisational structure for the SPV aligning its vision, mission and functions; policy frameworks for HR, compensation, IT, procurement and oversight functions, and staffing plans for top management including board members and key personnel with panels of potential candidates.

The task force is expected to complete its work within a period of six months from the date of its constitution and submit its recommendations in the form of periodic/interim reports in respect of various terms assigned to it, the Personnel Ministry order said.
By Marlowe Hood

PARIS, June 24 (AFP) -- Searing, unrelenting heat scorches large swathes of the Earth, killing millions who have no means to escape. Shade is useless, and shallow bodies of water are warmer than the blood coursing through people's veins.

This is a scene from a new sci-fi novel, but the suffocating horror it describes may be closer to science than fiction, according to a draft UN report that warns of dire consequences for billions if global warming continues unchecked.

Earlier climate models suggested it would take nearly another century of unabated carbon pollution to spawn heatwaves exceeding the absolute limit of human tolerance.

But updated projections warn of unprecedented killer heatwaves on the near horizon, according to a 4,000-page Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, seen exclusively by AFP before its scheduled release in February 2022.

The chilling report by the UN's climate science advisory panel paints a grim -- and deadly -- picture for a warming planet.

If the world warms by 1.5 degrees Celsius -- 0.4 degrees above today's level -- 14 percent of the population will be exposed to severe heatwaves at least once every five years, "a significant increase in heatwave magnitude", the report says.

Going up half a degree would add another 1.7 billion people.

Worst hit will be burgeoning megacities in the developing world that generate additional heat of their own, from Karachi to Kinshasa, Manila to Mumbai, Lagos to Manaus.

It's not just thermometer readings that make a difference -- heat becomes more deadly when combined with high humidity.

It is easier, in other words, to survive a high temperature day if the air is bone-dry than it is to survive a lower temperature day with very high humidity.

That steam-bath mix has its own yardstick, known as wet-bulb temperature.

Experts say that healthy human adults cannot survive if wet-bulb temperatures (TW) exceed 35 degrees Celsius, even in the shade with an unlimited supply of drinking water.

"When wet-bulb temperatures are extremely high, there is so much moisture in the air that sweating becomes ineffective at removing the body's excess heat," said Colin Raymond, lead author of a recent study on heatwaves in the Gulf.

"At some point, perhaps after six or more hours, this will lead to organ failure and death in the absence of access to artificial cooling."

Heat stroke, heart attacks

We've already seen the impact of deadly, humid heat at far lower thresholds, especially among the elderly and infirm.Two heatwaves in India and Pakistan that hit 30 degrees Celsius TW in 2015 left more than 4,000 people dead.

And the 2003 heatwave that killed more than 50,000 people in western Europe registered wet-bulb temperatures only in the high 20s.

Blistering heatwaves across the northern hemisphere in 2019 -- the second warmest year on record for the planet -- also caused a large number of excess deaths, but wet-bulb data is still lacking.

Research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) reports just over 300,000 heat-related deaths worldwide from all causes in 2019.

Some 37 percent of heat-related deaths -- just over 100,000 -- can be blamed on global warming, according to researchers led by Antonio Gasparrini at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

In half-a-dozen countries -- Brazil, Peru, Colombia, the Philippines, Kuwait and Guatemala -- the percentage was 60 percent or more.

Most of these deaths were probably caused by heat stroke, heart attacks and dehydration from heavy sweating, and many could likely have been prevented.

Cities at risk

Dangerous spikes above 27 degrees Celsius TW have already more than doubled since 1979, according to Raymond's findings.

His study predicts wet-bulb temperatures will "regularly exceed" 35 degrees Celsius TW at some locations in the next several decades if the planet warms 2.5 degrees above preindustrial levels.

Human activity has driven global temperatures up 1.1 degrees Celsius so far.

The 2015 Paris Agreement calls for capping the increase at "well below" two degrees Celsius, and 1.5 degrees if possible.

Even if those targets are met, hundreds of millions of city dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as South and Southeast Asia, will likely be afflicted by at least 30 deadly heat days every year by 2080, the IPCC report says.

"In these regions, the population of cities is growing dramatically and the threat of deadly heat is looming," said Steffen Lohrey, lead author of a study, still under peer review, cited in the report.

His calculations, Lohrey added, do not even take into account the so-called urban heat island effect, which adds 1.5 degrees Celsius on average during heatwaves compared to surrounding areas.

Heat-absorbing tarmac and buildings, exhaust from air conditioning, and the sheer density of urban living all contribute to this increase in cities.

Heatwave 'hotspot'

Sub-Saharan Africa is especially vulnerable to lethal heatwaves, in large part because it is least prepared to cope with them.

"Both real-world observations and climate modelling show sub-Saharan Africa as a hotspot for heatwave activity," said Luke Harrington, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute.

In central China and central Asia, meanwhile, "extreme wet-bulb temperatures are expected to approach and possibly exceed physiological thresholds for human adaptability", the IPCC warns.

The Mediterranean is also vulnerable to deadly incursions of hot weather.

"In Europe, up to 200 million people will be at high risk of heat stress by mid-century if the world warms up to two degrees Celsius until 2100," the report says.

Crucial to mortality rates is the ability of the population to adapt, explains Jeff Stanaway, a researcher at IHME.

"There is a greater sensitivity to heat in western Europe than in North America," he told AFP.

"That's because in North America everyone has air conditioning and well-insulated, modern buildings. It's just a difference in infrastructure."

'Cooling gap'

But as with so many climate change impacts, the effects of heatwaves are not felt evenly by all.

In some developing countries, economic development is not keeping up with the cost of cooling the population, exposing a race between warming and the capacity to adapt to it.

One researcher has dubbed this the "global cooling gap".

A study of adaptation techniques in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi found that many people don't use the air conditioners in their bedrooms because they cost too much to run. Some wrap themselves in wet sheets before they go to sleep instead.

Ultimately, high heat will destroy more lives indirectly rather than by reaching levels at which the body simply shuts down, the IPCC report suggests.

Higher temperatures will spread disease vectors, reduce crop yields and nutrient values, slash labour productivity and make outdoor manual labour a life-threatening activity.

Experts say the worst impacts could be avoided if global warming is capped as close to 1.5 degrees Celsius as possible, in line with the Paris Agreement.

But even then, with temperatures rising twice the global average in many regions, some severe impacts are baked in.

"Today's children will witness more days with extreme heat when manual labour outside is physiologically impossible," the IPCC report warns.
By Kuik Cheng Kang, Sin Chew Daily



The political situation in this country during the past one week has started to boil again. But one thing remains unchanged: we are still struggling to stay alive under the weight of the ravaging pandemic.

Even as there seems to be no end to our viral misery, our politicians continue to enjoy life sitting in their luxurious yachts playing their political tricks.

Meanwhile, a whole lot more people are fighting against the storm in their modest sampans, some with only a single wooden oar or even with their only piece of plank swept away by the overpowering waves. They can only pray that they manage to get to dry land safely.

When most people are on life support, a new round of power struggle is just brewing...

Human folly lies with the reality many have failed to see the importance of constructing a community of shared destiny for all mankind.

We are fighting a war against an unseen enemy that will plunge us into the depths of misery if we happen to open the slightest crack anywhere for the virus to gain access into our bodies, our families, companies, government and country.

Because of that, even countries once touted as among the top performers in the battle against the virus such as Taiwan, and the UK said to be on the track of recovery, are now struggling to outwit and defeat the virus.

Few countries on this planet would dare to claim complete victory over the virus, and I guess we have to learn to adapt to life alongside the virus.

While even the virus knows how to mutate to survive, humans still don't know how to, or are simply reluctant to, change, for we have been constantly restrained by our inborn greed, jealousy, arrogance, selfishness and a host of other human weaknesses.

In the face of the ravaging virus, many continue to ignore the health protocols, holding parties and gatherings as if the freedom to assemble comes much more important than staying alive.

No government will be able to deliver us out of the current doldrums if we still have a bunch of selfish and ignorant daredevils walking in our midst. In a similar manner, in the absence of a stable and highly efficient government, never ending power struggle will only drag the pandemic much longer. Many factories will close down as a consequence of protracted lockdowns while many are rushed to the financial ICUs or have their precious lives snapped by the virus in no time.

According to a recent joint statement by five major retail associations, some 20% to 30% of shopping malls in the country have been wound up under various phases of MCOs over the past 16 months, sending over 300,000 (30%) people out of work. Under the menace of Delta and Delta+ variants, a tiny crack on our defense system will spawn a massive explosion of new viral cases that is poised to incapacitate any recovery plans or stimulus packages we have introduced or are about to launch.

We are now racing against the virus, and the only potent weapon that is proven efficacious against the virus is the vaccine. Unfortunately, many people have yet to register themselves for vaccination.

As of June 23, only 15,654,020 people have registered, slightly more than half of our targeted number to achieve herd immunity. The government cannot afford to sit down waiting for those still undecided to come up and register. In the meantime, vaccination for those already registered must be expedited.

I received my first dose of COVID-19 vaccine under the vaccination program for media practitioners on June 14. The entire process was very systematic and orderly. I will receive my second jab on July 5, adding one more to the total number of people who will have completed their two-dose vaccination by then.

The goal of inoculating 200,000 people a day, originally planned for July, has been achieved ahead of time in the middle of this month, with more than 250,000 doses administered on June 23 alone, thanks to scheduled or even early delivery of the vaccines we have ordered.

Next, we will have more vaccine types to choose from, including China's CanSino which is expected to arrive here in late July, and Johnson & Johnson. Both these single-dose vaccines have been ordered specifically for the needs of migrant workers, legal or undocumented, as well as people living in remote villages.

Having said that, there are still plenty of people who registered themselves in February but still have not seen their appointments on MySejahtera today. These people are eager to find out what else keeps them waiting so long besides the need to first inoculate medical frontliners, senior citizens and the ever expanding frontline communities.

To encourage people to register for vaccination, perhaps the government should consider harnessing the connections and influences of NGOs such as local Chinese associations to help promote the vaccination drive. Meanwhile, we are also counting down to the day when people can just receive their jabs walking in the vaccination centers without prior appointments.

We only can afford to engage in the power struggle game once we have reached our vaccination goal, or when the virus is no more a serious threat to our health.



The statements issued by His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers after their June 16 meeting have been interpreted in very different ways by ruling and opposition parties, as they are all set to start a new round of power struggle.

Many are of the view that the prime minister is trying to buy time in response to the pressure from His Majesty and the Rulers to get him to reconvene the parliament as soon as possible. Many believe it is almost time for the PM to call it a day.

As a matter of fact, there is still another person whose views are of tremendous importance whether the parliament should reconvene now: health DG Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Being a non-politician, Noor Hisham can freely assess the situation based on the severity of the pandemic, and I believe many are keen to know whether he supported or objected to the reconvening of parliament when he had an audience with His Majesty lately.

During this emergency period of intensifying pandemic, the health DG's views deserve some serious consideration by all.

Indeed the PM is under tremendous pressure, and he will be in for huge trouble if he mishandles things. What we can see is that Umno and PKR are already trying to take him down soonest. Nevertheless, this whole political fight will not cease even after the Muhyiddin administration is toppled, simply because there isn't a party or coalition that can put up a veritably strong and stable government.

Moreover, it is absolutely not the right time now to fight for more power as the country is still badly bruised by the virus and economic downturn.

While Malaysians from all ethnic backgrounds as well as small businesses are still drifting helplessly in the rough seas of pandemic, it is utterly beyond reasoning that the privileged few are still engrossed with their power-grabbing designs inside their extravagant yachts.

All Malaysians will have a hefty price to pay if we allow the pandemic and bad politics to force us to the edge of the cliff.
By Dr Margarita Peredaryenko / Ameen Kamal



It's great to see a lower number of cases. Still, by itself, it does not sufficiently and accurately represent control of virus transmission without other dimensions such as the number of tests and test positivity rate. A lower number of cases accompanied by a lower number of tests (while positivity rates are still relatively higher than ideal) may not help determine the state of transmission control.



EMIR Research recommended in its "Exit Strategy Building Block  Part 1" published on June 17 that Malaysia should currently maintain daily COVID-19 test intensity of at least 150,000 - 175,000 levels until the positivity rate falls below 5 per cent. Then, suggested testing levels can be reduced accordinglystep-by-step with a concurrent steady reduction of positivity rate and daily new cases.

This recommendation also took into account increased testing capacity projection by The Ministry of Health (MOH) earlier this year, which reported a target of 150,000 to 200,000 daily tests. However, the testing intensity has not reached this minimum level of 150,000 and have fluctuated daily in June (Figure 1A).





As shown in Figure 1A, in June, testing intensity fluctuated but gradually decreased from the peak of 105,293 tests on June 4 to nearly half of that at 58,384 tests on June 21. This reduction in testing intensity was accompanied by decreased new cases reported daily (Figure 1B). However, a substantial increase in positive rate informs us that falling daily cases may not entirely be good news but a mere reflection of insufficient testing.







Figure 2 better represent the interplay between these three critical variablesdaily tests, daily cases and positivity rate. More so, this figure suggests a clear and urgent plan to be acted upon.

The graph below indicates that Malaysia should be currently testing at levels from 125,000 to 175,000 while carefully observing whether the positivity rate can fall and remain below the 5 per centWorld Health Organization-recommended threshold.

Should the positivity rate remain below 5 per cent while being accompanied by a reduction in new daily cases, only then we can consider a decrease in testing intensity in consultation with the graph again.









EMIR Research also reiterated that positivity rates are subject to sampling bias. Therefore, it requires a reasonable degree of randomness in sampling data in addition to an increased number of tests. In other words, it is not very helpful to test only those whom we would expect to be positive. Daily test samples must consist of a balanced proportion of symptomatic and asymptomatic people, treated and untreated, high-risk groups and groups with no obvious exposure, and both older and younger age groups  all of which form the qualitative indicator required to evaluate testing strategy adequacy.



As it is right now, the number of cases (as the sole figure) could potentially be a misleading dimension in determining viability to move into Phase 2 of Movement Control Order 3.0 (MCO 3.0). The WHO provides guidelines based on six key criteria for lifting movement restrictions, including effective transmission control.

Lifting restrictions prematurely can risk another set of waves  undoing the efforts of frontliners, wasting the socioeconomic safety nets by the Government, and putting the loss of lives and livelihoods of many in vain.

Moving into subsequent phases of the MCO requires mapping Malaysia's transmission control at least in three dimensions  daily new cases, daily new tests, and positivity rate (see Figure 2 again). Daily and historical figures for these variables by state need to be part of standard reporting. This should also be accompanied by the breakdown of where positive cases are coming from: voluntarily show at the testing facility due to illness and suspected COVID-19 symptoms, contract tracing, red zones random testing etc.

In addition, R-naught, death rates, gap between new and active cases, recovery rates, intensive care unit (ICU) beds utilization rate are other factors to be considered part of the criteria to lift restrictions.

We are fully aware of the plight of the business sector and the detrimental economic impacts of a prolonged blanket lockdown. Thus, we refer back to our suggestion in the Part 1 release to gradually and increasingly prioritize the economic sectors following the completion of the focus on vulnerable and high-risk groups in earlier phases of the NIP.

Vaccination should start to shift focus on as many economic actors as possible in the remaining days of June and the following months of July to mid-August, i.e., 1.5 to 2 months focus for economic sectors. This ensures the focus on prioritizing mid-tier companies (MTCs) and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) (and not just limiting it to manufacturing sectors).

Other "non-essential" workforce (to be re-defined) of the economy, particularly businesses and organizations that are not profit-oriented (e.g., NGOs), may be considered for a selective and extended lockdown/restrictions until and unless they have been fully vaccinated.

We are mindful that the need for increased testing could be limited by the need to prioritize (and rightfully so) the limited manpower and resources for vaccination drives. Given these limitations (which could be contributing to the fluctuating testing intensity), we propose that vaccination centers (PPVs) conduct randomized mass-testing program alongside the National Immunization Program (NIP).

This way, the testing program is continuously supplied with incoming people, i.e., samples, and utilizes existing manpower and resources instead of spreading it thinner through at a separate dedicated testing place/program, which Malaysia may not have the luxury of at the moment. In addition, test kits and related instruments can and should utilize existing logistics set up at PPVs.

Importantly, given that PPVs bring in various age groups with diverse backgrounds and medical conditions, this tactic will introduce a significant amount of randomness in daily testing samples. This will subsequently make the positivity rate more meaningful and representative.

This will also detect cases of pre-infection that might otherwise render vaccination to be ineffective. Back-tracing any positive cases detected from PPVs can open up testing to even wider sampling. Furthermore, the increased isolation and treatment of back-tracked cases and close contacts could potentially add to a "cluster-busting" strategy through retrospective tracing.

This randomized testing may be expanded accordingly with the NIP, whereby randomized testing can be empowered at designated general practitioner clinics and private hospitals for an even wider spread and randomness.

Also, as mentioned in our exit strategy recommendations, we suggest expanding testing at school halls to represent better the younger age group among primary and secondary school students.

The recent report of the increasingly sporadic cases making up more than half of the new cases further supports the urgent need to increase testing frequency concurrently with increased vaccine administration. This is also the strategy that will allow gradual, well informed and judicious reopening of the economic sector.

(Margarita Peredaryenko and Ameen Kamal are part of the research team of EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.)
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A former Crown Resorts executive had a private investigator carry out surveillance on a journalist from The Age, which was relayed back to him via the casino giants current head of security.

Victorias royal commission into Crown heard on Thursday from a private security contractor who is close friends with Crowns general manager of security and surveillance, Craig Walsh.

Crown Melbourne. Credit:Chris Hopkins

The inquiry heard that Mr Walsh asked the former homicide detective - whose name has been suppressed - in April 2016 to work with Tom Zhou, one of Crowns most important high-roller junket operators, because he needed personal security advice.

This masthead revealed in 2019 that Mr Zhou - also known as Mr Chinatown - was an international fugitive implicated in money laundering, extortion, Chinese government foreign influence operations and had associations with drug and human traffickers.
There is a distinct possibility that one of our most treasured environmental assets, the Great Barrier Reef, will soon be listed by the World Heritage Committee as in danger.

The listing is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action.

Examples of bleached coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. Credit:Jason South

Listing the reef as in danger was discussed a decade ago when it was noted with extreme concern the approval of Liquefied Natural Gas processing and port facilities on Curtis Island. About the same time, long-term monitoring by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) reported a 50 per cent decline in coral populations over almost 30 years. There were numerous other concerns as well.

As a result of these growing threats, UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature were invited to visit the reef in March 2012, finding that declining water quality, expanding coastal development, cyclones and mass coral bleaching were affecting the reef.
The world needs to develop new technologies to suck excess carbon dioxide out of the air, because efforts to cut emissions are moving far too slowly, said the only Australian-based scientist on a major new international science group.

Nerilie Abram, a paleoclimatologist at the Australian National University, said the new Climate Crisis Advisory Group, to be officially launched later on Thursday, would aim to provide the best scientific advice on the urgency of slashing greenhouse gas emissions.

The ANUs Dr Nerilie Abram after returning from an expedition with the British Antarctic Survey in early 2018. Credit:Paul Rogers

Weve wasted so much time, Professor Abram said. I hope that we are able to make a difference.

The group will be chaired by Sir David King, the former UK governments chief scientific adviser, and includes a range of 14 experts including Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency.
Motorists from NSW red zones could be fined almost $5000 if theyre found in Victoria, as police extend a crackdown on those driving across the NSW-Victoria border.

Victoria Police confirmed late on Friday that 260 police officers would now be completing patrols of the border, with pop-up checkpoints and automatic number plate recognition being used to nab those from NSW who may have come from red zones.

Those caught in Victoria from NSW could be given a fine of nearly $5000.

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In a statement, a spokeswoman for Victoria Police said the decision was made due to the evolving nature of the recent Sydney outbreak following a decision from Victorias Department of Health.

This will support the current vehicle patrols around the NSW border working to identify car registration details and vehicles who may have travelled from NSW, including those who may have been in a red zone, the spokeswoman said.

Victoria Police will be heavily enforcing the border restrictions and an on-the-spot fine of nearly $5000 will apply.

Victorian residents who have been in a red zone since the current rules came into place - other than for transit - can obtain a red zone permit to enter Victoria, but are required to quarantine at home for 14 days and get tested.

But Victorian residents arent eligible for a permit if theyve been to a high-risk exposure site in a red zone in the past 14 days, are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or have been diagnosed with the virus.
Former special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has admitted that he used software to scrub his laptop hard drive after lawyers acting for media outlets at the centre of his high-profile defamation lawsuit asked him to keep a number of digital files.

However, he insisted he was not trying to conceal evidence and never had.

Ben Roberts-Smith arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Masks are now compulsory in the courtroom. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

On the 13th day of his defamation case against The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Roberts-Smith was asked why he wiped his hard drive in April this year, just days after lawyers for the newspapers had written to his lawyers asking him to preserve the contents of six USB sticks and any copies of them and their contents.

A joint investigation by the newspapers and 60 Minutes, broadcast on April 11, alleged Mr Roberts-Smith dug a hole in the backyard of his Queensland house and buried USB drives inside a lunchbox to hide them from both police and military investigations.
A producer for YouTube channel Friendlyjordies did not stalk or intimidate NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, and the charges will be fought as vigorously as possible, his lawyer has said outside court.

Kristo Langker, 21, a music student, was arrested at his family home at Dulwich Hill in Sydneys inner west on June 4 and charged with two counts of stalking or intimidating Mr Barilaro with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm.

Kristo Langker leaves court on Thursday with his lawyer Mark Davis. Credit:James Brickwood

Police allege Mr Langker stalked and intimidated Mr Barilaro on two occasions  at Macquarie University on the evening of April 19, and in Sydneys CBD on June 4. Vision of both interactions was broadcast on the Friendlyjordies channel, which publishes political videos and comedy sketches.

In the June interaction, Mr Langker can be seen approaching Mr Barilaro as the politician stands next to a car near State Parliament speaking on his phone. Mr Barilaro does not appear to acknowledge Mr Langker, who asks Hey John, John, John. Oi John. Ive got something for you. John, Ive got a lawsuit. Youre suing my boss.
Hospitality businesses in the Sydney CBD say new mask rules for indoor workplaces have effectively created a mini-lockdown in the city centre as workers shun offices.

With no customers to serve beneath the citys office towers, cafe staff spent Thursdays lunch hour shuffling chairs or wiping down tables that no-one had eaten at. Other workers were sent home early while their managers fretted about cancelled bookings.

Philip Barbaro, owner of Avenue on Chifley cafe, which is empty during the lunch hour. Credit:Janie Barrett

Business owner Philip Barbaro said just 15 workers of a potential 700 had turned up to one CBD office building where he runs a coffee shop on Thursday morning. We opened today on a third of the staff and by 10am she had made three coffees and one sandwich. I just closed it down. On a normal day that would be a couple of hundred, he said.

Another of his businesses, Avenue on Chifley near Hunter Street, received its first lunchtime customer at about 12.30pm. But where it would usually buzz with 120 sit-down patrons and as many takeaways, just six spread out to dine over the hour.
Spare a thought for the dialect barrier (C8) that Trevor Wootten of Petersham encountered when teaching his first class in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland in 1972. I asked my year 9 students to introduce themselves and provide a brief bio. All went well, save for one student whose dialect and accent I just could not fathom, which caused me some embarrassment. At lessons end another lad came up and quietly said: Sir, his name is Andrew and hes from Ballinamallard and you shouldnt worry because we cant understand a word the bogger says either. Possibly not having a posh British accent like Edward de Bono stood Trevor in good stead with the lads of Enniskillen in the 1970s?

Dont be so quick to discard your old briefcase (C8), a nostalgic revival is clearly imminent. When Michael Fischer of Coogee dusted his off last year for a casual teaching gig, the kids all said how cool it was, and that it was very James Bond.

According to Roger Smyth of Narooma, freezing your assets (C8), aka swimming in icy water, can apparently lead to better blood circulation, reduced stress and an endorphin rush which can improve the male libido. Just ask the members of the Narooma Numnutz and the Bermagui Blueballs swimming groups.

Paul Stevens of North Epping didnt need a crystal ball to see the future for one particular term. The debate about learning to drive on manual versus automatic cars will disappear one day. I dont think electric cars have a gearbox. A topic for Column 8 remembrances in 2071, perhaps?

Moving with the times, Elisa Buttsworth of Darlington is buying an electric vehicle from a premium Sydney dealership. However she was surprised to find that it is coming with unexpected extras. Im advised that it will bring a big Piece of Mind. I wonder what this new piece of mind will bring me? Will I soon be having neurosurgery? Extra brain cells? Or heaven forbid, a swollen head?
Anyone in the region is urged to be vigilant for cold-like symptoms and additional testing capacity is being urgently arranged for the local community. Loading An additional case was recorded in a Melbourne man who had recently been in Sydney, the first interstate case connected to the outbreak, prompting Victoria to shut its border to all of Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Shellharbour, Blue Mountains and Wollongong from 1am Friday. The mans employer, an owner of a dry cleaner in south-east Melbourne, then tested positive on Thursday night. This is perhaps the scariest period that NSW is going through, the Premier said, adding the Delta variant is very contagious but she was at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings. Masks are mandatory in most public settings in Greater Sydney and household gatherings have been capped to five guests.

Asked whether she would consider advising a snap lockdown, Dr Chant said NSW was in a different position to other states when they introduced such measures. The reason for a [three-day lockdown] is basically a pause where youre behind and you have a sudden surge in cases so you want everyone to stay in place and that allows you to get through a backlog of contact tracing, she said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Dr Chant said, while it was possible NSW could find itself in that situation, the vast majority of cases were linked and contact tracers were reaching people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 quickly enough. The Premier and Health Minister Brad Hazzard both returned negative tests on Thursday morning after being identified as casual contacts of Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, who caught the virus at Christos Pizzeria at Paddington on Monday night.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Thursday night revealed he had been identified as a close contact and was required to isolate for 14 days. He has returned a negative result to one test, and will be tested again on days seven and 12. I will continue to perform my duties as Deputy Premier while isolating and adhering to all health advice, he said on Twitter. NSW Health advised anyone who was at Parliament on Tuesday to monitor for symptoms. People who came into contact with Mr Marshall have been tested and some directed to isolate for 14 days. Additional exposure dates were issued for Joh Bailey hairdresser in Double Bay on Thursday night, with anyone who visited the salon at any time from June 15 to June 23 considered a close contact and ordered to get tested and isolate for 14 days.

Venue alerts were also issued for locations in the citys east and north-west. People at Darlinghursts Frankies Bean Shop on Monday and Vinfafe Cafe on Tuesday, and the Terry White Chemist at Rouse Hill on Monday were directed to test and isolate. Later on Tuesday night, Lyfe Cafe and Royal Hotel in Bondi, Fitness First Platinum and Fitness First Spring Street in Bondi Junction and Michaels Charcuterie in Double Bay were also added to the close contact exposure list. There have been 48 local cases since an eastern suburbs driver employed to transport international air crews from a freight plane between Sydney Airport and their Mascot hotel quarantine accommodation tested positive last week. None of the cases has been admitted to ICU but some have been hospitalised, Dr Chant said. Police are continuing to investigate the drivers conduct, including whether he was vaccinated and whether he adhered to daily testing requirements in the Public Health Order relating to his work, as well as the oversight of private drivers contracted to work within the quarantine system more broadly.

As we think more about the offences that may have been committed, its not just about a breach of that transport order, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said, noting the investigation was now looking at health and safety issues among drivers and their employers. Its not as simple as issuing a ticket to this gentleman. On Thursday morning, the Health Minister told Today it would be a bit disappointing if the driver had not adhered to the terms of his employment. Certainly everybody who works in quarantine environment, and we have about 6500 workers on any one day doing that, all of them are required to actually have all the requirements that are necessary, he said.

There are four outstanding local cases not yet linked to any cluster: a Double Bay hairdresser, the year 3 student from St Charles Primary in Waverley, a healthcare worker from the eastern suburbs who flew to and from New Zealand last week and a man in his 40s whose infection was announced on Thursday morning. NSW has not seen the surge in people coming forward for their COVID-19 vaccine experienced in Victoria during their outbreak last month, possibly due to NSW Healths clinics requiring advance bookings and recent advice recommending people in their 50s receive the Pfizer vaccine which greatly reduced the number of people able to be vaccinated at a local GP, Although the bulk of the outbreak has been focused in Sydneys east, 12 cases caught the virus at a birthday party at West Hoxton, in the citys south-west, on Saturday which was attended by a woman who worked at Bondi Junction Westfield. Dr Chant said it was pleasing some of the partys 30 attendees were health and aged care workers who had been vaccinated and not tested positive, but the possibility for vaccinated people to still contract and transmit the virus meant they did still need to quarantine as close contacts.
A Sydney high school teacher who repeatedly sexually abused a 14-year-old student had dared the boy he didnt have the balls to be physical with her and she initiated every act, a court has been told.

Monica Elizabeth Young, 24, pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court earlier this year to three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 16, committed in June and July 2020.

She started her first full-time teaching role at the western Sydney school in March 2020, telling her sentence hearing on Thursday she was not qualified in the subjects she was assigned and her tertiary admission score or ATAR, ranked from 0 to 99.95, was less than 50, roughly 44.

When remote learning began as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, teachers were permitted to contact students via email, Google Classroom or Zoom, Young said.
The dying father of American citizen Mark Kilian will be moved between Gold Coast hospitals to facilitate a COVID-safe visit for his son who has been exempted from Sydney hotel quarantine to visit him in his final days.

Mark Kilian and his wife Anneli Gericke, who are vaccinated against COVID-19, were in hotel quarantine in Sydney after flying in from Los Angeles last Tuesday to visit Mr Kilians dying father Frans Kilian, 80, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer.

The couple, who received exemption from the Department of Home Affairs to enter the country, returned several negative COVID tests each and repeatedly asked Queensland Health for an exemption into the state to see Frans as his health declined.

On Wednesday night, the eighth day of the couples hotel quarantine, Queensland Health released a statement confirming it had issued an exemption for Mr Kilian and his partner to visit his father and it was finalising the arrangements of the transfer with NSW.
Theres never been any question about the lofty ambitions of Labors federal health spokesman, Mark Butler. The South Australian frontbencher, whose take-no-prisoners approach to his climate change responsibilities resulted in him being re-directed earlier this year to the health portfolio, has never been backwards in coming forwards as a potential leader.

Credit:John Shakespeare

But new data obtained by CBD shows just how keen he is to get his message out there. Butler has outspent every other federal MP on Facebook advertising in the past year, even outspending his leader Anthony Albanese ($42,783) and Prime Minister Scott Morrison ($41,003).

Butler shelled out $87,457 on Facebook posts in the 10 months since August 2020. In the past seven days, hes racked up close to $3000, with a post spruiking his good work in getting his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Didnt hurt a bit! a smiling Butler said mid-jab.

Butler spent more than South Australian Liberal Premier Steven Marshall ($87,191), and the West Australian Liberals ($84,755) and West Australian Labors Why take the risk campaign ($83,472) ahead of the most recent West Australian state election.
Here: The end of the Nationals, and the LNP credibility zero. John Anderson should come back. DAVID REID: Heaven help Australia! Despite a lifetime of Coalition voting, I could never vote for the Coalition with Barnaby as deputy leader!! Mr Rufus: Australian politics is once again colourful. Now, if Rudd could make a comeback, it would be even more colourful. Collector of Teapots: It will give our satirists a bit more to work with. McCormack was only ever a placeholder and contributed too little to really make good fun of him. johnS: Barnabys new role may end up splitting the government on climate policy, this can only help the numbers to erase this government.

Freddy M: Surely farmers are on the front line of climate change. The Nationals position on climate change simply cannot reflect the views of farmers - it beggars belief - so exactly who do these guys represent? The Numbers Just Dont Add Up: Watch our water disappear again. SC: I am really happy that Barnaby is getting back his Deputy PM position. He will be able to double his salary to some A$400K and in a position to properly look after both his young family and the one from his first marriage. Otherwise, money would be very tight on a basic MP salary of A$200K to support two families. I suspect that is his prime motive to wrest back the NP leader position. Morrison takes side trip to explore family history Prime Minister Scott Morrisons side trip to the small village St Keverne to explore his convict family roots while attending the G7 in Cornwall had some readers lamenting that the prime minister was acting above the rules while others dismissed the outcry.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Cornwall for the G7 summit. Credit:AP J B: Its disappointing to see the PM adhere to a different set of standards than what he imposes on the rest of the population. Im unable to travel overseas to my home in the UK to see my ageing parents because of the travel ban, but he is permitted to take a side-trip to explore his heritage there? What a poor message this sends to us taxpayers. atrejka: Rules for thee but not for me......I have not seen my elderly parents in Europe for two years. ... I simply find the PMs behaviour quite unbelievable. JReeP: He went to the place where his fifth great-grandfather was born. In other words, he attended the birthplace of 1 of 128 very distant and very dead grandparents from that generation. THAT was important, whereas rolling out the vaccine, protecting women in the workplace, slowing climate change, treating asylum seekers humanely, and penalising parliamentary sex pests are demonstrably not. Mick: Wouldnt it be more prudent for Scott Morrison to utilise his staff to fix the disaster that is the vaccine rollout and sort out some remote quarantine centres to replace the hotel quarantine joke that is obviously not working rather than have them at taxpayers expense research and plan a family history trip?

Antigone: I can understand the exceptional circumstances justifying travel to meet with the G7. However, the trip should have been kept to a minimal number of Australian staff and should have been limited strictly to G7 activities. The PM has again failed to take the opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills. Malcolm: He knows it wouldnt pass the pub test, so kept his family history visit a secret. So tired of rules for them and rules for us. Shameful really. Gujju2: ScoMo has form in keeping his overseas trips a Secret a la Hawaii. Remember I do not hold a hose, mate. At least on this trip he did not wrangle for an invitation to take his Church person also. janpeter3: It wasnt secret, he was officially welcomed, photos were taken and published and he spoke about it. Nothing secret here. Mr Rufus: So, Scotty was in Cornwall for the G7, and decided to visit a village in Cornwall. Is this really news?

Jacko: Get over it. Its not such a big deal. Hes entitled to a bit of self-interest as an aside while on business O/S. And im not a Morrison supporter; rather a reasonable person. Be Real: The PM has a private life like every commenter on here. Seems from observation he works nearly every day at his job (most on here would work 5 days max, maybe some dont work at all) so the average Aussie is going to extend a bit of grace on this one. Sorry folks. Storm in a teacup, once again. 41 Mclaren: Its what sane, sensible and rational people often do on big trips (or even littluns) have a bit of a trip on the side, call it work/life balance, not even an ethical side to it, just a reasonable thing to do. Yes, Sir Mini Stir: Whenever I chose to mix personal business in my job, my pay would be docked.

Fellow Australians, who pay Scottys wage, should we not dock his pay for those number of hours while attending to his personal business? Or perhaps we should we just wait for him to reappear for a Show and Tell episode.

That should legitimise everything... grkpieman: I would hope that this part of his jaunt is NOT being footed by my taxes.

Financial regrets, Ive had a few... Jessica Irvine celebrated her 40th birthday this month and after spending time reflecting on what she would tell her 20-year-old self about money, the senior economics writer had some advice to share: 40 things I wish I knew about money before turning 40. Many readers welcomed the tips, with some chiming in with their own. This is 40! Senior economics writer Jessica Irvine ushered in a new decade this month, and shared some financial advice she wished shed had when she was 20. Credit:Jessica Irvine Reciprocity: Great Stuff Jess. Thank you so much. I have 4 degrees, a diploma and a fellowship but my financial smarts are not good. So grateful to you. Old lefty: Coming from a different generation the one thing I wish I learnt was there are 2 debts types good and bad, good home loan bad credit card.

Pussycat: The money I save buying second-hand I spend on holidays! I buy second-hand furniture and clothes and save heaps!! One of my values is experiences with my loved ones and buying second-hand allows me to have lots of experiences. But do I love a new luxury vehicle? Yes I do! Know what you are prepared to go without out and know what you arent. termite: If you want to save for a home deposit, start young, while youre still living with your parents. Leaving it until youre married with 2 kids makes it much, much harder. kevlon: I just turned 60 and everything you said I agree with. I wish Id done some of them. Nothing to see here.: Firstly happy birthday, I trust you had a great day!!! The one comment I would add is understand the effect of compounding and longevity in the market. MBPC: Add buy once, buy well to this great list. Its something I learnt later in life and it has paid off handsomely, when applied to furniture, homewares and clothing especially.

Phil: I wish Id known that, despite house prices being ridiculous and unsustainable, both sides of govt would help to make them more ridiculous for a couple of decades. Unfortunately for current young people, that just cant go on forever - your generation will never make money as easily as previous generations have managed to, no matter what you do. Rolly Basslet: what I would tell my 20-year-old self about money, if I could. 41: Buy an ounce of gold each pay day. 2001 AUD533.00...2021 AUD2,362.00. Tantrum: If purchasing in store from a small business, dont ask for a discount, smile or not. Its rude and insulting. Small business has it hard enough. Go for your life at Bunnings or whatever. waxstein: Dont shop at Aldi. Avoid any food made in certain overseas countries - no matter what outlet. Forget investing in Education - Education is just pieces of paper. Invest in broad knowledge - broad knowledge leads to wisdom. RM: Point one should always be, dont forget to have fun along the way. Wasting money from time to time is not the end of the world.
Barnaby Joyce has talked so often and so freely for so long that plenty of Nationals have heard him claim he would not stay in politics for too many years if he ever had the chance to lead his party again.

The vague idea that he would not stay too long in Parliament was planted with colleagues over the past few months and helped him gain the edge over Michael McCormack in this weeks leadership spill.

Re-elected Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce during question time on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But now the Nationals are waking from that moment to wonder how long they will have to live with a volatile leader who is like a Catherine wheel on bonfire night  a frenzied whirl of energy, throwing off sparks, a risk to anyone who comes close.

Scott Morrison will be wondering when he might be burned by some of the gunpowder. The early signs are that the Prime Minister is awake to the danger to city Liberals in looking too close to Joyce and his agenda. On the first test, water policy, the answer has been to tell the Nationals to talk to the hand.
The facade of tranquil unity within the Coalition over climate change policy has collapsed over the past fortnight, as those pushing for rapid cuts in emissions have lobbed bombs at the climate sceptics inside the party who back the status quo or worse.

The flash point has been whether Australia will commit to the target of net zero emissions by 2050 which almost every other developed country has backed.

Until now, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been able to fudge the issue, domestically at least, by indicating he is inclined to endorse the target but not to set a date for reaching it.

Supporters of climate change action in the government expected he would get off the fence and take the pledge in time for the next UN climate change summit in Glasgow in November to avoid an embarrassing stoush with world leaders.

However, the election of Barnaby Joyce to the National Party leadership this week has been taken by moderate Liberal MPs as a sign that their Coalition partner is hardening its opposition to the 2050 pledge and demanding more support for fossil fuels.
A picture of Swan overlayed with parts of that transcript was tweeted two weeks later, and it took off with thousands of retweets and likes. Later that week, independent outlet Michael West Media cited Swan and his anonymous sources in its own story on the topic. Loading On Friday last week federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese brought it up, calling on the Commonwealth to be upfront about what went on. They need to be transparent about the meeting held last July that we asked about in Parliament, whereby you had a junior burgher going along negotiating with Pfizer about the possibility of manufacturing Pfizer here and about access to the Pfizer vaccine here in large quantities, he said in a press conference. Health Minister Greg Hunt categorically denied the allegations later that day.

That claim by Mr Albanese is false, and Pfizer has already rejected it, he said. Swan says he stands by his reporting. No deal on the table, department says The meeting in question occurred at a time when Pfizer had just begun phase-three clinical trials for its mRNA vaccine. The US was pouring billions of dollars into vaccine development and manufacturing under then-US President Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed, while also taking an America first stance, preventing the export of US-made vaccines. It meant initial shipments of vaccines for Australia would have to come from Europe.

Australias first meeting with Pfizer was on July 10 last year, in which senior Department of Health lawyers and representatives, including Lisa Schofield, met with representatives from the pharmaceutical giant for a high-level discussion about the companys progress on the vaccine. Opposition finance spokeswoman Senator Katy Gallagher asked on Monday night if there was any offer discussed at that meeting. Ms Schofield replied that no numbers or details were put on the table on that occasion. They said, this is a vaccine that we are developing. We said that we were interested to talk to them about potentially purchasing that vaccine, but that was it, Ms Schofield told the COVID Committee. Senator Gallagher pressed Ms Schofield: So any speculation that the government, the department rejected an offer from Pfizer is not true? Ms Schofield replied: Thats correct, not true.

Between that July meeting and November 2020, when a deal was struck to buy 10 million doses, Ms Schofield said there were many meetings and specialist briefings between the department and Pfizer, both over the progress of the vaccine trials and for deal negotiations. Loading In the meantime, the United Kingdom agreed to purchase 30 million Pfizer doses on July 20, the US followed with a deal for 100 million on July 22. Japan signed for 120 million doses on July 31, and Canada made its first agreement with the company for 20 million doses on August 5. Senator Gallagher asked Ms Schofield if there was an offer from Pfizer at any point for any sort of population-based vaccination program that was subsequently rejected by the government. I can say that no, that was not put on the table, and would reiterate that Pfizer has indicated publicly that it put the 10 million doses on the table as the offer that was available to Australia, Ms Schofield said.

Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy, who also chairs the Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group tasked with deciding which vaccines Australia should procure, said Pfizer never offered whole-of-population coverage in those negotiations. Loading Pfizer came to us with the offer that they could provide 10 million as an early supply, and SITAG felt that was a reasonable position to take up, on the basis of mRNA vaccines [progress] at that stage, Professor Murphy told the COVID Committee on Monday. There was no phase-three clinical trial data, they had never been used in humans. A Pfizer spokeswoman pointed to the companys previous testimony to the committee backing up Professor Murphys statement.

On January 28 in another COVID committee hearing, Pfizer Australia and New Zealands director of market access Louise Graham said the company proposed the initial 10 million-dose deal. The available doses that were able to bring to Australia at this time, and during those discussions, are in the quantity of 10 million, she said. That is the quantity that is the basis of the initial arrangement. Once phase-three data was published, the expert group recommended increasing the investment, which the government did with another 10 million doses in February. It then purchased 20 million doses in April after Pfizer was recommended as the preferred vaccine for adults under the age of 50. There has been a diversification and flexibility in the vaccine purchase at every stage, Professor Murphy said.

The Pfizer spokeswoman said discussions are confidential, however, the supply of vaccine in Australia was developed following consultation with the Australian government and each agreement was based on the availability of doses and earliest schedule that could be provided at that time. So, whats the evidence to the contrary? Loading Professor Nick Talley, an expert clinician and editor-in-chief of the Medical Journal of Australia said it was easy to be critical of decisions on vaccine procurement in hindsight. No one knew what [vaccines] would really work, and its clear youve got to be careful looking at it with a retrospectoscope, he said.

But he said it was important to know how well Australia had performed in its negotiations, and transcripts of the meetings with commercial-in-confidence parts redacted could be helpful. One would hope negotiations had been done well, and Id be surprised if they werent to be honest, but ... I think it would be important to have the full facts revealed to have that interpretation tested, he said. Professor Talley said unless the anonymous sources came forward, it was difficult to give weight to their comments. Its always really hard to judge the value of anonymous sources because clearly the veracity and ability to check those is impossible if theyre anonymous, so I think its important to get them on the record. Swan acknowledged the issue with using anonymous sources, but said he was confident his version of events was correct.

I do stand by it, he said, adding he believed the Victorian government had their own information about the meeting. I have spoken to others who have heard through their own contacts. Loading He also pointed out it was entirely possible the government and Pfizer left the meeting with different perceptions of what occurred. From Pfizers perspective, I have been told they think theres nothing in it for them to sour their commercial relationship with the government by getting caught up in a political row, he said. One question that needs to be asked is if the government version is accurate, why they claimed to have a four vaccine strategy if Pfizer was not a significant option for the population at large from the get-go?
Pity the poor Fleet Street scribes forced to use the genteel euphemism tired and emotional to describe their inebriated politicians. Our own Canberra press gallery can now employ the more colourful term maggoted, thanks to the obliging colleagues of Northern Territory senator Samantha McMahon.

As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age national affairs editor, Rob Harris, the Senators unsteadiness in Parliament on Tuesday night led fellow senators to believe she was intoxicated  which she vehemently denies.

Nationals senator Samantha McMahon in the Senate on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

A video shows McMahon being assisted out of the chamber by helpful Coalition colleagues. Others were less helpful, describing her to Harris as trolleyed and off her head and the aforementioned maggoted.

To be fairer to McMahon than those senators, she blamed her behaviour on the arrival of some sad personal news. Shed had only one glass of wine, she said. Short of breathalysing politicians  as some on both sides of the Parliament have previously advocated  perhaps we should give her the benefit of the doubt. Or, for any who dont, this would hardly be the first case of a politician under the influence in the chamber.
On Thursday, Hong Kongs Apple Daily printed 1 million copies of its final newspaper, 10 times what it would normally sell in a day.

From 1am, customers queued around the block in Mong Kok and across the city to get their hands on a copy as soon as it was delivered to newsagents. The demand so high for a newspaper declared traitorous by the Hong Kong government that copies were limited to two per person.

A supporter holds the latest newspaper outside the headquarters of the Apple Daily on Thursday. Credit:Bloomberg

The last copies of a tabloid-style rag that had helped define the celebrities, political scandals and business deals of Hong Kong life for 26 years left the printing presses just after midnight.

Hundreds of journalists and readers held up their phone with the lights on outside the Apple Daily building, the same form of silent protest that has marked Tiananmen Square vigils and the arrests of pro-democracy leaders since Beijing wiped out dissent last year in the city of 7.5 million.
Brussels: France and Germanys call for European Union summit talks with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, met fierce opposition from Poland and the Baltic countries.

EU leaders discussed overhauling their foreign policy towards Moscow at a European Council meeting, held a week after Joe Biden, the US president, met Putin in Geneva.

Member states, especially those bordering Russia, were infuriated after Paris and Berlin blindsided them with a last-minute proposal on Wednesday.

Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuanias president, said the idea was like trying to engage the bear to keep a pot of honey safe. Credit:Bloomberg

Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron want to resume EU-Russia talks, frozen after Russias illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Toronto: An indigenous group in Canadas Saskatchewan province says it has found the unmarked graves of 751 people at a now-defunct Catholic residential school, just weeks after a similar discovery rocked the country.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday, Canada time, he was terribly saddened by the new discovery at Marieval Indian Residential School, about 140 kilometres from the provincial capital Regina.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was terribly saddened by the new discovery. Credit:The Canadian Press/AP

He told indigenous people that the hurt and the trauma that you feel is Canadas responsibility to bear.

It is not clear how many of the remains detected belong to children, Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme said.
SABA:--- Saba Island Council Members will visit the Netherlands from Thursday, June 24 to Friday, July 2 for meetings and trainings.

Friday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 30 are reserved for meetings with members of the permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament in The Hague. A meeting behind closed doors is scheduled with the Committee for Kingdom Relations on Wednesday, June 30.

The Island Council members will also have meetings with the individual Kingdom Relations spokespersons of the various political parties represented in the Committee, including the liberal democratic VVD party, the Labor Party PvdA, the Christian Democratic Party CDA and the Democratic Party D66.

The Saba delegation wants to discuss matters that are important for the island and its development, such as: establishing structural, long-term budgets, establishing a social minimum with sufficient income for people sustain themselves, improving transportation between St. Maarten and Saba, investments in agriculture and the educational facilities, and securing a better, more affordable banking system.

On Monday morning, June 28, the Island Council members will take part in a training provided by the Seven Senses Foundation. This training, which takes part in The Hague, focuses on citizen participation: the role of citizens and their participation in government.

On Monday afternoon, the Saba delegation will meet with representatives of the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) in Amsterdam to talk about matters like the limited services offered by the sole bank on the island at extremely high costs, opportunities for Dutch Caribbean residents to open a bank account in the Netherlands/Europe, and opportunities to apply for affordable mortgages.

On Tuesday morning, June 29, a meeting is planned with officials of the Council of State in The Hague. Topics that the Saba delegation would like to talk about include the need for structural financing, the educational infrastructure/buildings, and recreational facilities. On Tuesday afternoon, the delegation will visit the slavery exhibition in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

On Thursday, July 1, the day after the meetings in the Second Chamber, the delegation will take part in a second training. The leadership training will focus on team building, open communication and leadership tools, and will be provided by leadership development institution Ontwikkelhuis.

On Friday, July 2, the delegation travels back to Saba. The delegation consists of Island Council Members Carl Buncamper, Eviton Heyliger, Vito Charles, Esmeralda Johnson and Hemmie van Xanten and Island Council Registrar Akilah Levenstone.
~ No vacation pay is the result of govt. actions ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday said the Prime Minister of St. Maarten has somehow convinced herself that the people of St. Maarten are incapable of recognizing her spinning, blatant misleading, and dishonest statements. Emmanuel was responding to the PMs statements made during the LIVE Council of Ministers Press briefing in which she made several statements that he dubbed out of touch and insulting in their nature.

First and foremost, he condemned her statements that it is not financially possible to pay any portion of the vacation pay because St. Maarten has to live up to its agreements with the Netherlands and the 39 million has to go to pay the backlog of SSRP. And all of this even after the Netherlands did not live up to agreements with St. Maarten. This is governments problem, not that of public servants. Government should have had the foresight to not compromise a right that public servants have worked for. Instead, government caved and sold out, Emmanuel said.

Additionally, the PM said that even if the government were to fix it (pay the vacation pay) it will have negative consequences on government operations. How? Emmanuel asked. Government has to go find the money the same way it found the money for other projects in the budget. There are many things in the budget that can be put on hold and wastage that must be addressed.

The money is there. Find it. I have outlined previously at least 3 million guilders that can be saved. They can simply bring a budget amendment to re-allocate some of the funds to ensure that even what is owed to public servants since last year, could be paid. The CFT, Knops, not even the King can tell you that you cant take care of your people. It is our people protesting, not Dutch voters. You are supposed to stand for our people.

MP Emmanuel was also very critical of the PMs continued false claim that the laws and conditions were imposed on the government and that government did not impose them on the country. It is past time that the PM stops telling herself and the country this lie. The song is getting old. This is the same Prime Minister who told the world that she and her government have no Plan B, they have no clue how to solve the issues that the country faces, he said.

This is the same Prime Minister who continues to say that they have tried everything to avoid conditions but as of this day cannot say what exactly they tried. This is the same Prime Minister who did not disclose that she had already laid out changes to corporate governance at PJIA all the while pretending that she did not know what Knops wanted. How can you in good conscience turn and tell the people that these things were imposed on them by Holland? You allowed and accepted them and by default invited more by admitting you have no clue, no plan b. So a government without a plan B and vision stands to be manipulated by others. In this case, it is Holland taking full advantage of a very weak and dishonest government.

Emmanuel also reminded the public that it was the Prime Minister and a supporting MP of her coalition who said that civil servants were happy and understand the benefit cuts and nobody is storming the government building.

Now that public servants who are feeling the financial strains of losing their income are at the steps of the government building, the PM has the audacity to say that she is traveling to Holland to tell Knops that these regulations passed by her government are no good because they are causing unrest in the country. Really? So had the public servants not marched to the government building, this government would have continued to ignore them and their plight, Emmanuel said.

The MP said the PMs closing statement was particularly insulting. She signed off her press briefing by telling the people to stay positive and stay forward-thinking. This is how out of touch this government is. Parents cannot meet their obligations for their families, you just admitted that you will not be paying any vacation pay that is owed or that is due.

He continued: But youre out here telling people to stay positive. You have told us that you are totally dependent on liquidity support from Holland and that you cant think of alternatives, but here you are telling people to stay forward-thinking when this ability eludes you. The PM and her colleague Ministers might be able to stay positive and think forward because they will be able to pay their bills and live well. But you cannot be serious by telling people to stay positive when you have completely failed them and in fact gave away their rights.

You told them that nothing will be enacted if they trample on the laws and rights of St. Maarten. That was a lie because you went ahead from the very start and told your Minister Plenipotentiary to accept everything unconditionally. Today you are waiting on a ruling from the Constitutional Court and cannot say what you will do no matter how the court rules. The people of St. Maarten must never forget that this government is in a situation of its own making built on a foundation of embarrassing weakness, he concluded.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of its mission to support Caribbean students with college and career resources, EmpowerU has launched the 2021 EmpowerU Scholars Fund as its first-ever academic scholarship for Caribbean students. Winners will be awarded a US $1000 scholarship as part of tuition assistance at any college or university of their choosing. The application will remain open until August 1, 2021.

Parents and students can learn more about application details, documents required, other free services, college resources, and more via EmpowerU's website: www.empoweru.online/scholarships. If you have any questions or are interested in working with EmpowerU, feel free to contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Founder of EmpowerU Harsha Parchani said: "Because of our generous donors, we at EmpowerU are able to support the multitude of dreams of our young people by offering scholarship programs to Caribbean, first-generation, and minority students. Our scholarships cater towards financing tuition and other academic fees, but we also offer assistance to those that demonstrate deeper financial need."

"With limited to no financial opportunities available to Caribbean students, we at EmpowerU hope to bridge this financial gap. In fact, our survey determined that only 38% of Caribbean students felt they had adequate financial opportunities to assist in paying for tertiary education. For many, the large cost of a college education demotivates many young people from continuing their education.

"We hope that through our scholarship program, we can reduce the barrier to entry for many minority groups and help empower the next generation of leaders, innovators, and disrupters," she said.

Born and raised on St. Maarten, Harsha is a graduate of Learning Unlimited and the University of Michigan with a degree in Electrical Engineering. She is currently an engineer with Microsoft Cooperation. She is also a former member of Teen Times.

EmpowerU's first ever academic scholarship is aimed at supporting young Caribbean students pursuing tertiary education (Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree). This scholarship is aimed at supporting eligible students with tuition and book fee assistance. The number of winners awarded is based on available funds.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday said that government must clarify once and for all why vendors along the Walter Nisbeth Road (Pondfill) have to relocate their business by July 1, because as it is right now, somebody in government is lying to the vendors.

The MP said more confusion was created by the Minister of TEATT Ludmila DeWeever who stated in the Central Committee debate on the 2021 budget that only one person with property along the Pondfill had requested that vendors be moved from the property.

This is in contradiction to what the public was told by the Minister of VROMI on April 28 and what the vendors were told in a meeting with VROMI and TEATT. In all instances, it as told that landowners (plural) wanted their land vacated. Based on this, the vendors were told that they had to relocate by July 1 and government would find a suitable location for them, Emmanuel said.

So the question is, now that the Minister of TEATT confirmed that just one landowner requested this, why were the vendors lied to? This is not a game, peoples livelihood is depending on what government does in this situation. If you want to move the vendors for other reasons we dont know about, please come clean. But dont lie to the people, Emmanuel said.

The MP pointed out that the three options the government has laid out for the vendors are all not feasible. He explained that the Festival Village will increase costs for the vendors three-fold and the situation with Carnival and its booth-holders who have already paid is not a situation government can afford to be caught in. The mentioned location of the old government building makes no sense because it is scheduled to be demolished soon for a project and the property in the vicinity of TelEm is caught up in court proceedings with Windward Roads.

So where exactly are you moving them by next week? Somebody in government must be straight with the vendors. They were sold all sorts of nice stories none of which could be confirmed by the Minister of TEATT. I believe the real reason for wanting the vendors moved is not yet known. But whats done in the dark, always comes to light, the MP concluded.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Caribbean Lottery has established itself as a national steward in St. Maarten, having brought goodwill to numerous individuals and organizations through a host of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Within the last five years, the company has executed many goodwill gestures which have positively impacted healthcare, education and youth development in the country.



Some of the most notable social contributions of the Caribbean Lottery in recent times have been observed in its regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2021, the Caribbean Lottery made its latest donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the St. Maarten Public Education School Board. 1,500 disposable childrens masks and 26 touch-free soap dispensers along with refills were gifted to the Board to assist with the virus alleviation measures amongst the nations students and educators.



Another major contribution by the Caribbean Lottery towards healthcare in St. Maarten was its support for the work of the White and Yellow Cross Foundation in 2020. The company injected US$4,651 into the first-ever Hospice in St. Maarten to offset the cost of morphine pumps, an oxygenator and an oxygen meter for the nonprofit health organization.



The IGT-operated business has also championed the cause for community development and education in St. Maarten with a range of other contributions. At its fundraising bingo and raffle events in 2018 and 2021, The Lions Club of St. Maarten received a total of US$1,400 from the Caribbean Lottery towards community outreach projects. Back in 2019, the Caribbean Lottery made its fifth consecutive donation of US$2,400 towards the Now You Know breakfast programme at the Prins Willem-Alexander School for Special Needs. Funds allocated to the institution since 2015 have boosted the breakfast programme budget, providing up to 35 special needs pupils with balanced and nutritious meals ahead of classes.



Special mention must also be made of the August 2019 donation of US$3,660 towards the renovation of the Philipsburg Cultural Centre, following considerable damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017, as it continues to serve as a cultural and community services hub for its residents and many visitors.



Through the IGT After School Advantage (ASA) programme  the flagship community initiative of its parent company, IGT - the Caribbean Lottery has also exerted much effort to secure internet access, computers, other equipment and facilities for less fortunate students. One of the high-tech IGT ASA facilities opened its doors at The St. Maarten Youth Council Association in 2018. The centre was a new addition to the Associations refurbished building, which also sustained damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017. The Caribbean Lottery also provided funds that assisted with these repairs.



The Caribbean Lottery, through these various CSR initiatives and many more, has supported positive social change in St. Maarten and other regional territories. In 2020 alone, the company injected over US$1.85 million into CSR projects, which have benefited various sectors of society.



Site Operations Manager at the Caribbean Lottery Miss Paula Williams noted: "Over the past five years and beyond, we have implemented a variety of social projects that have benefited the youth, educators, health services, communities and organizations in St. Maarten. We are committed to continuing our support for these causes. It is a demonstration to our people and the region that the Caribbean Lottery as a caring corporate partner is much more than just a lottery."
PHILIPSBURG:--- Honorable Minister Omar Ottley conducted an exploratory visit to the NIPA  National Institute for Professional Advancement on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. His Cabinet Officers, the NIPA Supervisory Board of Directors, and the Central Management team of the NIPA, accompanied him.

The Minister emphasized the objective of the visit to be exploratory as it relates to his understanding of NIPAs role in the scope of Labor, and the extended national role for the preparation of all students and job seekers.

Minister Ottley enjoyed a tour of the facility, including the School of Nursing, the Technical Skills Labs, the Culinary and Hospitality unit, and the Learning Center. I am impressed with the NIPA, and intend to support them wholeheartedly in their strategic plan 2020- 2024, Minister Ottley stated.

The Minister continued by stating that during his tour, he conducted in-depth discussions with the NIPA Board, and the Central Management team, with topics ranging from education challenges, financial status, and the quality of education of the institution.  As Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labor, I have made it clear, upon my swearing-in, that I will focus on Labor. This means that NIPA will become a critically important educational institute for my Ministry, working in partnership with the NESC ( National Employment Service Center) . The NIPA focuses on preparing persons for the labor market, to this end, the NIPA and its team, have the full support of my Ministry, and by extension the Government of Sint Maarten. We will focus on the preparation of our local workforce so that we are not so heavily dependent on the import of foreign labor, concluded the Honorable Minister.



The Monroe College Coordinator, Ms. Jewel van Arneman, was also introduced and provided the delegation with the scope of her role and what the Monroe College initiative would mean for the NIPA and Sint Maarten.



The meeting and tour ended with a special luncheon served at the Bistro at the NIPA, with a seven (7) course meal, prepared and served by the students of the Hospitality & Culinary Sector.



Minister Ottley wishes to extend heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Anenda Zaandam, Sector Coordinator, Mr. Alexander Adoptie, Chef Instructor, Ms. Renata de Weever, Chef Instructor, and Mr. Paul Peterson, Master Mixologist, all having contributed to the wonderful experience.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has expressed confidence in the tourism sectors recovery at a high-level panel on the Future of Tourism organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Dr Hon. Natalio Wheatley, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Agriculture and Fisheries, represented the BVI on the virtual panel themed An Inclusive Value Chain, on behalf of Premier and Minister responsible for Tourism, Hon. Andrew A. Fahie.

In his remarks, the Deputy Premier highlighted the BVIs safe and welcoming environment that is attracting visitors back to the destination. According to Hon. Wheatley,

The BVI is open for business and is a safe destination for travellers. US News and World Report recently ranked the BVI number two in terms of the best places to visit in the Caribbean. Our COVID-19 cases currently stand at three and have largely remained in single digits due to our robust health and entry protocols. I start here because this is what currently underpins confidence in our destination. There is very low risk of infection.

The Deputy Premier also emphasised the importance of cruise tourism and yachting to the recovery of the sector. However, he stressed the need for recovery to be inclusive and broad-based to provide jobs and business opportunities for entrepreneurs and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). He also discussed the importance of strengthening linkages between the tourism sector and other economic sectors for more balanced economic growth.

Among other things, we want to see stronger linkages between the Agriculture and Fisheries sectors and the hospitality industry. This will not only support and sustain the livelihoods of our local farmers and fisherman, but it will also add to our authenticity as a destination, the Deputy Premier said.

Hon. Wheatley who is also Minister for Culture described the high potential of the Creative Industries to contribute to the growth of tourism, saying, we also see a major opportunity in the Creative Industries to boost Cultural Tourism. The BVI has untapped potential in terms of displaying and promoting our cultural heritage and the arts.

The Deputy Premier concluded his remarks by reminding the audience of the negative impact of COVID-19 on the BVI economy that is still being felt by laid off workers and their families. However, he expressed optimism that conditions will improve with the increasing number of tourist arrivals.

The panel was part four of UNDPs Regional Dialogue on the Future of Tourism which took place virtually on 10th June 2021 and was broadcast across the Caribbean and internationally on UWI TV.

Other panellists included: Mr. Neil Walters, Secretary General (Ag) of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); Ms. Valerie Cliff, UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean; Ms. Helena Ray, Programme Manager at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Mr. Frank Comito, Special Advisor and former CEO, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA); and Mr. Carl Hunter, Environmental Committee Chairman, Saint Lucia Hospitality & Tourism Association (SLHTA). The panel was moderated Ms. Tonni Brodber, Representative of UN Women for the Caribbean.

The Deputy Premier was joined by Mr. Benito Wheatley, Special Envoy of the Premier, and Ms. Dwynel Davis, Assistant Secretary for External Affairs at the International Affairs Secretariat.

The BVI is rated Level 1 (lowest level of COVID-19) by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in terms of the prevalence of COVID-19 on the islands and ranks among the top tier of destinations considered safe for travel.
Security experts to reveal global security trends and priorities at Hardwear.io USA event

USA ? June 23rd 2021: Hardwear.io, USA\-\-s virtual platform for hardware research and innovation, welcomes hundreds of hardware security experts and academia to its 6-day event, July 5-10, 2021. Keynote Speakers will share the latest security research and attack threats to help the hardware and security community to defend their products. More speakers from NCC Group, Google?s OpenTitan project, Riscure and more will share practical insight and tools to the hardware security community.

Antriksh Shah, founder of Hardwear.io, says, ?Many vendors do not always treat hardware security as a priority because of the time and effort involved. That is why platforms and virtual conferences such as Hardwear.io are useful to help InfoSec professionals learn about the latest research and tools they need to protect their IoT devices.?

Day one?s Keynote Speaker is professor Yongdae Kim from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology who will test the security of modems and networks and share the future direction for automatic testing. Professor Kim is a pioneer in telecom security, having more than 20 years of experience in security issues related to 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G, while spending significant time working with various chip manufacturers on baseband.

Hardwear.io?s Keynote Speaker of day two is Colin O\-\-Flynn, assistant professor at Dalhousie University of Canada, who will highlight major hardware attacks and share thoughts on the future of hardware security and increasing accessibility throughout the industry. He is the inventor of ChipWhisperer, a complete, open-source toolchain for side-channel, power analysis and glitching attacks.

Conference Talks:

? Dr. Jiska Classen, Postdoc at TU Darmstadt: Interacting with OS hardware from user space  repurposing daemons to access chips and wireless protocols while keeping most of their functionality intact in Apple products;

? Joshua Beaker, Security Analyst at Riscure: Proving the efficacy of software countermeasures for fault injection ?- providing applicable defensive knowledge of preventing a large amount of fault injection attacks with only software;

? Chris Frantz, Site Reliability Engineer at Google OpenTitan project: Secure Builds for Secure Software  revealing exclusive technical details about Google OpenTitan, a project used by millions around the globe;

? Ta-Lun Yen, Threat Researcher at Trend Micro: Enabling dynamic analysis of Legacy Embedded Systems in full emulated environment  stressing the significance of emulation tools by showing how their emulation methods allows to transplant any given kernel-mode binaries into our controlled environment;

? Mathieu Stephan, Electronics Engineer: The Mooltipass Open Source Hardware Authentication Ecosystem  presenting Mooltipass, an entirely open-source framework providing hardware-based authentication solutions;

? Eric Evenchick, Technical Director at NCC Group: Building CANtact Pro: An Open Source CAN Bus Tool  exposing a new tool used for automotive reverse engineering which operates by dissecting the CAN protocol, injecting malicious code thus surrendering control over automotive systems to the hacker;

? Andrew Zonenberg, Associate Principal Security Consultant at IOActive: Boost your hardware reversing with glscopeclient  introducing glscopeclient, a tool for controlling instruments and analyzing streaming waveforms at speeds in excess of 2 Gbps, using GPU acceleration when available;

? John McMaster: talk to be announced soon

Training sessions:

? Protecting the CAN bus by Ken Tindell, CTO of Canis Automotive Labs

? Assessing and Exploiting PLCs by Justin Searle, Director of ICS Security at InGuardians,

? IC Reverse Engineering & Code Dump by Olivier Thomas, CTO of Texplained

? Reverse Engineering Firmware with Ghidra by Eric Evenchick, Technical Director at NCC Group

? BootPwn: Breaking Secure Boot by Experience by Niek Timmers & Cristofaro Mune, Founders of Raelize

? EMFI and Voltage Fault injection attacks with Raiden by Grzegorz Wypych, Security Researcher at IBM XForce & Adam Laurie, Partner at IBM XForce

? Optimizing Crypto on Embedded Microcontrollers by Peter Schwabe, Research Group Leader at Radboud University & Matthias Kannwischer, PhD Student at Radboud University

Antriksh added, ?If there is a vulnerability on the software side, it can be easily patched, but if there is a vulnerability on the hardware side, it can mean the hardware manufacturer may have to rebuild everything from scratch. The research projects presented at Hardwear.io USA will be used by people who build and secure new silicon products. Members of the audience will become aware of such vulnerabilities, and they will be more sensitive to preventing and fixing them in future products. Moreover, such research also helps companies identify counterfeit products available in the market. This is especially important, as the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the balance between supply and demand and counterfeit chips are spreading due to the global semiconductor shortage.?

Hardwear.io USA will be held virtually for the second time. Over 1500 hardware security experts from the industry and academia participated in first-ever virtual Hardwear.io USA conference in 2020. The event kicks off with 7 training sessions for 4 days from 5th July 2021, while the Conference will happen between the 9th?10th of July.

Attendees at Hardwear.io will have the opportunity to network and find solutions to address business needs. In addition to the training sessions and conference talks, Hardwear.io has come up with extracurricular activities highly beneficial as they provide its audience useful soft and hard skills through fun and entertaining activities:

? Fix-Up, a unique networking event for the attendees to network and find their next hardware research collaboration or business partner.

? Hospital Under Siege CTF (8th July), a scenario-driven Capture the Flag contest, where participants compete on both real and simulated medical devices. Challenges will draw from expert areas including forensics, RF hacking, network exploitation techniques, web security, protocol reverse engineering, hardware hacking, and others.

? Capture the Signal CTF (9-10th July), a new challenge-based CTF contest that focuses exclusively on the reverse engineering of radio signals. Participants will have to examine a series of increasingly complex radio signals to extract key information leading them to the final exit signal.

? Wall Puzzle Contest (9-10th July), a cryptographic challenge where puzzles are posted at random times during the conference. Participants must check all the sessions to solve all the challenges with knowledge of cryptography, physics, chemistry, electronics, computers, mathematics, history, and vexillogy.

To see the full agenda of the event, please go to the Hardwear.io website online
New WatchGuard research reveals traditional anti-malware solutions miss nearly 75% of threats

Report highlights record-setting zero day malware volumes, rising network attack rates and the quarter?s top malware attacks

24 June 2021 ? WatchGuard? Technologies? latest Internet Security Report shows that 74% of threats detected last quarter were zero day malware, capable of circumventing conventional signature-based antivirus solutions at the time of the malware release. The report also found that network attacks surged, with a 21% increase compared to the previous quarter and the highest volume since early 2018. With WatchGuard appliances detecting more than 4 million network attacks, corporate servers and assets on site are still high-value targets for attackers despite the shift to remote and hybrid work.

?Last quarter saw the highest level of zero day malware detections we?ve ever recorded. Evasive malware rates have actually eclipsed those of traditional threats, which is yet another sign that organisations need to evolve their defences to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threat actors,? said Corey Nachreiner, chief security officer at WatchGuard. ?Traditional anti-malware solutions alone are simply insufficient for today?s threat environment. Every organisation needs a layered, proactive security strategy that involves machine learning and behavioural analysis to detect and block new and advanced threats.?

Other key findings from WatchGuard?s Q1 2021 Internet Security Report reveal how attackers are trying to disguise and repurpose old exploits and the quarter?s top malware attacks.

 Fileless malware variant explodes in popularity ? XML.JSLoader is a malicious payload that appeared for the first time in both WatchGuard?s top malware by volume and most widespread malware detections lists. It was also the variant WatchGuard detected most often via HTTPS inspection in Q1. The sample identified uses an XML external entity (XXE) attack to open a shell to run commands to bypass the local PowerShell execution policy and runs in a non-interactive way, hidden from the actual user or victim. This is another example of the rising prevalence of fileless malware and the need for advanced endpoint detection and response capabilities.

 Simple file name trick helps hackers pass off ransomware loader as legitimate PDF attachments ? Ransomware loader Zmutzy surfaced as a top-two encrypted malware variant by volume in Q1. Associated with Nibiru ransomware specifically, victims encounter this threat as a zipped file attachment to an email or a download from a malicious website. Running the zip file downloads an executable, which to the victim appears to be a legitimate PDF. Attackers used a comma instead of a period in the file name and a manually adjusted icon to pass the malicious zip file off as a PDF. This type of attack highlights the importance of phishing education and training, as well as implementing backup solutions in the event that a variant like this unleashes a ransomware infection.

 Threat actors continue to attack IoT devices ? While it didn?t make WatchGuard?s top 10 malware list for Q1, the Linux.Ngioweb.B variant has been used by adversaries recently to target IoT devices. The first version of this sample targeted Linux servers running WordPress, arriving initially as an extended format language (EFL) file. Another version of this malware turns the IoT devices into a botnet with rotating command and control servers.

 An old directory traversal attack technique makes a comeback ? WatchGuard detected a new threat signature in Q1 that involves a directory traversal attack via cabinet (CAB) files, a Microsoft-designed archival format intended for lossless data compression and embedded digital certificates. A new addition to WatchGuard?s top 10 network attacks list, this exploit either tricks users into opening a malicious CAB file using conventional techniques, or by spoofing a network-connected printer to fool users into installing a printer driver via a compromised CAB file.

 HAFNIUM zero days provide lessons on threat tactics and response best practices ? Last quarter, Microsoft reported that adversaries used the four HAFNIUM vulnerabilities in various Exchange Server versions to gain full, unauthenticated system remote code execution and arbitrary file-write access to any unpatched server exposed to the Internet, as most email servers are. WatchGuard incident analysis dives into the vulnerabilities and highlights the importance of HTTPS inspection, timely patching and replacing legacy systems.

 Attackers co-opt legitimate domains in cryptomining campaigns ? In Q1, WatchGuard?s DNSWatch service blocked several compromised and outright malicious domains associated with cryptomining threats. Cryptominer malware has become increasingly popular due to recent price spikes in the cryptocurrency market and the ease with which threat actors can siphon resources from unsuspecting victims.

WatchGuard?s quarterly research reports are based on anonymised Firebox Feed data from active WatchGuard Fireboxes whose owners have opted in to share data to support the Threat Lab?s research efforts. In Q1, WatchGuard blocked a total of more than 17.2 million malware variants (461 per device) and nearly 4.2 million network threats (113 per device). The full report includes details on additional malware and network trends from Q1 2021, a detailed analysis of the HAFNIUM Microsoft Exchange Server exploits, critical defence tips for readers, and more.

Read WatchGuard?s complete Q1 2021 Internet Security Report here: https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-resource-center/security-report-q1-2021
Lucille Morgan, 98, of Science Hill, passed away Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at the Hospice of Lake Cumberland. A Funeral Service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, July 3, 2021 at the Chapel of Morris & Hislope Funeral Home. Burial will be in Science Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be after 12:
Caracas (Venezuela), June 22, 2021 (SPS) - A Sahrawi delegation, head by Ms. Jadiyetu Mojtar, attends the work of the Congress of the Peoples of the World, held from June 21 to 23, 2021, in the Venezuelan, under the slogan "All for the Revolution." , commemorating the Bicentennial of the independence of Venezuela and the historic battle of Carabobo, led by the Liberator Simon Bolivar, which put an end to colonialism in that Latin American country.

During its participation, the Saharawi delegation met on Monday with the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Ms. Carolys Perez, and the President of the Women's Commission of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, Ms. Gladys Requena, both parties addressed issues related to the current political and military situation in Western Sahara, particularly after the Moroccan violation of the ceasefire and the resumption of the war in the territory.SPS

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DANBURY  Luana Aguiar and her mom wanted to get their COVID-19 vaccines this week.

They hadnt yet because Aguiar had a baby two weeks ago and her mom just arrived in Danbury from Brazil last Friday. They didnt expect to get their shots at the grocery store.

Its very convenient, Aguiar said Tuesday after getting her first dose outside of the CTown Supermarket on North Street in Danbury.

Her mom was grateful.

Mucho feliz, said Luizette Aguiar, placing her hands together as if in prayer. That translates to very happy in Portuguese.

They were two of 11 people to get their shots on Tuesday during the about four-hour clinic run by RVNAhealth. But nurses there talked to others who they think may have been convinced to get the vaccine when the clinic returns next Tuesday or at another pop-up session in the community.

As the COVID-19 vaccination rate has slowed across the nation and state, health care workers no longer expect large waves of people to get the shot and are instead turning to convincing people one at a time. In Danbury the number of residents who received at least one dose has slowed, increasing from 57.48 percent on June 6 to 58.87 percent on June 16.

If you change one persons mind, Im happy with it, said Fernanda Araujo, a licensed practical nurse with RVNAhealth.

I think these efforts keep the numbers from dipping too much lower, added Laura Shulman Cordeira, director of community health and wellness for RVNAhealth.

Shes referring to the partnerships between RVNAhealth, Danburys health department and other organizations to make vaccines easier to get and to better educate people reluctant to get their shots.

This weeks clinic is part of this effort and is paid funded through a $970,000 grant Danburys health department received to work with partners on vaccine equity.

The goal is to eliminate barriers, such as access to a computer, transportation, child care, work challenges and language differences, that may have prevented people from getting vaccinated, Cordeira said.

One woman who got vaccinated Tuesday said she had struggled to make an appointment initially and then couldnt get time off from work.

More Information Percentage of Danbury residents with at least one dose 38.75 percent on 4/21 43.4 percent on 4/28 46.4 percent on 5/5 49.06 percent on 5/12 51.7 percent on 5/19 54.58 percent on 5/26 56.13 percent on 6/2 57.58 percent on 6/9 58.87 percent on 6/16 See More Collapse

Cordeira said its a misconception that everyone who wants the vaccine has gotten it.

Were showing up in places and the people are still coming out and getting vaccines, she said. Theyre saying, I wanted to do this and didnt know how.

Bringing vaccines to the people

The organization initially held formal education sessions, but now nurses focus on addressing specific concerns and questions with the people in front of them, while simultaneously providing the vaccine.

Its more of a one-on-one, Cordeira said.

Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut canvasses over the phone, while city health department and Connecticut Institute for Communities talk to people on the streets, she said.

Nurses emphasize that the vaccines are effective, free and that patients dont need identification or health insurance to get them  common misconceptions.

Officials have studied the ZIP codes with the lowest vaccination rates and are scheduling pop-up clinics in neighborhoods where theyre needed most, Cordeira said. That way theyre easy to walk to and in places  like a street festival or grocery store  where people are already going to, she said.

Clinics and education sessions will be held Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon at the farmers market at the Danbury Railway Museum.

Churches have been one of the most successful locations because its a trusted institution, officials said.

The pastor has a big role, said Araujo, who has had many churches reach out to her about clinics. At one clinic, 100 people showed up when the organization expected 20.

Focus on education

The booth at CTown was near the entrance to the store, with a purple tent protecting nurses and patients from the intermittent rain.

Nurses approach people, ask if theyve been vaccinated and for them to spread the word about the clinics, said Jackie Felix, a licensed practical nurse with RVNAHealth. Theyre scheduled to be CTown from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday through the end of August. Patients may later get second doses at the clinic.

Word of mouth has helped attract more people, and the public now expects them to be there, Felix said.

You talk to a lot of people, she said. If they dont get the vaccine, theyre thinking about it and they know youll be back.

One customer tried to encourage people toward the booth and later returned to cheer for a woman getting her shot.

The nurses explain how the vaccine works and debunk misconceptions to build confidence in its effectiveness, Felix said.

A lot of people say they wanted to wait and see how people were affected by it, she said.

Felix speaks Spanish and English, while Araujo speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English. Patients feel more comfortable talking to the nurses in their native language, Araujo said.

Patients may choose their vaccine type. On Tuesday, nurses brought 18 doses of Moderna, 10 shots of Pfizer and five of Johnson & Johnson.

Alongside their vaccine cards, patients received hand sanitizer and reusable grocery bags that said I got my COVID-19 vaccine in three languages. Crayons were available for kids.

Gift cards to restaurants have been distributed, too, Cordeira said. At some Saturday clinics, patients have received 34 pounds of donated food, Felix said.

The nurses said they recognize they wont get everyone. Felix said shes learned not to approach one man, who has said Jesus protects him when shes talked to him about the vaccine.

Were not here to change peoples minds or convert them if they dont feel strongly about having a vaccine, Cordeira said. Thats okay. Were here to provide education and information and allow people to make an informed decision on their own.

However, one woman who Felix spoke with a previous week returned on Tuesday to get her shot.

It has been effective, Felix said.

The group hopes to use similar methods for future flu clinics, Araujo said.

This is just the beginning, she said.
DARIEN  The towns long-serving first selectman wont be running for a sixth term, she announced in a release Wednesday.

Jayme Stevenson, a Darien resident for about 30 years, has held the post for about 10 years, the release read.

Stevenson ran for lieutenant governor in 2018.

There are too many meaningful projects completed and problems solved to mention here but in the big picture, what Im most proud of are the people who work tirelessly to support our residents and businesses  our employees, the hundreds of board and commission volunteers and community support and faith organizations who are the strong threads of the fabric of our everyday lives, she said in the release.

Stevenson said the town needed to be engaged beyond the local level for Dariens voice to be heard on policy matters that impact our daily lives. She cited her experience holding positions with other organizations over her time in office, such as the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency.

She spoke to the communitys resilience, touching on the challenges 2020 posed. Stevenson said maintaining local control of the town would be one of the biggest challenges facing town leaders going forward.

Stevenson added that she strongly thought the role should have term limits.

The decision to step aside was very difficult given the exciting, transformational work weve done to plan for the Darien of our future and the close friendships Ive made along the way, she said. I feel humbled and gratified by all weve set in motion. New leadership and fresh ideas, grounded by our history and community values, are healthy for our community.
John McAfee, the outlandish security software pioneer who tried to live life as a hedonistic outsider while running from a host of legal troubles, was found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona on Wednesday.

His death came just hours after a Spanish court announced that it had approved his extradition to the United States to face tax charges punishable by decades in prison, authorities said.

McAfee, who was among other things a cryptocurrency promoter, tax opponent, U.S. presidential candidate and fugitive, who publicly embraced drugs, guns and sex, had a history of legal woes spanning from Tennessee to Central America to the Caribbean. In 2012, he was sought for questioning in connection with the murder of his neighbor in Belize, but was never charged with a crime.

McAfee's body was discovered at the Brians 2 penitentiary in northeastern Spain. Security personnel tried to revive him, but the jails medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

A judicial delegation has arrived to investigate the causes of death, the statement read. Everything points to death by suicide.

McAfee's death was confirmed after Spains National Court ruled in favor of extraditing McAfee, 75, who had argued in a hearing earlier this month that the charges against him by prosecutors in Tennessee were politically motivated and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the U.S.

The courts ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelonas international airport and had been in jail since then awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings. The arrest followed charges the same month in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based attorney defending him on those cases, said by phone that McAfee will always be remembered as a fighter.

He tried to love this country but the U.S. government made his existence impossible, Sanan said. They tried to erase him, but they failed.

Born in Englands Gloucestershire in 1945 as John David McAfee, he moved to Virginia as a child and grew up troubled, with a father who beat him mercilessly and killed himself with McAfees shotgun when the boy was 15, said Steve Morgan, who spent time with McAfee in Alabama in 2016 to talk about his life for a biography hed been contracted to write. Morgan is also the founder of market research firm Cybersecurity Ventures.

"He told me his father never showed him an ounce of affection, Morgan said, adding that recounting his fathers death was the only time during their long meeting that McAfee cried.

While McAfees tech legacy may have been overshadowed in recent years by his tumultuous life, Morgan said he sees his most lasting impact as a software and security pioneer.

I think thats how ultimately he'd really most like to be remembered. I think a lot of people will remember him as a very troubled soul. Some people will remember him as a criminal. It depends on your age and your exposure to him, Morgan said.

McAfee founded his eponymous company in 1987. At the time, Morgan said, he was operating a BBS, a bulletin board system that served as a precursor to the World Wide Web and working with his brother-in-law. When the first major computer virus, called Brain, hit in 1986, John instantly dialed up a programmer he knew and said, theres a big opportunity. We need to do something. You know, we want to write some code to combat this virus, Morgan said. He called the program VirusScan and the company McAfee Associates.

He was a true pioneer, not just as a security technologist but as one of the first companies to distribute software over the internet, Morgan said.

California chipmaker Intel, which bought McAfees company in 2010 for $7.68 billion, for a time sought to dissociate the brand from its controversial founder by folding it into its larger cybersecurity division. But the rebranding was short-lived, and Intel in 2016 spun out the cybersecurity unit into a new company called McAfee.

In the software industry, McAfees claim to fame was that he offered the first all-in-one virus scanner, said Vesselin Bontchev, a Bulgarian computer scientist and an early antivirus researcher. Prior to that, said Bontchev, researchers would only scan for one virus at a time. But there were only about a dozen computer viruses back then.

Technologically, as a scanner, it wasnt anything outstanding. It was just the general idea that was good. Not the implementation, said Bontchev, a senior researcher at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Bontchev said McAfee was a peculiar guy, even back then. He said he wrote McAfee asking for a part-time job about the time the Soviet Union was breaking up so he could work on a post-doctoral dissertation in the U.S.

In response, McAfee told Bontchev in a letter that the Bulgarian was believed to be a Soviet agent so they cannot work with me, he said. This is a really bizarre way to say no to somebody who is asking for a job.

The two later met in the U.S. at the annual Virus Bulletin conference, said Bontchev. I dont think he was a typical American. He was just weird.

McAfee twice made long-shot runs for the U.S. presidency and was a participant in Libertarian Party presidential debates in 2016. He dabbled in yoga, ultralight aircraft and the production of herbal medications.

In 2012 he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Gregory Viant Faull, who was shot to death in early November 2012 on the island in Belize where both men lived.

McAfee told AP at the time that he was being persecuted by the Belizean government. Belizean police denied that, saying they were simply investigating a crime about which McAfee may have had information. Then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressed doubts about McAfees mental state, saying, I dont want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers.

A Florida court ordered McAfee in 2019 to pay $25 million to Faulls estate in a wrongful death claim. He refused to pay it, writing in a statement posted on Twitter that he has not responded to a single one of my 37 lawsuits for the past 11 years." He claimed to have no assets, writing that the order was a mute point"  an apparent misspelling of moot."

In July of that year he was released from detention in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of traveling on a yacht carrying high-caliber weapons, ammunition and military-style gear.

Wired Magazine reporter Joshua Davis spent six months investigating McAfees tumultuous life in 2012, when he was living in Belize and being sought for questioning in connection with his neighbors murder. He described watching as McAfee took out a pistol to illustrate a point.

Lets do this one more time, he says, and puts it to his head, Davies wrote. Another round of Russian roulette. Just as before, he pulls the trigger repeatedly, the cylinder rotates, the hammer comes down, and nothing happens. It is a real gun. It has a real bullet in one chamber, he says. And yet, he points out, my assumptions have somehow proven faulty. Im missing something.

__

Associated Press writers Aritz Parra in Madrid, Renata Brito in Barcelona, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tenn., Matt O'Brien in Providence, R.I. and Frank Bajak in Boston contributed.
Legislation designed to improve grade-school reading curricula across the state  which was voted out of the Committee on Education in the spring but never came to a vote in the House of Representatives  became law as part of the massive budget implementation bill.

The legislation, initially dubbed the Right to Read act, calls for $12.8 million in spending to ensure that school districts where students are falling behind can hire reading coaches.

Baked into the Right to Read legislation, despite some pushback from educators and parents during public hearings, is the establishment of a Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success at the state Department of Education that will oversee the reading curriculum for Connecticut students in grades PreK-3.

There is a proven method for literacy instruction, and we need to use it in all of our Connecticut classrooms. Our students are entitled to it, Sen. Patricia Billie Miller wrote in a Stamford Advocate opinion piece.

Miller, who shepherded the legislation, lays blame on the state for the thousands of students reaching third grade each year still struggling to read.

This is the result of Connecticuts hands-off approach to reading, which has failed to properly train all educators and to require proven, evidence-based practices and programs in every classroom, Miller claimed.

While tutoring could help many struggling readers, perhaps an even larger component of the legislation is that every district by 2023 will be required to have in place reading curriculum that focuses on the so-called science of reading.

An advisory council within the new literacy center will ensure that school districts are using one of the five approved methods of teaching by July 1, 2023. Schools will have to notify the literacy center biannually about the program they chose. Districts will have the option to submit a waiver to implement a different model that did not get reviewed by the council, but it would have to be approved by the education commissioner and advisory council.

The bill received bipartisan support, but some educators and parents raised concerns about requiring districts to implement reading models approved by the literacy center as well as the establishment of the center itself.

As an educator, I feel this bill will severely limit the options for students who need reading instruction. While the science of reading has options that support students, making it the required only option is detrimental, East Haddam resident Nicole Hendry wrote in a testimony opposing the bill, adding that certain reading instruction may not work for every student and that having the state determine this limits schools meeting students needs.

There are many important components to reading, and schools need to have options in supporting students, Hendry wrote. School districts should not have to apply for an exception to use other programs that support their students.

There are two primary approaches to teaching children to read: phonetic instruction, in which the curriculum teaches children how to look at a word and sound it out, and an approach that teaches students how to identify words through cues.

The state doesnt track which model districts use, despite research showing more children succeed with the phonetic approach.

This legislation will drastically expand a pilot program that has been sputtering along with success in the limited number of schools it has been funded to operate.

This Connecticut Literacy Model was created in the years leading up to the states school-funding trial, where one of the focuses was on high school students who were graduating without knowing how to read and write.

Then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy called 2012 the year of education reform, the Black and Puerto Rican caucuss solution for reading literacy was the Connecticut Literacy Model piloted with the University of Connecticut Neag School of Education. It provides a multi-tiered approach to reading practices in districts with more students struggling to reach grade-level expectations.

My hope is that [Right to Read] continues the trajectory of [the Connecticut Literacy Model], said Michael Coyne, department head of educational psychology and a professor of special education at the Neag School.

This feels like a good continuation and expansion of that, he added.

Focusing on students in PreK-3 is important, Coyne explained, because those are the grades children are learning how to read and really start mastering the skills or tools that make you  a successful reader.

From then on, kids are reading to learn, he added. So that means they have to be able to have this really strong set of reading tools available to be able to access learning and other content areas.

The establishment of the center, Coyne explained, is to also coordinate existing efforts and state initiatives related to reading literacy. So instead of reading supports coming out of a districts turnaround, academic or special education departments separately and independently, this new center at the state education department will align all those efforts together.

The bill will also require the state Department of Education, in coordination with center officials, to create a list of reading assessments used by districts starting in the 2022-23 school year to identify children who are reading below proficiency in grades K-3, as well as to provide guidance to districts regarding how to use administer the tests.

We want to thank Sen. Miller for her steadfast support of literacy in the state of Connecticut, and were proud to work together on this piece of legislation, Acting Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said. We are pleased that the center will be located within the agency and are committed to continuing our work with key partners to ensure all children are proficient in reading by grade 3. Building confident readers will provide our students with the gateway to become productive, engaged lifelong learners.

Durham-Middlefield Regional School District 13 Literacy Specialist Kristin Allen said she believes having a literacy model focused on the science of reading and implementing more structured approaches played a role in the progress theyve seen this last year, despite the pandemic.

Allen began training teachers in her district to implement literacy practices in the classroom four years ago, after the district noticed an increasing number of kids were qualifying for special education services mainly with a disability involved with some sort of reading deficit.

We had even COVID thrown into this whole mix of trying to make changes in our district, which put a halt on some of our plans, but our data this year is outstanding, Allen said. In our benchmark assessments, we have a very small amount of students in the red, those students that are significantly below basic. The pre-and post-data went from a lot of kids, a high percentage of students in the red, to now minimal number of students in the red.

After spending 15 years as a special education teacher and going through 5-7 years of training to become a certified dyslexia practitioner, Allen now trains other teachers in Region 13 in oral language, phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary, syntax, grammar, all of the ins and outs of our language and how it relates to reading success.

I think the Right to Read just validates what were doing in my district, Allen said. Im fortunate that our district is listening to me and taking the lead in establishing some of the approaches that the Right to Read is hoping that districts follow through on.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Rain showers in the morning with numerous thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 55F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High 73F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms before midnight. Low around 55F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Ogden jazz icon Joe McQueen may be gone, but his memory and legacy live on. One physical reminder of his life, McQueen's lifelong home at 3158 Grant Ave., has now become available for sale. The house received extensive remodeling, but as investor Richard Casperson has said, "Joe's energy is 
Published: 24 June 2021

General government debt grew by EUR 1.5 billion in the last quarter of 2021

General government EDP debt, i.e. consolidated gross debt at nominal prices amounted to EUR 165.7 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2021 and grew by EUR 1.5 billion during the quarter. Relative to GDP, general government debt stood at 69.8 per cent. Correspondingly, general government debt has grown by EUR 10.4 billion compared with the respective period of the year before. These data derive from Statistics Finland's statistics on general government debt by quarter.

General government debt by quarter

During the first quarter, central government debt grew by EUR 3.0 billion and was EUR 138.9 billion at the end of the quarter. The stock of long-term bonds grew by EUR 4.9 billion and the amount of short-term debt instruments with a maturity of under one year fell by EUR 1.3 billion. The stock of long-term loans went down by EUR 0.1 billion and the stock of short-term loans fell by EUR 0.3 billion.

The local government sectors debt fell by EUR 0.2 billion and stood at EUR 25.9 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2021. The loan stock fell by EUR 0.2 billion but the amount of debt instruments remained almost on level with the previous quarter. Social security funds' debt fell by EUR 1.2 billion and totalled EUR 2.4 billion at the end of the quarter. Of them, employment pension schemes' debt decreased by EUR 1.1 billion due to cash collateral received in connection with derivative contracts and securities lending. Other social security funds debt went down by EUR 0.1 billion.

The responsibility for collecting quarterly data on the finances of municipalities and joint municipal authorities was transferred from Statistics Finland to the State Treasury in early 2021: http://www.stat.fi/uutinen/quarterly-local-government-finances-published-for-the-first-time-on-the-exploreadministrationfi-service . The aim of the new data collection has been advanced automation. In addition, the collected data content is wider than before. Changes may initially have an effect on the quality and comparability of data concerning general government from the perspective of statistics.

General government EDP debt describes general governments debt to other sectors of the national economy and to the rest of the world, and its development is influenced by changes in unconsolidated debt and internal general government debts. Consolidated general government gross debt is derived by deducting debts between units recorded under general government from unconsolidated gross debt. For this reason, general government debt is smaller than the combined debts of its sub-sectors. The debt-to-GDP ratio has been calculated using a seasonally and working day adjusted GDP series at market prices.

The EDP debt of general government differs conceptionally to some extent in the case of central government from the central government debt published by the State Treasury. Central government's EDP debt also includes loans granted to beneficiary counties by the European Financial Stability Facility EFSF, received cash collaterals related to derivative contracts, the capital of the Nuclear Waste Management Fund, debts generated from investments in central government's PPP (public-private partnership) projects, coins that are in circulation, and the deposits of the European Commission. In National Accounts, central government is also a broader concept than the budget and financial economy ( http://www.stat.fi/meta/luokitukset/_linkki/julkisyhteisot.html ). However, the State Pension Fund is included in social security funds. The valuation principle for both debt concepts is the nominal value, where the effect of currency swaps is taken into account.

Source: General government debt by quarter, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Aaro Hottinen 029 551 3231, Jose Lahtinen 029 551 3776, financial.accounts@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja

Publication in pdf-format (219.1 kB)

Updated 24.6.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): General government debt by quarter [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-8034. 1st quarter 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 3.7.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/jyev/2021/01/jyev_2021_01_2021-06-24_tie_001_en.html
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The exhibition "The Art of the Top Sleeve Embroidery Folk Blouse" that brings together heritage items from the collections of the Bucharest Village Museum and the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History in Chisinau opened on Thursday, on the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse, at the H.H. Stahl Foyer of the 'Dimitrie Gusti' National Village Museum.

"We didn't radically separate the costumes from the Republic of Moldova from the costumes from Romania's region of Moldova - I would say that both are Romanian - from our Moldova, so to say. We cannot even distinguish which are from beyond the Prut and which are from our side of the Prut River (...), because the Prut was never a real border. It was just a transitional border. Otherwise, the Romanian spirituality was at home on both sides of the river," said the manager of the Village Museum, Paula Popoiu.

The exhibition brings together 30 folk costume items handpicked from the 15,000 in the heritage of the Village Museum.

Secretary of State in the Culture Ministry Liviu Bratescu welcomed the shift to another stage of the entire Romanian society, which has put behind the idyllic phase of the "flower bridge across the Prut".

"We have passed to another stage, this time through the collaboration of ethnography experts from the Republic of Moldova and Romania. (...) In this area of tangible heritage things may be sometimes less spectacular, but they are very important to us, because they have to do with our identity and our national specificity. Such an exhibition too can be proof that this post-1990 paradigm that was widespread in the Romanian society, regarding the preservation of the national identity and the affirmation of our place in the European culture can be overcome. I think we all have a cultural reservoir that allows us to equally manifest ourselves," said Bratescu.

Irina Badiuc, head of the Heritage, Archiving and Replenishing Department of the Chisinau National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, told AGERPRES that the exhibition includes 14 folk costumes "that attempt to ethnographically cover the Republic of Moldova".

"On display are costumes from the north, center and southeast that are part of our museum's highly valuable folk costume collection, which has more than 2,000 storage units, given that the bases of this collection were set at the end of the 19th century and in the early 20th century, when the first custodians were gathering shirts, skirts, belts and headdresses donated by personalities or common people," Irina Badiuc explained.

"They are richly ornamented with symbols, because, in the end, they perpetuate into eternity the emotions of the women who wore them," the museographer explained.

The event was attended by Adrian Dupu, Secretary of State with the Romanian Government's Department for Liasion with the Republic of Moldova, and Emil Jacota, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Bucharest.

The exhibition opened at the Village Museum in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Romania promotes the file 'The Art of the Top Sleeve Embroidery Folk Blouse - Ia, a Cultural Identity Element in Romania and the Republic of Moldova' for inducting the 'ia' in the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) hails the anniversary of 10 years since the adoption of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSRD), the Romanian-Austrian regional cooperation initiative meant to stimulate cooperation between the states riparian to the Danube, occasion on which Minister Bogdan Aurescu noted the fact that "it continues to bring added value to the European project."

According to a press release sent on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) shows that the anniversary represents a new occasion to reaffirm the direct and substantial contribution that the EUSRD had, along its implementation, in supporting some important objectives such as: the promotion of economic and social convergence inside the union, the consolidation of cooperation between partners that share the same values and principles, the development of projects and common initiatives and the stimulation of good practice exchange and the dialogue between authorities in the partner states, agerpres reports.

Furthermore, the quoted source adds, the EU's objectives regarding the active promotion of the expansion policy of the Union and the Eastern Partnership were supported through the Strategy."Today, at the anniversary of 10 years since the adoption of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, we are glad to note that the common political initiative of Romania and Austria continues to bring added value to the European project. The objectives of the strategy resonate in full with our common interest to strengthen the resilience of the Union, especially in the context determined by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to follow up on the medium- and long-term priorities of the EU, especially in matters of climate change and digitization," Aurescu stated, according to the release.On the other hand, MAE expresses hope that the EU Strategy for the Danube Region will continue to act as an accelerator for development in the region and the promotion of cohesion, including in the context of new efforts for economic recovery at the European level post-pandemic, to facilitate the process to expand the EU by identifying and capitalizing on new synergies with it, as well as contribute to closing the gap in European values and standards of the countries in the Eastern Vicinity of the EU participating in the Strategy.The Minister of Foreign Affairs encourages all partners committed to running activities as part of EUSRD to continue efforts to elaborate and implement concrete projects as part of the Strategy that would lead to increasing safety and quality of life of citizens in the Danube region. Furthermore, MAE encourages the sustained participation, in the future, in cooperation, under the EUSRD banner, of representatives of administration, civil society, academia and the business milieu in Romania to support the development objectives of the Strategy.EUSRD is one of the four macro-regional strategies of the EU, initiated and promoted successfully by Romania and Austria with the objective of coagulating the converging development interests of the region inside the EU and the vicinity. Approved by the European Council on June 24, 2011, the strategy is a highly visible political project, representing the first large-scale initiative of Romania inside the EU.The strategy has four large objectives (pillars) - interconnection of the Danube region, protecting the environment in the Danube region, increasing prosperity in the Danube Region and consolidation of the Danube Region - being structured in 11 priority areas, each coordinated by two member-states, MAE mentions.Romania has exercised twice the mandate of rotational chair of the EUSRD (2013, 2019), promoting economic and social cohesion and convergence in the Danube Region. Furthermore, it contributed actively to coordinating Danube cooperation in the realms of mobility on navigable waterways, culture, tourism, direct human contact, as well as environmental risk management, the release also shows.
Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chair Marcel Ciolacu sent a letter to European Commission leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Frans Timmermans, asking the EU's executive to demand that Romanian ruling parties "stop current undemocratic practices."

The social democrat leader mentions, in the letter sent on Thursday by the PSD Press Office, the fact that the decisions regarding the public radio and television corporations were rejected by the Constitutional Court, the fact that the governing parties "violated the parliamentary procedures in the simple motion against the European Investments and Projects Minister by illegally counting the votes" and that the same parties "decided to dismiss the Ombudsman without respecting the legal procedures in force."

"As the leader of the opposition in my country, I am glad to know that Romanians can rely on friends like you, who put the rights and security of the people first. Therefore, given the recent events in Romania, I feel forced to inform you that democracy and respect for the rule of law are seriously endangered by the governing parties in our country and I ask for the help of the European Commission in managing the abuses committed by the governing parties," Ciolacu also writes, agerpres report.He maintains that the opposition is at the disposal of the Commission "to identify appropriate solutions, so as to avoid the situation in which Romania is slipping into an undemocratic way." He added that the leaders of the governing coalition parties practice "a double language, at the international level, which can be easily dismantled." "They say one thing in Brussels and on the other hand they act against European values, in Romania," says the social democrat.
A number of 60,000 doses of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine will arrive on Thursday at the Cantacuzino National Institute for Medical-Military Research and Development in Bucharest, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) informs.

According to the quoted source, shipment is provided by the manufacturing company, and the vaccine doses will be brought to Bucharest by land.

The doses will be stored at the National Storage Centre, and will be distributed in the following period to the existing regional centers.The National Storage Centre of the Cantacuzino Institute is fully authorised and approved by the National Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of Romania (ANMDMR), the national authority that has competence in the field of medicine for human use.Up to date, Romania has received 625,300 Johnson&Johnson vaccine doses, having already used 259,466 to immunise the population.In Romania, the allocation of vaccine doses is conducted according to a delivery schedule provided by the manufacturing company, with Romania receiving weekly the vaccine batches necessary to immunise the population, agerpres report.
The Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR) found on Thursday that the provisions of the 2021 National Budget Law under which the Romanian Academy of Scientists was to secure its own funding this year were unconstitutional.

According to a CCR press statement, at a meeting on Thursday, the court as part of checking laws after promulgation, with a majority of votes, sustained the constitutionality objection raised by the Ombudsman and found that the provisions of Article 38 in the 2021 National Budget Law are unconstitutional.
Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna, co-chair of Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity (USR PLUS), said on Wednesday that a proposal to abolish or cap special pensions would be put forward in the autumn and that in the context of a clear coalition decision, the individual viewpoint of the person proposed as the Ombudsman is a secondary one, agerpres report.

The clarifications were made for Digi 24, after the deputy prime minister was asked if there is a risk that the person proposed as Ombudsman will hinder the bill to abolish or cap special pensions.

He added that the issue of special pensions "can no longer be kept under wraps indefinitely," but noted that the reform must be fair and constitutional.The candidate for the position of Ombudsman Fabian Gyula, declared on Wednesday that he retired last year, at the age of 49, and his magistrate's pension is over 10,000 lei. Asked if 49 is the right age to retire, he said: "In relation to the pressure you are under in the judiciary, yes." He added that magistrates also have a number of incompatibilities and restrictions.The candidate for the leadership of the Ombudsman stated that the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court is "clear in favor of the magistrates" regarding their pensions.
Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu will be touring the South Caucasus, June 24-26, accompanied by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to strengthen the European Union's geopolitical profile in its own neighbourhood, to increase the EU's involvement and role in resolving protracted conflicts in the region.

According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE), the three foreign ministers are travelling together under a mandate given by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. They are leaving from Bucharest by an aircraft provided by Romania. The tour includes visits to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The delegation of the three European foreign ministers will be joined by the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, as well as other diplomats from the European External Action Service, agerpres report.

The three ministers will have a busy schedule of meetings in Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi that will include high-level receptions and extensive consultations with counterparts from the three countries visited."The aim of the visit is to strengthen the EU's geopolitical profile in its own neighbourhood, to increase the EU's involvement and role in resolving protracted conflicts in the region, as well as to streamline and enhance the cohesion of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, as well as to secure a more active involvement of the EU member states and the European institutions, including through joint action. The three ministers will show that the EU aims to promote a comprehensive and lasting solution to protracted conflicts, including by supporting the stabilisation of the situation on the ground, post-conflict reconstruction and implementing confidence-building measures," MAE says in a press statement.It also says that the approach of the three heads of diplomacy will thus contribute to strengthening a positive EU agenda in the region and expressing clear support on the part of the EU and the member states for stability and security."Thus, the three European foreign ministers will send a strong signal regarding the EU's openness and interest in supporting extensive co-operation among the countries of the South Caucasus, including through opportunities under the Eastern Partnership. In fact, stimulating increased co-operation among the countries in that region on protracted conflicts was one of the proposals put forward by the Romanian foreign minister at the Gymnich meeting in Lisbon in May. The tour also designed to prepare an Eastern Partnership Summit for December," the statement reads.MAE adds that this tour is of great interest to Romania, which sees the South Caucasus as an area of utmost geopolitical interest, and the resolution of protracted conflicts in the Black Sea region is a strategic objective.The approach, according to MAE, is a first concrete result of the proposals advanced by Aurescu at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich format) in Lisbon on May 27, which, at the initiative of Aurescu supported by 10 other counterparts (from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), discussed the state of protracted conflicts in the Eastern Neighbourhood, and concrete tools by which the EU can be more effective and active in resolving them.
On Thursday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu hosted a high-level round table dedicated to promoting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), held in virtual format.

In his address, the Romanian Minister said that the initiative to organize this event was outlined in the discussions held in The Hague with the then President of the International Court of Justice, Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, and the ICJ Registrar, Philippe Gautier, in the context of the official visit he carried out in the Netherlands on November 9, 2020, shows a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to AGERPRES.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy specified that this approach is in line with our country's constant position to support the valorization of legal instruments in support of international peace and to recognize the role of the Court as promoter and guarantor of the rule of law in international relations and of consolidation of the rule of law at international level.

During the meeting, the Romanian Minister stressed that the event hosted by the Romanian MAE aims to create the necessary framework for launching a global campaign to encourage states to accept and resort to the jurisdiction of the ICJ. To this end, Minister Bogdan Aurescu pointed out that, in the next period, Romania intends to initiate, within a representative group of supporting states, discussions on a joint statement encouraging the use of ICJ jurisdiction to resolve disputes between states, which will be opened, subsequently, for endorsement, to all interested states.

"Respect for international law is at the heart of Romania's foreign policy demarches, along with the promotion of the rule of law at the international level. This principle should be an integral part of the foreign policy of every state in the world, and a concrete way to achieve this is the strengthening of the ICJ," Aurescu stated in his address.

He said that "the Court's influence in international relations is increasingly felt, while its judgments are perceived as impartial, fully constructed under international law and contributing to its development."

Aurescu underlined that Romania's appreciation for the professionalism and impartiality of the Court has been strengthened in the context of a long experience of relations with the ICJ, the most eloquent example being the settlement by the Court, by the decision pronounced on February 3, 2009, of the delimitation of Romania's and Ukraine's maritime spaces in the Black Sea, in the process in which he had the role of Agent of Romania at the ICJ.

The participants in the meeting welcomed the initiative of the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu of launching the campaign promoting the acceptance by more and more states of the ICJ jurisdiction, the initiative being already supported by Japan, Switzerland, Holland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Spain, New Zealand, Mexico, as states that have already joined the initiative group, while other states such as Poland, Costa Rica and Botswana have expressed support for the project.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Miguel de Serpa Soares.

The event was also attended by the Registrar of the International Court of Justice, Philippe Gautier, prestigious experts in the field of international law, including Sir Michael Wood, member of the International Law Commission (ILC), and Alain Pellet, professor of international law at Paris Quest Nanterre La Defense University and former member and chairperson of the International Law Commission, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic community in The Hague and New York, in virtual format.
The Ministry of Finances (MF) drew, on Thursday, 1.107 billion RON from banks through two state security issues, according to the data sent by the Romania National Bank (BNR).

Thus, the Finance Ministry drew 254.9 million RON through a bond issue with a 76-month maturity, at an average yield of 2.95% and 852.6 million RON through a 12-month discount treasury certificate, at a 1.97% yield.

On Friday there is an additional auction, through which the state wants to attract another 90 million RON at the yield established on Thursday for bonds.

The Ministry of Finances has planned, in June 2021, loans from commercial banks worth 4.6 billion RON, of which 1.1 billion RON through a discount treasury certificate and 3.5 billion RON through seven government bond issues. For these, the sum of 525 million RON can be added, through additional sessions of non-competitive offers, related to bond auctions.
The plenum of the Parliament will convene on June 29 for the debate and the voting on the censure motion submitted by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) parliamentarians, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Ludovic Orban announced on Thursday, agerpres report.

He mentioned that it is possible for Cristina Pocora to be appointed as president of the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) in the same sitting.

The PSD MPs on Wednesday submitted a censure motion against the Government led by Florin Citu.The motion is entitled "Failed Romania. The 'fantastic' record of the Citu Government", and in its text the social democrats claim that the PNL-USR-UDMR government "leads Romania's economy to the abyss with astonishing speed".The document was read, on Wednesday, in the joint plenary sitting by the leader of the PSD senators' group, Lucian Romascanu.
President Klaus Iohannis presented today EPP President Donald Tusk with the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Cross, in a ceremony organized at Romania's Permanent Representation to the EU.

"Last year I signed the decree conferring Mr. Donald Tusk the highest distinction of the Romanian state - the Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Cross, for his exceptional contribution in support of Romania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Donald Tusk is a longtime friend of Romania's and a true European. We all remember his inspiring speeches in Romanian at the beginning of Romania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, at the Romanian Athenaeum, and at the Sibiu Summit on May 9, 2019, but also his close affinities with Romania and with many cultural or daily-life symbols that deeply resonate with the Romanian people. Donald Tusk is one of the most Euro-enthusiastic European personalities of our times, he has played an important role in further consolidating the Union, in making it matter globally, in ensuring that all our nations come together," said Iohannis.

He also stressed that in his capacity as President of the European Council, Donald Tusk has provided significant support to the actions carried out by the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council, contributing to their success.

"Donald Tusk brought his defining contribution to what we are proud to call today 'the spirit of Sibiu'. The informal Summit organized in Romania and chaired by Donald Tusk sent a strong message of unity across Europe, of commitment towards further building our common path and of confidence in the European Union's future," President Iohannis continued.

He went on to point out that Donald Tusk had a close relationship with Romania also in the period 2007 - 2014, when he served as Poland's Prime Minister.

"As President of the European Council, Donald Tusk navigated with wisdom in rough waters and managed to ensure that the Union remained strong and coherent even in difficult times, an expression of his commitment to the European ideal," Iohannis added, underscoring that Tusk is not only an active supporter of the European project, but also a friend and partner of Romania and of the Romanian people.

I am deeply moved by your decision to award me this honorable distinction. (...) I am deeply impressed primarily as a Pole, because, as you mentioned, I have always been fascinated by Romania's culture and history, (. ..) but also as a European, not only as a Pole, a European who admires consistency and determination in your fight for independence, the rule of law and European unity, and thirdly as a friend of one of the greatest contemporary politicians, as yourself, Mr President. I am proud to receive this award, said the EPP President as he accepted the decoration.

Several EPP MEPs and European Commissioner Adina Valean also attended the ceremony.

President Klaus Iohannis participates in the European Council meeting on June 24 - 25.
President Klaus Iohannis will participate in the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, the Presidential Administration informed.

The main topics on the agenda of the meeting are European Union coordination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of economic recovery of the Union, migration management, EU's foreign relations, especially the relation with Turkey, in the context of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the relation with the Russian Federation.

President Iohannis will also attend the Euro Summit in an extended format, which will address the economic challenges for the Eurozone in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the progress made on the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union.On the sidelines of the European Council, the leaders of the European Union will have a meeting with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, reconfirmed for a new 5-year term at the helm of the organization. The agenda will include topics such as multilateralism, combating climate change, human rights, peace, development and global post-COVID-19 recovery.On Thursday, President Klaus Iohannis, will decorate the chair of the European People's Party, Donald Tusk, with the National Order "Star of Romania" in the rank of Grand Cross, a decree signed at the beginning of last year.
At a joint meeting on Thursday, the standing bureaus of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies appointed Ramona Saseanu as interim head of Romania's National Television Broadcasting Corporation (SRTv) and Liviu Popescu as interim head of the Romanian National Radio Broadcasting Corporation (SRR) for 60 days each, agerpres report.

Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ludovic Orban said that the appointments were made in order to ensure the management of these media organisations after the Constitutional Court's (CCR) unconstitutionality ruling.

Opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) MPs did not attend Thursday's meeting.This way of appointing is the result of the lack of a quorum in a joint sitting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday."We find that there is no quorum. Consequently, I want to point out the provisions of Article 46 (8) in Law 41/1994 on the organisation of the Romanian National Radio Broadcasting Corporation and the Romanian National Television Broadcasting Corporation: if no joint plenary meeting of the two chambers of Parliament is possible due to the lack of a legal quorum, the standing bureaus of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies shall appoint interim directors," Senate Chair Anca Dragu said on Wednesday.After the plenary sitting of Parliament was suspended due to the lack of a quorum, the leader of the PSD senators, Lucian Romascanu, said that the current power acted this way to appoint the interim leaderships of SRTv and SRR by decisions of a joint meeting of the standing bureaus because such decisions cannot be challenged with the Constitutional Court.PSD is considering challenging the decisions made by the joint sitting of the standing bureaus regarding the appointment of the interim general directors of SRTv and SRR with an administrative court, Romascanu added.Saseanu and Popescu were appointed on May 11 by Parliament after a plenary parliamentary sitting rejected the two corporations' activity reports and the budget implementation accounts for 2017, 2018, 2019, which led to dismissal of the Boards of Directors of the two corporations.The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) on June 17 agreed to take up a constitutionality objection raised by PSD and ruled unconstitutional the decisions of Parliament regarding the appointment of the interim general directors of SRTV and SRR.
The Romanian Atomic Forum ROMATOM, the representative body of the Romanian nuclear industry, welcomes the adoption by Romania's Senate of the bill on the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the United States of America on cooperation in the Romanian civil nuclear energy sector, specifically for carrying out the refurbishment project of Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 and the construction of Units 3 and 4.

This step proves the strong support the nuclear field enjoys across Romania's entire political spectrum represented in Parliament, ROMATOM said.

This Intergovernmental Nuclear Cooperation Agreement initialed in autumn 2020 represents a significant progress for the advancement of nuclear projects in Romania, with a strategic role in ensuring independence and energy security and achieving Romania's decarbonisation targets under the new European Green Deal.

"Romania benefits from operating experience acquired during the operation of Cernavoda Units 1 and 2, skilled workforce, a mature horizontal industry capable to significantly participate in the realization of new nuclear projects. The Romanian authorities' committing to the transatlantic partnership for accomplishing the Romania - US strategic nuclear projects represents a positive signal for the local industry, opening at the same time perspectives for the development of education, research and innovation in the nuclear field," says ROMATOM honorary president Teodor Chirica.

Romania's nuclear industry accounts for a yearly turnover of 590 million euros and provides 11,000 jobs, a figure that could increase to 19,000 following the start of new nuclear projects.

Based on a ROMATOM survey conducted on 42 Romanian nuclear and nuclear-related companies, the potential participation of the Romanian nuclear industry in the completion of the Cernavoda Units 3 and 4 project is estimated at about 1 - 1.6 billion euros, which would represent between 25 and 40 percent of the total value of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract.

"By continuing the major nuclear projects, Romania joins the steps taken at European level for the transition to a zero carbon economy by 2050, as nuclear energy is an important component of decarbonization, the backbone as the European Commission calls it in the report 'A clean planet for all', together with renewable energies. Romania is also committed to developing new nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors and 4th generation technologies by its participation in the European project Alfred, with the expertise acquired through the operation of existing and new nuclear units, which are all an important resource we can capitalize on and further develop," said ROMATOM general manager Lucian Rusu.

ROMATOM was established on January 10, 2001 and currently includes 40 companies and associations specializing in the provision of services, products and works for the nuclear and nuclear-related fields.

The association aims to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Romania and to support the national nuclear program, as well as to coordinate all activities undertaken following the association's accession and participation in the European Atomic Forum FORATOM.
Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces (SMFN), Rear Admiral Mihai Panait, declared on Thursday, at the opening of the conference "New concepts, technologies and equipment for the development of the Romanian Naval Forces", that the objectives pursued during the event are aimed at evaluating the challenges in the Black Sea areal, the potential of using unmanned systems, presenting the main modernization projects, for the successful fulfillment of the missions, given that our country is a member of NATO and of the European Union.

"We wanted to organize such a conference, for the first time in the history of the Romanian Naval Forces, to develop knowledge. To develop knowledge in this challenging field, in this new field, with a view to finding the best solutions for the development of the Romanian Naval Forces. (...) At its first edition, this conference (...) is part of a series of events that offer us the opportunity to meet and discuss the future of the field in which we work with people of great quality, with professionals. The objectives pursued during the conference proceedings are aimed at assessing the challenges in the Black Sea areal and the potential of using unmanned systems, the presentation of the main projects for the modernization of naval platforms and combat equipment for the Romanian Naval Forces, included under the program 'Romanian Army 2026 - 2040', for the successful fulfillment of the missions deriving from the naval, fluvial and maritime interests of Romania and from our country's status as a member state of the North Atlantic Alliance and of the European Union," said the SMFN representative.

According to him, the Romanian Naval Forces must constantly adapt and develop given that "the nature of the security and operational environment is in a continuous dynamic, under the influence of many factors, including those of a technological nature, and this dynamic brings with it a series of challenges that force us to constantly transform and adapt in order to be able to successfully fulfill our missions".

The head of SMFN considers that the moment of the conference in Constanta is opportune, taking into account the recent discussions on NATO concepts related to defense in the Euro-Atlantic area.

The Naval Forces organizes, between June 24 and 25, at the Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy in Constanta, the first edition of the conference "New concepts, technologies and equipment for the development of the Romanian Naval Forces", so as to ensure a forum for debate about the projection of the evolution of the Romanian Naval Forces, in the medium and long term, in accordance with the security context in the Black Sea region, the representatives of the institutions said.

The Scientific Conference takes place in hybrid format, some of the participants being physically present in the "Vice Admiral Ioan Coanda" Hall of the "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy, and some of the other guests participate online, in video-conferencing system, for the observance of sanitary measures.
Romania's National Weather Administration (ANM) updated its weather warning on Thursday, issuing a Code Yellow warning of unstable weather during the day in mountainous areas, in Dobrogea, Moldavia and Muntenia, keeping in place a Code Red heat warning for the western parts of the country, Code Orange for Oltenia and most of Transylvania and the Code Yellow for the rest of the country.

According to meteorologists, on Thursday, between 12:00hrs and 23:00hrs, EEST, in mountain areas, Dobrogea, Moldavia and Muntenia there will be spells of unstable weather as rain showers of a torrential nature, frequent thunderstorms, storms and hail. In short spells rain water will exceed 25-40 l/sq.m.

The same is expected in the western and central regions as well in the evening.ANM is keeping in place its Code Red Heat warning for the counties of Caras-Severin, Timis, Arad, Bihor, Satu Mare, Salaj and Maramures, where, on Thursday and Friday (June 24 and 25), extreme highs will be recorded comparable to the absolute records of this time of the year. Temperatures are thus forecast to vary between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius, and between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius in the northwest. At night, temperatures will not fall below 20-24 degrees Celsius, agerpres report.Also, on Thursday and Friday there will be a Code Orange of heat and thermal discomfort in Oltenia and in most of Transylvania. Thus, in the southwest and centre of the country, the heat wave will intensify, there will be heat and severe thermal discomfort. Highs will frequently be between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius in Oltenia and between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius in most of Transylvania. Night values will generally not fall below 20-22 degrees Celsius.The counties under the Orange Code are: Bistrita-Nasaud, Cluj, Mures, Alba, Sibiu, Hunedoara, Gorj, Valcea, Olt, Dolj, and Mehedinti.The remaining part of Romania, Bucharest City included, will be under a Code Yellow of heat and severe thermal discomfort with the temperature-humidity index (THI) will exceed the critical threshold of 80. In Muntenia, Dobrogea, Moldavia and eastern Transylvania, highs will generally be between 33 and 37 degrees Celsius, with lows not expected to fall below 20 degrees Celsius.Unstable weather will expand to cover most of the regions from Friday evening.
NEW YORK  All 23 of the nations biggest banks are healthy enough to withstand a sudden economic catastrophe, the Federal Reserve said Thursday as it released the results from its latest stress tests, giving the banks the green light to resume paying out dividends to investors and buying back

stock.

The Fed also said it would remove all of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions they put on the industry last year, following the results of the tests.

The Dodd-Frank Act passed after the 2008 financial crisis requires the nations biggest, most complicated banks to undergo a set of tests to see how well their balance sheets would hold up against a severe economic meltdown like that seen in the Great Recession. The tests vary from year to year, but generally involve the Fed testing to see how much in losses the banking industry would take if unemployment were to skyrocket and economic activity were to severely contract.
Another highlight of Russos bread program are biscuits made with rye flour. These arent on the menu as I write this  I tried them a few months before I resumed reviewing  but Meyer said they are definitely coming back.

Meanwhile, Meyer said Carreon draws on his family heritage to focus special attention on the texture and flavor of the masa that is the base of Songbirds breakfast tamale. The tamale, filled with cotija cheese, is moist with a gentle savory-sweet corn flavor. The dish dresses this with stewed black beans, mild piquillo peppers, cilantro and a cilantro crema, a fried egg, a little more cotija and, when I ordered it, an in-season radish garnish.

This is a kaleidoscope of flavors and colors, from the verdant crema to the earthy black beans. It all coalesces around the tamale, though, which is in turn enriched as the eggs golden yolk coats it. The breakfast sandwich is Songbirds signature dish, but the breakfast tamale might be its best.

The tamale dish is vegetarian. (A vegan version is also available.) Another vegetarian standout is the Spanish tortilla, a thick wedge of omelet with potato and a little kale served at room temperature. What sparks the dish isnt the kale, which I barely noticed, but the tortillas veneer of piquant red-pepper romesco sauce and a sprinkling of shaved aged gouda.
The highest proportion of the variant was detected in the southwest, with about 67% of all the known Delta cases. In addition, sewage samples from 23 wastewater treatment facilities across the state found the Delta variant at 16 locations.

U.S. Region 7, which includes Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, currently has the highest percentage of the Delta variant in the country, according to national variant surveillance data  almost 35% of virus samples collected over two weeks ending June 5, up from just 1.6% a month prior.

Vaccinations urged

State health officials continue to encourage those ages 12 and up to get vaccinated, and social distancing and appropriate masking remain very important countermeasures.

The DHSS advisory informed providers about patient data from the United Kingdom, where the Delta variant now accounts for 91% of COVID-19 cases. The data shows symptoms may differ among those sickened with the variant.

Headache, followed by a runny nose and sore throat, were more common than the typical fever and cough. Loss of smell was even less common.

Most cases were in young people who had not been vaccinated.
Democrats in Congress and several states are making it a priority to try to boost health insurance coverage, but they have very different ideas. Some are working to expand the Medicaid program, some seek to build on the Affordable Care Act, and others want to expand Medicare. And as support for a federal public option government-run plan wanes in Washington, several states are attempting their own proposals.
Aisha Sultan Aisha Sultan is home and family editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Aisha Sultan 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

Again, the eyes of the country turn to Missouri in horror.

This time, its to see how far conservative Republicans will go to snatch birth control from women. Yes, birth control that prevents unwanted pregnancy and reduces abortions  contraceptives that you can get from your doctors office. They are specifically targeting highly effective intrauterine devices that have been shown in studies to lower the rate of abortion and teen pregnancies.

We know this debate isnt really about abortion. Republicans, who have a supermajority in the statehouse, have already passed the most restrictive abortion ban in the country back in 2019. With upcoming elections next year, however, the anti-abortion zealots had to find a way to one-up each other on their anti-choice credentials.

Theyve opted to disingenuously expand the definition of abortion to include using IUDs, like the Mirena and ParaGard, which is not an abortion by any stretch of medical explanation.

Dr. Denise Willers, associate professor of obstetric and gynecology at Washington University explained that both types of IUDs  hormonal and copper  work by preventing fertilization of the egg.
JEFFERSON CITY  Senators began an extraordinary legislative session Wednesday with a St. Charles County Republican raising concerns that Senate leaders would halt debate over abortion to renew a major tax that helps fund the state Medicaid program.

At issue were three bills Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, introduced on Wednesday. One of the bills is considered a clean renewal of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance that doesnt include controversial proposals dealing with abortion or limits on contraception.

Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake Saint Louis, who has been pushing to ban money for abortion providers and affiliates such as Planned Parenthood, said moving forward without allowing debate on amendments you dont like would be unacceptable.

Onder said he could see a really awful bill coming to the full Senate, something that does nothing to honor our promises to the pro-life voters of our state.

He said when an amendment banning funding for abortion providers is offered, a Democrat likely will raise a point of order. President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, will then decide whether the amendment can be debated.
JEFFERSON CITY  GOP senators disagreed Thursday over how to renew a major tax that helps fund Medicaid, setting up the likelihood of a lengthy debate when legislation reaches the full Senate as early as Friday.

Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake Saint Louis, continued to poke at Senate GOP leaders as he pushed for a ban on any health care reimbursements going to Planned Parenthood and its affiliates; the organization operates the states only abortion clinic in St. Louis.

His demands are the focal point of the special session that is underway. Gov. Mike Parson called legislators back to the capital city Wednesday to take action on the tax, which provides nearly one-third of the states Medicaid funding and expires on Sept. 30.

Onder pointed out that the Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, filed three bills on Wednesday  one of which constitutes a clean Federal Reimbursement Allowance renewal without any controversial riders. He suggested that more controversial bills could die before reaching Parsons desk.
I am concerned that, even if DCNR gave initial consent for the FBI to excavate the cache of gold secreted at the Dent's Run Site, that consent could be revoked before the FBI recovered the United States property, with the result of DCNR unlawfully claiming that that cache of gold is abandoned property and, thus, belongs to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the affidavit said.

Archer also revealed allegations against a legislative staffer who, he wrote, tried to get some of the loot for himself.

In 2013, the affidavit said, the legislative staffer contacted a pair of treasure hunters who had identified the likely site of the gold. The staffer corruptly offered to get the treasure hunters a state permit to dig in return for three bars of gold or ten percent of whatever they recovered. The staffer said he was acting on behalf of others in state government, according to Archer, including someone who controlled money going to DCNR and someone working in the Pennsylvania governor's office.

No one has been charged in connection with the case, and federal prosecutors say they consider the matter closed. A spokesperson for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources declined comment.
St. LOUIS (AP)  Dr. Alex Garza, the head of the St. Louis-area's pandemic task force, will be deployed to Kuwait in July as part of his military service.

Garza, who became known after conducting most public briefings and interviews as commander of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, said Wednesday he will be deployed for four months.

The deployment comes as Missouri is recording an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations because of the delta variant and low vaccination rates in many areas.

Representatives of the other hospitals on the task force will likely take over Garza's duties, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The task force includes the St. Louis-area's four health systems  BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, Mercy and St. Lukes Hospital.
Only the Supreme Court can provide that clarity, and make sure students aren't being treated differently based on where they reside, Bindas said. The government shouldn't be able to deny those parents the ability to send their children to the best available education for them.

The lawsuit was first filed after the Supreme Court ruled that a Missouri program was wrong to deny a grant to a religious school for playground resurfacing. The issue of public funding for religious schools has also come up in other states.

The Supreme Court ruled in a Montana case last year that states have to give religious schools the same access to public money that other private schools benefit from. Vermont has also faced lawsuits over a voucher program for students who live in locales that don't have their own schools. The issue has also been raised in New Hampshire.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine has filed court papers in support of Maine's law that excludes religious schools from the tuition program. States aren't obligated to fund religious schools, ACLU of Maine legal director Zachary Heiden said.

Religious views infuse everything, as part of their curriculum and how they are dedicated to training future religious leaders, Heiden said. Which is absolutely something they can do, but it's not something the government should be required to fund.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he is not convinced that Kevin Strickland is innocent, despite prosecutors and other supporters calling for Strickland's exoneration for a triple murder that has kept him in prison for four decades.

Parson told KSHB-TV on Wednesday that he has looked at Strickland's case several times but the bottom line is that no court of law has found Strickland innocent.

I am not convinced that Im willing to put other people at risk if youre not right, Parson told the station.

Parson said he is more than likely going to sign a new law that would provide Strickland with a new legal avenue toward release. The law would give local prosecutors the authority to ask judges to exonerate prisoners they believe are innocent.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has sought Stricklands release and said if Parson signs the new legislation, she will file a motion asking a Jackson County judge to exonerate Strickland at 9 a.m. Aug. 28, when it would become law.
Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who werent vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day  now down to under 300  could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 107,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Thats about 1.1%.

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

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

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

Still, the overall trend that emerges from the data echoes what many health care authorities are seeing around the country and what top experts are saying.
In 2021 Cuba revealed that its navy had a submarine. The existence of this mini-sub has been known outside Cuba for at least five years because of commercial satellite photos as well as cellphone photos taken in Cuba and showing up on the Internet. Until recently few other details of this sub were known. That has changed with the official announcement. The Cuban sub is called the Delfin and is similar to mini-subs built in Iran and North Korea. The Cuban sub is 21 meters (70 feet) long, has a crew of five. It is armed with one or two Russian torpedoes. A similar North Korean mini-sub sank a South Korean corvette in 2010. North Korea initially denied responsibility. South Korea recovered the sunken corvette and its dead crew as well as fragments of the torpedo which launched an unexpected attack on the corvette. The torpedo fragments were identified as North Korean and that incident ended decades of South Korean efforts to use soft diplomacy (food and economic aid) to persuade North Korea to make peace. Since 2010 South Korea has upgraded its submarine detection capabilities offshore and built a new class of corvettes better equipped to find and destroy North Korea subs. In the 1990s North Korea showed Cuban naval officers their minisubs. Back then Cuba was cooperating with North Korea to bypass the growing number of economic sanctions placed on North Korea. Both countries are communist dictatorships, perpetually broke and enemies of the United States.

The Cuban Navy was never considered much of a threat to anyone except Cubans trying to leave without permission. There are only two large ships in the navy, both elderly frigates armed with a 57mm gun and Cold-War era Russian anti-ship missiles. There are about a dozen elderly Russia fast patrol boats armed with torpedoes and some patrol boats that are civilian ships armed with machine-guns or a torpedo.

The Delfin was an unexpected development and appears to have been built locally a decade ago. Cuba also has about ten locally built SDV (Swimmer Delivery Vehicles) submersibles. SDVs are small submersible vehicles designed to take scuba-equipped naval commandos (like the U.S. Navy SEALs) from a submarine or small ship to a hostile shore. For over sixty years the World War II era Mk 8 SDV was the most widely used SDV. The Mk 8 is basically a reusable torpedo which divers in scuba gear hang on to as they are taken to shore. The MK 8 has long been used by American and British combat swimmers. Both nations are still using the MK 8 and despite all the new tech developed since World War II ended in 1945, efforts to design and deliver a workable replacement have not succeed until the 21st century. Many nations, including Cuba, still used SDVs similar to the Mk 8 but the new Cuban SDVs are based on a 1950s design, which put one swimmer in an open cockpit while other swimmers hung on. These SDVs were designed to carry the swimmers and some limpet mines or other weapons. These mines are built with magnets so they can be attached to enemy ships' hulls and detonate using a timer that enables the SDV to get away. The Cuban SDVs have a torpedo attached and the SDV has to surface, usually at night, so the torpedo can be aimed and launched at the target ship several kilometers away. This gives the SDV enough time to submerge and get away. Cuba will not discuss what its mini-sub and SDVs are for. The possibilities are endless.
UN foreign aid officials complain that Russia is threatening to block renewal of UN authorization to send foreign aid to northern Syria via Turkey. There are a million Syrians, most of them civilians in Idlib province where some 20,000 rebels and Islamic terrorists are holding out in the half of Idlib province they still control. The civilians are in desperate need of this aid but Russia sees that aid as sustaining the Islamic terror groups who keep attacking Russian bases in adjacent Latakia province.

There are many rebel and Islamic terrorist factions in Idlib and by the beginning of 2021 these had overcome enough of their internal disputes so they could maintain more effective resistance to the slowly advancing Syrian troops and growing number of Russian airstrikes. The leaders of this opposition are Syrian al Qaeda members, some with a decade of combat experience. At the beginning of the 2011 civil war al Nusra, an al Qaeda affiliate formed and, under different names, remains the largest Islamic terrorist organization in Syria. Al Nusra evolved into a larger coalition (Tahir al Sham) which has been leading the rebel effort to hold onto some of Idlib province while trying to keep the rebels from fighting each other. During 2020 new leaders and new realities reduced the number of mutually hostile factions. The factional fighting became a major problem in 2017 and during 2020 the factions came to realize that without one rebel leader, or at least some form of ceasefire between factions, the Syrians, Russians and Turks could negotiate with or crush the factions separately.

Currently the one large dissident group remaining is Hurras al Din (Guardians of Religion) with about ten percent of the rebel manpower in the northwest. Hurras and al Sham leave each other alone and to help with that Hurras has moved a lot of its operations out of Idlib into Raqqa, Hama and Homs provinces. This includes attacking Turks and Kurds. This brings Hurras into proximity of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) activity but these two groups also appear to be leaving each other alone. Unofficial truces between rival Islamic terror groups are common, but nearly always temporary. Once one of these factions gains a degree of dominance anywhere, they will attack rival Islamic terror groups nearby. Hurras al Din has not made a big difference in eastern Syria.

What originally triggered the splits was disagreements over negotiating with Turkey to prevent the rebels and their families in Idlib from being massacred by the Assad government forces. Such deals were being offered and some rebel factions were always willing to talk. Because of those divisions there has been fighting between the talk to Turkey and no talks factions since early 2017. Idlib province has long been one area that remains under the control of rebels. Since most of those rebels belong to Islamic terrorist groups that means they have a hard time determining who is in charge. There is a lot of hostility between Islamic terrorist rebels because of their defeats between 2015 and 2017. Many rebel groups lost more than half their strength by 2017 because of combat losses, desertions and a lack of new recruits.

In early 2017 the Ahrar al Sham faction tried to convince the Turks and the Americans that their battle was with the Syrian government, not other rebels. That led to years of feuding and fighting with the larger Tahir al Sham faction. That faction is a coalition of Islamic terror groups that underwent two name changes since 2016 when al Nusra renamed itself Jabhat Fatah al Sham and claimed it was no longer connected with al Qaeda or ISIL. In mid-2016 there was another name change to Tahir al Sham which insisted it was now a Syrian rebel group which, like most Syrian rebel organizations, was full of devout Moslems who really wanted to become recognized by the United States as cooperative and not to be bombed. But the Americans still considered al Nusra an ally of ISIL or, at the very least, still friendly with al Qaeda. Some al Qaeda leaders admitted publicly that the al Nusra split was temporary. Until early 2016 al Nusra was allied with ISIL but that alliance was always temporary because ISIL wanted to eventually absorb al Nusra. The two groups put that battle off to deal with the Assad government first. Even before mid-2016 al Nusra tried to distance itself from ISIL and began openly fighting ISIL in places like Aleppo. In late 2016 more than half the Sunni Islamic terrorist rebels belonged to groups hostile to ISIL and most of these are controlled or allied with the al Qaeda affiliated al Nusra/al Sham Fatah rebels. By 2017 ISIL was much weaker and the al Qaeda affiliated component split and looked for a way out of a civil war the rebels had apparently lost. The problem, as always, is that the rebel factions cannot agree on who to surrender to and what terms, if any, to insist on. The Russian and Assads agree that the best solution is to kill them all. For the Russians, blocking food and other aid might make enough of the rebels desperate enough to surrender. Not likely, because the fighters get first priority on food and other essentials. Civilians who die because of this are considered involuntary martyrs to the cause of defending Islam, or what is left of Islam in Idlib.

Iran

The Iranians are very much still in Syria, and the primary target of Israeli air attacks. Current Iranian forces are fewer than in 2017 because of the cash crisis back home. The Iranian mercs and their IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) supervisors are mostly concerned with establishing a military presence near the Israeli border so they can carry out terror attacks using missiles or rockets. This has proved slow-going and expensive. The Israeli airstrikes regularly hit weapons shipments from Iran and secret Iranian bases. Israel has more friends in Syria than Iran does in Israel, or Syria for that matter. Israel is not alone in wanting the Iranians to just go home. That sentiment is shared by many Syrians, Lebanese, Turks, Kurds, Iraqis, Russians and Americans.

Russia Makes A Deal

Russian forces have been in Syria for seven years and the objective is to keep an old Cold War era ally, the Assad Clan, in power. The Assads and Russia share a common threat from ISIL, Iran and the Turks. A major problem is that everyone (Iran, Turkey, ISIL, the Assads and Russia) is broke. Russia kept rebuilding Syrian security forces, which now get budget priority from the Assads for protection from any who would support organized opposition. The army has been downsized and the Assads depend on Russian airstrikes and local anti-terrorist tribal militias to keep remaining ISIL terrorists under control in eastern Syria. Iranian mercenaries still provide some security, but only in areas of interest to Iran, like the Israeli border and the network of roads and storage areas for weapons moving by truck from Iran to Syria and Lebanon. Sometimes Iranian mercs share bases with Assad troops. This is dangerous for the Syrians because any area with Iranian forces or equipment is subject to frequent Israeli airstrikes. Russia helps the Assads with the massive air support and also by hiring Syrians who have joined Iran-backed militias. Russia offers about $200 a month compared to $100 a month the Iranians pay. Both sums are attractive to unemployed Syrians.

June 19, 2021: In the northeast (Hasaka province) a Russian military patrol intercepted and turned back an American patrol trying to enter a town on the M4 highway that is claimed by the Assad government. This is also about control of the M4 highway. In January Russia announced it had negotiated the reopening of the M4 highway for commercial traffic after being closed for a month while Turkish forces cleared some Islamic terrorist rebels who were periodically attacking traffic. The M4 is the main east-west highway from Aleppo to the Assad stronghold Latakia province and its Mediterranean ports.

In the east (Deir Ezzor province) ISIL forces carried out four attacks today, including an SDF patrol and a Syrian secret police vehicle. One civilian was murdered for opposing ISIL operations and another man was accused of heresy and had his home bombed. ISIL maintains control of many small areas in eastern Syria. That control depends on intimidating local civilians to cooperate and keeping out Syrian or Kurds forces.

June 17, 2021: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) locals and SDF (Syrian Kurdish militia) forces still in the province noted that it was four years ago today that the SDF began its battle to clear ISIL forces out of Raqqa. That was accomplished after a nasty battle that cost the SDF a lot of casualties but that was celebrated by SDF and locals as a major victory. Now locals and SDF members are complaining that they are still in Deir Ezzor province. That is because since 2018 Deir Ezzor has been the scene of a multi-sided battle between ISIL, SDF, Syrian army, Iranian and Russian mercenaries as well as smaller numbers of Russian special operations troops and lots of Russian warplanes overhead. Since 2020 the Russians have been using a combination of special operations troops, military contractors and Syrian mercenaries. The Syrian mercs on the Russian payroll include at least one unit comprised of Palestinian refugees, who have lived in Syria for decades. When the civil War began in 2011 most of the Palestinians sided with the rebels, a betrayal the Assads, their long-time host and protector, were understandably bitter about. Signing up as Russian mercs was a way for Syria based refugees to win back the trust of the Assads.

In the south (Quneitra province) locals are attacking Syrian and Iranian forces operating near the Israeli border. There have been three attacks so far this month.

June 16, 2021: In the south (Daraa province) a Syrian army vehicle encounters an anti-vehicle mine on a dirt road. Two Syrians were killed and two wounded. ISIL has been planting these mines.

In the east (Deir Ezzor province) American transport and gunship helicopters participated in an operation against ISIL in the town of al Shuhay. A month ago the SDF raided the town seeking ISIL members or sympathizers believed to reside among the other 14,000 residents.

June 14, 2021: At a NATO conference in Belgium the American and Turkish leaders met to discuss the many disputes that have arisen between the two countries and between Turkey and NATO. Several days before this meeting Turkey issued statements defining the Turkish view of the situation. Turkey believes that NATO is a central element in Turkish security and a key element in NATO security. This includes contributing troops or bases for many NATO missions. Turkey accuses NATO of not supporting Turkeys battle with Syrian Kurdish separatists, especially the armed YPG (Peoples Protection Units) forces in Syria. Turkey considers the YPG a component of the Turkish PKK (Turkish Kurdish separatists). The U.S disagrees with Turkey about YPG/PKK cooperation and has found the YPG an effective and reliable force in the fight against ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant).

June 13, 2021: In the north (Aleppo province) Iranian mercenaries and trucks full of Iranian weapons, including guided and unguided rockets set up a camp near the Euphrates River. Iran has about 25,000 mercenaries in Syria and most of them are still in the east (Deir Ezzor province) and Iran is seeking to safely move more of them to new bases in northern and southern Syria.

June 10, 2021: In the north (Idlib province) Syrian, Russian and Turkish forces have resumed attacks on the Islamic terror groups that still hold half the province.

June 8, 2021: In the north (southern and central Syria) Israeli air strikes hit targets in Damascus, Tartus (a Mediterranean port with a Russian naval base) and the T4 airbase in Homs province. These attacks killed at least eleven Syrian troops and militia.

June 3, 2021: In eastern Syria (Deir Ezzor province) two IRGC officers were killed by an ISIL ambush.

June 1, 2021: Israel carried out three air strikes against Syrian targets in May, which is about average for 2021 so far. Most of the targets are Iranian.

May 31, 2021: In the north (Golan Heights) Israeli troops attacked and destroyed a Syrian army observation post that was too close to the Israeli border.

May 26, 2021: A presidential election was conducted in most of Syria, for the first since 2007. There was a presidential election in 2014, but only in a few areas the Assads controlled. Under the Assads the voting is largely rigged, with Assad getting over 90 percent of the votes when running for reelection as president-for-life. This time around he got 95.1 percent of the votes with 78 percent of registered voters participating

There were three other candidates allowed to run, lose and survive. There were several other potential candidates who were prevented from running, for their own safety and that of voters who might be tempted to do something foolish.

Regional and local elections allow some choice in selecting local officials and members of the national legislature. Holding these elections legitimizes the return of Assad rule to most of the country. This has caused problems because fewer security personnel and lingering violence means control isnt what it used to be.

May 22, 2021: In west Iraq (Anbar province) there was another Israeli airstrike against Iranian weapons being stored near the Al Bukamal crossing into Iraq. There were apparently some casualties as well among the Syrian and Iraqi pro-Iran militiamen who guard such Iranian facilities in Syria.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2021 / Tsodilo Resources Limited ("Tsodilo" or the "Company") (TSX-V:TSD) (OTCQB: TSDRF) (FSE:TZO) is pleased to provide an update on its wholly owned Xaudum Iron Project. The Company has entered into a research collaboration endeavor with the Department of Chemical, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) to undertake metallurgical studies with respect to the potential of generating a Pellet Feed and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) product from the Xaudum Iron Formation (XIF) utilizing its magnetite and MCM's coal as a reductant. Commercially, these high-grade pellets and DRI product would be used to produce steel within Botswana, the region and internationally.

There is currently a fundamental shift under way within the steel industry with steel producers under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and produce steel with lower carbon emissions. Carbon emissions (CO 2 ) account for around 80% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), where the steel making market contributes to roughly 6% of global CO 2 emission. Major corporations including steel producers are focusing on decarbonizing as they target carbon neutrality (Fan and Friedmann, 2021). Climate change issues globally and smog lowering related steel mill curbs on sintering and coal usage in China in particular have focused investors towards projects with higher-grade iron content driving the change that is occurring in the type of iron ore consumed by steel mills from lower-grade energy intensive fines that require sintering towards higher-grade ores and steel making products such as pellet feed and DRI materials.

Blast furnace - basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) dominate production but are particularly stubborn to decarbonization technology. Direct reduced iron to electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) production is growing and has far better decarbonization potential. Emission controls and demand for less carbon intensive steel production will become the norm and steel producers demands for DR quality pellet feed will continue to increase. This shift represents significant opportunities for high-grade magnetite projects like the XIF project.

The Company's Metallurgical results show that the XIF magnetite product is expected to be a premium high-grade product containing +67% iron magnetite that will be ideal pellet feed material (see, Press Release of 12/17/2013 on the Company's website). This quality grade will place the XIF in the top 4-5% of producers in the world by Fe grade. High-grade magnetite pellet feeds at 67% Fe and above have been shown to lower GHG emissions compared to standard feed of 62% iron hematite fines (Herbertson and Strezov, 2011). The collaboration study with BIUST and MCM will identify if the XIF magnetite can be further beneficiated to a pellet feed and upgraded to a DRI pellet or similar product using Botswana coal as the reductant. MCM coal has proven to be a viable substitute for reductants in metalliferous ores processing, hence the confidence that it can be viable in the DRI process. This DRI product can then be used to produce steel in electric arc furnaces in Botswana, the region and international markets.

High-grade concentrates and pellets of 67% Fe, such as the XIF products, offer a net environmental benefit over its life-cycle compared to classic lower grade, Direct Shipping Ores (DSO) ~62% Fe hematite fines, by saving carbon emissions in steel production. Where this carbon saving is derived from the inherent differences in the chemical make-up of magnetite vs. hematite, where magnetite is exothermic (adds heat to the reaction); has a higher iron content (higher grade); lower impurities; and, reduces fluxing. High-grade ores over 65% Fe currently command larger price premiums over standard ores (62% Fe) resulting in higher margins for suppliers of high-grade products. The current global drive for lower emission steel production results in steel producers dramatically increasing their demand for these high-grade ores. Converting to pellets and DRI only increases the benefits over sinter feed, as pellets are of uniform size melt at a more equal rate which significantly reduce the time, energy and as such the resultant emissions to produce steel. There will likely be a significant under supply of high purity pellet feed as demand for these high-end materials increases dramatically by steel producers looking to reduce emission output. This demand increase for these high-end materials will also include steel mills that use DRI products as contemplated by the Company. This continued shift towards low emission steel globally means that the high- grade XIF magnetite project is uniquely placed to meet these emerging markets.

The business case for generating pellet feed, DRI products, and low emission steel from the XIF magnetite is just one of the scenarios that are to be evaluated in the Company's current Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

Tsodilo's Chairman and CEO, James M. Bruchs, commented "We are excited by this research collaboration with BIUST and MCB to evaluate the capabilities of generating pellet feed and DRI products for low emission steel production from the XIF magnetite. This extra level of beneficiation within Botswana will create added value and benefits in the form of increased revenue and employment for Botswana. This is just one scenario option amongst several that our PEA will evaluate. The PEA will be a road map for the development of the Xaudum Iron Formation towards production".

About Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)

The Botswana International University of Science and Technology is a Government of Botswana supported institution established as a research-intensive University that specializes in Engineering, Science and Technology at both undergraduate and graduate (Master's and Doctoral) levels. It aims to increase competitiveness, economic growth and sustainable development; address the shortage of skilled scientists and technologists; increase movement of skilled people across national and boundaries international boundaries; stimulate research, innovation, and technology transfer; improve society's aspirations to improve health, wealth and well-being; address increased demand for access to tertiary education; and enable a more competitive and innovative tertiary education sector.

The University is a national strategic initiative that is intended to serve as one of the key platforms for transforming Botswana's economy and because of its research emphasis, BIUST works with the private sector to meet emerging skills needs of the industry, as well as identifies challenges that can be solved through applied research. (www.biust.ac.bw).

About Morupule Coal Mine (MCM)

Morupule Coal Mine (initially known as Morupule Colliery) was established in 1973 by Anglo American. MCM is currently 100% owned by the Minerals Development Company Botswana (MDCB), itself 100% owned by the government of the Republic of Botswana.

MCM operates a 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) mine within a 4 billion tonne classified semi-bituminous thermal coal resource in a fairly favorable geological setting. Current activities exploit reserves of in situ cv of 22-23MJ/kg (adb), supplying mine mouth power plants and other customers. The mine operates its own railway siding that links into the national rail line which transports products to the north and south of the country and into the SADC region. MCM coal has proven to be a viable substitute for reductants in metalliferous ores processing, hence the confidence that it can be viable in the DRI process (www.mcm.co.bw).

Overview

Preliminary work on the Xaudum Iron project has defined a CIM compliant Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 441 million tonnes (Mt) with an average grade of 29.4% Fe, 41.0% SiO2, 6.1% Al2O3 and 0.3% P for the Block 1 magnetite XIF. Block 1 is a fraction of the potential XIF magnetite resource. An extrapolated exploration target has defined the XIF to be in the order of 5 to 7 billion tonnes at 15-40% Fe. This exploration target was generated by inversion modelling of ground magnetic geophysical data which was compared and moderated to volumes from drilling data within Block 1 and its potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature. To date, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource other than in Block 1 and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.

About the XIF Project

the project is located in the North-West District of Botswana and is proximate to the Namibian boarder and lies thirty (30) miles from the town of Divundu in Namibia. The Trans Caprivi Railway (TCR) line linking Zambia and Namibia is planned to pass through Divundu providing access to Walvis Bay, Namibia's deep-sea port. The project is also located within forty-three (43) miles of the proposed Mucusso line to Angola's Namibe Port;

preliminary work on the Xaudum Iron project has defined a CIM compliant Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 441 million tonnes (Mt) with an average grade of 29.4% Fe, 41.0% SiO2, 6.1% Al2O3 and 0.3% P for the Block 1 magnetite XIF;

Block 1 is a fraction of the potential XIF magnetite resource. An extrapolated exploration target has defined the XIF to be in the order of 5 to 7 billion tonnes at 15- 40% Fe. This exploration target was generated by inversion modelling of ground magnetic geophysical data which was compared and moderated to volumes from drilling data within Block 1 and its potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature. To date, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource other than in Block 1 and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. See, Press Release of 9/14/2014 on the Company's website for further details;

on the Company's website for further details; metallurgical magnetic separation results (Davis Tube Recovery) show an average concentrate of 67.2% Fe, 4.2% SiO2, 0.5% Al2O3, 0.07% P is obtained at P80 grind size of 80 microns, although higher grades are possible at finer P80's. See, Press Release of 12/17/2013 on the Company's website ;

on the Company's website further exploration will be focused on Block 2 where the Company expects an increase in the resource;

the XIF Project is a potential large and long-life Tier 1 mining project;

the PEA will evaluate a number of options for development of the project at a variety of scales including: non-traditional but potentially profitable small-scale startup mining production options such as Ferrosilicon (FeSi) production from a magnetite concentrate, mid-size scenarios, whereby magnetite concentrate would be processed through a concentrator and transported to railhead and onto port facilities; large-scale mining options where full-scale mining would produce a magnetite concentrate processed by a concentrator plant with further potential modification to a pellet which would then be transported to port facilities;

Botswana has significant coal reserves which can be a major advantage for the Xaudum Iron project, allowing for coal to be used in the beneficiation process to generate iron products such as iron pellets, sponge iron, pig iron, and also steel; and,

the project would represent the first iron deposit to be considered for development in Botswana. Gcwihaba has identified the project as having the potential to positively impact the future economy of Botswana as the country looks to diversify its economy, and help Botswana to reach its goal of moving away from a dependence on diamond revenues.

For more information, refer to the technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd. for Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Ltd. titled "Mineral Resource Estimate for the Xaudum Iron Project (Block 1), Republic of Botswana" with an effective date of August 29, 2014 and filed on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com .

An informational presentation of the project can be found on the Company's website at www.tsodiloresources.com/i/pdf/3)-Tsodilo-Iron-Project-Overview_March-2021.pdf.

References

Z. Fan and S. J. Friedmann, 2021. Low-carbon production of iron and steel: Technology options, economic assessment, and policy. Joule, Volume 5, Issue 4. Columbia SPIA, Center on Global Energy Policy article.

J. Herbertson and L. Strezov, 2011. Implications for Australian Magnetite Industry of the Introduction of a Price/Tax on Carbon. The Crucible Group, June 2011. Submitted to the Joint Select Committee on Australia's Clean Energy Future Legislation by the Magnetite Network (MagNet).

About Tsodilo Resources Limited

Tsodilo Resources Limited is an international diamond and metals exploration company engaged in the search for economic diamond, metal deposits and industrial stone at its Bosoto (Pty) Limited ("Bosoto"), Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Limited ("Gcwihaba") and Newdico (Pty) Ltd. ("Newdico) projects in Botswana and its Idada 361 (Pty) Limited ("Idada") project in Barberton, South Africa. The Company has a 100% stake in Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. which holds the BK16 kimberlite project in the Orapa Kimberlite Field (OKF) in Botswana and the PL216/2017 diamond prospection license also in the OKF. The Company has a 100% stake in its Gcwihaba project area consisting of seven metal (base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth) prospecting licenses all located in the North-West district of Botswana. The Company has a 100% interest in its Newdico industrial stone project located in Botswana's Central District. Additionally, Tsodilo has a 70% stake in Idada Trading 361 (Pty) Limited which holds the gold and silver exploration license in the Barberton area of South Africa. Tsodilo manages the exploration of the Newdico, Gcwihaba, Bosoto and Idada projects. Overall supervision of the Company's exploration program is the responsibility of Dr. Alistair Jeffcoate, Project Manager and Chief Geologist of the Company and a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements pertaining to the use of proceeds, the impact of strategic partnerships and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward- looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, changes in equity markets, changes in general economic conditions, market volatility, political developments in Botswana and surrounding countries, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, exploration and development risks, the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration results and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, uncertainties relating to availability and cost of funds, timing and content of work programs, results of exploration activities, interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, risks relating to variations in the diamond grade and kimberlite lithologies; variations in rates of recovery and breakage; estimates of grade and quality of diamonds, variations in diamond valuations and future diamond prices; the state of world diamond markets, reliability of mineral property titles, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required project approvals, operational and infrastructure risk and other risks involved in the diamond exploration and development business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

James M. Bruchs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer JBruchs@TsodiloResources.com Dr. Alistair Jeffcoate Project Manager and Chief Geologist Alistair.Jeffcoate@tsodiloresources.com Head Office Telephone +1 416 572 2033 Facsimile + 1 416 987 4369 Website http://www.TsodiloResources.com

SOURCE: Tsodilo Resources Limited

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USFs Corporate Training and Professional Education Office Will Offer Springboards Unique Mentor-Led Bootcamps in UI/UX Design, Cybersecurity and Software Engineering

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Springboard, an online learning platform preparing students for in-demand careers through comprehensive, mentor-led programs, announces today a multi-course partnership with the University of South Florida (USF) to empower three new digital skills bootcamps through USFs Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education, a division of USF Innovative Education. The collaborative effort brings a shared mission to action, aiming to have an impact on economic mobility and foster accessible education and lifelong learning. USF will offer some of Springboards in-demand courses, including UI/UX Design, Cybersecurity and Software Engineering.

USF, recently ranked as Americas fastest-rising university according to U.S. News & World Report, and Springboard will enable technical advancement amidst the booming job market in Florida, and provide invaluable skills for students to take with them as they seek to elevate their careers. Demand for technology positions has surged 190% in the past five years, this report shows, and is expected to continue to grow in 2021. Particularly, the Tampa metro area is a growing tech hub and home to some of the largest healthcare, finance and service companies in the southeast, making it a prime market for opportunity.

Were committed to offering a one-size-fits-one learning model with personalized programs to fit the needs of individual students including both online and live sessions, experiential learning and mentorship by professionals in the space, noted Mark Koulianos, Executive Director at the office of Corporate Training and Professional Education at University of South Florida. Springboards course offerings provide both the flexibility that todays modern student requires and the expertise and mentorship needed to prepare them for their next pursuit.

While this marks the fourth university partnership that Springboard has engaged in, this outcomes-focused program is the first of its kind that will offer multiple course tracks, helping USF deliver a full portfolio of offerings across UI/UX Design, Cybersecurity and Software Engineering. Students in corresponding courses will receive hands-on experience and develop unique portfolios of work in the following areas:

Explore all the stages of the UI/UX design process, from design thinking to ideating, sketching and more, and collaborate with a real company to complete a 4-week industry design project

Participate in a 360-hour cybersecurity bootcamp that covers industry fundamentals, systems and network security, vulnerability assessment, and security operations, followed by a capstone project intended to showcase specialized skills to potential employers

Covers key aspects of front-end web development, back-end web development, databases, and data structures and algorithms throughout the software engineering curriculum, inclusive of two full-stack capstone projects

USFs Corporate Training and Professional Education group is leading the charge at the university level with a very necessary shift toward personalized learning and an innovative approach to career and professional education, said Parul Gupta, Co-Founder of Springboard. Were confident in the curriculum and its ability to help individuals achieve that next step or chapter in their career, and we know these programs will truly transform lives.

Students who have completed these programs to-date have received job offers from highly coveted companies including Accenture, Dell, Deloitte, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft and more.

The courses will be open to the public, and prospective students do not need to be enrolled currently at USF or have previous experience to qualify. Upon completion of the programs, students will earn a certificate of completion, and a digital badge from the USF office of Corporate Training and Professional Education, and access to the programs career support and job placement services.

Enrollments for all courses are open as of today. The first class for the UI/UX Design and Cybersecurity courses will begin on August 2, 2021, and classes for the Software Engineering course will begin in early 2022. Students can enroll, or sign up to be notified about enrollment updates, at usfbootcamps.com.

About Springboard

Founded by Parul Gupta and Gautam Tambay in 2013, Springboard is on a mission to transform one million lives through education by 2030. Springboard believes that each student is unique, and needs a learning experience designed to fit their lifes pace, supported by advisors and mentors. More than 20,000 students across 100+ countries have used Springboard to advance their careers through the platforms comprehensive, mentor-led online learning programs. Graduates have landed jobs with employers like Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Reddit, Facebook, and Boeing. Springboard has also trained corporate teams at Visa, Gusto, and The North Face. Springboard is a 2020 Inc. 5000 company based in San Francisco, recently named a Top Workplace for Women by Elpha, and is backed by leading venture capital firms including Telstra Ventures, Vulcan Capital, SJF Ventures, Reach Capital, Pearson Ventures, International Finance Corp., Costanoa Ventures, Learn Capital, and Blue Fog Capital.

About University of South Florida Corporate Training and Professional Education

The University of South Florida's Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education works to extend the reach of USF's academic programs, promotes advanced professional development and contributes to building a world-class workforce in the Tampa Bay area. Students learn from unsurpassed faculty and industry practitioners in courses that are accessible, affordable and professionally relevant.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210622005263/en/

Demonstrate PR on behalf of Springboard

Jenn Eiskamp

springboard@demonstratepr.com

415-400-4214

Source: Springboard
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Source: Streetwise Reports (6/24/21)

Aurania Resources' recent drilling efforts, results and plans are addressed in a Noble Capital Markets report.



In a June 16 research note, Noble Capital Markets analyst Mark Reichman provided an update on Aurania Resources Ltd.'s (ARU:TSX.V; AUIAF:OTCQB) drilling at its Lost CitiesCutucu project.

Reichman discussed the drilling of three targets at the Ecuador property.

Regarding the Tsenken N1 copper-silver target, Reichman relayed that drilling encountered sediment-hosted copper mineralization that increases in intensity to the east. The copper-silver in the Tsenken N1 area has been shown to be in the same fault system as the sediment-hosted zinc-silver mineralization at the Tiria-Shimpia target.

Thus, Reichman highlighted, Aurania hypothesizes that Tsenken N1 and Tiria-Shimpia are part of the same mineralized system, and the copper at Tsenken N1 links to the zinc at Tiria-Shimpia. To test this, the explorer is drilling hole 4 about 700 meters northwest of hole 3, expectedly in the copper zone.

"If drilling at Tsenken N1 and Tiria-Shimpia affirm management's exploration concept, it would represent a significant step forward in the company's exploration program given the size of the system," Reichman wrote.

To date, Aurania drilled 1,564 meters (1,564m) at Tsenken N1, placing all of the completed holes along the border of the copper zone.

As for Tiria-Shimpia, drilling is slated to start at that target by the end of June once the rig is moved there from Kuri-Yawi, Reichman noted. The program objective is to drill test the intersection of the zinc and silver mineralized layers previously identified in outcrop. With the current drill campaign, both ends of the mineralized system will get drilled.

In terms of the Kuri-Yawi epithermal gold-porphyry copper target, Reichman relayed, Aurania placed two drill holes there, YW-008 and YW-009, which represents 1,948m of drilling.

"The drilling provided evidence of proximity to the core of an epithermal system," Reichman wrote. "Results from hole 9 seem to indicate that it is closer to the core of the system than hole 8." Hole 8 did not intersect a porphyry target. Therefore, the epithermal target is thought to be east of hole 9.

The company will use this new information to better refine the epithermal and porphyry targets for potentially more drilling at Kuri-Yawi.

Reichman concluded that "Aurania's exploration program is providing an abundance of drilling targets for a variety of metals and the potential to make multiple discoveries in its large concession package."

Noble has an Outperform rating and a US$3.75 per share target price on Aurania, the current share price of which is about US$2.21.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosure:

1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Aurania Resources. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

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Disclosures for Noble Capital Markets, Aurania Resources, June 16, 2021

Company Specific Disclosures

The following disclosures relate to relationships between Noble and the company (the "Company") covered by the Noble Research Division and referred to in this research report.

The Company in this report is a participant in the Company Sponsored Research Program ("CSRP"); Noble receives compensation from the Company for such participation. No part of the CSRP compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to any specific recommendations or views expressed by the analyst in this research report.

Noble has arranged non-deal roadshow(s) with investors in the last 12 months. The Company has attended Noble investor conference(s) in the last 12 months.

Noble intends to seek compensation for investment banking services and non-investment banking services (securities and non-securities related) within the next 3 months.

Noble is not a market maker in the Company.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

Senior Equity Analyst focusing on Basic Materials & Mining. 20 years of experience in equity research. BA in Business Administration from Westminster College. MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of Missouri. MA in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. Named WSJ 'Best on the Street' Analyst and Forbes/StarMine's "Best Brokerage Analyst." FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63, 87.
BUNKER HILL, Ind. (Tribune News Service)  Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski met Tuesday with the commander of the Air Force Reserve to make the case for bringing a fleet of the military's newest refueling aircraft to Grissom Air Reserve Base.

The two discussed the move with U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, chief of Air Force Reserve, who oversees all Air Force Reserve units across the globe. He also advises the Air Force's secretary and chief of staff on reserve matters.

The meeting comes after Grissom last month became one of six reserve bases being considered for a fleet of a dozen KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling and transport aircraft. The Air Force has already selected four other bases that will serve as main operating centers for the aircraft.

The new planes are larger and more efficient and carry 212,300 pounds of fuel. They would replace the older KC-135 Stratotankers, which were first purchased by the Air Force in 1954.

The new aircraft would also bring a total of 190 new jobs to the base, including an associate squadron of around 175 active-duty airmen. If Grissom is selected for the aircraft, it would bring the first active-duty Air Force unit to the installation since it realigned as a reserve base in 1994.

Walorski said that during the meeting with Scobee, she was able to share the advantages of bringing the planes to Grissom and also gained insight into how the Air Force plans to select which base gets the unit.

"I have no doubt that selecting Grissom for this vital mission would be good for the U.S. Air Force, good for Miami County, and good for our national defense," she said in a release.

Holcomb said the base plays a vital role in the country's national security, and bringing the unit would be an economic boost to the county and state.

"Selecting Grissom to become the fifth KC-46A Main Operating Base would mean more jobs and opportunities in Miami County," he said in a release. "I appreciate Rep. Walorski and Gen. Scobee meeting with me to discuss this unique opportunity for Indiana."

The meeting with Scobee comes after Indiana's congressional delegation last month sent a letter to the secretary of the Air Force urging him to consider Grissom for the Pegasus fleet.

The delegation, which is made up of all of Indiana's U.S. representatives and senators, said the base is in proximity of refueling tracks and airspace availability, which boosts mission effectiveness.

The letter said Grissom also has ample capacity to support additional aircraft, including hangars, its runway and ramps, and is located in a low-cost area with minimal environmental concerns.

"What sets Grissom apart is its impressive history of operations and maintenance excellence, which allows it to excel in its strategic mission," the letter says. " ... Grissom boasts one of the highest mission completion rates in the country.

Jim Tidd, executive director of the Miami County Economic Development Authority, said Grissom competed for the new aircraft three years ago during the first rounds of site selections, and the base came in second place. Now, he's hoping to land the planes and squadron this time around.

The agency is now compiling extensive data on the surrounding communities to show how they could support and promote the squadron, as well as getting local and state government units to pass resolutions in support of Grissom.

Tidd said his organization has brought on a professional consulting firm to help in its campaign, which also includes working with the area's chambers of commerce.

He said the base must file its report to the Air Force by July 25. The Air Force will announce which base gets the planes sometime at the end of September.

The five other reserve bases vying for the new tankers are Beale AFB and March Air Reserve Base, California; Niagara Falls ARB, New York; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

The Air Force said site surveys at each candidate base will be conducted this summer and will be assessed against operational requirements, potential impacts to existing missions, housing, infrastructure and manpower.

(c)2021 the Kokomo Tribune (Kokomo, Ind.)

Visit the Kokomo Tribune (Kokomo, Ind.) at www.kokomotribune.com

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A U.S. Air Force F-16 receives fuel from a KC-46 Pegasus, the service's new tanker, during a mission over Florida, Dec. 12, 2019. (John Raven/U.S. Air Force)
An equipment operator with the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Forestry Branch extinguishes a fire at the base of a long leaf pine tree during a controlled burn, April 23 on Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Molly Cooke/Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office)

FORT STEWART, Ga.  For seven months a year, hundreds of acres of this pine-forest- and wetland-covered Army post burn, sending ominous plumes of smoke miles into the sky that can be seen by thousands of Coastal Georgians in nearby communities.

Fort Stewart burns at least 600 acres at a time in a process Army officials call critical for the 3rd Infantry Division and thousands of other service members who train each year on the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River. The prescribed burn program  the largest such controlled burning program on a single land plot in North America, according to the Defense Department  ensures soldiers can train at Fort Stewart without fears of sparking a massive wildfire. The efforts have also proven beneficial to the environment.

Were fortunate right here in this part of the country that what the threatened and endangered [animal and plant] species in this area thrive on and need is the same thing that the military needs for training, said Jeff Mangun, who heads Fort Stewarts 50-person Forestry Branch.

The installation was recently recognized for its efforts to conserve and protect the woodlands, wetlands and wildlife on its 284,000 acres in coastal southeast Georgia. Fort Stewart in April received the Secretary of the Armys Environmental Award for Natural Resources Conservation for a Large Installation for its efforts in 2019 and 2020.

The award recognizes multiple programs across the post, from Manguns forestry efforts to wildlife conservation activities to protect endangered and threatened species indigenous to Fort Stewarts grounds. The post also works to protect and maintain culturally significant sites on the installation, namely 60 cemeteries that date back to the early 1800s.

The award honors work completed in 2019 and 2020, said Army Col. Bryan Logan, Fort Stewarts former garrison commander.

A smoke plume covers the horizon following a controlled burn, April 23 on Fort Stewart, Georgia. A large smoke plume happens from several small fires burning together quickly to form a large fire. (Molly Cooke/Fort Stewart Public Affairs)

Most of the public doesnt realize that we have biologists, we have environmental management, we have archaeologists on our staff, said Logan, who relinquished garrison command of Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield in nearby Savannah this week after two years at the helm. They dont just assist the Army, they are a part of the Army, and thats what makes us successful.

Why burn?

On a muggy June day on the northern side of Fort Stewarts pine-pocked training grounds, Mangun pointed out burn marks reaching well over 6 feet high on the long-leaf pines lining a dirt tank trail.

The patch of ground had been burned in February. Already, brush was starting to creep up, some of it nearing knee-height, but the area was devoid of any trees or other vegetation in the 10- to 20-foot-tall range, keeping the grounds clear for soldiers to easily trudge through.

Fort Stewarts burning season runs seven months, from Dec. 1 through June 30. Each year, Mangun said, about 120,000 acres are burned. Most days controlled burns span 600 to 1,500 acres, but the post can burn up to 10,000 acres at a time.

On this day, June 14, officials were not burning. The area had received too much rain in previous days, Mangun said. If the conditions are not right on a given day, the post does not burn. It means Forest Stewarts forestry officials spend mornings checking the weather to make sure the conditions are just right  clear skies, low chances of precipitation and low wind to keep smoke, as much as possible, from drifting over training ranges and into Fort Stewarts garrison area and neighboring communities.

On days when Fort Stewart does burn, Manguns team follows a meticulous process. Foresters spend the morning tweaking plans and ensuring that fires are away from areas soldiers are operating. On the ground, they use a truck-mounted blowtorch to start burns along the outer edges of the ranges selected on that day.

A smoke plume is seen from above following a controlled burn, April 23 on Fort Stewart, Georgia. The contracted helicopter is used to drop small balls of incendiary substances to burn hardwood plants in the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield training area, April 23 on Fort Stewart. (Molly Cooke/Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office)

The rest of the fire comes from the air.

The installation contracts a civilian-owned helicopter from which it drops aerial ignition devices, known colloquially as pingpong balls, which contain chemicals that produce small fires when they reach the ground. The helicopter, Mangun said, flies across the plot to be burned in a crisscross pattern, setting a low-intensity controlled burn. When the fire burns up the fuel on the ground, it goes out.

The helicopter can light about 500 acres in 10 to 15 minutes, he said. The fires typically last two to three hours.

Soldiers can train on a plot of training ground as soon as the next day after a burn, he said. And they can do so with little risk of sparking an out-of-control wildfire with a tracer round or other pyrotechnics.

A soldier can go out all he wants to try to start a fire  if you tried to start a fire, you could go out and pour gasoline out there, and youre not going to get these woods to burn up, Mangun said. It still happens, of course. But when it does happen, the fire goes out right away and soldiers just keep right on training.

The efforts pay off. Fort Stewart has not lost a day of training for soldiers due to wildfire in two decades. That was not always the case. Mangun recalled a fire sparked in the late 1990s by an explosion in Fort Stewarts impact zone that quickly spread, forcing soldiers out of training locations during a field exercise. In fact, when Mangun arrived at Fort Stewart in 1994 the post was averaging 200 to 500 wildfires per year ignited often by soldiers and sometimes by lightning. In recent years, less than 30 wildfires have been sparked annually, he said.

Wildfire threats

An equipment operator with the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Forestry Branch ignites a baseline fire upwind along a dirt road in the installations training area, April 23 on Fort Stewart. (Molly Cooke/Fort Stewart Public Affairs )

Proper prescribed burning is becoming more important as the Earth warms, Mangun said, noting Fort Stewart officials have long worked to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Wildfires in the western United States have regularly captured news headlines in recent years as record heat and drought conditions spark fast-moving blazes that burn tens of thousands of acres at a time. In 2021, more than 29,000 fires have burned up more than 1.1 million acres across the United States, according to National Interagency Fire Center data. It marks the most wildfires in the first six months of any year since 2011.

The southeastern United States is not immune from such fires. Last year, almost 1,700 wildfires burned more than 5,600 acres in Georgia, the data shows. Meanwhile, a 2018 study by the U.S. Global Change Research Program predicted wildfires sparked by lightning strikes in the U.S. southeast would increase by 30% by 2060, occurring more frequently and burning more land.

The long-standing burning program on Fort Stewart should continue to mitigate increased fire risk due to climate change, Mangun said.

But he also credited another forestry practice at Fort Stewart with limiting wildfire destruction  timber thinning.

Each year, Fort Stewart thins 3,000 to 5,000 acres of timber on its grounds, which helps with fire prevention and is also required for Army training. He pointed out the long-leaf pines along the Fort Stewart tank trail, spread wide enough apart  often 10 to 15 feet  to drive most Army vehicles between.

We thin to the Army training specs, so the military can come out here and train unimpeded, he said. If you knew what southeast Georgia would look like without timber thinning or prescribed burning, you may not be able to see 15 or 20 feet in through these woods.

Thinning also adds other benefits.

Fort Stewart sells $3 million of lumber removed from its grounds annually. Those funds are then recycled into the Army forestry programs at Fort Stewart and dozens of other installations across the country.

The red-cockaded woodpecker has thrived at Fort Stewart, according to Larry Carlile, chief of the Fish and Wildlife Branch at the installation. (Fort Stewart)

Rare woodpecker thrives

The other benefits are to the environment.

Were actually making the forest healthier by thinning it, Mangun said. Its better for the long-leaf pines we have here, and I would say it is better for our threatened and endangered species support programs.

The most prominent among those rare species at Fort Stewart is the red-cockaded woodpecker, a tiny bird that makes its home in living long-leaf pine trees across the southern United States. It has thrived at Fort Stewart, according to Larry Carlile, chief of the Fish and Wildlife Branch at the installation. The birds carve out homes in long-standing pines and benefit from thinned and burned forest, he said.

At military posts across the southeast, the Pentagon beginning in 1994 implemented programs to expand the birds on-post populations, which included severe restrictions on military training near their habitats.

Red-cockaded woodpeckers have been protected since the U.S. government classified them an endangered species in the 1970s. Last year, the federal government proposed downgrading the bird to a threatened species, partially because of the successes seen at military installations including Fort Stewart.

In 2012, Fort Stewart surpassed its goal of housing 350 mating pairs of red-cockaded woodpeckers, up from only 150 pairs in 1994. Last year, the population had grown to more than 600 mating pairs, and Fort Stewart has begun giving away some of its young woodpeckers to other locations in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina that are working to rehab their own populations, Carlile said.

The woodpeckers success at Fort Stewart has allowed the Army to remove all woodpecker-related training restrictions on the post. Previously, military vehicles could not operate within 50 feet of woodpecker cluster sites. Soldiers could only fire blank rounds from some large-caliber weapons near the birds.

Even with those mitigations ended, the birds have continued to thrive, Carlile said.

You can see that training has had no effect on the continued growth of the woodpecker, he said. Thats very freeing for the Army, for training here at Fort Stewart.

dickstein.corey@stripes.com

Twitter: @CDicksteinDC

Corey Dickstein
Buy Photo The Buffalo Soldier Gate at Fort Bliss, Texas. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

A 20-year-old soldier died Monday after she was found unresponsive in her assigned barracks room at Fort Bliss, Texas, according to base officials.

Pvt. Marriah A. Pouncy of Chinle, Ariz., was pronounced dead later that day by Fort Bliss Department of Emergency Services personnel, base officials said. Army Criminal Investigation Command, known as CID, is investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, though officials said foul play is not suspected and her death is believed to have been an isolated incident.

Pouncy arrived at the Army base in west Texas in December 2019, and she was a human resources specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, according to the base.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers of Pvt. Marriah Pouncy, Col. Geoffrey Whittenberg, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade commander, said in a statement. Pvt. Pouncy was a committed soldier, friend, and valued member of the [brigade]. Her loss is not just felt within our formation, but across the Army.

Her death comes about six months after another Fort Bliss soldier who served in the same brigade died under similar circumstances. Pfc. Asia Graham, 19, was found unresponsive in her barracks room on Dec. 31. Earlier this month, base officials said Grahams death was ruled an accident after she took a drug mixture of fentanyl and synthetic marijuana.

Before her death, Graham had reported she was sexually assaulted. Last week, Pfc. Christian Alvarado was convicted of Grahams assault and sentenced to 18 years in prison. However, Alvarado, who also served in the combat aviation brigade, was acquitted on additional sexual assault charges.

Pouncy was on the witness list for Alvarados court-martial, but she was not called to testify, according to Fort Bliss officials.

Prior to Fort Bliss, Pouncy served a short assignment to Camp Red Cloud and Camp Casey in Korea. She completed basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, S.C., according to Fort Bliss.

Pouncys awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

We ask that during these challenging times that you continue to reach out to your fellow soldiers and families as we grieve the loss of our Iron soldier. Chaplains, behavioral health professionals, and other resources are available to help during this grieving process, Whittenberg said.

Thayer.rose@stripes.com

Twitter: @Rose_Lori
Maj. Gen. Neil S. Hersey addresses a virtual audience during Fort Gordons third COVID-19 Town Hall on March 26, 2020. (Laura Levering/U.S. Army)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (Tribune News Service)  Although Maj. Gen. Neil S. Hersey will relinquish his role as commanding general of the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon next week, hell get to continue to serve his country on familiar ground and remain in Augusta.

Ive been serving in the Army for 34 years now and Im very familiar with the cultures of the other services and they are awesome but I think the Army is one of the most awesome places anyone can work, have a career, he said. Im just proud to serve. Im proud to be part of this team.

Hersey will begin serving as the deputy commanding general (Operation) U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon next week. The position is currently held by his successor Brig. Gen. Paul T. Stanton, who will assume command during a change of command ceremony on June 30. Stanton has serves as deputy commanding general since November.

Hersey said the Army likes to cycle generals on a regular basis to ensure they have an understanding of different sides and aspects of the work they are doing.

I think its a very healthy thing for the Army force to rotate folks between the institutional and operational side periodically because you have to have an understanding of both sides of the equation, in particular when you are senior officer, he said. For general officers, they want to balance assignments between working at the enterprise level, working at operational units and working at the institutional side.

Hersey began his Army career more than 30 years ago in Texas after being commissioned through ROTC out of Stephen F. Austin State University. He said it was the ROTC leaders who inspired him to join the Army but it has been the experiences and working with great leaders throughout his career that have kept him in.

During his two years as commanding general, Hersey has mainly focused on the institutional side, being responsible for the cyber school, signal school, as well as for ensuring Fort Gordon met and maintained the requirements for cyber space and signal capabilities. His focus has been to ensure soldiers that come into the Army get proper training and education.

He will now focus entirely on the operation side of Army Cyber.

Army Cyber Command is a great organization so very much looking forward to working over and doing a different mission over there, Hersey said. Im moving from building the car in the factory and fine tuning it to getting to drive it on the racetrack.

He said Fort Gordon is focused on training and educating some of the most tech-savvy and smartest soldiers in the Army in order to run the networks, defend the networks and use the networks against their adversaries. He said its important for people to get educated about cyber security.

Hersey is glad to be staying at Fort Gordon. After arriving in 2017, he has grown fond of the area, which he and his family now consider home after selling their house in Maryland. He said his family likes living in Georgia and are glad to continue being part of the community.

In terms of the work he has done, Hersey credited the more than 32,000 around Fort Gordon, including enlisted soldiers, officers, sailors, airmen, civilians and their families, for being able to keep the installation running even in the midst of a pandemic. Hersey said he simply feels honored to be working with great leaders and great people.

He is confident Stanton will continue the great work being done at Fort Gordon as he assumes command.

 Gen. Stanton is a proven leader in multiple levels in the Army. He has commanded in combat, as I have as well, he said. I have no concerns whatsoever. He is going to do great. Hes got a great team that he is going to be taking the helm of and the mission is great as well.

___

(c)2021 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.)

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Marine Corps recruits with Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, complete the final hike of the Crucible at Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 22, 2021. (Alina Thackray/U.S. Marine Corps)

WASHINGTON  Training for new Marines will become more rigorous as troops start to conduct more complex operations in smaller units, the commandant told senators Thursday.

Through [a Marines] entry-level training to [his or her] first unit, we have to raise the bar because were going to expect noncommissioned officers and junior officers to make decisions that two levels up, they make today, Gen. David Berger said during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Navy and Marine Corps budget for 2022.

Berger said junior leaders are going to have to make calls, especially in a high-threat environment, independent from their higher headquarters as the service is now more than a year into reshaping its force to better prepare for modern operations.

In March 2020, the Marine Corps announced its Force Design 2030 plan that laid out sweeping changes, including cutting overall end-strength numbers from 186,000 in 2020 to 174,000 by 2030, divesting in tanks, as well as investing in rockets instead of conventional artillery.

Berger said the service is lengthening infantry training by 50% this year.

It has to get them to another level. ... We have got to make sure one person has three skill sets, such as an individual who is a corpsman, a machine gunner and a sniper, he said.

We will raise the bar in training to make sure that we can empower and train them to a level where they can make the decisions on the spot, Berger said.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., also pressed Berger to explain how the force design will affect operational tempo and how the service will support families during more frequent or longer deployments.

Berger did not provide specifics on how the service would support families when Marines are on extended deployments.

Cammarata.Sarah@stripes.com

Twitter: @sarahjcamm
Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Sr. inspects the rifle of a U.S. African American soldier somewhere in England, probably in 1942. In September 1942, Davis was assigned to the Europe on special duty as an adviser on issues involving Black soldiers. In 1943, a bloody battle between Black and white U.S. soldiers took place at Bamber Bridge, England. (Library of Congress)

A bloody, little-known battle between Black and white U.S. soldiers in northern England 78 years ago forced a reckoning over the militarys unequal treatment of minority troops.

Known as the Battle of Bamber Bridge, the conflagration in Lancashire was sparked late on June 24, 1943, after a pair of U.S. military police patrolmen responded to a reported disturbance at the thatch-roofed Ye Olde Hob Inn pub, military records show.

What began as an altercation over two Black soldiers who were found wearing field coats instead of the prescribed Class A uniforms turned into a five-hour riot, with some troops barricaded on base and others in marauding parties patrolling the towns streets and shooting sporadically, a Judge Advocate General board of review record of the 1943 court-martial trials states.

The military police responded in a convoy, including an armored vehicle with a mounted machine gun, which drew a reaction from the Black soldiers who believed the police intended to kill them. By the time it was over, one soldier was dead and several others were wounded.

There were dozens of racially motivated clashes between American troops in England during the war, but Bamber Bridge was significant in that it prompted the top leadership there to try to address racial inequality, retired Air Force officer Alan M. Osur wrote in a history pamphlet titled Separate and Unequal, which the service published in 2000, about racial disparities during the war.

African American soldiers draw rations at the camp cook house at their station in Northern Ireland in 1942. There were a number of racially motivated clashes between Black and white U.S. troops in the United Kingdom during World War II, according to a history pamphlet by retired Air Force officer Alan M. Osur. (National Archives) Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge, England, was where the Battle of Bamber Bridge, a bloody fight between Black and white U.S. soldiers, took place in 1943. (Geoff Wilkinson/Wikimedia Commons) Gen. Ira Eaker was the commander of 8th Air Force in England at the time of the Battle of Bamber Bridge, a bloody fight between Black and white U.S. soldiers in northern England 78 years ago. Eaker was credited with disciplining dozens of white officers involved and creating racially mixed military police patrols, among other actions. (U.S. Air Force) An African American soldier, who serves as a truck driver and mechanic, works on a transmission at Fort Knox, Ky., in 1942. In 1943, a bloody battle between Black and white U.S. soldiers took place at Bamber Bridge, England. Several of the Black soldiers were in transportation units. At the time, military units were segregated, with Black units mostly having white commanders. (Library of Congress)

The situation was likely fueled by news of a riot in Detroit days earlier that left over two dozen Black people dead at the hands of police, Pamela E. Walck wrote in a 2015 doctoral dissertation about WWII-era race conflicts.

In Bamber Bridge, after a scuffle at the pub between the MPs and Black soldiers from a quartermaster truck regiment, the outnumbered MPs retreated to their station for reinforcements. When they returned to find the soldiers walking back to Adams Hall Camp and tried to arrest one of them, the group resisted, resulting in what military records described as a melee.

Two MPs were wounded by thrown rocks and bottles, and two Black soldiers were shot by the police. Soon rumors of the violence reached base, where hysteria swept through the post and dozens of soldiers raided arms rooms and grabbed rifles, carbines and ammunition, court records state.

Before midnight, some 200 soldiers gathered at the camps main entrance, with about 25 of them armed with rifles.

Some wore helmets and they were indiscriminately clad in Class A uniforms and fatigues, the court records say.

Their frenzy fore-shadowing a spirit of active violence soon became passive disobedience as they decried unfair treatment by the MPs and broader discrimination alleged to have been inspired by white American troops, the records state.

Blacks in the service at the time endured friction over the use of recreational facilities, interracial dating and the resistant attitude of some leaders which affected military justice and training, Osur wrote in 2000. But the British public gave them relatively fair treatment.

Anthony Burgess, author of the book A Clockwork Orange, taught in Bamber Bridge after the war, writing in his autobiography that when U.S. military authorities demanded local pubs institute a colour bar, the owners barred white troops.

There used to be one pub that had a notice saying, OUT OF BOUNDS TO WHITE SOLDIERS, but that was stopped by Washington or somebody, Burgess wrote in a 1973 New York Times article.

Burgess also wrote that the locals would tell of the time during the war that black troops held the camp with machine guns against whites, though this never got into the newspapers.

Nearly 30 of the Black soldiers would eventually be convicted on charges related to assault, riot and mutiny, but it also forced Gen. Ira Eaker, commander of the Eighth Air Force, to grapple with the mistreatment.

Eaker realized that 90 percent of the trouble ... was the fault of the whites, and directed his staff officers to address the problem, a statement that Osur said was almost without equal among AAF generals.

His efforts resulted in the reorganization of Black units, removal of a group of 75 mostly white officers, joint white and Black MP patrols, the airing of justifiable grievances and other measures, Osur wrote.

In Great Britain, blacks performed efficiently because military leaders took their human needs into consideration, he wrote.

garland.chad@stripes.com

Twitter: @chadgarland
Buy Photo A sign points people to a COVID-19 testing site at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Sept. 1, 2020. (Matthew Keeler/Stars and Stripes)

Eight new cases of the coronavirus respiratory disease have popped up at U.S. bases on the Korean peninsula, according to a statement Thursday from U.S. Forces Korea.

Commands across Japan, meanwhile, reported no new infections.

Seven service members and a government contractor have tested positive for COVID-19 since the numbers were last reported on Tuesday night, the USFK statement said.

Two of the new patients are service members who landed at Osan Air Base on June 8 via a government-chartered flight called the Patriot Express.

Four service members and a contractor took commercial flights to Incheon International Airport on June 15 and Saturday.

Another service member arrived at the port in Busan aboard a Navy ship on June 18.

Most of the new patients came up positive on a test taken before entering quarantine, the statement said. One tested positive while in quarantine and two tested positive before leaving quarantine.

All were taken to isolation or quarantine facilities at Camp Humphreys, Osan Air Base or aboard the USNS Fisher, according to the statement.

South Korea added 610 new COVID-19 cases and one death at midnight Wednesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agencys Central Disease Control Headquarters. The government has counted over 150,000 infections during the pandemic and 2,000 deaths, the World Health Organization said.

Japan reported 1,610 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, 85 fewer than the same day last week, according to public broadcaster NHK and the WHO. There were 42 deaths.

Tokyo on Thursday reported another 570 patients and three deaths, NHK reported, citing metropolitan government data. Thats 118 more infections than the same day last week.

Okinawa prefecture, home to most of the U.S. troops stationed in Japan, reported 62 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, 35 fewer than the same day last week, according to NHK. There were four deaths.

The prefecture is in a state of emergency until July 11.

burke.matt@stripes.com

Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1
Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana speaks during an event in Singapore., on June 2, 2019. Lorenzana said on Thursday, June 24, 2021, that it was still unknown why an S-70i Blackhawk helicopter crashed on Wednesday. (Yong Teck Lim/AP)

MANILA, Philippines  A recently delivered Philippine assault helicopter crashed during a night training exercise north of Manila, killing all six air force personnel on board, officials said Thursday.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said it was still unknown why the S-70i Blackhawk helicopter carrying three pilots and three crewmen crashed Wednesday night near Clark Air Base, a former American military base that is now a bustling industrial and recreation complex.

"No survivors have been found," air force spokesman Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano said, adding that similar Blackhawks have been grounded amid an investigation into the crash. "We grieve for the loss."

The helicopter took off from Clark in Pampanga province for the two-hour training excercise but failed to return as scheduled. A search and rescue team later found the wreckage, Mariano said without elaborating.

The Defense Department finalized a deal to acquire 16 of the Blackhawks for $241 million in 2019 under a military program to modernize one of Asia's most ill-equipped and underfunded militaries.

Aside from fighting decades-long communist and Muslim insurgencies, the military has been under pressure to acquire more equipment and weapons to defend its territories and claimed areas in the disputed South China Sea.

The helicopter that crashed was among six that were delivered in November. The rest of the Blackhawks will be received by the military within the year, Mariano said.
Then President Benigno Aquino III, center, takes his oath before Supreme Court Associated Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales as the Philippines' 15th President during inaugural ceremony in Manila, Philippines, on June 30, 2010. Aquino died Thursday, June 24, 2021, a cousin and public officials said. He was 61. (Bullit Marquez/AP)

MANILA, Philippines  Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, the son of pro-democracy icons who helped topple dictator Ferdinand Marcos and a defender of good governance who took China's sweeping territorial claims to an international court, has died. He was 61.

Aquino's family told a news conference that he died in his sleep early Thursday due to "renal failure secondary to diabetes." A former Cabinet official, Rogelio Singson, said Aquino had been undergoing dialysis and was preparing for a kidney transplant.

"Mission accomplished Noy, be happy now with Dad and Mom," said Pinky Aquino-Abellada, a sister of the late president, using his nickname and struggling to hold back her tears.

Condolences poured in from politicians led by President Rodrigo Duterte and others, including the dominant Catholic Church and Sen. Imee Marcos, a daughter of the late dictator. Philippine flags were lowered at half-staff on government buildings.

"We are saddened by President Aquino's passing and will always be thankful for our partnership," U.S. Embassy Charge d' Affaires John Law said in a statement.

"For beyond politics and much public acrimony, I knew Noynoy as a kind and simple soul. He will be deeply missed," Marcos said in a statement, using Aquino's nickname.

Aquino, who served as president from 2010 to 2016, was the heir of a family that has been regarded as a bulwark against authoritarianism in the Philippines.

His father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated in 1983 while under military custody at the Manila international airport, which now bears his name. His mother, Corazon Aquino, led the 1986 "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos. The army-backed uprising became a harbinger of popular revolts against authoritarian regimes worldwide.

A scion of a wealthy land-owning political clan in the northern Philippines, Aquino, who was fondly called Noynoy or Pnoy by many Filipinos, built an image of an incorruptible politician who battled poverty and frowned over excesses by the country's elites, including powerful politicians. One of his first orders that lingered throughout his presidency was to ban the use of sirens in vehicles that carried VIPs through Manila's notorious traffic jams.

Aquino, whose family went into exile in the U.S. during Marcos's rule, had turbulent ties with China as president. After China seized a disputed shoal in 2012 following a tense standoff in the South China Sea, Aquino authorized the filing of a complaint before an international arbitration tribunal that questioned the validity of China's sweeping claims in the strategic waterway Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds.

"We will not be pushed around because we are a tiny state compared with theirs," Aquino told The Associated Press in June 2011. "We think we have very solid grounds to say 'do not intrude into our territory.'"

The Philippines largely won. But China refused to join in the arbitration and dismissed as a sham the tribunal's 2016 ruling, which invalidated Beijing's claims based on a 1982 U.N. maritime treaty. Aquino's legal challenge and the eventual ruling plunged the relations between Beijing and Manila to an all-time low.

Born in 1960 as the third of five children, Aquino never married and had no children. An economics graduate, he pursued business opportunities before entering politics.

During his mother's tumultuous presidency, after democracy was restored, Aquino was wounded by gunfire during a failed 1987 coup attempt by rebel soldiers who attempted to lay siege on the heavily guarded Malacanang presidential palace. Three of his security escorts were killed. A bullet had remained embedded in Aquino's neck.

He won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1998, where he served until 2007, then successfully ran for the Senate. Aquino announced his presidential campaign in September 2009, saying he was answering the call of the people to continue his mother's legacy. She had died just weeks earlier of colon cancer.

His won with a battle cry "without the corrupt, there won't be poor people." He called ordinary Filipinos his "boss" and offered himself as their servant. Friends said he often carried a copy of the Philippine Constitution in his pocket, a reflection of his steadfast belief that no one is above the law.

His victory was also seen as a protest vote due to exasperation with the corruption scandals of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She was detained for nearly five years before the Supreme Court cleared her of the charges. Arroyo later served as House speaker under Duterte.

Public expectations of Aquino were high. While he moved against corruption  detaining Arroyo and three powerful senators  and initiated anti-poverty programs, the deep-seated inequalities and weak institutions in the Southeast Asian nation wracked by decades-old communist and Muslim insurgencies remained too daunting.

Under Aquino, the government expanded a program that provides cash dole-outs to the poorest in exchange for commitments by parents to send children to school. Big business, meanwhile, benefited from government partnership deals that allowed them to finance major infrastructure projects such as highways and airports for long-term gain.

One of Aquino's major successes was the signing of a 2014 peace deal with the largest Muslim separatist rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It eased decades of fighting in the country's south, homeland of minority Muslims in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

Opponents pounded on missteps, including a Manila bus hostage crisis that ended with the shooting deaths of eight Chinese tourists from Hong Kong by a disgruntled police officer, and delays in recovery efforts in the disastrous aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Aquino came under heavy criticism in 2015 for his absence in a ceremony at a Manila air base for the arrival of the remains of police commandos who were killed by Muslim insurgents during a covert raid that killed one of Asia's most-wanted terror suspects. Aquino proceeded with a scheduled inauguration of a car manufacturing plant, triggering criticism that he lacked empathy.

Aquino retained high approval ratings when his single, six-year term ended in 2016. The rise of the populist Duterte, whose deadly crackdown on illegal drugs has killed thousands of mostly petty drug suspects, was a reality check on the extent of public dissatisfaction and perceived failures during Aquino's reformist rule.

Aquino campaigned against Duterte, warning he could be a looming dictator and could set back the democracy and economic momentum achieved in his own term.

Time magazine named Aquino as one of 100 most influential people in the world in 2013, praising him for stabilizing a sputtering economy and for bravely confronting China over the South China Sea disputes.

After leaving office, Aquino stayed away from politics and the public eye.

He is survived by four sisters. His cremated remains are to be taken Friday to a Roman Catholic church at Ateneo de Manila University, his former school, for a daylong public visitation subject to coronavirus safeguards before a planned weekend interment, organizers said..

___

Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. (Stefan Lofven/Twitter)

WASHINGTON  Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven moved closer to resolving a political crisis that threatened to bring down his fragile ruling coalition in the biggest Nordic economy.

After losing a confidence vote in parliament this week over easing rent controls, the 63-year-old Social Democrat leader has until midnight on Monday to forge a new deal that can save his government, or face Sweden's first snap election since 1958.

The prospect of a last-minute compromise began to emerge on Wednesday as one of his political allies backed down on a key issue, according to Dagens Nyheter newspaper, citing Annie Loof, the leader of Center Party. She wants tax cuts in exchange for dropping her opposition to relaxing rent restrictions on new-built homes.

In a statement, Lofven said Loof's announcement is "constructive and provides a road ahead," and called on other parties to follow her lead. The outcome of the crisis remains uncertain, as Lofven needs to forge some form of deal that includes Loof's Center Party as well as the Left Party, which initiated the vote of no confidence in Lofven.

"The political situation remains difficult, but I'm proud of having contributed to making sure that the voice of Swedish tenants were heard," Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar said on Twitter after Loof's announcement.

Lofven, a former union leader and welder, is a political survivor used to carving back-room deals. He has spent the past 2 1/2 years in a coalition that looked shaky from the start because it was essentially designed to keep out the far-right and tried to make do with the center-right and the Greens  with outside support from the left.

The 2018 election resulted in a hung parliament that revealed a fragmented political landscape in a country that has historically taken pride in its high-tax yet generous welfare system and socially liberal values. Either way, Swedes are due back to the ballot box next September.

The crisis has highlighted a fundamental change in Swedish politics since the rise of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. The party has just under a fifth of the seats in the country's parliament, preventing either bloc from reaching an outright majority.
Afghan air force pilots take part in a pre-flight briefing on Sept. 27, 2015, at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Sandra Welch/U.S. Air Force)

ANKARA, Turkey  Turkish and U.S. military officials met in Turkeys capital on Thursday to discuss plans for Turkish troops to continue securing Kabuls airport after the withdrawal of the U.S. and other NATO troops from Afghanistan.

Turkey, NATOs only majority-Muslim member, has offered to protect and run the Hamid Karzai International Airport  the main gateway into Afghanistan  after the alliance pulls out of the country. The country, which has around 500 non-combat troops in Afghanistan, is however, seeking U.S. and other allies support for the mission.

Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a NATO summit, that Turkey was looking for diplomatic, logistic and financial assistance from the United States to protect and operate the airport. Turkey also wanted Pakistan and Hungary to be involved in the mission, he said.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said a technical delegation from the United States had arrived for talks.

We will continue to take on the responsibility of operating the Hamid Karzai International Airport, which we have been doing for the past six years, if the necessary conditions are met, Akar said Thursday. Discussions on this matter are continuing. No decisions have been reached for now.

Akar said: We want to achieve the best result for the interests of our country and for those of Afghanistan. Thats what we are working for. Our aim is to continue working for the security, peace and welfare of our Afghan brothers.

Critics see Turkeys offer to operate the airport as being part of an effort by Erdogans government to mend ties with the United States which have deteriorated over an array of disagreements. Those have centered on Turkeys purchase of Russian weapons and U.S. support to Syrian Kurdish fighters which Ankara says are linked to a Kurdish insurgency inside Turkey. They question the safety of the Turkish non-combat forces there.

Mr. Erdogan, let whoever brought Afghanistan to this situation, pick up the pieces, Meral Aksener, leader of the opposition, nationalist Good Party, said in parliament Wednesday.

Dont be so eager to sacrifice your own soldier to save the life of an American soldier, she said.

Around 2,300-3,500 remaining U.S. troops and roughly 7,000 allied NATO forces are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by Sept. 11, ending nearly 20 years of military engagement. There are concerns that the Afghan government and its security forces may be ill-prepared for the withdrawal and that the country may descend into chaos.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan until ousted by a U.S.-led coalition after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in America. In recent weeks Taliban fighters have overrun several districts in southern and northern Afghanistan, convincing government security forces to surrender and seizing their weapons and military vehicles.
From left, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. (John Thys, Pool /AP)

BRUSSELS  Countries bordering Russia expressed deep concern Thursday about a Franco-German plan to resume official meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, likening the move to an attempt to talk a bear out of trying to steal honey.

The European Union is deeply divided in its approach to Moscow. Russia is the EU's biggest natural gas supplier, and plays a key role in a series of international conflicts and issues linked to Europe's strategic interests, including the Iran nuclear deal, and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

European heavyweight Germany has strong economic interests there, notably the NordStream 2 undersea pipeline project, and a number of countries, including France, are reluctant to continue waging a sanctions battle with Russia, including over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The EU is concerned that Putin is turning increasingly authoritarian and wants to distance himself from the West. Both the 27-nation trading bloc and the NATO military alliance are struggling to bring Russia to the table. U.S. President Joe Biden's meeting with Putin this month was a rare exception.

"We have to deal with Russia, but being very cautious about the real intentions of Putin's regime," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters at an EU summit in Brussels, where the issue will be discussed. "So far, we don't see any radical change in the pattern of behavior of Russia."

"If, without any positive changes in the behavior of Russia, we start to engage, it will send very uncertain and bad signals, for example to eastern partnership countries," Nauseda said. "It seems to me like we try to engage a bear to keep a pot of honey safe."

The other two Baltic states, Estonia and Latvia, are also deeply concerned about reaching out to Russia when the Minsk agreements meant to bring peace to Ukraine, whose Crimean Peninsula Russia annexed in 2014, are still not being respected. Conflict simmers in eastern Ukraine with Russia-backed separatists.

"Right now, if it pans out the way it's proposed, Russia annexes Crimea, Russia wages war in Donbass, and Europe shrugs its shoulders and continues to try to speak a dialogue. The Kremlin does not understand this kind of politics," said Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.

"The Kremlin understands power politics. The Kremlin does not understand free concessions as a sign of strength," Karins said.

His Estonian counterpart, Kaja Kallas, said she's keen to hear what France and Germany think has improved to permit such a change of policy. "We should be very clear. What is our goal in relationship with Russia, and what has changed, why this is on the table now?"

"What our intelligence tells us is that sanctions work and the European Union has to be more patient," she added.

But French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe cannot simply tackle its problems with Russia on a case-by-case basis, by continually imposing sanctions or other measures.

"We cannot continue without dialogue. We have to talk, including about our disagreements. It's the only way to resolve them," Macron said. "It's a dialogue that's necessary for the stability of the European continent, but demanding because we will not give up our interests and values."

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers that "the events of recent months  not just in Germany  have clearly shown that it's not enough if we react to the multitude of Russian provocations in an uncoordinated way."

"Instead, we have to create mechanisms to respond in a common and unified way to provocations" to what she described as "hybrid attacks by Russia." That includes outreach to countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and the western Balkans, but also engaging Russia and Putin directly.

The plan was welcomed in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin supports the idea to restore "the mechanism of direct contacts between Brussels and Moscow."

"Putin has spoken about it many times," Peskov said. "Both Brussels and Moscow really need this dialogue."

Ukraine, in contrast, was not so keen about the EU outreach.

"Initiatives to resume EU summits with Russia without seeing any progress from the Russian side will be a dangerous deviation from EU sanctions policy," Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in Brussels.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he had no trouble with top EU officials meeting with Putin, but that "I will not participate in a meeting with Vladimir Putin myself."

Asked why, he said: "MH17,"  a reference to Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine by pro-Russia separatists nearly seven years ago, killing 298 people, many of them Dutch.

___

Sylvain Plazy in Brussels, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report.
In this Friday, April 30, 2021, file photo former Afghan interpreters hold banners during a protest against the U.S. government and NATO in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Thursday pledged to evacuate thousands of Afghan interpreters and others who aided U.S. forces for nearly two decades as the deadline for troops to withdraw from the country looms.

Theyre going to come. Weve already begun the process, Biden told reporters after an event highlighting a bipartisan agreement on infrastructure legislation. Those who helped us are not going to be left behind.

It was the first time that Biden publicly committed on evacuations from Afghanistan after weeks of mounting pressure from lawmakers for his administration to commit to a plan to remove Afghans who helped the U.S. before they are left unprotected.

We have a moral obligation to protect our brave allies who put their lives on the line for us, Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., said last week during a House hearing. Weve been working for months to engage the administration and make sure theres a plan, with few concrete results.

Though Sept. 11 is the deadline for U.S. forces to be out of Afghanistan, the drawdown will be "largely" complete within the next two weeks, The Associated Press reported Thursday, citing unnamed officials. After that, about 650 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan to provide security for diplomats, according to the AP report.

With efforts wrapping up faster than expected, several lawmakers, including Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, urged the Biden administration on Thursday to work faster as the withdrawal nears its end.

We cant process these [visas] fast enough during the evacuation process, McCaul wrote in a tweet. In our time of need, the Afghans interpreters helped us. We cannot desert them now.

Noting that time is running out, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., urged the administration to provide further information.

This is a promising development but we need to see the plan and action, Waltz wrote on Twitter. Congress needs to be briefed.

But the administration has been tight-lipped on details.

Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Thursday that the Defense Department is deeply involved with the Afghan evacuation plan but declined to give specifics on actual efforts.

Not all such evacuation operations require military aircraft to conduct, he said. It's not like we haven't done this before using chartered aircraft, commercially leased aircraft or contracted aircraft.

Kirby also said it remains unclear where the evacuees will be transported. Some lawmakers have suggested sending them to Guam or another country as the State Department processes their visa applications.

Planning is ongoing -- lots of options available both in terms of transportation and terms of potential locations, Kirby said. We're just not there yet where I can specifically announce exactly how this is going to transpire.

We know we have an obligation to these men and women and their families, and we're working our way through how best to meet that obligation, he added.

doornbos.caitlin@stripes.com

Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos
Angry demonstrators carry pictures of Nizar Banat, an outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority, and chant anti-PA slogans during a rally protesting his death, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Banat who was a candidate in parliamentary elections called off earlier this year died after Palestinian security forces arrested him and beat him with batons on Thursday, his family said. (Nasser Nasser/AP)

JERUSALEM  An outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority who was a candidate in parliamentary elections called off earlier this year died after Palestinian security forces arrested him and beat him with batons on Thursday, his family said.

Nizar Banat was a harsh critic of the PA, which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and had called on Western nations to cut off aid to it because of its authoritarianism and human rights violations. Earlier this week, another prominent activist was detained by the PA and held overnight after criticizing it on Facebook.

The crackdown on dissent comes as the internationally-backed PA faces a growing backlash from Palestinians who view it as corrupt and increasingly autocratic, a manifestation of a three-decade peace process that is nowhere close to delivering Palestinian independence. Hundreds took to the streets in protest after word spread of Banat's death.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was elected to a four-year term in 2005, has little to show after more than a decade of close security coordination with Israel. The 85-year-old leader has been powerless to stop the expansion of Jewish settlements, home demolitions, evictions in Jerusalem and deadly Israeli military raids, and was largely ignored during the recent unrest in Jerusalem and the 11-day Gaza war.

Western nations nevertheless view the PA as a key partner for rebuilding Gaza, which is ruled by the militant Hamas group, and eventually reviving the moribund peace process.

Mohammed Banat, a cousin who witnessed the arrest, said a group of men, some wearing masks, burst into the house where Nizar was staying and sprayed everyone with pepper spray.

"They beat Nizar with batons on his head and body," he told The Associated Press. "They did not identify themselves and we did not recognize them. They arrested Nizar and disappeared."

In a brief statement, the Hebron governorate said Nizar's "health deteriorated" when Palestinian forces went to arrest him early Thursday. It said he was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The United States, the European Union and the United Nations called for an investigation, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced the formation of an investigative committee.

Dr. Samir Abu Zaarour, a forensic pathologist for the Independent Commission for Human Rights who attended the autopsy, said the death was "unnatural" and ruled out a heart attack or stroke. He said final results will only be available after further testing. Pictures of the body released by the family appear to show bruising on his head and legs.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the West Bank city of Ramallah and tried to march to the PA's headquarters, chanting "The people want the downfall of the regime" and "Abbas, you are not one of us, take your dogs and leave."

Palestinian security forces fired tear gas at the marchers and beat people with wooden batons.

Tahani Mustafa, an analyst at the Crisis Group, an international think thank, said there's been "increasing repression" since the PA was sidelined and widely derided during the Gaza war. "At this point the PA can't really afford any level of criticism," she said.

She added that the international community, which has trained and equipped Palestinian security forces, "needs to take some responsibility" and push for accountability and change.

In early May, gunmen fired bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at Nizar Banat's home near the West Bank city of Hebron, where his wife was inside with their children. He blamed the attack on Abbas' Fatah party, which dominates the security forces.

"The Europeans need to know that they are indirectly funding this organization," he told The Associated Press in May in an interview at a house where he was hiding out. "They fire their guns into the air at Fatah celebrations, they fire their guns in the air when Fatah leaders fight each other and they fire their guns at people who oppose Fatah."

The EU delegation to the Palestinians tweeted that it was "shocked and saddened" by Banat's death and called for a "full, independent, and transparent investigation." The U.N.'s Mideast envoy, Tor Wennesland, said the "perpetrators must be brought to justice."

The U.S. State Department echoed those calls. In a statement, it expressed "serious concerns about Palestinian Authority restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression by Palestinians and harassment of civil society activists and organizations."

Earlier this week, Palestinian security forces detained a prominent activist and held him overnight after he took to Facebook to criticize the PA's arrest of another individual. Issa Amro is an outspoken critic of both Israel and the PA, and has been detained by both in the past.

"I feel that my life is in danger like Nizar Banat. I don't feel there is anyone who can protect me from attacks by outlaws affiliated with some security authorities," Amro said. "Unfortunately, there's a state of security chaos since the cancellation of the elections."

A recent poll showed plummeting support for Abbas, who cancelled the first elections in 15 years in April when it looked like his fractured Fatah party would suffer another humiliating defeat to Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas' forces in 2007.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Abbas when he visited the region after the Gaza war last month, and the Biden administration is working to bolster the PA after relations fell to an all-time low under President Donald Trump.

The European Union has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to the PA over the years. Earlier this week, it signed an agreement to provide $425 million in loans to the PA and Palestinian banks.

Mustafa, of the Crisis Group, said such initiatives will be "incredibly ineffective" unless the U.S. presses for political renewal that allows the Palestinians to choose their own leaders.

"Any pursuit toward the peace process will not be accepted by the majority of Palestinians if it's being done on behalf of a small cluster of people that they do not see as being representative or acting in their own interest, which is what we are seeing now," she said.
Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services at a Capitol Hill confirmation hearing for his appointment to the grade of general and to be chief of the National Guard Bureau, June 18, 2020. (JIM GREENHILL/ARMY NATIONAL GUARD)

WASHINGTON  The National Guards top commander on Wednesday said a quick-reaction force to respond to threats on Capitol Hill is a concept better suited for law enforcement, as senators consider a security funding bill that would, in part, create a military unit for the job.

The $1.9 billion bill, passed by the House in May, would set aside $200 million to create a standing force within the District of Columbia Air National Guard to respond quickly to threats like the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

Many of these [quick-reaction duties] are actually a law enforcement mission set, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard, told reporters at the Pentagon. We're not a SWAT team. We're not law enforcement. We're soldiers and airmen trained and equipped to fight our nation's wars.

The Guard sent thousands of troops on a four-month deployment to protect the Capitol after a mob of former President Donald Trumps supporters on Jan. 6 broke in and attempted to disrupt the certification of the results of Novembers presidential election. Local law-enforcement agencies handled the initial response.

We can't get into the perception that we're immediate response because we're just not resourced to do that, and so we really rely obviously on local law enforcement, Hokanson said. If it exceeds their capability, in a timely manner  normally 24 hours  is when we can start marshaling our organization to help support.

Thats because, unlike law enforcement, the majority of (Guard) personnel have civilian jobs, the general said. For them to leave their civilian job, return to their armory, get their equipment, get a briefing and sometimes last-minute training on what specifically they'll be asked to do, we really look at that as a 24-hour timeframe.

Hokansons comments echoed the concerns of Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., who announced last month in a joint statement that they opposed creating the force.

Security of the Capitol complex must remain the responsibility of federal civilian law enforcement, the lawmakers said in the statement May 12. Use of the uniformed military in D.C. and the Capitol complex is subject to complex statutory restrictions, and for good reason. We cannot and should not militarize the security of the Capitol complex.

Instead, Rogers and Inhofe suggested creating a quick-reaction force within a federal civilian law enforcement unit, which they said would likely cost much less than tapping the National Guard for this purpose.

However, most of the $1.9 billion security funding bill would reimburse the National Guard, Capitol Police and the District of Columbia for costs incurred for their Capitol riot responses  something Hokanson said would affect Guard readiness if not done.

The National Guard spent $521 million during its Capitol-response mission from January to May, using its operations and maintenance funding and pay accounts to basically front load that money so we could pay our soldiers and airmen while they were here in the nation's capital, Hokanson said.

If we don't get that funding fairly soon, we'll have to look at not only August but also September  the last two months in the fiscal year  either curtailing completely or drastically reducing our National Guard drill weekends and annual training as well as our operational maintenance, the general said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Wednesday concurred with Hokanson.

$500 million in the grand scheme of a $715 billion [overall Defense Department] budget may not seem like a lot but to the National Guard, that is a lot, Milley said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the departments proposed 2022 budget. This is also a year in which  there's a very high op tempo in the Guard, so that $500 million is very important.

In addition to the monthslong Capitol riot response, the Guard has deployed to overseas combat missions, vaccinated 12 million civilians against the coronavirus, responded to natural disasters and supported border patrol and local law enforcement in 2020 and 2021, Hokanson said.

The comments follow Army Secretary Christine Wormuths appeal Tuesday during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, calling for the reimbursement of the Army National Guards expenses from its Capitol-riot response.

During the hearing, Wormuth said the Army National Guard has already postponed some of its regularly scheduled training because of the Capitol-response expenses and now is at risk of not being able to fund the training at all.

Doornbos.caitlin@stripes.com

Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos
(Tribune News Service)  The vice chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff in a letter dated Tuesday said his greatest infrastructure concern is "any delay" that translates to missed deadlines for plutonium pits, nuclear weapon cores to be produced, as proposed, in both South Carolina and New Mexico.

"As our nuclear weapon stockpile ages, it is essential that we continue to modernize our aging DOE infrastructure," Gen. John Hyten wrote to U.S. Rep. Michael Turner, an Ohio Republican and member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Achieving production rates of 30 pits per year in 2026 and 80 pits per year in 2030, Hyten suggested, "is essential to address the stockpile's aging components, support modernization, and improve safety and resiliency for an uncertain future."

The glaring predicament, though, is that the National Nuclear Security Administration no longer believes the broader demand for plutonium triggers can be satisfied on time.

The prospective Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site, where at least 50 of the warhead components are expected to be made, could come to fruition as late as fiscal year 2035, and all of the pit work cannot be accomplished at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, according to Dr. Charles Verdon, the acting boss of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the weapons-and-nonproliferation agency, Jill Hruby, a former Sandia National Laboratories director, in late May said 30 pits per year at Los Alamos was "on track" for 2026. Verdon, in congressional testimony Thursday, corroborated that timeline.

Older National Nuclear Security Administration environmental reviews have stated both sites could boost production and staffing to meet the 80-pits-per-year demand. But exactly when  how soon  isn't clear.

"Even with a potential surge in production at Los Alamos, there remains uncertainty about that capability, especially with their history of outages," U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, told the Aiken Standard this month. "I plan on continuing frequent dialogue with both NNSA officials and military leadership to address the best strategy to mitigate this risk."

Hyten, previously the leader of U.S. Strategic Command, has described the resurrection of plutonium pit production as the National Nuclear Security Administration's "highest" infrastructure priority.

"Our national requirement, supported by numerous studies and analyses, requires no fewer than 80 war-reserve pits per year by 2030," the general testified in February 2019. "I support the NNSA plan to achieve this."

He reiterated his support in the missive to Turner: The tandem approach, repurposing the failed Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility footprint and bolstering Los Alamos, he wrote, "gives us the best chance for meeting the requirement."

Verdon on Thursday said the two-site production strategy remains the most cost- and time-efficient, despite higher-than-expected price tags and a schedule slip.

(c)2021 the Aiken Standard (Aiken, S.C.)

Visit the Aiken Standard (Aiken, S.C.) at www.aikenstandard.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

An undated photograph shows Technical Area 3 at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico. (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Buy Photo Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester, D-Mont., makes his opening statement at a hearing on Capitol Hill, June 27, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  A new bill in the Senate would make permanent the increased assistance given during the coronavirus pandemic to help combat the issue of veteran homelessness.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, introduced the Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021 this week. The committee discussed the measure during a hearing Wednesday.

The bill would extend indefinitely the extra resources and flexibility given during the pandemic to the federal, state and local agencies that provide services to homeless veterans. Advocates have been warning in recent weeks that the expiration of these resources could create an unprecedented wave of veteran homelessness.

This bill makes permanent the COVID-related safety nets that have become essential to providing the most effective care and support to unhoused veterans and their families, Tester said. These requests are not wish list items but concrete changes advocates have said are absolutely necessary in the fight to effectively end veteran homelessness.

Tester criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday for not offering its opinion on the bill during the hearing. The department has had a copy of the measure since May 24 but hasnt provided any feedback, he said.

We want to help you, Tester said. We cant help you if we dont know what the hell youre thinking.

When asked about the lack of input, Mark Upton, VAs acting assistant undersecretary for health, committed to delivering that feedback sometime soon.

I know we are actively working on that, Upton said.

Kathryn Monet, president of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, applauded the bill during Wednesdays hearing. Her organization coordinates efforts to end veteran homelessness with Congress, the White House and the agencies that provide support to veterans.

Monet has warned in recent weeks that, as emergency declarations for the coronavirus pandemic are lifted, the extra support for homeless veterans will also go away.

The impacts will be dire on veterans, Monet said.

One of the actions Congress took at the start of the pandemic was to increase the maximum rates for the VAs grant and per diem program. The money went to shelters, which get paid for filling beds but were unable to house as many veterans in order to abide by social distancing guidelines.

Monet said that the higher rates allowed shelters to improve their facilities, space out veterans and provide better care. She asked that Congress make the rate increase permanent. Under Testers bill, the rate would increase from a maximum of 115% to 200%.

The rate has not been enough in the past to provide the level of services veterans need, Monet said. Weve been pushing facilities to space people out better, give veterans the dignity they need. They cant do that at 115%.

In addition, the bill aims to provide all veterans with case-management services, increase funding for veteran employment initiatives, expand public transportation benefits to homeless veterans and house aging veterans as they wait for placement in long-term care facilities. It also establishes a five-year grant for programs that help veterans with recovery from substance abuse.

The total cost of the legislation remained unknown Wednesday.

Wentling.nikki@stripes.com

Twitter: @nikkiwentling

Nikki Wentling
John McAfee, founder of McAfee Associates Inc., during a Bloomberg Television interview in Hong Kong on Sept. 20, 2017. (Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg)

John McAfee, the creator of the eponymous antivirus software, was found dead Wednesday in prison outside Barcelona. He was 75.

Over the past decade, McAfee gained notoriety for his ranting on social media, his involvement in a Central American criminal investigation and accusations from U.S. authorities that he was involved with pumping and dumping cryptocurrencies.

McAfee was discovered dead in his prison cell hours after Spain's National Court approved his extradition to the U.S. over multiple tax fraud charges. He was found by security personnel at the Brians 2 prison in northeast Spain, according to a spokesperson of the Supreme Court of Catalonia.

Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reported that McAfee appeared to have died by suicide, citing a statement from the regional Department of Justice of Catalonia, where he was being held.

McAfee had been in Spanish custody since October on a June 2020 U.S. indictment in which he was charged with failing to file four years of tax returns while concealing assets. Then in March, he was indicted and accused of fraud and money laundering over his use of social media to promote cryptocurrencies, which prosecutors said generated $13 million in illicit gains for McAfee and a co-conspirator.

Nishay Sanan, McAfee's attorney, said his colleagues in Spain confirmed that McAfee had been found dead in his jail cell. Sanan claimed the U.S. government had identified McAfee as a target and "tried to erase him, but failed."

"John lived his life the way he saw fit," Sanan said. "In the end that is all that matters. You don't have to agree with his way -- he did not care."

The Justice Department declined to comment and a spokeswoman referred questions to Spanish authorities.

Before his legal turmoil, McAfee was a pioneer of the cybersecurity industry. He founded McAfee Corp. in 1987 in Santa Clara, California, and led the company as it dominated the market for antivirus protection of personal computers. Half of all Fortune 100 companies were using his software during that time. McAfee resigned in 1994. Decades later he told the South China Morning Post that running the company was no longer fun as it grew to a huge corporation with thousands of employees.

Intel Corp. bought the company in 2010 and later rebranded all McAfee products as Intel Security. After his name was removed, McAfee told the BBC, "I am now everlastingly grateful to Intel for freeing me from this terrible association with the worst software on the planet."

McAfee relocated to Belize in 2008 after his $100 million fortune was reduced to $4 million following a series of failed investments in property, real estate and bonds. There he had one of his biggest conflicts with authorities in 2012 after the killing of a neighbor, Gregory Faull, a 52-year-old contractor and Florida native. McAfee's home on the island of Ambergris Caye was searched after Faull was shot to death and police said they wanted to question him as part of a murder investigation.

He then sought asylum in Guatemala in 2012, claiming he wasn't on the run from authorities in Belize. He turned to social media and public interviews to salvage his reputation, sending updates to Wired magazine, allowing two reporters from Vice magazine to accompany him and posting missives to his own website. He discussed eluding police by burying himself in sand with a cardboard box and changing his appearance.

McAfee was expelled from Guatemala and arrived in Miami in December 2012. In an interview with Bloomberg News the day of his departure, McAfee, then 67, said he was being forced out of Belize, but was "perfectly happy with the decision." He apologized to Guatemala's then-president for putting him in "a slippery position." He was later ordered by a Florida judge to pay more than $25 million to Faull's estate.

In 2016, McAfee announced a run as a presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, campaigning on a privacy-focused platform that included pushing for the government to create a cybersecurity defense strategy. The party's nomination was won by former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.

By 2017, McAfee jumped on the Bitcoin bandwagon as chief executive officer of MGT Capital Investments Inc. He'd promised to turn the former video game operation into a profitable cybersecurity firm by ramping up its Bitcoin mining business. He stepped down later that year to become the CEO of a cryptocurrency company, Luxcore.

Part of his cryptocurrency venture included charging more than $105,000 per tweet to promote initial coin offerings. McAfee later told his Twitter followers he'd been forced to "go dark" on social media after receiving unspecified "threats" from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

During the period from 2014 to 2018 McAfee failed to file U.S. tax returns, according to a federal indictment. After eluding law enforcement, he was arrested and detained last October in Spain. From prison, McAfee was able to use Twitter to continue promoting cryptocurrencies, but also to share his experience. In April, he tweeted: "this has been the most trying period in my life." At that point, he had been in the Catalonian prison for six months.

In November 2019, McAfee took to Twitter to show off his latest tattoo on his right bicep. It read, "$WHACKD." In a related tweet, he wrote: "Getting subtle messages from U.S. officials saying, in effect: 'We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself. I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd. Check my right arm."

"Sometimes genius and madness aren't far apart and it seems he unfortunately fell prey to his demons," said Doug Clinton, managing partner at Loup Ventures.
Melissa Lindhorst, 45, passed away June 26, 2021. A "Come and Go" reception will be from 4-6:00pm Saturday, July 10, 2021 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at Fairlawn Cemetery at a later date.
Library, Red Skelton museum to host Dan Barth Medicine Show

The Knox County Public Library and The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy have partnered to bring the Dan Barth Old Time Medicine Show to town on Saturday. There will be three shows at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. All three will be held in the librarys parking lot at 502 N. Seventh St.

Barths show combines magic and ventriloquism; Red Skelton started his career performing at medicine shows like this one.

Admission is free.

County road crews to finish fog sealing

County highway superintendent Benji Boyd announced Tuesday that with the completion of the countys chip/seal operations, fog seal operations of those same roads is underway.

The following roads will be closed for a period of time today: Bandmill Road between Horrall Road and Beard Road and Carie Road between Sixth Street Road and Beal Road.

Dine with a Doc set to return at VU

Senior Education Ministries, in partnership with Generations and Vincennes University, will be resume its Dine with a Doc program next month.

The first will be from noon to 2 p.m. on July 7 at the universitys ICAT (Indiana Center for Applied Technology) Building, 1500 N Chestnut, Room 142, in Vincennes.

The program is free to the public, and a free lunch sponsored by Good Samaritan will be provided. This months speaker will be Dr. Lee McKinley, who will be speaking about social determinants of health.

This program provides the opportunity to fellowship with peers while receiving valuable information from our medical community. If you would like more information about Dine with a Doc you may visit www.dinewithadoc.com. To RSVP for Julys Dine with a Doc program, please contact Cathy Jones at 812-888-5159 or by e-mail at catherine.jones@vinu.edu.
School corporations everywhere are learning to live again in a post-pandemic world, but some lessons learned along the way may stick around indefinitely.

Darrel Bobe, superintendent of the North Knox School Corp., on Wednesday updated members of his board on a more than $700,000 project happening at the junior senior high school.

The board this spring awarded a contract to change out the flooring throughout the entire school in favor of something easier to clean, he said.

And thats going along well, he said. The bulk of that work is happening right now. Were replacing the flooring in the hallways, classrooms and offices, putting down a rubberized surface that can be more easily cleaned.

Schools for years, he said, have often favored carpet as it absorbs sound more readily, thereby creating more quiet learning spaces.

But, if COVID taught us anything, its the importance of having surfaces that can be easily  and quickly  cleaned, he said.

Harder surfaces, he added, have advanced in recent years, and this new material not only better absorbs sound but can also be appropriately  and more often  cleaned to protect students, staff and teachers from possible infection, whether during a pandemic or a simple flu season.

We can run a machine, one that uses a kind of solution, right over it to clean it, he said.

Installation, however, will take some time. Crews started on replacing the flooring at the end of May when students moved out, although it wont be completely finished by the time they come back for the new school year in August.

Crews will continue installation, he said, through Spring and Fall breaks, even Christmas break, if necessary. And some of the work, he said, particularly inside the offices, may extend into 2022.

It is labor intensive, he said.

This same kind of flooring has already been installed, he said, in the primary school, and as the school corporation looks to spend additional capital improvement dollars, they will look to rid the buildings entirely of most cloth surfaces.

Even looking at the seating in our auditorium, we need to move toward some kind of vinyl surface, something that can be more easily wiped down and disinfected, he said.

Another lesson learned from COVID-19, Bobe said, is the use  at least limited use  of digital curriculum. While North Knox has opted not to offer virtual instruction when classes resume in August, they did use digital curriculum purchased during the pandemic for summer school.

Enrolled students have reported to the school buildings in recent weeks to use these digital-based programs for credit recovery. Even if there werent enough students for an actual in-person class, the digital curriculum allowed them to complete a course and earn the credit, thereby inching them closer to graduation.

I think one of the greatest things we did, a positive from COVID-19, is buy those digital programs, he said. Those kids could come in this summer and say, I want to take this class, and even without enough students to fill it, they could still take it and get that credit they needed.

We had 26 kids  and thats a lot  that completed credit recovery, and thats a big deal. Those are students getting the credits they need for graduation. And had we not had to purchase that program due to COVID-19, we wouldnt have known how effective it can be. I see us bringing that back next summer as well. It has been a real asset.
Winston Watusi

Music Plus

Everyone seems to be talking about drugs right now; or perhaps I just need some different friends...

For starters, everyone still seems unhappy about the result of the marijuana referendum.

Well, I say everyone  certainly the 49 per cent in favour are unhappy. But were now told that of the other 51 per cent, at least half would have voted for decriminalisation as an option rather than legalisation. So theyre unhappy too.

And while it seems nearly everyone wanted cannabis to be allowed for medical reasons, that is still difficult and expensive.

Its a bizarre situation. In America (founding father of the War On Drugs) 16 states and Washington DC have legalised marijuana. That includes New York, California and Nevada, the countrys biggest tourism destinations. Were it not for the pandemic, thousands of New Zealanders would be travelling to places where marijuana is legal, and where society doesn't appear to have fallen apart as a result. That might change minds...

Not helping are the continuing eruptions of a far more insidious drug  synthetic marijuana. Which, of course, is nothing of the sort. Its no more synthetic marijuana than it is synthetic heroin  it's a substance created in a lab that gets you out of it.

It is also responsible for psychosis and addiction. The only connection to marijuana is the name (which anti-marijuana campaigners must applaud every time its mentioned).

The latest case was earlier this week when three people apparently overdosed on the stuff right outside Auckland's Sky City Casino. After which the usual warnings went out...

Deja vu

I must confess it all feels a bit like deja vu to me. I grew up listening to 1969s Woodstock concert. We played that triple album endlessly, idolised the performers  everyone from a political Joan Baez to the timeless Jimi Hendrix  and even memorised the stage announcements.

The announcement that still sticks in my mind is the famous one about brown acid which, for an impressionable teenager, summed up both the allure and danger of drugs. It said ...the brown acid that is circulating around us is specifically not too good. Its suggested that you do stay away from that; of course, its your own trip, so, be my guest.

Stay away from the brown acid. That became something of a catchphrase for our experimental group, but I realise now it was more than specific advice  it was an existential warning. There will always be brown acid.

Last month Wellington police warned members of the public about a highly dangerous methamphetamine-like substitute called Isopropylbenzylamine. That's some brown acid right there.

And the announcement said of course, its your own trip. Quite right. You have a choice.

Marijuana may be relatively harmless yet still illegal in New Zealand, but there are some really harmful things out there that are easy to obtain. If you do choose that trip, keep your fingers crossed and stay away from the brown acid.

Gigs

Okay. Public service announcement over; how many gigs can I cram in the remaining third of the column?

This weekend: On Saturday, June 26, Astrolabe hosts three bands  Casper and Retro Valley from Hamilton and the Mounts own award-winning Joes Van. There will also be DJs.

The Jam Factory features international high-flier Merv Pinny playing solo, while theres blues at The Barrel Room with Mike Garner and Warren Houston and popular classics at Jack Dustys in Bureta from the Silver Beats.

Back at the Mount the Voodoo Lounge has three bands  locals Antebellum and Sons of Soma and, down from Auckland, Chasing Titans  while Totara Street is putting on a drum and bass session: headliner Paige Julia is coming from Christchurch, with support acts Matt Rapid (Coromandel), HUIA (Auckland) and locals Mystic Roots.

Okay, breathe... Sunday afternoon (June 27) sees Blaze play at Jack Dusty's while Kokomo are back in action at Katikatis Arts Junction.

Finally, there are some bigger names heading this way soon: July 3 sees Auckland heavy hitters Racing celebrate their new single Space Boogie at Totara Street. On July 8 Greg Johnson is there, and The Narcs return to the Jam Factory on July 9, with support from Sarah Spicer.
A new housing solution service in Te Puke is helping facilitate housing options and to support sustainable tenancies in the area.

The Te Puke Housing Solutions Service provides a linkage, brokerage, and advocacy service, including general advice on any housing and tenancy matters.

A clinic is held twice a week for people to call or drop by for assistance.

Specific services include assisting with tenancy applications, support to access the Accommodation Supplement, support to establish or maintain a tenancy, liaising with landlords, providing templates for tenancy and boarding agreements, and referrals and liaison with healthy homes services.

Established by COLAB, the service has been operating for three months, with plans to integrate it more with existing services and agencies to build capability and create clear pathways for those that need it.

COLAB coordinator Chris Johnstone says although the service is still in its early days, they are seeing great outcomes.

"The service is supporting vulnerable renters to ensure they can maintain their tenancy, and we are also referring tenants to other services such as social worker support and meals as needed.

"We're seeing some great outcomes already, with many people getting the support they need to get on the social housing waitlist, and we've had two or three people that have been housed.

"Even the simple things like help with filling out forms makes a big difference for so many people. Not everyone has access to a computer and the internet.

"Particularly, we are coming across older people, and they've never needed to do this before, so they don't know how to apply for a home. With most of this stuff done electronically now, the help goes a long way."

COLAB comprises over 60 individuals and organisations who are working collaboratively to create a connected, thriving community in Te Puke.

The group does this by communicating for the community from an advocacy perspective, connecting and networking to be aware of all resources available to the community, and through a number of creative initiatives across their key areas of focus.

The areas of focus over the next year include youth development and engagement, housing, community connection and cohesion, and responding to local trends and opportunities.

Chris says being a collective allows the group to be agile and adaptable, thereby enabling them to be responsive to local needs.

"The value of COLAB is that it is community-led, specifically it is led by people who live and or work in the Te Puke and Maketu ward, so they are very motivated to achieve positive short- and long-term outcomes for their community.

"We have made considerable traction over the past 12 months across all focus areas. COLAB initiated training opportunities such a Te Tiriti o Waitangi training, a Community Led Development workshop with Inspiring Communities, and Te Reo Maori classes in partnership with Toi Ohomai.

"A joint venture with Volunteering Bay of Plenty to establish a Te Puke-based Volunteer programme was also completed in May. They reviewed the community and looked at what the needs were, and we now have a plan on what that could look like going forward.

"Another key project COLAB has led is the Te Puke Maketu Placed Based Housing Assessment and Maori Land review. This work has resulted in us collecting and collating robust local data, which along with earlier findings will form the basis of a collaborative housing strategy for the Te Puke Maketu region."

COLAB also facilitated the Western Bay of Plenty District Council Long Term Plan consultation in Te Puke, supported Xmas in the Park and World Fest, and is currently supporting the Matariki festival.

COLAB was approved TECT funding for the first time in October last year, with $40,000 going towards operational purposes, including COLAB's identified community-led initiatives and activities.

Chris says COLAB was thrilled to gain TECT funding for the first time.

"It provided a level of financial surety that enabled us to plan the year ahead with greater confidence. This has been particularly important post-Covid.

"The funding was also approved to go towards the Te Puke Housing Solution Service. In lots of ways, it's enabled the service to go ahead and enabled me to have the time to set it up and now carry out a review of how it's been going. We are now looking at how we can get more organisations actively involved in it.

"COLAB also wanted to appoint a Community Wellbeing and Resilience Worker to work across the community to build community resilience post-Covid. The TECT funding has enabled COLAB to progress across all of these areas  we're so appreciative for their backing."

To learn more about COLAB, visit https://www.colabcommunity.nz/.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says genomic sequencing to identify the variant of Covid-19 a Sydney traveller who visited Wellington last weekend is infected with is expected later today.

He confirms that epidemiological testing has linked the case to the current Bondi cluster in New South Wales, which he says is reassuring as it confirms the pattern of transmission.

The whole genome sequencing will of course further provide evidence of that, says Bloomfield.

We are confident of and expecting that later today and of course that will give us a picture around the variant.

At 6pm yesterday Wellington went to alert level 2 after a traveller from Australia with Covid-19 visited numerous locations around the city over the weekend. The rest of New Zealand remains at level 1.

Bloomfield states that 420 close contacts have so far been identified either via Healthline, testing, or as a passenger on the same plane as the positive case.

He also reminds New Zealanders to "scan, scan, scan" using the Covid-19 QR code.

Bloomfield also confirms there have been no positive Covid-19 cases identified in managed isolation facilities today, after Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins stated that is also the case in the community.

Hipkins says there has been a massive increase in those seeking Covid-19 tests across the nation, not just the capital.

Around 7000 tests were processed yesterday with over 2100 of those in Wellington. That is five times the amount of the previous day.

Healthline also handled their fourth-biggest day in their history yesterday, says Hipkins.

Further high demand is expected today, says Hipkins.

High demand is a good thing, he says, suggesting 1000s more are likely to be tested in Wellington today and also telling those who require a test to isolate today if they cannot get one.

Hipkins also confirms that the partner of the positive case who visited Wellington is currently asymptomatic and has returned a negative Covid-19 test.

The person tested positive after returning to Australia and the Ministry of Health says they caught the virus in Australia before their trip.

Last night the ministry confirmed two of the visitors close contacts from Tauranga tested negative for the virus.

This means all four close contacts of the visitor identified on Tuesday evening have now returned initial negative tests, this includes two contacts in Palmerston North.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has set-up an additional community-based testing centre at Turstpower Baypark Stadium today.

The testing centre is open from 9am to 5pm, today and tomorrow.

BOPDHB Covid-19 incident controller Trevor Richardson says the Baypark testing centre is for Covid-19 tests only, people wont be assessed by a doctor onsite.

No booking is required but there is likely to be a wait.
Bay of Plenty

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Police visited a rabbit breeders property after a High Court judge raised concerns that a litigant in his court had admitted sleeping with a loaded gun.

In May, four police officers went to the rural property near Tauranga where Janine Sax runs a breeding operation called Bunnyton, after Justice Simon Moore raised concerns about worrying aspects of an affidavit Sax had filed.

This included a claim that she slept with a loaded gun because of fears that rival members of the rabbit community had threatened her.

That claim ... raises grave and serious issues of health and safety not only in relation to Ms Sax but any member of the public who may attend her property, Justice Moore wrote.

He directed that a copy of his judgment and a copy of Saxs affidavit be forwarded to the police district commander for the purposes of undertaking a risk assessment and such other steps as the police may consider necessary.

Sax has been involved in an ongoing feud with members of the rabbit community, leading to numerous court hearings.

She says she had not received a copy of Justice Moores judgment before four police officers turned up at her property and detained her while they searched her home. She says she kept an air rifle under her bed, which did not require a firearms licence, and she handed it over straight away.

Sax says the officers spent another 25 minutes or so searching her home and office before leaving with the airgun. No charges were laid and she says she was told she had not committed any offence.

The officers had a warrant, she says, and indicated they were acting on Justice Moores note. She believes the judge had overstepped his bounds.

A justice presiding over matters between litigants cannot instigate an inquiry against a litigant outside of the proceedings before him, she says.

But Auckland legal scholar Dr Bill Hodge says Justice Moore did not direct police to undertake a search of Saxs premises.

Any person, including a judge ... may make information available to the police, Hodge says. The police can then make use of that information, as appropriate.

Police would not comment without a privacy waiver, which Sax declined to give while she still had matters before the court.

A spokesperson for the judiciary says Justice Moores reasons for acting as he did were explained in his judgment.

It is clear ... that the judge was concerned for Ms Saxs safety and that of others, given the content of her affidavit.

If Sax believes the judge acted inappropriately, she could refer the matter to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner.

A rabbit hutch on Sax's property near Tauranga. Image: Tony Wall/Stuff.

Sax claims that since she began breeding in 2016, she has been subjected to threats, intimidation and false claims of mistreatment of her animals by others in the rabbit community.

A Facebook hate group was formed, another breeder admitted creeping on to her property at night and vandalising her hutches and there was even a plot to spread the deadly rabbit calicivirus on her property.

Saxs opponents say the former Otago University law student continually harassed them with legal threats and court action.

In 2019, her neighbour, Melody Campbell, applied for orders against Sax under the Harassment Act.

That sparked tit-for-tat applications in the courts  Sax asking the High Court to review the district courts refusal to strike out the orders and Campbell successfully applying for security of costs.

Justice Moore ordering Sax to deposit $10,000 by July 2, 2020, or the proceeding would be stayed.

Sax didnt pay the security, instead applying for Justice Moores decision to be recalled and for suppression orders around the various decisions.

In his latest judgment, dated May 19, Justice Moore dismissed Saxs recall application.

He drew attention to her claim that her opponents continued to troll her online, using the court judgments as ammunition, and that she sleeps with a loaded gun because one former breeder had threatened to recruit a gang to cause her harm.

Justice Moore said while there was no documentary evidence before him to support the gang claim, I am not prepared to ignore the assertions that her personal safety is at risk.

But Sax says when police visited her property, they asked no questions that indicated they were assessing any risks to her.

Rather, they thought I was a threat.

Sax says she kept the airgun to scare predators away from her rabbits.

If someone breaks in ... and comes upstairs to my bedroom I will shoot them through the door. It probably will be a little graze.

I said to the [officers] look, Ive had threats to my safety, the police have taken no action, and I cant sleep at night because Im so scared.

I feel safer knowing I have a gun under my bed.

Sax says customers turned up during the police visit, which was embarrassing.

Through tears, she says: It was just like a home invasion, there were so many other ways they could have gone about it.

Tony Wall/Stuff.
Childrens Minister Kelvin Davis has welcomed changes that will make it easier for caregivers looking after children outside of the state care system to access much-needed financial assistance.

The Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill will also allow these caregivers to access further benefits previously unavailable to them.

Across New Zealand, there are about 15,000 caregivers who have stepped up on a day-to-day basis to look after some 24,000 New Zealand children who are not able to be cared for by their parents, says Davis.

I have every hope that the changes made today, go some way to rebalancing some of the inequity that exists, by eliminating some of the disparities in the payment system.

There are two types of caregivers: those who look after children in state care, and those who look after children who are not in state care.

The first change enacted today addresses the discrepancy between the support that these two types of caregivers get by removing the minimum period of care required for caregivers outside of state care to qualify for the Orphans Benefit or the Unsupported Childs Benefit and associated payments.

Until now these benefits have been available only when a child or young person was expected to be in the care of their caregiver for at least 12 months, resulting in many caregivers missing out on much-needed support.

The second change will give caregivers who receive the Orphans Benefit or the Unsupported Childs Benefit access to annual Holiday and Birthday Allowances for tamariki and rangatahi in their care.

Until now these allowances have only been paid to caregivers of children in state care.

It means those caregivers can provide a little bit extra on those very special days, says Davis.

The Holiday Allowance will be paid in December in advance of Christmas Day this year, and the Birthday Allowance will be paid in advance of childrens birthdays in and after January 2022.

Recently, the Government made an investment of $57 million through Budget 2021 to remove the remaining disparities in standardised payments that different caregivers receive.

These changes will be implemented in April 2022.

These changes are just a part of the Governments response to a comprehensive review of financial assistance for caregivers undertaken in 2019.

We are also progressing long-term work to reform the system of financial assistance and support for caregivers, to ensure that our tamariki who are unable to be cared for by their parents get the support that they need and deserve, says Davis.
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Lawton, OK (73501)

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Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms in the morning. High 83F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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The positivity rate for new cases of COVID-19 in Florida seems to be increasing. The state Department of Health reported a new case positivity rate statewide for COVID-19 of 3.8% for the week of June 18-24 compared to 3.3% for June 11-17 and 3.4% the week previous.
In a nutshell: What appears to be the biggest cryptocurrency heist in history has taken place after two South African brothers vanished with $3.6 billion worth of Bitcoin taken from their crypto investment company.

Bloomberg reports that Ameer Cajee and his brother Raees set up Africrypt in 2019 and it provided significant returns for investors. But in April, when Bitcoin hit its peak, Cajee, who was working as the companys Chief Operating Officer, informed clients that Africrypt had been hacked. He also asked investors not to contact law enforcement as this would slow the recovery process, which raised suspicions.

Even more suspicious was Africrypt employees losing access to its back-end platforms a week before the alleged hack took place. Investors hired Hanekom Attorneys to investigate the matter and found that the companys pooled funds were transferred from its South African accounts and client wallets to Bitcoin wallets and tumblers, or other large pools of Bitcoins, making them untraceable.

The law firm has been unable to locate the brothers, who are believed to have fled the country days before the hack. The incident has been reported to Hawks, an elite unit of the South African police force that deals with organized crime.

South Africas Finance Sector Conduct Authority is also looking into Africrypt, though it cannot launch a formal investigation because crypto assets are not legally considered financial products. Global crypto exchanges have also been informed in case any attempts are made to convert the Bitcoins.

Last year saw the now-defunct South African Bitcoin trader, Mirror Trading International, scam 23,000 Bitcoins, the equivalent to $1.2 billion, from investors.

Image credit: LightField Studios
Google Workspace has updated itself to address the different needs and necessities. There are to a workplace, particularly collaborative tools that the internet company has provided for businesses. It features a new app for Gmail to use Hangouts chat feature and Google Chat, which received an advanced search feature to search the message body.

The Mountain View giant has upgraded many of its features for collaborative online work, providing tools and assistance to those who need it, particularly more on business needs. As a result, it has been a sought-after service amidst this pandemic when the rise of digital technology has taken its spotlight that empowered Google's suite and other services.

Gmail 'Google Meet' Feature

Hangouts have been a long-time partner and chat feature in Gmail, particularly as it also provided an installed application on most Android smartphones in the past year. However, it went unnoticed as a lot of competitors have outshined the application.

What Hangouts shine most is its advantage to be used within the Google Mail interface, as it can be accessed within the app or website of Gmail, ultimately having a chat feature within it. But Google Meets differentiates this by introducing a "Chat" and "Room" feature for a better collaborative experience under the Workspace initiative.

To enable this, users would need to access their systems and choose whether to use them or remove them.

In the Gmail app, look for the three horizontal dots and click it

Look for 'Settings'

Enable 'Show Chat Tabs and Rooms' to show it

It would now be seen on the app's interface, at the very bottom of the page, or the side menu bar

Read Also: YouTube Wins Lawsuit in EU Court About Copyrights, Not Liable for Illegal Uploads of Users

Google Chat Advanced Search

On the other hand, in the Google Chat application, users would now be able to use the advanced search feature, which would allow people to look for items or keywords faster than before. The Google Chats is also under Gmail and would be an accessible feature if Google Mail is mostly used.

To search for keywords or images, users would need to toggle the chat profile of the person they are talking with, mostly found at the topmost part of the screen. Then, it would direct to settings, and there would be a "Search in Conversation" option that could be used.

Either setup parameters like keywords or general words without any particular phrases and search for the sought-after word. It is like the features which general chat apps have like Messenger, and the like,

This feature was also added with Google Messages, which is mostly for Android phones and desktops.

Google Workspace: Is It Worth the Switch?

The switch to Google Workspace is mandatory, but the new features are far more superior to the previous tools the company offers. It helps provide wide access for tools applicable for business and personal needs, all under one Google account, which everyone most likely has.

Related Article: Google: 'Work Location Tool' to Compute the Salary When Transferring to a Certain Region, or a Remote Setup

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
John McAfee, known for the antivirus software he created and named after himself, has died in a Spanish prison just outside of Barcelona.

According to a report by the BBC, a statement by the Catalan Justice Department says that "everything indicates" McAfee, 75, committed suicide.

His death follows just hours after Spain's Nation Court approved his extradition to the U.S., where he faces tax evasion charges and accusations of fraud and money laundering.

Per the same BBC report, efforts were made by the prison's medical team to revive McAfee but the antivirus pioneer was eventually declared dead.

John McAfee: Who was He?

John McAfee is best known as a computer programmer and businessman who founded software company McAfee Associates in 1987. The company went on to develop an eponymous antivirus software, its first ever.

According to Bloomberg, McAfee resigned from the company in 1994, claiming he no longer enjoyed running a company with thousands of employees. Intel eventually bought and rebranded the company in 2010.

Related Article: Intel's decision to dump McAfee name delights antivirus software creator

In 2016, McAfee made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency of the U.S.

John McAfee and Cryptocurrency

One of McAfee's succeeding career and business ventures focus on cryptocurrency. In 2017, he became the CEO of MGT Capital Investments Inc. before resigning and moving to cryptocurrency company Luxcore as its CEO.

While promoting initial coin offerings on social media, Bloomberg reports that McAfee charged $105,000 per tweet to do so. At some point, he even offered to give $100,000 to anyone who can hack his crypto-wallet.

McAfee Arrested Over Tax Evasion Charges

McAfee was arrested and detained in October last year after he was indicted for failing to file U.S. tax returns from 2014 to 2018. According to the BBC, he was able to do this by storing his earnings in bank accounts and cryptocurrency exchange accounts not in his name.

He was also accused of concealing personally-owned assets by listing them under other people's names. These assets include a yacht and real estate property.

A report by NPR also states that McAfee was sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission over a "pump and dump scheme." McAfee was accused of failing to disclose $23 million in compensation in relation to cryptocurrency.

McAfee and the Murder of Gregory Faull

Tax evasion and money laundering weren't the only reasons McAfee went on the run in an attempt to hide from authorities.

In 2012, McAfee became a "person of interest" following the murder of Gregory Faull, his neighbor in Belize who had been shot dead. He fled to Guatemala, where he attempted to seek political asylum but was instead arrested for illegally entering the country. He was then deported to the U.S.

The wrongful death lawsuit charged against him in relation to the murder was dropped in 2014.

Also Read: Antivirus pioneer John McAfee wants to 'start a revolution'

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Screenshot From Commons.Wikipedia.org) The Wild Life of John McAfee | Refugee, Prison, Net Worth, Success, and More

The wild life of John McAfee is almost unbelievable as the founder of McAfee, most popularly known for its anti-viruses, lived quite a "wild" life. The story of his life sounds like an action film and here's the timeline of how everything came to place.

The Early Life of John McAfee

John McAfee lost his father to suicide at the age of 15.

-Wired

McAfee went to Roanoke College where he sold magazines door to door as a "shrewd entrepreneur."

-Wired

John McAfee learned coding at his job at a company that coded punch-card systems during the late '60s. He used his knowledge at a Missouri Pacific Railroad helping them calibrate train schedules. This is also where he started trying illegal substances.

McAfee moved to Silicon Valley in 1970 even working at NASA's Institute for Space Studies

-NBC San Diego, Wired

John McAfee and the Creation of McAfee Associates

In the 1980s, John McAfee worked for Lockheed experiencing the first computer virus in 1986. He decided to start his own company.

Company McAfee Associates started and by the end of 1980s, it was making $5 million per year.

-Digital Trends

The Michelangelo virus hit in 1992 and this propelled McAfee to popularity as an estimate of 5 million computers were hit.

-Motherboard

The Start of John McAfee's Wild Life

John McAfee resigned in 1994 and sold his shares worth $100 million two years later.

He decided to keep a low profile giving lectures at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

-MIT Technology Review

In 2008, his fortune shrunk from $100 million to $4 million.

-The New York Times

In the late 2000s, McAfee moved to Belize and sold his land. He wanted to get into antibiotics partnering with Allison Adonizio to start Quorumex.

-Gizmodo

He suddenly became convicted in Belize.

-Wired

Read Also: John McAfee Dies: Antivirus Pioneer Found Dead in Spanish Prison

John McAfee Legal Troubles

He hung out at a saloon called Lover's Bar just staring at people. He reportedly became obsessed with watching people and after six months, he even wrote that he did not need any more connection to society

He became a "person of interest" in 2012 when his neighbor Gregory Faull was shot to death. McAfee fled shortly after being questioned by the government of Belize.

-Reuters

John McAfee was then arrested in Guatemala potentially due to Vice flying two reporters posting pictures of McAfee with GPS coordinates.

He was shortly caught by police and arrested on illegal entry charges.

McAfee suffered a number of heart-related health issues while detained.

McAfee was expelled from Guatemala then finally sent back to the United States.

-Gawker

He was followed by a media frenzy ensued. McAfee made things weirder as he uploaded a bizarre video of himself.

-YouTube

On October 6, 2020, McAfee had a complaint from the US SEC alleging him to be promoting ICOs Presenting himself as an impartial investor despite being paid $23 million allegedly.

In March 5, 2021, McAfee had been indicted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for allegedly fraudulently promoting pump and dump schemes.

Most of the information in this article came from Business Insider but the rest have been scattered from across the web. John McAfee is truly an interesting character as this page alone won't cover everything that's happened in his life.

Related Article: John McAfee: Stop using Google, protect your privacy

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple Search Ads' debut in China is likely to add up to the $11 billion ad revenue forecast come 2025.

The Cupertino company has recently been ramping up the profitability of advertising services as it recently mass-recruited for the platform. The recent move was clouded by controversy after one of its hire had been called out for his misogynistic views.

Overall, the app marketplace of Apple is likely to produce a whopping $1 Trillion in 2023, a recent study showed.

TechSpot reported that the iPhone maker posted a $643 billion revenue in 2020 alone.

Apple Search Ads Debut in China to Boost Ad Income

On November 15, 2019, JPMorgan predicted that Apple to produce an $11 billion revenue in 2025, Reuters reported. The firm attributed the forecast to the then-recent launch of Apple TV+.

It also mentioned that the Cupertino giant could capitalize on the growth of App Store queries. Back then, the move of Apple's Search Ads in China was still unheard of.

Now, the latest revenue stream from China is set to be on top of the income forecast.

Apple Search Ads in the App Store

The Apple Search Ads launched as a beta on June 9, 2016, with the vision to make discovering apps more convenient.

According to Tech Crunch, Apple Search Ads allow developers to buy advertising slots based solely on keywords that users search frequently in the Apple app marketplace. The method of bidding for a slot is similar to Google search ads.

With that, users will be able to see relevant ads on the search results of the apps that they are looking for.

Apple Search Ads China Debut

AppInChina first reported that advertisers in China now have the Apple Search Ads features in a slightly restricted version.

The Chinese outlet added that businesses are required to apply for state approval and licenses to opt-in. For instance, gaming apps will have to accomplish a "Value-Added Telecommunications Business License."

To note, the fresh feature is only available for companies fully owned by a Chinese citizen.

The latest requirements are also likely to be the next standard in publishing apps in the Apple ecosystem, at least for mainland China. So, the development is in preparation for the change.

Read Also: Apple Tower Theatre: Downtown Los Angeles' Preserved Building is Now a Retail Store [PHOTOS]

Apple and China

The Chinese counterpart of the App Store has been a primary source of income for the Cupertino giant, TechCrunch claimed in the same report.

Meanwhile, the decline of Huawei has also been in favor of Apple. With that, the iPhone maker saw a sharp increase in its smartphone shipment.

Related Article: Apple Clarifies That Downloading Apps Outside the App Store Is Dangerous - Here's Why

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Reliance managing director and tycoon, Mukesh Ambani is looking forward to a collaboration with Facebook and Google in terms of delivering small businesses in the country. The stakes are high for the Indian billionaire since several companies have been bidding for the tech giants in merged technological projects.

The company, which is a gatekeeper for Silicon Valley, has been planning to create a 5G smartphone that will serve the Indian market.

Reliance Wants Technological Progress to Spread Online

Last 2020, Google showed to JioMart, the e-commerce initiative of Reliance. The Menlo Park-based company invested $4.5 billion for the entry-level smartphone to the public. Combined with Facebook, the collective effort has yielded over $10 billion to Asia's richest businessman.

The next update that Reliance would announce would be on Thursday, June 24 at the annual shareholder meeting. This covers the plan of Ambani to bring more Indians closer to the internet this year.

So far, what Jio wanted for the development of a 5G-enabled smartphone might be hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy has been on major collapse as well. This could affect how Ambani deals with the improvements that are currently underway.

The Struggles That India Faces in Smartphone Manufacturing

According to the latest data from the World Bank, the smartphone market in India is undergoing some difficulties, especially that the economic slump is becoming conspicuous. The best but the most expensive mobile gadgets in the country seem to be unattainable especially for low to middle-class citizens.

Obviously, the world is still enduring the impact of the pandemic scare. For instance, the Cupertino giant Apple has been struck on its iPhone problem over the past years. Even the South Korean giant Samsung is slipping away from the smartphone competition during the entrance of Chinese brands such as OPPO and Vivo in the market.

What's worse about the scenario is the continuous inconsistencies in the supply and demand of the products. Even the chip components of smartphones are being hit by the global chip shortage.

Read Also: Facebook, Google Slammed for 'Failing' to Stop Scam Adverts--Should Online Safety Bill Include Online Scam Now?

"As a result, building a cheap smartphone became more difficult."Supply constraints are impacting almost everyone in the industry, but the impact on smaller, local players is even more, as they are not really the top priority for the component makers," IDC research analyst Kirenjeet Kaur said.

Reliance's Jio has an ample number of resources to build an established phone selling market yet that is only the start of the competition. Facebook and Google have been engaging in several collaborations in the past but still, they are struggling to keep up.

Kaur added that what makes it difficult for the smartphone game is the focus on low-end products. The rising prices squeeze the value of electronic gadgets. Although Ambani has ties with Google, the financial status of the partnership is not guaranteed to succeed after it experienced a supply chain snag.

Smartphone Rollout Delays Could Spell a Bigger Problem

According to CNN's report on Thursday, June 24, the huge base of internet users in India could feel the problem when it comes to the postponement of smartphone releases in India. Google's effort of expanding its coverage could be compromised by the pandemic even in the next few years.

Counterpoint director of research for mobile devices, Tarun Pathak said that the crashing economic trend would impact the users' capability to upgrade their smartphones.

Reliance's Jio initiative felt that smartphone manufacturing consumes a lot of resources due to its high cost. Moreover, the mobile market would only become price-sensitive since there are still ongoing discrepancies.

Related Article: Reliance Jio brings broadband services to 900 cities, towns in India

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket is launching satellites that would help in monitoring climate change, and tracking endangered wildlife on June 25.

On top of that, the SpaceX Falcon 9 will be launching more than a hundred small satellites in low orbit, Teslarati reported. It comes alongside the rideshare mission of numerous companies.

On March 14, the Falcon 9 Rocket also carried a total of 60 Starlink satellites as it concluded its ninth flight. The move is part of the mission of Elon Musk's internet company to achieve the goal of 1,440 satellites in orbit.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket: Satellites with Climate Change and Wildlife Monitoring

In a press release, the United Kingdom Space Agency said that three British-built satellites are joining SpaceX's next rocket launch. These will be equipped with monitoring sensors, seeking to help the study of climate change on Earth.

The British agency backed the companies behind the satellites with an $18 million grant. Each will provide data that will create an overview of the environmental problems.

Given that the satellites are gathering data from above, it could extend a helping hand even to the most remote and rural areas.

The U.K. Space Agency added that the endeavor is part of their efforts as they host the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, which will happen from November 1 to 12.

The U.K. also boasted that they are "leading the way in exploiting space to tackle climate change, developing satellites that enable our world class scientists to monitor the environment in remarkable detail."

Additionally, the latest move will also help in exploring the possibilities of remote monitoring. It will pave the way to extracting relevant data even from afar, which could help the world become a better place.

SpaceX Falcon 9 to Launch Lacuna Space Satellite

Lacuna Space built one of the three satellites, sporting sensors that they made as well.

According to OxfordMail, the monitoring device is so small that it could comfortably fit in the palm of a person's hand. Not to mention that it is packed with a battery that could stay up for years.

Furthermore, this satellite could monitor environmental data and track wildlife at the same time. The latter is also best used by farmers and agriculturists to help them how to manage their crops and livestock.

Read Also: SpaceX Founder Elon Musk Trolled With Billboard Ahead of Earth Day

SpaceX Falcon 9 Other Satellites with Climate Change Monitoring

A British company, Spire, produced the other two satellites, which focused on creating optical inter-satellite links. It will basically help beam data from the orbits to the Earth.

These satellites will be providing more precise data and analytics, given the technology that they rely on.

Meanwhile, SpaceX inked a deal with Axiom on June 3 for three additional missions in 2023.

Related Article: SpaceX Engineer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Security Fraud for Allegedly Selling Stock Tips on Dark Web

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
With the recent cryptocurrency crackdown that happened in China, bitcoin mining could sooner become more "lucrative," according to the experts.

Chinese crypto miners have been affected by the government's implementations when it comes to mining. The authorities cited that such activity does harm to the environment. After the announcement, many bitcoin miners have gone to other places to start their operations anew.

One report said that those who have been expelled in the country went to Texas to start new bitcoin mining operations. While the locals need to adjust for new crypto mining changes, some miners from other countries could benefit from it.

China Cryptocurrency Crackdown is a Blessing For Others

According to CNBC on Thursday, June 24, what happened in Sichuan, China over the weekend caused many mining activities to close. Moreover, the affected sites could account for over 90% of bitcoin mining storage in the country since the majority (65% to 75%) of cryptocurrency operations around the world is in China.

Crypto miners from various regions could benefit from this incident, yet those natives were forced to migrate to commence a new round of $BTC mining.

What Does Bitcoin Mining Mean?

We always hear the word when we are encountering cryptocurrency terms.

Mining is collecting something using equipment like a digging shovel. Imagine mining gold, and you can get the gist behind the mining of bitcoin.

All over the world, there are specialized computers that generate bitcoins. Take this example like a ground that is teeming with minerals and gold. Bitcoin works the same and through a network, miners could get digital currencies if the operations are accomplished.

"Being the first miner to mine a new block - essentially a list of bitcoin transactions - is a game of random chance," Stillmark founder Alyse Killeen said.

Before miners could receive up to 12.5 BTC but now they could only reap up to 6.25 BTC. This is brought by the declining bitcoin supply in the market that currently sits at 21 million. Every four years, the number of available bitcoins decreases to half of its original number.

Read Also: Cryptocurrency Implementation: El Salvador Opposition Party Deputy Sues President Nayib Bukele For Overlooking Crypto's Environmental Impact

Mining Bitcoin Now Made Easier

Amid the Beijing crypto plunge, the restrictions caused the cryptocurrency market to crash earlier this week. Bitcoin's processing power (total hash rate) saw a significant decline in the emergence of the crackdown.

According to the data published in Blockchain.com, BTC's hash rate has plummeted last month to nearly 116.2 million from its previous 180.7 million terahashes per second.

Due to many miners that went offline in China, the opportunity for the other miners has boosted their mining at a more lucrative rate as experts shared.

Since some networks are down, online mining became favorable to other crypto miners.

There was a time when bitcoin met a 5% drop in a single day. The fluctuations are seen to be from the recent implementations about its environmental impacts. There are cases that BTC's value goes up or down when Elon Musk posts a cryptic tweet about it.

As of April, bitcoin's price hit $65,000. On Tuesday, June 22, it nosedived to $30,000.

Related Article: Cryptocurrency Rumor | Chinese Whales Shorting Ethereum Due to Vitalik Affair with Husband

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Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Dell's BioConnect firmware has multiple major security flaws that left 30 million users vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Security firm Eclypsium released a study revealing that 128 Dell computers, varying from laptops, desktops, and even tablets, are susceptible to being accessed by criminal minds.

According to Wired, firmwares have been opening vulnerabilities to cyber attackers for years. It comes as the foundational computer program does not receive constant security patches. Thus, security flaws sit alongside it for a long time.

With that, the user's devices could be accessed entirely without them noticing.

Dell BioConnect Bug Security Flaw

The security flaw persists even after installing a system that is meant to ease the vulnerability of firmware, such as Microsoft Secured-core PC protections.

Principal analyst of Eclypsium, Jesse Michael, told Wired that the flaws found on the BioConnect are simple to infiltrate. He further likened the process of exploiting it to traveling back to the 90s, wherein softwares are generally easy to hack.

Michael even noted that the application and operating systems have been leveling up their security features rapidly. However, firmware features are not subscribing to the standards that the two have set.

Its extent has led to Microsoft warning other businesses to upgrade the security of firmware as attacks flood.

Dell BioConnect: What is it?

Dell's BioConnect is part of the pre-installed SupportAssist feature of their Windows devices. It primarily helps in troubleshooting issues that the computer experiences.

Meanwhile, the BIOSConnect served as a recovery tool when the operating system is corrupted. Also, it provided updates for Dell's firmware. Update mechanisms such as these are the common targets of attackers as they can easily plant malware through it.

Both features connect to the cloud system of Dell. However, with this mere process alone, it has birthed multiple security flaws.

Dell BioConnect Four Security Flaws

The researchers have found four vulnerabilities that could lead to attacking an individual's device. The hackers will only need a single target. Then, they could remotely access a device through its firmware.

Although the security flaws did not pave the way for planting malware on a large scale, criminal minds could use it to attack one user at a time.

Furthermore, the absence of monitoring of the firmware could benefit the hackers to be undetected.

Read Also: Windows 10 Upgrade Camera Issue on Dell PCs: Here's What Causes Cam's Problem and How to Fix It

Dell BioConnect: How to Fix?

Dell said that users with auto-updates turned on will automatically get the quick fix of the security flaw. The company vowed to release an update within the day.

Otherwise, users will have to disable the BIOSConnect feature by accessing the BIOS setup page by following these steps.

Press F2 upon turning on the laptop of the computer

Click Update

Select Recovery

Press BIOSConnect

Then, click Switch to Off.

Elsewhere, Dell is planning to expand its hybrid cloud services in Thailand.

Related Article: Dell G15 Ryzen Gaming Laptop Brings Back AMD After a Decade; Expected to Sell at $899.99 on May 13

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Nokia G20 Android 11, one of the newest smartphones developed by HMD Global, will soon hit the United States. The new high-end device is expected to arrive in the country this coming July 1.

The giant Finnish smartphone manufacturer already included the new Nokia G20 with innovative features in a durable package back in April. This handset currently symbolizes the affordability and durability of HMD Globa's smartphones.

Once Nokia G20 arrives in the United States, it will cost around $200, making it one of the most affordable Android handsets right now.

On the other hand, some critics claimed that MediaTek SoC will be a great deal. As of the moment, MediaTek is beating Qualcomm as the largest smartphone chip manufacturer for the past few months.

However, the chip vendor still hasn't made a huge presence in the United States. This means that it is still small compared to Qualcomm and other SoC creators in the U.S.

Nokia G20 Android 11's Details

According to Slash Gear's latest report, the Nokia G20 will have a large 6.5-inch LCD screen, which has 1600720 resolution. Some critics explained that this feature is quite great for watching videos.

Just back from my enforced break to see some new phones bellow N100k Ill love to recommend



NOKIA

G20 4GB+64GB N60k



SAMSUNG

A31 4+128GB 2020 N91,100A12 4+64GBN68,500



A12 4+128GB. N74K



A02 - 2 + 32 GB N44k



A02 3+64 GB N52K



A02s 6.5 4+64GBN61,100 pic.twitter.com/aDeokkjUh5  Emmanuel Nwachukwu (@EmmaNwachukwu_) June 23, 2021

Also Read: Nokia 8.3 5G vs. Samsung S21: Which One is Better in 5G Support?

Specifically, it will have one of the newest SoCs of Mediatek, the Helio G35. This means that the new Nokia G20 will offer great gaming experiences. On the other hand, it will also run the latest Android 11 smartphone system.

Interested consumers in the U.S. will also have 4GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. When it comes to design, leakers confirmed that its physical appearance is not quite attractive.

The new Nokia G20 Android 11 has a textured plastic back and a large circular bump in the middle, which houses the handset's four camera sensors.

Meanwhile, HMD Global's upcoming gadget also offers a reasonable photography performance, thanks to its 5MP ultra-wide camera, 48MP main sensor, as well as depth sensor, and macro camera.

Nokia G20 will also have a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a dedicated Google Assistant button.

Nokia G20 Can Last For Three Days?

Android Community reported that the new Nokia G20 Android 11ccould last for three days on a single charge. Thanks to its long-lasting battery life, users who love to go hiking or long road trips no longer have to worry about running out of charge.

Aside from the United States, Nokia G20 also arrived in Europe. As of the moment, it is considered one of the best budget-friendly mid-range smartphones in the market.

For more news updates about Nokia G20 and other smartphones released by HMD Global, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Nokia 2720 V Flip Phone is Set to be Available on Verizon on May 20, With Latest Software Updates

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Apple leakers claimed that they received some warnings coming from lawyers allegedly representing the tech giant firm. One of these affected product leakers is Kang.

"Since I have never published undisclosed product pictures or sold his information, Apple must take exception to riddles and dreams about its undisclosed projects," said Kang in his latest Weibo post.

As of the moment, Apple leaks are vaguely considered dreams since they provide some insiders with a fun mechanism without giving too much information. This trend was popularized in the past few years, with the likes of Kang and L0vetodream.

These leakers usually post their gathered details on various social media platforms.

However, the most used one is Twitter. However, these leakers now need to be more careful when it comes to disseminating details of upcoming Apple gadgets, such as laptops, smartphones, and other devices.

Apple Warns Leakers!

According to MacRumors' latest report, the current issue is quite serious. The tech giant manufacturer is allegedly taking screenshots from Kang's Weibo account, which contains various posts about Apple's product problems, release dates, and other sensitive information.

(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address at the Apple 2012 World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Moscone West on June 11, 2012 in San Francisco, California. Apple unveiled a slew of new hardware and software updates at the company's annual developer conference which runs through June 15.

Also Read: 2022 iPhone Touch ID: Kuo Says It Will Have an In-Screen Fingerprint, But Only for the 6.7-inch Pro Max

The company claimed that Kang also posts some purchase suggestions, which could affect the company's upcoming products. Apple explained that the leaked details of its unannounced gadgets could give its competitors valuable information, which can be used to develop devices that would affect the company's sales.

However, Kang is not happy with the current situation. He said that in Apple's logic, dreaming about the company's upcoming products could still violate Apple's confidentiality mechanism.

He added that even though he doesn't post any photo or video about an upcoming Apple device, he is still targeted by the giant tech firm. If the leakers continue to receive these warnings, consumers would likely have less information about the most awaited devices of Apple.

These leaks help people understand what's coming them, such as new iOS versions and next-gen smartphones like iPhone 13.

Is Leaking Illegal?

Freedom Forum Institute explained that some leaks could be illegal. However, it will still depend on what info you are going to post.

Right now, there are various laws that apply to leakers. Here are some of them:

It's a crime to disclose information related to national defense with the intent of injuring the United States or aiding a foreign nation.

It's illegal to disclose classified information about communication intelligence.

For more news updates about Apple and other related stories, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Apple Search Ads Debut in China to Boost $11 Billion Ad Revenue Forecast

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
When COVID hit the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the agency  like others across the country  had to find a way to provide timely information to the children and families who depend on its services. Having consistent messaging to both providers and families who could be difficult to reach consistently required a focused strategy. By leveraging smarter technologies and services, FSSA developed a unified family experience even during a time of crisis.

Every state and local government organization faces the same challenges FSSA did. Agencies need clear communication strategies for constituents to provide vital information for accessing important government services.

On June 24 at 10am PT/1pm PT, were partnering with Granicus to bring you the story of how Indianas FSSA reinvented its communications strategy. Youll hear from FSSA Deputy Director of Communications Marni Lemons about how her agency developed a better, more consistent strategy for reaching out to constituents. And youll learn how you can apply the same success to your own organization.

Other topics for this panel discussion will include:
The Telluride Yoga Festival is this weekend. See tellurideyogafestival.com for more information. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Sukdeep)
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ADA [ndash] Anna Marie Brown, 68, of Ada, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Ada. Arrangements are pending at this time with Estes-Phillips Funeral Home. For up-to-date service information, please follow us on Facebook at Estes Phillips Funeral Home.
James Finn writes for The Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email him at JFinn@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter @RJamesFinn.

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Residents implored the East Baton Rouge Metro Council Wednesday night to halt new development until it fortifies drainage systems to better withstand floods.

But even after more than 20 requests for a moratorium, and over an hour of discussion, it's unclear if the Metro Council will take a cue from neighboring parishes that have already paused new construction.

"I've been opposed to the idea of a moratorium, but I will say I don't think I've had one constituent reach out and say they're opposed to it," Councilman Dwight Hudson said. "By and large, constituents in District 9 want to see a moratorium, but what's lost in that conversation is what the benefits and the cons are."

The discussion was bookended Wednesday by talks and presentations around addressing the city-parish's drainage woes, including the approval of about $19 million in mitigation measures funded by the American Rescue Plan.

+2 Ascension OKs 9-month development moratorium; parish president says delay is too short GONZALES  With a potent tropical disturbance gathering force in the Gulf of Mexico, Ascension became the second Baton Rouge-area parish in tw

Much of the focus centered on the parish's Stormwater Master Plan and updating council members on its progress.

The plan, which is only partially complete, will include local hydrology data to inform the city-parish on how to prioritize flood protection projects going forward.

Representatives with the engineering firm conducting the plan Wednesday gave the Metro Council an update on its work, which currently involves evaluating the parish's 11 major watersheds.

That data will help them understand local stormwater systems and pinpoint flood risks, they said.

The plan should be complete by summer 2022, officials said.

Parish leaders in Iberville and Ascension recently adopted their own temporary suspensions of new construction amid flooding concerns.

Iberville's one-year halt on construction is concentrated in the eastern part of the parish. Ascension opted for a nine-month moratorium.

Discussions of the building stoppages were prompted by widespread flash flooding last month after more than 13 inches of rain hammered the Baton Rouge metro Area. According to city-parish officials, more than 1,200 homes and businesses flooded during the heavy rainstorm.

Metro Councilwoman Chauna Banks previously called Ascension's approach a "knee-jerk reaction" she wanted East Baton Rouge to avoid.

"There's an unspoken moratorium; we haven't had any development in my district for over 40 years," she said. "I wouldn't want to get caught up in a parishwide moratorium."

Flood concerns cause Iberville to halt construction in some places; Ascension could follow The Iberville Parish Council approved a one-year halt on new construction on the east side of the Mississippi River, a move that mirrors simil

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But Banks said she feels certain areas and neighborhoods prone to flooding should have a process to petition the city-parish Planning Commission to halt construction until the drainage issues are addressed.

However, the Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations balked at the prospect of a piecemeal approach, lobbying instead for a parishwide moratorium.

"We need regional solutions," Ed Lagucki, president of the civic association, told council members. "The duration should be contingent on completing a set of deliverables and not a timeline."

Zachary Smith, who lives off Staring Lane in Baton Rouge, accused the city-parish of not adequately overseeing what he called "hyper development" over recent years.

"And our city has fallen behind on the maintenance of our current infrastructure," Smith said. "Shovels in the ground tomorrow won't alleviate the flooding we're seeing now. Give us a moratorium option."

Carolyn Rice, president of the homeowners' association in Highland Ridge, later told council members, "We're trusting you to do something. Relying on you to do what needs to be done so this doesn't get worse than it already is."

Wednesday's hearing was peppered with a few comments in opposition. A representative from Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge said a moratorium would be another blow to their industry after it was already impacted by the economic downturn during the pandemic.

Paolo Messina, special assistant with Parish Attorney's Office, cautioned the council against adopting anything with vague language or mimicking what Banks proposed, saying that approving neighborhood-specific moratoriums would be "problematic."

"(A moratorium) has to be very specific to a defined area for a specific period of time to accomplish a goal," Messina said. "Anything broad will be challenged and we will absolutely lose."

Messina said he expects legal challenges to the moratoriums in Iberville and Ascension.

Councilwoman Denise Amoroso joined in the chorus pushing for the temporary halt, saying it's the council's responsibility to listen to needs of the public.

"Our responsibility is not to the developers. Developers need us, we don't need them," she said.

Hudson said it's time the city-parish was honest with the public and acknowledged that leaders for too long allowed development to happen at subpar standards.

"If your home was built to a 10-year storm standard  there's nothing that this council can do," he said. "Nothing the state or federal government can do either, short of raising your house, that's going to stave off your flood risk. I'm sorry. This is all smoke if we don't properly fund drainage and maintenance in this parish."

After Wednesday's hearing, its' unclear what the next step will be. Metro Council has yet to announce when the matter will come up for discussion, let alone a vote.
A Baton Rouge criminal court judge must add his 19th Judicial District Court colleagues to a lawsuit in his seniority-based fight for a civil seat on the state court, the Louisiana Supreme Court has agreed.

Judge Beau Higginbotham has 30 days to amend the lawsuit he filed in December against East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court Doug Welborn.

Welborn had told Higginbotham that he lacked the authority to assign civil cases to the criminal court judge after a majority of Higginbotham's fellow 19th JDC judges passed him over for a civil seat on the court when longtime Judge Janice Clark retired at the end of 2020.

Higginbotham, who has served on the 19th JDC criminal bench since 2015, claims he was "next in line" based on seniority to move to the civil bench.

+3 Judge Higginbotham presses his claim to the civil docket. Could it be a stepping-stone move? Baton Rouge state Judge Beau Higginbotham told a special judge Monday that a majority of his 19th Judicial District Court colleagues ignored t

Higginbotham was elected to the 19th JDC Division M seat in fall 2014, then to the Division C seat nearer to his home in fall 2019.

A majority of Higginbotham's colleagues decided he lost his seniority on the court when he switched criminal divisions, and lost his right to lay claim to Clark's old civil seat.

Higginbotham's lawsuit, however, argues there was "no gap" in his service on the court.

A retired judge appointed by the state Supreme Court to hear Higginbotham's lawsuit ruled in February that, because the judge's beef is with the colleagues who snubbed him for the civil seat, he must add them to the lawsuit.

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Higginbotham appealed that decision. The state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruled against him in April on that point, and a unanimous Supreme Court did the same Tuesday.

"We view the recent decision by the Supreme Court as further assurance that our handling of this matter has been correct," Welborn said Thursday in a written statement.

Higginbotham was presiding over a jury trial Thursday, and his attorneys did not reply to a request for comment. The judge has said previously he cannot discuss the lawsuit.

Higginbotham's lawyers have argued that Welborn declined to perform his "clear and specific ministerial duty" to begin allotting civil cases to Higginbotham. The clerk of court denies that allegation.

Ad hoc Judge Emile St. Pierre had ruled in February that what Higginbotham requested of Welborn was not purely ministerial and concluded that the 19th JDC judges are indispensable parties in the litigation.

Nine of Higginbotham's 19th JDC colleagues told Welborn's office in a Jan. 4 order to allot the civil cases that formerly would have gone to Janice Clark to Judge Ron Johnson, who was elected in fall 2019. A week later, a second order from 10 of the court's 15 judges informed the clerk's office that Johnson and fellow 19th JDC Judge Kelly Balfour would evenly share those civil cases while also splitting a criminal docket.

+2 Judge Beau Higginbotham's fight over seniority, civil seat moving to appeals court A 19th Judicial District criminal judge is taking his seniority-based fight for a civil seat on the Baton Rouge state court to an appeals court.

Higginbotham is the son of former 1st Circuit Judge Toni Higginbotham and ex-19th JDC Judge Leo Higginbotham.

Clerk of Court spokesman Fred Sliman said Welborn's legal defense is being paid out of the office's general fund. Sliman said the office receives less than 2% of its budget from taxpayer sources. All other funds are self-generated through legislated costs and fees, he said.
LIVINGSTON  A Livingston Parish jury on Wednesday found Christopher Glenn guilty on all counts stemming from a domestic dispute in which prosecutors say Glenn fatally stabbed his mother-in-law before trying to rape and murder his wife at their Denham Springs home.

Glenn, 36, faced one count each of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and attempted first-degree rape for the grisly killing of his mother-in-law Tosha M. Smith and battery of his wife, Jayme Glenn, in 2018.

His sentencing is set for 9 a.m. July 12, said Claire LeBlanc, spokeswoman for the 21st Judicial District Attorneys Office, which prosecuted the case.

Glenns trial concluded swiftly. Jury selection began Tuesday morning; by Wednesday afternoon, Assistant District Attorney James Wascom had presented the jury with all the prosecutions evidence.

The five-person witness list was drawn wholly from the group of Livingston Parish Sheriffs deputies who responded to the scene of Smiths death on Dodger Drive or who interrogated Glenn after his arrest.

Alongside crime scene photographs and video of a confession Glenn gave detectives  both of which prosecutors showed the jury Wednesday  the deputies testimony painted a chilling image of the June 5, 2018, affair.

Officers arrived at the home that evening after receiving calls about a disturbance, Deputy Derreck Brantley told the court. There, they quickly arrested Glenn and discovered Williams body in her bedroom.

Blood was on the ceiling, floor, all on the blankets, Detective Joseph Ballard testified.

Woman dies after domestic-related stabbing in Denham Springs; man arrested A woman was stabbed to death and another was injured in what authorities are describing as a domestic incident at a Denham Springs home that i

After being arrested, Christopher Glenn calmly walked us through what he had done that night, Ballard said.

Glenn told detectives that he just snapped after learning that Jayme Glenn was seeing someone else. He then admitted to stabbing Smith  whom he believed was pitting his wife against him  in the neck five or six times," according to his taped confession played in court Wednesday.

Once I started, I couldnt stop, Glenn told detectives, according to the sometimes-inaudible taped confession. He had already admitted to stabbing Smith to the deputies who arrested him, according to testimony Wednesday.

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Then, Christopher Glenn told detectives, he left Smith's body and tried to rape Jayme Glenn.

The courtroom was mostly empty Wednesday, and largely silent throughout the testimony. But family of Jayme Glenn and Tosha Smith  and some jurors  cried softly as prosecutors showed crime scene photos of Smiths body to the jury.

Gus Morillo, who identified himself as a close friend of Jayme Glenns family, said he has continually wondered why her mothers death happened the way it did.

We knew Chris had some anger issues, but hed always calmed himself, Morrillo said.

Of the photos of Smith's body presented Wednesday, Morrillo said, It was rough to see those, knowing Jayme had to go through that.

Defense attorney Vanessa Williams asked few questions of the sheriffs deputies during cross-examination.

At one point, though, a member of the defense team asked Ballard if Christopher Glenns military history prompted the detective to ask him if he dealt with post-traumatic stress.

Ballard responded that another detective interrogating Glenn had asked him about his time in the military. But the pair didnt ask about post-traumatic stress, Ballard said.

Christopher Glenn struck a mostly cheery  but occasionally somber  mood in court Wednesday. Several times, he appeared to laugh while conversing with members of the defense team and a bailiff supervising him in the courtroom.

He hunched over and became quiet, however, as prosecutors played his recorded confession.

The jury spent just 20 minutes deliberating before returning the unanimous guilty verdict.
After lawyers for the Baton Rouge Police Department sought to have him held in contempt of court for releasing edited bodycam footage of officers searching his teenage client, attorney Thomas Frampton asked a federal judge to intervene.

In a motion filed Wednesday in federal court, Frampton claims BRPD retaliated against him, violating his free speech rights. He requested an injunction to halt the contempt proceedings.

That was after an East Baton Rouge juvenile court judge agreed to hear arguments July 12 on whether Frampton should be held in contempt. He could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

BRPD wants lawyer held in contempt for sharing footage of officers illegally searching a minor Attorneys for the Baton Rouge Police Department have asked a judge hold a lawyer in contempt, saying he improperly sent a press release that i

Frampton released the video to highlight how Baton Rouge police searched the teen, looked in his underwear, and later entered an apartment without permission or a warrant. The case garnered national media attention after video release, which followed a $35,000 settlement given to Clarence Green, the teen's older brother, who spent five months incarcerated on a federal gun possession charge before a judge dismissed the case and criticized the officers involved for sloppy police work.

The lead officer in the case, Ken Camallo, was sentenced last week to a demotion and unpaid suspension for policy violations committed in this case and others. However, officials said the so-called "strip search" wasn't the problem  the warrantless entry was.

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BRPD officer demoted and suspended over warrantless search that was lambasted by federal judge A Baton Rouge police officer was demoted and suspended for 2 months for violating department policies after he and another cop entered an apa

In his request for a contempt hearing, Parish Attorney Andy Dotson noted that BRPD got a "substantial amount of negative correspondence from the public" after Frampton disseminated the bodycam video, which had already been filed into the court record as discovery in the Green case and released to The Advocate months earlier through a public records from the clerk of court. BRPD officials have declined to comment on the case, citing pending litigation.

Through his attorneys, Frampton argued in recent court filings that the contempt request is off base because there was no underlying juvenile court case. The state law sealing juvenile court records specifically refers to "matters or proceedings before the juvenile court"  which does not apply here because the teenager shown in the footage never faced criminal charges after police found marijuana in his underwear and guns in his bedroom, attorneys argued.

In addition to the request for injunction, Frampton filed a similar petition for dismissal in juvenile court.

"The City of Baton Rouge is trying to throw a law professor in jail for contempt of a proceeding that never existed," attorney William Most said in a statement. "Baton Rouge citizens should be ashamed of their parish attorney's office for seeking this expensive, retaliatory, nonsensical course of action."
The Australian Federal Police raided the offices of Macquarie-backed tech group Nuix as well as an apartment in Pyrmont on Thursday following the launch of a criminal investigation by the corporate regulator.

In a statement to the ASX on Thursday, Nuix said: A search warrant was today executed at Nuixs Sydney office seeking documents in relation to an investigation into the affairs of an individual. Nuix understands that the warrant does not relate to any allegation of wrongdoing by the company.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) issued a statement confirming its involvement in the matter, which relates to a criminal investigation it is conducting.

Nuix offices have been raided by the Australian Federal Police. Credit:

The raid concerned matters that have come to light subsequent to Nuixs IPO and listing in December 2020. ASICs investigation into certain individuals remains ongoing, an ASIC spokesman said. The statement also said that the AFP had executed search warrants at several premises related to a criminal investigation.
Were here because a year ago the Australian government, with eyes wide open, rejected the logical thing to do, which was to back every horse in the race, Professor Bowtell said. Now, we are in a very serious position and it is fundamentally because they made appalling decisions a year ago that stopped us having more supply of Pfizer and Moderna. Professor Bowtell, an architect of Australias response to the HIV AIDS crisis, is among the most vocal critics of the vaccine rollout. We are seriously behind every comparable country across the world because we should have been funding manufacturing and investing in mRNA vaccines last year, he said pointing out a little over 3 per cent of Australias adult population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to more than 50 per cent in Israel and about 45 per cent in Britain and the US.

Evidence is increasingly pointing to mRNA coronavirus vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, being much easier to reconfigure to cover emerging and highly infectious variants of coronavirus than more conventional types of inoculations such as AstraZeneca. But mRNA vaccines had never been used in humans before the coronavirus pandemic and Professor Danchin said health officials had shown appropriate caution by waiting until results from clinical trials flowed in. There was a hesitancy to bank completely on Pfizer and Moderna because they were a bit unknown, she said. I dont think anyone could have anticipated just how effective they have shown to be. Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid believes the government made the right call to invest in two international vaccines: Pfizer and Novax, alongside two locally manufactured in the AstraZeneca and the University of Queenslands the molecular clamp vaccine.

The University of Queensland vaccice failed during clinical trials. Novavaxs has been stalled by production issues, and AstraZenecas has just been quasi-restricted to people over 60. Even with the benefit of hindsight, it was a pretty good and considered decision, Dr Khorshid said. Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen If you look at where we would have been if we didnt have any local manufacturing of vaccines, its hard to know. AstraZeneca has underpinned the bulk of our program and the fact that 65 per cent of our upper 70s are at least partially protected from COVID. Former secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health Professor Stephen Duckett said Australias vaccine program was doomed from the start because it had limited itself to a narrow of range of vaccines, leaving the country largely unvaccinated and vulnerable to dangerous COVID-19 outbreaks.

It was the wrong choice back then and its even more clearly the wrong choice now, and we are reaping the consequences of that, Professor Duckett said. We were much, much more narrow in our investment decisions than practically every other advanced economy in the world. Other countries hedged their bets across six, seven or eight vaccines, but we only chose four. Professor Duckett, who had his first dose of AstraZeneca recently, said he would not hesitate to book in his second shot in a few weeks time, but criticised the government for its poor messaging around the vaccine program. He said many people in the over 60s age group had lost confidence in the vaccine due to the serious but rare side effect, despite AstraZeneca providing extremely high level of protection against hospitalisation and death due to COVID-19. We really have to get vaccination rates up amongst people over 60 up to the 95 percent level, Professor Duckett said. That is critical, but realistically that might not happen until more Pfizer is available.

Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video While Dr Khorshid acknowledged that had the government acted more quickly it may have secured a huge amount of Pfizer early on, he said deliberations about the vaccines occurred in a climate of significant constraints on international supplies globally. The first batch of 3.3 million doses of AstraZeneca allocated for Australia from Europe never arrived, setting the rollout back by several weeks, and fuelling concerns other doses from overseas would also be stalled. Dr Khorshid said his biggest concern in coming months was ensuring Australians who had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine booked in for their second shot. He said it was critical Australia finished its vaccine rollout of AstraZeneca for the millions of Australians who had already had their first dose.

We cant let this uncertainty undermine the rollout further, he said. The second dose of AstraZeneca is critical for immunity and for anyone who has exposed themselves to the first dose having the second shot is extremely safe. From a scientific point of view, its an absolute no-brainer. Everybody who has their first dose of AstraZeneca whether youre 20 or 90, should have their second for full protection against the virus. Loading Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said last month concerns over delays in vaccine vials meant domestic production of AstraZeneca had been a fundamental component of Australias immunisation strategy. We foresaw what occurred in Europe and North America, Mr Hunt said. Without ever knowing what would be the specific outcome, we could see vaccine nationalism, international supply chain challenges, countries withholding vaccines.


The original dossier detailing a rape allegation against former attorney-general Christian Porter has been made publicly available for the first time, including allegedly contemporaneous diary notes written by the woman who accused him shortly before taking her own life last year.

The 31-page document, which had previously been circulated among politicians and journalists, details in the womans own words her account of an alleged incident in 1988 involving Mr Porter in Sydney while they were both teenagers.

Documents regarding allegations made against Christian Porter have been made public. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The woman, known only as Kate, alleges in the document that she was raped three times by Mr Porter in the early hours of January 10, 1988, in her room at the University of Sydney Womens College where they had walked after dancing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Kings Cross. There had earlier been a formal dinner for the World Universities Debating Championships.

Mr Porter has strenuously denied the incident occurred. He brought a defamation action against the ABC for reporting on the existence of the dossier, which was sent to politicians including Penny Wong, Scott Morrison and Sarah Hanson-Young.
A lawyer and executive married to a former OFarrell government minister is the Liberals frontrunner to take on Clover Moore in the citys council elections, amid questions in the party about the governments willingness to upset the lord mayors parliamentary ally.

Sydney MP and Cr Moores campaign manager Alex Greenwich occupies a powerful position as one of three independents on whom the Berejiklian minority government relies on for support to pass legislation in the lower house.

Shauna Jarrett is tipped to take on Clover Moore for the Liberals in the City of Sydney elections. Credit:Facebook

The Liberal Party has been in disarray over the upcoming local council elections, with a delayed preselection process meaning approved candidates will have weeks to campaign before the September 4 poll. Online preselections are set to be conducted on June 30.

Shauna Jarrett, a legal and governance consultant and Australian Museum board member, is vying for the number one spot on the City of Sydney ticket against former Warringah mayor and outside chance Sam Danieli, with former Berejiklian adviser Jacqui Munro and bar entrepreneur Lyndon Gannon running for second and third place.
Three people linked to the Brisbane Portuguese Family Centre where a COVID-positive woman visited, sparking concerns over possible community transmission, have contracted the virus.

This week Queensland Health authorities confirmed the woman, who had tested positive hours after leaving hotel quarantine at the weekend, acquired the virus while in isolation in Four Points by Sheraton in Brisbane.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said there was no doubt the woman acquired the virus while in quarantine when she came into contact with another positive case at the hotel.

The woman, who had arrived on an Emirates flight from Portugal to work as cabin crew on other airlines once she reached Australia, was confirmed to have the B117, or Alpha, variant.
The meaning of the fine print is key in an application before the High Court that may have ramifications for an estimated $10 billion in claims for losses suffered by businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Insurance Council of Australia has applied for special leave to appeal to the court, to be heard on Friday, to decide the intention of the fine print in insurance policies in a case that has so far backfired on insurers.

Travis and Liv Jones own RBT Gym, one of many businesses that could be affected by the High Court case. Credit:Joe Armao

The council, in documents before the court, estimated the issue affected more than 250,000 policies and $10 billion in claims.

If it accepts the case, the court will assess the wording of policies that have business interruption insurance, an add-on that usually cover disasters such as fires, floods and blackouts.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

A Melbourne cosmetic surgeon faces a lawsuit over the removal of a 13-year-old girls labia, which allegedly left her disfigured and suffering serious psychological trauma.

In 2008, the girl, who The Age has decided not to name, had concerns about the appearance of her vagina and was advised by Dr Asarjahu Granot that there was an abnormality with her labia minora, which could be corrected by a surgical procedure known as labiaplasty.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr Asarjahu Granot. Credit:Eddie Morton

Now aged 26, the woman and her legal team claim the operation she had was inconsistent with the procedure to which she had consented.
If we can learn one thing about the return of Barnaby Joyce to the leadership of the National Party, its that politicians would prefer a polarising and populist leader over a smaller target.

Joyce, who Tony Abbott once described as Australias best retail politician, is loved and despised in equal measure.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce during Question Time on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Few politicians have faced such a comprehensive annihilation of their character as Barnaby Joyce but a majority of his colleagues agreed to resurrect him because they think he offers them the best chance of electoral success.

Those who supported his return praise his authenticity, his ability to talk directly to voters without spin and his apparent willingness to stand up for regional Australians.
A man charged with murdering a woman at a South Yarra apartment block last month has been in a psychiatric unit since the killing.

Barbara Chabaud, 62, was found dead in the stairwell of the Surrey Road apartment complex about 9pm on May 15.

Daniel Waters, 41, has been charged with murder. Credit:Nine News

Daniel Waters, 41, was arrested on May 16, but was released pending further inquiries a day later. He was arrested again on Thursday and charged with murder.

The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Thursday he had been an involuntary patient in a psychiatric unit at The Alfred hospital since May 17.
Whale-watching enthusiasts who line the cliffs around Portland, in south-west Victoria, waiting each winter for the return of rare southern right whales, are rejoicing.

The first southern right whale calf known to be born in Victoria this year appeared with its mother just days ago, close to the citys harbour.

A mother southern right whale protects her calf (pictured at front left, dark spot) off the coast near Portland. Credit:Allen McCauley

The mother and newborn calf lolled about in the bay, drawing local and tourist photographers to Portlands whale-watching lookout.

Mandy Watson, Natural Environment Program Officer at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, issued a statement declaring our researchers have confirmed the sighting thanks to the photographs.
A worker in Melbournes CBD has been wheeled from a building on a stretcher with a bloodied face, after a trucks concrete pump exploded.

The worker was among four people taken out of the LU Simon Builders building on Bourke Street and driven by ambulance to hospital about 9.30am on Thursday.

Witness Harry Young said he didnt pay much attention to the blast until he saw emergency services arrive at the scene.

It was a bit noisy and then all of a sudden we heard this bang, he told Nine News Melbourne.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The unions that ought to have lashed out as a higher education sector crisis cost tens of thousands of university jobs have instead sat eerily silent in Western Australia while Labors stronghold over the state tightened. And this is at a time when a federal election looms. But a once-in-a-decade stoush is brewing at the WA chapter of the National Tertiary Education Union, which represents academics, over the conservative Labor leanings that have potentially silenced statewide action. It has left a lone student guild at Perths biggest university, Curtin, as the sole dissenting voice to take recent action on behalf of staff. Even Perths almost Labor prime minister and once student activist, Kim Beazley, has noted the lack of student demonstration in recent years. Murdoch Universitys largest lecture hall, named after the states biggest political figurehead, no longer hosts course lectures. Credit:Aja Styles Mr Beazleys fathers name is etched on a local lecture hall which no longer services course lectures and has become a symbol in WA of a conflict between university executives on one side, and academics and students on the other.

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NTEU branch vice president at Curtin University, Thor Kerr, says the unions WA branch has failed to take direct action over universities being dismantled in a perfect storm of reduced government funding, dissolving foreign student income and rising campus costs. [The NTEU is] much more interested in overseeing the kind of slow decline in a reasonably peaceful way ... and I think they see their job is, maybe, more about managing that decline rather than heading it off, he said. It is really sad because Australian education was in a very strong position ... and now it just looks terrible. And so its been a very rapid decline and a very destructive decline. NTEU WA scretary Catherine Moore will have her seat challenged by NTEUs Curtin Uni representative Thor Kerr over differing ideologies for action. Dr Kerr believes things need to change radically and is contesting WAs secretary seat for the first time in the unions history. Incumbent state secretary Catherine Moore disputes the idea the union has made job cuts easy for university management. NTEU continues to fight for every single job, she said.

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Its not glamorous or cool, and it doesnt end up on the front page of the paper, but we sit in dispute meetings day after day making the argument on behalf of each and every one of our members. If a job can be saved, we save it. She said the NTEU successfully fought back attacks by Curtin and Murdoch senior executives to strip staff of pay and conditions through unilateral changes to enterprise agreements last year. Murdoch sued a previous division secretary (twice) and an NTEU staff member during the last round of bargaining, including for organising protests against their disgraceful decision to apply to have the Murdoch enterprise agreement terminated, she said. She called Murdoch one of the most litigious universities in Australia. Dr Moores vision is for a sector where teaching, learning and research can be carried out without fear or favour and vital work is achieved in a sustainable way, without exploitation. Universities are the natural ideological enemy of conservative governments because they encourage freedom of inquiry and challenge traditional norms, Dr Moore said.

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So it was no surprise that the federal government changed the JobKeeper rules three times to keep universities out. And thousands of job cuts resulted. But WA labour historian and industrial relations academic Alexis Vassiley also questioned the NTEU leadership response in negotiating a jobs protection framework that cut pay up to 15 per cent in return for more job security that didnt eventuate. This is an approach whereby rather than organising and mobilising workers, its one of essentially being being co-partners with management in managing revenue reductions, he said. Labor leanings As a unionist and former student activist himself, Mr Vassiley questioned the politics behind the lack of mobilisation from multiple unions representing those in higher education. In the National Union of Students, you have Labor students in the key leadership positions that dont want to rock the boat, particularly when Labors in government, he said.

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So its a real cause for celebration, but also a story with more twists and turns than youd expect. Its almost impossible to believe now, but Ningaloos World Heritage crown wasnt a sure thing.

We West Australians already knew Ningaloo was beyond special but it certainly felt good having our reef on the list of the worlds most outstanding heritage places, from the Acropolis and Machu Picchu to the Serengeti.

Not because it didnt measure up but because of opposition to the listing from some quarters that seemed to be based on concerns that activities like pastoralism, camping or fishing, for example, would be constrained. Thats clearly not how it works, or what has happened at Ningaloo, as anyone who has been to the region or lives there knows.

Fortunately, the original broad community movement for Ningaloo, embodied by the Save Ningaloo campaign of the early 2000s, encouraged the relevant officials and ministers, from different parties at the state and federal levels, to press ahead with the listing to create this overwhelmingly positive legacy, to their enduring credit.

Corals in Exmouth Gulf. Credit:Blue Media

But theres another twist to the story, particularly topical given the uncertainty over Exmouth Gulfs future, beset as it is by one unplanned and increasingly controversial industrial development proposal after another.

When UNESCO, the arm of the United Nations that determines World Heritage listing, made its decision about Ningaloo, it also made a most pertinent comment about Exmouth Gulf.
Last week, New South Wales ended its 40-day streak of no community transmission when a man who drove transport for international flight crew tested positive to coronavirus.

In the eight days since that case was confirmed, the cluster has grown to 49 cases and Sydney sits on the precipice of another lockdown.

This morning, it was revealed state Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall had tested positive to the virus after attending a pizza restaurant in Paddington sending other ministers and NSW Parliament employees into isolation.

While Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant have been roundly applauded for their handling of the pandemic, questions are being asked about the decision to not implement a snap lockdown to bring the outbreak under control.
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce is hoping to persuade his controversial backbench colleague, George Christensen, to remain in federal Parliament beyond the next election despite the rogue MPs assurances he is finished with politics.

Mr Joyce, who counted the Queenslander among the 11 Nationals colleagues who helped him oust Michael McCormack on Monday, told question time he was doing everything I can to make sure the member for Dawson remains the member for Dawson after the next election.

Nationals MPs George Christensen and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Christensen announced in April his decade-long career in federal politics would be over at the next poll, which must be held by May next year. He warned of the broken state of politics, which he said was dominated by an activist mainstream media along with other leftists cultural institutions that were disconnected from the public.

He later failed to withdraw his preselection nomination in a stoush with Liberal-National Party officials in an attempt to claim a $105,600 resettlement allowance from the taxpayer.
There was nothing extraordinary about the NSW Nationals annual state budget fundraising dinner in Macquarie Street on Tuesday. Except, of course, for the fact that a key drawcard at the $2000-a-head soiree unknowingly had COVID-19.

Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, one of many Nationals MPs at the event, was seated at a top table in the Strangers Dining room, close to the lectern where VIPs would speak. Also at the dinner was Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Water Minister Melinda Pavey, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell and Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian with unidentified guest at the NSW Nationals annual state budget fundraising dinner in Macquarie Street.

Organised each year by the Nationals head office, the post-budget dinner attracted 60 party faithful and donors, with ministers and MPs bowled up as special guests to justify the hefty price tag.

Liberal Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who had earlier delivered his fifth budget, was the first guest speaker at the dinner, followed by Health Minister Brad Hazzard and then Premier Gladys Berejiklian. The Liberals did not hang around long after lending their time to Coalition colleagues - they had other events in Parliament to attend.
Work was being done on the buildings roof, but Burkett said he did not see how that could have been the cause. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said she got a call from President Joe Biden, who offered federal aid. Hotels opened to some of the displaced residents, she said, and deliveries of food, medicine and more were being hastily arranged. Rescue officials tried to determine how many people might be missing and asked residents to check in with them. About half of the buildings roughly 130 units were affected, the mayor said. The tower has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents, and while the building keeps a log of guests, it does not keep track of when owners are in residence, Burkett said.

Earlier, Burkett said two people were brought to the hospital, one of whom died. He added that 15 families walked out of the building on their own. Governor DeSantis said officials were bracing for some bad news just given the destruction that were seeing. Walls torn away The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and left a number of homes in the still-standing part of the building exposed in what looked like a giant dollhouse. Television footage showed bunk beds, tables and chairs inside. Air conditioners hung from some parts of the building, where wires now dangled. A number of homes in the still-standing part of the apartment building were left exposed. Credit:AP

Loading Piles of rubble and debris surrounded the area, and cars up to two blocks away were coated with with a light layer of dust from the debris. Barry Cohen, 63, said he and his wife were asleep in the building when he first heard what he thought was a crack of thunder. The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the buildings hallway to find a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around. I couldnt walk out past my doorway, said Cohen, the former vice mayor of Surfside. A gaping hole of rubble. He and his wife made it to the basement and found rising water there. They returned upstairs, screamed for help and were eventually brought to safety by firefighters using a cherry-picker.

Cohen said he raised concerns years ago about whether nearby construction might be causing damage to the building after seeing cracked pavers on the pool deck. Santo Mejil, 50, told the Miami Herald that his wife had called him from the building, where she was working as an aide for an elderly woman. She said she heard a big explosion. It felt like an earthquake, Mejil told the newspaper. He said she later called him and said rescuers were bringing her down. People on the beach look at the destruction to the oceanfront apartment complex. Credit:South Florida Sun-Sentinal via AP Surfside City Commissioner Eliana Salzhauer told Miami television station WPLG that the buildings county-mandated 40-year recertification process was ongoing. Salzhauer said the process was believed to be proceeding without difficulty. A building inspector was on site on Wednesday.

I want to know why this happened, Salzhauer said. Thats really the only question ... And can it happen again? Are any other of our buildings in town in jeopardy? Boy cries for help Nicholas Balboa, 31, said he was outside about 1.30am when he heard a rumble. He thought it was thunder at first  and then felt the ground shake. I went up the street and saw the dust cloud going through the corridor of buildings, said Balboa, who lives in Phoenix but was visiting his father in Surfside. He raced toward the sound and saw the partially collapsed building. An aerial view of the damage. Credit:South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

Emergency crews had started to arrive. Balboa walked toward the site to get a better look. Thats when he heard a boy call out for help. We could see his arms sticking out and his fingers wiggling, Balboa said. He was just saying, Please dont leave me. Please dont leave me. Balboa and another bystander climbed the rubble and tried getting closer. The boy said his mother had been with him, but Balboa heard no other voices. Using the flashlight on his mobile phone, Balboa flagged a police officer, who rushed toward them with a rescue crew. The crew dug through debris and used a saw to get the boy out, Balboa said. It was surreal. I cant believe that a building thats made out of concrete and supposed to stand up to hurricanes and weather just one night decided to collapse, he said. To be completely honest, the comparison, the stark image that I had in my mind, was 9/11, just seeing all that debris and rubble.

At an evacuation site set up in a nearby community centre, people who live in buildings neighbouring the collapse gathered after being told to flee. Some wept. Some were still dressed in pyjamas. Some children tried to sleep on mats spread on the floor. When a news conference about the collapse appeared on the TV, the room went silent. Jennifer Carr was asleep in a neighbouring building when she was awakened by a loud boom and her room shook. She thought it was a thunderstorm but checked the weather app on her phone and saw none. The buildings fire alarms went off, and she and her family went outside and saw the collapse. It was devastation, Carr said. People were running and screaming.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said in a tweet that more than 80 units were at the scene with help from municipal fire departments. Teams of firefighters walked through the rubble, picking up survivors and carrying them from the wreckage. Nicolas Fernandez waited early on Thursday for word on close family friends who lived in the collapsed section of the building. Debris dangles from a section of the collapsed apartment building. Credit:South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Since it happened, Ive been calling them nonstop, just trying to ring their cellphones as much as we can to hep the rescue to see if they can hear the cellphones. The seaside condo development was built in 1981 in the south-east corner of Surfside. It had a few two-bedroom units currently on the market, with asking prices of $US600,000 to $US700,000 ($790,000 to $922,000) in an area with a neighbourhood feel that provides a stark contrast to the glitz and bustle of nearby South Beach.
After President Joe Bidens recent overseas meetings, the United States and G-7 countries agreed to support further investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a summit communique, the nations called for a timely, transparent, expert-led and science-based WHO-convened inves
AP

Antivirus pioneer John McAfee found dead in Spanish prison

Alan Diaz FILE - In this Dec 12, 2012 file photo, anti-virus software founder John McAfee talks on his mobile phone as he walks on Ocean Drive in the South Beach area of Miami Beach, Fla. John McAfee, the creator of the antivirus named after him, has been found dead in a cell of a jail near Barcelona, a government source told The Associated Press on Wednesday June 23, 2021 on the same day that a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of his extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges.(AP Photo/Alan Diaz, file) Ng Han Guan / AP Software entrepreneur John McAfee listens on Aug. 16, 2016 during the 4th China Internet Security Conference (ISC) in Beijing. Joan Mateu Entrance of Brians 2 penitentiary center in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, near Barcelona, northeast Spain, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. John McAfee, the creator of the McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his cell in a jail near Barcelona, a government official has told The Associated Press. Earlier Wednesday, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of his extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges. Security personnel at the Brians 2 penitentiary near the northeastern Spanish city tried to revive McAfee, who was 75, but the jail's medical team finally certified his death, the regional Catalan government said. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu) Joan Mateu Entrance of Brians 2 penitentiary center in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, near Barcelona, northeast Spain, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. John McAfee, the creator of the McAfee antivirus software, has been found dead in his cell in a jail near Barcelona, a government official has told The Associated Press. Earlier Wednesday, a Spanish court issued a preliminary ruling in favor of his extradition to the United States to face tax-related criminal charges. Security personnel at the Brians 2 penitentiary near the northeastern Spanish city tried to revive McAfee, who was 75, but the jail's medical team finally certified his death, the regional Catalan government said. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu)

MADRID  John McAfee, the creator of McAfee antivirus software, was found dead in his jail cell near Barcelona in an apparent suicide Wednesday, hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the United States to face tax charges punishable by decades in prison, authorities said.

The eccentric cryptocurrency promoter and tax opponent whose history of legal troubles spanned from Tennessee to Central America to the Caribbean was discovered at the Brians 2 penitentiary in northeastern Spain. Security personnel tried to revive him, but the jails medical team finally certified his death, a statement from the regional Catalan government said.

A judicial delegation has arrived to investigate the causes of death, it said, adding that everything points to death by suicide.

The statement didnt identify McAfee by name but said the dead man was a 75-year-old U.S. citizen awaiting extradition to his country. A Catalan government official familiar with the case who was not authorized to be named in media reports confirmed to The Associated Press that it was McAfee.

Spains National Court on Monday ruled in favor of extraditing McAfee, 75, who had argued in a hearing earlier this month that the charges against him by prosecutors in Tennessee were politically motivated and that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if returned to the U.S.

The courts ruling was made public on Wednesday and was open for appeal, with any final extradition order also needing to get approval from the Spanish Cabinet.

McAfee was arrested last October at Barcelonas international airport and had been in jail since then awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings. The arrest followed charges the same month in Tennessee for evading taxes after failing to report income from promoting cryptocurrencies while he did consulting work, made speaking engagements and sold the rights to his life story for a documentary. The criminal charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Nishay Sanan, the Chicago-based attorney defending him on those cases, said by phone that McAfee will always be remembered as a fighter.

He tried to love this country but the U.S. government made his existence impossible, Sanan said. They tried to erase him, but they failed.

The lawyer said Spanish authorities have not given his legal team a cause of death, and he wants to know if there were video cameras in McAfees cell or in the prison.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Memphis declined to comment.

Tennessee prosecutors had argued that McAfee owed the U.S. government $4,214,105 in taxes before fines or interests for undeclared income in the five fiscal years from 2014 to 2018, according to a Spanish court document seen by AP. But in this weeks ruling, the National Court judge agreed to extradite him only to face charges from 2016 to 2018.

Born in Englands Gloucestershire in 1945 as John David McAfee, he started McAfee Associates in 1987 and led an eccentric life after selling his stake in the antivirus software company named after him in the early 1990s.

McAfee twice made long-shot runs for the U.S. presidency and was a participant in Libertarian Party presidential debates in 2016. He dabbled in yoga, ultralight aircraft and producing herbal medications.

In 2012 he was wanted for questioning in connection with the death of Gregory Viant Faull, who was shot to death in early November 2012 on the Belize island where the men lived.

McAfee told AP at the time that he was being persecuted by the Belizean government. Belizean police denied that, saying they were simply investigating a crime about which McAfee may have had information. Then-Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressed doubts about McAfees mental state, saying, I dont want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers.

A Florida court ordered McAfee in 2019 to pay $25 million to Faulls estate in a wrongful death claim.

In July of that year he was released from detention in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of traveling on a yacht carrying high-caliber weapons, ammunition and military-style gear.

McAfee told Wired Magazine in 2012 that his father, a heavy drinker and very unhappy man, shot himself when McAfee was 15. Every day I wake up with him, he told Wired.

He lived for a time in Lexington, Tennessee, a rural town east of Memphis. In a 2015 interview with WBBJ-TV, McAfee said he only felt comfortable when armed. The TV station reported that he chose to be interviewed with a loaded gun in each hand.

Very little gives me a feeling of being safe and more secure other than being armed in my bedroom with the door locked, McAfee told the station.

In one of his last known media interviews, with British newspaper The Independent last November, McAfee said his prison experience in Spain was a fascinating adventure and he planned never to return to the U.S.

I am constantly amused and sometimes moved, he was quoted as saying. The graffiti alone could fill a thousand-page thriller.

He also told The Independent that prisoners and guards had recognized him and some asked for his autograph.

McAfee said his main point of contact outside the prison was his wife, Janice McAfee. The last post from his Twitter account was a retweet of a Fathers Day message from her.

These eight months John has spent in prison in Spain have been especially hard on his overall health both mentally and physically, as well as financially, but he is undeterred from continuing to speak truth to power, it said.

California chipmaker Intel, which bought McAfees company in 2011 for $7.68 billion, for a time sought to dissociate the brand from its controversial founder by folding it into its larger cybersecurity division. But the rebranding was short-lived, and Intel in 2016 spun out the cybersecurity unit into a new company called McAfee.

Jaime Le, a McAfee company spokesperson, said in a statement: Although John McAfee founded the company, he has not been associated with our company in any capacity for over 25 years. That said, our thoughts go to his family and those close to him.

The U.S. embassy in Madrid didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.
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This image released Saturday, June 27, 2020, by the Orlando, Fla., Police Department, shows anti-police slogans that were spray painted on a mural for Black Lives Matter painted on a road in Orlando, Fla. The mural, which was painted Friday with the red, black and green of the Pan-African flag, a symbol of Black pride with the giant slogan for Black Lives Matter, was vandalized hours after being painted, police in Florida said.
In this March 9, 2012, file photo Republican state senator Frank Artiles, R-Miami, asks a questions about a pip insurance bill during house session in Tallahassee, Fla. Artiles, who used a racial slur and vulgar language in a conversation with two African-American colleagues, submitted a resignation letter to the Senate president's office on Friday, April 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon, File)
In this Tuesday, May 28, 2019 photo power lines power lines converge on a Central Maine Power substation in Pownal, Maine. The company's controversial 145-mile, billion-dollar power line would bring hydro-electricity from Canada into the regional grid, to serve Massachusetts customers.
A help wanted sign is posted May 7, 2020, outside Cyr Lumber in Windham, New Hampshire.
A tom turkey unfurls its feathers hoping to attract a female as it moves through a field on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gives his State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Columbia, S.C.
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Tim Gruver is a politics and public policy reporter. He is a University of Washington alum and the recipient of the 2017 Pioneer News Award for Reporting. His work has appeared in Politico, the Kitsap Daily News, and the Northwest Asian Weekly.
Data gathered from Wyoming residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent months illustrate the success of the safe, free and effective vaccines authorized to fight the virus, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).

A WDH review of more than 2,400 lab-confirmed and probable cases identified among Wyoming residents age 16 and older between May 1 and June 15 shows just under 95 percent of the individuals do not report being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. During the same period, of the nearly 150 persons infected by COVID-19 who were hospitalized at the time they were interviewed by public health representatives, more than 93 percent did not report being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To date, there has been one COVID-19 related death of a fully vaccinated Wyoming resident.

Vaccines have been widely available for adults across the state since late March. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two weeks after one dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine.

Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said the current data for Wyoming appears to be consistent with results across the country. We are seeing excellent results among those who have been vaccinated. The vast majority of recent, new cases have involved people who were not yet fully vaccinated, she said.

Its clear vaccines are the key to seeing fewer COVID-19 illnesses and there is no question wed like to see higher vaccine coverage rates in our state, Harrist said.

Harrist noted Wyomings average statewide daily case numbers have remained stable in recent months. However, Wyomings numbers are not dropping as quickly as in states with more complete vaccination coverage. In fact, our rate of new cases adjusted for our population is among the highest in the nation. Hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks and this is something we hate to see happen when we know it could largely be avoided through vaccination, she said.

The growing presence of the Delta variant among Wyoming COVID-19 cases, particularly in southeastern Wyoming, is a cause for concern. The data is showing this variant is more easily transmitted than other strains, meaning it spreads more easily between people and spreads to more people, Harrist said. Early information is also showing this variant may be associated with higher likelihood of severe illness than other variants.

Our experience demonstrates what we expected to be true: these vaccines can do their job very well including against the Delta variant, Harrist said. We remain confident in recommending that everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated should do so as soon as possible.

We know COVID-19 infections are not limited to those who have the highest risk of severe illness. Anyone can get the virus and have a harder time than they might expect and anyone could potentially pass it on to someone who could really struggle, Harrist said

By getting a COVID-19 vaccine, you help protect your health and the health of your loved ones, Harrist said.

Convenient ways to find where to get COVID-19 vaccines include:

 Visit Vaccines.gov or vacunas.gov online to search and find vaccine sites.

 Text your ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX) or 822862 (VACUNA) to find up to three nearby locations that have vaccines available.

 Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline at 1-800-232-0233 for phone-based help.

Other vaccine reminders include:

 No major safety steps were skipped to develop the vaccines.

 The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for individuals who are 12 or older; the Moderna and Janssen vaccines are authorized for individuals who are 18 or older.

 If the vaccine received requires two doses for maximum protection, its important to get both.

 COVID-19 vaccines are free.

 Insurance is not required. Some people may be asked to show Medicare or insurance cards so professionals giving shots can get reimbursed.

More information from WDH about vaccination in Wyoming can be found at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/immunization/wyoming-covid-19-vaccine-information/.
Cheyenne, WY (82001)

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A steady light rain early. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Towanda, PA (18848)

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Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on June 23, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

23 Republicans Move to Censure Biden for Dereliction of Duty at Border

A group of 23 Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), on Wednesday introduced a resolution to censure President Joe Biden for what they say has been his dereliction of duty at the U.S.-Mexico border, and a failure to enforce border security and immigration laws.

My censure resolution holds President Biden accountable for his actionsor lack thereofat the border, Boebert said in a statement. Biden has refused to enforce the laws securing our border, he has refused to visit our border, his border czar Kamala has refused to visit the border, and his Secretary of Homeland Security is lying to the American people by saying that our border is closed.

It comes amid a spike in illegal immigration in recent months. Border Patrol apprehended 180,000 illegal aliens in May, the highest total in 21 years. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials say the majority, more than 112,000, were expelled under the Title 42 emergency health provision put in place during the Trump administration. The number of border encounters has been rising steadily since last October but surged in February after Biden took office and reversed or altered a number of key Trump-era policies.

Not only has Biden done nothing to secure the border, he has actively made it worse by implementing policies that incentivize illegal immigration like amnesty, catch and release, and abolishing the remain in Mexico policy. The result of Bidens mismanagement is staggering, and the numbers speak for themselves, Boebert said.

Boebert took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris, who Biden appointed to lead U.S. efforts with Mexico and Central Americas Northern Triangle countriesHonduras, El Salvador, and Guatemalato stop migrants from crossing into the United States.

Harris is yet to visit the southern border, however, she announced Wednesday that she will travel to El Paso, Texas, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday.

Before the vice president announced plans to visit the border this week, a group of more than 50 House GOP lawmakers on June 17 called on Biden to remove Harris from her border assignment, arguing in a letter that she had not yet shown adequate interest in observing this crisis first-hand.

The text of Boeberts resolution expresses disapproval of the failure to uphold the constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed and the usurpation of the legislative authority of Congress by the President of the United States.

It resolves to censure the president for his failure to take care that the laws be faithfully executed as required by the Constitution, and calls on the president to fire Mayorkas and replace him with leadership that will prioritize the security of the United States and faithfully enforce the laws enacted by Congress.

Biden administration officials have defended the presidents border policies, claiming theyve made the immigration system more humane.

We have a strategy, we are executing on our strategy, I have confidence in our strategy, Mayorkas told members of Congress during a recent hearing.

CBP Former Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan in a statement accused the president of presiding over the greatest abandonment of immigration enforcement and border security this country has ever seen, adding: Our border is in a historic crisis, solely due to his actions.

Representative Lauren Boeberts resolution would rightly censure President Biden for ignoring immigration laws and refusing to address the crisis, while also calling for him to terminate an open borders radical who leads the very agency I once served in, Morgan said. President Biden can stop the crisis today. It is time for him to put the American people and rule of law first, and restore order at our border.

The Biden administration didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times.
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)

28 Civilians Killed in Northern Afghan Province as Fighting Intensifies

KABULIntense fighting in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz killed at least 28 civilians and injured 290 this week, according to hospital officials, as conflict surges in the war-torn nation while foreign forces withdraw.

Ehsanullah Fazli, head of Kunduzs provincial hospital, said 28 bodies and 290 wounded civilians had been delivered to two local hospitals in the past three days, with the vast majority of the casualties being children, women, and elderly people.

The war is still going on in the city of Kunduz and the death toll will rise, he said.

Fighting has worsened around Afghanistan but especially in the north where Taliban terrorists have conducted a wave of offensives in recent days, moving beyond their southern strongholds.

Since the United States announced plans in April to withdraw its troops without conditions by Sept. 11 after nearly 20 years of conflict, violence has escalated throughout the country as the Taliban terrorist group seeks more territory.

Peace talks in Doha have largely stalled, officials say, though there have been meetings in recent days and the Taliban say they are committed to negotiations.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 1, 2020. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo)

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Washington on Thursday with his former rival and top Afghan peace official Abdullah Abdullah where they were to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss the U.S. troop withdrawal.

The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan said this week the Taliban had taken more than 50 of 370 districts and was positioned to take control of provincial capitals as the country looked increasingly unstable and analysts warned of the growing risk of civil war as more groups took up arms.

On Wednesday, hundreds of armed men gathered on the outskirts of the capital Kabul and vowed to fight against the Taliban, according to Reuters witnesses.

On Thursday, 130 Taliban fighters surrendered with the help of tribal elders in the western province of Herat.

They realised that the Talibans war with the Afghan government was illegitimate, Herat Governor Abdul Sabur Qani said at a ceremony to mark the event.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the 130 men were not from their group, calling the event propaganda.

By Afghanistan bureau
3 Largest Massachusetts Hospital Systems Requiring Employees Get COVID-19 Vaccine

Three Massachusetts hospital systems have announced that they will require their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, potentially setting up a legal fight with workers who refuse to do so.

Mass General Brigham stated in a June 24 news release that it will require its 80,000 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants approval of one of the three vaccines, referring to the vaccines made by Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson, which have been granted emergency use authorization from the FDA.

The company said that 85 percent of its employees have already been vaccinated for COVID-19, the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Additionally, hospital operator Wellforce has stated that it will mandate that its staff members be vaccinated once the shots get full FDA authorization.

As we do for other required vaccinations, our teams will work together to develop the necessary policies, procedures, and justifiable exemptions to this new requirement, and develop a timeline for when it goes into effect, the hospital said in a statement.

Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH), another Massachusetts hospital operator, announced on June 23 that it will require all physicians and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment after one of the vaccines receives final FDA approval.

Amid the vaccination announcements, the largest health care union in the country has said it will fight against mandatory COVID-19 vaccines, including in Massachusetts.

George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East said that hospital systems dont have the right to mandate vaccines for employees. The union, which is based in New York, also represents hundreds of thousands of nurses and caregivers in New Jersey, Florida, Washington, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

Whether there is a legal challenge that we can make, or whether its just a pure organizational challenge that we can make, we are not going to just give in, Gresham told local news website Gothamist this week.

Gresham, who said hes been vaccinated and urges others to do so, argues that health care workers have the right to make their decision about their own health.

Several other hospitals, including Houston Methodist hospitals, have mandated that employees need to get vaccinated. Houston Methodist told its employees that they had until June 7 to get the vaccine, and thus far, about 150 employees have resigned or have been terminated for refusing to do so.

Former Houston Methodist employees have filed a lawsuit against the company, saying that the vaccines are experimental and potentially dangerous. A judge rejected their lawsuit earlier this month, although the plaintiffs announced that they would appeal.
Senators listen to speaker George Furey in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2020. Bill C-10, which passed in the House of Commons on June 22, must now pass in the Senate before it can become law. (Blair Gable/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

A Very Messy Situation: Controversial Bill C-10 Now Before the Senate

Controversial internet regulation Bill C-10 has passed in the House of Commons, but it still has to win passage through the Senate before a predicted soon-to-be-called election would effectively kill it.

The bill places under the Broadcast Act audio and audiovisual content delivered over the internet by digital platforms, a move that some fear may lead to everyday Canadians getting censored for social media postings. However, the bills main aim is to impose Canadian content and production requirements on streaming services and social media platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube, just as it has been doing for traditional broadcasters.

Dennis Dawson, a former Liberal MP who is a member of the Progressive Senate Group, sponsored the bill in the Senate and still stands behind it.

Basically, there are hundreds of millions of dollars that are leeching from the system where Canadian artists, were they to be covered on traditional broadcasting systems, would be getting their share of the revenues under the existing Broadcasting Act that was written  before they had internet, Dawson told The Epoch Times.

Dennis Dawson, a former Liberal MP and a member of the Progressive Senate Group, in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

The politicization of the bill in the House of Commons  became a debate on free speech, and it was totally a distortion of the real reasons for the bill. The government did not put in a bill because they wanted to stop people from putting their cat videos on the internet.

The House passed Bill C-10 on June 22 by a vote of 196112, with Conservative MPs stridently opposed.

Don Plett, a Manitoba Conservative and Senate opposition leader, calls C-10 a horrible bill.

The Liberals are moving to radically change how Canadians use the internet right when the internet is the most important thing that we have. Theres nothing that we are more dependent on. I really value freedoms, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and in my opinion, C-10 leaves the door open for massive abuse of power on the rights of Canadians, Plett said in an interview.

I actually use the freedom of opinion very strongly because we have a prime minister and a cabinet who doesnt even believe that if we vary from theirs that we should even have an opinion, let alone express it publicly. You have [gone] almost to the point where we have thought police out there to work with the whole cancel culture.

The same day the House passed C-10, the government gave formal notice that Justice Minister David Lametti will soon introduce legislation to amend the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act regarding hate propaganda, hate crimes, and hate speech. Plett fears the government is opening the door to throwing half of Canada into jail.

A Very Messy Situation

In April, the Liberal-dominated Heritage Committee removed a clause from the bill that had exempted user-generated online content, such as videos posted by individuals on social media platforms.

Many other amendments were introduced in the spring, but some never got to be debated. On June 7, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois, the Heritage Committee passed a motion to limit debate at committee to just five more hours. And then on June 10, the committee overruled its own chair and proceeded to allow dozens of amendments to be voted on without any discussion or debate and without their contents having been disclosed to the public. The committee continued to vote after the debate time expired.

Conservative Sen. Don Plett, Senate opposition leader, in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

In the end, on June 15 House Speaker Anthony Rota declared dozens of amendments null and void, ruled that the committee overstepped its authority, and ordered a reprint of the bill without those amendments.

Undaunted, the Liberals reintroduced its amendments as the House began its final week on June 21. Conservative MP Alain Rayes, for his part, moved to reintroduce the protections the Heritage Committee had removed for those posting on social media, but he was voted down. Liberals argue that there are enough safeguards in the proposed legislation to ensure peoples rights arent infringed upon, a claim the Conservatives reject. Bill C-10 passed third reading on June 22 around 1:30 a.m. following a 14-hour session.

Plett said the brazen approach has no precedent he could think of.

The Speaker [Rota, a Liberal] has come up with very strong rules against his own government. And how do you do that at the 11th hour? You all of a sudden slap in [many] amendments, and expect that everybody will just say, Yeah, OK, fine. Lets pass that. It just doesnt work that way, he said.

Dawson, who is part of a 12-member group of progressives in the Senate, acknowledges that senators have to clean up what is a very messy situation because these amendments, as you know, some of them were debated, some of them werent debated. They were voted on; they were divided on. Thats why we have a Senate. Thats why we have a chamber of sober second thought.

We Should Not Defeat Government Legislation

The Senate rarely overrules the House of Commons. Yet, David E. Smith, professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan, said Canadas founders clearly thought the Senate should use their powers in some circumstances or they never would have been granted.

The Fathers of Confederation presumably thought there was a possibility that there was, and that they had to. And I think, particularly in the 19th century, particularly regional concerns, [senators] made sure that they were properly considered, Smith said in an interview.

The argument against the Senate has been, of course, that its not elected, and therefore theyre overturning the decision of the peoples representative.  And that [point], obviously, is a powerful one, but that doesnt seem to me to end the discussion.

Plett says senators should respect the wishes of the House.

I do believe inherently that because we are appointed, we should not defeat government legislation, he said, but adds that for C-10, he also believes absolutely fervently that it is our job to amend that legislation.

Regardless of what amendments the Senate might propose after a thorough study of the bill, Plett doesnt expect a long back-and-forth process between Parliaments upper house and lower house.

Many senators also believe  we should take one stab at amending, send it back to the House. If the House refuses our amendments, then we roll up the carpet and say, OK, its your job, and you will possibly suffer for it in the election, but we arent going to force our will on the democratically elected House.

There have been rare instances where the Senate has rejected House bills in the past, such as when it killed proposed legislation in 1996 that would have limited liability for a privatized Pearson International Airport. Plett says a sequel for C-10 is doubtful, but possible.

I dont think we would have the support to kill Bill C-10,  but I have a feeling this bill might have been the exception to that, as the bill on the Toronto airport was an anomaly.
A Whale of a Time in Thailand

Ive spent plenty of time over the years on or around Bangkoks Chao Phraya River, its banks lined with historic buildings, hotels, temples, and restaurants, and its waters a thoroughfare for commuting ferries and barge trafficso much to explore and ideal for a sundowner at a bar. But Id never been to its final destination, where it empties into the sea in the upper Gulf of Thailand. And I certainly never expected to find whales there.

A Brydes whale showing its pink underside. (Kevin Revolinski)

A group of five friends plus my wife and I had booked a private boat with Wild Encounter Thailand. After a 40-minute drive south from the city center to the very end of the river we went a short distance east from its mouth to one of the many klongs or canals that branch out from its banks. There we boarded a colorful wooden boat, an open-air affair for up to 12 passengers, with a small upper deck shading the length of the craft, which rode low to the water. Our guide Jirayu Tour Ekkul was joined by the boat captain Mr. Jeng and crew member and spotter, Mr. Noom.

As we left the klong for open water, we passed thick rows of dark sticks, their tips just above the water. Mussels, Tour told us. They grow along the shafts and at low-tide the farmers come out in small boats, lower themselves into the shallow water and harvest the mussels from the poles into floating buckets theyd then dump into their boat. We continued straight out to sea past a small Thai salon rising up on pilings above the waves.

A shrine seen on the way to see the whales. (Kevin Revolinski)

Tour gave a mini-lecture with cue cards. The sea is shallow there, typically from 25 to 45 feet with deeper areas reaching 60 to 90 feet. The coastline is ideal for mangroves and the muddy bottom supports filter feeders such as crabs and mollusks. But the ultimate filter feeder in these parts is a mammal.

Brydes Whale

Brydespronounced BREW-duhswhale bears the name of Johan Bryde, a Norwegian shipowner and whaler from around the turn of the 20th century, who first identified it. Theyre baleen whales, the toothless variety that send seawater through their natural sieve of stiff bristles to extract the smaller sea life, such as drifting crustaceans, squid, and small fish. The adults tip the scales at approximately 30 tons and can grow up to 45 feet long. Each year, pregnant whales come to the area to raise their calves. Each year, Tours crew sees more activity. This year we have seen four babies, he told us.

The group rented the entire boat for the excursion. Other crafts are available with air-conditioning and more seating. (Kevin Revolinski)

The boat plied waters thick with anchovies, and flying above our wake, excited terns kept pace, diving at the silvery flashes amid the churning foam buffet. Anchovy fishing crews worked the Gulf of Thailand, with roughly 80 percent of the catch going toward nonhuman consumption, such as chicken feed, for example. As we broke waves, an occasional panicking fish leaped into the boat, and one of us would go to the rescue, likely feeding it back to a tern.

Within a half-hour of departure, a shout from Mr. Noom on the small upper deck had all of us on our feet. Dolphins! The boat slowed and altered course. Four or five at a time, the dolphins would roll up for a breath and return into the waves traveling a couple of hundred feet ahead and moving away from us.

Almost immediately, others leaped from the water, and we realized we were pursuing more of them than we could definitively count. Captain Jeng estimated a pod of 30. It had to be something quite unusual, because Tour allowed us to be sidetracked for a few moments, and a friend whod been on this trip before said he is typically quite adamant about staying after the whales. Not long after we continued farther out to sea, we saw our first spout and a long black body just breaking the surface of the sea as the magnificent creature crossed before us at roughly 200 feet.

Ive been out to see humpbacks before, admiring them typically at a distance and trying to get a quick photo of a dissipating spout, the curve of a back glistening in the sun for a moment or perhaps a tail rising out of the water as they dove. Bigger activity such as breaching always happened in the distance, mocking my medium-range telephoto lens.

Mussels are grown on poles and harvested by local fishermen. (Kevin Revolinski)

Lunch Time

But Brydes whale is a bit of a camera hog. First, its rostrumthe snoutemerged slowly, as if a whale had a nose there to take a sniff rather than the blowhole farther back on the top of its head. Then the whale rises, black and slender or, if one sees the underside, a distinct pink. When its ready to feed, it remains pointed to the sky and drops its lower jaw like opening a mailbox, so that it rests just along the surface of the water, its mouth filling with water and fishmany of which jump in of their own accord. When the whale senses enough of a serving, it sinks slowly into the sea, closing its mouth and disappearing with a catch to swallow whole.

We witnessed this several times that day, initially firing out long bursts of camera shots until we realized how long they linger up in the air like that, and then took our time, savoring the view and admiring the skill of the hunter.

Tour is knowledgeable, and the crew is adept at finding the whales and maneuvering to within a polite distance so as not to disturb them. Ive seen crews chase them every which way at other destinations. The observations and photos they gather are shared with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Endangered Species Unit & Research Center and other scientific organizations. While Tour is above all professional in his management, hes as excited about the whales as any of us.

As began the turn back to port, again, we found whales. One rose into the air to feed and held there, while a smaller one nearby exhaled a modest plume. This is Mae Kanya (Mama September) and this is her fifth calf, Tour told us, pointing out distinguishing marks along her body. She is a grandmother, actually, and the first whale the crew had entered into their database when they started keeping records in September 2011. Tour smiled like a new father, And this is the sixth calf we have seen this season! More than any other season. Beyond them we could still see the Bangkok skyline, low to the horizon, blue in the distance. An incredible moment.

The guide explains the ecosystem of the region and the behaviors of the whales. (Kevin Revolinski)

Dangers

It took more than an hour to return to port, and the boat slowed a moment. Tour and Captain Jeng discussed something urgent, pointing to two orange flags fluttering on tall buoyed bamboo poles set far apart in the sea between us and the entrance to the klong. A fishing method called a longline was likely strung loosely between the flags and dangling shorter lines along its length with multiple hooks on each. Tour explained, The fisherman use nets and we dont know exactly where they are.

These can get caught in boat propellers and, even more alarming, they are known to have caught and drowned whales in the past. Longlines, crab traps, and lost or abandoned ghost nets may or may not be legal, depending on how they are categorized. Certain NGOs and authorities police it, but not always successfully. The captain gave the flag a wide berth and took us back to the dock. The growing interest in these whales would likely give conservationists some leverage against dangerous fishing methods, and maybe Mama September would one day be a great-grandmother.

If You Go

Wild Encounter Thailand does private and mixed public tours, with boats that accommodate 12, 30, and 50 passengers. The smallest craft is the only one without air-con. Trips start at 8 a.m. and last 7 to 10 hours. The Wild Encounter Thailand webpage is getting an overhaul currently, but the Facebook pageFacebook.com/WildEncounterThailandworks just fine and the admin staff knows English. Their office numbers are +66-92-845-9444 or +66-83-375-9696, while their email address is jirayu.wildencounter@gmail.com or brydeiedeni@gmail.com.

Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler, craft beer enthusiast, and home cooking fan. He is the author of 15 books, including The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and his new collection of short stories, Stealing Away. Hes based in Madison, Wisconsin, and his website is TheMadTraveler.com.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation seal is seen at its headquarters in Washington on June 14, 2018. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)

Affidavits Raise More Questions About FBIs Role in Trump Probe

Commentary

Affidavits filed in a federal court on June 21 raise crucial questions about the FBIs role in the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaigns efforts to vilify her opponent, Donald Trump, as a Russian agent. The FBI obtained a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to spy on the Trump team based on a dossier of memos alleging Trumps ties to Russia that was filed by Clinton campaign contractor Christopher Steele.

But the newly released court documents suggest the FBI may have helped shape the anti-Trump plot at its origins.

The affidavits are the latest revelation to come from the ongoing defamation suit that the owners of Alfa-Bank, Russias largest commercial bank, have brought against Fusion GPS, the communications firm that hired Steele to compile TrumpRussia reports on behalf of the Clinton campaign. In one of Steeles memos, Alfa-Bank principals Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, and German Khan are alleged to have engaged in corrupt practices.

Steele claims that this report and the others are sourced to a Russian national he hired, Igor Danchenko, who, in turn, says his information came from a network of Russia-based sources. The affidavits filed this week were sworn by five Russian nationals who say Danchenkos allegations that they served as sources for Steeles reporting are false.

This may put Danchenko in a bind. Finding himself at the mercy of angry billionaires who are eager to clear their names and the reputation of their business, Danchenkos clearest path out of financial and legal risk may be to reveal everything he knows about the anti-Trump plot.

The affidavit signed by Russian financial journalist Ivan Vorontsov is the most significant of the five documents. Vorontsov said that he has been friends with Danchenko since 2013 and met him three times in 2016. According to him, Danchenko said that he was employed by Fusion GPS, and its co-founders, Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch.

This appears to contradict what Danchenko told the FBI in a January 2017 interview. According to the transcript, Danchenko did not have any visibility into [Steeles] end clients. Danchenkos attorney reaffirmed his clients claim, Never asked, and was never told [about final clients].

Another section from Vorontsovs affidavit may prove even more significant. He states that during a June 2016 reception at the U.S. ambassadors residence in Moscow, he was whisked away and invited to have a discussion with representatives of the FBI about Mr. Danchenko.

Though Vorontsov does not give any more details, the FBIs interest in him is noteworthy. According to the Department of Justices December 2019 inspector generals report, the FBI claims Steele didnt provide them with Danchenkos name. Moreover, the FBI says it didnt speak with Danchenko until January 2017. And yet seven months earlier, the FBI was seeking information about Danchenko from a man he named as a dossier source.

In the January 2017 interview, Danchenko told the FBI that hed given Steele the names of some of his sources. One name he relayed to Steele has been redacted in the interview transcript and annotated as Source 2, which is how Vorontsov has been identified in public reporting. If, as the FBI says, Steele didnt give them the names of his sources, how did they know to connect Danchenko to Vorontsov?

The other issue therefore raised by Vorontsovs account is chronology. The FBI says it did not begin its investigation into the Trump teams alleged ties to Russia until July 31, 2016. It also claims it didnt receive dossier reports until July 5, when Steeles FBI handler met him in London. Vorontsovs affidavit suggests the FBI may have been active in the anti-Trump operation at least a month earlier.

June 2016 is a key period in the dossier timeline. Its when the dossier was constructed. Fusion GPS documents and public testimony show that between October 2015 and mid-May 2016, the opposition research firm was focused on public reports of Trumps alleged ties to organized crime figures in the former Soviet states. But within a month, Fusion GPSs focus changed.

The first memo in the dossier is dated June 20, alleging that, according to Russian government officials, including senior intelligence officers and diplomats, Trump had been compromised by Moscows spy services. Indeed, Russian President Vladimir Putins senior advisors controlled the Trump file on behalf of Putin himself.

So why did the subject matter of Fusion GPSs reporting swing so dramatically? Simpson and Fritsch say thats because they brought on Steele in May. According to their account, the British ex-spy and expert in all matters Russian found that Trumps most shocking ties werent with Russian organized crime figures but to Russian government officials.

The affidavits show why Steele was able to gather such remarkably in-depth and earth-shattering intelligence in only a months timeit was fabricated. The dossiers shocking allegations were invented either by Danchenko, or Steele, or Fusion GPS, or more likely a combination of the three.

But that doesnt explain why the fabric of the story changed. From May 20 to June 20, 2016, the subject morphed from organized crime to intelligence matters regarding foreign officials, in other words, a subject tailored to win the FBI a FISA warrant to spy on the Trump team. Did the FBI receive Steeles fraudulent intelligence reports or did it help create them?

The five affidavits give more evidence that the dossier operation relied on sources upon sourcesthat is, cut-outsin part to avoid the legal jeopardy that Danchenko now faces. Steele couldnt be held accountable if he was just relaying what he heard from Danchenko, who couldnt be blamed if his information came from other sources. The five affidavits have left Danchenko alone and exposed. And so, one important question is, if Steele hid behind Danchenko, who was hiding behind Steele?

Lee Smith is a senior fellow at Americas Future, and the author of the recently published book The Permanent Coup: How Enemies Foreign and Domestic Targeted the American President.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Florida Judge Blocks Bidens Debt Relief Program for Non-White Farmers

A federal judge in Florida temporarily halted the White Houses $4 billion debt relief program that targeted farmers on the basis of race, saying Wednesday that it was discriminatory.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard ruled in favor of Florida-based farmer Scott Wynn, who is white, and who filed a lawsuit to block the program in May. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented the program as part of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that sought to distribute funding to socially disadvantaged farmers.

The rules rigid, categorical, race-based qualification for relief is the antithesis of flexibility, Howard wrote (pdf) Wednesday. The debt relief provision applies strictly on racial grounds irrespective of any other factor.

The USDA program could continue to provide funds in the meantime as the court attempts to determine what provisions should be considered unconstitutional, the judge said. Howard also noted that some minority farmers have faced hurdles in the past but said that the current policy is discriminatory against white farmers.

It is undeniableand notably uncontested by the partiesthat U.S.D.A. had a dark history of past discrimination against minority farmers, the judge ruled. It appears that in enacting Section 1005, Congress relies, albeit without any ill intention, on present discrimination to remedy past discrimination, she wrote. Section 1005 refers to the provision that Wynns lawsuit had argued was discriminatory.

She added: On the record before the Court, it appears that in adopting Section 1005s strict race-based debt relief remedy Congress moved with great speed to address the history of discrimination, but did not move with great care.

Another judge in Wisconsin had issued a similar ruling earlier this month on the controversial provision and issued a temporary restraining order after a group of white farmers filed a lawsuit against the USDA insisting they be included in the program.

U.S. District Judge William Griesbach, in issuing a temporary restraining order, wrote that plaintiffs are excluded from the program based on their race and are thus experiencing discrimination at the hands of their government, noting the farmers who filed the lawsuit have established a strong likelihood that Section 1005 of the ARPA is unconstitutional.

Signed into law on March 11, ARPA (the American Rescue Plan Act) directs the federal government to hand out $1.9 trillion in federal funds. Section 1005 stipulates that the USDA provide a payment in an amount up to 120 percent of the outstanding indebtedness of each socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher as of January 1, 2021, according to the text of the law.

Farmers and ranchers who are black, Native American, Hispanic, Asian, Hawaiian, or Pacific Islanders are eligible for a loan regardless of whether theyve suffered any discrimination in obtaining loans or elsewhere. The law also doesnt take into account their present economic situation.
People wait in line outside a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, Australia, June 23, 2021. (Reuters/Jane Wardell

Aussie State MP Contracts CCP Virus, NSW Parliament Impacted

An Australian politician has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, as the spread of Sydneys Bondi cluster impacts the New South Wales (NSW) state parliament.

NSW Parliament is suspended after the states Agriculture Minister tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, and Health Minister Brad Hazzard is also in isolation.

Marshall dined at Christos Pizza situated in the Sydney suburb of Paddington on Monday night with Nationals colleagues Trevor Khan, Steph Cooke, and Ben Franklin.

The four Nationals MPs also attended a party room meeting in parliament on Tuesday morning.

NSW MP Adam Marshall at a press conference at Parliament House in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 22, 2020. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

This morning just after 8 a.m. I was formally advised by NSW Health that I had returned a positive test for COVID-19, Marshall said in a statement on Thursday.

I have been in isolation in Sydney since late Tuesday night, when I received a text message from NSW Health, he said.

NSW Greens MP Adam Shoebridge on Thursday said the parliament was a bit of a mess.

[At the moment all staff are to stay home and the [Legislative Assembly] has a delayed start, he wrote on Twitter. But things may change if more close contacts are identified. Hoping that Adam Marshall is ok despite Covid diagnosis.

Meanwhile, NSW Government Whip Adam Crouch issued an update on Thursday morning to colleagues to stay put and not leave the parliament if they were already there.

Please stay put until you receive a further update later this morning. If you are currently in Parliament House, remain in Parliament House. If you are not in Parliament House, remain where you are, the notice read.

The parliament will operate on a skeleton staff on Thursday with just enough MPs to pass the budget before its suspended.

New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard speaks at a press conference before receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine at at St George Hospital in Kogarah in Sydney, Australia on March 10, 2021. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Health Minister Brad Hazzard also revealed he is self-isolating after being exposed to a potential case at Parliament House.

Hazzard admitted it was likely other MPs could be affected and told Channel Nine he stands next to Premier Gladys Berejiklian every day.

I think the premier is fairly safe, he said.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns told Sydney radio 2GB he would postpone his budget reply speech.

All sides agree now is not the time for politics  we need to get through what is a very difficult health situation in Sydney, he said.

The news of the outbreak in the states Parliament comes as Sydney has been dealing with an emerging cluster of the Delta variant of the coronavirus that originated with a limousine driver who authorities believe contracted the virus from an international flight crew.

The driver visited several venues in the popular Bondi Junction area, including a cinema and cafes, resulting in 31 others contracting the virus.

NSW is likely to report more COVID-19 cases on Thursday but Hazzard played down fears that Sydney is on the brink of a lockdown, ahead of the school holidays.

I dont believe that we will go into a lockdown, he said.

The advice is thats not necessary so we will take that advice, he told ABC Radio Sydney.

However, on Wednesday the premier warned the NSW government will not hesitate to go further and harder if we have to.

Berejiklian also urged people to abandon non-essential activities after introducing new rules for residents in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour.

This means upcoming school holiday plans are impacted as residents in several local government areas are restricted from travelling outside those zones. This measure was implemented in an attempt to contain the virus and stop it from spreading into regional areas.

New rules were also introduced, including a household guest limit of fiveincluding childrenand a four-square-metre rule for indoors and outdoor gatherings, alongside mandatory masks in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces.

NSW Health issued more alerts for COVID-19 exposure sites at a range of venues at Darlinghurst, Double Bay, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction, Narellan, Meadowbank and the Sydney CBD.

Overall, there were 16 new cases reported on Wednesday, taking the total number of infections to 31.

Eight of the 13 additional cases were at a birthday party attended by about 30 people in West Hoxton on Saturday, which NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant described as a super-spreader event.

Residents who live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas cannot travel outside the metropolitan area unless its absolutely essential.

Masks must also be worn to gym classes, which are now limited to 20 people.

Other states have also hardened their borders days before NSW public schools break for two weeks.

AAP contributed to this report.
An Australian one dollar coin is displayed on May 16, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Australia Urged to Keep Taking Risks to Ensure Economic Growth

The Australian government and businesses are being urged to keep taking risks as they did during last years recession to ensure the economic recovery continues.

Su McCluskey of the National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board told a conference in Canberra that last year, faced with a pandemic, Australia was able to be nimble and responsive and a lot of quick action was taken.

We were prepared to take risks. I think that is something we have got to keep doing, McCluskey told a Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) event on June 24.

One of the things we dont want to do is to slip back into a complacency about its okay, we can go back to business as usual. Thats not what innovation is about.

Such has been the success of Australias recovery in terms of the labour market, many businesses are already floundering to find suitable staff.

New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows over a quarter of firms are having difficulty finding suitable staff.

Commonwealth Bank chief economist Stephen Halmarick told the CEDA conference he was surprised that the ABS found only 27 per cent businesses were struggling to find workers.

I thought it would be higher than that, he said, having just completed a four-week tour around Australia and New Zealand and found the number one issue among corporations was skill shortages.

As such, he thinks wages growth will accelerate faster than the Reserve Banks expectation.

By the end of next year he predicts wages growth of 2.7 per cent, perhaps higher, compared with 1.5 per cent now.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia announced on Wednesday it expects the RBA will be in a position to raise the cash rate late next year, rather than its long-held view of a hike in 2024.

Addressing CEDA at the start of the day, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese believes eight years of wage suppression under a federal coalition government has stifled economic growth.

He says workers are $254 a week worse off under a Liberal-Nationals government, and are also losing out as the Morrison government fails to act on wage theft.

And when families go without, businesses go without, he said.

However, the ABS business conditions and sentiments survey for June released on Thursday did show revenue has improved for businesses throughout the 2020/21 financial year. But noted that revenue weakened between May and June this year, with some businesses saying they were affected by the recent Victoria lockdown.

For at least the next 12 months, Australias business community will need to confront volatile demand, potential COVID-related closures, and the uncertainty all that brings, CreditorWatch chief economist Harley Dale said.

Small businesses are going to be the ones that struggle the most.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the CEDA event on Wednesday night that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic will be around for some time.

He warned Australians they are going to have to learn to live with the virus until its impact can be mitigated through the rollout of the vaccine to as wide a number of people as quickly as possible.

Even so, the economy had performed incredibly well, dodging a bullet from the pandemic, both in terms of health outcomes and the strength of the recovery.

We shouldnt gloss over the fact that Australia has outperformed the rest of the world, he said
Protesters holds up banners during the No Beijing 2022 rally outside Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Australian Senators Support Rallies in Five Cities Nationwide Against Beijing Winter Olympics

Calls to boycott Chinas 2022 Winter Olympics were echoed by Australian politicians as ethnic groups rallied in five Australian cities on June 24, urging the Morrison government to take action against Beijingthe winning bidder for the 24th Winter Olympic Gamesfor squashing freedom and committing genocide against cultural and religious minorities in China.

Coordinated by the Tibetan community, No Beijing 2022 protests rallied in over 50 cities worldwide, echoed by Uyghur, Hong Kong, Chinese, and Burma (also known as Myanmar) communities. The organizer named June 23, 2021, normally known as Olympic Day, as the Global Day of Action.

In the southern hemisphere, simultaneous rallies were firstly held in Australian megacities, including Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

Communities of Tibetan, Uyghur, Hong Kong, Chinese, etc. call for boycotting Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

A protester holds up a panel at the No Beijing 2022 rally in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

In July 2015, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Beijing would host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Yet the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) brutal human rights abuses have called into question its legitimacy as the host.

They dont deserve it. They are the worst human rights abusers, said one of the organizers from the Tibetan Community, at a rally.

Some crowds called out the message: No gold medal is worth more than human rights.

Support from the Parliament

On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters were seen holding up self-designed display panels or presenting banners calling for a boycott of the Beijing Winter Games, joined by Australian senators.

It is unacceptable that the world community should be gathering in Beijing giving that regime the sort of recognition it does not deserve, said Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz at the rally outside Parliament House in Canberra.

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz speaks during the No Beijing 2022 rally outside Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

German-born Abetz drew a historical comparison between the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics, from which the similarities are spooky.

He urged freedom-loving countries to stand by a firm stance in global solidarity, after learning a very hard lesson by not dealing with the 1936 Olympics under Nazi authorities.

Let the world not make the same mistake again in 2021 and 2022, by going along to an Olympics, which will be used for propaganda purposes and to cover up the egregious human rights abuses. 

South Australian Independent Senator Rex Patrick said the Australian government must stand up and make sure the CCP understands that we do not accept its human rights abuses when freedom is stripped or threatened for Chinese minorities, Taiwanese, Hong Kong people, and even Australian journalists and citizens in China.

Independent Senator Rex Patrick speaks during the No Beijing 2022 rally outside Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

We always try and keep politics out of the Olympics, said Patrick. [But] the Chinese Communist Party will use this in a promotional way, as an endorsement of the way in which they operate. And that is just not acceptable, he added.

Although glorifying Beijings human rights record by supporting the Olympics is the very last thing people want to do, he said it should be a country-level decision.

We dont want to have a situation where the burden is placed upon our athletes to make decisions individually. This ought to be a decision for government, it is not a hard decision at all.

Failed Good Faith

A good faith attitude toward Beijings human rights record has failed, said victims of the regime.

In July 2001, Beijing was selected over Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, and Osaka to host the 2008 games. One of the deciding factors was Chinas promise to develop human rights in the country, including the removal of restrictions on media freedom.

However, both Chinese and foreigners have found the opposite.

On June 23, another protest was held at Circular Quay in Sydney, where the Australian Olympic Committee head office is based.

Communities of Tibetan, Uyghur, Hong Kong, Chinese, etc. call for boycotting Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics in Sydney, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

We are here because the International Olympic Committee has failed us, said Kyinzom Dhongdue, speaking at the rally on behalf of the Australian Tibet Council.

The International Olympic Committee, by allowing China to host the Beijing Olympics 2022, has put its profit above principles, she said.

In Melbourne, Alim Osman, president of the Uyghur Association of Victoria, said that Beijing has proved that granting them the Olympics in 2008 was not a force for good nor did it have a positive impact on human rights in China. The IOC was dead wrong, he said.

Alim Osman, president of the Uyghur Association of Victoria, calls for boycotting Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

China not only failed to improve its human rights record, but an emboldened Chinese communist party embarked on a sweeping campaign of repression that has now reached to a systematic genocide, said Osman, adding that 1.8 to 3 million Uyghurs and other Turkic people are being arbitrarily detained in the regimes so-called re-education camps.

Learn What Happened: Good People Owe It

All good people owe it to the victims of communism to learn what happened to them, quoted Wing Tang, a Hong Kong Australian at the rally, from Dennis Prager, an American radio talk show host and columnist.

Hong Kong Australian Wing Tang speaks at the No Beijing 2022 rally in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Even worse than being murdered or enslaved is a world that doesnt even know that you were, said the quote.

That suppression has just swept away the freedom and plurality of the press in Hong Kong.

Apple Daily, one of the few independent pro-democracy media outlets in Hong Kong, will halt its operations by midnight on June 25, following the office being raided and staff arrested by police under a new national security law.

Just for our existence and just for remembering who we are, for that alone, our peoples have been subjected to genocide, confinement, mass rape, and all atrocities unimaginable, Hong Kong youth Max spoke before the crowd.

Hong Kong youth Max calls for boycotting Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

We are far past the point where we couldve just stood aside and waited, he said.

On the same day, 16 civil society groups in Taiwan urged the government to withdraw from participating in the 2022 Beijing games unless the host country was reselected.

So far, lawmakers from 10 countries and the European Union have proposed to boycott Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics, supported by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, declaring the world does not condone and will not whitewash these ongoing crimes by the Chinese regime.

Communities of Tibetan, Uyghur, Hong Kong, Chinese, etc. call for boycotting Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Panels held up by protesters at the No Beijing 2022 rally in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

A pedestrian takes a photo of the rally boycotting Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, on June 23, 2021. (The Epoch Times)

Rui Li contributed to this report.
A worker heads into the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colo., on Oct. 12, 2020. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo)

Australian Meat Supply Chains at Greater Risk of Cyberattack After JBS Takeover of Major Pork Producer

A proposal by the worlds largest meat processing company JBS to acquire Australian pork producer Rivalea has sparked concerns that the merger could cripple Australias meat supply chain if JBS were subjected to a cyber hack, as it was in May.

The proposal, which needs approval from Australias Foreign Investment Review Board and the Australian competition watchdog, would see the Brazil-based JBS become one of the countrys largest pork producers.

Matthew Warren, professor of cybersecurity at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, said a successful acquisition would see a significant portion of Australias meat supply chain be reliant on one potential target for hackers.

It means that a single point of attack would be more attractive for cyber attackers as they would know that one attack would have a greater chance of success; it also increases the likelihood of Ransomware attacks, he told The Epoch Times.

All supply chains are potentially vulnerable to cyberattacks, including ransomware, he added. Supply chains are defined as being critical infrastructure, and if they are attacked, the system disruption would have a big impact on society, for example, meat shortages across Australia.

Cattle in Birdsville Track, South Australia, on June 1, 2002. (Tony Lewis/Getty Images)

JBS is already the largest beef and sheep meat producer in Australia, while its acquisition target Rivalea currently accounts for 26 percent of the countrys pork output.

In late May, a ransomware group targeted JBSs information technology systems worldwide, effectively shutting down sales and lot feeding operations. Incoming cattle were also unable to be inducted while the system was down.

In Australia, six sites were effectively shut down, including meat processing plants in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Thousands of workers were stood down as well.

The FBI attributed the attack to Russian-linked hacking group REvil, also known as Sodinokibi.

Days later, JBS had managed to recover its system but still decided to pay the group its $11 million ransom as insurance to protect customers.

This was a very difficult decision to make for our company and for me personally, Andre Nogueira, CEO of JBS SAs U.S. division, told the Wall Street Journal.

Warren, however, believes ransoms should never be paid.

There is no guarantee paying the ransom will release the system and could make organisations more vulnerable to future attacks, he said.

Cyberattacks have become an increasing concern, with governments diverting increased funding to bolster security around the sector.

In May 2020, major logistics firm Toll Group was subject to a month-long ransomware attack by Russian-based hackers.

While in May this year, the Russian-based Nobeliumwho was behind the SolarWinds cyberattackbegan a new campaign targeting over 150 government agencies, think tanks, and non-government organisations.

U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline also had to shut its entire networkthe source of nearly half the U.S. East Coasts fuel supplyafter a ransomware attack.

Holding tanks are seen in an aerial photograph at Colonial Pipelines Dorsey Junction Station in Woodbine, Md., on May 10, 2021. (Drone Base/Reuters)

Joseph Siracusa, adjunct professor of the history of international diplomacy at Curtin University, said governments were struggling to defend against cyberattacks because of the difficulties of attributing the source of the attacks.

What we havent figured out yet is how to defend against it, he told The Epoch Times. You know, we could turn off the lights in downtown Moscow right now or turn off the electric toilets in Beijing if we want to, but then they could do the same thing to us.

Will U.S. President Biden hold Russian President Putin accountable for these cyberattacks? And the answer is: He cant because he cant prove that Putin had his hand in it, he added.

Do you hold the government accountable for the criminal behaviour of its citizens? And the answer is: Youd like to, he said. But in the real world, you cant.

Warren said businesses needed to step up protection against ransomware attacks, including update systems, backup data regularly, use multi-factor authentication, and implement access controls.

But many organisations have not undertaken these steps and make themselves vulnerable, he said.

The Epoch Times has contacted JBS for comment, but the company has not responded in time for publication.
Former President Donald Trump speaks with Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott (R) as they participate in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Ariz., on June 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Administration Removes Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott

The Biden administration is removing the current head of the U.S. Border Patrol Rodney Scott to appoint deputy chief Raul Ortiz as the new Chief for the federal agency that oversees the nations southern border safety and security.

Scott said he received a letter known as the 3R letter that gives veteran government employees the option to retire, resign, or relocate to a different job within the Department of Homeland Security.

I received my 3R letter today. For those not familiar, that is Federal government slang for the letter issued to [Senior Executive Service] level employees informing them of a directed reassignment. The recipient has 3 optionsrelocate, resign, or retire. No rationale or reason is required, nor is it disciplinary, Scott wrote in a Facebook post.

Just a simple needs of the service directed reassignment so the new administration can place the person they want in the position, Scott continued. A huge thank you to all those who have reached out, prayed, and supported me and my family, especially over these last few crazy months. I remain confident that God is in control. And.. over 29 yrs. is a pretty good run!

According to the Washington Examiner, Scott informed regional chiefs from around the country of his plan via a video conference on Wednesday. A few people who took part in the virtual conference said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was the official who made the final decision about Scott.

Scott praised the effectiveness of the border wall system in December,  Every mile of border wall system allows the agents who are out here every day to cover more area and youre going to see the same thing here in RGV (Rio Grande Valley). Its very critical, Scott told Fox News.

On his first day in office, Biden issued an executive order halting the completion of the southern border wall. Later, he ended the migrant protection protocols, the remain in Mexico rule, and the Asylum Cooperative Agreement with the northern triangle countries.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) gives an interview in Laredo, Texas, on Oct. 9, 2019. (Veronica Cardenas/Reuters)

As of June 12, 1,040 children were in CBP (Customs and Border Protection) care and over 14,400 were in HHS (Health and Human Services) care.

Border Patrol agents have also seen a surge in adults and families. Illegal border crossings hit 180,034 in May, with 51,000 others avoiding capture. Some Democrats who represent border districts have joined Republicans in criticizing the Biden administrations handling of the situation.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) has been one of a few Democrats that has pushed the administration to address the migrant surge.

In Laredo, you have people that are trying to evade, single male adults, you got stash houses, you got people that are being crammed in the 18-wheelers, he said during an interview with USA Today in May. So, a lot of times, people only see the one that pulls at our heart, and that is the unaccompanied kids and families. But what about the darker side? There is a darker side.

Acting Commissioner Troy Miller of Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security thanked Scott for his service and announced Raul Ortiz as Scotts replacement.

Today, I am pleased to announce the promotion of Raul Ortiz as the 25th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Upon Chief Scotts departure from the position, Border Patrol Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz will assume the role of Chief of the Border Patrol.

Ortiz has said he supports a border wall infrastructure system, technology, more border patrol agents, and addressing the root causes of migration to deal with the surge at the southern border.
President Joe Biden, speaks about the infrastructure deal from the East Room of the White House on June 24, 2021. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Decries Beijings Intensifying Suppression in Hong Kong After Apple Daily Closure

President Joe Biden criticized Beijings intensifying repression in Hong Kong after the forced closure of Apple Daily, a major pro-democracy newspaper.

It is a sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world, Biden said in a June 24 statement, hours after the publications formal closure.

After suffering a massive police raid a week earlier and having their funds frozen by the Hong Kong government, the outletone of the few independent media sources in the cityprinted its final edition on June 24, distributing 1 million copies.

Its website, social media accounts, and mobile app are no longer accessible. The paper had said that it made the decision over their staffs safety and manpower considerations.

Biden hailed Apple Daily as a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong, saying that people in Hong Kong have the right to freedom of the press.

Beijing must stop targeting the independent press, he said, also calling for the release of arrested journalists. The act of journalism is not a crime.

Following the raid, five editors and executives at Apple Daily and its parent company, Next Digital Ltd., were arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces, a violation of the national security law that carries a penalty of up to a lifetime in prison. The court has denied bail for two executives. On June 23, the police arrested a sixth employeechief columnist Yeung Ching-keeusing the law.

In this handout image provided by Apple Daily, police officers conduct a raid at the Apple Daily office in Hong Kong on June 17, 2021. (Apple Daily via Getty Images)

Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a national security law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views, Biden said.

He pledged that the United States will not waiver in our support of people in Hong Kong and all those who stand up for the basic freedoms all people deserve.

Several countries including Japan, the UK, the European Union, Canada, and Taiwan have criticized the shutdown of Apple Daily, calling it a blow to Hong Kongs press freedom. Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, in response, dismissed the criticisms as an act of point[ing] fingers.

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, a staunch Beijing critic, has been in jail since December, accused of participating in unauthorized rallies during Hong Kongs pro-democracy protests back in 2019 and allegedly endangering national security.

Police set up a cordon line outside Apple Daily headquarters in Hong Kong on June 17, 2021. (Kin Cheung,File/AP Photo)

On June 24, Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. human rights chief, criticized Lais detention, saying he was among others who have faced negative consequences for the exercise of their fundamental human rights.

In a joint statement with seven other journalist associations and press unions, Hong Kong Journalists Association expressed anger and pain for the loss of this much valued multi-media press group that had long been pursuing and defending journalism.

We cannot take to the streets to express our dissatisfaction, as we are bound by the group gathering ban, but it wont keep us silent, the groups said.

As a demonstration of unity, the groups said, their members will dress in black in protest of the governments blow against freedom of press.
Environmental activists stage a sit-in in front of construction equipment as police stand by, at the Line 3 pipeline pumping station near Itasca State Park, Minn. on June 7, 2021. (Kerem Yucel/Getty Images)

Biden DOJ Backs Trump-Era Approval of Line 3 Pipeline Opposed by Environmental Groups

The Biden administration has backed the validity of a Trump-era environmental assessment and subsequent approval of a controversial Minnesota pipeline project that environmental groups are suing to block.

In a 65-page legal brief filed on June 23 (pdf), the Department of Justice (DOJ) argued that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2020 approval of Enbridge Inc.s Line 3 oil pipeline met its legal obligation to assess the projects environmental impacts and considered all of the issues to which Plaintiffs draw special attention, such as the projects effects on climate, tribal hunting and fishing rights, and low-income and minority populations.

Jean E. Williams, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the DOJs Environment and Natural Resources Division, recommended in the filing that the Court should reject Plaintiffs arguments and enter summary judgment in favor of Federal Defendants, in the case the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Plaintiffsincluding the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Honor the Earth, and the Sierra Clubhad challenged the Corpss review and approval process as arbitrary and capricious, a claim Williams rejected in the filing.

Williams argued that, in addition to the Corps meeting its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), it also considered a reasonable range of alternatives, before incorporating important protections for wetlands, wild rice, and cultural resources as part of its Line 3 pipeline permit.

In November 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, issued a permit approving the Line 3 pipeline.

This decision is based on balancing development with protecting the environment, Col. Karl Jansen, St. Paul District commander, said in a statement at the time. Our decision follows an exhaustive review of the application and the potential impacts associated with the construction of the pipeline within federally protected waters.

Opponents of the project criticized the DOJs decision to urge the court to rule in favor of the defendants.

Allowing Line 3 to move forward is, at best, inconsistent with the bold promises on climate and environmental justice President Biden campaigned and was elected on, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said in a statement.

The president must listen to frontline communities, defend the right of all people to clean water and a healthy climate, and act immediately to shut down this dirty tar sands pipeline.

Environmental and indigenous groups opposed to Line 3 have staged numerous protests, some of which have led to arrests.

The DOJ said that around 90 percent of the Line 3 replacement pipeline route will be co-located with other pipelines, utilities, roads, and railroads, and has been routed to avoid sensitive areas.

The Corpss assessment found that a large majority of wetland impacts from the Line 3 pipeline will be temporary and that mitigation will be performed to compensate for the small amount of loss of aquatic resource function, according to the DOJ.

Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, the largest U.S. trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, said in a June 23 statement on Twitter that Line 3 is an important conduit between energy-producing regions and U.S. fuel refineries in the Midwest and along the East Coast.

This project supports nearly 5,000 jobs and delivers access to essential energy, he said.
Cindy McCain, wife of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stands on the sidelines before the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Redskins at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Sept. 9, 2018. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Biden Nominates Cindy McCain for UN Food Program Ambassadorship

President Joe Biden has nominated Cindy McCain to serve as the U.S. representative to the U.N. Agencies for Food and Agriculture, the White House said.

McCain, the widow of longtime Republican Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), has a relationship with Biden that spans decades; she also endorsed the president during the 2020 election.

I am deeply honored and look forward the [sic] work ahead, McCain said on Twitter.

Jack Markell, the former Democratic governor of Bidens home state of Delaware, is also among 17 key nominees announced by the White House. If confirmed by the Senate, Markell will become the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Others include Claire Cronin as the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Ireland, and Michael Carpenter as U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

McCain previously described Biden during the 2020 presidential race as a leader who can cross party lines and unite the country.

Theres only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, she said last year, referring to Biden.

U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee and senator from California, Kamala Harris, Cindy McCain (C) and Democratic presidential candidate, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden listen to tribal leaders and veterans speak at the American Indian Veterans National Memorial at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, on Oct. 8, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Several high-profile lawmakers, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), congratulated McCain on social media for the nomination.

I am confident Cindy will be a great partner to Governor David Beasley, who is in charge of the World Food Program, Graham said. She will be a great ambassador for this important cause, and I look forward to her confirmation.

Sinema said: Cindy McCain is a demonstrated humanitarian, civic, leader, and a terrific choice to represent Americas work with the United Nations combating famine and hunger crises around the world.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cindys leadership will prove even more important to the worlds vulnerable populations. I look forward to supporting her nomination, and I know she will make Arizonaand Americaproud.

McCain is the chair and director of Hensley & Co., a Phoenix-based distributor of beer, wine, spirits, and nonalcoholic drinks.

She must be approved by the U.S. Senate to take the post.

From NTD News
Charlie Kirk: Why Tyrants Want to Overturn Our Constitutional Rights

The constitutional rights of Americans are under assault from nearly all directionswhether its from Big Tech and big government working together on censorship, whether its lockdowns restricting church services, or whether its the slew of policies whittling away other freedoms written in the Bill of Rights. To learn more about this and what can be done to stop it, we sat down for an interview with Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA.

Were being heavily censored by Big Tech. Our solution? Create our own independent platform free of censorship.

Join us today on EpochTV. Weve got a country to save: http://epochtv.com/Crossroads

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In this file photo, a policeman blocks photos from being taken outside Zhongnanhai, the central headquarters for the communist regime in Beijing. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese Regime Releases Photo of Official at Center of Defection Rumors Purportedly Attending Meeting in Beijing

Dong Jingwei, who has been rumored to be a high-ranking defector to the United States, attended a meeting in Beijing on June 23, according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

The MPS announced on its website that Dong participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) security meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, as a member of the China team which was led by Zhao Kezhi, Chinas public security minister.

In the announcement, the ministry released a photo, in which Dong was sitting at the right end of the table.

This is the first time that the Chinese regime has released a photo of Dongs existence in China after the rumors began that Dong had fled China in February and quickly contacted the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) after arriving in the United States. An unnamed U.S. administration official, however, has reportedly dismissed the reports.

Chinas State Council and the state-run media also reported the SCO security meeting, but didnt mention Dongs participation, nor did they attach any photo. The Epoch Times has not been able to independently confirm Dongs whereabouts.

Dong Jingwei

Dong, 57, has been a Chinese vice minister of state security and head of counterintelligence for the Chinese Ministry of State Security, the regimes top spy agency, since 2018.

In June, overseas Chinese media and some U.S. outlets reported that Dong had defected and fled to the United States with his daughter. The rumors alleged that Dong handed over sensitive intelligence to U.S. authorities. The reports, however, have been described as not accurate by an unnamed U.S. government official, according to a June 22 report by Spy Talk, a newsletter covering U.S. intelligence.

SCO is an organization that China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan set up in 2001, with the purpose of strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

In 2017, the organization expanded to India and Pakistan. Now, it has Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia as observer members and Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka as dialogue partners, according to the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Workers wait for French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to arrive at the joint Sino-French Taishan Nuclear Power Station outside the city of Taishan in Guangdong Province, China, on Dec. 8, 2013. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault touted his country's nuclear expertise during his visit to Chinathe world's largest market for atomic power stations. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Nuclear Power Dream Needs Urgent Global Attention, Expert Says

Although the Chinese authorities recently denied leaks at a nuclear power plant, Chinas ambitious nuclear power dream needs urgent global attention, according to Chinese scholar and energy expert Nieh Sen. The Chinese regime continues to ignore safety issues while it fulfills its dream in becoming the top nuclear energy producer in the world, he warned.

On June 14, CNN reported a leak at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong Province. The French company Framatome, which partly owns and operates the nuclear plant, allegedly warned the Chinese safety authorities about an imminent radiological threat and accused them of raising the acceptable limits for radiation detection outside the plant so it wouldnt be shut down, according to documents obtained by CNN. The U.S. government is currently assessing the situation.

Beijing denied the allegations. In response to the CNN report, the head of the National Nuclear Safety Administration of Chinas Ministry of Environment said in a press conference on June 16, The increase in the level of radioactivity in the first circuit of unit 1 [nuclear reactor] is mainly related to the breakage of fuel rods, but the results of radiation monitoring around the Taishan nuclear power plant show that there is no radiation abnormality in the environment around the plant and no leakage has occurred.

However, the reassurance from the Chinese authorities isnt enough to quell public concerns over safety hazards of nuclear power plants in China, and the people know that Beijing wants to achieve its nuclear power dream, Nieh Sen, professor at the School of Engineering of the Catholic University of America, told the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times in a recent interview.

Nieh said that for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), nuclear energy is mainly a political tool that only serves to benefit the regime, and the safety and security of the people is the last priority of the CCP.

In pursuing the ambitious nuclear power dream, the CCP has not only developed nuclear technology in China but also exported its nuclear technology, as well as its influence, through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road), he added.

China May Become the No. 1 Nuclear Energy Country by 2030

According to the 2021 China Nuclear Energy Development report by the China Nuclear Energy Association, as of December 2020, China had 17 nuclear power units under construction, with a total installed capacity of 18.53 GW (gigawatt)the worlds largest installed capacity of units under construction for many years.

China began building nuclear power stations in the mid-1980s. The first large commercial nuclear power plant in China, the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, went into commercial operation in May 1994. This nuclear power plant, which is adjacent to Hong Kong, exports roughly 70 percent of its annual electricity into Hong Kong and sells 30 percent to Guangdong.

Since then, the CCP has gradually accelerated the development of nuclear power plants.

A screenshot of the nuclear capacity of China (unit: GW) from China Electricity Council, World Nuclear Association. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

By the end of 2020, Chinas installed nuclear power capacity has reached 49.89 GW, ranking third in the world behind the United States and France, state-run media Xinhua reported in April.

In terms of nuclear power generation, China ranked second in the world in 2020, with 366.2 TWh (terrawatt-hour), according to the China Nuclear Energy Association.

In its 14th five-year economic development plan, which was introduced in October 2020 at the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee, the CCP stated that Chinas nuclear power installation in operation would rapidly increase to 70 GW by 2025 and 120 GW by 2030.

Currently, there are 62 nuclear power units in China, of which 49 are in operation, mainly in the coastal areas.

In the meantime, the United States, the worlds largest nuclear power country, reached its peak of 102 GW of installed nuclear power units in 2012; its first nuclear unit went into commercial operation in 1969, and has since declined as some units have been retired. By the end of 2020, U.S. nuclear capacity has fallen to 96.5 GW, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

At this rate, China could overtake the United States as the worlds top nuclear power producer by 2030, according to Forbes.

A screenshot of nuclear power plants in China from World Nuclear Association. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

CCPs Goal: Export Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is a strategic industry for the CCP, as China has exported its nuclear energy technology to other countries in recent years.

On Feb. 26, 2015, Wang Xiaotao, deputy director of the Development and Reform Commission of China, said at a press briefing that Beijing would promote the export of railroads and nuclear power, and develop the international market for major equipment in the railroad and nuclear power industries.

On Jan. 11, 2016, the central government posted on its website: In our countrys One Belt, One Road strategy [Belt and Road Initiative], nuclear power, like high-speed rail, has the characteristics of high core technology threshold, high initial investment, high industry barriers and scarce industry licenses, and is a strategic industry that the country focuses on supporting.

For every nuclear power unit exported, more than 80,000 sets of equipment are needed and more than 200 enterprises are involved in manufacturing and construction, creating about 150,000 jobs and an investment demand of 30 billion yuan [about $4.63 billion]. Experts estimate that if China can obtain 20 percent of the market share of countries along the Belt and Road, i.e. about 30 units for overseas markets, it will directly generate nearly 1 trillion yuan [about $154 billion] of output value and create 5 million jobs.

According to the World Nuclear Association, China is currently exporting its nuclear technology to 12 countries, including Pakistan, Romania, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Iran, Turkey, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. But they are all at different stages of cooperation with Beijing.

The Chashma nuclear power plant units 3 and 4 that China exported to Pakistan are already in operation, while the units in Romania and Argentina are in the planning stage.

Kenya and Egypt have signed MOUs or formal agreements with China, while the Armenian project is still under negotiation.

The ambition to export nuclear power technology overseas has pushed the Chinese regime to develop its Generation III nuclear technologies such as the Hualong One Reactor, developed by state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group, and the CAP1400 Reactor, developed by the State Power Investment Corporation.

However, the development of Hualong One, CAP1400, and Chinese nuclear plants were based on foreign technologies, according to a report by Xinhua.

Based on the French design of 157 fuel assemblies, 20 more were added to form the 177 fuel assemblies, which became the main feature that distinguishes Chinas third-generation nuclear technology from foreign technologies, and is the soul of Hualong One, Xinhua said.

The report also said, In addition to the self-designed Qinshan I nuclear power plant, China also cooperated with France to build the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, following the route of introduction, digestion and absorption. So, the M310, a more advanced second-generation improved pressurized water reactor, became the first target for Chinas nuclear power industry to learn and absorb.

The CAP1400 nuclear reactor is based on the U.S. Westinghouse AP1000 technology. According to the World Nuclear Association, the State Nuclear Power Technology Corp (SNPTC), a subsidiary of the National Power Investment Group, and Westinghouse reached an agreement that Westinghouse would transfer technology to SNPTC over the first four AP1000 units so that SNPTC could build the following units on its own.

In 2014, SNPTC and Westinghouse signed another agreement to further develop the AP1000 and CAP1400 technologies.

On Jan. 30, the No. 5 unit of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)s Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant in southeast Fujian Province, the worlds first Hualong One nuclear reactor, went into operation.

The CCPs mouthpiece Peoples Daily touted that China has mastered the third generation of nuclear power technology after the United States, France, Russia and other countries, and the level of Chinas nuclear power technology has entered the worlds top tier.

CCP Promotes Nuclear Energy Under the Guise of Global Cooperation

On Sept. 3, 2019, Chinas Information Office of the State Council released the first white paper on nuclear safety. According to the document, the CCP mentions the need to build a common community with a shared future for nuclear safety  to promote the construction of a human community with a shared future.

The concept of building a human community with a shared future came from Xi Jinping in 2012 at the CCPs 18th National Congress.

However, the CCP is pushing ahead with its nuclear power projects without taking safety issues into full consideration.

Chinas vigorous efforts to develop nuclear energy are in stark contrast to those of Taiwan. Professor Nieh Sen said that unlike the Chinese regime, Taiwan prioritizes the safety of its people.

In 2000, Taiwan implemented its nuclear-free energy policy. In Article 23 of the Basic Law on the Environment, Taiwan authorities stated that the government should formulate a plan to gradually achieve the goal of a nuclear-free homeland, and should strengthen nuclear energy safety control, radiation protection, radioactive material management, and environmental radiation detection to ensure that peoples lives are free from radiation hazards.

Nieh mentioned that the United States has made little effort to develop nuclear power units in the last 50 years since the nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island in 1979.

He also pointed out that the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant was built in 2009 using the European Evolutionary Power Reactors (EPRs). This technology was also used in the construction of the Olkiluoto 3 unit in Finland in 2005 and the Flamanville nuclear power station in France in 2007. However, both the Finnish and French plants are currently on hold due to technical and safety standard issues.

In April 2015, the French Nuclear Safety Authority issued a warning to the French company Flamanville about an anomaly in the composition of the steel in certain zones of the reactor vessel head and reactor vessel bottom head of the Flamanville EPR, the statement said.

Some media outlets reported that the same problem existed in the pressure vessel of the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant. In 2016, Chinese news portal Sina revealed that two EPR reactors at the Taishan plant were reported by the State Nuclear Safety Administration as having failed pressure vessels. At the same time, several media outlets reported that the power plants French supplier Framatome (formerly known as Areva) said that 400 components were improperly tested for safety.

However, in 2018, while the EPR units in Finland and France were stalled due to safety concerns, the Taishan power plant began its commercial operation.

Nieh said the CCP takes huge risks in developing nuclear power and such a dangerous regime is exporting nuclear power plants to the world.

He emphasized, At such a time, it is important to know the truth. What is the operational status of the nuclear power plants in China? What is the safety level? All these need urgent global attention.
Many doctors and researchers have struggled to understand why important research findings are being ignored. (Alyona Shu/Shutterstock)

Combing Through the Science of COVID-19

Conflicting research and questionable policies raise questions about pandemic public health response

Does wearing a cloth or paper face mask protect you from a virus? Is the PCR test a reliable method for identifying an infection? Do lockdowns help slow the spread? Are there any safe medicines that have successfully treated or prevented COVID-19?

Ask these questions to a random selection of people and youll probably get very conflicting answers. Thats because theres a lot of confusion surrounding the COVID pandemic. Health experts have always emphasized that science guides their public health orders, but many doctors, lawmakers, and scientists have challenged these rules on the lack of science that supports them.

Even the origin of the virus has been fraught with scientific controversy. Since the dawn of the pandemic, officials insisted that SARS-CoV2, the virus said to cause COVID-19, emerged from nature, jumping from bat to human in one fell swoop. Despite evidence suggesting that a Chinese virology lab might have been the true source, a February 2020 statement in the prestigious Lancet journal panned the man-made virus conjecture as a wild conspiracy theory. Thereafter, the idea was routinely met with criticism, social media censorship, and worse.

Former CDC Director Robert Redfield told Vanity Fair that he got death threats from fellow scientists after telling CNN he believed COVID-19 had escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

I was threatened and ostracized because I proposed another hypothesis, Redfield said. I expected it from politicians. I didnt expect it from science.

But today, the same health experts that once shunned the idea now admit that the lab leak theory is at least a strong possibility.

Its important to understand the scientific details behind COVID-19, because solid information can help us react better to it. As weve all recently experienced, a pandemic doesnt just bring a new virus, but a whole new lifestyle. The imposed measures hurt or destroyed small businesses, closed schools, and kept our social circles painfully small for more than a year in an effort to contain, or at least slow, the spread of a potentially deadly disease. Officials sold these prolonged inconveniences with an appeal to reason: Trust the science.

But did the science end up supporting these sacrifices? Did mask mandates and lockdowns actually save lives as health experts claimed? After a year of real-world experience, and a wealth of studies charting the course, can we come to a clearer understanding of what works and what doesnt in a pandemic?

Dr. Colleen Huber tackles the question in her new book, The Defeat of COVID. Her mission is to educate people on how our bodies function, methods weve used in the past to address infection, and the scientific evidence related to COVID-19 so we can better understand the crisis we face.

There is so much misunderstanding about so many things related to COVID. The less we know about the human immune system, the activity of viruses in general, the natural interventions that have worked so well for so many of our ancestors for countless generations, then the more that a scary virus story sends people into the deep end of fear, Huber said. Fear alone is quite crippling. I find that it makes people agree to things that they would not otherwise agree to.

Hubers conclusions consistently oppose much of what is reported in mainstream media. But she cites more than 500 medical studies to make her case.

For each of the studies that Ive cited there are quite a few more, especially for the therapeutics. Theres a massive amount more that I could have cited, she said. Because this is not the conventional viewpoint, I really wanted to go heavy on the research.

Her aim is to present the best understanding from quality evidence: studies that involve humans, mostly COVID-19 patients and control groups, and seldom animals.

The distinction is important because, in the realm of science, some research is deemed stronger than others. For example, support for rules such as social distancing came primarily from observational studies and mathematical models that suggested that the measure could slow the spread of disease. However, Huber says that no evidence ever supported the value of social distancing in a preventive way.

Previous evidence also showed that it didnt work well enough to go through the hassle. The World Health Organization dismissed the idea of social distancing as a public health measure in 2006 as ineffective and impractical. Yet health experts decided to revisit the idea for COVID. People were instructed to stay six feet away from each other in 2020. Then in 2021, the new prescribed distance was three feet apart.

Some indoor public spaces still encourage the practice with floor markers as a reminder of the prescribed distance between people. But it may be more theater than science. In a Wall Street Journal article, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb said there was no scientific basis for the six-foot guideline and no randomized controlled trials that show value of this practice.

The reasoning behind the official demand to space everyone six feet apart under COVID hinged on the concept that people were spreading the virus unknowingly. However, it remains unclear how much damage these asymptomatic spreaders really caused. In a WHO news brief from June 2020, infectious disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove stated that the spread of the virus by asymptomatic carriers appears to be rare.

A few days later on a Facebook Live video, Van Kerkhove clarified that there were misunderstandings attached to her previous statement. She explained that asymptomatic people can in fact spread the virus, though the degree to which they can is unknown.

Huber found no evidence that demonstrated any transmission from an asymptomatic person. The journal Nature published a study of the Wuhan population, involving nearly 10 million people. They found no positive tests among 1,174 close contacts of asymptomatic cases.

Masks Save Lives?

Perhaps no aspect of COVID is more controversial than masks, and a lot of this confusion stems from very mixed messaging from the people promoting the practice. First, masks were said not to protect people from viral transmission, then, a month later they were considered essential daily wear for everyone. Earlier this year, two and three masks were recommended for even more protection.

The message on masks is still all over the place. A few months ago, officials stated that even after receiving a COVID vaccine, masks would still need to be worn until at least 2022 and possibly beyond. But recently, fully vaccinated individuals were permitted to go maskless indoors. However, many who have already received their jabs still choose to keep their face covered in public.

But the perceived safety features of mask wearing havent stood up to real-world experience. In March, Texas and Mississippi lifted their state requirements on mask orders, despite warnings that the move would lead to a surge of new coronavirus cases and certain doom. Instead, death counts plummeted.

Huber has researched the mask issue extensively. The conclusion of her research team after publishing four peer-reviewed papers found that the masks made COVID-19 worse in every way, due to oxygen deprivation, bacterial pneumonia, and more. Huber points to demographic data showing that mask use also correlated with higher rates of COVID-19, as well as the physics and chemistry of why.

Masks have quite a hazardous profile, she said.

What Works?

So what did science show support for? There is evidence that severe and fatal COVID-19 cases demonstrate a close relationship to deficiencies in nutrients known for supporting immune function: specifically vitamins C and D, and the mineral zinc. Low levels of these nutrients were consistently found with the sickest people. Its also why many doctors prescribe these nutrients in their COVID treatment protocol.

Some of the best evidence in this regard is for vitamin D. A meta-analysis of several studies published in an October 2020 edition of the journal Nutrients correlates vitamin D levels and COVID-19 cases, as well as the mechanisms that may drive the protective process.

One study from the Mayo Clinic found that among patients admitted with confirmed COVID-19 in-hospital mortality and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation was more common among those with vitamin D levels below the recommended reference range.

For people already familiar with this nutrient, vitamin Ds protection against COVID is expected. Past research has shown significantly improved outcomes of respiratory infections, shorter hospital stays, a lower cost of care, and lower mortality with higher serum levels of vitamin D. Low D levels have previously been associated with increases in inflammatory cytokines, viral upper respiratory tract infections, and blood clotssome of COVID-19s key characteristics.

Huber points out that the vast majority of people who died of COVID-19 were either elderly or obese, which just happen to be two populations for which low vitamin D is particularly an issue. Seniors tend to lack the vitamin because they often keep indoors, and their bodies dont manufacture the vitamin as well as younger people. Obesity adds another obstacle.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is stored in the fat in the body, Huber said. All of us have fat. However, the more we get toward obesity, the more that same amount of vitamin D in the body is diluted into peripheral fat, so its not really being used by the immune system so much. The reason I mention it is because according to the CDC, 78 percent [of COVID-19 fatalities] were obese.

Drugs for Treatment

Another big controversy with COVID-19 is whether there are safe and effective drugs to treat it. Health experts and regulators have only endorsed the three or four experimental vaccines authorized for emergency use, and anything else is strongly discouraged. But many doctors say they have successfully treated COVID with remedies that havent been approved by regulators. The most controversial of these is chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

But this controversy is a fairly recent development. In a 2005 article published in the Virology Journal from the National Institutes of Health, researchers concluded that chloroquine was a potent inhibitor of SARS coronavirus infection and spread.

Chloroquine has strong antiviral effects on SARS-CoV infection of primate cells. These inhibitory effects are observed when the cells are treated with the drug either before or after exposure to the virus, suggesting both prophylactic and therapeutic advantage, researchers stated.

For COVID-19, however, HCQ was branded dangerous. The Lancet journal reported that HCQ didnt help in COVID treatment, but instead worsened outcomes. Regulators quickly condemned the drug, treatment studies examining HCQ were stopped, and hospitals fired doctors for prescribing it. However, the Lancet report failed peer review and the article was quietly retracted. Still, health officials still consider HCQ a dangerous and ill-advised COVID treatment.

But the official response to HCQ doesnt match the science. In addition to many doctors around the world reporting success in the clinic, research has shown more promise than peril. As of the writing of Hubers book, 53 studies have shown positive results with HCQ for COVID. In addition to the Lancet article, Huber only found 13 global studies showing neutral or negative results on HCQ and 10 of them were of patents in very late stages of the disease where no antiviral drug is expected to have much effect. The author of two of the negative articles drew his data from an obscure Brazilian study that gave enormous doses of HCQ to extremely ill patients.

Another lesser-known drug that doctors are using to successfully treat COVID is ivermectin, which in addition to HCQ, is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines.

Huber points to a meta-analysis of 49 trials of ivermectin treating COVID in humans, all have shown positive results.

Despite safety evidence going back three decades, the FDA discourages ivermectins use for COVID. However, the only concern the agency mentions is the risk of overdose. Ivermectin is only available for humans by prescription, but is sold over the counter for veterinary use. The fear is that a sick and desperate individual might bite off too much of a large pill meant for a horse.

The FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical support and been hospitalized after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for horses, the agency said in a statement. The FDA has not reviewed data to support use of ivermectin in COVID-19 patients to treat or to prevent COVID-19; however, some initial research is underway. Taking a drug for an unapproved use can be very dangerous. This is true of ivermectin, too.

Doctors prescribe ivermectin for COVID all over the world, and a big draw is the price tag. Huber says that in Africa, a full course of ivermectin treatment for COVID costs less than a U.S. dollar. For both safety and effectiveness, she ranks it as the top COVID treatment.

I think ivermectin shows the most promise of all the therapeutics that I mention. For preventative purposes, people should make sure they have enough vitamin D on board. But in a curative way, nothing beats ivermectin. The spike protein which is the key SARS-CoV2 entry into the human cell has three parts to it. Its a trimeric protein. I think we would be fortunate if ivermectin blocked only one of those three parts, but it has been found to block all three, she said.

Ivermectin was almost made for COVID because it blocks the three parts of the spike protein, and it blocks viral replication and it wont let it into the human cell. Plus, it has a wonderful safety profile. 3.7 billion doses have been given since 1975, and all ages children were fine. No pregnancies were lost.
A Ryanair aircraft, which was carrying Belarusian opposition blogger and activist Roman Protasevich and diverted to Belarus, where authorities detained him, lands at Vilnius Airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 23, 2021. (Andrius Sytas/Reuters)

EU Imposes First Broad Economic Sanctions on Belarus Over Ryanair Incident

BRUSSELSThe European Union imposed wide-ranging economic sanctions on Belarus for the first time on June 24, focusing on its main export industries and access to finance a month after it forced a Ryanair flight to land in Minsk and arrested an opposition journalist who was on board.

The measures include banning EU businesses from importing goods or doing business with Belarusian companies in sectors including banking, petroleum products, and potash, a salt used in fertilizer that is the countrys main export.

The sanctions are far stricter than measures imposed in the past, which had mainly consisted of blacklists of Belarusian officials and had little or no impact on the behavior of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994.

EU leaders were outraged by the interception of the Ryanair plane flying between Athens and Vilnius on May 23. Belarusian authorities arrested dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend after the plane landed, in an incident that Western countries branded state piracy.

With Lukashenko so far impervious to foreign pressure over disputed elections last August, the EU said it wanted to dramatically escalate pressure.

Diplomats said the decision to impose harsher sanctions was taken with extraordinary speed by the standards of the typically slow-moving EU, reflecting the seriousness with which governments viewed the Ryanair incident. The sanctions were first approved on June 18 by national envoys to the EU and now will be published in full in the blocs official journal.

Under the new sanctions, Europeans may not directly or indirectly sell, supply, transfer or export to anyone in Belarus communication equipment, technology, or software that could be used for monitoring or repression.

Trade in petroleum products, potash, and tobacco products is restricted. Access to EU capital markets is now also limited, the EU said. Europeans may not provide insurance or re-insurance to the Belarusian government or public bodies and agencies. The European Investment Bank will halt lending to the country.

Since the Ryanair incident, the EU has also banned overflights of Belarusian territory by its airlines and banished Belarusian carriers from its air space.

The EU, United States, Britain, and Canada also expanded blacklists this week, with the EU now banning 166 people from traveling or doing business in Europe, including Russian businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev, Belaruss largest foreign investor.

One of six former Soviet republics that the EU has offered money, technical assistance, and market access to, Belarus is now being sidelined until Lukashenko agrees to new elections and releases political prisoners.

Despite concern that economic sanctions could push Belarus closer to its ally Russia, EU foreign ministers said they had to respond to what they see as unacceptable, repressive behavior by Lukashenko.

I do not foresee any democratic transition soon in Belarus, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba told Reuters. But the EU had no other choice if it wants to stand up for its values.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam takes part in her weekly press conference in Hong Kong on Oct. 15, 2019. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)

European Lawmakers Urge Carrie Lam to Release Journalists After Pro-Democracy Paper Shuts Down

A group of European lawmakers on Thursday urged Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to release journalists arrested under Hong Kongs draconian national security law, and unfreeze the assets of a pro-democracy newspaper that was forced to shut down.

Apple Daily, one of the few independent media outlets in Hong Kong, had to halt its operations by midnight on Wednesday after police arrested its executives and froze assets linked to the paper.

The paper said its decision to close was based on employee safety and manpower considerations. It also said previously the freezing of its assets had left the paper with little cash to maintain operations.

The forced closure of Apple Daily was condemned by the UK, French, and EU governments, as well as a number of U.S. lawmakers.

In a letter to Lam, 30 European lawmakers, most of who are members of the European Parliament, said they wish to express their concern and condemnation of the arrest of five journalists and the raiding and the shutting down of Apple Daily.

More than 500 police officers raided Apple Dailys headquarters on June 17 and arrested five executives on suspicion of colluding with foreigners to endanger national security, an ambiguous offense under the draconian national security law imposed by Beijing last year. Two of the executives were charged the next day.

The lawmakers said they believe these arrests constitute an assault on the freedom of the press and undermine Hong Kongs reputation as an open international city, and run in direct contravention of Hong Kongs Basic Law.

The shutting of the newspaper for the supposed crime of holding officials accountable is the act of a dictatorial state, the letter reads.

The lawmakers warned that preserving the free press in Hong Kong remains an area of great interest to the EU and other like-minded democracies and that the forced closure of the pro-democracy paper will be met with international condemnation and have a long-term impact on foreign investment into the city.

They urged Lam to unfreeze Apple Dailys assets, release the journalists arrested and drop the charges against them and Jimmy Lai, the owner of the popular tabloid who is currently in jail, serving multiple sentences over his participation in multiple pro-democracy demonstrations.

Lam on Tuesday defended the raiding of Apple Daily, accusing U.S. officials of trying to beautify actions that endangered national security.

More than 100 people have been arrested under the national security law to date.

Mimi Nguyen Ly and France Fang contributed to this report.
Film Review: The Courier: The Story of the Two Men Who Stopped the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Courier | 2020 | PG-13 | 1h 52min

In todays revolutionary climate, nows a good time to have a look at The Courier and remember (or learn about for the first time) the 1960s Cuban missile crisis. Where the insane, Hitler-like USSR Chairman Nikita Khrushchevhe, who used to bang his shoe on podiums during political speechesescalated the Cold War by putting nuclear warheads on Cuba and pointing them at the United States.

Based on a true story, The Courier stars Benedict Cumberbatch as run-of-the-mill British businessman Greville Wynne, who was recruited in the early 1960s by Britains MI6, and CIA agent Emily Donovan (Rachel Brosnahan).

Benedict Cumberbatch as Greville Wynne in spy thriller The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

The plan was for Wynne to secretly team up with Soviet official Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) to provide the United States with enough actionable intelligence to enable President Kennedy to prevent a nuclear showdown with the USSR.

Col. Penkovsky ran the Soviet state committee for scientific research. He became highly apprehensive regarding the overly fast pace of Khrushchevs nuclear arms proliferation, to the point where he contemplated treason: Hed be more than happy to relay Russian nuclear secrets to MI6 and the Americans, because the impulsive, chaotic Khrushchev frightened him.

Soviet official Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) becomes a mole for the CIA about Russias intentions in Cuba, in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

A Different Sort of Useful Idiot

Greville Wynne was the perfect man for the job. MI6 was interested in him because he already had an established track record of legitimate business transactions in the Eastern Bloc, and his expertise in trading in scientific machinery would allow him to hide in plain sight, all bolstered by a breezy, jokey, glad-handing British can-do positivity. And so MI6 approached him to act as the titular courier for Oleg Penkovsky.

(LR) Benedict Cumberbatch, Angus Wright, and Rachel Brosnahan in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

The proposal for this mission kicks off when Wynne has lunch with the quietly enthusiastic Donovan, and her more methodical MI6 counterpart (Angus Wright). When it dawns on Wynne, due to their dropping hints, that hes in the rarified company of high-level government spies, hes flabbergasted, star-struck, and rather overwhelmed at being in the presence of such royalty.

Wynne of course has reservations about getting caught, but hes easily seducedwho, after all, doesnt want to play at being James Bond? Hes also informed hell only have to deliver the package Penkovsky gives him. The spymasters use a smattering of shaming tactics along the lines of Why would we give you something actually dangerous to do? Youre middle-aged, out of shape, and you drink too much. Which results in Wynne, throughout the movie, diligently doing pushups. All men need a mission to live for, and a code to live by; it produces great results.



Benedict Cumberbatch (center) in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

A Deep and Abiding Friendship

What the spy community didnt see coming was that during his frequent trips from London to Moscow, the lowly Greville Wynne would actually develop a powerful, lasting bond with the high-ranking Russian Penkovsky, who expands Wynnes cultural horizons; blowing Wynnes mind by taking him to the storied Bolshoi balletWynne had never been to the ballet. He cried. The two men had dinner with each others families and came to develop a deep, caring trust for each other, planning to continue having adventures together after Penkovskys imminent (hopefully) defection to the West.

Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze, L) and Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

Its the warmth of this friendship that makes this movie work. Otherwise all around is muted, cold, greys, blues, browns, miserable communism-inspired monolithic architecture. (It shrieks, the state is way bigger than youll ever be!) There are Russian snow, fear, and spies everywhere to the point that each frame is reminiscent of the childrens book Eloise In Moscow, which had a Russian spy hidden in every illustration.

Its a Movie Version, of Course

Its a romantic view: Wynnes fictitious female CIA handler stands in for the actual, all-male CIA team, which lends the movie some flair, livening up that dull, grey world which men, left to their own devices, tend to inhabit.

Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Agent Donovan (Rachel Brosnahan) in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

Understandably, Wynnes home life begins to circle the drain. His wife (Jessie Buckley) suspects him of having an affair. Which of course he isbeing James Bond, doing lots of pushups, and saving the world from nuclear extinction is far more exciting than being a mere businessman. When she asks him why he doesnt slow down, he jokes (my words): I suppose I could just retire. Andrew? [his son, played by Keir Hills], you dont need to go to university do you? Good! I shall retire.

Jessie Buckley as Greville Wynnes wife in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

During the films second half, when the United States figures out Russia has placed missiles on Cuba, and Russia figures out that the United States has figured this out, the hunt for the red mole begins, and the CIA and MI6 rush to get Penkovsky out of Russia. Wynne, whod been side-lined, doesnt believe the CIAs argument that Penkovsky would rat him out to save his own hidehe knows his good friend too well, better than all the spies do, and so he volunteers to help by making one last trip to Russia. It didnt have the intended result. Lets just say he lived to tell the tale.

Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch, L) with Russian businessmen in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

What happened to Wynne was devastating, but he was no tragic hero, living on until 1990. Wynne was a great (if heretofore unsung) hero who assisted his fellow hero Penkovsky in the most fruitful partnership in the history of Cold War espionage. Together they halted nuclear war and are directly responsible for the fact that theres now a hotline from the White House to the Kremlin to insure that no such fevered nuclear brinkmanship between these two superpowers ever occurs again.

The tension-filled script keeps the audience emotionally invested in the outcome, but by focusing exclusively on the people-to-people dealings, the movie never quite conveys the enormity of the situation and the sheer terror the Cuban missile crisis plunged the world into. To get a sense of the global perspective on this matter, watch 2000s Thirteen Days.

Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze, center) facing accusations of treason in The Courier. (Liam Daniel/Roadside Attractions)

The Courier

Director: Dominic Cooke

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan, Angus Wright, Jessie Buckley, Keir Hills

Running Time: 1 hour, 52 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: now available in Redbox kiosks and on Vudu, Fandango, and Prime Video

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Mark Jackson is the senior film critic for The Epoch Times. Mark has 20 years experience as a professional New York actor, classical theater training, and a BA in philosophy. He recently narrated the Epoch Times audiobook How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World, and has a Rotten Tomatoes author page.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis meets with fans during Day One of The Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla., on May 8, 2021. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Florida Law Allows College Students to Record Lectures, Mandates Viewpoint Diversity Survey

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law legislation allowing college students to record class sessions for potential complaints about professors who violate their freedom of expression.

It used to be thought that a university campus was a place where youd be exposed to a lot of different ideas, the Republican governor said at a June 22 press conference. Unfortunately, now the norm is, these are more intellectually repressive environments. You have orthodoxies that are promoted, and other viewpoints are shunned or even suppressed.

Under the new law (pdf), students are allowed to record video or audio of classroom lectures, so long its for their own personal educational use, or if they want to use the recording as evidence in a civil or criminal case against their school. However, a recorded lecture cannot be published without the consent of the lecturer, and those recordings must follow federal student privacy laws, or the professor could seek damages up to $200,000.

Another part of the law bans the use of so-called safe space. Specifically, it prohibits public universities in Florida from shielding students, faculty, and staff from any free speech activities conducted on campus, regardless whether they may find those ideas and opinions uncomfortable, unwelcome, disagreeable or offensive.

The new law also requires the state university systems Board of Governors and the State Board of Education to conduct and publish an annual survey to assess intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity in public universities and colleges. The goal is to find whether competing ideas and perspectives are fairly presented during lectures and whether students, faculty, and staff feel free to express their beliefs and viewpoints on campus or in the classroom.

DeSantis and state Senator Ray Rodrigues, the Republican sponsor of the original legislation, suggested Tuesday that state-funded institutions that receive poor results in the viewpoint diversity survey could be at risk of budget cuts, although the language in the bill doesnt specify who will use the survey data for what purpose.

Thats not worth tax dollars and thats not something that were going to be supporting moving forward, DeSantis said.

A number of states are considering similar measures in efforts to promote diversity of political beliefs in public colleges and universities. In Iowa, legislation introduced in February seeks to survey all employees of the three state universities on their political affiliations and submit the results to the state legislature. The survey would distinguish by job positions but not by individuals, and would only be conducted once.

Meanwhile in Idaho, the state legislature in May approved a plan to cut $2.1 million from university budgets in the 2021-2022 academic year, including $500,000 each from the University of Idaho and Idaho State University and $1.5 million from Boise State University. The cut, reported Idaho Stateman, quoting a Republican state Senator, was meant to send a message to public institutions that compel students to affirm or adopt a controversial political belief, such as critical race theory.
Security personnel gather near the entrance of the Wuhan Institute of Virology during a visit by the World Health Organization team in Wuhan in China's Hubei province, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Footage of Bats Kept in Wuhan Lab Fuels Scrutiny Over Its Research

Official Chinese state-approved footage from four years ago showing bats being kept at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has further fueled scrutiny of the research conducted at the secretive facility.

A 2017 promotional video featured on the website of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), a top Chinese state-run research institute that administers the WIV, showed live bats held in cages inside the lab. In it, a researcher wearing blue surgical gloves was holding a bat and feeding it a worm.

The video, made after the research institute obtained the nations first P4 designationthe highest bio-security classificationin spring 2017, also showed bats in a cage inside the lab. It stated that WIV researchers had collected more than 15,000 bat samples from various parts of China and Africa.

A researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei Province feeds a bat with a worm in a 2017 video. (Screenshot)

While some overseas Chinese-language media had cited the video last year in reports that raised concerns about the lab, it has attracted more attention of late, as the possibility that the virus may have escaped from a Chinese laboratory has gained traction.

The WIV has filed at least two patents related to bat breeding. The first, filed in June 2018 and granted about half a year later, describes a bat-rearing cage with a glass front door, hanger, feed opening, and water drinking tube, designed to enable bats healthy growth and breeding under artificial condition[s].

Bats in a cage at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei Province in a 2017 video. (Screenshot)

The second patent, filed last October, instructs researchers on how to raise wild bats to improve their breeding and their survival rate.

A description of the WIV on a CAS-affiliated webpage said that the institute has three barrier facilities that enclose lab animalstotaling nearly 13,100 square feetin which there are 12 bat cages.

The evidence of live bats being raised at WIV contradicted statements made by U.S. zoologist Peter Daszak, one of the World Health Organization (WHO)-led experts who went to the city of Wuhan to study the origins of the virus earlier this year.

Daszak, in a Twitter post made last December that he has since deleted, took issue with an article from The Independent that stated that samples from the bats were sent to the Wuhan laboratory for genetic analyses of the viruses collected in the field.

Peter Daszak, a member of the World Health Organization team investigating the origins of COVID-19, speaks to the media on Feb. 3, 2021, after arriving at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, located in Chinas central Hubei province. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Important error in this piece. No BATS were sent to Wuhan lab for genetic analyses of viruses collected in the field, he wrote.

Thats not how this science works. We collect bat samples, send them to the lab. We RELEASE bats where we catch them!

Daszak further stated that the article describes work Im the lead on & labs Ive collaborated [with] for 15 yrs.

They DO NOT have live or dead bats in them. There is no evidence anywhere that this happened. Its an error that I hope will be corrected, he said.

Daszaks EcoHealth Alliance, a New York-based nonprofit that conducts global health-related research, helped channel more than $800,000 in U.S. federal grants to the WIV to study bat coronaviruses, according to newly released internal documents.

Daszak admitted on June 1a week after leaked intelligence noted that three WIV researchers were hospitalized a month before Chinas reported COVID-19 patient zerothat questions of whether the WIV had bats were never raised during the WHO investigation.

I wouldnt be surprised if, like many other virology labs, they were trying to set up a bat colony, he said, seeming to contradict his statement on Twitter.

Safety Lapses

A bat hangs on the hat of a researcher from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in a 2017 video. (Screenshot)

A scene from the same video of a bat dangling off the hat of a researcher, who wore only a pair of glasses and a regular surgical mask while collecting bat samples in the wild, has raised further questions about the security measures at the lab.

Screenshots from a 2017 report on state-run broadcaster CCTV have also shown a WIV researchers arm blistering from a bat bite during their study of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus.

The bats could bite your hands through the glove, WIV researcher Cui Jie told CCTV. He described the feeling as similar to being jabbed by a needle. In other footage, marked with the date Dec. 28 with no year attributed, another WIV researcher was holding a bat outdoors with both hands exposed.

A researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology shows blisters after being bitten by a bat. (Screenshot via CCTV)

In 2018, U.S. officials who visited the research facility sent cables back to Washington warning about weak safety standards at the lab.

Two U.S. Embassy officials said the lab had a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory, according to the cable, as reported by The Washington Post.

Transparency Issues

The Wuhan lab began as a collaborative project between China and France in 2004 to study emerging infectious diseases following the SARS outbreak, which spread from China to more than two dozen countries.

The construction of the P4 lab was finalized in 2015. In 2017, former French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve made the lab his first stop in Wuhan and attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The plan at the time was to have 50 French researchers go to the lab over the next five years, but that never occurred.

The French scientists were quickly sidelined. The Franco-Chinese Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases, a group created for cooperation between the two sides, stopped holding meetings in 2016, according to France Bleu, part of the national public broadcasting group Radio France.

The 2017 Wuhan lab video briefly mentioned the SinoFrench collaboration, noting that the two sides had more than a decade of intense clashes due to differences in cultural backgrounds and ideology. It noted that the P4 lab will definitely contribute to the physical health of the public and the world peace and serve as a large scale world-class technology sharing hub.

The WIVs raw data remains closed off to the WHO and other international experts. In September 2019, the facility made its main database of samples and viral sequences offline. The data bank was Asias largest as of 2018, according to a news release on the WIV website.

Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli is seen inside the P4 laboratory in Wuhan, the capital of Chinas Hubei Province, on Feb. 23, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Shi Zhengli, the director of the WIVs research center for emerging infectious diseases who is now at the center of the virus controversy, maintained that the institute has been open to outside probes. Speaking recently with The New York Times, she called accusations of the lab withholding data speculation rooted in utter distrust.

A January fact sheet from the State Department under the Trump administration stated that WIV researchers had begun conducting experiments involving RaTG13, identified to have the closest genetic similarity to the COVID-19 virus, from as early as 2016.

Besides engaging in gain of function research to engineer chimeric viruses, the WIV has engaged in laboratory animal experiments on behalf of the Chinese military since at least 2017, according to the fact sheet. Gain-of-function research involves creating artificial viruses by adding new or enhanced capabilities for the purpose of studying what new pathogens could emerge and how to guard against them.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Council President Charles Michel address the media as they arrive on the first day of the European Union summit at the European Council Building in Brussels, on June 24, 2021. (John Thys/Pool via Reuters)

FrancoGerman Call for Russia Summit Meets EU Resistance

BRUSSELSFrance and Germany called on June 24 for a European Union summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin but met firm resistance from Poland and Baltic countries that distrust the Kremlin.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the first EU summit with Putin since January 2014 would be a chance for dialogue and won support from Austrias chancellor as EU leaders arrived for their regular summer meeting in Brussels to discuss a new strategy to improve ties with Moscow.

We need a dialogue to defend our interests  it is a dialogue necessary for the stability of the European continent, Macron said.

We cannot remain in a purely reactive logic when it comes to Russia, he said. I hope that we can, with real European unity and coordination, have this  dialogue.

EU leaders are also set to ask the European Commission and the EUs top diplomat Josep Borrell for options for additional restrictive measures, including economic sanctions against Russia, according to a draft of the summit statement seen by Reuters.

The EU already has economic sanctions on the Russian energy, financial, and arms sectors over Moscows 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and individual sanctions on Russians accused of human rights abuses and for using banned chemical weapons.

Diplomats say further sanctions could target Russian money laundering or powerful oligarchs suspected of serious corruption abroad, as non-EU member Britain did for the first time in April.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin addresses the media as she arrives on the first day of the European Union summit at the European Council Building in Brussels, on June 24, 2021. (John Thys/Pool via Reuters)

Bear and Honey

Following NATO warnings that Russia is trying to divide Western democracies through disinformation and covert attacks, many EU countries said talk of summits was premature.

Macron had tried in September 2019 to seek less-frosty ties with Putin, without success, and Germanys outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel met Putin in Moscow in January 2020. Putin spoke by telephone with European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs EU summits, on June 7 this year.

EU diplomats say they are concerned that the Kremlin doesnt take the bloc seriously, after Borrell was publicly humiliated in February by the Kremlin. Russia expelled EU diplomats during Borrells visit to Moscow without warning.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the idea was like trying to engage the bear to keep a pot of honey safe.

Envoys for France and Germany on June 23 proposed that holding a summit with Putin was a possible way to repair ties between the close trade partners, following on from U.S. President Joe Bidens summit in Geneva with Putin.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives on the first day of the European Union summit at the European Council Building in Brussels, on June 24, 2021. (John Thys/Pool via Reuters)

We should be extremely cautious, this is not like the relationship of Russia with the United States, Nauseda said, referring to the two nuclear-armed rivals.

While France is a nuclear power, the EU relies on NATO for its territorial defense and makes decisions by consensus among 27 states, making it easier for the Kremlin to exploit divisions. Moscow denies any wrongdoing.

The Kremlin welcomed the idea of a summit, saying both Brussels and Moscow needed dialogue, although Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he wanted more details.

What is it about? What is the agenda? We also do not know whether all other EU members support this. So we need our (EU) colleagues to clarify what they mean and what they aim for, Lavrov said, according to RIA news agency.

On opposing sides in standoffs in Ukraine and Belarus, and at odds over human rights, the EU and Russia accuse each other of meddling in elections, disinformation, and threatening security and stability from the Baltics to the Black Sea.

We as the European Union must also seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president, Merkel told legislators in what is expected to be her final speech to the German Bundestag.

It is not enough for the U.S. president to talk to the Russian president. I very much welcome that, but the EU must also create forums for dialogue, she added.

However, the potential for new flashpoints abound. The EU on June 24 imposed economic sanctions on Belarus, an ally of Russia that the Kremlin sees as a buffer state between Russia and NATO.

The last EURussia summit was in January 2014, shortly before Russia annexed Ukraines Crimea peninsula.

While the EU subsequently froze summits with Putin, its policy has zigzagged between imposing economic sanctions and allowing a new gas pipeline from Russia to Germany to reach completion.
From Lawyer to Island Hopper: A Writer in Paradise

I know what youre thinking. How did a seventh-generation attorney from Athens, Georgia, wind up writing fiction while kicking around the Caribbean on a boat? Like most things with me, its a long story, and there are twists and turns.

Lets just say I set out looking for a perfect coral reef, and along the way, I found inspiration.

Twenty years ago, I left courtrooms and law offices behind in search of something else. I had been in practice for more than 22 years, during which time, I witnessed drastic changes in the legal field. It had become an advertising game, more of a business than a profession. I tallied up the perils and moral compromises and decided it was time to check out.

Author Howard T. Scott. (Courtesy of Howard T. Scott)

I made my exit by way of a 1987 Burger motor yacht Capricho on the high seas. My destination was a new way of life in places with beautiful names like the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, and Grenada. I was struck by seeing people act out all their escapist desires, enjoying island food and drinks and soaking up the sun. No one was worried about what time it was or what was going on in the world they left behind. I wanted in on that. Now every day is an adventure.

A musician at the festive Junkanoo in the Bahamas. (Trae Rollins/Shutterstock)

A dancer during the Junkanoo festival in the Bahamas. (jo Crebbin/Shutterstock)

In the Islands, Time Is Relative

While in the Virgin Islands, on any given day you can find me hanging out on Jost Van Dyke, waiting for a table at Corsairs, and discovering new music Ill play over and over again. Or, there Ill be, anchoring off a remote island where there are no houses, diving off the flybridge into the water at 8 a.m., and swimming to a nearby beach. Ill take a walk and swim back to the boat an hour later. I might be sitting in a tire swing at an island bar, then get up and head to a high-end place like Oil Nut Bay, where Im inspired by gazing on the amazing architecture that blends in with the environment to create what I maintain is the idyllic romantic vacation home. I let my imagination go wild.

I can make my own fun. Maybe theres a backgammon tournament, with great food and music. I play bingo or hop over to another island for a picnic. Theres always the possibility of a crab race. Sometimes, I get invited to random weddings.

Snorkeling and exploring a coral reef. (Damsea/Shutterstock)

Caribbean Culture 101

Theres so much to learn here! The Caribbean is a wonderful cultural mix of Indigenous, African, European, Indian, and Chinese elements, and each island has its own unique identity. In the Bahamas there is Junkanoo, a festival of African origin, with a magnificent parade, food, and lots of fun.

Boats in Les Saintes Bay, Guadeloupe. (Eleanor Scriven/Shutterstock)

I love visiting Guadeloupe and the group of little islands called Les Saintes. There you go back in time where French and Creole cultures meet. Theres no marina. Everyone is on a boat anchored out in the harbor, and it makes you feel like you are in a tropical paradise with a French twist.

Terre-de-Haut is the easternmost island of the Saintes islands, and part of the Guadeloupe. (Howard T. Scott)

And then theres Mustique, a private island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In Mustique youre met with British colonial architecture and an eclectic mix of expatriates who live there all winter. You might see Tommy Hilfiger or Mick Jagger! Everyone just hangs out and theres a blues festival where youll see a friend you met years earlier. In Mustique you realize its a small world, even when youre way out in the middle of the ocean.

Rascal on the Run by Howard Tate Scott.

That Was Then, This Is Now

What its all about for me now is looking down and having my breath taken away by that perfect coral reef I mentioned earlier, just below me while Im snorkeling. I see amazing fish and life all around me and my brain is ignited. Im driven to investigate everything and learn more about how beautiful it is.

My life now is the exact opposite of my former role as an attorney, when I was always worrying about next steps. I started out working in my dads law firm when I was a kid, and for decades I gave the legal profession my all. Ill tell you its a hard road to navigate, with lots of pitfalls. As for me, I took along some tricks of the trade and I use them to write novels, like my debut Rascal on the Run, instead of legal briefs. I am beholden only to the wind and the current.

Howard T. Scott began his law career working in his dads office at 13. He mastered the nuances of the courtroom scene on the job as a lawyer, first as a criminal defense attorney, and later in civil litigation, in his native Athens, Ga. Howards murder-suspense novel, Rascal on the Run, is the fictionalized tale of actual cases navigated by Howard and his father, the late attorney Guy Scott.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives on the first day of the European Union summit at The European Council Building in Brussels, on June 24, 2021. (John Thys/Pool via Reuters)

Germany, France Urge Common EU Travel Line to Fight Delta Variant

BRUSSELSGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron urged fellow European Union leaders on June 24 to take a firmer stand on travel from countries outside the bloc, such as the United Kingdom, to combat the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Merkel, arriving in Brussels for an EU summit, said she would lobby for a more coordinated approach, particularly with regard to letting tourists in from regions where virus variants were widespread.

We are obviously concerned about the Delta variant, she told reporters.

Macron told EU countries to be extremely vigilant about the variant, first found in India, which is highly infectious.

Macron said the 27-nation bloc needs to take coordinated decisions on opening borders to people from other countries.

The warnings came as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted that the UK was close to permitting unrestricted travel abroad for fully vaccinated people.

EU governments have agreed on a white list of 13 countries, including Australia and the United States, for whose residents travel restrictions should be lifted. Noticeably absent is Britain, on which travel policy is mixed.

France and Germany require visitors from Britain to quarantine, while Portugal and Spain, which rely on British tourists, dont. In the Lisbon region of Portugal, over half of the new COVID-19 cases are of the Delta variant.

The recent jump in infections there comes around a month after tourism-dependent Portugal opened to visitors from the rest of the EU as well as Britain.

Portugals foreign minister said on June 23 that the country hadnt been careless when it opened its border to British tourists, after Merkel blamed the recent spike of COVID-19 infections on lenient travel rules. All British visitors must present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said EU leaders would discuss controls on entry from third countries, specifically Britain, adding that Portugal had followed the line agreed by EU governments.

He added Merkel was right to say that coordinated action was required, particularly as travel across borders within the EU eased.
A sign is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Md., on Aug. 29, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Heart Inflammation Warning to Be Added to mRNA Vaccine Fact Sheet: FDA

Authorities say no change in vaccine policy but risks should be disclosed

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Wednesday that it will add a warning of heart inflammation to the fact sheet for the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that are given to patients prior to vaccination.

At a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDCs) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Dr. Doran Fink, deputy director of the FDAs vaccines division told the committee that the FDA will move rapidly to update the fact sheets to ensure transparency surrounding identified risks, no matter how rare.

We do agree that, based on the available data, a warning statement in the fact sheets for both healthcare providers and vaccine recipients and caregivers would be warranted in this situation, Fink said.

Fink added that the warning statements would likely include information stating that these events have occurred in some vaccine recipients, particularly following dose two of mRNA vaccines, that the onset of symptoms typically have been several days to a week following vaccination. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath.

ACIP met to discuss the latest data on myocarditis and pericarditis incidents following mRNA vaccination in adolescents and younger adults under 29, particularly after a second dose. The majority of inflammation cases have also been reported in male patients.

Read More CDC Finds More Cases of Heart Inflammation Than Expected in Vaccinated Young Males

A member of the panel who gave a presentation at the meeting suggested that there was a likely association of myocarditis with mRNA vaccination in adolescents and young adults.

Dr. Mathew Oster, a pediatric cardiologist at Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, also told the panel, It does appear that the mRNA vaccines may be a trigger for myocarditis.

Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a CDC official, to the agencys vaccine advisory committee said that case rates logged in the reporting system are higher than expected in young males.

Pfizer and Moderna have not returned requests for comment from The Epoch Times.

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis is inflammation of the sac-like tissue surrounding the heart. Inflammation can also occur due to infection with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus that causes the disease COVID-19.

A screenshot of a presentation on the occurrences of heart inflammation following an mRNA vaccine at the CDCs vaccine advisory meeting on June 23, 2021. (Screenshot via NTD)

However, the higher-than-expected reports of heart inflammation in adolescents and young adults following the second dose of the mRNA vaccine prompted the CDC to further investigate the issue.

As of June 11, more than 1,200 cases of post-vaccine myocarditis or pericarditis were reported to federal health authorities among more than 300 million mRNA vaccine doses administered.

Most of the cases were reported after individuals got the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. Some have been reported by patients receiving the Moderna vaccine. Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccine is authorized for children as young as 12, while Modernas is for adults 18 and older.

Despite the likely association of heart inflammation and mRNA vaccines, the vaccine advisory committee says that the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis in adolescents and younger adults following inoculation with an mRNA vaccine did not outweigh the vaccines benefits.

The panel said the current vaccine policy would not change but risks of heart inflammation should be disclosed to patients.

The advisory committee plans to make four recommendations:

1. For individuals who had pericarditis before their first mRNA vaccine, they may receive any FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.

2. For individuals who develop pericarditis after their first mRNA shot, they can get the second dose after resolution of symptoms.

3. For persons with myocarditis before their first COVID-19 vaccine, they can go ahead and get vaccinated if their heart has recovered.

4. For persons who developed myocarditis after their first mRNA injection, they should defer [the second] dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine until more information is known. However, they may proceed with the second dose if their heart has recovered and theyve consulted with their physician.

The CDCs current vaccine policy states that COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for persons 12 years of age and older in the United States under FDAs Emergency Use Authorization.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CDC, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and 14 other health organizations have published a joint statement seeking to reassure Americans that myocarditis and pericarditis are rare adverse effects that should not discourage people from getting vaccinated.

The facts are clear: this is an extremely rare side effect, and only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination. Importantly, for the young people who do, most cases are mild, and individuals recover often on their own or with minimal treatment. In addition, we know that myocarditis and pericarditis are much more common if you get COVID-19, and the risks to the heart from COVID-19 infection can be more severe, the HHS said.

We strongly encourage everyone age 12 and older who are eligible to receive the vaccine under Emergency Use Authorization to get vaccinated, as the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any harm.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Heroic Man Shot Gunman Who Killed Police Officer in Colorado: Witness

A witness to a shooting in Colorado said that a heroic man confronted and shot an alleged gunman in the Denver suburb of Arvada on June 21.

Three people died in the shooting, including a veteran police officer, the shooter, and an onlooker. Police told reporters on June 22 that the officer, 51-year-old Gordon Beasley, was targeted by the gunman because of his police uniform and badge.

Witness Bill Troyanos told Denver news station KMGH that the onlooker, 40-year-old John Hurley, had confronted the suspect shooter, 59-year-old Ronald Troyke.

Troyanos said that on June 21, he was working at a store in Olde Town Arvada when Hurley, a store patron, ran outside with a gun in his hand after shots were heard fired outside the store.

He did not hesitate; he didnt stand there and think about it. He totally heard the gunfire, went to the door, saw the shooter and immediately ran in that direction, Troyanos told the outlet. I just want to make sure his family knows how heroic he was.

Troyanos said he witnessed Hurley confront the gunman and said he heard five to six shots, after which the gunman fell against a parked vehicle.

Detective Dave Snelling told AP on Wednesday that Troyke had reportedly left behind a note that contained threats against Arvada police officers.

Authorities have yet to clarify who shot Hurley or the gunman.

A man holds a thin blue line flag at the beginning of a line of about 30 police cars lined up for a procession in honor of the officer who was fatally shot in Arvada, Colo., on June 21, 2021. (Colleen Slevin/AP Photo)

In a statement on Twitter Wednesday, Arvada Police Department said there are still several unanswered questions and that they have yet to finish interviewing all of the witnesses, and are waiting on forensic evidence.

We owe a thorough and complete review of the incident to both Mr. Hurleys family and Officer Gordons family, the department said. We are aware of information from the suspect which clearly shows this suspect targeted and sought out to kill Arvada police officers.

It added: We cannot release any documents related to the open investigation at this time. If not for the heroic actions of Mr. Hurley and Arvada Police Officers on that day, more innocent lives would have been lost.

The department also shared a link to a GoFundMe page set up by Brian Romero, a friend of Hurleys family, to help cover his funeral costs. According to the page, Hurley loved the outdoors, had a passion for food and cooking, and loved spending time with family even briefly when possible.

Arvada Police Department previously pointed to the Colorado Hero Foundations website as the only official donation site for the fallen officer for those who wish to make donations for Beasley, a 19-year veteran of the department.

Arvada Police Chief Link Strate said on June 22 that Hurley was a true hero who likely disrupted what could have been a larger loss of life. He also said that Beasley was ambushed by a person who expressed hatred of police officers.

Hurleys sister Erin wrote on Facebook that Hurley had acted without hesitation and possibly saved many lives while sacrificing his own.
Homicides Have Skyrocketed in These Six Democratic Cities; Black People Are Disproportionately the Victims, Data Shows

The number of homicides in six major cities across the country has increased compared to last year, disproportionately affecting black people, according to crime data.

We are seeing an uptick in violent crime across the country, specifically gun violence, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told The New York Times.

In Chicago, black people have been the victims of roughly 81 percent of the 317 murders in the first six months of 2021, data shows. They were the victims of about 70 percent of the 295 murders committed in the first six months of 2020.

I am proud to lead a City Council that took the first step to responsibly reduce Baltimores budget dependence on policing, former Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott, who is now the citys mayor, said after the council voted to strip funding from the citys police last year, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The number of homicides in six major cities across the country has increased compared to last year, disproportionately affecting black people, according to crime data.

Black people have represented a massive share of murder victims in six major cities through the first six months of 2021 compared to last year, which itself saw a large crime surge, according to data analyzed by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The DCNF analyzed both police department data and homicide reports compiled by local news outlets to determine how black people have been victimized in the wake of the 2020 crime spike.

We are seeing an uptick in violent crime across the country, specifically gun violence, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told The New York Times earlier this month.

The DCNF collected homicide data from Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis, some of the only cities in which such data is readily available. Most major cities have limited statistics tracking 2021 murders and homicide victims.

The percentage of murder victims in Chicago that were black increased from 70 percent in 2020 to 81 percent in 2021 while that figure increased from 60 percent to 90 percent year-over-year in Milwaukee, the data showed. In one of the cities analyzed, the percentage of black victims decreased, but the raw number of black victims still increased.

Democratic leaders of most of the cities examined voted to greatly reduce police funding amid widespread Black Lives Matter protests last year. In the wake of the death of George Floyd, who died after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck in May 2020, thousands of protests and riots took place across the country.

One car is flipped over while another one burns as protestors and police face off near the White House protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police in Washington, on May 31, 2020. (Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images)

An LAPD vehicle is set on fire by rioters in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 30, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

University of Missouri criminologist Richard Rosenfeld blamed the uptick in violence seen nationwide on the lack of trust between police and citizens, according to the NYT.

When police legitimacy is greatly reduced, you get more crime because people are no longer relying on the criminal justice system for assistance, Rosenfeld told the NYT. People are less willing to cooperate with police in investigations, less willing to report crimes or other problems to the police, and more willing to take matters into their own hands.

While murder statistics in just six cities were analyzed, the number of homicides has spiked roughly 18 percent across the country compared to 2020, according to a random sample of 37 cities, the NYT reported. In 2020, the number of murders increased by 36.7 percent compared to 2019, according to data analytics reporter Jeff Asher.

As Violent Crime SURGES across America, some politicians and some in the media are gaslighting the public into thinking the Police are the Problem Homicides:

Atlanta  58%

Portland  533%

Philadelphia  37% Shootings:

New York City  64%

Los Angeles  51%

Chicago  18% pic.twitter.com/5RbhbKY312  National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) June 22, 2021

Chicago, Illinois

At least 317 total homicides were committed in Chicago between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 22, 2021, according to a Chicago Sun-Times database. In that same period last year, 295 murders were committed.

While black people represented 207 of the murder victims in Chicago through the period last year ending on June 22, 2020, they represented a whopping 257 of the victims this year, according to the Sun-Times database. That means black people have been the victims of roughly 81 percent of murders this year while they were the victims in about 70 percent of 2020 murders.

Meanwhile, Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed an $80 million cut to Chicago Police Department funding in October, according to Injustice Watch.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a press conference at the Richardson Middle School in Chicago on June 14, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

While we will slow the rate of growth, with a resulting $80 million in corporate fund savings, on my watch we will never make cuts or policy changes that inhibit the core mission of the police department, which is to serve and protect, Lightfoot said, according to the Sun-Times.

Illinois became the first state to completely abolish its cash bail system earlier this year, NBC News reported. The legislation laid out a new, stricter decision-making process for judges to determine if a person charged with a crime presents a threat.

This legislation marks a substantial step toward dismantling the systemic racism that plagues our communities, our state, and our nation and brings us closer to true safety, true fairness, and true justice, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said after signing the bill in February, according to NBC News.

Baltimore, Maryland

In Baltimore, black people represented 69 of the 152, or 45 percent, of total murder victims between Jan. 1, 2021, and June 17, 2021, according to a Baltimore Sun database.

While murder statistics between that same period in 2020 were unavailable, black people were the victims of 130, or 39 percent, of the 335 total homicides committed in Baltimore for all of last year, the database showed.

The majority of murder victims in 2020 and 2021 were listed without racial information in the Baltimore Sun database. Black people represented the vast majority of victims with their race listed.

But the Baltimore City Council agreed to cut $22 million from the citys police budget in June 2020, according to the Baltimore Sun.

A person walks past a police car in Baltimore, Md., on July 28, 2019. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

I am proud to lead a City Council that took the first step to responsibly reduce Baltimores budget dependence on policing, former City Council President Brandon Scott, who is now the citys mayor, said after the vote, the Baltimore Sun reported. This is just the beginning, and I intend to continue leading this process to redirect our public dollars and reimagine public safety in Baltimore.

In March, Baltimore City State Attorney Marilyn Mosby, the citys top prosecutor, announced she would no longer prosecute prostitution, drug possession, or other minor offenses, NBC affiliate WBAL-TV reported.

After multiple shootings in a popular area of Baltimore earlier this month, 37 businesses threatened to stop paying taxes unless Scott addressed surging crime, according to Fox affiliate WBFF-TV. The business owners argued that allowing minor crime to continue leads to major violent crimes.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The number of total murders increased in Milwaukee from 75 in the period between Jan. 1, 2020, and June 17, 2020, to 87 committed over that same period this year, according to murder reports compiled by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Black people were the victims of 79, or 90 percent, of the total murders this year, the database showed. While isolated victim data wasnt available for the first six months of 2020, black people represented 74 percent of all murder victims in Milwaukee last year.

The Milwaukee Common Council approved a police budget cut in November that reduced the department by 120 officers, the Journal Sentinel reported.

Although the proposed budget cut would undoubtedly impact the operations of the Milwaukee Police Department, we remain committed to working and engaging with our community, elected officials, and public safety partners to ensure that all of our neighborhoods are safe, vibrant and livable, the department said in a statement after Democratic Mayor Tom Barrett proposed the budget, according to the Journal Sentinel.

A man on a bike rides past a city truck on fire outside the Kenosha County Courthouse during riots following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 23, 2020. (Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY via Reuters)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

In Pittsburgh, black people made up 90 percent of murder victims between January and April, according to county data. In comparison, 60 percent of murder victims during the same time period last year were black.

There were 20 murders between January and April this year and 10 in that same period in 2020, according to Allegheny County. Data beyond April 31, 2021, hasnt been made available.

The Pittsburgh City Council approved a police department hiring freeze in July 2020, according to WPXI-TV. The council also ordered the department to redirect 10 percent of the budget to social service programs every year.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police said the actions would greatly impact its ability to increase diversity within its ranks, WPXI reported.

Los Angeles, California

Between Jan. 1, 2020 and June 21, 2020, black people were the victims of 92 of the 272 homicides committed in Los Angeles County, which includes the city and surrounding communities, according to a Los Angeles Times database. In the same period this year, they represented 103 of the 315 total homicides.

The data showed that the share of black murder victims in the county has stayed level at around 33 percent year-over-year. However, the uptick in violence this year has caused at least 11 additional deaths in Los Angeles Countys black community compared to last year.

Hispanic people, who are the largest demographic group in the county, accounted for the majority of murder victims in Los Angeles County in both 2020 and 2021 while black people accounted for the second-highest number of murder victims, according to the database. Hispanic people were the victims of 50 percent of the murder victims between Jan. 1, 2020 and June 21, 2020 and 57 percent of the victims in that same period this year.

Police officers patrol in their car in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2020. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles City Council approved a $150 million cut to the citys police department in July 2020, ABC affiliate KABC-TV reported. Democratic Mayor Eric Garcetti supported the massive budget cuts.

It will take years to recover from that, Los Angeles Police union spokesman Dustin DeRollo told the DCNF last summer. And it will result immediately with less officers patrolling the streets.

What that means simply is longer response times to emergency calls, he continued. It means less time to do community-based policing like building relationships in neighborhoods. And it also will mean less ability to implement the training that everybody wants our officers to have.

But, amid the increased violent crime, the Los Angeles County Metro unanimously approved a $36 million budget boost for transit police in March. Garcetti, who serves on the Metros board, voted in favor of the budget increase.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Black people represented 58 of the 98 murder victims in Indianapolis between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 1, 2021, according to a homicide database created by the Indianapolis Star. Last year, black people were the victims in 53 of the citys 70 total murders.

While the percentage of homicide victims who were black decreased from 75 percent to 59 percent in that period, the number of total black homicide victims still increased, the data showed.

Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett resisted calls for defunding the citys police department budget last year, the Indianapolis Recorder reported. Instead, he proposed a $7 million police budget increase.

By Thomas Catenacci

From The Daily Caller News Foundation

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Hong Kongs Apple Daily to Stop Operations

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How Federal Cop Control Left Liberals Joyless in Seattle

When Seattles City Council voted unanimously to cut millions of dollars from its police budget amid the uproar over the murder of George Floyd, it ran into an unlikely roadblock: the federal government. U.S. District Judge James Robart ruled that the city couldnt defund its own police department without his permission.

The judge was acting under the mandate granted him by a 2012 consent decree (pdf) put in place after John T. Williams, a native American woodcarver, was shot four times by a Seattle police officer in 2010. The killing was ruled unjustified. The consent decree  a sort of civil plea bargain  was one of several with police departments across the country arranged under pressure from the Obama Justice Department as it sought to end alleged civil rights abuses by police in cities from Baltimore to Cleveland to Ferguson, Mo.

And now, after being sharply curtailed by the Trump administration, consent decrees are back. In one of his first major actions as President Bidens Attorney General, Merrick Garland in April rescinded the Trump policy limiting them. Days later he announced an investigation into Floyds death, which is expected to result in a consent decree with Minneapolis.

That raises the question: Do consent decrees work? Do they help or hinder police in providing public safety? Do they protect citizens from abusive police practices?

The answer is necessarily subjective, in part because its hard to isolate the factors affecting crime and policing. Still, it seems clear that the record of consent decrees is mixed at best, and the surrender of local control, as in Seattle, may have a good deal to do with it.

Seattle has seen a marked increase in violent crime between 2013, the first full year its cop shop came under consent decree, and 2020. There were 52 homicides in 2020, compared with 19 in 2013. The total number of violent crimes rose by nearly 25 percent over that time. The increase in violent crime holds even accounting for the growth in Seattles population (pdf) over the last decade.

Los Angeles, on the other hand, showed improvement, according to researchers (pdf) from Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government. After nearly a decade under a pre-Obama consent decree, according to the researchers, The quality of service to residents is higher, the perception of the LAPD as fair has risen, and the use of force is down. The LA consent decree was finally lifted in 2013.

The judge overseeing the Ferguson decree  imposed after the 2014 police killing of a young black man, Michael Brown  said at a status conference last year (pdf) that things have not gone as quickly as we had hoped and as the Consent Decree anticipated, but I believe that great progress has been made.

A study of the Baltimore police (pdf) by the American Civil Liberties Union was less positive about results of the decree imposed after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody. Aggressive cops get caught and they pretend to go into reform mode, said one lawyer interviewed for the report. Soon people forget about it and they do it again.

Baltimore police walk near a mural depicting Freddie Gray after prosecutors dropped remaining charges against the three Baltimore police officers who were still awaiting trial in Gray death, in Baltimore on July 27, 2016. (Steve Ruark/AP Photo)

This month, the head of Clevelands police union blamed that citys consent decree for growing gun crime and other lawlessness. The homicide rate is up crazy, union president Jeff Follmer said. [H]ow about let the police do their job and maybe some of these numbers go down?

Follmer might be onto something: The loss of local control, a defining characteristic of consent decrees, means that one of the fundamental responsibilities of local government is handled at a distance. Do police departments improve under federal control? Do citizens get the sort of policing they think is best for their communities? One might consider the recent experience of the Seattle Police Department, as effectively presided over by Judge  and de facto Police Commissioner  Robart.

Critics of consent decrees say the court-governed agreements hinder reform by taking responsibility away from democratically elected officials, whether a given decree has to do with law enforcement or any other issue, such as environmental regulations or the provision of special education. With authority in the hands of unelected, unaccountable judges, monitors, and commissions, change can take years, even decades  if there is change at all.

Decrees may appear democratic, even if a federal judge does have the ultimate say-so over a department covered by one  from training policies and use of force standards, to accountability measures and when to lift a decree altogether. Thats because the judges rulings are usually informed by a monitor. The monitor, in turn, listens to the recommendations of a commission made up of community stakeholders.

Seattles consent decree did indeed establish a Community Police Commission, whose membership was supposed to be representative of the many and diverse communities in Seattle, including members from each precinct of the City, police officer unions, faith communities, minority, ethnic, and other community organizations, and student or youth organizations.

But it turns out that diverse membership does not a democracy make. Community representatives do not bear the same burdens as elected leaders. And their power relative to the judge is still limited, which may be an understatement. The Commissions reports and recommendations, the consent decree promises, will be posted to the Citys Website.

David Schoenbrod, a professor at New York Law School, and co-author of the book Democracy by Decree, an influential critique of What Happens When Courts Run Government, argues that authority must be tied to representation. The way democracy is supposed to work, he told RealClearInvestigations, is for key policies to be made by elected officials. They are responsible.

Advocates for consent decrees, by contrast, argue that local police departments cant reform themselves, as Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of Berkeley Law, put it in the Los Angeles Times. Bring on the feds.

Bring on the feds they did in Seattle, but in practice, the feds may well halt reform  cementing long-standing police practices, and hindering lawmakers ability to make timely changes.

Police officers block a street outside of the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct, in Seattle, Wash., on July 1, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images)

The federal investigation into Seattles policing that resulted in its consent decree was led by a U.S. attorney, Jenny Durkan. She came from a prominent political family in Washington state described as West Coast Kennedys. Durkans federal Department of Justice experience and political ambitions came together when she successfully ran for mayor of Seattle in 2017, trumpeting her role in putting the Seattle Police Department (SPD) under the consent decree. Durkans tenure as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, the Seattle Times wrote in an election season profile, is the cornerstone of her campaign.

But the city arguably paid a price for the consent decree Durkan helped secure, and then ran on  the city lost control of its ability to respond to crises involving its police department. Years of training in Use of Force Principles, and Weapon-Specific Policies mandated by the decree left law enforcement unprepared for the protests and riots of last summer. Local officials were appalled at the SPDs use of tear gas, blast balls and other crowd-control weapons, and last July the Seattle City Council voted 90 to ban them.

The council also took up the call to defund the police, voting to shift millions of dollars out of the police budget. Mayor Durkan opposed the action, but the lawmakers overruled her veto. And yet, they were stonewalled. It was not police who found themselves hobbled by federal oversight. Instead, the uniformly liberal city council was. It was repeatedly blocked in its efforts to defund the police and limit the weapons that could be used for crowd control as a consequence of the consent decree.

When Seattle copped to a consent decree rather than fight the DOJs determination that its policing was discriminatory, violent, and unconstitutional, its police department found itself answering to Judge Robart. (Judge Robart would become nationally known for halting President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily suspending immigration from terrorism-linked countries.)

Then-President Donald Trump at a Make America Great Again rally in El Paso, Texas, on Feb. 11, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Judge Robart declared Seattle couldnt make changes to policing in the city without his permission, even though he admitted he might not have been an infallible expert on the issues: I cant tell you today if blast balls are a good idea or a bad idea, Robart said in July 2020, but I know that sometime a long time ago I approved them. This matter of expertise alone is one of the problems with consent decrees.

Last summer we asked the court to maintain the consent decree in the face of outsized police response to mostly peaceful protests, councilmember Lisa Herbold recently wrote in a newsletter to her constituents. Now we are faced with a consent decree that is a barrier to passage of policy regulating the use of weapons like blast balls and tear gas. The consent decree had also become a barrier, Herbold said, to the Council fulfilling our commitment to reduce [the Seattle Police Departments] budget to hold them accountable.

Judge Robart went still further. He not only blocked lawmakers from implementing policy reforms, but dressed them down for not recognizing his authority. I have some rather harsh words for the City Council over the last six months or so, Robart declared this past February. I think they have lost sight of the fact that the 100 paragraphs in the consent decree are not 100 paragraphs. They are not even commitments. They are obligations, orders from this court of things that will be done, Robart said. And when they decide to take matters into their own hands in contravention of the Consent Decree, then they drag me into a situation that I dont want to be in, which is telling them, No, you cant do that.

RCI submitted questions to Judge Robart about his control over Seattle police operations. A clerk replied: Judge Robart does not respond to media inquiries on active matters before the court. That may be a reasonable judicial policy, but it also means an individual governing a big city police department might go years without taking questions on how hes doing the job.

According to Seattles consent decree monitor, Antonio Oftelie, the important thing is that local governments abide by the terms of their commitments. If budget cuts erode the ability of the City to meet its basic obligations, the city may fall out of compliance with the consent decree, Oftelie told RealClearInvestigations.

Adrian Diaz, who became Seattles new police chief in September, made it clear he embraces the consent decree. In February, Diaz declared that the SPD had collaborated in developing the ongoing monitoring plan under which the departments adherence to the consent decree would be judged. He made it clear that he answered to federal authorities: This plan formalizes SPD deliverables.

Adrian Diaz, Deputy Chief of Seattle Police speaks at a press conference as Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (R) looks on at Seattle City Hall, in Seattle, Wash., on Aug. 11, 2020. (Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

But where does federal authority leave room for local lawmakers preferred policies to be tested? Defunding the police may be a good idea; it may be a terrible idea. But without responsibility for the outcome, legislators dont have to answer for their role in the policy chosen. With judges dictating policy, Schoenbrod says, accountability is lost. Elected officials can say The court made us do it.

Michael Morley, professor at Florida State University College of Law, contends that  consistent with Seattles experience  consent decrees tend to entrench one or another set of policies and stifle change, rather than spur reforms. Such decrees in effect represent the consent not of the governed, but of the government.

Morley told RCI that state and local government entities enthusiastically embrace decrees because the decrees guarantee spending. Rather than being punitive, consent decrees often lead cities to increase the budgets of problem departments, spending millions on training and new technologies. The targets of consent decrees, Morley said, regularly use the agreements to secure and protect resources.

As for Seattle Mayor Durkan, her tenure having been a muddle, she announced she will not seek reelection in November. But she doesnt blame her lame duck status on her entanglement with the consent decree. While Mayor Durkans office did not answer questions from RealClearInvestigations, she applauded, in an open letter to the Attorney General, his decision to rescind the Trump Administrations limits on consent decrees. Even though the decree she had imposed on Seattle thwarted democratic decision-making and accountability in the city, Durkan declared such decrees had been critical to creating new policies, more training, new investigative oversight, new civilian oversight, and more transparency in data and reporting.

But not more democracy.

This article was written by Eric Felten for RealClearInvestigations
Protesters clash with police at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)

Indiana Woman Gets Probation in First Sentencing for Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

An Indiana woman was put on probation on June 23 in the first sentence stemming from the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol building.

Anna Morgan-Lloyd, 49, who said she came to Washington at the invitation of her hairdresser friend, pleaded guilty to a single charge of illegally demonstrating in the Capitol building and was sentenced in federal court to serve three years of probation, perform 40 hours of community service, and pay $500 in restitution, court records show.

Under a deal with prosecutors, the government dropped three other misdemeanor charges against Morgan-Lloyd, as she did not personally engage in physical violence against law enforcement or destroy any government property. She has since apologized to the American people for participating in a savage display of violence.

I would just like to apologize to the court, the American people, and my family, she said in remarks to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth. I went there to show support for President Trump peacefully, and Im ashamed that it became a savage display of violence.

Morgan-Lloyd stated that she felt ashamed that something meant to show support for the President had turned violent.

At first, it didnt dawn on me, but later I realized that if every person like me, who wasnt violent, was removed from that crowd, the ones who were violent may have lost the nerve to do what they did, she said.

For that, I am sorry and take responsibility. It was never my intent to help empower people to act violently.

Immediately following the breach on Jan. 6, she had described the events in a Facebook post as the best day ever after storming the Capitol building. She said that her friend and she were in the first 50 people in.

Court documents note that while Morgan-Lloyd faced a maximum potential sentence of six months in prison, a probationary sentence of three yearsalong with certain conditionsis an appropriate sentence in light of the facts and circumstances surrounding her actions leading up to and on the day of the Capitol breach.

Morgan-Lloyd didnt engage in any preplanning or coordination prior to her entry into the Capitol, didnt personally engage in acts of violence or destruction of property, or incite the same, court papers state.

The 49-year-old remained in the Capitol for only a little over ten minutes and in a limited area of the building; cooperated with law enforcement at the time of arrest, including submitting to a voluntary interview and search of her cell phone; admitted to and accepted responsibility for her actions in a timely manner; expressed contrition; and she didnt have a criminal history.

In seeking probation for Morgan-Lloyd, prosecutors also noted that she was invited by her hairdresser friend, Dona Sue Bissey, 52, to drive to Washington to hear former President Donald Trump speak.

Prosecutors said in court records, however, that her storming of the building was a serious violation of the law.

I have really struggled with what would be an appropriate sentence, Lamberth said. This wasnt a peaceful demonstration. It was not an accident that it turned violent.

In her plea, Morgan-Lloyd said that shed learned from her actions and had been given a list of books and movies by her attorney, H. Heather Shaner, which were meant to help her see what life is like for others in our country.

Ive learned that even though we live in a wonderful country, things still need to improve, Morgan-Lloyd wrote. People of all colors should feel as safe as I do to walk down the street.

Morgan-Lloyds remorse in the aftermath of the Capitol breach was acknowledged by the prosecution.

To be clear, what the Defendant initially described as the most exciting day of [her] life was, in fact, a tragic day for our nationa day of riotous violence, collective destruction, and criminal conduct by a frenzied and lawless mob, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein said in court. However  [Morgan-Lloyds] seeming prior bravado  appears to have been tempered by a realization of the consequences of her actions.

In the past two weeks, four other peoplea Tennessee man, a Maryland man, and a Virginia couplepleaded guilty to the same misdemeanor charge.

Testifying at an oversight hearing held by the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee earlier this month, FBI Director Chris Wray said that the FBI had divided the tens of thousands of protesters who were at the Capitol on Jan. 6 into three groups: peaceful, maybe rowdy protesters who didnt participate in the breach and made up the biggest group, a second group who engaged in criminal trespass of the Capitol Building, and a third groupthe smallest in numberwho were responsible for carrying weapons into the Capitol.

Close to 500 arrests among those in the second and third groups have been made so far in connection with the Jan. 6 incident, Wray told the committee. The Department of Justice previously said that the majority of cases are related to entering a restricted building, obstruction of an official proceeding, and civil disorder.

The FBI director also testified that the law enforcement agency considered the events that unfolded on Jan. 6 to be an act of domestic terrorism. When asked by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) whether the events on Jan. 6 at the Capitol could be considered an insurrection, Wray replied that he believes that it would be inappropriate to describe the breach as such.

In my role as FBI director, because thats a term that has legal meaning, I really have to be careful about using words like that, Wray said, noting that what he says could affect ongoing criminal cases.

Democratic lawmakers have pushed the narrative that the Jan. 6 breach was an insurrection, largely during the January impeachment effort against the former president. No one who participated in the breach has been charged with insurrection.
LA City Council Adopts Ordinance In Effort To Stop Landlords Harassing Tenants

LOS ANGELES, Calif.The Los Angeles City Council on June 23 adopted an ordinance aimed at preventing landlords from harassing tenants by eliminating services, withholding repairs, refusing to accept rent payments or taking other retaliatory actions.

The ordinance passed on a 13-0 vote, with two members absent. It will next go to Mayor Eric Garcetti for approval.

I am pleased that the city council passed the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance. This means that for the first time in Los Angeles, city law defines and codifies illegal harassment activities, providing an affirmative defense for tenants in eviction cases when landlords engage in actions constituting harassment while strengthening civil penalties, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, who chairs the Housing Committee, said in a statement after the vote.

During these challenging times, tenants struggling to make ends meet have been most vulnerable to losing their homes. The ordinance initiated prior to the pandemic will make landlord bullying tactics and coercive behavior illegal, he said. L.A.s renters need a strong anti-harassment ordinance to protect them from illegal displacement.

The ordinance has been in the works since Feb. 2, 2017, when former councilmember Jose Huizar introduced a motion to have the Housing and Community Investment Department review other cities anti-harassment ordinances and report on the possibility of adopting a similar measure in Los Angeles.

After a years-long process, the ordinances draft was reviewed by the Los Angeles City Council on June 9, when council members voted to strengthen various aspects, including through an expanded definition of harassment, and directed the City Attorneys Office to incorporate the revisions and bring the measure back for final approval.

The ordinance defines tenant harassment in several ways, including reducing or eliminating housing services, such as parking; failing to perform necessary repairs and maintenance; abusing the right to access a rental unit; threatening a tenant with physical harm; misrepresenting to a tenant that he or she is required to vacate the unit; refusing to accept rent payments; and inquiring about a tenants immigration status.

City council amended the definition to include tactics like coercing a tenant to vacate with offers of payment; failing to perform necessary repairs on time as required by federal, state, county or local housing, health or safety laws; failing to minimize exposure to noise, dust, lead, paint, asbestos and other harmful building materials; and interfering with the comfort, peace or quiet of a tenant.

While the definition was expanded to include a wider range of harassment tactics, council members also set the bar higher for what classifies as tenant harassment, as proposed by Councilman John Lee. The definition includes a landlords knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific tenant or tenants that causes detriment or harm and that serves no lawful purpose.

Councilwoman Nithya Raman had proposed lowering the bar for what would qualify as tenant harassment with an amendment that was not incorporated and defined harassment as a landlord engaging in knowing and willful commission of the defined acts of harassment.

She expressed concern about the approved amendment, saying that some landlords lawfully remove amenities, such as parking spaces, from tenants as a harassment tactic. David Michaelson of the City Attorneys Office told Raman that it would be up to a court to decide if the intent was lawful, even if the tactics were.

Under the ordinance, if harassment occurs, a tenant who prevails in court may be awarded compensation for damages, rent refunds for reduction in housing services and reasonable compensation for attorneys fees. A landlord might also be fined up to $5,000 if the tenant is older than 65 or disabled.

For repair or maintenance issues, a tenant is required to provide written notice to the landlord of the alleged violation before initiating a civil proceeding or small claims case.

Following the ordinances approval June 23, Raman introduced a motion to instruct the Housing and Community Investment Department to report back in one year with data and metrics that the City Council can use to assess the effectiveness of the ordinance. Her motion, which was seconded by Council President Nury Martinez, also requests a comparative analysis of California cities for enforcement of anti-harassment ordinances.

The City Attorneys Office would also be directed to report back on a recommended program to enforce the ordinance, including permanent staff positions to monitor and enforce the ordinance.

Ultimately, this ordinance cannot be determined a success until it actually proves effective in protecting tenants, especially tenants from the most vulnerable segments of our communities, Raman said. We have an obligation to ensure its purpose is carried out across Los Angeles.

The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment requested the ordinance be strengthened by making tenant harassment a misdemeanor, which city council added to the draft ordinance on June 9.

According to that amendment, it will be a misdemeanor to attempt to interfere with the peaceful enjoyment, use, possession or occupancy of any premises by the lawful lessee or tenant of such premises either by threat, fraud, intimidation, coercion, duress or by the maintenance or toleration of a public nuisance, or by cutting off heat, light, water, fuel or free communication by anyone by mail, telephone or otherwise, or by restricting trade or tradesmen from or to any such tenant.

The group also sought funds to implement the law and a provision that would allow tenants to return to the unit and pay the same amount of rent if a judge finds that an eviction occurred through harassment.

Council members amended the ordinance to force rental units protected by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance to be rented at the lawful rent in effect at the time of the most recent termination of tenancy if the landlord is found to have vacated the unit through harassment.

Raman told council members before the vote that amendment is among those she is most proud of, as it eliminates the incentive for landlords to engage in this kind of behavior in the first place.

I really want to be clear today, as were talking about this issue, who this ordinance will help, Raman said. The more vulnerable the tenant is, the more likely they are to be affected by harassment and to be displaced by harassment.

She added that people of color, low-income renters, women and families with children are disproportionately affected by tenant harassment.

The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment had asked the City Council to add amendments to ensure enforcement of the ordinance, including forcing landlords to pay a tenants legal fees. ACCE unsuccessfully argued that the part of the measure that says a tenant who prevails in court may be awarded attorneys fees is a crucial loophole which can be the difference between gaining access to lawyers for these tenants of harassment.

We have to close this loophole, the law has to be clear, an ACCE representative said earlier this month. As the ordinance stands now, the burden of proof is on the tenant to prove harassment. We want to change this language so that the burden of proof is on the landlord to prove that they are not harassing the tenants.

Cedillo said: If we can shift to the landlord having this as a defense, in other words, their actions have to be lawful, have to be legitimate. Were trying to stop harassment and what we should be able to do is take a claim from a tenant and then the burden should shift to the landlord in a way where theyre able to raise these defenses if theyre legitimate.

Several people called into a Housing Committee meeting on April 14 and city council meetings ahead of the vote to relate stories of being harassed by their landlords, including one woman who said her landlord attempted to drive tenants out by removing the entire roof.

Landlords also called in to oppose the ordinance, with some saying tenant harassment is exaggerated and other saying that landlords also need protection from tenant harassment.

Cedillo said during the Housing Committees discussion of the ordinance, for the landlord community, let me say that we are talking about outliers, were talking about the small percent of despicable, predatory landlords. Not the community of landlords or housing providers and home providers these are outliers.

The type of egregious cases that were brought to us today were beyond anecdotes. The type of experiences and reports that we get in our office go beyond anecdotes, and those are the outliers that we are trying to protect tenants from, he said.
The Pornhub website is shown on a computer screen in Toronto on Dec. 16, 2020. (The Canadian Press)

Landmark Lawsuit Could Change Online Porn Industry

The lawyer in a landmark civil lawsuit against pornographic giant Pornhubs parent company says a successful result could rein in harmful practices endemic to online porn.

On June 17, Michael Bowe of Brown Rudnick LLP filed a complaint in a California court on behalf of 34 female plaintiffs against MindGeek, which owns the Montreal-based pornographic video-sharing platform.

The lawsuit alleges that Pornhub and MindGeek exploited and knowingly profited from child pornography, rape videos, trafficked content, stolen content, and other non-consensual content.

The suit represents the first claims against MindGeek under the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act, alleging that the company is a criminal enterprise engaged in financial crimes and human trafficking.

Bowe explained to The Epoch Times that a RICO suit holds everybody in that entity equally responsible if they were an entity that conducted themselves consistently in a pattern of particular illegal conduct. And trafficking, child pornography, are in that  not on a one-off basis, not every once in a whileit is endemic to this company and frankly this industry.

Enforcement of laws against illegal pornographic content was more straightforward in the pre-internet days, Bowe said.

Its absolutely clear that all those laws still apply to this industry. And yet, because it was the internet, and because it was very disruptive, and because frankly, I just think it was so explosive, law enforcement just shrugged and it became a red light district, he said.

A successful suit would not only secure justice for his clients, it could lead other pornographers to change their practices, Bowe said.

The idea would be to make this a responsible industry, one that only involves consensual conduct. So that is a longer-term goal.

The plaintiffs are filing individually and not as a class action. The majority live in the United States, but others live in Canada, South America, and Asia. One spoke to The Epoch Times under the pseudonym of Jane Doe No. 26.

I am a trafficking survivor. These videos have ruined my life, she said.

It is time for the companies and individuals that have profited off of non-consensual and illegal content to be held liable. We must demand  regulations and policies be put in place in this industry to prevent the continued exploitation of even more innocent victims.

One of the plaintiffs is an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein. Beginning at age 7, and continuing for more than 21 years, Jane Doe No. 1 was raped, trafficked, and exploited by a ring of Hollywood men and New York financiers, including Jeffrey Epstein. These interactions were often recorded and since no later than 2007 have been widely and continuously distributed on Pornhub, the lawsuit states.

Petition to Shut Down Pornhub

California resident Laila Mickelwait, who testified before Canadas Standing Committee on Information, Privacy and Ethics in February, launched a petition to shut down Pornhub that has gained over 2.2 million signatures.

Mickelwait noted that there has been some progress, such as Pornhub removing content from unverified users which accounted for 80 percent of the platforms content, and Visa and MasterCard no longer allowing credit card payments.

Im very pleased with the progress thats been made, really over the past year, but especially in the last few months. And I feel like with this lawsuit, its taken accountability to a whole new level because this lawsuit is establishing what no other lawsuit has established before, she said in an interview.

In a series of recent parliamentary committee meetings, MPs have heard from witnesses and victims who say images of victims of rape and children are getting posted on the platform. Pornhub executives told MPs that they have since removed a large portion of unverified user-uploaded content.

Mickelwait said she is concerned not only for the victims of rape or child abuse whose images end up online, but also about children who may see these images on the internet.

When it comes to criminal content, you actually have 8-year-olds and 10-year-olds who are without restriction being able to access the real child sexual abuse of another vulnerable child, or the rape of a woman or a man, as their sex education from a very young age. That can be extremely traumatizing and damaging and cause lifelong harm to that child, she said.

Thats the content that society and especially children are consuming. That is incredibly damaging and harmful, and that really needs to stop.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, a Pornhub spokesperson said, Pornhub has zero tolerance for illegal content and investigates any complaint or allegation made about content on our platforms. The allegations in [the] complaint that Pornhub is a criminal enterprise that traffics women [is] utterly absurd, completely reckless, and categorically false.

What are These Porn Sites Doing to Humanity?

On International Womens Day in 2016, Conservative MP Arnold Viersen introduced Motion M-47, stating that the Standing Committee on Health be instructed to examine the public health effects of the ease of access and viewing of online violent and degrading sexually explicit material on children, women and men.

It was endorsed by 21 organizations and adopted unanimously by parliamentarians.

How I got into all of this was the Rehtaeh Parsons case, Viersen said in an interview.

The [15]-year-old girl was basically gang-raped at a party and the boys posted videos of this on their own Facebook page. They thought this was so normal that they would brag about it and put it up for everybody to see.

Even though the postings depicted sex with a minor, the RCMP concluded after a yearlong investigation that it was a he said she said case and that there was not enough evidence to lay charges. The Parsons family moved from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, to Halifax, but other teenagers never allowed her to put the event behind her. She committed suicide at age 17.

A 2006 to 2008 survey of youth aged 1015 found that those who reported exposure to porn were 6.5 times more likely to report sexually aggressive behaviour, and youth who reported exposure to violent material were 24 times more likely to report sexually aggressive behaviour.

Were in the largest social experiment in human historyinternet porn websites that have never existed before, Viersen said.

The premise of what consensual people do, sure, go aheadthats not even what Im talking about, he added. Im talking about overall, when we look at Canadian society or Western society or the world society, what are these internet porn sites doing to humanity?
In this file image, students arrive for their graduation ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England, on Oct. 13, 2015. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Leading Cancel Culture Researcher Describes Campaign to Cancel Him

Kaufmann: for radicals, trying to oust people is almost a religious experience, 'like calling out a witch or calling out a sinner'

When the online cancel mob came for him, Professor Eric Kaufmann felt little sense of surpriseonly irony.

As a leading researcher into cancel culture in the world of academia, he knows all too well that these days simply championing free speech can be seen as an act of fascism by some radical students and academics.

Kaufmann is a professor of politics at Birkbeck College, University of London, and author of Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration, and the Future of White Majorities. He also has been a pioneer in using surveys to research authoritarianism and political discrimination in universities in both the United States and the UK.

When radicals at his own college started recently trying to oust him from the university, it followed an all-too-familiar pattern, he says.

They basically put out this thread of Tweets saying that Im some kind of a white supremacist, he told the Epoch Times. Which is just kind of funny, obviously, because my own background is half Jewish and part Chinese and Latino, but also because the things that they were calling far right were things like writing for Quillette and Unherd or doing reports for Policy Exchange (which is a mainstream conservative think tank) and also for criticising wokeness.

Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics, Birkbeck College, London. (Screenshot/NTD)

The Epoch Times has verified the existence of these Twitter posts.

Kaufmann said that the radical student group has had him in their sights for several years and also has some limited support among radicals at the faculty.

The Upper Layers Matter

But he isnt overly worried, and he doesnt blame the university itself. He says that because his college specialises in mature students it is more insulated from radicals than many other academic institutions, where younger generations rule the roost.

The upper layers of a university do matter. And these decisions, I think, when the upper layers are very much beholden to the woke agenda, which we see in places like Kings College or Cambridge, then its more likely that youd find trouble.

University students return for the spring term at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, on Jan. 13, 2004. (Graeme Robertson/Getty Images)

Kaufmann also says that he is lucky to be also less reliant on his position at the university than some of his peers. He also says that with his conservative views long since out in the open, he has much less to lose.

A seminal study by Kaufmann earlier this year found there was a crisis of free speech at universities, mostly manifesting as discrimination against conservatives. This kind of hard authoritarianism involves no-platforming, dismissal campaigns, social media mob attacks, open letters  formal complaints, and disciplinary action, according to the research published by the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology (CSPI).

Kaufmann says that the campaigns can appear somewhat organically, but that they often have an organising nerve centre too, with students and allied faculty members stirring up the mob.

Like Calling Out a Witch

Its partly about signalling to each other. Participants gain ideological kudos from fellow travellers and get a kind of moral thrill, he says. Its partly a religious experiencea bit like calling out a witch or calling out a sinner whos been possessed by the devil or something like that. It has that same dynamic.

Kaufmann describes the driving force behind cancel culture as left modernism, which he says is the contemporary hegemonic ideology in elite institutions.

He says it is a blend of liberalism, Marxism, and the therapeutic ethos of universitiesthe so-called snowflake mentality.

[It is] liberalism, which had always focused on acquiring rights for minority groupsreligious, racial, sexualfused with a sort of Marxist outlook, which is that of victimhood and oppression and a zero sum conflict between victimhood and oppressor and this need for radical revolutionary almost transformation, to achieve some sort of a utopia, he says. Overlaid on top, he says is a Freudian therapeutic ethos that focuses a lot on subjective feelings and empathy and, and harm and safety.

The Courage to Speak Your Mind

Kaufmann says that the attempts to label him as racist are typical, with the radicals simply changing the definition of racism to suit their ends. They are almost insulating themselves from criticismif you criticise us, youre a racist, essentially.

He says these days it takes courage as an academic to simply say what is on your mind.

In academia, its almost impossible to get a job, and certainly once youve been the subject of one of these campaigns and in the area where you live. People are very skittish about sticking their neck out if theres any risk at all.

Then theres the psychological impact.

In this file image, a student arrives for her graduation ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England, on Oct. 13, 2015. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Ive had internal complaints that have been launched by the same network, which they mentioned incidentally in their Tweet stream. Those, of course, do take a psychological toll, he says. They know that and they sort of lean into that for that exact reason: even if theyre not going to succeed, they want to put you through the wringer.

This creates a general chilling effect on free speech on campuses, he says.

Not About the Silent Majority

A study published by Kings College London earlier this month showed that a quarter of people aged 1624 in the UK support the idea of no-platforming. That number drops with age.

Kaufmann says he is encouraged by the UK governments recent pushback against cancel culture in universities, and its plans for so-called free speech champions. But with a growing appetite for cancelling people among young people, he thinks things are going to get worse.

All the data Ive seen shows that this is a battle of ideas its an ideological conflict., he says. It is not simply about a silent majority afraid to speak up.

Even though supportactive supportfor cancel culture is only around 10 percent amongst faculty, theres about a 40 to 50 percent shareIve done this in a number of reportsthat are sort of equivocal. They like the social justice aims of the cancellers but they dont really like firing people. Theyre kind of torn, therefore theyre not going to speak up.

There is a chink of hope, he says.

There is some evidence from Britain that the very, very youngest aged 18 to 20s are, are somewhat more sensible than 21- to 28-year-olds, he says, So theres maybe something happening amongst the very, very youngest that were picking up in the surveys.

But he thinks intervention is needed.

Were in a phase where the governments in the West are going to need to start intervening in institutions, like universities, and even backing workplace legislation that makes it easier to essentially enforce free speech rights of employees.
OTTAWAThe Liberal government waited until the House of Commons was about to adjourn for three months to introduce a bill aimed at protecting Canadians from online hate speech.

The eleventh-hour move Wednesday fuelled speculation that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is intent on padding the Liberals record before calling an election sometime this summer.

Once again, we see all Canadians can expect from the Trudeau Liberals are photo ops and announcements, said Conservative justice critic Rob Moore.

The fact this bill was brought forward in the last minutes before Parliament ends for the summer shows this Liberal government is only interested in political posturing ahead of the next electionnot rooting out hate speech.

Bill C-36 would die on the order paper should an election be called, along with all other bills stuck at various stages of the legislative process.

Justice Minister David Lametti insisted the government is very much committed to the bill, which he said demonstrates the commitment our government has towards fighting hate.

It would amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to reinstate an amended version of a controversial section that was repealed in 2013 amid widespread criticism that it violated freedom of speech rights.

It would also amend the Criminal Code and Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The bill would define hatred to mean the emotion that involves detestation or vilification that is stronger than dislike or disdain. And it would specify that a statement would not be considered hate speech solely because it discredits, humiliates or offends.

Thats considerably more narrow than the original section 13 of the Human Rights Act, which defined hate speech as anything likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt on the basis of their race, gender, religion or other prohibited ground of discrimination.

Hate and vilification are realities for Indigenous people, Asian, Jewish and Black Canadians, LGBTQ2 people and people with disabilities, Lametti told a news conference Wednesday night.

And some of the worst examples of hate are visible online, in that virtual public space.

The bill would allow individuals or groups to file hate speech complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which would be empowered to order perpetrators to cease communications or, in some cases, to pay monetary compensation and penalties.

It would also provide more money to the commission and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to rapidly screen out complaints that dont meet the new definition and conduct fair and efficient hearings for those that do. The tribunal would be empowered to award litigation costs against anyone deemed to have abused the process.

The bill would apply to the individual authors of online hate, not to the social media platforms on which they post their messages. Long-promised legislation governing how the platforms deal with hate speech is still to come, with the government promising consultations this summer on proposed regulations.

The narrow definition of hate speech in the bill did not satisfy the Conservatives, who have accused the Liberals of muzzling free speech with another bill aimed at regulating online streaming giants.

Conservatives condemn all hate speech and speech that incites violence, said Moore.

But this bill will not target hate speechjust ensure bureaucrats in Ottawa are bogged down with frivolous complaints about tweets.

He accused the Liberals of empowering a bureaucracy to subjectively restrict the rights of Canadians.

The bill comes weeks after police said a 20-year-old man intentionally drove his truck into a Muslim family out for a walk in London, Ont. Nathaniel Veltman faces four firstdegree murder charges and an attempted murder charge that prosecutors allege constitutes an act of terrorism.

The recent events in London, tragically, although they didnt raise new issues, did put this in the spotlight, said Lametti, who was joined by a number of other ministers at the late news conference.

We heard the cries to say, We know youre moving on this but we want you to act as quickly as possible.

Liberal MP Arif Virani, Lamettis parliamentary secretary who conducted extensive consultations on the subject, said the government has to consider how radicalization can be enhanced online.

No politician can draw a straight line definitively between events but were using the best evidence that we have before us and what were hearing from those consultations  to curtail this hatred.

Virani said those who suggest the bill would suppress free speech have it backward. Its vulnerable individuals and groups who are being silenced, fearful of becoming the target of hate messages, he said.

Pressed on whether the amendments to the Human Rights Act would realistically make an impact on online hate speechgiven that victims would have to initiate a potentially years-long tribunal proceeding to remove an offending commentthe ministers said the changes are an important step advocates have long been asking for.

Clarifying the definition of hatred, both in the criminal law and in the CHRA, will be helpful in defining the parameters of the public space, said Lametti.

We wont catch everything thats awful out there. But we will identify a lot of things that are unlawful and thats what were targeting.

By Joan Bryden
Manhunt Underway After Suspect Shoots Florida Officer in Head During Vehicle Inspection

An on-duty patrol officer in Florida who was inspecting a suspicious vehicle Wednesday night was rushed to the hospital after the driver shot him in the head, a video of the incident shows.

The shooting prompted a county-wide lockdown and the Daytona Beach Police Department is offering a $100,000 reward for anyone who can help authorities locate the man who shot one of our officers in the head, a statement from the agency reads.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Othal Wallace, a 29-year-old black male, who was behind the wheels of a gray 2016 Honda HRV with California tag 7TNX532 at the time of the inspection and shooting.

The grey 2016 Honda HRV with California tag 7TNX532 which Othal Wallace, 29, is believed to be driving. (Courtesy of Daytona Beach Police Department)

The Volusia County Sheriffs Department said in a press release Wallace is considered armed & dangerous and urges anyone with information on the suspect to contact 911 immediately.

The identity of the wounded officer is currently withheld, but Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young confirmed he is at the Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

No change in the status of my hero who was shot in the line of duty last night, Young said on Twitter early on Thursday in the latest update. Hes fighting while all of us are praying.

A separate press release from the department reads the officer is out of surgery but remains in critical condition.

Young told reporters during a press briefing there are more than 500 police officers that have responded in the area and they are currently committed to doing everything they can to hunt down Wallace.

Im grateful for every agency that has responded over here tonight to help us because they are committed to staying out here until we have this coward in custody, the chief said.

In a 29-second clip from the incident, Wallace is seen on the body-camera video from the officer shooting at him shortly after he started a conversation, asking the suspect if he was living here.

Come on man, dont do this. Why are you asking me if I live here? the suspect is heard asking the officer. Wallace is then seen struggling for several seconds with the officer, shouting, Stop! Stop, man! before firing his gun, hitting the officer in the head.

Young said the armed motorist drove off after shooting the officer, who joined the police force three years ago.

This is a young kid and I highlight that because most officers you would see their wives or their kids respond to the hospital (when wounded), its his mom in there, the chief said. So that tells you where he is in his life.

The wounded officer was found lying on the street by officers who responded to his latest location after he stopped answering his radio when units tried to call him, police said.

From NTD News
Massachusetts Police Pay Tribute to K-9 Killed In The Line Of Duty

The Braintree Police held a memorial service at the Massachusetts Gillette Stadium on Tuesday for Kitt, a K-9 police dog that took a lethal hit during a June 4 shootout.

According to a press release from the Braintree Police Department, officers responded to a domestic abuse call at the Braintree Village apartment complex in Braintree, Massachusetts, on June 4. When the officers arrived, they were informed the subject was armed and had fled into a wooded area. As the officers approached the gunmans location, gunshots were exchanged at close range. The subject was later identified as 34-year-old Andrew Homen.

Braintree police chief Mark Dubois told local media outlets that officers were ambushed by the gunman. Officer Matthew Donaghue and Officer Billy Cushing sustained multiple gunshot wounds, while Kitt was fatally shot.

The wounded officers were released from the hospital on June 11.

According to the Braintree Police Department, the memorial service on June 22 only allowed for law enforcement and invited guests. A public vehicle procession from Braintree to Foxborough was held so the community could pay their final respects to Kitt. Many people stood along the streets or gathered outside the stadium to honor the police dog.

K-9 Kitt heroically advanced towards the subject causing him to turn his attention away from the officers. If not for the actions of K-9 Kitt, the circumstances that afternoon could have been dramatically different, Braintree Police said.

According to the Braintree Police, Kitt, a Belgian Malinois, was born in 2009 in Slovakia and imported into the United States by the Connecticut Canine Services. Kitt had worked together with Officer Cushing for 11 years after the team graduated from the Canine Academy.

In 2016, Kitt was awarded the Braintree Police Medal of Valor for his protection of several officers during an armed confrontation. In July 2020, Kitt and Officer Cushing tracked down a person responsible for a shooting incident at the South Shore Plaza. That incident resulted in serious injuries and a property lockdown.

K-9 Kitt valiantly gave his life for his beloved handler (and the other officers) and died a true hero that afternoon, Braintree Police said.

Hundreds of police officers from across Massachusetts saluted to Kitt at the Tuesday ceremony.

Quincy Police said in a Tuesday Facebook post that they covered shifts in Braintree so that Braintree officers could attend funeral services.

Cambridge Police wrote on Twitter that Deputy Superintendent Pauline Wells performed the National Anthem at the ceremony for Kitt.

Vivian La Farge and Anna Shea contributed to this report
Justine Murray, then a student at Syracuse University, at a White House signing ceremony for President Donald Trump's executive order on campus free speech on March 21, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Miss New Jersey Contestant Speaks Against Orwellian Censorship in American Colleges

A Miss New Jersey contestant took the stage to warn of an epidemic of censorship and entitlement, which she said is silencing young Americans on college campuses.

Justine Murray, the reigning Miss Northern Highlands, competed last week in the pageant at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. She was asked by the judges to identify and explain the most important issue her generation faces, and to deliver a social impact statement.

Our generation is experiencing an epidemic of censorship and entitlement. And its because our professors and our celebrities are teaching students to be narcissists, to believe that any view that differs from their own is an existential threat, Murray replied in a video she posted to Twitter.

And this is what I experienced on my own campus with censorship to the point where people believe that speech is violence so that they can threaten other people with violence, simply because they disagree with them, she continued.

Murray attended Syracuse University in New York, which is among the worst American colleges for free speech in a 2020 survey by Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a non-profit organization focusing on students First Amendment rights. Syracuse ranked 51st in the nations 55 largest campuses, with over 60 percent of 230 students surveyed saying they felt uneasy to share their perspective on a subject because of how peers, professors, and administrators would react.

When it came to her social impact statement, Murray passionately argued in favor of the First Amendment and freedom of speech.

It is listed first under the Bill of Rights for a reason. Without it, all other liberties crumble, the beauty queen told the judges and audiences. But today, were watching free speech get hammered to the ground by the very institutions that are supposed to promote diversity of thoughts.

The mere words Im offended are now being used as an excuse to silence students, fire professors, and cancel people simply because they do not tow the popular line of thought, she added. And thats what I experiencedan Orwellian phenomenon, dominating my own campus to the point where it got borderline violent.

Murray did not place in the pageant, as the crown went to Miss Seashore Line Alyssa Sullivan, who will represent her state in the Miss America competition this December.

I didnt win. I didnt even place. But I wouldnt have changed a single word, Murray wrote on Twitter.

Murray works with conservative news network One America News and education news site Campus Reform.
A counselor wearing a protective face mask plays with children as summer camps reopen amid the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Carls Family YMCA summer camp in Milford, Mich., on June 23, 2020. (Emily Elconin/Reuters,File Photo)

New Jersey Lawmakers, Parents Call to Stop Mask Mandate for Children

New Jersey Assemblymen and Senators introduced in early June a bill in both chambers of the state legislature to stop school mask mandates. The bill has been sponsored by three Republican Assembly members and 11 Republican Senators.

The measure (pdf) stipulates that students in elementary or secondary schools must not be required to wear a face mask while in indoor or outdoor areas of the school or on a school bus. It does not however prohibit students from wearing masks in school if they choose to. The measure applies to both public and private schools in New Jersey.

The requirement to wear masks in almost all public places in New Jersey was lifted by Governor Phil Murphy in May but the mandate to wear masks for children while on school premises remained in place.

Murphy justified the mandate by saying that no vaccine for COVID-19 has been available yet for children under 12 and stated that very likely the requirement will continue into the fall when the next school year starts, according to New Jersey 101.5.

Bill sponsors, Assemblymen Greg McGuckin, John Catalano, and Senator Jim Holzapfel, all representing the same district in New Jersey, criticized the governors mandate saying that children are the least impacted group by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, according to a joint statement by the sponsors.

Parents should have a choice as to whether or not their child wears a mask in school, Holzapfel said.

Under our bill, the students, without their masks, would be in a better position to make up for the lost classroom time, McGuckin said.

If the Governor is reluctant to let school kids drop their masks, our bill would take this important step toward normalizing the educational environment, Catalano added.

New Jersey Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R), who co-sponsored the bill last week said in a statement, For over a year, we have received conflicting recommendations regarding mask usage in schools; including questionable efficacy and value in preventing COVID-19 transmission  but we have received firsthand, factual accounts of how detrimental they have been to students, especially those with special needs.

Like all medical-related decisions, this should be up to the individual, and in this case the parents as well as school staff to decide whether wearing a mask during the school day is appropriate  not bureaucrats with limited understanding of the effects, Scharfenberger said.

Senator Joe Pennacchio (R), a co-sponsor, said in a statement, Like other District Offices, my staff has been deluged by calls from irate mothers and fathers who say they should be the ones making the decision whether their child wears a mask to school or to summer camp.

Pennacchio pointed out that forcing children to wear masks outside in 90-degree weather is cruel, insensitive, and does more harm than good.

Senator Holly Schepisi (R) called on Gov. Murphy to lift the mask mandate for children.

Data has consistently shown that the levels of COVID-19 transmission outdoors are extremely low, Schepisi said in a statement, adding that at the end of last summer, the NJ Commissioner of Health reported that with 746 active camps in the State only one camper tested positive for COVID.

New Jersey Senate Republicans posted a petition on their website urging Gov. Murphy to unmask children. The petition has been signed more than 12,000 times.

On June 7, a few days after the bill introduction, the New Jersey Governor announced during a press briefing that his school mask mandate includes exceptions for cases of extreme heat in outdoor settings or for other situations indoors or outdoors where wearing a mask would inhibit the individuals health. School officials are empowered to relax mask requirements in such exceptional situations, Murphy said.

Some school districts in New Jersey used this exception to make wearing masks optional regardless of the weather, according to NJ.com.

What Experts Say

Two physician-scientists at the University of California, a physician, and an epidemiologist co-authored an article published by the Washington Post, in which they recommended that children should return to their normal lives this summer and in the upcoming school year, without masks and regardless of their vaccination status.

Youth masking during sports, indoors or outdoors, has also not been found to impact disease spread, the authors wrote.

One study found adolescent athletes who played a sport during the pandemic had less anxiety and depression than athletes who did not. The simple gesture of allowing a child to take off their mask might give them more sense of control and allow them to see that reassuring smile from a friend, they pointed out.

A report published by Manhattan Institutes City Journal stated that Social distancing and masks hinder learning while harming children emotionally, socially, and physically, all for no purpose other than providing false comfort to adults who ought to know better.

By hiding teachers lips and muffling their speech, mask-wearing makes it harder for young children to develop linguistic skills and prevents children with hearing impairments from lip reading, the report said.

The publication was also cited by Sen. Pennacchio, who pointed out that Masks can be breeding grounds for infections from bacteria, mold, and fungi, which is why the Centers for Disease Control recommends that a cloth mask should be washed with soap and water whenever it gets dirty or at least daily.
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington on Nov. 19, 2020. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

New York Supreme Court Suspends Rudy Giulianis Law License

The New York Supreme Court suspended former Mayor Rudy Giulianis law license for making what it described as false statements following the Nov. 3 election.

The court ruled on June 24 (pdf) that Giuliani made false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign.

We conclude that respondents conduct immediately threatens the public interest and warrants interim suspension from the practice of law, pending further proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committee, the filing reads.

Giuliani had served as Trumps lawyer and spearheaded a legal effort after the conclusion of the Nov. 3 election alleging that Trump was fraudulently denied victory in several battleground states, including Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

Giulianis suspension was sought by the Attorney Grievance Committee for the First Judicial Department, a body that includes Manhattan.

The court order on June 24 noted that Giulianis suspension is temporary and is dependent upon the outcome of a full formal hearing.

In a statement after the courts decision, Giulianis lawyers told The Epoch Times: We are disappointed with the Appellate Division, First Departments decision suspending Mayor Giuliani prior to being afforded a hearing on the issues that are alleged.

This is unprecedented as we believe that our client does not pose a present danger to the public interest. We believe that once the issues are fully explored at a hearing Mr. Giuliani will be reinstated as a valued member of the legal profession that he has served so well in his many capacities for so many years.

Trump panned the courts decision.

Can you believe that New York wants to strip Rudy Giuliani, a great American Patriot, of his law license because he has been fighting what has already been proven to be a Fraudulent Election? Trump said in a statement, describing the case as a witch hunt.

Giuliani, who was admitted to the New York state bar in 1969, previously had a prominent legal career, having worked in the Department of Justice during the 1980s. He was named as U.S. Attorney in Manhattan in 1983.

Years later, he was elected mayor of New York and served in that capacity for eight years. Giuliani rose to national prominence for his leadership during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks targeting the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

Aside from the state Supreme Courts ruling, Giuliani also could face a potential criminal investigation, after a federal judge appointed a special watchdog to review material that was recently seized from him. The watchdog, former federal Judge Barbara Jones, will determine what electronic files can be seen by prosecutors and what material should be exempt.

Giuliani, along with attorney Sidney Powell and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, also faces a defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems. All three have filed motions asking a judge to throw out the lawsuits.
People gather to protest Houston Methodist hospital system's rule of firing any employee who is not immunized by June 7, 2021, at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital in Baytown, Texas. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Nurse Who Already Had COVID-19 Fired for Refusing Vaccine: Hospital Is Kicking Us to the Curb

Hospital spokesperson disputes her allegation, saying it's 'absolutely untrue'

A Houston nurse who was fired for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine said that she contracted the virus last year and therefore didnt need to be vaccinated.

The Houston Methodist hospital system confirmed to The Epoch Times that more than 150 employees were either terminated or resigned after a judge earlier this month dismissed a lawsuit by the workers against the company over its mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

I had COVID last summer, I dont need that vaccine, and Methodist did not care about that, that was not an option at all, Jennifer Bridges, the lead lawsuit plaintiff and a registered nurse, said in an interview with Fox News on June 23.

Bridges, who confirmed to The Epoch Times on June 23 that she was fired by the company, said in the Fox interview that her dismissal is a betrayal of trust.

We worked so hard last year, Bridges said. I mean, we were there through thick and thin when we had no help  it was horrible. And these people that are putting forth these rules right now for us and kicking us to the curb, they werent there. They werent even in the building to be seen for months. They were staying at home while we were doing all the work.

In the interview, she said shes not sure why the hospital mandated vaccination for employees.

Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital in Baytown, Texas, on June 22, 2021. (Francois Picard/AFP via Getty Images)

I do not know exactly why theyre doing this, Bridges said. I can only assume it could be for a power [grab] or [theyre] money-hungry right now, but they need to follow the proper science because we do not need to be vaccinated if we had COVID.

In response to Bridgess interview, a spokesperson for Houston Methodist described her comments as false.

That is absolutely untrue. Our leaders have supported our employees every step of the way. We greatly appreciate what all of our dedicated employees have done for our patients, and our leaders have been by their side since the beginning, a spokesperson told The Epoch Times on June 24.

Bridgess attorney, Jared Woodfill, who appeared alongside her during the Fox segment, said he believes the hospitals vaccine requirement is completely inconsistent with federal law and regulations.

Folks like Jennifer, the heroes I represent, were on the front line at the height of the pandemic; they were the individuals we celebrated, and as a result of their service, she contracted COVID-19, he said. She recovered and recuperated  but here we are today, Methodist hospital said, Oh, you wouldnt submit or participate in our vaccine trial, heres your pink slip, sentencing her to bankruptcy, and thats just plain wrong and thats why were standing up.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes of Houston ruled against Bridgess and the other plaintiffs lawsuit earlier in June, saying that claims the vaccines are experimental and dangerous are false. Hughes ruled that Houston Methodists mandate of making vaccines a requirement for employment isnt coercion and said she can go work somewhere else.

Bridges says that she is being forced to be injected with the vaccine or be fired. This is not coercion. Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus, Hughes said at the time. Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else.

If a worker refuses an assignment, changed office, earlier start time, or other directive, he may be properly fired. Every employment includes limits on the workers behavior in exchange for his remuneration. This is all part of the bargain.

Marc Boom, president and chief executive of the Houston Methodist system, told The Epoch Times following the ruling that our employees and physicians made their decisions for our patients, who are always at the center of everything we do and we couldnt ask for a more dedicated, caring, and talented team.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Theodore Roosevelt statue outside the American Museum of Natural History. (B.D.'s world via Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0])

NYCs American Museum of Natural History to Take Down Theodore Roosevelt Statue Due to Protests of Racism

A bronze statue of the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, will be removed from the main entrance of the American Museum of Natural History due to claims of racism and symbolism of colonialist dominance.

On Monday, The New York City Public Design Commission unanimously voted to move the presidents statue, which had been at the museum for over 80 years, The New York Times reported.

The protests that led to talks for over a year and finally the recent vote were largely due to an African American and Native American that are depicted on the sides of Roosevelt, who is mounted on a steed.

In mid-2020, the challenges led the museum, which is owned by the City of New York, to put forward a suggestion to remove the statue.

Mayor Bill de Blasio subsequently said that he supports the request.

The American Museum of Natural History has asked to remove the Theodore Roosevelt statue because it explicitly depicts black and indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior, de Blasio said.

The great-grandson of the president, who is also a trustee of the museum, said in a statement that he supports the idea.

The world does not need statues, relics of another age, that reflect neither the values of the person they intend to honor nor the values of equality and justice, 77-year-old Theodore Roosevelt IV said.

The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelts legacy. It is time to move the statue and move forward.

The statue would be moved to a cultural institution that preserves Roosevelts life and legacy.

The decision came as numerous protests asserting racial inequality recently broke out nationwide.

Museum President Ellen Futter told the New York Times that the decision was made due to the hierarchical composition of the statue and not on the president, who is regarded as a pioneering conservationist by the museum.

The museum is also changing the name of its Hall of Biodiversity to Roosevelt as a compensatory gesture in recognition of his conservation legacy.
Parents Sue LA School District Over COVID Mandates for Children

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is being sued by parents concerned about mask mandates and obligatory COVID-19 testing for the coming school year.

The lawsuit, filed June 22 by Southern California law firm Tyler and Bursch LLP and Childrens Health Defense California, seeks to prohibit the LAUSD and county officials from imposing COVID-19 related mandates on healthy children wishing to return to in-person instruction.

The lawsuit is the first of its kind filed in California federal court related to students being targeted with illegal and unnecessary COVID mandates, the law firm said.

Defendants named in the suit include LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner, all seven LAUSD board members, and Los Angeles County public health officers Dr. Muntu Davis and Dr. Barbara Ferrer.

The lawsuit contends that healthy school children are being forced to submit to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, and are required to download Microsofts Daily Pass which it said collects and disseminates private health data. Students will also be required to wear masks on campus.

[The] right to a public education guaranteed to [the] plaintiffs minor children by the California Constitution cannot be made contingent upon plaintiffs consent to defendants violating other rights of their children, the lawsuit said, adding that the parents are seeking an injunction to allow the children to attend physical schooling again immediately.

[LAUSD] instituted the Daily Pass, which was basically a mandate to have a [PCR] test before you could come on campus, and a bunch of other invasive stuff that we feel should only be done by a medical doctor and interpreted by a medical doctor, Alix Mayer, president of Childrens Health Defense California, told The Epoch Times.

Otherwise, who is practicing medicine without a license? The school is, because they cant interpret that test, and a medical doctor has to interpret the test in the context of the symptoms.

Theres also the issue with a huge rate of false positives on those tests. And so a lot of children have to stay home rather than going to school based on the false positives and the false positives are happening at a very high rate.

According to LAUSDs website, the Daily Pass was released Feb. 22, with the district calling it the first comprehensive system in the nation that coordinates health checks, COVID tests and vaccinations all in one simple, easy-to-use tool.

Each day, students will be asked to log into the app to answer daily health questions such as whether theyre experiencing a fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell.

Students will be required to get a COVID-19 test within seven days before returning to campus and submit the negative result to the app. In announcing the Daily Pass, superintendent Beutner praised the technology.

The Daily Pass sets the highest standard possible for school safety, Beutner said in a press release. MERV-13 upgraded air filters in every school, COVID testing for all students and staff at least every week and now the Daily PassLos Angeles Unified is proud to lead the nation in creating the safest possible school environment.

After the required steps are completed, the Daily Pass will generate a unique QR code for each student and staff member that will authorize entry to a specific LAUSD location for that day only. When an individual arrives on campus, they will have their QR code scanned by a faculty member and their temperature taken, which must be less than 100 degrees.

In addition, LAUSD said anonymized data from the Daily Pass will be used in the districts research and health care collaborators to provide insights to create safe school environments.

Microsoft and its unknown partners, agents, and assigns will be privy to students private health information, including genetic information gathered through the mandatory PCR testing, the lawsuit said. Parents, therefore, have legitimate concerns that their childrens personal health data, genetic material, and other private information will be circulated to other corporate and government entities without their explicit consent since they are being coerced into giving up their rights under federal and state law  to be able to send their children to school.

It continues, Simply put, they are being forced to choose between their childrens right to an education and their childrens right to medical privacy and bodily autonomy. This is no choice at all.

Mayer said that many of the effects of the protocols are borne most on traditionally disadvantaged communities.

If [children] dont want to get tested, then they have to learn from home, she said. But kids who grew up in families without a ton of money, dont necessarily have a good computer, they dont necessarily have good bandwidth, and they might not even have a quiet room in the house where they can learn, and so its really putting them at a major disadvantage.

Asked for comment, an LAUSD spokesperson told The Epoch Times, We have not been served with the suit, and we do not comment on pending litigation. However, the safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.) speaks to media at the Capitol in Washington on Dec. 19, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

As Long as It Takes: Pelosi Says House Will Create Committee on Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on June 24 that Democrats will move forward with creating a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol incident, coming after their efforts to form an independent commission were stymied earlier this year.

Last month, Senate Republicans blocked legislation to establish the Jan. 6 commission, which was backed by nearly all Democrats and a small number of congressional Republicans. It marked the first time GOP senators have used the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to overcome, against a Democrat-backed bill during this congressional session.

This morning, with great solemnity and sadness, Im announcing that the House will be establishing a select committee on the Jan. 6 insurrection, Pelosi told reporters on June 24, noting that it doesnt appear that Republicans will change their viewpoint in supporting the measure.

Without going into details, Pelosi said: The select committee will investigate and report on the facts and the causes of the attack, and it will report recommendations for the prevention of any future attack.

The speaker said she isnt worried that the select committee will be derided by Republicans as political in nature. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on June 23 that hed hope for a Senate committee to investigate the attack, accusing Pelosi of engaging in partisan politics with the panel.

I dont worry about that at all, Pelosi said. I have no intention of walking away from our responsibility.

The announcement came after McCarthy told reporters that with the commission, Pelosi has always played politics with this time and again, and has never once talked to me about it.

Its unclear how large her planned Jan. 6 commission will be or how the seats will be distributed. Its also unclear how long the investigation will take or who will lead the panel.

Pelosi told reporters on June 24 that it will be as long as it takes for them  the time they need to do the investigation of the causes of this.

And as for who would lead the commission, she said, I will make those announcements later.

There are two actual paths. One is about the root causes of itthe white supremacy, the anti-Semitism, the Islamophobia, all the rest of it that was so evident.

Pelosi didnt give a reason for her suggestion that the Jan. 6 participants were motivated by white supremacy or animus towards Jewish people or Muslims.

The other path will look into the security of the Capitol and what it means to be ready for such an insurrection, Pelosi said.
Photos: Unbelievably Intricate Clay Flowers and Succulents Look Too Real to Be Fake

In crafting intricate flowers and succulents from clay, a Vietnam-based artist experiences an unspeakable joy that delights her followers as much as it brings her peace.

Clay artist Trang Hamapas claims life was boring before she found her passion. The young artist crafts her clay creations with unbelievable attention to detail.

From perfectly rounded leaves to paper-thin petals browning at the tips, Trangs art is an optical illusion of the highest order. To top it off, her creations look so real that youd be forgiven for thinking Mother Nature grew them herself.

Two years ago, Trang, of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, was searching for inspiration when she found an article about a flower made from clay.

Sharing her story with the Vietnamese online foodie community, Esheep Kitchen Family, during their March Challenge 2021, Trang said: Looking at its soft beauty, bright colorsno different from real flowersit made me fall in love, deep.

I searched on the internet to find out about this material, and the more I searched, the more I became infatuated with it.

The 2021 community campaign, The Sun in Me challenge, was organized by the Esheep Kitchen Family group under the sponsorship of UN Women in Vietnam.

Trang took inspiration from Pinterest and YouTube tutorials, buying the materials she needed to try the technique herself. She started with small succulents and simple flowers, gradually progressing to larger and more complex arrangements.

There were days when I stayed up until 2 or 3 a.m. just because I was fiddling with the clay flowers, she said.

Posting her creations on her Facebook page, Happy Handmade, Trang gained a following, none of whom could fathom that the flowers were fake. Trang was delighted.

Trangs favorite creation to date: 200 individually crafted bananas held together with milk glue. (Courtesy of Trang Hamapas)

Finding her passion, said Trang, has brought many benefits. She now lives optimistically with less stress and more love for life, nature, and people. She avoids idle thoughts and has cultivated patience.

She has improved her observation and time-management skills, and has a stronger appetite for aesthetics. Perhaps most importantly of all, Trangs hobby allows her to be more social and connect with her loved ones.

Before  I was quite shy, she wrote in her post. Once youve found a passion thats healthy and suitable for your abilities, just start implementing it right away! Because if you keep waiting and procrastinating, you may not have the opportunity anymore.

Speaking to The Epoch Times via social media, Trang claimed her husband often jokes that she must choose clay or him, owing to her devotion. If you are a good husband, you wont force me to choose, because both are important to me, she jokes in reply.

In reality, her husband has been her right-hand man since the day they fell in love.

Supportive of Trangs time-consuming hobby, he even takes his wife outside to snap photos of her handiwork whenever she has finished a piece.

Since gaining a wider audience, Trang is overjoyed that her art brings happiness to people from all walks of life.

While working with the Esheep Kitchen Family, Trang was even privy to some personal stories from followers who have overcome adversity.

Every post I read brings tears to my eyes, Trang wrote. Especially the strength and resilience of patients with cancer; I have not missed a single story, and I have cried every time.

Love more, she said. Cherish every second of living in this beautiful world. Kindness always appears around us.

Check out more of Trangs selected artwork below. Enjoy!

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
People talk before the start of a rally against "critical race theory" (CRT) being taught in schools, at the Loudoun County Government center in Leesburg, Va., on June 12, 2021. (Andrew Cballlero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Racisms New Meaning and the Double Standard It Serves

Commentary

Over at the website American Greatness, Victor Davis Hanson has an excellent column under the heading of The Biden No-Go Zones, which simply documents some of the ways in which American journalism has discredited itself over the last five years by holding President Donald Trump and the Republicans to a completely different standard from that which is applied to President Joe Biden and the Democrats.

Most of us will be familiar with the catalogue already. Above all, theres the eager exploitation of anything that could conceivablyor even inconceivably, as in the case of the very fine people of the Charlottesville demonstrationsbe considered racism in Trumps case and the complete disregard of incidents of racial insensitivity (to put it politely) in Bidens.

Hardly a story about the former president, no matter the subject, was complete without a mention of his alleged racismoften rhetorically inflated to white supremacismwhile Bidens racial gaffes are dismissed as just Joe being Joe.

Joe Biden, writes Hanson, (never mind his son, Hunter) has compiled the most glaring rap sheet of racist quotes of any current modern political leader.

That may well be true, but we need to add an asterisk and a footnote to this effect: The word racism here is being used in its old-fashioned sense of invidious discrimination against members of one race as practiced by members of another.

What? You didnt know that the definition of racism had been changed while you werent looking? You need to browse your back numbers of The Claremont Review of Books for an article by William Voegeli in the Fall, 2018 issue titled Racism, Revised (the sub-head is The way we hate now).

There you will find that, For social justice leftists  it is now self-evident that racism has nothing to do with a persons attitudes about racial groups, and everything to do with where one stands on questions of redistributive justice among such groups. The words of one blogger reflect the resultant bullying certitude: Your first step is to accept that a hatred or intolerance of another race is not the definition of racism. The dictionary is wrong. Get over it.

Or, to put it another way, among the most advanced thinkers today, the single, unitary and universal moral standard enthroned by the Enlightenment has been deposed and the double standard inherited from our tribal pastwherein the rules only apply within some morally privileged group and not to anyone outside itsits in its place.

This is what these revolutionary thinkers mean when they say that only white people can be guilty of racism. Or, for that matter, that only Republicans can be guilty of all the things Trump was said to be guilty ofexcept that they lack the frankness of Voegelis leftist blogger and dont usually come right out and say that last part. They dont have to if they never hear you (or Victor Davis Hanson) calling them hypocrites.

Not that they would care even if they did. Hypocrisy, like the universal moral standard that exposes it, simply doesnt exist in their double standard world.

People need to bear this in mind when reading or listening to the weaselly self-justifications of our cultural and political masters today. Take, for instance, the linguistic sleight-of-hand in the article by Ricky L. Jones that appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal a couple of weeks ago:

Republicans want to criminalize teaching students about racism. Heres why.

Obviously, whats being referred to here is the effort by state and local governments and school boards across the country to outlaw the teaching of critical race theory to school-children. To Ricky L. Jones and other progressives, CRT means teaching students about racism.

But it can only mean that if you assume, along with Ricky L., that racism has its new and not its old meaning. To those who oppose CRT, what is being criminalized is teaching not about racism (in its new definition) but actually racism, under its old definitionthat is, that one race is morally superior to another and so deserves to be treated differently, and better.

You can change the definition to suit yourself, but you cant change that damning fact to suit any but brainwashed children. The resistance to the new curriculum suggests that Americas children are not going to be brainwashed without a fight.

Another progressive tactic with respect to CRT is to adopt Joe Bidens approach during last years election campaign to what might otherwise have been the thorny subject of Antifa and its leadership of that summers anti-police riots and deny that it existsor that it exists as anything but a fabrication of its enemies.

Thus Benjamin Wallace-Wells of The New Yorker has lately purported to clue in the readers of that once-respectable publication as to How a Conservative Activist Invented the Conflict Over Critical Race Theory.

The Conservative Activist in question is Christopher Rufo who has put together in the pages of City Journal and elsewhere information sent to him by people compelled by their government or corporate employers to sit through anti-racism seminars. He has done so in order to give the ideology behind such seminars a more accurately descriptive name, as well as to stir up opposition to it.

To that end, however, he might have done better to call it the new racism.

Yet Wallace-Wells appears to believe that Rufo has conjured out of thin air the idea that the anti-racism seminars did not just represent a progressive view on race but that they were expressions of a distinct ideologycritical race theorywith radical roots.

Its not as if the radical roots are not pretty obvious in the works of the CRT guru Ibram X. Kendi who, as Wallace-Wells acknowledges, has written that anti-racism was not possible without anti-capitalism. But I guess that doesnt count as radicalism to readers of The New Yorker, who can be relied upon for a Pavlovian response to any accusation of red-baiting by conservative activists.

It remains to be seen if, like those readers, middle America will allow itself thus to be soothed and reassured of the harmlessness of this reversion to tribalism and the double standard. But it is not only conservative activists who seem to sense the giant of public opinion stirring in its sleep.

James Bowman is a resident scholar at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. The author of Honor: A History, Bowman is a movie critic for The American Spectator and the media critic for the New Criterion.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In this Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 photo, rescue workers search the scene where a Ukrainian plane crashed in Shahedshahr, southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran. A forensic report summary from the Canadian government says a "series of reckless acts and omissions" by Iranian authorities resulted in the downing of a passenger jet in January 2020. (AP-The Canadian Press/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Reckless Acts and Omissions by Iran Caused Deadly Flight 752 Crash: Report

OTTAWAA series of reckless acts and omissions by Iranian authorities resulted in the fatal downing of a passenger jet in January 2020, according to a Canadian government summary of a forensic report.

The official document from the Prime Ministers Office says Iran showed a blatant disregard for air safety by failing to provide any information to airlines about its military activities when it launched a missile strike against a pair of U.S. bases across the border in Iraq hours before the plane was shot down.

All 176 people on board Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 were killed, including 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents and dozens of others bound for Canada. The Tehran-Kyiv route has been a popular first leg of a trip from Iran to Canada.

A series of reckless acts and omissions by Iranian civil and military authorities caused a dangerous situation where risks were underestimated and not taken seriously, the summary states.

These acts and omissionsboth in their failure to properly manage the safety of Irans airspace and in deficiencies in the development and implementation of their plans, systems and procedurescombined to create conditions where the surface-to-air missile (SAM) unit operator likely misidentified Flight PS752 as a hostile target.

The summary draws on a forensic investigation led by Jeff Yaworski, former deputy director of operations at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The study relies partly on intelligence as well as a report from Irans civil aviation authority, and comes after Iran blocked Canadian and Ukrainian investigators from a comprehensive onsite analysis.

It also comes three months after the federal government rejected outright the authoritys report, which blamed human error as the reason why the Iranian military shot down Ukraine International Airlines jetliner minutes after takeoff from the Tehran airport en route to Kyiv.

While the SAM units likely misalignment was a factor, this in no way absolves Iran of its responsibility for the death of 176 innocent people, the summary reads, citing numerous command and control failures.

These conclusions confirm Canadas view that Irans actions displayed incompetence, recklessness, and wanton disregard for human life.

The forensic team also found that the problems may persist given that Iran has not responded to those concerns in candid and compelling terms, likely putting planes at continued risk, particularly when Iran heightens its defence posture during times of increased tension.

Iran initially denied responsibility for the crash on Jan. 8, 2020, but three days later said the Ukraine-bound Boeing 737-800 was shot down by accident after being mistaken for a missile amid heightened tensions with the United States. The admission came after video footage on social media appeared to show at least one missile striking the jet.

The disaster unfolded hours after Iran launched missiles into Iraq at two American military bases in retaliation for the U.S. having killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport by order of then-U.S. president Donald Trump.

The facts are clear: Iran is responsible for the deaths of 176 innocent people, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau said Thursday at a virtual news conference.

Garneau reiterated the governments aim of full reparations. These include a full accounting of events, complete transparency around ongoing criminal prosecutions and guarantees from Iran on steps taken to avoid future tragedies, he said.

By Christopher Reynolds
A still image taken from a video released by Russia's Defence Ministry allegedly shows British Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender filmed from a Russian military aircraft in the Black Sea, on June 23, 2021. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Handout via Reuters)

Russia Says Next Time It May Fire to Hit Intruding Warships

MOSCOWRussia is prepared to target intruding warships if they fail to heed warnings, a senior Russian diplomat said Thursday in a tough statement in the wake of a Black Sea incident in which a British destroyer sailed near Crimea in an area that Russia claims as its territorial waters.

Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots and a warplane dropped bombs in the path of British destroyer Defender on Wednesday to drive it away from the area near Sevastopol. Britain denied that account, insisted its ship wasnt fired upon, and said it was sailing in Ukrainian waters.

The incident marked the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, underlining the rising threat of military collisions amid Russia-West tensions.

Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday that the inviolability of the Russian borders is an absolute imperative, adding that it will be protected by all means, diplomatic, political, and military if needed.

He sarcastically suggested that the British navy should rename its destroyer from Defender to Aggressor and warned that those who try to test our strength are taking high risks.

Captain John Foreman, who is currently serving as the UK Defense Attache in the British Embassy (R) attends a meeting in the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia, on June 23, 2021. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Asked what Russia would do to prevent such intrusions in the future, Ryabkov told reporters it would stand ready to fire on targets if warnings dont work.

We may appeal to reason and demand to respect international law, Ryabkov said, according to the Interfax news agency. If it doesnt help, we may drop bombs and not just in the path but right on target if colleagues dont get it otherwise.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov deplored what he described as a deliberate and well-prepared provocation by Britain and seconded the tough warning.

If unacceptable provocative actions are repeated, if those actions go too far, no options to legitimately protect the borders of the Russian Federation could be excluded, Peskov said in a call with reporters.

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said a patrol ship fired warning shots after the HMS Defender had ignored a notice against intrusion and sailed 3 kilometers (1.6 nautical miles) into Russias territorial waters near Sevastopol, the main Russian naval base in Crimea. It said a Russian Su-24 bomber also dropped four bombs ahead of the vessel to persuade the Defender to change course. Minutes later, the Defender left Russian waters, the ministry said.

British Royal Navys Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender arrives at the Black Sea port of Odessa, Ukraine, on June 18, 2021. (Sergey Smolentsev/Reuters)

Britain denied the Defender had been fired on or that bombs were dropped in its path. It insisted that the ship was making a routine journey through an internationally recognized travel lane and remained in Ukrainian waters. The UK, like most of the international community, recognizes Crimea as part of Ukraine despite the peninsulas 2014 annexation by Russia.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not say whether he had personally approved the Defenders voyage but suggested the Royal Navy was making a point by taking the route it had.

The important point is that we dont recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea, this is part of a sovereign Ukrainian territory, Johnson told reporters Thursday during a visit to an army barracks in England. It was entirely right that we should vindicate the law and pursue freedom of navigation in the way that we did, take the shortest route between two points, and thats what we did.

He denied U.K.-Russia relations were at a historic low, noting that I can remember times in my own lifetime when things have been far worse.

On Thursday, British Ambassador Deborah Bronnert visited the Russian Foreign Ministry, which had summoned her to lodge a formal protest.

The Russian navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said Thursday that the British destroyers move was clearly provocative, noting that it ignored the warnings in a bid to test Russias resolve.

British Royal Navys Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender arrives for a port visit in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 9, 2021. (Yoruk Isik/File Photo/Reuters)

They came to see how we act, he told reporters in St. Petersburg. And they only reacted to the power of weapons. Our navy acted in a competent and safe manner to stop the provocation.

In April, Russia declared a broader area off Crimea closed to foreign naval ships until November, a move that drew strong protests from Ukraine and the West.

A BBC report from the British ship did not show bombs being dropped but showed the Defender being buzzed by Russian military aircraft and receiving a threat over the radio to change course or be fired upon.

Footage filmed from a Russian warplane and a drone that was released by the Russian Defense Ministry also showed Russian jets flying close to the Defender but didnt feature any bombs dropped or warning shots fired.

By Vladimir Isachenkov
Sacred Art Helps Texans See Truth and Beauty

The Art of Zhen Shan Ren' comes to Plano, Texas

Beautiful paintings in The Art of Zhen Shan Ren International Art Exhibition warn Texas residents of the real danger of unwittingly becoming involved in murder.

Paintings conveying pure beauty and evil hang side by side in the exhibition at the Gallery @ Courtyard in Plano, Texas. The 22 paintings, by internationally acclaimed artists, show both the profound beauty of the Chinese spiritual discipline of Falun Gong and the pure evil of the torture and forced organ harvesting carried out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Falun Gong practitioners just for practicing their faith.

All the artists featured in the exhibition practice Falun Gong, a faith that believes that Zhen, Shan, Ren (Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance) are the fundamental characteristics of the universe. Along with study and five meditative exercises, Falun Gong practitioners strive to align themselves with those three fundamental characteristics.

Many of the paintings on display allow viewers to peek into the artists personal spiritual practice, their experiences while practicing, and their visions of heaven. Some of the paintings explore the universal themes of good is rewarded and evil punished, and of devout resilience in the face of adversity. And each painting is imbued with the artists selfless intention to be a better person.

Many of the paintings in The Art of Zhen Shan Ren International Art Exhibition show the beauty of living a spiritual life. (Southern USA Falun Dafa Association)

Art can hasten either the elevation or degeneration of peoples moral standards. [Good artwork] can broaden peoples mind  making them nobler people, Zhang Kunlun, one of the artists involved in the exhibition, told NTD, a sister media outlet of The Epoch Times. He went on to say: If an artist wants to produce good artwork, the artist must first be a good person, a person with a higher moral standard than others. When one creates art, one must continuously purify oneself.

Buddhas, Daos, and Gods, overflowing with divine grace and mercy, fill heavenly realms in some paintings. And the depths of hell are shown in others, although not for the sake of showing demons. Evil is only shown as part of a complete story. Hence, good is rewarded and evil is punished.

Heaven and Hell: Artworks show the sheer beauty of the spiritual practice of Falun Gong, alongside the horrific persecution of practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party. (Southern USA Falun Dafa Association)

Some of the paintings show the persecution of Falun Gong adherents in China. Since July 20, 1999, on the orders of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin, the communist regime has systematically tortured practitioners to force them into renouncing their faith. Rape, torture, and forced labor are some of the methods the communist regime uses to this day. Yet the practitioners in some of the paintings undergoing such persecution exude a peaceful inner strength and a tenacious spiritstrangely, even a kind of serenity as they uphold their faith.

Visitors to the exhibition in Plano, Texas, can observe the serenity of Falun Gong practitioners faced with religious persecution. (Southern USA Falun Dafa Association)

The painting A Tragedy in China, shows a grieving wife in front of her dead husband. She crosses her arms in a show of strength and resilience. Her tortured husband held on to his faith until the end. In his hand, he holds brainwashing papers that the Chinese regime uses to get Falun Gong practitioners to renounce their faith. (The Art of Zhen Shan Ren)

And then there are paintings that present what has been called a new form of evil on this planet by one prominent human rights lawyer: forced organ harvesting.

The art is really profound. Its a profound expression of the horrors of communist Chinas forced organ harvesting.  Its a very, very powerful exhibit, Texas State Rep. Matt Shaheen said to NTD at the opening of the Plano exhibition. Shaheen serves the citizens of District 66 in the Texas House of Representatives, representing West Plano and Far North Dallas.

On viewing the paintings, retired professor of economics Lydia Ortega said to NTD: Bring tissues, OK. Because this exhibition will get to your heart. And thats how paintings and artwork goesit goes to the heart of you, when you see what people are expressing and recognize the truth of it.

A Sickening Trade

Each year, thousands of desperately sick people from around the world travel to China in the hope of getting an organ transplant. In most countries, an organ donation match takes a considerable amount of time to arrange, but in China a match can be found in as little as two weeks. This is because the CCP forcibly takes these organs from prisoners of conscience. Falun Gong practitioners are believed to be the main victims of this state-sanctioned organ harvesting.

In the oil painting Organ Crimes, artist Xiqiang Dong depicts the forcible seizure of organs from a Falun Gong practitioner in China, while he is still alive. (The Art of Zhen Shan Ren)

Texans may be more aware of communist Chinas human rights tragedy since June 7, when Texas officially and unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the Chinese regimes systematic killing of prisoners of conscience for their organs. The resolution warns Texas citizens that if they travel to China for organ transplant surgery, they may be unwittingly becoming involved in murder in the form of forced organ harvesting.

Shaheen, the lead sponsor of the resolution, told NTD: Its really important that the state of Texas take a stand as far as condemning the practice by the Chinese government and the forced organ harvesting of practitioners of Falun Gong and really a lot of faiths and religions that are practiced in China.

Falun Gong practitioner Adam Yao was at the Plano exhibition opening. He gave the final speech of the opening presentation, sharing how he was one of those who underwent terrifying torture while illegally detained in a Chinese prison. He feels fortunate to be one of the few who escaped (from the hospital he was sent to for injuries while in prison) to seek asylum in America. But there remain numerous fellow practitioners who are still under persecution and face the threat of having their organs harvested, he said.

The Art of Zhen Shan Ren International Art Exhibition, runs until July 2, at the Gallery @ Courtyard in Plano, Texas. From July 8 until July 22, the exhibition will be on display at James H. Sloppy Floyd Veterans Memorial Building in Atlanta.

Eva Fu and NTD contributed to this article.
San Francisco Will Require All City Employees to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

San Francisco will require all city employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 after the vaccines are granted full approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or else they may lose their jobs.

Local officials said on June 23 that the roughly 35,000 municipal workers will be required to be inoculated against the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, with exemptions to be granted for medical or religious reasons.

Employees who refuse to do so will face repercussions [that] go all the way up to termination, Mawuli Tugbenyoh, chief of policy for the citys Department of Human Resources, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

But were focused on the education and outreach part of it now.

None of the vaccines currently being administered in the United States have yet been fully approved. All three are being used under emergency authorization, and its unclear when regulators will make a decision. Two of the vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States require two doses.

Beginning June 28, city employees will have 30 days to report their vaccination status. They will then be given 10 weeks after FDA approval to receive their COVID-19 jabs, and will be asked to submit their vaccination status through San Franciscos payroll system, providing evidence such as a photo of their vaccination card.

Around 81 percent of San Francisco residents over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The concept of vaccine passports has been criticized by civil rights groups and Republicans as a potential invasion of privacy. Several Republican-led states have introduced measures to ban such passports from use. Floridas Ron DeSantis became the first governor to issue an executive order that barred the use of vaccine passports.

At the time, DeSantis expressed concerns that vaccination records are private health information, adding that if a passport is needed to take part in everyday life, such as a sporting event, then such policies would create two classes of citizens.

States including Iowa, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and Wyoming have followed suit with similar measures banning vaccine passports in certain settings, such as banning the need to show proof of vaccination as a condition to enter an area or to receive a government service, permit, or license.

Last month, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the No Vaccine Passports Act, to prohibit any federal vaccine passport system, and is seeking to bar the White House from doing anything to mandate vaccines.

Were seeing some places where employers are saying if youre not vaccinated, youre fired, and that ought to be illegal. Your health decisions are yours to make, and it shouldnt be your boss. It shouldnt be the government. It shouldnt be anyone else forcing you to make those decisions, Cruz told Fox News.

Carol Isen, the human resources director for the city and county of San Francisco, told the San Francisco Chronicle on June 23 that the decision was made for the health and safety of our employees and our public that we serve.

Its about protecting the city as an employer from what we deem to be unacceptable risk, Isen said.

Janita Kan contributed to this report.
Prep students enjoy returning to the classroom at Lysterfield Primary School in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 12, 2020. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

School Attendance Biggest Factor to Reduce Education Gap for Australian Indigenous Kids

A new report has found that increasing school attendance among Indigenous students is the single greatest factor needed to close the gap or reduce the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The Mind the Gap report by the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) has revealed a significant achievement gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by the time students reach Year 3.

Report author Glenn Fahey, an expert in education policy, said despite receiving 38 percent more funding than non-Indigenous students, this initial achievement gap is never overcome by the time students finish school.

By school-leaving age, the average Indigenous Australian student is around two and a half years behind the average non-Indigenous one, Fahey said in a statement.

The study found that student attendance accounted for 15 percent of the gap, yet only 36 percent of Indigenous students in high school attend school every nine in 10 days, compared to 66 percent of their non-Indigenous classmates.

While its true that increasing attendance alone is not sufficient to improve education outcomes, there is a strong relationship between attendance and achievementwith the academic penalty for nonattendance greater for more disadvantaged students, the report stated.

Fahey said the size and persistence of the school attendance gap were alarming and proved that policymakers were not addressing Indigenous education disadvantage effectively.

Darlington Public School students help Aboriginal elders use technology at Redfern Community Centre in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 7, 2017. (AAP Image/Supplied by the Department of Family and Community Services)

Australia launched the Close the Gap campaign in 2008 to address Indigenous disadvantage. However, it failed to reach the majority of its 10-year targets, including the target to close the school attendance gap.

A government report from 2020 found that Indigenous attendance remained around 10 percent lower than non-Indigenous students, at around 82 percent compared to 92 percent. The attendance gap only widened as children moved into high school, with the gap increasing to a 17 percent difference by Year 10.

A new agreement for Closing the Gap was announced in 2020, giving greater emphasis on partnering with peak Indigenous bodies to create a community-led approach. Final targets had also been changed, which removed two education targetsreducing the attendance gap and the reading, writing, and numeracy gap.

Current education outcomes measure the student enrolment numbers for early childhood education, Year 12 attainment rates, and tertiary qualification rates. The CIS report called the new targets watered down.

The report also highlighted a diversity of achievement in Australias Indigenous community. Around 5 percent were high achievers, around 19 percent were low achievers, and 18 percent were very low achievers.

High achievers tended to live in metropolitan areas with parents in professional occupations, while the very low achievers tended to live in remote areas, with parents that are unlikely to be employed.

The differences in the parental background, along with attendance rates, accounted for the majority of the explainable differences between Indigenous students and their non-Indigenous peers.
Sen. Hawleys Anti-Crime Package Would Fund 100,000 More Police Officers, Add New Protections

Shortly before President Joe Biden unveiled his proposal on June 23 to deal with the crime wave sweeping across the United States, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced his own comprehensive package of legislation that would put 100,000 more law enforcement officers on the streets.

American families arent safe, but they deserve to be. And they can be if we will act. This is not the time to defund the police or vilify them, but to support the brave men and women in blueand put more of them on the streets. Immediately, Hawley said in a statement.

During a June 24 Senate hearing that focused in part on the rising crime rate, Hawley said, It is a simple reality, and the American people are feeling it. The people in my state are feeling it. They are afraid to go out at night. Theyre afraid to go out on the streets. Theyre afraid to drop their children off at school.

While the Biden proposal emphasizes stricter enforcement of gun control measures, Hawley focused on strengthening and expanding law enforcement.

During a White House presentation, for example, Biden said his first priority in dealing with the huge increase in homicides and other violent crimes is to help stem the flow of guns into the hands of those responsible for violence.

Gun dealers who sell firearms to individuals who are legally barred from having them will be the focus of a major push by the government.

These merchants of death are breaking the law for profit, Biden said during the White House presentation. If you willfully sell a gun to someone whos prohibited, my message to you is this: Well find you and well seek your license to sell guns. Well make sure you cant sell death and mayhem on our streets.

Hawley described his package of legislation as including:

100,000 New Law Enforcement Officers: a bill to provide grants to local communities to support hiring an additional 100,000 law enforcement officers to protect American families.

Protecting Law Enforcement in the Line of Duty: a measure to increase maximum penalties for assaulting federal officers by 50 percent.

Protecting Federal Judges, Prosecutors, and Law Enforcement Officers from Violence and Doxing: a bill that directs the Department of Justice (DOJ), together with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to develop programs to protect the privacy and personal information of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials.

Protecting Federal Law Enforcement Officers from Doxing: a proposal to double the penalty for doxing federal law enforcement officials and other federal officials.

Protecting Federal Courthouses and Judges: a bill to increase penalties for damage to federal courthouses and unauthorized access to areas where federal judges work, reside, or visit.

Promoting Concealed Carry Rights for Law Enforcement Officers: a bill to amend the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) to extend concealed carry rights to federal judges and prosecutors.

Further Expanding Support for Police Officers: a proposal to expand Hawleys Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis Act of 2019 by increasing funding for family services, stress reduction, suicide prevention, and other programs for federal officers.

Theres good and bad news in Bidens anti-crime approach, Heritage Foundation legal fellow Zach Smith told The Epoch Times on June 24.

The good news is that Joe Biden and his administration have finally been forced to recognize that the spike in violent crimes, especially the spike in homicides, over the past year and a half is something that can no longer be ignored, they have to address it, said Smith, a former assistant U.S. attorney for northern Florida.

The bad news is that many of the proposals that he outlined in his speech yesterday really wont have much, if any, impact on stemming the tide of violent crime. By and large, it was a combination of a political smokescreen to appease as much as he could his political base, Smith said.

Smith was somewhat more positive about the likely effects of Hawleys proposals, should they be adopted.

The best way to combat the surge in violent crimes in many of these cities is to empower police officers to do their jobs, to make available more officers to police those cities, instead of defunding the police, he said. You need more boots on the ground who are going to be able to do their jobs, and then you need to make sure prosecutors in these cities are going to prosecute crimes where appropriate.

Hawleys proposal to use federal grants to increase law enforcement by 100,000 officers recalls a similar program by President Bill Clinton known as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Clintons program failed to reach its goal, however, with a net increase of somewhere between 69,000 and 84,600 additional police officers being funded at a cost of more than $9 billion by the end of his administration, according to a National Institute of Justice study.

Congressional reporter Mark Tapscott may be contacted at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
Supreme Court Rules on Behalf of Businesses and Private Property Protections in California Union Access Dispute

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that a California regulation forcing agricultural employers to allow union organizers access to their property is unconstitutional, delivering a win to business interests and advocates of private property protections.

In a 63 vote, the high court sided with two businesses that challenged the California rule that lets union representatives enter the grounds of an agricultural business for up to three hours a day over a 30-day period, for a total of 120 days each year, to speak with workers about supporting a union. The court found that the rule violates the Fifth Amendment, essentially by taking away owners right to exclude people from their property without just compensation.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing on behalf of the majority, noted in the opinion (pdf) that when the government physically acquires private property for a public use, the Fifth Amendments takings clause imposes a clear and categorical obligation to provide the owner with just compensation.

Californias access regulation appropriates a right to invade the growers property and therefore constitutes a per se physical taking. Rather than restraining the growers use of their own property, the regulation appropriates for the enjoyment of third parties (here union organizers) the owners right to exclude, Roberts wrote, noting that the right to exclude is a fundamental element of the property right.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed in federal court by Cedar Point Nursery, a California strawberry grower, and Fowler Packing Co., a Fresno-based fruit shipper. The two companies argued that by giving union organizers access to their property, the regulation established a legal right to use the property without their consent and without compensation, in violation of the Fifth Amendment. The case made it to the Supreme Court after lower courts rejected the business owners arguments.

Mike Fahner, the owner of Cedar Point Nursery, told EpochTVs Crossroads program earlier this year: In the United States, everyone has a sovereign rightor should have the sovereign rightto determine who can and cannot come onto your property. Well, weve been stripped of that in agriculture in the state of California.

This is the most disruptive event that can happen to someone in business, Fahner added. The idea that strangers can come onto your property and solicit your workforce  for three hours per day, 120 days out of the year  its like paralysis.

In the Supreme Court opinion, the dissenting justices argued that a ruling in favor of the business owners would jeopardize activities like health and safety inspections, an argument Roberts rejected as unfounded as there are other means that allow government officials to enter private property for inspections, for instance as a condition of granting licences or permits.

Fahner said that the California regulation was enacted for the sole purpose of making it possible for union organizers to communicate with workers at a time of dial-up phones, and now that cellphones have become prevalent, its an unnecessary burden on business owners.

Why do they have to  come in and trample on my property to advance their agenda? They dont need to do that, he said.

Roberts noted in the opinion that, in ruling in favor of the business owners, the Supreme Court weighed the Constitutions strong protection of property rights against the California union access laws intent to afford access to union organizers only when needed  that is, when the employees live on company property and union organizers have no other reasonable means of communicating with the employees.

Joshua Philipp contributed to this report.
Supreme Court Strengthens Property Rights in Case Involving Labor Organizing on Farms

A California regulation allowing labor organizers to disrupt businesses for hours every day for one-third of the year to recruit new members is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled in a 63 vote along ideological lines.

Todays ruling is a huge victory for property rights, Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) senior attorney Joshua Thompson said in a statement. The decision affirms that one of the most fundamental aspects of property is the right to decide who can and cant access your property.

PLF is a national public interest law firm based in Sacramento, California, that represented farmers challenging the law.

The ruling is likely to have major repercussions for labor and property law well beyond agribusiness.

The Cato Institute, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, called the ruling the biggest Supreme Court win for property rights in a long, long time.

Conversely, Slates Mark Joseph Stern described it as a crushing blow to organized labor, which often relies on workplace access to safeguard workers rights.

The ruling undermines the broader legal framework that permits the government to impose all manner of regulations on private property, including workplace safety laws and nondiscrimination requirements, Stern wrote, and hands business owners a loaded gun to aim at every regulation they oppose.

Most Disruptive Event

The decision in the case, Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, court file 20-107, came on June 23.

The petitioners were Cedar Point Nursery, a strawberry farm in Dorris, California, and Fowler Packing Co., in Fresno, California, which produces grapes and mandarin oranges. Together, they employ about 3,000 people. The lead respondent is Victoria Hassid, a Democrat, in her capacity as head of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board.

In the United States, everyone has a sovereign rightor should have the sovereign rightto determine who can and cannot come onto your property, Mike Fahner, owner of Cedar Point Nursery, previously told The Epoch Times Crossroads program. Well, weve been stripped of that in agriculture in the state of California.

This is the most disruptive event that can happen to someone in business. The idea that strangers can come onto your property and solicit your workforce  for three hours per day, 120 days out of the year  its like paralysis.

According to PLF, in the early hours of Oct. 29, 2015, dozens of union activists descended on Cedar Point Nursery without notice on a recruitment drive. The United Farm Workers (UFW) members waved red flags, shouted into bullhorns, intimidated the nurserys staff, and interfered with preparation work on strawberry plants.

The legal complaint stated that some of the farm employees joined the organizers in a protest and others left the worksite. The nursery filed a charge against the union for taking access without giving notice and the union countered, accusing Cedar Point of unfair labor practices.

UFW organizers tried to access Fowler Packing facilities in July 2015, although the company blocked their advance. The union claimed it was the victim of unfair labor practices but later withdrew the charge.

The companies sued in U.S. district court claiming the access regulation effected an unconstitutional per se physical taking by appropriating without compensation an easement for labor organizers to enter their property. A per se taking is an appropriation of property that infringes on the owners right to exclude.

The district court threw out the lawsuit, finding there had been no per se taking because the regulation didnt allow the public to access their property in a permanent and continuous manner for whatever reason. A divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed the lower court.

Most Treasured Rights

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the courts opinion, joined by the five other conservative justicesClarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote a dissenting opinion, joined by the other liberal members of the court, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

The right to exclude is one of the most treasured rights of property ownership, Roberts wrote in the courts opinion, citing Loretto v. Teleprompter Manhattan CATV Corp. (1982).

Roberts continued, writing of English jurist William Blackstone, author of the influential Commentaries on the Laws of England, a 1766 text that scholars say provided a blueprint for the U.S. legal system.

The idea of property in itself entails that sole and despotic dominion which one man claims and exercises over the external things of the world, in total exclusion of the right of any other individual in the universe, Roberts wrote, quoting Blackstone.

The Supreme Court previously found the right to exclude is universally held to be a fundamental element of the property right, and is one of the most essential sticks in the bundle of rights that are commonly characterized as property, the chief justice wrote, citing Kaiser Aetna v. U.S. (1979).

Roberts noted that the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment, which has been applied to the states through the 14th Amendment by way of what lawyers call the doctrine of incorporation, provides: Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

The Founders recognized that the protection of private property is indispensable to the promotion of individual freedom, Roberts wrote.

As John Adams tersely put it, property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.  This Court agrees, having noted that protection of property rights is necessary to preserve freedom and empowers persons to shape and to plan their own destiny in a world where governments are always eager to do so for them, he wrote, citing Murr v. Wisconsin (2017).

Unlike a mere trespass, the California regulation grants a formal entitlement to physically invade the growers land, Roberts wrote.

Unlike a law enforcement search, no traditional background principle of property law requires the growers to admit union organizers onto their premises.

The fact that a right to take access is exercised only from time to time does not make it any less a physical taking.

The dissenting opinion, penned by Breyer, stated: Technically speaking, the majority is wrong. The regulation does not appropriate anything.  It gives union organizers the right temporarily to invade a portion of the property owners land.  The regulation regulates (but does not appropriate) the owners right to exclude.

After the ruling, the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board was conciliatory.

Forty-six years ago, California led the way in recognizing labor rights for farmworkers and enshrined them in the landmark Agricultural Labor Relations Act. Despite todays ruling, California will continue to champion these rights for some of our most essential workers, Hassid said in a statement.

We are committed to developing a process that meets the requirements of the high courts ruling and continues to protect farmworker rights in light of agricultures unique circumstances.
Border Patrol agents apprehend 21 illegal aliens from Mexico who had hidden in a grain hopper on a freight train heading to San Antonio, near Uvalde, Texas, on June 21, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Texas Sues Biden Administration Over Releasing COVID-19 Infected Illegal Immigrants

The state of Texas and a group led by former Trump administration adviser Stephen Miller filed a lawsuit to stop the Biden administrations catch-and-release border policy, claiming that its allowing COVID-19-infected illegal immigrants to enter the United States.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Millers America First Legal filed paperwork (pdf) in a federal court in Fort Worth against President Joe Biden, saying the policy would cost taxpayers millions of dollars while imperiling public safety.

The pair was focusing on the White Houses February decision to suspend the Trump-era policy of forcing illegal aliens to return to their country of origin amid the COVID-19 pandemic, using a provision known as Title 42 to block them from entering. Biden ended the provision and has released unaccompanied children and families into the United States, where they ostensibly await immigration court dates.

In the other words, at the same time the Administration is urging Americans to get vaccinated, they are resettling thousands of unvaccinated illegal aliens into their cities, towns, and schoolsand placing the cost and burden of all healthcare services for these new arrivals in the taxpayer tab, Miller said in a statement about the lawsuit.

Miller argued that if illegal aliens who are not vaccinated are allowed to enter U.S. communities, it will lower the percentage of that communitys population that has received a vaccine. As a result, he said, it will be moved further away from the herd immunity threshold.

Recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show that more than 180,000 illegal immigrants were arrested by agents in May. That figure, critics and former officials point out, represents the highest number of encounters in decades.

Starting in January, Biden has issued dozens of immigration-related executive orders, many of which rescinded policies that were set during former President Donald Trumps time in office, including the construction of the border wall, the remain in Mexico policy, and the policy that required immigrants from getting visas unless they proved they could obtain health insurance or pay for health care.

Biden and other White House officials explained that the administrations executive actions were done to promote a more humanitarian agenda along the border, while claiming that the Trump-era policies were ineffective and divisive. Trump, in a number of statements after leaving office, has categorically denied their assertions.

Miller also argued that the Biden administrations policy has violated guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal health agencies regarding mask-wearing, social distancing, and more.

This anarchistic catch-and-release policy plainly and facially violates the administrations own public health guidelines, regulations, and directives, he said in a statement. While Americans are still required to wear masks on planes and the CDC is still trying to shut down many aspects of daily life, the government is actively facilitating the entry of illegal aliens whose journey is defined by the radical absence of health protocols.

He added that the mass release of untested and unvaccinated illegal immigrants poses a significant health threat for all Americans and is explicitly contrary to the administrations publicly stated goal of reopening through vaccination.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the border protection agency, didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
A person takes photos while water is released from the Three Gorges Dam, a gigantic hydropower project on the Yangtze river, to relieve flood pressure in Yichang, central China's Hubei province on July 19, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The Best Advice of a Chinese Water Reservoir Expert: Move

According to the Chinese Water Resources Ministry (CWRM), Chinas main flood season in the south officially began on June 1; since May, at least 97 rivers have exceeded warning levels, an increase of about 10 percent from a year earlier as of May 27.

Official data showed that 89 rivers were flooded above the warning level and 3.709 million people were affected in 18 provinces, including Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, etc.

In the Yangtze River basin, dozens of rivers in the Wu River system (a major tributary of the Upper Yangtze), the Three Gorges region, the Dongting Lake system, and the Poyang Lake system had floods above the warning level, and the entire Xiang River in the Dongting Lake system recorded floodwaters exceeding the warning level.

In 2020, the Yangtze River Basin experienced severe flooding, the worst since 1998, with the highest water level in Chongqing since 1981, and a rare occurrence of flooding in the urban area of the city.

The Three Gorges Dam (also known as the Three Gorges Hydropower Station and the Three Gorges Project) is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and there are more than 50,000 dams in the region.

In a regular State Council meeting on April 22, the CWRM introduced the current task focused on ensuring the safety of the reservoir during the flood season. The CWRM explained, more than 80 percent of the 98,000 reservoirs in China were built in the 1950s and 1970s.

The buildings were submerged after heavy rain caused flooding in Hengyang in central Chinas Hunan province on July 9, 2019. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Ticking Time Bombs in China

There is no river in China without reservoirs and dams. Even the rivers that flow through Tibets Lhasa and Xigaze also have many reservoirs and dams. The density of reservoir dams in China is unprecedented in the world, Dr. Weiluo Wang, wrote in a communication to Chinese readers in 2019.

Wang is a renowned expert in land planning and water conservation who is now living in Germany.

The most terrible thing is that 40 [percent] of the 90,000 reservoir dams are dangerous dams, which are unsafe, and there are tens of thousands of reservoirs and dams deserted.

These are time bombs that may explode at any time, he wrote.

He also explained that the dangerous dam reservoir was exactly the culprit of the various severe floods throughout China in the Communist regimes history.

In 1975, more than 50 reservoirs on the Huaihe River collapsed one after another because of heavy rainfall during the hit of Typhoon Nina, causing 230,000 deaths. It is also known as the 1975 Banqiao Dam failure, the worst dam disaster in history. Even though the Communist regime called it a natural disaster, Wang explained the root causes of the catastrophe.

Origins of the Flood Disasters in Modern China

Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took power in 1949, the regime has built 90,000 reservoir dams; half of the worlds dams are now located in China.

In a recent interview with The Epoch Times, Wang said that regarding the 98,000 reservoirs in China, it does not include small reservoirs that were not up to par and the fact is that even the CWRM itself is not clear about the exact number of reservoirs built after the CCP took power.

Banqiao Dam, China. (Public Domain)

Jiao Yong, former Vice Minister of Water Resources, now Chairman of Chinese National Committee on Large Dams (CHINCOLD), admitted that more than 95 percent of Chinese dams were made of earth and rock, and that they have not been effective in preventing floods. He warned of the safety risks posed by these reservoirs and dams at a conference in 2017.

Wang put it frankly, The CCPs dams typically lack technical design.

He took the flooding of Xingtai in 2016 as an example. The upstream Dongchuankou Reservoir was built without a flood-control gate.

He said, It was a directional blasting technique (DBT) in 1959 with the help of Soviet experts. Some said that over 200 tons of dynamite were used for the blasting, and others said over 300 tons of dynamite were used. The blasting was done on the mountains on both sides. That was how the reservoir was built. The dam collapsed in 1963 due to flooding from the Hai River, and was rebuilt in 1965. This is a typical reservoir built by the CCP in China.

The DBT makes use of the energy created by the blasting to throw the mountain rocks in a predetermined direction to form a dam. This technique saves digging, transporting, filling, rolling, etc, by human or mechanical means that are needed otherwise.

After the 2016 floods, the Xingtai municipal reservoir expert admitted that Dongchuankou Reservoir is mainly for flood control, but flood discharge [of the reservoir] cannot be controlled.

Chaotic Management of Reservoirs in China

Wang said that the regime adopted the practice of contracting dam construction in the early 1980s. However, there were no clear terms for reservoir maintenance, and there were conflicts between the interests of the contractors and the safety of the reservoirs.

He explained, The [CWRM] only manages 100 plus large reservoirs, the provincial authorities manage medium-sized reservoirs, and the county and township authorities each manage a group of reservoirs. The township would contract the reservoirs to individuals [for the management], and form a contracting relationship. Who is responsible for the maintenance of the reservoirs? It is not made clear. Under the contract, the contractor has the right to use the reservoir.

Consequently, the contractors interests come from the water in the reservoir.

This overhead view shows trees and houses submerged by floodwaters after the heavy rainfall hit a dam along the Xiangyang River in Xinji Village in Yangzhou in east Chinas Jiangsu province on July 6, 2016. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Wang added: The more water, the more power generated. This is beneficial for the contractors. They are not willing to discharge water from the reservoir. So the authorities have to pay the contractors to discharge water from the reservoir.

The CCP had no relief money for the victims of the 2020 flooding because the flood control fund had been given to the contractors.

Reflecting on the Xingtai flood in 2016, then Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said that early warnings should be issued in time.

What Chen Lei did not say is who exactly is the main body to issue the warning. The Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters at the central, the provincial, the municipal, or the local, or at the local reservoir management? Wang explained.

He added, Who will bear the administrative responsibility for deaths and property losses caused by failure to issue flood release warnings? Who will bear administrative responsibility for the economic losses caused by the issuance of an incorrect flood release warning?

Since Chen Lei indirectly admitted the disasters were caused in part by a failure to issue an early warning before the flood discharge, the victims ought to be compensated. But the CCP would not do it. The easiest way is to shift the responsibility to heavenly God and the heavy rainfall that exceeded historical highs, Wang said.

The Socialist System with Chinese Characteristics

Amidst multiple floods across mainland China, Peoples Daily published an article in March, claiming that investigation and rectification of the small hydropower projects in the Yangtze River Economic Belt have been basically completed.

The CCP spends a lot of money every year on the rectification of its reservoirs, which are still becoming increasingly unsafe.

Wang told The Epoch Times that after the 1975 Banqiao Dam failure that caused 240,000 deaths, the CWRM surveyed the reservoirs in China. It announced that 30 percent of surveyed reservoirs were perilous. The statistics later went up to 40 percent, 50 percent, and 74 percent. The more reservoirs the CCP rectifies, the greater investment it pours in. By 2016, it had invested about $29.5 billion, equivalent to the cost of the Three Gorges Project, Wang said.

The Peoples Daily report also claimed that, during the rectification, the withdrawn hydropower stations were outdated and small, they impeded flood discharge, but were also uneconomical to be repaired.

Wang added that looking back in history, every minister of water resources has demanded more budget for reservoir maintenance after taking office, but the main culprit remains unsolved. They eventually ascribe the failure to the reservoirs falling into disrepair over the years and a shortage of central subsidies.

Wang emphasized that the so-called rectification is a way of shirking responsibility. He explained that the rectification actually removed a large number of reservoirs from its system. More than 3,000 reservoirs were delisted while they objectively still exist.

There is nothing but silt in reservoirs. What will happen to the silt in the 3,000-plus abandoned reservoirs when a flood strikes? If silt-filled water rushes down and blocks downstream river channels, there will be devastating disasters, said Wang.

Wang gave two examples to illustrate his viewpoint: the 2016 Xiangjiang River flood arose from a dam failure upon a flood strike because a myriad of abandoned reservoirs in Xiangjiang River Basin lacked governance and maintenance; the 2010 Zhouqu mudflow disaster resulted from the impact of a deserted dam which was filled at first and then collapsed. Years of soil collected in the dam was washed off the collapsed dam.

Family members cry during the funeral of a victim killed by a reservoir collapse in Yiliang County of Yunnan Province, southwest China on July 22, 2005. (China Photos/Getty Images)

Knowing that the regime cannot simply leave those reservoirs abandoned; rather, it should demolish them and restore ecosystems to their original state. But will the regime take responsibility and do a sensible job?

Perhaps the answer was already given. Xing Yuanyue, the deputy director of Rural Water Resources and Hydropower Department, told the regimes mouthpiece Xinhua News this April, withdrawing a small hydropower station is no less difficult than building a new one.

Experts Advice to Local Residents

As for the best advice Wang would give to the tens of millions of Chinese surrounded by the 80,000 plus time bombs, he once wrote: prepare yourself one or more self-inflated rubber boats, enough bottled water and food, flashlights or lighters, life jacket, and learn from the Japanese to prepare yourself a grab and go bag with necessary miscellaneous items, calling devices. When faced with floods from a failed dam, do not shut doors and windows, but open the doors and windows to let the flood pass through.

Wang particularly emphasized that people in Fuling and Kaixian County of the Three Gorges Reservoir area should especially be reminded that a majority of residents live in areas below the normal water storage line of the Three Gorges Reservoir, which is over 570 feet above sea level. They rely on the embankment to block the reservoir water. These residents were supposed to be relocated. In order to reduce the number and expenses of the people displaced by the Three Gorges Reservoir, the regime allowed them to stay. Therefore, if possible, move as fast as you can.

Luo Ya and Zhang Yujie contributed to this report.
Community members hold up signs during a rally against at the Loudoun County Government center in Leesburg, Va., on June 12, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

The Other Problem With Critical Race Theory

Commentary

Educational fads such as critical race theory (CRT) teach messages that are wrong or distorted. But this essay focuses on another concern: They also waste class time and scarce resources that should be used to cover more important subjects. They induce teachers to take their eyes off the ball.

Properly speaking, CRT is not a theory at all. Theories are based on controlled experiments and testing, or, in the social sciences, on empirical research. CRT is, at most, a tentative hypothesis. It relies unduly on anecdotes, and its conclusions seem dictated by its proponents political biases.

Moreover, like some other fads, its a product of cultural ignorance. This isnt surprising, when you learn that CRT originated in law schools, where cultural ignorance is common.

A recent article in Education Week argues for injecting CRT into school curricula. The author, who tells us she learned about the subject in law school, appears well-meaning. Nevertheless, her article illustrates the confusion and ignorance behind CRT.

For example, she claims that humans share 99.9 percent of the same genetic materialapparently unaware that the figure is under challenge as being too high. From that, she jumps to the conclusion that race is merely a social constructthereby ignoring the effects of the remaining genetic differences.

Later in her article, she seems to assume that there are racial differences after all. She condemns bans on students wearing dreadlocks, because those wearing them are almost exclusively African Americans. This is so, however, because most African Americans hair differs in composition from that of, say, whites or Asians. Thats the effect of genetic differences that certainly dont make up a mere social construct.

The author also tells us that CRT isnt about substance; its merely a practicea procedure. But practices have substantive results. She even lets some slip out. She tells us that CRT enables students to learn about race-related events of which they might otherwise be ignorant, such as the Tulsa Massacre and how Native American children were forcibly removed from their families.

The author seems unaware that any class time you spend on aint it awful events is time not spent on subjects that are far more important to the life success of students of all races. After all, good pedagogy is only partly about how to teach the material. Its also about knowing what material to teach. A good teacher knows he or she doesnt have time to waste.

Understanding English words often begins with knowing their German or Latin roots, and so it is with education. To educate comes from educere, the Latin word meaning to lead out. In Latin usage, it may be the most common term for to rear or to bring up. (Merely formal education is represented by another verb, erudire.) Parents and other educators lead students out of ignorance and savageryby the substance of what they communicate, the skills they teach, and the role models they provide.

Through education, we create responsible, mature, and knowledgeable adults.

Education is, therefore, more than a job. Its a sacred trust we owe both to our young people and to the society they will impact. Our educational system has abused that trust. A few years ago, for example, an Intercollegiate Studies Institute survey found that few colleges significantly increased students civic knowledge and manyparticularly elite universitiesactually reduced it.

The situation isnt much better at the K12 level. Nearly 40 years and billions of dollars after the famous Nation at Risk report (pdf) sounded the alarm about the quality of American K12 education, our international standing on tests of reading, math, and science remains notably mediocre.

I can confirm these generalizations from my personal experience. I taught in law schools for a quarter of a century. My students were smart. They had high school and college diplomas. Most had won high grades. Yet the overwhelming majority knew relatively little about our heritage and institutions. Very few had been well-schooled in the contributions of classical antiquity, Western history, high culture, or even the American constitutional system. Some were mathematically challenged as well.

One reason for these deficiencies was that their schools wasted time on educational fads. They neglected to teach whats important.

The author of the Education Week article celebrates CRT in part because it teaches students about the Tulsa Massacre. Objectively, though, is it more important for American students to know about the Tulsa Massacre or the Boston Massacre? Remember that time is limited, and that if you teach both, you may shortchange both or shortchange some other subject.

To be sure, the Tulsa Massacre cost many lives and the Boston Massacre cost only five. (One of these five was a patriot who was half Native American and half African American.) Still, for American students, the Boston Massacre is objectively more important because it played a central role in triggering a pivotal event in U.S. history: the American Revolution. If schools spend less time, or no time, on the massacre in Boston because they are covering the one in Tulsa, then theyre doing their students a disservice.

Similarly, for students who will live within Western civilization, learning how the Judeo-Christian and European heritage fashioned that civilization is likely to prove far more useful than learning about kingdoms in Mali, Peru, or China. Rigorous training in a foreign language is likely to bring far more insight into other cultures than the diversity sidebars that litter modern textbooks.

The traditional school curriculum is traditional for a reason: It has stood the test of time. School resources are too precious to divert elsewhere.

Robert G. Natelson served as a law professor for 25 years and taught law part-time for six years before that. His academic training and research interests include law, history, and classical antiquity. He is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver and the author of The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant (3rd ed., 2014).

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Environment Secretary George Eustice returns to Downing Street following a cabinet meeting in London on Dec. 8, 2020.(Leon Neal/Getty Images)

UK Would Send Warships Though Crimea Waters Again, Minister Says

British Warships would go through disputed waters around Crimea again, a UK cabinet minister said after Russia accused a British destroyer of breaching Russian waters.

Russia said on June 23 that it fired shots and dropped bombs in the path of the UKs HMS Defender near Cape Fiolent, a landmark on the southern coast of Crimea near the port of Sevastopol, headquarters of the Russian Navys Black Sea fleet.

Russian media quoted the defense ministry as saying the ship ventured as much as three kilometers (two miles) inside Russian waters before leaving.

The UK has denied Russias claim, saying that the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise and that no shots had been fired at the British Warship, which was conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters.

Russia seized and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, and it considers areas around the peninsulas coast to be Russian waters. Western countries consider the peninsula to be part of Ukraine and have rejected Russias claim to the seas around it.

The UKs Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs George Eustice said on June 24 that the British warship was taking a logical route.

Under international law, you can take the closest, fastest route from one point to another. HMS Defender was passing through Ukrainian waters, I think on the way to Georgia, and that was the logical route for it to take, he told Sky News.

Eustice said the practice is very normal and quite common.

What was actually going on is the Russians were doing a gunnery exercise. They had given prior notice of that. They often do in that area, he said, adding that its important that people dont get carried away.

Asked if the government would do it again, Eustice replied: Of course, yes.

We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.

HMS Defender on March 20, 2020. (Ben Mitchell/PA)

Speaking to ITVs Good Morning Britain program, Eustice said that he doesnt know if the gunnery exercise was the official reason given for the Russian activities.

Whether that was cover for them to try and make some point, we dont know, he said. Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasnt.

Former Royal Navy Chief Admiral Lord Alan West told the London Broadcasting Company that theres no doubt the Defender was asserting her right of innocent passage from one port to another.

He said Russian President Vladimir Putin was an expert at disinformation, and that his appalling behavior was to show his toughness to his home audience.

Former head of the Army, Gen. Lord Richard Dannatt, said that Putin is testing the will of the West.

Im a little bit surprised that the Ministry of Defence is playing it down, he told Sky News.

It was unreasonable of the Russians to challenge HMS Defender in the way that they did.

The underlying point is that there are international laws that must be upheld by everyone, and HMS Defender had the absolute right to be where she was yesterday.

Earlier on June 24, the UKs Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said that the Russian characterization of the event is predictably inaccurate, and Russia summoned the British ambassador in Moscow, Deborah Bronnert, over the row.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 24 that the incident was a deliberate and premeditated provocation and threatened that no options can be ruled out.

Reuters and PA contributed to this report.
US Blocks Solar Components From Chinese Company in Crackdown on Forced Labor in Xinjiang

The United States has banned imports of a key material to make solar panels from a Chinese company as part of a wider effort to protect U.S. supply chains from forced labor inflicted on ethnic Muslim minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region, the White House announced on June 24.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a withhold release order to detain shipments of silica-based products, a raw material used for solar panel production, made by Xinjiang-based Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

Additionally, the Commerce Department has added five Chinese organizations to a trade blacklist over their use of forced labor in Xinjiang or otherwise aiding Beijings rights abuses in the region, including Hoshine Silicon Industry, three other Xinjiang-based Chinese companies linked to the production of raw materials and components for the solar industry, and the Chinese regimes paramilitary body Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

About 45 percent of all polysilicon used in solar module production is produced in Xinjiang, with 35 percent produced in other parts of China. The remainder comes from outside of China.

The Labor Department will also update its list of goods known to be produced by forced labor to include polysilicon from China in an effort to put pressure on U.S. solar manufacturers to divest from Chinese components in their supply chains.

These actions demonstrate our commitment to imposing additional costs on the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) for engaging in cruel and inhumane forced labor practices and ensuring that Beijing plays by the rules of fair trade as part of the rules-based international order, the Biden administration said in a fact sheet.

Chinese companies such as Hoshine are profiting from these abuses, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said at a June 24 press conference, noting that these firms are attempting to sell cheaply made goods to consumers in the United States and in other countries.

That is unfair to law-abiding businesses that respect international labor standards. It is also unfair to consumers who may unwittingly purchase goods made in conditions of modern-day slavery, he said.

The Chinese communist regime is engaging in a sweeping campaign of repression against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. More than 1 million ethnic Muslim minorities have been detained in a network of internment camps in the region, where theyre subject to forced labor, torture, sexual violence, and political indoctrination. The United States and other countries parliaments have declared the campaign a genocide.

Those well-documented allegations of systemic abuses are routinely denied by Beijing.

The Biden administrations announcement forms part of a broader global effort to root out forced labor from supply chains, with leaders of the Group of Seven nations committing to taking action to do so earlier this month. The United States has already banned the import of all cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang over forced labor.

Reacting on Thursday, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Beijing will take all necessary measures to protect its companies rights and interests.

Hoshine Silicon Industry said on an interactive investor platform that it backs the Chinese foreign ministrys reaction, noting that the firm doesnt export industrial silicon to the United States directly and that the effect on its business would be limited.

Reuters contributed to this report.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a joint news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin on June 23, 2021. (Clemens Bilan/Pool via Reuters)

US Disagrees With Germany on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline, Sees It as Threat to Europes Energy Security

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington disagrees with Germany on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, calling it a threat to Europes energy security, while adding that both countries agreed to ensure that Russia cannot use energy as a coercive tool against Ukraine or other states.

Blinken met with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Berlin on June 23 and discussed U.S.German relations, although there was no sign of progress in talks to overcome the impasse over the pipeline. And neither Blinken nor Maas could offer a timetable for a possible resolution.

We dont always agree. The foreign minister and I spoke today about one of those areas of disagreement, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which we continue to believe is a threat to Europes energy security, Blinken said at the joint press conference after their meeting.

Maas said that Germany is aware that Washington expects it to prevent misuse of the pipeline by Russia, and his country wants to make a contribution in that regard.

Germany will ensure that theres an alternative gas transit agreement via Ukraine and it will continue to stand once Nord Stream 2 becomes operational, the foreign minister said. The talks on this issue between the two countries have already started, he added.

Ideally, a resolution could be reached by the time outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington next month, Maas said, adding that the timing is only provisional.

Later on June 23, Blinken met with Merkel and neither mentioned the pipeline in brief welcoming remarks.

Blinken said that the reason for waiving sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, its chief executive, and corporate officers was that the pipeline was more than 90 percent complete at the time Biden took office.

A Controversial Pipeline

For decades, the United States has been trying to ensure that Europe has diversified energy sources, said Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence and the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020.

Some Russian energy should be included in that diversification mix for Europe, he said.

Therefore, the construction of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was appropriate, although Nord Stream 2 gives Russia too much leverage, Grenell told the Poland-based Warsaw Institute.

Its too much feeding of the beast of Russia by allowing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to be completed, he said.

For decades, U.S. policy has been to ensure that NATO is free of Russian leverage and manipulation and that there are no problems in Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and around the world, Grenell said.

This is why the United States has stood firmly against Nord Stream 2, a stance that protects Europe from being manipulated by the Russians, the former ambassador to Germany said. And we all know that Russia will look for ways to manipulate others and to use that leverage to their advantage.

Its puzzling to the U.S. government why the German government doesnt see that, Grenell said. He added that its also disappointing and shocking to see that Germany not only ignores the leverage that has been placed over them by Russia through Nord Stream 2, but it also doesnt pay its fair share at NATO, according to Grenell.

Germany was spending 1.2 percent of its GDP on defense in 2016, when former President Donald Trump strongly advocated that each NATO member should spend 2 percent of its GDP on defense, as all members of the alliance committed to in 2014. The U.S. share in NATO at that time was about 3.5 percent of its GDP.

Now, many countries, including Germany did not get to their 2 percent obligation, but they increased their spending, they increased towards that goal, Grenell said, adding that Trump made NATO stronger compared to his predecessor.

Grenell believes that the German government doesnt perceive threats from Russia in the way the trans-Atlantic alliance sees them. Similarly, Berlin leads the effort to make a normalization agreement with Iran because it wants to trade with Iran and doesnt consider it a threat as the alliance does, he said.

In his opinion, the Germans have worked very hard to follow a Germany first economic model and have ignored many in Europe, who call for greater sharing of the burden.

According to Grenell, the German people love to work hard and believe in capitalism so they share a lot with the Americans. Americans also pushed hard for a free and unified Germany in the past, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Supporters of Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily wave their cellphone lights outside of the papers headquarters in Hong Kong on June 23, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

US Officials, Rights Groups Condemn Forced Closure of Hong Kongs Apple Daily

U.S. lawmakers and rights groups sounded alarms after Hong Kongs pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily ceased operations on Thursday.

Apple Daily, one of the only remaining media outlets in Hong Kong that was publishing voices critical of the Chinese regime and views supportive of Hong Kong protesters, printed its last edition on June 24. Its website is now inaccessible, as well as its mobile app, Twitter account, and YouTube channel.

The paper said its decision to close was based on employee safety and manpower considerations. The outlet was in a financial crunch after Hong Kong authorized the freeze of HK$18 million ($2.3 million) worth of assets from three companies linked to the paper on June 17. The seizure was part of a local police operation that raided the papers headquarters on the same day and the arrest of five of its directors.

Two of the directors are now facing collusion charges, a crime punishable by life imprisonment under the citys draconian national security law. The papers founder, Jimmy Lai, is currently in prison while waiting for a separate national security trial.

Also on June 23, Hong Kong police arrested Yeung Ching-kee, an opinion writer for Apple Daily who goes by the pen name Li Ping, on collusion charges.

Supporters of Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily wave their cellphone lights outside of the papers headquarters in Hong Kong on June 23, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside of Apple Dailys headquarters on the evening of June 23 to show their support after the paper announced its closure earlier on Wednesday. Supporters waved their cellphone lights and the papers employees waved back with their own phones from the buildings balcony.

Supporters also shouted slogans, including Thank you to all the journalists and Hongkongers, add oil, meaning keep it up in Chinese. They also left notes and cards on the railings outside the building to thank the paper and its staff.

One of the supporters, a woman surnamed Li, said she was touched to see other locals turning out to support the paper. She criticized Beijings national security law, saying that people who dont approve of it will become a target of the local authorities.

People line up to buy Apple Daily at Mong Kok in Hong Kong on June 24, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

Other locals chose to show their support by lining up at newsstands in the early hours on June 24, some buying multiple copies of the Thursday paper. Long lines were spotted at Hong Kongs Mong Kok district. Apple Daily said it would print 1 million copies of its last edition.

In response to the Hong Kong governments actions that have forced Apple Dailys closure, several U.S. lawmakers have publicly voiced their concerns on Twitter.

Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), saying the regime has succeeded in shutting down free speech in Hong Kong.

Another blow to democracy in Hong Kong, a sad day for freedom of the press, & a heartbreak for the brave journalists who risked it all in the pursuit of truth & transparency, wrote Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) stated that Hong Kong has descended into the dark ages following Apple Dailys forced closure. He added, A CCP-controlled city with no rule of law or protections for basic rights cant be an international financial hub.

A woman buys multiple copies of Apple Daily at a newsstand at Mong Kok in Hong Kong on June 24, 2021. (Andrian Yu/The Epoch Times)

Pro-Beijing Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has defended the Apple Daily raids and arrests. On June 24, the Office of the Commissioner at the CCPs Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong issued a statement demanding that foreign politicians to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs by voicing their opinions about Hong Kongs press freedom.

The United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, and Taiwan, have all voiced their condemnation over the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international cross-party group of legislators, called for targeted sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for the violation of international law and abuse of human rights in Hong Kong.

The [Apple Dailys] closure is a blow to the journalism community in Hong Kong and raises legitimate concerns over the future of press freedom in the city, the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong said in a statement.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association, together with seven local media unions and organizations, issued a joint statement, saying that their members will wear black on June 24 in protest of the governments blow against freedom of press.

The Hong Kong bureau of The Epoch Times contributed to this article.
A perimeter fence is constructed around what is officially known as a vocational skills education center in Dabancheng in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

US Targets 5 Chinese Companies Over Alleged Forced Labor in Xinjiang

The Biden administration imposed trade bans on five Chinese companies over forced labor allegations in Xinjiang, the White House said on June 24, citing the G7s recent pledge to clean up the global supply chain.

It ordered a ban on U.S. imports of a key solar panel material from Chinese-based Hoshine Silicon Industry Co and separately restricted exports to Hoshine, three other Chinese firms and the paramilitary Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), saying they were involved with the forced labor of Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in the Chinese province.

The U.S. Department of Labor also added polysilicon produced with forced labor in China to its List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.

These actions demonstrate our commitment to imposing additional costs on the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) for engaging in cruel and inhumane forced labor practices and ensuring that Beijing plays by the rules of fair trade as part of the rules-based international order, the White House said.

Beijing has denied accusations of genocide and forced labor in Xinjiang.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, reacting to earlier reports of the U.S. action, said on Thursday China would take all necessary measures to protect its companies rights and interests.

The three other companies added to the U.S. economic blacklist were Xinjiang Daqo New Energy Co, a unit of Daqo New Energy Corp; Xinjiang East Hope Nonferrous Metals Co, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based manufacturing giant East Hope Group; and Xinjiang GCL New Energy Material Co, part of GCL New Energy Holdings Ltd.

At least some of the companies are major manufacturers of monocrystalline silicon and polysilicon used in solar panel production.

The White House, in its statement, said the companies practices not only ran counter to American values but also tipped the scales against U.S. workers by exploiting workers and artificially suppressing wages. It noted the Biden administrations push to boost the U.S. solar industry.

Having the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol seize imports from Hoshine was based on information reasonably indicating that Hoshine used forced labor to manufacture silica-based products, it added.

Hoshine Silicon Industry earlier said on an interactive investor platform that it does not export industrial silicon to the United States directly, which would limit the bans impact.

Xinjiang Daqo New Energy Co, in an email to Reuters, said it had zero tolerance towards forced labor, and does not directly sell or buy from the United States so there would be no significant impact on its business.

The other companies or their parent firms, including XPCC, did not to requests for comment, or could not be reached.

By Karen Freifeld, David Shepardson, Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom
A sign reminds voters they need photo ID to vote on Election Day at a polling station at Hillsboro Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 6, 2018. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Voter ID a Sticking Point in Pennsylvania Voting Reform

A voting reform bill, moving quickly through the Republican-led Pennsylvania General Assembly, would require voter identification and impose hefty fines for election tampering.

But Democrat Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the Voting Rights Protection Act, which the state House passed Tuesday and the Senate State Government Committee passed on Wednesday. It now goes to the full state Senate where it is expected to pass Friday or Saturday.

House Bill 1300 is the result of 10 legislative public hearings that questioned the Pennsylvania Department of State and election officials both locally and from other states about system flaws.

According to the bills sponsor, Republican state Rep. Seth Grove, it aims to improve voter accessibility, increase security, and modernize Pennsylvanias 1937 Election Code. It also rolls back some changes made to the code in 2019.

The bill would require voters to show a photo identification printed with an expiration date and their name, similar to how it appears in the district voting registry.

Democrat lawmakers reject this requirement. Senator Sharif Street called the requirement onerous, noting that his own state Senate photo identification would not work at the polls because it has no expiration date.

Democrat Senator Katie Muth questioned Grove about rolling back the length of time for early voting.

Are there are concerns of limiting peoples access to the ballot box considering the time has been shortened? Muth asked during the State Government Committee debate. Are you aware of the concerns for working-class people, and also people of color that have job schedules that may limit them from accessing (voter options) if they work the weekend. Not everyone works 9-5 and not everyone has access to transportation. Are you worried that this will disenfranchise people of color from having access to vote?

Under the proposed plan, early in-person voting would start the Friday before Election Day and continue through the weekend, plus Monday and the traditional Tuesday Election Day. Polls are open 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. daily and mail-in ballots are another option.

I think there is plenty of opportunity for an individual who wants to vote, who makes it a priority to get out there and vote through the multiple methods we now have, Grove responded to Muth.

The bill moves the voter registration deadline back from 15 days to 30 days before the election, establishes a state bureau of election audits, allows for pre-canvassing of mailed ballots, and makes it easier for older and disabled voters by moving them to the front of the line or providing curbside voting so they can remain in their car.

It also introduces stiffer fines and longer possible prison terms for election tampering, including $30,000, up to 14-years in prison, and a felony conviction for election officers who permit unregistered voters to vote or who challenge or refuse to allow qualified voters to vote.

The penalty is the same for any judge, clerk of election, or machine inspector who makes a false return of the votes cast, deposits fraudulent ballots in the ballot box, or certifies as correct a return of ballots known to be fraudulent.

Unfolding or prying into ballots to see how they are marked before they are deposited in the ballot box gets a $1,000 fine and possibly two years of prison.

Election officials who delay completing their duties, block the door to a polling place, or tamper with the voter registration list would also face fines, along with voters voting in the wrong district or voting more than once in an election. Many of these rules are not new, but the fines have doubled.

The bill adds a detailed section on accountability for voting system vendors, requiring them to disclose and repair any flaws in their systems and instructs the Department of State to investigate suspected defects.

Based on what I hear from people I represent, we can do a better job in the conduct of our elections, said Pennsylvania state Sen. David Argall, Republican chair of the State Government Committee, in a phone conversation with The Epoch Times. The last election took way too long to count the ballots and its not the fault of the local people working at the courthouse. It is a misinterpretation of Act 77 by the Department of State and the state Supreme Court.

Act 77, signed by Wolf in 2019, created a new option to vote by mail without providing an excuse, which had been required for voters using absentee ballots. It also allowed for a 50-day mail-in voting period, the longest vote-by-mail period in the country; extended the deadline to register to vote from 15 days from 30 days before an election; and extended mail-in and absentee submission deadlines from the Friday before an election to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

After the 2020 presidential election, state Republicans asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to declare universal mail-in voting unconstitutional and to throw out the 2.5 million ballots cast by mail. The Democrat-leaning court dismissed the case, saying Republicans waited too long to challenge the 2019 law. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

Wolfs office was asked Wednesday if he would support the bill if voter identification were removed, and what changes would gain his support. The office did not respond in time for this report. But Wolf did send out a tweet on Tuesday.

I want election reform, too. But House Bill 1300 isnt it. The lawmakers behind this bill are the same ones who asked Congress to throw out PA votes and whose lies directly contributed to the Jan. 6 insurrection. I will veto this bill if it reaches my desk in its current form, Wolfs tweet said.

In addition to this bill, Senate Republicans are working on a measure to change the state Constitution to require voter identification when voting. It must be passed in two consecutive General Assembly sessions and then placed on the state ballot for voters to decide if they want to make that change. The soonest the question would go to voters is 2023.
A banner against renters eviction reading "no job, no rent" is displayed on a controlled rent building in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 9, 2020. (Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images)

White House Orders Final Extension of COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium

The White House on Thursday extended the federal pause of evictions that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic by one month, until the end of July.

Supporters of the moratorium have said that it is needed to allow struggling people to pay their rent during the pandemic. Opponents, however, have said that the mandate is unconstitutional and places undue pressure on landlords and property owners.

The federal ban on evictions was implemented last September and was extended several more times. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which implemented the rule, said on Thursday that it would extend it to July 31 and added this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a historic threat to the nations public health, the agency also said. Keeping people in their homes and out of crowded or congregate settingslike homeless sheltersby preventing evictions is a key step in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Earlier this week, a coalition of 44 House Democrat lawmakersincluding Squad Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.)sent a letter (pdf) to the CDC and President Joe Biden requesting that the moratorium be kept intact.

Their letter warned that if the moratorium is rescinded, some 6 million renter households are behind on their rent and at risk of eviction.

Evictions take lives and push households deeper into poverty, impacting everything from health outcomes to educational attainment, they also wrote.

Meanwhile, the moratorium had faced pushback from property owners as well as the National Association of Realtors, which filed an emergency lawsuit with the Supreme Court earlier this month. The case is currently pending.

Landlords have been losing over $13 billion every month under the moratorium, and the total effect of the CDCs overreach may reach up to $200 billion if it remains in effect for a year, their emergency petition stated.

The federal government sent out about $46 billion in congressionally approved funds for renters and landlords over the past four months.

However, very little of that money has reached landlords and tenants, according to the National Association of Home Builders, which blamed bureaucratic chaos on behalf of the federal government.

This is stuck in some sort of 50-state, maybe 1,000-county, morass, Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, told Politico in May. You have private citizens who are still obligated to pay their mortgages and the operations of these apartment buildings, and theyre not even able to break even.
Yellen Pleads With Congress to Raise Debt Ceiling or Risk Unthinkable Default

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pleaded with U.S. lawmakers on June 23 to raise the so-called federal debt ceiling to stave off an unthinkable default on U.S. debt obligations, which could spark a financial crisis.

Yellen made the remarks in testimony before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, urging lawmakers to raise the legal cap on how much the federal government can owe, warning that if they dont agree, there could be absolutely catastrophic economic consequences.

Congress in 2019 suspended the borrowing limit through July 31. If the suspension is allowed to lapse, the Treasury Department will be unable to raise additional funds by selling government securities and will have to resort to emergency measures to keep meeting its debt obligations.

In the past, the Treasury has resorted to extraordinary measures such as suspending contributions to government employee pension funds to maintain its ability to keep making debt payments. But spending on COVID-19 relief programs has added uncertainty to government cash flows. Yellen said such measures could be exhausted in August when Congress takes its traditional summer recess.

She said that a default on U.S. government debt obligations would precipitate a financial crisis, it would threaten the jobs and savings of Americans at a time when were still recovering from the COVID pandemic.

I think defaulting on the national debt should be regarded as unthinkable, Yellen said, adding that failing to increase the debt limit would have absolutely catastrophic economic consequences.

Raising the debt ceiling would require buy-in from at least 10 Senate Republicans to overcome the filibuster. Some GOP senators have said its unlikely their caucus will back boosting the cap unless some spending reform measures are adopted.

Republicans have been vocal in their opposition to the Biden administrations big-ticket spending proposals, with President Joe Bidens budget for fiscal year 2022 totaling around $6 trillion.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) recently said that lawmakers typically use the debt ceiling to try to figure out some mechanism to control future debt, according to The Hill.

Probably the Budget Control Act was the most effective of all of those things, but this is the first year in 10 years that we havent had a spending cap to try to deal with.  I think well have that same kind of debate again, Blunt said, referring to the 2011 law that capped spending limits through 2021.

I would think its likely [that] to get 10 Republicans, youre going to have to do some kind of spending reform to get a debt ceiling increase.

A standoff on raising the debt ceiling in 2011 resulted in the first downgrade on a portion of the federal governments AAA-bond rating by rating company Standard & Poors.

Reuters contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden speaks on gun crime prevention measures as Attorney General Merrick Garland looks on at the White House on June 23, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Zero Tolerance for Gun Dealers Who Break Law Under New 5-Point Plan: Biden

President Joe Biden unveiled new measures on June 23 that he says will address gun violence and violent crime, promising to aggressively pursue gun dealers who willfully break the law and to boost federal funding for local law enforcement amid a rise in homicide rates in the country over the past year.

The first agenda in the administrations new five-point plan is to help stem the flow of guns into the hands of those responsible for violence, including by having a zero tolerance policy for gun dealers that violate the law.

As part of the policy, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), an agency of the Justice Department, will seek to revoke the licenses of gun dealers who are found to violate federal law by willfully transferring a firearm to a person prohibited from owning one, failing to run a required background check, falsifying records such as a transaction form, failing to respond to a tracing request from the ATF, or refusing to let the ATF conduct an inspection.

These merchants of death are breaking the law for profit, Biden said at the White House. If you willfully sell a gun to someone whos prohibited, my message to you is this: Well find you and well seek your license to sell guns. Well make sure you cant sell death and mayhem on our streets.

A senior White House official told reporters on June 22 the move will be a historic policy that will make sure that we hold gun dealers across the country who are contributing to the supply of crime guns accountable.

The ATF will coordinate with state and local officials to be better informed about which dealers are supplying guns that show up at crime scenes, according to the White House.

This information may provide valuable leads for ATF investigations and serve as a source of information that helps focus inspection resources on the places that need them most, according to a White House fact sheet.

The White House noted that homicides increased by 30 percent and gun assaults increased by 8 percent in large cities in 2020, citing figures from a report (pdf) by the Council on Criminal Justice research group. The group said in its report that while there is some preliminary evidence to support the suggestion that increased gun sales may have contributed to rising homicides, more research is required.

The other four measures in the administrations five-point plan in part seek to channel funding to law enforcement and various efforts the administration says can help prevent violent crime: to support local law enforcement with federal tools and resources to help address summer violent crime, invest in evidence-based community violence interventions, expand summer programming, employment opportunities, and other services and supports for teenagers and young adults, and help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter their communities.

The funding would be drawn from some $350 billion in state and local funding, as well as from $122 billion in school fundingboth drawn from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief package approved in March.

Funds would be used to hire police officers up to levels prior to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, invest in technology to make law enforcement more efficient, and invest in community policing, among other efforts. The Treasury Department on June 23 released guidance on how states and localities can use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for such purposes.

This is a historic amount of funding that the President is making available to cities and states through the American Rescue Plan to invest in a range of tools to reduce gun violence in their communities and make their communities safer, a senior White House official told reporters on June 22.

Biden noted on June 23 that crime historically rises during the summer, and as we emerge from this pandemic, the traditional summer spike may be even more pronounced than it usually would be.

This is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement, he said.

The latest plan comes a day after the DOJ announced five new strike forces to target illegal firearms trafficking in the U.S. cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, and San Francisco.

Bidens latest efforts build upon earlier gun control actions in April, when he announced an executive order against ghost guns and stabilizing braces, and pushed for red flag legislation for states. Following Bidens order, the DOJ in May proposed a rule against ghost gunsguns assembled from parts that dont bear a serial number, thereby making them hard to trace. The rule requires that any build-it-yourself gun kits must have a serial number, and mandates that buyers undergo a background check.

Christopher Stone, director of communications for the National Association for Gun Rights, told The Epoch Times several days after Bidens April announcement that its completely constitutional to assemble your own firearm at home.

Building your own firearms is an American tradition predating the Second Amendment, he said.

The DOJ also proposed a rule in June against certain stabilizing braces that effectively make a pistol function like a short-barreled rifle, and introduced model red-flag legislation for states to create laws governing risk-protection ordersorders that would allow courts to temporarily bar people from owning or accessing firearms. The proposals have met with pushback from Second Amendment advocates who say they threaten Americans constitutional rights.
NEW YORK (AP)  An appeals court suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in New York on Thursday because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Donald Trumps loss in the presidential race.

An attorney disciplinary committee had asked the court to suspend Giulianis license on the grounds that he'd violated professional conduct rules as he promoted theories that the election was stolen through fraud.

The court agreed and said suspension should be immediate, even though disciplinary proceedings aren't yet complete, because there was an immediate threat to the public.

The seriousness of respondents uncontroverted misconduct cannot be overstated," the court wrote. "This country is being torn apart by continued attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 election and of our current president, Joseph R. Biden.

Trump called the suspension a politically motivated witch hunt," while Giuliani said it was a disgrace on his afternoon radio show. The court's opinion, Giuliani said, was based on hearsay and could have been written by the Democratic National Committee.

The bar association should give me an award, the Republican told listeners on WABC-AM. I defended an unpopular client. Ive been threatened with death. Ive had a good deal of my income taken away. Ive lost friends over it.

This is happening to shut me up," he added. "They want Giuliani quiet.

The court held that Giuliani, as a lawyer for Trump, communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large.

Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and U.S. attorney in Manhattan, claimed the investigation violated his First Amendment right to free speech and that he did not knowingly make false statements.

The court rejected those arguments, noting that in Pennsylvania, Giuliani failed to provide a scintilla of evidence for any of the varying and wildly inconsistent numbers of dead people he factually represented voted in Philadelphia during the 2020 presidential election.

False statements intended to foment a loss of confidence in our elections and resulting loss of confidence in government generally damage the proper functioning of a free society," the court wrote.

Interim suspensions are often a precursor to disbarment but are typically reserved for lawyers convicted of a crime, said Bruce Green, a former federal prosecutor who directs the Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics at the Fordham University School of Law. Its rarely done in cases involving lying lawyers.

Still, Giuliani will be allowed to fight the suspension and even call witnesses as part of his challenge  a process that could take months to play out  and Giuliani's attorneys said they expect him to be reinstated once the issues are fully explored at a hearing.

He gets another day in court, Green said.

The ruling prevents Giuliani from representing clients as a lawyer, but it could have limited practical impact. Before pleading Trump's case in November, the former mob prosecutor had not appeared in court as an attorney since 1992, according to court records.

Giuliani was the primary mouthpiece for Trumps false claims of election fraud after the 2020 vote, standing at a press conference in front of Four Seasons Total Landscaping outside Philadelphia on the day the race was called for Biden and saying they would challenge what he claimed was a vast conspiracy by Democrats.

Lies around the election results helped push an angry mob of pro-Trump rioters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in an effort to stop the certification of President Bidens victory. Since that time, Republicans have used that lie to push stricter voting laws nationwide.

The suspension comes as Giuliani is under scrutiny by federal prosecutors over his interactions with figures in Ukraine while he was trying to get that country to launch an investigation of Bidens son.

Federal agents raided Giulianis home and office in April, taking electronic devices including phones and computers.

The investigation includes an examination of whether Giuliani was required to register as a foreign agent in the U.S. Some of the Ukrainian figures Giuliani was worked with were also interested in getting his help lobbying the Trump administration.

Giuliani has said he is innocent of any wrongdoing and that the investigations are politically motivated.

Giuliani could also face consequences in Georgia, where he made statements to legislative committees casting doubt on the legitimacy of that states election that are cited in the New York courts decision.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has opened a criminal investigation into potential attempts to influence the 2020 election in Georgia, including looking into the making of false statements to state and local governmental bodies.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who has come under attack from Trump and his allies for not taking steps to overturn the former presidents loss in the state, saw vindication in the New York courts decision.

The judges recognized that the baseless conspiracy theories Giuliani repeated were not true and punished him for spreading lies, particularly about Georgias election, he said Thursday.

The suspension wont affect Giulianis ability to act as a lobbyist or do security consulting, but will likely will prevent him from practicing law in jurisdictions even beyond New York, said David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor.

Giuliani would be obligated to tell other states about the suspension, he said, which in all likelihood will cause them to say, You wont be able to practice here.

__

This story has been updated to correct the attribution on the decision. It was made by the court, not the attorney disciplinary committee.

__

Associated Press writers Kate Brumback in Atlanta, Michael Hill in Albany, New York, and Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report.
WILTON  A year after fully replacing five roofs on Wilton Town Hall due to water damage, the town plans to spend more money to replace the roof at Cider Mill Elementary School for similar reasons.

A survey recently completed at the school has revealed a large quadrant of the buildings roof to be in need a full replacement, with other quadrants presenting leakage as well, according to Department of Public Works and Facilities Director Chris Burney, who told the Board of Selectmen of the findings on June 22.

To just patch it would not be possible, he said.

After fielding numerous proposals from roofing contractors, Burneys department is eyeing a $604,000 offer from the Garland Roofing Company, which also worked on the town hall project last year.

We are looking at authorizing them to replace the quadrant section, Burney said. He also told the board that they are looking for Garland to restore the canopy roofing near the student drop-off area.

First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice said the deal is in the process of being finalized.

We have the money to cover this, Vanderslice said, detailing that the bonding for these types of town repairs came in at $600,000 and that the town would be able to cover the remaining cost. If it has to come out of the operating budget, we can do it.

Burney said the goal is to get a jump on the roof project before major leakage occurs.

Selectwoman Deborah McFadden raised concerns of recent lumber prices increasing nationwide, and asked if the proposed price of the contract would increase. Burney assured her that this is a fixed price and that construction supply has begun to see a slight turnaround, with the supply of construction lumber jumping by 30 percent.

Vanderslice said that attorney Doug LaMonte, of Berchem Moses, who helps facilitate many of the towns business deals through their legal aspects, will be signing off on the contract.
Summer is officially here, so its finally time to get to that reading list. If you have been too busy to make a list for the season, several experts and avid readers have offered to share what they have planned for the next few weeks.

Edwardsville Public Library Director Jill Schardt just finished The Arsonist City by Hala Alyan, and she highly recommends the book.

I havent given a book five stars in a while, she said Tuesday at the library, located at 112 S Kansas St., Edwardsville.

Schardt is also reading The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson to prepare to lead the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Awareness (IDEA) Book Club discussion at the library on July 1 and 15. The club, which is designed to address issues of racism and to advance racial equity, features a series of group discussions and guest speakers from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The series started in April and continues through July.

I always have more to read than I can get to, she added.

Jacob Del Rio, the adult services librarian, will be joining Schardt in moderating the book discussion, so he is also reading the best-selling book, which is a story of how and why millions of Black Americans left the South between 1915 and 1970 to escape Jim Crow Laws in what is known today as The Great Migration.

Del Rio is also reading one of the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read books Circe by Madeline Miller, which is about the goddess Circe. Millers bestselling, critically acclaimed novel comes after her first Greek mythology work, The Song of Achilles.

Del Rio said he is reading several advanced copies that arent quite available to the public, although he reminds patrons that the library has a shelf of advanced copy books available. Of those advanced copies, he is most looking forward to Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, which will officially release in September. A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Whitehead also penned The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys.

Between Circe, The Warmth of Other Suns, and that, they have me pretty occupied right now, Del Rio said.

He also hopes to take the time to read How the World is Passed by Clint Smith, as Smith will be the keynote speaker at the Illinois Library Association in October.

According to Del Rio, the most popular requests from library patrons lately are The Guest List by Lucy Foley and The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.

Circulation clerk Sally Atwood has several books on her list, as well. She is currently reading Stacy Abrams While Justice Sleeps.

At first it started slow, but now Im into it, she said. The next book on her list is Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.

Christina Armour, a library patron, has several popular books on her summer reading list, including Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Guest List by Lucy Foley, and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Armour is following a list of the best reads for 2021, but she is looking forward to The Guest List the most. Her husband recently finished the popular wedding-themed thriller in audiobook format and highly recommended it.

Armour said The Guest List audiobook incorporates different voices for each character, which could make it a good way for new users to get into the format.

Armours daughter, Lillian, was looking for a cool book as she browsed the shelves. She had just finished Halloween Howl by Gail Herman, and planned to read more Clifford books over the summer.

Kristen Reno, the youth librarian, is reading through the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens Top Ten nominees. Every year, teenagers recommend their favorite books from the year and a list of 25 nominees is compiled. Then, in August, teenagers are invited to vote on their favorite of these 25. More information can be found on YALSAs website.

Reno is going to try to read all of the nominated books, but she is most looking forward to Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.

While the library was unable to host its annual kick-off at the beginning of the summer, the youth summer reading program is up and running on Beanstack, which is a website and mobile app that allows readers to track their reading logs.

Participants who complete the summer reading program will receive a free book. Participants also have the chance to enter their name in a drawing for a $100 gift card to Happy Up Inc. or a gift basket comprised of different local gift cards for teens. For more information about summer reading, or to create an account, check out the Kids section on the Edwardsville Public Library homepage.

And there is no shortage of choices in the youth section of the library to start that program.

Auggie Kraus, who is heading in to the second grade, is reading The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey. Auggies brother Steven, who will be a senior in high school this year, is reading Shadow of the Conqueror by Shad M. Brooks. They are both enrolled in the summer reading program.

I like Rick Riordans books, Mattie Popp said. And, I just read Cinder (by Marissa Meyer). Im going to read the rest of the series because I really liked it. Author Marissa Meyers series, the Lunar Chronicles, are classic fairy tales with a futuristic spin.

Mattie also enjoys books written by American fantasy and science fiction author Brandon Sanderson.

Matties mother, Maggie Popp, plans to read some Sanderson content this summer, too, as well as the popular American Dirt. This action-packed thriller follows a fictional immigration story in to the United States.

Popp plans to round off her reading list with Lenten Lands: My Childhood with Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis by Douglas H. Gresham and The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.

Im pretty much always reading four or five books at a time, Maggie Popp said.

Maggies children all seemed to take after her love of reading  she had to remind them that everything they chose to borrow had to fit in the bikes that they had used to get to the library.
This week we have been following the legal back and forth between the NYC Economic Development Corp.(EDC) and a longtime vendor at the Essex Street Market. Last night, members of Community Board 3 briefly discussed the situation and the broader issue of protections for businesses at the market.

Carmen Salvador, the owner of Three Brothers Clothing, filed an anti-discrimination lawsuit in state Supreme Court against the EDC, which operates the market. The city decided earlier this fall not to renew her permit for a stall on the north end of the market because, according to Salvador, she has been closed too frequently in recent months. Salvador, however, says medical issues have prevented her from keeping normal hours.

During CB3s executive committee meeting, Chairperson Gigi Li said she had spoken with city officials about the matter. Since the Salvador case is in litigation, EDC officials have declined to speak publicly about the details, except to say that Salvador had been given ample warnings about violations of her contract, which specifies hours of operation among other requirements.

Executive committee members agreed, however, that the board should ask EDC officials to appear before CB3s land use committee to discuss big picture market management issues. The city previously agreed to provide space in the new facility for all vendors who are in good standing at the time of the move, and the developers are picking up their moving expenses. But CB3 wants to make sure theres no effort to weed out vendors in advance of the move. Some members last night cautioned that its a delicate matter; the community board and the EDC developed a lot of trust during the past few years, as the large development project came to fruition. No one wants to jeopardize that spirit of cooperation. At the same time, theres a strong interest in assuring that the dwindling number of longtime, diverse vendors at the market have the opportunity to stay (a city spokesperson told The Lo-Down there is no connection whatsoever between the Three Brothers situation and the EDCs long-term goals for the market).

In other news related to the markets future, a new Essex Street Market merchant association met with the Essex Crossing design team yesterday for a get-acquainted session. Market Ventures, a firm that specializes in building public markets, has been hired to work on the project. Also, the EDC has published a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), seeking consultants with expertise in market management. According to the RFQ, the agency may issue future requests for advisory services to assist in strategic planning for the management and operations of the new, expanded market, among other tasks related to NYCEDCs markets portfolio. The document, available on the EDCs web site, states that respondents should have expertise in the day-to-day operations and staffing of expanding and/or new world class public retail food markets, as well as vendor recruitment, public programming, marketing and entrepreneurship development.

UPDATED 11/22/2013 4:24 p.m. Regarding the lawsuit filed this week, a city law department spokesperson said Salvadors claims couldnt be addressed in detail due to the pending litigation. We strongly dispute Ms. Salvadors version of events and allegations that the EDC violated the law, the spokesperson said.
Tomorrow night, theres a public visioning session on the renovation of Kimlau Square in Chinatown.

The mayors office and City Council member Margaret Chin have allocated $900,000 to make the space bordering Oliver Street and East Broadway more inviting.

The meeting will take place tomorrow from 6:30-8 p.m. at Mariners Temple Baptist Church, 3 Henry St. Once designers have renderings of the park, theyll go to Community Board 3 for approval. Tomorrow nights session is meant to provide them guidance from the local community.

Questions? Email matthew.beck@parks.nyc.gov.

Heres more from the Parks Dept. on the history of Kimlau Square:
At tonights meeting of Community Board 3s State Liquor Authority Committee, we should find out some new details about the Market Line, a centerpiece of the big Essex Crossing project. Several vendors in the subterranean shopping pavilion are going for liquor licenses (beer & wine only).

Heres what we know based on documents already filed with CB3.

Contra masterminds Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske Valtierra will outline their plans for Cubmare, a small plates/wine bar. Food items on a preliminary menu include oysters, cured meats, marinated anchovies, fluke crudo, etc. Stone and Von Hauske Valtierra have found great success with Contra, their flagship restaurant on Orchard Street, as well as Wildair and Una Pizza Napoletano.

Schaller & Weber, the Upper East Side-based purveyor of sausages and German-style smoked meats, is also seeking a beer and wine permit. On the Lower East Side, they will be serving up brats, sliced knackwurst, sausage platters and, of course, German beers.

Essex Pearl, from the owners of Aqua Best in Chinatown, is also on CB3s agenda for a seafood counter and restaurant. The family-run business will have three tables and a counter for 28 customers. There will be a raw bar, plus lunch and dinner service.

The local institution, Veselka, plans a scaled-down version of its Second Avenue restaurant. The menu at the Market Line includes some of the Ukrainian coffee shops standbys, including pierogi, borscht, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage. There will be one large table with 10 seats, and a bar with 5 seats.

Also seeking permits are Kuro-Obi, the latest project from ramen specialist Ippudo; and Tortilleria Nixtamal, an outpost from the Queens-based Mexican restaurant.

The Market Line will eventually stretch across three buildings on Broome Street. The first segment opens later this year beneath a newly expanded Essex Street Market. The initial phase of the facility will feature about 70 vendors. Only a few operators have been publicly announced.

Tonights meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at Perseverance House Community Room, 535 East 5th St. See the full agenda here.
SUNDAY SERVICES  The amphitheater beneath the cross at Lake Junaluska will be the site of the Summer Worship Series sponsored by Lake Junaluska Assembly.
Salida, CO (81201)

Today

Sunny skies during the morning will give way to mostly cloudy skies in the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
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Former Philippines president Noynoy Aquino dies aged 61

WORLD: Former Philippine president Benigno Noynoy Aquino, the reserved scion of one of Asias most famous political families, died today (June 24). He was 61.

deathpolitics

By AFP

Thursday 24 June 2021, 04:16PM

Benigno Noynoy Aquino, who ruled the archipelago nation from 2010 to 2016, was the only son of the late former president Corazon Aquino. Photo: AFP

Aquino, who was in office from 2010 to 2016, was the only son of the late former president Corazon Aquino and her assassinated husband, senator Benigno Ninoy Aquino, both revered for leading the struggle to restore democracy in the archipelago nation.

Aquino was rushed to the Capitol Medical Center in Manila early today.

The cause of death was renal disease as a result of diabetes, his family said.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin tweeted his grief over the death of a sea-green incorruptible.

He said Aquino was brave under armed attack, wounded in crossfire, indifferent to power and its trappings, and ruled our country with a puzzling coldness but only because he hid his feelings so well it was thought he had none.

Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, who was Aquinos former peace adviser, expressed profound sadness over the former leaders death.

I knew him to be a kind man, driven by his passion to serve our people, diligent in his duties, and with an avid and consuming curiosity about new knowledge and the world in general, Leonen said.

Aquino, who was succeeded by President Rodrigo Duterte, waged an anti-corruption campaign during a term that ushered in key economic reforms.

Unusually for the conservative Catholic country, Aquino remained a bachelor throughout his life, though had relationships with a number of women.

Powerful family name

Aquino was born on February 8, 1960 to one of the countrys wealthiest land-owning political families.

A latecomer to the presidential race in 2010, he declared his candidacy only after his mothers death from cancer the previous year had plunged the country into mourning, and demonstrated the power of the family name.

He made fighting corruption his mantra, capitalising on his familys clean reputation, and vowed to reduce the poverty afflicting a third of the population.

His administration delivered average annual economic growth of just over 6.0%, the highest since the 1970s, handing the country investment-grade status - but poverty remained endemic.

Aquino, who earned an economics degree from the elite Ateneo de Manila University, was long mocked by opponents as a fortunately surnamed under-achiever with no administrative or business experience.

They also said he had little to show for the more-than a decade he spent as a congressman and senator.

But the chain-smoking Aquino blossomed during the election campaign into a confident public speaker and the nations leading critic of his predecessor, Gloria Arroyo, who was arrested for corruption after she left office.

The Aquino family name was stamped into Philippine political history through tragedy.

Military personnel shot dead Ninoy Aquino at Manila airport in 1983 as he returned from US exile to lead the democracy movement against dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The event shocked the world and ignited the non-violent People Power movement that toppled Marcos. The martyred politicians widow, Corazon, led the revolution and succeeded Marcos as president in 1986.

Aquino had a bullet lodged in his neck - one of five that struck him when rebel soldiers attacked the presidential palace in 1987 in a coup attempt against his mother that killed three of his bodyguards.

Unlike Duterte, Aquino put the Philippines long-running dispute with China over competing claims to the South China Sea at the top of his foreign policy agenda.

He launched a landmark case with a UN-backed tribunal to challenge Beijings claims to most of the sea, which ruled in favour of the Philippines.

But Beijing rejected the decision.

Aquino is survived by four sisters.
Phuket airport readies for July 1

PHUKET: Phuket International Airport held a full rehearsal of receiving vaccinated foreign tourists yesterday, ahead of the island reopening to international tourists next Thursday (July 1).

COVID-19Coronavirustourismtransporteconomicshealth

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 24 June 2021, 10:10AM

The practice run comes ahead of an expected visit to Phuket by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha tomorrow.

Five international flights will arrive in Phuket on July 1, said a report by the Official Phuket Information Center, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior.

A Qatar Airways flight from Doha will arrive at 1:30pm, an EL AL Israel Airlines flight from Tel Aviv will touch down at 1:45pm, a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore will land at 5:10pm, a Fly Dubai flight from Dubai will land at 8:10pm and an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi will arrive at 10:20pm.

The flights will bring 440 foriegn arrivals in total.

A report by the Phuket office of the PR Department (PR Phuket) yesterday said that provincial officials expect the number of international arrivals to gradually increase throughout next month, with about 10,000 arrivals in total expected to land in Phuket in July.

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew led an inspection of the simulation yesterday (June 23), observing the processes tourists will go through before being allowed to leave the terminal.

Joining the inspection were Phuket Airport Director Thanee Chuangchoo, Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Chalermpong Sukontapol and a host of Phuket officers from the Immigration Bureau, Customs, Tourist Police as well as local police and and medical staff from Thalang Hospital.

The rehearsal included passengers disembarking their planes and having their temperature checked before being escorted to each staging area to have their documents processed and verified and swab samples taken.

Phuket is expected to be ready to meet the goals set by the July 1 deadline, Governor Narong said. With the measures that Phuket Airport has prepared to make tourists who come to be confident in the standards and safety in the implementation of disease control in Phuket, he added.

"For service places, we are not fully open yet. [Restrictions on] Restaurants have been relaxed [for them] to open as usual, but the disease control measures must be strictly followed, wear a mask and keep social distance. The [disease-control] measures we are taking, we should continue, and there will be officers to look after each other for all parties to relieve their concerns, Governor Narong said.

Many parts are starting to move. Employees are being hired to work. After being closed for a long time, things will come to change suddenly. Many things are being gradually prepared, for example on Friday [tomorrow] we will hold a Big Cleaning event to clean up the whole island, whether it is cleaning beaches, roads and other places, at the same time, he added.
Phuket tipped to receive 6% more visitors

BANGKOK: Phuket International Airport is ready to welcome international tourists under the islands sandbox scheme due to start next month and cope with a 6% increase in air traffic, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd said on Wednesday (June 23).

COVID-19Coronavirustourism

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 24 June 2021, 10:24AM

Officials conduct an exercise to ensure service readiness at Phuket airport on Wednesday. Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran / Bangkok Post

Despite the likelihood that air traffic at the airport will drop by 45% during this fiscal year to only around 339,340 flights due to COVID-19, traffic is expected to rebound a little once the Phuket sandbox scheme kicks off on July 1, the state agencys executive vice-president, Tinnakorn Chuwong said, reports the Bangkok Post.

At least five more flights will arrive at Phuket airport each day, bringing the total daily number to 80 flights per day, or a 6% increase on current daily air traffic, he said. The heavier air traffic is not beyond our capacity, since during a normal period, Phuket airport has up to 350 flights per day, he said.

Phuket Governor Narong Woonsew says officials are also ready to implement the Sandbox plan, which also heralds the countrys reopening to tourism, once international tourists arrive.

Mr Narong said visitors would come from low- and medium-risk countries in Europe and elsewhere and would arrive on Thai Airways International flights from London, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Paris and Zurich.

Before travelling, visitors must have a negative COVID-19 test, purchase COVID-19 insurance coverage of at least US$100,000 (B3.1 million) and have a reservation at a hotel with a Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus certificate, he said.

On arrival, visitors will be tested again for COVID-19 at Phuket airport. They would have to wait in their hotel room for the result. If the test is negative, they will be allowed to go out.

However, they still have to pass two more tests on day 6 or 7 and day 12 or 13 of their trip. If they pass all three tests, they can continue travelling in Thailand. They would also be required to install the smartphone tracking app Mor Chana.

These rules are also extended to Thais returning from abroad, while Thais from other provinces must be vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 before entering Phuket, he said.
Sinopharm vaccine gets the green light

THAILAND: One million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Sinopharm, which was ordered by Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) as an alternative to currently available options, have passed a quality control test to ensure the lot, which was shipped from China, is safe for use.

ChineseCoronavirusCOVID-19Vaccine

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 24 June 2021, 09:05AM

Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana provides 25,600 doses of Sinopharm vaccine to the Public Health Ministry, City Hall, the Department of Corrections and the Chulabhorn Hospital to mark the Princesss 64th birthday on July 4. Photo: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Department of Medical Sciences director-general Dr Supakit Sirilak yesterday (June 23) said the first lot of Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Thailand on June 20, and the department has taken vaccine samples to conduct safety and quality checks.

This is required by a regulation which stipulates all vaccines must be tested by the department first before they are released for public use.

It is one of the countrys first alternative vaccines, purchased by the CRA to private sector and local administrative organisations.

The departments chief said laboratory tests on the vaccine checked its safety, together with its physical and chemical appearance, to ensure they meet standards set by the Food and Drug Administration.

A result from our laboratory concluded that this lot of vaccine has passed our test, he said. We have already issued a certificate so that it could be released for distribution.

The CRA updated the vaccine allocation plan on its Facebook page, saying that 6,437 companies and organisations will get the vaccine to 779,300 people by August at the latest.

CRA secretary-general Nithi Mahanonda said the first lot of Sinopharm vaccines will be ready for the recipients, who registered during June 14 to 15, while the CRAs committees will allocate the rest of the vaccines, when the CRA knows the exact amount that will be imported during July and August.

Meanwhile, another 2mn doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Thailand from China yesterday, making a total of 10.5mn doses delivered so far.

The Chinese Embassy in Bangkok posed on its Facebook yesterday that The new lot of 2 million doses of Sinovac arrives in Bangkok now. China has so far delivered 12 lots of vaccines totaling 10.5 million doses to Thailand. The Chinese vaccines will help Thais in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Thailand, fight.

Elsewhere, the managing director of Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) Withoon Danwiboon said the GPO is operating as facilitator between Zuellig Pharma Ltd, which is a supplier of Moderna vaccine in Thailand, and private hospitals here.

As such, the GPO is now in the process of drafting vaccine purchasing agreements between the company and the GPO, which could be signed by early August.

After signing the agreements, Zuellig Pharma will start to hand over 5 million doses of vaccines to the GPO for further distribution.
The coronavirus vaccines have been hailed as a "light at the end of the tunne" that will bring finality to the ongoing pandemic. Millions of Americans plan to take the vaccination, but many others are skeptical and may opt against it.

You voted:
As clouds roll by: Eagleville artist captures beauty of the sky with his camera
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Thursday extended the nationwide ban on evictions for a month to help millions of tenants unable to make rent payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but said this is the last time it plans to do so.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended the evictions moratorium from June 30 until July 31. The CDC said this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.

A Biden administration official said the last month would be used for an all hands on deck multiagency campaign to prevent a wave of evictions. One of the reasons the moratorium was put in place was to prevent further spread of COVID-19 by people put out on the streets and into shelters.

By the end of March, 6.4 million American households were behind on their rent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As of June 7, roughly 3.2 million people in the U.S. said they faced eviction in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey.

The news brought a sense of relief to tenants on the verge of being evicted and whose only lifeline was the CDC moratorium.

Among them was Cristina Livingston, a 55-year-old mother of two from Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, who lost her job as an administrative assistant during the pandemic. She couldnt get federal rental assistance to pay upwards of $14,000 in back rent because her landlord refused to take it.

Ah, great. Im just asking for a little bit more time. I just need the time to move out of here in a dignified way, said Livingston, who said her biggest fear was that she would be evicted without notice before finding a new job.

Its been a devastating experience, she said. I have never been in this situation. Its killing me because Im afraid anytime somebody is going to come and get me out of here. I dont have a place to go.

Ronald Leonard, a 68-year-old retired heavy equipment operator from Daytona Beach, was facing eviction from his one-bedroom apartment. His landlord also is refusing to take federal assistance to cover $5,000 in back rent.

I dont have to worry about July no more. I feel a lot better, said Leonard, who still fears being forced to live on the streets once the moratorium expires. Its heartbreaking. Its not going to be good all. I'm not healthy anymore. There is no way Im going to live on the street.

The extension announcement Thursday was accompanied by a flurry of administration activity. The Treasury Department issued new guidance encouraging states and local governments to streamline distribution of the nearly $47 billion in available emergency rental assistance funding. And Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta released an open letter to state courts around the country encouraging them to pursue a number of alternatives that would protect both tenants and landlords.

Gupta's letter states that eviction filings are expected to overwhelm courts across the country, unless additional steps are taken.

The White House had acknowledged Wednesday that the emergency pandemic protection, which had been extended before, would have to end at some point. The trick is devising the right sort of off-ramp to make the transition without major social upheaval.

Guptas letter to state courts encourages them to do everything possible to prevent or delay evictions.

Losing ones home can have catastrophic economic and psychological effects, she states. The entire legal community, including the Department of Justice, the bar, and the judiciary, has an obligation to do what it can to ensure that each and every individual has meaningful and equal access to justice before facing such consequences.

That includes giving tenants as much time as possible, and making sure both tenants and landlords are aware of any emergency relief funds that may be available.

She references steps made by state courts in Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania and directs state courts to an online assessment tool designed by the National Center for State Courts to help jurisdictions determine the most appropriate model.

This week, dozens of members of Congress wrote to President Joe Biden and Walensky, calling for the moratorium to be not only extended but also strengthened in some ways.

The letter, spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Jimmy Gomez of California and Cori Bush of Missouri, called for an unspecified extension to allow the emergency rental assistance included in the American Rescue Plan to get into the hands of tenants.

Ending the assistance too abruptly, they said, would disproportionately hurt some of the minority communities that were hit so hard by the virus, which has killed more than 600,000 people in the United States. They also echoed many housing advocates by calling for the moratoriums protections to be made automatic, requiring no special steps from the tenant to gain its protections.

The impact of the federal moratorium cannot be understated, and the need to strengthen and extend it is an urgent matter of health, racial, and economic justice, the letter said.

Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, called an extension of the eviction ban the right thing to do  morally, fiscally, politically, and as a continued public health measure.

But landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it in court, were against any extension. They have argued the focus should be on speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.

There are at least six prominent lawsuits challenging the authority of the CDC ban. So far, three judges have sided with the ban and three have ruled against, with all cases currently going through appeals. One judge in Memphis declared the CDC order unenforceable in the entire Western District of Tennessee, and the U.S. District Court in Washington struck down the moratorium in May.

The judge in the District Court in Washington agreed to stay the case after the Justice Department filed an emergency appeal. The landlords in the case have filed a request to vacate the stay with the Supreme Court.

Others welcomed the moratorium extension but said the Biden administration needs to think about more long-term solutions, including expanding the federal government's housing voucher program for low-income tenants. Even before the pandemic, there were 24 million people who would have benefited from the program but couldn't get help  many of those people of color.

For now. extending the eviction moratorium will protect the millions of people behind on rent, but many of these renters faced a similar deadline only months ago and they will face this deadline again next month, Alicia Mazzara, a senior research analyst with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told reporters. They need a long-term solution, not another Band-Aid. Policy makers should seize this moment to enact a more enduring solution.

___

Casey reported from Boston.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  A St. Louis judge said Thursday that hell decide by the end of next week whether to allow the special prosecutor to withdraw from the perjury and evidence tampering case against William Don Tisaby, a former FBI agent hired by St. Louis top prosecutor to investigate former Gov. Eric Greitens.

Judge Bryan Hettenbach also will decide no later than July 2 on a motion from attorneys for Tisaby that seeks a sanction of Special Prosecutor Gerard Carmody. Tisaby's attorneys accused Carmody of failing to turn over evidence, which Carmody denied.

Tisaby, 68, is accused of lying in a March 2018 deposition just before Greitens' criminal trial. Greitens, a Republican, was governor at the time.

Carmody filed a motion in May to exit the case. He told Hettenbach during a hearing Thursday that because of other issues with his law firm, I can no longer serve as special prosecutor in this case.

Tisaby's attorney, Daniel Dailey, urged the judge to toss out the case. If a new special prosecutor is appointed, it will take that person time to get up to speed, further delaying Tisaby's trial, he said.

How much longer will he have to wait for his day in court? Dailey asked.

Greitens was indicted on felony invasion of privacy in February 2018 for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman during a 2015 extramarital affair, before he was governor, and threatening to use it as blackmail if she ever spoke of their relationship. The charge was dropped in the midst of jury selection, but Greitens resigned in June 2018.

Greitens admitted to the affair but denied criminal wrongdoing. Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner hired Tisaby to investigate Greitens. Her handling of the case and Tisaby's investigation drew condemnation from the former governor's attorneys and prompted the investigation.

The seven-count indictment accused Tisaby of lying during a deposition. It alleged that Tisaby denied taking notes during his interview of the woman who was involved with Greitens, although a recording of the interview showed him doing so. The indictment also said that while Tisaby claimed he didnt receive notes from the prosecutors office before interviewing the woman, a document uncovered during grand jury proceedings shows Gardner provided Tisaby her notes.

The indictment also raised concerns about whether Gardner was complicit in his alleged crimes, saying she failed to correct Tisabys inaccuracies or report them, and that she made incorrect statements to defense lawyers and a judge.

Greitens also faced a second criminal charge in April 2018, accusing him of using a donor list from the charity he founded, The Mission Continues, to raise money for his 2016 gubernatorial campaign. During the hearing Thursday, Dailey said it was Tisaby who uncovered the donor list. Dailey said, without naming names in court, that the list includes clients of Carmody's law firm.

Mr. Tisaby will prove that's the reason he was indicted, Dailey said.

That claim drew an angry response from Carmody.

I don't even have any idea what donor list he's talking about, Carmody told the judge. The fact of the matter is, there's not a scintilla of truth."

Gardner's role in the Greitens investigation also is under scrutiny from the Missouri office in charge of overseeing lawyers' professional conduct.

Alan Pratzel, Missouris chief disciplinary counsel, said in a court filing in May that a review indicated Gardner concealed evidence that could have helped Greitens. A hearing to determine if Gardner should be disciplined is planned but no date has been set.

Earlier Thursday, about three dozen supporters of Gardner rallied outside the courthouse. Many speakers said Gardner, the city's first Black female circuit attorney, was targeted because of her race.

What is happening is another form of lynching  legal lynching, activist Zaki Baruti said.

Greitens, meanwhile, is back in politics. He announced in March that he's running for the U.S. Senate in 2022.
Today

Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 97F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.

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Ian Ostroff is a writer/reporter who resides in Montreal. He is passionate about getting to know the people and places that make his hometown so great. In his spare time, you can find him at the gym, eating ice cream, or working on his novel(s).
I was enjoying a slice of pie, skimming the headlines in the paper, when my mouth fell open in astonishment:

Your Waistline May Reveal How Religious You Are

The headline was followed by data, surveys, and supporting material. There was no disputing the fact: We who love the Lord love food.

Duh. I could have saved them thousands in research money if they had just asked me. Every good Baptist knows that pie and piety go hand in hand. Im convinced that fellowship and food begin with the same first letter through Divine design.

My childhood was peppered with church dinners and Sunday afternoon church picnics.

An excitement arrived at church along with the covered dishes. Everyone had a specialty and we knew the menu by heart. Fried chicken. Baked chicken. Ham and beans. Green beans. Three-bean salad. Potato salad. Lumpy mashed potatoes in great big pots.

Toward the end of the sermon, women all over the auditorium stood. They gathered up their giant purses and worn Bibles, pressed the wrinkles from their dresses with practiced hands, and ceremoniously headed toward the basement kitchen.

Before long the aroma of dinner wafted throughout the church like a breathy prayer.

The invitation was sung just a little faster, it seemed, and the AMEN at the end of the closing prayer acted as a starting pistol in the race to the fellowship hall.

The long tables downstairs were set end to end and covered with white tissue paper that came off giant rolls.

Women strutted self-assuredly from task to task; slicing tomatoes, making coffee, carrying casserole dishes to the tables. Each woman had her own style of working. The cheery new mother flitted anxiously from job to job, eager to have her help accepted by the more seasoned women.

The slower-paced grandmas, who had bustled around the same church kitchen for decades, delegated duties with military sternness. They could serve up a frown more caustic than the worst tasting vegetable; there was no way to sneak a lick or fingertip of food when the grandmas were around.

When it seemed the tables would collapse from the weight of Pyrex and Crockpots, the preacher would finally acknowledge the starving stares sent his way.

Lets pray, echoed from his lips and we sighed happily.

The preacher was always first in the buffet-style line, then the old folks; walkers and canes clattered along the concrete floor like teeth chattering. Moms and babies lined up next, balancing plates in one hand and diapered bottoms in the other in a deftness that could only be learned in church supper lines.

Finally, children who could feed themselves were allowed to fix a plate. We scanned the feast to see what was left and plotted our strategy as to which pot wed scoop into first.

Vegetables we hated blurred in our vision; we scurried toward chicken drumsticks and hot dogs and red, fruit-filled Jell-O that adults insisted was salad.

The air around us echoed with chatter, chewing and Christianity. Recipes were revealed, sometimes grudgingly, but never rudely. Praises flowed from practiced lips as forks and knives clinked out coded approval.

Food and love filled the soul, in that building of Bibles and revivals. Loaves and fishes, manna from Heaven, the feast given for the prodigal sons returnit was all there, just as the sermons said. We found comfort and acceptance in breaking bread with our church family.

And we broke a lot of it.

Our love of the Lord, would be forever connected to the warmth of the church suppers that showed His love made visible.

And, yes. Our waistlines expanded. Just like the research discovered.

I licked the last crumbs of piecrust from my fork and walked to the sink with my plate and hummed a verse of Do Lord as I began washing dishes.

Robin Garrison Leach is a freelance writer and columnist from Quincy, Illinois.Robin Writes is published in numerous Missouri and Illinois newspapers. Contact her at robingarrisonleach@gmail.com.
More than two years ago, Gary Martin walked into a disciplinary meeting with his supervisors at an Aurora valve manufacturing plant. They told him he was being let go. Yeah, its over, a survivor remembered him saying.

Martin pulled out a .40-caliber handgun and killed four of the people in the room. He killed another co-worker elsewhere in the plant, and shot and wounded another co-worker and five police officers before dying in a shootout with police.

As a convicted felon, Martin should never have been allowed to have a gun. His firearm owners identification card had been revoked. But there was no follow-up from law enforcement to ensure he had surrendered his handgun. Some disgruntled person walked in and had access to a firearm that he shouldnt have had access to, Aurora police Chief Kristen Ziman said after that terrible Feb. 15, 2019, afternoon.

Pledges to make sure someone like Martin would never again have access to guns followed. Two years later, nothing has changed. The spring legislative session in Springfield ended without movement on House Bill 3245 that would have addressed the problems exposed by the Aurora mass shooting.

Fortunately, a second bill that addresses revoked FOID cards tentatively is on the agenda this week for a quick, two-day session of staggered House and Senate meetings. Lawmakers should pass it before they leave town again, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker should sign it into law.

For the last two years, we, along with gun safety advocates, have called for raising the FOID card application fee from $10 to $20 so that a portion of that increase could fund a task force that would follow up with gun owners whove had their FOID revoked  but have yet to relinquish their guns. The law requires felons to lose access to firearms, but lax enforcement allows many of those individuals to keep them.

A bill proposed by Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, would set up that task force, which would conduct enforcement operations against persons whose Firearm Owners Identification Cards have been revoked or suspended Hoffmans bill also would create for law enforcement agencies a database of people who have had their FOID cards revoked or suspended, and would broaden background checks to include person-to-person gun purchases.

Last year, the Tribune reported that 80% of people who had their FOID cards revoked had failed to document that they had gotten rid of their guns, as the law requires. State records showed that, as of February 2020, 36,600 guns belonging to people who were ineligible to possess them had remained unaccounted for in Illinois.

Gary Martin wasnt the only revoked cardholder who kept his gun and later killed with it. In the case of Christopher Miller, the victim was his 18-month-old son. In September 2019, Miller appeared at the Joliet home of his estranged wife, choked her until she fell unconscious and then fatally shot their toddler, Colton, before killing himself.

Like Martin, Miller had his FOID card revoked. He also had been arrested in Cook County and released on bond without anyone checking to see if his guns had been seized. His wife had told officials in DuPage County that he still had guns  and no one followed up.

Lawmakers worried about the erosion of gun rights are missing the point on this one. No one is taking away guns from people who lawfully can possess them. This is about keeping guns out of the hands of people whove had their FOID cards revoked.

The law that bans people with revoked FOIDs from having guns is already on the books; what has been missing is the means to facilitate enforcement of that law.

If a task force is the best way forward to supplement law enforcement in removing guns, it needs to get off the ground  now.
GODFREY  Lewis and Clark Community College has begun a series of community forums designed to gather feedback on the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities building in Edwardsville.

Lewis and Clark recognizes the historical significance and the value of this newly remodeled facility to the entire region, LCCC President Ken Trzaska said last month in announcing the forums. Our goal is to gather community input on options for this facility for future use.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Ivory A. Toldson, Howard University

(THE CONVERSATION) When billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced her third round of charitable gifts in June 2021, she said she was giving US$2.7 billion to 286 organizations. This list includes 31 colleges and universities serving people of color and other underserved communities.

Thats on top of the $4.2 billion Scott announced in December 2020 to support 384 organizations, including 30 colleges and universities. Her initial plan, announced in July 2020, included $1.7 billion for 116 organizations, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions.

For example, Scott is giving Xavier University of Louisiana, a school that sends more Black graduates to medical school than any other university in the U.S., $20 million; Long Beach City College, a California school where more than 85% of students are people of color, $30 million; and Odessa College, a Texas school where 74% of students are nonwhite, $7 million. All three colleges said Scotts donations were the largest they had ever received.

As a counseling psychology professor who conducts research regarding the education of Black students, I am encouraged to see Scott, a novelist who was formerly married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, depart from how billionaires tend to approach their higher education giving. Most make donations to prestigious universities that already have large endowments  money raised from alumni and other donors that they invest in stocks, bonds and other assets. This wealth can cover the cost of scholarships, salaries, construction and any other expenses.

Most wealthy people donate to wealthy schools

Mike Bloomberg, for example, donated $1.8 billion to John Hopkins University, his alma mater, in 2018. Notably, that prestigious school receives more money from federal grants than all of the nations 100 HBCUs combined.

Similarly, I question how donations to Harvard University, such as the $30 million from Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, can be considered charitable when it already has $41.9 billion in its endowment. Harvard earned a 7.3% return on its endowment assets for its fiscal year that ended in June 2020  about $3 billion.

Interestingly, Ive calculated that the total combined annual operating cost of all private HBCUs is also about $3 billion.

Fewer students of color attend national universities

U.S. News and World Report considers 389 schools to be national universities because of their stature and academic offerings. These universities are more likely to receive charitable contributions than others because of their reputation and the large number of affluent people who graduate from them. But these colleges and universities represent fewer than 10% of all institutions of higher education.

When I analyzed raw data files from the leading federal database for educational data, I found that students of color are less likely to enroll at national universities than their white peers.

I also found that the schools enrolling the most students of color are more likely to be two-year colleges as opposed to a four-year institution; less likely to be prominent research universities; more likely to have significantly high percentages of low-income students; and more likely to have smaller-than-average endowments.

When announcing Scotts historic donations, many colleges and universities have noted their success with graduating science, technology, engineering and math students.

Florida International University, for example, announced that Scotts $40 million gift will be used for student success programs. That school noted its number 6 ranking in terms of awarding engineering degrees to African Americans and the high percentage of its Latino students who earn STEM degrees.

North Carolina A&T, the nations largest HBCU, announced plans to spend Scotts $45 million donation in areas of critical national need, including professions in STEM. The selection of multiple HBCUs, Hispanic-serving and tribal colleges with a track record of graduating underrepresented STEM students seems intentional.

Whats more, recent data suggests that prominent national universities are not graduating enough students overall, apart from racial, ethnic and class considerations, to satisfy the needs of the future workforce.

In 2019, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine predicted that the nation will need 1 million more STEM professionals than are on pace to earn higher education degrees in the 2020s.

The National Science Board, the governing board for the National Science Foundation, called this impending shortage of STEM professionals the missing millions. It passed a resolution to address the urgent need for more underrepresented groups in the U.S. science and engineering workforce.

A STEM workforce that represents the diversity of the U.S. population can contribute to economic growth. Washington Center for Equitable Growth estimated the nation could earn $5.3 trillion in increased tax revenue from a more skilled workforce if we closed the achievement gap in math and science over the next 60 years. Similarly, a Harvard University report estimated, by calculating national income projections over an 80-year period, the U.S. would add $75 trillion to the GDP if math education was equal.

There are more than 700 minority-serving institutions across the U.S. These colleges and universities enroll nearly 30% of all undergraduates in America. Learners of color, research indicates, find such schools to be more accessible and welcoming than primarily white schools.

Whats more, about half of the students attending minority-serving institutions get Pell Grants, which help cover educational costs for low-income students. And they enroll many students who are the first in their families to go to college.

A welcome trend

Scotts approach to giving, with its emphasis on racial justice, appears to be inspiring others to take a similar approach with their educational philanthropy.

Days after her June 2021 announcement, for example, Google confirmed its plans to commit $50 million to build infrastructure and support scholarships at HBCUs.

I see many reasons beyond charity for philanthropists, the government and corporations to consider donating to colleges and universities that mostly enroll students of color. Among them: Its a key strategy for helping everyone in America.

[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/how-the-billions-mackenzie-scott-is-giving-to-colleges-attended-by-students-of-color-will-help-everyone-in-america-162837.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Pontoon Beach man was charged Tuesday with stalking, after having two charges of violation of an order of protection filed against him last week.

Judiah D. Davis, 42, of Pontoon Beach, was charged June 22 with stalking, a Class 4 felony.

This comes after he was charged with felony violation of an order of protection on June 15 and again June 16.

All the cases were presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department.

Court documents alleged that, between June 18-21, Davis knowingly engaged in a course of conduct directed at a woman knowing that said course of conduct would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress.

Court documents state that, after being released for violation of an order of protection, Davis entered the property of the protected person, took mail out of the mailbox and drove a vehicle into the driveway on June 18. On June 19 he allegedly made repeated phone calls to the person. And on June 21 he allegedly went onto the property and attempted to enter the residence while the victim was inside.

Bail was set at $50,000.

Other felony charges filed June 22 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Corey W. Compton, 24, of Granite City, was charged with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On June 17 Compton allegedly struck a family or household member on the body with his fists. It was noted he has a prior conviction for aggravated domestic battery out of Madison County in 2020. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Bobbie J. Palmisano, 45, of Collinsville, was charged with unlawful violation of an order of protection (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On June 21 Palmisano allegedly violated an order of protection by going to a protected residence while the victim was there, and had contact with that victim. Palmisano has a 2019 Madison County conviction for aggravated battery (involving a family or household member). Bail was set at $50,000.

 Cortez J. Cowan, 34, of St. Louis, was charged with unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. On March 22 Cowan allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen license plate to a Nissan Rogue. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Logan L. Gilmore, 24, of Collinsville, was charged with criminal damage to government supported property, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On June 10 Gilmore allegedly damaged the front entryway doors valued at more than $500, of the Collinsville Police Department at 200 West Clay. Bail was set at $15,000.

 James A. McNeil, 30, of Highland, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. On June 13 McNeil allegedly was driving a 2010 Nissan SUV when he fled from a Troy police officer, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit. Bail was set at $15,000.

Felony charges filed June 21 include:

 Eric D. Pack, 33, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was charged with unlawful failure to register as a sex offender (second subsequent offense), a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On May 2 Pack allegedly failed to register on a weekly basis as a homeless person. He has 2015 and 2017 Madison County convictions for unlawful failure to register as a sex offender. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Denice R.J. McQuaid, 29, of New Douglas, was charged with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On June 21 McQuaid allegedly damaged a Honda motorcycle owned by another person, causing in excess of $500 damage. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Mark D. Morris, 22, of St. Louis, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. On March 28 Morris allegedly was driving a 2020 Kia when he fled from a Pontoon Beach police officer, reaching speeds in excess of more than 21 miles above the posted speed limit. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Nathan P. Beasley, 44, of Granite City, was charged with attempted residential burglary, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On June 20 Beasley allegedly attempted to break into a home in the first block of Kelly Drive, Granite City, to commit theft. Bail was set at $50,000.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  An airstrike hit a busy market in Ethiopias northern Tigray village of Togoga on Tuesday and killed at least 51 people, according to health workers who said soldiers blocked medical teams from traveling to the scene.

An official with Tigray's health bureau told The Associated Press that more than 100 other people were wounded, more than 50 seriously, and at least 33 people were still missing. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns about retaliation.

The alleged airstrike comes amid some of the fiercest fighting in the Tigray region since the conflict began in November as Ethiopian forces supported by those from neighboring Eritrea pursue Tigrays former leaders. A military spokesman and the spokeswoman for Ethiopias prime minister, Billene Seyoum, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wounded patients being treated at Ayder hospital in the regional capital, Mekele, told doctors and a nurse that a plane dropped a bomb on Togogas marketplace. The patients included a 2-year-old child with abdominal trauma and a 6-year-old, the nurse said. An ambulance carrying a wounded baby to Mekele, almost 60 kilometers (37 miles) away by road, was blocked for two hours and the baby died on the way, the nurse added, speaking on condition of anonymity because of concerns about retaliation.

Hailu Kebede, foreign affairs head for the Salsay Woyane Tigray opposition party and who comes from Togoga, told the AP that one fleeing witness to the attack had counted more than 30 bodies in the remote village that's linked to Mekele in part by challenging stretches of dirt roads.

It was horrific, said a staffer with an international aid group who told the AP he had spoken with a colleague and others at the scene. We dont know if the jets were coming from Ethiopia or Eritrea. They are still looking for bodies by hand.

On Tuesday afternoon, a convoy of ambulances attempting to reach Togoga, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Mekele, was turned back by soldiers near Tukul, the health workers said. Several more ambulances were turned back later in the day and on Wednesday morning, but one group of medical workers reached the site on Tuesday evening via a different route.

We have been asking, but until now we didnt get permission to go, so we dont know how many people are dead, said one of the doctors in Mekele.

Another doctor said the Red Cross ambulance he was traveling in on Tuesday while trying to reach the scene was shot at twice by Ethiopian soldiers, who held his team for 45 minutes before ordering them back to Mekele.

We are not allowed to go, he said. They told us whoever goes, they are helping the troops of the TPLF.

The TPLF refers to the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, which governed Tigray until it was ousted by a federal government offensive in November. The subsequent fighting has killed thousands and forced more than 2 million people from their homes.

More than 25 of the wounded finally reached Ayder hospital later on Wednesday, a day after the airstrike, the regional health official said.

While the United Nations has said all sides have been accused of abuses in the Tigray conflict, Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers have been repeatedly accused by witnesses of looting and destroying health centers across the Tigray region and denying civilians access to care.

The European Union strongly condemns the deliberate targeting of civilians" in Togoga, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Wednesday, calling it the latest in a horrific series of abuses committed in Tigray. He again called for an immediate cease-fire and urged the international community to wake up and take action.

This month, humanitarian agencies warned that 350,00 people in Tigray are facing famine. Aid workers have said they have been repeatedly denied access to several parts of the region by soldiers.

The government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says it has nearly defeated the rebels. But forces loyal to the TPLF recently announced an offensive in parts of Tigray and have claimed a string of victories.

On Wednesday one of the former Tigray leaders, Getachew Reda, asserted that Tigray forces had shot down a C-130 transport plane carrying explosives, military officers and Eritrean camouflage uniforms. The claim could not immediately be verified.

A resident in Adigrat, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Mekele, said a group of Tigrayan fighters briefly entered the town on Tuesday, although he said it had since been retaken by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces. He said federal police had since been seen beating people in the center of the town.

Everybody is staying at home, there is no movement in the town, he said.

Renewed fighting was also reported in Edaga Hamus and Wukro, two towns that sit on the main road to Mekele.

The reports came as Ethiopia held federal and regional elections on Monday. The vote was peaceful in most parts of the country, although there was no voting in Tigray.

The vote was delayed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, heightening tensions between the federal government and the TPLF, which went ahead with its own regional election in September.
WILKES-BARRE

LCCC to expand Square space

Luzerne County Community College plans to expand into the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerces former office space in a building on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre, LCCC spokeswoman Lisa Nelson said.

Chamber officials and employees have moved into office space on the third floor of the Innovation Center on South Main Street.

At a meeting Tuesday, LCCC board of trustees approved a 10-year extension to the colleges lease agreement for its Wilkes-Barre center. The agreement goes into effect July 1 and includes expanding the colleges space from the lower level of the building on Public Square to include the first floor.

The colleges new space will be renovated over the summer to include two computer labs, a traditional classroom, a testing lab, staffing offices and a writing lab, Nelson said, The college will occupy the new area starting in the fall semester, she said.

Renovations will take place in the fall for a science lab which will be ready for the spring 2022 semester, Nelson said.

LCCC President Thomas Leary said the Wilkes-Barre center, that opened in the former Pomeroys building in 1998, was the colleges first off-campus site.

Before the pandemic, he said there has been enrollment growth and growing interest in expanded space for students especially for English as a second language courses and for tutoring.

LCCC will continue to offer the core courses in English and math it had been offering in the buildings lower level, Leary said.

While he said that space served the colleges purpose for a long time, expanding is beneficial to serve additional students and offer additional opportunities.

Leary said students like the fact that Wilkes-Barre Council recently approved Mayor George Browns proposed ordinance to reduce the parking meter rate in downtown Wilkes-Barre from $2 to $1 per hour.

Council is expected to approve the ordinance on second reading next month and Brown said he would then work to implement the cost reduction right away.

The reduced parking rates will help us as well as students, Leary said. Its all coming together nicely for us in Wilkes-Barre.

 Denise Allabaugh
A Dunmore man was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking, the U.S. attorneys office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said.

Robert Andrewsh Jr., 26, pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 150 to 500 grams of high-purity methamphetamine in late 2019. He also admitted to possessing firearms.

U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion also sentenced Andrewsh to five years of supervised release following his prison time.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Scranton Police Department and Carbondale Police Department investigated; Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.
A break in an 8-inch-wide main disrupting water service to eight customers this morning on Marion Street in Scranton.

The break occurred between Wyoming and Penn avenues, said Susan Turcmanovich, a spokeswoman for Pennsylvania-American Water Co.

Turcmanovich said a crew should finish restoring water by this afternoon.
No, the lumber aisle isn't haunted.

Two men dressed in black who were "chanting and moaning" in the lumber aisle of a Dickson City home improvement store were escorted out this week by borough police officers, Police Chief William Bilinski said.

Officers were told it "looked like they were trying to do an exorcism" when they arrived Monday afternoon at Home Depot on Commerce Boulevard.

The bizarre call was posted on the department's daily police blotter on Facebook, which attracted far-flung media interest, including from the Philly Voice and Newsweek, the chief said.

The two men peacefully left the store. They are not facing charges.
SCRANTON  A clerk in the Scranton School District detailed on Wednesday how a change in health insurance has already impacted her life.

Her husbands chiropractor stopped seeing him due to a lack of payment. Her blood monitoring strips havent been delivered. A specialist in Bethlehem initially denied providing her an eye injection to treat macular degeneration because of a large balance on her account.

The embarrassment I felt in that office was humiliating, Marie Shiffer told members of the Scranton School Board during a special meeting at Scranton High School.

Members of the maintenance and clerical union agreed in January to the switch to a reference-based health care plan, and the school board voted to move all Act 93 employees, which includes administrators, to the plan too. District leaders have asked teachers and paraprofessionals to agree to the insurance as well, in exchange for raises funded through the potential savings in health care costs.

Under the new insurance, employees no longer have a network, and instead, medical providers submit a claim to Performance Health. The claim is then audited by ELAP, which uses reference-based pricing to control costs. If patients receive a bill with a balance, they submit the bill back to the company for resolution. The district, which is self-funded, assumes any liability for a balance, officials have said.

Shiffer said that in recent months, time spent handling bills and making phone calls has been overwhelming. A representative of Millennium Healthcare Group, the districts health care consultant, eventually delivered Shiffer a copy of her paid bill for her eye doctor, charged on a Visa card, she said. Meanwhile, bills from Philadelphia specialists she saw in March and April are also unpaid, she said.

Superintendent Melissa McTiernan and school directors promised to inquire about the issues.

In other business:
SCRANTON  Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti plans to devise a citywide approach to economic development.

Her administration recently issued public notices in The Times-Tribune of a request for proposals, called an RFP, from firms interested in creating a strategic economic development plan. Six firms met Thursdays deadline to submit proposals.

While past efforts to spur economic development tended to focus on the downtown, the new initiative takes a broader view toward growing the citys entire economy, said Eileen Cipriani, executive director of the citys Office of Economic and Community Development.

We want to be more holistic and tie the neighborhoods in, Cipriani said.

With a population of about 76,600, down from a peak of 143,400 nearly a century ago, the city has a tax base that likewise has declined. Meanwhile, current poverty and unemployment rates are significantly higher than state and national averages, the RFP says. A major impediment to the citys sustained economic growth has been lack of a strategic plan that identifies and targets industries for local and regional investment, the RFP says.

Now, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city recently received $68.7 million from the federal governments American Rescue Plan. The time is ripe for a strategic plan to look at how the city could best move forward, Cipriani said.

A steering committee that established the RFP framework includes Scranton School Board President Katie Gilmartin; Lackawanna College President Jill Murray, Ph.D.; former Scranton Tomorrow President Ken Okrepkie; Robert J. Sheridan, a member of the mayors tax policy advisory working group; and city Business Administrator Larry West.

A strategic plan should develop short- and long-term goals that can be implemented; balance interests of longtime residents and stakeholders with emerging constituencies and leverage city assets and natural resources toward making Scranton a destination city, the RFP says.

Were talking about taking a look at the city as a whole, and creating a plan with specific actions, Okrepkie said.

The city still grapples with long-standing setbacks. Manufacturing and its employment once embedded in the city long ago has dried up or moved out to industrial parks, West said. When population peaked a century ago, bustling neighborhoods brimmed with mom-and-pop shops, and societal needs were different than today, as many people did not have cars, West said.

While downtown revival has been a focal point, there are pockets throughout the city that are ripe for redevelopment, including Pine Brook and sections of West Side and Keyser Valley, to name a few, West said.

Factors that affect economic development also intersect, including business development, job creation, workforce attraction, housing stock and blight, quality-of-life issues and availability of amenities, Cipriani said.

It all kind of goes together, Cipriani said. A strategic plan might tell us we know we need to do these 10 things and what to do first.

The firm thats chosen would take into account, and build upon, prior city and regional studies done over the years. A new strategic plan would aim to capitalize on local assets, leverage private-sector involvement and establish a blueprint for community collaboration, to create an environment for economic prosperity in and around Scranton.

The six firms that submitted proposals and their costs include:

Research Associates of New York City: $90,000.

Delta Development Group of Camp Hill: $92,595.

The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development of Wilkes-Barre: $93,895.

Fourth Economy of Pittsburgh: $98,300.

Sagax Associates of Wilmington, Delaware: $98,750.

RKG Associates of Alexandria, Virginia: $124,125, plus $14,800 for expenses.

The steering committee now will review the proposals toward selection of a firm.

A study period would start Aug. 1 and have a final report due Feb. 28.

Funding amounts and sources covering the cost of plan include:

$50,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state and local governments in 13 states.

$25,000 from the city Office of Economic and Community Development.

$12,500 each from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and the Scranton Area Community Foundation.
Age, the saying has it, doesnt come alone. And in the modern era, the maladies that accompany aging include online and telephone scams, complicated insurance and health care issues and, in some cases, abuse at the hands of caregivers.

The U.S. Department of Justice has reported that about 10% of Americans older than 65 become victims of some sort of abuse, including physical abuse, financial fraud, neglect or abandonment, and psychological and sexual abuse.

Compounding those problems is that older people often lack the resources for the legal assistance that is sometimes necessary to ward off scammers, navigate bureaucracies and gain protection from abusers.

At least 20 states, including Pennsylvania, maintain legal services hotlines for older residents, which provide them with advice on how to protect their rights, where to go for free or low-cost legal assistance, and connects them to other services. The Pennsylvania hotline number is 877-727-7529.

To ensure that those hotlines have the funding that they need to ensure that lawyers and other staff are available to help older residents, and that the hotlines have the technical resources that they need, Democratic U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright of Moosic and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Scranton, along with Republican co-sponsors, have introduced the Senior Legal Hotline Act in both houses of Congress.

Ensuring access to legal help is one of the surest ways to protect older residents from those who would exploit them. And its all the more important in an era in which 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day. Congress should pass the bill.
Editor: Its outrageous that 25 billionaires paid far less tax, as a percentage of their income, than most taxpayers.

Some paid no taxes. The latest analysis of plutocrats tax returns shows big-time tax avoidance benefitting those whose earnings exceed $2 million annually. Its legal, according to current tax laws, but it just isnt right.

Investor Warren Buffet, for example, paid just $23.7 million in taxes from 2014 to 2018, when his wealth rose by $24.3 billion. Thats less than 0.1% of his earnings. What percent of your earnings went to taxes?

Its perfectly legal that losses on speculative investments, like the stock market, offset winning bets in future years. But, those untaxed earnings require higher taxes on the rest of us. Why should we cover oligarchs losses while we dont share their gains? Why are capital gains taxed as half the rate of wages?

BRUCE JOFFE

PIEDMONT, CALIFORNIA

Editor: Expanding the sale of ready-to-drink cocktails to additional retail outlets that already sell alcoholic beverages is a common-sense way to increase consumer convenience and generate millions of dollars for the commonwealth.

In fact, allowing spirits-based drinks to be sold at grocery stores, convenience stores and bars could result in up to $184 million in projected tax revenue for Pennsylvania. Currently, spirits-based drinks must be sold through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Boards stores despite having the same or similar alcohol by volume as their beer and wine counterparts.

The pandemic has accelerated the growth of these products as adult consumers look to recreate the cocktail experience at home with convenient, premixed cocktails. But in Pennsylvania, there is less than one spirits store per 10,000 people  well below the national average of 3.4 outlets per 10,000 people  making it much more difficult for consumers to enjoy spirits-based, ready-to-drink beverages.

States have been taking a closer look at this issue to provide consumers with the same equal access to wine-, malt/beer- and spirits-based products.

Expanding the distribution channels of such drinks would benefit adult consumers, local businesses, the state and suppliers of beer, wine and spirits. We urge the legislature to pass House Bill 1154 and for Gov. Tom Wolf to sign it.

DAVID WOJNAR

DISTILLED SPIRITS COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Editor: Sen. Bob Casey proposes five freedoms for American children that address poverty, education and health care.

What about the average American parent taking responsibility for their own children? Casey seems to have little faith in the average American to take care of themselves and their family. The policies he supports are based on self-fulfilling prophecies that just put more obstacles in the way of the average family from being self-reliant.

Its obvious his goal is to make Americans dependent on the all-knowing federal government because he and his ilk know whats best for us and were too irresponsible and stupid to make the right choices ourselves. He sells these policies as being for the good of the children, but what would he teach our children? He would teach them that most parents are incapable of being responsible enough to care for their needs, so the federal government has to step in.

Then, when our children become parents, they have the OK to be irresponsible and let the federal government be responsible for their children too, and the cycle continues. Im sure Casey has the best of intentions, but we all know what road is paved with good intentions.

Understand this, I know what my needs and my childrens needs are far better than Casey and his gaggle of Washington bureaucrats. Im responsible for my children, not him. Maybe its time he started raising the bar instead of lowering it.

THOMAS BOYLAN

DUNMORE

Editor: Giving radar to municipal police and providing moving radar to state police would end with speed traps everywhere.

Drivers could face $170-plus tickets, points and insurance surcharges. All drivers will pay even though most drive safely, endangering no one and harming no one. Out-of-control expenses prod state legislators to find new ways to get more of your money. They discovered radar.

It works like this: Post speed limits below the speed 85% of people drive safely. Then arm police with radar guns to catch speeders. Its simple and foolproof.

Every day drivers travel at speeds they feel are safe. Highway safety engineers call them the 85th percentile speeds. They are the speeds that the super-majority of drivers choose to safely drive. They are the safest speeds for given roads.

So, township managers respond by posting too-low speed limits, thinking that it would slow everyone down and placate whiners. It doesnt happen so they want to give the police radar to aggressively enforce the too-low limits.

Four commonly held, but inaccurate statements about speed limits are:

 Lowering posted speed limits will slow traffic.

 Lowering speed limits will increase safety and decrease accidents.

 Raising speed limits increases traffic speeds.

 Drivers always travel at 5 mph over the posted limit.

The only result of giving the police radar would be a huge number of tickets, with millions more going into Harrisburgs black hole of a budget.

Its not for safety, folks. PennDOT says 2019 and 2020 were the safest years on state roads since 1928. Radar will only raise money, not make the roads safer.

Tell your representative and senator vote no on Senate Bill 419.

TOM McCAREY

BERWYN,

CHESTER COUNTY
According to a new report by AARP Pennsylvania and Drexel Universitys College of Nursing and Health Professions, Pennsylvanians are experiencing gaps in access to health care that will continue to grow as the states population ages.

The study, Disrupting Disparities in Pennsylvania, shows an estimated 14% of Pennsylvanians live in a medically underserved area throughout the state, and 22% live in an area that is medically underserved and designated to have a health professions shortage.

The research shows that geographic, racial, and economic factors restrict access to health-care services for many Pennsylvanians, creating disparities that have become more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Angela Foreshaw-Rouse, Operations and Outreach Manager for AARP Pennsylvania.

As the fifth most populous state in the United States, Pennsylvanian and its population is aging rapidly  40% of the states residents are 50 years of age and older. By 2040, Southeastern Pennsylvania, the most densely populated and diverse part of the state, will see huge growth in its aging population.

New competencies are needed for a culturally diverse group of older adults, said Laura N. Gitlin, Ph.D., Dean of Drexels College of Nursing and Health Professionals. Different kinds of cultural competence, and knowledge of evidence-based care for prevention and chronic disease management, is severely lacking.

The report highlights that health inequities are most acute among those living in low-resourced areas, are of minority status, have limited access to transportation and internet access, and face persistent local health care workforce shortages.

The good news is that people are living longer, but not everybody is living as well as they could be, or as long as they could be, due to geographic and racial/ethnic disparities in health care, said Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Interprofessional Research and Development at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions.

To combat the existing disparities, the report urges immediate actions be taken in five key areas:

1. Continuously monitor health and geographic and racial/ethnic disparities

Currently, 6% of adults aged 45-64 do not have health insurance, and 11% report not seeing a doctor because of cost, with the largest percentages coming from counties representing both rural and urban areas of the Commonwealth.

This report shows critical disparities geographically in many rural counties in Pennsylvania, primarily the Southeastern portion of our state where there is a continuous increase in the population of Black, Latino, and Asian Pennsylvanians, said Gitlin. We need to really prepare for culturally competent care and think about the kind of services and the kind of housing that people will need to age successfully.

2. Implement strategies statewide for COVID-19 testing and vaccination distribution

COVID-19 has exacerbated deep-seated disparities and has further revealed the necessity of providing access to health care through technologies, such as telehealth, and the need to prepare a health care workforce to be culturally competent and provide care differently.

A huge lesson from COVID-19 is that we are all interconnected. To have one of our communities, or many, who do not have equal access to care, affects us. It affects whether our kids can go to school and whether we can leave the house, said Gitlin. But without addressing these inequities, were all affected.

Many rural counties do not have hospitals, pharmacies, or drug stores. Each of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania has at least one pharmacy desert.

Image courtesy of AARP and Drexel University

The report suggests that a variety of settings need to be utilized to distribute the COVID-19 vaccination across the state. Distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in resource-limited communities should consider a variety of settings including ambulatory care facilities, such as kidney dialysis centers, in addition to pharmacies and hospitals.

3. Provide broadband access across the state, along with technology literacy and expanded telehealth

The report documents how a digital divide is furthering inequities for those without access to broadband internet and telehealth care. Few Pennsylvania counties are able to support 100% of their population connecting to the internet. In addition, 8% of households in eight counties report no internet access at all.

An increased role for telehealth services could represent a significant step toward improving access to quality health care statewide.

We know that during the pandemic, many places where seniors gathered were closed and to this day still remain closed, and those areas could include senior centers, libraries, and other community settings. That is where our senior population goes for specific services that support connectivity to the internet, said Foreshaw-Rouse. We hope stakeholders and policy leaders can look at how we can prepare the aging population in Pennsylvania, not only to have access to high-speed internet service, but also data literacy and how to use the technology to assure access to telehealth services.

4. Prepare a health care workforce in telehealth, and provide culturally competent care in prevention and chronic disease management

While health care providers quickly pivoted to telehealth during the pandemic, many did so for the first time and without formal training. Moving forward, the health care workforce needs to be properly trained in the delivery of telehealth care. In addition, medical, nursing, and health profession pre-licensure programs need to infuse geriatric training across the health professions curriculum.

Were never going to set the number of people specifically trained in geriatric care, but at the same time, we could do a much better job of introducing what we call a life course perspective in our coursework, so that our students in nursing and in the health professions are exposed to understanding how lifestyle and where one lives and exposures to discrimination and racism impacts the life course of how one ages, said Gitlin.

Image courtesy of AARP and Drexel University

The study also suggests developing a National Geriatric Service Corps, modeled after the National Health Service Corps, to address workforce shortages and enable rapid consultation of experts, in addition to implementing loan forgiveness programs to promote training.

We need effective programs that are able to bring health care professionals into the rural areas and offer loan repayments services and things of that nature. We need to continue to push for federal loan forgiveness for nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, and physicians that would like to work in underserved areas, said DiMaria-Ghalili.

5. Support direct care workers in all care settings

To ensure the health needs of seniors are met across the state, direct care workers need to be empowered and have access to health benefits themselves, as many receive wages at the poverty level. Health care workers must also be able to access COVID-19 vaccinations.

In the early days of the virus, AARP really cried out to the governors administration and other policymakers to make sure that we had adequate protections in place, like PPE, for those who were working in our long-term care facilities and nursing homes, which was critical. And now, were looking at trends to see how the workforce will be receiving the vaccine, said Foreshaw-Rouse.

The direct care sector needs to retain and attract talent to the industry. Nursing homes and at-home care facilities need to ensure they are not only adequately staffed but can provide increased wages and non-wage benefits including child care, housing, transportation assistance and food support to essential workers.

We definitely want to make sure that we support direct care workers in all care settings, said Foreshaw-Rouse.

For more information on the report, visit Disrupting Disparities in Pennsylvania: Retooling for Geographic, Racial and Ethnic Growth.

This article is sponsored content provided by AARP. The claims, views, and opinions contained in the article belong solely to the AARP and do not reflect the views and opinions of Times-Shamrock Communications
Brenda Darlene (Burnett, Witt, Bollmer) Curtin, 52, of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away June 21, 2021. She was born November 13, 1968, in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Gladys (Jones) Napier and the late Wilburn Burnett. Brenda was preceded in death by a daughter, Jennifer Witt and sisters Alta Ru
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Rain likely. High 61F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers in the evening with some clearing overnight. Low 52F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Periods of rain. High 61F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers in the evening with some clearing overnight. Low 53F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Communications guru Sir Alan Parker will net 70million from the sale of a stake in public relations giant Brunswick.

Parker, 65, co-founded Brunswick in 1987 and turned it into a global firm that represents more than a fifth of the companies on the FTSE 100.

Under the deal American merchant bank BDT will buy an 11 per cent stake in Brunswick, which Parker chairs.

Sir Alan Parker (pictured) co-founded Brunswick in 1987 and turned it into a global firm that represents more than a fifth of the companies on the FTSE 100

The investment values the PR firm at 500million. It plans to hand a 140million payout to its 200 partners who own Brunswick shares when the investment completes later this summer.

Parker is set to receive 70million from this pot. But Brunswick will also distribute 18million among virtually everyone in the firm who is not a partner, according to a letter sent to staff seen by the Daily Mail.

Parker launched the firm  which he co-founded with Louise Charlton and Andrew Fenwick  during Margaret Thatchers time as Prime Minister when the City of London was rapidly becoming a global financial centre.

He is one of the most connected men in Britain, counting celebrities, businessmen and politicians on both sides of the political divide among his friends.

Gordon Brown  whose wife Sarah once worked at Brunswick  is the godfather to his son William. And when David Cameron left Number 10, he stayed in Parkers west London mansion.

Brunswick employs 1,300 in 27 cities around the world. Its core expertise is in political lobbying and traditional corporate communications. But it now also advises on areas including cybersecurity and climate change.

Under the BDT deal, Parker, Charlton and Fenwick will sell additional shares worth about 4 per cent of the company to free them up for other people.

But Parker does not intend to step down as chairman.

He wrote in the letter: I have always believed that as the firm grows, my shareholding should be diluted to provide new equity to the expanding partnership.

One thing that is certainly not diluted is my commitment and enthusiasm for the firm.

He added: As you probably know I am as energised as ever and I want to play my part in fulfilling the potential that I can see and what should be a great next step for all of us.

Parker describes Brunswick as an idea drawn up on the table in my mums kitchen.

The businessman has worked on controversial deals and crises  such as representing Pfizer in its botched attempt to buy Astrazeneca.

But his reputation was knocked when he was forced to resign earlier than planned as the international chairman of Save the Children in 2018, following a scandal into sexual harassment complaints lodged against two members of staff.

The deal with BDT means the company will restructure from a limited liability partnership and incorporate as a private company.
Fears house buyers will permanently shun London for the countryside after the pandemic have been over-egged  at least according to the boss of Berkeley Group.

Rob Perrins, chief executive of the upmarket property developer, hailed the capital as the FTSE 100 firm unveiled bumper results.

Berkeley specialises in building houses and flats in London and the South East.

It has a knack for building high-end projects on brownfield sites, such as around the old Battersea Power Station and the Nine Elms development south of the Thames.

Profits up: Housebuilder Berkeley specialises in building houses and flats in London and the South East

The company rode the wave of the property price boom in the year to April, revealing yesterday that its homes sold on average for 770,000  almost 100,000 more than the year before.

In addition to the price jump, more houses were sold than in 2020. This sent revenues 15 per cent higher to 2.2billion and profits up 3 per cent to 518million.

From the first lockdown, the received wisdom quickly became that Britons would be keen to uproot themselves from cities and move out to the suburbs and beyond.

Stock Watch - Anexo Anexo jumped after its largest shareholder, asset manager Dbay, said it was considering a 150p per share takeover offer. AIM-listed Anexo offers a credit hire service to no-fault drivers who have been in car accidents but cannot not afford a replacement vehicle. The company has a legal team which can help these customers recover the insurance money  and use that cash to pay the credit back. Founder Alan Sellers and others might take part as co-offerers with Dbay, which has a 29 per cent stake in Anexo. Shares in Anexo rose 5.8 per cent, or 8p, to 145p.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, described the companys exposure to the capital as both a blessing and a curse.

But Perrins does not believe Covid has brought on any fundamental structural shifts that would harm a city like London, where people thrive on its energy, opportunity and unparalleled attributes.

There will also still be a continuing under-supply of homes in London and the Home Counties that should keep demand robust.

Enquiries about properties in London, Perrins also noted, are at a higher level than before Covid struck.

As well as selling houses and acquiring ten new sites, Berkeley also handed back 334million to shareholders last year through a mix of dividends and buybacks.

But there was a muted response from investors, with the stock down 0.5 per cent, or 21p, to 4619p.

Other major house builders, however, had a much harder day after the Competition and Markets Authority made more progress tackling unfair leasehold policies.

The regulator struck a deal with Persimmon (down 1.7 per cent, or 52p, to 2975p) and insurer Aviva (down 0.3 per cent, or 1.3p, to 414.9p), which is a large freehold owner, that includes removing contract terms that allow ground rents to double every ten to 15 years.

Other Footsie firms the regulator has had in its sights also fell with Taylor Wimpey down 2.3 per cent, or 3.7p, to 160.6 and Barratt Developments falling 1.8 per cent, or 12.4p, to 696.8p.

FTSE 250-listed Countryside Properties was the outlier, rising 1.3 per cent, or 6.2p, to 498.2p.

The tumble among house stocks helped drag the wider Footsie into the red  even though oil companies BP (up 0.5 per cent, or 1.5p, to 324.2p) and Shell (up 1.5, or 21.6p, to 1421.8p) surged again as oil prices climbed above $75 a barrel.

Miners were higher too as copper prices rose for the third straight day. Anglo American advanced 1.1 per cent, or 30p, to 2822p, as it also reported diamond sales at its prestigious De Beers business were rocketing.

The value of precious stones sold in its fifth auction of the year increased to 337million  up from 275million in the previous round.

Overall, the FTSE 100 was down 0.2 per cent, or 15.95 points, to 7,074.06, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.09 per cent, or 20.22 points, to 22,659.42.

Shareholders cheered a turnaround plan at funeral director Dignity. Boss Gary Channon  who ousted Clive Whiley in a boardroom coup earlier this year  said he wanted the company to have a 20 per cent share of the funeral market in ten years time.

It has about 12 per cent. Dignity shot up 13.3 per cent, up 85p, to 724p, despite warning profits will be down slightly because of a marked drop in UK deaths since April, as Covid deaths fell.
Glaxosmithkline boss Emma Walmsley has promised a new era of blockbuster sales and profits as the drugs giant prepares for a historic split.

On what was seen as a make-or-break day for her career, the embattled chief executive vowed a 'step-change' at the British company after years of lacklustre performance.

She said the separation of GSK's consumer arm next year will galvanise a decade of growth at the remaining pharmaceutical and vaccine businesses, leading to annual sales of at least 33billion.

On what was seen as a make-or-break day for her career, Glaxo chief exec Emma Walmsley (pictured) vowed a 'step-change' at the British company after years of lacklustre performance

And amid claims that activist investor Elliott Advisors is seeking to oust her, the 52-year-old also insisted she was going nowhere.

The Wall Street raider took a major stake in GSK, putting Walmsley's strategy under fresh scrutiny. But she said: 'New GSK will deliver a step-change in performance.

'Over the next five years and beyond we have the portfolio and the pipeline to deliver meaningful new growth.

'We are confident we can deliver the targets we have set.'

Asked about whether she was the right person to lead the company into the future, she replied: 'I am a change agent, I am a business leader and I am very excited about the new plans we are laying out today.'

Shares have fallen by 15 per cent since she took over in 2017, with the firm dogged by concerns about patents expiring and fears its pipeline in areas such as cancer is poor compared to rivals.

But Walmsley sought to put those concerns to bed yesterday by setting out her vision for the company over the next decade, pointing to 42 medicines and 20 vaccines that are in development.

Investors approved the news with shares up 1 per cent, or 14.4p, at 1409.2p. At the centre of Walmsley's plan is the separation of GSK's consumer healthcare arm next year.

GSK will offload 80 per cent of its stake in the division by listing it on the London Stock Exchange, holding on to 20 per cent which it will sell later.

Existing investors will receive shares in the new company, which will be one of the biggest over-the-counter drugs producers in the world  boasting annual sales of 10billion and products such as Sensodyne toothpaste and Panadol pain tablets.

The separation will also hand GSK's remaining pharmaceutical and vaccines businesses, dubbed 'New GSK', a massive cash injection that Walmsley has promised to plough into drugs research.

Make or break for boss Walmsley Fixing her audience with a determined smile, Glaxosmithkline boss Emma Walmsley yesterday launched into the most important pitch of her career. In presentations to investors and journalists, she set out plans to turbocharge sales and profits at GSK and batted away questions about her leadership. The 52-year-old was made chief executive of GSK in 2017, succeeding Sir Andrew Witty. Under fire: Walmsley was made chief executive of GSK in 2017, succeeding Sir Andrew Witty She lives with husband David and their three children in London. She had been head-hunted by Witty to run GSKs consumer healthcare division and previously worked at beauty giant LOreal. She grew up in Cumbria, the daughter of Sir Robert Walmsley, a retired vice admiral. She attended all-girls boarding school St Swithuns, in Winchester, where she took part in public speaking and once played Prince Charming in an opera. After studying classics and languages at Oxford University, she became a consultant. She joined LOreal in 1994 where a colleague suggested she had been theatrically trained because of the way she spoke with effect during meetings. Walmsley drew on this dramatic flair yesterday as she set out an action plan for GSKs future  and will be hoping for good reviews from the critics.

This will be accomplished by the consumer arm paying New GSK an 8billion dividend before the break-up and assuming a bigger proportion of debts. On top of this, Walmsley will free up extra cash by slashing the dividend.

GSK as a group has paid an 80p per share dividend for its most recent financial year and the divis paid by the newly separated companies next year is expected to total 55p. New GSK is then expected to pay 45p in 2023.

Walmsley said the division is expecting to increase sales by 5 per cent every year and profits by 10 per cent.

She shrugged off suggestions that the expiry of patents in the late 2020s will cause major issues, saying drugs in the late stages of development could yield sales of as much as 20billion more.

Despite GSK's failure to develop a coronavirus vaccine so far, the firm is collaborating with France's Sanofi and Germany's Curevac.

Morgan Stanley analysts said Walmsley's plans amounted to 'an ambitious set of targets which were ahead of consensus'.

But Chris Beckett, of investment firm Quilter Cheviot, warned the consumer separation 'will not be a completely clean break' because of the 'ongoing investment'.
Leading MPs have backed our Stamp Out Investment Fraud campaign.

In a report into the London Capital & Finance scandal, the Treasury committee said online fraud should be included in the Online Safety Bill.

The bill is looking at how to make tech giants accountable for 'harmful' content on their platforms  but does not cover sophisticated online scams.

Web of deceit: In a report into the London Capital & Finance scandal, the Treasury committee said online fraud should be included in the Online Safety Bill

MPs said that were the bill to be widened, then it could stop an LCF-style scandal happening again.

The report said: 'It is disappointing that measures to address fraud via online advertising have not been included in the draft Online Safety Bill.

'This is a missed opportunity to help prevent another LCF-type event.

'The Government must intervene urgently to include measures to address fraud via online advertising in the Online Safety Bill to prevent further harm to customers being offered fraudulent financial products.'

Thousands were scammed out of millions by LCF, which used targeted online advertising to entice investors to buy mini-bonds from the firm.
Crest Nicholson has reinstated its dividend for shareholders after swinging to a half-year profit amid strong demand from buyers looking to move to homes with more space.

The Chertsey-based housebuilder has upped its annual profit forecast and said demand from buyers for completions taking place after the 30 September stamp duty holiday deadline remained strong.

The FTSE 250-listed company reported a pre-tax profit of 36.3million for the six months to 30 April, against a loss of 51.2million at the same point a year ago.

On the up: Crest Nicholson has reinstated its dividend for shareholders after swinging to a half-year profit

The group, which builds houses and flats largely focused on the southern half of England, now expects an adjusted pre-tax profit of at last 100million for this year.

Revenue rose to 324.5million over the period, up from 240million a year ago and the number of completions increased from 775 to 1,017.

Over the period, the group saw sales of 2,771 units and a gross development value of 691.8million as of 18 June, compared with 2,715 units the year before, and 575.1million in GDV.

The housebuilder declared an interim dividend of 4.1p a share, 'in line with dividend policy and reflecting confidence in outlook', it said.

Shares in the group rose this morning and are currently up 3.25 per cent or 14p to 444.40p. A year ago the firm's share price was 205.20p.

The group revealed it had upped the expected cost of replacing defective cladding on its properties to 23million.

The firm said that it had reassessed existing provisions for the costs and timing of works, resulting in an increase of 10.3million in its provision.

Crest Nicholson spent 1.9million during the six months to April across a number of buildings requiring further investigative costs, including balcony and cladding related works.

It also expects to fork out 15.5million of the remaining provision within one year, and the balance within two to five years.

Since the property market reopened after the height of lockdown, many housebuilders like Crest Nicholson have benefited from government incentives such as a tax-break extension and a mortgage guarantee scheme, along with increasing customer preferences for spacious properties.

Peter Truscott, chief executive of Crest Nicholson, said: 'I am very pleased with the strong trading performance the Group has delivered in the first half.

'This has been achieved against the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic and I would like to thank all Crest Nicholson employees and our partners for their dedication and commitment during this time.

'We are making good progress in all five of our strategic priorities. Our balance sheet has been transformed and positions us strongly to grow in the future.

'Having completed the first part of our turnaround strategy, and implemented our operational efficiency programme, our focus now moves to rebuilding operating margins and delivering sustainable growth.

'We are evaluating options to enter new geographical markets and look forward to outlining these future growth plans and our long-term financial targets later this year.'

Boost: Demand from buyers has been strong in the last six months, Crest Nicholson said

Asking prices homes between mid-May and early-June rose by 0.8 per cent, compared with a month before, marking the biggest rise for the time of year since 2015.

Anthony Codling, chief executive of property platform Twindig, said: 'Crest had a tougher 2020 than most of its peers, but it has now had the jab and the vaccine is working.

'In the half-year, its home sales are up 31 per cent and profit after tax up 700 per cent and the outlook for the full year looks just as healthy. Crest has used the lockdowns to its advantage focusing on internal issues and as lockdown eases it has emerged all the better for it.'

On Wednesday, developer Berkeley Group revealed it pocketed a pre-tax profit of just over 518million, as its average home sale price climbed almost 100,000.

The housebuilder, which calls itself a 'place-maker', sold 2,825 homes in London and the South East of England last year and said that it had the capacity to build 63,000 on its current land holdings.

Despite the property market narrative of an escape to the country driving house prices, suburban and city-focussed Berkeley's average selling price of 770,000 was 93,000 more than the 677,000 average the year before.
TIFTON [mdash] Everette Allen Ivey, 80, of Tifton passed away Sunday, June 27, 2021, at his residence. A graveside funeral service will be held for Mr. Ivey at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, July 1, 2021, at Oak Ridge Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest. The Rev. Rickey Wells will officiate. The fa
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Thomasville, GA (31792)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High near 85F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

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Drake Bell pleads guilty to attempted child endagerment: Star faces up to two years in prison
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Only combatants, not civilians, were struck in an air strike this week in Ethiopias Tigray region, the countrys military spokesman said on Thursday.

Colonel Getnet Adane told Reuters in an interview in Addis Ababa that the combatants in the town of Togoga were dressed in civilian clothes.

An air strike killed at least 43 people in the town on Tuesday, a medical official told Reuters. The strike took place after residents said new fighting had flared in recent days north of the regional capital Mekelle.

A resident of the town told Reuters on Wednesday that the air strike a day earlier had hit a market in the town west of Mekelle at around 1 p.m. That resident also said that her 2-year-old daughter had been injured in the attack.

The military spokesman said the combatants were not inside the market, but had gathered in the town to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing of another town in Tigray, Hawzen, in 1988. That attack, by Ethiopias then-ruling Communist leaders, killed hundreds of people and is widely commemorated in Tigray.

The spokesman said he did not have the death toll from the strike but that it would come soon.

The military has been battling forces loyal to the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), the regions former ruling party, since November. Fighting has displaced 2 million people, and the United Nations has warned of a possible famine.

Asked about children injured in Tuesdays attack, the spokesman said the TPLF uses propaganda and is known for faking injuries. He also said that doctors quoted by the media are not real doctors.

The remarks were the first acknowledgement by the military of the air strike, which came after residents said new fighting had flared in recent days north of Tigrays regional capital Mekelle.

Previously, Getnet, the military spokesman, had declined to confirm or deny the incident, saying air strikes were a common military tactic and that government forces do not target civilians.

The air strike took place as Ethiopian officials counted ballots from national and regional parliamentary elections held this week in seven of the nations 10 regions.

No voting was held in Tigray, and security concerns and problems with ballot papers also delayed voting in two other regions.

SOURCE: REUTERS
It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find an affordable apartment in Poughkeepsie in general, and especially for those who are at risk of homelessness. The waiting list for housing in the city is years long, a situation that housing experts say could worsen with the eviction moratorium coming to an end in August.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who calculates fair market pricing for housing to determine Section 8 eligibility, indicates that a one-bedroom apartment should cost $1,160 a month  far off from the average rate of $1,382 a month that the Dutchess County Department of Planning Development reports for the City of Poughkeepsie in its 2020 housing survey.

It is definitely a very, very tight market, said Christa Hines, executive director of Hudson River Housing. We have been essentially in a housing crisis for a couple of years, even before COVID, but it has gotten worse as a result of COVID.

One reason its gotten worse, she says, is because of new residents moving in from the New York City.

As new people move to the area, Poughkeepsie struggles to house those in need. According to the latest Continuum of Care report from early 2020, Poughkeepsie/Dutchess County had a total of 591 homeless persons, with 409 of them in emergency shelter, 172 in transitional housing and 10 unsheltered. This 1.9 percent homelessness rate is slightly higher than the 1.7 percent national average in 2019, according to data from the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the U.S. Census.

Across the board, Poughkeepsies housing situation is in a crunch. For example, in 2020 the city's apartment vacancy rate was at 0.9 percent, a decrease from 1.5 percent in 2019. The apartments that are listed arent always affordable either. When an affordable apartment is listed, though, Hines said those with higher incomes are usually favored, which takes those suffering from, or on the brink of, homelessness out of the running.

Housing units are first come, first served unless they are earmarked for a certain demographic, said Hines. Folks that are homeless are in competition with higher incomes, and theyre getting squeezed out when there isnt housing specifically made available for them.

Housing organizations like Hudson River Housing and others have had wait lists for affordable housing rentals that are years long, a trend that began before the pandemic.

In the meantime, a few options are on the horizon, like construction of additional affordable and mixed-income units, and rent relief for those who do have a home. Hudson River Housing put 78 new affordable units in service last April at FallKill Commons on Rose and are constantly trying to build more, said Hines. Thirty-nine of the units were set aside for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Additionally, Hudson River Housing works with those in need to refer them out to other housing organizations to help them find a place to live and connects them with local landlords to be notified when something is available.

Another project Hudson River Housing is working on is a 75-unit mixed income building at Poughkeepsie's Crannell Square that will be ready at the end of this year or in early 2022. The building will have apartments ranging in size from one to three-bedroom units.

There is housing being created, so I think there are some opportunities for people, but I dont think were keeping pace with the need for affordable units throughout the county, said Hines.

For now, those who cant get into more affordable housing might try to hold onto something pricier for as long as they can, which is where rent relief is helpful. In mid-April, Dutchess County announced $1.1 million in funding available for COVID-19 emergency rent and utility relief. According to Hines, more than 1,200 residents applied. There is definitely a need out there  there is a housing crisis and people are struggling to maintain their housing, said Hines.

Other counties across the region have also put rental assistance programs in place, like Orange County, whose program accepted applications until June 1. On the state level, applications opened on June 1 for the emergency rental assistance program, which is meant to provide economic relief to low- and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance. Rent relief differs from the eviction moratorium by helping renters regain their financial footing on back-rent, while the moratorium prohibits landlords from evicting non-paying tenants.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro focused on homelessness prevention in his 2021 executive budget, which called for more transitional housing, expanded case management, and more. During the pandemic, Molinaro issued an emergency order allowing the vacant temporary housing units at the Dutchess County Sheriff campus to be repurposed as emergency shelters for those in need.

Other initiatives in the county include a partnership with the United Ways 211 helpline and local housing service agencies to create a centralized entry point for eviction prevention, transitional housing information and other support services, which was made possible with a $100,000 HUD grant. The 2021 executive budget also put funding aside for the countys department of planning and development to conduct a housing needs assessment and for the creation of a deputy commissioner for housing.

With the eviction moratorium lifting at the end of August, Hines said Hudson River Housing is greatly concerned that there will be more people experiencing homelessness.
In 2020, LaShawn Hawkins had watched the murder of George Floyd, and seeing the country rise in protest felt that as a Black woman she had to do something. She founded the organization I Can Breathe and I Will Speak to encourage discussion about racism in her hometown of Gloversville.

I said  we got to speak to this. And especially because we're up here (in Gloversville), where nobody is expecting anyone to speak on this, said Hawkins.

Through her organization, Hawkins aimed to talk about inequalities in the system, while simultaneously improving the publics relationship with law enforcement agencies. Her work, and the reaction to it, led her to producing a documentary on racism and perceptions in the Gloversville area.

Beginning in June of 2020, Hawkins decided to hold silent protests across Fulton and Montgomery counties. Her first protest was outside the Johnstown Police Department to protest systemic inequalities. Hawkins and others stood in silence for an hour, taking a knee for the final 8 minutes and 43 seconds. She continued to protest outside police and fire departments across the two counties. Anyone who had something to say could write it on a sign and sit in protest in silence with her.

According to Anthony Clay, Gloversvilles police chief, Hawkins work was in sync with a neighborhood engagement project that he and his team were already trying to implement.

With both of those things combined, LaShawn (Hawkins) became a large part of what we're doing with the neighborhood engagement unit and other community activities, he said.

At one organized event, Hawkins explained to a city official how she worked and about the young adults she worked with.

I was expressing to her that I want to be able to show the people here what exactly these kids experience when we're going out here protesting because a lot of people say we don't got racism up here, said Hawkins. And people wouldn't say those negative things. So, many people said, 'No, you're lying, you're making it up.'

At the same time, Osama Mustafa, a videographer and Gloversville native, was working for Fulton County as a contracted videographer. Hawkins reached out to him and asked if he could film some of her protests to record the kind of racism she and the youth she worked with had to experience.

Mustafa agreed, but soon realized that this was bigger than that.

I sort of convinced her that instead of filming little two-minute videos of her protests that we would work on creating a documentary, he said. Which I thought would be more powerful and be something that hasn't been done in this area.

The two set up a GoFundMe campaign for the necessary money, but only raised half their goal amount. Still, Mustafa felt that this was something that had to be done. Furthermore, as someone who had worked in Palestinian-held areas of the Middle East, he said was used to working with a shortage of money.

It was tough to get any sort of support from anybody, he said. (Hawkins) would get frustrated, but I told her this is common. And that I have her back. And we will do this, and we will make it. So yeah, we did it.

For more than a year, Hawkins and Mustafa sat down to film and edit the 45-minute documentary. The two organized and attended seven protests, including one at the State Capitol in Albany on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The scenes of protest are intercut with interviews with local Black and white youths, and with several officials throughout both counties, all speaking to problems and possible solutions with regards to race.

The finished product, "I Can Breathe and I Will Speak," was released on Facebook on Juneteenth.

Mustafa wanted to stress that the documentary was not a black-and-white piece that was anti-police. He also wanted to show the positive side, all the work Hawkins did with the police and how it helped the local community. And that while they did come from a supportive community, it did have this racial side that needed to be addressed.

The two said they have received a lot of positive feedback since their launch.

Were glad that we kept it positive, glad that we showed the things that were actually going on wrong, said Hawkins. But more so, glad that because we had the chief of police speak in it. So you have a lot of different aspects of what's going on.

The documentary is available on YouTube.
FREEHOLD  When does a collection become a hoard?

"Collection" signals order, intent. "Hoard" speaks of obsession, mess and air time on a reality TV show.

The contents of Paul Verbitsky's house in Fort Plain could be seen as both.

"When I hear of anyone who collected 800 paintings, I know there's going to be a treasure there, a sleeper - something that needs to be cleaned, or a signature was missed," said Robert Meringolo, a longtime antiques appraiser and broker, based in Greene County.

Meringolo was invited to Verbitsky's home by his girlfriend and sole beneficiary of his estate, Tracy Towers Huse. Meringolo said that when he spotted the paintings by 17th century master Luca Giordano, he knew Verbitsky had a good eye. There was statuary, furniture, rugs, a penny-farthing (a Victorian era bicycle) with a mind-boggling 5-foot-diameter wheel and an oven-sized, folk art clock. There's even a 17-pound meteorite.

Thousands of items, large and small, packed the house where Huse still lives. The house is an antique in itself: It was built for Sir George Clarke, the acting governor of colonial New York from 1736 to 1743.

Meringolo has named the sale "A glorious hoard: the passion of Paul Verbitsky."

"The house is like a museum," said Huse, who was with Verbitsky for about 10 years before his death at 82, earlier this year.

She said he was a deeply private man, who simply loved collecting. If he was cooped up in the house too long, he would start to get anxious, Huse said. He would tell her it was time to go, time to look for an estate sale, an antique store, an auction. He was interested in Old World paintings, but he collected contemporary work, too. Meringolo is selling a stack of 11 unframed abstract paintings by Robert Freeman as a lot.

Meringolo is working with Mooney's Auction Gallery outside of Freehold in Greene County. The cavernous pole barn once housed auctions for tack and horses. Every auction transforms the inside. Bids are made both in person and online.

It will take three separate auctions to sell collector Verbitsky's collection. One third of it already has been trucked 50-plus miles from Fort Plain to its new temporary home at the auction house barn. In preparation for the sale, Meringolo's team hosted a preview. News of the Giordano paintings brought in the actor Federico Castelluccio, best known for his role as Furio Giunta in the Sopranos.

"I've never seen the show," Meringolo said, displaying a picture on his phone of the actor. "But he's Italian and I'm Italian, so I gave him some tomatoes."

All the items will be sold without reserve, which means if you're lucky, you can walk out with a bargain. Meringolo said it's impossible to know how much money the sale will bring in. Giordano was famous, but he was also prolific, so who knows? Rarity drives up price.

For Huse, high prices will determine her future. Verbitsky left her everything with the hope that a sale of the collection would bring in enough to sustain her. The house needs work. To keep it, she needs the cash.

"It's hard to see all the stuff go," she said. "This was my life."

Huse said she's keeping a few things: some French furniture, pieces that belonged to Verbitsky's mother, two paintings she can't part with.

In the end, Verbitsky's treasures will be in new hands, leaving Huse a collection of memories.
ALBANY  Nestled below some city streets lies an unusual bit of history. Hollow tree trunks. Very, very old hollow tree trunks, remnants of the citys first public water system.

No one is quite sure how many of those trunks remain buried beneath the city streets but every so often, city Water Department employees repairing a water main break stumble across them.

Earlier this month, one was dug up while crews searched for and patched a leak in a valve near City Hall, Water Commissioner Joseph Coffey said.

I said as long as its there, lets dig it up, he said. Its not unusual for us to discover them.

The citys water delivery system dates back to 1678, making it the second-oldest in the country behind Bostons, according to a Documentary History of American Waterworks.

The Water Department's latest wooden water main find is likely part of a system that was laid out in the late 1790s to bring fresh water to an expanding city, more than 100 years after the first wooden water mains were laid by English colonists.

The trunks, typically made of white pine or pitch pine, were connected with iron bands and relied on gravity to carry the water to reservoirs in the city. The city began replacing the wooden mains with cast iron sometime in the early 1800s.

This most recently discovered wooden main brought water from the Maezlandtkill, which was a city water source until the 1920s, to the Eagle Reservoir, which was where the Albany County courthouse is today.

The roughly 12-foot trunk is currently sitting on a truck behind the Water Departments headquarters on Erie Boulevard.

Coffey said his hope is that the New York State Museum or another group might display the wooden main as part of an exhibit on the citys history.

Last weeks find is just the latest of the old mains to be dug up. Parts of the citys original water main system were discovered when Interstate 787 was built.

More recently, the department pulled wooden water mains from a site near Broadway and Colonie Street in October 2020 and another one from the road in front of 412 Broadway in February 2019.

While the city has no idea how many old wooden water mains remain buried beneath the streets, officials are relatively confident that none are still in use.

"Although unlikely, there is a very remote outside chance that somewhere beneath some of the oldest parts of our city, a functioning wooden water main remains," the citys website reads.

And those wooden mains will likely continue to be rediscovered for years to come. Coffey said that when crews stumble upon the wooden mains while digging up streets, theyll typically leave them where they are in order to not have to patch up larger sections of the street.

Theyre really all over downtown, he said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris will make her first visit on Friday to the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office, following criticism from members of both parties for failing to go earlier despite her role leading the Biden administrations response to a steep increase in migration.

Harris will visit the El Paso area, accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, according to a statement Wednesday from Harris senior adviser Symone Sanders.

Harris has faced months of criticism from Republicans, and even some frustration from those in her own party, for not visiting the area.

She was tasked earlier this year by President Joe Biden with taking on the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States, and so far she's focused largely on outreach to local leaders and advocacy groups with the goal of improving economic and living conditions in the region. Harris has said her goal is to offer residents of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico hope for their future, so they no longer feel compelled to leave home for better opportunities.

Her aides have repeatedly insisted her efforts are distinct from the security issues that plague U.S. officials trying to handle a spike in border crossings. But Republicans have pointed to the failures by both Harris and Biden to visit the border to paint the administration as absent in a crisis.

Harris will arrive in the area just days before former President Donald Trump is to visit the border with a group of House Republicans and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Trump is certain to use the opportunity to drive Republican attacks on Democrats as soft on immigration.

The border issue shadowed Harris first foreign trip earlier this month, to Guatemala and Mexico, where she met with both nations presidents and local officials to discuss economic and humanitarian solutions to the significant outmigration from both countries.

During that trip, she sat for an interview with NBC News in which she dismissed a question about why she hadn't made a trip to the border by responding, I've never been to Europe, and adding, I don't understand the point you're making. Harris and White House aides were subsequently forced to parry repeated questions about the decision and her remarks.

Harris said she was focused on tangible results as opposed to grand gestures," but she also said she might visit in the near future.

She has noted that as a senator from California, she has visited the border in the past, and she has asserted that unless the root causes of migration are addressed the situation there will never be fixed.

It's unclear what Harris' plans include during her visit to the area, but one migrant detention facility in El Paso, at the Fort Bliss military post, has drawn criticism from advocates who have described unsafe conditions and allegations of abuse toward some of the thousands of children housed there.

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the trip was part of the coordinated effort between her office, her work, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, to continue to address the root causes and work in coordination to get the situation under control.

While Psaki emphasized that border security is under Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas' purview, she added that its important every component of our government is coordinated on the issue.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 180,000 encounters on the Mexican border in May, the most since March 2000. Those numbers were boosted by a pandemic-related ban on seeking asylum, which encouraged repeated attempts to cross the border because getting caught carried no legal consequences.

The numbers have led even some centrist Democrats to join Republicans in their calls for Harris to make a trip to the area. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat whose district stretches from south of San Antonio down to the southern border, wrote a letter to Harris earlier this month inviting her to observe the ongoing humanitarian crisis and share the perspective of Americans who live there.

I believe it is critical that you meet with local stakeholders and residents, consider their concerns, and use their lived experiences to implement more effective policies, he wrote.

Cuellar issued a tweet Wednesday thanking Harris for her plans to visit.

But his engagement on the issue underscores the potential political peril for Democrats on immigration. An AP-NORC poll conducted in April found that more Americans disapprove than approve of how Biden is handling the sharply increasing number of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.

And Trump's trip to the border marks another sign of how closely Republicans continue to align themselves with Trump and the extent to which they see the border as a winning campaign issue. The former president immediately took credit for Harris' trip, speculating in a statement that the vice president would not have made plans to go if he hadn't been headed there himself.

Psaki said the administration "made an assessment within our government about when it was an appropriate time for her to go the border.

___

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Psaki's statement was Wednesday, not Tuesday.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  In the chaotic, final hours of the Vietnam War, the U.S. evacuated thousands of South Vietnamese who supported the American mission and were at risk under the communist government.

With U.S. and NATO forces facing a Sept. 11 deadline to leave Afghanistan, many are recalling that desperate, hasty exodus as they urge the Biden administration to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked as interpreters or otherwise helped U.S. military operations there in the past two decades.

Despite unusual bipartisan support in Congress, the administration hasn't agreed to such a move, declining to publicly support something that could undermine security in the country as it unwinds a war that started after the 9/11 attacks.

We have a moral obligation to protect our brave allies who put their lives on the line for us, and weve been working for months to engage the administration and make sure theres a plan, with few concrete results, Republican Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan said during a House hearing last week.

Lawmakers have urged the administration to consider temporarily relocating Afghans who worked for American or NATO forces to a safe overseas location while their U.S. visas are processed. Some have suggested Guam, a U.S. territory that served a similar purpose after the Vietnam War. Kurdish refugees also were flown to the Pacific island in 1996 after the Gulf War.

Guam's governor recently wrote to President Joe Biden to say the territory was ready to help if needed.

The Biden administration for now is focusing on accelerating a special visa program for Afghans who helped U.S. operations and pouring resources into relieving the backlog.

We are processing and getting people out at a record pace, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. We are working with Congress right now to streamline some of the requirements that slow this process down and were doing the kind of extensive planning for potential evacuation, should that become necessary.

Members of Congress were expected to raise the issue Friday, when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani comes to Washington to meet with Biden and lawmakers.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the State Departments special representative for Afghanistan reconstruction, warned lawmakers in May that the departure of all educated Afghans" would "signal panic" and hurt the morale of the country's security forces.

This is a delicate, complicated balance that we have to keep," Khalilzad said.

Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado recently introduced legislation that would nearly double the number of visas available this year, to 8,000, and ease eligibility requirements.

But he said congressional action will not be quick enough or sufficient.

Even if the legislation passed immediately, the number of visas would fall far short of the estimated 18,000 Afghans waiting to be processed. That figure does not include their spouses and children, who would bring the total to about 70,000 people.

And the average wait is more than three years. The process also has been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic, which led the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan to suspend visa interviews.

Crow, a former Army ranger who served in Afghanistan, said he prefers the government evacuate our Afghan partners to a temporary evacuation site where we can safely conduct robust visa processing without threat to applicants safety by the Taliban.

In a statement this month, the Taliban vowed not to attack those who worked for Western interests, urging Afghans to remain at home and warning their ranks against revenge killings.

Still, many Afghans are desperate for a visa, fearing violence not only from the Taliban but heavily armed warlords allied with the U.S. and seeing now as their last chance to leave Afghanistan.

The American withdrawal began May 1, when the number of U.S. troops was between 2,500 and 3,500, and could be completed by July 4. Some 7,000 NATO forces are set to leave by Sept. 11.

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine said the government needs to find a creative approach to helping Afghans who worked with the U.S. military. That could include sending more people from the State Department or the military to process visas in Afghanistan or evacuating people to a safe place to be vetted.

Its not only a moral issue, its a national security issue, said King, who sits on both the Intelligence and Armed Services committees, adding that we also have a practical responsibility, in terms of do we want people to help us in the future?

More than 300 interpreters have been killed in Afghanistan since 2016, according to No One Left Behind, an organization that advocates on their behalf.

Former Army Maj. Matt Zeller said a military evacuation is the only viable option for thousands of Afghans facing threats who have been protected by the presence of U.S. troops.

Im only alive because my Afghan, Muslim translator saved my life by killing two Taliban fighters who were about to kill me in a battle," said Zeller, whose interpreter waited three years for a visa.

The U.S. government should have learned from what happened in Vietnam, said Jim Jones, a Vietnam veteran and former Idaho Supreme Court chief justice.

Initially fearing a mass evacuation would undermine the South Vietnamese military, the U.S. watched for weeks as the North Vietnamese Army overtook South Vietnam before starting to fly out Americans and allies. The effort ended with the largest helicopter evacuation in history in the final hours of the war.

In less than 24 hours, Marine helicopters airlifted about 7,000 U.S. military personnel, South Vietnamese who supported the American mission and their dependents.

Many South Vietnamese soldiers and government officials left behind were killed or held in reeducation" camps. They included troops who had helped Jones stay alive as an Army artillery officer.

We had a moral obligation to extract as many as possible but, instead, we abandoned them to a horrific fate, Jones wrote in the Military Times. We simply cannot allow that kind of tragedy to happen again with the Afghans. I pray that this great nation does not again turn its back on beleaguered people who placed their trust in us.

Pentagon leaders told lawmakers Wednesday that they are prepared to carry out an evacuation if ordered, though they also have sought to downplay concerns that history will repeat itself.

I dont see Saigon 1975 in Afghanistan," Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently told lawmakers.

___

Fox reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Joshua Boak in Washington and Kathy Gannon in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report.
ALBANY  A 27-year-old Niskayuna man who took part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol will be jailed until his trial for boorish and alarming conduct since his arrest, a judge has ruled.

Brandon Fellows, who was arrested last week after he called the mother of a U.S, probation officer in Massachusetts, also has made a series of "concerning statements" to federal probation officers in Albany, U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Stewart wrote in ordering the defendant's detention on Wednesday.

I cant wait for these bullies to have what they are dishing out come back to them, Fellows, a 2012 Niskayuna High School graduate, told the probation officers, the judge's decision noted. The way they are treating me is like that of a terrorist. My own home country . . . they should try different tactics . . . this kind of treatment would tempt people most people to be radicalized. Im not saying thats me.

Fellows' other statements to probation officers included discussion of his sexual performance abilities; description of his genital size; expression of displeasure that he is required to reside with his mother, the judge wrote.

Stewart said Fellows wanted to return to his former abode in a converted school bus, saying: I want my f-----g bus.

More significantly, the judge stated in his decision, was Fellows lashing out at the very federal government that has charged him with felony and misdemeanor offenses.

Federal prosecutors have repeatedly asked judges to jail Fellows as he awaits trial. Stewart held off making a decision last week when Fellows appeared before him for his latest arrest: the call to a probation officer's mother, an alleged violation of his conditions of release.

Prosecutors said Fellows canceled a mental health appointment on June 14, telling the probation officer he was not feeling well. When the officer asked Fellows if he could work, Fellows asked her: "Have you checked your hormones?

A supervisory probation official directed Fellows to report to the probation officer. Soon after, they learned that a person had called the probation officers mother in Massachusetts and asked twice if it was the correct number for the officer. Caller identification revealed the callers number to be Fellows.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Timothy Austin told the judge that his client had a faulty phone and no access to his list of contacts, which led Fellows to do a Google search that led to the discovery of the officer's mother's number. He asked that Fellows be allowed to be free.

Stewart said he he did not buy Fellows' explanation.

"Mr. Fellows probation officer perceived this attempt to contact her family member as representing a course of intimidation and was consistent with his general noncompliance while on release," the judge stated. "The court does not view this statement in isolation because ... the defendant has made numerous inappropriate statements to his probation officer, which include sexually explicit statements and large doses of profanity."

The judge referenced a prior occasion, before Fellows' arrest in January, when Fellows was facing a case in Guilderland Town Court and listed the office number of the judge's wife as his number.

"Successful supervision requires cooperation and compliance of the defendant," Stewart state. "Mr. Fellows has not provided that, and his conduct to date has been both boorish and alarming. Probation officers in this district, and others, are professionals, but there is certainly a limit to the type of conduct those officers should be subjected to. Based upon the information provided by the government, it appears a limit has been reached in this case."

Fellows was arrested in mid-January, after he posted images of himself on social media inside and outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Fellows was among the supporters of former President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol in an effort to stop the certification of President-elect Joseph Biden's victory.

Fellows was photographed on a police motorcycle  wearing a fake orange beard and "USA" jacket  outside the U.S. Capitol. While in the Capitol, Fellows put his feet up on the desk of U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon.

"We took the Capitol and it was glorious," Fellows said in one post.

Fellows smirked throughout his initial court appearance before Stewart. The judge allowed Fellows to to remain free under certain conditions, which were altered when Fellows was later charged in Washington, D.C., where his case is being tried.

On Feb. 6, a federal grand jury in the nation's capital indicted Fellows on charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds when the vice president and vice president-elect were temporarily visiting; disorderly and destructive conduct in a restricted building or grounds when the vice president and vice president-elect were temporarily visiting; entering and remaining in certain rooms in the Capitol building; and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.
GRAHAM, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina man has been arrested after authorities say he shot at a deputy, a sheriffs office said.

The Alamance County Sheriffs Office said in a news release on Wednesday that a deputy responded to a call late Tuesday night about a man with a gun at a location on old N.C. Highway 87 in Elon. The sheriffs office said when the deputy arrived, a man was in the back of a truck waving a gun around.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Russia previewed a showdown with the United Nations, United States and Western nations Wednesday over the delivery of humanitarian aid to rebel-held northwest Syria from Turkey, rejecting their warnings that closing the only border crossing will leave more than 1 million people without desperately needed food and cause people to die because they lack medicine.

Stressing the importance of strengthening Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia insisted that aid can and should be delivered across conflict lines in Syria, and accused the U.N. and the West of doing nothing to promote such deliveries during the past year.

Unless Western nations both in words and deeds prove their commitment to this goal, he warned that there is no point in speaking about renewing the mandate for the one remaining border crossing from Turkey to northwest Idlib which expires on July 10.

We still have some time before the `D-Day. Hopefully it will not be wasted, Nebenzia said.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who visited the Turkish border crossing at Bab Al-Hawa in early June, said the United States is willing to work to expand aid to Syrians across borders and conflict lines.

But right now, without cross-border access, more Syrians will die, thousands of children will be denied food and be permanently stunted in growth and cognitive development, and millions of people will have reduced access to clean water, medical supplies and COVID-19 vaccines, she said.

There is no Plan B," Thomas-Greenfield stressed. The Plan B is to continue to push for the extension of the mandate. Plan B means that we have failed, and hopefully we dont fail.

So, Im going to work on this every single day until its accomplished," she said.

Wednesday's showdown in the U.N. Security Council came ahead of its consideration of a draft resolution to keep the Bab al-Hawa crossing open, likely for a year instead of the current six-month mandate, and possibly reopen two others.

The council had approved four border crossings when deliveries began in 2014. Nebenzia said Russia agreed to that because Syria was being torn apart by terrorism. He said Damascus since then has liberated almost 90% of its territory and was trying to improve the Syrian people's lives. In these conditions, the cross-border mechanism is a mere anachronism, he said.

In 2020, Russia used its veto threat in the council to score victories for its close ally Syria, to halve the mandate and limit humanitarian aid deliveries to just the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a virtual briefing to the council, said more than 70% of the population requires assistance, and almost all of them are in severe need of help to survive.

He stressed that cross-line operations will never be able to replace cross-border assistance at the present levels, pointing to the more than 1,000 trucks that move through Bab al-Hawa every month.

A failure to extend the councils authorization would have devastating consequences, Guterres warned.

Acting U.N. humanitarian chief Ramesh Rajasingham said the failure to extend the mandate would disrupt lifesaving aid to 3.4 million people in need across the northwest, millions of whom are among the most vulnerable in Syria.

Last week, 42 non-governmental organizations warned that closing the border-crossing to Idlib would leave more than 1 million people without food because they only have the capacity to meet the needs of 300,000 people, he said.

A cross-line operation would provide a vital addition to the cross-border lifeline, but it could by no means replace it, Rajasingham said. Even if deployed regularly, cross-line convoys could not replicate the size and scope of the cross-border operations.

But Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh echoed Russia, calling the cross-border aid operation politicized and saying the reasons and conditions that led to its adoption no longer exist, so it should end.

Ireland and Norway will be drafting the Security Council resolution to extend the cross-border mandate.

Ireland's U.N. Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason said the resolution, which will be circulated in the coming days, will renew and expand the humanitarian aid delivery mechanism in response to the pressing humanitarian needs."

She warned that failure to renew would cause a humanitarian catastrophe in the northwest of Syria."
Thinkstock Images/Getty Images

NISKAYUNA  A man who was a student teacher at Niskayuna High School faces charges after a sexual relationship with a student who was under the age of consent, town police said.

The man, 23, has been charged with third-degree rape and a third-degree sex act, both felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child, Niskayuna police said.
ALBANY A Schenectady woman and Castleton-on-Hudson man pleaded guilty to drunken driving in two unrelated cases in Albany County Court, District Attorney David Soares' office said Thursday.

On Oct. 22, at about 1:10 a.m. Natalie Ferrara, 24, of Schenectady was driving while intoxicated on Van Woert Street in Albany when she crashed her car into a parked vehicle. The crash seriously injured a passenger in Ferraras car. The injury required surgeries and resulted in lasting impairment, prosecutors said. Blood test results show Ferrara was driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.23 percent, the district attorney's office said.
NEW YORK (AP)  President Joe Biden's sister, confidante and longtime political strategist, Valerie Biden Owens, has a book deal.

Celadon Books told The Associated Press on Thursday that Owens' Growing Up Biden will come out April 12 of next year. She is expected to cover everything from her childhood as the only girl among four siblings to her trailblazing, decades-long professional relationship with Biden, who has referred to Owens as his best friend. Vogue magazine last year dubbed her The Joe Biden Whisperer.

The 75-year-old Owens has been working with her older brother for virtually his entire career, dating back to high school in Delaware. She managed his winning 1972 run for the U.S. Senate and his unsuccessful presidential attempts in 1988 and 2008 and was a top advisor for his election to the White House in 2020. She also has been closely involved with his own family, quitting her job as a teacher and moving in with him for four years so she could care for his two sons after he lost his first wife and 13-month old daughter in a 1972 car accident.

Valerie Biden was the cornerstone that allowed me to sustain and then rebuild my family, Biden wrote in Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics," published in 2007.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Owens was represented by Javelin, the Washington, D.C.-based literary agency where other clients have included former FBI Director James Comey, former National Security Adviser John Bolton and former House Speaker John Boehner.

Celadon Books is a division of Macmillan Publishers, which in 2017 released Joe Biden's Promise Me, Dad, about his son Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer in 2015.

Our familys story is a very American one  full of joy but also shadowed by tragedy," Owens said in a statement. "What we Bidens learned long ago is a timeless lesson: that family matters, possibility can emerge from pain, and the ties that bind us together are stronger than anything that might pull us apart. So this will be a story of one family  but our story, I hope, will resonate and inspire.
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP)  A Vermont county judge has approved the payment of nearly $8 million in outstanding claims made by three Koffee Kup Bakery creditors.

Chittenden County Judge Samuel Hoar approved the payment Tuesday and signaled that he was open to expanding the role of Ronald Teplitsky, the receiver of Koffee Kups assets, to make recommendations on how other creditors, including the 500 employees who lost their jobs on April 26, will receive money owed to them, the Brattleboro Reformer reported.
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union

QUEENSBURY - Warren County Health Services will hold COVID-19 vaccination clinics in six towns in the northern and western parts of county Monday and Tuesday, June 28 and 29.



The goal is to ensure that Warren County residents who may not be able to travel to the Queensbury clinics will have a chance to get vaccinated, County Health Services Director Ginelle Jones said.

No appointment is necessary. Anyone who is 12 and older and lives, works or studies at a college in New York is eligible.



The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, each of which require two doses for full vaccination, will be offered during these clinics. County health services will return to these communities for second doses as well.



Clinics
The China Winter Olympics will be held in February 2022. Legislators in the United States, Canada, and Australia, along with more than 180 human rights organizations worldwide, have called for a boycott to protest Chinas human rights abuses. However, the expectation that an Olympic boycott will change Chinese behavior is naive.

Instead of making a broad, symbolic gesture that will harm primarily our own athletes, specific action can be taken now to mitigate one of Chinas most egregious human rights abuses: the extrajudicial execution of prisoners of conscience to supply Chinese nationals and medical tourists with organ transplants.

In the United States, consenting donors supply organs for transplant. It is illegal to buy or sell solid organs. They certainly cannot be excised from the unwilling. While our organ allocation system has flaws, it precludes the human body becoming a receptacle of saleable parts.

China does things differently. Two recent reports reveal in harrowing detail how the Chinese government sanctions forced organ harvesting: Medical Genocide, a 2018 publication of the U.S.-based China Organ Harvest Research Center, and the 2020 China Tribunal report, an independent judicial investigation issued by the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China.

In 2000, Chinas modest transplant industry grew exponentially, precisely when the government began detaining adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong. Zheng Shusen, a prominent Chinese liver transplant surgeon and chair of the Zhejiang Province Anti-Cult Association, described Falun Gong as an evil religion and a virus. Such attitudes rendered adherents enemies of the state  and a reservoir of organs worth millions of dollars. Falun Gong detainees have described undergoing regular imaging and medical examinations typical of pre-transplant work-up.

Bowing to international pressure in 2015, Chinese authorities created a system of voluntary organ allocation, though data are neither transparent nor comprehensive. Chinas official annual transplant volume hovers at 10,000. However, its massive transplant infrastructure belies this figure. By 2006, China had 500 hospitals performing transplants. A single hospital that focuses mostly on liver transplants, the Tianjin Oriental Organ Transplant Center, has 500 dedicated transplant beds, which corresponds to roughly 6,000 transplants a year. This is almost how many liver transplants the entire United States performs in a year.

Moreover, wait times for organs are measured in days or weeks, not months or years. The Chinese actor Fu Biao received a liver just one week after his cancer diagnosis. When this rejected, he received another a month later. Such a quick turnaround is unheard of in a donative system. In fact, China provides on-demand transplants for medical tourists. In one well-documented case, an Israeli patient flew to China in 2005 for a heart transplant that had been scheduled two weeks prior. The only way to plan a heart transplant is to have a victim selected in advance.

Instead of relying on governments to take action, the international medical community can take measures to compel China to live up to human rights standards. Until China proves it has stopped profiting from the harvest of its undesirable citizens organs, transplant researchers can refuse to share medical information with their Chinese counterparts. Journals can choose not to publish transplant research from China unless researchers prove the organ came from a willing donor. Professional societies can reject Chinese transplant surgeons unless they can prove they adhere to internationally accepted ethical standards. Some countries have already taken action. Israel, Italy, Spain, and Taiwan have passed laws prohibiting transplant tourism. In 2006, two major transplant hospitals in Queensland, Australia, banned joint research programs into organ transplantation with China.

Such robust actions as these on a fully international scale would go a long way to pressure China to open its transplant industry to scrutiny and, perhaps one day, reform. Until then, Chinas surgical community will operate under a dark cloud.

Eric Trump, of Beacon, is a professor in the German department at Vassar College, currently on leave to write a book on organ transplantation. Dr. Jacob M. Appel is director of ethics education in psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
ALASTAIR PIKE

I was extremely disappointed to read Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walshs tweet mocking victims of gun violence in the city of Albany. I think it would be helpful for her to apologize and for her to listen to the families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. We all need to have compassion and understanding for each other if we are to solve today's problems. I often hear Republicans blaming New York Democrats for all of the problems in the state, but how are voters supposed to elect Republicans if all they have to offer are snarky tweets instead of potential solutions?

Sam Wells

Albany
Bull Moose Marketing Co-Owner Ron Maddox stands at the podium during the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau presentation Monday. Maddox and his team have been working on a marketing strategy for the county that they feel can help take tourism to a new level.
A witness says a Colorado man was shopping when he heard the gunfire that killed a suburban Denver police officer, rushed out of the store with his gun and shot the suspect
A $1.7 billion wave of federal pandemic relief money has arrived at New Mexicos state treasury amid a power struggle between a Democratic governor running for reelection and leading Democratic lawmakers who draft the state budget
A Montana man has been arrested for allegedly causing a fire along the Montana-Wyoming border that has burned 46 square miles and torched more than two dozen homes and other structures
Republicans in charge of the North Carolina General Assembly have agreed to legislation ending the $300 federal weekly supplemental benefit to the unemployed in the state
June 24, 2021





The forex industry is a very large and competitive one, which is why many forex brokers accept only US residents as clients. It's more convenient for an international trader to conduct business with his broker from his home, rather than having to spend additional time traveling to the forex broker's office. However, does that mean that forex brokers accepting US clients are the best forex brokers in the industry? And how do you know which forex broker to choose from?







Look at the Websites of the Brokers:

There are forex brokers accepting clients from the United States. However, some forex brokers do not accept clients from the United States. Traders need to understand this before they commit to using a particular forex broker. If you look at the website of a forex broker, or its FAQ page, you'll find a section about "non-US traders". If the company is firm on its ability to serve clients from the United States, it should be easy to find their contact information.

Read FAQ Page:

Another way to check on brokers accepting US clients is to visit forex brokers' websites and read through their FAQ pages. There should be a link for" Toll-Free Phone (News - Alert) support" or "Free USA shipping" somewhere on the FAQ page. When you call a particular forex broker, you'll be able to leave a message for customer service.

If the company doesn't offer you any help or assistance when you contact them, or if their customer service rep is rude and incompetent, you might want to think twice about dealing with this particular forex broker. Please note that this doesn't mean that forex brokers with US clientele are incompetent; rather, it simply means that their customer service representative may not be as competent as they should be.

Read the Payment Methods:

When you're browsing for brokers' websites, you can also read about their payment methods. It's important to note that some forex trading companies only accept electronic money, while others only accept certified checks. In addition, some companies allow their customers to use credit cards as payment.

In general, you should be able to pay your forex broker using one of these payment methods. So, if a forex broker accepts only checks as payment, you'd better check out forex brokers that accept only electronic money or certified checks because your money might get held up in the processing stage.

Customer Service:

The next thing that you should check out is the forex broker's customer service. A forex broker's "live chat" feature can be of great help to you. Many forex brokers offer live chat options through their websites.

So, check out the forex broker's live chat page and get to know the forex broker better. Ask questions about the forex broker's customer service. If the forex broker doesn't have an online chat facility, then you might want to consider another forex broker.

Check the Privacy Policy:

You should also check the forex broker's privacy policy. Before buying any currency, it's always a good idea to make sure that the forex broker accepts US Dollars. If the forex broker doesn't accept US Dollars, then it's better to go with another forex broker.

Fee Structure:

Another thing that you should check is the fee structure of the forex broker. You should remember that different forex brokers have different fee structures. So, you should read all about the fee structure of each forex broker before deciding on which forex broker to use.

Some forex brokers may not accept Credit Card payments for their services. If this is the case, then you might want to go for other forex brokers. There are many more brokers who accept Credit Card payment, but there are some who don't. If this is the case with your forex broker, then you should keep an eye on the terms and conditions of the credit card payment, or you can go for another forex broker.

Registered:

The forex broker you choose should be registered in your country. It should be registered in your country because you will be dealing with your forex broker in US dollars. A forex broker that is not registered in your country may not be able to charge you in US dollars, instead, he/she should charge you in another currency.

This is necessary because if the forex broker charged you in US dollars, the exchange rate might differ from country to country. The forex broker you choose should also be registered in your country because the registration process is fast and easy in your country. If the forex broker isn't registered in your country, then you should go elsewhere for your forex broker needs.
[June 24, 2021] Absen wins the U.S. Ultravision Intellectual Property Case

SHENZHEN, China, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ -- On June 12, 2021, a federal jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas delivered a complete victory for Absen in a patent infringement lawsuit. In the case, Ultravision alleged that Absen LED display products exported to the United States infringed certain patents. The unanimous jury verdict found that none of the nine Absen accused products lines infringed any of the asserted patent claims. The jury also determined that all asserted patent claims were invalid. The ruling followed after four days of testimony and around three hours of jury deliberations. As a leading LED display company that is eeply involved in the international market, Absen has, since its establishment 20 years ago, consistently adhered to its core principles of technological innovation and respect for intellectual property rights. After being sued in 2018, Absen actively responded. It set up a special team of internal experts as well as external American lawyers led by Goodwin Procter LLP. Absen also partnered with other Chinese LED display companies including, Glux, Leyard, Liantronics, and Unilumin. The partnership meant, jointly retaining Goodwin Procter could execute a joint response strategy. With the overall planning and efforts from all parties, a highly successful result was received in the US court and Absen thanks all involved.



Established in 2001, Absen is the world's leading LED display brand, renowned for its high-quality products, global presence and full-service capabilities. Absen's displays cover a wide range of applications including Commercial Display, Data Visualization, Rental & Staging, DOOH and Corporate. Through constant innovation and development, Absen has been the No.1 Chinese manufacturer in exporting LED displays for 12 years in a row, making it the brand of choice for some of the most prominent brands, integration partners and rental companies around the world. In the future, Absen will, as always, respect intellectual property rights, deeply cultivate the international market, and work hard for the respect of the international market for the LED display industry.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/absen-wins-the-us-ultravision-intellectual-property-case-301319251.html SOURCE Absen.com

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[June 24, 2021] American Water Employees Raise More Than $200,000 for Water For People in Fundraising Campaign

American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced today the company and its employees raised $204,000 to support Water For People, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to improved water and sanitation systems and services in developing countries. "For more than a decade, American Water and its employees have supported Water For People, donating more than $2.8 million to its life-changing work," said Maureen Duffy, Senior Vice President, Communications & External Affairs and executive sponsor for this year's campaign. "The amazing support from our employees demonstrates how much we care about our own customers as well as others throughout the world and our commitment to providing essential water services." This year's campaign was a great success for American Water. In addition to financial donations, American Water employees participated in creative, virtual fundraising events including a 5K run, kid's lemonade stands and local raffles, all contributing to Water For People, allowing the organization to get closer to itsgoal to provide access to clean water for everyone.



In addition, Illinois American Water President Justin Ladner and Indiana American Water's Senior Superintendent of Operations Christopher Harrison, were both recognized with the Kenneth J. Miller Founders' Award from Water For People. Established in 2001, the award honors outstanding volunteers for their service and leadership in the advancement of Water For People's mission. The awards were presented during a virtual ceremony on June 22. American Water's support of Water For People is part of its formal Corporate Responsibility program, which is designed to create a lasting, positive impact on the communities the company serves.

About American Water With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005716/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Blue Sky eLearn Welcomes Scott A. West as Chief Financial Officer

SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Sky eLearn, the eLearning and virtual events company that has transformed the way organizations deliver educational content and certification, announced today the appointment of Scott A. West as its Chief Financial Officer. With over 30 years of executive financial accounting and business management experience serving various public and private equity-funded companies, Scott will oversee all aspects of Blue Sky eLearn's financial and administrative operations, including financial reporting, bank relationships, internal and industry analysis, investor relations, and M&A activity. "We are thrilled that Scott has joined Blue Sky at such a crucial time in our growth," said Philip G. Forte, Chief Executive Officer at Blue Sky eLearn. "With his deep expertise in managing financial, technical, M&A, nd international accounting teams, as well as an 11-year tenure at Ernst & Young working on a large number of IPO and M&A transactions, he is adding tremendous value and experience to our leadership team."



Prior to joining Blue Sky eLearn, most recently Scott was the Chief Financial Officer of Heritage Global, a publicly traded company, a position he had held since March of 2014. He also served as the Chief Accounting Officer at both Websense and Lytx. In addition to his impressive experience in various private and public companies, Mr. West holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Arizona State University. "I'm excited to join the Blue Sky eLearn team," said Mr. West. "The company's commitment and dedication to both its employees and customers is impressive, and we have a great opportunity to continue to reshape the eLearning and virtual events space in our new, post-COVID world."

About Blue Sky eLearn

Since 2002, Blue Sky eLearn has been leading the charge in delivering state-of-the-art online learning to associations and their valued members. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company provides a full range of learning technologies, including a proprietary learning management system, Path LMS; a comprehensive set of virtual event services; and an expert team of learning strategy and development professionals. Learn more here: https://www.blueskyelearn.com/resources/blog/. Contact:

Robin Carter

VP of Marketing

rcarter@blueskyelearn.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-sky-elearn-welcomes-scott-a-west-as-chief-financial-officer-301318869.html SOURCE Blue Sky eLearn

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[June 24, 2021] CairEA Signs Lease in the Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures ENCORE Facility at The Interlock

ATLANTA, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CairEA has signed a lease with Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures (GATV), an affiliate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, for space at Encore, a newly opened creative loft and office space at The Interlock that is dedicated to technology startup growth and expansion in Georgia. The classic "Tech" story, starting in the basement then growing into a best-in-class innovator, has been realized once again with this announcement that CairEA is relocating to GATV's Encore facility in the new Class A+ office at The Interlock: the destination mixed-use property anchoring West Midtown at the corner of 14th Street and Howell Mill. The Interlock name is derived from the adjacent historical marker

signifying where four railroad lines converged  a vivid metaphor for

the intersection of Atlanta culture, technology, living and commerce Originally established in 2015, CairEA has emerged from a three person start up to a rapidly expanding AI driven commercial real estate application with proven results across the U.S. Utilizing a proprietary predictive analytics platform, CairEA is innovating and implementing cange in the commercial real estate industry.



One of the original visionaries of CairEA is Thomas R. Shafer, the Chairman of Capital Real Estate Group. Previously a Vice Chairman of CBRE and one of four principals at Atlanta-based Resource Real Estate Partners, Mr. Shafer provides CairEA with inspiration and unparalleled perspective into the world of data driven capital formation in commercial real estate. While CairEA has been in the closet building an unprecedented AI platform for the better part of six years, the move to The Interlock will allow CairEA to grow in strategic partnership with Capital Real Estate Group, who also represented CairEA in the relocation/negotiation process with The Interlock.

John Thornton and Bennett Gottlieb founded Capital Real Estate Group in 2017 after identifying the need in the commercial real estate industry for a consulting and brokerage firm built on a culture of superior service resulting in the best possible solution for select clients. In capturing the prime corner of 14th Street and Howell Mill for its pioneering collaborative innovation center at The Interlock, CairEA is uniquely positioned to help lead the recruitment of other startups to this revolutionary project. This once in a generation hotspot will provide both CairEA and Capital Real Estate Group with a magnetic location for attracting the best-of-the-best of young emerging tech-oriented talent to truly disrupt how business is done in commercial real estate. CONTACT:

Iain Prentice

770-316-3661

313021@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cairea-signs-lease-in-the-georgia-advanced-technology-ventures-encore-facility-at-the-interlock-301319764.html SOURCE CairEA

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[June 24, 2021] Corsair Pharma, Inc. to Host Key Opinion Leader Meeting on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corsair Pharma, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company developing a transdermal treprostinil prodrug, today announced it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) webinar to discuss the current treatment landscape for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) on Thursday, July 8th, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The webinar will feature a presentation by Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) Richard N. Channick, M.D. (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA) and Jeremy Feldman, M.D. (Arizona Pulmonary Specialists) who will discuss the current treatment landscape and unmet medical need in treating patients with PAH. Drs. Channick and Feldman will both be available to answer questions following the formal presentations. Corsair Pharma's management team will also give an update on their lead product candidate, a prodrug of treprostinil delivered on a proprietary transdermal patch to treat PAH. The patch is intended to provide continuous and consistent blood levels of treprostinil comparable to an infusion pump by delivering an inactive prodrug of treprostinil, which crosses the skin, enters the blood, and converts rapidly to treprostinil in the liver. Via this route of administration, a treprostinil prodrug patch has the potential to provide the efficacy and fast titration of parenteral, the convenience of oral, and a more favorable side effect profile than currently available alternatives. Corsair is also exploring expansion opportunities into other forms of pulmonary hypertension. They have a strategic partnership with United Therapeutics, the market leader in PAH therapies. To register for the webinar, please click here. Dr. Channick is Professor of Medicine and Saul Brandman Endowed Chair of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He serves as Co-Director of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program and Director of the Acute and Chroni Thromboembolic Disease at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Channick received his medical degree from Temple University Medical School, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He did his residency and was Chief Resident at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.



He did a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. Dr. Channick was at UCSD for 20 years helping build the pulmonary vascular program there. From 2009-2018 he was at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School where he built a large Pulmonary Vascular Program. He has been at UCLA since September 2018, directing the UCLA Acute and Chronic Thromboembolic Disease Program. Dr. Channick has published over 200 original articles, chapters and reviews focused on all aspects of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism. He serves on many national and international leadership committees including the American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Circulation Program Committee and the American College of Chest Physicians Pulmonary Vascular Disease Network steering committee, past Chair of the Scientific Leadership Committee. Dr. Channick has served on the steering committees for several pivotal clinical trials in pulmonary vascular disease and lectures nationally and internationally. Dr. Feldman earned his bachelors of science with distinction in biology from Stanford University in 1994. From 1994-1998 he attended UCSD school of medicine where he was the Medicine, Education and Research Foundation Scholarship recipient. After graduating medical school, Dr. Feldman trained in Internal Medicine at Harvard Universitys Brigham and Womens Hospital. During his senior year of residency, Dr. Feldman worked with Drs Goldhaber and Sasahara doing a mini-fellowship in thromboembolic diseases.

After leaving Boston, Dr. Feldman returned to the Bay Area to University of California at San Francisco for pulmonary and critical care training. He then moved south to Stanford University to take on the eBay fellowship in Pulmonary Vascular Disease and complete his training. Next, Dr. Feldman moved to Phoenix and joined Arizona Pulmonary Specialists where he started a pulmonary hypertension and advanced lung disease program. The pulmonary hypertension program has grown to be one of the largest centers of excellence in the nation. He directs the clinical research program which is nationally recognized for prolific and high-quality clinical trial participation. He has developed leading educational websites for pulmonary hypertension www.pulmonaryhypertensionRN.com and pulmonary fibrosis www.pulmonaryfibrosisMD.com, and founded www.PFAdvisors.com. About Corsair Pharma

Corsair Pharma, Inc. is a development stage biopharmaceutical company operating as a portfolio company of Velocity Pharmaceutical Development, LLC and is focused on the development of novel prodrugs of treprostinil to treat patients with PAH using a once-daily transdermal patch. Company Contact: Garrett Vygantas

Chief Business Officer

Garrett@corsairpharma.com INVESTOR RELATIONS:

Bruce Mackle

Managing Director

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com



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[June 24, 2021] DeFi Yield Protocol (DYP) Follows Up Its Chainlink Price Feeds Integration with Expansion to Avalanche

VALLETTA, Malta, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DeFi Yield Protocol (DYP), a top yield farming protocol that allows users to provide liquidity and earn lucrative returns, has reached yet another landmark moment. On June 23, 2021, the project announced its expansion to Avalanche, an open-source platform for launching highly decentralized apps.

The DeFi protocols move to build a platform on Avalanche will enable users to leverage DYPs advanced trading tools. DYP users will also benefit as they will continue earning yield on their crypto assets while taking advantage of Avalanches high throughput (4,500+ TPS), low fees, and sub-second finality. Mihai Nicusor , CEO of DYP, explained that the expansion gives the avalanche community enhanced functionality while strengthening the entire DeFi ecosystem. He reckoned that building a decentralized platform on Avalanche also enhanced security and transparency to DYP. What New Products Does DYPs Expansion Introduce? DYPs expansion to Avalanche , scheduled for completion in July 2021, will launch with yield farming, NFT dApp, and DYP Tools. These three products are designed to enrich DYPs diverse suite of features. The DYP yield farming product will launch with a DYP/AVAX pair on Pangolin, offering Avalanche liquidity providers the opportunity to contribute to AMM pools and earn yield in DYP tokens.



The unique platform will facilitate users to earn daily rewards in PNG, AVAX, or wrapped ETH by staking their tokens for durations of 3, 30, 60, and 90 days. Users who stake for longer durations will receive higher rewards. The DYP Tools product, scheduled to launch on Avalanche in Q3 2021, will offer users a functionality akin to DEX Tools. It will provide advanced features that make it easier to track yield data, whale transactions, tokens, and more, allowing investors to make informed decisions that maximize yields.

The DYP NFT dApp will provide a dynamic marketplace for NFTs on Avalanche. It will enable artists to mint, trade, showcase, and sell their creative digital artwork on an interoperable, highly scalable platform that boasts a fast-growing network of users. NFT enthusiasts will also benefit from the Avalanche ecosystems low fees, near-instant finality, and environmentally sound technology. DYP Integrates Chainlink Price Feeds The DYP team is also delighted to announce it has integrated its protocol with the industry-leading decentralized Chainlink Oracle network. The integration brings high-quality, tamper-proof price feeds to DYP, helping to secure yield farming data on Ethereum (ETH) and Binance Smart Chain (BSC) Mainnet. The Chainlink Price Feeds, sourced from premium data aggregators, will help secure ETH and BNB data values on DYP in a decentralized manner. Liquidity providers on DYP farming pools can now utilize the tamper-proof asset data to access the exact value in USD for their ETH and BNB rewards. The integration of the Chainlink Oracle solution on DYP means a lot for DeFi users. It will ensure broad market coverage by providing price data aggregated from multiple exchanges and volume-weighted to reflect current global market rates. The feeds are also resistant to flash loan attacks and are securely delivered on-chain for consumption by the DYP application. What Makes DYP a Unique Yield Farming Aggregator? DYP made history in the DeFi space by becoming the first and only protocol to reward users in ETH or BNB. Since its launch, DYP has paid out 8,455.24 ETH and 4,622.56 BNB worth over $20M to liquidity providers. The leading yield farming platform also offers its innovative Earn Vault that integrates the Compound protocol. Investors can tap the automated yield farming contract to earn higher yields than those offered on rival DeFi protocols. Furthermore, the DYP platform utilizes a unique anti-manipulation feature that guarantees fair access to the platforms liquidity by preventing whales from manipulating DYP prices to their advantage. Essentially, the feature converts yield earned into ETH or BNB, limiting the market impact from whales converting pool rewards into AVAX and other native platform tokens. Users can take advantage of the newly-launched DYP bridge to swap DYP tokens between the ETH and BSC networks. DYP also offers a host of other unique features, including an ETH mining pool and staking dApp with a referral system integrated. Media Contacts - Name: Teki Kolaneci - Digital Strategy Manager

Company: DYP FInance

Email: contact@dyp.finance

Website URL: https://dyp.finance



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[June 24, 2021] Elektrobit Unveils Comprehensive Solutions Offering for Intelligent Automotive Digital Cockpits

ERLANGEN, Germany, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Elektrobit (EB), a visionary global supplier of embedded and connected software products for the automotive industry, today announced a new offering providing car makers with solutions for intelligent automotive digital cockpits. EB Cockpit System Solutions support the development of next-generation in-vehicle user experiencesfrom specification, design and conception to production engineering and integration of hardware, software, and third-party applications. The new solutionsfirst used by Sony Group Corporation to support the development of its EV, VISION-S Prototypeallow car makers to offload the creation of custom cockpit designs to EB's team of experts. EB makes it possible for them to differentiate their vehicles without the investment and resources required to build them from scratch and maintain them over time. The automotive cockpit is transforming, allowing drivers and passengers to interact with their vehicles as easily and seamlessly as they do with smartphones and smart appliances. However, bringing the consumer experience into the cockpit isn't easy. It's a complex task involving larger displays, voice interaction, augmented reality, access to cloud services, data from sensors, and more. Specifying, designing, sourcing, and integrating the various hardware, software and services required to bring these systems to life is time-consuming, resource-intensive and costly.



EB brings together expertise from its decades as a pioneer and innovator in automotive software and services for established brands and startups, alike, to support customer requirements and deliver holistic and integrated cockpit solutions. EB's capabilities encompass hypervisor, over-the-air updates, UX design, UI development, natural language understanding and speech recognition. Its expertise extends to the sourcing and integration of advanced displays including state-of-the-art 3D glass and futuristic tech such as AM-OLED displays.

EB's work with hardware and third-party software vendors simplifies supply chain management for customers, as well. EB Cockpit System Solutions customers benefit from EB's strong network and established relationships, which include Amazon (Alexa Auto and Alexa Custom Assistant), Google (Android Automotive), Qualcomm, Infineon, Renesas, and BlackBerry QNX, to name a few. "EB Cockpit System Solutions allow car makers to bring digital innovations to life more quickly and cost-effectively by offloading the complexities of designing, sourcing and integrating the hardware and software elements to experts," said Christian Reinhard, CTO, EB. "With EB, car makers can work with a single trusted vendor that has extensive know-how, a far-reaching eco-system of partners, and a history of success." EB Cockpit System Solutions are responsible for supporting the development of the cockpit in the VISION-S Prototype. Based on Sony's vision for an intuitive and seamless in-car user experience, EB developed a cockpit system that brought together Sony's UX design, infotainment software and a high-performance computer for the cockpit with fully featured customer-specific software. EB also supported the integration of digital mirrors, 3D glass and a door-to-door display panel. "Software is key to our vision for the VISION-S, and we brought in experts including Elektrobit to make this vision a reality," said Izumi Kawanishi, Executive Vice President, Sony Group Corporation. "Elektrobit provided its industry-leading software products, plus development and integration expertise. This enabled us to bring a unique and highly intuitive experience in the VISION-S cockpit to come to life." For more information about EB Cockpit System Solutions, see: https://www.elektrobit.com/services/software-engineering/hmi/cockpit-system-solutions/ About Elektrobit (EB) Elektrobit (EB) is an award-winning and visionary global supplier of embedded and connected software products and services for the automotive industry. A leader in automotive software with over 30 years serving the industry, EB's software powers over one billion devices in more than 100 million vehicles and offers flexible, innovative solutions for car infrastructure software, connectivity & security, automated driving and related tools, and user experience. EB is a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental. For more information, visit us at elektrobit.com Media contacts Nicole Donhauser

Head of Marketing, Elektrobit

Mobile +49 173 532 03 27

Nicole.Donhauser@elektrobit.com In North America

Stephannie Depa

Breakaway Communications for EB

Mobile +1 530 864 0136

sdepa@breakawaycom.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elektrobit-unveils-comprehensive-solutions-offering-for-intelligent-automotive-digital-cockpits-301319301.html SOURCE Elektrobit (EB)

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[June 24, 2021] England Logistics Receives International Marketing Award

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- England Logistics, one of the nation's top freight brokerage firms, has been awarded one platinum and two gold Hermes Creative Awards. This international awards competition is administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) and recognizes creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, and design of materials. This is England Logistics' fifth year among the recipients. There were over 6,500 entries from throughout the United States, Canada, and dozens of other countries in the Hermes Creative Awards 2021 competition. England Logistics achieved a platinum award for the creation of its annual motivational theme video. The company's two gold awards were received for their company blog and the England Logistics Podcast Network. This is the fourth consecutive year the England Logistics' blog has received a Hermes Creative Award. This is the first such recognition for the company's podcast.



"I'm incredibly grateful for the talented individuals at England Logistics that elevate each other every day," stated Wendy Barclay, vice president of marketing and public relations. "Each marketing initiative involves the participation of our fellow team members. Our products are truly a result of the enthusiasm and collaborative nature of the entire England Logistics team." The Hermes Creative Awards are judged by AMCP industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry.

A complete list of winners can be viewed at https://enter.hermesawards.com/winners/. About England Logistics England Logistics offers a vast portfolio of non-asset based transportation solutions including full truckload services, intermodal, dry and temp controlled LTL, parcel, and complete supply chain management. The company was recently recognized among the 50 Best Companies to Sell For by Selling Power magazine, ranked in the Training Top 100 by Training magazine, and awarded multiple Stevie Awards by the American Business Awards. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, the company also has offices nationwide. For more information visit www.englandlogistics.com . CONTACT: Wendy Barclay

England Logistics

801.656.4718

wbarclay@englandlogistics.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/england-logistics-receives-international-marketing-award-301319450.html SOURCE England Logistics, Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Financial Advice: A Service Few Retail Bank Customers Ask For- But Many Love, J.D. Power Finds

Retail banks are finding the ultimate formula for customer engagement in a service few customers ask for, but many could benefit from: financial advice. According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study,SM released today, 69% of customers who receive advice from their banks act on it, but just 19% of customers say they are interested in receiving it. These findings are notably important in a challenging economic environment in which fewer than half of retail bank customers are financially healthy and just 38% pass a basic financial literacy test. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005044/en/ J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study (Graphic: Business Wire) The study, now in its fourth year, measures retail banking customer satisfaction with the advice and guidance provided by national and regional banks in the United States. This year, the study has been redesigned to also include a series of measures related to personal financial health and literacy. "Retail banks fill a critical role in customers' financial lives and, even though customers may not think to seek financial advice from their bank, they tend to respond extremely well when that advice is proactively offered," said Paul McAdam, senior director of banking intelligence at J.D. Power. "There is huge opportunity for retail banks to forge deeper relationships by helping customers with things like advice on investment and retirement planning, building savings to cover emergencies and techniques to ensure paying bills on time." Following are key findings of the 2021 study: Targeted, personalized financial advice drives gains in customer satisfaction: Overall customer satisfaction increases 229 points (on a 1,000-point scale) when customers are offered advice/guidance that completely meets their needs. Banks manage to achieve this 52% of the time, while 6% of customers who receive advice from their banks act on it.

Overall customer satisfaction increases 229 points (on a 1,000-point scale) when customers are offered advice/guidance that completely meets their needs. Banks manage to achieve this 52% of the time, while 6% of customers who receive advice from their banks act on it. The perk no one asked for: Despite the significant customer satisfaction gains associated with financial advice/guidance, just 19% of retail bank customers say they are very interested in receiving it and 33% say they are not at all interested in receiving advice or guidance from their bank. Customers are more likely to receive financial advice/guidance from family members, friends, Internet searches or personal finance websites than they are from their primary bank.

Despite the significant customer satisfaction gains associated with financial advice/guidance, just 19% of retail bank customers say they are very interested in receiving it and 33% say they are not at all interested in receiving advice or guidance from their bank. Customers are more likely to receive financial advice/guidance from family members, friends, Internet searches or personal finance websites than they are from their primary bank. Many customers need advice: Just 49% of retail bank customers are classified as financially healthy, while 11% fall into the overextended category. Another 13% are classified as stressed and 27% as vulnerable. Just 38% of bank customers pass a basic financial literacy test.

Just 49% of retail bank customers are classified as financially healthy, while 11% fall into the overextended category. Another 13% are classified as stressed and 27% as vulnerable. Just 38% of bank customers pass a basic financial literacy test. Big national banks lead the way on advice: The top four banks in the study are all national banks, earning high marks for their diverse advice offerings, the relevancy of advice/guidance and concern for customer needs while providing advice.



Study Ranking Bank of America ranks highest in customer satisfaction with retail banking advice with a score of 673. Citibank (640) ranks second. The industry average is 631.

The 2021 U.S. Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study includes responses of 5,491 retail bank customers in the United States who received any advice/guidance from their primary bank regarding relevant products and services or other financial needs in the past 12 months. The study was fielded in March 2021. For more information about the U.S. Retail Banking Advice Satisfaction Study, visit

https://www.jdpower.com/business/financial-services/jd-power-financial-health-and-advice. To view the online press release, please visit http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2021070. About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies. J.D. Power is headquartered in Troy, Mich., and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com. About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005044/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Florida School Districts Select Raptor Technologies as their Panic Alert Solution for Alyssa's Law Requirement

HOUSTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Raptor Technologies, the leading provider of school safety software, has been selected by seven Florida counties as the mobile panic alert provider to meet the Alyssa's Law requirement for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. The Polk, Sarasota, Charlotte, Nassau, Gadsden, Holmes, and Bradford County school districts have selected Raptor to provide a mobile panic alert system connecting school staff directly to first responders. These districts represent nearly 200,000 students and over 450 schools in counties that are currently using Raptor's market leading Visitor Management safety software. In addition, over 90 charter and private schools across the state have chosen Raptor Alert. Raptor expects to announce its selection by several more districts in advance of the 2021-2022 school year. Raptor Technologies selected by seven Florida counties as mobile panic alert provider to meet Alyssa's Law requirement Alyssa's Law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in June of 2020, requires all Florida public schools to have a mobile panic alarm system. The law was named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, who was killed inthe Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.



The Florida Department of Education selected Raptor Technologies' mobile panic alert, Raptor Alert, as one of the approved solutions for school districts to implement before the August 2021 deadline, as required by the Alyssa's Law mandate. With Raptor Alert, school staff will be able to use their mobile and desktop devices to send an emergency alert, directly notifying first responders as to the exact location and type of emergency. "We are honored to expand our school safety mission with seven important Florida districts, and we look forward to helping additional districts comply with Florida's 2021 Alyssa's Law mandate," stated Gray Hall, CEO, Raptor Technologies. "As the only approved provider in Florida focused solely on K-12 safety products, we consider Raptor Alert a crucial element of our School Safety Suite, enabling a rapid and informed response when the unthinkable happens."

Designed in collaboration with critical response and emergency services experts, Raptor Alert utilizes a simple, easy to use navigation interface specifically designed to be used under duress during an emergency. Teachers and staff can quickly initiate a response to a school or district-wide emergency from any web-enabled mobile or desktop device. Alerts are immediately delivered to a custom list of recipients, which can include administrators, staff members, and first responders. Additionally, Raptor Alert is fully compatible with all standard Public Safety Answering Point and emergency calling infrastructure. Raptor Alert is also RapidSOS Ready which accelerates the transfer of critical emergency alert data to 911 and first responders to enable faster, better-informed responses to school emergencies. Florida school districts have the option of selecting Raptor directly, or through Raptor's relationship with AT&T and Mutualink. Both options are pre-approved by the State of Florida as compliant with the Alyssa's Law mandate. To learn more about Alyssa's Law and Raptor Alert, visit www.raptortech.com/florida-alyssas-law. About Raptor Technologies

Raptor is driven by our mission to protect every child, every school, every day. Founded in 2002, Raptor has partnered with over 35,000 K-12 U.S. schools to provide integrated visitor, volunteer, and emergency management software and services that cover the complete spectrum of school safety. To learn more about Raptor Technologies, visit www.raptortech.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-school-districts-select-raptor-technologies-as-their-panic-alert-solution-for-alyssas-law-requirement-301318906.html SOURCE Raptor Technologies

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[June 24, 2021] Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express Complete TradeLens Integration, Join Rapidly Expanding Shipping Ecosystem to Further Enhance Trade Digitization

COPENHAGEN, Denmark and ARMONK, N.Y., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hapag-Lloyd and Singapore-based Ocean Network Express (ONE) Pte. Ltd. today announced they have completed integration onto the TradeLens platform, helping ensure a more timely and consistent view of logistics data for their containerized freight around the world. TradeLens is a neutral, third-party platform launched by IBM (NYSE:IBM) and A.P. Moller - Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) to help modernize the world's supply chain ecosystems and is run on IBM Cloud and IBM Blockchain. Since the completion of multiple pilot projects as well as the integration, Hapag-Lloyd and ONE, the world's fifth and sixth largest carriers respectively, are now working to help their clients and business partners across all major geographies benefit from TradeLens' ability to increase efficiency and improve access to information. They join foundation carriers A.P. Moller - Maersk, as well as CMA CGM and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) which both completed their pilots and integration in October 2020, and five other carriers already inputting shipping data into the TradeLens platform. Additionally, TradeLens continues to rapidly on-board new organizations from across the shipping industry, recently adding shippers and importers including Van den Ban Tires which use the platform to address back office inefficiencies and improve the visibility of cargo. Recently, KLog.co also became the first freight forwarder in Latin America to join TradeLens to improve efficiency, decrease operational costs and advance KLog.co's goal of opening up international trade to all companies in the region, no matter the size of the business. "TradeLens technology holds great potential to help enable the digitization of supply chain processes and documentation handling," said Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Llyd. "Our customers will clearly benefit from increased transparency, accuracy, speed and efficiency in their supply chains - leading to reduced cost."



The TradeLens ecosystem now includes more than 300 organizations  encompassing ten ocean carriers and data from more than 600 ports and terminals. TradeLens has already processed 42 million container shipments, nearly 2.2 billion events and some 20 million documents. In total, five of the top six global shipping carriers are now integrated onto the platform contributing to the digitization of documentation and automated workflows. "We believe TradeLens can bring together all parties in the supply chain to the digital ecosystem where customers can get seamless, transparent and secure sharing of shipping milestones and trade documents. With its open standards and open governance, it can benefit our customers and the entire industry to drive for digitalization and automation," said Jeremy Nixon, CEO of Ocean Network Express.

TradeLens offers shippers and freight forwarders direct, permissioned access to digitized, multi-carrier visibility and documentation processes through a single platform, reducing the need for paper-based processes and giving participants in global trade a single, up-to-date picture of the flow of their goods. Through the TradeLens platform, network participants can easily connect their key supply chain partners to the digital platform as well, allowing data and documents to be published and consumed more quickly and only among permissioned parties. "A huge barrier to global trade has long been the inability for customers to securely share crucial information regarding the status of goods in an easily accessible and transparent way," said Mike White, CEO GTD Solutions and Head of TradeLens. "By addressing this problem, the TradeLens ecosystem has grown rapidly, and the onboarding of Hapag-Lloyd and ONE along with their customers helps extend the value of TradeLens across the entire TradeLens ecosystem, enabling connectivity to two-thirds of global containerized freight for all customers and other permissioned parties through a single platform. All participants benefit from reduced manual processes, while also streamlining processes from automation and improved forecasting." About Hapag Lloyd

With a fleet of 241 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 1.7 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world's leading liner shipping companies. The Company has around 13,300 employees and 395 offices in 131 countries. Hapag-Lloyd has a container capacity of approximately 2.8 million TEU  including one of the largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers. A total of 121 liner services worldwide ensure fast and reliable connections between more than 600 ports on all the continents. Hapag-Lloyd is one of the leading operators in the Transatlantic, Middle East, Latin America and Intra-America trades. About Ocean Network Express (ONE)

Ocean Network Express (ONE) was incepted on July 7, 2017 following the liner service integrations of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K" LINE), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). The new entity functions from its global headquarters in Singapore, supported by regional headquarters in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil. ONE is the world's sixth largest container carrier with a fleet size of approximately 1.55 million TEU. Operating more than 210 vessels, it offers an expeditious and a reliable international network of over 120 services to 120 countries and beyond. ONE is a member of THE Alliance (THEA), a global ocean carrier consortium.

For more information, please visit www.one-line.com. About TradeLens

TradeLens is an open and neutral industry platform underpinned by blockchain technology, supported by major players across the global shipping industry. The platform promotes the efficient, transparent and secure exchange of information in order to foster greater collaboration and trust across the global supply chain. For more information, please visit www.tradelens.com Media Contacts: Nils Haupt

Hapag-Lloyd

nils.haupt@hlag.com Holli Haswell

IBM

hhaswell@us.ibm.com Kristoffer Meinert

A.P. Moller - Maersk

kristoffer.meinert@maersk.com Belle Loh

Ocean Network Express

belle.loh@one-line.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hapag-lloyd-and-ocean-network-express-complete-tradelens-integration-join-rapidly-expanding-shipping-ecosystem-to-further-enhance-trade-digitization-301319319.html SOURCE IBM

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[June 24, 2021] Highly Successful Coding & Technology Bootcamp Curriculum Can Help Address Needs from Skills Gaps to Unemployment

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 600 students have graduated from CNM Ingenuity's suite of award-winning Deep Dive Coding and Technology Bootcamps and 87 percent achieved their professional goals within six months. After the immersive 10-week programs, the average starting salary for a Deep Dive grad in New Mexico is nearly $50,000, and Deep Dive graduates have gone on to earn $82 million in total wages over the past seven years. To help other community colleges and organizations across the country offer similar opportunities, CNM Ingenuity, the enterprise arm of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), is now licensing the curriculum for its entire suite of technology bootcamps and offering in-depth support to ensure success. The Deep Dive Bootcamps include Fullstack Web Development, Data Science, Java + Android App Development, Internet of Things, and Digital Media. "Our vision is 'Changing Lives, Building Community,' and we want to empower other organizations to have the same impact," says Mary Gallivan, the Senior Director of Program Management at CNM Ingenuity (CMI).



In 2019, Albuquerque Economic Development named Deep Dive Coding as its winner of the Excellence in Workforce Development Award. The Air Force Research Lab New Mexico selected Deep Dive Coding as its 2020 Higher Ed Program of the Year for its New Mexico Excellence in STEM Awards. Gallivan says it can cost upwards of $250,000 to develop and implement just one bootcamp, so a licensing program is much more affordable and quicker to implement. Right now, a program created by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is offering $80,000 start-up grants to any New Mexico-based post-secondary institution that wants to license the Deep Dive Bootcamps. But the licensing option is available to colleges and organizations across the country.

In addition to proven and high-quality curriculum, the CNMI licensing program provides a host of additional tools. If an institution needs to hire instructors, CNMI provides everything from sample job descriptions to instructors on loan. Once instructors are in place, CNMI provides "train-the-trainer" workshops for new instructors and support staff so they can learn best practices. Finally, CNMI will also offer instructor mentorship during the first cohort. The first college to join in is Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces, NM, and it will be offering the Fullstack Web Development bootcamp in the fall. "For Dona Ana Community College's Workforce Development Department, licensing the CNMI Deep Dive Fullstack program and curriculum has been a great opportunity to develop our own bootcamp here in the southern part of the state," says Mary Ulrich, the Director for the Department of Workforce Development & Career Readiness at DACC. "We have really benefited from the wealth of experience that CNMI Deep Dive staff and instructors have shared with us through the onboarding and train-the-trainer process. As we plan our first cohort in October, the staff and instructors continue to offer support and guidance for a successful launch and implementation." The timing of the licensing program could not be better. The pandemic has shown that tech jobs are flexible and resilient, and the 10-week bootcamps are a quick, affordable, and efficient way to focus the workforce on job-ready career skills while maximizing return on time and money invested. "Bootcamps are a great way to help employers find high-quality employees, and a great way to change the entire trajectory of a person's life," says Andrea Sisneros-Wichman, the Program Director for Deep Dive at CNMI. In addition to Dona Ana Community College, there's already interest in the licensing program from colleges across the country. And because CNMI is licensing the curriculum for every bootcamp offering, the college expects the program to grow exponentially. "If you're a school or a community organization looking to address anything from the skills gap to unemployment, we can help jumpstart you on that path," Gallivan says. "You'll get to leverage all of our experience and tools, and we'll teach you how to be successful." View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highly-successful-coding--technology-bootcamp-curriculum-can-help-address-needs-from-skills-gaps-to-unemployment-301319668.html SOURCE Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)

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[June 24, 2021] Incedo partners with Aurochs Software to bring world class sales tools and services for pharmaceutical commercial operations to life science clients

ISELIN, N.J., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Incedo Inc. and Aurochs Software today announced a long-term strategic partnership to provide world class tools and services to life sciences clients in the commercial space. The partnership will complement the depth of the Incedo services portfolio and provide tools to meet the growing needs of life sciences clients globally. Aurochs' flagship tools combined with Incedo's deep life sciences data and business expertise will provide the necessary support to clients in the life sciences commercial space. Incedo will support global implementations of Aurochs flagship Incentive Compensation Solution suite and will also provide clients support to manage their ongoing operations, analytics and reporting needs. This partnership will help clients evolve the way they manage their sales incentives and deliver end-to-end automation without compromising on flexibility, timeliness and quality of incentive pay-outs. Aurochs cloud native platforms complement Incedo's extensive cloud practice with deep Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure partnerships which aid implementation in a client's cloud environments. The Incedo and Aurochs teams are led by life sciences commercial operations leaders with decades of extensive consulting experience working with commercial organizations of leading companies. Shashank Arya, Incedo's Chief Delivery Officer said, "I am excited to partner with Aurochs software, so that we can now also bring world class incentive compensation tools to our life sciences clients across geographies." Aurochs Software's Amit Jain, Co-founder  Director of Operations, mentioned, "With this partnership, our services will now have global reach, scale and can unlock new possibilities for our cloud capabilities in the commercial pharma domain."



Aurochs comprehensive solution suite consists of cloud platforms that support the entire sales incentive process flow: Incentive Manager: Calculation engine with an intuitive interface, standard IC plan components, metrics, data structures, quality, approval and auditing framework, modelling capability, multi-country deployments with cross-country reporting

Field Engagement Manager: Multi-device compatible web reporting platform out-of-the-box performance report, "what-if" calculator, internationalization, integrated acknowledgment /approval/ operational workflows, distribution and communication boards

Quota Manager: Quota/goal setting tool with built-in quota setting methodologies using sales and non-sales based parameters and consultative workflow with test territory-product level goals using out-of-the-box analytics and visualizations

MBO Manager: Integrated self-service module to set, track rate and approve non-sales based subjective KPIs based on guard rails with built-in discussion / commenting capability

IC Health Tracker: Plan fairness audit tool to perform assessment of IC plans using descriptive summary statistics, visualizations, industry standard performance indicators

Roster Manager: Manage sales personnel, territories, alignments including flexible work arrangements, temporary assignments, terminations and leave tracking About Incedo

Incedo is a US based digital transformation consulting, data science and analytics, and technology services and solutions firm. We help our clients achieve competitive advantage through End-to-End Digital Transformation and work across Financial Services, Telecom, Life Science and Healthcare and Product Engineering sectors. Our uniqueness lies in bringing together strong engineering, data science and design capabilities with deep domain understanding, and blurring the boundaries between services and products to maximize business impact from emerging technologies. Incedo has over 2500 professionals across 7 offices in the US, Canada, and India with a focus on Pharmaceutical data management, reporting, analytics and data science capabilities combined with strong AWS and Microsoft Azure partnerships. Incedo is an AWS Advance consulting partner with Migration competency and a Microsoft Azure Gold partner. About Aurochs Aurochs is a new age company that provides cloud platforms, information management solutions and advanced analytics services specifically for the life sciences industry. Aurochs' flagship IC Solution Suite is a comprehensive suite with the capability to manage different needs of incentive program management from setting sales targets/quotas, managing non-sales objectives, calculating field sales incentives, providing access to sales and pay-out performance, engaging salesforce and proactively performing post hoc IC plan analytics for timely actions. Aurochs is headquartered in Pune, India and has more than 50 employees all based out of India. Aurochs has global clients based out of the US and Europe. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/incedo-partners-with-aurochs-software-to-bring-world-class-sales-tools-and-services-for-pharmaceutical-commercial-operations-to-life-science-clients-301319677.html SOURCE Incedo Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Kerry W. Kirby Honored With Titan Entrepreneur Award for Leading Technology Innovation in Today's Changing World

NEW ORLEANS, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 365 Connect, the leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident service platforms for the multifamily housing industry, announced today that its founder and CEO, Kerry W. Kirby, has received a Titan Entrepreneur Award. This prestigious, global award recognizes Kirby for his unwavering commitment to leading technology innovation in today's changing world. The Titan Entrepreneur Awards brings attention to global businesses and the entrepreneurs that are the driving forces behind them. Administered by the International Awards Associate (IAA), winning entries were selected by a worldwide judging panel of acclaimed entrepreneurs. This year's competition boasted entries from 28 countries including Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, and many more. Kenjo Ong, the CEO of IAA explained, "We are excited to celebrate the remarkable, Titan-like achievements of a wide range of entrepreneur-driven organizations from all industries, as we recognize their efforts to better both workspaces and company cultures. As we watch these visionaries navigate through numerous adversities and hardships, we aim to inspire and embolden them by serving as an advocate of integrity for all ntrepreneurs worldwide."



Titan Entrepreneur Award recipient, Kerry W. Kirby is a renowned entrepreneur, technology innovator, and philanthropist. He is also the founder and CEO of 365 Connect, an award-winning technology firm serving the multifamily housing industry. Kirby propelled 365 Connect from a scrappy, bootstrapped startup to a globally recognized company, which has won an array of highly acclaimed awards, including the esteemed Louisiana Governor's Technology Award. Alongside the company's many achievements, Kirby has served as a guest lecturer, featured speaker, and panelist at numerous universities and conferences, in addition to co-hosting an award-winning webcast series, which has reached over 1 million listeners from around the world. He is highly recognized for his philanthropic initiatives, in which he and his wife, Melinda M. Kirby, were recently acknowledged with a global Communitas Award. This award further established the couple's dedication to educational, healthcare, and equality programs that focus on accelerating progress for all people.

"I am proud to be an integral part of our international business community and honored to be recognized beside some of the most visionary entrepreneurs across the globe with this distinguished award," Kirby added. "Together, we are proving to the world that entrepreneurs are a vital part of a unique ecosystem that is supportive, responsive, and thrives on fostering the next generation of change-makers." ABOUT 365 CONNECT: 365 Connect is the leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident service platforms for the multifamily housing industry. Founded in 2003 with an unwavering commitment to delivering an integrated suite of comprehensive technology solutions, 365 Connect empowers property managers to accelerate conversions, simplify transactions, and elevate services. Learn how 365 Connect is leveraging its legacy of continuous innovation to solve tomorrow's challenges today at 365connect.com. Related Images 365-connect.jpg

365 CONNECT

365 Connect is the leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident service platforms for the multifamily housing industry. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kerry-w-kirby-honored-with-titan-entrepreneur-award-for-leading-technology-innovation-in-todays-changing-world-301319066.html SOURCE 365 Connect

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[June 24, 2021] Megawatt appoints Elmore Limited to Lead Fieldwork at Prime Australian Rare Earth & Uranium Projects

VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Megawatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. (CSE: MEGA) (FSE: WR20) (OTC PINK: WALRF) (the "Company" or "Megawatt") is pleased to announce that geological consultancy, Elmore Limited of Perth Australia has been appointed to take the lead in developing the Artic Fox and Isbjorn properties in Northern Territory, Australia. Legacy desktop work has verified the two properties are prospective for rare earth elements, especially neodymium and praseodymium, and uranium oxide mineralisation. Arctic Fox is contiguous and along strike from the world-class Nolans Bore REE project, which is set for commissioning in mid-2022 and has a JORC Compliant Mineral Resource. Additionally, Isbjorn is contiguous to the advanced Charley Creek REE project. Internal review of recent reports by Adamas Intelligence on rare earth elements (REEs) and Canaccord Genuity on uranium have indicated favorable forward demand-supply dynamics, resulting in potential upward price pressure over the balance of the decade. Much of the anticipated incremental demand for REEs and uranium arises from green stimulus, decarbonization polices and increasing uptake of electric vehicles. Geological consultancy appointed Megawatt has appointed ASX-listed Elmore Limited (ASX: ELE), an experienced geological consultancy and mining contract processor to manage the inaugural exploration campaign across the Artic Fox and Isbjorn properties. Elmore expects the campaign to take 8-10 days in total and use a team of four made up of geologists and technicians.The team will undertake geological mapping and comprehensive sampling across prospective areas within both properties. Further, the team would use helicopter and follow up ground support to ensure the campaigns are completed most efficiently.



Review of assay results once fully analysed, may lead to formulation of targets for test-drilling and further follow up development work. David Thornley-Hall Chief Executive Officer commented: "We are very encouraged by the outlook for REEs and uranium and excited to work with Elmore as our Northern Territory geological consultancy."

Qualified Person Mr. Geoffrey Reed (MAusMM (CP)) (MAIG), Consultant for the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure or Mineral Projects and has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this press release. About MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. MegaWatt is a British Columbia based company involved in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. The Company holds a 100% undivided interest, subject to a 1.5% NSR on all base, rare earth elements and precious metals, in the Cobalt Hill Property, consisting of eight mineral claims covering an area of approximately 1,727.43 hectares located in the Trail Creek Mining Division in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Additionally, the Company has acquired a 60% interest in a company that indirectly holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in two prospective silver-zinc projects in Australia, being the Tyr Silver Project and the Century South Silver-Zinc Project (see press release dated August 13, 2020), an indirect 100% interest (subject to a 1% NSR) in and to certain mining tenements in Northern Territory and New South Wales, Australia prospective for nickel-cobalt-scandium and rare earths and a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in and to the Route 381 Lithium Property, comprised of 40 mineral claims located in James Bay Territory, north of Matagami in the Province of Quebec, covering 2,126 hectares (see press release dated February 3, 2021). Investors can learn more about the Company and team at https://megawattmetals.com. The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to, statements relating to the trading of the Company's common shares on the Exchange and the Company's use of proceeds and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/megawatt-appoints-elmore-limited-to-lead-fieldwork-at-prime-australian-rare-earth--uranium-projects-301319290.html SOURCE MegaWatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp.

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[June 24, 2021] MSCI 2021 Market Classification Review

MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, announced today the results of the MSCI 2021 Market Classification Review. "It is positive to see that most of the markets which imposed temporary accessibility restrictions to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to normal operations," said Dr. Dimitris Melas, Global Head of Index Research and Product Development and Chairman of the MSCI Index Policy Committee. "For the markets that continue to maintain some measure of restrictions due to COVID-19, with no explicit guidelines on when such restrictions will be lifted, their Market Accessibility assessment may be affected negatively." MSCI Argentina Index reclassification to Standalone Markets status MSCI announced today that it will reclassify the MSCI Argentina Index from Emerging Markets to Standalone Markets status in one step coinciding with the November 2021 Semi-Annual Index Review. "Since September 2019, international institutional investors have been subject to the imposition of capital controls in the Argentina equity market," said Craig Feldman, Global Head of Index Management Research and member of the MSCI Index Policy Committee. "Despite the fact that the MSCI Argentina Index remains replicable given that only foreign listings are eligible for inclusion to the index, the prolonged severity of capital controls with no resolution is not in line with the Market Accessibility criteria of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. This has led to the reclassification of the MSCI Argentina Index from Emerging Markets to Standalone Markets status." The accessibility report for Argentina is now reflected in the MSCI 2021 Global Market Accessibility Review report available at https://www.msci.com/market-classification. Consultation on potential reclassification of the MSCI Pakistan Index to Frontier Markets status MSCI announced today the launch of a consultation on a proposal for potential reclassification of the MSCI Pakistan Index from Emerging Markets to Frontier Markets status in one step coinciding with the November 2021 Semi-Annual Index Review. Although the Pakistani equity market meets the requirements for Market Accessibility under the classification framework for Emerging Markets, it no longer meets the standards for Size and Liquidity. More specifically, index continuity rules, as described in section 2.4 of the MSCI Global Investable Market Indexes Methodology, have been applied since the November 2018 Semi-Annual Index Review to artificially maintain the required three constituents in the MSCI Pakistan Index. Additionally, since the November 2019 Semi-Annual Index Review, there have been no securities in the MSCI Pakistan equity universe that meet Emerging Markets Size and Liquidity criteria within the MSCI Market Classification Framework. MSCI welcomes feedback from market participants on this reclassification proposal until August 31, 2021 and will announce the results of the consultation on or before September 7, 2021. Implications of Further Deterioration in the Availability of Investment Instruments Low ratings continue to persist for the Availability of Investment Instruments in the Market Accessibility criteria for Brazil, China (A shares), India, Korea and Turkey. Global market participants expect that stock exchanges should not directly or indirectly restrict the Availability of Investment Instruments domestically or globally. However, some exchanges restrict use of their data to create certain derivative works such as indexes and investment instruments based on such indexes (including ETFs, futures and options contracts listed on any exchange in the world, and other types of funds and derivative instruments). As a reminder, any anti-competitive policy put forth by any exchange in any market in the world that restricts the Availability of Investment Instruments and results in deterioration of the accessibility of an equity market could potentially lead to a downgrade in market classification. Exchanges and regulators should note that anti-competitive policies or practices that restrict the availability of indexed investment instruments have become increasingly problematic to global investors. Market Accessibility in Nigeria Market Accessibility issues continue to be significantly problematic within the Nigerian equity market. The repatriation of funds from investments in Nigerian equities remains extremely difficult for foreign investors due to low liquidity in the Nigerian foreign exchange market. While MSCI will continue to apply the special treatment tat has been in place since May 2020 to reduce the number of potential changes in relevant indexes, the absence of significant and timely improvement in this market may result in the reclassification of the MSCI Nigeria Index to Standalone Markets status.



MSCI continues to welcome feedback on the level of Market Accessibility of the Nigerian equity market and would consult with market participants about the details and timing of the implementation of any reclassification. -Ends-

About MSCI

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data, and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com.

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MSCI ESG Research LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and a subsidiary of MSCI Inc. Except with respect to any applicable products or services from MSCI ESG Research, neither MSCI nor any of its products or services recommends, endorses, approves or otherwise expresses any opinion regarding any issuer, securities, financial products or instruments or trading strategies and MSCI's products or services are not intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such. Issuers mentioned or included in any MSCI ESG Research materials may include MSCI Inc., clients of MSCI or suppliers to MSCI, and may also purchase research or other products or services from MSCI ESG Research. MSCI ESG Research materials, including materials utilized in any MSCI ESG Indexes or other products, have not been submitted to, nor received approval from, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory body.

Any use of or access to products, services or information of MSCI requires a license from MSCI. MSCI, Barra, RiskMetrics, IPD and other MSCI brands and product names are the trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of MSCI or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) was developed by and is the exclusive property of MSCI and Standard & Poor's. "Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)" is a service mark of MSCI and Standard & Poor's.

MIFID2/MIFIR notice: MSCI ESG Research LLC does not distribute or act as an intermediary for financial instruments or structured deposits, nor does it deal on its own account, provide execution services for others or manage client accounts. No MSCI ESG Research product or service supports, promotes or is intended to support or promote any such activity. MSCI ESG Research is an independent provider of ESG data, reports and ratings based on published methodologies and available to clients on a subscription basis. We do not provide custom or one-off ratings or recommendations of securities or other financial instruments upon request.

For information about how MSCI collects and uses personal data, please refer to our Privacy Notice at https://www.msci.com/privacy-pledge. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624006022/en/

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[June 24, 2021] NASA Administrator Announces New Members of Leadership Team

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced four new additions to the agency's senior staff Thursday. Shahra Anderson Lambert will serve as senior advisor for engagement and Bale Dalton will serve as the deputy chief of staff. Nelson also announced Bryan Gulley as media relations specialist and Justin Weiss as deputy press secretary. Lambert comes to NASA after serving as director of strategic initiatives for Nicole "Nikki" Fried, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Prior to that, Lambert spent 15 years as a regional director for Nelson during his service as a U.S. senator from Florida. She began her career working for then Sen. Bob Graham of Florida as a constituent advocate in his Tallahassee office. Lambert then transitioned to state government, working for State Rep. Bruce Antone of Orlando as his chief of legislative affairs. She received a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Mercer University and a master's degree in Spanish and Latin American and Caribbean studies from Florida State University. A native f Orlando, Florida, Bale Dalton was previously director of Navy programs at Air Center Helicopters, Inc., an expeditionary aviation services provider headquartered in Burleson, Texas.



Dalton served as military legislative assistant to Sen. Nelson and as a foreign service officer at the Department of State working in the Office of Global Partnerships. Dalton is a commissioned naval officer and designated Naval Aviator, with multiple deployments in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Now a reservist, he previously commanded the special operations support squadron HSC-85 and continues service as commander of Training Airwing Five Reserve Component. Dalton graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in ocean engineering, and from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master of Public Policy in international and global affairs. He is a Master of Business Administration candidate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Bryan Gulley joins NASA after nearly two decades of service in the United States Senate. He spent time as the communications director for the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the Special Committee on Aging, serving under the leadership of Sen. Nelson. Prior to his committee work, Gulley served as press secretary in Nelson's Senate office. More recently, Gulley served as a senior analyst with Imbue Group, supporting the Department of Defense's Office of Small Business Programs and the Defense Production Act Title III program. Gulley received a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of South Carolina. Justin Weiss most recently served as communications director for U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Weiss worked in the congressman's personal office and partnered closely with the committee. Previously, he was employed by the public relations firm Rational 360 to run campaigns for advocacy coalitions, trade associations, and nonprofits. Prior to that role, Weiss worked in public affairs at Forbes Tate Partners and federal advocacy at LNE Group. Weiss is an Ohio native and earned a bachelor's degree in both communication and French from Denison University. For more information on NASA and agency activities, visit: https://www.nasa.gov View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-administrator-announces-new-members-of-leadership-team-301319776.html SOURCE NASA

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[June 24, 2021] Northshore Area Board of REALTORS Select Remine's Docs+ to Bring Best-in-Class Transaction Management to Louisiana

Remine, a leading real estate technology company, announced today that Northshore Area Board of REALTORS (NABOR) has selected Docs+ Transaction Management for its more than 800 REALTOR subscribers. Remine's Docs+ Transaction Management will both modernize and simplify the Transaction Management process for NABOR's brokers and agents. By utilizing Remine's industry leading Transaction Management tool, Docs+ users will experience a plethora of solutions in a single platform, including a sophisticated clause system, fully functional PDF mark-up tool, change/edit highlighting and tracking, document templating and distribution, brokerage branding for forms and email, checklist builder and distribution, and impersonation for agent collaboration. "Partnering with Remine to offer Docs+ Transaction Management continues our mission to provide industry leading technology to support the everchanging needs of our brokers and agents," said Cynthia Tarver, Association Executive at NABOR. "The Docs+ Transaction Management solution save agents and brokers valuable time so they can focus on offering their clients exceptional customer service and a seamless real estate transaction."



We are thrilled to collaborate with NABOR to bring best-in-class transaction management technology to the state of Louisiana, explained Tim Dain, VP and GM of MLS at Remine. "Our new Docs+ Transaction Management continues to win on price, performance, and modernity when placed head-to-head against the competition." Docs+ Transaction Management is expected to be available to NABORS subscribers in Q4 of 2021. About Remine

Remine is transforming MLS software solutions. We offer a complete MLS 2.0 operating system for MLSs which includes Remine Pro (a full front-end operating system), Add/Edit, Database, and RESO Platinum API solutions. In addition, Remine offers SSO Dashboard, Docs+ Transaction Management, and MLS Website. Remine serves the majority of REALTORS in the US - over 1,000,000 real estate professionals subscribe via their MLS or Board or Association of REALTORS. We are headquartered in Northern Virginia with remote employees across the US and in Canada. For more information visit www.remine.com. Remine is ISO 27001 Certified. About Northshore Area Board of Realtors Northshore Area Board of REALTORS (NABOR) is a member-based trade association established to assist its members in the business of real estate. We provide our members with discounts, continuing education, professional development, and networking opportunities. We are a local board of REALTORS. Real estate licensees who join Northshore Area Board of REALTORS also become members of the state association and the National Association of REALTORS. Our mission is to empower REALTORS as they preserve, protect, and advance the right to real property for all. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005356/en/

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[June 24, 2021] OSE Immunotherapeutics Reports on its 2021 Virtual Combined General Shareholder's Meeting

NANTES, France, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSE Immunotherapeutics (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE) today announced that all the resolutions submitted to a vote at the Combined General Shareholders Meeting were approved as proposed by OSE Immunotherapeutics Board of Directors.

The Company conducted the General Meeting virtually following the provisions of the French ordinances related to COVID-19, dated March 25, 2020, extended and amended by order no. 2020-1497 of December 2, 2020, decree no. 2020-418 of April 10, 2020, extended and amended by decree no. 2020-1614 of December 18, 2020, and decree no. 2021-255 of March 9, 2021. The results of each resolution voted on can be found on the Companys website in the Investor  General Shareholders Meeting section: https://ose-immuno.com/en/general-shareholders-meetings/. A total of 123 shareholders voted by mail, in accordance with the terms and conditions indicated in the notice of the Meeting. In total, the shareholders who voted hold 9,414,580 shares (representing 51,58 % of the share capital) and 14,198,441 voting rights (representing 59,36 % of the voting rights). During the virtual meeting, Dominique Costantini, Chairman, and Alexis Peyroles, Chief Executive Officer of OSE Immunotherapeutics, provided an overview of the Companys latest advances and growth strategy. Shareholders approved the renewal of the term of office of Dominique Costantini, which expired at this General Meeting, for three years and also approved the appointment of Elsy Boglioli as a new independent Director. Dominique Costantini, Chairman of OSE Immunotherapeutics, commented: I warmly thank the shareholders for their renewed confidence. I extend my thanks to the Board members for their commitment to the Companys progress and successful achievements. Today, we are delighted to welcome Elsy who brings extensive experience in both leading pharma and biotech companies and corporate strategy to enrich the boards expertise and support the Company during this critical period of accelerated growth. Elsy Boglioli added: OSEs portfolio is unique, spanning across immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation, and addressing both proven and novel targets. I am honoured to be joining the companys board in this exciting phase when multiple assets are progressing along their clinical development path, and I look forward to working with the management team to continue to establish OSE as a recognized, worldwide leader in immunotherapy. Elsy Boglioli is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Up, a healthcare advisory firm supporting companies in strong scale up or transformation phases, mainly in the field of innovative therapies. She has far-reaching expertise and a broad network within the pharma, biotech and medtech industries. She graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, France, holds a masters degree in economy and management from the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain and also completed a college degree in immuno-oncology at Institut Gustave Roussy in Paris, France. An audio webcast of the 2021 Combined General Meeting is available on the Company's website: http://ose-immuno.com/en/general-shareholders-meetings/



ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics

OSE Immunotherapeutics is an integrated biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The companys immunology research and development platform is focused on three areas: T-cell-based vaccination, Immuno-Oncology (focus on myeloid targets), Auto-immunity & Inflammation. Its balanced first-in-class clinical and preclinical portfolio has a diversified risk profile: Vaccine platform

Tedopi  (innovative combination of neoepitopes): the companys most advanced product; positive results for Step-1 of the Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer post checkpoint inhibitor failure.

In Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer (TEDOPaM), sponsor GERCOR

In Phase 2 in ovary cancer (TEDOVA), sponsor ARCAGY-GINECO

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, accrual of new patients in TEDOPaM should restart in 2021

In Phase 2 in non-small cell lung cancer in combination with nivolumab, sponsor Italian foundation FoRT

(innovative combination of neoepitopes): the companys most advanced product; positive results for Step-1 of the Phase 3 trial (Atalante 1) in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer post checkpoint inhibitor failure. In Phase 2 in pancreatic cancer (TEDOPaM), sponsor GERCOR In Phase 2 in ovary cancer (TEDOVA), sponsor ARCAGY-GINECO Due to the COVID-19 crisis, accrual of new patients in TEDOPaM should restart in 2021 In Phase 2 in non-small cell lung cancer in combination with nivolumab, sponsor Italian foundation FoRT CoVepiT: a prophylactic second-generation vaccine against COVID-19, developed using SARS-CoV-2 optimized epitopes against multi variants. Positive preclinical and human ex vivo results in August 2020. In clinical Phase 1.

Immuno-oncology platform BI 765063 (OSE-172, anti-SIRPa mAb on SIRPa/CD47 pathway): developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim in advanced solid tumors; positive Phase 1 results in monotherapy and BI 765063 dose escalation study ongoing in combination with Ezabenlimab (PD-1 antagonist).

(OSE-172, anti-SIRPa mAb on SIRPa/CD47 pathway): developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim in advanced solid tumors; positive Phase 1 results in monotherapy and BI 765063 dose escalation study ongoing in combination with Ezabenlimab (PD-1 antagonist). CLEC-1 (novel myeloid checkpoint target): identification of mAb antagonists of CLEC-1 blocking the Dont Eat Me signal that increase both tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages and antigen capture by dendritic cells.

(novel myeloid checkpoint target): identification of mAb antagonists of CLEC-1 blocking the Dont Eat Me signal that increase both tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages and antigen capture by dendritic cells. BiCKI: bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component anti-PD-1 (OSE-279) combined with new immunotherapy targets; 2nd generation of PD-(L)1 inhibitors to increase antitumor efficacity.

Auto-immunity and inflammation platform FR104 (anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): Licensing partnership agreement with Veloxis in the organ transplant market; ongoing Phase 1/2 in renal transplant (sponsored by the Nantes University Hospital); Phase 2-ready asset in a niche indication in autoimmune diseases.

(anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody): Licensing partnership agreement with Veloxis in the organ transplant market; ongoing Phase 1/2 in renal transplant (sponsored by the Nantes University Hospital); Phase 2-ready asset in a niche indication in autoimmune diseases. OSE-127/S95011 (humanized monoclonal antibody targeting IL-7 receptor): developed in partnership with Servier; positive Phase 1 results; in Phase 2 in ulcerative colitis (OSE sponsor) and an independent Phase 2a planned in Sjogrens syndrome (Servier sponsor).

(humanized monoclonal antibody targeting IL-7 receptor): developed in partnership with Servier; positive Phase 1 results; in Phase 2 in ulcerative colitis (OSE sponsor) and an independent Phase 2a planned in Sjogrens syndrome (Servier sponsor). OSE-230 (ChemR23 agonist mAb): first-in-class therapeutic agent with the potential to resolve chronic inflammation by driving affected tissues to tissue integrity.

For more information: https://ose-immuno.com/en/

Click and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

https://twitter.com/OSEIMMUNO

https://www.linkedin.com/company/10929673 Contacts OSE Immunotherapeutics

Sylvie Detry

sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com

+33 153 198 757 Media

U.S. Media: LifeSci Communications

Darren Opland, Ph.D.

darren@lifescicomms.com

+1 646 627 8387



French Media: FP2COM

Florence Portejoie

fportejoie@fp2com.fr

+33 607 768 283 Investor Relations

Thomas Guillot

thomas.guillot@ose-immuno.com

+33 607 380 431



Guillaume van Renterghem  LifeSci Advisors

gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com

+41 76 735 01 31 Forward-looking statements

This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate.

These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as expect, anticipate, believe, target, plan, or estimate, their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on 15 April 2021, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2020, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements.



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[June 24, 2021] QuestionPro Survey Finds Two-Thirds of Americans Believe in UFOs

AUSTIN, Texas, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a national poll of 500 adults in the United States by online survey and research leader QuestionPro , 65 percent, or two-thirds, of Americans believe that UFOs have made contact with Earth. Nearly half believe the government is not telling Americans everything.

In the wake of Senate hearings on UFOs, QuestionPro set out to find what Americans believe. The short survey also found the following: Nearly 70 percent of Americans believe in life in other parts of the universe.





Thirty two percent of respondents believe that UFOs are best defined as alien spacecraft while 54 percent define them as a mysterious object in the sky that is hard to explain. Another 14 percent consider it space junk.





And, in good news for politicians, 62 percent believe studying UFOs is a good use of the governments time and resources.





Only 16 percent believe the U.S. government has been completely open and hoest about UFOs, while 25 percent say it has only sort of disclosed enough.





Given that a large majority of Americans believe that there is life elsewhere in the universe, and that UFOs have visited Earth, its not surprising to see support for government to study the issue and a belief that the government should be disclosing more, said Dan Fleetwood, President of Research & Insights at QuestionPro. The data also shows a healthy respect for the unknown  that there is mystery in the universe. The survey of U.S. consumers was fielded June 16, 2021 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The survey was conducted using technology and multi-method behavioral fraud detection to verify respondents, including 80+ different security variables which accomplish the following: detection and rejection of suspicious IP addresses; digital fingerprinting; Captcha bot detection; event streaming and analysis, copy paste detection and translation of text detection. Mouse movements on desktops were also tracked.

About QuestionPro

Founded in 2006, QuestionPro is a global provider of online survey and research services that help companies make better decisions through data. From free consumer accounts to robust enterprise-level research, we offer tools for the creation, distribution, and analysis of surveys. We also offer platforms for polling, mobile research and data visualization. Fortune 100 companies rely on us to help unlock insights about customers, employees and the marketplace. With offices in the US, Mexico, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and India, we offer customers 24-7 access to highly trained support specialists and engineers. More information is available at www.questionpro.com .

Media Contact John Williams, Scoville PR for QuestionPro 206.660.5503, jwilliams@scovillepr.com

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[June 24, 2021] Ray Pawlicki, Previously CIO at Biogen and Novartis, Joins PrecisionLife as Executive Chair to Accelerate Strategic Expansion

PrecisionLife Limited, a global healthcare combinatorial analytics company, announces that it has appointed Ray Pawlicki as Executive Chair to the Board of Directors. Widely recognized as a leader in informatics across pharma and biotech, he will work closely with the PrecisionLife Board and CEO Steve Gardner to help steer the strategic growth of the company. Mr. Pawlicki's appointment underlines PrecisionLife's ambition to be a major player driving the next wave of precision medicine. Its unique combinatorial analytics platform generates more insights into the complex biology of chronic diseases, underpinning applications to find new treatment opportunities for patients' unmet medical needs. Following an initial career in major corporates such as Pepsi Co, Mr. Pawlicki joined the healthcare industry in 2000 to bring technology and digital innovation to pharma. From 2008 - 2014 he served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for fast-growing Biogen Inc., where he was responsible for the creation of a new corporate strategy that included a technology pillar leveraging large datasets and leading-edge analytics to enable new drug discovery and launch strategies. This followed eight years with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, initially in the USA and then four years as Global CIO in Basel, Switzerland where he established data and digital innovation as a strategic business competence during the period that the biopharma sector embraced the promise of genomics and cloud computing. Mr. Pawlicki is based on the East Coast of the US near the Boston biotech cluster and currently pursues an active portfolio career. He serves on the Board of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and on the Board of Trustees for UMass Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health systems in Massachusetts, as well as several start-up board roles including MedRythms, Nanowear and Rockstep. He has a degree in Computer Science from Montclair University and has participated in extensive executive education programs at Harvard University andIMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.



Steve Gardner, CEO of PrecisionLife, said "Ray's appointment significantly strengthens the PrecisionLife Board and brings deep understanding of how digital technology can transform healthcare along with vital North American experience and perspective. There are very few individuals of his caliber and experience, and I look forward to working together. We have achieved significant milestones demonstrating the accuracy of our novel combinatorial approach in elucidating disease biology and patient risk. As we accelerate our commercialization initiatives, Ray's perspective will be invaluable in shaping our future strategy, building value for our shareholders and enabling us to fulfil the company's enormous potential." Mr. Pawlicki's appointment follows an extensive international search to find a chairperson with a strong technological background and substantial senior experience in both the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

Raymond Pawlicki said "I am delighted to join PrecisionLife at this critical juncture in the company's evolution. I am passionate about the significant impact that accurate and high-resolution patient stratification can deliver to the biopharma and healthcare industry. I believe PrecisionLife's leading edge and unique approach to precision medicine can make a major contribution to patients. I have seen how digital innovation can be a major driver of change, and I look forward to working with the PrecisionLife team to create value, make a difference through more precise treatments and to help the healthcare industry further embrace new technologies." -ends- About PrecisionLife PrecisionLife is headquartered near Oxford, UK and has operations in Aalborg and Copenhagen, Denmark, Warsaw, Poland and Cambridge, MA, USA. The company's unique combinatorial analytics platform generates more insights into the complex biology of chronic diseases, driving the next wave of genomic and precision medicine applications and finding new treatment opportunities for patients' unmet medical needs. PrecisionLife partners with disease charities, clinical research groups, CROs, best of breed technology providers and pharma, biotech and healthcare companies to improve our knowledge of chronic disease biology. PrecisionLife operates an innovation engine that translates proprietary disease biology insights into new drug discovery programs, more successful and cost-effective clinical trials and more personalized clinical decision support tools. For more information see https://precisionlife.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn (News - Alert) (precisionlifeai) and Twitter (News - Alert) (@precisionlifeAI) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005048/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Red Wing Shoes Takes a Major Step Towards End-to-end Omnichannel Order Fulfillment with Tecsys Software

Global footwear company adds traction to its digital commerce and B2B2C channels with investment in SaaS supply chain execution software. MONTREAL, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ -- Tecsys Inc. (TSX: TCS), an industry-leading supply chain management software company, today announced that Red Wing Shoes, a Minnesota-based global boot company, has implemented Tecsys' order management software to power its omnichannel distribution operations and enable unified commerce. The Tecsys platform will serve as a central cog in the retailer's order fulfillment capabilities, orchestrating incoming orders from front-end systems and giving Red Wing Shoes customers a streamlined cross-channel experience. Red Wing Shoes brands are distributed to more than 110 countries in an immersive multichannel environment of 525+ Red Wing retail stores, third-party partners, and owned e-commerce platforms. Previously, Red Wing Shoes relied on multiple siloed buying channels that limited the company's ability to provide seamless shopping experiences between channels. Tecsys' order management system provides Red Wing Shoes sophisticated tools to connect those channels and develop its omnichannel commerce strategy to ensure positive customer experiences however and wherever customers shop. "We turned to Tecsys to help us modernize our omnichannel infrastructure, and the results have been very positive," says Dennis Keane, CIO at Red Wing Shoes. "From selection through to implementation and execution, the Tecsys team helped us chart a course for more resilient and more profitable retail fulfillment operations. Not only does the Tecsys platform enable us to fulfill orders more economically through consolidation and dynamic routing, but we are also able to cater to a new segment of digital consumer by providing more channels, more flexibility, and better access to inventory. We are agile in our online order fulfillment capabilities, and we know that we are in good hands with the team at Tecsys." Tecsys' dynamic retail supply chain platform connects fulfllment siloes, enabling retailers to pick, pack and ship orders through data-driven algorithms, factoring in fulfillment flexibility, inventory availability, intelligent order orchestration and routing, and cost to fulfill. As Red Wing Shoes continues to calibrate for post-pandemic commerce, the Tecsys platform provides the flexibility to adapt to dramatic shifts in buying patterns and fulfillment expectations.



Red Wing Shoes has likewise implemented a B2B2C process in which the retailer will function as a logistical intermediary in facilitating the end-to-end buying journey. This fulfillment channel provides customers of Red Wing Shoes and its subsidiary brands a unified and convenient digital shopping experience through multiple avenues, allowing the retailer to digitally extend access to its products without traditional retail infrastructure requirements. "Done right, unified digital commerce is fueling retailer growth beyond traditional boundaries. It is a massive opportunity that any brand can tap into with the right technology," says Bill King, chief revenue officer at Tecsys. "In the age of Amazon, customer expectations are sky high, and they expect to be able to buy any brand, anywhere at any time. Red Wing Shoes is equipping itself for that ecosystem, and we are delighted to provide the technology to fuel their digital fulfillment agility."

For more information on Tecsys' supply chain solutions, visit: www.tecsys.com. About Red Wing Shoe Company Red Wing Shoe Company Inc. is a global leader in the design, production and distribution of work, safety and lifestyle footwear and work apparel. Established in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota, today the privately held company's family of brands includes Red Wing, the premium choice for purpose-built work footwear, workwear and accessories including a collection of Heritage styles created for any occasion; Irish Setter, the footwear brand of choice for hunters and workers who want uncompromising quality and technological innovation; Vasque, a pioneer of performance hiking footwear; WORX, a trusted brand for the industrial safety footwear market; and S.B. Foot Tanning Company, one of the largest U.S. producers of fine tanned leather for footwear and leather goods. Its brands are distributed to more than 110 countries in an immersive multichannel environment of 525+ Red Wing retail stores, third-party partners, and owned e-commerce platforms. The Red Wing Shoe Company employs more than 2,000 employees worldwide and operates two U.S. manufacturing facilities in Red Wing and Potosi, Missouri. For more information, please visit RedWingShoeCo.com. About Tecsys Tecsys is a global provider of supply chain solutions that equip the borderless enterprise for growth. Organizations thrive when they have the software, technology and expertise to drive operational greatness and deliver on their brand promise. Spanning healthcare, retail, service parts, third-party logistics, and general wholesale high-volume distribution industries, Tecsys delivers dynamic and powerful solutions for warehouse management, distribution and transportation management, supply management at point of use, retail order management, as well as complete financial management and analytics solutions. Tecsys' shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TCS. For more information on Tecsys, visit www.tecsys.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/red-wing-shoes-takes-a-major-step-towards-end-to-end-omnichannel-order-fulfillment-with-tecsys-software-301319023.html SOURCE Tecsys Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Smithers Receives C3PAO Candidate Status To Provide Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Security Assessment

AKRON, Ohio, June 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, is pleased to announce that its information security service line has received Certified 3rd Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) candidate status from the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB) CMMC-AB | Smithers Quality Assessments-C3PAO | Marketplace (cmmcab.org). C3PAO candidate status can only be granted to organizations meeting the initial requirements for certification, which includes license agreement, organizational background checks, 100% U.S. citizen business owned and association with an audit assessor. Final approval status as a C3PAO is received after successful completion of a CMMC Level 3 Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) assessment.



As part of Smithers Information Security Services, CMMC certification offerings is an important piece of the cybersecurity suite of services we'll provide to organizations. CMMC requirements, for maturity levels 1-5, are presently being incorporated into the various Department of Defense (DoD) contract requirements for all types of suppliers within the overall Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

"C3PAO candidate status represents an important milestone for Smithers information security services," states General Manager for Smithers Quality Assessments Division in North America, Aaron Troschinetz. "As we continue to grow in the overall cybersecurity market, Smithers is confident that everything from our back office operating platform to our assessor tools meet or exceed the appropriate CMMC level requirements. It is imperative that we 'walk the talk' when it comes to the integrity of these services. We are currently implementing all the necessary controls to enable Smithers to provide secure, accurate assessments, on time with high touch." Troschinetz continues, "As we await our final approval status as a C3PAO, we continue to help organizations with our gap analysis type activities, which can be tailored to any number of different CMMC level requirements." For more information about Smithers, please visit https://www.smithers.com/ About Smithers:

Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Smithers is a multinational provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services. With laboratories and operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, Smithers supports customers in the transportation, life science, packaging, materials, components, consumer, and energy industries. Smithers delivers accurate data, on time, with high touch. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smithers-receives-c3pao-candidate-status-to-provide-cybersecurity-maturity-model-certification-security-assessment-301319736.html SOURCE Smithers

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[June 24, 2021] Somm Raises $2M to Unlock the World of Wine in Oversubscribed Funding Round

Revolutionary tech makes wine more inviting and approachable, for everyone TORONTO, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - SommTM announced today the close of its $2 million (CAD) oversubscribed financing round, co-led by Calgary-based KJSM Ventures and strategic partner, Highlander Wine & Spirits. The company will use the funds to expand its recommendation engine and machine learning technology, refine its marketplace, as well as the consumer app's user experience. SommTM will also grow its product, marketing and software engineering teams, and expand its national footprint with major partnerships in Canada & the US. "The wine industry is very fragmented, so making the right selection or even knowing how to access great producers, can be extremely challenging," says Jennifer Tkachuk-Tremblay, the Founder and Chief Executive of SommTM. "Research shows that over 90% of people aimlessly meander around wine shops, feel overwhelmed with choice at restaurants, or pick by the label. So, we designed a tool that works the way we're naturally wired to think, keeping intuitive and beautiful design, as well as practicality, at the app's core." Founded in July 2020, SommTM takes the guesswork out of wine, by putting 'a sommelier in everyone's pocket.' The app offers credible recommendations through first-of-its-kind technology, along with a seamless marketplace connection to exclusive wineries, distributors, and importers - a world previously reserved for restaurants, high end hotels and private buyers. Somm isembracing the surge in consumer e-commerce activity, the appreciation for local connection, and the hospitality industry's focus on technology, helping them thrive in their new digital future. Since inception, Somm has seen organic download growth of 8 per cent per week and is working with top restaurants, hotels, wineries and wine agencies across Ontario, in addition to being integrated with the portfolio from the LCBO  one of the largest wine buyers in the world. The company is also in the midst of its national expansion, diversifying its roster of partners across the country.



"We created SommTM because great culinary experiences are something that everyone can appreciate. Although wine is universally enjoyed, its accessibility and complexity often makes the category feel exclusive," says Tkachuk-Tremblay. "SommTM breaks down these barriers and makes wine more approachable and accessible to the masses." Major investor, KJSM Ventures, understood the opportunity and its trajectory immediately. "We fully believe that the future of the wine and culinary industry is rooted in technology and COVID-19 made that ever so clear," says Scott McKay, Managing Director of KJSM. "Beyond wine, we see the tech expanding into numerous other products - whether that's proxies, craft beers, scotches, whiskeys, spirits, and even cannabis. Really anything curated for the consumer palate. We believe SommTM has limitless potential, and we're very happy to be part of the journey from the beginning. We fully support the team and their vision."

Strategic investor, Highlander Wine & Spirits, is also excited to be onboard. "We have significantly increased our focus on engaging, digital solutions and we see SommTM's intuitive platform as an innovative and seamless way to expand our reach," says Harrison Zivot, Partner at Highlander. "The company has an impressive team, and it's clear that they understand the industry from the ground up. We're greatly looking forward to playing a key role in Somm's expansion to Western Canada." With an ultimate vision to become 'the Spotify of Taste', this new chapter marks a promising future for the company. "Our team has deep roots in the technology and hospitality sectors with professionals hailing from Shopify, Wealthsimple, Y-Combinator backed Delphia Inc., luxury hotels by Relais & Chateaux, and we also have one of only five Master Sommeliers in Canada working with us," says Tkachuk-Tremblay. "This is only the beginning for SommTM. We have an amazing, growing team, and we're incredibly excited to have such tremendous support from the investor and hospitality community." SommTM is available for download on Android and iOS across Canada. Novices and wine aficionados alike can follow SommTM on Instagram at @somm_app and visit www.somm.io for more information on the latest news and company updates. The future of wine is tech. About SommTM: Somm is a Toronto-based, female founded and led, technology company focused on making wine more approachable and accessible to everyone. With machine learning at its core, SommTM's recommendation engine and intuitive design puts a sommelier in everyone's pocket. Taking the guesswork out of wine and connecting its users to a whole new world of choice, the company is unlocking the wine world for the masses. Download the app today on Google Play or the Apple Store. Learn more by visiting www.somm.io and following along on social media at @somm_app. SOURCE Somm

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[June 24, 2021] TekSavvy provides Liberal Government with clear evidence of CRTC Chair's bias

ISP urges Cabinet to quickly remove Ian Scott and reinstate evidence-based 2019 Final Rates Order CHATHAM, ON, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - TekSavvy Solutions Inc. ("TekSavvy") today filed additional evidence with the Liberal Government in support of its May 28 Petition to the Governor in Council regarding the CRTC's recent wholesale rates decision (Decision 2021-181). That decision stunned observers by completely reversing the CRTC's own 2019 Final Rates Order, which had already been upheld on appeal by the Federal Court of Appeal, and which the Federal Cabinet and the Supreme Court of Canada declined to review. TekSavvy's Petition asks Cabinet to overrule the CRTC's arbitrary Decision 2021-181, to reinstate its evidence-based 2019 Final Rates Order and to remove Chair Ian Scott for bias. Today, TekSavvy submitted further evidence to Cabinet regarding Mr. Scott's bias. TekSavvy noted that Mr. Scott held numerous ex parte meetings with litigants with open CRTC files, apparently unaccompanied, according to lobbying records. In particular, Mr. Scott held at least 11 reported solo meetings with Bell, Rogers or Shaw during the course of the CRTC's open and active file, which resulted in Decision 2021-181 and that completely reversed its own evidence-based, years-in-the-making 2019 Final Rates Order. The decision also directly undermined Cabinet's mandate and direction to the CRTC to promote affordable pricing and competition. Remarkably, at least one of Mr. Scott's ex parte meetings took place in a social setting, alone, with the CEO of one of the primary litigants in the open file. Mr. Scott met one-on-one with Mirko Bibic, then chief operating officer of Bell (and now CEO) at D'Arcy McGee's, an Ottawa bar on December 19, 2019. The meeting occurred just one week after the CRTC opened an active file to hear Bell's application to reverse the 2019 Final Rates Order, which the regulator arbitrarily approved in Decision 2021-181. This meeting, in the middle of a contentious proceeding with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, is described in recent media reports1 by former Commissioners, as offside the CRTC's internal norms, policies and practices. One former Chair noted that he "would include a third party, typically the CRTC's general counsel, in lobbying meetings with industry." Another former Commissioner and vice-chair of telecom said the CRTC's recommended practice was to meet with lobbyists in the office and to have a third person present, such that an ex-parte meeting at a bar "would fall into the category of high-risk behaviour." Other media reports describe the harmful impact of Mr. Scott's private meetings on the CRTC's integrity and reputation. One article underscores that it is impossible for anyone to know what was discussed, noting with respect to Mr. Scott and Mr. Bibic, "De quoi ont-ils discute ? Impossible de le savoir."2 Another article notes that this conduct has caused a crisis at the CRTC that will undermine public confidence, "[U]n manque de confiance qui pourrait faire mal."3 TekSavvy submitted that Mr. Scott's ex parte meeting with Mr. Bibic is also clearly offside the standards of conduct required by the Governor in Council for its appointees to the CRTC, as confirmed by Cabinet's termination of one Commissioner's appointment for far less egregious conduct in 2017.4 In fact, both the Federal Court and Cabinet have explicitly recognized the concern of bias raised by ex parte meetings between Commissioners and stakeholders with open files before the CRTC, as the Federal Court described such conduct as "very troubling." TekSavvy respectfully reiterated its request that Cabinet quickly take the steps outlined in its Petition and in particular, to overturn the CRTC's arbitrary Decision 2021-181 and reinstate its evidence-based, pro-consumer 2019 Rates Order and to remove Mr. Scott as chair. "The CRTC's role is to be an independent arbiter. The 2019 Final Rates Order, which was based on years of process and mountains of evidence showed the CRTC had the independence and expertise to set proper wholesale rates," said Andy Kaplan-Myrth, TekSavvy's vice-president of Regulatory and Carrier Affairs. "Now they're having beers with Bell and making up numbers, while completely undermining this government's promises to Canadians. It's an outrage." About TekSavvy

Based in Chatham, Ontario, TekSavvy is Canada's largest independent telecom service company, serving over 300,000 customers from coast to coast. TekSavvy has been proudly delivering award-winning services and fighting for consumers' rights for more than 20 years. TekSavvy is committed to providing quality competitive choice and closing Canada's digital divide. _______________________________________________







1 Christine Dobby, "Is the CRTC getting too cosy with big telecom? Star analysis finds major telecoms met with government and CRTC officials hundreds of times prior to reversal on wholesale internet rates", June 12, 2021.



2 Alain McKenna, "Le lien privilegie de Bell avec le CRTC fait grincer des dents", June 19, 2021, Le Devoir.



3 Maxime Johnson, "Des airs de crise au CRTC", June 19, 2021, L'Actualite.



4 Order in Council PC Number, May 5, 2017, available online at: <https://orders-in-council.canada.ca/attachment.php?attach=34358&lang=en>.

SOURCE TekSavvy Solutions Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Texas Children's Pavilion For Women Teams Up With PerIGen To Bring PeriWatch Vigilance To Malawi

HOUSTON, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Pavilion for Women announced today the launch of the PeriWatch Vigilance program in Lilongwe, Malawi (in southern Africa), in partnership with PeriGen Advanced Perinatal Software, a provider of innovative software solutions for over 20 years with a mission to protect mothers and babies everywhere. In a public-private partnership with the Texas Children's Global Women's Health Program, Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation-Malawi, and Malawi Ministry of Health (Area 25), this artificial intelligence tool, which was supplied at no cost by PeriGen, provides one of the most sophisticated fetal monitoring systems to one of the most under-resourced areas of the world to help clinicians reduce stillbirths and neonatal mortality rates. "In the U.S. alone, close to half of the unfavorable outcomes in childbirth are preventable and involve non-standard assessments of fetal monitor data, risks that PeriGen directly mitigates," said Matthew Sappern, CEO of PeriGen. "But this is a universal challenge, without artificial borders of nation or region, and PeriGen and Texas Children's demonstrate in Malawi that even the most advanced medical support can be delivered efficiently and effectively around the globe." PeriWatch Vigilance is an automated early warning system and clinical decision support tool, designed to enhance clinical efficiency, timely intervention, and standardization of care. The FDA-cleared system can track vital information for hundreds of patients at a time, across multiple hospital sites. Using artificial intelligence and other analytical techniques, it continuously monitors maternal vital signs, fetal heart rate, contractions, and labor progression, providing results graphically and with percentiles. Because of this continuous monitoring, PeriWatch Vigilance can detect abnormalities during labor and immediately notify clinicians. As the Vice Chair of Global Women's Health at Texas Children's, Dr. Jeff Wilkinson discovered the harsh reality of maternal mortality, stillbirths, and early neonatal deaths in Malawi. For every 100,000 live births there are 400 maternal deaths and for every 50 births, Malawi loses 1 baby. In Texas, the mortality rate is much lower  14 (white) and 27 (Black) women per 100,000 live births. At the Area 25 District Hospital in Malawi where the Texas Children's team works in partnership with Ministry of Health, the annual number of deliveries is more than 7,000 per year, a similar volume of deliveries to that at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women. For a photo of Dr. Jeff Wilkinson, click here. "The high mortality rate coupled with even higher birth rates meant that many of the newborns needed a high level of care that was historically unattainable," said Wilkinson. "With the arrival of the PeriWatch Vigilance program, Malawi and Texas Children's clinicians will be able to further enhance the level of care and safety provided to mothers and babies. We believe this groundbreaking technology, once foreign to sub-Saharan Africa, will help to reduce the number of Malawian babies that die during labor and delivery." Soon, clinicians will have the ability to access the maternal-fetal early warning system directly from all major devices including: desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. This "mobile solution" allows for Early Warning System notifications 24/7, unit oversight and consultation to each patient's bedside team so clinicians can quickly review trends from hours of tracings and receive a consolidated overview at heir fingertips.



"We've begun performing continuous PeriGen monitoring in collaboration with our Ministry of Health colleagues and on most of our patients in Malawi and have seen an incredible receptiveness of this new technology on the part of the obstetrics providers," said Wilkinson. "Our leadership team of Drs. Ibe Iwuh and Chikhondi Chiweza and midwife Rachel Macleod have helped spearhead the project. We think the system has prevented some stillbirths and allowed us to intervene early to prevent birth asphyxia in some cases. Though the long-term trends remain to be seen, we are optimistic about the difference implementing this technology will make." In collaboration with the Global Women's Health program and Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation-Malawi, the Texas Children's Information Services team overseeing the implementation of the PeriWatch Vigilance project worked to overcome many obstacles surrounding the implementation of this new technology, including network infrastructure and procuring the necessary workstations. They also worked within a complex security design to develop a solution that would allow for the secure transfer of data.

"The setup and implementation of PeriWatch in Malawi, the fourth poorest country in the World, has been smoother than expected," added Dr. Wilkinson. "The uptake of the technology by our local maternity providers has been excellent. We have already seen results that strongly suggest a trend towards decreased stillbirth and neonatal death. We are thrilled to have the system up and running and plan to expand it to all of our labor rooms in the next two months, effectively covering all 7,000 births per year." "We are extremely proud of the dedication Dr. Wilkinson and our Global Health teams have displayed in bringing this initiative to fruition in partnership with PeriGen," stated Dr. Michael Belfort, obstetrician and gynecologist-in-chief at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women. "Our mission has always been to provide the best possible care and outcomes for mothers and babies, and extending that mission to low-resource areas of the world is an honor." For more information about PeriGen, visit the provider's website at perigen.com. To learn more about the PeriWatch Vigilance program, PeriGen has a number of resources on its webpage and in this video. To learn more about the Texas Children's Global Women's Health program, visit their webpage. ABOUT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education, and research. Consistently ranked as the best children's hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children's has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women's health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children's care for communities north of Houston. The organization also created Texas Children's Health Plan, the nation's first HMO for children; has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country, Texas Children's Pediatrics; Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that is channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Global Health program leads efforts that advance health care equity through innovative collaboration in care, education, and research for underserved populations globally. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens. ABOUT PERIGEN

PeriGen Inc., a Halma company, offers innovative perinatal software solutions that incorporate advanced statistical analysis features to enhance clinical efficiency and standardization of care during childbirth. Led by skilled OB practitioners and IT visionaries, PeriGen has created the PeriWatch platform to provide consistent analysis and efficient display of complex data to promote better human recognition and communication about impending problems during labor. With PeriWatch, clinicians can spend more time on direct patient care and less time on manual calculations and data manipulation. To learn more, visit www.perigen.com; visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook; or email info@perigen.com. Media Contacts: Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations for Texas Children's Hospital

Ashley Pearce, ashley@dpwpr.com

Marta Fredricks, marta@dpwpr.com

Hayden Rome, hayden@dpwpr.com

713-224-9115 Amendola Communications for PeriGen Inc.

Tara Stultz

tstultz@acmarketingpr.com

440-225-9595 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-childrens-pavilion-for-women-teams-up-with-perigen-to-bring-periwatch-vigilance-to-malawi-301319188.html SOURCE PeriGen

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[June 24, 2021] UOB ramps up digital innovation to grow its wealth management franchise across ASEAN

SINGAPORE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UOB is expanding its range of digital wealth management solutions as it sets out to serve more of ASEAN's growing population of underserved increasingly affluent consumers. As many of them think investing is difficult and requires significant sums or do not have the knowledge or confidence to do so, UOB sees immense opportunities in helping these consumers grow their wealth simply. According to the Bank's research, more than six in 10 consumers in ASEAN said they prefer online channels to apply for simple banking products[1]. However, in Singapore alone where banking services are easily accessible, more than seven in 10 Singaporeans said they are not investing as much as they should and have surplus savings in their emergency fund[2]. Ms Jacquelyn Tan, Head of Group Personal Financial Services, UOB, said digital innovation is paving the way for more customers to access the banking solutions they need for their different life stages. To this end, the Bank will invest more than $200 million in digital innovation over the next three years to serve consumers. "Our deep understanding of our customers enables us to anticipate their needs and behaviours and drives us to create the progressive solutions that help them achieve their financial goals. The pandemic was a tipping point for digital financial solutions as more UOB customers embraced the convenience of online channels to transact and to grow their wealth. We have tapped this permanent change to expand our digital wealth offering to provide simple, self-serve products and solutions through UOB Mighty. "While the barriers to accessing digital financial solutions have lowered, our research has shown that consumers can feel overwhelmed by a plethora of products. Our approach is to guide customers to the solutions that make the most sense for their financial goals and we use a combination of human expertise and technology to do so. For example, we provide customers with information and insights on wealth management that are relevant to their needs and lifestyle choices, based on their banking patterns. This personalisation of wealth management for each customer will enable them to have the confidence they need to make wiser financial decisions. "Through our wealth management strategy, anchored by a digitally-enabled omni-channel customer experience, we aim to double our wealth fee income by 2026. This translates to a compound annual growth rate of more than 15 per cent over the next five years," Ms Tan said. Investing made easy with SimpleInvest To meet its ambitions, UOB has designed a suite of simple digital solutions that democratise the access to wealth management services and enable customers to protect and to grow their assets easily, using just their mobile phone. The latest in this series is SimpleInvest, launched today, which helps customers to kickstart their investment journey with as little as $100. With SimpleInvest's easy-to-understand approach towards investing, customers simply choose from three solutions on its award-winning UOB Mighty app that fulfil the investment objectives of Liquidity, Income or Growth. Customers who choose Liquidity can invest in UOBAM's United SGD Money Market Fund, which seeks better returns than cash by investing in low-risk and liquid assets such as high quality bonds, government securities, money market instruments and bank deposits. UOB has also partnered UOB Asset Management to develop the Income and Growth solutions which invest in funds screened and selected by UOB. These funds are actively managed by renowned international asset managers such as Allianz, Fidelity International, JPMorgan Asset Management, Schroders and UBS Asset Management[3] that manage a total of almost US$10 trillion in assets globally. Investors seeking to generate regular income can choose the United Enhanced Income Select Fund, an income solution which invests in a spectrum of yielding assets. The United Enhanced Growth Select Fund is for investors looking to take advantage of changing structural trends, such as healthcare, artificial intelligence, sustainability, that are reshaping economies and financial markets. Initial feedback to SimpleInvest has been positive. During the pilot phase, 75 per cent of UOB customers purchased their first unit trust. One in three customers has also gone on to set up regular investment plans. "SimpleInvest is attractive to customers who are looking to invest affordably. During the pilot, two in three customers were either millennials or those who parked money in a savings account and wanted to make their money work harder. UOB's research shows that as these customers grow their nest egg, two in three prefer face-to-face wealth advisory for more complex financial transactions[4]. We are well-placed to continue to meet their needs through our omni-channel approach and holistic wealth management solutions,"

Ms Tan said. SimpleInvest comes on the back of the Bank's launch of SimpleInsure in December 2020. With SimpleInsure, UOB customers can use UOB Mighty to apply for PRUCancer 360, a cancer insurance plan which provides 100 per cent payout for all cancer stages, with just a few clicks and a simple health declaration. UOB plans to roll out its simple suite of digital wealth solutions across the region progressively. To find out more information on UOB's SimpleInvest, please visit www.uob.com.sg/simpleinvest.







[1] Source: The UOB ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Survey was conducted in July 2020 and polled more than 3,500 respondents across five countries in Southeast Asia. [2] Source: UOB survey on investing sentiments. The survey was conducted in September 2020 with 500 Singaporeans from 21 to 45 years old. [3] As at 24 June 2021. [4] Source: UOB-commissioned survey by Dynata on 1,060 consumers across five markets in Southeast Asia, October 2020.

About United Overseas Bank United Overseas Bank (UOB) is a leading bank in Asia with a global network of more than 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Since its incorporation in 1935, UOB has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions. UOB is rated among the world's top banks: Aa1 by Moody's Investors Service and AA- by both S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings. In Asia, UOB operates through its head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as branches and representative offices across the region. Over more than eight decades, generations of UOB employees have carried through the entrepreneurial spirit, the focus on long-term value creation and an unwavering commitment to do what is right for our customers and our colleagues. We believe in being a responsible financial services provider and we are committed to making a difference in the lives of our stakeholders and in the communities in which we operate. Just as we are dedicated to helping our customers manage their finances wisely and to grow their businesses, UOB is steadfast in our support of social development, particularly in the areas of art, children and education. SOURCE United Overseas Bank

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[June 24, 2021] ZICIX Corp. Appoints Dr. Ramiro Jordan as President

Carson City, Nevada, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The ZICIX Corporation Board of Directors (OTC Pink: ZICX) is pleased to officially announce the appointment of Dr. Ramiro Jordan, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Jordan is a highly esteemed engineer and advocate for eco- friendly technology and advancement. Throughout Dr. Jordans storied career, he has served in many roles for many different organizations such as the United Nations, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, University of New Mexico, Ibero-American Science & Technology Education Consortium (ISTEC), and the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES). With over twenty-six years of experience creating and leading STEM education, in addition to developing entrepreneurial organizations and activities in Ibero-America, Dr. Jordan is more than capable of leading the ZICIX team. Ramiro Jordan will be working with us to provide his expertise for further development of the ZICX App, announced CEO William Petty. The second and third phases of the App development and expansion is yet to be announced, but will be overseen by Dr. Jordan. About Zicix Corporation (OTC Pik: ZICX)





Safe Harbor Act: This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report.

For additional information, visit our website at www.ZicixGroup. com or call 830-331-0031. We are also on Twitter @ZicixCorp .





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[June 23, 2021] BLS International partners with Knowledge Catalyst to issue Digital Health Certificates

SINGAPORE, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BSE and NSE listed (BSE: 540073; NSE: BLS), BLS International, a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and citizens, announced today that it has entered into a partnership agreement with a Singapore-based company, Knowledge Catalyst to provide Digital Health Certificates also known as HealthCerts, for passengers travelling to and from Singapore. Effective immediately, BLS will start issuing HealthCerts in Singapore. HealthCerts is a set of digital standards and schema for issuing digital COVID-19 Pre-Departure Test (PDT) results certificates that are in line with international standards and the Singapore Government's requirements. The HealthCerts schema was developed in collaboration with the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and Ministry of Health (MOH) of Singapore. Further, these HealthCerts are tamper-proof and traceable. Currently, they are issued directly to travellers in the form of a QR code, and can be downloaded onto their mobile devices. These QR codes will enable authorities to easily verify that the PDT results have been issued by accredited healthcare institutions and allow them to confirm the authenticity of the certificates before granting border access. With the ongoing ease in travel restrictions, there has been resumption of global travel. Keeping the wellbeing and safety of travellers as well as citizens in mind, many countries are allowing visitors' entry with verified health certificates. Such solutions are welcoming as it provides a seamless verification process for both travellers and authorities. Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, BLS International, said, "There is an immense need for such initiatives for the comfort of travellers and authorities to facilitate ease in travelling as countries are opening their borders. We are excited about this partnership with Knowledge Catalyst to provide a seamless cross-border travel experience with reliable digital health certificates. Since both inbound and outbound travellers in Singaore are required to have health certificates, BLS has begun the project focusing on inbound travellers to Singapore and outbound travellers traveling from Singapore to Spain, Italy and India, our existing client governments in Singapore."



Mr Rudy J. Rahardjo, CEO of Knowledge Catalyst, expressed, "Being at the forefront of such technology has allowed Knowledge Catalyst to build global partnerships with key stakeholders around the world. We are excited to be partnering with BLS international to facilitate travellers travelling to and from Singapore in meeting safe travel requirements." About BLS International

BLS International Services Ltd. a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and citizens, having an impeccable reputation for setting benchmarks in the domain of visa, passport, consular, citizen, e-governance, attestation, biometric, e-visa and retail services since 2005. The company is recognized as 'Best under a Billion' company" by Forbes Asia and ranked amongst Fortune India's Next 500 companies. The company works with over 46 client governments including Diplomatic Missions, Embassies & Consulates and leverages technology and processes that ensure data security. The Company now has an extensive network of more than 12,000 centres globally with a robust strength of over 15,000 employees and associates that provides consular, biometrics and citizen services. BLS has processed over 52 million applications till date globally. BLS International adheres to ISO 9001:2015 certified for Quality Management Systems; ISO 27001:2013 certified for Information Security Management Systems; ISO 14001:2015 certified for Environmental Management Systems; ISO/ IEC 45001:2018 certified for Occupational Safety and Health; ISO / IEC 20000-1:2011 certified for IT Service Management; ISO 26000:2010 certified for Social Responsibility; ISO 23026:2015 certified for System Engineering and Management Requirements; ISO/IEC 28000:2017 certified for Supply Chain Management System; ISO/IEC 27002: 2013 certified for Management of Information Security; ISO 31000: 2018 certified for Risk Management; ISO 27001:2013 certified for Risk Management of Information. BLS International is the only listed company in this domain with operations in 66 countries. BSE: 540073; NSE: BLS; MSE: BLS. Website: www.blsinternational.com About Knowledge Catalyst Knowledge Catalyst is a technology company headquartered in Singapore, that specialises in harnessing the blockchain technology to create opportunities and value-add stakeholders within industries. Apart from their solution for the health and travel ecosystem, the company also deploy solutions in the education and talent ecosystem to address the widening gaps of equitable learning and the future of work. Founded in 2018, Knowledge Catalyst has issued over 13,000 credentials to over 300 organizations across Asia. Website: www.knowledgecatalyst.io For Further information, please contact: BLS International Vaishali Sharma

Global Head  Corporate Communications

Email: vaishali.s@blsinternational.net

Telephone: +91 11 43750006 Knowledge Catalyst Keller Goh

Chief Operation Officer

Email: keller@knowledgecatalyst.io

Telephone: +65 6966 2301 SOURCE Knowledge Catalyst and BLS International Services Limited

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[June 23, 2021] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS ARRY, CCXI, PCT, WISH INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits

NEW ORLEANS, June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCXI)

Class Period: 11/26/2019 - 5/6/2021

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 6, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD

https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-chemocentryx-inc-common-stock-ccxi-securities-litigation PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT) f/k/a Roth CH Acquisition I Co. (ROCH)

Class Period: 11/16/2020 - 5/5/2021 and/or were holders of Roth securities entitled to participate in the March 16, 2021 shareholder vote on the merger with PureCycle.

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 12, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-precycle-technologies-inc-common-stock-pct-securities-litigation



Array Technologies, Inc. (ARRY)

Class Period: 10/14/2020 - 5/11/2021, or purchase of shares issued either in or after the October 2020, December 2020 or March 2021 public offerings

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 13, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-array-technologies-inc-common-stock-arry-securities-litigation ContextLogic Inc. (WISH)

Class Period: 12/16/2020 - 5/12/2021, or purchase of shares issued either in or after the December 2020 Initial Public Offering

Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: July 16, 2021

SECURITIES FRAUD, MISLEADING PROSPECTUS

To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-contextlogic-inc-wish-securities-litigation

If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com



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[June 23, 2021] AIMS @ Bangkok Appoints CEO and Head of Operations

BANGKOK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The AIMS Group ("AIMS"), Southeast Asia's leading carrier-neutral data centre services provider, has announced the appointments of Lim Peng Keong as Chief Executive Officer and Wiwat Srijaratsin as Head of Operations to drive the business growth and expansion of AIMS Data Centre (Thailand) Limited ("AIMS @ Bangkok"), its operations in Thailand. As part of AIMS' ASEAN expansion plans, AIMS @ Bangkok bolsters its local presence in Thailand and is a key component of a network of interlinked data centres that AIMS' is building across the region. AIMS @ Bangkok is also modeled after AIMS' proven and successful business model of a carrier-neutral ecosystem where its customers can interconnect with various carriers, service providers and their partners within the network. AIMS @ Bangkok is also able to leverage off the knowledge and expertise gained from AIMS' experience in the market as well as the connectivity offered via the international submarine and terrestrial fibre network of its parent company, TIME dotCom ("TIME"). In the short time that AIMS @ Bangkok has been operating, it has received certifications for both the ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System as well as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), a testament of AIMS' proven processes and security compliance. Compliance and certification according to the standards set by ISO/IEC 27001 means that effective security controls and policies are in plae to ensure information security. Further to that, PCI-DSS certification holds organisations to the highest standards for the storage, processing, and transfer of cardholder information.



This means that even enterprises in industries such as banking and financial services can rest assured that the most stringent security measures and policies are in place to minimise risk and ensure business continuity. "We extend our warmest welcome to both Lim and Wiwat. AIMS @ Bangkok is in capable hands and the AIMS Group looks forward to building on the presence that we have established in Thailand as we work on fortifying our business in ASEAN," said Chiew Kok Hin, CEO of the AIMS Group.

Management Profiles Lim Peng Keong was appointed to the position of CEO in April 2021 and is responsible for driving the strategic growth of the business in Thailand. Prior to this, he co-founded and held the position of CEO in a big data analytics company based in Bangkok. In the past, he has held board-level and senior management positions in a number of private and public-listed companies in both Malaysia and Thailand with primary responsibilities in the areas of strategic development and business intelligence analysis. He holds an MBA, majoring in Human Resource Management, from the University of Nottingham Trent and a BSc (Hons) in Computing from the University of Portsmouth. Wiwat Srijaratsin was appointed as Head of Operations in October 2020. He is responsible for the management of data centre operations processes, service delivery and the service support team. He has extensive experience in the IT and telecommunications industries covering the areas of network operations, risk management and strategic planning. In the past has worked for companies such as True Corporation, IBM and Dell. He holds a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please visit www.aimsdatacentre.com/thailand. About AIMS Data Centre Group AIMS Data Centre Group (AIMS) is Southeast Asia's leading carrier-neutral data centre and managed services provider. As the anchor site for the MyIX in Malaysia and a reference site for the BKNIX in Thailand, it handles traffic and networks with international connectivity for customers from various industries. AIMS is headquartered in Malaysia with data centre presence in Kuala Lumpur, Cyberjaya and Penang. AIMS also counts data centre presence in key ASEAN cities in Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. Visit www.aimsdatacentre.com/thailand for more information. SOURCE AIMS

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[June 23, 2021] Tredence continues to expand - Announces new offices in the UK and Canada

- The Company's growth spree is fueled by the recent Series A funding of 30 million USD from Chicago Pacific Founders and is looking to hire 700+ people, doubling its global headcount. BENGALURU, India, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tredence, a leading AI engineering and data science company, today announced the opening of offices in the UK and Canada alongside plans to establish a new office in Ukraine. The new offices will now account for the rapid expansion the company is undertaking, enlarging the firm's global footprint to 9 offices in 4 countries. Tredence is on course to hire 150+ data scientists, data engineers, and analysts in its newly opened offices in London and Toronto. The Company will offer business analytics, data engineering, data science for retail, CPG, TMT, industrial manufacturing, and healthcare customers in the regions. "We're on the cusp of an exciting phase of the firm's life. We strongly believe scaling is about getting better, not just bigger. Our global expansion into newer markets is a real testament to our growth, innovation, and the exceptional ability of our employees to generate value for customers, especially in these uncertain times. The UK an Canada have exceptional technical and leadership talent in data analytics along with business-friendly policies that naturally align with our expectations," said Shashank Dubey, Chief Revenue Officer, Tredence.



"Our decision to expand in the UK and Canada reflects the momentum we are experiencing in the regions and aligns with our growth imperatives. London and Toronto offer a perfect springboard for tech companies looking to strengthen tech innovation and distributed agile delivery models. As our client base continues to grow in the regions, we are establishing dedicated offices staffed with local talent to service our regional customers most effectively. We also have plans to expand our presence in Europe in the next 12-18 months," said Harish Gudi, Chief Operating Officer, Tredence. This global expansion is close on the heels of launching, Tredence Studio, a co-creation platform for enterprises to move the innovation needle from "Experimentation" to "Value-realization". The company is planning to hire 700+ employees in 2021 across markets.

About Tredence Tredence is a data science and AI engineering company focused on solving the last mile problem in analytics. The 'last mile' is defined as the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence is 800+ employees strong with offices in Palo Alto, Chicago, Toronto, and Bangalore, with the largest companies in retail, CPG, Hi-Tech, telecom, travel, and industrials as clients. Learn more at www.tredence.com or follow us. Media Contact:

Neha Parmar

Neha.parmar@tredence.com

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[June 24, 2021] Nokia launches next-generation AirScale 5G portfolio powered by ReefShark technology

Press Release Nokia launches next-generation AirScale 5G portfolio powered by ReefShark technology Nokias new, industry-leading 5G portfolio covers baseband, radio, and massive MIMO antennas offering huge 5G capacity, coverage, and easy deployment

Introduces industrys lightest massive MIMO units at 17kg enabling simplified deployments and faster time to market

Nokias new comprehensive range of products are powered by Nokias latest generation of ReefShark chipsets

Nokias extended Single RAN accelerates 5G rollouts and cuts overall RAN Total Cost of Ownership 24 June 2021 Espoo, Finland  Nokia today announced the global launch of its latest range of industry-leading AirScale 5G products covering baseband, remote radio heads, and massive MIMO active antennas with digital beamforming. The innovative solutions are powered by the latest generation of Nokias ReefShark System-on-Chip (SoC) chipsets and deliver the highest capacity and network performance while enabling efficient deployments and operation. The rollout of the new products is already underway. Nokia introduces its new generation of ReefShark-powered AirScale massive MIMO antennas with both 32TRX and 64TRX products, as well as 8T8R remote radio head solutions. The 32TRX is the industrys lightest, at 17kg, simplifying and speeding up site deployments. Notably, this low weight is achieved at the same time as supporting high radio frequency bandwidth (200 MHz occupied bandwidth and 400 MHz instantaneous bandwidth) and delivering high radio frequency power output, without compromise. Both the new 32TRX and the new 64TRX massive MIMO antennas support both fragmented spectrum and network sharing cases. Nokia also introduces its new SoC-based baseband plug-in cards to boost the capacity of the AirScale System Module. The new ReefShark-powered plug-in cards deliver up to eight times more throughput and serve up to eight times more cells compared to previous generations. They are easily installed and simplify the upgrade and extended operation of all AirScale deployments. Nokias baseband module can support 90,000 connected users simultaneously and has 84 Gbps throughput. The highly efficient ReefShark powered plug-in cards also reduce power consumption by up to 75 percent. Nokias modular AirScale baseband enables mobile operators to scale capacity flexibly and efficiently and as their 5G business evolves. Nokia Single RAN software now includes 5G, accelerating 5G rollouts and cutting overall radio access network TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), by unlocking network efficiencies with common transport, common operability, common software delivery, and increased hardware sharing. The combination of Nokias Single RAN software and the new baseband plug-in cards offer multi-mode (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) and multi-band and supports the latest fronthaul interfaces (eCPRI) on a sngle baseband platform, simplifying the network and lowering costs.





Nokias ReefShark chipsets will also play a critical role in future Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities. Nokia has already introduced AI/ML features in areas such as predictive load balancing, anomaly detection, and intelligent traffic steering. All Nokia ReefShark platforms are AI/ML ready and Nokia is carrying out proof of concepts with customers this year in innovative areas such as Massive MIMO beam pattern optimization, energy-saving, advanced traffic steering, advanced packet scheduling, and alarm pattern discovery.

Patrick Filkins, Senior Research Analyst, IoT and Mobile Network Infrastructure, IDC, commented: 5G networks are absolutely critical for improving network capacity and performance, particularly when higher bandwidth is in demand. Nokias new portfolio addresses these concerns by enabling mobile operators to flexibly scale capacity while helping to smoothly transition to 5G from existing technologies easily and cost-effectively. The integration of Nokias ReefShark SoCs across both radio and baseband boosts performance and capacity and the new massive MIMO antennas set a new benchmark for low weight without compromising on performance. These solutions will help mobile operators to address the increasingly dynamic mobile services space that urgently requires more capacity. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks, Nokia, said: Our new generation of ReefShark-powered AirScale radio and baseband products is evidence of the successful transformation of our business and ability to deliver market-leading products to our global customers. Nokias new portfolio enables communication service providers to offer both consumer and enterprise customers with cutting-edge 5G experiences with premium speeds, capacity, and connectivity underpinned by seamless, simple, and efficient plug-in deployment. Our new AirScale products are O-RAN ready. They consume less energy and highlight our commitment to climate change. Were excited to see our customers deploying these products and see the transformative impact of 5G technology. Resources: Activate massive 5G capacity with Nokia AirScale  launch event

Activate massive 5G capacity with Nokia AirScale

AirScale baseband | Nokia

AirScale Active Antennas | Nokia

AirScale Radio | Nokia

Single RAN | Nokia

About Nokia

We create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. Media Inquiries:

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com



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[June 24, 2021] Global Banks Preparing to Leverage SWIFT's New Platform for International Payments Flows

Six leading global banks today announced their endorsement for SWIFT's new transaction management platform and are preparing to use its expanded capabilities to enable new services, improve efficiency and reduce costs when the platform goes live in November 2022. Bank of China, Bank of New York Mellon, BNP Paribas, Citi, Deutsche Bank, and Standard Chartered confirmed their preparations for the platform as the co-operative detailed an ambitious roadmap it will roll out over the next 18 months. New features - including upfront validation of beneficiary details, central management of exceptions, extension of SWIFT's high-speed gpi rails to lower-value payments and new rich data services based on the ISO 20022 standard - will serve as the building blocks of the enhanced platform. These are integral components of SWIFT's strategy to facilitate instant and frictionless end-to-end transactions anywhere in the world. The platform evolution builds on extensive work by the SWIFT community in the past five years to transform cross-border payments. Through gpi, most cross-border payments today reach end beneficiaries within minutes with full transparency and confirmation when the payment reaches its final destination. This happens across SWIFT's network connecting more than 11,000 institutions, and 4 billion accounts across 200 countries worldwide. The new capabilities and enhanced platform SWIFT is building will take these advancements to the next level while ensuring interoperability with new payment types, technologies and services. It will facilitate further innovation and enable exciting new solutions to end customers along with an improved cross-border experience. Preparations for new services are already underway, and international banks see significant potential in the platform capabilities across both payments and securities processing. Fan Yaosheng, General Manager of Clearing Department, Bank of China said: "SWIFT is already making substantial progress on the new strategy outlined last year and the new features outlined in the roadmap today demonstrate that SWIFT is listening closely to the needs of the industry." Paul Camp, CEO of Treasury Services, Bank of New York Mellon said: "We are very excited by the opportunities SWIFT's transaction managment platform will offer. SWIFT has unique assets including both global and domestic reach via connectivity to financial institutions around the world, expansive data and unparalleled resiliency. Unlocking the value of these assets will bring significant value to our global clients, and we are fully committed to working with SWIFT and the wider industry to drive this transformation forward and help revolutionize the way value moves around the world."



Pierre Fersztand, Global Head of Cash Management, Trade and Payments, BNP Paribas said: "A transformation is underway in the world of payments and securities processing. Our customers require transactions that are fast, secure and cost-effective. SWIFT's new platform equips the industry with the tools to innovate and meet the demands of the modern era, allowing institutions to leverage enhanced features and more robust data and analytics to accelerate their own digital transformation and deliver a seamless customer experience." Manish Kohli, Global Head of Payments and Receivables, Treasury and Trade Solutions, Citi said: "SWIFT's platform strategy helps provide the industry with a clear path towards a ubiquitous instant and frictionless cross-border payments experience, which, coupled with SWIFT's established global reach and scale, represents a credible path to success. We look forward to working with the wider SWIFT community to drive transformational change and to deliver this substantially improved payments experience directly to our clients."

Ole Matthiessen, Managing Director, Global Head of Cash Management, Deutsche Bank said: "SWIFT's platform will be a powerful catalyst for innovation for the financial services industry. We can already see how the platform will allow our industry to seamlessly integrate new features that will reduce costs and provide for faster, frictionless payments. It perfectly complements and integrates with Deutsche Bank's own planned products and services to support future industry demand." Philip Panaino, Global Head, Cash Management, Standard Chartered said: "SWIFT has always been a valued partner in helping our customers fulfill their business objectives, and the enhanced platform launched as part of the new strategy ensures we can continue to adapt to their needs. SWIFT has an established track record in bringing innovative new solutions to market such as gpi, and we are confident the new platform will be even more transformative for the industry." About SWIFT

SWIFT is a global member owned cooperative and the world's leading provider of secure financial messaging services. We provide our community with a platform for messaging and standards for communicating, and we offer products and services to facilitate access and integration, identification, analysis and regulatory compliance. Our messaging platform, products and services connect more than 11,000 banking and securities organisations, market infrastructures and corporate customers in more than 200 countries and territories. While SWIFT does not hold funds or manage accounts on behalf of customers, we enable our global community of users to communicate securely, exchanging standardised financial messages in a reliable way, thereby supporting global and local financial flows, as well as trade and commerce all around the world. As their trusted provider, we relentlessly pursue operational excellence; we support our community in addressing cyber threats; and we continually seek ways to lower costs, reduce risks and eliminate operational inefficiencies. Our products and services support our community's access and integration, business intelligence, reference data and financial crime compliance needs. SWIFT also brings the financial community together - at global, regional and local levels - to shape market practice, define standards and debate issues of mutual interest or concern. Headquartered in Belgium, SWIFT's international governance and oversight reinforces the neutral, global character of its cooperative structure. SWIFT's global office network ensures an active presence in all the major financial centres. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005197/en/

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[June 24, 2021] New Epson BrightLink GoBoard Brings Advanced Connection and Collaboration to Classrooms as Breakthrough Software Solution

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide,1 today announced a breakthrough software solution for enhanced lesson plans and student engagement  the BrightLink GoBoard Wireless Collaboration and Integrated Whiteboard Solution. As a dynamic whiteboard solution, BrightLink GoBoard is equipped with a suite of collaborative features and included AirServer technology, allowing both students and teachers to share, annotate and stream mirrored content in real time. At the ISTELive 21 virtual event next week, Epson's product manager Tom Piche will discuss the BrightLink GoBoard solution in more detail during Epson's Solutions Snapshot sessions on June 27 and June 30. "BrightLink GoBoard is a powerful solution that transforms classroom whiteboards into creative canvases for students and teachers," said Piche. "Epson's BrightLink solutions aim to empower teachers with engaging and interactive tools, and BrightLink GoBoard adds another layer of collaboration to inspire, captivate and encourage student participation from anywhere in the room." BrightLink GoBoard is a full featured collaborative software solution that offers seamless integration with current BrightLink interactive display setups. The downloadable solution is simple and intuitive, allowing students and teachers to share content from Chromebook, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. Created with convenience and student participation in mind, BrightLink GoBoard also works alongside popular video communication tools, such as Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams, so students at home can easily follow along.2 For even greater flexibility and convenience, the included Teacher Console allows teachers to seamlessly connect to any BrightLink GoBoard hub. Once connected, teachers can create, save and share lesson plans and other content from their PC and accept files from students on their devices in the classroom. Additionally, with a built-in web browser that includes video and image search, teachers can easily find, drag and drop captivating videos or images from the web onto the whiteboard to help engage students and elevate lesson plans. BrightLink GoBoard is an ideal solution for delivering captivating lesson plans while sharing and saving presentation materials on the go. Additional features include: Full suite of interactive tools for educators  Feature-packed whiteboard allows the entire class to connect, draw, open, and share native PC files such as Microsoft  Office documents, PDFs, photos, videos, audio, and SMART Notebook  files

 Feature-packed whiteboard allows the entire class to connect, draw, open, and share native PC files such as Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, photos, videos, audio, and SMART Notebook files Designed for collaboration  Wirelessly onnect and display mirrored content in real time from Windows, Chromebooks, iOS, and Android devices

 Wirelessly onnect and display mirrored content in real time from Windows, Chromebooks, iOS, and Android devices Easy installation and management of classrooms and lesson plans  The BrightLink GoBoard Teachers Console can be used on up to four PCs

 The BrightLink GoBoard Teachers Console can be used on up to four PCs Create eye-catching lessons on the fly  Powerful web-based tools, including built-in browser, video and image search, handwriting recognition, as well as voice to text tools

 Powerful web-based tools, including built-in browser, video and image search, handwriting recognition, as well as voice to text tools Share to anywhere  Integration with Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams makes it easy for students to follow lessons from remote locations

 Integration with Google Meet, Zoom and Microsoft Teams makes it easy for students to follow lessons from remote locations Connect and simultaneously share whiteboard  Up to 35 connected student devices can be connected in a classroom

 Up to 35 connected student devices can be connected in a classroom Enjoy safe and convenient cloud-based file storage  Seamless integration with Office 365, OneDrive  , Google Drive  and Dropbox 

 Seamless integration with Office 365, OneDrive , Google Drive and Dropbox Select the right subscription for your needs  One- and three-year subscriptions available

 One- and three-year subscriptions available Try software for free  30-day free trial available from Epson.com



Product Availability

BrightLink GoBoard will be available end of July 2021 and can be purchased through Epson-authorized AV resellers. Pricing for BrightLink GoBoard will be $119 for a 1-year license and $319 for a 3-year license through the Epson Brighter Futures program. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/goboard. Epson's Brighter Futures program is a unique sales and support initiative available specifically for schools. Designed to help educators select and implement the best products for their classrooms while making the most of their budgets, Brighter Futures offers special pricing, dedicated education account managers, and toll-free technical support for all Epson projectors and associated accessories. Under the CARES Act, Epson education products and solutions qualify for funding included in the package's K-12 relief fund,3 making them a smart and affordable choice for hybrid classrooms.

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson's goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/ Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica). 1 Epson is the #1 projector brand worldwide and in the U.S. according to most recent quarterly data from PMA, a leading high-tech market research and publishing firm specializing in the display market. 2 For wireless functionality, including via the Epson iProjection App, the projector must be configured on a network, either through the Ethernet port on the projector (check model specifications for availability) or via a wireless connection. Check your owner's manual to determine if a wireless LAN module must be purchased separately to enable a wireless connection. Not all Epson projectors are able to be networked. The Epson iProjection App does not support all files and formats. See www.epson.com for details. 3 www.future-ed.org/what-congressional-covid-funding-means-for-k-12-schools. EPSON is a registered trademark, EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark and Epson iProjection is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Brighter Futures and BrightLink are registered trademarks and BrightLink GoBoard is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. Android, Chromebook and Google Drive are trademarks of Google LLC. Microsoft, OneDrive and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2021 Epson America, Inc. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-epson-brightlink-goboard-brings-advanced-connection-and-collaboration-to-classrooms-as-breakthrough-software-solution-301319101.html SOURCE Epson America, Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Render Partners With Wessex Internet to Accelerate Gigabit Connections Across Rural Communities in the UK

UK telecommunications company Wessex Internet has partnered with construction technology leader Render Networks to accelerate the regional deployment of its fibre network over the next decade. It comes amid a broader push across the UK to accelerate gigabit broadband and future-proof upwards of 85% of households nationally by 2025. Wessex Internet's fibre network spans the countryside of Dorset, South Wiltshire, South Somerset, and parts of Hampshire. When added to its network of over 150 wireless masts the company can provide a superfast connection to tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the south west of the UK. Render's deployment technology removes the complexity of network rollouts with real-time, geospatial data flows and the delivery of daily optimised tasks to Wessex Internet's construction teams. These unique capabilities streamlinethe end-to-end construction process, with potential to deliver schedule and cost efficiencies of up to 50%.



Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet said: "Access to a gigabit capable connection is becoming increasingly vital, but often rural communities are the last to benefit from new technologies and infrastructure. One of the biggest challenges is organising and accurately recording the vast amount of work our teams undertake across a dispersed rural geography. We're delighted to partner with Render to help us accelerate progress and drive efficiencies across our network construction processes." "This is an exciting partnership for Render. We're eager to bring the same innovation that's enabling future-proof connectivity in Australia and the United States to the UK at a time when all communities across the country need it most. We are thrilled to be part of the solution," Sam Pratt, CEO at Render Networks added.

About Render Networks Render has a successful history of streamlining large-scale network construction in Australia and the United States. Render's network construction platform converts a complex network design directly into a digital scope, sequenced to optimal delivery, resulting in cost and time efficiencies of up to 50%. Real-time, geospatial data provides a single, integrated view of progress to all stakeholders, improving project data visibility and control across network rollouts. https://rendernetworks.com/ About Wessex Internet Wessex Internet believes rural communities deserve better internet today. A local and independent internet service provider, Wessex Internet is building full fibre networks to provide ultrafast broadband to rural homes and businesses. Its extensive full fibre network spans the countryside from near Warminster in Wiltshire to Lulworth on the Jurassic Coast. Wessex Internet is proud to offer its customers broadband the way it should be - fast, reliable and affordable. www.wessexinternet.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005394/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Deakin University and Great Lakes Institute of Management sign an agreement to offer innovative pathway programs in business and business analytics to Indian students

NEW DELHI, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Great Lakes Institute of Management, with its campuses in Gurgaon and Chennai (GLIM), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Deakin University to offer an innovative option for Indian students to articulate into undergraduate business degrees in Australia after having studied the first year at GLIM in India. The association will provide a great opportunity for students to study a three-year Bachelors degree from Deakin Business School (DBS) through a transnational education (TNE) on a licensing model with the first year spent at Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) at its Gurgaon and Chennai campuses. Student outreach and the technology platform to support the programs would be provided by Great Learning, a leading ed-tech platform in higher education. The collaboration was earlier formalised by Professor Gary Smith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), Deakin University and Mr Mohan Lakhamraju, Vice Chairman, Great Lakes Institute of Management, who virtually signed an agreement in the presence of Ms Catherine Gallagher, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade & Investment Commission, New Delhi, alongside other senior representatives from both institutions. In this model, Deakin Business School will provide a standard licensing package that comprises 8 undergraduate units and offer students the opportunity to articulate into the second year of any one of four undergraduate programs at Deakin University. Through this agreement, GLIM will teach one year (8 credit points under license), at their Gurgaon and Chennai campuses in India. Students who complete these units, in addition to meeting the Deakin University entry requirements, would then articulate into a pathway to progress into either of the degrees in Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Business Analytics, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) and complete years 2 and 3 on-shore in Australia. Upon successful completion, Deakin University would award a bachelor's degree in the students' chosen course. Mr Mohan Lakhamraju, Chairman, Great Lakes Institute of Management said, "Great Lakes is very excited to offer students in India this unique, convenient and high-quality option in collabration with Deakin University for pursuing their undergraduate degree programs in business and analytics. Over the past 10 years, Great Lakes has established itself as the leading institution of excellence in the highly sought-after area of business analytics and will bring this excellence into these UG programs. Deakin University has been a pioneer in offering innovative learning options and Great Lakes is proud to associate with them for the benefit of students in these challenging times."



Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Global Engagement at Deakin University, Professor Gary Smith said that Deakin continuously seeks to develop such innovative pathway models to provide students with an opportunity to keep their study and career goals on track, especially in these challenging situations. This agreement with Great Lakes Institute is an important one which would enable a high-value outcome both in terms of quality students coming to Deakin and also developing a pool of high-end talent who would be able to find their place in the global workplace in the future.

The partners will further explore developing similar pathway programs in other emerging study areas to expand innovative learning options for the young students in India. For more information on the program, please email bba.deakin@greatlearning.in or call +91 83106 88421. ABOUT DEAKIN UNIVERSITY - www.deakin.edu.au Established in 1974, Deakin is ranked in the top 50 Universities in the World who are under 50 years of age. Deakin is placed in the top 1% of the world's universities (ARWU) and is ranked as Australia's #1 university for overall educational experience, which is enhanced by innovative digital engagement. Deakin was awarded a 5-star rating by the prestigious university ranking organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). As one of Australia's leading tertiary education providers for over 40 years, Deakin teaches over 60,000 students each year of which more than 3000 are from the Indian sub-continent. Deakin hosts students from across 133 countries and for ten consecutive years our undergraduate students have been the most satisfied students of all Victorian universities (Australian Graduate Survey 2010-2015, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2016-2019 (GOS), Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT)). Deakin University aims to be Australia's premier university in driving the digital frontier, enabling globally connected education for the jobs of the future and research that makes a difference to the communities we serve. About Deakin University - www.deakin.edu.au Established in 1974, Deakin is ranked in the top 50 Universities in the World who are under 50 years of age. Deakin is placed in the top 1% of the world's universities (ARWU) and is ranked as Australia's #1 university for overall educational experience, which is enhanced by innovative digital engagement. Deakin was awarded a 5-star rating by the prestigious university ranking organisation Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). As one of Australia's leading tertiary education providers for over 40 years, Deakin teaches over 60,000 students each year of which more than 3000 are from the Indian sub-continent. Deakin hosts students from across 133 countries and for ten consecutive years our undergraduate students have been the most satisfied students of all Victorian universities (Australian Graduate Survey 2010-2015, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2016-2019 (GOS), Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT)). Deakin University aims to be Australia's premier university in driving the digital frontier, enabling globally connected education for the jobs of the future and research that makes a difference to the communities we serve. About Great Lakes Great Lakes has emerged as a top-ranking business school within a short span of 15 years, driven by its exceptional academic faculty, innovative and pathbreaking initiatives, eminent advisory council, world-class campuses and international collaborations. It is the youngest B-school in the country to receive the accreditation of the Association of MBAs (AMBA, UK) for its PGPM and PGXPM programs in 2014 in Chennai and 2019 in Gurgaon. Consistently ranked among the top business schools in India, Great Lakes continues to innovate to meet the fast-evolving needs of its students, corporate partners and the community at large. Media Contact : David Das

david.das@deakin.edu.au

+91-9811180725

ETP Services Private Limited Logo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713572/Deakin_University_Logo.jpg

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[June 24, 2021] Clenergy and JJ-LAPP Solar 'Powering' towards a Brighter, Sustainable Future in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clenergy, a globally renowned solar mounting gear provider, and JJ-LAPP, the cable technology joint venture of diversified industrial conglomerate Jebsen & Jessen and LAPP Holding Asia, have announced their partnership. The partnership is in line with achieving Malaysia's target to generate 20% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2025 , expecting to unlock RM 4 billion in investment and create an estimated number of 12,000 new jobs . It also aims to drive Malaysia's growing solar energy industry further and support the country by bringing Malaysia to the forefront of sustainable projects. Engineering, construction, and procurement companies not only in Malaysia, but within the larger region including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Phlippines will now have access to Clenergy's entire portfolio through JJ-LAPP's network in South East Asia.



Commenting on this partnership, Daniel Hong, Chief Executive Officer, Clenergy, said, "We are excited to be partnering with a leading brand like JJ-LAPP. With their network, we aim to bring the latest technology in the sector to local projects in Malaysia and the entire region, at large. This partnership will strengthen the solar industry offerings in Malaysia and SEA region. This is in line with the Malaysian government's efforts to drive the solar industry, having allocated RM2 billion towards the Green Technology Financial Scheme as part of their Sustainable Development Goals in Budget 2021." Adding to it, Mike Winzerling, Chief Executive Officer, JJ-LAPP, said, "We are glad to be partnering with Clenergy. The synergy of Clenergy's long standing experience in the solar energy space backed by the strength of our network and reach within ASEAN will make sustainable energy practices more accessible and drive the industry forward within Malaysia and the region. This is an exciting time for us as we continue to pursue growth opportunities while developing the solid foundation that we've built throughout the region."

Malaysia has one of the lowest electricity prices in the world. This is a significant achievement, but it has somewhat slowed down the acceleration towards the adoption of solar energy in the country resulting in Malaysia being comparatively slow in deploying solar and other renewable power sources compared to some other countries across the globe. The new partnership between Clenergy and JJ-LAPP can help make renewable energy more accessible to businesses and consumers in Malaysia. SOURCE Clenergy

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[June 24, 2021] Convoy Adds AWS Vice President Dorothy Li to its Leadership Team as Chief Technology Officer

Convoy, the nation's most efficient digital freight network, today announced that Dorothy Li has been appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective June 28, 2021. As CTO, Li will oversee Convoy's engineering teams and technology strategy, shaping and scaling the company's innovation and industry-defining technology platforms. Li will report directly to Convoy CEO Dan Lewis. Convoy Co-founder Grant Goodale, who served as the company's previous CTO, will move into a new role overseeing Convoy's carrier marketplace. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005383/en/



Prior to Convoy, Li held several leadership roles at Amazon, and most recently served as Vice President of BI and Analytics at Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AWS). During her 23 years at Amazon, Li helped build out Amazon's ecommerce platform and also led and collaborated on products that visibly impacted customers around the world - from the initial launch of Amazon Prime, to Kindle, to AWS Cloud.

"Dorothy is a true innovator and has created and scaled products used by millions of people and thousands of businesses, and I couldn't be more excited for her to join Convoy," said Dan Lewis, CEO of Convoy. "Dorothy's natural curiosity, passion and thoughtful approach to engineering and business will be an excellent match with Convoy's culture. I look forward to partnering with Dorothy to scale our engineering program as we continue to accelerate Convoy's growth at this transformative moment for the $800 billion US freight industry." "Convoy is attacking one of the hardest problems in the world, bringing digital transformation to the extremely fragmented trucking industry and bringing new levels of efficiency to eliminating carbon waste for our planet. That requires innovation, extraordinary execution and a high performing engineering culture that embraces disruption on behalf of the customer," said Dorothy Li, Convoy CTO. "I am delighted to be joining Convoy on this big and bold mission. It is definitely 'Day One' in the new era of digital transformation for the freight industry. I can't wait to get started." About Convoy Convoy is the nation's most efficient digital freight network. We move thousands of truckloads around the country each day through our optimized, connected network of carriers, saving money for shippers, increasing earnings for drivers, and eliminating carbon waste for our planet. We use technology and data to solve problems of waste and inefficiency in the $800B trucking industry, which generates over 87 million metric tons of wasted CO2 emissions from empty trucks. Fortune 500 shippers like Anheuser-Busch, P&G, Niagara, and Unilever trust Convoy to lower costs, increase logistics efficiency, and achieve environmental sustainability targets. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005383/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Hungary Joins European Biobanking Research Infrastructure as Full Member

Hungary as Full Member state has joined the Biobanking and BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure  European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC) at its Assembly of Members, which took place virtually on 14th June 2021. GRAZ, Austria, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hungary will be represented by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDIO) and becomes the 22nd Member. BBMRI.hu intends to take part in the overall aim and activities of BBMRI-ERIC through the coordination of the Semmelweis University, hosting the Hungarian BBMRI National Node. In the coming months, both the Hungarian Ministry of Education and Science and Semmelweis University will work with BBMRI-ERIC to set up the BBMRI National Node. Dr Istvan Szabo, Vice President for Science and International Affairs of National Research, Development and Innovation Office, responsible for international research infrastructure memberships in Hungary said, "I would like first to thank BBMRI-ERIC for the warm welcome of the Hungarian biobanking and biomedical community to their European family. I am proud that we have excellent research teams who collaborate world-wide and I am convinced we should further strengthen our policies and instruments in support of our bright minds and the research and innovation development in the country. "In 2020, with initiative from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office the four major universities (Semmelweis University, University of Szeged, University of Debrecen, University of Pecs), a healthcare provider (Central Hospital of Southern Pest) and a private sector company (Richter Gedeon Plc.) formed a consortium that would best represent Hungary when applying to BBMRI-ERIC s a National Node. The parties involved with the consortium all have significant experiences in biobanking and presently hold up to ca. 500 000 samples aggregate.



"In this Hungarian biobank network, the main focus is on the following fields: cardiovascular disorders, Oncological disorders, rare disorders (especially neurogenetic, ophthalmological and metabolic disorders and genodermatosis), neurodegenerative disorders, pancreatic disorders, haematological disorders, asthma, inflammatory bowel disorders and traumatic brain disorders, and COVID-19 infections. A large longitudinal biobank with vast amount of structured datasets and with 800 samples is dedicated to the schizophrenia research. The biobank network supported several research programs and publications. In the last five years within 116 research programs, 295 PhD students graduated, and 424 publications were published in topics related to our biobanks. "Nowadays in the biomedical field nobody can work anymore in silos, a well-established network is the basic requirement for innovative research of high-quality. We hope that by joining BBMRI ERIC the Hungarian Node can enter the largest European biobank network and participate in international research programs, focused trainings and quality management programs.

"Joining BBMRI ERIC, we can achieve better, more efficient treatment and recovery of patients with higher quality samples, data storage and support for biomedical research. Hungary is committed to continuing its efforts to contribute to the European Research community and our common goals." BBMRI-ERIC's Director General Jens Habermann: "It is with such a great pleasure I welcome Hungary to BBMRI-ERIC. Hungarian biobanks are now connected to the world like never before. At the same time, researchers and biobankers will have access to additional knowledge, IT tools, and tailor-made guidance by BBMRI-ERIC that will support their current development. "In this pandemic time, this is also a major milestone for European research in general and we greatly acknowledge Hungary boosting the development of its biomedical sector", Prof. Habermann commented. Prof. Habermann concluded saying: "Biomedical research does not take place in a vacuum: it requires a multidisciplinary approach. That is why we are increasing our collaboration with other ERICs to ensure that, in the future, research infrastructures further excel biomedical research.". BBMRI-ERIC brings together more than 700 biobanks from its Members and one international organisation. The BBMRI-ERIC Directory, the largest sample catalogue in the world, allows users to search millions of samples online, meeting BBMRI's main mission to facilitate access to biological samples, data and biomolecular resources. BBMRI-ERIC is an international organisation established under EU legislation. Its headquarters are located in Graz, Austria. BBMRI provides support and services to local biobanks via its National Nodes (one per country). The National Nodes are fully involved in the day-to-day management of BBMRI-ERIC and provide feedback from the national level. BBMRI-ERIC services and research activities cover three main areas: ethical, legal and societal issues (ELSI), quality management, and IT solutions that allow users to search collections and biomolecular resources online and request access. www.bbmri-eric.eu Editor's Note: BBMRI-ERIC Members: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and United Kingdom BBMRI-ERIC Observers: Cyprus, Lithuania, Switzerland, Turkey and IARC/WHO Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1549901/BBMRI_ERIC_Szabo.jpg

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[June 24, 2021] Railway A.I. New Force - Highly reliable fanless computer with MXM GPU to enhance autonomous driving.

TAIPEI, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ -- DFI, the world's leading industrial computer manufacturer, has announced the RC300-CS high-reliability embedded system designed for the railway industry that requires reliable and high-performance AIoT edge computing. More information can be found on the DFI RC300-CS product page. Railway has gradually stepped into the application areas of AIoT, such as autonomous driving, railway intrusion detection, and crowd flow analysis. In addition, the train is in a state of vibration for a long time, and the safety of a large number of passengers is involved. Therefore, all electronic equipment must adapt to different environments including shock, vibration, temperature, altitude, humidity, electrical properties, and fire protection to meet railway safety. RC300-CS not only has powerfl performance, rich I/O interface, complete GPU expandability brought by MXM, wider voltage input, and 5G networking capabilities that stand out in the industry but also has been certified by the E.U. railway standard, including electronic equipment EN50155, fire protection EN45545, and vibrations and shocks EN61373 to provide the most reliable and stable brain with both high performance and high scalability for the railway industry.



RC300-CS uses Intel's 8th and 9th generation desktop Core processors and can be equipped with nVidia GeForce / Quadro MXM adapter, along with maximum 2560 CUDA cores and 8TFlops, which is powerful enough for autonomous driving. RC300-CS can operate in a harsh operating environment of -25C~70C and 9-36V or 77-137.5V, in response to the situation that often faces a huge temperature difference and unstable voltage. Four 15W PoE on M12X-coded connector and 2kV isolation protection DI/DO, which are conducive to deployment of peripheral equipment in the train. The excellent heat dissipation enables it to operate stably even if it is deployed under the driver or passenger seat where there is no airflow. Because of ensuring uninterrupted network communication during driving, it is necessary to connect to different network services simultaneously. Therefore RC300-CS provides multiple M.2 & miniPCIe slots, which can expand LTE, 5G, Wifi/BT, GNSS, CAN bus, MVB (Multifunction Vehicle Bus). In addition, standard I/O interfaces are also readily available, including an externally swappable bay installed with four 2.5-inch SSDs, providing abundant data storage and data integrity brought by disk arrays.

Contact us via click here for a free demo and consultation. Related Links

https://www.dfi.com/ View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/railway-ai-new-force---highly-reliable-fanless-computer-with-mxm-gpu-to-enhance-autonomous-driving-301319216.html SOURCE DFI Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Fractal Appoints Ashwath Bhat as Chief Financial Officer

MUMBAI, India, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fractal, (fractal.ai), a global provider of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics solutions to Fortune 500 companies, today announced the appointment of Ashwath Bhat as Chief Financial Officer. Based out of global headquarters in New York, Ashwath will oversee the company's strategic finance, accounting, business intelligence, treasury and legal functions. "We are delighted to welcome Ashwath to Fractal," said Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder, Group Chief Executive & Vice Chairman of Fractal. "Ashwath has a great track record of driving operational excellence and profitable growth in global & diversified businesses. In Ashwath, we have found a passionate leader with a problem-solving mindset, well aligned with Fractal's core values." "Fractal is an exciting company that enjoys the tust of world's most admired brands," said Ashwath. "I look forward to working with the team and execute on the company's priorities, accelerate growth and maximize stakeholder value," he added.



Ashwath brings over two decades of global corporate finance and operations experience with reputed organizations such as GE, IBM and Nielsen. Over the last 10 years, he served in a variety of positions within Nielsen, including as the SVP of Finance Operations, CFO for Gracenote and VP of Corporate FP&A. Ashwath is a Chartered Accountant from India and a graduate of GE's Finance Management Program.

About Fractal Fractal is one of the most prominent players in the Artificial Intelligence space. Fractal's mission is to power every human decision in the enterprise and brings AI, engineering, and design to help the world's most admired Fortune 500 companies. Fractal's products include Qure.ai to assist radiologists in making better diagnostic decisions, Cuddle.ai to assists CEOs, and senior executives make better tactical and strategic decisions, Theremin.ai to improve investment decisions, and Eugenie.ai to find anomalies in high-velocity data & Samya.ai to drive next generation Enterprise Revenue Growth Management Fractal has more than 2,300 employees across 16 global locations, including the United States, UK, Ukraine, India, and Australia. Fractal has consistently been rated as India's best companies to work for, by The Great Place to Work Institute, featured as a leader in the Specialized Insights Service Providers Wave 2020, Computer Vision Consultancies Wave 2020 & Customer Analytics Service Providers Wave 2019 by Forrester Research, and recognized as an "Honorable Vendor" in 2021 Magic Quadrant for data & analytics by Gartner. For more information visit fractal.ai.

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[June 24, 2021] Illumio Secures $225 Million at $2.75 Billion Valuation to Stop Cyber Disasters with Zero Trust Segmentation

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Illumio , the pioneer and leader of Zero Trust Segmentation, today announced a $225 million Series F funding round at a $2.75 billion valuation. The round is led by Thoma Bravo and is also supported by Franklin Templeton, funds managed by Hamilton Lane, and Owl Rock, a division of Blue Owl Capital.

Cyberattacks and ransomware are more successful than ever. We are witnessing the most catastrophic breaches in history on a regular basis, despite security spending that is expected to top $150 billion* this year. Colonial Pipeline, JBS, Microsoft Exchange and daily incidents of smaller ransomware payouts prove that legacy security does not provide adequate protection, and the entire security model is in question. A Zero Trust strategy is the new model, designed to assume breach at all times. While no single product or platform equals a complete Zero Trust approach, segmentation is a core pillar of every Zero Trust strategy. Illumio pioneered Zero Trust Segmentation, and the companys SaaS platform makes it easy to deliver automated enforcement in minutes , dramatically reducing risk by stopping successful cyberattacks and ransomware from moving to other applications, clouds, containers, data centers, and endpoints. Many Fortune 100 companies and hundreds of global enterprises are using Illumio today, including the three top enterprise SaaS companies, five of the leading insurance companies, and six of the ten biggest banks in the world. Adopting Zero Trust strategies has never been more important for organizations across all industries, as the Biden Administrations recent cybersecurity Executive Order demonstrates. This investment signals that now is the time to reimagine the cybersecurity model as we know it, with Zero Trust Segmentation playing a fundamental role in this strategic shift, said Andrew Rubin, CEO and co-founder of Illumio. With this funding, we will accelerate our innovation in product and engineering, further invest in customer success,and build upon our global partner strategy.



Illumio provides fast, simple, cloud-native Zero Trust Segmentation. Illumio Core and Illumio Edge make it easy to segment your hybrid, multi-cloud IT estates and to secure workloads at any scale, from 100 to 100,000+ workloads. Illumio delivers intelligent visibility, a radically simple policy creation engine, and automated segmentation and enforcement in minutes. Illumios unique approach to stopping the spread of cyber disasters has fueled the fastest period of growth in company history with highlights including: Being named as a Leader in Zero Trust platforms by Forrester Research in The Forrester Wave: Zero Trust eXtended (ZTX) Ecosystem Platform Providers, Q3 2020 report

Closing the strongest quarter (Q4 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021) in company history and highest number of new customers in a fiscal year

Achieving international annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth of more than 100 percent

Gaining significant traction in the Illumio federal business including the recent win of a U.S. Air Force SBIR Award As the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks increases, Zero Trust Segmentation is set for a breakthrough moment, and Illumio is the clear market leader, said Robert (Tre) Sayle, a partner at Thoma Bravo. Illumio plays a critical role in protecting some of the largest organizations in the world and is well-positioned to build upon its record-breaking growth with continued sales momentum and product innovation. We look forward to partnering with the talented Illumio team and leveraging Thoma Bravos significant security and operational expertise as we embark on an initiative to invest in hyper growth software and technology companies.

* Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Security and Risk Management Spending to Exceed $150 Billion in 2021, May 17, 2021. https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-05-17-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-security-and-risk-managem About Illumio

Illumio, the pioneer and market leader of Zero Trust Segmentation, stops breaches from becoming cyber disasters. Illumio Core and Illumio Edge automate policy enforcement to stop cyberattacks and ransomware from spreading across applications, containers, clouds, data centers, and endpoints. By combining intelligent visibility to detect threats with security enforcement achieved in minutes, Illumio enables the worlds leading organizations to strengthen their cyber resiliency and reduce risk. About Thoma Bravo

Thoma Bravo is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with more than $78 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2021. The firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Leveraging the firm's deep sector expertise and proven strategic and operational capabilities, Thoma Bravo collaborates with its portfolio companies to implement operating best practices, drive growth initiatives and make accretive acquisitions intended to accelerate revenue and earnings. Over the past 20 years, the firm has acquired more than 300 companies representing over $85 billion in enterprise value. The firm has offices in Chicago, Miami and San Francisco. For more information, visit thomabravo.com . Contact Information Holly Pyper comms-team@illumio.com 669.800.5000



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[June 24, 2021] Ault Global Holdings Names Christopher K. Wu Executive Vice President of Alternative Investments of the Company and as the President of Ault Alliance, Inc., a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company

Ault Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: DPW) a diversified holding company (the "Company"), announced it has hired Christopher K. Wu to fill the new position of Executive Vice President of Alternative Investments of the Company and the President of Ault Alliance, Inc., one of the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries. Mr. Wu will report to the Company's CEO, William B. Horne. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005382/en/ Christopher K. Wu, Executive Vice President of Alternative Investments for Ault Global Holdings, Inc. and President of Ault Alliance, Inc. (Photo: Business Wire) Milton "Todd" Ault, III, the Company's Executive Chairman, stated, "With over 20 years' experience in investment banking, financial restructuring, and principal investment, Chris is a great fit for Ault Global. We look forward to the impact Chris can make with investment sourcing, strategic planning, business development and building shareholder value. We believe his financial acumen will enhance our ability to continue to build and monetize our diversified portfolio." Mr. Wu stated, "I am excited to join Ault Global Holdings and I am looking forward to creating significant shareholder value from Ault Global's investment platform by finding undervalued and disruptive investment opportunities as well as optimizing financing and growth for its operating businesses." About Christopher K. Wu From April 2017 through June 30, 2021, Mr. Wu was the President, Restructuring Advisory and Senior Managing Director of Teneo Capital LLC. Prior to joining Teneo, Mr. Wu was a partner of Carl Marks Advisors for fourteen years as Co-Head of its Investment Banking Group and Member of its Management Committee. Prior to Carl Marks, Mr. Wu was an investment banker with JPMorgan for six years in New York and London focused on M&A, asset-backed securities and debt private placements. Mr. Wu is a recognized senior adviser with more than 23 years of investment banking, financial restructuring, and principal investment experience. Mr. Wu's experience spans many industries wih a concentration in commercial real estate, insurance and financial services, alternative energy, cryptocurrencies, technology, business services, consumer products, and basic industries. Mr. Wu has closed over 125 transactions in his career encompassing a wide variety of complex transactions, including asset and corporate stock purchases, leveraged buyouts, mergers, spin-offs, carve outs as well as all forms of situational financings including debtor-in-possession, asset-based loans, construction finance, backstop equity, preferred stock, and junior capital financings.



In 2020, Mr. Wu's work on the reorganization of CBCS Washington Street, a five-star luxury hotel in the TriBeCa district of Manhattan, was cited as Hospitality Deal of the Year by the M&A Advisor. Mr. Wu was named Financial Adviser of the Year in 2018 for his role in the Chapter 11 reorganization of Navillus Contracting, the largest concrete superstructure subcontractor in New York. He was also named M&A Banker of the Year in 2016 by the Turnaround Atlas Awards and Restructuring Banker of the Year in both 2013 and 2014. In 2013, the M&A Advisor recognized his leading role in the sale of PJ Finance as Real Estate Deal of the Year. In 2011, The Global M&A Network cited his work on FX Luxury Las Vegas I as 2011 Chapter 11 Real Estate Reorganization of the Year - Middle Markets. Mr. Wu earned a B.A. from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University. Mr. Wu serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Career Development, a New York based non-profit agency focused on vocational rehabilitation for people with disabilities.

For more information on Ault Global Holdings and its subsidiaries, the Company recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read the Company's public filings with the SEC (News - Alert) , available at www.sec.gov, and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at www.AultGlobal.com. About Ault Global Holdings, Inc. Ault Global Holdings, Inc. is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact. Through its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, the Company provides mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, telecommunications, medical/biopharma, and textiles. In addition, the Company extends credit to select entrepreneurial businesses through a licensed lending subsidiary. Ault Global Holdings' headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 240, Las Vegas, NV 89141; www.AultGlobal.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.AultGlobal.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005382/en/

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[June 24, 2021] SmartAsset Raises $110 Million in Series D Funding, Bringing its Valuation to Over $1 Billion

SmartAsset, the web's go-to resource for financial advice connecting consumers with financial advisors, today announced that it has closed a $110 million Series D round, valuing the company at over $1 billion. The financing round was led by existing investor TTV Capital with participation from Javelin Venture Partners, Contour Venture Partners, Citi Ventures, New York Life Ventures, North Bridge Venture Partners, and CMFG Ventures. Since raising its Series C in June of 2018, SmartAsset has grown revenue by 10 times and is on the cusp of $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). The fundraise comes on the heels of the company's partnership with LPL Financial, its one millionth consumer / advisor match on its SmartAdvisor platform, a successful Live Connections rollout, and executive leadership additions.



SmartAsset reaches more than 100 million people each month through its personal finance content, custom tools and personalized calculators. In addition, financial advisors and firms on its wealth management referral platform, SmartAdvisor, now generate $1.5 billion in new, closed assets under management (AUM) per month. "Our mission is to help people get better financial advice," said Michael Carvin, Founder and CEO of SmartAsset. "With this additional capital we are going to make further investments in building the web's best personal finance resource and enhancing our ability to connect consumers to financial advisors across the U.S."

With this funding, SmartAsset plans to invest in improving the user and matching experiences for both consumers and financial advisors. To do so, the company will invest in new product offerings, technology infrastructure and data partnerships and continue to aggressively scale its employee headcount to fuel the company's meteoric growth. "SmartAsset is quickly expanding its lead in one of the largest markets in the U.S. by providing an incredibly valuable resource for both consumers and financial advisors alike. The company helps millions of people make better financial decisions while simultaneously enabling advisors to grow their business," said Mark Johnson, Partner at TTV Capital. SmartAsset was recently recognized as a Webby honoree in the 'Websites and Mobile Sites: Financial Services / Banking' category, '2021 Best Financial Planning Technology Company in New York' by Wealth & Finance International, a Y Combinator 'Top 100 Company,' and one of 'America's Best Startup Employers in 2020' by Forbes. With 202 full-time employees, SmartAsset is planning on growing headcount by more than 75% in 2021. Moelis & Company LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Cooley LLP served as legal advisor to SmartAsset. To learn more about SmartAsset, please visit SmartAsset.com. About SmartAsset SmartAsset is the web's go-to resource for financial advice that powers SmartAdvisor, the largest marketplace connecting consumers to financial advisors and financial products. Reaching more than 100 million people each month through its educational content and personalized calculators and tools, SmartAsset's mission is to help people make smart financial decisions. SmartAsset was named to Y Combinator's list of Top 100 Companies of all time, Forbes' list of America's Best Startup Employers in 2020 and named 2021 Best Financial Planning Technology Company in New York by Wealth & Finance International. For more information, please visit SmartAsset.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005332/en/

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[June 24, 2021] APOLLO Insurance Partners With Proptech Chroma to Offer Embedded Digital Insurance to Tenants and Landlords

APOLLO Insurance, Canada's leading online insurance provider, has partnered with Chroma Property Technologies Inc., to offer digital insurance products, tailored to tenants and landlords, directly from Chroma's platform. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005101/en/ APOLLO Insurance, Canada's leading online insurance provider, has partnered with Chroma Property Technologies Inc., to offer digital insurance products, tailored to tenants and landlords, directly from Chroma's platform. APOLLO launched in 2019, and now offers the largest selection of online insurance in Canada through brokers and embedded partnerships like the one with Chroma. In January 2021, APOLLO announced the close of a CAD $13.5 million Series A financing round. After two months of development, Chroma launched its beta product in early 2021 with the mission of making renting a better and more valuable experience for millions of Canadians. As Chroma continues to build out its platform, a public launch is expected later in 2021. "APOLLO is excited to partner with such a visionary proptech company," said APOLLO Busines Development Manager Yonas Alemyehu. "APOLLO is able to provide forward-thinking companies with an immediate digital solution that not only improves the user experience, it also provides Chroma with valuable data to mitigate their users' risk."



Chroma offers renters tools to pay rent flexibly and own their renting history, with the ability to build credit history from rent payments coming soon. For landlords and property managers, it makes accepting, tracking, and managing rent payments and leases easier. "We're delighted to be partnering with APOLLO to ensure our users can easily access incredible products that protect what's most important to them," said Myles Shedden, Co-Founder and CEO of Chroma. "As we reimagine the renting experience, whether you're a renter, a property owner, or a property manager, you will now be able to conveniently access APOLLO's products directly in the Chroma platform."

APOLLO's proprietary technology platform, the APOLLO Exchange, transacts insurance business in real time, and leverages extensive data and sophisticated algorithms to quote, collect payment, create and deliver policies. Thousands of types of small businesses and individuals are able to buy online without human intervention. About APOLLO Insurance Apollo Insurance Solutions Ltd. ("APOLLO Insurance") is Canada's leading online insurance provider. Our proprietary platform, the APOLLO Exchange, allows insurance agents and their customers to purchase their policy immediately, from anywhere, on any device, 24/7. Unlike traditional paper-based processes, APOLLO leverages extensive data and sophisticated algorithms to quote, collect payment, and issue policies for thousands of types of small business and individuals without human intervention. Through traditional agents and embedded finance partnerships APOLLO is redefining the distribution of insurance. For more information, visit: https://apollocover.com/ About Chroma Chroma is a small and agile team based in the Canadian Prairies. We set out in 2020 to pursue a mission of making renting a better and more valuable experience. With housing prices becoming untenable for the average household and more than one third of North Americans (more than 100 million people) living in long-term rental arrangements, this could not be a more important problem at a more important time. To find out more or sign up, visit https://www.chroma.ca/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005101/en/

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[June 24, 2021] The Eclipse Foundation Announces the Release of Eclipse iceoryx Almond (1.0)

BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Eclipse Foundation, one of the worlds largest open source foundations, today announced the release of Eclipse iceoryx Almond, the first official release for this inter-process-communication (IPC) middleware that enables the transmission of large amounts of data in real-time. This makes it ideal for applications that need to exchange immense amounts of data with very low latency, such as automotive applications, robotics, advanced gaming, AI, and much more. By doing so, iceoryx enables new levels of responsiveness while also freeing up runtime resources for other functions within a given application.

Eclipse iceoryx is a great example of open source software addressing a critical industry need, said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. With this release, as well as other projects like Eclipse Cyclone DDS and working groups like OpenADx, I feel that the Eclipse Foundation is quickly becoming the home of developer toolchains and software for autonomous vehicles designed with safety certifications in mind. The technology behind Eclipse iceoryx originated in the automotive domain, and with good reason; the software in a typical, non-autonomous modern car runs over 100 million lines of code. For an autonomous vehicle, that amount of data expands quickly to between 300-500 million lines of code. That same vehicle will need to process up to 10GB/s of sensor data in order to make real-time, safety-critical decisions. Eclipse iceoryx delivers a fast, flexible, and ultra-reliable means of exchanging this amount of data between systems in real time. On modern processors, iceoryx has a latency of less than 1 microsecond for transferring a message, regardless of that messages size. At this speed, Eclipse iceoryx achieves what is referred to as true zero-copy  an end-to-end approach from publishers to subscribers without creating a single copy. Avoiding the copies on the API level is crucial when GBytes of sensor data have to be processed per second on robotics and autonomous driving systems. In terms of flexibility, Eclipse iceoryx already supports Linux, QNX, and MacOS as operating systems as well as C and C++ as user APIs. Windows and Rust are coming soon. Even in its first release, Eclipse iceoryx is built for reliability, as the predecessor of iceoryx is running in millions of vehicles worldwide. Eclipse iceoryx is also used in the Robot Operating System (ROS 2) framework for bulding robot applications as a high-performance IPC transport layer, including deployments in large industrial automation systems.



When combined with Eclipse Cyclone DDS, the default middleware for ROS 2, Eclipse iceoryx creates a highly robust and performant middleware proven in widely deployed automotive and mission-critical distributed systems. Many iceoryx maintainers hail from the safety-critical automotive domain and have constructed Eclipse iceoryx with the necessary requirements for mission-critical, low-latency applications. Eclipse iceoryx is striving for being able to safety-certify the code base up to ISO 26262 ASIL D that is essential to the automotive industry. To learn more about how to get involved with Eclipse iceoryx, please visit the Eclipse iceoryx project website. To learn more about the unique advantages of Eclipse Foundation membership, visit the Foundations membership page . Eclipse Foundation members benefit from a broad range of services, including expert open source governance, developer relations, vendor-neutral marketing, ecosystem development, global event management, and IT infrastructure.

Quotes from Eclipse Foundation Member Organizations Apex.AI Eclipse iceoryx is ready for professional users to take it for a spin in the fast lane, said Michael Pohnl, Eclipse iceoryx project lead and middleware lead at Apex.AI. The team at Apex.AI has been focused on delivering safety critical real-time software for automotive and industrial companies. Our Eclipse iceoryx contributions show a significant commitment to the strength and vitality of the developer community and open source. High performance software compatible with open standards and developed according to safety standards can help industries rapidly move to a software-defined future with heterogeneous components that work together seamlessly. I am proud to have achieved this milestone with the support of an committed engineering team of experts and look forward to more developers and users joining us! Bosch Bosch is an enormous champion of open source solutions, particularly in automotive and robotics, said Andreas Riexinger, Business Development Manager Open Source, Bosch. Eclipse iceoryx, initiated by Bosch, is another fantastic example of how the open source model is driving innovation across multiple industries. We are happy to see iceoryx is growing. About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organizations with a mature, scalable, and business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. The Foundation is home to the Eclipse IDE, Jakarta EE, and over 400 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, distributed ledger technologies, open processor designs, and many others. The Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 330 members, including industry leaders who value open source as a key enabler for their business strategies. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @EclipseFdn, LinkedIn or visit eclipse.org. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Media contacts: Schwartz Public Relations for the Eclipse Foundation, AISBL

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EclipseFoundation@schwartzpr.de

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[June 24, 2021] Gemini Offsets Bitcoin Carbon Emissions, Launches Gemini Green

NEW YORK and CHICAGO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gemini , a crypto platform, today announced Gemini Green, a long-term initiative to incorporate climate conscious practices into its business. The company is collaborating with Climate Vault, a non-profit founded at the University of Chicago, by making contributions to purchase carbon permits for nearly 350,000 metric tons of carbon as a significant first step on its path to offset its usage of the Bitcoin Network and help decarbonize Bitcoin. More specifically, these carbon permits offset the non-renewable energy consumed by miners on the Bitcoin Network to secure the bitcoin that Gemini custodies. Through Climate Vault, Gemini has made possible the purchase of carbon permits directly from government-regulated cap-and-trade markets and removed them from circulation. This prevents other market participants from using these carbon permits to emit CO2 and reduces the overall supply of carbon permits. The resulting reduction in allowed emissions is equivalent to nearly a billion miles driven by a typical passenger car. Climate Vault will ultimately leverage the value of these "vaulted" permits to support the development of cutting-edge carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, further accelerating the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. Gemini is the first crypto platform in the world to offset its carbon emissions. Bitcoin's energy consumption results from the mining process that secures the Bitcoin blockchain. Therefore, Gemini calculates its "usage" of the Bitcoin Network as the portion of the mining process that it benefits from, as opposed to taking a transaction-based approach. Gemini will collaborate with Climate Vault in an ongoing program to offset and ultimately remove the CO2 related to the bitcoin that Gemini custodies. "As bitcoin emerges as a dominant store of value, it's imperative that we incorporate sustainability for future generations. We are proud to team up with Climate Vault to offset our exposure to non-renewable mining and contribute to the decarbonizing of bitcoin," said Tyler Winklevoss, CEO of Gemini. "Slowing and ultimately reversing the total amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere is vital to preventing disruptive climate change. Climate Vault is providing a simpler, faster, and more reliable path to net-zero emissions, not just for traditional businesses, but now  thanks to Gemini  for the innovative world of cryptocurrency," said Michael Greenstone, Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor of Economis at the University of Chicago and Co-Founder of Climate Vault.



Climate Vault deploys a unique, verifiable, three-step approach to offset emissions and ultimately remove CO2 from the atmosphere: First, Climate Vault uses contributions to purchase emissions permits in well-established and closely regulated carbon markets in North America .

. Then Climate Vault "vaults" these permits, preventing other market participants from using them to emit CO2 and effectively reducing the CO2 allowed under the market's "cap."

Finally, Climate Vault will use the monetary value of these permits to fund the actual removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by enterprises that are deploying breakthrough carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. As part of Gemini Green, in addition to supporting Climate Vault, the company has allocated $1 million through the Gemini Opportunity Fund to support companies, projects, and nonprofits that are focused on sustainability in the crypto industry.

About Gemini

Gemini is a platform that allows customers to buy, sell, store, and earn cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, ether, and DeFi tokens. Gemini's simple, reliable, and secure products are built to empower the individual. Gemini was founded in 2014 by twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. About Climate Vault

Founded at the University of Chicago, Climate Vault is a non-profit that uses the power of compliance markets to reduce and eliminate carbon pollution. Climate Vault works with climate-conscious individuals and organizations to help protect current and future generations from the harmful effects of climate change by providing an innovative solution to reduce carbon emissions today. Visit www.ClimateVault.org to learn more, calculate your individual footprint , and help your organization or financial portfolio reach net zero . Join the climate conversation by following us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn . Disclaimers

For more information on how Gemini calculates its share of Bitcoin energy consumption visit: https://www.gemini.com/blog/introducing-gemini-green-offsetting-bitcoin-carbon-emissions . Contact Information

For Gemini:

Carolyn Vadino

Head of Communications, Gemini

press@gemini.com For Climate Vault:

Vicki Ekstrom High

Communications, Climate Vault

press@climatevault.org View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gemini-offsets-bitcoin-carbon-emissions-launches-gemini-green-301319276.html SOURCE Gemini

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[June 24, 2021] Wasabi Expands Global Presence, Announces APAC Headquarters in Japan

BOSTON and TOKYO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wasabi Technologies , the hot cloud storage company , today announced the expansion of its Asia-Pacific presence with the opening of its Japanese headquarters. The headquarters will serve as a base for a variety of countries in the region including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. In tandem with the new headquarters, Wasabi has appointed Kaz Kuroda Vice President of Asia-Pacific and Managing Director of Japan to lead the office. Kuroda is responsible for managing Wasabi's business in Japan and throughout the APAC region. Wasabi, the hot cloud storage company, today announced the expansion of its Asia-Pacific presence with the opening of its Japanese headquarters. Wasabi's first public cloud service in the region is based in Tokyo with major expansion expected in the next six months. With a strong presence in the APAC region and a laser focus on providing the best cloud storage available, businesses located in the region have the ability to reap all the benefits of being able to affordably store all of their data while optimizing their data utilization. "Like many regions across the world, the disruption of the last year has influenced companies across the Asia-Pacific region to revisit their technology strategy with a focus on business resilience and pandemic preparedness. Cloud infrastructure technology and services inestments are critical components of this change," said Andrew Smith, Research Manager, Cloud Infrastructure Services at IDC. "As a result, according to IDC's Public Cloud Services Tracker, we expect revenues associated with public cloud IaaS in APJ to grow 36% in 2021, to $28.3 Billion  a growth rate that is faster than any other global region."



This continued expansion into APAC allows Wasabi to continue its mission of redefining the way businesses think about cloud storage with a solution that is 1/5th the cost of Amazon S3, has zero fees for egress or API requests and requires no vendor lock-in. It's an ideal product for the channel because every organization needs to store data and it's simple to understand, bundle with other products, and to sell. Wasabi's customer base is rapidly expanding around the world, storing data ranging from backups, disaster recovery and archiving to surveillance video, medical imaging, scientific research, education, genomics, AI/ML data lakes, blockchain, television, movies and government data. "The Asia Pacific market is one of the most important in the world. The appetite for inexpensive, fast, and reliable cloud storage is nearly insatiable. In Japan specifically, our strategic partnership with NTT Communications has grown rapidly as they sell Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage to their customers and partners. So Japan is the logical place to open our APAC headquarters. From Japan, we can expand into other Asia markets," said David Friend, CEO and Co-Founder of Wasabi.

For more information please visit our website and our new Japan portal. About Wasabi Technologies

Wasabi provides simple, predictable and affordable hot cloud storage for businesses all over the world. It enables organizations to store and instantly access an infinite amount of data at 1/5th the price of the competition with no complex tiers or unpredictable egress fees. Trusted by tens of thousands of customers worldwide, Wasabi has been recognized as one of technology's fastest-growing and most visionary companies. Created by Carbonite co-founders and cloud storage pioneers David Friend and Jeff Flowers, Wasabi has secured nearly $275 million in funding to date and is a privately held company based in Boston. Follow and connect with Wasabi on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and our blog . Wasabi PR contact

Nick Brown

Inkhouse for Wasabi

wasabi@inkhouse.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wasabi-expands-global-presence-announces-apac-headquarters-in-japan-301319072.html SOURCE Wasabi Technologies

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Corporate Social Responsibility Related News Releases and Story Ideas for Reporters, Bloggers and Media Outlets

Following are the latest Corporate Social Responsibility news releases and story ideas available from Business Wire. These recaps, curated by Business Wire, provide reporters and bloggers around the globe instant access to the latest news releases, providing relevant and trending content to share with their audiences. Discover more news via Business Wire's Hot Topic recaps or create a custom news feed specific to your needs here. This service is provided at no charge to members of the media and financial communities.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005134/en/

PARIS -- Teleperformance Recognized for Its Efforts to Integrate Refugees at First-ever "Business for Refugees" Awards Source: Teleperformance (News - Alert)

DENVER -- Newmont Launches First Climate Strategy Report Source (News - Alert) : Newmont Corporation

HOUSTON -- NRG Energy Reports Achievement Across its Comprehensive Sustainability Program in 2020, Reaching New Milestone on Net-Zero Emissions Goal Source: NRG Energy, Inc.

MADISON, Wis. -- Promega 2021 Corporate Responsibility Report Sets 2030 Sustainability Targets, Spotlights COVID-19 Response Source: Promega Corporation

SEATTLE -- Amazon Becomes Largest Corporate Buyer of Renewable Energy in the U.S. Source: Amazon

ZURICH -- RepRisk Establishes Academic Advisory Board to Guide the Company's Focus in ESG Research Source: RepRisk

TOKYO -- Kao Releases Progress Reports on Its ESG Strategy - the Kirei Lifestyle Plan Source: Kao Corporation







SHENZHEN, China -- RELX INTERNATIONAL Launches RELX Pledge Initiative, Enhancing Company's Global Commitment to Corporate Accountability Source: RELX International

RICHMOND, Va. -- Owens & Minor Releases Inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance Report Source: Owens & Minor, Inc.

LONDON -- Bright Data to Help UK Students Develop Data Skills Through Partnership With Leading Charity upReach Source: Bright Data

CHICAGO -- Exelon Sustainability Report Highlights Efforts to Create a Cleaner, More Equitable Future Source: Exelon

WASHINGTON -- Hydrosat Raises $5M to Take on Climate Change from Space Source: Hydrosat

HERNDON, Va. -- NWFCU Foundation Diaper Drive Provides Over 124,000 Diapers to NOVA Diaper Bank Source: Northwest Federal Credit Union

CHICAGO -- JPMorgan Chase Commits $150 Million to Chicago's South and West Sides to Advance Racial Equity Source: JPMorgan Chase & Co.

CHICAGO -- Exelon Among Top 100 U.S. Companies Supporting Healthy Families and Communities Source: Exelon Corporation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Humana Pharmacy Moves to Sustainable Packaging for Temperature-Sensitive Shipments Source: Humana Inc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Premier Inc. Honors Florida Nonprofit Dedicated to Fighting Food Insecurity With National Award and $100,000 Prize Source: Premier Inc.

TORONTO -- Intuit Named a Best B2B Brand in Canada by 2021 Report on Business Ranking Source: Intuit (News - Alert) Inc.

GENEVA -- SIG SolarCAD II: Solar Thermal Delivering 80C Daily Even in Winter Months Source: TVP Solar SA

NEW YORK -- HSBC USA Expands Sustainable Finance Offering with Sustainability-Linked Loans for Commercial Banking Clients Source: HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

PITTSBURGH -- United States Steel Corporation Releases 2020 Sustainability Report Source: United States Steel Corporation

About Business Wire

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in news release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Investor relations, public relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals, and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX Network. Business Wire has 16 newsrooms worldwide to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media.

Learn more at www.businesswire.com. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @businesswire.

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[June 24, 2021] QMC Submetering Solutions Acquires SRB Controls

PORT COQUITLAM, BC, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - QMC Submetering Solutions, a leader in submetering hardware and software across North America, is proud to announce it has completed the acquisition of SRB Controls Inc., a mainstay of industrial instrumentation and metering in Ontario for over 35 years. The acquisition furthers QMC's investment in the industrial and institutional market for advanced metering and instrumentation solutions. "We are excited to have Blair and his team join our organization. SRB brings a wealth of knowledge nd experience from their + 35 years serving the Ontario industrial and institutional market. He has developed strong long-term relationships with his customers and his vendors; we look forward to building on that. Together QMC and SRB will supply advanced instrumentation hardware to our clients, wrapped in a solution of engineering design, on-site service and web-based monitoring and reporting."



James Easton, President & CEO, QMC "SRB Controls is thrilled to be part of the QMC family. By joining QMC we will be able to offer our customers increased service and project resources. Our customers will benefit from more product options with QMC's thermal, water, electricity and gas meters. I will continue to lead SRB Controls within QMC. I look forward to us growing together, providing mutual and new customers with solutions to improve process and productivity."

Blair Finlayson, President, SRB Controls About QMC

For over 25 years, QMC has been a leading provider of intelligent submetering solutions for large institutions, commercial and multi-residential properties and utility providers. From end-to-end meter measurement and data management solutions, to integrated metering and building utility management, we deliver the most innovative multi-utility submetering hardware, software and consulting to companies around the globe. For more information, please visit https://qmeters.com. About SRB Controls:

For over 35 years, SRB has been providing instrumentation solutions and services to industrial and manufacturing clients in the GTA and throughout Ontario. SRB is proud to be an authorized representative for Sierra Instruments, Krohne, King Instruments, Williamson, ABM and Weber. For more information, please visit https://srbcontrols.com. SOURCE QMC Submetering Solutions

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[June 24, 2021] More than half of Hong Kongers choose Octopus to receive the $5K Voucher

HONG KONG, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The government is going to issue $5,000 electronic consumption vouchers to Hong Kong permanent residents soon. Mojodomo Holdings Limited, a local start-up loyalty marktech platform, announced the results of "Survey on Hong Kong people's view on using the $5,000 electronic consumption voucher" today. The survey shows that nearly 80% of respondents will choose Octopus and Alipay HK to collect the voucher. Two-thirds of the consumers intend to use the voucher to purchase other cash or shopping coupons. Moreover, over 40% of the citizens plan to use the consumption voucher for purchases exceeding $5,000. Mr. Dennis SHI, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mojodomo Holdings Limited, believes the Consumption Vouchers Scheme will foster the popularity of electronic payment technologies and encourage more public and local merchants to adopt electronic payment systems. Hence, the scheme will accelerate Hong Kong's development as a smart city. However, regarding the latest consumption voucher scheme, majority of SMEs consider the doling out and usage of consumption vouchers complicated. The distribution methods vary between Octopus and the other three e-payment. It may cause inconvenience and confusion, especially for the elderly. The industry suggested the government can unify the distribution method so that citizens can be more open to e-payment. The community also suggested the government incude more e-payment methods such as virtual bank.



Two local SMEs, Mr. Simon HUI, CEO of ecHome, and Mr. Leon LAI, Co-founder of MyDress, shared their difficulties and the corresponding solutions regarding this consumption voucher scheme at the press conference. Both merchants show their concern over e-payment, considering the expensive handling fees, deferred income, etc. Although most of the e-payment providers have agreed to waive practicable installation or handling fee for local merchants (especially SMEs), they still need to reconsider the operation costs once the scheme ends. MyDress, an online shopping platform, only accepts credit cards (including Tap & Go) and PayMe as payment methods currently and has not adopted the remaining three stored value facility operators announced by the government. MyDress claimed they would specially set up new e-payment methods for this occasion. The other SME, ecHome, a home appliance product seller with dozens of branches, has already adopted all four e-payment operators in its stores and hopes this scheme will positively impact their business and the local economy.

The survey was conducted by NuanceTree Limited, an independent market research company, and successfully interviewed more than 1,000 Hong Kong citizens aged 18-64 on the Internet to investigate their expected spending habits, behaviour, product categories, etc. Most respondents will redeem through Octopus and merchant coverage is the most concerning factor In this survey, 98% of citizens stated that they would use the government's $5000 electronic consumption vouchers. 59% of the respondents will redeem through Octopus, which accounts for the most among all four operators of store value facility, followed by Alipay Hong Kong (26%). They believe that Octopus is the fastest and most convenient payment method. Meanwhile, only 7% and 4% of respondents choose WeChat Pay HK and Tap & Go. Citizens are more concerned about the simplicity of consumption vouchers usage than the registration and redeem procedures. Likewise, merchant coverage is a main source of concern for 54% of respondents. The majority of the respondents will spend on food and electronic devices, Nearly 70% of the respondents wish to purchase other cash coupons In terms of product categories, more than half of the respondents plan to use the voucher to purchase food, 42% to purchase electronic devices, 41% and 36% to buy household goods and apparel, respectively. More than two-thirds of respondents wish that the voucher can cover other cash or shopping coupon and thus be saved for delayed consumption. However, Gen Z respondents, aged 18 to 24, prefer immediate use of consumption vouchers and are less likely to convert consumption vouchers into other shopping vouchers. Electronic vouchers effectively stimulate local consumption as over 40% of respondents plan to spend more than $5,000 In terms of the total consumption amount, 41% of citizens intend to use consumption vouchers for significant purchases exceeding $5000; electronics and home appliances are the most common items. Moreover, young people under 40 have the highest tendency to overspend. More than half of the respondents who choose to redeem with Alipay Hong Kong tend to spend more than $5000. The consumption pattern of the senior citizens arouses safety issues Among all 18-64-year-old interviewees, 69% need to assist seniors (average 70 years old) with the registration, receipt and use of electronic consumption vouchers. The majority of those interviewed expressed an interest in using vouchers for the elderly, and healthy food suits their demands in addition to everyday basics and meals. According to the survey, up to 80% of senior citizens prefer to use Octopus as a payment platform. Octopus stated earlier that they would not separate electronic consumption vouchers and the balance accounts; users could use consumption vouchers for regular expenditure; and hence, it may bring about the risk of theft, especially for seniors with a physical Octopus card. SOURCE Mojodomo Holdings Limited

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[June 24, 2021] Celona Joins Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program to Support the Deployment of Private 5G Networks

CUPERTINO, Calif., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celona, the leading innovator of private 5G architecture solutions, today announced it is joining the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program to fast track the digital transformation of smart cities and spaces. Powered by Qualcomm Technologies innovative and leading 5G solutions, Celonas industry-first integrated solution architecture for private 5G can help cities, municipalities and enterprises enable predictable wireless connectivity for the latest generation of digital initiatives.

We see private 5G becoming a strategic asset for smart cities across the United States, said Mehmet Yavuz, co-founder and CTO of Celona. Joining the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program is a testament to the unique solution our engineering team has been able to bring to market in record time. Our technology and go-to-market strategy have been designed to improve time-to-implementation via proven solutions across a growing set of technology ecosystem partners. Today, approximately 55% of the worlds population lives in cities, with that number to potentially reach 68% by 2050, according to the United Nations. Managing the resources and operations of so many large cities can only be cost-effective and efficient if they are automated and connected. This realization has prompted significant investment in order to achieve these technical goals. So much so that a recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan found global smart cities can spur $2.46 trillion in business opportunities by 2025 (September 2020). As communities look to generate greater efficiencies, cost savings, safety, and sustainability in their municipal infrastructure, Celona offers them a solution that is available today to enable secure wireless connectivity to mobile and IoT initiatives provided by their technology providers and system integrator partners. Celonas solution is the first-of-its kind to tightly integrate network and cellular wireless functions with AI orchestration. Based on an all-in-one platform and taking advantage of private spectrum options for private 5G, such as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum in the United States, its wireless solution delivers unprecedented range and predictability of operation to mobile devices and IoT infrastructure for smart cities, outdoor campus sites, enterprises, and industrial settings. Launched in 2019 as part of the Qualcomm Advantage Network, the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program is designed to connect cities, municipalities, govrnment agencies, and enterprises with an ecosystem of providers to help deliver greater efficiencies, cost savings, safety, and sustainability. With proven expertise in commercially deployed solutions, program members include hardware and software providers, cloud solution providers, system integrators, design, and manufacturing companies, as well as those offering end-to-end smart city solutions. By connecting members looking for smart city solutions, the program aims to enrich lives through the accelerated transformation of city infrastructure and services across multiple verticals.



Celona is pleased to join the Qualcomm Smart City Accelerator Program to contribute to Qualcomm Technologies growing ecosystem of hardware and software providers, cloud solution providers, system integrators, design and manufacturing companies. We are pleased to have Celona join the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program because together we can enable breakthroughs in private wireless and 5G connectivity and usher in a new era of possibilities for city infrastructure and connected services, said Sanjeet Pandit, senior director, business development and Head of Smart Cities at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Celonas unique enterprise-ready solution architecture powered by Qualcomm Technologies innovative and cutting-edge 5G solutions gives our IoT ecosystem access to the highest levels of predictability for their performance while providing a cost-effective solution for scaling the next generation of smart cities. Qualcomm Technologies smart city solutions enable intelligent network connectivity and edge processing solutions in cities across the globe. With a full suite of wide- and local-area connectivity processing technologies, Qualcomm Technologies helps to bring efficiency, safety, and innovation to fast-growing urban environments to empower cities to develop sustainable solutions that minimize total cost of ownership with an eye to the future. As the cornerstone for Celonas architecture, the companys patent pending MicroSlicing technology has been designed with critical applications and services in mind. By translating 5G Network Slicing principles to enterprise networks, MicroSlicing policies can be designed to support multiple use cases within the same private cellular network  from video surveillance cameras and in-vehicle connectivity to automated guided vehicle connectivity and private Push-to-Talk and VoIP communications. With Celona MicroSlicing, smart cities and their partners can onboard new digital initiatives without requiring complete re-configuration and optimization of an existing wireless infrastructure. To see Celonas solution architecture and its unique MicroSlicing technology in action, please visit celona.io/journey. Interested parties can also learn more by contacting Celona at hello@celona.io or by visiting Celonas booth in Hall 2.1, Stand 2.1B22Ex at this years Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from Monday, June 28th to Thursday, July 1, 2021. ABOUT CELONA

Celona, the enterprise 5G company, is focused on accelerating the adoption of business-critical apps on enterprise wireless and helping organizations implement a new generation of digital business initiatives. Taking advantage of dynamic spectrum sharing options such as CBRS in the United States, Celonas Edgeless Enterprise architecture is designed to automate the adoption of 5G cellular wireless technology by enterprise organizations and their technology partners. For more information, please visit celona.io and follow Celona on Twitter @celonaio. Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program and Qualcomm Advantage Network are programs of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. MEDIA CONTACT

Jay Nichols

Nichols Communications

jay@nicholscomm.com

+1 (408)772-1551



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[June 24, 2021] La Trobe University Increases Student Enrollment with the ON24 Digital Experience Platform

La Trobe University, a higher education and research institution in Melbourne, Australia, shifted its annual Open Day campus visits from in-person events to immersive digital experiences with ON24 (NYSE: ONTF). Using the ON24 Digital Experience Platform, La Trobe University delivered more than 100 live and pre-recorded virtual events to showcase their campuses and educational departments and help prospective students get a sense of the university experience. With ON24, La Trobe increased the number of students visiting Open Day by 157% compared to the previous year, helping them meet student enrollment goals. "ON24 virtual events gave us invaluable audience insights that were critical in conducting the right follow-up with prospective students," said Victoria Dillion, manager of university events at La Trobe University. "Engagement data helped us better understand students' individual interests so we could personalize communications and help make their decision to attend the university much easier." Universities in Australia host Open Days every year to provide interested students and parents tours and informational sessions about courses and life on campus. With in-person interactions limited during COVID-19, La Trobe University needed a way to engage students without hosting students physically on-campus. La Trobe used ON24 Webcast Elite to conduct live Q&A sessions with students and parents, introduce departments and degree paths, and provide campus tours. Potential students were also able to view pre-recorded lectures based on their academic interests and learn more about accommodation services, sport, and diploma programs. With ON24 Engagement Hub, students accessed live and on-demand sessions, as well as all the admissions content they needed. ON24 Intelligence allowed La Trobe to measure student engagement so they could deliver personalized post-event communications, stay connected with students about their interests throughout the recruiting process, and identify new prospects in China, India, and Vietnam, three growing markets for La Trobe.



"Digital is becoming a critical component to universities broadening the reach of their recruitment efforts and driving higher admissions," said Steve Daheb, CMO of ON24. "La Trobe University delivered unique digital experiences that set them apart during Australia's Open Days and gave prospective students and their families access to everything the university had to offer to improve enrollment." The ON24 Digital Experience Platform includes ON24 Webcast Elite, ON24 Engagement Hub, ON24 Target, ON24 Virtual Conference, ON24 Intelligence, and ON24 Connect. Companies can deliver digital experiences that create deep engagement, first-person data, and AI-driven personalization, as well as seamlessly integrate audience insights with marketing automation, CRM, and collaboration systems.

To learn how La Trobe University drove personalized recruitment with ON24, watch their session at The ON24 Experience on-demand virtual event by visiting ON24.com/experience. About La Trobe University La Trobe University is a globally recognized university which has been consistently ranked in the top 400 universities worldwide by the highly respected Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings. La Trobe is also ranked as one of the top 10 research universities in Australia, and third in Victoria, according to the Federal Government's 2015 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) report. La Trobe is the largest provider of higher education to regional Victoria, and has campuses in Bundoora, Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Sydney, and Melbourne's CBD. About ON24 ON24 provides a leading cloud-based digital experience platform that makes it easy to create, scale, and personalize engaging experiences to drive measurable business growth. Today, we are helping over 2,000 companies worldwide, including 3 of the 5 largest global technology companies, 4 of the 5 largest US banks, 3 of the 5 largest global healthcare companies, and 3 of the 5 largest global industrial manufacturing companies, convert millions of prospects to buyers. Through interactive webinars, virtual events, and always-on multimedia experiences, ON24 provides a system of engagement, powered by AI, which enables businesses to scale engagement, conversions, and pipeline to drive revenue growth. The ON24 platform supports an average of 4 million professionals a month totaling over 2.5 billion engagement minutes per year. ON24 is headquartered in San Francisco with global offices in North America, EMEA, and APAC. For more information, visit www.ON24.com. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws. In some cases, such statements can be identified by words such as: "expect," "convert," "believe," "plan," "future," "may," "should," "will," and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements regarding our ability to achieve our business strategies, growth, or other future events or conditions. Such statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions about future events or conditions, which are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on them. All statements herein are based only on information currently available to us and speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any such statement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005028/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Venafi Media Alert: North Korean Cyberattacks Can Inspire Other Rogue Nations

North Korea is successfully pioneering a new model of state-sponsored cybercrime that could create a dangerous blueprint for other rogue states to follow, researchers from Venafi, the inventor and leading provider of machine identity management, warned today. Venafi's threat intelligence specialists analyzed publicly available information on North Korean-sponsored cybercriminal groups - such as Lazarus and APT38 - and their methods over the past four years to gain insights into how these groups operate - noting the differences between the actions of threat actors from a rogue state and those that are somewhat confined by international law. Venafi researchers have concluded that cybercrime has become a primary means of revenue generation for North Korea, helping the state to work outside international sanctions. Some estimates suggest that cybercrime profits for North Korea may amount to as much as $1 billion each year. According to the UN Security Council as much $2 billion is already making its way directly into the nation's weapons programme. In addition, funds generated by cybercrime support the North Korean economy, countering the impact of economic sanctions. As such, cybercrime is essential to the ongoing survival of the Kim Jong Un dictatorship - a regime that has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and nuclear proliferation, threatening others in the region and the wider global community. The cybercrime model of North Korea could create a blueprint for other nations to develop similar prgrams. Without international action, Venafi warns that this could result in escalating cyber guerrilla warfare, putting all nations at significant risk.



"The world needs to start taking this threat more seriously," said Yana Blachman, threat intelligence specialist at Venafi. "North Korean attacks are often more brazen and reckless than those sponsored by other states because they are not afraid of getting caught - this makes them particularly dangerous. North Korea gives the cybercriminals it sponsors free reign to engage in highly destructive, global attacks, such as the 2017 attacks on Windows users worldwide that used the WannaCry ransomware, which affected more than 200,000 users across at least 150 countries. North Korea is setting an example that other rogue states can follow; states such as Belarus and even Myanmar can see that cybercrime offers them a way of countering the worst effects of sanctions, while making themselves more of a threat to the wider community." North Korea sponsors criminal groups such as Lazarus and APT38 through its military-affiliated 'Reconnaissance General Bureau' (RGB). These groups are known to target business and governments worldwide via methods such as ATM cashout schemes, cryptomining and cryptocurrency theft, and even cyber bank heists. For example, the $101 million heist of the Bangladesh Bank via the SWIFT banking system was carried out by North Korea. Several of these attacks are characterised by their use of code signing certificates, which serve as machine identities making it possible for businesses to trust the software they use.

"North Korea's use of code signing machine identities makes its attacks particularly hard to defend against," continued Blachman. "Stealing code-signing machine identities equips North Korean cybercriminals with the ability to pass off their own malicious software as legitimate software from a genuine developer. It also enables them to execute devastating supply chain attacks. The problem is that there's currently not enough awareness and security around the importance of machine identities. This lack of focus allows North Korean cybercriminals to take advantage of a serious blindspot in software supply chain attacks. Without more co-ordination and collaboration among businesses and governments to address the tactics used by North Korean cybercriminals, these threats will only get worse, and other global pariahs will sense their own opportunities." For more information, please visit:

https://www.venafi.com/blog/north-korean-cyberattacks-can-inspire-other-rogue-nations About Venafi Venafi is the cybersecurity market leader in machine identity management, securing machine-to-machine connections and communications. Venafi protects machine identity types by orchestrating cryptographic keys and digital certificates for SSL/TLS, SSH, code signing, mobile and IoT. Venafi provides global visibility of machine identities and the risks associated with them for the extended enterprise-on premises, mobile, virtual, cloud and IoT-at machine speed and scale. Venafi puts this intelligence into action with automated remediation that reduces the security and availability risks connected with weak or compromised machine identities while safeguarding the flow of information to trusted machines and preventing communication with machines that are not trusted. With more than 30 patents, Venafi delivers innovative solutions for the world's most demanding, security-conscious Global 5000 organizations and government agencies, including the top five U.S. health insurers; the top five U.S. airlines; the top four credit card issuers; three out of the top four accounting and consulting firms; four of the top five U.S. retailers; and the top four banks in each of the following countries: the U.S., the U.K., Australia and South Africa. For more information, visit: www.venafi.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005081/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Nomad Foods Announces Closing of Refinancing Transaction

Nomad Foods Limited ("Nomad Foods" or the "Company") today announces that Nomad Foods BondCo Plc (the "Issuer"), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has completed a private offering of 750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.50% senior secured notes due 2028 (the "Notes"). The Company also announced that it has closed the refinancing of its existing senior credit facilities which (i) refinanced its existing 553.2 million senior secured term loan facility through a new 7-year term facility due 2028 under its existing senior facility agreement paying interest at a rate equal to the applicable rate plus 2.50% and (ii) upsized its existing revolving credit facility to a new 175 million, 5-year revolving credit facility due 2026 (such refinancing and upsizing, together with the issuance of the Notes, being the "Refinancing"). The structure of the revolving credit facility now also includes a pricing structure linked to environmental impact metrics during the life of the facility, and by doing so demonstrates further commitment to the Company's sustainability strategy by incorporating ESG target KPIs covering areas of sourcing, packaging and carbon emissions. Samy Zekhout, Chief Financial Officer of Nomad Foods, stated, "We are pleased with the outcome of the refinancing. Both bond and loan transactions extend maturities and represent market leading pricing within our rating category which helps underscore the efficiency of our long-term capital structure. In addition, we are pleased to further demonstrate our commitment to sustainability - consistent with our purpose of 'Serving the World with Better Food' - by incorporating ESG targets into our financing structure." The USD denominated term loan continues to bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the applicable rate plus 2.25% and has a maturity date of May 2024. A portion of the net proceeds of the Refinancing were used to refinance part of the Company's existing senior indebtedness, including the redemption on the date hereof of the Issuer's existing 400.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2024. In addition, a portion of the net proceeds will be used to pay a portion of the purchase consideration for the Company's previously announced acquisition of Fortenova Group's Frozen Food Business Group. The Notes and the Company's obligations in respect of the senior credit facilities (as amended and restated) are guaranteed and secured on a senior basis by certain assets of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. About Nomad Foods Nomad Foods (NYSE: NOMD) is Europe's leading frozen food company. The Company's portfolio of iconic brands, which includes Birds Eye, Findus, Iglo, Aunt Bessie's and Goodfella's, have been a part of consumers' meals for generations, standing for great tasting food that is convenient, high quality and nutritious. Nomad Foods is headquartered in the United Kingdom. Additional information may be found at www.nomadfoods.com. Important Regulatory Notice This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which, or to any persons to whom, such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Notes and any related guarantees have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Accordingly, the Notes and any related guarantees are being offered and sold in the United States only to qulified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The offer and sale of the Notes was made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation, from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities. This announcement does not constitute an advertisement for purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.



Promotion of the Notes in the United Kingdom is restricted by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"), and accordingly, the Notes are not being promoted to the general public in the United Kingdom. This announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons who (i) are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) have professional experience in matters relating to investments (being investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Financial Promotion Order")), (iii) fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iv) to the extent that doing so does not prejudice the lawful distribution of the announcement to the foregoing, are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any Notes may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The Notes will only be available to relevant persons and this announcement must not be acted on or relied on by anyone who is not a relevant person. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of securities to which it relates is made in, any European Economic Area member state or in the United Kingdom, this announcement and the offering of any securities described herein are only addressed to and directed at persons in that member state or in the United Kingdom (as applicable) who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as it forms part of domestic UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that member state.

Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "EU MiFID II"); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturers' target market assessment; however, and without prejudice to the obligations of the Issuer in accordance with EU MiFID II, a distributor subject to EU MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers' target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Notes is only eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook (COBS), and professional clients, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA ("UK MiFIR"); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any distributor should take into consideration the manufacturers' target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK MiFIR Product Governance Rules") is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers' target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. No key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "EU PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared. Offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the EU PRIIPs Regulation. The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. No key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the United Kingdom has been prepared. Offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. This announcement contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact or statements in the present tense, and can be identified by words such as "targets", "aims", "aspires", "assumes" "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "hopes", "may", "would", "should","could", "will", "plans", "predicts" and "potential", as well as the negatives of these terms and other words of similar meaning. The forward- looking statements in this announcement are made based upon the Company's estimates, expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting the Company and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions that these forward- looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should, therefore, not be placed on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement apply only as at the date of this announcement and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. This announcement constitutes a public disclosure of inside information by Nomad Foods BondCo plc under Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (16 April 2014) and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2016/1055 (10 June 2016). The person responsible for making this release on behalf of Nomad Foods Limited is Samy Zekhout, Chief Financial Officer. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005564/en/

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[June 24, 2021] After Record Year, Lucid Receives $500M+ Secondary Investment at $3 Billion Valuation

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucid, the leading provider of visual collaboration software, today announced the closing of a more than $500 million secondary investment that values the company at $3 billion. New investors in the secondary financing include Alkeon Capital, Tiger Global and STEADFAST Capital Ventures. "We are incredibly fortunate to have experienced unprecedented growth over the last year," said Karl Sun, co-founder and CEO at Lucid. "The need for visual collaboration is increasing as companies seek out sustainable, efficient practices that will help hybrid teams over the long term. Our visual collaboration suite is a critical element in the future of work, and we're excited for the opportunity ahead as visual collaboration becomes an even more important part of how teams in every department, and across every industry, get work done." The company continues to experience impressive growth. Lucid surpassed $100 million in ARR in Q1 of 2020 and saw record bookings in April 2021, with growth up over 100% from the prior year. Lucid has also experienced tremendous success internationally, with a third of its revenue coming from outside the United States. Lucidspark, the company's virtual whiteboarding solution which was launched in October 2020, has experienced incredible market receptivity and growth. Since its launch, Lucidspark has amassed more than one million users, and is quickly becoming a staple in companies across a broad array of industries, including customers like Amazon, Sonos, Jaguar Land Rover and Hubspot. "Lucid's whiteboarding and diagramming capabilities are unrivaled. The ability to simply ideate, design, and communicate the most complex processes while collaborating in real time fundamentally transforms the way that modern organizations work." said Deepak Ravichandran, general partner at Alkeon Capital. "Their impressive growth over the past year is a testament to their category leadership in the broader collaboration space, and we're excited to work with the Lucid team through the next phase of their journey." Lucid's visual collaboration suite continues to power some of the biggest names in business, including Google, GE, NBC Universal and T-Mobile and 99% of the Fortune 500. The suite, which includes the recently launched virtul whiteboard application Lucidspark and leading intelligent diagramming application Lucidchart, provides users with an end-to-end experience that helps teams see and build the future.



The company continues to be supported by existing investors Spectrum Equity, ICONIQ Capital, Meritech Capital, Grayhawk Capital, and Kickstart. About Lucid

Lucid offers the only visual collaboration suite that helps teams see and build the future from idea to reality. Its products, Lucidchart and Lucidspark, provide users with an end-to-end experience that helps teams truly see and build the future, by enabling collaboration and clear communication. Lucidspark is a virtual whiteboard application for freeform ideation, group brainstorming and real-time collaboration across teams. Lucidchart is an intelligent diagramming application that empowers teams to clarify complexity, align their insights, and build the futurefaster. Top businesses use Lucid's products all around the world, including customers such as Google, GE, NBC Universal and T-Mobile, and 99% of the Fortune 500. Lucid's partners include industry leaders such as Google, Atlassian, Amazon Web Services, Salesforce and Microsoft. Since the Utah-based company's founding in 2010, it has received numerous awards for its products, business and workplace culture. For more information, visit lucid.co.

Media Contact:

pr@lucid.co

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/after-record-year-lucid-receives-500m-secondary-investment-at-3-billion-valuation-301319107.html SOURCE Lucid

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[June 24, 2021] NYMBUS Expands Industry Advisory Board

NYMBUS, a leading provider of banking technology solutions, today announced the appointment of digital banking leaders Cameron Peake and Ian Hurst to its Industry Advisory Board. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005567/en/ Ian Hurst (Photo: Business Wire) The Nymbus Industry Advisory Board's prominent list of esteemed members bring diverse backgrounds and expertise for guiding more banks and credit unions to leverage Nymbus' unique growth model which buys back decades of lost innovation time and quickly creates new, sustainable digital revenue streams. "We are thrilled to welcome additional industry veterans Cameron and Ian, expanding our Advisory Board with their tremendous knowledge and influence within financial services," said Jeffery Kendall, Chairman and CEO of Nymbus. "The journey to next-level business growth for financial institutions begins with doing something different and Nymbus is the catalyst to get them there. We are fortunate to hve Cameron and Ian on the team to introduce and deliver more partner institutions with the people, process and tools we make available for any size institution to succeed with impactful, intentional innovation."



Cameron Peake: Cameron is an entrepreneurial leader focused on leveraging digital channels to improve access to financial services around the world. She was most recently the CEO and Co-Founder of Azlo, a leading digital banking platform for small businesses in the US. There, she launched, built and scaled the company to support the financial and business needs of small entrepreneurs, and was recognized as one of Fortune Magazine's "40 Under 40" for her work to deliver financial services to businesses impacted by COVID. Prior to Azlo, Cameron worked at the international development agency Mercy Corps, where she launched mobile money and banking products in countries including Haiti, Indonesia and Zimbabwe. Ian Hurst: Ian was formerly the Global Financial Services leader for IBM (News - Alert) . In this role, he was responsible for IBM's overall relationship with major financial services firms around the globe. Ian and his team helped clients transform their businesses to respond to the swiftly changing array of business conditions, regulatory requirements, and other challenges they face today. Under his tenure, Ian's focus on driving operational performance and reinventing portfolio offerings helped grow financial services to be the largest industry group within IBM. Prior to joining IBM, Ian was a partner with McKinsey & Company (News - Alert) , where he was a long-standing leader in McKinsey's Financial Institutions Practice.

For more information, please visit nymbus.com. About NYMBUS Nymbus enables banks and credit unions of any size to grow and attract new market segments by delivering a full suite of banking technology, including Loan Origination, CRM and Digital, along with the operational resources to launch and run a new digital bank. Whichever growth path you choose, Nymbus buys back decades of lost time and accelerates your ability to engage and support the entire customer journey. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005567/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Lexicon LE45 Rugged Mobile Computer Now StayLinked Certified

CONYERS, Ga. and IRVINE, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Tech Solutions, a nationwide leader in maintenance and repair services for rugged mobile computers, barcode scanners, and label printers, is pleased to announce the certification of the company's new LE45 rugged handheld computer by StayLinked Corporation. "StayLinked is a leader in modern terminal emulation solutions and is used by many of our customers," said Josh King, CEO of Lexicon Tech Solutions. "It was important to us not only that the Lexicon LE45 mobile computer be compatible with StayLinked software, but that we receive their official seal of approval." The New LE45 Rugged Mobile Computer

Lexicon's LE45 rugged mobile computer represents the company's first foray into a manufactured device. In early 2021, Lexicon introduced and soft-launched the device to limited users for testing. The wireless handheld is designed for medium-to-heavy duty environments and is ideal for supply chain applications from manufacturing and distribution to warehousing and retail. The LE45 features an Android 9 OS, Zebra SE4750 or SE4850 imager options, a 4.5-inch WVGA capacitive touch display, and field installable pistol grip. "The LE45 is the best value mobile computer available to the market," notes David Word, VP Operations for Lexicon. "Historically, Lexicon has focused on providing post-sale value to our clients through innovative and maintenance solutions, making our customer's IT work better and longer. With the LE45, however, we saw a gap in the market for a high-powered but not high-priced device to help companies simplify the migration to Android and minimize downtime and training." King notes that having the StayLinked certification raises the profile of the LE45. "StayLinked is so widely adopted across the industries we work in, and so widely respected, that having the certification could mean the difference between a company deciding to give us a look or not." U.S.-Based Support

Located in Georgia, Lexicon is proud to offer U.S.-based support. The company's premium support services include industry certifications for advanced repair capabilities, security updates, development tools, asset tracking, warranty management, routing, actionable analytics, and AlwaysWorking maintenance support services. Specifically, the company's AlwaysWorking maintenance plans for the LE45 provides premium OEM support. "We've worked with OEMs and VARS for almost 25 years, so we understand the specific needs and make sure we check all the boxes," notes Word.



"We are excited to announce support for the Lexicon LE45," said Dan Hogan, President of StayLinked. "With their vast experience in servicing, supporting, and repairing devices, Lexicon has undoubtedly gained valuable insights into what works and what doesn't work in ruggedized mobile computing. We're proud to help extend the capabilities of the LE45 by providing the most advanced terminal emulation solution available."

For pricing information or to learn more about the LE45, contact Mitch Rogers at 678-750-0306 or mrogers@lexicontech.com. About LEXICON TECH SOLUTIONS

Lexicon Tech Solutions makes IT maintenance and management effortless. For almost 25 years, Lexicon has been the go-to leader for customized technology solutions for top brands in nearly every industry vertical, with customers that include Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Cardinal Health, Staples, U.S. Foods, and the United States Post Office. The company offers nationwide maintenance programs for enterprises with deployments of Auto-ID equipment including barcode scanners, rugged mobile computers, and barcode label printers. Lexicon solutions are powered by industry-certified, quality repair processes, a modern 50,000 s.f. US-based operations center known as RepairFactory, and Lexicon's revolutionary cloud-based maintenance management platform, RepairEngine. In 2021, the company introduced the LE45, a feature-rich rugged mobile computer with best-in-class U.S.-based service and support. Lexicon also offers refurbished equipment--restored down to the micro-chip level--in our ISO 9001:2015-certified USA-based facility. For more information, visit www.lexicontech.com. About StayLinked

StayLinked is the proven market leader in Terminal Emulation for the supply chain industry and continues to drive innovation with the most advanced software solutions available for the warehouse. StayLinked enables our customers to easily migrate to state-of-the-art devices, measure and optimize productivity with cutting-edge business intelligence, and interface with ground-breaking technologies in the areas of automation, robotics, augmented reality, and location-based services. For nearly two decades, StayLinked has continued to deliver revolutionary software products with unparalleled customer satisfaction and world-class support to hundreds of partners and thousands of customers around the globe. For more information, visit www.staylinked.com. Press Contacts:

Dena Harris

LEXICON TECH SOLUTIONS

1-888-981-6714

312481@email4pr.com Jay Cichosz

StayLinked Corporation

714-918-7709

312481@email4pr.com SOURCE Lexicon Tech Solutions Related Links

http://www.lexiconLE45.com

http://www.lexicontech.com

http://www.staylinked.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lexicon-le45-rugged-mobile-computer-now-staylinked-certified-301319236.html SOURCE StayLinked

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[June 24, 2021] Tallo, Tidelands Health Announce 2021 Scholarship Winners

Tallo, the nation's premier online platform for connecting students with opportunities, and Tidelands Health, the region's largest health care provider and MUSC Health affiliate, have partnered to offer $1,000 scholarships to six graduating seniors planning to pursue a degree in Health Science or a related field in the fall of 2021. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005217/en/ "Tallo is honored to partner with Tidelands Health to help the next generation of health care workers recognize their outstanding potential and take the first step toward achieving their dreams," said Casey Welch, CEO of Tallo. "The past year has taught us how valuable community health care workers are and we're excited to support students who have realized their calling for such a vital and in-demand industry." Tallo and Tidelands Health share a common goal of uplifting local families in South Carolina through the intersection of health care and education. This will be the third year the two organizations have joined together to connect promising students headed into the health care industry with scholarships. "As the region's largest health care provider, Tidelands Health is dedicated to supporting the well-being of our community. Helping the net generation of health care workers follow their dreams is key to this mission," said Caitlyn Krask, student program coordinator. "We're thrilled to be giving back to our communities in this way and hope to continue encouraging students to pursue a career in health care."



This year's recipients are: Madison Williams, Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology

Destiny Heyward, Carvers Bay High School

Joh'nieka Lawrence, Georgetown High School

Alyssa Paquette, St. James High School and Scholars Academy

Karson Todd, Conway High School

Chole Johnson, Waccamaw High School

"Learning is an integral part of who I am as a person and I intend to use what I garner to better help and serve others," said scholarship winner Alyssa Paquette. "It is my time to live my truth, be the change, and provide a dose of compassion in a complex and ever-changing world." For more information, visit https://tallo.com/tidelands-health/ About Tallo Over 1.5 million talented individuals use Tallo to create digital portfolios to showcase their skills and accomplishments, connect with post-secondary institutions and companies, and access customized career pathways and financial assistance guidance. Companies, colleges, and governmental entities work with Tallo to develop strategies to micro-target and connect with the Tallo community and build their future workforce pipeline. Tallo helps its partners understand Gen Z and Millennial talent, take a strategic approach to cultivate new and existing talent, and focus on quality matches with candidates who are the right fit. For more information, visit www.tallo.com About Tidelands Health Tidelands Health is the region's largest health care provider and MUSC Health affiliate, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 60 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region - promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005217/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Starpharma to Webcast Live at Life Sciences Investor Forum June 24th

MELBOURNE, Australia, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starpharma (ASX: SPL, OTCQX: SPHRY), based in Melbourne, Australia, today announced that Dr. Jackie Fairley, Chief Executive Officer, will present a pre-recorded presentation at LifeSciencesInvestorForum.com on June 24th.

DATE: Thursday, June 24th

TIME: 2:30 PM ET

LINK: https://bit.ly/3c7Ertp If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.lifesciencesinvestorforum.com. About Starpharma

Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL, OTCQX:SPHRY) is a global biopharmaceutical company and a world leader in the development of new pharmaceutical and medical products based on proprietary polymers calleddendrimers, with programs for COVID-19, DEP drug delivery and VivaGel. Starpharma has developed VIRALEZE, an antiviral nasal spray for COVID-19, which is complementary to vaccines and other preventative measures such as distancing and PPE. VIRALEZE is registered for sale in the UK/Europe and India, and available in certain markets via www.viraleze.co. VIRALEZE is not approved for sale or supply in Australia. SPL7013 is utilised in approved products - the VivaGel condom and VivaGel BV. VivaGel BV has been licensed in >160 countries, is approved in >45 countries and available for sale in the UK, Europe, Japan, South East Asia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.



As a leading company in dendrimer-based drug delivery, Starpharmas proprietary drug delivery platform technology, DEP, is being used to improve pharmaceuticals, to reduce toxicities and enhance their performance. There are numerous internal and partnered programs underway to develop DEP versions of existing drugs, particularly in the area of anti-cancer therapies. DEP partnerships include oncology programs with AstraZeneca, with Merck in the area of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), with Chase Sun in the area of anti-infectives and other world leading pharmaceutical companies. Starpharmas partnered DEP programs have the potential to generate significant future milestones and royalties. About Life Sciences Investor Forum

Life Sciences Investor Forum is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for Life Sciences companies to meet with and present directly to investors.

A real-time solution for investor engagement, Life Sciences Investor Forum is powered by Intrado Digital Media and specifically designed for more efficient investor access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Life Sciences Investor Forum combines leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network.

CONTACTS: Starpharma Holdings Limited Dr Jackie Fairley, Chief Executive Officer +61 3 8532 2704 investor.relations@starpharma.com Life Sciences Investor Forum John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access (212) 220-2221 johnv@lifesciencesinvestorforum.com

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[June 24, 2021] General Assembly Pizza and Impossible Foods Kick Off Multi-Channel Relationship With Impossible Pizza Launch

Today, General Assembly Holdings Limited ("GA Pizza" or the "Company") (TSXV: GA) launches the new Impossible Pizza. The naturally leavened pie features a New York-inspired flavour profile and fennel-spiced Impossible product, made from plants. The collaboration marks Canada's first wood-fired Impossible Pizza experience and kicks off a multi-channel brand relationship. The Impossible Pizza will be available to Torontonians at GA Pizza's waterfront patio location-a summer-long satellite restaurant at Harbourfront Centre's The Slip. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005589/en/ Canada's First Wood-Fired Impossible Pizza Experience at GA Pizza's Harbourfront Location at The Slip. GA Pizza's Impossible Pizza features housemade tomato sauce, fennel-spiced Impossible product- made from plants and seasoned with chili, garlic, toasted fennel seed-fresh anaheim chilis, thinly shaved white onions and three types of cheese: grass-fed mozzarella, fior di latte, and grana padano and sicilian oregano. (Photo: Business Wire) Khaleed Juma (News - Alert) , GA Pizza's Chief Marketing Officer, is ecstatic about the synergy between the brands, and says: "The relationship between GA Pizza and Impossible Foods paves the way for a new wave of menu innovation. Our Pizza People are hungry for flexitarian options that don't sacrifice quality, nutrition, and most importantly, taste, and working with Impossible Foods, allows us to continue to pursue our 'you CAN have it all' strategy when it comes to delicious pizza. My hope is that this is just the beginning." GA Pizza Chefs Curt Martin and Nicholas Morra drew inspiration from iconic pizza destination, Brooklyn, NY to create the new Impossible Pizza. The 10" pizza features housemade tomato sauce, Impossible product made from plants and seasoned with chili, garlic, and toasted fennel seed. Fresh anaheim chilis and thinly shaved white onions complement the fennel-spiced plant-based protein. The pizza is finished with three types of cheese: premium fior di latte, grass-fed mozzarella, and grana padano. The made-in-Italy brick oven is fuelled by Canadian oak and sugar maple, which adds a delicious smoky flavour to the pizza's toppings: "There's nothing in the world that beats wood-fired pizza-that beautiful leoparding on the crust, and the gorgeous aromas. This pizza has hints of anise from the fennel, and a floral note from our wild oregano." said Morra. The Impossible Pizza flexitarian option introduces a new way to pizza, blending GA's old world technique of naturally leavened dough and a wood-fired cook, with delicious new world innovation from Impossible Foods. Impossible Foods' Nick Halla, Senior Vice President of International, adds, "We're thrilled to kick off our relationship with GA Pizza this summer with the release of the new Impossible Pizza. Not only are we huge fans of their product, but we also believe there's so much affinity between the two companies and are excited for what we'll offer down the road. GA Pizza's commitment to quality, innovation and delivering delicious food to their customers makes us highly confident they will be fantastic stewards of Impossible Foods' award-winning plant-based meat. We can't wait to see what our companies deliver together in the future." Impossible Pizza will be served alongside GA pizza classics, likeMila Margherita, Sweet Heat, and King 'Shroom, at GA Pizza's semi-permanent restaurant at The Slip. Toronto's largest waterfront patio, with a capacity of 800 seats, The Slip will offer GA Pizza's naturally leavened, wood-fired personal pizzas, beginning on Thursday, June 24 for lakeside dining and takeout. Open views to the dough and pizza preparation, and of course, the central element: GA Pizza's formidable wood-fired brick oven-a culinary revelation for any pizza lover.



For more information, visit gapizza.com. *Impossible is a trademark of Impossible Foods Inc. Used under license.

About GA Pizza GA Pizza began its life as a fast-casual pizza restaurant in the heart of Toronto. Three years later, we also offer a freezer-to-table consumer packaged goods line, and a groundbreaking direct-to-consumer platform: a pizza subscription (gapizzaclub.com) and a gifting service (give.gapizza.com). Our ambition? Make delicious pizzas available to everyone, everywhere. We're always working to take pizza to new heights-from showing the world that better pizza is possible, to finding new spaces and places to deliver unrivaled pizza experiences. Find us at the grocery store or visit gapizza.com. GA Pizza media assets available for download. About Impossible Foods: Based in California's Silicon Valley, Impossible Foods makes delicious, nutritious meat and dairy products from plants - with a much smaller environmental footprint than meat from animals. The privately held company was founded in 2011 by Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at Stanford University and a former Howard Hughes (News - Alert) Medical Institute investigator. Investors include Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, Google Ventures, Horizons Ventures, UBS, Viking Global Investors, Temasek, Sailing Capital, and Open Philanthropy Project. Press kit: www.impossiblefoods.com/media Neither 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 release. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (together "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding anticipated increases to the Company's production capacity at the master facility and the Company's growth strategy. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the combined company. Among key factors and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information may include, without limitation, the following: there being no market for the securities of the Company; the Company's limited operating history; global economic risk; COVID-19's impact on the Company; the general economic environment; cybersecurity risks; financial projections may prove materially inaccurate or incorrect; the Company may experience difficulties to forecast sales; general competition in the industry from other companies; management of growth-related risks; reliance on management; risks relating to insurance; changes in food and supply costs could adversely affect profitability and ultimately our results of operations; our business could be adversely affected by increased labour costs or difficulties in finding suitable employees; changes in customer tastes and preferences, spending patterns and demographic trends could cause sales to decline; changes in nutrition and food regulation; failure to establish our master production facility; failure to expand production capacity; disruption at our facilities; government regulation of the food industry creating risks and challenges; risk associated with food safety and consumer health; changes in internet and social media search algorithms; risks associated with leasing commercial and retail space; third party reliance for shipping and payment processing; environmental laws; we may not persuade customers of the benefits of paying our prices for higher-quality food; our marketing and advertising strategies may not be successful, which could adversely impact our business; requirements for further financing; the Company may prioritize customer growth and engagement and the customer experience over short-term financial results. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of the Company and market conditions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005589/en/

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[June 24, 2021] McGraw Hill Reports Strong Growth in Digital Billings and Use of Its Technology Platforms After a Year Impacted by COVID-19

NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- McGraw Hill reported strong fiscal Q4 and 2021 results today, with double-digit year-over-year growth in digital billings and a 58% increase in Inclusive Access billings. This latest success reflects McGraw Hill's continued focus on developing digital learning platforms and materials that are affordable and drive better student outcomes, and its commitment to supporting institutions, educators and learners during a time of digital transition. In fiscal year 2021 (FY21) which comprised the 12 months ended on March 31, over 1,400 campuses across the U.S. participated in Inclusive Access programs with McGraw Hill, up from 1,100 a year prior. The U.S. Department of Education paved the way for Inclusive Access programs by adopting a regulation that allows institutions to offer students a choice to acquire more affordable course materials on or before the first day of class. During FY21, students using McGraw Hill course materials via Inclusive Access saved more than $150 million. This supports the continuing years-long trend of students in higher education acquiring high-quality course materials at a significantly lower cost. The past year also saw continued increased demand for McGraw Hill eBooks, a cost-effective alternative to print textbooks that further reduced students' course material costs. McGraw Hill's flagship digital learning platform for higher education, Connect, also saw significant growth in FY21 with a 27% year-over-year increase in student activations to more than 6 million globally last year. To read more about McGraw Hill's Q4 and fiscal 2021 full year results, visit: https://investors.mheducation.com/



"McGraw Hill's strong performance during this challenging year reflects our continued commitment to delivering the best possible educational materials and experiences for students, whether they are learning in a classroom, remotely via digital platforms or some combination," said Simon Allen, CEO of McGraw Hill. "Throughout the last year, we worked hard to successfully meet the increased demand for digital products brought on by the pandemic. McGraw Hill continues to adapt to the changing times by delivering learning tools that are not only cutting-edge but also affordable and accessible." Additional results in the fiscal year 2021 report include:

Digital billings were up 10% year-over-year across the entirety of the company's business

McGraw Hill reached an inflection point where growth in digital billings outpace decline in print billings

Inclusive Access sales reached $167 million , representing a 58% increase year over year Throughout this fiscal year, McGraw Hill announced a series of updates to its offerings designed to help students succeed in a remote learning environment. These included: Virtual Labs, an online or hybrid lab solution for college science courses that thousands of instructors used to help them continue their lab courses online during the pandemic.

ALEKS, the artificial intelligence-enabled learning and assessment platform for math and chemistry, added new functionality that makes it easier for instructors to integrate into a wider range of teaching approaches.

McGraw Hill Rise, a grades 3-8 assessment solution designed to help educators identify and address learning gaps for students.

A partnership with the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) through which McGraw Hill faculty consultants and staff are certified to help instructors build effective OLC-aligned courses. McGraw Hill

McGraw Hill is a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that drive results for students, parents, educators and professionals. We focus on educational equity, affordability and learning success to help learners build better lives. Headquartered in New York City, McGraw Hill has offices across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions for PreK-12, higher education, professionals and others available in more than 80 languages. Visit us at mheducation.com or find us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn or Twitter . Contact:

Tyler Reed

McGraw Hill

(914) 512-4853

tyler.reed@mheducation.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcgraw-hill-reports-strong-growth-in-digital-billings-and-use-of-its-technology-platforms-after-a-year-impacted-by-covid-19-301319404.html SOURCE McGraw Hill

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[June 24, 2021] DSS Adds Ivy Brook Medical Center to its American Medical REIT Portfolio

ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Document Security Systems, Inc. (DSS or the Company) (NYSE American: DSS), a multinational company operating business segments in blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate, renewable energy, and securitized digital assets, today announced its wholly owned DSS Securities, Inc. subsidiary expanded its investment in American Medical REIT, Inc. (AMRE) through a $2.6 million share purchase agreement. DSS Securities initially acquired 52% of AMRE in May 2020 and now owns 99% of the real estate investment trust.

The additional investment in AMRE was used to fund the acquisition of Ivy Brook Medical Center (Ivy Brook), a 40,000 square foot first class, all medical facility located in Shelton, Connecticut. Considered Fairfield Countys most prestigious medical facility, Ivy Brook provides a vast array of medical practices and related services in a patient-friendly and inviting outpatient campus. While the pandemic has led to falling rents and rising vacancies in the commercial real estate markets, the health services segment is holding steady with landlords collecting rents at nearly 100% of pre-COVID levels, stated Frank D. Heuszel, CEO of DSS. The percentage of American households with REIT stocks has nearly doubled, from 23 percent to 44 percent, over the last two decades. AMRE is well positioned to capitalize on this trend, and we are excited to help facilitate this addition to its portfolio through our latest investment. AMRE was launched to acquire hospitals and other acute or post-acute care centers from leading clinical operators with dominant market share in secondary and tertiary markets. AMRE seeks to lease each property to a single operator under a triple-net lease and was formed to originate, acquire, and lease a credit-centric portfolio of licensed medical real estate. AMRE plans to qualify as a Real Estate Investment Trust for federal income tax purposes, which will provide AMREs investors the opportunity for diret ownership of Class A licensed medical real estate.



Jason Grady, Chief Operating Officer of DSS, added, Our Chairman, Heng Fai Ambrose Chan has deep expertise in real estate investment trust business operations and together with our Board of Directors, supports the development of our REIT management activities to expand our asset base and growth potential. We will continue to parlay their past successes for our future gains within this substantial market opportunity. About Document Security Systems, Inc.

DSS is a multinational company operating business segments in blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, consumer packaging, real estate, renewable energy, and securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman and largest shareholder, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate transformation while managing risk. He has successfully restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of $25 billion. For more information on DSS visit http://www.dsssecure.com. Investor Contact: Dave Gentry, CEO

RedChip Companies Inc.

407-491-4498

Dave@redchip.com Safe Harbor Disclosure This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.



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[June 24, 2021] Real Estate Property Services Innovator Lessen Closes $35 Million Series A Funding Round

Lessen, the marketplace platform that unites property owners and service professionals to deliver property services better, faster and cheaper than ever before, today announced that it has closed a $35 million Series A funding round. The Series A is being led by Fifth Wall, the largest venture capital firm focused on technologies for the global real estate industry. Seed-round investors in Lessen, including Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst and Navitas Capital, also participated in the company's Series A, bringing total capital invested in Lessen to $44 million. Proceeds from the current investment will be used to fund new technology products, support new field operations teams, and facilitate market expansion. Dan Wenhold, a partner at Fifth Wall, will join Lessen's Board of Directors. Lessen moernizes the real estate industry with technology that delivers a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for property services. Lessen saves all parties time and money by replacing outdated manual processes and spreadsheets with centralized project and work order management, as well as integrated dashboards, billing and analytics.



Lessen's platform is flexible, efficient and service professional-friendly. It provides a well-defined and consistent job flow for service pros, incorporating fast and guaranteed payments for completed work, as well as tools that providers can use to quickly grow their businesses. The platform currently has more than 1,000 service providers, across 26 markets, which have completed more than 2,000 jobs for institutional investors of single-family residential, multifamily residential, and short-term rental properties.

"We're ecstatic about partnering with a team of world-class investors to build and grow the future of real estate property services," said Jay McKee, Founder and CEO of Lessen. "The industry is poised for a revolution in the way that property services are performed, delivered and managed at scale." He continued, "Lessen is excited about building a platform that will enable service professionals to increase earnings and reduce stress, while allowing property owners to lower their costs and completely outsource property management concerns." "The pandemic has supercharged growth in the single-family rental market, with no sign of slowing down, yet landlords lack the technology needed to effectively manage maintenance across their portfolios at scale," said Dan Wenhold of Fifth Wall. "Lessen stands alone in its approach, offering a streamlined solution to the entire property services lifecycle. We believe the opportunity for Lessen is massive, and we're thrilled to support the company through this next phase of its evolution and beyond." "Khosla Ventures backs great teams in large markets, and we found both with Lessen," commented David Weiden, Managing Director at Khosla Ventures. "Jay brings a rare combination of deep industry experience and a vision for how it can transform. Lessen brings a similar set of on-demand marketplace services to residential real estate we see in other investments in our portfolio such as DoorDash and Stripe." "Lessen is creating agility and opportunity for property owners, reliable and smoother work for professionals, and better experiences for tenants," said Quentin Clark of General Catalyst. "We are thrilled to continue partnering with Jay and the entire Lessen team as they scale the solutions they are building to empower owners, managers and employees." "Demand for the services solutions Lessen brings is large, growing and clear to real estate operators, but finding a team with the industry knowledge and technical skill to deliver is rare," said Louis Schotsky, Managing Partner at Navitas Capital. "The combination instantly stood out to us as a compelling investment." About Lessen Lessen is the marketplace platform that unites property owners and service professionals to deliver property services better, faster and cheaper than ever before. The Lessen platform provides complete job workflow and outsourcing of property service projects, automating the management of the entire property services lifecycle. It seamlessly connects property owners to a nationwide network of vetted professionals for renovation, maintenance, cleaning, and turn services, efficiently delivering property services at scale. Lessen is a venture-backed, privately held company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, with offices in Seattle and Miami. To learn more, please visit lessen.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005238/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Mountain Valley MD Provides Update on Key Strategic Initiatives: Patent Award, FDA Collaborative Research Agreement, Cold Chain, Dose Sparing, Husbandry, Oncology, TB, Cannabis

TORONTO, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc. (the Company or MVMD) (CSE: MVMD) (FRA:20MP) (OTCQB: MVMDF) is pleased to provide an update on the status of key initiatives:

SOLUBILITY PATENT AND QUICKSOL TRADEMARK The United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) has approved the Companys patent filing related to its invention of Water Dissolvable Macrocyclic Lactone Cyclodextrin Complexes

The original patent request was filed on November 10, 2020, and an accelerated patent examination request was filed in late December 2020. The accelerated review was supported by data which provided additional formulation analyses of different diluted concentrations of its Quicksol ivermectin in solution. This data was fast-tracked by the Company for completion and validation by a third-party CRO.

Additionally, the Companys Quicksol trademark application has passed through the examination phase at the U.S. Trademark Office, and has been approved by the examining attorney. The trademark is currently in its final 30 day "external" review process.

The awarding of this novel patent is a validation of the uniqueness of our solubilization technology and our proprietary approach to overcoming the number one limitation of the macrocyclic lactone drug class, solubility, stated Dennis Hancock, President & CEO of Mountain Valley MD. This is a very important cornerstone patent that will now allow us to move forward in securing the global protections necessary across many human and animal health applications without competitive interference. GMP PRODUCTION OF IVECTOSOL MVMDs GMP production partner has reported positive results from the initial manufacturing assessment of Ivectosol. The third party contracted partner reports a very high yield from initial trial runs with no secondary degradation products.

This confirms the Companys ability to supply the GMP production quantities necessary for planned oncology and COVID-19 phased human trials, and supporting the 505(b)(2) pathway application with the FDA.

The Company previously confirmed its ability to make the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin highly water-soluble without the use of organic solvents, improving its water solubility by nearly 5,000 times. The Company has also completed safety verification and improved efficacy in pre-clinical validation, including COVID-19 viral clearance validation in a Bio Safety Level 4 facility.

MVMDs solubility technology applied to the ivermectin drug is the only form in the world that uses strictly excipients currently approved by the FDA. It has low viscosity and high bioavailability, which makes it a leading candidate for human injection and sublingual applications, as well as significantly increases the potential of husbandry and companion animal treatments. COLD CHAIN MVMD is pleased to announce it has formally entered into a two-year collaborative research agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will govern the Companys cold chain project going forward.

The Company has received cold chain ELISA data from the FDA Polio Research Lab based on an evaluation of its work with Quicksome desiccated liposome technology.

The testing is the first of its kind to assess the ability of a thin Quicksome layer of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) to be preserved in a vial under extreme temperatures. This is part of a critical exploration around the possibility of transporting and storing the polio vaccine outside of the traditional cold chain system.

The Company will now proceed with coordinating a detailed review session with the FDA, and they will collaborate on the next steps to finalize the cold chain research in order to inform the planned commercialization pathway. The results of testing completed to date will be shared after the review session in coordination with the FDA. DOSE SPARING ADJUVANT In partnership with the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Company executed a study comparing an existing Alhydrogel adjuvant to the Companys invented stable nano-particulate adjuvant by both intramuscular injection and intradermal injection immunization. The study evaluated the antibody responses following vaccination with fractional doses of IPV and compared delivery types with IPV alone or adjuvanted, as previously annouced on February 21, 2021.

The evaluation of MVMDs novel aluminum nanoparticle adjuvant from this study demonstrated no toxicity or adverse reactions when combined with tIPV in intramuscular or intradermal injection. However, the initial results were not satisfactory in terms of producing a robust response or desired elevation in the immune response over IPV alone.

The Companys key advisor, Dr. John Clements, and the lead project researcher from Tulane University, Dr. Elizabeth Norton, confirmed their support for the scientific rationale of MVMDs technology and the team postulated that a change in dose, surface charge or dosing interval may support a positive research outcome.

The Company will continue its work with Tulane University to evaluate the impact of applying key changes, both with respect to the IPV and an additional vaccine, in several animal models of interest from both a scientific and commercialization standpoint.



HUSBANDRY ANIMALS The Company has commenced husbandry animal trials to validate the superiority of its injectable solubilized Ivermectin technology, Ivectosol 1%, versus current commercially available forms to treat a broad category of animal parasites.

The Company previously reported in a media release issued on May 11, 2021 that the trial dosing was easily accomplished in the animals with the needleless applicator with no adverse reactions across poultry, goat, swine and cattle applications.

The poultry trials were the first to be completed of the broader husbandry group and the Company has received indication from the Quality Control Lead that the trials were successful. The Company is anticipating the formal trial report on poultry shortly.

The trials were conducted under supervision of The People's Republic of Bangladeshs Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock and the Ministry of Agriculture to support key approvals and near-term commercialization steps inside Bangladesh. ONCOLOGY

As previously announced on May 2, 2021, the Company has filed a patent for direct intratumoral injection, intravenously, infusions or instillations as adjuvants for broad chemotherapeutic to immunotherapeutic cancer regimens with its human grade Ivectosol 1%.

Separate pre-clinical trials for triple-negative breast cancer, metastatic melanoma and Lewis Lung Carcinoma are being conducted.

The Company has been advised that the CRO engaged to perform the pre-clinical trials has successfully implanted melanoma tumor cells, with no toxicity of the initial treatment. The Lewis Lung implantation is scheduled for June 25, 2021 with treatment commencing seven days following, and the triple-negative breast cancer implantation is scheduled for July 16, 2021.

The Company plans to move directly into human phase trials if current pre-clinical trials are successful. TUBERCULOSIS RESEARCH The Company had previously communicated in a media release on March 10, 2021, that it successfully applied its Quicksol solubilization science to a macrocyclic lactone drug, Selamectin. Selamectin is largely considered a molecule thats virtually insoluble in water.

MVMD is finalizing a study framework to apply its novel Selactosol 1.5% for preclinical evaluation trials targeting mycobacterium-based infections, namely Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis affects roughly 25% of the worlds population and is the leading infectious disease killer in the world, claiming approximately 1.5 million lives each year. Tuberculosis also affects a large number of husbandry animals and will be targeted equally in the Companys evaluation studies.

We continue to accelerate our focus and efforts on solving the most significant human and husbandry animal health problems facing our global population, continued Mr. Hancock. We are very optimistic that this breakthrough on Selamectin will help MVMD pursue new licensing and commercialization opportunities consistent with our business plan. CANNABIS The Company is currently working through CBD and THC product formulations for a North American cannabis company.

The current product prototype work includes a THC recreational product, THC sleep product, and CBD pain relief cream.

Upon successful acceptance of the product formulations, the Company anticipates entering into a license agreement with the partner and commencing retail production.

The Company will provide further updates on its current pre-clinical trials as they become available. ABOUT MOUNTAIN VALLEY MD HOLDINGS INC

Mountain Valley MD is building a world-class biotech and life sciences company organization centred around the implementation of its patented Quicksome oral drug formulation and delivery technologies and its Quicksol solubilization technology for macrocyclic lactones, to innovate industry leading products that are sought out globally. MVMDs proposition for delivering Quicksome formulations that have rapid onset, high bioavailability, low variability and precision dosing is core to the Companys success across key health and wellness categories. Consistent with its vision towards Helping People Live Their Best Life, MVMD applies its Quicksome and Quicksol technologies to its ground-breaking work for advanced delivery of vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs as well as the development of products for pain management, weight loss, energy, focus, sleep, anxiety, and more. The Companys patented Quicksome desiccation technology utilizes advanced liposomes and other stabilizing molecules to encapsulate and formulate active ingredients into highly efficient product formats that are consumed orally. The result is a new generation of product formulations that are capable of delivering vaccines, drugs and nutraceuticals into the body faster, with greater impact, efficiency and accuracy. The Companys patented Quicksol solubilization technology covers all highly solubilized macrocyclic lactones (including the drugs Ivermectin and Selamectin). MVMDs solubility technology applied to the Ivermectin drug is the only form in the world that only uses excipients that are currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it a leading candidate for human injection and sublingual applications as well as significantly broader husbandry and companion animal treatments based on its low viscosity. For more Company information and contact details, visit www.mountainvalleymd.com. SOURCE: Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company is making forward-looking statements, including but not limited to with respect to: various pre-clinical and clinical trials with third-party CROs, whereby MVMD does not have direct control of outcomes, and the commercializing of research and resulting technology and products. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

For further information: Dennis Hancock President and Chief Executive Officer Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc. Telephone: 647-725-9755 Email: dennis@mountainvalleymd.com www.mountainvalleymd.com

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[June 24, 2021] Aderant Selects Legal Technology Sales Expert Scott Moretti to Lead Eastern U.S. Region

Today, Aderant announced it has appointed Scott Moretti as Senior Director of Sales for the Eastern U.S. region. Aderant, a leading global business management software provider for law firms, selected Moretti for this key leadership position due to his longstanding track record of success in legal tech sales. Moretti fills the position recently vacated by Kevin Standing when Standing retired after nearly 25 years with Aderant. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005231/en/ Scott Moretti, Aderant's new Senior Director of Sales for the Eastern U.S. region (Photo: Business Wire) Moretti will be involved in business development for all products within Aderant's broad spectrum of solutions. In his new position, he will be responsible for the sales strategy, pipeline development, establishing and maintaining strategic alliances, and mentoring sales team members. Moretti has extensive industry knowledge with more than two decades of reional, national, and global sales experience in the legal tech vertical. He most recently served as a senior director of sales with a focus on practice management systems at another industry provider. Moretti's move to the Aderant team will be a reunion with past colleagues, clients, and partners from throughout his 20-year career.



"Scott knows legal tech and is a proven sales professional and leader," said Chris Cartrett, Executive Vice President at Aderant. "Having spent nearly 20 successful years working in the legal tech industry, we will benefit significantly from Scott's expertise, contacts, and talent for business development. We are thrilled to welcome him to our sales leadership team and look forward to the impact he will have on our business." Moretti remarked, "I am extremely excited to be joining the Aderant team, an incredible legal technology company that has been laser-focused on taking care of their customers and raising the bar in the industry. Aderant delivers a comprehensive suite of market-leading, innovative solutions that truly help law firms across the globe increase efficiency and profitability. I look forward to leading the Eastern U.S. sales team to new levels of achievement, further contributing to Aderant's amazing success and momentum."

To learn more about career opportunities at Aderant, click here. About Aderant Aderant is a global industry leader which provides comprehensive business management software for law firms and other professional services organizations. The company's popular technology brands include Aderant Expert for practice management, Handshake and Drive for knowledge management, iTimekeep, OCG Live & Thrive for timekeeping and compliance, BillBlast for eBilling, CompuLaw for docketing and calendaring, and Expert Case for legal case management. Aderant operates as a unit of Roper Technologies (NYSE: ROP), a constituent of the S&P 500 , Fortune 1000 , and the Russell 1000  indices. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has several other offices across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit Aderant.com, email info@aderant.com, or follow the company on Twitter (News - Alert) @Aderant or LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005231/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Monte Carlo Expands Leadership Team from Snowflake, Segment to Support Hypergrowth of Data Observability Category

Monte Carlo, the data reliability company, today announced two new strategic hires to its leadership team: Daniel Day, Head of Marketing, and Jordan Van Horn, Head of Revenue. With experience leading award-winning go-to-market teams at Snowflake and Segment, Day and Van Horn share a deep expertise in the data industry and will help Monte Carlo meet the growing demands as the industry leader in Data Observaility.



Day brings over a decade of marketing leadership experience to Monte Carlo. Day founded Snowflake's account-based marketing (ABM) practice at Snowflake, an industry behemoth and strategic partner of Monte Carlo. During Day's tenure leading ABM at the company, Snowflake went from $15M in revenue to over $300M, with over 40 percent of sales influenced by ABM. "Data quality is a massive challenge for businesses of every size and across every industry," said Day. "When I learned about the emerging discipline of data observability, and how Monte Carlo is pioneering a new product category with such enormous potential, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join their incredible team."

Van Horn has over 15 years of sales and revenue experience. He comes to Monte Carlo from customer data platform Segment, where he served as Vice President of Sales. He also oversaw the company's first international expansion into Europe. While at Segment, Van Horn built and managed the largest sales team as the company passed $100M in revenue. Previously, he led enterprise sales for Dropbox (News - Alert) Business. "Monte Carlo solves a problem that every business leader knows they need to address," said Van Horn. "And their founding team has done an exceptional job of defining and articulating the potential impact their platform can make. I look forward to helping expand the reach of Monte Carlo during this next phase of growth." "Daniel and Jordan have a deep understanding of how modern companies leverage and value high-quality data, and share our vision for eliminating data downtime through end-to-end data observability," said Barr Moses, CEO, Monte Carlo. "I'm thrilled to welcome them into the fold, and I can't wait to watch them work together to help more companies achieve data trust!" View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005634/en/

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[June 24, 2021] RingCentral Video Wins "Overall Video Conferencing Solution of the Year" from RemoteTech Breakthrough 2021 Awards

RingCentral, Inc. (NYSE:RNG), a leading provider of global enterprise cloud communications, video meetings, collaboration, and contact center solutions, today announced that RingCentral Video has been selected as the winner of the "Overall Video Conferencing Solution of the Year" award in the 2021 RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards. RemoteTech Breakthrough is a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout technology companies and products empowering remote work and distributed teams globally. Their awards program this year attracted more than 1,600 nominations from over 15 countries worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswie.com/news/home/20210624005259/en/



"Keeping a team cohesive when you go remote can be a challenge. In a matter of days, RingCentral (News - Alert) was able to help businesses around the world connect their dispersed teams and transition to staying at home, safe without missing a beat in productivity and communication," said Bryan Vaughn, managing director of RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards. "RingCentral is driving rapid innovation around helping people have smarter meetings through an integrated message, video, and phone solution. Its global cloud communications solution continues to lead the market and meet evolving business and enterprise customer needs. Congratulations on being our choice for 'Overall Video Conferencing Solution of the Year.' We're excited to see what's next for RingCentral as they continue to set themselves apart in the space." RingCentral Video, the company's video meetings solution with team messaging, enables people to connect, communicate, and collaborate seamlessly, whether they are returning to the office or working from anywhere. RingCentral Video raises the bar for online collaboration and meetings with integrated video meetings and team messaging, providing people with the tools they need to be productive working from anywhere.

"The pandemic has changed the way organizations think about work and redefined how people connect in their work and personal lives," said Nat Natarajan, executive vice president of products and engineering at RingCentral. "Our focus is and always has been on driving innovation that empowers our customers not just to connect but to do it productively. We're honored by this accolade as we continue to develop solutions teams need to work easily and securely from anywhere." About RingCentral RingCentral, Inc. (NYSE: RNG) is a leading provider of business cloud communications and contact center solutions based on its powerful Message Video Phone (News - Alert) ??(MVP) global platform. More flexible and cost effective than legacy on-premises PBX and video conferencing systems that it replaces, RingCentral empowers modern mobile and distributed workforces to communicate, collaborate, and connect via any mode, any device, and any location. RingCentral offers three key products in its portfolio including RingCentral MVP, a Unified Communications (News - Alert) as a Service (UCaaS) platform including team messaging, video meetings, and cloud phone system; RingCentral Video, ?the company's video meetings solution with team messaging that enables Smart Video Meetings; and RingCentral cloud Contact Center solutions. RingCentral's open platform integrates with leading third-party business applications and enables customers to easily customize business workflows. RingCentral is headquartered in Belmont, California, and has offices around the world. About RemoteTech Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in technologies, services, companies and products that empower remote work and distributed teams around the globe. The RemoteTech Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of technology companies and solutions in categories including messaging & communication, project management, virtual events, team collaboration, virtual offices, collaborative design and more. For more information visit RemoteTechBreakthrough.com.  2021 RingCentral, Inc. All rights reserved. RingCentral, Message Video Phone, MVP, RingCentral MVP, RingCentral Video, RingCentral Contact Center, Smart Video Meetings, and the RingCentral logo are trademarks of RingCentral, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005259/en/

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[June 24, 2021] OBE Power Partners with Casata in Texas to Provide Smart Community EV Charging

OBE Power, a leading private network of smart, distributed electric vehicle chargers in Florida, has partnered with Casata to offer Electric Vehicle Charging as a Service (EV CaaS) at their unique micro green living rental communities. The partnership will launch in Casata's debut development in South Austin and expand to planned locations across Texas and the Southeast. OBE Power's Electric Vehicle Charging as a Service and digital platform allows Casata to integrate smart community charging into their unique sustainable-forward approach to the micro living experience. Miami-based OBE Power owns, installs, and manages the charging amenity. Property managers can oversee its administration through OBE Power's user-friendly web portal, as well as track environmental benefits real time. "This partnership allows us to expad our popular Host program into the important Texas and Southeastern markets and compound our effective reduction of greenhouse gases in the transportation sector," according to OBE Power's Managing Director Alejandro Burgana, "Installing chargers in multifamily properties removes the biggest barrier to consumer EV adoption - fear of not having a place to charge. With EV charging amenities available, residents can make the switch to an electric vehicle that costs less to 'fuel,' is faster, safer, less costly to operate and emits zero tailpipe pollution."



"We're excited to offer residents a cost-effective and convenient EV charging solution that adds value to our projects while helping reduce emissions," says Zain (News - Alert) Mahmood, Casata's Co-Founder & COO. Casata plans to partner with OBE Power at their next planned developments beginning with Casata San Marcos and roll out into other locations over the next two years.

As Electric Vehicle adoptions continue to accelerate, offering green amenities to residents can attract loyal tenants while also reducing emissions. Together OBE Power and Casata are committed to leading on sustainability to build a green future. OBE Power, founded in 2017, is an Electric Vehicle Charging as a Service company. With OBE Power, multi-family residents, Fortune 500 corporate employees and university students can charge their electric vehicles where they work, live, and play. Their user-friendly app and web portal tracks vehicle usage and reports on environmental benefits real time. OBE Power makes charging fun, convenient, and impactful. Casata is a new, Austin-based startup creating micro home rental communities across the state of Texas and beyond. With their first community in South Austin, they are pioneering their scalable, highly-amenitized model of micro living. Each independent Casata home is beautifully designed with open, efficient layouts and abundant natural light, and enhanced with smart home technology and outdoor patios. The community features multiple exciting events per week, put together by their unique "Campus Alchemist", along with many other amenities such as electric vehicle charging. The combination of these features elevates Casata as an attractive alternative to traditional apartment living or single family rentals. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005439/en/

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[June 24, 2021] CDI Welcomes Laurent Dionot to Spearhead Sales in Philadelphia Market

Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI) announced today the addition of Laurent Dionot as Senior Account Executive, tasked with taking CDI's world class digital portfolio to the Philadelphia market. He will be responsible for revenue growth, geographic expansion, marketing initiatives and delivering added value to clients and partners in a focal market for the company. With over 12 years of industry experience supporting clients so they may achieve successful business outcomes, Dionot now brings senior acumen to the Philly metro area in his role with CDI. Dionot will cover a comprehensive set of CDI-driven solutions including Cloud & Managed Services, Traditional Core Infrastructure, Digital Solutions, and Security to support Philly metro businesses' Digital Transformation efforts. These core disciplines are complimented with CDI's Hybrid Cloud Automation Framework, Zero Touch Operations, Enterprise Workflow Management, and Data Governance capabilities. "I'm thrilled o be joining a company with a reputation for excellence, is experiencing tremendous growth, and is showing leadership in all areas of its technology portfolio," stated Dionot. "I look forward to expanding the CDI footprint within the Philadelphia area and am excited to be part of such an impressive team of tech professionals."



Dionot comes to CDI from Salesforce, where he supported Enterprise organizations in their adoption of digital solutions with a primary focus on driving an updated employee and customer experience. Prior to that, he spent 8 years with Dell (News - Alert) Technologies (formerly Dell/EMC, EMC), helping his clients navigate the software-defined, multi-cloud data center. Dionot brings a high level of professionalism and trust to his customers as demonstrated by his success in the technology space over the last decade. He is a proud graduate of Saint Joseph's University with a B.S in Business Management. "Laurent brings a tremendous amount of experience and a proven history of successfully helping clients achieve their goals related to all aspects of technology" said Jason Kalvesmaki, Executive Vice President of Sales at CDI. "We are excited to welcome him to the CDI team as we continue our aggressive growth both in geography and also organizationally as we add top industry talent that exhibit a strong 'client-first' mindset."

About Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC): CDI LLC was founded in 1995, with corporate headquarters in New York City, as well as office locations in Teterboro, N.J., Philadelphia, Atlanta and Boston. The firm has been recognized as one of the nation's top 500 IT solution providers offering clients and businesses of all sizes the most up-to-date hybrid IT technology solutions that solve today's most complex business challenges. CDI LLC continually focuses on achieving client satisfaction by developing and implementing comprehensive and innovative technology solutions that enhance day-to-day business workflow processes. As one of the largest solution providers, CDI LLC combines the required experience, exceptional talent, quality assurance and stability that its clients strive to achieve. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005066/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Sheppard Mullin Adds Healthcare Partner in Dallas

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is pleased to announce that Phillip L. Kim has joined the firm's Corporate practice group and Healthcare industry team as a partner in the Dallas office. He joins from Haynes Boone. He is the fifth healthcare partner to join Sheppard Mullin this year. "Healthcare is a key industry for us and we're thrilled to welcome Phil to our growing team," said Sheppard Mullin vice chairman Jon Newby. "Our clients are always looking for seasoned attorneys to help them navigate the complex and constantly evolving maze of regulations. His expertise will be a valuable resource to clients and the firm." Eric Klein (News - Alert) , Sheppard Mullin's Healthcare industry team leader, added, "Phil brings substantial experience that complements our existing healthcare transactional and regulatory capabilities for providers, including a variety of arrangements and provider agreements, and issues relating to liability exposure, anti-kickback statues, and more." Kim represents various types of providers, ranging from healthcare systems, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, physician groups, including non-profit health organizations (NPHOs), home health care providers, and other healthcare companies on the buy- and sell-side of mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, as well as on a myriad of regulatory issues. Kim also assists multinational technology companies entering the digital health space with various service and collaboration agreements for their wearable technology. He also works with public medical device, bioechnology, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the investment banks that serve as underwriters involved in the public securities offerings for such healthcare companies.



Additionally, Kim works with clients on healthcare arrangements, professional services agreements and provider agreements, including the transition of hundreds of physicians from a prior physician group to a new NPHO with a restructured employment model. Kim regularly advises clients on healthcare compliance issues involving liability exposure, the Stark law, anti-kickback statutes, and HIPAA/HITECH privacy issues. He also counsels clients on matters involving state and federal healthcare laws, complex business structuring and formation issues, employment issues, and matters involving various government agencies, including different state Medicaid agencies, the Texas Medical Board, and Medicare Administrative Contractors. Kim earned his B.A., with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law where he was the Executive Editor of the SMU Science and Technology Law Review. About Sheppard Mullin's Healthcare Industry Team

The Healthcare attorneys of Sheppard Mullin provide experienced legal counsel to healthcare providers, payors, institutions and almost every form of healthcare related organization. This experience gives us a unique perspective and understanding of the mindset that each side brings to the table. It also enables us to develop effective solutions to fit our clients' needs and objectives-making the pieces of the puzzle fit together within a complex framework that includes fraud and abuse, antitrust, Medicare/Medicaid/commercial reimbursement, HIPAA, corporate M&A and restructuring and insolvency issues, to name only a few. About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Sheppard Mullin is a full-service AmLaw 50 firm with more than 980 attorneys in 15 offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since 1927, industry-leading companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle corporate and technology matters, high-stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm's clients include almost half of the Fortune 100. For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005682/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Demand for Elimination of Human Errors and Reduced Labour Expenses to Trigger Growth of the Global IT Robotic Automation Market, Market to Clock Phenomenal Growth of 28.1% CAGR over the Forecast Period - TMR

- Robotic process automation (RPA) techniques and tools are deployed by end users in the IT robotic automation industry so as to automate a diverse range of business processes. - Organizations that invest a lot of money on labour are more likely to use robotic automation to improve their capabilities while saving time and money. ALBANY, N.Y., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Robotic process automation (RPA) techniques and tools are extensively being used by end users in the IT robotic automation market to automate a diverse range of corporate processes. Over time, chief information officers (CIOs) in corporations and enterprises have adopted new RPA tools to address various circumstances. Financial services businesses have been early adopters of IT robotic automation, as seen by the use of bots to deliver client value. The prospects were fuelled by the benefits of IT robotic automation for such businesses. Reduced labour expenses and human errors, for example, are important commercial arguments. A wide range of cognitive technologies has broadened the scope of this technology, which is estimated to support development of the global IT Robotic Automation Market in the years to come. In recent years, the increasing demand of intelligent automation has aided industry participants in carving out new specialised offers. New RPA scenarios are widening the horizon for proponents in the global IT robotic automation market, as seen by large companies' successful and widespread implementation of the RPA software application. The possibilities of IT process automation technologies are being expanded, thanks to breakthroughs made in cognitive computing. Request the Covid19 Impact Analysis at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=4045 The global IT robotic automation market is predicted to grow at a phenomenal rate 28.1% CAGR over the analysis timeframe, from 2018 to 2026. Navigation has been difficult in several RPA settings due to the high cost and intricacy of technology settings. The use of IT robotic automation has also been hampered by regulations. Key Findings of Market Report High Efficiency and Reduced Cost to Spur Growth of the Market Organizations that spend a lot of money on labour are more likely to use robotic automation to improve their capabilities whilst saving both money and time. Back-office tasks, support processes, IT administration and workflow processes, and business operations have all been changed by robotic automation. In addition to that, automation allows for enhanced productivity and accuracy in process transactions, as well as improving the nature and quality of work by removing individuals from boring and repetitive activities. IT robotic automation can be used in a variety of industries to increase production rates without sacrificing quality. Download PDF Brochure  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4045



Reduced costs and increased efficiency achieved by robotic automation over human procedures in the IT industry are amongst the drivers likely to boost its widespread adoption. Because of these advantages, robotic automation has seen widespread acceptance in IT applications like application management, business process outsourcing (BPO) management, and infrastructure management. In addition to that, the increased adoption of cloud-based solutions is expected to enhance the IT robotic automation market in the years go come. Organizations are also looking for new solutions to help them deal with the issues that come with working in a dynamic environment. Another reason driving the growth of the global IT robotic automation market is the increasing complexity of IT operations and administration, which necessitates the use of robotic intervention. Increased Awareness and Adoption to Cause Expansion in Developed Nations The North American region is likely to have a leading position in the global IT robotic automation market over the projected period, from 2018 to 2026. Due to the increase of automation and a greater adoption of process management solutions in the region, the IT robotic automation market is expected to observe high growth. In addition, the virtual workforce is expanding and evolving in the region. In the US, companies such as 10up and appendTo are helping to expand the regional business.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/4045 Nevertheless, it is worth noting that, due to rising levels of awareness about the advantages of automation, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to emerge as the rapidly expanding region in the global IT robotic automation market. IT Robotic Automation Market: Growth Drivers Across several RPA situations, navigation has been problematic due to the high cost and intricacy of technological settings. Regulations have also proven to be a barrier to IT robotic automation deployment.

Companies that spend a lot of money on labour are more inclined to make use of robotic automation to improve their abilities whilst saving both time and money. IT administration and support processes, business operations, back-office task, and workflow processes have all been changed by robotic automation. Purchase Premium Research Report on IT Robotic Automation Market @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=4045<ype=S IT Robotic Automation Market: Key Competitors Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

Tata Consultancy Services Limited.

Automation Anywhere, Inc.

Be Informed B.V.

Genpact Ltd.

Blue Prism IT Robotic Automation Market: Segmentation Solution Tools

Services Tools Model-based

Process-based Services Professional

Training Professional Consulting

Integration and Development

BPO Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the Global IT & Telecom Industry: Industry 4.0 Market - Industry 4.0 is known to be the fourth industrial revolution that concentrates on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data. It is also referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT) or smart production coupled with the smart digital technology. Moreover, it utilizes machine learning and Big Data to build a more holistic and better-connected ecosystem for businesses that center manufacturing and SCM. Immersive Technologies Market - The notion of new normal is predicted to increase reliance on tools such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) in order to fulfill personal and business obligations. Companies in the immersive technologies market are gauging future growth potential in virtual shopping, since the COVID-19 pandemic is snatching the physical shopping experience away from customers. From fashion to furniture, AR and VR have the potential to enable a virtual shopping space. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact

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[June 24, 2021] Medable Launches Digital Certification Program to Accelerate Adoption of Decentralized Clinical Trials

Medable Inc., the leading software platform for patient-centered drug development, today announced an industry-first digital certification program that provides life sciences companies with specialized tools, knowledge sharing and skills development to rapidly scale their decentralized and hybrid trial strategies. As the industry shifts to adopt decentralized methodologies, Medable is empowering organizations to build their skillsets of the future on a leading technology platform. "Over the past year, we have collaborated with our partners to answer the critical question: How do we empower our organizations with the skills required for this new era of research?" said Dr. Michelle Longmire, CEO and co-founder of Medable. "It has become clear that biopharma is embracing decentralized trials, and leading companies want to ensure their teams have skills to execute best-in-class clinical development. Medable and our partners are powering this radical transformation to future-proof and enable next-generation clinical research at scale." Medable's software-as-a-service ( SaaS (News - Alert) ) platform has been deployed in more than 60 countries via more than 150 decentralized and hybrid clinical trials to date. The new digital certification program shares Medable's best practices with organizations that want to build skills and drive strong results such as 50 percent reduction in patient enrollment times, 75 percent reduction in the number of sites needed, and enrollment of more than 1,000 patients in a day. "The clinical research landscape is more complex than ever, slowing the delivery of medical breakthroughs. We need faster change to improve efficiency and get more treatments to more patients," said Craig Lipset, assistant professor of health informatics at Rutgers University and founder at Clinical Innovation Partners. "Empowering the industry through training and certification based on evidence and real-world insights will enable companies to adapt quickly and meaningfully democratize trial participation for a far broader array of patients." Medable's certification program supports partners to codify emerging skills and learning paths that empower individuals and teams to design, build, deploy and support decentralized and hybrid trials. "As Medable's preferred CRO partner, PPD is excited for the arrival of a complete SaaS platform and the associated training and certification program," said Niklas Morton, senior vice president of PPD Digital. "Our two companies have collaborated on nearly 70 digital and decentralized trials. Those learnings and best practices will outlive the COVID-19 pandemic, and this SaaS model will allow PPD to deliver all services required to help more customers adopt and operationalize decentralized approaches, ultimately making it easier for patients to participate in the clinical trial process."



As the decentralized model continues to evolve, Medable's digital platform has streamlined design, recruitment, retention and data quality for decentralized trials, replacing siloed systems with integrated digital tools, data and interfaces to accelerate trial execution. "Over the past three years, our experience and insights have been proven with several partners to build decentralized expertise across their organization and transform their clinical trials," said Jared Klingeisen, vice president of customer success at Medable. "Now this expertise has been packaged into a program that empowers life sciences companies to become self-sufficient and rapidly accelerate decentralized research at scale."

Medable will be presenting several sessions at the DIA Global Annual Meeting (#DIA2021) - see below - sharing insights about how Medable's partners are breaking down barriers to scientific development by modernizing clinical research. Click here to engage with Medable at DIA and click here to learn more about Medable's decentralized trial certifications. Decentralized Clinical Trial Readiness for your Organization (June 30, 9:30 a.m. ET) Speakers: Dr. Pamela Tenaerts, MBA, Chief Scientific Officer; Rasmus Hogreffe, MSc.Med., MBA, VP of Decentralized Clinical Trial Innovation; Andrew Mackinnon, Digital Trial Operations Lead

(June 30, 9:30 a.m. ET) Decentralized Clinical Trials: Accelerate Drug Development through Anytime, Anywhere Participation (July 1, 9:00 a.m. ET) Speakers: Hassan Kadhim, Global Head of Clinical Innovation at BMS, Bryan Hill, VP of Digital Health & Innovation at Cognizant (News - Alert) , Alison Holland, Head of Decentralized Trials Strategy at Medable; Dr. Pamela Tenaerts, MBA, Chief Scientific Officer at Medable; Jared Klingeisen VP, Customer Success at Medable

(July 1, 9:00 a.m. ET) For ongoing insight about decentralized trial adoption and patient-centered research, follow Medable via our blog, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook channels. About Medable Medable is on a mission to get effective therapies to patients faster by transforming clinical drug development with disruptive technologies. The company's digital platform streamlines design, recruitment, retention and data quality for decentralized trials, replacing siloed systems with integrated digital tools, data and interfaces to accelerate trial execution. Medable connects patients, sites and clinical trial teams to improve patient access, experience, and outcomes. Medable is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert) , California. For more information, visit www.medable.com and follow @Medableinc on Twitter (News - Alert) . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005720/en/

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[June 24, 2021] OSF Digital Acquires Paladin Group to Bolster its Business Experience Solutions

QUEBEC CITY, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSF Digital , a leading provider of commerce solutions and digital transformation services to B2B and B2C companies worldwide, announces the acquisition of Paladin Group , a leader in implementing and managing experience solutions for customers, partners, and employees. The move supports OSFs strategy to strengthen its Salesforce Experience Cloud capabilities in North America. The terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

OSF Digital, a Salesforce Expert Navigator in Salesforce Commerce Cloud and the Consumer Goods and Retail industries, is focused on becoming the global go-to transformation partner for digital commerce. With deep industry and technology expertise, the firm can identify a clients unique requirements and develop innovative commerce solutions for specific markets and industry verticals. Last year, OSF applied this expertise by releasing more than 20 out-of-the-box, industry-specific solutions and commerce accelerators to help brands worldwide launch online stores fast to overcome pandemic-related challenges. OSFs customers include some of the worlds biggest brands such as L'Oreal USA, Burton Snowboards, Ubisoft, Bouclair, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Geox, Kal Tire, Markwins Beauty, Stonewall Kitchen, Lush Handmade Cosmetics, Domaine Chandon and Urban Barn. Paladin specializes in digital experience solutions for customers, partners, and employees. Paladin has won two Salesforce Partner Innovation Awards for delivering innovative and engaging user experiences on the Salesforce platform. In addition to their xpertise in Salesforce Experience Cloud, Paladins Salesforce practice includes capabilities for Service Cloud, Einstein, Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Pardot, and Commerce Cloud. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Paladin has established a client base in the North American region, with customers in financial services, media & communications, technology, healthcare & life sciences, and education, including Hulu, Five9, and Flexcare Medical Staffing.



As more companies continue to shift their operations online, the demand for better connected digital experiences has also increased. With this acquisition, OSF Digital will leverage Paladins expertise with business experience solutions to provide a more comprehensive digital transformation strategy to clients. The company will be in an even better position to create strategies, designs and to deliver enhanced experience solutions to clients and personalized experiences to their customers. Paladins proven experience and relationships with top North American brands will extend our ability to deliver outstanding customer, partner and employee experiences as well as broaden our expertise in more industry verticals. As two award-winning Salesforce partners, we will advance our overall Salesforce capabilities and reinforce our position as a leading digital transformation partner for B2B and B2C companies, said Gerard (Gerry) Szatvanyi, CEO of OSF Digital.

Paladin is well aligned with OSF in our mutual drive for constant innovation and client satisfaction. The OSF team will strengthen our capabilities on Salesforce so we can provide our clients holistic digital transformation solutions. We will also expand to more industry verticals globally and benefit from the support of a larger, worldwide team. Paladin is excited to be a part of OSF, and we are looking forward to the success we can achieve together, said Carlo Saggese, CEO and Founder of Paladin. Salesforce, Experience Cloud, Service Cloud, Einstein, Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Pardot, Commerce Cloud and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc. About OSF Digital OSF Digital is a leading global commerce and digital transformation company, with expertise in enterprise connected commerce, order management solutions, storefront management services, commerce consulting, and cloud application development. With proficiency in B2C and B2B commerce and experience in helping businesses leverage commerce, marketing, sales, and service solutions, OSF seamlessly guides companies throughout their entire digital transformation journey. OSF Digital is a trusted Salesforce Consulting Partner since 2010, being awarded by Salesforce numerous times for advancing the commerce industry. As a global company with a local presence in North America, Latin America, APAC, and EMEA, the company ensures efficient delivery in all time zones and markets. HSBC and BDC are OSF Digital's financial partners, and Delta-v Capital is an investor. For more information about OSF Digital, visit: osf.digital All trademarks and trade names mentioned herein are the properties of their respective holders and hereby acknowledged. Media contact:

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[June 24, 2021] $243M ASTRA Award Expands Infoscitex Support to Air Force Research Laboratory

DAYTON, Ohio, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infoscitex (IST), a DCS Company, has been awarded companion contracts expanding the company's research and development (R&D) support to the Aerospace Systems Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Under the Aerospace Systems Technology Research and Assessment (ASTRA) program, IST will execute two single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a shared ceiling of $243M and a 7-year period of performance. ASTRA is the follow-on to the Research of Aerospace Systems Technology (RAST) contract. In support of the ASTRA program, IST personnel will deliver support through two focus area contracts. The Aerospace Technology Development and Testing contract will center on transformative aerospace capabilities, control theory and application, manned-unmanned teaming, verification and validation, and modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) of aerospace system concepts. Under the Multi-Domain Operations Moeling, Simulation, and Analysis contract, IST will develop MS&A tools and conduct military effectiveness, cost effectiveness, trade space, requirements, tactics refinement, and logistics analysis for new technologies and concepts. The scope of these analyses will span all warfighting domains (air, land, sea, space, and cyber) and all technology domains with a particular emphasis on aerospace technologies.



Through these significant awards, IST will continue to build on its legacy of success supporting the Aerospace Systems Directorate and further advancing the AFRL mission. Through prior contracts, IST has served as the incumbent prime contractor for more than 10 years. "Infoscitex sincerely appreciates the opportunity to continue satisfying AFRL Aerospace Systems Directorate requirements under ASTRA," stated Mike Gilkey, Vice President, Infoscitex Air and Space Operations. "We're proud of our long history of support in this important area and look forward to helping our customers tackle the many technical challenges that lay ahead."

About the Company

Infoscitex and its parent company, DCS Corporation, offer advanced technology, engineering, and management solutions to Government agencies in the Department of Defense and national security sector. The transformative ideas, commitment to quality, and entrepreneurial spirit that characterize our employee-owners allow us to ensure the success of each customer's mission and actively contribute to the well-being of our Nation. For more information, please visit http://www.infoscitex.com and https://www.dcscorp.com Media Contact: dcscommunications@dcscorp.com, 571-227-6000 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/243m-astra-award-expands-infoscitex-support-to-air-force-research-laboratory-301319514.html SOURCE DCS Corporation

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[June 24, 2021] Cesar Parada Named General Director, Valent de Mexico

Valent U.S.A., a Sumitomo Chemical Company, welcomes Cesar Parada as general director of its subsidiary Valent de Mexico, effective July 12, 2021. Parada will be based at Valent de Mexico (VdM) headquarters in Guadalajara and report directly to Valent U.S.A. Executive Vice President and COO Matt Plitt. VdM offers a broad portfolio of agricultural products and technologies to help growers protect their crops from weeds, diseases and damaging insects. As general director, Parada will oversee all VdM operations, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations and achievement of financial goals and growth strategies. He also will identify and assess new business opportunities, working closely with Jesus Tapia who was named VdM's Commercial Director in January. Parada brings a long history in Mexican agriculture with experience in business and financial management. Most recently, he served as general director/CFO at Agristar, where he revitalized employee and company performance and used his M&A expertise to integrate operations and spark collaboration. Before that, Parada spent morethan 18 years with Agri-Estrella, formerly Cuproquim de Mexico, a division of Helena Chemical, as executive vice president and CFO.



He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting, master's in business management and doctorate in management with a concentration in M&A from the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua (U.A.CH.), Mexico. Parada is a professor of finance in the MBA program at U.A.CH. He will continue to serve U.A.CH. as an adjunct instructor in accounting and management, a role he has held since 1995. "Cesar is a great fit for Valent," said Plitt. "His strong financial background and demonstrated leadership will be an asset to the compliance culture we've built throughout the company. And his passion for teaching at his alma mater - nurturing future generations - aligns with our sustainability goals and the U.N. Sustainability Development Goal, 'Quality Education.'"

About Valent de Mexico Valent de Mexico is a subsidiary of Valent U.S.A., a Sumitomo Chemical Company. With more than 20 years in the market, Valent de Mexico was the first company within the Mexican crop protection industry to incorporate conventional and biorational proprietary products into its own portfolio. Valent de Mexico is well recognized for working closely with end users and distribution, offering integrated solutions as specialized products with strong field support for Crop Protection and Crop Production needs by growers in Mexico. VdM is headquartered in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and have Sales and Technical service personnel nationwide. The company website is www.valent.mx. About Valent U.S.A. Valent U.S.A., headquartered in San Ramon, California, develops and markets products in the United States, Canada and Mexico that advance sustainable agriculture, protect crops, enhance crop yields, improve food quality, beautify the environment and safeguard public health. Valent products include a well-known line of quality herbicide, insecticide, fungicide and plant growth regulator products for agricultural, seed protection and professional use. Valent is a leader in marketing and sales of both traditional chemical products and biorational products developed by its affiliate, Valent BioSciences LLC. About Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sumitomo Chemical is one of Japan's leading chemical companies. It offers a diverse range of products globally in the fields of petrochemicals, energy and functional materials, IT-related chemicals and materials, health and crop science products, and pharmaceuticals. The company's consolidated sales revenue for fiscal year 2019 was JPY 2.2 trillion and number of employees is about 34,000 as of March 31, 2020. For additional information, visit the company's website at https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/english/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005018/en/

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[June 24, 2021] CredSpark and Degreed to Offer Richer Set of Learner Engagement Tools and Employee Skills Insights

CredSpark, the leading provider of audience engagement and insights solutions, and Degreed, a learning experience platform, today announced a deeper, richer integration of their platforms to benefit Degreed's global client base of learning and development professionals. Since 2016, hundreds of Degreed clients have used CredSpark's assessment and analytics tools to generate millions of data points on what employees know and feel, as well as identify areas of interest. Degreed and CredSpark have developed a tightly integrated, cross-platform user experience allowing learning and skill-development professionals to engage, understand, and unlock insights in Degreed. "CredSpark's insight-capture tools perfectly complement Degreed's expanding skills-focused talent ecosystem. Today's learning teams need the ability to easily ask organization, and team-specific questions about employees' knowledge and opinions, and for those answers to inform upskilling opportunities. Our enhanced integration with CredSpark will power that next-level engagement," said Rob Wellington, Director of Experience Partnerships at Degreed. All Degreed clients already have access to a suite of integrated CredSpark assessment-creation and insight-generating tools which allow immersive workforce learning experiences that increase employee engagement while capturing vital learner data. CredSpark for Degreed users will see additional tools and new product enhancements in August 2021. With the launch of a new paid offering-CredSpark+, Degreed clients have the opportunity to license a richer set of CredSpark tools. CredSpark+ is being designed for more sophisticated learner engagement and assessment options including: embed surveys and assessments in emails and on web pages

leaderboard/gamification options

the ability to organize assessments and surveys into series, recording learners' progress over time

seamless export of learning insights to data warehouses or third-party analytics tools "Degreed sets the standard for everything a workforce learning and skills ecosystem needs to be, and their clients represent the most forward-thinking talent professionals around the globe. We've worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Degreed for years in supporting their clients, and this deeper integration is the natural outgrowth of that partnership," said Lev Kaye, Founder and CEO of CredSpark. Degreed clients interested in learning more about upcoming CredSpark enhancements and te new subscription-based CredSpark+ option can contact their Degreed Client Experience partner.



Learn more about the CredSpark and Degreed partnership. About CredSpark:

CredSpark is a Brooklyn-based audience engagement platform and services firm. The company helps clients create immersive, interactive content experiences that deepen audience engagement, assess knowledge, collect feedback and consent, surface insights from audience data, and support personalized digital experiences. Learn more about CredSpark: Website | YouTube | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook About Degreed: Degreed is the workforce upskilling platform for one in three Fortune 50 companies. We integrate and curate all the resources people use to learn - including learning management systems and millions of courses, videos, articles, books, and podcasts. Then we use behavioral and data science to analyze everyone's skills, and to automatically personalize career development based on their jobs, strengths, and goals. Founded in 2012, Degreed is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, with additional offices in Salt Lake City, New York, London, Amsterdam, and Brisbane. Learn more about Degreed: Website | YouTube | LinkedIn | Twitter View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005743/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Grant Thornton and NextGen Cyber Talent team to offer cybersecurity courses to underserved students

Grant Thornton (News - Alert) LLP, a leading professional-services firm, has teamed with nonprofit education provider NextGen Cyber Talent to develop a slate of cybersecurity coursework for underserved and underprivileged college-aged students in the San Francisco Bay Area. The free courses will help new and diverse talent enter an increasingly vital industry in need of capable professionals. The courses, which Grant Thornton developed, initially focus on privacy trends, technology and international regulations. Throughout the coursework, students can engage with demos, trainings and certifications offered by OneTrust, one of the most widely-used platforms to operationalize privacy, security and data governance. "In recent years, major companies have enhanced their cybersecurity efforts by hiring privacy professionals, but there still remains a shortage of minorities in this all too important field," said Derek Han, Cybersecurity and Privacy Solution leader at Grant Thornton. "The average data breach costs companies a staggering $3.92 million. These troubling statistics paint a clear picture: Skilled privacy experts have never been more crucial to customers' peace-of-mind and a company's financial wellbeing - and we hope that teaming with NextGen (News - Alert) Cyber Talent will help equip underserved college-age students to enter this growing and crucial field." NextGen Cyber Talent will work with community colleges, industry partners and other nonprofit organizations to offer these courses to around 100 young people each year. These students will either have an educational background in cybersecurity or an interest in a cybersecurity career. The courses will be available in-person or on-demand through the NextGen Cyber Talent platform. Upon course completion, NextGen Cyber Talent will help students with job placement. Dhawal Thakker, Risk managing director at Grant Thornton, adds that the firm's collaboration with NextGen Cyber Talent further solidifies Grant Thornton's commitment to supporting underserved communities. "Cybersecurity, and privacy in particular, are important to all industries and all consumers - yet there is a shortage of talent from underrepresented populations armed to address these issues. Our dedicated team of cybersecurity and privacy professionals will make an impact by sharing their experience with students in the San Francisco Bay Area." "The work with Grant Thornton is part of our continued efforts to cultivate young, diverse talent while making the cybersecurity industry more inclusive and accessible," adds Krishnan hellakarai, founder and chairman of NextGen Cyber Talent. "Grant Thornton leads the industry in predicting the risks of tomorrow while protecting companies today. Working together, we will be able train highly skilled privacy professionals that companies demand in today's evolving world."



To learn more about NextGen Cyber Talent and Grant Thornton's privacy training courses, visit www.nextgencybertalent.com/students. For more information about Grant Thornton's cybersecurity and privacy services offerings, visit www.grantthornton.com/cybersecurityandprivacy. About NextGen Cyber Talent

NextGen Cyber Talent is a non-profit providing a platform to increase diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity industry. It brings together cybersecurity experts, solution providers and enterprises to make a difference in the underserved and underprivileged community and address a mounting cyber skills shortage and talent gap. To learn more, visit www.nextgencybertalent.com.

About Grant Thornton LLP

Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world's leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton, which has revenues of $1.92 billion and operates more than 50 offices, works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations. "Grant Thornton" refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another's acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details. About OneTrust

OneTrust is the #1 fastest-growing company on Inc. 500 and the category-defining enterprise platform to operationalize trust. More than 10,000 customers, including half of the Fortune Global 500, use OneTrust to make trust a competitive differentiator, implementing central agile workflows across privacy, security, data governance, GRC, third-party risk, ethics and compliance, and ESG programs. Learn more: OneTrust.com and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005742/en/

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[June 24, 2021] CI Global Asset Management Announces Fund Name Changes to Reflect Integrated Investment Management Platform

CI Global Asset Management ("CI GAM") today announced the renaming of 156 investment funds as part of a strategic initiative to modernize its business and product lineup. CI GAM also announced risk rating changes for four of those mandates, as well as its intention to discontinue deferred, intermediate deferred and low load sales charge purchase options for all CI mutual funds effective June 1, 2022. "Rebranding our funds reflects the important changes we have made in building CI GAM into an integrated global investment platform with a strong lineup of relevant investment solutions that will help today's investors meet their financial goals," said Kurt MacAlpine, Chief Executive Officer of CI Financial Corp., parent company of CI GAM. The name changes support CI GAM's integration of its in-house investment boutiques into a single investment team operating under the CI Global Asset Management name. This reorganization has allowed for greater collaboration and sharing of insights and best practices across the organization and increased the depth and breadth of CI GAM's research coverage. The change was initiated in the fall of 2020 when CI Investments Inc. rebranded to CI Global Asset Management. Now, with the fund name changes, the legacy boutique brands will be retired and the funds will be aligned under a single brand with national recognition. "The changes emphasize for investors that our funds benefit from the full breadth and depth of expertise of CI GAM, one of Canada's largest investment managers and a firm with extensive global capabilities and experience," Mr. MacAlpine said. This news follows CI GAM's appointment of Marc-Andre Lewis as its first-ever Head of Investment Management. Mr. Lewis, who was previously Head of Portfolio Construction at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world's largest and most sophisticated institutional investors, will join CI GAM in September. With his diverse background spanning all asset classes, asset allocation, portfolio construction, risk management, and public and private markets, he will lead the continued development of CI GAM's integrated investment team. CI GAM has also introduced a series of innovative new products over the last 18 months, including mandates focused on cryptocurrencies, gold bullion, the longevity economy, fixed income, and alternative investments. "Having a unified investment team and a unified brand simplifies our offering for clients and makes it easier for investors and advisors to do business with us," Mr. MacAlpine said. "As part of these changes, we are also bringing consistency to our naming conventions and ensuring that our fund names better represent their investment mandates." The name changes will be implemented in two phases. Fifty-five funds - primarily Sentry-branded funds - are being renamed as of June 25, 2021 and another 101 funds will be renamed effective July 29, 2021. There are no changes to the investment objectives or portfolio managers of the funds with these changes. Name changes The following changes will be effective June 25, 2021:







Current Name New Name Private Trusts Sentry Canadian Core Fixed Income Private Trust CI Canadian Core Fixed Income Private Trust Sentry Canadian Equity Income Private Trust CI Canadian Equity Income Private Trust Sentry Energy Private Trust CI Energy Private Trust Sentry Global Core Fixed Income Private Trust CI Global Core Fixed Income Private Trust Sentry Global High Yield Fixed Income Private Trust CI Global High Yield Fixed Income Private Trust Sentry Global Infrastructure Private Trust CI Global Infrastructure Private Trust Sentry Global Real Estate Private Trust CI Global Real Estate Private Trust Sentry International Equity Income Private Trust CI International Equity Income Private Trust Sentry Precious Metals Private Trust CI Precious Metals Private Trust Sentry U.S. Equity Income Private Trust CI U.S. Equity Income Private Trust Mutual Funds Cambridge Global Dividend Class CI Global Dividend Opportunities Class CI Lawrence Park Alternative Investment Grade Credit Fund CI Alternative Investment Grade Credit Fund Sentry All Cap Income Class CI Canadian All Cap Equity Income Class Sentry All Cap Income Fund CI Canadian All Cap Equity Income Fund Sentry Balanced Income Portfolio CI Balanced Income Personal Portfolio Sentry Balanced Yield Private Pool Class CI Balanced Yield Private Pool Class Sentry Canadian Equity Income Private Pool Class CI Canadian Equity Income Private Pool Class Sentry Canadian Income Class CI Canadian Equity Income Class Sentry Canadian Income Fund CI Canadian Equity Income Fund Sentry Conservative Balanced Income Class CI Conservative Balanced Income Class Sentry Conservative Balanced Income Fund CI Conservative Balanced Income Fund Sentry Conservative Income Portfolio CI Conservative Income Personal Portfolio Sentry Defensive Income Portfolio CI Defensive Income Personal Portfolio Sentry Global Balanced Yield Private Pool Class CI Global Balanced Yield Private Pool Class Sentry Global Equity Income Private Pool Class CI Global Equity Income Private Pool Class Sentry Global Investment Grade Private Pool Class CI Global Investment Grade Private Pool Class Sentry Growth and Income Portfolio CI Growth & Income Personal Portfolio Sentry Growth Portfolio CI Growth Personal Portfolio Sentry International Equity Income Private Pool Class CI International Equity Income Private Pool Class Sentry Precious Metals Class CI Precious Metals Class Sentry Precious Metals Fund CI Precious Metals Fund Sentry Resource Opportunities Class CI Resource Opportunities Class Sentry Small/Mid Cap Income Class CI Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Income Class Sentry Small/Mid Cap Income Fund CI Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Income Fund Sentry U.S. Equity Income Currency Neutral Private Pool Class CI U.S. Equity Income Currency Neutral Private Pool Class Sentry U.S. Equity Income Private Pool Class CI U.S. Equity Income Private Pool Class Sentry U.S. Growth and Income Class CI U.S. Equity Income Class Sentry U.S. Growth and Income Currency Neutral Class CI U.S. Equity Income Currency Neutral Class Sentry U.S. Growth and Income Fund CI U.S. Equity Income Fund Sentry U.S. Monthly Income Fund CI U.S. Equity & Income Fund Signature Corporate Bond Class CI Corporate Bond Class Signature Global Infrastructure Fund CI Global Infrastructure Fund Signature Global REIT Class CI Global REIT Class Signature Global REIT Fund CI Global REIT Fund Signature High Yield Bond Class CI High Yield Bond Class Real Income Sentry Real Growth Pool Class CI Real Growth Pool Class Sentry Real Long Term Income Pool Class CI Real Long Term Income Pool Class Sentry Real Long Term Income Trust CI Real Long Term Income Trust Sentry Real Mid Term Income Pool Class CI Real Mid Term Income Pool Class Sentry Real Mid Term Income Trust CI Real Mid Term Income Trust Sentry Real Short Term Income Pool Class CI Real Short Term Income Pool Class Sentry Real Short Term Income Trust CI Real Short Term Income Trust Sentry Real Income 1941-45 Class CI Real Income 1941-45 Class Sentry Real Income 1946-50 Class CI Real Income 1946-50 Class Sentry Real Income 1951-55 Class CI Real Income 1951-55 Class

The following changes will be effective July 29, 2021: Current Fund Name New Fund Name Black Creek Global Balanced Corporate Class CI Black Creek Global Balanced Corporate Class Black Creek Global Balanced Fund CI Black Creek Global Balanced Fund Black Creek Global Leaders Corporate Class CI Black Creek Global Leaders Corporate Class Black Creek Global Leaders Fund CI Black Creek Global Leaders Fund Black Creek International Equity Corporate Class CI Black Creek International Equity Corporate Class Black Creek International Equity Fund CI Black Creek International Equity Fund Cambridge Asset Allocation Corporate Class CI Canadian Asset Allocation Corporate Class Cambridge Asset Allocation Fund CI Canadian Asset Allocation Fund Cambridge Bond Fund CI Canadian Core Plus Bond Fund Cambridge Canadian Dividend Corporate Class CI Canadian Dividend Corporate Class Cambridge Canadian Dividend Fund CI Canadian Dividend Fund Cambridge Canadian Equity Corporate Class CI Canadian Equity Corporate Class Cambridge Canadian Equity Fund CI Canadian Equity Fund Cambridge Canadian Long-Term Bond Pool CI Canadian Long-Term Bond Pool Cambridge Canadian Short-Term Bond Pool CI Canadian Short-Term Bond Pool Cambridge Global Dividend Corporate Class CI Global Dividend Opportunities Corporate Class Cambridge Global Dividend Fund CI Global Dividend Opportunities Fund Cambridge Global Equity Corporate Class CI Global Equity Corporate Class Cambridge Global Equity Fund CI Global Equity Fund Cambridge Global High Income Fund CI Global Equity & Income Fund Cambridge Global Smaller Companies Corporate Class CI Global Smaller Companies Corporate Class Cambridge Global Smaller Companies Fund CI Global Smaller Companies Fund Cambridge Pure Canadian Equity Corporate Class CI Pure Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Corporate Class Cambridge Pure Canadian Equity Fund CI Pure Canadian Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund Cambridge Stock Selection Fund CI Global Analysts Selection Fund Cambridge U.S. Dividend Fund CI U.S. Dividend Fund Cambridge U.S. Dividend Registered Fund CI U.S. Dividend Registered Fund Cambridge U.S. Dividend US$ Fund CI U.S. Dividend US$ Fund CI American Value Corporate Class CI U.S. Stock Selection Corporate Class CI American Value Fund CI U.S. Stock Selection Fund CI Canadian Small/Mid Cap Fund CI Canadian Small/Mid Cap Managed Fund CI U.S. Income US$ Pool CI U.S. Income US$ Fund Marret Short Duration High Yield Fund CI Marret Short Duration High Yield Fund Portfolio Series Balanced Fund CI Portfolio Series Balanced Fund Portfolio Series Balanced Growth Fund CI Portfolio Series Balanced Growth Fund Portfolio Series Conservative Balanced Fund CI Portfolio Series Conservative Balanced Fund Portfolio Series Conservative Fund CI Portfolio Series Conservative Fund Portfolio Series Growth Fund CI Portfolio Series Growth Fund Portfolio Series Income Fund CI Portfolio Series Income Fund Portfolio Series Maximum Growth Fund CI Portfolio Series Maximum Growth Fund Select 100e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 100e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select 20i80e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 20i80e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select 30i70e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 30i70e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select 40i60e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 40i60e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select 50i50e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 50i50e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select 60i40e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 60i40e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select 70i30e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 70i30e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select 80i20e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class CI Select 80i20e Managed Portfolio Corporate Class Select Canadian Equity Managed Corporate Class CI Select Canadian Equity Managed Corporate Class Select Canadian Equity Managed Fund CI Select Canadian Equity Managed Fund Select Income Managed Corporate Class CI Select Income Managed Corporate Class Select International Equity Managed Corporate Class CI Select International Equity Managed Corporate Class Select International Equity Managed Fund CI Select International Equity Managed Fund Select Staging Fund CI Select Staging Fund Select U.S. Equity Managed Corporate Class CI Select U.S. Equity Managed Corporate Class Select U.S. Equity Managed Fund CI Select U.S. Equity Managed Fund Sentry U.S. Growth and Income Corporate Class CI U.S. Equity Income Corporate Class Signature Asian Opportunities Corporate Class CI Asian Opportunities Corporate Class Signature Asian Opportunities Fund CI Asian Opportunities Fund Signature Canadian Balanced Corporate Class CI Canadian Balanced Corporate Class Signature Canadian Balanced Fund CI Canadian Balanced Fund Signature Canadian Bond Corporate Class CI Canadian Bond Corporate Class Signature Canadian Bond Fund CI Canadian Bond Fund Signature Core Bond Plus Fund CI Global Core Plus Bond Fund Signature Corporate Bond Corporate Class CI Corporate Bond Corporate Class Signature Corporate Bond Fund CI Corporate Bond Fund Signature Diversified Yield Corporate Class CI Diversified Yield Corporate Class Signature Diversified Yield Fund CI Diversified Yield Fund Signature Dividend Corporate Class CI Dividend Income & Growth Corporate Class Signature Dividend Fund CI Dividend Income & Growth Fund Signature Emerging Markets Corporate Class CI Emerging Markets Corporate Class Signature Emerging Markets Fund CI Emerging Markets Fund Signature Floating Rate Income Fund CI Floating Rate Income Fund Signature Global Bond Corporate Class CI Global Bond Corporate Class Signature Global Bond Fund CI Global Bond Fund Signature Global Dividend Corporate Class CI Global Dividend Corporate Class Signature Global Dividend Fund CI Global Dividend Fund Signature Global Energy Corporate Class CI Global Energy Corporate Class Signature Global Equity Corporate Class CI Select Global Equity Corporate Class Signature Global Equity Fund CI Select Global Equity Fund Signature Global Income & Growth Corporate Class CI Global Income & Growth Corporate Class Signature Global Income & Growth Fund CI Global Income & Growth Fund Signature Global Resource Corporate Class CI Global Resource Corporate Class Signature Global Resource Fund CI Global Resource Fund Signature Global Technology (News - Alert) Corporate Class CI Global Alpha Innovators Corporate Class Signature Gold Corporate Class CI Gold Corporate Class Signature High Income Corporate Class CI High Income Corporate Class Signature High Income Fund CI High Income Fund Signature High Yield Bond Corporate Class CI High Yield Bond Corporate Class Signature High Yield Bond Fund CI High Yield Bond Fund Signature Income & Growth Corporate Class CI Canadian Income & Growth Corporate Class Signature Income & Growth Fund CI Canadian Income & Growth Fund Signature Preferred Share Fund CI Preferred Share Fund Signature Select Canadian Corporate Class CI Select Canadian Equity Corporate Class Signature Select Canadian Fund CI Select Canadian Equity Fund Signature Short-Term Bond Fund CI Short-Term Bond Fund Signature Systematic Yield Pool CI Systematic Yield Pool Synergy (News - Alert) American Corporate Class CI Synergy American Corporate Class Synergy American Fund CI Synergy American Fund Synergy Canadian Corporate Class CI Synergy Canadian Corporate Class Synergy Global Corporate Class CI Synergy Global Corporate Class Risk rating changes The following risk rating changes are effective immediately and are based on the risk classification methodology mandated by the Canadian Securities Administrators to determine the risk level of mutual funds. CI GAM reviews the risk rating for each of the funds it manages at least on an annual basis, as well as when a fund undergoes a material change. These changes are the result of an annual review and are not the result of any changes to the investment objectives, strategies or management of the funds. Fund Name (as of June 25, 2021) New Rating Previous Rating CI Conservative Balanced Income Class Low-to-Medium Low CI Conservative Balanced Income Fund Low-to-Medium Low CI Global Infrastructure Private Trust Low-to-Medium Medium CI Canadian All Cap Equity Income Class Medium Low-to-Medium Changes to sales charge purchase options CI GAM intends to discontinue its deferred sales charge, intermediate deferred sales charge and low load sales charge purchase options for all CI mutual funds effective June 1, 2022. Investors who purchased units under these sales charge options will continue to be subject to the redemption fee schedules under which they were purchased. Switches between funds of then-existing units acquired under these options will continue to be available after the effective date. About CI Global Asset Management CI Global Asset Management is one of Canada's largest investment management companies. It offers a wide range of investment products and services and is on the Web at www.ci.com. CI GAM is a subsidiary of CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX, NYSE: CIXX), an independent company offering global asset management and wealth management advisory services with approximately $288.3 billion in total assets as at May 31, 2021. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments, including investments in ETFs. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units of an ETF on recognized Canadian exchanges. If the units are purchased or sold on these Canadian exchanges, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the ETF and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. This document is provided as a general source of information and should not be considered personal, legal, accounting, tax or investment advice, or construed as an endorsement or recommendation of any entity or security discussed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the material contained in this document is accurate at the time of publication. Individuals should seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding any particular investment. Investors should consult their professional advisors prior to implementing any changes to their investment strategies. Certain statements in this document are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements ("FLS") are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," or "estimate," or other similar expressions. Statements that look forward in time or include anything other than historical information are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results, actions or events could differ materially from those set forth in the FLS. FLS are not guarantees of future performance and are by their nature based on numerous assumptions. Although the FLS contained herein are based upon what CI Global Asset Management believes to be reasonable assumptions, CI Global Asset Management cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these FLS. The reader is cautioned to consider the FLS carefully and not to place undue reliance on FLS. Unless required by applicable law, it is not undertaken, and specifically disclaimed that there is any intention or obligation to update or revise FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. CI Global Asset Management is a registered business name of CI Investments Inc. CI Investments Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005744/en/

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[June 24, 2021] American Family Life Insurance Company and Protective Life Insurance Company to Provide Customers With More Retirement Options

American Family Insurance Life Company has entered into a relationship with Protective Life Insurance Company (Protective Life) to give American Family agency owners more ways to help meet their customers' retirement needs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005750/en/ The opportunity with Protective Life gives American Family agency owners the ability to offer four of Protective Life's most popular annuity products through American Family Brokerage, Inc. Providing more product choices for customers "American Family Life Insurance Company is always open to working with other companies to help our agency owners provide service and product options that add value and protection for customers," said Chris Eason, American Family associate vice president of Life product management. "The new relationship with Protective Life will allow our agency owners to offer some of the most popular annuity products, focused on retirement and asset accumulation." The four annuities from Protective Life allow American Family agency owners to meet additional financial product needs, providing more options for customers. "Protective Life is thrilled to introduce this relationship and have the ability to serve more customers," said Jim Wagner, Protective Life's senior vice president and chief distribution officer, Retirement Division. "These offerings provide additional choices and ultimately provide people with the retirement protection that fits their needs." b>About the American Family Insurance group



Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance group is the nation's 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 254 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. Across these companies the group has more than 13,200 employees nationwide. About Protective Life Corporation

Protective Life Corporation (Protective) provides financial services through the production, distribution and administration of insurance and investment products throughout the U.S. Protective traces its roots to its flagship company, Protective Life Insurance Company - founded in 1907. Protective's growth and success can be largely attributed to its ongoing commitment to serving people and doing the right thing - for its employees, distributors, and most importantly, its customers. Protective's administrative office is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and its 3,500+ employees work across the United States. As of December 31, 2020, Protective had assets of approximately $127 billion. Protective Life Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (TSE:8750). For more information about Protective, please visit www.Protective.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005750/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Canada and FCM invest in building resilient communities in Waterloo

WATERLOO, ON, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - In communities across the country, Canadians are experiencing the impacts of climate change. By investing in initiatives that lower emissions and increase the resiliency of communities, we are creating good, middle-class jobs and building Canada's low emissions energy future. The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and Member of Parliament for Waterloo, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, and Joanne Vanderheyden, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), today announced a $4.5-million investment through FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF) for projects that will improve the quality of water and wastewater treatment and the flow of traffic in the region of Waterloo. The Regional Municipality of Waterloo will receive $1.9-million to upgrade its Hespeler wastewater treatment plant with a membrane-aerated bioreactor to reduce operational costs, support future growth in the municipality, improve water quality, reduce energy consumption and cut down on treatment waste. In addition, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo will receive $2.4 million to implement a new traffic system at 275 intersections to improve traffic flow across the entire region. The new system will collect data that will better integrate pedestrians, cyclists, rapid transit and emergency vehicles, leading to improved safety and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Waterloo will receive $175,000 to study the risks of sodium chloride infiltration from Stormwater Management Facilities in the Laurel Creek sub-watershed. This initiative will use a ground water model developed by the University of Guelph. Testing and verifying the model in Waterloo will be useful for any community concerned with sodium chloride contamination in high-risk areas. These initiatives highlight how GMF upports transformative environmental initiatives at the community level and build on its 20-year record of environmental and economic impacts. The Government of Canada has invested $1.65 billion in GMF since its inception, enabling municipalities to support projects like these that leverage local resources to drive innovative solutions.



Quotes "Local governments influence half of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. That means local action is critical. With support from the Green Municipal Fund, this is what's happening: municipalities of all sizes are implementing smart low-carbon solutions. Empowering this local expertise is vital to meeting Canada's climate goals. When orders of government work together to reduce emissions, we're building more resilient communities."

Joanne Vanderheyden

President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities "Local green solutions create jobs, lower emissions and build a more prosperous and sustainable economy for all. This is how we get to net-zero by 2050." The Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr.

Minister of Natural Resources "By investing in municipal initiatives, we are supporting local green technologies that lower emissions and advance water management. Together, we are improving infrastructure and working to meet Canada's climate change goals." The Honourable Bardish Chagger

Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

Member of Parliament for Waterloo "Cities are key partners in pioneering practical climate solutions. Through the Green Municipal Fund we're supporting municipalities in their efforts to lower emissions through projects like energy-efficient retrofits, electric and hybrid electric transit pilots and efficiencies in wastewater treatment. By working together, we can create good jobs and grow the economy, protect the environment and build cleaner, more inclusive communities." The Honourable Catherine McKenna

Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "Canadians in communities across the country are working hard to cut pollution and create jobs. Improving the energy efficiency of our homes and buildings will do just that, while helping Canadians save on energy costs. Together, we are building a cleaner, healthier future for our children and grandchildren." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Environment and Climate Change "Water runoff flowing into stormwater ponds today has the potential to become part of our drinking water resources in the ground and the Grand River tomorrow. Clean, safe drinking water starts with protecting those water sources. This testing will give us an idea of how effective our stormwater ponds are in helping to manage salt contamination and the potential to improve that performance in at-risk areas. Water flows across community boundaries, and we all have a role to play as stewards for this important resource." Dave Jaworsky

Mayor of the City of Waterloo Related products

Backgrounder: Canada and FCM invest in building resilient communities in Waterloo Associated links Green Municipal Fund

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

Investing in Canada plan project map Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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[June 24, 2021] Foodhaul Announces Partnership With James Beard Award Winner Chef Rick Tramonto

CHICAGO, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Foodhaul, a technology platform that partners with notable chefs and culinary innovators to create delivery-only virtual restaurant brands, announces a partnership with James Beard Award winner Chef Rick Tramonto. Tramonto and his Smokeheads virtual BBQ concept join existing Foodhaul concepts Toscana by Top Chef Fan Favorite Fabio Viviani and Three Kings Pub and Pluck'd Wings by Dirk Flanigan. A New York Native, Tramonto came to Chicago in the 1980s by Richard Melman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises to join his team at LEYE and be a part of its Italian division. For eleven years, Tramonto was founding partner and Executive Chef of Chicago's world-renowned four-star, fine-dining restaurant Tru, as well as Culinary Director of Tramonto's Steak and Seafood and RT Sushi Bar in Wheeling. For the past 10 years, Tramonto has also been founding partner and Executive Chef of the award-winning restaurant Revolution in New Orleans in the French Quarter. Tramonto is an accomplished author with eight titles to his credit, including his memoir, "Scars of a Chef". He has also earned numerous awards including James Beard Award  Best Chef Midwest; James Beard Award  Best Service (Tru); Wine Spectator Grand Award (Tru); Top 10 Best Chef in Food & Wine Magazine (Trio) as well as Four Star reviews in Chicago Tribune and Chicago Magazine. Foodhaul enables its chef partners to establish a presence in new mrkets and provides new delivery options to consumers who would not otherwise have access to chef-created meals all while supporting the struggling restaurant industry. By creating an opportunity for restaurants and hospitality partners to use their existing, underutilized kitchens and labor, partners generate new revenues and new profits by licensing and executing Foodhaul's virtual brands. With a selective screening process, Foodhaul vets each partner to ensure they are providing the highest level of quality, service and hospitality. The platform's unique culinary portfolio is then made available to consumers via premier delivery services including DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and more.



"This new partnership with Chef Tramonto allows consumers access to chef-driven concepts that may not otherwise be available in their area. More importantly, it offers restaurant and hospitality businesses another revenue stream as many of them are still struggling to keep their doors open or reopen," says Foodhaul founder and CEO, Bill Stavrou. Chef Tramonto adds, "I'm excited to lend my years of culinary experience to a group that is truly innovating in the virtual restaurant brand space. Everyone loves great BBQ, and Smokeheads and Foodhaul's other chef-driven virtual brands are truly unique in the marketplace."

Foodhaul is currently operating in 20 markets in the Midwest including Milwaukee and Northwest Indiana and will be expanding to Los Angeles, Washington, DC and additional markets through the remainder of 2021. For more information on Foodhaul and to stay up to date on the latest news, please visit www.foodhaul.com. ABOUT FOODHAUL

Launched in late 2019, Foodhaul is a digital platform that provides a portfolio of delivery-only virtual restaurant brands created by notable chef partners and culinary innovators. The virtual concepts are licensed to third-party kitchens and hospitality groups to increase utilization of their existing assets and staff. Foodhaul currently offers four unique restaurant concepts, including Toscana by Chef Fabio Viviani, Smokeheads BBQ by Chef Rick Tramonto, and Three Kings Pub and Pluck'd from Chef Dirk Flanigan. For more information, please visit www.foodhaul.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foodhaul-announces-partnership-with-james-beard-award-winner-chef-rick-tramonto-301319525.html SOURCE Foodhaul

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[June 24, 2021] Grange Insurance Commits Additional $1 Million to Advance Racial Equality, Support Health and Human Services

Today, Grange Insurance Company announced that it is committing $1 million to local nonprofits to support social justice equality, health and human service initiatives and economic disparities because of COVID-19. "For more than 85 years, Grange has long been a steadfast partner to local nonprofits who are committed to helping build safer, stronger, and more vibrant communities," said John Ammendola, Grange President and CEO. "Grange is dedicated to making our business and community more diverse, inclusive and equitable. With today's financial commitment, we are continuing to support our communities most vulnerable during a time of great need due to the pandemic." Through its Grange Insurance Gives Foundation, the company approved a total of $1 million grants to be released over the next few months. Grange is currently distributing $100,000 to each of the following organizations in Central Ohio: Center for Healthy Families, Central State University, Columbus Urban League, Impact Community Action, Mid-Ohio Foodbank and YMCA of Central Ohio and $100,000 to Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity (Appleton, WI) in support of our affiliate partner Integrity Insurance, who writes business in Wisconsin. Grange identified these organizations based on established relationships and the services they provide to the community. As part of this special donation, Grange is also contributing to LifeCare Alliance, Volunteers of America, Children's Hunger Alliance, Furniture Bank, Grange Insurance Audubon Center and YWCA. The remaining funds will be distributed to other nonprofits over the next few months. This $1 million commitment is in addition to the nearly $1 million Grange already planned to give to nonprofits in 2021, including top partner United Way of Central Ohio. Center for Healthy Families engages parenting teens and their children in opportunities to acquire self-sufficiency capabilities of health and well-being, positive networks, education and employment. Grange's gift will support "The Commission on Black Girls" which was established to study and assess the quality of life of Black Girls in Central Ohio. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit centerforhealthyfamilies.org. Central tate University is Ohio's only public historically black university. It embraces diversity and strives to produce graduates with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to make valuable contributions to society. Grange's gift will support paid internships and scholarships to students and the Center of Excellence which provides opportunities for CSU students to launch and manage a successful career through internships and training. To learn more or donate, visit centralstate.edu.



Columbus Urban League empowers African Americans and disenfranchised groups through economic, educational and social progress. Grange's gift will support empowerment workshops. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit cul.org. IMPACT Community Action works to break the cycle of poverty, providing short term aid and helping clients work toward long term self-sufficiency. Grange's gift will support operations and the new commercial kitchen/cafeteria for its Side Hustle program, benefiting small business entrepreneurs. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit impactca.org.

Mid-Ohio Foodbank aims to provide efficient, effective ways for hungry people in Central Ohio to meet their basic food and nutrition needs. Grange's gift will provide meals to individuals and families. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit midohiofoodbank.org. YMCA of Central Ohio is committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Grange's gift will provide early learning programs for low-income preschool and school-age children at the North YMCA. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit ymcacolumbus.org. Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity builds strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Grange's gift will support a construction of a new Habitat home in Appleton, WI. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit foxcitieshabitat.org. About Grange Insurance

Grange Insurance Company, with $3 billion in assets and in excess of $1 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home and business insurance protection. Life insurance offered by Grange Life Insurance and Kansas City Life Insurance. Established in 1935, the Grange Insurance Company and its affiliate Integrity Insurance Company serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. Learn more about Grange Insurance. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005752/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Aspen Dental Opens 45th Practice in New York

Aspen Dental has officially opened its doors in Riverhead, New York with the opening of a brand-new office, bringing a renowned dentist to the community. This is the 45th Aspen Dental practice in the state of New York, as Aspen Dental continues to break down barriers and bring comprehensive, affordable care to patients across the country. Located at 1732 Old Country Road, the office is led by Dr. Ethan Moskovic. Dr. Moskovic received his DDS degree from the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. Originally from Nassau County, Dr. Moskovic has been with the Aspen Dental community for a year and a half and is looking forward to bringing accessible and affordable care to the Long Island community. Dr. Moskovic and his team will provide a full range of dental services, create new jobs in the Riverhead community, and improve access to quality oral healthcare, all at one convenient location. Independently-owned and operated, Aspen Dental offices offer patient-friendly programs and services that make it easier for patients to get the dental care they need, including: Personalized treatment and friendly service. Each patient receives a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan designed by the dentist, with long-term oral and overall health in mind. Available services may include hygiene, treatment of periodontal (gum) disease, clear aligners, implants, extractions, fillings, oral surgery, whitening, and crown and bridge work. Safe and clean care environments. We've always been committed to the highest safety standards, and in a world where things are changing fast, we have implemented heightened cleaning, hygiene and safety standards, symptom screening for appointments, social distancing at our offices, and now offer virtual visits for our patients. You can learn more about our health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic through our Smile Wide, Smile Safe Promise Affordable dental care. Aspen Dental practices are committed to keeping prices low so that patients can get the care they need. The practice works with all insurance providers and handles the paperwork, saving patients time and hassle, and offers free new-patient exams and X-rays for patients without dental insurance. And since no one likes an unexpected bill, the practice offers a clear, detailed estimate on the cost of treatment to give patients peace of mind. On-site denture labs and Denture Money Back Guarantee. Every Aspen Dental practice is equipped with an on-site denture laboratory, which helps facilitate quick turnaround for denture repairs, relines or adjustments. Patients choose Aspen Dental for the seven styles of full and partial dentures and have the comfort of knowing that the supportive dentists and staff will go above and beyond to ensure proper fit and comfort of their custom-crafted dentures. Convenient hours and location. The office will be open extended hours, including evenings and select Saturdays, so that patients can see the dentist at a time that works best for their schedule. Walk-in and emergency patients are welcome.



www.aspendental.com and click on Schedule a New Patient Appointment; or call (631) 381-6205 or 800-ASPEN DENTAL (800-277-3633). About Aspen Dental Management, Inc. (ADMI)

Aspen Dental Management, Inc. (ADMI) is one of the largest and most trusted retail healthcare business support organizations in the U.S., supporting 15,000 healthcare professionals and team members at more than 1,000 health and wellness offices across 46 states in three distinct categories: Dental care, urgent care, and medical aesthetics. Working in partnership with independent practice owners and clinicians, the team is united by a single purpose: to prove that healthcare can be better and smarter for everyone. ADMI provides a comprehensive suite of centralized business support services that power the impact of four consumer-facing businesses: Aspen Dental, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, WellNow Urgent Care and Chapter Aesthetic Studio. Each brand has access to a deep community of experts, tools and resources to grow their practices, and an unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality consumer healthcare experiences at scale. About Aspen Dental The Aspen Dental network includes more than 900 offices, in 43 states, owned and operated by independent practice owners and dentists, who operate with clinical autonomy and share a commitment to creating access to care for those who need it most. These independent practice owners expect to record six million patient visits in 2021, driven by a commitment to breaking down barriers to quality, affordable oral health care. Each dental care team offers patients a safe, welcoming, judgment-free environment to address their dental challenges, including comprehensive exams, cleanings, extractions, fillings, periodontal treatment, whitening, oral surgery, crown and bridge work, and denture services. https://www.aspendental.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005786/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Unique Logistics International Announces Agreement for Extension to Purchase Asia-Pacific Logistics Assets

NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Unique Logistics International, Inc. (OTCMKTS: UNQL) ("Unique" or the "Company"), a global logistics and freight forwarding company, today announced that it has entered into an agreement providing for an extension to purchase business assets in North and East China, Taiwan, and India. "To build on the momentum of our business growth and with our financial management team strengthened under the leadership of CFO, Eli Kay, appointed earlier this year, we have reached agreement to extend the deadline on our purchase of logistics assets in the Asia-Pacific region," said Sunandan Ray, Chief Executive Officer of Unique. "These acquisitions are strategically important to our long-term business plan. We believe that these acquisitions solidify our position in critical Asian markets. We intend to complete these acquisitions and continue to negotiate on the options we have secured for additional acquisitions in Vietnam and South China under the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 29, 2020, entered into with Unique Logistics Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong company." Under the original term of the agreement, the Company had until May 31, 2021, to acquire a 50% interest in operations in North and East China and Taiwan (collectively, "UL China") and a 65% interest in Unique Logistics International India (Private) Limited, currently owned by Unique Logistics Holdings Limited. The new agreement extends this period to December 31, 2021.



ABOUT UNIQUE LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Unique Logistics International, Inc. (OTCMKTS: UNQL) through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries, is a global logistics and freight forwarding company providing a range of international logistics services that enable its customers to outsource to the Company sections of their supply chain process. The services provided are seamlessly managed by its network of trained employees and integrated information systems. We enable our customers to share data regarding their international vendors and purchase orders with us, execute the flow of goods and information under their operating instructions, provide visibility to the flow of goods from factory to distribution center or store and when required, update their inventory records.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things our plans, strategies and prospects -- both business and financial. While we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "will," "may," "intend," "estimated," and "potential," among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents that we file from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to Unique Logistics International, Inc. or a person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary language. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unique-logistics-international-announces-agreement-for-extension-to-purchase-asia-pacific-logistics-assets-301319551.html SOURCE Unique Logistics International, Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Hyperion Research Releases 2021 MarketView Report for Enterprise Legal Management: E-Billing and Matter Management Systems for Corporations

NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hyperion Research, an Epiq company, today announced the release of the 2021 MarketView Report for Enterprise Legal Management (ELM): E-Billing and Matter Management Systems. New for 2021, this report provides a global review of the trends driving the market for ELM solutions and comprehensive evaluations of the advanced solution providers that define the legal ELM solution landscape.

Hyperion's acclaimed MarketView program serves as the definitive and only independent, analyst-based resource for legal solutions market intelligence and advice. With over 500 hours of analyst research, benchmarking, client interviews, and vendor briefings, this 2021 MarketView Report provides an invaluable resource for general counsel and legal operations executives to understand the leading trends in corporate legal department management and the software solutions landscape. At nearly 160 pages, the report provides all the research and analysis decision-makers need to drive a solution evaluation process, including: Trends in the ELM solution market such as: The impact of the pandemic on legal technology investments The rise of contract management International e-Billing capabilities of ELM solutions

Hyperions 100 key solution components of leading ELM Systems

Comprehensive overview of the ELM vendor landscape

Review and assessment of 10 advanced solutions

Guiding principles for selecting and implementing solutions "Legal operation teams, empowered to improve efficiency and service quality, are demanding more from their ELM solutions than ever before," said Phil Henderson, senior director at Hyperion Research. "This shift to a customer-driven market is fundamentally changing the way legal teams appoach technology and places today's ELM solutions in the center of an increasingly diverse collection of legal technologies and tools."



In a market well populated with a broad mix of capabilities, this years MarketView report evaluated over 30 ELM solutions marketing to corporate law departments. The 2021 MarketView report provides detailed analysis of 10 advanced solutions from Busylamp, doeLegal, Legal Suite, LexisNexis, Mitratech, Onit, Thomson Reuters, and Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions. The report is available to all Hyperion Research membership clients or for purchase online with immediate download at Hyperion Research (www.hgpresearch.com). To download the executive summary visit the ELM MarketView page. The report's purchase includes a 60-minute briefing session with a Senior Analyst to discuss and answer questions about the market and solution providers.

About Hyperion Research Hyperion Research, an Epiq company, is the industry's leading source for Legal Solutions Market Intelligence. Hyperion Research is an independent market research organization. The profession's leaders, innovators, and trend-makers have come to rely on Hyperion Research as the premier provider of independent market research, analysis, and advisory services. We provide unparalleled insight into the leading trends in legal strategy, operations, and technology. Hyperion Research is an independent market research organization. Our research coverage of any vendor is based on their significance in the market and our clients' interests; Hyperion Research does not accept any renumeration in exchange for participation in the MarketView Research program and reports. Hyperion Research maintains full editorial independence over all research reports, research findings and other analyst work product. About Epiq Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader to the legal industry and corporations, takes on large-scale, increasingly complex tasks for corporate counsel, law firms, and business professionals with efficiency, clarity, and confidence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline the administration of business operations, class action and mass tort, court reporting, eDiscovery, regulatory, compliance, restructuring, and bankruptcy matters. Epiq subject-matter experts and technologies create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to high-performing clients around the world. Learn more at https://www.epiqglobal.com. Press Contact

Jessica Abad-Serpas

Hyperion Research, an Epiq Company

713-471-6702

jessica@hyperiongp.com



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[June 24, 2021] CAI INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR ALERT By the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of CAI International, Inc. - CAI

Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of CAI International, Inc. (NYSE: CAI) to Mitsubishi (News - Alert) HC Capital Inc. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of CAI will receive only $56.00 in cash for each share of CAI that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company. If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managig Partner Lewis S. Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cai/ to learn more.



To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005828/en/

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[June 24, 2021] RAFAEL HOLDINGS INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Rafael Holdings, Inc. - RFL

Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of Rafael Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Pharma") to Rafael Holdings, Inc., ("the Company") (NYSE: RFL). Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Pharma shareholders will receive Holdings Class B common stock amounting to approximately 48% of the currently outstanding capitalization of the company. Additional equity in the company is expected to be issued in connection with anticipated financing and employment agreements, which will reduce the foregoing percentage proportionately. KSF is seeking to determine whether the merger and the process that led to it are adequate and fair to the Company's shareholders. If you would like todiscuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis S. Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-rfl/ to learn more.



To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005841/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Good Samaritans, Doctors, Teenagers in the US and India, and an NGO all team up with Advatix to help families fight COVID-19

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/  The impact of COVID-19 has been felt around the Globe, an impact also endured by Advatix's own team, including employees in India and the US. Inspired by the company's own crusade against the pandemic and the recent surge in Covid cases in India, Advatix has been on a mission to help families in India over the last several weeks. Advatix logistics teams, good Samaritans, doctors and teenagers from both US and India teamed up to set up a hotline in New Delhi and get oxygen concentrators from Los Angeles, California straight to homes in India for anyone needing help. The units are being delivered by Advatix logistics to support as many homes as possible. There is still much more to do, and we are requesting others join and support this mission by selecting either of the donation links detailed below. It started with Advatix team members both in the U.S. and India testing positive for COVID-19. A reminder that the pandemic is a common enemy, regardless of region, citizenship, color, race, religion, age, or gender. While the US was on a path to recovery, India was hit with a truly devastating second wave. In a very short span of time, hundreds of thousands got sick, including Advatix team members and their families. While most team members recovered, many of them lost their loved ones. Each day, news of more people getting impacted kept pouring in. As the US team members got discharged from hospitals, members in India could not find beds at hospitals, forcing them to self-quarantine while hoping to receive treatment at home. To make matters worse, anacute shortage of medical oxygen spread throughout India, leaving thousands without the necessary medical supplies to receive sufficient care. This resulted in many preventable deaths.



The Advatix team  The Advatix US team started to hunt for oxygen concentrators in Los Angeles, CA and upon securing units, promptly tested each unit and shipped them to India. The Advatix India team repurposed the Advatix logistics command center into a COVID-19 hotline for families in need. The command center is also managing the distribution of the oxygen concentrators. A team of volunteer physicians from various states in India also joined to help the patients remotely. The Volunteer Physicians  Dr. Gunjan Puri led the mission on the ground and was joined by his colleagues from the Indian state of Gujrat. Dr. Puri said, "we were just doing our duty in helping families and it was very fulfilling. With the help of Advatix, we were able to make a difference, even though it was in a different state and could have easily even been in a different country". Dr. Puri and the team of volunteer physicians, worked around the clock, and helped patients in New Delhi and surrounding areas, as families reached out through the Advatix hotline.

The NGO  Damini Dutta from BG Foundation, a local NGO in India, launched an initiative titled "Umeed Ki Kiran"  meaning "A Ray of Hope." Damini and her team reached out to partner, support, and add food supplies. They ran a campaign for "Food, Oxygen and Live Support," for what had now turned into a call for those involved to join the crusade. "We were already helping the families with food and supplies. When we heard about the initiative by Advatix, we reached out and partnered with them, so we could serve the people better. Our experience as an NGO helped tap into the existing channels of serving," said Damini. The teenagers from India and the US  To expand the effort further, a team of teenagers helped promote awareness and raise funds for the supplies. Navya Chadha (16) from India started the Ketto fundraiser, while Garv Kapoor (16), Romir Kapoor (16) and Aarav Malhotra (17) spread the word in the US with flyers and promoted the GoFundMe campaign. This team wants to do more and welcomes further support. For anyone interested in helping please donate today using the links below: GoFundMe (USA): https://gofund.me/3cc7cd77 Ketto (INDIA): https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/mission-oxygen About Advatix Advatix, Inc. is headquartered in Westlake Village, CA and is one of the world's leading providers of eCommerce Supply Chain and Logistics solutions. For more information, visit www.advatix.com or email contact@advatix.com. Media Contact

Gerry Mercure

gmercure@advatix.com

+1 (805) 267-1214 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/good-samaritans-doctors-teenagers-in-the-us-and-india-and-an-ngo-all-team-up-with-advatix-to-help-families-fight-covid-19-301319655.html SOURCE Advatix Inc.

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[June 24, 2021] Why Content Curation for Legal Has the Power to Enrich Our World

Imagine a world where legal solution providers showcase their product and service offerings with rich media content, law firm leaders easily navigate and identify innovative vendors and solutions, thought leaders highlight their insights and expertise, and associations share relevant programming opportunities-all coming together in one place. Traditionally, gathering insights and connecting to relevant solution providers, partners, and companies within the legal ecosystem has been an arbitrary, time-consuming, and costly process. The Aptivos platform has been designed to be an all-encompassing consortium of legal information, while concurrently serving as a cost-effective way for members (anyone can be a member, at no charge) to connect and engage. "Over the years, I've engaged in countless conversations wishing aloud for one dedicated site for law firms and solution providers, where every company that works in legal technology could showcase their products and services-one central hub that would provide an informative and timely repository of cultivated data," said Doug Geller, president of GDSI, one of the nation's foremost legal software companies, and Aptivos founder. "Finally, I grew tired of wishing and created Aptivos." "With our relationships across thousands of small-to-mi-size law firms in the U.S., it has been abundantly clear that the legal industry has experienced a knowledge gap for years," said Ray Zwiefelhofer, president of World Software Corp (Worldox), and Aptivos advisor. "The pandemic served as a conduit that further identified the industry's desperate need to share information and resources. The Aptivos platform addresses these challenges-and takes it to the next level, by providing significant content and connections. I have been beyond impressed with its capabilities and am excited to see how my industry colleagues leverage the platform."



Through the Aptivos platform, legal tech providers can easily create enhanced company product listings (including videos). Legal professionals can access tools such as "Ask the Expert" as well as blogs, videos, and other content by thought leaders on how colleagues and peers are addressing technology challenges. And industry associations can highlight programming opportunities directly to a targeted audience. About Aptivos

Legal professionals seeking a community to connect with, learn from, and engage beyond their current networks leverage the Aptivos platform. Designed by legal software experts, site navigation is intuitive, providing relevant and timely educational content-in real-time. This content curation is designed as the single source to align you with experts, information, and resources. For more information on Aptivos, please visit Aptivos.com and follow us on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aptivos/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005127/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Deutsche Bank Appointed as Depositary Bank for the Sponsored American Depositary Receipt Program of Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.

Deutsche Bank announced today its appointment as depositary bank for the NYSE-listed American Depositary Receipt program of Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) is a digital freight platform which connects shippers with truckers to facilitate shipments across distance ranges, cargo weights and types. Full Truck Alliance's platform includes freight listing services directly connecting shippers to truckers and freight brokerage services with Full Truck Alliance acting as a broker between shippers and truckers.* "We are very pleased to be appointed as depositary bank for Full Truck Alliance's NYSE-listed Level III American Depositary Receipt program," said Daniel Clark, Global Head of Depositary Receipts at Deutsche Bank. "This is a key addition to our portfolio of clients and demonstrates the strength of our product offering in the Asia-Pacific region. We look forward to providing dedicated client service and investor relations support to help drive the program's future success." In addition to specializing in administering cross-border equity structures such as New York Shares and American and Global Depositary Receipts, Deutsche Bank provides corporates, financial institutions, hedge funds and supranational agencies around the world with trustee, agency, escrow and related services. Deutsche Bank offers a very broad range of services for diverse products, from complex securitizations and project finance to syndicated loans, debt exchanges and restructurings. * This information was provided by Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (June 2021).







Depositary Receipt Information Country China (Cayman Islands incorporated) Custodian Bank Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch Effective Date June 21, 2021 Level III ADR CUSIP 35969L 108 ISIN US35969L1089 Symbol YMM Exchange NYSE Current Ratio 1 ADS: 20 Ordinary Shares Eligibility DTC

Depositary Receipt Contacts Head of Depositary Receipts New Business Development Daniel Clark William Ng Tel: +1 212 250 3547 Tel: +852 2203 7889 www.adr.db.com Markets Distribution adr@db.com London Tel: +44 (0) 20 7547 6500 gtb.db.com New York Tel: +1 212 250 9100 Hong Kong Tel: +852 2203 7854 Deutsche Bank provides commercial and investment banking, retail banking, transaction banking and asset and wealth management products and services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals. Deutsche Bank is Germany's leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific. The Depositary Receipts have been registered pursuant to the US Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The investment or investment service which is the subject of this notice is not available to retail clients as defined by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. This notice has been approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG New York. The services described in this notice are provided by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Deutsche Bank) or by its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in accordance with appropriate local registration and regulation. Deutsche Bank is providing the attached notice strictly for information purposes and makes no claims or statement, nor does it warrant or in any way represent, as to the accuracy or completeness of the details contained herein or therein. This announcement appears as a matter of record only. Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by Deutsche Bank or any other issuer or entity for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful. No part of this notice may be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of Deutsche Bank. Past results are not an indication of future performance. Copyright June 2021 Deutsche Bank AG. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005908/en/

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[June 24, 2021] NamSys Reports Results of Operations for the Second Quarter, April 30th, 2021

NamSys Inc. (CTZ - TSX-V) today reports the results of operations for the first six months and the second quarter of fiscal 2021 ended April 30th. All amounts referenced herein are in Canadian dollars. Revenue for the second quarter was $1,244,719 as compared to $1,189,897 for the same period last year. Net income before tax for the quarter of $416,175 ($0.015 per share) was recorded as compared to $640,356 ($0.02 per share) for the three months ended April 30th, 2020. Revenue for the first six months of fiscal 2021 was $2,471,074 as compared to revenue in the same period last year of $2,313,732. The Company recorded net income before tax of $838,585 ($0.02 per share) in the six months ended April 30th, 2021 as compared to $907,277 ($0.02 per share) in the same period last year. As the bulk of the Company's sales are in US dollars, fluctuations in the exchange rate between Canadian and US dollars impact reported income. Revenues are converted to Canadian dollars when sales are completed and booked. Foreign exchange adjustments are then required when payments are actually received. The financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal quarter ended April 30th, 2021 are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.



Jason Siemens (News - Alert) , the Chief Executive of the Company stated: "The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held virtually on April 29, 2021. Following the formal part of the Annual Meeting, we presented NamSys' vision for the future, including a conference call for investors. The "Smart Safe" solution is only one of many initiatives that NamSys is taking to streamline the processing of currency. The present "Cirreon" initiatives include:

Web and mobile applications for commercial/online banking Logistics management for cash-in-transit providers Exploring industries with similar high-security logistics challenges As you can appreciate, these changes to traditional practices take time for the parties to understand and internalize. While we are spending considerable time to move the above initiatives forward, the operating results are now beginning to reflect the fruits of our labour. This includes the recent execution of a new distribution agreements with several North American Cash in Transit companies. The presentation and follow-up discussions with shareholders at the April 29th, 2021 Annual Meeting conference call is recorded on the Company's website at www.namsys.com (Investor Relations Section). Interested parties are welcome to learn more about the Company from this presentation. It remains our belief that we will continue to grow and achieve greater revenue and profitability in 2021 and beyond." The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this release. This Media Release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the Corporation's sales strategies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005917/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Logiq Launches New Audio Digital Marketing Channel for Agencies and Brands

NEW YORK, June 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Logiq, Inc. (NEO: LGIQ) (OTCQX: LGIQ), a global provider of award-winning e-commerce and fintech solutions, has launched a new audio digital marketing channel on its Logiq Digital Marketing (LDM) platform.

Now in addition to web, mobile and Connected TV, digital marketing agencies and brands can now use LDM to add audio-based advertising to their overall multi-channel e-commerce marketing campaigns, such as for digital radio and podcasts. The rapid increase of consumer engagement across auditory mediums has made audio now a tier-1 marketing channel. Audio allows advertisers to reach audiences that are hands-free and on the go, whether exercising or on their daily commute, or just working around the house. These many benefits are driving increasing demand in digital audio advertising. According to eMarketer , U.S. podcast advertising alone will surpass $1 billion this year and then double to $2 billion by 2023. In Carats 2021 media trends report , audio was cited as among this years hottest media trends. With this release, LDM clients will benefit from: Advertising access across premium audio media providers, including Spotify, Soundcloud and TuneIn.

Bulk uploading their audio ads to reduce campaign setup time and costs.

Execute with common .mp3 or.ogg ad formats in 15 or 30 second durations.

LDMs compliance with the Internet Advertising Bureaus VAST (video ad supported template) for clickthru tracking, ad duration, and adjusting audio bit rate. (IABs VAST committee represents 180 member companies who have agreed upon interoperability standards for this channel of digital media.) LDM was purpose-built for both agencies and in-house marketing teams. LDM is based on proprietary technology Logiq acquired in March of this year. The technology was rapidly integrated into Logiqs operations and made available for new clients to launch their e-commerce marketing campaigns. More than 10 agencies are already contracted with LDM and ramping up their media buying programs for the many brands they represent. LDM enables these agencies as well as in-house marketing teams to strategize and execute more powerful and cost-effective e-commerce marketing campaigns. By making this platform available through an easy-to-use dashboard, LDM also enables small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to more effectively compete against competitors of any size. Logiq Digital Marketing is an incredibly powerful platform and we're extremely excited to be partnered with Logiq, stated Jeromy Sonne, CEO & co-founder of Decibel. They have built a robust technology stack and provide truly wold class support.



Audio is a critical marketing channel for the brands we serve and we are excited to be part of this launch, added Sonne. Using LDM, we have an unprecedented level of insight and transparency that will allow us to take actionable steps to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients at Decibel. We look forward to taking our partnership with Logiq to the next level." LDMs division president, Manny Puentes, commented: Our digital marketing platform was designed to easily add and further enhance new marketing channels like audio as demand for such channels develops. This enables our digital marketing partners to be nimble and responsive, and build campaigns that deliver unmatched value and powerful results. We believe these many benefits, and more, make our LDM offering unique compared to other e-commerce marketing platforms.

Submit your inquiry here today to learn more about LDM or receive a free demo. About Logiq

Logiq Inc. is a U.S.-based leading global provider of e-commerce and fintech business enablement solutions. Its DataLogiq business provides a data-driven, end-to-end e-commerce marketing solution. Its AI-powered LogiqX data engine delivers valuable consumer insights that enhance the ROI of online marketing spend. The companys Fixel technology offers simplified online marketing with critical privacy features. In its AppLogiq business, Logiqs platform-as-a-service, branded as CreateAPP, enables small- and medium-sized businesses worldwide to easily create and deploy a native mobile app for their business without technical knowledge or background. CreateAPP empowers businesses to reach more customers, increase sales, manage logistics, and promote their products and services in an easy, affordable, and highly efficient way. CreateAPP is offered in 14 languages across 10 countries and three continents, including some of the fastest-growing emerging markets in Southeast Asia. The companys PayLogiq offers mobile payments, and GoLogiq offers hyper-local food delivery services. Connect with Logiq: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter| Facebook. Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This press release also contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation that relate to Logiqs current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected to, expects, will continue, is anticipated, anticipates, believes, estimated, intends, plans, forecast, projection, strategy, objective and outlook) are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Logiqs control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding our products and services, the integration of our products and services in audio digital marketing channels, including LDM, the use and/or ongoing demand for our products and services, expectations regarding our revenue and the revenue generation potential of our products and services, the impact of global pandemics (including COVID-19) on the demand for our products and services, industry trends, overall market growth rates, our growth strategies, the continued growth of the addressable markets for our products and solutions, our business plans and strategies, our competitive position in our industry, and other risks described in the Companys prior press releases and in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent public filings, and filings made pursuant to Canadian securities legislation that are available on www.sedar.com, including under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys Canadian Prospectus. Logiq undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Logiq to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Company Contact

Brent Suen, President

Logiq, Inc.

Email contact Media & Investor Contact

Ronald Both or Justin Lumley

CMA Investor & Media Relations

Tel (949) 432-7566

Email contact



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[June 24, 2021] SCAN Health Plan Chief Medical Officer Testifies Before Congress

Romilla Batra, M.D., chief medical officer of SCAN Health Plan, testified today before the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health about the importance of enabling Medicare Advantage plans to offer flexible benefits that address social determinants of health (SDOH). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005957/en/ Romilla Batra, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, SCAN Health Plan (Photo: Business Wire) "We recommend that Congress include SDOH, such as food insecurity, to the criteria for supplemental benefits more broadly than only for specific chronic conditions. This would help to mitigate some social inequities and allow health plans to expand services to more members in need," said Dr. Batra, a primary care physician. Her testimony was heard by the House committee during a hearing entitled, "Empowered by Data: Legislation to Advance Equity and Public Health." In her remarks before the committee, Dr. Batra noted that SDOH have been found to account for 70% of the drivers affecting a person's overall health status. "Not surprisingly, individual with unmet SDOH needs generally have higher medical utilization and poorer health outcomes," she said.



Dr. Batra also detailed SCAN Health Plan's approach to addressing its members' needs with regard to SDOH, calling it "systematic, person-centered, and grounded in serving diverse populations in an equitable manner." Last, Dr. Batra stressed that the supplemental benefits SCAN offers its members, which include hearing aids, eye exams and glasses, dental care, fitness, meals, transportation, in-home support, bathroom safety, telemonitoring, and caregiver support all address SDOH and greatly improve members' quality of life. With this in mind, she urged the committee to enable Medicare Advantage plans to expand their ability to offer such benefits in order to more fully address SDOH.

Dr. Batra also urged the committee's members to support, H.R. 2166, Ensuring Parity in MA/PACE for Audio Only-Telehealth Act. This bill would create parity between the audio/video platforms for risk adjustment purposes, which is vital for older adults who do not have broadband service. Dr. Batra's full testimony can be found on the committee's website. About SCAN Health Plan SCAN Health Plan is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, serving more than 220,000 members in California. Since its founding in 1977, SCAN has been a mission-driven organization dedicated to keeping seniors healthy and independent. Independence at Home, a SCAN community service, provides vitally needed services and support to seniors and their caregivers regardless of plan membership. SCAN also offers education programs, community funding, volunteer opportunities and other community services throughout our California service area. To learn more, visit scanhealthplan.com or follow us on Twitter @scanhealthplan. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005957/en/

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[June 24, 2021] Deluxe Announces Collaboration with Microsoft to Provide HR, Payroll, Accounting Tools for Small Businesses

Today, Deluxe (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Payments and Business Technology company, announced a collaboration with Microsoft (News - Alert) to bring the Deluxe small business human resources (HR) and payroll solutions to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The collaboration brings together two trusted companies, Microsoft and Deluxe, to further accelerate financial and accounting solutions for small businesses. A comprehensive cloud-based business management solution, Dynamics 365 Business Central connects teams across finance, sales, service, and operations within a single easy-to-use application. Small business leaders get the insights needed to ensure teams can adapt faster, work smarter and perform better. Now, with the addition of the Deluxe People Platform tool, business owners have solutions to simplify and streamline payroll and HR while also integrating financial accounting tasks from quotes, orders, invoicing, purchasing, cash management and reporting, all in one easy-to-use platform. "As your business grows in both size and complexity and your customers expect better and faster service, the tools that once supported you may now be standing in your way," said Garry Capers, President of Cloud Solutions for Deluxe. "Whether the result is lost sales, customer dissatisfaction, or compliance risks, failing to update your technology can be a costly decision. Deluxe solutions for small businesses, from incorporation services to payroll, logo creation to website development, help entrepreneurs and business owners grow and thrive in the marketplace." "Through the integration of Deluxe small business solutions, we have eliminated the need for manual importing or exporting and reconciliation of payroll data by unifying and automating our payroll solution with the financial management capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. This gives business owners more controls, efficiency and access through our single unified solution," Capers continued. In addition to integrating HR, payroll and other cloud solutions from Deluxe with Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dluxe is also creating an innovative partnership with Bam Boom Cloud, a past recipient of Microsoft's Partner of the Year Award for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of Dynamics 365 Business Central.



"The expertise Bam Boom Cloud brings to the table is exceptional, allowing Deluxe to extend our solutions into Dynamics 365 Business Central, as well as helping to bring the best of Microsoft's small business cloud applications to our customers," explained Greg Robins, Vice President of Global Alliances for Deluxe. "The integration from Deluxe will provide Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central customers with a new option for HR, payroll and accounting capabilities that are purpose-built for small businesses," said Mike Morton, GM Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Business Central is tailored for small or medium-sized businesses, so we're pleased about the impact this integration can drive for our shared customers."

"We are thrilled to be working with Deluxe to support our combined goal to make Microsoft Cloud technology simple to implement, effective and accessible to small businesses so they can innovate and transform," said Bobby Priestley, North America President Bam Boom Cloud. "We support the adoption on Microsoft technology by offering low cost, fixed price, fixed scope technology solutions specifically designed for SMBs." To learn more, go to https://www.deluxe.com/mkt/microsoft/. About Deluxe Corporation

Deluxe, a Trusted Payments and Business Technology company, helping businesses pay, get paid, optimize and grow. For more than 100 years, Deluxe has championed businesses so communities thrive at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our powerful solutions support millions of small businesses, thousands of financial institutions and hundreds of the world's most valuable brands. The company operates at significant scale, processing more than $2.8 trillion in annual payment volume. To learn how we can help your business, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp, www.linkedin.com/company/deluxe, or www.twitter.com/deluxe. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005884/en/

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[June 24, 2021] VerticalScope Acquires Paddling.com

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES./ TORONTO, June 24, 2021 /CNW/ - VerticalScope Holdings Inc. ("VerticalScope") (TSX: FORA) announced today that it completed the acquisition of Paddling.com. Paddling.com is a leading paddlesports enthusiast community which provides comprehensive resources for all types of paddling information used each month by hundreds of thousands of kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders. Founder and CEO of Paddling.com Brian Van Drie said: "We have spent the past 20 years building Paddling.com to be one of the best destinations for paddlesport enthusiasts with the goal of providing fun and useful information for all types of paddlers. We are excited for the next phase of Paddling.com's growth as part of VerticalScope." "We are thrilled to add Paddling.com to our growing platform of enthusiast commnities. Paddling.com is a highly engaged and passionate community and is a great fit with our outdoors-focused enthusiast sites," said Chris Goodridge, President and COO of VerticalScope.



About VerticalScope Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, VerticalScope is a technology company that has built and operates a cloud-based digital platform for online enthusiast communities in high-consumer spending categories. VerticalScope's mission is to enable people with common interests to connect, explore their passions and share knowledge about the things they love. Through targeted acquisitions and development, VerticalScope has built a portfolio of over 1,200 online communities and more than 100 million monthly active users. VerticalScope is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: FORA).

Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation that reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the supplemented PREP prospectus dated June 14, 2021. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. VerticalScope does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws. SOURCE VerticalScope Inc.

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[June 24, 2021]

NASA Selects Environmental Services Contractor

GREENBELT, Md., June 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected Bluestone Environmental Group of Malvern, Pennsylvania, for a contract to provide environmental services to support the Environmental Management Program at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

This is a cost-plus-fixed-fee hybrid core services, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. The total value of the core portion of this contract, including options, is $13.6 million. The maximum odering value of the IDIQ portion is $16 million. The period of performance includes one base year with four one-year options not to exceed five years, with a maximum value of $29.6 million, with a five-year ordering period lasting through July 31, 2026. This is an 8(a) Small Business Set-Aside contract under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 19.







Under the terms of contract, Bluestone will establish, perform and maintain common processes and procedures to ensure that NASA facilities are operating in compliance with environmental regulations. The work will primarily be at Goddard and at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The work may also be required at other NASA facilities or locations where NASA has management responsibility, oversight responsibility, or potential environmental responsibility.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-selects-environmental-services-contractor-301319840.html

SOURCE NASA
[June 24, 2021] The European Equity Fund, Inc. Announces Results of Annual Meetings of Stockholders

The European Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: EEA) (the "Fund") announced today the results of its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 24, 2021. Each of the three Class I Directors nominated by the Board of Directors, Mr. Walter C. Dostmann, Mr. Christian M. Zugel and Ms. Hepsen Uzcan, was elected to serve for a term of three years and until his or her respective successor is elected and qualifies. Stockholders also ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditors for the Fund for its 2021 fiscal year. Stockholders did not approve the proposal requesting the Fund to take the steps necessary to declassify the Board of Directors. A copy of the portfolio manager's presentation from the meeting is posted to the Fund's website at www.dws.com. For more information on the Fund, including its most recent month-end performance, visit dws.com or call (800) 349-4281. Important Information Investing in foreign securities, particularly those of emerging markets, presents certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic changes, and market risks. Any fund that concentrates in a particular segment of the market or a particular geographical region will generally be more volatile than a fund that invests more broadly.



Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. There is a one time public offering and once issued, shares of closed-end funds are sold in the open market through a stock exchange. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of a fund's shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the fund. Therefore, the fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below, or above net asset value. Investments in funds involve risk. Additional risks of the Fund are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic changes, market risks, government regulations and differences in liquidity, which may increase the volatility of your investment. Foreign security markets generally exhibit greater price volatility and are less liquid than the US market. Additionally, the Fund focuses its investments in certain geographical regions, thereby increasing its vulnerability to developments in that region and potentially subjecting the Fund's shares to greater price volatility. Some funds have more risk than others. These include funds, such as the Fund, that allow exposure to or otherwise concentrate investments in certain sectors, geographic regions, security types, market capitalization, or foreign securities (e.g., political or economic instability, which can be accentuated in emerging market countries).

The European Union, the United States and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to Russian military and other actions in recent years. These sanctions have adversely affected Russian individuals, issuers and the Russian economy. Russia, in turn, has imposed sanctions targeting Western individuals, businesses and products. The various sanctions have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, not only the Russian economy, but also the economies of many countries in Europe. The continuation of current sanctions or the imposition of additional sanctions may materially adversely affect the value of the Fund's portfolio. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. War, terrorism, economic uncertainty, trade disputes, public health crises (including the recent pandemic spread of the novel coronavirus) and related geopolitical events could lead to increased market volatility, disruption to US and world economies and markets and may have significant adverse effects on the fund and their investments. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction. NOT FDIC/ NCUA INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE

NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY The brand DWS represents DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA and any of its subsidiaries such as DWS Distributors, Inc. which offers investment products or DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. and RREEF America L.L.C. which offer advisory services. (R-084044 ) (06/21) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624006028/en/

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NASHVILLE  The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) is raising awareness of recent changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that will mean lower flood insurance premiums for some Tennessee flood insurance consumers.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently unveiled a new way of calculating flood risk called Risk Rating 2.0 that the agency said will create flood insurance rates that are more actuarily sound, equitable, easier to understand and better reflect a propertys flood risk. Flood insurance covers the damages a home might sustain during a naturally occurring flood which a traditional homeowners policy does not cover.

In Tennessee, there are 27,500 NFIP policies in place while 2.5 million properties are without NFIP coverage leaving homeowners to pay for repairs and rely on federal financial assistance in the event of a flood. FEMA says the changes from Risk Rating 2.0 in Tennessee will mean:

28% of Tennessee flood insurance policy holders (7,581 policies) will see immediate premium decreases ;

59% (16,316 policies) will see premium increases of $0-$10/month on average (which is around the current national average);

8% (2,162 policies) will see premium increases of $10-20/month on average;

5% (1,448 policies) will see premium increases of $20 or more per month on average

FEMA reports that the national average annual premium for a single-family home is now $920. The average annual premium would fall to $815.

While flood insurance cannot stop a flood, it can save homeowners from financial catastrophe, said TDCI Assistant Commissioner Bill Huddleston. On the heels of flooding that affected thousands of Middle Tennessee residents in March, I urge more Tennesseans across the Volunteer State to learn how flood insurance is an important tool in preparing for a flood and remaining resilient after a disaster.

Additionally, the agencys new ratings should help insurance producers more easily sell policies. Risk Rating 2.0 will provide greater transparency to policyholders to better understand their propertys flood risk and how it is reflected in their cost of insurance. This will also eliminate the longstanding problem of people going to multiple insurance agents and getting different rate quotes for a property. Insurance producers can learn more about selling flood insurance at agents.floodsmart.gov.

The new rate schedule takes effect Oct. 1, 2021 for new policyholders but not until April 1, 2022 for renewal of existing policies.

To assist consumers who might have concerns or questions before purchasing flood insurance, TDCI has created a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) devoted to educating consumers about flood insurance.

What is the cost of flooding? Flooding can be an emotionally and financially devastating event. Just one inch of water in a home can cause upwards of $25,000 in damages. In the last 10 years, flooding cost the U.S. $40.3 billion in damages. Flood insurance can help you recover faster. To calculate your potential losses, visit NFIP flood cost calculator.

What does flood insurance cover? An NFIP policy covers direct physical losses to your structure and belongings. To protect your home and belongings, the NFIP offers two types of coverage: Building coverage and contents coverage.

What isnt covered by flood insurance? Flood insurance covers losses directly caused by flooding. For example, damage caused by a sewer backup is covered if the sewer backup is a direct result of flooding. If the sewer backup is not caused directly by flooding, the damage is not covered.

Isnt flood insurance expensive? Compared to the cost of flood damage, the cost of flood insurance is a drop in the bucket. In 2019 nationally, the average flood insurance claim payment was $53,301.

Wont federal assistance cover my losses if my home is flooded? Only when a flood is big enough and the damages high enough will a state request a presidential disaster declaration and the declaration has to then be granted by the request from the federal government. Even in the event of a disaster declaration, you might not qualify for federal assistance and, if you do, it may not be enough to cover the costs of rebuilding a home in the aftermath of a flood.



Can homeowners who have been flooded buy flood insurance? Yes. If your community participates in the NFIP, you are eligible to buy flood insurance, regardless of flood history.

How do I purchase flood insurance? Contact your insurance provider today and ask if they participate in the NFIP. If you do not have an insurance company or if your insurance agent does not sell flood insurance, utilize the NFIP insurance provider locator to find a provider near you.

Can I buy flood insurance after a flood to cover my losses? No. Flood insurance policies do not work retroactively.

If I buy flood insurance, can I immediately get coverage? While you can purchase flood insurance at any time, NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period before the policy takes effect. If you purchase a private flood policy, be sure to ask about the waiting period.

If my community does not participate in the NFIP, can I still purchase flood insurance? Yes. There are a few areas in Tennessee that do not participate in the NFIP. If your community does not participate, FEMA assistance is not available. If flood insurance through the NFIP is not available in your area, contact your licensed insurance agent to ask about private flood insurance. If you choose a private flood insurance policy, be sure to shop around to compare premiums and coverage.

For more information about flood insurance, visit floodsmart.gov. To contact the NFIP, call 800-427-4661.

Tennessee consumers who have questions about filing a claim or about their insurance policy can contact TDCIs team at (615) 741-2218 or 800-342-4029. Consumers may visit our website for additional information or to file a complaint online regarding potential disputes with their insurance carrier.

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15 grants totaling more than $4.6 million

Program helps communities prepare industrial sites for business investment

TNECD has awarded 115 Site Development Grants across Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced today 15 new Site Development Grants, totaling more than $4.6 million.

The grants are designed to help communities achieve Select Tennessee site certification and prepare industrial sites for economic development projects. The funding helps communities invest in infrastructure and engineering improvements on project-ready sites.

Thanks to the support of our General Assembly, Im pleased to announce 15 more communities that will participate in the Site Development Grants program, Governor Lee said. Strengthening and supporting rural Tennessee is one of my major priorities, and these grants will help our communities attract jobs and enhance economic growth.

The Site Development Grant program, part of the Rural Economic Opportunity Act, works in tandem with TNECDs Select Tennessee program. Since 2016, TNECD has awarded 115 Site Development Grants across the state, totaling nearly $39 million in assistance to local communities.

Shovel-ready sites are key to recruiting new businesses to our state, Rolfe said. The Site Development Grant program brings a community one step closer to achieving Select Tennessee site certification and strengthens it as an attractive option for economic development opportunity.

The grants awarded this round include:

City of Brownsville

I-40 Advantage Industrial Park, $464,407  Grade the site and construct an all-weather access road

City of Dyersburg

Commerce Park Interstate Site, $439,110  Extend water, sewer, and gas lines to the site

City of Henderson

Henderson Industrial Site, $500,000  Grade the site and conduct a rail study

City of Humboldt

Gibson County Industrial Park South Site, $500,000  Extend water and sewer lines and construct a pumping station at the site

City of Lexington

Reeves Property, $349,883  Grade and prepare the site

City of Ripley

American Way Site, $435,670  Replace water lines serving the site

City of Union City

Northwest Tennessee Regional Industrial Center, $475,000  Replace and extend water lines and upgrade a booster station at the site

Greene County Partnership

Hardin Industrial Park, $99,954  Conduct due diligence studies

Industrial Development Board of Robertson County

White House Business Park, $40,833  Conduct due diligence studies

Joint Industrial Development Board of Celina and Clay County

Mitchell Street Industrial Park, $500,000  Grade the site and construct an all-weather access road

Roane Alliance

Jones Road Site, $147,464  Extend sewer lines to the site

Scott County Industrial Development Board

Armstrong Property, $100,000  Conduct due diligence studies

Selmer-McNairy County Industrial Development Board

Selmer North Industrial Park, $57,000  Conduct due diligence studies

Tennessee Central Economic Authority

PowerCom Industrial Center North Campus, $31,500  Conduct due diligence studies

Town of Halls

Highway 209 Industrial Site, $494,950  Property purchase

Applications were reviewed by an advisory committee made up of TNECD, Austin Consulting, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Department of Transportation and USDA Rural Development.

Each application was supported by the communitys senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Developments mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.

TNECD Media Contact

Molly Hair

Public Information Officer

(615) 878-0063

molly.hair@tn.gov

###
DECATUR, Tenn.  Spc. Dalton Callahan, a mortarman with Newports O Troop, 4th Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, was a full-time student at The University of Phoenix majoring in Operations Management when the Tennessee National Guards Recruiting Command requested volunteers to help process new enlistees. Callahan decided to move from Johnson City to Knoxville in order to help.

Because he was only a year away from graduating, he also decided to continue his education while working with recruiting. Callahan was responsible for monitoring new enlistees for potential COVID-19 symptoms from May to September 2020.

When his orders with Recruiting Command ended in September, Callahan purchased a four-unit apartment complex in Maryville and became a property manager. Along with managing an apartment complex, Callahan continued to pursue his degree. In February, he volunteered for duty with the Tennessee National Guards COVID-19 task force.

Even though I was both a property manager and a full-time college student, I felt that the COVID-19 mission was too important to not take part in, said Callahan. Plus, I felt that my college classes had prepared me to take on several different roles at the same time. I was ready for the challenge.

As a member of the COVID-19 task force, Callahan performs administrative tasks at the Meigs County Health Department. He checks in people who have come to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, ensures that the information they provided is correct, observes them for potential adverse reactions after they have received their vaccination and maintains an orderly flow of vehicle traffic into and out of the vaccination site.

Callahan credited what he has learned while pursuing his degree with helping him to balance his multiple responsibilities successfully.

A degree in Operations Management focuses on processes and managing production and supply chains, Callahan said. The things that I have learned at the University of Phoenix can translate into anything that has a process, even military tasks. These lessons have helped me juggle the multiple tasks that I have. They have helped me to be able to prioritize what I have to do.
He's one of the most successful columnists to ever emerge from Kansas City and in his latest screed he offers a scathing rebuke of progressive hero worship.



Money line . . .

"George Floyd is a prop corporate media uses for attention, a pawn liberal politicians use to push policy, and a punching bag social activists use as a symbol to explain black people and promote themselves."

Special thanks to Super Dave for sending the news link op/ed our way . . . Because it's definitely worth consideration tonight . . .



Whitlock: Veneration of George Floyd is racist and must be stopped The deification of George Floyd harms black people and America. The statues unveiled last week in Newark, New Jersey, and Brooklyn, New York, that memorialize the final nine minutes of George Floyd's life denigrate and diminish the reputation of black men. George Floyd was a victim - of his dr...

You decide . . .
The "new hotness" in the global plague has arrived here in Kansas City according to public health surveillance experts.



Accordingly . . .



KANSAS CITY CONFRONTS SUMMER COVID REDUX & RENEWED EFFORTS TO VAXX THE PLEBS!!!



Here's a collection of news and more info on the topic . . .

Highly contagious delta variant detected in KC metro, health leaders urge vaccinations Missouri has one of the highest rates of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the country right now. It's causing concern as the delta variant becomes more prevalent. KMBC 9 spoke with local health leaders about why they fear more mutations could threaten our area in the future.

Delta variant detected at wastewater treatment facilities around Kansas City metro KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Some Missouri hospitals are reporting doubled or tripled COVID-19 case numbers in recent weeks, and health experts say the virus' Delta variant is likely to blame. As cases accelerate in more rural areas, specifically southwest Missouri, the Kansas City metro is also bracing for a surge.

Highly contagious Delta variant could cause next COVID-19 wave: "This virus will still find you" CBS News Whether it's airports, , or concerts, crowds are gathering across the nation as Americans start a return to pre-pandemic life. But with just 45% of Americans fully vaccinated and only 16 states that have fully vaccinated more than half of their populations, health experts are worried about the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

St. Louis Pandemic Doctor: COVID-19 Now Almost 'Universally Preventable' With Vaccines For many, the dwindling of the coronavirus pandemic is a chance to reflect on a year of sickness and trauma. For Dr. Alex Garza, St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force commander, the last 14 months have offered unexpected lessons about public health. "A lot of the issues aren't these scientific or medical issues," he said.

Jackson County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 36% of people fully vaccinated Jackson County has administered more than 282,077 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of June 22, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. That's up 2% from the previous week's tally of 277,382 COVID-19 doses administered. In Jackson County, 36% of people living in Jackson County are fully vaccinated as of June 22.

Data suggests 'likely' link between COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, rare heart issues in teens, CDC panel says A CDC advisory panel suggested a likely link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and rare reports of heart inflammation in younger age groups. The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group, which presented during the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting Wednesday, said the "data available to date suggest likely association of myocarditis with mRNA vaccination in adolescents and young adults."

Fauci says delta accounts for 20% of new cases and will be dominant Covid variant in U.S. in weeks White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday the delta variant now accounts for roughly 20% of newly diagnosed cases in the U.S. and will become the dominant Covid strain in the nation in a matter of weeks. "It just exploded in the U.K.

Kansas City-area doctors push vaccines as state leads nation in new COVID-19 cases KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Hospital leaders in the Kansas City metro are concerned about Missouri's rising number of COVID-19 cases. The state leads the nation with the highest rate of new COVID-19 infections. One person in every 1,349 people in the state was diagnosed with COVID-19 from June 13 to Sunday, new data show.

Developing . . .
Our 2nd favorite disgraced Missouri politico is stepping up his fundraising game and seems to be busier than most politicos seeking higher office.

Here's a quick run down of recent news regarding the bachelor back in the hunt for power . . .

The most important news is that his fundraising apparatus has risen again . . .

PAC that funneled millions to Missouri's Greitens in 2016 reactivates for Senate bid A super PAC that funneled millions in untraceable cash to Eric Greitens' 2016 Missouri gubernatorial campaign has resurfaced as he mounts a bid for U.S. Senate, records show. Why it matters: "SEALs for Truth PAC" provides a means to funnel huge financial support to Greitens as he seeks the Republican nomination.

Heres surprising rebuke from the alt-right . . .

Eric Greitens: The Globalist Goblin Op-Ed By: Jacob Engels I have the highest possible regard for Kimberly Guilfoyle. She was among the most effective and incisive voices on Fox News. There was no one working harder, smarter, or more effectively for the president's reelection than Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Finally, a glimpse at where the politico stands overall . . .

Taking The Pulse Of The Missouri Republican Primary For U.S. Senate On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum discusses the GOP primary for U.S. Senate with the Kansas City Star's Jeanne Kuang and Jonathan Shorman. Shorman and Kuang recently wrote an article breaking down the current four-person GOP primary to succeed Sen. Roy Blunt.

Developing . . .
The drug war is OVER. Richard Nixon and draconian enforcement of sketchy policy was defeated years ago. Now people openly smoke weed in public and it's more widely available than bubble gum.

Both the Kansas City Mayor and the Jackson County prosecutor argue for outright marijuana legalization in the name of social justice . . . And the voting public has continually supported decriminalization efforts and even funding for medical marijuana.



Here's the next step and the troops supporting weed . . . Read more:
Sadly, that headline claim is well documented and a priest that passed through town did try to hire a hit man.



Accordingly . . . Here's a glimpse at today's local news coverage of advocacy against the embattled local Church that still struggles to regain credibility . . . Read more:

Victim Advocacy Group Calls On The Kansas City Diocese To List All Priests Accused Of Sex Abuse A victim advocacy group says the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph failed to include the names of nearly 20 priests in of "credibly accused" sexual abusers. Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests went to the diocese's headquarters on Wednesday to write the names of the priests that were all at one point tied to Kansas City, Missouri.

Local group wants greater transparency in naming of credibly accused priests KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Harsh criticism is being launched at the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese by a local group wanting more transparency in cases of sex abuse within the Catholic church.

Developing . . .
Interesting description by local media regarding this spate of gunfire . . . The locale is described as a "popular hangout spot" and not one of the most dangerous areas in all of Kansas City and a homicide hotspot.

Check a few reports on recent violence which confirms the bad reputation of this corner . . . Check-it:



Two people shot at gas station near 35th, Prospect KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Police are investigating a double shooting at a Kansas City gas station near East 35th Street and Prospect Avenue. Officers were in the area and heard sounds of multiple shots and responded to investigate. When they arrived on scene about 12:30 a.m.

2 victims shot in Kansas City, MO near popular hangout spot KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Two people are recovering after getting shot overnight near a gas station off 35th Street and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. According to a KCPD sergeant, both victims were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Police said shell casings are scattered throughout the area in three different spots.

Developing . . .
New policy from the KCPS is celebrated without much consideration about the implications of this decision on teachers and victims of student assaults . . . Of which there are many.



We talked about this last night via the newsletter but the most important aspect of this conversation has been ignored by the mainstream media . . . Student violence.



Student Vs. Student attacks have been a longstanding problem for KCPS that has NEVER been properly addressed . . . The reality is that violence suffered by students is one of the top reasons that parents take their kids out of the district.



And so this new policy merely reflects more leniency for students involved in minor scuffles or fisticuffs when out-of-school suspension proved to be a more serious and powerful message to students and their families.



Sadly, local media merely transcribe press releases rather than delving into the uncomfortable issues confronting the KCPS . . . Read more on this topic that celebrates a district that still isn't fully accredited by Missouri education officials:

Limiting suspensions from school: Kansas City Public School District takes new approach to discipline KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Public School District is taking a new approach to education and student learning. The school board approved a new Student Code of Conduct Wednesday night. The biggest change will impact students in Pre-K through 5th grade who will no longer face out-of-school suspension, unless they physically harm themselves or someone else.

Kansas City Public Schools limits out-of-school suspension for K-5th grade KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, Public Schools students in kindergarten through fifth grade will now only face out-of-school suspension as a punishment under certain circumstances. The KCPS Board of Education voted in favor of the new policy, which is included in its revised Code of Conduct , at its meeting Wednesday night.

Developing . . .
Promotion In Motion Announces Corporate Rebrand And Move To New Global Headquarters To Support Aggressive Growth
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The New Jersey state budget process is gross, so let's at least get some fun stuff
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My 180 days on my FMM was up and I went to the INM in Chetumal with a hope of renewing it. The officer told me its not possible, I need to leave the country and return.

Belize just opened their land border so I went there. Legally Mexico doesnt define how long you need to be away, so I planned to go and return the same day. It didnt happen.

At the Belizean border the officer told me that I need to spend at least 3 days in the country, if I wanted to leave earlier, they would t give me an exit stamp so I couldnt enter Mexico.

I stayed in Belize - it cost a bit as they have a gold standard list of hotels and transportation they insist on.

I returned to Mexico and I was given 7 days to stay in the country. The basically the whole journey was a waste of time and money.

I spoke with my consulate, they knew about people who managed to extend their FMM by paying the entry fee to Mexico (594 pesos) at an INM office, and got 180 days again.

At the border they didnt know anything about this and insisted that I need to leave the country in 7 days which is impossible.

Any advice? Has anyone been in this situation and managed to solve it somehow?
Re: What to do with extra days in Sicily. itinerary suggestions?

11. Re: What to do with extra days in Sicily. itinerary suggestions?

thanks.. I will stay in sicily then. I think maybe i will add a day in taormina and do a day excursion to the aeolian islands instead of staying there and doing the ferry on my own. That might save me some time.

I also plan to visit mozia.when in trepani.

do you prefer the egadi islands? is one group better to stay over on than another?

Are they worth the time in my first trip to sicly, or better spent with an extra day in ragusa, taormina, or somewhere else?

it seems, from cursory study, that they Aeolian chain is interesting from a geological perspective, whereas the egadi islands are more traditional fishing/ farming, etc?

i can imagine that i could go spend a night on favignana, and a night on Lipari.. good idea?

thanks for everyone's input. Just scheduling this in a hurry. Will take more time to research, but am a super busy person and cannot wait to go away after all this covid stuff. trying to pin down basic accommodations and itinerary.

maybe will add a day in siracusa. but, best to know now as i would then have to reschedule my post-siracusa accommodations.

peace... and thanks for the input on driving. i will not have the car when staying in palermo. and will be careful where i park and wont leave things in the car. Too bad to hear about crime but that is life.
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Im so excited to finally be able to travel to Sicily my plans have changed a few times due to covid but now that Italy is open to the USA I am hopeful.

I have a flight going from NYC to Zurich then onto Palermo. My flight home is from Catania to Munich to NYC I am fully vaccinated but my vaccine will be over 6 months old will we be able to layover in Switzerland? What are the best sites to get the most up to date info I need to fly internationally. The airlines have not been super helpful
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Commercial Vehicle Transmission Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minnesota's court system could allow expanded camera coverage of criminal proceedings following the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd's death, under an order released Thursday.

The time is right to consider whether the current requirements for audio and video coverage of criminal proceedings in courtrooms should be amended to accommodate broader public access, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea said in a statement announcing the order.

The order doesn't specifically cite Derek Chauvin's trial, but it was Minnesota's first criminal case in which gavel-to-gavel TV coverage was allowed, from jury selection through the verdict. Chauvin's sentencing Friday will also be televised.

University of Minnesota media law expert Jane Kirtley said the order is a good sign that the state court system will open up more proceedings to cameras and livestreaming technology. She said the coverage of Chauvin's trial went extremely smoothly, without the media circus some feared.

I am more hopeful about revisions to this rule than I have been in 20 years, Kirtley said.

The chief justice elaborated on her order in her annual State of the Judiciary speech to the Minnesota State Bar Association on Thursday, remarking on what she called the unprecedented decision to provide non-stop remote public access to one of the highest profile trials in the states history.

I have seen it estimated that some 23 million people watched at least part of this livestreamed trial, she said, according to a text provided by the court. While the decision to allow camera coverage of this trial was based on the unprecedented public health restrictions in place during the pandemic, it would be a mistake for us not to reflect on the lessons learned and experiences gained through this process.

Minnesotas rules on audio and video coverage were last updated in 2018. They allow remote coverage of criminal proceedings until the verdict, but only with the consent of all parties, which rarely happens. Coverage of sentencings is allowed without consent, unless the judge finds cause to prohibit it. While federal courts generally bar cameras, many other states permit them.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the intense public and media interest in Chauvin's case led Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill to allow full audiovisual coverage to fulfill the constitutional requirement for a public trial. Court TV and numerous websites streamed the proceedings around the world. News organizations made extensive use of the video feed, audio and photos taken from the video.

Gildea ordered the high court's Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure  which is made up of judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys  to study the matter and report back with recommendations by July 1, 2022.

Kirtley said she couldn't rule out that the committee might come back with a less than full endorsement of camera coverage, noting that some prosecutors, defense attorneys and advocacy groups have resisted it in the past. But she noted that state Attorney General Keith Ellison, who had argued against cameras for Chauvin's trial, has softened his stance, and that the chief justice has expressed support in principle for more media access.

Gildea's order says audio and video coverage has been a critical component of public access during the COVID-19 pandemic, when court facilities were largely inaccessible to the public, and that fulfilled the public interest in the fair administration of justice. She wrote that the constitutional right to a public trial may sometimes warrant expanded media coverage, even without consent from both sides.

"If we're all committed to the idea of public justice, I think everyone would agree that cameras in the courts are the best way to assure that for everyone, Kirtley said.
After they were caught inside the Residence Nightclub, back in January, 85 people have been now been charged.

And, drinking a beer in Arima, leads to a man being arrested, and fined three-thousand dollars.
The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) has failed to agree on concrete measures that could improve the security situation, as well as to advance the discussion with regard to demining.

Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, said this in a statement after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing on June 23.

Ceasefire violations were in the focus of the Security Working Group and the TCG. I regret to say that it was not possible to agree on concrete measures that could improve the security situation. The participants exchanged proposals for a joint document on the coordination and verification mechanism, however they could not reach consensus. An attempt to advance the discussion with regard to demining was also ineffective," Grau said.

The Political Working Group continued informal consultations. "Nevertheless, for quite some time now it has not been possible to find a constructive approach and fulfil the task of the TCG to develop an action plan in full compliance with the Minsk agreements. I would like to note that in this case procedural issues prevail over discussion of concrete measures," the ambassador noted.

The participants of the Humanitarian Working Group had an in-depth discussion as regards the exchange of conflict-related detainees, paying particular attention to the aspect of procedural clearance. The remaining obstacles to the simultaneous opening of the new crossing points near Zolote and Shchastia in the Luhansk region were also duly considered.

Discussions in the Economic Working Group focused on water supplies, pension payments and property rights. Particular attention was also paid to environmental issues, in particular the possible establishment of an expert group on flooded mines. In this context, the participants were able to agree on a number of important procedural issues.

In recent weeks, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) has observed a deterioration of the security situation in the disengagement areas. "Also, the Mission continues to record the use of heavy weapons deployed in violation of the withdrawal lines. In addition, there are continued restrictions and other impediments to the freedom of movement of the OSCE SMM as well as targeting its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This precludes an effective implementation of the Mission's mandate," Grau said.

As reported, following agreement reached at the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on 22 July 2020 regarding additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, from 00:01 on 27 July 2020 until 23 June 2021, the SMM has recorded at least 36,494 ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions (including 11,436 explosions, 6,134 projectiles in flight, 234 muzzle flashes, 122 illumination flares and at least 18,568 bursts and shots).

ish
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is holding a meeting with President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili as part of her official visit to Ukraine.

The welcoming ceremony took place at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv on June 23, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The meeting was broadcast by the President's Office on Facebook.

During the solemn ceremony, the national anthems of the two countries were played. The presidents walked by the guards of honor. The official delegations of Ukraine and Georgia were represented.

After the official ceremony, a face-to-face meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Salome Zourabichvili began.

Following the negotiations, bilateral documents will be signed and the presidents will communicate with the media.

As reported, on June 23, President Zourabichvili will meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov.

ish
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Germany to take concrete steps to reduce the risks the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline poses to Ukraine.

He said this during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on June 23, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of State.

"Secretary Blinken underscored continued U.S. opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and encouraged Germany to take concrete steps to reduce the risks it poses to Ukraine and European energy security," the statement reads.

In addition, the parties emphasized the importance of a coordinated Transatlantic approach to addressing global challenges, including those posed by the Peoples Republic of China and Russia.

They also discussed the COVID-19 recovery, responding to the climate crisis, a political settlement in Afghanistan, and the situation in Libya.

As Ukrinform reported, Blinken met in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to discuss Nord Stream 2, the situation in eastern Ukraine and ways to resolve it.

ish
The membership of Ukraine and Georgia in the European Union will strengthen stability in the region, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at a meeting with President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili in Kyiv on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister stressed that providing a European perspective for Ukraine and Georgia will make a significant contribution to strengthening stability in the region and to enhancing mutual resilience to challenges and threats, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Government portal.

"We are waiting for the next Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, which should strengthen the political significance of this initiative and fill it with greater strategic content," said Shmyhal.

During the meeting, the parties noted that Ukraine and Georgia have common goals and objectives: restoring the territorial integrity of the countries, ensuring sustainable democratic development and economic growth, full integration into the EU and NATO.

In addition, Shmyhal welcomed the key decisions of the NATO Summit, which reaffirmed the Alliance's commitment to the 2008 Bucharest Summit on Ukraine and Georgia's prospects for NATO membership.

"We hope that our countries will have a clear perspective of membership in the NATO," he said.

In addition, Shmyhal stressed the importance of the Ukrainian-Georgian High-Level Strategic Council, which aims to coordinate the entire range of bilateral relations, as well as to promote the progressive development of strategic cooperation at all levels.

He thanked Georgia for supporting Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. Shmyhal also reaffirmed Ukraine's support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

As reported, President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili was on an official visit to Ukraine on June 23.

iy
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a strict comprehensive resolution calling on the occupying power, the Russian Federation, to ensure that the rights of the Crimean Tatar people are respected, international law is observed, and Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored.

This is stated in the PACE resolution The situation of Crimean Tatars [Human rights violations committed against Crimean Tatars in Crimea] adopted by the vast majority of delegates on June 23, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The resolution was supported by 73 delegates; 17 were against, and two abstained.

The rapporteur is Thorhildur Sunna varsdottir, Icelands parliamentarian, representative of the Icelandic Pirate Party and the political group of Socialists, Democrats, and Greens Group in the PACE.

The Assembly strongly condemns the ongoing temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine  the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol  by the Russian Federation, and reaffirms the non-recognition of its annexation, reads the document.

PACE urges the Russian authorities to implement the UN General Assembly resolution, as well as other international legal decisions to end the occupation and restore Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The Assembly notes that the Russian occupation regime's reprisals against Crimean Tatars include killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment. All this is being done by Russian security forces using illegal and unfair legal procedures.

The work of journalists and the freedom of expression and assembly have also been unjustifiably restricted. The constant, disproportionate pressure placed on Crimean Tatars and human rights defenders working on their behalf creates a climate of fear and hostility.

The Assembly expressed deep disappointment over the fact that these violations are the result of the application in Russia of Russian legislation to combat terrorism and extremism, which is also a violation of international law.

In particular, such violations of international law by the Russian regime run counter to the use of international human rights mechanisms and instruments, including the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

PACE called on Russia to immediately release all persons detained and imprisoned with violations and abuses of Russian law on the peninsula, which is contrary to international law.

In the resolution, PACE delegates also called on Russia to ensure full and unhindered access to Crimea for representatives of international and regional human rights organizations in order to monitor the human rights situation on the peninsula as a territory of Ukraine which is temporarily occupied.

In addition, the Assembly called on the Russian authorities to end the forced conscription of Crimean residents, including Crimean Tatars, into the Russian armed forces.

As reported, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic previously stated that she could not enter the territory of Crimea to get acquainted with the human rights situation on the peninsula.

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Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Andriy Yermak and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland have discussed in a phone conversation preparations for the upcoming visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Presidents Office.

In particular, Nuland assured Yermak of Washington's unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the implementation of the Minsk agreements on a peaceful settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine.

The head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, in turn, informed the American partners about the implementation of reforms in Ukraine for its transformation into a transparent and competitive country and announced steps to implement Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

The U.S. Under Secretary of State noted the importance of continuing ongoing reforms to strengthen Ukraine, including corporate governance and anti-corruption reforms, and assured that the United States supports these efforts.

As reported by Ukrinform, Zelensky and Biden had a phone call on June 7, during which the U.S. leader invited his Ukrainian counterpart to visit the White House in July.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba later announced that the meeting would take place in late July.

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The European Union welcomes the initiative of the Associated Trio of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova to coordinate efforts in closer integration into the European Union and to implement the reforms required.

I have to welcome the closer coordination between Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as their request for enhanced cooperation with the European Union. A crucial aspect of our Eastern Partnership is building links not only between the European Union and our partner countries, but also among them - among the partners themselves. And that is good. And with each of you, not only do we cooperate in the Eastern Partnership, but we also have Association Agreements, including Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas. These agreements are the most comprehensive that the European Union has with any other partner - with any of its partners, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said following the meeting with Foreign Ministers of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in Brussels on Thursday.

He noted that the European Union should be proud that partner countries want to move closer to the European Union, and even to join it.

Too often, within the European Union, we take for granted what we have managed to create: an area of prosperity, security and opportunity for all. Our Union is not perfect, but that membership is seen as a strategic objective for many countries is a great compliment. You know very well that the European Union attaches its utmost importance to its relations with the Eastern partners and we consider the region a priority for our support and commitment. And I am sure that today, the European Council will reaffirm this importance and our attachment, the High Representative of the Union said.

He stressed that the implementation of key reforms is a crucial factor in further strengthening political association and economic integration between the EU and each of the Associated Trio countries. The full implementation of these agreements is key to exploit all the opportunities they offer, for example further trade exchanges, more security cooperation - and today especially in the new fields of disinformation, cyber and hybrid threats - on environment, and connectivity.

Coming closer to the European Union will require a work from both sides. In each of your countries, you know that there are key reform areas that require swift, thorough and sincere improvements. We can only approximate legislation, to deepen cooperation, and advance on joint work if these reforms are fully enacted and enforced. We [EU] are standing by each of you respectively in these efforts and support you politically and financially, Borrell said.

The High Representative of the Union noted that 2021 was an important year for the Eastern Partnership. The Commission is currently finalising the post-2020 agenda, which contains concrete deliverables and targets.

Our Eastern Partnership summit will take place in December. I understand that all of us are sorry for the fact that it has [previously] been postponed, as has also happened with other summits. But in December, when this summit will take place, we will have an opportunity to set this new agenda in motion, and to agree on a common vision for the future. We are looking forward, dear colleagues, dear friends, to developing relations based on the principles of inclusivity and differentiation. Both have to be taken together and this will require flexibility from both parts. I count on you, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, to play a full and constructive part in this. And I am also looking forward to have the opportunity, once the virus allows us to travel, to visit you soon and to share with you these concerns and objectives, Borrell summed up.

Today, the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova make a joint visit to the European institutions for the first time as an Associated Trio to express a united position on further European integration.

EU summit will be held in Brussels today, which will, among other issues, consider further strategic relations with Russia, given its aggressive policy towards its neighbors and the occupation of some of their territories. The imposition of sectoral economic sanctions against the Lukashenko regime in Belarus is to be considered as a separate issue.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has expressed deep concern to EU High Representative Josep Borrell over the idea of resuming EU-Russia summits.

Kuleba said this at a joint briefing with the Foreign Ministers of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova and the EU High Representative in Brussels on June 24, Ukrinform reports.

I also took the opportunity during the meeting with the High Representative to share with him the very deep concern of Ukraine, given the information we received yesterday. The information concerns the initiative to include in the agenda of the EU leaders, who will meet today at the European Council, an idea that could lead to the resumption of summits between Russia and the European Union," Kuleba said.

He stressed that the suspension of high-level dialogue with the EU is part of the EUs sanctions policy towards Russia, and initiatives to resume the EU-Russia summit without any progress on the part of Moscow would be a dangerous deviation from the sanctions policy.

"This can only undermine the EU's non-recognition policy and the effectiveness of the sanctions regime, and, moreover, push Russia to non-fulfillment of the Minsk agreements," the minister stressed.

Kuleba drew attention to the fact that the freeze of the summits was adopted in 2014, given the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Unfortunately, Russia has shown no desire to change its policy towards either Ukraine or the EU. We believe that the resumption of the summits is groundless, the minister summed up.

On June 24-25, Brussels will host the European Council summit, at which EU leaders will consider, in particular, a joint report of the European Commission and the EU High Representative on the current state of relations with Russia and hold a discussion on their further strategic approach.

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Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova are ready for a new level in the process of association with the European Union.

"The three of us came today to demonstrate that Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova are mature enough for European aspirations and ready for a new level in the process of association which should lead the countries to the European prospects," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint briefing with the foreign ministers of Moldova and Georgia and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Kuleba noted that the ministers made it clear that the Eastern Partnership needed a new impetus for a new level.

"The forthcoming summit will be a turning point for the Eastern Partnership. We all are ready to work together with the European Union to make sure that this summit will bring tangible results and show the ambitions of European policy in the east," the Ukrainian minister stressed.

Kuleba also noted that he was especially grateful to Borrell for mentioning the principles of inclusivity and differentiation when it comes to further development of the Eastern Partnership.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the parties had long discussions on the principle of differentiation, and common ground with the EU was found.

"We, the three countries, have already achieved tangible results in European reforms and approaching European standards. We will definitely continue to follow this path. The Associated Trio format will help us be more effective in our efforts," the minister stressed.

On Thursday, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani, and Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Aureliu Ciocoi make the first joint visit to the EU institutions in Brussels in the format of the Associated Trio.

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Ukraine and China are working on preparing a visa waiver agreement between the two countries, Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong has said.

He said this at a press conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the Peoples Republic of China and Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports

Your president signed a decree providing our citizens with [temporary] visa-free regime. He wants the citizens of our countries to travel as conveniently as possible. This is a very good idea, so now we are actively working on signing an intergovernmental agreement on visa-free travel between China and Ukraine," Fan Xianrong said.

The ambassador also predicted that due to the visa-free regime, the flow of Chinese tourists to Ukraine will increase.

The diplomat also said that the idea of launching direct flights between Kyiv and Beijing is under discussion, and "this is also a real thing."

As reported, on March 23, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree "On the temporary introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens of the People's Republic of China who enter Ukraine for tourism purposes." According to the decree, from April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021, a visa-free regime is introduced for entry into Ukraine and transit through the territory of Ukraine for citizens of the People's Republic of China who enter Ukraine for tourism purposes if their stay in Ukraine does not exceed 30 days within 180 days.

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The Government of Canada will pursue all available options, including the International Court of Justice in the Hague, to hold those responsible for the downing of the UIA plane in Tehran liable.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote a message to the families in the report. In it, he said the government will pursue all available options, including the International Court of Justice in the Hague, CBC News reports after viewing Canadas forensic examination report on the destruction of Flight PS752.

According to Trudeau, "the report demonstrates that Iran's official account of events is disingenuous, misleading and superficial, and intentionally ignores key factors."

"The downing cannot be conveniently blamed on a few junior personnel. Senior regime officials made the decisions that led to this tragedy, and the world must not allow them to hide with impunity behind a handful of low-ranking scapegoats," Canadas Prime Minister stressed.

As reported, on January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). All of them died.

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

On March 17, 2021, Irans Civil Aviation Organization released the final report on the crash of the Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020. The report blamed an error by an air defence operator for the accidental downing of the Ukrainian plane.

In June 2021, Irans Prosecutor's Office brought charges against 10 officers for the shooting down of UIA plane.

Ontario's Superior Court of Justice ruled that the shooting down of UIA passenger plane near Tehran in January 2020 had been an intentional act of terrorism.

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If Russia truly wants peace in Ukraine, it must cease impeding the work of the SMM and afford its monitors the full freedom of movement needed to fulfil their mandate.

A U.S. Mission to the OSCE said this during a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, June 24, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Last week, our Russian colleague noted Russias interest in seeing peace return to Ukraine. So allow me to be helpful by offering a few recommendations for Russia to achieve that goal. While Russia trots out tired denials of its direct role in the conflict in Ukraine, the Special Monitoring Mission documents a stream of ceasefire violations from Russia-controlled territory, which undermine the peace process and endanger the lives and welfare of Ukrainians. Last week, the SMM was restricted from moving past a checkpoint of armed formations in southern Donetsk. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference and its long-range UAV flight was cancelled due to dual GPS signal interference, assessed as jamming. While conducting an announced mini-UAV flight in an area north of Donetsk controlled by Russia-led forces, the Mission heard five bursts of small-arms fire aimed at the UAV, forcing the monitors to land it and depart the area," said Charge dAffaires, a.i., James E. Donegan.

According to the diplomat, if Russia truly wants peace in Ukraine, it must cease impeding the work of the SMM and afford its monitors the full Freedom of Movement needed to fulfil their mandate. "We all agreed to this mandate here in the Permanent Council, yet Russia actively undermines its OSCE commitments through its actions," he noted.

In addition, the United States reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters.

"We do not, nor will we ever, recognize Russias purported annexation of Crimea. We join our European and other partners in affirming our Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Russia fully implements its Minsk commitments and returns full control of Crimea to Ukraine," the Mission stressed.

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Canada's forensic examination of the destruction of Flight PS752 shows that Canada does not have evidence of its own proving the catastrophe was "premeditated," CBC News has learned.

CBC News viewed a copy of a long-awaited unclassified report on the circumstances and causes of the aircraft's destruction.

"While the Forensic Team found no evidence that the downing of Flight PS752 was premeditated, this in no way absolves Iran of its responsibility for the death of 176 innocent people," the document reads.

The report says the team concluded Iran has "fallen short" of providing a "credible explanation of how and why" a branch of the country's military shot down the plane.

"Given the totality of information available, the Forensic Team concludes that a series of acts and omissions by Iranian civil and military authorities caused a dangerous situation where previously identified risks were underestimated and not taken seriously," the report notes.

The report says the forensic team analyzed the information at its disposal but "only Iran has full access to the evidence, crash site, and witnesses. "The onus is on Iran to provide definitive answers about all aspects of this tragedy," it says.

The report paves the way for Ottawa to move forward and decide what sanctions, if any, it will impose on Iran. "Iranian civilian and military authorities  through their actions and omissions  directly put Flight PS752 and other civilian aircraft in danger by creating conditions in which a [surface-to-air-missile] operator could launch missiles at them and by failing to take adequate preventative measures to reduce this high risk," the report reads.

As reported, on January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). All of them died.

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

On March 17, 2021, Irans Civil Aviation Organization released the final report on the crash of the Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020. The report blamed an error by an air defence operator for the accidental downing of the Ukrainian plane.

Ontario's Superior Court of Justice ruled that the shooting down of UIA passenger plane near Tehran in January 2020 had been an intentional act of terrorism.

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Switzerland will work on the launch of organic meals in a number of schools in Ukraine as part of a pilot project.

Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova Claude Wild made a corresponding announcement during the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Healthy Ukraine" on June 23, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

According to him, given the increase in consumption of organic products in Ukraine, they should appear in school meals. Wild is convinced that the public procurement mechanism must be adapted for the selection of organic products.

"We, Switzerland, will not only talk about it  we will do it as part of a pilot project that involves experimenting with this vision in certain schools. I hope we will be able to present the results," the diplomat said.

The Ambassador added that Switzerland supported the development of the organic sector in Ukraine. Moreover, Ukraine ranks second among exporters of organic products to the European Union.

As reported, in May, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) signed an agreement to expand assistance to Ukraine under the E-governance for Accountability and Participation (EGAP) program up to CHF 6.3 million (UAH 193.7 million).

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Kids play with bubbles while others watch the concert, Thursday, June 10, 2021, at San Marcos Plaza Park.
The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday 6,043 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,378,260

MANILA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday 6,043 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,378,260.

The death toll climbed to 24,036 after 108 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

The Philippines, which has more than 110 million population, has tested more than 13 million people since the outbreak in January 2020.

China delivered on Thursday an additional batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines to support the country's COVID-19 vaccination drive.

"The new shipment is the fourth batch of Sinovac vaccines delivered this month," Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of the government's measures to combat COVID-19, said in a statement.

The DOH has administered more than 8.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, primarily to frontline healthcare workers, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions.
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As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding an all-party meet with the political leaders of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a high alert has been issued in the occupied territory

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding an all-party meet with the political leaders of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a high alert has been issued in the occupied territory.

A high alert has been issued in Jammu and Kashmir while the authorities may also suspend the internet services on Thursday, when the meeting will take place, KMS reported.

Political parties like the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, constituents of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), have announced to raise the issue of restoration of the pre-August 5 status of IIOJK and the immediate release of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in various jails in the territory and India.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti went a step further and demanded that Indian government should start the process of talks with Pakistan as well.

PAGD leaders said that if the discussion in the meeting is in the interest of the people of Kashmir, then it will be accepted, otherwise they will directly refuse.
Addis Ababa, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :At least 64 people were killed and 180 injured in an Ethiopian air strike on a market in the war-torn Tigray region, a local health officer told AFP Thursday.

"The air strike was in the market area, so many, many people were injured," said Mulu Atsbaha, an advisor to the Tigray regional administration on maternal and child health.

The strike on Tuesday in Togoga town also left 180 injured, Mulu added.

He said the toll had been gathered from residents of Togoga town, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north-west of the regional capital Mekele, and "confirmed with local leaders".

Ethiopia's army spokesman said Thursday that the military carried out the attack on Togoga, but said rebel fighters were the target.

"We do not accept that this operation targeted civilians," Colonel Getnet Adane told AFP, insisting that those injured or killed were fighters "in civilian clothes".

But survivors and health workers described aerial explosions striking a busy market at the peak of trading, killing and injuring dozens, including children.

The United Nations has called for an urgent investigation into the strike.

The attack came as vote counting was underway following Monday's national elections in Ethiopia. However, the conflict in Tigray meant no vote was held there, and the region has seen an upsurge in fighting in recent days.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to Tigray in November to oust the dissident regional leadership, promising a swift victory.

But nearly eight months later, fighting continues, which has triggered a humanitarian crisis with the UN warning 350,000 people are on the brink of famine.
Ottawa, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :The minority government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence Wednesday in a face-off over the proposed budget, eliminating the possibility of early elections this summer.

The House of Commons voted 211 to 121 in favor of approving the budget, which was proposed in April and contains a plan to spend CAN$101.4 billion (69 billion Euros) over three years.

The conservative opposition voted together against Trudeau, who was able to hang on thanks to the support of three other smaller blocs in the lower chamber.

The 2021-2022 budget, which began April 1, must still be approved by the Senate -- a formality expected Friday, ahead of the summer recess.

After clearing this hurdle -- and with Canada's Covid-19 vaccination campaign progressing rapidly -- Trudeau, who enjoys a high approval rating, could be tempted to call for snap elections at the end of the summer in an effort to regain a parliamentary majority, which his Liberal party lost after October 2019's general election.

The budget's flagship provision is a CAN$30 billion investment over five years to establish a network of low-cost, high-quality public daycares to encourage the participation of women in the labor market.

Some CAN$17.6 billion are earmarked for green initiatives, including helping companies reduce their carbon footprints and supporting public transport projects in large cities.
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :The Commonwealth on Thursday called for Covid vaccine rollouts to be speeded up in small states, warning of the economic fallout from the virus in the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland told a press conference "much more has to be done" to protect vulnerable small states from the coronavirus, adding that it was "in all of our interests".

"Each of us can choose to do something to help and I'm so proud of all those countries in our Commonwealth, who are showing leadership," Scotland said referring to more economically advanced members such as Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

"Although I celebrate that, I think we can do better and we have to, if we need to save lives," she added.

The Commonwealth, which is made up mainly of former British colonies comprising 54 countries and 2.4 billion people, includes dozens of small states in remote regions.

By vaccinating the relatively small populations of 20 million people scattered across 32 of the smaller Commonwealth nations, the economic outlook for the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean regions could be transformed, Scotland said.

The United Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) have put pressure on the world's richest countries to share Covid vaccine supplies with more vulnerable nations.

Earlier this month at the UK-hosted G7 summit, the leaders of the world's major economies pledged to donate one billion vaccines to poorer countries.

Critics of the summit in Cornwall in southwest England highlighted that the amount fell far short of the 11 billion vaccine doses called for by the WHO to end the pandemic.

On Wednesday, the Red Cross called for faster vaccine rollouts in vulnerable Pacific islands as a surge in Covid cases threatened to overwhelm Fiji's healthcare system.

The Commonwealth is urging the international community to overhaul financing for development, which it says is ill-suited to deal with modern crises like Covid and climate change.

It wants the UN to move from using GDP to allocate funding towards a Universal Vulnerability Index, which takes into account nations' exposure to climate change, natural disasters, economic shocks, and their governance.
Abidjan, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jun, 2021 ) :Ivory Coast's former rebel leader and ex-prime minister Guillaume Soro was sentenced to life in prison in absentia on Wednesday for plotting to overthrow his estranged ally and current president Alassane Ouattara in 2019, a verdict he decried as politically motivated.

It was a dramatic reversal of fortune for the former firebrand student leader who propped up Ouattara in an abortive coup in 2002 that plunged the world's top cocoa producer into low lying civil war and split it in half.

Soro, 49, a former speaker of the National Assembly, was accused of fomenting a "civil and military insurrection" ahead of presidential elections in October 2020 which were controversially won by Ouattara.

He was tried and sentenced in his absence by the court in Abidjan where tight security was enforced at the end of a trial that began on May 19.

Two other defendants, his close associates Souleymane Kamagate and Affoussy Bamba, received 20-year sentences.

Seven soldiers and two of Soro's brothers -- Simon and Rigobert -- and his former aide Alain Lobognon got 17-month jail terms for "disturbing public order".

The court also ordered the confiscation of the assets of Soro, who lives in exile, and those of his 19 co-defendants. His Generations and Solidary Movement will be dissolved for committing "subversive acts".

The defendants were also ordered to pay one billion CFA francs (150 million Euros) to the Ivorian state.

Sixteen of the 20 accused were present in court. Judge Charles Bibi ordered an arrest warrant for the four others living in exile, including Soro.

Ouattara had earlier hinted at Soro's fate saying in October: "That one, he will get a life in prison." Soro immediately denounced the ruling saying it "was out of the bounds of law and dictated purely by political considerations".

"The ultimate goal of this trial... is to definitively exclude me from the political field in Ivory Coast," he said.

"This shows once again... the voluntary submission of the Ivorian judiciary to the diktats of the executive." - 'Settling scores' - Souleymane Diallo, one of the defence lawyers, told reporters: "We are not surprised by this decision. We have observed during the trial... the absence of proof and the negation of all the rights of the defence." He called the ruling "a settling of political scores", adding that he would "use all means at the national and international levels" to overturn the decision.

The former rebel chief's scheduled return to Ivory Coast in December 2019 after a six-month absence, to be a candidate in the following year's polls, had raised tensions in the West African country, where a 2010-2011 election ended in a deadly conflict between rival supporters.

Soro then aborted his planned return by diverting his flight to Ghana as security forces stormed his party headquarters in Abidjan.

Soro helped Ouattara become president in 2011 after incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat, plunging the country into violence that claimed around 3,000 lives.

After the 2011 crisis, Soro's New Forces rebels were mostly integrated in the Ivory Coast military. In 2017, some of those ex-rebels inside the army mutinied over their pay and conditions.

Soro had been Ouattara's prime minister in 2011 and was named National Assembly speaker in 2012 -- a post he held until 2019.

But the two men slowly drifted apart and observers attribute this to Soro's presidential ambitions.
Moscow, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :Russia on Thursday reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus infections and 568 deaths, reaching January highs, as the country battles a surging outbreak of the Delta variant worsened by a sluggish jab drive.

In total, officials reported 20,182 new cases across the country over the past 24 hours, including just over 8,500 infections in Moscow, the epicentre of Russia's outbreak.

The Russian capital also recorded 92 deaths -- the highest in one day since the start of the pandemic, according to the state-run TASS news agency.

The explosion of new cases since mid-June has been spurred by the highly infectious Delta variant first identified in India. It represents 90 percent of new infections in Moscow, the city's mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said.

Russia has several coronavirus vaccines that have been available for free since early December, but its campaign to inoculate its population against Covid has lagged.

As of Thursday, just 20.7 million out of a population of about 146 million had received at least one dose of a vaccine, according to the Gogov website which tallies Covid figures from the regions and the media.

Earlier this month, some 60 percent of all service industry workers in Moscow -- just over two million people -- were ordered to be fully vaccinated by August 15, including taxi drivers, staff of cultural venues and restaurant workers. A number of regions are following suit.

Russia, with 131,463 deaths officially recorded, is the hardest hit country in Europe.

Under a broader definition for deaths linked to Covid, statistics agency Rosstat has counted at least 270,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
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Maputo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jun, 2021 ) :Countries in Southern Africa said Wednesday they had agreed to deploy forces to help quell a jihadist insurgency wreaking havoc in northern Mozambique over the past three years.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) approved the deployment of the "SADC Standby Force in support of Mozambique to combat of terrorism and acts of violent extremism in Cabo Delgado," the executive secretary Stergomena Tax said at the end of a one-day summit.

She gave no details of the strength of the force or how long it would be deployed.

A leaked SADC document earlier this year recommended sending around 3,000 soldiers to Cabo Delgado province, where insurgents have seized control of towns and villages, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

President Filipe Nyusi, himself a former defence minister, had for long shied away from asking for foreign military intervention to fight the jihadists.

His government's poorly trained and under-resourced security forces have relied on private military companies.

In a speech Wednesday, Nyusi thanked his counterparts for the support to "eradicate terrorism and violent extremism" in Cabo Delgado.

The help will complement efforts of the Mozambican defence and security forces who "are selflessly dedicated to ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the protection of the population".

- 'Eradicate terrorism' - Nyusi, who chaired the bloc for past 12 months before handing over to Malawi, had come under tremendous pressure from the SADC to deploy the force, said analyst Willem Els of the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies.

For the bloc, "...the situation in Mozambique is not only a local situation, it also evolved into a regional dilemma," he said.

Dino Mahtani, of the International Crisis Group, recently urged Nyusi to accept "measured" external intervention to avoid a "heavy deployment".

On Wednesday, he hailed the SADC decision as "an incremental step" in a long series of negotiations.

The violence has escalated in the gas-rich north of Mozambique since breaking out in late 2017 and there are fears it could spill over into neighbouring countries.

On March 24, Islamic State-linked militants launched coordinated attacks on the northern town of Palma, ransacking buildings and murdering residents as thousands fled into the surrounding forests.

The assault marked an intensification of violence and has driven around 800,000 people from their homes, according to the United Nations, and claimed the lives of more than 2,800 people -- half of them civilians.

The leaders of Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe attended the talks in Maputo, the other countries in the 16-member group sending ministers.
Prague, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Jun, 2021 ) :A tornado razed houses to the ground in several places in the southeast of the Czech Republic on Thursday, leaving dozens of injured people, rescuers and politicians said.

"We estimate the number of injured people at 100-150, ranging from children to senior citizens," regional emergency services spokeswoman Michaela Bothova told Czech Television.

Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said he expected "lost lives", adding that a search and rescue team specialised in locating people under debris was on its way.

"All available rescue units are in action or moving to the Hodonin region where several municipalities have been hit by a tornado," Hamacek said on Twitter.

He added that the government was considering deploying the army.

Rescuers said their Austrian and Slovak counterparts were on their way to help.

The tornado hit several towns and villages including the city of Hodonin on the Czech-Slovak border, where it caused injuries and damaged a retirement home.

Video footage from Hodonin on social networks showed destroyed buildings and cars, tree-less stumps, as well as several fires.

The Czech news agency CTK quoted the mayor of Hrusky as saying that half of his village had been razed to the ground.

It added that the Hodonin hospital had accepted dozens of injured people following the tornado which also toppled a bus.

In neighbouring Poland, a twister struck the southern Malopolska province on Thursday, damaging roofs and injuring one person, according to local media.
Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :Ukraine's foreign minister blasted a proposal from Germany and France for the EU to consider restarting summits with Russia, ahead of a debate on the issue by the bloc's leaders.

"Initiatives to resume EU summits with Russia without seeing any progress from the Russian side will be a dangerous deviation from EU sanctions policy," Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting the EU's foreign policy chief in Brussels.

"The decision to freeze summits between the EU and Russia was taken in 2014 against the background of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Unfortunately, Russia has not demonstrated any will to change its policy, neither towards Ukraine, nor towards the EU, and we believe that the resumption of summits is groundless." Berlin and Paris on Wednesday put forward a last minute proposal ahead of a meeting in Brussels of EU leaders for the bloc to contemplate a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the wake of US President Joe Biden's sit-down with him in Geneva last week.

But there remains resistance from numerous EU members states -- especially in eastern Europe -- who were blindsided by the push and remain deeply wary of talking to the Kremlin.

EU ambassadors failed to thrash out a common position on the proposal late Wednesday and left it for the leaders to hammer out the details.

The 27-nation bloc is looking to revamp its strategy on keeping its vast eastern neighbour in check as Brussels admits that relations with the Kremlin look set to deteriorate further despite having already reached their "lowest level".

The German-French plan insists the EU has to stand firm and united on Moscow, but should look to engage with the Kremlin on issues of mutual interest such as climate change, health, the Iran nuclear deal and conflicts in Syria and Libya.

Proposed draft conclusions put forward by Berlin and Paris for the EU summit say the bloc "will review the existing formats of dialogue with Russia, including at Leaders' level".

But they also lay out that leaders will ask the European Commission "to present options for additional restrictive measures, including economic sanctions" to push back against "any further malign, illegal and disruptive activity by Russia".

- Premature - The EU gathering on Thursday is set to be the last for German Chancellor Angela Merkel before an election to decide her successor in September.

Merkel has taken the lead among leaders in the bloc in dealing with Putin as ties have unravelled over the past seven years.

"In my opinion, we as the European Union must also seek direct contact with Russia and the Russian president," she told the German parliament on Thursday.

"It is not enough for the American president to talk to the Russian president," she said, stressing that the European Union too "must also create different formats for talks".

One European diplomat argued that "the EU must stand firm and establish a counterbalance against Russia. It must also put itself in a position to resist, in particular, cyberattacks. And it must be able to engage in dialogue with Russia on the subjects for which it has interests." Another countered that it was "premature" to talk about a meeting with the Russian leader.

"Why have a summit with Putin if there is nothing positive to discuss," the diplomat said.

Details on the exact format for any potential meeting with Putin are still unclear -- and it remains to be seen if it would involve all 27 national leaders or the heads of the European Commission and Council.

The last summit between EU chiefs in Brussels and Putin took place in early 2014, with the Kremlin strongman preferring to deal bilaterally with individual nations since then.

Ties between the EU and Russia have been in the doldrums since the Kremlin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014.

The bloc has slapped waves of sanctions on Moscow, and Russia has responded with its own counter-measures.

del/arp/mbx
A delegation of Overseas Pakistani Forum headed by Shahid Raza Ranjha Thursday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan where they thanked him for legislation to grant voting right to the expatriate Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :A delegation of Overseas Pakistani Forum headed by Shahid Raza Ranjha Thursday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan where they thanked him for legislation to grant voting right to the expatriate Pakistanis.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Shahbaz Gill was also present.

The members of the delegation viewed that the prime minister always raised voice for the rights of overseas Pakistanis.

They said Imran Khan was the only leader, who could put Pakistan on the course of progress and prosperity.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for resuming air traffic between the two countries and deliveries of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine during a phone conversation on Thursday, the Kremlin said

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for resuming air traffic between the two countries and deliveries of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine during a phone conversation on Thursday, the Kremlin said.

"President of Russia Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Topical issues of Russian-Turkish cooperation in various fields were discussed. Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed gratitude for the decision taken by the Russian side to resume flights with Turkey, as well as for the start of deliveries of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V," Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin also shared "his impressions about recent talks in Geneva with US President Joe Biden" during the conversion with the Turkish leader. Moreover, the sides discussed Syria.

"When considering the settlement in Syria, the importance of the joint activities of the military of Russia and Turkey, aimed at preventing the escalation of tensions in Idlib and in the north-east of the country, and fighting the remaining terrorist groups in these regions was emphasized," the Kremlin said.

In addition, the presidents exchanged "views on the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh," and agreed to continue coordination to restore the transport infrastructure of the South Caucasus region.
The Russian Foreign Ministry will declare a strong protest to the UK ambassador in light of the incident with the UK Navy's Defender destroyer that entered Russia's territorial waters, the foreign ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) The Russian Foreign Ministry will declare a strong protest to the UK ambassador in light of the incident with the UK Navy's Defender destroyer that entered Russia's territorial waters, the foreign ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday.

The UK Ministry of Defense rejects Russia's account of the incident, saying it was a peaceful passage and no warning shots were fired.

"We announced yesterday that the UK ambassador would be summoned. She will come to the foreign ministry today, and a harsh warning will be made," Zakharova told Russia-24 broadcaster.

The foreign ministry's spokeswoman expressed the belief the meeting would be "unpleasant for the UK side."
(@FahadShabbir)

DUSHANBE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) The presidents of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Emomali Rahmon and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, discussed the situation in Afghanistan by phone, the press service of the Tajik leader told Sputnik.

"The presidents of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Emomali Rahmon and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in a telephone conversation discussed the alarming situation that is currently developing in Afghanistan, especially in its northern and northeastern provinces, along the perimeter of which the state border line of the two countries runs," the statement said.

The heads of state assessed the situation on the border with that country as very tense.

"The presidents of the two countries agreed to continue joint efforts to support the advancement of the intra-Afghan peace process and contribute to the establishment of peace, stability and security in neighboring Afghanistan. The sides confirmed their readiness to further coordinate actions in that area," the statement said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) Moscow regrets the actions of a UK navy destroyer in the Black sea and believes that this incident was a provocation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"We believe that the British destroyer committed a provocation, moreover, we regret that it was a deliberate provocation, deliberate and prepared. We are certainly concerned about such actions by the British ship.

We consider such actions unacceptable and inconsistent with international law," Peskov told reporters.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that the Black Sea Fleet and the border security forces expelled the UK Navy's Defender destroyer that entered Russia's territorial waters.

"It can also be confirmed that, indeed, the Russian border guards, the Russian Armed Forces, and further, strictly acting in accordance with international law, will take a rather tough stance with regard to such provocations," Peskov added.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

NIZHNY NOVGOROD (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) Russian software company MyOffice has been offered an opportunity to bid for IT contracts for the Djiboutian government, CEO Dmitry Komissarov, told Sputnik on Thursday.

At the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia (CIPR) forum earlier in the day, Komissarov announced signing an agreement with the African country's education ministry on handing over 100,000 office software licenses to Djibouti's national and municipal authorities. Under the five-year agreement, MyOffice will have the right to bid for contacts related to digitization of state agencies.

"MyOffice has done a lot in Africa, but we understand that this is only the beginning of our path in the region.

Right now, this continent has one of the best prospects for Russian [IT] solutions exports," Komissarov said.

Djibouti's authorities will also consult with MyOffice during the early stages of planning the development of their own systems for digital records processing.

"African governments are putting a lot of effort to integrate modern technologies into government control systems, design and create information systems based on safe software products," Kommissarov explained.

MyOffice has been active in Africa since 2019 and has contracts with Cameroon, Guinea and Burundi.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it had expressed a strong protest to UK Ambassador in Moscow Deborah Bronnert in connection with the actions of the UK destroyer Defender in the Black Sea

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) The Russian Foreign Ministry said it had expressed a strong protest to UK Ambassador in Moscow Deborah Bronnert in connection with the actions of the UK destroyer Defender in the Black Sea.

Earlier, Bronnert was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with the actions of Defender in the Black Sea.

"A strong protest was lodged with the Ambassador over illegal crossing of the Russian border and the provocative and dangerous actions of the Royal Navy ship in the territorial sea of Russia, which the Russian side regards as gross non-compliance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," the statement says.

"Particular attention was paid to the fact that in the event of a repetition of such provocations, all responsibility for their possible consequences will rest entirely with the UK side," the ministry added.

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the UK destroyer Defender had crossed the Russian border and entered Russian waters three kilometers away in the area of Cape Fiolent in Crimea. After that, Russian border patrol ship carried out warning firing, and the Su-24M aircraft carried out "warning bombing" along the path of the destroyer.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, commenting on the incident, said that if colleagues do not understand what Russia's borders are, then "we can bomb."
A resident of the city of Simferopol in Crimea has been arrested for collecting information about military flights for Ukrainian special services, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) A resident of the city of Simferopol in Crimea has been arrested for collecting information about military flights for Ukrainian special services, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday.

"The Federal Security Service has uncovered and suppressed the illegal activities of a resident of the city of Simferopol, who acted in the interests of the intelligence agencies of Ukraine," the FSB said in a statement.

Via special equipment, the Russian citizen was gathering information on the flights of Russian military aviation on the instructions of the special services of Ukraine.

The authorities launched a criminal case on treason charges, the FSB added.
THE VATICAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) An Italian dressed up as Spider-Man stole the show at Pope Francis' weekly audience in the Vatican courtyard on Wednesday as he came up to greet the pontiff.

Matteo Villardita, the 28-year-old behind the mask, is known in Italy for posing as the web-slinging superhero to cheer up sick children in hospitals.

He was awarded an order of merit for his altruism last year.

Villardita was filmed shaking hands with the pope who was smiling at him. The Catholic Church leader said there were many youngsters in the audience who were eager to meet their hero. The Spider-Man thanked the pope and gave him a spare superhero mask.
(@FahadShabbir)

A 38-year-old British man was on Wednesday jailed for terrorism offences after sharing explosives manuals and extremist videos, including one apparently celebrating the New Zealand mosque massacres, on right-wing chat groups

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jun, 2021 ) :A 38-year-old British man was on Wednesday jailed for terrorism offences after sharing explosives manuals and extremist videos, including one apparently celebrating the New Zealand mosque massacres, on right-wing chat groups.

Michael Nugent of Surrey, southern England, ran a number of far-right chat groups on the Telegram app, using different identities to express his "hatred of ethnic minorities" and to share "terrorist-related documents with others", according to police.

A judge at Kingston Crown Court in southwest London jailed him for three-and-a-half years.
The Chinese Defense Ministry has called on the United States to stop any military contacts with Taiwan, saying that seeking independence for the island "means war."

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) The Chinese Defense Ministry has called on the United States to stop any military contacts with Taiwan, saying that seeking independence for the island "means war."

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affairs. China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges or military contacts between the US and Taiwan, any attempt by the US to use Taiwan to contain China," ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang told a briefing.

The official further urged the US to realize that the growth and development of China "cannot be stopped by anyone or any force," so Washington should accept the one-China principle, as national reunification is a "historical necessity."

"The peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are the common aspiration of the people.

'Taiwan independence' is a dead-end road, and seeking 'Taiwan independence' means war," he added.

Official relations between the central government of China and the island province stopped in 1949, when the Kuomintang government, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to Taipei after being defeated by the Chinese Communist Party in the civil war.

In the 1980s, Beijing and Taipei resumed informal contacts, and the central government proposed a "one country - two systems" model, which was rejected by Taiwan though.

The US, along with many other countries, does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation and officially sticks to the "One China" policy. Nevertheless, Washington has kept informal relations with the island and is selling billions of Dollars' worth of weapons to Taiwan.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2021) The United States will impose anti-dumping duties on tires for passenger vehicles and light trucks imported from Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand after an investigation determined they were underpriced to hurt US tire-makers, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.

The probe found that Korean, Taiwanese and Thai buyers of these tires were subsidized by Vietnam, the country where they were manufactured, enabling the products to be re-exported to the United States at below fair value. It also found that Vietnam itself sold little of those tires directly to the US market, and thus, anti-dumping duty on such Vietnamese tires will be removed.

"Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, and a countervailing duty order on imports of these products from Vietnam," a statement from the department said.

US passenger vehicle and light truck tire sales are expected to reach $114 million in value in 2021, Databridge Market Research said.

Thailand accounts for the largest share of such US tire imports, with the Asian country supplying the United States some 37 million passenger car tires and around 7.7 million light truck tires in 2019, trade data showed.
(UroToday.com) Beginning with the introduction of docetaxel for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in 2004, there has been a dramatic and rapid proliferation of systemic therapy options in advanced prostate cancer including a number of novel hormonal therapies (including abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide), second-line chemotherapy (cabazitaxel), bone-targeting agents (radium-223) and other targeted agents (including olaparib, rucaparib, and pembrolizumab), each of which has proven survival benefits. However, despite these many treatments, mCRPC remains a fatal condition and thus, there is ongoing need and interest to develop further therapies. One of the approaches gaining the most interest is so-called theranostics  in prostate cancer, this approach leverages molecularly targeting cancer cells using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting radioligands. As PSMA is highly expressed in prostate cancer and mCRPC lesions, the combination of PSMA-617 with the beta-emitter lutetium allows for the targeted delivery of -particle radiation to PSMA-expressing cells and the surrounding microenvironment.

In a plenary presentation at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Dr. Morris presented the first results of the VISION trial, a phase III study assessing lutetium-177-PSMA-617 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

The VISION trial is an international, randomized, open-label phase III study evaluating 177Lu-PSMA-617 in men with PSMA-positive mCRPC who had previously received treatment with next-generation androgen receptor signaling inhibition (abiraterone, enzalutamide, etc) and one or two prior lines of taxane chemotherapy (NCT03511664). Additionally, patients must have had an ECOG performance status of 0-2 and life expectancy of at least 6 months.

Importantly, patients must have had PSMA-positive disease on the basis of a central review of 68Ga-PSMA-11 staging scans. PSMA positivity was defined as uptake greater in metastatic lesions than in the liver. Further, they could have no PSMA-negative metastatic lesions.









Following enrollment, patients were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive either 177Lu-PSMA-617 (7.4 GBq every 6 weeks x 6 cycles) plus standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone. SOC treatments were at the discretion of the treating investigator; however, cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radium-223 were explicitly excluded. Most patients received alternative androgen-directed therapies while others received palliative radiotherapy and glucocorticoids.

The authors assessed two alternate primary endpoints: radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) using PCWG3 criteria by independent central review (ICR) and overall survival (OS). To inform their sample size calculations, the study was designed on the premise of a median rPFS of 4 months without 177Lu-PSMA-617 and 6 months with 177Lu-PSMA-617 (hazard ratio 0.67). Thus, for rPFS, this design allows an 84% power for this hazard ratio with 364 events in 557 patients. Accordingly, rPFS was allocated a one-sided alpha of 0.004. Similarly, with respect to overall survival, the authors assumed a median OS of 10 months without 177Lu-PSMA-617 and 13.7 months with 177Lu-PSMA-617 (hazard ratio 0.7306). Thus, 508 deaths in 814 patients would allow a 90% power to detect a difference with the HR of 0.7306 with allocation of a one-sided alpha of 0.021.









In addition to these two primary endpoints, they also assessed key secondary endpoints of objective response rate (ORR; RECIST v1.1), disease control rate (DCR), and time to first symptomatic skeletal event (SSE) as well as other secondary endpoints including safety and tolerability, biomarkers including PSA, and health-related quality of life and pain

Among 1179 screened patients, the VISION trial enrolled 831 patients between 4 June 2018 and 23 October 2019. In keeping with the 2:1 randomization schema, 551 patients were allocated to 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC and 280 were allocated to SOC only.



Dr. Morris emphasized that early in the study accrual, there was a very high rate of drop-out from the SOC alone arm (56%). The trial group then reinforced the importance of trial conduct and subsequent drop-out from the SOC arm was lower moving forward. As a result, on the basis of discussion with the FDA, the rPFS analysis focused on patients accrued after March 2019.

As expected in the randomization design, demographic characteristics and baseline features were well balanced between the two treatment groups.

Further, pre-randomization treatment was well balanced. In both the rPFS analysis set and among all randomized patients, between 45-50% of patients had received more than one androgen receptor pathway inhibitor and 41-48% of patients had received more than one taxane regime.

Dr. Morris then presented the primary results of the VISION trial assessing overall survival. Over a median study follow-up of 20.9 month (as of a data cut-off of 27 January 2021), treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC significantly improved overall survival by a median of 4.0 months (median OS, 15.3 vs 11.3 months; HR, 0.62 [95% CI: 0.52, 0.74]; p < 0.001, one-sided), compared to SOC alone, in the overall cohort of all randomized patients (n=831).

The authors further assessed overall survival in the rPFS analysis subset (n=581), showing that treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC significantly improved overall survival by a median of 4.2 months (median OS, 14.6 vs 10.4 months; HR, 0.63 [95% CI: 0.51, 0.7]), compared to SOC alone. The authors further performed a number of subgroup analyses showing a relative consistent benefit of 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC across categories defined by the SOC used, disease characteristics, and demographic characteristics though many of these subgroup analyses were very small and are difficult to interpret.

Dr. Morris then provided the results of the second, alternate primary endpoint showing that treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC significantly improved rPFS by a median 5.3 months (median rPFS, 8.7 vs 3.4 months; HR, 0.40 [99.2% CI: 0.29, 0.57]; p < 0.001, one-sided).

As they had done looking at overall survival, the authors then considered the effect of 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC in the whole randomized cohort (n=831) showing that rPFS was significantly improved by a median 5.2 months (median rPFS, 8.8 vs 3.6 months; HR, 0.42 [99.2% CI: 0.32, 0.58]). Again similar to overall survival, subgroup analyses demonstrated a generally consistent effect, though conclusions were limited in many subgroups due to small numbers.











In addition to these primary endpoints, the addition of 177Lu-PSMA-617 to SOC statistically significantly improved all key secondary endpoints, including ICR-determined ORR (29.8% vs 1.7%), ICR-determined DCR (89.0% vs 66.7%) and time to first SSE (median time, 11.5 vs 6.8 months; HR, 0.50). Further, PSA responses (whether defined as a 50% decrease or an 80% decrease) were significantly more common among those treated with 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC.

Dr. Morris emphasized that patients in the 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC arm had much longer durations of therapy: among those in the 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC arm, median duration of standard of care was 7.56 months (range 0.3-31.3 months) compared with 2.07 months (range 0.0-26.0 months) in the SOC alone arm.

Further, he emphasizes that post-protocol treatment could not explain the observed survival benefits seen in the 177Lu-PSMA-617 arm as there was a somewhat higher use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy among patients randomized to the SOC alone arm. Further, use of radiopharmaceuticals was uncommon in both arms following protocol treatments.





While a higher rate of high-grade (grade 3-5) treatment-emergent adverse events was observed with 177Lu-PSMA-617 (28.4% vs 3.9%), overall therapy was well tolerated. However, it bears note that there were 5 deaths attributable to 177Lu-PSMA-617 treatment. In terms of specific adverse events, treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 + SOC was associated with increased rates of bone marrow suppression, xerostomia, and nausea and vomiting.









Dr. Morris then concluded that the VISION trial demonstrates that 177Lu-PSMA-617 can be safely added to SOC treatment and improves rPFS and prolongs OS compared with SOC alone in men with advanced-stage PSMA-positive mCRPC, supporting its adoption as a standard of care.

Presented by: Michael Morris, MD, Medical Oncologist Clinical Director, Genitourinary Medical Oncology Service & Prostate Cancer Section Head, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USAWritten by: Christopher J.D. Wallis, Urologic Oncology Fellow, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Contact: @WallisCJD on Twitter at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Virtual Annual Meeting #ASCO21, June, 4-8, 2021
Pembrolizumab

Nivolumab

Atezolizumab

The prostate cancer tumor microenvironment has few T cells, thus activation of T cells by atezolizumab may not be expected to improve cancer control

There may be multiple immunosuppressive pathways in the prostate cancer tumor microenvironment, thus targeting a single pathway may not yield a meaningful tumor biology response

Since prostate cancer does not typically care a high mutation burden, T cells may not recognize and target prostate cancer sufficiently

The impact of enzalutamide on the immune response in tumor microenvironment is unknown

Ipilimumab

Conclusions

In spite of the rapid progress and many exciting advances in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) over the past few years, the disease remains incurable with a median overall survival of 12-35 months.Targeting the immune system to expand treatment options in the advanced disease state has resulted in significant improvements for patients with many advanced malignancies, although the survival benefits in advanced prostate cancer have remained more elusive. To date, Sipuleucel-T is the only immunotherapeutic intervention approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.The microenvironment associated with prostate cancer includes low cytolytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells,high secretions of TGF-beta by prostate tissue (which inhibits NK and lymphocyte function),and recruitment of T regulatory cells that down-regulate antitumor immunity.As such, the prostate cancer microenvironment has been described as an immunosuppressive state. Furthermore, based on the chronicity of the prostate cancer disease spectrum, the immune microenvironment is likely dynamic, with changes over time/clinical states and with treatment exposure.For example, there is increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the prostate bed following androgen deprivation therapy,and higher levels of PD-1 ligand and PD-L2 expression on the surface of enzalutamide treated prostate cancer cells.Several aspects make prostate cancer attractive for immunotherapy-based treatment options, including a high level of tumor-associated antigens such as prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostate acid phosphatase (PAP), and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA).Given the further emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors since then, including several phase 3 trials accruing patients and presenting initial results, this article will focus specifically on the current landscape of immune checkpoint inhibitors and prostate cancer.Arguably, the most focus among checkpoint inhibitors in the mCRPC arena is on pembrolizumab, initially receiving FDA approval in a tumor agnostic indication for MSI-high (MSI-H) mutation CRPC patients in 2017. Pembrolizumab is a human IgG4 monoclonal antibody targeting PD-1 activity. A study from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center assessed the prevalence of MSI-H/dMMR prostate cancer among 1,033 patients treated at their institution,finding that 32 (3.1%) had MSI-H/dMMR disease. This included 23 patients (2.2%) that had tumors with high MSIsensor scores and 7 of the 32 MSI-H/dMMR patients (21.9%) with pathogenic germline mutation in a Lynch syndrome-associated gene. Eleven patients with MSI-H/dMMR CRPC received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and six of these had a greater than 50% decline in PSA levels. Based on these data, many experts in the field of advanced prostate cancer feel that mCRPC patients should be tested for MSI-H status based on the potential for pembrolizumab eligibility.The KEYNOTE-028 study was a trial of pembrolizumab in advanced solid tumors among patients with PD-1 expression 1% of tumor or stromal cells. Among 245 men screened, there were 35 PD-1% (14.3%) and 23 patients who enrolled.There were four partial responses, for an objective response rate of 17.4%, and 8 of 23 (34.8%) patients had stable disease. Median duration of response was 13.5 months, and median PFS and OS were 3.5 and 7.9 months, respectively. Furthermore, the 6-month PFS and OS rates were 34.8% and 73.4%, respectively. Off-label use of pembrolizumab among a heavily pre-treated population of mCRPC patients has been reported. At the 2019 GU ASCO meeting, Tucker and colleagues presented data on 51 patients, 86% of which had received three or more prior lines of therapy. Most patients had previously received abiraterone (88%), docetaxel (86%), enzalutamide (80%), and sipuleucel-T (74%). Among these patients, 16% had a >50% confirmed PSA decline with pembrolizumab, with 8% having >90% PSA decline. Fifty-nine percent of men were treated with some form of concurrent therapy along with pembrolizumab, most commonly enzalutamide (47%).In 2020, Antonarakis and colleagues published results from the phase II KEYNOTE-199 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.This study included three cohorts of patients with mCRPC treated with docetaxel and one or more targeted endocrine therapies. Cohort 1 enrolled patients with RECIST-measurable PD-L1 positive disease, cohort 2 patients with RECIST-measurable PD-L1-negative disease, and cohort 3 patients with bone-predominant disease, regardless of PD-L1 expression. All patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg every three weeks for up to 35 cycles, with a primary endpoint of objective response rate in cohorts 1 and 2. There were 133 patients enrolled in cohort 1, 66 in cohort 2, and 59 in cohort 3, with an objective response rate of 5% in cohort 1 and 3% in cohort 2. Disease control rate was 10% in cohort 1, 9% in cohort 2, and 22% in cohort 3, whereas median OS was 9.5 months in cohort 1, 7.9 months in cohort 2, and 14.1 months in cohort 3. Shortly after publication, Dr. Antonarakis presented updated data for these cohorts at GU ASCO 2020, demonstrating that over a median follow-up of 9.6 months the objective response rate of patients in cohort 1 was 6% and 3% for cohort 2.Thus, although the number of patients experiencing a response was low, those that had a response had a durable response with further follow-up.The KEYNOTE-199 platform has additional cohorts, including cohort 4 (RECIST-measurable disease) and cohort 5 (bone-predominant disease) consisting of chemotherapy-naive patients with mCRPC treated with enzalutamide plus pembrolizumab after progression with enzalutamide. Graff and colleagues presented results of these two cohorts of patients at GU ASCO 2020.Among 126 patients (81 in cohort 4 and 45 in cohort 45), the median follow-up was 13.7 months over which time the objective response rate was 12% for patients in cohort 4. The disease control rate for patients in cohort 4 was 51% and was also 51% in cohort 5. PFS at 12 months was 17% and 23% for cohort 4 and 5, respectively, and OS at 12 months was 70% and 75%, respectively.At the ESMO 2020 virtual annual meeting, Dr. Omlin presented updated results of cohorts 4 and 5 with a specific focus on time to cytotoxic chemotherapy and time to new anticancer therapy.The median time to PSA progression for cohort 4 was 4.2 months (95% CI 4.1-4.4) and cohort 5 was 4.2 months (95% CI 4.2-4.4). The median rPFS was 4.2 months (95% CI 2.5-6.0) for cohort 4 and 4.4 months (95% CI 3.4-6.2) for cohort 5. Whereas median overall survival was not reached (95% CI 15.9-NR) for cohort 4 and 18.8 months (95% CI 14.0-NR) for cohort 5. In cohort 4, the median time to next cytotoxic chemotherapy was 11.1 months (95% CI 8.5  NR) and time to new anticancer therapy was 9.4 months (95% CI 7.2-11.1). In cohort 5, the median time to next cytotoxic chemotherapy was 11.3 months (95% CI 9.0  14.5) and time to new anticancer therapy was 9.5 months (95% CI 5.9-12.1). Whether the addition of pembrolizumab to enzalutamide has meaningful benefit in a phase III trial (ie. KEYLYNK-010, KEYNOTE-921, KEYNOTE-641) remains to be seen, though IMbassador250 failed to show a benefit for the combination of atezolizumab and enzalutamide.KEYNOTE-365 is a phase Ib/II study evaluating pembrolizumab plus other agents for men with mCRPC, as highlighted in the study schema below.At the GU ASCO 2020 meeting, results were presented for cohort A (pembrolizumab plus olaparib in docetaxel pretreated patients),cohort B (pembrolizumab plus docetaxel in abiraterone or enzalutamide pretreated patients),and cohort C (pembrolizumab plus enzalutamide in abiraterone pretreated patients).For Cohort A, 84 patients were treated of which 42 discontinued treatment, primarily due to disease progression (n=29). The overall PSA response rate was 9%, objective response rate was 8%, and disease control rate was 22%. For Cohort B, 104 patients were treated of which 72 discontinued treatment, again primarily due to disease progression (55%). The overall PSA response rate was 28%, objective response rate was 18%, and disease control rate was 51%. For Cohort C, 102 patients were treated of which 73 discontinued treatment, primarily due to disease progression (60%). The overall PSA response rate was 22%, objective response rate was 12%, and disease control rate was 35%.At the virtual 2020 ESMO annual meeting, Dr. Mourey and colleagues presented updated results from cohort C including the time to symptomatic skeletal event, radiographic bone progression, and radiographic soft tissue progression.For all patients, median rPFS was 6.1 months (95% CI, 4.4-6.5) and median OS was 20.4 months (95% CI, 15.5-not reached). At 12 months, the rPFS rate was 24.6% and OS rate was 72.8% by Kaplan-Meier. The median time to radiographic bone progression was 8.3 months (95% CI 6.7-10.8), the median time to radiographic soft tissue progression was 15.2 months (95% CI 6.7 to not reached), and the median time to symptomatic skeletal-related event was not reached (95% CI 18.2 months to not reached).At the GU ASCO 2021 meeting, updated data of Cohort B were presented, with an additional year of follow-up making the median follow-up 32.4 months.Overall, 74% of patients experienced some PSA response from baseline, and 34% of patients had a confirmed PSA response of greater than 50%. The overall response rate in patients with measurable disease (52 patients) was 23.1%, and 73.1% of patients experienced disease control on treatment. There were no complete responses, 12 partial responses, and 26 stable disease patients of any duration. Over 90% of patients had some tumor reduction from baseline. The rPFS of the cohort was 8.5 months, with an overall survival of 20.2 months.Given these promising results in single-armed studies, a number of ongoing phase 3 trials are assessing the role of pembrolizumab in this disease space, as highlighted in the table below.Like pembrolizumab, nivolumab is a human IgG4 monoclonal antibody targeting PD-1 activity. Initial results of the phase II KEYNOTE-650 were presented at the 2019 GU ASCO meeting, testing the combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab for men with mCRPC. There were two cohorts for this study: cohort 1  asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, who had progressed after at least 1 second-generation hormone therapy with no prior chemotherapy, and cohort 2  progression after chemotherapy. Overall response rates were 26% in cohort 1 and 10% in cohort 2, including two patients in each cohort who had a complete response. Median time to response was approximately two months. PSA response rate was 18% in cohort 1 and 10% in cohort 2.There are several ongoing trials utilizing nivolumab in the setting of advanced prostate cancer, all of which were highlighted at the GU ASCO 2020 meeting. A single-arm, phase II trial of a DNA vaccine encoding prostate acid phosphatase (pTVG-HP) in addition to nivolumab is being tested in men with non-metastatic, PSA recurrent prostate cancer after undergoing radical prostatectomy.The primary outcomes will be percentage of subjects within acceptable toxicity boundaries and PSA complete response rate. A single-arm, phase I/II trial is assessing nivolumab plus radium-223 in mCRPC patients, specifically evaluating circulating tumor DNA levels as a biomarker of response.The primary outcomes of this study will be to assess the safety of this combination (phase Ib) and to assess circulating tumor DNA reduction after 6 weeks of nivolumab treatment (phase II). Finally, a phase Ib/II trial is assessing the combination of rucaparib with nivolumab in men with mCRPC.The primary outcome will be dose-limiting toxicity rate between the combination of rucaparib and nivolumab.At the 2021 GU ASCO meeting, Dr. Fizazi and colleagues presented the final analysis results for Arm B (nivolumab plus docetaxel) of CheckMate 9KD.CheckMate 9KD Arm B enrolled patients with chemotherapy-naive mCRPC with ongoing androgen deprivation therapy and  2 prior novel antiandrogen therapies (ie. abiraterone, enzalutamide, etc). Patients received nivolumab 360 mg plus docetaxel 75 mg/mQ3W plus prednisone 5 mg BID for  10 cycles, followed by nivolumab 480 mg Q4W until disease progression/unacceptable toxicity (for up to 2 years). The co-primary endpoints were objective response rate and PSA response rate (defined as a  50% PSA reduction). Secondary endpoints included radiographic progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. Of 84 treated patients with a median age of 71 years (range: 53-88), 27% had visceral disease and 54% had measurable disease; median PSA was 49.5 ng/mL (range: 1.2-1085). The median number of docetaxel cycles was 8 (range: 1-10), and the median number of nivolumab doses was 11 (range: 1-27). Over a median follow-up of 15.2 months, there were 76 patients (90.5%) that had discontinued therapy, most commonly secondary to disease progression (59.5%) and drug toxicity (17.9%). There was 1 (2.2%) complete objective response and 17 (37.8%) partial responses in 45 patients with measurable disease.For the 18 patients with an objective response, the median time to response was 2.0 (range: 1.6-7.3) months, with a median duration of response of 7.0 months (95% CI 6.4-12.4). Among 81 PSA-evaluable patients, the median time to PSA progression was 8.7 months (95% CI 7.3-10.4). A reduction from baseline in the sum of diameters of target lesions was observed in most evaluable patients (79.5%), and the median change from baseline for all patients was -32.1%. Tumor reductions and PCWG3 responses were observed both in patients who had or had not previously received novel antiandrogen therapies. A reduction from baseline in PSA was observed in most evaluable patients (84.0%) and median change from baseline for all patients was -54.6%. Finally, the median radiographic progression-free survival for all patients was 9.0 months (95% CI 8.0-11.6) and the median overall survival was 18.2 months (95% CI 14.6-20.7).Finally, the NEPTUNE trial is a phase 2 trial assessing nivolumab plus ipilimumab among men with mCRPC and a positive immunogenic signature. Initial results of this trial were presented at the AACR 2021 annual meeting. There were 184 men with mCRPC screened that had progressed following at least one line of therapy and 62 (34%) men had a positive immunogenic signature. A positive screen meant that the patient had at least one of either DNA mismatch repair deficiency, DNA damage repair deficiency, or a high level (>20%) of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Among the 62 immunogenic signature positive men, 35 were treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab every 3 weeks for four cycles, followed by nivolumab every 4 weeks for up to 1 year. Over a median follow-up of 7.2 months, 10 patients had either a radiologic response, a PSA response of at least 50%, conversion of circulating tumor cells at 9 weeks, or a combination of the three metrics, resulting in a composite response rate of 28.6%.The following table summarizes key ongoing clinical trials incorporating nivolumab for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Notably, only CheckMate 7DX is a randomized comparison.Atezolizumab is a monoclonal antibody of IgG1 against the protein programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Following initial approval in advanced bladder cancer, it has also been used in lung and breast cancers. In mCRPC, there are two notable trials utilizing atezolizumab, each in a combination therapy regime.The phase 3 IMbassador250 trial of atezolizumab in combination with enzalutamide versus enzalutamide alone for patients with mCRPC did not have favorable results.First presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) virtual meeting 2020, IMbassador250 was a phase III, randomized clinical trial (NCT03016312) evaluating atezolizumab plus enzalutamide versus enzalutamide alone in men with mCRPC who had progressed on abiraterone and docetaxel or were not candidates for a taxane regimen. There were 759 patients randomized to atezolizumab plus enzalutamide (n = 379) or enzalutamide alone (n = 380). There was no difference in the primary efficacy endpoint of OS between groups: stratified HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.91-1.37. Further, the median OS was 15.2 months (95% CI 14.0-17.0) in the atezolizumab plus enzalutamide group and 16.6 months (95% CI 14.7-18.4) in the enzalutamide group. Treatment-related adverse events were observed in 77.8% undergoing atezolizumab plus enzalutamide and 51.1% of patients receiving enzalutamide alone. These negative results led to early termination of the study.In a discussion of the IMbassador250 trial, Dr. Sharma from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center provided several potential hypotheses for why the addition of atezolizumab to enzalutamide did not improve survival outcomes for patients with mCRPC:Atezolizumab has also been combined with cabozantinib in the COSMIC-021 (NCT03170960) trial, a multinational phase 1b study, evaluating the combination of cabozantinib with atezolizumab in various solid tumors. At the GU ASCO 2020 meeting, interim results were presented for patients treated with this combination who had mCRPC.There were 44 eligible patients who were required to have had radiographic progression in soft tissue after enzalutamide and/or abiraterone, had measurable disease, and an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1. Among these patients, 34% had visceral metastases, 61% had extrapelvic lymph node metastases, 27% had prior docetaxel and 52% had 2 prior novel hormonal therapies. Over a median follow-up of 10.6 months (range 3.4 to 17.9), the median duration of treatment was 5.3 months, and the objective response rate per RECIST 1.1 criteria was 32%. Among these, two patients experience a complete response, 12 patients had partial response, and 21 patients had stable disease for an overall disease control rate of 80%. This data was well-received and plans for further evaluating mCRPC patients with the combination of cabozantinib and atezolizumab are ongoing.The following table summarizes key phase 3 ongoing clinical trials incorporating atezolizumab for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting CTLA-4, which has been used both individually and in combination with nivolumab for the treatment of melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. Among men with mCRPC, ipilimumab was tested in phase III for those who had progressed on docetaxel chemotherapy, randomizing 799 patients to ipilimumab or placebo after bone-directed radiotherapy.The primary endpoint was OS, with no difference between the groups (ipilimumab 11.2 months vs placebo 10 months; HR 0.85, p=0.053); however, there was a small benefit in PFS favoring ipilimumab (4.0 vs 3.1 months; HR 0.70, p < 0.0001). More recently, Beer et al.reported findings of another phase III trial randomizing 602 patients (2:1) with metastatic chemotherapy-naive CRPC to ipilimumab vs placebo. Similar to the post-docetaxel patients, there was no difference in OS between the groups (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.88-1.39), however men receiving ipilimumab had improved PFS (5.6 months vs 3.8; HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.55-0.81) compared to those receiving placebo.Although there have been cautiously encouraging data for phase Ib/II trials assessing immune checkpoint inhibitors and mCRPC patients (primarily for pembrolizumab), the negative results of the IMbassador250 trial have somewhat tempered enthusiasm for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in advanced prostate cancer. However, much is yet to come from pembrolizumab combinations, with several phase III trials accruing and results anticipated in the next several years.
Overview

Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, lead to red tides in coastal waters along the Gulf of Mexico. The greatest impacts of Florida red tides, which are a type of harmful algal bloom (HAB), occur on the West Florida Shelf. Toxins produced by K. brevis, called brevetoxins, can kill fish, negatively affect other kinds of marine life, and cause respiratory distress in humans. Depending upon the severity and length of the bloom, these impacts can ultimately lead to substantial economic losses in our coastal communities.

In the Gulf of Mexico, a suite of observational and modeling approaches is necessary for advancing our knowledge of K. brevis bloom dynamics. Scientists have hypothesized that blooms originate offshore, but the exact location and timing of bloom manifestation in coastal waters varies from year to year. The scope and scale of recent HAB events have highlighted gaps in our ability to detect, respond to, and forecast K. brevis blooms and their impacts.

Currently, red tide predictions rely primarily on models of ocean circulation. The overarching hypothesis is that ocean currents are a primary driver of key bloom dynamics since they provide a mechanism for transporting cells. Currents also control the flux of oceanic nutrients onto the West Florida Shelf. Although advection by currents is clearly an important factor for bloom hindcasting and forecasting, other factors are likely important for cell growth and loss.

A primary goal of our five-year, collaborative program (2020-2025) is to incorporate these additional factors into conceptual and quantitative ecological models with time series data. Only then can we explore different and potentially interactive drivers of bloom initiation, severity, and/or termination. We aim to develop new interdisciplinary approaches to tracking and forecasting red tides on the West Florida Shelf that will include integration of more comprehensive, interdisciplinary observational data streams and models.

New Interdisciplinary Approaches to Red Tide Tracking and Forecasting on the West Florida Shelf is funded by the State of Florida through FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI).
Valdosta, GA (31601)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High near 85F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
The Catholic Bishops of New Zealand choose Te Ara o Maria or Marys Way as the name of the proposal to renew the countrys dedication to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven.

By Vatican News staff reporter



New Zealand is renewing its dedication to Our Lady following requests from parishioners during the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown last year.

The countrys bishops have chosen Te Ara o Maria or Marys Way which was suggested by Manuel Beazley, the Auckland Diocese Vicar for Maori and approved last Friday by the bishops at a special meeting held to discuss the project.



Speaking about the name, Bishop of Hamilton Stephen Lowe, Secretary of the Bishops Conference said, We needed a formal name for the renewal, and Manuels suggestion beautifully captures the role of Mary as the model of discipleship who leads us in the way of missionary discipleship.

The bishops also confirmed that the historic St Mary of the Angels church in central Wellington will become a national shrine to Mary.

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier dedicated the country to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven when he celebrated his first Mass there on 13 January 1838.



The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is always a Holy Day of obligation in New Zealand, and this year it also falls on a Sunday. According to the Bishops Conference website, Parishes throughout the country will be invited to join in prayer for the renewal of the dedication.



Artist Damien Walker has been commissioned to paint an image of Mary and Jesus that will be unveiled at St Mary of the Angels on 15 August, then taken on a tour or hikoi around each of the countrys six Catholic dioceses.
As the situation in Vietnam continues to worsen, members of the Catholic community accross Vietnam continue their aid work for those suffering the consequences of Covid-19.

By Vatican News staff writer

Whilst many countries around the world begin easing their Covid-19 restrictions, the situation in Vietnam continues to worsen. On Monday, 13,483 positive cases were registered and of these 1,714 were in Ho Chi Minh City alone. As a result, Catholic communities in the local archdiocese have mobilised to offer their assistance.

Tan Trang Parish

Father Joseph inh Van Tho, vicar of Tan Trang Parish, called on the faithful to pray and perform works of charity. The parish has organised special food distributions for those most in need. These include, amongst others, rubbish collectors, the elderly, the ill, and those living in the poorest areas. Fr Joseph explains that "many families face great challenges, but we always have faith in God. We pray for peace for everyone and for the end of the pandemic. And we thank those who with their generosity help us bring this aid in a spirit of charity and love."

St Martin's Parish

In St. Martin's Parish, Fr. Peter Vu Minh Hung had already opened Quan Com 2000, a soup kitchen in which the poor can receive a bowl of rice for the symbolic price of 2,000 dong (the equivalent of a few US cents), in 2016. Because of the pandemic, the soup kitchen was forced to close, but reorganised itself as a place in which to distribute rice to the poor and needy, including those who make a living selling lottery tickets or driving motorcycle taxis. Between 500 and 600 people arrive for delivery each day, with Fr. Peter Vu Minh Hung himself participating in food preparation.

Xuan Hiep Parish

Salesian Fr. Joseph Nguyen Truong Thach, vicar of Xuan Hiep Parish, has organised the distribution of food parcels to which the Department of Charity and Social Works of the Vietnamese Jesuit Province also contributes. The parish has also set aside small sums of money to support those who are struggling to pay their water and electricity bills or to buy medicine.

Hoang Mai

In one of the areas hardest hit by Covid, the parish of Hoang Mai itself has had to experience quarantine in recent days. But even this hardship has not stopped the spirit of charity, with families sharing food and masks.

The Catholic Church in Vietnam

Vietnam has the fifth largest Catholic population in Asia, after the Philippines, India, China and Indonesia. There are about 7 million Catholics in Vietnam, representing 7.0% of the total population, and the Church is present with 27 dioceses (including three archdioceses) that include over 2,200 parishes and more than 2,500 priests. A government census of 2019 shows that Catholicism, for the first time, is the largest religious denomination in the country, surpassing Buddhism.
Pope Francis greets participants in the plenary session of the Holy Sees humanitarian arm for the Oriental Churches, and encourages Catholics to care for the living stones that make up the Eastern-rites of the Church.

By Devin Watkins

The 94th plenary session of the agencies connected to the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO) wrapped up their 4-day meeting on Thursday with a papal audience.

Speaking to participants, Pope Francis touched on the major topics and issues upon which the organization focused its attention.

First-hand encounters

The Pope opened his speech expressing satisfaction that the plenary session could be held in-person, rather than online as occurred in 2020 due to the pandemic, saying it is more helpful for ROACOs work.

We need to encounter one another, he said, to share ideas in fruitful dialogue and to hear the questions and the cries for help coming to us from so many parts of the world, particularly from the Churches in the countries where you carry out your work.

The Pope added that he recently experienced this fact first-hand as he traveled to Iraq in early March.

Crisis in Lebanon

Pope Francis then turned his thoughts to Eritrea and Lebanon, mentioning especially the pain caused by the Beirut port explosion on 4 August 2020, which left hundreds dead.

I thank you for your efforts to support Lebanon in this grave crisis, he said, and I ask you to pray, and invite others to pray, for our meeting on 1 July with the Heads of the Christian Churches in Lebanon, that the Holy Spirit will enlighten and guide us.

Deserted streets of Jerusalem

The Pope also expressed his gratitude to the faithful throughout the world who donate generously to support the work of ROACO.

He noted that the 2020 Holy Land Collection only raised around half of its usual funds, saying this reduction likely stemmed from both the reduced attendance at Mass during lockdowns, as well as from the economic crisis generated by the pandemic.

While the crisis may have encouraged us to focus on what is essential, he added, we cannot remain indifferent when we think of the deserted streets of Jerusalem and the loss of those pilgrims who go there to strengthen their faith, but also to express concrete solidarity with the local Churches and their people.

Pope Francis also urged Catholics across the globe to appreciate the significance of this form of charity.

Listen to our report

Bow of peace

Following the plenary sessions order of business, the Pope then recalled the situation in the Holy Land. He said Israelis and Palestinians are peoples who we hope and pray will see the bow of peace that God showed to Noah as a sign of the covenant between heaven and earth, and of peace among peoples.

Yet, lamented the Pope, those skies have been darkened by missiles bringing destruction, death and fear!

Scandal of human suffering

Pope Francis recalled the scandal of the decade-long war in Syria and the millions of pleas for help, which do not seem to have touched the hearts of leaders in a position to affect the destiny of peoples.

He especially thanked Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, and the papal representatives in Lebanon, Iraq, Ethiopia, Armenia, and Georgia, who were present for the meeting.

He added that their way of life is an important aspect of the Churchs witness. It helps pastors and faithful to concentrate on what is essential and helpful for the proclamation of the Gospel, as together you show the face of a Church that is a Mother, with particular concern for the poor and the vulnerable.

The Pope recalled that various conflicts have left many church buildings in need of reconstruction or repair. But he said that we also need to be concerned above all for the living stones who have been wounded and dispersed.

Leaven of Gospel life

In conclusion, Pope Francis lamented the suffering caused in Ethiopias Tigray region, which is also affecting nearby Eritrea. And he thanked ROACOs members for their work in Georgia and Armenia, to enable the Catholic community to continue to be a sign and leaven of evangelical life.

He concluded his address by blessing participants in ROACOs 94th general session.
Should Illinois State follow the University of Illinois and require students to be vaccinated or face mandatory testing to attend in-person classes this fall?
Vietnam recently issued Decree 57 for businesses involved in supporting industry projects to qualify for corporate income tax incentives.

The Decree came into effect on June 4, 2021, is retroactive, and is welcomed by businesses given the current business environment.

Investors should study the Decree carefully and consider taking advantage of the CIT incentives given the substantial tax savings.

Vietnam issued Decree No. 57/2021/ND-CP (Decree 57) allowing enterprises access corporate income tax (CIT) incentives for those businesses invested in projects manufacturing prioritized supporting industry products before 2015. Decree 57 went into effect on June 4, 2021.

While projects involved in supporting industries were always eligible for CIT incentives, projects that began operations before January 2015 were unable to avail CIT incentives. Decree 57 allows those manufacturing projects that meet the required criteria and that began operations before January 2015 to be eligible for CIT incentives.

Decree 57 highlights

Eligible businesses are therefore entitled to CIT exemption for four years, 50 percent CIT reduction for nine years, and a 10 percent preferential tax rate for the first 15 years on income coming from the project. In addition, as per the Decree, the incentive is retroactive, meaning the business can claim back the additional tax paid with a request to the tax authorities.

In addition, manufacturing projects that are claiming or have claimed CIT incentives under other incentive programs can claim CIT under Decree 57 for the remaining period.

CIT incentives for projects supporting the supporting industry have been detailed in Circular 21/2016/TT-BTC which include industries such as textile and garments, footwear, electronics, and so on.

The new decree has been welcomed by businesses and is worth incorporating due to the significant tax savings that are possible given the business environment particularly due to the effects of the pandemic.

Supporting industries remain priority for government

Decree 57 comes on the heels of Resolution 115 last year promoting the development of supporting industries for the 2020-2030 period.

Vietnams supporting industries are increasingly developing and play an essential role in Vietnams participation in global supply and value chains. The sectors development also helps the economy grow in a more sustainable manner, avoid the middle-income trap, and attract quality foreign investment with positive technological spillover.

Supporting and building up the supporting industry sector is one of the priority areas for Vietnams government as it will help Vietnam develop into a hi-tech manufacturing base shifting from a low-cost manufacturing center. Decree 57 is the latest regulation in line with this vision.

Investors unsure of how to apply the incentives for their business should seek professional tax advice to avail of the CIT incentives.
Hong Kongs last pro-democracy newspaper closed its doors just before midnight Wednesday, ending 26 years of journalism.

The companys remaining board members decided to close the paper earlier that day, following the arrests last week of five Apple Daily executives under the citys national security law. Authorities arrested one of its editorial writers Wednesday.

With Hong Kongs security bureau freezing the companys remaining financial assets and the papers founder and owner, Jimmy Lai, in jail, the board had little choice but to fold.

An official statement from Next Digital, Apple Dailys parent company, said it decided to shut down operations right after midnight "in view of staff members safety." Earlier this week, the publisher had said it would run until Saturday.

Mark Simon, Lais assistant, told VOA that the company could not pay staff and vendors after Hong Kong froze the newspapers access to accounts.

"There is an order from the secretary of security (John Lee). Basically, no money, no news," Simon said earlier this week.

A spokesperson for Hong Kongs security bureau told VOA that it will not comment on active legal proceedings but that "endangering national security is a very serious crime."

Lam claps back

At a media briefing this week, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam denied that the Apple Daily case was an attack on press freedom, saying, "What we are dealing with is neither a news outlet problem nor a news reporting problem. Its a suspicious act of endangering national security."

Lam added: "And dont try to accuse the Hong Kong authorities of using the national security law as a tool to suppress the media or to stifle the freedom of expression.

Hong Kong has said the paper violated national security law, but it has not yet provided evidence or identified the articles it is referring to, Simon said.

"Theyre telling us that youre guilty of something, but theyre not telling you what youre guilty of," he told VOAs Mandarin service.

At least 50 staff members resigned Monday afternoon in anticipation of the imminent closure. The following day, the newspapers English news website closed, after just over one year in operation. The official website was due to go offline midnight Wednesday.

Last-day livestreams

Outside the Next Digital offices in the district of Tseung Kwan O on Wednesday, supporters gathered and shouted slogans of support. With their smartphone flashlights shining, Apple Daily employees waved to supporters from balconies as the clock ticked to midnight.

But inside the offices, livestreams showed staff frantically preparing the final edition, which had an estimated million-copy print run. Others were visibly upset, reminiscing with colleagues, as dozens of journalists and photographers documented the companys final moments.

One of the staff members, a senior journalist identified only as "Lee," told VOA earlier this week that no matter what happened, he "would work until the last minute of Apple Daily."

Journalists at the newspaper have long anticipated that Apple Daily would end.

After the company offices were raided in August 2020 following the arrest of Lai, the papers editor-in-chief, Ryan Law, reassured staff and encouraged them to keep reporting if another police raid happened.

Law was one of five executives arrested on June 17, as police raided the offices for the second time in a year. All five are accused of foreign collusion. Law remains in custody.

Lai is currently serving time in jail following his involvement in protests in 2019. The 73-year-old media tycoon is also awaiting trial over foreign collusion charges under the national security law and could face life imprisonment.

Lai founded Apple Daily as a tabloid in 1995. The paper later focused on politics, but with its open criticism of China, sponsors became cautious, leading to a decline in advertising revenue.

"The closure of Apple Daily marks the end of a vibrant and free era in Hong Kong," Emily Lau, a former Democratic Party leader, told VOA.

While residents have greater safety and freedom than some countries, "the departure of Apple Daily makes many people feel loss of press freedom and freedom of expression," Lau said.

But Lau insisted that despite the closure of the pro-democracy newspaper, "press freedom is not dead."

Political analyst Joseph Cheng, who moved to Australia from Hong Kong, told VOA that its a sad day for the pro-democracy movement and Hong Kong as a whole.

"Its a sad day for Hong Kong as well because the way that the newspaper had ceased publication certainly means that there is not much freedom of the media in the territory," he said.

Business as usual?

Cheng added that Hong Kongs reputation as an international financial center could also be damaged.

"Now we certainly see freedom of information flow, rule of law  have been much eroded, and so it will affect the very livelihood and very functioning of Hong Kong," Cheng said.

Protesters used to carry copies of Apple Daily during rallies on important dates in Hong Kong, and the newspaper was a "companion, a spiritual and moral supporting force" Cheng said.

One of those dates was July 1, which marked Britains returning of the territory to China in 1997. In 2021, the date will mark a year since the national security law went into effect.

For the first time in 18 years, the pro-democracy Civil Human Rights Front canceled the annual rally to commemorate July 1. The groups convener, Figo Chan, was jailed in May over an illegal protest in 2019.

Beijing passed the national security law after anti-government protests in 2019. The legislation bans acts that authorities deem subversion, secession or foreign collusion.

The U.S. State Department earlier this week said it was "deeply concerned by the Hong King authorities selective use of the national security law."

Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that the charges "are purely politically motivated" and the law is being used as a "tool to suppress independent media."

Hong Kong lawmaker Holden Chow said the arrests of the Apple Daily executives were a "proper legal enforcement" and not an attempt to suppress press freedom.

Chow described national security as of "paramount importance" in the region, telling VOA, "As always, Hong Kong people will continue to enjoy freedom of press guaranteed under Basic Law as long as they dont go beyond the law."

But media rights groups condemned Hong Kongs actions Wednesday.

Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, tweeted, "Chinese authorities seem intent not just to limit press freedom in Hong Kong, but to kill it outright."



Others have a more hopeful outlook. The Taiwan-based lawyer and commentator Sang Pu notes that while the media environment is "very dark," independent outlets still exist.

"Does it mean theres no free press in Hong Kong? Not necessarily. Its 2021, and its a digital age. There are lot of online news media emerging, such as Stand News and Citizen News, and there are other popular news accounts on Facebook, on Twitter," Sang Pu told VOA Mandarin.

VOA Mandarin services Stella Hsu and Peggy Chang contributed to this report.
On the 89th anniversary of the end of Thailands absolute monarchy, anti-government protesters massed in Bangkok to demand the prime ministers resignation, constitutional changes and reform of the monarchy.

As dusk fell Thursday, thousands massed around parliament, chanting, Prayuth, get out! in reference to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O-Cha, the unpopular former army chief who seized power in 2014 with the backing of the current kings father.

Protesters at a second rally blocked an intersection in downtown Bangkok, as police looked on.

The rallies took place as Thailand faces a resurgence of the coronavirus, its deadliest round so far. The country has had more than 228,530 confirmed cases and 1,740 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center in the United States.

Demonstrators voiced discontent with the governments handling of the pandemic, a vaccine rollout and the economy, which contracted by 6.1% in 2020. The International Monetary Fund, however, projects the Thai economy, which was hit hard by the pandemic, will grow by 2.6 percent this year.

The rallies were led by a group known as Ratsadon, or Peoples Movement. Earlier street protests fizzled in part because of splits within its leadership, along with legal problems and the spread of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

While not a registered political party, Ratsadon takes its name from the group Khana Ratsadon (Peoples Party), which staged a bloodless coup against the monarchy at dawn on June 24, 1932.

Youth-led movement

Organizers want to signal that their youth-led movement for political reform is far from over, despite numerous charges against scores of its key leaders, including alleged defamation of the powerful palace.

Thailands "112" charge, named after a section of the countrys criminal code, carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison per conviction of insulting, defaming or threatening key royals.

The protest movement burst onto the scene last August, electrifying the country over several months with unprecedented direct attacks on the wealth and political power of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and demands for curbs on the monarchys clout.

Last year was all about breaking the ice  bringing to light the issues that were once unspeakable, Pasarawalee "Mind" Thanakitwibulpol told VOA. This year is about fleshing out the issues, adding facts and details. After this, the real change will be more tangible. The movements dynamic is still there. ... The people will not take it anymore.

Protesters, including several of those charged with multiple offenses under the penal code, are challenging the monarchy and parliament to write a new charter to push the ceiling  a coded reference to their calls for reforms of the monarchy.

The protesters are fueled by social media and members of Gen Z age group, many of whom were born about 25 years ago. They say the alliance between the monarchy  by some estimates the worlds richest with a private fortune of anywhere between $30 billion and $60 billion  and the army has turned Thailand into Asias most unequal society, where tycoons, palace cronies and the military monopolize many aspects of economic life.

'Stupid and brazen'

Ive never seen any government as stupid and brazen as this one in my life. The Prayuth regime will not end today, but it will in three months, said Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the older Red Shirt rural pro-democracy movement, addressing demonstrators. The Red Shirts, who were poor urban workers or residents of rural areas, staged anti-government protests in 2010.

Brothers and sisters, promise me that you will come out every Saturday. If you stay in, you will be their slaves forever, Jatuporn Prompan said.

For all his unpopularity on the street, Prayuth still appears firmly in power, with the support of the monarchy.

Prayuth also has the backing of a Senate he appointed under an army-written charter, and he recently put key political fixers in place for what many predict could be an early run at re-election once the virus subsides.

Prayuth maintains that his government has the answers to the kingdoms deeply polarized politics, and he has vowed to reopen Thailand fully to the key tourist sector by early October, regardless of the pandemic situation.

Observers say the protest movement should not be underestimated.

One shouldn't lose sight of how the movement changed Thailand, said Matt Wheeler, senior analyst, Southeast Asia, at the International Crisis Group. It revealed young people as a potent progressive force, gave many thousands of Thais a sense of solidarity and political efficacy  fleeting, perhaps, but also indelible  and eroded the taboo on critical discussion of the monarchy's role in politics and society.
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Officials are tallying the ballots in Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds first electoral contest after more than three years in office amid reports of new violence in the northern Tigray region. VOAs Heather Murdock has more from Addis Ababa.
Amnesty International and 27 groups in southern Africa are calling for a faster pace of vaccinations as a new wave of coronavirus infections sweeps through the region.

"A number of countries across southern Africa, including Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, are currently in the midst of what could be the deadliest wave yet," said Robert Shivambu, spokesman for Amnesty International in Southern Africa, speaking via a messaging app from Johannesburg. "The lack of vaccines in the region with high levels of poverty and inequality means many people feel they are just waiting to die."

He said regional bloc SADC (Southern African Development Community) and the international community must work together to accelerate the vaccine rollout and ensure that as many people as possible are given jabs.

On Thursday, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the head of the World Health Organization in Africa, asked wealthier countries to start donating vaccine doses to the continent. She said richer countries have vaccinated 60 percent of their populations, while most African countries are at about 1 percent.

She said for Africa to reach 30 percent by the end of the year, it needs at least 700 million doses.

"African people have been vaccinated with a first dose of a vaccine that needs a second dose in order to work optimally, and these supplies are proving to be a huge struggle," Moeti said. "So, the urgency of having vaccines available right now is huge. In short, the donations are appreciated, the volumes need to be very significant, and it is super urgent that these start to be available now."

Zimbabwe is one of the countries that has been most affected by vaccine shortages, as well as a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Calling it an "invisible enemy," Vice President Constantino Chiwenga vowed Thursday that Zimbabwe will overcome the third wave of COVID-19.

Chiwenga  a former army general  said every Zimbabwean must cooperate for the country to win the "COVID-19 war."



"By end of this month and maybe into the first week of July, we would have received 2.5 million doses of the two vaccines, which we are using, Sinopharm and Sinovac. And we want everyone to be vaccinated, starting with all our borders, and then we will go to all hotspots which have been affected," he said.

"Let me ask [for] the cooperation of everyone. Those who want to trade, you must trade at those places, but you must have a vaccination certificate of COVID-19. So, if one wants to sell at a marketplace, the individual must also get vaccinated," Chiwenga added.

It was not immediately clear if Zimbabwe had moved to compulsory vaccination as Chiwenga  who doubles as Zimbabwe's health minister  did not field questions.

So far, about 716,000 Zimbabweans have received their first shots, and slightly more than 450,000 have received their second.

Zimbabwe has 43,480 confirmed coronavirus infections and 1,692 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, which tracks the global outbreak.


A prison officer, who allegedly wished that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some traditional leaders that knelt before Mbuya Nehandas statue should go mad, appeared before a disciplinary committee on Friday.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the matter is being handled by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).

Peter Kudzai Mushonga (29), who is represented by the ZLHRs Kudzai Choga, faces charges of contravening Section 3(1) of the Prisons (Staff) (Discipline) Regulations for allegedly using traitorous or disloyal words regarding Mnangagwa and his government.

ZPCS is also accusing Mushonga of being guilty of an act, conduct, disorder or neglect of duty to the prejudice of good order or discipline as defined in Section 46 of the Prisons (Staff) (Discipline) Regulations.

According to ZPCS, Mushonga insulted Mnangagwa and some traditional leaders, who were paying their respect to the statue of Mbuya Nehanda on May 25, 2021, by commenting on his Facebook page the following day wishing that those people kneeling before the statue could go mad.

Mnangagwa presided over the unveiling of a towering statue in central Harare on May 25, honoring Mbuya Nehanda, a 19th century anti-colonialist heroine and spirit medium, who was hanged by colonialists for leading a rebellion against white occupation while some traditional leaders knelt down before the statue and performed some traditional rituals.

In the previous disciplinary hearing proceedings, ZPCS brought in three witnesses who are all prison officers to testify against Mushonga, who denied the charge and argued that his Facebook account was hacked.

The prison officer has already appeared at Chinhoyi Magistrates Court facing charges of undermining the authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa.

Mushonga is the latest prison guard to be hauled before a disciplinary hearing facing charges of being a traitor and being disloyal to Mnangagwa.

In 2018, ZPCS charged John Mahlabera, a 36 year-old prison officer in Chiredzi with insulting Mnangagwa through posting some political comments on social media.

The ZILHR says Mahlabera allegedly posted a message on micro blogging site, Twitter, which read; Come to Chiredzi my president. The ZPCS said Mahlabera posted the message following an opposition Movement for Democratic Change political party rally that was held at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka in Masvingo province, which was addressed by opposition party leader Nelson Chamisa.

ZPCS said by posting such a message on Twitter, Mahlabera showed loyalty to Chamisa and disloyalty to President Mnangagwa. The ZPCS charged that Mahlaberas conduct was disgraceful to Mnangagwa and the prison officer had no right whatsoever to act in the manner he did.

Meanwhile, Chinhoyi magistrate, Tapiwa Banda, on Wednesday set free three people by removing them from remand on charges of contravening national lockdown for allegedly taking part in an illegal gathering.

Emmanuel Chinanzvavana, Aldini Wairesi and Daniel Hove, who are opposition MDC Alliance party members and were represented by Tinomuda Shoko and Paidamoyo Saurombe of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, were arrested March 27, 2021, in Mutorashanga and charged with contravening Section 5(3)(a) of the Public Health COVID-19 Prevention, Containment, Treatment (National, Lockdown) Consolidation, Containment Amendment Order 2020.

According to the ZLHR, prosecutors alleged that Chinanzvavana, Wairesi and Hove, who are out of custody on RTGS$10 000 bail each, partook or convened an unlawful gathering of people numbering about 100 at a residential place knowing that such a gathering is prohibited.

On Wednesday, Chinanzvavana, Wairesi and Hove were removed from remand by Banda after two state witnesses Francis Kapuyanyika and Abel Mushipe, once again failed to appear in court for the trial to commence.

This resulted in warrants of arrest being issued against the two law enforcement agents.

Prosecutors were advised to proceed by issuing summons to compel the trio to return to court if they intend to proceed with prosecuting them.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden plans to lay out new steps to stem a rising national tide of violent crime, with a particular focus on gun violence, as administration officials brace for what they fear could be an especially turbulent summer.

The worry over crime is real and believed to be fueled by the pandemic, which has created economic hardship, displacement and anxiety. But there are also tricky politics at play. The spike in crime has become a Republican talking point and has been a frequent topic of conversation on conservative media.

White House aides believe that Biden, with his long legislative record on crime as a former senator, is not easy to paint as soft on the issue, and the president has been clear that he is opposed to the defund the police movement, which has been effectively used against other Democrats to paint them as anti-law enforcement. But Biden also is trying to boost progressives' efforts to reform policing. And while combating crime and reforming the police don't have to be at odds with each other, the two efforts are increasingly billed that way.

In a speech on Wednesday, Biden is to unveil a series of executive orders aimed at reducing violence, and he will renew his calls for Congress to pass gun legislation, aides said. Ahead of the speech, the Justice Department announced new strike forces aimed at tackling gun trafficking in five cities.

The White House also planned to convene a meeting Wednesday with Attorney General Merrick Garland; the Democratic mayors of Baltimore and Miami-Dade County and the Republican mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota; the Democratic attorney general of New Jersey; the police chief in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and community activists. White House staff members have also been in touch with legislators and congressional staff.

Yes, there need to be reforms of police systems across the country. The president is a firm believer in that," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday. "But there are also steps he can take as president of the United States to help address and hopefully reduce that crime. A big part of that, in his view, is putting in place gun safety measures ... using the bully pulpit but also using levers at his disposal as president.

In April, Biden announced a half-dozen executive actions on gun control, including cracking down on ghost guns, homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and that are often purchased without a background check.

There is also new federal funding from the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package directed toward municipal governments, allowing them to keep more police officers on the street. Aides said Biden would also urge a swift confirmation of his choice to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

But Biden is limited in his power to act alone. The House passed two bills requiring background checks on all firearms sales and transfers and allowing an expanded 10-day review for gun purchases. But that legislation faces strong headwinds in the Senate, where some Republican support would be needed for passage.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Tuesday that she has seen double-digit increases in murder and violent crime nationwide.

It is staggering. It is sobering, she said at a violent-crime forum held by the Washington-based Police Executive Research Forum. And its something that DOJ is committed to do all we can to reverse what are profoundly troubling trends.

Monaco said the Justice Department would launch strike forces in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to help reduce violent crime by addressing illegal gun trafficking, building on an initiative begun last month.

If the federal effort sounds familiar, it is. Federal operations have often been launched to help cities facing spiking crime. President Donald Trump announced something similar last year when he and then-Attorney General William Barr launched Operation Legend, named for a boy who was shot to death in Kansas City, Missouri. In that effort, hundreds of investigators were deployed to nine cities with rising crime, prioritizing the arrest of violent criminals.

Trump, though, laid blame for the spike in crime on protesters who demonstrated against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He claimed that Democrats were allowing crime to run amok in their cities. But despite pockets of violence in both Democratic- and Republican-run cities, the protests were mostly peaceful. A Harvard Radcliffe Institute study found there were no injuries reported in 97% of the events. Still, Republican leaders continue to echo Trump's claims.

And while crime is rising  homicides and shootings are up from the same period last year in Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Houston  violent crime overall remains lower than it was a decade ago or even five years ago. And most violent crimes plummeted during the first six months of the pandemic, as people stayed indoors and away from others.

Crime started creeping up last summer, a trend criminologists say is hard to define and is likely due to a variety of factors such as historic unemployment, fear over the virus and mass anger over stay-at-home orders. Public mass shootings have also made an alarming return.

Many of us  if not most of us  are seeing a rise in crime, while at the same time, were hearing calls for reform, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said of cities in remarks at the police forum. And some of those calls are to the extreme of dismantle and defund ... while all of the same time were sworn to protect the people.

Interest in guns, too, is on the rise. The number of people stopped from buying guns through the U.S. background check system hit an all-time high of more than 300,000 last year amid a surge of firearm sales. And several states have passed laws barring federal gun control laws from taking effect.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Erika Shields said lax gun laws and the presence of illegal guns on the streets are compounding the violence.

When everyone can have a gun, they tend to, she said. And it just leads to more illegal guns on the street.

The Justice Department recently announced a sweeping investigation into the Louisville police over the March 2020 death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death by police during a raid at her home. A similar investigation was launched into the Minneapolis police force.

The rise in violence comes against the backdrop of a national debate on policing and as a police reform bill is being crafted in Congress. Psaki on Tuesday dismissed suggestions that a presidential event focused on cracking down on crime would undermine that legislative effort.

As a senator, Biden wrote several major anti-crime packages, including a 1994 bill that contained provisions now viewed by some as an overreaction to the crime spikes in the 1980s and 1990s. Critics say those bills helped lead to mass incarceration of Black Americans, and Bidens involvement became a flashpoint in his 2020 campaign.

Biden has expressed second thoughts about some aspects of the legislation, and he has acknowledged its harmful impact on many Black Americans. But he and his allies still hold out the law's provisions to address domestic violence, ban assault weapons and finance community policing.



Lemire reported from New York.
If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

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One of Central America's most active volcanoes, Fuego in Guatemala is in near-permanent explosive eruption with intermittent phases of increasing activity that generate lava fountains, lava flows and pyroclastic flows.

A third tectonic setting where volcanism occurs is believed to be the result of mantle plumes and not directly related to plate boundaries. So called hot spot volcanoes fall into this category.

Our world-wide map continuously detects shallow earthquakes near volcanoes. These could be early signs of unrest and often precede eruptions.

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A former Sylvania High School teacher was arrested Tuesday on 24 charges related to him having sexual contact with students.

Dustin Dalton was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of distributing obscene material to a student, one charge of enticing a child under 16 for sex, one charge of school employee enticing a student for sex, five counts of school employee engaging in sex with student under 19, one count of sexual contact by forcible compulsion, two counts of sexual contact with a person less than 16 but older than 12, one charge of producing obscene matter with person under 17, and three charges of engaging in deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion.

The district attorneys office said Dalton has eight victims and engaged in a pattern and practice of child molestation over several years.

His bail has been set at $411,000 and is cash-only.

On Oct. 5, 2020, Dalton was charged with enticing a child for immoral purposes and dissemination of obscene material by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.
At least three people are dead as many as 99  including an Alabama man - are unaccounted after a 12-story residential building partially collapsed in Miami-Dade County, Florida, early Thursday, a county official told ABC News.

The collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in the small, beachside town of Surfside, about 6 miles north of Miami Beach, was reported around 1:30 a.m. A massive search and rescue operation was launched before dawn and crews are still carefully combing through the wreckage and remaining structure in hopes of finding survivors.

Gary Cohen, left, unidentified person, Brad Cohen, right (Photo courtesy of the Cohen Family to ABC News) Gary Cohen, left, unidentified person, Brad Cohen, right (Photo courtesy of the Cohen Family to ABC News)

In an interview with ABC News reporter Victor Oquendo, a woman says her husband and her brother-in-law were in the beachfront condominium when it collapsed.

Soriya Cohen identifies her brother-in-law as Gary Cohen and says hes a doctor visiting from Birmingham. Her husband, Brad, also is missing.

She says they havent been answering their phones.

She said she doesnt have any hope that they are alive.

See the full, unedited version of the interview from ABC News above.

Stay with ABC News and WAAY 31 for updates.
One husband and wife are using their real-life grief to support other families whove lost a newborn.

The couple created Rykers Rainbow in memory of their son, Ryker.

My mom gave me a book called Mommy Please Don't Cry There Are No Tears in Heaven, said Lacey Schoff, Mom of Ryker and Co-founder of Ryker's Rainbow. It's just a beautiful book about a child living in heaven.

Once Lacey Schoff read the book, she knew she wanted to share the book with other mothers.

We called Huntsville Hospital to see how we could donate these books to the families, said Lacey Schoff.

Once the idea was in motion to donate books to the hospital. Lacey and Hans published a fundraiser on Facebook. To the family's surprise, they raised $14,000.

With that money, the Schoff's knew they wanted to provide more for families experiencing child loss. Theyve donated 75 gift boxes across the Huntsville Hospital system to help families dealing with child loss.

"From just the book we added in the memory plate, so the book was the start and then the memory plate kind of came along and ever since then we kept growing it, now with the gift boxes," said Lacey Schoff.

Now, the non-profit is able to help families with medical expenses, as well as gift boxes to local hospitals.

"It helps the mama to have something to take care of herself," said Marie Burgess, Director of Labor and Delivery at Decatur Morgan Hospital. "Keep with her forever - those moments, of reading a book and seeing other people's thoughts, and the little cards they have so they can send a thank you note to someone who has donated to this, it just blew us away."

The Schoff's say they didn't start Ryker's Rainbow, their son did. They said he's hard at work in Heaven.

"It allows us to provide light in the ultimate time of darkness for families," said Lacey Schoff.

"We got a lot of support from so many people, unexpected, and a lot of love and we want to pay that forward," said Hans Schoff.

Lacey and Hans Schoff said they're always looking for financial support so that they can help more families, and no family is too far. They've helped couples across the country.

If you know someone struggling with child loss, please ask the Schoff's for help through Ryker's Rainbow.
Opening statements in a capital murder trial involving one of Madison Countys biggest mass murders begins Thursday morning.

It comes after more than a week of jury selection in Christopher Henderson's trial.

Christopher Henderson and his first wife Rhonda Carlson are accused of killing five people in August of 2015.

That includes Henderson's second wife and her unborn child.

"This case has been a long time in the process. An incredible investigation by the sheriff's department. A lot of evidence, a ton of information and to get it sifted through to get here has been a long time," said District Attorney's Office Chief Trial Attorney Tim Gann.

It's been almost six years since firefighters found 35-year-old Kristin Chambers Henderson's body in the debris of a burning house in 2015. The bodies of Henderson's mother, son, and nephew were also found.

Just before being murdered Henderson had filed for divorce and a restraining order.

During the hearing for the restraining order it was discovered that Henderson was still married to his first wife.

"He was certainly married to Kristin and was of the belief that his marriage in Michigan to the co-defendant Rhonda Carlson had been ended by divorce, but for whatever reason the paperwork had never been filed there and it was an uncontested thing so, he found himself in a position of legally having two wives or illegally," said Bruce Gardner, Henderson's defense attorney.

Hendersons first wife will be a witness for the prosecution in his trial.

Its a case thats taken almost six years to get to this point after being delayed last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

"It could've been a year earlier, but that still would've been a long time. The reason is the volume of the material. It's just incredible how much stuff there is to get through, both by the state and by us," said Gardner.

District Attorney's Office Chief Trial Attorney Tim Gann said that during his more than 30 years working in law enforcement and as a lawyer, this case has been the worse that he's seen.

"The evidence in this case, we do this all the time, we've been doing it a long time and it's like nothing I've ever seen," said Gann.

Wednesday was the final day of jury selection for the trial.

Judge Comer said they will have 12 jurors and six alternates.

Attorney Tim Gann said they chose to pick six alternates because of the nature of the case and how long the case could potentially go.

He also said that some people are not going to be able to handle the case because of how horrific it is.

On Wednesday it was their job to sift through the pool of potential jurors and select those they think will be able to sit on this case and be fair.

"We're gonna go ahead and strike this afternoon or evening. They will get notification of, of... if they've been selected and they'll show up at 9 in the morning and so we will go tonight until we're finished, however late that is, said Tim Gann.

Gann said that he anticipates the prosecution will finish their case by Monday and Henderson's defense attorney said that according to the state the trial will be finished next week.
One of the biggest stars on the planet wants to say Good Morning to North Alabama on Thursday.

Country music superstar Garth Brooks will join us LIVE on WAAY 31 News at 6:30 a.m.

Not able to be in front of a television at that time? You can watch it on our livestream HERE.

Hes talking to us about his July 31 concert at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, plus much more!

Tickets for the concert go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, but you can enter our drawing to win a pair of tickets NOW.

Click HERE to do that before the entry period closes at Noon Thursday.
Italy's lawmakers react as Vatican makes 'unprecedented' challenge to Italy's anti-homophobia bill.

Italian prime minister Mario Draghi has stressed the independence of the country's parliament after the Vatican expressed reservations about a draft law designed to combat homophobia, currently under debate in Italy.

Draghi was addressing the Italian senate in light of the Vatican's opposition to the contested bill which it fears could curb the religious freedom of the Catholic Church.

The so-called "Zan law" - named after politician and LGBTQ activist Alessandro Zan - seeks to punish acts of discrimination and incitement to violence against gay, lesbian, transgender and disabled people, as well as making misogyny a hate crime.

The bill was approved by the lower house of parliament in November but needs final approval from the senate.

The bill, which modifies an existing law punishing racist violence, hatred and discrimination, would see people convicted of such crimes facing up to four years in jail.

On 17 June the Vatican lodged a diplomatic protest against the draft law - delivered to the Italian embassy to the Holy See by Pope Francis' de facto foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher - in what the media has labelled 'interference' in Italy's affairs.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told AFP news agency the bill was "an unprecedented act in the history of relations" between Italy and the Holy See.

However Draghi, a practicing Catholic, told the senate yesterday: "Ours is a secular state, not a religious state."

The premier also underlined that Italy's legal system is designed to respect international commitments, a reference to the 1929 Lateran Treaty which established the Vatican City as a sovereign state and regulates relations between Italy and the Catholic Church.

In its letter, the Vatican argued that the draft law could violate the historic accord.

The Corriere della Sera, Italy's newspaper of record, reports that the Church has objected to Catholic schools not being exempted from a proposed national day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, to be held on 17 May.

The Vatican fears that the law as written could lead to the Church in Italy facing legal action for refusing to conduct gay marriages, for opposing adoption by homosexual couples through Catholic institutions or for refusing to teach gender theory in Catholic schools, a Vatican source told Reuters news agency.

Roberto Fico, speaker of the lower house, told state broadcaster RAI on Wednesday: "Parliament is sovereign and won't accept interference."

However Matteo Salvini, head of the right-wing Lega party which aligns itself with the Church's stance, said: "I thank the Vatican for its good sense."

In recent months the bill has faced sustained opposition from rightist parties, conservative groups and the Italian Catholic Church, with the Lega describing it as "divisive and ideological" and arguing it could hamper freedom of expression.

However Zan denies the bill would impinge on free speech, stressing that it would "criminalise hate" against LGBT people and disabled people as well as punishing misogyny.
Fewer Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market steadily recovers from the coronavirus pandemic amid a reopening economy, but a dearth of willing workers could hinder faster job growth in the near term. The economy appears to be at cruising speed more than halfway through the second quarter, with other data on Thursday showing strong growth in business spending on equipment in May. While the goods trade deficit widened last month, that was because of an increase in imports as businesses desperately try to keep up with robust demand.
Since the first prototypes, start-ups have cut costs by 99 percent and if consumers take to these products, the market could reach $25 billion by 2030, McKinsey & Co. said in a report last week. But to compete with conventional meat, costs need to be slashed even further.
The 27-nation EU has reached a preliminary deal to deepen its 2030 greenhouse-gas reduction target to at least 55% from 1990 levels and runs the worlds biggest carbon market. It also aims to become climate-neutral by mid-century under an unprecedented strategy called the Green Deal. Measures to tighten its existing climate goals that are set to drive up the price of carbon emissions within the EU are a central pillar of that strategy. The problem is whats called carbon leakage  production shifting to places with laxer climate policies to avoid those costs. The cost of pollution in Europe has doubled over the past two years to record levels, and now the EU is planning to introduce the worlds first carbon-related levy on imported steel, cement and aluminum from countries with lower environmental standards than its own. According to a draft regulation, the charge would be based on carbon costs that EU producers already face, and will also affect fertilizers and electricity.
While there are calls for more debt moratoriums, the G-20 has said it wont extend its halt on payments beyond the end of the year. Whats more, forging agreements on relief will increasingly hinge on China, which has become the worlds largest official creditor and was owed almost 60% of the bilateral debt that the poorest nations were due to repay in 2020. China says it has given relief to nearly two dozen countries, while complaining that private creditors and multilateral lenders like the World Bank havent done enough. Failure to make debt payments can close off access to capital markets, making a comeback even harder. Ethiopia, for example, has signaled that it wont ask bankers and bondholders for the same relief granted by state lenders such as Italy and France, for fear of alienating the financial community. The Paris Club, an informal group of wealthy nations that has bailed out governments for decades, has joined forces with the G-20 to rework the debt of poor countries alongside China and private creditors.
There were more than 50,000 people in New York City homeless shelters in April, down from a peak of more than 63,000 over several months in 2019, but still more than double the figure in April 2001, according to the Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit advocacy group. The vast majority of people in shelter beds, more than 80%, are Hispanic or Black, according to the city Department of Homeless Services. There were also more than 2,000 unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in New York in January 2021, according to the citys most recent point-in-time estimate.
Labor advocates worry that creating an intermediate category would make it easier for companies that currently classify workers as full employees to shove their staff into that bucket instead. Following the passage of Prop 22, the grocery giant Albertsons Cos. announced it would be replacing drivers, who were classified as employees, with gig workers, reinforcing unions fears that the contract model will spread. A proposed compromise in Connecticut to create a system of gig worker sectoral bargaining over recommended industrywide rules, without making the workers employees, took fire from some companies and labor groups. It was opposed by Uber in part because it didnt specifically designate the workers as contractors, and then was shelved after the AFL-CIO weighed in privately with concerns about how it could affect the groups nationwide advocacy. A similar proposal in New York fizzled in June after some labor advocates objected to draft language restricting strikes and pre-empting existing protections, but its sponsor says she plans to work with the critics and develop a new version.
Eighteen states allow for the removal of a governor by referendum, and the District of Columbia allows recall of its top official, the mayor. Since the start of the pandemic, 14 governors have been the targets of recall efforts, said Joshua Spivak, a senior fellow at the Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform at Wagner College, who runs a blog on recall elections. Most such efforts fail when organizers are unable to collect the required number of signatures by a certain deadline, a difficult and costly endeavor in normal times, made more challenging with the pandemic. Californias 2003 recall of Davis, a Democrat, was the first successful recall of a governor since North Dakota carried out the feat in 1921. In 2012, Wisconsin voters decided against removing their Republican governor, Scott Walker.
In the U.S., Congress is providing some $1.15 billion in funding over four years for the National Institutes of Health to support research into the long-term effects of Covid. The studies hopes to get at issues such as the underlying biological causes and how they might be treated and prevented. Some researchers are pressing governments to focus attention not only on infection and vaccination rates but on potential long-term organ damage. For example, researchers have shown the virus can infect insulin-producing pancreatic tissue, potentially triggering diabetes that in some cases persists beyond the acute infection. Thats prompted Australias Monash University and Kings College London to create a global registry for studying new onset diabetes. Some long haulers have reported feeling better after receiving a Covid vaccination, prompting researchers to examine the phenomenon and whether vaccines can offer clues to treatment. Avindra Nath, clinical director of the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, said vaccines, including for flu, have been known to help patients with chronic fatigue, but relief has almost always been temporary.
That seems to be what these people are doing, and that hiding is what gives the paintings so much of their power. In a cogent and illuminating catalogue essay, scholar Elizabeth Cropper suggests that the aloofness we detect in these paintings is, in fact, all about irony and concealment, as the subjects navigate a world of shifting values and expectations, especially about self-presentation and public image. And if some of them seem a little sad, it may well have to do with a sense of loss, as a republic was subsumed into an empire, as a settled world of Latin thought gave way to an unsettled world of vernacular language. Similar feelings have doubtless been captured in recent photographs, as Americans lament the potential loss of their republic within an epistemological shift away from truth and evidence.
Because of this, you should contact all family members, saying, We are eager for everyone to meet our new baby, but everyone coming into contact with her needs to be vaccinated against the covid virus. Please send me a photo of your vaccination card so we can add you to the invite list!
As Blacks minute expired and his microphone was cut off, many in the room cheered and applauded his statement. At that, the school board voted unanimously to halt comments and address other agenda items in a closed session. That decision sparked more anger at the board and between the factions in the building and led Loudoun Schools Superintendent Scott A. Ziegler to delare the event an unlawful assembly and direct people to leave.
At the end of the four-hour hearing, Nichols said he anticipates resolving the motions to dismiss in a written opinion or opinions that could come at any time. If Nichols allows the cases to proceed, the voluminous examples included in the lawsuits will probably be whittled down to a smaller set of critical statements. The cases could also serve as a guidepost for people who appear on TV to advocate for one side of a political debate.
Ford was arrested in May 2019, about a month after a street fight in the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria that left a man hospitalized with 13 stab wounds in his neck and back. Ford had been arguing with a friend over an apparent insult to a woman; witnesses later testified that Ford stabbed the other man repeatedly. But accounts conflicted and changed from one trial to the next, and the victim testified that he did not see who stabbed him. Attempts to reach the victim were unsuccessful.
Go anywhere in the state right now, and employers will tell you their top challenge is finding enough workers, Ricci said in an email. In fact, there are more jobs available now than ever before. . . . All of this points to the conditions of opting out of the program.
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One of McAuliffes ads featured the grown son of a man who had gotten in trouble with the law just out of high school, served his sentence and rebuilt his life but never regained the right to vote until McAuliffe reinstated it  part of his sweeping restoration of rights to 173,000 ex-felons. Two other spots highlighted McAuliffes support from leading Black legislators and mayors, some of whom praised his $2 billion-a-year plan to raise teacher pay above the national average, get every student online and expand preschool to all 3- and 4-year-olds.
The delay in accepting three debates means this story continues day after day in a way thats not favorable to the Republican nominee. Its the Virginia version of, When is Vice President Harris going to the Mexican border already?  he said, comparing Youngkins delayed response to Harriss long-awaited announcement this week that she would travel Friday to the U.S.-Mexico border, after deflecting questions for weeks about why she had not visited the area.
There is some dissonance between the public rhetoric of the administration and whats actually happening on the ground, said Laurel Miller, who served as a senior official for Afghanistan in the Obama and Trump administrations. Its well and good to say, Were standing with you, the Afghan government and the Afghan people, and we value the preservation of the gains for women and others, but theres not much the administration can say about what it would do to ensure those outcomes. That time has passed.
Retired judges John Leventhal and Barry Kamins, who are representing Giuliani in the disciplinary proceeding, issued a joint statement defending him. This is unprecedented as we believe that our client does not pose a present danger to the public interest, it says. We believe that once the issues are fully explored at a hearing Mr. Giuliani will be reinstated as a valued member of the legal profession that he has served so well in his many capacities for so many years.
Separately, FEMA said it will revise the denial letter it sends to almost 90 percent of people who apply for aid. The current letter reads, ASSISTANCE NOT APPROVED, and leaves disaster survivors with the false impression that there is nothing more they can do. The new letter will make it clearer that the rejection is not final and that applicants can still appeal. The agency expects to workshop a revised letter in focus groups this fall.
She isnt alone. While sidewalk dining has helped keep restaurants afloat over the last year and a half, it has also transformed pedestrian thoroughfares in cities around the country, narrowing pathways, cluttering concrete with cables and equipment, and clogging the flow of traffic as servers come and go. Those obstacles have introduced new challenges into the lives of many people with disabilities, making the difficulties of negotiating urban spaces that much harder. The issue demonstrates how cities too often see the needs of disabled people  who are also among the most vulnerable in the pandemic  as unimportant, while they try to make life convenient for everyone else. Even in normal times, disabled people tend to be treated as afterthoughts, but in many cities during the pandemic, their needs have simply not been factored in at all.
Attacks on the integrity of the 2020 election have persisted in this state, where local county officials are contending with demands by some residents to review ballots for possible fraud. The mounting calls by Trump supporters to revisit the election results are creating a thorny dilemma for the state Republican Party, which has sought to fend off those efforts, even as GOP officials seek changes to election law.
Adams built the bulk of his lead outside of Manhattan, the only one of the five boroughs where he was not leading Wednesday. If Wiley or Garcia is to overtake him, they will need help from the large number of outstanding absentee ballots. According to the New York City Board of Elections, more than 100,000 absentee ballots had been submitted but not yet counted, and as many as 107,549 could still be returned  as long as they are postmarked by June 22 and arrive by June 29. Adamss lead stood at just over 75,000 votes.
Israel was set to reopen its borders to vaccinated visitors on July 1, after having largely closed the country during the pandemic. It had already started allowing groups of vaccinated tourists to enter in May. All visitors will need to be tested before boarding flights to Israel and show proof of vaccination.
Even car owners who seek to display their own custom alphanumeric combination are forced to do so on the standard tag design with the In God We Trust message because paid specialty tags cannot be personalized, according to the lawsuit. Only the standard license plate can be personalized, the suit claims.
Accompanied by a heavy police presence, the group marched from the court to the Hart building, where the arrests took place while the demonstrators looked on. The action was peaceful, with protesters repeatedly drawing a contrast between their tactics and those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. When two people began shouting at a Capitol Police officer while Barber was being detained, the North Carolina pastor briefly approached them to deescalate the situation before allowing himself to be led away.
Karajah said that Banat had been threatened with arrest before by Palestinian officials but that he was motivated to keep up his criticism, in campaigns and on social media, of a government that he saw as corrupt and ineffective. Banat, 42, had been subjected to threats and an attack by gunmen with stun grenades on his house in Dura about six weeks ago, Karajah said. That assault had led Banat to sleep at his uncles house in Hebron.
Chinese companies in the Xinjiang region, where officials stand accused of a campaign of repression against Muslims, produce almost half the worlds solar-grade polysilicon that goes into panels sold in the United States and elsewhere. From its three factories in Xinjiang, Hoshine has produced MGS for at least eight of the worlds largest polysilicon makers, according to the companys public statements and annual reports. Together, analysts say, these firms account for nearly the entire supply of solar-grade polysilicon.
Bodies were still being pulled from the rubble and dozens of survivors were still arriving at regional hospitals with shrapnel and blunt trauma wounds two days after the airstrike, said a doctor in the regional capital, Mekele. The International Committee of the Red Cross called the transport of seriously injured to Mekele a matter of life and death.
Dean Thompson, acting assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, told a congressional hearing early this month that although New Delhi had taken some steps such as the release of prisoners and the restoration of 4G internet access in the region, there are other electoral steps wed like to see them take and that we have encouraged them to do and will continue to do so.
A scion of a wealthy land-owning political clan in the northern Philippines, Aquino, who was fondly called Noynoy or Pnoy by many Filipinos, built an image of an incorruptible politician who battled poverty and frowned over excesses by the countrys elites, including powerful politicians. One of his first orders that lingered throughout his presidency was to ban the use of sirens in vehicles that carried VIPs through Manilas notorious traffic jams.
Charles L. Riney, 86, of Washington, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 27, 2021, at 7:25 a.m. He was born in Washington on Nov. 3, 1934, to Thomas and Ann Marie (Smith) Riney. He loved gardening and spending time with his beloved dog. He is survived by one sister, Paul
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Its because people can experience something thats rare and becoming rarer in this world, he said. It goes beyond the famed Ningaloo wildlife encounters  its also because you can stand on the coast and youre not confronted by development. Youre more likely to see a whale than a ship. Thats worth a lot, in so many ways. You can almost see it wash away peoples stress. And when the humpbacks start arriving, as they are now, it gives a lift of the spirits. Tourism in the regions biggest employer, providing more than 1000 jobs to people like Sandy Burt. Credit:Cruise Ningaloo State-based consultants on Ningaloos original World Heritage nomination included Exmouth Gulf in the optimal boundary.

Their report detailed features of world heritage value including underwater dunes that were remnants of the Ice Age, supporting an enormous diversity of life including seagrass meadows in which dugongs foraged and migratory humpbacks rested; coral colonies; and countless sponges and snails including the highly coveted cowries, known for their polished, brightly coloured egg-shaped shells. They listed fossilised coral reefs, also from the Ice Age, and coastal waters connected to underground limestone cave systems that supported a rich diversity of subterranean animals. Under the superlative beauty criteria, the committee described continuous bush panoramas and estuarine areas in the Bay of Rest and along the east coast, grand vistas with an absence of industrial infrastructure. They pointed out strong ecological links between Ningaloo and the Gulf, in particular mangroves and other shallow-water habitats that were nurseries and foraging grounds for many species including mangrove jacks (red snapper) and shovelnose rays  a ray critically endangered globally, but whose population remains so healthy in the Coral Coast that the region was recently described as a Noahs Ark for the species.

Exmouth Gulf is considered the most diverse and intact example of its coastal ecosystem type in the Pilbara coastal bioregion, and the only one remaining that is non-industrialised. It was excluded from the area Australia ended up nominating, after several petroleum exploration and production companies with tenements in and near Exmouth Gulf expressed extreme concern about the likely impact of any World Heritage listing on their activities, concerns echoed by the peak oil and gas industry body. A humpback and her calf in Exmouth Gulf. Credit:Oceanwise The original intention to include it, however, was noted by the United Nations committee, which in its official decision even recommended the Australian government consider inclusion of the Exmouth Gulf on the grounds of the ecological links between the reef and the gulf, in particular the mangroves and other shallow habitats. Peter Garrett, the federal minister for the environment and heritage at the time Ningaloo was listed  which he calls a highlight of his political career  took time out from touring with Midnight Oil to voice support for the campaign to take this recommendation forward.

The case we took prevailed because Ningaloo is such an incredible place, he said. I know its successful World Heritage listing is a source of pride for so many Western Australians and people all around the country. It makes a lot of sense to take the World Heritage committees advice and undertake the necessary plans to prepare for Exmouth Gulf to be included as part of the Ningaloo listing too. The Exmouth Gulf vistas are beautiful for their very remoteness and lack of disturbance, the original world heritage consultative committee wrote in 2004. Credit:Blue Media The Gulf has experienced growing pressure to industrialise in recent years, with oil and gas exploration, a subsea pipeline, and a deep-water port among proposals.

The Protect Ningaloo campaign set up to fight these has echoes of an earlier campaign. The rally filled the streets in Fremantle. Credit:Roel Loopers Two decades ago, in 2000, a WA Liberal-National government and a developer made public their plans for a major resort development on the Ningaloo Coast. The Save Ningaloo campaign was formed, and public figures such as Tim Winton and Toni Collette lent their support. In 2001, Labor won a landslide election victory, partly on its promises to protect the environment. In 2002, 15,000 people marched in Fremantle to Save Ningaloo. The proposal collapsed and so began further years of effort by conservationists, governments of all persuasions, scientists and others that culminated in the June 2011 listing.

Paul Gamblin was a spokesman for Save Ningaloo in 2001 and has returned 20 years later, after working with the World Wildlife Foundation on its Australian and international oceans campaigns as director of the modern incarnation, Protect Ningaloo. He said he would always remember the sense that right had been finally done by Ningaloo in 2011; that it was gratifying to see its international brand and stature grow, cementing it as a place of profound environmental and social importance. But even as they celebrated, campaigners knew their job was unfinished. The bottom line is that if we truly value Ningaloo and its economic contribution to WA  we have to look after Exmouth Gulf too, Mr Gamblin said. If the case was solid enough a decade ago to prompt UNESCO to formally call for Exmouth Gulfs inclusion  its strengthened considerably since then.

Mr Gamblin said the past decade had made it clear that Ningaloo-Exmouth Gulfs relative health, and function as a refuge, made it increasingly important as ecosystems declined across the planet, and Australias international obligation to secure this heritage was growing. He said Ningaloos listing had led to it becoming a major eco-tourism destination. Exmouth Gulf mangroves are such vital nurseries some species reproductive systems evolved to depend on them. Credit:Blue Media A recent Deloitte report, commissioned by the WA government, found the Ningaloo and Exmouth Gulf region supported more than 1000 full-time jobs and contributed more than $110 million a year to the economy. Heritage listing  can provide confidence to people who want to invest in economic activity that is compatible with those important values, not at odds with them, Mr Gamblin said.

It can provide greater clarity and certainty for the direction of an area like Ningaloo and Exmouth Gulf. Loading The World Wildlife Foundation released a prescient statement when the heritage listing was announced. Ningaloos status among the worlds great natural wonders has been asserted, it said. But special places like Ningaloo will only survive if we are eternally vigilant.

Exmouth Gulf, in particular must be protected with no less resolve. If oil rigs stray too close, when climate change threatens, the newly-minted World Heritage-listed Ningaloo will be able to draw on a whole new wellspring of interest and support. Asked for her response to the new campaign, a spokeswoman for WA Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said Exmouth Gulf was a significant place for many West Australians. She said the Environmental Protection Authority was providing the minister with strategic advice on the area and she would consider what steps were most appropriate. As an independent authority, the EPA is best placed to provide the information and analysis needed to inform the McGowan governments decisions on any future development in Exmouth Gulf, she said. The minister expects the EPAs advice and recommendations to be finalised soon.
In the opening stages of the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial, Nicholas Owens SC, the media outlets barrister, warned the court there would be two irreconcilable versions of what happened in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012.

As he drilled on Wednesday into the version of events given by the former SAS soldier to his own barrister last week, the plot thickened at every point.

Agreed fact: Mr Roberts-Smith asked his wifes friend, Danielle Scott, a former Australia Post employee, whether stamps could be traced.

Ben Roberts-Smith arrives at the Federal Court on June 23. Credit:Photo: Rhett Wyman/SMH

Originally, the Victoria Cross recipient depicted this as an attempt to discover the origin of a letter he suspected was sent by his mistress in December 2017.
On Tuesday at about 10pm, he began showing symptoms and was tested on Wednesday, Mr Foley said. People are generally infectious - meaning they can pass the virus onto others - about 48 hours before displaying symptoms. The man was on a flight about 48 hours before feeling sick, meaning the flight is set to be a key focus of contact tracers efforts in coming days. Mr Foley said there was no suggestion the man had breached travel restrictions. He said the mans primary close contacts had been identified and were being tested. Were gathering information, and we are getting on top of this, as quickly as we can, he said.

Victorian COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said the man had not yet been contacted by NSW contact-tracing workers and it was not known if he had been vaccinated. That could be a range of reasons for that, he said. His information may not have been on that system, they may not have known he was there. We need to give everybody a bit of time to work through exactly whats happened. On Thursday afternoon the Health Department updated its list of exposure sites for the first time in more than a week. Sandringham Dry Cleaners on Bay Road in Sandringham was listed as a tier-1 location from 9am to 4pm on June 21, 10am to 3pm on June 22 and 7.30am to 5.30pm on June 23. Anyone who attended the business needs to isolate for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19.

The man was also on the 901 bus route between Melbourne Airport/Grants Road to Broadmeadows Station/Pascoe Vale Road (Broadmeadows) on June 20 between 7.42pm and 7.55pm. This is also a tier 2 site. The government added several more exposure sites late on Thursday night including shops at Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, a Woolworth in Burwood East, a convenience story in Black Rock and several train rides and train stations including Flinders Street Station. They are listed as tier-2 and tier-3 sites respectively. Authorised officers check the identification passengers arriving at Melbourne Airport on Thursday. Credit:Nine News NSW border controls tightened Mr Foley said the red-zone designation for Greater Sydney would not include Sydney Airport for transiting passengers, but passengers with connecting flights passing through Sydney would need to stay at the airport.

On Thursday night, more than 100 authorised officers were stationed at Melbourne Airport and regional airports meeting all arriving Sydney flights. Of the 18 flights that landed in Victoria to 6pm on Wednesday, almost 2000 passengers were screened and 172 red zone arrivals were recorded, the Health Department said. The police presence along Victorias border with NSW will be significantly increased in light of Victoria declaring all of Greater Sydney and Wollongong red zones from 1am on Friday. Victorias acting Premier James Merlino received his second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination on Wednesday. Credit:AAP Mr Foley said mobile vehicle patrols would be using car registration details and scanning vehicles that may have travelled to NSW. Authorised officers were checking the details of passengers arriving at Melbourne airport on Thursday afternoon. I have to stress this is not a time for selfish behaviour, Mr Foley said during Thursdays COVID-19 update, when one new Melbourne case was reported.

Anyone who puts the health and safety of the Victorian community at risk will be held to account by our authorities, and that includes substantial fines. Mr Foley said that more than 170 people had flown into Melbourne from Sydney red zones as of 6pm on Wednesday and that six of those arrivals were not Victorian residents and were blocked from entering the state. They were all placed straight back on return flights to Sydney, he said. We have their details and we will be referring them to our investigations team to determine if any enforcement action is appropriate. Mr Merlino said news of the new case from Sydney would not affect the timetable for easing restrictions.

On Wednesday, he had said officials wanted to give Victorians some certainty in the lead-up to school holidays next week. We all want to be back at birthday parties, barbecues at home, to see friends, to explore the coast, the regions, and take the kids on a trip somewhere, Mr Merlino said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Victoria had earlier recorded one new local coronavirus case overnight, a close contact of a positive case who had been quarantining throughout their infectious period. The change to restrictions in Victoria, which come into effect at 11.59pm on Thursday, will be in place for two weeks before authorities review them again.

Three new coronavirus cases were recorded in hotel quarantine in the 24 hours to midnight on Wednesday. There were 22,812 test results processed in the past 24 hours and 17,803 people received vaccine doses at state-run sites. NSW records 11 new cases of COVID-19 in the community NSW recorded 18 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday. Of those 18 cases, 13 had already been reported.

In addition, six new cases were detected overnight. This means NSW has technically recorded 11 unreported cases. Those numbers were off the back of 48,402 tests, up from Wednesdays 44,640. Although NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was facing its scariest period of transmission in the pandemic so far, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said a snap lockdown would not be necessary because the state did not have many unlinked cases or a backlog of contact tracing. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Ms Berejiklian tested negative to COVID-19 on Thursday after being deemed a casual contact of Nationals MP Adam Marshall, who tested positive to the virus on Thursday morning. She had delivered a speech at a Nationals budget dinner attended by Mr Marshall on Tuesday night but then left the function. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also returned a negative test. Some of NSWs recent local cases are in hospital but no one is in ICU.

Loading Queensland recorded three new cases of COVID-19 in the community on Thursday, and one in hotel quarantine. Meanwhile, West Australian Police Commissioner Chris Dawson and his wife have been required to self-isolate until June 30 after being caught out by the states strict border rules. The couple transited through Sydney Airport on June 15 as part of private trip after Mr Dawson attended his first in-person meeting of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission board in Canberra since November 2019. Eased restrictions in Victoria

The relaxed restrictions that come into effect at 11.59pm will mean public gatherings of up to 50 people outdoors will be permitted, and up to 15 people will be allowed to visit homes across the state. Offices will be allowed to operate at up to 75 per cent of their capacity, or with 30 people if their workplace has a total of fewer than 40 people. Restaurants and cafes can welcome up to 300 patrons for seated service indoors if they abide by a density quotient of one person per four square metres, while smaller venues can have up to 25 patrons before the density quotient applies. Public events and outdoor stadiums can operate with a 50 per cent cap on attendance up to 25,000 people. That cap will apply at events at the MCG, Marvel Stadium and AAMI Park.

Subject to satisfactory health advice, that limit will lift to 85 per cent capacity on July 1. Physical recreation and sport facilities can open with a density quotient of one person per four square metres up to 300 indoors and 1000 outdoors. Funerals can go ahead with up to 300 people, as can weddings, but dance floors will be banned. The indoor face mask mandate will remain for at least another fortnight, as will the requirement for masks to be carried at all times.

Loading We do not have the vaccine supplies that we need: Merlino Mr Merlino said he couldnt stress enough how important it was that Victorians get tested for COVID-19, as vaccine supplies diminish. He said the Therapeutic Goods Administrations provisional determination of the Moderna vaccine was a positive step forward, but there was still a long way to go. What we do know, in terms of the advice of the Commonwealth, what theyve been able to procure and supply, its going to be a mad rush at the end of the year, Mr Merlino said.

It means for Victorians in a very, very cold winter, we do not have the vaccine supplies that we need. We do not have the vaccine supplies to meet demand. Were doing the best that we can. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Its going to be lean pickings through July  were going to have 20,000 less vaccines per week in our mass vaccination hubs before it gets better in our last months of the year. Recent lockdown cost Victorian economy $1.3 billion

Loading While Victorians are looking forward to restrictions easing, Treasurer Tim Pallas revealed on Thursday morning the states recent lockdown had cost the economy $1.3 billion. The first week of the snap lockdown cost the economy $700 million, while the second week, when restrictions in regional Victoria eased, cost about $600 million. By and large, if you look at the contribution that the state made in terms of allocations, we put in about $500 million of support during that two-week period, Mr Pallas said. With David Estcourt, Broede Carmody, Mary Ward, Sumeyya Ilanbey, Daniella Miletic and Mathew Dunckley
Liberal MPs are escalating calls for stronger action on climate change to counter Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, demanding he stands up for farmers rather than defending mining and gas companies against pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Backing a goal of net zero emissions by 2050, key Liberals want the government to set the formal target as soon as possible by staring down scepticism within the Nationals about the need to act.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Queensland Liberal Warren Entsch challenged the Nationals to help farmers by making sure fossil fuel companies did their share of the work to reach net zero.

If the Nationals were really concerned about the livelihoods of farmers, perhaps they would do more to advocate for and enable the sectors autonomy  rather than going off half-cocked and running roughshod over a net zero 2050 emissions target, he said.
London: China has been accused of overseeing the deletion of crucial coronavirus data that could shine a light on the origins of the pandemic.

Scientists at Wuhan University asked for the genomic sequencing of 50 COVID cases discovered in the city early last year to be deleted from a publicly searchable American database.

The data, which has been rediscovered by an American scientist researching the origins of the pandemic, appears to show a previously missing stage in the evolution of the virus in humans. It also suggests the virus was circulating in Wuhan earlier than reported.

A medical worker attends to a patient in the intensive care unit at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in January 2020. Credit:AP

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH), which maintains the Sequence Read Archive (SRA), a giant repository of genome data, said it removed the gene sequences after a request from the team in June last year.
China has been experiencing a remarkable transformation, shedding some of the rigidities of its past and becoming better integrated into the international mainstream after joining the World Trade Organisation. It has seen urbanisation, the promise of further economic reforms, the beginnings of a legal system protecting civil rights, a middle class open to new ideas, new products and new experiences.

I was there for the elevation of Xi Jinping from vice-president to President in 2013, after he became general-secretary of the Communist Party of China in late 2012 at the 18th party congress, through to my return to Australia in late 2015. Arguably, it is in that period  and the time since then  that we have seen the most consequential change.

The outgoing secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Frances Adamson, addresses the National Press Club on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The clock has been wound back in terms of the priority accorded to ideology, quashing voices of civil society, and erecting new barriers to external connections and the free flow of information.

China speaks of a new type of international relations, as if it is a fairer way, an improvement. But underneath it is the same old power politics, the raw assertion of national interests. The implication being that Chinas size and strength make its interests more special than those of others, and that these must prevail.
Wilmington, DE (19810)

Today

A few showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. High 72F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Partly cloudy. Low near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
People who owe money for toll violations along I-95 and SR1 should soon have three extra months to settle up with the government with a reduced penalty, after the passage of a new bill in the Delaware House Wednesday afternoon.

Delaware legislators considering one-time toll fee amnesty window Delawareans with toll debts might be getting a chance to pay them off at a reduced rate.

Senate Joint Resolution 5 establishes a three-month grace period for those who may have been responsible for one--or many--of the violations that occurred along the two highways totaling more than $143.4 million in unpaid tolls, penalties, and fees.

The bill, which now heads to the governor's desk for signature, passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly.

Anyone in arrears who committed a violation between January 1, 2014, and April 30, 2020, will receive a notification of the program to settle the debt owed plus an additional amnesty fee.

The bill details that a person who fails to pay a $1 toll typically incurs the following penalties:

an administrative fee of $25;

a civil penalty of $25;

for violations that occurred after January 31, 2017, a $10 fee for the Volunteer Ambulance Company Fund

for violations that occurred after January 31, 2017, a $15 fee for the Fund to Combat Violent Crimes.

In addition, a civil penalty surcharge of $12.50 is added for each toll violation that remains unpaid after 42 days

Ultimately, a $1 debt can increase to $51 initially, and then $88.50 after 42 days. Under the new bill, the amnesty fee is applied on a sliding scale, with penalties further reduced based on the increasing number of violations one may have incurred. The bill explains:

"For example, a person with 9 toll violations can satisfy their $796.50 toll debt by paying $69.00 and a person with 496 toll violations can satisfy their $43,896.00 toll debt by paying $1,306.00."

Read the full bill here:
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Football supporters are seen with LGBT pride flags outside of the stadium before the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Germany and Hungary at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)


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Weatherford, TX (76086)

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Thunderstorms likely, especially during the morning. High 84F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Generally fair. Low near 70F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
NEW YORK (AP)  In an election night speech to supporters, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams relished his initial lead in the race to become New York City's next mayor, saying he was proud to have been many voters' first choice."

But under the city's new ranked choice election system, the ultimate winner in the Democratic primary might be the candidate who most voters pick second, third, fourth or fifth.

Hundreds of thousands of ballots cast for losing candidates are set to be redistributed to higher-ranked contenders in additional rounds of tabulation that begin next week. It remained possible for two other candidates, Maya Wiley or Kathryn Garcia, to come out on top.

Early returns show that Adams, a former police captain who also served in the New York state Senate, was the first choice of 32% of those who voted in person on Tuesday or during the early voting period, compared to 22% for Wiley and 20% for Garcia.

It was not clear Wednesday whether that lead would hold.

An undetermined number of mail-in ballots  possibly as many as 200,000  have yet to be counted.

Victory could hinge on where people who voted for losing candidates ranked Adams, Wiley or Garcia on their ballots, or whether they bothered to rank anyone at all.

There were good signs and bad signs for Adams, according to elections data analyzed by The Associated Press.

Overall, in the ballots counted so far, he was ranked on more ballots than any other candidate.

About 474,000 voters ranked him in their top five. That compares to 454,000 voters who ranked Garcia and 443,000 who ranked Wiley.

However, Garcia and Wiley both did better than Adams among the ballots that could be redistributed in the ranked choice voting system.

For example, 298,000 voters ranked Garcia second, third, fourth or fifth on their ballots. Wiley was ranked on 265,000 ballots in which she was not the top candidate, while Adams was ranked on 221,000 ballots in which he was not the top candidate.

The numbers suggest that any of the three candidates could ultimately win.

Under the version of ranked choice voting that New York City adopted in 2019, voters in primaries can rank up to five candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one.

If one candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters  which did not occur in Tuesday's mayoral primary  that person wins outright.

If nobody hits the 50% threshold, ranked choice kicks in, with vote tabulations done in computerized rounds. In each round, the candidate in last place is eliminated. Ballots cast for that person are then redistributed to the surviving candidates, based on whoever the voter ranked next on their list.

The process repeats until there are only two candidates left. The one with the most votes wins.

The final numbers in the mayoral primary likely won't be known for at least two weeks. Elections officials won't perform their first pass of ranked choice analysis until June 29.

Adams appeared confident of victory Tuesday night, telling cheering supporters, New York City said, Our first choice is Eric Adams.

But Wiley and Garcia said they will wait for every ranked vote to be counted.

Weve known all along that we have strong support in the top rankings, so were excited about the possibility here," Wiley said at a Brooklyn subway station Wednesday. "We know we can win. The voters will decide. We will wait patiently.

Garcia told supporters at her election night party Tuesday, "Its going to come down to opening up those ballots and making sure every single New Yorkers voice is heard.

The three emerged from a crowded field that also included 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who finished fourth in first-place votes of in-person voters and conceded about two hours after polls closed.

Either Adams or Wiley would be New York City's second Black mayor, and either Wiley or Garcia would be the city's first woman mayor.

Stark differences defined the three.

Adams, 60, a moderate who was a registered Republican in the late 1990s, was the co-founder of a leadership group for Black police. He promised to crack down on crime and police misconduct both.

"If Black lives really matter, it cant only be against police abuse, he said Tuesday. It has to be about the violence tearing apart our communities."

The 57-year-old Wiley, a civil rights lawyer who formerly headed a city board that investigates accusations of police misconduct, promised to cut $1 billion from the police budget and reallocate it to other city departments. Wiley framed herself as the candidate with "the courage to confront the bureaucracy, developers, and the NYPD."

Garcia, 51, a former sanitation commissioner who has also held leadership posts in several other city departments, campaigned as a pragmatist who already knew how to run the city. In case of emergency, break glass, a Garcia TV ad urged.

A victory by Wiley or Garcia would in some ways be comparable to the 2010 mayoral election in Oakland, California, in which former state lawmaker Don Perata led his closest rival, City Council Member Jean Quan, by more than 10,000 first-place votes but lost to her 51% to 49% when all the ranked votes were counted.

Quan's victory in the first Oakland election to use ranked choice voting shocked many, in part because they were unfamiliar with the system, said Rob Richie, the president of FairVote, a national organization that advocates for ranked voting.

Were still dealing with people saying, How did that possibly happen? And it actually was a very rational thing, but it sort of caught people flat-footed, Richie said.

Quan had a rocky tenure and lost her 2014 reelection bid to Libby Schaaf, but ranked choice voting has endured in Oakland, Richie noted.

They didnt repeal it, and its very solid today in its use, he said.

Many people who voted in Tuesday's New York primary did not rank all five candidates.

With nearly 800,000 votes counted, more than 100,000 didnt bother to rank a second candidate. Slightly more than half didnt rank the maximum five candidates.

___

Associated Press writer Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington contributed to this report.
Despite her decades as a beloved and awarding-winning childrens book author, Patricia Reilly Giff was almost unfailingly modest. She wasnt the kind of person who would draw attention to herself when she was out and about, said Lynne Perrigo, a childrens librarian at the Westport Library.

She was just a lovely person, Perrigo said. She would come in here to look things up and would hardly ask any questions. But she would always stop and chat. She was very inspiring and such a great author.

Giff, who lived in Weston for many years, died Tuesday at age 86. According to her publishing house, she was a Trumbull resident at the time of her death.

She wrote more than 100 books and was well-known for the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Polka Dot Private Eye Books and many others. According to a release from Penguin Random House, Giffs novels Lilys Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods are Newbery Honor Books. In addition, her books have won numerous awards and accolades from educators, parents and kids.

Locally, Perrigo and others remembered Giff as someone who loved books and cared deeply about providing the best books for young readers. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Giff received a bachelor of the arts from Marymount College and became a teacher.

Perrigo said she had heard Giff got into writing because she was disappointed in the types of books that were available to children. She told me she would wake up in the morning and write before school and write after school, Perrigo said.

The statement from Penguin Random House quoted Giff as saying that she always tried to write books that say ordinary people are special. All of my books are based in some way on my personal experiences, or the experiences of members of my family, or the stories kids would tell me in school.

According to Penguin Random House, Giff and her husband were longtime residents of Connecticut. They had three children and seven grandchildren, and were great-grandparents as well.

In addition to being a regular patron of the Westport Library, Perrigo said Giff sometimes appeared at events there, including a childrens literacy festival the library hosted in the early 2000s.

She wasnt a flamboyant person, Perrigo said. She was modest and quiet and kind.

Others who paid tribute included Turning the Page bookstore in Monroe, which posted about Giff on its Facebook page. Her stellar contributions to childrens literature will live on, but she will be so deeply missed, the post read.
WASHINGTON (AP)  With one week to go before the nationwide ban on evictions expires, the White House is acknowledging that the emergency pandemic protection will have to end at some point. The trick is devising the right sort of off-ramp to make the transition without massive social upheaval.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that the separate bans on evictions for renters and mortgage holders were always intended to be temporary.

Both will expire on June 30 unless extended. But Psaki would not say whether the administration was planning another extension. That decision, she said, lies with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which imposed the bans on the rationale that allowing people to lose their housing during a pandemic was an unacceptable public health risk.

Psaki said the decision on the moratorium will be made by the CDC, based on public health conditions.

The White House, she said, "wouldnt get ahead of their assessment"

Psaki added that President Joe Biden remains focused on ensuring that Americans who are struggling, through no fault of their own, have an off-ramp once it ends.

But even as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic gradually recedes, there remains pressure on Biden to maintain the eviction moratorium for nonmedical reasons.

This week, dozens of members of Congress wrote to Biden and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky calling for the moratorium to be not only extended but also strengthened in some ways.

The letter, spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Jimmy Gomez of California and Cori Bush of Missouri, called for an unspecified extension in order to allow the nearly $47 billion in emergency rental assistance included in the American Rescue Plan to get into the hands of tenants.

Ending the assistance too abruptly, they said, would disproportionately hurt some of the same minority communities that were hit so hard by the virus itself. They also echoed many housing advocates by calling for the moratorium's protections to be made automatic, requiring no special steps from the tenant in order to gain its protections.

The impact of the federal moratorium cannot be understated, and the need to strengthen and extend it is an urgent matter of health, racial, and economic justice, the letter said.

Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, called an extension of the eviction ban the right thing to do  morally, fiscally, politically, and as a continued public health measure.

But landlords, who have opposed the moratorium and challenged it in court, are against any extension. They have argued the focus should be on speeding up the distribution of rental assistance.

With each passing month, we are at risk of losing an ever-increasing amount of rental housing  jeopardizing the availability of safe, sustainable and affordable housing for all Americans, Bob Pinnegar, the president and CEO of the National Apartment Association, said in an email interview. "The mounting housing affordability crisis is quickly becoming a housing affordability disaster fueled by flawed eviction moratoriums, which leave renters with insurmountable debt and housing providers holding the bag."

___

Casey reported from Boston.
NEW YORK (AP)  Federal officials said Wednesday they plan to strengthen cautions about a rare side effect of some COVID-19 vaccines  chest pain and heart inflammation, mostly among teenagers and young adults.

But in an unusual joint statement, top U.S. government health officials, medical organizations, laboratory and hospital associations and others stressed the overriding benefit of the vaccines.

The facts are clear: this is an extremely rare side effect, and only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination. Importantly, for the young people who do, most cases are mild, and individuals recover often on their own or with minimal treatment, the statement said.

There does seem to be a link between the Pfizer and Moderna shots and some cases of heart inflammation, experts said at a meeting Wednesday of an outside panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinations.

The problem appears to be most common in young men after they receive their second of two doses, but it is nevertheless rare overall: There have been 323 confirmed reports of the inflammation in people younger than 30, and the vast majority recovered from their symptoms.

That risk seems to me, and to many others, to be much lower than the risk of COVID, said Dr. Brian Feingold, a University of Pittsburgh heart specialist who is not a member of the panel.

There have been nearly 2,800 COVID-19 deaths among adolescents and young adults, and more than 4,000 youths have suffered a dangerous condition called MIS-C that appears to be linked to the coronavirus. COVID-19 itself also can cause heart inflammation.

The expert panel did not vote to change its recommendation to CDC that Americans as young as 12 get the shots.

CDC officials said Wednesday that they plan to update their guidance to say that anyone who suffers the heart inflammation after one dose of the vaccine can defer a second shot. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is planning to put together a product warning that notes the risk.

One of the first Americans diagnosed with vaccine-linked heart inflammation was Sean Morrison, a scientist in Dallas. Three days after his second dose, he developed intense pain in his chest that he said felt like a heart attack.

He was hospitalized for four days as doctors investigated. They did not see any lingering effects, but they advised him avoid exercise so his heart could recover.

Morrison, a stem cell biologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, praised the vaccines as a crucial weapon in the battle against a virus that has killed about 600,000 Americans. But he also called for more research into the side effect.

___

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with California agriculture businesses that objected to a state regulation giving unions access to farm property in order to organize workers.

As a result of the ruling, the businesses' attorney said, California will have to modify or abandon the regulation put in place in 1975 after the efforts of labor leader Cesar Chavez.

The justices ruled 6-3 along ideological lines for the agriculture businesses. It's another potential setback for unions as a result of a high court decision.

"The access regulation amounts to simple appropriation of private property," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the conservative members of the court. Roberts said the regulation grants labor organizations a right to invade the growers property.

At issue was a California regulation that allows unions access to farms and other agriculture businesses for up to three hours per day, 120 days per year, in order to organize workers. Businesses are supposed to be notified before organizers arrive, and organizers are supposed to come during nonwork times such as lunch and before and after work.

Two agriculture businesses had challenged the regulation saying it had the effect of taking their property without compensation in violation of the Constitution. The businesses also said the regulation was outdated and unnecessary given that unions can now reach workers many ways, including via smartphone and radio.

Writing for the majority, Roberts rejected the suggestion that the ruling would endanger a host of state and federal government activities involving entry onto private property.

But writing for the three-justice liberal minority, Justice Stephen Breyer said the majoritys conclusion threatens to make many ordinary forms of regulation unusually complex or impractical.

Breyer wrote that he would have concluded that California's regulation did not take anything but instead regulates the employers right to exclude others.

Breyer noted the large numbers of ordinary regulations that permit the temporary entry onto a property owner's land. That includes entry for inspections ranging from food product safety like meat and dairy facility inspections to the inspections of nursing homes, preschools and foster care facilities.

I suspect that the majority has substituted a new, complex legal scheme for a comparatively simpler old one, he wrote.

The ruling is the latest hit to unions by the court under Roberts. In 2018, the courts conservative majority overturned a 41-year-old pro-union decision that had allowed states to require that public employees pay some fees to unions that represent them, even if the workers choose not to join.

Still, its unclear how much will change as a result of the court's ruling.

The access regulation in particular is unique to California. And the state had said that union organizers use the regulation sparingly  only five times in the 2019-2020 budget year and 24 times in 2018-2019. Still, the United Farmworkers of America told the justices that the regulation is more necessary now than ever. The union said farmworkers are increasingly indigenous workers from Mexico and the only effective way to communicate with them is in person at their job sites.

In court documents filed before President Joe Biden took office, the Trump administration had urged the justices to side with the businesses. The Biden administration later changed the governments position.

The case the justices ruled in involved Fowler Packing Company in Fresno, which ships grapes and citrus, and Cedar Point Nursery in Dorris, which grows strawberry plants for commercial growers.

Union organizers used Californias regulation to go on to Cedar Points property in 2015. That same year, union organizers complained Fowler Packing Company interfered with their ability to access company property for three days. That complaint was later withdrawn.

In a statement, Joshua Thompson of the Pacific Legal Foundation, who argued the case for the businesses at the high court, called the ruling a huge victory for property rights.

Todays decision affirms that one of the most fundamental aspects of property is the right to decide who can and cant access your property," he said.

The case is Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, 20-107.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  Record-high heat is forecast in the normally mild-weathered Pacific Northwest this weekend, raising concerns about wildfires and the health of people in a region where many people don't have air conditioning.

City officials in Seattle were opening libraries as cooling centers and crews were being sent to places in Oregon where the risk of wildfires was high.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch and predicted dangerously hot conditions Friday through at least Tuesday. The heat wave will cover portions of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, with temperatures rising to 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) in places, the agency said.

This will likely be an historic heat wave, the agency said. Chances are good that many long standing records will be broken."

Among those might be the record high temperature for Spokane, Washington, of 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius), set in 1921 and 1968, the Weather Service said.

AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno warned that the heat wave is arriving in an area where many people do not have air conditioning. That's especially true west of the Cascade Range, where cities such as Seattle and Portland, Oregon, typically enjoy more moderate weather.

According to the U.S. Census Bureaus American Housing Survey of 2015, only one-third of households in Seattle had air conditioning, as the average high temperature in June is 71 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Celsius). Nationally, 89% of households have air conditioning.

In Oregon, forecasters predicted record-setting weekend temperatures between 102 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit (38 and 41 degrees Celsius)  and possibly higher  in the Portland metropolitan area. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Portland was 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius), in 1965 and 1981. Cooling centers will open in the Portland area on Friday.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin this week issued guidance outlining ways for residents to stay cool as temperatures are forecast to top 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius).

Were reopening many city facilities for individuals to stay cool, but many of our citys indoor spaces remain closed or at reduced capacity, because of COVID-19, Durkan said in a statement.

She also urged residents to drink water, reduce strenuous activities and check on neighbors.

Thirteen branches of the Seattle Public Library with air conditioning will be open at some point this week, Durkans office said. The branches are still restricted to 50% capacity and masks are still required.

Communities scrambled to initiate burn bans in the Portland area and fire crews were pre-positioned in high-risk wildfire areas. The heat could exacerbate efforts to fight several fires already burning in central and southern parts of the state.

The Bonneville Power Administration, the federal agency responsible for electrical supply in the Northwest, did not expect the heat to produce rolling blackouts like those that have happened in other parts of the country during heat waves.

Were in pretty good shape, said Doug Johnson, spokesman for the Portland-based agency.

He noted the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant is back on line after a spring refueling outage. There is also plenty of water behind hydroelectric dams, such as the giant Grand Coulee Dam, to turn electric turbines, the agency said. Hydropower is a major electricity source in the Northwest.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross warned of increased wildfire risks, because of high temperatures coupled with severe drought conditions.

After back-to-back years of record-breaking wildfires, this year its more critical than ever to get ready now, said Alex Dieffenbach, head of the Northwest Region of the Red Cross. "Wildfires are dangerous and can spread quickly, giving you only minutes to evacuate.

The Red Cross suggested people create an evacuation plan, build an emergency kit with food and water and plan for dealing with their pets.

Because of the pandemic, include a mask for everyone in your household, the Red Cross said.

___

Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Ore., contributed to this report.
WESTPORT  Officials responded for a bear in the northern section of Westport on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Local police and an animal control officer went to a Highland Road residence around 2:30 p.m. on a report of a bear in the yard, according to a release from Lt. David Wolf of Westport Police.

It left and headed to another Highland Road home, where it was reported to have placed a paw on a person gardening, Wolf wrote. The man wasnt injured and the bear hadnt been aggressive, according to Wolf.

Eventually, the bear made its way to Warnock Drive, going into an unoccupied sun porch, police said. The bear was in the yard when animal control got there, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection assisted with monitoring the bears activities, Wolf wrote.

DEEP spokesperson Will Healey said in an email that EnCon Police used a standard practice hazing technique so the bear would go away.

The hazing technique they used was firing bean bags in the direction of the bear, Healey wrote. The purpose is to demonstrate to the bear that entering screened porches or homes is a negative behavior, and to keep the bear from becoming habituated to engage in those types of behaviors.

The bear  last seen going in the direction of Weston  wasnt aggressive and didnt appear to be a threat, the release said. Assistant animal control officer Peter Reid advised people shouldnt get too close to the bear to photograph or record it, according to the release.

This comes only a few weeks after there were multiple bear sightings in the northern section of town. At that time, police advised that bears are timid animals that try to avoid human contact. Food attractants, like bird feeders, garbage or pet food, can lure in hungry bears.

Grilling also can attract bears, so residents are urged to clean barbecues after each use. Residents also should keep an eye on pets and children outside if there is a bear in the area.

More bear-related tips can be found here.

Those who spot a bear in town can report it to Westport animal control by calling 203-341-5076, or to DEEP here, according to the release.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vastly overstated wildfire prevention work completed by his administration, according to a Capital Public Radio investigation released Wednesday.

State fire officials have treated less than 18 of the 140 square miles (50 of the 365 square kilometers) that the Democratic governor has touted, the radio station reported. The land is part of 35 priority projects Newsom designated in 2019 on the heels of the deadliest wildfire season in state history.

In 2020, California's fuel reduction efforts also dropped from the year before, and Newsom cut the fire prevention budget by $150 million, CapRadio reported.

The governor's office declined to comment on the investigation, and state fire officials took responsibility for Newsom sharing inaccurate information. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection had not done our job in educating the public, nor the governor's office on how to communicate about the efforts, Chief Tom Porter said.

Republican lawmakers and those challenging Newsom in an expected recall election later this year quickly jumped on the story as evidence of mismanagement and deceptive governing.

It's clear that Gov. Gavin Newsom has our state woefully unprepared for fire season," former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in a video posted on Twitter. It's time to have a governor that's going to take it seriously, not stand up and say one thing and do another."

State Assemblyman Vince Fong, the top Republican on the Assembly's budget committee, called for an oversight hearing into the radio station's findings.

Newsom took office in January 2019, months after the deadliest wildfire in state history. He spent his first full day in office committing to greater investment in wildfire prevention.

He proclaimed a state of emergency in March 2019 and directed Cal Fire to begin working on 35 projects covering 140 square miles (365 square kilometers) deemed at high wildfire risk. In January 2020, Newsom's office issued a press release saying 34 of the projects had been completed, with work including removing dead trees and creating fuel breaks. It specifically said 140 square miles (365 square kilometers) had been treated.

The unprecedented scale of the crisis requires an unprecedented response. These projects are part of Californias all-of-the-above and all-hands-on-deck approach to preventing and fighting wildfires," Newsom said in the statement.

But CapRadio's investigation found work was conducted on just 18 square miles (50 square kilometers). For one project in Mendocino County, Cal Fire provided maps showing work was done on 1 square mile (3 square kilometers) out of more than 40 square miles (105 square kilometers) initially highlighted.

The amount of land Newsom said was treated was the overall project area but not necessarily the area treated, Cal Fire spokesperson Daniel Berlant said.

Porter, the Cal Fire chief, said the state never had the environmental clearance or landowner agreements in place to treat the full land area.

Overall, the agency treated more land in 2019 than the year before. But that number fell again in 2020, partly because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Experts said California should be treating more than 1,500 square miles (4,050 square kilometers) annually, particularly as the state gets drier and hotter.

While spending on wildfire prevention dropped in 2020, Newsom says he wants to put $1.2 billion toward wildfire resiliency efforts this year.

John Cox, a Republican candidate running against Newsom, said the governor was playing politics instead of solving problems."

Newsom promised transformational attention to wildfire prevention; instead, the only thing transformed has been Californias landscape as a result of record fires," Cox said.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced Wednesday she will not seek reelection to a fourth term, the first concrete move toward shaping a 2022 election cycle expected to be dominated by the reelection bids of Gov. Ned Lamont and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Merrill, 72, intends to exit politics in January 2023 after three decades in Hartford, first as a state legislator who rose to House majority leader, then as the statewide elected official overseeing business filings and elections administration.

I like to think these jobs are borrowed jobs, said Merrill, a Democrat who seriously considered leaving the office after two terms. No one should be here forever. People come in with new ideas. Ive been in for three terms, almost.

Unlike in 2018, when Merrill and Comptroller Kevin Lembo were the only statewide constitutional officers seeking reelection, the governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer and attorney general are first-termers and are expected to run again. Lembo has not ruled out a fourth term.

I wanted to give people who want to run for this office a chance to get their election [campaign] going and started, Merrill said. I didnt see the point of dragging it on through the summer if I already knew what was going to happen.

Merrills tenure covers one of the most volatile eras in American elections, with public confidence shaken by Russian interference and cyber threats in 2016 and President Donald Trumps baseless insistence that the 2020 presidential election was rife with fraud.

In Connecticut, a state with some of the most restrictive laws pertaining to absentee voting, Merrill was the face of an aggressive campaign to convince the governor and legislature to temporarily loosen the rules during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Lamont and lawmakers responded with an executive order and legislation allowing any voter concerned about going to the polls during the pandemic to cast an absentee ballot, leading to unprecedented levels of absentee voting and, overall, high turnout.

Our election in 2020 was a resounding success  more people voting, more voter turnout, more people registering to vote, and more easily than ever before in the history of the state, Merrill said. But it also exposed the inflexibility of our system.

The Connecticut Constitution bars early voting and restricts absentee voting, something Merrill still hopes to change  at least on early voting.

Voters will be asked in 2022 to vote on a constitutional amendment allowing early voting. But Republican opposition delayed a second question until at least 2024 on whether to allow lawmakers to authorize no-excuse absentee voting.

Merrills performance in 2020 drew sharp criticism, especially from Republicans, over her decision to make a mass mailing of absentee ballot applications  though not the actual ballots, as some wrongly complained  to every voter on the rolls.

The mailing exposed inaccuracies in the voter lists maintained by local registrars.

About 100,000 of the 1.2 million absentee ballot applications mailed to Democrats and Republicans for an August primary were returned as undeliverable.

The 8 percent return rate was well below what the U.S. Election Assistance Commission says is typical of elections mailings  an average of 15 percent. Some voters conflated the misaddressed applications with ballots, prompting concerns about ballot security.

Merrill said she hopes to play a role in restoring voter confidence.

Healing, our country will take Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters all working together. And I look forward to playing a part in that process, she said. I also look forward to continuing to encourage more women to get involved in politics, as I have all my career.

No one has filed either campaign or exploratory campaign papers for the office.

Four years ago, Matt Lesser, then a state representative, not in the state Senate, opened an exploratory campaign for secretary of the state in the expectation that Merrill would not run. Instead, Merrill announced in August 2018 she would, indeed, be a candidate for reelection.

Connecticut has a highly accessible system for voter registration, with election-day registration and automatic registration offered through the Department of Motor Vehicles. But the voting infrastructure is facing the need for a major upgrade.

Votes are cast on paper ballots, tabulated by optical scanners now approaching the end of their useful life.

Connecticuts elections essentially are local undertakings, guided by state law and the secretary of the state. Once inclined to seek a greater degree of centralization in elections administration, Merrill said now is not the time to minimize the local role.

At this point, where theres so much concern nationally about how elections are administered, I think its probably the wrong time to make too many changes, she said. We have to maintain the trust of the public in our elections.

Having registrars of voters in 169 cities and towns might be inefficient but is not without value, Merrill said.

I think it preserves confidence at the local level, that theres still somebody you can talk to there about your elections, she said. And its from both parties.
At stop lights or freeway on and off ramps, youve probably seen people holding signs and asking for money. It can be tempting to hand over your spare change, but next time you may want to think twice.
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UK says it would sail into Crimean waters again as Russia warns it has right to 'bomb on target'
Mark Rylance has continued to tease his return to the role of Rooster Byron in Jerusalem.

Speaking as part of Bristol Old Vic's season announcement today, Rylance said: "Theatre happens in the hearts and minds and souls of the people watching itthe revival of theatre needs to follow where the audiences are.

"That may be here in Bristol where we will tell the story of Dr Semmelweiss (as announced here), or in London where I will be bringing Rooster back to life in Jerusalem very soon."

Complete details regarding Jerusalem are still to be revealed, with the show initially teased early last year.

Jez Butterworth's award-winning play, following a caravan-dwelling vagabond Johnny "Rooster" Byron, originally opened at the Royal Court in the summer of 2009 before transferring to the West End in 2010. It returned in 2011 and was also performed on Broadway.

Rylance won Tony and Olivier Awards for his turn as Byron in the original production.
Leaders of Indigenous groups in Canada say investigators have found more than 600 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school for Indigenous children  a discovery that follows last months report of 215 bodies found at another school
One of four men convicted and later cleared of the 1994 rape and murder of a Chicago woman has been shot to death
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Microsoft has unveiled the next generation of its Windows software, called Windows 11, that has sleeker visual features and is more open to third-party apps.

The newest version of Microsoft's flagship operating system announced Thursday will be a successor to today's Windows 10, which the company introduced in 2015.

In a challenge to rival Apple, the company also announced that it won't force app developers to pay fees to Microsoft for using its app store; and that Google's popular Android apps will run on its new system.

Windows 11 is expected to become available later this year on new computers and other devices and as a free update for those with Windows 10. It includes a host of cosmetic upgrades, such as a new Start button, a revamped task bar and sounds, and under-the-hood features designed to boost speed and efficiency.

While opening more doors to third-party developers, it also further entrenches Microsoft's workplace chatting tool Teams by making it easier to contact people when starting up.

Forrester analyst J.P. Gownder said the aesthetic, user-friendly improvements reflect CEO Satya Nadella's promise to build products that people will love, not tolerate, though Gownder questioned whether Windows 11 is truly a new generation of software. The fact that it is built on the same core code base as Windows 10 might actually be a good thing, he added, because it could avoid the technical glitches that plagued the release of Windows Vista in 2007.

Microsoft's virtual announcement event was itself affected by technical difficulties Thursday, forcing the company to recommend some viewers watch it on Twitter instead.

When it launched Windows 10 six years ago, Microsoft was hoping that the new operating system would help it rebuild loyalty among users who were increasingly relying on tablets, smartphones and other devices.

Windows has been a PC workhorse for decades. Its first version launched in 1985, offering computer novices a graphical user interface so they could click on icons and menus with a mouse button rather than simply type commands into a blank screen.

It's been a core part of Microsoft's business ever since, though its influence waned as PC sales declined with the rise of smartphones.

Microsoft said it would allow developers to bypass the payments system in its app store if they have their own commerce engine.

That could create problems for Apple, which has faced government scrutiny over its app store and a legal battle from Epic, the maker of the popular Fortnite game, which contends Apple has been gouging app makers by charging commissions ranging from 15% to 30% for in-app transactions because it forbids other options on its iPhone, iPad and iPod.

I believe this will be problematic for Apple in its antitrust dealings, said tech analyst Patrick Moorhead. Apple charging 30% in its store and Microsoft charging 0% and 15% if you use its commerce engine. Global antitrust units are currently scrutinizing Apple on this very point.

Moorhead said the easier access to third-party apps, combined with the better user interface promised with Windows 11, could help Microsoft get a stronger hold in the premium tablet market, now dominated by the iPad.
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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticized the Central African Republics security and allied forces in a new report for an unprecedented increase in hostile threats and incidents targeting U.N. peacekeepers and alleged human rights abuses.

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly criticized the Central African Republics security and allied forces in a new report for an unprecedented increase in hostile threats and incidents targeting U.N. peacekeepers and alleged human rights abuses.

His 37-page report to the U.N. Security Council obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press said people in the country continue to face an unacceptably high level of violence.

He called on President Faustin Archange Touadera to place peace and reconciliation at the heart of his second term and seize the opportunity to address the root causes of the conflict.

The mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013.

A peace deal between the government and 14 rebel groups was signed in February 2019, but violence blamed on the countrys former president, Francois Bozize, and his allies threatens to nullify the agreement. It erupted after the constitutional court rejected Bozizes candidacy to run for president in December.

Touadera won re-election in late December to a second term with 53% of the vote, but he continues to face opposition from forces linked to Bozize.

Last week, the U.N. Security Council strongly condemned violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the country and warned that attacks on U.N. peacekeepers there may constitute war crimes.

At that contentious council meeting, U.S. political coordinator Rodney Hunter expressed outrage at reports that Russian military instructors led military offensives in the country characterized by confrontations with U.N. peacekeepers, threats against U.N. personnel, violations of international humanitarian law, extensive sexual violence, and widespread looting, including of humanitarian organizations.

Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Anna Evstigneeva, accused the U.S. of making baseless allegations and said the U.S. action, coupled with a campaign in some media, constitutes a coordinated action aimed at besmirching our effective ... assistance to stabilization in the CAR.

Russia and Rwanda have troops in CAR, at the invitation of the government, that have battled rebels. The secretary-generals report makes repeated references to national security forces and bilaterally deployed and other security personnel including in referring to attacks on peacekeepers, without singling out any bilateral country,.

Guterres said the security situation in CAR remains fragile, particularly in the west, northwest and center of the country, due to continued clashes between armed groups ... and national defense forces assisted by bilaterally deployed and other security personnel, resulting in loss of lives and displacement.

The report gave details on clashes leading to a May 30 border incident that has heightened tensions between the Central African Republic and Chad.

Chads defense ministry said troops from CAR attacked a Chadian border post, killing one soldier and kidnapping and then executing five others. Russias RIA Novosti news agency reported three Russian military instructors, part of the mission to support the CAR military, were also killed during the operation by a mine explosion.

The secretary-general said there were clashes on May 25 in ex-president Bozizes stronghold in northwest Ouham prefecture between government and allied forces and other security personnel and elements from the CPC and 3R armed groups that support Bozize. The clashes led people to flee toward nearby Chad and Cameroon.

On May 28, in Bang, which is close to the Chad and Cameroon borders, national defense forces reportedly arrested and tortured approximately 20 civilians from the Muslim community, including five women, based on their perceived association with 3R combatants, the report said.

Two days later, on May 30, 3R elements reportedly crossed the border into Chad following clashes near Bang, the U.N. chief said. National defense forces and bilaterally deployed and other security personnel reportedly followed in pursuit, resulting in clashes with Chadian forces and casualties on both sides.

Guterres said government and allied forces obstructed U.N. access in Bang on May 30, and sporadic gunfire in the border area continued on subsequent days.

According to the U.N. chief, between Feb. 1 and June 1, the human rights situation in CAR, deteriorated significantly and 152 security incidents involving U.N. personnel were recorded including 12 hostile attacks, nine arrests, and 16 cases of road harassment by national defense forces.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission known as MINUSCA documented 344 violations of human rights and international humanitarian law affecting 628 victims and causing 82 conflict-related deaths during that period, the report said.

MINUSCA documented 140 incidents perpetrated by national and bilaterally deployed and other security personnel, affecting 249 victims, representing an increase of 278.4% and 289%, respectively, compared to the previous period, the report said.

Guterres said the formation of a new and inclusive government in CAR will be critical and he urged the president to ensure that a dialogue being prepared includes armed groups that have renounced violence, civil society, women, youth and religious leaders from all over the country -- an to allow legitimate grievances to be heard and acted upon.
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  A beachfront condo building partially collapsed Thursday outside Miami, killing at least one person and trapping others in the tower that resembled a giant fractured dollhouse, with one side sheared away. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers kept up a desperate search for more.

A partial collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside area of Miami, Fla. A partial building collapse in Miami caused a massive response early Thursday from Miami Dade Fire Rescue, according to a tweet from the department's account. Miami Dade Fire Rescue is conducting search and rescue. Authorities had no word yet on casualties, or details of how many people lived in the building. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  A beachfront condo building partially collapsed Thursday outside Miami, killing at least one person and trapping others in the tower that resembled a giant fractured dollhouse, with one side sheared away. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers kept up a desperate search for more.

A wing of the 12-story building in the community of Surfside came down with a roar around 1:30 a.m. By late evening, nearly 100 people were still unaccounted for, authorities said, raising fears that the death toll could climb sharply. Officials did not know how many were in the tower when it fell.

The building is literally pancaked, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said. That is heartbreaking because it doesnt mean, to me, that we are going to be as successful as we wanted to be in finding people alive.

Hours after the collapse, searchers were trying to reach a trapped child whose parents were believed to be dead. In another case, rescuers saved a mother and child, but the womans leg had to be amputated to remove her from the rubble, Frank Rollason, director of Miami-Dade emergency management, told the Miami Herald.

Video showed fire crews removing a boy from the wreckage, but it was not clear whether he was the same person mentioned by Rollason. Teams were trying to enter the building from a parking garage beneath the structure.

A firefighter shines a flashlight at far left as they search a building after a partial collapse, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. A partial building collapse in Miami caused a massive response early Thursday from Miami Dade Fire Rescue, according to a tweet from the department's account. Miami Dade Fire Rescue is conducting search and rescue. Authorities had no word yet on casualties, or details of how many people lived in the building. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who toured the scene, said television did not capture the scale of what happened.

Rescue crews are "doing everything they can to save lives. That is ongoing, and theyre not going to rest, he said.

Teams of 10 to 12 rescuers at a time entered the rubble with dogs and other equipment, working until they grew tired from the heavy lifting, then making way for a new team, said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, the states fire marshal.

Household items and debris dangle from a partially collapsed multistory beachfront condo, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Theyre not going to stop just because of nightfall, Patronis told Miami television station WPLG. They just may have a different path they pursue.

Patronis said he was deeply moved by the image of a bunk bed near the now-exposed top of the building.

Somebody was probably sleeping in it, he said. Theres all those what-ifs.

People wait for information after a partial building collapse, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Authorities did not say what may have caused the collapse. On video footage captured from nearby, the center of the building appeared to fall first, with a section nearest the ocean teetering and coming down seconds later as a huge dust cloud swallowed the neighborhood.

Work was being done on the buildings roof, but Burkett said he did not see how that could have been the cause.

President Joe Biden promised to provide federal aid if requested.

People look at the damage at the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo that collapsed early Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla.

Hotels opened to some displaced residents, the mayor said, and deliveries of food, medicine and more were being hastily arranged.

About half of the building's roughly 130 units were affected, the mayor told a news conference. Rescuers pulled at least 35 people from the rubble by mid-morning, and heavy equipment was being brought in to help stabilize the structure to provide more access, Raide Jadallah of Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue said.

The tower has a mix of seasonal and year-round residents, and while the building keeps a log of guests, it does not keep track of when owners are in residence, Burkett said.

Items and debris dangle from a section of the oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo that partially collapsed Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. (Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Fortuna Smukler posted about the disaster on Facebook, hoping that someone would know the whereabouts of Myriam Caspi Notkin and Arnie Notkin, an elderly couple who lived on the third floor.

Arnie Notkin spent years teaching physical education at a local elementary school, said Smukler, a North Miami Beach commissioner who is friends with Myriam Notkins daughters.

He was such a well-liked P.E. teacher from peoples past, she said. Everyones been posting, Oh my god, he was my coach.

This aerial photo shows part of the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo that collapsed early Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. (Amy Beth Bennett /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

It would be a miracle if theyre found alive, she added.

Nicholas Fernandez spent hours after the collapse trying to call two friends who were staying in the building with their young daughter. The family had come to the United States to avoid the COVID-19 outbreak in their home country of Argentina, said Fernandez, of Miami.

The hope is that, perhaps, someone hears the call. I know there are dogs inside, he said. I know it may sound ridiculous what Im saying but theres always hope until we hear different.

Household items and debris dangle from Champlain Towers South Condo after the multistory building partially collapsed Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)

A total of 22 South Americans were missing in the collapse  nine from Argentina, six from Paraguay, four from Venezuela and three from Uruguay, according to officials in those countries.

The collapse, which appeared to affect one leg of the L-shaped tower, tore away walls and ripped open some homes in the still-standing part of the building. Television footage showed beds, tables and chairs inside. Air conditioners hung from some parts of the building, where wires dangled.

Barry Cohen, 63, said he and his wife were asleep in the building when he first heard what he thought was a crack of thunder. The couple went onto their balcony, then opened the door to the building's hallway to find a pile of rubble and dust and smoke billowing around.

Jennifer Carr, right, sits with her daughter as they wait for news at a family reunification center, after a wing of a 12-story beachfront condo building collapsed, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami. Carr and her family were evacuated from a nearby building. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

I couldnt walk out past my doorway, said Cohen, the former vice mayor of Surfside.

Surfside City Commissioner Eliana Salzhauer told WPLG that the buildings county-mandated 40-year recertification process was ongoing. Salzhauer said the process was believed to be proceeding without difficulty. A building inspector was on-site Wednesday.

I want to know why this happened, Salzhauer said. Thats really the only question. ... And can it happen again? Are any other of our buildings in town in jeopardy?

The seaside condo development was built in 1981. It had a few two-bedroom units on the market, with asking prices of $600,000 to $700,000. The area's neighborhood feel offers a stark contrast to the glitz and bustle of nearby South Beach.

The area has a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists. The main oceanside drag is lined with glass-sided, luxury condominium buildings, but more modest houses are on the inland side. Among the neighborhoods residents are snowbirds, Russian immigrants and Orthodox Jewish families.

Associated Press writers Tim Reynolds and Ian Mader in Miami; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Bobby Caina Calvan in Tallahassee; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; and R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who werent vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day  now down to under 300  could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

Karen McKnight stands in her backyard on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Sammamish, Wash., holding two books written by her brother Ross Bagne of Cheyenne, Wyo. Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the United States now are in people who werent vaccinated like Bagne, a staggering demonstration of how effective the vaccines have been (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who werent vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day  now down to under 300  could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 107,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Thats about 1.1%.

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

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

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

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

Karen McKnight stands in her backyard on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Sammamish, Wash., holding two books written by her brother Ross Bagne of Cheyenne, Wyo. Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the United States now are in people who werent vaccinated like Bagne, a staggering demonstration of how effective the vaccines have been (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Earlier this month, Andy Slavitt, a former adviser to the Biden administration on COVID-19, suggested that 98% to 99% of the Americans dying of the coronavirus are unvaccinated.

And CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday that the vaccine is so effective that "nearly every death, especially among adults, due to COVID-19, is, at this point, entirely preventable. She called such deaths particularly tragic.

Deaths in the U.S. have plummeted from a peak of more than 3,400 day on average in mid-January, one month into the vaccination drive.

About 63% of all vaccine-eligible Americans  those 12 and older  have received at least one dose, and 53% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. While vaccine remains scarce in much of the world, the U.S. supply is so abundant and demand has slumped so dramatically that shots sit unused.

Ross Bagne, a 68-year-old small-business owner in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was eligible for the vaccine in early February but didn't get it. He died June 4, infected and unvaccinated, after spending more than three weeks in the hospital, his lungs filling with fluid. He was unable to swallow because of a stroke.

He never went out, so he didnt think he would catch it, said his grieving sister, Karen McKnight. She wondered: Why take the risk of not getting vaccinated?

The preventable deaths will continue, experts predict, with unvaccinated pockets of the nation experiencing outbreaks in the fall and winter. Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said modeling suggests the nation will hit 1,000 deaths per day again next year.

Karen McKnight stands in her backyard on Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Sammamish, Wash., holding two books written by her brother Ross Bagne of Cheyenne, Wyo. Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the United States now are in people who werent vaccinated like Bagne, a staggering demonstration of how effective the vaccines have been (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

In Arkansas, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation, with only about 33% of the population fully protected, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are rising.

It is sad to see someone go to the hospital or die when it can be prevented," Gov. Asa Hutchinson tweeted as he urged people to get their shots.

In Seattle's King County, the public health department found only three deaths during a recent 60-day period in people who were fully vaccinated. The rest, some 95% of 62 deaths, had had no vaccine or just one shot.

Those are all somebodys parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, said Dr. Mark Del Beccaro, who helps lead a vaccination outreach program in King County. Its still a lot of deaths, and theyre preventable deaths.

In the St. Louis area, more than 90% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated, said Dr. Alex Garza, a hospital administrator who directs a metropolitan-area task force on the outbreak.

The majority of them express some regret for not being vaccinated, Garza said. Thats a pretty common refrain that were hearing from patients with COVID.

The stories of unvaccinated people dying may convince some people they should get the shots, but young adults  the group least likely to be vaccinated  may be motivated more by a desire to protect their loved ones, said David Michaels, an epidemiologist at George Washington University's school of public health in the nation's capital.

Others need paid time off to get the shots and deal with any side effects, Michaels said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration this month began requiring health care employers, including hospitals and nursing homes, to provide such time off. But Michaels, who headed OSHA under President Barack Obama, said the agency should have gone further and applied the rule to meat and poultry plants and other food operations as well as other places with workers at risk.

Bagne, who lived alone, ran a business helping people incorporate their companies in Wyoming for the tax advantages. He was winding down the business, planning to retire, when he got sick, emailing his sister in April about an illness that had left him dizzy and disoriented.

Whatever it was. That bug took a LOT out of me, he wrote.

As his health deteriorated, a neighbor finally persuaded him to go to the hospital.

Why was the messaging in his state so unclear that he didnt understand the importance of the vaccine? He was a very bright guy," his sister said. I wish hed gotten the vaccine, and Im sad he didnt understand how it could prevent him from getting COVID."

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

This story was first published on June 24, 2021. It was updated on June 29, 2021, to correct the number of hospital admissions to more than 107,000, not 853,000, and the percentage of hospitalized people who been vaccinated to 1.1%, not 0.1%.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  San Francisco city workers will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus when a vaccine receives full federal approval.

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2021 file photo a sign is displayed at a COVID-19 vaccine site in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco. San Francisco city workers will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus when a vaccine receives full federal approval. The policy covering 35,000 municipal workers may be the first by any city or county in the U.S., the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday, June 23. (AP Photo/Haven Daley,File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  San Francisco city workers will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus when a vaccine receives full federal approval.

The policy covering 35,000 municipal workers may be the first by any city or county in the U.S. Employees who refuse to get vaccinated and dont get an exemption could be fired, according to the policy posted to the city governments website Wednesday.

The three COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the U.S. are being dispensed under emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration.

They are expected to receive full approval in several months. San Francisco city employees will then have 10 weeks to get their shots.

San Francisco, a compact city of nearly 900,000 residents, has had some of the strictest pandemic-related restrictions in the country. The city was among the first in the nation to order a lockdown last year and its vaccination rates are some of the highest in the nation. At least 80% of residents are partially vaccinated and 70% of those 12 and older are fully vaccinated, according to Mayor London Breed.

The vaccination policy for city employees covers a wide range of jobs but it does not include teachers, who are school district employees.

Its really a decision for the health and safety of our employees and our public that we serve, Carol Isen, San Francisco director of human resources, told the San Francisco Chronicle. Its about protecting the city as an employer from what we deem to be unacceptable risk.

Starting Monday, employees will have 30 days to report to the city their current vaccination status, including showing proof of vaccination by uploading a photo of their vaccination card or the QR code generated by the states digital verification system, Isen said.

Isen did not return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment Thursday.

Under California law, employers can require their staff to get vaccinated as long as that requirement doesn't interfere with the employees' rights, said Leonard H. Sansanowicz, a Los Angeles employment attorney.

Youve got this inherent tension between an employees right to privacy, and right to freedom over their bodies, and the employers need for safety in the workplace, Sansanowicz said.

The Department of Fair Employment and Housing issued guidelines in March that set forth the rationale for employers to mandate staff get vaccinated and that included requiring employers to accommodate those city workers who won't get a vaccine due to religious beliefs or medical reasons, he said.

Los Angeles County, which employs about 110,000 people, is not currently considering mandating employees get a vaccine, said Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

That doesnt mean that there arent going to be some places where there may be a need earlier on to in fact think about increasing vaccination coverage, she said.

Ferrer said some high-risk settings in the county, including hospitals and nursing homes, are already requiring their employees to be vaccinated.

In San Francisco, about 55% of city employees have said they are at least partially vaccinated, according to the Department of Human Resources. About 5% of employees have said they are not vaccinated. The vaccination status of the remaining 40% is not known.

SEIU 1021, the union that represents city employees, called on the city to have an inclusive and collaborative approach when enforcing the new policy.

There are numerous cultural, religious, and health status factors that must be considered as we implement vaccination policies, said SEIU 1021 San Francisco Regional Vice President Theresa Rutherford. We can not force the front-line essential workers who have put themselves out there and risked their lives during the pandemic in a position to be worried about providing for their families or having their jobs or livelihood threatened.

The city is the second-largest employer in San Francisco after the University of California, San Francisco. Earlier this month, the University of California reversed course said it will require all students, staff and faculty to be vaccinated against the coronavirus this fall.

UC has more than 280,000 students and 227,000 faculty and staff, and expects to return to mostly in-person instruction at its 10 campuses starting in August.

Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, told the Chronicle protecting the workforce was especially important with the highly infectious delta variant gaining traction across the United States.

Given that the delta variant is here and likely to increase in terms of its prevalence across the city, we need to do everything we can to protect our city workforce and the public we serve, especially as the city reopens, Colfax said.
Europe is opening up to Americans and other visitors after more than a year of COVID-induced restrictions. But travelers will need patience to figure out whos allowed into which country, how and when.

Europe is opening up to Americans and other visitors after more than a year of COVID-induced restrictions. But travelers will need patience to figure out whos allowed into which country, how and when.

Meanwhile, the welcoming mood isnt always mutual. U.S. borders, for example, remain largely closed to non-Americans.

Heres a look at current entry rules in some popular European tourist destinations. One caveat: While these are the regulations as written by governments, travelers may meet hiccups as airlines or railway officials try to make sense of them.

FRANCE

If youre vaccinated, come to France. But only if you got one of the four EU-approved vaccines: Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. That works for Americans  as long as they can produce official proof of vaccination  but not for large swaths of the world like China and Russia where other vaccines are used.

Frances borders are officially reopened. Vaccinated visitors from outside Europe and a few green countries will still be asked for a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours, or a negative antigen test of no more than 48 hours. Unvaccinated children will be allowed in with vaccinated adults, but will have to show a negative test from age 11.

Tourists are banned from 16 countries on a red list that includes India, South Africa and Brazil.

Non-vaccinated visitors from orange list countries  including the U.S. and Britain  cant come for tourism either, only for specific, imperative reasons.

ITALY

Italy is now allowing tourists from the United States, Canada and Japan to enter if they meet the prerequisites for a European Union travel certificate. Those include full vaccination, documented recovery from COVID-19 in the last six months or a negative swab test performed 48 hours before arrival in Italy.

U.S. travelers had already been allowed to enter for the past few weeks if they flew on COVID-tested flights, which require a negative swab test within 48 hours before boarding.

Alitalia and at least two U.S. airlines have been operating those flights, which also require an additional swab test for passengers at the airport where they disembark in Italy. Those passengers, under a U.S.-Italy agreement, dont have to quarantine either in Italy or in the United States upon their return. But so far it appears very few U.S. tourists have been coming to Italy.

Demonstrating how fast things can change, Italy had been welcoming tourists from Britain with no quarantines, but as of Monday they must quarantine for five days upon arrival. That reflects growing concern in Italy about the delta variant of COVID-19 in Britain.

Tourists who are flying from or have been in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the past 14 days are banned.

GREECE

Tourism-reliant Greece started opening to American travelers back in April, and now visitors from China, Britain and more than 20 other countries are also allowed to visit for nonessential travel.

All must provide a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test and fill in a passenger locator form on their plans in Greece. This directive expires on June 14, but could be extended.

Athens long pressed for a common EU approach, but didnt wait for one to materialize. On June 1, Greece, Germany and five other bloc members introduced a COVID certificate system for travelers, weeks ahead of the July 1 rollout of the program across the 27-nation bloc.

SPAIN

Spain kicked off its summer tourism season by welcoming vaccinated visitors from the U.S. and most countries, as well as European visitors who can prove they are not infected.

Americans and most other non-Europeans need an official vaccine certificate by a health authority. Spain accepts those who were inoculated with the four EU-approved vaccines as well two Chinese vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization  as long as visitors are fully vaccinated at least two weeks before the trip.

Arrivals from Brazil, South Africa and India are banned at the moment because of high infection rates there, and non-vaccinated Americans and many other non-EU nationalities cannot come to Spain for tourism for now.

But there are exemptions for countries considered at low risk, such as citizens from Britain, who can arrive without any health documents at all. EU citizens need to provide proof of vaccination, a certificate showing they recently recovered from COVID-19, or a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival.

BRITAIN

There are few, if any, American tourists in the U.K. at present. Britain has a traffic-light system for assessing countries by risk, and the U.S. along with most European nations is on the amber list, meaning everyone arriving has to self-isolate at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days.

People arriving from red list countries including India and Brazil must quarantine in a government-approved hotel.

Airlines and airport operators are pushing for European tourism destinations to be added to Britains short green list of quarantine-free destinations, and to open a U.K.-U.S. travel corridor, but the British government is being cautious amid the spread of the more contagious delta variant of the virus.

Meanwhile, anyone traveling between Britain and continental Europe, be warned: In addition to the isolation requirement for those arriving or returning to U.K. shores, rising concern about the delta variant of the virus has prompted some other countries to introduce special restrictions for those arriving from Britain.

EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union has recommended that its 27 member countries start lifting restrictions on tourists from the United States, along with a handful of other countries including North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Lebanon and Taiwan.

But the recommendation is non-binding, and national governments have authority to require test results or vaccination records and to set other entry conditions.

The EU has been working for months on a joint digital travel certificate for those vaccinated, freshly tested, or recently recovered from the virus.

The free certificates, which will contain a QR code with advanced security features, will allow people to move between European countries without having to quarantine or undergo extra coronavirus tests upon arrival.

Several EU countries have already begun using the system, including Spain, Germany, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Poland. The rest are expected to start using it July 1.

Its mainly meant for EU citizens but Americans and others can obtain the certificate too  if they can convince authorities in an EU country theyre entering that they qualify for one. And the lack of an official U.S. vaccination certification system may complicate matters.

Associated Press reporters around Europe contributed.

Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
An FBI agent applied for a federal warrant in 2018 to seize a fabled cache of U.S. government gold he said was stolen during the Civil War and hidden in a Pennsylvania cave, saying the state might take the gold for itself if the feds asked for permission, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.

FILE - This Sept. 20, 2018, file photo, Dennis Parada, right, and his son Kem Parada stand at the site of the FBI's dig for Civil War-era gold in Dents Run, Pa. Court documents unsealed Thursday, June 24, 2021, show that an FBI agent applied for a federal warrant in 2018 to seize a cache of gold that he said had been "stolen during the Civil War" while en route to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The Paradas, co-owners of the treasure-hunting outfit Finders Keepers, have said they believe the FBI found gold at the site and have pursued legal action to get more information. (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam, File)

An FBI agent applied for a federal warrant in 2018 to seize a fabled cache of U.S. government gold he said was stolen during the Civil War and hidden in a Pennsylvania cave, saying the state might take the gold for itself if the feds asked for permission, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.

The newly unsealed affidavit confirms previous reporting by The Associated Press that the government had been looking for a legendary cache of gold at the site, which federal authorities had long refused to confirm. In any case, the FBI said, the dig came up empty.

The AP and The Philadelphia Inquirer petitioned a federal judge to unseal the case. Federal prosecutors did not oppose the request, and the judge agreed, paving the way for Thursdays release of documents.

"I have probable cause to believe that a significant cache of gold is secreted in the underground cave" in Dents Run, holding one or more tons belonging to the U.S. government, wrote Jacob Archer of the FBI's art crime team in Philadelphia.

Archer told the judge he needed a seizure warrant because he feared that if the federal government sought permission from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to excavate the site, the state would claim the gold for itself, setting up a costly legal battle.

I am concerned that, even if DCNR gave initial consent for the FBI to excavate the cache of gold secreted at the Dent's Run Site, that consent could be revoked before the FBI recovered the United States property, with the result of DCNR unlawfully claiming that that cache of gold is abandoned property and, thus, belongs to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the affidavit said.

Archer also revealed allegations against a legislative staffer who, he wrote, tried to get some of the loot for himself.

In 2013, the affidavit said, the legislative staffer contacted a pair of treasure hunters who had identified the likely site of the gold. The staffer corruptly offered to get the treasure hunters a state permit to dig in return for three bars of gold or ten percent of whatever they recovered. The staffer said he was acting on behalf of others in state government, according to Archer, including someone who controlled money going to DCNR and someone working in the Pennsylvania governor's office.

No one has been charged in connection with the case, and federal prosecutors say they consider the matter closed. A spokesperson for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources declined comment.

The FBI had long refused to explain exactly why it went digging on state-owned land in Elk County in March 2018, saying only in written statements over the years that agents were there for a court-authorized excavation of what evidence suggested may have been a cultural heritage site.

According to the affidavit, the FBI based its request for a seizure warrant partly on the work done by the treasure hunters, who had made hundreds of trips to the area. The father-son duo told authorities they believed they had found the location of the fabled Union gold, which, according to legend, was either lost or stolen on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia in 1863.

After meeting with the treasure hunters in early 2018, the FBI brought in a contractor with more sophisticated instruments. The contractor detected an underground mass that weighed up to nine tons and had the density of gold, the affidavit said.

That amount of gold would today be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Archer wrote that he also spoke with a journalist, identified as Person 3," who had done extensive research on a Civil War-era group called the Knights of the Golden Circle. The KGC, Archer wrote, was a secret society of Confederate sympathizers that had purportedly buried secret caches of weapons, coins, and gold and silver bullion, much of which was stolen from robberies of banks, trains carrying payroll of the Union Army during the Civil War and from northern army military posts, in southern, western and northern states."

Archer said that a turtle carving found on a rock near the proposed dig site was very likely ... a KGC marker for that site."

Archer wasnt able to confirm the U.S. Mint had actually missed any expected shipments of gold because the Mint did not have records for the Civil War period, the affidavit said.

The FBI apparently did not indicate to the judge, in writing, what it found at the site, according to the documents unsealed Thursday. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia said that no such document was filed with the court because the dig came up empty.

Dennis and Kem Parada, co-owners of the treasure-hunting outfit Finders Keepers, have said they believe the FBI found gold at the site. They are seeking thousands of pages of FBI documents about the investigation as well as video files of the dig.

Their attorney, Bill Cluck, said the court documents revealed Thursday simply raise more questions.

He noted the warrant granted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Lloret gave FBI agents permission to dig from 6 a.m to 10 p.m. But residents have told of hearing a backhoe and jackhammer overnight  when the excavation was supposed to have been paused  and seeing a convoy of FBI vehicles, including large armored trucks.

In addition, it is telling that the FBI never checked back with the contractor whose sensitive instruments had indicated the possible presence of gold to ask what went wrong, said Warren Getler, the journalist identified as Person 3 in the affidavit.

Did the science really go wrong? I am not so sure about that," said Getler, author of Rebel Gold, a book exploring the possibility of buried Civil War-era caches of gold and silver.

Why did they send four or five armored cars after the fact?" he asked. "Why did they work under cover of darkness? Why did they kick us off the mountain at 3 p.m. that day when we were supposed to be working as partners?

The FBI assertion of an empty hole is insulting all the credible people who did this kind of work, Dennis Parada previously told the AP. It was a slap in the face, really, to think all these people could make that kind of mistake.
SWANSEA, Wales (AP)  When Sierra Schade booked a trip from Atlanta to Greece, she hoped more European countries would follow Greeces lead and open to U.S. travelers.

FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, June 22, 2021, people on a beach of Kavouri near Athens, Greece. There is guarded optimism about tourists returning in 2021, and according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, international travel is key to economic recovery for countries like Greece and Italy that rely more heavily on it. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)

SWANSEA, Wales (AP)  When Sierra Schade booked a trip from Atlanta to Greece, she hoped more European countries would follow Greeces lead and open to U.S. travelers.

She's now been able to add Italy and France to the itinerary for her trip next month after the 27-nation European Union recommended last week that restrictions be lifted for American tourists.

As pandemic restrictions start to ease, travelers and the businesses in Europe that rely on them are eager for a return to something resembling normal.

In 2019, before the pandemic, tourism and related activities accounted for 10% of the EU's GDP, meaning the return of international travel is key to economic recovery, particularly for countries like Greece and Italy that rely more heavily on it. That figure was cut nearly in half in 2020, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

There is guarded optimism about tourists returning this year, though the EU doesn't expect growth in the industry to return to 2019 levels until at least 2023.

Schade has flexibility because she works for an airline, but a confusing patchwork of restrictions has made booking trips trickier for average travelers. And European travelers still aren't welcome in the U.S.

Within Europe, governments use a traffic light system where countries in green are deemed safe and countries in red unsafe, but they don't all use the same criteria, befuddling those who want to take a trip.

And while the EU agreed that member countries should gradually remove restrictions on travelers from the U.S. and a handful of other countries, it's ultimately up to each individual country to decide how and when it wants to open its borders. Different countries may also have different requirements about vaccinations and COVID testing.

FILE - In this file photo dated Sunday, April 4, 2021, a medical staff prepares Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Sarcelles, outside Paris. The 27-nation European Union has recommended that restrictions be lifted for American tourists, as more people get vaccinated in the U.S. and Europe, travellers are eager for things to return to something resembling normal. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, FILE)

Things could get a bit easier, at least for Europeans, when the EU Digital COVID Certificate comes into effect next week. The certificates will certify EU citizens tests and vaccinations, allowing them to travel between countries without having to quarantine or undergo coronavirus tests.

Jennifer Janzen, from Europes largest airline association, Airlines for Europe, is hopeful that the certificate, if adopted widely, will help at least combat Europeans confusion about travel, merging 27 different systems in order to travel, to one single system.

She said that most Europeans didnt bother to travel outside their own countries with rules changing constantly, but an uptick is soon expected.

Were going from a ... long period of chaos, where nobody traveled, to now, a state where the industry is really hopeful that we will have some sort of recovery for European travel, Janzen said.

Many businesses that rely on tourists are still in wait-and-see mode.

Right now there is not much tourism in Barcelona because of the pandemic, said Roger Martin. He and his parents own Bar del Pi, a tapas bar and restaurant in the heart of the Spanish city. He said the lack of young tourists and local nightlife has meant much less business.

Still, he is hopeful the EU health passport will bring more tourism and investment in local businesses, including his own.

Not everyone has waited for a health passport to make a trip or let pandemic restrictions impede their travel plans.

Irina Gatilova, who lives in the Czech Republic and isnt yet fully vaccinated, underwent coronavirus tests for a recent trip to Italy, also crossing through Austria and Germany. Shortly after, she went on a family trip to Russia, where she currently is, knowing a mandatory quarantine awaits her upon her return home.

Gatilova supports the idea of the EUs health passport and plans to get one after her second dose of the vaccine.

Being outside the EU at the moment I dont feel very comfortable in hotels or public places where they dont ask for tests and people dont wear masks, she said. If there were compulsory COVID passports for travelers, it would give me confidence and peace of mind.

Recent data from the European Travel Commission found that two-thirds of Europeans plan to travel by the end of November.

Executive director and CEO Eduardo Santander said the travel industry in Europe is feeling additional relief and optimism with American travelers allowed in once again.

U.S. travelers (are) very important for a lot of European destinations that really depend on them and their market power, he said, adding that these travelers often visit multiple countries at a time.

But Europeans are still not allowed to visit the U.S., and Santander said that lack of reciprocity is posing a challenge for airlines that would prefer not to fly empty planes back to the U.S.

Still, U.S. airlines have scrambled to add new trans-Atlantic flight destinations in wake of the recent news, with American Airlines spokesperson Nate Gatten welcoming it as a positive development

For Schade, the relaxation of restrictions means a chance to get out into the world again.

We were both very COVID-safe, she said, referring to the friend she plans to travel with. So (this trip) is our first time...being out and able to do stuff thats not at home.

Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
VICTORIA - Passengers walking on to BC Ferries vessels operating between Vancouver Island and the mainland will now be able to book their trip.

The B.C. Ferries vessel Queen of Surrey passes Bowen Island while traveling on Howe Sound from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, B.C., on Friday, April 23, 2021. Passengers walking on BC Ferries between Vancouver Island and the mainland will now be able to book their trip. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VICTORIA - Passengers walking on to BC Ferries vessels operating between Vancouver Island and the mainland will now be able to book their trip.

BC Ferries has announced walk-on passengers can book online starting Thursday for routes departing Tsawwassen, Swartz Bay, Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay.

BC Ferries says those who have booked in advance can redeem their ticket at a self-serve kiosk or with a ticket agent.

There's no extra cost for a foot-passenger fare paid in advance.

Seniors and students are also able to book but will need to check in with a ticket agent for proof of age and student status.

BC Ferries says it will limit the number of foot-passenger bookings to start and if the website shows there are no more bookings allowed, it doesn't mean there's no space available.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2021.
JERUSALEM (AP)  An outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority who was a candidate in parliamentary elections called off earlier this year died after Palestinian security forces arrested him and beat him with an iron rod on Thursday, his family said.

JERUSALEM (AP)  An outspoken critic of the Palestinian Authority who was a candidate in parliamentary elections called off earlier this year died after Palestinian security forces arrested him and beat him with an iron rod on Thursday, his family said.

Nizar Banat was a harsh critic of the PA, which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and had called on Western nations to cut off aid to it because of its authoritarianism and human rights violations. Earlier this week, another prominent activist was detained by the PA and held overnight after criticizing it on Facebook.

Nizar Banat, an outspoken of the Palestinian Authority, speaks to journalists at the family house, in the West Bank city of Hebron, May 4, 2021. Banat who had intended to run in parliamentary elections before they were cancelled earlier this year died during his arrest by Palestinian Authority forces early Thursday, June 24, 2021, officials said. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

The crackdown on dissent comes as the internationally-backed PA faces a growing backlash from Palestinians who view it as corrupt and increasingly autocratic, a manifestation of a three-decade-old peace process that has yet to deliver an independent state. Hundreds took to the streets in protest after word spread of Banat's death.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was elected to a four-year term in 2005, has little to show after more than a decade of close security coordination with Israel. The 85-year-old leader has been powerless to stop the expansion of Jewish settlements, home demolitions, evictions in Jerusalem and deadly Israeli military raids, and was largely ignored during the recent unrest in Jerusalem and the 11-day Gaza war.

Western nations nevertheless view the PA as a key partner for rebuilding Gaza, which is ruled by the militant Hamas group, and eventually reviving the moribund peace process.

Ammar Banat, a cousin of the deceased, said around 25 Palestinian security forces stormed the home where Nizar was staying, blowing out doors and windows. They beat Nizar with an iron bar and sprayed pepper spray in his eyes before undressing him and dragging him away, Ammar told a local radio station, citing two other cousins who were present during the arrest.

In a brief statement, the Hebron governorate said Nizar's health deteriorated when Palestinian forces went to arrest him early Thursday. It said he was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Representatives of the European Union and the United Nations called for an independent investigation, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh later announced the formation of an investigative committee. He said a doctor chosen by the family would participate in the autopsy and the family would be invited to provide testimony.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the West Bank city of Ramallah and tried to march to the PA's headquarters, chanting The people want the downfall of the regime" and "Abbas, you are not one of us, take your dogs and leave.

Palestinian security forces fired tear gas at the marchers and beat people with wooden batons.

In early May, gunmen fired bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at Nizar Banat's home near the West Bank city of Hebron, where his wife was inside with their children. He blamed the attack on Abbas' Fatah party, which dominates the security forces, saying only they would have access to tear gas and stun grenades.

The Europeans need to know that they are indirectly funding this organization, he told The Associated Press in May in an interview at a home where he was hiding out. "They fire their guns into the air at Fatah celebrations, they fire their guns in the air when Fatah leaders fight each other and they fire their guns at people who oppose Fatah.

He said prominent Fatah supporters were waging an incitement campaign against him on social media in which they accused him of collaborating with Israel, which most Palestinians view as treason. He denied the accusation, and Hamas and another militant group condemned what they referred to as his assassination by PA forces.

More recently, he had criticized the Palestinian leadership over an agreement in which Israel sent the PA a shipment of coronavirus vaccines that were soon to expire in exchange for fresh doses the Palestinians expect to receive later this year. The PA called off the agreement after it faced a wave of criticism on social media. Israel said the doses it sent were safe and effective.

The European Union's delegation to the Palestinians wrote on Twitter that it was shocked and saddened" by Banat's death and called for a full, independent, and transparent investigation." The United Nation's Mideast envoy, Tor Wennesland, also called for an investigation into the incident, saying that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

Earlier this week, Palestinian security forces detained a prominent activist and held him overnight after he took to Facebook to criticize the PA's arrest of another individual. Issa Amro is an outspoken critic of both Israel and the PA, and has been detained by both in the past. He also criticized the PA over the vaccine exchange.

A recent poll showed plummeting support for Abbas, who cancelled the first elections in 15 years in April when it looked like his fractured Fatah party would suffer another humiliating defeat to Hamas. The militant group drove out forces loyal to Abbas when it seized power in Gaza in 2007.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Abbas when he visited the region after the Gaza war last month, and the Biden administration is working to improve U.S. relations with the PA after they fell to an all-time low under President Donald Trump.

The European Union has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to the PA over the years. Earlier this week, the EU signed an agreement to provide $425 million in loans to the PA and Palestinian banks to help them cope with an economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  A Dutch consumer group is launching a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) claim against TikTok over what it alleges is unlawful harvesting of personal data from users of the popular video sharing platform.

FILE - This Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, shows the icon for TikTok in New York. A Dutch consumer organization is launching a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) claim against TikTok over what it alleges is unlawful harvesting of personal data of users of the popular video sharing platform. The Consumentenbond and a foundation called Take Back Your Privacy demanded Thursday, June 24, 2021 that TikTok pay damages to 1.2-1.6 million Dutch children who use the app. (AP Photo/File)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  A Dutch consumer group is launching a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) claim against TikTok over what it alleges is unlawful harvesting of personal data from users of the popular video sharing platform.

The Consumentenbond and a foundation called Take Back Your Privacy demanded Thursday that TikTok pay damages to 1.2 million to 1.6 million Dutch children who use the app.

The conduct of TikTok is pure exploitation, Consumentenbond director Sandra Molenaar said in a statement. The company earns hundreds of millions per year on the backs of children. And that while privacy law prescribes that children should receive additional protection.

TikTok is hugely popular with teenagers and young adults, who use it to post and watch short-form videos.

The consumer organization and privacy foundation are demanding that TikTok pay damages to Dutch children and delete what they call unlawfully collected personal data. They say if TikTok does not comply, they will take the company to court.

TikTok responded in an emailed statement saying the company is committed to engage with external experts and organisations to make sure were doing what we can to keep people on TikTok safe.

It added that privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users, and our teenage users in particular."

In February, TikToks Chinese parent company ByteDance, agreed to pay $92 million in a settlement to U.S. users who are part of a class-action lawsuit alleging that the video-sharing app failed to get their consent to collect data in violation of a strict Illinois privacy law.

The social media app also is facing complaints in the European Union.

Late last month, the EU's executive, the European Commission, gave TikTok one month to answer complaints from a European consumer group over its commercial practices. The Commission said some contractual terms in TikToks policies could be considered misleading and confusing for consumers, adding that concerns relating to issues including hidden marketing and advertising strategies targeting children were raised.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union slapped economic sanctions on Belarus on Thursday in response to what the bloc called the escalation of serious human rights violations including the detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich.

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union slapped economic sanctions on Belarus on Thursday in response to what the bloc called the escalation of serious human rights violations including the detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich.

The sanctions target the economy but are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.

Pratasevich, a dissident journalist, was arrested May 23 after Belarusian flight controllers ordered a Ryanair jet traveling from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk.

The sanctions agreed upon Thursday target industries including potash  a common fertilizer ingredient  tobacco industry exports and petroleum products.

Trade in petroleum products, potassium chloride (potash), and goods used for the production or manufacturing of tobacco products is restricted, the EU said in a statement. The sanctions also include a ban on sales to Belarus of equipment and software that can be used to monitor the internet and phone calls.

The sanctions also restrict Belarus' access to EU capital markets and halted payments to the country's public sector by the European Investment Bank.

The EU has gradually ratcheted up sanctions since Lukashenko  dubbed the last dictator in Europe  won a sixth term last August in elections the bloc called fraudulent.

The 27-nation bloc has taken a tougher line since the Ryanair incident, and over the countrys alleged use of migrants to pressure neighboring Lithuania, which has provided a safe haven to Belarusian opposition figures and is one of Lukashenkos most vocal critics.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 78 Belarus officials and froze the assets of 8 entities, which are usually companies, banks, or associations. A total of 166 people and 15 entities in Belarus are now under EU restrictive measures. The United States, Britain and Canada also slapped sanctions on senior Belarus officials.

The foreign ministers also flagged the economic sanctions that were approved Thursday. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said they would take aim at "economic areas that are of particular significance for Belarus and for the regimes income.

That provoked an angry reaction from Belarus, with the country's foreign ministry saying they would hurt ordinary people and border on the declaration of an economic war. The ministry warned the country would be forced to take retaliatory measures that would hurt Western companies.

Belarus has been shaken by months of protests fueled by Lukashenkos re-election. The authorities responded with a massive crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police. Most opposition leaders have been jailed or forced to leave the country.

Since he was pulled off the Ryanair flight in Minsk, Pratasevich has been paraded on state TV, tearfully apologizing for his actions and praising Lukashenko.

His parents, members of the opposition and others in the West believe he spoke under duress, with some saying there were signs he had been beaten.

____

Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  During a particularly violent week in Connecticuts capital city, Andrew Woods was among a small number of anti-violence workers who rushed in to help victims families, offering condolences and referrals to services while trying to discourage retaliation.

FILE - In this Saturday, July 18, 2020, file photo, Elyas Sow uses a megaphone to speak to people as he and others from Street Corner Resources "Occupy the Corner" of potential areas of conflict and gun violence, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York. A rise in gun violence in cities across the U.S. is testing the limits of anti-violence groups that have been calling for more government funding for decades. President Joe Biden acknowledged earlier this year that community anti-violence programs have been woefully underfunded and has proposed $5 billion in new aid for them. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  During a particularly violent week in Connecticuts capital city, Andrew Woods was among a small number of anti-violence workers who rushed in to help victims families, offering condolences and referrals to services while trying to discourage retaliation.

Three people were killed and about a dozen others injured in shootings in Hartford over the week that began in late May  a large number in a small city of about 120,000 people, which left local anti-violence groups reeling.

The group that Woods leads, Hartford Communities That Care, has eight anti-violence workers. With more funding, he said he would quadruple that number to allow employees to work in shifts instead of being on call around the clock.

Were overwhelmed by the sheer number of shootings and then the follow-up that is involved in that, he said. Were on call 24/7, 365 days a year. Its unsustainable to have people working these kinds of hours.

A rise in gun violence seen in cities across the U.S. is testing the limits of anti-violence groups that have been calling for more government funding for decades.

President Joe Biden acknowledged earlier this year that community anti-violence programs have been woefully underfunded and proposed $5 billion in new aid for them in his massive infrastructure plan, along with hundreds of millions of dollars for them in other parts of the federal budget. In a statement in April, the White House said such programs have been shown to reduce homicides by up to 60% where they operate.

FILE - In this Saturday, July 18, 2020, file photo, workers from Street Corner Resources hand out protective masks while visiting and observing potential areas of conflict and gun violence, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York. A rise in gun violence in cities across the U.S. is testing the limits of anti-violence groups that have been calling for more government funding for decades. President Joe Biden acknowledged earlier this year that community anti-violence programs have been woefully underfunded and has proposed $5 billion in new aid for them. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Cities across the country are experiencing a historic spike in homicides, violence that is greatest in racially segregated, high-poverty neighborhoods, the statement said. Black men make up 6% of the population but over 50% of gun homicide victims. Black women, Latinos, and Native Americans are also disproportionately impacted.

Historically, the bulk of government funding aimed at reducing gun violence has gone to law enforcement organizations.

It has to be well-rounded, said Paul Carrillo, director of the Community Violence Initiative at the Giffords Law Center. If youre going to hire more police, OK, it should be something to the effect where  whatever your police budget is, X% should also be toward this violence intervention work.

In the first three months of 2021, there were 983 homicides in 24 U.S. cities monitored by researchers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for reports prepared for the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice. The number was 193 higher than in the first quarter of last year and 324 higher than in the first quarter of 2019. Last years increase in homicides was likely due to the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest and other factors, according to a research report by criminal justice professor Richard Rosenfeld and graduate research assistant Ernesto Lopez Jr.

Researchers said the average homicide rate of the cities rose sharply after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, which sparked nationwide protests. The rate dropped in the fall and the beginning of this year, but is still higher than it was before the summer of 2020.

Among the groups responding to an uptick of gun violence in Chicago is BUILD, an organization that deploys intervention teams to canvas hot spots, a crisis response unit that supports survivors and families of victims, as well as therapists and case managers who support over 200 families.

An increase in funding would help us to increase capacity. To do that work it is very consuming, emotionally draining work. You need more people out there engaged, said Bradly Johnson, a BUILD spokesperson.

In Hartford, 55 people had been shot as of May 15, up from 45 during the same period last year, according to the latest data kept by city police. Eighteen people have died in homicides as of June 17, a number on track to surpass last years 25 homicides.

Community leaders in Hartford and other cities have applauded Bidens proposed new funding for anti-violence programs and are cautiously optimistic as the infrastructure plan is negotiated with Republicans on Capitol Hill.

We pray that the $5 billion will remain intact and is not diluted, Woods said. It would really be a shot in the arm for those of us who do this work across the nation.

Anti-violence groups around the country are reporting being overwhelmed during the spike in violence.

Iesha Sekou, chief executive of Street Corner Resources in the Harlem section of New York City, has had to adjust the schedules of its eight anti-violence outreach workers, including having staff come in later and work split morning-evening shifts.

Its become a little more challenging because we are responding more often to brutal beatings, stabbings and shootings and jumpings that come into the trauma unit of Harlem Hospital, said Sekou, whose group receives annual funding from the city through reimbursements but has struggled to secure the up-front funds.

In Connecticut, retired police officer Stacy Spell runs Project Longevitys New Haven program, a partnership between community groups and police aimed at reducing violence. His office only has four paid staff. In 2017 he said he went seven months without being paid because of a monthslong impasse on the state budget.

Like other anti-violence program leaders, Spell said he has had to lay off staff because of funding declines in previous years. Funding from government agencies and philanthropic groups has increased in recent years, but he said more is needed to adequately fight violence.

If were to move past addressing the violence that is happening not only in the city of New Haven, but happening in all the major cities of Connecticut as well as every urban city in the country  we need millions of dollars that go to grassroots organizations so they can play a more effective role, he said.

Associated Press writer Michael Melia contributed.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP)  The revenge of the cows heated up Thursday with yet another instance of a herd getting loose in a U.S. community.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP)  The revenge of the cows heated up Thursday with yet another instance of a herd getting loose in a U.S. community.

This time a cattle-hauling truck rolled over along Interstate 64 in West Virginia, and an emergency dispatcher in Cabell County said a bridge connecting Huntington to Lawrence County, Ohio, also had to be shut down temporarily.

The dispatcher, who cited policy in declining to give his name, said authorities were trying to determine how many cattle were on the truck. However, they took off in several directions, including onto the nearby bridge.

The dispatcher said police in Ohio told him that "theyre running up and down the highway there, too."

Firefighters were dispatched to assist the westbound truck, which ended up in the highway's median. The driver was trapped for nearly two hours before being removed from the truck with minor injuries, Huntington Fire Chief Jan Rader told The Herald-Dispatch. The accident forced the interstate to be shut down in both directions for several hours.

Huntington is home to Marshall University, whose nickname happens to be the Thundering Herd.

It marked at least the third time that week that cows have gotten loose and prompted responses in U.S. cities, including the second time this week in West Virginia.

On Wednesday, 40 cows escaped a California slaughterhouse and ended up in a Los Angeles suburb where one was killed after charging a family.

Three loose cows roamed the streets of Bluefield, West Virginia, on Monday. Trains had to be stopped as authorities tried to coax the animals off of railroad tracks.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minnesota's court system could allow expanded camera coverage of criminal proceedings following the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd's death, under an order released Thursday.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Minnesota's court system could allow expanded camera coverage of criminal proceedings following the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer in George Floyd's death, under an order released Thursday.

The time is right to consider whether the current requirements for audio and video coverage of criminal proceedings in courtrooms should be amended to accommodate broader public access, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea said in a statement announcing the order.

The order doesn't specifically cite Derek Chauvin's trial, but it was Minnesota's first criminal case in which gavel-to-gavel TV coverage was allowed, from jury selection through the verdict. Chauvin's sentencing Friday will also be televised.

University of Minnesota media law expert Jane Kirtley said the order is a good sign that the state court system will open up more proceedings to cameras and livestreaming technology. She said the coverage of Chauvin's trial went extremely smoothly, without the media circus some feared.

I am more hopeful about revisions to this rule than I have been in 20 years, Kirtley said.

The chief justice elaborated on her order in her annual State of the Judiciary speech to the Minnesota State Bar Association on Thursday, remarking on what she called the unprecedented decision to provide non-stop remote public access to one of the highest profile trials in the states history.

I have seen it estimated that some 23 million people watched at least part of this livestreamed trial, she said, according to a text provided by the court. While the decision to allow camera coverage of this trial was based on the unprecedented public health restrictions in place during the pandemic, it would be a mistake for us not to reflect on the lessons learned and experiences gained through this process.

Minnesotas rules on audio and video coverage were last updated in 2018. They allow remote coverage of criminal proceedings until the verdict, but only with the consent of all parties, which rarely happens. Coverage of sentencings is allowed without consent, unless the judge finds cause to prohibit it. While federal courts generally bar cameras, many other states permit them.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the intense public and media interest in Chauvin's case led Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill to allow full audiovisual coverage to fulfill the constitutional requirement for a public trial. Court TV and numerous websites streamed the proceedings around the world. News organizations made extensive use of the video feed, audio and photos taken from the video.

Gildea ordered the high court's Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure  which is made up of judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys  to study the matter and report back with recommendations by July 1, 2022.

Kirtley said she couldn't rule out that the committee might come back with a less than full endorsement of camera coverage, noting that some prosecutors, defense attorneys and advocacy groups have resisted it in the past. But she noted that state Attorney General Keith Ellison, who had argued against cameras for Chauvin's trial, has softened his stance, and that the chief justice has expressed support in principle for more media access.

Gildea's order says audio and video coverage has been a critical component of public access during the COVID-19 pandemic, when court facilities were largely inaccessible to the public, and that fulfilled the public interest in the fair administration of justice. She wrote that the constitutional right to a public trial may sometimes warrant expanded media coverage, even without consent from both sides.

"If we're all committed to the idea of public justice, I think everyone would agree that cameras in the courts are the best way to assure that for everyone, Kirtley said.
SEATTLE (AP)  A Nigerian information technology worker has been indicted on federal wire fraud and identity theft charges, after authorities said he and his co-conspirators filed false claims for pandemic-related unemployment benefits in 17 states.

SEATTLE (AP)  A Nigerian information technology worker has been indicted on federal wire fraud and identity theft charges, after authorities said he and his co-conspirators filed false claims for pandemic-related unemployment benefits in 17 states.

Chukwuemeka Onyegbula, using the name Phillip Carter, was linked to at least 253 fraudulent filings for unemployment benefits, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in Seattle.

Onyegbula has been detained in Nigeria, but prospects for his extradition to the U.S. were unclear. Onyegbula works for Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited, according to the Seattle U.S. Attorney's Office. Court documents did not list an attorney who might comment on his behalf.

Washington, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Nevada, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin paid out a total of nearly $290,000 on claims related to the case. Additionally, the federal Small Business Administration paid out $54,000 in COVID-19 economic disaster claims filed by Onyegbula and his co-conspirators, prosecutors said.

Washington state was severely victimized by fraudulent claims for pandemic-related benefits. It likely paid out more than $647 million in such fraudulent claims, though $370 million was recovered, according to state officials.

Onyegbula is the second Nigerian national charged with such fraud in U.S. District Court for western Washington. Abidemi Rufai, 42, a suspended Nigerian government official, has been accused of filing $350,000 in fraudulent claims in Washington and other states, with $288,000 making it into a bank account he controlled. He also sought to bilk the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $1.6 million, according to federal prosecutors.

Rufai was arrested May 14 as he tried to travel from New York to Nigeria. A federal court in New York ordered him released on bond pending trial, but federal prosecutors in western Washington have been seeking to make sure he remains in custody, saying he poses a severe flight risk, is facile with fake identities, and that hes unlikely to ever be extradited if he makes it back to Nigeria.

A hearing is set for Friday to determine whether Rufai might be released pending trial. In a court filing Wednesday, assistant U.S. attorneys said that a recorded conversation between Rufai and his brother revealed that Rufai did not really know a woman who had offered to act as his custodian should he be released.

The recorded conversation also suggested that Rufai had significantly more money than he led the court to believe, prosecutors said.

In a response filed Thursday, one of Rufai's attorneys, Michael C. Barrows, called the government's reading of the conversation an absolute fabrication.

The family friend who offered to act as custodian attended the christening of Rufai's son five years ago, Barrows said. Rufai often visited her when he traveled to New York, and nothing in the conversation  which occurred in English, Rufai's second language  could be understood to mean he didn't know her, Barrows said.

Further, the comments Rufai made about money referenced the fact that he could raise funds for his bond from friends and supporters  not that he had hidden assets, Barrows said.
SYDNEY (AP)  Sydney was going through one the scariest times of the pandemic as a cluster of the highly contagious delta variant infects more people, an Australian state leader said on Thursday.

Medical staff test people in their car at a COVID-19 testing station in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, June 24, 2021. After enjoying nearly four months without any community transmission of the coronavirus, New Zealanders were on edge Wednesday after health authorities said an infectious traveler from Australia had visited over the weekend. (Mark Mitchell/NZ Herald via AP)

SYDNEY (AP)  Sydney was going through one the scariest times of the pandemic as a cluster of the highly contagious delta variant infects more people, an Australian state leader said on Thursday.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she tested negative for the coronavirus after her Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive Thursday. Health Minister Brad Hazzard is self-isolating as a close contact of a suspected COVID-19 case in Parliament House.

Sydney tightened pandemic restrictions on Wednesday, but Berejiklian said Australias largest city did not yet need to lock down further.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian prepares to address a press conference in Sydney, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Berejiklian says Sydney is going through one the "scariest" times of the pandemic as a cluster of the highly-contagious Delta variant continues to spread. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)

Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through, Berejiklian told reporters.

It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, she added.

Authorities say the cluster spread from a Sydney airport limousine driver who tested positive last week. He was not vaccinated, reportedly did not wear a mask and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew. The cluster had grown to 36 cases by Thursday.

Police were considering charging the driver and his employer with a range of offenses, Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said.

Marshall tested positive after dining with three government colleagues on Monday at a Sydney restaurant after an infected diner.

All four lawmakers had been attending Parliament as recently as Tuesday.

Several government ministers, lawmakers and staff were told to get tested and isolate until July 6 after a positive case attended a political party dinner in Sydney on Tuesday. Australias Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also attended the dinner, but was allowed to attend Parliament in the national capital Canberra on Thursday after taking medical advice.

Australian states have closed their borders to travelers either from parts of Sydney or from anywhere in New South Wales. And New Zealand has stopped quarantine-free travel from New South Wales for at least three days.

Victoria state said it would continue to ease pandemic restrictions in its capital Melbourne following a fourth lockdown despite a Melbourne resident testing positive after returning from Sydney on Sunday.

Australia has been relatively successful in containing coronavirus clusters, although the delta variant first detected in India is proving more challenging.

The pandemic has claimed 910 deaths in Australia, which has a population of 26 million. The only COVID-19 death since October was an 80-year-old man who became infected overseas and was diagnosed in hotel quarantine.
Canadians who are eager to be part of the first wave of travellers to head abroad once border restrictions ease should pay close attention to what their travel insurance will and will not cover, experts say.

Travellers are directed to take a mandatory COVID-19 test after arriving on a international flight at Pearson International Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Monday, February 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadians who are eager to be part of the first wave of travellers to head abroad once border restrictions ease should pay close attention to what their travel insurance will and will not cover, experts say.

There may be many exemptions in coverage at the moment since the Canadian government is still advising against non-essential travel to all foreign countries, the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada said.

In particular, travellers should confirm that their policy covers trip cancellation and COVID-19-related health emergencies, said Will McAleer, Executive Director of THIA.

"The key thing to look for is will your policy cover you if there's a travel advisory to avoid all non-essential travel," he said.

According to McAleer, most insurance providers will not currently cover trip interruptions that happen before you leave and are a direct impact of the pandemic.

In addition, many providers will likely make changes to how much compensation you're entitled to for common claims.

He said many insurance providers have lower maximum payout amounts for issues related to COVID-19, and may only pay a small per diem in certain scenarios, rather than a large overall amount.

For example, he said some insurance providers capped per diem payments at around $150 for people who get COVID-19 and incur expenses related to quarantine measures and testing.

One way to maximize what you're entitled to is by getting vaccinated, McAleer said.

The travel association said some insurance companies are already mandating different maximum payouts for people based on their vaccination status. McAleer said one insurance agency he knows of has a maximum payout of $5 million for a COVID-19 related medical emergency for fully vaccinated clients, compared to only a $1 million payout for those who aren't.

Even if you do your due diligence, consumers should expect to have to pay some money out of pocket if their trip is disrupted, said Ian Lee, an associate professor at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business.

"There's lots of fine print restrictions," said Lee.

"Anyone who says, 'I just want to be completely insured so if I go abroad I don't lose a penny to get back home,' I think that's an expectation that's not valid."

He said travellers should be aware that insurance companies can change their policies on a whim, and said those companies need to protect themselves from taking on too much risk.

According to Lee, the top risk facing travellers is the threat of border closures that spark a mad rush to change flights and get back home.

Both McAleer and Lee say they expect travel insurance will start returning to normal when there is more certainty around the end of the pandemic, and when countries lift their travel advisories.

McAleer said consumers should also carefully consider where they decide to spend their holiday, since the security situations of certain destinations have changed.

He pointed out that the global pandemic has been an economic crisis as well as a health crisis, and there may be an increase in crime in countries where economic conditions deteriorated.

"Some of the destinations that were once very safe and secure may not be any more," said McAleer.

"The world might be a bit different out there, and early travellers might be more susceptible to some of the more minor petty crimes and pickpocketing and things like that."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version used an incorrect abbreviation to refer to the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A Chinese company that produces a key ingredient in solar panels will be barred from the U.S. market as part of a broader effort to halt commerce tied to the country's repressive campaign against Uyghurs and other minorities, the Biden administration said Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP)  A Chinese company that produces a key ingredient in solar panels will be barred from the U.S. market as part of a broader effort to halt commerce tied to the country's repressive campaign against Uyghurs and other minorities, the Biden administration said Thursday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will immediately halt shipments from the Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries under a law that bans the import of goods produced with forced labor.

In addition, the Commerce Department will add six Chinese entities involved in the production of raw materials and components for the solar industry to a blacklist restricting their access to the American market, the administration said.

The moves target a relatively small slice of the U.S. import market, but it is notable given the administration's renewable energy goals. It also reflects an escalation of efforts to use economic leverage to pressure China over its use of forced labor as part of its campaign against ethnic minorities in the country's far wester Xinjiang region.

"Our environmental goals will not be achieved on the backs of human beings in a forced labor environment, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. "We are going to root out forced labor and we are going to use alternative products that are manufactured legitimately in keeping with our values and our commitment to a fair market place.

CBP found evidence that workers there intimidated, threatened and their movement was restricted in its investigation of the of the polysilicon industry in Xinjiang, officials said at a news conference.

The U.S. previously banned cotton and tomato imports from Xinjiang amid evidence of forced labor as part of China's forced assimilation campaign targeting predominantly Muslim minorities in the region, which the Chinese government has denied.

The effort to put increased economic pressure on China over the situation in Xinjiang has been gaining momentum in recent months. Canada and Britain have moved to restrict imports over the issue and the Group of Seven major industrial nations agreed at its recent summit to ensure global supply chains are free from goods made under conditions that are akin to modern slavery.

China denies allegations that it uses forced labor in Xinjiang or elsewhere and has broadly rejected the consistent and well-documented reports that Uyghurs and other minorities have been detained under brutal conditions, subjected to indoctrination and intensive surveillance intended to force them to assimilate into the dominant Han culture.

Members of Congress have for months urged the U.S. to ban Xinjiang-sourced polysilicon, which is used to manufacture the cells that are assembled into solar panels, and some type of enforcement action was expected.

CBP is still investigating the extent of Hoshine's involvement in the U.S. market but direct shipments over the past 2 1/2 years totaled about $6 million while finished goods that include material from the company were about $150 million, said Ana Hinojosa, who runs the agencys trade enforcement team.

That's a relatively small amount. Solar panel imports totaled about $7 billion last year, comprising about three-quarters of the overall U.S. market, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Chinese panel manufacturers have largely been shut out of the U.S. market by tariffs. Imports predominantly come from Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. Those panels, however, could still include wafers made with polysilicon from Xinjiang, though the industry has been working to audit and remove the material from the supply chain, said John Smirnow, general counsel and vice president of market strategy for the association.

The end customers want to make sure that the solar panel that's going up on their roof is free of forced labor," Smirnow said.

This story has been corrected to reflect that the trade group's name is the Solar Energy Industries Association, not the Solar Energy Industry Association.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week, a sign that layoffs declined and the job market is improving.

A We're Hiring sign at a Publix supermarket in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week, Thursday, June 17, for the first time since April despite widespread evidence that the economy and the job market are rebounding steadily from the pandemic recession.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week, a sign that layoffs declined and the job market is improving.

The Labor Department said Thursday that jobless claims fell just 7,000 from the previous week to 411,000. Weekly claims have fallen steadily this year from about 900,000 in January.

The economy expanded at a healthy pace in the first three months of the year, the government also reported Thursday, and economists are optimistic that growth will accelerate in the April-June quarter, when it could top 10% at an annual rate. As the pandemic fades, states and cities are lifting more business restrictions  California just fully reopened June 15  and the economy is picking up as consumers are traveling, eating out more, and visiting movie theaters and amusement parks.

Unemployment claims jumped 14,500 last week in Pennsylvania, the biggest gain by far of any state. Pennsylvania revamped its benefits filing system earlier this month, likely leading to some backlogs and distorting the overall data. Thirty-five states reported that claims fell last week.

This May 5, 2021 photo shows hiring signs posted outside a gas station in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pa. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week, reported Thursday, June 24, a sign that layoffs declined and the job market is improving. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

All told, 14.8 million Americans received jobless benefits during the week ended June 5, the latest data available. That was little changed from the previous week.

With many employers desperate to hire, some states are starting to cut off pandemic-related unemployment aid programs in response to business complaints that the assistance is making it harder for them to find workers. Starting this month, 26 states will end an extra $300 weekly federal unemployment payment and 22 of those states will also cut off all jobless assistance to self-employed, gig workers, and those out of work more than six months. The extra $300 ends nationwide on Sept. 6.

Economists at Bank of America have estimated that those who earned less than $32,000 a year at their previous jobs can receive more in jobless aid with the extra $300. At the same time, the federal government last year set up two unemployment benefit programs that covered millions of self-employed and contract workers for the first time.

Four states  Alaska, Iowa, Mississippi, and Missouri  stopped providing the $300 payment last week. All but Alaska also cut off the two programs that covered the self-employed and the long-term jobless.

In Iowa, Mississippi, and Missouri, about 163,000 people are no longer receiving jobless aid because of the cutoff.

The decision by 26 states -- nearly all run by Republican governors -- to drop the $300 will sharply reduce unemployment aid for roughly 4.7 million people, the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group, estimates. State jobless benefits provide, on average, about $320 a week and typically replace about 40% of an unemployed workers previous wages.

About 2.3 million people will lose all their unemployment aid in the 22 states that have decided to end assistance for the self-employed and long-term jobless, according to NELP.

A coalition of progressive groups released a report Thursday arguing that the early cutoff of benefits and the difficulties administering unemployment aid earlier in the pandemic show that the current unemployment insurance system, administered jointly by the federal and state governments, is inadequate for deep downturns such as the COVID-19 recession.

When the pandemic shutdowns kicked in suddenly in March 2020, most state unemployment systems were quickly overwhelmed by requests for jobless aid by millions of newly-laid off workers. Some did not receive benefits for months.

And when the federal government created the new programs covering those ineligible for state aid, many state agencies struggled to reprogram outdated software -- some dating from the 1960s -- to handle the additional applications.

In their report, the Economic Policy Institute, NELP, the Center for Popular Democracy, and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth recommended a range of reforms, such as permanently expanding eligibility to include gig workers and contractors; automatically extending benefits during recessions beyond the 26 weeks provided by most states; and increasing minimum benefit levels.
OTTAWA - Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett has apologized after she was called out for a one-word text message to Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, a former cabinet colleague.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett takes her seat as she wait to appear before the Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee in Ottawa on March 10, 2020. Bennett has apologized after she was called out for a one-word text message to Independent Member of Parliament Jody Wilson-Raybould. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett has apologized after she was called out for a one-word text message to Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, a former cabinet colleague.

Bennett messaged the word "Pension?" in response to a Wilson-Raybould tweet urging the prime minister to quit his "selfish jockeying" for an election and focus, as promised, on reconciliation with Indigenous people.

Her tweet was prompted by the announcement Wednesday by a Saskatchewan First Nation that 751 unmarked graves have been found on the site of a former Indigenous residential school in that province.

Bennett's pension reference appeared to suggest that Wilson-Raybould is worried she won't be eligible for a pension if she should fail to win re-election in a vote this summer or early fall.

Members of Parliament must serve for six years before becoming eligible for a pension and Wilson-Raybould, elected in October 2015, would miss that mark if she were not re-elected in an early fall vote.

Wilson-Raybould fired back, publishing Bennett's text on Twitter and calling it both racist and misogynistic.

The pension query reflects the notion that Indigenous Peoples are "lazy & only want $," Wilson-Raybould tweeted.

"Shows disregard, disdain, & disrespect for Indigenous peoples, as in our history," she wrote. "Conveys a strong Indigenous woman, is a bad Indig woman."

Bennett issued a swift apology on her Twitter account.

"I let interpersonal dynamics get the better of me and sent an insensitive and inappropriate comment, which I deeply regret and shouldnt have done," she said.

Bennett said she had apologized directly to Wilson-Raybould. Neither politician responded immediately to requests for further comment on Thursday.

The apology wasn't sufficient for New Democrat MP Charlie Angus. He took to Twitter to demand that Bennett be fired.

"It is time that @Carolyn_Bennett was sent packing," he said.

Angus said Bennett's "smear" against Wilson-Raybould demonstrated that Trudeau's commitment to reconciliation is really "an agenda of political cynicism and spin."

"This isn't just petty but racist and disrespectful. She needs to go."

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs also called on Bennett to resign, saying it is "deeply disturbed and disgusted by the extreme callousness, spite, and ignorance you have shown through the racist message you sent to MP Jody Wilson-Raybould."

"This was a cowardly attempt to silence a powerful Indigenous voice calling out for truth, action and justice," the union said in an open letter to Bennett.

"With a single word  'pension'  you not only decided to perpetuate a damaging racial stereotype, that Indigenous peoples are lazy and only financially motivated  but dismissed the pressing, overarching issue of residential schools, missing and murdered children, and Indigenous rights."

The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment Thursday, referring reporters to Bennett's statement.

Wilson-Raybould was appointed by Trudeau as Canada's first Indigenous justice minister but was booted from the Liberal caucus in 2019 after she accused the prime minister of pressuring her to secure a deferred prosecution agreement for SNC-Lavalin.

She had earlier resigned as a cabinet minister over the affair.

In August 2019, the federal ethics commissioner concluded that Trudeau violated the Conflict of Interest Act by improperly pressuring Wilson-Raybould to halt a criminal prosecution of the Montreal engineering giant on corruption charges related to contracts in Libya.

Wilson-Raybould was re-elected as an Independent MP in October 2019.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2021.
School divisions were given the last two weeks to compile detailed data about their non-school employees, facilities, and student transportation, as Manitoba Education prepares to replace elected boards with a centralized authority.

School divisions were given the last two weeks to compile detailed data about their non-school employees, facilities, and student transportation, as Manitoba Education prepares to replace elected boards with a centralized authority.

Earlier this month, Sarah Whiteford, assistant deputy minister, sent a memo to superintendents and secretary-treasurers at all of Manitobas English-language divisions to break down a new provincial audit request.

"The data that is being gathered will be used as inputs into the development of multiple options and functional organizational models of the Provincial Education Authority and its 15 regions, including the identification of which functions should be a regional responsibility and which may be a shared service," wrote Whiteford, in the June 10 letter obtained by the Free Press.

She added the figures are critical to ensure "existing unique aspects of school divisions are not overlooked" during the design process.

Administrators were asked to return completed templates with up-to-date information on finances, human resources  including organizational structure figures, as well as budget and payroll data related to non-school employees  and school bus fleets by June 24 at 3 p.m.

The provincial associations that represent superintendents, boards, and school business officials penned a joint letter with an unsuccessful request that the deadline be extended for all.

Given leaders have been swamped this month as they wrap up the school year and start planning for 2021-22, the president of the Manitoba School Boards Association called the request an "absolutely tone-deaf" example of how out-of-touch officials are with front-line needs.

"They continue to ask for more information from the division that has nothing to do with supporting students at a time when students need more support than ever," said Alan Campbell.

In defence of the request, Education Minister Cliff Cullen said Thursday the province would be remiss if it didn't prepare for the transition of the school system.

"We have to be prepared when Bill 64 does pass," said the minister, when pressed on the subject during an end-of-the-year news conference. "We want to make informed decisions based on data, and we dont have all the data to make those decisions."

Cullen said the province has engaged Deloitte as a consultant to discuss the transition and what the new structure may look like. He indicated he is hopeful all divisions will submit the data because the province has offered support to compile it and divisions are obligated to do so under legislation, even though some have delayed their responses.

In one letter to a board chairperson, which is dated June 24, Cullen warned that delays would affect the quality and timelines for planning the transformation, "which will result in unnecessarily prolonging the uncertainty that you have indicated is affecting school division staff." Also in the notice, the minister said the department would consider an extension until July 2, on a case-by-case basis.

Meantime, Campbell said its unfortunate the province continues to focus on overhauling public education without an evidence-based plan when other provinces are solely focused on a strong finish to a challenging academic year.

As early as October, the Education Modernization Act (Bill 64) could come into force and transform the kindergarten to Grade 12 system.

The legislation has sparked controversy, along with multiple anti-Bill 64 campaigns, owing to its pitch to replace elected English school boards with a central authority of government appointees.

The new authority would oversee 15 regions, one of which would encompass all of Winnipeg, and all schools would be required to set up new school community councils run by parent volunteers.

The Progressive Conservative government touts the plan as one that will empower parents and redirect up to $40 million in repetitive administrative costs to classrooms.

Critics, however, are concerned about the loss of local voice and the possibility the authority board would be politicized by the government of the day.

The official Opposition stalled the second reading of the bill, which was initially expected this spring, and related committee hearings, in order to allow for "sober second thought," said Nello Altomare, NDP education critic.

"Committee is set up in order to make amendments to bills. Clearly, theyre not respecting this and theyre not going to listen  again," said Altomare, a retired principal. "Its insulting."

Families thought they would be listened to during the education review, but Bill 64 does not reflect the commissioners governance recommendation, and now the province is ploughing ahead with changes despite meaningful consultation, he added.

A total of 455 people have signed up to speak about the bill at the legislative committee, a staffer at the clerks office confirmed Thursday.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Nearly 13,000 Manitobans are waiting on birth, marriage and death certificates, even after the provinces Vital Statistics Agency cleared half its backlog.

Nearly 13,000 Manitobans are waiting on birth, marriage and death certificates, even after the provinces Vital Statistics Agency cleared half its backlog.

The result is delays in accessing benefits, sending a body to relatives abroad and registering to practise Indigenous rights.

"I cant get a hold of anybody," said Carlos Governo, who has spent two weeks trying to apply for a long-form birth certificate.

"Not a single person is answering the phone or emailing me back. The website's down."

He was turned away at the agencys Portage Avenue office, and told to call and schedule an appointment.

"That'd be fine if somebody answered the phone," Governo said.

Fresh data shows Manitoba faced a backlog of 24,864 requests from Aug. 11, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

Carlos Governo has spent two weeks trying to apply for a long-form birth certificate, but he can't get in touch with anyone at the Vital Statistics Agency. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

As of Wednesday, 12,827 of those requests are still being processed. The agency says many files lack information and might not be processed till after this summer.

"For some registrations and applications, it takes significant communication with the applicants to locate the missing information to register an event and/or to issue a certificate," wrote an agency spokesman.

The province implemented a plan to reduce its backlog starting March 31, previously telling media about what proportion of the backlog had been cleared, but not the number of outstanding files.

Officials have made progress with death certificates, processing 82 per cent of the backlogged 4,046 files, but for marriages, just 39 per cent of 3,233 requested certificates have been completed.

The province expects to provide records for all fully registered marriages and deaths that occurred after 1998 to be completed by the end of July.

The bulk of the backlog involves birth certificates, with 10,000 requests remaining. By late August, the province expects to provide records for births that occurred after 1998, as long as they were fully registered.

Thats not much relief to Governo, who is trying to get his daughter a second citizenship but cant apply through a consulate without her full birth certificate.

"I work for government; we haven't shut down," said Governo, who works in correctional services.

Slow processing times predate the pandemic, but they got much worse in March 2020 and seemed to improve around this April, the Manitoba Funeral Service Association said.

"Its been a pretty bad issue for a pretty long time," said association head Kevin Sweryd.

Grieving families often get upset at funeral directors because theyre waiting months for the province to provide a certificate so they can transfer a land title, he said.

"Its another stressor in an already stressful time," Sweryd said.

One family almost lost out on transferring their loved ones pension from Portugal, as the Manitoba paperwork was set to arrive past that countrys deadline, he said. Getting permission to exhume a body and transfer it to another province usually takes up to eight weeks, but Sweryd knows of a case that has been processing for 10 months.

Lynne Cooper is among a handful of Free Press readers who have reached out in frustration over long processing times.

"A government department is showing no accountability. I just didnt know where to go, other than the media," she said.

Cooper is trying to register as a Metis citizen, but cant get a federation card until she provides a full birth certificate, which would help show her ties to the Red River Colony.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Grieving families often get upset at funeral directors because theyre waiting months for the province to provide a death certificate so they can transfer a land title, says Kevin Sweryd, owner of Bardal Funeral Home and president of the Manitoba Funeral Services Association. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files) Reporter: Kevin Rollason

"Im frustrated because I need this document and it appears Ill have a long wait, if I even get to apply," said Cooper.

Finance Minister Scott Fielding did not provide an interview Wednesday, but his office noted that reforms are underway, with more changes to come, including hiring staff to fill vacancies, employing summer students and bringing in public servants with subject-matter expertise to help with training, said spokeswoman Andrea Slobodian.

Processing times improving Click to Expand The Vital Statistics Agency says it has processed roughly 500 applications received since April 1 within a reasonable timeline. The turnaround for birth certificates is now 8.1 business days, 8.3 for marriages and 11.7 for deaths. During this 12-week period, the agency fulfilled approximately 4,200 rush applications, which are supposed to take three business days but many report these taking weeks. Normal certificates cost $30, while rush applications range from $65 to be sent to a Canadian recipient to $105 to be sent outside North America. Some have argued they need birth certificates to register for the Canada Child Benefit and apply for a childs Social Insurance Number, yet Vital Statistics noted that the provincial data is shared with Ottawa, and so a certificate shouldnt be necessary.  Dylan Robertson

"The agency is in the process of updating its website to report real wait times, undertaking a major project to digitize and upload records and acquiring more physical space to do so," she wrote.

On Tuesday, the opposition NDP cited Vital Statistics as an example of government short-staffing.

The agencys own data suggests current staffing levels are slightly below that of when the 2016 fiscal year ended, just weeks before the Pallister government took office.

There were 43 full-time equivalents working in Vital Statistics on March 31, 2016, and 44 as of Wednesday  yet five years ago, six of those were temporary positions, compared with a current 10.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union is proposing the province extend an agreement that would allow for more staffing and for work to be done on weekends.

"The challenge we are seeing at Vital Statistics is symbolic of whats happening in the civil service as a whole, and the difficulty our members are having in keeping up with the demands of the work due to cuts and vacancies," wrote union head Michelle Gawronsky.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
In case you didn't know, there is a steep price to be paid by anyone who attempts to give Premier Brian Pallister unsolicited advice.

In case you didn't know, there is a steep price to be paid by anyone who attempts to give Premier Brian Pallister unsolicited advice.

A week ago, Pallister was warned by physicians a much-publicized plan to lift COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on July 1 was madness.

The expert critics pointed out cases involving dangerous novel coronavirus variants were on the rise, the rate of new infections and test positivity were still alarmingly high, and the health-care system was reeling. They told Pallister any attempt to ease social and economic restrictions at this delicate stage of Manitoba's third wave could unleash a fourth wave of infections.

The premier definitely heard his critics.

And so it was, on Wednesday, Pallister announced he was lifting some restrictions  a week earlier than originally planned.

With this decision, the Tory leader once again demonstrated a chronic tendency to do exactly what the medical and scientific community begs him not to do.

You might remember on the two previous occasions Pallister ignored the advice of outside experts, the results were thousands of new infections and hundreds of additional deaths.

No matter. Like an unrepentant driver who has twice suffered a head-on collision, the premier is once again steering the province into oncoming traffic, hoping against hope the third time is the charm.

"Like an unrepentant driver who has twice suffered a headon collision, the premier is once again steering the province into oncoming traffic, hoping against hope the third time is the charm."

The premier did try to limit certain freedoms to only those who have been fully vaccinated. Manitobans who have received two doses will be able to visit loved ones in personal care homes or hospitals, travel within Canada with no quarantine requirements, and dine indoors at restaurants with other fully immunized people from outside their household.

However, Pallister clearly did not have the stomach to leave the unvaccinated fully under the control of social and economic restrictions. Truth be told, the premier sent a pretty strong message you do not have to get vaccinated to reclaim most of the important things lost during the pandemic.

All Manitobans, regardless of vaccine status, will be able to enjoy backyard social gatherings up of to 10 people, public outdoor gatherings (including weddings and funerals) of up to 25, the right to visit businesses and churches in greater numbers, eat indoors with members of their household and outdoors with anyone they want, and get a haircut, visit the gym or get their nails done.

On Wednesday, Premier Brian Pallister announced he was lifting some restrictions  a week earlier than originally planned. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

The new bar and restaurant guidelines are particularly galling.

As of Saturday, Manitoba will allow vaccinated and non-vaccinated people to share the same indoor restaurant space. Even if they are at separate tables, and unvaccinated patrons can only sit with members of their own household, this move is completely and utterly at odds with what is known about COVID-19 transmission.

Breathing the same air in an enclosed space where everyone is maskless is a huge risk, even for fully vaccinated people who, scientific studies have shown, can still contract and spread the novel coronavirus.

The outdoor dining rules are just as ridiculous. Allowing up to eight unvaccinated patrons from different households to hunker down at a single patio table completely ignores current science on outdoor transmission, and the threat posed by variants of concern.

However, no single aspect of the new public health orders reveal Pallister's contempt for science as the metric he is using to justify them: the provincewide, first-dose vaccination rate.

As of this week, more than 70 per cent of all eligible Manitobans had received at least one dose of an approved vaccine. Pallister repeatedly claimed this was a "scientific milestone."

The 70 per cent threshold is, in fact, a purely political milestone.

"Truth be told, the premier sent a pretty strong message you do not have to get vaccinated to reclaim most of the important things lost during the pandemic."

First and foremost, 70 per cent falls well below the theoretical level needed to achieve herd immunity. Although it is hotly debated in the medical and scientific communities, most believe it would need to be more than 80 per cent to reach such protection.

The importance of getting people fully vaccinated cannot be understated: a new study out of the United Kingdom showed while two doses of vaccine still provides 90 per cent-plus protection against, a single dose is only 33 per cent effective.

Those findings seem to explain why the United Kingdom  with 65 per cent single-dose coverage and nearly 50 per cent at two doses  is undergoing a fourth wave of infections driven largely by variants of concern. The UK recorded 16,000 new cases Wednesday, its highest daily total since February.

Any hope the Manitoba premier would change his ways, listen a bit more to the informed critics outside government, and embrace a new strategy of caution and respect for science have clearly been dashed.

At this point, it appears Pallister will not give up his reckless strategy until someone pries it out of our cold, dead fingers.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
A Winnipeg woman has been awarded North Americas highest honour for civilian heroism after she rescued three girls who had floated dangerously away from the shore at Delta Beach on Lake Manitoba last year.

A Winnipeg woman has been awarded North Americas highest honour for civilian heroism after she rescued three girls who had floated dangerously away from the shore at Delta Beach on Lake Manitoba last year.

The Carnegie Hero Fund has awarded the Carnegie Medal to Renata Bandel and 17 other people in Canada and the U.S.

SUPPLIED Renata Bandel will receive the Carnegie Medal for acts of extraordinary heroism after the bold rescue of three teenage girls on Lake Manitoba in 2020.

"It feels so great," said Bandel. "Im just so grateful."

Bandel is the lone Canadian recipient. Five of the recipients died while trying to save others, including a Minnesota farmer who died after he entered a silo filled with noxious gas to save two family members.

On June 3, 2020, Bandel was at the beach north of Portage la Prairie with her sister, when a man and woman in the water ran to shore.

"The lady said to me, theres somebody out there screaming for help," said Bandel. The woman pointed out something red bobbing in the water.

"So I just locked in on that red dot that was bobbing around and just kept swimming until I got to her," she said.

As she got closer, she saw a 17-year-old girl in a life vest. The girl burst out crying, said Bandel.

"She was very upset  and relieved," she said. Bandel grabbed the girl and swam to shore. A crowd had gathered on the beach, and police and paramedics had arrived.

Two more girls were still adrift. After a long swim with a person in tow, some people may have let police do the second rescue.

"I didnt feel like I could just stand around, so I thought maybe if I just go towards the deep water Ill hear something or see something," she said.

After a moment, her sister whistled and pointed out another little red dot. Bandel locked in again and swam. The wind picked up, waves slapped into Bandels face and water splashed up her nose. Still, Bandel soldiered on.

She made it to the girl, who was also floating in a life-vest, and the girl began to cry. Bandel was already towing the girl to shore when an RCMP boat pulled up next to them. Bandel and the girl scrambled into the boat and rushed off in search of the third girl, who was further out.

Bandel said the rescue affected her in various ways.

"I had a hard time sleeping afterwards, having nightmares and stuff  drowning and not being able to find people in the dark," she said.

Her family rallied behind her.

"Everyone was wonderful and happy and excited," she said.

On Wednesday, Bandels mother, Anna Bandel, said she was proud of her daughter.

"Its so beautiful for a mother when you hear something like that," Anna Bandel said.

Bandel received an RCMP certificate of recognition earlier this year.

The Carnegie Medal is given to those who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save others. To date, 10,238 Carnegie Medals have been awarded since 1904. Each of the award recipients or their survivors will receive a financial grant.

cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls concluded in its 2019 final report that the Canadian state has perpetrated genocide against Indigenous peoples. This genocide is the underlying cause of the contemporary murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls.

Opinion

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls concluded in its 2019 final report that the Canadian state has perpetrated genocide against Indigenous peoples. This genocide is the underlying cause of the contemporary murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls.

The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Author provided

This conclusion was "inescapable" for the commissioners and for thousands of Indigenous people across the country. But as the lead author of the inquirys legal analysis of genocide, I know personally how denial and disbelief dominated the reactions of the mainstream media in Canada and of many non-Indigenous people in Canada that amounted to: "A genocide in Canada? Surely not!"

Then came the stunning news  the remains of 215 children found on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. It seems like the type of gravesites commonly found at sites where genocide took place.

Canadians are beginning to be able to contemplate what for many Indigenous people is a given: Canada committed genocide. But, as academic Joanna R. Quinn said in a recent article for The Conversation: "The residential school system was also one among many systems of violences and harms. Residential schools represent the tip of the iceberg."

Its now especially important to recall some of the legal underpinnings of the use of the term genocide in the Canadian context. Many myths and misunderstandings dominate the public discourse, hindering informed discussion on this subject that is so important to the future of our nations.

Genocide is not just the Holocaust

A classic objection to the Canadian genocide is often: "Its not the Holocaust!"

Some recognized genocides, such as the Holocaust and the genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda, took place over specific periods of time and were characterized by mass killings. But colonial genocide is a slow-moving process. The policies of colonial destruction of Indigenous peoples took place insidiously and over decades. The acts of violence and intent to destroy are structural, systemic and cut across multiple administrations and political leaders.

Under international law, genocide is both a crime that engages individual criminal responsibility and a wrongful act that engages state responsibility. Colonial genocide engages Canadas responsibility as a state for many distinct acts and omissions that, taken together, violate the international prohibition against genocide. In law, this is called responsibility for a "composite act."

The definition of genocide

Genocide is defined in international law as certain prohibited acts or omissions committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a protected group of people. There is no doubt that the Indigenous peoples of Canada, despite their diversity, are a protected group. Here are some considerations:

1. Prohibited acts or omissions

Genocide encompasses a variety of lethal and non-lethal acts, including acts of "slow death." There are five forms of prohibited behaviour  murder is only one of them.

Other behaviours that can constitute genocide include inflicting mental or physical harm, such as the sexual abuse and mistreatment of children in residential schools; imposing living conditions designed to result in physical destruction, such as imposed starvation to develop the Canadian West; lack of adequate food, water or medical care; imposing measures designed to prevent births, such as forced sterilization; and forcibly transferring children from the group, such as residential schools and the 60s Scoop. These are only examples, many others have been committed over the decades and are well documented.

2. An intent to destroy

The central element of genocide is the specific intent to destroy the protected group. Unlike an individual, a state is an abstract entity, without a mind or spirit. Therefore, when assessing state responsibility, one assesses the existence of a manifest policy or course of conduct over time that demonstrates the states "intent" to destroy a particular group.

Canada has demonstrated a continuing policy, with varying motivations but with an underlying intent thats remained the same  to destroy Indigenous peoples physically, biologically and as social units.

When victims resist, defy and survive destructive policies, those policies are no less genocidal. More than anything, this is a testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples. Genocide is not about the outcome, but about the intent to destroy.

3. An obligation to cease and repair

Many Canadian policies have continued to this day and are having devastating effects on Indigenous communities. The genocide continues.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly accepted the conclusion that this is genocide.

The NDP has unsuccessfully asked parliamentarians to do the same. Naming things for what they are is necessary. But more importantly, the commission of genocide requires reparations.

Ending the Canadian genocide of Indigenous peoples is a legal obligation. It requires an honest and active process of decolonization.

Beyond apologies, it will require the courage to undo and reverse the influences of colonialism one by one. This requires structural changes that reverse the power paradigms in our institutions. It will require the re-empowerment of Indigenous peoples as peoples with the right to self-determination in order to redefine a Canada that is free from the genocide on which it was built and still thrives today.

Fannie Lafontaine is a full professor of law and holder of the Canada Research Chair in international criminal justice and fundamental fights at Laval University.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
OFTEN, in political debates and in the media, the terms whistleblowing and leaking are used loosely and interchangeably to describe revelations about alleged policy blunders, legal or ethical misconduct and serious mismanagement within government departments and other public bodies.

Opinion

OFTEN, in political debates and in the media, the terms "whistleblowing" and "leaking" are used loosely and interchangeably to describe revelations about alleged policy blunders, legal or ethical misconduct and serious mismanagement within government departments and other public bodies.

This is inappropriate and unfortunate. The two activities are similar, but the motivations of the whistleblower and the leaker often differ, as do the steps they follow in disclosing what they perceive to be serious wrongdoing, and the range of potential consequences for themselves and the organizations involved.

Exposure of wrongdoing has existed since governments were first founded. The ancient Greeks had a phrase, "fearless speech," to describe the phenomenon. However, whistleblower protection laws are a recent phenomenon. In 1978 there were no whistleblower protection laws; today 48 countries have such laws.

The government of Canada (2007) and all provincial governments, led by Manitoba (2007), have adopted such laws. Prior to these laws, public employees were required, as a condition of employment, to protect sensitive information and to exhibit loyalty to their employer by not exposing internal problems.

Whistleblowing involves the "good faith" disclosure of serious wrongdoing through authorized procedures which create an entitlement to protection against retaliation. In contrast, leaking involves the intentional and illegal disclosure of classified information without authorization.

Ministers and senior public servants claim leaks do serious harm to the quality of debate and decision-making in cabinet, as well as undermining ministers confidence in the public service and its loyalty to the government of the day. There are laws, internal procedures, informal norms and sanctions, including court proceedings, meant to deter and deal with leaking.

Defenders of leaking, often in the media, insist that it can disclose issues that governments would prefer to conceal. They argue that when there is illegality, dishonesty, gross mismanagement or irreversible harm involved, leaking serves the public interest. Recent increases in leaking reflect multiple factors, including a lack of confidence among public employees in the whistleblower protection laws.

A 2021 comparative study of multiple countries, conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Project, found that most laws are written narrowly to discourage external disclosure and do not provide adequate protection against retaliation.

Manitobas experience with the 2007 Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) mirrors these international findings. The provisions of PIDA are crucially important, but too detailed to be described here, so only some general points can be made.

As amended over the years, PIDA now covers departments, Crown corporations, health authorities, child agencies, personal care homes, school divisions, universities and municipalities identified by regulation.

With this many public bodies covered, one might expect a high volume of cases. In the first six years, there was only a trickle of cases, mainly because awareness of the law was limited. Also, PIDA encourages employees to first raise concerns within their "home" organizations. In a relatively small public sector, internal disclosure is risky because anonymity and protection against reprisal are difficult to ensure.

A review of the first decade of PIDA reported that 155 complaints of wrongdoing reached the ombudsman office, only 24 cases were investigated and there were only three findings of actual wrongdoing. Even by 2019, with many more bodies covered, there were only 35 disclosures made to the ombudsman office, only five investigations were opened and there was only one confirmed case of wrongdoing.

It must be noted that the published totals of cases do not include disclosures that were made and resolved within public bodies.

In 2018, several significant amendments were made to the law. Arising from a lawsuit the previous year, greater protection of the identity of whistleblowers was provided. Municipalities are to be brought under PIDA on a gradual basis through provincial regulation. And finally, the ombudsman was authorized to investigate complaints about reprisals  complaints that previously went to the Manitoba Labour Board.

From 2009 to 2018, the board had received only nine reprisal complaints, and all were either dismissed or withdrawn. In 2019, the ombudsman dealt with nine complaints and dismissed seven without further action. The figures suggest actual reprisals are rare, or they may be subtle and indirect, making them difficult to prove.

In January 2020, an editorial in this newspaper reported on the severe damage to the professional careers and personal lives of three whistleblowers who worked in the health-care system for three different institutions. The editorial concluded rightly that PIDA needed to be amended to provide more protection. There are limits, however, what can be accomplished with legal reforms.

For PIDA to work as intended, there must also be top-level leadership commitment to its aims. In turn, those leaders must promote cultures that encourage responsible, good-faith whistleblowing rather than dangerous leaking.

Paul G. Thomas is professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba.
You cant do a job properly unless youve been adequately trained. And according to an advocacy group calling for sweeping change, it has been a long time since police training prepared law-enforcement personnel for the realities they face in their day-to-day duties.

You cant do a job properly unless youve been adequately trained. And according to an advocacy group calling for sweeping change, it has been a long time since police training prepared law-enforcement personnel for the realities they face in their day-to-day duties.

"People have this idea of policing as dealing with crime and laying charges all day long. And we really dont," police constable Lisa Deveau, speaking for the Coalition for Canadian Police Reform (CCPR), told the Globe and Mail. "We deal with homelessness, we deal with addictions, we deal with mental health. And were not equipped for it."

She makes an interesting point, whose validity is doubtless reinforced in interactions between police and the public in Winnipeg every day.

Ms. Deveau, who is currently on leave from a large municipal police force, is among the current and retired police-force members, academics, community organizers and physicians who have formed the CCPR in hopes of successfully lobbying for an overhaul of police training to make it better reflect the conditions officers face in 21st-century Canada.

Former Winnipeg Police Service chief David Cassels, who also supports the CCPR effort, called current entrylevel police training very traditional, very paramilitary and completely out of date.

Among the groups priorities is identifying, addressing and hopefully eliminating the biases and misconceptions in which police violence is too often deeply rooted. Such issues have been the subject of intense public discussion and forceful protest since the murder last year of African American George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

The subsequent wave of Black Lives Matter protests and similarly themed demonstrations prompted calls to defund and dismantle policing as we know it; what has been less clear in the ongoing debate is how crime and the enforcement of laws might be addressed in the aftermath of such a deconstructive initiative. The CCPRs position is that whats needed is not the abolition of police, but the establishment of higher standards for police training and conduct.

Former Winnipeg Police Service chief David Cassels, who also supports the CCPR effort, called current entry-level police training "very traditional, very paramilitary" and "completely out of date." He added that theres "barely any training" on such issues as racism, diversity, mental illness and the impacts of colonization on Indigenous people.

The group is calling for the establishment of national standards for police training in Canada, an admirable goal that might prove difficult to accomplish as individual jurisdictions would undoubtedly fight to maintain local control over law-enforcement standards and practices. But regardless of whether the change comes as a result of federal mandate or province-by-province, city-by-city recalibration, whats clear is that the massive overhaul being touted by the CCPR is both urgently required and long overdue.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Retired senator Murray Sinclair

Equally relevant to the discussion is the perspective of another Manitoban  recently retired senator Murray Sinclair  who asserts that the reform of policing in Canada depends not just on how officers are trained, but also on who is hired to serve as police officers.

Mr. Sinclair told the Globe the process of recruiting police lacks sufficient safeguards to ensure those with pre-existing racist attitudes are rooted out: "Many forces think that they can train police officers to have good character, or that people will clear their thinking of racist ideology, when in fact much of that is already embedded by their own experiences or their own public education."

In other words, you cant do the job without proper training, but theres also no guarantee access to proper training will make you the right person for the job.

Police reform, necessary as it is, will not be easily achieved.
Despite a significant shortfall of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in early July, every Manitoban who currently has an appointment for the shot will get one, and more doses are on the way.

Despite a significant shortfall of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in early July, every Manitoban who currently has an appointment for the shot will get one, and more doses are on the way.

Johanu Botha, operations, planning and logistics lead for the COVID-19 vaccine task force, said the team was able to shuffle vaccine supply meant for pop-up clinics and focused immunization teams in order to keep appointments at super sites.

"We dont have to cancel any existing Pfizer appointments. So, what we can commit to is that every single individual who has a Pfizer appointment at the moment, will have their appointment honoured with a Pfizer dose," Botha said Thursday.

"What we cant do at the current time is open up new Pfizer appointments."

In the first two weeks of July, Manitoba will receive 80,000 fewer doses of Pfizer, due to supply disruptions. The province had booked appointments for the majority of those doses weeks ago.

Botha said the province will be able to honour scheduled Pfizer doses thanks to Manitobans who have chosen to mix mRNA vaccine brands, and get a shot of Moderna instead of Pfizer.

"A good number of individuals did cancel their appointments and opt for a walk-in option for Moderna, or (to) get Moderna earlier," Botha said.

Botha said all of the Pfizer doses allocated to Manitoba will be delivered during the final two weeks of July to make up the shortfall and will be in addition to shipments previously scheduled for the end of the month.

In the meantime, Manitoba will be awash with doses of the Moderna vaccine. A multi-part delivery of 240,500 doses will be completed this week; another 141,700 touch down next week.

The province will extend hours of operation at its two mass vaccination clinics in Winnipeg until 10 p.m. to keep doses moving; walk-ins are accepted at all Manitoba mass vaccine clinics, except the RBC Convention Centre.

More than 30,000 doses have also been distributed to medical clinics and pharmacies to provide to clients. Meanwhile, community-led clinics are up and running this week and next.

With the influx of vaccine supply, the province will also do away with its eligibility schedule.

As of Friday, at 11:45 a.m., all Manitobans will be eligible to receive their second dose of vaccine. The provincial government says first and second shots should be at least 28 days apart.

Botha also addressed concerns some vaccine records are incomplete and said the task force is working to update them.

He said approximately three per cent of vaccination records are missing the information required for fully vaccinated Manitobans to sign up for their immunization card or to show proof theyve been immunized.

"It is by no means a systematic widespread problem. Its one that we will fix however," Botha said. "Were leveraging resources from across government and within the task force to do this."

Botha said most affected people were immunized out of province, at remote or rural clinics, or who did not have a personal health information number.

He said the issue is not primarily due to data backlogs; in some cases, data may have been entered incorrectly or was incomplete. A timeline to correct the records will be provided soon, he said.

"By all accounts, everyones data is in the system. Its a matter of cleaning it up," Botha said.

According to provincial projections, Manitoba is on track to reach its vaccination targets, so long as supply remains steady.

Botha said the province is logging enough of an uptick in first-dose bookings to be confident all of the governments reopening targets will be reached.

Projections show 70 per cent of eligible Manitobans will be fully vaccinated before the end of July. It will take about another month to fully vaccinate 80 per cent of the population.

As of Thursday, 30.8 per cent of Manitobans at least 12 years old have been fully vaccinated; 71.9 per cent of them have been partially immunized.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
WINNIPEG - Manitoba will open appointments for a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to everyone as the provincial government rolls out a program to hire people who have received their shots.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, right, is led into the convention centre to get a COVID-19 vaccination from Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, in Winnipeg, Thursday, April 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG - Manitoba will open appointments for a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to everyone as the provincial government rolls out a program to hire people who have received their shots.

All Manitobans who are eligible to get a vaccine will be able to book an appointment starting Friday.

"We want it to be your turn to be immunized as quickly as possible," said Johanu Botha, who works with the group organizing the vaccine rollout.

Botha said the plan is to give more than 9,000 doses a day.

Hours at two supersites in Winnipeg will be expanded to get more people jabbed, he said. Pharmacies and community clinics will also be getting shipments.

More than 1.2 million doses have been administered in the province so far. About 100,000 doses have been administered in the last five days.

The province saw a delayed third wave of the pandemic that brought significant infections and hospitalizations last month. Public-health orders were put in place to curb the surge.

Those numbers have been steadily dropping over the last week, prompting the province to begin loosening restrictions on Saturday  a week earlier than expected in its reopening plan.

There were 104 new cases and two more deaths Thursday. There were 212 Manitobans hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 12 patients in intensive-care units in other provinces.

Botha said the province is expecting a significant increase in Moderna vaccines in the coming weeks. At the same time, the number of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines was expected to drop. That is the only vaccine approved for youth between the ages of 12 and 17.

Botha said parents who have a Pfizer appointment can give it their child and get a Moderna vaccine for themselves.

Premier Brian Pallister said earlier Thursday that vaccinations were essential to getting more freedom back this summer.

His Progressive Conservative government is rolling out a program that Pallister says will get people back to work and motivate employers to hire staff who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

The $30-million Healthy Hire program will provide businesses with a grant equivalent to 50 per cent of wages for up to 10 employees, with a maximum of $5,000 per person.

To get the subsidy, employees must be fully vaccinated or show that is their intention if they are still waiting for a dose.

Pallister said it's a way for Manitobans to get their lives back and see their neighbours working again.

The subsidy will be available for anyone hired between June 10 and Oct. 15.

Employers that are already participating in other government programs may still receive the funding.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2021.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles announced his resignation Wednesday, giving up his post amid sharp criticism of his tenure and two investigations into his actions involving allegedly illegal timber operations.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles announced his resignation Wednesday, giving up his post amid sharp criticism of his tenure and two investigations into his actions involving allegedly illegal timber operations.

The move comes as talks with the U.S. government aimed at curbing Amazon deforestation have hit obstacles. Salles had insisted Brazil needs external financial support to take stronger action, while critics cautioned Washington to await concrete results before reaching any agreement with a Brazilian administration that has hobbled enforcement of environmental laws.

I understand that Brazil this year and next, for its international and national agenda, needs a very strong union of interests and efforts and, so that can be done as smoothly as possible, I tendered my resignation to the president, Salles told reporters at the presidential palace.

Salles and President Jair Bolsonaro have been outspoken supporters of development in the Amazon, which critics say has encouraged land grabbing and illegal mining in protected areas. As some foreign investors began expressing concern about surging deforestation, Bolsonaro's administration received no rebuke from then U.S. President Donald Trump on his environmental policies.

On the campaign trail last year, U.S. President Joe Biden called on Brazil to curb Amazon deforestation in order to slow climate change, and this year his administration began talks with Salles' ministry in an attempt to find solutions.

Preliminary data, based on satellite images, has shown year-on-year increases of Amazon deforestation for three straight months, most recently by 41% in May. The data is considered a reliable leading indicator for more complete calculations released at year end.

Brazilian activists said Salles' departure was overdue.

Adriana Ramos, coordinator of the policy and legal program at the nonprofit Socioenvironmental Institute, said Salles' tenure will be remembered by the loss of international confidence, an increase in emissions from deforestation and the dismantling of environmental controls.

Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the Climate Observatory, a network of environmental groups, told The Associated Press that Salles' legacy is "the worst possible.

"There were two straight years of deforestation in the Amazon, fires in Brazil and invasions of public areas. He paralyzed the collection of environmental fines, persecuted inspectors and followed a path of environmental destruction in the country, Astrini said.

Talks between the Biden administration and Brazil's environment ministry are "paralyzed, Sen. Katia Abreu, who heads the Brazilian Senate's foreign relations committee, said in a statement Tuesday provided to AP. She said that reflects U.S. dissatisfaction and the need for changes by Brazil in order to reestablish dialogue.

The spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Tobias Bradford, said in a statement that the United States remains committed to partnering with Brazil to address climate change and that its stance regarding conversations with its government hasn't changed.

Neither Bradford, nor Brazil's environment and foreign ministries provided information regarding the date of the last meeting.

Environment ministry officials including Salles are under investigation for possibly facilitating the export of illegally cut timber. A separate probe is investigating whether Salles obstructed an operation to seize illegal timber. Salles has denied wrongdoing in both cases.

It isn't possible for people to criminalize different opinions, points of views. Brazilian society needs that advance, Salles said Wednesday. We experience a lot of objections over measures that were taken or planned, an attempt to characterize them as disrespecting laws or the constitution, which isn't true.

Speaking at an event Tuesday, Bolsonaro congratulated Salles and said his job was no easy task.

Astrini, of the Climate Observatory, and other environmental groups expressed skepticism that Salles' eventual replacement will usher in a change in policy.

"The true chief of environmental policy in Brazil is Bolsonaro. As we saw in other ministries, he is capable of changing a minister, but who orders policy is the president, Astrini said.
Trump, though, laid blame for the spike in crime on protesters who demonstrated against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He claimed that Democrats were allowing crime to run amok in their cities. But despite pockets of violence in both Democratic- and Republican-run cities, the protests were mostly peaceful. A Harvard Radcliffe Institute study found there were no injuries reported in 97% of the events. Still, Republican leaders continue to echo Trump's claims.

And while crime is rising  homicides and shootings are up from the same period last year in Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Houston  violent crime overall remains lower than it was a decade ago or even five years ago. And most violent crimes plummeted during the first six months of the pandemic, as people stayed indoors and away from others.

Crime started creeping up last summer, a trend criminologists say is hard to define and is likely due to a variety of factors such as historic unemployment, fear over the virus and mass anger over stay-at-home orders. Public mass shootings have also made an alarming return.
He got more exercise than he expected last evening. The fire gong in his house sounded.

Cleo Keiper, the chiefs driver, arrived in the chiefs car and rushed Witt to the fire. With sirens and gongs sounding, five fire trucks raced to the scene. Three trucks are equipped with pumps that can pump l,000 gallons of water a minute. The ether two trucks can pump 750 and 600 each.

The heat at the south side of the fire was so intense, Witt said, that he and his men had to stand 80-90 feet away. They used hydrants that are part of the private system of ADM. There was plenty of water available. Three hydrants melted under the heat.

Witt said that if the alarm had been turned in late, or if the fire had broken out in the middle of the night when it wouldnt be readily noticed, the fire could have spread to nearby houses and the Northwood Products Co.

Almost every man in the fire department, 42 in all, except for five who remained at the fire station in case of another fire, were summoned to fight the blaze.

Men off duty or on vacation were called in. The only man the department couldnt reach was Assistant Chief Herman Ehlers, on vacation out of town.

Fire departments at Goodview and Minnesota City were alerted but were not called.
Others attending the ceremony are allowed to participate, and it is an honor many take very seriously, as they line up with the veterans and service members both young and old. Patriotic music or speeches play in the background, with a full set of service flags flying overhead.

It is among this stirring patriotic background we remember those who served, but also recognize there are those who dont hold America and her ideals in as high a regard. Our Pledge of Allegiance has often come under fire, as schools and organizations debate over whether to include this moment of reflection in their own processes, and we find many who want to sit out a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Similarly, the Star-Spangled Banner, our national anthem, has had its share of kneelers, or those who simply refuse to participate or acknowledge any of the good that has come from the nearly 250 years of effort in the continuing cause for liberty and freedom that should be at the forefront of the minds of all Americans.
In March, Eisenga pleaded guilty to creating a fake lease agreement and lease guarantee for a grocery store property he owned in Columbus. He gave the documents to Alliant as part of a loan application in 2017. Alliant told investigators it would not have approved the loan without the lease and guarantee.

In a letter to Conley filed on Wednesday, Eisenga blamed his own drive to succeed on behalf of his hometown for the lie he told when he applied for the loan with Alliant.

I made a simple miscalculation based on a combination of pride, success and an inflated self-image, Eisenga wrote. I violated one of the simplest principles of morality: When I committed this crime, I decided, wrongly and criminally, that the ends would justify the means. The ends do not, cannot and never will justify the means.

Eisenga believed the shopping center and grocery store would succeed, based on three optimistic market studies he had reviewed, he wrote.

I figured that in a couple years, I could refinance the fraudulent loan with a legitimate loan, Eisenga wrote. I thought to myself, nobody would ever know and nobody would ever be financially harmed. I also thought that I could preserve my self-image and my standing in the business and local community.
The last time Spokane had a consecutive number of days over 100 was in 1928.

"Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, we have temperatures exceeding 100 degrees," Pelatti says. "Guidance suggests that the temperatures still stay above 100 after Tuesday for a number of days, so it could possibly exceed six."

Similar to Washington and Oregon, Idaho will see blistering record heat well into next week.

"Right now, we're looking at 105 to 110 in snake basin of Idaho and the Treasure Valley," said Korri Anderson, a meteorologist with NWS Boise. "We could be breaking all-time records in Boise on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week."

The all-time record at Boise is 111 and Ontario is 113, Anderson adds. "So we could be flirting with those next week."

An excessive heat watch has been issued for more than 11 million people in parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In the Columbia Basin, the region's typical hot spot, the high temperature forecast is between 110-112 degrees this weekend.

These temperatures would be within striking distance of state records for Oregon (117 in July 1939) and Washington (118 in August 1961).

Extreme heat to become the norm in the Northwest
Forgiveness is hard. Sometimes it seems impossible.

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, we used to pray at the little white Evangelical United Brethren Church in Loyd, when I was a little farm kid. I knew about debt. Dad had borrowed $10,000 to buy the farm, a fortune in 1957. I doubted then that we would ever be able to pay it off. Of course, the debt grew by the thousands every year as dad bought new machinery, added on to the barn, put in the barn cleaner and the silo unloader, and one day bought another farm.

If only I could have known then that there would come a time when he and mom would retire free of debt on the 25 acres that was left of those two farms. I will never forget the day we were sitting in his room at Pine Valley Manor, a few months before he died, and I told dad how proud I was of him and mom for starting with nothing, raising four kids, seeing them all graduate from college, and retiring with something to show for it. But I never forgot the burden of that debt which affected everything we did and didnt do on the farm. It was a nagging worry that every farm family knows so well.
UTICA, N.Y.  Former Congressman Anthony Brindisi has decided not to run for Congress in 2022, despite declaring his intention to try and reclaim his seat back in January.

He says he is proud of what he accomplished during his time representing the 22nd Congressional District, but wants to focus more on his family.

This is a crucial time in my kids lives, with my son starting high school and daughter entering her final year of elementary school. Ive missed a lot, and want to be closer to my family, said Brindisi.

I've decided I will not be running for Congress again in 2022. I want to thank everyone for their continued support, and know that Ill still be an advocate for this community, regardless of if Im a Congressman, Assemblyman, neighbor or friend.  Anthony Brindisi (@ABrindisiNY) June 24, 2021

Brindisi lost the 2020 election to Congresswoman Claudia Tenney by 109 votes, following months of court proceedings to determine the winner of the race. It was the last race to be decided in the nation, with the winner officially declared in February.

Brindisi said hes proud of the work he did while serving the 22nd District.

We accomplished a lot in two short years  from expanding mental health care for our veterans and active-duty personnel to ensuring our tax dollars go towards supporting American manufacturing and jobs, he said.

After the 2020 election, Brindisi returned to his familys law practice and is a partner at Brindisi, Murad, Brindisi & Pearlman, but he says he may not be done with public service just yet.

"I'm giving up on Congressional service right now, but im not giving up on public service. I'm young, I'm only 42 years old," said Brindisi. "I still love this community. It's my hometown. I still want to give back to the community. I'm not ruling out future runs for public service but if I do, it's going to be something closer to home."

John Zogby of Zogby Analytics says new candidates could come forward, but the redistricting planned in New York may affect who runs. The state is slated to lose a Congressional seat after the most recent Census.

Watch Zogby's full analysis above.
HERKIMER, N.Y. (UPDATED) -- According to the deputy chief with the Herkimer Fire Department, what started out as a small fire, outside a salon on East German Street Wednesday evening, eventually grew and quickly spread to the roof above it.

The salon is destroyed, but not the entire building.

The fire broke out on Wednesday, before 10:30 p.m., at Flawless Salon and Beauty Bar on East German Street.

The deputy fire chief says this building houses more than just the salon, at least three other businesses occupy it.

Crews from Herkimer, Ilion, Frankfort and Little Falls fought the fire. MOVAC Ambulance was also at the scene.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
NEWPORT, N.Y.  Two men were injured following a crash involving a car and two motorcycles in Newport Wednesday.

The crash happened at the intersection of Route 28 and White Creed Road in front of West Canada Valley Jr./Sr. High School.

New York State Police say 17-year-old Jordan L. Murphy was turning west onto Route 28 in a Volkswagen Jetta when she failed to yield the right-of-way. Daryl L. Harris Jr. was driving his motorcycle east on Route 28 at the time and tried to avoid the collision, but was hit by Murphys vehicle.

Charles A. Hall was also heading east on a motorcycle and tried to swerve to avoid the crash, but hit the back of Murphys vehicle.

Harris and Hall were both taken to hospitals to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Harris was airlifted to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse and Hall was treated at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

Murphy was not injured. She received a ticket for failure to yield the right-of-way.
DEPOSIT, N.Y. (UPDATED) - Police say a New York state trooper was shot while responding to a domestic dispute in Delaware County.

Trooper Ryan Thorp was shot shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday while responding to a report of a domestic dispute on Sunrise Terrace in the town of Deposit.

Scott A. Mawhiney, 44, of Deposit, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder. He is being held at Broome County jail without bail.

Thorp was taken to Wilson Memorial Hospital. He had surgery overnight and is listed in stable condition.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.
WASHINGTON (WTHI) - A Wabash Valley woman was sentenced for her part in the January 6 US Capitol riot.

Anna Morgan-Lloyd entered a guilty plea for one of the four charges she was facing. That count was parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building. The other three charges were dropped.

Court documents say Anna Morgan-Lloyd and Donna Sue Bissey were inside the capital on January 6. Both women are from Bloomfield.

Morgan-Lloyd appeared virtually before the District Court for the District of Columbia.

She was sentenced to 36 months of probation, a $500 restitution, 120 hours of community service, and she's not allowed to have any firearms or dangerous weapons.

During the hearing, Morgan-Lloyd spoke briefly. She said she apologizes to the American people. She and her family went to support former President Donald Trump peacefully. Im ashamed that it became a savage display of violence that day, Lloyd said during her sentencing.

Her defense attorney said her client didn't have plans to enter the capitol building that day or participate in any violence.

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth said he was giving her a break, but didnt want others to think that probation  and not a stiffer sentence  would be the norm. Legally, I could give you the six months, but is that what really we want our judiciary to do? the judge asked.

In a court filing earlier this month, Morgan-Lloyd's defense attorney Heather Shaner said Morgan-Lloyd drove to Washington, D.C. to hear the President speak at the invitation of Bissey, her hairdresser and friend. The defense counsel also said Morgan-Lloyd hopes to one day return to the U.S. Capitol in homage and reverence to the United States.

"I have had many political and ethical discussions with Anna Lloyd. I tendered a booklist to her. She has read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Just Mercy, and Schindler's List to educate herself about "government policy" toward Native Americans, African Americans, and European Jews. We have discussed the books and also about the responsibility of an individual when confronting "wrong," stated Shaner.

Bissey will be in court next month.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP)  Eight Indiana University students are suing the school, alleging that its COVID-19 vaccine requirement violates both their constitutional rights and the state's new vaccine passport law.

The federal lawsuit, filed Monday, alleges that students face strong consequences" if they refuse to get vaccinated, including canceled class registration and limits on taking part in on-campus activities.

The suit contends that IU's policy violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which includes the rights of personal autonomy and bodily integrity and the right to reject medical treatment.

The students' complaint also alleges that IU's policy violates Indianas recently passed law banning vaccine passports," which Republican legislators pushed and which conservatives portray as a heavy-handed intrusion into personal freedom and private health choices.

IU is offering students medical and religious exemptions. Several of the students suing the school have applied for, and been granted, exemptions based on their religious beliefs. But the suit says they object to extra requirements placed on students who receive exemptions, such as requiring them to wear masks in public spaces.

Earlier this month, Indiana University modified its COVID-19 vaccination requirement, making it optional that students and employees provide proof of getting the shots. IUs initial mandatory vaccine requirement drew protests from many state officials.

Indiana University said in a statement Monday that its recent vaccine policy change puts it within the bounds of state law and adds that the school is confident it will prevail in this case.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  A federal judge said he'll soon decide whether to block a new Indiana law that would require doctors to tell women undergoing drug-induced abortions about a disputed treatment for potentially stopping the abortion process.

U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon in Indianapolis heard arguments Monday in a lawsuit filed by abortion rights groups seeking to stop the so-called abortion reversal law from taking effect as scheduled July 1.

The states witnesses in court maintained the law would ensure that a woman has information about halting a medication-induced abortion if she changes her mind after taking the first of the two drugs used in the procedure and takes a different drug instead.

Dr. George Delgado, who claims to have coined the term abortion reversal, testified that the treatment is safe and effective. He cited 50 to 75 successful reversals" he's overseen directly.

Dr. Courtney Schreiber, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Philadelphia, pushed back, calling the states new law deeply distressing and mortifyingly harmful." She denounced Delgados assertions, noting there is no evidence that an abortion can be reversed and that a woman might have an increased risk of hemorrhaging if she does not take the second dose of medication for an abortion.

Hanlon said his initial ruling will be made as soon as possible" and is expected before the law takes effect.
Lars Rosaeg is appointed as EVP corporate development & deputy CEO of Yara International ASA, having earlier served as EVP & chief financial officer since November 2018. (File Photo)

OSLO, NORWAY: Yara said it has appointed Lars Rosaeg as EVP corporate development & deputy CEO of the company. Rosaeg has served as EVP & chief financial officer in Yara since November 2018. In this new role, Rosaeg will be responsible for overseeing operations and capital allocation across Yara as well as Yaras strategy, M&A, portfolio development, corporate communications and corporate affairs functions.

Thor Giaever is appointed EVP & chief financial officer. Giaever has served as SVP investor relations in Yara since 2011 and has previously held the positions of acting CFO (2014-2015) and head of controlling & risk management (2009-2011), having joined Yara in 2004. He will be responsible for corporate finance, market intelligence, investor relations, accounting, funding, treasury, insurance and sustainability governance functions.

Yara makes these appointments to its group executive board effective 1 July, to strengthen transformation focus and portfolio development.

These changes to our group executive board will strengthen our transformation focus, in line with our corporate strategy and capital allocation policy, said Svein Tore Holsether, president & CEO of Yara International.

Im pleased to see Lars take on an even broader role in driving our transformation forward. I would also like to welcome Thor into his role as EVP & CFO. With 17 years experience from Yaras finance organization, he brings a deep understanding of our company and has been a key player in developing both our strategy and our equity story, said Holsether.

Monica Andres is appointed EVP Europe. Andres is currently VP farming solutions Europe and member of the Yara Europe regional leadership team with the overall responsibility for shaping Yara Europes strategic agenda, and has previously held several leading commercial and operational positions in Yara including SVP business unit Asia and commercial director Mediterranean.

Solveig Hellebust is appointed EVP people, process and digitalization. Hellebust has served as Yaras chief HR officer since December 2020, before which she was group EVP people & operations in DNB. She has previously held senior roles in Pronova BioPharma and Telenor.

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Calls for more investment as 100m needed to repair Wrexham and Flintshires roads

Calls have been made for more money to be invested in roads in Wrexham and Flintshire amid claims 100m is required to address a backlog of repairs.

The plea has been made after the Welsh Government announced a freeze on new road building projects as part of a review focused on reducing carbon emissions.

Newly-elected North Wales Senedd Member Carolyn Thomas said the funding earmarked for projects such as the controversial red route scheme in Flintshire should instead be used to fix the existing road network.

Politicians in both counties have previously highlighted the deteriorating state of local roads, as well as raising complaints over the number of potholes.

Although transport is a devolved matter in Wales, the Labour MS, who recently stepped back from her role as deputy leader of Flintshire Council, blamed UK Government austerity measures for the lack of investment.

Speaking in the Senedd, she said: We are currently in a situation where existing roads are not fit for purpose, following public funding cuts to local authorities as a direct result of the last ten years of Tory austerity.

I know that Flintshire has a backlog of 40 million, and Wrexhams backlog for road repairs is 60 million.

The 20 million from Welsh Government, although it was greatly welcomed last year, needs to significantly increase, just to keep up with the existing road maintenance.

Investment is needed in our highways across North Wales, along with active travel and public transport.

Will the minister make a commitment that funding that has been earmarked for road building projects in north Wales, including the red route of Flintshire corridor and the third Menai crossing, will still be invested in north Wales?

Councillors in Wrexham were told earlier this year that the local authoritys annual budget for fixing potholes stood at around 2m.

Officials said the figure was a third of the amount it received seven years ago, meaning staff often have to resort to temporary patching rather than permanent repairs.

In Flintshire, the council has explored a number of solutions to tackle the issue, including trialling the use of recycled plastic to resurface a road in Connahs Quay.

Lee Waters, the Welsh Governments deputy minister for climate change, said he hoped the decision to freeze new projects would result in more money being made available for repairs.

Responding to Ms Thomas, he said: I certainly agree that we need to be spending more money maintaining the highway network.

The highway network is the largest asset that the Welsh Government has and that also applies to the local government-owned road network too.

I think we need to be spending more money on looking after it.

Thats one of the consequences that I hope will flow from todays announcement and from our commitment in the Wales transport strategy.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter
Ministers praise Wrexham-based Wockhardt for its crucial role in manufacturing covid vaccine

A Wrexham-based organisation involved in the manufacturing of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been praised by ministers.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, who has Cabinet-level responsibility for science in the Welsh Government, joined Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, on a visit to the Wockhardt site on the Wrexham Industrial Estate today to see the vaccine being manufactured first-hand.

Wockhardt is manufacturing the Astra Zeneca vaccine for use across the UK.

The company currently employs around 500 staff in Wrexham. It is the fourth largest generic pharmaceutical company in the UK and Ireland.

During their visit, the ministers praised the workforces crucial role in manufacturing the Astra Zeneca vaccine, which is playing a major part in Wales highly successful Covid vaccine programme.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said: Its great to be in Wrexham today to see this truly life-saving vaccine being manufactured here in Wales.

Im particularly pleased to have the opportunity to personally thank the company and its committed workforce for the vital role theyre playing in supporting the rollout of the vaccine across Wales and the rest of the UK.

This really is a fantastic contribution to tackling this once-in-a-generation pandemic.

The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the Life Sciences sector in Wales to grow. Wockhardts continued presence here will play a crucial role in helping us realise our ambition.

Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, said: Im immensely proud the Astra Zeneca vaccine is being manufactured right here in North Wales. When the call came, Wockhardt and its workforce stepped up to help.

Im pleased to see a leading global company like Wockhardt based here in North Wales and playing a key role in helping protect and save lives during the pandemic.
Nine trade unions join together to call for fair pay for NHS Workers in Wales

Nine trade unions have united to collectively call on the Welsh Government to give NHS staff an urgent, significant and well-earned pay rise.

Paul Summers, trade union chair of the Welsh Partnership Forum, has penned an open letter to Welsh ministers, arguing that there has never been a time when the need for a pay increase has been so great.

The open letter is backed by unions representing a swathe of the health service workforce, including BMA Cymru Wales, the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives, GMB, Unite, Unison, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, British Association of Occupation Therapists, and the Society of Radiographers.

Yesterday union representatives met with Health Minister Eluned Morgan to hand her a copy of the letter.

In the past year Covid-19 has taken a terrible toll on our society, Mr Summers wrote. Many have sadly lost their lives and no one has been untouched by the pandemic.

Throughout Wales, the NHS and its staff have been both vital and central to supporting the people of Wales.

NHS staff have exhausted themselves physically and mentally in their efforts to tackle the virus and support patients in a system that was already underfunded and struggling.

It is therefore our belief that there has never been a time when the need for an urgent and significant pay rise for NHS staff has been so great  a belief shared by so many people across Wales.

In March the former Health Minister Vaughan Gething said Wales will not be setting an artificial ceiling on NHS pay in the same way the UK Government is proposing for health workers in England.

Speaking at the time Mr Gething said: We certainly have not done what the UK Government has done and tried to set an artificial ceiling on the payroll that should be provided.

We think that our staff do deserve a pay rise and were asking pay review bodies for evidence for determination and advice on what there should be.

We want to make sure that the UK government are in a position to properly fund that pay rise.

I understand why so many staff across our NHS will be feeling hurt and upset and a little angry at the evidence that the Department of Health and Social Care at the UK level have provided.

As I say, when our evidence is published, youll see we have not taken that approach.

However reports from the independent pay review bodies (PRBs)  for staff on both Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental terms  have yet to be published.

Mr Summer encouraged the Welsh Government to go beyond the recommendations of both PRBs if they do not meet the trade unions demands.

He also called for the 2021 pay award to be backdated to December 2020, adding: With all the challenges that face NHS staff in the coming years an urgent and significant pay rise is vital to reward staff and stem the tide of those leaving the NHS.

Retaining and rewarding the skilled, dedicated and experienced NHS staff will have massive benefits on the health and wellbeing of Wales.

We have contacted the Welsh Government and are awaiting further comment.
MT. JULIET, TN (WSMV) - An increase in traffic congestion is expected in Mt. Juliet as crews work to repair the Interstate 40 bridge.

After Wednesday's deadly crash, authorities said it would take up to three weeks to get the damaged column repaired.

On Thursday morning, Crews worked to set up a barrier rail on the outside to protect the damaged column and create a safe work zone. Next, crews will dig out dirt and pour concrete around the column for the support system needed to make the repairs.

TDOT prepares for I-40/Mt. Juliet Road bridge repairs after truck hits support column The Tennessee Department of Transportation has set a tentative timeline for the bridge repairs on I-40 at State Route 171 (Mount Juliet Road) after a crash damaged a bridge column.

"We have a good crew working, so hopefully it will be done in the next three weeks," local driver Mary Burkett told News 4. "Since I live in Lebanon, I will come around and go to Lebanon to Mount Juliet Road and get on the interstate instead of going the interstate the whole way."

"I've been over a couple of times," Kraig Huff said of the Mount Juliet Road overpass. "I just recently moved back from California. I've driven over a few times, but I really don't have to use that too much. Traffic seems a little crazy for the middle of the day, but other than that, 40 coming down this way earlier this morning or mid-morning wasn't that bad."

The Tennessee Highway Patrol identified the driver of that tractor trailer as 80-year-old Luther Stinson, of Nashville. Troopers said Stinson crashed into a bridge column on the Mount Juliet Road overpass and then the tractor-trailer caught fire. Firefighters found Stinson dead inside the truck after they put out the fire.

One person dead in large semi fire on I-40 at Mount Juliet Road A man is dead after he lost control of his tractor trailer going westbound on Interstate 40 just after 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Actual repairs to the column are expected to begin in the next several days. Three weeks is how long this process is expected to take.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced new measures to deal with what he called an epidemic of gun violence in America. Speaking of his plan from the White House, Biden said nothing about the social causes of the spike in gun violence being reported in many US cities, nor did he mention the continuing wave of police killings that take more than 1,000 lives every year in the United States.

Rather, he sought to establish his law-and-order credentials and dissociate his administration from calls to defund the police that emerged during the mass demonstrations last spring and summer against police violence, following the police murder of George Floyd.

Saying that now was not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement, Biden announced that states and localities could use any portion of the $350 billion in pandemic relief funds allotted them under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan enacted in March to fund their police departments.

Biden

In a statement released by the Treasury Department, the administration announced that the money could be used to hire additional police officers to reach pre-pandemic staffing levels, and, in communities with high rates of gun violence, increase the size of their department beyond pre-pandemic levels. The money could also be used to establish community violence intervention programs and purchase new policing equipment.

Biden and his attorney general, Merrick Garland, explained that the plan also included expanded deployment of the FBI and other federal police agencies to aid local police, as well as enhanced technology for tracking criminal activity, presumably a coded reference to surveillance activities.

Citing a 34-city study by the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice, the Biden administration claims that homicides rose by 30 percent in large cities across the US in 2020. Additionally, the study says aggravated assaults and gun assaults rose last year by 6 percent and 8 percent, respectively. The White House further states that the nationwide homicide rate was 24 percent higher in the first months of 2021 than it was in the same period of 2020, and 49 percent higher than two years ago.

According to data compiled by CNN and Gunviolencearchive.org, there were 10 mass shootings across nine states that killed seven people and injured at least 45 others just last weekend.

Biden claimed in his speech that the secondary consequences of the pandemic and the proliferation of illegal guns were behind the increase in crime and said he expected crime rates to rise over the summer.

Crime historically rises during the summer, he said. And as we emerge from this pandemic with the country opening back up again, the traditional summer spike may even be more pronounced than it usually would be.

A fact sheet released by the White House on Wednesday listed five major components of the administrations strategy to reduce gun violence and crime: stiffer enforcement of firearms restrictions, increased federal funds for police departments, community violence interventions, summer jobs for teenagers and young adults and programs to help former prisoners find employment and housing.

As Bidens White House speech on Wednesday made clear, however, the program is really about vastly increasing funding for the police, with the rest more a matter of packaging than substance.

Noticeably absent from his remarks was any mention of police reform, which he claimed to champion during his 2020 election campaign, as millions of all races and ethnicities were demonstrating in US cities and cities around the world in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.

Nor did he speak of the massive job loss and growth of poverty for workers resulting from the pandemic, alongside a record rise in stock prices and wealth for the corporate-financial elite, fueled by trillions of dollars in bailouts and virtually free money provided by the Federal Reserve.

Over 600,000 Americans have died to date from COVID-19 due to the policy of subordinating human life to corporate profit pursued by Trump and continued in all essentials by Biden. This policy of social murder is being intensified with the lifting of all restrictions on the spread of the virus and the insistence on reopening the schools with in-person instruction, despite the rapid spread of the more virulent Delta variant of the virus and large parts of the country with low vaccination rates.

What is really driving Bidens diversion of pandemic relief funds into the strengthening of the police is the mounting social and political crisis in the country and the growth of social opposition in the working class. The entire ruling class, complicit in a policy of mass death, is fearful of an eruption of working-class opposition that will escape the control of the pro-corporate trade unions and the two parties of the financial oligarchy.

The police are part of the repressive apparatus of the capitalist state. They are the frontline force for suppressing the working class and upholding the system that exploits it. All factions of the ruling class and both of its parties seek to shore up the police to be thrown against a mass movement of workers.

In an op-ed piece published Wednesday, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman expressed the panicked concerns of the ruling class when he warned of the danger of civil war. Biden and the Democrats, he argued, had to make clear their support for the police. Under the headline Want to Get Trump Re-elected? Dismantle the Police, he warned of volcanic forces  that could blow the lid off our democracy.

In 1994, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Bill Clinton administration, Biden championed the Violent Crime Control and Enforcement Act, which established mandatory and draconian sentences for drug offenders, leading to a surge in incarceration of poor and minority workers and youth. The law also expanded the reach of the death penalty.

Biden drafted the Senate version of the law in collaboration with the National Association of Police Organizations. He warned at the time of predators who were beyond the pale.

Today he heads a right-wing administration in the midst of an unprecedented economic, social and political crisis of American capitalism. His attempt to outflank the Republicans on the issue of law and order and support for the police underscores the impossibility of reforming the police under capitalism, as well as the bankruptcy of politics based on the notion that the Democratic Party can be pushed to the left and turned into an instrument for progressive change.
The Biden administrations Department of Justice (DoJ) confirmed on Tuesday that the US had seized 33 websites affiliated with the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU) and three others operated by Kataib Hizballah (Hezbollah Brigades), an Iraqi Shia group supported by Iran.

In a press statement, the DoJ stated that the website domainsincluding the English and French language PressTV.com based in Teheranwere in violation of US sanctions. The statement said that the US Office of Foreign Assets and Control (OFAC) had designated IRTVU as a Specially Designated National (SDN) during the Trump administration in October 2020 for being owned or controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC).

The DoJ also said that organizations labeled as SDNs are prohibited from obtaining services, including website and domain services, in the United States without an OFAC license and that IRTVU and others like it are not news organizations but are used to launch disinformation campaigns and malign influence operations. It also claimed that the 33 website addresses were owned in the US by IRTVU which did not obtain a license from OFAC prior to utilizing the domain names.

Notification on PressTV website that it has been seized by the US government

In the case of Kataib Hizballah (KH), the DoJ says that it was both designated an SDN by OFAC and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Department of State in July 2009. It claims that KH has committed, directed, supported or posed a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and also did not obtain an OFAC license prior to acquiring the domain names.

Whatever the public justifications provided for its aggressive act, the transparent political purpose of the Biden administrations website seizures is the effort to ratchet up pressure on Iran amid ongoing negotiations in Vienna over the 2015 nuclear agreement and following the June 18 selection of the hardline conservative Ebrahim Raisi as the next Iranian president.

Irans foreign ministry on Wednesday called the seizure an example of a systematic effort to distort freedom of speech on a global level and silence independent voices in media.

One of the seized sites, Al-Masirah, is not owned by Iran, but by Ansarullah, the movement of the Houthis in Yemen, a faction the US has claimed to be proxies of Iran. The news outlet is headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon.

In a statement reported by RT, Al Masirah said it was not surprised by the seizure, as it comes from those that have supervised the most heinous crimes against our people. The website shutdown , reveals, once again, the falsehood of the slogans of freedom of expression and all the other headlines promoted by the United States of America, including its inability to confront the truth, the statement said.

Indicating the broader political aims of the website seizures, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the US took over the domain name of the news website Palestine Today, which publishes the views of Gaza-based Islamic militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, redirecting the site to the same takedown notice.

Visits to the seized websites bring up a graphic with the headline, This website has been seized and a message that says the domain has been taken offline due to a seizure warrant issued under the authority of US code involving civil and criminal forfeiture and special powers given to the president during unusual and extraordinary threat; declaration of national emergency.

Some of the websites have been operating for many years, such as PressTV.com which was launched in 2007. The Wikipedia entry for the Iranian news and documentary network says that the annual budget of PressTV was $8.3 million and it had 400 employees worldwide as of 2009.

AP reported that most of the seized domains are .net, .com and .tv domains. The .net and .com domains are considered generic top level domains (TLDs) and they are controlled by the global provider of the domain name registry, Verisign, based in Reston, Virginia. The contract with Verisign is managed jointly by the US-based non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the US Department of Commerce.

The domain .tv is owned by the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu but administered by the US company Verisign, according to AP. Other news and media domains which are owned by Iran, such as the website PressTV.ir which also publishes in English, have not been affected by the seizures.

A similar action was taken by the DoJ under the Trump administration in November 2020, when the FBI seized 27 domain names it claimed were used by Irans IRGC to spread a global covert influence campaign. Coming from the number one worldwide purveyor of influence campaigns involving money, murder and military occupation, the unsubstantiated accusations against the Iran-based media outlets must be completely rejected as part of the preparations for further wars of aggression in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Meanwhile, the use by Biden of designations made by both the Obama and Trump administrations makes clear the fundamental agreement over foreign policy between the two parties of Wall Street and the US military-intelligence apparatus regardless of whether it is the Democrats or Republicans that control the executive or legislative branches of government.
Volvo Trucks workers in Dublin, Virginia, on strike since June 7, have described their fight as a two-front war. The 2,900 striking workers are battling the giant Swedish multinational, which is carrying out a global cost-cutting drive even as it pays out billions in dividends to its wealthy investors this weekend. The workers are also fighting the United Auto Workers (UAW), which has colluded with Volvo to slash labor costs by 25 percent over the last three contracts and would have rammed through another pro-company deal if not for the determined resistance of rank-and-file workers.

In his first public comments in more than a week, Ray Curry, the UAW secretary-treasurer and head of the UAW Heavy Truck Department, issued a perfunctory letter to striking workers last Thursday. In it he declares that the UAW is seeking a fair and equitable agreement, without giving any details of what the union is demanding that would make the next proposal any different from the two previous ones rejected by Volvo workers. The membership is our top priority, and a new agreement remains our objective for the membership of UAW Local 2069, he declared.

Ray Curry (Source: UAW)

A review of Ray Currys record, however, makes it clear that the needs of Volvo workers will not be his or the UAWs top priority when negotiations resume Wednesday.

As secretary-treasurer, Curry is the UAWs second-in-command and is expected to take over the presidency when current UAW President Rory Gamble retires. Curry is a creature of the UAW apparatus, without the slightest connection to the real conditions and struggles of autoworkers.

In 1992, after a three-year stint at a US Army base in Germany, Curry, then 27, was hired as a truck assembler at the Freightliner plant in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, owned by German multinational Daimler AG. During the next 12 years, mostly spent as a quality assurance inspector, he rose through the ranks of UAW Local 5285 before being selected by the UAW International for higher-paid positions at the regional and national level.

According to a biographical sketch on the website of UAW Region 8, from 1998 through 2004 Curry held a variety of leadership positions to include UAW Constitutional Convention Delegate, Chairman of the Trustees, Financial Secretary Treasurer and Alternate Committeeperson. Further, he served the UAW and state of North Carolina Labor as UAW State Political Action Committee (PAC) Chairman, North Carolina AFL-CIO Executive Board Vice President, and UAW Member Organizer on the 2003 and 2004 Freightliner Organizing Drives in Cleveland, Gastonia, and High Point, North Carolina. Last, Ray was elected as a Democratic National Convention (DNC) Alternate Delegate for the 2012 DNC National Convention on behalf of the state of Tennessee of which he later became a Full Voting Delegate at the convention.

In 2004, UAW President Ron Gettlefinger appointed Curry to his first position on the staff of the UAW International, assigning him to be a Servicing Representative under Gary Casteel, the director of Tennessee-based Region 8, which covered 40,000 UAW members in 12 southeastern and mid-Atlantic states.

As an International Servicing Rep from 2005 to 2009 Curry took in an annual salary of up to $140,941, the equivalent of $192,970 in current dollars, according to the UAWs LM-2 filing with the US Department of Labor. In June 2010, he was named Region 8 Assistant Director by Casteel, and his annual salary was bumped up to $158,693 between 2010 and 2013. After serving as Casteels close aide for nearly a decade, Curry took over as director of Region 8 in 2014, with a salary of $165,950, as Casteel moved up to UAW secretary-treasurer.

Like Gettelfinger and convicted former UAW President Gary Jones, Currys training was not in the school of the class struggle but at a business school, where he learned the trade of cutting labor costs and boosting corporate profit. Curry got his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration-Finance from University of North Carolina-Charlotte before obtaining his MBA from the University of Alabama in 2013.

Freightliner Five

Soon after arriving at Region 8, Curry became involved in the series of efforts in the early 2000s to unionize workers at European and Asian-owned factories in the southern states and stem the loss of dues-paying workers. However, the workers at the Mercedes Benz plant in Vance, Alabama, Nissans plant in Smyrna, Tennessee and several Freightliner plants in North Carolina saw no reason to join an organization that accepted plant closings, mass layoffs and wage cuts in the North. These defeats foretold later UAW debacles at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2014 and Nissans Canton, Mississippi plant in 2017.

A particularly telling experience was the unionization drive at the Freightliner plant in Cleveland, North Carolina. After the $38 billion merger of Daimler AG and Chrysler in 1998, UAW President Stephen Yokich gained a position on Daimlers corporate board of directors. The UAW leveraged this position and its alliance with the German IG Metall unionwhich had several seats on Daimlers boardto get the company to sign a neutrality pact in 2000 designed to make it easier for the UAW to gain recognition at its Freightliner plants in North Carolina.

Instead of resisting the UAW and forcing it to expend considerable resources on another failed effort to win a secret ballot vote, Daimler invited the UAW campaigners into the factory for two weeks. Once the UAW got 50 percent of the workers to sign cards, the union was certified at the Cleveland Freightliner plant in 2003.

Unbeknownst to the workers, however, in exchange for this card-check arrangement, the UAW agreed to a secret deal in 2002, set to stay in place for five years, which prohibited any pattern agreement with other Freightliner facilities, any cost of living, profit sharing and supplemental pay, and any restrictions on overtime. The quid pro quo was signed by Heavy Truck Department head Nate Gooden and was ruthlessly enforced by Region 8 Director Gary Casteel and his right-hand man, Ray Curry.

When negotiations began for a new contract in 2007, the newly elected Local 3250 bargaining committee, under immense pressure from the rank-and-file, opposed efforts by Daimler and the UAW to bring the companys last and final offer to a vote. The deal included a 3 percent raise for top-tier workers, a wage freeze for lower seniority workers, who made up half of the workforce, and cuts to retiree health care. It also did not address scores of unresolved health and safety grievances.

Unwilling to continue working without a contract, the bargaining committee voted unanimously for strike action without waiting for authorization from the International, the membership having previously voted strike authorization by a 98.4 percent margin. The walkout began April 2, 2007. Within hours, however, the UAW International intervened to shut down the strike. Casteel told the local president that it was illegal, unsanctioned, unauthorized, and anyone participating in the strike could be disciplined, up to termination.

The UAW International then negotiated a contract extension on its own and took over negotiations, bypassing the elected bargaining committee. It then accepted the concessions contract that the bargaining committee had previously rejected. When the membership voted down the contract, the UAW intervened to force a re-vote. After intense threats and browbeating, the UAW secured ratification on the second try.

All 11 members of the bargaining committee were fired with the tacit agreement of the UAW. Six were later reinstated after signing last chance agreements drawn up by the UAW International, in which they claimed they had been misled by other committee members. The five most militant membersAllen Bradley, Franklin Torrence, Robert Whiteside, Glenna Swinford, and David Criscowere terminated with the blessing of the UAW International and the Casteel-Curry Region 8 leadership.

In comments quoted in the April 18, 2007 edition of the Charlotte Observer, Casteel made it clear the UAW would do nothing to defend the victimized workers, saying, There are two things a company will take the hardest stance onworkplace violence and an unauthorized work stoppage. They are not going to reinstate them.

Following the strike, the UAW brought the five workers up on internal charges for behavior unbecoming of a union member for leading a strike unauthorized by the UAW International. Although they were acquitted in a trial held by the local, the workers who became known as the Freightliner Five were drummed out of the UAW and barred from attending union meetings.

The bottom line is that the rank and file is taken out of the equation in the negotiations, Robert Whiteside, one of the Freightliner Five, told the WSWS in 2008. I do believe there was a discussion between the company and the International before we started.

Currys rise to the top

Currys star rose after the UAW had already spent decades colluding with the auto and truck bosses to destroy the jobs, living standards and working conditions of its members. Between 2001 and 2014, the number of UAW members fell by nearly half, from 701,818 to 403,000. Since reaching a peak of 1.5 million members in 1979, the UAW had lost 1.1 million, or 77 percent of its membership by 2014, the year Curry became Region 8 director.

In 2007, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger signed the transformational contracts with GM, Ford and Chrysler, which established the two-tier wage scheme and abolished the long-standing principle of equal pay for equal work. During the 2009 bankruptcy restructuring of GM and Chrysler, the UAW collaborated with the Obama administration to wipe out tens of thousands of jobs, gut whatever remained of income protections for laid off workers and halve the wages of all new hires. The historic concessions set the pattern for the givebacks that UAW Heavy Truck Directors General Holiefield, Gary Casteel and Ray Curry would hand over to Volvo in every contract since 2008.

While auto and truck workers suffered massive job and income losses over the last two decades, the assets and investment income of the UAW increased as the corporations funneled a portion of the money the UAW helped them rob from workers back into the union coffers. Literally billions of dollars were handed to the UAW through labor-management training centers, corporate shares, board positions and the formation of the UAW Retirees Medical Benefits Trust.

Curry being sworn in 2018. To the right is Gary Jones, and at the podium, is Dennis Williams: the two UAW presidents who would be convicted for embezzlement. (Source: UAW)

In June 2018, Curry was selected as secretary-treasurer at the UAW 37th annual Constitutional Convention after his boss Gary Casteel quietly withdrew his bid for reelection. Casteel, who had been on the shortlist to replace outgoing UAW President Dennis Williams, instead decided to work with the FBI before he was indicted in the widespread corruption case, which would lead to the conviction of Williams, Gary Jones and other top UAW executives. It strains credibility to believe that Curry, described as Casteels protege by the Detroit Free Press, was not aware of the bribing of his fellow UAW officials and their embezzlement of millions of dollars in union dues.

In any case, as secretary-treasurer Curry hopped on the gravy train with his $236,608 salary, plus additional salaries and traveling expenses for his newly-appointed positions as a trustee of the UAW Retirees Medical Benefits Trust and member of Daimlers supervisory board. In 2019, he approved the spending of $2.3 million in legal fees to defend top UAW officials caught in the corruption probe.

In 2018, as head of the Heavy Truck Department, Curry signed a six-year deal covering 6,000 Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) workers in North Carolina and other states, which maintained the two-tier wage system and included an average annual pay increase of less than 2 percent. After the UAW rammed through the deals a company spokesman boasted, The agreements represent the continuation of a long and fruitful relationship between the UAW and DTNA, and we are proud to renew our partnership with them for another six years.

In 2019, Curry oversaw the sellout of the strike by 3,500 Mack-Volvo Trucks workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and other states, forcing them back to work before seeing, let alone voting on, another concessionary contract. Although the strike led to layoffs at the New River Valley plant, Curry ordered NRV workers to remain on the job, isolating the Mack-Volvo workers just like the UAW is doing to the NRV workers now.

Mack Truck pickets at the Hagerstown plant in Maryland

In April 2020, Curry was appointed to the Washington D.C.-based Democracy Initiative, a Democratic Party think tank and lobbying group that includes his fellow union bureaucrats who head the AFL-CIO labor federation, the American Federations of Teachers and other unions.

The description of the organization says: United by a shared vision for a political process that counts every voice and every vote equally, we are mobilizing members of Democracy Initiative organizations to ensure that all Americans can vote, diminish the influence of corporate and special interests  Together, we can break down these barriers and protect our democracy from the systematic effort to shift power from the many to a wealthy few by silencing our voices in the workplace, in the ballot box, and in the offices of our elected officials.

As his record showsfrom the victimization of the Freightliner Five to running roughshod over the democratic rights of Daimler, Mack-Volvo and Volvo workers in 2018, 2019 and 2021Curry has spent his entire career silencing voices in the workplace and imposing the dictates of the corporations and the wealthy few on the working class.

Curry is now seeking to isolate the Volvo strikers, conceal any information about the strike from autoworkers, and starve the NRV workers into submission with $275 a week in strike pay, while he brings home a weekly salary of $4,538.

There is nothing particularly remarkable about Curry. Along with the other top executives who staff the UAW and the AFL-CIO, he personifies the social interests of a privileged layer that benefits from the exploitation of the workers it claims to represent.
Testimonials filed in a California federal court this week reveal the horrific conditions faced by migrant children who are being held in federal detention centers, euphemistically categorized as emergency shelters, set up by the Biden administration. The conditions described in the 17 testimonials from children aged nine to 17, largely from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, include being given spoiled food, lack of drinking water and clean clothes, overcrowding, inability to contact family members and severe mental health issues.

Young unaccompanied migrants, from ages 3 to 9, watch television inside a playpen at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, the main detention center for unaccompanied children in the Rio Grande Valley, in Donna, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, Pool, File)

The testimonials were gathered by attorneys with the Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law and the National Center for Youth Law, who are representing the children in the long-running Flores settlement, a court agreement setting bedrock standards of care for children in federal custody. Recorded between March and early June, these testimonials make it obvious that the Biden administrations promises of a more humane approach to immigration remain mere rhetoric.

The situation described by the children in their accounts presents a grim picture of what it means to be a detained, unaccompanied minor under the Democratic Partys watch.

A 13-year-old from Honduras, who was separated from her father while crossing into the US, has been held in Fort Bliss, Texas, for over two months. She told attorneys that she had problems sleeping in her overcrowded tent because the bright lights were on all night. But it was the food that was an even bigger issue. Much of it was inedible, the hamburger they had been served the night before had a distinct odor that made it impossible for them to eat, and one of her friends had been served some chicken that still had feathers on it. I really only eat popsicles and juice because that is the only food I can trust, she said.

A 14-year-old from Guatemala, who is being held in a facility in Houston, spoke of the extreme heat in the tents that caused children to faint, the lack of clean drinking water and being forced to drink rancid milk when they ran out of water. A 17-year-old Guatemalan girl detained at Fort Bliss described sleeping in a large white tent with about three hundred girls, on cots stacked on top of each other. She said it was hard to sleep due to the rattling noise the tents metal beams made at night.

Many of the testimonies highlighted the impact of the situation on the mental health of the detainees. A teenager, who had been held in the Dallas, Texas, convention center, spoke of feeling asphyxiated in the overcrowded facility which held 2,600 children. The testimonial continues in a heartbreaking vein: There is no one here I can talk to about my case. Theres also no one here I can talk to when Im feeling sad. Theres no one here; I just talk to God. It helps me and I cry. It would help if I could have a Bible. A 16-year-old Guatemalan boy, who has been held in a facility in Pecos, Texas, for over two months when his testimonial was collected, spoke of a sense of despair, a lot of sadness among the detainees: Every day, I dont have the desire to eat I just want to lie down all the time. In Fort Bliss, the teenagers spoke of being placed on suicide watch, and the fact that many of the detainees were so depressed that they used the plastic ID tags to cut themselves.

A CBS News report released Tuesday further reinforces the general horror of the situation in these emergency shelters. Focusing particularly on Fort Bliss, the report describes protests by detainees to demand improved living conditions, an aborted attempt by some to escape what even federal employees described as a juvenile detention center, and a level of distress so high as to require bans on pencils, pens, scissors, nail clippers, and regular toothbrushes. At one point, workers reported having been asked to remove the metal nose clips from N95 face masks.

The federal employees, who spoke to CBS on the condition of anonymity, described an abysmal pit of despair where panic attacks were par for the course, and children were held without any information about their fates or contact with family members. An employee who had volunteered at Fort Bliss stated that she saw girls having panic attacks that involved seizure-like symptoms: Their bodies start to twist They cant take it anymore. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, a Democrat who represents the Texas district where Fort Bliss is located, told CBS News that the problem with the shelter has been chronic, and has not improved despite her raising these issues after each of her four visits to the center.

In response, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided a pro-forma and blatantly false PR statement deeming the detention camp a paradise for children: From exercise classes to weekly meetings with case managers for every child at Fort Bliss, weve worked hard to provide access to recreation, counseling and behavioral health services and more There is a library on site which kids are encouraged to visit anytime, weekly spiritual services and comment boxes in every residential space for kids to confidentially reach out with concerns.

Emergency shelters like the one at Fort Bliss were set up by the Biden administration to supposedly alleviate the horrendous overcrowding in Border Patrol Facilities that was exposed in late-March. These shelters do not have state licenses that certify their ability to care for minors and their standards of care as well as ability to provide services such as case management is much lower than what is expected of normal HHS shelters. Over the past few months, the administration has prevented reporters from accessing any of these sites. The testimonials of the detainees and that of the concerned federal employees make the reasons for this secrecy obvious.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a former police captain, had a sizeable lead in ballots cast Tuesday in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, but final results will not be known for nearly a month because of delays in counting mail ballots and the citys newly adopted system of ranked-choice voting.

Voters sign in at Frank McCourt High School, in New York, Tuesday, June 22, 2021.(AP Photo/Richard Drew); Eric Adams (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Adams had 31.7 percent of the election-day and early voting, compared to 22.3 percent for Maya Wiley, former counsel for outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio. Wiley is the choice of pseudo-left figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Kathryn Garcia, who was sanitation commissioner under de Blasio and had the editorial backing of the New York Times and Daily News, won 19.5 percent of the vote.

Andrew Yang, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, finished fourth with 11.7 percent. He immediately conceded. In the last weekend before the primary, Yang campaigned with Garcia and urged his supporters to mark her second on their ballots.

The remaining four Democrats with significant financial or organizational support all trailed far behind: former City Comptroller Scott Stringer with 5.0 percent, non-profit executive Dianne Morales with 2.8 percent, hedge fund investor Raymond McGuire with 2.3 percent, and former Obama cabinet official Shaun Donovan with 2.2 percent.

Adams, who is African American, sought to capitalize on his impoverished upbringing and his role as an opponent within the New York Police Department of some of the most egregious police abuses. At the same time, he cashed in on the support of real estate interests, most trade unions, including Transport Workers Union Local 100, and the bulk of the Democratic Party organization.

The geographical breakdown of the vote showed each of the top three candidates leading in distinct areas. Adams placed first in nearly all the poorest election districts of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, where the bulk of working class New Yorkers live.

Wiley, also African American, ran first in the parts of Brooklyn and Queens closest to Manhattan, which have been heavily gentrified and are populated by more upscale residents, both minority and white. She and her husband are both multimillionaires. She is a lawyer and he is an investor.

Garcia ran first in most of Manhattan, particularly the wealthier areas, where the editorial support of the Times would carry some weight.

Under the ranked-choice system, voters could select up to five candidates. Lower-ranking candidates will be eliminated, starting at the bottom, and their votes redistributed to the next candidate on each voters ballot. It is possible, though comparatively rare, for a second- or third-place candidate in ranked-choice voting to overtake the election day leader as ballots are redistributed.

According to CNBC, Adams actually trailed Wiley and Garcia when second, third and fourth choices were included. It is thus mathematically possible, although unlikely, that Wiley or Garcia could overtake Adams once all votes are tallied and redistributed.

Despite claims by its advocates that ranked-choice voting makes the political system more democratic, the mayoral campaign was conducted within the framework of the corporate-controlled two-party system, which in New York City is, in effect, a one-party system.

There was virtually no way for the concerns of working people to be articulated in the mayoral campaign. Adams, while promoted by the Democratic Party apparatus as a representative of the poor and an opponent of police violence, was the most heavily funded of all the candidates, in a primary campaign that cost a total of $100 million. He collected the most in campaign contributions from business interests and from the major unions.

Besides his close alignment with the real estate industry, Adams is tied to the charter school industry. A charter school official chaired the super PAC backing his campaign, and three wealthy hedge fund investors who back charter schools pumped nearly $2 million into that super PAC: Kenneth Griffin, Stanley Druckenmiller and Paul Tudor Jones.

After a career of more than 20 years in the New York transit police and New York Police Department, in which he co-founded the association of black police officers, Adams went into electoral politics, winning a Democratic seat in the New York state Senate, and then the largely ceremonial position of Brooklyn borough president, which he has held the last eight years.

He spoke often of his humble beginnings and how, as a teenager, he was beaten by police. According to a profile in the New York Times, he joined the police force at the urging of Rev. Herbert Daughtry, founder of the National Black United Front, a prominent preacher and black nationalist. Some of us needed to work outside of the system, and some inside the system, Daughtry reportedly told him.

Actually, of course, both were working inside the system, and particularly inside the Democratic Party, the oldest capitalist party in America. Daughtry was later an aide to Jesse Jackson Jr. in his campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination. His daughter Leah Daughtry was CEO of both the 2008 and 2016 Democratic national conventions.

Some 3.76 million people in New York City are registered Democrats and thus eligible to vote in the primary contest. City officials said that 798,000 votes were counted Tuesday night, including both early votes and votes cast on Election Day. As many as 200,000 mail ballots may have been submitted. Votes postmarked June 22 will be counted as long as they are received by June 29.

It is thus likely that fewer than 1 million people, out of 5.6 million eligible voters, chose the next mayor of New York. Even that figure, up significantly from the 646,000 who took part in the last contested primary, in 2013, would represent only 26.6 percent of registered Democrats. It is only 17.8 percent of all voters.

The first results of the ranked-choice process will be released June 29, but these could be substantially altered as the mail ballots begin to be counted. The process of eliminating candidates cannot begin until the final tally of all votes is available, and some press reports suggest that the entire process will not be completed until July 13, or even July 20.

In upstate New York, the results of mayoral primary elections in Buffalo and Rochester, the states second- and third-largest cities, were announced within hours of Tuesdays balloting, and in both cases entrenched incumbent mayors identified as defenders of police brutality were thrown out of office.

The clearest popular repudiation of police violence came in Buffalo, where four-term mayor Byron Brown was defeated in the Democratic primary by India Walton, an affordable housing advocate and former nurse. She ran with the support of the Democratic Socialists of America and financial backing from the Working Families Party, a third party set up by sections of the union bureaucracy and the pseudo-left that frequently endorses Democrats.

Walton had a 54-46 percent margin over Brown, although the mayor refused to concede, citing uncounted absentee ballots that would have to be cast nearly 100 percent in his favor to overcome Waltons lead of about 1,500 votes. Both candidates are African American.

Brown, a close ally of Governor Andrew Cuomo and a past chairman of the state Democratic Party, backed by local business and unions, took his reelection for granted. He refused to debate Walton, who attacked his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the crackdown against last years protests over the police killing of George Floyd, in which she participated.

Buffalo police brutality was put in the spotlight during those protests when they were filmed knocking down a 75-year-old peace activist outside City Hall, then stepping over his prone body. Martin Gugino spent a month in the hospital. After two cops were charged with assault, all 57 members of the police special response unit resigned. The charges were later dropped.

Given that there is no Republican nominee for mayor of Buffalo, Brown could still choose to run an independent campaign in the fall, so Waltons election is not assured.

In Rochester, City Council member Malik Evans defeated incumbent Lovely Warren by a landslide of 66-34 percent. As in Buffalo, both candidates were African American.

Warren was identified with the suffocation murder of Daniel Prude, a homeless black man who was held down naked, handcuffed and hooded, by seven cops. When video of the March 2020 killing emerged in September 2020, the citys police chief was forced to resign.

Evans benefited not only from the popular revulsion over the killing of Prude, but from the virtual self-destruction of Warrens reelection campaign. In the months before the primary, the mayor was indicted on campaign finance violations, and her husband was arrested on drugs and weapons charges.
The Liberal-National government in New South Wales (NSW), Australias most populous state, is rejecting demands from epidemiologists and other health experts for the immediate introduction of a lockdown to stem a growing coronavirus outbreak in Sydney.

The decision has no public health justification whatsoever. The NSW administration is simply giving a practical demonstration of the mantras promoted by the financial elite throughout the pandemic and ever-more openly adopted by governments across Australia this year.

According to this sociopathic line of argument, it is necessary for ordinary people to learn to live with the potentially-deadly virus, and everything must be done to avoid disruptions to corporate profit-making activities, whatever the health consequences.

Gladys Berejiklian (Credit: @GladysB, Twitter)

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has sought to give this a folksy spin, claiming in recent days that she does not want to burden our citizens with the required public health measures. A sympathetic article in the Australian Financial Review absurdly claimed that the premier was defying calls from epidemiologists because she wished to save the school holidays and ensure that families could do as they pleased during the term break.

The recklessness is all the more stark, given that it is the Delta variant which is circulating in Australias largest city. The variant is leading to a resurgence of the pandemic internationally, including in countries such as Britain, and others that had previously suppressed transmission. Deltas potential to drive a public health catastrophe has already been witnessed in the tragedy that has befallen the Indian population over recent months.

In the 24-hours to 8 p.m. yesterday, Sydney recorded 18 new cases, followed by another 6 overnight. That almost doubled the total number of infections, since the outbreak began on June 14, to 48.

Compared to figures being recorded around the world, the numbers remain relatively low. However, yesterdays tally of infections was the highest in Sydney since the citys last major outbreak last December. Prior to that, case numbers in the high teens for a single day were only recorded at the very beginning of the pandemic, in April 2020.

Wednesdays 18 infections, moreover, are a substantially greater number than any single-day count registered in Melbourne, before the state Labor government of Victoria announced a lockdown there last month. At the time that partial shutdown was announced, with Victorian authorities declaring it was necessary to prevent the outbreak from spiralling out of control, the state had recorded daily case numbers of 2, 2, 12 and 9, for a total of 27.

As in the Victorian outbreak, the Sydney cluster has already shown the high transmissibility of Delta, which is up to twice as contagious as the initial iteration of the virus. One infection was registered after a woman walked past an infected individual in a shopping centre, another was caused by the briefest of contacts between strangers in a cafe.

And like in Melbourne, there are so-called mystery cases, whose source is not clear, indicating undetected chains of virus transmission in the community. That includes one of the cases from overnight, and a young pupil at St Charles Catholic Primary School in the suburb of Waverley, who tested positive on Tuesday despite having no known links to any previous infections.

The governments rejection of lockdown measures over the past week has already allowed the geographical spread of the virus to greatly expand. The first cases were centred in a handful of Sydneys eastern suburbs. There are now more than 100 exposure sites in every direction of the city.

Almost half of yesterdays cases were recorded in the working-class southwestern suburbs, while regional areas outside of Sydney, including the steel city of Wollongong, have also registered potential exposures.

Because of the lifting of many travel restrictions, the Sydney outbreak threatens a spread of the virus in states across the country, most of which have only belatedly imposed border restrictions this week. Today, a man tested positive after returning to Victoria from Sydney.

The cluster has also gone international, after an infected Sydney man arrived in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, in the latest demonstration of the recklessness of a travel bubble between the two countries aimed at boosting the fortunes of tourism and other corporations. Little mention has been made of the possible infection spread from the planeload of travellers returning to Australia with the man.

Speaking the day after Sydney had recorded its highest number of community transmitted infections in more than six months, Berejiklian this afternoon sought to project a smug complacency. Her level of concern was medium to high. Sydney was going through its scariest situation yet, but Berejiklian was comfortable that the settings we have in place are appropriate.

Together with the corporate press, Berejiklian has bizarrely sought to present yesterdays record cases as a positive development, on the grounds that they could have been greater. The situation is bad, but be thankful that it is not even worse, is the general line, one which could be employed to downplay almost any conceivable crisis or catastrophe.

While seeking to justify her governments rejection of a lockdown, Berejiklian was unable to deliver her press conference from the state parliament today, because it is currently locked-down. Agricultural Minister Adam Marshall has tested positive and Health Minister Brad Hazzard, a government hatchet man responsible for the states pandemic response, is in isolation.

The state government has had to delay the passage of its budget, because of the parliamentary outbreak. In previous surges of the pandemic internationally, the infection of prominent political leaders has often been a sign that transmission is occurring far more widely than is registered in official statistics, and that an outbreak is spiralling out of control.

While essentially declaring that her government would do nothing, Berejiklian took the opportunity today to hector the population, and to suggest that it is responsible for Sydneys current predicament. The [non-lockdown] settings would work, but only if ordinary people do the right thing. You need to socially-distance, you need to hand sanitise, you have to ensure that you are COVID safe, Berejiklian declared, as she adopted the pose of an exasperated parent.

The NSW government has issued a directive banning residents in seven heavily-affected local areas of Sydney from travelling outside the city. It has reinstated caps on the number of patrons in indoor venues.

Aside from this, the governments policy is essentially limited to an expansion of mask mandates. They are in place, not only for public transport and retail shopping, but also for workplaces, including offices and factories, for the first time since the pandemic began. The clear purpose is to ensure that there are no workplace closures. Gymsalong with cafes, restaurants and pubsremain open but those doing exercise will also need to wear masks.

With the ending of the federal JobKeeper wage subsidy and the growing number of people on the poverty-level JobSeeker unemployment benefit, the NSW government is ensuring that businesses continue in the interests of the bottom line and profits.

Epidemiologists have become increasingly strident in their condemnations of the NSW government.

Professor Nicholas Talley, editor in chief of the Medical Journal of Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Im concerned the restrictions are not tough enoughthis is the Delta variant, the worst possible threat, and going hard and early will provide the community the greatest safety.

University of Melbourne epidemiologist, Professor Tony Blakely, warned: Each day you delay means that if you need a lockdown, which I think is more than likely now, it will be longer and harder if they dont do it soon. One of the other measures is keeping gyms open at the moment, even with people wearing masks, is, frankly, crazy.

But the corporate press has seemingly never been more satisfied with Berejiklian and her government. In previous outbreaks, the official media has pilloried state authorities over their responsibility for quarantine and other failures that led to outbreaks. The Victorian Labor government in particular has been the subject of often hysterical condemnation.

The difference is that Berejiklian is holding the line for the ruling elite, for whom the corrupt corporate reporters speak, and is declaring that she will not declare a lockdown, even a limited one under popular pressure.

In this she has the support of the federal Liberal-National government, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison branding the refusal to implement a lockdown as sensible and stating that NSW authorities were doing a terrific job. For their part, the state premiers, the majority of them Labor representatives, last month agreed to new federal guidelines aimed at preventing any future lockdowns.

In NSW, the state Labor Party opposition and its new leader Chris Minns are virtually invisible, doing nothing to differentiate from Berejiklian amid rising popular demands for a lockdown. Minns was installed earlier this month, based on pledges to work positively with Berejiklian, as part of team NSW. For their part, the corporatised unions have not advanced a single demand to protect the health and safety of the workers they falsely claim to represent.
Following a very heated meeting of union members on Wednesday, bus drivers in Wellington voted 150 to 73 to reject a third pay offer from NZ Bus, in opposition to the Tramways Unions formal recommendation to accept it.

This is a major development in the drivers struggle for decent wages and working conditions. On April 23, about 280 drivers were locked out by NZ Bus after they voted to strike following the rejection of an initial offer that would have slashed annual leave, as well as overtime and weekend pay rates. The following month, drivers rejected a second, basically unchanged offer, and voted in favour of industrial action. The union, however, went back into negotiations.

The drivers rejection of the third, union-backed offer points to the growing militancy and anger among workers in New Zealand and internationally, who are seeking to fight back against austerity and never-ending attacks on their living standards. In doing so, workers are coming into conflict not only with governments and corporations, but with the trade union bureaucracy that is seeking to isolate and sell out workers struggles.

Bus drivers picket during the April 23 lockout in Wellington (Source: WSWS Media).

The stand taken by NZ Bus drivers follows the June 9 nationwide strike by 30,000 nurses and healthcare workers. The Labour Party-led government is seeking to impose a three-year pay freeze across the public sector to fund its handouts to big business in response to the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic.

NZ Bus is owned by Australian-based private equity company Next Capital, which is seeking to squeeze as much profit as possible from the operation before selling it. Next Capitals website states that it expects a return on investment of 25 percent, which is to be extracted through increased exploitation of workers.

The vote represents a significant shift by workers compared with just a few months ago during the April lockout, when there was little or no open criticism of the union leaders. Stuff reported that Wednesdays ratification meeting saw drivers direct their fury at both the company and the Tramways Union. Driver Koro Hikori denounced the attempt to pressure workers: At the end of the day we make the decisions, not you. I do not like to be threatened. You do not scare people into signing something they do not want to sign.

Union secretary Kevin OSullivan had said the day before: Its a good offer. Its a much improved offer on what we previously rejected.

In fact, the third offer was a sellout. It included a pay rate of $22.10 an hour, which is falsely promoted as a living wage by the trade unions. This is an increase of just over $2 for many drivers, who currently make less than the legal minimum wage of $20 an hour.

The offer would have reduced penal rates, currently time-and-a-half for overtime and double time on weekends, to $30 for overtime and $40 an hour on Sundays and public holidays.

The meagre hourly raise was to be funded, not by the company, but by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which contracts NZ Bus to provide public transport services. The council, led by the Labour Partys Daran Ponter, offered to subsidise the companys wages bill.

Public transport is in a crisis. Pay and conditions are so abysmal that Wellingtons operatorsTranzurban, NZ Bus and Uzabuscannot find enough drivers, resulting in frequent service cancellations. According to Stuff, the region needed a total of 700 drivers to run the network, and was up to 60 short.

One driver told the World Socialist Web Site that the latest offer was not good, its not what we were asking for Its the members that make the decisions, not the officials of the union. He added: I give credit to all my fellow workmates for standing up for their rights today [The vote showed] our union representatives, as well as the company and the council, that we are not backing down, we are fighting until the end. He believed drivers were prepared to strike until they got what they wanted.

Another driver said: The union had no right to say that the deal was settled, and that caused a lot of anguish today. What has pissed people off is that this $22.10, the companys not paying that, its the council. The companys not paying anything. He also noted that NZ Bus was demanding a greater ability to dictate drivers shift times.

The union announced on June 15 that it had reached an agreement with the companywell before workers had been consulted. The media portrayed this as a done deal, with Radio NZs Kathryn Ryan falsely stating on June 16 that a deal has been struck between NZ Bus and its drivers  [emphasis added].

The driver said that prior to the vote, the union had circulated a leaflet stating: Rejection of this offer will leave members with no choice but to engage in drawn-out industrial action which absolutely guarantees no success. This attempt to pressure workers into accepting the sellout only fuelled their anger, he added: The union got told by some of the drivers how disgusted they are with the outcome. People were asking them: are they on our side?

At the meeting, he said, union officials told workers if we didnt accept [the offer] then wed go on the Auckland contract. The Tramways Union agreed with NZ Bus last year to a major reduction in penal rates for hundreds of drivers in Auckland.

We told the union to go back to the company and tell them that we want our conditions kept, and the living wage. If not, strike action. However, the officials did not call for any vote on strike action. The union is returning to negotiations with the company and the council.

The Tramways Unions attempt to ram through a pro-company sellout underlines the need for new organisations, independent of the pro-capitalist trade unions and the Labour Party, and controlled by workers themselves. The International Committee of the Fourth International, which publishes the WSWS, has called for the formation of an International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, to unite workers struggles across borders, against the unions attempts to isolate and defeat them.

Such workplace committees would seek to break the union-imposed isolation of the NZ Bus workers, by uniting with drivers in Auckland, Christchurch and other centres, as well as train workers who are facing similar attacks on their wages and conditions. They would also appeal directly for support from workers in Australia and other countries.

The situation facing drivers raises, above all, the need for a socialist party and perspective, in opposition to the Labour governmentwhich falsely promised to improve wages for public transport and other workers. Public transport and other essential industries must be taken out of the hands of big business and placed under public ownership and workers control, with tens of billions of dollars invested to expand services, dramatically boost wages and ensure safe working conditions.

The Socialist Equality Group calls on all workers to support the stand taken by NZ Bus workers. We appeal to public transport and other workers to contact us to discuss our perspective and the need to build rank-and-file committees to expand this struggle.
Around the world, epidemiologists and public health experts are ringing the alarm about the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, which is up to 60 percent more transmissible than the previously dominant variant and has shown indications of being partially resistant to some vaccines.

The Delta variant is faster, it is fitter, it will pick off the more vulnerable more efficiently than previous variants, warned Dr. Michael Ryan at a World Health Organization press briefing Monday. Jennifer Surtees, co-director of the University of Buffalos genome research hub, told the Financial Times, The variant could really get transmitted like wildfire.

The Delta variant, first detected in India, is responsible for a resurgence of the pandemic in the UK, where the number of daily new COVID-19 cases has grown five-fold over the past six weeks. The variant is also behind a sharp rise of cases and deaths in Portugal and Russia. On Tuesday, Russia recorded its highest daily death toll from the pandemic since early February. Other countries in Europe and Southeast Asia are also seeing a rise in cases due to the new variant.

Passengers board a Missouri River Runner Amtrak train in Lee's Summit, Missouri as the state is seeing an alarming rise in cases because of a combination of the fast-spreading delta variant and stubborn resistance among many people to getting vaccinated. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Other parts of the world, particularly in Africa and Latin America, are seeing a sharp rise in cases even before the more transmissible variant has been widely detected. In South Africa, daily new cases are again over 11,000 and are approaching the previous peak of 19,000 reached in early January. In Brazil, where more than 500,000 people have died, new cases are at near record levels, at close to 75,000 a day.

The variant also threatens to drive a new surge of the pandemic in the US, which continues to record 12,000 new cases every day and more than 300 deaths. Only 45.8 percent of the US population is fully vaccinated, but in some states the vaccination rate is less than 35 percent.

In an ominous warning, epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding predicted that the Delta variant will become [the] dominant #COVID19 strain within weeks in the United States. He noted data from the Financial Times indicating that close to one-third of US cases are caused by the Delta variant, meaning that the share of cases attributable to the variant may have doubled/tripled in 1 week!

In Arkansas, where vaccination rates are lowest in the United States, the Delta variant now accounts for 56 percent of all sequenced cases, according to the data presented by the Financial Times. The newspaper added that the variant is estimated to account for 49 percent of new cases in Utah and 42 percent in Missouri, which also have below-average vaccination rates.

Despite the danger posed by the new variant, states throughout the US are accelerating the removal of all restraints on the spread of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stood on the beach at Detroits Belle Isle park and declared that the state was ending all restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19.

This is an exciting announcement that we are now dropping the epi[demic] orders, Whitmer said. Effective today, there is no more mask or gathering order. Effective today, there are no more capacity limits, indoors or outdoors. Effective today, our pure Michigan summer is back.

Michigans announcement of the end of mask mandates and social distancingtogether with similar announcements by New York and Californiais part of a nationwide and global move by governments to end all measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 ahead of what scientists warn will be a massive resurgence of the disease.

Throughout Europe, governments are likewise eliminating restrictions on the spread of COVID-19, even as health officials warn that ending them will result in a new wave of cases.

Denmark is ending restrictions despite an increase in cases caused by the Delta variant and has dropped mask requirements in indoor settings. And last week the European Union dropped restrictions on non-essential travel from 14 countries, including the US, effectively allowing unrestricted tourist travel.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned that the abandonment of measures to stop the spread of the pandemic could lead to a resurgence of cases on the scale of last years increase, despite the availability of vaccination. It declared:

Modeling scenarios indicate that any relaxation over the summer months of the stringency of nonpharmaceutical measures could lead to a fast and significant increase in daily cases in all age groups, with an associated increase in hospitalizations and deaths, potentially reaching the same levels of the autumn of 2020 if no additional measures are taken.

This is an extraordinary warning. Despite the availability of vaccines, death rates could again reach the levels seen last fall as a predictable result of the policies being carried out by governments around the world.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, is intransigent in its demands for the reopening of in-person instruction at K-12 schools. On Wednesday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky told NBC that notwithstanding the rapid spread of the Delta variant, there would be no change in the administrations plan to ensure the full reopening of schools. This is despite overwhelming evidence that the Delta variant disproportionately affects children.

Throughout the United States almost all masking and social distancing requirements have been eliminated since the CDC advised the abandonment of mandatory masking mandates. In response to the CDCs announcement, workplace after workplace is dropping restrictions. The automaker Stellantis announced last week that it was abandoning temperature checks and other social distancing measures.

Meanwhile, as the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month, A growing number of states are slowing the pace of their reports on key pandemic data, including cases, deaths and hospitalizations.

Nearly 4 million people have died from the coronavirus pandemic over the past year and a half. According to vastly undercounted official figures, daily new cases are at over 360,000 and daily deaths at nearly 8,000. In the United States alone, more than 600,000 people have died, based on official reports, though estimates of the true death toll rise to nearly one million.

As has been the case throughout the pandemic, policy is driven by the demands of the financial oligarchy for the removal of all obstacles to profit-making and providing an uninterrupted supply of labor for capitalist exploitation. As a result of the policy of subordinating human lives to private profit, one million new millionaires have been created in the US over the past year, according to a recent report by Credit Suisse.

Workers must reject the ruling class campaign to abandon measures to contain the pandemic, the aim of which is the normalization of mass death to facilitate the enrichment of the financial oligarchy. With the spread of the Delta variant, it is all the more urgent for workers to oppose the abandonment of social distancing and mask wearing and the ongoing dismantling of the health care infrastructure for tracking and isolating COVID-19 cases.

The spread of the Delta variant demonstrates once again that the pandemic is a global crisis that requires a global response. Only 10 percent of the worlds population is fully vaccinated. In low-income countries, less than one percent of the population has even received one dose of the vaccine. The continued spread of the virus globally raises the danger of the further development of new variants that will inevitably infect other countries, sparking new outbreaks.

The inability of governments to contain the pandemic reflects the fundamental social dynamic of capitalismthe subordination of policy to the interests of the ruling class and national conflict. It is this social order that bears responsibility for the massive toll of the pandemic, which in the final analysis expresses the incompatibility of the needs of society with the profit system.
As the COVID-19 disaster resurges on a global scale, Taiwans pandemic continues to grow, with more than 100 new cases every day for a month. In the data released on June 20, another 11 deaths were recorded and 109 confirmed infections were added.

Elderly Taiwanese people wait to receive shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

In a bid to downplay the crisis, the Taipei City government decided to end daily reports on pandemic data, causing popular concern. Mayor Ko Wen-Je announced that future reports will be elastically organised.

Responding to reporters questions, Ko Wen-Je said the daily report data is meaningless. He claimed that Taiwans Center for Disease Control (CDC) would publish the number of diagnosed people every day, but the CDC reports often differ from the Taipei City data.

Ko Wen-Jes statement exposed a fact: Taiwans pandemic emergency has been underway for more than a month, but the central and local governments have failed to provide a regular, synchronized way to report the data.

Taiwans government is trying to make people believe that the epidemic has tended to stabilize, and everything is under control, but the outbreak has exposed its boasts of being a model of epidemic prevention.

On May 27, the Taipei Doctors Union said in a Facebook post that with the deteriorating situation in Taipei, the medical system is highly stressed, with medical equipment and professionals extremely lacking.

On May 28, Singapore-based doctor Lim Wooi Tee, an epidemic prevention specialist, appeared on the Taiwanese talk show 50 Era Money to call for a total lockdown on the island.

Nevertheless, the Taiwanese government has refused to raise lockdown measures to the highest stage. Instead it has extended third-stage measures to the end of June. Taiwans ruling elites and media have referred to a Stay At Home policy, but have ignored the difficulties suffered by the working class.

According to reports, 445 companies have imposed unpaid leave programs, and at least 4,125 workers have been furloughed without pay, while other workers have had their salaries slashed.

At the same time, the Taiwan Labour Department announced that logistics companies can invoke disaster or emergency provisions, requiring workers to do overtime and cancel rest days. Logistics companies can force employees to work more than 12 hours a day, and monthly overtime can exceed the previous 46-hour limit.

This high-intensity work, combined with a lack of protection, is fuelling anger over the use of the crisis to intensify the exploitation of workers.

Employees of many electronic equipment and semiconductor manufacturing plants located in the Hsinchu and Miaoli areas have been compelled to stay at their jobs, directly exposing them to the risk of infection. Many factories began to report large-scale infection clusters from the beginning of June. In the first half of the month, a total of 448 migrant workers in these factories have been infected, along with nearly 100 local workers.

The fact that so many migrant workers have been infected has exposed their poor working conditions and living environment. According to reports, their housing is very crowded and sanitary conditions are terrible. The Labour Department suggested that migrant workers agencies quarantine workers with one person, one room, but the agencies said this was impossible, or would be too costly, because their dormitories usually have 8 to 12 workers per room, or even more.

After the outbreaks, these factories did not immediately shut down, but only partially suspended production. Infections were reportedly brought under control in recent days, and Taiwanese media outlets have begun to promote bright prospects of rising orders for these factories in the second half of the year.

In addition to the big business-driven chaos of the governments response to the pandemic, the islands vaccine supply has been subordinated to the drive by the Biden administration in the United States to use Taiwan as a tool to confront Beijing.

The Taiwanese authorities rejected Beijings proposal for vaccine assistance a month ago, then immediately turned to the US and Japan for vaccines. On June 20, some 2.5 million doses of vaccine donated by the US government arrived, three times the amount previously promised.

President Tsai Ing-wen quickly thanked President Biden through Facebook, writing: A friend in need is a friend indeed, the United States is a true friend of Taiwan.

Japan, which occupied the island from 1895 to 1945, also stated recently that it would continue to provide assistance to Taiwan.

In response, Beijing and the media under its control has conducted a propaganda war on the Taiwan vaccine safety issue, directed against the AstraZeneca vaccine being used. Mirroring the attacks on Chinese vaccines carried out by the Western media, the Chinese media have exaggerated the side effects and health risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The pandemic in Taiwan shows that the capitalist government, like others around the world, has chosen to sacrifice the poor and the working class, and prioritize the profits of large enterprises. At the same time, the official response to the pandemic has been subjected to the agenda of the US and its allies in stepping up their offensive against China.
A Russian patrol ship fired a warning shot yesterday at the British destroyer HMS Defender off the coast of Crimea. This was followed by the dropping of high-explosive OFAB-250s fragmentation bombs in the path of the UK vessel.

According to Russias defence ministry, HMS Defender made a 3-kilometre incursion into Russia's territorial waters off Cape Fiolent in the south of Crimea. Crimea, a peninsula in the Black Sea, was annexed by Russia in March 2014, following a US-backed far-right coup in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

The incident began with a major military and political provocation by the UK. HMS Defender had just left Odessa in southern Ukraine and was carrying out exercises with a Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate, HNLMS Evertsen. The Financial Times reported Wednesday, British and Ukrainian officials met on board the destroyer on Tuesday to agree a defence deal in which the UK will help boost Kyivs naval capabilities. The co-operation will include training of Ukrainian navy personnel, the creation of new naval bases, and the purchase of two Sandown class minehunters.

The Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender leaves the naval base in Portsmouth harbour for exercises in Scotland, prior to deployment to the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Indo-Pacific region as part of the UK's Carrier Strike Group 21. May 1, 2021 (credit: WSWS media)

A statement from Russian ministry's TV channel Zvezda said of the incident, The Black Sea Fleet together with the FSB (security service) stopped a violation of the Russian border by a British destroyer, Defender.

Today, at 11:52, the Defender crossed the state border of Russia in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. It entered the territorial waters for three kilometres, in the area of Cape Fiolent

At 12:06 and 12:08, a Russian border patrol ship fired a warning shot. At 12:19, the Su-24M aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet performed a warning bombing, dropping 4 OFAB-250 bombs on the course of the destroyer.

At 12:23 the British destroyer left the borders of the territorial sea of Russia.

Clearly caught by surprise at Russias swift and aggressive response, the MoD stated, The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law. We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity. No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.

This denial was refuted by BBC Defence Correspondent Jonathan Beale, speaking from aboard HMS Defender, who made a statement uploaded onto the BBCs news site as a sound file, and in comments included in an accompanying news update.

Beale wrote, Two Russian coastguard ships that were shadowing the Royal Navy warship [HMS Defender], tried to force it to alter course. At one stage one of the Russian vessels closed in to about 100m (328ft).

Increasingly hostile warnings were issued over the radioincluding one that said if you don't change course I'll fire

While speaking on a recording just 99 seconds long, the roaring jet engines of a Russian air force jet can be heard at 23 seconds in, for more than 10 secondsforcing Beale to exclaim that is another Russian aircraft buzzing the warship, yeah, in the Black Sea. There have been at times more than 20 aircraft above the warship. And there have been warning from Russia coastguard vessels and indeed we have heard shots fired. We believe they were out of range.

A section of Beales report that was taken down within minutes of being published on the BBC site reveals how tense the situation was: At one stage they [sailors onboard HMS Defender] did put on anti-flash masks to protect their faces, just in case there was going to be an exchange of fire They didn't think that would happen and it did not happen. But the Russian jets have taken an interest in this and they had warned the ship not to go into Crimean territorial waters, claiming that they are Russian waters.

That events took this course was no accident given the provocative mission being carried out by the UK in the region. As Beale notes in his report, The crew were already at action stations as they approached the southern tip of Russian occupied Crimea. Weapons systems on board the Royal Navy destroyer had already been loaded. This would be a deliberate move to make a point to Russia.

The incident with HMS Defender must be seen in the context of a ramping up of militarism by British imperialism and its NATO partners, with Moscow and China in their crosshairs.

A Type 45 destroyer primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare, HMS Defender is one of the several warshipsalongside warplanes, submarines, UK and US soldiers and sailorsthat are forming a ring of steel around one of the UKs two new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is on its maiden operational deployment.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier with seven helicopters visible onboard at Portsmouth harbour. May 1, 2021 (credit: WSWS media)

Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) left the UK last month on a six-month trip to the Indo Pacific region. CSG21 was described by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, just 24 hours before the Black Sea incident, as the largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave the UK in a generation

On Tuesday, revealed the MoD, warplanes, including UK and US F35B jets, carried out operational sorties for the first time from HMS Queen Elizabeth in support of Operation Shader and US Operation Inherent Resolve.

The bellicose statement continued, For the task group, which has spent previous weeks in the Mediterranean working with NATO allies and partners, it marks a change of emphasis. From exercises and international engagements, the Carrier Strike Group is now delivering its full might of naval and air power

Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Shader are code names for military interventions by the US and Britain, set up in 2014 ostensibly to target Islamic State, which mainly consist of constant air strikes and hostile surveillance missions in a host of countries including Iraq, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and Lebanon.

The MoD statement quoted Captain James Blackmore, Commander of the Carrier Air Wing, who pointed to the significance of Royal Navy-led bombing operations: this time UK warplanes were flying from an aircraft carrier at sea, which marks the Royal Navys return to maritime strike operations for the first time since the Libya campaign a decade ago.

The provocation in the Black Sea, as with all CSG21 operations, could not proceed without the say-so of the United States. Last week, HMS Defender conducted exercises in the Black Sea alongside a US destroyer ship and a Dutch frigate. Blackmore pointed to the integral role of US forces in Tuesday's military strikes: This is also notable as the first combat mission flown by US aircraft from a foreign carrier since HMS Victorious in the South Pacific in 1943. The level of integration between Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and US Marine Corps is truly seamless, and testament to how close weve become since we first embarked together last October.

The FT s report of the Black Sea exchange quoted Mark Galeotti, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute: Moscow was trying to show its not going to be pushed around by provocative actions such as HMS Defenders voyage. The Brits are often in this role as a proxy  they [the Russians] dont want to be too aggressive against the Americans [] so there is a sense you do it against the Brits because its not quite as dangerous, he said.

The MoD announced in May that CSG21 will participate in NATO exercises such as Exercise Steadfast Defender and provide support to NATO Operation Sea Guardian and maritime security operations in the Black Sea.

Shortly before the Carrier Strike Group left the UK, MoD sources revealed that HMS Defender would peel off in the Mediterranean from the main force and head through the Bosphorus to carry out her own set of missions in the Black Sea.

On June 10, the Royal Navy said that over several weeks HMS Defender had completed intensive training and worked on Operation Sea Guardian, NATOs mission in the Mediterranean to deter and counter terrorism. HMS Defender would be heading to the Black Sea after a stop in Istanbul. The Royal Navy said, 'Defender is now in Istanbul with Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen... and will be hosting representatives from the Turkish government, business world, armed forces and defence sector during her stay there.'

NATOs anti-Russian operations will be intensified in the days ahead, with its annual Sea Breeze military exercises taking place in the Black Sea region from June 28 to July 10.

Announcing the operation, the US Embassy in Ukraine said, This years iteration involves the largest number of participating nations in the exercises history, including 32 countries from six continents, 5,000 troops, 32 ships, 40 aircraft, and 18 special operation and dive teams. It would focus on multiple warfare areas including amphibious warfare, land maneuvre warfare, diving operations, maritime interdiction operations, air defense, special operations integration, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue operations.

Wednesdays incident in the Black Sea is a stark indication of how the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the interests of competing imperialist powers have transformed the entire region into a powder keg that could ignite a worldwide conflagration. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that Russia firing on the UK warship was A clear proof of Ukraine's position: Russias aggressive and provocative actions in the Black and Azov seas, its occupation & militarization of Crimea pose a lasting threat to Ukraine and allies. We need a new quality of cooperation between Ukraine & NATO allies in the Black Sea.
Eighteen months since the first COVID-19 case was detected, and with almost 180 million infections and over 1.8 million deaths, millions of ordinary people face a growing threat because of the uneven and haphazard administration of immunisation programs.

Vaccines have been rolled-out in multiple countries, but none has reached a level that would ensure herd immunity. Australia, an advanced capitalist economy, has one of the slowest COVID-19 vaccination programs in the world.

The Morrison Liberal-National Coalition governments approach to the vaccine rollout is one of ever-changing guidelines, pronouncements and target dates. The initial date promised by the government for full vaccination of the entire population was October 2021, but this was rapidly abandoned to one in the indefinite future.

A vial of AstraZeneca vaccine. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Although Australia currently has comparatively few COVID-19 cases, this can rapidly change, with the pandemic raging at unprecedented levels internationally, via highly infectious variants dominating in India and the UK. New clusters, primarily involving the extremely transmissible Delta variant, have emerged in Melbourne and Sydney.

No government internationally has ensured that their populations are fully vaccinated. The US claims almost 50 percent vaccinated and the UK close to 60 percent, after they commenced their program in December 2020.

The Australian governments vaccination program, however, began months later on February 22. Currently a total of 5.52 million doses have been distributed around the country, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the population, with only 3 percent fully vaccinated.

In an attempt to divert attention from the governments responsibility for its slow and shambolic vaccine rollout, the corporate media is attempting to blame the Australian population for what it insists is vaccine hesitancy. This is a slander against ordinary people.

A survey published by the Sydney Morning Herald purportedly shows that about 15 percent of adults who participated were not at all likely to get the vaccine, with 14 percent not very likely. Similar figures for vaccine hesitancy, however, can be seen internationally. The US has 31 percent hesitancy, with 19 percent unwilling to get vaccinated and 12 percent uncertain.

Those reluctant to be vaccinated have been denounced by the corporate media and the political elite, with accusations that they are destroying any hope of reaching herd immunity and reopening borders.

Vaccine hesitancy, however, is not primarily the result of anti-vaccination sentiment, which is very rare in Australia. Most estimates for anti-vaccination beliefs are between 4 and 8 percent of the population.

The main sentiment expressed by those surveyed is concern about the development of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which has caused severe illness and deaths in Australia and internationally as a consequence of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine.

Health experts around the world have reported incidences of the condition to be very rare, and Australian authorities initially dismissed the concerns about TTS. The Morrison government, however, was forced to restrict the AZ vaccine to those over the age of 50, because of the risk of clotting, while insisting that it was safe for this age group.

Last week, however, the government changed the guidelines again, to exclude AZ vaccines for over 50s and to restrict them to over 60-year-olds. This followed two deaths and 60 people suffering from TTS, after their first AZ shot.

Just over 840,000 people in the 50- to 59-year-old cohort have received their first AZ dose. They now face the dilemma of whether to have the second. Health authorities advise that there are no cases of TTS following the second dose, and are urging this cohort to receive the second shot. Confidence in the vaccine and the governments advice, however, is plummeting.

The high number of people voicing concerns about being immunised is also being fuelled by the Morrison governments shambolic rollout of vaccinations, an expression of its indifference, and that of its state counterparts, to the populations health and wellbeing.

Initially, the Morrison government set a tiered approach to vaccine distribution, with four million people supposed to receive their first dose by March 31. These included the most at risk, such as the elderly in old age homes, those suffering disabilities and their carers, along with frontline health employees and quarantine workers. The government, however, was almost 3.5 million short of its target by that date.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), only 10 percent of aged care workers had been vaccinated by mid-June. As of last week, half of Victorias 6,000 paramedics had not received their first shot.

Aged care workers, moreover, were only vaccinated if the contracting companies had leftover doses, following the inoculation of aged care residents. Many members of this very low paid and often immigrant workforce had to queue up for hours, in their own time at external vaccination centres, to get the jab.

Unions covering these high-risk workers have maintained a deadly silence over this criminal neglect, and the dangers facing their members.

In March, aged care provider Warrigal reported that 80 to 90 percent of aged care staff had registered to get vaccinated. Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell told the ABC that months of confusion had seen staff wanting the vaccine drop to 63 percent because people have been reading about side effects [and] its been complicated to register and even to get to a venue.

Recent government declarations about making vaccination mandatory for aged care employees are an attempt to place the blame for this debacle on the workers.

According to current reports, only 119,044 aged care residents have been completely vaccinated. The remaining 32,239 residents have had one dose and 34,633 no dose at all. These figures, however, must be treated with a great deal of skepticism.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck admitted, in a recent federal Senate Estimates hearing, that statistics on the numbers vaccinated in the sector had not even been recorded. This means the real level of vaccinations, of most categories of frontline health workers, is unknown.

This situation, and the parlous state of Australias health system, is a direct result of decades of government cuts. Like their counterparts around the world, Australias federal and state governments, Labor and conservative alike, have systematically run down health services, leaving hospitals understaffed, underequipped and unable to cope.

Government declarations that its vaccination programs will resolve the worsening coronavirus pandemic are illusory. Unless vaccination programs are accompanied with public health measures, such as social distancing and mask wearing, and proper lockdowns where necessary, infection rates will continue to expand.

Running parallel with the Morrison governments shambolic vaccination program are increasingly shrill demands by big business and the corporate media for no more lockdowns and a rapid reopening of international borders and the economy as a whole. The population, corporate business declares, has to learn to live with the virus.

While millions of workers and ordinary people have consistently demonstrated that they want to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, this is impossible within the framework of capitalism, where profit is considered more important than peoples lives, and governments act accordingly.
The strike calls by service union Verdi on Amazon Prime days are as regular as they are useless. Whether it is Easter or Christmas, time and again Verdi calls on workers in a few fulfilment centres to undertake temporary protest strikes. These do nothing to change the extreme levels of exploitation and horrible working conditions and only serve to let workers growing anger fizzle out in fruitless protests.

The same thing happened on Monday. Verdi called strikes in seven fulfilment centres and staged the familiar protest ritual in front of the gates with whistles and lamentations about Amazons super-exploitation. It has been like this for years. This ritualised pinprick strike tactic is meant to hide the fact that Verdi is not prepared to wage a serious struggle against the extreme exploitation of the global e-commerce and tech company.

Amazon workers protest unsafe working conditions in Staten Island, New York, on March 30, 2020 (Credit: AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The union is careful not to jeopardise Amazons business interests in any way. The work stoppages have hardly ever resulted in deliveries being significantly delayed or not arriving at all. Amazon can compensate for the isolated one-day strikes through its extensive European logistics network. The strikes have never prevented Amazon from drastically increasing its profits over the years.

Last year alone, when many employees had to work under gruelling conditions in the face of the pandemic and the lack of protective measures, the US-based multinational drastically increased its profits, seeing the highest profit in the companys history. According to its own figures, Amazon made an annual profit of $21.3 billion in 2020, compared to $17.4 billion in 2019 and $13.2 billion in 2018. Its European business played a big part in this.

In other words, the Verdi strikes have not harmed the company, but they have prevented any real, joint industrial action by Amazon workers across all sites. And this is exactly the message Verdi is trying to get across to the company management.

In all the years that Verdi has been organising protest actions at Amazon, it has never called upon the Amazon workforce to strike together at all German sites, let alone to take joint action with colleagues in other European and international centres. Across Europe, Amazon has over 60 so-called logistics and fulfilment centres in Germany, Poland, Spain, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Worldwide, there are over 800 centres, most of them in the US.

The same terrible conditions prevail in all the fulfilment centres. Verdi claims that the problem is that the management in Germany, as in many other countries, does not recognise the union. Union recognition and the establishment of a works council would improve the situation for the workers, Verdi claims.

This is not true.

Verdi wants to be recognised by the company and form a works council because the union officials are afraid that otherwise, resistance against the brutal methods of exploitation could develop spontaneously, uncontrolled, and explosively and spread to other factories where an Amazonisation of production and working conditions is taking place.

One only has to look at other areas of production, services and administration where Verdi is present and exerts strong influence to realise that the union does not act as a representative of the workers interests but as a regulatory force. Everywhere, with the help of sector collective agreements and company agreements, real wage reductions, social cuts and dismissals are enforced.

For example, Verdi has always served as the house union at Lufthansa. The deputy chairwoman of Verdi, Christine Behle, is also deputy chairwoman of the Lufthansa supervisory board and has been a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for 27 years. She was largely involved in negotiating the German governments rescue package for Lufthansa, which provides the company with 9 billion of public funds and involves massive job cuts. The number of jobs to be eliminated has been gradually increased to 60,000.

The works councils compile the redundancy lists and often put pressure on those affected in individual meetings to accept termination. Union shop stewards monitor the departments like company police to nip any serious resistance in the bud.

Verdi also wants to be recognised at Amazon, stressing that the election of a works council is important to create stable relations. It understands this to mean the integration of trade unions into the management structures of the corporation, where union officials act as well-paid co-managers. At Amazon, Verdi would not be responsible for improving working conditions but for maintaining peace and order. Their task would not be to abolish super-exploitation but to control the workforce and suppress resistance.

Amazon has so far only refused to recognise the union as a negotiating partner because company boss Jeff Bezos believes he can save the money for paying salaries to full-time works council officials and avoid lengthy negotiations and maintain control over the workers himself. Verdi thinks this is dangerous and warns of a social explosion.

Worldwide, the role of the trade unions has changed. Under the influence of globalised production and the development of multinational corporations, their programme of limited national reforms has turned into a programme of social regression. Together with management, they are intensifying the exploitation of the workforce to strengthen the competitiveness of their own company or national location in the global competition.

Trade unions everywhere have become more and more tightly integrated into the structures of the capitalist state over the last decades. The result has been a consistent disaster for the working class and the continued growth of social inequality and poverty.

The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the reactionary role of the unions. Millions of workers around the world have witnessed how the trade unions have put profit maximisation and personal enrichment above the health and lives of working people.

Unions everywhere have supported the billion-dollar giveaways to the corporations, banks and super-rich. They have maintained production despite the increased risk of infection and covered up the true extent of those infected, seriously ill and dead in factories and offices. And now the unions are playing a key role in pushing through rationalisation programmes, austerity measures and layoffs to squeeze more profit out of the working class.

But workers are showing themselves increasingly confident and willing to fight. Resistance is developing and increasingly takes the form of a rebellion against the unions. The dispute over union recognition at Amazon in the US is an important lesson in this context.

For a long time, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) tried to gain recognition at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. In early March, US President Joe Biden lent his support to the campaign and called on Amazon workers in Bessemer to vote for union recognition. When the vote took place in May, an overwhelming majority of workers voted against recognising the union. Despite intensive campaigning and prominent support from politicians and the media, the union failed to win over even 13 percent of the 6,000 workers at the facility.

This was a clear sign that many workers no longer see the trade unions as organisations with which they can defend their interests. What is called a trade union today is no longer an organisation of the working class. Union executives enjoy the standard of living of affluent middle class layers and are fully integrated into management and the state apparatus.

Conclusions must be drawn from this transformation of the trade unions. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) calls on workers to build their own action committees at Amazon and its logistics centres, independent of the unions, which are democratic and controlled by the workers themselves. These organisations will network with fellow Amazon workers worldwide and prepare for a common struggle.

Such a mobilisation is not limited to protests, it must combine the struggle against capitalist exploitation with a socialist programme. Corporate giants like Amazon must be expropriated and transformed into public utilities. This is the precondition for establishing democratic control over production and organising society based on social needs.
WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) - Colleges across the country are already preparing for students to return in the fall. Colleges are now faced with the decision of if they are going to make their students and staff get vaccinated.

Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman have decided they will encourage their students and staff to get vaccinated, but won't require it.

The University of Illinois will require its students to get vaccinated, but not staff. They will also make their students submit proof that they have been vaccinated.

Indiana University will require its students to get vaccinated; however, they will not make them submit proof of vaccination. Several students at Indiana University have filed a lawsuit against the University.

James Bopp Jr, the attorney representing the students, says they want to be able to have a say in what goes into their body. "These students are over 18-years-old and have the right to make this decision for themselves," said Bopp
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a case challenging Indianas vote-by-mail restrictions, a rebuff that means a federal court will decide the future of absentee voting in the state.

Mondays decision by the high court follows a federal appeals courts ruling in October rejecting a lawsuit that aimed to make mail-in ballots available to all Indiana voters last November due to the pandemic.

The case now returns before a federal judge in Indianapolis, where it began, The Indianapolis Star reported.

In October, a three-judge panel of 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that Indianas limits in state law dont violate voters constitutional rights. That decision upheld an August ruling that state officials had discretion in how to allow mail voting and that voters not wanting to cast ballots on Election Day could go to early voting sites for nearly a month before then.

Indianas mail-in voting limits allow people to vote by mail only if they fall into one of several categories, including being 65 or older or being absent from their home counties on Election Day.

Plaintiffs in the case argued that Indianas age restriction for absentee voters infringes upon the constitutional right to participate in the polls. It is one of 11 state restrictions that define who can and cant vote by mail.

Indianas election commission waived those requirements during last years primary elections because it recognized that the pandemic hindered safety at the voting booth. Plaintiffs tried to get a federal judge to require the commission to extend that allowance to November, but the judge declined.

Indiana Vote By Mail, a nonprofit and one of 13 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said Tuesday that the plaintiffs were gravely disappointed by the high courts decision.

Indianas response to our petition provided no justification for Indianas arbitrary age-based excuse for receiving an absentee ballot, the nonprofit said in a statement. Nor are the State of Indiana or Indiana voters served in any way by applying this age-based test to voters who wish to vote at home.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita tweeted his support for the high courts decision, saying it rightly allowed Indiana to limit the privilege of mail-in absentee ballots to Hoosiers 65 and older (among other categories of voters).

States have the authority to set their own election policies so long as they are constitutional, he wrote.
WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) - You may have heard of firework shortages around the country, but that is not necessarily the case in the Wabash Valley.

When you see fireworks and hear the National Anthem, you know it's the Fourth of July.

"I get pumped for the fourth every year, personally," said Zoee Huxford, an employee at Sherry's Fireworks in Clinton.

Not only is the holiday exciting for those who celebrate it, but also for retailers that help supply fireworks each year.

"People get so excited about fireworks! It's fun, they get really amped up over it, so it's fun to help people pick out exactly what it is that they need," said Abby McGrath, a manager at Dean's Party Mania.

Around the country, fireworks suppliers have had a difficult time keeping a full stock.

"With China not being open and their factories not being completely open, it really hurt, just the production side," said McGrath.

There has been a shortage of boxes to ship fireworks that come from China.

"There was a lot of problems with shipping containers, a shortage of shipping containers. And then once they get into a container, shortage of the vessels to get them here," said McGrath.

Here in the Wabash Valley, the shortage has had minimal impact. Sherry's Fireworks in Clinton has kept, for the most part, full stock.

"Our store personally, we're still able to be pretty stocked, but, you know, in year's past we've been more loaded up then, then we probably are now," said Huxford.

If you took a look inside the store, you might have never guessed that. Shelves appear full, and business appears to be as usual.

Dean's Party Mania in Terre Haute has seen a minimal impact as well. The store said they had the benefit of being a larger supplier.

"We're very fortunate," said McGrath.

"We have really great patriotic music in here. Rockin' and rollin' all day long it's just a really great atmosphere seeing how happy everybody is," said Huxford when asked about her anticipation for the holiday.

Although stores in the Wabash Valley have not been hit as hard as most this year, both stores say it is important to buy early.

They say if you are looking to buy fireworks, the sooner, the better.
VINCENNES, Ind. (WTHI) - Right now the Wabash Heartland InnovationNetwork has a 10 county program in northern Indiana. When they were looking south, they decided to hook up with the Pantheon business incubator.

Wabash Heartland hopes to build up its program in southern Indiana. The first year will focus on Knox County.

Here's how it works. Wabash heartland works with tech organizations that have new tools for farmers. They then work with the Pantheon to help get those tools in the hands of Knox County farmers.

The first technology is a sensor that goes in a grain bin that allows farmers to monitor conditions inside. Right now 5 farms have signed up. Folks with the pantheon hope to have 10 for the pilot program

Drew Garretson with the Pantheon says, "We're really going to go out and try these technologies out on the farm to see how they benefit our farmers and how they benefit the tech companies. Ultimately we want to attract those companies to here. Into our area as they look to expand their technology."

To reach out about the partnership call: 812-886-1146
Deficiencies addressed at WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

Education officials have released recommendations to address deficiencies at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, including a plan to consolidate the schools
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Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 78F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at jsnoderly@theet.com or on Twitter at @JoAnnSnoderly.
David Adler , Ph.D., is a noted author who lectures nationally and internationally on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and presidential power. His scholarly writings have been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts by both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress. Adlers column is supported in part through a grant from Wyoming Humanities funded by the Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Adler can be reached at david.adler@alturasinstitute.com.
Governor Mark Gordon has allocated up to $2 million to increase Wyomings local food supply chain security and capacity across the state through the Wyoming Meat Processing Expansion Grant Program.
Residents watch as flames from the Robertson Draw fire burn above Red Lodge, Montana, on June 15. Wildfires burning in Montana exploded in size over the past 24 hours and triggered evacuations of people from rural areas as scorching heat and heavy winds stoked the blazes.
Jun. 23The Chiefs are officially back in St. Joseph this summer.

Missouri Western and the Chiefs announced Wednesday that Chiefs Training Camp presented by Mosaic Life Care will return to the campus of Missouri Western State University in July and will once again be open to fans.

Last year's training camp was temporarily relocated to Kansas City due to NFL COVID-19 protocols.

This year marks the club's 11th training camp at Missouri Western since returning to the state of Missouri in 2010.

"I am thrilled that we will be welcoming Chiefs fans back to Missouri Western and the city of Saint Joseph this summer," said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Missouri Western's president said in a press release. "The energy and excitement of training camp will be another welcome sign that we are returning to normal. It will set the stage for an exciting and engaging fall semester."

The club has also announced dates and times for all practices, which begin on Wednesday, July 28 and conclude on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

All training camp practices will be free of charge to the public unless otherwise noted below or online at www.chiefs.com/trainingcamp/.

Missouri Western will charge a $5 admission fee on three different practice days  Friday, July 30; Saturday, July 31; and Sunday, Aug. 8.

The Chiefs will host two free, exclusive Season Ticket Member Days presented by GEHA that will not be open to the public  Wednesday, July 28 and Tuesday, Aug. 10.

Missouri Western will charge a $5 parking fee per vehicle per day, except for the two exclusive Chiefs Season Ticket Member Days presented by GEHA when parking is free. Cash will be accepted for parking.

New for 2021, all training camp tickets must be reserved in advance through the Chiefs Kingdom Rewards program at www.chiefskingdomrewards.com and due to the expected interest and demand, attendance at daily practice sessions will be limited to provide the best fan experience.

Current Season Ticket Members and Chiefs Kingdom Rewards members already have Chiefs Kingdom Rewards accounts. Fans without Chiefs Kingdom Rewards accounts who wish to reserve tickets to Chiefs Training Camp presented by Mosaic Life Care must sign up for free at www.chiefskingdomrewards.com.

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Ticket reservation will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7. Fans can reserve a maximum of four tickets per practice and can reserve tickets for a maximum of three separate practices through Chiefs Kingdom Rewards.

Paid practice days will require advance payment to reserve tickets, while only Chiefs Season Ticket Members will have the option to reserve tickets for the exclusive Season Ticket Member Days presented by GEHA.

Paid practice dates and Season Ticket Member dates do not count towards the maximum ticket reservation allotment of three practices. All tickets are mobile entry only. Due to NFL protocols for training camps with fans in attendance, no autographs are allowed.

Additional camp details will be communicated to ticket holders via email in the weeks leading up to the training camp. All ticket reservations and purchases are subject to the Chiefs ticket terms found at www.chiefs.com/tickets/terms/. Per MWSU policy, all parking and paid admission date ticket sales are final.

All times and dates are subject to change and all practice sessions will take place on the Mosaic Training Fields. All practices, except for the final day of camp, will begin at 9:15 a.m.

Weather and field conditions are evaluated daily. If practice is moved indoors due to poor conditions, it will be closed to the general public. The club will notify fans via social media channels as soon as a decision is made.

Micaela Dea can be reached at micaela.dea@newspressnow.com.

Follow her on Twitter: @NPNowDea
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos via Getty

As an historic drought was intensifying in the Southwest late last month, members of a far-right chat group about Arizona state politics got to talking about similar water shortages in Oregon and northern California. There, farmers were struggling with dry fields and strict water limits. The crisis, members of the Arizona group chat falsely claimed, amounted to a deliberate plot by Jews to starve Americans by cutting off the water supply.

The claim was vile, untrue, and nonetheless quickly spread across multiple popular channels on the messaging platform Telegram. It also wildly mischaracterized a genuine, complicated water emergency in the Westone experts fear might give rise to violent clashes.

Much of the western United States is experiencing what meteorologists describe as an exceptional drought. With record-high temperatures and record-low water levels in parts of the country, among other causes, the drought is one devastating symptom of worsening climate change. The shortages have left some communities, like Oregon farmers and Californian fishers, competing for scarce water.

Stoking the conflict are anonymous nativist shit-posters, doomsday websites that conveniently sell apocalypse preparation gear, and more established far-right figures threatening to open a rivers headgates by force.

Far-Right Vigilantes Alarming Gubernatorial Run Has Some Bracing for Chaos

The Arizona Telegram chat group where members falsely accused Jewish people of orchestrating the drought has discussed the emerging crisis with growing urgency in recent weeks. They arent the only ones feeling the heat: Across the state, farmers and ranchers are facing the difficult task of raising their crops and livestock on the combined three inches of water that have fallen over the past 15 months.

But in certain fringe groups, the drought talk has taken a particularly ugly turn. Another Arizona-based Telegram channel (this one a conspiratorial anti-immigrant group) recently boasted of finding water bottles in the desert. Some aid groups leave water near the U.S.-Mexico border to reduce heat-related deaths among the desperate. But the Telegram group accused migrants of being child predators and said the water was better spent on plants. It boasted of emptying the bottles onto our Desert vegetation experiencing a severe drought.

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Those repeating the Lie that Migrants are dying because there is no water were welcome to face off with the groups dog, a member of the group posted on Telegram. He has a way of explaining himself that delivers the message clearly.

Do you know something we should about the far-right or Ammon Bundy and his Peoples Rights network? Email Kelly.Weill@TheDailyBeast.com or securely at kellyweill@protonmail.com from a non-work device.

As parts of the West hit their boiling points this week (Palm Springs, CA, hit a record 123 degrees), conspiratorial drought coverage reached the headlines of popular fringe websites. On Monday, news of the drought blanketed the homepage of conspiracy site Natural News, which claimed in the title of a widely disseminated article that WATER WARS [are] about to go kinetic in America as farmers targeted by terrorist state governments that are [sic] deliberately collapsing civilization.

The article, which people shared on the far-right Arizona Telegram channel, as well as similar circles, immediately dismissed the idea that drought was behind the water shortages. Instead, the article falsely alleged, left-wing governments were targeting humanity with multiple vectors of genocide to achieve global depopulation via planned extermination. Completing a sort of trifecta of far-right fears, the plan was also said to involve killing people with vaccines and starting a race war by letting schools teach certain race-related topics.

Fortunately for Natural News readers, the site also sells prepper gear for off-the-grid survival and tagged the story with various labels like food collapse, starvation, and food crops. In multiple far-right Telegrams, people shared the Natural News article with messages about subsistence farming.

Focus on high calorie foods also like potatoes, wrote one Arizona Telegrammer who agreed with the post about Jews orchestrating droughts. (They are not.) In a far-right Oregon-based Telegram group, a person shared the article with an appeal for friends to start farming their own food to avoid genocidal governments. (The person immediately went on to share anti-vaccination posts from a prominent QAnon influencer who promotes antisemitic and flat Earth conspiracy theories.)

The Natural News story drew on a long trail of misinformation to paint a grotesque picture of another, very real nightmare. It cited another fringe survivalist blog, which in turn cited a report by the Russia-backed outlet RT, which quoted two associates of a far-right group in its coverage of a disastrous ongoing water shortage in the Klamath River Basin.

The Klamath River, a vital water source for Oregon and northern California communities, is currently experiencing exceptional drought, reducing its flow to a trickle. The shortage comes as a threat to indigenous fishers in California, where mass death of juvenile salmon represents an absolute worst-case scenario, the vice-chair of a California tribe told High Country News last month. Meanwhile, upriver, Oregon farmers are without adequate water to irrigate their crops. Complicating matters even further, an Oregon tribe with senior water rights to the Upper Klamath Lake requires the drought-stricken body of water to remain above minimum levels, in order to protect the lakes already endangered fish.

Although it cant summon the rain, the Bureau of Reclamation, a federal agency, can allocate the remaining water. But amid the ongoing drought, the agency shut off water allocations altogether, for the first time in the regions history.

As farmers scramble, a far-right group has stepped into the fray. The Peoples Rights network, an organization that has held mask-burnings and demonstrations at local officials homes over the past year, has set up camp alongside the rivers headgates on land purchased by two farmers associated with the group. Both farmers, neither of whom could be reached for comment, have spoken of potentially storming the headgates and unleashing the water reserves.

If they dont budge I think were just going to end up taking it, one of the farmers told RT.

In an interview with Jefferson Public Radio, another Peoples Rights-associated farmer threatened a standoff with federal agents. Im planning on getting D.C.s attention, he said. Were going to turn on the water and have a standoff.

A spokesperson for the Oregon Peoples Rights chapter that is organizing events at the encampment said the group stands by that message and the potential of a standoffalbeit, somehow, nonviolently.

No one here would ever have [used] the word Storm. We want the headgates open, yes, she told The Daily Beast via text message, suggesting the group might hold a bucket brigade to manually transfer water to farms from the rivers canal. We would never use violence or damage anything to get the water that belongs to the irrigators.

Domain names for the Peoples Rights network were registered in 2019, web records show, but the group publicly launched in early 2020, in loud opposition to anti-COVID-19 measures. The groups leader, Ammon Bundy, gained fame in two armed standoffs against federal agents over public land disputes in 2014 and 2016, the first alongside his father Cliven. Bundy, who has not appeared at the Klamath River encampment, recently announced a bid for governor of Idaho. His campaign did not return multiple requests for comment.

In an interview with The New York Times this month, Bundy suggested that people should be willing to use force to obtain the water. Who cares if there is violence? At least something will be worked out, he told the paper, mocking people who shied away from such measures. Oh, we dont want violence, well just starve to death. Heaven forbid we talk about violence.

Presented with Bundys quote, the Peoples Rights spokesperson from Oregon expressed doubt about its accuracy. I dont like [the] word violence, she said. I dont know for sure if thats what he said.

Observers of the Peoples Rights network said its new focus on the Klamath represented a post-COVID-19 pivot to a more squarely Bundy-style land dispute.

They built this base around COVID-19 restrictions, Chuck Tanner, research director at the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, a left-leaning group, told The Daily Beast. They translated this into a property rights framework in the Klamath Basin, one that ignores the property rights of tribes.

Far-Right Activist Wants to be Idahos Next GovernorBut Hes Banned From the Statehouse

Stephen Piggott, a program analyst with the Western States Center, another left-leaning group, highlighted a series of meetings the group has held over the water crisis.

They are hosting all sorts of speakers that come on on a weekly basis to essentially keep the drum beating and keep the energy up in terms of pushing for a potential standoff with the federal government over this issue, Piggott told The Daily Beast.

Some of those listed speakers include elected officials, like the mayors of nearby towns Malin and Merrill. (Neither mayor returned requests for comment.) Malins police chief, Ron Broussard, was also advertised as a speaker at a June 3 event but told The Daily Beast he ultimately did not attend the event because he wanted to remain neutral.

I dont know what theyre doing or what theyre going to do because I dont have any intel, Broussard said.

One of the more eyebrow-raising speakers, who appeared at a meeting last week, was a sometimes-writer for a white nationalist publication, as Mother Jones reported. Oregons KTVL first noted that the speaker went on a conspiratorial tangent about a plan to return Donald Trump to the presidency, as well as a plan to return to office an Oregon lawmaker who was recently expelled for his role in allowing rioters into the state capitol in December.

The current tensions in the Klamath Basin are not the first of their kind. Twenty years ago, drought conditions sent some farmers to the brink of standoff with the government. This years demonstrations might not have as much support as they did in 2001, Piggott noted. But worsening climate change also means the strong possibility of future droughts, and future clashes.

Peoples Rights built its momentum protesting anti-COVID-19 measures, which are now ending. Organizing around water rights might be the new rallying cry for a well-organized operation that claims foot soldiers across America.

I think these folks see the climate situation as the latest opportunity to engage in this type of confrontation, Piggott said.

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Jordan Henderson has told his young England team-mates to play without fear when they meet Germany in the last 16 at Euro 2020.

The majority of the current squad are not old enough  or not even born  when the two countries met in the semi-final of Euro 96.

Current Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate memorably missed a penalty as Germany won at Wembley en route to lifting the trophy 25 years ago.

Now he will be aiming to mastermind a victory over the same opponents to take England into the quarter-finals.

While England advanced as winners of Group D, they scored just twice in their three games and many suggested drawing anyone from the so-called group of death could see them eliminated.

With France and Portugal potential opponents from Group F, it was ultimately Germany who landed a tie against England at Wembley.

Southgate has one of the youngest squads at the finals and named Englands youngest-ever starting line-up at a major tournament in Fridays goalless draw with Scotland.

But Henderson, one of only two players over the age of 30 in the 26-man squad, believes the exuberance of a young team can work in Englands favour.

Jordan Hendersons experience will be key to a young England squad (Nick Potts/PA)

Weve got quite a young squad but I think that can be a positive thing, he said.

A lot of these lads just go out and play, enjoy the game, play with no fear. And thats what they need to do again on Tuesday.

Go and enjoy it, go and show everybody how good they are. Use the emotion and passion in the right way to give you energy for the game, because that can be the difference really.

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As an experienced player I can help with that and make sure were in the right frame of mind going into the game and make sure trainings at the level it needs to be over the next few days to prepare for that one.

Everybodys confident, everybodys feeling good and weve got a good few days to prepare for a huge game.

But a lot of the lads have played in huge games already: Champions League finals, Champions League games, cup finals, big games for England. Theyre used to big games even though theyre young and Im sure theyre looking forward to this one.

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Henderson played the second half of Englands Group D win over the Czech Republic on Tuesday night.

The Liverpool skipper had been on the sidelines as he recovered from groin surgery but is now keen to see off Germany and reach the quarter-finals.

It would mean everything to us to get into the next round of the tournament, he said.

To beat Germany as well is special because its always a big game. It would mean everything as a squad to be able to progress.

Well look forward to the game and all we can do is give absolutely everything weve got on Tuesday and hopefully thats enough to win.

Its exciting. Its a huge game and one well be looking forward to. We knew whatever team we faced would be a big challenge and Germany will certainly be that. We need to prepare well and give everything against them.

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Hendersons appearance against the Czechs was his 60th senior cap and he is still seeking his first England goal.

He saw an effort ruled out for offside on Tuesday, having missed a penalty in the warm-up win over Romania.

Southgate said after that game that he had expected Dominic Calvert-Lewin to take the spot-kick but Henderson insists there were no repercussions and he would have no issues putting his name forward if the Germany clash went all the way to a shoot-out.

I think it was blown out of proportion after the game, he said.

Henderson insists there was no issue with Dominic Calvert-Lewin over him taking a penalty against Romania (PA)

There was nothing to be said afterwards internally. I was disappointed to miss but I was more disappointed for Dom as well, he couldve had another goal for England.

But it was a thing that was probably blown out of proportion a little bit. No need to dwell on that and speak about it afterwards.

In terms of penalties going forward, we practice penalties here all the time, especially in tournaments.

The gaffer depending on whos playing and who finishes the game and things like that the gaffer will decide his penalty takers on the night. Its not really down to me but Ill always take one.
Kate Hudson getting into suv

Infiniti

Kate Hudson, it turns out, loves a good road trip. The Oscar-nominated actress and New York Times best-selling author also loves a good vehicle to take them in, and her latest project is an ode to one she's particularly passionate about: the Infiniti QX60.

Teaming up with Infiniti, Hudson worked with director Zack Snyder, the man behind films like "Dawn of the Dead" and "Justice League," to create a short film revealing the reimagined three-row SUV. Perfect for a road trip, "the all-new QX60's spacious cabin is home to decadent materials and subtle yet expressive details that help to create a warm, serene retreat for your travels."

To celebrate the release of the film, which you watch below, and the sleek new vehicle, Travel + Leisure spoke with Hudson about her favorite road trip snacks and memories, her favorite places to travel, and what it was like making a mini-movie with Infiniti.

T+L: Why did you partner with Infiniti on this project?

Kate Hudson: "Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love to drive - but really love to drive. When given the choice of having a driver or driving myself anywhere, I will always choose to drive. And, I really love cars. So given Infiniti's reputation for design, quality, and performance, I was immediately intrigued and interested in partnering with them to showcase this beautiful, new car."

What's special about the vehicle and the film?

"The Infiniti QX60 is really exquisite from a design standpoint, and they've done a phenomenal job of combining luxury with comfort. But most importantly, this car is a dream to drive! Working with the Infiniti team was a blast. Zack Snyder was a joy to have as a director, and the concept of making a film within a film felt very natural to me. When we filmed, it was actually the first time anyone had seen the car. So, I was really discovering and learning all about the car in real time as we were shooting the commercial, which made it all feel really honest for me."

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Have you ever taken an amazing road trip?

"We are a big road trip family! We love to hit the road and go camping, and we do the 13-15 hour drive from California to Colorado on a regular basis. It's one of our favorite road trips."

Do you and your family have any favorite road trip snacks?

"That's a great question because road trips and snacks go hand in hand. We can't go anywhere without Pirate Booty, and Have'a Corn Chips are a must. I love Turkey Jerky, in case we don't want to stop and the kids need a little protein. I always bring apples, because they will last a couple of days and are really good when you crave something sweet. But the kids do love Tate's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies - even though they don't realize they're gluten free. Shhh! And tons of sparkling water in different flavors."

Kate Hudson standing in front of Infiniti SUV

Infiniti

Where's your favorite place you've traveled for work or personal vacation?

"It's hard to pick a favorite, but one place that I always go back to is Greece. I have family and friends that live there and have lived there for years, so we visit them every year. It's become a real part of our lives and feels like our home away from home. When we go, we go for an extended period of time, which is nice. When I travel, I do like to be in one place for a while so that I can really experience it. I call it the difference between being a traveler and a tourist. I do like being a tourist as well sometimes - popping in and out of different places can be so much fun. But I truly love being a traveler and being able to experience one place for several weeks at a time."

What's your tip for staying fresh while flying or driving long distances?

"Who stays fresh while flying or driving long distances? I think we all just go into travel mode and know that there will be a long, hot shower waiting on the other side! I love organic, lavender wipes which are cooling and refreshing. Water, water, water - hydration is always tops on my list. Stretch and move whenever you can. But at the end of the day, travel is usually a dirty business and still we love it all so much."

Where is your dream vacation and why?

"My dream vacation is anywhere I can be with my family and friends, while disconnecting from my email inbox."
Royal Collection Trust/All Rights Reserved Prince Philip

Prince Philip's life is being honored with a new exhibit at Windsor Castle, including a portrait with special family ties on display for the first time.

Prince Philip: A Celebration opened Thursday at Windsor Castle, with a centerpiece being a portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh painted by Ralph Heimans in 2017, the year of Philip's retirement from public engagements. The painting is one of the final formal portraits of Prince Philip before he died in April at age 99.

It shows Queen Elizabeth's husband of 73 years standing in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle - and at the end of the Grand Corridor is the Tapestry Room, where Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice, and maternal grandmother, Princess Victoria, were born.

RELATED: Royal Family Shares Photo of Prince Philip with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles on Father's Day

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Prince Philip's paternal family also makes a subtle appearance in the image. He is painted wearing the Order of the Elephant, the highest honor in Denmark. Prince Philip gave up his title as a prince of Greece and Denmark ahead of his marriage to the Queen.

Matt Dunham/Getty Prince Philip

Other items on display at the Windsor Castle exhibit include his coronation robe and coronet, portraits and the Chair of Estate made for Prince Philip after to accompany the Queen's Chair of Estate in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince Philip spent much of the year before his death at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth amid the coronavirus pandemic, although they also visited Balmoral and Sandringham. He died at Windsor Castle and was laid to rest on the grounds in St. George's Chapel.
Jun. 23Toledo City Council members Theresa Gadus and Katie Moline believe their proposed regulations of short-term rentals would protect property owners and customers alike by setting occupancy limits and establishing safety standards.

"A lot of other cities have gone down a much more stringent path to the point that some have introduced moratoriums to not even allow short-term rentals," Ms. Moline said during a committee meeting on the matter Wednesday afternoon. "We tried to find a good middle ground where we can promote the safety of neighborhoods, we can ensure guests are safe, but we're also allowing these services to engage."

Ms. Gadus and Ms. Moline introduced the legislation in May driven by residents' complaints about large, disruptive parties at short-term rentals. They put a vote on hold in order to hear from community members first.

Should the ordinance pass, property owners who rent dwellings for 30 days or less  such as those who use the platforms Airbnb or Vrbo  would have to obtain a permit in order to legally operate.

The regulations would establish maximum occupancy at two occupants per sleeping room plus an additional two guests. It also would impose safety standards including fire-safety and carbon-monoxide monitoring, as well as requiring contact information for a local representative who would be on-call at all hours to address complaints or concerns within 45 minutes of notification.

The annual permit would carry a $50 fee and applicants would have to provide proof of general-liability insurance of at least $1 million and be current or on a payment plan for taxes and utilities. Any property owner operating a short-term rental without a valid permit would be subject to a $100 weekly fine with a maximum of $500, according to the legislation.

The legislation exempts state-licensed health-care facilities; hotels, motels, and inns; bed-and-breakfasts properly approved by the city of Toledo; campgrounds, and dwelling units rented according to a written month-to-month lease.

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"It should not disrupt normal and intended uses of the services that we're talking about with short-term rentals," Ms. Moline said.

Only a handful of Toledoans attended the 3 p.m. committee meeting at One Government Center, but councilman Rob Ludeman said many emails about the topic have come in.

Carol Walls, who owns rental properties but doesn't participate in short-term, Airbnb-type rentals, said more people likely would have attended Wednesday's meeting if it was held after normal work hours. She voiced concerns about the proposed ordinance and said she believes the problem is with booking platforms not vetting customers properly, not with the property owners themselves.

"Vrbo or Airbnb or whoever they get booked through, that's who interviews the people that stay there, not the owners of the property," she said. "I think you're going after the wrong people."

Anna Mills, a local real-estate investor, shared the same perspective. She also took issue with the proposed ordinance's requirement that short-term rental operators both post their permit on the property and mail notifications to all adjacent properties.

"I think this needs to be thought out a little," she said.

Ms. Gadus and Ms. Moline said they have researched how other Ohio cities and how major U.S. cities handle regulating short-term rentals, and they've also sought feedback from current operators in Toledo. Ms. Gadus emphasized the regulations are for the type of rentals used for a weekend stay or a vacation  almost like a hotel room  not as a month-to-month or half-year lease with a landlord.

"This gives the neighbors transparency on what's going on in their neighborhood, it's providing support for the hosts of an Airbnb.... As we've worked with people and worked with the law department, this is all within keeping safe, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods," Ms. Gadus said.

Councilman Cerssandra McPherson and Mr. Ludeman expressed concerns about government overreach and wondered if the city's nuisance regulations already cover issues such as over-occupancy and loud parties.

"Are we reaching into areas that are not our governing area? I question that," Ms. McPherson said.

The proposed regulations could be up for a vote as soon as city council's next voting meeting, which is scheduled for July 20 at 4 p.m.
He stood in Tiananmen Square, wearing sneakers, track pants and a black T-shirt printed with the date of a massacre.

It was June 4, 2019, the 30th anniversary of the killing of hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Beijing. Dong Zehua, then 28, hadn't even been born when tanks clattered over the square and the world watched. The events on that bloody day in 1989 weren't taught in school or ever mentioned in Chinese media. But Dong knew what had happened.

Tech-savvy and good at English, Dong had mastered circumventing the Great Firewall. He had learned about the anti-government protests and deaths through foreign websites banned in China. As the anniversary approached, he booked a train ticket and traveled to Beijing, keeping the T-shirt hidden until he was on the square.

Dong was a jiulinghou, as those born after 1990 are called in China. They are a nationalistic generation raised on "patriotic education" and state propaganda in a prosperous, increasingly strong China. Many have little knowledge of the traumas their parents endured or the ongoing suppression of Chinese citizens around them.

But there are outliers among them. A handful of Chinese youth like Dong have tried to expose and preserve Chinas true history and honor those erased from the official story. They do so despite censorship, imprisonment and growing pressure from peers who are encouraged to report on anyone who criticizes the state.

Counter-narratives have been crushed by a Communist Party determined to carefully choreograph its 100th anniversary in July. That means deleting official wrongs, promoting a whitewashed version of party history, punishing those who deviate  and in recent days, expunging the records of that punishment as well.

What theyre doing is to control every Chinese persons thinking and erase every persons history, Dong said. They want to write history themselves.

To Dongs surprise, two other young people were in the square the morning he arrived: Yuan Shuai, 24, a recent college graduate from Inner Mongolia working at an advertising company in Beijing, and Gao Tianqi, 21, a Beijinger attending university abroad whod come back for the summer. Gao carried a yellow umbrella  a symbol of Hong Kongs youth-led democracy movement  with the number 30 written on it in black marker.

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They hatched a plan to interview foreigners on the square and post a video of their comments online.

It was a normal, simple sense of justice in our hearts, thinking: I want to do this, because someone should," said Dong. "Someone should commemorate. This shouldnt be forgotten.

The three were arrested within hours. Yuan and Dong were convicted of picking quarrels and provoking troubles and sentenced, respectively, to six and seven months in jail. Gao was let go after 38 days of detention without trial.

Dong was quiet for several months after his release. But on June 4, 2020, he emailed The Times about his experience and provided a link to a judgment issued by the Beijing Dongcheng Peoples Court. The Times verified the judgment, which was documented in a public archive of court rulings kept by the Supreme Peoples Court online.

Last month, he contacted The Times again: The record of his arrest had vanished.

In their eyes, its as if our detention never happened. Its as if they never did it to us, Dong said. They deleted it  as if they can just delete all Chinese peoples memories.... With one stroke of the arm they can cover the sky.

It wasnt just Dongs case. Thousands of politically sensitive cases disappeared last month from China Judgments Online, the public archive.

The deletions were first noticed by a Chinese activist with the Twitter handle @SpeechFreedomCN, who has been keeping an archive of speech crime cases. He has tracked more than 2,040 cases, dating to 2013, based on official documentation in China Judgments Online or public security bureaus reports on the social media apps Weibo and WeChat.

There are more than 600 cases of punishment related to speech about COVID-19. Most are fines, education and warning, or detention for up to two weeks for posting online messages about the coronavirus or the government response.

They include the case of Li Wenliang, the young doctor who died of the virus after authorities reprimanded him for warning others about the outbreak, but also hundreds of lesser-known ones: a Qinghai man given 10 months of jail for tweets criticizing Chinas COVID response; a Beijinger jailed six months for warning classmates in a WeChat group about a COVID case; a popular Weibo blogger in Hebei province given six months of prison for compiling stories of Wuhan residents suffering during lockdown.

Other commonly punished speech crimes include insulting the police, petitioning for help from the central government, or trying to expose government corruption. Many cases punish Chinese citizens for activity on Twitter and Facebook, evidence that their behavior beyond the firewall is also under surveillance.

Last month, the activist  who asked not to be identified for his protection  noticed that several of the key searches he conducts on the archive each day were suddenly coming up blank. Terms such as Weibo + picking quarrels and provoking troubles, Twitter + picking quarrels and provoking troubles, or national leaders came back with zero results.

The Times repeated the activists search to confirm the cases disappearance, reviewed a selection of screenshots in his archive of court cases that used to be online, and called 12 courts across China to inquire about the deleted cases.

Two of the courts, both in Hubei province, did not pick up repeated calls. Employees of the courts in Shanghai and the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu confirmed that the cases existed and were as described in the screenshots, but did not explain why they'd been taken offline. Others declined to provide information to The Times.

"If we think it can be shown then it is, and if we think it shouldn't, we take it off," an employee at a local court in Hunan province told The Times over the phone. "There must be a reason it can't be shown, but this is a work secret. We don't need to tell anyone and you don't need to understand."

The activist said China's tolerance for free speech is evaporating: We thought the people being arrested for speech online were only very extreme cases," he said. "But when we looked closely, we saw many people are not serious at all and yet are detained. Many people without much influence are also arrested. Control is getting stricter and stricter.

A seller with a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, next to a picture of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong at Dongfanghong Theater in Yanan. (Hector Retamal / AFP/Getty Images)

This tightening comes as China is emerging as a global power and the Communist Party prepares for its centennial. President Xi Jinping has launched a nationwide campaign for citizens to study newly revised volumes of Communist Party history and celebrate its achievements. It is a brazen reinvention that will keep younger generations living with an airbrushed past.

All cinemas in China have been ordered to screen at least two nationalistic propaganda films each week. Schools, hospitals, lawyers associations, and Buddhist and Taoist temples have held Red singing competitions, patriotic poetry recitations and political study sessions.

The newest edition of official party history no longer criticizes Mao Zedong for chaos and killings in the 1960s and '70s, but praises his Cultural Revolution as an anti-corruption measure and blames the upheavals on insufficient implementation of his correct ideology.

The party narrative glosses over the failures of the Great Leap Forward, making no mention of the tens of millions who starved to death in the 1950s and '60s. It calls the Tiananmen Square protests a political storm incited by anti-communist, anti-socialist foreign enemy forces backing an extremely small minority. It mentions no killing of protesters  some estimates say thousands died  only that authorities took decisive measures to calm the counterrevolutionary riots.

More than a quarter of the book, which was published in February, is devoted to Chinas new era under Xi, in which the China dream of great national rejuvenation is fulfilled. Five pages describe the COVID-19 outbreak, praising Xis leadership of the response as a demonstration of how the party always puts the people first.

Students wave Communist Party flags as they prepare to watch the movie "The Founding of a Party" in Yangzhou to mark the centennial of the Communist Party of China. (AFP/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, those who deviate from Beijings narrative of harmony and prosperity are punished.

Last month, two computer coders went on trial in Beijing for picking quarrels and provoking troubles, the same blanket crime applied to Dong for his T-shirt in Tiananmen Square. They were Cai Wei, 27, and Chen Mei, 28, friends whod created an online archive of articles called Terminus2049, hosted on GitHub, about the COVID-19 outbreak, whistleblower doctors and lockdown in Wuhan.

Many were reports by Chinese journalists who risked their lives covering the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, only to have their articles censored as Xi pushed for positive energy propaganda focused on praising heroes, not marking human suffering.

Cai and Chen were detained in April 2020 and had been held for more than a year before they went to trial. Their families were not allowed to see them, hire personal defense lawyers for them or examine the documents explaining charges against them, according to Chens older brother Chen Kun, who now lives in France.

Ten years ago, this wouldnt be a problem. You wouldnt be detained for just archiving information. At most theyd threaten you and have tea, Chen Kun told The Times in a phone interview, using a common euphemism for disciplinary meetings with authorities. We didnt realize that in 2019 and 2020, Chinas internet control became much stricter than in the past.

Chen Kun was born in the '80s and had lived in a China with access to Google, Twitter, YouTube  all platforms that are blocked today. Internet access gave him not only understanding of Chinas history, but also connection with like-minded friends and the chance to take small actions for social progress.

He had spent years working for Liren, a grass-roots organization that ran rural libraries and summer camps promoting civic engagement among underprivileged Chinese youth. His brother had met Cai at a Liren camp 10 years ago, when theyd been inspired to work on behalf of marginalized groups.

Liren was shut down in 2014. Chen Kun, who was head of the organization at that time, spent several months in detention.

But the brothers kept their ideals. The younger Chen worked for a charity in Beijing that aided people with disabilities. Online, he and Cai created Terminus2049, archiving censored articles about Chinas #MeToo movement, labor protests and forced removal of migrant workers from Beijing. They also ran a discussion forum that didnt require real-name registration, unlike most Chinese social media.

In earlier years, hosting such archives and forums was safe. Those arrested for speech tended to be long-term rights activists and anti-CCP dissidents, Chen Kun said. But now, ordinary people are being detained for actions as innocuous as a retweet.

We are watching Chinas speech environment being squeezed bit by bit until you cannot speak, he said. Even worse, he said, the pressure was coming not only from officials but also from ordinary people  friends, family, neighbors and netizens who are increasingly reporting one anothers speech, especially online.

Official statistics show that mutual tattling has increased. In 2020, Chinas Central Cyberspace Administration handled 163 million reports of improper online speech, an increase of 17.4% from 2019. The majority came from Chinese social media platforms including Weibo, Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent. More than 60% were reports of sexually inappropriate content, while 7.7% (about 12.5 million reports) were political and 1.1% were rumors.

In April, Chinas Central Cyberspace Administration issued a new request for reports of hazardous information involving historical nihilism. It offered phone, app and website options for tattling on anyone caught twisting party history, criticizing party leaders, ideology or policy, smearing heroes and martyrs, or speaking negatively of Chinas traditional, revolutionary or modern culture.

Mutual reporting continued to grow, with nearly 15 million reports that month, an increase of 38.4% from March and a 2.6% increase from April 2020.

It will be like the Cultural Revolution," Chen Kun said. "Normal people stand up to struggle against you. This makes you feel really hopeless.

That sense of nationalistic, voluntary mutual censorship is particularly strong among the young, he said, especially urban youth who grew up in a rising China with no knowledge of their own history  aside from the the triumphalist narratives taught in school  and no experience of open information.

An exhibition at a Beijing museum in March 2021 marks the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China. (AFP/Getty Images)

Even Dong, Yuan and Gao, the three who went to Tiananmen Square on the anniversary of the massacre, had believed that the Chinese government today would never use violence against its youth. Born in 1991, 1995 and 1998, respectively, they were highly educated city kids: Maybe because we are young, we were thinking too well of the government," said Dong. "We never imagined it would treat its own people this way.

The day they were arrested in the square, police strip-searched them and made them stand for hours against a wall, then interrogated them overnight in metal tiger chairs that bound their wrists and ankles. They refused to believe that the three had not known one another beforehand or received foreign support, Dong said. In their thinking, it made no sense for anyone born after 1989 to care about what happened then.

They dont believe that actually, a lot of people in China have conscience," said Dong. "It has nothing to do with your age, education, or whether your family has been hurt.

Interrogators told Dong hed receive a lighter sentence if he confessed to the picking quarrels crime. He did, but still spent seven months in Beijings Dongcheng district detention center, in a cell of 20 people squeezed into about 430 square feet.

Inside, they were forced to watch educational videos praising the government and write self-criticisms and confessions. They were fed mostly water and cabbage. At night, they took two-hour shifts patrolling the cell, where the light was never turned off. In the daytime, aside from the reeducation sessions, they sat on a mat in silence.

Dong fears that his peers and those younger than him still dont know what lies behind government propaganda.

A teacher and her students in Lianyungang, China, pose with Communist Party emblems during a class about the party's history in June 2020. (AFP/Getty Images)

Young people these days are completely led by the government narrative. Its the only information they come into contact with, he said. Many of the linglinghou and lingwuhou, those born after 2000 and 2005, are the quickest to point fingers at others, he said, accusing anyone who questions the government of backing from foreign forces.

Its a terrifying and very narrow way of looking at the world, he said, one intentionally constructed by the government.

Young people across the world should be the most anti-establishment, the most open and alive in their thinking  but not in China. In China, the youth have been shut in the governments thinking cage for too long and cannot find an exit, he said.

Police monitored Dong after his release, telling him he could not go to Beijing and threatening him and his parents anytime he made WeChat posts that they deemed sensitive. I feel that I have just moved from a smaller prison to a bigger one, he said.

In the days before June 4 this year, he received multiple warnings to keep quiet. Yet he asked to tell his story with his real name. We dont need to use lies. We dont need to hide. We havent done anything wrong, he said.

The world should know of those being silenced every day in China, he said, even if their records at home are wiped away.

(This is the first in a series of occasional stories about the challenges the young face in an increasingly perilous world. Reporting for the series was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.)





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
News

Los Angeles, California - Federal authorities have arrested two Illinois residents named in an indictment that accuses five defendants of conspiring to unlawfully export to Russia defense articles  specifically, thermal imaging riflescopes and night-vision goggles  without a license in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.

The indictment also accuses all five defendants of conspiring to smuggle thermal imaging devices from the United States and file false export information to conceal their activities.

The indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on May 26 and unsealed following the arrests on June 17, outlines a nearly four-year scheme in which the defendants purchased dozens of thermal imaging devices  most of which cost between $5,000 and $10,000 and are controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations  from sellers across the United States.

The defendants allegedly obtained many of the items using aliases, falsely assuring the sellers that they would not export the items from the United States. The thermal imaging devices were then exported to co-conspirators in Russia using aliases and false addresses to conceal their activities, according to the indictment.

The defendants hid the thermal imaging devices among other non-export-controlled items when exporting them to Russia, and they falsely stated on export declarations that the contents of their exports were non-export-controlled items with values of less than $2,500, the indictment alleges. In no case did any of the defendants obtain the required export licenses to export defense articles to Russia.

The two defendants arrested on June 17 in Illinois are Elena Shifrin, 59, of Mundelein, Illinois, and Vladimir Pridacha, 55, of Volo, Illinois. These two defendants made their initial court appearances last week in the United States District Court in Chicago and were released on $100,000 bond.

The other three defendants named in the indictment are: Boris Polosin, of Russia; Vladimir Gohman, of Israel, and Igor Panchernikov, an Israeli citizen who, during much of the scheme, resided in Corona, California.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The charge of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The second conspiracy charge alleged in the indictment carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The FBIs Los Angeles and Chicago field offices investigated this matter, with substantial assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorneys David T. Ryan and Wilson Park of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Justice Department Trial Attorney Matthew Chang of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - In honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, 2021, the FBI Phoenix Field Office is raising awareness about cyber scams targeting the elderly in Arizona.

As a response to the increasing prevalence of fraud against the elderly, the Department of Justice and the FBI partnered in 2017 to create the Elder Justice Initiative. Elder Fraud is defined as a financial fraud scheme which targets or disproportionately affects people over the age of 60. The FBI, including IC3, has worked tirelessly to educate this population on how to take steps to protect themselves from being victimized.

Victims over the age of 60 may encounter scams including Advance Fee Schemes, Investment Fraud Schemes, Romance Scams, Tech Support Scams, Grandparent Scams, Government Impersonation Scams, Sweepstakes/Charity/Lottery Scams, Home Repair Scams, TV/Radio Scams, and Family/Caregiver Scams. If the perpetrators are successful after initial contact, they will often continue to victimize these individuals. Further information about the Elder Justice Initiative is available at justice.gov/elderjustice.

FBI Phoenix Special Agent Jeremy Capello is raising awareness about scams targeting the elderly in Arizona to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

According to the latest FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center or IC3 report, residents over the age of 60 made up the majority of Arizona cyber-crime victims in 2020 (3,053) and accounted for the most adjusted losses (more than $27 million).

Here are the top 5 crimes, targeting Arizona seniors for fiscal year 2020 (according to IC3):

Top 5 Arizona crimes by victim count (ages 60+)*

Type: Non-Payment/Non-Delivery

Victim Count: 815

Victim Loss: $2,129,253.47

Type: Personal Data Breach

Victim Count: 315

Victim Loss: $584,952.73

Type: Terrorism/Threats of Violence

Victim Count: 247

Victim Loss: $287,729.33

Type: Identity Theft

Victim Count: 231

Victim Loss: $966,096.77

Type: Extortion

Victim Count: 200

Victim Loss: $140,054.57

Top 5 Arizona crimes by financial loss (ages 60+)*

Type: Business e-mail Compromise

Victim Count: 98

Victim Loss: $7,226,827.59

Type: Investment

Victim Count: 112

Victim Loss: $6,807,103.58

Type: Confidence Fraud/Romance Scam

Victim Count: 174

Victim Loss: $5,191,756,68

Type: Real Estate/Rental

Victim Count: 138

Victim Loss: $3,066,291.37

Type: Virtual Currency

Victim Count: 101

Victim Loss: $3,026,100.57

*Statistics are from the 2020 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report for ages 60+, crime type definitions can be found on pages 27-29 of the IC3 report.

While anyoneyoung or oldcan fall victim to these scams, seniors with cognitive impairment, health issues, or other concerns are at higher risk. Add that to the fact that many seniors have a set amount of money in retirementwith little ability to recover financially should fraud occurand the results can be devastating.

If you are an older Americanor a caregiverhere are some things you can do to protect you and your family:

Contact an attorney before signing any legal document.

Check financial statements every month for unusual activity.

Avoid unsolicited contactswhether by phone, e-mail, at your door, or in-person while you are out and about. It is OK to hang up the phone, delete the e-mail, or tell someone you are not interested and walk away.

Be wary when someone asks you to form a company in order to open up a new bank account.

Never give your financial details or personal information to someone you dont know and trust, especially if you met them online.

Be suspicious when the individual you met on a dating website wants to use your bank account for receiving and forwarding money.

Be careful of IRS imposter/Sweepstakes scams where the fraudsters tell you that you won the lottery/sweepstakes and you have to pay taxes before you collect your winnings. This is a scam!

Remember:

A legitimate company will not ask you to use your own bank account to transfer their money. Do not accept any job offers that ask you to do this.

The government will never request money or personal information from you over the phone.

If you believe you are a victim of fraud, or know a senior who may be, regardless of financial loss, immediately report the incident to your local law enforcement agency and to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your local FBI office.
Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 105F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 85F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High near 105F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
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Two teens charged in connection with a double homicide in Omaha who were caught in the Kansas City area tried to escape from custody  breaking a guards hip in the attempt, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

Terrance Moore, 16, and Lerajai Key, 17, appeared in Douglas County Court for the first time Wednesday morning. The two are accused in the June 3 fatal shootings of JiaQuan Williams and JaVondre McIntosh, both 17.

Moore has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and weapons charges. Key, who prosecutor Nathan Barnhill said was driving during the shootings, faces two accessory charges.

Barnhill said Moore also stabbed someone in the upper left chest during an altercation in a parking lot before the June 3 shooting.

About 8 p.m. that night, Omaha police officers went to 29th and Pinkney streets to investigate a report of gunshots. They found that both Williams and McIntosh had been shot.

Williams, who had just finished his junior year at Benson High School, died soon after being taken to the hospital. McIntosh, who had just finished his junior year in the Omaha Public Schools' Integrated Learning Program, died two days later.
New Delhi: Top Bhojpuri actress turned television star Monalisa is an avid social media user. She often shares amazing posts on Instagram, keeping her fans abreast with the latest happenings and upcoming projects.

Monalisa recently dropped a video from the sets of a photoshoot, looking absolutely jaw-dropping in a black lehenga-choli. The stunner grooved to Neha Kakkar's song 'Aao Raja'. She captioned the post reading: Mood... Though it was just a Photoshoot and I had to pose... #feelitreelit cause i love this peppy #song #reel #dance #instagood #instadaily #feelkorboreelkorbo #bts

Monalisa enjoys a whopping 4.4 million followers on Instagram alone and that explains why her posts go viral in split seconds on social media. The actress has had the opportunity of working with almost all the Bhojpuri big shots in her movie career. In 'Nazar', she played an evil force named Mohana. And received immense adulation for her work on TV.

Monalisa was seen this year in 'Nazar 2' as Madhulika Chaudhary. She sure knows how to keep her social media fam happy and smiling.

The sensational star was seen as a popular contestant in the reality show 'Bigg Boss 10' and in fact, got married to her then-boyfriend Vikrant Singh inside the BB 10 house.

She is these days seen in popular daily soap 'Namak Issk Ka'.
New Delhi: Indias first and dearly loved superhero franchise Krrish is all set to make a comeback to rule audiences' hearts once more.

As the franchise completed 15 years, actor Hrithik Roshan took to his Instagram account to tease fans with the upcoming superhero movie, along with a video.

In the video shared by the actor, Krrish can be seen flying in the air and throwing his mask at the audience while the dramatic music plays in the background.

Hrithik wrote in his post, The past is done. Lets see what the future brings. Krrish4 #15yearsofkrrish #Krrish4.

Fans showered their love on the post. Actor Tiger Shroff, who is known for his amazing action sequences, dropped in clapping and fire emojis in the comment section. Music composer Salim Merchant commented,  looking forward to #krrish4, among various others.

The first part of the superhero film titled Koi... Mil Gaya was released on 8 August 2013 and was a huge success. The film introduced a dearly loved alien jadu to the world - who will become responsible for Krrishs superhero powers.

The film starred Hrithik Roshan, Priety Zinta and Rekha. The first film with the title Krrish was released on 23 June 2006 - and introduced the black cape wearing superhero for the first time and became an instant hit among the audience.

Krrish 3 was released on 1 November 2013 and was also received well by the fans.
New Delhi: In a shocking turn of events, Tamil actress Nivetha Pethuraj found a dead cockroach in her ordered meal through Swiggy on Wednesday (June 23) as per her social media account. Last night, she had taken to Instagram to share a disturbing image of a cockroach among the rice she had ordered from a restaurant called 'Moonlight Takeaway'. She also wrote a long message detailing her horrifying experience and tagging Swiggy's social media to inform them of the restaurant listed on their app.

She wrote, "I have no idea what standards @swiggyindia and the restaurants nowadays are maintaining. I found cockroaches twice lately in my food. Its very vital to inspect these restaurants on a regular basis and fine them heavily, if not up to standards. Moonlight takeaway omr,"

After she posted the shocking story, many of her followers replied to her with recounting similar experiences from the particular restaurant. Here's what she wrote, "And from the messages, I'm receiving this apparently not the first time the restaurant added cockroach to their food. How can the restaurant be so reckless? Requesting @swiggindia to remove this restaurant from the app"

In a recent update on Thursday (June 24), she took to her Instagram to inform fans that the restaurant had been removed from the Swiggy website and app. In addition, she also told fans that after authorities ran a check on the food joint, they found 10 Kgs of spoiled meat in their kitchen.

Check out her updated story:

Nivetha made her acting debut in the Tamil film 'Oru Naal Koothu' in 2016. Later she was seen in films such as 'Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam' and space fiction thriller 'Tik Tik Tik' for which she was praised by critics.

In 2021, she was seen in Kishore Tirumala directorial 'Red' co-starring Ram Pothineni, Malvika Sharma, and Amritha Aiyer.
SURAT: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday arrived in Surat and recorded his statement before the magisterial court in Modi surname defamation case filed by the BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. After recording his statement, Rahul Gandhi left for Delhi.

In his statement to Surat magisterial court in the defamation case, Rahul Gandhi said that in his poll speech he had indeed mentioned Modi surname, but that was specifically referring to prime minister Narendra Modi and had no intention to defame any particular community or anyone else.

The Congress MP had arrived at the Surat court earlier this morning to record his further statement in a defamation case filed against him.

Gujarat: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at Surat court to defend himself in a criminal defamation case over the Modi surname remark pic.twitter.com/odl2eynsVT  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

Rahul Gandhi is defending himself over his Modi surname remark, against which Surat West legislator from BJP, Purnesh Modi had filed a complaint in April 2019 under IPC sections 499 and 500. Rahul Gandhi is being represented in the case by advocate Kirit Panwala.

"Rahul Gandhi recorded his final statement with the court today. He said that his mentioning of the Modi surname was just to show the misdeeds of PM Narendra Modi and not to defame anyone else or a particular community. Besides, as far as he knew, there wasn`t any community named Modi," Kirit Panwala, Gandhi`s advocate, was quoted as saying by IANS.

"Gandhi said to the court that as a leader from the opposition it was his duty to highlight the misdeeds of the prime minister and that indeed he did by mentioning his surname, but as far as any other Modi was concerned, he never had any intention of defaming him or her," added Panwala.

Importantly, a week ago, Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat AN Dave had directed Rahul Gandhi to remain present on June 24 to record his final statement in the case.

The Congress leader had reportedly made the remark during campaigning for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. While addressing an election rally at Kolar on April 13, 2019, he had reportedly said, "I have a question. Why all the thieves have Modi in their names whether be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi? We don`t know how many more such Modis will come out."

His party colleague Shaktisinh Gohil had defended Rahul Gandhi and said that the party in power should tolerate criticism by the opposition.

"In a democracy, the party in power should tolerate criticism by the opposition. Rahul ji had said Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi are thieves and Narendra Modi is a failure. BJP connected his statement to the Modi community and insulted them," said Shaktisinh Gohil, a Congress leader.

Senior party leader Ahmed Patel also backed Gandhi and said, "Let the law takes its own course."

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New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday told her party leaders to address the vaccine hesitancy among people and to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccine wastage is minimized. The interim Congress chief said the party must play an active role in ensuring full COVID-19 vaccination coverage to wipe out the threat posed by the deadly coronavirus.

She also said that the country needs to prepare for the possible third wave and take proactive measures so that children are spared this calamity.

Addressing a virtual meeting of party general secretaries and in-charges of AICC in various states, Sonia Gandhi called upon party leaders and workers to continue to put pressure on the union government to ensure that the daily rate of vaccination trebles so that 75 per cent of the population gets fully vaccinated by end of this year.

Her comments come in the wake of the BJP accusing Congress of aiding vaccine hesitancy. "On the pandemic, let me say that it is absolutely essential that our party plays an active role in ensuring full vaccination coverage. At the national level, the daily rate of vaccination has to treble so that 75 per cent of our population gets fully vaccinated by end of this year," she said.

On the pandemic let me say that it is absolutely essential that our party plays an active role in ensuring full vaccination coverage. - Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/T2VPvtwKeY  Congress (@INCIndia) June 24, 2021

"No doubt, this is dependent entirely on the adequacy of vaccine supply. We must continue to put pressure on the Union government which has, at our Party's insistence, finally taken on the responsibility for this. At the same time, we have to ensure that registration takes place, that vaccine hesitancy wherever evident is overcome and vaccine wastage is minimised," she said addressing the party leaders virtually.

Quoting experts, she said they are talking of a possible third wave in a few months from now and some have pointed to the vulnerability of children in the coming months.

"This too requires our urgent attention and we must take proactive measures so that they are spared this calamity. We have to take steps to be better prepared if and when this strikes," she said.

The Congress veteran said the second wave of coronavirus in the past four months has been devastating for lakhs of families and we must learn from this traumatic experience so that we do not have to experience it yet again.

Talking about the white paper on COVID-19 management brought out by Congress, she said it is being translated into other languages. It is very detailed and needs to be disseminated widely. I hope this gets done urgently, she told the leaders.

Referring to the rise in fuel prices, the Congress chief said it is causing an intolerable burden on people and agitations have been organised to highlight how it is hurting farmers and millions of families.

Apart from fuel, the prices of many other essential commodities like pulses and edible oils too have skyrocketed causing widespread distress, she noted. "This price rise is taking place at a time when livelihoods are being lost in unprecedented numbers, when there is mounting unemployment and when economic recovery is not a reality," she said.

Appreciating the relief work carried out by party workers across the country during the pandemic, she said that this has been done in the Congress party's finest traditions of community service.

"We must continue our effort. The control rooms will continue to function. The helplines too. Emergency services like ambulances and essential medicines should continue to be provided," Gandhi said.

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New Delhi: The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday (June 24) cancelled the AP Board Exams 2021 for Intermediate and SSC Students saying it is not feasible to hold the exam as per Supreme Court stipulations. The state has decided to reverse its decision to conduct AP Intermediate and AP SSC exams 2021 after the Supreme Court hearing today.

The apex court had asked the Andgra government during a hearing today on the matter to reconsider its decision, pointing out that it won't allow the exams to be conducted if it was not completely satisfied.

Education Minister A Suresh told reporters that they decided to cancel the exams as it was difficult to adhere to July 31 deadline set by the Supreme Court for completing the process. He said a high-powered committee would be constituted to assess the marks to be awarded to intermediate students.

Earlier, the state government seemed keen to hold the exams despite the prevailing COVID situation and a vociferous demand from all opposition parties and parents. The apex court's observations forced the Jagan Mohan Reddy's government to cancel the exams, much to the relief of lakhs of students.

On June 22, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the Andhra Pradesh government on being informed of its decision to hold Class 12 board examination. "If there is any fatality, we will hold the state responsible," a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari told councel for Andhra Pradesh. The top court was hearing a plea seeking directions to state governments to not hold board examinations in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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New Delhi: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (June 24, 2021) began hearing of the plea filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging Nandigram election results. A bench of Justice Kausik Chanda heard the case on Thursday morning.

Petitioner's lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentions instances that shows Justice Chanda has connections with BJP and mention a case where the Judge moved intervention application on its behalf.

Hearing in matter of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee challenging Nandigram results began at Calcutta High Court. Petitioner's lawyer Singhvi mentions instances shows Justice Chanda has connections with BJP&mention a case where the Judge moved intervention application on its behalf  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

"I am asking Abhishek Manu Singhvi that if you felt that the Judge cannot deliver you justice, then why didnt you raise it on the first day," Justice Kausik Chanda questioned Singhvi, who is representing CM Mamata Banerjee.

Justice Chanda says that the petitioner (Mamata Banerjee) has full right to move for recusal and rest assured, the matter will be decided judicially.

Earlier, the Election Commission had declared BJP's Suvendu Adhikari the winner in the fiercely contested election for the Nandigram constituency.

After her defeat in Nandigram, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Returning Officer of the Assembly seat had said that he was threatened against recounting of votes.

Despite Banerjee losing the seat to Adhikari, who was once her close aide, the TMC registered a landslide victory in polls winning 213 seats in the 294-member West Bengal assembly. The BJP lost the polls but emerged as the second-largest party with 77 seats.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) even wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal seeking "immediate re-counting of votes and postal ballots" in the Nandigram constituency, but recounting was refused for reasons unknown.

"Such refusal is bad in law and coloured. We demand an immediate recounting of Nandigram AC 210 to preserve the sanctity of the electoral process," the TMC had said in a letter to the CEO.

(With ANI inputs)

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (June 24) told the meeting of political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir that the assembly election process will begin when the delimitation process ends, Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said on Thursday. Bukhari told media persons that talks were held in a 'good atmosphere'.He said the Prime Minister urged the political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the delimitation process.

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader said the Prime Minister also told the meeting that the government was committed to the restoration of statehood. "The Prime Minister heard our issues of all leaders. He said that the election process will begin when the delimitation process finishes. The Prime Minister asked all to participate in the delimitation process. We have been assured that this is the roadmap towards elections. Prime Minister also said that we are committed to the restoration of statehood," he said.

The all-party meeting, which began at around 3 pm, lasted for almost five hours. It was attended by 14 prominent leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including four former Chief Ministers of the state-now-turned-into-union territory. This was the first high-level interaction between the Centre and political leadership mainly from Kashmir since August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the state was bifurcated into two union territories.

Among the leaders who are participated in the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand and GA Mir, National Conference's Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, J-K Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari, BJP's Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh, and Kavinder Gupta, CPI(M)'s M Y Tarigami, National Panthers Party's Prof Bheem Singh; and Peoples Conference's Sajad Gani Lone.

Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Home Secretary also attended the meeting.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "We kept 5 demands in the meeting- grant statehood soon, conduct Assembly elections to restore democracy, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in J&K, all political detainees should be released and on domicile rules. The Home Minister said the government is committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. All leaders demanded full-fledged statehood."

Muzaffar Hussain Baig said, "All leaders demanded statehood. To which PM said, the delimitation process should conclude first and then other issues will be addressed. It was a satisfactory meeting. There was complete unanimity for restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir."

J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, "All leaders of Jammu and Kashmir have been assured by PM Narendra Modi that all will work together for the future and betterment of J&K. PM Modi heard everyone and said that all steps will be taken for the development of the people of J&K."

PDP chief and former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said, "People of Jammu and Kashmir are in a lot of difficulties after August 5, 2019. They're angry, upset and emotionally shattered. They feel humiliated. I told the Prime Minister that people of J&K don't accept the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally." "People of Jammu and Kashmir will struggle constitutionally, democratically, peacefully. Be it months or yrs, we'll restore Article 370 in J&K as it's a matter of our identity. We didn't get it from Pakistan, it was given to us by our country, by JL Nehru, Sardar Patel," she added.

Union Minister Amit Shah said, "Todays meeting on Jammu and Kashmir was conducted in a very cordial environment. Everyone expressed their commitment to democracy and the constitution. It was stressed to strengthen the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir."

National Conference chief Omar Abdullah said, "We told the Prime Minister that we don't stand with what was done on August 5, 2019. We're not ready to accept it. But we won't take law into hands. We'll fight this in court. We also told PM that there's been breach of trust b/w State & Centre. It's Centre's duty to restore it." "We requested the PM that our fight will continue but it's essential to reverse some decisions that aren't at all in the interest of J&K. It was given the status of a UT, people don't like it. They want full statehood for J&K with J&K cadre restored," Omar added.

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New Delhi: In a bid to clear the air regarding the allocation of COVID-29 vaccines to the states, the union health ministry on Thursday (June 24) said that the distribution was done in a transparent manner, supported by scientific evidence.

The ministry said the distribution of vaccines is being done on the basis of population of the state, caseload or disease burden and states utilisation efficiency.

The allocation is negatively affected by vaccine wastage, it added.

It said that information about the vaccine supply by the Centre is made available in the public domain through various channels on a regular basis.

There have been some media reports alleging non-transparent allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to states. These allegations are completely without any basis, and not fully informed, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.

The ministry said, Indias National COVID Vaccination Program is built on scientific and epidemiological evidence, WHO guidelines and global best practices.

It is clarified that Government of India continues to allocate COVID-19 vaccines to States/UTs in a transparent manner. Information about the vaccine supply by Government of India, consumption by the States/UTs, balance and unutilised vaccine doses available with States/UTs, along with vaccine supply in the pipeline is regularly shared through press releases made by Press Information Bureau, and also through other forums, it added.

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New Delhi: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed the country`s largest naval infrastructure project - Project Seabird at Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka.

The Defence Minister also promised to raise the budget for the project. "This (Karwar Naval base) should be Asia's biggest Naval base. I will try to raise the budget as well,'' the Defence Minister said in Karwar.

Visited Karwar Naval Base today to review the progress of ongoing infrastructure development under Project Seabird. I am confident that after the completion of this project, the Karwar Naval Base would become Asia's largest and most efficient Naval base. pic.twitter.com/8z6QcST4QM  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 24, 2021

The Defence Minister was accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, the Defence PRO here said in a statement. As part of the visit, Singh undertook an aerial survey of the project area and sites, prior to arriving at INS Kadamba Helipad.

Rajnath Singh and Navy Chief were received by Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command and Rear Admiral Mahesh Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area, the statement said.

Singh will also later review the construction of an indigenous aircraft carrier in Kochi. The Defence Minister had left New Delhi on a two-day visit to Karwar and Kochi earlier in the day.

Both the projects are extremely critical for the Indian Navy`s capabilities and strategy in future. The Karwal base visit will give the defence minister a first-hand update of the infrastructure project important for future operations on the western front.

The first phase of the naval base called Operation Seabird was completed in 2005 and the second phase started in 2011. A 3,000 feet long runway, docking space for 30 warships, hangars for aircraft are part of the Rs 19,000 core project spread over 11,000 acres of land.

At Kochi, he will review the construction of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant which has faced many delays since work started on it in 2009. An additional aircraft carrier is key in wake of growing Chinese forays in the Indian Ocean Region. While INS Vikrant awaits completion even after 11 years since work on it started, China`s first indigenous carrier was commissioned in 2018 within 3 years of starting construction.

India currently has INS Vikaramditya as the only operational aircraft carrier while INS Vikrant is under construction and the Indian Navy has been pressing for the third one but faces resistance from the government and military planners.

Vikrant is in an advanced stage and is expected to sea trials soon and be fully ready by later 2022 or early 2023. After the Indian Navy`s aircraft carrier INS Virat was decommissioned it is left with one functional carrier.

On the other hand, the Chinese Navy has two functional aircraft carriers with a third one expected to hit the seas soon but will take a while for it to be fully operational and a fourth one is also in the pipeline.

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New Delhi: Delhi government schools will start the admission process for entry level classes soon. The Directorate of Education (DoE) said on Wednesday (June 23) that admissions for Nursery, KG and class 1 in Government Sarvodaya Vidyalayas will commence from June 28, PTI reported. To smoothen out the process, a help desk consisting of teachers and School Management Committee (SMC) members will be set up. The application forms for entry level classes-Nursery, KG and class 1 in Government Sarvodaya Vidyalayas can be obtained from concerned schools from June 28 to July 12, the DoE order read.

"Children residing in Delhi in the vicinity of the school within 1 km shall be eligible to apply. If a Sarvodaya Vidyalaya is not available in the vicinity, then residents within a radius of 3 km will be eligible," the official notice added.

The DoE asserted that admission will not be denied to any Divyang child, destitute child, refugee or asylum seeker, migrants or child in need of care and protection, due to unavailability of essential documents at the time of submission in the school.

Parents can reach out to the help desk members in case of any guidance. "Parents of the applicants are advised to get the application form checked from help desk members," the DoE said.

The selection of the candidates will be done by draw of lots on July 20.

Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia assured on Monday (June 22) that students will not be called to schools anytime soon in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Keeping in mind the security and safety of children, we are not calling students back to school anytime soon."

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Asserting that the Centre is committed to all round development of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (June 24) said that the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood.

Shahs statement came after the conclusion of the all-party meet on Jammu and Kashmir which was attended by 14 prominent leaders from the erstwhile state.

We are committed to ensure all round development of J&K. The future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament, Shah wrote on Twitter.

We are committed to ensure all round development of J&K. The future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament.  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 24, 2021

Todays meeting on Jammu and Kashmir was conducted in a very cordial environment. Everyone expressed their commitment to democracy and the constitution. It was stressed to strengthen the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the assembly election process will begin when the delimitation process ends, as quoted by Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari.

Bukhari told media persons that talks were held in a 'good atmosphere'. He said the Prime Minister urged the political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the delimitation process.

"The Prime Minister heard our issues of all leaders. He said that the election process will begin when the delimitation process finishes. The Prime Minister asked all to participate in the delimitation process. We have been assured that this is the roadmap towards elections. Prime Minister also said that we are committed to the restoration of statehood," he said.

The all-party meeting, which began at around 3 pm, lasted for around 3.5 hours. It was attended by prominent leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including four former Chief Ministers of the state-now-turned-into-union territory.

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New Delhi: For the first time since the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir in Delhi. The meeting lasted for about three and a half hours. Apart from Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, J&K LG Manoj Sinha and 14 leaders of 8 parties of Jammu and Kashmir participated. National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and PDP party president Mehbooba Mufti also attended the meeting.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Thursday (June 24) explained the significance of the all-party meet convened today and discussed the road ahead in Jammu and Kashmir.

The most important piece of information that came out of the meeting is that in Jammu and Kashmir, delimitation will be done first, following which elections will be held and then the statehood will be restored.

PM Modi said he wanted to end 'Dilli ki duri' as well as 'Dil ki duri' with Jammu and Kashmir, which has been witnessing prolonged spell of militancy and unrest.

Our priority is to strengthen grassroots democracy in J&K. Delimitation has to happen at a quick pace so that polls can happen and J&K gets an elected Government that gives strength to J&Ks development trajectory, Modi tweeted.

The Home Minister assured the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir present in the meeting that all political parties would participate in the process of delimitation.

According to Article 82 of the Constitution, the government can constitute a Delimitation Commission every ten years and decide the limits of new assembly or Lok Sabha seats on the basis of population. This is what the central government wants to do in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, the statements of the Kashmiri leaders after the meeting revealed two things. Firstly, their language seems to be favouring Pakistans interests and secondly, all these leaders are opposing the delimitation.

The delimitation of the Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir last took place in 1995. Since 1996, elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir accordingly.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir is divided into two regions  the Jammu region and the Kashmir region.

According to the 2011 census, the total population of Jammu and Kashmir is about 1 crore 25 lakhs. There are 85 lakh Muslims, 35 lakh Hindus and 2.3 lakh Sikhs. The population of Jammu is 53.5 lakh. The number of assembly seats here is 37. The total population of Kashmir is 68.94 lakh and there are 46 assembly seats here.

On August 5, 2019, while removing Article 370, Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that there would be delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir and 7 assembly seats would be added to the Jammu region. If this happens, the number of seats in Jammu would increase from 37 to 44 and the number of seats in Kashmir will remain 46.

There is a large population of Hindus in Jammu. In such a situation, the Hindus will get more representation in the Legislative Assembly and it is possible that a Hindu may become the Chief Minister for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir.

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New Delhi: As the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) releases the admit cards for CA foundation, inter and final exams that are scheduled for July, students across the country took on Twitter and again urged the institute to include an opt-out facility in the CA May/July session exam and allowing the candidates to carry forward their candidature with an extra attempt other than the November 2021 attempt.

CA aspirants are also urging the institute to postpone the exams in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and running a social media campaign on Twitter using #caexams, #caexam, #justiceforcaaspirants, #justiceforca_students, #justiceforcaaspirants, #justiceforca_students, #caexams, #icaiexamspostponement, #postponecaexams.

Over 6,000 students wrote to the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana urging him to take Suo moto cognizance of students demands including an opt-out option for all students affected by COVID-19 or consequences of COVID-19, an extension of the old course, and additional attempts for ICAI CA students.

6000 students are knocking the doors of Supreme Court for some really genuine issues. CA Students United #JUSTICEFORCA_STUDENT #ICAIExams #caexams https://t.co/OqoP9ewVXy  Abhinav (@Abhinav_Tweets) June 21, 2021

Notably, the exams for CA Final, Inter, IPC and PQC exams have been scheduled to be conducted between July 5 and July 20, 2021, and the CA Foundation exams from July 24 to July 30.

Issuing a notification, the institute has provided an extra attempt for the old course students and they will be allowed to appear in the November session.

ALSO READ: Indian Army plans to buy 1,750 Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles, 350 light tanks for deployment in high altitude areas

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New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had made a series of wrong forecasts for the arrival of monsoon in the national capital. The IMD on June 17 had predicted that the Capital will witness moderate rainfall and thunderstorms on the weekend as the monsoon hits the region, more than 10 days ahead of its usual onset date this year. However, the residents of Delhi spent the entire weekend sweating without even a drop of relief, and this wasn't the Met department's only inaccurate forecast.

The string of inaccurate weather forecasts, being made by the Met department, began from June 11, which was predicted as the set date for the arrival of monsoons in Delhi.

A low-pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal and the formation of a trough over the region is showing favourable conditions for the advancement of south-west monsoon in most parts of northwest India, the forecast said.

This forecast was updated on June 13, in which the Met department said, conditions were favourable for further advancement of south-west monsoon into most parts of Madhya Pradesh, parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab by June 14.

But the weather department again updated their forecast two days later and revised the monsoon arrival date again.

Due to the adverse influence of mid-latitude westerlies, a hiatus in the further advancement of south-west monsoon into remaining parts of northwest India is seen. The situation is being monitored continuously and will be updated on a daily basis, the revised forecast read.

The Met officials stated that this string of wrong short-term and long-term predictions turned out to be inaccurate due to some volatile and unforeseen weather conditions unique to northwest India this year.

It has been nearly two weeks since the original monsoon forecast made by the Met department and the national capital is yet to see any significant rainfall activity in the region.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMDs regional weather forecasting centre said that Between June 10 and June 15, the low-pressure system was advancing very fast till eastern Uttar Pradesh. However, after that, even though the trough has persisted, the low-pressure system is not as intense.

According to the reports, the IMDs long-range forecasts are only around 50% accurate, while short-range forecasts can be 70-80% accurate. However, the weather experts state that the predictions by the Met department are expected to improve further over time.

There are a few factors that come in the way of accurate weather forecasts. Firstly, northwest India as a region is a little volatile in its weather activities, which makes it slightly trickier to make on-point forecasts compared to other parts, a senior IMD official said.

Another reason is that the models that we use for forecasting have its limitations. We will probably be able to improve with better technology, the official added.

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New Delhi: Afghanistan's envoy to India Farid Mamundzay on Thursday (June 24) said that India can send the "right message" to the Taliban, that is, to cut ties with international and regional terror groups.

The comments come in the backdrop of reports of India and the Taliban engaging, which has not been confirmed so far by either side.

Speaking to Zee Media, Mamundzay said, The right message, from strategic partners like India, could very helpful. The right message is to cut ties with international and regional terrorist groups. The right message could be to integrate back to Afghan society and become part of mainstream life and politics in the country and let violence go.

A recent United Nations Security Council report suggests the Taliban still keeps ties with international terrorist organizations, which is something of concern to us. We would not want foreign fighters on our soil and should those messages be communicated to the Taliban, should they get those messages it would have a very positive impact on our security, he added.

Mamundzay admitted that the situation is tense in some regions but dismissed reports of the Taliban toppling the Afghan government saying the countrys defence forces are in full control.

The reports which have been published don't fully describe the strength of Afghan national defense and security forces. Our forces are in full control of the country. Yes, the situation is intense in a number of districts and provinces but our soldiers, our police officers, our intelligence officers are doing everything they can to secure and keep our people safe. I disagree with the fact that the Taliban would be in a position to take over Afghanistan or topple our government in 6 months' time, he said.

Earlier this week, a Qatari official confirmed Indian delegation met with the Taliban in Doha. The development comes even as US forces are all set to leave the country after two decades that many see changing the regional security situation.

On being asked how he views the engagement between India and Afghanistan, Mamundzay said, New Delhi has always been a very important partner and we would want this partnership to flourish, to grow more in the years to come.

India's contribution has been phenomenal in every area in Afghanistan. There is a special place in the heart of every Afghan and we would want India to remain, being a key contributor to the development of Afghanistan in every area, he added.

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New Delhi: In what may be one of the youngest vaccination beneficiary yet in Uttar Pradesh, a 2 year and 8-month-old girl was administered the COVID-19 jab.

During the ongoing trial of Covaxin on young children, the toddler was given the first dose of the indigenous COVID vaccine. The girl who was administered the vaccine is the daughter of a private doctor in Kanpur Dehat.

Around five kids, including three girls and two boys, in the age group of 2-6 years were given the COVID-19 jab. The vaccination trial on kids has started at Prakhar Hospital in Kanpur.

A safety profile of the children who have been vaccinated will be prepared.

In May, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had granted permission to Bharat Biotech to commence phase 2-3 trials of Covaxin on children as young as two.

Several hospitals including AIIMS Delhi and Patna have also commenced Covaxin trial on kids.

On Tuesday (June 22), the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) accepted and approved the phase 3 trial data of Covaxin which showed 77.8 per cent efficacy, ANI reported. This data will now be sent to the DCGI for review.

Meanwhile, in an interview with India Today TV, Delhi AIIMS chief Dr. Randeep Guleria said, Covaxin's data for children after completion of the Phase 2/3 trials will be available by September and the approval is expected the same month.

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The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to Twitter MD Manish Maheshwari and it has directed the Ghaziabad Police not to take any coercive steps against him. The Karnataka High Court has also said that if Ghaziabad Police wants to examine the Twitter MD then it can do so through virtual mode. The Karnataka High Court was hearing Twitter MD's petition against the notice issued by Ghaziabad, UP Police under Sec 41A CrPC. The Ghaziabad Police had issued him notice in connection with the case where a man was thrashed & his beard chopped off in Loni.

According to media reports, a single-judge bench of Justice G Narender said "this matter needs further consideration" and reserved orders till June 29. "UP Police cannot arrest (till then)..." Justice Narender said, as reported by NDTV. Maheshwari, it seems, told the Karnataka HC that the UP polices notices to him changed from witness to accused in the span of couple of days.

Twitter Managing Director Manish Maheshwari's counsel had informed Karnataka HC that his client is living in Bengaluru. The counsel said that Supreme Court and High Court have said that statement can be recorded through video-conferencing but Ghaziabad Police wants his personal presence.

The Ghaziabad Police had filed FIR against nine entities, including Twitter India, in connection with the Loni incident.

In the FIR, the Police had said, "There is no communal angle to the incident in Loni where a man was thrashed and his beard was chopped off. The following entities - The Wire, Rana Ayyub, Mohammad Zubair, Dr Shama Mohammed, Saba Naqvi, Maskoor Usmani, Salman Nizami - without checking the fact, started giving communal colour to the incident on Twitter and suddenly they started spreading messages to disrupt the peace and bring differences between the religious communities."

(With ANI inputs)

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New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to hold the first high-level interaction with political leadership from Jammu and Kashmir, the exiled community of Kashmiri Pandits has demanded their political representation in the J&K Assembly.

Notably, as many as 14 prominent leaders from Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to attend the meeting with Prime Minister on Thursday. This is the first high-level interaction between the Centre and political leadership mainly from Kashmir since August 5, 2019, when the Modi government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the state was bifurcated into two union territories.

The exiled community of Kashmiri Pandits, who have been in exile ever since the sudden rise in terrorism and targeted assassination against them since 1990, have sought an audience from the Prime Minister to demand reservation of seats for the community after the delimitation process in the newly constituted J&K Assembly.

The community has also expressed their disappointment at not being invited for the all-party meeting with the Prime Minister. In an open letter to PM Modi, Kashmiri Pandit group Panun Kashmir has sought answers to why the government has ignored the community.

In the open letter, available in media reports, Panun Kashmir convener Dr Agnishekhar wrote, The previous UPA government had taken our opinion by inviting us to three round table conferences, no matter what the result was. Not only this, as the convener of Panun Kashmir, I have taken a delegation to meet former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee five times when he was in office.

Kashmiri Pandit's umbrella organisation Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), however, has also written to PM Modi, seeking his attention to the plight of exiled Kashmiri Pandits.

The GKPD leaders urged the government to invite them also for a similar meeting to give them the opportunity to discuss their political and civilizational aspirations for a dignified return to their homeland.

Among the leaders who would be participating in the meeting are Congress` Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand, and GA Mir; National Conference`s Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah; PDP`s Mehbooba Mufti, J-K Apni Party`s Altaf Bukhari; BJP`s Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh, and Kavinder Gupta; CPI(M)`s M Y Tarigami; National Panthers Party`s Prof Bheem Singh; and Peoples Conference`s Sajad Gani Lone.

Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, and Home Secretary would also attend the meeting.

According to sources, there is no fixed agenda for the meeting and a freewheeling discussion is expected, but delimitation, statehood, and assembly elections are expected to remain the key issues for discussion.

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi: As Maharashtra confirmed 21 cases of Delta Plus variant, the state government has commenced proactive measures to deal with the new COVID-19 strain.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday (June 23) confirmed the number of cases of Delta Plus variant that has been found in seven districts including nine in Ratnagiri, seven in Jalgaon, two in Mumbai, and one case each in Palghar, Thane and Sindhudurg districts.

"Twenty-one cases of Delta Plus variant have been found in seven districts of the state. We are isolating such cases and taking all details like travel history, contact tracing and if they have been vaccinated," Tope told reporters.

The state minister also apprised that around 100 samples each from 36 districts of Maharashtra have been taken and sent for genome sequencing. He added that no casualties have been logged due to this new strain so far.

We have decided to send the samples for the genome sequence study. No deaths have been caused due to the Delta Plus variant. Symptoms and treatment are the same for this variant. No children have been infected with this variant," ANI quoted him as saying.

A separate hospital ward has been formed for the treatment of such patients, Tope said.

Further talking about this variant of concern, he said, These are the index cases of Delta plus variant and its severity could be higher. The study of this variant has indicated that it could be more virulent compared to the previous mutants.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra COVID-19 task force member Dr Shashank Joshi, allaying fears about the new variant, said there is no sufficient data available to be alarmed about the 'Delta Plus' variant of coronavirus.

"Variant of concern, vaccine and Panic. Delta plus variant of concern does not have sufficient data to be alarmed except that we must continue our strict COVID appropriate behaviour with double mask, avoid crowds and continue vaccination," he said in a tweet.

"Delta plus virulence unknown, transmission may be more," Joshi stated.

Meanwhile, Goa has increased screening of the border it shares with the Sindhudurg district in south Maharashtra. "In the nearby districts in Sindhudurg, the Delta plus variant has been found, so screening at the borders is going on. We have also given permission to set up a private laboratory at the border," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was quoted as saying by IANS.

At least 40 confirmed cases of Delta plus variant have been detected in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare termed Delta Plus a 'Variant of Concern'. The union ministry also issued an advisory and alerted three states - Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh after certain districts reported some cases.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to meet around 14 prominent leaders from Jammu and Kashmir today (June 24). Among the leaders who are scheduled to participate in the meeting are Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand and GA Mir; National Conference's Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah; PDP`s Mehbooba Mufti, J-K Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari; BJP's Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta; CPI(M)'s M Y Tarigami; National Panthers Party's Prof Bheem Singh; and Peoples Conference`s Sajad Gani Lone.

A power-packed meet

This is the first high-level interaction between the Centre and political leadership mainly from Kashmir since August 5, 2019, when the Centre voided Articles 370 and 35A, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the state was bifurcated into two union territories. Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha would also attend the meeting. According to reliable sources, no fixed agenda has been set for the meeting and a freewheeling discussion is expected today. "Unfortunately there is no agenda for (all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi). We've been told that it will be open & free debate. Ghulam Nabi Azad, myself, and Tara Chand will attend the meeting," Jammu and Kashmir Congress president, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, was quoted by a news agency.

However, delimitation, statehood and assembly elections are expected to remain key issues for discussion at the all-party meeting. Below are some main things that one can expect from today's meet.

What's on the agenda?

The all-party meeting signals the restarting of political engagement between mainstream Kashmiri parties and the Centre. Earlier today (June 24), ahead of the meeting with the Prime Minister, Apni Party chief Syed Altaf Bukhari welcomed the all-party meet with Prime Minister Modi and said, "I look at it as a positive development. The Prime Minister had started a process on March 14, 2020, when a delegation of the Apni Party met him and now he has called an all-party meeting. It is a welcome step."

The Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Deceleration (PAGD), a group of five political parties formed for restoration of statehood and special status of J&K, will be attending the meeting. However the constituents of the bloc are sending their individual representatives as well, indicating the bloc might be having a difference of opinion over the key issue of restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The holding of assembly elections in J&K might be a chief issue discussed in the meeting. While J&K is now a Union Territory, it still has a legislature. After the BJP walked out of the Mehbooba Mufti's PDP and BJP alliance in June 2018, J&K has not had an elected government.

Meanwhile, a day before the all-party meeting called by the Prime Minister, the Election Commission of India (ECI) held virtual discussions with its representatives in Jammu and Kashmir and deputy commissioners regarding the delimitation of the 90 Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 was notified by the government on August 9, 2019, which paved the way for the creation of two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature and Ladakh, without it. The Act provides that the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114 (including the 24 seats in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), and delimitation of the constituencies will be determined by the Election Commission. Holding assembly elections will require a delimitation exercise in J&K and this might be discussed in the meeting as well. Whether the government will discuss nominating 24 members to J&K Assembly as representative of PoK is a question that's being also speculated upon widely.

(With ANI inputs)

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New Delhi: India's national security Advisor Ajit Doval proposed an "action plan" against Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) NSAs meet on Wednesday (June 23). The action to be taken on the said terror groups has been proposed under the SCO framework.

LeT and JeM have been responsible for many terror attacks in India, especially in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. JeM, created with the support of the Pakistan spy agency, was responsible for the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Indian soldiers died.

During the meet, which was also attended by Pakistan NSA Moeed Yusuf, the Indian side also called for full implementation of UN resolutions and targeted sanctions against UN-designated terrorist individuals and entities.

Pakistan hosts one of the largest numbers of UN-listed international terrorists. It has been seen lax on them, so much so that Islamabad even applied for "pensions" for listed terrorists like Hafiz Saeed. Saeed is the founder of LeT.

During the in-person meet in Tajik Capital Dushanbe, the Indian NSA "strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations", sources said, pointing out that "perpetrators of terrorism including cross-border terror attacks should be expeditiously brought to justice."

More than a decade after the 26/11 terror attacks masterminded in Pakistan, the country still has to act against the perpetrators.

Interestingly, India also emphasised on adoption of international standards to counter terror financing including an MoU between SCO and anti-terror financing body FATF.

During the meet, NSA highlighted connectivity projects like Chahbahar, INSTC, Regional Air Corridors which are leading to "economic gains and building trust" but pointed out that "connectivity must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Notably, China's mega infrastructure programme China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This has been a cause of concern for New Delhi, which has consistently raised the matter with Beijing.

On Afghanistan, NSA called the need to preserve gains made in the last two decades and give top priority to the welfare of its people and extended full support to SCO Contact Group on the issue.

Doval had an over two hours long meeting with Russian NSA Nikolai Patrushev during which issues of mutual interest were discussed.

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Chennai: The Oxygen Express trains have delivered over 6600 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to Tamil Nadu and Kerala since May 14, the Southern Railways said on Thursday (June 24).

The supply of the critical resource amid the second wave of Covid-19 was done via 84 Oxygen Express trains. The gas was delivered at various points across the two southern states to meet the demand in the respective regions.

Tondiarpet and Harbour in Chennai, Madukkarai near Coimbatore, besides Trichy, Irugur, Tiruvallur and Vadipatpi were among the places where trains carrying 6086.79 MT oxygen arrived in Tamil Nadu, whereas, four trains delivered 513.72MT oxygen to Vallarpadam in Kerala.

As on Thursday, 352 tankers carrying medical oxygen were delivered of which 325 were for Tamil Nadu and 27 for Kerala.

The Indian Railways had started this initiative of running Oxygen Express to cater to the requirement of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in different parts of the country. Oxygen Express trains carry cryogenic tankers mounted on flat-type wagons.

The cryogenic tankers mounted on trucks and filled with LMO are transported by rail from the manufacturing state to the state that is in need. On reaching the destination, the tanks are lifted by crane and loaded onto trucks that can ferry them to the hospitals and facilities in need.

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New Delhi: In the first ever all-party meet of Jammu and Kashmir political leaders on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that the Centre is fully committed to the democratic process and holding Assembly elections in the region just like the successful conduct of the District Development Council (DDC) polls.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Modi and it included leaders from different political parties in J&K. It lasted for more than three-and-a-half hours.

Some of the key issues discussed in the high-level meeting were delimitation, roadmap for Assembly polls, restoration of statehood and bringing back Kashmiri Pandits. Notably, nobody raised cross-border issues, as per sources.

Here are top highlights of the meet:

* PM expressed happiness that all participants shared their frank and honest views. It was an open discussion which revolved around building a better future for Kashmir.

* PM said that we are fully committed to the democratic process in J&K. He stressed that the holding assembly elections just like the successful conduct of DDC elections is a priority.

* It was discussed that elections can happen soon after delimitation and by and large most participants expressed willingness for it.

* PM emphasised the need to strengthen democracy at the grassroots & work together with the people of J&K to ensure their upliftment.

* PM expressed happiness on the commitment to Constitution & Democracy espoused by all participants.

* PM said that even one death in J&K is painful and it is our collective duty to protect our younger generation.

* PM stressed that we need to give opportunities to our youth of J&K and they will give back lots to our country.

* The development achieved by J&K was discussed in detail with implementation of many pro-people initiatives.

* PM expressed satisfaction with the acceleration of development in Jammu & Kashmir and said that it is creating new hope and aspirations among the people.

* PM said that when people experience corruption free governance, it inspires trust among the people and people also extend their co-operation to the administration and this is visible in J&K today.

* PM said that there would be political differences but everyone should work in national interest so that the people of J&K benefit.

* PM stressed that an atmosphere of safety and security needs to be ensured for all sections of society in J&K.

* PM said that he wants to remove Dilli ki Duri as well as Dil Ki Duri.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "toying" with the country's future and called the latter's action as theatrics to distract from the present situation.

The remarks came after PM Modi interacted with the participants of Toycathon-2021 via video-conferencing and said the world wants to understand India's capabilities, art, culture and society.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhi wrote: "Today, MSME sector employers are themselves facing unemployment. PM is distracting India's present with theatrics and 'toying' with the future."

Today, MSME sector employers are themselves facing unemployment. PM is distracting Indias present with theatrics and toying with the future.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 24, 2021

In his virtual address, PM Modi stated that India contributes only around $1.5 billion of the global toy market which is worth nearly $100 billion.

Today, we import around 80 per cent of our toys from abroad. Which means crores of rupees of the country are going abroad on them. It is very important to change this situation, he said.

Further, the prime minister called upon young innovators and startups to be mindful of their responsibility of projecting the true picture of the country's capabilities and ideas to the world.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to chair a meeting with all the mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir in Delhi on Thursday (June 24, 2021) to discuss the future course of action for the Union territory.

The meeting will be attended by four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state as well, namely Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

The all-party meet will be the first political engagement since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 when the Centre had revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the state was bifurcated into two union territories.

Over fourteen leaders from regional powerhouses such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC), Centres ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, among others, have been invited for the talks. Most of the political leaders arrived in Delhi on Wednesday evening for the meeting.

As per sources, key issues like delimitation and assembly elections are likely to be discussed that may pave the way for the political processes in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting can also discuss a blueprint to begin the political process in the Union Territory.

Earlier on August 5, 2019, the Centre withdrew the special status of the erstwhile state under Article 370 and divided it into two Union Territories- J&K (with a legislative assembly) and Ladakh (without a legislative assembly).

The historic decision was followed by the imposition of restrictions on several political leaders and activists in the region, which was gradually lifted later on.

Ahead of the meet, on Tuesday, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti said peace in the valley cannot be restored without undoing the illegal and unconstitutional act of revocation of J-Ks special status.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, part of the Gupkar Alliance, said, "The agenda of the alliance, for which this alliance has been formed, what has been snatched away from us, we will talk on that, that it was a mistake and it was illegal and unconstitutional, without restoring which the issue of J-K (cannot be resolved) and the situation in J-K (cannot improve) and peace in the whole region cannot be restored."

Earlier, ahead of the meeting, Apni Party chief Syed Altaf Bukhari welcomed the all-party meet with Prime Minister Modi and said, "I look at it as a positive development. The Prime Minister had started a process on March 14, 2020, when a delegation of the Apni Party met him and now he has called an all-party meeting. It is a welcome step."

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police a day before the talks, on Wednesday, issued an alert in the region following a series of attacks. The police issued a warning stating that the anti-national elements may attempt to hit soft targets to create a hype.

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New Delhi: A crucial meeting to chalk out the future political course of action in Jammu and Kashmir, convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began on Thursday with the attendance of 14 leaders, including four former Chief Ministers. The meeting is the first between the Centre and mainstream Jammu and Kashmir politicians after the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into two union territories in August 2019.

Besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are also present at the meeting.

The four former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir who attended the meeting are Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. With no agenda announced for the meeting, the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir said they have come with an open mind.

"We have not been given an agenda. We will be attending the meeting to know what the Centre is offering," said CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is also a spokesman of the six-party People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).

Tarigami is among the 14 Jammu and Kashmir leaders invited to the all-party meeting at the prime minister's residence.

PK Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla are among those who attended the meeting.
New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind will be visiting his village Paraunkh in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur on Friday (June 25). A special presidential train will ply on the said date from Safdarjung railway station in Delhi. The train will make two stop-overs, at Jhinjhak and Rura of Kanpur Dehat, where the President will interact with his old acquaintances from his school days and from early days of his social service.

The two stop-overs are close to the President's birthplace, vilath. Kovind will be visiting his village Paraunkh in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur on June 25.lage Paraunkh of Kanpur Dehat, where two functions to felicitate him are scheduled on June 27. "This is the first time that the President will visit his birthplace after taking over his present assignment. Though he desired to visit the place earlier, plans could not materialise because of the pandemic," read an official statement.

His choice of the mode of journey, by train, is in line with the tradition of a number of Presidents who took to train journey to connect with people in various parts of the country, it added. It would be after a gap of 15 years that an incumbent President will make a train journey.

The last time a President travelled by train was in 2006 when Dr APJ Abdul Kalam boarded a special train from Delhi to Dehradun to attend a passing out parade of cadets at the Indian Military Academy (IMA).

Records show that the country`s first president, Dr Rajendra Prasad, often undertook train journeys. Soon after taking office as the President, he visited his birthplace, Ziradei in Siwan district, during his visit to Bihar. He boarded the President's special train from Chhapra to reach Ziradei where he spent three days.

He travelled across the country by train.

Dr Prasad's successors also preferred train journeys to connect with the people of the country. On June 28, the President will board the train at Kanpur Central railway station to reach Lucknow for his two-day visit to the state capital. On June 29, he will return to New Delhi on a special flight.

Here's the full-schedule of President Kovind's visit to Kanpur:

June 25, 12:30 noon: President Kovind to leave for Kanpur from Safdarjung railway station

6:00 pm: President will reach Jhinjhak railway station

6:15 pm: Will leave from Jhinjhak

6:35 pm: President to reach Rura railway station

6:50: to leave for Kanpur railway station

7:55: to reach Kanpur Central railway station

8:05: President to reach Circuit House

President will spend the night in the Circuit House

June 26: President Kovind to meet dignitaries of the city

June 27:

8:15 am: Presiden to leave for the helipad from the circuit house

8:35 am: To leave for Pokhra Kanpur Dehat

9:15 am: To land at Pokhra helipad

9:25 am: to will visit a temple

9:25-9:55 am: President to stay at temple, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar statue, meeting center and school

9:55 am: To leave for Pokhra event venue

10:05 am: President will arrive at the venue

10:15-11:45 am: To attend programs

11:55 - 12:20 pm: Time reserved for appointment

12:20 pm: To leave from the venue

12:30 pm: To arrive at helipad

12:40 pm: To arrive at second venue of Kanpur Dehat for an event

1:00 pm: To reach at helipad

1:20 pm: To reach at event venue

Time reserve from 1:20 to 1:30

1:30 pm to 2:30 pm: President to be in Kanpur Dehat pokhra venue

2:30 to 4:00 pm: Lunch

4:00 to 4:30: President to meet people

4:30 pm: To leave for helipad

5:20 pm: President to arrive in Kanpur

5:30 pm: to leave for Circuit House from helipad

5:50: To reach the Circuit House

President will rest in the Circuit House for the night

June 28, 10:00 am: To leave for the railway station from the Circuit House

10:20: To leave for Lucknow from Kanpur

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New Delhi: After giving a miss to the high-profile meeting of non-BJP leaders held at NCP chief Sharad Pawars residence in Delhi, Shiv Sena, which runs the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra along with NCP, said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should join Pawar's effort to unite the Opposition. Pawar had convened a meeting reportedly to form a united opposition front against the BJP-led Central government. In its mouthpiece Saamana on Thursday (June 24), Shiv Sena suggested Rahul Gandhi should join Pawar's effort to unite the Opposition, only then can a consolidated front gain real strength, ANI reported. The mouthpiece also pointed out the absolute absence of Opposition at the national level.

"Congress should take the lead for this task but the party itself has been struggling for the past several months without a national president. To be honest, a major opposition party like Congress should approach this entire development with equality. A prominent Congress leader like Rahul Gandhi must join Pawar`s effort to unite the Opposition. Only then will the consolidated front of the Opposition parties get the real strength," Shiv Sena said.

Taking a jab at Pawars meeting called Rashtra Manch, the Shiv Sena claimed nothing was gained despite the media hype attached with it.

"A meeting of a group of opposition parties called `Rashtra Manch` was held at the residence of Sharad Pawar at his 6 Janpath residence in Delhi. Nothing was gained from the meeting in correspondence with the hype media had given it," read the editorial.

Shiv Sena also questioned the presence of some people and asked if it was only as BJP`s and Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s opposition. "Javed Akhtar, National Congress` Omar Abdullah, Rashtriya Lok Dal`s Jayant Chaudhary Binoy Viswam of Communist Party of India, Nilotpal Basu of Marxist Communist Party, former judge AP Shah, Pawan Verma, Aam Aadmi Party`s Sushil Gupta and Sudhindra Kulkarni were some of the people present in the meeting...Was a coalition against Modi and BJP the only goal to make a nexus of the opposition?"

Pawar who had earlier conducted a series of meetings with poll strategist Prashant Kishor had stoked speculations of a united opposition front to challenge BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. However, in an interview with NDTV, Kishor ruled out any association with an opposition front to take on the BJP.

"I don't believe a Third or Fourth Front could emerge as a successfully challenge to the current dispensation," he had said.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Amid the decline in COVID-19 cases in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to do away with mandatory e-pass for tourists from July 1. The decision by the Himachal Pradesh government comes at a time when the state is witnessing a consistent decline in the positivity rate. The state government has allowed the movement of inter-state buses with 50 percent capacity, including private ones, from 1 July.

These decisions were taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. The state government also took other decisions like the opening of government offices at full capacity.

The state government also announced that from July 1 the restaurants in the state can open from 9 am to 10 pm. Additionally, social gatherings can be held with 50 percent capacity of the location, with a maximum of 50 people in indoor settings and 100 in outdoor settings.

Meanwhile, earlier this month when the Himachal Pradesh government eased the COVID-induced restrictions in the state thousands of tourists were seen rushing in the state, causing massive congestion of cars on roads leading to Himachal Pradesh.

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New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission has released a set of fresh guidelines for candidates who will appear for interviews in future in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest announcement comes ahead of the UPSC EPFO 2021 exam, which is scheduled to held before September 5, 2021. The exam was earlier postponed due to COVID-19.

UPSC Deputy Secretary Satya Prakash issued a set of fresh guidelines for candidates appearing for all future interview in view of the COVID pandemic. As per the guidelines released by the Union Public Service Commission, candidates will have to mandatorily bring a four-day-old negative RTPCR report.

Candidates will be required to wear to facemask and face cover. Those facing symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath will not get admission. During the interview, social distancing has to be followed by all candidates. They will be required to maintain a distance of six feet from each other at the interview venue.

They will have to regularly clean their hands and get it sanitized at the designated place.

They will have to make sure to cover their mouth with tissue paper or handkerchief while coughing or sneezing. Candidates or any staff members cannot spit anything at the campus. Spitting inside the premises will be completely banned

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New Delhi: National Conference (NC) president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work towards building trust in Jammu and Kashmir by ensuring that its full statehood is restored.

Talking to reporters immediately after the crucial all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister concluded, Abdullah said his National Conference would continue to challenge through legal and constitutional means the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.

"There is a loss of trust which needs to be restored immediately and for that, to begin with, the Centre should work for the restoration of complete statehood to Jammu and Kashmir," Abdullah, who is a Lok Sabha member, said.

"I conveyed to the Prime Minister that statehood means reverting even the IAS and IPS cadres of Jammu and Kashmir. The state has to be in totality," he said after the meeting that lasted for over three hours.

The NC chief, who was accompanied by his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, said it was vital for the Centre to restore the identity of Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest so that other democratic exercises could be carried forward.

During the all-party meeting, PM Modi said that his government is fully committed to the "democratic process" in the region, and holding the assembly elections is a priority.

Sources said that during a three-and-a-half-hour long meeting with 14 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister patiently heard out suggestions and inputs from all participants.

"The PM said that we are fully committed to the democratic process in J&K. He stressed that holding assembly elections just like the successful conduct of DDC (District Development Council) elections is a priority," sources said.

This was the first meeting between the Centre with the political leaders of the region after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

PM Modi expressed happiness that all participants shared their frank and honest views. "It was an open discussion which revolved around building a better future for Kashmir. The main focus of the meeting was to strengthen the democratic process," sources said.

According to sources, discussions were focused on holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir soon after the delimitation process is completed, to which most participants expressed their willingness. The Prime Minister, sources added, emphasized the need to strengthen democracy at the grassroots and work together with the people of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure their upliftment.

Leaders of Gupkar Alliance including National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and People`s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti also attended the crucial meeting. PM Modi expressed happiness on the commitment to the Constitution and democracy espoused by all participants.

He said that even one death in Jammu and Kashmir is painful and it is our collective duty to protect our younger generation. Stressing on the need to provide opportunities to the youth of the Union Territory, the Prime Minister said that the younger generation of the region will give back lots to the country.

The developmental work with the implementation of many pro-people initiatives, carried out over the last two years in Jammu and Kashmir, was discussed in detail in the meeting held at the Prime Minister`s residence. PM Modi expressed satisfaction with the acceleration of development in the Union Territory and said that `it is creating new hope and aspirations among the people`.

"When people experience corruption-free governance, it inspires trust among the people and people also extend their co-operation to the administration and this is visible in Jammu and Kashmir today," the Prime Minister said, according to sources.

The Prime Minister said that there would be political differences, but everyone should work in the national interest for the benefit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He underlined that an atmosphere of safety and security needs to be ensured for all sections of society in the region. PM Modi said that he wants to remove `Dilli ki Duri as well as Dil Ki Duri`.

Among the leaders who participated in the meeting were Congress` Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand and GA Mir; National Conference`s Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah; PDP`s Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Apni Party`s Altaf Bukhari; BJP`s Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh, and Kavinder Gupta; CPI(M)`s M Y Tarigami; National Panthers Party`s Prof Bheem Singh; and Peoples Conference`s Sajad Gani Lone.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Home Secretary also attended the meeting.

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Mumbai: Veteran actor Shabana Azmi on Thursday accused an alcohol delivery platform of allegedly duping her.

In a Twitter post, the 70-year-old actor claimed that she was conned by Living Liquidz after she placed an order at the platform but didn't receive it.

"BEWARE I have been cheated by them. #Living Liquidz I paid upfront and when the ordered item didnt turn up they stopped picking up my calls," Azmi wrote, sharing details of her transaction with delivery platform.

BEWARE I have been cheated by them. #Living Liquidz I paid upfront and when the ordered item didnt turn up they stopped picking up my calls!

I paid Account no.919171984427

IFSC- PYTM0123456

Name living liquidz

Paytm payment bank  Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) June 24, 2021

The actor, however, didn't mention the amount of the transaction and also whether she has filed a complaint in the matter.

In the past, Bollywood celebrities including Akshaye Khanna, Nargis Fakhri and Karan Singh Grover fell prey to online scams.

On the work front, Azmi will be seen in Swara Bhaskar and Divya Dutta-starrer queer love story "Sheer Qorma".
New Delhi: Ace comedian-actor Raju Srivastav, who ventured into politics in 2014 from the Samajwadi Party but later joined the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) same year in a gap of few days. While talking exclusively to Zee News, he talked about the threats he is getting from Pakistan.

Raju Srivastav is the Chairman of UP Film Development Council.

Opening up on threats from Pakistan, Raju Srivastav said, "These days I am getting death threats and derogatory words are used against my family. But we are not scared of these things, I feel proud to be born in a Hindu Rashtra."

Adding more, he said, "Jo Ram Ka Nahi Vo Kisi Kaam Ka Nahi" (He, who does not belong to Lord Rama, is of no use).

Earlier, in 2010, reportedly, he had received threats over his jokes on underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and Pakistan during his shows.

Raju Srivastav began his cinematic career with small roles in Bollywood films such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Baazigar, Bombay to Goa, Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya among others. He then gained fame as a stand-up comedian with The Great Indian Laughter Challenge where he was the second runner-up.

Later, he won The Great Indian Laughter Challenge - Champions which was the spin-off of the original talent show. He was a participant in Bigg Boss season 3, Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala and Nach Baliye season 6. He has also appeared on Comedy Nights with Kapil, Mazaak Mazaak Mein a.k.a. 'The Indian Mazaak League'.
New Delhi: A 20 years old Egyptian social media influencer Haneen Hossam has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on the charges of human trafficking. Earlier, she was fined 200,000 Egyptian pounds for encouraging women to share footage on the video-sharing app in exchange for money.

Hossam's sentence was announced by the court while she was absent as she did not come for the case proceeding. A day after the ruling, the Cairo University student shared a video on her social media accounts, weeping and crying and appealing to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi to re-verdict her case. Hoassam said she has been wronged and that her mother is about to have a stroke after the ruling in the video.

Mr. President, your daughter is dying. I swear to God your daughter is dying. I held myself together so I can be able to speak and seek the help of the president and people. What should I do, as translated by The Gulf News in English from Arabic.

I was wronged, and I did not do anything. I am literally dying. Save me. My mother is about to have a stroke after the ruling, cried the influencer.

Hossam has around 900,000 followers on TikTok. She is among several other female influencers who faced crackdown and legal action after being accused of inciting debauchery and for violating the social values and principles of the Egyptian family.
New Delhi: Veteran Bollywood actor Kabir Bedi recently spoke about his most traumatic experiences in a candid conversation with a digital news platform. He explained that his son's suicide and his tragic love story with late actress Parveen Babi whom he lost in 2005, had shattered him as a person. The actor also revealed that he also went through bankruptcy in Hollywood and found it to be a shameful experience for an actor. However, he stayed resilient and found ways to reinvent himself with every obstacle he faced.

He told Brut India, "I went through traumatic experiences with my sons suicide, with my bankruptcy in Hollywood. Its very humiliating for a celebrity to be bankrupted. But you have to find ways of rising and resurrecting yourself. All through my life, Ive reinvented myself."

The actor's son Siddharth committed suicide in 1997 at the age of 25. He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a debilitating mental illness. In an earlier interview with Bollywood Hungama, Kabir Bedi revealed he felt a ton of guilt after his son's suicide as he wasn't able to stop him or convince him to live.

He said, "The guilt one suffers when somebody in your family commits suicide is enormous, no matter how much you try. You always feel you could have done something to save that person's life. Why have you failed to convince him to live, why have you not tried to stop him in some way? There's always guilt and you have to live with that guilt as well. When something that traumatic happens, when your son commits suicide, the wound heals, but the scars will always remain. You learn to live with it because it's truly been an experience to go way. It will always remain there in some way."

Apart from this huge tragedy in his life, he also dealt with the death of his romantic partner Parveen Babi in 2005. She had died of multiple organ failure and her body was found days after her death.

In his autoboigraphy, 'Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Journey of an Actor', he had written about the same. Here's a passage from the book: "In the end, I learned how Parveen had died. Her body was found in her Juhu flat four days after she died, a leg rotted by gangrene, a wheelchair by her bed. A lonely and tragic end of a star who had once been the fantasy of millions. Three men who had known and loved her - Mahesh, Danny and I - came for her funeral at the Muslim cemetery in Juhu. It was a solemn burial with Islamic rites and chants. We carried her body with relatives to a dimly lit grave. I felt for all she had suffered with a sorrow that came from my depths. Each of us had known her in ways not many knew. Each of us had loved her as only each one knew."
New Delhi: Google`s Chrome web browser will not fully block tracking cookies until late 2023, the Alphabet Inc company said on Thursday, delaying by nearly two years a move that has drawn antitrust concerns from competitors and regulators. Google had wanted to bar reams of ad-personalization companies from gathering users` browsing interests through cookies from January 2022. But rivals accused the world`s biggest online ads seller by revenue of using improved privacy as a pretense to gain greater market share. Alphabet shares were up 0.5% in early Thursday afternoon trading. But shares soared for companies that had been scrambling to reduce reliance on cookies. Among them, Trade Desk Inc surged 18%, PubMatic Inc 12% and Criteo SA 10%.

Britain`s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after an investigation agreed this month with Google to oversee the Chrome changes. Google said its new timeline was in line with the agreement.

"We need to move at a responsible pace, allowing sufficient time for public discussion on the right solutions and for publishers and the advertising industry to migrate their services," Vinay Goel, privacy engineering director for Chrome, wrote in a blog post.

The CMA said it was consulting on whether to accept Googles commitments, and in that context it had been informed of the proposed changes to the timeline.

"If the commitments are accepted they become legally binding, promoting competition in digital markets, helping to protect the ability of online publishers to raise money through advertising and safeguarding users` privacy," a spokesperson said.

The U.S. Department of Justice has also investigated Chrome and cookies, Reuters has reported.

The European Union`s competition commission said Wednesday it too was investigating.

Google is working with the ad industry on technologies that could replace the tracking capabilities of cookies while better protecting online privacy. Also Read: SBI launches Aarogyam healthcare business loan to bolster Indias health infrastructure

It now aims to choose new techniques by late next year, do final testing and then gradually phase out tracking cookies starting mid-2023 if the CMA signs off.

Critics question the effectiveness of alternatives. They add that Google can only benefit from the elimination of what are known as third-party cookies because it can continue collecting similar data through YouTube, search and its other popular systems. A data advantage could help Google attract more advertisers.

Apple Inc`s Safari browser has pursued similar changes, but Chrome is used more widely in the United States and Europe. Also Read: Microsoft Windows 11 launched! macOS like dock bar, widgets and other attractive features
Surfside: The sea-view side of a beachfront condo tower collapsed in the Miami-area town of Surfside early Thursday morning, killing at least one, trapping residents in rubble and twisted metal and sending a cloud of debris throughout the neighbourhood.

Scores of rescue units rushed to the partially collapsed building and firefighters were seen pulling survivors from the concrete debris. In a tweet, Miami-Dade police said one person has died in the collapse.

MBPD and @MiamiBeachFire are assisting the Town of Surfside at a partial building collapse located at 8777 Collins Avenue in Surfside, Florida. Multiple police and fire agencies from across Miami-Dade are assisting. Please follow @MiamiDadeFire for updated information. pic.twitter.com/8tORIfZfjY  Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) June 24, 2021

Santo Mejil, 50, told the Miami Herald his wife called him from the building, where she was working as an aide for an elderly woman.

"She said she heard a big explosion. It felt like an earthquake," Mejil told the newspaper. He said she later called him and said rescuers were bringing her down.

Authorities had no immediate word on other casualties or details of how many people lived in the building.

Miami Dade Fire Rescue was conducting search and rescue operations, and said in a tweet that more than 80 units were "on scene with assistance from municipal fire departments".

"We're on the scene so it's still very active," said Sgt Marian Cruz of the Surfside Police Department. "What I can tell you is the building is twelve floors. The entire back side of the building has collapsed."

Victor Cohen, who lives nearby, told television station WPLG the building had been undergoing a major renovation when the ocean front wing "collapsed like a pancake".

Teams of fire fighters walked through the rubble, picking up survivors and carrying them from the wreckage.

The collapse left a number of units in the still-standing part of the building exposed. Television footage showed bunk beds, tables and chairs still left inside the damaged apartments. Air conditioner units were hanging from some parts of the building, where wires now dangled.

Police blocked nearby roads, and scores of fire and rescue vehicles, ambulances and police cars swarmed the area.

The debris from the collapse coated cars up to two blocks away with a light layer of dust.

Photos and video from the scene show the collapse affected half the tower. Piles of rubble and debris surrounded the area just outside the building. The department has yet to say what may have caused the collapse.

The sea-view condo development was built in 1981 in the southeast corner of Surfside, on the beach. It had a few two-bedroom units currently on the market, with asking prices of $600,000 to $700,000.

The area is a mix of new and old apartments, houses, condominiums and hotels, with restaurants and stores serving an international combination of residents and tourists. The community provides a stark contrast from bustle and glitz of South Beach with a slower paced neighbourhood feel.
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his urgent intervention regarding the WHO approval for Covaxin, which is still not authorised in several countries.

"I request for your kind intervention so that an early approval is received for COVAXIN from WHO and students do not face any problem. This will also benefit people travelling abroad for job, business, education &any other purpose," the Bengal Chief Minister stated in her letter to the PM.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi, "I request for your kind intervention so that an early approval is received for COVAXIN from WHO & students do not face any problem. This will also benefit people traveling abroad for job, business, education &any other purpose" pic.twitter.com/SD6FQvlACj  ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

The TMC supremo also urged the Centre to immediately take steps to ensure that people vaccinated with Covaxin are not restricted from travelling to foreign countries. The Trinamool Congress chief claimed that Covaxin has also created problems with neighbouring Bangladesh and Brazil.

"Covaxin has not been authorised by foreign countries and not accepted there. Several students, aspiring for higher studies abroad, are facing difficulties in travelling because they have taken the Covaxin doses," she mentioned in her letter.

"Covaxin is the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it has even created problems with Brazil and Bangladesh," Banerjee has earlier claimed. The Chief Minister said that those who have taken the Covishield doses are not facing any problem.

"Either immediately get Covaxin authenticated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or take other steps so that Covaxin is accepted globally," she said. Banerjee had earlier directed Chief Secretary HK Dwidevi to write to the Union Health Secretary and Cabinet Secretary regarding the matter.

She said that her government procured and provided Covishield doses to the people of the state. Most of the countries are seeking complete vaccination certificates from visitors to allow them entry.

Banerjee also took on the Centre, pointing out the gap between PM's announcement of the universal vaccination programme and the implementation of it on June 21.

"Fifteen days were lost... Can you imagine! Who is responsible for this? Why will the opposition play with a disease? I think BJP is a big disease for everybody. They cannot digest the people's verdict, nor can they accept people's agitation. Don't you think they should be ashamed?" she said.

On Wednesday, the TMC chief slammed BJP national president JP Nadda for alleging that the opposition is playing politics with the vaccination process. Banerjee alleged that the BJP-led central government was responsible for the second wave.

"They did not give vaccines to West Bengal properly. However, there are some BJP states that are getting a good number of vaccines. In Gujarat, there are BJP party offices from where vaccines are being distributed," she claimed.

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New Delhi: A Bangladeshi Muslim cleric Maulana Ahmadullah, who has a huge following on YouTube and Facebook, has issued a fatwa against people using Facebook's 'HAHA' emoji. The maulana has termed it 'totally haram' for Muslims.

According to the cleric, people use Facebook's 'HAHA' emoji to mock others. He said if a person is using the emoji purely out of fun basis, then it is fine, but if it is being used to mock other people on the platform then it is totally not accepted in Islam. The maulana called it wrong to do so and thereby, issued a fatwa, which has now become a topic of discussion among the people.

It is to be noted that Maulana Ahmadullah is a new generation Maulana in Bangladesh, who remains active on the Internet. He has more than 3 million followers on Facebook and YouTube and is extremely popular. He appears frequently on television and discusses religious matters mainly in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. On Saturday, Maulana posted a three-minute video and talked about mocking people on Facebook by using 'Haha' emoji. After this, he issued a fatwa against the emji and said that doing so is haram for Muslims.

The video of the maulana has been watched over 20 lakh times so far.

Maulana Ahmadullah said, for the love of Allah, I ask you to stop doing such things. Dont use the haha emoji to make fun of people. If you hurt a Muslim, he will use language that you have not even thought of.

While thousands of his followers agreed with what he said and left some positive comments on his, there were some who expressed their objections to the thought. Hundreds of people mocked the fatwa against the Facebook emoji and shared some harsh, negative comments on the post.

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Ottawa: After China demanded an investigation into the discovery of the remains of indigenous children in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lashed out at Beijing, stressing that there was a difference between the matter and the communist country`s systemic abuse against ethnic minorities including Uyghurs.

According to Canadian state broadcaster CTV News, Trudeau on Tuesday (June 22) said that Canada knows its relationship with indigenous people is broken but it has a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and is working to try and address the issues. On the other hand, China is not even willing to admit that there is a problem over the numerous human rights abuses against Uyghurs.

"Where is China`s Truth and Reconciliation Commission? Where is their truth? Where is the openness that Canada has always shown, and the responsibility that Canada has taken for the terrible mistakes of the past, and indeed, many of which continue into the present?" Trudeau asked at a news conference outside his Ottawa home Tuesday (June 22).

Earlier this month, the mass burial place of 215 children, aged from three years, was found at the site of a school, closed in 1978, near the Canadian town of Kamloops, Sputnik reported. Following the discovery of graves, a probe has been opened into the circumstances and the accountability of these fatalities. The remarks came after Chinese diplomat Jiang Duan demanded an investigation during a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Washington Post reported.

ALSO READ: Hong Kong police arrest Apple Daily lead writer and reporter under national security law

"We are deeply concerned about the human rights violations against the Indigenous people in Canada," said Jiang, a senior official at China`s mission to the UN in Geneva. Jiang said China and its allies sought a "thorough and impartial investigation," not just of the discovery but of broader Canadian crimes against indigenous people. China`s allies include Belarus, North Korea and Syria, all of whom are accused of human rights abuses.

Jiang`s demand came before Canadian officials read a statement that called on China to allow the UN human rights chief access to the Xinjiang region to investigate more than one million Uyghurs who have been unlawfully detained there. The statement also mentioned a continuing clampdown in Hong Kong under Chinese auspices and ongoing reports of repression in Tibet, according to Washington Post.

"We call on Chinese authorities to abide by their human rights obligations," said Leslie E Norton, Canada`s ambassador to the UN in Geneva. The dueling demands represented a deep geopolitical and ideological divide at the top UN human rights body. Meanwhile, in its strongest rebuke of China, the Group of Seven (G7) countries had urged China to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms" in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

The group called on China "to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms and a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law".Meanwhile, China dismissed these remarks saying that the days when a "small" group of countries decided the fate of the world were long gone.

ALSO READ: Sydney reimposes COVID-19 curbs as Delta variant cluster swell

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